Skip to main content

Salita scores stoppage win, refocuses on Malignaggi Barclay's bout

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
New Yorker still chasing October world title shot

Former world title challenger at 140lbs, Dmitriy Salita remains hopeful of landing a shot at Paulie Malignaggi’s WBA welterweight title after stopping Roberto Valenzuela within four rounds in Mobile, Alabama last night.

The 30 year-old, who now has four straight victories since losing to Amir Khan in 2009, was thought to be in frame for a huge all-Brooklyn showdown with Malignaggi at the Barclays Center in New York until negotiations began with Pablo Cesar Cano.

Cano, 22, who holds the interim WBA belt at light-welterweight, has now been put forward to face Joan Guzman for the full version after Marcos Maidana vacated and may prefer a bout with the Dominican to remain at 140lbs.

That would put an eager Salita back in the frame to face the ‘Magic Man’ and the Brooklynite is sure that the fight would generate the interest necessary to get the TV networks on board and approve the contest.

“From what I know the Cano-Paulie fight is not 100 per cent official and my fight will create a lot more buzz and interest, especially in NYC,” Salita told World Boxing News.

“I don't think that from a fan perspective the fight makes sense in New York. My fight with Paulie will result in major ticket sales and will really get boxing and non-boxing fans interested in this battle.

“There are so many interesting points to this fight. Most importantly, I want to show the world that I am ready for the world title.

"It felt great to be back! I had a really good camp at Kronk gym in Detroit and I had very competitive sparring - so I did not feel much ring rust and I was sharp from the beginning.

“I wanted to get this win to build up hype for a fight with Paulie. The Battle of Brooklyn on October 20th is the perfect fight at the right time.”

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  (picure by boxrec.com)  After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway.  One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie ga...
Read more

Ashley Theophane talks US return, Ricky Burns sparring and future fights

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ training for August 24 return Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane is aiming to put the disappointment of his loss to Darren Hamilton behind him when he makes his comeback in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 24. The 31 year-old, who has fought some of the top fighters between 140 and 154lbs, planned to take 18 months out of chasing his world title dream to win a British Lonsdale belt outright and just fell short with points defeat to Hamilton in May after making two defences. The Londoner is now returning to the US to re-establish his headline status on American soil. He fights for the 38th time in his career against an opponent yet to be named at NC Music Factory’s Reelworks Studios and is currently preparing to get back to winning ways. “Training has gone well for this fight. I've been in the gym for nearly nine weeks so I'm in great shape and ready to go,” Theophane told World Boxing News. ...
Read more

WBO #4 Orlando Cruz comes out as the first openly gay boxer in history

Orlando Cruz, a professional boxer from San Juan Puerto Rico (18-2-1, 9 KOs), former Olympian and currently ranked No. 4 Featherweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), is announcing today that he ”Is a proud gay man.” Cruz is the first openly gay man in boxing history.  “I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself,” said Cruz.  “I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career.  I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican.  I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.” Orlando Cruz began boxing at the age of 7 and posted an amateur career record of 178-11.  He won 7 Puerto Rico National Title's and spent 4 years on The Puerto Rican National Team.  Cruz won 7 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze in various international tournaments.  His amateur career culminated as a representative of the 2000 ...
Read more