[Poll] Is Floyd Mayweather Ducking Miguel Cotto? —TommyGunn, www.boxingforum.com/boxing-forum-general-discussion (131 replies) • Can anyone STAND Floyd? —Explosivo, fightbeat.com/forums (96 replies) • [Poll] Who hits Harder ??? Hopkins or Calzaghe —ds91, www.saddoboxing.com/boxingforum (34 replies)

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Madison Square Garden Hosts A Tribute to Boxing legend Primo Carnera With The World Premiere Of Renzo Martinelli’s “Carnera — The Walking Mountain” April 22nd 2008: for the first time in his career, Renzo Martinelli, possibly the finest contemporary Italian movie director, is bringing one of his productions abroad. His latest movie, “Carnera — The Walking Mountain” will be presented at a world premiere at the Madison Square Garden in New York, just days before its official release in Italy (April 30th 2008). —CityGuide News, cityguideny.com

How Dangerous Is Boxing For The Brain? ScienceDaily— Boxing is possibly less dangerous for the brain than previously feared – at least for amateurs. However, conclusive statements on the level of danger are not yet possible. Whether professional boxers such as Muhammad Ali contracted their later brain conditions – in his case Parkinson’s disease at the age of 40 – from boxing, remains unclear. The all-clear cannot be given until more extensive studies of both amateur and professional boxers tell us more about the risks for the brain from boxing. —(Source: ScienceDaily, www.sciencedaily.com)

No National Anthems for Calzaghe-Hopkins? It appears that the chorus of boos that accompanied the U.S. national anthem during the Hatton-Mayweather fight in December has caused a stipulation to be added to the Calzaghe-Hopkins bout that will eliminate the singing of the national anthems. Talk about repercussions right? I was in attendance for that fight and I must say, it got pretty ugly in there so I can understand the logic. —Ramon Aranda, www.411mania.com

CHOCOLATE: MUCH MORE THAN A BOXER  He never lost a fight in Cuba • He was the first Black star in the Garden  • In 1931, he stopped the traffic on Broadway and that same year was voted “the world’s best dressed man” • He was friends with Gardel, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway • A Cuban king and extremely generous, this August sees the 20^th anniversary of his death, a well-deserved motive for glorifying him today —Elio Menendez (Special For Granma International), www.granma.cu

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. STEELHAMMER!— KLITSCHKO ENCOURAGES HAYE’S AMBITIONS  WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko tells BBC Five Live he could fight David Haye one day if the Briton can live up to his hype. • Klitschko confirmed that he will defend his WBO belt against American Tony Thompson in Germany this summer. • “Until the fight with David Haye I have to stay active as I am nervous and I have to get myself in shape,” he said. • “So I am going to fight in July against Thompson - he is the WBO’s number one mandatory contender so I have chosen him.” —(Source: news.bbc.co.uk)

(Klitschko photo by dieter schwer photography)

BOXING BRACKETOLOGY AT LIGHT HEAVY Roy Jones Jr., Michael Spinks, Bob Foster, Archie Moore— these are the hallowed names that once made the light heavyweight division relevant and spawned legions of boxing fans to tune in and show up to arenas whenever they fought.

Now, whether by ingenious plan or, more likely, happenstance, the powers that be have collaborated with a half-dozen 175-pounders in setting up the sport’s version of Bracketology and March  (actually April) Madness. —Mike Houser, www.nevadaappeal.com


Producer buys rights for film about Thai woman who became boxing champion while jailed  BANGKOK, Thailand: A female drug dealer, who won her release from jail by becoming a boxing champion while behind bars, signed a contract Wednesday to have her story made into a movie. —AP

Press Release: “Box-NYC” (www.box-nyc.com), New York City’s premier social boxing event, returns for a fourth consecutive year to the Hammerstein Ballroom, Wednesday, April 16th with an exciting combination of professional boxing, fine-dining, Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament and model and celebrity appearances. World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko will appear at the event and will accept a check from BOX NYC for The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the official charity of the event. (more)

INTRODUCING BRUCE “SHU SHU” CARRINGTON —Interview by David Selwyn, www.fightbeat.com

>> Footage of a 5 year old ‘Pretty Boy’ Bam Bam from the southside of Toledo, Ohio. 

LOUISIANA 10-YEAR-OLD DEFENDING BOXING TITLE  Jay “The Soldier Ant” Gauthier has been exposed to the world of boxing before he could even walk and began competing at the age of 8. • Gauthier was given the nickname after competing inside the ring against larger opponents. • “Just like an ant can carry weight more than him, Jay can hold his own against heavier opponents,” said Jody Gauthier, his father and coach. • Gauthier, 10, a fourth-grader at St. Ignatius Elementary will be defending his title for the third time in the Louisiana Golden Gloves tournament this Friday and Saturday in Lafayette. The Golden Gloves tournament is the largest for the amateur division and Gauthier is the only boxer from Opelousas to compete among hundreds from around the state. —Emily Briggs, www.dailyworld.com

CABAZON, California— Joel Casamayor used his experience to his advantage. • Nine years older than his opponent, Casamayor recorded a technical knockout of Michael Katsidis 30 seconds into the 10th round Saturday to claim the WBO interim lightweight title at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. —Yahoo! Sports

(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Boxing Memorabilia & Collectibles (As of 3/22)

Michael Buffer autographed 8 x 10 photograph (b/w) • $23.95 • www.itsalreadysigned4u.com

Miguel Cotto autographed fight model trunks • $299.99 • www.steinersports.com

Leon Spinks autographed boxing glove • $269.10 • www.grandstandsports.com

KATSIDIS SMELLS NERVES ON CASAMAYOR Standing nose to nose before the American boxing media on a stage inside California’s Morongo Casino on Thursday, Australia’s Michael Katsidis looked directly into the eyes of his great Cuban opponent, Joel Casamayor. • They were so close, just centimetres apart for the photo session, Katsidis could smell what Casamayor had for lunch. —© 2008 AAP, http://news.theage.com.au

(Hoganphotos.com/Golden Boy Promotions)