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Margarito-Williams to provide July Fireworks
By Steve Kim (April 25, 2007) Photo © German Villasenor

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Promoter Dan Goossen, who won the right to stage the WBO welterweight title contest between Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams, doesn't have an exact date or venue for this bout as of yet.

But he knows this much: "We're going to see fireworks," he says of this bout that will take place on either the first or second Saturday of July. "The 4th, the 7th or the 14th, I guarantee you, there's going to be fireworks."

Goossen, who runs Goossen-Tutor, is keeping the fight in the Southern California area.

"I've nailed it down to two venues and that's the Amphitheater at Universal and the Home Depot Center," he would tell Maxboxing. As for why the date has not been set, Goossen would reply, "You would have to ask HBO that one. They just said we'll be fighting on one of those two dates."

If that's the case, it looks like HBO will be telecasting a split-site doubleheader because on July 7th they have Wladimir Klitschko's rematch against Lamon Brewster from Germany. And the following week, Arturo Gatti from Atlantic City against an agreed upon non-threatening dead body is on the docket.

Margarito-Williams is a highly anticipated bout that Goossen is eager to start pushing. But putting together an event takes many things to come together, from the availability of network dates to venues and other considerations.

"It's not on our end, ours is nailed down," Goossen says of the hurdles in finalizing this fight. "I just think that there are other inherent obstacles that are happening behind the scenes from other third party ends. I really can't answer specifically what it is but I know our date is going to move forward and I'm preparing for that direction right now."

MAY DAYS ON ESPN2

With Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas in full swing now, here's what they are scheduled to call in the upcoming month:

5/2: Yory Boy Campas vs. Eromesele Albert

5/9-Adrian Diaconu vs Rico Hoye

5/11: Allan Green vs. Samuel Miller

5/16: Glen Johnson vs Montell Griffin

5/18- Zahir Raheem vs. TBA

5/23: Holly Holm vs Chevelle Hallback

5/25: Tony Thompson vs. Derek Bryant

5/30: Adailton De Jesus vs Marcos Ramirez

Of course, this being boxing, this is subject to change - and most likely will.

LIGHTS OUT IN THE DARK

So what's next for James Toney, coming off his January defeat to Samuel Peter?

"He's going to fight May 24th at the HP Pavilion (San Jose)," said Goossen, who promotes him. This show will not be televised.

"Off-TV, we're going to basics."

That really is 'lights out' I guess.

24/7, PART II, RANDOM THOUGHTS

- Good to see Joe Chavez get some recognition. He really is a true 'boxing guy' and a universally respected figure in the west coast boxing community. He can wrap hands like Timbaland can make beats.

- That was some great footage of Floyd Jr. as a kid working with his father and the Mayweathers back in the day. Junior is a born fighter; he looked like he came out of the womb with the ability to throw combinations and slip punches.

By the way, Roger and Floyd Sr. may have the most dysfunctional sibling relationship since Cain and Abel.

- Boy, did Shane Mosley look unhappy to be leaving Puerto Rico or what? Poor guy. I guess he couldn't get an extension from the boss.

- There's no doubt about it, if there's one fighter in the world that can be ready for a fight on seven days notice (or less), it has to be 'the Pretty Boy.'

- I got a chuckle out of Dr. Robert Voy’s statements that he can't believe some of the stuff he's heard and seen written about Mayweather. Hey, Doc, people usually act differently in a doctor’s office than they do at the club or out in public, in general.

- Anyone else laugh when Freddie Roach would ask Roger Mayweather to 'speak English' during the trainers’ conference call?

- Those were some pretty revealing thoughts from Roach regarding his Parkinson's condition. He's certainly been a soldier of this game.

MORE RANDOM THOUGHTS

- I read on Fightnews that an SUV ridden by Jorge Arce and Fernando Montiel was detained in Los Mochis, Mexico, for speeding and that because of their celebrity status up there they were allowed to avoid alcohol tests and were released without incident.

That's probably the most exciting thing Montiel has ever been involved in.

- I keep hearing the phrase ' skew younger' as it relates to Larry Merchant’s seemingly imminent departure from HBO with Max Kellerman replacing him. That's just consultant gibberish or a corporate way of saying, "Well, we're failing miserably, so let's blame the oldest guy we can."

- Yeah, I love 'the Celebrity Fit Club' on VH-1, I can't deny it. I love the cast of the newest edition. Da Brat, who weighed in above 170-pounds, is now Da Fat. Dustin Diamond, aka 'Screech' promises to be the biggest instigator since 'Puck' on the San Francisco edition of 'the Real World' way back when. And, 'Marsha, Marsha, Marsha,' I was surprised to see Maureen McCormick of 'Brady Bunch' fame in this group. C'mon,
admit it, I would've pegged Jan to be in this show before her. And Warren G, what can I say? I guess the 'G' now stands for gut.

- Did anyone see the bout between Randall 'Tex' Cobb and Ernie Shavers on ESPN Classic? 'Tex' sure as hell could take a punch. He had to be the least stylish fighter ever trained by the great George Benton.

- I've been told that Frank Warren will be in New York to meet with the execs of HBO to discuss a summer date for Amir Khan. OK, why we need to see him at this stage of his career escapes me, but they will force him to fight someone better than Steffy Bull, right?

Remember who we’re dealing with here.

- How's this for irony? More than one person has brought this up to me but the one thing that Ross Greenburg resisted - the UFC - may end up being his saving grace at HBO.

- I don't care what anybody says, Warren G's first album is one of my all-time favorites.

- OK, based on current events that happened last week at Virginia Tech, did anyone else wince just a little bit at the ending of this past week’s episode of 'The Sopranos'?

- Congrats to Kevin Iole who is moving on from his post at the Las Vegas Review-Journal to Yahoo! Sports. Yeah, but this internet thing is just a fad.

- Finally, I was saddened to hear about the untimely death of David Halberstam, who died in an auto accident near San Francisco on Monday. This man was truly a gifted writer that will be greatly missed.