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Grant Set for HBO Return; Gatti Scores Three-Fight deal
By Johnnie Whitehead (April 16, 2003)
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If former heavyweight contender Michael Grant (37-2, 27 KOs), who has fought out of the public eye since consecutive knockout losses to Lennox Lewis and Jameel McCline, wins this Friday's bout without a hitch he'll be scheduled to reappear on HBO.
Grant, who faces Gilbert Martinez on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights, would be featured June 7 on HBO on the undercard of Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward III at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, against rising prospect Dominick Guinn (21-0, 16 KOs).
"This kid has never seen anything close to what Michael has seen," said Teddy Atlas, Grant's trainer. "This spot is right, the opponent is right and if Michael does what he needs to do he should handle a guy like (Guinn)."
Guinn, who turned pro in 2000, recently scored a ninth-round stoppage of Charles Hatcher, but has yet to face an opponent with the experience and success of Grant. Grant has won his past six consecutive bouts, all by stoppage. His most notable one coming against fringe contender Robert Davis in August of last year, and this will be his second appearance on ESPN.
"Win or lose, I think it's the right move," said Atlas, adding that Guinn's reputation as a puncher isn't cause for great concern. "Reality is who you fight, not your record and not the knockouts you have."
GATTI WITH HBO: Though it probably won't be announced until the press tour commences for Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward III, sources have informed MaxBoxing that the former world champion has signed a three-fight deal with the network. HBO wouldn't comment, but the deal is predicated on Gatti not only winning but fighting "non-mandatory" type of fights.
BLOWING SMOKE: WBA featherweight titleholder Derrick Gainer heard HBO wasn't too thrilled with his performance this past weekend against Oscar Leon. And neither was he. So "Smoke" called Xavier James, a programming executive at the network.
"I told him he looked a little bit rusty in the beginning," said James. "It wasn't terribly unimpressive, but it wasn't impressive either."
What's important for Gainer (39-5-1, 25 KOs) is that he got the victory. What he didn't achieve, however, is convincing Forum Boxing it should match him against featherweight king Marco Antonio Barrera, who pounded out Kevin Kelley in four rounds that same night in the main event mismatch.
"Stylistically they have a problem with that fight and Smoke doesn't bring a lot to the table in terms of marquee value," said James. "They'd have to pay Smoke more money out of the license fee they get out of HBO plus the site fee."
Gainer understands he didn't do himself any favors last weekend, but contends Barrera and Erik Morales, the division's two biggest names, have built their reputations on beating up junior featherweights such as Johnny Tapia and Paulie Ayala, has-beens such as Kevin Kelley, and unproven hotshots like Naseem Hamed.
"I gave them (Barrera and Morales) the excuse not to fight me," says Gainer of his split decision win against Oscar Leon. "I should have fought better. I have to get away from using my legs and use my hands. I'm a work in progress. I'll be the first to tell you that. But if I was a pushover, these guys would want to fight me. I've got to help myself when I get in the ring and cash in on these opportunities."
Gainer blames his slow start on not being able to warm up properly before the bout, saying he had 10 minutes to get ready -- he was told he wouldn't go on until 7 p.m. -- after he arrived at the arena and having to rewrap his hands.
"I gave myself a seven on the fight. That was my first time fighting a hard fight in almost three years," he said. "I know if I fight Barrera, I wouldn't be able to fight him the way I fought Leon."
If Barrera doesn't rematch with Morales for a third time this year -- according to HBO, both sides are discussing it -- the network would like to see junior feathers Oscar Larios and Manny Pacquiao square off for the right to face Barrera. "Let me fight Ayala and then compare me to Barrera,'' says Gainer. "He gets to beat up junior featherweights. Let's make this even and put me in with the same guys."
Would HBO want to put Gainer, who has suffered immensely from the Roy Jones backlash and inactivity, on its air against Barrera?
"Absolutely," said James. "It's the two of the best featherweights in the world."
Contact Johnnie Whitehead at BoxingSoulChild@aol.com
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