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Boxing

The Squared Circle



It was last Friday at Las Staple Centre where 29-year-old Ricardo Mayorga out machoed veteran Fernando Vargas and sent the tough super middleweight into an early retirement after a very tough, 12-round majority decision. Both pugilists showed a noticeable animosity towards each other, which culminated in a pier-six brawl at a prefight press conference.

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After an intense close fight, which saw momentum sway back and forth between the two throughout the bout, both came away with mutual respect and graciousness after the close decision was rendered. Following the bout, Mayorga stated that he wants to drop down to the middleweight division to attempt to set up some big money fights with the likes of Miguel Cotto or Floyd Mayweather. Speaking about Floyd "The Barber" Mayweather, we are only about 10 days away from his welterweight title fight with Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton December 8th, in Las Vegas. This eagerly awaited showdown between the widely regarded pound for pound in the world putting up his title against the fast rising lion of the sport has all the makings of a barnburner and could be a serious candidate for fight of the year. Many in the sport question whether Hatton is ready for such a big fight so far away from home, but surprisingly one huge name in the sport that is firmly behind Hatton and his chances is the fight promoter, none other the the Golden Boy himself who has told insiders that Hatton has a real chance of upsetting the talented but non charismatic champion. It should be a helluva barnburner on December 29th when former UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre of Saint-Isadore, Quebec meets up with former 2-time champion and MMA legend Matt Hughes in Las Vegas for the interim Welterweight championship of the world. This will be the rubber match with both holding a win over the other in what has become one of the great rivalries in the sport. The winner of the match is assured of a title shot with Matt Sera, who was the original opponent for Hughes, but had to back out due to a back injury. The UFC has grown so quickly over the past few years and this match as part of UFC 79 will be the final success in a year of impressive growth worldwide. Great to hear that some of my boxing buddies around town have gotten big roles in the now-in -production "The Phantom Punch" a movie starring Ving Rhymes about former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston and his two fights with Muhammad Ali. My great buddy Ray Marsh, a first class boxing trainer who has carved himself a solid second career as a character actor, plays a role as the referee in the first Ali-Liston tilt. Eggerton Marcus landed himself a plum role as former champ Floyd Patterson and former Olympian Mark Simmons and John Kalbhenn have featured supporting roles. Toronto has become a hotbed for boxing flicks being filmed here with Against the Ropes, Marciano, Cinderella Man and now The Phantom Punch being produced and shot here. Can't wait to see the flick. Liston was one of the greatest. Speaking of acting and the fight game,huge congratulations go out to my dearest buddies Anthony and Michael Di Florio for a job well done with their starring roles in History Channels "Mob Stories”. Anthony, who played Mike Racco, a legendary Canadian Mafioso, was absolutely brilliant in the role! The Di Florio Twins are two of the most solid citizens you could find anywhere, but next to the greats as Pacino or DeNiro you would be hard pressed to find two guys who could play the roles as well as they did. And extra congratulations to Mike DiFlorio and his wife Rose for becoming first time grandparents last weekend when their beautiful Angela gave birth to the lovely,healthy Valentina. I myself feel sentimental about the event as I was there 28 years ago on January 13th 1979 at Humber Memorial Hospital when the beautiful Angela was born, keeping her pacing dad company in the waiting room. You know there had to be a boxing moment to the event as that was the same day so many years ago when Tommy Hearns stopped the former Canadian welterweight champ and world contender in 3 rounds in Detroit on national TV. As great as The Hitman was, Angela coming into the world was a hell of a lot more memorable for this sportswriter. Luv ya all Until next week


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Edward Zawadzki -- Bio and Archives

It is with a heavy heart that I write tonight that sportscaster, ‘King of Fight’ Eddie Zawadzki is gone.  Eddie’s sister, Christine called to tell Canada Free Press (CFP) that Eddie died this morning of a massive heart attack, age 55.

Death of sportscaster ‘King of Fight’ Eddie Zawadzki


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