NO HOLDS BARRED

(Photo of Steve Cunningham and Naazim Richardson from Ed Diller/DiBella, photo of Antonio Tarver courtesy of Showtime)

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman previews the fights between heavyweights Antonio Tarver and Steve Cunningham, and cruiserweights Marco Huck and Krysztof Glowacki, and discusses the odious trash talk which has accompanied the buildup for the Tarver-Cunningham fight.

In the main event of a card to be held on Friday, August 14, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the 46-year-old Antonio Tarver (31-6, 22 KOs), the former unified light heavyweight champion, will continue his improbable campaign to gain a heavyweight title as he faces the 39-year-old former cruiserweight world champion, Steve Cunningham (28-7, 13 KOs). In his last fight, in December 2014, Tarver scored a seventh-round knockout win over heavyweight contender Johnathon Banks. In March of this year, Cunningham lost a close and controversial decision to unbeaten heavyweight contender Vyacheslav Glazkov, a fight many thought Cunningham deserved to win.

While these two veteran fighters try to advance in the heavyweight rankings, the co-feature will have WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck (38-2-1, 26 KOs) defending his belt against unbeaten challenger Krysztof Glowacki (24-0, 15 KOs) of Poland. Huck, originally from Serbia and based in Germany, has only one loss in his career at cruiserweight: a 2007 TKO stoppage at the hands of Steve Cunningham.

This card, part of the Premier Boxing Champions series, will be shown live in the U.S. on Spike TV.

We spoke with Antonio Tarver, Steve Cunningham, Marco Huck, and Krysztof Glowacki on a recent acrimonious media conference call.

We also explain why the Tarver-Cunningham fight is important and interesting on its own merits, why resorting to trash talk only promotes negative values, why even from a business perspective the trash talk is bad for boxing and the Premier Boxing Champions series, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web, at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/no-holds-barred-with-eddie-goldman.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at AmericanTopTeam.com.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.

Labels: Antonio Tarver, Eddie Goldman, Krysztof Glowacki, Marco Huck, No Holds Barred, PBC, Premier Boxing Champions, Steve Cunningham, trash talk

Labels: Antonio Tarver, boxing, Carl Froch, Eddie Goldman, Kid Chocolate, Lateef Kayode, Lucian Bute, No Holds Barred, Peter Quillin, Winky Wright

NO HOLDS BARRED on PodOmatic

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman begins by outlining the history leading up to the present logjam in boxing's storied light heavyweight division. While IBF light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson remained unbeaten this past Saturday night, May 9, by winning a unanimous decision in his rematch with Antonio Tarver, his performance failed to win many accolades or lay the groundwork for a fight with other top light heavyweights such as Bernard Hopkins or Glen Johnson. Once again, boxing's politics have driven this division into the quicksand.

On May 30, one of the rising stars of the welterweight division, 25-year-old WBC champion Andre Berto (24-0, 19 KOs), will defend his belt against the 28-year-old reigning IBF junior welterweight champion, Juan Urango (21-1-1, 16 KOs). This fight will take place in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and be shown live in the U.S. on HBO.

At a recent prefight news conference at the new Yankee Stadium, we had a chance to discuss this fight with Andre Berto, Juan Urango, and Urango's trainer, Evangelista Cotto. You can hear that all right here on No Holds Barred.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.

Make sure to visit the official boxing forum for No Holds Barred, the MySpace Boxing Forum.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.

BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

Wrestling 411, providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions, whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.

FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.

Fair Deal for Atlantic City Dealers, a campaign organized by an alliance of casino workers and unions in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to fight for justice in the gaming industry and achieve a fair deal for all casino workers.

Labels: Andre Berto, Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins, boxing, Chad Dawson, Eddie Goldman, Evangelista Cotto, Glen Johnson, HBO, Joe Calzaghe, Juan Urango, light heavyweight, No Holds Barred, Tavoris Cloud

SecondsOut Radio with Eddie Goldman

On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman begins by reviewing the TKO victory by Vitali Klitschko (36-2, 35 KOs) over Samuel Peter (30-2, 23 KOs) to capture the WBC heavyweight championship, and the unanimous decision victory by Chad Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs) over Antonio Tarver (27-5, 19 KOs) to capture the IBF light heavyweight championship. Both fights took place this past Saturday, October 11.

This coming Saturday, October 18, the undefeated Kelly Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs), still the middleweight champion, steps up to light heavyweight to face the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion, Bernard Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs), in a 12-round fight at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This fight will be shown in the U.S. on HBO Pay-Per-View.

When both Kelly Pavlik and Bernard Hopkins were in New York for the kickoff news conference for this fight, they spoke with the boxing media about what to expect in their showdown. We have these discussions for you as a preview to this fight.

It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, and listen, learn, and enjoy.

Labels: Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins, boxing, Chad Dawson, Eddie Goldman, Jack Loew, Kelly Pavlik, Naazim Richardson, Samuel Peter, SecondsOut Radio, Vitali Klitschko

We have a pair of new threads on our online journal of boxing, The Boxing Standard, about this coming Saturday's double dose of title doubleheaders on HBO and Showtime.

On HBO, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, two welterweight title fights will be featured. The undefeated WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25 KOs) will defend his title against the popular Alfonso Gomez (18-3-2, 8 KOs). Also, IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (29-1, 27 KOs) will try to avenge the only defeat of his professional career when he fights Antonio Margarito (35-5, 25 KOs).

Also on April 12, at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, two light heavyweight title fights will be featured on Showtime. The former undisputed light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs) will try to win another belt when he faces IBF light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods (41-3-1, 24 KOs). Also, one of the rising stars in boxing, WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (25-0, 17 KOs), will face former world champion Glen Johnson (47-11-2, 32 KOs).

Here are the titles of our most recent articles:

Are You Watching the Fight Saturday Night?

April 12: Good, But Not The Best

Intelligent comments, no matter how short or long, are more than welcome, so stop on by and join the discussion!

Labels: Alfonso Gomez, Antonio Margarito, Antonio Tarver, boxing, Boxing Standard, Chad Dawson, Charles Farrell, Clinton Woods, Eddie Goldman, Frank Lotierzo, Glen Johnson, Kermit Cintron, Miguel Cotto

SecondsOut Radio with Eddie Goldman

On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie
Goldman previews the two major cards which will be televised this coming Saturday, April 12, in the U.S.

On that date, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, two welterweight title fights will be featured on HBO. The undefeated WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25 KOs) will defend his title against the popular Alfonso Gomez (18-3-2, 8 KOs). Also, IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (29-1, 27 KOs) will try to avenge the only defeat of his professional career when he fights Antonio Margarito (35-5, 25 KOs).

We spoke with Miguel Cotto, Alfonso Gomez, and Kermit Cintron when they were recently in New York for a news conference to announce this fight.

Also on April 12, at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, two light heavyweight title fights will be featured on Showtime. The former undisputed light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs) will try to win another belt when he faces IBF light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods (41-3-1, 24 KOs). Also, one of the rising stars in boxing, WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (25-0, 17 KOs), will face former world champion Glen Johnson (47-11-2, 32 KOs).

We spoke this past week with Antonio Tarver, Chad Dawson, Clinton Woods, and Glen Johnson on a media teleconference call.

It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, and listen, learn, and enjoy.

Labels: Alfonso Gomez, Antonio Tarver, boxing, Chad Dawson, Clinton Woods, Eddie Goldman, Glen Johnson, HBO, Kermit Cintron, Miguel Cotto, SecondsOut Radio, Showtime

SecondsOut Radio with Eddie Goldman

On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman begins by reviewing the main fights held this past Saturday night, December 1, at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, and televised in the U.S. on Showtime.

After their fights, we spoke with two of the victorious fighters: Antonio Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs), who won by a fourth-round TKO over journeyman Danny Santiago (29-4-1, 19 KOs), and IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire (19-1, 12 KOs), who scored an eighth-round TKO over veteran Luis Maldonado (37-2-1, 28 KOs). We also discuss the 11th-round TKO victory by Vernon Forrest (40-2, 29 KOs) over former IBF world welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo (48-4, 30 KOs). Plus, we get the views of WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson on Antonio Tarver's performance, and what his own plans are.

In addition, we explain why smoking should not be allowed in boxing arenas, as it still is where this card was held.

Next, we preview the highly-anticipated December 8 showdown between two undefeated champion fighters, WBC welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs), who is generally recognized as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs), who is generally recognized as the top junior welterweight in the world. This fight will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be shown in the US on HBO Pay-Per-View.

On a series of media teleconference calls, we spoke with all the principals in this fight: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Ricky Hatton, Mayweather's trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather, and Hatton's trainers Billy Graham and Kerry Kayes. We touched on the major themes and storylines of this fight, and got the educated views of both camps about what they expect to happen December 8, and why.

It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, and listen, learn, and enjoy.

Labels: Antonio Tarver, Billy Graham, boxing, Chad Dawson, Eddie Goldman, Floyd Mayweather, Foxwoods, HBO, Kerry Kayes, Nonito Donaire, pay-per-view, Ricky Hatton, Roger Mayweather, SecondsOut Radio, Showtime

NO HOLDS BARRED on PodOmatic

On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman previews two important boxing cards coming up in the next several days, and takes on the issue of comparing boxing and mixed martial arts. We also answer some compelling e-mails.

We begin by speaking with boxing promoter Lou DiBella about the decline of boxing in the U.S. and the relationship – or non-relationship – of that decline to the growth of mixed martial arts. His commentary is explosive and controversial about both these sports.

DiBella is joining forces with Bob Arum's Top Rank and Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing to co-promote a show Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Utopia Paradise Theater in the Bronx, NY. Headlining that card will be a fight between NABF 154-pound titleholder Andrey Tsurkan (25-2, 16 KOs), born in Ukraine and living in the Bronx, and undefeated challenger Yuri Foreman (23-0, 8 KOs), born in Belarus and living in Brooklyn. The winner improves his chances at getting a shot at the WBC title in that weight, presently held by Vernon Forrest. This fight will be televised live in the U.S. on Versus.

We spoke with both Andrey Tsurkan and Yuri Foreman as well as Lou DiBella at a New York news conference Wednesday.

This coming Saturday, December 1, Vernon Forrest will be co-featured on a major card at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, and televised live in the U.S. on Showtime.

On that show, former world light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (25-4, 18 KOs) takes on journeyman Danny Santiago (29-3-1, 19 KOs); WBC super welterweight champion Vernon Forrest (39-2, 28 KOs) faces former IBF world welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo (48-3, 30 KOs); and IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire (18-1, 11 KOs) fights veteran Luis Maldonado (37-1-1, 28 KOs).

We spoke with Antonio Tarver, Vernon Forrest, and Nonito Donaire at a New York news conference Tuesday to get their takes on these fights.

To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click here and just press the play button on the player.

You can also listen to it through this blog and the NO HOLDS BARRED MySpace page, also by pressing the play button on the player.

Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes.

The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

If you want to leave a comment on the show, you can do so on this blog.

The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter.

NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

Art of War, the undisputed arena fighting championship, promoted by SUN Sports and Entertainment, producing world class mixed martial arts events. For more information, check out their web site, ArtOfWarLive.com.

IFL, the International Fight League, the world's first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) in the U.S. and to check your local listings for dates and times. You can also catch IFL Battleground on MyNetworkTV. Check out the IFL web site, ifl.tv, for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule.

Gladiator Challenge, shaking up the mixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year. For more news and info, check out their web site, GladiatorChallenge.com.

BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.

FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.

Labels: Andrey Tsurkan, Antonio Tarver, BJJ, boxing, Eddie Goldman, jiu-jitsu, Lou DiBella, mixed martial arts, MMA, No Holds Barred, Nonito Donaire, UFC, ultimate fighting, Vernon Forrest, Yuri Foreman

SecondsOut Radio with Eddie Goldman

On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman begins by reviewing the majority decision victory this past Friday, November 23, by Ricardo Mayorga (28-6-1, 22 KOs) over Fernando Vargas (26-5, 22 KOs) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Vargas, 29, announced that he is now retiring as an active fighter.

This coming Saturday, December 1, there is another major card, this time to the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. On that show, former world light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (25-4, 18 KOs) takes on journeyman Danny Santiago (29-3-1, 19 KOs), and WBC super welterweight champion Vernon Forrest (39-2, 28 KOs) faces former IBF world welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo (48-3, 30 KOs). These fights, along with the title defense by IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire against veteran Luis Maldonado, will be televised in the U.S. on Showtime.

We spoke with Antonio Tarver, Vernon Forrest, and Michele Piccirillo on a media teleconference call.

It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, and listen, learn, and enjoy.

Labels: Antonio Tarver, boxing, Danny Santiago, Eddie Goldman, Fernando Vargas, Foxwoods, Luis Maldonado, Michele Piccirillo, Nonito Donaire, Ricardo Mayorga, SecondsOut Radio, Showtime, Vernon Forrest