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    • Boxer Sergio Martinez canceled a public workout due to threats and vandalism (AP)It's a sign of the times that a boxer has to cancel an open workout for the media due to security threats, but that's what has happened Monday to middleweight Sergio Martinez.

      A combination of threats made to him and the vandalization of a car parked in front of the home where he was living caused him to cancel a workout scheduled for Tuesday in Oxnard, Calif.

      Promoter Lou DiBella said Martinez will do an open workout soon in Los Angeles to promote his Sept. 15 fight on HBO Pay-Per-View for the World Boxing Council middleweight title in Las Vegas against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

      "This past weekend, Sergio received threats from an unknown source and the car [parked] in front of his home was vandalized," DiBella said. "Unfortunately, until we have a security team in place, we are going to have to suspend any and all public and media appearances for Sergio, including the upcoming media day scheduled [Tuesday] in Oxnard. We apologize to the media and fans who had planned on attending

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    • Timothy Bradley won a split decision over Manny Pacquiao on June 9 (AP)Almost every move Timothy Bradley has made in the aftermath of his hotly disputed split decision win over Manny Pacquiao on June 9 in Las Vegas has been the wrong one.

      His decision to call out Pacquiao on Wednesday, with Pacquiao only days away from choosing his next opponent, only adds to the list of his strategic errors since the bout.

      In a decision that outraged millions around the world and prompted the Nevada attorney general to conduct a review of the bout, Bradley won a split decision over Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9 to claim the World Boxing Organization welterweight title.

      [Related: Top Rank requests MGM for Nov. 10 'Pacquiao event']

      Perhaps never in boxing history has a win hurt a man more. Even Bob Arum, Bradley's promoter, was outraged at the call. Upon the bout's completion, he raced over to reporters at ringside and railed at the call.

      Can you believe that? I had it 10-2! After I got into the ring after the fight, I went over to Bradley and said 'You

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    • USA Boxing needs to overhaul its program in order to return to glory

      By Kevin Iole | Boxing – Fri, Aug 10, 2012 7:09 PM EDT

      USA Boxing needs to get its ex-greats, like Sugar Ray Leonard, involved in the program (AP file photo)The performance of the American boxing team in the London Olympics was, sadly, predictable. American boxers have won only three gold medals in the last six Olympiads, but the 2012 team failed to win a medal of any kind.

      No American team had ever before failed to earn a medal.

      It doesn't have to be this way, of course. But it's going to take an overhaul of USA Boxing and a commitment from a lot of different directions to make it right.

      Anthony Bartkowski, the executive director of USA Boxing, in an interview with the Troy Record pointed to the improvement of other countries' boxing programs as one of the reasons for the decline of the Americans.

      The entire playing field has advanced. Other countries have developed in all sports, not just boxing. We used to have to train for one Russian, but when the Soviet Union broke up, it became 13. Then there's the Asian direction. … All countries competing with us have grown.

      They have in basketball, as well. And guess what? The Americans are as

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    • Floyd Mayweather doesn’t forget a birthday, even while in jail

      By Kevin Iole | Boxing – Thu, Aug 2, 2012 12:14 PM EDT

      Shantel Jackson and boxer Floyd Mayweather at an NBA game (AP)Floyd Mayweather Jr. has deservedly earned a reputation as the world's finest boxer. He's 43-0 and has won world championships at 130, 135, 140, 147 and 154 pounds. He's No. 1 in the Yahoo! Sports ratings.

      What may not be as well known is what a romantic he is. Even as he was finishing his sentence in the Clark County Detention Center, Mayweather didn't forget girlfriend Shantel Jackson's birthday.

      According to gossip columnist Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mayweather arranged for Jackson to receive a slew of elaborate gifts for her July 25 birthday. According to Clarke's report, they included a $30,000 Balenciaga alligator bag, diamond-encrusted jewelry and a jewel-studded pair of stiletto shoes.

      Mayweather doesn't do much, if anything, in a small way.

      Shantel Jackson shows off her birthday gifts (50 Cent Twitter feed)Mayweather's best friend and business partner, rapper 50 Cent, tweeted several photos of Jackson displaying the gifts Mayweather bought for her. He wrote, "This must be love Floyd going hard from jail."

      Mayweather is

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    • Ramirez is Team USA’s top pro boxing prospect

      By Kevin Iole | Boxing – Mon, Jul 30, 2012 6:16 PM EDT

      Jose Ramirez (R) has the ability to be a multi-division world champion. (AP)Andre Ward, the 2004 light heavyweight gold medalist, is the last American Olympian to achieve stardom as a pro. Fast-handed Gary Russell Jr., a member of the 2008 team, might become a star, as well.

      But it appears that the 2012 American team has more legitimate professional prospects than any since the 1996 team that featured Floyd Mayweather Jr., Fernando Vargas, David Reid and Antonio Tarver, among others.

      Here is an early read on the 2012 American Olympians' pro prospects:

      Jose Ramirez, lightweight -- Ramirez has a style more suited for the pros than for the crazy Olympic scoring system. He's aggressive and throws a lot of punches, and is willing to take two to land one of his.

      Best case scenario as a pro -- Becomes a multi-division world champion and a regular presence on the pound-for-pound lists, as well as a future top draw.

      Worst case scenario as a pro -- Style backfires as a pro and gets hit too often to beat the truly elite. He'll be a constant contender, but not necessarily

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