Sonstiges » o-back knockouts of the year over James Kirkland and Amir

SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento Kings took just enough encouragement from a win on the final day of a long road trip to provide comfort that their season may begin to turn around now that they get to hang out at home for a while.Their first visitor is a New Orleans Pelicans team dealing with a campaign that seems to be spinning out of control already.The Pelicans, fresh off their seventh consecutive loss to start the season, roll into Golden 1 Center on Tuesday night. They bring with them a six-game winning streak against the host Kings, but thats about the only positive thing on their end.Sacramento hasnt had many high moments in the seasons first two weeks, but a win in the finale of a five-game road trip was one of them. The Kings 96-91 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday prevented a winless trek on their five-game roadie, the teams first of the year.Much needed, Kings center DeMarcus Cousins called it. It was a confidence boost and a momentum boost.Now they begin a stretch in which seven of their next eight are at home, with coach Dave Joerger hoping his teams defense against the Raptors is an indicator of things to come. The Kings held Toronto to 36 percent shooting and turned around the game by holding the Raptors to only 16 third-quarter points while surrendering a season-low 91.That effort came after Sacramento allowed an average of 108.3 points in the first four games of the trip, including a season-high 117 in a loss at Milwaukee on Saturday. Sacramento, which finished last in the NBA allowing 109.1 points per game a season ago, was 15th (102.9) through their first six games this season.We did what were hoping to make our identity throughout the course of the year, Joerger said. Thats getting after people defensively.Offensively, Kings center DeMarcus Cousins still provides the biggest production. His 25.5-point scoring average ranked ninth in the NBA through Sunday, and he also was averaging 9.1 rebounds, good for 19th. He clobbered the Pelicans in both categories a season ago, averaging 29.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in four games against them.The Kings didnt win any of them, however. New Orleans hasnt lost to Sacramento since Nov. 25, 2014.Continuing that success would be a welcome development for head coach Alvin Gentry, whose teams season-opening seven-game skid is one longer than a season ago. The Pelicans overcame a 21-point deficit at Golden State on Monday before losing 116-106. That loss followed two straight overtime defeats.As Gentry tries to hold his team together, its season appears to be crumbling. The Pelicans already were without guards Jrue Holiday (personal reasons), Tyreke Evans (right knee) and Quincy Poindexter (left knee), when they lost guard Lance Stephenson to a groin injury last week.New Orleans released Stephenson on Monday and signed guard Archie Goodwin to replace him.I dont know what to say. It just sucks, center Anthony Davis said of New Orleans early struggles. Weve got to keep fighting. Just keep fighting and find a way to win.Center Anthony Davis hasnt been the problem. He finished Mondays game against the Warriors averaging 30.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Davis has tallied 30 percent of New Orleans points and 28 percent of their boards.The Kings chances depend on stopping him. Davis, now in his third year out of Kentucky -- the same college Cousins attended -- averaged a team-high 27.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in three games against Sacramento a season ago.Sacramento will welcome back point guard Darren Collison after his eight-game suspension for a domestic violence incident. Old Skool Clearance . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. Discount Old Skool . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.cheapoldskoolchina.com/ . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. 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ARLINGTON, Texas-- Immediately after Canelo Alvarez retained the middleweight championship by brutally knocking out Amir Khan in May, he invited an interested spectator into the ring.Unified titleholder Gennady Golovkin climbed through the ropes and while there was no confrontation between the two fighters, Alvarez made it clear that he, too, wanted what fans have been demanding -- a title unification fight with GGG that looms as the biggest event in boxing.With Golovkin standing a few feet away from him, Alvarez explained when asked in his post-fight HBO interview with Max Kellerman why he invited GGG into the ring.Like we say in Mexico, we dont f--- around, Alvarez said through translator. I dont fear anyone. We dont come to play in this sport. I dont fear anyone in this sport.With his machismo oozing, Alvarez made it clear that Golovkin -- his mandatory challenger by virtue of his interim belt -- would be next and he reiterated his stance at the post-fight news conference. So did Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya, who said he would call Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler the next day to begin negotiations, adding that he hoped Loefflers cell phone would be on.Yet the fight was not made -- not even close. And it was not because of Golovkin, who has been chasing Alvarez and is under no delusions about which fighter was the A-side of the promotion.There was no real negotiation. Instead, Alvarez, the lineal middleweight champion (albeit fighting at his preferred catchweight of 155 pounds), gave up his alphabet title and left Golovkin, who was elevated to full titleholder and now owns three major belts, and fans around the world out in the cold.De La Hoya and Loeffler said they made an informal agreement that they would negotiate the fight to take place in September 2017 while Alvarez, bashed by fans for what has been perceived as an outright duck of GGG, elected to return to junior middleweight, where he once held unified titles. Instead of the megafight with Golovkin, Alvarez will challenge Englands little known 154-pound titlist Liam Smith on Saturday night (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET) at AT&T Stadium.The fight is on Mexican Independence Day weekend and has already sold more tickets than the two Manny Pacquiao fights the stadium hosted in 2010, according to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who also owns the stadium. That means a crowd of more than 50,000. Alvarez, one of boxings biggest stars, would draw a crowd to fight anyone, but just imagine the hype, crowd and pay-per-view bonanza for a Golovkin fight.Alas, it remains on hold and a distant prospect. Golovkin traveled to London last week and knocked out welterweight titlist Kell Brook in the fifth round and is expected back in the ring Nov. 26. If Alvarez beats Smith -- and he is a massive favorite to do so -- he is expected back in the ring Dec. 10 as they continue to circle each other.Golovkin, 34, the Santa Monica, California-based Kazakhstan native, wants the fight as soon as possible. Alvarez, 26, of Mexico, and his team are in no rush, claiming Alvarez needs time to build himself into a true 160-pounder.Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) has been forced to repeatedly defend his choice of Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs), 28, who has made two successful title defenses and scored eight knockouts in a row but has never faced a top opponent and is unknown outside of England.Just because Smith isnt very well-known in the U.S. doesnt diminish how tough he is as an opponent, Alvarez said. We expect him to be very powerful, and we are training for that.Despite the heavy criticism by fans and media for dodging Golovkin, Alvarez said he is ignoring it.Yeah, you know, theres always gooing to be critics, he said.dddddddddddd Theyre always there, and its something thats part of it. Its part of the business. Obviously, theres good critics sometimes and theres bad critics. But the most important thing is it doesnt faze me. It doesnt faze me. Thats fine, Im used to it now, and Ive got to do whats best for my career.When De La Hoya was an active fighter during his Hall of Fame career, he had a sterling reputation for fighting all the top fighters of his time and never ducking anyone. But he has been as responsible as anyone for Alvarezs career direction -- perhaps, as many have suggested, as a way to protect his companys cash cow.Its basically the teams decision, you know? I mean, Canelo knows his body, De La Hoya said. His trainers know his body, and the bottom line is Canelo is a 154-pound fighter. The fact that he fought at 155, people expect him to go up and fight at middleweight, and thats not the case. Hes a 54-pounder, and hes going to go up to 160 when his body feels ready.People will always talk and will always want the very best when you are on top of the world, and thats what Canelo is right now. Hes on top. He is the star fighter in boxing, and people want him to fight the very best. And he has always fought the very best. And fighting a Golovkin is going to be no exception. Hes going to fight him, but when hes ready to move up to 160.De La Hoya and Alvarez both insist the fight will happen a year from now. De La Hoya said he and Loeffler may not have a formal deal but that they will make one.As of today, Canelo is a 154-pound fighter. He only fought for a middleweight championship because fans wanted a fight with Miguel Cotto, and Canelo delivered by winning that fight convincingly, De La Hoya said of the November 2015 fight. I have been clear that Canelo will fight Golovkin at 160 pounds and we have a verbal agreement to do it in the fall of 2017. But in the meantime, Canelo is going to build up to being a true middleweight. The plan is to face Smith, a big, bruising 154-pounder, and if Canelo emerges victorious, to start making his way up to 160 pounds and fight Golovkin on equal turf (in terms of weight).De La Hoya then laid out his plan.We envision Canelo doing a third fight in 2016 either at or close to the middleweight limit and then a fight (in May) on Cinco De Mayo at 160 before facing Golovkin in the fall, De La Hoya said. I know Canelo-Golovkin is the biggest fight to make, the fighters know its the biggest fight to make and the fans know its the biggest fight to make. Everyone agreed that a fight for the middleweight championship should take place at the middleweight limit and once Canelo builds up to that weight, the fight will be on.In the meantime, we are hopeful and confident that Canelo will continue to perform at a level that has led to back-to-back knockouts of the year over James Kirkland and Amir Khan and when his body is ready, GGG should look out.Until then, De La Hoya is focused on promoting the fight with Smith and on Alvarez winning another title Saturday.Look, people always say Ive been running from that fight (with Golovkin), Alvarez said. I wanted to make it clear to people that I dont run from anyone. I always fight the best. But the fight against Golovkin didnt happen because of negotiations. ?Theyre very difficult for such a big fight.That fight will happen when its supposed to happen. Now we have the 154-pound titleholder, Liam Smith. Obviously, hes not as big a name here in the United States, but we know how dangerous he is. 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