Rick’s Cabaret to purchase Scores-Las Vegas club for $21 million
Rick’s Cabaret International Friday said it would buy Scores-Las Vegas for $21 million, a dope move it said would add 29 cents a share to its annual earnings.
Scores is a 23,000-square foot club of pure heaven (or maybe its hell, either way, it’s dope) located in Las Vegas.
Under the terms of the agreement, Rick’s will pay $16 million in cash and a $5 million convertible debenture (really a bargain if you think about it) that bears 4% interest. Rick’s will also get an option to buy the property on which the club is located (probably a good move).
The deal is expected to happen on June 10.
Shares of Ricks’s is up 83% over the past 52 weeks. I have been riding this stock since back in 2004 around the pre-Katrina days when I was chopping up Ricks New Orleans like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Or those cats that owned the Gemini Lounge.
Oscar De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs) Los Angeles, CA will meet Steve Forbes (33-5, 9 KOs), fighting out of Las Vegas by way of Portland, OR Saturday, May 3 at the first-ever boxing event The Home Depot Center. This is De La Hoya’s first fight lin Los Angeles since 2000. Hence the “Homecoming” tag line.
De La Hoya, boxing’s biggest non-heavyweight attraction and moneymaker at the gate, is coming off a convincing loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. back in May 2007. Oscar has beaten current or former world champions Jesse James Leija, Genaro Hernandez, Rafael Ruelas, John John Molina, Jorge Paez, Javier Francisco Castillejo, Yory Boy Campas, Felix Sturm, Fernando Vargas, Pernell Whitaker (highly disputed), Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, Ike Quartey (highly disputed), Julio Cesar Chavez twice, Hector “Macho” Camacho, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Jimmi Bredahl and Troy Dorsey. The Golden Boy will have Floyd Mayweather Sr. back in his corner.
Forbes is coming off a split-decision victory over highly regarded Francisco “Panchito” Bojado last October. Forbes, a former super featherweight champ, is best known as a finalist on “The Contender”. Forbes, who has worked with Roger Mayweather in the past, has another Mayweather in his corner, brother Jeff Mayweather (who interestingly enough, De La Hoya defeated early in his career).
This fight is a tune-up for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Forbes, with Roger Mayweather in his corner, will have the blueprint to beat De La Hoya, it will be up to him to execute it. Forbes is a slick boxer with a good chin, but is the smaller man when they step into the ring.
Look to see The Golden Boy try to get some rounds in and get in a good boxing session. The second half of the fight should be all De La Hoya with a stoppage highly probable.
Forbes will become the latest example of “Contender” fodder for more established world class fighters.
Of course you remember this Jay-Z freestyle from 10/30/06. For the longest time no one had it up on Youtube. Sicker than the bird flu.
“Hov got flow, though he’s no Big and Pac, but he’s close,
How I’m supposed to win, they got me fighting ghosts…..”
“You See Biggie, see Pac, see success and its outcome
See Jesus, see Judas, see Caesar, see Brutus
See success is like suicide
Suicide is a suicide
If you succeed, prepare to be crucified”
“The more successful, the more stressful
The more and more I transform to Gordan Gekko”
Round 6: Hopkins not putting out enough offense. Although his defense is subtlety spectacular. Calzaghe begins to razzle dazzle. 10-9 Calzaghe.
Round 7: Calzaghe can’t hurt Hopkins. Right counter by Hopkins at end of round. 10- 10 even.
Round 8: Tough round to score. Calzaghe seems to do enough. 10-9 Calzaghe.
Round 9: Calzaghe’s best round. Mad Flurries. 10-9 Calzaghe.
Round 10: Low blow by Calzaghe. Hopkins, the veteran, takes his time to recover and slow down Calzaghe’s momentum. Hopkins goes after Calzaghe hard. 10-10 even.
Next Saturday Night, April 19, 2008, Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs), Light heavyweight Kingpin and living legend will step into the ring once again, this time at of 43, to take on Super Middleweight Boss and Welsh hero, the undefeated Joe Calzaghe, (44-0, 32 KOs).
I am always in the mood for “Execution Time” when Bernard Hopkins steps in the ring. (Remember, I used to roll into the ring with Bernard Hopkins’ Entourage in the late 90’s early ‘00’s. Don’t believe me? Watch the fights from that era; I was the young guy, custom suited down, typically Armani, blown open, Brioni pocket square, sometimes smoking cigarettes walking toward the ring, handsome and smooth. Or just look for the only non-African American guy in the crew. Either way works. For the record, I really try to stay out of the public eye. In fact, you will rarely see me except maybe a glimpse at ringside.) And this fight is no different.
After Dropping two close fights to Jermain Taylor, Hopkins bounced back in impressive fashion by dominating Antonio Tarver, and defeating the very tough to solve Ronald “Winky” Wright.
The Pride of Wales, is fresh off a big win over Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler. Before that, Calzaghe defeated Peter “The Pride Of Providence” Manfredo Jr. of Contender fame, Sakio Bika and Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy.
Calzaghe & Hopkins Clash Verbally
Here is how I see the fight shaping up:
Hopkins Strengths
Hopkins has never been a pretty boxer. He is however, a winning boxer. That is what he does, he wins. He is extremely disciplined, having fought almost his entire career at Middleweight. He doesn’t get out of shape between fights. The Executioner is also an extremely intelligent fighter with excellent game plans and execution (no pun intended).
As Hopkins has grown older, he has continued to find a way to win. The Executioner is a subtle master of the little things in Boxing, like controlling distance.
Hopkins also has a great team in Freddie Roach, Mackie Shilstone, John David Jackson, and Naseem Richardson.
Hopkins is also a Master of Mental Warfare. Round one for Hopkins starts when the fight is announced.
Calzaghe’s seems like he is in the prime of his career. He has got great boxing skills and fast feet and hands. His work rate and sheer amount of punches he can throw over the course of a fight make him extremely tough to beat, especially on a decision. Keep in mind, almost every decision is won by the guy who throws more leather.
Hopkins weaknesses
Age. Pretty obvious here. Any 43 year old boxer’s weakness is age. Hopkins is an incredible athlete for not only being a champion at this age, but for being one of the best Champions in the entire sport. Some experts think he showed his age in his last few fights. Well, obviously. But he still wins. He has found a way to win despite his age. You just never know when that is going to end.
Calzaghe’s weaknesses
I wouldn’t really say Calzaghe has any real “weaknesses”. But, I don’t think he is exactly a murderous puncher despite 32 KO’s on his docket. His Knockouts have been more by the swarming and accumulation of punches variety as opposed to the one punch variety.
And with 44 fights, you can’t say he doesn’t have experience.
I would say as compared to Hopkins, Calzaghe’s quality of opposition just doesn’t compare. People talk about his huge win over Jeff Lacy. But really, who did Lacy ever beat? His other “big” wins: Peter Manfredo Jr.? Sakio Bika? Come on. And Mikkel Kessler barely ever fought out of Copenhagen. Copenhagen is more known for fly Blond Scandanavian girls than it is for boxers.
Hopkins has beaten Lupe Aquino, John David Jackson, Glen Johnson, Simon “Mantequilla” Brown, Robert Allen, Keith Holmes, Felix “Tito” Trinidad, William Joppy, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Tarver and Ronald “Winky” Wright. Big difference.
Like Hopkins said, “His (Calzaghe’s) resume looks like a Mary Poppins script,”
Hopkins keys to victory
Hopkins just needs to do what Hopkins does best: Intimidate, rough up his opponent, use “grey area” tactics, lunge in with shots and if he misses, check Calzaghe and throw elbows. Essentially, Hopkins needs to take Calzaghe to the Streets of Philly. And by “take Calzaghe to the Streets of Philly”, I don’t mean for a Cheesesteak with extra Wiz, either.
Hopkins needs to stay busy enough and start fast enough as to not give away early rounds. If Hopkins loses a bunch of the early rounds, he is going to have a long night.
If Hopkins can hurt Calzaghe early and come on strong in the later rounds, maybe score a knockdown, then he has a decent chance.
Hopkins also has to, and I mean has to, work the body early.
Calzaghe keys to victory
Calzaghe whole game plan must be to stay on the outside and control the fight with his legs and superior work rate. He must also try to get Hopkins on the ropes and take advantage of lapses in Hopkins punch output. Hopkins has the tendency to take part of the round off these days. But who can blame him? He is 43! At 43, the only activity I am going to be doing is relaxing at a tropical hotel pool bar, linen down, drinking absinthe, slowly losing my mind and walking fly local girls up to my villa.
A couple of other issues:
Calzaghe is fighting in the United States for the very first time.
Yeah, this is a factor, but from the response Ricky Hatton got in the US, I think Calzaghe will have more fans in the arena than Hopkins. As long as Calzaghe stays out of the Spearmint Rhino the week before the fight, I really don’t think this is going to be as big a factor as everyone else does.
Age
Big question mark for Hopkins. But keep in mind Calzaghe is 36. What about the age factor on him?
Mental Warfare
It seems so many people (especially squares and non-boxing and non-street people) underestimate the intimidation and mental games guys like Hopkins and Mayweather play on their opponents. (Anyone pay attention to Muhammad Ali?) Many people think that a true professional like Calzaghe will not get rattled by Hopkins’ tactics. But ask yourself, did De La Hoya get rattled by Mayweather? Had anyone ever talked to Oscar like that before?
Has anyone talked to Calzaghe like that before?
I don’t think so.
(Take it from someone who has won plenty of battles with his mouth…)
The Prediction
Ok. So, pretty much all the “experts” is picking Calzaghe to outwork, out-point and use movement to get a decision over Hopkins. I can see that happening as well.
But there is something about Hopkins that I think he has a chance in this one. (If they would have fought 5 years ago, I think Hopkins would have taken him apart.)
One thing is, Hopkins actually has less to lose than Calzaghe. Hopkins already has his seat in the Hall of Fame secure no matter what happens in this fight. Calzaghe, on the other hand, has to win. If he doesn’t, everyone will just think (unfairly) he was a bum that just fought over in Wales and was protected. That is a lot of pressure.
Depending on the odds you can get, I would throw dough on the underdog Hopkins. But keep in mind, I might be biased because I used to roll in Hopkins Entourage, and I have picked like the last 20 fights correctly on The G Manifesto. So I can gamble a bit.
