After going toe to toe in an eagerly awaited fight where neither guy lost anything and both guys helped there cause for future paydays. Both Perez & Mares former amateur rivals and good friends squared off for the first time as pro’s though not likely the last time. Over twelve fast paced rounds 2 of the 3 judges couldn’t separate them.

Proceedings started with Gary Shaw talking about Yonnhy Perez saying how fond he was of him “Yonnhy truly is one of the sweetest people i’ve ever met, he’s very loyal”

He continued with a story about Perez. “When Yonnhy won his last fight we (Shaw & Alex Camponovo who is Thompson’s general manager) said we’d come and visit him in Colombia. We flew over and stayed in a nice hotel and then drove to Yonnhy’s house. On the way the neighbourhoods got worse the streets weren’t paved. We arrived at Yonnhy’s house it was made from Cinderblock and there were curtains hanging in the door ways inside acting as doors there were openings for windows but no windows. I said we need to give him some money. If he wins his next fight he can move to a nicer neighbourhood”

To which Perez answered “I will never leave, this is my home, these are my people, this is where i live”

If that’s not enough to show how humble Perez is then Shaw added that Perez stays at trainer Danny Zamora’s home when he’s in America training and sends all his money home each month to his family except $400 which is what he uses for his rent and food.

“Danny is one of the best trainers around” Shaw added when talking about Perez long-time trainer.

Shaw continued saying he’d speak to Richard Schaefer about a rematch but also added he will also speak to Fernando Beltran who was on hand about a possible fight with newly minted WBC/WBO champion Fernando Montiel. It also came to light that Perez had hurt his hand in the fourth or fifth round the extent of the injury wasn’t divulged.

At this time it was Perez turn to take the podium “Thank you guys, you saw a great fight, Abner’s a great fighter and friend”

“Abner will become a world champion. He has four ways WBC, WBA & WBO but not by winning the IBF title”

“You guys are on about a rematch but where going to sit down and see. Darchinyan called me out and that’s a fight i want”

Next to the dais was Oscar De La Hoya turned the assembled pressroom’s attention to his guy “Yonnhy gave a great fight, but we witnessed a star in Abner, we feel we have a great fighter”

Mares next took his time to speak “You guys saw a great fight, i showed i’m a warrior but i won the fight”

“I fight for the people and the people saw i won the fight”

“Lets do a rematch”

“Yonny didn’t close like a champion in the twelfth i did”

Quick to speak up for his man Gary Shaw countered “Abner your good looking, you speak two languages. But Yonnhy came in with the belt and left with it. You need to remain humble”

At this point Rafeal Marquez & Israel Vazquez entered the press room.

It was announced the live gate was 9,200 generating gate receipts of 549,000.

LOS ANGELES – Despite bleeding profusely from both eyes before 10 minutes of combat were up, Israel Vazquez never retreated in his fourth match with Rafael Marquez. He made no backwards laps round the ring, a tactic that, in boxing parlance, is called “getting on your bicycle.”

Unfortunately, a number of local aficionados who might otherwise have been at Staples Center to honor Vazquez and Marquez in “Once and Four All” were unable to make it – mostly because so many men were on their bicycles outside.

Saturday’s crowd arrived late and, with an announced attendance of 9,236, was perhaps a few thousand lighter than hoped and many thousands fewer than deserved. Blame the Amgen Tour of California bicycle race time trials, which began just outside Staples Center, at L.A. Live, round 1:00 p.m., causing street closures and barricades all round the arena ticket office and main entrance till about 5:00 p.m.

“Parking was a nightmare” was the theme on press row. This caused one prominent scribe to ask, “How many Mexicans got within a mile of the stadium, saw the road closures, and went home to watch on television?”

A fair question. Both main-event fighters hail from Mexico City. Mexican fight crowds are known throughout boxing as “walk-up crowds” – those that buy tickets at the box office the day of a fight. That raised an interesting question: What happens to a walk-up crowd, if it can’t?

The upper deck was closed Saturday, and good seats were available for $25. But to collect a ticket from will call at 2:50 p.m., 10 minutes before doors were originally scheduled to open, required a security escort and a long stroll round the outside of the arena. Ticket buyers, too, were required to wait till their escort returned – so fearful were the Amgen organizers that fight fans might abscond with free food from one of their otherwise empty tents.

When the first bell rang at 4 p.m., fewer than 500 people were in the arena. Standard attendance for Las Vegas, but disappointing for Southern California.

One fight fan who strolled through the front door, ticket in hand, was trainer Freddie Roach, who performed as Israel Vazquez’s chief second in the first match of the Vazquez-Marquez tetralogy, in 2007.

Asked if he’d had to buy his ticket, Roach gave a big smile.

“No,” he said. “They gave it to me.”

Pressed for an insider’s view of what might happen, Roach was quick to concede he was no insider at Vazquez-Marquez IV.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know anything you don’t.”

Shortly before Vazquez-Marquez II, when he was no longer training Vazquez, Roach said that he wished Vazquez would retire. He felt his former charge was taking too much punishment and no longer the fighter he’d previously been. Vazquez would prove his old trainer wrong a few months later.

Saturday, fans learned that Roach was not wrong – just early.

LOS ANGELES – In the end, a fourth time meant most of the punches and all of the momentum were there for Rafael Marquez.

For Israel Vazquez, there was only blood, which flowed like tears from deep wounds near both eyes.
For their memorable series, it was the fourth and probably the final time. A fifth isn’t necessary, although both said they would agree to another chapter if the fans asked for one.

If the fans don’t demand another encore, however, the end came Saturday night at Staples Center with two victories for each. The fourth, this time at featherweight, belonged to Marquez (38-6, 35 KOs) for nearly three full rounds of one-sided violence for which Vazquez (44-5, 33 KOs) simply had no counter.

Before opening bell, the theory was that Marquez would win, outlast, Vazquez because he had endured less damage in the first three fights. Only the outlast part was wrong, horribly wrong. Long-term damage to Vazquez erupted quickly.

A sharply-thrown right, laser-like in accuracy and effect, from Marquez opened up a huge cut above Vazquez’ left eye at the end of the first. Throughout the second, Vazquez struggled to see through the flood of blood that collected like a pool in an already scarred eye that had been damaged in his prior fights with Marquez.

“That was the plan,’’ Marquez said. “Go directly to the eyes.’’

Only the sight of blood, his own, told Vazquez that he was in trouble

“He hit me with a good shot and my eye just opened,’’ said Vazquez, whose cut-man, Miguel Diaz,said the cut was so deep that he could see bone.

After the second, Marquez knew he was close to finishing the fight and probably the rivalry with his own kind punctuation. Before heading to his corner before the start of the third, he stopped along the ropes and said something to his management team, Gary Shaw and Fernando Beltran. But Shaw and Beltran didn’t have to look in Marquez’ eyes to know what was about to happen. They could see it in Vazquez’s eye.

In the third round, a clash of heads, a butt, wounded Vazquez above his right eye. More blood flowed He went down to one knee, as if to forestall the inevitable. Moments later, referee Raul Caiz, Jr. stepped in, ending it and perhaps the series with a stoppage at 1:33 of the third.

Before Marquez’ quick stoppage of his old rival, Yhonny Perez and Abner Mares put together a performance that would have been worth a rematch regardless of the scores on the judges’ cards. Their brilliance through 12 rounds screamed for an encore. So did the fans. As it turned out, a rematch was – is – in the cards. The judges virtually guaranteed with a majority draw.

Gwen Adair of Beverly Hills, Calif., and Regina Williams of Atlantic City, N.J., each scored it 114-114. Marty Denkin of of West Covina, Calif., gave it to Mares, 115-113.

“I’m really sad,’’ said Mares (20-0-1, 13 KOs), who grew up in Southern California and was the crowd favorite. “I thought I won the fight and I’m not the only who thought that.’’

In the twelfth and final round, It looked as if Mares was close to knocking out Perez (20-0-1, 14 KOs), a Colombian and the International Boxing Federation’s bantamweight champion. Mares rocked Perez with a beautifully-executed, left-right combination.

During the middle rounds, however, Mares backpedaled as though he was wary of Perez’s power, which was displayed with an uppercut that hurt Mares in the third. Mares on the run angered fans, who booed him. But he quickly won them back over in the later rounds when the two fighters switched styles. Mares moved forward and Perez began to back away.

“I won this fight,’’ said Perez, who waved a Colombian flag at the predominantly Mexican and Mexican-American crowd after the final bell. “It was not a draw. I’m willing to fight a rematch. But it’s up to my promoters.”

There’s not much to decide. Promoters do more than count. They can read too. They know what’s in the cards.

Off TV, but on the undercard:
The best came from Los Angeles junior-middleweight Rodrigo Garcia (7-0, 5 KOs), whose hands were as heavy as they were unstoppable for the second third and fourth rounds in a stubborn assault that left Taronze Washington (14-13, 7 KOS) of Dallas with a bloody nose and a loss by unanimous decision.

The rest: Unbeaten junior-lightweight Ronny Rios (11-, 5 KOs) of Santa Ana, Calif., got the show started with unanimous decision over Guadalupe De Leon (8-11, 4 KOs) of Weslaco, Tex., hours before Vazquez and Marquez turned their trilogy into a four-peat. Rios scored in the early moments with sharp combinations, then sustained his pace and advantage.

And in a junior welterweight bout, Carlos Molina (12-0, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles threw the sharper punches for a unanimous decision over Mexican Humberto Tapia (15-13-1, 8 KOs).

15rounds’ Matt Yanofsky exclusively goes 1 on 1 with unbeaten 140 lb contender Joan Guzman. Guzman, a former two division world champion, also informed us of his upcoming bout July 31 against Joel Casamayor. Here is what he had to say.
click-to-listen-to-joan-guzman

Sharif Bogerie dominated and stopped Ilido Julio in round five of a scheduled ten round Super Lightweight bout at Sundance Square in Fort Worth, Texas.

Bogerie was all over Julio and dropped Julio through the ropes at the end of the first round but referee Laurence Cole ruled it a slip. Bogerie was the naturally bigger man as the he used that to his advantage and this bout was never competitive. Cole stopped the bout ten seconds into the fifth round.

Bogerie, 138 1/2 lbs of Kampala, Uganda is now 16-0 with ten knockouts. Julio, 139 lbs of Carepa, Colombia is now 41-17-1.

In a terrific back and forth brawl, Eddie Ramirez scored a unanimous decision over Arthur Trevino in a four round Super Featherweight bout.

Both guys were rocked throughout the bout with Ramirez landing more consistent.

Scores were 39-37 on all cards for Ramirez, 130 lbs of Laredo, TX and is now 5-2-1. Trevino, 130 lbs of Fort Worth, TX is now 5-5-3.

In a battle of Fort Worth based Featherweights, Steve Gutierrez scored a four round unanimous decision over Jose Ortiz.

Scores were 40-36, 40-36 and 39-37 for Gutierrez, 126 lbs and he is now 3-1-1. Ortiz, 126 lbs is now 0-2.

At the Capitale New York ballroom in the SoHo district of Manhattan a night of rugged boxing was expected in a luxurious venue. Shannon Briggs (49-5-1, 29 KO’s; 268lbs) headlined the event as he expected to take another step towards regaining the heavyweight crown he once held.

His opponent, Dominique Alexander (19-8-1, 9 KO’s; 228), was terribly outweighed and totally outclassed. The opening bell rang and Briggs came out and immediatly tested his opponents will…with a very light flurry that hit nothing but arms. Alexander responded by hitting the deck and refused to get up. It was an absolutely pathetic showing that will likely bring about an investigation. Briggs scored a first round TKO in one of the most uneventful fights ever.

The co-feature of the evening featured prospect Mike Faragon (10-0, 4 KO’s; 136 1/4lbs against Francisco Palacios (4-10-5, 1 KO; 137lbs). Faragon controlled the bout from the onset. His nickname is “Baby Face” and he really does have the face of a child, but his ring smarts coupled with a variety of offensive weapons shows why he is a man amongst men in the early goings of his career.

Faragon was able to land hooks to the body and upstairs around Palacios’ weak guard all night. Despite and occasional flurry, Palacios did not have much to offer in response. After the third round, Palacios voiced to his corner that he felt discomfort in his right arm. The ringside physicians took their time in assessing the matter and eventually allowed him one more round to see if the discomfort would subside.

In the fourth round, Faragon pounced on his hurt opponent and tried to take advantage. Despite the beating, Palacios made it out of the round only to see the fight waved off as his discomfort continued. Faragon was credited with a TKO victory at 3:00 of the fourth round.

Hot prospect and former Olympian, Saddam Ali (6-0, 3 KO’s; 151lbs) was set to face the very experienced, Martinus Clay (13-25-4, 5 KO’s; 154lbs) over a scheduled four round bout. You read it right… This is Ali vs. Clay. The bout started out with both fighters establishing their rhythm. Ali worked a strong jab to the body, while Clay utilized the journeyman technique of ducking low, rolling his shoulder, and exposing his back so as to take punches easily and hopefully surprise his opponent when he tires. Ali has fought many styles as an amateur and during sparring sessions with world champions.

Midway through the round, Ali was able to land a right uppercut that put Clay on the defensive. The second and third rounds were all about Ali’s right hand, as he was landing them at will. Clay had nothing in response.

In the fourth round, Ali worked his left hook; hurting Clay and putting him in an even more defensive posture than before. He survived the round but lost it, and every other round. All three judges ruled it 40-36 in favor of Ali.

As if a professional debut is not pressure enough, Sean Monaghan (173 1/2lbs) made his professional debut in front of hundreds of his loud hometown. He was set to face Simeon Trigueno (0-3; 167lbs). Both fighters started the fight hoping to lure the other into making a mistake by feinting often. It did not take long before what appeared to be a body shot sent Trigueno down to a knee for an eight count. He was back up and seemed fine as the round continued. As the round neared to an end, a crushing right hand from Monaghan sent Trigueno down and flat on his back.

He beat the count, and the bell to end the round, but the ringside doctor put an end to the bout citing an injury. Monaghan was credited with a first round TKO.

An exciting back and forth brawl took place between Hastings Bwalya(2-0, 2KO’s; 149 1/4lbs) and Ashante Hendrickson (2-6; 148lbs). The fight started out as a very physical one. Both fighters wrestled often and butted heads often. Bwalya took the early lead, as he was able to land his right hand more frequently than Hendrickson. It was a scrappy affair throughout the six rounds. Bwalya maintained control with his more precise shots and better defense, but be had some tough moments in the third and fifth rounds. After the bout ended, the judges ruled it 59-55, 58-56, and 58-56 for Hastings Bwalya.

In a heavyweight bout, Alexis Mejias (10-4, 4 KO’s; 238lbs) took on Bowie Tupou (18-1, 4 KO’s; 254lbs). The fight started out in thrilling fashion. Both fighters took turns landing hard hooks in combination. Out of nowhere, Mejias was able to land a right hook that was near the back of Tupou’s head, and score a flash knockdown. Tupou was no phased, but it was quite a surprise. In the second round, both fighters continued their fast paced fight, and Tupou was landing hard hooks to the side of Mejias’ head. Late in the round, Meijas landed a flurry that hit nothing but Tupou’s arms. As the round ended, Meijas was showing discomfort.

As it turns out, he was injured and a discussion took place as to how to rule the bout. Eventually, Tupou was credited with a second round TKO due to a stoppage by the ringside physician.

In the first bout if the evening, cruiserweights, Angel Concepcion (179lbs) made his professional debut against Charles Wade (1-5, 1KO). Wade began the fight looking confident. His physique was especially good for a fighter with such a dismal record. Not long into the first did we find out why Wade holds the record that he does. His defense is non-existant. Over the course of four rounds, Concepcion was able to land right hand after right hand. His connect rate was amazing. The action remained one sided over the course of four rounds and all three judges 40-35 for Concepcion.

PHOTOS BY CLAUDIA BOCANEGRA

LOS ANGELES – A place called the Star Plaza outside Staples Center on a Friday afternoon was a curious spot to stage a weigh-in between two of the era’s least-frilly, least-flashy and least-assuming prizefighters, but there it was. Under a hot sun and before a black backdrop, the “Once and Four All” fighters took the scale and completed a collective journey from underappreciated craftsmen to stars.

Mexicans Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez each made the featherweight limit for their Saturday fight, the fourth in their rivalry, with a half pound to spare. Vazquez took the scale first, looking fitter than he’d appeared in his previous fight, and marked it at 125.5 pounds. Marquez followed immediately behind and made an identical 125.5.

Then the men turned and faced one another. Their expressions were serious and no words were exchanged. But that was expected. No trash-talking, no faux rage, no unseemly shtick. On the eve of what could well turn out to be the finest boxing tetralogy in 50 years, the combatants stuck to a formula they’d employed in their previous three encounters.

Honorable to a fault, Vazquez and Marquez might have arrived at Staples Center earlier if they’d joined hands and lunged at the promotion of another tired blood feud, like so many lesser combatants have in recent years, but that has not been their way. And because they did things the right way, a crowd gathered to celebrate them.

Round the press area in Star Plaza, a common sentiment was expressed by scribes. Vazquez-Marquez IV might be good as its predecessors, or it might not, but either way, attendance was mandatory to honor the sacrifices the men had made and would make at least once more.

Those sacrifices have been, and will remain, brutal. The terrible prospect of facing the same man a fourth time is one few prizefighters have confronted. The last American to do it, San Antonio’s Jesse James Leija, addressed the hardest part of the feat, earlier this week.

“You know him so well,” Leija said of his four-fight series with Ghanaian Azumah Nelson. “You know he’s not going to give up. Knowing they’re not going to give up, I’d say, is the hardest part.”

Adjustments can be tried in training camp, and the rumor of a new strategy can be dangled before fans and media, but according to Leija, none of it matters much.

“Not really,” Leija said about the likelihood of either fighter making significant stylistic changes. “Nothing is going to happen that’s going to change who you are once the fight starts.”

That hasn’t stopped Rafael Marquez from making one rather large change going into this fight with Vazquez. Saturday night, Marquez will fight without legendary trainer and instructor Nacho Beristain in his corner, for perhaps the first time since Marquez began wearing gloves. In a quiet homage to Beristain – the man who taught him to box – though, Marquez has selected Mexican Daniel Zaragoza to be his chief second.

But Zaragoza, a hall of famer who was also trained by Beristain, does not expect to provide Marquez with much that Beristain did not.

“Nothing more than attention,” Zaragoza said Friday, when asked what more he could offer. “Solely attention.”

Zaragoza was also quick to assert that no strain exists between Marquez and Beristain.

“All is well between them,” Zaragoza said. “And, of course, all is well between (Beristain) and me.”

But when asked if there was anything he might have changed in the 12th round of Vazquez-Marquez III, had he been in Marquez’s corner, Zaragoza was emphatic.

“Right hands, right hands,” Zaragoza said, and he punched his left palm. “More right hands!”

Certainly, that was the strategy that worked for Vazquez, was it not?

Saturday’s card will be broadcast by Showtime at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Its co-main event will feature an intriguing fight for the IBF bantamweight title between Colombian Yonnhy Perez – who weighed 117.5 pounds Friday – and California’s Abner Mares, who made 116.8.

Staples Center doors open at 2:55 p.m. local time, with the first fight, of seven, expected to commence at 3:00.

GOLDEN BOY FANS SEE ONLY BRONZE
Any local fight enthusiasts who attended Friday’s weigh-in hoping to catch a glimpse of Golden Boy Promotions’ Oscar De La Hoya had to content themselves with a statue in Star Plaza. De La Hoya, whose company is a co-promoter of “Once and Four All” and who has not been seen at events recently, was not present at Staples Center though his bronze likeness was.

Ji-Hoon Kim scored an explosive one punch knockout over Ameth Diaz in a scheduled twelve round Lightweight bout at The Laredo Energy Center in laredo, Texas.

It was actually Diaz who was winning the first frame as he landed a couple of nice rights and booming uppercut that got Kim’s attention early in the round. With just seconds remaining in the round, Kim landed a crunching right to the top of the head and Diaz went down on his stomach. Diaz got to his feet but referee Robert Gonzalez ended the fight with just one second remaining in the round.

Kim, 132 1/4 lbs of Goyang City, Korea has now won thirteen in a row with twelve by knockout and his record is now 21-5 with eighteen knockouts. Diaz, 135 lbs of Panama City, Panama is now 27-10.

Ruslan Provodnikov scored an impressive ninth round stoppage over late-sub Emanuel Augustus in a scheduled ten round Jr. Welterweight bout.

For the first four-plus rounds the fight was competitive as Provodnikov landing a series of rights while Augustus jabbed and moved well in spots. In the middle of round five, Provodnikov landed a booming right hand that sent Augustus to the seat of his pants. Provodnikov landed some vicious shots in an effort to end the fight but the grizzled vet Augustsus got in a right of his own that briefly sent Provodnikov back. Augustus was able to survive the round but things did not get any better.

Provodnikov won the subsequent rounds as he was effective with hard right hands and Augustus began to leak blood from his nose starting in the sixth round. In the ninth frame, Provodnikov landed two huge shots to the head and Augustus slumped in the corner. Augustus showed guts be getting to his feet but he would only endure a vicious assault that included a flush right-left-right combination that put Augustus down for a third and final time as the referee stopped the bout at 1:50 of the ninth frame.

Provodnikov, 141 1/2 lbs of Berzova, Russia is now 15-0 with ten knockouts. Augustus, who took the bout on four days notice after original opponent Francisco Figueroa dropped out is now 38-32-6.

Orlando Gomez scored a four round majority decision over Jose Martinez in a four round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Scores were 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38 for Gomez, 136 lbs of Houston, TX and is now 2-1. Martinez, 140 lbs of San Antonio, TX is now 5-1.

In a battle of Luna’s, Rafael Luna, 129 lbs of Corpus Christie, TX scored a four round unanimous decision over Rene Luna, 129 lbs of Laredo, Texas.

Rafael Luna scored a knockdown in the first round in the battle of pro debuter’s.

Teon Kennedy 122 – Jose Angel Beranza 121
(For Kennedy’s USBA Super Bantamweight Title)
Patrick Majewski 161 – Loren Myers 163
Anthony Flores 130 – Carlos Vinan 130
Ryan Carson 131 – Marcos Garcia 131
Ronald Cruz 142 – Juan Ramon Cruz 142
Josh Mercado 143 – Joel Nieves 146
Troy Maxwell 166 – Rafael Jastrzebski 167

TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON www.gofightlive.tv at 7:30 pm est

CLICK FOR FULL EVENT INFORMATION

Vazquez – V- Marquez
Hometown Huntington Park, Ca Mexico City, Mexico
Record 44-4(32) 38-5(34)
Rounds Boxed 278 192
KO% 66.67 % 79.07%
Age 32 35
Height 5?4 5’5
Reach 66 68
Nickname Magnifico
Titles IBF Super Bantamweight IBF Bantamweight
WBC Super Bantamweight x2 WBC Super Bantamweight

World title Record 8-2(6) 9-2(7)

The odds with the Bookies have Marquez a slight favourite at -162 Vazquez while is +125.
Tickets are still available ranging from $250 down to $25.
Doors open at 3PM with Perez-V-Mares scheduled for 6PM

He sat at a table a year ago in a New York restaurant, dressed in a conservative suit and unknown to most in a crowd that was there to honor him. Israel Vazquez didn’t care. It also didn’t bother him that the plaque, the symbol of his honor, was not there either. It, like him, had apparently been overlooked

But Vazquez was there.

He was happy for the honor at the Boxing Writers Association’s 84th annual dinner and business-like in his acceptance of a professional milestone, the 2008 Fight of the Year, on a night when rival and partner Rafael Marquez couldn’t be there because of an auto accident near the Mexico City airport earlier that day.

It was a moment when other fighters might have felt insulted and angry enough to complain loudly and often. Vazquez didn’t. Celebrity has never been part of a job definition that he and Marquez will define and refine for a fourth time Saturday night in a Showtime-televised encore at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Vazquez-Marquez, already a memorable trilogy, is about to become further entrenched in historical lore, although both approach it without any of the tired hyperbole attached to Fights of the Century that now seem to happen every other year.

“It is the biggest day of my life,’’ said Vazquez, who won the two rematches, yet also looms as the underdog in the fourth because of scars that include a broken nose and damaged retina. “With this fight, Marquez and I will definitely be part of boxing history, even more so than now.’’

History speaks for itself, although Floyd Mayweather Jr. often speaks as though it has yet to say enough about him and how he belongs alongside Sugar Ray Robinson, or Muhammad Ali, or Julius Caesar. But Vazquez and Marquez aren’t trying to talk their way into history. They are only trying to make some.

“There are no words to say,’’ Marquez said. “There are no introductions to make. Everybody knows us.’’

Their understated fashion leaves no room for role playing or mind games. What everybody knows about Marquez and Vazquez is that they what to be known for what they do and not what they say. Imagine that. I’m not sure what old-school means anymore. If there is a face book for what it was, however, the defining faces are Vazquez and Marquez. In part, that’s why so many historical parallels are being drawn to their four-peat.

It’s rare and evocative with names from black-and-white newsreels of Ezzard Charles-versus- Jerry Joe Walcott and Willie Pepp-versus-Sandy Saddler. Boxing was big in those days. It might never be again. For one night, however, Vazquez and Marquez will explain why it was with workmanship that says it all instead of the words that say so little.

More Four
The former King of the Four Rounders, Eric “Butterbean” Esch, is attempting to become a heavyweight promoter. How heavy? He is somewhere near 400 pounds. Esch, whose promotional interest and personal preference is in mixed martial arts, is promoting a pay-per-view MMA card, Moonsin, Friday night (9 p.m. ET) at the DCU Center in Worcester Mass., featuring Tim Sylvia against Mariusz Pudzianowski.

Esch also had planned to fight. But the Massachusetts commission reportedly wouldn’t approve an exhibition between him and former Boston Bruins enforcer Lyndon Byers. Apparently, Esch’s ring experience, which includes everything from boxing to sumo wrestling, was cited as a factor. No truth to the rumor that nobody could find a stool big enough to support 400 pounds.

The entertaining Esch, now 43, hasn’t abandoned boxing, even though his former division, heavyweight, almost has. He would like to promote a boxing card featuring 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder in Birmingham, Ala., not far from his home in Jasper. Wilder, an unbeaten heavyweight in the initial stages of his pro career, is from Tuscaloosa.

“But nobody in the state Alabama knows who he is,’’ Esch said. “I’d like to get him some recognition in his home state.’’

Notes, anecdotes
§ Esch grew up in Alabama, but there isn’t a hint of a Southern accent in the many interviews he does with the media. “At home with my family, you’d hear it,’’ he said. “But not in the media. If the accent was there, they might have to include those subtitles.’’

§ Marquez promoter Gary Shaw thinks his fighter will stop Vazquez. “My prediction is that this fight does not go the full five rounds,’’ he said.

§ And there’s been some talk that a fourth fight between Marquez and Vazquez is one too many. There’s fear that the fighters will suffer long-term damage because of the series, already 25 rounds long and noteworthy for its sustained violence. “I recognize that,” Vazquez said Thursday at a news conference. “I don’t have anything against people who think like that. But I’m very sure that May 22, they’re going to feel different. I’m going to prove it. Honestly, of course the three battles that we had took something from us. Something from Marquez, something from me. This is boxing. This is a contact sport. You are expecting that. It is normal.”

He maybe widely regarded as the best Super Featherweight in the world but it’s an honour that has been bestowed on Roman “Rocky” Martinez more so because other fighters have left the weight class than what he has actually done himself. This year both Humberto Soto & Robert Guerrero abdicated their throwns as WBC & IBF champions to move up to Lightweight. Martinez 27, wants to prove he’s the top man at 130 and will look to catch the publics eye with his second defence of his WBO championship defence against Gonzalo Munguia who’s rated at number 11 by the WBO. Having been a pro since December 2001 Martinez has seen many things along the way to taking his record to 23-0-1(14) he’s beaten several very good fighters but now he wants to prove he’s worthy of being called the best and that campaign starts on 29 May against Munguia in Puerto Rico.

Hello Roman, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you have a fight with Gonzalo Munguia on 29 May. What can you tell us about this fight?

Roman Martinez – Well, it’s going to be a difficult fight because it’s a fighter that likes to come forward and place his punches strategically. I’ve watched some videos of him and we have already have planned out our attack.

Anson Wainwright – Where are you training for the fight? What’s a typical day in the gym?

Roman Martinez – I’m training in the Dorado Puerto Rico municipal gym and my head trainer is Raul “Papo” Torres. A typical day of training starts at 4:00am with my 55 minute run, and then I rest till 11:30 am and then head to the Dorado Gym where I strength train and box for about an hour and a half. I am currently sparring with two 140 pound prospects from the Island.

Anson Wainwright – You were due to face Ricky Burns from Scotland. What happened to prevent that fight happening?

Roman Martinez – The fight didn’t happen because there were some differences in the economic side of things but in the warrior side I’m willing and able to fight him. I loved Britain, the people there are gentle and treated me with a lot of respect I’m looking forward to going back. I also would like the opportunity to give a shoutout to Shannons Gym who helped us keep in shape for the Cook fight.

Anson Wainwright – Since you went to Manchester and won the title against Nicky Cook how has life changed for you? How much more popular have you become? Do you get asked to do more things than previously?

Roman Martinez – Life’s been good, but it has been a result of my hard work and dedication. Nicky Cook gave me a chance to face him and I gave it my all and got to fulfill my lifelong dream: become a World Champion. Yes, becoming a world champion has given me a lot of exposure and its direct result of the high quality of opponent that I faced to win my championship and my dedication.

Anson Wainwright – Who is part of team Martinez?

Roman Martinez – Raul “Papo” Torres-is the head trainer
Dennys “Sensei” Rivera- is the assistant trainer (From Philadelphia, helping Rocky to improve his head and lateral movement)
Ricardo Rodriguez-Rivera-Publicist

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years in Vega Baja and how it took you into Boxing?

Roman Martinez – I remember that I always loved boxing and I wanted to start practicing it but at the moment I had bad grades and I remember that my father and uncle told me that if I didn’t get good grades that I wasn’t going to be able to start. So I improved my grades and then I was able to start boxing and now here I am having the privilege to be talking to you.

Anson Wainwright – What are you goals in Boxing?

Roman Martinez – First I would like unify my weight class and become its Super Champion and then go up to light weight and do the same. And be able to become a pound for pound best.

Anson Wainwright – Who has been your toughest opponent to date and why? What do you think is your best win?

Roman Martinez – They have all been tough; I’m just not able to pick one in particular. They all have been great wins but if I have to pick one I would be Nicky Cook because of the level of difficulty that I had to encounter in him, he’s a great fighter.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your Boxing hero?

Roman Martinez – Félix “Tito” Trinidad and Julio Cesar Chavez they’re both just amazing.

Anson Wainwright – What can you tell us about you as a person and what you like to do away from Boxing?

Roman Martinez – I always like to rest a lot and have fun with my family. Speaking of family I just started training my 6 year old son Luis Antonio who is already showing his skills.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for Gonzalo Munguia? Do you have any prediction?

Roman Martinez – Just to come in his best condition because we’re fighting in front of my people and we should give them the spectacle they deserve. No predictions, I’m just going to give it my best.

Thank you for the opportunity and my best to all the 15 round staff and people from England who always have shown great support to my career.

Good luck in your upcoming figtht Roman.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Tim Sylvia: “It’s going to be a good fight Friday night. I’ve been asked if it’s been difficult finding workout partners like my opponent who is 280 pounds with 4-percent body fat and gases-out after 45-seconds. Yeah, my workout partners don’t usually gas-out after 45-seconds. He (Pudzianowski) is big, strong and a worthy opponent. Friday night we’re going to have some fun.”

Mariusz Pudzianowski: “I know I’m just a beginner compared to my opponent, but I’m going to put on a great fight Friday night, and may the best man win.”

Travis Lutter: “I’m a man of few words. I just want to thank Rafael for taking the fight.”

Rafael Natal: “I’ve waited a long time for this fight. Every fighter wants a chance to fight a big fighter and Lutter’s a big fighter. I know that he is a very good Jiu-Jitsu fighter. I’ve trained hard. Whether stand-up, or on the floor, I’ve prepared.”

Yves Edwards: “I’m real excited to be here. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Campbell. I know about his strength. I’m going to have to counter that to win. I’m leaving New England with a W.”

Mike Campbell: “I’m honored to be fighting a guy like Yves. He’s a good guy and a class act. I promised myself that you’ll see the best Mike Campbell. We’re both going to bring it. It’s going to be a good fight with a lot of fireworks and very entertaining.”

Roxy Madofferi: “I’m very happy to be here fighting for Moosin and in Worcester. I’ve been training really hard. It’s a rematch but this time I’m going away with a win. I’m looking forward to facing Tara in the cage.”

Ho Jin Kim: “I’m prepared for this match. I’m going to show you a strong fight.”

Lukasz Jurkowski: “I’m glad to be here and very happy to be part of the Moosin organization. Ho Jin Kim is a very tough guy. This will be one of the best fights of the evening. I’ve been preparing for this fight almost two months, so he must be very careful and well prepared.”

“GOD OF MARTIAL ARTS” FACT SHEET

WHAT: “God of Martial Arts” PPV professional MMA show

WHO: TIM “The Maine-iac” SYLVIA (25-6-0), Eastbrook,, ME

MARIUSZ “Dominator” PUDZIANOWSKI (2-0), Biala,Rawska, Poland

TRAVIS “Diesel” WIUFF (60-14-0), Rochester, MN

JOSH BARNES (7-3-0), Muncie, IN

TRAVIS “The Serial Killer” LUTTER (10-5-0), Dallas, TX

RAFAEL “Sapo” NATAL (11-2-0), New York, NY by way of Brazil

YVES “The Texas Gunslinger” EDWARDS (37-15-1), Woodlands, TX by way of the Bahamas

MIKE “The Beast” CAMPBELL (8-2-0), Boston, MA

TARA LaROSA (18-1-0), Woodstown, NJ

ROXY MODAFFERI (14-5-0), Boston, MA by way of Osaka, Japan

HO JIN KIM (7-6-0), Seoul, S. Korea

LUKASZ “Juras” JURKOWSKI (14-9-0), Chorzow, Poland

RALPH JOHNSON (4-0-0), Worcester, MA

FORREST “The Meat Clever” PETZ (17-7-0), Cleveland, OH

MATT LEE (11-9-1), Worcester, MA

BRETT OTERI (5-0-0), Bridgewater, MA

FRED “French Foot Fighter’ BELLETON (6-2-0), Stoughton, MA

ANTHONY “The Recipe” LAPSLEY (17-4-0), Fort Wayne, IN

PAUL BARRY (3-0-0), Rockland, MA

STIPE MIOCIC (1-0-0), Cleveland, OH

WHEN: Friday, May 21, 2010

WHERE: DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts

PROMOTER: Moosin USA

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Distributed by Integrated Sports Media at 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT in North America on cable and satellite Pay-Per-View via iN Demand, DIRECTV, TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice, Bell TV and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95 (also available in HD). ). It is also available on www.GoFightLive.TV outside of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Poland.

PPV ANNOUNCERS: Bas Rutten, Jeff Gorman and Tom Megalis

TICKETS: $35.75, $55.75, $75.75, $150.75 and $250.75, are on sale at the DCU Center Box Office (50 Foster St., Worcester, MA), all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or by calling 1.800.745.3000.

INFORMATION: www.moosinusa.com or www.dcucenter.com. For odds on the fights go to http://betus.com.

DOORS OPEN: 7:30 PM/ET; FIRST FIGHT: 8:00 PM/ET; FIRST PPV FIGHT: 9:00 PM/ET (6 PM/PT)

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT

Boxer’s as a rule have always been known as having rather ugly faces, for example the boxers nose, the cauliflower ear, scar tissue, the high cheek bones, are what are usually remarked about of the boxers face.

However contrary to popular belief, there comes along the pretty boy, or better known as the golden boy whose handsome countenance makes a mockery of the trade he plies and clearly dispel’s such stereotypical views of the boxer’s boat, {cockney slang for someone’s face} and talking of boat’s don’t worry guy’s we’ll be taking a trip to the seaside soon, in the literary sense of course!

Through the years, there have been plenty of good looking men who have traded leather but have dismissed the old adage about ‘he looks a bit banged up’ let’s start with Jack Dempsey, the first million dollar fighter, who also had a short career on the silver screen with actress wife Estelle Taylor, then came boxing’s first golden boy Art Aragon, then Sugar’s Robinson and Leonard, both pretty boy’s, Muhammad Ali, Bobby Czyz, Donnie “Golden Boy” Lalonde the former W.B.C 175lb king, who ring magazine stated as ‘diabolically good looking’ to Britain’s own Robin Reid, who in his spare time posed for girly mags in erotic poses, Calzaghe is another one, both former World super middleweight champions respectively.

However it’s with the super middle’s and Britain where we’ll stay, shall we?, see down in the South coast there’s a super middle coming up the rankings, and from Margate actually, look I’ll explain a little later!

However though only boxing six times and winning his last five in a row as a pro, he sure looks impressive inside the confines of a boxing ring, but talking of looks it’s on the outside his been causing waves, well he is from Margate ain’t he!

So without further a due, let me introduce boxing’s latest golden boy……Jack Morris.

See Jack does’nt look like your average boxer as I once stated in a previous article on the super middleweight prospect, with his boy next door good looks and much, much further away girls, in your wildest dreams!

Morris a native of Margate, the place of kiss me quick hats, though I’m sure ladies you’d opt to kiss Jack slowly!

Jack who stands six foot tall has been dubbed by many of the local lasses down there in Southwark as the Beckham of boxing, oh sorry guy’s I did’nt mention when Jack’s not at home weekend’s in Margate, he stay’s in London as this is where he trains down at the City Boxer gym, a personal trainer during the day, Jack also doe’s a bit of modeling naturally.

Having modeled in his teens, it was’nt long before bigger names came knocking at the afforementioned City Boxer gym, one time Jack modeled in Holborn in London and was paid for a measly two hours work the grand sum of 00!

Modelling anything from Suits to Boxing wear, Jack is at the moment in talks with GQ magazine and Men’s Health involving more work, only last year Jack was offered a week’s work in Milan, the fashion capital of the World for 000, as one of the top people from the late Alexander McQueen’s company felt Jack had the right look and build, however due to there not being enough model’s with the right look, the shoot was canceled.

However despite that initial setback of sorts, the offers weren’t far away from big name modeling agency’s, has Jack was picked up by Dominic Barratt Evans who himself is good friends with Jason Joyce {take a look at www.jasonjoyce.com to see for yourself} who shoots some of the most famous people in the World, U2, Oasis, Cheryl Cole, amongst some of the World’s top models amongst others….so Jack is certainly mixing with the big boys in the photogenic sense, say no more!
Has I mentioned earlier Jack who stand’s an imposing six feet tall, his twelve stone is distributed nicely over his manly frame, wide sloping shoulders with a good six pack chucked in for good measure, and with bulging biceps and unlike most muscle men he doesn’t suffer from what I term ‘lolly pop legs’ as his pin’s are more shapely and well muscled, more like that of a footballer.

It amazes me that a guy that get’s punched in the face for a living is in my totally unbiased opinion a lot better looking than most footballers and for that matter film stars, so I told you quite a bit about Jack, so what’s his face like?, well….. if you could imagine a guy that looks across between Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore, you might know where I’m coming from, this guy is so handsome, and please let me go on record as one writer once did in Ring magazine back in 1993 when doing an article on Billy Conn, who was former light heavy champ, “he was the most handsome man I ever saw in my life” and where Jack’s concerned I echo that very sentence, drop dead gorgeous he sure is, nice friendly blue eyes, shine from his pale complexion, with a nicely shaped nose, also his lovely smile that’s harbored by wait for it girls…..his squarish manly jaw and more importantly Jack when he speaks, it’s with a nice quiet baritone, see there’s nothing flash or cocky with this guy, he is one of the quietest people I have had the pleasure of meeting in my life.

Born on 15th August 1982, I remember the actual day very well as I was a twelve year old at Leigh on sea in Essex, I remember seeing a pretty girl of a similar age, both looking at each other, I felt like I was falling in love at such a young age, it reminded me of that scene from Blake Edward’s film ’10’ where Dudley Moore is imagining his running along the beach meeting up with Bo Derek {a regular at the big fights in the 80’s}, but sadly for me reality struck later that day as she left and I never saw her again, I could have cried but one thing’s for sure someone did that very day, some miles away in Greenwich, it was a newborn baby….it was Jack Morris!

Never mind ’10’, the number ’13’ is a number that Jack seems comfortable with as this is for some reason his nickname, see no one other than the man himself know’s why this is, and in true Bond fashion, it’s top secret simple as, see Jack won’t unleash the reason why he calls himself this until after one of his fights, possibly after he becomes a champion, so you could say ’13’ will one day be number 1!

And in true Patrick Mcgoohan fashion from the hit TV series, The Prisoner, he is not just a number, he is the man!

Jack Morris however is from my knowledge the only boxer ever to call himself ’13’, but by eerie coincidence in the sport of baseball, there was also another Jack Morris who had made history with the number 13, as he scored a record Major League thirteen consecutive straight opening day starts from 1980 through to 1992, but hey it’s the boxing version whose knocking em for six, man and woman alike,See every man want’s to be him, every woman with him!

Jack however is now also a proud father himself, real name Andrew Morris, due to the British boxing board of control deciding that there couldn’t be two Andrew Morris’ as there’s a Andy Morris a super feather from Manchester, so Andrew named himself after his son whose name’s Jack obviously.
The name cunjer’s up that of a old time prizefighter, someone who plied there trade back in the 20’s during the time’s of another Jack, Dempsey that is, however not only that but Morris fights like one also, my first time of watching him was last year at the Troxy, when he defeated the durable Kenroy Lambert who rarely gets stopped, sitting there I felt excited just like when I was a sixteen year old watching for the first time the black and white fights of Dempsey, Marciano and Tunney, it felt as though I was watching a throwback the very way Morris moved and let go with his shots, even managing to score a most impressive stoppage victory over Lambert which is a rarity itself! or has Steve Holdsworth pointed out to me when I was around his house, “that’s a good result, no one hardly stops Kenroy!” enough said!

However at that particular venue on a big screen before the contest, Jack was shown being interviewed by his trainer Mark ” the Burf” Burford, the big screen treatment fitting as Jack is hoping that an acting career will hopefully come to fruition on a much bigger screen after his finished trading punches for punch lines!

Also it is hoped a much bigger stage boxing wise, with the good looks of a James Bond type, and like the nickname of his trainer, the “Burf” it could be the birth indeed of a champion boxer and film star, or like the recent film starring Jim Carey ‘I love Philip Morris’ all I can say is Jack ain’t too bad himself! and while on the subject of celluloid, in true Bond idiom on getting back to that particular March evening last year, it was Lambert who was shaken, myself stirred!

However thus far as a pro Jack has showed progress more so in his last two fights, beating oft beat journeymen in Jamie Ambler and Adam Wilcox, it’s not just beating them, it’s the way he has, more conclusively than that of the other so called prospects, harmed not only with hooks that weaken opponents knee’s, but looks that weaken the ladies knee’s Jack is a winner on both sides of the ropes it seems.

Surely a member of the bored housewife’s club and many a teenage girls fantasy, let me put it into some kind of perspective shall I, after buying the trade paper Boxing news, showing my mate at work Dave Crossley the photo of Jack he remarked ‘good looking boy’ on showing my mum some film I had taken of my subject for this article ‘his not a bad looking bloke is he’, see everyone loves Jack from the young to the old, and it’s with the young that Jack works closely with, as he helps raise money for a children’s charity that helps children with various illnesses, conclusive proof that the saying ‘beauty’s only skin deep’ need not apply to the man from Margate has he is on both counts, last year at Jack’s effort versus Jamie Ambler, the brigade of charity workers holding buckets for Jack around the ringside, to help raise cash for Jack’s designated charity or has I noted in my report, “if only footballers followed by Jack’s fine example, Jack the Beckham of boxing? definitely! his better looking than David’s Beckham and fellow pin up boxer Haye, and with bigger balls and better look’s than Beckham, his more golden than golden balls himself!

So call him what you like, the Bond or the Beckham of boxing, but one things for sure girls, Jack bends it like Beckham if not better and that certainly would be a case of ‘for your eyes only!’

HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 19, 2010) – NABF heavyweight champion Johnathon Banks makes his first title defense May 29 on the “Fists Of Steel” pay-per-view event, featuring WBC heavyweight title holder Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko against challenger Albert “The Dragon” Sosnowski, live from the 61,000-seat Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Detroit punisher Banks (24-1, 17 KOs), ranked # 7 in the world by the WBC and #9 by the IBF, takes on veteran Jason “The Sensation” Gavern, rated in the top 15 of the WBC, in the 12-round co-feature.

“Fists Of Steel,” presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group, is being distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

A 3-time U.S. national amateur champion, Banks captured the NABF crown last March in what was voted NABF Fight of the Year, stopping Travis Walker (34-3-1) with a dramatic KO in the sixth round of their title fight in Germany. The former NABO and IBO cruiserweight champion, Banks has been the chief sparring partner for the Klitschko brothers for the last three years. He has now emerged in his own right as one of the top heavyweights in the world.

“We’re excited by the progress Johnathon has made in the heavyweight division,” said Tom Loeffer, managing director of K2 Promotions. “He was struggling to make weight as a cruiserweight when he lost to Adamek, but now he is much stronger as a heavyweight. By winning the NABF title the way he did, Johnathon has established himself as one of the top heavyweights in the world today.”

Gavern also won a title in his lasts fight, when he captured the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation title with a win over Manuel Quezada. In what turned out to be the biggest win of his career, Gavern beat Quesada (29-4), rated #7 at the time by the WBC, by a 10-round decision to capture the title. The battle-tested Floridian has also defeated Cisse Salif, Jermell Barnes and Raphael Butler during his 7-year career.

In the 12-round main event, Sosnowski will attempt to upset Klitschko to become the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world against 3-time heavyweight champion Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), who returned to the ring after a 4-year retirement to regained his WBC championship belt by stopping Samuel Peter in 2008. He has since defended his title three times by stopping Juan Carlos Gomez and Chris Arreola, and winning every round against Kevin Johnson last December.

Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), now fighting out of the United Kingdom, became the European champion by capturing the European Boxing Union heavyweight title in his last fight. He won a 12-round decision last December against Italian Olympian, Paolo Vidoz.

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS FIGHT CARD

Teon “The Technician” Kennedy (14-0-1, 6 KO’s) will be making his first ring appearance since the tragic death of Francisco Rodriguez in his last fight as he defends the USBA 122 lb crown against rough veteran Jose Angel Beranza.

The fight along with six big undercard bouts can be seen LIVE on www.gofightlive.tv

In that fight which took place on November 20th, Kennedy and Rodriguez fought a classic back and forth brawl with thrilled the fans at The Legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia. Kennedy finally stopped Rodriguez in round ten and just days after, Rodriguez unfortunately passed away due to injuries in that “Fight of the Year” candidate.

Kennedy, who is ranked number thirteen in the world by the IBF, maybe the best Prospect under 126 lbs on the east coast and is always in fan friendly tussles and a win over Beranza would catapult him to a very significant fight late this Summer or early Fall.

Beranza of Mexico City has a record of 32-17-2 with twenty-five wins coming via knockout.

He has fought the “whose-who” of fighters in the lower weight divisions.

Some of the recognizable names on his resume include former world title challengers Raul Juarez, Jorge Lacierva, Diosdado Gabi, Nestor Rocha, and AJ Benal; Former world champions Jhonny Gonzalez, Currant world champion Wilfredo Vasquez Jr.

He holds a win over former WBC champ Ivan Hernandez.

Just two fights ago, Beranza shocked than 9-0 top prospect Juan Carlos Velasquez in front of a nationally televised audience on ESPN 2.

That fight is just one of seven big fights set for this Saturday night.

The co-feature will be an interesting Middleweight clash between Polish import and undefeated Patrick Majewski (12-0, 7 KO’s) risking his unblemished mark against upset minded Loren Myers (7-7-1, 2 KO’s)

Anthony Flores (8-1, 5 KO’s) looks to rebound from his first pro loss when he takes on the upset specialist Carlos Vinan (9-8-3, 1 KO) in a six round Jr. Lightweight bout.

Vinan holds wins over Orlando Gonzalez (4-0-1); Eric Hunter (5-0); Andrew Cancio (8-0-2) and Victor Vasquez (11-3).

Ina six round Jr. Welterweight bout, Ronald Cruz (8-0, 5 KO’s) takes on grizzled vet, Juan Ramon Cruz (16-8-1, 12 KO’s)

Local favorite, Josh Mercado (3-1, 1 KO) battles Joel Nieves (0-1) in a four round Welterweight bout.

Ryan Carson (2-0, 1 KO) takes on Marcos Garcia (0-1) in a four round lightweight affair.

Rounding out the card will be a tussle between Troy Maxwell (2-0, 1 KO) and Rafael Jastrzebski (1-6) in a super middleweight bout scheduled for four rounds.

Seven big fights which includes an important championship bout for just $9.99 is one click away at http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?eventId=668

The action begins promptly at 7:30pm eastern

Reading, PA (5-18-10) – Not since Evander Holyfield reigned supreme during the late 1990s has America had a heavyweight champion to unite behind. As the Klitschko brothers and David Haye vie for dominance in a divisions where the top contenders are anonymous to most Americans, the call for an American challenger grows ever louder.

Travis Kauffman hears those cries as a call to action.

The 24-year-old Kauffman, a native of the rugged Pennsylvania city of Reading, will face Chris Koval of Youngstown, OH this Saturday, May 22 at the Sovereign Center in Reading. King’s Promotions will promote the pro-am boxing event entitled “Pain on Penn Street”.

The Kauffman-Koval fight will be contested for the vacant WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight title. More importantly, it will give Kauffman an opportunity to show the boxing world and his hometown fans why he is one of the sport’s best kept secrets.

“I’ve known I was going to be heavyweight champion of the world ever since my first amateur fight at nine years old,” says Kauffman, who has a record of 19-1 (15 KO). “In 15 years of boxing I’ve been through it all. I’ve been hit by the biggest punchers, danced with the fastest slicksters but I’m still here. I believe deep inside of myself that I’m here for a reason, and that is to become heavyweight champion of the world.”

Unlike most modern American heavyweights who are transplants from other sports, Kauffman had an extensive amateur background that consisted of 64 bouts and was highlighted by a gold medal at the Police Athletic League Nationals. This experience has served him well in the pros, where the 6’3″, 230 pound Kauffman has had to outsmart larger foes on many occasions. He’ll have to outsmart and outslug another bigger foe in Koval, who is 6’4″ and routinely weighs in at 260 pounds. Of Koval’s 24 wins, 18 have come by way of knockout, to go along with 6 defeats.

“I always believed that it wasn’t the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog,” Kauffman says. “The bigger the challenge that is in front of me, the hungrier I get. I have a family, my two sons and my stepchildren that I fight for. I want to provide a better life for them and that motivates me so much. But I also fight for my fans, the people that have always believed in me through thick and thin.

“I’m proud to be an American and I would love to be the man that brings the heavyweight championship back here for good. The Klitschkos are great fighters so it won’t be easy but I never doubt myself for one second. Success only comes before Work in the dictionary so I live, eat and breathe Boxing.”

“Pain on Penn Street” will also feature Reading-based lightweight Van Oscar Penovaroff (4-0-1, 3 KO), welterweight Joseph Judah (5-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY, super-middleweight Derrick Webster (5-0, 4 KO) of Glassboro, NJ and the debut of Allentown, PA heavyweight William Miranda. Complete undercard information will be announced shortly.

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE EVENT

At the turn of the year all was well for Steve Luevano he was looking forward to his biggest fight and pay day of a near 10 year career. He knew if he could add to his five successful defence’s with number six he’d move himself into a higher tax bracket. However things didn’t go well for the Californian native when he lost to uber talented Puerto Rican JuanMa Lopez via seventh round stoppage. Now fully rested one of Boxing’s quiet guys Luevano 29 hopes to soon be back in action and make some noise with some of the top guys at Featherweight. Here’s what Luevano had to say.

Hello Steve, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly it’s been nearly 4 months since you fought JuanMa Lopez, how have you been since that fight? What have you done with your time?

Steve Luevano – I’ve been good since then, i’ve not really done anything just hanging out and spending time with my family and my friends Baseball team.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have any idea when we may see your return to the ring?

Steve Luevano – Not at the moment, Cameron (Dunkin) hasn’t said anything or my trainer Robert (Garcia) he is the one who normally lets me know.

Cameron Dunkin – Steven will fight this summer and I have no doubt he will be champion again. Todd duBoef has told me he will support us (Steven, me and Robert) and I’m really excited for Steven. I think Juanma is a great fighter so there is no disgrace in Steven losing to him. Steven fought his heart out and he does in every fight.

Anson Wainwright – When would you like to be back in action?

Steve Luevano – Umm doesn’t really matter to me.

Anson Wainwright – You have been a career Featherweight do you think you’ll comeback at 126 or are you moving up to Super Featherweight? What is your weight now?

Steve Luevano – Whatever it’s doesn’t matter to me. I can make 126 still it they want to put me at 130 that’ll be even easier for me. I’m 20 pounds over my fighting weight.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you use to train at?

Steve Luevano – Well my manager is Cameron Dunkin and trainer is Robert Garcia & my promoter is Top Rank. I train out of it was La Colonia but it’s now Garcia Boxing club.

Anson Wainwright – If we can touch on what you have done so far in your career how do you look back on your WBO title reign at Featherweight? What was your proudest moment?

Steve Luevano – The proudest moment was defending my WBO title 5 times. They gave me a ring for that and i know a lot of fighters don’t do that. For me that was the proudest moment.

Anson Wainwright – How good in your opinion is JuanMa Lopez?

Steve Luevano – He’s a good fighter, i always thought he was a good fighter. What i think of him, to me he’s just another fighter. He’s very tough fighter but i don’t think he’s the next Floyd Mayweather because nobody can be better than Floyd. But because he’s Puerto Rican Trinidad but he’s like Trinidad but he’s nowhere near as good as Trinidad.

Anson Wainwright – His next opponent will be another guy you fought Bernabe Concepcion how do you see that going?

Steve Luevano – I see it going pretty good. If Concepcion catches him with the punches he’s going to get in trouble because he hits hard. He (Concepcion) never really got me with a good punch until after the bell (Concepcion lost via seventh round DQ after a late punch) It’s going to be an interesting fight. If Concepcion can get him to brawl it’s better fight for him.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing on your comeback?

Steve Luevano – Getting a title back

Anson Wainwright – The Featherweight division is pretty hot at the moment with several top guys JuanMa Lopez, Chris John, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Elio Rojas & Celestino Caballero what are you feeling about your division being so hot at the moment?

Steve Luevano – It looks like better fighters are there and better paydays. To me I can still make 126 but if Cameron thinks i should move to 130 i’ll move to 130.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have anyone in mind that your targeting?

Steve Luevano – Chris John because it looks like he wants to make a break out and a name for himself so i wouldn’t mind that one.

Anson Wainwright – You train with Mikey Garcia he’s well thought of what can you tell us about how you assess his ability?

Steve Luevano – Oh Mikey is a really good fighter, very technical. His dad trains him not to fight like Robert did, because Robert was a brawler, he rarely boxed. With Mikey all he does is box, he’s very skilled. He has a lot of potential to beat those guys who are out there right now

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans and the Boxing public?

Steve Luevano – I’m just waiting on a date for my comeback.

Thanks for your time Steve, good luck in your comeback.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

15Rounds.com Matt Yanofsky speaks with contender Kermit Cintron surrounding his controversial defeat to Paul Williams and 2010 outlook.
click-to-listen-to-kermit-cintron

Last Tuesday while the “Once and Four All” conference call happened, I sat beside Mexican Jorge “El Travieso” Arce. He was at Dave & Buster’s restaurant in San Antonio to promote a different fight, with Eric Morel on June 26 at Alamodome. Arce likes to opine. Saturday’s match is two Mexicans in a historic fourth fight. So I asked him who’ll win.

“¡Híjole!” he said. “It is going to be a fight!”

Right on, Jorge. Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez will make the fourth fight of a rare tetralogy, after their trilogy ended in 2008 with Vazquez leading 2-1. The fight will be broadcast by Showtime.

Not on pay-per-view, mind you. No need to belabor the point, but one of the greatest trilogies in the history of prizefighting happened with no extra charge to Showtime subscribers. The fourth fight happens the same way. That’s a commendable model if boxing ever had one.

Back to El Travieso, whose nickname translates to something like “Naughty One.” Soon as he heard mention of Vazquez-Marquez IV, he said “¡Híjole!” – a word with no apt translation in English. It’s what would happen if you appended the personal pronoun “him” to “boy.” It’s a Mexicanism that makes no more sense in Spanish than English. It’s also a wonderfully expressive term that works like “Wow!” and usually gets accompanied by the speaker shaking his hand as if he just burned it.

Point is, Saturday’s fight is one that finds even Arce – a showman who promotes his own bleeding – using interjections and raising his voice. That says quite a bit about the evenness, drama and suspense of this series.

This says even more. Rafael Marquez won the first fight after Vazquez was unable to continue at the end of round 7. Israel Vazquez won the second fight when the referee stopped it a minute into round 6. The third fight, as you know, went the distance – barely. That’s 24 complete rounds worthy of revisiting old scorecards over.

So I did. Here’s what I found.

In the first fight, I gave Vazquez rounds 3 and 6, with the third going 10-8. Second fight, I had Vazquez winning rounds 2, 3 and 5. Third fight, he got rounds 2, 3, 6, 8, 11 and 12 – with the 12th going 10-8.

First fight on my card, Marquez won rounds 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7. Second fight, I gave him rounds 1 and 4. Third fight, he got rounds 1, 4, 5, 7 and 9, with the fourth going 10-8.

That comes to 226-226. Fitting, no?

Whither “Once and Four All” then? There’s no telling. Jorge Arce shared the conventional wisdom that Vazquez is the more-damaged of the two fighters; that Marquez, despite losing twice, hurt Vazquez in more permanent ways. Maybe.

The old adage says boxers gain weight on their chins more than their fists, and as this match is being made at 126 – four pounds above the weight limit for the first three – it’s worth asking whom that favors. Marquez seems the obvious choice.

After all, he would have won the second fight had he had perhaps a round or two more to work on the cuts above Vazquez’s eyes. He would have won the third fight if he’d just stayed upright in the final 10 seconds. His increased ability to withstand Vazquez’s punches, with the addition of four pounds, seems to portend victory for Marquez.

But what if the only thing that kept Vazquez from finishing Marquez in the final round of their trilogy was the 15 or so extra seconds Marquez’s fantastic right hand bought him over the preceding 11 rounds? That is, what happens if Vazquez tastes Marquez’s right cross early on Saturday and finds more fat on it and less chile?

Marquez says he’s better for the fights that he’s had with Vazquez. “The only thing that is different with me this time is that I am more mature,” Marquez said last Tuesday. He didn’t say but verily believes he would have won the second fight had it continued. He believes he won the third. Marquez, too, hears the whispers that Vazquez is no longer the man he was, that his reserves are spent. But he says, “I have always said that Israel is a great fighter.”

Asked if it’s a negative or a positive to know an opponent well as he now knows Marquez, Vazquez answers, “I see it as a positive . . . I know where to attack him from.” Note that Vazquez emphasizes the offensive benefit: If each man attacks the other’s weak point, the stronger man wins. So goes his calculus.

Rafael Marquez is a special talent. He has won 79 percent of his fights by knockout. His long right cross is devastating as any punch of this era. He is one half of the best brother combination in boxing history. He is one half of the best boxing trilogy in at least 30 years.

Israel Vazquez is a special talent, too. But Vazquez also has a component of will few athletes before him have possessed. When Showtime replays Vazquez-Marquez III Friday night, watch him in the 12th round. Watch him explode off his stool after 33 minutes of combat and a knockdown – with two damaged eyes and a surgically rebuilt nose. Watch him throw right hand after right hand without regard for consequence. It is a performance that, within its proper context, is demonical as any boxing has seen.

That kind of man should not be doubted. All indications are that Vazquez expects this match to be every bit as long and brutal as its immediate predecessor. Marquez might not. His promoter says Vazquez won’t last five rounds.

I beg to differ. This time, I think Vazquez gets to Marquez a half-minute earlier. So I’ll take Vazquez: KO-12.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry

WBA Super Lightweight champion Amir Khan meets the media after his stoppage win over Paulie Malignaggi and discusses his future plans

Watch Amir Khan Post Fight Press conference in Sports  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Though only in the fledgling stage of his career Michael Finney 3-0(3) has impressed many people so far with his skills, work rate and power. He may end up as one of the three musketeer’s down the road along with the more known Frankie Gomez & Jose Benavidez Jr among the young pro’s who have gone pro in recent months amongst large fan fare at Light Welterweight. Finney 18, moved to live an hour outside Las Vegas in Pahrump with his Mother, father & brother Brian also a boxer who awaits his pro debut. They moved 3 months ago from there home in Smith Station, Alabama. He’s taken to his new life like a duck to water and is constantly improving under the watchful eye of famed trainer Kenny Adams. To date Finney has fought away from the spotlight but racked up three first round stoppages, that spotlight will shine on him and soon if he continues to gain impressive wins.

Hello Michael, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you moved to 3-0(3) when you stopped you last opponent in the first round last time out. How do you feel about that fight and performance looking back at it?

Michael Finney – It was great, the guy started out good an everything but i was just faster than him and did good listening to my trainer. His punches were kind of slow and i would go over them, he wasn’t blocking them. I hit him with a right onto the ropes, i hit him with another right and a hook then i hit him with an uppercut to his chest, finally he went down, the referee jumped in and that was it.

Anson Wainwright – Thought it early days any idea when we may see you in action next?

Michael Finney – It’s supposed to be 4th or 5th June i think from what i’ve heard and it’ll be in Houston, Tx.

Anson Wainwright – Who is your manager, trainer & Promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Michael Finney – It’s the TKO gym (In Las Vegas) my trainer is Kenny Adams he’s great, he’s really patient with you he doesn’t get stressed out so he makes it fun for you, he breaks everything down. My manager is Cameron Dunkin, he’s great he does everything for me. Without him i’d be lost! Haha They’ve been really good to me. My promoter is Chet Koerner of TKO Boxing he’s great he lets us know what’s going on.

Anson Wainwright – How did you first get into Boxing?

Michael Finney – Well my mom came home one day and we played all different sports Football, Basketball & Baseball and she had a paper with an advert for Boxing and said do you want to try Boxing, we said sure and that was basically it.

Anson Wainwright – For fans who perhaps aren’t familiar with you, what can you tell us about your style of fighting?

Michael Finney – I like to go forward, i like to get inside and throw bodyshots. I don’t like chasing guys down that’s one of the things i need to work on. I move my head well. I’m a good counterpuncher too.

Anson Wainwright – You moved from Smith Station, Alabama and now live in Primm, NV how have you found the move?

Michael Finney – We’ve been here for 3 months now. The temperature and climate are way different. In Alabama it’s really humid you have trees and grass everything but here it’s so dry, you have dust everywhere. I hadn’t realised how much i missed grass! Haha But i like it here. It’s actually hotter in Alabama than it is here now.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do with your time when your not Boxing?

Michael Finney – I work in the shop (Garage) with my dad on car’s that’s my hobby. We work on our car’s or family members cars. My Granddad was a mechanic and he passed some of it on to my my dad. I also like reading action or thriller books.

Anson Wainwright – You had a very good amateur career, can you tell us what you won and what your record was?

Michael Finney – I had 147 amateur fights i lost 30 of them. I won the Junior Olympics in 2008, i got to the semi final of the Golden Gloves and fought in the PAL’s. I won the Georgia games a few times but there not ranking events. I’ve been around awhile.

Anson Wainwright – What made you decide to go pro at just 18 instead of perhaps trying to fight for America at the 2012 Olympics?

Michael Finney – Well i’ve been an amateur for 9 years and i wasn’t felling it like i used to so it was either change it up or go pro. If i kept at the pace i was going i would of burned out. My coach was great but he trained us so hard without breaks and stuff. You’d be hurting so bad you wouldn’t be able to keep going like you were. We trained 4 hours a day and that’s not including the runs.

Anson Wainwright – What for you is the Best part about being a boxer & the Worst part?

Michael Finney – The Worst part i reckon would have to be getting knocked out i guess. I’ve been lucky enough not to of been knocked out. But i’d say that would have to take a chip off your pride. The Best part is actually fighting it’s self. I get really excited about fighting. I like fighting and the money’s not bad either! Haha I have to say fighting, i love the sport.

Anson Wainwright – What would you be doing if you weren’t a boxer?

Michael Finney – We actually when we boxed amateur had a lawn business, me and my brother used to go around cutting people’s grass and stuff like that. That was good money, i reckon if i wasn’t boxing i’d be doing that.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

Michael Finney – Right now when they tell me to go fight i go fight. I listen to my manager and do the best that i can.

Thanks for your time Michael

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

In the main event of the evening living legend Hector Macho Camacho 79-6 from Puerto Rico and NY came out to face Mexican Saul Duran 37-16-2 (30KO) in style setting the stage for a nostalgic war of Puerto Rico versus Mexico. In the first round Camacho came out jabbing but caught with a straight right hand flash knocking down Camacho who recovered to win the rest of the round with straight left hands. The second round was nothing of significance with both fighters not connecting with much more then jabs. The third round had no one fighter getting the better of the scrum with both fighters effectively working off the jab and not getting caught with anything much of substance. The 4th and 5th rounds showed the age of both the fighters some with Camacho getting a point deducted in the 5th for holding. The sixth round had Camacho coming out with more energy and landing some shots. The 7th round was a fairly even round with Camacho using the ring wisely and getting his jab off. The ninth round was a spirited round for Macho who made Duran spit his mouth piece. The 8th round was a seemingly even round as both fighters were able to land some jabs. The 9th round had Duran coming out the aggressor and he stayed the aggressor throughout the round hitting Macho man with body shots all throughout the round. Every round in the fight was marred with lots of holding often instigated on the part of Camacho to conserve energy. The final bell was met with chants of MACHO MACHO MACHO giving Hector a burst of energy in the first few seconds. The round was status quo with a lot of jabbing and hugging. In the end the judges had it 97-91, 97-91, 96-91 all for the winner Saul Duran. In the end there was only thing that could put an end to Camacho’s illustrious career and he goes by the name of Father Time….

In a Co-Main Event, former National amateur champion Patty “Boom Boom” Alcivar 2-0(2KO) and Laura Gomez 3-2 from Mexico stepped into the ring to battle and indeed they did just that. Alcivar hails from New York City’s Trinity gym and is trained by Martin Snow, also in her corner was Pete Kid Chocolate Quillin and Billy Padden. In the first round Patti Boom Boom came out with a tenacity not often seen in a fighter in only her second professional fight. Gomez the southpaw was befuddled by Alcivar‘s well executed game plan of moving left off the jab and setting up left hook to the body and head and occasionally throwing her big right hand. Round one was won by Alcivar but the game Gomez was a worthy opponent and she came to fight as well. The second round was more non-stop aggression on the part of Alcivar who started to work the right hand in the mix more and connect with it as well. She moved with the skill of much more seasoned fighter and slipped many of Gomez’s right hands and followed with a double left to the body and then the head and started connecting more and more as the round wore on. The third round we saw Alcivar’s overall talent level start to supersede Gomez’s and Boom Boom starting landing at will mixing in 4 and 5 punch combinations and taking the sap out of Gomez’s tree. The fight was stopped at -___ of the third round as Gomez’s corner had seen enough and threw in the towel. Alcivar moves to 2-0 and Gomez to 3-2. Alcivar credits her faith in god, great corner and hard work in her victorious effort.

In another Co-Main event Liliana Martinez 8-10(4KO) hailing from Dominican Republic got in with Jena “Cowboy” Shiver 11-4-1(2KO) hailing from St. Petersburg Florida for a 6 round bout. In the first round the “Cowgirl as Shiver is called got the best of Martinez using hard lead left hooks to set the pace. A minute in the second round the Cowgirl launched a solid right hand that momentarily staggered Martinez who recovered but that right followed by a couple more intermittently through the round. In the third round Martinez came out with a little more starch in her trunks and caught the Cowgirl with a few good punches probably winning her the round. It was another good busy round for both fighters as well. In the fourth and final round Shiver caught Martinez with a straight right hand putting Martinez on previously starched shorts from the last round. The fifth round started with both girls trying to set up a right hand but neither connected with anything of real substance and the Cowgirl got the better of the round landing more solid jabs and lead left hooks. The 6th was more of the same with the Cowgirl winning a unanimous decision over the very tough Martinez in a very entertaining match up.

For the undercard…..

In a very entertaining opening bout of the night lightweights Cesar Cisneros from Bradenton Florida and Jesus Lule from Ft Myers Florida brawled while they both made their professional debuts. Cisneros showed more technical skill while Lule showed an iron chin and huge heart. Cisneros won a very close majority decision with the cards reading 38-38 and 39-37 twice. The winner here.. the fans.

Paul Marfort made a successful debut with a dominating TKO1 over Nathon Oritz fighting out of Lakeland Florida. Marfort fighting out of Winter Haven FL had Cruiserweight contender Francisco Palacios took the first round over with a big right hand that put Ortiz into a shell and took many shots until downed at 1:47 of there first.

Former Cuban amateur standout Rances Barthelemy 5-0(3KO) won spirited unanimous decision over Milwaukee’s “Superstar” James Owens 4-1 (2KO). Barthelemy overwhelmed previously undefeated Owens early in the first. Owens survived the first and made the second round a bit more competitive but was clearly the less skilled fighter. The cards read all the cards read 40-35.

Danny Pastrana 2-1 fought hard with a unanimous decision win over Carmelo Almodovar 0-1. A bloodied Almodovar was knocked down in the second round and seemed to never regain his legs however showed amazing heart to finish the fight and fought hard to the final bell. The cards read 40-35.

Adrian Perez 5-2-1(1KO) hailing from Brazil went to work on Roger Rosa 1-2 hailing from Brazil. In a very competitive fight both fighters showed flashes of brilliance mixed with inexperience. Perez should the typical heart and valor of his Mexican brethren but ran into an equally tough Brazilian in Rosa. Rosa used straight left hand hands from his southpaw style to catch Perez and Perez was pretty effective with the lead right hand against the lefty. Both fighters put forth a very spirited effort with a very close decision going to the score cards. In the end the cards read 38-38, 38-36, and 39-37 for the winner by majority decision Adrian Perez. The crowd was both excited and equally upset with the outcome.

PHILADELPHIA (May 16, 2010)—World ranked Light Heavyweight Yusaf “Mack Attack” Mack will make his return to Philadelphia when he headlines a big night of boxing on Friday night June 4th at The Legendary Blue Horizon.

The card is promoted by Blue Horizon Boxing Promotions Inc. and SAM Promotions.

The night will also be a celebration of promoter Vernoca Michael’s 65th birthday

Mack, of Philadelphia has a record of 28-3-2 with seventeen knockouts and is ranked number eleven in the world by the IBF.

Mack will be looking to get back in the win column and climb back up the rankings after his sixth round stoppage defeat to former world champion Glen Johnson on February 5th in Miami.

That fight was an IBF elimination bout and a win would have catapulted Mack into a world title opportunity with reigning champion Tavoris Cloud.

Before that setback, Mack had won five consecutive bouts which included an impressive decision over the highly regarded Chris Henry on February 6th, 2009.

This will be Mack’s first appearance in Philadelphia since September 26th, 2008 when Mack took out Omar Pittman at the Philadelphia Armory.

Mack is undefeated at The Legendary Blue Horizon (7-0, 4 KO’s) and in his last appearance at “The Blue” Mack won the USBA Super Middleweight title with an eighth round stoppage over Shannon Miller.

Mack’s opponent will be announced shortly.

In the eight round co-feature, rising Featherweight, Coy “Pretty Boy” Evans will take on an opponent to be named.

Evans of Philadelphia has a record of 8-0-1 with two knockouts and is quickly becoming one of the hottest fighters in the city.

After not recording a stopping his first six bouts, Evans has scored explosive knockouts in two of his last three outing which includes his most recent outing when Evans annihilated Morris Chule in three rounds on April 9th at The Arena in Philadelphia.

An exciting undercard has been assembled and it will feature the very popular ladies Jr. Middleweight, Olivia “The Great” Fonseca (3-2-2, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia as she will battle Kali Reis (2-0, 1 KO) of Providence, Rhode Island in a scheduled four round bout.

John Barry of Philadelphia will be making his pro debut when he takes on George Perez (0-1-1) of Newark, NJ in a four round Light Heavyweight bout.

Good looking Jr. Middleweight prospect Ismael Garcia (1-0) of Milville, NJ will take on debuting Jeremy Woods of Ohio in a four round bout.

Coming off a successful pro debut, Keenan Smith (1-0) of Philadelphia will take on Dwayne Martin (2-1, 1 KO) of Laurel, Maryland in a four round Super Featherweight bout.

Tickets for this great night of boxing are scaled at $45, $55, $65, $125, and $200 and are available at The Legendary Blue Horizon (215) 763 0500 and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Gym (267) 979 2163.

The Legendary Blue Horizon is located at 1314 North Broad Street

Sergiy Dzinzurak made an impressive American debut as he defended the WBO Jr. Middleweight title with a tenth round stoppage over Daniel Dawson at the Chumash Resort in Santa Ynez, California.

Dzinzurak was steady if not spectacular as he was methodical with his jab and straight left hand coming from his southpaw stance. Dzinzurak was extremely effective with a jab that was piston-like as the fight wore on. Dzinzurak began to turn the heat up a little more with each passing round starting in round five.

Dzinurak began mixing in power punches and was dominant in round’s seven and nine. In round ten, Dzinzurak landed a plethora of shots with out much coming back from Dawson. Dzinzurak landed a big 1-2 combination and referee Jose Cobian stepped in at the 2:12 mark of 2:12

Dzinzurak, of Brovari, Ukraine is still undefeated at 36-0 with twenty-four knockouts. Dawson, 154 lbs of Australia is now 34-2.

“My plan was to use the jab to make him tired and then go to the other punches,” Dzinziruk said. “We saw some tapes of him and knew the early rounds would be tough. Our plan was to apply more pressure in the later rounds and finish him. We’d had a long layoff and we wanted to take it easy in the beginning.

“Whatever we planned, it worked out. I feel good about my performance, especially after the long layoff.

I wanted to please the American fans, and I think I did. Now, I want to take collect a few more belts and take on the other (154 pound) champions.”

“Obviously, he had a good jab. That’s pretty clear,” Dawson said. “I think once he established the jab and the range, I was fighting to get back in it and he was already comfortable. I failed to get around the jab or beat him to it. “

Vernon Paris remained undefeated with an exciting split decision over Juan Santiago in an eight round Welterweight bout.

Paris was the quicker puncher as he landed some nice swift combinations. In round one, Paris was deducted for a hard ow blow that sent Santiago to the canvas. Satiago came on straing as he showed incredible courage after eating alot of punches early. It was Santiago driving Paris back and landing hard body shots in an effort to slow down Paris. In round five, Paris landed another low blow but he was not penalized by referee David Mendoza. The continued to trade rounds in this ebb and flow contest with Paris maybe eeking out the final round.

Paris, 146 1/2 lbs of Detroit won by scores of 76-75 on two cards while Santiago took a third card at 77-74.

Paris is now 21-0-3. Santiago, 146 1/2 lbs of Denver is now 12-4-1.

“It was a close fight, but the judges got it right,” Paris said. “He was aggressive and strong and he landed a lot of good blows, but he also missed a lot. At the same time, all of my punches landed. The judges got it right.”

“I’m very disappointed,” Santiago said. “I feel like I won, everyone knows that I won. I don’t know what more I needed to do to win it.

“I did everything I possibly could do. I fought my hardest. Everyone thought I won that fight.

At the WaMu Theater in Madison Square Garden, the hotly contested war of words between Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) and Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) finally reached it’s pinnacle in this match-up for Khan’s WBA Super-Lightweight title. After weeks of verbal attacks from both camps and a full scale brawl that broke out at the weigh in, the atmosphere in the arena was nothing short of electric. Flags of England and Pakistan were seen in the crowd showing support for Khan, while American and Italian flags were being waved for Malignaggi. The world’s melting pot of New York City was the perfect setting for the fight.

The first round was a scrappy affair as each fighter was eager to show off their lightning-quick hand speed. The boisterous crowd was on their feet for every glancing blow. It was clear from the outset that Malignaggi hoped to disturb his opponent by getting low and clinching on the inside while landing short punches to Khan’s belt line, while the bigger Khan was keen on keeping the fight at a safe distance for his hard punches.

Throughout the first three rounds, neither fighter was able to land any hard punches, but each made their mark with crisp punches from a distance. The action picked up as the fight progressed, with Paulie throwing more combinations, while Khan threw the harder punches.

Midway through the fourth, Khan was able to land a left-right-left combination that seemed to annoy Malignaggi more than hurt him. Still, it showed the course that the fight could take. Thirty seconds later, a hard uppercut snapped Malignaggi’s head back and brought the crowd back to their feet. Ten seconds later, a hard left had Malignaggi against the ropes. He was not visibly shaken, but Malignaggi was getting a serious taste of Khan’s power, and Khan’s control of the fight was clear.

An abrasion over Malignaggi’s left eye that would eventually turn into a bad cut was visible to those at ringside.

Early into the fifth round, we saw Malignaggi on the canvas after a tangle on the inside. It was not a knockdown, but the crowd certainly showed that they were hungry for blood. Khan’s lead right hand output slowed, as Malignaggi was able to counter it with a short left hook. That led to Khan using a more proper right hand that followed a jab. The sixth round was a jab-fest with both fighters once again showcasing their amazing hand speed. Khan continued to follow his jabs with right hands with success and was maintaining control of the fight.

Entering the seventh round, it was Khan’s power advantage that was the deciding factor throughout. His output grew as the fight progressed, and Malignaggi had no answer. Two minutes into the eighth, Khan was able to snap Malignaggi’s head back with two very stiff jabs. Thirty seconds later, he landed a right hand followed by a left while Malignaggi was up against the ropes. The difficulty with the cut over Malignaggi’s left eye was beginning to show in his performance, as he was falling hopelessly behind.

Entering the ninth, a more confident Khan was in the ring against an opponent who was keen on re-establishing his jab in the hopes of putting together a more potent offense. The problem with Malignaggi is that he has never been a very feared fighter offensively. Khan walked through Malignaggi’s hard jabs and was able to land a right hand the knocked Malignaggi into the ropes.

While the action was not constant, Khan was consistantly landing hard shots throughout the fight. It was at this time that the damage became very visible as the cut grew to a dangerous level.

Most experts believed that this fight would go the distance, so as both fighters entered the championship rounds, the expectations in the crowd grew even more. Those expectations were delayed for a moment as the ringside physician took some extra time to examine a cut and some serious swelling that had been developing on Malignaggi. He seemed disappointed in himself, and while not having an ounce of quit in him, he was emotionally not in the fight at this point.

Khan saw this and decided to pounce. Malignaggi had no response. He was not hurt, but esteemed referee, Steve Smoger, immediatly jumped in and stopped the action at the 1:25 mark of the eleventh round giving Khan a TKO victory.

The co-feature of the evening featured a very interesting crossroads matchup between junior welterwights, Victor Ortiz (26-2-1, 21 KO’s) and Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KO’s), scheduled for ten rounds. Ortiz, at 140lbs, plays the role of the emerging up and comer looking to prove himself against a savvy veteran in Campbell, at 139lbs. The first round opened up at a decent pace. Ortiz took no time in showing off his power, as he was able to land a right hook around Campbell’s high guard. In the final thirty seconds of the round, Campbell got into his groove and was able to get inside where he works best. That plan backfired, as Ortiz was able to land two uppercuts followed by a right hook that acted more like a push than a punch. Campbell’s gloves touched the canvas, and the referee ruled it a knockdown despite Campbell’s valid argument.

The second round opened up at a brisk pace, as Campbell was out to prove that he wasn’t hurt. He got right inside and was able to land some strong uppercuts. Ortiz, feeling better suited working from the outside, stepped back and brought the fight to the center of the ring, where he was able to land. A strong southpaw lead.

The battle of ring generalship continued into the third round, but for the moment, Ortiz seemed in control. When Campbell used his patented technique of using savvy smarts and footwork to force his opponent into the ropes, Ortiz would showcase his southpaw right hook to take advantage. When the fight went into the center of the ring, Ortiz would utilize his lead southpaw straight left. Early in the fight, Ortiz was showing the New York City fans that he was just as crafty as his veteran counterpart.

But would it last against a fighter that has no problem maintaining a grueling pace for twelve rounds?

By the fourth round, Ortiz was moving more than usual, but was able to prevent Campbell from planting his feet and throwing punches. Campbell did not seem concerned with this tactic, as he was able to land long straight right hands. Ortiz maintained control, but Campbell was slowly bringing the action to a pace he is more accustomed to.

In the sixth, Ortiz managed to work Campbell into the ropes and unleash a barrage of punches to the body and head. None of the punches did any serious physical damage to Campbell, but it definitely did some damage to his scorecard. Campbell managed to retaliate by landing a long right hand flush on Ortiz’ chin, but that might have proved that Campbell does not carry much power at the higher weight.

By the eighth round, Ortiz was very much in control of the pace of the fight, as Campbell was unable to pin him onto the ropes and get into a grueling type of affair that he normally excels in. The ninth stanza saw some exciting back and fourth anction. Ortiz unleasged multiple punch combinations on an opponent that could do nothing but cover up and weather the storm. Campbell was able to get in closer and land long hooks that sent Ortiz’ perspiration flying into the paying customers at ringside. Still, Campbell’s offensives were few and far between.

The last round of the fight saw Campbell chasing down the very mobile Ortiz to no avail. Ortiz decided to play it safe in a fight that he was comfortably leading in. As the final bell rang, the crowd gave both fighters a very appreciative applause for the style match-up that they displayed over ten rounds. The final scores read 100-89, 100-89, and 99-90 all in favor of Victor Ortiz.—Arben Paloka

Good looking Middleweight prospect Daniel Jacobs annihilated an over matched Juan Astorga in under two rounds in a scheduled ten round bout.

Jacobs scored two knockdowns in round one, first from a body shot than a right hand. It was only time before a vicious body shot sent Astorga down in round two. Jacobs closed the show with two hard shots that sent Astorga to his knees and the fight was waved off at fifty-one seconds of round two.

Jacobs, 160 lbs of Brooklyn is now 20-0 with seventten knockouts. Astorga, 164 1/2 lbs of Brownfield, TX is now 14-5-1.

In a six round battle of undefeated Heavyweights, Kelvin Price scored a split decision over Tor Hamer

Price landed a grazing left hook that sent Hamer into the ropes in round two for which referee Benji Esteves ruled a knockdown. After that it was mostly Hamer landing some solid over hand right and body punches. Price was mildly effective was jabs but the judges saw it in his favor

Price 243 lbs of Pensacola, FL won by scores of 58-55 on two cards while Hamer won a card 57-56.

Price is now 7-0. Hamer is 11-1.

Former Amir Khan conqueror Bredis Prescott stopped Jason Davis at 1:11 of round three of a scheduled eight round Welterweight bout.

Prescott dropped Davis twice in the third round with the second knockdown being a hard body shot that forced Davis to retire at the 1:11 mark.

Prescott, 140 1/2 lbs of Miami is now 22-2 with nineteen knockouts. Davis, 144 1/2 lbs of Vancouver, WA is now 11-7-1.

Jamie Kavanaugh made a successful pro debut as he stopped William Wade in round two of a scheduled four round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Kavanaugh dropped Wade with a right to the body and again with a left to the body in round two. Moments after that, Kavanaugh scored a third and final knockdown with a winging left to the head and referee Sparkle Lee stopped the contest at 1:39.

Kavanaugh, 139 1/2 lbs of Dublin, Ireland is now 1-0 with one knockout. Wade, 141 lbs of Augusta, GA is now 1-3.

In the opening bout Dennis Douglin took apart veteran Joshua Onyango at 1:10 of round two of a scheduled six round Middleweight bout.

Douglin dropped Onyango twice in round two from hard straight left hands and referee Sparkle Lee waved the contest off immediately after the second knockdown.

Douglan, 156 lbs of Morganville, NI is now 9-0 with five knockouts. Onyango, 157 lbs of Trenton, NJ is now 13-19-1.

It’s been a month since Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez won the WBC & WBO Middleweight titles to add to his WBC Light Middleweight crown. Since then Martinez has enjoyed the fruits of his labour. He has attended ceremonies in Puerto Rico when he was officially awarded the WBO crown and then in Mexico where he was also belted by the WBC. He also fitted in visit’s to Ontario, Ca where he attended the Arreola-Adamek fight. He was mobbed by fans and seemed to enjoy his new found fame. He followed that with a trip to Las Vegas with his advisor Sampson Lewkowicz to watch the much anticipated Mayweather-Mosley fight, which could ironically end up being a spying mission as he has been linked with fighting both since.

Tomorrow in Madrid he has another engagement this time it’s not for him it’s for former stablemate and friend Javier Castillejo the former WBC Light Middleweight champion, a title now held by Martinez. The award for Castillejo who retired last year is recognising him and his achievements as a great champion.

It was also revealed exclusively that Martinez has been invited and prompted accepted a trip to Canastota to attend the Boxing Hall of fame from the 10-13 June.

Boxing returned to The Paradise Theater in the Bronx, New York with a co-promotion between Golden Boy Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing that was televised on Telefuture

The main event of the evening was a Lightweight bout scheduled for ten rounds that saw up and coming prospect, Adrien Broner, take on Rafael Lora in a lightweight bout. The fight initially began as a slow one, but it was immediately clear that Broner’s hand speed would make a huge difference. Halfway through the round, a strong and crisp left hook rattled Lora’s knees. He wasn’t badly hurt, but it showed how outmatched Lora was.

As soon as Lora refrained his bearings, Broner landed another left hook that had his opponent reeling into the ropes. Broner took his time and refused to get into a wild firefight. Eventually, another left hook had Lora hurt and backed into the corner, and Broner followed it up with a right hand that sent Lora down. The bell to end the round had rung, and Lora waited to the count of nine to clear the effects of getting his bell rung. Lora (11-3) stood up, but was not all there, and the referee called the bout, giving Broner (15-0, 10 KO’s) a TKO at three minutes into the first round.

The co-feature of the evening was a Lightweight bout scheduled for six rounds that saw Mike Perez, backed by about one hundred of his loyal fans, take on Francisco Reyes. Perez quickly took control behind a quick jab and strong right. Reyes did not seem fazed, but Perez was landing his punches first, and they were much harder. In the second, Perez picked up right where he left off; peppering Reyes with crisp punches, and now using a left hook to seal the deal. It wasn’t long before Reyes found himself on the canvas after a strong punch landed flush. He quickly beat the count and did not seem too shaken, but with blood streaming out of his nose and mouth, he was looking like a beaten fighter. He managed to finish the round on his feet, but took many hard punches in the process.

The third saw more of the same, but a hard right opened up a bad gash over the left eye of Reyes, forcing the doctor to take a look. Behind on the cards and on talent, Reyes began throwing desperate punches in the hopes of landing something big, and he surprisingly began to land; even staggering Perez briefly. The forth saw both fighters in an even back and forth brawl, as Perez began to show fatigue. The action remained that way into the sixth round, as both fighters began swinging for the fences. A short right hook on the inside from Perez sent Reyes (5-1) down. He was able to beat the count, but Perez laid on the pressure throughout. The final scores read 60-52, 59-53, and 59-53 giving Perez (8-0-1) a unanimous decision victory.

Popular female fighter, Maureen Shea, outclassed the game Norma Faris over three rounds in a scheduled six round Super Featherweight bout. Immediately, Shea came out and went blazing for Faris’ body. Faris had no response, and was effectively a heavybag for three rounds. Shea would occasionally shoot her punches upstairs, catching Faris off guard, as the referee closely watched. Occasionally, Faris (3-3) would land a blow, but they had no effect and they were few and far between. Shea continued to tear through her opponent, and the body blows were really beginning to take their toll. Finally, just as the bell to end the third round rang, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. Shea (14-2, 8 KO’s) was credited with a third round TKO.

Ahmed Samir stepped into the ring against the very awkward John Douglas in a scheduled six round Cruiserweight bout.. How does someone look good against an opponent who wings his punches and flies wildly off balance each time? Ahmed certainly tried, but it was a very sloppy affair. Douglas flew off balance with every punch he threw, and they were so wild that when they landed, they were often borderline behind the head. One punch that wasn’t borderline landed square on the back of Samir’s head that sent him reeling towards the ropes. No warning from the ref. The disgusting display continued. A headbutt opened up a gash on Samir’s hairline. At the end of the round, in a frustrated manor, Samir shoved Douglas onto the canvas. A small cut opened up over the left eye of Samir (9-0) in the opening of the sixth round. This was mostly due to Douglas occasionally being able to land a looping left hook. The slop-fest continued until the fight finally ended. The scores read 59-55 on all the judges’ scorecards. This writer hopes he will never see Douglas (7-14-3) and his terrible style in the ring again.

The emerging super middleweight, Shqiprim Muriqi, took on Rondu Campbell. At two wins with four losses, Campbell’s record does not look like much, but he brings with him a reputation of being a tough gym fighter and highly touted by successful professionals.

The first round saw lots of action as Muriqi refused to stick his jab and worked behind a strong straight right hand. Campbell was able to respond with some strong right hands of his own, and by the end of the round, the crowd cheered the action. It wasn’t until the second that Muriqi began to throw his left hook, winning him the round. Campbell’s response was to clinch, which made Muriqi uncomfortable. The third continued the action, and Muriqi began landing combinations. The forth saw Campbell (2-5-1) being very aggressive, but that seemed to work in Muriqi’s favor as he was able to land powerful left and right hand counters. The ring announcer read the scores, and they all read 40-35 in favor of Muriqi (4-0).

The first fight of the evening saw two undefeated prospects against each other. Hometown hero, Raul Lopez took on Daniel Aquino in a Super Bantamweight scheduled for four rounds. The fight showcased some thrilling back and forth action with Lopez (3-1-1)winging hard punches, and Aquino utilizing technique to throw shorter and more precise punches. In the end, the scores of 38-38, 39-37, and 39-37 read in favor of Aquino (4-0), much to the dismay of Lopez and his fans.

Former two-time Lightweight champion, Julio “Kidd” Diaz scored a unanimous decision over former world title challenger Herman Ngoudjo in a ten round Jr. Welterweight bout at Buffalo Bill’s Star Arena in Primm, Nevada.

Diaz landed quick combinations throughout the fight. Despite swelling under his left eye, Diaz was very effective and had the quicker hands.

Diaz seemed to get stronger as the fight went on as in round six he took a couple of short shots to start the round but came back to land a nice four punch combination that was followed by a couple of hooks. Round nine saw a good exchange that was followed up by a good right hand from Diaz. The two fought hard down the stretch as they duked it out in the final moments with Diaz getting the better of the action.

Diaz, 140 lbs of Cochella, CA won by scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 97-93 to raise his record to 37-6. Ngoudo, 140 lbs of Montreal is now 18-4.

“Ngoudio could take a punch, his style was very difficult for me to adjust to because of his elbows, he comes forward with his head. But I was able to change things up and fight on the inside, it’s what my corner knew would work and we did just that.”

Dominic Salcido scored an eight round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Guillermo Sanchez in a Jr. Lightweight bout.

Salcido was the more steady fight as he was consistent with little combination’s and where Sanchez seemed to be more concerned with showboating rather than throw punches. That was ironic because it was Salcido who was known throughout his career as being a flashy fighter. The only sort of offense that Sanchez could muster was landing a hard left hand that briefly shook Salcido in round four.

Besides that, it was all Salcido as he pressed the action and won by scores of of 78-74, 77-75 and 77-75. Salcido, 129 lbs of Ralito, CA is now 18-2. Sanchez, 128 lbs of Buffalo, NY is now 11-1-1.

“I came and proved what I need to, I am back in the game and back to business” said Salcido.