According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBC Welterweight champion Andre Berto slightly tore a bicep muscle in his eighth round stoppage win over Carlos Quintana this past Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.

“But my tendons are still intact as they can see,” Berto said. “So I am gonna have to ice it and rest for a few weeks so the swelling can go down [and] then start rehab.”

“But the doctor said it should be fine,” Berto said. “Not a serious tear, just needs time to heal.”

The report indicated that Berto would need six to eight weeks to recover.

PHILADELPHIA (April 13, 2010)— This Friday night at The New Daisy Theater in Memphis, Tennessee, one of the best Lightweight prospects in the world will be on display for the whole nation to see as “Hammerin” Hank Lundy will battle Tyrese Hendrix (18-0-1, 7 KO’s of Gainesville, Georgia) in a bout that will feature two undefeated Lightweights.

The bout will be seen all over America on ESPN 2 at 10pm eastern/7pm Pacific.

Lundy of Philadelphia has a record of 17-0-1 with ten knockouts has been on a roll and relishes the opportunity to knock off yet another undefeated fighter.

He has already defeated two undefeated fighters (Esteban Almarez and a drubbing stoppage of then 10-0 Jason Cintron) and had a disputed draw with then 8-0 Darnell Jiles in Jiles hometown, which is the only blemish on the Lundy’s impressive ledger.

“I can’t wait for this fight on Friday night”, said Lundy.

“I have had a great camp at Joe Hand Boxing Gym with world class sparring. I am going to tune Tyrese up like a Jimmy Hendrix guitar. I see the championship in my near future. This bout is for the NABO title so a win gets me ranked by the WBO. I know the two champions Juan Manuel Marquez and Michael Katsidis better be watching because I am gunning for them after I take care of Tyrese.”
Lundy is very excited about the prospect of fighting in Memphis.

“Memphis is a great town and the fans on Beale Street will get the opportunity to watch the best thing to hit this area since Elvis. That ring on Friday night will be my Graceland and I will decide when it’s time for Hendrix to leave.”

Lundy is managed by Ivan Cohen, who two decades ago was the manager of IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Buster Drayton.

“Lundy has so much natural talent and he works extremely hard in the gym. He takes nothing for granted and that’s why we believe that Hendrix will be on “sleeping on That Midnight Train to Georgia” after Hank takes care of him.” said Cohen.

Lundy is trained by long time Philadelphia trainer Sloan Harrison and strength and conditioning coach Brian Cohen.

Lundy just added one of the best up and coming trainers, Danny Davis who is known for his extraordinaire pad work which improved Lundy’s already lightning hand speed.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBA Interim Super Lightweight champion, Marcos Maidana injured his back and his June 19th bout with WBO champion, Timothy Bradley has been postponed.

“Maidana got hurt and the fight will be postponed for about a month,” said Bradley’s promoter Gary Shaw.

“They confirmed that Maidana hurt his back but that he still wants the fight, but that he’s needs roughly 20 days [off],” Shaw said. “They said he still wanted the fight, otherwise, I could have switched back to [Luis Carlos Abregu]. I will take them at their word that it’s Maidana’s back and that he still wants to fight Tim.”

“I’ve been on the phone with HBO but we need to work with HBO and Agua Caliente to find the right date that works,” Shaw said.

Reading, PA (April 13, 2010) – Boxing fans and media filled Blind Hartman’s Tavern Monday night for the kick-off press conference announcing the Pain on Penn Street pro-am fight card to take place May 22nd at the Reading Eagle Theater at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. The fight card will consist of seven pro bouts, as well as five amateur bouts and three titles will be up for grabs. The show will be promoted by King’s Promotions.

In the main event, Reading’s Travis Kauffman (19-1, 15 KOs) will face Chris Koval (24-6, 18 KOs) from Youngstown, OH for the vacant WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight championship. In the co-feature, Reading’s Keenan Collins (12-5-2, 8 KOs) will clash with George Rivera (11-5, 4 KOs) of Virginia for the WBF Americas Super Welterweight title.

The pro undercard will also include Reading’s Oscar Van Penovaroff, Derrick Webster of Glassboro, NJ and Joseph Judah of New York.

In amateur action, Derek Goldsborough of Reading faces Perry Young of Philadelphia for the Cadet Heavyweight Championship of PA (15-16 year olds).

Promoter Marshall Kauffman: Reading, PA has a great history in boxing, and we’re trying to continue to keep the sport of boxing alive here in Berks County. We have a great pro-am boxing card on May 22nd at the Sovereign Center. In the main event we have Reading’s own Travis Kauffman, who is 19-1 with 16 knockouts, facing Chris Koval of Youngstown, Ohio with a record of 24-6 with 18 knockouts. They will be fighting for the WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight title, the first heavyweight title bout to be held in Reading. In the heavyweight division, one punch can change a fight. In this fight we will have two heavyweights with big punching power, so look for some fireworks on May 22nd.
Travis Kauffman: I’m the first heavyweight from Reading to fight for a title, and I promise come May 22nd, this belt is coming home with me! I‘ve been killing myself in training, and I truly believe it will be a knockout. I want to thank Chris Koval for coming to Reading, but he’s going to have an even longer trip back home when he gets knocked out.

Chris Koval: I want to thank Marshall for the opportunity to fight for this title. I got a lot more notice for this fight than I usually do, so I’m definitely going to be in shape, I’m definitely going to bring it, so you should all come out and watch a great fight.

Keenan Collins: For the last two years it’s been a little rocky for me, but I’m not losing anymore, I guarantee it! I just want to fight, and I’m training hard.

Derrick Webster: I’m bringing the heat! If you’re looking for power, I’m bringing it. If you’re looking for speed, I’m bringing it. I’m promising everybody here another knockout!

Oscar Van Penovaroff: I’ve been training real hard improving on my skills and I hope to score a knockout….. because I like to knock people out!

Brian Jones (Trainer of Webster): I want to thank the city of Reading and Marshall for putting us on this card. Derrick Webster is dedicated to this craft. I think it’s going to be a real exciting fight, and I think you guys are going to love it.

Trainer Dean Williams: I’m proud to be on this card with my young prospects. I’ve been doing a lot of good things with Marshall for ten years now. I’m really happy to be part of this card.

Trainer Jim Ruoff: Marshall and I go back long way…. he’s a great promoter and a great friend. I’m real excited to have the young man I’m working with make his debut here in Reading at the Sovereign Center.

Anytime a fighter as heavily decorated in the amateurs as Matt Korobov opts to go professional it’s a safe bet he’ll be highly sort after commodity. That certainly was the case for Korobov who had 311-10 amateur record winning Gold at the 2005 & 2007 World amateur championships at Middleweight. Though he was unable to parlay that into the ultimate honour of a Gold at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 he is still one of the top prospects to come through the programme in recent years.

The journey for Korobov now 27 started way back in late 1991 when he first stepped foot in the gym. It was love at first site for Korobov who instantly took to Boxing. He enrolled in the Military at 19 where he stayed for 7 years. Even when his father George, mother Larisa and brother Alex all decided to move to Florida from their home in Orotukan, Russia in 1998.

It wasn’t a good time for Korobov who missed his family “I missed my family, it was difficult time for me. I just focused on my Boxing career” He knew his work wasn’t complete, electing to stay in Russia where he hone his skills. Until the opportunity came for him to make his impact at the top of the amateur game.

First he won European Junior Championship in 2001. Though he was highly regarded and expected to go to the 2004 Olympics the Russian Federation decided that Korobov was to young and inexperienced and sent Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov who repaid there faith winning gold.

That proved to be Gaydarbekov’s last International tournament as Korobov continued to grow showing the world his skills when he won the 2005 World Championships in Mianyang, China where he defeated among others future Olympic Bronze & Silver medallists Darren Sutherland and Emilio Correa in the Quarter and Semi finals respectively. In the final Korobov destroyed current unbeaten pro Ismayl Sillakh in the second round to win his first title.

Two years later in Chicago Korobov successful defended his title, really catching the eye of his now manager Cameron Dunkin. Korobov won the first three fights inside the distance, then the next three comfortably proving he was the class of the division.

At home Korobov was just as successful winning the Russian National Championships four times from 2003-2007. He didn’t win the 2005 National title because it clashed with the World championships. In 2008 internal politics couldn’t prevent Korobov representing his homeland on the biggest stage of all the Olympics.

The best laid plans rarely work out though and Korobov lost a razor thin decision to 2004 Welterweight champion and winner of the Val Barker trophy Bakhtiyar Artayev who had moved up to Middleweight. It was very disappointing for Korobov “I had no reason to stay in the amateurs and wait 4 more years” also adding “They have to many International and National tournaments and i wasn’t as young as some of the other guys. Also there are politics in Russia with the Boxing Federation”

It lead to Korobov deciding to make the leap from the amateur game to the professional side of Boxing. He decided to link up with award winning manager Cameron Dunkin who teamed him up with Dan Birmingham who was based in Florida like his family. The alliance didn’t last long, only 4 fights.

Since then he has moved onto Kenny Adams who was the 1988 Olympic team trainer and has since trained 18 World Champions. Adams is impressed with his charge “Talent wise he’s comparable to anyone i ever had” though he doesn’t believe he needs to do much to Korobov “The key is fine tuning him”

Adams an Army veteran who served in Vietnam for two years in the 101st Airborne division is a strict disciplinarian, who takes no messing and rigorously puts his guys through their steps each day at the TKO gym in Las Vegas goes on when asked about how Korobov has improved since he came to train with him “His defence has improved and his movement, also he’s able to deal with fighters who shake and bake”. Coach Adams continues “I think he hasn’t shown everything he’s capable of. Last time he was very explosive, we’ll keep building”

Korobov is happy with Adams and says of there training session’s “He knows what i need to do, he has a lot of experience. He is the same as my Russian coach he was also an Army man”

The transition to the pro’s has been seamless for Korobov “After the first couple of fights i have found it ok, in the pros there are more styles and tactics’

Away from Boxing Korobov is a family man, married to Anna who he married a year ago he enjoys walking, going shopping, the cinema, going the beach. He also enjoys Soccer keeping an eye out for Liverpool, Manchester United and CSKA Moscow’s result’s In fact it is with the afore mentioned CSKA club that he was part of. The CSKA club was actually founded by Joseph Stalin. He worked out there several years back with current Heavyweight contenders Dennis Boytsov & Alexander Dimitrenko. Things are much more low key when he’s in training camp he stays away from the bright lights and keeps his head down playing computer games and watching movie’s, he’s also improving his English.

Dunkin enthuses about him at any chance “I was crazy about him the first time i saw him, he’s terrific, he can be whatever he wants a top Pound for Pound fighter” Top Ranks matchmaker Bruce Trampler echo’s Dunkin’s sentiments “He’s a heck of a fighter, who always gives fans his best and is a pleasure to work with”

His next fight will be on the Kelly Pavlik-Sergio Martinez show in Atlantic City where he squares off against Joshua Snyder 8-4-1(3) in what will be his first 8 rounder. From there Dunkin says “By the end of the year he’ll be ready for 10/12 rounders, we’re looking at 3 or 4 more fights this year get him to something like 15-0 then he’ll be ready”

It remains to be seen if Korobov can turn his 11-0(9) record in the pro’s into a title run and then win a World Championship to add to his two in the amateur’s. He’s given himself every chance by aligning himself with an impressive support team along with Top Rank who are widely recognised as the best prospect builders in Boxing.

Sunday Sizzler! Andre Dirrell, Randall Bailey, Jonathon Cepeda, Joseph Elegele Interviews and Marc Abrams LIVE on air!! – Weekend Fight recaps and upcoming fight previews! 15rounds.com’s Johnny Schulz presents: Talking BOXING with JSizzle and New York Dan NYD – A weekly Sunday boxing show covering Boxing from all angles. Alongside and boxing aficionado Danny “NYD” Stasiukiewicz, RTB will cover: • All of the week’s top boxing stories!

North Olmsted, Ohio – April 12, 2010 –Warner Promotions in association with the VFW Men’s Auxiliary post 7647 and the Old School Boxing Club have announced that the annual Jimmy Bivins Classic has been upgraded to an all professional card. The event, which invades North Olmsted, OH on Saturday, April 24th live from the Soccer Sportsplex, 31515 Lorain Road, in North Olmsted, has a total of seven professional bouts on the card.

Headlining the Jimmy Bivins Classic will be the undefeated Dante Moore in a six round main event against Corey “Collateral Damage” Rodriguez of Minneapolis, MN in a Jr. Middleweight bout. Cleveland’s Moore (6-0, 4 KO’s), a former United States Junior Olympic National Champion as an amateur, will bring his powerful style to the bout against Rodriguez (4-1, 3 KO’s) in the Jr. Middleweight clash. Each of these boxers is known for their power, as attested by their combined knockout percentage of 64%.

The co-featured bout will present the long anticipated professional debut of Lorain’s Wilkins Santiago, as he squares off with Torrence King (1-6) from Cleveland in a four round Middleweight clash. Santiago was originally scheduled to make his debut on the “ESPN Friday Night Fights” event at the Wolstein Center in February. King’s record is a bit misleading as he has fought very tough opposition. The combined record of his opponents is 30-5.

Also featured will be the return of Cleveland Lightweight sensation Julius Leegrand (2-0) as he takes on Francisco Portillo (0-3) over four rounds. Legrand will look to become the first person to stop Portillo and earn himself his first stoppage victory in the process.

Cleveland Middleweight Michael Moore (1-0, 1 KO) will go to battle with fellow unbeaten Stephen Scott (1-0) of Albany, NY in a four round bout. This is the rare match that pits undefeated prospects against each other early in their careers.

Chris Lozano, the NAAFS Middleweight champion in the world of mixed martial arts, will make his professional boxing debut against Albany, NY’s Reggie Scott (1-0) in a four round Light Heavyweight attraction. Lozano, who has some amateur boxing experience, wants to make his mark in the world of professional boxing, just as he has in the world of MMA.

Rounding out the card will be a four round Super Middleweight bout between Toledo’s Demar Singleton (1-0, 1 KO) against the debuting Otto Cooper, and a six round clash featuring James Hope (5-4, 4 KO’s) against an opponent to be determined.

Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the first bell set for 7:30 PM.

Even though the Jimmy Bivins Charity Boxing Classic is now an all professional event, ticket prices will remain the same and are a charitable donation as 100% of the proceeds are donated to the VFW post number 7647 out of North Olmsted, OH. Ticket prices start at just $20 for general admission. There are also $50 VIP Ringside tickets, and tables seating eight for $600. Tickets can be purchased at the North Olmsted Soccer Sportsplex, VFW Post 7647, or by calling 216.854.0485 or 440.258.8117.

About Jimmy Bivins

Jimmy Bivins fought out of Cleveland whose professional career ran from 1940 to 1955. Although he was never given the opportunity to fight for a world title, despite at one point being the number one contender in both the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions, Bivins fought and defeated many of the great fighters of his era. In recognition of his achievements in the ring, among other things, he defeated eight of the eleven world champions he faced. Bivins was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.

About Warner Promotions

Warner Promotions is a boxing promotional company, based out of Cleveland. They served as the co-promoter for the ESPN Friday Night fights event at the Wolstein Center on February 19th. A newly formed, Cleveland based company, owned by Ron Warner, and run by Antonio Castro, Warner Promotions has four boxing events planned for 2010, and will be signing the top local boxers to compete in their events. For further information, please visit www.warnerpromotionsllc.com.

PHILADELPHIA (April 11, 2010)—This past Friday night at The Arena in South Philadelphia, Featherweight Coy Evans remained undefeated with an explosive third round stoppage over Morris Chule.

Evans of Philadelphia is now 8-0-1 with two wins coming by knockout. Both of those stoppages have come in the last three fights.

Evans dropped Chule twice in round two, first from a counter right that clearly hurt Chule. Towards the end of the frame, a series of hard right hands dropped Chule for a second time.

Evans showed lightning quick hand speed and a huge right knocked Chule out cold midway through round three and the fight was stopped immediately at the 1:51 mark of round three.

“It was a good fight”, said Evans.

“My corner just wanted me to stay calm and they said the knockout will calm and that’s what I did. I am happy and I have a great team with my promoter Greg Robinson, trainer Bozy Ennis and managers Moz Gonzalez and Eddie Woods plus Unleashed Power drink with River Edge Beverage Company. I know when I listen to my corner that I will be victorious”

“We are very happy”, said Greg Robinson of Power Productions.

“Coy is starting to come into his own. He is 3-0 with two knockouts since we signed him. This was another steppingstone towards a world title. I expect that Coy will be fighting for a regional title in the next twelve months.”

FULL RESULTS

8 ROUNDS—Featherweights—Coy Evans (8-0-1, 2 KO’s) 124 ½ lbs of Philadelphia TKO 3 (1:51) over Morris Chule (11-11-1) 125 ½ lbs of Pahokee, FL

4 Rounds—Jr. Lightweights—Keenan Smith (1-0) 130 lbs of Philadelphia UD over Luis Esquilin (1-4-1) 127 lbs of Philadelphia…Scores were 40-36 on all cards

4 Rounds—Light Heavyweights—Maurice Amaro (1-2) 171 lbs of Philadelphia U DEC over Joe McKenzie (0-1) 170 ½ lbs of Philadelphia…Scores were 40-36 on cards

4 Rounds—Lightweights—Purol Pairol (1-0-1) 130 ½ lbs of Cuba U DEC over Kareem Cooley (1-1) 133 lbs of Philadelphia…Scores were 39-37 on cards

The next Power Productions show will be Friday, June 18th at The Arena

Recent criticisms of Showtime’s “Super Six World Boxing Classic” are beginning to make a pattern, faint but detectable. The tournament’s critics appear not to be actual Showtime subscribers. That is, to justify the 10 monthly dollars they save on cable bills, otherwise thoughtful observers now discount the network’s innovative concept by implying it hasn’t met expectations.

Whose expectations? How not?

Among writers, smart ones at least, there’s ever a pessimistic bent to resist. Failure, for being quantifiable, attracts intellect. Smart people like to sort and group things, and success is more elusive than failure. And the writer’s job, often, is to say anything at all even when he can’t say something nice. So it goes.

But it’s time to check that pessimism and take another look at this tournament. And then another and another. A couple Saturdays from now, on April 24, the second fight in Group Stage 2 features Carl “The Cobra” Froch against Mikkel Kessler – to whose surname Hamlet fans might attach “The Dane.” The fight happens in Herning, Denmark. It will likely be the most consequential prizefight in that country’s history.

Last week the Nottinghamshire Cobra and Kessler the Dane joined a conference call without many American writers. They were counterprogrammed by a Kelly Pavlik call in what appeared to be part of HBO’s strategy for undermining Showtime’s tournament, regardless of long-term consequences. Those writers that went for the bigger domestic name missed a chance to learn more about Froch and Kessler. Kelly Pavlik, meanwhile, is strong and ready. Got it.

Asked for an opening comment, Carl Froch began in the third-person beloved by megalomaniacal dictators and prizefighters: “This is the WBC super middleweight champion.” Froch went on to say lots more in the hour that followed, but far as opening comments went, that was it.

Froch is a person of no extraordinary intelligence who speaks eloquently. The ideas he expresses are no larger than other prizefighters’. To his workaday ideas, though, he brings a surprising flamboyance and authority.

Goodness me, might that be an apt metaphor for his fighting style? Come to think of it, yes.

Here’s another thought about Froch’s eloquence. It is a high commentary on the English school system’s deservedly fine reputation. There is no tradition of unintelligent eloquence in America; instead, we revel in smart people expressing themselves badly and call it “egalitarianism” or something. But Froch is a boxing epitome of the peculiar English tradition whose standard bearer is Jane Austen, a writer of no particular intelligence who was still a genius. Solve that riddle, and you’re an Anglophile.

Asked about Mikkel Kessler’s allegations of roughhousing and otherwise dirty tactics by Andre Ward in his last fight – to hear Kessler tell it, Ward only stopped clinching long enough to head butt him – Froch was unwilling to lend Kessler’s excuses credence or Ward any bona fides as a roughhouser. About Kessler, Froch said, “From what I saw, he was quite conclusively outboxed.”

“Quite conclusively outboxed”; how rich is that? It’s precise, short and brooks no disagreement. It doesn’t say anything folks outside the Kessler camp didn’t already think in more expansive ways. But it says it just right. And it also implies there’s more to Froch, as a man and a fighter, than just a surplus of pride and awkwardness – which is about all American writers have credited him with having.

Froch should be exposed by Kessler in his next fight. But Froch should have been exposed by Andre Dirrell in his last fight. He should have been exposed by Jermain Taylor in his penultimate fight. He should have been exposed by Jean Pascal in the fight before that. Had you shown an American bookmaker a tape of any one of Froch’s first 23 fights and asked for Pascal-Taylor-Dirrell parlay pick, there’s no way you would have gotten: Froch 3-0. But that’s exactly where Froch stands.

Froch is proudest of three things: his championship belt, his unblemished record and his high knockout ratio. It’s the third that makes the least sense, though, when you watch Froch’s awkward, often-unbalanced and always unorthodox approach to punching. Asked for a mechanical explanation of the concussion that nevertheless affixes to the ends of his fists, Froch had little insight but plenty of well-chosen words.

“It’s a biological mystery,” he said before exploring, then dismissing, other possibilities such as lower-body strength: “But I have skinny chicken legs, so it’s not that.” So he settled on a combination of mystery and good genes.

Whatever it is mechanically, psychologically it’s about commitment. Carl Froch punches with power because Carl Froch believes he punches with power. There’s more to it than that, of course – accuracy helps, and so do his odd angles – but belief has to be the foundation. Froch hits opponents hard for the same reason Mickey Ward was a great body puncher: He believes.

Someone has to. Whoever was the favorite pick among experts when the Super Six tournament began – Kessler or Arthur Abraham, mostly – no one outside Nottingham had Froch to win. And yet, Froch began by decisioning Dirrell while Dirrell searched for a professional identity. He now faces Kessler in the throes of an identity crisis. And in Group Stage 3, he’ll face an Arthur Abraham who might be more tentative than usual. Get in the playoffs, as they say, and anything can happen.

Which is exactly the point of this tournament. It is unpredictable. It is dramatic. And it’s supported by a “Fight Camp 360” program blessedly focused on boxing and devoid of Mayweathers. The episodes move well and filter the noise some think prizefighting is about. Unlike HBO’s “24/7” programs, then, “Fight Camp 360” is made for people who care about boxing those other 50 weeks of the year.

The Super Six remains the best thing to happen to our sport since Vazquez-Marquez III.

Top Rank Live proudly presented and evening of Boxing from The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The card was shown live on Fox Sports Espanol which allowed around 80 Million homes to tune in. Headlined by Filipino Mark Melligan squaring off against tough Mexican Norberto Gonzalez. Also on making the tv was up and coming Diego Magdeleno against Manny Perez.

Going into the Main Event it looked evenly matched between Mark Melligen 18-2(13) & Norberto Gonzalez 18-2(12) however the 23 year old Filipino had a different idea as he continually beat Gonzalez to the punch round after round. The southpaw jab caused Gonzalez trouble through out. Full credit to Gonzalez as he continued to press, this suited Melligan who got the better of most exchanges and used his overhand right to both head and body with good effect. Gonzalez would go back in straight lines which made it easier for Melligan to pick him off. Towards the end of the eighth round in Gonzalez corner both guys clashed heads leaving the Mexican with a bad cut under his right eye. To Gonzalez credit he kept trying but it wasn’t his night. Again in the tenth they clashed heads leaving Gonzalez with another cut this time on his right eye lid. When all was said and done Robert Hoyle, Patricia Morse Jarman & Dave Moretti were all in agreement posting a shut out for Melligan.

Backed by a Partisan home support Las Vegas own Diego Magdeleno advanced to 15-0(3) with a solid showing against Manny Perez 14-6-1(2). Magdeleno looked sharp from the first bell and picked apart Perez with his superior speed of hand and foot. Glenn Trowbridge saw it 100-90 while Eric Cheek had it 99-91 and Al Lefkowitz handed in a 97-93 card. Magdeleno rated his performance as an 8 or 9 while beaming trainer Pat Barry said it was a 10. Magdeleno was happy with his continued development adding “I’d like to say thank you to Top Rank, i’ll fight whoever they put in front of me”

Hot prospect Jose Benavidez Jr 4-0(4) scored an impressive second round KO over Scott Paul 5-5(1). Paul was down twice before Robert Byrd called it off at 1.30.

Lamont Peterson 28-1(14) got back to winning ways when he stopped Damien Fuller 30-7-1(14) at 1.10 of the seventh when his corner threw the towel into the ring with Peterson pummelling away and Fuller not throwing anything back.

Cortez Bey 8-1-1(4) & Marcos Herrera 5-1-1(1) fought to a majority six round draw. Tim Cheatham had it 58-56 for Bey but was out voted by Al Lefkowitz & Glenn Trowbridge who had it 57-57.

Anthony Lenk 7-1(4) stopped Wilson Rivera 3-4(1) at 1.19 of the third round in Light Welterweight action.

Russian Heavyweight Vladimir Tereshkin 13-0-1(7) outpointed journeyman Joseph Rabotte 7-12(3) over six all three judges had it 60-54. Rabotte was marked under the left eye and back peddled looking to avoid anything heavy from Tereshkin who couldn’t find the stoppage though did wobble Rabotte late in the fourth.

In the opening bout of the night Japan’s Hiromitsu Miura successfully made his debut in Light Heavyweight action when outhustled Isaac “Iceman” Atencio 2-3-1(2) over four 40-36 & 39-37×2.

On 29 May Luis “El Mosquito” Lazarte 46-9-1(18) gets an unprecedented sixth world title shot when he faces Carlos Tamara for the IBF Light Flyweight title. At 39 this is almost certainly Lazarte final chance to win a world title, he’ll also get the chance in front of his hometown fans in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. He has won the Argentinean & South American Light Flyweight & Strawweight titles in an eventful career and is currently ranked #7 by the IBF at 108. Lazarte is a down to earth guy who still works a day job as a Road Sweeper and enjoys spending time with his family. Here’s what he had to say ahead of his big chance.

Hello Luis, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly could you tell us when you maybe back in action next?

Luis Lazarte – According to my managers it would be on May 29 against Carlos Tamara for the IBF Light Flyweight Title in my hometown (Mar del Plata, Argentina). It would be my 6 World Title shot.

Anson Wainwright – Your debuted way back in 1996 and have had 57 fights since at 39 how much longer do you feel you can carry on fighting?

Luis Lazarte – I know I am not young but I am always in good shape and I love training, so I will keep boxing until I feel I can.

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

Luis Lazarte – My trainer and manager is Mr. Hector DiPilato but I don’t have a promoter. I train in DiPilato’s gym (Raul Santos Villalba).

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us how life was for you when you were young in Mar Del Plata & how you got into Boxing?

Luis Lazarte – I left my house when I was very young, at the age of 12 so I grew up in the streets. Once I fought a boxer in the street and after that I wanted to learn how to box so I went to a gym and I started practising, I liked it so much that I have never stopped.

Anson Wainwright – Did you have an amateur career, if so what titles did you win and what was your final record?

Luis Lazarte – As an amateur I did around 40 fights and I lost only 5. I was Argentine Champion and I represented my country in several international tournaments.

Anson Wainwright – You have had 5 title shots firstly against Kermin Guardia, Pongsaklek Wongjongkam, Omar Narvaez, Edgar Sosa & Daniel Reyes. What can you tell us about those fights from your point of view?

Luis Lazarte – On 1999, against Kermin Guardia at Minimumweight, I was very nervous because it was my first title shot, moreover it was in my hometown and his style (southpaw) was very difficult for me.

Against Pongsaklek I was taken as a last minute substitute, I had a very long trip and I didn’t know anything about his style.

Against Narvaez, once again I was called at last minute, however I think the referee was unfair disqualifying me.

Against Sosa, I consider it was a nice fight but I started becoming anxious when they read the scorecards during the fight, referee started cautioning me and finally I was disqualified in the 10º round.

Finally against Reyes, I was in very good shape, very confident and I had a good start but then he started boxing very well with his jab and he fought better than me.

Anson Wainwright – Who do you think was the best? How do you think a fight between Pongsaklek & Narvaez would of gone?

Luis Lazarte – I think the best one was Kermin Guardia. And in my opinion, a fight between Narvaez and Pongsaklek would be very interesting as both as great boxers but I can’t give a result.

Anson Wainwright – You have lost 9 times 4 of them were via Disqualification, can you tell us what happened in these fights?

Luis Lazarte – The fights I lost by disqualification were because I used to get nervous very often but now I have learned that lesson.

Anson Wainwright – What do you consider you best fight & win?

Luis Lazarte – I have done many good fights but I consider that my best wins were against Raul Medina (second fight) and Adrian Rodriguez (second fight).

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

Luis Lazarte – I like to be with my family. In summer we go to the beach in my hometown, then the rest of the year, go to the cinema, shopping center.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a job apart of Boxing?

Luis Lazarte – Yes, I work as road sweeper in my hometown, I have been working in that position for many years.

Anson Wainwright – Who do you consider as the up and comers of Argentinean Boxing at the moment?

Luis Lazarte – For sure, the best one is Marcos Maidana, current Junior Welterweight World Champion and there also some good prospects like Diego Chaves, Jesus Cuellar & Maxi Marquez.

Thanks for your time and good luck with your upcoming title challenge.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

LAS VEGAS (April 10, 2010) – Hall of Fame-bound Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield added the World Boxing Federation heavyweight title belt to his overcrowded trophy case, stopping defending champion Frans “The White Buffalo” Botha in the 8th round last night in the main event on “The Legend Returns” card, promoted by Crown Boxing, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Botha (47-5-3, 28 KOs) came out throwing bombs for the first five rounds, buzzing Holyfield (43-10-2, 27 KOs) a few times. Holyfield came on strong at the end of the fifth, taking full control of the fight in the sixth and seventh by throwing letting his hands go and throwing effective combinations.

In the eighth round, Holyfield dropped Botha with a right hand and when a damaged Botha got to his feet, Evander overwhelmed his South African opponent until referee Russell Mora called an end to the fight.

“He is a very good defensive fighter,” Holyfield said after the fight. “He’s a smart fighter, too. His right hand had a lot of power and he’s also a very quick big man. I gave myself a 7. I can get better. I’d been off a long time and I know I can get better. I want to come back very soon.”

“Evander is a great fighter,” Botha remarked. “He capitalized on my mistakes. I thought I had him going early. I have to go home and sit down with my team. Who knows (about his future plans)? We’ll see how he goes forward.”:

In the co-feature, hometown favorite Henry Namauu, 2006 National Collegiate champion at UNLV, stopped a game Rayford Johnson in the seventh round of their back-and-forth battle of tough cruiserweights. Referee Tony Weeks halted the action when Namauu unleashed a series of unanswered, power-packed punches.

Former IBF cruiserweight champion “King” Arthur Williams recorded his 47th career victory, winning a unanimous 6-round decision against previously unbeaten Valente Tinajero (8-1).

Complete Results

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs), Atlanta, GA WTKO8 (2:05) Frans Botha (47-5-3, 28 KOs), Newport Beach, CA

(Holyfield wins World Boxing Federation title)

CRUISERWEIGHTS

Henry Namauu (6-3, 4 KOs), Las Vegas, NV WTKO7 (2:43) Rayford Johnson (5-5, 3 KOs), Longview, TX

Arthur Williams (47-16-1, 30 KOs), Pensacola, FL WDEC6 (59-55, 59-55, 59-55) Valente Tinajero (8-1, 4 KOs), Roy UT

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Lawrence Hughes (4-0, 3 KOs), Las Vegas, NV DC4 (40-36, 40-36, 39-37) Juan Alcolea (2-2, 0 KOs), Las Vegas, NV

FEMALE SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS

Jennifer Han (1-1-1), Tucson, AZ WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) Crystal Hoy (3-21-2, 2 KOs), Las Vegas, NV

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Rocco Santomauro (4-0, 0 KOs), Las Vegas, NV WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-26) Karl Hammer (1-3, 0 KOs), Clearfield, UT

SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS

Alexis Santiago (3-0-1, 1 KO), Phoenix, AZ WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) Brice Yeniki (0-5), Las Vegas, NV

Post Fight Press Conference Quotes

Evander Holyfield: “People talk and you act like it doesn’t bother you when they call you old and senile. I’ve been telling people since 1992 when I lost to Riddick Bowe that I was going to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I won 2 but not the third. It’s never been about money. I was brought up poor and never had anything. I was taught to have goals and to never quit.

“Botha gave me an opportunity. People talk about my legacy. It’s about who you’ve fought. They can’t deny me; I fight the best. I always want to fight somebody to get a little credit if I beat ‘em. When I decided to comeback it wasn’t because I’m the type that says he’s one of the best. This is a new era and I didn’t think I’d be in this era. I was laughing a little when I fought George Foreman. He was 42 and I was 29. I rally didn’t want to fight him. He didn’t beat me but he did become world champion again. What I learned from that fight was George said it wasn’t about age but that I will give my all.

“You can’t let people tell you what you can do. I fight because I want to. I wouldn’t be the person I am without opportunities.”

Frans Botha: “I’m honored to fight in Las Vegas and to fight a great champion. Evander Holyfield is the real deal, a true champion and warrior. I can’t feel ashamed to lose to a great champion. I think he’s going to rule again. He has the skill, power and determination, everything to get that title again.”

Sunrise, FL — Fighting for Haiti was the name of the card and the name of the game tonight for WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto. Berto 26-0 (20KO) retains his WBC strap with an exciting KO win over Carlos Quintana 27-3(21). Berto was able to fight through an early fight torn bicep muscle to overpower the southpaw Quintana.

Berto showed blazing speed right from the opening bell in round one however, was knocked down by the southpaw early, the clean shot was called a rabbit punch, and a knockdown was not credited.

In round 2 Quintana caught Berto with a big straight left that stunned the champ and turned the boxing match into a slugfest.

Round three found both fighters throwing mean shots and Berto catching Quintana with a clever left hook mid round and putting him on the ropes with a variety of body head shots. Quintana was deducted 1 point for hitting behind the head, which he did often.

Berto answered the bell of the fourth round with fast sharp punches, but kept the southpaw in front of him creating a power punch fest. Berto’s pressure served up intense infighting that produced a barrage of heavy shots.

The tempo was just as fierce in the 5th round with several exchanges as these two warriors battled for punching positioning by doing just that, punching. In the seventh Berto came out swinging hard and caught Quintana with some crisp shots all the while being the aggressor. In the eight came the end for Quintana, who was caught with a barrage of crushing right hands. Berto’s onslaught lasted a good minute before referee Tommy Kimmons called an end to the contest at 2:16 of the eighth round with a TKO accredited to Berto’s records. This was a great showing for Berto who is coming off close to a one year layoff. Berto, some may say looked less than perfect but Quintana’s unorthodox style can make a great fighter look average. Berto retained his WBC belt and looks to move up the ladder for a possible super fight in the near future.

“My knockout was pretty vicious,” said Berto. “It may open up their eyes a little bit. But then again they have to look at I’ve been off for a long time so it’s only going get better from here.”

The card, promoted as “Fighting for Haiti” due to, part of the proceeds will benefit the Haitian earthquake relief fund. Berto was born in Florida and his parents were born in Haiti. To help rebuild Haiti, Berto started the Berto Dynasty Foundation.

In the Co-Main Event featherweight Celestino Caballero 34-2 (23 Kos) of Panama city Panama claimed the WBA World title strap with a unanimous decision win over Daud “Cino” Yordan 25-1(19KO) hailing all the way from Indonesia. The longtime WBC and IBF champion Calallero dropped Yordan in the second as a result of a Yordan falling into sharp uppercut. Caballero used his height and reach well throughout the fight keeping the Indonesian fighter at the end of his sharp punches often throwing multi punch combinations at a high connect rate. Yordan found a home for a strong left hook, however not nearly enough as the Mexican’s punch output proved to be too much for Yordan. The twelfth round was wildly entertaining when Yordan stunned Caballero with a series of hard shots, but the attack was a little to late as Caballero weathered the late storm and captured the title with a unanimous decision with the cards reading 119-108 120-107 118-108.

Antwone Smith 18-1 (9kos) from Miami Florida took it to Franklin Gonzalez 13-5 (9kos) of the Dominican Republic in the 10 round welterweight fight. Smith, who often used a George Foreman-like infighting techniques, worked uppercuts and body shot throughout the fight. The end came at 2:40 in the third when Smith caught Gonzalez with a brutal liver shot which left Gonzalez on the canvas for some time after the bell.

Jonathan ‘El Conquistador” Cepeda 8-0 (7KO) from West Palm Beach dominated Shadrack Kipruto 18-15(10KO) with constant heavy shots from the opening bell. Kipruto was dropped in the first and rounds from constant pressure on the Kenyan fighter who looked off balance and awkward. A huge left hook finally ended the bout @2:31 of the second round.

In a very entertaining fight light welterweight Joseph Elegele 6-0(4KO) stopped the game and tough Mario Hayes with a straight left hand in the third round at 2:51. Hayes was also knocked down with a perfect left hook earlier in the 3rd which ultimately set up the KO. Elegele was the 2008 National Golden Gloves runner up, who lost a close and controversial decision to Danny O’Conner.

In a one sided Jr. Middle weight bout Yhudel Johnson 6-0 (4 KO’s) completely dominated Chris Grays 9-20(2KO) who got knocked down twice in the first round did not make it out of the first. Referee stoppage at 2:04.

In a great second fight of the night Willie Monroe (8-0 3ko’s) looked both the slicker and the more powerful puncher beating Ibaheim King 7-2 (2ko’s) to a decision in the six round fight. Scores were all 60-54 for Monroe.

In the first bout of the evening, Yunier Dorticos 4-0 (4ko’s) knocked Zack Ziegler 3-1 (2 KO’s) to his knees with a well placed liver shot at 1:24 in the first in a very one sided fight. Ziegler’s 3 wins must have some by way of Ragu container.

Notable boxing attendees where, Randall Bailey Andre Dirrell, Francisco Palascios, John Jackson, and more.

Johnny Schulz and Dan Stasiukiewicz reporting ringside.

Be sure to listen to the Sunday Sizzler at 4pm with interview from the winning fighters.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 10, 2010) — Electrifying lightweight prospect “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy of Philadelphia will face his toughest test to date Friday night, April 16, in the co-feature of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” at the Omni New Daisy Theater in Memphis, Tenn.

Lundy (17-0-1, 10 KOs) will battle fellow unbeaten lightweight Tyrese ”Head Honcho” Hendrix (18-0-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round NABO title bout. The event is co-promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports and Prize Fight Boxing Promotions in conjunction with Goossen Tutor.

The main event Friday will feature heavyweights Owen “What The Heck” Beck (29-4, 20 KOs) and Tony Thompson (33-2, 21 KOs) squaring off in a 10-round bout, but Lundy and Hendrix could steal the show in what is expected to be a hard-fought battle. Lundy is currently ranked No. 2 in the NABO while Hendrix is ranked sixth.

Lundy last fought on Jan. 22 at The Roxy in Boston, Mass., beating tough challenger Richie Abril (12-1-1) by split decision. Hendrix hasn’t fought since November of 2009 when he earned a unanimous decision victory over Marteze Logan. Lundy has won each of his last seven fights — four by knockout — with the only blemish on his record being a controversial draw against Darnell Jiles Jr. in 2008.

Visit CESBoxing.comfor more information on Lundy’s quest for the title, in addition to news and information about CES’ upcoming events, including “Spring Fever,” which will be held Friday, May 7, 2010 at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I. Tickets for that event ($35, $50, $75 and $100) are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Website or calling 401-724-2253.

Photo by Emily Harney/CES

Veteran Welterweight David Estrada knocked Orlando Lora from the ranks of the undefeated by scoring a very impressive stoppage after eight rounds in a scheduled twelve round bout at the Agua Caleinte Resort in Palm Springs, California.

Estrada battered Lora from the beginning of the fight as he landed hard right hands and continuously drove Lora back on his heels. Those shots began to mark Lora as blood tricked from the nose of Lora as early as round three. A round later, the blood stared coming from the left eye as a result of the many right hands that Estrada was landing. In round’s seven and eight it became evident that Lora was going to have a tough time being competitive as Estrada was laning almost everything his threw and Lora’s face was becoming a crimson mask. After those two rounds, Lora had less foght in him and the ringside doctor stopped the fight following the eighth.

Estrada, 147 lbs of Chicago is now 24-6 with fifteen knockouts. Lora, 145 1/2 lbs of Culican, Mexico loses for the first time and is now 25-1-1.

Despite taking the fight on just two days notice, Leonilo Miranda scored a sixth round stoppage over Andre Wilson in a scheduled eight round Super Bantamweight bout.

Miranda landed the harder shots as he was the bigger man and was able to impose his will. Miranda was cut in the forehead at the end of round three from a clash of heads. At the end of round five, Miranda turned up the head as he landed some hard left hands just before the bell. That was a precursor as Miranda landed a hard straight left that sent Wilson to a knee. he beat referee Lou Moret’s count but the fight was waved off at forty-three seconds of round six.

Miranda, 125 lbs of Sonora, Mexico is now 25-2 with twenty-four knockouts. Wilson122 lbs of St. Joseph, MO is now 11-4-1.

Angel Osuna handed Ruben Rivera the first loss of his career as he scored a battering first round stoppage in their scheduled four round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Osuna was relentless with right hands as he landed clubbing shots in the first minute. Osuna then unloaded a series of hard rights to the head that forced referee Lou Moret to stop the bout at 1:33 of round on.

Ousna, 154 lbs of Cochella, CA is now 4-2-1- with two knockouts. Rivera, 154 1/2 lbs of Los Mochis, Mexico is now 4-1-1.

Mark Melligen 146 -V- Norberto Gonzalez 147 10 Rounds Welterweight
17-2(13) 18-1(12)

Diego Magdeleno 132 -V- Manny Perez 134.5 10 Rounds Super Featherweight
14-0(3) 14-5-1(2)

Lamont Peterson 143 -V-Damien Fuller 143 10 Rounds Light Welterweight
27-1(13) 30-6-1(14)

Vladimir Tereshkin 241 -V- Joseph Rabotte 254 6 Rounds Heavyweight
12-0-1(7) 7-11(3)

Anthony Lenk 138 -V- Wilson Rivera 138 6 Rounds Light Welterweight
6-1(3) 3-3(1)

Cortez Bey 137 -V- Marcos Herrera 137 6 Rounds Light Welterweight
8-1(4) 5-1(1)

Jose Benavidez Jr 138 -V- Scott Paul 137 4 Rounds Light Welterweight
3-0(3) 5-4(1)

Isaac Atencio 173 -V- Hiromitsu Miura 174 4 Rounds Light Heavyweight
2-2-1(2) Pro Debut

LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA — In an entertaining ten-round affair, longtime journeyman Jason Gavern scored the biggest win of his career and upset the future plans of WBC #9 ranked heavyweight Manuel Quezada in the process, taking a split decision on Thursday night at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino.

Quezada (29-5, 18 KOs) of Wasco, California got off to a good start in the first, stalking his opponent early before finding a home with some stiff right hands. Gavern (19-7-3, 8 KOs) of Kissimmee, Florida did more playing to the crowd than anything else in the first, as he would mug to the crowd after Quezada landed a clean blow.

The momentum of the fight seemed to change in the second, as Gavern, 226.2, caught Quezada, 228, with an accidental headbutt that visibly shook up the defending WBC CABOFE Heavyweight Champion. One point was deducted from Gavern for the headbutt due to an absurd WBC rule penalizing the uninjured fighter after an accidental foul. The headbutt, and the resulting point deduction, seemed to invigorate both fighters, who went toe-to-toe to close the round. While Quezada landed his share, Gavern clearly got the best of the exchange.

Quezada was the busier fighter to start the third, but Gavern picked up the pace late which may have earned him the round. On several occasions, especially during the middle rounds, Quezada would land one solid shot at a time, and Gavern would laugh it off or play to the crowd. After some posturing, Gavern would turn offensive again and win heated exchanges.

Quezada opened the sixth with some solid straight right hands, but still Gavern turned and shook them off. Midway through the round, a normally inconsequential left caught Quezada off balance, sending him to the mat. Referee Marcos Rosales waved off the knockdown, much to the chagrin of Gavern, but the house replay suggested that it was a knockdown. Either way, Quezada was clearly not hurt by the blow, and both fighters closed the round with more gave-and-take action. Again Gavern appeared to be getting the better of the exchange.

The pace slowed in the seventh, as both fighters, Gavern especially, looked drained from the fast-paced bout. Even with their stamina depleting, there was plenty of action in the seventh and to close the eighth. With Gavern resting against the ropes, and looking to hold at times on the inside, Quezada may have won the ninth. Both fighters went all out in the tenth, but a somewhat rejuvenated Gavern got a bit more done. In the end, one judge scored the bout for Quezada, 95-94, but was overruled by the other two judges who both scored it 95-94 the other way.

“I wasn’t supposed to get this fight,” said Gavern after the bout. “I lost my last two fights, and that’s why I think they picked me.” Gavern cited personal issues contributing to defeats to unbeaten prospects, Neven Pajkic and Denis Boystov, in his last two fights. “I lost my last two fights because of my mental state, I wasn’t really ready for those fights, but this time I was prepared.” The prepared Gavern of Thursday night upset a fighter who late last year was ranked WBC #4 and could have been a fight or two away from a title eliminator or a big money fight overseas. While there was no stipulation for a rematch in the event Quezada lost, Gavern said he would be more than willing to give Quezada a rematch. “He gave me the opportunity, so I have to give him the opportunity back.”

After the fight, Quezada sounded like someone who was hoping for another opportunity at Gavern. “As soon as I can get back in the ring, I want to get back in the ring, and if it is with him I would love that,” said Quezada. “As soon as we can do it, let’s do it. If I put my hands together, and got busier, I can definitely beat this guy.” The usually busy Quezada had not fought since October, and feels that may have played a part in his performance. “I don’t take anything away from the guy,” said Quezada. “I knew he was going to be a tough guy. What didn’t help me was the sixth-month layoff. It is what it is, but we have to go back and get at it.”

Rising light welterweight prospect Mike Dallas Jr. (13-0-1, 4 KOs) of Bakersfield, California obliterated journeyman Genaro Trazancos (22-11-1, 13 KOs) of Fort Myers, Florida in the opening round. Dallas, 142.8, dropped Trazancos midway through the first and Trazancos, 140.8, never recovered. A left hook wobbled Trazancos again, this time against the ropes, which brought referee Dan Stell in close to the action. A devastating uppercut and right hook combination sent Trazancos down again, prompting Stell to leap in before he hit the mat. Official time of the stoppage was 2:51 of the first.

The kayo of Trazancos was the second straight impressive knockout victory for Dallas this year. Early in his pro run Dallas had more of a shoeshine style, but has made efforts in sitting down on his blows, and the results are speaking volumes. “A lot of people told me I would hit harder if I slowed it down, since I still had more of an amateur style,” said Dallas. “I have been taking my time, and it has been working in fights. I am hitting much harder.” There has been talk about a fight against Josesito Lopez for Dallas on either the Chris Arreola-Tomasz Adamek undercard on April 24th at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California or on May 8th at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on the Paul Williams-Kermit Cintron card.

Former amateur star Michael Ruiz Jr. (1-0) of nearby Fresno, California looked impressive in his professional debut, scoring unanimous shutout over durable Jose Luis Mares (0-3) of Lompoc, California. Ruiz, 117.6, stayed in the pocket and picked Mares, 117.4, apart for the four rounds. Any offense Mares could muster was quickly countered with precise shots. Early in the third, a straight left counter busted up a discouraged Mares’ nose. By late in the third, Mares was mostly defensive, which limited Ruiz’ ability to land clean counters. Ruiz, the USA Boxing #3 ranked flyweight before turning pro, won by the unanimous score of 40-36. Ruiz is slated to return to the ring on the May 8th card in Carson.

Forward-moving Juan Tepoz (4-2-1) of Santa Rosa, California pounded out a unanimous four-round decision over game late replacement Jose Pacheco (2-12-6) of Cudahy, California. Tepoz, 122.2, was clearly the harder-puncher and was able to stun Pacheco, 125, at times in the bout. What Pacheco lacked in speed and power, he made up for in heart, as he never took a backward step. After four action-packed rounds, all three judges gave Tepoz the nod at 40-36. Tepoz was originally scheduled to take on Ephraim Martinez (4-0, 1 KO) of Buttonwillow, California, who was forced to pull out after a recent automobile accident.

In a back-and-forth corker, Paul Mendez (4-1, 2 KOs) of Bakersfield, California scored a four-round split decision over previously unbeaten Tyrell Hendrix (4-1-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, California. Hendrix, 170.8, got off to a solid start in the first, as Mendez, 167.8, seemed bothered by his speed and languished on the ropes for long stretches. Action began to heat up in the second, as Mendez settled in as the counter-puncher against the aggressive Hendrix.

Mendez looked briefly winded in the third, which prompted Hendrix to open up even more. Mendez sucked it up and wobbled the onrushing Hendrix coming in late in the third. The fourth featured more two-way action, as Mendez cut Hendrix early in the round, before Hendrix got his second wind and came on late. In the end, one judge scored the bout for Hendrix, 39-37, but was overruled by the other two, who scored the fight 40-36 and 39-37 respectively for Mendez. Mendez may fight in May, but will return to the Central Valley on a June 19th card at the McDermont Fieldhouse in Lindsay, California.

In an entertaining opener, Rufino Serrano (5-3) of Santa Maria, California scored a hard-fought four-round unanimous decision over determined Eder Peralta (1-2, 1 KO) of Pasadena, California. Serrano, 126.4, pressed on the gas pedal late in the first to take control of the fight. Peralta, 127, was not the gifted boxer-mover his opponent was, but it did not stop him from pressing forward for the four rounds. Serrano countered Peralta coming in with a right hand late in the fourth to score the only knockdown in the fight. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Serrano, 40-35.

2008 U.S. Olympic teammates Shawn Estrada and Javier Molina were originally slated for the card, but had to withdraw with nagging hand injures. Estrada, a former resident of nearby Hanford, was in attendance.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was in Yankee Stadium on Friday to take the up-close pictures of WBA Super Welterweight champion Yuri Formean and former two-divison champion Miguel Cotto as they met the media in reference to their June 5th showdown in the Stadium

CLICK TO ENLARGE

WBC CHAMP CARL FROCH & FORMER WBA CHAMP MIKKEL KESSLER INT’L MEDIA TELECONFERENCE
WBC Super Middleweight Champ Carl Froch Former WBA 168-pound Champ Mikkel Kessler Kalle Sauerland of Sauerland Event Mick Hennessy of Hennessy Sports WHAT: Super Six World Boxing Classic competitors Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler will participate in an international media conference call to discuss their crucial Group Stage 2 bout in the tournament on Saturday, April 24 on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m., ET/PT, same-day delay) from MCH Arena, in Herning, Denmark. Denmark’s Kessler will be counting on the support of his home fans when he challenges Froch, of Nottingham, England, for the WBC 168-pound crown, a title he previously held before losing it to the retired Joe Calzaghe. Kessler is hoping that home-field advantage prevails for the fifth straight fight in the super middleweight tournament. After one round in the tournament, Froch (26-0, 20 KOs) has two points, while Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs), who has never lost a fight in his hometown of Denmark, needs a victory to get on the board. The Super Six World Boxing Classic bout will be co-promoted by Hennessy Sports and Sauerland Event.
ALSO ON THE PLAYER:
KELLY PAVLIK MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (April 7, 2010) – World Middleweight Champion KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK, trainer JACK LOEW, manager CAMERON DUNKIN, and Hall of Fame promoter BOB ARUM, will host an international media conference call Tomorrow! Thursday, April 8, to discuss Pavlik’s upcoming title defense against World Boxing Council super welterweight champion Sergio Martinez. The call will begin at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs), of Youngstown, OH, who has worn the middleweight crown since 2007, defends it against Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs), of Argentina, now fighting out of Spain, on Saturday, April 17, at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Combined, they boast an incredible record of 80-3-2 (56 KOs), a winning percentage of 94% and a victory by knockout ratio of 70%! Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment and Caesars Atlantic City, remaining Tickets, priced at $350, $200, $100 and $50, can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster (800) 736-1420 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com.

Coy Evans 124.5 – Morris Chule 125.5
Derrick Webster 172 – Octiviase Harrison TBD
Keenan Smith 130 – Luis Esquilin 127 lbs
Joe McKenzie 170.5 – Maurice Amaro 170
Kareem Cooley 133 – Puro Pairol 130.5
William Davies 127 – Joseliz Cepeda 127

Venue: The Arena
Promoter: Greg Robinson’s Power Productions
First Bell: 7:30 pm est

TONY JEFFRIES wants to land his first professional title by the end of the year.

The Olympic bronze medallist has fully recovered from a spate of injuries and returns to action at Coventry Skydome on Friday April 23.

‘Jaffa’, 25, will be bidding to stretch his unbeaten record to six when he tackles tough Welshman Nathan King on the bill being televised live by Sky Sports.

Jeffries said: “It would be nice to have an English title belt by the end of 2010, but it is a slow process and I am still learning.

“The injuries meant that I haven’t boxed since December so the aim is for Frank Maloney to keep me busy.”

Sunderland’s favourite sporting son has just returned from a week sparring with WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch.

Jeffries added: “I got to know Carl well after we did a television show recently and the sparring was fantastic.

“Working with soemone like him only added to my desire to become a world champion. His dedication is fantastic and I learnt so much being around him.”

Promote Frank Maloney said: “Top prospects like Tony and David Price will learn more from quality sparring than anything else.

“There are not many better fighters in Britain than Carl to learn from.”

King’s 12-15 record might not be impressive, but he owns one of the sturdiest chins in British boxing.

He has fought numerous champions and in December went the distance with Olympic gold medallist James DeGale.

Top of Maloney’s blockbuster bill is Rendall Munroe’s WBC world super-bantamweight title final eliminator against Mexican star Victor Terrazas.

The winner is guaranteed a crack at Japan’s formidable world title holder Toshiaki Nishioka later this year.

Tickets are on sale, prices £30, £50 and £70 by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling 0871 226 1508. Boxers on the bill are also selling tickets.

Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Eastern Regional Finals

Saturday – April 10 @ 7 PM

Blue Horizon 1314-16 North Broad Street – Phila, Pa 19121

Tickets $35

For Info: Contact Joe Hand Promotions 215-364-9000 or www.JoeHandBoxingGym.com

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, a Jr. Welterweight shown between WBC champion Timothy Bradley and WBA Interimn champion Marcos Maidana is set for June 19th in the Agua Caliente resort in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

“It’s done,” said Gary Shaw, who promotes Bradley. “It’s a tremendous fight. It’s a great fight in a great division. Great for fans, who will definitely see an exciting fight, great for HBO, great for Gary Shaw, Golden Boy, Bradley, Maidana and boxing. It’s great for all of us.”

“He asked if I had a signed agreement from Abregu and when I said I didn’t, he said, ‘I have an idea. Would you fight Maidana?’ I said, ‘In a heartbeat.'” Shaw said. “We talked about it for a few days and when I spoke to Richard we were able to get it worked out and the fight got made.”

“We’re ready to go,” said Cameron Dunkin, Bradley’s manager. “It’s what Tim deserves and what he needs. The other kid [Maidana] deserves this too. It’s a great opportunity for both of them. Tim was so excited when I told him about it. He just went crazy. He sounded like a little kid. It makes you feel good when something like this gets done and your guy is happy.”

Nobody has to tell Kelly Pavlik about The Great Recession. He lived it. His career declined like the economy from late 2008 through 2009. It’s hard to say whether projections from so-called business experts are bearish or just more bull. But at least Pavlik has a chance in hand, now healthy, to restore fundamental confidence in an attempt to forget the last 18 months and perhaps re-create a promising future.

Pavlik’s first fight in 2010, a Home Box Office-televised date on April 17 against Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City, is being called the most important middleweight fight in several years by promoter Bob Arum.

Important means it is an indicator about whether it is time to re-invest in Pavlik, whose future was knocked sideways in October, 2008 by Bernard Hopkins and almost knocked out a few months later by a dangerous infection on the middle knuckle on the index finger of his left hand. The infection and maybe Hopkins are gone. But some of the questions aren’t. Pavlik knows that. He has the scars he can see. But professional maturity is often about dealing with the unseen. Second-guessing and unfounded speculation leave their own scars.

“Flak,’’ Pavlik said Thursday during a conference call in a matter-of-fact tone that also seemed to say that he has come to terms with it

Flak is the price of stardom these days and perhaps in any day. Manny Pacquiao has had to endure it in rumors about performance-enhancers that were planted by Floyd Mayweather Sr. and have continued in the wake of negotiations for a March fight that fell apart when Floyd Jr. demanded Olympic-style drug testing. Hopkins is dealing with it all over again from critics and allies urging his retirement after a messy victory over Roy Jones, Jr. Pick the star and you’ll find the flak. Like big money, it’s part of the guarantee.

Along Pavlik’s career path, it may have landed early. But his apparent understanding of it is a good sign for a business that could use him.

“If the flak is going to be there, there’s nothing I can do,’’ said Pavlik, who questioned the quality of opposition Arthur Abraham beat for the International Boxing Federation’s version of the middleweight title before his super-middleweight loss by disqualification to Andre Dirrell. “Abraham got the middleweight world title by vacancy. He didn’t fight nobody to win the world title. Who did Arthur Abraham defend his title against? Why didn’t he get the flak?’’

In Martinez, Pavlik hopes rumors about his willingness to fight Williams.

“Next to Williams, Martinez is the toughest guy out there,’’ Pavlik said

Still, Martinez doesn’t register much on marquee, the marketing scale that measures name-recognition. He also doesn’t represent the career-defining fight that seemed to be Pavlik’s destiny after knocking out Jermain Taylor three years ago. Nonetheless, Martinez is there, in his way and dangerous enough to crush him beneath a burden that will collapse if Pavlik can’t prove he is as good as everybody thought he was before his recession. In December, Martinez lost a debatable decision to Paul Williams, whom Pavlik was supposed to fight before MRSA — a virulent staph infection — put him in the hospital.

“I thought he won the fight,’’ said Pavlik, who went on to say that Martinez’s impressive performance also some weaknesses. ‘I was impressed, but I wasn’t impressed.’’

Martinez left himself open to punches that Pavlik intends to land. However, there are questions – big ones in that collective burden of proof – about Pavlik’s hand speed and ability to deal with punches thrown from angles. They’ve been there since Hopkins upset him at heavier weight, 175 pounds instead of 160.

“From mind-to-fist, I just couldn’t let it go,” said Pavlik, who said he wasn’t feeling well on the night of his only loss in 37 bouts. “It was just a bad fight. Nothing we could do about it. I was lethargic.’’

If Pavlik wins, the guess is that he will finally face Williams in a bout that has been talked about for a while. It might not be quite the showdown it might have been, however, because Williams was disappointing against Martinez.

If not Williams, Arum hinted at what might await Pavlik if he beats Martinez and, in the process, is impressive enough to eliminate the doubts. Pavlik’s future, Arum said, might be at 168 pounds, the super-middleweight division that currently is being decided by the on-again, off-again World Classic Tournament. People are bigger and so are the real middleweights, Arum said. The best, he says are working as super-middleweights, which could mean the emerging Americans, Andre Ward and Dirrell, are in Pavlik’s future.

“After he cleans up the middleweights, then he moves up,’’ Arum said of a post-recession path through flak and now fertile for the beginning of a Pavlik renewal.

Fathers know best
Jack Mosley, Shane’s dad, and Floyd Maywather Sr, Floyd’ Jr.’s father, held court in conference call last week about their son’s welterweight clash on May 1 at Las Vegas MGM Grand in the year’s most anticipated fight.

Floyd Sr. made a lot of noise. Jack Mosley made a lot of sense. That was predictable, unlike the fight.

Jack Mosley says his son’s superior punching power gives him.

Shane, he said, is “fast enough to hit Floyd over-and-over again. That will be a problem for Floyd.’’
Floyd Sr. laughed. Floyd Jr., he said, has superior brain power.

“Shane’s not smart,’’ said Floyd Sr., who believes his son is the more complete fighter.

Floyd Sr. also was no impressed with Shane Mosley stoppage of Antonio Margarito more than a year ago in Los Angeles.

“Margarito was a walking mummy,’’ Floyd Sr. said not long after suggesting that Shane Mosley was a dummy

Notes, anecdotes
· Andre Berto will fight for himself and a cause Saturday in south Florida against Carlos Quintana. Proceeds will go to Haiti’s efforts to rebuild from the February earthquake, which forced Berto to withdraw from a bout with Mosley. Berto has family in Haiti. Money is designated for Project Medishare, a health-care fund. Berto, has been active in trying to help Haitians, also has a Dynasty Foundation in his name at www.AndreBerto.com.

· Margarito isn’t helping himself in the court of public opinion by not accepting some accountability for gauze described irregular by his attorney Daniel Petrocelli and rock-like by others before he was forced to re-wrap hands in the loss to Mosley in Los Angeles. Margarito, who returns to the ring on May 8 in Mexico and hopes to be re-licensed in the United States, again said Tuesday at a news conference in Los Angeles that he had no idea disgraced trainer Javier Capitello had inserted an illegal pad The media will never buy the repeated claim that he had no clue. Writers know that fighters treat their hands the way a master carpenter cares for his tools. They protect their hands so much that some won’t even engage in a simple handshake. Some of the media will never believe him. But a campaign to restore Margarito’s reputation can gain some traction, if he at least says he’s sorry. If he didn’t know, he should have.

· And I can’t help but think of Mike Tyson while watching Tiger Woods at The Masters. It isn’t about golf as much as it is a Tyson-like spectacle. Late in his career, Tyson wasn’t about boxing either. The media would gather at ringside, waiting for an accident to happen. Now, that media are in Augusta, waiting for another one.

Bob Arum said today that IBF #2-ranked Samuel ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Peter is available and ready to take on world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Klitschko has not defended his IBF world title against a mandatory challenger since April, 2007. Alexander Povetkin is ranked IBF #1 and is next in line.

“If Povetkin doesn’t take the fight, Klitschko is obligated to defend against Samuel Peter,” Arum said. “We plan to pursue that on behalf of Samuel.”

Peter has a ring record of 34-3 with 27 knockouts.

Boxing fans are ecstatic as Frank Luca’s Crown Boxing presents THE LEGEND RETURNS. The one and only Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield returns to the ring after 16 months to battle Francois “The White Buffalo” Botha in the main event, Saturday, April 10th in Las Vegas.

Holyfield’s pro career spans a staggering 27 years and he holds a record of 42-10-2 with 27 KOs. He’ll be facing one of his toughest opponents to date in Botha, 47-4-3, with 28 KOs. Botha’s boxing 20 year boxing career has taken him to the top, fighting for the Heavyweight title on 3 occasions.

Holyfield will be more determined than ever as he looks to climb the ranks back to the top. At the press conference for the event, Holyfield reiterated that he won’t give up until he is the champion of the world.

Knockout fans be ready and make no mistake, both men are more than capable of knocking out the other. With so much on the line for each man’s career, there’s no doubt the fireworks could come early in this main event! You DO NOT want to miss this event. The undercard will also be filled with heavy hitting, rising stars in the boxing world. For more information about the event and to find out who’s on the fight card, CLICK HERE or visit www.GoFightLive.tv and preorder the live stream to watch THE LEGEND RETURNS, a night of knockouts!

NOTE: This event is not available on GFL in the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, or Canada

PHILADELPHIA (April 8, 2010)—This Friday night at The Arena in South Philadelphia, one of the most decorated amateurs in recent Philadelphia boxing history, Kareem “Cool Breeze” Cooley will look to go to 2-0 when he takes on Puro Pairol in a scheduled four round Super Featherweight bout as part of a seven bout card promoted by Greg Robinson’s Power Productions in association with River Edge Beverage Company.

Cooley of West Philadelphia scored a thrilling third round stoppage over Sidell Blocker in his first outing back on February 26th at The Arena thinks the bout with Pairol will showcase a better performance.

“The first fight was amazing and I was nervous”, said the twenty-two year old.

“I will go in there being me and doing what I do best”

Cooley, who works out at The Joe Hand Boxing Gym had a stellar amateur mark of 103-18, was a seven time Golden Glove champion, two-time Silver Glove champion and a multiple time Mid-Atlantic champion.

Cooley started boxing at age seven under the guidance of his grandfather and former fighter Roland Cooley.

The elder Cooley is joined in the corner by Ron Hammonds as lead trainer and is managed by Doc Nowicki, Jim Williams and Joe Hand Sr.

In the main event, undefeated Featherweight, Coy “Pretty Boy” Evans (7-0-1, 1 KO) will take on battle tested Morris Chule (11-10-1, 8 KO’s) in a bout scheduled for eight rounds.

Tickets for this great night of boxing are priced at $100 (ringside); $75 (VIP); $65 (Super Box); and $40 (floor seating) and can be purchased by calling the following Locations:

1st bout is 7:30

Ticketmaster 215-336-2000
The Arena 267-687-7560
Total Car Care 267-912-8747
G’s Auto 267-784-8797
Atpro 609-871-3552
Bozy Ennis 267-237-0354

LAS VEGAS (Apr. 6, 2010) – Boxing fans all over the world will be watching Saturday night’s “The Legend Returns” pay-per-view event, headlined by 4-time world heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield challenging World Boxing Federation heavyweight title-holder Frans “The White Buffalo” Botha, live from the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas.

“The Legend Returns,” presented by Crown Boxing, is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

It also will be shown in more than 20 countries, including live broadcasts in Brazil, Mexico, China and the United Kingdom (channel 480 on Sky, streaming on www.primetimelive.co.uk). The card is available on www.gofightlive.tv PPV outside of the U.S., Canada, Brazil, United Kingdom, China and Mexico.

Holyfield (42-10-2, 27 KOs), coming off of a controversial 12-round majority decision loss December 20, 2008 in Switzerland to then World Boxing Association champion Nicolai Valuev, takes on Botha (47-4-3, 28 KOs) in the 12-round main event.

In the 10-round co-feature, Las Vegas cruiserweight Henry Namauu (5-3, 3 KOs), the former UNLV boxer and 2006 National Collegiate Cruiserweight Champion, faces dangerous Texan Rayford Johnson (5-4, 3 KOs). Former IBF cruiserweight champion “King” Arthur Williams (46-16-1, 30 KOs) tests unbeaten Utah prospect Valente Tinajero (8-0, 4 KOs) in a 6-round bout.

Also on the undercard in 4-round bouts is Las Vegas featherweight Rocco Santomauro (3-0) vs. Karl Hammer (1-2), Las Vegas super featherweight Crystal Hoy (3-1-2, 2 KOs) vs. Jennifer Han (0-1-1), Detroit lightweight Joel Flores (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. TBA, St. Louis welterweight Lawrence Hughes (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Las Vegas’ Juan Alcolea (2-1, 0 KOs), Las Vegas lightweight Jesus Gutierez (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Jonathan Garcia, and Phoenix super bantamweight Alexis Santiago (2-0-1, 1 KO) vs. Brice Yeniki (0-4). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $25.00, $75.00, $150.00 and $250.00, are available to purchase at www.UNLVtickets.com or by calling 702.739.3267.

Doors open at 4 PM/PT, first bout 4:30 PM/PT, and first PPV bout 6:00 PM/PT (9:00 PM/ET). Go on line to www.crown-boxing-inc.com or www.worldboxingfederation.net for additional information

LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA — In the years following a Summer Olympics, the top amateur boxers must make the decision to either stay in the unpaid ranks for another four years and attempt making the next Olympic team, or turn professional and begin their hopeful journey to fame and fortune. Over the past couple of months, some highly touted former U.S. amateur stars have made the leap of faith and turned professional. Tonight at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, one of the top 112-pound fighters in the nation over the last two years Michael Ruiz Jr. takes that first step on the road to prominence.

Ruiz, who hails from nearby Fresno, California, will take on Jose Luis Mares (0-2) of Lompoc, California in a four-round bantamweight bout. Despite being just shy of his 21st birthday, Ruiz handles himself like a veteran and appears to be completely satisfied with his decision to put his amateur days in the rearview mirror. “This is just the perfect time,” said Ruiz yesterday. “The Olympics are 2, 3 years away, and they wanted me to get away from my pro style and go more towards the amateur style. I have more of a pro style, and I wanted to keep it, so I decided to go pro.”

Despite what he describes as a pro style, Ruiz’ did just fine in that style as an amateur. Ruiz came close to winning a national title on several occasions, claiming the silver at both the 2008 National PAL Championships and 2009 National Golden Gloves. Currently Ruiz is ranked #3 at 112-pounds by USA Boxing.

“I believe I went about as far as I could go in the amateurs,” says Ruiz, before qualifying that statement. “I could go further, and I appreciate everything they did for me in amateur boxing. The last couple of years I was one of the top amateurs in my weight class, and there were some nationals I could have won, and some I felt I did win, but that is the amateurs. It is time to turn pro. I did as much as I could.”

The United States boxing team had its worst showing in history in claiming just one bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. That showing may serve as reason for many of the best American amateurs to turn pro and start earning a paycheck, rather than waiting it out for 2012. While Ruiz says 2008 had no bearing on his decision, he pulls no punches when talking about the American showing.

“The people that made the Olympics, they just didn’t have the heart to fight more for their country,” surmises Ruiz. “They already knew that they were going to go places, so they didn’t have their heart fully into it as amateurs. So they should have decided to go pro a long time ago, and let people with heart look forward to it. Right now I have my heart more into being a pro and not as much as being an amateur, so shouldn’t keep myself as an amateur when this is where my heart is at.”

Competing at the highest level in the same 112-pound weight class for two years, Ruiz undoubtedly has some amateur rivals he will likely see in the pro ranks. But has history has taught us, what happens in the amateurs does not always necessarily translate to the pros. “There’s a lot of guys that I fought already, that they know if it was pros, it would be a different story,” says the ultra-confident Ruiz. “And we will just leave it at that because I have love for everybody in the amateurs. It’s all competition, it’s all good. But now it’s the pros, it’s more serious.”

Adding incentive, if there wasn’t enough already, Ruiz will be fighting close to home as he fights without headgear for the first time. “It is amazing that I get to fight my first pro fight, and all my friends and family get to see me. It helps me feel really confident.” Ruiz promises not to disappoint the local supporters, who unquestionably have high hopes, as he launches his pro campaign. “It is going to be a good show, a really good show,” claims Ruiz. “[My supporters] can expect to see me do what I have trained to do, and what I do in the gym. I am not going to let them down.”

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA — Overlooked heavyweight contender Manuel Quezada will again be featured in the main event at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino tonight, as he looks to further his cause against venerable journeyman Jason Gavern. Their ten-round fight, with Quezada’s WBC CABOFE Heavyweight title on the line, caps a six-bout card. Fighters weighed in Wednesday afternoon at the casino’s Den Sports Bar.

Quezada (29-4, 18 KOs) of Wasco, California has not been beaten in four-and-a-half years, while looming around in WBC world rankings. Quezada last fought in October, scoring a ten-round decision over Nicolai Firtha, and is one fight removed from a surprising first-round kayo of Travis Walker. Quezada, the WBC #9 ranked heavyweight, weighed in at 228-pounds Wednesday.

Gavern (18-7-3, 8 KOs) of Kissimmee, Florida is one heavyweight used to being placed in the role of spoiler. Gavern, a pro since 2003, has been in with several top prospects, scoring the occasional upset. Gavern is on a two-fight skid, one of which resulted in his first career knockout defeat suffered at the hands of unbeaten Denis Boystov. Gavern, vying for his first pro title of any kind, weighed in at 226.2-pounds.

Moving up to eight rounds for the first time, light welterweight prospect Mike Dallas Jr. (12-0-1, 3 KOs) of Bakersfield, California will take on the well-traveled Genaro Trazancos (22-10-1, 13 KOs) of Fort Myers, Florida, United States by way of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. Dallas has been on an impressive run since getting a draw on his ledger after a close fight in November of 2008. In his most recent outing, Dallas scored a devastating first-round stoppage over Fabian Luque in a bout televised by ESPN2. Dallas, a 2006 National PAL Champion, weighed in at 142.8-pounds.

Trazancos, who was competitive with high level fighters at 130-pounds, weighed in at 140.8. Trazancos has been stopped in four of his last six fights, but against a high caliber of opposition. A big fight looms as a possibility for Dallas should he get past Trazancos without injury, as there have been discussions about a fight against Josesito Lopez on the Chris Arreola-Tomasz Adamek undercard on April 24th.

One of the top amateurs in the nation over the last couple of years, Michael Ruiz Jr. of nearby Fresno, California will make his professional debut against Jose Luis Mares (0-2) of Lompoc, California in a four-round bantamweight bout. The 20-year-old Ruiz is currently listed as the USA Boxing #3 ranked flyweight (112-pounds). Ruiz weighed in at 117.6-pounds, while Mares came in at a near identical 117.4.

Scrappy Juan Tepoz (3-2-1) of Santa Rosa, California will take on late replacement Jose Pacheco (2-11-6) of Cudahy, California in a four-round super bantamweight fight. Pacheco, weighed in at 125-pounds. Tepoz, originally slated to battle Ephraim Martinez (4-0, 1 KO) of Buttonwillow, California in what would have been an action fight, scaled 122.2 pounds. Martinez was reportedly in a car accident recently, which forced him to withdraw from tonight’s card.

Super middleweight prospect Tyrell Hendrix (4-0-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, California will take on perhaps his toughest test to date in Paul Mendez (3-1, 2 KOs) of Bakersfield, California in a four-rounder. Hendrix weighed in at 170.8-pounds, while Mendez came in at 167.8.

In the scheduled opener, Rufino Serrano (4-3) of Santa Maria, California will take on Eder Peralta (1-1, 1 KO) of Pasadena, California in a four-round featherweight fight. Serrano, who came up just short against the aforementioned Ephraim Martinez last month, weighed in at 126.4-pounds, while Peralta came in at 127 even.

2008 U.S. Olympic teammates Shawn Estrada and Javier Molina were originally slated to compete tonight. Estrada, a former resident of nearby Hanford, California, reinjured his hand in preparing for the fight. Molina is also suffering from a nagging hand injury that may be more serious than was originally thought. Estrada will be ringside at the event.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, are available online at Tickets.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBC CABOFE Heavyweight Championship, 10 Rounds
Quezada 228
Gavern 226.2

Light welterweights, 8 Rounds
Dallas Jr. 142.8
Trazancos 140.8

Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Ruiz Jr. 117.6
Mares 117.4

Super bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Pacheco 125
Tepoz 122.2

Super middleweights, 4 Rounds
Hendrix 170.8
Mendez 167.8

Super bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Serrano 126.4
Peralta 127

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.