Superstar Manny Pacquiao hits the double end bag at the Wildcard Boxing Club Monday. Pacquiao takes on three-time world champion Antonio Margarito on November 13, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,Texas. Pacquiao vs Margarito is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Cowboys Stadium. The Pacquiao vs Margarito telecast will be available live on HBO Pay Per View

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

North Bergen’s Mariusz Wach came quite a long way on his journey to the Garden State; from Krakow, Poland to be exact. The 6’7 260 lb heavyweight sports a perfect 22-0 record with 10 KO’s and was a crowd favorite in his native country, where he racked up 15 victories. This still wasn’t enough to satisfy him.

Wach, whose surname is pronounced vahk, entered the United States in September 2010 with his sights set on becoming the first Polish heavyweight champion. Dubbed as the “Polish Giant”, Wach is working tirelessly at becoming a more complete fighter under the watchful eye of Paterson’s Aroz “Terrific” Gist at Global Boxing Gym. I had the opportunity to catch up with the soft spoken big man, who fights this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ vs Kevin Burnett.

Matt Yanofsky: On Saturday you will be taking a fight against an experienced opponent in Kevin Burnett. What do you know about him?

Mariusz Wach: I know the basics about him such as his height and weight. I also know he has fought some good opponents.

MY: Have you seen any tapes?

MW: Yes I saw his fight with (Odlanier) Solis.

MY: You have had most of your fights in Poland however there is a large Polish community in North Jersey. Are you going to feel like you’re at home at the Prudential Center even though its more than 3,000 miles from Poland?

MW: Yes, I expect a lot of people to come to the fight because Polish people love boxing and sports in general.

MY: You’ve been boxing since 2005 and are closing in on becoming a contender. Do you think that a fight against a former world champion or contender type opponent will come in the near future?
MW: The most important thing right now is the fight against Burnett. After that, I will see what is next.

MY: Since moving to New Jersey from Poland you’ve been training at Global Boxing. A lot of guys come in and out of this gym to workout. Compare the training here to how it was in Poland.

MW: There are a lot of different boxers here so I have to train hard to prove how good I am. In Poland there were only a few different fighters to train with so (the training) wasn’t as hard. In Poland when you lose four fights it’s like the end of the road, but in the US, if you lose four fights against great opponent it’s not that big of a deal.

MY: Describe your style and why fans should look forward to seeing you fight.

MW: I would say I have a style a bit like Klitschko. The jab is a very important part of my fighting.

MY: I’m sure that you are well aware that Tomasz Adamek is widely regarded as the best Polish heavyweight. Adamek fought Andrew Golota in Poland and it was a huge fight. If the two fought in Newark, it would have been big as well. Can you see yourself fighting Adamek or do you two have a friendship that would prevent that?

MW: If they made me an offer to fight Adamek, I would take it! This is business and this is boxing. I think Tomasz is going to fight (one of the) Klitschko’s soon, so why would he fight me?

MY: What can fans expect from you against Kevin Burnett?

MW: I am very confident about this fight and am going to give the fans a good show. I hope all my fans are there to watch the fight.

For more New Jersey boxing news, go to gardenstatefightscene.com

NEW YORK (Nov. 1, 2010) – Unbeaten Ryan Couture (1-0) has been forced to withdraw from the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event Friday, Nov. 19, at Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Miss., due to a staph infection, STRIKEFORCE announced today.

The son of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) legend, Randy Couture, is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.

The 28-year-old Couture, a member of Las Vegas, Nev., based Xtreme Couture, won his STRIKEFORCE and MMA pro debut with a 1:15, first-round submission (triangle choke) over Lucas Stark last Aug. 13 on STRIKEFORCE Challengers.

“I was really looking forward to fighting so this is a big disappointment, but I’ll be back,” said Couture. “As soon as I’m cleared, you can bet I’ll be back in the gym preparing for my next STRIKEFORCE fight.”

In the Nov. 19 main event on SHOWTIME®, lightweight star and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (20-4) will face Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox (9-3) of Cincinnati. In another televised fight, former University of Tennessee linebacker Ovince St. Preux (7-4), of Knoxville, Tenn., will seeking his fifth consecutive conquest inside the distance when he faces Antwain “The Juggernaut’’ Britt’’ (11-4) of Virginia Beach, Va., in a light heavyweight (205 pounds) scrap.

The MMA fight card is presented by Rockstar Energy Drink and will mark STRIKEFORCE’s initial foray into the state of Mississippi.

Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Coliseum box office and Be-Bop Record Shops, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com and www.STRIKEFORCE.com.

Doors at Jackson Convention Complex will open at 6:45 p.m. CT. The first non-televised preliminary bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. The first fight on SHOWTIME will begin at 10 p.m.

About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Jr.Featherweight champion Steve Molitor has inked a four year deal with Top Rank

“It is very rejuvenating,” Molitor told ESPN.com. “I feel like it’s a fresh start. There is no bad blood or bad feelings with my former promoter, but it’s very exciting to me to be with one of the best promoters in boxing in Bob Arum and Top Rank. I’m 30 and I want to be on the big stage. I’m hungry. It’s like when you drive a car. You drive the car and it’s fine, but then you get a new car and you’re excited to drive it. That’s how I feel. Who wouldn’t be happy signing with the biggest boxing promoter on the planet?”

“He’s always been an exciting fighter and charismatic kid and we have a lot of the potential matchups for him in his weight category,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. “We’re looking forward to working with him.”

Dunkin and Top Rank secured Molitor’s release from promoter Allan Tremblay’s Orion Sports Management, which cleared the way for Molitor’s new deal.

“Allan was terrific,” Dunkin said. “He handled this so professionally. He let Steve go because he said that he felt there was nothing more he could do for him in Canada. He’s a smaller promoter and he said in boxing it’s a short career and that he’s 30 and he wanted Steve to get an opportunity to make as much money as he can for his wife and family, which I thought was incredibly honorable. He said he didn’t want to stand in the way of that. He said, ‘There is nothing more I can do with him to make him more money.’ I said, ‘Wow.’ That’s incredible in this business. He’s just a real classy guy.”

“I want to prove to the American fans that I’m for real,” Molitor said. “I know I don’t have a lot of TV exposure in the United States, and when I did, I didn’t perform like I am capable of against Caballero. So I need to show I am a real world champion and a real fighter.”

His first order of business is a mandatory defense against South Africa’s Ndlovu, whom he has already beaten twice, the decision to regain the belt and a ninth-round knockout in 2007 in the first defense of his first title reign.

“It will be satisfying to put a beating on him again,” Molitor said. “I’ll go out there and defend my title and continue to be a champion.”

“Steve has a mandatory due with the IBF, which he will take care of, and after that his eyes are wide open to fight anyone,” Dunkin said. “But he’s got to beat [Ndlovu] again. The guy won an eliminator and he’s baaaaaack. And so it’s got to be taken care of, so we’ll take care of it.

“I think Steve can beat any 122-pounder out there and there are some good fights for him,” Dunkin said. “Vazquez is a terrific fight and so is Rigondeaux. There are some fights that are very fan appealing.”

“The point is there are a lot of interesting fights for Steve in and around his weight division,” Dunkin said.

Said Molitor, “Top Rank has so many guys, so many possibilities. I’ll worry about this mandatory and get it out of the way, and then take on some other challenges.”

“My mom is an American citizen and I have some family in the States,” he said. “And I look forward to making new fans in the States.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former Middleweight champion has pulled out of his November 13th fight with Brian Vera that was supposed to highlight the undercard of the the Manny Pacquiao – Antonio Margarito Super Welterweight title clash with a rib injury.

Pavlik’s manager Cameron Dunkin said the reason was a rib injury. When asked if it had anything to do with Pavlik’s ongoing alcohol problem, he declined to answer.

Trainer Jack Loew also addressed the issue with ESPN.com, saying, “Since we’ve been back [in Pavlik’s hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, from training camp in Pennsylvania], I have not seen Kelly do anything wrong … In camp, I was with him 24 hours a day. Now that we are back, I’m not.”

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but I was told by Jack Loew that he had a rib injury a few days ago and might not be able to fight, and then he confirmed it to me [Monday] morning,” Dunkin said. “I’m heartbroken, I’m devastated, I’m sick to my stomach.

“This was such a great opportunity for Kelly, to be at Cowboys Stadium in front of who knows how many fans in a fun fight on a great show, a great event. I could go on and on.”

“It’s a day-by-day thing,” Dunkin said. “I spoke to Kelly. He said he’s hurt. We’re all sick about it.”

When asked if had anything to do with alcohol issues, Dunkin said, “I can’t say. I’m not there.”

Loew said Pavlik hurt the right side of his ribcage hitting the pads two weeks ago.

“He threw a punch and hurt it when we were doing pads,” Loew said. “We didn’t say anything. He still sparred (Oct. 23), but we just didn’t go to the body. Monday [Oct. 25] we went to New York for the [Tuesday] media lunch and when we came home he said it was too sore.

“He had a cortisone shot put in and it was still no better,” Loew said. “Thursday he came into the gym and he was still sore and we decided that was it. I won’t put him in there when he’s injured. He said he’s injured and the doctor said it’s very tender and that it was probably the cartilage. I gotta believe the doctor. I do have to believe Kelly’s ribs are extremely sore.”

“We’ve heard the report about the rib injury and we’re getting it confirmed,” promoter Bob Arum said. “If that’s the case, we’ll move Brandon onto Nov. 13. If Kelly can’t fight, he can’t fight, whatever the reason is.”

“Kelly realized this was a big fight for him,” Loew said, “but he didn’t want to go into a fight with a kid like Brian Vera, who will swing for the home run every time, if he wasn’t 100 percent. I don’t think we wanted to take a shot against anybody and take a chance of losing because of the rib injury and blow anything bigger or better out there. Nobody else is as disappointed as me.”

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
This past Saturday night, undefeated Featherweight Jorge “King” Diaz and former world title challenger Emanuel Lucero waged a ten round war at Ballys in Atlantic City before Diaz was awarded a unanimous decision in a bout that will be on the short list for Fight of the Year.

That fight plus an incredible undercard of upsets and knockouts is now available on demand for just $9.99 on www.gofightlive.tv by clicking:

http://www.gofightlive.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Jorge_King_Diaz_vs_Emmanuel_Lucero/871

The two took turns dominating the action as it was Diaz who used slick boxing and punching skills to have the advantage over the first half of the fight. Lucero showed a veteran’s heart and courage as he began to press the action and land heavy shots on the undefeated Diaz. The effects of the shots caused Diaz to begin to bleed from his nose and he was in for the roughest fight of his young pro career.

In the end, Diaz hung on to win by scores of 99-92 on two cards while Steve Weisfeld’s 96-94 tally was more indicative of the close battle.

Diaz of New Brunswick, New Jersey improves to 15-0 while Lucero, who has been in the ring with Manny Pacquiao & Daniel Ponce De Leon is now 23-5-1.

The co-feature saw Ronald Cruz come from behind to score an upset as he shocked former two-time National Golden Gloves champion Jeremy Bryan in round six of their scheduled eight round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Bryan gained the upper hand in the first two-plus rounds as he used his blazing speed and used angles that befuddled Cruz. In round three, Cruz started working the body in an effort to slow down the nifty Bryan.

That strategy worked as Bryan began to slow down in the fourth as he started getting tagged with regularity. In round five, Cruz hurt Bryan and then dropped two times as Bryan barely made it out of the round. In round six, Cruz trapped Bryan in the corner and dropped him for a third and final time before the bout was stopped.

Cruz is now 10-0 with seven knockouts. Bryan falls to 14-2.

Manny Pacquiao’s chief sparring partner, Glen Tapia remained undefeated as he scored a hard fought unanimous decision over Quinton Whitaker.

Tapia used his range to land some solid one-two combinations against the awkward Whitaker.

Scores were 59-55 on all cards for Tapia, who is now 8-0.

In other bouts, Jason Escalera remained undefeated as he went to 10-0 with nine knockouts after scoring a second round stoppage over Cleony Fuqua in a Super Middleweight bout.

Jose Peralta Alejo knocked Christian Martinez from the ranks of the undefeated by scoring a four round unanimous decision in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Martinez had Alejo hurt in round two, but Alejo was able to hold on and get out of the round and then displayed crafty boxing moves to take the final two rounds.

Both fighters now sport 4-1 record.

Anthony Caputo Smith needed just eight seconds to dispose of Brian Bernard in a scheduled four round Light heavyweight bout.

Caputo Smith is now 7-0 with five knockouts.

We begin with a Juanma Lopez story. It was January of 2007, and a few of us gathered in a Phoenix Days Inn conference room to hear Tommy Morrison announce his comeback. The press conference was scheduled to begin an hour before it began, but I arrived on time like a fool.

There was one other writer there, and he didn’t speak Spanish, so Top Rank’s Phil Soto motioned towards a group of Puerto Ricans in matching track suits and told me to be the first to interview Juan Manuel Lopez – the day before Juanma’s “ShoBox” debut.

Lopez has acquitted himself splendidly since then, of course, and faces the challenge of his career, Saturday, at MGM Grand against Mexican Rafael Marquez in a fight for Lopez’s WBO featherweight title. But that’s not the point of the story.

That day in the near-empty conference room, I strolled over to the guys in track suits, picked one who looked like a fighter and asked him how he got started in boxing. He was happy to tell me. His dad, or uncle, or somebody, took him to the gym and, why, he loved the sport and was excited to be in Phoenix – his first time. The guy beside him, a little younger and smaller, flashed a wide grin that didn’t leave his face for the next five minutes.

I was out of questions by then and began to move towards a seat from which I could watch Tommy Morrison spin his yarn. That was when the small kid with the big smile told me that, while his friend was indeed a Puerto Rican who loved boxing, he, Juanma, was the guy fighting on Showtime tomorrow, and would I like to ask him any of the same questions?

The following night, after Lopez looked fantastic against Cuauhtemoc Vargas, I hurried to escape an interview with Tommy Morrison. “The Duke” – as some doctor called him in a supposedly official medical document – wouldn’t be making his comeback fight that night because he’d hurt his wrist. This was no less believable than anything else Morrison would say in the months that followed, but it was already too much. I hustled up a back staircase at Dodge Theatre and came to an exit. There was Juanma, patiently knocking. I let him in, and he gave me a hug and told me to remember him because he was going to be a good fighter.

What struck me that week about Juanma Lopez was his poise. He was not in a hurry to become famous by manufacturing some cult-of-personality thing to get on American television. He was not trying too hard, in other words. He was relaxed and confident; he knew he was likable and good, and in time Americans would know that too.

He’s going to need that poise Saturday. The man who comes for his title, Rafael Marquez, has been in bigger fights against better fighters than Lopez has. Marquez has also been in the finest boxing trilogy many have yet witnessed, with Israel Vazquez. His right hand is arguably the most impressive weapon, pound-for-pound, boxing has seen in a generation.

And Lopez, for all his poise, hasn’t got boxing’s best chin. But neither does Marquez. And that’s why folks in the know are so excited about this fight.

When Marquez’s last match was announced, a fourth scrap with Vazquez, in Los Angeles, Marquez fans felt a touch of relief. Vazquez was a man of unmatchable will, but he was also a man with ruined flesh round his eyes. Their guy would cut him up before Vazquez could rend any wills. And that’s exactly what happened in May, though it happened quicker than expected. Vazquez did not last 10 minutes with Marquez.

In the euphoria of that post-fight press conference at Staples Center, Marquez, seated beside trainer Daniel Zaragoza, the man who’d replaced Nacho Beristain, mentioned Juanma Lopez, and we all gave the idea some thought. Far more thought than we might have given the same suggestion two years before – when Marquez was sent reeling across the ring in the 12th round of his third fight with Vazquez and needed 18 months to recover.

The idea of either Marquez or Vazquez moving up four pounds and challenging Lopez was not a serious one, then. It is now.

Lopez, a southpaw, has been felled by lesser men than Marquez. Rogers Mtagwa, a Tanzanian strongman who boxes about as well as Marquez did at age 10, had Lopez out on his feet not too long ago. And after his career’s most impressive showing against Steven Luevano in January, Lopez was in a thrilling match with Filipino Bernabe Concepcion in July. Too thrilling, actually. In two rounds, there were four knockdowns, and Concepcion’s trunks weren’t the only ones cleaning the canvas.

Both Lopez and Marquez can box. Quite well. And both have a tendency not to box until they’re very near unconsciousness. A firefight, you’d think, favors Lopez, the larger of the two men. But we can’t be too sure.

That’s why we’ll watch Showtime, Saturday. But it’s not the only reason. The undercard match, a super-middleweight fight between two subs – Allan Green and Glen Johnson – should be an entertaining way to do something that’s good for us and boxing, too: Support the “Super Six.” Boxing’s best idea has had a rocky go of things lately, so here’s hoping Green-Johnson will be a fitting good-riddance to Andre Dirrell.

The main event, though, is the reason to tune in. Two honest, exciting fighters who are respectful and admired by those who know them. Rumor is, Puerto Rican-versus-Mexican occasionally makes for a decent rivalry, too.

Give us a pick, then? Sure. Good as Marquez is, exciting as a victory by him would necessarily be, he’s not young enough or big enough to stop Lopez. So I’ll take Lopez by 10th-round KO – unless his eagerness runs him into a Marquez right hand.

Bart Barry can be reached at bbarry@15rounds.com. Additionally, his book, “The Legend of Muhammad Ali,” co-written with Thomas Hauser, can be purchased here.

Mafikeng, South Africa. Michael Domingo of the Philippines lost his IBF Title Eliminator bout against South African native Vusi Malinga in a highly contested match that went the full twelve rounds.

The Filipino veteran sarted out strong outboxing the South African stunning him with a straight that caught Malinga’s attention early. The second round went the same way with Domingo boxing flawlessly and landing a solid body punch that obviously hurt and backed up his opponent but failed to finish him off. The third round was a give and take with Malinga increasing his work load but Domingo sticked to his plan of boxing to take the round.

Sensing some kind of urgency, Malinga upped the tempo catching the Filipino with solid blows to the temple that took it’s effect on Domingo in the fourth round and in the fifth unleashed an uppercut that left a gash in Domingo’s left eyelid.

In the next round, Domingo, who was bothered with the cut tried to play the inside game with Malinga but could not execute as he was using only one eye. He occassionally stepped into Malinga’s bread and butter uppercut and seemed out of it but showing heart and determination, the Filipino answered back with flurry’s of his own.

The partisan crowd who was cheering on their homeboy from the openning bell were surprised and stunned to see the Filipino push forward as he again shocked Malinga with power shots during their heated exchanges through rounds 7 and 8.

Sensing he was in more trouble than he expected, Domingo slowly battled back in the 9th using his experience and outgunning and outboxing the South African. He even pushed himself harder taking the next two rounds. Both fighters gave their all during the final round sending the crowd up their feet until the final bell.

In the end, the Judges saw the fight going Malinga’s way with one of the two South African Judges scoring the bout 114 all. The Polish Judge scoring the bout 115-113 for Malinga and the other hometown Judge saw a different bout scoring it a 117-111 for their boy.

After the announcement, Domingo and his team went down the ring and was greeted with chants of his name and people coming up to him. Ladies, kids and gentlemen alike came to him asking to shake his hand and taking photos with him. Some people in the crowd even told Domingo that he won the fight. A group of Filipinos who drove from the neighboring towns with their family and friends greeted their kabayan as well.

Michael Domingo gave his all and may have failed in this boxing duel in South Africa but he surely won the hearts of the people who witnessed the guts he showed in Mafikeng.

The fight poster for a Top Rank-promoted card which took place in Texas this past April had the heading “Young Guns – The Undefeated” and featured the faces of five unbeaten prospects. Four of those faces would likely have been recognizable to those who closely follow the sport. Mike Alvarado, Jerry Belmontes, Mikey Garcia and Omar Henry have garnered national attention and been featured prominently on national television during their ascension through the ranks. The fifth face featured on the poster, that of light heavyweight Alfonso Lopez III, would likely go unidentified by fight fans based outside the Lone Star State, but that could soon change. Lopez, a gunslinger from Cut and Shoot, educated inside and outside of the ring, is on cusp of moving from prospect to contender and setting his sights on the upper levels of the 168 and 175-pound divisions.

The way in which Lopez (20-0, 15 KOs) found boxing as a profession is a unique story. Though he had a fondness for boxing as a youth, the pull of other sports kept Lopez out of ring until much later in life. “We had a couple uncles and my stepfather had fought in the amateurs,” recalls Lopez. “We would box in the backyards. I just never competed, because I was big into baseball and football.”

Lopez’ love for football led him to walk-on to the team while at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, where he played linebacker for two years. In 2005, Lopez eventually decided to participate at a college amateur fight night, which brought him to the Henry Harris Gym and brought trainer Felix Ramirez and eventually Henry Harris into his life. “He was already 20-years-old and had never fought before,” recalls Ramirez. “He just started training with us and it seemed like he picked up on everything. He fought at the fight night and knocked the kid out in the first round.”

Perhaps motivated by his immediate success, Lopez decided to return to the gym and eventually pursue boxing further. “He started to come back and train for real this time,” recalls Ramirez. “With that being said, he went to fight a couple amateur fights, then went to the Houston Golden Gloves, with only three amateur fights, and he won the Houston Golden Gloves. He went to the [Texas State Golden Gloves] with five amateur bouts under his belt, won the State Golden Gloves three days in a row.”

If you think qualifying for the National Golden Gloves after so few sanctioned bouts seems unusual, then you would be correct. “It is a rarity,” admits Ramirez. “I have never seen it really, must less in such a competitive area, such as the Houston area, in Texas on top of that. There are a lot of big heavyweights and light heavyweights [in the state.]”

The Harris boxing family is very much a part of the fabric of Cut and Shoot, Texas, which just happens to be the town from where Lopez is originally from as well. Roy Harris was a stellar amateur before turning professional, going on an unbeaten run which included a win over eventual Hall of Famer Willie Pastrano, before challenging Floyd Patterson for the World Heavyweight title in 1958. Henry was a solid amateur himself, a Texas State Golden Glove Champion several times over, and eventually took to coaching.

Even with all of his many years in and around the sport, Henry has been surprised by Lopez’ accelerated development. “It is kind of unusual for somebody in college to learn how to fight,” states Harris. “Most of them start when they are young, but he is an intelligent kid and worked real hard at getting things right and he’s developed really fast. It probably doesn’t seem fast to him, but to me it seems awfully fast for somebody that just starts out. Now he is as good a boxer as there is that is out there right now.”

Lopez takes great pride in the fighting tradition of Cut and Shoot, and in a way carrying on the legacy of the Harris boxing family. “Henry had a son, Trey Harris that fought to 14-0, but never really got to get on the big stage. I am coming up and trying to put Cut and Shoot back on the map, but the whole Harris family has just been a huge, great family,” says Lopez. “The way they took me in when I came down here to start fighting. They started teaching me the ropes, and Henry is just the master of boxing, he knows so much. Their whole family is very smart, and they took me in, and my whole family in, and adopted us. They have taken care of us, I am just so glad I am in the position that I am in to start my career as a professional. I don’t think I could have done it anywhere else. This is chosen for me. This is why I came to Sam Houston and this is what I should be doing. This is what God planned for me.”

Before making the leap to the pros, Lopez had a solid 2006 amateur campaign, which included another Texas State Golden Glove title and appearance at the National Golden Gloves. In March of 2006, competing in the 178-pound weight class, Lopez made it to the finals of the U.S. Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Lopez notched two victories in Colorado, including one over present day prospect Will Rosinsky, but came up short in the final against accomplished amateur Christopher Downs.

Though he did not take home the national title, the event itself provided Lopez with invaluable experience. “It was a great experience, because I met a lot of great guys,” says Lopez. “A lot of the top guys professionally now, I got to meet them and got to work out with them to see their work ethic. Just the facility, I was a little bit in awe just being there. It really helped my career and gave me more confidence just being there.”

During his 2006 amateur run, Lopez and his team decided they would turn professional the following year rather than attempt to make the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. “We thought, hey, the way the system runs now…If Alfonso wanted to, he could have gone to the [Olympic] Trials, and probably even won the Trials, because by then he already had the experience,” said Ramirez. “But I think at this point, we are ahead of the 2008 Olympic class if you look at who is out there. I think it was a wise decision now that we look back.”

Several factors went into the decision to go pro when Lopez did, one of which was the way the U.S. structures their training program. “He would have had to leave us for that entire camp,” explains Ramirez. “How are you going to have somebody just leave you like that? Somebody you trained and you just turn them over to somebody and say ‘Ok, here you go.’ And on top of that, he has a wife and kids. So you are going to leave them too, come on now. It would have been for a long period of time too, not just a couple of weeks. Based on the coaching and everything, he was not going to get the coaching he gets here. And that’s a bold statement. Argue with it, but I think we made the right decision in the end.”

Lopez agreed with his coach’s assessment and was on board with the decision to go pro in 2007. “I was waiting to finish up college,” says Lopez, who graduated from Sam Houston. “My wife was finishing up her Master’s, and I was getting my graduate degree. I finished mine, and we decided at the age I was, and I was married and had a little girl, they thought it was the best decision to turn pro. I went ahead and went with it, rolled the dice early and went professional. I think it was a smart decision.”

Lopez turned pro that March, and crossed over some difficult hurdles in that very first outing. “My pro debut was probably the toughest fight I have had to this point,” admits Lopez. “I just went in so green into it, and the nerves. I got headbutted in the first 30 seconds of the fight. I got cut bad and it just exploded everywhere. There was blood in my eyes. Things guys go through in a ten-year professional career, I learned in one day. In one four-round fight, I was cut, I was bleeding, I was exhausted, I was throwing way too many punches – like a 100 and something punches a round. I was so excited and so dehydrated. It was just a huge, huge learning experience.”

Lopez won every round against Bonnie Joe McGee that night and was ready to move forward in his career, while constantly applying his college work ethic in the gym. “He’s a smart fighter and he takes advantage of other styles,” says Harris. “And it is just hard for someone to start boxing late and learn all of that stuff. But he has been a great student.”

In the 19 fights since, Lopez has remained undefeated and in recent bouts turned back the challenges of stiffer competition. In May of last year, Lopez fought outside of Texas for just the second time as a pro and went the ten-round distance for the first time in a win over veteran Ronald Weaver. “It was a big learning experience for him, to go over there into someone else’s hometown, and show that you can do what you have to do to get the win,” said Ramirez. “In my opinion, he won every round in that fight. If you are the opponent and you got one of the scorecards saying 100-89, then you know what happened.”

In his most recent outing, Lopez stepped up against former title challenger Rubin Williams and scored a unanimous ten-round decision, winning every round on every official card. “That was a fight that really got me up, just because the name Rubin Williams – fought for a world title against Jeff Lacy,” says Lopez. “I knew he was an experienced guy that could give me a couple different looks. I knew he was going to do some things other guys haven’t done, adjust the range and try to control the pace. But I felt I dictated everything in the fight. I fought when I wanted to fight.”

Next up for Lopez is a move down to 168-pounds to take on Romero Johnson for the vacant WBC Continental Americas title this coming Thursday in Dallas, Texas. It is an important fight, because an impressive victory could vault Lopez near the top fifteen in the WBC rankings. “It does excite me to go for a minor title,” admits Lopez. “That was one of our goals before the year had ended, and it turned out for me. Romero Johnson, I don’t know much about him, but I am working with the best in Marcus Johnson and Brian Vera. I am working hard, so whatever he brings, I may need a couple rounds to figure him out, but I plan on taking it to him and getting the win. Then hopefully look for some bigger things next year.”

Bigger things are present on the mind of Lopez’ head trainer and co-manager, Henry Harris. “We are reaching the stage now where we need exposure,” says Harris. “We got him where he can fight, so he just needs the exposure and to fight somebody that is supposedly a good fighter. We are willing to fight anybody for that matter. It is just a matter of what makes more sense. We would like to be [ranked] number one, but we are not there, because we can’t get the fight to prove it. I think he is. I think he is the best fighter out there right now.”

There are easier ways for college graduates to make their living than inside a boxing ring, but Lopez is completely focused on becoming the best boxer he can, and will think about putting his diploma to work for him at a later time. “Boxing is not a sport where you can say I am going to work and get a job and go ahead and get my Master’s and become a dietician,” says Lopez. “Boxing has to be your job. It has to be your passion. You have to love what you do everyday. Even when fights are falling through and you are not making any money, you have to stick with it mentally. It has to be what you want to do. You have to give it your life. You have to give it your heart. There’s no looking back.”

Photo by John Giles

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

Unbeaten middleweight Patrick Majewski of Atlantic City informed 15rounds that he will be take on Eddie Caminero as the co-feature to the heavyweight match up between former two division world champion Tomasz Adamek and Vinny Maddalone December 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

One of the most exciting up and coming fighters in New Jersey, Majewski, 14-0 (9 KO’s), is fresh off a 7th round stoppage of Joseph Gomez as part of an October 16 pay per view card in Florida. Majewski, who is of Polish descent, will be fighting at the Pru Center for the third time.

Caminero, 7-3 (3 KO’s), has won two straights against opponents with a combined 14-1 record. The Lowell, MA native most recently stopped unbeaten Joe Smith Jr. in August.

For more New Jersey boxing news, go to Gardenstatefightscene.com

Newark, NJ (October 30, 2010) – Unbeaten lightweight prospect and 2008 National Golden Gloves Champion Michael Angelo “The Artist” Perez, 9-0 (4 KO’s), will be featured on News 12’s “Jersey Sports Final” tomorrow evening at 10:30 PM.

The Newark native, who faces tough Hevinson Herrera November 6 in his hometown at the Prudential Center, will discuss his upbringing in one of America’s roughest cities, how he got started in boxing and where he believes the sport will take him.

Replays will air at 11:30 pm Sunday and 12:30 am on Monday. Cablevision subscribers can tune into channel 12 and Comcast customers can see Perez’ story on channel 62.

Tickets to the fight priced at $53, $78, $103 and $253 (ringside) are still available and can be purchased at Prudential Center Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000 or www.Prucenter.com.

For more information on News 12 New Jersey, go to News12.com.

Superstar boxer and Filipino congressman Manny Pacquiao(R) attends a rally for US Senator Harry Reid,D-Nevada(L) at Orr Middle School in Las Vegas Friday. Reid is running for re-election against Republican challenger Sharron Angle. Pacquiao takes on three-time world champion Antonio Margarito on November 13, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,Texas. Pacquiao vs Margarito is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Cowboys Stadium. The Pacquiao vs Margarito telecast will be available live on HBO Pay Per View.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Hours from now Lenny Zappavigna will be fighting Ji Hoon Kim in an IBF Lightweight eliminator. It’s a huge fight for both men Zappavigna will put his unbeaten record of 24-0(16) on the line against the more experienced Kim 21-6(18) with the winner getting a shot at Miguel Vazquez. Zappavigna 23, who resides in Sydney Australia will have home court advantage fighting at the Olympic Park Sports Centre in Homebush as part of a double header with fellow Australian Daniel Geale against Roman Karmazin in an IBF Middleweight title eliminator. Having gone pro in 2006 on the back of winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth games Zappavigna impressively went about his work, honing his skills before Gary Shaw noticed him in 2009 and brought him to America where “Zappa” has since fought twice winning both. It promises to be a war of attrition between the hard hitters, neither who take a backward step.

Hello Lenny, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You have the biggest fight of your career on 31 October against Ji-Hoon Kim, what are your thoughts on the fight and what do you expect from him?

Lenny Zappavigna – I think it will be a good fight because we both come to fight, but I think I will be the stronger fighter because he is a natural junior lightweight and I am a natural lightweight, but no matter what the outcome, points or knockout, I will win, no doubt about it.

Anson Wainwright – In his last fight Kim lost to Miguel Vazquez in an IBF title fight what did you think of that fight?

Lenny Zappavigna – Vazquez boxed well and smart, I think he is a good champion and be looking forward to fighting him for the title.

Anson Wainwright – For those who perhaps haven’t seen you could you descrivbe your style?

Lenny Zappavigna – I’m a boxer puncher. I can brawl if I have to or box. I’m trying to settle a little with every fight that comes along.

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

Lenny Zappavigna – My trainer is Tommy Mercuri. I have been with him since I was a kid and I have trained at Westside Boxing Gym ever since. My manager is Tony Lacastro, who has been a great help with my career and marketing terms. My promoter is Gary Shaw from America who also is a great help to us and has a great stable of champions and I hope to be one of them in the future.

Anson Wainwright – What were your early years like, was it tough growing up? You were born in Australia but presumably your parents are from Italy?

Lenny Zappavigna – My early years were great; my parents have been really supportive with my career and we live in the luckiest country in the world. There is no hard ship growing up in Australia. Being Italian background is fantastic. We eat the best food in the world and I am proud of my Italian heritage and I look forward to my mum’s cooking after the weigh-ins.

Anson Wainwright – How did you get into Boxing?

Lenny Zappavigna – I was a fat little kid and just wanted to lose weight when I met Tommy in the gym and he told me I had a lot of talent to pursue the sport because I would be a world champion one day and my dream came true, so I fell in love with the sport and hoped to become a multiple champion one day.

Anson Wainwright – You had a good amateur career you won bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth games, can you tell us about that and what other tournaments you won and what your final record was?

Lenny Zappavigna – I really enjoyed the Commonwealth Games, it gave me a lot of worldwide experience and I also fought overseas a lot of times and I won bronze at the Junior World Games. I also won all my national titles. My final record was 105 fights with 95 wins.

Anson Wainwright – Did you fight any fighters who are doing well in the pro’s today? If so who and how did it go?

Lenny Zappavigna – I fought Frankie Gavin in the Commonwealth Games, who went on to win gold and the world titles, but I am not sure if he has turned pro. Editors Note. He has an is currently 8-0(7).

Anson Wainwright – Who was your Boxing hero growing up & what fighters do you enjoy watching now?

Lenny Zappavigna – Mike Tyson was my hero as I was growing up. Now, I enjoy watching Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Anson Wainwright – What are your thoughts on the current Lightweight division? Who do you think are the top guys at 135?

Lenny Zappavigna – It’s a great division, one of the best and of course I think I am one of the best, haha. Guys like Juan Manuel Marquez, Juan Diaz and Humberto Soto which I would love to fight for the WBC championship belt.

Anson Wainwright – Your countryman Michael Katsidis will fight Juan Manuel Marquez what are your thoughts on that fight?

Lenny Zappavigna – I think it will be a very great fight. I would really like to see Michael win the fight, for it will be great to have two Australian lightweight champions and I think he has a very good chance of winning.

Anson Wainwright – Is a fight with Katsidis possible or are you good friends? How big do you think that fight would be?

Lenny Zappavigna – No, we’ve chosen our path and he’s got his. It would be a shame to destroy two great Australian fighters like they did with Lester Ellis and Barry Michaels. Why destroy two great Australian fighters?

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?

Lenny Zappavigna – Just like to thank all my fans for supporting me after all these years, and keep supporting me because I promise all of Australia after Sunday I will become a champion and go on to unify the lightweight division.

Best Wishes Lenny, keep up the good work.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Special thanks to Brad Arnold for helping to arrange this interview.

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
Atlantic City – Both Jorge Diaz and Emmanuel Lucero weighed in at exactly 126 pounds for their scheduled ten round featherweight bout at Bally’s in Atlantic City on Saturday night. Diaz (14-0, 9 KO) of New Brunswick, NJ is taking his biggest step-up in competition against Lucero (24-5-1, 14 KO) of Mexico City, Mexico. The card will be promoted by Pound for Pound Promotions.

Jeremy Bryan (14-1, 7 KO) of Paterson, NJ weighed 143 while Ronald Cruz (9-0, 6 KO) of Bethlehem, PA weighed 144 for their eight round fight. Bryan is a former two-time National Golden Gloves champion.

Glen Tapia (7-0, 5 KO) of Passaic, NJ weighed 153 pounds, which was the same as his opponent Quinton Whitaker (7-7, 5 KO) from San Antonio, TX. Tapiais fresh off his tour of duty as boxing great Manny Pacquiao’s chief sparring partner in the Philippines. The fight is scheduled for six rounds.

Jason Escalera (9-0, 8 KO) of Union City, NJ weighed 166, which was the same as his opponent Cleoney Fuqua (2-2, 2 KO) from Alabama. The fight is scheduled for six rounds.

Bobby Rooney (11-3-1, 6 KO) of Bayonne, NJ weighed 175, as did his opponent Tyler Seever (11-11-1, 8 KO) from Saint Joseph, MO for their six round fight.

Christian Martinez (4-0, 4 KO) of The Bronx, NY and Jose Peralta Alejo (3-1, 2 KO) of the Dominican Republic both weighed 143 for their six round bout.

Anthony Caputo Smith (6-0, 4 KO) of Kennett Square, PA and Brian Bernard (8-7-2, 4 KO) of Saint Joseph, MO both weighed 175 for their four round fight.

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
Saturday night at the Bally’s Event Center in Atlantic City, Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan (14-1 7KO), continues on his path for boxing stardom. Although he won his last bout, the Paterson based junior welterweight is still looking for redemption after suffering his first career loss against Vincent Arroyo last time he was in Atlantic City, mainly because his last opponent quit after one round. It could not have been satisfying enough for “Hollywood”, who looked visibly upset that Mitchell would not continue.

The two time light welterweight National Golden Gloves champion, will be squaring off with undefeated Puerto Rican prospect Ronald Cruz (9-0 6KO) fighting out of Bethlehem, PA. The much more experienced Bryan will be the favorite heading into the bout. Even though Cruz has only been fighting for approximately five years, his raw talent surfaced quickly and caught the eye of many boxing fans in the area. Bryan certainly will not be one to take this fight lightly as he does not want the same result as last time he was in Atlantic City.

The fight will appear on the undercard on the Jorge “King” Diaz vs. Emmanuel Lucero fight which is an excellent card featuring many great fighters from around New Jersey, including recent Manny Pacquiao sparring partner Glen Tapia of Passaic. Tickets are still available for the fights, by going to the Bally’s Event Center box office, or calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or Ticketmaster.com
For more New Jersey boxing news, go to gardenstatefightscene.com

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (October 29, 2010)—On Saturday night November 20th one of the most unique and exceptional young men ever to step in a boxing ring as Jr. Middleweight Boyd Melson will make his pro debut in a four round bout that will be part of a big night of boxing promoted by Robert Diaz and Havoc Boxing.

To say Melson is an easy guy to root for may be an understatement.

Melson not only compiled an impressive amateur record which landed him in the 2004 & 2008 United States Olympic Trials. He graduated from West Point as a lieutenant and in 2006 was promoted to Captain.

Melson earned his MBA at Touro University in Business Administration.

In 2004, Melson won the world Military boxing championship

“West Point taught me what life has to offer”, said Melson.

“It taught me about selflessness and working towards a higher calling”

“If the Olympic trials were in 2006, I would have made the team because I had a hurt shoulder but still competed and then ran into Demetrius Andrade so I became an alternate to the team”, said the 2006 National champion.

But on November 20th, Melson’s story takes yet another heartfelt turn as he will donate his entire purse to Stem-Cell Research.

This is not a case where an athlete wants to make a donation to make headlines but this is a cause that Melson has been fighting for long before he thought about becoming a professional boxer.

Melson has been a supporter of Stem-Cell research since he met a young lady named Christian Zaccangino

Zaccangino at age ten had a swimming accident where she broke two vertebrae and injured her spinal cord and has been confined to a wheelchair for seventeen years.

Zaccangino is the best friend of aspiring champion boxer and Melson fights for her as hard as he fights in the ring as Melson will stop at nothing to help with Stem Cell research.

“She’s my rock. She inspires me so much. When I am training and I feel I tired I dig down deep and say to myself how lucky I am to feel tired because I know Christian doesn’t have the opportunity to feel that type of tired. Thinking of her makes me not quit”

In 2008, while training for the trials Melson accompanied Zaccangino to China for a surgery that has not yet been approved in the United States.

Melson trained in empty rooms and ran foreign streets by himself just to be by Christian’s side while she underwent an experimental procedure.

“She has got some case strength back since the procedure. She is able to get from her chair to her bed on her own. Things like that she was not able to do before China.”

Dr. Wise Yung, has been approved for a first United States Clinical trial operation which will inject cells from an umbilical cord into Christan’s spine in an effort to gain more strength.

In November 20th, Melson will sport an image of a wheelchair in camouflage on his trunks to pay homage to disabled veterans. Melson will also display the phrase “Fight To walk” which will bring awareness to not only Christian but all Spinal Cord injuries that are fighting to walk.

“The courage she shows is just incredible. She will always be part of me and we will not stop until we can walk

Melson’s grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust in Poland.

Melson is currently a company commander in the Army Reserves at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.

In the main event, World ranked (IBF #5), Curtis Stevens (21-3, 15 KO’s) of Brooklyn will take on an opponent to be named in a eight round Super Middleweight bout.

Will Rosinsky (12-0, 7 KO’s) will square off against Yasin Rashid (7-0, 2 KO’s) in a Light heavyweight bout pitting undefeated Brooklyn natives in an eight round affair.

Light Heavyweight contender, Elvir Muriqi (37-5, 23 KO’s) will take part in a ten round co-feature.

Undefeated Featherweight Joselito Collado (11-0, 3 KO’s) of Queens, NY will take part in a Featherweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

Undefeated Cruiserweight Stivin Bujac (2-0, 2 KO’s) will take part in a four round bout.

Undefeated Light Heavyweight Seanie Monaghan (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Long Beach, NY will take on an opponent o be named.

Popular Lightweight Shemuel Pagan (1-0) of Brooklyn will battle Jamel Brown (0-1) of the Bronx in a Lightweight bout scheduled for four rounds.

There will be a press conference on Wednesday November 17th at 2pm at Portobello’s Pizzeria at 83 Murray street between Greenwich and West Broadway in New York City

Tickets for this special night of boxing are priced at $50 for all seats and can be purchased at the Following Locations:

The Aviator Box Office
New Legend Boxing Club (718) 487 4474 or
www.havocboxingnyc.com

The Aviator Sports Complex is located at:

3159 Flatbush Ave – Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234

For more information on Havoc Boxing, Click:
www.havocboxingnyc.com

CLICK FOR MORE EVENT INFO
The Israel Fighting Championship will mke their debut on November 10 from the Nokia Arena in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Genesis will mark the first time that cage fighting has come to Israel. Mixed Martial Artists from around the globe will go toe-to-toe with some of Israel’s most beloved and respected fighters. Former UFC veterans Frank Trigg, Hermes Franca, Rameau Thierry Sokodjou, Jeff Monson and Shonie Carter will join former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez. The first family of MMA will be represented as Daniel Gracie will be competing. Everyone’s bad boy of MMA Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett is also scheduled to see action that night. Ido Pariente, Moishe Kaitz and Ariel Abargel lead the charge of homegrown mixed martial artists. All told their will be 13 action packed MMA bouts for your viewing pleasure as Go Fight Live will be broadcasting the event live for $9.99.

Mafikeng, South Africa- At the capital of the Northwest Province some 260 kilometers west of Johannesberg, Team Domingo of the Philippines arrived at the Mmabatho Palms Hotel Casino Convention resort for the Official weigh-in of REDEMPTION. A boxing event put up by South Africa’s premier boxing promotional outfit Branco Sports Productions headed by Branco Milenkovic.

Michael Domingo is scheduled to face IBF rated South African native Vusi “Marvelous” Malinga for a twelve round IBF Bantamweight Title Eliminator where the winner of which will have the chance to fight for the IBF world title next year.

Team Domingo composed of Michael Domingo, Head Trainer Edito Villamor, Assistant Trainer Jonh Rey Bunao and ALA Promotions Public Relations head Chad Canares together with the IBF officials and other South African boxers left Sandton, Joberg 15 minutes past 9AM and had a long and smooth ride to Mafikeng when after some tens of kilometers past the famous Cradle of Humankind in the Gauteng Province the vehicle they were riding experienced trouble.

The Chrystler van Team Domingo was in continued driving for almost an hour when the van could no longer push further forcing the group to stop and phone the other cars in the convoy to drive back for assistance. Luckily the other cars had some extra space to accommodate the team from the Philippines.

The scheduled 2 PM weigh-in started at 230 for the teams that packed the Hotel Conference room was waiting for the weighing scale to arrive.

Michael Domingo had to do a little work shedding 8 grams over the contracted 53.52 kg limit while Vusi Malinga made the weight easy. It was little trouble though as all Domingo needed was to do light stretching to make the weight. Official weight for both fighters were 53.34 kg.

NEW YORK (Oct. 29, 2010) – Streaking former University of Tennessee linebacker Ovince St. Preux (7-4), of Knoxville, Tenn., who is coming off an eight-second knockout victory, will seek his fifth consecutive conquest inside the distance when he faces Antwain “The Juggernaut’’ Britt’’ (11-4) of Virginia Beach, Va., in a light heavyweight (205 pounds) bout during a terrific STRIKEFORCE Challengers event on Friday, Nov. 19. The evening of fights will take place at Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Miss., LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT, (delayed on the West Coast).

In the night’s featured fight, lightweight (155 pounds) star and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (20-4) will take on Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox (9-3) of Cincinnati.

Unbeaten 155-pounder Ryan Couture (1-0) will face an opponent to be determined on the televised undercard. The son of legend Randy Couture won his STRIKEFORCE and MMA debut with a 1:15, first-round submission (triangle choke) over Lucas Stark last Aug. 13 on STRIKEFORCE Challengers.

The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight card is presented by Rockstar Energy Drink and will mark STRIKEFORCE’s initial foray into the state of Mississippi.

Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Coliseum box office and Be-Bop Record Shops, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com and www.STRIKEFORCE.com.

St. Preux, who fights out of Knoxville MMA, has won all four of his fights this year in the first round in a total elapsed time of 7:10. He called it a night after demolishing tough UFC veteran, Jason “Dooms’’ Day, with a single punch in just eight seconds in his most recent outing last July 24.

Day came out hard, charging St. Preux at the opening bell and throwing a hard left hook. St. Preux avoided the shot and landed a crushing, thunderous uppercut that floored Day. He immediately followed up with more punches, forcing the referee to step in and halt matters.

The victory was the second in a row for St. Preux since he won his STRIKEFORCE debut with a 0:47, first-round TKO (punches) over Chris Hawk last April 17 in Nashville. Shortly thereafter, St. Preux signed a multi-fight deal with STRIKEFORCE.

St. Preux is a 6-foot-3, 27-year-old who played for the Vols from 2001-2004. After graduating with a degree in Sociology in ’04, he became heavily involved in MMA, utilizing his impressive wrestling skills and natural athletic abilities. He made history on Feb. 20, 2009, by not only competing in Tennessee’s first sanctioned MMA event, but also by recording the first knockout.

“Everything’s going good, but the more I win, the harder I know I have to work,’’ St. Preux said. “I fought some tough guys early in my career because it didn’t matter to me who I fought. Looking back, I probably should have won all those fights. But I’m not mad because I learned so much from each of them.’’

The 6-foot-1, 32-year-old Britt is making his third consecutive start for STRIKEFORCE, second on SHOWTIME and first since losing to current STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight World Champion Rafael “Feijao’’ Cavalcante last May 15.

After controlling Feijao for most of the standup in the first round, even buckling the Brazilian at one point, Britt got caught with an overhand right. He staggered backwards and Cavalcante followed him into the corner before unleashing a left hook and uppercut that forced the referee to stop the action at 3:45.

A member of Hybrid Academy of Martial Arts, Britt had entered the Cavalcante clash having won four of five, including an impressive, dominant first-round TKO over Scott Lighty on Dec. 19, 2009.

“This is a must-win fight for both of us,’’ said Britt, who has gone more than one full round only three times in a career that began in March 2007. “But I really want this bad. I thought I had Feijao and would love a rematch with him especially since he now is the STRIKEFORCE champion.’’

Ribeiro is a decorated submission expert who won the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship four times, once as a purple belt in 1996 and three times as a black belt in consecutive years (1999-2001). His 20 victories include 14 stoppages (12 by submission) and he has defeated, among others, such notable fighters as Joachim Hansen, Eiji Mitsuoka and Mitsuhiro “The Endless Fighter” Ishida.

Wilcox, a former NCAA wrestling star and bodybuilder, has won his last four starts. In his most recent outing on March 26, he registered a unanimous decision over Shamar Bailey at STRIKEFORCE Challengers in Fresno, Calif.

The younger Couture is a member of the Las Vegas, Nev., based Xtreme Couture fight team. Before impressively winning his pro debut, the 28-year-old compiled an amateur record of 5-1-1 with all five wins coming by submission.

Doors at Jackson Convention Complex will open at 6:45 p.m. CT. The first non-televised preliminary bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. The first televised main card fight will begin at 10 p.m.

About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

The irresistible story about whether Manny Pacquiao is out-of-shape, or out-of-focus, or more politician than pugilist is either setting the stage for a monumental upset in a loss to Antonio Margarito or masterful spin in the promotional wizardry exercised by Bob Arum.

The guess is all of the above and maybe more. There’s nothing new about Pacquiao and distractions. If anything, they’ve become inseparable. Pacquiao almost seems to be energized by familiar chaos that surrounds him like a human typhoon.

It’s fair to wonder whether the storm will reach a tipping point and overwhelm the Filipino Congressman on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium against a bigger man who used to be called The Tornado and is anxious to prove he doesn’t need illegal hand wraps to be one all over again.

The hand-wrap controversy, which has haunted Margarito since a loss to Shane Mosley 22 months ago, has been shoved into the background. Glovegate is an afterthought and Arum made sure of it with his trip a couple of weeks ago to the Philippines for a look at Pacquiao’s training camp. The story’s emphasis shifted subtly, yet unmistakably onto the star, Pacquiao, and away from the controversy, Margarito, when Arum warned the Filipino that he was in danger of losing if he didn’t work harder. The next day, Arum said all was well. Pacquiao looked good.

With his early warning, Arum accomplished a couple of tasks. He motivated Pacquiao and he ensured that the attention moves toward and stays on the biggest attraction. That’s where it belongs. Pacquiao makes the money. Talk about a marquee fighter in a battle with distractions is as old as Muhammad Ali. It’s compelling enough to invest in pay-per-view. But controversy over what, when and if Margarito knew about altered wraps and whether he should be allowed to fight in Texas after a denial in California is just buzz-kill.

Intrigue about Pacquiao’s readiness gained momentum at the very moment he set foot at LAX Sunday. That’s when trainer Freddie Roach told the media that the Filipino part of the training camp was the worst he had ever endured.

Trainers, of course, are paid to worry. Roach sounded as if he were relieved to be away from Pacquiao’s many commitments and desire to stay close to his newfound position in the Filipino Congress. He blew off for a day to visit Filipino President Benigno Aquino. Roach also told reporters that Pacquiao told him that he missed his job. Pacquiao’s comment to Roach is curious, to be sure. If he had not been so good for so long at his job in the ring, he wouldn’t have one in politics. In the political ring, misplaced priorities are an argument. Against Margarito, they’re a loss.

If priorities are in fact misplaced, there are questions — further intrigue — about whether Pacquiao has enough to time to put them back in order. In comments during media day Wednesday at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Roach sounded as if two-to-three weeks were enough. Yet within a week after leaving the Philippines, Pacquiao planned to be back on the campaign trail for a quick trip Friday to Las Vegas where he is scheduled to appear with Nevada Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat and majority leader, who is a tough run against Tea Party darling Sharron Angle.

Just a couple days after Roach told the media that there were no politicians around to take Pacquiao away from the Wild Card Gym, the trainer has another reason to worry. But Arum, Senator Reid’s friend and loyal supporter, can’t be worried at all. Otherwise, Pacquiao wouldn’t be taking this trip in support of a fellow politician who might be in bigger trouble than he will be against Margarito.

All options still on the mat

Henry Cejudo, a freestyle-wrestling gold medalist at the 2008 Olympics and one of the best stories at the Beijing Games, is 2-0 as an amateur boxer. Cejudo, who began training alongside Top Rank prospect Jose Benavidez, Jr., at Central Boxing near downtown Phoenix not long after Beijing’s closing ceremonies, won his second amateur bout in a surprise appearance a week ago at a tournament during the Arizona State Fair.

Cejudo, who won his boxing debut during a smoker at Central, has told the wrestling media that he probably will return for another shot at Olympic gold at the 2012 Games in London. But boxing, which will perfect his punching know how, might also be one way of jumping into mixed-martial arts. That opportunity looms, especially since Ultimate Fighting Championship chief Dana White announced Thursday that the UFC will merge with World Extreme Cagefighting.

The merger will include the addition of two weight classes, 135 pounds and 145. There also are plans for a 125-pound division. Cejudo, who grew up as a boxing fan, won Olympic gold at 55 kilograms, 121.25 pounds.

Notes, quotes
· Kelly Pavlik trainer Jack Loew is relieved that weight won’t be the biggest opponent when the former middleweight champion tries to resurrect his career against journeyman Brian Vera on the Pacquiao-Margarito undercard at catch weight, 164 pounds. “We were burning this kid out,’’ Loew said Tuesday of training before Pavlik loss to Sergio Martinez. “We were training four or five times a day and it was because of the weight. We trained more for the weight than we did for Martinez.’’
· Most of the talk is about Pacquiao-Margarito, but the Fight of the Year might happen on the Saturday before Nov. 13 when featherweights Rafael Marquez and Juan Manuel Lopez tangle on Nov. 6 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. Arum, Lopez’ promoter, called it a Fight of the Year candidate. There was no argument Monday from Lopez. “My expectation is the same, that it will be a Fight-of-the-Year-type candidate,’’ said Lopez, who also expects the bout to end in a later-round knockout.

Photo Chris Farina / Top Rank

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
Rising star Jorge “King” Diaz of New Brunswick takes one step closer to the prize this Saturday night when he faces crafty veteran and former world title challenger Emmanuel Lucero of Mexico City, Mexico in a featherweight match up. The bout headlines an eight fight card this Saturday, October 30 at Bally’s Atlantic City.

Diaz (14-0 9 KO’s) is fresh off a KO victory at Yankee Stadium on the undercard of the Cotto/Foreman clash. The New Brunswick native’s star status started to rise when he defeated 2 time Olympian and former Gold Medalist Yan Barthelemy at Madison Square Garden last year.

Mr. Lucero (24-5 14 KO’s), a former New York Golden Gloves Champion, will look to regain the top contender form he displayed when he faced Manny Pacquiao for the IBF super bantamweight title and Daniel Ponce de Leon for the WBO NABO crown.

Highly touted Glen Tapia (7-0 6 KO’s) of Passaic, just back from Baguio City, Philippines where he served as a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao, puts his unblemished record on the line against Quinton Whitaker of San Antonio, Texas making his fourteenth pro appearance and only the second outside of his native Texas.

In a light heavyweight matchup we will see Union City’s Jason “Monsturo” Escalera (9-0 8KO’s) take on Cleoney Fuqua (2-2 2KO’s). Escalera out of the Union City Boxing Club had only 25 amateur bouts but in that short unpaid career he managed to win the New Jersey Golden Gloves Tournament. A prolific body puncher with knock out power in both hands, he will be more than a challenge for Fuqua.
The best fight of the undercard looks to be a junior welterweight matchup featuring Passaic, NJ’s Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan (14-1 7KOs) facing Ronald Cruz (9-0 6KOs) of Bethlehem, PA. Bryan the 2004 and 2005 national golden gloves champion’s one loss came at the hand of Vincent Arroyo at Boardwalk Hall. Cruz is no stranger to Bally’s Atlantic City having fought there 3 times in the last 2 years.

Bobby Rooney Jr. (11-3 1 KO) of Bayonne takes on veteran light heavyweight Tyler Stevens of St Louis, MO. Rooney, a fan favorite , has been around the New Jersey fight scene for almost 10 years.
In the card’s only heavyweight matchup we will see Amir Mansour (10-0 7 KOs) of Newark, Delaware do battle with Alexis Mejias (11-5 5KOs) of Paterson. The southpaw Mansour has a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies.

Pound for Pound promotions in conjunction with Bally’s Atlantic City has once again put together a top notch night of boxing featuring some of New Jersey’s elite up and coming local fighters. Fight fans are in for a treat.

For more New Jersey boxing news, go to gardenstatefightscene.com

Three-time world champion Antonio Margarito talks with reporters during a packed media day at the Fortune Gym in Hollywood Thursday. Margarito takes on superstar Manny Pacquiao on November 13, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,Texas. Pacquiao vs Margarito is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Cowboys Stadium. The Pacquiao vs Margarito telecast will be available live on HBO Pay Per View.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

CLICK TO WATCH THE EVENT

RE: Amateur Boxing On HALLOWEEN EVE- Everyone should attend in Costume

Gleason’s Gym continues the monthly boxing series Saturday evening October 30, 2010.

Everyone is encouraged to dress up for Halloween. There will be prizes for the top three costumes.

The show will include amateur boxers that are part of our Monthly Boxing Series. The show will include JO, Novice, Senior and Master bouts. There will be male and female bouts.

The weigh in will begin at 4:00PM and the first bout will begin at 6:00PM.

All our bouts are pre-matched. They are sanctioned by USABoxingMetro. All boxers must have their boxing book with them in order to participate.

The ticket price is $20 per person. Children 6 and under are not charged. All gym members and registered amateurs with their books in hand pay $15 per person.

1. Cain Velasquez: With a first round TKO victory over Brock Lesnar at UFC 121, Velazquez becomes MMA’s top heavyweight by default, for now. His toughest fight to date was against Cheick Kongo at UFC 99, a three round unanimous decision. If there is one knock against Velazquez (8-0), it is that he hasn’t faced the best. Beside Lesnar—an underwhelming stand-up fighter—and Kongo, the most talented fighter he has stepped in the cage with was a past-his-prime Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Up next for the thick 28-year-old Mexican American kickboxer is Junior dos Santos. The biggest thing Velazquez has going for him: he’s never lost a single round in mixed martial arts competition.

2. Alistair Overeem: The Strikeforce title-holder suffered through a string of losses in 2006-2007 to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Ricardo Arona and Mauricio Rua, but hasn’t taken more than a single round to win any of his last eight fights.

Like Velazquez, Overeem began his career as a kickboxer, though he has been far less busy of late, defending his Strikeforce crown only once in the past two years. He is currently fighting in K-1 and will be participating in the World Grand Prix Final in December and remains at least six months away from returning to the cage in North America. It will be interesting to see just how much he has improved. If he can take care of Werdum and Fedor in Strikeforce, it might be enough for him to be thought of as the top heavyweight around.

3. Junior dos Santos: Maybe the best stand-up heavyweight in mixed martial arts, dos Santos is 6-0 since joining the UFC. His wrestling skills will be heavily tested when the day comes to fight Velazquez for the title, but he has definitely earned his shot. Under the tutelage of fellow Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Anderson Silva, dos Santos has won ten of his twelve career victories in the first round.

Prior to the Lesnar-Velazquez match at UFC 121, dos Santos told MMA Junkie that it didn’t matter who was going to win the fight. “When they fight against me, I will knock them out.” Well, now he’ll have his chance.

4. Fabricio Werdum: Since beating Fedor, Fabricio Werdum has been recovering from elbow surgery, though when he’s cleared to fight he should get first crack at the returning Strikeforce champ, Alistair Overeem, who he beat in a Pride match in 2006. Of the top four heavyweights, he owns the most extensive resume, with other notable victories over Gabriel Gonzaga (twice) and Antonio Silva.

With black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, the 33-year-old Werdum has a real chance to cement his status as one of the top heavyweights of his generation, but only if he can build off the momentum gained from being the first man to ever decisively stop the great Emelianenko. But when comparing Werdum to dos Santos at this point, it’s impossible to ignore Werdum’s KO loss to his fellow Brazilian in 2008.

5. Fedor Emelianenko: It was very surprising to witness the fall of The Last Emperor play out after his error-filled loss to Werdum in San Jose in June. No mixed martial artist in history even comes close to matching Fedor’s stock, so it’s hard to discount him at this point. Until someone decisively knocks out the stoic Russian, he will remain a top five threat. And that’s not expected to happen anytime soon, with Overeem and Werdum both unavailable to fight Fedor in Strikeforce.

Meanwhile, he will remain in flux, though beating up on a lesser fighter or two might allow Emelianenko the time he needs to recapture some of that quickly forgotten legend status.

6. Brock Lesnar: Just another two and done ex-champ. Without a significant improvement in his stand-up game, Lesnar would be an underdog against any of the top five. His beating at knuckles of Shane Carwin was the beginning of the end. He was lucky to even be in the position of fighting Velazquez.

The one-time dream matchup of Lesnar-Emelianenko is now a distant memory, much like the one-time dream matchup of Couture-Emelianenko. I watched his UFC 121 loss in a huge Canadian sports bar with over 1,000 other MMA fans. The reaction of those in attendance when Lesnar was crawling around, bleeding all over the mat, spoke of one thing: he will not be missed as champ.

7. Shane Carwin: It was thought that if he could beat Roy Nelson on New Year’s Day, then he would be next in line for the winner of the dos Santos-Velazquez fight. Roy Nelson is the only fighter to date to go the distance with dos Santos, which shows you how tight the heavyweight division is. But now with the recent announcement that Carwin has pulled out of his bout with Nelson, it will take longer than expected to sort itself out.

The Engineer from Colorado will now spend the next several months rehabbing an injured back. With him and Lesnar—who will need six months to heal the gash on his cheek—both on the shelf, UFC’s heavyweight cupboard is nearly bare.

8. Frank Mir: What should be a scary thought for Mir: he may have to fight Lesnar a third time and beat his hated rival to ever have another shot at the title. A third round KO of Mirko Filipovic at UFC 119 went a little way to restoring Mir’s confidence, but he’s still a long way from re-establishing himself as a true contender.

With Dana White quickly putting an end to talks of Mir movint down to light heavyweight, it looks like the 31-year-old southpaw is here to stay, battling it out with the rest the bigs.

9. Roy Nelson: As tough as they come, he was a decision away in the dos Santos fight in August from becoming the number one contender for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

With Carwin no longer healthy to fight Nelson on New Year’s Day, Nelson has been using his Twitter account to promote a possible future fight with Lesnar. It’s the fight he wants, but the better test would be against Carwin. Either way, Roy “Big Country” Nelson has come a long way since his early days before Ultimate Fighter.

10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: One of the great mixed martial artists of all-time, the 32-6 Brazilian should have at least a couple of fights left in him. He beat almost everyone during his prime, except Fedor Emelianenko, and remains a threat to anyone who opposes him. He’s beaten Fabricio Werdum, but has lost to Cain Velazquez, so it’s hard to grasp exactly where he stands, except that he stands. As long as he’s around, no one will be comfortable fighting him.

Nogueira was supposed to fight Mir in UFC 119 in an attempt to avenge a previous loss to him, but pulled out with a bad knee. Surgery will keep the veteran out of the cage until 2011.

Few countries give there fighters as tough an upbringing as Argentina. For years guys toil away in near obscurity, if you’re good enough you’ll make the grade, if not on to the next guy. By their very nature Argentinean fighters are hard men where only the toughest survive. One only needs to think of some of the warriors who have represented their country most notable the ultra macho Carlos Monzon who was arguably the greatest Argentinean fighter ever. Others include Light Heavyweight warrior Victor Galindez, Middleweight Juan Roldon & way down at Flyweight Pascual Perez.

More recently Jorge Castro springs to mind, he was a 20 year veteran of 143 fights. Back in the 1990’s Castro way behind on points bleeding from cuts around both eyes looking like he was at the point of being stopped, threw a devastating hook that some how turned the whole fight with John David Jackson on it’s head. It was voted in 1994 the fight of the year by The Ring magazine. It was a stoppage not to dissimilar to Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo. The man was so tough that even after a motor accident he made a comeback to Prize fighting.

The Best fighter in Argentina at the moment is WBC Middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, the 35 year old from a suburb of Buenos Aires who now lives and trains out of Oxnard, Ca.

He’s earnt his right to be the numero uno the hard way. He debuted back in 1997 with little amateur pedigree having not started to box until he was 20, he learnt his trade in the ring. By 2000 he had run his record to an impressive 16-0-1(6) when he fought the vastly more seasoned Antonio Margarito in Las Vegas. It was a step too far for Martinez who was stopped in the seventh. As a measure of his class when asked if he felt Margarito was using loaded gloves way back then he says ” I did not think he had his gloves loaded. He was the better fighter that night and he was better prepared than I was. I have no regrets and it was early in my career; I have become a better fighter because of it”

Since that learning curve he’s become a road warrior plying his trade in Spain in 2002 because of Economic reason’s. He also took his skills to England where he won 3 consecutive fights in 2003/04. Finally he caught the eye of someone in America, a certain Lou DiBella brought Martinez box of tricks to America in 2007 and fought him 3 times the first being a WBC Light Middleweight eliminator.

It didn’t help that Oscar De La Hoya fought Floyd Mayweather in a mega money fight meaning an unknown like Martinez had no chance of fighting the winner, even when Mayweather was victorious and handed the trinket back leaving Vernon Forrest to pick up the reigns and become 154 champ. Forrest had no wish to fight Martinez either and took on Contender winner Sergio Mora splitting two bouts.

So it wasn’t until late 2008 when Martinez became the Interim champion. Last year he found himself in the unusual position of not winning either of his fights but still his profile was raised first he was held to a draw by Kermit Cintron in a fight pretty much everyone believes he won.

The normally passive Martinez says of the Cintron fight “the ruling was an embarrassment to boxing, first to cancel my KO in the 7th round and then giving me a draw”

Then he stepped up to Middleweight and fought Paul Williams after Kelly Pavlik was forced to pull out through injury. Once again many in attendance and at home thought Martinez had done enough but he lost an agonising majority decision.

One of the judges handed in a laughable 119-110 card for Williams. Martinez’s take on that fight “It was a close fight and we both wanted a victory that night but, I believe I was the better fighter that night. How can we forget that horrible judges score card (Mr. Benoist) giving me only one round the whole entire fight, WOW!! That was crazy”

When then Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams again struggled to work out a deal for them to fight. Martinez on the strength of his Spartan showing in his two previous fights both on HBO was awarded a shot at Pavlik. When the fight started Martinez lateral movement was to much for Pavlik and Martinez opened up a sizeable lead over the first half of the fight until Pavlik re-adjusted and got himself back in the fight until a cut switched the advantage back to Martinez who closed the show and this time wasn’t to be denied.

Since then Martinez has been busy raising his profile attending the Mayweather-Mosley fight, heading to Canastota for the Hall of Fame induction’s & even travelling to Cardiff in Britain to attend the Night of Champions where he was one of the show piece champions.

Maravilla who lists Carlos Monzon as one of his favourite fighters but is too humble to want to be compared to Argentina’s finest will be back in action on 20 November when he faces Paul Williams in a highly anticipated rematch again in Atlantic City, NJ at the Boardwalk. If he can gain a measure of revenge by beating Williams his star will have ascended to such a height that he’ll be favourite to be named Fighter of the year. That’s quite a long way for a guy who didn’t even get into Boxing until he was 20.

In the talent Laden Light Welterweight division arguably the most exciting fighter is Marcos Maidana. Maidana is a force of nature who hits every inch of his 140 pounds, posts a vaunted 93% kayo ratio. “El Chino” sprang to prominence going 25-0(24) before he fought the more technically sound Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA 140 title losing a razor close split decision.

He was then selected to come to America where rising Victor Ortiz was expected to feast on his Argentinean foe. The kamikaze battle not to dissimilar to Naseem Hamed-Kevin Kelley saw both hit the canvas multiple times before Ortiz retired in the sixth round, really catapulting Maidana into the top end of the Light Welterweight division.

He has since stayed busy with two fights including one in Las Vegas where he battered previously unbeaten Victor Cayo into submission. Over the past few months Maidana has been injured forcing the cancellation of a fight with Tim Bradley. A fall fight beckons with Amir Khan on 11 December in Las Vegas on HBO.

It would be fair to expect anyone who has been a world champion for nearly 10 years and made nearly 20 defence’s to be some what well known amongst the fight fraternity even if the guy plys his trade at 112. That’s not the case with Omar Narvaez though. He has impressive numbers he’s 32-0-2(19), he’s a two weight champion making 16 defence’s of his WBO Flyweight title until he stepped up to Super Flyweight this year where he won a second crown. He’s also represented his country at two Olympics, during his amateur days.

However the problem with Narvaez is that in a division largely dominated by Asian fighters he’s struggled mercilessly to find an opponent who could bring out the most in his undoubted skills. When asked why he hadn’t fought some of the top guys he reason’s “I never received offers to fight with the best and I hope I will fight with them one day”

It was mentioned several years ago that Narveaz may meet Vic Darchinyan on Showtime however Narveaz didn’t see it that way telling 15rounds.com ” About Darchinyan I never received a serious proposal, all it was a supposed fight but it never came up to nothing.”

We can only hope that sooner rather than later Narvaez is given the chance to fight some of the top guys in and around his weight class.

Hailing from a Boxing family Lucas Matthysse 27-0(25) 1 no contest has always been involved in Boxing, his elder brother Walter actually fought twice in America against Paul Williams & Kermit Cintron without much joy.

It’s something Lucas will hope to better, he has already fought in America twice making quite a splash on the eve of De La Hoya-Mayweather in 2008 when he showed off his impressive power vaporising Ramon Duran in one round. Three months later he was invited back but this time his fight ended unsatisfactorily when Rogelio Casteneda Jr was cut and the fight was called off thus rending it a no contest.

Since then he has gone 5-0, he stopped Vivian Harris in 4 the stoppage appeared pretty quick and Matthysse initially declined a rematch but since then he has retracted that statement “I believe that I was going to knockout Vivian. I don’t have any problem in giving him the rematch”.

Having gone back over old ground obliterating Casteneda in a rematch he has been handed a the biggest fight of his career when he travels to Newark, NJ on 6 November to fight Zab Judah in an intriguing battle of two big punchers. The winner will fight Kaiser Mabuza likely in the first quarter of 2011 for the vacant IBF title.

Also worth mentioning is Sebastian Lujan at Welterweight, the 30 year old from Rosario hasn’t lost at 147 in five years is currently 35-5-2(22). He has been forced to leave his the more comfy confines of Welterweight to briefly try his hand at Light Middleweight where he lost in a title fight to Sergei Dzindziruk & Jamie Moore.

Once he realised his best work couldn’t be achieved at 154 and got back to his more natural Welterweight. He has got some good names on his record beating then unbeaten Robert Reuque KO9, Walter Matthysse KO5, Luis Castillo PTS10. You probably remember Lujan best for his spirited challenge to Antonio Margarito which was stopped after he suffered a horrific cut to his ear in 2005. Lujan was in the running for a shot at Berto but nothing came of that. He’s world ranked by WBC 6, WBA 11, IBF 10.

Luis Abregu got his big chance when he fought Tim Bradley on HBO back in July however he lost his unbeaten record but will of learnt more from that fight than any other. “El Potro” turns 28 in December and it seems he can rebound and build on the Bradley loss and come again.

Though he looks destined to be one of those fighters who is capable of beating most fighters just not the very best. I would expect him to to get back to work probably in his homeland before his American promoter the influential Gary Shaw brings him back to America. With his power 23 stoppages in 29 wins against just the Bradley reverse you never know.

He owns solid wins over Roberto Reuque KO3, since coming to America he’s not had it all his own way winning a split decision over David Estrada, a wild four round stoppage over fringe contender Irving Garcia which saw both men touch down. Prior to the Bradley fight he bested Richard Gutierrez over ten rounds, again in both men were again on the canvas.

All things considered Abregu is a very entertaining TV fighter because of his all action style, he’s equally likely to be dropped himself as he is to do it to his opponent. However anyone who has struggles with Estrada, Garcia & Gutierrez isn’t likely to become a world champion in the talent laden 147 weight class.

A pro since 1996 Luis Alberto Lazarte seemed destined to finish his career as a nearly man. He’d fought for World titles on five occasions from Strawweight up to Flyweight and always come up short.

When asked about fighting at 39 he offers “I know I am not a young but I am always in good shape and I love training, so I will keep boxing until I feel I can’t anymore” and currently he’s in the form of his life.

Back in May Lazarte’s people brought Carlos Tamara the IBF Light Flyweight champion over to Argentina. It was the last throw of the dice, surely he’d never get another shot. Low and behold the the old war horse stunned the much younger Tamara and collected the world title in a close some would say controversial manner. It’s hard not to feel Lazarte 48-9-1(18) finally had lady luck on his side having lost a split & majority decision in previous attempts.

Four of the nine loses hung on his record are because of disqualification, when questioned for the reasoning behind that he said ” The fights I lost by disqualification were because I used to get nervous very often but now I have learned that lesson”

His first defence was against Nerys Espinoza again Lazarte with new found confidence kept hold of the crown with a unanimous decision.

Recently it was announced that he will make his second defence against former champion Ulises Solis on 18 December. It would be considered despite home field advantage a huge upset if he can turn back the challenge of Solis.

“El Mosquito” is an incredibly humble fighter who despite his Boxing career works a day job as a Road Sweeper on the streets of Buenos Aires.

Interestingly for a man who shared the ring with Pongsaklek Wongjongkam & Omar Narvaez two long reigning Flyweight champions when asked about who the best fighter he has fought is he added ” 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”

Juan Carlos Reveco wasted little time having gone pro in April 2004 he became WBA Light Flyweight champion in a shade over 3 years. After one defence he lost to talented Brahim Asloum in what was a close fight, though we don’t like to think it, home field advantage plays a significant part. Also factor in Asloum the local star having won France first Boxing medal in 64 years at the Olympics in 2000 and you can imagine Reveco had to win and win well to keep his title.

Not perturbed he won two fights before beating granite chinned Francisco Rosas for the Interim version of the WBA 108 crown making two defences both impressively inside the distance. He was due to fight Nicaraguan Roman Gonzalez in Japan on 23 October but was forced to pull out through injury. It would seem highly likely that the fight with Gonzalez will be rescheduled when Raveco is fit & healthy.

He may be at the veteran’s stage of his career but Jorge “La Hiena” Barrios is still a tough nights work for anyone. You only need to look at his 56 fight record 50 wins, 35 KO’s, 4 loses, 1 draw & one no contest to to realise that at 34 years old on the back of a 14 year pro career that only the best beat him.

First of all he lost a disqualification to Cesar Domine way back in 1997, he quickly wrote that wrong what he stopped him in a straight rematch two months later. He never lost again until 2003 when he got his long awaited title shot losing a savage war to WBA/WBO kingpin Acelino Freitus via eleventh round KO with the fight poised on the score cards with each man up on one card and the third a draw. Both men had been down twice each in the fight.

He would reign as WBO Super Featherweight champion when he beat Mike Anchondo before making two defence’s. Barrios was to lose the title to skilled Joan Guzman in a keenly fought fight on a split decision. After two years out with only one fight Barrios then travelled to Houston to fight tough Texan Rocky Juarez who after a slow start came on strong late to force the stoppage of “La Hiena” who suffered from a vicious laceration on the side of his mouth.

It was nearly a year since Barrios last fought due to problems outside of the ring but he returned to outpoint Wilson Alcorro in October that has set up a fight with ring legend Erik Morales at 138 pounds on 18 December in Morales hometown of Tijuana.

Fernando “El Vasco” Saucedo will look to do the near impossible when he heads to Indonesia to face local hero Chris John for something called the WBA “Super” World Featherweight title. It’s not that Saucedo 29, isn’t any good it’s just when you look at his record 38-4-3(1) you realise that Saucedo who was going to have a tough time leaving Jakarta with the title anyway faces that daunting task without any sort of knock out punch.

To his credit and countless rounds of practice, 279 to be exact Saucedo has managed to perform very well winning the Argentinean Lightweight title & the South American Featherweight championship. Of late he has taken to fighting shorter distance fights presumably because he knew no matter how long the fight was scheduled for he wasn’t going to get the KO

Featherweight Jonathan “Yoni” Barros proved his metal in March when he went the distance with the explosive Yuriorkis Gamboa. It was to be the first defeat of his career from which he probably learnt more than from the previous 28 victory’s. To his credit he has fought twice since winning both taking his record to 30-1-1(17) putting him in line to face Panamanian Irving Berry on 4 December for the vacant WBA title in Barros home town of Mendoza. If he can snear the title that will surely lead to further big pay days against the divisions elite.

Further down the scale and at the beginning of there professional career’s there are a few noteworthy pugilists who will do the rounds in one of the toughest if not the toughest circuits in world Boxing until they possible graduate to world level.

Ezequiel Maderna 24, fought at the 2008 Olympics where he was Argentina’s sole reprehensive has quickly moved to 11-0(8) fighting at Light Heavyweight.

Highly thought of Welterweight Diego Chaves has been a pro for just over two years, he’s only 24, has already fought over 12 rounds & fought in America on the Maidana-Cayo card in March and boasts an impressive 15-0(12).

Southpaw Featherweight Jesus Cuellar is another that has his plaudits going 13-0(10), he turns 24 in December and is currently fighting his way through tough journeyman like 29 fight veteran Claudio Tapia 16-9-4(3) notably becoming the first person to stop Tapia. Next came Miguel Caceres 20-22-4(5) only being stopped in once previously, Cuellar won a comfortable decision though.

At Super Bantamweight Maximiliano Marquez 10-0(5) warrants a mention, though isn’t as advanced as some of the others mentioned. His next fight on the undercard of Diego Chaves 30 October though still a 6 rounder will be a marked step up when he faces off with tough as nails Diego Loto 11-18-4(2) though Loto has never been stopped.

Diego Santillan at 23 seems to be a useful puncher 9-0(8) but will be a few years off any kind of fight. Until then expect him to stay busy against the usual list of Argentina hard men whilst looking to make an impression on the money men in America that could bring him over for money fights. However fighting at Bantamweight that will be tough.

To surplant those guys the next batch of talent are still in the amateurs it may be worth keeping an eye on Fabian Maidana (I wasn’t able to find out if he was related to Marcos) he won Silver at this years World Youth championships and fights at 64Kg(Light Welterweight). Brian Castano at 69kg (Welterweight), Gumersindo Carrasco Herrera at 64Kg, at 57Kg (Featherweight) Ignacio Perrin, at 54Kg (Bantamweight) Marcos Cabral, 51 Kg (Flyweight)Fernando Martinez & Junior Zarate 48Kg (Light Flyweight).

Superstar Manny Pacquiao shadow boxes during a packed media day at the Wildcard Boxing Club in Los Angeles Wednesday. Pacquiao takes on three-time world champion Antonio Margarito on November 13, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,Texas. Pacquiao vs Margarito is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Cowboys Stadium. The Pacquiao vs Margarito telecast will be available live on HBO Pay Per View

Photos by Chris Farina . Top Rank

Miami Mayor Thomas Regalado welcomed Don King today to announce the WBC Heavyweight title elimination bout December 17th at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. 2004 Olympic gold medalist and undefeated Odlanier “La Sombra” Solis (16-0, 12 KOs), who is ranked #2 in the WBC, will be facing WBC No. 1 ranked Ray “The Rainman” Austin (28-4-4, 18 KOs) with the winner earning the right to face Vitali Klitschko for the WBC title. Solis had this to say, “This match is the key we have been missing, the chance to fight for the heavyweight championship. This is what I have been dreaming and working toward since I first picked up a pair of boxing gloves. And Austin came back with, “I feel blessed to be in this position. I’m bringing the rain and you know what comes with that: the pain.”

IBF Light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud (21-0, 18 KOs) will be facing hard hitting Colombian fighter Fulgencio Zuniga (24-4-1, 21 KOs). Cloud is coming off of a very close hard fought decision win over former fighter of the year Glen Johnson. Cloud stated, “This is going to be a great fight and a great event. I know Zuniga is a puncher, and I am taking him very seriously. After I’m done with him—which I will do—I’ve got some bigger fish to fry.”

Heavyweight Contender Mike Marrone 19-1 (14KO) will be facing Darrel Madison 15-1(4KO). He was quoted saying, “My trainer Eddie Chambers and I are going to do great things. Vero Beach [Florida] is behind me. Darrel Madison is a good heavyweight like me. His nickname is “King David.” What I want him to know is we are developing the best jab in boxing. When we are done with him, his new nickname will be “Burger King.”

Former three-time world champion Ricardo Mayorga will also be in action with an opponent to be named. “I want people to believe in me again. I have a hunger to be world champion again. I expect to win on Dec. 17.” Said Mayorga.

WBA Cruiserweight Champion Guillermo Jones 37-3 (29K0) will be defending his title against DaVarryl Williamson 26-6(22KO).

Also on the card will be undefeated lightweight contender from Cuba Angelo Santana, 9-0(6KO), undefeated Turkish welterweight Selcuk “Little Tyson” Aydin 20-0(15KO) and heavyweight Bermane Stiverne, 18-1(17KO) and a possible female fight.

Minneapolis, MN- Two Minnesota pugilists who have never been shy to accept a challenge will square off in a Minneapolis vs. St. Paul rematch December 18, when Phil Williams takes on Matt Vanda at Target Center. The card will bring boxing back to Target Center with an exciting line up of other in-state grudge matches, pitting Minneapolis area fighters with St. Paul area fighters.

While Vanda picked up a split decision victory over Williams last November, “The Drill” vows to be better prepared, and far more active in his second opportunity.

“I’m not going to really comment on how I plan on doing it, but I’m going to do a lot of things differently. I feel like I’m going to make the most of the opportunity, and get the win this time around.” Williams said.

The heavily publicized first meeting between Williams and Vanda was Minnesota’s highest grossing boxing event in 2009, and was viewed throughout the region on Fox Sports North.

Vanda made headlines last week, publicly announcing his desire to take on middleweight prospect Caleb Truax. While Truax’s team has shown little interest over the past six months in a rematch with Phil Williams, an offer was made to Vanda and Truax earlier this month to meet December 18th. Reports say that Vanda accepted terms while Truax turned the in-state grudge match down.

“I’m excited to take on the best in order to become the best around here. I’m not going to try to duck or dodge my way to the top. I’ve wanted this rematch for a while, and I’m ready to get in with Truax again too whenever they’re ready.” Williams commented on the Minnesota middleweight scene.

The North Minneapolis native, Williams, made his last ring appearance in April when he battled the undefeated Truax to a ten round draw. Vanda will take on fellow veteran Ossie Duran on November 12th prior to starting camp for Williams.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 27, 2010)—USBA Jr. Middleweight champion, Derek “Pooh” Ennis feels it’s his time as he has earned his way for a shot at newly crowned IBF champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage.

Ennis of Philadelphia has a record of 22-2-1 with thirteen knockouts is riding a ten fight winning streak which includes his USBA title winning effort over Eromosele Albert and thrilling title defense over Gabriel Rosado and has his sights set on Bundrage.

“It’s time to take that next step for “Pooh””, said Ennis promoter Mike Fingerman who is the CEO of Fingerman Promotions.

“This has been a long process for us and Derek has done all the right things and defeated a lot of quality guys to get him prepared for a potential fight with Bundrage.”

“I am ready to fight Bundarge”, said Ennis

“My time is now and with my team that is around me, I know I can beat this guy. I have been training harder knowing that this opportunity is getting closer every day. “

“Derek has been very focused and he wants to fight for a champions and we will keep making noise and hopefully we will get our shot very soon”, said manager Moz Gonzalez

“We are ready to fight Bundrage now. He has been working very hard and we are waiting for our shot. If Bundrage is looking for the best fight, “Pooh” is the best fight out there for him”, said trainer Derrick “Bozy” Ennis

Ennis, who is ranked number-ten by the IBF is promoted by Fingerman, co-managed by Moz Gonzalez & Eddie Woods and trained by his father and former pro fighter, Derrick “Bozy” Ennis

Admittedly, I am a sucker for documentaries. The past year alone, I’ve watched documentaries on crossword puzzles, mayoral elections, and the corruption that exists in America’s beer industry. In truth, there aren’t many documentaries I pass up on.

And so — predictably — on Saturday night I found myself racing home from Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center, where I had witnessed the Buffalo Sabres romp the New Jersey Devils, to arrive just in time to plop myself in front of my 52” Samsung TV and enjoy the first installment of “HBO’s 24/7 — Pacquiao-Margarito.”

This particular installment of the award winning series opened up with a storyline that boxing fans have become very familiar with: How will Team Pacquiao overcome all the distractions that distractions in the Pacquiao camp?

At times — such as in the “24/7” series leading up to the Miguel Cotto fight, the distractions in the Pacquiao camp centered around internal conflict (Michael Koncz vs. Alex Ariza) or the fact that Manny shares a house in L.A. with ten-plus friends.

While there still may be an internal conflict on the brink, or a distraction with regards to Pacman’s posse, so far this installment focused on Manny’s new job as a Filipino congressman. Further, Freddie Roach expressed his desire to head back to the Wildcard Gym and leave the Philippines where he feels there are too many distractions.

Fool me once, shame on you…fool me twice…well, you know the rest.

There will always be “distractions” in the Pacquiao camp; it comes with the territory. I’m not buying into the “distraction” storyline this time — no matter the origin. Pacquiao always has something going on — whether it is politics, music, basketball, or boxing.

He likes to keep himself busy, it’s as simple as that. If you’ll allow me to steal a line from modern-day baseball vocabulary, it’s just “Manny being Manny.”

On the flip side, after detailing the handwrap incident with Margarito, the glimpse into the Tijuana Tornado’s camp leads viewers to believe that everything is on-point. With the likable Robert Garcia running the show in Oxnard, Margarito looks to be in great shape, and is on pace to make weight with ease.

But no matter what storyline HBO throws at me, I won’t be had again. Pacquiao is the superior fighter and for good reason, is a 5:1 favorite. I embarrassingly allowed myself to believe Cotto would give Manny all he could handle, and I’m pretty sure “24/7” played an important role in shaping my thoughts. Never again.

I’m not going along for the ride this time and no storyline can convince me that Margarito will be victorious on the Nov. 13.

But as Bart Barry pointed out in his Monday column, “24/7” isn’t for me, it’s for the casual fans.

So with that said, it doesn’t matter if this “24/7” seems like a rerun to me, it was meant for someone else. Plus, I’m a sucker for anything documentary-esque, so I’ll be watching anyway.

What’s most important is that the casual fans buy into this installment of “24/7” hook, line, and sinker. “24/7” continually sparks an audible fistic dialogue amongst casual boxing fans — a dialogue that has been reduced to a whisper in recent years.

Perhaps this is the perfect time for casual fans to get their boxing fix. Just maybe the boxing ball will still roll beyond Nov. 13 and even pick up steam when Sergio Martinez takes on Paul Williams the following Saturday and Juan Manuel Marquez squares off with Michael Katsidis the Saturday after that.

I expect the casual fans to buy into this installment of “24/7” and hope the PPV numbers reflect their excitement. As for hoping that their excitement stretches beyond Nov. 13., well, that’s just wishful thinking.