Las Vegas, NV – WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Beibut Shumenov (9-1, 6 KOs) has put the final touches on his last workout in Las Vegas, Nevada before he makes his way to the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino. The history-making WBA Light Heavyweight Champion will arrive in Lemoore, California later this evening where he will defend his WBA and IBA titles in a bout against mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Uzelkov (22-0, 14 KOs) of Vinitza, Ukraine, this Friday, July 23rd in the scheduled 12-round main event of the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights (10pm ET/7pm PT).

Presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions association with KZ Event Productions, the Shumenov-Uzelkov headlined boxing card will emanate from a specially constructed outdoor arena at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California.

Tickets for this exciting event are priced at: $20, $50, $60 and $250 and can be purchased by calling the Tachi Palace box office at 559-924-7751 or by visiting www.tickets.com.

Photo by Cary Redlin/KZ Event Productions

No news is good news. At least that has been the case for the last year and a half with regards to a possible Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather superfight.

Last Friday, Top Rank boss Bob Arum held a conference call to update boxing aficionados on the latest happenings in the sorry attempt to put together the one fight that all boxing fans are dying to see.

As the story goes, Arum had set a deadline for Mayweather’s camp to get in touch with Top Rank and HBO get the ball rolling. The deadline put in place by Arum was Friday at midnight, Pacific Daylight Time.

The international conference call played host to journalists from all around the globe. Some woke up early or stayed up late, while others abandoned their daily routines and responsibilities all to call in and hear what Top Rank’s grill master had to say.

Further, Top Rank, along with other various media outlets, allowed for a live-streaming of the call on their websites giving boxing fans worldwide access to the call.

Unfortunately for all who possessed even the tiniest bit of hope that Arum would talk about progress, he filled the airwaves and telephone lines with disappointment almost immediately. Arum confirmed that he had yet to hear anything from Money May’s camp. As the deadline came and went, Mayweather and his team stayed silent.

But just when you thought all hope was lost, Arum dangled yet another carrot in front of boxing fan’s faces.

“People have asked me as well as others at Top Rank, does that mean the Mayweather fight is dead?” Arum said. “Even though Mayweather has not responded by the deadline, the deal is dead when we reach a deal with an opponent for Manny’s fight in November.”

To quote Jim Carrey in the 1994 film “Dumb & Dumber”: “Soooooo, you’re telling me there’s a chance!?”

Friday at midnight — on the west coast — marked the time when Arum stopped exclusivity with the Mayweather camp and announced his intentions to explore other options for Pacquiao.

Arum went on to declare that he is turning his attention to making a possible fight with the “Tijuana Tornado”, Antonio Margarito, or a possible rematch with newly crowned WBA Junior Middleweight champion, Miguel Cotto.

Needless to say, neither is remotely as appealing as a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout.

There is little intriguing about a rematch with Cotto, who Pacquiao thoroughly dissected just some seven-plus months ago.

If he were to fight Margarito, who is currently not licensed in Nevada after the infamous hand-wrap scandal, Arum said the fight would most likely take place in Monterrey, Mexico.

For some reason, I don’t see that happening. The number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, traveling into another fighter’s backyard — potentially a hostile environment — where Mexican fans would be rampant in their support of their native fighter.

After Arum acknowledged his intentions to inquire about matching Pacquiao with either Margarito or Cotto, he speculated about the possible reasons Mayweather had stayed silent as the deadline passed.

“One of the reasons could be the uncertainty regarding Roger Mayweather and for people that don’t know, Roger Mayweather is scheduled for court in Nevada regarding criminal charges,” Arum said. “Now I know how Manny would feel if he had to go into a fight like this without the services of Freddie Roach and presumably Floyd would feel the same way going into a fight like this without the services of his uncle Roger who has been training him for a number of years.”

Two days later, the Mayweather camp finally released a statement via Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions.

“Here are the facts. Al Haymon [Mayweather’s manager], Richard Schaefer [CEO of Golden Boy Promotions] and myself speak to each other on a regular basis, and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place, nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13. Either Ross Greenburg [President of HBO Sports] or Bob Arum is not telling the truth, but history tells us who is lying.”

After Arum read the statement, he responded by sticking to his guns, saying Greenburg told him he was active in talks with Haymon, who was relaying messages back and forth to and from Mayweather.

The he-said, she-said all sounds like a childish game of ‘telephone’ — rather than grown men, heads of companies negotiating what could amount to the most prosperous fight in boxing history.

Whatever it is — lack of communication or lies, it all amounts to negativity.

Enough is enough.

No more chasing the elusive carrot.

Arum, Ellerbe, Greenburg, or anyone else involved in the attempt to make this fight a reality should stay silent until legitimate progress is made.

Top Rank has a great stable of fighters and its upcoming bouts should be the focus of Arum’s dialogue, not the constant letdowns that seem to come with the Pacquiao-Mayweather negotiations — whether it be the fault of Team Mayweather or not.

No more conference calls to report disappointing news.

No more public cheap shots at Mayweather or Pacquiao and their teams. There is enough blame to go around for everyone.

Holding an international conference call and inviting the entire boxing world to listen in to disappointing news fails to positively serve the sport of boxing.

Next time there is disheartening news to report, save your breath and let us all move on from what could have been.

And on that note, if the next news out of the Top Rank camp does in fact have to do with a Pacquiao-Margarito bout, or Pacquiao-Cotto rematch, you can stay silent about that too.

Kyle Kinder can be reached at Twitter.com/KyleKinder

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Ocean City, MD (July 20) – Middleweight boxing contender Jesse “The Beast” Nicklow will step out of the ring and into the octagon for a second consecutive time July 31 when he battles Matthew Dean in the main event of “Cage Time 3” from the Ocean City Convention Center.

Nicklow, who has an outstanding 20-2-2 record inside the squared circle, created a major buzz in his pro mixed martial arts debut, TKO’ing Jacob Estep via ground and pound. The Baltimore native is known as terrific striker with a solid wrestling pedigree.

Dean, 0-1, of Knoxville PA, is a BJJ specialist confident of his ability to pull off the upset.

The co-featured bout pits entertaining light heavyweight Kevin “Cowboy” Killian (1-0) of Ocean City, MD against Canada’s Andrew Craig.

Killian, a Purple Belt in BJJ and Judo Master, participated in the Ultimate Fighter trials before falling short of making it onto national airwaves. The wildly popular Killian entered the professional ranks in style last month, choking out Ray Elliot to a rousing applause from those in attendance.

Local favorites Jeremy Miller and Steven Baker will appear in separate bouts, while Pikesville’s Rich Langley and Ocean City’s Ruben Martinez battle it out for Free State bragging rights.

“July 31 is going to be a special night for fight fans and the Ocean City community,” said Promoter Jake Smith. “There is a lot of talent on this card and every fight has the makings to produce fireworks.”

Tickets starting at $15 are available by calling 1-800-626-2326 or logging onto ticketmaster.com. The Ocean City Convention Center is located at 4001 Costal Highway in Ocean City, MD.

All bouts are scheduled for three five minute rounds and the card is being promoted by Cage Time MMA. Steve Evans is the matchmaker.

Since their inception in April 2010, Cage Time MMA’s world class entertainment has received critical acclaim from both fans and nationally accredited media. Cage Time MMA Promoter Jake “The Snake” Smith has also put on successful boxing cards during the last six years.

PHILADELPHIA (July 20, 2010)- It will be a “Massacre” on Friday night August 13th at The Arena in Philadelphia as Blaine Garner’s Shalyte Promotions in association with SAM Promotions presents an outstanding night of boxing that will feature not one but two main events.

In one main event, immensely popular Lightweight, Victor Vasquez will take on Travis “The Animal” Thompson in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

In a second main event, undefeated Featherweight prospect, Coy “Pretty Boy” Evans will take on an opponent to be named in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

Vasquez of Philadelphia has a record of 11-4-1 with six knockouts and is known for exciting style.

Vasquez is sort of the “Blood and Guts” champion of Philadelphia as he has a rabid fan following who support him win, lose or draw.

Vasquez won seven of his first eight fights and started to get recognized as one of the top prospects in Philadelphia. He then dropped two of three as the losses were memorable wars to Ryan Belasco and undefeated Rod Salka (6-0).

Vasquez rebounded to win three straight, which included a solid six round unanimous decision to Tyric Robinson.

In his last two bouts, Vasquez lost a debatable split decision to upset specialist Carlos Vinan and in his most recent appearance he and fellow Philly Fighter Paul Fernandez fought to a draw in a bout that Vasquez fought with a bad cut for basically the entire fight.

This will be Vasquez tenth appearance at The Arena (formally The New Alhambra) and as compiled a record of 6-2-1 in the building.

Thompson of Pottstown, PA has a record of 3-7-1 with two knockouts.

Thompson has been put in very tough and has a come forward style and usually makes for very fan friendly fights.

In his last outing, Thompson was stopped by undefeated Van Oscar Penovaroff in three rounds on May 22nd in Reading, PA.

Evans of Philadelphia is one of the brightest prospects in Philadelphia as he is undefeated with a record that reads 9-0-1 with two knockouts.

After not scoring a knockout in his first six bouts, Evans has starched two of his last four fighters.

Despite only having ten bouts, Evans has already faced veterans such as Carlos Diaz (35 fights); Vineash Rungea (19 Fights); Rober DaLuz (39 fights); Morris Chule (23 Fights) and in his last outing, Evans scored a six round unanimous decision over thirty-two fight veteran Barbaro Zepeda on June 4th at The Legendary Blue Horizon.

Evans opponent will be named shortly.

In a four round Middleweight bout, Derrick Webster (5-0, 4 KO’s) of Glassboro, NJ will take on Edward Lucas (1-0, 1 KO) of Dermott, Arkansas in a battle of undefeated fighters.

Popular and undefeated Lightweight, Angel Ocasio (2-0) of Philadelphia will see action in a four round bout against an opponent to be named.

Undefeated Super Featherweight, Keenan Smith (2-0) of Philadelphia will battle Andrew Barnes (0-5) of Wilson, NC in a bout scheduled for four rounds.

Popular Tommie “Big Poppa” Speller (5-4, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Dominique Azeez (3-22, 3 KO’s) of Pine Bluff, ARK in a middleweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

Derrick Bivins (1-0-1) of Philadelphia will take on Hugh Hunds (0-1) of Washington, DC in a four round Super Featherweight bout.

Undefeated Jackie Davis (4-0, 1 KO) will take on Lucretia Meacham (0-3) of Pine Bluff, Ark In a ladies four round Welterweight bout.

Tickets for this great evening of boxing can be purchased for $75 (VIP); $65 (Ringside) and $50 (General Admission) by calling the following the Locals:

Muhammad Ali Boxing Gym—267-979-2163 or 215 876 7741
Shalyte Promotions—302-333-0135
The Arena—267-687-7560

The Arena is located at 7 West Ritner Street (Corner of Swanson & Ritner)

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former Cuban amateur standout and undefeated Bantamweight Guillermo Rigondeaux has signed a promotional deal with Top Rank and will be trained by Rinnie Shields.

“We finally got it finished,” Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “It had gotten bogged down over some details but finally everybody has signed off on it. No more legal problems over this right or that right.”

“The kid was the greatest amateur fighter ever and fits in with all these great featherweights,” Arum said. “A guy like that could fight for a title by his 10th fight. In less than a year, he could be in a big event. I saw him in the gym and he’s one of these terrific-trained Cuban fighters, well-schooled, and he technically is better than Gamboa. I don’t know if he punches as hard, but he’s a marvelous prospect. He’s certainly a lot better than a lot of our American kids.”

“It became obvious that the Arum deal was the best deal,” Said Pat English, who is the attorney for Gary Hyde who is Rigodeaux’s manager. “Arum believed he could reach a deal with the DeCubas group, so then people had to work to get a deal that was acceptable to everybody. It’s a deal that is expected to advance Mr. Rigondeaux’s career substantially and quickly.”

“One of the attractive things is that he can fight from 118 pounds to 122 and can easily move up to 126, which opens up tons of potential fights. He just fits in,” Said Carl Moretti of Top Rank. “So we’re bringing in a guy who the TV networks like, who clearly can fight and doesn’t need a lot of development. One or two fights and you put him into the mix and see where it shakes out.”

“We found him an apartment and we’re going to put a lease on it and he should be here by Wednesday,” said Shields, who also trains junior middleweight prospect Erislandy Lara.

“This kid is a really good fighter,” Shields said. “He can fight. I’m trying to get everything situated so when he gets here everything will be set. I looked at some tape of him and went over a few fights and, just looking at him, I know what his style is. He’s a southpaw, but I worked with Pernell, who was also a southpaw. I don’t have any trouble training southpaws. I know what they like to do and what they don’t like to do. [Rigondeaux] is 29 years old, and with as many amateur fights as he has had, it’s like he’s been a professional for a long time. He’s ready to go. He knows how to fight.”

The World Boxing Council will be heading to the capital of Wales, Cardiff at the end of July. Cardiff will be hosting the WBC Night of the Champions a 3 day event that the WBC hope will break the world record for most past or present World champions under one roof at the same time. So far over 80 have confirmed there attendance including Roberto Duran, Vitali Klitschko, Azumah Nelson, Miguel Cotto, Ken Buchanan, Joe Calzaghe & Nigel Benn.

The event kicks off on Thursday 29 July at the Cardiff International Arena where the movie premier of Risen will air. The motion picture is of former Welsh World Champion Howard Winstone. It shows how Winstone over came adversity rising to become Featherweight World Champion. The cast contains around 15 former World champions, notably Erik Morales, John H Stracey & Tim Witherspoon.

Tickets are priced at £20 whilst the V.I.P section will be £125 which includes access to a private function room with food and beverage’s provided with various champions in attendance. Doors open at 6.30pm.

You can view the movie trailer on the link provided http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzmcE7QnJtU&feature=player_embedded

The second day of the event will see a night of Amateur boxing with Team GB against a Rest of the World team. It is widely thought that this will pit some of Britain’s 2012 hopeful’s against some of the best amateurs from around the world at the moment. It promises to be a real showcase for the potential stars of tomorrow.

Tickets are available from £25 (Second Tier), £30 (First Tier), £40 (Floor), £50 (Second Ringside) & £100 (Ringside) also again hospitality boxes can be provided. Doors open at 6pm with the first bell at 7pm.

Finally on Saturday 31 July the WBC host the prestigious The Night of Champions Gala Awards Dinner. It is hoped that over a hundred past or present World Champions will be in attendance for the show piece event. It promises to be a once in a life time chance to meet and greet many of the very best fighters though out Boxing history.

Tickets for this are £250 per person and the doors open at 6pm.

The WBC will also be helping several charities including The Noah’s Ark appeal which supports children’s hospitals in Wales.

World Boxing cares which is a non profit organisation which the WBC set up at the last Night of Champions convention in Cancun, Mexico in 2006. They send it’s fighters to Youth centre’s, hospitals and orphanages where they make a donation. It is thought that the Champions help bring hope and inspiration to the children and their family’s in 163 countries.

WBC Sporting chance which is designed to support young people and help them with various schemes that will help them towards a better future.

Tickets can be purchased on +44 02920 224488 for all 3 days. Hospitality packages are available on +44 02920 234567

For the latest developments about the event you can visit http://wbcnightofchampions.com/

Any question’s or queries i can be contacted on elraincoat@live.co.uk

St. Paul, MN (July 19) – Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell waited four years to get another crack at Arron Lyons and knew he had to look sensational when the two met last Saturday at the St. Paul Armory in St. Paul, MN.

In 2006, Lyons shockingly TKO’ed Abell inside of one round when the latter was one of the hottest heavyweight prospects on the planet. Aside from scoring a jaw dropping stoppage, Lyons blatantly disrespected the Coon Rapids native during post fight interviews.

Lyons once again stepped into the ring with an array of confidence and little respect for his opponent. But this time around, Lyons couldn’t put his money where his mouth is.

Abell entered the squared circle in supreme condition and was in complete control from the opening bell. The hard hitting Abell tagged the Gulfport, MS based Lyons with peppering jabs and flush straight left hands during the first. The local favorite dominated the next two stanzas, fighting through desperate rough house tactics by Lyons, before silencing him up for good.

In the very next frame, Abell landed a hard right hand that opened a huge cut under Lyons’ left eye. The referee quickly took Lyons to the ringside physician, who ruled he could not continue. Abell was awarded a TKO 52 seconds into the fourth and ultimately had the last laugh.

“It was great to finally shut this guy up,” Abell said after the fight. “He was talking a lot of trash since he upset me a few years back, but now I think there is no doubt in anybody’s mind that his victory was a fluke.”

With the moral importance of defeating Lyons of the way, Promoter Tony Grygelko envisions big picture success for Abell.

“Joey has had some ups and downs but we are ready to take on any of the top heavyweight,” said Grygelko, a former prizefighter himself. “He is one of the hardest pound for pound punchers on the planet and is eager to prove that he can hang with the top flight fighters. All he needs is a fair opportunity.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBA Middleweight champion will take on Marco Antonio Rubio on September 4th in Cologne, Germany.

“We have negotiated with different fighters from overseas, but for some reason most of them asked for crazy money,” Sturm said. “I don’t know what they’re thinking. Here in Germany I got calls from fighters with decent records who wanted to fight me for free — just for the shot at the title.”

“I feel great at the moment,” he said. “I chose to take a break to spend some time with my wife and my newborn son. It was good not to think about boxing all the time and not to count the calories on every meal. Now I am all fired up to get back into the ring. I cannot wait for my comeback. I am even looking forward to the hard weeks of preparation and training camp, and I will prove that I got no ring rust whatsoever.”

Paulie Malignaggi is now a free agent after leaving the only promoter he has had during his professional career after buying himself out his contract with Lou DiBella confirmed Dan Rafael of espn.com

The buyout fee was $75,000 said sources.

“It was a good run,” said Malignaggi, who is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss to junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan on May 15. “I’ve had my ups and downs with [DiBella Entertainment] but in the end you want to finish your relationship having made money and I did that. No hard feelings. There were some things we disagreed on, so it’s probably better to part amicably so the relationship remains. If we remained together, we’d probably end up hating each other and neither of us wanted that. So the best thing to do is part ways and remains friends. But it’s not like I’m just walking away. I’m paying $75,000 to get out of the deal. I think it’s the best-case scenario for both parties.”

Said DiBella, “When I met Paulie he was a 19-year-old kid. Now he’s [close to being] a 30-year-old man. So there’s a different dynamic, like in a family almost. I guess he feels it’s time to take it in another direction. I can respect that.”

“Paulie wants to be the master of his own boxing career and we worked out an amicable split,” DiBella said. “I’ve been approached by promoters for fights for Paulie and I am noting those inquiries and will forward them to his camp. This split is totally amicable. I love that kid. We had a great 10-year run. Sometimes it’s a good time to end a business relationship with somebody and it’s time for them to start fresh with no hurt feelings or bad feelings on either side. It’s the end of the business relationship, but not the end of our relationship.

“We had a lot of fun together and we’ve been very close. It’s not the kind of situation where you want to see it end and blow up in bad feelings. So we got something done with the settlement and called it a day.”

“I think I still have a lot of options,” Malignaggi said. “I’m not going to buy out my contract and not fight. The intention is to fight. I’m taking a chance because I am probably not going to make $75,000 in my next one or two fights. But to get this release, it was a risk I was willing to take. We’ll see where it goes. But so we remain on friendly terms, this was the best way to go.”

“I’ll try to pursue the European market,” said Malignaggi, adding that he hopes to fight there before the end of the year. “On this side of the pond there are a lot of people who think Paulie has seen better days and I want to avoid being an opponent. Over in Europe it will be different and fresh. I still like the rush of fighting and it’s something I won’t always have the option to do. So while I can still pursue this, I will.

“I don’t have a new promoter yet, but I will weigh my options. I’ll be a free agent see what the best-case scenario is. I’m not looking to be an opponent and have a promoter match me with their up-and-coming star. Ultimately, this is a business and there is still some money to be made.”

“To win a European title would mean a lot to me,” Malignaggi said.

“If he wants honest advice from me, he knows my phone lines are always open to him,” DiBella said. “He and I are ending this business relationship as well as you can.”

Fernando Montiel tuned up literally and figuratively as pounded out Rafael Concepcion in round three of a twelve round Bantamweight fight to retain the WBC/WBO Bantamweight titles.

Montiel dropped Concepcion in the first seconds of round two from a perfect right. About a minute later, Concepcion walked into a left hook that sent him to seat of his pants for a second time in the round. Late in the round, Concepcion was docked a point for holding by referee Robert Byrd. Montiel ended things in the third when he landed a perfect right that knocked Concepcion down and out and Byrd stopped the fight without a count at 1:07 of round three.

Montiel, 118 lbs of Los Mochis, Mexixo will now look for a fall showdown with former Flyweight and Super Flyweight beltholder Nonito Donaire with a record of 43-2-2 with thirty-three knockouts. Concepcion, 118 lbs of Panama City, Panama is now 14-5.

Michael Medina scored a fourth round stoppage over Gilberto Flores in a scheduled ten round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Medina landed a barrage of punches that forced the referee to stop the bout at 1:41 of round four

Medina, 155 lbs of Monterrey, Mexico is now 24-2 with nineteen knockouts. Flores, 154 lbs of Tuianciago, Mexico is now 14-5.

Ramon Maas scored a four round split decision over Carlos Penaloza in a Featherweight bout.

Maas 122 lbs of Merida, Mexico is now 21-0. Penaloza, 123 1/2 lbs of Mexico is now 10-11-1.

Photo’s by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Here’s how I’d planned it. Timothy Bradley might be my favorite American prizefighter and so why not write a column mimicking his style with relentless sentences words upon accurate words and rare combinations with no punctuation or pause? For Luis Carlos Abregu: Small words, lots of breaks, some heft. The conclusion seeing Bradley’s varied run-on sentences overwhelm Abregu’s short phrases by the 12th paragraph.

Then reality intervened. The fight didn’t correspond to expectations. Let’s explore why not.

Saturday, Bradley, the man widely recognized as the world’s best junior welterweight, made an ill-advised welterweight fight with Argentina’s Luis Carlos Abregu at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Bradley decisioned Abregu by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112. The match marked Bradley’s debut on HBO.

That seems like part of the problem. After five intriguing, 140-pound matches on Showtime – an upset of titlist Junior Witter followed by victories over Edner Cherry, Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell (later declared a no contest), and Lamont Peterson – Bradley arrived at HBO and made a dull fight. Until Saturday, Bradley, a forward-pressing volume puncher whose offense can double as defense, seemed incapable of a dull fight.

Recently I read “Only the Ring Was Square” by Teddy Brenner, Madison Square Garden’s longtime matchmaker. His responsibilities were several. He always had to fill the Garden. And he often had to satisfy whichever television network broadcasted from the Garden. He was obligated not to managers or fighters but fans and viewers. That book raised some questions of particular relevance Saturday.

Does HBO have an in-house matchmaker? If so, where is he? If not, why not?

Matchmaker or no, why did HBO let Bradley fight Saturday at welterweight? The network has feinted at the possibility of a junior-welterweight tournament similar to Showtime’s acclaimed “Super Six.” HBO has now showcased all five of the hypothetical tournament’s four participants – Bradley, Devon Alexander, Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana and Victor Ortiz (alternate). And yet, there was Bradley at welterweight, Saturday.

Bradley’s people want their guy in the Plan B sweepstakes. They’d love for Bradley to fight either Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather this fall, since those two won’t fight each other. A fight with either guy would bring Bradley, and his handlers, a windfall. And it would have to happen at 147 pounds.

Let’s go on the record right here: It’s a bad idea.

Pacquiao’s next opponent will be a Top Rank fighter. This is not news. That leaves Mayweather. This is not good news.

Here’s the calculus. Bradley was unable to hurt Abregu more than twice in 12 rounds. Shane Mosley would not have needed five rounds to stop Abregu. In 12 chances, Mosley did not win three rounds against Mayweather. There’s no chance Bradley, right now, gives Mayweather a competitive match at welterweight. No chance at all.

Did Bradley look slow and tentative enough Saturday to leapfrog to the top of “Money May’s” prospective-opponents list? Quite possibly, and quite unfortunately.

Gone was Bradley’s frantic pressure. Gone was his quickness. Gone was his fearlessness. In their stead was a talented boxer who’d seen more complicated styles than Abregu’s and who determined he was safer outside it than in.

After the fight, Bradley said Kendall Holt hit harder than Abregu. Bradley didn’t fight that way. In the fight’s fourth minute, Bradley saw Abregu’s one enormous flaw, but he did little to exploit it in the 32 minutes that followed. That flaw was Abregu’s left hand. The Argentine brought his jab back lazy and low. Bradley stepped into him with a fantastic right cross in round 2 and then left things alone after that.

Abregu cocked punches from his own waistband and returned his hands there. The times Bradley committed to precise combinations from inside, he found Abregu. The rest of the time, Bradley either stayed outside and threw fewer punches or got in manic exchanges with Abregu and tasted enough power to back off.

Blame the weight. The additional seven pounds on Bradley rendered him slower, less confident in his own quickness. The additional seven pounds on Bradley’s opponent meant even deflected punches hurt Bradley more than square shots did at junior welterweight.

The fight comprised no drama. There was no building narrative or set of basic questions for the fighters to answer. At best there was the suspense of wondering if Bradley might get sloppy and give Abregu a chance at one leveling blow. That doesn’t read like a suspenseful foundation because it wasn’t.

Which returns us to the question of why this fight happened. If we’re going to suspend disbelief and say no one wants to fight Bradley at 140 pounds, we’re still left with a question of why Bradley’s debut at welterweight was with a guy who barely cracks the Top 30. Here’s a theory, in retrospect: Timothy Bradley is only a Top 20 welterweight.

That might be the best development yet for the Bradley brand. He’s a good name opponent – a legitimate champion till proven otherwise at junior welterweight – for a 147-pounder with an aversion to risk. Chances are good we’ll look back at last January as the month Mayweather-Pacquiao came closest to fruition. Even if Mayweather doesn’t fight again till 2011, he’s going to need an opponent next May. Bradley could triple his previous purses against Mayweather. Good for the Bradley brand. Terrible for the Bradley legacy.

If Bradley’s handlers care at all about legacy, they’ll send their guy back to 140 pounds and make the concessions that make HBO’s junior-welterweight tournament a reality – with their guy its favorite. Surely that’s why HBO televised Bradley, Saturday.

Then, all HBO would need is a plan and a matchmaker. Because a lackluster showing by Bradley at welterweight has to have been the craziest possible way to create demand for a junior-welterweight series.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry

Widely regarded as the best 140-pound fighter in the world, Timothy Bradley jumped into the Welterweight division with a twelve round unanimous decision over Luis Carlos Abregu in a batt;e of undefeated fighters at the Agua Caliente Hote and Resort in Palm Springs, California

In round one, Bradley suffered a cut over his right eye from an accidental headbutt. Bradley got things going in round two as landed a pair of flush rights on the chin. In round four, Abregu was cut over his right eye from a punch.

In round seven, Bradley bent down to throw a hook to the body but again clashed heads with Abregu and the fighter from Argentina slumped to one knee for just a moment. Sensing that his opponent was hurt, Bradley jumped all over Abregu by landing a furious combination. In round nine, Bradley upped the temp as he landed flush with a a pair of lefts and a good right. After a few rounds that was void of action, the two stood toe to toe which excited the near capacity crowd in the ballroom which saw their man coast to the victory by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112.

Bradley, 147 lbs of Palm Springs, CA is now 26-0. Abregu, 146 1/2 lbs of Argentina is now 29-1.

Alfredo Angulo continued his positive momentum as he scored a first round stoppage over former WBA Super Welterweight champion Joachim Alcine in a bout scheduled for twelve rounds.

Midway through the round Angulo and Alcine got tangled up which left Angulo’s right hand free. Angulo pounded on Alcine that got him hurt. Late in the round Angulo landed a left and a flush right hand that had Alcine out on his feet. Angulo landed three hard punched that was cluminated by a huge left hook and big right which forced referee Lou Moret to stop the bout just one second before the end of the opening frame.

Angulo, 153 1/2 lbs of Mexicali, Mexico is now 19-1 with sixteen knockouts. Alcine, 153 1/2 lbs of Montreal is now 32-2

Carlos Velazquez remained undefeated as he scored a fifth round stoppage in Puerto Rico over Luis Arcos.

This was an entertaining bout throughout at the the two traded from the outset. Velazquez won most of those exchanges and finally got Arcos out of the way after he landed a clipping left hook that staggered Arcos and Velazquez humped on him an began to batter Arcos all over the ring until the referee stopped the bout at 1:119 of round five.

Velazquez, 129 1/2 lbs of Puerto Rico is now 13-0 with eleven knockouts. Arcos, 130 lbs is now 16-2-1.

Jonathan Vidal scored a sixth round knockdown en route to a six round unanimous decision over Felix Perez in a Bantamweight bout.

Vidal, 116 lbs of Guaynambo, PR is now 9-0. Perez of Carolina, PR is now 7-2.

Juan Gonzalez remained undefeated as he scored a second round stoppage over Christopher Rivera in a scheduled four round Lightweight bout.

Gonzalez scored a knockdown early in round two for a hard left cross. He finished the fight by backing up Rivera, who took a knee and began shaking his hand in discomfort and the fight was waved off.

The fight was waved off at 2:40 of round two for Gonzalez, 132 lbs of Toja Baja, PR and is now 9-0 with eight knockouts. Rivera, 129 3/4 lbs of San Juan, PR is now 3-5.

Jamiel Rivera won his pro debut with a unanimous decision over Manuel Torres (0-2) in a four round Light Flyweight bout.

Promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing talks about the PPV battle between David Tua and Monte Barrett

Watch Joe Deguardia in Sports  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

In what was one of the more exciting Heavyweight clashed, Monte Barrett and David Tua fought to a spirited draw in a twelve round Heavyweight bout of former Heavyweight title challeng at The Topicana Hotel and Resort in Atlantic City.

Round two heated up with both guys looking to land hard shots. In round three, Barrett got in a nice counter right and Tua started to breathe heavy from his wild attempta to end the bout with one punch. Barrett continued to stand up to the heavy assault. In the sixth, Tua began the round by landing a thudding right to the body. Barrett landed his punch over the first half of the fight with a crisp over hand right. Tua culminated the frame with a hard left hook along the ropes.

In round nine, Tua came out by landing a vicious three punch combination that had Barrett holding on. Later in the round, Tua came back to land two more explosive rights with the first coming to the body and the latter coming at the end of the round with a flush right on the face. The fight turned in round ten as Barrett started to back up Tua and landed some hard flush shits and even rocking Tua with a big over hand right. Tua rebounded nicely in round eleven as he landed a booming left hook on the ropes that would have put just about anyone down but somehow Barrett stood up to that as well another big left hook late in the round. The last round was a big round for Barrett as he took a big shot early in the round and then was thrown down to canvas by Tua and referee Randy Neumann took a point away from Tua. that lit a fire under Barrett as he landed a flush uppercut that sent Tua down the canvas for the first time in his fifty-six fight career. Tua barely made it to the finish line as Barrett jabbed his way to the bell.

Scores were 115-111 for Tua, while two other judges ruled 113-113 (same as 15rounds.com card) Tua of Auckland, NZ is now 51-3-2. Barrett of Queens, NY is now 34-9-1

Welterweight prospect Raymond “Tito” Serrano scored an eight round majority decision over Ayi Bruce in a nip and tuck battle. Serrano did well by boxing early and then the tough fighter from Ghana came on by making the tussle a dogfight and started getting through with good combinations. Serrano may have sealed the fight with a good eighth round as he landed some good combinations on the ropes. Serrano, 145 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 77-76, 78-74 and 76-76 to remain undefeated at 13-0. Bruce, 144 lbs of Accra, Ghana is now 6-3.

In a big upset, perennial spoiler Carlos Vinan scored an eighth round stoppage over IBF #2 Lightweight, Anthony Mezaache in the final round of their Lightweight bout. Mezaache controlled the action by jabbing and moving asnd built ip a lead on the cards. Vinan came out top start round eight like a house of fire and was all over Mezaache and dropped with a furious combination. Vinan ended the fight by jumping on Mezaache and his corner threw in the yowel at thity-seven seconds of round eight. Vinan of Newark, Nj is now 10-8-4 with two knockouts. Mezaache of Clichy, France is now 18-6-3.

In a bit of a upset, undefeated Bayan Jargal had to settle for an eight round draw with James Hope in a Jr. Welterweight bout. Hope landed the cleaner blows while Jargal tried to box more until the later round where he rushed in more and by agression may have won rounds to earn the dubious draw that was scored 76-76 on all cards. Jargal, 138 lbs of Arlinton, VA is now 15-0-3. Hope, 137 1/2 lbs of Rock Hill,SC is now 6-5-1.

In a wild slugfest, Khedafi Djelkhir scored a first round stoppage over Jorge Cordero in a Featherweight bout scheduled for six round. Djekhir dropped Cordero early in the first from a big left hand. Just as soon as Djelkhir thought he had it in the bag, Crodero landed a huge right hook dropped Djelkhir. Djelkhir gathered himself to land a huge right that dropped Cordero into the bottom rope. Cordero got to his fight but stumbled all over the place which prompted the referee to stop the fight at 2:20 0f round one. Djelkhir, 126 lbs of Besancon, France is now 7-0 with six knockouts. Cordero, 126 lbs of San Juan, Pr is now 4-3.

Jason Escalera scored a stoppage over Amador Acevedo at the end of round three in a scheduled six round Light Heavyweight bout. Escalera controlled the action over the first three rounds especially working the body of Acevedo. Acevedo put up one last stand in the third but Escalera’s offense was too much as Acevedo failed to answer the bell for round. Escalera, 173 lbs of Union City, NJ is now 9-0 with eight knockouts. Acevedo, 177 lbs of Moca, Puerto Rico is 3-8-1

Young Prospect Mike Perez scored an explosive first round stoppage over Jorge Ruiz in Lightweight bout schedule for six rounds. Midway through the round Perez dropped Ruiz with a left to the body. Ruiz got to his feet at the count of eight only to each a big right that was followed by a massive left hook. Referee David Francioci began to count but stopped at six as Ruiz had no shot to beat the count. The time was 2:29 of round one for Perez, 135 lbs of Jersey City, NJ and is now 9-0 with four knockouts. Ruiz, 137 lbs of Miami is now 7-13-1.

Photo By Claudia Bocanegra

15rounds.com Matt Yanofsky goes one on one with Danny “The Golden Child” Jacobs. Jacobs, a former amateur star, challenges Dmitry Pirog for the vacant WBO Middleweight title July 31 on HBO PPV.
interview-with-danny-jacobs

Impact FC – The Uprising
Sat Jul 17 10:00PM ET

This event is not available on GFL in the USA and UK
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UFC hall of famer Ken Shamrock will meet Pedro Rizzo in the Impact FC 2 “The Uprising: Sydney” main event on July 17 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia. The promotion has announced nine bouts for the show.

Shamrock, having dropped five of his last six fights, has not competed since he submitted the late Ross Clifton at a Wargods event in February 2009. He was suspended in wake of the victory after testing positive for suspected steroid use. The 46-year-old recently admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during his 17-year career.

A Marco Ruas protege, Rizzo has posted back-to-back wins against Gary Goodridge and Jeff Monson. The 36-year-old Brazilian — known and revered for his powerful leg kicks — fought for the UFC heavyweight crown three times but failed in each attempt. Victories against former UFC champions Andrei Arlovski, Ricco Rodriguez and Mark Coleman highlight his resume. Rizzo opened his professional career with nine consecutive wins, eight of them finishes.

Finally, exiled world-ranked welterweight Paul Daley will face off with Daniel Acacio in his first appearance since being released by the UFC.

Daley dropped a unanimous decision to Josh Koscheck at UFC 113 in May and threw an ill-advised sucker punch at the American Kickboxing Academy standout following the conclusion of their bout. His actions drew the ire of UFC President Dana White, along with an immediate pink slip. Based out of Team Rough House, Daley has delivered 18 of his 23 career victories by KO or TKO and remains one of the welterweight division’s most-feared stand-up fighters.

A veteran of the Pride, Pancrase and KSW circuits, Acacio outpointed Cassiano Ricardo Castanho de Freitas by unanimous decision at a Platinum Fight Brazil show on May 20. The 32-year-old Brazilian holds victories against former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Delson Heleno and 2006 Pride welterweight grand prix winner Kazuo Misaki.

Other matchups greenlit for Impact FC 2 include a middleweight tilt pairing former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Paulo Filho against Denis Kang, a heavyweight showdown pitting Bob Sapp against Soa Palelei and a bout between former ElitXC middleweight titleholder Murilo “Ninja” Rua and “The Ultimate Fighter”Season 7 semifinalist Jesse Taylor.
For full fight card and more details about this event, visit GoFightLive.tv or click here
Blood and Sand VIII
Sat Jul 17 7:00PM ET

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BILOXI, MS (WLOX) – Sports fans love the competitive nature of Mixed Martial Arts cage fighting. 17 bouts will take the spotlight Saturday night featuring two heavyweights, Justin Wren against Roy Nelson.

Local fighter Harris Stephenson of Long Beach will make his pro debut in a 165 pound match. The 2007 Long Beach High School graduate competed in football, soccer, ran track and cross country and missed the competition. He said. ” After high school man, there’s not much to get into, so I went to the gym, find MMA. I like it, stuck with it and here I am today.”

Stephenson posted 7 wins and 2 losses as an amateur. He stated that he’s now ready for his first professional fight, “Of my 7 wins, 4 knockouts and three submissions. First pro fight, Saturday. It’s going to be a good one, real tough guy. It will be a good test for me.”

Stephenson steps into the cage against Tony Godbold, a veteran MMA fighter. Godbold’s professional experience, doesn’t scare Stephenson. He added, “Godbold already head ten pro fights. He has a lot of experience on me, but I think I’ve got the fight because I think I’ve just trained a lot harder for this fight. I don’t see him out training me.” He added, “I’ve watched his video, seen him fight. He’s got heavy hands but that’s about it. I think I’m well rounded.”

Promoter Ricky Derouen says he loves the winning attitude of Stephenson who comes to fight. Derouen said, “Harris is dedicated to the sport. He trains everyday. He wakes up in the morning, he lives this sport all day long until he goes to bed at night.” He beamed, “That’s the kind of fighters I love to put on this show.”

Win or lose, Derouen says Stephenson will erase that fight and will get ready for the next one even if he loses, saying, “He’ll be back in the gym on Monday, starting over, working towards his next fight. He’s going to show up and give a hundred percent, there’s not a doubt in my mind.”

Stephenson says while he lacks pro experience he has one advantage over Godbold, “I think my ground game is really going to really standout in this fight, especially. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t train much ground game.”
For full fight card and more details about this event, visit GoFightLive.tv or click here

Fernando Guerrero remained undefeated with a highly entertaining unanimous decision over Ishe Smith in a Middleweight bout at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi.

Smith started out well early as used a punishing body attack in an effort to slow down the the twenty-three year old Guerrero. Round three was especially competitive as the two stood toe to toe. Guerrero seemed to forge ahead slightly as he took the middle rounds in what was very competitive and high paced action.

In round six, Smith was docked for low blows by referee Randy Phillips. Guerrero and Smith continued to pound away at each at close quarters with Guerrero getting the better of the action by the slightest of margins. Guerrero was having a good round eight until he walked into a right hand that sent Guerrero to the canvas. Guerrero rebounded nicely to have a nice round nine as the two continued to land some heavy shots with Smith continuing his vicious body assault. Guerrero started the tenth more aggressive as but Smith did well with his counters and the fight seemed close enough where the winner would be in doubt.

Coming in to tonight’s matchup, Smith (21-5, 9 KOs) was quoted as saying, “I’m going to take Guerrero into deep waters and see if he can swim.” Guerrero (19-0, 15 KOs) proved to be a buoyant battler by withstanding an eighth round flash knockdown and ten rounds of body shots from Smith. Though most of the body work was legitimate, referee Randy Phillips twice warned Smith, of Las Vegas, Nev., for repeated low blows before deducting a point in the sixth round.

It wasn’t the case at the judges had wider then it looked scores of 97-91, 96-93 and 95-03 for Guerrero, 159.7, lbs of Salisbury, MD and is now 19-0. Smith, 158.9 lbs of Las Vegas is now 21-5.

Shawn Porter used a six round knockdown to catapult himself to a ten round unanimous decision over Ray Robinson in a Welterweight bout.

Robinson seemed to be the more consistent fighter as he used cominations to the body as Porter would come in. Porter landed the more telling blows and rocked Robinson on several occasions.

In round six, Porter dropped Robinson from a combination along the ropes. That seemed to have turned the tide as Robinson was not as effective heading down the stretch as he was earlier in the fight.

Scores did not indicate the competitive nature of the bout as the judges turned in cards that read 99-89, 98-91 and 97-92 for Porter, 147 lbs of Cleveland and is now 16-0. Robinson, 148 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is now 11-2.

“It was a hard fought victory. My dad (and trainer, Ken Porter) asked a lot of me and I did what I could to deliver. It took a lot of heart and we’re going to keep going from here.”

Michael Dallas Jr. scored the best win of his career with an eight round unanimous decision over Lanard Lane in a battle of unbeaten Jr. Welterweights

Dallas was quicker and constantly landed some nice combination’s, especially to the body of Lane as Lane never really got into the fight.

Scores were 78-74 on all cards for Dallas Jr., 141.8 lbs of Bakersfield, CA and is now15-0-1. Lane, 142 lbs of Houston, TX is now 12-1.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said early Saturday that he had not heard from Floyd Mayweather, Jr., by a midnight deadline about whether he would fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13, but Arum said the fight could still happen on the proposed date.

Arum said the deadline – midnight Friday in Las Vegas – was only the end of a period of exclusive negotiations for Mayweather-Pacquiao. Arum said he will now embark on talks with Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.

“The fight we want to do is Mayweather,’’ Arum said. “We haven’t said anything different. We haven’t acted any different. …Absolutely, that’s the fight we want.’’

Mayweather-Pacquiao could still happen if Mayweather says he wants it during talks for an alternate bout, also on Nov. 13, with either Margarito or Cotto. Arum said he expects those talks to last 10 days.

“Floyd, for whatever reason and I’m sure he has a valid reason, did not want to commit,’’ Arum said after minutes after the midnight deadline passed without a decision from Mayweather

Arum said he was told by Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, that Mayweather had agreed to terms, including a timetable for random drug testing. A deal for Pacquiao-Mayweather last March fell apart late last year when Pacquiao balked at Mayweather’s demand for Olympic-style blood-testing.
Arum said he heard from Greenburg a few days after Mayweather’s victory over Shane Mosley in early May. Arum said Greenburg then spoke to Mayweather advisor Al Haymon. It’s no secret that that Mayweather-Pacquiao could set pay-per-view records for HBO. It’s estimated that each fighter could earn between $40 million to $50 million each.

Arum continued to speculate that Mayweather might not want to fight this year because his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, is facing a trial on an assault charge. If Mayweather decides not to fight in November, Arum has said he hopes the bout will happen in May.

Margarito has yet to regain a license in the United States since his California license was revoked for altered hand wraps discovered before a loss to Mosley in January, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Nevada State Athletic Commission tabled a Margarito application last week. Arum said he will again try to get Margarito licensed in Nevada. If successful and there is still no word from Mayweather, Margarito-Pacquiao could happen in Las Vegas. If unsuccessful, the fight could happen in Monterrey, Mexico.

If Cotto gets the nod and there still is no decision from Mayweather, possible sites are Las Vegas, Cowboys Stadium in Dallas and Dubai.

*Zab Judah twice referenced the date October 2nd as a possible date for his next bout.

*Judah expressed his desire to fight the cream of the crop at 140 lbs. and to be mentioned with in the same breath as the best of the division: Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander, and Amir Khan. “Don’t forget about me,” Judah said. “I’m here, I’m coming back. I’m going to be like the ghost in the night…The old Zab Judah is back!”

*Judah credited his maturity to both having a child, as well as developing a deeper relationship with God. According to Judah, his hands are so quick he now punches at “GodSpeed.”

*He talked about his conditioning and attributed his fitness to training at high altitude in the Nevada mountains, which he believes will help him in the later rounds of fights.

PHILADELPHIA (July 16, 2010)—This Past Wednesday night at The Arena in Philadelphia, a historic fight card took place that featured Olympic Gold Medal winners and future prospects from all over the world in what truly was the beginning of the next generation in boxing.

The show was promoted by No Limits Promotions in association with Joe Eye Boxing

The terrific night of world-class boxing was headlined by undefeated and world ranked cruiserweight Ran Nakash (25-0) of Israel scoring a ten round unanimous decision over Victor Barragan. The co-feature saw 2008 Gold Medal winner Felix Diaz (6-0, 4 KO’s) scoring an eighth round stoppage over Broderick Antoine. Also on the card, 2008 Olympic Bronze medal winning heavyweight Vyacheslav Glazkov (6-0, 4 KO’s) scoring a third round stoppage of popular Mark “Oak Tree” Brown.

Those three fights can be seen all over the country on the many Comcast Affiliates over the next few weeks that will also feature an all-star broadcast team of Arthur Fennell and former IBF Jr. Welterweight champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi.

BELOW ARE THE TIMES AND STATIONS TO SEE THIS MEMORABLE NIGHT OF BOXING:

Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic July 17th at 7pm
Comcast Sports Chicago July 18th at 8pm
Comcast Sports Bay Area July 18th at 8:30pm
Comcast Sports New England July 16th at 8pm
Comcast Sports Philadelphia July 17th at 7pm
Comcast Sports California July 16th at 9pm
Comcast Sports South East July 18th at 9pm
Comcast Sports South West July 18th at 8pm
Comcast Sports North West July 24th at 6pm
SportsNet New York July 17th at 6pm
The Comcast Network July 17th at 5pm

Former two-division world champion Zab “Super” Judah made a very successful return to his home area as he scored a devastating third round stoppage of former world title challenger Jose Armado Santa Cruz at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Judah began to open it up in round two as he landed a pair of solid straight left hands.

In round three, Judah landed a tremendous left uppercut that sent Santa Cruz to the seat of his pants. When Santa Cruz regained his feet, he was greeted by a barrage of punches that was capped off by a pinpoint straight leftthat drove Santa Cruz to the ropes and forced referee Benji Esteves to stop the bout at 2:33 of round three.

Judah, 141 lbs of Las Vegas, NV via Brooklyn, NY is now 39-6 with twenty-seven knockouts. Santa Cruz, 143 lbs of Lincoln Heights, CA is now 2805.

Brooklyn’s Saddam Ali stayed undefeated with a TKO victory over Philadelphia’s Julius Edmonds.

Ali made easy work out of his counterpart, dominant the fight from the opening bell.

In round 1, Ali sent Edmonds to the canvas with a devastating right uppercut. Edmonds was able to weather the storm for the time being, however, and survive the round.

Round 2 featured more domination by Ali, as he once again sent Edmonds to the canvas. Ali hurt Edmonds with a left hand and as Edmonds was falling backwards, added an uppercut for good measure.

Round 3 last only 1:14 before Eddie Cotton saw fit to stop the bout after Ali hurt his opponent with a left hand and sent him stumbling back into the ropes. — Kyle Kinder

With the win, Ali improves to 9-0, with 5 KOs, while Edmonds falls to 7-8.
In an eight round bout at the Welterweight division, native Newarker Alex Perez scored a unanimous decision victory over Brazlian Edvan Barros to increase his already perfect record to 12-0.

The fight was a tough one for Perez, who was forced to fight at a distance and on the inside.

In the early going, Perez was able to land his right with some frequency. However, as the fight prolonged, it was clear that Barros’s strategy was to keep the fight on the inside.

Not surprisingly, it was on the inside that Barros was most effective, throwing powerful uppercuts to the chin of Perez, forcing his head to snap back.

When Perez did create distance, he proved to be dangerous, as he landed a big left hand in round 4 that clearly hurt his opponent.

In round 6 an overhand right by Barros caught Perez, as he then found himself up against the ropes — a position Barros forced his counterpart into consistently throughout the bout. At the end of the round — as the bell sounded — the two exchanged convincing blows to one another. Barros then attempted, for the second time, to touch gloves with Perez, who purposely failed to acknowledge his opponent.

Round 7 saw Perez in trouble with his back against the ropes and Barros finding success with uppercuts and looping right hands. The tide turned about a minute into the round however, as Perez as able to create some space between he and his opponent and land combination on Perez.

After 8 rounds of action, all three judges scored the bout in favor of the hometown fighter, Perez. The scores were: 77-75, 78-84, and 80-72.

With the win, Perez added to his perfect record, increasing it to 12-0, while Barros fell to 10-10-1. — Kyle Kinder

In a Heavyweight bout scheduled for four rounds, Adam Kownacki scored a second round stoppage over Damon Clement in what amounted to three-plus minute shootout.

Kownacki was in control of the opening moments until he walked into a big left that rocked him back into referee Eddie Cotton, who in-turn ruled a knockdown. Kownacki gathered himself to rock Clement and put him on the seat of his pants with a huge flurry of punches. The round ended with Clement being battered in the corner by twenty unanswered shots. Round two picked up where round one ended with each guy nailing each other all over the ring until a huge right that decked Clement for Cotton’s ten count at forty-two seconds of round two.

Kownacki, 231 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 4-0 with all wins coming by knockout. Clement, 243 lbs of Dayton, Ohio is now 0-3.

Jersey City’s Patrick Farrell fought New York City’s Newton Kidd to a majority decision draw in a six round bout in the Cruiserweight division.

Two judges scored the bout even, 57-57, while one judge saw the bout in favor for Kidd, 57-56.

Barbaric exchanges between the two were frequent, both fighters taking a good deal of punishment throughout all six rounds.

Farrell seemingly outworked Kidd in the early rounds, getting the better of the exchanges, but faded towards the later rounds, allowing Kidd to land more frequently.

Late in round 5, during a flurry of wild and wide punches from both fighters, Kidd was able to land a left hook flush on Farrell’s face, causing a cut to open up over the Irish-American’s right eye.

When the bell rang to signal the end of the fight, both fighters were granted a well-deserved round of applause by the Prudential Center crowd, acknowledging the heart both boxer’s exhibited in the bout.–Kyle Kinder

Angel Concepcion remained undefeated by scoring a four round unanimous decision over Shannon Anderson in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Concepcion controlled the action and rocked Anderson twice in round three first wobbling him with a left hook and a big right in the corner in the middle of a furious flurry.

Scores were 40-35, 40-36 and 40-36 for Concepcion, 178 lbs of Newark, NJ and is now 2-0. Anderson, 178 lbs of Coatesville, PA is now 4-2.

In the final bout of the evening, Staten Island, New York’s Nickey Demarco improved his record to 3-2, with a unanimous decision victory over the Bronx’s Jose Guzman, who, with the loss, dropped to 5-8-1.

The first three rounds belonged to Demarco who continually forced Guzman to the ropes.

To his credit, Guzman never gave up and in the fourth round came out firing dangerous punches at his opponent. However, it was not enough to persuade the judges he deserved the win.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of DeMarco: 40-36 and 39-37 twice. — Kyle Kinder

JULY 15th, 2010, RENO – Let’s Get It On Promotions and current USBA light heavyweight champion, Otis “Triple OG” Griffin, have entered into a long-term promotional agreement. Griffin, with a record of 22-6, 9 KOs is also ranked #10 in the world by the IBF.

Griffin, who was the winner of Fox’s The Next Great Champ boxing reality TV show in 2004, has been on an impressive winning streak. In April of 2009, he traveled to Florida to fight former super middleweight world champion, Jeff Lacy, and lost a majority decision in Lacy’s native Tampa, FL. Most boxing fans and writers believe that Griffin won seven out of the ten rounds, and was on the wrong end of a hometown decision. Since then, Griffin has been on a rush, coming off of three impressive wins.

In November, Griffin made his way to New England to fight the popular Joey McCreedy. Although Otis was the underdog going into his opponent’s hometown, he executed a perfect game plan and came out with a unanimous decision victory. In May, Otis traveled to New York to challenge the dangerous Byron Mitchell for the vacant light heavyweight USBA title. Again the underdog, Griffin pulled off the win with his excellent boxing.

Griffin is slated to headline on August 28th in Fallon, NV on the third annual “Rural Rumble” show. Being from Sacramento, CA, his regional fans will have a chance to see him fight on the West Coast.

“Otis is in a great spot right now,” says Terry Lane of Let’s Get It On Promotions. “He is looking at a world title shot soon. He is a perfect fit for Let’s Get It On Promotions.”

“The partnership with Let’s Get It On Promotions will help me achieve my dream of becoming a world champion,” says Griffin. “I feel great at 175-pounds and there are some great opportunities out there for me.”

Griffin and Lane will be participating in a discussion panel this Saturday about the business of boxing at the African American Cultural Center at 220 Bell St, Reno, NV. The discussion panel begins at noon and will also feature former Nevada State Athletic Commissioner Luther Mack. The discussion series is part of the continuing month-long events commemorating the historic Johnson vs. Jeffries fight. It is open to the public.

More details on Otis Griffin’s August 28th fight, and additional information about Rural Rumble 2010 will be announced shortly.

ABOUT LET’S GET IT ON PROMOTIONS

Reno, Nevada based “Let’s Get It On Promotions” was founded in 2000 by legendary boxing referee Mills Lane. In early 2005 he was joined by sons Terry and Tommy in the operations of the company. Along with super-middleweight world title challenger Jesse Brinkley, Let’s Get It On Promotions also promotes light heavyweight contender Otis Griffin, middleweight prospects Brandon Gonzales, and Derek Hinkey, and lightweight prospect Bayan Jargal. For more information, please visit www.letsgetitonboxing.com.

There is Greenwich Mean Time and Daylight Savings and maybe even “Money” Time, but there is nothing standard about the digital countdown Top Rank added to its website in an attempt to get a decision, yea or nay, from Floyd Mayweather, Jr., about a proposed fight with Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13.

Mayweather has his own clock.

From minute-to-minute, it is hard to know what that clock says. But it is safe to assume that it doesn’t include any alarms, or even an acknowledgement, for deadlines imposed by anyone other than Mayweather himself.

The guess is that Bob Arum won’t have to check his web site when the final split-second expires at midnight Friday in Las Vegas, where there aren’t many clocks, No yea. No nay. No decision either.

Any answer at all would be a concession from Mayweather that Arum has the upper hand in reported negotiations. If there is anything to be learned from failed talks late last year, it is that Mayweather will not allow anybody to dictate terms or time, especially Arum. They are locked into a deadly rivalry that starts –and thus far ends — with one-upmanship at the bargaining table.

During the last few days, questions have been raised about whether there is an agreement at all. Despite a reported gag order, Arum said there is. Mayweather and his representatives, including Golden Boy Promotions, have said almost nothing, although Golden Boy President Oscar De La Hoya was quoted in Spanish-speaking media a few weeks ago that a deal was close.

De La Hoya told Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer that he had been misquoted, but nobody has denied that there have been talks. It is safe to say that the talk included more than juts gardening tips. Still, there has been only speculation about all those devils in the details. The purse? Pick a percentage: Fifty-fifty or 55 percent for Mayweather and 45 for Pacquiao. Random blood-testing? Pick a timetable: Two weeks before the welterweight bout or the night before opening bell.

Other than comments from Arum and to a lesser extent De La Hoya, there has been no real way to determine whether terms are in place for a deal that would lead to the biggest fight in years. Maybe you can blame the gag order, although has anybody ever been able to silence Mayweather, uncle-trainer Roger Mayweather and dad Floyd, Sr.? They talk as often as they exhale. Yet, they’ve said nothing.

Then, there is a defamation lawsuit, alleging that Mayweather, his uncle, father, Mayweather Promotions, De La Hoya and Schaefer slandered Pacquiao. The suit charges that Pacquiao, who balked at Mayweather’s demands for random blood-testing late last year, was smeared by comments that made him look like he was guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs despite his clean record in tests conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

There has been no news that the lawsuit has been dropped. As long as the lawsuit is still there, it’s hard to imagine that negotiations can move forward. Maybe, a yes from Mayweather would take the lawsuit and legal expenses off the table. That would be a surprise. Santa Claus in July would be too. But I suspect that Santa is not anybody’s clock.

Instead, Arum is talking and acting as if he doesn’t expect an answer, which presumably will be interpreted as a no. For a couple of weeks, he has said that Mayweather might not want to fight again in 2010 in part because Roger Mayweather faces a trial in August on an assault charge..

Then, Arum traveled to Puerto Rico where he spoke to Miguel Cotto about a rematch with Pacquiao in the wake of Nevada’s tabling last week of Margarito’s attempt to regain a U.S. license since his revocation in California a year-and-a-half ago for altered hand wraps.

A day in May has been designated as the next possibility for Mayweather-Pacquiao. But the next couple of weeks loom as sudden death if Mayweather starts talking not long after he lets the deadline pass without a word. There’s no telling what Mayweather might say. But accusations are possible, even likely, in another chapter of a feud without end or an opening bell against Pacquiao.

NOTES, QUOTES
· Arum says he has an offer for Pacquiao to fight Margarito in Monterrey, Mexico, where Margarito faces no licensing problems. But if Pacquiao-Mayweather is a real possibility in May, a fight for Pacquiao, Arum’s major star, against a popular Mexican in Mexico sounds like a crazy gamble. Talk about Pacquiao in Monterrey is a good way to negotiate, but a bad move. A Pacquiao rematch with Cotto in Dallas or Las Vegas makes a lot more sense.

· Timothy Bradley, who has assumed the title of the fighter most avoided by the game’s biggest stars, tries to get in line for a shot at either Pacquiao or Mayweather Saturday night in his 147-pound debut against Carlos Abregu in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on HBO.

· And Detail magazine’s fascinating Q-and-A with Mike Tyson includes a quote that raises one question: Where were the regulators? In talking about his disqualification on the infamous night in 1997 when he bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield ear at Las Vegas MGM Grand, Tyson says: “I wasn’t thinking. I wasn’t training for that fight. I was on (expletive) drugs, thinking I was a god.” Forget about random or blood. How about a test of any kind?

CLICK FOR FULL EVENT INFO
SYDNEY, Australia (July15, 2010) – The final Impact FC press conference was held in Sydney, Australia (photos attached) to promote “The Uprising” featuring former UFC Champion and Hall of Fame Member, Ken Shamrock taking on former UFC Champion, Hall of fame member and PRIDE Veteran, Pedro ”The Rock” Rizzo in an exciting PPV event on July 17. In the Co-feature, English MMA fighter, Paul Daley who is ranked as the #8 welterweight in the world by Sherdog.com and ranked #5 by MMA Weekly will do battle with Brazilian MMA fighter, Daniel Acacio who is most notable for his fights in PRIDE Fighting Championships and his aggressive fighting style.

The Uprising from Sydney, Australia will go live in the USA at 10:00pm on the East Coast (ET) and 7:00pm on the West Coast (PST) and Canada on July 17th with a card stacked full of action-packed bouts. In addition, the exciting main event from “The Uprising” series from the Brisbane Entertainment Center, Brisbane, Australia, July 10, featuring former UFC heavyweight champion, Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett (25-5-0) and Jungle Fight veteran, Geronimo “Mondragon” Dos Santos (18-9-0) will also be included in the Pay-Per-View.

“The Uprising,” is presented by Impact FC, Saturday, July 17th, 2010 at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT in the United States from local pay-per-view providers for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

Hackensack, NJ (July 15) – It was just over a year ago that Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn put forth a gutsy effort against IBF/Ring Magazine Cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek. Gunn’s performance was commended by fight fans and various media outlets, who penned about his tremendous heart. The Hackensack, NJ native expected his showing against Adamek to help him land another notable bout, but this hasn’t been the case.

Since giving his all against the hard hitting Pole, Gunn had a number of bouts fall out and is yet to return to the squared circle. With one year down the tubes, the 36 year old Gunn acknowledges he’s in the final chapter of his career and is only interested in facing world rated fighters.

“From world title fights to unsanctioned referees and early stoppages, I have seen it all,” exclaimed Gunn, a former IBA Cruiserweight champion. “I am a seasoned pro and have earned my stripes, so at this point it only benefits me to face noteworthy opponents.”

Flash back to July 11 2009, when heavily hyped Ran Nakash dismantled William Bailey on the Adamek-Gunn undercard. Ringsiders were buzzing about Nakash’s performance and were in agreement that he was ready for a step up. From that day forward, the unbeaten Nakash was linked to a match up against Gunn. Unfortunately, the bout is yet to happen despite Gunn’s willingness to battle him anytime, anywhere and any place.

Last night, following Nakash’s victory over Victor Barragan in which he attended, Gunn spoke with the media about his eagerness to fight the world rated Israeli. Those at ringside were once again discussing the potential match up, but Gunn was far more concerned with landing a fight than making a splash.

“This guy is a perfect opponent for me and I have wanted to face him for quite some time” said Gunn, a former Canadian National Amateur Champion. “He’s a very strong fighter, but he comes straight forward and gets hit with a ton of jabs. I know I can outbox this guy without a doubt.”

Gunn also hopes that Nakash’s post fight statements hold true.

“He told a number of media members after his victory that I’m the kind of guy he is looking to fight, but actions speak louder than words. I am ready to fight, but is he? Documentation beats conversation seven days a week Ran, sign the contract and let’s do this!”

Undefeated and World ranked cruiserweight, Ran Nakash talks about his win over Victor Barragan and looks forward to a possible September fight with Bobby Gunn

Watch Ran Nakash in Sports  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Undefeated 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner, Felix Diaz talks about his win over Broderick Antoine and championship aspirations

Watch Felix Diaz in Sports  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com