Farah Ennis 171 – Steve Walker 165 1/2
Coy Evans 126 1/2 – Babaro Zepeda 129
Van Oscar Penovaroff 136 1/2 – Kywame Hill 143 1/2
Olivia Fonseca 152 – Akima Stocks 153 1/2
Keenan Smith 130 – Rafael Montes 126 1/2
Darrell Jones 149 1/2 – Marcus Hall 148 1/2

Venue: Legendary Blue Horizon
1st Bell: 7:30 pm est
Promoter : SAM Promotions in assoc/ with Blue Horizon Boxing LLC

Yuri Foreman 154 – Miguel Cotto 153.5
Joe Greene 151.5 – Vanes Martirosyan 153 1/4

SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA — Competing for the fourth time since ending a nine-year absence from the sport, Paul Nave will take on Daniel Schlienz for the second time in a row in the welterweight main event of a four-bout card at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael tonight. Fighters weighed in on Thursday afternoon at the Embassy Suites San Rafael – Marin County.

Earlier this week, it appeared as though Nave would be taking on local journeyman Dario Castillo instead of entering into a rematch against Schlienz, over whom he had scored a six-round unanimous decision last November. In his two bouts since meeting Nave, Schlienz (7-19-1, 4 KOs) of Duluth, Minnesota has gone 0-2, with both losses coming inside the distance. After first approving Schlienz, the California State Athletic Commission asked Nave to find a new opponent. At the eleventh hour, the Commission relented and approved Schlienz, who arrived yesterday morning.

Nave (18-8-2, 7 KOs) of San Anselmo, California has been out of the ring since the November bout, but hopes that tonight’s fight marks the beginning of a busier schedule. Nave, who is also the promoter of tonight’s event, is the co-producer and subject of the reality television series Paul Nave: Goin’ The Distance which is currently airing on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Tonight’s main event will be filmed and portions will air as part of a later broadcast of the show. Nave scaled 146 ½-pounds, while Schlienz weighed in at 145.

In the co-feature Friday night, Jaime Rodriguez (5-6-3, 2 KOs) of Reno, Nevada will fight Jose Alfredo Lugo (9-13-1, 5 KOs) of Richmond, California by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in a six-round lightweight rematch. Their first encounter, which took place on the Nave-Schlienz undercard, was an exciting toe-to-toe battle that could have gone either way. Rodriguez weighed in at 132 ½, while Lugo scaled 133-pounds.

Ulyses Caballero (4-0-1, 3 KOs) of San Pablo, California will end an eight-year layoff and take on Jason Montgomery (1-0-1) of San Leandro, California in a four-round light middleweight fight. In an interesting side note, Caballero is trained by Robert Salinas, who trained Montgomery for a time as an amateur. Montgomery, who currently trains out of the Kennel Boxing Gym in San Leandro, weighed in at 153-pounds. Caballero, whose last fight was a decision over then 10-1 Jesse Gonzalez in May of 2002, scaled 150.

Also slated for the card is debuting Herman Bacho of Santa Rosa, California who will take on John Dunham (0-5-1) of Stockton, California in a four-round welterweight fight. Bacho and Dunham both weighed in at 144-pounds.

Promising local super bantamweight Jonathan Alcantara (4-1-1) of Novato, California was slated to take on Danny Pantoja (0-3-2) of Fairfield, California in a four-round bout. However Pantoja was a late scratch from the card and a new opponent was not found in time.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Liberty Boxing Enterprises, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Welterweights, 6 Rounds
Nave 146 ½
Schlienz 145

Lightweights, 6 Rounds
Rodriguez 132 ½
Lugo 133

Light Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Montgomery 153
Caballero 150

Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Bacho 144
Dunham 144

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

Six-time former world champion Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns, seven-time world champion and “Fighter of the Decade” Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and former Lightweight champion Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini pose with Hall of Fame Top Rank promoter Bob Arum(2nd from left) after attending the “Friars Club Salute to Bob Arum” in New York City Thursday night. Arum is in town promoting Miguel Cotto vs Yuri Foreman, Saturday,June 5 on HBO Championship Boxing at Yankee Stadium

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Emanuel Steward in a corner is a little bit like seeing an old soldier back in uniform. It fits. Amid the clutter and craziness along the ropes of boxing’s front lines, Steward belongs there a lot more than he belongs in a tux at ringside for Home Box Office. Make no mistake, Steward is a good commentator. So is Jim Lampley.

But Lampley couldn’t train a fighter, much less guide one through adversity any more than I or anybody else could in a media section full of egos that rival the waistlines. I’ve never wondered what Lampley or Larry Merchant or Max Kellerman could have done for Shane Mosley or Juan Manuel Marquez or Ricky Hatton against Floyd Mayweather Jr. But I have wondered whether Steward might have made a difference.

I won’t have to Saturday night, not with Steward in Miguel Cotto’s corner against Yuri Foreman in a junior-middleweight fight that is historic for its place, Yankee Stadium, and intriguing for what it means to Foreman as the first Israeli champion, Cotto as a symbol of Puerto Rican pride and Steward at a crossroads in a vanishing trade. There is Freddie Roach and Nazim Richardson and Nacho Beristain. Sorry, Roger Mayweather. Floyd, Jr., is so good, he could train himself.

Great trainers are becoming as endangered as the heavyweights, who have become the Klitschko division since – and perhaps because — of Steward’s work with Wladimir. Steward will probably never get the credit he deserves for Wladimir Klitschko’s dominance because of a weight class empty of a real threat. The Klitschko division has value only in the Euro zone.

In Yankee Stadium, however, Steward takes his own trip back in time to his historical corner with the welterweight and middleweight who launched him to fame in the 1980s. Steward is forever linked with Thomas Hearns, known for classic battles with Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler, to name just two. With his 66th birthday approaching on July 7, nobody has to ask Steward about the significance of his role in Cotto’s attempt to come back from a loss to Manny Pacquiao, whose bloody victory in November made the Puerto Rican look irreparably damaged.

“It is a major challenge to me at this stage of my career,” said Steward, whose spot on the HBO broadcasting team will be filled by Roy Jones Jr.

Steward recalled a time in the post-Hearns era when he was considered a “hired gun.” There’s a mixed message in that label. On one side, it is an acknowledgement of proven skill and accomplishment. On the other, it suggests an opportunist who sweeps in for a big fight and big payday before moving on to the next target.

Steward recalled working with Evander Holyfield and Oliver McCall. He also had one fight in Oscar De La Hoya’s corner. He came in with the ability to provide a quick fix. Sometimes, however, there is no fix. A hired gun is always in danger of getting shot down. To wit: Steward also was in Naseem Hamed’s corner on a night in 2001 when The Prince was transformed into a frog in a punishing lesson delivered by Marco Antonio Barrera.

In Cotto, however, Steward’s words and tone say he desperately walks to make this corner in his career work. There is pressure because of Puerto Rican hopes, especially in New York. Steward has always been a fan of Cotto, whose admirable honesty and toughness are as evident as his scars. But he didn’t realize how much Puerto Ricans have embraced Cotto until he left the arena in Atlantic City on April 17 after working the HBO broadcast of Sergio Martinez’ upset of Kelly Pavlik.

“I was bombarded by so many Puerto Rican fans, many of whom hadn’t even come to the fight,’’ said Steward, whose second in the corner Saturday will be Cotto’s former lead trainer, Joe Santiago. “But they were waiting for me and I never had any idea that this man was so popular with the Puerto Rican fans, even though I had known of his record crowds at (Madison Square) Garden.

“I had to tell Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley to go ahead and I had to walk on the boardwalk, in the rain.’’

Soaked by the downpour and surrounded by Cotto fans, the talk was Cotto, only Cotto. Seward’s hotel was only about a 10-minute walk away. But not on this night

“It took over an hour to get there,’’ Steward said. “They were telling me that Miguel was all that they have and it really has put a burden on me. So I have put my heart and soul into this training camp, not just to win the fight. There is a lot on the line in this fight for Miguel Cotto. It is a very emotional fight in a lot of ways for our camp.’’

Emotional enough, perhaps for Steward to be more than a hired gun. His long-term relationship is just another example of how trainers and fighters are linked almost like a left jab and a right hand. It is an inseparable combination that woks instinctively. But instinct isn’t immediate. It takes time to evolve as it has with Roach and Pacquiao.

Steward knows that as well, perhaps better, than anyone. It’s why he is forever linked to Hearns. It’s why he belongs in that corner.

At tonight’s Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, 15rounds.com writers Norm Frauenheim, Bart Barry and Adam Berlin will be cited for their excellence as they will take home Barney Awards.

The following awards for 15rounds.com

Best Column honorable mention for Bart Barry, Norm Frauenheim and Adam Berlin

Best News Story: Norm Frauenheim took home 1st place honors

Best Feature under 1750 words: Norm Frauenheim-Honorable Mention

Mt. Arlington’s Pawel Wolak is a man on a mission to throw his name in the hat of top 154 pound fighters in the world. Wolak, 26-1 (17 KO’s), is amongst the most popular fighters in the Garden State and feels he is on the cusp of a big fight.

This Saturday, Wolak looks to take another step in the right directions since his lone defeat to Ishe Smith when he battles fellow brawler James Moore in a highly anticipated ten round bout as part of the Miguel Cotto-Yuri Foreman untelevised undercard at the new Yankee Stadium.

MY: You are going to be taking on James Moore Saturday on a big card at Yankee Stadium. Tell us about it.

PW: I am excited for the fight and am definitely ready for it. I have trained extremely hard for seven weeks, have done the proper weight training and proper running, so this should be a great fight for me. I can’t wait!

MY: What is your assessment of James Moore? Have you watched any tapes?

PW: Yes I have seen a number of tapes. James is tough and he definitely brings the fight, but I have seen some mistakes so I am going to try and expose them.

MY: James Moore is somewhat similar to you in the sense that he likes to come forward and has bleed in past fights. With that said you have been boxing a lot more lately and did a good job doing so in your most recent bout against Ishmail Arvin. Against Moore, are you planning to fight fire with fire or box and move like Yuri Foreman did when he defeated him?

PW: I am going to do a little bit of both and adjust as the fight goes on and we will see what works better. I am definitely a fighter that likes to come forward and land big shots but it all depends how the fight goes.

MY: A fight between Moore and yourself had been discussed over the last few years locally. Both of you have since suffered defeats and are somewhat on different paths at the current moment. Do you feel this is a good time to face him or do you wish you faced him earlier?

PW: It’s definitely a good time! This is the first card at the new Yankee Stadium plus its taking place in New York where it should be.

MY: Both Moore and yourself are big ticket sellers. This is a huge card with Puerto Rican fans coming for Cotto, Jewish fans supporting Foreman, the Irish backing Moore, and of course, the Polish fans who follow you. Will the crowd size play a factor since it’s such a big card?

PW: There is always pressure, but the pressure for me is to win and be impressive in doing so. The stadium isn’t going to add any extra pressure, but I just have to win and that’s it.

MY: I know you work with trainer Aroz “Terrific” Gist in Paterson. Yuri Foreman also trains in Paterson with Joe Grier. Have you two ever sparred?

PW: I have been in the gym with him but we haven’t ever sparred together. I have been doing a lot of work with (unbeaten prospect) Steven Martinez for this fight.

MY: Tomasz Adamek is the biggest draw amongst Polish fighters. Being that he is a heavyweight on the cusp of a huge payday, he is likely going to have to fight in a casino or over in Europe, so Newark may very well be out of the picture. Would you feel comfortable being billed as the next big time Polish fighter and do you think you can draw sizeable numbers in Newark like Adamek?

PW: Of course that is the whole point! I want to move into that spot. Hopefully my fights can be exciting and the fans will want to come and see them.

MY: Shortly after your bout against Moore ends, a junior middleweight match up between Vanes Martirosyan and Joe Greene will air on HBO. If Vanes wins, do you see a match up between you two happening since you have been working with Top Rank?

PW: Definitely! I would love to face Vanes for a title or in an eliminator or something of that nature. I am not looking past Moore, but if I look good, the next step is going to be a top guy at 154!

MY: In your only defeat, you were outpointed by a slick boxer in Ishe Smith. What have you learned since then?

PW: I learned that at the top level, I have to be smarter. I knew that I was strong but I made some changes since then and my style has changed since training with Terrific. I am definitely going to be ready for a big shot a few months after the Moore fight.

MY: What do you most likely see happening next? Is there a specific fight or scenario in your mind?

PW: I see a title eliminator coming next.

MY: You are in a 154 lb division which does have some good fighters along with guys moving in and out of the division such as Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez. There is also Sergiy Dzindiruk, Yuri Foreman and Cory Spinks along with exciting contenders like Alfredo Angulo. Where do you feel that Pawel Wolak fits in?

PW: The division is tough and there are a lot of good fighters, but I also believe it is anybody’s division. Whoever prepares properly and lives the best outside of the ring (amongst the elite) will be on top. I definitely feel I belong with the elite at 154 lbs!

MY: As a fan of the sport, what is your take on the main event?

PW: I don’t know what is going to happen, but I am good friends with Yuri so I wish him the best. Yuri has to box and move, while Cotto will have to cut of the ring, fight on the inside and bang to the body to slow Yuri down, so whoever executes better will be the victor.

MY: Pawel, thanks for the interview. Do you have anything to add in closing for your fans and the readers of 15rounds.com?

PW: Thanks to all my fans out there and make sure to come out to Yankee Stadium Saturday night.

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

PROVIDENCE (June 3, 2010) – Fireworks will be delayed but only for a few days, exploding in the four-cornered ring July 9 when ESPN Friday Night Fights comes to Twin River Event Center for the “Let Freedom Ring” pro boxing card, presented by Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), in Lincoln, R.I.

The main event features NABO lightweight champion “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy (18-0-1, 10 KOs), rated No. 13 by the World Boxing Association, in his first title defense against challenger John John “The Hammer” Molina (20-1, 16 KOs), ranked No. 9 by the NABO.

“We’re bringing ESPN here to this beautiful casino,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield announced. “We want to thank ESPN. We’ve switched things around a little to have Hank Lundy defend his NABO title against John John Molina. It’s going to be an unbelievable fight. We’re very excited about this fight. Molina comes to fight and this will be the toughest fight of Hank’s career.”

New England and EBA super middleweight champion “Irish” Joey McCreedy (11-4-2, 6 KOs), trained by “Irish” Micky Ward and fighting out of Lowell (MA), makes has first middleweight fight in the 8-round co-feature against an opponent to be determined.

The potential Fight of the Night could turn out to be a special 6-round bout in which Providence’s Vladine Biosse (6-0, 4 KOs), a former University of Rhode Island football player, puts his undefeated record on the line in his stiffest test to date against Quincy (MA) light heavyweight Chris Traietti (8-2, 5 KOs), a college graduate and Iraq War veteran.

“We’re building New England boxing back to where it once was years ago when intense rivalries were developed between fighters from neighboring cities and states,” Burchfield added. “Pride and bragging rights were always at stake and that’s where we’re at now. Some of the best young talent in New England will be featured July 9 on ‘Let Freedom Ring.’ We’ll celebrate the birth of this great nation with another evening of competitive, entertaining fights. Fireworks will be going off all night in the ring.”

Quincy (MA) welterweight Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes (2-1, 1 KO) plans to avenge her only loss against Providence’s Kali Reis (2-0 1 KO), who won a hotly-contested 4-round decision in their first meeting, in a 6-round rematch.

Providence firefighter Eric Estrada makes his long-awaited pro debut as a cruiserweight in a 4-round match versus TBA. Estrada, whose brother is 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada, was perfect as an amateur with a 6-0 record, including victories in the New England Golden Gloves Tournament and Rocky Marciano Tournament.

Roxbury (MA) super middleweight Maceo Crowder (2-0, 1 KO), whose brother is 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade, takes on Worcester (MA) mixed martial arts fighter Ralph Johnson, making his pro boxing debut.

Also slated to fight in 4-round bouts against opponents soon to be announced are Warwick (RI) super middleweight Keith Kozlin (5-1, 3 KOs), Woonsocket (RI) super middleweight Joe Gardner (4-1-1, 1 KO), Lincoln light welterweight Diego Pereira (4-0, 2 KOs), and Fall River (MA) middleweight Dustin Reinhold (1-1, 1 KO). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets for “Let Freedom Ring,” priced at $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $100.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.

Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Let Freedom Ring.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)

Press Conference Quotes

Joey McCreedy: “I’m fighting at 160 and that’s where I’m going to stay for the rest of my l career. My career has been a rollercoaster ride; I let a lot of people down because I didn’t train right sometimes. Come July 9th my career is going to change. I’m young, only 25. I fight like Micky (Ward) and Vinny (Paz). I don’t back up. I will knock out my opponent – I don’t care who it is – and make a statement July 9th on ESPN.”

Vladine Biosse: “I’m always excited to know I’m on a card and putting on a good show. That’s what I enjoy doing – showcasing my talent. I want to be world champion. A lot of people have doubts and don’t think I can do it, but all my life I’ve come out on top. To the top I’m going and nobody can take that away from me.”

Keith Kozlin: “There a lot of talent up here. It’s a good card and I’m proud to be part of it. My last fight didn’t go the way we would have liked. You learn from mistakes and I’m going to get back in the win column.”

Diego Perreira: It’s been awhile since I last fought. I can’t wait to get in the ring. I believe everything happens for a reason. I’ve been out for over a year. I have a new coach and new manager. For those who’ve seen me fight, I’m aggressive and hit hard. Now you’ll see hard jabs, good movement and a better Diego on July 9th.”

Maceo Crowder: “I’m focused on July 9th. It gets better for me every fight. It doesn’t matter who I fight, I’ve always been like that.”

Joe Gardner: “I had been trying to get back into boxing for a few years. I finally did against Vlad – he’s a tough guy – but I’ll be better this time.”

Kali Reiss: “It’s been over a year since I last fought. This is a redemption fight, my first 6-round fight. I’m coming to fight and show my skills. I’m stronger and better.”

Eric Estrada: “I’m excited to be making my pro debut July 9th at Twin River. I’m proud to represent the Providence Fire Department, CES and the Big Six Academy. Training camp has been doing well with my father training me and brother always supporting me.

Dustin Reinhold: “I’m very excited to finally be fighting on one of these cards. I’ve seen so many fighters on these shows and I was supposed to fight a few times. I broke my hand and re-broke my hand, but I’m finally fighting on this card. I’ve always dreamed of fighting professionally. I’m happy to be doing this.”

PHILADELPHIA (June 3, 2010)—Two highly regarded fighters will take part in the two co-featured bouts this Friday night at The Legendary Blue Horizon that will headline a seven bout card promoted by SAM Promotions in association with Blue Horizon Boxing LLC.

Farah Ennis (13-0, 7 KO’s) will take on forty-eight fight veteran Steve Walker in one six round co-feature of Super Middleweights while undefeated featherweight, Coy “Pretty Boy” Evans (8-0-1, 2 KO’s) will do battle with thirty-two fight vet Barbaro Zepeda in the second co-feature.

Ennis of Philadelphia has been making a steady climb up the ranks and has prepared for this fight under the watchful eye of his father and renowned trainer, Derrick “Bozy” Ennis.

“I really don’t know his name or know his record”, said Farah.

“I am coming in prepared and looking for a victory. Even though I don’t know much about my opponent, I never sleep on anyone as I know they are always looking for a fight but I am coming to fight too.”

Like Ennis, Evans (8-0-1, 2 KO’s) is trained by “Bozy” Ennis and has looked explosive recently as he has racked up highlight-reel knockouts in two of his last three bouts.

“I don’t know much about Zepeda”, said Evans.

“If I listen to my corner and do what I have to do, I will come out victorious on Friday night.”

“I love to fight at The Legendary Blue Horizon as this is the place where a lot of the greats fought and on Friday I am looking to have a great performance”

Both Evans and Ennis are managed by Moz Gonzalez and Eddie Woods.

The remaining five bouts are as followed:

Van Oscar Penovaroff (5-0, 4 KO’s) vs. Kywame Hill (1-3-1, 1 KO) in a six round Lightweight bout.
Keenan Smith (1-0) vs. Alex Monte (1-0) in a four round Super Featherweight bout
Olivia Fonseca (3-2-2, 2 KO’s) vs. Akima Stocks (3-0, 3 KO’s) in a four round female Jr. Middleweight bout
Ismael Garcia (1-0) vs. Damion Reed(0-1) in a four round Jr. Middleweight bout
Darrell Jones (3-0, 1 KO) vs. Marcus Hall (3-1, 2 KO’s) in a four round Jr. Middleweight bout

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

The Legendary Blue Horizon is located at 1314 North Broad Street

Ward, Green Talk up Title Fight

On June 19th at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, Andre Ward will defend his WBA Super Middleweight title for the first time against longtime contender Allan Green as part of Group Stage 2 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Ward and Green, a replacement in the Showtime-televised tournament for the departed Jermain Taylor, discussed their upcoming fight at a press conference held in Oakland on May 10th.

Green (29-1, 20 KOs) of Tulsa, Oklahoma decided against making the cross country trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he is training to Oakland for the presser, but appeared on screen via a live stream. The normally self-aggrandizing Green was a bit more subdued than was expected, but he still exuded confidence in regards to the June bout. “Andre Ward is a good young fighter. Very skilled, very talented and I do respect his skills. But against a fighter like myself, he is going to have to bring a lot more to the table than he did against Mikkel Kessler,” said Green referring to Ward’s title-winning effort. “I did admire what he did to Kessler; no disrespect there, but at the same time, come June 19th I will be WBA Super Middleweight Champion.”

Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland refused to talk down Green in anyway, and if anything built up the Tulsa native. “In my opinion, Allan Green is a beast,” said Ward. “That’s what I am preparing for. That’s what I am eating, sleeping and drinking. I’m getting ready to fight a monster, that’s how I am looking at it.”

Fighting in Oakland for the third time in a row, which accounts for all of the fights he has had in his hometown, Ward sounded eager to get back in front of his supportive fan base. “We have a date, June 19th. When you have a date and you got a dancing partner, there not much else that needs to be said. We have that, and I look forward to putting on another tremendous performance for the fans and, believe it or not, I am going for three points in this fight,” said Ward in reference to the points a knockout victory would earn him in the tournament.

Ward’s reserved, but well stated trainer Virgil Hunter was a bit more tongue-in-cheek in his assessment of the June 19th fight. “We understand what we have to do,” claimed Hunter. “It didn’t take much to go back to the drawing board because, basically, you are getting ready to fight a guy that specializes in knocking out people that have been knocked out before several times. So you have to ask yourself that when you are making your preparation. How do you prepare for a guy that specializes in knocking out people who have been knocked out? So it gets pretty simple after that.”

Tickets for the event, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Antonio Leonard Productions and DiBella Entertainment, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Schlienz Out; Nave Lines up New Opponent for Friday

Paul Nave, three fights into his return to boxing, was tabbed to rematch journeyman Daniel Schlienz this Friday, June 4th at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael, California. Nave defeated Schlienz by decision back in November, and had hoped to improve upon that outing by taking the rematch in more decisive fashion. However, Schlienz was ruled out after suffering a stoppage defeat last month, which left Nave and his matchmakers looking for a new opponent to fill the slot.

Two weeks and three days before the fight, Nave received a phone call from Assistant Chief Athletic Inspector Che Guevara informing him that his opponent would not be approved by the California State Athletic Commission. Nave was especially frustrated with the ruling coming so close to fight date, and because he disagreed with the commission’s decision.

“Their job is whether, in their eyes, the fight is safe or not,” said Nave (18-8-2, 7 KOs) of San Anselmo, California. “Is it a mismatch or a blow out, or is it safe. I already fought the guy. There was no knockdowns and it went all six rounds. He is not suspended and I had a competitive fight with him, it was no blow out.”

At the time of our interview, local journeyman Dario Castillo (5-10-1) of Pittsburg, California was tabbed to replace Schlienz in the main event. Should Castillo be the guy, Nave will have some adjustments to make. “He is left handed I hear now, and I have probably not fought a left hander in twenty years and now I will be fighting a left handed kid,” said Nave about the southpaw Castillo. “My preparation is going pretty good, but it is just frustrating that I am not sure who I am fighting now.”

Nave is not only preparing for a fight, in which his company Liberty Boxing Enterprises is the promoter, but he is the co-producer and subject of the reality television series Paul Nave: Goin’ The Distance which airs on Sunday nights on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. The series has followed his family life and documented all the preparation it takes to promote and get ready for a fight. For many, this would be an impossible workload and balancing act. “It is a lot of work, and it is not easy,” admits Nave.

In the co-feature Friday night, Jaime Rodriguez (5-6-3, 2 KOs) of Reno, Nevada will fight Jose Alfredo Lugo (9-13-1, 5 KOs) of Richmond, California by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in a six-round lightweight rematch. They originally met in a highly entertaining bout on the November undercard, with Rodriguez taking a contested six-round unanimous decision.

All-action super bantamweight Jonathan Alcantara (4-1-1) of Novato, California will take on Danny Pantoja (0-3-2) of Fairfield, California in a four-round bout. Alcantara is coming in off of an upset unanimous decision over former amateur standout David Clark on April 1st. Pantoja, who has been matched quite tough in his career, comes in off a decision loss to former National Golden Gloves Champion Efrain Esquivas on April 23rd.

Ending an eight-year layoff, Ulyses Caballero (4-0-1, 3 KOs) of San Pablo, California will take on former amateur standout Jason Montgomery (1-0-1) of San Leandro, California in a four-round light middleweight fight.

Also slated for the card is debuting Herman Bacho of Santa Rosa, California who will take on John Dunham (0-5-1) of Stockton, California in a four-round welterweight fight.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Liberty Boxing Enterprises, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Julaton Takes on Villalobos June 30th

Looking to rebound from a decision loss to Lisa Brown in March, Ana Julaton will return to the site of that recent defeat, the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada to take on Maria Elena Villalobos on June 30th. Their fight, for the vacant WBO Super Bantamweight title, will be shown live nationwide in Canada on TSN.

Julaton (6-2-1, 1 KO) of Daly City, California is not only returning to the Casino Rama, but the June bout will mark the return of Freddie Roach to her corner. Julaton had been trained by either Nonito Donaire Sr. or Rick Noble before her past three fights. At a recent press conference Julaton sounded excited to return to Rama and rejoin Roach. “I am hoping to provide amazing boxing,” said Julaton. “I feel that is what the fans want. On June 30th that is what I provide, especially with Freddie back in the corner. He is the first guy I started out with for my first six professional fights. Just to be reunited with him. The chemistry is not only there, it is a lot stronger.”

Villalobos (6-3, 3 KOs) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico is coming off of a failed attempt at the WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Marcela Acuna in Argentina in April. In that fight Villalobos went the full ten round distance, but lost a unanimous decision to perhaps the top fighter in the division.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Orion Sports Management, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Two Strong Showings at 2010 National Golden Gloves

Northern California was represented by two boxers at the 2010 National Golden Gloves in Little Rock, Arkansas last month. Eros Correa, a 108-pounder out of San Jose, California, and Eric Altamirano, a 132-pounder out of Concord, California, both advanced to the quarterfinals at the national tournament.

Correa, who fights out of the San Jose PAL Sports Center, notched a decision victory over David Carlton of Cincinnati, Ohio in the preliminary round. In the quarterfinals, Correa was defeated by Santos Vasquez of Sun Valley, Nevada by decision.

Altamirano, who trains at the Community Youth Center in Concord, scored two victories en route to the quarterfinals. In his first bout, Altamirano scored a decision win over Ryan Martin of Knoxville, Tennessee. The following day Altamirano scored a first round stoppage of Christopher Singleton of Gonzales, Louisiana. In the quarterfinals, Altamirano lost a decision to Duran Caferro of Helena, Montana.

Photo by Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor Promotions

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

Moments after Amir Khan dominated Paulie Malignaggi in his American debut in mid May he declared he wanted to fight again and soon. He even went as far as to say his preference would be at the end of July or early August before he begins his religious fasting for Ramadan begins.

On the same day as Khan’s beatdown of Malignaggi two possible future foe’s collided when Michael Katsidis and Britain’s Kevin Mitchell clashed. Katsidis proved to strong and to good stopping Mitchell in the third round thus very much putting himself in the box seat for a fight with Amir Khan.

However as time has passed in the ensuing weeks word was the Katsidis had turned down the fight. Not so according to Katsidis manager/trainer Brendon Smith who would say.

“Michael Katsidis has never pulled out of a fight with Amir Khan. I don’t believe a fight can be made because Michael is too much of a risk for Amir Khan”

Before continuing “I am confident in saying team Khan has viewed the tape of Michael with Kevin Mitchell and a cross would of went through Michael’s name immediately as an opponent as it did before when Malignaggi was selected for Amir’s US debut and therefore Joel Casamayor has now become a much safer choice”

British newspaper The Sun is reporting that Golden Boy have offered Casamayor in the region of £400,000 (Just short of $600,000) to face Khan on 31 July at London’s 02 Arena.

A disappointed Smith added that “I have never received an offer to fight Amir Khan with Michael, but I did have a discussion with Richard Schaefer who would love to put this fight on and knows we are available on the proviso that Michael is paid accordingly and trust me on this, only paid fairly and not over priced”

It’s not only Khan who isn’t safe from Smith’s broadside, European champion John Murray was also brought up.

“I am also sad to say that i am right on this one too. I have never heard back from his camp with any offer whatsoever. But this is not the first time this has happened as well. I have on a couple of occasion’s in the past (pre Mitchell fight) been contacted by team Murray but that is as far as it goes!”

The shame as Smith puts it is that neither British fighter will step up and fight Katsidis who is also popular in Britain having fought there twice previously when he KO’d both Graham Earl & recently Kevin Mitchell. Though he believes Katsidis must be doing something right if both are using Katsidis name to promote there own. He ended with this message for British fight fans.

“England your two great fighters have temporarily lost their balls and unless they find them quickly, you won’t be seeing Michael Katsidis in the opposite corner and that is the truth!!”

Just encase you missed it Michael Katsidis is available for a fight and he’d love it to be in Britain so he can attempt to complete his hatrick of victories over British fighters.

Bonus footage of Allan Green as he prepares for his June 19th showdown with with WBA Super Middleweight champion Andre Ward as part of the World Boxing Classic

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was at Yankee Stadium as WBA Super Welterweight champion Yuri Foreman and former two-division world champion Miguel Cotto met the media just three days before thir historic battle at Yankee Stadium. Also see photos featuring the televised co-feature between undefeated Jr. Middleweights Vanes Martirosyan and Joe Greene

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the June 12 IBF Jr. Middleweight title fight between Cory Sprinks and Cornelius Bundrage has been postponed due to event conflicts in the city of St. Louis.

The most notable, according to Don King, was that St. Louis radio station, Hot 104.1 FM, which has helped him promote past fight cards, recently announced its “Super Jam 3” concert for the same day as the fight.

King said he preferred to not compete with a radio station that already has a commitment to be somewhere else on June 12, especially when both events draw from the same urban community and the boxing event was reliant on ticket sales because there was no television outlet.

“Cory told me he has been receiving messages from his fans saying they were disappointed that they could not attend both events,” King said. “On top of that, I have now confirmed that I will be coming back to St. Louis with a world championship card in August, so it’s really not best to have two boxing events competing with each other in the same market.

Joined by new trainer Emanuel Steward, former two-division champion Miguel Cotto works out for the media at Trinity Boxing Club in New York City just four days before his big showdown with WBA Super Welterweight champion Yuri Foreman in Yankee Stadium–Photos by Claudia Bocanegra

WBA Super Welterweight champion Yuri Foreman works out for the media at the Trinity Boxing Club in New York City in anticipation of his big showdown with Miguel Cotto this Saturday night in Yankee Stadium–Photos by Claudia Bocanegra

Earlier this year Vitali Tajbert 20-1(6) achieved his goal when he was named WBC Super Featherweight champion. Based in Germany but of Kazakhstan decent the 28 year old had beaten Mexican puncher Humberto Gutierrez on points late last year for the Interim title but when another Mexican Humberto Soto abdicated his thrown Tajbert was declared full champion. A few weeks back Tajbert made the first defence of his crown when he turned back perennial contender Hector Velazquez on points when the fight was stopped due to an accidental headbutt in the ninth. Tajbert is a tough European fighter with solid skills who despite a quality amateur resume wasn’t highly though of and had lost his biggest fight when he fought European champion Sergei Gulaykevich in 2008. But you know what they say about what doesn’t break you makes you stronger it worked for Tajbert who while others dismissed him refocused and rebounded to win a world title. Here’s what Tajbert had to say after his recent fight with Velazquez.

Hello Vitali, welcome to 15rounds.com?

Hello, it’s nice to be here and thanks for having me.

Anson Wainwright – Congratulations on making your first defence, what can you tell us about the fight with Hector Velazquez?

Vitali Tajbert – It was a tough job. I was under pressure and the cut in the beginning confused me a little bit. At some point it was difficult to see something with my left eye. But I was lucky as i have two eyes. Sure, it’s a handicap to get such a cut so early but I focussed on my boxing, especially starting from Round 5. Before the bout, I was afraid of a headbutt because of that I wanted highly variable.

Anson Wainwright – How is the cut from that fight healing? Will you need plastic surgery?

Vitali Tajbert – Directly after the bout I went to a hospital. The cut needed 14 stitches. The cut was very deep. But anyway, there are always a solution. Cut or no Cut. A real fighter have to survive everything. That is my attitude.

Anson Wainwright – You were awarded the WBC Super Featherweight title. What can you tell us about the moment you were told you were the full champion? How does it feel now?

Vitali Tajbert – It was the luckiest moment in my life. I worked more than 17 years to win this belt. Many people ask me how it feels to have this belt. It is still amazing. The last 5 years as a pro I worked so hard to get this belt. Now I am the champion and you can be sure that I want to keep this belt for a long time. To me it is the oldest and best boxing association in the world. They’ve had Champions like Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis.

Anson Wainwright – How were you received in Kazakhstan after becoming the WBC Super Featherweight champion? How popular are you at home?

Vitali Tajbert – Sure, the people know me but they see me as a German not as a Russian. And my German is a little bit better like my Russian. I am German, but i’m very happy about the support from Kazakhstan und Russia too.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team. Who is your manager, trainer & promoter? What gym do you regularly use to train at?

Vitali Tajbert – First of all my promoter is Universum Box-Promotion and I am very happy about that. I feel like a million dollars. Dietmar Poszwa is my manager. He is great. My trainer is Magomed Schaburow. If I would have had Magomed Schaburow at the Olympic Games in 2004, I’m sure that I would have been the Olympic champion. Usually I train in Stuttgart if I have no bouts. During the intensive stage I train in Hamburg.

Anson Wainwright – Do you make 130 easily? What weight do you walk around at? Can you tell us about your dieting for a fight?

Vitali Tajbert – I quit my dinner. I only eat in the morning and after my first training in midday. Of course i eat a lot of un-greased food with vitamins.

Anson Wainwright – You were a successful amateur boxer, you won the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. Looking back on that what do you feel about your experience of having fought at the Olympics?

Vitali Tajbert – Olympic Games are fantastic. It’s a very special atmosphere. It is very difficult to describe this feeling.

Anson Wainwright – What other titles did you win in the amateur game? What top fighter that are now in the pro’s did you face?

Vitali Tajbert – As Amateur: x 7 German Champion, Junior World Champion 2000, Gold medal International Chemie-Pokal / Halle 2001, Vice-World Champion / Bangkok 2003, European Champion 2004, Bronze medal Olympic Games in Athens, Gold medal European Championship in Pula / Croatian 2004, Gold medal Military Championship Pretoria / South Africa (Best Boxer of Tournament) 2005

Anson Wainwright – Away from Boxing what do you like to do with your time? Do you have any hobbies you can tell us about?

Vitali Tajbert – I love Soccer. I am a very hard-running and a good midfielder. My friends and i meet us once a week to play soccer together. Some Friends playing in the 3rd German League and i keep up with them. I like the club of my hometown VFB Stuttgart and Hamburger SV too. I am very interesting in international soccer like Barcelona, Madrid, Chelsea etc. But my decision pro boxing was the right decision. Boxing 1st everything for me and gave me a lot.

Anson Wainwright – How did you first get into Boxing?

Vitali Tajbert – I started Boxing when i was a young boy in Stuttgart. My first box-club was VFK Germania. Later, i changed to Velberter BC. Next was the German armed forces and my contract with Universum Box-Promotion.

Anson Wainwright – What do you hope to achieve from Boxing? Who are your favourite fighters to watch?

Vitali Tajbert – I don’t have a Idol or something like that. Everyone is on his or her way unique. I like Boxer’s who are not punchers. I like to watch technical boxing on a high level. Of course, i love to see fights in my weight class.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans in Europe and anyone who may see this in America?

Vitali Tajbert – Thanks for your support. I really appreciate that. I hope that i still show great bouts for and with you. I want to show the most proud boxing as possible. If you are satisfied, i am double satisfied. Still believe in me. I will return a blow of interest to you guys. Take a look on Youtube.com/UBPboxing and watch all my Fights in Full Length. And keep clicking on 15rounds.com!

Thanks for your time Vitali, keep up the good work.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Hollywood, Florida – On Friday Night June 4, 2010 at the Fuchs Pavilion at the famed Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds, home of the Miami-Dade County, BLUE WAVE GROUP in association with Caribe Promotions, DeCubas Presents and Warriors Boxing and ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights”, presents an evening of World Class Boxing in honor of Cuba’s “Ladies in White”.

The main event features Cuba’s 2004 Olympic Silver Medal winner Yudell Johnson (6-0, 4 KO’s) against hard hitting Brazilian contender Juliano Ramos (16-3, 13 KO’s). The Co-Main Event features undefeated Puerto Rican Contender Kenny Galarza (13-0, 13 KO’s) against also undefeated US contender Brad Solomon (11-0, 4 KO’s).

In addition to these 2 action packed fights, there will be 6 additional bouts featuring Cuban and Puerto Rican Olympians and other up and coming international boxers.

“Blue Wave Group is very excited about presenting this event. We promise everyone who attends they will be thoroughly entertained as we have several surprises in store for the live audience in addition to the great fights scheduled” said Derek Jackson, CEO of Blue Wave Group, LLC.

“I cannot think of a better group to honor during our boxing show then our beloved “Ladies in White” said Boris Arencibia, President of Caribe Promotions.

Yudell Johnson, a Cuban Defector who won the silver medal at the Olympics in Athens, Greece in 2004, is fighting his first main event. Despite having only 6 professional fights, Yudell believes he is ready to step up to the big time because of his extensive amateur background and Olympic experience. He faces a fighter in who Juliano Ramos who has 13 knockouts in wins, 16 wins, and who brings more professional experience. Ramos who has been on ESPN, and has been in with World Champions Kermit Cintron and up and coming superstar Mike Jones. Ramos is coming off a 1st round knockout of previously undefeated Jarred Leblanc (12-0) in his last fight.

In the Co-Main event Kenny Galarza tries to keep his knockout streak going against an undefeated Brad Solomon in a true “pick-em” fight.

Tickets are available on www.ticketcaliente.com or by calling 954-985-1155 for other ticket locations. The prices are as follows: $35 and $75, VIP table seats are also available at $100, $150 and $200 per seat, or on the day of the event at the Fuchs Pavilion Box Office. Doors open at 6:30pm and first fight will start at 7pm. Fuchs Pavilion at Miami Dade County Fair Expo Center, 109th Avenue and Coral Way, Miami, Florida 33316.

For more information please call Warriors Boxing at 954-985-1155, Ricky DeCubas at 305-586-1330 and Luis Fernandez at 786-216-8633

Nate Campbell Live on air Interview! – This past weekends Weekend Fight recaps and upcoming Cotto/Foreman fight preview! 15rounds.com’s Johnny Schulz presents: Talking BOXING with JSizzle and New York Dan NYD. And joined by Billy from Philly – A weekly Sunday boxing show covering Boxing from all angles. Alongside and boxing aficionado Danny “NYD” Stasiukiewicz, RTB will cover: • All of the week’s top boxing stories from results to fight previews.

BRONX, NY (May 31, 2010)—On Saturday night June 5th, A special and historical night of boxing will take place at Yankee Stadium.

The night will be special for many reasons to many people. But for one it will particularly special as for Darren Antola it will be a chance to serve as a cutman for WBA Super Welterweight champion Yuri Foreman in his title defense against former two-division champion Miguel Cotto.

Antola who grew up in North Jersey was a rabid Yankee fan as a kid and like many kids in his neighborhood, had dreams of donning the pinstripes and being a Yankee.

Antola will be a busy man on June 5th as before he accompanies Foreman to the ring, he will be in the corner of emerging prospects Jorge Diaz and Pawel Wolak.

“This fight night is definatly a dream come true for me to participate at Yankee Stadium”, said Antola.

“Growing up I was a huge fan of the Yankees and Don Mattingly and I don’t think I was any different from anybody else on wanting to play for the Yankees and now I can work on the same grounds as Derek Jeter on a high profile stage.”

Antola began to box at the Times Square Gym where he met Jimmy Archer who was the brother of Middleweight contender Joey Archer.

Unfortunately, Antola was in a car accident which cut short any type of in-ring career.

Antola had the fire to stay around boxing and would hang around boxing gyms and just talk boxing with the likes of Lou Duva and legendary cutman Ace Marotta.

Also at the gym was world renowned trainer Tommy Brooks, who just happened to be the son-in-law to Duva.

Also in the gym was another cutman named Jimmy Colotto. Colotto learned his trade from Chicky Ferrera and Charlie Goldman.

Colotto took Antola under his wing and young Darren began to learn everything there was to know about being a competent cutman.

Antola continued to observe and learn in the gym until he was ready to work his first corner.

Although a little nervous, Antola remembered a very important bit of advice he received from Archer and that is “Don’t Panic and just do your job”

Antola’s first experience with a cut happened in an exhibition bout in Ohio where Antola was working with Archer. The fighter for which Archer was working with suffered a cut just ten seconds into the round, when sitting in the corner, Archer told Antola “Darren, be ready to take care of that cut”

Much to his surprise the nerves were gone and Antola went to work on the fighter’s cut. The cut was not a problem for the remaineder of the fight and Antola had his calling.

Months later, Brooks came to Antola and told him that it was time to leave the exhibition circuit and join him and Duva in the paid ranks. Antola wanted to seek approval from his mentor, and Archer gave him his blessing to become a professional cutman.

From that point on, Antola begun working with Brooks and Duva first at the Red Brick Gym in Newark, New Jersey then later at a gym that Brooks and Duva opened up in West Paterson, New Jersey.

Antola has built up a great reputation for himself as he has been in the corner for Yuri Foreman’s WBA Super Welterweight title winning effort this past November 14th in Las Vegas. Not bad for a kid from New Jersey.

Antola also has manned the corner of other world champions such as former WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Kendall Holt as well as former Heavyweight champion of the world Riddick Bowe and former Jr. Welterweight champion Vivian Harris as well as former two-time cruiserweight title challenger Bobby Gunn.

In addition to Foreman, Wolk and Diaz, Antola also is the chief cutman for some of New Jersey’s finest prospects such as Jeremy Bryan, Victor Valenzuela, as well as Maryland’s undefeated Light Heavyweight, Mark “TNT” Tucker .

World ranked welterweight contender Jesus Soto Karass was the headliner, but two fighters with just seven combined pro fights stole the spotlight Saturday night on the latest installment of the “Top Rank Live” series from the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.

WBC #15/IBF #13 ranked welterweight Soto Karass had hoped to get back in the win column after a disappointing finish to his bout against Alfonso Gomez on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey undercard in March. Instead, Soto Karass again went home disappointed Saturday in Chicago after his fight with completely unheralded Gabriel Martinez was ruled a no contest after a single solitary round.

Nothing of note occurred in the three minutes of action, other than an accidental head clash that opened a terrible gash underneath Martinez’ left eye. As Martinez (24-1-1, 13 KOs) of Empalme, Sonora, Mexico took a step forward, Soto Karass (24-4-3, 16 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico leaped in with a looping right hand. The end result was the headbutt, which caused the stoppage in between rounds one and two.

For Soto Karass, 149, Saturday’s no contest was just another speed bump in a long career that has come a bit off track. Two point deductions cost him a draw against Gomez in their abbreviated six-round encounter. Prior to that bout, Soto Karass had gone on a solid win streak, picking up wins over some noteworthy names since his last defeat in 2005. For the unknown Martinez, 149, a precious opportunity was dashed and his cut will likely keep him out of the ring for some time. Martinez previous credentials included a draw against then unbeaten prospect Euri Gonzalez in 2007 and a kayo by ten against praised Mexican welterweight prospect Saul Alvarez in 2008.

The ticket-seller, as well as most locally and nationally publicized fighter on the card Mike Lee (1-0) of Chicago launched his pro career with a four-round unanimous decision over Emmit Woods (0-4-1) of Saint Joseph, Missouri in the night’s special attraction. Lee, reportedly singled-handedly responsible for $110,000 in ticket sales, pleased his large contingent of supporters as he won every round against the perfectly-matched Woods. Lee, 174, played up his Notre Dame graduate status by wearing the colors of the “Fighting Irish,” before taking the fight to the defensive-minded Woods, 171.

Woods presented little resistance, which was by the matchmaker’s design obviously, but Lee did prove to have the basic fundamentals of at least an ordinary fighter. Whether or not Lee, who has been under the tutelage of renowned trainer Ronnie Shields for the past two months, can turn into a true prospect remains to be seen. Lee does have the promoter in Top Rank that a fighter in his situation would want. Those who thought the career of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was moved painfully slow may need to hold on for the path that Lee’s career will tread.

Even with the action coming from one direction, the Lee crowd found reasons to chant his name, hoot and holler. After four rounds of arm-punching flurries with Woods covering up against the ropes, a visibly winded Lee was declared the winner on all three judges’ scorecards. Scores read 40-36 across the board for the former Chicago Golden Gloves Champion Lee.

With all the attention heaped on Lee, many fight fans at the UIC Pavilion on Saturday may end up recalling their presence at the event one day as the night they saw a young Jose Benavidez Jr. knockout Ronnie Peterson in one round. That is exactly what happened in the first fight of the night, which was held back to be the final fight on the Fox Spots en Espanol telecast.

Benavidez Jr. (6-0, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Phoenix, Arizona grabbed headlines earlier in the week when his scheduled July 17th Arizona homecoming was cancelled. The event was called off when sponsors threatened to pull out if it were held in Arizona, due to the controversial legislative measure SB 1070 that was signed into Arizona law. In public protest, Benavidez wore a shirt with the characters SB 1070 written across it with a circle and slash through it.

Peterson (3-2, 3 KOs) of Mounds View, Minnesota was in over his head with the classy Benavidez, 139, from the start. It would eventually be a body shot that would down Peterson, 138 ½, and end the fight. Time of the stoppage was 2:45 of the first. The July 17th event is reportedly moving to border city Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, but Benavidez will first return to the ring on June 24th on the Latin Fury card emanating from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Light welterweight prospect Ivan Popoca (14-0-1, 10 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois by way of Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico survived a brief scare to pass the toughest test of his career thus far and score a fifth-round stoppage over Jose Luis Soto Karass (20-15-1, 18 KOs) of Los Angeles by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Popoca, 138, quickly found Soto Karass, 138, to be a determined and willing adversary, as the two combatants got right to work from the start. After flip-flopping the opening two rounds, Popoca briefly looked to be taking control before a sudden turn in the fourth. About thirty seconds into the round, Soto Karass landed a perfect right hand counter to surprise and drop the crowd favorite Popoca. Popoca got back to his feet, but was still on unsteady legs as he tried to hold on to Soto Karass. By midway through the round, Popoca, who had not yet completely regained his footing, was out landing a tired Soto Karass.

Soto Karass seemed to hurt Popoca early in the fifth, but the Chicago resident would not stop coming forward. As Soto Karass again began to slow his output, Popoca landed a crisp right hand to wobble and eventually drop his opponent. With a little help from one of the middle ropes, Soto Karass got to his feet before the count of ten. However, referee Gerald Scott waved of the bout at 2:07 of the round

Antonio Avila (3-1, 1 KO) of Chicago scored a four-round unanimous decision over David Laque (2-5-1, 2 KOs) of Bloomington, Minnesota. Avila, 134, had trouble with the southpaw stance of Laque, 138, in the first round. By the opening of the second round, Avila settled into his boxing stance and began to time the awkward Laque. A wide left hook for Avila excited the crowd and removed Laque’s mouthpiece late in the round. Avila proved to have the better conditioning, as Laque never gave up, but seemed to run out of gas. Some heated back-and-forth action closed the fight which was scored unanimously for Avila, 40-36.

Wendel Boyd Henley (5-0-1, 5 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri and Marcus Thompkins (5-0-1, 2 KOs) of Michigan City, Indiana both remained undefeated after fighting to a six-round majority draw. Henley, 147, was the aggressor, but Thompkins, 145, was at times an effective counter puncher. In the end, the scores were 59-55 for Henley and 57-57 twice.

Krzysztof Zimnoch (3-0-1, 3 KOs) of Bialystok, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland remained perfect with a third-round knockout of Michael Moncrief (3-7-1, 1 KO) of Cleveland, Ohio. Zimnoch, 230, landed a right uppercut that stunned Moncrief, 245, in the third. Zimnoch quickly followed up with a hellacious series of unanswered shots that prompted referee Gerald Scott to stop the contest at 2:12 of the round.

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

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

It’s easy to find a professional athlete who will talk to you about his strengths. It’s only slightly harder to find one who will tell you about his peers’ weaknesses. A professional athlete who will speak to you in good faith about his own weaknesses, though, is a rare thing.

Those were my thoughts Thursday afternoon as I walked up the Alamodome ramp to Parking Lot A. They were thoughts that came courtesy of an interview with Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera. Still under the spell of Barrera’s courteousness, friendliness and apparent openness, I was about an hour from noticing something I’d missed with Barrera.

He hadn’t told me half as much as I’d imagined.

Barrera was at Alamodome to help Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. promote Top Rank’s “Latin Fury 15,” which happens June 26 in San Antonio. Until last week, “La Furia de México” had a different Mexican in the co-main event. Jorge Arce was scheduled to fight Puerto Rican Eric Morel but sustained a fight-canceling gash in sparring. That meant Barrera’s match with Brazilian lightweight Adailton De Jesus acquired a new importance and mandated his presence at a rescheduled press conference, Thursday.

Barrera, dressed in a striped charcoal suit with a raspberry-sherbet tie, arrived late and strode in the arena with his wife. He stood on stage beside Chavez and posed for pictures, looking darker and duller than usual. He spoke in the hastily acquired English he’s been using since Golden Boy Promotions decided he had crossover potential five years ago, and he told us his goal was to win a fourth world title. Then he switched to Spanish and became Barrera once more.

His upcoming match with De Jesus will add nothing to his legacy, a legacy that includes a historic trilogy with fellow Mexican Erik Morales, a legacy that will win him a first-ballot vote to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He understands his role in this promotion; he lends his name, a famous one in Mexico, to the name of Chavez’s dad, a more-famous one in Mexico.

Certain people radiate with intellectual horsepower. You find them occasionally on college campuses, rarely in corporations, and almost never in professional athletics. It is not the athlete’s place to supply such radiance, and to look for it is often a sign of envy: What kind of society values this guy a thousand times more than me?

Barrera is an exception. As you interview him in Spanish, a language he’s mastered, you feel him examining you right back. There’s no moral intent, per se; he doesn’t seem to care if you’re honest or will treat him honestly. Rather, he examines you as a rival, as though he wants you to challenge him with a question. He’s confident you can’t, of course, confident to a point that is often taken for arrogance. He shows no defensiveness.

Now that he’s done protecting the Golden Boy Promotions brand as a “partner,” he is accessible. Now that he’s temporarily under Top Rank’s banner, he is even more accessible.

Top Rank lets you put hands on its people. It understands the importance of access better than its rivals. It allows public arguments within, or even against, the media, because it understands what a younger generation of promoters has yet to learn: So long as people talk about you and your event, whatever they say, they promote your event.

Thursday, I didn’t want the interference of a translator, and I sure as hell didn’t want Barrera’s English-speaking imposter. I wanted the most eloquent prizefighter I’ve met, alone, and in Spanish. I approached the table where Barrera and his wife waited for print media to finish interviewing Chavez, shook Barrera’s hand and told him that whatever he opined of my questions, he should understand they were good-faith inquiries from someone who admired him.

“Of course,” he said, and he smiled.

I asked him why, demons, he returned. What did he hope to gain by fighting on?

“Something to prove, there is not,” he said. That sentence was about as different in Spanish as it looks in English. He didn’t say there was nothing to prove, in the double-negative way of pedestrian, if still proper, Spanish. He used an alternative emphasis.

“The open television in Mexico permits more people to see me now,” Barrera said. “People who did not, before, have the opportunity to see Barrera. There are Mexicans who know solely the Barrera from that last time.”

In 2006, just before its presidential election, Mexico passed the “Ley Federal de Radio y Televisión.” This law effectively deregulated Mexican television, in the name of bringing digital cable to the people, and eventually returned boxing to free channels. Like most deregulation ploys, though, it disproportionately enriched a very small number of people. A Mexican Supreme Court ruling in 2007 delayed its implementation. And there would be further delay in converting average Mexican cable viewers’ hardware. Barrera’s contention, then, is that very few of his countrymen were able to see him for most of his career.

Since 2007, Barrera has fought thrice. A 2008 fight happened in China. An early 2009 fight was the Mexican equivalent of an Off-Off-Broadway show, in Zapopan, Jalisco. And then there was that U.K. fight 14 months ago.

“That was a bad experience,” Barrera said, of his match with English sensation Amir Khan. It saw Barrera’s upper forehead sliced opened and bleeding freely in the first round. U.K. officials, though, allowed the fight to continue until the fifth round, at which time the result went from a no-decision to a technical-decision in Khan’s favor.

“It is an experience that I am going to erase,” Barrera said. “If a fourth championship comes along the way, good. But I return to erase that fight.”

At this point in our interview, someone handed Barrera a cell-phone with a picture of the cut. It was a scripted move, and as a script is beneath Barrera, I moved away from it:

As someone who admires you for your intellect as well as your boxing, I am nervous, if not sad, about your return, I said. Tell me how I am mistaken.

“To the contrary, friend, you are not mistaken,” Barrera said. “Boxing is filled with bad experiences. Many bad experiences.”

And when you bade farewell to “this beautiful sport” at Mandalay Bay in October of 2007?

“That was all about my promoter,” Barrera said, and he laughed. “I was not happy with my promoter, and I did that to escape them.”

The day after Barrera easily survived 12 rounds with Manny Pacquiao, never imperiling himself or Pacquiao, en route to a unanimous-decision loss, I wrote of his relationship with Golden Boy Promotions: “Barrera had become an overqualified employee in De la Hoya’s company, a guy who was too smart for the corporation, quietly resenting each new workday and the boss who caused it.”

“Exactly,” Barrera said, when I paraphrased this for him.

A better reporter would have plumbed the depths of Barrera’s resentment for his former promoter, a resentment he didn’t seem at all interested in hiding. Instead, I asked Barrera about a curious relationship he’d developed with a man whose life ended terribly last month.

On that night of your goodbye to boxing, I reminded him, you brought Venezuelan Edwin Valero on stage with you. You complimented him at length and called him a friend more than a sparring partner.

“We invited him to the city,” Barrera remembered of that training camp. “It was a friendship. A very good friendship. That night, I said he would beat Pacquiao. That was true. Unfortunately, they were never able to have that fight.”

And when he heard that Valero had murdered his wife, on April 19, before apparently committing suicide in a Venezuelan jail cell?

“I regretted it, I felt very badly,” Barrera said. “We waited to hear confirmation of the news. I regret it even now. I flee that date. But none of it surprised me. (Valero) had many psychological problems.”

I thanked Barrera and his wife, both, for being the people they have been, and for handling their celebrity with such grace.

On my way out, I stopped and spoke to Carlos Hernandez – who now resides in San Antonio – because on my way in, Jesse James Leija had told me Hernandez and Edwin Valero had trained together and been friends in Los Angeles. Few prizefighters are charismatic or likable as Hernandez. When I asked him if he were surprised by the news of Valero’s end last month, Hernandez shook his head.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Hernandez said. “But we didn’t talk about family much in the gym. We talked about other things.”

Such as?

“Venezuelan politics,” Hernandez said, and we both smiled at the oddity of such a conversation in the gym. “He was really into it.”

“Too into it,” Hernandez’s wife added.

Bart Barry can be reached at bbarry@15rounds.com

Roman “Rocky” Martinez retained his WBO Super Featherweight title with an explosive fourth round stoppage over Gonzalo Mungia in an entertaining bout.

The two engaged in wild exchange in the third round with Martinez landing some hard blows. In round four, Martinez drove Mungia back with a right and sent him down for good with a crushing uppercut.

Martinez, 130 lbs of Puerto Rico is now 24-0-1 with fifteen knockouts. Mungia, 129 1/2 lbs of Leon, Nicaragua is now 17-7-3.

McWilliams Arroyo scored a second round stoppage over Samuel Gutierrez in a scheduled four round Super Flyweight bout.

Arroyo dropped Gutierrez with a hard right midway through round two and referee Ramon Pena stopped the bout at 1:36 of round two.

Arroyo of Puerto Rico is now 3-0 with three knockouts. Gutierrez, 113 1/2 lbs of Mexico is now 5-7-1.

Jose Gonzalez scored three knockdowns in the second round and scored the sroppage victory in that round over Keivy Arce in a sscheduled six round Lightweight bout.

The first two knockdowns came from big lefts and the capper was a big right and the fight was stopped at 2:26 of round two.

Gonzalez, 135 lbs of Toja Bora, PR is now 10-0 with seven knockouts. Arce, 138 lbs of Moca, PR is now 4-3-1.

Hanna Gabriel won the WBO Ladies Jr. Middleweight title with a first round stoppage over Gardy Alvarez.

Gabriel landed several power punches until she landed two hard shots to the body and the fight was stopped.

Gabriel, 152 lbs of Costa Rica is now 10-0-1 with six knockouts. Alvarez, 152 lbs of the Dominican Republic is now 9-2-2.

McJoe Arroyo scored a four round unanimous decision over Jairo Delgado in a Bantamweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Arroyo who is now 3-0. Delagado is now 3-7.

Vitali Klitshcko retained the WBC Heavyweight title with a tenth round stoppage over forty-plus to one underdog Albert Sosnowski before close to 60,000 fans at Veltins Arena in Gelsinkerchin, Germany

Over the first few rounds, Klitshcko kept Sosnowski at bay with little jabs and right hands. Sosnowski was at least keeping Klitshcko honest as he would occasionally land a jab and take a chance with some wild left hooks. In round five, Klitschko landed a pair of lefts that sent Sosnowski back t words the ropes. In round six, Klitshcko landed his best combination over the first half of the fight as he landed alittle combination that briefly shook the challenger. Sosnowski was that fazed by it as he continued to look for spots t get in a big and even landed a couple nice jabs in the round.

For a moment in round eight, the longshot looked like he was making a fight of it as he landed a long overhand right that got the champ’s attention. Despite taking three hard rights at different stages of round nine, Sosnowski bravely came forward. Right at the bell, Klitschko began to feel his oats and showboat a little bit before landing a hard right to culminate the round.

In round ten, Klitschko landed a hard over hand right that double over Sosnowski and drove him back to the corner. A mini flurry followed by a booming over hand right put Sosnowski down right in front of the turnbuckle and the bout was immediately waved off by referee Jay Nady.

Klitschko is now 40-2 with thirty-eight knockouts. Sosnowski is now 45-3-1.

In a twelve round Heavyweight bout, Jonathon Banks and Jason Gavern battled to an ugly draw.

Banks and Gavern were each docked a point and neither man seized control as Banks was holding for a good portion of the fight.

The bout was ruled a majority draw as Banks, 226 lbs of Detroit is now 24-1-1. Gavern is now 19-7-4

Former two-time world title challenger Sebastian Lujan scored a fifth round stoppage over Jailer Berrio in a scheduled ten round Welterweight bout at Estadio U.T.N in Santa Fe, Argentina

Lujan dropped Berrio two times in round four and the fight was stopped forty seconds into round five.

Lujan, who challenged then welterweight champion and currant Jr. Middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinzurak in losing efforts, is now 34-5-2 with twenty-one knockouts. Berrio is now 19-7.

Marcelino Lopez remained undefeated by scoring a ten round majority decision over Alberto Santillian.

Scores were 97-94, 96-94 and 95-95 for Lopez who is now 18-0. Santillian is now 16-5

Librado Andrade stopped former Super Middleweight champion Eric Lucas on cuts after round eight of a scheduled ten round Super Middleweight bout at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec.

The fight was entertaining as Andrade would come forward and Lucas countered nicely early on. Lucas was cut over the right eye as early as round three as Andrade’s shots were getting through. Andrade a little more successful as each round went on. In round five a nice right hand cut Lucas over the left eye and after that it was basically all Andrade as he began to target the eye. In round seven, the eye became a bloddy mess and even had the ringside doctor examine it in the last minute of the round after Andrade ripped it open. Another big right made the cut almost unworkable and after Lucas sat on his stool between round’s eight and nine the ringside doctor stopped the fight.

Andrade, 169 lbs of Fontana, CA is now 29-3 with twenty-two knockouts. Lucas, 169 lbs of Mogag, Quebec will celebrate his thirty-ninth birthday tomorrow was making his second start after a four year retirement. After the fight, Lucas announced his retirement for a second time and if that stands up he will finish his career with a record of 39-8-3.

Marcus Upshaw used a fourth round knockout to help catapult him to a split decision victory over Renen St. Juste in a ten round Middleweight bout.

St. Juste did well with little combinations over the first two rounds. Upshaw got into the fight with nice combos in round three. In round four, Upshaw landed a leaping left the spun St. Juste around into the ropes and the referee ruled a knockdown. In round six, Upshaw rocked St. Juste with another left hand. The two fought evenly down the stretch with neither man coming close to taking charge.

Upshaw, 159 1/2 lbs of Miami won by scores of 96-93 and 95-94 while a third judge gave St. Juste a 95-94 verdict.

Upshaw is now 13-4-1. St.Juste 159 1/2 lbs of Montreal is now 21-2-1.

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OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

WBO JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12) – MAIN EVENT – PPV

Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. (18-0-1, 15 KOs), WBO Jr. Featherweight Champion, Bayamon, Puerto Rico 122 LBS.

vs.

Zsolt Bedak (14-0-1, 12 KOs), WBO #1 Contender, Hamburg, Germany by way of Hungary 121 LBS.

WBO JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12) – CO-FEATURE – PPV

Roman Martinez (23-0-1, 14 KOs), WBO Jr. Lightweight Champion, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico 130 LBS.

vs.

Gonzalo Munguia (17-6-3, 13 KOs), Challenger, Leon, Nicaragua 129 ½ LBS.

WBO FEMALE SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (10) – PPV

Hanna Gabriel (9-0-1, 5 KOs), San Jose, Costa Rica 152 LBS.

vs.

Gardy Pena (9-1-2, 6 KOs), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 152 LBS.

FLYWEIGHTS (4) – PPV

McWilliams Arroyo (2-0, 2 KOs), 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian, Fejardo, Puerto Rico 113 ½ LBS.

vs.

Samuel Gutierrez (5-6-1, 0 KOs), Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico 113 ½ LBS.

BANTAMWEIGHTS (4) – PPV

McJoe Arroyo (2-0, 1 KO), 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian, Fejardo, Puerto Rico 119 LBS.

vs.

Jairo Delgado (3-6, 3 KOs), Denver, Colorado, USA 118 LBS.

FACT SHEET

WHEN: Saturday, May 29, 2010 – 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT

WHERE: Bayamon, Puerto Rico

PROMOTER: PR Best Boxing in association with All Star Boxing

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, and DISH Network for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.

PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCERS: World Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Col. Bob Sheridan (blow-by-blow) and former NFL player and veteran boxing announcer Benny Ricardo (color analyst).

RING ANNOUNCER: Jimmy Lennon, Jr.

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OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12) – MAIN EVENT – PPV

Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), WBC Champion, Los Angeles, California, USA by way of Ukraine 247 LBS.

vs.

Albert Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), Challenger, Brentwood, Essex, United Kingdom way of Poland 224 LBS.

NABF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12) – CO-FEATURE – PPV

Johnathon Banks (34-1, 17 KOs), NABF Champion, Detroit, Michigan, USA 225 ½ LBS.

vs.

Jason Gavern (19-7-3, 8 KOs), Challenger, Kissimmee, Florida, USA 225 ½ LBS.

HEAVYWEIGHTS (6) – PPV

Nendad Borovcanin (25-0, 18 KOs), Benja Luka, Bosnia 219 LBS.

vs.

Raymond Ochieng (21-10-2, 17 KOs), Nairobi, Kenya 218 LBS.

FACT SHEET

WHAT: “Fists Of Steel” PPV

WHEN: Saturday, May 29, 2010 – 3:00 PM/ET 12:00 PM/PT

WHERE: Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

PROMOTER: K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

A 30-minute condensed viewing and U.S. televised debut of the March 20th IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight title fight between champion Wladimir Klitschko and challenger Eddie Chambers, as well as Johnathon Banks highlights from his NABF title-winning bout on the same card against Travis Walker, will also be shown as part of the “Fist Of Steel” PPV.

PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCER: Dave Farrer, former BSKYB boxing commentator

RING ANNOUNCER: Michael Buffer

OFFICIALS (Klitschko-Sosnowski): Jay Nady, USA, referee. Ken Morita, Japan, judge;

Hubert Minn, USA, judge; Sergio Silvi, Italy, judge. WBC Supervisor, Bob Logist, Belgium.

This Saturday night, European heavyweight champion, Albert “The Dragon” Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27KO) will be looking to become the first ever Polish Heavyweight Champion, when he takes on WBC heavyweight king, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37KO) at Veltins Arena, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

The 31-year-old Polish native Sosnowski is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing (USA), Keyspan Media (Poland) and Matchroom Sport (UK).

Klitschko and Sosnowski both weighed in today with Sosnowski tipping the scales at a ripped and ready 224.4 lbs, while Vitali weighed in at 247 lbs.

“Albert is in absolutely phenomenal shape, so you know that he has trained extremely hard for this fight and is ready to go Saturday night,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing, who is with Albert in Germany. “They are anticipating upwards of 40,000 Polish fans coming to show their support for Albert tomorrow night, so although Albert isn’t fighting in his own backyard, his strong contigent of fans will certainly try to make him feel like it. Albert is confident in his game plan and I am excited and looking forward to what I believe is going to be a every entertaining and exciting fight.”

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since 1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com.

Star Boxing

Star Boxing Exclusive Merchandise

Facebook/Star Boxing

twitter.com/starboxing

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PHILADELPHIA (May 28, 2010)—On Friday night, June 4th boxing returns to The Legendary Blue Horizon with a great night of professional boxing as well as a celebration of Vernoca L. Michael’s sixty-fifth birthday.

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

In the main event, world ranked Light Heavyweight Yusaf “Mack Attack” Mack will see action against an opponent to be named in an eight round bout.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the co-feature, hot prospect, Coy “Pretty Boy” Evans will take on an opponent to be named.

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

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

In a six round Super Middleweight fight, undefeated Farah Ennis (13-0, 7 KO’s) of Philadelphia will be looking for his second consecutive victory at The Legendary Blue Horizon he took out Frankie Santos in two rounds. Ennis, who is the brother of currant USBA Jr. Middleweight Derek Ennis, will be taking on an opponent to be named.

Van Oscar Penovaroff (5-0, 4 KO’s) of Kailua Kona, Hawaii will take on Gustavo Dailey (4-8, 1 KO) of Philadelphia in a four round Lightweight bout.

In a four round Ladies Jr. Middleweight bout, the popular Olivia “The Great” Fonseca (3-2-2, 2 KO’s) battles undefeated Akima Stocks (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Newark, NJ in a bout scheduled for four rounds.

In a four round Super Featherweight bout, Keenan Smith (1-0) of Philadelphia will take on Alex Monte, 1-0.

In a four round Jr. Middleweight bout, Ismael Garcia (1-0) of Milville, NJ takes on debuting Tyrone Rivera of Allentown, PA.

Legendary Blue Horizon favorite, Darrell Jones (3-0, 1 KO—all at The Legendary Blue Horizon) will take on Marcus Hall (3-1, 2 KO’s) of Rochester, NY.

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