Last year under the radar the very well respected Juan Carlos Payano who had enjoyed a stellar amateur career finally decided the time was right for him to move into the pro game. He had fought in many International tournaments including 2 Olympics & World Championships and had received an offer an offer he liked so elected to hang up the head gear. The 26 year old Dominican Republic born fighter is currently 4-0(2) though is based out of Miami, Florida. He intends to have a big 2011 and move quickly. Here’s what he had to say.

Hello Juan Carlos, welcome to 15rounds.com

Thank you for having me on.

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you turned pro August 2010 and quickly moved to 4-0(2) how have you found fighting in the pro’s so far? What’s the toughest part?

Juan Carlos Payano – Yes, I have been moving quickly, I am having a great time so far. The hardest part is staying patient in the fight, but I am working on that everyday in the gym.

Anson Wainwright – When will you fight next? What sort of schedule are you looking at for 2011?

Juan Carlos Payano – I will fight in March in Nicaragua, my promoter and manager are looking for a busy 2011 no less than 10 fights.

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

Juan Carlos Payano – My promoter is Henry Rivalta (Dream Team Boxing Promotions) my manager and trainer is Herman Caicedo he has over 17 years in the pros, trained Lou Del Valle, Shannon Briggs, Ray Mercer, and the gym is Dream Team Gym in Miami.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your style of fighting?

Juan Carlos Payano – My style of fighting is a boxer/puncher.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a nickname?

Juan Carlos Payano – My nickname is “El Don” I got it from my team mates

Anson Wainwright – What was it like for you growing up in the Dominican Republic as a child? Was it tough like for you like many other boxers?

Juan Carlos Payano – Well it was very tough, we were very poor, but boxing was a way for me to travel see the world and help pay the home bills and feed my family.

Anson Wainwright – How did you first get interested and then involved in Boxing?

Juan Carlos Payano – I started boxing at 6 years old, my dad took me to a fight and after that I wanted to box.

Anson Wainwright – You had a very impressive amateur fighting at the Olympics twice and the Worlds. Can you tell us what tournaments you won medals in and what your final record was?

Juan Carlos Payano – I won medals in Pan American games, Central American games, two Olympics and World championships, my final record was over 500 fights.

Anson Wainwright – What made your turn pro at 25 years old? Was it always your intention to go pro?

Juan Carlos Payano – Henry Rivalta and Herman Caicedo came to the Dominican Republic to meet with a few of us, unlike the many who came before them, they were very truthful and sincere. Promised nothing but dedication and hard work on our behalf. I planned to turn pro earlier than 25 but it didn’t happen, I did not trust any of the firms and people who came to recruit us.

Anson Wainwright – What fighters did you fight in the amateur’s that are now professional and how did you do?

Juan Carlos Payano – I fought Yuriorkis Gamboa, Yoandris Salinas I am not sure who else has gone pro. But I fought the best in the world for many years. I am sure there are a few guys and even champions.

Anson Wainwright – Your last fight you 118 but you have been up at Super Bantamweight, what weight are you looking to fight at going forward?

Juan Carlos Payano – I am fighting at 118, the reason for the higher weight is the opponents do not want to fight me at 118 so I moved up to give them the weight advantage.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your hero growing up and who do you enjoy watching today?

Juan Carlos Payano – Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez, and as many other do I love Manny Pacquiao.

Anson Wainwright – What do you enjoy doing away from Boxing? What are your hobbies and interests?

Juan Carlos Payano – I play the guitar, and I am a tech geek. I love all sports but I am learning American football and really enjoying it…My coach/manager is teaching me that also…

Thanks for your time Juan Carlos, keep up the hard work.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

A few leftovers while wondering whether 34-year-old Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s birthday wish Thursday included a bout with Manny Pacquiao sometime before he turns 35:

· Nonito Donaire’s second-round stoppage of Fernando Montiel Saturday provided a badly needed shot of drama in a sport desperate for some. It also has Donaire rapidly climbing the pound-for-pound ladder, although this corner still has fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao at No. 1 and Mayweather at No. 2. At No. 3, it’s either Donaire or Sergio Martinez. I’d still like to see Donaire in another 12-round bout full of adversity and adjustments.

· Donaire’s relationship with Victor Conte resulted in questions as tiresome as they were predictable. Conte’s well-documented role with Balco, Barry Bonds, performance enhancers and his 2005 prison sentence are impossible to ignore. Donaire began to get exasperated with the repeated questions. Yet, nobody asked Donaire to undergo random testing, the Mayweather demand that derailed talks for a fight with Pacquiao, who has no relationship with Conte..

· Ricardo Mayorga might test Miguel Cotto for a couple of rounds, but the real significance of the fight on March 12 is Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s move away from HBO and to Showtime/ CBS. The March 12 bout is a test run for the Showtime telecast of Pacquiao-Shane Mosley on May 7. Before the Donaire stunner over Montiel, Arum repeated his hope that the Showtime/ CBS deal will re-introduce boxing to a larger audience, instead of one that sees it only on premium TV. But he has no illusions. He has to convince CBS executives that sponsors will buy boxing. It doesn’t matter whether they like boxing, he said. “It’s all about the Benjamins,’’ said Arum, who is betting he can deliver a lot of the $100s between now and May 7.

· Delivering the sales pitch: In a bid to deliver sponsors to CBS, Top Rank has hired Lucia McKelvey, IMG’s former vice president for Golf Development & Sales. IMG represents Tiger Woods.

· Antonio Margarito was in Las Vegas for Donaire-Montiel. If Cotto – as expected – prevails against Mayorga, there’s been talk of a summer rematch of Margarito’s 2008 upset of Cotto. But one look at Margarito says that might be too soon. His face bears the marks of the brutal beating he took from Pacquiao in November. A fracture to his right orbital bone still appears to be healing. If there is a rematch, it looks as if Margarito would be wise to wait until at least the end of the year.

· HBO showed a terrific premiere of Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV a week ago, the Friday night before Donaire-Montiel. UNLV basketball in the 1980s and early 1990s was as big an attraction in Vegas under former coach Jerry Tarkanian as any major fight. In some ways, UNLV took a page out of the boxing book. The Rebels played the bad guys in a good-versus-evil drama that is missing in today’s edition of college basketball.

· It’s hard to believe that the first black heavyweight champ, Jack Johnson, still hasn’t been granted a posthumous pardon. More than a century ago, Johnson did time for a violation of the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for so-called immoral purposes. After all, how hard is it for Barack Obama or any other president to put pen to paper? Arizona Senator John McCain and New York Representative Peter King have renewed a legislative attempt that has been in the works longer than talk about Pacquiao-Mayweather.

Back in December of 2009, Ana Julaton defeated veteran Donna Biggers before a raucous and supportive crowd in San Jose, California to claim the vacant WBO 122-pound title. Now, a little over a year later, the wildly popular Julaton returns to the Bay Area, defending the title against veteran Franchesca Alcanter at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California this Friday night.

Unlike the last time Julaton (7-2-1, 1 KO) of Daly City, California fought in the Bay Area, this time around she trained away from home. “It was definitely a change of pace,” said Julaton. “I miss everyone at home and all my friends and family, but it feels really good to be training at the Wild Card Gym. There are a lot of exceptional fighters over there, all getting ready for a fight. Just being able to be in that whole boxing element, I feel like I am at an academy or school of professional boxing. So being able to immerse myself in the world of professional boxing, I feel it has been a good camp.”

Julaton began her professional career training at the Wild Card in Hollywood, California under Freddie Roach and the two reunited prior to her last bout, a June 2010 title defense against Maria Villalobos. “Freddie pushes really hard,” said Julaton. “Everything went really well though.” As always, the services of Roach are a well sought after commodity, but Julaton was able to get her share of time with the esteemed trainer. “There are lots of other fighters getting ready for a fight, and I feel lucky and fortunate that he is spending the time to look at my stuff,” said Julaton. “But I make sure I do my part and listen and push myself really hard. So far it has been working out really well.”

Julaton’s primary sparring partner in Hollywood was former world champion Rodel Mayol. “He has been helping me a lot,” says Julaton. “He helps me work, and he will capitalize on all my mistakes, and he will punish me. Overall it has been humbling. It puts a lot of emphasis and focus on the sparring, making sure that I am sharp and stuff. So it has been great.”

Sandwiched in between Julaton’s title-winning effort over Biggers and her upcoming defense was a rollercoaster 2010. Julaton signed with Orion Sports Management and took her title to Canada in hopes of winning the WBA version against Lisa Brown. The trip proved fruitless, as Brown won a convincing decision. Before her next bout just three months later, Julaton left trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. and rejoined Roach in Hollywood before regaining the WBO title with the points win over Villalobos. Julaton’s team hoped to line up another bout before the end of the year, but a fight did not to fruition until now.

Despite some disappointments, Julaton does not look back on the year with any regrets. “I don’t take anything back about how everything has happened so far over the past year,” said Julaton. “I really got to spend a lot of time on just getting back to Freddie’s style as well as incorporating all of the stuff I learned from Nonito Sr. It also has really helped get me to look at this year as a fresh start and taking it one fight at a time.”

As has been the case for most of her professional career, the next fight for Julaton comes against a more experienced veteran opponent, Franchesca Alcanter (18-9-1, 9 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri. In her most recent ring appearance, Alcanter hung tough with the well respected Ina Menzer in a failed attempt at a 126-pound title in Germany in May of 2009.

“I saw her last fight with Menzer,” reveals Julaton. “She’s very experienced. She has been in multiple world championship fights and she fights at 130, 126 weight classes. This fight will be at 122, so she is a bigger girl coming down to a smaller weight division. I know she’s taking this fight very seriously and she is training really hard to try and take the WBO title away from me.” For those reasons, Julaton expects a challenge Friday night. “For every title fight that I go into, I expect to be sharp and strong for all ten rounds. Overall it’s going to be a great fight.”

Local fight fans should plan on being in attendance this Friday in Richmond if they want to see a Julaton fight live in 2011, as her team is already working on potential dates in the Philippines and Canada. “Since winning the title, I have had the opportunity to fight in Canada, and I am looking into the possibility of fighting internationally, and I don’t know when I will be able to come back home again and fight in the Bay Area,” says Julaton.

There is the possibility that Julaton may never again fight in her home area. If she was sticking to the timetable she set for her career a couple of years ago, Friday’s fight would not even be taking place. “It’s so funny being able to sit back a think about all the stuff I used to say back then, like how I wanted to be able to retire by the time I was 30,” says Julaton, who turned 30-years-old last year. “As far as how long will I stay in this sport? It is really hard to say. I just feel inspired and I fall in love with the sport more and more. I know there will be a point in my life when I will not have this anymore. I am just taking it one fight at a time. I want to see how far I can go.

Maybe three or four, or four or five more big fights. But you never know.”

Photo by Alfredo Perez

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

While the Canadian people love Lucian Bute & Jean Pascal what they crave more than ever is one of there own to reach such hights on the world stage. In 2010 after a standout amateur career Mikael Zewski decided to to turn pro, he’s quickly reached 7-0(4). So far Zewski has looked the part using his undoubted skills to turn back all challenger’s. The 22 year old plies his trade in the Light Middleweight division thought at nearly 6 feet tall he could well one day grow into a fully fledged Middleweight. He hails from the Largest Industrial City in Canada Trois-Rivieres in the province of Quebec. It is situated roughly half way between Montreal & Quebec City which should help him become an attraction in both City’s. He’s already very popular, if he can continue to shine he may in a few years become his countries next star.

Hello Mikael, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Though it’s early days, do you know when and where you may next fight? Do you have a plan for 2011?

Mikael Zewski – I’m fighting March 4th at Palm Springs Casino in Indio, California . I just switched to 6 rounder so in 2011 I want to get used to longer fights and turn to 8 Rounds.

Anson Wainwright – You recently fought in Puerto Rico, that must of been a different experience for you can you tell us about that?

Mikael Zewski – I really enjoy fighting in smaller places because people get there for the whole card, they want to see the entire event not only the Main Event, they are true boxing fans, I would return to Puerto Rico anytime.

Anson Wainwright – You have completed your first year as a pro, how have you found it? How happy have you been with your progress?

Mikael Zewski – I love the pros, its totally different but I always had a pro style, I want to fight, I enjoy the fact that I don’t have to care about the points like in the Amateurs, I just need to fight, do my thing and win rounds.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter?

Mikael Zewski – I got the best team and I believe this is one of the keys to success, the game as no more secrets for my manager Cameron Dunkin who has brought from nothing to World Champions many fighters. My father is my coach and we have a one of a kind relationship, boxing is his passion and he is the best to me. And my Promoter is Golden Boy Promotions, I don’t have to say anything about them everybody knows who they are, The Best.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your early years growing up in Trois-Rivières, Canada & How did you first got into Boxing?

Mikael Zewski – When I was young I used to do all the sports, before boxing I played Football, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Snowboard, skateboard…. My dad was a boxer when he was younger and once I was in a Basketball tournament and he told me – if you score a couple times I will bring you to the boxing gym. I was amazed, I scored he brought me to the gym and my great career began.

Anson Wainwright – You had an impressive amatear career, can you tell us about some of the honours you won and the tournaments you fought at? Also what current pro’s did you fight & what was your final record?

Mikael Zewski – The great thing about Amateur boxing is that it made me travel a lot, in 2004 I won a Silver Medal at the Youth Pan Am Games in Colorado Springs, in 2005 I went in Liverpool, England for the Youth World Championship and I got ranked 5th, in 2007 I went to the Junior World Championship in Morocco and in 2009 In Italy for the Senior World Championship. In Italy I fought the Moroccan guy and I won 10-2 then I fought the Cuban Carlos Banteuax Suarez and I won 5-2, and finally I lost to the guy from Uzbekistan. I got ranked 5th in that tournament. Early in 2009 we had a dual match in Canada against Germany, I won against Jack Culcay and he is the one who won the 2009 World Championship in Italy. He is now 7-0 as a Pro.

Anson Wainwright – You fought twice in your home state of Quebec, what does it mean to you to fight infront of your friends and family?

Mikael Zewski – The two times I fought in Quebec were amazing experiences, its nice when all your friends and family can come to watch you live, every time I meet boxing fans they always ask me when I’m going to fight in Quebec again, but I can’t tell. I enjoy fighting in USA anyways, they have great boxing fans

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing what do you enjoy doing with your spare time? Do you have any hobbies or Interests? What other sports do you like and who do you support?

Mikael Zewski – Boxing is a full time job, when im done training for the day I don’t have much energy to do anything else, I never go out in clubs, I don’t drink I don’t smoke, I like playing Poker and obviously here in Canada the big sport is Hockey so I have to support the Montreal Canadians, I like football also and I support a couple teams, Cowboys from Dallas , Steelers form Pittsburgh and Green bay Packers, for Basketball I like the Lakers.

Anson Wainwright – For you what are the best and worst things about being a boxer?

Mikael Zewski – This is the most beautiful sport in the world, when you step in the ring and you have that feeling that only fighters can feel, its you and the other guy, no one else, people scream but you can’t hear anyone but your coach, that’s what boxing is.

The worst thing to me is the diets, i hate being on diet, I love to eat a lot, to be honest I like junk food for I can’t eat it most of the time cause I have to loose weight for my fights.

Anson Wainwright – What fighters did you enjoy fight growing up and who do you look up to now?

Mikael Zewski – My idol is Sugar Ray Leonard, I really liked his style but as I grew up I liked Oscar de la Hoya and he is still a model to me outside of the ring because he is a true gentlemen. I like Hopkins for his inside fighting and his attitude; I liked Fernando Vargas also for his attitude. I like a lot of different fighters for different things I like Mayweather for his defence, I like Juan Manuel Marquez because to me he is the combinations King.

I watch a lot of fights of these guys and I try to pull out a couple things that I can do in sparring and in my fights.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

Mikael Zewski – I’ve been working so hard, since I was 9, to become successful in Pro boxing. I want to be a p4p top in the world, a well accomplished World champion and become a Hall of Famer. But for now Im at the bottom of the ladder to the top since I’m just starting in the pros so I just want to go up and up.

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

Mikael Zewski – I just want everyone to know that without them boxing would not be what it is. Boxing fans in Canada show me a good support and I enjoy it. Hopefully soon enough I will be on PPV and people will be able to see me fight where ever I fight.

Thanks for your time Mikael.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Thursday thoughts – Darren Barker’s manager/trainer Tony Sims told me that the recent split from Hennessy Promotions to go with Barry Hearn’s Matchroom was because Mick Hennessy couldn’t provide TV for his fighter. Next Monday Barker will find out where & when he will be facing Domenico Spada for the vacant European title. Sims hopes the fight will be in late April…Tonight Fight Night Club returns at The Nokia Center in downtown L.A where four interesting prospects see action. Jesse Vargas goes up against Jose Armando Santa Cruz in what will be by far his toughest test to date. Also scheduled to appear Welterweight Micheal Finney, Ghanian Middleweight Bostie Samir & Irish 135’er Jamie Kavanagh. Also in California James Toney gets back to Boxing after Trying UFC. On Saturday Showtime are doing a split site show, in Las Vegas Miguel Acosta meets Brandon Rios for WBA Lightweight title, in what looks a very interesting match up. The undercard features Robert Marroquin & Jesse Magdaleno two exciting prospects. In the other half of the Showtime broadcast Antonio De Marco squares off with Reyes Sanchez. One of the most underated prospects in Boxing returns on that undercard Terrence Crawford 12-0(9), he helped Tim Bradley with sparring ahead of the Devon Alexander fight and received high praise from Bradley…Stay tuned for upcoming Interviews with Ricardo Mayorga & Australian prospect Paul Fleming.

One of Britain’s most promising prospects is currently Scott Quigg, he boasts an impressive 21-0(14) record. He campaigns in the talented Super Bantamweight division and though a pro since 2007 he is already fighting the twelve round distance and has showed talent and poise that belay his 22 years. Recently he took himself to The Wild Card gym in Los Angeles which of course his the home to several of the top fighters in the world including Manny Pacquiao & Amir Khan. This year Quigg hopes to win the British Super Bantamweight title and make inroads to his eventual goal of winning a world title.

Hello Scott, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us when we can expect to see you back in action & against whom?

Scott Quigg – I’m back out on April 16 on the Khan-McCloskey bill but not sure the opponent at the moment.

Anson Wainwright – You have gone to America to train at the World famous Wild Card gym in L.A can you tell us about what made you decide to do this and how it’s going?

Scott Quigg – I’ve come out to the Wild Card because the training an sparring over here brings you on leaps an bounds. I’m being coached by Jesse Reid while I’m out here.

Anson Wainwright – You enjoyed a very solid 2010 going 5-0(4) what can you tell us about how you felt you did last year and how you feel you have improved?

Scott Quigg – Yes 2010 was a good year I had 5 good wins an each fight the opponents got better an so did I. I needed to do to win them and that was the main thing each fight I improved.

Anson Wainwright – What are your plans for 2011? Who are you targeting?

Scott Quigg – Hopefully in 2011 I will get a chance to fight for the British title as that’s my main goal for 2011 an then by end of the year be British and European champion cause in the next 16 months I wanna be ready for a world title fight.

Anson Wainwright – How would you describe your style of fighting for anyone who hasn’t seen you fight so far?

Scott Quigg – I’d describe my style as an aggressive come forward boxer who likes to use angles to confuse my opponent.

Anson Wainwright – Who is part of your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter?

Scott Quigg – My trainer is Brian Hughes who is also my manager and I also get help from Pat Barrett, Darren Phillips and Mike Jackson we all work as a team. My promoter is Ricky Hatton (Hatton Promotions)

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us how you first became interested and took up Boxing?

Scott Quigg – As a young kid I was a Thai boxer and was very successful but I’d always wanted to be a boxer so at 16 I changed over to boxing and it’s just gone from there.

Anson Wainwright – What was your amateur career like? What titles did you win and did you represent England? What was your final record?

Scott Quigg – My amateur record was 12 fights 10 wins 2 losses I won the Junior ABA’s after in 7 fights an represented England 4 times winning a gold medal in a multination’s tournament.

Anson Wainwright – The Super Bantamweight division in Britain has Rendell Munroe & Jason Booth who fought for world titles last year. What did you think of those fights? How far do you think you are from fighting those guys?

Scott Quigg – I thought they both did very well they both showed they deserved to be mixing in world class. I think I’m ready for them now in a couple more fights I’d be more than ready I would like to fight Jason Booth next because he’s the British champion but both of them would be very hard fights because they are world class fighters.

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

Scott Quigg – I just spend time with my girlfriend and my family I’m not really interested in much.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a nickname?

Scott Quigg – I don’t have one.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

Scott Quigg – My goal in boxing is to be a world champion an that’s what I’m gonna do I wouldn’t be in the sport if I didn’t think I will be the best it will be a long hard road but I will become world champion it’s gonna take dedication an sacrifices which I’m prepared to do but I have the ability to do it as well.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Super Bantamweight division?

Scott Quigg – Nope, hopefully my performances in the ring will make there own message for the other Super Bantamweights.

Thanks for your time Scott.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Midweek Thoughts – Going in I figured Montiel-Donaire was a 50-50 fight, I certainly didn’t think it would be a massacre. Donaire looked sensational in nearly decapitating Montiel. I’m really looking forward to seeing Donaire over the next couple of years. After being on the end of that KO like that I wonder if Montiel can bounce back to his old form, I hear he also suffered a broken jaw…Mike Jones did what he needed to against Jesus Soto Karass but he doesn’t look like the next in a long line of Philadelphia badass’s…Felix Sturm stopped Ronald Hearns in seven in Germany, I guess there’s only so far good jeans take you. As I read elsewhere it’s a shame that Hearns wasn’t built up to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr that could of made both guys a load of money…Golden Boy partitioned the WBC for Saul Alvarez-Matthew Hatton to be for there vacant Light Middleweight title and they got there way last week. Hatton hasn’t ever fought about the Welterweight limit in a fight scheduled for more than 8 rounds & Alvarez career high is 151. Seems like this fight should of been down at 147…A WBC Final eliminator will take place in Algeria between Ali Chebah & Ajose Olusegun on 25 March.

Some boxing aficionados were suspicious of Nonito Donaire’s talents during the promotion of the young Filipino’s fight with Mexico’s WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel. Most of these aficionados’ wrongheaded ways were righted by the Donaire left that took Montiel’s mind right away. Donaire claimed those suspicions with grace and violence.

But a few stubborn members of the aficionado ranks remain. There is but one way for Donaire to undo these men’s obduracy. And lucky for us, that way is the one Donaire says he wants to go. More about that in a bit.

Saturday night at Mandalay Bay, Donaire did no wrong – not one wrong step, slip or punch – as he razed Montiel in a fight that was supposed to be super, wasn’t, but did end in superlative fashion. Donaire stopped Montiel ultimately with a flurry of afterthought punches at 2:25 of round 2. But by then he’d changed the trajectory of his career with a left hook that surprised Montiel, and everyone else.

Even serious boxing fans were forgiven their disbelief at Saturday’s spectacle. For most of us, after all, Nonito Donaire was the guy who stretched Vic Darchinyan on Showtime 40 months ago, left promoter Gary Shaw and disappeared into promoter Top Rank’s farm system, making reportedly excellent if alliterative progress on Pinoy Power pay-per-view programs.

By 2010 Donaire was lost to the public. While specialists knew of his technical acumen, most everyone else assumed Top Rank already had its Filipino superstar in Manny Pacquiao – and one was enough. Rabid as boxing’s supporters in the Philippines were, there was only so much money to be squeezed from the world’s number 46 economy.

How well Top Rank has handled Donaire’s career is debatable. How well Top Rank has developed Donaire as a prizefighter, though, is not.

Since his one-punch flattening of Darchinyan in 2007, Donaire had fought seven times against very good if not well-known opponents, men with a cumulative record of 170-13-5, and he’d gone 7-0 (6 KOs) while doing it. But none of them had much tested him, and only one had been undefeated when Donaire got to him.

Hence the suspicions. As usual, doubts about a Top Rank fighter’s otherwise remarkable achievements are a backhanded compliment to matchmaker Bruce Trampler. There are few fighters in the world who beat other men effectively as Trampler handicaps them. Trampler makes great fighters. And his brilliance might just be that rarest thing in our beloved, embellished sport: an underestimated entity.

Which is why a few folks out there remain shy of totally convinced by what their eyes saw Saturday when Donaire obliterated a man many suspected was, at worst, the world’s second-best bantamweight.

But Montiel was a 31 year-old tactician on a 12-fight unbeaten streak, for goodness’ sake! And he knocked-out Hozumi Hasegawa in Tokyo – something our prizefighting betters assured us was without precedent in modern bantamweight history.

Well, maybe. But what some saw Saturday was the same old Fernando Montiel, the guy who looked pretty good against Pramuansak Posuwan in Boxing World Cup ’05 and then pretty bad against Jhonny Gonzalez seven months later. When that impression was married to the data from HBO’s unofficial fight-night scale, showing Montiel’s body had grown 13 percent in fewer than 30 hours, the venti cup of credibility poured for us last week had some room left at the top.

Things aren’t the way they used to be. HBO’s trustworthiness as a boxing programmer in the last five years has been publicly challenged often enough, and by sources credible enough, that no subscriber any longer assumes a fight or fighter is great because HBO says so. The on-air talent knows this and often takes an apologetic or even defensive bent in its broadcasts; only Roy Jones Jr. remains an evangelist.

But none of this undermines how good Donaire looked Saturday. From the opening minute, he was in an entirely different class from Montiel’s. Where the Mexican looked tense and doubtful, Donaire looked fluid and assured. Where Montiel threw tentative range-finding punches, Donaire uncoiled counter hooks flamboyant for their commitment so early in a championship fight.

Donaire did not go after Montiel as a world champion making a title defense on boxing-television’s largest stage; he went after him like Montiel was just another hand-picked extra in an off-Broadway pay-per-view show. Montiel may not have been everything others promised, but he was still a hell of a lot better than Donaire made him look.

And because of the way he comported himself both during and after the fight, you have to believe Donaire when he says the few jabs and tentative right hands Montiel landed in the second stanza were part of a plan. First, Donaire allowed Montiel to touch him with the left. Then, when that succeeded, Donaire allowed Montiel to hang his jab, trigger a weak right-hand from Donaire, and try a left-hook counter behind it.

Soon as Montiel was confident enough to commit to a right cross, Donaire had him unconscious on the canvas, legs and arms twitching like a beetle tipped on its shell.

And that wasn’t enough? No, not quite. There is, after all, a Bantamweight Tournament being fought on Showtime. Its champion will be decided in Los Angeles two months from now. Whether he is Joseph Agbeko or Abner Mares, that champion will have undergone a more-public test than Donaire has. Will Mares or Agbeko fair any better against Donaire than Montiel did? Maybe not. But we won’t know till they fight.

Asked for his future plans, Saturday, Donaire said exactly the right thing: “I think that I want to be undisputed in this weight class.”

If Donaire handles the winner of the Bantamweight Tournament successfully, we’ll know he is the future of boxing. If not, we’ll have to see what boxing holds for Donaire’s future.

GOLDEN GLOVES
Writing of boxing’s future, at least in South Texas, it will be on display this week in San Antonio when the city hosts its 2011 Regional Golden Gloves Tournament. Festivities begin Tuesday night at 7:30 PM in the Woodlawn Gym on Cincinnati Avenue and culminate Saturday night at the majestic Municipal Auditorium, downtown.

You want a darkhorse pick? Happily: San Antonio Parks & Rec’s Benjamin Mendoza in the sub-novice heavyweight division.

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

LAS VEGAS – There was no discrepancy on the official scale, but there was one about the timing Friday before Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel weighed the mandatory 118 pounds for their bantamweight showdown Saturday night at Mandalay Bay.

There was talk that Montiel was annoyed that the weigh-in was delayed for about 25 minutes. Montiel’s representatives said Donaire was about a half-pound heavy when he tested the scale before the weigh-in was scheduled to happen in front of media and fans at a bar on the casino floor. The delay gave Donaire time to make weight, they said.

Donaire is listed at 5 feet -7, or three inches taller than 5-4 Montiel.

Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), who is fighting for only the second time at 118, looks as if he could comfortably add weight and fight at a super-bantam (122) or featherweight (126). A move up in weight appears to be the plan for Donaire, a Filipino native who was born in General Santos City, also Manny Pacquiao’s hometown.

Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs), who holds the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization titles, has been campaigning at 118 since late 2008. His experience at the weight is thought to be a significant advantage, although Donaire was a 3-1 betting favorite late Friday.

Meanwhile, Jesus Soto-Karass was 146 pounds, one under the welterweight’s mandatory 147, for his rematch against Mike Jones. Jones, who won a majority decision over Soto-Karass in November at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex., was 147.

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT CARD
NEWARK, NJ (February 18, 2011) – With nearly 500 pounds between them, the heavyweight matchup between unbeaten Polish star Mariusz Wach and Jonathan Haggler on Saturday night at Essex County College has fireworks written all over it.

The entire fight card can be seen LIVE on www.gofightlive.tv for just $9.99

The 6’7″ Wach, 31, (23-0, 11 KO) of Krakow, Poland weighed in at 249 pounds, while the 6’4″ Haggler, 38, (23-3, 18 KO) of Winston-Salem, NC checked in at 244.

The ten round WBC Baltic heavyweight title match will headline “Brick City Brawl”, which is promoted by Global Boxing and Prize Fight Promotions.

In the co-featured bout, Jersey City, NJ’s lightweight favorite Danny “Little Mac” McDermott (8-2, 3 KO) stepped on the scales at a rough and ready 137, while Osnel Charles of Atlantic City, NJ (6-2) weighed 133 for the six round bout.

In a four-round super featherweight bout, Wanzell Ellison (3-0, 2 KO) of Newark, NJ and Jimmy Smalls (pro debut) of Ohio both weighed in at 130.5.

In a four-round lightweight bout, Scotty Burrell (1-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY weighed 134.5, while Antonio Parker (0-2) of Wilson, NC weighed 135.

In a four-round super middleweight bout, Rafael Jastrzebski of Atlantic City by way of Bydgoszcz, Poland weighed 166 while Randy Campbell (3-3, 2 KO) of Bowerston, Ohio weighed 165.

In a four-round junior middleweight matchup, Eddie Edmonds (1-1-1, 1 KO) of Newark, NJ weighed 154.5 while Charles White (0-1) of Wilson, NC weighed 151.

Welterweights Rashad Bogar (2-2, 1 KO) of Newark, NJ and Miguel Corcino (2-0, 2 KO) of Camden, NJ both weighed 145 for their four-round welterweight matchup.

The professional debut of six-time Polish amateur champion Kamil Laszczyk of Wroclaw, Poland was postponed when his original opponent failed to make the weight.

Tickets for this championship night of boxing are priced at $120; $70& $30 by calling 1-866-468-7619; logging onto www.ticketmaster.com or www.ticketweb.com as well as at the door.

Essex County College is located at 303 University Ave in Newark, NJ 07102.

Doors open at 7PM, first fight is at 8PM.

There are few things the casual fight fan-ticket buyer would rather see than a knockout. Power is a funny thing. No matter how many times you hit the bag, or how many rounds you spar, you either have it or you don’t. It is the one attribute even the elite boxing trainer cannot teach his fighter. By his own account, Joe Gumina knocked out 16 of his 26 amateur opponents, which translates to an obscene knockout percentage, especially considering there was headgear involved in all of those bouts. Tomorrow night, Gumina’s opponent will not have the benefit of such equipment, as the unapologetic puncher turns pro down the street from his childhood stomping grounds at the Longshoremen’s Hall in San Francisco, California.

Gumina always admired the sport from afar, but did not take up boxing until he was 21-years-old, an advanced age for a beginner. “I always wanted to do it as a kid, but I was always playing baseball or football,” recalls Gumina. “Once I was done playing college football, Hector Martinez said that he would help teach me how to box. I just started working out with him, and he turned me over to Arturo [Gastelum] at Frisco Boxing and its history since. I have just been sticking with it.”

Just about two years after giving up playing linebacker, Gumina qualified for the 2007 National PAL Championships by winning the California Police Activities League state title. “I went there having not really trained for it,” recalls Gumina. “I was in good shape, but not 100 percent. I had hurt my ankle, but I was ‘You know, I am going to do it.’ I had the opportunity and I went down there and knocked out all three guys in all three fights. I have been blessed, and just jumped in there.”

Gumina went on to compete against the top 178-pound amateurs at the national tournament in Oxnard, California. Gumina advanced to the semi-finals after scoring a first-round knockout of Jamar Parker in under a minute, but lost on points to superb boxer Dorian Anthony. The following year Gumina again made it to the National PAL Championships, but lost on points to Marcos Vega.

During his amateur career, Gumina heard some criticism for his all-or-nothing style. “Truthfully, I have had people talk shit about how I box,” says Gumina. “But I am there to fight and I am there to entertain people. If I lose, but I put a hurtin’ on the other guy, hey, basically I won. I am there to knock people out, and that is what boxing needs. It doesn’t need two guys playing patty cake with each other. People may say I am not the best boxer, but I will tell you this, I am there to fight.”

Gumina had planned to turn pro over a year ago, but had to put his career on hold when he was injured at work. Three months ago, Gumina, a resident of San Bruno, California, hooked up with well known trainer Jesse Reid and decided to make the move to Southern California to better himself as a boxer. “I came to a point where I just felt like my wheels were spinning up here,” says Gumina. “I just got on the internet to see what other trainers there were, and I looked him up and found him. I got a hold of him and went down there and sparred in front of him. He said he likes everything he sees, and thinks I could do major things.”

Friday’s bout takes place at the historic Longshoremen’s Hall in San Francisco, a stone’s throw where Gumina grew up. “I’m from San Bruno, so I am ten minutes outside of San Francisco and I have worked at Fisherman’s Wharf since I was a little kid,” says Gumina, who worked at Alioto’s Restaurant, which his cousin owns. “I am grateful as hell that this fight came through. To be able to fight in my hometown for my first fight, I thought for sure I would be fighting in some little Indian casino somewhere. I am excited and I am going to put on a hell of a show in front of all of my friends and family.”

Gumina’s originally scheduled opponent Ryan Davis was a late scratch from the card. “He’s in jail or something,” explained Gumina, who will now face Jose Jesus Hurtado (3-2, 3 KOs) of San Ysidro, California in a four-rounder. “I know nothing about him,” admits Gumina. “I just found out I am fighting him this morning, but I don’t really care. I feel that if I can execute my game plan, I will be alright.”

When Gumina fights, he seems to put everything into just about every punch he throws. Now he is taking that mentality and putting it on his boxing career as a whole. “I am going to go as far as God is willing to let me go, because I am in it to win it,” declares Gumina. “I am putting 100 percent of everything of what I have into this career and boxing. Wherever it takes me, it takes me, but I am giving it 100 percent every day of the week.”

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

Nonito Donaire faces expectations that are growing into a challenge more dangerous than even Fernando Montiel. The next Manny Pacquaio? The next bantamweight champion should be enough, but it isn’t for an audience and nation that apparently thinks Donaire will be the next Filipino boxer to visit the White House.

The next syndrome has undercut countless other careers. The next John Wooden never had a chance. Unfortunate Roger Maris could never be the next Babe Ruth. But here’s Donaire, a good fighter, already being asked to satisfy the Filipino appetite for another Pacquiao. There will only be one, especially after Pacquiao’s visit with President Obama further cemented a unique ascendancy to stardom attained by few.

Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) can beat the accomplished Montiel. He is still this corner’s pick by decision. Donaire’s recent victories, including a fourth-round dismantling of Volodymyr Sydorenko, are full of signs that indicate he is a fighter just entering his prime. Donaire is bigger than Montiel. Younger than Montiel. He looks more like a featherweight than a bantamweight.

But doubts have increased with each headline calling him the next this and the next that. There are a lot of longtime ringsiders who think Donaire only will be Montiel’s next knockout victim. For Donaire, the coincidence of Pacquiao’s visit with President Obama a few days before opening bell Saturday night at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay only heightens the pressure on him to do what is impossible.

At Thursday’s news conference, Montiel had the benefit of lessons from a country that already has learned from the perils of searching for the next Julio Cesar Chavez. In Mexico, there will only be one Chavez.

“No one’s ever going to be Julio Cesar Chavez,’’ said Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs), who wants to become the first Mexican to win titles in four weight classes. “No one is ever going to come close to that.”

For Montiel, that acknowledgement allows him to be himself. For Donaire, there’s a lingering question about whether all of the attention on Pacquiao will be a distraction — a feint that takes his focus off the danger in front of him. There’s some irony in that. Pacquiao’s last fight was preceded by swirling stories about distractions that were supposed to have been his undoing against Antonio Margarito. Pacquiao conquered them and Margarito.

“I will be very happy if Nonito Donaire continues to win and beats all the top fighters and reaches the prominent position he is capable of,’’ promoter Bob Arum said.

But, Arum warned, Muhammad Ali couldn’t be cloned.

“You couldn’t duplicate Sugar Ray Leonard,” Arum said. “You can’t duplicate. But you forge your own story and that’s what Nonito is in the process of doing.

“It remains to be seen whether it resonates as much as Pacquiao or Leonard or one of these other guys.
“He is trying to create a great story for himself.’’

If Donaire’s story is about anybody else Saturday night, he’ll have to create a comeback.

The busy month of Northern California fight cards which began last week in Fairfield continues this Friday in San Francisco and concludes the following Friday in Richmond. Not in several years has the region hosted three cards in as many weeks.

Boxing Back in San Francisco

This Friday’s edition of the weekly Telefutura series Solo Boxeo will emanate from a Northern California city once known to be a boxing hotbed, San Francisco. Professional boxing returns to the city for just the second time in the last five years at the Longshoremen’s Hall in Fisherman’s Wharf. The venue which played host to acts such as Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead in the 1960’s will showcase the sweet science for the first time since a modest card in 2004.

Back in the 1950’s and 60’s, Filipino great Flash Elorde drew large crowds to see him fight in the city at the Cow Palace and the San Francisco Gardens. Promoter Don Chargin hopes history repeats itself as he places a young Filipino prospect in the main event on the 18th. Lightweight Mercito Gesta (20-0-1, 10 KOs) of San Diego, California by way of Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines will rematch Mexican journeyman Genaro Trazancos (22-13-1, 13 KOs) of Fort Myers, Florida by way of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico in an eight-rounder. Gesta, the WBO #12 ranked lightweight, stopped Trazancos in seven back in August.

In the co-feature, WBO #2 ranked super featherweight Eloy Perez (19-0, 5 KOs) of Salinas, California will take on former contender Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez (27-3, 18 KOs) of Indio, California in an eight-round bout. Perez may be on the verge of fighting for the WBO title, as an elimination bout had even been in the offing, but he first must get past the challenge of Gonzalez, an all-action fighter who has never lost a decision.

The undercard is slated to feature welterweight prospect Karim Mayfield (13-0-1, 8 KOs) of Daly City, California in a six-round bout. Mayfield headlined the only card held in San Francisco last year, as he demolished Sergio De La Torre in five rounds at the Kezar Pavilion in June. However, Mayfield’s opponent is yet to be named, and it is looking unlikely that one will.

In other action, Adolfo Gonzalez (1-0) of Salinas will take on Jose Leon (1-0) of Visalia, California in a four-round lightweight bout. Aaron Garcia (9-1, 2 KOs) of Vista, California will take on a to be determined opponent in a six-round featherweight fight. Also, former amateur knockout artist Joe Gumina of San Bruno, California will make his pro debut against Jose Jesus Hurtado (3-2, 3 KOs) of San Ysidro, California in a four-round light heavyweight bout.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Don Chargin Productions and Golden Boy Promotions, are available online at http://theboxingtruth.vbotickets.com.

Julaton Brings Title Back to the Bay

WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Ana Julaton (7-2-1, 1 KO) of Daly City will defend the title she won with a victory over Donna Biggers in San Jose, California in 2009 against veteran Franchesca Alcanter (18-9-1, 9 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri in a ten-rounder at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California on February 25th.

Julaton is coming off a hard-fought ten-round split decision over Maria Villalobos back in June of last year. Julaton’s team has designs on bringing her to the Philippines for a title defense, or possibly a unification bout, but Alcanter comes first. “I know she’s taking this fight very seriously and she is training really hard to try and take the WBO title away from me,” Julaton told 15rounds.com. “From being a three-time world champion, I know I am in a position that people are trying to take what I have, and that is just the name of the game. I just have to make sure that I don’t take anything lightly and stay grounded.”

In her last bout, Alcanter, who also has some MMA experience, took the much-ballyhooed Ina Menzer the ten-round distance in a featherweight title bid in Germany last year. “I saw her last fight with Ina Menzer,” says Julaton. “She’s very experienced. She has been in multiple world championship fights and she fights at 130, 126 weight classes. This fight will be at 122, so she is a bigger girl coming down to a smaller weight division.”

Also slated for the card, former amateur standout Bruno Escalante Jr. (1-0-1) of San Carlos, California by way of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines will take on Floyd Smith (0-2) of Apple Valley, California in a four-round bantamweight bout.

The event will also feature amateur kickboxing bouts as well as musical performances by A.J. Rafael and Sway Penala. Tickets for the event, promoted by CP Presents and Orion Sports Management, are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com.

Escobedo Makes Move to 130

Former lightweight title challenger Vicente Escobedo (22-3, 14 KOs) of Woodland is moving back down to super featherweight, beginning with a March 4th bout against career-spoiler Walter Estrada (38-13-1, 25 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Canalete, Colombia. Their bout will headline Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo and emanate from the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.

Escobedo fought at 130-pounds earlier in his career, but ventured north in weight because that is where bigger fights were offered. “It’s something I been thinking about since the fight with Katsidis,” Escobedo told 15rounds.com. “The reason it didn’t happen then was because I was approached with some great opportunities. Fighting in the lightweight class the fighters were much bigger and stronger.” Escobedo fought well, but came up short against both Michael Katsidis and Robert Guerrero.

At 130-pounds there are not a great number of name fighters to target, but Escobedo could be in line for a title fight with a couple of wins. “Going down to 130 should be fascinating,” says Escobedo. “There are a lot of great fighters in this weight class. As I step in the ring March 4th as a super featherweight I will be more comfortable, stronger and will dominate. This is the weight class where I belong in for now.”

Tickets for the event, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, are available online at FantasySpringsCasino.com.

Notes

-Last Friday’s fight card, which took place at the Fairfield Sports Center in Fairfield, California, had been originally pegged to take place in nearby Vacaville. The record shows the last time a pro boxing card was held in Vacaville it was August 17, 1921. That same Wednesday evening, cards were held in Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose. Either Vacaville or Fairfield will host the March 25th edition of Telefutura Solo Boxeo.

-Manuel Avila (2-0, 1 KO) of Fairfield will apparently not be on the bill on the 25th, as he is pegged for the Solo Boxeo undercard the previous week, which takes place at the Orange County Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California

Photo by Paul Gallegos/Golden Boy Promotions

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

Just over a year ago “Mighty” Mark Melligen was coming along nicely he had got a spot on a card the night before his countryman Manny Pacquiao was due to fight Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. His fight was against the more experienced Mexican Michel Rosales, with the aim of showing how far Melligen had come along. However the fight before Melligen was due on saw his good friend Z Gorres triumph against Luis Melendez in a fiercely competitive battle but ultimately lose consciousness before ultimatly having surgery on the left side of his brain. The experience stayed with Melligen who found it understandably difficult to regain his focus and lost a close split decision. Since that near fateful night Gorres has thankfully recovered well and is able to enjoy a near normal life away from Boxing while Melligen has gotten back to winning ways going 4-0(2) since the Rosales setback taking his overall record to 20-2(14). Next up for the humble Filipino is Gabriel Martinez 27-1-1(14) on the undercard of Montiel-Donaire on 19 February.

Hello Mark, welcome to 15rounds.com

Hi Mr. Wainwright!

Anson Wainwright – Your fighting was against Gabriel Martinez this weekend what do you know about him and what are your thoughts on that fight?

Mark Melligen – First of all I would like to thank 15 rounds.com, Mr. Anson Wainwright for taking time to do this interview. What I know about Martinez is that he is a powerful and aggressive fighter. I am just very busy now preparing myself to win this fight.

Anson Wainwright – Your last fight took place at The Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, what can you tell us about the card & the venue?

Mark Melligen – The fight card was very exciting. Thanks to our ALA Promotions President Mr. Michael Aldeguer local boxing fans were treated to a fight card headlined by international fighters from Mexico and Asia headed by two time world champion Luis Alberto Perez of Nicaragua. The venue is the classiest boxing venue in the country in terms of boxing and the Cebuano fans always push us to do good by being at our fights in support of all of us.

Anson Wainwright – You fought four times in 2010, how do you assess your development?

Mark Melligen – I think I have done pretty well. I just try to do my thing in training everyday and of course in the ring.

Anson Wainwright – Th e Roslales fight was on the same card as when your friend Z Gorres won but ended up fighting for his life. Though it’s hard what are your memories of that night & how it effected you?

Mark Melligen – It was very difficult for me to fight having witnessed what happened to Z after the fight. I could not seem to focus having Z and his condition in the back of my mind. But I lost and what I said before hand is not to justify the loss. Now Z is recovering pretty well and that is important to all of us. He truly is a warrior. Now, I will just do my best in training and in my fights to come up with the wins.

Anson Wainwright – How is Z getting on these days?

Mark Melligen – Z, thank God is doing great and his recovery is amazing. Weeks after he arrived he was raring to go start his rehab and could not wait. He also is talking about training young fighters when he is up and well. His drive and passion for the sport is amazing. I love the guy for that.

Anson Wainwright – If all goes well against Martinez what would is your plan for 2011?

Mark Melligen – After the Martinez fight where I will do all I can to win, I hope to further my campaign in the U.S. and hopefully have a busy year but it is really up to my promoters TOP RANK and ALA Promotions though.

Anson Wainwright – Your widely known as the second best Welterweight in The Philippines behind Manny Pacquiao. What influence has Manny had on your career?

Mark Melligen – Manny has probably influenced every single fighter in the Philippines…the world even. He likewise has opened the doors for Filipino boxers all over. He has helped Filipino fighters like me get the attention to make it abroad. Our thanks to you Manny.

Anson Wainwright – You were born in Bacolod City how tough were things for you early on? Did you have the hard upbringing many boxers do?

Mark Melligen – Looking back at my childhood really amuses me because I never really liked boxing when I was young. My mother held my father from becoming a boxer and he gave in but he said if they had a boy for a child then he would be a fighter. So, my path was cleared. He pushed me hard to practice but I never really liked it. Sometimes when it’s almost time to train I would run to the sugarcane fields to hide. But most of the time he always have convinced me to train and later on have me fight in barrio fiestas and city and province meets. I then realized that it came naturally to me. I won fights and it felt good winning. I then said to myself that it would be a waste not to pursue this.

Anson Wainwright – How did you first become interested in Boxing?

Mark Melligen – I never really was interested at first until I started to love the feeling of winning matches and being paid in the process. A big factor really with my interest to the sport is my father.

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing or training what do you like to do with your time? What are your hobbies or Interests?

Mark Melligen – When I am not training I usually just relax and hang out with the people close to me. Movies and what not.

Anson Wainwright – Seven of your Twenty one fights so far have been in America, for you how do you find it in America compared to The Philippines?

Mark Melligen – In the United States we obviously earn more but what is important is the number and quality of training and sparring partners. I am fighting in a division where a handful of Filipinos campaign at. It really helps a lot training in the U.S..

Anson Wainwright – How far do you think you are from challenging for a World title? Who are you targeting?

Mark Melligen – I feel I am still young and it really is up to TOP RANK and ALA Promotions what direction my career is headed. I will just train hard and fight hard to win matches and if an opportunity comes I will embrace it and do my best to win. But a chance at redemption from my last loss is certainly on top of my wish list.

Thanks for your time Mark.

Thank you Mr. Wainwright for your time and this interview. Hello to all followers of 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Fedor Emelianenko met his demise, beaten down on the mat by a much bigger man Saturday night at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as Strikeforce began their 8-man heavyweight tournament.

It was not as shocking an outcome as other MMA media would like you to believe. Coming off his first loss in a decade, the 34-year-old Russian legend faced off against the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Antonio ‘Big Foot’ Silva—a man that outweighed the great Emelianenko by 55 pounds by the time they stepped into the cage. No, it was not surprising. Strikeforce heavyweight champion and the tournament’s prohibitive favourite, Alistair Overeem, who was in the crowd watching, said afterward that Fedor “fought like a true warrior” and that the “fight could have gone either way, fifty-fifty.”

In the first stanza, Fedor came out slugging, landing, but unable to hurt Silva. Fedor then attempted a guillotine, with Silva powering out of that attempt. From there Fedor moved into a half guard, eventually attempting a kimura, but Silva again drove through that with his excessive size and strength and got back to his feet, managing to take down Fedor with 10 seconds left in the round, which painted a portrait of things to come.

In the second stanza, there were no guillotine attempts, or kimuras, and there were no images of Fedor going to work from the half guard. No, the second stanza began how the first ended, with Silva taking down Fedor again, in continuation, feeding his heavy fists into Fedor’s face from the top position, like we got so used to seeing Brock Lesnar do to Frank Mir.

Silva then moved from side position to a full mount midway through the round, throwing several more painful shots before going for an arm triangle. Escaping that, Fedor almost got caught with a knee bar, and for the final minute, sitting there, you could almost picture ‘The Last Emperor’ making it through and coming back in the third to win, because so many times had you seen Fedor levelled and bleeding from his nose and his eyes only to win in the end, somehow, like nothing we had seen before, over and over again. But it did not happen this time. His constant comebacks from all kinds of dire situations over the years that created high drama and his escapes from sure submissions that provided breathtaking theatre for the MMA world ended on this night.

This time his eye was swollen shut, and this time the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board’s doctor told referee Dan Miragliotta to stop the fight. This time we were not to find out if Fedor could reign once more. And all that we were left with was Fedor’s humble Russian voice, standing in the middle of the cage, being translated into something no one was expecting:

“I want to thank you for your support. Something was wrong from the beginning. I didn’t adjust. Maybe it’s time to leave. Yes, maybe it’s the last time. Maybe it’s high time. I spent a great, beautiful, long sport life. Maybe it’s God’s will.”

Andrei Arlovski may also be facing retirement following his knockout at the hands of Sergei Kharitonov in the other heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal earlier in the night. Kharitonov is now set to fight the winner of Josh Barnett—Brett Rogers, while Silva awaits the results of the Fabricio Werdum—Alistair Overeem fight. Both remaining quarterfinal bouts will take place on April 9. The semifinals for the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament could take place as early as June.

In other results on Saturday’s all-heavyweight televised portion of Strikeforce, undefeated Shane Del Rosario (11-0) submitted, via arm bar, to Lavar Johnson (15-4) at 4:31 in the first round, Chad Griggs (10-1) won his fifth consecutive fight, stopping Gian Villante (7-2) at 2:49 in the opening round and Valentijn Overeem (29-25) won his Strikeforce debut via submission (neck crank) over Ray Sefo (2-1) at 1:37 in the first.

NOTES:
Sergei Kharitonov, a 6-foot-4, 30-year-old native of Moscow, Russia, is best known for being the last fighter to defeat current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem … Gina Carano announced that she is returning to MMA, but no date or opponent has been decided … Fedor’s loss left many MMA fans cramming internet forums over the weekend, calling for a super-heavyweight division … Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said that Fedor could rejoin the heavyweight tournament as an injury replacement … At the end of the Silva—Fedor match, before the official announcement was made in the arena, Antonio Silva walked across the cage, got down on his knees and bowed at the feet of Fedor Emelianenko. “I told him he was No. 1, that he is still No. 1 and that he would always be No. 1,” said Silva. “There will never be a fighter like him.”

“I put a pair of gloves on, sparred a kid, knocked him down, and just been rolling ever since.”

Since that short time less than four years ago, Vinny O’Brien has stormed through New Jersey boxing’s amateur scene, his hard work ultimately paying off last year when he won the 2010 New Jersey Golden Gloves championship at 141 pounds.

Now the twenty-four year old from East Hanover, New Jersey is set to vacate his amateur status and earn his first boxing paycheck. He’s slated to debut against David Navarro (0-1) on March 5th at the AmeriHealth Pavillion at Prudential Center in Newark as part of the undercard for the Zab Judah-Kaizer Mabuza IBF junior welterweight title scrap.

“I’m anxious to get out there and show everyone what I can really do,” O’Brien said. “When I started [boxing], that’s what I really wanted to do…show the world what Vinny O’Brien can bring in the ring.”

While O’Brien is confident and ready for his professional launch, he is well aware of the differences between amateur and professional boxing.

“We had to change our game plan a little bit because the amateurs are a bit faster paced, a little bit more chasing, in a sense,” said O’Brien. “We’re slowing things down and getting good sparring. Everyone I go against [in sparring] are levels above me in experience right now and are great fighters. So right now they’re just building me up and getting me ready to where I have to be.”

O’Brien, who trains at Final Round Boxing and Fitness in Whippany, New Jersey, practices his trade under the watchful eye of former heavyweight Lou Esa, who will undoubtedly have his fighter ready to go for his first prizefight.

Esa, a New Jersey native who ultimately wound up in Miami fighting under the tutelage of Chris and Angelo Dundee, is exceedingly optimistic about his fighter’s future.

“I’m not patting myself on the back because I’m his trainer, but if you watch this kid and you see his work ethic in the gym…he’s off the hook,” said Esa. “He’s going to grab a belt soon,” he continued with a smile. “I don’t know about how soon, but it’s going to be soon.”

Nicknamed “The Lion”, O’Brien suggests he acts more like a chameleon in the ring — able to adapt to anything and everything thrown his way.

“I’m a stalker. I’m going to push the fight, be the aggressor,” said O’Brien. “I’m slick when I move, I’m all around. I can move, I can brawl…I’ll do whatever I need to do, but I will put out that ‘W’.”

When speaking with the 5’9” O’Brien, it was easy to see why people are excited about him. Setting aside his outstanding skills inside the ropes, outside the ring O’Brien is a well-dressed, well-spoken, clean-cut, twenty-four year old.

While talking at the Judah-Mabuza undercard press conference last week, O’Brien made it a point to speak his mind about the state of the game. Aside from capturing a world title, he stated that he wants “to bring class back [into boxing], and bring it back to the days where my mom would get excited about fights.”

While it remains to be seen whether his mother will get excited about fights again is yet to be determined, his appearance and presentation alone suggest that the sport just indeed got a little bit classier. On the day 15Rounds.com caught up with O’Brien he sported a crisp blue button down with a matching blue and white striped tie to accompany his slicked-back hair and neatly trimmed goatee.

At one point Esa even joked a bit about his boxer’s sharp appearance. “As you can see, he’s a good looking kid…for now,” the 6’6” Esa said jokingly, drawing a laugh from his fighter. “We’ll see what happens down the road.”

Well, in just over three weeks, they’ll embark on their journey down the road. O’Brien will be tasked with getting his first professional victory in front of countless fans from his neighborhood that are set to make the short drive over to Newark.

“There are some nerves,” O’Brien admitted. “But this is my moment. I can either let the moment take control of me, or I can take control of the moment.”

Given O’Brien’s track record, I think it’s safe the assume “The Lion” is going to grab the bull by its horns.

Kyle Kinder can be reached at Twitter.com/KyleKinder or KyleKinder1@gmail.com

The best don’t normally fight each other much below Featherweight in Boxing and it’s even rarer to see them fight on HBO or Showtime. However late last year Showtime realised the potential in the Bantamweight class and looked to create another Super 6, which would of included consensus number one Fernando Montiel against Nonito Donaire who was moving up in weight but considered by many to have star potential. Ultimately a deal was struck outside of the confines of a Bantamweight Super 6 that meant Montiel would defend his WBC & WBO titles against Nonito Donaire and HBO happily picked up the fight which takes place this Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV. It’s a very attractive match up between two guys who’s styles mess very well, both have power, speed and excellent fundamentals. For his part Donaire 25-1(17) will be looking to in his own words “Sky rocket his career” he knows this fight holds the keys to possible stardom & crossover appeal enjoyed by only a handful of Boxers today. He has a massive upside and many believe him to be someone who can do much like his fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao did and move successfully through the several weight classes. At only 28 already conqueror of 2 worlds he seeks a third knowing this will be the toughest fight of his career.

Hello Nonito, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulation’s on a terrific Bantamweight debut. Looking back on your fight with Wladimir Sidorenko what are your thoughts on the fight & how happy were you with your performance?

Nonito Donaire – I trained really hard for that fight. I was really happy with the performance. To be able to get to Montiel, I was set up to win, if I win then i would fight Montiel and I accomplished that. I felt strong at Bantamweight, my speed and power was there. I’m becoming more natural in the weight, I didn’t have to cut down to much. So I was really comfortable at Bantamweight.

Anson Wainwright – Your fighting Fernando Montiel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas this Saturday. That looks a fantastic fight. What do you think of that fight?

Nonito Donaire – I think it’s good for Boxing. You have two technical guys with power & speed, going in there. It’s a very interesting fight, it’s a fight to look forward too. I mean both Montiel & I want knock out wins. I’m going to go out there and try to knock him out. You’ve got two guys trying to prove who’s the best in the division. It’s going to be a good fight, a very exciting fight.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of Montiel?

Nonito Donaire – As a fighter, as a champion he’s been there for a long time. I think before I even turned pro he was a top guy. He knows what to do out there. He has tremendous power, tremendous experience. I want to beat Montiel. I think Montiel is the guys who’s going to Sky rocket my career to better fights and better deals.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & Promoter? Also what gym do you regularly train at?

Nonito Donaire – Right now for quite a few years actually i’ve worked with Cameron Dunkin as my manager. I work with a strength trainer Michael Bazzel, he does a lot of Pyometrics and stuff like that. I have my ART guy which is Active Release Technique, he’s a Chiropractor. He’s pretty much helped me out when i’m injured or have injuries or pain. He comes and fixes that for me, realigns my spine aswell. Then of course my two trainers Jonathan Penalosa who holds the mits for me and does the physical work for me and my other trainer is Robert Garcia who pretty much heads the strategic part of my fights. He’s out there talking to me in the corner. He’s making decisions on the fight, how I am going to be able to take advantage of my opponent. And of course my nutritionalist Victor Conte who pretty much helped me get the proper diet, the proper amount of minerals and nutrients in my body stuff like that and be healthy for the weigh in. Then I have my sprint trainer Rimi Korchemny. So I have all these guys who do all these things to prepare me mentally and physically. All these guys believe in me, so I have a very good team around me. Of course my wife pretty much does everything all around. I’m promoted by Top Rank and i’ve been with them going on 3 years. I train in San Carlos in California at Undisputed.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your early years growing up in The Philippines and later America? How did you first become interested in Boxing?

Nonito Donaire – Well it was very tough in the Philippines, my family didn’t have much money at all. We were poor a lot of the time my parents were trying to earn as much as they can because they had 4 children including me. They were trying to work as much as they could so we’d have food on the table. It was a difficult journey growing up. I didnt feel like anything would happen to me and then when we moved to the United States everything was very different. For the first time in my life I saw diversity. After a year or two my brother started Boxing and as much as I liked to box it felt like i needed my parents approval to make them proud of me and I thought that was the way. The way they looked at my brother everytime he won, they were proud. They were happy to see us win. That’s how i got started. The main part of that was my dad wanted us to be off the streets instead of going out with our friends he wanted us in the gym. Instead of hanging around doing nothing.

Anson Wainwright – Your coming out party was when you brutally KO’d Vic Darchinyan with one left hook in 2007. Is that how you see it and looking back what are your thoughts on that fight and why the rematch never took place?

Nonito Donaire – That fight we really worked hard for and studied Darchinyan. We were confident we’d win by knock out. When I was interviewed a week or two before the fighti said I was going to knock this guy out and we were able to accomplish that goal and everything changed form that point on. It was an incredible feeling to achieve what I had dreamed of since I was little becoming a world champion. I have no idea (Why the rematch never took place) after the Darchinyan & Maldonado fight I stayed more than a year without a fight, I don’t know what happened. I even stayed for a long time at 112 to be able to give him a rematch. When I was in the 115 division we were supposed to fight last year on Showtime August 21st and 3 months before the fight when I came to sign the contract they backed out, they said I was taking to long to sign the contract. Which was ridiculous because the fight was 3 months away. He said I took to long to sign and they didn’t want to wait for me. I was like it doesn’t matter when I sign the contract. My point is the first time I signed the contract at the weigh in and they never complained about that. I know he’s affraid of me and that’s why the rematch never happened. I waited to give him the opportunity but i’m done waiting around. So I fought Sidorenko and now i’m fighting Montiel. So i’m moving on.

Anson Wainwright – Your name was linked with a Super 6 in the Bantamweight division. Obviously that didn’t happen what are your thoughts on that & what do you think of the 4 man tournament and who do you think will win it?

Nonito Donaire – Well my goal was we were supposed to be in that tournament & Montiel. But Top Rank advised Montiel and then me to pull out and by doing so they’d give me Montiel. I believe Montiel is better than all of them. Those guys are world champions or world calibre fighters but I believe Montiel’s the best in the division right now and on Saturday 19th i’m better than him. That’s my goal that’s why I choose to stick with the Montiel fight.

Anson Wainwright – When your not fighting what is your walk around weight?

Nonito Donaire – Usually if I’m not doing anything maybe 140 or close to that. It was really tough to make 112. I was hungry and not happy. I think that’s why my performances have got a lot better and because of the guys working with me and I focus on my game plan or what’s going to happen and take advantage of my opponent, whereas before I would focus on losing weight and maintaining weight was my main focus. Now I’ll cut down on weight but not as much. But my main focus now is putting a game plan together and executing it.

Anson Wainwright – You won a world Title at Flyweight and have since moved up to 115 where you won an Interim belt and your now up at 118. Without getting ahead of ourselves how many more divisions do you think you can successfully fight in?

Nonito Donaire – I think I’ll be comfortable as I grow older and as the years go by up to 130 or higher.

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing what are your hobbies and Interests? What other sports do you like and what teams do you support?

Nonito Donaire – I do a lot of photography and filming doing a lot of stuff for my website. Doing some little films and things like that, that’s who I am. I love sports, when I was younger I used to play a lot Basketball, I used to do track and field, I played Soccer, I played football, baseball, I played a lot of sports. I still do, I play a little Basketball or Football but of course I can’t play as much now because when I play I get right into it and don’t want to get injured. I support the Bay area teams like the San Francisco Giants, in the world series or the 49’ers. I watch a lot of Basketball as well and like the Golden State Warriors the Kings. I watch a lot of Sports with my friends.

Anson Wainwright – Your countryman Manny Pacquiao has done wonderful things for Boxing in your country and in general. Could you tell us a little about your relationship with him and how you feel he’s helped create opportunity’s for Filipino’s?

Nonito Donaire – He’s done a lot. I met him in 2000. We actually went to the same school, without knowing that we did. If we see each other we’ll probably have lunch or dinner and we’ll talk for a little bit. He’s a very busy man. But he’s done a lot for the country, not only to inspire it but make it better for people to work together, just a lot of inspiration from that man has got me an a lot of people to work hard and to do the best for ourselves and for the country.

Anson Wainwright – How do you think the fight with Montiel will be viewed in The Philippines. Will it be similar to when Manny Pacquiao fight in that much of the country pretty much comes to a standstill and almost straight after there are bootleg DVD’s available?

Nonito Donaire – Yeah, that happens a lot, one time I fought and the next day they already had my fight in the bootleg section. That was pretty funny. The Philippines has so much love for Boxing, especially for world class fighters. When they fight the whole country stops and gives there support. It means a lot to me for them to do that, so far they’ve been watching my fights and giving me the ratings on the networks, who said it’s pretty high.

Anson Wainwright – How popular are you when you go back amongst the people?

Nonito Donaire – Yeah it’s hard when i’m walking in the mall there’s always someone who recognises me and take a picture, one comes a whole crowd comes. I’m truely blessed with that. It’s been really crazy. There promoting this fight really big in the Philippines.

Anson Wainwright – So if you win this fight, perhaps you’ll get the same treatment as Manny Pacquiao did on 24/7 when you turn up at the airport the plane is ready to leave when you are! Haha

Nonito Donaire – When it comes it comes! Haha

Anson Wainwright – Your fellow Filipino Z Gorres was very badly injured in 2009. How is he doing?

Nonito Donaire – I haven’t really talked to him. His wife facebooked my wife and Z Gorres was telling my wife he wished so bad he could of helped me with this fight. But the only thing he thing he can do for me is pray for me and give me his support. I know a lot of the ALA guys. They all support me the same way I support them.

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

Nonito Donaire – I want to thank each and everyone of them for there support and being there through out. I hope they pray for me and my best everytime I fight. That they cheer and enjoy the fight. Watch February 19 or February 20 wherever your at. It’s going to be very exciting, that’s something you guys can’t miss.

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

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Midweek Thoughts – On Saturday night at Sands Tavern Maroochydore Australia several bouts took place.

(10 x 3)

Australian lightweight champion and first time promoter Brett W Smith put on a great promotion with his debut event at the Sands Tavern Maroochydore. Two professional, six amateur and one exhibition bout provided plenty of action for the night.

Brett W Smith (62.3) probably realised early in the first round of his eight round KO loss to Filipino Jack Asis, that promoting an event and being the main fight isn’t easy.

Brett was down twice in the first round from flurries of hard punches, he managed to find his feet after the shaky start and box his way back into the fight in rounds two and the start of round three before a cut in the third added to his problems. Rounds four and five were much the same as the previous with Brett seemingly in control of the fight when he chose to box only to lose control quickly when he tried to punch it out with his tough opponent. A warning in the sixth on top of being hurt a couple of times spelt more trouble and after another knock down at the end of round seven Brett showed a true champions heart to come out in the eight.

The packed crowd couldn’t lift their local hero and after more brutal exchanges and another knockdown the fight was stopped 1.05 of the eight round, referee was Alan Moore and judges Adrian Cairns, Adam Height and Steve Marshall all had Jack Asis ahead 66-65, 67-64 and 68-63 respectively at the time of stoppage.

Due to a change of opponents twice in the lead up to this fight Brett’s Australian Lightweight title was not on the line, and disappointed as he was after Brett assured me that injuries aside he is willing to defend his title against anyone, jokingly adding so long as it is on someone else’s promotion.

(4 x 3)

Brett John Smith( 65.7) showed his experience with his second round KO over Ryan Mc Donald who was having his first pro fight.

Smith controlled the fight throughout the first round with snappy combinations and some hard shots and continued with more of the same at the start of the second before the end came at .50 in the same round.

Referee was Steve Marshall and judges Adrian Cairns, Adam Height and Alan Moore all had Smith winning the first round.

Global Amateur Results

Australian Heavyweight Title

Tyson Andrews (94.6) KO 2 Glen Ayres

Queensland Middleweight Title

Shane Parry (75) win unanimous points over Nick Murry (69.54)

S/E Queensland Middleweight Title

Ben Greenslade (69.8) win unanimous points over Stuart Shaw (72.1)

Josh Coutts (91.8) win points over Dan Dwyer (87.5)

Dean Flanigan (70.8) win points over Joey Evans (71.68)

Ali Jerkil win points over Josh Adams

Fight report courtesy of Brad Arnold, who was ringside.

This will be about Marco Antonio Barrera’s continuing journey through prizefighting, inspired by its form. If you’re no longer interested in Barrera, this column is not for you. That cleared the room? This column is for posterity, then.

These days Barrera bears little resemblance to the proud, belligerent man who outsmarted and undressed Naseem Hamed on pay-per-view a decade ago. Instead, Barrera peddles name recognition, traffics in the past, wears too much fat on the body, and goes about his craft sloppily. But Barrera still finds a way to get by – working off his ample talent and capacity for calculation.

Can Barrera’s recent approach be duplicated with prose? Stick around, you’re about to find out.

The end of the serious part of Marco Antonio Barrera’s career came a few minutes after the end of Barrera’s WBC super featherweight championship match with Juan Manuel Marquez in 2007. Unless you understood Spanish you didn’t catch the sincerity at the end of Barrera’s post-fight interview of that fight Barrera lost. Barrera made a rhetorical question about the scorecards that unanimously went Marquez’s way: What good is it to have the best promoter if you’re not going to get the judging you want?

Why treat Barrera at all? Oh yeah. Barrera was in action Saturday as the headliner of a card conducted in an edifice on the campus of La Universidad de Guadalajara – apparently not “autonomous” as other Mexican universities. Barrera fought Jose Arias, a Columbian junior welterweight who’d gone 7-0 (7 KOs) last year alone!

Barrera, you imagine, left Barrera’s postfight interview after Barrera lost Barrera’s title to Marquez and took a firm line with Oscar De La Hoya, Barrera’s partner in Golden Boy Promotions: Get me a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, or get lost.

Barrera’s match with Pacquiao was the banner under which Barrera’s promoter called a truce with rival promoter Top Rank in the fall of 2007. It was an uneasy alliance, and not solely because Barrera turned Barrera’s rematch with Pacquiao into a retirement party – one that, given the way Pacquiao would go on to terrorize larger men, Barrera deserves a touch of retroactive praise for: Barrera glided round that ring for 36 minutes with Pacquiao, engaging only when imperiled, and proved that if you don’t wish to fight, Pacquiao won’t make you do it.

One note about Barrera’s Saturday opponent, the Columbian who scored seven knockouts in 2010: He turned 43 years-old in December. And his first fight of 2010 ended a sabbatical from prizefighting that was four months shy of 11 years.

That was two notes about Barrera’s Saturday opponent? So it was.

After the Pacquiao rematch Barrera sat at a makeshift podium in a converted Mandalay Bay conference room, and in English, said something like: I am happy with career.

Then in Spanish, Barrera said: I reserve my deepest gratitude for this beautiful sport and what it has given to Marco Antonio Barrera, and if I were to have this life to live another time, I would change not one thing.

Barrera’s goodbye to boxing was only a goodbye to Barrera’s promoter, though. The term “partner” being a malleable sort of thing in the blossoming Golden Boy Promotions empire, Barrera’s name didn’t have to be scraped from the shingle or struck from the company letterhead. Barrera had to take a year off and fight on a different continent, and that was that.

Yes, but how did it go Saturday? Honestly, Barrera looked like a fat old guy standing across from the Columbian sniper Arias who showed some brio in his ring entrance, fastening gloves to hips and sideskipping across the canvas. Barrera looked dull in Barrera’s royal-blue robe and vaseline as Barrera’d looked at the press conference Barrera’d done before Barrera’s June fight in San Antonio – which is dull as Barrera always looks while speaking in the hastily acquired English that, despite De La Hoya’s noble plans, never quite made Barrera the next Golden Boy.

Can you find Chengdu on a map of China? Barrera did, and plied Barrera’s wares at its Sichuan Gymnasium in the first fight since Barrera’s goodbye to the beautiful sport. After storming through Sammy Ventura (25-19) in the fall of 2008, Barrera went to La Universidad de Guadalajara – different edifice, same apparent lack of autonomy – in the first month of 2009 and escaped with a disqualification victory against Freudis Rojas (1-7-1).

Barrera brought a new combination to Saturday’s fight with Arias – lead left hook, right cross – and thirty seconds into the first round, Barrera loosed the opening volley of this two-punch combination on Arias, but Barrera did not get a chance to complete the combo because Arias, surprised that someone looking as Barrera did could move so quickly, was caught unawares and dropped to the mat then collected himself and made a good match of the next two minutes.

In the next round, though, Barrera spun Arias and hit him with angry right hands behind the left ear and a few spiteful left hooks that Barrera muscled much as Barrera threw them, and Arias was down for the second time in the fight, in the opening minute of the second round, and before he could make much of a contest of that round, Barrera had him staggered again and stayed on the assault till the referee stepped between the men and ensured the Jaliscienses who’d gathered to see Barrera prevail saw just that.

For the five minutes of Saturday’s fight, Barrera was big and sloppy but did enough to make a point – just like those sentences above.

Then there was that abortive thing that happened in Barrera’s match with Amir Khan in England – the coming out party for Khan’s new style under trainer Freddie Roach. A gory gash caused by an accidental headbutt that should have seen the fight stopped early continued to gush blood all about Barrera’s face till the fourth round was in the books – Barrera’s name was on Khan’s resume – and the doctor could decide, quite predictably, that enough was enough and it was time to go to the jolly good scorecards.

In San Antonio 15 months after the Khan debacle, Barrera was signed with a new promoter, Top Rank – once more feuding with Golden Boy Promotions but proud of its acquisition of De La Hoya’s first partner – and the prefight line, in English, was that Barrera had returned to the beautiful sport to become the first Mexican to win championships in four weight classes. In Spanish, of course, Barrera laughed that one off and said it was about “erasing” the Khan match and giving Mexicans a last chance to see Marco Antonio Barrera.

And that was the last time Barrera’s continuing journey made any sense whatever. Saturday, fighting on Fox Deportes – part of your local cable provider’s Español package – Barrera doubtfully made one percent the purse Barrera’d earned for Barrera’s fight with Marquez four years ago. It’s not about money, in other words; there is no cupidity in this comeback.

And it’s not about Barrera’s inability to do something else, either. Barrera is smart as any prizefighter you’ll meet. No, Barrera’s odyssey through the margins of prizefighting, anymore, appears to be about a lack of imagination. Barrera simply can’t be bothered to think of something better to do with Barrera’s time or talents.

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

With just hours remaining until he steps into the ring for the first time as a professional, it would be understandable for Millville, NJ’s Thomas LaManna to have a few butterflies in his stomach. However, as I interviewed the high school senior over a tray of his mother’s homemade baked ziti just after he weighed in at Bally’s, he spoke with the confidence of a veteran who’s been down this road before.

Self-assured without being cocky, LaManna speaks with maturity well beyond his nineteen years. Although the man he’s facing, Anthony Williams (0-2 of Wilson, NC), hasn’t fared too well in his pro career to this point, Thomas isn’t taking his opponent lightly. “I have prepared for this fight by sparring with the best guys around” LaManna said of his work at the Atlantic City PAL with Shamone Alvarez, Patrick Majewski, Osnel Charles, and Decarlo Perez.

With this fight happening in his own backyard (he’s expecting close to 300 friends and family to be in attendance), many distractions are bound to pop up. However, LaManna has not allowed to his focus to be derailed. “Everyday its: school, gym, home.” Thomas said of his regimen, “That’s it, and I never take a day off, not even Super Bowl Sunday.”

The man responsible for handling all those distractions outside the ring (as well as working his fighter’s corner) is none other than Thomas’ father Vincent. Many of this site’s readers probably know Vinny LaManna from his days as a promoter in the 90’s. In addition to having over fifty fights under his belt as a promoter, the elder LaManna has managed Ray Mercer, Bert Cooper and Michael Covington.

Guiding your own flesh and blood though the toughest business there is no enviable task, but Vinny LaManna is defiantly up to it. Not only does he have an abundance of experience to draw on, he has also has the help of trainer Hassan Hammed-El and cut-man Joey Eye.
Speaking with father and son, the bond between the two was clear, but don’t expect Vinny to baby his son. “He doesn’t get any special treatment” said Vinny “I look after all my fighters like they my kids anyway.”

Thomas LaManna’s fight is scheduled for four rounds in the junior welterweight division.

Other local fighters in action:
Atlantic City’s John “The Eastern Beast” Brown (24-18, 11 KO) takes on 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Williams (16-2, 9 KO).

Promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and sponsored by Corona, tickets are priced at $75 and $50 may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail outlets, Ticketmaster Call Center 800-745-3000 and Bally’s Atlantic City (day of event).

FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA — Last month, the weekly boxing series Solo Boxeo, which airs nationally Friday nights on Telefutura, brought their traveling road show to the city of Fairfield, California. It was the first time professional boxing had taken place in the city since the late 1980’s, and the thirsty local fight fans showed up in mass, as an overflow crowd packed the Fairfield Sports Center to witness a slew of local prospects ply their trade. Just one month later boxing is back, as middleweight Peter Quillin and local favorite Alan Sanchez co-headline the card. Fighters weighed in Thursday evening at the Courtyard by Marriott Fairfield Napa Valley Area.

Quillin (22-0, 16 KOs) of Brooklyn, New York ended a long stretch of inactivity with a ten-round decision over Fernando Zuniga in February of last year. In his only other ring appearance of 2010, Quillin made short work of Martin Desjardins, stopping the journeyman with a right hand late in the first round of a December bout. Quillin, who now fights out of the famed Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood, California under the tutelage of Freddie Roach and Eric Brown, looks poised to make his move in an intriguing middleweight division. Quillin weighed in at 166-pounds Thursday.

Opposing Quillin in the eight-round bout is Bayonne, New Jersey’s Dennis Sharpe (17-5-3, 4 KOs). Sharpe finds himself in the familiar role of opponent for a well known rising contender. All five of Sharpe’s losses have come against previously unbeaten foes, which accounts for his five most recent ring appearances. Sharpe managed to last the distance against the trio of Ronald Hearns, Buddy McGirt Jr. and Andy Lee in the last three bouts, but those took place in 2006 and 2007. Sharpe scaled 159-pounds Thursday evening.

While the main event may or may not prove to be competitive, the co-feature is the bigger drawing card for local fight aficionados anyway. Fairfield’s Alan Sanchez (6-2-1, 2 KOs) turned back the challenge of the always game Cristian Favela via eight-round unanimous decision at last month’s event. This time around Sanchez goes up against an unbeaten but less proven opponent in Denver, Colorado’s John Ryan Grimaldo (6-0, 5 KOs). Grimaldo, who scaled 142-pounds, is completely untested, as his previous opponents had a combined record of 10-31. Sanchez, who weighed in at 144, went 1-1-1 against three prospects with a combined record of 26-1 before meeting Favela last month.

Last month former national amateur standout Manuel Avila (1-0) of Fairfield was slated to be a part of the card at the Sports Center, but after several opponents fell out, his fight was scratched. Promoters were able to lock down an opponent this time around, as Avila will take on Jose Garcia (0-2) of Bakersfield, California in a four-round super bantamweight bout. Avila, managed by Cameron Dunkin, was impressive in his debut back in November, as he showed the composure of a veteran in a four-round decision of Alexis Hernandez. Avila weighed in at 121-pounds, while Garcia scaled 119.

Former amateur star Guy Robb (1-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California will take on Fairfield’s Omar Sanchez (0-1) in a four-round light welterweight bout. The fight nearly fell apart on Thursday, when Sanchez came in at 138-pounds, two pounds over the contracted 136. Robb, a winner at the 2008 Ringside World Championships as an amateur, had scaled 132-pounds. Sanchez did not want to lose the two pounds, but eventually a deal was stuck with Robb’s team to keep the fight intact. Robb turned pro back in October, scoring a devastating first-round stoppage of Jose Pacheco in Santa Ynez, California. Sanchez turned pro on the January card in Fairfield, but ran into prospect Maximilliano Becerra and lost an action-packed four-round decision.

Becerra (4-0-1, 2 KOs) of Vacaville, California was slated to be on tonight’s card, but is without an opponent presently. Becerra’s originally scheduled opponent, Irving Garcia (3-1, 1 KO) of Stratford, California, fell out for undisclosed reasons. Should an opponent be found, he and Becerra will weigh-in today, two hours before the card begins.

Another fight is pending a Friday afternoon weigh-in, as lightweight prospect Fidel Maldonado Jr. (7-0, 6 KOs) of Albuquerque, New Mexico is pegged to fight Carlos Hernandez (3-4-2) of San Fernando, California in a four-rounder. Hernandez was a late addition to the card and did not arrive in Fairfield in time for Thursday’s weigh-in.

A scant few, if any, tickets remain for tonight’s event promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions, Jorge Marron Productions and Paco Presents.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Super Middleweights, 8 Rounds
Quillin 166
Sharpe 159

Welterweights, 8 Rounds
Sanchez 144
Grimaldo 142

Super Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Avila 121
Garcia 119

Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Robb 132
Sanchez 138

Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Maldonado*
Hernandez *

Lightweights, 4 Rounds
Becerra**

*will weigh-in today
**will weigh-in today if opponent is found

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

There’s a new wrinkle to a line that has echoed throughout boxing for as long as gyms have been full of the familiar rhythms from a speed bag. Yeah, styles make fights. That one fits like an old glove. But styles do more than that. They create audiences, which these days are more interested in fighters willing to risk a record instead of protecting one. Fernando Montiel has figured that out. At least, it sounds as if he has.

He returns to the United States for the first time in a year and to HBO for the first time since 2006 on Feb. 19 in an intriguing a bantamweight clash against Nonito Donaire at Las Vegas Mandalay Bay. About five years ago, Montiel was told he would never appear on HBO again. A split-decision loss to Jhonny Gonzalez was one thing. Another was a performance that included no compelling reason for anybody to think they’d like to see him an encore.

“That fight against Gonzalez, I think, was a question of styles,’’ Montiel said during a conference call Tuesday. “We just couldn’t get together. His style and my style could never match that night. It was a difficult fight for both of us and we each wanted to show something and it wasn’t possible.

“After the fight, I heard the criticism and thought I needed to do something about it. I did. I changed my style, became more aggressive. I wanted to give people a better show, a better fight. I think I have done that. My style is better and it has shown in my fights. Now I get another opportunity on HBO and I’m not going to mess it up.’’

Any change in style is problematic. It’s not as if Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) or any other fighter can walk into a gym and order up a few alterations. He’s not visiting a tailor. Style is about personality, habit and instinct. All three will likely be tested by Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), who isn’t a Filipino Congressman, yet often moves with the speed of the only one who is known in places other than the Pacific nation.

A Manny Pacquiao-like punch from Donaire, who like the Congressman was born in General Santos City, could quickly force Montiel into a comfort zone full of old habits, yet forgettable to the audience he hopes to create.

That won’t happen, promises the 31-year-old Mexican who is popular in his own country, yet mostly unknown in the United States. Montiel, who has held major titles at three weights – flyweight, super-fly and bantam, believes he re-fashioned himself in 2010, possibly as a dramatic finisher with four victories, all by stoppage. The key to re-opening the door to HBO was a fourth-round TKO of Hozumi Hasegawa in Tokyo last April.

Montiel also seems to understand that the timing of the Donaire bout is critical. A couple of weeks after Tim Bradley’s victory over Devon Alexander in front of a few customers and thousands of empty seats at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., fans are still yawning. Montiel-Donaire is a chance to wake them up with a bout that promoter Bob Arum says has Fight of the Year potential.

“You have to fight smart, but I am here to entertain too,’’ Montiel said. “I want people to go in there and say that is a fight that they will remember for a long time. If we need to break into a war, let’s do a war if that’s what needs to be done. But it is certainly not going to be a boring fight.

“For sure, I am ready to risk getting knocked down and getting back up and knocking him down and him getting back up. I want it to be a great fight so everybody can remember.”

Memorable enough for a rematch, Montiel said.

“Maybe, two or three,” he said.

Maybe.

But after the Silverdome sleeper, one would be enough.

When you think of the Worlds top Welterweight’s Jan Zaveck doesn’t spring to mind. However the 34 year old Slovenian who boasts an impressive 30-1(17) career record is the current holder of the IBF championship. He won it late in 2009 in South Africa when he shocked reigning champion Isaac Hlatshwayo, stopping him in three rounds. Since then he has made two successful defence’s in front of adoring home fans stopping Rodolfo Martinez in the twelfth & gaining revenge for his only loss when he outpointed Rafal Jackiewicz. He holds the distinction of becoming the first Slovenian to win a world title. He regularly draws crowds upwards of 10,000, such is his popularity he’s the reigning Slovenian Sportsman of the year. He’ll once again be heavily supported when he faces Paul Delgado who is rated 15 with the IBF on 18 February in his countries capital of Ljubljana.

Hello Jan, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you have an IBF Welterweight title scheduled for 18 February in your hometown. Any ideas who you may be facing as yet?

Jan Zaveck – Yes, this is the American Paul Delgado.

Anson Wainwright – It has been rumoured that if you and Randall Bailey win interim fights you will meet over the summer. What are your thoughts on that?

Jan Zaveck – It will be a suspenseful fight for sure. If he is the official challenger in this mandatory title defence, I am going to fight him.

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

Jan Zaveck – When I came to Magdeburg 2003, SES manager Ulf Steinforth believed in me and gave me support, led me to international title fights and finally to the champion title. I show him how thankful I am with sport achievements and wins. My coach Dirk Dzemski works in Magdeburg too. I trust him very much and feel there very comfortable, that’s why I train so much in Germany. I complete every single fight preparation session there but spend the rest of my time with my family in Slovenia, where I also train.

Anson Wainwright – How do you find making 147, do you walk around to much over that weight?

Jan Zaveck – I have never had big problems making my weight and feel myself really very comfortable in this weight class.

Anson Wainwright – You came from nowhere to shock Isaac Hlayshwayo for the IBF title in December 2009. What did it feel like to win a world title?

Jan Zaveck – That’s it, when dreams come true. It is impossible to describe it. Only the one, who accomplished his lifelong dream, knows what this feeling is. I have no words to describe it.

Anson Wainwright – Your very much under the radar in a very exciting division all of the big names are in America. What are your thoughts on the Welterweight division including Pacquiao, Mayweather, Mosley, Berto etc

Jan Zaveck – Welterweight is a very heavy division. Of course American names are in the spotlight. But my name will keep winning popularity. You know, I am the IBF champion. If somebody wants my belt, he should only knock at my door – no matter what is his name. I would give anybody a fair chance.

Anson Wainwright – Did you have much of an amateur career? If so what titles did you win and who did you fight that is now in the pro’s?

Jan Zaveck – My amateur boxing career is not very long. I spent some time in Austria because in Slovenia at that time there were no big boxing schools. Yet I wanted to become a pro and for this reason I changed the camp so quickly.

Anson Wainwright – Your country Slovenia isn’t known for Boxing, how did you first get into fighting?

Jan Zaveck – I have always been fascinated by boxing. There were no educated professionalists at home. I started training completely alone and later tried with a few fellows who were also very keen on boxing. I have never had a trainer (I mean steadily) before Dirk Dzemski. It was my will to become a master of this sport and this will led me to the top.

Anson Wainwright – How popular are you in Slovenia? Do you get big crowds to your fights in Ljubljana?

Jan Zaveck – I’ve just been nominated the most famous Slovenian of the year 2010. I am athlete of the year. My last fight took place in the completely sold out 14 000 Arena Stozice in Ljubljana. Do you believe there is still somebody who does not know me?

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do in your spare time away from Boxing? What are your hobbies & Interests?

Jan Zaveck – I am very keen on sports. I like a lot of other sports too. I watch football and go skiing in the winter but I am very devoted to my job – boxing. Apart from that I have a family, what I am responsible for.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a job away from Boxing or have you ever worked a day job? What would you like to do when you retire from Boxing?

Jan Zaveck – I worked as a bodyguard of our president and I am working now on my future connected with boxing. That’s all I can tell you for now.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for Boxing fans around the world?

Jan Zaveck – I am very pleased about every single person in the world that is interested in boxing. I want to keep presenting suspenseful and fair fights. That’s what my heart beats for and I keep my word .

Thanks for your time Jan.

Thank you for your interest.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Thursday Thoughts – Pascal-Hopkins 2 on 21 May in Canada has been mentioned with Chad Dawson on the undercard…For several months John Murray who owns the longest current unbeaten run in British Boxing has been touted around as a free agent. On Wednesday he decided to sign with Frank Warren…Tomorrow Eddie Chambers resurfaces after a near year long absence against Derrick Rossy. I’m interested to see how he looks after the KO against Wladimir Klitschko. On the undercard Rico Ramos & Cornelius White have step up fights against Alex Valdez & Don George respectively. I’m expecting Ramos to outpoint Valdez and looking forward to seeing if White continues his impressive record of stopping all but one guy…In Germany on Saturday Steve Cunningham will be defending his IBF crown against mandatory Enad Licina. While also in Cruiserweight action Yoan Pablo Hernandez meets WBA Interim champion Steve Herelius. I’m expecting the big Cuban to get through that one. Outside of the Super 6 tournament Arthur Abraham meets Stjepan Bozic, he desperately needs a confidence builder, he should get it and force a stoppage by the midway point…Marco Antonio Barrera resurfaces against little known Jose Arias in Guadalajara, Mexico. Such a shame to see such a great fighter continue past his prime, while hoping to become the first Mexican to become a 4 weight world champion…In Britain John Watson meets Anthony Crolla for the British Lightweight title after Gavin Rees gave up the title due to a problem with his nose that may need an operation. I’ll go with the more experienced Watson to prevail on points.

If you have any requests for a fighter who you would like to here about please contact me on elraincoat@live.co.uk

“I know he’s [Brian Vera] motivated, I know he wants this win big…[but] I’m not 100% super-motivated with [fighting] Brian Vera.”

You don’t say!

The day before stepping in the ring and dropping a split decision loss to Brian Vera, Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora spoke to Joe Tessitore on ESPN’s Heavy Hitting Boxing Podcast.

After stating that he lacked motivation, “The Latin Snake” went on to tell Tessitore, “Yet, I fear that he’s going to be stronger than me and hit harder than me. There are going to be moments in this fight when he’s actually going to connect and who knows how I’m going to react to these shots.”

So, Mora knew there were times where he would be tested. He knew Vera was a banger, and could dish out some punishment. And he knew Vera would be the crowd favorite, fighting in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. Yet even with all of this knowledge, Mora was still lacking 100% motivation.

Going into the Vera fight, Mora was fresh off a draw with future hall-of-famer Shane Mosley — a fight that headlined a PPV card.

Perhaps it was the lesser name, Vera, or the fact that this fight was on ESPN, not PPV, that Mora was unable to get fully motivated. Or maybe it was the massive drop in pay that Mora would receive from the Mosley to Vera fights. Or perhaps it was the fact that the tough Texan had just one win in his last five bouts.

Whatever his reasons may have been, I found Mora’s admission to be quite telling and extremely honest.

In my brief thirteen months covering the sweet science, I have interviewed countless fighters. In most instances, before a fight, myself or other media members will ask how training has been going. Never once have I heard that a fighter is lacking motivation.

In fact, the answer we get is usually the exact opposite. More times than not it’s, “This is one of the best training camps I’ve ever had…I’m hungry to go out and get the win…etc, etc.”

I expected to hear something similar from Mora, as well. So when he admitted that he wasn’t fully motivated, I wasn’t sure if his words were refreshing or red-flag raising.

During the course of the twelve minute interview, Mora also confirmed to Tessitore that he trained by himself for this fight, ditching trainer Dean Campos in favor of doing it the old-fashioned way.

So as I watched the first stanza unfold, I saw a Mora who was a bit surprised at how relentless Vera was. “The Latin Snake” wasn’t particularly elusive early on, and was a bit befuddled by Vera’s early early success.

As the fight progressed, it was really just more of the same. Constant, non-stop pressure from gritty hometown kid. Mora had his moments throughout the thirty minutes between the ropes — landing some nice combinations in the middle-rounds — but they were few and far between. He was consistently inconsistent throughout.

When the bout concluded, one judge scored the fight 96-94, Mora, while two saw it the other way, 96-94, Vera, awarding him a hard-earned split decision win.

In a sport where so much rides on any single fight, there never should be a lack of motivation. This wasn’t supposed to be an easy fight for Mora, and like he said, he had his fears entering the bout. Unfortunately for Mora, Vera turned Mora’s fears into a reality.

While credit must be given to Vera for pulling off what was arguably the biggest win of his career, a fully motivated Sergio Mora with Dean Campos in his corner, beats the best Brian Vera nine times out of ten.

While we don’t know how Mora will rebound after this loss, one thing we can bet on is that this was the last fight “The Latin Snake” would have struggled to find motivation.

Kyle Kinder can be reached at Twitter.com/KyleKinder or KyleKinder1@gmail.com

Patience is a virtue and it’s exactly what Ryan Rhodes 45-4-1(31) needs to be awhile awaiting his shot at a title. Rhodes 34, of Sheffield, England sprung onto the scene when he won the British Light Middleweight title in only his eleventh fight months short of being a pro for two years, he then became the quickest to ever win the Lonsdale belt outright. It looked like the self styled “Spice Boy” would become a star, but in Boxing that star can quickly be shot down. He stepped up to challenge the vastly more experienced Otis Grant for the vacant WBO Middleweight title and lost a decision. After 3 wins he fought dangerous puncher Jason Matthews against at 160 for the WBO Interim title. Again it wasn’t to be and Rhodes was stopped in the second. It looked as though that would be the end for Rhodes, that is unless you know him. He remained in the game and though he toiled away in small arena’s around the country losing a couple more, also both at Middleweight. His career looked to lack direction until he finally got what he wanted most a shot at his old British Light Middleweight title over a decade after he first held it. It wasn’t a chance he was about to let slip through his fingers and he stopped champion Gary Woolcombe in nine rounds. Since then he’s moved on to the European & International scene. Injury forced him to relinquish the European title late last year he’s now waiting for purse bids before he can try to win back the title he never lost in the ring against Lucas Konecny. Also in the works is a possible IBF title shot against Cornelius Bundrage. He’s currently on a ten fight winning streak that goes back to 2006, that see’s him placed highly among all the World sanctioning bodies WBC 3, WBA 9, IBF 3 & The Ring 4.

Hello Ryan, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You had to pull out of the fight with Lucas Konecny on the “Magnificent Seven” bill through injury, and fought in December in a stay busy fight. How did you feel in that fight, were you ok after the injury?

Ryan Rhodes – It went well, he was an unbeaten fighter. I felt I needed to get out before Christmas, it would of left me with just one fight last year if I’d not fought. I managed to get that one fight in. I was glad of the performance, 2 rounds. Training went well, my back felt fine. So onwards and upwards.

Anson Wainwright – Who are you looking at fighting next? Are you targeting anyone in particular?

Ryan Rhodes – I’m number one for the European title (Held by Lucas Konecny). I’m just waiting for purse bids to start. So we can start negotiations. So that maybe my next fight. I also had an interesting conversation with my trainer Dave Coldwell, who has been in contact with Cornelius “K9” Bundrage the IBF champ. Asking if he’d come to England and fight me. I’m number 3 in the IBF ratings. He turned around and said if there money’s right yeah.

Anson Wainwright – Although to an extent you can’t control this when would you hope to be back in action next?

Ryan Rhodes – Like I say it’s a waiting game. With the European I’m waiting on purse bids. That could be my next fight. With purse bids it has to happen within 90 days. I’d like to fight in late March if possible. I’m in the gym with my trainer Dave Coldwell and just waiting for that date to step it up.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of Konecny & Bundrage?

Ryan Rhodes – Konecny is a good strong fighter, comes forward, everything seems to be big punches. He doesn’t throw many straight punches, everything’s hooks & uppercuts. I watched the Matthew Hall fight. The one thing that let Matthew Hall down was his defence. Konecny had better defence than Matthew Hall, that’s the only reason why he beat him. Now me fighting Konecny there’s no way I’d fight the same fight as Matthew Hall. I’d be Boxing on the outside, picking him off and using my Boxing ability and maybe in the later stages we’d take the it to Konecny.
I saw Bundrage when he came to England and beat one of our lads (Kevin McNeil KO7) in the contender series. He’s a short fighter, I think he’s about 5’6. He’s similar (To Konecny) throws bombs, uppercuts roughs you up inside and bully you. The same thing, I think my Boxing ability would outclass him by far. I wouldn’t even let him get close with my jab, stinging him with right hands and countering with big shots.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, as you said Dave Caldwell is your trainer. Who is your manager & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Ryan Rhodes – At the minute Frank Warren is my manager, I haven’t got a promoter. Dave Coldwell is my manager. I train in Rotherham with Dave Coldwell. I do a lot of fitness training with my conditioner Mark Wille, we use the Leisure Centre in Sheffield.

Anson Wainwright – You were a part of the same gym as Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson & Junior Witter to name a few those must of been interesting times?

Ryan Rhodes – Yeah we had some good times. It was really good back in the day, I’m talking 10 years ago. It was a fantastic gym to be in. Brendan (Ingle) was churning out champion left right and centre. As well as the guys you mentioned there was Pele Reid, John Thaxton just to mention a few more. The gym was buzzing with champions. When a gym has that many champions it rubs off on everybody else. Everybody else wants a piece of the glory and that’s what we were doing. Everybody was winning and winning well.

Anson Wainwright – You spent a lot of time with Naseem Hamed and know the real him, can you give us a bit of insight about him?

Ryan Rhodes – If Naz hadn’t been different, he wouldn’t of earnt the money he did or had the popularity he had. I think the cockiness, the showmanship, the razzamatazz what Naz brought was what earnt him money. It’s why he used to sell 16,17,18 thousand arena’s out in America & Britain. You look at a similar thing with Eubank he was the same. 50% of the people used to want Eubank to get beat 50% used to love him and think he was fantastic. Naz came into that bracket a little. A lot of it was just for TV.

Anson Wainwright – After bursting onto the scene and winning the British Light Middleweight title after 10 fights you went up to Middleweight and lost two fights that seemed to send your career into tailspin, who do you see that now?

Ryan Rhodes – The opportunity came at Middleweight. I won the British & IBF & WBO Intercontinental titles (At Light Middleweight) and Frank (Warren) offered the Middleweight title against Otis Grant. At that time I thought I was unbeatable and going up to Middleweight would give me that little bit more of weight allowance. I didn’t expect to get beat, I didn’t think anyone would beat me at that time. I was young, full of confidence and opportunities came at Middleweight and we took them. Looking back now maybe I should of thought about it a little bit more. Just analysed more and thought how big the Middleweights really were compared to myself. It’s alright looking back in hindsight but I’m still fighting, I’m in a great position. I feel I’m in a better position than when I was 20/21 years old fighting for world titles. I’ve got my best ranking ever WBC 3, IBF 3 & WBA 9.

Anson Wainwright – After several years in the Boxing Wilderness you got things back on track when you reclaimed the British Light Middleweight title stopping Gary Woolcombe before moving onto the European & International scene what are your thoughts about how you got things back on track and how they are now?

Ryan Rhodes – I just kept my self belief, I knew if I got my chance again I’d take it and take it well. It’s just believing in yourself and people around me believing in me and my ability and what I could do and what I could achieve. Changing trainers, moving from Brendan Ingle after being with him 22/23 years from being 6 years old all the way until 27/28 or whatever it was. Moving gym prior to that I think I’d become stale and a bit bored with the game. I carried on when I left Brendan to go with Dave and the spark came back, the love for the game came back. That’s why I was fighting better, I was producing better fights. My game raised to another level.

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing what do you like to do with your time?

Ryan Rhodes – I spend time with my kids and play Golf. I watch Football, I’m not a massive fan but I support the local teams Sheffield Wednesday & Sheffield United There not doing very well at the moment! I’ve got a lot of friends who are big fans. Whenever football’s on TV I go and support them.

Anson Wainwright – You’ve been a pro now for over 15 years what would you say has been the proudest moment to date?

Ryan Rhodes – Difficult. I’ve had some good one’s. I think winning the European title because I was a massive underdog. Everybody thought Jamie (Moore) would beat me and beat me well. I think winning back the British title, obviously winning it the first time was fantastic but I think after all those years and like you said being in the Wilderness. That was a fantastic moment. There were people saying I was finished, I was pasted it, things like that. I’m 34 and I feel I’m as good if not better that when I was 22/23. It just goes to show if you keep trying you’ll achieve your goals. I think I’m the prime example of that.

Anson Wainwright – I guess you appreciate the chance more now and fighters are fighting when they are older and longer like Bernard Hopkins?

Ryan Rhodes – Absolutely, I thought (Joe) Calzaghe was better when he was older, he produced better performances when he got older. Even Johnny Nelson, he was a massive inspiration to me. Johnny did what he did when he was younger and then we had a similar type of career having to box everywhere and he was a little bit in the Wilderness, he won his world title when he was however old. He just got better and better and then obviously he had the injury. Then he won the world title when he was however old and just got better and better. Like you said Bernard Hopkins, I think he just turned 46, that’s unbelievable!

Anson Wainwright – Do you think you have another 12 years in Boxing then! Ha-ha

Ryan Rhodes – I don’t think so Ha-ha

Anson Wainwright – Your highly rated by both the WBC & IBF at number 4. You obviously want that world title fight, do you want anyone in particular?

Ryan Rhodes – I did a couple of interviews the other week, one was in Boxing news. I don’t care who it is as long as it’s for a world title at Light Middleweight cause I don’t want to have any regrets and think what if I’d of fought for a world title at Light Middleweight could I do it or not. I just need that world title to put a few demons to one side.

Who were your Boxing hero’s and who do you enjoy watching fight today?

Ryan Rhodes – Growing up was Marvin Hagler, Leonard, Duran & Tyson. Hero’s today you’ve got to look at Mayweather, Pacquiao people like that.

Anson Wainwright – Several years ago Mayweather & Naz weren’t to far apart in weight. That would of been interesting?

Ryan Rhodes – Oh Yeah! Imagine that fight. You see I don’t think Naz reached his potential. What we used to see Naz do in the gym was unbelievable. To be fair I know Naz never reached that potential.

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

Ryan Rhodes – Keep supporting me. I’m trying my hardest to get this world title fight. Thanks for supporting all these years and when I do get my world title fight I promise I’m going to give absolutely 110%

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

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Midweek Thoughts – So finally Amir Khan has an opponent for the 16 April. It’s going to be Paul McCloskey. Reports in Britain say that McCloskey who had turned the fight down twice previously will get around £200,000 it is belived that Lamont Peterson wanted £750,000…Over the weekend Tomas “Gusano” Rojas scored an impressive points win over former WBA 115 champion Nobuo Nashiro. It was Rojas first defence of the WBC trinket he had picked up late last year when he won the title also in Japan. The 30 year old doesn’t have an impressive record 35-12-1(23) but he’s always been willing to fight whomever is put in front of him and deserves credit for his persistence and willingness to go on the road and fight the best guys he can. Also on the same card Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tunacao stopped Daigo Nakahiro in six in an OPBF 118 title fight. Tunacao is ten years removed from his brief reign as WBC Flyweight champion and seems to deserve another title shot. How about Koki Kameda-Tunacao…In Mexico Austin”No Doubt” Trout won the WBA Interim Light Middleweight title with a dominant performance over Rigoberto Alvarez…In a give and take British & Commonwealth title fight Jason “2 Smooth” Booth scored a split decision win over Jamie Arthur who put up a gallant effort. On the undercard 2008 Olympic Super Heavyweight bronze medallist David Price moved to 9-0(7) stopping Osborne Machimana in three. Machimana famously ended Corrie Sanders career. Frank Maloney later said he is willing to match Price with anyone in Britain. For now Price will head off to train with Odlanier Solis where he will be Solis chief sparring partner. Last Friday Sergio Mora was surprisingly beaten by Brian Vera, it looks a long road back for Mora from here.

In March we journeyed to Arlington, Tex., to see Cowboys Stadium’s first prizefight, one featuring Manny Pacquiao. In November we returned to Arlington, Tex., to see Cowboys Stadium’s second prizefight, one featuring Manny Pacquiao. And in May we journey to Las Vegas to see a terrestrial network cover its first prizefight, one featuring Manny Pacquiao.

A cross-country trip to watch CBS cover an event, eh? That might be a bridge too far.

We’ll go to see a great prizefight filled with what drama and suspense have defined the Pacquiao Era, then! OK, maybe. But does anyone honestly doubt how the May 7 fight between Pacquiao and Shane Mosley will go at MGM Grand?

In the next three months, of course, some of us will create scenarios that see Mosley prevailing over Pacquiao in an upset. And bless us for it; such exercises keep the mind spry. But would any of us actually bet Mosley?

Not if he bet Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, Miguel Cotto or Ricky Hatton – the last four Pacquiao opponents. None of those choices drew quite the initial derision among aficionados Mosley did, either.

But that was before CBS. As part of promoter Top Rank’s new relationship with Showtime, apparently, parent network CBS will broadcast an infomercial for Pacquiao-Mosley sometime before the fight. Good for Pacquiao. Good for Mosley. Good for Showtime. Good for Top Rank. And good for boxing.

Not so fast. This fight is not for you, the serious fan. This fight is for that elusive crossover guy boxing endeavors to seduce on a triannual basis. You know him. He asks you when Mike Tyson’s coming back while asking himself who would win a match between Clubber Lang and a prime Muhammad Ali.

Right, sure, but don’t be a curmudgeon. Remember, a rising tide lifts all boats.

But is Pacquiao-Mosley a rising tide, or merely a rising boat? Last year, Pacquiao enjoyed two of his career’s handsomest paydays. And his reluctant nemesis, Floyd Mayweather Jr., enjoyed one as well. But what good, really, did these do the sport of boxing?

Websites like this one have never been in a worse financial spot. Pacquiao may be his country’s most-famous figure, but is he actually recognizable to the 113 million American households that did not buy his last pay-per-view event? And Mayweather, for all the interest in prizefighting he supposedly brought to the black community, didn’t have an enduring enough effect to bring even 1,000 members of that community to “The Super Fight” a couple Saturdays ago.

No, friends, you are not obligated to attend Pacquiao-Mosley as part of some brand-of-boxing loyalty oath. And that’s good, too, because tickets for the fight apparently sold-out days before they went on sale.

In the spirit of your new liberty, then, how about trying something different? Like, say, the finals of Showtime’s Bantamweight Tournament on April 23 in Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre. That card will feature two great fights: Ghana’s Joseph King Kong Agbeko versus Mexico’s Abner Mares, and Colombian Yonnhy Perez versus Armenian Vic Darchinyan. It will also establish a challenger for the winner of Nonito Donaire’s upcoming bantamweight title fight with Fernando Montiel.

And as Donaire-Montiel is a Top Rank promotion, and Top Rank is now allied with Showtime – and CBS! – there’s no reason to think the world’s best bantamweight prizefighter will not be crowned by the end of 2011.

Look, fans in the target demographic for Pacquiao-Mosley have no idea there’s a Ghanaian who once wore a gorilla mask and manacles during ringwalks. Fans who currently know Shane Mosley solely as “that guy with the same nickname as Leonard and Robinson” have no idea Mares went chest-to-chest and foul-for-foul with Darchinyan in December, and beat him. And there’s little possibility anyone desperately scouring online brokers for Pacquiao-Mosley tickets (if such a man exists) has any idea the consolation match of the Bantamweight Tournament could be better than its championship is.

Tickets will be a fraction as expensive for the Los Angeles card in April as they are for boxing’s big chance on CBS in May. And even with prices good and low, Bantamweight Tournament tickets will be in abundance.

Which leads us to the reason you can merrily play contrarian with a card promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank: They don’t need you. Top Rank is the infrastructural master of prizefighting promotion. Never was this clearer than after January’s trip to Silverdome – a venue that, working as a team, Don King and Gary Shaw failed to fill effectively as Top Rank filled just Cowboys Stadium’s East Side Plaza in November.

Golden Boy Promotions is the second strongest promoter out there, yes, but it’s a distant second. And their participation in the Bantamweight Tournament may not be more than tertiary. For all the praise Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer garnered four or five years ago, it has been quite a while since anyone’s appended the modifier “imaginative” to anything coming out of their shop.

And here’s something else to worry about while we get spiffed up for our big CBS debut: We aren’t ready for primetime. Underlying all our support for the recent terrestrial-network development is an assumption that if we could only get our sport force-fed to the public as, say, the NFL does, boxing would be popular as football.

Don’t be so sure. There’s a very real chance the quality of the product boxing offers – for many reasons but none so much as managers’ selecting of fighters according to television programmers’ tastes – is subpar. The fights we offer today may not be good as the ones we offered 25 years ago.

If that’s the case, four 118-pounders fighting in a 7,000-seat venue is likely the future of superfights much more than is Pacquiao-Mosley on CBS. Going to Los Angeles in May, then, is a good way to reward four deserving fighters, and maybe look like a visionary while doing it.

Bart Barry can be reached on Twitter via @bartbarry

While hoping for a Super Bowl that doesn’t turn into the stupor left by Tim Bradley and Devon Alexander in a fight preceded by the same advertising adjective, some headlines and counters:

News item: An estimated 16,000 tickets are sold within about three hours for the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight on May 7 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Reaction: Promoters Gary Shaw and Don King couldn’t give away that many tickets in 16 days or 16 months for Bradley’s technical decision over Alexander at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., where the estimates were like the empty seats. They were all over the place. There are no reports on the number of paying customers. Let’s just say that the Silverdome’s box office has collected more dollars for its drive-in movie business last spring and summer.

News item: Bradley is expected to sign with Bob Arum or Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions after his deal with Shaw expires, reportedly in May.

Reaction: If it’s Arum, don’t expect Bradley to fight for 140-pound supremacy with Golden Boy-promoted Amir Khan. If it’s Golden Boy, don’t expect a Bradley fight against the Arum-promoted Pacquiao.

News item: Bradley says he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Reaction: Get in line. Las Vegas and Nevada’s Clark County already have a couple of mandatories against Mayweather, including a trial on misdemeanor battery, rescheduled for April 25, and a hearing on March 10 for felony domestic abuse.

News item: Bradley says he wants to fight Pacquiao.

Reaction: Break the head-butt habit. It’s a pattern that continued with Alexander badly cut over his right eye, first from a Bradley head-butt in the third and again in the end, the 10th Pacquiao hasn’t lost since 2005 when a fifth-round clash of heads with Erik Morales left him badly cut, also above his right eye. Pacquiao was clearly bothered by blood streaming from the wound for the rest of the 12-round bout, which Morales won with a unanimous decision. Pacquiao might think twice about the threat of a bloody encore if he thinks Bradley can’t break the habit.

News item: HBO will honor its $1.25 million guarantee to Alexander with a possible fight against Marcos Maidana.

Reaction: Save the money, Devon, because it figures to be your last big payday. If the powerful Maidana is in shape, he will win by a crushing knockout, which narrowly eluded him in a scorecard loss to Khan.

News item: Khan fires conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who says he has yet to be paid for his work before a Fight of the Year victory over Maidana in December.

Reaction: Maidana trainer Miguel Diaz, who called Ariza “a fraud,’’ is laughing.

News item: Evander Holyfield’s fight with Brian Nielsen is postponed from March 5 to May 7 because of a Holyfield cut suffered on Jan. 22 in a bout with Sherman Williams.

Reaction: Huh? Holyfield fought Williams? He is scheduled to fight Nielsen, who hasn’t fought in nearly a decade? Holyfield-Nielsen has been re-scheduled for May 7? Won’t everybody be watching Pacquiao against Mosley then? Holyfield-Nielsen in Copenhagen? Not the Silverdome? Must be a night for drive-in movies.

News item: Pacquiao is already 2-0 at Cowboys Stadium, which means he has competed there two more times than the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.

Reaction: Pacquiao will get some company in that unbeaten column. Steelers, 27-24.

here carne asada marinade

Segun explico Brian D. Levin, vocero de CBP en un comunicado de prensa, algunos oficiales de aduanas ayudaron a rescatar vidas y propiedades en peligro.

El martes 13 el oficial Juan Osorio dejo su trabajo para acudir al lugar donde se desato el multiple incendio, justo cerca de su hogar. Al llegar se dio cuenta que su casa estaba siendo consumida por las llamas.

“El es oriundo de Nogales y fue miembro de los bomberos, y por eso inmediatamente supo el peligro en el que estaban vidas y propiedades en el incendio”, dijo Levin del oficial Osorio, quien ayudo a los bomberos a apagar el fuego, despues de nueve horas de trabajo del departamento de bomberos.

Ahora estan planeando una venta de “carne asada” el 1 de mayo de 10 a.m. a 4 p.m. en Karam’s Park, ubicado entre Morley Avenue y Park Street.

La venta consiste en un plato con tres tacos de carne asada, frijoles, salsa y una bebida por el precio de 5 dolares.

Habra venta de boletos con anticipacion en Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, Royal Road Market, Nogales Fire Department, pero el dia del evento tambien pueden adquirirse. web site carne asada marinade

Habra tambien un segundo evento para recaudar fondos el mismo dia durante la celebracion de Las Fiestas del 5 de mayo en Fleischer Park, ubicado en Hohokam Street.

En las fiestas habra una vendimia de hamburguesas, hot dogs y bebidas.

“Invitamos a la comunidad a que compren carne asada, hamburguesas, que realmente significa ayudar a nuestra gente en circunstancias dificiles”, comento Osorio.

“La comunidad nogalense debe unirse para ayudar a estas familias que estan en necesidad financiara”, concluyo Levin.

Contacte a Berenice Rosales al 807-8479 o en brosales@azstarnet.com Ayude a ayudar Eventos para recaudar fondos para las cinco familias que perdieron su hogar en un incendio el pasado 13 de abril.

* Donde: Karam’s Park, ubicado entre Morley Avenue y Park Street, venta de carne asada, plato con tres tacos frijoles, salsa y bebida a 5 dolares.

* El mismo dia pero en Fleischer Park, ubicado en Hohokam Street habra venta de hamburguesas y hot dogs durante Las Fiestas del 5 de mayo.

* Cuando: 1 de mayo a partir de las 10 a.m.

* Para mayores informes llame a la camara de comercio local al 287-3685.

BERENICE ROSALES