Winky Wright injured; fight with Macklin off


Dan Rafael of espn.com reported that former Jr. Middleweight champion Winky Wright injured his hand and his bout with Matthew Macklin is off the April 9 Pay Per View that will be headlined by Erik Morales and Marcos Maidana.

“I hurt my hand sparring, so I’m not going to be able to fight,” said Wright, who added that he was at the doctor’s office and just about to meet with him.

Wright said he injured his left hand during a sparring session with welterweight prospect Keith Thurman on Thursday.

“I hit him on top of the head or on his elbow and I hurt the hand, but I kept working with it,” Wright said. “And then I did it again and I had to shake it off. My hand swelled up a little bit. I went to get it checked out [on Friday]. It ain’t fractured, but it’s pretty sore and swollen and the doctor said wait about a week and then we’ll see. But I’m near the end of my career. I can’t go into the fight not at 100 percent. I can’t be going in there with a hurt hand and half-trained. I want to go in there and show people I can be a champion and look good. If I lose a week, that’s a problem. So I figured let’s call it now and at least give Golden Boy a chance to get another fight.

“I know if I am out a week or two, I won’t be ready for the fight. The important thing is to be healthy when I get in the ring. I was looking forward to a good fight. This is a little setback, but this ain’t gonna stop me. This train is going to keep on moving.”




Alexander – Matthysse in the works for Summer fight


Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that a summer fight between Jr. Welterweight Devin Alexander and Lucas Matthysse is being discussed by promoters Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer and Don King.

“I have to get to back to King with a number, but Matthysse wants to take the fight. He’s OK with going to St. Louis [Alexander’s hometown] as long as there are neutral officials,” Schaefer said. “King said no problem. We just have to work out the numbers, but I have a pretty good feeling about it.”

“I’ve discussed it with King and with HBO and there is interest from all sides,” Schaefer said.

“I think it would be a great fight, just the type of fight that Devon wants,” said Kevin Cunningham, Alexander’s trainer and manager. “He’s disappointed with his lack of execution in the Bradley fight and he wants to go right back in the ring with one of the top guys. We feel Matthysse is better than [Marcos] Maidana, but Maidana chose to go and fight Erik Morales instead of Devon. So Matthysse is there and he is one of the top guys. Most guys feel like he won the fight with Zab. He’s a very tough opponent. That’s what Devon is looking for.

Schaefer said he and King are also discussing a fight between junior middleweight titlist Cornelius “K9” Bundrage and rising contender Erislandy Lara as the televised co-feature.




Sanchez decisions Kampmann in bloody slugfest


Diego Sanchez scored a controversial three round unanimous decision over Martin Kampmann in a bloody welterweight bout at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Both guys thrilled the crowd with power punches with Sanchez being bloodied all over his face in round one and Kampmann was bleeding over his left eye in round two. The two landed huge punches in every round with round’s two and three being close rounds as Kampmann won the first round.

Sanchez, 171 lbs of Albuquerque, NM won on all cards 29-28 which was booed loudly by the crowd. Sanchez is now 25-4. Kampmann, 171 lbs of Las Vegas is now 17-5

Mark Munoz needed just fifty-four seconds to pound out CB Dollaway in a Middleweight bout.

Munoz, 186 lbs of Vallejo, CA is now 10-2. Dollaway, 185 lbs of Tempe, AZ is now 12-4.

Chris Weidman as he bloodies and batterd and stopped Alessio Sakara in a Middleweight bout.

Weidman, 186 lbs of Mineola, NY is now 5-0. Sakara, 186 lbs of Rome, Italy is now 19-8-1.

Brain Bowles scored a first round stoppage over Damaico Page in a Featherweight bout from a Guillotine choke at 3:30

Bowles, 135 lbs is now 9-1. Page, 136 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is now 12-6

Igor Pokrajac scored a first round stoppage over Todd Brown in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Pokrajac pounded Brown to a pulp and the fight was stopped at the end of round one.

Shane Roller scored a devastating second round stoppage over Thiago Tavares.

Time was 1:28 of round round two.




Judah – Mabuza press conference review


On Saturday, March 5, at the AmeriHealth Pavillion at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Brooklyn’s Zab Judah will clash with South Africa’s Kaizer Mabuza for Mabuza’s IBF junior welterweight title.

A final press conference was held midday Wednesday at the Brick City Bar & Grill in Newark, New Jersey, where Judah and Mabuza spoke their final thoughts before heading into this weekend’s bout.

“I appreciate everything this man has done,” Judah said, acknowledging Mabuza’s gritty road to a title. “But now is not his time, not on Saturday night.”

Over the years, whether it is deserved or not, Judah has gained a reputation of fading late in fights. This time, however, with legendary boxer Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker in his corner, Judah says stamina won’t be an issue.

“I prepared myself for twelve rounds — I prepared myself 100%,” he said.

While Whitaker refused to comment on Team Judah’s game-plan for Saturday night, he did comment on his experience working with “Super” Judah.

“Everything I ask him to do, [he does it and] he does a little more,” Whitaker said. “[On fight night] If he does everything I ask him to do, he’ll win the fight.”

He went on, “Whatever Zab used to do in the past is in the past and now he has a new direction, a great direction. He’s one of boxing’s best so [on Saturday] I expect to see that.”

To that point, Judah agrees; “We prepared ourselves well for this opportunity. On Saturday night, you will see a 5-time champion of the world once again.”

While Team Judah is confident that Zab’s hand will be the one raised at the conclusion of the bout, Mabuza didn’t travel across the Atlantic to fork over his hard-earned gold to Judah.

In fact, the last time he made the trek overseas to New Jersey he demolished heavy-favorite, Kendall Holt, inside six rounds.

“I’m glad to be back in America,” Mabuza said. “It’s an honor for me to fight a person like Zab Judah.”

He continued, “I think he had his time, he’s a former world champion. I think it is my time because I’m still hungry for success. I promise him, when I take the ring I change — I become a new man. I’m hungry for success so you have to expect that there will be fireworks.”

The tough South African will be looking to extend his eight fight win streak and retain his titles on Saturday night, while Judah looks to re-claim the IBF junior welterweight title.

As they say, styles make fights, and all indications with regards to these two fighter’s is that Mabuza is right when he says that on Saturday night, “there will be fireworks.”

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The fight is being distributed by Integrated Sports PPV for a price of $29.95. It can also be purchased on UStream.tv for the same price.

The fight promoted by Main Events and Super Judah Promotions will take place on March 5th at Prudential Center’s AmeriHealth Pavillion in Newark, New Jersey. Doors open at 7:30pm. The first fight is at 8:00pm. Tickets are priced at $253, Ringside, $103 Reserved floor seating, $88 general admission in bleachers, and $53 general admission standing room only. Tickets are available at the Prudential Center Box Office by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000 or you can purchase them at www.PruCenter.com.




Zbikowski to fight on Cotto card if NFL Lock’s out Players

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, NFL Safety Tommy Zbikowski will appear on the March 12th on Las Vegas as part of the Miguel Cotto – Ricardo Mayorga televised undercard.

“He’s coming back to boxing, assuming there’s a lockout,” Carl Moretti of promoter Top Rank told ESPN.com on Wednesday. “If there’s a lockout, at that point, he’s free to go ahead and fight. He’s fought once already and he probably has the most extensive amateur (boxing) background of any pro football player, and he really loves the sport.”

Zbikowski played college football at Notre Dame from 2003 to 2007. He went by the name “Tommy Z” during the build up to his lone pro fight, coming into the ring to the Notre Dame fight song. He needed just 49 seconds to knock out Robert Bell at Madison Square Garden in New York in June 2006 on the undercard of another Cotto fight — a junior welterweight title defense against Paulie Malignaggi.




Donaire – Moreno May 28?; Jones – Decarie co-feature?


Coming off his spectacular second round destruction over Fernando Montiel on February 19th, Two belt Bantamweight champion looks like he will engage in another Unification bout on May 28th against Anselmo Moreno according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“Bob Arum said Moreno would be the opponent and I’m fine with it. Bob said he can get Moreno, that that is not an issue,” said Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin. “Moreno is a really good boxer, a good fighter, but I like Nonito.”

“When I talked to Nonito about what Bob said he had a big smile on his face and said, ‘Let’s go.’ He just really wants to fight. He really does.”

For the HBO-televised opener, plans are in the works to match Philadelphia welterweight Mike Jones against Quebec’s Antonin Decarie (25-1, 7 KOs).

“That’s the plan,” said Russell Peltz, who co-promotes Jones with Top Rank. “[Decarie] is a tough guy, but that’s not a fight you turn down. We’re talking to his people and both sides are interested in the fight.”




Pavlik Opponent Named


The pay-per-view lineup for the May 7th Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley event is now complete, as former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will return to the ring against undefeated Alfonso Lopez III in a ten-round super middleweight bout at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Though contracts have not yet been finalized, both sides have come to a verbal agreement.

Pavlik (36-2, 32 KOs) of Youngstown, Ohio has been out of action since losing his WBC/WBO Middleweight titles to Sergio Martinez via twelve-round decision last April in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Pavlik pulled out of a scheduled bout against Brian Vera on the Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito undercard last November citing a rib injury. However, it later came out that he had checked into the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California for treatment of his chemical dependence on alcohol.

Though Pavlik has not fought above 160-pounds since his decisive decision loss to Bernard Hopkins in October of 2008, and has not won a bout contracted above 160 since his decision over Jermain Taylor eight months prior, the Youngstown native is currently the WBC #1 ranked super middleweight contender.


Lopez (21-0, 16 KOs) of Cut and Shoot, Texas is coming off of a twelve-round unanimous decision victory over Romero Johnson last November which netted him the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight title. For the promising Lopez, the Pavlik fight represents the chance of a lifetime. “It’s a huge opportunity for me, an honor almost really,” Lopez told 15rounds.com Tuesday evening. “He’s fought some great fighters and is a great fighter himself. It’s what we have been working for. I have been giving up a lot of things for this opportunity, and it is finally here.”

Though Pavlik has had his share of problems, both in and out of the ring, in recent years, Lopez and his team are expecting the world champion version of “The Ghost” come May 7th. “I am training for the Kelly Pavlik of a few years ago,” said Lopez. “I am going to watch the tape of him fighting Jermain Taylor. I am also going to watch him fight Bernard Hopkins, because he was a little heavier and is going to be bigger at 168. I am definitely expecting the Kelly Pavlik that comes out with a fast pace, behind a stiff, strong jab and lots of pressure. That’s what I am expecting and we are preparing for a long, tough fight.”

Lopez had been in training for a bout which was to have taken place April 15th in Corpus Christi, Texas when he found out he was in the running for the Pavlik bout. “We’ve always said we were ready for something like this, but we knew we had to do some things to get us known and to be selected for such a fight,” said Felix Ramirez, who manages and trains Lopez, along with Henry Harris. “This is a great opportunity, and it doesn’t get any better than this, at least to this point in our careers.”

Considering the leap in class Lopez will be taking, some may question his readiness for such a daunting undertaking. Ideally perhaps Lopez, who has fought outside of Texas just twice in his pro career, would have had another step up before taking on an elite fighter such as a Kelly Pavlik. However Lopez’ manager believes he is up to the task. “Some people would like to have an opening fight, or maybe an off telecast pay-per-view fight [first,] but it is just a matter of how that individual is,” explains Ramirez. “Some people choke, and some people do great under pressure and show up. Alfonso is the type of individual that I don’t believe it will affect him. I think he is going to show up when the time comes and when that bell rings he is going to be ready.”

Kelly Pavlik Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

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




Goodwin boxing promotion, York Hall, Bethnal Green, London. March 5th 2011

At the York Hall this coming Saturday March 5th, Steve Goodwin put’s on a marathon twelve fight show at the famed York Hall in Bethnal Green.

Topping the show is Toks Owoh who takes on former Prizefighter contestant Billy Boyle over four rounds at cruiser.
Also booked for action are unbeaten Phil Gill who drops down to light to take on Jason Nesbitt whose fresh off of a loss to North London prospect Chris Evangelou, losing a four round decision Nesbitt managed to drop Evangelou to the canvas in the opener and fought a spiteful ill tempered affair before dropping the decision at Wembley a week or so ago!
Also at lightweight Met Sekiraqa makes his pro debut against the tough Robin Deakin whose seldom in a bad fight, that one’s over four three’s!

However up at light middle Jamie Boness takes on Louis Byrne from Norwich, as doe’s unbeaten Hackney fighter Wayne Alwan Arab who takes on a tough guy in Bulgarian Danny Dontchev over four.
At super middle Eder Kurti takes on Jamie Ambler who showed good form last week to former World super middle king Robin Reid losing over four to the comebacking Reid by just a single point, also up a weight at light heavy is Margate’s Daniel Woodgate who takes on Lee Nicholson over four rounds.
Daniel will be looking to put the disapointment of his last fight a points loss to Prizefighter finalist Sammy Couzens.

For tickets please phone 07816 167137 or visit www.goodwinpromotions.co.uk for more information




Rios Broke hand in Acosta title win


Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting the newly crowned WBA Lightweight champion Brandon Rios broke his hand in his title winning effort against Miguel Acosta on Satuday night.

“He said he felt it crack and pop and he knew he had broken it but that he had to keep punching,” Cameon Dunkin, Rios’ manager said.

“He knew it was injured and he kept throwing it, that’s how much he wanted the fight,” Dunkin said.

“I said to Brandon, ‘Do you want to go the hospital and get that checked out and they’ll give you some painkillers,” Dunkin said. “He said, no, that he just wanted to go up upstairs to take a hot shower and get in bed. It was a rough fight. I said, ‘Your hand is broken.’ He said, ‘I’m alright, I just want to go to bed, I’m tired. I’ll get it checked out [Sunday].’”

“He’s going to be in a cast for awhile and I know how these things go,” Dunkin said. “I don’t see him fighting again for four to five months.”




All Philly War lives up to it’s name; Rosado stops Davis in Twelve–WATCH ON DEMAND ON GFL


CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT CARD
Gabriel Rosado already knows what it feels like to be on the wrong side of a close decision in an all-Philly match-up. With the USBA light middleweight title at stake, Rosado lost to Derek Ennis at the South Philly Arena this past July. Against Jamaal Davis, with the interim NABA title up for grabs Saturday in Atlantic City, Rosado made sure he would be the one with the belt at the end of the night.

In the twelve round of a close and very entertaining fight Rosado caught Davis with a straight right that staggered him badly. With Davis off balance, Rosado took the judges out of the equation by flooring Davis with a picturesque left hook that sent him reeling into the corner. Referee Lindsey Page’s decision to halt the bout wasn’t in question as Davis clearly didn’t have his legs under him as he took several unanswered shots.

The time of the stoppage was 1:01 of the 12th round. Rosado improves his record to 16-5, 9 KO’s. Davis falls to 12-8.

In the co-feature, Bethlehem,Pa junior welterweight Ronald Cruz (11-0, 9 KO’s) knocked out Dillet Frederick (7-4-3 4 KO’s) of Frt Myers, FL in devastating fashion. With a little over a minute to go in the 3rd of their scheduled eight round fight, Cruz unleashed a left hook that sent the Floridian crashing to the canvas. Sammy Viruet waived the fight off when Frederick rose as the count reached seven and intermediately fell back down.

Former Philadelphia high school football star Bryant Jennings (6-0 3 KO’s) beat up on Chicago’s Theron Johnson (5-4, 1 KO) over six rounds in the heavyweight division. The scores were 59-55 and 60-54 twice.

In a South Jersey/North Jersey match-up, Millville’s Julio DeJesus (5-2-1 3 KO’s) scored three knockdowns en route to a four round unanamous decision over Union City’s Hector Collado (0-3-1) in a junior middleweight bout.

Middletown junior lightweight Tyrone Luckey (3-0 3 KO’s) maintained his perfect record by stopping Philly’s Gustavo Dailey (4-11,1 KO) in the third round of their fight scheduled for four. Luckey staggered his opponent with a well placed left hook, then jumped on him to force the referee stoppage.

Atlantic City’s DeCarlo Perez (3-0-1 1, KO) just managed to get past Dontre King of Cambridge, Md, scoring a four round majority desicion.




Rios stops Acosta in ten to win WBA Lightweight title; Demarco decisions Sanchez

Brandon Rios won the WBA Lightweight title with an exciting ten round stoppage over champion Miguel Acosta at the Pearl Theatre in The Palms in Las Vegas.

Acosta boxed very well over the first four rounds as he showed a nice mixture of movement, boxing and power shots. Rios started to get into the fight in round five with his relentless pressure and landing power shots with the right hand.

Rios dropped Acosta for the first of three times with a jab and in the process opened up a cut around the right eye of Acosta. Acosta steadied himself to box well in round eight. Rios scored a second knockdown in round eight with a pair of left hands that sent Acosta on the seat of his pants. Rios landed some nice power shots in round nine. In round ten, Rios landed a big right in the corner that sent Acosta down for a third and final time as Acosta’s corner saved their man from any more punishment at 1:14 of round ten.

Rios, 134 1/2 lbs of Oxnard, CA is still undefeated at 27-0-1 with nineteen knockouts. Acosta, 134 1/2 lbs of Caracas, Venezuela lost for the first time in nine years (nineteen fights) and is now 28-4-2.

“A star was born tonight,” said Hall of Fame Top Rank promoter Bob Arum as Rios (27-0-1, 19 KOs) thrilled the crowd with an action-packed performance and 10th round knockout victory over Acosta at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The 32-year-old Venezuelan had the early upper hand over Rios by moving around the ring and landing hard punches to the head. Acosta (28-4-2, 22 KOs) was able to stifle Rios’ game plan by boxing the brawler with a strong jab through the first several rounds. But by the end of the fifth, Rios finished with a flurry and walked back to his corner with a sense of confidence that shined throughout the rest of the fight.

In the sixth, Rios, 27, was finally able to force Acosta to engage in an inside scrap. Rios, the naturally larger fighter, started unloading his heavy hands and eventually dropped Acosta with a left jab. “I’ve got a pretty good jab … when I use it,” joked the predominantly come-forward fighter.

With tears of joy in his eyes after the fight, the newly-crowned champ showed tremendous modesty in his reaction. “I proved I’ve got a good chin now,” Rios said with a smile. As for what’s next for Rios, the determined fighter said he would fight anyone in the lightweight division. “Whatever Bob Arum wants,” said Rios as Arum looked on with a proud smile.

Following his first loss since 2003, a disheartened Acosta admitted, “I’m more sad than hurt. I prepared for the fight but Brandon Rios has power.”

Antonio DeMarco scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Reyes Sanchez in a twelve round Lightweight elimination bout at The Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska.

DeMarco cut Sanchez in the first minute of the fight as a right jab opened up a cut over the left eye of Sanchez. DeMarco took the early rounds as he landed the harder blows. Sanchez came back in the middle rounds as he applied great pressure as he landed some good shots but with little power behind it. There were some great exchanges at the end of the middle rounds. DeMarco steadied himself to win enough of the late frames to hold on the victory by scores of 117-111; 116-112 and 115-113.

DeMarco, 134 1/2 lbs of Tijuana, Mexico is now 25-2-1. Sanchez, 134 1/2 lbs of Mexico City is now 24-2.

Said DeMarco: “Sanchez is a great fighter and he threw a lot of punches. It was a great fight. I love fighting in Nebraska. The crowd was really into it. That really motivated me.”




Pabon stops Santos in one

Jesus Pabon scored a scintillating first round stoppage over Americo Santos in a scheduled twelve round bout at the Palm Bay Center in Palm Bay, Florida

Pabon dropped Santos with a perfectly times straight left hand and then with a with a left right combination and referee Frank Gentile stopped the bout at 2:45 of round one.

Pabon, 139 lbs of Carolina, Puerto Rico is 17-1 with eleven knockouts. Santos, 140 lbs of Garland, Texas drops to 26-4-1.

Francisco Ginorio scored two knockdowns in route to a four round unanimous decision over Franklyn Gonzalez in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Ginorio scored knockdowns in round’s three and four to win by scores of 39-35; 38-36 and 38-36

Ginorio, 155 lbs of Palm Bay, FL is now 8-0. Gonzalez, 154 lbs of the Dominican Republic is now 13-8




Julaton Dominant in Decision Victory


RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA — Despite the close final tallies of the ringside scorers, Ana Julaton was impressive in a mostly one-sided ten-round unanimous decision over game veteran Franchesa Alcanter in defense of her WBO Super Bantamweight title on Friday night at the Craneway Pavilion.

Julaton (8-2-1, 1 KO) of Daly City, California was both the aggressor and the superior boxer over the course of the ten-round affair. To her credit, Alcanter (18-10-1, 9 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri did not come to lie down and fought hard until the ring of the final bell.

Julaton, 116 ½, applied pressure from round one, and had Alcanter, 118 ½, backing up as the opening round closed. Julaton settled into a boxer-mover style for rounds two and three, before upping her output in the fourth. Late in the round, Julaton let loose on Alcanter in a corner. The Kansas City resident showed some bravado as she smiled at Julaton after the ring of the bell.

In the fifth, Julaton continued to beat an apprehensive Alcanter to the punch. Despite her natural size advantage, Alcanter did not fight like the larger woman in the bout. Just as was the case in the round before, Julaton pressured Alcanter near the ropes to close the fifth.

Alcanter landed perhaps her best shot in the sixth, a straight right that snapped Julaton’s head back. Alcanter had some success in the round, but Julaton made have stole it with a lead left hook that landed flush late. After a letdown in the action in the seventh, Julaton came right out at Alcanter in the eighth. Landing punches in combination, Julaton forced Alcanter into retreat and drew blood from the veteran’s nose.

Perhaps looking for the opportunity to do what several other top flight females have been unable to, stop Alcanter, Julaton continued to force the fight in the ninth. Alcanter bravely fought back and did not appear to be in any serious trouble, but she did absorb a good amount of punishment in the round. Julaton closed the fight well in the tenth and appeared to be headed for a wide decision victory.

In the end, all three official scorers had it for Julaton by the scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92. “I thought that is was at least eight to two,” said Julaton advisor and lead cornerman for the night Angelo Reyes. “It was an extremely dominant performance. I mean six to four? That is just silly.” Julaton’s promoter Allan Tremblay was in agreement with Reyes. “If you watch the tape, you will find out that [Ana] forced the action,” said Tremblay of Orion Sports Management. “She was the aggressor.”

Due to a scheduling conflict, Julaton’s famed trainer Freddie Roach was unable to work the corner Friday night in Richmond. After the clear-cut decision win, it was obvious that the missing person in her corner had little effect on the outcome, but still the press was curious about the situation at the post-fight presser. “He was definitely with us in spirit,” said Reyes, who has worked with Julaton since her amateur days. “I did what I am sure Freddie would have told me to do, ‘Hold the water, and let Ana do her thing.’ Freddie Roach is the best trainer in the world. He has I believe three world champions right now: Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan and Ana Julaton. We completely understand.”

Though most of what fight observers notice is the action in the corner, the work of a trainer is most valuable in camp. “All the work had been done and I have a strong corner,” explained Julaton, who had worked with Roach through Wednesday. “We all have the same focus and game plan, and we just go out and deliver.”

As for what comes next, Julaton’s promoter is already close to finalizing her next date. “We are going to fight in the Philippines, probably on April 9th,” said Tremblay. “I can’t announce it just yet, but I have already secured the opponent. I am assured from the doctor here that she could fight next week, so I think we are good for the ninth.”

Taking into account the four main sanctioning bodies, there is one other world champion at 122-pounds, WBA title-holder Lisa Brown, who holds a win over Julaton. The other two titles are currently vacant, but those positions will soon be filled. The vacancy of the IBF title is about to be filled by the winner of the upcoming Melinda Cooper-Ada Velez bout, while the WBC kingpin will be decided by the Yesica Marcos-Fredee Gonzalez fight.

After a series of rigorous distance wins against formidable opposition, Julaton’s promoter does not have designs on throwing her at one of the other title-holders just yet. “We’ve fought champions and number one contenders, and every fight is a tough one, but you don’t have to go to the extreme every time,” explained Tremblay. “So I think it is time for us to step back and fight a voluntary defense if you will, and not one of the killers.”


In the other boxing match on the card, exciting Filipino prospect Bruno Escalante Jr. (2-0-1, 1 KO) of San Carlos, California by way of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines rolled over Martin “Tarzan” Sandoval (0-1) of Oakdale, California in under two rounds.

Escalante, 122 ½, was a ball of energy and Sandoval, 124 ½, did not have an answer for his attack. Sandoval, an accomplished professional mixed martial artist, was downed in the first by a straight left hand he probably did not see coming. Escalante, a former National PAL Champion as an amateur, came out at Sandoval in the second and eventually landed the same straight left to score a second knockdown. This time Sandoval got up much slower and referee Ray Balewicz waved off the fight at the 1:05 mark.

Amateur Kickboxing

Gaston Bolanos of Dublin, California scored a second-round stoppage of Ike Spears of Fresno, California in a light welterweight bout scheduled for three. Bolanos, who fights out of the Combat Sports Academy in Dublin, forced a standing eight count with a barrage of kicks in the second round. Referee Dan Stell allowed the fight to continue, but urged Spears to “show him something.” Spears, who trains out of the Fresno Kickboxing Academy, looked to be fatigued and not on steady legs. Bolanos proceeded to score a knockdown, which is not what Stell was looking for and the fight was stopped at the 1:30 mark of the second.

In a competitive and action-packed bout, Dee Alhadi of San Jose, California scored a three-round unanimous decision over Marc Talledo of Milpitas, California. Talledo, who trains out of the Unlimited Training Center in Milpitas and Alhadi, who trains out of the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, each had their moments over the course of the three rounds.

In the second round, Talledo, 134 ½, and Alhadi, 130, stood in the center of the ring and exchanged power shots, pleasing the fight crowd on hand. In the end, all three judges scored the fight a shutout for Alhadi, 30-27. The final tallies are a bit misleading, as Talledo traded on even ground with Alhadi for much of the contest.

Xavier Vigney of Pleasant Hill, California prevailed by first-round stoppage over Gary Grant of Antioch, California in the final fight of the evening. The much taller Vigney, who trains out of Team Black in Pleasant Hill, forced a standing eight count early in the bout, as Grant, who trains out of Guila Hawaiian Kajukenbo-Kickboxing in Antioch, covered up against a series of unanswered blows.

Vigney, 206, landed a swift kick that downed Grant, 222 ½, soon after the rendering of the standing eight. With Grant up, but wobbly and potentially injured, referee Ray Balewicz called the fight. Grant, either angry with his performance or the stoppage, kicked the stool in his corner as the ringside doctor attempted to observe him.

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




Garcia takes out Figueroa in two


Hotshot prospect Danny Garcia remained undefeated by scoring a second round stoppage over John Figueroa in a scheduled eight round Jr. Welterweight bout at the Four Points Sheraton in San Diego, California.

Garcia landed a hard left hook that wobbled Figueroa back to the ropes and then some hard straight right hands with a couple of left’s to the body forced the referee to stop the bout at fifty-two seconds of round two.

Garcia, 141 lbs of Philadelphia is now 20-0 with fourteen knockouts. Figueroa, 141 1/2 lbs of Salinas, PR is now 7-9-3.

In a battle of undefeated Super Middleweights, Marco Antonio Periban needed just one crushing right hand to dispose of Dion Savage Jr. in a scheduled eight round bout.

Periban landed the right that dropped Savage. Savage got to his feet but the referee called the bout off at thirty-three seconds

Periban, 169 lbs of Mexico City is now 11-0 with eight knockouts. Savage, 168 lbs of Michigan is now 10-1.

Pablo Armenta scored a four round unanimous decision over Alejandro Cruz in a Lightweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Armenta, 133 lbs of San Diego and is now 5-0-1. Cruz, 133 lbs of Mexico City is now 3-13-2.

Adrian Vargas made a successful pro debut with a four round unanimous decision over Fanky Martinez in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Vargas, 139 1/2 lbs of National City, CA. Martinez, 138 1/2 lbs of Costa Rica is 0-2.

Hanzel Martinez remained undefeated with a four round majority decision over Alejandro Solorio.

Martinez, 121 lbs won by scores of 39-37; 39-37 and 38-38 to go to 10-0. Solorio, 118 lbs is 4-3.




Burgos obliterates Archuleta in 2

Former world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos scored a second round stoppage over Frankie Archuleta in a scheduled ten round Featherweight fight at the Million Dollar Elm Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Burgos dropped Archuleta three times in the second round. The first was was with a big right that was followed up by a left. Archuleta’s legs were clearly gone after that but still he was dropped with a hard one-two combination and finally for a third time with a right hand.

The fight was called off at 2:33 of round two.

Burgos, 128 lbs of Tijuana, Mexico is now 26-1 with nineteen knockouts. Archuleta, 124 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is now 27-8-1

South African Isaac Chilemba survived two eighth round knockdowns to outlast previously undefeated Maxim Vlasov by winning a unanimous decision in a ten round Super Middleweight fight.

It was a close fight early with Chilemba using his jab with range and going to the body of Vlasov. Vlasov started picking up some steam in the middle rounds as he used his experience as he used his full arsenal of punches.

In round eight, Vlasov landed a perfect right hand that sent Chilemba to the canvas in the first thirty seconds of the round. Chilemba was dropped again as Vlasov landed a flurry of punches that was culminated by a right hand. Chilemba actually did well in the final moments of the round by jabbing and landing some solid right hands. Chilemba carried that momentum into round nine as again it was a long jab that was mixed in with some rights and a nice uppercut. The two fighters went for it in round ten with Chilemba getting the better of the action filled round.

Chilemba, 171 lbs of Johannesburg, South Africa won by scores of 96-92; 96-92 and 95-94 to go to 16-1. Vlasov, 170 lbs of Samara, Russia is now 19-1.

Simphiwe Vetyeta scored an impressive third round stoppage over former IBF Minimumweight champion Roberto Leyva in a scheduled six round Featherweight fight.

Vetyeta dominated the fight until he landed a perfect left to the body that sent Leyva down for the ten count at 2:32 of round three.

Vetyeta, 121 lbs of South Africa is now 22-1 with twelve knockouts. Leyva, 125 lbs of Puerto Rico is now 27-13-1.




Stewart and Torres battle to a draw

Michael Stewart and David Torres fought to a ten round majority draw in a Jr. Welterweight bout at Dover Downs in Dover Delaware.

In round three, Torres landed a heavy right hand that buckled Stewart. Torres came out strong in round four by landing a hard left and right at the outset of the round. Stewart came back by ducking under some punches and landing a big right. Torres rocked Stewart early in round five with a pair of hard left hooks. Stewart got through with a hard right of his own only to get nailed by a big left hook.

Stewart came out strong in round six by landing a pair of big right hands. In round seven, Stewart landed a nice right off the ropes only to get caught by a Torres right hand. In round nine, Torres landed a nice left to the head out of a break. He then started to work the body with a three punch combination. With both guys tired down the stretch, It was Torres who was a bit more active despite getting hit by a Stewart right at the bell.

Scores were 96-94 for Torres and 95-95 on two cards. Stewart, 140 lbs of New Castle, DE is now 46-7-3. Torres, 140 lbs of Othello, WA is now 21-2-2.

In a terrific back and forth slugfest, Mike Tiberi scored a razor thin unanimous decision over Eloy Suarez in a eight round Middleweight bout.

Tiberi did enough to win the early rounds with his jab and right hands behind it.

Suarez pushed the action in some of the rounds and started finding a home with his jab. In round eight he got through again but it wasnt enough as Tiberi won by 77-75 tallies on all cards.

Tiberi, 163 lbs of Smyrna, DE is now 16-1. Suarez, 163 lbs of San Antonio, TX is now 11-10-1.

Amir “Hardcore” Mansour scored his third straight explosive knockout since returning after nearly a nine year absence when he destroyed Alexis Mejias in round two of their scheduled eight round Heavyweight bout.

Mansour drilled Mejias with a straight left that stopped Mejias in his tracks before a booming left plummeted Mejias to the canvas where he lie motionless for several minutes.

Mejias had a neck brace applied but started moving and walked out under his own power.

The time was thirty-five seconds of round two for Mansour, 223 lbs of Penns Grove, NJ and is now 12-0 with nine knockouts. Mejias, 235 lbs of Paterson, NJ is now 11-7

Anthony Caputo Smith scored a second round stoppage over Shawn Kirk in a sxheduled six round Light heavyweight bout.

Smith dropped Kirk three times in round two all with body shots and the was waved at 2:16 of round two.

Smith, 181 1/2 lbs of Kennett Square, PA and is now 9-0 with seven knockouts. Kirk, 186 lbs lbs of Lexington, KY is now 4-9.

Ronica Jeffrey remained undefeated with a four round unanimous decision over Carla Torres in a Jr. Lightweight bout.

It was a competitive fight with Jeffrey getting the better of the exchanges.

Jeffrey, 126 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 40-36; 40-36 and 39-37 to go to 5-0. Torres, 128 lbs of Cleveland is now 1-1

In the opening bout, Dan Biddle rocked Kenneth Farr all over the ring in scoring a four round unanimous decision.

Biddle had Farr in trouble a few times but no knockdowns were scored.

Scores were 40-36; 40-35 and 40-34 for Biddle, 196 lbs of Hockessin, DE and is now 6-1. Farr, 199 lbs of Rocky Mount, NC is now 0-5




Julaton, Alcanter at the Scales


DALY CITY, CALIFORNIA — WBO Super Bantamweight Champion and media darling Ana Julaton defends her title against respected veteran Franchesca Alcanter tonight at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California. Their ten-round title clash, which will be televised in both the United States and the Philippines, headlines a four-bout card as part of a sports and music expo geared towards the Filipino-American community. Fighters weighed in Thursday night at the Mink Bar & Lounge in nearby Daly City.

Julaton (7-2-1, 1 KO) of Daly City has been out of the ring since reclaiming the WBO title via ten-round split decision over Mexico’s Maria Villalobos back in June of last year. Julaton, who is immensely popular both locally and in the Philippines, and her team picked a very respectable opponent for the first defense of her second reign in Alcanter. “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,” said Julaton. “I just have to make sure that I don’t take anything lightly and stay grounded.”

Alcanter (18-9-1, 9 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri has been around the block and taken on some of the biggest names in women’s boxing in her twelve-year pro career. In her last ring appearance, Alcanter went the ten-round distance in a failed attempt at claiming a 126-pound title from Ina Menzer in Germany. Alcanter does hold two clear advantages in the fight, her experience and the fact that she is the naturally larger fighter.

After Thursday’s weigh-in, it is still hard to figure how far Alcanter came down in weight, because the scales seemed to read about three to four pounds light. Julaton, who has routinely weighed in between 120 and 122-pounds in her career, scaled 116 ½-pounds at Thursday’s weigh-in. Alcanter, who has fought as high as 140-pounds in her career, weighed in at 118 ½ on Thursday night. “I trained really hard for this fight, and I know I scaled in at the actual weight class,” Julaton explained simply after the weigh-in. “The last time I weighed-in at 116, I was fifteen-years-old.”


Also on 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 Martin “Tarzan” Sandoval of Oakdale, California in a four-round featherweight fight. While Sandoval will be making his professional boxing debut, he has already been successful as a mixed martial artist, posting a 6-3, 3 KOs, 3 Submissions record. Escalante, the 2008 National PAL Champion at 112-pounds, trains out of the same Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos as Nonito Donaire Jr. Escalante weighed in at 122 ½, while scaled Sandoval 124 ½-pounds.

Amateur Kickboxing

Two amateur kickboxing bouts complete the card tonight. In a three-round pairing of heavyweights, Gary Grant of Antioch, California will take on Xavier Vigney of Pleasant Hill, California. The long and lean Vigney, who trains out of Team Black in Pleasant Hill, scaled 206-pounds. Grant, who trains out of Guila Hawaiian Kajukenbo-Kickboxing in Antioch, weighed in at 222 ½-pounds Thursday night.

Rounding out the card, Dee Alhadi of San Jose, California will take on Marc Talledo of Milpitas, California in a three-round super lightweight bout. Talledo, who trains out of the Unlimited Training Center in Milpitas, weighed in at 134 ½-pounds. Alhadi, who trains out of the famed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, scaled 130-pounds Thursday.

The event, dubbed “Return of the Hurricane,” will also feature musical performances by the A.J. Rafael Band and Sway Penala. MYX will televise in United States and TV5 will broadcast in the Philippines. Tickets for the event, promoted by CP Presents, Phantom Promotions and Orion Sports Management, are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBO Super Bantamweight Championship, 10 Rounds
Julaton 116 ½
Alcanter 118 ½

Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Escalante Jr. 122 ½
Sandoval 124 ½

Amateur Kickboxing Weigh-in Results:

Super Lightweights, 3 Rounds
Alhadi 130
Talledo 134 ½

Heavyweights, 3 Rounds
Grant 222 ½
Vigney 206

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




Pascal reaches agreement with Michel; rematch with Hopkins on for May 21


Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that world light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal has reached an agreement with his promoter Yvon Michel which was the final minor hurdle to proceed with his May 21 rematch with former two-division champion and legend Bernard Hopkins

“We went to the bid because we had a deadline,” Michel said. “But Pascal has a minimum for each fight and a percentage [of profit]. We had to adjust the numbers for him to be happy, so we needed more time to come to the agreement, but there was never a doubt that he wanted to fight Hopkins again. There was never a doubt in our mind. He trusted us and his team. We just needed time. I already spoke to Richard and we will sit down and see the pros and the cons of where the show should be.”




Wach takes out Haggler in three–WATCH ON DEMAND ON GFL


CLICK TO ORDER FIGHT
Mariusz Wach vs. Jonathan Haggler — 10 Rounds, heavyweight

The bigger they are, the harder the fall. That theory checked out tonight when Mariusz “The Polish Giant” Wach kayoed North Carolina’s Jonathan Haggler in front of a passionate crowd at Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey.

In the first round, the 6’8” Wach, who is trained by former heavyweight champion, Michael Moorer, effectively established his jab and set the pace for the fight.

Haggler, for the duration of the bout, had trouble getting inside the reach of “The Polish Giant” and often threw his punches on-the-move, with little on them.

The breakthrough for the Krakow, Poland native came about one minute into the third round when he connected with left-right combination that staggered Haggler and sent him retreating to the ropes. Wach hunted down his opponent and started dropping bombs on his hurt counterpart.

After connecting with a straight right, Haggler bent over to avoid another one. Smartly, Wach greeted him an uppercut instead, which was followed by a left hook and another final flurry, which ultimately sent Haggler crashing to the canvas, where he failed to beat referee Sparkle Lee’s ten count.

The official time of the stoppage was 1:22 seconds into round three.

With the win Wach, 24-0, 12 KO is now the new WBC Baltic heavyweight champion, while Haggler’s record falls to 23-4, 18 KO.

Danny McDermott vs. Osnel Charles — 6 Rounds, lightweight

In a thrilling co-feature, Jersey City’s Danny McDermott was upset by Atlantic City’s Osnel Charles via unanimous decision.

This bout was action packed from the opening bell as both fighters made it clear they were willing to get hit to land a few shots of their own.

McDermott started strong, finding Charles more frequently than Charles found him. Although he clearly won the first round, McDermott’s timing seemed slightly off. Time and time again, McDermott tried to land a big straight right, but Charles consistently bent over backward–Matrix style–to avoid it every time.

In the second round, Charles rebounded nicely, snapping jabs and landing rights that whipped McDermott’s head back. After Charles lost his mouthpiece, there was a momentary break in the action to put it back in. After the break McDermott landed some good shots of his own, but it was not enough to carry the round.

McDermott scored well in the third and fourth rounds, eating some punches, but landing the more effective, more powerful punches.

The tide turned early in round five, however, when the two fighters were tied up in the center of the ring. McDermott clearly intentionally head-butted Charles, who crumpled to the canvas as a result of the blow. The referee saw this and rightfully took a point away from McDermott.

For the rest of the round, when he wasn’t on the receiving end of a Charles punch, McDermott was talking at the referee, expressing his displeasure with his decision to deduct a point. By the time the round concluded, McDermott was sporting a seemingly bad cut over his right eye.

The sixth round belonged to the Haitian import, Charles, who dominated from bell to bell. Charles pressed the action in this round more-so than any previous round, coming forward more frequently.

When it concluded, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Charles. One judge scored the bout 57-56, one saw it 59-54, and another 59-53.

With the win, Charles improves to 7-3, 1 KO, while McDermott drops to 8-3, 3 KO.

Wanzell Ellison vs. Jimmy Smalls — 4 Rounds, lightweight

In the night’s opening bout of the evening, Brick City’s own Wanzell Ellison spoiled Ohio’s Jimmy Smalls professional debut by stopping the Panamanian-born Smalls within two rounds.

In the second round, Ellison, who was finding his target with regularity, nailed Smalls with a huge right cross that momentarily wobbled his opponent and drew blood from his eye. About one minute later, with Smalls clearly reeling from punishment sustained earlier in the round, Ellison turned up the heat and thew his punches with murderous intentions.

Sensing his opponent was nearing the end, Ellison threw a flurry of punches that ultimately forced Smalls to drop to a knee. He would fail to get to his feet within ten seconds, and the bout was called to a halt.

With the win, Ellison improves to 4-0, 3 KO, while Smalls drops his professional debut and is now 0-1.

Rashad Bogar vs. Miguel Corcino — 4 Rounds, welterweight

In a bout that was about two minutes too long, Newark’s Rashad Bogar violently knocked out his previously undefeated opponent, Miguel Corcino, in the second round.

In the first round, Bogar stunned Corcino with a huge right hand that sent him to the canvas. After beating the referee’s ten count, Bogar rushed forward to immediately greet his opponent with a left hook that wobbled Corcino once again.

Bogar chose to spend the rest of the round stalking his prey, and took his off the gas pedal a little bit. Subsequently, Corcino was able to weather the storm and survive to hear the bell at the end of round one.

Most of the second round was unnecessary. Unfortunately for Corrino, neither the referee or his corner thought that.

Seconds into round two, Bogar stumbled Corcino again with a left hook, and followed up quickly with a straight right that sent Corcino crashing to the mat. After barely beating the ten count, when the action resumed, he was met with a crushing left hand that sent him into permanent retreat.

Bogar chased his opponent down and with a vicious one-two, knocked Corcino down in the corner, his body sent halfway through the ropes. Finally, at the 2:13 mark of the second round, the bout was called to a halt.

With the win, Bogar improves to 3-2, 2 KO, while Corcino tastes defeat for the time, falling to 2-1, 2 KO.

Eddie Edmonds vs. Charles White — 4 Rounds, junior middleweight

For the third straight fight, a Newark fighter stopped his opponent inside two rounds. This time it was Eddie Edmonds defeating North Carolina’s Charles White via second round TKO.

In the first round, Edmonds dropped White with a left hook to the body that forced White to drop to a knee in order to recover.

Edmonds caught White once more at the bell, with a left to the body, right to the head combination that sent White down. He beat the referee’s ten count and was able to continue.

In the second round, as the two were tied up, Edmonds threw a right cross that caught White clean and sent him down for the third time in the fight. After beating the ten count, White sent himself to the canvass after missing with a wild punch and his moment him sent himself down.

Eventually, one more right cross sent White crashing to the canvas for the final time. The bout was called to a halt by referee Benjy Esteves Jr., at the :57 mark of round two.

WIth the win, Edmonds improves to 2-1-1, 2 KO, while White falls to 0-2.

Scott Burrell vs. Antonio Parker — 4 Rounds, lightweight

It was evident from the opening bell that Antonio Parker was not a good boxer. He was awkward, his footwork was terrible, his balance was worse, he was hesitant, and he seemed scared.

All of those characteristics that Parker possessed made for an easy day at the office for Scott Burrell.

Burrell, with the help of an inept Parker, broke from the theme of the night and decided to stop his opponent in the first round, not the second.

Three separate times during the 1:39 second bout, Parker was sent to the ground by a combination of a Burrell punch/terrible balance. Parker actually sent himself to the ground during this fight as a result of him hitting only air with a wild punch that sent him off balance to the point of crashing to the canvas.

All things considered, given the level of opposition standing across from him, Burrell stayed composed and focused, letting the knockout ultimately come to him.

With the win, Burrell improves to 2-0, 2 KO, while Parker drops to 0-3.

Rafael Jastrzebski vs. Randy Campbell — 4 Rounds, super middleweight

Atlantic City by way of Bydgoszcz, Poland’s Rafael Jastrzebski easily outpoint Ohio’s Randy “The Rattlesnake” Campbell in a four round super middleweight bout.

Jastrzebski cruised to a unanimous decision victory behind a stiff left jab and well-placed right hands that followed. Campbell proved to be an easy target — especially for Jastrzebski’s jab — and finished the fight sporting a bright red, marked-up face.

All three judges scored the bout 40-36 for Jastrzebski.

With the win, Jastrzebski improves to 4-6-1, 1 KO, while Campbell drops to 3-4.




Donaire stops Montiel in second-round stunner

LAS VEGAS –He called himself No. 2 on the Filipino ticket, but Nonito Donaire was No. 1 in the ring Saturday night. As a bantamweight, he is all by himself. A guessing game will soon ensue about how long he will stay at 118 pounds. Bigger things await Donaire.

Within seven minutes, however, General Santos City in The Philippines emerged on the boxing map like no other piece of modern real estate. It is more than Manny Pacquiao’s hometown. Donaire was born there, too.
There must be some punch in the water.

Donaire threw a huge one to stop the accomplished Fernando Montiel in the second round of a bout for two pieces of the bantamweight title. Montiel missed with a right. Donaire countered with a left, which traveled in an orbit-like loop and landed on Montiel’s chin with the impact of a baseball bat.

“I’m very surprised he got up,’’ said Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs), who earned $350,000, $100,000 more than Montiel’s purse.

Montiel (44-3-2, 34 KOs), who lost the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization versions of the title, went down as if he had been dropped onto the canvas from a diving board. The Mexican landed on his back in a flop. His legs twitched one way, then another. His arms and upper body moved, almost as if he were trying to regain control of nerve endings that connected him to consciousness. He did, long enough to get up and onto his feet. He stumbled in a futile attempt to re-gain his balance.

Referee Russell Mora must have thought that he had. Mora signaled for the fight to continue.

It did for a maybe a couple of seconds. Donaire threw a couple of punches that quickly indicated Montiel was defenseless. Mora ended it, calling it a TKO at 2:25 of the second.

But there was nothing technical about a knockout that makes Donaire the world’s best bantamweight, a future contender in the featherweight divisions, a rising factor in the pound-for-pound debate and the second-best fighter from General Santos City.

Mike Jones and Jesus Soto-Karass got it right the second time around.

The controversy of Jones victory by majority decision in November was swept away Saturday night at Mandalay Bay with poise Jones and guts by Soto-Karass.

Jones (24-0, 18 KOs) won another decision. But this one was unanimous on the scorecards and unanimous for its brilliance. Duane Ford scored it 115-113, Robert Hoyle 116-112 and Ricardo Ocasio 117-111, for Jones. The crowd roared in approval for both.

Cuts near each eye in the third seemed to put Soto-Karass (24-6-3, 16 KOs) in early jeopardy. Before the fourth, it looked as if Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer and one of the four ringside physicians were about to stop a bout, scheduled for 12 rounds on a card featured by Nonito Donaire’s second-round stoppage of Fernando Montiel for two pieces of the bantamweight title.

Blood poured from a cut near the outside of Soto-Karass’ left eye. That one was caused by a head butt. There was more blood flowing from another cut near the outside of his right eye. It looked as if a Jones’ punch caused that one. Blood flowed like tears. But Soto-Karass wasn’t crying.

If anything, he appeared energized, emboldened by his wounds. He could taste the sense of urgency. He jumped off his stool and raced at Jones throughout the fourth, gesturing at him as if he were inviting him inside for a closer look at the carnage. Jones played it smart.

He stayed away, backed away, from the dangerous, courageous Soto-Karass. While Soto-Karass saw less and less. Jones could see what was happening. He waited with patience and enough quickness to score with range and precision.

In the ninth, a long Jones punch opened up another cut on the inside of Soto-Karass’ left eye. By then, it was only a matter of time before the end, before Jones celebrated a victory and everybody else celebrated a great fight.

Four hours before Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel entered the Mandalay Bay ring, the card began in a chilly and empty arena Saturday with Denver junior-welterweight Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KOs) in a bid to restore his chances at being a contender in the crowded 140-pound division after a stretch in jail on a parole violation.

Alvarado, who did time on a domestic violence charge and driving offenses, needed some work. He got four rounds. Alvarado’s tune-up turned into target practice against Englishman Dean Harrison (16-5, 5 KOs), a TKO loser who was left bloodied, beaten and unable to continue after the fourth of a scheduled eight.

The undercard’s best: Welterweight Mark Melligen (21-2, 14 KOs), who had the Filipino flag on his trunks and Filipino fans in his corner, didn’t disappoint his countrymen with a unanimous decision over Mexican Gabriel Martinez (27-2-1, 14 KOs), who staged a ninth-round rally that was too late to save him from a one-sided loss on the scorecards.

The worst: Dallas lightweight Jose Hernandez (10-4-1, 4 KOs) had the fans screaming Si Se Puede, Si Se Puede. Either the judges don’t speak Spanish or they didn’t hear a chant that means Yes We Can, Yes We Can. Hernandez’ bid for an upset of unbeaten Mickey Bey of Cleveland (16-0-1, 8 KOs) fell a few points short. CJ Ross and Glenn Trowbridge scored it even, 76-76, each. Lisa Giampa gave it to Bey, 78-74, for a majority draw booed by a majority of the fans.

The rest: Welterweight prospect Yordenis Ugas (6-0, 3 KOs), a Cuban bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics, continued his apprenticeship with a unanimous decision over a Sacramento opponent, Carlos Musquez (3-3-4, 3 KOs), who rocked Ugas in the opening round, yet did little throughout the next five.




Perez Pitches Shutout; Gesta Dominates Trazancos Again


SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — On the cusp of world title contention, super featherweight contender Eloy Perez scored a comprehensive eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez in the main event at the Longshoremen’s Hall on Friday night. In the co-main event, Filipino prospect Mercito Gesta lit up journeyman Genaro Trazancos for the second time in six months.

Perez (20-0, 5 KOs) of Salinas, California showed his class as he failed to lose a round against the once-determined former contender Gonzalez (27-4, 18 KOs) of Indio, California. Perez, the WBO #2 ranked super featherweight, boxed intelligently throughout and Gonzalez had no answers.

Perez, 130, targeted Gonzalez’ soft body early in what was a feeling out first round. Gonzalez, 133, had come in three pounds over the contracted weight, thus forfeiting 20 percent of his purse at yesterday’s weigh-in, and Perez looked to capitalize on his opponent’s apparent lack of conditioning.

As the fight progressed, Perez applied pressure in spots, but boxed carefully for the most part. Though Perez opened up a bit late in rounds two and three, the difference in class between the two combatants became more readily apparent in round four. Gonzalez continually looked to land a counter, but it was impossible for him to win rounds in that style against a volume puncher such as Perez.

With the fight moving into the later rounds, Gonzalez continued to only offer up his offense once Perez had ceased firing. However, the active Perez left Gonzalez few openings to shoot for and simply kept piling up on points. With the fight well in hand in the eighth, Perez looked to close the show in style and sat down on a combination that rocked Gonzalez.

In the end, all three judges scored every round for Perez, for tallies of 80-72 across the board. Perez is penciled in for the April 29th edition of Telefutura Solo Boxeo, which is ticketed for Reno, Nevada. The fight could potentially be a WBO Super Featherweight title elimination bout.

“I want Vicente Escobedo now,” pronounced Perez’ manager Kathy Garcia after Friday’s fight. Escobedo recently announced plans to campaign at the 130-pound super featherweight class, and hails from Woodland, California. A Perez-Escobedo clash would be a hot ticket almost anywhere in Northern California. Also on the hit list for Team Perez: Rocky Martinez, Rocky Juarez and Jason Litzau.


Mercito Gesta (21-0-1, 11 KOs) of San Diego, California by way of Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines had no trouble dismantling the weathered Genaro Trazancos (22-14-1, 13 KOs) of Fort Myers, Florida by way of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

Gesta, 140, was landing freely by a minute into the bout. As was the case last August, Trazancos, 138 ½, could not find an answer for the speed or boxing ability of Gesta, and it was evident from the outset. By the last minute of the first, it was clear Gesta could land a flurry at any time of his choosing.

Gesta rocked Trazancos early in the second with two right hands, and then calmly went back to boxing. A two-handed Gesta flurry hurt the Mexican against the ropes seconds later. Still on shaky ground, Trazancos moved and covered up enough to make it out of the round.

With the end in sight, Gesta landed a straight left that stunned Trazancos early in the third. Gesta flurried to follow-up and appeared to have a stoppage on his mind. The slippery Trazancos moved and flailed, but eventually got caught again and looked to cover-up. Again, Gesta calmed down and began to pick his shots.

In between rounds three and four, Trazancos expressed that he did not want to continue, which forced referee Ray Balewicz to stop the bout. Trazancos left the ring favoring his ribs. It was the second stoppage of Trazancos for the Filipino prospect, the first coming in the seventh round six months ago. For Trazancos, it was his ninth loss in his last ten bouts. His only win during that stretch came against Waldo Vela, a reported 0-6-3 fighter.

For Gesta the future looks bright. The Filipino plans to make his stand in the 135-pound lightweight division, a weight he has not made since April 2008. Gesta, currently the WBO #12 ranked lightweight, had hoped to fight Hector Velazquez tonight, but that did not come together. Based on recent performances, Gesta appears ready for the next step up in competition.


In a bout where somebody’s ‘O’ had to go, nobody’s did as Adolfo Gonzalez (1-0-1) of Salinas and Jose Leon Jr. (1-0-1) of Visalia, California fought to a four-round draw. Gonzalez, 149, started the bout looking to touch gloves, but was met with an unsportsmanlike right hand from Leon, 150.

Both fighters had their moments in a difficult fight to score, as was evidenced by the final official scores. One judge had it 40-36 in favor of Gonzalez, while another had it 40-36 the other way. The third judge had it even, 38-38, thus forcing the draw. Though Leon showed poor sportsmanship in the opening, he very classily raised the arm of Gonzalez after the decision was read.


Making his professional debut, local favorite Joe Gumina (1-0, 1 KO) of San Bruno, California pleased his hometown crowd with a first-round stoppage of Jose Jesus Hurtado (3-3, 3 KOs) of San Ysidro, California.

It ended up being both a long and short night for the two fighters, who originally entered the ring as the first fight of the event. Shortly after their introductions, it was announced that required paramedic had not yet arrived at the building. After waiting in the ring for over twenty minutes, they were sent back to the dressing room.

The raucous pro-Gumina crowd stuck around until the night’s first walkout bout, and Gumina, 182, took little time giving them what they wanted. Gumina came out in his trademark free-swinging style, forcing Hurtado, 186, to quickly cover-up. The chubby Hurtado defended well before a right uppercut landed clean and sent him backing up. The following barrage sent him to the ropes and eventually down to a knee for the first knockdown. Two hard lefts and another right forced Hurtado down to a knee again, prompting referee Dan Stell to stop the fight at the 1:02 mark of the first.


Former amateur standout Richard Hargraves (2-0-1, 2 KOs) of San Francisco ended an eleven-month layoff in his hometown, but came up with a draw against a determined Clint Coronel (3-1-2, 1 KO) of San Jose, California.

Hargraves, 151, reportedly held two amateur wins over Coronel, 152 ½, who fought professionally as a mixed martial artist before returning to boxing in 2009. In rounds one and two, Hargraves boxed and moved, avoiding the swings of Coronel for the most part. When on the inside early in the bout, Hargraves was quick to tie up in shorter opponent.

Coronel came out more aggressively in the third and quickly caught Hargraves with two solid right hands. Hargraves fell out balance, but regained his footing as he stepped back towards the ropes. Coronel took more chances coming into range, which resulted in a bloodied right eye, but also gave him an opportunity to turn around the fight. An energetic Coronel remained standing for much of the rest period before the fourth.

Sensing he needed the round, Coronel game out guns blazing to start the final stanza. Hargraves weathered the early rush and began to settle back into his box from outside, tie up when on the inside game plan. However, Coronel may have caught the eye of the judges with the one or two hard right hands he landed later in the round. In the end, one judge had the fight for Hargraves, 39-37, while the other two had it even, 38-38.

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




Guerrero wins easy decision over Findley

Fernando Guerrero remained undefeated by scoring a ten round unanimous decision over Derrick Findley in front of a packed house at the Wicomico Center in Salisbury, Maryland.

Guerrero was very effective with the jab which set up numerous straight lefts that kept the 5’6″ Findley out of range. Findley became discouraged and came forward but more often then not he would not throw punches. When he did throw he didint land many effective punches. In the meantime it was all Guerrero as he dominated from start to finish by winning by scores 100-90; 99-91 and 99-91.

Guerrero, 157 1/2 lbs of Salisbury, MD is now 21-0. Findley, 160 lbs of Gary, IN is now 17-5.

Now Welterweight Shawn Porter scored a ten round unanimous decision over Anges Adjaho.

Porter was a lot more active and landed some quick combinations. Ironically it may have been Adjaho who landed the more telling blows as he landed some perfect counter rights on five occasions but that was basically the only offense the he mounted as Porter was more consistent with his workrate over the ten ten round bout.

Porter, 144 lbs of Cleveland, OH won by scores of 99-91; 99-91 and 97-93 to remain perfect at 18-0. Adjaho, 146 lbs of Geneva, NY is now 17-5

Good looking nineteen year old Dominic Wade scored a four round unanimous decision over feisty Grover Young in a Super Middleweight bout featuring two undefeated fighters.

Wade was very active as he landed many hard combinations and Young showed good courage by taking and ocassionally giving back.

Wade, 165 1/2 lbs of Washington, DC won by scores of 40-36 on all cards to remain perfect at 10-0. Young, 166 1/2 lbs of Memphis, TN is now 4-1.




Golden Boy wins Hopkins – Pascal II purse bid


According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Golden Boy Promotions won the purse bid to stage the anticipated rematch between World Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins that will take place on May 21st.

“(Pascal’s promoter) Yvon (Michel) could not come to an agreement with Pascal, so this means he will go back to Canada to meet with Pascal and try to work something out, but the plan is still for the fight to happen May 21 on HBO,” Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer said. “I don’t know what Yvon offered to Pascal, but I know it was more than what he would be entitled to from the purse bid.”

“The potential sites I listed on my bid were Montreal, Quebec City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles or Philadelphia,” Schaefer said. “We want to see where we can maximize the revenues. Yvon is going back to Pascal to work out a deal. Bernard and Golden Boy, we have a deal, so we are ready to go.

“As Bernard has said, he is willing to go back to Canada, assuming that it’s neutral officials. Bernard was very impressed with the fan support he got in Quebec City. By the end of the night the crowd was cheering, ‘Hopkins! Hopkins!’ So he has no problem going back to Canada, but it has to be neutral officials. If not, the fight will take place in the United States.”

“I am convinced the fight will happen,” Schaefer said. “It’s the fight they both want and we already have television lined up and interest from venues. Yvon and Pascal couldn’t agree on a purse amount, so it went to a bid and now it is settled.”




Segura – Calderon II is on for April 2 in Mexico


According to Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that a highly anticipated rematch between world Jr. Flyweight champion Giovanni Segura will take on former two division champion Ivan Calderon on April 2nd in Mexico.

Mexico’s Segura traveled to Calderon’s native Puerto Rico for the first fight on Aug. 28 and knocked Calderon out in the eighth round in one of the leading Fight of the Year candidates. He handed longtime champion Calderon his first defeat, unified alphabet belts and claimed the lineal championship of the 108-pound division.

“Now it will be different because I’m going to fight with better training and without injuries,” Calderon said Tuesday at a news conference in his hometown of Guaynabo to announce the bout, which will be televised on Integrated Sports pay-per-view in the United States. “We are working right now and no matter that the fight is in Mexico, I’m going to show my boxing, my movements to win this title again. I want to thank Segura for giving me this opportunity.”

Said Segura, “He gave me the opportunity and now we give him the same opportunity, but I’m going to the fight in the best condition to retain this title against a great boxer like Calderon.”

“I guess it’s the biggest fight for the most money for him,” said Richard Mota, Segura’s manager. “When you’re in the small weight classes there are not too many options. Giovani said, ‘He wants the rematch, I’ll give it to him.’ He knows he will struggle to make the weight, but he’ll give it to him. He said he could make the weight one more time. He really wanted to move up to 112, but this is the right fight. Everyone wants to see the rematch, and it’s the biggest money fight for him.

“I know we’re getting more money than Calderon and we got a good deal with the pay-per-view [upside] and all that. We couldn’t say no, so we’re going to do the rematch. We have nothing but respect for Calderon. He’s a great champion. He’s proven it. Giovani has nothing bad to say about Calderon. I know Giovani is very excited to come back to Mexico for a big fight like this. He’s training very hard. He’s already in shape. It’s just the weight. He’ll struggle a little bit.”




Miranda Carter present’s an afternoon of boxing at York Hall, Bethnal Green.


ON this coming Sunday afternoon Febraury 20th in London’s East End at the famed spiritual home of boxing Miranda Carter promotes a nine fight card in this her eleventh show of her so far short but successful promotional career as British boxing’s busiest female promoter!

Headlining is Albanian hero Kreshnik Qato whom tops the bill at middle where he faces a yet to be anounced opponent over six rounds.
Also booked for action at lightweight are Mark McCullough and Thamesmead’s Ryan Barrett who once fought current W.B.A light welter champion Amir Khan, plus also there’s prospect Tony Owen whom impressed last time out against Johnny Greaves in the Strand just before Christmas.
Also featured at lightweight is Danny Brown, however up a weight you have Duane Grimes at light welter and moving up to light middle is Gavin James, also
at middle to finish an impressive line up is debutant’s in Kris Agiya-Dua who hope’s to do-a number on his first professional opponent! as doe’s Ricky Boylan who makes his pro bow on this a Sunday afternoon show that starts at 3pm.
All feature in good value for money matchup’s that seasoned matchmaker Jim Evans has expertly put together.
All face selected opposition in what should be a terrific show.

Tickets for this show are priced at just £30 balcony, £50 and £75 for ringside.
If you would like to book your ticket{s} online then please do so at www.leftjab.co.uk/buytickets
Or alternatively phone 07825 795616

Please note door’s open at 2pm and first fight commences at 3pm, so don’t be late!




Quillin Too Much for Sharpe in Fairfield


FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA — Rising middleweight Peter Quillin outclassed and busted up Dennis Sharpe on his way to a fourth-round stoppage in the Telefutura Solo Boxeo main event at the Fairfield Sports Center on Friday night.

Quillin (23-0, 17 KOs) of Brooklyn, New York set the tone for the fight in the opening moments of the first round, as he landed a jab, straight right hand combination to back up Sharpe (17-6-3, 4 KOs) of Bayonne, New Jersey. The right hand would be the primary weapon for Quillin, 166, throughout the fight.

Any time Sharpe, 159, would throw a punch, which was not all that often, Quillin seemed to have a perfectly timed counter waiting for him. Having lost the boxing match in the first, Sharpe decided to get into an exchange with Quillin in the second. Quillin got the better of that too, as he tagged Sharpe with two right hands.

By the third round, Sharpe’s nose was bleeding heavily due to Quillin’s right handed attack. In the fourth, two hard rights, followed up by a left hook rocked Sharpe. Another right snapped the Bayonne native’s head back near the ropes. Quillin closed in and landed another right and followed up with a flurry, which prompted referee Marcos Rosales to stop the contest. Official time was 1:54 of round four.


Fairfield’s Alan Sanchez (7-2-1, 2 KOs) dropped John Ryan Grimaldo (6-1, 5 KOs) of Denver, Colorado twice en route to an eight-round unanimous decision victory. Grimaldo, 142, flashed an unbeaten record coming in, but it had been built up against mostly soft opposition. Despite his lack of credentials, Grimaldo showed his heart as he stood up to the varied assault of Sanchez, 144.

The bout began with a cautious and somewhat tentative first round for both combatants. Grimaldo had his best round in the second, as he outworked the inactive Sanchez. The fight changed in the third, as Sanchez caught Grimaldo with a left hook in an exchange. Grimaldo went down, but made it back up and avoided enough of the wild Sanchez attack to last the remaining minute-and-a-half of the round.

Grimaldo seemed to regain his legs in time for the start of the fourth, but he did not mount much of an offense. In the fifth, Sanchez rocked Grimaldo again, this time with a straight right hand. Grimaldo refused to surrender and landed a solid left hook that seemed to bother Sanchez in the sixth. Grimaldo was having one of his better rounds, but Sanchez turned the momentum back in his favor with a left hook of his own late in the sixth.

Grimaldo showed his resolve again in the seventh. The Denver resident stunned Sanchez with a left early, but Sanchez quickly retorted. The local favorite snapped Grimaldo’s head back with a straight right and buckled his knees with a short left hook. In the eighth, Sanchez landed a chopping right and followed with a left hook to drop Grimaldo for a second time. Still game, Grimaldo fought on, even landing a looping right late in the final round. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Sanchez, 80-70, 79-72 and 78-72.


Fidel Maldonado Jr. (8-0, 7 KOs) of Albuquerque, New Mexico kept his promising career rolling in fashion, as he brutalized late replacement opponent Carlos Hernandez (3-5-2) of San Fernando, California en route to a second-round stoppage.

Maldonado, 145, scored three knockdowns in under four minutes. The first came from a clean, sweeping left hook, which put Hernandez down to the seat of his pants. Hernandez, 142, gamely rose to his feet and fought back, but appeared to have much of his will sapped by another stiff left hand. Moments later Hernandez was on the mat again, this time from a couple rights to the body that did not look to be all that damaging.

The fight could have been halted after the second knockdown, but with the bell following close behind, the fight lasted into the second. Seconds into the round, two quick shots downed Hernandez again. Referee Marcos Rosales called the fight without a count at the time of 37 seconds of the second round.


Manuel Avila (2-0, 1 KO) of Fairfield remained unbeaten with a fourth-round stoppage over willing adversary Jose Garcia (0-3) of Bakersfield, California. Avila, 121, was aggressive at the outset and hurt Garcia, 119, with a right, left combination in the first. In the second Garcia managed to land clean in spots, but his shots did not seem to both Avila too much.

The third round featured some two-way action as well, but Avila landed harder and more often. Avila did not pay too much attention to defense in exchanges, perhaps feeling Garcia did not have the power to hurt him. In the fourth, Avila cornered Garcia into the ropes after landing a hard left hook. A left hook-uppercut hybrid backed Garcia into the turnbuckle and the follow-up flurry prompted referee Ed Collantes to the stop the bout. Official time was 2:28 of round four.


Former amateur star Guy Robb (2-0, 1 KOs) of Sacramento, California scored two official knockdowns and outpointed the naturally larger Omar Sanchez (0-2) of Fairfield via four-round unanimous decision.

Robb, 132, controlled most of the first round with his movement and well-timed punching. The most telling punch of the round was a solid right by Robb, but Sanchez, 138, fought back and landed well just before the bell. The second round was give-and-take. Robb landed a solid right early, and Sanchez landed a hard left hook late in the round.

As the third round progressed, Robb completely took control of the fight. An overhand right from Robb dropped Sanchez midway through the round. Robb kept up the pressure, but Sanchez continued to fire back. In the fourth, Robb staggered Sanchez into the ropes with a left hand. With Sanchez a bit tangled up, referee Ed Collantes ruled it a knockdown. Even without the knockdown ruling, the fight was already Robb’s. In the end the scores read 40-34 and 39-35 twice, all for Robb.

Tonight’s promotional team of Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions, Jorge Marron Productions and Paco Presents will promote next Friday’s offering of Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo from the Longshoremen’s Hall in San Francisco, California. There are plans to return to Fairfield, or go to Vacaville, for an event on March 25th.

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

Netflix will avoid Warner’s new DVDs for 28-day period.(Front)

The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) January 7, 2010 By Michael Liedtke The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO Netflix Inc. will delay sending out Warner Bros.’ latest movies by nearly a month in a concession that the DVD-by-mail service made so it could gain rights to show its subscribers more movies over the Internet. go to web site newly released dvds

The 28-day rental moratorium on Warner Bros.’ newly released DVDs and Blu-ray discs is a first for Netflix, but it probably won’t be the last. Netflix hopes to reach similar deals with other major movie studios later this year, using the Warner Bros. agreement announced Wednesday as a template.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s scheduled Jan. 19 releases of “The Invention of Lying” and “Whiteout” will be among the first movies that won’t be immediately available to Netflix’s 11.1 million customers. newlyreleaseddvdsnow.net newly released dvds

The compromise gives Time Warner Inc.’s movie unit a chance to boost the sales of DVDs, the movie industry’s biggest source of profits.

Nearly three-fourths of DVD sales are made during the first four weeks the discs are in the stores, so turning off Netflix’s rental channel during that stretch might spur more impulse buying among consumers who can’t wait to see a newly released DVD.

“If this causes more of our subscribers to drive down to a store to buy a DVD, we think that will be good for the entertainment ecosystem,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer.

Newly released DVDs account for about 30 percent of Netflix’s shipments. Netflix’s subscribers pay a flat monthly fee, typically ranging from $9 to $17, to get an uncapped number of DVDs through the mail.

Warner Bros. began to publicly pressure Netflix to agree to a rental delay five months ago. By acquiescing, Netflix will get a steep discount on Warner Bros.’ discs – savings that the company intends to use to expand the selection of movies and TV shows available for instant viewing over the Internet.




Ramos decisions Valdez

Number-one ranked Super Bantamweight Rico Ramos scored a solid yet not spectacular ten round unanimous decision over two-time world title challenger Alex Valdez at Ballys in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Ramos was effective at times with the right hand but their were many lapses for Ramos who in recent fights had picked up momentum as he is graduating from prospect to contender.

With his experience, Valdez did the things that prospects get asked to see if they are ready for championship level opposition as he was more then competitive throughout the ten round affair.

The action picked up slightly over the last few rounds with Ramos handspeed being the difference in the bout .

Said Ramos, “After that head butt, I had to come back because I didn’t want it to dictate my fight.”

“It was tough. I didn’t think it would be this tough,” said Ramos. “There were a lot of head butts and holds but I’ve got no complaints.”

Despite dropping the decision, Valdez said after the bout, “I exposed that [Ramos] is still very green and protected.”

Don George came off his first professional loss in style as he annihilated previously undefeated knockout artist Cornelius White in one round of their scheduled eight round Super Middleweight bout.

George dropped White for the first time with a huge right hand. Clearly hurt, White continued to eat a huge flurry that was culminated by a big right hand that sent White to the canvas for a second time. George jumped on White and yet another twenty punch flurry sent White into the ropes and eventually down and thats when referee Randy Neumann stopped the fight just 2:02 into the fight.

George, 168 lbs of Chicago, IL is now 21-1-1 with eighteen knockouts. White, 167 1/2 lbs of Houston is now 16-1.

After the fight, an ecstatic George exclaimed, “I’m back. Some people are pretty upset out there because I was paid to lose. They thought I was an opponent.

“I feel great. I’ll fight for SHOWTIME again next week, if they want.”

In what was the most anticipated bout on the card Eddie Chambers made his first appearance since his his disappointing title challenge to Wladimir Klitschko last March as he took on Derric Rossy in a rematch of a bout that took place almost three years to the date.

The bout was mandated as part of an IBF elimination bout.

It was Rossy who looked to be more the active fighter early as he would throw short combinations that got his loud cheering section into the bout.

But after round three, it was Chambers who won majority of the rounds and by decisive margins as he used his still lighting quick handspeed to befuddle Rossy. The fight started getting repetitive and Rossy started bleeding from the nose in round four.

At the beginning of round six, Chambers landed a booming overhand right that sent Rossy to the canvas. Chambers had Rossy in trouble but for some odd reason Chambers momenterily took his foot off the gas pedal but landed another big right and left at the bell.

The punch of choice were rights that were piston-like that continuously found a landing spot on Rossy’s face.

Rossy would mount some offense here and there as he basically lived on the ropes for the entire fight as he tried to dodge the artillery that Chambers was firing off. The fruits of Chambers work showed up as a cut started steaming down the right of Rossy in round nine.

Chambers gave two more big efforts as he sent Rossy to the ropes with big rights in round ten and rocked him once more as Rossy was able to make it to the final bell.

Chambers, 208 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 120-107; 117-110 and 115-112 to raise his record 36-2. Rossy, 237 1/2 lbs from Medford, NY is now 25-3.

Former U.S. Olympian Ricardo Williams dropped veteran and former world title challenger John Brown two times in the final round of their scheduled six round Welterweight bout before the bout was mercifully stopped at 1:37 of that final round.

Williams battered Brown all over the ring for five rounds of the bout that was never competitive. Brown was cut over his right eye as early as round one and the bout did not get any better for the Atlantic City native.

Williams, 147 1/2 lbs of Cincinnati, OH is now 17-2 with ten knockouts. Brown, 146 lbs of Atlantic City is now 24-19-2.

Thomas LaManna needed just fifty-one seconds to take out Anthony Williams in a scheduled four round Jr. Middleweight bout.

LaManna and Williams came out winging shots that pleased the crowd until LaManna drilled Williams into the ropes and on the canvas. When Williams got to his feet referee Randy Nuemann stopped the bout.

LaManna, 155 1/2 lbs of Milville, NJ is 1-0. Williams, 153 1/2 lbs of Wilson, NC is 0-3




Decarie dominates Alvarez in Montreal

Antonin Decarie scored a ten round unanimous decision over fringe contender Shamone Alvarez in a welterweight bout at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

Alvarez has some success early as he moved in and out and got through with some left hands. Decarie started taking over as early as round three has began to get through with some good right hands. In round five, Decarie sent Alvarez to the canvas with one of those sharp rights and again sent Alvarez down at the end of round eight eight. The plethora of right hands opened up a cut over the left eye of Alvarez. Alvarez was not much of a threat heading down the stretch as the native son Decarie performed well in his first major headlining appearance.

Decarie, 147 lbs of Laval, Canada won by scores of 99-89; 98-90; and 97-91 to raise his record to 25-1. Alvarez, 147 lbs of Atlantic City, NJ is now 21-4.

Jo Jo Dan scored a sixth round technical decision over former world champion Steve Forbed when a headbutt opened up a nasty cut over the left eye of Forbes.

Dan scored well with some decent shots while Forbes tried to work the body. In round six, Forbed came forward and two fighters clashed heads that opened up the cut and the fight was stopped.

Dan, 146 1/2 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 58-56 of all cards and is now 28-1. Forbes, 147 lbs of Detroit is 35-9.

Ghislum Maduma remained undefeated with a four round unanimous decision over Isaac Bejarano in a Lightweight bout.

Maduma dominated the action with an assortment of punches against a tough but overmateched Bejarano.

Maduma, 133 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 40-34; 40-36 to go to 3-0. Bejarano, 135 lbs of Ciudad, Mexico is now 9-9-1.




Cleverly to take on Brahmer in Light Heavyweight title clash on April 2

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that Nathan Cleverly will battle Juergan Brahemer for a Light Heavyweight belt on April 2nd at Wembley Arena in London.

“I’m delighted that I’ve been able to secure home advantage for Nathan,” said Frank Warren. “It wasn’t cheap to get Brahmer over here, but it will be worth it because I really believe in Nathan and he has a big future ahead of him. It looked like the fight was going to go to purse bids, but we made a substantial offer the night before and it was enough to persuade Brahmer to say yes.”

“Nathan has worked incredibly hard for this opportunity, and waited patiently to get his shot,” Warren said. “He’s getting this fight at exactly the right time, and it could be a massive moment in his career. This is a huge fight. Brahmer is a proven champion and belongs at elite level, while Cleverly is young and hungry and could be the next big thing in the UK. Don’t forget that light-heavyweight is a very sexy division right now.

“You’ve got Chad Dawson, Bernard Hopkins, Tavoris Cloud and Jean Pascal out there, and Nathan has the chance to make a name for himself both here and in the [United] States.”

“I always thought that I would get my shot at Brahmer,” Cleverly said. “There was talk that he might be stripped or would vacate the title, but I never wanted that to happen. He’s the champion and the only way I would consider myself a true champion is if I took the belt from him, rather than picking up the vacant title. I’m going to take the fight to Brahmer, walk through him and give him some serious punishment. I feel that this fight has come at the perfect time for me and I want to make a big statement.

“You only have to take a look at Brahmer’s record to realize just how dangerous he will be. He’s a genuine champion and a genuine talent, but I think I have enough in my armory to beat him. Before my last fight I was only sparring amateurs, but this time around I’ve got some big professional cruiserweights in and I’ve been knocking them out. I’m going to significantly better against Braehmer than I was against Mohammedi, and I’m predicting a spectacular performance.”




Morales to battle Maidana on April 9 HBO PPV card

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com former three time world champion Erik Morales will takes on Marcos Maidana to headline an HBO PPV card on April 9 in Las Vegas.

“I got the ‘Fight Freak’ card done,” Said Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, referring to the hardcore boxing fans he hopes to please with the lineup. “Everything is locked in.”

The other televised bouts on the show:

• Robert Guerrero, a former featherweight and junior lightweight titlist, and Australian action star Michael Katsidis will meet in the co-feature matching lightweight contenders.

• Middleweight Winky Wright will face Matthew Macklin of Great Britain in a previously announced bout.

• Junior middleweight James Kirkland, one of boxing’s hottest rising stars before his career was sidetracked by an 18-month prison stint, will open the card against an opponent to be named. Kirkland’s fight is contingent upon winning and not being injured in a fight scheduled for March 5, his first fight since being released from a halfway house where he recently completed his sentence.

“I can tell you what Erik Morales said to me, that he feels like this is an early Christmas present,” Schaefer said. “It’s really the fight he wants. He feels that he has the style to beat Maidana and he feels with Maidana, he is taking on the most dangerous 140-pounder. He said, ‘I don’t want to just do a fight. I want to do a fight where a win will take me back to where I was.’ I agree with Erik that a win against Maidana will do exactly that. Maidana is one of the most credible 140-pounders and an exciting fighter. Most people rank him third in the division [behind Timothy Bradley Jr. and Khan].”

“He and his father were begging us for this fight,” Schaefer said. “He did take some time off and there is a history of fighters who took time off and came back and did write another chapter in the career, and not only pick up where they left off but go to bigger heights.

“Erik has had three fights [on his comeback], not against the easiest opponents, but not against the toughest opponents. But that shows how serious he is about his comeback. Each opponent was a gradual step up and it allowed him to measure where he stands. I’m happy for him that we were able to deliver that early Christmas gift to him. Not many fighters would sign up to fight Maidana.”

“It’s one of the most exciting fights one can make in boxing and I’m really looking forward to it,” Schaefer said. “Helluva fight. The winner will come out as a major guy.”

When touching on the Wright-Macklin fight, Schaefer said “There’s a lot at stake for both guys,”

“James Kirkland will open up the show,” Schaefer said. “The plan is that we have James fighting on March 5 in a non-televised bout and then he’ll come back on April 9 on the opening bout of the pay-per-view.”