At the start of September Branco Milenkovic promoted a star studded bill in South Africa that contained two world titles fights & two world title eliminators. In one of the World title fights current IBF Flyweight champion Moruti “Babyface” Mthalane 26-2(17) made a successful first defence against compatriot Zolani Tete. Mthalane 27, hails from Johannesburg and is now a 10 year veteran of the ring. In the summer of 2008 he won an IBF title eliminator against the more experienced Hussein Hussein that win catapulted him into a title fight with Nonito Donaire. Despite putting up a good performance it wasn’t enough against Donaire who forced the stoppage on cuts in the sixth. Full credit to Mthalane after one more fight he once against challenged for the then vacant IBF title this time he wasn’t to be denied turning back Julio Cesar Miranda comfortably on points before his his recent defence against Tete. Now Mthalane wants a rematch with Miranda who since losing to Mthalane has won the WBO 112 crown. Perhaps a unification beckons.

Hello Moruti, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulation’s on your win over Zolani Tete, what can you tell us about the fight & how happy you were with the performance?

Moruti Mthalane – I was very happy with my performance. I always said, I will win the fight and although Tete is great prospect and was a puncher (13-0 11KO), he didn’t fought the same quality opponents as I did (Nonito Donaire, Julio Miranda, Hussein Hussein and ect).

Anson Wainwright – What can you tell us about your title winning performance against Miranda? How did it feel to become World Champion?

Moruti Mthalane – Going it that fight against Miranda, I known I have to win and this is my last chance. It felt really great!! Miranda is now WBO World Champion makes me even better as the man I beat is very credible fighter.

Anson Wainwright – Thought its early days any idea when you maybe back in action?

Moruti Mthalane – I hope to fight end of the year, or early in the New Year. I would like unification.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & Promoter? Also what gym do you use for training?

Moruti Mthalane – My trainer manager is Nick Durandt and the promoter of course Branco Milenkovic. The gym we using is “Durandt Boxing World”

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years in Johannesburg, were things tough? How did you first get involved in Boxing?

Moruti Mthalane – I’m originally from the cost city Durban. My older brother Innocent Mthalane was National Champion. I always had a dream to be national champion, and I never thought I would go far as IBF World Champion.

Anson Wainwright – You travelled to America and fought Nonito Donaire you lost when the fight was stopped on cuts in the sixth. What do you think of that fight looking back? How highly do you rate Donaire he’s now up at Super Flyweight and on Pound for Pound lists?

Moruti Mthalane – I was very unfortunate the way I lost first challenge for IBF Flyweight against Donaire in Las Vegas in November 2008. After losing first two rounds, I was getting on top of Donaire, but unfortunate cut at the beginning of round 6, have forced experience referee Cortez to stop the fight. I was very sad, and thought of giving up the boxing. I work hard over the years in order to challenge for Legitimate World Championship, and to lose on cut was very sad.

In the change room after Donaire fight, my promoter Branco Milenkovic promise me that he will work hard and get me another shot at the title with in one year. As always, Branco kept the promise and year later in November 2009 I challenged very experience fighter in Julio Miranda. I would love to fight Donaire again, but I don’t think he will be in hurry to give me a chance again.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the Flyweight division at the moment? There are several top fighters in Asia WBC Pongsaklek WBA Daiki Kameda plus Koki Kameda, Sakata & Naito what do you think of all those guys?

Moruti Mthalane – I would be very confident to take on any of those. I would not mind to give Miranda rematch, but now for both titles IBF and WBO.

Anson Wainwright – Away from Boxing what do you like to do with your time? What are your hobbies and interests?

Moruti Mthalane – I spend most of the time in the gym. Not only as a professional fighter, but I’m assisting executive clients in improving they health. I’m personal trainer for executives. The day is long and I don’t really go out – I spend any free time home reading, I love to read.

Anson Wainwright – If you weren’t a boxer what do you think you’d be doing?

Moruti Mthalane – I’m sure I will still be in Sport, maybe soccer player?!

Anson Wainwright – What has winning the title done for you? Has it raised your profile making you more popular in South Africa etc

Moruti Mthalane – With out doubt have changed my life! My family is very proud of me and the country as well. There weren’t many South African boxers who won Legitimate World Championships.

Anson Wainwright – What are your future goals in Boxing? Unification’s, fighting abroad move up to Super Flyweight?

Moruti Mthalane – For now I would like unification, but if opportunity comes to go division up and fight Donaire – I will take with both hands.

Thanks for your time Moruti.

Best Wishes

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT ON DEMAND
Another night of pro boxing at Bally’s Hotel Casino, another top notch Peltz Boxing card, and another packed house in Atlantic City with the North American Boxing Association
(NABA) Super Bantamweight Title up for grabs.

In the main event Philadelphia’s Teon “The Technician” Kennedy (16-0-1 6KOs) took on Alex “El Diablo” Becerra (20-9 9 KOs) out of El Paso, Texas for the vacated NABA title. The IBF #6 ranked Kennedy dominated right from the start with effective counterpunching and a defense Becerra could not find a way around. The young man from Philadelphia almost ended the bout in the second when he staggered his opponent with a right hand in round 2.

Round 5 saw The Technician taking command of the fight, he could not miss with the jab and scored effective power shots with both hands that had the gutty Texan reeling and caused notable swelling over both eyes. At the end of the tenth round, veteran referee Steve Smoger had seen enough and called it a night.

Hasson Tops Speller

The night’s co main event featured two Super Middleweight combatants from the fighting city of Philadelphia, Dennis “The Assassin “ Hasson (11-0 4 Kos) and Tommie “Big Papa” Speller (5-5 3 Kos) both fighters sported beards in the ring reminding me of a ZZ Top concert
.
After suffering a cut over the left eye in round 1, Hasson turned this into another one sided event, pounding combinations to Big Papa’s midsection. Speller’s facial expressions’ made it clear to anyone in attendance that he does not like getting hit to the body.
The Assassin scored at will in the later rounds and almost ended the fight with a right hand in round 6 before cruising to a unanimous decision win.

DeJesus draws with Hurd

Julio DeJesus (4-2-1 3 KOs) out of Franklinville, NJ and Linwood Hurd (2-2-4) of Atlantic City gave the fans a great show in a 4 round junior welterweight bout. In an action packed classic toe-to-toe battle they slugged it out in the center of the ring. One judge had it 40-36 in favor of DeJesus while the other two saw it 38-38 for the majority draw.

Wiggins stuns Sosa

In the upset of the evening Treysean Wiggins (2-0 2KOs) of Newburg, NY, stunned the crowd when the Southpaw sent Camden, NJ resident Jason Sosa (3-1-1 1 KO) to the canvas twice in the first round before sealing the deal with a crushing left hand. Referee Ricardo Vera stopped the contest at 2:02 of round 1.

Green decisions Beaton

In a clash of Jersey Shore lefthanders, Chris “Smooth Operator” Green (4-2 1 KO) sent greetings from Asbury Park to Toms River, New Jersey’s and native of Guyana Deroy Beaton in the form of a 39-37 unanimous decision on all three cards in the lightweight battle. Green used every bit of the 24 foot ring to potshot and move confounding Deroy who was unable to mount an offence.

Brown bests Hackett

In the opener, another all Philadelphia contest, Super Middleweights Gregg Hackett (0-3) won the early intimidation battle but lost the war to Rashad Brown making his professional début.

Hackett was saved by the bell as the newcomer had him laying on the ropes and looking vulnerable when time ended in the second round and seemed to save most of his aggression for between round jawing with the rookie Brown.

Rashad was unfazed by Hackett’s antics and won a 40-36 unanimous decision.

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

In an entertaining two way contest, Ramon Garcia retained the WBO Light Flyweight championship with a twelve round majority decision over Manuel Vargas in Tijuana, Mexico.

The traded some furious exchanges throughout the bout. Neither man was ever in serious trouble.

Scores were 115-113; 115-113 and 114-114.

The was some confusion as ring announcer Lupe Contreras inadvertently read the scores in favor of Vargas but he quickly caught himself and announced Garcia the winner.

Garcia, 108 lbs of La Paz, Mexico made the first defense of his crown and is now 14-1-1. Vargas, 108 lbs of Lagos De Moreno, Mexico is a former minimumweight champion and is now 28-601.

Former Jr. Lightweight champion Humberto Gutierrez scored a ten round unanimous decision over Rene Gonzalez.

Gutierrez was more effective as he pressed from the southpaw stance and won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92.

Gonzalez, 135 lbs of Los Mochis, Mexico is now 28-2-1. Gonzalez, 132 lbs of Managua, Nicaragua is now 27-3-1.

PHILADELPHIA (September 27, 2010)—On Friday night October 8th, former U.S. Olympian and undefeated Jr. Welterweight Rock Allen will be making his long awaited return to the ring when he competes in a six round co-feature on a big night of boxing that will take place at The Arena (Formally The New Alhambra) in South Philadelphia.

The show is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Joe Hand Promotions

In the main event, that will be televised all nationwide on Telefutura, Undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect Danny “Swift” Garcia (18-0, 12 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on former world title challenger, “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (22-6-2, 10 KO’s) of Atlantic City via Athens, Greece.

Allen of Philadelphia has compiled a perfect mark of 15-0 with seven knockouts.

This will be Allen’s second pro fight in his hometown and first since he scored a six round majority decision over Arthur Brambila on March 3, 2006. Allen’s opponent will be named shortly

The rest of this exciting card is filled with the top prospects in Philadelphia.

In a eight round Super Featherweight bout, Anthony Flores (9-1-1, 6 KO’s) of Philadelphia takes on an opponent to be named.

The always exciting Victor “The Barber” Vaszquez (11-4-1, 6 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Bryne Green (5-3, 3 KO’s) of Vineland, New Jersey in a Lightweight bout.

In a four round Lightweight bout, undefeated Wanzell Ellison (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Newark, NJ takes on an opponent to be named

In a four round Lightweight bout, Kareem Cooley (1-1) of Philadelphia battles Eilud Torres (3-1-2, 2KO’s) of Allentown, PA

In a four round Middleweight bout, Alex Sanchez (1-1, 1 KO) of Camden, NJ takes on Joe Dunn (0-1) of Philadelphia.

In a four round Lightweight bout, Angel Ocasio (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will see action against an opponent to be named.

Tickets for this memorable night of boxing are priced at $100; $65; and $45

Tickets for this great night of boxing can be purchased at:

The Arena (Formally The New Alhambra)
7 West Ritner Street
267-687-7560

Joe Hand Promotions
215-364-9000

Joe Hand Boxing Gym
215-271-4263

Eight years ago Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post’s longtime book critic, mentioned his policy about reviewing friends’ works. He doesn’t do it. He didn’t explain why, but his reasoning must reduce to a fear of losing readers, or friends. The policy struck me as too strict, then.

It still does. A disclaimer in the form of a disclosure should suffice for interested readers. To wit: Thomas Hauser is a friend and mentor of mine. He is also a colleague of sorts; next month a book we wrote together, “The Legend of Muhammad Ali,” will be published. There, now let’s get to it.

On Friday, Oct. 1, Hauser’s 2010 collection “Boxing Is . . .” (The University of Arkansas Press; $22.50) will go on sale. It is 270 pages of articles written about boxing in 2009. It comprises four self-explanatory sections – “Fights and Fighters”, “Curiosities”, “Issues and Answers” and “Non-Combatants” – and captures a year of prizefighting well as any of Hauser’s collections has.

Reading “Boxing Is . . .” subjects you to one theme more than others. Quiet validation. The articles, arranged as they are, validate one another much the way time has validated them since they were written.

After an opening biographical piece about Sugar Ray Robinson, Hauser profiles two New York prospects. The second such profile, about Danny Jacobs, bursts with confident proclamations from its subject and ends on a prophetic note from the author: “Time will tell.” It did, indeed, when Jacobs got comprehensively undone by an unknown Russian in July. But that’s not the crafty part.

Hauser’s craft comes through in the next article, the first of four dedicated to Manny Pacquiao. And that craft is juxtaposition. An American who has accomplished almost nothing while speaking brashly sits beside a Filipino who has accomplished almost everything while speaking modestly. Is that an accident?

I can’t imagine it. Hauser is meticulous – in the sense that he will never have to revisit his work and wonder what the hell he was thinking when he wrote something (or arranged it).

There are other points of subtle craft. Take this passage from an article about light-hitting Israeli Yuri Foreman:

“The English equivalent of ‘Yuri’ is ‘George.’ When it comes to punching power, George Foreman and Yuri Foreman are vastly different fighters.”

That’s a fun bit of miscellany, but it’s also worth reviewing. The more you play with those two sentences – rearranging them, eliminating surnames, trying pronouns – the more you see the author’s fingerprints; Hauser considered other deliveries before settling on the right one.

Another feature of Hauser’s writing this year, as in past years, is his exceptional access to fighters. In the prologue to a different book, due in November and for which Hauser provided text – “Box” by photographer Holger Keifel (Chronicle Books; $29.95) – Hauser shares the philosophy of access that brought him to prizefighting:

“But one can’t just walk into Yankee Stadium and talk with the New York Yankees. . . . Boxing, by contrast, is the most open of all sports. A fan can walk into virtually any gym in any city in the world and talk with the fighters who are training there.”

The boxer whose accessibility Hauser wisely makes the most of is Manny Pacquiao. Granted dressing-room passes before and after Pacquiao’s 2009 fights with Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, Hauser unfurls two of his last-word treatments of the matches. He complements these with two other articles, “Tina Meets Manny” and “Fighter of the Decade.” We now know Hauser intends to surround Pacquiao with eyewitness accounts the way he surrounded another iconic figure, Muhammad Ali. Don’t bet against him.

Especially if you’re a fellow writer. Hauser works within a different timeframe. Nowhere is this clearer than in a short tribute he does to Nathan Lee and La Mont Starks, two men who sit at a table outside MGM Grand’s media center every fight week.

That is, Hauser paused to chat with those two guys then wrote 500 words about Lee and Starks while the rest of us dashed past them to jockey for promoter-canned quotes.

But the most important contribution of “Boxing Is . . .” likely will be Hauser’s treatment of HBO. Along with offering a worthwhile thought experiment in boxing’s long-term prospects without the cable network, Hauser provides a 10-point manifesto for improving HBO’s coverage of our beloved sport.

By my count, five of those 10 recommendations have been addressed since Hauser confronted the president of HBO Sports directly. Three have been checked-off, and two have been considered.

More important, though, is the tone. In January of 2009, “Memorandum for Ross Greenburg” appeared at Hauser’s online home, SecondsOut.com. I later criticized the piece as “unnecessarily harsh and personal.” Well. I just reread the letter last week, and – to borrow Twain’s satire – I was astonished at how much Hauser had learned in 22 months.

Hauser’s ferocity in the 35 pages he devotes to HBO is one summoned from a love of boxing and well-hidden optimism. He genuinely thinks HBO can be improved if not fixed. His criticism has aged well.

Lastly are Hauser’s instructive features on two figures in the final section of “Boxing Is . . .” Seth Abraham, former president of HBO Sports, presents himself as a learned and content individual. And the late Arthur Curry, former manager of sports-talent relations at HBO, is presented as a heroic figure bringing contentment to others. An inquiry of Abrahams’ portrait – can I say this about my life? – and of Curry’s portrait – can others say this about my life? – provide two guideposts for good living.

Online, some of us don’t read Hauser’s serious pieces because they are long. Others don’t take his short pieces seriously because they’re under 5,000 words. Both problems are solved by revisiting him in book form. “Boxing Is . . .” belongs on your shelf because it encapsulates 2009, but buy it because you’ll enjoy the read.

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

RENO, NEVADA — Former junior middleweight titleholder Kassim Ouma scored a come from behind stoppage victory over Contender alum Joey Gilbert to announce his presence as a middleweight contender at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino on Saturday night. In a must-win fight for both, Ouma overcame a knockdown to quickly turn the fight in his favor and ultimately score the technical knockout to claim the vacant NABA Middleweight title.

Ouma (27-7-1, 17 KOs) of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States by way of Kampala, Uganda and Gilbert (20-3, 15 KOs) of Reno made the fight an inside fight at the outset. The style favored Gilbert, the harder puncher and bigger man. Gilbert smothered a fair amount of Ouma’s offense early on and flurried his opponent against the ropes to close a dominating opening round.

Gilbert, 160, landed a straight right counter that appeared to hurt Ouma, 158, in the second round. The former champion slowly picked up his work rate, and began to outwork Gilbert in some exchanges. There was great action late in the round, and it was Gilbert landing a few hard shots with Ouma against ropes to close the stanza.

Both fighters decided to stand and trade in the third. Ouma would land more often, but it was clearly Gilbert landing the harder shots. The fight continued to be fought on the inside through the third. By the sound of the bell, Gilbert’s face began to show the wear of Ouma’s continuous offense. Round four was the fight in microcosm. Gilbert continued to land a stiff straight right, but Ouma just kept his hands going, and was always coming forward.

In round five, Gilbert extended his apparent lead in the fight after landing with a grazing straight right that caught Ouma off balance, but counted as a knockdown. Ouma was clearly not hurt, and more or less tripped over his own feet, as Gilbert landed. Back-and-forth action closed out the round.

The fight, firmly in Gilbert’s grasp entering round six, quickly took a turn early in the round. Ouma came out of his corner on a mission, and forced Gilbert, cut and swollen, to the ropes with his aggression. With Gilbert covering up, Ouma unloaded with an unrelenting flurry until the Reno native fell to one knee. Undoubtedly ahead on the cards, despite the knockdown, Gilbert got to his feet, before signaling to referee Vic Drakulich that he could not continue. Shortly after the fight, Drakulich informed us ringside that Gilbert had told him he was seeing double.

Gilbert, who was immediately taken to a local hospital for observation, fought well, but ultimately wilted under Ouma’s pressure. Ouma, who claimed the WBA-affiliated NABA title, will likely see his name appear in that sanctioning body’s next rankings and should be in line for a meaningful fight not too far down the road. “I am going to stay at middleweight,” said the former IBF Light Middleweight Champion after the fight. “And I want that champion Felix Sturm. I am ready for it.” Felix Sturm, the reigning WBA Middleweight Champion, is a name that was mentioned by some of Ouma’s team in the aftermath of his victory last night.

Another fight on Ouma’s wish list is a shot at current IBF Light Middleweight Champion Cornelius Bundgrage. Bundrage scored a closely contested upset decision over Ouma back in 2008, before eventually taking the title from Cory Spinks. “Bundrage beat me, come on, put your belt on the line and I will fight you tomorrow,” Ouma told 15rounds.com. “I will crush him. It will not go six rounds like Gilbert.”

Super middleweight prospect Mark DeLuca returned to the ring, ending a two-year layoff with a second round knockout over Alex Rivera (2-4, 2 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada. DeLuca (7-0, 5 KOs) of Whitman, Massachusetts joined the Marine Corps shortly after his last bout, which also took place in Reno.

Southpaw DeLuca, 167, dropped Rivera, 165, with a one-two combination early in the second round. DeLuca landed a straight left and a couple more in follow-up to drop Rivera again seconds later. Rivera gamely got up to his feet, but another straight left counter ended it in emphatic fashion. Referee immediately waved off the fight with the official time of 2:02 of the second.

In a heated battle of Reno-based pro debutants, Nelson Lopez (1-0) earned a hard-fought shutout decision over Bubba Dupree (0-1). Dupree, 180, had the better boxing skills, but he was out-slugged by the relentless Lopez, 176, for most of the fight. A wild first round featured two-way action early. Late in the round, Lopez caught Dupree with a shot that forced him to the ropes. In the last minute Lopez continued to swing away at a dodging Dupree against the ropes. Dupree threw just enough punches and held just enough to not get stopped.

After a second round that was slow by comparison to the first, Lopez continued to land the cleaner punches, eventually dropping Dupree with a straight right. Dupree slumped to his knees, but made it up before referee Vic Drakulich finished his count. The fourth heated up early, with Dupree boxing well. But as was the case anytime Dupree got into a rhythm, Lopez answered back. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Lopez, 40-35 and 40-34 twice.

MMA

Jerel Clark (5-0, 1 KO, 3 Submissions) of Sparks, Nevada pleased his raucous supporters on hand with a second round submission over Jack Montgomery (9-9, 2 KOs, 7 Submissions) of Winnemucca, Nevada.

Montgomery, 170, was badly bloodied after taking a serious ground-and-pound beating for much of the first round. Clark, 170, maintained control of the fight in the second round, taking Montgomery to the ground. Eventually Clark forced a tapout with a rear naked choke at the time of 2:03 of the second.

Reno’s Joe Baros (3-5, 3 KOs) scored an explosive second-round knockout of Josh Rabedeaux (5-8, 1 Submission) of Phoenix, Arizona. Baros, 135, landed a swift high kick that landed clean on the head of Rabedeaux, 135, to procure the instant stoppage from referee Kim Winslow. Official time was 3:15 of the second round.

John O’Donnell (3-0, 2 KOs) of Fallon, Nevada scored a second-round knockout over John Corstorphine (6-4, 1 KO, 5 Submissions) of Sacramento, California in the night’s opener. O’Donnell, 171, punished Corstorphine, 173, with a vicious series of strikes on the ground. With Corstorphine unable to protect himself, referee Kim Winslow stopped the fight. Official time of the stoppage was 3:55 of round two.

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

New York, NY (September 25) – Two time world champion Joan “Little Tyson” Guzman makes his triumphant return to the squared circle Friday, November 5 against rugged Christopher “Kid Kayo” Fernandez in the ten round main event of “Uptown Showdown” from the Armory Track in New York, NY.

The card will be aired all throughout the US, Mexico and Puerto Rico on TeleFutura, as well as in Guzman’s native Dominican Republic.

Guzman, who lives and fights out of Brooklyn, NY, is 30-0-1 with 17 KO’s, and will make his debut at junior welterweight. With tremendous defensive abilities, world class boxing skills and outstanding quickness, the former super bantamweight and junior lightweight titleholder is recognized amongst the most gifted pugilists on the planet. In his most recent bout, Guzman outpointed well regarded Ali Funeka over twelve rounds to avenge a previous draw.

Having shared the squared circle with elite fighters in Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi, the Salt Lake City, UT based Fernandez is an experienced veteran who never backs down from a challenge. At 18-10-1 (11 KO’s), Fernandez is a respected power puncher with a never say die attitude.

“I know Chris is going to be a tough opponent but I feel very comfortable fighting at 140 lbs,” said Guzman, who has victories over world champions Humberto Soto, Jorge Barrios and Javier Jauregui among others. “There are a lot of great fighters in this weight class and I am ready to prove that I am still one of the best out there!”

In the televised co-feature, featherweight Salvador Sanchez II, 19-4-2 (9 KO’s), of Tianguistenco, Mexico will battle an opponent to be announced in a six round bout.

The nephew of the boxing great whom he shares a name with, Sanchez is quickly building a strong reputation amongst fight fans worldwide.

Slated to appear on the undercard in separate bouts are USBA Junior Lightweight titleholder Argenis Mendez, four time US Amateur champion Roberto Benitez and Shamir Reyes of Brooklyn, Queens, NY’s Jose Guzman, former women’s titlist Eileen Olszewski and debuting Armin Mrkanovic.

Tickets start at an economic friendly $25 and exclusive VIP tables are also available by calling 212-679-2461.

The Armory Track is located at 216 Ft. Washington Ave New York, NY 10032 and Doors open at 6:30 pm. The opening bell is slated for 7:00.

The card is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.

RENO, NEVADA — In an intriguing crossroads bout, Joey Gilbert will attempt to leap back into contention while defending his home turf against former titleholder Kassim Ouma at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino tonight. Their regional title clash headlines “Reno Xtreme Fights VI,” an evening of boxing and mixed martial arts. Fighters weighed in Friday at the casino’s Xtreme Sports Bar & Lounge.

Gilbert (20-2, 15 KOs) was a ranked middleweight by two of the major sanctioning organizations heading into a fight at this same venue three years ago. Despite scoring a quick knockout that evening, Gilbert would lose those rankings after his Nevada State Athletic Commission conducted post-fight drug test revealed the presence of banned substances. After a lengthy legal battle, Gilbert was cleared of all but one positive, which resulted in a one-year suspension. It has taken him three years, but Joey Gilbert finds himself one win away from making up for lost time and likely finding himself at the doorstep of a major fight.

Standing in Gilbert’s way is the most accomplished foe he has ever faced, in former IBF Light Middleweight Champion Ouma (26-7-1, 16 KOs) of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States by way of Kampala, Uganda. Ouma has dropped five of his last six fights, but two were split decisions and the last was a controversial defeat suffered at the hands of rising contender Vanes Martirosyan earlier this year. Ouma will also be stepping up to the middleweight division for only the second time in his pro career.

Both of these fighters, Ouma especially, are known to have a high work rates and solid chins. Considering their styles, this fight could turn out to be a corker, especially if Gilbert decides to utilize his size and strength advantage while standing his ground. The term “must win” is an often overused expression, but it applies to tonight’s fight. The winner of the bout will claim the vacant NABA Middleweight title, which is affiliated with the WBA. The new champion will likely see their name listed among the top fifteen middleweight contenders when the next WBA rankings are released. Gilbert weighed in at 160, while Ouma came in at 158.

In undercard action, super middleweight prospect Mark DeLuca returns to the ring after having joined the Marine Corps in 2008. DeLuca (6-0, 4 KOs) of Whitman, Massachusetts has not fought since scoring a first round knockout in Reno in June of 2008. Opposing DeLuca will be Alex Rivera (2-3, 2 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada in a four-round bout. DeLuca weighed in at 167-pounds, while Rivera came in at 165.

In a pairing of pro debutants, Bubba Dupree of Reno will take on Nelson Lopez, also of Reno, in a four-round light heavyweight fight. Dupree came in at 180-pounds, while Lopez scaled 176.

Mixed martial arts action will include a battle of locals, as Jerel Clark (4-0, 1 KO, 2 Submissions) of Reno will take on Jack Montgomery (9-8, 2 KOs, 7 Submissions) of Winnemucca, Nevada in a three-round middleweight fight. Both fighters weighed in at 170-pounds.

In the another MMA bout, Reno’s Joe Baros (2-5, 2 KOs) will take Josh Rabedeaux (5-8, 1 Submission) of Phoenix, Arizona in a three-round bantamweight fight. Baros scaled 135, as did Rabedeaux.

A late addition to the card, John O’Donnell (2-0, 1 KO) of Fallon, Nevada will take on John Corstorphine (6-3, 1 KO, 5 Submissions) of Sacramento, California in a three-round welterweight fight. O’Donnell came in at 171-pounds, while Corstorphine weighed in at 173.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Let’s Get It On Promotions, are available online at GrandSierraResort.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

NABA Middleweight Championship, 10 Rounds
Gilbert 160
Ouma 158

Super Middleweights, 4 Rounds
DeLuca 167
Rivera 165

Light Heavyweights, 4 Rounds
Dupree 180
Lopez 176

MMA Weigh-in Results:

Middleweights, 3 Rounds
Clark 170
Montgomery 170

Bantamweights, 3 Rounds
Baros 135
Rabedeaux 135

Welterweights, 3 Rounds
O’Donnell 171
Corstorphine 173

Photos by Mike Searson/Examiner.com

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

The fight poster for Boxing 360’s promotional debut featured Ronson Frank, Amanda Serrano, Lennox Allen and Tommy Rainone. Frank spent the evening as a spectator. The other three weren’t on hand and had fights fall out for various reasons.

In the case of Frank, a counter punching light heavyweight, his opponent Anthony Ferrante scaled in at 180 lbs; 4 over the contracted limit. According to the Brooklyn based prospect, his attempts to make the fight happen were unsuccessful.

“Initially, we offered him the fight at 178 lbs, but he refused and wanted the fight 175 lbs,” stated Frank. “We agreed (to fight at) 176 lbs, I made the weight and he came in at 180 lbs. He refused to try and make the weight and only when I threatened to walk out he made a half a** effort (when he re weighed in) and lost two ounces. We tried to renegotiate so (Ferrante) could weigh in (on fight night) at 182 but he took off and left town.”

But as they say, the show must go on.

Although there were only four bouts last night at the upscale Plattduetsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square, New York, props must go out to Director Bob Duffy for salvaging the card from getting TKO’ed. In addition, this writer can claim to have seen one of the most interesting but yet embarrassing knockouts in history (more on that later).

In the evening’s main event, dynamite fisted cruiserweight Josh “The Juice” Harris overcame a slow start to defeat gritty Kamarah Pasley. Harris was making his debut under the Boxing 360 banner and struggled to let his hands go on a consistent basis during the first few rounds as Pasley was the busier fighter.

Harris picked up the pace in the fifth round, landing a number of vicious hooks to the head while Pasley picked his spots with jabs and right hands. With his confidence beginning to grow, Harris decked Pasley with an enormous right hook that looked as if it were going to end the night in the sixth. Pasley, who hit the canvas like a fighter who wasn’t going to recover, impressively made it back to his feet en route to being saved by the bell seconds later. Harris continued to throw hard hooks at his game opponent during the next two rounds en route to taking a competitive decision.

Scores were 76-75 twice and 78-73. 15rounds scored the contest 77-74 for Harris.

“I should have been a bit calmer in the ring,” said Harris, who spent most of the eight rounds working off of hard hooks. “I made a few mistakes and am going to work on putting together combinations (in future bouts).”

Harris of Providence, RI by way of Youngstown, OH, improves to 7-3-1 with 5 KO’s. Pasley, who hails from the fighting city of Philadelphia, PA, is now 5-5 (2 KO’s).

The co-featured bout of the evening pitted unbeaten welterweight Issouf Kinda against tougher than advertised Noel Garcia in an eight round affair.

Kinda, a rangy boxer with a good jab and respectable straight right hand, controlled the action and buzzed Garcia on a few occasions. Garcia had minor success in close quarters, but was unable to land the more telling blows. The Springfield, MA based fighter started to tire in the fifth round, where he lost a point for holding and hitting. Kinda dominated the next stanza and a stoppage appeared likely; this was until a grotesque headbutt in the seventh caused blood to stream from Garcia’s left eye, halting the contest one round early.

All three judges and 15rounds awarded Kinda the bout via technical decision by the score of 70-62.

Kinda, of New York via West Africa, is a perfect 9-0 with 4 wins by knockout. Garcia, who is trained by boxing lifer and former title contender John “Iceman Scully” returns to Springfield, MA 2-6-1 (1 KO).

Junior welterweight Mike Brooks of Freeport, NY upped his record to 2-0 (1 KO) following a one sided UD over Toledo, OH’s Calvin Pritchard. The crowd favorite controlled the action from bell to bell, outworking his taller opponent with a strong body attack in close range.

All three judges scored the bout 39-37.

Brooks is now 2-0 (1 KO). Pritchard slides to 0-2-2.

Newark, NJ junior middleweight Thomas Baldwin improved to 2-0-1 (1 KO) after scoring an embarrassing third round knockout of Rameil Shelton. Baldwin beat his opponent to the punch during the first two rounds, which led up to one of the most humorous endings ever.

In the third, Shelton literally turned away from Baldwin to shout an expletive at a ringside heckler. His moronic decision to let the crowd get in his head was a major no no. Before he could continue his verbal assault, Baldwin shut his lights out with a huge right hand.

Time of stoppage was 1:50.

“I was completely in shock (to see him do that),” Baldwin said after his victory. “Of course I was going to take advantage, but it was only a matter of time (until the fight ended) anyways.”

Shelton heads back to Providence, RI at 0-2 following the humiliating defeat.

Boxing 360’s next card is slated for November.

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
Teon Kennedy 122…….Alex Becerra 120
(for vacant NABA super bantamweight title)
Tommie Speller 166 1/2……….Dennis Hasson 167 1/2
Dillet Frederick 143………….Ronald Cruz 145
Treysean Wiggins 142 1/2…..Jason Sosa 138 1/2
Chris Green 134 1/2…….Deroy Beaton 137 1/2
Julio DeJesus 138…..Linwood Hurd 138 1/2
Rashad Brown 163…..Greg Hackett 166 1/2

First bout 7.30
Grand Ballroom Bally’s Atlantic City, NJ
Tickets $50 & $75
Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc.

NEW YORK (Sept. 24, 2010)–The Group Stage 3 matchups in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, the unprecedented boxing tournament from SHOWTIME Sports® featuring the world’s best super middleweights, have been rescheduled for November 27, it was announced today by Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager for sports programming on the network.

The matchup between breakout American stars and friends, Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, will headline the SHOWTIME® telecast on Saturday, Nov. 27, live at 9p.m. ET/PT. Ward vs. Dirrell, one of the most talked about matchups of the year, will be contested for Ward’s WBA championship and the newly vacated WBC belt, adding yet another dramatic layer to an already captivating fight.

Ward has already locked up his Semifinal berth, but will be protecting his title and undefeated professional record. Dirrell, conversely, needs a win to guarantee his place in the Semis. Dirrell conceivably could get in with two points but he would need help from fellow tournament competitors.

On the same night, Saturday, Nov. 27 from Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland, Arthur Abraham will meet former WBC titlist Carl Froch for their pivotal Group Stage 3 fight. Promoters Kalle Sauerland and Mick Hennessy are working with the Hartwell Areena to finalize details for the event. This bout, matching arguably the two toughest and most aggressive punchers in the Super Six, has been rescheduled from Oct. 2 due to a back injury to Froch.

Allan Green, whose Group Stage 3 bout with Mikkel Kessler was waylaid when Kessler withdrew from competition with an eye injury, has left the perennial contender without an opponent. A decision on Green’s Group Stage 3 bout is expected in the coming days.

The third and final Group Stage will complete the round-robin portion of the tournament and determine the four fighters who will advance to the single-elimination Semifinals. Through the first two Stages, the WBA world champion Ward is the only fighter to have secured a berth in the Semis. No fighter has been eliminated from contention creating a virtual win-or-go-home scenario for each of the men.

Hershman said, “We have asked these fighters to challenge themselves against the best fighters in the world; not in one mega-fight, but in a consecutive series of career defining fights. Injuries and delays are inevitable. However, each one of them has accepted the challenge and brought a level of intensity to the ring that, in my estimation, is unmatched in all of sports.

“We are still on pace to complete the tournament in 2011, at which time we will have delivered to boxing fans around the world a number of the most compelling and meaningful matches in the sport.

“So, the drama continues with all the fighters still alive heading to Group Stage 3. I couldn’t have scripted this any better.”

SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC SCOREBOARD (Through Group Stage 2)

Record Fighter Points

2-0 Andre Ward 4

1-1 Arthur Abraham 3

1-1 Carl Froch 2

1-1 Andre Dirrell 2

0-1 Allan Green 0

For more information on the Super Six World Boxing Classic including exclusive photos, fight highlights and interviews, plus to view all episodes of the acclaimed documentary series FIGHT CAMP 360°: Inside The Super Six World Boxing Classic, please visit the website at www.WorldBoxingClassic.com

ABOUT SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC

The inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic is a ground-breaking, six-fighter tournament from SHOWTIME Sports® featuring the class of the super middleweight (168-pound) division from around the world. All bouts in the Super Six tournament will be contested under the Unified Rules of Boxing. Each boxer fights three bouts against different opponents in the field in the points-based Group Stage of competition (Win – 2 pts with a 1-pt bonus for KO/TKO; Loss – 0 pts; Draw – 1 pt.). After the Group Stage, the four fighters with the highest point totals will advance to the single-elimination Semi-Finals. The winners of the Semi-Final bouts will advance to the Finals and fight for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution which recently launched SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

The last month has been about Floyd Mayweather Jr,’s arrest and racist rant, Ricky Hatton’s trip to rehab after looking like a drug cartel’s favorite customer and another lawsuit in the Golden Boy-Top Rank war-without-end.

I didn’t mention Sergio Mora-Shane Mosley. I didn’t see it. I fell asleep.

When I woke up, I was tempted to look for the closest exit. Then, November appeared without a turkey on the calendar.

It begins on Nov. 6 with the rescheduled Juan Manuel Lopez-versus-Rafael Marquez bout at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, followed by Antonio Margarito-Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 beneath the Jerrytron at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, then Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez II on Nov. 20 at Atlantic City and Juan Manuel Marquez-Michael Katsidis, also at Vegas’ MGM.

If that’s not enough, the banquet continues on Dec. 11 with Amir Kahn-Marcos Maidana at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay.

The sudden sequence of compelling fights, a timely relief to mounting frustration, is also a timely reminder of the game’s inexhaustible quality. Resiliency defines the business, keeps it in business, a lot like the Mickey Ward or Aruro Gatti or Michael Carbajal or any of the other stubborn legends who got up from knockdowns and came back from defeat. .

Make no mistake, nothing in November will mend the damage left by the fractious and failed negotiations for Pacquiao-Mayweather. That’s the one fight that could push the sport off the fringe and back into the mainstream for a few days or maybe a week. But it wouldn’t have won over casual fans or newspaper editors who have never liked it anyway. They would have gone back to ignoring it altogether.

Pacquiao-Mayweather might still happen one day, although reasons for doubt lurk in the four felony counts facing Mayweather, who also was charged with four misdemeanors more than a week ago and within days of a racist video directed at Pacquiao. Meanwhile, an apparent political career is just beginning for Filipino Congressman Pacquiao. Elements are falling into place for a change, which was also evident Saturday in 39-year-old Mosley, whose age seemed to be as much of an opponent as Mora in a dull draw.

The good news about November is that the business can move past Pacquiao-Mayweather, which has been sucking the wind out the sport for all of this year and some of last. The new guard is there, poised to step into the vacuum with a restoration of punches and promise instead of criminal charges and lawsuits.

Martinez promoter Lou DiBella said it best Thursday during the formal announcement of the rematch with Williams.

“We’re fading as an industry,’’ DiBella said. “There are some days I wake up and wonder if the sport is going to be around five years from now. This is the kind of fight the sport needs.”

This is the kind of month it needs, a November which is an appropriate time to say thanks for resiliency that so far has always been there.

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was at the Palm West in New York City to capture the images from the press conference to announce world Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez November 20th title defense against Paul Williams in a rematch of their thrilling fight in December. The bout will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City

On Thursday, in the heart of New York City’s Chinatown, Dino Duva and his business partners held a press conference to promote the Oct. 1 “Empires Collide” amateur boxing fight card between Team USA and China at Capitale in Chinatown.

In attendance were Chinese Olympian’s Zhang Jianting and super heavyweight Olympic silver medalist Zhang Zhilei. The 114 lb. prospect Miguel Cartagena representative of Team USA.

15Rounds.com was present at the press conference and had an opportunity to participate in a conversation with Dino Duva in which he spoke about the upcoming event and boxing in China.

— Duva said he has traveled to China fourteen times since the Beijing Olympics in 2008, where he has developed a working relationship with the Chinese Boxing Federation.

— According to Duva, the success of the 2008 Chinese Olympic Boxing Team, who scored four medals in while competing in their home country, has inspired a new wave of Chinese interest in the sport of boxing. Further, the Chinese government has invested more money into the sport.

— With regards to the amateur boxing system in China, Duva explained that each Cinese province has their own boxing team, with a designated boxing coach. As the fighters travel to the United States, various provincial coaches have accompanied their fighters.

— Duva said the October 1st fight card will feature thirteen bouts, three of them being female matches, since women’s boxing will now be included in the Olympics, starting with London in 2012.

Tickets for “Empire Collide” are priced at $120 for ringside, $70 for reserved, and $25 for standing room/general admission. The reserved and ringside seats include two complimentary beverages. They may be ordered by calling 973-291-4529 or by email at tickets@empirescollide.com. For more information, fans can go to EmpiresCollide.com. Special VIP and sponsor packages are also available.

On Thursday, Goossen Tutor Promotions and DiBella Entertainment held a press conference in New York City to promote the Nov. 20 rematch between Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez and Paul “The Punisher” Williams. The bout will take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey at Boardwalk Hall and is hosted by Caesars Atlantic City.

15Rounds.com was there to cover the press conference. Notes & quotes below.

Sergio Martinez:

— At the beginning of the press conference, Martinez was awarded the Ring Magazine middleweight championship belt.

— Martinez said, “Nobody wants to fight Paul Williams and nobody wants to fight “Maravilla” Martinez, so we have no choice but to fight each other.”

— “What we did the first time, I want to do it again,” Martinez said with regards to the excitement the first fight brought. “I want this fight to be a reflection of my career in the ring.”

— With regards to violence against women, Martinez said, “I love my mother and I want everyone to respect women. Every time I have a camera or microphone, I will always say to stop the violence.” Martinez has clearly taken this issue to heart and it is not the first time he has spoken out about the issue. Following the Edwin Valero tragedy, Martinez immediately spoke out calling for the need to treat all women with respect.

Paul Williams:

— “Exchanges aren’t [necessarily] good for me, but they are for the fans,” Williams said.

— Williams mentioned that in the first with Martinez he wasn’t prepared for all the lateral movement and the quickness. He said all the talk was “Pavlik, Pavlik, Pavlik” and he was preparing for someone to stand right in front of him. This time around, he is sparring with boxers that mirror “Maravilla’s” style.

— With regards to his weight, Williams said the losing weight and getting to 147 lbs. in the future would not be a problem. He also noted that depending on the purse size, money is the ultimate motivator if he needs to lose weight.

— A reporter asked Williams if he were to lose this fight, would a trilogy be in the works? Williams’ answer: “Most definitely.”

George Peterson, trainer of Paul Williams:

— Peterson said the he doesn’t believe Williams will ever step into the ring with either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, but noted that Pacquiao would be the more likely of the two fighters if a fight with Williams ever comes to fruition.

Information:

Martinez enters the fight as the WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight champion and sports a record of 45-2-2, with 24 KOs. Williams enters the rematch with a 39-1 record with 27 KOs.

Tickets for the event are priced at $400, $200, $100, and $50 and go on sale Friday, September 24. Tickets can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at Ticketmaster.com

Photos by Claudia Bocanegra

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
Teon “The Technician” Kennedy (15-0-1 6 KOs) of North Philadelphia, PA looks to improve on his undefeated record while Alex “The Diablo” Becerra (20-8 9 KO’s) out of the West Texas town of El Paso will try to regain the form that propelled him to a 17-2 pro start as they headline this Saturday’s card from Bally’s Grand Ballroom in Atlantic City, NJ.

The scheduled 12 rounder for the vacant NABA title will cap a 7 bout card that begins at 7:30 and can be seen worldwide on gofightlive.tv.

Kennedy, ranked sixth in the world by The International Boxing Federation (IBF), is no stranger to Bally’s. The 2004 National Golden Gloves Champion has victories over Lucian Gonzalez and Jose Angel Berranza and drew with Lante Addy at the same venue where he will lace up Saturday evening. The scrappy Philadelphian also holds The United States Boxing Association (USBA) super bantamweight title.

The card also features two more sons of the City of Brotherly Love, Dennis Hasson (10-0 3) and Tommie Speller (5-4 3 KOs), who square in the 8 round super middle weight co-feature.
In what some people think is the best match up of the evening, Ronald Cruz (9-0 6KOs) of Bethlehem, PA takes on Dillet Fredrick (7-3-3 4KOs) out of Fort Meyers, FL in a 6 round light welterweight matchup.

New Jerseyans Chris Green of Asbury Park and meets Toms Rivers’ Deroy Beaton in a four round lightweight contest, while Atlantic City’s very own Lindwood Hurd battles Millville’s Julio Dejesus. Camden’s Jason Sosa is also appearing on the card.

Monday, Sept. 27, at 12:30 p.m. CT at Scottrade Center in St. Louis

WHO: Football Legend/Unbeaten MMA Fighter Herschel Walker

Legendary Superstar And Former Olympian Dan Henderson

Former STRIKEFORCE World Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral

Talented St. Louis Native Jesse Finney

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 27, 2010

Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. CT

Press Conference will begin at 1 p.m. CT

WHERE: Scottrade Center (main lobby)

1401 Clark Avenue

St Louis, MO 63103

WHAT: The fighters will participate in a press conference on Monday, Sept. 27, to announce the mega-STRIKEFORCE event on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The press conference is open to the public. An autograph signing session for fans will take place immediately following the press conference formalities.

The 48-year-old Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time NFL Pro Bowl competitor, is undefeated at 1-0 in his latest athletic endeavor – MMA. A 1999 College Hall of Fame inductee who was selected to Sports Illustrated’s NCAA All-Century Team that year, the 6-foot-1, 220 pound Walker already holds a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and boasts additional training in the combat disciplines of Muay Thai and Kenpo.

A two-time U.S. Olympic wrestling team member (’92, ’96), Henderson is the only fighter in the sport’s history to simultaneously hold two different titles in two different weight classes (welterweight and heavyweight) for a major fight promotion (PRIDE Fighting Championships). A former UFC star, Henderson is one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history.

Sobral, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, is coming off a unanimous decision victory over knockout artist Robbie Lawler last June 16 at STRIKEFORCE: Los Angeles.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former world Super Bantamweight champion Celestino caballero will make his first appearance at Jr. Lightweight when he takes on perennial contender Jason Litzau on November 27th in Las Vegas underneath the world Lightweight championship between Juan Manuel Marquez and Michael Katsidis

Details are also being worked out to add welterweight titlist Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KOs) in a mandatory defense against Selcuk Aydin (20-0, 15 KOs) to the card, promoter Lou DiBella, who promotes Caballero and Berto, told ESPN.com.

DiBella said he and Aydin co-promoter Don King are getting closer on the money. If they make a deal, then HBO will expand the card to a tripleheader.

“Caballero is moving up because he basically has to,” DiBella said of the 5-foot-11 Caballero. “He’s outgrown the 122-pound weight class. At 126, he is unquestionably being avoided. If we could have worked out suitable opposition we could have made a reasonable deal, and he would have stayed at 126. It didn’t happen.”

“We had been kicking around Litzau as a possibility if Caballero had to move up again,” DiBella said. “When it became clear there wasn’t an alternative HBO liked better, we did it. Caballero wanted to fight a name, somebody people have heard of and Litzau is that guy. He’s coming off maybe the best win of his career against Juarez. So Caballero is making a statement — he was the best 122, one of the best 126 and now he’s willing to go to 130 to fight a real guy for TV. He believes he is the best and will do what is necessary to prove it.

“I think it’s an excellent matchup,” Wirt said. “Litzau always come to fight. A lot of people wrote Litzau off, but he stood up to the plate and delivered in the Juarez fight and now we’re planning on another upset.”

This Saturday European Champion John Murray 29-0(17) will make the first defence of his title against grizzled veteran Andriy Kudriavtsev 34-7(15). It wont be an easy for Murray 25, Kudriavtsev started out his career with 5 loses in his first 9 fights and has turned his career around since a bad start to his career. Manchester based Murray will be looking to do something that only former world champion Paulus Moses has so far achieved in stopping the tough Ukrainian. He hopes that if he can take care of business and extend the longest unbeaten current run in British Boxing that he can get a world title fight in the next 12 months. Currently Murray is WBC 3# & WBO 9#.

Hello John, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – This weekend you make the first defence of your European title against Andriy Kudriavtsev what do you know about him? How good do you think he is?

John Murray – I think he’s very good, I watched plenty of tapes and DVD’s on him. Yeah he’s a good fighter. He’s very good at what he does. He throws good bodyshots and he’s very strong. So I’ve got to make sure I’m at my very peak condition, which I have done. I’ve had a great training camp and looking forward to the fight more than anything.

Anson Wainwright – How do you see the fight going?

John Murray – I think he’s going to be competitive early but as the fight wears on my extra level in class should take over and I’m thinking I’ll stop him him around the mid round rounds. Round 8.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about the training you have done for this fight? How long you have been in camp, what sort of things you concentrated on?

John Murray – I’ve had a good 10 week camp. It’s gone really well it’s been one of the best I’ve had in two or three years. I’ve had good quality sparring with my stable mate Anthony Crolla (An 18-2(6) Super Featherweight who’s in training for an English title fight on 2 October against Andy Morris) he’s at our gym. It’s gone well and I’m looking forward to the fight. We used the normal routine. We got a set plan, set structure we use everytime. We’re expecting a really good performance from myself.

Anson Wainwright – In your last fight you won the vacant European title against Gary Buckland stopping him in eleven. What can you tell us about that fight? Looking at that fight how happy were you with that performance?

John Murray – Yeah i was very happy. That fight i only had 3 weeks notice so you know i had to cram a lot of work into them 3 weeks to get myself in shape in time. I went in there, it was a bit rushed (The training) but on the night i broke Gary down steadily over the 11 rounds and considering the late notice it was a very good performance.

Anson Wainwright- How easily do you make Lightweight?

John Murray – I make weight easily. I think i showed that last time. Considering i had 3 weeks i was down on weight and over the 11 rounds i showed how strong i am.

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

John Murray – I’m managed by Michael Marsden from up Leeds way. My trainer is Joe Gallagher and i’m currently promoted by Mick Hennessy.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career?

John Murray – I only had 24 amateur fights i was 16-8. It was a very short amateur career the first year i went to the school boy final. In the second year i went to the Junior ABA final and in the third year i went to the North West finals of the ABA’s i also boxed for England twice.

Anson Wainwright – Though you obviously don’t want to look past this fight what are your targets for the next 6months to a year?

John Murray – I think i’m knocking on the door for the world title shot. The WBC have me at number 3 now. So it wont be long before i get my chance. I just have to take care of business Saturday and you know after that hopefully i’ll get a world title shot and i’m sure i’ll bring it home.

Anson Wainwright – There is a bit of rivalry between yourself and Kevin Mitchell and Amir Khan what are your thoughts on them and a fight with them?

John Murray – I think me and Khan would be a massive fight down the line. I think Kevin after losing to Katsidis is looking to rebuild. You know down the line maybe we could get it on.

Anson Wainwright – You’ve been a pro now for 7 years and had 30 fights after this one, how far from a World title do you think you are?

John Murray – I’d like to be a world champion in the next twelve months. I don’t know any reason why I can’t be. I’ve just got to make sure I do a good job Saturday. And after this fight I’m going to hopefully be fighting for a world title or one of the big names & get myself a title eliminator. I’m really excited about the next 12 months.

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing what do you like to do with your time? What are your hobbies and interests?

John Murray – I just like to chill out really. I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend we go for meals and stuff like that. I enjoy going to the pictures or me and Joseph (younger brother) will go play some pool. When I’m not training I go for a drink with my mates.

Anson Wainwright – You just mentioned your younger brother Joe, he was a very successful amateur fighting in the Worlds and Olympic games. How he doing at the moment?

John Murray – Yeah he’s fighting on the undercard of my fight on Saturday. He’s looking razor sharp in the gym at the minute. So I’m sure he’s going to be spectacular Saturday night.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the Lightweight division at the moment?

John Murray – I think the Lightweight division on the world stage is wide open. You know it’s there for the taking. If I can get myself in a fight with Marquez or Katsidis I’ll takeover and become the dominant figure in the Lightweight division.

Anson Wainwright – Who do you think will win when Marquez fights Katsidis?

John Murray -I think Marquez will win it, I think he’s a bit to cute, a bit to clever for Katsidis.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a message for the Kudriavtsev and the Lightweight division in general?

John Murray – I’m just working hard, training hard and coming for a world title. I’m looking at fighting for a world title in the next 12 months and I’m sure I’m going to bring it home.

Thanks for your time John, good luck on Saturday.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.

CLICK TO ORDER HIS FIGHT

Watch Teon Kennedy in Sports  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

The powerful rags to riches story of Kassim Ouma has been well publicized in print, television and most notably in a documentary feature film. Kidnapped at the age of six to be part of the National Resistance Army in Uganda, Ouma beat immeasurable odds to realize his dream of becoming a world champion at 25. Now a veteran 31-year-old, five years removed from his title reign, Ouma has set out to realize the dream a second time. His journey begins Saturday night, in an important crossroads bout against Joey Gilbert at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada.

If one were to take a quick look at the official ledger of Ouma (26-7-1, 16 KOs) of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida by way of Kampala, Uganda, they may think he is a fighter on the decline. Ouma has dropped five of his last six contests and has not won a meaningful fight in over four years. But if you were to look a little deeper, you would notice that there is more to that story.

The first of those five losses was suffered at the hands of Jermain Taylor, who was defending his unified middleweight title. Ouma was coming up in weight, having never fought as a 160-pounder before, and was more or less overpowered by a larger, skilled fighter. “As you can see, since I fought Taylor he has been getting knocked down,” Ouma points out. “He has not been the same.”

Ouma’s next three losses take a little more explaining. Ouma at his best probably does not lose to Saul Roman or Gabriel Rosado, which he did in split decisions in 2007 and 2009 respectively. In his first fight after the loss to Roman, Ouma was upset by then-lightly regarded Cornelius Bundrage, who went on to claim a title from Cory Spinks earlier this year. “There were some fights that maybe I should have won, but maybe I was not prepared,” admits Ouma. “But now I am ready to do it again.”

Exhibit A that Ouma is in fact ready to do it again would be his last performance, a controversial decision defeat suffered at the hands of rising contender Vanes Martirosyan this past January. Ouma downed Martirosyan in round nine and it was the belief of many sitting ringside and watching on television that he deserved the nod on the scorecards. However, the judges gave him little credit and scored the fight wide for Martirosyan. “I have fights that I did not really lose, they were just controversial,” explains Ouma. “I don’t think they really beat me.”

For the fight against Martirosyan, his best performance in years, Ouma was trained by former world champion Livingstone Bramble, who is not training him for this fight. “We didn’t get along,” Ouma explains simply. “He was a good trainer, but we just couldn’t get along. I am with a different trainer, a different gym.” Ouma trained for this fight under the guidance of respected trainer Ruben Castanon out of the Capital Punishment Boxing Club in Riverside, California.

For this fight against Gilbert, Ouma is moving back up to the 160-pound middleweight division. The change seems to be a result of circumstance more so than a plotted path for the former IBF Light Middleweight Champion. “I was looking for fights all over everywhere,” says Ouma frustratingly. “I could not get nobody to give me a fight. Thanks to Joey for giving me this fight. This fight is big. If I win, I have decided that I am going to stay middleweight.” While making weight is not likely to be much of an issue for the career junior middleweight, Ouma did not alter his training regimen based on the elevated weight class. “It does not change my preparation,” claims Ouma. “I just train like I have been training, and just have more speed than ever.”

Much as was the case when he stepped up in weight to meet Taylor (his only other fight at middleweight), Ouma will be taking on a naturally larger opponent. Gilbert was a ranked middleweight three years ago and has been campaigning recently as a 168-pounder. In Gilbert’s last fight, he weighed in officially at 172-pounds, roughly fourteen pounds more than Ouma has ever weighed. Despite those facts, Ouma does not seem too concerned about any size or strength advantages Gilbert may have in the bout. “I don’t know [how it affects] him. I just know he has been a middleweight before, says Ouma. “It does not matter. We are just going to fight.”

Ouma has studied previous Joey Gilbert fights, but refuses to read too much into what he saw in the footage. “I think he is a tough guy, but watching him doesn’t mean he is going to bring it in the fight, because he is fighting a different cookie,” says Ouma. “When he fights me, he is not going to have the same plan.”

The outcome of Saturday’s fight, which is for the WBA-affiliated NABA Middleweight title, will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the career of both fighters. “I am focused on becoming champion of the world again. That is what I want,” says Ouma. “But right now I am just focused on Gilbert and that is it.” Should Ouma move past Joey Gilbert Saturday, fight fans ringside may have witnessed the beginnings of Kassim’s second dream run. No matter the outcome, Ouma has a promise. “The people are going to see Kassim Ouma back in the ring, bringing what I always deliver and I will deliver that night.”

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

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

“Atlantic City is dying.”

That’s if it’s not already dead.

The proclamation that the east coast gambling hub is “dying” passed through the lips of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose administration is planning a massive government overhaul of Atlantic City’s gambling and entertainment district.

Steadily on the decline for the past decade, Atlantic City’s revenue has dropped at alarming rates of late; rates that have declined exponentially since 2006 when slot parlors were first introduced in neighboring Pennsylvania. Couple that with the recent legalization of table games in the Keystone State and sports gambling in Delaware and suddenly Atlantic City looks as unattractive as ever.

But no matter what surrounding states do in their efforts to compete with the gambling capital of the east, Atlantic City will invariably have its rich history on its side. A rich history that, of course, includes the sport of boxing.

Setting aside the fact that “AC” has our country’s oldest and longest boardwalk — since 1870, in fact — for the last thirty years it has served as boxing mecca, along with a gambling one.

Once gambling was given the green light by New Jersey legislators in 1976, casinos soon started popping up on the familiar of street of Monopoly fame.

With the casinos came the gambling and entertainment, boxing included. With the gambling and entertainment came the tourists. With the tourists came the money.

In the 80‘s and 90‘s when Atlantic City was operating like a well-oiled machine, it was the Historic Atlantic City Convention Center, now known as Boardwalk Hall, that hosted some of the best fighters to ever step through the ropes and into a boxing ring: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio Cesar Chavez, Roberto Duran, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, George Foreman…etc, etc. Further, Boardwalk Hall played a part in what was arguably the greatest boxing trilogy in the last thirty years, hosting the final two fights between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward.

While Atlantic City still hosts boxing on a consistent basis, no big promoter has attempted to continually showcase their fighter in “AC” in recent times. Even Main Events, who put together countless cards at Boardwalk Hall have showcased its prized possession, Tomasz Adamek, some 120 miles up the Garden State Parkway in Newark. In years past, the Duva-led promotional company virtually sent all its fighters down the coastline at some point: Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield, Fernando Vargas, and the like. Atlantic City even had an adopted “hometown” fighter courtesy of Main Events in one Arturo Gatti. Towards the end of his career, Gatti could have filled half of Boardwalk Hall if he were shadowboxing.

But recent trends have seen a decline in interest with regards to the once-lively Atlantic City fight crow. When Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams fought on HBO last December, a measly gathering of about 5,000 fans were in attendance. Undoubtedly, there will be more to witness their rematch on November 20, but the numbers from their first bout are telling.

“AC” was mentioned — almost in passing — by Bob Arum as a possible site for the November 13 PPV bout between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito but once the Texas Athletic Commission licensed Antonio Margarito, Arum took his business back to Cowboys Stadium, where upwards of 70,000 boxing fans are expected to show up.

The Atlantic City boxing scene has much more of a pulse than the city itself. However, what the two do have in common is a decline in quality over the past few years. While fewer and fewer fights that would qualify as “super” fights or PPV worthy events come to Atlantic City, one can argue that the quality of fights occurring at Boardwalk Hall has declined greatly since the “Glory Days,” with a few outliers here and there (the upcoming Martinez-Williams II being one of them).

It is possible that if Atlantic City begins to thrive once again that the boxing industry will take notice and major PPV events and mega-fights could return to the Jersey Shore.

So it is up to Governor Christie and his team to construct the plan to resurrect this “dying” city.

According to Business Week, Governor’s Christie’s plan would allow the state to “direct the agency that runs Boardwalk Hall…to attract more meetings and shows.”

The plan also includes funding to create multiple entertainment districts, outdoor amphitheaters, waterparks, and new sports complexes — perhaps one that will host the next slew of big fights to pass through the oceanfront city.

It is still Las Vegas, however, that is the go-to spot for the big fights and big PPV events, despite the trend toward stadiums that has emerged over the last year or so.

But in order for Atlantic City to once again compete with Sin City for the biggest fights the sport has to offer, it needs the makeover that Christie has in mind. For a desperate city whose casinos are struggling to stay in the black, a fresh approach to the entertainment aspect of the city might just be what the doctor ordered.

Then, and only then, will Atlantic City transform into “Las Vegas East.”

One thing is for sure, the Christie administration is counting on the wise words of one Terrance Mann as portrayed by James Earl Jones.

If you “re-build” it, they will come.

With regards to both tourism and to boxing’s biggest fights: at least that is the hope.

You can reach Kyle Kinder at Twitter.com/KyleKinder

Sources close to the situation have informed 15rounds.com that the November 8th boxing special to air on ESPN2 from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on November 8th will be headlined by a pairing of heavyweight prospects. Once beaten big men will look to regain some of their luster, as Travis Kauffman is pegged to take on Bowie Tupou.

Kauffman (20-1, 16 KOs) of Reading, Pennsylvania has won two straight against journeymen opponents since suffering a nationally televised setback against Tony Grano last September. Despite an accomplished amateur career, Kauffman made the mistake of slugging with the crude Grano, which made for an entertaining fight for Showtime, but ultimately helped lead to a somewhat controversial fourth-round stoppage defeat. In his last bout, Kauffman knocked out the well traveled Chris Koval in two rounds this past May.

Tupou (19-1, 15 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Nuku?alofa, Tonga quietly built himself into a prospect by scoring a string of quick knockouts in mostly non-televised fights before running into longtime opponent Demetrice King in August of last year. King caught Tupou with a counter off the ropes to score a knockdown late in the first that swung the fight in his favor. Tupou, who had been signed by prominent promoter Gary Shaw, did not recover during the minute rest between rounds and was ultimately stopped in the second round. In his one fight since, Tupou stopped Alexis Mejias in four rounds in May.

The Veterans Day themed card has become an annual tradition for ESPN. Tickets will not be sold and the crowd will be comprised of servicemen and women.

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

Recently Mzonke “The Rose of Khayelitsha” Fana 30-4(12) won the IBF Super Featherweight title for a second time when he beat countryman and former nemesis Cassius Baloyi. It was a rematch from 2008 when Baloyi won, this time Fana got off to a better start and won convincingly. Over the past few years the South African quartet of Fana, Baloyi & Malcolm Klassen have all taken turns in holding the IBF title. With the win over Baloyi, Fana hopes that he can fight Klassen and repeat his previous victory in what would be a big fight in South Africa. At 37 Fana is a 16 year veteran at 130 and is considered the number 1 Super Featherweight by many including The Ring magazine & Boxrec. Here’s what Fana had to say when 15rounds.com recently spoke to him.

Hello Mzonke, welcome to 15rounds.com

Thank you! Nice to talk to your reputable website for the first time!

Anson Wainwright – Congratulations on your recent win over Cassius Baloyi for the vacant IBF Super Featherweight title. What can you tell us about that fight? How happy were you with your performance?

Mzonke Fana – I was very happy about my performance. This was the second time I fought Cassius. In our first fight two years ago, somehow I started “too late” and give away first 5 rounds. On the end, I lost my IBF title on majority decision. I could not afford the same again, so I started putting pressure from the opening bell and maintain it in all 12 rounds. Cassius is great fighter. He had many fights in USA and he never lost. It is great for me to be two times IBF World Champion.

Anson Wainwright – What does the future hold for you? When can we expect to see you back in action next? Who may you be fighting?

Mzonke Fana – Well, I’m no very young and at age of 37 I need two, three big fights in order to make same money. I will be waiting on my Promoter, and possibly end of the year I should be making the first defence.

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

Mzonke Fana – My manager is Butityi Konki and trainers Vuyani Bungu and Gert Strydom. You should remember Bungu. He defended his IBF Jnr. Featherweight Title 13 times and against some very big names at that point and time. Of course, my promoter is Mr. Branco Milenkovic. I have been with Mr. Branco for the past 10 years.

Anson Wainwright – There is a rivalry between yourself and Baloyi and more recently Malcolm Klassen. What can you tell us about this rivalry? Are you all good friends or not?

Mzonke Fana – Yes, we are all good friends but this is business. I would like to fight Klassen again, whom I already have beaten for the IBF World Title. It is big local match and as he has beaten Cassius as well, this fight does make sense.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years and how life first took you into Boxing?

Mzonke Fana – You are going to laugh. After I was given very bad split decision against my “homeboy” Mkhuseli Kondile for the National Title in 1997, I was so disappointed and I left the boxing for almost two years. I went to play soccer for Cape Town Ajax, and I never wanted to go back to boxing – I was very good soccer player!!

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing? What are your hobbies? What can you tell us about yourself that we wouldn’t know?

Mzonke Fana – I like soccer very much and music but as a professional fighter, most of the time I spend is something what have to do with boxing.

Anson Wainwright – You’ve been a pro for 16 years, what is your proudest moment and why?

Mzonke Fana – I receive the most prestigious award – The State President Award for Sport Excellence, and this was my proudest moment. Of course, I was voted two times as a Boxer of the Year as well, and my fight against Randy Suico for WBC Mandatory eliminator was voted fight of the year.

Anson Wainwright – How popular are you in South Africa? Do you do commercials and appear on tv? The Football World Cup takes place in June what are your thoughts on that?

Mzonke Fana – I’m popular as I been around for very long time. I do charity TV commercials by making awareness of HIV for young people. HIV has been major problem in Africa.

Anson Wainwright – You fought Marco Antonio Barrera, though it didn’t go well for you can you tell us about the experience of fighting a legend & being in America?

Mzonke Fana – Yes, with out doubt was very big experience to fight legendary Barrera. I thought I could do better, but Barrera is Barrera.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the Super Featherweight division at the moment? WBC Vitali Tajbert, WBA Takashi Uchiyama & WBO Ricky Burns?

Mzonke Fana – I would love to fight any unification with any of those three. Maybe Vitali Tajbert would be option. I will talk to Branco about.

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

Mzonke Fana – Keep punching and keep reading 15rounds.com!!!

Anson Wainwright – Thanks for your time “The Rose of Khayelitsha”

Mzonke Fana – The rose is blooming!!!!

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

York, PA Super Featherweight Eric Nemo thrilled his hometown fans with a dominant six round unanimous decision over southpaw spoiler Stephan Alexander at the elegant Valencia Ballroom last Saturday evening.

Backed by nonstop chants of “Nemo, Nemo”, the local product was effectively aggressive from the opening bell, tagging Alexander in close quarters en route to dropping him with a short left hand in the second. The lanky Alexander attempted to work his way back into the fight by boxing from the outside, but had minimal success.

Despite a significant height disadvantage, Nemo consistently landed flush punches on the inside en route to taking a one sided victory.

Judges Bernard Bruni and Tony Wolfe scored the contest 60-53, while John Gradowski’s tally read 59-54. 15rounds.com also scored it 60-53 in favor of Nemo.

“I knocked him down and controlled the fight. but I didn’t feel like I was that sharp tonight,” Nemo surprisingly said following an adequate performance. “I didn’t train for a tall southpaw and he was very awkward.”

Nemo, whose lone defeat came in 2005 to future world champion Juan Manuel Lopez, improves to 10-1-1 with 5 KO’s. Alexander returns to Norfolk, VA at 4-3 with all four wins coming by knockout.

In the co-featured bout of the evening, tough but predictable welterweight Doel Carrasquillo was unable to capitalize on a rare hometown appearance, dropping an eight round majority decision to rugged Ghanaian Ayi Bruce.

Carrasquillo stood directly in front of Bruce from bell to bell firing hard hooks, but his lack of speed and movement gave his counterpart plenty of opportunities. With a close friend recording the fight near ringside while shouting instructions in his native tongue, Bruce landed the majority of the clean punches and avoided most of Carrasquillo’s return shots.

Scores were 78-74, matching 15rounds’ tally, 77-75 and a questionable 76-76.

“I knew he was a hard puncher, so I kept my hands up and countered him,” said Bruce, who resides in Albany, NY. “He was very tough and is a good fighter.”

Bruce is now 16-3 (11 KO’s). Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA, slips to a decisive 14-16-1 with 12 wins by KO.

Pro debutant and York native Jesus Saucedo successfully entered the paid ranks with a crowd pleasing four round UD over a very game Mike Denby. All four rounds of the welterweight contest were fought at a toe to toe pace, with both men throwing power shots as if there were no tomorrow. Although he was outweighed by 4.5 lbs, Saucedo was clearly the stronger puncher and hurt Denby on a few different occasions.

Judges Gradowski, Wolfe and Bruni all scored the bout 39-37.

Denby, of Dover, DE, falls to 3-5-3 (2 KO’s).

Entertaining middleweight Mike Moore of Cleveland, OH kept his perfect record alive following a close four round majority decision over gritty Robert Sockwell of East Stroudsburg, PA. The shorter Moore consistently brought the fight to Sockwell, who fought back valiantly and buzzed Moore with a hook in the third. Moore closed the show in style, dominating the final stanza with an impressive array of punches in close range.

Scores were 39-37 twice and 38-38.

“I saw him yesterday at the weigh in and tried to size him up, but he was a little bit more awkward than I thought he would be,” Moore said after the victory. “I came into the fight in great shape, am looking for my next fight already and am ready for whomever!”

Sockwell falls to 2-2 (2 KO’s).

In the opening bout of the evening, lightweight prospect Julius Leegrand of Cleveland moved to 4-0 with a unanimous decision over fellow Ohioan Eric Ricker. Leegrand worked behind a snappy jab throughout the contest, while mixing in left hooks and straight right hands in a solid showing.

Scores were 40-36 and 39-37 twice.

Leegrand is now 4-0 with 2 KO’s. Toledo’s Ricker slides 3-6.

Headed by Julio Alvarez, who worked double duty as the trainer of Nemo, Carrasquillo and Saucedo, the card served as A&D Promotions’ debut.

One of the most highly anticipated rematches has finally been inked as according to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Middleweight world champion Sergio Martinez will defend his crown against Paul Williams on November 20 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

“It’s nice to get it completed,” Dan Goossen, Williams’ promoter, said. “It’s not a matter of whose fault it is [that the fight took so long to make], it’s a matter that you have two of the most feared fighters in the world facing each other. It doesn’t just get made overnight. There’s a lot more to it. That’s what took time.”

Said Lou DiBella, Martinez’s promoter, “Martinez is not afraid of anybody and we did the deal that HBO wanted us to do. My take on the fight it’s the best f—— fight the rest of the year. Period. It’s the best fight for fight fans and they don’t have to fork over $60 to watch it on pay-per-view.”

The fight will be contracted at 157 pounds.

“It’s at 157 because we didn’t have a choice,” DiBella said. “Williams wanted the catch weight. There was an issue on the weight and we gave on the weight.”

When they met for the first time on Dec. 5 in the smaller arena upstairs at Boardwalk Hall, both fighters were knocked down in the first round of what turned out to be a rousing, slugfest and one of the most action-packed fights of the year. Williams won a heavily disputed majority decision in the nontitle bout.

“The fight can’t miss,” DiBella said. “You saw the first fight but I thought my guy won the first fight and I think he’ll win this one easier. I don’t think you’ll ever fight Paul Williams and have an easy fight, but I think this time he will win more clearly.”

“Sergio has just wanted to get back in the ring and wants to be treated like the middleweight champion,” DiBella said. “He knows what this fight means. He knows it’s the last time he will be bullied by anybody in a business sense. That won’t happen again if he wins. If he can beat Paul Williams after what he did to Pavlik and the damage he and Williams did to each other in the first fight, people should give him his props and he should be considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world below Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Sergio can establish himself at that level if he can perform in this fight. This is the prime of his career. This fight is everything to him.”

“Paul is very excited about the fight, so is [trainer] George [Peterson],” Goossen said. “It’s the type of fight boxing needs and wants and one that we’re looking to deliver. When everything is said and done, this is the fight everyone wants. But we never made any bones about the fact that we were looking for a welterweight fight. It wasn’t that we didn’t want a Sergio Martinez fight. We were hoping for the big fight at 147 pounds. We didn’t get it and therefore we went for the next biggest fight, and that was obviously against Sergio.

“The great thing about is it Paul will have more than three weeks to train for Martinez, which is what happened last time when Pavlik pulled out and we had to change opponents and train for a southpaw.”

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

Despite a disastrous stretch, former world champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris of Carlstadt, NJ isn’t ready to hang up the gloves just yet.

Harris, 29-5-1 (19 KO’s), was on the wrong end of a third round knockout to Victor Ortiz Saturday night in Los Angeles, CA as part of an HBO pay per view telecast. Against the well regarded Ortiz, Harris got dropped four times and was unable to work his way back into the fight.

Prior to that, Harris, who was once considered an elite junior welterweight, lost a controversial fourth round TKO to Lucas Matthysse. To make matters even worse, the Matthysse fight was preceded by a scary no contest against Noe Bolanos in 2009, where he left the ring on a stretcher following a grotesque clash of heads.

While Harris has been sent to the hospital after two of his last three fights and is without notable victory since 2007, he refutes any assertion that he is going to call it quits.

“People just like to talk and they don’t know boxing,” exclaimed the always animated Harris. “This is a dirty and crazy sport. I was forced to fight (at or) around 140 and I can’t make that weight anymore. I am going to continue as a full fledged welterweight and you will never see me fight below (147 pounds) again!”

He also cites the contract weight for the Ortiz fight as a major issue.

“We tried to make it at 144 lbs, give or take a pound, but his people said no.” “They wanted to call this a welterweight fight, but (if that was the case) than why couldn’t I (fight at the) weight I wanted to? I am not trying to take away anything from his victory he did what he had to do, but (the issue over the weight) is complete bulls**t.”

Although he was also stopped in the two aforementioned fights and to Junior Witter via one punch knockout in 2007, Harris believes his punch resistance will only improve in his new weight class.

“I will be stronger at welterweight” I had to lose a good amount of to make 140 and it drained me. I (spar) with heavier guys and taking their punches (has never been) a problem.”

Upon completing his mandated suspension for the knockout loss, the former WBA champion, who is still under contract with Golden Boy Promotions, will actively seek fights with a notable welterweight.

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

SAN ANTONIO – There was an excellent festival here called “Jazz’Salive,” downtown, Saturday. Some rain and lots of clouds, too. The rain was unwelcome but the clouds weren’t. No charge, though. Anyone who followed his ears to Travis Park got free jazz. And while that happened, a half mile down West Travis Street a whole lot of boxing happened for only $8 more.

That’s why it was so easy to forgo “200” later that night.

For a little less than 1/6 the price of “200: Celebrate and Dominate,” a four-fight Golden Boy Promotions pay-per-view card that certainly should not have been, a boxing fan round here could see 30 amateur bouts in a club show presented at San Fernando Gym by the South Texas Amateur Boxing Association.

The name of Saturday’s other card referred to the 200-year anniversary of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s famous “Grito” of death to the Gachupines and long life for the Virgin of Guadalupe. The shout launched Nueva España’s battle to become México and sufficed for 100 years till something like a Mexican civil war, oddly called “La Revolución,” led to another anniversary and sundry schoolhouse-renaming efforts.

San Antonio Parks and Recreation’s card featured more than a few kids whose lineage traces back to Spanish rule, too. Most names on the bout sheet that didn’t end in ‘s’ or ‘z’ went Guajardo or Garcia.

San Fernando Gym, itself, had a celebratory feel. Or maybe that was just the air conditioning. Some members didn’t know the basement could boast temperatures below 100 degrees; a heater blows year-round at the gym, even when it’s 95 outside. There was yellow tape across the heavy bags, and the speed bags, slip bags and double-end bags were in storage. In their stead were hundreds of aluminum folding chairs, convenient if not comfortable for five hours of boxing.

And it’s boxing, not fighting, by the way. The distinction is often a pedantic one, but there is a difference. Amateurs are boxers that outpoint one another in bouts. Professionals are prizefighters that hurt one another in fights.

There are some other differences. Amateurs wear headgear and heavy gloves and punch for shorter durations. Fatigue takes its same effect, though. That’s where it gets interesting. If you have less time and fewer means of inducing fatigue in your opponent, what do you do? Try harder. That means more punches and less defense. And that means quicker pace.

Quicker pace than, say, Saul “Cinnamon” Alvarez and Carlos Baldomir? Indeed. That fight on the “200” card featured an under-proven Mexican hopeful and a worn-out Argentine, and opening reviews were not positive. Then Alvarez stretched the hard-headed former welterweight champ, and hope was restored.

Alvarez is not the next great Mexican prizefighter. But he’ll suffice until Bob Arum finds him.

Hundreds of punches fly every couple of minutes in an amateur bout. Knockouts are few. Not many kids have the skill or strength to render another boxer unconscious. Too, there is a focus on process – one kid was penalized twice Saturday because his mouthpiece protruded – as much as on winning. And that’s a good way to build upstanding citizens if not future prizefighters.

Even with all the extra cushioning, though, future stars separate themselves. Saturday, that was Jairo Castaneda – a San Fernando product who knocked his opponent out hard. You can tell right away; some kids have a certain poise, regardless of fighting style. It’s impossible to fake. Castaneda measured his opponent for a round then exploited his every weakness.

Sounds like Victor Ortiz did the same thing to “Vicious” Vivian Harris in Staples Center later on. Good. Harris should not have been allowed back in a prizefighting ring after the stunt he pulled in Tucson 13 months ago. Realizing Mexican Noe Bolanos was going to beat him, Harris used an accidental collision of heads to fake a brain injury. His gurney ride from the ring actually drew taunts from the crowd at Desert Diamond Casino. When have you ever heard a gurney booed?

Worse yet, out of concern for Harris’ health we spiked a great lead that night:

“Vivian Harris entered the ring wearing ‘Vicious’ as his nickname and ‘Sugar Factory’ on the back of his trunks. The trunks won.”

That brings us to the Saturday bout that, for personal reasons, comprised the most interest: San Fernando’s Jimmy Martinez Jr. against Cutting Edge’s Henry Arredondo in a 119-pound bout of three, 90-second rounds. See, Jimmy Jr. and his father Jimmy Sr. train every weeknight at San Fernando. And they are a picture of class.

“I’m teaching him boxing because that’s what I know,” says Jimmy Sr., once a local amateur standout. “If I knew tennis, I’d teach him tennis.”

He’s also going to have to teach him not to cock his jab before throwing it. Arredondo read this hitch in Jimmy Jr.’s swing early and managed to slip every jab thrown his way. Still, the bout was excellent and worth the wait. And that’s saying something about less than five minutes of boxing that came in a card’s 325th minute.

Anyone think the main event of “200” was worth the wait? Then forgive but don’t forget. That goes for Golden Boy Promotions, of course, but more for HBO – who lent its dwindled credibility to the card.

Oh, let me guess. If it weren’t for pay-per-view, Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora would have had to split the gate – a fraction of their Saturday purses – and those of us not in Los Angeles would have missed the chance to see them. Such a bad deal?

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry

Baltimore, MD (September 19) – With an enthusiastic crowd backing two of the Beltway Area’s gutsiest pugilists, longtime rivals Jesse Nicklow and Julius Kennedy fought to a thrilling ten round majority draw in the main event of “Baltimore Bad Boys” last Friday evening at the Du Burns Arena.

In what many ringsiders declared as Maryland’s Fight of the Year, both men landed a number of crisp blows in various toe to toe exchanges. Each fighter maintained a solid punch output in close quarters, with Nicklow relying on jabs, uppercuts and right hands, as Kennedy worked off of a steady body attack and straight rights. Both men had their moments, but Nicklow appeared to be the more consistent fighter throughout the contest.

Although multiple media outlets declared Nicklow a close victor, the scorecard of 98-92 in his favor was overruled by two tallies of 95-95.

Nicklow, of Baltimore, is now 20-2-3 (9 KO’s). Kennedy, a Windsor Mills, MD native, left the ring at 7-1-1 (3 KO’s).

“I thought Jesse won the fight,” said Promoter Jake Smith of Baltimore Pro Boxing. “He established himself and landed a lot of good combinations, but it was back and fourth the whole fight. I can’t complain though because it was a heck of a fight and the crowd seemed contempt with the draw.”

One of boxing’s legendary warriors was also thrilled with the action that transpired inside the squared circle.

“I am glad it ended in a draw both guys fought their heart out,” stated Five Time World Champion Vinny Paz. “It was a great fight and the fans definitely got their money’s worth. I hope they fight again!”

Unbeaten cruiserweight Steve “Show Stealer” Wheeler of Baltimore remained perfect with a crushing first round knockout over Virginia’s Donald Crawford. The wildly popular Wheeler put Crawford down for the count with a vicious straight left at 2:27.

Wheeler is now 6-0 with 5 KO’s. Crawford, an unbeaten mixed martial artist who came in on short notice, falls to 0-1.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and legendary trainer Kevin Rooney also took in the night’s action from ringside.

Baltimore Pro Boxing’s next card is slated for Saturday, October 23 at the Pikesville Armory.

For more information, go to baltimoreboxing.com

OTHER RESULTS: Heavyweights: Theron Johnson (4-3, 1 KO, Chicago, IL) TKO1 Jed Phipps (18-7, 11 KO’s Baltimore)

Cruiserweights: Maxell Taylor (14-2-1, 5 KO’s, Baltimore) UD6 Francois Ambang (2-7-1, Mechanicsville, VA)

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
VERONA, NY (September 20, 2010)—On Saturday night October 2nd, undefeated Brazilian Middleweight Isaac Rodriguez will take on Colombian power puncher Samuel Miller in a bout scheduled for twelve rounds for the WBC/USNBC Middleweight championship at The Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

Rodrigues of Belem, Brazil and now makes his home in West Berlin, New Jersey has a perfect record of 17-0 with fourteen knockouts will look to capture a second Middleweight championship.

The twenty-five year old won his first eight bouts via knockout in his native country. Rodrigues made his American debut on April 28, 2007 with a four round majority decision Hollister Elliott at the Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut. Rodrigues won two more bouts in the United States before heading back to Brazil.

On April 3rd, 2008, Rodrigues won the WBO Latino Middleweight title with an eighth round stoppage over Pablo Daniel Zamora Nievas (19-3-1). He defended that crown once with a tenth round stoppage over Americo Rodolfo Sagania (16-2-1) before heading back to the states.

Since the two title fights in Brazil, Rodrigues has won four straight on American soil which includes a second round stoppage over tough Jose “Macho” Medina, capable Bard Austin, upset specialist Marcos Primera and in his last bout, Rodrigues scored a ten round majority decision over Contender Brian Vera (16-3) in a bout that took place on February 26th at The Turning Stone Resort & Casino.

Miller of Arboletes, Colombia and now residing in La Habra, California is known as a knockout artist as his record reads 20-4 with seventeen knockouts.

Miller made his first twelve appearances in Colombia and won twelve straight with all but one coming inside the distance.

Miller than campaigned in the United States and won four fights in an eight month stretch that were highlighted by wins over Jason Naugler (15-5-1) and Steve Walker (19-13).

After a second round knockout win in Colombia, Miller suffered his first two pro defeats to Darrell Woods and a then undefeated Vera (12-0).

Miller dropped a fight to highly regarded David Lopez that was for the WBO Latino Middleweight title and in his last fight, Miller lost in an attempt at the same title to former world title challenger Marco Antonio Rubio (46-5-1).

In the exciting co-feature, local favorite Brian Miller will take on Ikem Orji in an eight round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Miller of Schenectady, New York is undefeated with a record 8-0-4 with three knockouts and is known as a hard working customer who will fight anybody at anytime.

Miller has signature wins over Broderick Antoine and a split decision win over Danny McDermott (8-1-1). He is coming off a draw with tough Italian Floriano Pagliara (10-4) on September 11.

Orji of Laurel, Maryland via Nigeria has a record of 6-3 with two knockouts.

Like Miller, Orji is willing to fight anyone with close losses to prospects Anthony Flores (6-0); Isaac Suarez (6-0).

Orji scored a mild upset when he scored a fourth round stoppage over Andrew Farmer (13-1) this past March 6th.

Orji dropped his last bout as he lost a unanimous decision to Rod Salka (11-0).

The rest of the card features some very good local prospects.

In a six round Welterweight bout, Kenny Abril (9-3-1, 5 KO’s) of Rochester, NY takes on Francisco Ginorio (7-6-2, 2 KO’s) of Palm Bay, Florida.

In a six round ladies Featherweight attraction, Jackie Trivilino (4-2-1, 1 KO) of Pittsburgh, NY takes on Jennifer Scott (2-2, 2 KO’s) of Warren, Ohio

In a four round Middleweight bout, Stephen Scott (4-1) of New York takes on undefeated Deferson LeGrand (3-0, 2 KO’s) of New York, NY

In a battle of debuting Lightweights, Jermell Tyson will tussle with IIlyas Aksabaez of Brooklyn, NY

Rounding out the card will be Cruiserweight Brian Clookey (2-0, 1 KO) of Chase Mills, NY fighting an opponent to be announced in a four round bout.

Tickets for this great night of boxing are just $30, $45 & $55 and can be purchased at The Showroom Box office by calling 1-888-833-SHOW (7469) and all Ticketmaster outlets by calling 315-472-0700

The entire fight card can be viewed LIVE worldwide on www.gofightlive.tv

The Turning Stone Resort and Casino is located at
5218 Patrick Rd
Verona, New York 13478
(315) 361-7711