NEW YORK (Sept. 15, 2010) – Top-10 world-ranked welterweight, Paul Daley, has signed a multi-fight deal with world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE.

The 5-foot-9, 27-year-old native of London who fights out of Nottingham, England, has won two straight and six of his last seven. Overall, the cocky, brash seven-year pro is 25-9-2.

Nicknamed “Semtex” after an explosive that British armed forces use to demolish large structures, Daley is coming off a unanimous three-round decision over recent STRIKEFORCE signee, Jorge Masvidal, last Saturday, Sept. 11. It was the first time since July 1, 2006, that Daley had won a fight on points.

Daley is a freelance mixed martial artist whose style is an aggressive mix of striking, striking and more striking.

“I am a striker – there is no secret about that,” the exciting British bomber said. “I like to knock people out aggressively and quickly. That’s my game and no opponent’s going to change that. Almost all my fights are exciting and memorable with non-stop action.”

Daley specializes in Muay Thai (Dutch style). He utilizes lead leg kicks often and possesses devastating knees and quick, heavy hands.

“I’m looking forward to fighting for STRIKEFORCE and would really love to fight (current STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion) Nick Diaz,” Daley said. “He’s a big name and a great fighter. Diaz would bring out the best in me and would be a great test.”

Daley, who has compiled a highlight reel of impressive knockout victories, has competed against some of the best since turning professional in June 2003. Three of his most significant victories came against Masvidal, a 2:24, first-round KO (punches) over Dustin Hazelett on Jan. 2, 2010, and a 2:31, first-round TKO (punches) over Martin Kampmann on Sept. 19, 2009.

A former Cage Rage champion, Daley appeared on a STRIKEFORCE co-promoted card on June 22, 2007. On the undercard of Frank Shamrock vs. Phil Baroni in San Jose, Calif., he registered a second-round TKO (punches) over Duane “Bang”Ludwig.

Daley was introduced to martial arts when he began taking karate at the age of 7. Besides England, he also trains in Holland. For a time several years ago, Daley was involved in a project with Mothers Against Guns in London.

About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com ) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

In what may be the most ambitious move in boxing since an Attorney General told Frankie Carbo that the sport would be better off without him, a world league has formed.

And it pays. Scheduled to begin in November of 2010, it calls itself the World Series of Boxing (WSB) and with 12 teams scattered across the globe in places like Azerbijan, China, Los Angeles, Paris, India and Milan it may, unlike its Americentric baseball namesake, actually live up to that billing.

There are three divisions: Europe, Asia and the Americas, with four teams in each—though the exact location of the would be teams has been somewhat fluid. Sites in London, New York, Chicago and Boston have fallen through, but the current lineup of American cities does include Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico City and Memphis, Tennessee.

Boxers in the WSB are required to sign three year contracts and salaries are said to range around $25,000 per year, with an additional $5,000 for each win, $1000 for each loss—though there is talk of adjustments to take account of the cost of living differences across the world that sound like significantly less dollars if you live in Bombay: “We have been struggling to regulate salaries and a salary cap. India’s money is worth different from the United States and France. It will be about $25,000 a year not including prize money per boxer,” said a Mr. Ivan Khodabakhsh, the Chief Operating Officer of the WSB in a recent interview. There is also talk in some of the dailies about a pay ceiling of $300,000—but it is not clear to me how one would get there from here—unless the championships pay big.

Participation is limited to boxers who have yet to fight a pro bout, and, with the league owned primarily by the International Boxing Association (AISA)— the governing body of Olympic boxing—perhaps not surprisingly, participation will not exclude a league boxer from later fighting in the Olympics. The league is a for profit affair— or at least it seeks to be.

The bouts are scheduled for 5 rounds, three minutes apiece without headgear. Scoring is on a ten point must system and will be visible after each round. There will be no draws and Olympic anti-doping rules will be in effect.

The four teams in each division are scheduled to engage each other (teams or not, no one “plays” boxing) four times during the course of the regular season, which will run from November 19th to March 19th—which equals out to twelve matches over the course of 14 weeks. The top two teams from each division enter the playoffs, culminating in a championship match scheduled in the Chinese city of Macau—gambling capital of The East.

The league will also hold individual championships—7 rounds— at each of its only five weight classes. That’s right, only five: bantamweight , 54kg/ 119lbs; lightweight 61kg/135lbs; middleweight 73kg/160lbs; light heavyweight 85kg/187lbs; and heavyweight 91kg/201+ lbs. The five individual champions will be awarded automatic berths into the Olympics.

Having seen Olympic boxing, or more pointedly, the judging in Olympic boxing, I’m a little reluctant to throw my proverbial hat into the league’s ring. But truth be told, I’ve seen judge’s cards in a number of pro fights these last few years that might have made even Frankie Carbo blush. Having said that, if there were a match anywhere closer to Newark, New Jersey than Memphis, Tennessee I’d find a way to get ringside.

Exercising what the poet Keats called “negative capability,” or the capacity for accepting uncertainty and the unresolved (yes, I’m thinking about the judges again), I find myself intrigued and heartened by the prospect of the WSB.

Even beyond the fact that winning will be at least five times better than losing for a boy wearing gloves, the league has a number of things to recommend it— not the least of which is that it’s the culmination of an idea uttered back in the 1950’s by the denizens of Stillman’s Gym and the Neutral Corner, the famous New York boxing bar a few blocks down from Stillman’s.

The great A.J. Liebling wrote:

“The immediate crisis in the United States, forestalling the one high living standards might bring on, has been caused by the popularization of a ridiculous gadget called television. This is utilized in the sale of beer and razor blades. The clients of the television companies [advertisers], by putting on a free boxing show almost every night of the week, have knocked out of business the hundreds of small-city and neighborhood boxing clubs where youngsters had a chance to learn their trade and journeyman to mature their skills. Consequently the number of good new prospects diminishes with every year, and the peddlers’ public is already being asked to believe that a boy with perhaps ten or fifteen fights behind him is a topnotch performer. Neither advertising agencies nor brewers, and least of all the networks, give a hoot if they push the Sweet Science back into the period of genre painting. When it is in a coma they will find some other way to peddle their peanuts.”

Fifty some-odd years later with Liebling’s coma circuit complete, the Heavyweight Champion of the World is fighting only on the internet here in the United States. Peanuts peddled decidedly elsewhere.
And the managers, trainers and ex-fighters at Stillman’s and the Corner? Liebling writes:

One school of savants holds that if the television companies are going to monopolize boxing they should set up a system of farm clubs to develop new talent. Another believes the situation will cure itself, but painfully. ‘Without the little clubs, nobody new will come up,’ a leader of this group argues. ‘The television fans will get tired of the same bums, the Hooper will drop, the sponsors will drop boxing, and then we can start all over again.’”

And maybe that’s what the World Series of Boxing is: a system of farm teams looking to start all over again.

Rocky Graziano’s manager, Irving Cohen, put it well: “Fighting is like education. The four-round fights are elementary school. Six rounders is high school. Feature bouts is college, but nowadays without the small clubs we got too many boys in college without sufficient preparation.”
So maybe we can look at the WSB as a kind of global prep school— teaching sweet science.

According to Promoter John Lynch of Pound 4 Pound Promotions, super bantamweight phenom Jorge “King” Diaz of New Brunswick, NJ will headline Saturday, October 30 from Bally’s in Atlantic City against former world title challenger Emmanuel Lucero.

The always entertaining Diaz, 14-0 (9 KO’s), was scheduled fight James Owen this Thursday in New York, but the card was postponed. Diaz is becoming a familiar face amongst local fight fans, scoring impressive victories over 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Yan Barthelemy and rugged Korean Jae Sung Lee amongst others.

Although he has fought just once since 2007, the Bronx, NY based Lucero will be Diaz’ most experience foe to date. At 24-5-1 (14 KO’s), Lucero battled the likes of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, Rocky Juarez, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Jason Litzau and Valdemir Pereira. He also has a victory against contender Rogers Mtagwa.

Slated to appear on the card are Paterson, NJ based junior welterweight Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan (14-1, 7 KO’s) and Passaic, NJ junior middleweight Glen Tapia (7-0, 5 KO’s). P4P is expected add more local talent on the undercard shortly.

Sources have also notified 15rounds that the card will air on a Fox Sports affiliate.

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

This Saturday several of the best fighters in Britain appear on a bumper Frank Warren promotion called “The Magnificent Seven” Though a few weeks back we had Darren Barker & Ryan Rhodes pull of there respective fights some good work behind the scene’s saw both fights saved with replacements stepping in. Here we look at the fights that make up an exciting night of Boxing that kicks off at 6pm on SKY PPV.

Nathan Cleverly –V- Karo Murat

WBO Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator.

http://www.15rounds.com/q-a-with-nathan-cleverly-031610/

http://www.15rounds.com/q-a-with-karo-murat-072710/

Hometown; Cefn Forest. Wales Kitzingen, Germany

Record; 19-0(9) 22-0(13)

Rounds boxed; 101 121

KO% 47 59

Age; 23 27

Height; 6’3 5’10

Rankings; The Ring Cleverly 8 Murat 6, Neither fighter rated in the top 15 by WBC or WBA. IBF Cleverly 4 & Murat 11 & WBO Cleverly 2 & Murat 3.

Betting 1/4 11/4

This fight is see’s both guys fighting the best fighter they have to date. Cleverly will look to dominate with the jab and put Murat on the back foot using his height and reach advantages. By the mid rounds Murat will become marked up and frustrated at being repeatedly caught trying to get inside. To Murat’s credit he’ll continue to try, while Cleverly will build up the points on way to a comfortable decision.

Enzo Maccarinelli –V- Alexander Frenkel

European Cruiserweight Title

http://www.15rounds.com/q-a-with-enzo-maccarinelli-082610/

http://www.15rounds.com/q-a-with-alexander-frankel/

Hometown; Swansea, Wales Wurzberg, Germany

Record; 32-4(25) 22-0(17)

Rounds Boxed; 128 74

KO% 69 77

Age; 30 25

Height; 6’4 6’1

Rankings; Neither fighter ranked in the Ring top 10; WBC Maccarinelli 8 Frenkel 7; WBA Maccarinelli 3 Frenkel 2; IBF Maccarinelli 11 Frenkel 6 & WBO Maccarinelli unranked Frenkel 12.

Betting 4/7 11/8

One thing that you can always guarantee with a Maccarinelli fight is fireworks. Both guys will start cautiously of the others power. That wont last long as they’ll quickly engage. I’d be surprised to see this one go beyond half way with Maccarinelli’s edge in power seeing him score an impressive stoppage.

Matthew Macklin -V- Shalva Jomardashvili

Vacant European Middleweight Title

http://www.15rounds.com/q-a-with-matthew-macklin-091410/

Hometown; Birmingham, England Gori, Georgia

Record; 26-2(18) 27-2-1(19)

Rounds Boxed; 133 139

KO 64 63

Age; 28 23

Height; 5’10 5’9

Rankings; The Ring Macklin 5, WBC 5, WBA 5, IBF 9, WBO 8. Jomardashvili unranked by any of the organisations.

Betting 1/25 10/1

The always professional Macklin wont have a problem finding Jomardashvili who’s a come forward brawler. Look for Macklin who can be a quick starter to get off to a good start and make an impression by pushing Jomardashvili backwards from there he’ll methodically breakdown the tough durable Georgian until finally around the fifth or sixth he’ll bludgeon his brave but outgunned opponent to the canvas before seeing the fight called off.

Matthew Hall –V- Lucas Konecny

Vacant European Light Middleweight Title

Hometown; Manchester, England Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic

Record; 23-2(16) 44-3(21)

Rounds Boxed; 91 287

KO 64 45

Age; 26 32

Height; 5’7 5’8

Rankings; Both unranked by The Ring, Hall is also unranked in any of the organisations while Konecny is ranked 8 by the IBF & 6 WBO.

Betting 6/5 8/13

Pocket dynamo Hall was already in training for a fight when Ryan Rhodes pulled of this fight so sharpness shouldn’t be a problem Konecny could be a whole different ball game though. Konecny is battle hardened and has two wins over Khoren Gevor (who went on to challenge for world titles at 160 & 168) & only lost a split decision to the super talented Sergei Dzindziruk. The signs all point to Konecny being a bit to seasoned and having to much no how for Hall who will start well but fade by the middle rounds before coming on down the stretch before losing a spirited unanimous decision that will raise his profile while Konecny will be able to push for a second World title fight.

Kell Brook –V- Michael Jennings

British Welterweight Title

http://www.15rounds.com/q-a-with-kell-brook-081010/

Hometown; Sheffield, England Chorley, England

Record; 21-0(14) 36-2(17)

Rounds Boxed; 78 213

KO 67 45

Age; 24 33

Height; 5’9 5’9

Rankings; Both unranked by The Ring, WBO Brook 1 & Jennings 10.

Betting 1/6 4/1

Arguably the fight that most people are looking forward too on the card. A battle of youth (Brook) verses experience (Jennings) could be a changing of the guard of sorts with Brook’s star ascending while Jennings could be perhaps on the wane. Brook is very confident and to some may come across as brash even arrogant it’s not though it’s complete belief in his ability, he see’s this as a fight that can help him break out and make a statement. For his part Jennings is a very proud warrior who was out of his league against Miguel Cottobut is determined to prove many wrong and cause the shock. Though he’ll have his moments slowly but surely Brook will chip away until around the ninth Brook will put the shots together and get the stoppage.

Derek Chisora –V- Sam Sexton

British & Commonwealth Heavyweight Title

Hometown; London, England Norwich, England

Record; 13-0(8) 13-1(6)

Rounds Boxed; 54 70

KO; 62 43

Age; 26 26

Height 6’1 6’2

Betting 2/5 15/8

In a rematch two and a bit years after they first met both guys have improved considerably. It looks nicely poised, however Chisora has been more active of late he possess the better chin and knows he can hurt Sexton having previously stopped him in 6 that makes me think he can repeat it probably around the same time.

James Degale –V- Carl Dilks

WBA International Super Middleweight Title

Hometown; London, England Liverpool, Eng

Record; 7-0(5) 14-2(5)

Rounds Boxed; 20 84

KO 71 31

Age; 24 26

Height; 6’0 5’11

Betting 1/9 11/2

Last time out Degale fought very aggressively walking down Sam Horton as soon as he realised he couldn’t be hurt. This fight wont be much different Dilks doesn’t have the fire power to make Degale respect him though he is very tough and that should see him give Degale the rounds he needs. Degale will either force a late stoppage or coast to a comfortable decision.

Frankie Gavin –V- Michael Kelly

Vacant Irish Light Welterweight Title

http://www.15rounds.com/q-a-with-funtime-frankie-gavin-090210/

Hometown; Birmingham, England Dundalk, Ireland

Record; 7-0(6) 8-2-1(2)

Rounds Boxed; 24 41

KO 86 20

Age; 24 35

Height; 5’10 5’8

Betting 1/50 12/1

Fighting at home is an added pressure, that doesn’t seem to phase Gavin in fact he thrives on it. He’ll get some good work in an entertaining fight before scoring a stoppage in the seventh while comfortably ahead.

The weight in will take place at 2pm at the LG Arena on Friday 17 September.

The Running Order

Gates open at 4.30 with the first bell at 5.15

Joe Selkirk-V-TBA 4×3 Light Middleweight
Ronnie Heffron-V-Billy Smith 4×3 Welterweight

PPV Starts at 6pm

James Degale-V-Carl Dilks 12×3 Super Middleweight
Matthew Hall-V-Lucas Konecny 12×3 Light Middleweight
Nathan Cleverly-V-Kuro Kurat 12×3 Light Heavyweight
Kell Brook-V-Michael Jennings 12×3 Welterweight
Derek Chisora-V-Sam Sexton 12×3 Heavyweight

Swing Bout to be used before 10pm
Craig Evans-V-Mickey Coveney 4×3 Super Featherweight

After 10pm

Enzo Maccarinelli-V-Alexander Frenkel 12×3 Cruiserweight
Matthew Macklin-V-Shalva Jombardashvili 12×3 Middleweight
Frankie Gavin-V-Michael Kelly 10×3 Light Welterweight
Don Broadhurst-V-Najah Ali 10×3 Super Flyweight

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that WBA Super Lightweight champion Amir Khan will battle interim champion Marcos Maidana on December 11 in Las Vegas.

“We came to an agreement [Tuesday] night. Khan is on board. Maidana is on board and I am finalizing everything with Mandalay Bay,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said outside of Staples Center during a news conference promoting Saturday night’s Shane Mosley-Sergio Mora HBO PPV card.

“Amir wanted to have this fight in the U.K. and Maidana wanted the fight to be in the United States, but we worked on things and I was informed by Amir’s lawyer that he would fight in the U.S.,” Schaefer said. “There was some urgency for us to make a deal because of the purse bid coming up, but now we have a deal and I will inform the WBA that the fighters have reached agreement.”

“We worked it out financially where everyone was happy,” Schaefer said. “It was a difficult fight to put together but this was the fight I kept hearing from fans and media that they wanted to see. Golden Boy made some concessions and we got the fight done.”

“I want this fight and the fans want to see this fight,” said Khan, who had called Schaefer’s cell phone from England and spoke to ESPN.com. “It’s two explosive styles meeting up. It’s the explosive puncher [Maidana] against the quick and explosive boxer. They say Maidana has a style to beat a boxer, so let’s see how good he is. Maidana wants to stop me from having my legacy, but that is not going to happen. But let him try.”

“I’m coming to fight him where he wants to fight. But I want this fight, so I am going where he wants to fight,” Khan said. “That’s how much I want this fight.”

PHILADELPHIA (September 15, 2010)—On Friday night October 8th, one of the hottest prospects in boxing, undefeated Danny “Swift” Garcia will take on his toughest challenger to date when he battles former world title challenger, “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis in ten round Jr. Welterweight bout that will highlight a night of world class boxing at The Arena (Formally The New Alhambra) in South Philadelphia.

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

Garcia of Philadelphia has quickly risen up the short list of potential world champions as he has amassed a perfect mark of 18-0 with twelve wins coming by knockout.

In just his fourth pro bout, Garcia fought and scored a six round unanimous decision over former four-time world title challenger, Julio Gamboa (28-12-2) on May 3rd, 2008.

Garcia made an emphatic statement as he returned to his hometown to score a “Highlight Reel” second round destruction of Enrique Colin (29-5-3) on December 2nd at The Liacouras Center on the Bernard Hopkins-Enrique Ornelas undercard.

The twenty-two year then headlined in Philadelphia for the first time and took out rugged Christopher Fernandez (18-9-1) in round seven of a scheduled ten round bout that was seen all over the United States on Telefutura.

In his last bout, Garcia took on Jorge Romero (17-2) in Cancun, Mexico. Garcia scored a ninth round knockout that was highlighted by a left hook that made the fight a candidate for Knockout of the year and in the process gave Garcia the WBC Interim Youth Championship.

“I’m very excited to give my home town another great show and put the city of Philadelphia back on the boxing map”, said Garcia

“I’m very excited to be fighting Mike and after this win, all the top Jr. Welterweights in the world will know Danny “Swift” Garcia is for real.”

Arnaoutis of Atlantic City, New Jersey by way of Athens, Greece has been in many big fights over the past five years.

Arnaoutis had his “coming out party” as he engaged with undefeated future world champion Juan Urango (13-0) in what was one of the best bouts of 2004.

The bout was ruled a draw in the action packed contest where many watching around the country on SHO BOX felt Arnaoutis should have received the nod.

He received a world title fight against power punching Ricardo Torres (29-1) on November 18, 2006 as part of the Manny Pacquiao – Erik Morales III undercard in Las Vegas.

Arnaoutis scored a knockdown but came up just short as he lost a razor thin split decision.

Arnaoutis then lost WBO title elimination bout to Kendall Holt.

It has been a roller coaster for Arnaoutis since that fight as he has gone 5-4 with quality wins over Lanardo Tyner (19-0) and Doel Carrasquillo.

Arnaoutis recently tried his luck in the Welterweight division but fell short against the likes of former world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez (24-4-2) and in his bout he lost a ten round unanimous decision to the highly regarded Demetrious Hopkins (29-1-1) on July 2nd, 2010 in Ontario, California in a bout that was broadcasted on ESPN 2.

The co-feature will showcase undefeated Lightweight Michael Perez (9-0-1, 4 KO’s) of Newark, New Jersey in a six round bout.

Anthony Flores (9-1-1, 6 KO’s) will see action in an eight round Super Featherweight bout

Exciting lightweight, Victor Vasquez (11-4-1, 6 KO’s) will take on Edward Valdez (3-8-2) of Brooklyn, New York in a six round bout.

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

Lightweight Kareem Cooley (1-1); Super Feather weight Jason Sosa (3-0-1, 1 KO) and Lightweight Angel Ocasio (3-0, 1 KO) will all see action in separate bouts against opponent to be named

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

The Arena (Formally The New Alhambra) is located at: 7 W. Ritner St. (Corner of Swanson and Ritner), Phila, PA. 19148

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
407 E. Pennsylvania Blvd.
Feasterville, PA 19053-7847
215-364-900

Joe Hand Boxing Gym
543 – 547 North 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA
215-271-4263

“Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole” — Oscar Wilde.

Simply put, to date, 2010 has not been a great year for the sweet science. Much has been made — and written — about what could have been. The superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. never came to fruition. David Haye settled for bouts with John Ruiz and Audley Harrison instead of taking on one of the Klitschko brothers and one of boxing’s bright spots, Showtime’s Super Six tournament, has hit monumental speed bumps, perhaps discouraging promoters and fighters from entering tournaments in the future.

Further, negative press has cast a shadow over boxing in recent weeks as a direct result of misguided actions by boxers outside of the ring. We can hope it has all come to a head with the recent Mayweather debacle and Ricky Hatton drug-binge.

With regards to the action, like any year, there have been entertaining brawls and there have been snooze-fests. Recently, in back-to-back weekends, two Fight of the Year candidates took place outside of the United States. Ricky Burns upset Rocky Martinez in a twelve round slugfest in Scotland that saw Burns overcome a first round knockdown and ultimately capture the WBO super featherweight title in front of his hometown fans. The other took place a week prior when Giovanni Segura — playing the role of hunter — went into Ivan Calderon’s backyard of Puerto Rico where he stalked his prey for seven-plus rounds until the formerly undefeated Calderon was unable to continue after eating a barrage of devastating body shots. As a result, Segura and his team traveled back to Mexico with the WBO light flyweight and the WBA Super World light flyweight titles in tow.

Unfortunately, recent media coverage — including my own — has not focused on these two superb bouts. Rather, the recent focus on the sport of the boxing has primarily been dominated by the negative actions of both Mayweather and Hatton.

I, for one, do not subscribe to the theory that all press is good press. That is why the rest of this article will be dedicated to shining a light on fights to look forward to before the year’s end.

This upcoming weekend’s HBO Pay-Per-View card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles is a decent fight card that is being marketed toward Mexican fans with the lure that on the weekend that celebrates Mexican Independence, three fighters of Mexican decent will look to provide their Mexican brethren with one more reason to celebrate.

Victor Ortiz looks to continue on the comeback trail after he was stopped by Marcos Maidana in June of last year when he faces off against veteran Vivian Harris, who in his last fight was the victim of an extremely premature stoppage in Mexico at the hands of Argentinian, Lucas Matthyse. Prized Mexican prospect Saul “Canelo” Alvarez confront his toughest challenge yet when he fights aged veteran Carlos Baldomir and the main event will feature Sergio Mora against Shane Mosley.

By no means is this a card to be thrilled about, but there is some intrigue with regards to both the Alvarez and Mosley bouts. Alvarez was rocked in the first round of his last fight against Jose Miguel Cotto, but ultimately recovered to get the TKO victory. We’ll have the chance to continue to watch him mature and see if he can stop the grizzled veteran Baldomir for the first time in sixteen years.

The Mosley fight is interesting because Las Vegas says it is interesting. The Sin City betting lines for this fight opened with Mora a +280 underdog. Since then, the action has moved in the “Latin Snake’s” direction changing the line to Mora a +220 underdog — meaning a majority of the betting public believes Mora pulls off the upset.

On Oct. 15, arguably the best super middleweight in the world, Lucian Bute, squares off against his mandatory challenger, Jesse Brinkley in a bout that can be seen on ESPN3.com. That same night, boxing fans can witness Antonio Tarver’s foray into the heavyweight division when he faces Nagy Aguilera in a fight televised on Showtime.

The next day, ESPN3.com will air Vitali Klitschko’s title fight with Shannon Briggs, live from Hamburg, Germany.

Nov. 6 is a big day for boxing when Juan Manuel Lopez (JuanMa) takes on Rafael Marquez live on Showtime from Las Vegas. If JuanMa successfully navigates by Marquez, it will hopefully set up a bout between him and Yuriorkis Gamboa for sometime in early 2011.

That same night, HBO will televise a “Boxing After Dark” card live from Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center that will be headlined by Zab Judah against Lucas Matthyse. Judah looked extremely impressive on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” earlier in the year and one or two more dominating performances can make him a player at 140 lbs.

The Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito bout from Cowboys Stadium speaks for itself. HBO’s 24/7 will certainly drum up drama and help create storylines leading up to the November 13 PPV. Kelly Pavlik will battle with Daniel Edouard on the undercard. This marks Pavlik’s first time in the ring since he donned a stomach-churning crimson mask courtesy of Sergio Martinez back in April when he lost his title. We’ll get another glance at Cuban sensation Guillermo Rigondeaux and also get a peak at highly-touted welterweight prospect, Mike Jones.

On Nov. 27, Juan Manuel Marquez returns to the ring to take on battle-tested Michael Katsidas in a bout that should feature great action. An exciting Panamanian fighter, Celestino Cabellero will be featured on the undercard, and rumors continue to swirl that Andre Berto may be placed on this card as well, making it a triple-header.

A Nov. 20 fight in Atlantic City that has yet to be finalized would feature Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams II and be shown on HBO.

Dec. 4 may play host to an interesting bout between Miguel Cotto and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Chavez Jr. is fresh off arguably his most impressive performance of his career against John Duddy and a win over Cotto will finally earn him the respect he has insisted he deserves.

Dec. 11 may mark the biggest night of all as Showtime kicks off the semi-finals of it’s bantamweight tournament when Abner Mares faces off against Vic Darchinyan and Yohnny Perez takes on Joseph Agbeko. This date is also a tentatively scheduled date for what would be a much talked about fight between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana.

Finally, scheduled to take place on Dec. 18 in Quebec City is a bout between Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal. Pascal is fresh off his upset victory against Chad Dawson, while the “Executioner” looks to regain relevancy and prolong his outstanding career.

Perhaps it’s foolish to view the remaining 2010 fistic schedule as whole doughnuts. The doughnuts would have been the Super Six proceeding flawlessly, a bout between a Klitschko brother and David Haye, as opposed to Klitschko-Briggs and Haye-Harrison, and of course, the elusive super fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather, among other wishes.

It is equally foolish to view the remainder of 2010 as the empty hole in the doughnut, failing to acknowledge the interesting fights that have yet to take place, and instead choosing to dwell on what could and should have been.

The remaining 2010 boxing schedule is the equivalent to munchkins — made popular by doughnut chain, Dunkin Donuts. They are not the whole doughnut, nor are the empty center of the pastry. However, they are born from the center of the doughnut and serve as a sample of the whole doughnut — an appetizer of sorts. They are enjoyable, but not filling. They are enough to hold you over until the bigger meals arrive.

You can reach Kyle Kinder at Twitter.com/KyleKinder

Baltimore, MD (September 14) – Legendary warrior Vinny Paz will be the special guest of honor this Friday, September 17 at the “Baltimore Bad Boys” fight card from the Du Burns Arena.

Paz, who participated in a number of thrilling bouts during the 1990’s, defeated the likes of Roberto Duran, Lloyd Honeyghan, Gilbert Dele, Greg Haugen and Dana Rosenblatt among others. A two time world champion, Paz miraculously returned to the ring following a horrific car crash en route to going down amongst most entertaining and barbaric pugilists in history.

Headlining the card is a ten round middleweight showdown between two of the Beltway’s most warrior-esque fighters in Baltimore’s Jesse “The Beast” Nicklow and Windsor Mill’s “Vicious” Julius Kennedy.

Nicklow, 20-2-1 (7 KO’s), has been involved in various entertaining fights including victories over Scott Sigmon, George Rivera, Matt Berkshire and Joshua Snyder amongst others. Nicklow, who is also 1-0 as a mixed martial artist, put forth a tremendous performance on National TV last December in a heart filled loss to highly regarded Fernando Guerrero.

The all-action Kennedy has won seven straight bouts, including victories over previously unbeaten Inka Laleye and 12-1 Aaron Pryor Jr., defeating the latter in his hometown. Following a number of his victories, Kennedy openly challenged Nicklow, creating a high demand for the bout amongst local fans and media.

Nicklow and Kennedy will square off for the WBF America’s and Maryland State Middleweight Championships.

“I am excited to have Vinny back in Maryland and he couldn’t have picked a better fight to attend,” said promoter Jake Smith of Baltimore Pro Boxing. “There has been bad blood between Nicklow and Kennedy during the last few years, so I think that there will be Vinny Paz type fireworks on Friday night!”

Also appearing on the undercard are local Free State favorites Steve “Show Stealer” Wheeler of Catonsville, Capital Heights’ Thomas “KO” Snow and Baltimore natives Jed Phipps and Maxell Taylor.

Tickets start at just $35 and are available by calling 410-675-6900. All ticket holders will have the opportunity to meet and greet Paz.

The Du Burns Arena is located at 1301 S. Elwood Ave in Baltimore. Doors open at 6:30 and the first bout is slated for 8 pm.

PHILADELPHIA (September 14, 2010)—On Wednesday night October, 13th brother Derek and Farah Ennis will headline an International boxing card that will originate from the National Guard Armory in Northeast Philadelphia.

The show will be promoted by No Limits Promotions and Fingermann Promotions

Derek Ennis, the current USBA Jr. Middleweight champion will be in the main event scheduled for ten rounds in a non-title bout against an opponent to be named later.

Ennis of Philadelphia has a record of 22-2-1 with thirteen knockouts and is coming off one of the most exciting victories of his career as he outlasted Gabriel Rosado on July 30th at the Arena in Philadelphia in what was one of the most anticipated fights in Philadelphia in a decade.

The two went toe to toe over twelve rounds and thrilled the sellout crowd and will go down as another classic battle between Philadelphia fighters.

When the scores were tallied, Ennis gained the victory by scores of 117-111; 116-112 and 114-114 to make the first defense of the USBA belt.

Ennis won the USBA Jr. Middleweight title with a tremendous back and forth brawl and won a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over Eromosele Albert on October 16th and The Legendary Blue Horizon.

Ennis and Albert exchanged hard combinations in close and the near-sellout crowd at The Legendary Blue Horizon was entertained as the fight was one of the best in Philadelphia in the past few years.

Ennis won by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 in the bout for which most ringside observers thought could have gone either way.

That win catapulted Ennis into the world rankings as he is now ranked number ten by the IBF.

The win over Rosado was Ennis’ tenth straight victory and he holds win over Albert (22-3-1), John Mackey (11-3-2) and Troy Browning (20-2-1) in that streak.

The co-feature will pit Ennis’ brother and undefeated Super Middleweight, Farah Ennis in an eight round bout against an opponent to be named.

Farah has a record of 16-0 with ten knockouts and is coming off a third round stoppage over Reggie Pena on August 28th in Atlantic City and is quickly becoming a force in the loaded Super Middleweight division.

He has been one of the most active fighters around as this will be his sixth fight in 2010 and he has stepped the competition with each bout. His previous five bouts have produced knockout victories for Ennis.

The twenty-seven year old has a very diverse style as he has won fights by displaying his terrific boxing ability while in other bouts he has shown awesome knockout power like the aforementioned bouts.

In those bouts, Ennis has stopped Emanuel Gonzalez (9-6) in three rounds, Frankie Santos (17-8-4) in two rounds, Steve Walker (24-24) in one round and Ennis stopped grizzled veteran Demetrius Davis (20-23-5) in three rounds on July 30th in Philadelphia.

The twenty-seven year old Ennis turned pro in February of 2006 by scoring a second round stoppage over Sylvester Golding in Philadelphia.

He has fought up and down the east coast by fighting in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Tennessee and this will be his first fight in New Jersey.

A full undercard will be announced shortly.

The National Guard Armory is located at 2700 Southampton in Philadelphia

Tickets priced at $40, $60 & $90 can be purchased at:

Peltz Boxing
2501 Brown Street
Philadelphia, PA
215-765-0922

No Limits Promotions
124 Chestnut Street
Suite 7
Philadelphia, PA
215-925-4130

The eagerly awaited clash between Matthew Macklin & Darren Barker was disappointingly cancelled when Barker was forced to pull out with a hip injury a couple of weeks ago. It was seen by many in the trade as a 50-50 battle that as well as being for the European title would also before British bragging rights. Thankfully some nifty work by Frank Warren has seen Barker be replaced by Shalva Jomardashvili 27-2-1(19) who will now meet Macklin for the now vacant European Title. Macklin 28, enjoyed a big 2009 when he demolished both Wayne Elcock & Amin Asikainen. Both wins firmly established him in the top 10 of the world rankings at 5 in both the WBC & WBA 6 with the IBF & 10 with the WBO. After being beset by cancellations finally the force of nature that has been “Mack the Knife” gets back to what he does best. Here’s what he had to say.

Hello Matthew, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you have a big fight coming up on the bumper 18 September show against Shalva Jomardashvili. What are your thoughts on him and that fight?

Matthew Macklin – I’ve not seen a lot of him. I’ve just heard he’s very tough, very strong and keeps coming basically. He gave Martin Murray (20-0(7) Current Commonwealth champion) a very tough fight. It was very close, some people thought he was unlucky not to get the decision (Murray won a six round decision 58-56) I didn’t see the fight myself so I don’t know a great deal. But I’m in great shape, I trained hard for the Barker fight. He (Barker) was more of a mover, this guy is more come forward type. I’ve boxed all over the world as an amateur in multi tournaments and boxed different styles, I had four fights in four days. I’m pretty experienced & seasoned now, you just have to be professional. The main thing is obviously not to be deflated after the Barker fight (was cancelled), it was then back on for a European title that was a boast. I’ve gotten over the disappointment of the Barker fight, I can’t dwell on it now it’s in the past. I have to focus on this guy because I don’t want it to be a banana skin.

Anson Wainwright – Obviously this fight is a late replacement for Darren Barker, what are your thoughts on what happened with that fight?

Matthew Macklin – People were saying the fight wasn’t going to happen but from my point of view it was 100% going to happen. With regards the injury I couldn’t answer, as far as I know he signed the contract, said he wanted the fight and I was going he was good to his word. But he pulled out and you think mmm it’s a bit coincidental. But at the same tune I’ve had injury’s in the past and had to withdraw from fights, so I don’t want to accuse him of anything without really knowing the facts. At the end of the day he’s pulled out and has his reasons whatever they are.

Anson Wainwright – It’s almost as if you scared everyone off with two very impressive performance when you demolished Wayne Elcock & Amin Asikainen last year. Is that how you feel and what has happened regarding other fights because you last fight was just before Christmas? Pirog/Barker/Mora etc

Matthew Macklin – Not even just that when I was European champion Dmitry Pirog was my mandatory challenger. He actually withdrew from the fight to sit on his WBO ranking. In fairness to him it ended up being a smart move because he’d of fought me and gotten beaten and where would he of been then. He was number 2 with the WBO (Gennady) Golovkin moved in for the WBA title that elevated him to fight Jacobs for the vacant belt, fair play to him what a performance. That was one fight, (Khoren) Gevor was mandatory when he withdrew. I was going to make a voluntary defence injured my nose but ended up vacating and parting with Hatton Promotions. There was a deal on the table with Golden Boy to fight Winky Wright then Sergio Mora. Winky Wright agreed then changed his mind, Mora just flat refused the fight. So it was getting to the stage where some fighters gather hype and momentum and everybody wants to fight them because there not as good as the hype. I’m one of the fighters all the other fighters know I can really fight and they don’t want to fight me. When I was European champion 2 mandatory’s withdrew. Whenever I’ve fought for a title Elcock, Jamie Moore, Asikainen I’ve always been mandatory. When I was champion the mandatory’s did want to fight me. Winky Wright & Mora whatever there reasons I’m not saying they didn’t think they could beat me who know what there reasons were but they pulled out of the fight or they refused to fight me. Now we have Barker saying he can’t wait for the fight blah blah blah the proof is in the pudding. Low and behold people said he was gonna pull out and what happens he pulls out. It’s frustrating, I put myself out there. I believe I’ll do any Middleweight in the world. In all honesty I think there’s 4/5 of us there’s me, Gennady Golovkin, Dmitry Pirog, Sergio Martinez & Sturm. On any given day we could probably all beat each other. But I’m certainly in the mix. I can beat all of those and I will beat them when it comes down to it. I’ll want it more than them & I will be in better shape. I just want the opportunity to prove I can be the best Middleweight in the world. I’m prepared to put myself out there and have been putting myself out there, it’s other people refusing to step up to the plate and fight me is preventing me proving myself.

Anson Wainwright – You didn’t mention Kelly Pavlik or Sebastian Sylvester?

Matthew Macklin – I didn’t mention them because I believe even though Sylvester is a world champion I don’t believe he’s as good as Pirog, Martinez, myself or Sturm. Sturm beat him. To be honest I don’t believe he beat Gevor. Gevor was unlucky against Sylvester not to get the decision. I’d say its between Golovkin, myself & Martinez the best 3 Middleweights in the world. If we could do the old box offs if you add Pirog. Pavlik had the big profile, he beat the man who beat the man but for whatever reason he’s not quite firing on all cylinders or maybe he’s had better days.

Anson Wainwright – Looking back at those fights with Elcock & Asikainen from your point of view what clicked into place for you on those nights?

Matthew Macklin – Yeah well if you go through my record the best people I’ve fought I’ve blew away. When I fought Alexey Chirkov he was 17-1(11) it was on the Hatton-Maussa card. I didn’t have a promotional agreement with Dennis Hobson so that was thrown in as a 50-50 fight, a good undercard fight. I wasn’t the house fighter because they had no interest in me. That was supposed on paper to be 50-50. He’d only lost once over 8 rounds to Khoren Gevor on points. I knocked Chirkov out in a round, I was up for a really hard fight same with Asikainen and I knocked him out in a round. I knew I’d do Elcock to be honest. I thought I’d knock him out in 5 or 6 rounds (Macklin ended up stopping Elcock in 3) It was a big local derby, a good local fight. Sometimes you fight a guy and hit him with a few good shots in the first and they go into a shell, they go into survival mode and you beat them on points, it’s almost like you go through the motions. I’m one of those fighters the better the opposition the better I fight. I’m like that in sparring that’s why I take better guys. If I spar guys a level below me I drop to there level. That’s why I don’t want easy fights. Ask Golden Boy, Richard Schaefer will tell you I wanted these fights with Winky Wright & Mora. I’ll fight anyone, you ask my manager Brian Peters a couple of years ago I wanted to fight Andy Lee & John Duddy. I never shied away from any fights. I could of fought in June against Giovanni Lorenzo but I wanted the Barker fight. Barker pulls out, I believe in myself and that I’d beat any Middleweight in the world.

Anson Wainwright – Word was that you were going to America to train at the Wild Card under Freddie Roach’s tutelage, what happened?

Matthew Macklin – I have trained there. Freddie maybe coming for the fight I’m waiting to here back from my manager Brian Peters. I did four and a half weeks at the Wild Card for this fight. I sparred over 70 rounds over there between “Kid Chocolate” Peter Quillen 21-0 Middleweight, Michael Medina he’s lost a couple in twenty odd, he lost a split decision to John Duddy on the Pacquiao undercard. I also sparred with the 28-0 Ukrainian (Stanyslav Kashtanov) who’s mandatory for Brian Magee (Current European Super Middleweight champion) and another kid called Rashad Holloway who’s 11-1-2 Welterweight. So I was over there, great sparring. I was doing pads with Freddie every other day. It’s a case of Freddie’s a great trainer, we work well together when he’s training me. But he does train Manny Pacquiao and fights can clash. It’s also important Joe Gallagher’s still part of the team. I’m happy and comfortable with Joe but I’m always going to be going to Freddie for fights.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym and where will you base yourself for the Barker fight?

Matthew Macklin – Manager is Brain Peters, my trainer is Freddie Roach but Joe Gallagher is very much involved. I did 4/5 weeks with Joe. I was over there 4 1/2 weeks and Joe came over for 2 weeks with me. A lot of fighters go there to work with Freddie. Senchenko was working with Freddie but also had his trainer from the Ukraine who’s a fundamental part of his training.

Before I went to America I got myself nice and fit with Joe Gallagher in Manchester and Joe came over (To America) with me and when I came back I was working with Joe as well. In between a 10 week training camp I just tick over.

Anson Wainwright – Your big friends with Ricky Hatton, can you tell us about how you first became friends? How close are you these days?

Matthew Macklin – Well like you said we were good friends we sparred a lot together. I was in his corner when he fought Mayweather and lots of fights. He worked my corner with Billy Graham on a few of mine and we were good buddy’s. I signed a 3 fight promotional deal, I only had the one. It didn’t quite work out I think for me or them and we agreed to part ways.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years growing up in Birmingham and how it took you into Boxing?

Matthew Macklin – I played a lot of sports when I was younger. I played Football (Soccer), Rugby, Gaelic Football, Hurling. I was into all sports but I also started Boxing at the age of 10. I think I started watching a few of the fights Larry Holmes against Tyson the Benn-Eubank kind of fights and just wanted to Box.

Anson Wainwright – When your not training for a fight what do you do with your time? What are your hobbies?

Matthew Macklin – I just enjoy not having to diet, get up and go running. I could do with getting a few more Hobbies, I have Boxing on the brain! I like Hurling & Gaelic Football in Ireland there sports I follow through the summer. This year believe it or not I haven’t fought since last December I was out in America for 7 weeks in February & March when I came back every week there was something new happening, this fight, that fight, this deal, that deal. I was over for the Khan fight, the Cotto fight. Literally every week there was something going on so it was hard to switch off from it because I was constantly thinking this fight or that fight might happen. So I was ticking over and on the phone talking to my manager all the time.

Anson Wainwright – At the start of your career you were a Light Middleweight, you struggled massively. What can you tell us about that? How comfortable are you at Middleweight? What is your walk around weight?

Matthew Macklin – I walk around about 185-190 which is around 13.3/13.4 when I go up there it’s when I’ve had a long break and you’ve over indulged in the fridge. Otherwise i walk around somewhere between 12/13 stone otherwise. I’m strong a Middleweight i feel strong and comfortable, at Light Middleweight it was just a bridge to far. I made the weight but couldn’t perform at it. I think even in the amateur’s I was at Light Middleweight I was winning gold medals all over. When the World Junior’s came about I brought myself down to Welterweight. Won my first fight, lost my second and although it was a bad decision I didn’t perform particularly well. When I won the Senior ABA’s I moved to Light Middleweight and went to a tournament in Greece I lost in the final to the number one in the world and he only beat me by a couple of points. Before the Moore fight the 8 rounder’s the signs were there I was doing 4 pounds in the sauna to make 11.3/11.4 so common sense would tell you move up 3 pounds not down 3. But sometimes your so in the zone that you just ignore it “I’ll be ok, I’ll do 10 weeks” But you live and learn.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your favourite fighter growing up?

Matthew Macklin – Sugar Ray Leonard, though completely different in styles Roberto Duran. I remember watching the DVD “The Fabulous Four” and loved all four fighters. All very different but Leonard was probably my favourite. I’ve come to like Mayweather. Obviously Manny Pacquiao is very exciting. Umm Marquez he’s coming to the end of the road but he’s been a very underrated fighter, he’s a great technian. David Haye’s very exciting to watch. I watch them all really.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the fans ahead of your fight?

Matthew Macklin – Just shame the Barker fight didn’t happen but I’m in great shape and we’ve had great sparring. This guy comes to forward and comes to fight. He’s not going to take a backward step and neither will I. I’m going to make sure it’s exciting. A win first and foremost. Because of my nature and style I don’t think I’m ever going to be in a really bad fight. I’m pretty aggressive, I throw punches and this guy doesn’t take a step backwards so it should be exciting. I hope everyone enjoys it and continues to watch my progress because I’m ranked in the top five by I think the WBC, WBA & IBF and with The Ring. It’s not a case of if, it’s a case of when. I’m going to take it with both hands. Other fighters might have the hype but I’m the real deal. I don’t only think I can win a title but dominate for 3 or 4 years to come.

Thanks for taking the time to speak to us Matthew.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

LOS ANGELES (SEPTEMBER 13, 2010)—This past Saturday night, undefeated Light Heavyweight prospect Sergey Kovalev kept his perfect knockout record intact with a first round stoppage over Kia Daniels at the famed Playboy Mansion.

Kovalev is quickly becoming one of the fastest risers in the Light Heavyweight division with his record now standing at 9-0 with nine knockouts.

All of Kovalev’s knockouts have come either in the first and second rounds.

The twenty-seven year old is a native of Chelyabinsk, Russia but has relocated to the United States and now resides in Los Angeles.

“We are very pleased with his progress”, said Egis Klimas who represents Kovalev.

“Not only has he shown great power by scoring all of these knockouts but he continues to improve and it won’t be long before we step up the competition in a major way and we believe that Sergey has what it takes to become a major force in the Light Heavyweight division”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, The October 2nd Super six Super Middleweight showdown between Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch will be postponed due to an Injury to Froch.

“We were informed [Monday] morning of a back injury that prohibits him to fight on Oct. 2, but that would allow him a fight about seven or eight weeks later,” Chris Meyer of Sauerland Event, Abraham’s promoter, told ESPN.com.

There is no new date set for the fight, however. Sauerland Event and Froch promoter Mick Hennessy need to huddle with Showtime as well as with their European broadcast partners to figure out a new date.

“Froch claims he has a back injury and the promoters are talking to [Showtime’s] Ken [Hershman] about a new date,” Showtime spokesman Chris DeBlasio told ESPN.com

SAN JOSE, CALIF. (Sept. 13, 2010) – Five months after their initial encounter, an exciting battle that ended prematurely due to an accidental poke in the eye, “Relentless” Roger Bowling will put his unbeaten record on the line one more time against “Vicious” Bobby Voelker in a collision of welterweights (170 pounds) in the main event of a STRIKEFORCE Challengers Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight card presented by Rockstar Energy Drink at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), on Friday, Oct. 22.

Undefeated prospect and Fresno resident Billy Evangelista will make his long-awaited return to the cage when he faces Waachiim “Native Warrior’’ Spiritwolf in a 165-pound catch weight bout. Heavyweight star and Madera, Calif. native Lavar “Big” Johnson will continue his miraculous return to the sport in a matchup against an opponent to be determined.

A special pre-sale ticket purchase opportunity for the event will take place for “STRIKEFORCE Insider” e-newsletter subscribers (http://STRIKEFORCE.com/insider.html), beginning at 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Sept. 15, and ending at 10 p.m. PT. on Thursday, Sept. 16. STRIKEFORCE Insiders will receive a special e-newsletter with the pre-sale code.

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 17, and will be available for purchase at the Save Mart Center box office, select Save Mart Supermarkets, all Ticketmaster locations (800) 745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and STRIKEFORCE’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).

The 5-foot-8, 27-year-old Bowling (8-0), of Columbus, Ohio, won a unanimous three-round technical decision over the 6-foot, 31-year-old Voelker (22-8), of Kansas City, Kan., during a STRIKEFORCE Challengers presentation on May 21 in Portland, Ore., on SHOWTIME.

Bowling, who trains in Cincinnati with, ironically, Team Vision, was ahead by the scores of 29-28 on the three judges’ scorecards when an excellent, crowd-pleasing fight was halted at 1:38 of the third round after he could not continue due to an unintentional poke in the right eye he had received.

The talented, aggressive-minded Bowling entered the fight, his STRIKEFORCE debut, with high expectations and the rising star lived up to the billing and his nickname as he punished Voelker, particularly during the majority of the first two rounds.

This will be the first start since for Bowling, a pro since June 2007 who had won his seven previous fights inside the distance, six of which came in the first round.

Voelker, who was in the midst of a major rally against Bowling when the bout came to a disappointing end, has maintained a busy schedule since turning pro in February 2006. He has fought once since the Bowling match, winning a hard-fought, three-round split decision over Cory Devela last July 23 on STRIKEFORCE Challengers at Everett, Wash.

It was the eighth victory in 11 starts for the hard-trying, determined Voelker, who registered a dramatic, come-from-behind second-round TKO (punches) over Erik Apple at STRIKEFORCE: Challengers on Nov. 20, 2009, in Kansas City.

“It was unfortunate and frustrating my last fight had to finish that way,’’ Bowling said. “I felt it ruined the first couple rounds that I worked really hard for. But it was just one of those things that can happen. If you get poked in the eye, you can’t open it. And if you can’t open your eye, they’re not going to let you fight.

“Both Roger and I have great hearts and I’m looking forward to doing it again with him.’’ said Voelker, whose left eye was cut in the first. Like he did against Apple, Voelker showed an incredible chin, heart and remarkable resolve and resiliency by staging a dramatic comeback in the third stanza after absorbing an inordinate amount of punishment in the first two rounds.

At the end of the second round, a seemingly exhausted Voelker impressively managed to take down Bowling. It was still going Voelker’s way at the outset of the third as he rocked Bowling, who had never had a fight go past two rounds, with combinations.

But shortly thereafter, moments after the referee had separated the fighters when they were clinched against the cage, one of the seams on the outside of Voelker’s gloves grazed Bowling’s right eye. Unable to continue, the fight went to the scorecards and Bowling got a decision based on the strength of the first two rounds.

“It’s an unfortunate thing,’’ Voelker said. “We had a great war and we just wanted to end it with a great war in the last 3:22. Things happen, accidents happen. He wasn’t able to see and couldn’t continue. He won the first two rounds so he got the decision. There it is. We can do it again. We’ll both be back.’’

The start for Evangelista (10-0, 1 No Contest), a Muay Thai specialist, will be his first since Nov. 6, 2009, when the 5-foot-8, 29-year-old earned a unanimous decision over hard-hitting brawler Jorge Gurgel at STRIKEFORCE Challengers at Save Mart Center. An injury sustained in the bout with Gurgel has kept Evangelista sidelined.

In his outing before last on May 15, 2009, on STRIKEFORCE Challengers, Evangelista fought Mike Aina. The result was initially ruled a victory by disqualification for Aina, but it was later overturned and ruled a no contest by the California State Athletic Commission after Evangelista appealed. Replays showed Evangelista’s knee struck Aina in the shoulder, not the head, as the referee originally believed.

Spiritwolf (8-6-1), a resident of San Diego, Calif., will make his debut for STRIKEFORCE. A two-fight winning streak and three-fight unbeaten streak (2-0-1) in 2010 ended for the 5-foot-8, four-year pro when he lost a decision to Delson Heleno on Sept. 4.

A Native-American who is of Navajo and Yaqui descent, Spiritwolf registered an impressive first-round TKO over Crafton Wallace in his outing before last on May 22.

Johnson, a second-round TKO (punches) winner over then-undefeated Lolohea Mahe last March 26 in the main event of STRIKEFORCE Challengers at Save Mart Center, will be making his second start since he was gunned down while attending a family barbeque during the July 4 holiday in 2009.

The 6-foot-2, 33-year-old Johnson survived three gunshot wounds sustained during the walk-by shooting that led to the death of a cousin. A father of two boys, ages eight and five, Johnson spent 30 days in a hospital, fighting for his life, and several more months rehabilitating.

Taking all that into consideration, he was pleased with his comeback performance, “I felt great,” he said. “The whole comeback thing was rough, but I took baby steps and came along. Now, I’m ready to fight again.’’

Save Mart Center doors will open for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event at 4:45 p.m. The first preliminary bout will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT. The first main card bout will start at 8 p.m.

About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.STRIKEFORCE.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

NEW YORK (Sept. 13, 2010) – Two-time champion and top world-ranked heavyweight superstar Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett has signed a multi-fight agreement to compete for world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE.

“STRIKEFORCE is the home of the best heavyweight division in the world and I’m proud to be able to call it my home now,” said the 32-year-old Barnett (29-5), an expert in catch wrestling who hails from Seattle, Wash.

“I’m looking forward to competing amongst the greatest fighters in the world and fighting my way to another world title.”

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Barnett became the youngest UFC champion in history at age 24 when he scored a second-round TKO (4:35) on MMA legend Randy “The Natural” Couture in Las Vegas, Nev., on March 22, 2002. In his sixth career fight, Barnett submitted wrestling and MMA legend Dan “The Beast” Severn with an armbar in the fourth round (1:21) in Hawaii.

In addition to his achievements in America, Barnett has spent a good portion of his career competing in top tier promotions overseas, including the now defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan where he notched memorable victories over the likes of Aleksander Emelianenko, Mark Hunt and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. On Oct. 21, 2006, Barnett took part in PRIDE’s first event on U.S. soil, submitting Pawel Nastula with a toe hold in the second round (3:04) at Las Vegas’s Thomas & Mack Center.

In 2008, Barnett competed in another Japanese promotion, Sengoku. After submitting (heel hook) Hidehiko Yoshida in Tokyo on March 5, 2008, Barnett returned to action on May 18, 2008, and earned a unanimous decision over top-ranked rival and fellow American Jeff “The Snowman” Monson.

Barnett signed an agreement to compete in Japan’s DREAM promotion earlier this year. Last March 22, he made his debut with the organization, submitting former K-1 tournament champion and devastating power puncher, “Mighty Mo” Siligia, with a kimura at 4:41 of the first round.

On July 10, Barnett followed up the strong showing with a first-round TKO (punches) over Geronimo dos Santos in the main event of a fight card in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

Passaic, NJ’s Glen Tapia (7-0, 5 KO’s) was slated to take on rugged veteran Edvan Barros last night in Las Vegas, NV, but the bout was scrapped due to a scheduling issue.

Tapia had a solid training camp and was ready to go however, the cancellation of another card prompted promoter Top Rank to put some of their fighters under contact on last night’s show, which forced them to can the Tapia-Barros fight.

Luckily for Tapia, his hard work and dedication to training wasn’t wasted. Tapia informed GSFS that he is leaving for Los Angeles this evening to spar with pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao leading up to his November 13 bout with Antonio Margarito.

The former amateur standout, who previously served as a sparring partner for Miguel Cotto, views everything that happened as a blessing.

“I am excited to get this opportunity to train with one of the greatest in the world,” said Tapia. “I am going to learn a lot from him and this will be a great step towards bettering my career.”

Tapia is also thrilled to share the squared circle with a fighter he admires and strives to model himself after.

“I am a big fan of (Pacquiao) and I really like the intensity he fights with because he goes in there to give the fans a show, beat his opponents up and knock them out. I like to do the same so working with him will make me better at what I do.”

Tapia’s next fight will take place October 30 in Atlantic City against an opponent TBA.

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

Mexican icon Erik Morales did not dare disappoint the crowd of over 50,000 on hand at the Monumental Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico celebrating in advance of Mexican Independence Day Saturday night, as he stopped Willie Limond in six rounds to notch his 50th career victory. Just two fights into his comeback, Morales seems to have shaken off much of the rust left from his retirement.

Limond (33-3, 8 KOs) of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom got off to a solid start. Limond, 143, showed solid defense as he blocked and parried a fair amount of the Morales, 143, offense for the first two rounds. While Limond may have been the naturally bigger guy, his eight kayos indicate that he is not much of a puncher. Morales (50-6, 35 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico was the heavy hitter in the fight, and that became clear as the fight progressed.

By the fourth round, Morales was asserting himself in the fight. Whereas Limond returned fire on even ground for the first few rounds, he was left defensive against Morales’ offensive pressure as the bout moved into the fifth round. In the sixth, Morales broke through with a vicious body shot that dropped Limond. While the Scot was clearly in pain, he was able to muster the energy to angrily punch the ground while taking referee Jay Nady’s count. Before the conclusion of the round, Morales dropped Limond twice more prompting the stoppage at 2:46 of the sixth.

Strangely, even though both fighters weighed in at the contracted 143-pounds, it was announced that the bout was for the WBC Silver Light Welterweight title. The light welterweight division limit, or super lightweight as the WBC calls it, is 140-pounds. Maybe even stranger, the WBC issued a press release earlier in the month that if Morales, the WBC #2 ranked light welterweight, defeated Limond, the Mexican legend would be made the mandatory challenger for the WBC Lightweight title. Morales has not made the lightweight limit of 135-pounds since August of 2007.

After the fight, Morales clearly stated his desire to campaign at lightweight. Looking ahead for Morales, the current WBC Lightweight Champion is Humberto Soto, who fights unheralded Fidel Monterrosa Munoz on September 18th in Mexico. Reportedly, Soto has a title defense against Marco Antonio Barrera in the offing. Should Barrera defeat Soto, it goes without saying that a Barrera-Morales IV would be the biggest fight either fighter’s handlers could make.

In a thrilling fight, WBC #1 ranked flyweight/IBF #5 108-pounder Edgar Sosa (40-6, 23 KOs) of Mexico City stopped game Filipino Ryan Bito (18-7-3, 6 KOs) of Sucat, Muntinlupa City, Philippines to win the WBC International Flyweight title.

Bito, the WBC #16 ranked flyweight, fought on even ground with Sosa, 111.76, early on in the bout, but eventually wilted to the Mexican’s vicious attack. Sosa supporters had reason to worry early on, as an accidental head clash opened a cut on his forehead in the third round. The blood seemed to give Bito, 110.26, additional confidence, as he landed several hard shots in the third and fourth.

Another accidental clash late in the fourth opened another cut on Sosa’s forehead late in the fourth. With two bad cuts bleeding steadily before the fight had gone long enough to become official, the bout was in danger of being stopped as a no contest. Especially considering Bito, fighting in North America for the first time, was having considerable success – it would not have been a surprise if the Mexican official stopped the fight at that convenient juncture.

Just as it seemed Sosa was in trouble, he rocked Bito just before the bell to end the fourth. As the fight entered into the middle rounds and the blood coming from his cuts stopped flowing, Sosa began to control the action. Sosa, in his third fight as a flyweight since dropping his WBC 108-pound title in controversial fashion to Rodel Mayol, varied his attack to Bito’s body and head, and started backing up the Filipino.

One minute into the tenth, Sosa dropped Bito with a horrid left body shot. Bito looked done, but gamely rose to his feet, and immediately entered into a fiery exchange with Sosa. A minute later, Sosa dropped Bito again with the same exact shot. Again Bito got up before the count of ten, but referee Guadalupe Garcia wisely stopped the contest. Official time of the stoppage was 2:05 of round ten. “I’d like to have one more fight before I fight for the title,” said Sosa after the fight.

Ana Maria Torres (22-3-2, 13 KOs) of Mexico City pleased her compatriots on hand at the bullring with an almost shockingly dominant ten-round unanimous decision over Alesia Graf (24-2, 9 KOs) of Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany to retain her WBC Super Flyweight title. Torres, 114.4, dropped Graf, 114.4, twice in the third round and continued to control the entire fight. Graf, the reigning WIBF/GBU 122-pound title-holder, not only had the superior boxing skills of Torres to deal with, she slipped at several instances on the rain dampened mat. Torres seemed on the verge of scoring a stoppage in the ninth, but Graf managed to make it the distance. All three judges scored the bout for Torres, 100-88.

Photos by Notimex

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

Yuriorkis Gamboa suffered the fifth knockdown of his career but like the other four, he got off the deck and won. Gamboa scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Orlando Salido to regain his WBA and capture the IBF Featherweight championship at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gamboa boxed nicely and took most of the first six rounds by landing shots and moving in and out. Salido, the cagey veteran that he is made the fight a raggedy one as he bored in and either tied up Gamboa or landed some pitter pat combinations

In round eight, Salido connected on a perfect right to the chin and dropped Gamboa for the fifth time in his young career. Gamboa got things going again in round ten when he landed a combination that he followed up with a huge left hook that bucked the knees of Salido. In round eleven, Gamboa trapped Salido in the corner and landed a combination. While in the corner, the two clashed heads and a bad cut opened up on the right side of Salido’s forehead.

The twelfth was a wild when as Gamboa dropped Salido with a quick left hook. Gamboa went to end things and actually sent Salido to the canvas again but while Salido was down Gamboa landed a shot to the back of the head. Referee Joe Cortez immediately docked two points from Gamboa. Not much happened in the last moment and Gamboa held on for the victory

Gamboa of Cuba won by scores of 114-109; 115-109 and 116-109 to stay undefeated at 19-0. Salido of Mexico, actually lost his belt on the scales at the second day weigh in as he gained twelve pounds over night when IBF by laws only allow a ten pound gain. Salido is now 34-11-2.

Brandon Rios scored a disqualification victory over Anthony Peterson in a scheduled twelve round Lightweight bout.

The two went to war ealy as they stood in the pocket and started throwing heavy punches in close. In round two, Rios started to impose his will as he started landing wicked uppercuts that got Peterson’s attention. Rios continued to pound away at Peterson and hurting him on several occasions.

In round five, Rios landed a big left hook that dropped Peterson for the first time in his career. clearly shaken, Peterson’s shots started straying low and in the next round he was deducted twice for low blows. Ironically Peterson seemed to have been steadying himself for two round until a left that went below the belt just as the bell rang to end round seven and referee Russell Mora waved the fight off due to the excessive low blows.

Rios of Oxnard, CA is now 25-0-1. Peterson is now 30-1.

Diego Magdaleno scored a fifth round stoppage over Carlos Oliveira in a scheduled six round Lightweight bout.

Magdaleno dropped Oliveira with a right hook in round two and hurt him badly again with the same punch in the next round. Magdaleno kept up the pressure until referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bout at 1:13 of round five.

Magdaleno, 131 lbs of Las Vegas is now 16-0 with four knockouts. Oliveira, 134 1/2 lbs of Brazil is now 25-2

Notre Dame Grad Mike Lee made easy work of Alex Rivera by stopping him at 2:59 of round two of a scheduled four round Light Heavyweight bout.

Lee, 176 1/2 lbs of Wheaton, IL is now 2-0 with one knockouts. Rivera, 173 lbs of Las Vegas is now 2-3.

Seventeen year old wunderkind, Jose Benavidez scored his eighth consecutive knockout in as many fights as he took out Manuel Del Cid in round two of a scheduled six round Lightweight bout.

Benavidez scored well with a hard body shot that hurt Del Cid in round one. He hit Del Cid with similar shot in round two that backed Del Cid into the corner and landed a couple more shots before referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bout forty-one seconds into round two.

Benvavidez, 138 1/2 lbs of Phoenix, Arizona is 8-0 with eight knockouts. Del Cid, 138 1/2 lbs of Los Angeles is 4-3.

Matt Korobov remained undefeated by scoring an eight round unanimous decision over Anthony Greenridge.

It was a good fight with Greenridge trying hard against the much more skilled Korobov. Greenridge was cut badly around the right eye by Korobov’s combination punching. Korobov had a varied attack of body and head punches. Greenridge’s cut worsened in the final round and was rocked hard on the chin midway through the final stanza.

Korobov, 160 lbs of Russia won by scores of 79-73 on all cards and remained undefeated at 12-0. Greenridge, 159 lbs of Atlanta is now 14-5-1

Photos By Chris Farina / Top Rank

Follow all the action as Yuriorkis Gamboa puts his WBA Featherweight title on the line when he takes on IBF champion Orlando Salido from the Palms in Las Vegas. The action begins at 10pm eastern with an intriguing battle of undefeated Lightweight’s featuring Anthony Peterson and Brandon Rios.

REFRESH AFTER EACH ROUND

12 Rounds WBA/IBF Featherweight championship–Yuriorkis Gamboa (18-0, 15 KO’s) vs. Orlando Salido (34-10-2, 22 KO’s)

Round 1 Good right from Gamboa..Handpeed from Gamboa…right to the body…10-9 Gamboa

Round 2 left from Salido..Gamboa lands a jab..20-19 Gambia

Round 3: Gamboa lands a big flurry..Good right from Salido…30-28 Gamboa

Round 4 Good jab from Gamboa…Lead left..left hook to the body…40-37 Gamboa

Round 5 Good left from Gamboa..Salido lands a sneaky right..50-47 Gamboa

Round 6 Raggedy action with Gamboa getting in a few shots…60-57 Gamboa

Round 7 Lots of holding and clutching..Gamboa lands a shot after the bell..70-67 Gamboa

Round 8 Right from Gamboa…HARD RIGHT FROM SALIDO AND DOWN GOES GAMBOA…Right from Salido…Left From Gamboa…78-77 Gamboa

Round 9 Left from Salido..Guys feet get tangled and both hit the canvas..87-87

Round 10 Combination and good left hurts Salido..97-96 Gamboa

Round 11 Gamboa lands a lead left hook and a right..Salido cut above left eye and doctor looks at it..accidental headbutt ruled..lead uppercut from Gamboa..107-105 Gamboa

Round 12 QUICK LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES SALIDO…Good left right combination..Left ..Hard combination and down goes Salido…Cortez saying Saildo was hit while he was down…Cortez deducts 2 points from Gamboa…115-112 Gamboa

12 Rounds Lightweights–Anthony Peterson (30-0, 20 KO’s) vs Brandon Rios (24-0-1, 18 KO’s)

Round 1: Trading body combination..Jab from Rios…good uppercut shakes Peterson..Good right and another from Peterson…10-10

Round 2: Uppercut from Rios..Good combination…right…left..Peterson lands a counter..Right from Rios snaps Peterson;s head back..good left hook to the body from Peterson..20-19 Rios

Round 3: Big uppercut from Rios…left uppercut…right..hook to the head..left..hook to the body..Peterson lands a left, right, counter right and 2 body shots..30-28 Rios

Round 4 Combination hurts Peterson..left hook..uppercut…hard left hurts Peterson..left hurts him again…uppercut inside,,,40-37 Rios

Round 5 Rios lands a good jab..ripping right…Short left…Peterson lands a left..BIG LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES PETERSON..50-45 Rios

Round 6 Peterson double jab..Low blow landed by Peterson and is warned..LOW BLOW AND PETERSON IS DEDUCTED A POINT…ANOTHER LOW BLOW AND A 2ND POINT IS DEDUCTED……59-53 Rios

Round 7 Rios lands an uppercut..Peterson lands a body shot..left and right from Peterson..Rios with a right..Peterson with a left..combination..left right staggers Peterson…nice combination..LOW BLOW AT THE BELL AND PETERSON GETS DISQUALIFIED

Wladimir Klitschko was dominant against as he reatined the Ring Magazine/IBF/WBO Heavyweight championship with a tenth round beatdown of Samuel Peter in a rematch of a bout from five years ago at in front of nearly 40,000 onlookers The Commerce Bank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany.

It was a typical fight for Klitschko as he dominated the fight with his jab that was consistently followed by a hard right hand. Peter’s eye began to swell as early as round two as a result of that jab. Klitschko continuously landed that same combination and forced Peter to be relegated to nothing more then attempted winging shots and seemed almost too happy to clinch on the inside.

Peter’s trainer Abel Sanchez tried to motivate his man after the seventh round by threatening to the stop the fight unless Peter started moving his hand. Peter tried in spots but it was was attempted shot at a time as he began to have a look of defeat on his face as his right eye closed.

Klitschko landed an uppercut in tenth that wobbled the challenger that followed up by a flurry of punches that were mostly glancing but it was enough to put Peter on his back that forced referee Robert Byrd to stop the fight at 1:22 of round twn.

Klitschko, 247 lbs of Kiev, Ukraine made the ninth title defense of this reign, and now fourteenth title defense overall and his record is now 55-3 with forty-nine knockouts.

Peter, 241 1/2 lbs of Las Vegas is now 34-4 with three of his four loss coming to the Klitschko brothers.

Steve Molitor traveled to England and retained the IBF Jr. Featherweight title with a hard fought majority decision over Jason Booth in Houghton, England.

The bout was fought at close quarters with Molitor being just a bit more active and landing the better punchers against Booth, who was visibly the smaller man yet continued to come forward. Molitor had a big eighth round as he pounded Booth on the ropes but was unable to noticeably hurt the challenger.

The fight was close down the stretch with many of the rounds being close.

Molitor of Mississauga, Canada made the first defense of his second reign as champion. He has made five defenses of the belt in his tour as champion, won by scores of 116-112; 116-113 and 114-114 to raise his impressive mark to 33-1.

Booth of Nottingham, England is 35-6

Fresh off his minor upset win over Chris Avalos, Christopher Martin was workmanlike before stopping Jose Luis Araiza in the eighth and final scheduled round of their Featherweight bout at the Four Points Hilton in San Diego, California.

Martin enjoyed a size advantage and that allowed him to do what he needed to do but Araiza was tough as he tried to press the action and wasn’t afraid to stand toe to toe on occasion.

Midway through round seven, Martin scored a knockdown with a hard right hand. Martin ended things with a left at 2:03 of the final round.

Martin, 123 lbs of San Diego is now 20-0-2 with six knockouts. Araiza, 124 lbs of Mexico is now 32-3.

John O’Donnell scored a twelve round decision over former U.S. Olympian Terrance Cauthen at Old York Hall in London, England.

O’Donnell was the more active of the two combatants as Cauthen tried to dart in and out and tie up on the inside. O’Donnell picked up the tempo as the fight moved into the later rounds which was ironic since it’s Cauthen who has fought many more rounds in his pro career then O’Donnell.

The score by the referee was 118-112 for O’Donnell, 146.9 lbs of Sheperds Bush, England and is now 24-1. Cauthen, 147.1 lbs of Trenton, NJ is now 35-7.

Massive young Heavyweight Tyson Fury scored an eight round decision over late replacement Rich Power in a battle of undefeated fighters.

Fury was particularly effective with his long right hand that continued to push Power back. the effects of that punch was evident as Power was cut around the left eye in the third round but the blood was not a factor during the fight. Despite his 6’9″ frame, Fury fought very well on the inside with the exception of one big uppercut that Power landed in round six.

Power was exhausted down the stretch but made it to the finish line. Referee Jefferey Hinds was the only scorer and he saw a shutout, 80-72 in favor of Fury, 263 lbs of Manchester, England and is now 12-0. Power, 221 1/2 lbs of San Diego is 12-1.

“Power was a bit more awkward than I expected,” Fury said. “He was slipping and sliding all over the place but I handled him well enough to win each round.”

“When I weighed in at 221, I knew I was in trouble,” said Power, who was outweighed by 40-plus pounds. “But I refused to give up and I think I proved to his crowd that I have heart and desire. I love to fight.”

Sarah Kaufman To Risk Women’s Crown Against Marloes Coenen
At HP Pavilion Live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK (Sept. 10, 2010) – On a night when STRIKEFORCE will present a World Championship Doubleheader that includes a grudge rematch between defending welterweight champion Nick Diaz and KJ Noons, former STRIKEFORCE belt-holder and local favorite Josh Thomson (17-3) will meet world-ranked Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (15-3-1) of Brazil in an important lightweight fight Saturday, Oct. 9, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

The winner between Thomson and Cavalcante, both world-ranked at 155 pounds, could be next up to challenge STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez.

Healthy again after injuries sidelined him for 15 months in 2008-‘09, Thomson turned back a determined bid from game Pat “Bam Bam’’ Healy of Portland, Ore., to score a hard-fought, third-round submission in his most recent start last June 26 at HP Pavilion.

The popular, exciting, crowd-pleasing Thomson earned the victory over Healy in a tight, even match via rear-naked choke at 4:27 of the third despite injuring his ribs along the way.

In his first effort back after the lengthy layoff, Thomson, who shut out Melendez across five rounds to capture the STRIKEFORCE world 155-pound belt on June 27, 2008, lost a thrilling rematch to Melendez by the scores of 49-46 twice and 49-47 on Dec. 19, 2009, at HP Pavilion.

“Fans expect me to fight guys the caliber of JZ and so do I. I want to fight all the best lightweights,’’ said the 5-foot-10 Thomson, who turns 32 on Sept. 21. “Right now STRIKEFORCE has a bunch of top fighters at 155 pounds. There’s always going to be talk about a third fight with Gilbert, but that will come when the time is right.

“In the meantime, I need to keep taking it one fight at a time and I need to continue to win. There are plenty of great fights out there for me, and this is definitely one of them.’’

A prominent member of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, Thomson is 9-1 in his last 10 starts.

It will be the eagerly awaited STRIKEFORCE debut for Cavalcante, a former consensus top five-ranked lightweight and two-time K-1 Hero’s lightweight Grand Prix champion who signed with the San Jose-based organization earlier this year.

Not unlike Thomson, Cavalcante has had to fight through injuries the last few years — most significantly, a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee that sidelined him for several months.

“I train very hard against very good guys every day,’’ said the 5-foot-8, 27-year-old Cavalcante, a top performer in Japan the last few years who is coming off a split decision victory over Katsunori Kikuno last July 10 at DREAM 15 in Japan. It was JZ’s first start in nearly 13½ months, the longest layoff of his career.

“I think I could have performed better in my last fight,’’ JZ said, “but it was my first in a long time and ring rust was a factor. But, now, I feel great and I’m excited to be able to get back to doing what I love to do.’’

After suffering his initial pro loss in his third outing in July 2004, Cavalcante went 12-0-1 before fighting a hotly disputed No Contest with former world No. 2-ranked lightweight, Shinya Aoki, in a March 2008 fight that was called due to illegal elbow strikes. Six weeks later, he dropped a decision to Aoki in a match in which the Brazilian sustained a severely bruised rib and tore cartilage in his costal area.

Cavalcante has performed in Japan for several years so he doesn’t figure to be intimidated by the surroundings when he faces Thomson on his home turf.

“I’m happy to be 100 percent healthy and fighting in America,’’ JZ said. “Once the bell sounds, it will just be Thomson and I in there. This is a tremendous opportunity to re-establish myself against a former world champion. The fight is very important. The winner could be fighting for the STRIKEFORCE title.’’

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE: Diaz vs. Noons II are on sale at Ticketmaster.com, at the HP Pavilion ticket office, or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Doors will open at 4 p.m. PT. The first live, non-televised fight is at 4:30 p.m.

Diaz (22-7, 1 NC) will defend against Noons (9-1) in the main event. Diaz, of Stockton, Calif., has not lost a fight since he faced Noons, losing via disputed first-round TKO on Nov. 7, 2007. He has won seven in a row. Noons, of San Diego, Calif., has won his last six fights, including the thrilling slugfest against Diaz that ended when a cageside physician halted the proceedings due to excessive cuts around Diaz’ eyes.

In the co-feature, undefeated STRIKEFORCE Women’s Welterweight World Champion Sarah Kaufman (12-0) of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, will make the second defense of her 135-pound title against No. 1 contender and Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen (17-4).

Another featured fight will pit an emerging star, up-and-coming Luke Rockhold (7-1), of Santa Cruz, Calif., against the vastly more experienced, 2000 Olympic Games wrestling silver medalist, Matt “The Law” Lindland (22-7), of Oregon City, Ore., in a middleweight (185 pounds) contest.

About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.

NEW YORK (Sept. 10, 2010) – After registering the strongest victory of his career, world-ranked welterweight Freddy “El Riel’’ Hernandez (28-1, 1 NC, 19 KOs) of Lynwood, Calif., returns to the ring when he meets former world champion Mike Anchondo (30-2, 19 KOs) of La Puente, Calif., in the main event on ShoBox: The New Generation LIVE on Friday, Sept. 17, on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

One of the most talented amateurs to come out of Cuba in the past decade, 2004 Olympian Luis Franco (6-0, 5 KOs), puts his unbeaten record on the line against Wilton “Pretty Warrior’’ Hilario (12-1-1, 9 KOs), of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, in an eight-round super featherweight bout in the co-feature at Buffalo Bills Resort & Casino in Primm, Nev.

This will be the second consecutive main event against a former world champion and third appearance on ShoBox for the 5-foot-10-inch, 31-year-old Hernandez, a nine-year pro who hasn’t lost since February 2005.

“I’m moving up the ladder and making a name for myself but at this point of my career I know I can’t afford to lose,’’ Hernandez said. “I need to earn respect and the only way to do that is to keep winning, crack the top 10 and prove I can defeat the elite fighters at 147 pounds. I want to fight for a world title.’’

Last Feb. 5 on ShoBox, the World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 11-ranked contender scored a brutal fifth-round knockout over ex-world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop’’ Corley in Santa Ynez, Calif. In the most difficult assignment of his career, Hernandez broke open a close fight with one booming, dramatic right hand that left Corley flat on his back at 1:48.

“That was definitely my biggest victory,” said Hernandez, who was born in Mexico City. “To knock out an experienced former champion who never gets knocked out was great.’’

In his ShoBox debut Oct. 23, 2009, Hernandez survived a 10th-round rally to take a unanimous 10-round decision and snap a 12-fight winning streak over southpaw Damian Frias. Hernandez collected the World Boxing Council (WBC) Latino crown by three scores of 98-92.

Anchondo, a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight belt-holder, has steadily moved up in weight in recent years. The 5-foot-5, 28-year-old tipped the scale at 144 pounds or more for each of his three fights in 2009, all of which he won.

In his most recent outing, he eked out an eight-round split decision over previously unbeaten Mauricio Herrera last Dec. 4 at Santa Ynez on ShoBox.

“I’m looking forward to this fight because I know Hernandez is a tough fighter, just like Herrera was,’’ said Anchondo, who got the narrow nod over Herrera by the scores of 77-75 twice and 73-79. “He’s going to come to fight, which is exactly what I want and need.

“My whole career, there hasn’t been the right opposition in front of me. When I don’t see any challenges, I don’t challenge myself. But I’m excited and will be ready to go.”

Anchondo, who turned pro on May 6, 2000, captured the vacant WBO 130-pound with a unanimous 12-round decision over Julio Chacon on July 15, 2004, in Dallas.

Franco was a standout Cuban amateur, winning the majority of his 400 bouts. In 2000, at the age of 14, he won a junior world championship. Early on some of his toughest fights came against teammates, all of whom are off to fine starts as pros: Guillermo Rigondeaux is 6-0, Erislandy Lara is 13-0 and current World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight titleholder Yuriorkis Gamboa, whom he defeated twice in four amateur fights, is 19-0.

Franco retired from amateur boxing in January 2008 and defected from the island nation known for its boxing and baseball in 2009, leaving his wife and child behind in Havana. He turned pro on July 31, 2009.

As Franco’s career has advanced, so has the length of his fights. His first three bouts ended inside one round. The fourth fight went to the third, the fifth to the fourth. The furthest he’s gone – and the most difficult fight he’s had — came in his last start when he had to rally from a knockdown to score a fifth-round TKO over Yogli Herrera on Aug. 13 in Tampa, Fla.

The 5-foot-8 Franco got dropped from a left hook in the third. But he rebounded to deck Herrera in the fourth with a right hand to the temple. In the fifth, Franco dropped Herrera again, this time with a counter left hook, and the match was stopped at 2:52.

Given his past success, it is not surprising that Franco feels he’s prepared for the division’s upper echelon. “I’m ready to take on all the top guys,” he said. “I want to fight Juan Manuel Lopez and Gamboa again. I fought Gamboa as an amateur. I fought Lara and Rigondeaux as an amateur. I can fight anybody right now. I came here to rip heads and I’d like to fight for a world title before my 10th fight.”

Hilario, a boxer-puncher who doesn’t mind mixing it up, went 8-0 after going pro in September 2005, boxed an eight-round draw and then manufactured a four-fight winning streak before suffering his first defeat on a 12-round decision to heavily favored Martin Honorio last March 5 in Temecula, Calif.

A resident of Saint Louis Park, Minn., Hilario has competed consistently well in Minnesota and in the Midwest. Two of his finest performances came in back-to-back fights before Honorio. Hilario secured a dominant eight-round decision over southpaw Leon Bobo in a pleasingly aggressive performance on Nov. 13, 2009, in Hinckley, Minn. He scored a fifth-round TKO over Allen Litzeau in an All-Minnesota showdown the previous April 18 in Minneapolis.

The 5-foot-10, 27-year-old Hilario came up short in his first step-up but the experience he got from going the distance with Honorio, unquestionably the most seasoned and talented opponent he’s faced, could prove invaluable against a virtually untested Franco.

“I learned so much from that fight and I’m confident I’ll put it to use in my next fight,’’ Hilario said. “This is a great opportunity I’m getting. I look forward to fighting on SHOWTIME and giving Franco his first loss. A win puts me right back to where I need to be.’’

Doors of Star of the Desert Arena will open at 5:30 p.m. PT with the first bout at 6. Tickets are $10 and $50. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.primmvalleyresorts.com . The event is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.

Curt Menefee will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver serving as expert analysts. Gordon Hall is the executive producer of ShoBox with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. The growing list of fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Leonard Dorin, Scott Harrison, Juan Diaz, Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Joan Guzman, Juan Urango, David Diaz, Robert Guerrero, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Malignaggi, Kendall Holt, Timothy Bradley, Bernard Dunne, Yonnhy Perez, Yuri Foreman, Andre Ward and, most recently, Cornelius Bundrage.

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 Channel™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. 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®.

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
JASON BOOTH is ready to anger big fight rival Steve Molitor, by taunting him about his brother who is in jail for MURDER.

The Canadian (32-1) star defends his IBF world super-bantamweight title against Booth (35-5) at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring tomorrow night (sat 11/9).

Nottingham’s Booth is a big underdog, but been tipped off that the champion hates being sledged in the ring.

Molitor’s brother Jeremy was sentenced to life in prison back in May 2005 after being convicted of second degree murder, although he can apply for parole in 2016.

He became embroiled in a car park row with a former girlfriend and stabbed her 58 times before she bled to death.

Molitor is so close to Jeremy that he is allowed to spend occasional weekends with Jeremy in Millhaven Penitentiary, Ontario.

Booth’s trainer Tony Harris said: “Molitor’s got issues. In fact, we’re going to talk to him.

“One of my former fighters, Ricardo Samms boxed for England against Canada in amateur competition.

“He was told by one of Molitor’s team-mates that if you start talking to him he loses his composure.

“What could Jason say to him? Is that your best shot, how is your brother? How is your bro.?”

Harris has been a father-figure to recovering alcoholic and one time drug use Booth since the fighter begged him for money in a strip club seven years ago.

Harris recalled: “We were celebrating one of my fighter’s wins in a t*ty bar, and he kept pestering me to lend him £20 quid.

“I told him I wanted to speak to him privately but drink had set in.

“From there I tried to rehabilitate him and it took me a year to 14 months to get his head right.

“I was on his case two or three in the morning, watching him. I lost my wife, took a lot of shit. I rented a house for him, paid the rent out my own money.

“We went through a bit but he always showed me respect, when he went wrong, he always apologised. He’s done me justice now and deserves this chance.”

In the chief supporting bout to, British featherweight champion Martin Lindsay (16-0) boxes a non-title eight rounder Belarusian Yauheni Kruhlik (10-12-2)

Local stars in action include Tony Jeffries (7-0-1), Jon Lewis Dickinson (8-1), Travis Dickinson (6-0), Trevor Crewe (2-2), Gary Fox (2-0), Kirk Goodings (4-0), Martin Ward (8-0), George Watson (8-1-2), and debutant Glen Foot.

There are still a few tickets available on the door or guarantee a seat by calling 0871 226 1508, 0191 564 0202 or www.frankmaloney.com. VIP Ringside are £95 with £35.

TO HEAR THE TONY HARRIS INTERVIEW GO TO www.frankmaloney.com and go to videos

BROOKLYN, NY (September 10, 201O)—Fresh off one of the best boxing shows of 2010, Havoc Boxing Promotions will return to the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn that will feature world ranked Super Middleweight, Curtis “Showtime” Stevens in the ten round main event.

Bouts featuring Undefeated Light Heavyweight Will Rosinsky, undefeated Welterweight and former U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali as well as undefeated Featherweight Joselito Collado will serve as the co-features on the loaded card.

Stevens, of the boxing hotbed of the Brownsville section of Brooklyn is one of the most feared punchers in the Super Middleweight division and has a record of 21-3 with fifteen knockouts.

Stevens started out his career as one of the most ballyhooed prospects in boxing as he racked up thirteen straight victories with eleven knockouts. After suffering a controversial stoppage defeat to veteran Marcos Primera, Stevens scored a eight round unanimous decision in the rematch that took place four months later.

After winning four consecutive bouts, Stevens dropped a ten round unanimous decision to former U.S. Olympian Andre Dirrell in a bout that was shown on HBO.

Stevens went on to win four consecutive bouts which included a three round pounding over then undefeated Piotr Wilczewski (22-0) in front of predominantly Polish crowd in Newark, New Jersey.

In Stevens last bout, he came out strong before dropping a twelve round unanimous decision to former member of the Contender Jesse Brinkley (34-5) in an IBF title elimination bout on January 29 in Brinkley’s hometown of Reno, Nevada.

Uundefeated Light Heavyweight Will Rosinsky will see action an eight round bout against Miguel Hernandez.

Rosinsky has a record of 12-0 with seven knockouts and has quickly become one of the most popular fighters in the New York area.

The native of Brooklyn has developed a string fan base as he has fought eleven of his twelve pro bouts in New York and has been steadily stepping up the competition.

In his last bout, Rosinsky made his second appearance at the famed Madison Square Garden and stopped Angel David Gonzalez in three rounds as part of the Ivan Calderon – Jesus Iribe undercard that took place on June 12th.

Ali of Brooklyn, New York is fast becoming one of the best prospects in the United States as the twenty-one year old has improved in each bout and is growing into his power.

After winning his first seven bouts and only three by knockout, Ali has stepped the competition and has shown tremendous punching prowess in disposing tough Philadelphia fighter Julias Edmonds on July 16th in Newark, New Jersey.

In his last bout, Ali had his most impressive outing to date has he stopped iron chinned Lennin Arroyo in five rounds on August 21st as part of the Tomasz Adamek – Michael Grant Pay Per View Undercard

Collado of Queens, New York has quietly racked up eleven straight wins with three knockouts to begin his pro career.

The Featherweight has some nice wins on his ledger which includes his first round destruction of Philadelphia prospect Jules Blackwell (8-2-2) and his last outing when he outboxed upset specialist Andreas Ledesma on August 7th at The Aviator Sports Complex.

A terrific undercard is being assembled that will include welterweight Anthony Irons (3-0-1, 2 KO’s) of the Bronx; Light Heavyweight Seanie Monaghan (2-0, 2 KO’s); Lightweight Michael Brooks (1-0, 1 KO)of Long Island, NY; Lightweight Shemuel Pagan (1-0) of Brooklyn, NY; and Ex Army Lieutenant Boyd Melson will make his pro debut in a four round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Tickets for this special night of boxing are priced at $50 for all seats and can be purchased at the Following Locations:

The Aviator Box Office
Gleasons Gym (718) 797 2872
Sadam Ali Boxing & Fitness Center (917) 807 3630
New Legend Boxing Club (718) 487 4474

The Aviator Sports Complex is located at:

3159 Flatbush Ave – Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234

For more information on Havoc Boxing, Click:
www.havocboxingnyc.com

Fourteen-year veteran Orlando Salido rode an up-and-down career en route to winning the IBF Featherweight title earlier this year – a win that has netted him a high profile bout against flashy offensive wizard Yuriorkis Gamboa at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada tomorrow. Though he does carry the tag of champion into this unification bout, his role as of now is that of a supporting player. Gamboa is the attraction, and few give Salido much of a chance of pulling off the upset.

The last time Salido (34-10-2, 22 KOs) of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico found himself inside a Las Vegas ring was also the last time he had an opportunity to springboard himself into the spotlight as a major player in the featherweight division. Fighting in the main supporting bout underneath the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Carlos Baldomir main event at the Mandalay Bay in November 2006, Salido completely outfought rising star Robert Guerrero to claim the IBF title. Finally, after a long journeyman’s career, Salido had broken through.

So it seemed.

Two days after scoring the biggest win of his career, Salido’s post-fight urinalysis, as conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, tested positive for the banned steroid Nandrolone. The result of the bout was changed to a no decision, and Salido’s title was stripped. Salido had a follow-up test taken at the nationally known blood lab LabCorp, which found him negative of any steroids. It should be noted that Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body in minute quantities. “I said I never took steroids or any performance-enhancing drugs and the lab tests prove it,” Salido was quoted as saying by the SportingLife.com after the second test.

While Salido may have felt vindicated by the second test, he remained suspended for nine months and did not fight again until scoring an eight-round decision over journeyman Marty Robbins the following September. In his next fight, Salido knocked out Hector Julio Avila in an IBF sanctioned title eliminator. Salido, who had publicly called for a Guerrero rematch in the aftermath of their first encounter, appeared set to get his wish granted. At the time Salido was made the mandatory challenger, Guerrero had already regained the IBF title.

Two months after Salido stopped Avila, Guerrero successfully defended his belt against Jason Litzau and soon thereafter vacated, stating his desire to move up in weight. Salido would not get the chance to prove the legitimacy of his victory over Guerrero, and was instead matched with fellow longtime Mexican journeyman Cristobal Cruz for the vacant title. In an exciting fight, Salido would drop a twelve-round decision that could have easily gone his way.

After Salido posted two wins over nondescript opposition, Cruz granted him a rematch this past May. In a fight that took place in Ciudad Obregon, far from the bright lights of Las Vegas or American television cameras, Salido dropped Cruz twice and scored a decisive decision win to claim the title. It was a big win, a title-claiming victory no less, but not one the magnitude of the triumph that slipped through his fingers in November of 2006.

Not until this Saturday has Salido had the kind of opportunity he had against Guerrero four years ago. Gamboa, the WBA Featherweight title holder, may have even more cache in the sport now than did Guerrero when Salido had his crack at him. Gamboa has made a swift rise from touted former Cuban amateur star to HBO headliner. He has a skill set and physical tools like few others we have seen in recent years. “I know how good he is,” said Salido at a Wednesday press conference. “But I also know I am capable of winning this fight and that is why I am here.”

It is hard to envision a scenario in which Salido, in spite of how rugged and willing he is, finds a way to unseat the Cuban virtuoso Saturday. However, boxing history tells the tale of many who have taken advantage of similar second chances. Four years in the making, Salido has his.

NOTES

-Several big fight nights have taken place in Las Vegas on the Saturday before Mexican Independence Day over the years, but one would think that there may not be an influx of Mexicans headed to Sin City to support Sonora’s Orlando Salido this year. Part of the reason being that Mexican icon Erik Morales goes for his 50th win against Willie Limond in Mexico City on the same day.

Morales (49-6, 34 KOs) ended a 31-month sabbatical looking much pudgier with twelve-round decision over former lightweight belt holder Jose Alfaro. That fight took place at 147-pounds, while Saturday’s will have a limit of 140-pounds. Curiously the WBC issued a press release stating that should Morales win, he will be implemented as the mandatory challenger for their lightweight title, which has a limit of 135-pounds.

-Integrated Sports will distribute the Morales-Limond pay-per-view event in the United States. Holding down the commentary duties will be long tenured play-by-play man Colonel Bob Sheridan and analyst Benny Ricardo. Three weeks ago, Sheridan and Ricardo held those same positions ringside in Puerto Rico for the Ivan Calderon-Giovanni Segura title unification bout. In the opening moments of the broadcast, the duo gave a puzzling endorsement for Javier Capetillo, the trainer who had his license revoked for the Antonio Margarito hand-wrapping controversy.

Capetillo is now a part of the Segura training team, and had attempted to gain a license to work the corner in Puerto Rico. Capetillo was eventually denied a license and therefore not allowed to work the corner, as he had done for Segura recently in Mexico.

Shortly after stating that if Capetillo were indeed guilty of what he is accused, they could “hang him,” Sheridan introduced Ricardo who took the time to defend the disgraced trainer. “I had the bandages right up on top, they were all together. I accidentally grabbed the old ones and ended up wrapping them,” said Ricardo, paraphrasing what Capetillo had told him earlier. “We have to put a rest to this thing,” Ricardo proclaimed. “We looked at Javier Capetillo eye-to-eye and said ‘tell us your story’. I believe him in this. Margarito has been a great guy, a great champion and this has never popped before. It has been addressed and we can put this to rest.”

Sheridan, who would call his 890th world title fight when Segura knocked out Calderon later that night, followed up Ricardo’s explanation. “I believe this guy, I believe this guy whole-heartedly. I think he has been duped by a lot of people. I take my hat off to Javier, and I hope you get your license back.”

I wish I could say that if it’s good enough for the Colonel and Benny it’s good enough for me, but I cannot. The fact is that Margarito’s hand wraps, admittedly wrapped by Capetillo, contained two primary elements of plaster of Paris, sulfur and calcium. There is no reason that any “old” wraps should have had those elements either. Segura has stated publicly that Capetillo has never wrapped his hands, an answer to a question he will likely have hurled at him as long as Capetillo remains a part of his team.

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

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

Boxing and decorum have always been strangers, but even by standards of a sport without one, the last seven days have been staggering.

Within a week, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and David Haye managed to offend more people than Mike Tyson did at the height of his ear-splitting rage. First, Mayweather offended all of Asia with his racist video Friday about Manny Pacquiao. Then, Haye offended women Tuesday at a London news conference by saying his heavyweight bout with Audley Harrison on November 13 would be “as one-sided as a gang-rape.’’

Somehow, Mayweather and Haye didn’t include middle-aged white guys or the handicapped, but they’ll get around to both sooner than later if their recent capacity to offend most of the people on this planet is any indication.

I’m not sure who is more offensive, Mayweather or Haye. You decide. Mayweather’s problems might just be starting with news Thursday that Las Vegas police want to question him about domestic battery alleged by the mother of three of his children, former girlfriend Josie Harris, who said she lied about a Mayweather assault in 2005. On Thursday, he was a suspect. Tomorrow or next week, law enforcement may get answers that will clear Mayweather.

In the court of public opinion, however, suspicions will stay with Mayweather like a scar. His video went viral in the worst way. It has infected his career and, to a lesser degree, the sport which he says he defines. In the public mind, Haye’s remark about a gang-rape raises the disgust by another outrageous octave or two. You can hear what people are thinking: What’s wrong with these guys? You can also anticipate their next move: That sport won’t be getting my pay-per-view money.

Speaking of money, Mayweather might as well be amending his nickname to Money Lost. In calling Pacquiao “a yellow chump,’’ maybe he was trying to call the Filipino gutless. But it is safe to say that any Asian will hear it and think only of a racial slur, no matter how many times Mayweather apologizes. The only chump here is Mayweather, who knocked out any chance he might have had at a rich endorsement from a Chinese company.

What Mayweather, the self-proclaimed face of boxing, and Haye fail realize is the potential devastation left in the wake of their attempt at some headline-grabbing rage. Boxing, once an American pastime and now mere nostalgia, is increasingly sustained by international interest. Sorry Floyd, but Pacquiao is the face of that market. The Filipino Congressman also knows not to offend it. Publicly, at least, Pacquiao did not express outrage at the Mayweather video. He was smart not to. Wade into that cesspool, and he’d only get dirty.

What’s more, it was a further display of Pacquiao’s consistent respect for opponents in game that sometimes is a clash of cultures. After beating one Mexican hero after another, Pacquiao was the first to ask that, please, don’t call him The Mexican Assassin.

Pacquiao still might get a chance to take Asia’s collective rage out on Mayweather in a fight that increasingly seems unlikely. If Mayweather hasn’t been talking himself out of it, he is talking the public into looking somewhere else for an event without the ugly edges, which now includes an unapologetic Haye and – as of Thursday – Mayweather as a police suspect.

Mayweather is unbeaten. Haye has been beaten only once. But a D should be attached to each of their records. We’re not talking about a draw here. With some luck, the damage in that D will be limited to only Dumb and Dumber.

NOTES, QUOTES

· Oscar De La Hoya says junior welterweight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez gets rock star-like television ratings in his hometown, Guadalajara, and throughout Mexico. A rock star deserves a big stage and it sounds as if that’s exactly where Alvarez wants to be after his date on Sept. 18 with Carlos Baldomir at Staples Center in Los Angeles on the Shane Mosley-Sergio Moro card. “This fight has me so motivated, so hungry for the bigger fights, that I’m talking a little bit,’’ said Alvarez, who during a conference call asked De La whether the winner of the Baldomir bout would get a title fight. De La Hoya sounded as though he was taken aback by Alvarez’s bold query. Said De La Hoya: “We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.’’

· Jose Benavidez Jr. (7-0, 7 KOs), a junior-welterweight prospect from Phoenix, stays busy Saturday night against Manuel Delcid (4-2) of Los Angeles on the Yuriorkis Gamboa-Orlando Salido card at The Palms in Las Vegas. Benavidez had been scheduled to fight Sept. 18 on the Rafael Marquez-Juan Manuel Lopez card, which was postponed until November by a hand injury sustained by Marquez. The promising Benavidez, who turned 18 in May, is still at the apprenticeship stage, which figures to proceed without interruption against Delcid, who lost his last bout and 1-2 over his last three.

According to TMZ.com, pound for pound best fighter, Floyd Mayweather may have been involved in an incident this morning in Las Vegas.

Multiple cop cars from the Las Vegas Metro Police Department showed up at Mayweather’s home early this morning. We’re told cops received a call at 5:03 AM from Floyd’s baby mama, Josie Harris, who claimed the boxer attacked her.

Sources tell TMZ Harris went to Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas at some point after the incident and has now left.

Law enforcement sources say police were unable to find Floyd and are now looking to interview him.

Cops want to speak to Floyd before determining if they will arrest him.

TMZ was told Harris is going to court today to get a restraining order against Mayweather.

In 2003 Harris accused Mayweather of punching and kicking her inside a Bentley in Vegas. Charges were filed but dismissed in 2005 after Harris testified she lied to cops because she was angry that Floyd had left her for another woman.

This hasn’t been a particularly good week for Mayweather as he released a profanity laced tirade last week against Manny Pacquiao that drew criticism from the boxing community and various ethnic groups around the world

LAS VEGAS / SYDNEY (September 9, 2010)—It was announced Monday afternoon that undefeated and world ranked cruiserweight, BJ Flores will take on Perth’s favorite son Danny “Geen Machine” Green on Wednesday November 17th in Greens’s hometown for the IBO Cruiserweight title.

Flores accepted the challenge and is more than ready to travel down under to face Green for that championship.

Green and Flores kicked off a press tour today that started in Sydney and will continue to Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane over the next five day for the bout that will undoubtedly be the biggest fight of Flores’ career.

“This feels like Christmas has come a little early this year”, said Flores.

“I have finally gotten the fight he has been craving

Flores called out Green over a year ago and feels that Green’s first round stoppage over Paul Briggs was the main reason Green has decided to step up and face a real guy.

“I am looking forward to finally getting an opportunity to face a top fighter and a two- time world champion in Danny Green. I take my hat off to Danny for deciding to fight me. This is a fight I have wanted for a LONG time. I hope I am the underdog. I hope everyone picks against me so when I completely destroy him on November 17th and then I will get more opportunities to face top fighters. This will be a life changing fight for me. This will be my coming out party”

“Life is all about timing and sometimes things don’t happen on my time. However, my BIG moment has finally arrived. I have been in the gym with nothing but heavyweights for the last year. I have improved my strength and explosive power 10 times! This will be much different than fighting Manny Siaca or Paul Briggs. Danny will find out VERY early in the fight that 25lbs is a BIG difference. This will also be the most difficult opponent of my career and I am Very excited to get this opportunity. I would not have taken this fight in his hometown if I wasn’t sure I could knock him out!”

“The Fans in Australia deserve better than Siaca and Briggs. .They can finally watch Green in a real fight with a guy who is bigger stronger and faster than him. I know he has a lot of momentum going for him as he won a few fights and I’m sure because of what he did to Roy Jones, him and his fans think that he is invincible, but on November 17, those fans will see and more importantly Danny will feel what it is like to be in with a younger, hungry fighter who is eager to show the fans all over the world that I am one of the best cruiserweights in the world.”