Atlantic City, NJ – Spartan Fight Promotions of Atlantic City, NJ will be holding their 1st Ring Card Girl Tryout Competition on Saturday, November 6th at G&P Training and Fitness Center located at 11 S. Iowa Ave in Atlantic City, NJ. The event, sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, Ducktown Tavern and Liquid Lightning will be held from 9:00pm to 11:00pm with complimentary beverages being served throughout the night.

Individuals who would like to participate in the tryout should contact the VP of Marketing, Michael Holland at 609-703-4182. Prizes will be awarded to the finalists and they will also become the official Ring Card Girls for Spartan Fight Promotions events.

“The winners from the competition will become part of our promotions team and they will also be featured in our annual calendar,” said Michael Brestle, Owner/Operator of G&P Training and Fitness and Spartan Fight Promotions. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to see our new fitness facility and also receive information on upcoming fight events produced by Spartan Fight Promotions.”

Tickets are $20.00 per person and can be purchased at G&P Training and Fitness Center located at 11 S. Iowa Ave in Atlantic City or at the door on the night of the event. You must be 21 years of age to enter and ID will be required. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Spartan Fights Childhood Obesity Program. Ticket price also includes complimentary admission to the after party held at Tropicana’s 32 Degrees Luxe Lounge.

As Atlantic City’s first complete fitness facility, G&P Training and Fitness Center is committed to delivering an individual and unique training experience where we inspire our clients to attack training through hard work and dedication.

CLICK FOR EVENT INFO
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (Oct. 21, 2010) — Classic Entertainment & Sports’ newly-launched Mixed Martial Arts Division will host its second show Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 at Foxwood Resort Casino’s Fox Theater, starring a rematch between Luis “Rock Star” Felix and Joe DeChaves.

Friday’s pro-am event will feature five amateur bouts, followed by nine professional fights, featuring Lionel Young (3-4, 2 submissions) of Boston, Mass., Hitalo Machado (6-4, 6 submissions) of Danbury, Conn., and Uxbridge, Mass., veteran Steve Skrzat (4-0, 4 KOs).

The main event pits two newfound rivals against one another for the first time since Sept. 17 in Lincoln, R.I. Felix (5-5), of Cranston, R.I., beat New Bedford, Mass., native DeChaves (3-3) 1 minute, 4 seconds into the opening round in a controversial stoppage by the referee.

The show will be broadcast on GoFightLive.com, featuring play-by-play and color commentary by Patrick Sullivan, Michael Parente and MMA veteran Mike “The Beast” Campbell, and can be purchased at the GoFightLive.com Website for $9.99.

Tickets for “Cage of Horrors” are available by calling CES at 401-724-2253 or the Foxwoods box office at 800-200-2882.

For more information on “Cage of Horrors,” or other upcoming shows, visit CES online at CESBoxing.com.

PART 1

PART 2

The Boxing world scours Mexico for the next great Mexican to bestow him as the Numero Uno. That honour has been passed on through generations, currently that honour looks like the next holder of the mythical crown could be champion in waiting Saul “Canelo” Alvarez however another name not as well known but equally talented is Carlos Cuadras. He sprang to prominence as an amateur when he won Gold at the 2007 Pan American games. Now just 22, the Super Flyweight hopes to have a similar impact on the world scene amongst the pro’s currently he’s 17-0(15) and training for his next fight in November when he will be making his third appearance in Japan.

Hello Carlos, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You won a split decision over 8 rounds against Alberto Chuc a couple of fights ago. That would appear a closer fight that you’d of liked going into it. What can you tell us about that fight?

Carlos Cuadras – It was a hard bout and I lacked preparation, also I faced a tough rival who has even fought in the Featherweight division; I only trained for two weeks after the previous fight.

Anson Wainwright – Do you know when we can expect to see you in the ring next and where it may take place & against who?

Carlos Cuadras – On November 26th, in Japan; my rival is to be announced.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter? What gym do you regularly train at in Mexico City & then in Japan when your there?

Carlos Cuadras – My manager is my father Rosario Cuadras, I have trained with Tiburcio Garcia and Jose Luis Bueno. My promoter is Teiken Promotions. When I am in Mexico I train in my own gym or at Bueno´s Gym. When I am in Japan I train at Sendai Tanaka.

Anson Wainwright – You have fought twice in Japan as a pro, what can you tell us about that experience?

Carlos Cuadras – Those were good bouts against good fighters; thank God I won. I felt great. People do not know me but like me.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about when you were young and growing up and how you became interested and then involved in Boxing?

Carlos Cuadras – I was very restless, hyperactive and mischievous. I would frequently get into fights in Junior High School. Later I started the discipline of boxing.

Anson Wainwright – You had an impressive amateur career in which you won the Pan American games in 2007 at Bantamweight. Can you tell us about that and your amateur career, what other tournaments you won, fighters who have since gone pro that you fought in the amateur’s and how they fights went & what your record was?

Carlos Cuadras – I also took part in the Junior Olympics, I was the champion and received the award to the best fighter. I faced Juan “Churritos” Hernandez and Arturo Santos (he participated in the Olympic Games), both of whom are professional now. My amateur record is of around 160 fights with only ten losses.

Anson Wainwright – You were a Bantamweight in the amateur’s as a pro you have fought around 115 to 118 which division are you targeting for a title shot?

Carlos Cuadras – First Super Fly, but perhaps later, in the Bantam or Super Bantamweight division.

Anson Wainwright – Fernando Montiel stopped Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan that must of been strange for you because presumably you know Hasegawa as a Teikken stablemate and Montiel as a Mexican. What are your feelings on that and the fight?

Carlos Cuadras – Hasegawa got distracted and Montiel defeated him. I would root for both, as Hasegawa is my team-mate and Montiel is Mexican, but I was happy that Montiel won.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing to relax & what are your Hobbies?

Carlos Cuadras – Playing X-Box, watching movies and dating young ladies.

Anson Wainwright – What is your Nickname?

Carlos Cuadras – “The Prince”.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

Carlos Cuadras – To become a world champion in one or many weight divisions. To retire being undefeated.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have anything you like to add?

Carlos Cuadras – Just that I am training very hard, and that it is very nice to have a Promoter like Mr. Honda who has always supported me.

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

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

FRESNO, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2010) – Four of the fighters who will appear on a top-notch STRIKEFORCE Challengers event 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), this Friday, Oct. 22, participated in an Open Media Workout on Wednesday at Fort Washington Fitness.

The four were heavyweight Lavar “Big” Johnson (14-3), of Madera, Calif., who faces Virgil “RezDog” Zwicker (8-1) of Temecula, Calif.; undefeated Fresno resident Billy Evangelista (10-0, 1 NC), who takes on Waachiim “Native Warrior’’ Spiritwolf (8-6-1) of San Diego in a 165-pound catch weight bout, world-ranked Shana “Rock Solid’’ Olsen (4-0), of Diluth, Minn., who faces highly regarded Canadian Muay Thai Champion Julia “The Jewel” Budd (pro debut), of Sechelt, British Columbia, at 145 pounds, and Fresno heavyweight Brandon Cash (4-2), who battles John Devine (5-2) of San Francisco.

In this Friday’s main event, welterweight Relentless” Roger Bowling (8-0) will put his unbeaten record on the line one more time against “Vicious” Bobby Voelker (22-8) of Kansas City, Kan., in a rematch of an exciting fight last May 21 that ended prematurely due to an accidental poke in the eye.

Tickets for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event are on sale 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).

Doors will open at 4:45 p.m. PT. The first preliminary bout will begin at 5:30 p.m. The first televised match starts at 8 p.m. PT.

What the fighters said Wednesday:

LAVAR JOHNSON
“I feel good and I am very happy to be on a STRIKEFORCE card that has so many of my (Fresno Pro Buhawe) teammates on it. I’m excited for everybody.

“I know Zwicker will be ready. He’s a fast, scrappy fighter who comes to fight. He may be a little shorter than me, which will definitely be a little different. The last two guys I’ve fought have been taller.

“God blessed me with an opportunity to have a second chance at life and has put me in position again to show what I can do. I’ll be ready to go on Friday.’’

BILLY EVANGELISTA
“I’ve been working really hard. I want to keep this winning streak going. I’ve prepared like I always do. I don’t watch tapes. My job is to do the best I can and not worry about my opponent.

“Winning is always the main goal, but I really would like to submit this guy – just so I could get a submission on my record.’’

SHANA OLSEN
“I’m really excited about fighting for STRIKEFORCE the first time and fighting on SHOWTIME. I consider myself a well-rounded fighter and look forward to displaying my skills.

“I never look past any opponent and this will be a tough fight. But, of course, I will fight anybody, and that includes (STRIKEFORCE 145-pound World Champion and No. 1 Female Fighter in the world, Cris) Cyborg. My goal is to become the world champion. It doesn’t matter to me who I fight to get the title.’’

BRANDON CASH
“It’s always great when STRIKEFORCE comes to Fresno because they use a lot of local fighters like me. I don’t like losing and I lost the last time I fought in Fresno so I appreciate STRIKEFORCE giving me another chance.

“I am going to thank them by knocking this guy out.’’

Baltimore, MD (October 20) – James “Keep em’ Sleepin” Stevenson has been perfect thus far inside the squared circle. The gifted boxer-puncher has scored a number of highlight reel knockouts and only three of his thirteen opponents survived to the final bell. While everything has gone as planned for Stevenson during his two year professional career, the unbeaten 27 year old suffered a devastating setback following his most recent bout.

A few months after outpointing George Rivera, Stevenson’s father James Sr. died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving both the fighter and his family in shambles. The tragic loss also meant Stevenson had to take care of his stay at home mother. Between coping with losing his father and a nagging wrist injury, the hard hitting Baltimore native was out of the gym for an extended period of time.

Although he still struggles daily, Stevenson returned to training in late July with a newfound inspiration to become a world champion.

“My father would have told me stay in the gym and keep on fighting so I am doing this for him,” said the inspired Stevenson. “I am training harder than ever and my goal to win a world is in my father’s honor.”

His first test will come this Saturday at the Pikesville Armory against once beaten Phillip McCants, a slick Philadelphian who hasn’t lost in more than five years. Stevenson, who doesn’t know much about his opponent, says he is rededicated to the sport and ready for whatever tricks the 8-1 McCants has up his sleeve.

“I always expect a tough fight no matter who it is against. I never overlook any opponent but I am going to 100% prepared for whatever McCants has to offer.”

The highly anticipated Stevenson-McCants showdown will serve as the main event of Baltimore Pro Boxing’s “Who’s The Man II”.

The undercard will feature a match up between unbeaten cruiserweights Steve “Show Stealer” Wheeler (6-0, 5 KO’s) of Catonsville, MD and Cabin Creek, WV’s Jason Pauley (4-0, 1 KO), as well as separate bouts showcasing top local prospects Thomas “KO” Snow (12-1, 8 KO’s), Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm (9-0, 6 KO’s), and “Slick” Nick Kisner (6-0, 4 KO’s).

Tickets start at $40 and can be ordered by calling 410-675-6900 or going to the Armory’s box office.

Doors open at 7 pm and the opening bell is slated for 8. The Pikesville Armory is located at 610 Reisterstown Rd in Baltimore, MD.

South Florida’s based Heavyweight Factory is determined to churn out the next American Heavyweight champion of the world and tonight they put their young raw talent on display at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood Florida. The Heavyweight Factory has Former WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall and famed trainer John David Jackson training and grooming these former top level collegiate athletes to become the next Big thing in the heavyweight division. Recently the company has added top fighters in the lower weight divisions to round out a fantastic stable of young and emerging talent.

In the Main event of the evening Richard Abril 13-2(6KO) won the WBC Latino lightweight title with a unanimous decision win over Jose Reyes 23-9(8KO). Abril paced himself throughout the bout picking his shots and often landing great straight right hands and stunning Reyes however seldom throwing multiple punch combinations fighting a safe and slow fight. The cards read 99-91, 97-93, 98-92.

In the Co-Main event of the evening Jr Middleweight Joey “Twinkle Fingers” Hernandez 17-1-1(10KO) from Miami won in impressive fashion by way of TKO over Saul Duran. The beginning of the end came when the southpaw Hernandez floored Duran with a heavy straight left in the second round and, after barley beating the count Hernandez jumped on Duran and finished the job at 2:28.

In the second Co-Main event of the Heavyweight Factory product Luis Ortiz 4-0(3KO) won by TKO over tough veteran Zack Page 21-30(7KO). Ortiz, who had over 360 amateur fights, floored Page in round 5 with a heavy straight left in response to boos by the crowd which motivated the Cuban fighter to turn it up a notch. Ortiz overpowered Page in the 8th and final round prompting referee Sam Burgos to step in at 42 seconds putting a stop to the fight.

Another Heavyweight Factory fighter and former University of Miami fullback James Bryant 4-1(4KO) won by TKO over Dieuly “The Untamed Beast” Aristilde 7-4(1KO). Both fighters exchanged power shots throughout the entire fight, but it was Bryant who was more effective. Bryant dropped Aristilde three times throughout the fight. The fight was called at 1:38 of the fourth when referee Frank Gentile wave Aristilde off after getting up from the final knockdown.

Light heavyweight Azwa Augustama, representing the Heavyweight Factory, improved to 9-0 with a nice knockout win over tough Reggie Pena. Azwais of Haiti, now making his home in Hollywood Florida connected with a brutal body shot then a left hook to the head that caused referee Sam Burgis to step in and put a stop to the fight. The end came at 2:14 of the fourth round.

Yordenis Ugas 5-0(3) who won bronze medal for Cuba in the lightweight division at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games won a convincing unanimous decision over Anthony “Physco” Woods 7-14 from Nassau Bahamas. Woods came out aggressive while the seasoned young Cuban fought a great counter punching fight landing numerous bit shot on the way to victory. All three judges seen the fight 40-36

Light welterweight Russian Khabib Alakhuerdiev 12-0(6KO) remained perfect with a unanimous decision win over Juan Nazario 6-3(4KO). Alakhuerdiev, who is trained by John David Jackson, often rocked Nazario who fought the entire fight going backwards, trying to stay out of reach of the southpaw, just to tie up when close. All three judges scored the fight 60-52.

Cruiserweight Nicholas “The American Showstopper” Iannuzzi 15-1(9KO) won a hard fought unanimous decision over hard hitting Colombian Jose Luis Herrera 16-8(16KO). Round four was entertaining when where both fighters where down and both beat the count. Iannuzzi dropped Herrera again in the final seconds of the sixth and final round to secure the victory. The cards read: 60-54 59-54 60-52.

Cuban amateur standout Inocente Fiz 3-0(2KO) pressured the very game and tough journeyman Jose Angel Roman 11-27(5KO) all night on the way to a unanimous decision win. The cards read 59-55 58-56 59-55.

Fairless Hills, PA–Undefeated welterweight contender Mike Jones, of Philadelphia, PA, opened up his training camp at the 10th Round Gym in Fairless Hills, PA, last week in preparation for his Nov. 13 fight with Jesus Soto-Karass at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

The Jones vs. Soto-Karass fight opens up the pay-per-view telecast that night on a card which features Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title in the main event.

Among Jones’ sparring partners are fellow-Philadelphians Gabriel Rosado and Raymond Serrano. Rosado (14-5, 8 K0s) is on the verge of his own world ranking at junior middleweight while Serrano (13-0, 6 K0s) is quietly moving up through the welterweight division.

Jones also has been working with unbeaten junior welterweight Ronald Cruz (9-0, 6 K0s), of Bethlehem, PA.

A pro since 2005, the 27-year-old Jones is ranked between No. 2 and No. 4 by all four major world sanctioning bodies. At stake in this scheduled 10-rounder will be Jones’ NABA and NABO welterweight belts.
“I am taking time off from my job (forklift operator at Home Depot in Cherry Hill, NJ) to concentrate on my boxing career,” Jones said. “This is a big fight for me. Soto-Karass is not a pushover and I need to be fully prepared—as usual—for this match. It’s a whole new stage for me and I need to be focused 100 percent.”

Other major fights on the PPV card include: Kelly Pavlik, of Youngstown, OH, vs. Bryan Vera, of Austin, TX, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Guillermo Rigondeaux, of Miami, FL, vs. Ricardo Cordoba, of San Miguelito, Panama, 12 rounds, super bantamweights.

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
ATLANTIC CITY/NEW YORK (October 20, 2010)—On Saturday night October 30th one of the best Featherweight prospects in the world in Jorge Diaz will risk his undefeated record when he takes on former world title challenger Emanuel Lucero that will headline a huge night of boxing from Ballys Atlantic City and will be broadcasted LIVE all over the world on www.gofightlive.tv

To order the fight LIVE at 7:30 pm Eastern Time for just $9.99, click

http://www.gofightlive.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Jorge_King_Diaz_vs_Emmanuel_Lucero/871

The card is presented by John Lynch’s Pound for Pound Promotions.

Diaz of New Brunswick, New Jersey brings in a perfect mark of 14-0 with nine knockouts and has quickly become one of the most exciting prospects in the lower weight divisions.

Diaz has fought on some of the biggest shows on the east coast as he has appeared at either Boardwalk Hall or Madison Square Garden seven times and in his last bout, Diaz fought in famed Yankee Stadium as part of the Miguel Cotto – Yuri Foreman undercard when he stopped tough Korean Jae-Sung Lee in six rounds.

Diaz two signature wins have come in the last year as he blasted out former Olympic Gold Medal winner Yan Barthelemy in six rounds in Madison Square Garden. Three fights later, Diaz scored an eight round unanimous decision over fellow undefeated Alejandro Lopez (16-0) in Key West, Florida.

Lucero of Scranton, PA via Mexico has a very respectable record of 24-5-1 with fourteen knockouts has fought the best in the world.

He went 21-0-1 in his first twenty-two bouts which includes wins over former world champion Juan Polo Perz and title challengers Rogers Mtagwa and John Lowey.

Lucero then challenged for the IBF Jr. Featherweight title but unfortunately he was up against a buzzsaw named Manny Pacquiao. The current best fighter in the world stopped Lucero in three rounds.

Lucero has only lost to the top featherweights as his only other losses have come to former world champions Valdemir Pereira and Daniel Ponce De Leon and former world title challengers Rocky Juarez and Jason Litzau.

In his last bout, Lucero scored an eight round unanimous decision over Robert DaLuz.

In a rare battle of top prospects, Jeremy Bryan (14-1, 7 KO’s) of Paterson, NJ will take on undefeated Ronald Cruz (9-0, 6 KO’s) of Bethlehem, PA.

Bryan was a former national Golden Gloves champion has one controversial defeat on his ledger. He will go up against Cruz who has scored some vicious knockouts and in his last few bouts has shown much improved boxing skills.

Glen Tapia (7-0, 5 KO’s) will see action in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Tapia has been named one of best young prospects on the east coast. Tapia will be extremely prepared as he is in camp as one of the chief sparring partners for Pacquiao in the Philippines.

Amir Mansour is one of the most interesting heavyweight prospects around.

The Delaware native won nine straight bouts before spending eight plus years in prison. On the day he was formally released, He scored a highlight film stoppage over Samuel Brown on August 27th.

Mansour will not be in with a pushover as he will be taking on Alex Mejias in a bout scheduled for six rounds.

Mejias has a record of 11-5 with five knockouts and has been in with quality opposition such as world ranked Derric Rossey (22-2); Tor Hamer (10-0) and Bowir Tupou (18-1).

In his last bout, Mejias scored a third round stoppage over undefeated Kimdo Bethal Boykin (4-0) on September 11th.

Also seeing action on the card will be popular Light Heavyweight Bobby Rooney (11-3-1, 6 KO’s) and a Light Heavyweight bout between undefeated Anthony Smith (6-0, 4 KO’s) and Donald Bernard (8-7-2, 4 KO’s)

There is a reason that New Yorkers have garnered a reputation for being tough. On Saturday, Brooklyn’s Shannon Briggs embodied that reputation by going the distance with WBC heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko.

In doing so, Briggs became just the third fighter to ever go to the scorecards with the dominant Ukrainian. Unfortunately, his doing so also meant paying a steep price, one that could have and should have been avoided.

A first round bicep injury to Brigg’s left arm went undetected by ESPN3.com’s broadcast team of announcer Jon Anik and analyst BJ Flores, but surely not by Briggs, who didn’t come out as aggressive as anticipated. Post-fight knowledge of the injury puts the pieces together as to why Briggs shied away from throwing the haymakers he promised the pre-fight press conferences.

From the opening bell, Briggs was never in this fight. Klitschko controlled the action throughout, using his stiff jab to keep his shorter opponent on the outside. The big Ukranian effortlessly landed crushing rights at will, repeatedly finding on the left side of Brigg’s face. By round six, it was clear that Klitschko would retain his title. The only question left unanswered was whether or not Briggs would make it to the final bell.

As I watched Klitschko dominate round after round, I was brought back to September 2009 when “Dr. Iron Fist” battered Chris Arreola around the Staples Center ring for ten full rounds.

Klitschko easily won all ten rounds against the “Nightmare”, continually landing his vicious rights against Arreola’s ever-swelling face. While Arreola sat on his stool waiting for the round eleven bell to sound, trainer Henry Ramirez stepped in and told referee Jon Schorle to stop the bout.

When Ramirez stopped the fight, Arreola’s immediate reaction was one of devastation and disappointment. As he got up from his stool, Arreola screamed “No!” at Ramirez and raw emotion in the form of tears began to stream down the “Nightmare’s” red puffy face.

Although it was against his fighter and good friend’s will, Ramirez saw that Arreola didn’t even possess a fighter’s chance by the time round ten had ended and consequently threw in the towel.

Conversely, with regards to Brigg’s courageous efforts against the elder Klitschko, the “Cannon” was apparently calling his own shots.

“Despite prior reports, throughout the contest my trainer, Herman Caicedo wanted to stop the fight, but I made it clear that stopping was not an option. Thank you for all of your support and hopefully I showed you the heart of a lion and the perseverance of a Champion,” said Briggs in a released statement following the bout.

Nobody questions the heart of Briggs or Arreola (at least when he is in the ring). If Arreola had his way, he would have fought the championship rounds against Klistchko.

While Ramirez stepped in and saved his fighter from taking excessive, unnecessary abuse, Caicedo stayed quiet, letting his defenseless fighter take absorb a cringeworthy amount of punishment.

Perhaps Caicedo let him go because he — and Briggs — are both well aware that the fighter is well onto the back nine of boxing’s golf course, only a hole or two away from heading into the clubhouse and calling it a career. For the former WBO heavyweight champion, it was do or die, and Caicedo knew it.

Conversely, when the “Nightmare” was stopped by Klitschko last September, it can be presumed that it was Ramirez’s intent was to preserve his young fighter’s future, learn a lesson, and move on.

When thinking about the two fights and how both played out, I wondered if Briggs was in Arreola’s position at the time of the Klitschko fight — a young undefeated contender — would Caicedo have thrown in the towel and saved his guy for another day? My honest guess would be yes — the logic be that you’ll work your way back into contention down the road. But with this being a last hurrah type fight for Briggs, Caicedo let his guard down and failed to appropriately look after his fighter’s safety, as did British referee Ian John-Lewis, for that matter.

There is no doubting the heart of Briggs, who fought thirty-six minutes with Klitschko and was never sent to the canvass. Unfortunately for Shannon the Cannon, he went from spending time with “Dr. Iron Fist” to spending time with German doctors afterwards as he was found to have a suffered torn ligament in his left arm, multiple facial fractures, and a concussion.

Let this be a lesson in unnecessary punishment. There was no way Briggs was going to quit on his stool — he has too much pride, too much courage. But as a trainer, part of your job is protecting your fighter — not only preserving your boxer’s future in the sport, but also a healthy future outside of the ring.

Kyle Kinder can be reached at Twitter.com/KyleKinder

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the brother of WBO interim Lightweight champion Michael Katsidis was found dead in Brisbane, Australia.

Stathi Katsidis was found dead and with Michael training it Thailand, it is unclear weather his November 27 bout with Lightweight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez will go on as scheduled.

“We haven’t spoken to Michael, but we have spoken to Brendon,” David Itskowitch, an executive with Golden Boy, Katsidis’ promoter, told ESPN.com. “Our concern right now is for Michael, not as to whether he will fight. He just lost his brother, who he was very close with. However long it takes, he will decide what he will do. Right now the fight is not a concern for us. We’re concerned for him.”

According to multiple Australian media reports, Stathi Katsidis was found dead by his girlfriend, Melissa Jackson, who also is the mother of their 4-year-old son.

The cause of death has not been determined, although he had a history of drug and alcohol problems, including a positive test for ecstasy in 2008 and a prior drunken driving arrest, according to media reports.

On Tuesday 12 October Rendell Munroe 21-1(9) left Britain to head for Japan in a bid for Toshiaki Nishioka’s WBC Super Bantamweight crown. The fight takes place on Sunday 24 October in the Japanese capital Tokyo. Munroe 30, did what not every fighter can say they do these days, he earnt his title shot by fighting the best available fighters. In March 2008 Munroe beat then unbeaten Kiko Martinez for the European title making five defence’s along the way repeating his win over Martinez and outpointing teak tough Italian Simone Maludrottu who himself fought for a world title in Japan though down at Bantamweight where he lost a decision to Nishioka’s stablemate Hozumi Hasegawa. In his one fight this year Munroe stopped Mexican Victor Terrazas in an eliminator. He hopes to return from “The Land of the Rising Sun” having conquered Nishioka though maintains it wont change him and he’ll continue his day job working as a rubbish man. Here’s what the humble Midlander had to say.

Hello Rendell, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You will be challenging for the WBC Super Bantamweight title in Japan on 24 October against Toshiaki Nishioka. What are your thoughts on thi s fight & how what do you think of him as a fighter?

Rendell Munroe – My thoughts are I’m going there to become the champion, obviously he’s a champion himself and I respect him. We’re in there for the same thing. Two good fighters in there and we’re both fighting to be the champion of the world, he defending it and I’m gonna win it.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us a little about your training for this fight? When do you head off to Japan? Are you expecting many fans to travel?

Rendell Munroe – Yeah, everything has gone well. I follow what Jason (Shinfield) says I need to do. Everything is going well everything is perfect. I’ve been in camp for 8 weeks, I went to Portugal for a week to train. They reckon over a hundred fans are coming over which is good.

Anson Wainwright – Do you think you’ll have to put in your best performance to date to win the title away from home in Japan?

Rendell Munroe – Yeah I would say. Every time I step in the ring I look to put on my best performance. I’m going in there to win. Every time I prove I can be that bit better.

Anson Wainwright – If you are able to win the title in Japan what do you think this would mean to you and your family? How would it change your life?

Rendell Munroe – It’s not if I’m able to it’s when I win the title in Japan. That’s the main thing, Obviously it’ll mean a lot to me, it’s my dream of becoming a world champion, it’s what I want to do. So for my family it’s a good thing for them the same. My missus and my two kids can’t come out there but they’ll support me and give me credit when I get home. It might do (Change his life) but I’ll still go to work and be the same Rendell Munroe.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you use to get ready for upcoming fights?

Rendell Munroe – My manager is Mike Shinfield and my coach is Jason Shinfield who’s his son from the same area and my promoter Frank Maloney obviously a lot of people know his name from managing Lennox Lewis. I use the gym in Summercote which belongs to the Shinfield’s.

Anson Wainwright – Outside of the ring your known as a very humble guy who still works a day job as a Bin man, can you tell us a bit about that and how you manage to train & fight whilst also working a day job?

Rendell Munroe – Just work isn’t it like everyone else, I go to the gym when I’ve finished work. I would say a big thanks to work for giving me the time off to train. They give me time off when I have a fight coming up so I can dedicate 100% of my time. Apart from that I go to work like an every day man.

Anson Wainwright – Will that change when you win the World title?

Rendell Munroe – No no, I’m glad they gave me the time off. My intention is to win the world title and go back to work.

Anson Wainwright – Though you obviously have a hectic life between your job & Boxing what do you like to do to relax away from Boxing?

Rendell Munroe – I like to play a bit of football (Soccer) with my friends. My eldest boy plays for Leicester football team so I go and watch him as well, he’s in the academy. I relax and chill with my family go to the park and things like that.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us a bit about your younger days and how they took you into Boxing?

Rendell Munroe – I first got into Boxing through an argument with my mum, I went to the gym with my uncle and it went from there.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career. What titles did you win and what was your final record?

Rendell Munroe – I think I had 40 fights I won about 30. But as an amateur it was just a hobby, something to do. It wasn’t until the later years that people started to say you have potential to go far so give it a proper shot and I have done and that’s where I am now.

Anson Wainwright – You started out your pro career and fought at Featherweight and on occasion even higher. How easily do you make the weight?

Rendell Munroe – No no no, I never started out at Featherweight no one would fight me at Super Bantamweight I had to fight at Featherweight. I make the weight easy, I’m 2 weeks out now and I’m already at the weight. The weight isn’t a problem, it’s not an issue.

Anson Wainwright – The Super Bantamweight division has undergo a transformation in the last year with JuanMa Lopez, Isreal Vazquez & Rafeal Marquez moving to 126. How do you see things? Who do you view as the top guy at 122?

Rendell Munroe – I don’t really look to much into it, I’m one of those fighters who concentrates on myself and what I’m doing I don’t really start looking at the weight division and start thinking. If my teams say who I’m fighting next and I concentrate on myself.

Anson Wainwright – What did you think of your stablemate Jason Booth’s fight for a world title against IBF Champion Steve Molitor?

Rendell Munroe – Yeah he aint in the stable anymore. It was a good fight he (Booth) had the ability to beat him (Molitor) with the skill but the size might be a factor for him which it was but like I say no disrespect to the guy gave it his best shot and he did look good for the first half of the fight then the size and strength showed a bit more for Steve Molitor. It went the way I said it would

Anson Wainwright – Does it bother you that Booth got his fight at home whereas you have to travel to Japan for your world title fight?

Rendell Munroe – No I don’t deal with any negativity, I just do what I’ve got to do. At the end of the day it goes how it goes I let everyone do there thing we’re doing ours and it’s working so keep it that way.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans in Britain who loyally support you?

Rendell Munroe – Big thanks for the 100% support I’m looking to make England proud and become a world champion on the 24 October.

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

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Newark, NJ (October 18, 2010) – Undefeated lightweight prospect Michael Angelo “The Artist” Perez will step up in competition when he takes on battle tested veteran Hevinson Herrera November 6 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

At 14-6-1 (9 KO’s), Herrera is the most experienced foe of Perez’ young career. Each of Florida based Colombian’s losses came against world class fighters in Ricardo Cordoba, Edner Cherry, Cyril Thomas, Luis Cruz, Zolani Marali and Jose Arboleda. Herrera also fought to a draw with future two time world title challenger Feider Viloria.

Perez, a 2008 National Golden Gloves Champion, has dominated since entering the professional ranks as a high school senior in October 2008. The Newark native is 9-0 with 4 wins by KO and won virtually all 30 of the professional rounds he’s boxed thus far. In his most recent bout on July 17, Perez stopped Jorge Ruiz in 2 minutes and 29 seconds.

Although he will enter the squared circle with an opponent that has fought 79 more rounds than him and battled the superior opposition, Perez is ready to put on a show in front of his hometown fans.

“I’m excited for the fight,” said Perez, who compiled an outstanding 112-10 amateur record. “Herrera has a lot of experience and I am expecting a good fight. I’ve had a great training camp and I’m ready to step up, so the fans can expect fireworks on November 6!”

The six round showdown between Perez and Herrera will take place prior to an HBO “Boxing After Dark” doubleheader featuring former two division world champion Zab Judah against unbeaten power puncher Lucas Matthysse and Robert Guerrero versus Vicente Escobedo.

The card is being promoted by Main Events, Golden Boy Promotions and Super Judah Promotions.

Tickets priced at $53, $78, $103 and $253 (ringside) can be purchased at Prudential Center Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000 or www.Prucenter.com.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, two division world champion Zsolt Erdei will fight on November 20th in Atlantic City as part of the undercard featuring the middleweight championship rematch between Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams.

Erdei inked a deal with Lou DiBella over the weekend.

“I have followed him for a while and watched a number of his fights, and he’s a high quality guy,” DiBella said. “He has superstar status in Hungary. He’s like a rock star there. He doesn’t need the money. He didn’t come back for the money. Coming to America is about legacy and about trying to prove he’s belongs with the top guys, that he can beat the top guy. That is why he’s coming back.”

“What’s coming up next for me is in America,” Erdei said. “To be successful there is the next step after having achieved mostly everything in Europe. The big names in my weight division, I want to challenge and defeat them. That’s my goal. I know it’s going to be a tough and a big challenge, but I have never run away from these kinds of tasks. I didn’t want to end my career without giving it a try in the USA.

“We had a few options, especially from U.S. promoters. After a lot of discussions and negotiations, we met with Lou DiBella and DiBella Entertainment in New York. These meetings were always very positive. He made the best offer, and what was very important to me was that he believes in me. From the beginning I have seen Lou DiBella as a really nice person and I have the confidence in him, and I know that he will open the doors to the American boxing market in order to secure a successful continuation of my career.”

“I love boxing and that’s why I want to continue,” Erdei said. “Boxing is my life and I’m a fighter. I was looking for a new challenge after I had been the WBO light heavyweight world champion for nearly six years, had won the WBC cruiserweight crown and my contract with Universum Box-Promotion had ended.”

“He hasn’t taken a lot of punishment,” DiBella said. “His weight doesn’t fluctuate much. So at 36, it’s not a big deal to keep fighting. He doesn’t have a lot of mileage on him. He has taken care of himself and believes he has a lot left. But he’s not looking for a five-year comeback. He’s looking for four or five fights. He thinks he can beat the top guys at light heavyweight — Jean Pascal, Chad Dawson, that level of guy.”

Thackerville, Oklahoma — Texas star Raul ‘La Cobrita’ Martinez of San Antonio will take on Rodrigo Guerrero of Mexico on a ‘Top Rank Live’ boxing championship card at the WinStar World Casino on Saturday, November 20.

“This is a very exciting, entertaining main event in our first boxing event at the WinStar World Casino,” said Hall of Fame boxing promoter Bob Arum.”I have had the opportunity to spend time at the WinStar World Casino. It is a first-class facility with all of the amentities that one would want at a casino resort hotel. We are very proud to stage our fight program at the WinStar World
Casino on November 20.”

“We are very excited to be hosting a ‘Top Rank Live’ boxing card which starts off our Red River Rumble series in our Global Events Center,” said Michael McEwan, assistant general manager of the WinStar World Casino.

Martinez and Guerrero will box in an IBF Junior Bantamweight Elimination Fight which is scheduled for 12 rounds in the 115-pound weight division. Martinez, 28, has a record of 27-1 with 16 knockouts. He is ranked IBF #2.

Guerrero, from Ciudad, Neza, Mexico, has a record of 14-2-1, 9 KOs. He is a former WBC Continental Americas champion. At the age of 22, Guerrero is a five-year professional.

There will be seven bouts on the card. Casey Ramos, an undefeated 11-0 featherweight from Austin, Texas, and Noah Zuhdi, a 11-1 lightweight from Oklahoma City, will be featured on the undercard. Each will be in a six-round bout.

Arum said this event will “…launch of a series of exciting boxing events at the WinStar World Casino.”

First bell on November 20 is set for 8 pm. Top Rank Live! will be telecast on Fox Sports Network (FSN).

The big boxing event will be at the Global Events Center. Tickets are priced at the $35 (silver), $50 (gold) and $65 (platinum) levels.

Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.winstarworldcasino.com at the Global Events Center Box Office and via phone at 1-800-622-6317.

The Las Vegas Valley will begin reaching new record temperatures on Monday, October 18th, 2010. This prediction comes as Jason “Friday the 13th” Douglas, professional fighter from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, arrives at the McCarran International Airport. Wednesday at the Press Conference (12 noon) he will meet face-to-face with his opponent from the Valley, Henry Namauu (UNLV graduate), and the temperature will climb again. Then Thursday at the weigh-in (5 PM), each fighter will have to be below the 199-pound limit, the cruiserweight requirements. Then comes the big record breaker on Friday night, when the winner will be chosen by judges’ decision or by knockout in the main event bout presented by Crown Boxing at The Crown Theater and Night Club, located in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jason and Henry both have had impressive amateur boxing careers, but now we are talking professional boxing. Jason has eight wins, four being KOs, and only two losses. Henry has seven wins, five being KOs, and only 3 losses. Both fighters have had ten professional bouts. Jason has his work cut out for him on Friday night when he gets into the ring with Henry. This fight promises to be a war from start to finish and only one fighter will emerge the winner!

The night will feature six action-packed bouts, with Henry Namauu and Jason “Friday the 13th” Douglas highlighting the night. In a four-round featherweight bout, Mandy LaPointe will take on Hondi Hernandez. Chase Corbin will take on Titus Holmes in a four-round light middleweight bout. Alvaro Morales will take on Chad Davis in a four-round pairing of heavyweights. Local featherweight favorite, Rocco Santomauro, will face-off against Robert Guillen in a four-rounder. In the super bantamweight opener, Alexis Santiago squares off against Sergio Herrera in a bout also scheduled for four.

The Post Fight Party will be rockin’ in The Crown Nightclub immediately following the fights. Your fight ticket allows you admission to the party.

Fight week schedule:
Press Conference on Wednesday, October 20th at the Crown Theater and Night Club (12:00 PM).
Weigh-in on Thursday, October 21st at the Crown Theater and Night Club (5:00 PM).
The Friday Night Fights on October 22nd at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in the Crown Theater and Night Club (Doors open 5pm / First bout 7pm).

MUST BE 21 & OVER WITH ID

Tickets (702) 777-7776
$25 RESERVED, $50 RINGSIDE, and $100 VIP

For more information, visit http://crown-boxing-inc.com/

Julio Cesar Miranda retained the WBO Flyweight championship with an explosive second round stoppage over Michael Arango in Monterrey, Mexico.

Miranda rocked Arango with a hard right hand that he quickly followed up with three crushing lefts that forced the referee Russell Mora to stop the bout at 1:30 of round two.

Miranda of Monterrey, Mexico is now 34-5-1 with twenty-seven knockouts. Arango is 31-10-3.

Michael Rosales scored a fourth round stoppage over Octavio Castro in a scheduled ten round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Rosales dominated the bout over the first three round until he landed a series of unanswered blows that forced referee Sergio Hernandez to stop the bout at 1:40 of round four.

Rosales, 154 1/2 lbs is now 30-3 with twenty-five knockouts. Castro, 155 lbs is now 14-6-1.

Good looking Featherweight prospect Roberto Marroquin remained undefeated with a six round unanimous decision over Rafael Cerrillo.

All scores read 60-54 for Marroquin, 126 lbs of San Antonio, TX and is now 16-0. Cerrillo, 126 lbs is now 4-5

Rodrigo Garcia remained undefeated by scoring a four round unanimous decision over Yosmani Abreu in a Welterweight bout.

Scores were 40-36; 40-36 and 39-37 for Garcia of Santa Ana, CA and is now 8-0. Abreu of La Habana, Cuba is now 1-2.

On an Autumn evening in posh Mayfair, Michael Helliet of the Mayfair sporting club put on a three fight dinner show in the plush surroundings of the Millenium hotel opposite the Grosvenor square on a Thursday evening all part of a dinner show.

Returning to action after sustaining a shoulder injury last time out was Helliet’s light middle hope Wayne Alwan Arab a transplanted Zimbabwean whom fights out of nearby Hackney, also showing there wares were Southampton newcomer Matty Tew and debutant Nathan Skeen a transplanted Australian making his bow in the paid ranks at cruiser.

First up at light welter was Matty Tew, whom having his fourth pro outing, was cheered on by a group of his followers in one of the corner’s of the largish room were treat to a good solid performance from the Southampton man who continuously backed up Damien Turner, himself coming off of a loss to another Helliet hope in Phil Gill who was in attendance.

Each round replicated each respective session as Tew dug in some good body shots and maintained a steady pressure throughout, backing Turner up with almost every onslaught Tew showed excellent work rate in each round, Turner in the final stanza did try and up the pace but it was too little too late, but showed a lot of balls throughout though he was outpunched and outworked.

Tew ran out a deserved 40-36 points winner on referee Jeff Hinds card.

Wayne Alwan Arab coming back from a six month hiatus has I mentioned earlier had damaged his shoulder last time out when he decisioned Ian Eldridge over four, despite having not boxed since that time Alwan looked surprisingly sharp has he outboxed the teak tough Matt Scriven, who gives a good account every time he steps into a ring.

Arab outboxed Scriven in every department for the first three rounds, and his dominance showed as early as the opener as Scriven’s face was bloodied, testament to Arab’s sharpshooting counters.
Arab as well as using a stiff jab now and again got inside and went well to the body before getting out of harms way and using the left jab as he got on the move, and dominated up until the fourth and last session of this a middleweight four three’s, as Scriven tried to make a fight of it as he backed up Arab continuosly on the ropes in the final round and seemed to take the session, but at the final bell there was only one winner as Arab’s early work had mounted up a comfortable lead on third man Hinds scorecard, and was rightfully adjudged the winner by 40-37, which I felt was an accurate asessment of events.

Showcloser was Australian Nathan Skeen who now resides in England taking on tough Nick Gigg over six two’s at cruiser.

Broad shouldered and looking in good shape Skeen didn’t waste any time as he got straight to work backing up Gigg straight away, it was a good pace to begin with as Skeen took control as he thumped in some heavy body shots as he backed up Gigg, the first couple of rounds saw some good action but from around the fourth things became a little scrappy at times as there styles didn’t gel that good, Gigg who seemed content to survive did try and match Skeen punch for punch at times but it was Skeen who seemed to find the target that bit more, although I gave Gigg a few rounds as he showed stubborn resistance and did at times just did enough to nick a few rounds, I thought Skeen whose continuos pressure seemed to do enough to take a hard fought but deserved decision in the best fight of the night.
Hind’s tally was 59-55 in favor of Skeen who could be one to watch.

Michael Angelo Serra reporting from Mayfair.

Cowboys Stadium is not in Dallas or anywhere near Grapevine, Tex., home of the Gaylord Texan – official hotel of the Dallas Cowboys. The stadium is in Arlington, a half hour west of Dallas and a half hour south of Grapevine and one parking lot from Rangers Ballpark. Let’s pause for a moment to celebrate stadiums named after teams that play in them and not corporations that don’t.

There. That’s the end of homage to the House that Jerry Built. Manny Pacquiao’s last prizefight was about seeing him in Cowboys Stadium. That trick won’t work twice.

Pacquiao hasn’t changed. He’s perhaps more of an icon in the Philippines for having won a congressional election since his March fight with Joshua Clottey, but saying Pacquiao is more of an icon in the Philippines is like calling him “perfecter.” Which means that for Pacquiao’s fight on Nov. 13 to succeed, Tijuana’s Antonio Margarito is going to have to draw better than Ghana’s Clottey did. Piece of cake – preferably tres leches – right?

Not so fast. If Spanish-language emails coming to bbarry@15rounds.com can be believed, not all of Mexico is buying the Margarito line. They have not forgiven or forgotten. And they are right not to.

If you are reading this, you have considered and reconsidered the Margarito case. I don’t plan to persuade you of his innocence or guilt; I’m too conflicted about it, myself, to do a creditable job. But I will be in Cowboys Stadium next month and wonder if watching someone wrestle with his own ambivalence mightn’t prove cathartic to you.

I worry about the precedent Margarito will set in November: Break the rules (wittingly or otherwise), receive banishment, go into exile, miss a fight, take a tune-up match, shop for a sympathetic commission, enjoy your richest payday. It’s obviously unfair, but adults don’t whine about unfairness.

It is troublesome too, though, because this precedent begs for a copycat effort. Why shouldn’t some other fighter, or his trainer, try it?

Still, Margarito will not fight in November with any foreign substances smeared across his hand wraps because Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach will be an incredible pain in the ass during the hand-wrapping that HBO’s cameras will cover like it’s part of the undercard. But here’s something to consider.

If we take Margarito at his word – that he was oblivious of his trainer’s transgressions – we’re left to determine when Margarito’s trainer began tampering with wraps. Margarito cannot help us answer that question because he recused himself from the case by expressing complete ignorance of his trainer’s comportment, numerous times before the California State Athletic Commission.

In other words, was Margarito ever honestly better than the 10-3 journeyman he began his career as?

Well, if the answer is no, we’re in for a bloodletting to make Pacquiao’s unraveling of Ricky Hatton look civilized.

Boxing is a theater that requires suspension of disbelief much as any other. Let us suspend our disbelief, then, and imagine Margarito’s hands were coddled in the softest of gauze and tape the evening he beat Miguel Cotto in 2008 and th’t that same Margarito will be in Arlington four Saturdays from now.

Manny Pacquiao is far too quick for Margarito to find early. Margarito will lope forward, hands low and wide, smiling as Pacquiao hits him 50 times every round. Pacquiao will have spent weeks sparring before Freddie Roach, who probably will have stopped the action each time Pacquiao’s back touches the ropes. Pacquiao, in other words, should come off those ropes like they were an electric fence. And Margarito is none too effective in the center of the ring.

Why not? Because Margarito has a signature crossover move that requires space and time. It goes like this. He puts his jab out to start the combo in motion. He brings his right foot forward with his right cross, which is a loopy, corralling punch thrown to trigger the left uppercut/hook hybrid. Then from a southpaw stance, he pulls on his right shoulder and launches his left fist upwards, with all his being behind it.

But Pacquiao is three things that foil this crossover: Small, quick and southpaw. He will be able to parry the looping cross and move away from it by pivoting quickly on his lead right foot in a tight circle that makes Margarito’s hybrid punch wider than usual. Margarito will hit mostly air, turn leftwards and taste a left cross or four. And he’ll be down 60-54 on all three judges’ cards when the seventh round commences.

But he will not be discouraged.

He will be the largest man Pacquiao has faced. He will be a man who fights with a special kind of resentment. He will be outclassed but not outwilled. And he will weigh more than Joshua Clottey did in March – when the Ghanaian proved that if a welterweight is hell-bent on not getting hurt by Pacquiao he needn’t be.

Margarito has a chance because of physics. Pacquiao’s power above 147 pounds is unproved. Boxing history is rife with great fighters who went one weight class too high. Margarito’s relentlessness would not be enough if he were Pacquiao’s size. But he is not. He is much bigger.

One of two things is likely to happen in November. Margarito never finds Pacquiao, chasing him in hopeless circles round the center of the ring and collecting the 36-minute beating so many Americans, and Mexicans too, believe he deserves. Or Margarito finds Pacquiao late in the fight and makes it a dramatic spectacle indeed.

So I ask myself, would I go to this match if it were in Las Vegas and not my home state of Texas? I think so, but I’m not sure. Would I buy it on pay-per-view, otherwise? Yes. Should you come see this match in Texas? Yes. Should you buy it on pay-per-view, otherwise? I think so, but I’m not sure.

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

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Former Heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs went to the hospital in Hamburg, Germany after his twelve round beatdown defeat at the hands of WBC Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.

Now, he is in Hamburg’s Eppendorf University Hospital with a broken left orbital bone in his face, a broken nose and a torn left biceps, Empire Sports and Entertainment promoter Greg Cohen told ESPN.com.

“He was banged up pretty bad,” Cohen said, shortly after arriving back in New York on Sunday. “The CT scan came back normal, thank God. Shannon wants to get out of there as soon as possible, but he’ll be there for a little bit longer. He’s devastated. He really thought he was going to win.”

“His biceps is a very serious injury and they have to do surgery, and he’ll probably be there for a week,” Cohen said. “It might require more than one surgery.”

I wouldn’t be here [in New York] if he wasn’t OK,” Cohen said. “He was in intensive care after the fight for precautionary reasons. The injuries are not life-threatening. He’s just banged up, but it’s not life-threatening or very serious. Other than the injuries I described, everything else is OK.

“He walked out of the arena on his own. They wanted to put him on as stretcher, but he wouldn’t let them. He’s going to be fine.”

“He trained for this. He was 100 percent ready mentally and physically, but I wish they would have stopped it around the eighth round,” Cohen said. “I love Shannon. He’s like family to me. As a human being, he is much more important to me than as an athlete. So it was tough to watch. But Shannon did not want them stopping this fight. I wish they didn’t listen to him, but I understand. I spoke to his corner after one of the rounds and Shannon was telling him, ‘I’m OK, I’m going to get him.’ Even after the 11th round, he thought he was still going to do it. His will was never broken. If I was in the corner, I would have stopped it. But I’m the promoter, not the cornerman.

“I don’t blame the referee at all. The referee did a good job. And I don’t blame the corner. I understand, but my preference would have been for it to be stopped.”

15rounds caught up with North Bergen’s Jonathan Maicelo following an entertaining ten round decision over game Oscar Cuero. Maicelo, who won 100-90 twice and 99-91, impressed the crowd with an impressive offensive arsenal throughout the contest. Here’s what the popular Peruvian had to say.
click-to-listen-to-interview-with-jonathan-maicelo

Michael Bisping scored a three round unanimous decision over Yoshihiro Akiyama in a Middleweight bout to headline UFC 120 at the O2 Arena in London, England.

Bisping scored the harder punches after being hurt seconds into the fight. Bisping had a high workrate for which Akiyama had no answer for.

All three judges scored 30-27 in favor of Bisping, 185 lbs of Nottingham, England and is now 21-3. Akiyama, 185 lbs of Osaka, Japan is now 12-3-2.

Former WEC Welterweight champion, Carlos Condit scored a vicious first round stoppage over Dan Hardy in a scheduled three round Welterweight bout.

After the two exchanged a few kicks and punches, Condit caught Hardy with a hard left hook just as Hardy was trying to land one himself. That punch sent Hardy to the mat and the fight was waved off just as Condit was moving into inflict more damage at the 4:27 mark of round one.

Condit, 170 lbs of Albuquerque, New Mexico is now 26-5. Hardy, 171 lbs of Nottingham, England is now 23-8.

Paul Sass scored a first round submission over Mark Holst in a Lightweight bout.

Sass made Holst tap with a triangle at 4:45 of round one.

Mike Pyle scored an upset as he handed Brit John Hathaway his first loss by scoring a unanimous decision.

Scores were 30-27 on all cards for Pyle, 170 lbs of Las Vegas, NV and is now 20-7-1. Hathaway, 171 lbs of Britain is now 14-1.

Cheick Kongo and Travis Browne fought to a three round draw in a Heavyweight bout.

Kongo would have won a unanimous decision had he not been docked a point in the final frame for holding on to the shorts of Browne. Instead all judges scored the bout even at 28-28.

Kongo, 228 lbs of Paris, France is now 25-6-2. Browne, 251 lbs of San Diego is now 10-0-1.

Alexander Gustaffson choked out Cyrill Diabate in round two of a scheduled three round Light Heavyweight bout.

Gustaffson, 204 lbs of Gothenberg, Sweden is now 9-1. Diabate, 204 lbs of France is now 17-7-3.

Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. made the second defense of the WBO Jr. Featherweight title with an eleventh round stoppage over former Super Flyweight champion Ivan Hernandez in Kissimmee, Florida.

It was a good battle over the first half of the bout until Vazquez Jr. hurt Hernandez towards the end of the tenth. Sensing that he had his opponent in trouble, Vazquez Jr. came out and landed a barrage of punches to start the eleventh and the fight was stopped fifty seconds into the frame.

Vazquez Jr., 122 lbs of Bayamon, Puerto Rico is now 20-0 with seventten knockouts. Hernandez, 122 lbs of Encinada Baja, Mexico is now 28-5-1.

Raul Casarez scored a ten round split decision over Anthony Greenidge in an entertaining middleweight bout.

Both guys had their moments as the fight was fought at close quarters. Casarez was cut over the eye around round eight.

Scores were 98-92 & 96-94 for Casarez while a third card read 96-94 for Greenidge.

Casarez, 158 lbs of Edinburg, TX is now 16-2. Greenidge, 159 lbs of Orlando, FL is now 14-6-1.

In a wild Bantamweight bout, Hipolito Rivera spoiled the pro debut of Anthony LaPorte Jr., who is the son o former world champion Juan LaPorte by scoring three knockdowns in round three of their scheduled four round bout.

LaPorte was cut bad in round two from a head butt. LaPorte was dropped twice in the opening moments of the third round with the second being more authoritative the then first. LaPorte hen dropped Rivera with a right hand. Seemingly back in the fight, LaPorte was dropped with a big left and referee Tellis Assimenios invoked the three knockdown rule at 2:43 of round three.

Rivera, 126 lbs of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico is 1-2. LaPorte, 126 lbs of New York is 0-1

Former 2008 Olympian, McJoe Arroyo scored a first round stoppage over Israel Rojas in a scheduled six round Bantamweight bout.

Arroyo dropped Rojas with a right hook to the head early in the first. Arroyo finished things with a hard numbing body shot for which referee Tellis Asemenios stopped the fight 2:10 into the fight.

Arroyo, 11 lbs of Fajardo, Puerto Rico is now 6-0 with three knockouts. Rojas, 117 lbs of Sinora, Mexico is 3-3.

Patrick Majewski remained undefeated with a seventh round stoppage over Joseph Gomez in a scheduled eight round Middleweight bout.

Majewski dominated the fght as he worked the body and showed a nice jab. Majewski rocked Gomez in round four with a big left hook. In round seven, Majewski landed a left and a right that hurt Gomez that was follwed up by a flurry of punches for which referee Frank Gentile stopped the bout at 1:50 of round seven.

Majewski, 162 lbs of Atlantic City is now 14-0 with nine knockouts. Gomez, 166 lbs of Aztec, New Mexico is now 17-3-1.

In what has become typical Klitschko fashion, Vitali Klitschko retained the WBC Heavyweight title with a twelve round one-sided unanimous decision over former WBO champion Shannon Briggs in front of a pro-Klitschko crowd at O2 Arena in Hamburg, Germany.

Klitshcko used his three inch height advantage to land one-two cominations over the first handful of rounds. Briggs did not have much answer except for an occasional body shot.

Round six was a good one for the champ as Klitshcko started to put his punches together with most of them striking the face of Briggs. Round seven saw Klitshcko start to double and triple up his long jab that he would follow with flush right hands. Klitschko had Briggs in a lot of trouble as he landed crushing shots that backed the challenger up against the ropes as the round ended. As each round wore on it became less competitive with the only thing is question would be Klitschko getting a stoppage victory.

Klitshcko rocked Briggs at the end of then ninth and throughout the tenth with referee Ian Jon Lewis looking on and he would be have been fine to stop the bout at any time but Briggs took a beating and even was talking to champ as he was eating leather. It was during that round that blood started appearing from around the nose of Briggs.

It was more of the same over the final six minutes with Klitschko dominating the action but somehow Briggs was able to see the final bell.

Klitschko, 252 lbs of Kiev, Ukraine won by scores of 120-105; 120-107 and 120-107 to go to 41-2. Briggs, 263 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 51-6-2

Eloy Perez scored a ten round majority decision Dominic Salcido in Super Featherweight bout at The Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

It was a good two way battle with both guys having spots of success but it was Perez aggressiveness that may have been the difference as he won by scores of 96-94; 96-94 and 95-95.

Perez, 129 1/2 lbs of Salinas, CA is now 19-0-2. Salcido, 129 3/4 lbs of Riato, CA is now 18-3.

Hot shot Jr. Welterweight prospect Frankie Gomez remained undefeated as he was taken the distance for the first time but pounded out a six round unanimous decision over Roman Montano.

Gomez, 141 lbs of East Los Angeles is now 7-0. Montano, 141 lbs of Las Vegas is now 17-8-2.

Union City, New Jersey, a city with a long history of producing pro fighters, has given fans a new up and coming slugger to look out for by the name of Juan “The Beast” Rodriguez. An articulate soft spoken 24 year old southpaw sporting a 3-0 record with two knockouts, Rodriguez surprisingly does not like to be called heavy handed. Tomorrow evening, Rodriguez makes his fourth pro appearance on a card in his hometown headlined by Jonathan Maicelo (13-0) vs Oscar Cuero (13-2).

2009 was a break out year for Rodriguez’s amateur career. He won the New Jersey Golden Glove tournament, made it to the semifinals of the National Golden Gloves, and the quarterfinals of the USA Boxing National Tournament before starting his pro career on December 4th with a one punch KO victory over Bobby Bynum. I was fortunate enough to catch up with Rodriguez. Here’s what he had to say.

John Wall: Juan, you had a very successful amateur career, tell me how your style has has changed now that you are a pro?
Juan Rodriguez: Amateur boxing is all about scoring blows. In my pro career I’m showing another side more of a box and brawl style. People think of me as a puncher, I’m a combination puncher.
JW: So you don’t look to land the big left?
JR: No man, the knockouts just come
JW: Any thoughts on tonight’s opponent Marqus Jackson?
Juan: I don’t research my opponents. I don’t care who I fight my manager (Joe Botti) picks my opponents. I fight them.
JW: I know you are focused on tonight’s fight but what is your big dream and who is your dream opponent?
JR: That’s easy I want to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. My goal is not money. My goal is to be a legend and be the best champ there is.