PHILADELPHIA (April 20, 2010)—On Friday night, May 7th, boxing returns to the Arena (Formally The New Alhambra) in South Philadelphia as prized prospect, Danny “Swift” Garcia will risk his undefeated mark when he takes on tough Christopher Fernandez in a ten round Jr. Welterweight bout that will headline a big night of boxing that will be promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Tecate and Joe Hand Promotions and will be televised all over the country on Telefutura.

Garcia of North Philadelphia has been perfect in his sixteen fights as a pro and has scored ten knockouts.

The twenty-two year has been matched tough and come through with flying colors as evidenced by the high quality opponents that he has fought early in his career.

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.

On June 12th, 2009, Garcia took out Pavel Miranda (16-3) and quickly followed that up by blasting out former three-time world title challenger Oscar Leon (28-9) just two months later.

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 Bernard Hopkins-Enrique Ornelas undercard.

In his last outing, Garcia won a ten round split decision over the experienced Ashley Theophane (25-3-1) on February 26th in El Paso, Texas.

Garcia has been hailed by many as the next world champion from the talent laden city of Philadelphia.

Fernandez of Salt Lake City, Utah brings in a mark of 19-9-1 with eleven knockouts.

He has shared the ring with some of the best fighters in the world such as Currant WBC Super Lightweight champion Devon Alexander and former IBF Jr. Welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi.

In the bout against, that took place last April against Malignaggi, Fernandez landed a hard left hook and briefly rocked the Brooklyn, New York native but that wasn’t enough in dropping the unanimous decision.

An exciting undercard that features some of the best prospects from Philadelphia has been assembled.

In the six round co-feature, Karl “Dynamite” Dargan will take part in a Lightweight bout against an opponent to be named.

Like Garcia, Dargan was a highly decorated amateur and has raced out to a perfect record of 7-0 with three wins coming by knockout.

Dargan of Philadelphia will be making his second appearance in his hometown as he scored a six round unanimous decision over Samuel Santana on December 2nd at The Liacouras Center.

Dargan’s brother, Mike “Sharp” Dargan will be returning to the ring after a five year absence.

Dargan, 1-1 will see action in a four round Jr. Middleweight bout against an opponent to be named.

Another former amateur star, Julian Williams of Philadelphia will be making his long awaited pro debut against an opponent to be named in a four round Jr. Middleweight bout.

There will be more bouts featuring some the best fighters in Philadelphia announced shortly.

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:

Joe Hand Boxing Gym
543-547 North 3rd Street
215-271-4263

Ticketmaster (800-745-3000) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Or

The Arena (Formally The New Alhambra)
267-687-7560

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was ringside to capture the action as Sergio Martinez wrestled the World Middleweight tittle from Kelly Pavlik at Historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey

According to various published reports, currant WBC Lightweight champion hung himself in a jail cell just one day after confessing to stabbing his wife to death in Venezuela.

According to the Associated Press, the former lightweight champion used the sweat pants he was wearing to hang himself from a bar in the cell, said his lawyer, Milda Mora.

Valero’s 24-year-old wife, Jennifer Carolina Viera, was found dead in a hotel room halfway across the country Sunday, and police said the fighter emerged from their room telling hotel security he had killed her.

Valero was found hanging in his cell early Monday by another inmate, who alerted authorities in the police lockup in north-central Carabobo state, Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores told reporters. He said Valero still showed signs of life when they took him down, but they were unable to save him and he died about 1:30 a.m. ET.

Last month, he was charged with harassing his wife and threatening medical personnel who treated her at a hospital in the western city of Merida. Police arrested Valero following an argument with a doctor and nurse at the hospital, where his wife was being treated for injuries including a punctured lung and broken ribs.

The Attorney General’s Office said in a statement that Valero was detained March 25 on suspicion of assaulting his wife, but his wife told a police officer her injuries were due to a fall. When the boxer arrived moments later, he forbade Viera from speaking to the police officer and spoke threateningly to the officer, prosecutors said in a statement.

A prosecutor had asked a court to keep Valero in jail, the Attorney General’s Office said. But a judge instead allowed him to remain free under certain conditions, including that he appear in court every 90 days, said Mora, his lawyer.

Mora told The Associated Press that after the incident, Valero was held for nine days in a psychiatric hospital in Merida, where he underwent police-supervised rehabilitation. She said people close to the fighter posted bail on April 7 and he was allowed to go free.

Promoter Bob Arum, the founder of Top Rank who had been promoting Valero, said the fighter had never displayed such behavior and was “very polite, well spoken, sort of funny.”

“It’s obvious now, in retrospect, that he should have been institutionalized during this period, but it’s silly to play the blame game,” Arum said. “Now, in retrospect, he clearly should have been getting help.”

Boxing can be a difficult field to make your name in, and even more difficult to crack the mainstream code, but at 20 years old Michael Perez will have an opportunity to lay the groundwork when he takes to the ring on May 14 at Paradise Theater in the Bronx.

“Well I’m the first televised bout of the night on Telefutra, so I’ve been stepping up training. A lot of hills, a lot of different things in this camp” Perez said in regards to his training.

The 20 year old captured a Golden Gloves title in 2008 and has since put together an unblemished record of 7-0 with 3 ko’s. Signing a deal with Golden Boy Promotions, the young fighter is optimistic on the road ahead, and making his television debut, will be a major building block. Currently campaigning at lightweight, Perez notes that the division has its share of exciting prospects that could make the coming years interesting for fighters and fans alike.

“I see a lot of young guys coming up that could make for good fights soon. Hylon Williams, he’s a Golden Boy Prospect as well, I’d like to fight Saddam Ali, there are a lot of different guys at lightweight.”

No opponent has been named thus far for May 14, but Perez remains excited at the prospect of making his t.v. debut. While still getting his feet wet in the pro’s, Perez is already no stranger to the big stage. Signing with Golden Boy promotions has brought Perez the opportunity to fight on the undercards of major events including Mayweather vs. Marquez, Malignaggi vs. Diaz, and Kirkland vs. Julio.

Making his debut in late 2008, Perez has been dubbed with the nickname “Michaelangelo The Artist”and as a Newark, New Jersey resident will have an opportunity to build on his East Coast following when he does battle in the Bronx.

“I’d just tell anyone who doesn’t know me yet to follow me. I’m coming up, I have a crazy work ethic, and I’m going to have some good fights coming up”

To see Sergio Martinez’s exuberance after Saturday’s fight, to hear him call a feeling inspired by the world middleweight championship “a tremendous and incredible pride that is impossible to describe,” was to feel nostalgia for the days Kelly Pavlik inspired the same in fans. So long ago.

Instead, by the time of Martinez’s ecstatic proclamation, the larger part of the smaller Youngstown contingent that made the trip to Atlantic City sadly filed out of Boardwalk Hall, many for the last time. Pavlik protested that he was still a young man, but by then he was protesting too much to an almost empty arena.

So it went Saturday. In an excellent fight broadcast by HBO, Argentine Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez decisioned Ohio’s Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik to become the lineal middleweight champion of the world. And for once the ringside judges had it right and unanimous: 115-112, 115-111, 116-111.

My scorecard concurred. I had it 116-112 for Martinez, to whom I gave rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Rounds 5, 6 and 7 went to Pavlik – with the seventh being a 10-8 round because of a missed tripping call by referee David Fields. I had round 8 even, 10-10.

That wasn’t a ring-side scorecard. It wasn’t even a live-TV scorecard. Instead it was a two-hours-later-via-DVR scorecard. I forewent the live action to attend a San Antonio Symphony Orchestra “Fiesta Pops” performance at Majestic Theatre, which featured Los Tres Reyes and Campanas de America. Fiesta is a big deal in my new hometown. I suppose I like orchestral music and mariachis, too.

But had you told me in 2007 I would forego a live Kelly Pavlik broadcast to watch guys in tight pants accompanied by a woodwinds section, I’d have hit you with a right cross – then snapped my wrist back over the ear like “The Ghost” himself.

Thirty-eight months ago, Pavlik blasted Jose Luis Zertuche, and a lot of us got excited. He then knocked out Edison Miranda. After that fight, I wrote that Pavlik’s simple style was perfect for undoing Jermain Taylor. It was indeed. Pavlik flattened the undefeated, undisputed world middleweight champion in seven rounds. Nothing has been the same since.

I have no regrets about attending last night’s concert in lieu of Pavlik’s fight. Sergio Martinez might have deserved better, though.

Martinez, after all, is the closest thing we’ve seen to a prime Roy Jones Jr. in about a decade. Ten years of combing urban American gyms – 100 “RJJ” imitators in each – turned up nothing. We were looking in the wrong country; an Argentine soccer player who tried boxing at age 20 was the professional we sought. Go figure.

Martinez’s secret? His legs. They never stop firing. He has good head movement. He punches well enough to keep much bigger guys like Pavlik and Paul Williams honest, obviously. But his legs are what make him exceptional. He eschews the skittish upper-body flinching of American boxers and all their talk about “angles” and “footwork” for the more reliable force of his quadriceps. He keeps his hands down – never a great idea in prizefighting – but he makes that play the only way you can: with a tucked chin and constant legwork.

That’s what discouraged Pavlik Saturday. And “discouragement” is the perfect word to describe what has plagued Pavlik in his two career losses, and one borrowed from Pavlik’s trainer Jack Loew. So long as he is engaged in a test of courage with an opponent, Pavlik prevails. You hit me, I hit you, and we keep doing this till one of us is unconscious; there’s still not a 160-pounder in the world who’s going to beat Pavlik at that game. But once you disengage from battle with Pavlik, you remove courage from the equation – almost as if Pavlik were raised in Culiacán, Sinaloa instead of Youngstown, Ohio.

Martinez disengaged Pavlik’s bravery early in the fight and left him discouraged throughout. That’s how an inflated super welterweight beat the hell out of a shrunken light heavy.

Pavlik did rally to make the fight interesting. In the fifth round, Martinez stumbled into a straight left – the very way Loew promised he would – and that emboldened the champ. In the sixth, Pavlik tried to follow Loew’s directions by corralling Martinez with left hook/right cross combos, those “three-twos” Loew demanded. But ultimately Martinez was too fast and countered too hard for that gambit. In the seventh, Pavlik combined a right uppercut and a left leg to send Martinez to the mat. Both guys knew it wasn’t a real knockdown, though, and Pavlik didn’t gain any advantage from it but an extra point.

Martinez cut Pavlik three ways in the ninth: long, deep and often. It changed everything about both men. Afterwards, Pavlik pushed off his jab – nervously moving his glove and body in opposite directions. Then Martinez outhit and outclassed him through the championship rounds.

After the 11th, Pavlik, pale face bright with blood, walked with his shoulders slumped to a somber corner that looked discouraged as he did. Martinez, on the other hand, caught a flurry of verbal abuse from his trainer; why hadn’t he pressed the attack and stopped Pavlik? From impossibility to expectation in 33 minutes.

Whither Kelly Pavlik? Promoter Top Rank will stick with him – hell, they’re sticking with Antonio Margarito, aren’t they? – and at some point, as a heavy underdog, Pavlik might just surprise the eventual winner of Showtime’s “Super Six” tournament. For now, though, he’s off the radar. But he’s still a class act, and so he might well prefer it that way.

Sergio Martinez, meanwhile, is boxing’s new thing. He has a rematch clause with Pavlik and an unofficial mandate for one with Paul Williams. But since neither of those guys can now sell tickets in Atlantic City, here’s an idea: Fight both in Buenos Aires. Put the “world” back in world middleweight champion, Sergio, why not?

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

Sunday Sizzler! Super Middleweight Contender Caleb Truax LIVE! – Bute Miranda/ Pavlik Martinez and other Fight recaps and upcoming fight previews! 15rounds.com’s Johnny Schulz presents: Talking BOXING with JSizzle and Billy from Philly filling in for New York Dan NYD – A weekly Sunday boxing show covering Boxing from all angles. Alongside and boxing aficionado Danny “NYD” Stasiukiewicz.

Multiple published reports have been reporting that WBC Lightweight champion Edwin Valero was arrested today for the murder of his wife in Venezuela.

The Associated Press reported that Venezuelan Federal Police Chief Wilmer Flores said Valero was arrested after police found the body of his 20-year-old wife in a hotel in Valencia. Valero left the hotel room around dawn on Sunday and allegedly told security that he had killed Jennifer Viera, Flores said.

Flores told state television that police found three stab wounds on Viera’s body. He said Valero was transferred to a local police precinct, “where we are headed to take samples needed for the investigation of the case” and to question the boxer.

Prosecutors will charge Valero in the killing “in the coming hours,” the Attorney General’s Office said in a statement.

Valero’s lawyer, Milda Mora, did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

The 28-year-old fighter is a household name in Venezuela and he has a huge image of President Hugo Chavez tattooed on his chest, along with the country’s yellow, blue and red flag.

His all-action style and 27-0 record — all by knockouts — earned him a reputation as a tough, explosive crowd-pleaser. Venezuelans call him “Inca,” alluding to an Indian warrior, while elsewhere he has been called “Dinamita,” or dynamite.

The former WBA super featherweight and WBC lightweight champion has been in trouble with the law before.

Last month, Valero was brought up on charges of harassing his wife and threatening medical personnel who treated her at a hospital in the western city of Merida. Police arrested Valero following an argument with a doctor and nurse at the hospital, where his wife was being treated for a series of injuries, including a punctured lung and broken ribs.

Valero entered a Venezuelan rehab center March 28 for treatment of drug and alcohol addiction, Mora said at the time. The boxer’s attorney said Viera was injured when she fell down a flight of stairs at the couple’s home while checking a water tank on the roof.

The Attorney General’s Office said Valero was detained March 25 on suspicion of assaulting his wife, but his wife told a police officer her injuries were due to a fall. When the boxer arrived moments later, he forbade Viera from speaking to the police officer, and spoke threateningly to the officer, prosecutors said in a statement.

The Attorney General’s Office said a prosecutor had asked a court to order Valero jailed but that the judge instead placed him under a restraining order that barred him from going near his wife, a condition he repeatedly violated.

The Venezuela daily El Universal also reported that Valero had been arrested recently after a neighbor called authorities and claimed the boxer struck his mother and a sister.

“I’ve never hit my little sister and much less my mother,” Valero responded at the time, in comments published by Venezuelan television station RCTV’s Web site.

Valero shot to fame when he won his first 18 fights by first-round knockout, setting a record that has since been eclipsed by Tyrone Brunson. Valero last fought in February, stopping Antonio DeMarco in an entertaining fight in Monterrey, Mexico.

Valero was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2001 that resulted in a cerebral hemorrhage, and because most jurisdictions refused to license a fighter who sustained a brain injury, he was unable to fight in the United States. The boxer wound up fighting mainly in Japan and Latin America, where he won his first title in 2006.

While Valero had little trouble in the ring, outside of it was another matter.

Along with accusations of domestic violence in Venezuela, Valero was charged with drunken driving in Texas, which is the primary reason he was denied a U.S. visa.

Lucian Bute scored a third round stoppage over Edison Miranda on an explosive uppercut in front of a raucaus crowd at the Bell Center in Montreal, Canada.

Bute boxed well over the first two rounds until the action heated up in the third frame. Miranda landed his best punch of the fight early in the frame when he got through with a solid straight right. That only upped Bute’s pace as he landed a nice combination that was followed by that heard turning uppercut that put Miranda on the canvas. Miranda got to his feet but staggered backwards and the fight was stopped at 1:20 of round three.

Bute, 167 lbs of Romania is now 26-0 with twenty-one knockouts. Miranda, 167 lbs of Carolina, Puerto Rico is now 33-5.

Some thought Sergio Martinez was robbed out of a victory just four months ago at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom in Boardwalk Hall when he fought Paul Williams. Well just a few yards away in the same building and a different opponent, Martinez got his just due as he won the undisputed Middleweight championship of the world by scoring a unanimous decision over Kelly Pavlik at historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

After a non-descript round one, Pavlik was cut from a possible butt around the left eye. That gave Martinez confidence as he began to drop his hands and land some slick combinations to take the second. Pavlik had a dcecent round three as he scored with some right hands. Round four saw Martinez gain alot of confidence as he began to showboat around as he landed some hard hooks and than he buckled Pavlik with a hard 1-2. In round five, Pavlik started getting through with solid rights over the top and the incited the pro-Pavlik crowd of chants of “Kelly Kelly Kelly”..

In round seven, Pavlik landed a little uppercut on the inside and combined with the feet of the two men getting tangled, Pavlik was awarded a knockdown. Pavlik punctuated the round with a hard right over the top. Martinez got back to boxing in round eight as he landed some nice small combinations to steal the round. The fight turned in round nine as Martinez battered Pavlik with hard quick combination’s with the champions face being reduced to a crimson mask as blood streamed down from both side of his face. It was much of the same in the tenth as Martinez landed some nice straight lefts that had the face of Pavlik looking like mince meat. Martinez started the twelth by moving in but landed some nice straight lefts and Pavlik looked the like the same fighter who lost to Bernard Hopkins in the very same ring nineteen months ago.

Martinez, 159 1/2 lbs of Madrid, Spain won by scores of 116-111; 115-111 and 115-112 (15rounds.com had it 115-113) to become a two-time champion and is now 45-2-2.

Pavlik, 159 1/2 lbs of Youngstown, OH is now 36-2.

Glen Tapia remained undefeated with a spirited four round unanimous decision over James Winchester in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Tapia got the better of the action as he landed several barrages and had Winchester in trouble on a couple of occasions. Tapia dropped Winchester early in round two with a big right hand and almost ended the fight with one of those flurries that had Winchester bleeding from both the nose and mouth. Winchester tried to giad the young Tapia with some “smack talk” and the end of round tghree, but Tapia stayed composed and cruised home for the victory of 40-35 on all cards.

Tapia, 152 lbs of Passaic, NJ is now 6-0. Winchester, 153 1/2 lbs of Greensboro, NC is now 10-4.

Prized prospect Matt Korobov was less than impressive yet cruised to an eight round unanimous decision over Joshua Snyder in a Middleweight bout.

Korobox was slicker and landed the cleaner combinations but seemed ti run out of gas midway through the fight. Snyder was unable to capitalize with the exception of a few brief moments when he was able to trap Korobov against the ropes.

Korobov, 160 lbs of St. Petersburg, FL won by scores of 79-73; 79-73 and 78-74 to remain undefeated at 11-0. Snyder, 159 1/2 lbs of Berlin, MD is now 8-5-1.

Mike Jones remained undefeated as he battered Hector Munoz all over the ring and the bout was stopped in round five of their scheduled ten round Welterweight bout.

Jones ripped Munoz with hard shots to the head and body while using an effective jab to keep the gritty Munoz off og him. Munoz showed a terrific chin as he endured many vicious shots without ever going down.

The fine came when Jones landed some hard shots to the head that had Munoz rocked all over the ring and one huge right to the head that was preceded by four big power shots had referee Benji Esteves stop the bout at 2:03 of round five.

Jones, 146 lbs of Philadelphia will now look for a possible HBO debut on June 5th at Yankee Stadium with a record of 21-0 with seventten knockouts. Munoz, 146 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is now 18-3-1

Chris Hazimihalis dropped Ramon Ellis in round one and needed just eighty-eight seconds to score the first round knockout in their scheduled four round Lightweight bout.

hazimihalis dropped Ellis with a big right hand. Ellis got to his feet and when the action resumed Hazimilhalis swarmed Ellis and the fight was stopped.

Hazimihalis, 136 lbs of Youngstown, OH is now 2-0 with two knockouts. Ellis, 138 lbs of Philadelphia is 0-5

The son of the legend, Ronald Hearns annihilated Delray Raines inside of one round of a scheduled eight round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Hearns dropped Raines with a big right hand in the first minute of the bout. Hearns finished the deal off with a booming right that sent Raines down for the ten count at 1:47 of round one.

Hearns, 155 lbs of Southfield, MI is now 25-1 with nineteen knockouts. Raines, 157 lbs of Paris, AR is now 17-8-1.

In a mild upset, Vincent Arroyo stunned previously undefeated by scoring a knockout in the final round of their scheduled eight round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Bryan dominated the first seven round as he boxed very well using a nice right hand behind singe and double jabs. Bryan knocked out Arroyo’s mouthpiece on two ocassions as he got through with solid hooks.

Seemingly well ahead on the cards, Arroyo caught Bryan with a big left hoof that sent Bryan back towards the ropes. With Bryan squatting on the bottom rope and on his way down, Arroyo blasted Bryan with two hard shots and knocked him at 1:13 of the final round.

Arroyo, 142 lbs of Amherst, NY is now 10-1 with seven knockouts. Bryan, 142 lbs of Paterson, NJ suffers his first defeat and is now 13-1.

Former hot Heavyweight contender, Dominick Guinn stopped Terrell Nelson after round seven of a scheduled eight round bout.

Guinn Dropped Nelson in round one from a big over hand right. Guinn dominated the actionm for most of the fight with exceptions of brief offense from Nelson. In round seven, Guinn landed two huge right hands that drove him back and in trouble. Nelson failed to answer the bell and Guinn got the stoppage victory.

Guinn, 229 1/2 lbs of Houston, TX and is now 33-6-1 with twenty-two knockouts. Nelson, 252 lbs of Plainfield, NJ is now 8-10.

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

We had the opportunity to catch up with highly regarded junior middleweight prospect Glen Tapia of Passaic. Tapia, 5-0 (4 KO’s) faces the toughest opponent of his career in James Winchester Saturday in AC as part of the Pavlik-Martinez undercard. For more on Tapia and other New Jersey fighters, check out Gardenstatefightscene.com

MY: Saturday night you will be taking on James Winchester and will once again appear on a big card. Does fighting on a big card add any pressure or do you think it brings out the best of Glen Tapia?

GT: It doesn’t add any pressure at all. I am ready to go. I love having people watch me, I love boxing and fighting; this is what I do best.

MY: Your opponent has a 10-3 record but is from North Carolina. Those that know boxing will tell you that fighters from his region with good records aren’t what they are made out to be. What are you expecting from him come Saturday night?

MY: I don’t know but I can tell you what I expect from me. Everyone tells me he hasn’t been knocked out and just fought a good opponent, but he hasn’t fought Glen Tapia! If he comes out thinking he isn’t going to get caught or hurt, he has something coming!

Editors Note: Winchester’s last opponent was 2008 Olympian Matt Korobov.

MY: I know you had a great amateur background and were one of the more heralded prospects coming up. Tell us about your career as an unpaid boxer with headgear.

GT: I had 143 fights and finished 130-13. I won the Silver Gloves in 2003, the Ringside Tournament, USA Junior Olympics in 06, Bronze Medal (while competing) in Turkey and the Junior Golden Gloves.

MY: Your last bout was nationally televised on Fox Espanol. The fight was entertaining and you scored a stoppage, but you were a little wild and got hit with a few punches you shouldn’t have. Did you slug it out because you knew you were stronger than him?

GT: I honestly felt a little tense. I should have tried to get him out of there earlier, maybe been a little quicker with my shots but he didn’t hurt me so I knew I was going to stop him.

MY: You are also recognized for your work as a sparring partner. Previously, Joshua Clottey used you as his main guy for the Miguel Cotto fight. As a young fighter, what was it like working with a big, strong, experienced world class guy like that?

GT: I love sparring with him and I was actually his only sparring partner. We worked 4 days per week 8 rounds per day. We ran in the morning too. It was a great experience to see how he trains and the kind of shape a world champion is in.

MY: On a side note, Clottey disappointed a lot of people with the way he fought Pacquiao. Seeing how he trains, spars and how hard he works, were you let down with how he fought?

GT: Yes I was very disappointed! He could have done a lot more. When he threw punches he hit Pacquiao. He should have committed more but may have been scared of getting counter punched. If he did commit he would have had a much better chance to win. Honestly I don’t know who is going to watch him now but still, he is a good fighter.

MY: Three of your five fights have been in Jersey or New York. What does it mean to you to be able to fight in front of a lot of your fans while many other fighters have to travel to fight?

GT: it means a lot since I can show them what I can do. Since I have been fighting close to home its easier for them to get to me. I love it and they (they love it too)

MY: I know you are with the Pound 4 Pound team and are a tight knit group, training in Passaic and Hoboken. Most of the crew is trained by Mikey Red (Mike Skowronski) and you workout alongside Jeremy Bryan, Victor Valenzuela Jorge Diaz and Pat Farrell. What does it mean to have a close training circle? How does it help you prepare?

GT: It’s great! We all train so hard and push each other. I feel we will all be world champions and it’s going to be crazy! If we all win belts at the same time, that would be crazy, especially because we come from the same gym. We push each other daily so hard to be the best. That’s how it is! We are all A class fighters so this is the best gym to be in for me.

MY: Glen Tapia fighting out of Passaic at 5-0 with 4 knockouts. What is your outlook for 2010 and beyond?

GT: I want to be one of the best prospects coming up this year and for the future, I want to become one of the best world champions. My dream is to be considered a legend.

Fernando Guerrero thrilled the hometown fans as he stopped Michael Walk in round two of a scheduled ten round Middleweight bout at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland.

Walker tried to crowd Guerrero early in the first but Guerrero got some distance and began to land some hard shots late in the round. Guerrero then turned it up in round two as he landed about thirty unanswered blows (some were blocked by Walker’s gloves) on the ropes for which Walker showed little resistance for and the bout was stopped at 1:49 of round four.

Guerrero, 160 lbs of Salisbury, MD is now 18-0 with fifteen knockouts. Walker, 161 lbs of Chicago, IL is now 19-4-2

“The crowd was a little bit off so I had to spice things up,” Guerrero joked. “I said I was going to go with him and fight an exciting fight. I’m going to be the new face of boxing, that’s a promise. I work hard like I’m going for a world title in every fight.”

“I’m pretty disappointed,” Walker said. “I think I could still go. He caught me with a shot but I was recovering. I should have moved when he was hitting me. It’s just a lesson learned.”

Shawn Porter remained perfect as he took out Raul Pinzon at 2:39 of round one of a scheduled eight round Middleweight bout.

Porter landed some solid head and body shots and used his jab. Porter landed a perfect right that sent Pinzon down on his stomach for the ten count at 2:39 of the opening frame.

Porter, 158 1/2 lbs of Cleveland, OH is now 14-0 with eleven knockouts. Pinzon, 161 lbs of Barranquilla, Colombia is now 17-5-1.

“I tried to follow the gameplan, use my speed and set up the body shots,” Porter said. “I set him up for the overhand right with the body shots.

“I can’t said I’m disappointed that I didn’t get that many rounds. It was a great effort and performance. I know his weight slowed him down. He was definitely too slow for me tonight.”

Tony Thompson dominated Owen Beck by scoring a fourth round stoppage in a scheduled ten round Heavyweight bout of former world title challengers at The New Daisy Theater in Memphis, Tennessee.

Thompson scored a knockdown in the first frame as he caught Beck with a right hand that staggered Beck and then a right to the top of the head sent Beck to the canvas. Thompson continued land solid shots as Beck was reaching in with his punches. Thompson landed at least three thudding right hands on the ropes that forced the corner of the over matched Beck to throw in the towel at 2:50 of round one.

Thompson, 248 lbs of Washington, D.C. is now 34-2 with twenty-two knockouts. Beck of Nashville, TN is now 29-5.

“Hammerin” Hank Lundy scored three knockdowns en route to ten round unanimous decision over Tyrese Hendrix in a Lightweight bout of undefeated fighters.

The fireworks started early as Lundy scored a knockdown from a huge left. Both men fell down but Lundy’s punch was more emphatic. Replays showed the it should have been ruled a double knockdown. Lundy then landed a big left that dropped Hendrix for a second time in the opening frame. Lundy kept up the power punching and hurt Hendrix throughput the affair.

In round six, it was the right hand that floored Hendrix for a third time in the fight. Hendrix showed a lot of courage and tried to fight back and even landed a few solid shots but it was Lundy who thwrarted any chance of a miracle come back from Hendrix as he landed some solid head shots and mixed in some body work.

Lundy, 135 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 100-88; 99-88 and 98-90 to remain undefeated at 18-0-1. Hendrix, 134 1/2 lbs of Gainesville, GA is now 18-1-1.

Lanard Lane remained undefeated as he scored an easy six round unanimous decision over former four-time world title challenger, John Brown in a Jr. Welterwerigt bout.

Lane boxed well and was never tested and even had Brown in trouble in the waning seconds of the contest.

Lane, 142 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 12-0. Brown, 142 lbs of Atlantic City, NJ is now 24-18-2.

Kelly Pavlik 159.5 – Sergio Martinez 159.5
Mike Jones 146 – Hector Munoz 146
Matt Korobov 160 – Josh Snyder 159.5

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 16, 2010) — Undefeated lightweight prospect “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy is putting his undefeated record on the line tonight as he faces Tyrese Hendrix (18-0-1) for the vacant NABO title in the co-feature of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” at the New Daisy Theater, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports in conjunction with Prize Fight Boxing.

Tonight’s 10-round bout will air on ESPN2 beginning at 10 ET. Lundy (17-0-1) is coming off seven consecutive victories, including four knockouts. The 10-round main event on tonight’s card will feature heavyweight Owen “What The Heck” Beck against Tony Thompson.

Tonight is Lundy’s first fight since he beat Richard Abril by split decision Jan. 22 in Boston. Overall, “Hammerin’” Hank has won four of his last five bouts by knockout and enters tonight’s NABO title fight with a distinct edge in endurance and power. Hendrix hasn’t scored a knockout since July of 2009 and hasn’t fought since November.

In other CES news, tickets for “Spring Fever” on May 7 at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I., are on sale now for $35, $50, $75 and $100 and can be purchased online at www.CESBoxing.comor by calling 401-724-2253. New Bedford’s Jason “School Boy” Pires will headline “Spring Fever” in the 8-round main event and the undercard will feature the return of former University of Rhode Island football star Vladine Biosse, who hasn’t fought since November due to a hand injury. Those who purchase tickets in the $75- and $100-range (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) will also receive $15 of free play at Twin River in addition to free passes to Jimmy’s exclusive VIP After Party.

Also, a special press conference to announce “Spring Fever” will be held Wednesday, April 21 at Twin River’s Wicked Good Bar & Grill beginning at 2 p.m. This event is open to the public.

Former WBF Welterweight Champion, Paul Nave, returns to the ring as a middle-aged pro boxer at 48 in his quest to win 20 professional bouts and another possible shot at a world title. He’s one of the oldest licensed California state professional boxers. He’s his own Event Promoter, Ticket Manager and Boxer. He must also make time to train between the many hats he wears. He’s a single Dad raising his 6-year-old son PJ and is the owner of Nave Tax Preparation and Mortgage Lending. It’s a hectic life. He’s surrounded by zany boxing related characters, family, friends and hanger-oners. He has a multi-million dollar home in upscale Marin County, not exactly the breeding ground for professional boxers, and a loving 23-year-old daughter Raquel, who is a model in Paris. His motto in life, which is vividly apparent in the ring, is ‘Never Ever, Ever, Give Up, Never!’

* Comcast SportsNet Bay area cable channel 40, Direct TV and Dish Network * 10 Show Series to run weekly for 2 ½ months on the same day and time * April 18th to June 20th, 2010 * Show will televise during Prime Time and be re-aired three times weekly * Total Households 4,400,000.

Executive Producers:

Vern Glenn: Vern Glenn Production Company and Sportscaster at KRON TV.

Steve Van Dis: Emmy-nominated reality television producer and native of Marin County. Steve spent years in Los Angeles producing for Mark Burnett Productions, BBC World, NBC, ABC and other production companies that have taken him to the far corners of the world. He produced two seasons of The Contender for ESPN and has a real feel for the boxing world and the style of a compelling sports drama. Other shows he’s produced include Mark Burnett’s Survivor and The Apprentice, ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, NBC’s Great American Road Trip and Clash of the Choirs. He has also produced several documentaries for the History Channel and The Discovery Channel. He is thrilled to be working on his home turf with Paul Nave and plans to bring California an exciting and heartfelt reality series on one of Marin’s hometown heroes.

Paul Nave: Former WBF Welterweight Champion. Current professional boxer, President of Liberty Boxing Enterprises, LLC and owner of Nave Tax Preparation and Mortgage Lending.

Please click on the following link for a sample of the reality show series pitch reel:

For further information, please see:
www.libertyboxing.com

North Olmsted, Ohio – April 16, 2010 –The main event has been agreed upon for the Jimmy Bivins Charity Boxing Classic. Warner Promotions in association with the VFW Men’s Auxiliary post 7647 and the Old School Boxing Club are pleased to announce that Cleveland lightweight prodigy Yuandale “Money Shot” Evans will battle the power punching Rey “The Prosecutor” Hernandez in a six round lightweight attraction. The event, which invades North Olmsted, OH on Saturday, April 24th live from the Soccer Sportsplex, 31515 Lorain Road, in North Olmsted, has a total of seven professional bouts on the card.

Evans, (6-0, 4 KO’s) will be fighting in northeast Ohio for the first time since he turned professional last August. He is coming off a second round TKO over Juan Baltierrez on the undercard of the Bernard Hopkins/Roy Jones Jr fight just thirteen days ago.

As an amateur, Evans was one of the best in the nation. He was the 2009 Cleveland Golden Glove champion, and won a bronze medal at the 2009 USA National Championships.

Hernandez, (6-7, 6 KO’s) is coming off the best win of his professional career in Februray. In his last fight he knocked out Noah Zuhdi in the first round. Zuhdi was an undefeated prospect with a perfect record of 9-0 at the time. Hernandez has won four of his last five bouts overall.

Other fights on the card include:

Wilkins Santiago making his pro debut against Torrence King (1-6) in a middleweight clash. Lightweight Julius Leegrand (2-0) looking to stay perfect against Francisco Portillo (0-3). Michael Moore (1-0, 1 KO) battling Stephen Scott (1-0) in a matchup of undefeated middleweights. Light Heavyweight Chris Lozano, the NAAFS Middleweight champion in the world of mixed martial arts, making his pro boxing debut against Reggie Scott (1-0). Supermiddleweight Demar Singleton (1-0, 1 KO) looking to stay unbeaten against Otto Cooper. And James Hope (5-4, 4 KO’s) against an opponent to be determined.

Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the first bell set for 7:30 PM.

Tickets for the Jimmy Bivins Charity Boxing Classic are charitable donations as 100% of the proceeds are donated to the VFW Post 7647. Ticket prices start at just $20 for general admission. There are also $50 VIP Ringside tickets, and tables seating eight for $600. Tickets can be purchased at the North Olmsted Soccer Sportsplex, VFW Post 7647, or by calling 216.854.0485 or 440.258.8117.

About Jimmy Bivins

Jimmy Bivins fought out of Cleveland whose professional career ran from 1940 to 1955. Although he was never given the opportunity to fight for a world title, despite at one point being the number one contender in both the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions, Bivins fought and defeated many of the great fighters of his era. In recognition of his achievements in the ring, among other things, he defeated eight of the eleven world champions he faced. Bivins was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.

About Warner Promotions

Warner Promotions is a boxing promotional company, based out of Cleveland. They served as the co-promoter for the ESPN Friday Night fights event at the Wolstein Center on February 19th. A newly formed, Cleveland based company, owned by Ron Warner, and run by Antonio Castro, Warner Promotions has four boxing events planned for 2010, and will be signing the top local boxers to compete in their events. For further information, please visit www.warnerpromotionsllc.com.

In simply doing his job, Naazim Richardson already has done more to clean up boxing than any grandstanding proclamation from Floyd Mayweather Jr., who has anointed himself as the game’s undisputed savior with Olympic-style drug-tests that apparently happen as often as conference calls before his May 1 showdown with Shane Mosley at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

If not for Richardson’s due diligence before Mosley’s last victory more than a year ago, Antonio Margarito might have continued to fight with hand wraps described as everything from irregular to criminal. Whatever they are called, there would be no debate and perhaps no movement for regulatory change in how wraps are applied and provided if not for Richardson. His instinctive eye for detail is about survival, which he learned on the street and practices in a corner. Ropes don’t confine the task. It doesn’t begin or end with an opening or closing bell. It’s just the job, which is as challenging as ever for Richardson in preparing for a May Day that Mosley says will belong to him.

As Richardson proved before Mosley’s stoppage of Margarito more than 15 months ago in Los Angeles, fights often turn on what happens before they ever begin. It’s a lesson not lost on the heavily-favored Mayweather, who launches his sharp-edged rhetoric like artillery-fire long before the fighters invade the ring. Mayweather is at it again. He wonders if Mosley already is feeling pressure.

Why else, he says, would he suddenly show with a Polynesian-style tattoo across one shoulder.

“Why would someone wait until they are 38 years old to get a tattoo?’’ Mayweather said Wednesday during a media day while working out in Las Vegas.

Crank up the volume. Mayweather, trainer-and-uncle Roger and father Floyd Sr. are just getting started.

“Hysteria,’’ Richardson says of the predictable storm of expletives and insults.

That’s a good description. It’s also been a good weapon for Mayweather, a cautious, clever and unbeaten fighter who waits on the other guy to make a mistake. If his jab and defense don’t create one, maybe anger from a well-timed insult will. From day-to-day through the next two-plus weeks, the detail-oriented Richardson will try to guard against exactly that.

“I will keep him focused on the task at hand and not let him get caught up in the Mayweather hysteria,’’ Richardson said at Mosley’s media day Monday in Los Angeles.

Easier said than done, perhaps, simply because the Mayweathers will say whatever they can for as long as they can in a noisy attempt to find a chink in Mosley’s psychological armor. If there is a silencer, however, it might be Richardson. Listen to him and you get the idea that specifics matter. Noise doesn’t.

During a conference call Tuesday that included Roger Mayweather and some contentious give-and-take about drug testing, Richardson: “If you asked me to respond to everything Roger is saying. I wouldn’t have time to train my athlete.’’

Richardson’s stubborn adherence to detail — and only detail — looms as an effective counter to the many distractions inevitable in any fight against Mayweather. One important detail is character. It’s a lot more subjective than, say, a problem in an opponent’s hand wraps. But it is there, fundamental to the job and getting it right. In Mayweather, he sees a fighter who loves to talk and uses negotiations, media days and conference calls as if they were the early rounds. In Mosley, he sees somebody who just wants to fight.

“I respect Shane and I love his approach as an athlete, how he does his job and takes it on,’’ Richardson said when asked if Mosley conceded too much at the bargaining table when he agreed to random drug testing and a rematch clause for Mayweather. “But I tell him to his face: I think he is a poor negotiator. He wants to fight so bad he doesn’t care. He’d let Roger be one of the judges.
“Shane would agree to it. He just wants to fight.’’

The trainer went on to say that Mosley would agree to fight with one hand tied behind his back. He was exaggerating. Kind of. It couldn’t happen. Richardson. Who has Mosley’s back, wouldn’t let it happen any more than he would have let Margarito fight armed in altered hand wraps.

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in New York City to capture the images from the final press conference that featured Kelly Pavlik and Sergio Martinez before the two will showdown this Saturday night for Pavlik’s world Middleweight championship in Atlantic City.

The number one prospect in Nicaragua is widely thought to be Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago. He’s only just 18 and had also ready been a pro for 22 months going 14-0(10). Buitrago is the WBO 1# & WBA 14# at Strawweight and hopes to stay busy and improve his rankings in the remainder of the year. The Managua native will next be back in action on 30 April. Here’s what he had to say.

Hello Carlos, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – How are things? Any news on when you’ll be back in action?

Carlos Buitrago – Hello Anson, thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I really appreciate it. Its one of the first times I have had an interview for an English speaking site. I am going to fight again on the 30th of April in a show to be held in Nicaragua. I am really happy to be back in action again.

Anson Wainwright – Your last fight you went 8 rounds which is the furthest you’ve had to go so far as a pro, how did you find it?

Carlos Buitrago – I had to work a lot for that win. I was in the ring with a veteran who has been in the ring with some of the best fighters in the world at that weight such as world champions Eduardo Marquez, Juan Palacios and Roman Gonzalez. I had a good victory but he made me work hard every round. I was able to knock him down in the early rounds but was not able to knock him out.

Anson Wainwright – Your perhaps a bit of a secret outside of Nicaragua. Can you tell us a bit about your fighting style?

Carlos Buitrago – I try to style myself after Jorge Linares and Tito Trinidad. I use my jab a lot, a lot of lateral movement, and throw punches in spurts. I practice a double hook like Trinidad and I am getting quite accurate with it. I am however, working on adding more variety to might fight style. There are some clips of my fights on youtube.com and the guys from my promotion company PRODESA regularly web stream their shows thru their website www.prodesa.com.ni.

Anson Wainwright – You turned pro very young. What persuaded you to go professional at just 16? In the last 18 months how much do you feel you have grown as a fighter?

Carlos Buitrago – I wanted to turn pro at around the age of 15. I was tired of being an amateur boxer. I had more than 174 fights as an amateur and felt that things were no longer very challenging. I wanted a challenge and the chance to earn a little money. My family is poor and I was seeing how other kids in our gym were earning fame, status and good money through boxing. I started sparring with some pros and I soon realized that I was a better boxer than most of them. After I saw that I knew that I wanted to become a professional boxer. In the past 18 months I have improved a lot. I understand better now how important lateral movement and a fast jab can be to open up your offense.

Anson Wainwright – You are from the same team as WBA 105 champion Roman Gonzalez. You are both at the same weight, do you spar together at all? If so how did you find it and in your opinion how good is Gonzalez?

Carlos Buitrago – Gonzalez is extremely talented. He does not have very many weaknesses hence his standing as a world champion. I think he is the best 105 pound boxer in the world. He is super strong and naturally gifted. I spar with him as well as IBF Youth Champ Yader Escobar (23-2, 15 kos, WBA #3, IBF #5) quiet often. They are both very strong fighters with good technique. Even though they beat me up quite often, sparring with them as helped me improve as a fighter. I have also sparred with former WBC minimum weight interim champ Juan Palacios.

Anson Wainwright – What are your hopes for your career in 2010? Perhaps some regional titles? Maybe fight on Gonzalez undercards possibly abroad to gain experience?

Carlos Buitrago – I have high expectations for 2010. Not only do I expect to fight between 5 and 6 times this year but I also want to have the chance to defend my WBO Youth World Championship belt. I know that my management team has spoken with the head of Teiken Promotions of Japan and a possible debut on Asian soil is not out of the question before the year is over. Basically I just want to keep as active as possible and develop the most that I can as a fighter.

Anson Wainwright – Your nickname is Chocorroncito. Where does that come from and how did you get that nickname?

Carlos Buitrago – My nickname roughly translates into English to “Roach”. I inherited that nickname from an uncle of mine who was a professional soccer player in the 60’s and 70’s. My family is full of athletes. My father Mauricio used to be a professional boxer. My brother Julio and I followed in his footsteps. My father currently is one of the head trainers of the Prodesa Boxing team to which I belong.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your hero growing up?

Carlos Buitrago – My hero and my mentor is Alexis Arguello. He helped train me since I was 8 until a few days before his death. He is the standard which I want to measure my career by. Before his death I promised him that I would become world champion and I plan to keep my promise.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing when your not training or fighting?

Carlos Buitrago – My family and I are very religious. We go to church quiet often and I participate actively in my community. Besides that I like to hang out with my friends and try to keep a balanced life between recreation, studies, religion and boxing.

Anson Wainwright – When you were younger it must of been tough on the streets of Managua, can you tell us about your early years and how you got into Boxing?

Carlos Buitrago – While my family is poor, our situation has been gradually improving. As I mentioned before my father is one of the head trainers for Prodesa as well as a boxing trainer for the municipality of Managua. My mother is a merchant who sells clothing in the market. My brother is a professional boxer who has done part of his career in Europe. The combined income of all of us, plus the support I have received from various sponsors has helped us lived a more comfortable life. We have slowly been able to fix our household. I never had it as difficult as some of my other team mates who are a lot poorer.

I got into boxing because of my father. I remember watching him box when I was very young. He also has a few fights taped that we occasionally watch. He is in the WBC Fecarbox Boxing Hall of Fame. I started accompanying my father when he started working as a trainer along with my brother. We liked it very much, we showed some talent and we decided it was something that we wanted to pursue as a career.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us a bit about your promotional company Prodesa?

Carlos Buitrago – I am very proud to be a part of this company. They have kept me very active in my short career promoting all 14 of my fights. They don’t have that many fighters but they have the best fighters Nicaragua has to offer. In total we are 18 fighters out of which 11 of them are ranked in at least one of the four main boxing organizations. We have two WBA world Champions as well as Youth World Champions in the IBF and WBO. The important thing is that PRODESA fighters have participated in world titles for the four main boxing organizations. We truly believe that we are one of the better boxing organizations in Latin America.

Anson Wainwright – Finally what are your goals in Boxing?

Carlos Buitrago – My goal is for some day to become a world champion quiet possibly in more than one weight class and be a model citizen.

Thanks for your time Carlos I look forward to seeing your development in the coming months.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

For the past month everyone in the MMA community has been asking….is it still on? Is War Machine vs Tex Johnson on Saturday, April 17 at Wild Bill’s still on? The answer is YES!!!

Despite War Machine’s recent arrest outside a San Diego bar that landed him on TMZ and a spit bag over his face, the fight is still on for Saturday, April 17!

In February of 2009, he legally changed his from Jon Koppenhaver to War Machine. He had one of the best fights in the history of MMA PPV. He’s starred in a porn movie with Digital Playground. He’s several times faced legal action outside the cage. To raise money for his attorneys, he’s put on ebay all his memorabilia from his MMA fights including some of his most personal items – his liver, his kidney and his sperm for sale!

And in only eight days, the MMA legend known as War Machine will come to Atlanta to fight local standout Tex Johnson in the main event of Wild Bill’s Fight Night on Saturday, April 17!

Wild Bill’s Fight Night is not new to the spotlight of the MMA industry hosting many of the country’s top fighters, and with that controversy has not been far away either. The last Wild Bill’s Fight Night featured Junie Browning, one of MMA’s most controversial fighters. After hosting Junie in the main event, War Machine had to be next!

But the War Machine vs Tex Johnson fight was in jeopardy only last week when War Machine was arrested at a San Diego bar for allegedly carrying deadly weapons, which turned out only to be his fists! See TMZ story by clicking here.

Now it’s on for Saturday, April 17 and War Machine will bring his 10-3 record to Wild Bill’s to fight the 6-2 Tex Johnson in his hometown.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBC Welterweight champion Andre Berto slightly tore a bicep muscle in his eighth round stoppage win over Carlos Quintana this past Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.

“But my tendons are still intact as they can see,” Berto said. “So I am gonna have to ice it and rest for a few weeks so the swelling can go down [and] then start rehab.”

“But the doctor said it should be fine,” Berto said. “Not a serious tear, just needs time to heal.”

The report indicated that Berto would need six to eight weeks to recover.

PHILADELPHIA (April 13, 2010)— This Friday night at The New Daisy Theater in Memphis, Tennessee, one of the best Lightweight prospects in the world will be on display for the whole nation to see as “Hammerin” Hank Lundy will battle Tyrese Hendrix (18-0-1, 7 KO’s of Gainesville, Georgia) in a bout that will feature two undefeated Lightweights.

The bout will be seen all over America on ESPN 2 at 10pm eastern/7pm Pacific.

Lundy of Philadelphia has a record of 17-0-1 with ten knockouts has been on a roll and relishes the opportunity to knock off yet another undefeated fighter.

He has already defeated two undefeated fighters (Esteban Almarez and a drubbing stoppage of then 10-0 Jason Cintron) and had a disputed draw with then 8-0 Darnell Jiles in Jiles hometown, which is the only blemish on the Lundy’s impressive ledger.

“I can’t wait for this fight on Friday night”, said Lundy.

“I have had a great camp at Joe Hand Boxing Gym with world class sparring. I am going to tune Tyrese up like a Jimmy Hendrix guitar. I see the championship in my near future. This bout is for the NABO title so a win gets me ranked by the WBO. I know the two champions Juan Manuel Marquez and Michael Katsidis better be watching because I am gunning for them after I take care of Tyrese.”
Lundy is very excited about the prospect of fighting in Memphis.

“Memphis is a great town and the fans on Beale Street will get the opportunity to watch the best thing to hit this area since Elvis. That ring on Friday night will be my Graceland and I will decide when it’s time for Hendrix to leave.”

Lundy is managed by Ivan Cohen, who two decades ago was the manager of IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Buster Drayton.

“Lundy has so much natural talent and he works extremely hard in the gym. He takes nothing for granted and that’s why we believe that Hendrix will be on “sleeping on That Midnight Train to Georgia” after Hank takes care of him.” said Cohen.

Lundy is trained by long time Philadelphia trainer Sloan Harrison and strength and conditioning coach Brian Cohen.

Lundy just added one of the best up and coming trainers, Danny Davis who is known for his extraordinaire pad work which improved Lundy’s already lightning hand speed.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBA Interim Super Lightweight champion, Marcos Maidana injured his back and his June 19th bout with WBO champion, Timothy Bradley has been postponed.

“Maidana got hurt and the fight will be postponed for about a month,” said Bradley’s promoter Gary Shaw.

“They confirmed that Maidana hurt his back but that he still wants the fight, but that he’s needs roughly 20 days [off],” Shaw said. “They said he still wanted the fight, otherwise, I could have switched back to [Luis Carlos Abregu]. I will take them at their word that it’s Maidana’s back and that he still wants to fight Tim.”

“I’ve been on the phone with HBO but we need to work with HBO and Agua Caliente to find the right date that works,” Shaw said.

Reading, PA (April 13, 2010) – Boxing fans and media filled Blind Hartman’s Tavern Monday night for the kick-off press conference announcing the Pain on Penn Street pro-am fight card to take place May 22nd at the Reading Eagle Theater at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. The fight card will consist of seven pro bouts, as well as five amateur bouts and three titles will be up for grabs. The show will be promoted by King’s Promotions.

In the main event, Reading’s Travis Kauffman (19-1, 15 KOs) will face Chris Koval (24-6, 18 KOs) from Youngstown, OH for the vacant WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight championship. In the co-feature, Reading’s Keenan Collins (12-5-2, 8 KOs) will clash with George Rivera (11-5, 4 KOs) of Virginia for the WBF Americas Super Welterweight title.

The pro undercard will also include Reading’s Oscar Van Penovaroff, Derrick Webster of Glassboro, NJ and Joseph Judah of New York.

In amateur action, Derek Goldsborough of Reading faces Perry Young of Philadelphia for the Cadet Heavyweight Championship of PA (15-16 year olds).

Promoter Marshall Kauffman: Reading, PA has a great history in boxing, and we’re trying to continue to keep the sport of boxing alive here in Berks County. We have a great pro-am boxing card on May 22nd at the Sovereign Center. In the main event we have Reading’s own Travis Kauffman, who is 19-1 with 16 knockouts, facing Chris Koval of Youngstown, Ohio with a record of 24-6 with 18 knockouts. They will be fighting for the WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight title, the first heavyweight title bout to be held in Reading. In the heavyweight division, one punch can change a fight. In this fight we will have two heavyweights with big punching power, so look for some fireworks on May 22nd.
Travis Kauffman: I’m the first heavyweight from Reading to fight for a title, and I promise come May 22nd, this belt is coming home with me! I‘ve been killing myself in training, and I truly believe it will be a knockout. I want to thank Chris Koval for coming to Reading, but he’s going to have an even longer trip back home when he gets knocked out.

Chris Koval: I want to thank Marshall for the opportunity to fight for this title. I got a lot more notice for this fight than I usually do, so I’m definitely going to be in shape, I’m definitely going to bring it, so you should all come out and watch a great fight.

Keenan Collins: For the last two years it’s been a little rocky for me, but I’m not losing anymore, I guarantee it! I just want to fight, and I’m training hard.

Derrick Webster: I’m bringing the heat! If you’re looking for power, I’m bringing it. If you’re looking for speed, I’m bringing it. I’m promising everybody here another knockout!

Oscar Van Penovaroff: I’ve been training real hard improving on my skills and I hope to score a knockout….. because I like to knock people out!

Brian Jones (Trainer of Webster): I want to thank the city of Reading and Marshall for putting us on this card. Derrick Webster is dedicated to this craft. I think it’s going to be a real exciting fight, and I think you guys are going to love it.

Trainer Dean Williams: I’m proud to be on this card with my young prospects. I’ve been doing a lot of good things with Marshall for ten years now. I’m really happy to be part of this card.

Trainer Jim Ruoff: Marshall and I go back long way…. he’s a great promoter and a great friend. I’m real excited to have the young man I’m working with make his debut here in Reading at the Sovereign Center.

Anytime a fighter as heavily decorated in the amateurs as Matt Korobov opts to go professional it’s a safe bet he’ll be highly sort after commodity. That certainly was the case for Korobov who had 311-10 amateur record winning Gold at the 2005 & 2007 World amateur championships at Middleweight. Though he was unable to parlay that into the ultimate honour of a Gold at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 he is still one of the top prospects to come through the programme in recent years.

The journey for Korobov now 27 started way back in late 1991 when he first stepped foot in the gym. It was love at first site for Korobov who instantly took to Boxing. He enrolled in the Military at 19 where he stayed for 7 years. Even when his father George, mother Larisa and brother Alex all decided to move to Florida from their home in Orotukan, Russia in 1998.

It wasn’t a good time for Korobov who missed his family “I missed my family, it was difficult time for me. I just focused on my Boxing career” He knew his work wasn’t complete, electing to stay in Russia where he hone his skills. Until the opportunity came for him to make his impact at the top of the amateur game.

First he won European Junior Championship in 2001. Though he was highly regarded and expected to go to the 2004 Olympics the Russian Federation decided that Korobov was to young and inexperienced and sent Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov who repaid there faith winning gold.

That proved to be Gaydarbekov’s last International tournament as Korobov continued to grow showing the world his skills when he won the 2005 World Championships in Mianyang, China where he defeated among others future Olympic Bronze & Silver medallists Darren Sutherland and Emilio Correa in the Quarter and Semi finals respectively. In the final Korobov destroyed current unbeaten pro Ismayl Sillakh in the second round to win his first title.

Two years later in Chicago Korobov successful defended his title, really catching the eye of his now manager Cameron Dunkin. Korobov won the first three fights inside the distance, then the next three comfortably proving he was the class of the division.

At home Korobov was just as successful winning the Russian National Championships four times from 2003-2007. He didn’t win the 2005 National title because it clashed with the World championships. In 2008 internal politics couldn’t prevent Korobov representing his homeland on the biggest stage of all the Olympics.

The best laid plans rarely work out though and Korobov lost a razor thin decision to 2004 Welterweight champion and winner of the Val Barker trophy Bakhtiyar Artayev who had moved up to Middleweight. It was very disappointing for Korobov “I had no reason to stay in the amateurs and wait 4 more years” also adding “They have to many International and National tournaments and i wasn’t as young as some of the other guys. Also there are politics in Russia with the Boxing Federation”

It lead to Korobov deciding to make the leap from the amateur game to the professional side of Boxing. He decided to link up with award winning manager Cameron Dunkin who teamed him up with Dan Birmingham who was based in Florida like his family. The alliance didn’t last long, only 4 fights.

Since then he has moved onto Kenny Adams who was the 1988 Olympic team trainer and has since trained 18 World Champions. Adams is impressed with his charge “Talent wise he’s comparable to anyone i ever had” though he doesn’t believe he needs to do much to Korobov “The key is fine tuning him”

Adams an Army veteran who served in Vietnam for two years in the 101st Airborne division is a strict disciplinarian, who takes no messing and rigorously puts his guys through their steps each day at the TKO gym in Las Vegas goes on when asked about how Korobov has improved since he came to train with him “His defence has improved and his movement, also he’s able to deal with fighters who shake and bake”. Coach Adams continues “I think he hasn’t shown everything he’s capable of. Last time he was very explosive, we’ll keep building”

Korobov is happy with Adams and says of there training session’s “He knows what i need to do, he has a lot of experience. He is the same as my Russian coach he was also an Army man”

The transition to the pro’s has been seamless for Korobov “After the first couple of fights i have found it ok, in the pros there are more styles and tactics’

Away from Boxing Korobov is a family man, married to Anna who he married a year ago he enjoys walking, going shopping, the cinema, going the beach. He also enjoys Soccer keeping an eye out for Liverpool, Manchester United and CSKA Moscow’s result’s In fact it is with the afore mentioned CSKA club that he was part of. The CSKA club was actually founded by Joseph Stalin. He worked out there several years back with current Heavyweight contenders Dennis Boytsov & Alexander Dimitrenko. Things are much more low key when he’s in training camp he stays away from the bright lights and keeps his head down playing computer games and watching movie’s, he’s also improving his English.

Dunkin enthuses about him at any chance “I was crazy about him the first time i saw him, he’s terrific, he can be whatever he wants a top Pound for Pound fighter” Top Ranks matchmaker Bruce Trampler echo’s Dunkin’s sentiments “He’s a heck of a fighter, who always gives fans his best and is a pleasure to work with”

His next fight will be on the Kelly Pavlik-Sergio Martinez show in Atlantic City where he squares off against Joshua Snyder 8-4-1(3) in what will be his first 8 rounder. From there Dunkin says “By the end of the year he’ll be ready for 10/12 rounders, we’re looking at 3 or 4 more fights this year get him to something like 15-0 then he’ll be ready”

It remains to be seen if Korobov can turn his 11-0(9) record in the pro’s into a title run and then win a World Championship to add to his two in the amateur’s. He’s given himself every chance by aligning himself with an impressive support team along with Top Rank who are widely recognised as the best prospect builders in Boxing.

Sunday Sizzler! Andre Dirrell, Randall Bailey, Jonathon Cepeda, Joseph Elegele Interviews and Marc Abrams LIVE on air!! – Weekend Fight recaps and upcoming fight previews! 15rounds.com’s Johnny Schulz presents: Talking BOXING with JSizzle and New York Dan NYD – A weekly Sunday boxing show covering Boxing from all angles. Alongside and boxing aficionado Danny “NYD” Stasiukiewicz, RTB will cover: • All of the week’s top boxing stories!

North Olmsted, Ohio – April 12, 2010 –Warner Promotions in association with the VFW Men’s Auxiliary post 7647 and the Old School Boxing Club have announced that the annual Jimmy Bivins Classic has been upgraded to an all professional card. The event, which invades North Olmsted, OH on Saturday, April 24th live from the Soccer Sportsplex, 31515 Lorain Road, in North Olmsted, has a total of seven professional bouts on the card.

Headlining the Jimmy Bivins Classic will be the undefeated Dante Moore in a six round main event against Corey “Collateral Damage” Rodriguez of Minneapolis, MN in a Jr. Middleweight bout. Cleveland’s Moore (6-0, 4 KO’s), a former United States Junior Olympic National Champion as an amateur, will bring his powerful style to the bout against Rodriguez (4-1, 3 KO’s) in the Jr. Middleweight clash. Each of these boxers is known for their power, as attested by their combined knockout percentage of 64%.

The co-featured bout will present the long anticipated professional debut of Lorain’s Wilkins Santiago, as he squares off with Torrence King (1-6) from Cleveland in a four round Middleweight clash. Santiago was originally scheduled to make his debut on the “ESPN Friday Night Fights” event at the Wolstein Center in February. King’s record is a bit misleading as he has fought very tough opposition. The combined record of his opponents is 30-5.

Also featured will be the return of Cleveland Lightweight sensation Julius Leegrand (2-0) as he takes on Francisco Portillo (0-3) over four rounds. Legrand will look to become the first person to stop Portillo and earn himself his first stoppage victory in the process.

Cleveland Middleweight Michael Moore (1-0, 1 KO) will go to battle with fellow unbeaten Stephen Scott (1-0) of Albany, NY in a four round bout. This is the rare match that pits undefeated prospects against each other early in their careers.

Chris Lozano, the NAAFS Middleweight champion in the world of mixed martial arts, will make his professional boxing debut against Albany, NY’s Reggie Scott (1-0) in a four round Light Heavyweight attraction. Lozano, who has some amateur boxing experience, wants to make his mark in the world of professional boxing, just as he has in the world of MMA.

Rounding out the card will be a four round Super Middleweight bout between Toledo’s Demar Singleton (1-0, 1 KO) against the debuting Otto Cooper, and a six round clash featuring James Hope (5-4, 4 KO’s) against an opponent to be determined.

Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the first bell set for 7:30 PM.

Even though the Jimmy Bivins Charity Boxing Classic is now an all professional event, ticket prices will remain the same and are a charitable donation as 100% of the proceeds are donated to the VFW post number 7647 out of North Olmsted, OH. Ticket prices start at just $20 for general admission. There are also $50 VIP Ringside tickets, and tables seating eight for $600. Tickets can be purchased at the North Olmsted Soccer Sportsplex, VFW Post 7647, or by calling 216.854.0485 or 440.258.8117.

About Jimmy Bivins

Jimmy Bivins fought out of Cleveland whose professional career ran from 1940 to 1955. Although he was never given the opportunity to fight for a world title, despite at one point being the number one contender in both the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions, Bivins fought and defeated many of the great fighters of his era. In recognition of his achievements in the ring, among other things, he defeated eight of the eleven world champions he faced. Bivins was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.

About Warner Promotions

Warner Promotions is a boxing promotional company, based out of Cleveland. They served as the co-promoter for the ESPN Friday Night fights event at the Wolstein Center on February 19th. A newly formed, Cleveland based company, owned by Ron Warner, and run by Antonio Castro, Warner Promotions has four boxing events planned for 2010, and will be signing the top local boxers to compete in their events. For further information, please visit www.warnerpromotionsllc.com.

PHILADELPHIA (April 11, 2010)—This past Friday night at The Arena in South Philadelphia, Featherweight Coy Evans remained undefeated with an explosive third round stoppage over Morris Chule.

Evans of Philadelphia is now 8-0-1 with two wins coming by knockout. Both of those stoppages have come in the last three fights.

Evans dropped Chule twice in round two, first from a counter right that clearly hurt Chule. Towards the end of the frame, a series of hard right hands dropped Chule for a second time.

Evans showed lightning quick hand speed and a huge right knocked Chule out cold midway through round three and the fight was stopped immediately at the 1:51 mark of round three.

“It was a good fight”, said Evans.

“My corner just wanted me to stay calm and they said the knockout will calm and that’s what I did. I am happy and I have a great team with my promoter Greg Robinson, trainer Bozy Ennis and managers Moz Gonzalez and Eddie Woods plus Unleashed Power drink with River Edge Beverage Company. I know when I listen to my corner that I will be victorious”

“We are very happy”, said Greg Robinson of Power Productions.

“Coy is starting to come into his own. He is 3-0 with two knockouts since we signed him. This was another steppingstone towards a world title. I expect that Coy will be fighting for a regional title in the next twelve months.”

FULL RESULTS

8 ROUNDS—Featherweights—Coy Evans (8-0-1, 2 KO’s) 124 ½ lbs of Philadelphia TKO 3 (1:51) over Morris Chule (11-11-1) 125 ½ lbs of Pahokee, FL

4 Rounds—Jr. Lightweights—Keenan Smith (1-0) 130 lbs of Philadelphia UD over Luis Esquilin (1-4-1) 127 lbs of Philadelphia…Scores were 40-36 on all cards

4 Rounds—Light Heavyweights—Maurice Amaro (1-2) 171 lbs of Philadelphia U DEC over Joe McKenzie (0-1) 170 ½ lbs of Philadelphia…Scores were 40-36 on cards

4 Rounds—Lightweights—Purol Pairol (1-0-1) 130 ½ lbs of Cuba U DEC over Kareem Cooley (1-1) 133 lbs of Philadelphia…Scores were 39-37 on cards

The next Power Productions show will be Friday, June 18th at The Arena

Recent criticisms of Showtime’s “Super Six World Boxing Classic” are beginning to make a pattern, faint but detectable. The tournament’s critics appear not to be actual Showtime subscribers. That is, to justify the 10 monthly dollars they save on cable bills, otherwise thoughtful observers now discount the network’s innovative concept by implying it hasn’t met expectations.

Whose expectations? How not?

Among writers, smart ones at least, there’s ever a pessimistic bent to resist. Failure, for being quantifiable, attracts intellect. Smart people like to sort and group things, and success is more elusive than failure. And the writer’s job, often, is to say anything at all even when he can’t say something nice. So it goes.

But it’s time to check that pessimism and take another look at this tournament. And then another and another. A couple Saturdays from now, on April 24, the second fight in Group Stage 2 features Carl “The Cobra” Froch against Mikkel Kessler – to whose surname Hamlet fans might attach “The Dane.” The fight happens in Herning, Denmark. It will likely be the most consequential prizefight in that country’s history.

Last week the Nottinghamshire Cobra and Kessler the Dane joined a conference call without many American writers. They were counterprogrammed by a Kelly Pavlik call in what appeared to be part of HBO’s strategy for undermining Showtime’s tournament, regardless of long-term consequences. Those writers that went for the bigger domestic name missed a chance to learn more about Froch and Kessler. Kelly Pavlik, meanwhile, is strong and ready. Got it.

Asked for an opening comment, Carl Froch began in the third-person beloved by megalomaniacal dictators and prizefighters: “This is the WBC super middleweight champion.” Froch went on to say lots more in the hour that followed, but far as opening comments went, that was it.

Froch is a person of no extraordinary intelligence who speaks eloquently. The ideas he expresses are no larger than other prizefighters’. To his workaday ideas, though, he brings a surprising flamboyance and authority.

Goodness me, might that be an apt metaphor for his fighting style? Come to think of it, yes.

Here’s another thought about Froch’s eloquence. It is a high commentary on the English school system’s deservedly fine reputation. There is no tradition of unintelligent eloquence in America; instead, we revel in smart people expressing themselves badly and call it “egalitarianism” or something. But Froch is a boxing epitome of the peculiar English tradition whose standard bearer is Jane Austen, a writer of no particular intelligence who was still a genius. Solve that riddle, and you’re an Anglophile.

Asked about Mikkel Kessler’s allegations of roughhousing and otherwise dirty tactics by Andre Ward in his last fight – to hear Kessler tell it, Ward only stopped clinching long enough to head butt him – Froch was unwilling to lend Kessler’s excuses credence or Ward any bona fides as a roughhouser. About Kessler, Froch said, “From what I saw, he was quite conclusively outboxed.”

“Quite conclusively outboxed”; how rich is that? It’s precise, short and brooks no disagreement. It doesn’t say anything folks outside the Kessler camp didn’t already think in more expansive ways. But it says it just right. And it also implies there’s more to Froch, as a man and a fighter, than just a surplus of pride and awkwardness – which is about all American writers have credited him with having.

Froch should be exposed by Kessler in his next fight. But Froch should have been exposed by Andre Dirrell in his last fight. He should have been exposed by Jermain Taylor in his penultimate fight. He should have been exposed by Jean Pascal in the fight before that. Had you shown an American bookmaker a tape of any one of Froch’s first 23 fights and asked for Pascal-Taylor-Dirrell parlay pick, there’s no way you would have gotten: Froch 3-0. But that’s exactly where Froch stands.

Froch is proudest of three things: his championship belt, his unblemished record and his high knockout ratio. It’s the third that makes the least sense, though, when you watch Froch’s awkward, often-unbalanced and always unorthodox approach to punching. Asked for a mechanical explanation of the concussion that nevertheless affixes to the ends of his fists, Froch had little insight but plenty of well-chosen words.

“It’s a biological mystery,” he said before exploring, then dismissing, other possibilities such as lower-body strength: “But I have skinny chicken legs, so it’s not that.” So he settled on a combination of mystery and good genes.

Whatever it is mechanically, psychologically it’s about commitment. Carl Froch punches with power because Carl Froch believes he punches with power. There’s more to it than that, of course – accuracy helps, and so do his odd angles – but belief has to be the foundation. Froch hits opponents hard for the same reason Mickey Ward was a great body puncher: He believes.

Someone has to. Whoever was the favorite pick among experts when the Super Six tournament began – Kessler or Arthur Abraham, mostly – no one outside Nottingham had Froch to win. And yet, Froch began by decisioning Dirrell while Dirrell searched for a professional identity. He now faces Kessler in the throes of an identity crisis. And in Group Stage 3, he’ll face an Arthur Abraham who might be more tentative than usual. Get in the playoffs, as they say, and anything can happen.

Which is exactly the point of this tournament. It is unpredictable. It is dramatic. And it’s supported by a “Fight Camp 360” program blessedly focused on boxing and devoid of Mayweathers. The episodes move well and filter the noise some think prizefighting is about. Unlike HBO’s “24/7” programs, then, “Fight Camp 360” is made for people who care about boxing those other 50 weeks of the year.

The Super Six remains the best thing to happen to our sport since Vazquez-Marquez III.

Top Rank Live proudly presented and evening of Boxing from The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The card was shown live on Fox Sports Espanol which allowed around 80 Million homes to tune in. Headlined by Filipino Mark Melligan squaring off against tough Mexican Norberto Gonzalez. Also on making the tv was up and coming Diego Magdeleno against Manny Perez.

Going into the Main Event it looked evenly matched between Mark Melligen 18-2(13) & Norberto Gonzalez 18-2(12) however the 23 year old Filipino had a different idea as he continually beat Gonzalez to the punch round after round. The southpaw jab caused Gonzalez trouble through out. Full credit to Gonzalez as he continued to press, this suited Melligan who got the better of most exchanges and used his overhand right to both head and body with good effect. Gonzalez would go back in straight lines which made it easier for Melligan to pick him off. Towards the end of the eighth round in Gonzalez corner both guys clashed heads leaving the Mexican with a bad cut under his right eye. To Gonzalez credit he kept trying but it wasn’t his night. Again in the tenth they clashed heads leaving Gonzalez with another cut this time on his right eye lid. When all was said and done Robert Hoyle, Patricia Morse Jarman & Dave Moretti were all in agreement posting a shut out for Melligan.

Backed by a Partisan home support Las Vegas own Diego Magdeleno advanced to 15-0(3) with a solid showing against Manny Perez 14-6-1(2). Magdeleno looked sharp from the first bell and picked apart Perez with his superior speed of hand and foot. Glenn Trowbridge saw it 100-90 while Eric Cheek had it 99-91 and Al Lefkowitz handed in a 97-93 card. Magdeleno rated his performance as an 8 or 9 while beaming trainer Pat Barry said it was a 10. Magdeleno was happy with his continued development adding “I’d like to say thank you to Top Rank, i’ll fight whoever they put in front of me”

Hot prospect Jose Benavidez Jr 4-0(4) scored an impressive second round KO over Scott Paul 5-5(1). Paul was down twice before Robert Byrd called it off at 1.30.

Lamont Peterson 28-1(14) got back to winning ways when he stopped Damien Fuller 30-7-1(14) at 1.10 of the seventh when his corner threw the towel into the ring with Peterson pummelling away and Fuller not throwing anything back.

Cortez Bey 8-1-1(4) & Marcos Herrera 5-1-1(1) fought to a majority six round draw. Tim Cheatham had it 58-56 for Bey but was out voted by Al Lefkowitz & Glenn Trowbridge who had it 57-57.

Anthony Lenk 7-1(4) stopped Wilson Rivera 3-4(1) at 1.19 of the third round in Light Welterweight action.

Russian Heavyweight Vladimir Tereshkin 13-0-1(7) outpointed journeyman Joseph Rabotte 7-12(3) over six all three judges had it 60-54. Rabotte was marked under the left eye and back peddled looking to avoid anything heavy from Tereshkin who couldn’t find the stoppage though did wobble Rabotte late in the fourth.

In the opening bout of the night Japan’s Hiromitsu Miura successfully made his debut in Light Heavyweight action when outhustled Isaac “Iceman” Atencio 2-3-1(2) over four 40-36 & 39-37×2.