PROVIDENCE (February 20, 2012) — 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada returns to the ring March 9 at home, headlining an entertaining “Who’s Next?” card that will feature many of New England’s most popular boxers, at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.
 
“Who’s Next?” is presented by Big Six Entertainment. Estrada will face an opponent to soon be approved and announced in the eight-round main event.
 
The 31-year-old Estrada (17-4, 4 KOs), fighting out of Providence, is coming off of a win by eight-round unanimous decision last December against Joseph Rabotte. Estrada had been sidelined 10 months after undergoing elbow surgery. One of the most highly-decorated U.S. amateurs of all-time, Jason went the distance on the road with World Boxing Association (“WBA”) heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin and Tomasz Adamek, a two-time world champion. Estrada’s most notable victories have been against Lance Whitaker, Derek Bryant, Charles Shufford and Zuri Lawrence.
 
“We’re very excited to bring this level of entertainment to Providence,” Big Six Entertainments president Artie DePinho commented. “Our goal is to provide local boxers with opportunities to improve and continue their careers, as well as to provide competitive fights for fans to watch. We had a great turnout for our last show and we plan to carry that momentum and success into this show.”
 
Former USBA/NABO middleweight champion Brian “The Bull” Barbosa (30-6, 22 KOs) continues his comeback against dangerous John Johnson (13-2, 10 KOs) in the six-round, co-feature.
 
Cruiserweight Rich Gingras, one of the stars of The Contender, Season IV reality television show, will provide chief support in a six-round cruiserweight match. Gingras has relocated to Providence from New Hampshire and he remains a popular draw.
 
Pawtucket (RI) junior welterweight Diego Periera (6-0-1, 2 KOs) will attempt to keep his unbeaten pro record intact vs. TBA in a six-rounder.
 
Also fighting on the undercard in four-round match-ups are Providence middleweight Kali Reiss (3-1-1, 2 KOs) vs. pro-debuting Marva Dash, of Bridgeport (CT), crowd-pleasing Fall River (MA) junior middleweight Dustin Reinhold (4-2, 2 KOs) vs. Springfield’s Jose Angel “KO” Ortiz (4-6-1, 1 KOs), along with Woonsocket (RI) super middleweight Joe Gardner (7-4-1, 1 KO) and Cape Cod light heavyweight Paul Gonsalves (2-2, 2 KOs), fighting out of Harwich (MA). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
 
Tickets, reasonably priced at $35.00, $45.00 and $75.00, are available to purchase by calling 1.401.241.3490 (RI) or 1.617.312.5059 (MA), going on line at www.bigsixentertainment, com or www.ticketmaster.com, and at the Rhode Island Convention Center box office.

One of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to announce.”
Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.

“How this fight could be scored 116-110 on a judge’s scorecard is beyond comprehension. It’s one of the most egregious decisions I’ve ever seen.”
Showtime Analyst Al Bernstein

In retrospect, it was very appropriate that light heavyweight title challenger Gabriel Campillo raised his arms above his head at the conclusion of his fight on Saturday night.

To the live audience at the American Bank Center Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the nationwide viewers of Showtime Championship Boxing, it appeared that Campillo was celebrating his dominant 12-round victory over IBF Champion Tavoris Cloud.

But after the incomprehensible decision rendered by two of the judges, the truth became apparent: Campillo had his hands up because he was being robbed!

Madrid, Spain’s rangy southpaw Gabriel Campillo (21-4-1, 8 KOs), came into his fight against Tavoris Cloud having already been the victim of several outrageous decisions, but what occurred last Saturday night may have been the worst of his collection.

After surviving a shaky first round in which he was down twice against the hard-punching champion, Campillo completely took over with his free-swinging combinations. Which makes the scores of judges David Robertson (116-110) and  Joel Elizondo 114-112 crimes against not only Campillo, who worked hard and pulled off a perfect game plan against a dangerous champion, but also against the sport of boxing itself.

“The precedent set in the Paul Williams vs. Erislandy Lara fight needs to be followed here,” said Campillo’s angry promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz. “The two judges who scored the fight for Cloud need to be suspended indefinitely. I will be filing an official protest with the IBF today, but I think the Texas Commission needs to do the right thing for the sport and make sure these two judges don’t work again. What they did to my fighter should never happen again to another.”

The crowd of 4,599 in attendance agreed loudly, as they drowned out all other sounds with their long chorus of boos.

Though he tried hard, Cloud was effectively out of the fight after the first round. He was cut badly as early as the fourth and was even hanging on at certain parts of the fight, as the surging Campillo turned on the fireworks.

Campillo had previously lost his world title on a sad split decision against Beibut Shumenov and suffered an embarrassingly inept “draw” against opponent Karo Murat in his previous fight.

“This is not figure skating,” continued Lewkowicz. “You don’t just say get them next time when you get a bad decision in boxing. These men are risking their lives. They spend hundreds of hours preparing for a fight and when a fighter like Gabriel comes to a foreign country against a well-respected champion and puts on the kind of performance he did, he deserves to win fairly. These judges need to be removed so that they cannot ruin any more fights and tarnish boxing with their incompetence.”

Two World Boxing Federation (WBF) title fights will take place on Friday February 24, as Mike Tiberi faces Toris Brewer for the vacant North American Super Middleweight title in Dover, Delaware, USA, and Thierry Karl and Sandro Siproshvili clash for the vacant International Cruiserweight crown in Saint Quentin, France.

Going for his first professional title, “Mighty” Mike Tiberi, a 23-year-old bright prospect from nearby Wilmington, has racked up an impressive 18-1 (7) record since entering the paid ranks in June 2007. His sole defeat came in his seventh bout to fellow undefeated prospect Dwayne Shelton, dropping a four round decision. Since then he has moved up a weight-class, and hasn’t come close to losing again.

His opponent, 38-yeal-old Toris “The Bull” Brewer, 14-4 (6), could turn out to be the biggest test so far for Tiberi. While the South Carolina-resident is coming off two losses, he has never been stopped and has mixed with better opposition than his younger foe.   A real “Prospect vs. Veteran” encounter, the Tiberi vs. Brewer WBF North American Super Middleweight title fight goes ahead at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, as is the co-feature alongside a Super Featherweight battle between top-contender Juan Carlos Burgos and former world champion Cristobal Cruz.

On the same night in France, at the Palais des Sports in Saint Quentin, former two-time French national champion Thierry Karl will take a crack at his first Cruiserweight belt, the WBF International, when he steps in the ring with Georgian tough-guy Sandro Siproshvili.

Karl, 29-5 (19), holds some excellent wins in lower weight classes, such as stoppages over undefeated opponents Dejan Ribac (16-0) and WBO world title-challenger Nadjib Mohammedi (19-0), but it remains to be seen if he can carry his punching power up to cruiserweight.

In his last fight, this past November, Karl (27) stopped Serbian journeyman Mile Nikolic in the first round, but a seasoned campaigner such as Siproshvili will be a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.

Based in Prague, Czech Republic, Siproshvili, 25-10 (12), has fought some of the best Cruiserweights in Europe. Only stopped in his professional debut, the 29-year old Georgian has gone the distance with former World Champions Herbie Hide and Ola Afolabi, as well as several top-class contenders.

While Karl must be considered the favorite, Siproshvili will definitely be a true test for him at Cruiserweight, and if the Frenchman is not on top of his game he will surely have a hard time winning the fight. On the other hand, if he manages to win inside the distance, and do what Hide and Afolabi couldn’t do, it will be a great measure of what kind of success he may achieve at the new weight.

The Thierry Karl vs. Sandro Siprosvili WBF International Cruiserweight title fight is scheduled for ten rounds, and is presented by Sport Evenements Promotion. Also on the card will be a European Union Super Featherweight title fight between Guillaume Frenois and Hovhannes Zhamkochyan.

By Michael Amakor | February 12, 2012
Patriot Center, Fairfax Virginia
Photos by Mike Greenhill

RINGSIDE COMMENTARY

PAUL WILLIAMS SHUTS OUT NOBUHIRO ISHIDA

Tavoris Cloud Wins Controversial Split Decision Over Gabriel Campillo
Cristobal Arreola Stuns Eric Molina with First Round KO

Replay Tomorrow/Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME^®

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Feb. 18, 2012) – Paul Williams dominated Nobuhiro Ishida en route to a 12-round unanimous decision shutout (120-108 three times) in the super welterweight main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. The SHOWTIME telecast was kicked off by a fight that left fans irate at the American Bank Center Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas when Tavoris Cloud defended his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight title via split decision over Gabriel Campillo. The scores were 116-110 and 114-112 for Cloud and 115-111 for Campillo.

Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), of Aiken, S.C., stayed busier than Ishida (24-7-2, 9 KOs), of Osaka, Japan, throughout the entire fight, throwing 934 punches to his opponents 671. The consistent performance brought Williams his first convincing victory since three inauspicious outings in a row. His work rate and volume punching proved too much for Ishida.

“It feels real good,” said Williams. “Ishida is a tough fighter but we put in good work and we’re going to make it back to the top of the game.”

Following the telecast’s co-feature, SHOWTIME analyst Al Bernstein said, “How this fight could be scored 116-110 on a judge’s scorecard is beyond comprehension. It’s one of the most egregious decisions I’ve ever seen.” The crowd echoed this sentiment with a cacophony of boos from the 4,599 in attendance following the announcement of the decision for Cloud over Campillo.

Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs), of Tallahassee, Fla., started impressively with two knockdowns in the first round. He floored Campillo (21-4-1, 8 KOs), of Madrid, Spain, with a right hand and then referee Marc Nelson ruled another knockdown when Campillo used the ropes to stay up following another shot by Cloud.

Unfazed by the 10-7 first round, Campillo regained his composure and began to turn the tide. Cloud suffered a cut above his left eye in the fourth round as Campillo surged. The Spanish fighter was more active and accurate than his opponent, landing 148 power punches compared to Cloud’s 71.

By the 11^th and 12^th rounds, Campillo was beginning to showboat but Cloud had no answers. As the final bell rung, Campillo raised his arms in victory and kept them up until ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. announced that Cloud had successfully defended his title.

“I feel like I won the fight,” said Cloud.  “I knocked him down a few times and was the aggressor throughout.  I wanted to put him away but sometimes you get it and sometimes you don’t.

“I wanted to stay busy and be aggressive.  I did that.  He was a busy fighter, and that’s what the crowd here in Corpus Christi responded to.  The difference is I was landing the power shots, and that’s what the judges responded to.”

“I’m disappointed,” said Campillo. “This was one of the best fights of my career but this is not the first time it’s happened to me. He won the first but after that I dominated. I won the fight no question.”

The televising of preliminary boxing bouts on SHOWTIME EXTREME started out with a bang as Chris Arreola (34-2, 30 KOs, 1 ND), of Riverside, Calif., stunned Eric Molina (18-2, 14 KOs), of Raymondville, Texas, with a first-round knockout just 30 seconds shy of the bell. Molina caught Arreola early with a right but it only seemed to wake the sleeping giant as Arreola responded with a barrage of punches that ended with a flush right to the temple. Molina hit the canvas and stayed there until the count of ten in the heavyweight bout scheduled for 12 rounds.

“I wasn’t hurt so much but it was a nice clean right hand and the way he came at me, I could see every punch coming,” said Arreola. “I was blocking and blocking and waiting for my punch.  Once I swung out of the ropes I knew it was my time to work.

“I’m a commodity, a big Mexican commodity. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to become the first Mexican heavyweight world champion.”

In the opening bout on SHOWTIME EXTREME, Malik Scott (33-0, 11 KOs) won an eight-round unanimous decision over Kendrick Releford (22-16-2, 10 KOs) by the scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73.

Justin Williams (4-5-1, 2 KOs) won a surprise upset over Alfonso Lopez (22-3, 17 KOs) with a six-round unanimous decision by the scores of 58-55 twice and 57-56. Williams scored a second-round knockdown with a perfectly timed right hand.

The event was presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions. The Williams-Ishida bout was promoted in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions. The Cloud vs. Campillo bout was promoted by Don King Productions in association with Sampson Boxing, LLC.

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

By Michael Amakor | February 12, 2012
Patriot Center, Fairfax Virginia
Photos by Mike Greenhill

RING SIDE COVERAGE

By Michael Amakor | February 12, 2012
Patriot Center, Fairfax Virginia
Photos by Mike Greenhill

FIGHTKINGS RINGSIDE COMMENTARY

Vitali Klitschko defends WBC heavyweight championship against Dereck Chisora in Munich, Germany on February, 18

Two-time WBC World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko will defend his title against Dereck Chisora at the Olympiahalle Munich, Germany on February, 18, 2012.

Dereck „Del Boy“ Chisora is 27 years old and is rated in the Top 15 in the WBC world rankings. From 2010 until 2011, Chisora was the Commonwealth and British heavyweight champion. In his last fight, Chisora lost a very controversial split decision against Robert Helenius in Helenius’ hometown of Helsinki, Finland. Every boxing fan that watched this fight thought that Chisora clearly won and should be the real European champion. Dereck Chisora‘s fight record is 15 wins (9 KOs) with two defeats.

Dereck Chisora: „Wladimir Klitschko did not fight me last year so I am now going to get the world championship belt from his older brother Vitali. I will show Vitali that his time is over and make him retire. After I beat Vitali, if Wladimir wants revenge I will also fight him and take all their heavyweight championship belts back to London!“

Vitali Klitschko is 40 years old with a professional record of 43-2 with 40 KOs. His two defeats came only as a result of injuries and he never lost his title in the ring. Klitschko has the highest knock out percentage of any world champion with 93 percent. Vitali Klitschko is only the fourth boxer along with Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis to win a heavyweight championship belt for the third time. It will be Klitschko’s 16th World Heavyweight Championship fight in Munich.

Vitali Klitschko: „Chisora has proven in his last fights that he is very strong with his infighting. His great performance against Helenius showed that he should be the European champion but I won’t be intimidated by his trash talking.”

In Germany, Klitschko vs. Chisora will be shown live and exclusively on Klitschko’s German TV partner RTL.

Ticket sales start on December 15 and will be available on www.eventim.de.

************

NEW YORK, NY (February 15, 2012) – World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion VITALI KLITSCHKO (43-2, 40 KOs), of Kiev, Ukraine, defends his title against world-rated contender Dereck Chisora (15-3, 9 KOs), of London, England This Saturday! February 18, in Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany. Klitschko vs. Chisora kicks off the first of three heavyweight title fights, which will be broadcast live to the U.S. on three consecutive Saturdays, exclusively on EPIX, the multiplatform premium entertainment service. EpixHD.com will stream the fights live as part of a special free trial offer for boxing fans. The EPIX live telecast and the EpixHD.com live stream will begin at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT.

Vitali Klitschko: Good morning, good afternoon; I don’t know what time it is now in the United States. Outside here in Munich it is so cold and snowing but it is a warm atmosphere. The arena is sold out and everybody is excited to see the fight Saturday night. Klitschko defends the title against Chisora and actually it is a pretty warm atmosphere. So many people are traveling from (all over the world); from United States, from Great Britain, from Russia and everybody is excited and everybody knows it will be a very interesting fight.

FIGHTKINGS QUESTIONS/SPORTSMANSHIP

Michael Amakor: What’s your motivation for this fight, because it seems clear that you’re the better fighter? What’s your motivation for this fight?

Vitali Klitschko: You know what (it’s by) the fighter. It’s a belief. (Please) don’t underestimate Chisora. He’s young, very aggressive; he’s very hungry and he wants to be World Champion very much. I was very impressed when I saw his last fight against Robert Helenius.

Before their fight everybody would talk about Helenius like he was the next world champion and yes, of course; I saw the last fight and everybody (loved) Chisora. Chisora may have lost the decision, but many experts who saw the fight, saw Chisora dominate the fight. He beat Helenius, but in split decision, Helenius won.

After this fight, I (called) to my manager and told him I want to fight this guy. This will be very good challenge for me. This will be really interesting fight for – not just for audience; but for me, because I need a challenge. And my thoughts, my opinion; I (can’t) fight a nobody. I need a challenge. I want to fight the strongest challenger and Chisora is one of them and I’m more than sure the fight Saturday night will be very, very interesting.

I feel that; I smell that. He deserves my respect from Klitschko. He wants very much to be the world champion. I am giving him the chance and let’s see if he can use this chance or not.

Michael Amakor: Have you changed anything about your training in preparation for this particular fight, because of how he did against Helenius in his last fight?

Vitali Klitschko: Yes, of course. I use different sparring partners and because Chisora has a totally different style than Sosnowski and Sosnowski was pretty fast, and has a different technique and that is (why) I changed my preparation. But believe me; I will be in good form. I understand how important this fight is and I understand it’s very dangerous. He’s very good fighter and I don’t want to make a mistake.

Michael Amakor: I note this in the picture and the press conference between the two of you. I mean both of you are smiling and laughing and hugging each other like you were brothers and I notice that in all your other fights. What’s your view about all the challengers you face and how do you – are you friends? I mean do you like Chisora? Will that be – will that make it difficult for you to knock him out? But basically, what do you think about sportsmanship? How do you view your opponents and why are you so friendly in the press conferences?

Vitali Klitschko: All I know about Chisora is his professional career. He has a good chin, and he has good boxing quality. We make small talk. Chisora was friendly. It’s nothing personal; just business.

My career is just business, boxing, sports; nothing personal. And that’s why I smile at him.

ON FUTURE CHALLENGES AND AMERICAN FIGHTERS

Q: Vitali, I agree with the last caller; you have been a terrific champion, so congratulations on that. What do you think of the career you have had? How would you rate your career, the way it’s gone so far?

Q: It seems like you haven’t really had a true challenge since
you fought Lennox Lewis in 2003. Do you see any true challenges out there on the heavyweight horizon? Chisora could possibly be a challenge, but you seem to have just breezed through your competition since then. Do you see anything on the horizon that excites you in this division?

Vitali Klitschko: You know (it) is – it’s very difficult to compare Arreola with Lennox Lewis. Lennox Lewis was a big star; he was big star. Right now, all the big stars have retired and Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson are not there, Lennox Lewis is not there. No big names and that’s why everyone from the new generation who challenge the Klitschkos gt stopped. Any moment there can be a new guy and he can be tough, and he can give us a tough challenge. And one of them is Dereck Chisora.

No, it’s not crisis, although somebody told us the name of the crisis is the Klitschko Brothers, because nobody can beat the Klitschko Brothers. Everybody wants to see a new name rise up to a new challenge, where in any moment that someone from a younger generation who has good skills, who is very motivated and who doesn’t have fear can make a serious charge. And in my personal opinion, Dereck Chisora is big challenge for me I smell that in this fight.

This fight will be not easy. This fight will be a real good challenge for me and I will do my best to beat Dereck Chisora and yes. Every fighter needs time to build his name by fighting better opponents. That’s how my brother and I did it.

But anyone has a chance. We are ready to fight anyone in the heavyweight division and we’re doing that together (as brothers).

ON DAVID HAYE

Q: Vitali, I’m just wondering; do you think that Dereck Chisora is a better fighter than David Haye?

Vitali Klitschko: Oh, good question. Do you know what? It’s – right now, I tell you, he has exactly the same skills of David Haye, but David Haye was coming from cruiserweight. Dereck Chisora is a real heavyweight fighter and that why he has a much stronger punch and after the fight, I can give you a more exact answer. Right now, in my personal opinion; they both probably have the same (level) of skills.

Q: How do you expect Dereck Chisora to fight you differently than David Haye fought your brother? In other words, obviously, people expect him to try more than David Haye did, but what are your thoughts on that?

Vitali Klitschko: David Haye didn’t want to fight. He just kept running away from my brother. He didn’t come in to fight. I expect a better fight from Dereck Chisora. He’s actually fighter. He wants to go in and fight and to go the distance. He tries to challenge his opponent and I didn’t see that in the last fight between David Haye against Wladimir Klitschko. And that’s why they both have totally different styles. Dereck Chisora is more aggressive than David Haye.

Q: Do you expect David Haye to agree to fight you after, assuming you win this fight?

Vitali Klitschko: David Haye so unpredictable and we tried to make a deal and I hope the fight comes through, but right now we are miles apart from making the contract. Right now I don’t want to talk about it; I am focused totally to – for the Chisora fight and I hope that after Dereck Chisora, David Haye changes his mind and I can give a chance to David Haye to fight for world title.

Everyone, every fighter has a dream to fight for world title and I have a feeling I tell every time to David Haye, please fight me. Please fight for the world title; it’s the most prestigious title in the world. And then if he doesn’t want to do that, it’s OK. David Haye always tries to find excuses why fights do not happen. I hope David Haye one day makes a decision to fight me.

Q: You mentioned earlier that your career’s not over yet. So how many more times to do you plan to fight this year; in this calendar year?

Vitali Klitschko: The year’s just beginning. It’s first fight in this year, but definitely it will depend of my condition, depend of health and actually, I can do one or two fights more, if everything goes smoothly. I’ll give it my best; and hope, if everything is fine, returning to the ring in a couple of months.

Q: Assuming you know after the Chisora fight, how long are you going to give David Haye to sign a contract? Is there a drop-dead deadline or something like that?

Vitali Klitschko: I will have to wait to give you an answer for that. Right now, I’m totally focused on Dereck Chisora fight. After the Dereck Chisora fight, I will give you the answer for your question, but right now I’m not ready to talk about that.

Q: You’ve only fought once in United States since your comeback in 2000 and I just want to know if American fans have seen the last of Vitali Klitschko in the United States or if you do plan to come back over here again.

ON NICOLAI VALUEV
Q: People have been asking you about your future opponents. One guy that you talked about in the past that you really to fight; he hasn’t been around for a while, is Nikolai Valuev. Have you still got any wish to fight him at some point, if you could talk him into it?

Vitali Klitschko: Nikolai Valuev is a member of Russian parliament right now. I received an official answer from Nikolai. He’s retired and doesn’t want to fight anymore. It would be very interesting fight. It’s very interesting, the way I have to find sparring partners for the fights and he’s actually – I am – I’m 6’ 7”, but Nikolai Valuev, 6’ 9”.

Q: Six-eleven, (actually).

Vitali Klitschko: Six-eleven; sorry. He’s 6’ 11” and I never fought against anyone so big and this fight would be interesting for me, for the audience, especially since Nikolai looks so impressive. But I have bad news. Nikolai doesn’t want to fight anymore because he has retired.

Q: Well you could have a fight between the two politicians if you could talk him into it, so it would be really interesting. You’re involved in politics as well.

Vitali Klitschko: You’re right; you’re right. For that, I would have to be a member of the Ukrainian parliament. Maybe next year, I will be a member and after that we can come back to this question with one member of Russian parliament; one (inaudible) fight against another one. This of course is joke. But anyway, I have a dream to fight Nikolai, but you know he decided, because of an injury, because of his hip – a lot of injuries and he decided to retire. And I am full of respect for him and I wish Nikolai a lot of luck in his political career.

Vitali Klitschko: Thank you very much everybody. Thank you very much for your questions. Thank you very much for following the Klitschko Brothers’ career. I wish for everyone who sees the fight on Saturday night a lot of enjoyment from it. I feel that this fight will be one of the most interesting of my fight career. I have really good challenger and it will be very good fight and I hope this will be a real big battle in heavyweight division. Have a nice day and we see each other Saturday night.

The World Boxing Council (WBC) is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary and has arranged a lucrative tournament in commemoration of that feat.

The tournament will comprise boxers within the 10 confederations under the auspices of the WBC of which Guyana is a part. Boxers competing in eight specific weight categories from within the 10 confederations will be engaged in at least four fights apiece among each other in 5 cities around the world.

May 1 has been identified as the commencement date of the tournament and participating boxers would be required to win at least 4 bouts in order to qualify for the finals of the championships. Winning the finals could net the boxer thousands of US dollars and a lucrative rating within the prestigious world body.

It is this tournament that Elton Dharry has set his eyes and his attainment of the CABOFE title puts him one step closer to the procurement of the accolade.

Elton Dharry views the initiative as a once in a lifetime opportunity and has vowed to capitalize on it. He is charting a course that will augment his chances of winning the championship “I admit that this will be a world class championship that will test me to the fullest and so I am prepared to work exceptionally hard during preparations,” asserted Elton. February 25, Elton will be defending his Title against Selwyn Lett from Barbados.

He said that he wishes to engage in at least one more fight, sometime in late March or Early April, before venturing into the championships.

Jimmy Lange Sweeps All 12 Rounds to Defend WBU, Earn NABU Titles at Patriot Center Stewart Captures WBU Title in Co-Main Event, While Local Favorites Nelson and Wilson Earn Impressive Victories

FAIRFAX, VA—Great Falls, VA, pugilist Jimmy Lange successfully defended his World Boxing Union (WBU) Jr. Middleweight title, and picked up the North American Boxing Union (NABU) belt as well in a hard fought, yet decisive victory. The popular hometown favorite defeated veteran Ruben Galvan of Hammond, IN, sweeping all twelve rounds before a partisan Patriot Center crowd.

Lange began by taking advantage of his longer reach and a powerful jab, giving Galvan precious few opportunities to come inside. But having faced such boxing luminaries such as Zab Judah and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Galvan was neither intimidated by Lange’s stature nor the pro-Lange Patriot Center crowd.

Things took a strange turn in the third round when Galvan began showboating, dropping his hands, shimmying his knees, sitting on the ropes, and inviting Lange to take his best shot, which Lange obliged. However, Galvan’s antics didn’t affect Lange who continued stalking his opponent, peppering him with an effective jab while controlling the action.

“He was a clown, but you have to be careful, a lot of people try to draw you in like that,” said Lange. “I was expecting a knockout and it just didn’t come.”

Galvan responded, “I was trying to frustrate people, I’m Mexican, that’s what I do. I do that to all my opponents, especially when they are bigger than me.”

This was the 14th Patriot Center boxing card headlined by Lange.

The co-main event had the WBU welterweight belt at stake, featuring Mike Stewart of New Castle, DE, vs. Joe Wyatt of Pittsburgh, PA. Stewart was on Season Two of “The Contender” and Wyatt was a former Jimmy Lange opponent. After a slow start, Stewart drew blood from Wyatt’s nose and continued to work the jab. Then at 2:09 in the ninth round the ring doctor stopped the fight following an accidental head butt to Wyatt. Since the head butt was accidental and occurred after the fifth round, the fight went to the cards, where Stewart won by majority decision.

The first world title fight of the evening featured Tori Nelson of Ashburn, VA, vs. Vashon Living, of Houston, TX, competing for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) middleweight championship. Nelson, who holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight title, got off to a quick start by scoring a first-round knockdown, followed by another in the third round. A third knockdown in the fifth round sealed her victory, winning decisively on all three cards.

Undefeated Todd Wilson of Fairfax, VA, made his traditional ring entrance led by a bagpiper, to face Fernando Basora, originally from Puerto Rico and now fighting out of the Bronx, NY. In the third round Wilson had Basora against the ropes, when he was rocked by a Basora counter-punch, and he barely stayed on his feet in the fifth round behind a flurry of Basora punches. But Wilson came back to score a knockdown in the sixth round, winning by unanimous decision.

In a last-minute change, Lawrence Jones from Washington, DC, replaced Zain Shah, late last week, as the opponent of Harry Joe Yorgey from Bridgeport, PA. Known as a “fighter’s fighter” Jones went the distance, but spent too much time on the ropes absorbing Yorgey’s blows and lost on all three judges’ cards.

The only heavyweight bout of the night pitted Duane Mobley of Upper Marlboro, MD, making his professional debut against Dennis Benson from Norfolk, VA. Mobley prevailed handily on all three judges’ cards, winning all four rounds unanimously.

The first bout of the evening featured another Maryland vs. Virginia matchup with Kevin Womack of Baltimore, MD, taking on Richie Andrews of Stuarts Draft, VA, in a welterweight bout between two undefeated fighters. After a spirited four rounds, Womack came on particularly strong in the fourth round to win by majority decision.

Main Event—12 Rounds, Jr. Middleweight (WBU & NABU Championship)
Jimmy Lange (38-4-2, 25 KO’s) wins by UD (120-108, 120-108, 120-108) over Ruben “Modern Day Warrior” Galvan (27-21-4, 10 KO’s)

Co-Main Event—10 Rounds, Welterweight (WBU Championship)
Mike “No Joke” Stewart (48-7-3, 25 KO’s) wins by MD (76-76, 79-73, 78-74) over Joe Wyatt (23-3, 15 KO’s)

Undercard—10 (2:00) Rounds, Middleweight, (WIBA Championship)
Tori “Sho Nuff” Nelson (6-0-1) wins by UD (97-90, 97-90, 99-88) over Vashon “Lady V” Living (5-3-0, 1 KO)

6 Rounds, Light Welterweight
Todd “White Lightning” Wilson (12-0, 3 KO’s) wins by UD (59-54, 59-54, 58-55) over Fernando “The Whip” Basora (8-8-1, 7 KO’s)

6 Rounds, Light Middleweight
“Lightning” Harry Joe Yorgey (24-1-1, 11 KO’s) wins by UD (59-55, 59-55, 58-56) over Lawrence Jones (4-6-2, 1 KO)

4 Rounds, Heavyweight
Duane Mobley (1-0) wins by UD (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) over Dennis Benson (1-1, 1 KO)

4 Rounds, Welterweight
Kevin “The Scarecrow” Womack Jr. (3-0, 1 KO) wins by MD (38-38, 39-37, 39-37) over
Richie “The Rock” Andrews (3-1-3, 1 KO’s)

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London (Feb 8.) Hennessy Sports have announced this morning that Tyson Fury has vacated his British and Commonwealth Heavyweight titles in pursuit of being a household name on his journey to become Heavyweight World Champion.

Mick Hennessy said “We have a great schedule in place for Tyson on Channel 5 and I’m not prepared to have that affected by other promoters, purse bids and titles. Fury vs. Price was a quality fight and in my opinion it should go out to the widest possible audience, that’s why I offered David Price £100,000 to fight Tyson Fury on Channel 5, which unfortunately was rejected by his promoter on Monday.

“Tyson’s next steps and further information will be announced over the next few days” added Mick

Tyson Fury said “It’s been an honour to have won and held both the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, but as I’m now currently number 7 in the world it’s time to move on.

“If David Price really believed he could beat me the smart move in my opinion would have been to take the great pay day that was offered by my promoter to appear on terrestrial TV.”

“I’m really excited about my future plans as I’m doing things differently and currently training like a Trojan in pursuit of becoming Heavyweight Champion of the World.” added Tyson.

Go on line at www.hennessysports.com for more information about Tyson Fury, or any Hennessy Sports boxers and events.

sugar ray seales

CANASTOTA, NY – FEBRUARY 8, 2012 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today 1972 Olympic gold medalist “Sugar” Ray Seales will attend festivities planned for the 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 7-10th. While in Canastota, Seales will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of his Olympic triumph.

“What a thrill it will be to welcome ‘Sugar’ Ray Seales to Canastota as he celebrates this landmark anniversary,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “He proudly carries his medal with him and is always willing to show fans the gold he won representing the United States.”

“Sugar” Ray Seales

A native of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Seales relocated to Tacoma, WA in 1965. At age 16, he qualified for the 1968 Olympic Games, but the age limit to compete was 17. He made the 1972 team as light welterweight (139 pounds) and captured the USA’s only gold at the Munich Games. Seales engaged in 350 amateur bouts, winning 338 and losing only 12. After winning the gold, he turned pro in 1973 and won the NABF and USBA middleweight titles. During a 10-year pro career (1973-83), he posted a 56-8-3 (33 KOs) record. Now residing in Indianapolis, Seales trains amateur and pro boxers.

Events planned for the weekend include a banquet, a heavyweight bash, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2012. Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 10th are multi-division champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, two-division champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” ring announcer Michael Buffer, trainer Freddie Roach, broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Michael Katz. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.

An impressive list of over 40 boxing greats from the United States and abroad are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.

For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 23rd Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095, visit online at www.ibhof.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.

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NEW YORK (Feb. 10, 2012)–-SHOWTIME Sports® has named award-winning sportscaster Barry Tompkins and renowned boxing historian Steve Farhood to serve as the announce team for the inaugural presentation of live undercard boxing on SHOWTIME EXTREME—Saturday, Feb. 18 live at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

The two-fight SHO EXTREME telecast immediately precedes the live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader featuring Paul Williams vs. Nobuhiro Ishida and Tavoris Cloud vs. Gabrielle Campillo, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

A 12-round heavyweight bout between American contender Chris Arreola and Eric Molina will headline the SHOWTIME EXTREME telecast which also features Malik Scott vs. Kendrick Releford in an eight-round heavyweight bout.

SHOWTIME EXTREME, the premium network’s sports and action focused multiplex channel, is available in more than 99 percent of SHOWTIME subscriber households nationwide.

“We are proud to welcome Barry Tompkins to the family,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports. “He and Farhood bring a tremendous amount of broadcast and boxing experience to the booth. I am excited to expand our live coverage for the network’s loyal boxing fans and for the fighters who will benefit from the additional exposure.”

The versatile Tompkins’ 40-plus years in broadcasting include calling college football and basketball as well as many legendary fights such as “Sugar” Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson vs. Trevor Berbick and Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello. In 2006, he was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Since transitioning from a full-time journalist as editor-in-chief of “The Ring” and “KO” magazines, Farhood has provided the color commentary for every ShoBox: The New Generation telecast in the series’ decade-long tenure. Still an active writer in the sport, he received the Nat Fleischer Award for “Excellence in Boxing Journalism” from the Boxing Writers Association of America in May 2011.

Tickets for the event are priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 and will available at the American Bank Center box office and on Ticketmaster.com starting Saturday, January 14 at 10 a.m. CT. VIP packages are also available by calling (817) 296-4546.

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

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***Nordic Fight Night: Braekhus vs. Mathis showdown set for March 17 in Frederikshavn, Denmark***

Team Sauerland is delighted to announce that the Nordic Fight Night will hit Frederikshavn on March 17, featuring the very best of Danish boxing as well the biggest fight in women´s boxing. At the Arena Nord, highly-rated WBA & WBC & WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus (19-0, 5 KOs) and top-ranked contender Anne-Sophie Mathis (26-1, 22 KOs) will determine the undisputed pound-for-pound queen. A full Danish card as well as a Danish main event will be announced shortly. “We are thrilled to come to Frederikshavn,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said. “We will present an unforgettable night of exciting, high-class and dramatic boxing action.”

In one of the main fights of the night, Braekhus, the 30-year-old “First Lady” from Norway, and Mathis, the famed and feared French power-puncher with a KO record of over 80 percent, will battle out supremacy in women´s boxing. With unbeaten Braekhus holding three major titles and Mathis having destroyed pound-for-pound queen Holly Holm in December, the two are widely considered the best female boxers on the planet.

“This is the fight the world wants to see,” Braekhus said. “It´s the biggest challenge of my life. Mathis clinched a spectacular victory against Holm but her winning streak will come to an end when we meet on March 17. Only one of us can be the number one and that will be me.”

Braekhus will be counting on the home support of her Norwegian fans.
“This is the closest I have fought to my home country and I expect many, many fans to come over by ferry from Oslo and support me,” she added.

“This will be a home match for me.”

Mathis, who travelled all the way to Albuquerque to knock Holm out cold, is ready for another spectacular victory. “I have knocked out Holm in her backyard and I will also defeat Braekhus, no doubt about it,” she said. “It will be the first loss for the First Lady. I will show the world that I am the best.”

Tickets are on sale at www.arenanord.dk.

Interview with Paul ” The Ultimate ” Vaden
By David Selwyn

Paul “The Ultimate” Vaden won the I.B.F. World Jr. Middleweight Championship in August 1995, beating Vince Pettway by a TKO in the 12th round. In his next fight he lost to Hall of Famer Terry Norris by decision in a unification bout. In 1999, Paul was involved in a boxing tragedy when his opponent Stephen Johnson died 15 days after he lost a fight to Vaden. Johnson was fighting while under suspension from a previous TKO loss in Canada earlier that year. Paul retired after one more fight after the Johnson tragedy with a stellar 29-3 professional in 2000. Recently Dave Selwyn had the opportunity to have a conversation and catch up with Paul “The Ultimate” Vaden.

Selwyn: Hello Paul, How are you and what have you been doing since you retired?

Paul: I’m a very busy man. I’ve created an in home boxing workout that’s titled The “Ultimate” Workout. I joyfully awake normally at 2 a.m. and don’t return home until 10 p.m. So this business has arrived and is positively changing lives. This phase of my journey I find quite fascinating because being a man with good inter-personal skills I’m allowed to teach a skill and challenge my client’s/friends to soar higher as individuals physically, professionally, mentally and spiritually. I like to feel that I aim to be the “go to guy” in life. My base of clientele consist of champions in their own various professional fields. I do quite a bit of corporate speaking, my wife and I deal with other business ventures like homes and are entertaining pursuing a sports bar. Dave, I’ve always been intrigued by Walt Disney and P. T. Barnum reason being their visionary ceiling was endless. My motivation is to ALWAYS escalate my ceiling of talent.

Selwyn: Who was toughest opponent?

Paul: Definitely Keith Holmes. Every time he hit me it hurt. I was fighting as a jr middleweight and was the I..B.F. light middleweight champ. When I fought Keith, he was a big 6’2″ middleweight champion and he was able to use his size and leverage to his advantage. It was the first time I was in the ring that I felt I could not do anything with my opponent. I wasn’t known as a one punch knockout artist. I usually was quicker, more athletic and in better condition than my opponents. Against me you weren’t going to leave the ring as you came in. That night I could not do anything with Keith. It was the only time in my 9 year career that I got stopped . He was the better fighter that night.

Selwyn: What accomplishment are you most proud of in the ring?

Paul: Oh definitely winning the World Championship. That was a life long dream since I was a kid. People always said I was too nice of a guy to become a champion. They thought I was good but lacked aggression. Pettway was the favorite and I just beat him mentally and physically. They can say whatever they want about me but when they look in the record book, my name will be there as a champion and they can’t erase that.

Selwyn: In 1999, you fought Stephan Johnson who was a tragically carried out of the ring unconscious and died from a brain injury 15 days later, five months later you lost to Jose Flores in your last fight. Describe how you felt about boxing after that point.

Paul: It was terrible. I felt bad for a long time. Even though people said it wasn’t my fault, I blamed myself. For months my heart would race and I thought I was going to die. . When I fought Jose Flores in April of 2000, I knew it would be my last fight. I thought I might die that night. I came in there like it was not just a boxing match but if I was facing death. I lost the first few rounds but I came back strong. I thought I had done enough to win the fight, but I lost a close decision. Win or lose, it still was a victory in my mind because I had beaten death. It was a very dark time in my life. I only came back to the ring because I was having a tough time dealing with the reality of death so up close. I lost two very close family members to me to suicide in January and August of the very same year, and after the fight I started to believe that death was lurking around the corner and wanted a grasp of me for what happened to Stephen. Boxing had been my Calgon, my therapy since the age of 8 yrs old. So I returned to the ring seeking not to win or lose but live or die. I’ve never experienced episodes like 1999.

Selwyn: Looking back, do you feel that you made the right choice by retiring and moving on in your life?

Paul: Definitely, I have no regrets. I feel what I’m doing today is more fulfilling and more rewarding. I get great pride in being my own man and being successful in my own business. I was able to walk away from boxing with some money saved away. It is so sad to see former professional boxers who made millions in the ring and have nothing to show for it. It really breaks my heart.

BoxingScene.com: Do you feel that boxers are treated worse than most professional athletes?

Paul: Yes I do. But I do not see Bob Arum and Don King and other Promoters getting together and giving the fighters more rights. I don’t really see it changing. In other sports you have strong players unions. You don’t have that in Boxing.

BoxingScene.com: Are you a boxing fan today?

Paul: Yes, very much so. Chris Byrd is one of my best friends and of course I was a big Chris Byrd fan. We actually fought five times as an amateur (Paul won 3 out of 5) and his father trained me. I saw him work out with weights and build himself up to become a heavyweight fighter and champion. He had shown a lot of heart fighting bigger guys like Andrew Golota and Jameel Mcline. He is a very good person. I think Floyd Mayweather is a great fighter. Right now I would say he is a Pound for Pound the best. I only wish he would improve outside the ring and become a person that I could respect.

BoxingScene.com: You were promoted by Don King. You hear a lot of allegations about boxers that were promoted by Don King and allegedly ripped off. How was your relationship with Don King?

Paul: I never had any problems with Don King. Zero. He was always a man of his word. I had good management and they were always looking out for my best interest. My only problems honestly was my local promoter that tried his hardest to be difficult and portray me as some prima donna. And I used to always answer that prima donna’s don’t get up at 4 am to run because they don’t feel they have to, they don’t beg for 2 extra rounds of sparring after already completing 10 rounds while wearing a wetsuit because hard work is beneath their character. People always ask me about Don King expecting to hear horror stories, but I never had a problem with him.

BoxingScene.com: Paul, anything you would like to say in closing?

Paul: Well Dave, I would just like to say I’m a very blessed person. I really enjoy what I’m doing now. I would like to thank all of the people that were supportive during my boxing career and I am happy to have made so many friends in the boxing game. I feel that the best is yet to come .

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (February 10, 2012) – Star Boxing’s Demetrius “The Matador” Andrade turned in an electrifying performance, destroying former world title challenger Angel “Toro” Hernandez in two rounds, in tonight’s ESPN Friday Night Fights main event on an entertaining card, presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Andrade improved his record to a perfect 16-0 (11 KOs) and captured his first title belt, the IBA Americas junior middleweight title. The 2008 U.S. Olympian is presently rated among the top 15 in all four governing bodies: WBO #9, IBF #12, WBC #14 and WBA #15.

The 23-year-old from Providence went to Hernandez’ (30-11, 17 KOs) body in the opening round and then opened-up in the second, dropping Angel once and then again for good at 1:39 as referee Steve Smoger waved off the count and declared the outcome a knockout.

“I felt good,” Andrade commented after the fight. “I was in great shape. I saw he was breathing heavy after the first round and decided to take the fight to him in the second. I knew I had him, especially after the straight left. This is my first belt and I’m going to collect a lot more. A few more fights, little more experience, and I’ll be ready for anybody in the world.”

Andrade Celebrates

Andrade is co-promoted by DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Banner Promotions.

In the co-feature, unbeaten Philadelphia junior welterweight Raymond “Tito” Serrano (18-0, 8 KOs), rated No. 15 by the WBA, bounced back from a third-round knockdown to take a unanimous 10-round decision from Kenny Abril (11-2-4, 6 KOs).
.
“It was a good fight,” Serrano said. “I felt like I was winning the (third) round, but I slipped as he hit me with a jab (knockdown). I wasn’t hurt. He’s a strong fighter. We went a good 10 rounds. It was a good experience and I’m 18-0.”

Serrano wins again

Bronx super featherweight Emanuel Gonzalez (10-0, 7 KOs) kept his perfect record intact by way of a fourth-round unanimous decision versus Jesus Bayron.

Former USBA & NABO champion “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (23-7-2, 10 KOs) registered a workmanlike victory by six-round decision against veteran junior welterweight Shaka Moore.

East Hartford’s popular super featherweight Joseph “Chip” Perez (7-1, 2 KOs) out-gunned a game Jamell Tyson for a hard-fought six-round decision. Local favorite Jair Ramos (2-0, 2 KOs) stopped junior welterweight Miguel Rodriguez (0-2) in the second round. Super middleweight Charles Foster (2-0, 1 KO) a knockdown to defeat Borngood Washington in a spirited bout.

Full results:

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Demetrius Andrade (16-0, 11 KOs), Providence, RI WKO2 (1:39) Angel Hernandez (30-11, 17 KOs), Chicago, IL
(Andrade won the IBA Americas Junior Middleweight title)

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Charles Foster (2-0, 1 KO), New Haven, CT WDEC4 (38-37, 38-37, 38-37) Borngood Washington (3-10, 1 KO), Queens, NY
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
Raymond Serrano (18-0, 8 KOs), Philadelphia, PA WDEC10 (97-92, 97-92, 95-94) Kenny Abril (11-2-4, 6 KOs), Rochester, NY
Mike Arnaoutis (23-7-2, 10 KOs), Astoria, NY WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 59-55) Shaka Moore (11-16-3, 2 KOs), Norwalk, CT
Jair Ramos (2-0, 1 KO), Waterbury, CT WTKO2 (0:53) Miguel Rodriguez (0-2), Philadelphia, PA

SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS
Emanuel Gonzalez (10-0, 7 KOs), Bronx, NY WDEC4 (40-46, 39-37, 39-37) Jesus Bayron (5-4-1, 4 KOs), San Jua, PR
Joseph Perez (7-1, 2 KOs), East Hartford, CT WDEC6 (59-55, 58-56, 58-56) Jamell Tyson (2-5-1, 1 KO), Rochester, NY

The Mouthpiece

No Laughing Matter—Dhafir “No Fear” Smith Decisions Rankin
Saunders Dominates Morrison.

By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq.
Date:                       Saturday, January 28, 2012
Venue:                    First District Plaza – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Promoters:              Percy “Buster” Custus & The James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym
Announcer:             Henry “Dis-com-bob-u-lating” Jones
Referees:                 Eddie Cotton Jr. & Hurley McCall
Photos:                    www.christoneyphotography.com

It has to be a special night when homage is paid to two Philadelphia ring greats—James “Black Gold” Shuler and Smokin’ Joe Frazier.  Tonight promoter Percy “Buster” Custus reminded everyone that the legacy of James Shuler, who died tragically in 1986, is still intact as the eponymous gym is now the epicenter of the sweet science in the City of Brotherly Love. Custus opened the gym in 1994, a living monument to his friend and one of my favorite fighters. There were many moist eyes in the venue as Judge Jacqui Frazier-Lyde joined Custus in the ring to honor her father and one of the greatest heavyweights of all time—Joe Frazier on this glorious night of the sweet sciene in the Capital of Boxing.  Adding to the momentous occasion was ring announcer Henry “Dis-com-bob-u-lating” Jones decked out in his signature black & white two-tone spectator shoes taking us back in time when they were commonplace. His delivery and colorful introductions made every bout a main event keeping the audience on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what was about to “go down” adding texture and flare to this wonderful event.

(L-R) Frazier-Lyde, Stowe and Custus

Storming out the ring after Henry Jones announced the decision, light-heavyweight Quentin “Renegade” Rankin made his way back to the dressing room and slammed his fists on a table. It never ceases to amaze me that the combatants in a fight oftentimes have a different perspective of what transpired than the audience. Yes, Rankin, despite only five fights (4 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 3 kos) handled himself remarkably well, had his moments, against Smith a 53-fight veteran who in 2010 upset Jeff Lacy, former IBF super-middleweight champion in winning a unanimous 12-round decision. But for Rankin to believe that he was cheated out of victory borders on heresy or delusion beyond comprehension. In the word of the esteemed philosopher, Michael Gerard Tyson, “that is ludicrous!”

Rankin, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, made the trip all the way from Charlotte, North Carolina as a last minute substitute to face Smith. North Carolina, South Carolina or any Carolina is not what we would call a hotbed of the sweet science. Thus, it was somewhat surprising to witness in the opening round of the scheduled six-round main event that Rankin can actually fight! He circled well using his jab and matching Smith—a slow-starter who doesn’t get warmed up until about the fourth round. Unless the heavens opened up and the Lord gave me an edict —I would never ever put Smith in a six-rounder or have him face a southpaw!!

Smith (L.) sticking the jab on Rankin

There wasn’t much to distinguish the two in the first three rounds, which had Smith pressing the action with his jab and Rankin showing good technique and great lateral movement. The action reached a boiling point in the fourth stanza when Rankin stood toe-to-toe with Smith and made it a dogfight. They continued to get down and dirty after the bell with Referee Cotton having to break up the ruckus and point them back to their respective corners. Smith was upset and you sensed that the tide was turning as I scored the round for Rankin. However, the Philly war horse regained his composure and continued to work his jab and was credited with a knock-down, an apparent slip by Rankin that Cotton miscalled. The last round could have been scored for Rankin who used his legs in sticking and moving. Most of press row had Smith victorious wining four rounds.

It was no laughing matter when Rankin came out of the dressing room still in his trunks and asked the videographer when and how he could get a tape of the fight. He went on to make reference of how he was “tired of getting robbed.”  Allow me to mount my soapbox—Roy Jones Jr. got robbed against Park Si-Hun in the 1988 Olympics; Floyd Mayweather Jr. was fleeced in his bout against Serafim Todorow in the 1996 Olympics; Rankin fought well and shocked everyone. Nothing was taken from him except the pre-fight perception that he was just another down South fighter brought in on the cheap to fill the card. This guy can fight and has a bright future.

Had Dr. Frankenstein gone to his lab focused on creating the perfect physical specimen for a female pugilist, he would have emerged with Althea “Lady Thunder” Saunders. Saunders (2 wins – 0 losses – 1 draw – 0 kos) has the legs of a 100-meter sprinter and the upper body symmetry and strength of a professional swimmer. Her orbs are set perfectly in her cranium to garner maximum peripheral vision. Beautiful, lithe, powerful, alert and quick as a cat watching her you get an eerily titillating feeling that visitors from another world left her in Roswell, New Mexico programmed for destruction and mayhem in the squared circle. I spoke to Saunders in the dressing room as she went through the motions of loosening up for her scheduled four rounder, jabbing, stutter-stepping and feinting punches towards an imaginary foe. Saunder looked like a racehorse in the gates as she went through the motions while letting me know that Muhammad Ali is her favorite fighter and that she loved how he fought backing up. The irony of the comment didn’t go unnoticed because the one time I saw her fight in Atlantic City, I can’t recall her ever taking a backwards step. Saunders is a heat-seeking missile who has one gear—forward—she is genetically predisposed to search and destroy.

Saunders (R.) getting ready to attack.

Earlier, I had the opportunity to interview Saunder’s opponent, Davrene Morrison (2 wins – 11 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos)of Montana.  A Native American and member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, Morrison started boxing ten years aback and “jumped” into the professional ranks after compiling a 22 wins and 6 losses as an amateur. The good looking, tall and slender boxer admitted that she is a brawler who is learning how to box.  Immediately, I knew that she and Saunders were going to set off the sprinkler system in the building with their fistic fireworks. Only in America that one can witness two gorgeous women pursuing their passion for the sweet science while trying to give new meaning to the word annihilation!

Referee McCall gave the instructions, the gong rang and they met in the center of the ring. Saunders moving like a modern-day version of the great Henry Armstrong came forward moving her head, side-to-side while pumping the jab, eyes wide open to parry or slip any retaliation. Morrison held her own circling, firing back looking for an opening.

Morrison’s early success was ephemeral as Saunders took control in the second round and never took her foot off the accelerator jabbing, landing the harder shots, perpetual motion, eyes fixated on her target like a hawk zeroing in on an escaping rabbit. Despite the constant pressure and barrage Morrison, her nose bleeding, never showed any signs of surrendering. She came to fight and circled trying to catch Saunders unexpectedly. After four exciting rounds of launching leather – Saunder was awarded a unanimous decision 40-35 twice and 40-36 and left the ring looking like she had just warmed up for a night out on the town.

Philly junior-middleweight Tyrell Boggs (0 wins – 3 losses – 0 draws – 0 kos), returning from a 30-month hiatus, told me that he had taken the fight on short notice and knew nothing about his opponent—Skender Halili (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) of Bronx, New York. Needless to say that they got acquainted quickly as Halili introduced himself by storming out the gate, pressing the action  trying to impose his will from the opening bell of their scheduled four-rounder. It was a tactical opening stanza as Boggs defying ring rust boxed nicely, held his own and landed a good straight right counter that was answered likewise by Halili who finished off with a combination downstairs. With his sister, top ranked amateur sensation Kymmberli Stowe in his corner yelling instructions, a fading Boggs tried to stay the course as Halili picked up the pace in the second round dominating with good bodywork. Boggs was like the Titanic at sea sinking quickly as the gale force winds of hurricane Halili swept over him with Stowe’s words of encouragement being the only life line that helped the fading fighter make it to the end of the round which was punctuated with a devastating right hand by the marauding man from the Big Apple. Boggs sauntered back to the stool on spaghetti legs as his corner signaled to Referee Cotton that the fat lady had sung and that the Philadelphian was calling it a night. Halili was declared the winner by technical knockout at 3:00 of the second round.

Halili (L.) moving in on Boggs.

I remember Philadelphia junior-featherweight Alex “Macho” Barbosa, then a Temple University student, coming to the gym with his younger brother, rising professional light-weight, Jesus Barbosa. Older by two years, Alex was serving as an advisor to his brother who reminded many of a young Mike Tyson with his relentless body attack and head movement. Fast forward four years and the roles have reversed. The elder Barbosa graduated from Temple two years aback with a degree in Criminal Justice and is now pursuing a professional boxing career. Jesus, whose last fight was in 2009, is now one of his brother’s corner men. In a scheduled four-rounder, the southpaw Barbosa (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) started quickly by jumping on Luis “The Wolf” Rivera (0 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws) of Puerto Rico in the opening stanza.  He pressed the action working behind a stiff jab throwing punches with bad intentions making the Wolf, who was sporting a six-inch ponytail, look like a Beverly Hills’ Chihuahua. Round after round, Barbosa attacked trying to make a statement in living up to his moniker. Despite being outgunned Rivera was able to nip back at Barbosa with a few combinations while attempting to avoid punishment. All three judges scored it a shutout 40-36—a unanimous decision for Barbosa.

Maybe, he had just watched the first Rocky movie but in the pre-fight interview Allentown, welterweight Joel Nieves sounded just like Sly Stallone’s character with his one-line truculent responses while appearing to be bothered by my questions. At one point I wanted to end our discourse and ask promoter Percy Custus to allow me to replace debuting Kareem “Get Busy” McFarland since I was beginning to believe that Nieves was enjoying being rude. Nevertheless, I quickly brought closure to our repartee and took my ringside seat. Well, Nieves (0 wins – 3 losses – 0 draws) kept his perfect record intact as his dressing room machismo dissipated as the southpaw McFarland lived up to his moniker and “got busy” wailing away with every punch in his arsenal as a cowering Nieves looked like a camel trying to find shelter in a sandstorm. It was the great Joe Louis who said “you can run, but you can’t hide.”  At one point it appeared as though Nieves was trying to find safe haven behind Referee McCall who with the alacrity of a world-class matador, side stepped as McFarland punches continued to rain down on the hapless fighter.  McCall showed compassion and rescued Nieves at 1:01 of the round—a technical knockout for McFarland.

McFarland (L.) all over Nieves.

Other Results: The card included four exhibitions.  Former IBF junior-middleweight champion Buster “The Demon” Drayton entertained fans with a three-round sparring session against police officer and gym warrior— Richard “Pretty Boy” Floyd. Light-heavyweight contender Yusaf Mack (29 wins – 4 losses – 2 draws – 17 kos) sparred three rounds each with Prince Badi Ajamu (27 wins – 15 losses – 1 draw – 15 kos) and former amateur stand-out Frank Walker.  Amateurs and pint-sized pugilists 75-pounders —Rasheen Brown and Tryon Witherspoon displayed their wares over three rounds.

It was an exciting night of boxing as the near capacity crowd reveled in the action. Enjoying the fistic diplay were Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, Kevin “The Spoiler” Howard – first man to put Sugar Ray Leonard on the canvas; Vinny Burghese, “Terrible” Tim Witherspoon, Pete Lyde, Rick El, Georgiy Guralnik, Robert “Bam Bam” Hines, Jamal “Tyson” Davis, Coach Sharron Baker, Steven Foster Sr. and Steven Foster Jr. Throughout the evening comedian J’Vonne Pearson pushed the envelope in his attempt to entertain. At one point I thought he would need security to leave the venue as he heckled a late comer commenting on her attire which included a coat that showed what can be accomplished with ingenuity, the fur of several dead cats, glue and Velcro. However, it was no laughing matter when I later googled Pearson and was met with a mug shot that appears to be his likeness and name staring back at me ………….

Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!ghanson3@hotmail.com

OTHERS

BY WBC PHOTOGRAPHERS ALMA MONTIEL & NAOKI FUKUDA

BRONX, NY (February 3, 2012) – Star Boxing’s undefeated junior welterweight prospect Raymond “Tito” Serrano takes on dangerous Kenny Abril in the 10-round co-feature February 10 on ESPN Friday Night Fights live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The action-packed Feb. 10 show is being presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.   Serrano (17-0, 8 KOs), fighting out of Philadelphia, faces another stiff test in former New York State title-holder Abril (11-4-1, 6 KOs), of Rochester (NY). An impressive victory could propel Serrano into a regional title fight. Already ranked No. 11 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA), the talented 22-year-old is also rated in the top 10 by the NABF (#5), USBA (#6) NABO (#9) and WBA #15.

The headliner is a 10-round battle between undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (15-0, 10 KOs) and former USBA champion Derek “Pooh” Ennis (23-3-1, 13 KOs) for the vacant North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) junior middleweight title. Former World amateur champion Andrade – WBO #9, WBC & IBF #13 and WBA #15 – fights out of nearby Providence, while IBF #9 Ennis is from Philadelphia.

A strong undercard features past and future champions and contenders, as well as some of the most promising prospects on the East Coast

Former USBA & NABO light welterweight champion “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (22-7-2, 10 KOs) returns against crowd-pleasing veteran Shaka Moore (11-16-3, 2 KOs), of Norwalk (CT), in what promises to be a very entertaining six-round bout.

Star Boxing’s undefeated super featherweight prospect Emanuel Gonzalez (9-0, 7 KOs) puts his perfect record on the line against upset-minded Jesus Bayron (5-3-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round match. A six-round super featherweight battle between East Hartford favorite Joseph “Chip” Perez (6-1, 2 KOs) and unbeaten Danny Valle (5-0, 3 KOs), who is also from the Bronx, is a match-up of two young prospects.

Also fighting on the undercard in separate four-round bouts is a pair of promising Connecticut boxers. New Haven super middleweight Charles Foster (1-0) tangles with Queens veteran Borngood Washington. Waterbury’s gifted junior welterweight Jair Ramos (1-0) is also scheduled to appear on the card.

Tickets are $75.00, $40.00 and $30.00 (plus $5.00 facility fee for all tickets) and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office, subject to availability, or by calling Star Boxing at 1.718.823.2000 and online via www.StarBoxing.com.

For more information go online to www.starboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com.