Walker vs. Waite Heating Up For "Tinley Park Rumble" Friday, June 12th

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Walker And Waite Finally Get Their Chance To Settle In The Ring At The "Tinley Park Rumble"

May 28 (Merrillville, In) - The glares that Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker (19-2-2, 12 KOs) and "Iron" Orphius Waite (5-0, 3 KOs) shoot towards each other while training at the Octavius James' One In A Million Inc. training facility would knockout any regular man, but these two talented middleweight prospects aren't your average men nor fighters.

These are two of the world's top middleweights and there is a bitterness amongst one another that has leaked over from their days of sparing, but on Friday, June 12 at the Holiday Inn/Tinley Park Convention Center they will have an opportunity to put all the talking aside in the Main Event of the "Tinley Park Rumble."

"I could tell Orphius (Waite) was sizing me up during our sparring sessions, he wants to be me and he is trying to fight like I do, I'm ready and he is ready so let's get it on," said Walker. "(Waite) is messing with a different level of fighter and I don't feel any respect at all, but I will get that respect when I whoop him."

The powerful pair of fighters were originally meant to battle it out on the spectacular "Date With Destiny" card back in April, but Walker took a fight against unbeaten and highly touted Daniel Jacobs (15-0, 14 KOs) on the Manny Pacquiao- Ricky Hatton pay-per-view while Waite battled a very solid veteran of the ring Cedric Johnson (10-3, 8 KOs).

"(Walker) had his chance to shine and he didn't do too well and now it's my turn," added Waite. "When we walk into the training facility we both get that weird vibe and when we sparred I left his face battered a few times even with the head gear."

"Walker vs. Waite is one of those Main Events that will have the world of boxing talking, because you have two guys that know each other so well and aren't willing to budge even a little bit," said Octavius James, C.E.O. of Octavius James' One In A Million Inc. "It's going to be a bruising and brutal fight and it's going to definitely be worth the price of admission."

Also scheduled as part of another sensational undercard are undefeated welterweight sensation Ed "2 Fast 2 Furious" Ochoa (8-0, 8 KO's) vs. rugged veteran Jessie Davis (11-12, 8 KO's), the electric Angel Hernandez (12-3, 10 KOs) is facing the always tough Guadalupe Diaz (5-4, 1 KO), Chicago's Bobby Jaskierny (3-1, 2 KOs) faces Mexico's Jose Guzman (5-2, 4 KO's), unbeaten Josh Crouch (4-0, 4 KOs) will fight the ring savvy Josh Rodriguez (4-8, 3 KO's), middleweight Meegel Harper (1-0, 1 KO) and female sensation Evette Collazo (4-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring with opponents to be named soon.

Tickets for "Tinley Park Rumble" are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at VIP $100, VIP ringside $75, ringside $50 and general admission $30 and they are available from any Ticket Master location at (800)745-3000, (866) 438-7372 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

The Tinley Park Convention Center, which is just 25 minutes from Northwest Indiana, doors will open at 7 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!

Berto easily retains welterweight title

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP)—Andre Berto retained his World Boxing Council welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Colombia’s Juan Urango on Saturday night.

The undefeated Berto’s quickness frustrated Urango throughout their bout at the Hard Rock Live Arena.

Preferring to keep his distance, Berto landed repeatedly with lead left jabs to the head, and also was effective with rights to the head.

Urango continued to pursue Berto, but only found quick lefts and rights to the head for his strategy.

Berto, of Winter Haven, Fla., won on two judges’ scorecards 118-110 and 117-111 on the third.

In the fourth round, Urango finally pinned Berto and enjoyed one of his best rounds, landing lefts to the head and body. Berto also countered with rights to the head.

Berto (25-0) didn’t allow Urango the space for infighting situations in the middle rounds as he connected repeatedly with right uppercuts and lefts to the head. Berto also was effective at landing a lead right, immediately clinching Urango and avoiding any possible counter shots.

The crowd became bored with an action-lacking ninth, booing during what appeared a round in which Berto reduced his punch volume while Urango (21-2) kept chasing the defensive-minded champion.

Berto picked up the pace in the final three rounds and again landed lead rights to the head.

Although he moved up to the 147-pound welterweight class, Urango retains the International Boxing Federation junior-welterweight title he won Jan. 30.

Berto weighed 145 pounds for Saturday’s bout, one less than Urango.

In another bout, former IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron ended Alfred Angulo’s unbeaten record with a convincing unanimous decision.

Cintron (30-2-1) scored with lead left jabs, keeping Angulo at a distance for most of their 12-round junior-middleweight bout. Using his quickness, Cintron also outpointed the pressure minded Angulo (15-1) with rights to the head.

Angulo did his best work in the middle rounds, when he shortened the punching range and connected with combinations to the head.

But Cintron resumed his lead left jab strategy in the closing rounds and didn’t let Angulo get close to him.

All three judges scored the bout for Cintron 116-112. There were no knockdowns.

Cintron and Angulo both weighed 153 pounds.

Mosley eager to face Filipino Pacquiao

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley says he is eager to fight Philippines superstar Manny Pacquiao and is willing to change weight classes to do it.

Mosley, the WBA's 147-pound champ, is hopeful he and Pacquiao can come to a compromise on an ideal weight (or catch weight) to make the fight happen.

"There are conflicting reports from the Pacquiao camp an upcoming fight between me and Manny Pacquiao," Mosley said.

"I want it to be known that I want to fight Pacquiao and I want to fight him now. I'm willing to meet at a catch weight to make that happen.

"I know this is what Freddie Roach wants as well. I am the best fighter in boxing and I am ready to reclaim the title of number one pound-for-pound fighter."

In his last fight, Mosley pounded Antonio Margartio in January, registering a ninth-round knockout.

Pacquiao, considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, is coming off a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in May.

Valuev’s title defense against Chagaev called off

By STEPHAN NASSTROM, AP Sports Writer
HELSINKI (AP)—Ruslan Chagaev failed a “medical requirement” on Friday, forcing his challenge for Nikolai Valuev’s WBA heavyweight title to be called off a day before the fight.

Finnish officials said “Chagaev has been unable to fulfill the Finnish Boxing Federation’s medical requirements” but gave no further details.

“It was a big shock for us today,” said Wilfried Sauerland, Valuev’s manager.

Federation president Pertti Augustin and press spokesman Pekka Kaidesoja refused to offer explanations, saying “it’s against Finnish law to do so.”

Chagaev would have earned 55 percent of the $2.8 million purse.

It’s the third time their rematch has been canceled since Chagaev gave the 7-foot Russian his only pro defeat in April 2007. The previous two rematches were called off because Chagaev ruptured an Achilles’ tendon in training.

After Chagaev, as WBA titleholder, withdrew from the two scheduled rematches he was named “champion in recess,” and the WBA vacated the title.

Because of that status, Chagaev had to fight Valuev by the end of June.

Before boarding a flight from New York to Helsinki, promoter Don King said the WBA should announce Valuev as its undisputed champion.

“Nikolai has been patient in waiting for Chagaev to become medically fit to fight,” King said. “We applaud the WBA for making every effort to allow Chagaev to return, but it is clear now that we must move on.”

It was unclear what the sanctioning body would decide.

“It’s a decision that the board of the directors of the WBA has to make,” WBA official George Martinez said. “We will meet as soon as possible and address the problem. We have to collect all the facts and in a proper time we’ll make a decision.”

Valuev won the vacant title last August by beating American John Ruiz in Berlin. Four months later, he defended the title against 46-year-old Evander Holyfield, who had arrived in Helsinki earlier Friday for the scheduled bout dubbed “The Revenge of the Giant.”

Chagaev returned from his injuries in February and won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond at Rostock, Germany—the Uzbekistan-born boxer’s first fight in more than a year.

The bout Saturday at 15,000-seat Hartwall Arena would have been only the second world title fight in the Finnish capital. Davey Moore of the United States knocked out Olli Maki of Finland in 1962 to retain his world featherweight title.

Associated Press Writer Matti Huuhtanen contributed to this report.

Barrera denied rematch vs. Khan despite head clash

LONDON (AP)—Marco Antonio Barrera has been denied a rematch with Amir Khan by the WBO despite a clash of heads before the English fighter won.

Barrera’s promoter, Don King, had hoped the “tainted” lightweight bout in March at Manchester would be declared a no-contest. But the British Boxing Board of Control cleared the referee on Friday of making a mistake by not stopping the bout in the second minute of the first round when their heads collided.

The Mexican received a huge cut on the left side of his head, and the ring doctor in Manchester later stopped the contest in the fifth round. Had the fight been stopped in the fourth round, it would have been declared a no-contest to automatically force a rematch.

Ortiz relishing potential title fight

By SOLANGE REYNER, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Victor Ortiz says he’s already been through the wringer, so a fight with title implications against a knockout-happy fighter won’t be too big of a challenge.

The 22-year-old Ortiz will fight Argentine Marcos Maidana on June 27 for the World Boxing Association light-welterweight interim title. The winner will get a shot at either Amir Khan or Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA title. Kotelnik and Khan also are fighting June 27.

Maidana (25-1) has knocked out 24 opponents in 26 fights and has taken out 10 fighters in the first round. Twenty-one of his opponents have not made it past the third round.

Those numbers don’t phase Ortiz, a Kansas native who says he was abandoned by both parents before he was 12.

“My life is hell most of the time, but its OK,” said Ortiz (24-1-1, 19 KOs). “It’s still hell everyday I wake up, that’s why I don’t mind getting in the ring with one of these guys.”

Ortiz’ journey to this stage is one that many probably wouldn’t envy. He said he came home at age 7 to find his mom gone. Five years later, his dad also was out the door.

From there, Ortiz carved his own way. He made a living by either working in the fields picking corn, alfalfa and beans or “slanging things,” and lived in a trailer with no electricity where his parents left him.

“Stuff happens,” Ortiz said. “My sister raised me for a while, I lived on my own from 12 and on. From there, I started slanging some stuff here and there, not the best of things to do, but I was 12.”

He made his own way in boxing, too. He won the 2003 PAL amateur national championships without a trainer and made it to the 2004 Olympic trials before falling short.

That year, Ortiz moved to California to train with ex-world champion Robert Garcia. In 2008, he signed on with Golden Boy Promotions to garner more recognition. Now, he’s being touted as one of the strongest prospects to come out of Oscar de la Hoya’s camp.

To get a shot at a potential title 25 fights into his career is something he is relishing.

“Honestly, it didn’t happen fast enough but I’m very patient,” said Ortiz, who uses his past to fuel him. “I guess at the end of the day, I appreciate life. Sometimes I get caught up in the whole mist of my parents, but it’s reality. I’m not the only one going through it so I can’t sit back and curl up like a little pansy. I know there’s kids out there that get left everyday so it’s not a big deal you have to learn how to channel it and deal with it and take it to the top.”

Golden Boy is hoping he’ll do just that.

“Their stars are either retired or don’t have long in the sport, so as they retire, naturally, there will be a void. Victor is being built, groomed and positioned to fill that void,” said Rolando Arellano, Ortiz’s manager.

Ortiz could face his toughest test in Maidana, who fought Kotelnik—the top dog in the division—to a split decision Feb. 7.

Ortiz isn’t the only fighter headlining the event at Staples Center. Chris John and Rocky Juarez will fight in a rematch for John’s WBA featherweight championship belt.

John (42-0-2, 22 KOs) fought Juarez (28-4-1, 20 KOs) to a draw in an exciting bout in late February and Juarez is seeking his first world title.

Cotto-Clottey fight selling well for MSG

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP)—So much for all that discussion that boxing is dead. Or that the recession will finally finish it off, for that matter.

Bob Arum of promoter Top Rank said Thursday that more than 13,000 tickets have been sold for Miguel Cotto’s welterweight title fight against Joshua Clottey, and a sellout is expected on June 13 at Madison Square Garden.

“The response has been absolutely tremendous,” Arum said, adding that $500 ringside seats are already gone. Among those who plan to be in the crowd are Brandon Jacobs and several of his New York Giants teammates.

“The Mets and Yankees are playing that afternoon,” Arum said, “and hopefully the game will be over in time and a lot of them are coming to the fight.”

This will be the sixth time that Cotto, the WBO champion, will fight at the place that bills itself as the sport’s Mecca. It will also be the fourth time he’s fought on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade, when thousands of his countrymen typically turn out to support their hero.

Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs) knocked out Zab Judah to their delight two years ago, and beat Paul Malignaggi in his final fight at junior welterweight in 2006. The year before that, Cotto made his Garden debut by knocking out Mohamad Abdulaev in the ninth round.

Cotto is coming off an easy victory over Michael Jennings in February, a rebound fight after a stoppage loss to Antonio Margarito that many now view with skepticism. In the months that followed, Margarito was found to have a plaster-like substance on his hand wraps before a loss to Shane Mosley.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a loss, every kind of event in your life teaches you something, you know?” Cotto said. “I learned a lot from my first loss of my career.”

Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs) represents a significant step up in class from Jennings, whose 34-1 record looked good on paper. Like Margarito, Clottey is considered large for a welterweight and has a style that could cause Cotto problems.

“I never expect an easy fight,” said Cotto, who’s been training in Tampa, Fla., since early April. “I always train very hard for every type of fighter.”

Cotto has been working with Joe Santiago, who took over as trainer after a much-publicized fallout between Cotto and his uncle Evangelista a few months ago.

The two family members had been arguing at the Bairoa Gymnasium in Caguas over where to hold camp and eventually came to blows, and Evangelista later drove to his nephew’s home and threw a cement block through his car window, police said.

Neither decided to pursue criminal charges, and Cotto declined to discuss the current state of their relationship, calling it a family matter.

“I don’t want to talk about that situation,” he said. “I’m here just to prepare myself to fight Joshua Clottey.”

(Washington, DC) May 27, 2009- Women in Support Together (W.I.S.T.) along with Rosecroft Raceway will be hosting a series of ALL FEMALE amateur boxing shows beginning on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 6 p.m. Ms. Bruce has a long history in boxing and was the first to bring an All Female Boxing show to Washington, DC. Amateur female boxers from around the country will be competing in 15 officiated bouts. The main event will be 8 year old Mia Ellis from Baltimore, MD fondly known by fans as “Killer Bee”. Winners will receive trophies.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to see female amateur boxers in action,” said Wanda Bruce, Female Boxing Promoter. “Everyone is welcomed to attend and show support for our female boxers who often get overlooked,” Bruce added. Rosecroft Raceway is located at 6336 Rosecroft Drive, Ft. Washington, MD 20744. Admission to the event is $20-Adults, $10- Kids under 10. There is lots of parking. A portion of the proceeds goes to help Diabetes Association of MD. It is all about the females and helping them with boxing competitions and with life in general.
For more information on this event and to get your fighter registered, log on to www.fightlady.org.

Dawson vacates IBF belt to pursue richer fight

PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP)—Light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson has decided to vacate his IBF title after the organization refused to grant an exception to an immediate defense against mandatory challenger Tavoris Cloud.

It’s the second time in recent weeks that one of the federation’s most visible champions has given up its belt to pursue more lucrative bouts. Welterweight Josh Clottey vacated his title last month to fight WBO champ Miguel Cotto on June 13.

Promoter Gary Shaw informed the IBF of Dawson’s decision at its annual convention Wednesday.

“No major television network was willing to buy the fight, (and) the IBF left us little choice,” Shaw said in a statement. “I respect the IBF’s decision, but the fight they were forcing us to do was commercially unviable.”

Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs) easily defended his IBF and IBO titles in a rematch against Antonio Tarver earlier this month. Rather than defend against Cloud, the hard-punching 26-year-old is reportedly eyeing a fight with former champ Glen Johnson, whom Dawson beat in a close unanimous decision early last year.

Dawson has a history of giving up belts for richer fights. He defended the WBC title three times before vacating it to fight Tarver rather than mandatory challenger Adrian Diaconu.

Cloud (19-0, 18 KOs), an exciting but relatively obscure prospect, hasn’t fought since knocking out Julio Cesar Gonzalez in a title eliminator last August.

Tyson family asks for privacy after tot’s death

By JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP)—The death of Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter in a bizarre accident adds an awful chapter to the boxer’s troubled life.

Exodus Tyson died at a hospital Tuesday, a day after her neck apparently got caught in a cord dangling from a treadmill at her Phoenix home, police said.

Police said Exodus either slipped or put her head in the loop of a cord hanging under the console and suffocated. She was pronounced dead just before noon after being on life support, said police Sgt. Andy Hill, who called the injury a “tragic accident.”

“There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus,” the family said in a statement. “We ask you now to please respect our need at this very difficult time for privacy to grieve and try to help each other heal.”

Tyson, who has been living in Las Vegas, flew Monday to Phoenix, where he was seen entering the hospital.

The modest house where his daughter was injured contrasts starkly with the lavish lifestyle Tyson had through his tumultuous years of boxing, when he spent tens of millions of dollars and says he had millions more stolen from him by unscrupulous associates.

During two years at the height of his career, he earned $140 million—but he filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 2003.

He has been promoting a new documentary about his life and told The New York Times earlier this month he had been sober for 15 months after years of drug and alcohol abuse.

“I don’t know who I am,” he told the newspaper. “That might sound stupid. I really have no idea. All my life I’ve been drinking and drugging and partying, and all of a sudden this comes to a stop.”

Tyson first began boxing in a facility for juvenile delinquents in upstate New York at the age of 12. Eight years later, he became the youngest heavyweight champion ever when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in 1986. But in 1990, he was defeated by James “Buster” Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, and soon after was convicted of raping a beauty pageant contestant in Indianapolis.

Tyson, who still denies he raped the woman, served three years in prison.

A few years later, he served three months in jail for beating up two men after a minor car crash in suburban Washington.

As his career continued, so did his bizarre behavior. He bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a boxing match and once threatened to eat the children of heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

Although Tyson’s children had lived in their unassuming neighborhood for several years, he purchased a separate home in the tony Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley in 2005 for $2.1 million, selling it two years later for $2.3 million.

In November 2007, Tyson spent 24 hours in Maricopa County’s “Tent City” jail after pleading guilty to one count of cocaine possession and one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. Police found the drug when they pulled over Tyson’s car after he left a Scottsdale night club.

According to police, Tyson said after his arrest that he bought cocaine “whenever I can get my hands on it.”

At Tyson’s sentencing hearing, nearly a year after the arrest, his attorney David Chesnoff said his client had taken 29 drug tests without a relapse and was attending Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

Tyson had become an example of how a person overcomes problems with drugs, a violent past and poor upbringing, Chesnoff said.

“He’s tried his hardest,” his attorney said, “despite coming from almost impossible beginnings.”

Associated Press writers Bob Baum and Terry Tang contributed to this report.

Japan’s Naito retains WBC flyweight title

TOKYO (AP)—Japanese champion Daisuke Naito has defended his WBC flyweight title with a unanimous decision over China’s Xiong Zhaozhong.

Xiong sent Naito to the canvas with a right in the sixth round of Tuesday’s fight, but the Japanese champion recovered despite being cut above both eyes.

Naito improved to 35-2-3 with 22 knockouts while Xiong fell to 12-2-1 (eight KOs).

At 34 years, 8 months, Naito becomes the oldest Japanese boxer to defend a world title.

The match was originally scheduled to take place in Shanghai but was moved to Tokyo three days ago due to promoter-related problems.

Tyson daughter ‘extremely critical’ after accident

By AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP)—The near-fatal strangulation of boxer Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter appears to be a “tragic accident,” police say.

Exodus Tyson was on life support Tuesday after apparently accidentally hanging herself on a cord dangling from a treadmill in her modest central Phoenix home.

“Somehow she was playing on this treadmill, and there’s a cord that hangs under the console—it’s kind of a loop,” police Sgt. Andy Hill said. “Either she slipped or put her head in the loop, but it acted like a noose, and she was obviously unable to get herself off of it.”

Exodus’ 7-year-old brother found her Monday and told their mother, who was in another room. She took Exodus off the cord, called 911 and tried to revive her.

Responding officers and firefighters performed CPR on Exodus as they rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was in “extremely critical condition” and on life support, Hill said.

Hill said former heavyweight champion Tyson, 42, had been in Las Vegas but flew to Phoenix immediately after learning of the accident.

“The Tyson family would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for all your prayers and support, and we ask that we be allowed our privacy at this difficult time,” the boxer said in a statement.

Brief footage from local TV station KTVK showed Tyson arriving at the hospital in a white button-up and black pants, and looking around with a frown before going inside.

Hill said everything in the investigation pointed to a “tragic accident,” adding that calls involving children is an officer’s most difficult duty.

“Those are the things that stay with you in your career,” he said. “We always hope for a miracle—not to have the worst happen to a child.”

Neighbors said they were surprised and saddened when they heard what had happened.

“It’s terrible,” said Abby St. Jermain, who grew up in the neighborhood and is house-sitting for her parents down the street. “The kids are so sweet. We always see them riding their bikes, playing. They’ve just been wonderful people.”

Dinka Radic, who lives across the street, described Exodus as smart and sweet.

“The little girl, she says ‘You got chocolate in your house?”’ Radic said. “I say ‘Yes,’ and she says, ‘OK, give me some.”’

When she gives the girl the chocolate, Radic said “she just kisses me on my knees. Kiss, kiss, kiss. Very nice.”

Police: Mike Tyson’s daughter on life support

By AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX (AP)—Boxer Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter is on life support after she was found with her neck caught in a cord of a treadmill machine Monday, police said.

Exodus Tyson’s 7-year-old brother found her on a treadmill with her neck in the cord that dangles from the console of the exercise machine at their Phoenix home, police Sgt. Andy Hill said, calling it a “tragic accident.”

The boy told Exodus’ mother, who was in another room. She took Exodus off the cord, called 911 and tried to revive her.

Responding officers and firefighters performed CPR on Exodus as they rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was in “extremely critical condition” and on life support, Hill said.

“Somehow she was playing on this treadmill, and there’s a cord that hangs under the console—it’s kind of a loop,” Hill said. “Either she slipped or put her head in the loop, but it acted like a noose, and she was obviously unable to get herself off of it.”

Hill said former heavyweight champion Tyson had been in Las Vegas but flew to Phoenix immediately after learning of the accident. Police didn’t release the girl’s name.

Tyson could not immediately be reached for comment but 42West, a New York City public relations firm representing him, released a statement on the family’s behalf.

“The Tyson family would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for all your prayers and support, and we ask that we be allowed our privacy at this difficult time,” the statement said.

Brief footage from local TV station KTVK showed Tyson arriving at the hospital in a white button-up and black pants, and looking around with a frown before going inside.

Hill said everything in the investigation pointed to an accident. “There’s nothing in the investigation that revealed anything suspicious,” he said.

He added that responding to calls involving children is an officer’s most difficult duty.

“Those are the things that stay with you in your career,” he said. “We always hope for a miracle—not to have the worst happen to a child.”

Naito’s fight against Xiong moved to Tokyo

TOKYO (AP)—Daisuke Naito’s fifth defense of his WBC flyweight title against China’s Xiong Zhaozhong next week has been moved to Tokyo.

The fight was originally to be held in Shanghai on Tuesday, but will now take place in Tokyo on the same day, the Nikkansports newspaper reported Sunday.

Officials at Naito’s Miyata gym were quoted as saying the move was due to a “promoter-related problem.”

Miyata gym had been approached about staging the fight in China by the WBC, which is looking to make inroads in the world’s most populous nation.

Naito, 34, stopped compatriot Shingo Yamaguchi in the 11th round to retain his crown at Tokyo in December, improving his record to 34 wins—22 of them by knockout—two defeats and three draws.

Champ of underdogs: Douglas healthy, happy at 49

By RUSTY MILLER, AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—Every now and then a few words in a newspaper or on TV take James “Buster” Douglas back 19 years to a Tokyo boxing ring.

He smiles at that memory, and everything he has survived since.

“It’s like I made my mark, it’s proof that I existed on this planet,” he said. “That’s a good thing. I’m really, really proud about that.”

A happy family man, healthy after nearly dying during a diabetic coma 15 years ago, Douglas spends his days in the present. Still, what took place inside the ropes on Feb. 10, 1990, continues to amaze and confound. Even those who lived it have difficulty believing it.

“To tell you the truth, it’s almost something that didn’t happen,” said J.D. McCauley, Douglas’ uncle and corner man. “Then I look at the championship rings on my fingers. It’s funny, it didn’t seem like it happened. You know what I mean? But it did.”

On that winter night in Japan, the largely unknown and mostly ignored Douglas had a broken heart when he touched gloves with the unbeaten and seemingly invincible Mike Tyson.

Iron Mike, long before a spell in prison sent his career and life into a tailspin, was considered a knockout machine. He had a 37-0 record—decking opponents 33 times. The oddsmakers took one look at Douglas’ erratic career and established Tyson as a 42-to-1 favorite. Even that didn’t draw much action on the underdog.

Nicknamed “Buster” by his grandmother because of his youthful spunk, Douglas came into the fight shaken by the death of his beloved, doting mother, Lula Pearl, who had died while he was training for the fight.

Douglas, an athletic 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, had shown flashes of skill in compiling a 29-4-1 record, but most observers felt he was too passive—some even called him too “nice”—to stay upright for long against the vicious, hard-charging and violent Tyson.

They were so wrong. Instead, Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

He fought on even terms with Tyson for the first five rounds, gradually gaining in confidence. Then, in the eighth, Tyson caught him with a thunderous uppercut that leveled him. But he got up an instant before the 10 count.

Tyson, overconfident, unfocused or maybe not in top shape, seemed as surprised as the grizzled scribes and announcers at ringside when Douglas continued to hold him at bay. Even those closest to Douglas wondered if he would have the stamina, let alone the heart, to stand up to Tyson because he had had the flu 24 hours before the fight.

Then, in the 10th, it was all over.

Douglas, five inches taller and 11 pounds heavier, flicked jabs in Tyson’s face to keep him from pounding away at his midsection and taking head shots, then countered with punches that dizzied the champ. The lingering image is of Tyson crawling on the mat while struggling to find his mouthpiece as referee Octavio Meyran counted down the final seconds of Tyson’s invincibility.

Amid the chaos in the ring, Douglas was asked how he had pulled off the massive upset. “My mother,” he said, fighting back tears. “My mother.”

When Douglas looks back on that magical year, he fast-forwards through the next nine months. There were appearances on late-night TV, lengthy magazine pieces, countless photo ops and business proposals. In the days when a heavyweight champion was among the most recognized faces in the world, Douglas enjoyed himself and lost his focus. He was out of shape and uninspired when he collected $24.5 million in his title defense against Evander Holyfield, who KO’d him in the third round on Oct. 25, 1990, in Las Vegas.

The years after were not kind. He ate and drank too much and the former high school and college basketball player ballooned to more than 400 pounds, nearly dying after going into diabetic shock in the summer of 1994.

He made it through that trauma, but continued to drift. His once close relationship with manager John Johnson, who had guided his boxing career, ended badly.

His little brother, 35-year-old Robert, was killed in a gunfight in a parking lot outside the Orchid Cleaning Center on Columbus’ Cleveland Avenue in December of 1998. Less than a year later, his father and mentor, former middleweight Bill “Dynamite” Douglas, died of colon cancer at the age of 59.

It took time, but Douglas again got up off the mat.

He and Johnson have mended fences, occasionally meeting to remember the good days. Douglas and his wife, Bertha, moved to Johnstown, a small town not far from Columbus, to raise sons Cardae, known better as B.J., and Artie. Both play football and run track, while B.J., who is about to graduate from high school, also wrestled. Artie, like his dad, was a basketball player as a freshman.

Now 49, Douglas is content watching his kids’ games. He also has a development company that he said will begin construction of retail and housing units next month not far from where he grew up in a tough, downtrodden neighborhood East of Columbus’ thriving downtown.

Douglas said he is happy that his one-time adversary, Tyson, has gotten his due with a recent documentary and a prominent cameo in a soon-to-be-released film. He wishes him nothing but the best.

He’s also regained his health. He weighs only 20 pounds or so more than he did in Tokyo, and tries to fit in time on a treadmill each day. He even has his diabetes under control and has recently co-written a cookbook, “Buster’s Backyard Bar-B-Q Knockout Diabetes Diet.”

Nineteen years later, Douglas’ remarkable upset of Tyson continues to be mentioned as proof that anything’s possible.

“It’s been so long ago, but then you look at those rings and you know it happened,” McCauley said. “As long as you live, they can never take that away from you.”

Occasionally his kids will see a clip of boxing’s biggest upset. It’s a teaching moment for their father.

“I always tell them, ‘You know what? There’s nothing that you can’t do. Whatever you want to try, try, do it. Because you never know,”’ Douglas said with a laugh. “I’m a prime example of that. Never say never, right?”

Rigondeaux wins pro debut

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP)—Two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux won his professional debut with a third-round technical knockout over Juan Noriega on Friday night.

Rigondeaux, who defected from Cuba in February, was not as busy with his punches but still wore down Noriega in their junior featherweight bout at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Resort.

In fact, referee Sam Burgos stopped the fight at 1:09 of the third round after Rigondeaux landed a right to the head without any follow-up shots. Noriega, of Danville, Ark., didn’t dispute Burgos’ call.

“Everything turned out fine,” Rigondeaux said. “My shots landed exactly where I wanted them.

Rigondeaux, 28, immediately showed his dominance when he dropped Noriega with a right to the head 30 seconds into the bout for the fight’s only knockdown.

Rigondeaux carefully measured his punches and the bout had its moments of inaction.

“I didn’t rush my shots but I believe they were effective,” Rigondeaux said. “It was a brief fight and there were no injuries. Hopefully I can fight again very soon.”

Rigondeaux weighed 122 pounds, two more than Noriega.

An Olympic champion in 2000 and 2004, Rigondeaux, 28, left Cuba with Yudel Johnson and Yordanis Despaigne, teammates on the country’s amateur team. Johnson and Despaigne also fought their first professional bouts Friday night.

Johnson barely broke a sweat, scoring a first-round knockout over Greg Weathers of Louisville. Johnson dropped Weathers with a left to the head soon after the opening bell and didn’t let up his attack and floored Weathers with a right-left combination to the head.

Weathers (3-1) failed to shake off the knockdown’s effects and Burgos stopped the middleweight fight at 52 seconds.

Ochoa Looks To Stay Undefeated On "Tinley Park Rumble"

Ochoa Takes Next Step At "Tinley Park Rumble" Towards Reaching Goal

May 21 (Merrillville, In) - On Friday, June 12th at the fight card dubbed "Tinley Park Rumble," welterweight Ed "2 Fast 2 Furious" Ochoa (8-0, 8 KOs) will square off against a rugged ring Jesse Davis (11-12, 8 KOs).

Ochoa vs. Davis is one of the electric fights scheduled for the "Tinley Park Rumble" with Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker (19-2-2, 12 KOs) vs. "Iron" Orphius Waite (5-0, 3 KOs) as the main event, but it has been Ochoa stealing the shows with his devastating knockouts lately.

"This is definitely an incredible card to follow up the instant classic that was 'Date With Destiny' card," said Octavius James, C.E.O. of One In A Million Inc. "(Ed) Ochoa is definitely going to be in for a war with Savannah, Tennessee's Davis, but this is just one of those steps he has to take to become the next world champion."

The 27 year-old Hobart resident is coming off a destructive 1st round knockout (2:10) of Chris Hill at "Date With Destiny" that rattled the Hammond Civic Center, but Ochoa looks to bring down Davis and the Tinley Park Convention Center to their foundations.

"We want to step it up every time and Davis has been in there with some really good fighters including Derrick Findley," said Ochoa. "I just know what I possess and what I'm capable of, if fighters want to go through six rounds and they want a beating that long- fine. It takes a lot more to take my zero (in the loss column) away."

Ochoa's dream of eventually becoming a world champion got a shot in the arm when fellow O.I.A.M. stable mate "Merciless" Mary McGee staked claim to her second world title at "Date With Destiny." "It gives me a little more motivation and inspiration and puts a boot under your butt, I just thank Octavius for the opportunity" added Ochoa of seeing McGee win another title.

Also scheduled as part of another sensational undercard are Chicago's Bobby Jaskierny (3-1, 2 KOs), the unbeaten Josh Crouch (4-0, 4 KOs), Female Sensation Evette Collazo (4-0, 2 KOs), the always exciting Angel Hernandez (12-3, 10 KOs), and middleweight Meegal Harper (1-0, 1 KO).

Tickets "Tinley Park Rumble" are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at VIP $100, VIP ringside $75, ringside $50 and general admission $30 and they are available from any Ticket Master location at (800)745-3000, (866) 438-7372 or www.TicketMaster.com.

The Tinley Park Convention Center, which is just 25 minutes from Northwest Indiana, doors will open at 7 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m.

Exclusive Interviews with Undefeated Heavyweight Ashani Jordan

Photos by Laura De La Torre
Exclusive Podcast Interview
Undefeated Heavyweight Ashanti Jordan
8countNews.com ~ Brad Cooney

8CountNews sat down with Golden Boy Promotions undefeated heavyweight prospect, Ashanti Jordan. This young heavyweight will step back into the ring on May 21st, against David Johnson. Jordan is definitely a fighter that everybody needs to be keeping a close eye on, his future in the heavyweight division is looking very bright. Jordan looks to keep very busy in 2009 and has high hopes of one day becoming the heavyweight champion of the world. Join 8CN and Ashanti Jordan in this exclusive podcast interview! Listen Now.

Interview with Ashanti Jordan
MightyGloves.com ~ Sylvana Ambrosanio and Katschiri Schwalm

Ashanti Jordan is an exciting heavyweight from San Francisco, California who turned pro in March of 2007 after compiling an amateur record of 36-6 and attaining a ranking of number two among heavyweight amateurs nationwide while also competing in the National Golden Gloves tournament. Read More..

Mario Serrano
Publicist
boxingpublicist@aol.com

UNDERCARD FEATURES UNDEFEATED WORLD CLASS PROSPECTS IN DANNY GARCIA, TWINS CARLOS AND JUAN VELASQUEZ, ASHANTI JORDAN AND ELOY PEREZ

LOS ANGELES, MAY 20 - The pride of Gilroy, California, former two-time world featherweight champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, returns to HP Pavilion at San Jose on June 12th to fight in front of his Northern California fans in the main event of ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" against Johnnie Edwards.

"We are excited to bring Robert back to his loyal hometown fans," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "He has a huge fan base there and I know they're going to come out in force to cheer him on."

"It's always nice to fight close to home and when I hear those fans roar, it feels like I can knock out anyone," said Guerrero. "I'm looking to make a statement and I expect to put on a great show for my fans on June 12th."

The co-featured bout pits rising junior welterweight star Danny Garcia against Pavel Miranda in an eight round clash. Also in action in separate bouts on June 12th will be hot undefeated prospects Carlos Velasquez, Juan Velasquez, San Francisco's Ashanti Jordan, Eloy Perez of Salinas and San Jose's Anthony Johnson.

Guerrero vs. Edwards, a 10 round junior lightweight bout that headlines a hard-hitting night of world-class boxing, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The ESPN "Friday Night Fights" livetelecast beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT will be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com.

Tickets, priced at $100.00, $75.00, $50.00 and $25.00, go on sale to the public on Friday, May 22nd at 10 AM PT at the HP Pavilion Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Unbeaten since 2005, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KO's) has been getting better and better with each passing fight. A two-time owner of the IBF World Featherweight Championship, the 26-year-old defended his title twice before deciding to test the waters at 130 pounds in 2009. In his two 2009 bouts, he stopped Edel Ruiz in 43 seconds and had a no decision rendered in his March contest with Daud Yordan when an accidental clash of heads cut Guerrero, making him unable to continue. On June 12th, Guerrero aims to show a national television audience that he's ready for a title shot at junior lightweight.

A native of Aiken, South Carolina, former United States Marine Johnnie Edwards (15-4-1, 8 KO's) has the talent and discipline to go far in the fight game. For proof, just look at his big wins over former world champions Eric Aiken and Freddie Norwood. After some ups and downs in his pro career, the 29-year-old is back on track and looking for big things in 2009 and beyond.

One of Philadelphia's finest, 21-year-old Danny Garcia (12-0, 7 KO's) has the fight world waiting in anticipation every time he steps between the ropes. Unbeaten in 12 pro fights, the former U.S. Olympic team alternate has been upping his level of competition with each bout and is ready for the next test in his career in the form of Tijuana, Mexico's Pavel Miranda (16-3, 8 KO's). The 21-year-old Miranda has kept up a frantic pace in the fight game since turning pro at 16 and on June 12th, the former WBC Youth champion plans on pushing Garcia harder than he's ever been pushed before.

Champ of underdogs: Douglas healthy, happy at 49

By RUSTY MILLER AP Sports Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP)—Every now and then a few words in a newspaper or on TV take James “Buster” Douglas back 19 years to a Tokyo boxing ring.

He smiles at that memory, and everything he has survived since.

“It’s like I made my mark, it’s proof that I existed on this planet,” he said. “That’s a good thing. I’m really, really proud about that.”

A happy family man, healthy after nearly dying during a diabetic coma 15 years ago, Douglas spends his days in the present. Still, what took place inside the ropes on Feb. 10, 1990, continues to amaze and confound. Even those who lived it have difficulty believing it.

“To tell you the truth, it’s almost something that didn’t happen,” said J.D. McCauley, Douglas’ uncle and corner man. “Then I look at the championship rings on my fingers. It’s funny, it didn’t seem like it happened. You know what I mean? But it did.”

On that winter night in Japan, the largely unknown and mostly ignored Douglas had a broken heart when he touched gloves with the unbeaten and seemingly invincible Mike Tyson.

Iron Mike, long before a spell in prison sent his career and life into a tailspin, was considered a knockout machine. He had a 37-0 record - decking opponents 33 times. The oddsmakers took one look at Douglas’ erratic career and established Tyson as a 42-to-1 favorite. Even that didn’t draw much action on the underdog.

Nicknamed “Buster” by his grandmother because of his youthful spunk, Douglas came into the fight shaken by the death of his beloved, doting mother, Lula Pearl, who had died while he was training for the fight.

Douglas, an athletic 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, had shown flashes of skill in compiling a 29-4-1 record, but most observers felt he was too passive - some even called him too “nice” - to stay upright for long against the vicious, hard-charging and violent Tyson.

They were so wrong. Instead, Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

He fought on even terms with Tyson for the first five rounds, gradually gaining in confidence. Then, in the eighth, Tyson caught him with a thunderous uppercut that leveled him. But he got up an instant before the 10 count.

Tyson, overconfident, unfocused or maybe not in top shape, seemed as surprised as the grizzled scribes and announcers at ringside when Douglas continued to hold him at bay. Even those closest to Douglas wondered if he would have the stamina, let alone the heart, to stand up to Tyson because he had had the flu 24 hours before the fight.

Then, in the 10th, it was all over.

Douglas, five inches taller and 11 pounds heavier, flicked jabs in Tyson’s face to keep him from pounding away at his midsection and taking head shots, then countered with punches that dizzied the champ. The lingering image is of Tyson crawling on the mat while struggling to find his mouthpiece as referee Octavio Meyran counted down the final seconds of Tyson’s invincibility.

Amid the chaos in the ring, Douglas was asked how he had pulled off the massive upset. “My mother,” he said, fighting back tears. “My mother.”

When Douglas looks back on that magical year, he fast-forwards through the next nine months. There were appearances on late-night TV, lengthy magazine pieces, countless photo ops and business proposals. In the days when being the heavyweight champion made you one of the most recognized faces in the world, Douglas enjoyed himself and lost his focus. He was out of shape and uninspired when he collected $24.5 million in his title defense against Evander Holyfield, who KO’d him in the third round on Oct. 25, 1990, in Las Vegas.

The years after were not kind. He ate and drank too much and the former high school and college basketball player ballooned to more than 400 pounds, nearly dying after going into diabetic shock in the summer of 1994.

He made it through that trauma, but continued to drift. His once close relationship with manager John Johnson, who had guided his boxing career, ended badly.

His little brother, 35-year-old Robert, was killed in a gunfight in a parking lot outside the Orchid Cleaning Center on Columbus’ Cleveland Avenue in December of 1998. Less than a year later, his father and mentor, former middleweight Bill “Dynamite” Douglas, died of colon cancer at the age of 59.

It took time, but Douglas again got up off the mat.

He and Johnson have mended fences, occasionally meeting to remember the good days. Douglas and his wife, Bertha, moved to Johnstown, a small town not far from Columbus, to raise sons Cardae, known better as B.J., and Artie. Both play football and run track, while B.J., who is about to graduate from high school, also wrestled. Artie, like his dad, was a basketball player as a freshman.

Now 49, Douglas is content watching his kids’ games. He also has a development company that he said will begin construction of retail and housing units next month not far from where he grew up in a tough, downtrodden neighborhood East of Columbus’ thriving downtown.

Douglas said he is happy that his one-time adversary, Tyson, has gotten his due with a recent documentary and a prominent cameo in a soon-to-be-released film. He wishes him nothing but the best.

He’s also regained his health. He weighs only 20 pounds or so more than he did in Tokyo, and tries to fit in time on a treadmill each day. He even has his diabetes under control and has recently co-written a cookbook, “Buster’s Backyard Bar-B-Q Knockout Diabetes Diet.”

Nineteen years later, Douglas’ remarkable upset of Tyson continues to be mentioned as proof that anything’s possible.

“It’s been so long ago, but then you look at those rings and you know it happened,” McCauley said. “As long as you live, they can never take that away from you.”

Occasionally his kids will see a clip of boxing’s biggest upset. It’s a teaching moment for their father.

“I always tell them, ‘You know what? There’s nothing that you can’t do. Whatever you want to try, try, do it. Because you never know,”’ Douglas said with a laugh. “I’m a prime example of that. Never say never, right?”

Cuban defector Rigondeaux to make pro debut

MIAMI (AP)—Former heavyweight contender Jorge Luis Gonzalez blazed the trail 18 years ago.
Gonzalez was the first noteworthy member from the Cuban amateur boxing system to defect in search of professional titles. Since Gonzalez abandoned Cuba following his second Pan American Games gold medal, the list of high-profile defectors has become lengthy, with mixed professional results.

Now it is Guillermo Rigondeaux’s turn to show whether his amateur accomplishments will parlay into professional success. Rigondeaux, 28, is the latest and perhaps most accomplished Cuban amateur boxer to leave the island.

Rigondeaux, who defected in February along with two other national team members, will make his pro debut Friday night at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. He is scheduled to face Juan Noriega of Danville, Ark. in a four-round super-bantamweight bout.

“I am happy that my debut will be here, where there are many Cubans supporting me,” Rigondeaux said. “Now we will see if I am as good as people anticipate of me. I came here to be a world champion.”

Rigondeaux, a veteran of more than 300 amateur bouts, was the top bantamweight in the world over a five-year span. He won Olympic gold medals in 2000 and 2004 and world championships in 2001 and 2005.

Before the 2008 Olympics, Rigondeaux was favored to join countrymen Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon as three-time Olympic gold medalists. Rigondeaux instead attempted an ill-fated defection with teammate Erislandy Lara during the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil.

Both boxers were repatriated to Cuba. Lara, now unbeaten in five professional fights, defected in March 2008.

Banned from the country’s amateur system when he returned from Brazil, Rigondeaux successfully left Cuba with Yudel Johnson and Yordanis Despaigne in February.

Johnson, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist, and Despaigne also will make their professional debuts Friday.

“I came to the United States to realize a dream and accomplish great results as a professional fighter,” said Despaigne, bronze medalist in the 2001 and 2003 world championships. “Something which motivates me is that (unbeaten super-middleweight) Andre Dirrell, someone I faced as an amateur, has accomplished much. That shows me I can also make it big in professional boxing.”

Despaigne’s first professional opponent will be Reshawn Scott of Philadelphia. Johnson will face Greg Weathers of Louisville in his inaugural bout.

Rigondeaux and his teammates hope to follow Joel Casamayor, Juan Carlos Gomez, Diobelys Hurtado and Yuriorkis Gamboa as Cuban defectors turned professional world champions.

Casamayor, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist in Barcelona, won professional world titles in two separate weight classes. Gomez and Hurtado, who defected in 1994, also captured belts in the cruiserweight and super-lightweight divisions, respectively.

In only two years since defecting, Gamboa already has a world title. Gamboa, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, won a super-featherweight belt April 24.

But for all the heights reached by the early defectors and Gamboa, there are Cuban boxers who couldn’t replicate their amateur accomplishments as professionals. Even Gonzalez fell short of his goal.

Although he landed a title fight against then-heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe in 1995, Gonzalez failed to capitalize on his opportunity. Bowe stopped Gonzalez in six rounds and Gonzalez quickly descended from the heavyweight rankings.

Hatton-Pacquiao superfight report

This week we celebrate the success of the underdog as Sam Sexton triumphs over Martin Rogan and a partisan crowd to take the Commonwealth title in Belfast, while big outsider Ovill McKenzie shocks plenty of observers by winning the Prizefighter cruiserweight tournament.

We also look ahead to big fights involving young British stars, as Darren Barker defends his Cmmonwealth title against Daren McDermott, with a British title chance going to the victor, plus Nathan Cleverly meeting Billy Boyle with one eye on rival Danny McIntosh..
Click here for much more

ON THE WEB

Flex Speaks... to Colin Lynes – Hornchurch's former British and European light-welterweight champion talks about why he lost his domestic title and what he plans to to with his future. The likeable Essex man also finds time to give us his predictions on McCloskey-MBaye and Olusegun-Morrison.

'Fury is beatable' – Northern Ireland's Scott Belshaw, the forgotten man of the heavyweight division has stepped in to face unbeaten Tyson Fury at short notice this weekend. He tells us why he can upset the odds.

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TELEMUNDO'S STORY ON CARINA MORENO HAS BE RESCHEDULED TO MAY 22, 2009.

Due to network rescheduling, Telemundo's story on the life of four-time world champion, Carina "La Reina" Moreno, will now be televised this Friday May 22, 2009. All times remain the same. The story will air in the San Francisco, Fresno and Las Vegas during Telemundo's (Channel 48) "Conteo De Noticias" at 6:00 PM and again at 11:00 PM. In other cities such as, Tucson, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antionio and Houston, the story will appear at 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott Vows To Come Back After Shock Loss At Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights.

Following his shock points loss (29-28 twice and 28-27) to John æBusterÆ Keeton in the quarter final of TuesdayÆs spectacular Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights tournament, at EarlÆs Court 2 in West London, former British, Commonwealth and WBU International Cruiserweight Champion, Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott is to continue with his planned comeback, after a three year sabbatical, regardless.

It is understandable that Scott decided to continue his comeback trail as the battle with his former foe - æLionheartÆ had knocked out æBusterÆ both times in their previous meetings - was without doubt the best fight of the night, albeit controversial after the referee gave a standing count to Scott following a close encounter with the canvas following a two handed push by Keeton, as both protagonists clearly had the same game plan - early knockout. The crowd were on their feet from start to finish and no one, but no one, would dare take their eyes of the battle for a second as the heavy hitting pair locked horns in a slugfest of epic proportions. After the fight the fans gave them both a deserved standing ovation.

For the record: ScottÆs opponent, Sheffield's John æBusterÆ Keeton, went on to knockout, in just 2 minutes and 35 seconds of the first round of the semi final, tournament favourite Dean æStarÆ Francis before facing eventual Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights winner, the aptly ring named, Ovill æThe UpsetterÆ McKenzie in an all action final.

London based Jamaican Scott, who retired in 2006 after losing to Hastings Rasani in a warm up fight for an IBO world title challenge against Carl æThe CatÆ Thompson, spoke of the fight, the event and future plans, ôFirstly IÆd like to congratulate Ovill (McKenzie) on his big win, If I couldnÆt win IÆm glad it being me brethren from Jamaica who did. I also want to say what a great night. The crowd were brilliant. Barry (Hearn) and the boys at Matchroom Sports put on a great show.

I really enjoyed myself, the fans were great and the atmosphere in the place and our dressing room with Darren (Corbett), Dean (Francis) and Terry (Dunstan) was electric. Yeah, IÆm disappointed I went out early, I wanted to win it bad. I thought IÆd done enough but the referee count me in the first (round). I donÆt believe he didnÆt see it was a push, not a punch.

This is not the last time youÆll see Bruce Scott, IÆm back in the gym on Tuesday and weÆll build from this. Me and John (trainer/manager John Rooney Jnr.) talked this morning and changed our plan. WeÆd been talking with Main Events about being on the Adamek-Godfrey card in New Jersey on July 10th, but now we decide weÆre gonna get a warm up fight here real soon, and then go for a British title eliminator as soon as possible.ö

John Rooney Jnr appears to have taken the loss far harder than Scott when he reiterated the plans he has for his charge, ôBruce lost the fight because of the knockdown in the first round which was a blatant two hand push. Everybody seen that ringside, IÆm very, very surprised if the referee didnÆt see it. Even if the referee hadnÆt seen it, because the referee has called a standing count, the judges can make their own decision, as it was a push, you see. ItÆs not just about the referee making his own decision. ItÆs a standing count, if the judges donÆt agree with the referee they donÆt have to class it as a two point round.

Bruce stopped him in the second round with some good punches. Third round both fighters pace dropped a little. Any quality punches were thrown by Bruce. I was proud the way Bruce performed after three years out of the ring.

WeÆre gonna get him an eight rounder, hopefully get him a final title eliminator and then weÆll go from there and see how we get along.ö

So the good news for boxing, especially the Cruiserweight division, is that one of the great ambassadors of the sport has decided to continue competing. Watch this space for news on who Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott will be facing next in his quest to add another championship belt to his already extensive collection.

Mayweather set for return to ring against Marquez

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—When Floyd Mayweather Jr. walked away from boxing, he was widely considered the pound-for-pound king, the mythical mantle bestowed upon the best in the game.

Now that he’s back, at least one person believes Mayweather still is: lightweight champ Juan Manual Marquez, whom he’ll face in his highly anticipated return.

“I’m expecting the best Floyd Mayweather ever,” Marquez said Tuesday, at a news conference on the 80th floor of the Empire State Building to help launch the fight. “I’m putting in my mind that he never retired, so I’m expecting the best.”

The two will meet July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where tickets are scheduled to go on sale Friday. They’ll fight at a catch-weight of about 143 pounds, eight more than Marquez has ever fought and the lightest that Mayweather has been since 2005.

Neither believes the weight will make much difference.

Mayweather already has been in the gym a couple of months, ever since giving his adviser Leonard Ellerbe the green-light to screen potential opponents. Mayweather claims he’s close to 147 pounds and pronounced himself fit after a run through Central Park on Tuesday morning.

Marquez has been packing on muscle while training in the mountains of central Mexico.

He said the brutal regimen, which has included several weeks of lifting boulders, has given him confidence that he’ll be the one to finally dethrone the king.

“I always prepare myself to win,” Marquez said quietly, sitting a few feet from where the outgoing Mayweather held court with dozens of reporters. “He’s not a machine, he’s a human being, and human beings can be beat.”

Mayweather, the former five-division champ, hasn’t stepped in the ring since knocking out Ricky Hatton in December 2007, when he was still basking in the aura of his transcending victory over Oscar De La Hoya. He’d cashed in his “Pretty Boy” nickname for one more befitting his agenda—“Money”—and was showing up everywhere from “Dancing with the Stars” to WrestleMania.

That’s when Mayweather abruptly called it quits, turning his attention to show business.

Mayweather’s year away from the ring opened the door for Manny Pacquiao to step through, and the charismatic Filipino icon did it in destructive fashion. Where Mayweather needed 12 rounds to beat De La Hoya, Pacquiao needed eight; where the flamboyant welterweight needed 10 rounds to stop Hatton, the smaller Pacquiao needed only two earlier this month.

Now, much to Mayweather’s chagrin, many consider Pacquiao the best.

“I respect him for what he does, I respect him in the fight game, but I’ve never been beat,” Mayweather said of Pacquiao, who’s lost three times, the last in 2005. “Nobody has the antidote for Floyd Mayweather.”

While most presume the two will eventually settle the pound-for-pound dispute in the ring, Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) must first deal with Marquez, his hand-picked opponent.

Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) lost a slugfest by close split-decision to Pacquiao in 2008, a bout that Mayweather and many others believe the Mexican fighter won. Five years ago, Marquez rallied from three first-round knockdowns to earn a bloody draw with Pacquiao in their first bout.

Marquez’s stunning knockout of Joel Casamayor last year and his brutal knockout of Juan Diaz in February entrenched him as one of the most electrifying fighters available. More importantly, they produced an opponent that intrigued Mayweather enough to return to the ring.

“Marquez is a warrior,” he said, conferring rare praise upon one of his foes. “He’s a hell of a fighter. I don’t have to come here and bad-mouth anybody.”

Mayweather paused for a moment, then added: “They say to be the best, you got to beat the best. I think they got Marquez in the dark and somebody has to give him a shot. Why not me?”

Holyfield targets September world title fight

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will take another crack at the world title in September, his manager said here Tuesday.

"The September bout could either be against Nikolai Valuev or some other fighter, but it definitely will be against a world champion," Ken Sanders told AFP.

Holyfield is in Addis Ababa to prepare for a July 26 exhibition fight against Ethiopian-born American Sammy Retta to help raise funds for AIDS in what will be the Horn of Africa nation's first ever showpiece boxing bout.

Holyfield, 46, said he is not contemplating retirement despite concerns over his health from some spectators.

"It (retirement) never even crossed my mind. In fact, it reminded me of 1992 when I lost a title and came back to reclaim it," Holyfield said.

"I'll show the world how to be champion at this age."

The four-time world champion failed to clinch a fifth title late last year when he lost to Russian Valuev.

Valuev, the tallest and heaviest champion of all-time according to experts, is currently the holder of the World Boxing Association title.

Holyfield's July 26 opponent Retta is a 35-year-old with a record of 18 wins and three losses in super-middleweight bouts.

At 230 pounds, he now outweighs his more illustrious rival.

Holyfield is best remembered for having his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson in 1997 in a bout which was later coined as the "The Bite Fight".

The July 26 fight will rank as one of the highest-profile all-American boxing bouts on African soil since the legendary 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" that pitted Muhammad Ali against George Foreman in the former Zaire.

Valuev and Uzbekistan's Chagaev are scheduled to box on May 30 for the WBA heavyweight title.

Both fighters hotly dispute the ownership of the belt after Valuev suffered his only defeat when losing to Chagaev in April 2007.

RAMIRO CARRILLO RETURNS TO ACTION IN CHICAGO ON MAY 29TH

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT PROSPECT FACES STIFF TEST IN SECOND BOUT

ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE


CHICAGO, IL (May 18, 2009) Sensational junior welterweight prospect Ramiro “EL LOBITO” Carrillo will quickly return to action on Friday, May 29th at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” at the UIC Pavilion, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

The 18 year old former amateur standout made his pro debut on April 24th with a stunning first round knockout of Steve Hall at the UIC Pavilion. He will battle the much more experienced Oscar De La Cruz at the upcoming May 29th event in a scheduled four rounder. The 32 year old De La Cruz brings a record of 5-6-0 (2KO’s) into the battle with Carrillo.

“We see a lot of young kids make their pro debuts with a splash but Ramiro’s was truly special. It was obvious that his skill level and poise belied his age. He was all business as soon as made his walk to the ring. Once the fight started he was patient, saw the opening and ended it quickly” said Pesoli.

“The fans loved him and wanted to see more of him right away so he’s back very quickly.”

Carrillo’s amateur career included two Chicago Golden Gloves Championships along with three Junior National Golden Gloves titles in addition to winning the National Blue and Gold Tournament. His overall record was 207-13.

Born in Mexico , Carrillo, the youngest of three boys now calls Chicago his home. He is managed by longtime Chicago businessman and boxing manager, Ernesto Pedroza.

Said Pedroza, “I followed Ramiro for a number of years as an amateur. I was always impressed by his skills but also his approach to boxing. He’s very serious and very dedicated to the sport and these attributes are really what a young boxer needs to be successful.”

De La Cruz is much more experienced but we feel confident that Ramiro will be able to take care of business on the 29th.”

Headlining “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” is an excellent rematch between Chicago’s Jaime “SUPERFLY” Sandoval and Juan Carlos “EL PEZ” Martinez of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for the World Boxing Foundation Americas Lightweight Championship, which will be contested over ten scheduled rounds.

On October 19, 2007, Sandoval and Martinez battled over eight epic, bruising rounds, with Martinez winning a unanimous decision at Cicero Stadium.

Advance tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”, starting at $31, are on sale now through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine , just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at http://www.uicpavilion.com/

8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia, opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

For more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxing.com/

Telemundo to Showcase Feature Story on the Life of Carina Moreno

Watsonville California (May 18, 2009) - Telemundo's Ramon Diaz showcases the talents of four-time world champion, Carina "La Reina" Moreno, in a story called "La Reina De Los Punos" set to be televised on Wednesday May 20, 2009.

As Diaz talks about Moreno's accomplishments in boxing, he also touches on her personal life outside the ring. The story will air in the San Francisco, Fresno and Las Vegas during Telemundo's (Channel 48) "Conteo De Noticias" at 6:00 PM and again at 11:00 PM. In other cities such as, Tucson, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antionio and Houston, the story will appear at 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

Mario Serrano
Publicist
boxingpublicist@aol.com
(408) 607-5756

Undefeated Heavyweight Prospect Ashanti Jordan Back in Action May 21

Sacramento California (May 18, 2009) - Golden Boy Promotions hard-hitting undefeated heavyweight prospect, Ashanti "The Boss" Jordan (8-0, 7 KO's), returns to the ring Thursday May 21, 2009 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento when he faces journeyman David Johnson in a scheduled six round bout.

Jordan, who trains and resides in nearby Fairfield CA, is happy to be fighting close to home as he stated, "I've been training hard and I want to put on a great show because I have a lot of family and friends that are coming to see me fight. This fight is another step towards my goal of becoming a world champion. I'm excited and I can't wait to showcase my skills to the fans in attendance."

This fabulous fight card is headlined by Woodland California's Vicente Escobedo (20-1-0, 12 KOs) vs. Kevin Kelley (60-9-2, 39 KOs) and is promoted by Don Chargin Productions in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Maloof Sports and Entertainment.

Tickets priced $102.50, $77.50, $52.50 and $22.50 are available at Tickemaster.com or the Arco Arena Box Office hotline's at (916) 649-TIXS, (530) 528-TIXS, (209) 551-TIXS. $12 Toll plazas open at 5:30 PM. Doors open 6:30 PM. First fight at 7:30 PM

Mario Serrano
Publicist ~ Team Jordan
boxingpublicist@aol.com
(408) 607-5756

Major to Face Clark for NABA Belt WBA NABA Lightweight Championship on the line in Buffalo, June 19

Promoter Nick Garone and X-Cel Worldwide have put together an enticing championship bout for their "Buffalo Beatdown" show on June 19 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in Buffalo, New York.

All-action lightweight Meacher Major "Pain" of the Bahamas will face Columbus, Ohio's Michael "Cold Blood" Clark (38-5-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the vacant NABA Lightweight Championship.

Major turned himself into an instant fan favorite in Buffalo last February by becoming the first man to stop super-durable veteran Kevin Carmody in an exciting shootout. The skilful Clark has been on the cusp of a world title fight in the past and already fought to a draw for the same NABA belt in 2008.

Garone says although Clark is a dangerous opponent, he believes 27-year-old Major has the tools to become a world champion. "I don't feel like Meacher was brought along properly in the past. He's got a ton of potential. His losses are to Edner Cherry (via split decision), Lamont Peterson and Edgar Santana and they're all good fighters. And now that he's got proper training facilities and sparring, he's going to make a real dent in this division. I have enough confidence in Meacher to be putting him in with a world-class guy like Clark, so what's that tell you?"

At stake for both fighters will be the WBA's North American Championship and a bump up to the top-10 of their world rankings.

Also featured at the "Buffalo Beatdown" will be popular Niagara Falls, New York, super lightweight Nick "Hands of Gold" Casal (18-4-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round match-up. On the undercard, Rochester super lightweight Kenny Abril, Buffalo light heavyweight Lionel Thompson and Buffalo heavyweight Excell Holmes (pro debut) will see action.

Garone brought professional boxing back to Downtown Buffalo for the first time in six years last February with a show that was surprisingly well attended and very well received by fans. The "Buffalo Beatdown" will be his third professional boxing show in Western New York in less than a year. "I know Buffalo loves boxing, so we're going to give them the world-class shows they deserve."

Tickets for the "Buffalo Beatdown" can be purchased starting Monday, May 18 and are priced at $30, $45 and $75 for ringside. They can be purchased online at www.championsofboxing.com or by calling 877.77CLICK. A small amount of VIP seating is available by calling 631.878.1676.

Boxer being investigated for suspicious substance

By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—The California State Athletic Commission confiscated a suspicious substance from the corner of Colombian boxer Edison Miranda during his loss to Andre Ward on Saturday, Ward’s trainer and the fight’s promoter told The Associated Press.

Trainer Virgil Hunter said the substance was in a brown bottle resembling a Vaseline tub apparently hidden in a bag in Miranda’s corner. When Miranda’s cornermen were spotted taking the substance out of the bag around the fourth or fifth rounds of the fight at Oakland’s Oracle Arena, it was seized before officials actually saw it given to Miranda, according to promoter Dan Goossen.

“We’re not sure if anything was going on, but it’s good they caught it,” Hunter said.

Goossen said the athletic commission will test the substance and could have results by Monday.

The commission’s offices were closed Sunday, but spokesman Luis Farias confirmed officials seized something from Miranda’s corner during the bout. The commission will determine its next step Monday, Farias said.

Ward (19-0) won the 168-pound fight in his hometown with a comfortable unanimous decision over Miranda (32-4), a former top middleweight prospect who has lost to champions Arthur Abraham and Kelly Pavlik in the past two years.

“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions right now,” Goossen said. “That’s why I didn’t say anything (Saturday). There’s nothing worse than taking away from a good victory by putting the focus on something else.”

Miranda’s managers, Steve Benbasat and Greg Wantman, didn’t immediately respond to e-mails.

Hunter and Goossen don’t assume anything illegal occurred, and most of the substances applied to boxers’ heads and bodies during fights are legal petroleum jelly mixes or coagulants to stop bleeding.

But boxing lore also is filled with stories of substances surreptitiously applied to a fighter’s head or arms that could irritate an opponent’s eyes or open cuts. Ward had a cut above his eye from early in the first round after a head-butt from Miranda.

Petroleum jelly is routinely applied to fighters’ faces to stop cuts and to lessen the impact of punches to the face, although it’s not allowed on the body and can’t be used excessively, according to California’s boxing code of regulation.

The California commission suspended former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito for at least one year in February after illegal wraps containing a substance resembling plaster of Paris was discovered on his hands before his fight against Shane Mosley in Los Angeles.

Ward stated his case for a title shot with his decisive victory over Miranda, although the 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist might not get it immediately. Ward has called out WBC champion Carl Froch of Britain, and Goossen also would like to match Ward against IBF 168-pound champ Lucian Bute, who hasn’t fought outside of Montreal in four years.

“I want any champion with a belt,” Ward said. “My respect is here now, and it’s going to continue to grow. That’s the story of my career. … I don’t know what it is about my style, but they get in there and then they see something different. By the time they figure it out, it’s too late.”

Gleason’s Famed Trainer John Rooney Jnr. Speaks His Mind On Bruce Scott, ‘Buster’ Keeton and Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights.

John Rooney Jnr. head coach and owner of the World Famous GleasonÆs Gym London near Tower Bridge, spoke out on the upcoming Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights, which takes place at EarlÆs Court on Tuesday May 19th, and the chances of his charge, former British, Commonwealth and WBU International Champion Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott, being victorious and pocketing the top prize of ú25,000.

Rooney, who as a manager and/or trainer, guided many well known fighters, such as fellow Prizefighter 7 competitor Micky Steeds, British Featherweight Champion Martin Lindsay and British, Commonwealth and European Middleweight Champion Howard Eastman, to national and International glory, was chosen by æLionheartÆ to prepare him for his return to big time boxing, following a three year sabbatical from the sport, because as the big Jamaican simply puts it. ôJohnÆs the best in the business and GleasonÆs is the best gym in the Worldö

Following ScottÆs final coaching session the ever chirpy Irishman sat down and spoke about ScottÆs preparations, his first opponent in the tournament and the Prizefighter series.

On ScottÆs training Rooney said. ôBruce is training really well at the minute. HeÆs been out for three years but has lived the clean life in the three year period and hasnÆt abused his body. IÆve known Bruce for ten years and IÆve never seen him looking this good.

Bruce ScottÆs gonna be hard to beat, put it like that, Bruce is gonna be hard to beat. In sparring heÆs been dropping heavier guys to the head and the body. I donÆt have any concerns on any of the guys in Prizefighter including the ones coming up from Light Heavyweight to make Cruiserweight. Bruce Scott has every chance of winning.ö

On learning that Scott has been drawn to face the former World Boxing Foundation and World Boxing Federation, WBO Inter-Continental and BBBofC British Champion, John æBusterÆ Keeton, in the second quarterfinal of Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights on the 19th May at EarlÆs Court, Rooney grinned broadly before saying ôI think weÆll be fighting the winner of one of the other quarterfinals in the next round. Bruce has knocked Buster out twice. Not that IÆm saying heÆll do that again, but this is the best I have seen Bruce in ten years quite frankly.ö

This will be the third time that æLionheartÆ and æBusterÆ have fought each other. The first, in December æ94, Scott knocked Keeton out in the second round. Almost six years to the day, on the 16th December 2000, they faced each other again for the BBBofC British Cruiserweight title. After six rounds of brutal action æLionheartÆ again finished off æBusterÆ with a devastating knockout punch.

Finally Rooney gave his thoughts on the Prizefighter series. ôItÆs really good entertainment, ItÆs the best boxing on the telly. ItÆs an all drama type situation. ItÆs a great success for TV. Barry Hearn is talking about taking the series to the US and Asia as well. ItÆs brought the life back to boxing.ö

The Prizefighter series is a knockout boxing tournament created by boxing promoter Barry Hearn and aired on Sky Sports. The format has an initial eight fighters compete in four quarterfinals with the chance of fighting their way into a final fight for a chance to win a main prize of ú25000. All contests take place on the same evening and consist of 3 x 3 minute rounds.

Prizefighter 7: The Cruiserweights, takes place at EarlÆs Court in West London on the 19th May 2009. The eight fighters that compete in Prizefighter 7 are all former champions. They are British, Commonwealth and WBU International Champion Bruce æLionheartÆ Scott (27-9), Commonwealth Cruiserweight Champion Darren æRaging BullÆ Corbett (27-4-1), British and European Cruiserweight Champion Terry Dunstan (20-2), British, Commonwealth and European Light Heavyweight Champion Dean æStarÆ Francis (30-3-1), British Cruiserweight Champion John æBusterÆ Keeton (26-16), British and Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Neil æSimmoÆ Simpson (26-18-1), British Southern Area Cruiserweight Champion Micky Steeds (12-4) who replaced Mark Krence, who pulled out following an injury sustained during training, Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Ovill æThe UpsetterÆ McKenzie (14-9)

Take note now so you donÆt kick yourself afterwards. Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights is a donÆt miss event and will be held at EarlÆs Court Arena in West London on Tuesday 19th May 2009

Tickets cost ú25 (unreserved) and ú50 (reserved, ringside) and are available by calling 0870 264 3333 or 01277 359900.

Ward wins unanimous decision over Miranda

By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Andre Ward remained unbeaten and stayed on course for a 168-pound title shot this year with the biggest victory of his pro career, a unanimous decision over Colombia’s Edison Miranda on Saturday night.

Ward (19-0, 12 KOs), the 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist, showed resilience in fighting 11 1/2 rounds with a cut over his left eye caused by a head-butt from the free-swinging Miranda (32-4). Although Ward couldn’t land a knockout, he clearly demonstrated better skill and discipline while thriving in the late rounds of just the second 12-round fight of his career.

Fighting at Oracle Arena in his hometown for the first time as a pro, Ward heard his name chanted during several rounds, and received a standing ovation afterward from the crowd of 7,818.

“This is kind of a bittersweet victory,” Ward said. “I’m happy and excited because the fans had a good time, and there were a lot of people here, but I’m not 100 percent happy with my performance. I’ve got to go look at the tape. I did some things well, but I felt I could have improved in other areas.”

Two judges scored the fight 119-109 for Ward, while the third favored him 116-112. The Associated Press also scored it 117-111 for Ward.

Miranda once was a prime 160-pound prospect, but was knocked out by Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham in the last two years. The loss is his third in seven fights.

“I thought it was going to be easier, but it was tougher than I was expected,” said Miranda, a prodigious pre-fight trash talker. “I don’t feel cheated. Andre is the champion. I have respect for him.”

Miranda represented the biggest professional test for Ward, who has progressed deliberately in the nearly five years since his triumph in Athens, where he won the only gold medal for an American fighter in the last three Olympics. Injuries and overall caution kept Ward from capitalizing instantly on his Olympic success, but Virgil Hunter, his trainer and longtime mentor, believes Ward is ready for every top name in the super middleweight division.

Ward hopes his next fight will be against WBC 168-pound champion Carl Froch of Britain, who dramatically stopped Jermain Taylor in the final round of a bout Froch was losing last month. Ward is expected to be Froch’s mandatory challenger.

Barely a minute into this fight, Miranda lunged toward his retreating opponent and connected head-to-head with Ward, who complained to the referee. Ward fought the rest of the round with blood covering his face, and the cut opened again in the second.

“The cut was never a big factor,” Ward said. “I knew I had to keep my cool. Miranda is an awkward guy with long arms. … I would have liked to have stopped him, but I did what I had to do, and that’s the mark of a good fighter.”

Indeed, Miranda seemed more dazed than Ward from the exchange. He allowed Miranda to stalk him in the opening rounds, but replied with counterpunches and defense until Miranda eased off in the fourth.

Ward began to attack, landing big shots with both hands as he switched stances and broke down Miranda’s defense. Miranda rallied in the middle rounds when Ward wandered off his game plan, but the Olympian quickly got it back together, even while his left eye gradually got worse.

Ward fell to the canvas with about 20 seconds left in the 10th round, but his slip clearly wasn’t a knockdown.

Many top East Bay athletes turned out for Oakland’s biggest boxing event in about two decades, including Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson.

On the undercard, John Molina Jr. and Frankie Archuleta were roundly booed after their lightweight bout was stopped in the second round when the referee ruled Archuleta couldn’t continue. Molina improved to 17-0.

Shawn Estrada, the American Olympic middleweight in Beijing, improved to 6-0 with a first-round stoppage of Cory Jones, a late substitute from Brooklyn who barely threw a punch in anger. Estrada has finished every opponent with a knockout since turning pro.