Windy City Fight Night 3 Photo Galleries

By Emil Kegebein

Click photo for list of fight galleries

Heavyweight Fres Oquendo W Mark Brown TKO 3 of 10
Light Welterweight Ivan Popoca W Hector Alatorre Pts 8 of 8
Super Middleweight Andrzej Fonfara W Skyler Thompson KO 2 of 8
Light Welterweight Rita Figueroa L Tammie Johnson MD 8 of 8x2
Featherweight Juan Bailon L Tommy Atencio UD 6 of 6
Welterweight Ryan Smedick W Gabriel Morris MD 4 of 4
Welterweight Achour Esho W Dontre King TKO 4 of 4

Lopez stops Lontchi in 9th round

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)—Juan Manuel Lopez stopped Olivier Lontchi in the ninth round to retain the WBO junior featherweight title Saturday night.

For Lopez (26-0, 24 KOs), the TKO was his 14th consecutive knockout.

“I knew going to be difficult,” Lopez said. “He was very awkward and very difficult to fight. I think the he was way fighting he wasn’t really boxing. He was running a lot. I didn’t feel like I was fighting as much as chasing. But I knew my strength would eventually get to him. I thought my power would wear him down.”

The 26-year-old earned the win when Lontchi went to his corner after the ninth round and told trainer Howard Grant he was unable to continue.

“He had a rib injury coming into the fight and he got hit with a bad shot there the round before (the eighth),” Grant said. “He actually wanted me to stop it after the eighth, but I told him to try it for one more round.”

Lopez, cheered on by a sparse-but-enthusiastic crowd of Puerto Rican supporters at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom, scored two knockdowns in the scheduled 12-round bout.

He dropped Lontchi for the first time in the second round with a right hook to the side of the head. Early in the ninth, Lontchi walked into a straight left and went down in a heap before rising on unsteady legs.

Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto may be the most popular fighter in Puerto Rico, but Lopez is not far behind.

“He’s a superstar, no question about it,” said Lopez’s promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum. “I can’t see anybody who can stand up to him in the junior-featherweight or featherweight division.”

Lontchi, a native of Cameroon now living in Montreal, also earned some kudos with a respectable effort. The 26-year-old did not have enough firepower to slow Lopez’s advances, but did his best to frustrate Lopez with an unorthodox style that included steady movement interspersed with occasional flurries.

Lopez, who was defending his title for the fourth time, appeared headed for an easy win when he dropped Lontchi in the second round. Two rounds later, however, Lontchi began to find the mark with his own punches. He caught Lopez off-guard with a series of crisp, straight rights that sent sweat flying from Lopez’s brow and caused his fans to gasp in surprise.

With each passing round, Lontchi gained confidence. Lopez was still in command most of the time, but Lontchi didn’t wilt.

That was especially apparent in the seventh round. Lopez punished Lontchi with a body attack that drove him into the ropes. But instead of buckling, Lontchi gamely fought back and even landed a straight right that caused Lopez to briefly back away.

Lopez was relentless.

According to CompuBox statistics, Lopez landed 244 of 592 punches (41 percent) to 84 of 271 for Lontchi (31 percent). He also owned a 211-65 advantage in power punches.

Argentina’s Maidana stuns Victor Ortiz

By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Victor Ortiz’s left eye was nearly swollen shut, and his right eye was ringed by a deep cut. Bruises and abrasions covered much of the rest of his face.

Nope, the Golden Boy’s telegenic protege isn’t quite ready for prime time.

Argentina’s Marcos Maidana stopped Ortiz early in the sixth round of an action-packed fight Saturday night, leaving one of the sport’s top prospects pulverized and chastened.

The 140-pound bout featured five knockdowns and several wild momentum swings that both thrilled and stunned a Staples Center crowd of 8,600 expecting to witness another step in the evolution of the 22-year-old Ortiz, a charismatic slugger ticketed for stardom by promoter Oscar De La Hoya.

Instead, the fans marveled at a remarkably resilient U.S. debut by Maidana (26-1, 25 KOs) a heavy-handed 140-pounder largely unknown outside his native land and Germany, where he has fought six times in the last two years.

Maidana was knocked down three times in the opening two rounds, yet rallied with a devastating right hand that turned Ortiz’s face into a mess. After Ortiz stumbled to the canvas early in the sixth, the ringside doctor stopped the fight.

“I knew I was fighting against the local guy, and I had to knock him out,” said Maidana, whose only previous loss was a contentious split decision to Andreas Kotelnik earlier this year. “I went down, but I got up because I have a big heart. I saw that Victor felt my punches, and I said, ‘I know I can win this.”’

Ortiz (24-2-1), who held a comically large bag of ice to his swollen face afterward, acknowledged he entered the ring thinking about the bright lights, the chanting fans and the pressure—everything but Maidana, who also knocked him flat in the first round and then eagerly accepted Ortiz’s invitation to brawl.

“It didn’t hit me until I was on my way to the ring,” Ortiz said. “I was like, ‘Whoa.’ It just really messed with me, and I didn’t perform. … I just fought a dumb fight. I didn’t listen to my corner.”

Although De La Hoya insisted Ortiz still is a budding champion, the Kansas native took too many big shots while fighting with no discernible strategy. Ortiz connected on 42 percent of his 177 punches, but Maidana was much busier with 293 punches, connecting with 23 percent.

“Yeah, he went down,” De La Hoya said. “But he’ll get right back up and fulfill his dream.”

Both fighters moved forward furiously from the opening bell, and Ortiz knocked down Maidana for the first time on a big right hand with about 1:15 left. With the crowd standing and cheering for Ortiz, Maidana landed a right hand that put Ortiz flat on his back.

The crowd was as stunned as Ortiz. The second round was even more electric, with the boxers trading shots until Ortiz knocked down Maidana with a right hook with about 30 seconds left—and then did it again with a shorter version of the same punch right before the bell.

But Maidana landed several big shots in the next three rounds, rocking Ortiz with two powerful right hands in the final seconds of the fifth. Ortiz also developed that big cut, which gaped open when the fight ended 46 seconds into the sixth.

“I came to look to finish him, and that’s what happened,” Maidana said. “He hits very hard, but he doesn’t have a good chin. Definitely he didn’t adjust to my rhythm.”

Chris John, the Indonesian featherweight champion who backed out of his co-main event rematch with Rocky Juarez this week because of an illness, appeared in the ring before the final bout. He waved to several hundred flag-waving Indonesian fans who bought tickets thinking they would see John’s second fight in this country.

The undercard fighters entered the ring to the strains of remixed Michael Jackson songs, and Ortiz made his ring walk to a “Beat It” and “Thriller” mash-up. A ceremonial 10-count was rung in honor of the pop star who died Thursday in Holmby Hills, about 12 miles from Staples Center. Jackson spent many nights rehearsing at the arena during the past two months for his 50 scheduled summer appearances in London.

Abraham retains IBF middleweight title over Oral

BERLIN (AP)—Undefeated Arthur Abraham successfully defended his IBF middleweight title with a technical knockout of fellow German Mahir Oral in the 10th round on Saturday.

Abraham improved his record to 30-0 with his 10th consecutive defense, though none have been against top-level challengers since he won the title in December 2005.

Armenian-born Abraham knocked down Oral in the fourth, sixth and 10th rounds, the last forcing the referee to call the fight.

The defeat was Oral’s first in 19 bouts since his only previous loss, to Malik Dziarra in 2004.

Molitor beats Ruiz in super bantamweight bout

RAMA, Ont. (AP)—Steve Molitor outpointed Mexico’s Heriberto Ruiz on Friday night to win the IBF super bantamweight title eliminator.

Molitor, former world champion, beat Ruiz (41-8-2, 8 KO) at Casino Rama to move into the vacant number two spot for the IBF crown.

Harry Davis scored the fight 116-112 in favor of Ruiz, Kelly Zolnierczyk had it 116-112 for Molitor, and Benoit Roussel scored it 116-112 for Molitor.

Ranked fourth in the world by the IBF coming into the fight, the boxer known as “The Canadian Kid” rebounded from a loss to Panamanian Celestino Caballero in a unified title fight last November.

Molitor, of Sarnia, Ontario, lost the IBF super bantamweight title and Caballero’s WBA belt, but with his victory against Ruiz he’ll have a chance to win his title back in September.

Molitor and Ruiz got off to a slow start with few punches thrown in the first and second rounds. The fighters were sparked by loud booing from the crowd, and the fight finally picked up at the end of the second.

Ruiz cut Molitor’s forehead in the seventh to little effect. Ruiz began swinging wild punches, missing the target as Molitor advanced.

Blood dripping off Molitor’s left brow seemed to temporarily slow the pace of the fight to open up the ninth round. Ruiz did not take advantage.

In the 10th round, both men rested for the first two minutes but ended the round slugging away.

Molitor opened the 11th by landing four straight punches that forced Ruiz back to the ropes. Ruiz responded in the 12th round with several body shots on Molitor, who survived to earn the split decision.

Mayweather-Marquez rescheduled for Sept. 19

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer

Floyd Mayweather’s return to boxing is back on, although the new date won’t make things any easier for him against hard-hitting Juan Manuel Marquez.

The former pound-for-pound king, who was slated to fight Marquez next month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, issued a statement Friday that said he’s been cleared by doctors following a rib injury and the fight will go off Sept. 19— the weekend after Mexican Independence Day.

“I am relieved to be cleared to fight,” Mayweather said. “Trust me, September 19 is a great weekend for boxing, and all of my fans—of which there are many Mexicans too—can certainly hold on to their hats and sombreros when I get back in to the ring.”

Mayweather, who is coming out of a brief retirement, damaged cartilage in his ribs during training two weeks ago. He was committed to rescheduling the fight, even though more lucrative opponents like Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao became available.

Ticket sales reportedly had been slow for the pay-per-view event, but they should get a significant boost because of the new date. Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16, and the bout will follow that Saturday—a weekend that had long belonged to Oscar De La Hoya.

The “Golden Boy,” whose promotional company handles Marquez, retired earlier this year.

“This particular fight did extremely well on ticket sales. Several price categories sold out,” Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told The Associated Press. “When the fight was announced to be postponed, we were over $5.6 million in ticket sales and it was shaping up to be one of the largest non-heavyweight fights in the history of Las Vegas, not involving Oscar.

“We were ahead of what Pacquiao and (Ricky) Hatton did with the same amount of time to promote.”

Schaefer, who was busy with this weekend’s 140-pound title fight between Victor Ortiz and Marcos Maidana, said he was initially concerned Mayweather might be out longer.

“We were hoping it would be OK to be medically cleared for September, because it’s the biggest day every year for pay-per-view in the United States,” Schaefer said. “Almost like the Super Bowl weekend—you just knew that in September there’s a big fight.”

Mayweather, the former five-division champ, hasn’t fought since knocking out Hatton in December 2007, when he was still reveling in his breakthrough victory over De La Hoya. His unexpected retirement last year came in a statement issued by his publicist, just as he was gaining mainstream attention with appearances on “Dancing with the Stars” and at WrestleMania.

His aura seemed to have dimmed over the past year, though, and there have been reports that Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) has been having financial hardships. On top of that, Pacquiao has risen to become boxing’s best all-around fighter and most compelling attraction.

That alone may have been enough to lure “Money” Mayweather back into the ring.

His handlers began fielding offers for fights several months ago—few believed that Mayweather would stay retired—and he eventually settled on Marquez, who’s ranked highly on most pound-for-pound lists but is a relative unknown among mainstream sports fans.

Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs), who has fought to a draw and close split-decision loss against Pacquiao, is coming off riveting knockouts of Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz, which earned him the vacant WBO lightweight title in February.

He’ll be moving up to fight Mayweather at a catch weight of 143 pounds, eight more than Marquez has ever fought and the lightest Mayweather has been since 2005.

“I am happy that Mayweather has been cleared to fight and we can get down to business,” Marquez said. “This weekend is not just an important weekend for boxing, but even more so for all of the Mexican and Mexican-American people I will be fighting for.

“(They) will have a great reason to celebrate my win over Mayweather, which will be for all of the people and for the entire country of Mexico that night.”

Holyfield’s real deal: Home back on auction block

By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP)—Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is facing foreclosure again on his sprawling estate in suburban Atlanta.

But Holyfield told The Associated Press on Thursday that a settlement would be reached before the 54,000-square-foot home was auctioned.

“It will be worked out,” boxing’s first four-time heavyweight champion said when reached on his cell phone. He declined further comment.

A year after the 235-acre estate was first put on the auction block, a legal notice placed last week in the Fayette Daily News said Holyfield was back in default on his $10 million loan. An auction was scheduled for July 7 on the courthouse steps.

The home—located south of Atlanta on Evander Holyfield Highway—has 109 rooms, including 17 bathrooms, three kitchens and a bowling alley.

Holyfield faced foreclosure on the home in June 2008, but a financial settlement was reached with Washington Mutual Bank before a scheduled auction.

This time, he also faces foreclosure on a second Fayette County property, having defaulted on a $216,000 loan to Commonwealth United Mortgage Company.

Holyfield has earned more than $200 million in the ring—including a reported $34 million for his second bout with Mike Tyson in 1997, the infamous “Bite Fight” that ended with Tyson being disqualified for gnawing off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear.

But the 46-year-old Holyfield hasn’t had a huge payday in more than five years and has run into serious financial problems, facing lawsuits over missed child support payments (he reportedly has 11 children) and claims that he failed to repay a more than half-million-dollar loan that went for landscaping his home.

He last fought in December, receiving a reported $600,000 for his challenge against WBA champion Nikolai Valuev in Switzerland. Holyfield lost a disputed majority decision to the 7-foot Russian, missing a chance to become the oldest heavyweight champion.

Former IBF champion Spadafora wins on TKO

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Paul Spadafora, a former IBF lightweight champion fighting for the first time in 14 months, knocked out Ivan Bustos on Wednesday night.

Bustos’ corner threw in the towel 2 minutes, 26 seconds into the sixth round of the scheduled eight-round welterweight fight.

Spadafora, who hadn’t fought in his Pittsburgh hometown since 2004 because of legal problems, improved his career record to 42-0-1.

The bout was the 33-year-old Spadafora’s first with Hall of Fame boxer Pernell Whitaker as his trainer.

Bustos, a counterpuncher from Argentina who had trouble landing blows against Spadafora, is 25-13-3.

RUMBLE AT THE HILTON RYE TOWN

On July 16th Star Boxing's former light heavyweight title challenger, David Telesco (29-6-1, 24KO) will once again step inside the squared circle under the Star Boxing banner, when he takes on New Jersey's own William Gil in an eight round light heavyweight affair. Telesco v. Gil will be the main event bout of the evening. The card is being held at the beautiful Hilton Rye Town hotel, located in the New York City suburb of Rye, NY, and is ten minutes east of White Plains, NY in Westchester County. Situated on 45 beautifully landscaped acres of lush woodlands, the Hilton Rye Town hotel is Westchester County, New York's premier hotel, combining the relaxed setting of a resort with the flexibility of a full-service business hotel.

For the fan favorite Telesco, who lives in nearby Portchester, NY, it will be somewhat of a homecoming, as it will be the first time Telesco has fought in the Westchester County area since 2001. Telesco, who has been in- active since 2005, is excited to be returning to the ring especially in front of his hometown fans.

"David's had some great moments in his boxing career. He has always been a dangerous puncher and was a top light heavyweight some years ago," stated Joe DeGuardia CEO of Star Boxing. "David has been itching for a comeback and has always wanted to be back in front of his fans, so the Hilton Rye Town makes perfect sense. The Hilton Rye Town is a beautiful hotel where fans can experience a great night of Boxing in the Ballroom. We are looking to put some of the top prospects in the New York City area, as well as some of our top prospects on the Star Boxing roster on the card. We expect a great night of fights come July 16th."

The official undercard will be announced shortly. Tickets can be purchased through the Star Boxing office by calling (718) 823-2000 or by visiting the Star Boxing website (http://www.starboxing.com/) Tickets are priced at Gold Ringside - $100, Silver Ringside - $60 and reserved seating for $40. The Hilton Rye Town hotel is located at 699 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, New York, 10573.

Lopez headlining Top Rank card on Boardwalk

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Juan Manuel Lopez watched countryman Miguel Cotto fill Madison Square Garden on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade and marveled at how thousands of people gravitated toward the welterweight champion.

The young super bantamweight champ imagines himself in the same role one day.

“I know I’m getting to the level I can headline,” said Lopez, who will defend his title against little-known Olivier Lontchi on Saturday night in Atlantic City. “But I do look forward to a year, two years down the line, being the headline on that night.

“That’s the dream. That’s every Puerto Rican’s dream.”

Lopez won his title on the boardwalk last year by knocking out Daniel Ponce De Leon in the first round, ending his three-year title reign.

He’s been busy ever since.

The hard-hitting Lopez (25-0, 23 KOs) has already defended his title three times, all by knockout, and aced arguably the most difficult test of his burgeoning career in April, when he dismantled Gerry Penalosa on the way to a 10th-round stoppage. It was the 13th straight fight Lopez has ended early.

“At 122 (pounds),” promoter Bob Arum said, “he’s beginning to run out of opponents.”

That’s why Arum intends to build a worthy challenger over course of the next 18 months, or at the very least a worthwhile test. Few believe that Lontchi (18-0-2, 8 KOs) stands much of a chance, so Arum has already requested the theater at Madison Square Garden for Sept. 26, when he hopes Lopez and exciting Cuban knockout artist Yuriorkis Gamboa will be on the same card in separate fights.

Then, down the road, the two would ultimately face each other.

“They don’t know who Gamboa is and they don’t know who this kid is, but that’s my job in the next year, to make that a must-see fight they put on pay-per-view,” Arum said. “I don’t know if I can do it, but that’s what I’m going to try to do.”

Arum knows better than anyone that things can change quickly in boxing.

Just look at how the card Saturday night came together.

It was originally headlined by middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik defending against Sergio Mora, but that fight was scrapped months ago. A bout involving Paul Malignaggi and unbeaten Mike Alvarado was scratched when Alvarado was hurt sparring, and a bantamweight title bout between Fernando Montiel and Eric Morel was postponed when Montiel hurt his hand.

Top Rank wound up turning the event into one of its “Latin Fury” cards, which are designed to showcase some of its top fighters from Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The co-main event is a super flyweight fight between Jorge Arce (51-5-1, 39 KOs), who was convincingly stopped by Vic Darchinyan in a February title fight, against Filipino challenger Fernando Lumacad (19-1-2, 7 KOs).

“I will fight again for the title,” said Arce, who once held an interim super flyweight title. “Maybe next year, I will fight (Darchinyan) again.”

Also on the card, Vanes Martirosyan (24-0, 15 KOs) takes on Andrey Tsurkan (26-4, 17 KOs) in a junior middleweight fight, and Yuri Foreman (27-0, 8 KOs) takes on Cornelius Bundrage (29-4, 17 KOs) in an IBF junior middleweight eliminator.

Foreman may be the most unique story on the card, in that while he’s training to be a world champion he’s also training to be a rabbi. The 28-year-old Belarussian is about 18 months from earning a degree in rabbinical studies.

“Foreman is a real great story, and it will capture everyone’s imagination,” Arum said. “If you tell the story and people are following the story, then people will look for the plus side of what he’s doing in the ring, the skilled boxer he is.

“He can’t punch hard,” Arum added. “But he tells me, ‘I don’t punch hard, I don’t hurt anybody, because it’d be wrong for a rabbi to do that.”

NEW OPPONENT FOR FRES OQUENDO IN CHICAGO, WEDNESDAY PUBLIC PRESS CONFERENCE AT 7PM

CHICAGO, IL (June 23, 2009) Two time heavyweight world title challenger Fres Oquendo of Chicago, will now face New Jersey native Mark Brown for the WBC Latino Heavyweight Title this Friday night, June 26th, in the ten round main event at the seven bout “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3” at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions.

Said Pesoli, “There was an issue with his original opponent, Gonzalo Omar Basile getting into the United States from Argentina . Brown is a very tough, heavy handed, heavyweight from New Jersey . He’s won eight in a row and had three knockouts in 2008. He’s coming to fight and I know Fres wants to put on a great performance for the fans so it should be a very good battle.”

Advance tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3”, starting at $31, can be purchased through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/. Tickets will also be available at the door starting at 7pm on the night of the event.

A public press conference for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3” will be held at the UIC Pavilion on Wednesday night, June 24th at 7pm. The open to the public weigh-in will be held on Thursday night at 7pm at the Union Park Lounge, 228 S. Racine Ave. in Chicago, just three blocks north of the UIC Pavilion. Fans are encouraged to join their favorite fighters at both events.

Recently signed to Simmons Entertainment Marketing LLC, headed by NBA Star Bobby Simmons, Oquendo is looking towards another run at a world championship bout in the near future. The bout against Brown, for the WBC Latino Heavyweight Title, is Oquendo’s first hometown bout in nine years.

Oquendo, 29-5-0 (18KO’s) is coming off a highly controversial split decision loss to former world champion James Toney on December 13th. The bout, broadcast from Cabazon, California on VERSUS, was thought to be amongst the worst decisions of 2008.

Brown, 15-1-0 (7KO’s) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Willie Perryman on April 24th. Prior to that bout, Brown knocked out previously unbeaten Tony Grano on September 27th in Bridgeport , CT for the WBF All-Americas Heavyweight Title.

Co-headlining “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3” is an outstanding eight round junior welterweight showdown between undefeated Chicago fan favorite, Ivan Popoca, 10-0-1 (7KO’s) and Tulare, California’s Hector Alatorre, 15-7-0 (5KO’s)

An additional eight round bout at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3” is a super middleweight title fight between Chicago’s Andrzej “THE POLISH PRINCE” Fonfara, 12-2-0 (3KO’s) and Rockford, Illinois’ Skyler Thompson, 11-3-0 (9KO’s) for the WBF All-Americas Super Middleweight Title.

In a special feature attraction, Chicago fan favorite Rita “LA GUERA” Figueroa, 10-0-1 (3KO’s) and Lynnwood , Washington native Tammie “THE TASMANIAN DEVIL” Johnson, 3-2-2, will square off once again in an eight round rematch of their draw on March 27th at the inaugural “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT”.

The undercard features three Chicago natives; featherweight Juan Bailon, 4-1-0 (1KO) taking on Denver, Colorado’s Tommy Atencio, 3-1-0 (2KO’s) in a six round bout.

Ryan Smedick, 2-0-1 (1KO) will face Gabriel Morris, 1-1-1 of Toledo, Ohio and Chicago’s Achour Esho, 2-0-0 91KO) will face Maryland’s Dontre King, 1-4-1, both welterweight bouts scheduled for four rounds.

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 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/

Chris John falls ill, fight with Juarez scrapped

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Featherweight champion Chris John’s rematch with Rocky Juarez has been canceled after John fell ill during training.

John (42-0-2, 22 KOs), an Indonesian fighter who beat Juan Manuel Marquez three years ago, was due to fight Juarez at Staples Center on Saturday night as the co-main event with Victor Ortiz’s bout against Marcos Maidana.

Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, said John collapsed during a sparring session Saturday. John’s handlers believe the fighter has a blood illness, Schaefer said.

John, who has been training in Los Angeles, was hoping to fight in this country for just the second time in his career. John and Juarez fought to a draw Feb. 28 in Houston.

Fields stops Firtha in sixth round

EDMONTON (AP)—Tye Fields knocked out Nicolai Firtha early in the sixth round of their heavyweight fight Saturday night at the River Cree Resort and Casino.

Fields, a 6-foot-8, 264-pound southpaw, ended it with a straight left to the head that put Firtha on his back with 43 seconds gone in the round.

Fields (42-2, 38 KOs) was coming off a loss to Monte Barrett, but was by far the stronger of the two. He dominated from the start and dropped Firtha with a left late in the fifth round.

Fields won the first five rounds on all three judges’ scorecards.

The 6-foot-5 Firtha of Akron, Ohio, dropped to 16-6-1.

Klitschko beats Chagaev in front of 61,000

By PATRICK McGROARTY, Associated Press Writer

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP)—Wladimir Klitschko again proved his dominance of the heavyweight division, stopping Ruslan Chagaev in a hastily put together title fight Saturday night before 61,000 fans at a German soccer stadium.

The IBF and WBO champion added the Ring Magazine belt to his haul, knocking Chagaev down in the second round and opening a cut over the Uzbekistan-born fighter’s left eye in the eighth.

Referee Eddie Cotton stopped the fight before the 10th round.

“You can’t underestimate Chagaev,” said Klitschko, who stands with his brother Vitali as clearly the best in the division. “He did everything today, but I was better.”

Chagaev, who is the WBA’s “champion in recess,” raised a deep bruise under Klitschko’s right eye, but was done in by the Ukrainian’s height advantage and superior power. With his strong left jab and hard straight rights, Klitschko (53-3, 47 KOs) bloodied Chagaev and never appeared in danger.

The sellout crowd was the biggest boxing audience in Germany since Max Schmeling knocked out Adolf Heuser in front of 70,000 people in Stuttgart in 1939.

“Throughout the fight, I searched for the keys to unlock a win, but I just couldn’t find them,” said Chagaev, whose win over Carl Davis Drummond in February was stopped by a similar cut above his left eye.

The matchup at the Schalke soccer club’s Veltins Arena was originally billed as a showdown between Klitschko and former cruiserweight champ David Haye, and the two had gone on a worldwide press tour in which the outspoken Haye flaunted T-shirts showing him standing in the ring with the decapitated heads of the Klitschko brothers.

But the British fighter, whose only victory since moving to heavyweight was a knockout of Monte Barrett in November, pulled out earlier this month citing a back injury. He asked to reschedule the fight for July, but Klitschko wanted to keep the date and sellout crowd.

He found a replacement in Chagaev (25-1-1), who was supposed to fight Nikolai Valuev for the WBA title last month in Helsinki. That bout was called off after the weigh-in when doctors found Hepatitis-B antigens in Chagaev’s blood.

Because the rules are different in Germany, Chagaev managed to pass a medical exam and was allowed to fight Klitschko, even though several organizations protested, including the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians.

ANDRADE SPECTACULAR ONCE AGAIN

Boxing's hottest young star, 2007 amateur world champion, and 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade improved his record to a perfect 5-0, 4KO with an impressive four round decision win over Tony Hirsch (8-2-1, 4KO) on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights". It was Andrade's third showing on FNF this year, and just as in the previous two he looked spectacular.

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

The 21-year-old Providence, RI native Andrade, who is co-promoted by Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Banner Promotions, used his speed and height advantage to out work and out box Hirsch.

Hirsch was game but was simply not on the same level of the highly touted Andrade.

Look for Andrade to be back in action very soon.


Photo by Star Boxing photographer Mart Rosengarten.

Pascal claims light heavyweight belt

MONTREAL (AP)—Jean Pascal won a unanimous decision over Adrian Diaconu on Friday night, claiming the WBC light heavyweight title before 13,659 fans at the Bell Centre who seemed split in their support of the two Montreal fighters.

Diaconu (26-1), who was knocked down in the fifth, lost in his first title defense, while Pascal won in his first fight since moving up to the light heavyweight.

Judge Maximo de Luca scored it 115-112, while John Keane had it 116-112 and Jack Woodburn had it 116-111.

Their contrasting styles were evident from the outset, as Diaconu came straight ahead looking for a brawl while the quicker, taller Pascal stayed on the outside.

The crowd roared during a thrilling fifth, when Pascal knocked Diaconu down with a left and, after he got up, tried to finish him with a flurry of blows. The Romanian-born Diaconu managed to withstand the attack and ended the round with a flurry of his own.

In the 11thk, Diaconu landed a right to the jaw and the two fighters went toe-to-toe while fans in the arena came to their feet. The 12th featured another long exchange, but the swollen and bloody Diaconu couldn’t put Pascal down.

Diaconu won the interim WBC title in April 2008, when he beat Chris Henry in Bucharest, and was given the full title when champion Chad Dawson gave it up in order to fight Antonio Tarver for the IBF belt.

Two scheduled defenses against Silvio Blanco of Italy were canceled, so Diaconu’s only bout in the past 14 months was an eight-round decision in a tune-up against David Whittom.

Pascal was in his second title fight in just over six months, having lost a bid for the WBC super-middleweight belt to Carl Froch on Dec. 6 in England.

It was the first time rival promoters InterBox, which handles Diaconu, and Groupe Yvon Michel, which has Pascal, had their fighters face each other in the ring.

Klitschko to fight at 60,000-seat sellout venue

By PATRICK McGROARTY, Associated Press Writer

BERLIN (AP)—When Wladimir Klitschko steps into the ring against Ruslan Chagaev, it will be in front of the largest boxing audience in Germany since Max Schmeling fought in the 1930s.

Action inside the ropes Saturday at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, however, might not live up to the hype.

Klitschko, the IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, was supposed to be fighting David Haye to settle a running verbal feud. But Haye bowed out earlier this month, saying he had injured his back.

Haye asked to reschedule the fight in July, but Klitschko wanted to keep the date and the 60,000-seat sellout—the biggest boxing crowd in Germany since Schmeling fought Adolf Heuser in front of 70,000 people in Stuttgart on June 2, 1939.

“It’s a chance that’s coming around for the first time in my entire sporting career,” the 33-year-old Ukrainian said. “I’m incredibly excited about the 60,000 fans.”

Chagaev weighed in Friday at 225 pounds, and Klitschko weighed in at 240 pounds.

The 30-year-old Chagaev was named the WBA’s “champion in recess” in 2008 after withdrawing from two fights against Nikolai Valuev. After a third bout between the two scheduled for last month in Helsinki was canceled due to Hepatitis-B antigens being found in Chagaev’s blood, the WBA announced Valuev as the rightful champion and put Chagaev’s honorary title “under review.”

As of Friday, the WBA had not clarified whether Klitschko (52-3) will fight for a piece of that title on top of defending his belts.

Michael Ehnert, the medical doctor for Universum, which is promoting Saturday’s fight, said Chagaev is fit to fight in Germany.

“Since getting Hepatitis B many years ago, Ruslan is simply a carrier of Hepatitis-B antigens. This has not led to an infection,” Ehnert said.

Klitschko has said he has been immunized against Hepatitis B and is not worried about the fight.

In February, Chagaev (25-0 with one draw) won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond in Rostock, Germany. It was the Uzbekistan-born boxer’s first fight in more than a year.

Mayweather injured rib cartilage, can’t train

By OSKAR GARCIA, Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Floyd Mayweather Jr. has damaged cartilage in his ribs and will stop training for his comeback fight until a doctor says he can resume.

Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, told The Associated Press on Monday that Mayweather has been in tremendous pain since suffering the injury during training on Thursday.

“He tried to work through it. He really did not want to postpone the fight, but it came to the point where he could barely sit,” Schaefer said. “He could not train, he could not move and there was really not much of a choice.”

Mayweather(39-0, 25 KOs) was scheduled to fight Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) on July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Schaefer said both fighters have committed to rescheduling and a September date has been mentioned. But promoters and the fighters won’t agree to a date without the OK of doctors.

Mayweather’s ribs are not broken, and the former five-division champ plans to see a doctor this week, Schaefer said. He said he did not know exactly how Mayweather damaged his cartilage.

“Right now he cannot go and train, he cannot work out, he cannot run, he cannot hit the heavy bag and the speed bags and jump ropes and all these kinds of things,” Schaefer said. “He definitely will need some additional training but again, Floyd is such an amazing athlete— and really on top of his game— that I think it will be relatively easy for him to get right back into it.”

Cartilage connects the ribs to the sternum, and can tear away after direct blows to the chest, other trauma or particularly violent coughs and sneezes.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo injured his rib cartilage during the team’s season ending game at Philadelphia last year, a disastrous 44-6 loss in which Romo fumbled, was sacked and benched. Coach Wade Phillips said a flare-up of the pain caused Romo to collapse in the shower afterward.

Mayweather and Marquez were scheduled to fight at a catch-weight of about 143 pounds, eight more than Marquez has ever fought and the lightest weight for Mayweather since 2005.

Mayweather hasn’t boxed since knocking out Ricky Hatton in December 2007. He was slated to fight a rematch with Oscar De La Hoya but instead abruptly retired last June, while still considered the sport’s pound-for-pound king.

Now, many believe Manny Pacquiao holds that title after he beat De La Hoya and Hatton in fewer rounds than Mayweather.

It’s possible that Mayweather and Pacquiao will eventually meet in the ring if Mayweather beats Marquez first.

But promoter Bob Arum also wants to set up a Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight in November, the earliest Cotto can get back into the ring after the welterweight’s win over Joshua Clottey on Saturday.

Cotto won by decision but left Madison Square Garden in New York with a big gash over his left eye that required six stitches.

Associated Press writer Adam Goldman contributed to this report from New York.

Khan’s fight against Kotelnik postponed

LONDON (AP)—Amir Khan’s first world title fight was postponed Monday after defending champion Andreas Kotelnik developed a tooth infection.

The WBA light-welterweight bout had been lined up by promoter Frank Warren for June 27 at the O2 Arena in London. The fight will now take place at the Manchester Evening News Arena on July 18.

“I’m delighted that my world title fight against Kotelnik is still on and when July 18 comes, I will never be more ready for him, although the postponement of the fight is a pain,” Khan said in a statement released by Warren.

“In boxing, these things happen, so I have to be professional and stay focused. However, when I’m the victor and I am finally crowned world champion, it will make up for it.”

The 22-year-old Khan is moving up a level to fight the Germany-based Kotelnik, having beaten Marco Antonio Barrera in a lightweight bout in Manchester in March.

Lennox Lewis inducted into boxing hall of fame

By WILLIAM KATES, Associated Press Writer

CANASTOTA, N.Y. (AP)—In a sport many view for its violence, Lennox Lewis said Sunday he wanted to be remembered for making it a “sweet science, a magical dance” as he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

“Our sport is usually looked at as a brutal, savage sport,” Lennox told hundreds of fight fans gathered for the hall’s 20th annual induction ceremony.

“I see it as a sweet science, a magical dance. For me, I just wanted to live up to that, and keep the dignity and the humanistic aspect and the positiveness of it … so that people will remember that’s what I did for boxing,” Lewis said.

A towering presence at 6 feet 5, 250 pounds, Lewis displayed a nimbleness never before seen in a fighter his size. The 43-year-old Lewis retired in 2003 with a record of 41-2-1, including 32 KOs, and entered the hall in his first year of eligibility.

Also among the 14 inductees Sunday were American bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales and South African junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell.

Posthumous honorees included middleweight champion William “Gorilla” Jones, welterweight champion “Mysterious” Billy Smith and middleweight champion Billy Soose in the Old-Timer Category. Nineteenth-century American heavyweight champion Tom Hyer was recognized in the Pioneer Category.

Lewis lived in England until age 12 when his family moved to Canada. He began fighting as an amateur at age 15.

Lewis said it was because of his mother that he became interested in boxing. She would host fight parties when he was growing up.

“I didn’t really understand them at first. People would come over the house for the big fight. She would be really excited about it. I remember sitting in front of the television watching all the great fights,” Lewis said.

In 1988, Lewis won an Olympic gold medal, defeating American Riddick Bowe in the finals.

He turned pro in 1989. After winning the European, British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, Lewis won the vacant World Boxing Council title in 1992, stopping Donovan “Razor” Ruddock with a second-round TKO.

He reclaimed the crown in 1997 from Oliver McCall, avenging an earlier title loss. In 2001, Lewis seized the WBC crown for the third time by knocking out Hasim Rahman in the fourth round, avenging his only other professional loss and joining Rocky Marciano and Gene Tunney as the only heavyweights to retire with no unavenged defeats.

Two of Lewis’ most memorable bouts were with Evander Holyfield. The pair fought to a controversial draw in March 1999 in what was then the highest-grossing fight at Madison Square Garden. Lewis took an unanimous decision over Holyfield eight months later to win the WBA/IBF belts and unify the heavyweight championship.

“One wouldn’t think a 14-year-old boy who did shadow boxing in front of the mirror imitating the Muhammad Ali shuffle would actually be on this stage. I am really humble … this is a great honor,” said Lewis, who in retirement has appeared in movies, participated in the World Series of Poker and finished fourth in the first season of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice and served as a commentator for HBO’s Boxing After Dark telecasts.

Canizales, 43, retired in 1999 with a record of 50-5-1 with 37 knockouts. He was moved to tears as he accepted his enshrinement with his parents, both in their 70s, watching from the crowd.

“Boxing has taught me a lot in life—that dedication, discipline and determination will pay off in the long run and not to be easily swayed by obstacles and bumps in the road,” Canizales said.

Canizales, of Laredo, Texas, dominated the bantamweight division for six years, successfully defending the IBF championship a division-record 16 times after first winning the crown in 1988.

Mitchell was the first South African boxer to be enshrined in Canastota.

He won the WBA junior lightweight title in September 1986 with a 10th-round TKO of Alfredo Layne and defended his crown 12 consecutive times before he was stripped of it in 1991. He won the IBF championship later in 1991 with a 12-round win over Tony “The Tiger” Lopez.

Mitchell finished his career 45-1-3 with 21 KOs.

Mitchell told the audience his biggest disappointment was that he was never able to defend his title in his homeland because of the international sanctions against South Africa over its apartheid policies at the time.

“It doesn’t matter what the title is, or who you beat. It’s not until you get this recognition from your peers that you know you have made it in boxing,” Mitchell said.

Also inducted Sunday as non-participants were manager Billy Gibson, publicist/matchmaker Bob Goodman, New Jersey boxing commissioner Abe Greene and Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda. Journalists Paul Gallico and Hugh McIlvanney and broadcaster Larry Merchant were enshrined as observers.

Tinley Park Rumble

Friday, June 12, 2009
Tinley Park Convention Center
Tinley Park, IL

Bout # 1 Meegal Harper 1-0 Vs Scott Wilson 1-0

Announcer Joe York introduces the fighter as the night is about to begin.
Rd #1 The bell sounds and both fighters come to the center of the ring. Harper starts fast showing his blazing speed, lands some good shots and knocks Wilson down. Around a minute into the fight, Wilson gets up early in the count and is ready to go. Harper lands a couple of nice jabs followed by a sweet left hook and Wilson goes down for good.
KO for Meegal Harper 2 minutes and 14 seconds into rd number 1

Bout #2 Angel Hernandez 12-3 Vs Guadalupe Diaz 5-4-3

The Battle of the Green, White, and Red!!!
Rd #1 Angel tries to work behind the jab early. Action slows mid-round as both fighters throw one maybe two and then retreat. Angel appears to have the edge in speed and is more active in the last minute of the round probably taking the round.
Rd #2 Fast start for Angel, Lupe seems to be ok with the role of counter puncher. A lot of holding by both fighters but both do a great job of working out of it. Another close round but I would have to give the edge to Angel.
Rd #3 Both fighters again touch gloves to start the round. Lupe starts the round with two nice shots that land. He then follows that up with a huge overhand right. Later in the round Lupe lands a hard left hook to the body. The bell rings and Lupe wins Rd #3 in a big way.
Rd #4 Angel starts fast again and lands two shots right down Main Street. The crowd starts to get excited as Angel has him hurt. Angel gets a little too excited himself, and pushes Lupe down so it is ruled a slip. Lupe gets on his feet and Angel jumps all over him. But again he can’t land the clean shot to finish him and pushes him down so no knockdown again. Lupe gets up and Angel tries to pounce one more time but this time Lupe holds a couple of times, regains his legs and goes on the offensive, landing big with a short left hook and follows it up with a straight right followed by a short right as the bell rings. Lupe did just enough in the last minute to keep it from becoming a 10-8 round.
Rd #5 A straight left is landed by Angel early in the round. But action then slows way down both fighters trying to set up a knockout with the jab. Both throwing big shots but not landing. This is the closest round of the night as it could go either way.
Rd #6 Action picks way up again as the fans get loud as this is the sixth and final round. Both fighters know it’s a close fight and are trying to get something going a lot of punches thrown by both but nothing clean until 10 seconds to go in the match. Angel lands a clean hook, that appeared to hurt Diaz but with no time to do anything we go to the scorecards.
Joe York brings both fighters to the center of the ring: Judge 1 has the fight 57-57 Draw, Judge 2 has the fight 58-56, and Judge 3 has it 59-55 for your winner by majority decision Angel Hernandez.

Bout # 3 Robert Jaskierny 3-1 Vs Jose Guzman 5-2

Rd #1 Guzman lands early but Rob counters. Rob lands 2 clean right hooks. Both fighters now move inside, trying to work the body. They are separated with about 30 seconds to go in the round. I see a little blood coming from the right side of Guzman’s nose. Bell rings. Close round but I think Rob landed more effective shots.
Rd #2 Rob gets Guzman in the corner and both fighters throw like crazy. Rob gets the best of that exchange. Things now start to settle down. Guzman is throwing more punches but Rob is doing more damage. Guzman lands 2 big shots at the bell. I have Rob winning the first 2 rounds but its close.
Rd #3 Blood is still coming from the right side of Guzman’s nose. Guzman lands a nice fury early. Crowd starting to get loud to cheer on Rob. Guzman seems to feed off that, landing another big fury followed by another. Guzman again lands 2 at the bell. Guzman dominates round 3 maybe even a 10-8 round.
Rd #4 Bell rings and Guzman goes on the attack again landing early and often. Rob is now bleeding bad as he appears to have a cut over his eye. Guzman is all over him landing shot after shot but Rob will not go down. Finally the ref jumps in to stop the fight. And no real argument by either Rob or his corner. One minute, two seconds into round #4 TKO victory for Jose Guzman.

Bout #4 Josh Crouch 4-0 Vs Joshua Rodriguez 4-8

Rd #1 Crouch out worked Rodriguez in the first round, not doing a ton of damage. But definitely looking good for the judges.
Rd #2 Blood starts to come from Rodriguez’s nose half way through the round. Rodriguez is a little more effective than he was in the first round but he is still being out work by Crouch.
Rd #3 Rodriguez lands a nice fury early in the round and is starting to land on Crouch. Then the fight comes to a weird stop as Rodriguez quits in the middle of the round that I thought he was winning. But after this fight was over Emil Kegebein showed me on his camera a picture of a hard, hard shot landed by Crouch that must have hurt Rodriguez. So one minute and fifty seconds into round # 3 Josh Crouch wins by TKO

Bout #5 Ed Ochoa 8-0 Vs Jessie David 11-12
Ok so let me set the stage for you. This is now the Main Event because Michael Walker vs. Orphius Waite has been cancelled because Walker has been hospitalized due to dehydration. So both fighters enter the ring, the national anthem is played and if you looked at the program and saw both fighters’ records you’re starting to think of where you are going after this fight, because this is going to be over quick. Well someone forgot to tell Jessie David that because he came to fight.
Rd #1 Both fighters show their speed early. Ed lands a clean shot and the crowd starts to chant Eddy, Eddy, and Eddy. Ed then lands a big right hand to make them happy. Ed is landing the cleaner punches and wins round one.
Rd #2 Jessie backs Ed into the ropes and lands a couple of shots. Ed spins out and now has Jessie up against the ropes and he lands a couple. Jessie gets out, backs Ed into the corner and the same thing happens in the corner. So far this is a very close round but Ed answers with a right hook and backs Jessie into the corner and starts landing but he lets him out with 10 seconds to go in the round. Ed has won the first two rounds.
Rd #3 Jessie is starting to land, then backs Ed into the corner, lands a big right hand that stuns Ed, he falls back into the ropes but doesn’t go down. Jessie charges in trying to knock him down as Ed’s legs look weak. Ed then lands 2 quick hooks to back Jessie off him. Then Ed turns it up a little more as now Jessie’s legs look a little weak. Ed keeps coming following Jessie around the ring landing shot after shot until Jessie finally goes down. He gets up early in the count, end of the round. 10-8 round for Ed.
Rd #4 Fighters get up off their stools and I can see a cut over Jessie’s left eye and a little mouse under Ed’s left eye. Jessie lands a straight right but Ed answers back. Close round back and forth action. Both fighters are right in front of me Jessie up against the ropes then Ed. Both landing big shot after big shot. I should have brought an umbrella as the blood and sweat fly. A very close round, I could see this one going either way.
Rd #5 Now Jessie has a mouse forming under his left eye. Ed lands a right hook early. But Jessie fires back and starts to land good shots on Ed. Jessie can’t get more than one or two shots in at a time but is out pointing Ed this round. As this fight may not be decided yet.
Rd #6 This is the final round. The fist half of the round is close back and forth action. The crowd starts the chant again Eddy, Eddy, Eddy. Ed’s shots land cleaner the second half of the round and Ed should win the round.
I believe the knockdown in the third should have won Ed the fight. I want to say a huge ‘Great Fight” to both fighters but especially to Jessie David what heart. To get knocked down in the third round and then come back and fight like he did the last three made it a great night of boxing.
The scores are in Judge 1 has it 58-55, Judge 2 58-56, and Judge 3 59-54 for your winner and still undefeated Ed Ochoa.

***Special thanks to Octavius James of One in a Million, Inc. for issuing Bolo Punch the credentials to cover this event. This is an exclusive ringside report from Tinley Park Convention center, written in its entirety by Tim Paterson, who is the producer of the Bolo Punch Boxing Hour. All ringside photography provided solely by Emil Kegebein, easily viewed at http://www.legupphotos.com/

Hunter Jr.’s disqualification overturned

By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP)—Michael Hunter Jr. fought his way back into the USA boxing national championships in a room, not a ring.

Hunter, who was disqualified from his bout the day before for using too much gauze on his hands, hired a lawyer to plead his case to an arbitration panel Thursday.

After nearly five hours, the arbitrators ruled in his favor, restoring the super heavyweight into the semifinals of the championships.

Due to the delay, the super heavyweight bouts were moved to Friday night. Hunter will face J’Von Wallace, while Javier Torres takes on Trevor Bryan.

The dispute started soon after Hunter beat Lenroy Thompson 8-7 in a quarterfinal match Wednesday, earning the decisive final point on a punch with 2 seconds remaining in the last round.

However, a protest was filed over how much gauze Hunter used to wrap his hands.

The grievance committee rendered a verdict to disqualify Hunter, giving his spot to Thompson.

But on Thursday, the ruling was overturned.

“It was a long process and I think each party had a good point of view,” Hunter said. “But I think the right thing happened.”

So does USA Boxing CEO Jim Millman.

“Our philosophy as an organization is to get it right and part of the getting it right is to go through a process like today,” Millman said. “We are satisfied with the decision and we wish Michael all the best going forward.”

Hunter won the national championship title in 2007 and followed that up by earning a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. He missed out on going to Beijing, though, after falling in international qualifying.

Hunter said the controversy centered on the length of his gauze. Under the rules, no more than 15 yards are allowed per hand. Hunter said his gauze measured 19 yards, although he pointed out that it got stretched from removal.

The reversal surprised him.

“To me, it wasn’t looking too good in there,” he said of the discussions in the room. “I thought they had more points. … But it went in my favor.”

Hunter said he briefly spoke to Thompson after the decision.

“He told me congratulations,” Hunter said. “I’ve got to crush him (Wallace) tomorrow.”

Warren upset in semis at national championships

By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP)—Rau’shee Warren stormed out of the ring, leaping over a barrier and flying through a row of seats.

He wasn’t really sure where he was going, just allowing his fury to guide him.

The two-time Olympian was agitated and dispirited over a loss in a tiebreaker to Jesus Magdaleno during a semifinal bantamweight bout Thursday night at the USA boxing national championships.

Warren thought he’d landed enough punches to earn the win after the fight ended tied at 19.

But the judges gave the 17-year-old Magdaleno the victory by a one-blow difference.

“If you get the tape and look at it and see how many punches I threw—I won the fight fair and square,” Warren said. “Ain’t no way he threw more punches than me.”

Trailing 19-14 in the third and final round, Magdaleno landed a series of combinations and tied the match up with seconds remaining.

When the referee held up his hand in the ring, Magdaleno was stunned. He didn’t know how to react as the crowd chanted his name.

“It’s a little nerve-racking” going against Warren, said Magdaleno, who’s from Las Vegas. “I give a lot of props to him, he’s a wonderful fighter. Tonight was the night that somebody else had to step in and steal the spotlight.”

Magdaleno’s win was a complete shocker to Luis Rosa, who won his bantamweight bout in the adjacent ring. Rosa has been training with Warren in mind.

This changes everything.

“I was hoping to fight him,” Rosa said. “He’s an Olympian and has plenty of experience. But he lost so I’ve got to take the next person.”

A letdown?

“Not really,” said Rosa, who’s never fought Magdaleno. “I’m so pumped I don’t have any words for it.”

Warren didn’t mince his words after the bout.

“I’m ready to be done with USA boxing,” Warren said. “All I did for USA boxing, this is what they do to me?”

The three-time national champion is respected in this setting. He’s found peace on the amateur level.

That’s one of the reasons he passed on several lukewarm professional prospects soon after the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. He still enjoys hanging out at these big amateur bouts, watching the up-and-comers.

This, though, clouds his perception.

“I can’t go through this no more,” Warren said. “I can’t deal with it no more.”

He said events like this could change his mind on attempting to qualify for the 2012 Summer Games in London.

“The way stuff is going right now, it’s going to be a lot of these kids going pro,” he said.

Including him?

He just shrugged, not wanting his emotion to get in the way of his decision.

“I was up five, ain’t no way that he scored five points in a minute!” Warren said, exasperated.

Magdaleno knew he was in dire need of points late in the bout, and just started throwing punches.

“I used my speed, used what I knew I could get him with—more aggression,” he explained. “He wasn’t expecting it. He’s not a back-up fighter. I put a lot of pressure on him.”

This loss conjures up memories of his defeat at the Olympics.

Believing he was up a point in his first-round match in Beijing, Warren danced around and didn’t pounce in the waning seconds. He even raised his glove in victory after the bell.

Warren was stunned by the 9-8 loss to South Korea’s Lee Ok-sung. He broke into tears after the bout.

But the loss no longer eats at him.

“That’s the past. I think about the future,” Warren said.

Still, it opened his eyes to what he needed to do next.

Warren has been working on packing more power into his punches. He ramped up his use of weights and plyometrics to increase his strength.

He now feels speedy and strong, displaying that Thursday as he jumped out to a big lead against Magdaleno, landing a flurry of body shots.

But Warren couldn’t hold it.

“He’s a good fighter, he’s strong,” Warren said of Magdaleno. “He ain’t beat me—that’s how I see it. He caught me with a couple of good shots in the third round, that I knew he hit me with. Come one, I was up five points. I was up, and in the end, 19-19? He did not score that many points on me.”

Calderon fighting for respect for little guys

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Ivan Calderon is accustomed to being overlooked. It’s easy, after all, when you stand just 5 feet tall. But the little Puerto Rican package of dynamite just might be the best pure boxer in the world.

He moves effortlessly between Spanish and English, dresses in dapper dark gray suits, and is so engaging that he commands attention like a circus ringmaster. And between the ropes he’s virtually impossible to hit, winning all 32 of his fights and putting on such a tactical display that he’s stopped an opponent only six times.

About the only fight Calderon hasn’t won is acceptance for the little guys.

He’ll fight on the undercard Saturday night when Miguel Cotto defends his welterweight title against Joshua Clottey at Madison Square Garden. But unless you’re inside the sold-out arena, you won’t see the 108-pound champ take on top contender Rodel Mayol.

The premium cable network is showing “The Dark Knight” before the main event.

“I want to show HBO that small people need an opportunity,” said Calderon, who’ll make his 17th title defense. “At least the HBO people will be there to show them what I have, and keep on putting me in their eyes.”

That’d be a good start, because his last two fights have been in Puerto Rico, and before that New Mexico—not exactly a boxing hotbed. He’s fought everywhere from Oklahoma to Arizona to Las Vegas, taking whatever he can get, which usually isn’t much.

Smaller fighters seem to get a proportional amount of respect, and a proportional payday, compared to their larger counterparts. Most top fighters in Calderon’s weight class get less than $40,000 a fight, and although he’ll clear closer to $100,000 on Saturday night, that’s a far cry from the $1 million that middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik often commands.

“I know what’s happening,” Calderon said. “They don’t pay us the same way they pay the big guys, and I always do better fights. I always get more action.”

For years, fans didn’t believe that was the case.

Heavyweight icons like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman—all the way back to Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano—were big fighters who threw big punches, making for dramatic fights and bone-rattling knockouts.

But the current heavyweight division is a mess, with champions in recess and a slew of other ridiculous titles. The Klitschko brothers, considered the only notable champs, will never fight each other. Other hefty classes offer few worthwhile fights—175-pound king Bernard Hopkins might go the entire year without stepping into the ring.

That void is being filled by smaller fighters.

It started years ago with Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, and has morphed into the Pacmania that surrounds pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. But even he, despite starting his career at 106 pounds, didn’t become a blockbuster attraction until he moved up in weight.

“It’s a little less giving,” said HBO sports president Ross Greenburg, noting that Calderon has often appeared on pay-per-view. “It takes a certain kind of mix to get on HBO at that weight.”

For one thing, it takes a big-name opponent, and there aren’t many available.

Nonito Donaire has some name recognition at 112 pounds, a weight at which Calderon might be able to fight. Vic Darchinyan has broken through at 115 pounds, fighting Joseph Agbeko on Showtime next month, but that would be a stretch for the man nicknamed “Iron Boy.”

“He obviously has name recognition and is on most peoples’ pound-for-pound list,” Greenburg said of Calderon. “He needs the guy across the ring.”

Calderon holds up his end of the bargain, though, exuding charm and charisma. He once fought Cotto when he was 17 and the current 147-pound champion was several years younger. They both weighed about 100 pounds and Calderon proudly proclaims he won.

Too bad Calderon had already stopped growing.

“He’s probably the best boxer in the world today,” said Bob Arum of promoter Top Rank. “He’s relentless and he’s always in a tremendous fight.”

Cotto keeps focus on Clottey as Pacquiao comes calling

NEW YORK (AFP) - Manny Pacquiao will be sitting at ringside to watch Miguel Cotto defend his welterweight crown Saturday against Ghana's Joshua Clottey, the Filipino superstar sizing up his potential next opponent.

Puerto Rican star Cotto, 33-1 with 27 knockouts, will face Clottey, 35-2 with 20 knockouts, on the eve of the annual Puerto Rican Day parade in New York - a date that has become a fight tradition for Cotto at Madison Square Garden.

Pacquiao is considered boxing's pound-for-pound champion after knocking out Britain's Ricky Hatton in the second round last month at Las Vegas.

"It was very good and a very strong moment for Pacquiao in that fight," Cotto said.

While fight fans hunger for a Pacquiao showdown against unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather Jnr, who ends his retirement next month against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, it might be Cotto who climbs into the ring with "Pac-man" next.

"I can?t tell you about anything the rest of the year or next year because I'm preparing for Clottey," Cotto said. "The only person I have on my mind right now is Joshua Clottey."

Pacquiao and Cotto each have Bob Arum as promoter while Mayweather has often worked with Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, which can offer veteran US fighter Shane Mosley as a possible next opponent if Pacquiao-Mayweather does not materialize quickly.

Clottey is a major obstacle in Cotto's path, however.

Cotto suffered his first loss last July to Mexico's Antonio Margarito but bounced back to win the lightly regarded World Boxing Organization crown, the one he risks Saturday, from Britain's Michael Jennings in February.

"It was good coming off my first loss," Cotto said. "After that fight I felt pretty good to be ready for this fight now. This fight is important.

"No matter what Joshua brings to the ring, I will be fine. If he wants to move, I am ready for him. If he wants to face me in the middle of the ring, I am ready for that, too.

"I don't know what's going to happen. The only thing I know is I am going to be the winner."

Clottey knows the crowd will be with Cotto.

"When I come to the ring I'm a very deaf guy. I see people but I don't hear what they're talking about," Clottey said. "I don't know how tough he's going to be, but anybody who chooses me to be the winner, they will win, because that's what I'm going to do. I will win the fight."

Clottey won the International Boxing Federation welterweight crown by beating US veteran Zab Judah last August but was stripped of the title in April for refusing to fight South African mandatory challenger Isaac Hlatshwayo in favor of Cotto.

Now Clottey figures if he defeats Cotto, he will have a place in the conversation about whom Pacquiao fights next.

"Cotto is going to fight Pacquiao if he wins - that?s what I?ve been hearing," Clottey said. "Cotto is going to get his. Even if he wins it is not going to be easy at all. He?s not going to be able to fight somebody else."

CELEBRITY GUEST LIST – Hall of Fame Induction Weekend 2009

INDUCTEES
1. Lennox Lewis -------- Undisputed Heavyweight Champion

2. Orlando Canizales -------- Bantam Weight Champion

3. Brian Mitchell -------- Jr. Lightweight Champion

4. Bobby Goodman -------- Publicist/Matchmaker/Promoter

5. Akihiko Honda -------- Promoter

6. Hugh McIlvanney -------- Journalist

7. Larry Merchant -------- Broadcaster/Journalist



HALL OF FAME ALUMNI
8. Carmen Basilio -------- Welterweight and Middleweight Champion

9. Carlos Ortiz -------- Jr. Welterweight and Lightweight Champion

10. Emile Griffith -------- Welterweight and Middleweight Champion

11. Ruben Olivares -------- Bantam and Featherweight Champion

12. Marvelous Marvin Hagler -------- Middleweight Champion

13. Aaron Pryor -------- Jr. Welterweight Champion

14. Michael Carbajal -------- Jr. Flyweight Champion

15. Lou Duva -------- Hall of Fame Trainer/Manager

16. Bert Sugar -------- Hall of Fame Writer/Historian

17. Angelo Dundee -------- Hall of Fame Trainer

18. Emanuel Steward -------- Hall of Fame Trainer



SPECIAL GUESTS
19. Christy Martin -------- Female Champion

20. George Chuvalo -------- Canadian Heavyweight Champion

21. Livingstone Bramble -------- Lightweight Champion

22. Marlon Starling -------- Welterweight Champion

23. Leon Spinks -------- Heavyweight Champion

24. Micky Ward -------- Jr. Welterweight Star

25. Greg Haugen -------- Lightweight Champion

26. Ray Mercer -------- Heavyweight Champion

27. Mark Breland -------- Welterweight Champion

28. Junior Jones -------- Bantamweight Champion

29. John H. Stracey -------- Welterweight Champion

30. Billy Backus -------- Welterweight Champion



RISING STARS

31. Paul Williams -------- Two-Time World Champion

32. Deontay Wilder -------- 2008 Heavyweight Bronze Medalists

33. Andre Berto -------- Welterweight Champion

34. Lucian Bute -------- Super Middleweight Champion



PARADE GRAND MARSHAL
35. Federico Casteluccio -------- HBO’s Sopranos (Furio)

36. Burt Young -------- Rocky Movies (Paulie)

added 5/30

FRES OQUENDO ADDED IN TITLE FIGHT ON JUNE 26TH IN CHICAGO

ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE

CHICAGO, IL (June 10, 2009) Two time heavyweight world title challenger Fres Oquendo will face Gonzalo Omar Basile in the new ten round main event at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3” on Friday, June 26th at the UIC Pavilion, it was announced today by Dominic Pelosi’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

Recently signed to Simmons Entertainment Marketing LLC, Oquendo is looking towards another run at a world championship bout in the near future. The bout against Basile, for the WBO Latino Heavyweight Title, is Oquendo’s first hometown bout in nine years.

Tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3”, starting at $31, are on sale now through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Oquendo, 29-5-0 (18KO’s) is coming off a highly controversial split decision loss to former world champion James Toney on December 13th. The bout, broadcast from Cabazon, California on VERSUS, was thought to be amongst the worst decisions of 2008.

Basile, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, brings a record of 41-4-0 (19KO’s) into the battle with Oquendo, having won his last nine bouts, five by stoppage. He won the WBO Latino Heavyweight Title on February 14, 2009 by stopping Daniel Frank in the third round in Buenos Aires .

Said Pesoli, “An already excellent card just got a great deal better. Fres hasn’t fought in Chicago in a long time and I know he and the Chicago fight fans will be looking toward a great performance from him on June 26th. Fres was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Chicago so he has legions of fans all across the city.”

Already announced for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3” is an outstanding eight round junior welterweight showdown between undefeated Chicago fan favorite, Ivan Popoca and Tulare, California’s Hector Alatorre.

An additional eight round bout is a super middleweight title fight between Chicago ’s Andrzej “THE POLISH PRINCE” Fonfara and Rockford, Illinois’ Skyler Thompson for the WBF All-Americas Super Middleweight Title..

In a special feature attraction, Chicago fan favorite Rita “LA GUERA” Figueroa and Lynnwood, Washington native Tammie “THE TASMANIAN DEVIL” Johnson will square off once again in a rematch of their draw on March 27th at the inaugural “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT”.

The undercard features Chicago natives; highly touted junior welterweight prospect Ramiro Carrillo, featherweight Juan Bailon along with welterweights Ryan Smedick and Achour Esho in separate bouts.

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/

Additional information on this card will be announced shortly.

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/

Clottey prepared to face Cotto—and crowd

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Joshua Clottey will walk into sold-out Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, just a few miles from where the Ghana native now makes his home in the Bronx, and almost certainly face a wall of vocal opposition.

It’ll be the eve of the annual Puerto Rican Day parade, and thousands of flag-carrying fans will have turned out to see charismatic welterweight champion Miguel Cotto defend his title.

Clottey, himself a former champion, insists he won’t hear any of it.

“Trust me, when I come to the ring I’m a very, very deaf guy,” Clottey said. “The only thing I do is I see people, but I don’t hear what they’re talking about. This is business, we’re in the ring. He’s hitting my body, he’s hitting my head—I don’t have time for that.”

Cotto certainly brings the name recognition to the WBO title fight, and he’s the big reason that even the cheap seats will be gone at the Garden. HBO is expecting a huge television audience, and even New York sports stars like Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran are trying to secure tickets.

“I keep hearing boxing is dead, boxing is dying—I’ve always been incredulous, because I don’t know what anybody is talking about,” Top Rank boss Bob Arum said. “Just look at this.”

Promotional company Top Rank has turned the Puerto Rican Day weekend into Cotto’s showcase, and the popular fighter has embraced it every bit as much as his fans.

His first fight in boxing’s so-called Mecca, when Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs) was just beginning to build his reputation, was a knockout of Mohamad Abdulaev. He’s gone on to beat Brooklyn-based fighters Paul Malignaggi and Zab Judah before delirious crowds that show up to the Garden en masse to see their hero sometimes just once a year.

He’s never before failed them, his only loss a controversial one to Antonio Margarito nearly a year ago in Las Vegas, and doesn’t plan to against another hard-punching challenger.

“Joshua Clottey? I’ve prepared myself for anything he can bring that night,” Cotto said Wednesday, at the final pre-fight news conference. “The question is, is he prepared for the kind of Miguel Cotto that’s going to climb into the ring?”

While the Puerto Rican star is well known, Clottey is very nearly an enigma.

A native of Accra, the capital and most populous city of the west African nation of Ghana, Clottey began fighting in small shows in Africa. He caught the eye of promoter Panos Eliades, who also promoted Lennox Lewis, and Clottey wound up fighting in Europe for several years.

He eventually made his way to New York, where he settled in the Bronx.

Considered large for a welterweight, it didn’t take long for Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs) to step into the ring with Margarito. He was leading that title fight in December 2006 until he broke his hand in the fourth round, and while Clottey gamely pressed on, Margarito handed him his first loss in nearly seven years.

It took several months for the hand to heal, but Clottey returned to beat former lightweight champ Diego Corrales, beginning yet another impressive string of victories: Felix Flores, previously unbeaten Shamone Alvarez, Jose Luis Cruz and Judah.

His bout against the tough Brooklyn fighter last August was a back-and-forth slugfest, which was stopped by referee Robert Byrd because of a nasty cut over Judah’s right eye. By the slimmest of margins—one point on two scorecards— Clottey was given the technical decision.

His bout against Cotto was supposed to be a unification fight, Clottey having won the IBF title, but politics and sanctioning bodies got in the way.

Rather than fight a string of undeserving challengers, Clottey simply vacated the belt to take the much larger and more lucrative fight against Cotto — on easily the biggest day of the year for Puerto Rican fight fans in New York.

“Even if I lose, I’ll make a good account of myself, and they’ll ask for me. The people that are picking me to win the fight, they’re making a very good decision,” Clottey said.

“I don’t know how tough he’s going to be, but anybody who chooses me to be the winner, they’ll win, because that’s what I’m going to do. I’ll win the fight.”

NFL star Jacobs taking swing at boxing biz

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP)—Brandon Jacobs isn’t waiting until his NFL playing days are over before deciding what he wants to do next.

The New York Giants star is breaking into professional boxing—but not as a promoter or fighter, although the 6-foot-4, 260-pounder might make a bruising heavyweight. Instead, Jacobs wants to be a manager, the behind-the-scenes guy who signs and molds young fighters, just maybe taking one or two of them to the top.

“I do have my day job, but this is something I look at and take very seriously, because it’s another guy’s livelihood in the palm of my hand,” Jacobs told The Associated Press on Wednesday at a news conference ahead of Miguel Cotto’s welterweight title fight against Joshua Clottey.

“I’ve been wanting to get into this business after I was done playing.”

The average career of an NFL player is 3 1/2 seasons, according to the NFL Players Association. Even stars like Jacobs, who ran for 1,089 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Giants last season, are usually finished by their early 30s.

Some open restaurants and sports bars, some begin working in financial services, others end up in the broadcast booth. But the 26-year-old Jacobs has always had an interest in the “sweet science,” and put together an impressive amateur career growing up in Louisiana. He lost only twice in more than 30 fights.

When Jacobs began considering colleges, he could only find a few that even had boxing clubs. He wound up at Southern Illinois, hung up the gloves and dedicated himself to football, and a few years later helped lead the Giants to the Super Bowl.

“I’ve been into boxing a long time, boxing is something that has driven me very much,” said Jacobs, who still tries to spar in the gym once in a while.

“I’ve been wanting to get into the business after I was done playing. If I didn’t fight, I wanted to get into the promotion business, but I hear from people that’s a lot of headache, so I wanted to do something that was more personable with the fighters.”

Jacobs has known former junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt for years, and when Holt had a falling out with his management team, he asked Jacobs to fill in. Next thing he knew, Jacobs was signing papers that made him a pro manager.

While admittedly a novice when it comes to the intricacies of contracts, securing venues, marketing and promotions, Jacobs has found plenty of support from the boxing community.

Top Rank, one of the biggest promotional companies in the sport, has lent some guidance, and Jacobs is teaming with longtime manager Pat Lynch, who helped guide the career of former champ and popular brawler Arturo Gatti.

“We’re looking to sign some young fighters. We’ve got one on the radar screen we’ll try to have under contract next week,” Lynch said of their newfound partnership. “Brandon is a very knowledgeable guy in the boxing business. He knows a lot.”

Jacobs plans to be ringside for the Cotto-Clottey fight Saturday night, and he’s bringing more than a dozen of his Giants teammates with him.

His constant discussion of the sport has turned many of them into boxing fans as well.

“It’s early for me, so I’m just trying to get my feet wet,” Jacobs said. “And we’re just trying to get things set in stone and just trying to get my next career going right now.”

Big Plans Interview With Robert The Ghost Guerrero

By John Pullman ~
DoghouseBoxing.com

Out of all places one can choose to get away from distractions, Los Angeles California does not exactly come to mind. But that is exactly where Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero has set up camp for preparation for his upcoming bout on June 12th in San Jose CA, set to be televised on ESPN 2. Guerrero and his trainer/father Ruben, have been splitting their time between Gio's Brooklyn Boxing Club in Burbank, where he works on technique and Glendale Fight Club, where he's been getting quality sparring.

Ruben speaks to me as Robert pounds the heavy bag with straight lefts; "Robert is Sharp. We are getting a lot of good sparring over there at Glendale Fight Club, a lot of tough guys ..."

"The Ghost put it on 'the ghost' yesterday!" A talkative Robert Guerrero yells out, as he dances around the heavy bag.

An excited trainer/father; Ruben fills me in on the details. Apparently Robert sent one of his sparring partners to the hospital yesterday, who happened to have a similar nickname. Continue Reading..

DANNY "SWIFT" GARCIA PREPPING FOR HIS APPEARANCE ON "FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS" JUNE 12, 2009 AT 2009 AT HP PAVILION

INTERVIEW WITH BOXING PROSPECT DANNY GARCIA
By Jake Emen ~ AssociatedContent.com

Junior welterweight prospect Danny Garcia is getting ready to step back into the ring once again. His next fight, scheduled for June 12, will be shown on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights. He'll be appearing on the undercard of a show headlined by former featherweight champion Robert Guerrero.

Your next fight is right around the corner on June 12, and you'll be appearing on ESPN2 for Friday Night Fights. How has your preparation been going?

DG: It's been going real good, I'm sparring 8 rounds, 10 rounds. I feel good, everything's going good. Now it's just time to get mentally focused for the fight.

You're fighting Pavel Miranda, he has a decent record at 16-3 and he's a young guy but he's lost 2 of his last 3 fights, both to undefeated prospects. What do you know about Miranda?

DG: What I know is what you just told me! (Laughs) He's lost two of his last three, he's 16-3, from what I'm told he held a Youth WBC title before. I know he's 5'11" and he's from Mexico and I know he'll be coming hard.

Are you expecting a tough fight from him or what do you think the fight will be like?

DG: We'll see what he brings to the table for the first couple of rounds. It depends what he brings to the table. I'm expecting a tough fight and hopefully I can make it easy and knock him out, or if it goes all 8 I'm in great shape. Whatever comes to the table I'll be ready. Continue reading...

BROTHERS IN ARMS

By Benny Henderson Jr. ~ doghouseboxing.com

Brothers Carlos Ivan Velasquez 10-0 (9) and Juan Carlos Velasquez 9-0 (5) are on a mission to seek and destroy all competition that comes their way. Along with both fighters sharing the same birthday, they also share the same hunger for stardom, and the two share undefeated records thus far in their early careers.

As amateurs, they combined 290 amateur wins, and Carlos was a 2004 Olympian for Puerto Rico. As pros they have together tallied up 19 wins, 14 knockouts, and 7 first round victories.

Although they share a lot of the same qualities out of the ring, they differ in styles inside the square circle, and in this exclusive interview conducted by Doghouse Boxing both brothers talk about their similarities as well as differences. "Twin Dream" also touch on this Friday's fights where the two will once again bang away on the same card. See what the brothers had to say on their careers, enjoy.

Benny Henderson: It's been some time now that you both have fought on the same card. June 12th you guys get back in the ring when you battle opponents TBA at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. What are your thoughts on fighting together again? Continue reading..