BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (AP)—Juan Manuel Lopez, Puerto Rico, stopped Gerry Penalosa, Philippines, 9, to retain the WBO super bantamweight title; Lamont Peterson, Memphis, Tenn., stopped Willy Blain, Germany, 7, to win the interim WBO light welterweight title.
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP)—Carl Froch, Britain, stopped Jermain Taylor, Little Rock, Ark., 12, to retain the WBC super middleweight title; Allan Green, Tulsa, Okla., stopped Carlos De Leon Jr., Puerto Rico, 2, super middleweights; Dominick Guinn, Houston, stopped Johnnie White, St. Martinsville, La., 1, heavyweights.
KREFELD, Germany (AP)—Felix Sturm, Germany, stopped Koji Sato, Japan, 12, to retain the WBA Ordinary middleweight title; Karoly Balzsay, Hungary, stopped Maselino Masoe, New Zealand, 11, to retain the WBO super middleweight title.
CEBU CITY, Philippines (AP)—Rolando Magbanua, Philippines, stopped Wanpadejseuk Sithsaithong, Thailand, 3, to win the interim WBO Oriental bantamweight title; Edren Dapudong, Philippines, stopped Bert Batawang, Philippines, 7, to win the WBO Oriental light flyweight title.
Monday, April 27, 2009
ESCALANTE KO'S STARK ON ESPN2 IN CHICAGO!
ESPN2 FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTSGOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS and
8COUNT PROMOTIONS
UIC PAVILION, CHICAGO, IL
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009
Anyone who enjoys the fights in Chicagoland knows that 8Count Promotions puts on the best shows around. Well, throw ESPN2's Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore into the mix with some hungry, spirited boxing talent, and you've got the recipe for success that other promotions have strived for, but few can actually produce.
The night's opening bout showcased the professional debut of "The Nigerian Gentleman" (not to be confused with The Nigerian Nightmare, Sam Peter), Enobong Umohette, who clearly possesses power throughout his heavily-muscled body. His opponent, Theron Johnson (Chicago, IL) likes to throw "punches in bunches" and his combinations bothered Umohette a couple of times throughout the four-round fight, but Umohette kept lumbering away, throwing huge telegraphed left hooks, prompting me to hope that defense becomes a priority for this young man soon in his boxing training. In the end, the judges saw it 39-37 (all three) for Umohette, moving him to 1-0, and Johnson down to 2-2.
Up second was one of the most exciting fights of the night, pitting Ivan Popoca (Chicago, IL) against Sebastian Hamel (Montreal, Canada) in a six-rounder. Popoca has thrilled Chicagoland boxing fans for the last few years with his forward-only style, and tonight was no different. While bleeding consistently from an accidental headbutt sustained in the opening seconds of the first round, Popoca owned the majority of the exchanges, utilizing his jab and "stay low" approach to dominate the visitor from the North. Plenty of back-and-forth action got the audience on their feet, but it was Popoca who was running the show, and the judges awarded him a unanimous decision with scores of 59-55, 58-56, and 60-54. Popoca's record improves to 10-0-1, and Hamel moves down to 10-18-1.
Now the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights cameras started rolling, just in time to see 2008 USA Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder (Tuscaloosa, AL) continue his undefeated pro career with a quick stoppage of Joseph Rabotte (Myrtle Beach, SC). The much taller Wilder scored THREE knockdowns in the first round, prompting the referee to wave the fight off at 2:33 of round one, moving Wilder's profesional record to 4-0, with all 4 wins coming by way of knockout. In the interest of full disclosure, Deontay Wilder is trained by none other than 1984 Olympic gold medalist Mark Breland, who shared the podium with the likes of Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor,and Tyrell Biggs on that legendary USA boxing team. So far, it looks like Breland's got a real winner in Wilder, and we'll all be tuned in to see what type of pro heavyweight he becomes.
Next up was Daniel Jacobs, known as "The Golden Child", who jabbed his way to success against Jose del Carmen Varela (Los Angeles, CA) until he lowered the boom and landed a picture-perfect straight right hand right between Varela's defense, knocking Varela down for a stunning knockout. Jacobs (Brooklyn, NY) moves to 15-0, and is currently rumored to be facing Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker on the Pacquiao-Hatton undercard this coming Saturday night. Walker was originally slated to be fighting James Kirkland, who had to pull out of the fight for undisclosed legal issues. One thing is for sure: if Jacobs is going to be Walker's opponent, the fight will end in a knockout, since both men are capable of ending the fight with one punch.
In an absolute mess of a swing fight, Noe Perez (Chicago, IL) knocked out overmatched Ronnie "Da Future" Howell (Cincinnati, OH). Howell was hit with a beautiful overhand right in the first round, and after a full five-second delay chose to go down to the canvas to avoid any more punishment. The crowd voiced it's contempt for Howell's lack of "warrior spirit", prompting one ringside fan, Mr. Javier Esquivel, to say, "Da Future looks bleak!", referring to the Cincinnati native's nickname.
The main televised event was the most octane-enriched fight of the night, complete with toe-to-toe action, a bit of smack talk, and lots of hard-hitting exchanges from both fighters. Antonio Escalante (El Paso, TX by way of Mexico) was paired up with Gary Stark, Jr. (Staten Island, NY) in a scheduled 10-rounder. From the opening bell, it was hard to imagine this fight getting into the later rounds, simply due to the output numbers these two warriors were putting out. Escalante's speed and power were matched up well with Stark's in-punching to the body and excellent chin. Escalante was successful in the first round with his jab and body work, but Stark let his fans know that none of it bothered him.
The second round saw a bit more Stark success, but he eventually got trapped against the ropes, and developed a bloody left cheek from repeated overhand right hands from Escalante. Suddenly, Stark ate a vicious uppercut to the chin and was sent to the canvas for a six-count. Stark made it to his feet, retreated away from Escalante, but was hit with another overhand right, and put down for the final count, ending the fight in grand fashion. The Chicago fight fans expressed their ear-pounding satisfaction, and Escalante got a spectacular win on national television, moving his pro record to 19-2. Stark moves down to 22-3.
It is to be noted that the stars were really out for this momentous event at the UIC Pavilion. Former Olympian and former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz, Chicago heavyweights Mike Mollo, Michael Bennet, and Fres Oquendo, veteran UFC champion Andre Arlovski were all present, not to mention the star power of ESPN2's own veteran commentators Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore. All in all, it was an outstanding night of fights that simply was not to be missed.
***Special thanks to Mr. Dominic Pesoli and Mr. Bernie Bahrmasel of 8Count Promotions for issuing Bolo Punch the credentials to cover this event. This ringside report was written entirely by Chris Guzman, who has hosted The Bolo Punch Boxing Hour since 2002. All ringside photography was taken by Emil Kegebein, and all of his handiwork can be viewed at www.legupphotos.com, available for download and purchasing of prints.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Froch defends super middleweight title
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP)—Super middleweight champion Carl Froch delivered a stunning knockout of Jermain Taylor in the final round Saturday night, stealing a fight he would have lost had it been allowed to go a few seconds longer.
The WBC champion trailed 106-102 on two of the judges’ scorecards entering the final round, but he knocked Taylor down with less than a minute remaining. Froch then battered Taylor against the ropes until referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight with 14 seconds left.
“He was hurt badly,” Froch said. “It was a great decision by the referee.”
Taylor, unable to defend himself, didn’t dispute the stoppage.
“If there was 14 seconds left or one second left it made no difference, he was defenseless,” Ortega said. “I wanted him to be able to go home safely to his family.”
Froch (25-0, 20 KOs), part of a recent wave of British fighters making names for themselves in the United States, was making the first defense of the title he won with a brutal unanimous decision over Jean Pascal last December.
Afterward, Froch called out retired former super middleweight and light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe—even though the Pride of Wales has expressed no interest in returning to the ring. Froch also offered to give Taylor a rematch.
“Does Jermain Taylor deserve a rematch?” Froch said. “Absolutely he does.”
“Yeah,” Taylor added, “I’d like a rematch.”
The loss was the third in the last four fights for Taylor, the first under similar circumstances to Kelly Pavlik in 2007. Taylor knocked Pavlik down early and was leading the fight when he got trapped against the ropes and was stopped in the seventh round.
“My hat’s off to Carl Froch,” Taylor said. “He came over here and stuck it out for 12 rounds.”
Froch didn’t look impressive early in the fight, getting knocked down for the first time in his career when Taylor (28-3-1) landed an overhand right in the third round. Carrying his left hand low, Froch struggled to cover up when the quicker Taylor ducked inside to throw a punch, and the bridge of his nose turned red from the blows.
Taylor was still delivering a beating at the end of the eighth round, hitting Froch with a series of combinations. When the round ended, the former unified middleweight champion raised his fist triumphantly and glared across the ring at Froch.
Froch nearly went down again in a wild 11th round, staggering back to his corner, where his team told him that he was well behind on the scorecards and needed—at the very least—to knock Taylor down in the final round.
“When I fight my next fight in America, I need to start quicker,” Froch said. “Neverthless, I’m still the champion.”
The WBC champion trailed 106-102 on two of the judges’ scorecards entering the final round, but he knocked Taylor down with less than a minute remaining. Froch then battered Taylor against the ropes until referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight with 14 seconds left.
“He was hurt badly,” Froch said. “It was a great decision by the referee.”
Taylor, unable to defend himself, didn’t dispute the stoppage.
“If there was 14 seconds left or one second left it made no difference, he was defenseless,” Ortega said. “I wanted him to be able to go home safely to his family.”
Froch (25-0, 20 KOs), part of a recent wave of British fighters making names for themselves in the United States, was making the first defense of the title he won with a brutal unanimous decision over Jean Pascal last December.
Afterward, Froch called out retired former super middleweight and light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe—even though the Pride of Wales has expressed no interest in returning to the ring. Froch also offered to give Taylor a rematch.
“Does Jermain Taylor deserve a rematch?” Froch said. “Absolutely he does.”
“Yeah,” Taylor added, “I’d like a rematch.”
The loss was the third in the last four fights for Taylor, the first under similar circumstances to Kelly Pavlik in 2007. Taylor knocked Pavlik down early and was leading the fight when he got trapped against the ropes and was stopped in the seventh round.
“My hat’s off to Carl Froch,” Taylor said. “He came over here and stuck it out for 12 rounds.”
Froch didn’t look impressive early in the fight, getting knocked down for the first time in his career when Taylor (28-3-1) landed an overhand right in the third round. Carrying his left hand low, Froch struggled to cover up when the quicker Taylor ducked inside to throw a punch, and the bridge of his nose turned red from the blows.
Taylor was still delivering a beating at the end of the eighth round, hitting Froch with a series of combinations. When the round ended, the former unified middleweight champion raised his fist triumphantly and glared across the ring at Froch.
Froch nearly went down again in a wild 11th round, staggering back to his corner, where his team told him that he was well behind on the scorecards and needed—at the very least—to knock Taylor down in the final round.
“When I fight my next fight in America, I need to start quicker,” Froch said. “Neverthless, I’m still the champion.”
Felix Sturm retains WBA middleweight title
KREFELD, Germany (AP)—Felix Sturm easily retained his WBA middleweight title, stopping Japanese challenger Koji Sato in the seventh round Saturday night at Konig Palast.
Sturm dominated with his left jab, nearly closing Sato’s right eye, and referee Luis Pabon stopped the fight with 14 seconds remaining in the seventh round and with Sato’s corner poised to throw in the towel.
“It went the way I wanted,” Sturm said.
Sturm (32-2-1, 14 KOs) hasn’t lost in his past eight fights. The only blemish during that stretch came when he only managed a draw against Randy Griffin in October 2007, and he beat Griffin by unanimous decision less than a year later.
The 28-year-old Sato (14-1) lost for the first time in his career.
From the first round, Sturm established control with his quick left jab, and parried most of Sato’s attempted combinations. By the end of the fourth round, Sato’s right eye was swelling, and he was bleeding from cuts on both sides of his face when the bout was stopped.
“The champion was very strong tonight,” Sato said.
Sturm has defended his title six times against relatively easy opposition, and could now be looking at a much stiffer challenge: a unification fight against fellow countryman and IBF champion Arthur Abraham.
Sturm dominated with his left jab, nearly closing Sato’s right eye, and referee Luis Pabon stopped the fight with 14 seconds remaining in the seventh round and with Sato’s corner poised to throw in the towel.
“It went the way I wanted,” Sturm said.
Sturm (32-2-1, 14 KOs) hasn’t lost in his past eight fights. The only blemish during that stretch came when he only managed a draw against Randy Griffin in October 2007, and he beat Griffin by unanimous decision less than a year later.
The 28-year-old Sato (14-1) lost for the first time in his career.
From the first round, Sturm established control with his quick left jab, and parried most of Sato’s attempted combinations. By the end of the fourth round, Sato’s right eye was swelling, and he was bleeding from cuts on both sides of his face when the bout was stopped.
“The champion was very strong tonight,” Sato said.
Sturm has defended his title six times against relatively easy opposition, and could now be looking at a much stiffer challenge: a unification fight against fellow countryman and IBF champion Arthur Abraham.
ONE IN A MILLION, INC. PRESENTS
ANGEL HERNANDEZ VS. GUSTAVO PALACIOS
Hernandez (Gary, IN) fights with a ferocity that, when controlled, makes him a very dangerous fighter. He sems to actually get angry at his opponents, which oftentimes, works to his advantage. On this night, Palacios (Chicago, IL) was sent to the canvas with a straight right hand from young Hernandez early in the first round, only to get up at the count of “four”, and wobble towards referee Blake Allen, prompting the wave to stop the contest at 2:34 of round one. Angel Hernandez improves his professional record to 12-3 with this win, and on his present course, could soon be a real threat in the welterweight division.JOSH CROUCH VS. JEREMIE PARKS
Crouch (Schererville, IN) punches almost exclusively in combinations, making opponents think long and hard about engaging with him. Jeremie Parks (St. Joseph, MO) came into this fight without a professional victory in ten fights. Crouch was able to manipulate Parks around the ring pretty much to his own liking. Parks got hit with everything in Crouch’s arsenal, and his chin allowed him to “fight” as long as he did. Crouch used this fight as a puncher’s clinic, bloodying Parks’ nose in the second round as he teed off with piles and piles of unanswered shots. Before the bell to start round three, referee Blake Allen waved off the fight at the request of Parks’ corner. TKO victory for Crouch (4-0), officially at 0:01 of round three.TYREE ORTIZ VS. JUSTIN SULE
An interesting story can be written about any fight or fighter on any given night. This fight is special, however, by anyone’s standards. Tyree Ortiz makes his professional debut, giving him quite a change from being Octavius James’ right-hand man with the inner workings with One in a Million, Inc. Ortiz is a rather large man, weighing in at 252 lbs, and his boxing basics appear solid, as he utilized the left jab to set up his power shots, which were considerably devastating to Sule (Michigan City, IN). Nearing the end of the first round, Ortiz opened up a series of twenty unanswered bombs that sent the Hammond Civic Center into hysterics, capped off by a trip to the canvas from an Ortiz left hook, prompting referee Kurt Spivey to immediately wave off the fight. Upon getting his hand raised in victory, “Big” Ty was handed the microphone, where he continued to explain that this fight, and therefore this victory, was dedicated to the memory of Marine 1st Lt. Jared M. Landaker, who was killed in the Iraq war, igniting even more applause. TKO victory for Ortiz (1-0) at 2:55 of round one.***On a totally unrelated note. . . It occurs to me that audience members want free items thrown out to them, regardless of WHAT the item is. As long as a beautiful bikini-clad woman is throwing it out to the crowd, they would clamor to catch dead, rotting fish. Luckily for us, tonight they threw out promotional hats, t-shirts, and key chains.
ORPHIUS WAITE VS. CEDRIC JOHNSON
Orphius Waite (Chicago, IL) is truly a spectacle to see. His physique is unlike any fighter I’ve ever seen, with a tiny waist and exceptionally wide shoulders. He fights like someone with years of professional experience, even though he just turned pro in 2007. This is clearly his biggest challenge to date, with Cedric Johnson’s (Indianapolis, IN) 13-fight career giving him the experience edge. Waite seems to pay none of that any mind, as he systematically establishes his jab, rocketing power shots to both sides of Johnson’s ribcage. Johnson presented some problems for the young Waite, however, as he too possesses a quick jab. In the middle of round two, Waite ate a stiff right hand that sent him into the ropes, staggered for the first time in his short professional career. Technically, referee Blake Allen could (should) have counted this as a knockdown, since the ropes were all that kept Waite from going down. In the third round, Johnson tried to crowd Waite on the ropes, in an attempt to utilize his “inside game” of close-quarters punching. The fourth round opened with a flash knockdown by Waite, with a grinning Johnson getting up quickly. Waite’s hooks are real weapons, and he uses them with reckless abandon. His speed keeps them safe for him, though, as his defense is overall, rather tight. Hooks, hooks, hooks. . . with both hands, from Waite. He does, however, need to stop moving straight back when he’s being attacked. Against a heavier hitter, it could spell trouble. On this night, though, his constant pressure and hooks made him reign supreme. Scorecards: 58-55 (three times) giving Orphius Waite (5-0) a unanimous decision.ED OCHOA VS. CHRISTOPHER HILL
Ed Ochoa (Hobart, IN) used his height advantage to set up his killer overhand right, and scored a quick first-round knockout over a game but overmatched Christopher Hill (Kansas City, MO). Ochoa improves to 8-0, with all eight wins coming by way of knockout.
MARY MCGEE VS. KRISTY FOLLMAR
This fight is clearly the reason that the Hammond Civic Center was so full of hungry-eyed fans. “Merciless” Mary McGee (Gary, IN) took on Kristy “Rose” Follmar (Indianapolis, IN) for the vacant WBC International Female Light Welterweight Championship. The thunderous applause in the Hammond Civic Center let me know that these fans had waited long enough for this fight to take place. In a very close back-and-forth opening round, both fighters showed their tenacity and hunger for a victory, as McGee’s speed matched well with Follmar’s effective aggression. I was about to write that Follmar had clearly out hustled her opponent in the second round. . . .when McGee opened up an all-out assault in the closing seconds of the round that sent Follmar reeling a bit. I tell you one thing. I would NOT enjoy being a judge responsible for a clear decision on some of these rounds. Both fighters are imposing their wills on the other, both fighters are finding openings, and both fighters have piles of loud fans cheering
them on. In short, this is a GREAT match. Mary starts rounds off strong with her accurate jab, but Kristy sends the hooks to the body and head to make it difficult, again, to declare a clear winner of the round. McGee took the fifth round with her powerful straight punching. McGee pulls away with the sixth and seventh rounds, while Follmar shows, perhaps, a bit of ring rust. Follmar’s combination punching gives her the eighth round, but overall, she’s fading in her output numbers. Follmar takes the ninth with her combos, actually staggering McGee momentarily, setting up for the climax tenth and final round. WHAT A ROUND!!! Unadulterated female aggression from pillar to post, of which if I had to pick a winner, I’d say McGee pulled ahead by the slimmest of margins with her uppercuts and crosses. 97-93 McGee, 95-95, 97-93 McGee, who improves her record to 17-0. . . . “Merciless” Mary McGee wins a majority decision in a highly completive fight; possibly the best fight of ANY gender we’ll see this year in the state of Indiana.***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 Hammond Civic Center, Hammond, Indiana, written in its entirety by Chris Guzman, who has hosted The Bolo Punch Boxing Hour since 2002. All ringside photography provided solely by Emil Kegebein, easily viewed at http://www.legupphotos.com/.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Spinks edges Latimore for IBF junior middleweight crown
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (AFP) - Cory Spinks survived an early knockdown and captured the vacant International Boxing Federation junior middleweight world title here Friday with a 12-round split decision over Deandre Latimore.
Spinks, 31 and a former four-time world champion, was coming off two defeats in his last two bouts.
But he did enough to get the nod from two judges, 115-112 and 114-113, while the third saw it 115-112 for Latimore.
"I'm a little upset," Latimore said of the decision. "I dropped him in the first round. If the scorecards ended up that way it should have been in my favor."
Spinks improved to 37-5 with 11 victories inside the distance. Latimore fell to 19-2 with 16 knockouts.
The 23-year-old Latimore knocked Spinks down in the first, but said he wasn't surprised that his opponent bounced back.
"I knew he had the experience," he said. "I dropped him, and I should have dropped him again."
"I wasn't hurt, it was like I tripped or something," Spinks insisted of the knockdown.
While Latimore was strong in the early going, Spinks outboxed him in the middle rounds. While both were cut and appeared weary in the closing rounds, Latimore believed he had done enough.
"About the eighth or ninth round, I started throwing my punches more," said Latimore, who earned his first world title shot by winning his past eight fights since a third-round knockout loss to Ian Gardner in 2007.
"I slacked up a little bit in the middle rounds - that was my fault…
"I just thought I should have come out with the decision."
But Spinks said he did what was necessary in the 12th.
"I just knew I had to come out and perform that last round," he said. "I knew what I had to do, and I did it. I'm proud of myself."
Spinks, 31 and a former four-time world champion, was coming off two defeats in his last two bouts.
But he did enough to get the nod from two judges, 115-112 and 114-113, while the third saw it 115-112 for Latimore.
"I'm a little upset," Latimore said of the decision. "I dropped him in the first round. If the scorecards ended up that way it should have been in my favor."
Spinks improved to 37-5 with 11 victories inside the distance. Latimore fell to 19-2 with 16 knockouts.
The 23-year-old Latimore knocked Spinks down in the first, but said he wasn't surprised that his opponent bounced back.
"I knew he had the experience," he said. "I dropped him, and I should have dropped him again."
"I wasn't hurt, it was like I tripped or something," Spinks insisted of the knockdown.
While Latimore was strong in the early going, Spinks outboxed him in the middle rounds. While both were cut and appeared weary in the closing rounds, Latimore believed he had done enough.
"About the eighth or ninth round, I started throwing my punches more," said Latimore, who earned his first world title shot by winning his past eight fights since a third-round knockout loss to Ian Gardner in 2007.
"I slacked up a little bit in the middle rounds - that was my fault…
"I just thought I should have come out with the decision."
But Spinks said he did what was necessary in the 12th.
"I just knew I had to come out and perform that last round," he said. "I knew what I had to do, and I did it. I'm proud of myself."
Friday’s Fights
Antonio Escalante catches Gary Stark Jr. with a left hook.
Click on photo to view galleries from Chicago.
CHACHOENGSAO, Thailand (AP)—Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Thailand, outpointed Julio Cesar Miranda, Mexico, 12, to win the the interim WBC flyweight title.
ST. LOUIS (AP)—Cory Spinks, St. Louis, outpointed Deandre Latimore, Las Vegas, 12, to win the vacant IBF light middleweight title; Devon Alexander, St. Louis, stopped Jesus Rodriguez, Salinas, Calif., 9, light welterweights.
CHICAGO (AP)—Antonio Escalante, Mexico, stopped Gary Stark Jr., New York, 3, super bantamweights.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP)—Billy Lyell, Youngstown, Ohio, outpointed John Duddy, Ireland, 10, middleweights; Gabriel Rosado, Philadelphia, outpointed Kassim Ouma, Uganda, 10, light middleweights.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP)—Gennady Martirosyan, Russia, outpointed Vedran Akrap, Croatia, 10, to retain the PABA middleweight title.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)—Kariz Kariuki, New Zealand, stopped Sonni Michael Angelo, Australia, 9, to win the vacant WBO Asia Pacific super middleweight title; Matthew Paulley, Australia, outpointed Jason Kanofski, Australia, 10 , to retain the IBO Asia Pacific welterweight title.
Spinks wins IBF junior middleweight title
ST. LOUIS (AP)—Cory Spinks overcame a first-round knockdown to outpoint Deandre Latimore on Friday night and win the vacant IBF junior middleweight title.
Spinks (37-5) overcame a cut above his left eye to win the hard-fought split decision between two St. Louis natives. Two judges split their scorecards 115-112, while the third gave a 114-113 edge to the former undisputed welterweight champion.
Spinks won the 12th round all three judges’ cards.
“I knew I had to perform in that last round and I did,” said Spinks, now a five-time world champion. “I went out like a dog and got it.”
The 23-year-old Latimore (19-2) floored Spinks a minute and a half into the bout, but the 31-year-old veteran bounced right up and appeared unhurt. Latimore showed more aggression in the second and third rounds while Spinks was content to save his energy.
Spinks began to wake up in the fifth round after Latimore opened the cut, and the blow appeared to serve as a wake-up call. Spinks began to win rounds, scoring consistently with shots to the body, and needed the final round to beat the young challenger.
Latimore felt he had earned enough points early in the fight to get the decision. He noted that he recorded the only knockdown of the fight, held in front of 9,138 fans whose loyalties were split between the local fighters.
“That decision should have been mine,” Latimore said. “I’m a little upset. I dropped him in the first round. I should have had that (114-113) edge.”
Spinks comes from a famous fighting and added one more belt to its proud history. He was born five days after his father Leon Spinks upset Muhammad Ali on Feb. 15, 1978. The young Spinks’ uncle, Michael, won the heavyweight crown seven years later.
Latimore, who still calls St. Louis home, grew up watching Cory Spinks fight.
“He was my idol,” Latimore said, “but this is all business.”
Fight promoter Don King is hoping the victory can push Spinks back into the national spotlight. He even said he wanted a matchup with Floyd Mayweather Jr., although the former pound-for-pound king has not officially announced he’s coming out of retirement.
“I’m back and I’m ready for anybody,” Spinks said.
Spinks (37-5) overcame a cut above his left eye to win the hard-fought split decision between two St. Louis natives. Two judges split their scorecards 115-112, while the third gave a 114-113 edge to the former undisputed welterweight champion.
Spinks won the 12th round all three judges’ cards.
“I knew I had to perform in that last round and I did,” said Spinks, now a five-time world champion. “I went out like a dog and got it.”
The 23-year-old Latimore (19-2) floored Spinks a minute and a half into the bout, but the 31-year-old veteran bounced right up and appeared unhurt. Latimore showed more aggression in the second and third rounds while Spinks was content to save his energy.
Spinks began to wake up in the fifth round after Latimore opened the cut, and the blow appeared to serve as a wake-up call. Spinks began to win rounds, scoring consistently with shots to the body, and needed the final round to beat the young challenger.
Latimore felt he had earned enough points early in the fight to get the decision. He noted that he recorded the only knockdown of the fight, held in front of 9,138 fans whose loyalties were split between the local fighters.
“That decision should have been mine,” Latimore said. “I’m a little upset. I dropped him in the first round. I should have had that (114-113) edge.”
Spinks comes from a famous fighting and added one more belt to its proud history. He was born five days after his father Leon Spinks upset Muhammad Ali on Feb. 15, 1978. The young Spinks’ uncle, Michael, won the heavyweight crown seven years later.
Latimore, who still calls St. Louis home, grew up watching Cory Spinks fight.
“He was my idol,” Latimore said, “but this is all business.”
Fight promoter Don King is hoping the victory can push Spinks back into the national spotlight. He even said he wanted a matchup with Floyd Mayweather Jr., although the former pound-for-pound king has not officially announced he’s coming out of retirement.
“I’m back and I’m ready for anybody,” Spinks said.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Boxer Holt pleads guilty to money laundering
PATERSON, N.J. (AP)—Former world boxing champion Kendall Holt has pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge in New Jersey.
Prosecutors say the charge against Holt, of Woodland Park, stemmed from drug deals made by his manager, Henry Cortes. In February, Cortes pleaded guilty to drug charges.
In court Friday, the 27-year-old boxer admitted that several times in 2007 and early 2008 he picked up bags of money and delivered them to Cortes. Holt told the judge he knew the money was from drug transactions.
Holt will be allowed to enter a pretrial intervention program. The charge could be dismissed if he completes it.
Holt won the WBO light welterweight title in July and defended it once before losing to WBC champ Timothy Bradley on April 4.
Prosecutors say the charge against Holt, of Woodland Park, stemmed from drug deals made by his manager, Henry Cortes. In February, Cortes pleaded guilty to drug charges.
In court Friday, the 27-year-old boxer admitted that several times in 2007 and early 2008 he picked up bags of money and delivered them to Cortes. Holt told the judge he knew the money was from drug transactions.
Holt will be allowed to enter a pretrial intervention program. The charge could be dismissed if he completes it.
Holt won the WBO light welterweight title in July and defended it once before losing to WBC champ Timothy Bradley on April 4.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Manuel Quezada Weighs in at 230 Ready For New Opponent
WBC CABOFE CHAMPION
MANUEL "EL TORO" QUEZADA TAKES ON NEW OPPONENT JEFF BROWNFIELD
WEIGH-INS
QUEZADA (230 LBS) VS BROWNFIELD (208 LBS)
Q & A with Manuel Quezada
By Anson Wainwright ~ 15rounds.com
Tomorrow night in Lemoore, Ca Heavyweight Manuel Quezada 26-4(16) looks to add another win to his increasingly impressive resume. He'll be matched over 8 rounds with journeyman Jeff Brownfield. Having started his career going 11-4 in his first 15 contests it looked as though Quezada was going nowhere anytime soon. However in his next 15 bouts he's gone 15-0. Quezada 31, seems on the cusp of a big fight with one of the leading big guys and hopes that this marking time fight will keep him in good shape and active (Imagine that from a Heavyweight!?!) until his opportunity comes along. Here's what Quezada had to say.
Hello Manuel, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright - In your last fight you stopped Eric Boose in five rounds, what can you tell us about that fight? How do you view that performance?
Manuel Quezada - It was one of my better performances. The last time we fought I won a unanimous decision. This time around I got the KO. I wanted to come out and let me hands go and that was the difference. Since then I've improved my game tremendously. I feel I'm ten times better than I was back then.
Anson Wainwright - Your on a very good run now, you've gone 15-0 since you last lost back at the end of 2005. How have you developed as a fighter since then?
Manuel Quezada - When I first started boxing, I really didn't take it that seriously. I knew I was better than my record showed. So I started getting good sparring and made the move to start training in LA. My timing was getting better and I started to sit on my punches more. That was the difference. Continue Reading...
Mario Serrano
Publicist ~ Tachi Palace Casino
boxingpublicist@aol.com
(408) 607-5756
Haye hopes to revitalize heavyweight division
By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sport Writer
NEW YORK (AP)—One of heavyweight boxing’s harshest critics could end up being its savior.
His name is David Haye, and although he has virtually no following in the United States—what heavyweight does these days?—he’s well enough known in Europe that 47,000 tickets were sold in the first two days for his June fight against IBF and WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Haye combines the knockout power of a young
Joe Frazier with the bravado of a young Muhammad Ali, his mouth usually moving just as fast as his hands. He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up to heavyweight, where he quickly lined himself up for a shot at the long-reigning champion.
A shot at putting some drama back in a stale division, too.
“It’s up to me to come in and shake it up,” Haye said, spicing up his description of the heavyweights with some choice expletives. “Nobody knows what the hell is going on in this division, ever since Lennox Lewis hung it up.”
That said, about the only thing Lewis and Haye have in common is that they’re Brits.
Lewis, who retired in 2003 after stopping Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles, chose his words carefully and never got too riled up. He was a model of English etiquette, the noble champion with a big following who left a gaping void in the sport when he walked away in his prime.
The 28-year-old Haye (22-1, 21 KOs) speaks without a censor, sometimes without thinking. In just a matter of weeks he’s gone from relatively unknown challenger to the big reason more than 60,000 are expected at Schalke’s soccer stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on June 20.
At news conferences from Germany to London to New York’s Times Square, where he met with reporters Thursday, Haye has been wearing T-shirts that depict him standing in the ring with the dismembered heads of Klitschko and his brother, WBC champion Vitali—promotional ploys intended to get under the champion’s thick skin.
“It’s for shock,” Haye said, rocking back in a chair. “Twenty years from now, they’re not going to remember the T-shirt. They’re going to remember how I destroyed Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in front of 60,000 of his fans.”
The needling has evidently been working.
The usually mild-mannered Klitschko (52-3, 46 KOs) has taken offense at the grisly T-shirts. The only time he’s been this upset before a fight, he confided, was back in 2001, when Klitschko knocked out Derrick Jefferson to defend his title the same weekend as his birthday.
“He said my birthday party was going to be a funeral party. That really upset my brother,” Klitschko said, smiling at the memory. “But he paid the price for it.”
Klitschko is smart enough to understand the marketing element to the sport, that it sometimes takes over-the-top publicity stunts to drum up intrigue. It’s one of the reasons the two fighters also planned a trip to the top of the Empire State Building for photo ops.
The pensive champion thinks the big-punching Haye has gone too far, though, and for the first time Klitschko can remember he is predicting a knockout. In the 12th round, so that he can punish the young challenger as long as possible.
“I think David Haye is an immature fighter and person,” Klitschko said. “I’ll make sure David Haye, after the fight, is going to eat his words. Then he’s going to eat his T-shirt with the words on it.”
His name is David Haye, and although he has virtually no following in the United States—what heavyweight does these days?—he’s well enough known in Europe that 47,000 tickets were sold in the first two days for his June fight against IBF and WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Haye combines the knockout power of a young
Joe Frazier with the bravado of a young Muhammad Ali, his mouth usually moving just as fast as his hands. He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up to heavyweight, where he quickly lined himself up for a shot at the long-reigning champion.A shot at putting some drama back in a stale division, too.
“It’s up to me to come in and shake it up,” Haye said, spicing up his description of the heavyweights with some choice expletives. “Nobody knows what the hell is going on in this division, ever since Lennox Lewis hung it up.”
That said, about the only thing Lewis and Haye have in common is that they’re Brits.
Lewis, who retired in 2003 after stopping Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles, chose his words carefully and never got too riled up. He was a model of English etiquette, the noble champion with a big following who left a gaping void in the sport when he walked away in his prime.
The 28-year-old Haye (22-1, 21 KOs) speaks without a censor, sometimes without thinking. In just a matter of weeks he’s gone from relatively unknown challenger to the big reason more than 60,000 are expected at Schalke’s soccer stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on June 20.
At news conferences from Germany to London to New York’s Times Square, where he met with reporters Thursday, Haye has been wearing T-shirts that depict him standing in the ring with the dismembered heads of Klitschko and his brother, WBC champion Vitali—promotional ploys intended to get under the champion’s thick skin.
“It’s for shock,” Haye said, rocking back in a chair. “Twenty years from now, they’re not going to remember the T-shirt. They’re going to remember how I destroyed Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in front of 60,000 of his fans.”
The needling has evidently been working.
The usually mild-mannered Klitschko (52-3, 46 KOs) has taken offense at the grisly T-shirts. The only time he’s been this upset before a fight, he confided, was back in 2001, when Klitschko knocked out Derrick Jefferson to defend his title the same weekend as his birthday.
“He said my birthday party was going to be a funeral party. That really upset my brother,” Klitschko said, smiling at the memory. “But he paid the price for it.”
Klitschko is smart enough to understand the marketing element to the sport, that it sometimes takes over-the-top publicity stunts to drum up intrigue. It’s one of the reasons the two fighters also planned a trip to the top of the Empire State Building for photo ops.
The pensive champion thinks the big-punching Haye has gone too far, though, and for the first time Klitschko can remember he is predicting a knockout. In the 12th round, so that he can punish the young challenger as long as possible.
“I think David Haye is an immature fighter and person,” Klitschko said. “I’ll make sure David Haye, after the fight, is going to eat his words. Then he’s going to eat his T-shirt with the words on it.”
Unbeaten "Cobra" Froch risks title against Taylor
MASHANTUCKET, Connecticut (AFP) - Undefeated British super middleweight champion Carl Froch will defend his crown for the first time on Saturday against former undisputed middleweight world champion Jermain Taylor.
Froch, an Englishman from Nottingham nicknamed "The Cobra", carries a 24-0 record with 19 knockouts into his showdown with US star Taylor, 27-2 with one drawn and 18 knockouts, for the World Boxing Council title.
"I want to show the doubters. I want to make a statement," Taylor said. "This is a comeback fight for me and will probably be remembered by the outcome. It's the kind of fight I need."
Froch, whose only prior fight outside England was in 2005 in cinematic wonderland Hollywood, took the title last December in his hometown with a 12-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Canadian Jean Pascal.
"Jermain seems very confident, talking about being back and number one, but make no mistake - this is my belt. I'm the champion. I'm undefeated," Froch said. "Only a few warriors have been able to go the distance with me.
"Come Sunday morning, Jermain Taylor will be disappointed that he doesn't have the belt. I'm showing the Americans what "The Cobra" is made of."
Taylor claimed the undisputed middleweight crown with a 2005 split-decision victory over Bernard Hopkins and defended the title with three triumphs and a draw before being stopped by countryman Kelly Pavlik in 2007.
Taylor lost a unanimous decision in a 2008 rematch and moved up to super middleweight, defeating compatriot Jeff Lacy last November to book his first title bout in his new weight class against Froch.
"I have found the hunger again and it took fighting Carl for the belt to get it back," Taylor said. "I'm more focused on boxing because I don't have to worry about making weight. If I catch him, he's going to sleep."
Froch, an Englishman from Nottingham nicknamed "The Cobra", carries a 24-0 record with 19 knockouts into his showdown with US star Taylor, 27-2 with one drawn and 18 knockouts, for the World Boxing Council title.
"I want to show the doubters. I want to make a statement," Taylor said. "This is a comeback fight for me and will probably be remembered by the outcome. It's the kind of fight I need."
Froch, whose only prior fight outside England was in 2005 in cinematic wonderland Hollywood, took the title last December in his hometown with a 12-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Canadian Jean Pascal.
"Jermain seems very confident, talking about being back and number one, but make no mistake - this is my belt. I'm the champion. I'm undefeated," Froch said. "Only a few warriors have been able to go the distance with me.
"Come Sunday morning, Jermain Taylor will be disappointed that he doesn't have the belt. I'm showing the Americans what "The Cobra" is made of."
Taylor claimed the undisputed middleweight crown with a 2005 split-decision victory over Bernard Hopkins and defended the title with three triumphs and a draw before being stopped by countryman Kelly Pavlik in 2007.
Taylor lost a unanimous decision in a 2008 rematch and moved up to super middleweight, defeating compatriot Jeff Lacy last November to book his first title bout in his new weight class against Froch.
"I have found the hunger again and it took fighting Carl for the belt to get it back," Taylor said. "I'm more focused on boxing because I don't have to worry about making weight. If I catch him, he's going to sleep."
Valuev-Chagaev fight set for Helsinki
FRANKFURT (AP)—The WBA heavyweight title fight between Nikolai Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev on May 30 will be held in the Finnish capital of Helsinki.
Sauerland Promotions said Thursday the fight will be staged at the Hartwall Arena.
Chagaev won the WBA version of the heavyweight title by beating Valuev in Stuttgart on April 14, 2007. He had to pull out of a rematch twice because of a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and was declared “champion in recess” by the WBA. Because of his status, he has to fight Valuev by the end of June.
Valuev won the vacant title in August by beating John Ruiz, then defended it in December against former champion Evander Holyfield.
“The day has come to settle the score,” Valuev said. “I have been waiting for two years to make amends. Only a victory over Chagaev can put my mind at rest.
“Now is the time to end all this confusion. There will only be one WBA heavyweight champion after May 30 and that will be me.”
Chagaev won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond on Feb. 7, in the Uzbekistan-born heavyweight’s first fight in more than a year.
Chagaev was ahead of Drumond on points when the bout was stopped after the sixth round because of a cut over Chagaev’s swollen left eye.
Chagaev’s record is 25-0-1, with 17 KOs. Valuev is 50-1, with 34 KOs.
Sauerland Promotions said Thursday the fight will be staged at the Hartwall Arena.
Chagaev won the WBA version of the heavyweight title by beating Valuev in Stuttgart on April 14, 2007. He had to pull out of a rematch twice because of a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and was declared “champion in recess” by the WBA. Because of his status, he has to fight Valuev by the end of June.
Valuev won the vacant title in August by beating John Ruiz, then defended it in December against former champion Evander Holyfield.
“The day has come to settle the score,” Valuev said. “I have been waiting for two years to make amends. Only a victory over Chagaev can put my mind at rest.
“Now is the time to end all this confusion. There will only be one WBA heavyweight champion after May 30 and that will be me.”
Chagaev won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond on Feb. 7, in the Uzbekistan-born heavyweight’s first fight in more than a year.
Chagaev was ahead of Drumond on points when the bout was stopped after the sixth round because of a cut over Chagaev’s swollen left eye.
Chagaev’s record is 25-0-1, with 17 KOs. Valuev is 50-1, with 34 KOs.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Pacquiao and his bobbleheads good for boxing
By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Columnist
Buzz up!1 vote PrintWillie Mays said hey to him, and a frenzied crowd at AT&T Park couldn’t get enough of him. Not a bad night for Manny Pacquiao, even if they did run out of his bobblehead dolls.
Not a bad time for boxing, either. The sport everyone loves to bash just lost its biggest cash cow in Oscar De La Hoya, but the reports of its demise are, shall we say, premature at best.
Good thing, because where else are you going to get lines like this?
“There’s going to be another bobblehead night on May 2,” said Freddie Roach, who trains Pacquiao. “Only this time we’re going to use Ricky Hatton’s head.”
They just don’t say those kind of things in baseball, which may be good because guys carry bats in their hands. But that didn’t stop the San Francisco Giants from honoring Pacquiao on Tuesday with a Filipino heritage night promotion complete with 10,000 bobbleheads of the fighter for a packed house against the San Diego Padres.
The night tied nicely, of course, into the promotion for Pacquiao’s upcoming fight against Hatton, his first since sending De La Hoya into retirement. The fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is officially sold out (more on that later), but promoters want you to open your wallet to see it in the comfort of your living room with family and friends.
HBO wants you to do that, too, which is why it’s airing another episode Saturday night of its “24/7” reality series that surely will feature lots of footage of Manny Mania in the Bay Area. You’ll see Manny being mobbed by fans, Manny throwing out the first pitch, and Manny having a clubhouse chat with Mays.
Pacquiao is a star, at least at home in the Philippines and among Filipino-Americans. Hatton is a star, too, but mostly just in his native England.
That’s boxing these days. It’s a niche sport that caters to niche fan bases, crossing over every once in awhile with a fighter such as De La Hoya who can sell to the mainstream.
That doesn’t mean it’s dying. Far from it.
Yes, promoters and their television partners almost killed it by refusing for years to match the best fighters against each other, but that has changed. And with it has come a resurgence of sorts for a sport that once seemed threatened to be trampled by the onrushing success of mixed martial arts.
De La Hoya may be retired, but even that’s not all so bad. His retirement frees up pay-per-view dates, and, he’ll still be active as one of the top promoters in the sport. Fans will still see plenty of him, with the only difference being he won’t be taking punches to the face.
“I would argue that boxing is stronger with De La Hoya retired because he so dominated the sport,” promoter Bob Arum said. “Now that he’s gone all the other flowers will bloom bigger.”
Indeed, Pacquiao and Hatton would not be fighting next week if De La Hoya hadn’t officially announced his retirement earlier this month. The Cinco de Mayo weekend was always his on pay-per-view if he wanted it, and his fight two years ago with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the richest fight ever.
Pacquiao-Hatton won’t match that, but the 140-pound bout has got the makings of a pretty good fight by itself. Pacquiao holds the mythical title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, while Hatton’s only loss came on a knockout at the hands of Mayweather. Both are eager to trade punches at a moment’s notice, and neither work too much on their defense.
Both have big fan bases, too, which is why promoters were able to announce this week that the 16,000-seat MGM arena was sold out with a top ticket price of $1,000. Then again, the same promoters announced two hours after tickets went on sale for the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight that it was a sellout, and 2,000 tickets remained unsold at fight time.
Not all is always what it appears to be in boxing, though that’s part of the charm of the sport. But with Mayweather on the brink of unretiring, middleweight Paul Williams looking dominating, and Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye expected to draw 60,000 to a German soccer stadium in June for an intriguing heavyweight title fight, there should be some good days ahead.
De La Hoya is gone, but as good as he was at selling tickets, someone will take his place. That’s the way boxing has always been.
Maybe even someone with his own bobblehead.
Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org
Buzz up!1 vote PrintWillie Mays said hey to him, and a frenzied crowd at AT&T Park couldn’t get enough of him. Not a bad night for Manny Pacquiao, even if they did run out of his bobblehead dolls.
Not a bad time for boxing, either. The sport everyone loves to bash just lost its biggest cash cow in Oscar De La Hoya, but the reports of its demise are, shall we say, premature at best.
Good thing, because where else are you going to get lines like this?
“There’s going to be another bobblehead night on May 2,” said Freddie Roach, who trains Pacquiao. “Only this time we’re going to use Ricky Hatton’s head.”
They just don’t say those kind of things in baseball, which may be good because guys carry bats in their hands. But that didn’t stop the San Francisco Giants from honoring Pacquiao on Tuesday with a Filipino heritage night promotion complete with 10,000 bobbleheads of the fighter for a packed house against the San Diego Padres.
The night tied nicely, of course, into the promotion for Pacquiao’s upcoming fight against Hatton, his first since sending De La Hoya into retirement. The fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is officially sold out (more on that later), but promoters want you to open your wallet to see it in the comfort of your living room with family and friends.
HBO wants you to do that, too, which is why it’s airing another episode Saturday night of its “24/7” reality series that surely will feature lots of footage of Manny Mania in the Bay Area. You’ll see Manny being mobbed by fans, Manny throwing out the first pitch, and Manny having a clubhouse chat with Mays.
Pacquiao is a star, at least at home in the Philippines and among Filipino-Americans. Hatton is a star, too, but mostly just in his native England.
That’s boxing these days. It’s a niche sport that caters to niche fan bases, crossing over every once in awhile with a fighter such as De La Hoya who can sell to the mainstream.
That doesn’t mean it’s dying. Far from it.
Yes, promoters and their television partners almost killed it by refusing for years to match the best fighters against each other, but that has changed. And with it has come a resurgence of sorts for a sport that once seemed threatened to be trampled by the onrushing success of mixed martial arts.
De La Hoya may be retired, but even that’s not all so bad. His retirement frees up pay-per-view dates, and, he’ll still be active as one of the top promoters in the sport. Fans will still see plenty of him, with the only difference being he won’t be taking punches to the face.
“I would argue that boxing is stronger with De La Hoya retired because he so dominated the sport,” promoter Bob Arum said. “Now that he’s gone all the other flowers will bloom bigger.”
Indeed, Pacquiao and Hatton would not be fighting next week if De La Hoya hadn’t officially announced his retirement earlier this month. The Cinco de Mayo weekend was always his on pay-per-view if he wanted it, and his fight two years ago with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the richest fight ever.
Pacquiao-Hatton won’t match that, but the 140-pound bout has got the makings of a pretty good fight by itself. Pacquiao holds the mythical title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, while Hatton’s only loss came on a knockout at the hands of Mayweather. Both are eager to trade punches at a moment’s notice, and neither work too much on their defense.
Both have big fan bases, too, which is why promoters were able to announce this week that the 16,000-seat MGM arena was sold out with a top ticket price of $1,000. Then again, the same promoters announced two hours after tickets went on sale for the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight that it was a sellout, and 2,000 tickets remained unsold at fight time.
Not all is always what it appears to be in boxing, though that’s part of the charm of the sport. But with Mayweather on the brink of unretiring, middleweight Paul Williams looking dominating, and Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye expected to draw 60,000 to a German soccer stadium in June for an intriguing heavyweight title fight, there should be some good days ahead.
De La Hoya is gone, but as good as he was at selling tickets, someone will take his place. That’s the way boxing has always been.
Maybe even someone with his own bobblehead.
Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg@ap.org
Return Of The Mac - Martin ‘Mac Man’ Lindsay Ready For Belfast Title Clash
Belfast’s Martin ‘Mac Man’ Lindsay (13-0) is coming home in style and is
more than ready for his biggest challenge to date, when he takes on
British Featherweight champion, Scotland’s Paul Appleby (14-0), for his
title on the 25th April at Ulster Hall in Belfast.
Lindsay, the current Irish Boxing Writer’s “Young Prospect Of The Year”,
secured the right to face Appleby for the coveted Lonsdale belt after a
stunning come-from-behind 9th round knockout of Liverpool’s Derry Mathews
in September ‘08 at David ‘Hayemaker’ Haye’s promotional debut event in
Sheffield.
26 year old Lindsay is particularly looking forward to the fight on the
25th April as it will be only the second time he will have fought in
front of his home crowd having campaigned in Canada for Orion promotions
since 2007.
Lindsay, who is managed by John Rooney Jnr. of Gleason’s Gym in London and
sponsored by P.U.G. Athletic, is clearly pleased to be home and has
nothing but praise for his Canadian former hosts when he said. "They put
on brilliant shows out in Canada, gave me some tough learning fights and
also delivered me my first title (winning the IBF Youth Featherweight
title against Uriel Barrera in October ‘07). They picked hard opponents
and I thrived on it.
As much as I enjoyed my time out there (in Canada), I was always hoping to
come back and fight in Ireland and England. Nobody from home really got to
see me fight out in Canada. Fighting in front of my home crowd will give
me a lot more profile and will actually allow people to see what I can do.
In any fight, especially at this level, you’re going to have have to dig
deep and pull it out. The home crowd does help to bring that out of you a
wee bit. It gives you a little bit extra. If things start going
pear-shaped you can always rely on the crowd for that extra boost.”
Don’t forget to put a note in your diary as you will not want to miss
this, 25th April ‘09 at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, because the long
awaited clash between the two most exciting and unbeaten young prospects
is finally on and is surely destined to be one of the highlights of an
already excellent domestic boxing season.
Martin Lindsay’s British title fight against Paul Appleby takes place at
the Ulster hall, Belfast on 25th April. Tickets priced at £35, £50 and £70
can be purchased directly by calling 02890 334455
more than ready for his biggest challenge to date, when he takes on
British Featherweight champion, Scotland’s Paul Appleby (14-0), for his
title on the 25th April at Ulster Hall in Belfast.
Lindsay, the current Irish Boxing Writer’s “Young Prospect Of The Year”,
secured the right to face Appleby for the coveted Lonsdale belt after a
stunning come-from-behind 9th round knockout of Liverpool’s Derry Mathews
in September ‘08 at David ‘Hayemaker’ Haye’s promotional debut event in
Sheffield.
26 year old Lindsay is particularly looking forward to the fight on the
25th April as it will be only the second time he will have fought in
front of his home crowd having campaigned in Canada for Orion promotions
since 2007.
Lindsay, who is managed by John Rooney Jnr. of Gleason’s Gym in London and
sponsored by P.U.G. Athletic, is clearly pleased to be home and has
nothing but praise for his Canadian former hosts when he said. "They put
on brilliant shows out in Canada, gave me some tough learning fights and
also delivered me my first title (winning the IBF Youth Featherweight
title against Uriel Barrera in October ‘07). They picked hard opponents
and I thrived on it.
As much as I enjoyed my time out there (in Canada), I was always hoping to
come back and fight in Ireland and England. Nobody from home really got to
see me fight out in Canada. Fighting in front of my home crowd will give
me a lot more profile and will actually allow people to see what I can do.
In any fight, especially at this level, you’re going to have have to dig
deep and pull it out. The home crowd does help to bring that out of you a
wee bit. It gives you a little bit extra. If things start going
pear-shaped you can always rely on the crowd for that extra boost.”
Don’t forget to put a note in your diary as you will not want to miss
this, 25th April ‘09 at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, because the long
awaited clash between the two most exciting and unbeaten young prospects
is finally on and is surely destined to be one of the highlights of an
already excellent domestic boxing season.
Martin Lindsay’s British title fight against Paul Appleby takes place at
the Ulster hall, Belfast on 25th April. Tickets priced at £35, £50 and £70
can be purchased directly by calling 02890 334455
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