Green slams Kessler: “Mikkel will not be worth a nickel
Allan Green (31-1, 21 KOs) continued his war of words with Mikkel Kessler (44-2, 33 KOs) today at the final press conference in Copenhagen. Three days ahead of their WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship (Silver) clash at Denmark´s famous PARKEN Stadium, Green claimed that the Viking Warrior was a long way past his prime. “He used to be a joy to watch, a great fighter, but that was before he fought Calzaghe,” the 32-year-old American stated. “He has not been the same fighter since. I don´t know if it is mental or physical wear, but he´s just not been on the same level any more. Mikkel will not be worth a nickel when he will be in the ring with me. I will break his a** into two halves. I want him to be at his best on Saturday night, the best he can possibly be, and for his sake it better be enough!”
The Viking Warrior said he will be happy to prove that he can still deliver at the highest level – a level Green has never fought at. “Green just talks a lot,” Kessler said. “This is nothing unusual before a fight. He seems to be confident, which is good for him. He will need all his confidence on Saturday night. I´m in fantastic shape, I am ready to put on a great show. I know I can hurt Green and once I have hurt him, I will go for the KO. But I am not making any predictions about the outcome. I just know that I am going to win.”
Promoter Kalle Sauerland is looking forward to a great night at PARKEN, with Michael Buffer calling both fighters into the ring and the Champions League Final being shown on four jumbotron TV screens. “It´s going to be great event for sports fans,” Sauerland said. “A top undercard, the Champions League Final and then Kessler versus Green. It can hardly get any better. Kessler-Green is a high-risk fight. At light heavyweight, Green can do a lot of damage, he has a lot of power, but so has Mikkel, who is the better boxer. This is going to be very exciting. I am sure Mikkel will win.”
And Jimmy Montoya, Kessler´s coach, added: “Green, I respect you as a fighter, you are a good fighter, but a much better talker. Mikkel will beat you on Saturday night.”
Anthony Wilson, Green´s coach, believes Kessler is already confused: “In the past weeks, Kessler first said he was the better boxer and Green the bigger puncher who will come at him to slug it out. Then Kessler changed his mind and said he himself had a bigger punch than Green. Kessler has got no clue what he is talking about. And he has got no clue what Allan Green will bring to the table come Saturday night.”
In the co-featured main event, Patrick Nielsen (14-0, 8 KOs) will take on Gaetano Nespro (19-8-1, 3 KOs). Polish KO machine Mateusz “The Master” Masternak (26-0, 20 KOs) comes face-to-face with Hari Miles. Torben Keller faces Yuri Pompilio, Erik Skoglund meets Pablo Sosa and Simeen Smaadal clashes with Srdjan Mihailovic.
ANTONIO “MAGIC MAN” TARVER AND WINKY WRIGHT FLORIDA MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS
“I’m a sharpshooter. I punch organs. I target organs: liver, kidney, heart.
I don’t just punch mass, I punch organs and I punch that chin.” – Antonio Tarver
Tarver vs. Lateef “Power” Kayode to Headline “Four Warned” Quadruple Header
On Saturday, June 2, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®
From The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
TAMPA, Fla. (May 15, 2012) – Less than three weeks before Antonio Tarver steps into the ring to continue his campaign at cruiserweight by taking on the unbeaten power puncher Lateef Kayode, the “Magic Man” held an open workout on Tuesday before a packed house of his hometown media at Calta’s 24/7 Fitness.
Tarver vs. Kayode will headline “Four Warned,” a stacked night of boxing on SHOWTIME® featuring four high-stakes prizefights. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will air live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on Saturday, June 2 from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Joining Tarver at the workout on Tuesday was his good friend Ronald “Winky” Wright, who will fight in the co-main event, making his return to the ring against rising star “Kid Chocolate” Peter Quillin.
After a storied career at light heavyweight, Tarver (29-6, 20 KO’s), of Tampa, Fla., made an emphatic debut in the cruiserweight division last summer. The Magic Man headed to Sydney, Australia and stopped hometown favorite Danny Green (RTD 9) on July 20, 2011 to capture the IBO cruiserweight title. Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO’s), of St. Petersburg, Fla., will return to the ring for the first time since April 11, 2009. He faces Quillin (26-0, 20 KO’s), who will risk his unblemished record.
Kayode (18-0, 14 KO’s), who is trained by the acclaimed Freddie Roach, is not only taking the biggest leap in competition in his career, but he is also facing a man who knows him very well. Tarver has been ringside providing expert analysis for all five of the Nigerian-born Kayode’s appearances on ShoBox: The New Generation.
Here’s what Tarver and Wright had to say on Tuesday:
ANTONIO TARVER:
“This guy is predicting he’ll knock me out in the fifth round. If Kayode comes in with that type of recklessness, he can be out before that because he has never been hit by someone who can punch as hard as me. And not just punching hard, I’m a sharpshooter. I punch organs. I target organs: liver, kidney, heart. I don’t just punch mass, I punch organs and I punch that chin. Remember that the chin is not a muscle so you can have all the muscles surrounding your neck and body, chest and abs, because if I touch that chin the right way, it’s lights out, baby.
“There are no more guys like myself. Shane Mosley lost. Bernard Hopkins lost. I’m the last Mohican. I’m the last guy who is 40-plus.
“We have a storyline here: A young guy who took offense to what I was saying as a commentator. I was just doing my job. I think the youth, the inexperience got the best of him. He’s got his handlers saying that he’s ready to roll the dice. But you’ve got to respect his position. He’s a young fighter coming up that has nothing to lose. So Kayode is in a beautiful position and if he loses to me, what has it done? It’s going to set him back a little bit but he can regroup. I can’t regroup if I lose to Lateef Kayode. There would be an asterisk and a question mark by my name and we can’t have that.
“He’s only got two hands and he can’t throw them but one at a time. We’re going to simplify it. I’ve fought a lot of strong guys that didn’t get lucky, that couldn’t hit me, couldn’t find me. So he’s coming in here trying to get lucky. I’m coming in here to rely on my skills, my experience and my conditioning to win this fight. I’ll take Kayode places he’s never been. And that’s in deep waters. He’s never been in there with a fighter like me and I’m going to show him what it’s all about.
“This is what sparring is all about. I’ve got young guys in here. I don’t have any old punching bags in here. Because if I can’t get it done in the gym, I can’t get it done June 2.
“We’re putting everyone on notice. Expect the unexpected. Kayode said the fight is going to end, that he’s going to knock me out in the fifth round. He might have a good prediction in the fifth round but I think he’s got the storyline a little twisted.
“We’re in a phone booth in camp. That’s definitely what we think the fight will represent, a phone booth. We like it in close quarters. I’m too old to run.
“I had a chance to commentate a few of his fights and he didn’t like the things I was saying. But as a young fighter, you can’t always feed them cake and ice cream. Sometimes you’ve got to put something in the back of his head so he could say, ‘You know what? Maybe there is something I can go back and work on.
“It’s about skill and I got it. We’re not going to wait for anyone to tell us how great we are because if you wait for someone to give you a compliment, you’ll be waiting forever and a day. We know who we are and we are going to continue to display it. We’re going to kill our critics with success. We got the skill, us throwback fighters. And I’m a throwback fighter because I’m older now, I’m sitting down [on my punches] more and I’m a fan friendly fighter.
“What keeps the fire burning? Critics, naysayers and my own personal achievement. People can laugh now when I tell them I’m going to become heavyweight champion. They don’t want to buy into it but they will because at 210 pounds, I’m elusive. I’m powerful. I’m strong and they can’t hit what they can’t see. I’m not a big, robotic fighter that can’t move. So those are they’re advantages. The only hope they got is to hit me on the chin and knock me out. And that’s never been done before. .
“I’m going to get that heavyweight title. Wladimir Klitschko, here I come. I’m going to get that heavyweight title. That’s coming back to America, baby. Trust it. Stamp it. Write it down.”
WINKY WRIGHT:
On making his return to the ring on a card with friend and fellow Floridian Antonio Tarver:
“It feels good. It makes it easy. To have your homeboy on the same card, we go out there and kick some butt. You know me.
When discussing the bravado displayed by Kayode and Quillin at the kickoff press conference:
“Young guys, young guys. Inexperience and all of that. The nervousness is getting to them and they want to prove this and prove that. The only time you’ve got to prove something is in the ring.
“Fans cans expect a great fight. They can come to see Winky Wright knock Kid Chocolate’s head off – not knock him out – knock his head off. He thinks I’m going to run? We’ll see. I’m going to show him a fight.”
“Four Warned” features former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (29-6, 20 KO’s) facing unbeaten Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KO’s) in a 12-round cruiserweight fight, former undisputed junior middleweight kingpin Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO’s) returning to the ring to meet undefeated Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO’s) in a middleweight bout, Austin Trout (24-0, 14 KO’s) risking his perfect record and WBA Super Welterweight belt against Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KO’s) and IBF number one rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malinga (20-3, 12 KO’s) facing IBF number five rated contender Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO’s) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. All four bouts will be telecast on Saturday, June 2, live on SHOWTIME® (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. “Four Warned” is presented by A.T. Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions with Trout vs. Rodriguez being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Malinga vs. Santa Cruz being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions. The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T.
Tickets for “Four Warned” are available for as low as $25, with VIP floor seats priced at $200. Other tickets in the 8,000-seat outdoor stadium at The Home Depot Center are available at $50 and $100. Fans can purchase tickets at AXS.com or by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available for purchase by calling 1-877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 1-877-234-8425.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.
About Showtime Networks Inc.:
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
Warriors, Bluewave, and Newhouse Sign Mark “Too Sharp” Davis!
Warriors Boxing, Bluewave Boxing and Newhouse Promotions are proud to announce the signing of 2005 and 2006 United States Amateur Champion and undefeated super featherweight Mark “Too Sharp” Davis (16-0, 5 KOs) to an exclusive promotional agreement.
25-year-old Davis is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and now lives in Cleveland, Ohio. During his 200 amateur bouts, he competed at the 2005 World championships and won the Eastern Olympic trials for the 2008 Olympics. Davis also won gold medals at the 2002 US Junior Olympics, the 2002 US National Silver Gloves, and the 2002 Police Athletic League (PAL) tournament as a junior. He won a silver medal at the 2003 PAL and won a gold medal for the USA at the 2003 Under-19 Sweden Cup.
Lightning quick and masterful on defense, as a professional, Davis has already beaten some well-thought-of opposition, including Guillermo Sanchez (13-3) in his latest fight and Ramesis Gil (then 6-1) before that.
“We’re all very excited to be working with Mark,” said Leon Margules, President of Warriors Boxing. “He was a terrific amateur and he’s proven to be a blue-chip prospect as a professional. I predict big things for him.”
“He’s a future world champion,” said Bluewave’s Luis DeCubas. “Mark is at a level of skill already that puts him in an elite class. It’s going to be a pleasure to work with him and help get him where he wants to go in professional boxing.”
Newhouse Promotions, a Cleveland-based company, is also very pleased with the signing: “I feel Mark is on track to become the best fighter in the world,” said lifelong friend and Newhouse’s Tim VanNewhouse. “Working with strategic men like Luis DeCubas and Leon Margules, I know he will get the opportunity to compete on some of the highest levels the sport can offer.”
Streaming Live on GoFightLive.tv Battle of the Badges 4 FDNY vs. N.E. Law Enforcement
Filed under: Boxing News, MMA News, Press Release, Upcoming Events
Streaming live on GoFightLive.tv Battle of the Badges 4 FDNY vs. N.E. Law Enforcement Saturday at Foxwoods Resorts Casino
MASHANTUCKET, CT (May 15, 2012) – “Battle of the Badges 4″ spokesman Dennis Marrese announced today that Saturday night’s amateur boxing show, featuring the nationally-acclaimed New York City Fire Department Boxing Team (”FDNY”) against a New England Law Enforcement (”Team N.E.”) squad, will air on GoFightLive.tv live from Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. ”Battle of the Badges 4″ (”BOB4″) is presented by National Public Safety Athletic League (”NPSAL”) in association with the FDNY Boxing Bravest, Mass Corrections Officers Federated Union Boxing Team (MCOFU) and Foxwoods Resort Casino. Defending champion Team N.E. trails FDNY in the series, 2-1. Viewers may watch by going online to: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Battle_Of_The_Badges_4_FDNY_vs_New_England/1507 Hermis Yannis Hawks Media), a popular radio show host in Worcester (MA), will handle the blow-by-blow action from ringside. Providing color commentary is “Iceman” John Scully, the former IBF and IBO world light heavyweight title challenger, who as is chief second for WBC World Light Heavyweight Champion “Bad” Chad Dawson. ”We wanted to give people who are unable to attend the event for whatever reason an opportunity to watch the action and root for their family members, friends, favorite team and causes,” Marrese said. “All profits will go towards the worthy charities this unique and entertaining event is supporting.” A Who’s Who list of entertainment and sports celebrities are scheduled to be on hand supporting the fundraiser, including former world champion boxers John “The Quietman” Ruiz, Tony “The Pride of Fleet” Street” DeMarco, Vito Antuofermo Jose Antonio “El Gallo” Rivera, and Peter Manfredo, Jr. Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi, who owns three Super Bowl rings, will be in the house with his family. He has three brothers that are members of the FDNY who responded to the 9/11/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Joe is a cancer survivor who established the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. Also making BOB4 appearances are comedian Lenny Clarke, singer James Massone, who competed in the television show, “The Voice,” as well as WCVB (#5) newscaster in Boston, Michelle McPhee. The world renowned FDNY bagpipers will also be involved in festivities. Proceeds from Saturday’s charitable event will benefit Work Vessels For Veterans, NPSAL and FDNY Boxing Bravest Team. More than a dozen matches are scheduled pitting FDNY against Team New England, which is primarily comprised of MCOFU boxers. Tickets, priced at $30.00 (general admission), $50.00 (reserved seating) and $100.00 (VIP/Ringside), are available to purchase at the Foxwoods Box Office, on line at www.foxwoods.com or www.Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-855-660-6606 04 1-800.200.2882, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET with the first match scheduled to start at 7:30 PM/ET. Go to www.BattleoftheBadges.info or www.foxwoods.com for additional information.
NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY ATHLETIC LEAGUE: “NPSAL” is committed to fundraising and promoting efficient techniques to promote recreation and sport/physical activities for youths and adults for the purpose of maintaining a healthy and positive lifestyle. FDNY BRAVEST BOXING TEAM:The organization donates all funds after expenses and has already donated more than $100,000 to various charities includes The Wounded Warrior Project and Building Homes For Heroes. WORK VESSELS FOR VETERANS: “WVFV” assists veterans returning to the United States as they being their civilian careers or continue their educational pursuits by donating to them the necessary start-up tools (laptops, vehicles, machinery, tools, commercial vessels, etc.). The organization was started in 2008 with the donation of a commercial fishing boat to a returning veteran and to date has helped more than 500 veterans in their transitions. www.wvfv.org <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0014EUEyu28ZiP-M1bjNKaNCgqrXBe7V1phhAebL1IOpkwUZo9HaO-0pdggodBCGO0G4hrVDAba6mvG_LCjs72Df01Fc1JGhqsU5Y16-qzZKV0=> -30- CONTACTS: Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, (978)664-4482, bobtfcp@hotmail.com Shannan McNair, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Public Affairs: (860) 396-6727, smcnair@mptn.org
Korean Zombie shines in Fairfax, chokes out Poirier in four! Wants Aldo next!
By Joon Lee (Cageside)
FAIRFAX, VA – It was a pro-Korean Zombie crowd in Fairfax, VA and their man surely didn’t disappoint. Fighting in front of a supporting group of Korean Americans and hardcore MMA fans, Chan-Sung Jung (13-3) of South Korea put on a heck of a show, going toe-to-toe with the technically sound Dustin Poirier (12-2) over four scintillating rounds before emerging victorious with a perfectly executed d’arce choke.
After a quick clinch in the opening seconds, Jung secured a takedown and drew blood on the American’s head with sharp elbows from the top. Poirier’s tricky guard got him the reversal for a bit before the two stood back up in the final seconds to trade blows.
Jung dropped Poirier again in the beginning of the second and hurried to go for a ground and pound. Poirer pulled guard and eventually got back up. A flying knee followed by a series of uppercuts and a scramble led to Jung gaining full-mount. In another fast paced scramble, Poirier almost got caught in an arm bar, but managed to escape. Seconds before the bell, Jung nearly ended the fight again with a triangle lock.
Poised to box in the third, Poirier threw jabs and found his mark with well timed right hands. But call him the Arturo Gatti of MMA if you will, the man they chanted, ‘Zombie’ can’t seem to stay out of a brawl if he wanted to. Forcing the action against his tiring foe, Jung walked through punches to dish out punishment of his own, hurting Poirier against the cage before the bell.
The fourth saw another flying knee from Jung that had Poirier collapsing to his knees. Jung then immediately locked up a d’arce choke, which rendered Poirier unconscious. The referee stepped in at 1:07 to call a halt to the contest.
In the post fight interview, Jung alluded that his last win against Mark Hominick could’ve been a fluke, so he was reluctant on calling out the champ. But this time around, he begged to differ.
‘I want to thank all the Korean fans. He (Poirier) had me in trouble in the beginning of the third, but I just kept going and came up with the win. I want Jose Aldo!’ said Jung .
SADOLLAH EDGES LOPEZ
The main supporting bout evening saw a duel between welterweights Amir Sadollah (7-3) of Richmond, VA and Las Vegas, NV’s Jorge Lopez (11-3), won by Sadollah after three close, competitive rounds. Official scores were 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28.
After a feel out start to the round, Lopez was able to takedown Sadollah and attempted to maneuver a kimura. Sadollah got back to his feet and escaped the submission attempt, but didn’t do much else to take the round.
Lopez, a Wanderlei Silva’s protégé based out of Las Vegas, NV, went for the takedown again in round two, but was countered by a guillotine attempt from Sadollah, followed by a scramble that led both guys back to their feet. Just when Sadollah appeared to be in control of the final minute, Lopez caught a leg and finished with a takedown.
The third frame saw another arduous effort from Lopez to take Sadollah down, but the Ultimate Fighter 7 winner displayed solid defense against the cage. Sadalloh was briefly taken down and pull guard before standing back up. It was almost seemed like a stall tactic for Lopez to push his foe against the cage, garnering a loud jeer of boos from the crowd in the closing seconds. To Sadollah’s credit, he tried to keep the fight standing and contributed more in the striking department.
CERRONE BREEZES THROUGH STEPHENS
Fan favorite Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone (18-4-0, 1NC) didn’t disappoint the crowd, pounding out an easy yet still exciting unanimous decision (30-27 3x) win over San Diego, CA’s Jeremy Stephens (20-8). Cerreone, an Albuquerque, NM product, goofed and danced around in round one, but landed some sharp punches and leg kicks in the process. By the end of the round, the shorter Stephens appeared battered as his face was already busted up. In the second, Cerreone landed a crisp one two combination and launched a series of leg kicks that hurt his opponent. The third and last round was no different as the Greg Jackson trained fighter continued to dissect Stephens in every aspect of the game.
This was Cerrone’s first comeback fight since the disappointing loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 141. With the win, Cerrone keeps himself relevant in the lightweight picture.
With the great Georges St. Pierre nearby his corner, Montreal’s Yves Jabouin added himself to the red hot bantamweight mix with a brutal, impressive three round beat down of Enumclaw, WA’s Jeff Houghland.
Jabouin initiated action with a quick right hand and a spinning back kick that kept Hougland at bay. Towards the end of the round, Jabouin landed a hard kick to the midsection, dropping Hougland hard before relentlessly going for the finish with a series of hammer fists. The Washington native showed tremendous heart in absorbing the furious ground and pound attack before getting saved by the bell. Hougland regrouped in the second round, but Jabouin was the one on the offense, scoring with jabs and kicks to the body. A hard left hook dropped Hougland again and another assault from the top ensued. Managing to scramble out of position, Houghland hung on from half to full guard and eventually heard the final bell. Still, it was a dominant performance by Jabouin, who improves to 18-7. Scores were 30-27 (2x) and 30-26. ‘It feels awesome. Once that back kick sinks in, a lot of guys can’t withstand it. UFC does a great job matching me up with tremendous opponents.’ said the victorious Jabouin.
In a thrilling light heavyweight war, Croatia’s Igor Pokrajac (25-8) outlasted pro boxer Fabio Maldonado of Brazil (18-5) over three heated rounds.
The opening stanza saw Pokrajac quickly taking his boxer foe to his back, sustaining top position for the first half of the round. Maldonado eventually escaped and unleashed a barrage of unanswered combinations to the head that had Pokrajac in trouble. However, the Croatian was no slouch when it came to striking, coming back in the second round with combination punching of his own, staggering Maldonado and then going for a double leg, followed by a strong knee during a clinch. But the better boxer was Maldonado, who has an unbeaten professional boxing record of 22-0, 21KOs. Maldonado was landing hard shots to the body before stealing a takedown in the final seconds before the bell.
Maldonado was adamant in digging deep to the body in the third, something not commonly seen in the game of MMA. Pokrajac was more than just game, being able to fight off the fence and land hard shots of his own. The two hitters exchanged furiously in the closing seconds, but it was Maldonado who landed the cleaner shots with his superior boxing technique. Decision was met with a jeer of boos from the crowd as Pokrajac escaped with a controversial but unanimous scores of 29-28 (2x) and 30-27.
The animated Tom Lawlor (8-4, 1NC) of New England kicked off the FUEL telecast with an explosive first round stoppage win over rugged veteran Jason MacDonald (26-16) of Canada. Lawlor wasted very little time forcing the engage before landing a hard left and followed by a right to send his Canadian foe to the canvas. Before any further damage was inflicted, the referee stepped into call the bout to a halt at :50. Along with the win, Lawlor also celebrated his twenty ninth birthday. ‘It feels great (the win). I came back here started signing the checks — forgot what it was like to win and almost walked off without it. I really needed this win coming off a bad loss, a long layoff, switching camps and moving basically my whole life. I really needed something to validate that I’m making the right decisions in life.’ said Lawlor following the win.
In a crossroad bout between two fighters desperately in need of a win, Brad Tavares (7-2) of Las Vegas, NV edged Seoul, Korea’s Dongi Yang (10-3) in a three round middleweight contest. In round one, Yang was the aggressor, but Tavares was more versed in his attack, able to land leg kicks and cleaner punches. On three occasions, the bout paused abruptly, due to thumbing from both fighters. Yang was more composed in the second, landing a crisp front leg kick on the chin of Tavares. Both guys traded and checked leg kicks. Yang hurt Tavares with a straight left and moved forward with hard leaping hooks. The last two minutes of the round saw some clinching against the cage although neither guy held the clear upper hand. Tavares scored the first effective takedown of the fight in the opening seconds of the third. Yang was held down for nearly two minutes, which appeared to have taken some steam out of the South Korean. Tavares then followed with a kick to the groin, making matters worse for the fatiguing Yang. Not much happened in the final two minutes, but Tavares may have won that round based on the takedown early on in the round. When Bruce Buffer announced the decision, Brad Tavares was awarded with the unanimous verdict of 29-28 (3x).
‘It feels good to get back in the win column. It wasn’t the prettiest fight but I really did try to take his head off. I kicked him a lot and my shins are sore from kicking his elbows. He’s no chump, no walkover. Look at his record — he’s never been stopped and has only stopped people. I’m just glad I got the victory.’ said Tavares who was relieved with the unanimous decision win.
The first bout of the evening saw bantamweights Alex Soto (6-2-1) and Francisco Rivera Jr. (8-2) go head to head in a battle of Californians. From the opening round, Rivera was the aggressor, trying to time his right hand while Soto moved and circled to pick his Muay Thai kicks. Soto was wild in his attempt to shoot in for a takedown and paid the price when Rivera countered with punches. Rivera was more methodical in his approach in the second frame, still playing the aggressor, but effectively landing leg kicks. Soto was persistent in going for takedowns and Rivera seemingly took the round with harder shots. Soto briefly secured a takedown in the first minute of round three, but Rivera rose back shortly after and resumed in control with constant pressure and more accurate striking. All three judges at cageside scored the bout 30-27 in favor of Rivera.
Long time veteran Jeff Curran (35-15-1) is still winless in the UFC, after dropping a decision loss to Brazil’s Johnny Eduardo (26-9). Both veterans fought cautiously in the first round, but it was the Brazilian who consistently landed low kicks throughout. A lot of bobbing and weaving took place, but no major punches were landed in the first two rounds. In the third, Curran showed urgency by throwing more punches and was able to land something that seemingly bothered Eduardo. Eduardo briefly stopped engaging, claiming he was thumbed, but the ref did not intervene. Regardless, Eduardo kept landing his right kick while Curran continued to press the attack and headhunted. Neither guy was able to score a takedown. After three rounds, scores were 29-28 (3x), all in favor of Eduardo.
Northern Virginia’s own Kamal Shalorus (7-3-2) was looking to put on a showcase in front of his home crowd, but a left kick to the head from Brazil’s Rafael Dos Anjos (16-6) sent him crashing to the canvas, followed by a tight rear-naked choke to seal the deal. With another explosive first round win, Anjos again keeps himself relevant in the lightweight picture.
GRANT OUTHUSTLES PRATER
In a collision of two seasoned combatants, Nova Scotia’s TJ Grant (18-5) emerged victorious after out-working Brazil’s Carlo Prater (30-11-1) over three rounds. Grant worked the clinch early on, but the Brazilian defended well against the cage. After a quick scramble, Grant secured the top position and transitioned to side control seconds before the round had ended. Grant gained side control again in the second and landed some punches and elbows in a crucifix-like position. The Canadian quickly went for the takedown in the third but got caught in a guillotine choke. The choke was not fully sunk in and Grant was able to pop his head out. Prater’s back was then exposed and Grant went in for a rear naked choke and later, an arm bar, but to no avail. In the end, Grant’s superior work rate and dominant grappling earned him the unanimous nod. Scores were 30-27 (3x).
MCKENZIE STUNS LEVESSEUR
The anticipated UFC debut of former NCAA standout Marcus LeVesseur (21-6) turned out to be disastrous as Cody McKenzie (13-2) survived a furious onslaught in the opening minutes before turning the tide to claim victory in the first round. A determined McKenzie charged across the cage as soon as the bout began, but LeVesseur demonstrated his wrestling prowess with an immediate takedown to retaliate. Levesseur also displayed quickness on his feet, tagging his awkward foe with hard shots and got on top before going for a modified guillotine choke. McKenzie weathered the storm and moved to full guard and locked in a guillotine of his own, forcing the former unbeaten four time NCAA champion to tap.
‘He was really strong. It’s a fight. I kind of blacked out. ‘, said the jubilant McKenzie in the post fight interview.
AMATEUR STAR TOKA KAHN-CLARY SIGNS WITH TOP RANK PRO DEBUT SET FOR JUNE 8 AT HARD ROCK
LAS VEGAS, NEV. (May 15, 2012) – Top Rank announced today the signing of amateur sensation TOKA KAHN-CLARY, from Providence, Rhode Island. Kahn-Clary, 20, who boasts speed, power and a “pro style of fighting” is trained by Peter Manfredo Sr. and managed by Mike Criscio, who discovered and managed light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson. Kahn-Cary will make his pro debut, as a junior lightweight, on Friday, June 8, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, on a card headlined by the Kelly Pavlik vs. Scott Sigmon super middleweight bout.
“Everyone at Top Rank is excited and what a great way for Toka to start, fighting on the Kelly Pavlik card at the Hard Rock,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
“Toka is a top prospect who is the real deal. He throws a lot of punches and hits hard,” said Bruce Trampler, Top Rank’s Hall of Fame matchmaker.
Manfredo added, “Toka is the best I’ve seen at our gym in 35 years – and I’ve seen a lot of fighters. He has speed, skill, tremendous combinations and a big heart.”
A native of Liberia, Kahn-Cary moved to Philadelphia when he was six, where he was soon orphaned, losing his father in a shooting that same year. He made his way to Pawtucket, RI, where life was not any easier, but eventually he was taken under the wings of Andrea Watson, her husband Ron Clary and Manfredo. Those three and boxing proved to be Kahn-Clary’s salvation. As an amateur, Toka was a Gold medalist at the National Golden Gloves (2010), a Silver medalist at the U.S. Championships (2011), and a Bronze medalist at the U.S. National Championships (2012, 2010.)
Streaming live on GoFightLive.tv Battle of the Badges 4 FDNY vs. N.E. Law Enforcement Saturday at Foxwoods Resorts Casino
MASHANTUCKET, CT (May 15, 2012) – “Battle of the Badges 4″ spokesman Dennis Marrese announced today that Saturday night’s amateur boxing show, featuring the nationally-acclaimed New York City Fire Department Boxing Team (”FDNY”) against a New England Law Enforcement (”Team N.E.”) squad, will air on GoFightLive.tv live from Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
“Battle of the Badges 4″ (”BOB4″) is presented by National Public Safety Athletic League (”NPSAL”) in association with the FDNY Boxing Bravest, Mass Corrections Officers Federated Union Boxing Team (MCOFU) and Foxwoods Resort Casino. Defending champion Team N.E. trails FDNY in the series, 2-1.
Viewers may watch by going online to:
http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Battle_Of_The_Badges_4_FDNY_vs_New_England/1507
Hermis Yannis Hawks Media), a popular radio show host in Worcester (MA), will handle the blow-by-blow action from ringside. Providing color commentary is “Iceman” John Scully, the former IBF and IBO world light heavyweight title challenger, who as is chief second for WBC World Light Heavyweight Champion “Bad” Chad Dawson.
“We wanted to give people who are unable to attend the event for whatever reason an opportunity to watch the action and root for their family members, friends, favorite team and causes,” Marrese said. “All profits will go towards the worthy charities this unique and entertaining event is supporting.”
A Who’s Who list of entertainment and sports celebrities are scheduled to be on hand supporting the fundraiser, including former world champion boxers John “The Quietman” Ruiz, Tony “The Pride of Fleet” Street” DeMarco, Vito Antuofermo Jose Antonio “El Gallo” Rivera, and Peter Manfredo, Jr.
Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi, who owns three Super Bowl rings, will be in the house with his family. He has three brothers that are members of the FDNY who responded to the 9/11/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Joe is a cancer survivor who established the Joe Andruzzi Foundation.
Also making BOB4 appearances are comedian Lenny Clarke, singer James Massone, who competed in the television show, “The Voice,” as well as WCVB (#5) newscaster in Boston, Michelle McPhee. The world renowned FDNY bagpipers will also be involved in festivities.
Proceeds from Saturday’s charitable event will benefit Work Vessels For Veterans, NPSAL and FDNY Boxing Bravest Team. More than a dozen matches are scheduled pitting FDNY against Team New England, which is primarily comprised of MCOFU boxers.
Tickets, priced at $30.00 (general admission), $50.00 (reserved seating) and $100.00 (VIP/Ringside), are available to purchase at the Foxwoods Box Office, on line at www.foxwoods.com or www.Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-855-660-6606 04 1-800.200.2882, or at any Ticketmaster outlet.
Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET with the first match scheduled to start at 7:30 PM/ET.
Go to www.BattleoftheBadges.info or www.foxwoods.com for additional information.
NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY ATHLETIC LEAGUE: “NPSAL” is committed to fundraising and promoting efficient techniques to promote recreation and sport/physical activities for youths and adults for the purpose of maintaining a healthy and positive lifestyle.
FDNY BRAVEST BOXING TEAM:The organization donates all funds after expenses and has already donated more than $100,000 to various charities includes The Wounded Warrior Project and Building Homes For Heroes.
WORK VESSELS FOR VETERANS: “WVFV” assists veterans returning to the United States as they being their civilian careers or continue their educational pursuits by donating to them the necessary start-up tools (laptops, vehicles, machinery, tools, commercial vessels, etc.). The organization was started in 2008 with the donation of a commercial fishing boat to a returning veteran and to date has helped more than 500 veterans in their transitions. www.wvfv.org
„Nothing is impossible“ – Konstantin Airich ready to upset Odlanier Solis this Saturday (May 19th) in Pharr, Texas
IBF #12, WBO #11 rated heavyweight Konstantin Airich arrived in the United States yesterday to adjust to time and weather conditions for his IBF intercontinental championship bout against Odlanier Solis this Saturday (May 19th) at the Convention Center in Pharr (Texas).
Airich and his trainer, former German national coach Hans-Juergen Witte, flew from Germany to Miami where they conclude their preparation for the Solis fight with a couple of lighter training sessions before heading to McAllen International airport on Thursday.
Airich (23-5-2, 17 KOs) is the big underdog against 2004 Olympic gold medalist and multiple times world amateur champion Odlanier Solis (17-1, 12 KOs).
“I know that Solis is an excellent fighter”, says Airich. “But I also know what I’m capable of. I have surely not come to the United States just to hand over my belt to him. I know that there is always a chance and I am willing to take it.”
When working out in Miami Airich wore a t-shirt stating “Nothing is impossible” which might as well be his motto for this fight. “Anything can happen in a boxing ring”, adds Airich. “Especially in the heavyweight division one single punch can decide a fight at any time. I consider Solis one of the best fighters in the world today but being the best fighter doesn’t help you when you lie flat on the ground.”
The German “Sandman” himself is considered to be one of the hardest punchers in the world. He is a regular sparring partner for both Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko and is coming off two impressive KO wins over Varol Vekiloglu and Ondrej Pala.
“Being the underdog makes things even easier for Konstantin”, says his coach Witte. “Nobody expected him to beat Pala – but he did. Now nobody expects him to beat Solis. So he can enter this fight without any pressure. But one thing is for certain: Solis is a complete boxer. With all his amateur merits, his technical and tactical abilities we are surely not here to outbox him and win by decision. Konstantin knows what he has to do: We will go for the knockout.”
For Solis the fight against Airich will be his comeback after a 14 months layoff due to the bad knee injury he suffered when challenging WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko for the world title in March 2011 in Cologne, Germany. The Miami based Cuban suffered a cruciate ligament rupture at the end of the first round in which Solis had landed more clean shots on Klitschko than the champion had to take in all his other fights combined since coming out of retirement in 2008.
“In this first two and a half minutes against Klitschko Solis proved that he is probably the only fighter out there who can actually beat both Klitschko brothers”, states promoter Ahmet Oner. “Solis is an exceptional talent and as long as he stays healthy he will surely become world heavyweight champion. But as we all know styles make fights. And Airich is a hard puncher, has a great work ethic and strong willpower. He has worked very hard to get to where he is right now. This will clearly be no walk in the park for Solis. I am looking forward to an exciting fight.”
Attached: Pictures of Konstantin Airich with his coach Hans Juergen Witte training in Miami (all photos: ARENA / free for use)
Flyin’ under the radar
Irish cruiserweight Wilson ready to make his mark next week in New England debut
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (May 15, 2012) – Mike Wilson has spanned the globe from Texas all the way to Australia searching for his golden opportunity.
The 6-foot-3 Irish cruiserweight from Medford, Oreg., whose grandparents were born and raised in County Cork, Ireland, may have finally found it 3,000 miles east in the heart of New England’s booming boxing community.
Wilson (5-0, 3 KOs) has joined forces with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports in Providence, R.I., and will make his New England debut Thursday, May 24th, 2012 when he faces veteran Joseph Rabotte (11-20-1) in a four-round bout on the undercard of Burchfield’s “Up For Grabs” show at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln.
“I’m the best-kept secret on this show. You’ll be wondering, ‘Damn, where did he come from?’” Wilson said. “I’ve flown under the radar for years coming from Oregon. I just needed an opportunity, and it looks like it’s finally coming my way.”
“The Irish have a tradition of being warriors, especially when they’re ancestors come from Ireland,” Burchfield added. “That’s how you know they’re really Irish! We’re honored to have Mike on this card, and we’re excited to watch him develop into a championship-caliber fighter while proudly representing boxing’s storied history within the Irish-American community.”
Wilson linked up with Burchfield through his manager, Bob Spagnola, whom Burchfield describes as a “dear friend.”
“Knowing Mike was represented by Bob was enough for me,” Burchfield said.
A Texas native, Spagnola first met Wilson at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Houston. At the time, Wilson was a 24-year-old super heavyweight with three United States National Amateur titles under his belt looking for one last shot at Olympic glory (he came within one fight of qualifying for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece).
“He had great amateur credentials,” Spagnola said. “A lot of people were after him.”
Unfortunately for Wilson, he and Spagnola could not strike a deal, so after Wilson lost to Kimdo Bethel in the loser’s bracket finals, he signed with Tennessee-based manager Chris Rowland, who guided him to four wins – three by knockout – within the first three months of his professional career.
“All of a sudden, I couldn’t get in touch with [Rowland] for a few months,” Wilson said. “Then the stipends stopped coming. I’m thinking to myself, ‘What the hell is going on?’”
Turns out Rowland had problems of his own; he was indicted in November of 2009 on federal money-laundering charges, just one month after Wilson’s fourth bout, leaving the promising, young heavyweight without a manager (Rowland was later sentenced to 28 months in federal prison in 2011).
He and Spagnola reconnected shortly after Wilson’s fifth bout – a unanimous-decision win over Jae Bryce in Australia – and Spagnola worked quickly to pitch Wilson to a promoter who could bring his career to new heights.
“I told Jimmy, ‘Listen, this kid is worth working on,’” Spagnola said. “All he needed was an opportunity, and with the way this business has changed in this economy, everyone knows those opportunities are few and far in between.
“A guy like Jimmy, with the way he works, will get this kid the opportunity he deserves.”
Wilson’s long-term goal is to drop from heavyweight, where he fought his first five fights, to cruiserweight, where he’ll fight on the 24th, and eventually win a world title in that weight class before bulking back up to heavyweight. The decision to shed the weight stemmed from an inadvertent lifestyle change two years ago.
“When I first turned pro, I worked my ass off in the gym, but I liked to play hard, too,” Wilson said. “I liked to hang out with friends and drink a few beers. One night, I got arrested for [driving under the influence] and had to spend two weeks in jail.
“I’m sitting there with these people thinking, ‘This is where drinking got me. I’m done with it!’”
Once he stopped drinking, Wilson trimmed down to 200 pounds and soon realized he was a more natural fit at cruiserweight despite more than 15 years of experience in the heavyweight division.
“This is where I should’ve been all that time,” he said. “I was always a small heavyweight fighting bigger guys. Now I’m a big cruiserweight fighting smaller guys.”
Wilson hopes to draw from the experiences of Tomasz Adamek, Evander Holyfield and Marco Huck, who each won world titles as cruiserweights before making the leap to heavyweight – the most successful being Holyfield, who went on to become the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion just two years after winning his last cruiserweight title.
“That’s logistically the easiest way to do it,” Wilson said. “The money’s not great at cruiserweight, but you can get a title shot, and then you’re already in the Top 10 when you move up to heavyweight.
“I followed Adamek and Huck when they went up, but their styles didn’t fit at heavyweight. Huck is more of a brawler – too small. Me, I’m more of a boxer. I like to box. I like to use my length and reach. Adamek, he has that fighter’s heart and mentality, but sometimes those heavyweights are too damn big to bang with.
“That won’t be a problem for me as long as I bring the weight with me. I plan on doing it the right way.”
Wilson has flown under the radar fighting out of Oregon – “There’s really no boxing in the northwest,” Spagnola said – but his amateur background is unrivaled by that of most fighters his age. A self-described “fat kid” growing up, he began boxing at 13 when he joined a newly-opened gym in Medford.
“Boxing had always interested me, and when this gym opened I tried getting a few of my friends to join with me, but none of them had the balls to do it,” Wilson said. “My mom got tired of me talking about it, so she brought me there one day without me knowing and told me, ‘Go inside and sign up.’
“She tricked me, but it worked.”
Boxing soon became an outlet for Wilson to travel the country, a luxury he couldn’t afford growing up since his family had little money. He soared to the top of the super heavyweight division within seven years, capturing the first of three consecutive U.S. National Amateur championships in 2004 (he was later stripped of his 2006 title after testing positive for marijuana, an incident Wilson said is, “in my rearview mirror now”). Later in ‘04, he narrowly missed qualifying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team when he lost to Providence’s Jason Estrada in the finals.
“At first, I took a lot of things for granted and didn’t always want to train because I’d rather be hanging with my friends,” Wilson said, “but I eventually kind of just woke up and thought, ‘If I’m going to do something with this, I better start now.’”
Following a one-point loss to Michael Hunter, this year’s Olympic qualifier in the heavyweight division, in the 2007 National finals and his subsequent loss to Bethel in the ’08 Olympic trials, Wilson finally made his professional debut in August of 2009.
Through trials and tribulations – stemming from both bad luck and poor decision-making – Wilson has finally landed with the right manager and promoter. Coming soon to an arena near you, “Irish” Mike is ready to state his case as boxing’s best-kept secret.
“I firmly believe everything happens for a reason,” Wilson said. “Sometimes when you starve for so long, it makes you hungry. You’ve got to go through struggles to appreciate things. All I want is one opportunity, and it seems like it’s finally falling into my lap now. I’m going to make the most of it.”
The eight-round main event of “Up For Grabs” features Vladine Biosse (12-1-1, 6 KOs), dubbed “Mr. Providence” due to his strong following in Rhode Island’s capital city, defending his New England Super Middleweight Title against Providence’s Joey “K.O. Kid” Spina (26-2-2, 18 KOs). Unbeaten Burlington, Vt., super middleweight Kevin Cobbs (3-0, 1 KO) will face veteran Borngod Washington (3-10, 1 KO) of Queens, N.Y., in a four-round bout while unbeaten middleweight Thomas Falowo (6-0, 4 KOs) faces La Vista, Neb., native Sean Rawley Wilson (5-10, 1 KO) in a six-round bout.
Super lightweight Zack Ramsey, a former national amateur champion from Springfield, Mass., will make his long-awaited debut against Providence’s Alan Beeman (0-1), while fan-favorite Richard “Bobo The Bull” Starnino (9-7-2, 2 KOs) of Providence will now face Harwich, Mass., native Paul Gonsalves (3-2, 3 KOs) in a six-round light heavyweight bout.
“Up For Grabs” also features the return of former reality television star Richard Gingras (11-2, 7 KOs) of “The Contender,” who, after signing a promotional agreement with Classic Entertainment & Sports, will battle Terrance Smith Jr. (7-13-2, 4 KOs) of Oklahoma City in the six-round cruiserweight special attraction. Female bantamweight Shelito Vincent (2-0) of Providence will battle newcomer Carmen Cruz of Fort Myers, Fla., in a four-round bout.
Tickets for “Up For Grabs” are $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Up For Grabs.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance.)
HEAVYWEIGHT MIKE MOLLO SEES BIG OPPORTUNITY THIS FRIDAY AGAINST LAWRENCE –WATCH LIVE ON GFL
CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
CHICAGO, IL (May 14, 2012)—This Friday night two Heavyweights will slug it out in Dover, Delaware will slug it out as Franklin “Yah Yah” Lawrence (17-2-2, 12 KO’s) takes on Mike Mollo (20-3-1, 12 KO’s) for the vacant NABA title.
The bout can be seen over the world on www.gfl.tv ($9.99) by clicking: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Friday_Night_Fights/1487
Mollo has been training hard for this bout as the Chicago native knows the importance of the bout.
“Not only am I going to win but I will win in spectacular fashion. I have been putting in the hard work and have been in training camp for ten weeks”, said Mollo from his training camp in Chicago.
Mollo does not put much stock in the five fight knockout streak that Lawrence is on that has catapulted to the number-twelve ranking by the WBC.
“He beat an out shape Jason Gavern and Jason Estrada. He has gotten off easy in those fights and if he wants to live off that then he is fooling himself”
Mollo is most remembered for gallant effort against Andrew Golota as part of the Roy Jones – Felix Trinidad HBO PPV undercard on January 19, 2008 and knows what the win will do for his career.
“This fight will get me back in the spotlight and I am not looking to squeak by with a decision”
Mollo, who hasn’t fought since August 6, 2010 has been training hard to make sure he is primed and ready for Lawrence.
“I spar like it is a real fight and this long layoff doesn’t mean anything because I am always in the gym. I was training for a fight last summer with Seth Mitchell on HBO and the fight got called off due to Robert Guerrero getting hurt and I would like to fight him if it’s the right situation. I am a fighter”
“This fight with Lawrence begins my road to redemption. I am in great shape and I am ready to fight”
The action begins on www.gfl.tv at 7:30 pm with Mike Mittman calling the action with analysts Legendary Heavyweight champion Larry Holmes and Marc Abrams.
About GFL
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- U.S. female boxer Esparza qualifies for London May 16, 2012Flyweight Marlen Esparza has become the first American female boxer to qualify for the London Olympics. […]Associated Press
- Peterson to present case, asks for Nev. license May 15, 2012Junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson will seek a Nevada boxing license despite his admission that he took a banned substance, which forced the cancellation of his rematch with Amir Khan. […]Dan Rafael
- Taylor qualifies for women's boxing at Games May 15, 2012Three-time world champion Katie Taylor of Ireland qualified for the London Olympics women's boxing, defeating Saida Khassenova of Kazakhstan 20-8 in the 132-pound class at the world championships on Tuesday. […]Associated Press
- Peterson fallout spurs Golden Boy to shift card May 15, 2012Golden Boy Promotions said Monday it has decided against putting on a June 30 Showtime card in Washington, D.C., because of the continuing fallout from the Lamont Peterson failed drug test. […]Dan Rafael
- Boxer Casal recovering after being attacked May 14, 2012The father of light welterweight boxer Nick Casal considers his son lucky to be alive after sustaining several deep cuts to his head in an attack last weekend. […]Associated Press
- Margarito forced to postpone fight due to injury May 14, 2012An Achilles injury has forced former welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito to postpone a return to the ring that had been planned for May 26 in Tucson, Ariz. […]Dan Rafael
- USA Boxing sending nine to compete in London May 12, 2012Six more American boxers have qualified for the Olympics with winning performances at a qualifying tournament in Brazil, allowing USA Boxing to send an impressive nine fighters to the London Games. […]Associated Press
- Pacquiao condemns critics' anti-gay allegations May 16, 2012
