ARTICLES OF LOCAL INTEREST

SADAM ALI BOXING & FITNESS CENTER GRAND OPENING

Featuring Open Workout with Ali and 7/16 Undercard Fighters and Meet & Greet with Zab “ Super” Judah

This Saturday, July 10^th in Brooklyn, NY, Sadam “World Kid” Ali will host the Grand Opening of his “Sadam Ali Boxing & Fitness Center”. Media and the public are welcome to attend this big event.

Festivities will begin at 1:00pm. Zab Judah will be there to promote his friend Ali’s venture. Both fighters will be available for media interviews and a public meet and greet. Many other boxing professionals intend to show support also, including Mark Breland and Paulie Malinaggi.

There will be boxing workouts open to the public, featuring Sadam Ali and fighters on the July 16^th Zab Judah vs. Jose Armando Santa Cruz undercard: Adam Kownacki and Nicky DeMarco.

Ali said “ I am so excited about opening this gym. I have an opportunity to give back to my community. We are located in the heart of Bayridge and this will be a great place for neighborhood kids to get fit, learn about boxing and martial arts. Memberships will be reasonable and trainers will be available at no additional charge for amateurs.” He added, “I am so pleased that some of the fighters on the July 16^th card will workout at my grand opening. I appreciate the support.”

Sadam Ali personally committed to give 10% off any tickets sold for the July 16^th Brick City Boxing Series Show during the Grand Opening from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. He will also raffle off 4 Tickets to the show at 4pm during the Grand Opening.

The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 2pm. Workouts will begin at 2:30pm.

BOX NYC HELPS CHARITY WITH BOXING EVENT

By Denis Nolan

April 16, 2010: Promoter Jed Weinstein and matchmaker Jim Borzell showed they have their priorities straight in putting on a Thursday night boxing show at Roseland Ballroom in NYC as part of a multi-event night for Bridge The Gap charity foundation which aids East Harlem High School students with funds for college over a four year period.

Besides the four bout boxing card, there was a Charity Poker tournament, gourmet dinner, raffle, and silent auction all to bring in funds for the cause.

In the main event Will Rosinsky, Queens NY, fighting in his first main event of his short career outwilled and outscored touch hombre Ariel Espinal, Brooklyn NY, over the 8 round distance at cruiserweight. Scores were 80-72 by all three judges in a fight that was not as one-sided as the scores indicated. Espinal loaded up early and often with a strong right hand that landed well at times against the now 11-0 (6) former Golden Glove champ but could not do it consistently enough to garner even a single round on the cards. Rosinsky used his speed and power to battle Espinal in the trenches and only move to the outside to change the flow of the bout. In the fourth Will started boxing more and Espinal had his best round in the fifth but it was not enough to even win the round. Will had his best round in the sixth and Espinal was wobbly in dire straights by round end. Espinal seemed more worn down in the seventh and eighth and as the bell sounded to end the fight kicked at Rosinsky which started a mini-melee in the ring that was quelled quickly. It was the reaction of a frustrated opponent who realized the decision would not be going his way. Espinal who is better than his record indicates falls to 8-13-3 with 3 KO’s.

Rosinsky (R) and Espinal butt heads last night's main event at Roseland, but Will took control and came away with decision.

Photo TRUFANBOXING

The semi-main featured an interesting match between veteran heavyweights Newark NJ’s Maurice Harris on the comeback trail and Philly trialhorse Robert Hawkins. Harris who gained a measure of fame way back when he narrowly lost to ex-world champ Larry Holmes at MSG and then stopped future WBO heavy champ Sergei Liakhovich in Atlantic City, had more in the tank at this point than Hawkins and won a unanimous nod with scores of 80-72 twice and 78-74.

Harris, by far the taller of the two, used that height and reach well, fighting his relaxed casual style that has been his trademark since he started his career 18 years ago. Hawkins could not get inside to do any damage or score the points needed to win this contest although he never stopped trying to land the big left hook and heavy right hand. Harris displayed his good boxing skills throughout and now has won three in a row on the comeback trail. He moves to 23-14-2 (10) in a career laden with tough opponents when he was overmatched early in his career.

Hawkins drops to 23-15 with 7 stoppages and the former popular television fighter appears to be near the end.

In the best fight of the night underdog Elton Dharry, Brooklyn NY upset the applecart in being awarded the majority nod over 10-3-4 (6) Eilon “No No’ Kedem, Brooklyn NY via Israel, in a scintillating six rounder. It was well deserved as I had Dharry up 58-56 and judges came in at 59-54, 59-55, and 57-57. A good fifth round where both let their hands fly was followed by an even better sixth when both gave their all and had the fans standing and cheering. Both corners lifted their man and paraded him around the ring in triumph before the decision was announced but Dharry had the better of the outside fighting controlling with a well-placed jab, solid followup right and only had problems when Kedem got close to him. Kedem ended up with a bloody nose and swollen face and eyes for his efforts. This was at junior featherweight.

In the opener Ramadan ‘Holy Man’ Yasser of New York via Egypt, dismantled hapless southpaw Patrick Johnson, Kokomo IN, at just 2:16 of the very first round. A four punch combo sent Johnson down the first time falling forward and upon rising he was floored with a big right hand which sent him down hard. He arose only to display to referee Wayne Kelly he was not all that interested in continuing and it was waved off. Yasser weighing 204 lbs. moves to 2-0 with 2 stoppages and winless Johnson, 196 lbs., falls to 0-3.

It was a packed house both downstairs where the tables of ten were full, as was the balcony where the fans only there for the fights were concentrated. I look forward to the next show and Mr.’s Weinstein and Borzell should be commended for a fine event.

SLUGFEST IN THE HEART OF NEW YORK CITY

TRUFANBOXING APRIL 31st

MARTINEZ STOPS PREVIOUSLY UNBEATEN TORRES

It was slugfest time at BB Kings in the heart of New York City last night, and it was a card that produced an upset in the main event as previously unbeaten Joelo Torres (11-1, 7KO's) was Ko'd in the 8th by journeyman Leo Martinez (15-12 7 KO'S) You can't blame Torres however, as Martinez seemed eager from the opening bell and dictated the bout throughout, landing power shots in the trenches that eventually led to his opponents downfall. It seemed that experience was an important factor, and it proved that an "opponent" can come up with the "Joker's Wild Card" and pull off the trick.

THE BIG SIX ROUND WAR

In a six round jr welterweight war, Winton Mathis (6-1) traveled all the way from Rochester NY to test fellow unbeaten Gabe Bracero (9-0), and the bout when according to script as the two slugged in out for the first four rounds. Bracero suffered a cut to his right eye midway through the bout but it didn't seem to affect his vision as he came on strong in the last two rounds to gain a convincing decision.

BATTLE OF HEAVYWEIGHTS

Tor Hammer ( 11-0, 8 KO's) used all his experience to outslug Alexis Meijas ((10-4, 4KO's) over six rounds. Meijas was was floored briefly but it was more flash than substance. Hammer now seems ready for the eight rounders, and after this victory it will be interesting to see what he can do in the next stage of his career.

DOUGHLIN, "FIRE", BENSON ALL VICTORIOUS

Former amateur standout 154lb Dennis Doughlin wasted little time in stopping Chad Greenleaf in the first round of a scheduled six rounder. Doughlin improved to 8-0, with 4 KO's . . . Keisha "Fire" Mcleod-Wells or simply "Fire" took on an unbeaten opponent from Sonora Mexico in a four round contest she did not disappoint - earning her third victory in four bouts . . . Super middleweight Phil Jackson Benson upped hi record to 5-1, 4 KO's with a strong four round performance over Bronx veteran Victor Paz ( 9-9, 1 KO)

JLM

GOLDEN GLOVES BOXING LANDS BACK IN MASONIC TEMPLE, BROOKLYN

The Golden Gloves returns to the Masonic Temple in Brooklyn February 25th, with the first bout beginning at 7:30PM.

The ticket price is $25 per person.

Some of the best amateur boxers in New York City will be on tap and both male and Female boxers will be on the card this evening.

The Masonic Temple is located at 317 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11225.

JLM

GAMBOA AND LOPEZ SET THE STAGE

- Ron Ross

- January 24, 2010

Yuriorkis Gamboa is not a guy to share center stage with. There are candles and there are high wattage light fixtures, there are sparrows and there are hawks, there are minnows and there are piranhas and there are featherweight fighters and there is Yuriorkis Gamboa. He simply can’t help grabbing the spotlight

So electrifying was Gamboa’s performance at the Theater at Madison Square Garden tonight that he has elevated himself in the minds of many to a level of super-stardom.

His total demolition of Rogers Mtagwa, who fought Juan Manuel Lopez down to the wire a little over three months ago, losing a decision that was unpopular in the minds of many, evoked memories of some of the all-time great featherweights. Combining lightning fast hand speed with athletic dexterity and elusiveness plus pulverizing punching power, Gamboa stopped the Tanzanian tough guy in 2:35 of the second round, retaining his WBA featherweight title.

Outpunching Mtagwa while eluding whatever he threw back at him, Gamboa nailed him with a right high on the head that dropped him near the end of the opening round. He continued battering Mtagwa, hurting him frequently in the second round, dropping him with a left midway through the round. When Mtagwa pulled himself up he tried fighting back but it was simply no contest as Gamboa slipped everything thrown at him while countering with an assortment of lefts and rights that had Mtagwa staggering and reeling. It was a solid left hook to the body and a four-punch volley to the head that finished Mtagwa off as the crowd watched in amazement at the controlled savagery of Gamboa’s attack.

Juan Manuel Lopez followed with a very convincing and workmanlike performance in capturing the WBO featherweight title with his seventh round TKO victory over Steven Luevano, which probably would have captivated the crowd on Friday night, Thursday night or any other night of the week but on this Saturday night Lopez was strictly a second banana to a shooting star called Gamboa.

However, top billing will be up for grabs if these cream of the crop battlers go head-to-head. Hopefully, a contract for the fight will be signed soon – by February, March or April. You can’t depend on May weather for making mega fights.

“New Year, New Stars” in Yonkers

O’Shea Brothers Boxing Jan. 15

YONKERS, N.Y. (Dec. 28, 2009) – O’Shea Bros. Boxing Promotions kicks-off its 2010 schedule January 15, featuring many of New York’s top young fighters in action on the “New Year, New Stars” pro boxing card, at the Yonkers PAL Gym.

“Our goal is to bring old-school boxing back to the fans,” promoter Brian O’Shea explained. “We have some of the best young local fighters on this card in real fights. We don’t want protected fighters trying to build-up their records. Some guys are stepping up in terms of the level of talent they’re in the ring with and those just starting their pro careers are fighting opponents of equal talent, from rival or even the same neighborhoods in some cases, just like in the old days.”

The 8-round main event pits Bronx welterweight Jose Angel “Silver Boy” Rodriguez (14-1-1, 2 KOs) against battled-tested veteran David Toribio (16-12, 10 KOs), who has proven to be an upset specialist having beaten previously unbeaten prospects (11-0) Juan Camilio Novoa (TKO1) and (14-0-2) Ishmail Arvin (DEC8). Toribio has also been in against the likes of James Kirkland, Oscar Diaz, Daniel Edouard and Marco Antonio Rubio, among the more notables.

The 6-round co-feature showcases undefeated African welterweight Issouf Kinda (6-0, 3 KOs), now fighting out of Harlem, versus dangerous Dominican slugger Franklin Gonzalez (13-3, 10 KOs).

On the undercard in 4-round bouts are Bronx bantamweight Raul Lopez (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Alex Nonte (1-0, 0 KOs), New Rochelle super flyweight Jose “Chilli” Rivera (1-0, 0 KOs) vs. pro debuting Miguel Diaz, Bronx featherweight Nydia Feliciano (1-0-1, 0 KOs) vs. pro debuting Norma Faris, 2-time New York Golden Gloves champion Adam Kownacki (1-0, 1 KO), fighting out of the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, vs. Bronx heavyweight Abdighano Bousman in his pro debut; Manhattan super featherweights Takeshi Sato (0-1) and Jonathan Cuba (1-1, 1 KO), Yonkers hometown favorite Chazz McDowell makes his pro debut against Bronx featherweight Alex Cooper (0-2).

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $40.00, $60.00 and $100.00 (includes dinner), are available to purchase by calling 914.216.9381. For more information go on line at www.osheabrosboxing.com or call 914.216.9381. Doors open 6:30 PM/ET, first bout 7:30 PM/ET.