LAS VEGAS ROUNDUP

Holyfield stops Botha in 8th

 

LAS VEGAS (April 10, 2010) – Hall of Fame-bound Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield added the World Boxing Federation heavyweight title belt to his overcrowded trophy case, stopping defending champion Frans “The White Buffalo” Botha in the 8^th round last night in the main event on “The Legend Returns” card, promoted by Crown Boxing, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Botha (47-5-3, 28 KOs) came out throwing bombs for the first five rounds, buzzing Holyfield (43-10-2, 27 KOs) a few times. Holyfield came on strong at the end of the fifth, taking full control of the fight in the sixth and seventh by throwing letting his hands go and throwing effective combinations.

 

In the eighth round, Holyfield dropped Botha with a right hand and when a damaged Botha got to his feet, Evander overwhelmed his South African opponent until referee Russell Mora called an end to the fight.

 

“He is a very good defensive fighter,” Holyfield said after the fight. “He’s a smart fighter, too. His right hand had a lot of power and he’s also a very quick big man. I gave myself a 7. I can get better. I’d been off a long time and I know I can get better. I want to come back very soon.”

 

“Evander is a great fighter,” Botha remarked. “He capitalized on my mistakes. I thought I had him going early. I have to go home and sit down with my team. Who knows (about his future plans)? We’ll see how he goes forward.”:

 

In the co-feature, hometown favorite Henry Namauu, 2006 National Collegiate champion at UNLV, stopped a game Rayford Johnson in the seventh round of their back-and-forth battle of tough cruiserweights. Referee Tony Weeks halted the action when Namauu unleashed a series of unanswered, power-packed punches.

 

Former IBF cruiserweight champion “King” Arthur Williams recorded his 47^th career victory, winning a unanimous 6-round decision against previously unbeaten Valente Tinajero (8-1).

 

Complete Results

 

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs), Atlanta, GA WTKO8 (2:05) Frans Botha (47-5-3, 28 KOs), Newport Beach, CA

(Holyfield wins World Boxing Federation title)

 

CRUISERWEIGHTS

Henry Namauu (6-3, 4 KOs), Las Vegas, NV    WTKO7 (2:43)  Rayford Johnson (5-5, 3 KOs), Longview, TX

Arthur Williams (47-16-1, 30 KOs), Pensacola, FL    WDEC6 (59-55, 59-55, 59-55)  Valente Tinajero (8-1, 4 KOs), Roy UT

 

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Lawrence Hughes (4-0, 3 KOs), Las Vegas, NV   DC4 (40-36, 40-36, 39-37)  Juan Alcolea (2-2, 0 KOs), Las Vegas, NV

 

FEMALE SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS

Jennifer Han (1-1-1), Tucson, AZ   WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) Crystal Hoy (3-2-2, 2 KOs), Las Vegas, NV                                        

 

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Rocco Santomauro (4-0, 0 KOs), Las Vegas, NV WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-26) Karl Hammer (1-3, 0 KOs), Clearfield, UT

 

SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS

Alexis Santiago (3-0-1, 1 KO), Phoenix, AZ   WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)     Brice Yeniki (0-5), Las Vegas, NV

       

 

Post Fight Press Conference Quotes

 

Evander Holyfield: “People talk and you act like it doesn’t bother you when they call you old and senile. I’ve been telling people since 1992 when I lost to Riddick Bowe that I was going to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I won 2 but not the third. It’s never been about money. I was brought up poor and never had anything. I was taught to have goals and to never quit.

 

“Botha gave me an opportunity. People talk about my legacy. It’s about who you’ve fought. They can’t deny me; I fight the best. I always want to fight somebody to get a little credit if I beat ‘em. When I decided to comeback it wasn’t because I’m the type that says he’s one of the best. This is a new era and I didn’t think I’d be in this era. I was laughing a little when I fought George Foreman. He was 42 and I was 29. I rally didn’t want to fight him. He didn’t beat me but he did become world champion again. What I learned from that fight was George said it wasn’t about age but that I will give my all.

 

“You can’t let people tell you what you can do. I fight because I want to. I wouldn’t be the person I am without opportunities.”  

 

Frans Botha: “I’m honored to fight in Las Vegas and to fight a great champion. Evander Holyfield is the real deal, a true champion and warrior. I can’t feel ashamed to lose to a great champion. I think he’s going to rule again. He has the skill, power and determination, everything to get that title again.”

 

-30-

 

 

 

 

 

MARTROSIAN BEATS OUMA BY UNANIMOUS DECIOSN

TRUFAN JANUARY 17, 2009

It was Vanes Martirosyan's night last night in Las Vegas, but it did not come easy against a formidable opponent in Kasim Ouma.

Ouma, who is now trained by former lightweight champ Livingstone Bramble put the pressure cooker on the unbeaten LA fighter in the early rounds, and it looked for a while that an upset may be in the making. Martirosyan however, was adjusting and began to counterpunch over Ouma's arsenal with success in the middle rounds. Martirosyan kept the lateral movement going and had a big 7th round - stopping his opponent in his tracks and causing Ouma to get defensive.

Ouma had his best round in the 9th when he scored a flash knockdown when Martirosyan's legs caught in the canvas and gave out after a good Ouma punch. Vanes bounced back up (literally) doing a forward flip as to tell the referee, Kenny Bayless, that he was far from hurt. The tenth ended with a furious onslaught from Martirosyan, who had Ouma on his heels as the bell rang.

The final tallies were 97-92, 97-93 (2X) for the Martirosyan, who remains unbeaten after  27 professional bouts. Ouma drops to 26-7 and was a good opponent for Vanes, who was forced to fight from the opening bell and had to be on his horse on all times.

 

JLM

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WILLIAMS GETS DECISION OVER MARTINEZ

   December 6, 2009 -- In a tactical all out war, it seemed on paper that "Punisher" Paul Williams did enough to get by 154lb champ Sergio Martinez to win a majority decision in Atlantic City last night. Both fighters hit the canvas in round 1.

After all the scores at the end of twelve grueling rounds read (114-114, 115-113, and "Off the Charts") in favor of Williams by Majority decision - Martinez was left holding the bag, smiling as though someone just pick-pocketed an empty wallet from his gym bag.

And really, the decision was an empty wallet compared to what the two fighters brought into the ring, and the impression they left us fans. Both gave their all, leaving nothing and giving everything. Martinez, the smaller man, had a perfect strategy to upset Williams - move in and out - punch and make your opponent miss, recoil, then set up for a counter strategy time and time again. First, it was the right hand counter that was finding the mark, then in the latter rounds, the left hook.

Give Williams credit - he kept coming, trying to to time the movement of Martinez, catching him with a few of his high punch arsenal, but Martinez was crafty enough to stay out of harms way and then throw lead rights and lefts to the body of Williams when the opportunity came.

When you have the taller boxer coming in as the aggressor and the smaller guy fighting like a taller man, you can have problems scoring the bout. Add to the mix that both are southpaws increases the disparity of how someone can judge a fight of contrasting styles. TRUFAN had it 115-113 Martinez.

While Williams was head-hunting, Martinez was clever enough to withstand the punch count or just move away. In the latter rounds Martinez had to take more risk inside because his legs were fading - but still connected on big shots when it counted. Where I think Martinez can claim victory was the ability to outpunch Williams to the body -  as well as consistently landing bombs off Williams head. In retrospect it is a Candidate for "Fight Of the Year."

JLM

 

 

PACMAN AFTERMATH ...

   WHERE DOES COTTO GO FROM HERE?

In a bout that saw ironic transformation of character roles, now former welterweight champion Miguel Cotto faces the prospect of being on the outside of the welterweight mix and looking on as the best try and knock off his conqueror, Manny Pacquaio.

And if you think you can't figure boxing out, join the crowd - but one thing is for sure - PacMan- Mayweather, if it happens, may be one terrific bout on paper, but a stinker inside the boxing ring. And after being derailed by the PacMan, what are the odds that Cotto will enjoy the dominance he once had in boxing?

"It's gone forever" said one boxing insider, hinting that Cotto may be better considering retirement. "He's has money, he's still young, what more do you need?" stated another source in the game.

And if Cotto wasn't damaged goods as many hinted before the bout, he may be now. The only thing remaining for the ex-champ may be Ricky Hatton or a rematch with Shane Mosley. Hatton is also a loser in the PacMan sweepstakes and Shane is always hustling for a bout. But don't blink, if PacMan-Mayweather don't come off, you may see Shane fight Manny instead. Mosley is scheduled to defend his slice of the title against Andre Berto in January.

Hatton looks like he does not want to fight anymore and there is a possibility of a rematch with Margarito. But will Cotto be willing to step in with a high caliber fighter, a fighter who brutally KO'd him, after a devastating defeat?  The answer is likely No. So it leaves the Puerto Rican with little option - but a bout that may be possible in the middle of next year, at Madison Square Garden, may be hard luck Louie Collazo, a New Yorker who brings a puzzling southpaw style to the table. Other than that, the big bouts for Miguel Cotto may be done. 

JLM

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALLAN GREEN CALLS OUT BUTE AND FROCH

 (April 29, 2009) With Allan “Sweetness” Green’s dazzling second-round knockout over Carlos De Leon Jr. on Saturday, he sent a message to the boxing world that he is back. Now, he has a message for the big names in the super middleweight division: Any time, any place.

 First on Green’s mind is Carl Froch, the WBC champion who successfully defended his title with a dramatic 12th-round knockout over Jermain Taylor in Saturday night’s main event.

 And since Froch traveled to America to fight Taylor, Green has no qualms about going to Froch’s homeland of Great Britain for a shot at the championship.

“No disrespect to Carl Froch, but I want that WBC title,” said Green (28-1, 20 KOs). “It's the title many of the greats I watched growing up held, and since both he and I took care of business last weekend, now the stage is set. He just made his big splash in America and I'm more than ready to make my mark in England.” 

However, if a fight with Froch can’t be made immediately, Green has no intentions of waiting for him.

 Undefeated IBF champion Lucian Bute was ringside at the MGM Theatre at Foxwoods on Saturday night, and Green is quite sure Bute took notice of his performance.

 “If Froch has other less challenging plans, hopefully Lucian Bute has a closer view of my fists than his front row seat offered him last weekend,” said Green.

 If neither of those title fights can be worked out, Green has yet another plan: a fight with former welterweight champion turned middleweight contender Paul Williams.

 After his win over Winky Wright, Williams called out light heavyweight Joe Calzaghe, who called it a career after his win over Roy Jones Jr. last November.

 Calling out the retired Calzaghe left Green unimpressed and ready to give Williams a reason to not bypass the super middleweight division so quickly.

 “If a title fight has to get put on hold for whatever reason they might try to come up with, I want Paul Williams,” said Green. “The self proclaimed most feared man in boxing calls out retired light heavyweights, but if he realistically sees himself at 175 pounds soon, make a pit stop at 168 before you fights Joe Calzaghe, Bob Foster or Archie Moore.” 

Whether it is Froch, Bute, or Williams, the only thing on Allan Green’s mind is getting his shot at glory, and he doesn’t care where he has to go to do it. 

“Canada?  England? My passport is ready to be stamped and I'm ready to become champ.”

 

 

 

 

 

Manfredo stops Smichet in 7th

 

MONTREAL (April 18, 2009) – Former world title challenger Peter Manfredo, Jr. knocked out tough Tunisian veteran Walid “Tempete de Sable” Smichet in the seventh round of today’s scheduled 10-round co-feature at Montreal Casino

 

The 28-year-old Manfredo (32-6, 16 KOs), star of The Contender, Season I, got his career back on the right track with a strong performance against Smichet (20-6-3, 14 KOs), who had been knocked out only once in 28 prior pro fights, by Renan St. Juste in 2006. Manfredo accomplished what neither unbeaten world title contender John Duddy nor Canadian middleweight champion Sebastien Demers had been able to do in their 10 and 12 round fights, respectively, against Smichet.

 

“It was a nice win and good confidence builder,” Manfredo remarked. “I hurt him in the third and after that I knew I could hurt him anytime. He was tough, though, and came back fighting. I hurt him again in the sixth and knew that it was only a matter of time. I was bigger, stronger and better than him and proved it today, not only to the fans, but to myself. I’m a top-level performer who only had three weeks to get ready for this fight. I’m coming down to middleweight and I want Duddy. Today, I did what he couldn’t do and plan on being ringside Friday night (vs. Billy Lyell in Newark, NJ) for his fight.”

 

Manfredo recently reunited with his original promoter, Jimmy Burchfield (Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., who said after the fight, “What a victory! A war, back-and-forth action, but Peter boxed beautifully and stuck with his game plan. He hurt Smichet a number of times, picking him apart, throughout the fight. It was a devastating punch; knockout of the year candidate.”

 

Manfredo floored Smichet in the third, staggered in the sixth, and put him to sleep with a vicious left hook at the end of the seventh.

 

“A great win,” Manfredo’s manager Larry Army added. “We couldn’t be happier with his comeback fight. The middleweight division is ripe for Peter’s pickings.”

 

Go to www.cesboxing.com for more information about Classic Entertainment and Sports and Manfredo.

 

-CES-

 

 

 

 

 

MOSLEY SENSATIONAL IN STOPPING MARGARITO

                  - Ron Ross                      January 24, 2009

 

      Sugar Shane Mosley was never sweeter as he dismantled, destroyed, devastated and dethroned WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito in nine one-sided rounds before the largest crowd ever to cram into the Staples Center in Los Angeles for any event (20,820). Mosley, an already counted out 4-1 underdog taught us all a lesson. That didn’t matter. He taught Margarito a lesson. It was etched in artistry and pain. It did matter. With unbelievable hand speed and an unrelenting two-fisted barrage, he totally dominated a fighter who, off his last three convincing victories over Miguel Cotto, Kermit Cintron and Golden Johnson, was being touted as the most feared welterweight and best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

 

      Well, you know what happens when you stick a pin in a balloon. Shane Mosley had no pin but he used a pin-point right hand to let the air out of Margarito and it was a POP! heard ‘round the boxing world. As Mosley came out at the opening bell with fists blazing, many assumed it was a strategy to open the show quickly against a guy who was known to be a slow starter. Maybe it was, but Mosley never slowed his pace as be plowed into his opponent with a solid body attack, then going to the head with that lightning-fast right hand which landed with amazing consistency throughout the fight. Margarito had youth on his side, 30 to 37, but Shane Mosley turned back the clock … “I’m just a kid again, doin’ what I did again …” Only this time he did it better than ever.

 

      It wasn’t that Margarito didn’t try fighting back. He was simply overwhelmed in every exchange. Perhaps Mosley thrives on adversity. Coming off a recent break-up of his marriage, dropping his father Jack as his trainer (Dad was there rooting for him) and just settling a defamation of character lawsuit there was the concern that his head couldn’t possibly be in the fight. As it turned out, it was Margarito’s head that almost wasn’t in the fight as Mosley did everything but unhinge it from the neck it was anchored to.

 

      Following Margarito’s best round, the 7^th, which, arguably, was the only round that could have gone to the ex-champ, he tried to continue trading punches with Mosley in the eighth round. Big mistake! Mosley stormed back with a huge left hook that had the tough kid from Tiajuana – Margarito – wobbling. Mosley followed up with a powerful right and another left to the head, then a volley of punches that dropped Margarito who managed to pull himself up just before the bell sounded. There seemed to be some reluctance in his corner to send him out for the 9^th round. It was justified. He walked into a buzzsaw. For 43 seconds he absorbed the punishment until referee Raul Caiz mercifully call a halt just as Margarito’s corner threw in the towel.

 

      There will be some extended crying in their tequila tonight for the strongly pro-Margarito crowd as their favorite son, suffering his first stoppage, falls to 37-6 (27 KO’s) while Mosley’s record is now 46-5 (39 KO’s.

 

      A strange happening before the fight that might evolve into some serious future investigating: an examination of Margaritos hand wraps disclosed a hard substance that required the replacement of the wraps. Perhaps it is after-the-fact thinking, but it did seem as though the punches landed by Margarito were not nearly as effective or damaging as blows landed in prior fights. Point in case: his punches against Miguel Cotto were much more injurious and hurtlul than any blow he landed tonight.

 

To be continued …

 

 

 

 

DARCHINYAN KOS MIJARES

TO UNIFY THREE WORLD TITLE BELTS

 

SHOWTIME To Replay The Thrilling Bouts Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHO 2

 

CARSON, CALIF. (Nov. 1, 2008) – For the first time in 115-pound division history, three title belts were unified as International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan knocked out World Boxing Association (WBA)/World Boxing Council (WBC) champ Cristian Mijares Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. 

 

Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs), who had been previously known for his wild boxing style, used combinations, smart defense and polished boxing skills to control the fight and knockout the heavily favored Mijares (35-4-2, 13 KOs) in front of a largely pro-Mijares crowd at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. 

 

The fights were co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Gary Shaw Productions and KO Entertainment.

 

Entering the ninth round, Darchinyan was leading on all three judges scorecards (79-72 on all) and dictating the pace of the fight.  He scored a shocking first-round knockdown that sent Mijares to the canvas for only the second time in his accomplished career.    

 

In the closing seconds of the ninth, Darchiyan used a solid right jab to set up a devastating straight left that landed flush to Mijares’ face knocking him to the canvas.  The doctor immediately ran into the ring to attend to the fallen Mijares and the fight was called off at 3:00 of the ninth without a 10 count. 

 

“From the first round I didn’t get stupid,” Darchinyan said.  “I promised to deliver a skillful, smart fight.  I promised to destroy him and knock him out.  And I did that. 

 

“Each round I caught him with hard left hands.  Thank God nothing happened to him like what happened to (Victor) Burgos, because he too took a lot of lefts. 

 

The Armenian champion promised fans and critics leading into the fight that he would defeat Mexico’s Mijares and continue his quest to become the undisputed super flyweight champion. 

 

“To all the writers and reporters in boxing, did I keep my promise?” Darchinyan asked. “What about my pound-for-pound ranking?  Mijares was No. 6.”   

 

Mijares never seemed comfortable against the sharp Darchinyan.  The crafty Mijares, who started the fight with a smirk that Darchinyan quickly wiped away with the first-round knockdown, struggled to establish his jab and get into a rhythm.   

 

“I’m beyond disappointed,” Mijares said.  “I was supposed to use more combinations.  I was supposed to box him. 

 

“I fought with my heart and not my head.  I fell trap to his style.” 

 

In the co-feature, world ranked contender Andre Dirrell kept his perfect record in tact and continued his climb in the super middleweight rankings with a sixth round KO victory over Victor Oganov. 

 

In what was his most exciting performance as a professional, Dirrell (17-0, 12 KOs) controlled the fight from the opening bell.  The WBO No. 7 ranked contender’s hand speed proved too much for the WBO No. 6 ranked Oganov (28-2, 28 KOs), who didn’t land the solid left hooks that he needed to stop the speedy Dirrell.

 

            Entering the sixth round, Dirrell was ahead on all the scorecards and had opened a gushing cut over Oganov’s right eye.  Dirrell landed a punishing uppercut followed by a powerful right hook, forcing referee Ray Corona to end matters 28 seconds into the sixth round. 

 

“I just landed everything today,” Dirrell said.  “I knew my uppercut would be my most effective tool.  I didn’t expect him to be that strong, but I knew he couldn’t keep up with what I was throwing at him.”

 

Oganov missed wildly with many of his punches as Dirrell put on an exhibition against the previously once-beaten Oganov. 

 

“I came to do my best and tried to win with my power punches, but I waited too long,” Oganov said.  “I need more practice.  It was a good lesson, but I need to practice some more boxing skills.” 

 

Saturday’s bouts will re-air this week as follows:

 

DAY                                                                            CHANNEL

Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 11 p.m. ET/PT              SHOWTIME TOO

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND STARTING 11/04 AND ENDING 12/01