September 1931

Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson talk about the Business of Boxing   In wake of Kelly Pavlik's pulling out of a bout because of financial dispute, both Benard Hopkins and Chad Dawson  discussed the  subject with Kristal Hart.             Maurice Harris back in heavyweight picture   NEW YORK (July 20, 2011) – USBA heavyweight champion Maurice “Sugar Moe” Harris’ often tumultuous boxing career is back in a good place, after he redeemed himself last Saturday in Atlantic City, when he stopped Derric “The Shaolin Fist” Rossy in the 12thround at Resorts Casino Hotel.   Harris (25-15-2, 11 KOs) was coming off of a disappointing loss by third round to Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (36-2, 24 KOs) in May, shown live on ESPN Friday Night Fights in their IBF Box-Off.   Rossy (25-5, 14 KOs), rated No. 15 by the IBF, served as a litmus test for Harris, a 35-year-old whose major claim to fame is winning the 2002 Thunderbox Heavyweight Tournament, defeating Thompson in the $100,000 finale, as well as defeating world champion Sergei Liakhovich. The New Jersey fighter found himself at the crossroads once again, facing possible retirement if he lost to Rossy, the former Boston College football standout who had previously defeated WBO champion and 1988 Olympic gold-medal winner Ray Mercer (DEC12) and world title challenger Carl David Drummond (DEC10).   “I never looked at the fight like that,” Harris said, “only as another challenge, another fight. I don’t focus on something like that (in a career-ending fight) because I always need to focus on my opponent and our fight. I did show resiliency when I needed to win. It was a good win, one of my top five, but I was only about 70-percent of what I can really be. I hadn’t been 12 rounds since last August. I was still a little rusty. You can do that (12 rounds) in the gym but it’s not the same as in a fight. I did feel good going into the fight and afterwards.”   Harris dropped Rossy in the sixth, led by two rounds going into the 12th, and finished the show in impressive style. The veteran had worn-down Rossy and eventually trapped his tiring opponent on the ropes in the 12th, decking him again with a three-punch combination, an overhand right to the chin serving as an exclamation point. Rossy got to his feet but Harris moved in to finish him, backing Derec onto the ropes again, and unloading a four-punch combination against his defenseless opponent. Referee Earl Morton halted the action at 1:35 of the final round.   “This fight proved that Maurice’s last one was a fluke.” Harris’ promoter Mario Yagobi (Boxing 360) commented. “He couldn’t respond right after getting hit with so many illegal hits behind the head. I said that before this fight and still believed in Maurice. He was the stronger, bigger guy who showed a lot more skills than his opponent. Rossy came to win. He was in great shape, at 225 pounds, and had a six-pack stomach. Maurice showed his experience, dropping him the sixth, and finishing with a 12th round knockout. Rossy was banged up; his face had a lot of bruises and welts. From the eighth or ninth round, he looked like a beaten fighter.”   “The last two rounds were my strongest,” Harris noted. “I caught my second wind. I knew one good assault would close the deal. I hadn’t had a knockout in a long time (2002 vs. Liahkovich). I thought I had him out in the sixth, but he stayed right in there until the last round. I hit him with some good combinations. He fell and got up, but I knew he was finished.   “The Thompson fight is still in the back of my head. We’ve both won once and I’d like a third fight to settle things. I won’t get over it until we do. I wish him luck in his fights but, even if it’s sparring, I want to fight him again. He didn’t fight the best Maurice Harris but, then again, neither did Rossy.”   Because Harris, rated No. 9 by the IBF, fought an optional defense against Rossy, Maurice has a mandatory coming up against a challenger to be determined. Chazz Witherspoon is the No. 1 rated IBF challenger, followed in order by Steve Collins, Cedric Boswell, Antonio Tarver and Michael Grant.   Other members of Boxing 360’s stable include WBC #5 super bantamweight Leon “Hurry Up” Moore, former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, unbeaten welterweight prospect Vitaliy “Demyan”Demyanenko WBC Caribbean & NY State super middleweight champion Lennox “2 Sharpe” Allen, Dominican lightweight champion Eudy “AK47” Bernardo, KO king Tyrone Brunson, heavyweight Mike Mollo, unbeaten NABF featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal, middleweight prospect DonYil Livingston, Joel Diaz Jr., and “King”David Estrada.   Go to www.Boxing360.comfor more information about Harris, Boxing 360 or any of its other fighters.       ROUND 3 TREATS FANS TO SIX BOUT UNDERCARD Ocasio; Brown; Tiberi; Jenkins and the pro debut of Naim Nelson highlight ROUND 3 Undercard at Harrah’s Chester on June 3rd   By: Marc Abrams CHESTER, PA (May 25, 2011)—On Friday night June 3rd at Harrah’s in Chester, Joey Eye Boxing along with David Feldman will present ROUND 3 that will be headlined by a six round Lightweight scrap between Philadelphian’s Victor Vasquez and Gutavo Daily. Fans in attendance will be treated to a six bout undercard that will feature some of the most popular and up and coming talent in the Philadelphia. Topping the undercard will be popular Light Heavyweight Tony Ferrante of Northeast Philadelphia taking part in a six round bout against Joe Park of Florence, South Carolina. Ferrante, 26 years old, won his first nine bouts which included wins over Anthony Pietrantonio (6-1) and he won the WBF United States title with a eight round majority decision over Billy Bailey. Ferrante lost that title when he dropped a ten round unanimous decision to Chuck Mussachio (15-1-2). Ferrante will be looking to get back in the win column after he was stopped in three rounds to undefeated Ronson Frank (15-0) on January 28th The Thirty-seven year old Park of Florence, South Carolina has a respectable record of 8-5 with six knockouts and will be a good test for Ferrante as he has fought some top prospects. Park won his first four bouts via stoppage before dropping an eight round unanimous decision to undefeated Shane Benefield (11-0). After three more wins, Park lost to former world title challenger LaJuan Simon (13-0-2). Park has also fought Marcus Upshaw (3-0) and his last bout came against undefeated knockout artist Jason Escalera (5-0) where Park was stopped in three rounds back on June 25th, 2009. In a four round Lightweight bout, undefeated Lightweight Angel Ocasio will see action against Randolph Scott. Ocasio, twenty-one years old of Philadelphia, has a record of 4-0 with one knockout is coming off an impressive four round unanimous decision over George Santiago as part of ROUND 2 that took place on March 18th at Harrah’s in Chester. Besides his exciting style, Ocasio brings a rabid fan base that has supported him emphatically through his first four bouts Scott, twenty-seven of Sailsbury, Maryland has a record of 0-3 and is coming off a six round unanimous decision to Jamie Palma (13-13-1) on May 9, 2009. Twenty-two year old undefeated Middleweight Rashad Brown (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will battle Phillip Burnette (2-2, 1 KO) of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Brown will making his first start in his home state after three straight wins in Atlantic City. In his last outing, Brown stopped undefeated Darryl Parker (2-0) on March 26th as part of the Yuriorkis Gamboa – Jorge Solis world Featherweight title card. Burnette, twenty-six, will be looking for his third straight win as he is coming off a unanimous decision victory over experienced William Wilson (8-6) on February 18th. Part of the “Delaware’s First Family of Boxing”, Super Featherweight Joey Tiberi (3-1, 3 KO’s) will be looking to thrill his fans when he battles Jonathan Ocassio (0-7) of Philadelphia in a bout scheduled for four rounds. After his scintillating pro debut knockout as part of ROUND 2 in March, Super Middleweight Fred “Freddy J” Jenkins Jr. of Philadelphia will take on six fight vet Corey Preston. The twenty-four year old Jenkins, who is the son of longtime and well known Philadelphia trainer Fred Jenkins, looked explosive in taking out Scott Brunner in two rounds on March 18th. Preston, 1-5 of North Carolina has been in with tough competition and Jenkins will be the fourth undefeated fighter that he has faced. Rounding out the card will be the pro debut of Lightweight Naim Nelson taking on Kywame Hill. Both Nelson and Hill are from Philadelphia so bragging rights will be at stake. Hill has a record of 1-7 but the combined record of the thirty-three year old is 21-3-3. The fights will be recorded for a tape delay broadcast by www.gfl.tv   THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT LOU TURK’S—500 POWHATTEN AVE. IN ESSINGTON, PA ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 1st at 7pm   THE WEIGH-IN WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY NIGHT JUNE 2nd at 6pm AT LOU TURK’S BOTH EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC           ESPN's Friday Night Fights and Main Events Return to New Jersey   Former Junior Middleweight Challenger and U.S. Olympian Co-Featured    ESPN's Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra, will originate from Newark, N.J. May 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 when former junior middleweight world title challenger Joel "El Predador" Julio (36-4, 31 KO's, WBC#33) and undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam "The World Kid" Ali (12-0, 7 KO's) are featured in co-main events. Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside at the Amerihealth Pavilion describing the action. The card is presented by Main Events.   Prudential Centers' Amerihealth Pavilion will bring Main Events back to the intimacy and excitement of its roots. Beginning in May 1978, and lasting through April 1986, Main Events made its name in the boxing business with a series of more than 50 fight cards at Ice World, a little known ice skating rink in Totowa, N.J. By 1980, ESPN had begun televising the "Fights on Ice" series. What started out as a local incubator for local boxing talent quickly grew into a nationally known phenomenon. The final show at Totowa in 1986 featured Mark Breland and was broadcast live on ABC.   This Friday Miami resident and Colombian native Julio will meet Buffalo's Anges "Baby Face" Adjaho (17-5, 9 KO's). After being TKO'd in the 11th round by Alfredo Angulo, Julio rebounded with a 10-round unanimous decision win against Jamaal Davis in his last fight.   "Joel's been preparing for this fight for about three months," trainer Anthony Hamm said.  "I've been working with Joel since the Angulo fight. I didn't want him to take that fight, especially at 154 pounds, because Joel's a natural 147-pounder. He looks good at this weight and he's punching harder now. He's going to be a sight to see this fight."   Brooklyn's Ali, taking a step up in class, will meet "The Renegade" John Revish (9-3-2, 8 KO's). Ali is coming off a third-round knockout over Javier Perez. After that fight, ESPN.com's Dan Rafael wrote, "Ali looked very good in dismantling Perez. Ali, with a tremendous speed and power advantage, nearly had Perez out in the first round when he crushed him with a left hook to the jaw. The punch sent Perez's head swiveling and knocked him to his rear end. In the third round, Ali landed another brutal left hook to the jaw that dropped Perez even harder. Perez was flat on his back and spread eagle as the referee stopped it at 2 minutes, 40 seconds. He remained on the floor for a few minutes, and Ali had himself an eye-catching victory."   Studio host Brian Kenny will present all the latest boxing news and highlights.   "We plan to replicate the Ice World model in this new space and develop the champions of the future," said Main Events CEO Kathy Duva.   World champions, including Breland, Rocky Lockridge, Bobby Czyz, Livingstone Bramble, Pinklon Thomas, Buddy McGirt, Tracy Harris Patterson, John John Molina, Robert Hines, Leo Randolph and Vinny Pazienza all made early career appearances at the Totowa rink. Also among the notables who fought there were eventual top contenders Alex Ramos, Chuck Wepner, Mike Quarry, Christy Elliott, Curtis Harris, James "Hard Rock" Green, Ramon Ranquello, Hilliard Edmonds, Jr., Francesco Damiani and Scott Frank.       YURI FOREMAN - A CLASS ACT IN DEFEAT - Ron Ross Marchh 13, 2011   Bravery and courage should not be the major attributes of a prizefighter. That’s what Yuri Foreman brought into the ring with him last night in Las Vegas against a tenacious bulldog of an opponent, Pawel Wolak - bravery, courage and a big heart. Not much else. Because the root of Yuri Foreman’s flashy boxing style was his nimble legs that enabled the future rabbi to move around the ring laterally, back and forth, darting in and out like a flitting ghost, virtually untouchable by mere mortals.   The severe knee injury that he suffered last June in a stirring show of grit and determination was surgically repaired. But the old movement, the now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t electrifying speed was nowhere to be seen last night.     To take away from the effectiveness and pure animal fury of Wolak’s constant pressure, no let-up attack would be unfair. Wolak was superb and he fought the fight that has to be fought against Foreman - keep the pressure on him at all times, cut off the ring and take away his punching room. But Yuri Foreman  has been in there against tough infighters before - and his magnificent speed of foot gave him command of the ring and room to maneuver, box, outpunch a frustrated opponent and remain out of harm’s way. That was Foreman’s fight - never outslug or overpower, never seek to destroy. Yuri Foreman was a superb boxer and ring general whose entire fight plan was based upon speed of foot and mind. Last night he was in a fight, a brawl, a situation that was not his style. Wolak, a fine fighter, whose ring record was identical to Foreman’s - 28 wins against 1 loss, had all his weapons available and stayed on top of Foreman, battering him round after round. Foreman, unable to elude him wound up trading on the other guy’s terms and came out on the short end.    Mercifully, after six rounds of watching him stoically absorb punishment, his cornermen waved the fight off.   Yuri Foreman made no excuses. Just like the fight, it was not his style. "I just didn't feel it tonight," Foreman said. "There were no surprises, but I just didn't have it."   Bruised and battered, he forced a smile.   Samson lost his strength when his hair was shorn by Delilah. Could Yuri retain his strength shorn of his speed of foot by Fate?   Yuri Foreman has a lovely wife, a precious baby son and a wonderful future that may now become his present - as Rabbi Yuri Foreman. -RR-             Breidis Prescott Has One Quick Question for Amir Khan   Miami, Florida via Barranquilla, Colombia, slugger Breidis Prescott (23-2, 19 KOs) wishes to congratulate WBA World Light Welterweight Champion Amir Kahn for his close, but deserved, victory over Argentina's Marcos Maidana at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.   Prescott has just one little question after watching and listening to the fight.   "Khan said he specifically chose Maidana for an opponent and kept calling that fight his redemption for being knocked out by me... how does beating anyone other than me make up for what I did to him?"   Prescott knocked Khan flat in 54 seconds in September of 2008 at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, giving him his first loss with unforgettable brutality.   "If he wants his true redemption -- If he truly wants to prove what happened was a fluke and remove all doubt from his name, then let's do it again. I'll go right to his backyard and knock him out again. Maybe he knows that and that's why he chose someone other than me to try and prove what I did wasn't real?"   "In December Amir Khan proved not only his great ability, but his heart," said Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment (Prescott's co-promoter along with Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing). "It's time to defend against the only fighter who was able to test his chin. He should take the opportunity to try to erase the only blemish on his great record."   "You don't wrestle a polar bear to prove you can beat a tiger. They're two different fighters," added Margules of Prescott and Maidana. "If Amir Khan wants to erase the memory of what happened to him, there's only one fighter he can do that against. Breidis Prescott is the man who knocked out Amir Khan, so if Khan is looking for true redemption, tell him it's a phone call away."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Da Bomb" Scores Sensational KO!!!   We want Kelly Pavlik. We want Carl Froch or any of the Super Six Semi-Finalists. We want Lucian Bute. We want Robert Stieglitz. We want Andre Ward. Tell them all we'll be calling.   Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing  and Domenic Pesoli of 8 Count Productions wish to congratulate the red-hot super middleweight prospect they co-promote, Donovan "Da Bomb" George (21-1-1, 18 KOs), for his jaw dropping knockout victory on Friday night.   Fighting live on Showtime's Sho-Box, George erased the memory of his first career loss in his previous fight by destroying formerly undefeated Cornelius White (16-1, 15 KOs) in 2:02 of the first round at Bally's Atlantic City White was down a total of three times.   While many boxing insiders considered George to be in very tough against the powerful White, Pesoli claims the fighter never had any doubts in himself.   "We knew this was a dangerous fight, but Donovan said all along he would destroy this guy. A victory like this, on a stage like this, over someone who was considered so dangerous, means that Donovan George is now a legitimate threat to any world champion."   Margules says he and Pesoli's next move will be to put George into a big fight on an even bigger stage.   "The name Kelly Pavlik has been coming up since early on in Donovan's career and that's the fight we'd like to make more than any other. We want Kelly Pavlik. That would be a tremendous battle between two old-school kinds of fighters. We're ready whenever they are to put it together."   Long familiar with the way some fights take long to materialize, Margules says he'd also be willing to face any of the other champions or top contenders at super middle. "We want Carl Froch or any of the Super Six semi-finalists. We want Lucian Bute. We want Robert Stieglitz. We want Dimitri Sartison. We want Andre Ward. Tell them all we'll be calling. Donovan George is for real and now everybody knows it!"

 

 

 

 

Adamek - McBride Fight April, 9th 

Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

 

February 13, 2011, Totowa, NJ Tomasz Adamek vs. Kevin McBride, originally scheduled for late April at Newark's Prudential Center has been moved to Saturday, April 9th, it was announced today by promoters Kathy Duva of Main Events and Ziggy Rozalski of Ziggy Promotions.   The cancellation of the planned April 9th PPV bout between Juan Manuel Marquez and Eric Morales, coupled with the proximity of April 23rd to Easter Sunday caused the change.   "Like Tomasz Adamek, many of the Polish fans are deeply religious and the fact that the bout was scheduled for Easter Saturday was troubling to them," Duva explained.   "We heard the fans loud and clear and, when the opportunity to move to April 9th presented itself, we decided to move to a date that is more acceptable to our fans." "We expect that the PPV audiences for the Adamek fight and the Eric Morales fight, which is now scheduled to appear on April 9th, will consist of entirely different people," she continued.  The beauty of PPV is that everyone can choose to watch whatever event they prefer.  There are so many interesting fights scheduled on this spring that it is very hard to match an optimum PPV date with a date that also works in a big, busy arena like Prudential Center." Posted By Welcome to the BOXING LEDGER! to BOXING LEDGER | LATEST BOXING BLOGS | BOXING ARTICLES | BOXING BLOG FIGHT at 2/11/2011 05:55:00 PM   Adamek - McBride Fight April, 9th  Prudential Center, Newark, NJ 08/10/2011 23:00 It's official, Adamek-McBride will take place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Rumors were flying that, Tomasz Adamek, Jersey City, NJ, 43-1, 28KO's, would be fighting in Poland this April. Kathy Duva, Adamek's promoter and Main Events CEO, confirmed that the Polish boxing star will instead return to "The Rock" on April 9 to take on Irish born, Kevin McBride, Brockton, Massachusetts, 35-8-1, 29 KO's.   "There were a lot of things taken into consideration when choosing this fight. Overall, though, Tomasz was just more comfortable staying at home for this fight," Kathy Duva, CEO Main Events and Adamek's promoter said. "We'll now focus on McBride, and then focus all of our efforts into the big one in September," said Duva. "I think that his fans at Prudential Center will give Tomasz a great sendoff to Poland in this fight, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some of them in Poland in September." Most famous for his sixth-round knockout victory over Mike Tyson in '05, McBride will be the largest man that Adamek has ever fought. Adamek will be happy to give his "hometown" fans an opportunity to watch him fight before his scheduled September Klitschko fight.   More details will follow shortly

 

 

 

2004 Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada makes

Boxing 360 debut Saturday night at Turning Stone

NEW YORK (January 25, 2011) – 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada, one of the most decorated amateur boxers of all-time, returns to the ring after nearly a full year’s absence due to foot surgery, Saturday night in his Boxing 360 debut against Franklin “Yah Yah” Lawrence in the 10-round main event for the vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation heavyweight title, at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York.

Estrada, fighting out of Providence, has fought everyone and anybody put in the ring with him, never turning down a fight, and none of his opponents has had a losing record (311-101-15 combined record of his opponents) when they fought “Big Six.” His three losses were all on the road in the backyards of former world champion Tomasz Adamek, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Alexander Povetkin and Travis Walker. During his 6-year pro career, Estrada has never been floored, never mind stopped, and the quick-handed, slick-footed heavyweight has unfinished business to take care of, which was supposed to start January 13 in Oklahoma. But he was snowed in at home, cancelling that fight, but an opportunity eventually opened-up at Turning Stone when another Boxing 360 heavyweight, Mike Mollo, was injured in training camp.  His CABOFE title fight Jan. 29 at Turning Stone against Manuel Quezada was scratched and Boxing 360 was able to fill the spot with Estrada-Lawrence.

“We want to thank promoter Dave Escalet for working with us to make this fight happen,” Boxing 360 Founder and CEO Mario Yagobi commented. “We believe that Jason has a big future and we’re going to do everything possible to help make him world champion.”

The 30-year-old Estrada (16-3, 4 KOs) was one of the most highly-decorated American amateur boxers ever, compiling an amazing 261-14 record in U.S. competition, as well as the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. The highlight of his amateur career was representing the United States in the 2004 Olympics, although planter ficitis in his right foot severely hampered his training and performances.

“I was ticked-off because that day was finally here,” Estrada spoke about his disappointment regarding the cancellation of his January 13^th fight. “It just didn’t work out but flames were coming out of my nose that day. I was ready to go. I didn’t stop training, other than for that weekend, and went back to work in the gym that following Monday. Boxing 360 said they were working on something for me and, just in case, I stayed in the gym. It worked out better for me.”

Jason’s most impressive performance as a pro arguably was a one-sided,10-round win by decision against former NABO/NABA/WBC Continental Americas heavyweight champion Lance “Mount” Whitaker (32-5-1, 27 KOs) in their April 4, 2008 ESPN2 FNF show headliner.

In his last fight, Lawrence (13-2-2, 8 KOs) knocked out Lance Whitaker last September in the seventh round of their IBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight Championship bout. One of Lawrence’s two pro losses was to former world champion Oliver McCall by 10-round decision.

“I don’t know much about him other than he beat Lance Whitaker, a fighter I’ve also beaten,” Estrada noted. “It really doesn’t matter I know what I’ve been doing and he can’t match that. I haven’t fought for a while but my foot feels great. It’s the easier transition I’ve made in a long time. This is a great opportunity to get me back in the heavyweight mix. I’m happy not to be fighting in my opponent’s backyard like I did in my three losses.”

“Since signing with us,” Boxing 360 Director of Boxing Bob Duffy remarked, “This is Jason’s first step towards getting into the worldwide ratings. He’s only two or three fights away from fighting any heavyweight in the world. He has great talent, ability, knowledge and he’ll fight anybody – all the ingredients to be heavyweight champion of the world. Jason is one of the few fighters to never turn-down an opponent. He has respect, but no fear, and that attitude is a key for being competitive today in the heavyweight division.”
 

Other members of Boxing 360’s stable include USBA heavyweight champion Maurice “Sugar Moe” Harris, Mike Mollo, world super bantamweight contender Leon “Hurry Up” Moore, Joshua “The Juice” Harris, Emad Ali, former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, NY State super middleweight title-holder Lennox “2 Sharpe” Allen, KO king Tyrone Brunson, Angel “Toro” Hernandez and “King” David Estrada.

Go to www.Boxing360.com for more information about Estrada, Boxing 360 or any of its other fighters.

-30-

MANFREDO JR. EDOUARD CLASH ON FNF

RODRIGUEZ, PRYOR BATTLE IN CO-FEATURE