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ROSSY TAKING ON THE BIG GUYS
 

THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN CHAMP...

 
When he steps off the plane and sets foot on German soil this Sunday, maybe Derric Rossy will realize that he is the next hope for an American champion in the Heavyweight division.  Up until now, he's just been a regular guy.  A regular guy who wakes up at 4 o'clock every morning to go for a 5 mile run, then drives from Medford, Long Island to Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn (about an hour and a half each way) to train for 2-3 hours everyday, and finally gets home to end the day with another run.  He's just been a regular guy who spent 3 months training with the monks of the Shaolin Temple in China, where he was beaten with bamboo sticks, hit a punching bag filled with rocks, and witnessed his bulky 256lb physique become a shredded 230lbs through other training methods he was sworn to secrecy not to reveal.  Derric Rossy is just your ordinary guy who has a story that is nothing short of extraordinary.  On May 3rd, Derric Rossy has the chance to come one step closer to becoming the first American Heavyweight Champion in what seems like an eternity.
 
Rossy (18-1, 10KO), ranked #9 in the WBO after his impressive victory over the legendary Ray Mercer, will be taking on Alexander Dimitrenko (27-0, 17KO) who towers at 6'8 and is ranked #2 in the world.  This fight will be for the WBO Intercontinental Championship, and it is almost a certainty that the winner will also be next in line to fight for a World Title.  While this is obviously the biggest and toughest fight of his career, Rossy has been unscathed by the pressure of having American Boxing hopes on his shoulders.  He has not lost his calm, jovial demeanor and has yet to show any signs of intimidation, despite the fact you can only do so much preparation for a guy  that's 6'8.  Needless to say, finding sparring to replicate an opponent of this magnitude is about as challenging as getting a fighter to fight for a world title.  He has been exuding with confidence and if anything is going to break this talented young man's spirit, it seems like it's going to have to be bigger and stronger than 6'8, 250lbs.
 

EB

 

 

 Team Micky Ward Charities Golf Classic
 Friday - June 6, 2008
Green Meadow Golf Club - Hudson, NH

Proceeds To Benefit The Team Micky Ward Charities
 

Legendary junior welterweight boxer "Irish" Micky Ward has proudly announced the first annual Team Micky Ward Charities Golf Classic will  be held on Friday, June 6, 2008, at the luxurious Green Meadow Golf Club in Hudson, New Hampshire. All proceeds from this tremendous event will go to benefit the  Team Micky Ward Charities.

In his nearly 19-year career as a professional fighter, "Irish" Micky Ward captured a WBU world title, had roughly 30 bouts telecast on ESPN, an additional 7 on HBO, and the first of his three epic fights with Arturo "Thunder" Gatti is considered by many to be the greatest fight of all time. Ward's historic life and career has captured the hearts and souls of boxing fans, as well as Paramount Pictures. The major movie production company is producing a movie based on the life and career of Micky Ward. Filming for the movie, which is aptly to be named "The Fighter," is currently in the works.
 

"This tournament is a heck of a lot of fun, and the proceeds go to support a tremendous cause," says Ward. "In my 19-years as a fighter, I always gave everything I had to the sport of boxing. Although I am now retired, my fight outside of the ring, the greatest fight I've ever had, to help children and families in need, wherever and whenever possible, is now of the utmost importance to me."
 

With a terrific championship venue, numerous attending celebrities, awards ceremonies, contests, prizes, and an outstanding post-tournament dinner, this event promises to be a most memorable experience.

For detailed information, to include a downloadable application and sponsorship information, please visit www.mickywardgolf.com

* The Team Micky Ward Charities is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.

The mission of the Team Micky Ward Charities, a non-profit charitable organization, is to provide financial assistance to children and families ine need, in order to improve their everyday quality of life. Our goal is to raise money through charitable contributions and fundraisers. In turn, these finances will be alloted to those in need of our assistance, wherever and whenever possible, regardless of race, religion, age, or ethnicity.

PK
 
 
 
 

Olympian Estrada battles Whitaker
ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, April 4 at Twin River Event Center, RI
 
PROVIDENCE (March 3, 2008) – Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. president Jimmy Burchfield has formally announced unbeaten world heavyweight challenger “Baby” Joe Mesi’s returns to the ring on April 4 against Terry “Hurricane” Smith, headlining an ESPN2 Friday Night Fights pro boxing show in the 10-round main event, at Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Mesi will make his first defense of the WBC USNBC title belt he won last October with a first-round stoppage of Shannon Miller.
 
2004 U.S. Olympian and top heavyweight prospect, Jason “Big Six” Estrada, steps up in class to take on former world title challenger Lance “Mount” Whitaker in the 10-round co-feature.
 
“This is a major league show on ESPN2,” promoter Burchfield said. “These four heavyweights have a combined record of 109-9-2 with 76 knockouts. These are big men, real heavyweights, averaging 6’ 3” and 238-pounds. Joe is on a mission to fight for the world heavyweight title and Smith will be a solid test. Nobody has stopped him and he’s been in against a lot of top heavyweights like world heavyweight challengers Calvin Brock and Jameel McCline. Jason is going to make a lot of noise in 2008, starting with Whitaker, who fought (Luan) Krasniqi for the WBO belt, and knocked out world champion Oleg Maskaev. Mesi is going to be a force again in the heavyweight division very soon; Estrada’s a future world champion in the making.”
 
Buffalo sports icon Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs), former NABF heavyweight champion, currently rated No. 17 by the WBC,  was the WBC No. 1 contender in 2004, before an injury and controversial suspension sidelined him for two years. Mesi’s 36 victims include Vassiliy Jirov, Monte Barrett, DaVarryl Williamson, and David Izon.
 
Unbeaten in his first 21 pro defeats, former NABO title challenger Smith (30-4-1, 18 KOs), fighting out of Little Rock (AR), defeated former world champion Kelvin Davis last May.
 
Estrada (11-1, 2 KOs), 27, completed his amateur career in the U.S. with a remarkable record of 261-14, going unbeaten in America four years after the 2000 Olympic Trials.  The Providence-native became the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S.Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. In only his seventh pro fight, Jason went the full 10 rounds against veteran Robert Wiggin, winning a complete shutout (100-90 three times). Estrada won a unanimous 10-round decision versus former world title challenger Charles Shufford in his last fight on January 25.
 
In addition to his win against Maskaev, the 6’ 8” Whitaker (32-4-1, 27) has also beaten former world title-holder Al “Ice” Cole, previously unbeaten Robert Davis (22-0), and 2-time world title challenger Monte Barrett.

 

 

 

IRELAND’S SENSATIONAL JOHN DUDDY, UNDFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BOXER, HEADLINES EMPIRE CITY AT YONKERS RACEWAY’S “SALUTE TO IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE” ON TUESDAY NIGHT, MARCH 11

***Fox & Friends Anchor Brian Kilmeade and Musical Entertainment provided by Allen Gogarty Band, Irish specialties on Menus***

 

New York, February 12—Ireland’s sensational and undefeated boxer John Duddy will be joined by FOX & FRIENDS anchor Brian Kilmeade to headline “A Salute to Irish American Heritage” at Empire City at Yonkers Raceway (www.yonkersraceway.com) on Tuesday night, March 11.

 

Duddy, an unbeaten boxer from Derry, Ireland, and Kilmeade, who hosts the top-rated FOX News morning program, will talk boxing and sports during a Question & Answer and autograph session which will get underway at 7:00 PM at the Entertainment Lounge in Empire City’s Gotham Palace. Admission is free.

 

Musical Entertainment throughout the evening will be provided by the popular Allen Gogarty Band (http://allengogarty.com/).

 

Irish culinary items will be on the menus all night, including in the Empire Terrace Dining Room, Lillian Russell and the Food Court, including such specialties as Corned Beef and Cabbage, Sheppard’s pie, Bangers and Mash and numerous other Irish delectables.

 

Empire City at Yonkers Raceway is the 5,500 video gaming machine emporium located just North of New York City. For more information contact 914 968-4200. The “Salute to Irish American Heritage” will be the first in a series of Heritage Nights at Empire City throughout 2008.

 

Who:  Undefeated Irish boxer John Duddy and FOX & FRIENDS morning show anchor Brian

           Kilmeade, Allen Gogarty Band and other celebrity guests.

 

What:  Salute to Irish American Heritage featuring musical entertainment by Allen Gogarty,

            question & answer and autograph session, and Irish culinary fare

 

When: Tuesday night, March 11, 2008

 

Time:  Program begins at 7:00 PM

 

Where: Empire City at Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers and Central Avenues, Yonkers, NY

 

Admission: Free

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malignaggi plays “The Name Game”
 
 
VERO BEACH, Florida (December 5, 2007) – International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi took a break from his Vero Beach training camp, where he’s preparing for his first title defense January 5 on Showtime Championship Boxing against No. 1 contender Herman “The Black Panther” Ngoudjo (16-1, 9 KOs) at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City, to play boxing’s version of “The Name Game.”

The outspoken Brooklyn boxer, rated No. 2 by The Ring, commented on some of the top welterweights and light welterweights in the world:
 
Floyd Mayweather: “The best pound-for-pound in boxing today, maybe ever. He dominates and is definitely the smartest boxer.”
 
Ricky Hatton: “Workmanlike but a little overrated. He’s not great but is a good fighter who is tough and a worker. He’s overrated in that some believe he’s the best.”
 
Miguel Cotto: “One of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world today -- very powerful, strong, hungry and determined.”
 
Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.: “I didn’t see his last fight but he surprised me by beating (Ray) Sanchez, who I know from the amateurs. Chavez came back from being down on two cards to stop Sanchez. Maybe, he has gotten a little better.”
 
Herman Ngoudjo: “Another workmanlike fighter but not the same as Gavin Rees because he doesn’t throw as many punches. What you see is what you get with him. He’s a former Olympian and I expect him to come into our fight at 100-percent. He’s never been given anything and has come up the hard way. I’m looking forward to fighting him.”
 
Junior Witter: “Probably the most dangerous, underrated, unappreciated fighter in boxing. I’d love to meet him in the ring but that’s up to the networks. Witter is definitely the best light welterweight in England.”

Demetrious Hopkins: “Good family pedigree and a solid fighter. He’ll lose his first pro fight in 2008 when he meets Paulie Malignaggi.”
 
Lovemore N’dou: “The biggest clown in boxing today. He’s like Barnum & Bailey, you see the same show. His recent words and actions make him look even more stupid to the media and fans.”
 
Gavin Rees: “I’ve watched some clips of his fights and he seems like a rugged fighter who throws a lot of punches. Another workmanlike fighter, but he won’t last too long as a title holder.”
 
Ricardo Torres: “A strong fighter who can’t fight a lick.”
 
Timothy Bradley: “I know him from the amateurs. He’s a darkhorse junior welterweight right now and he’ll eventually become a contender in this division.”
 
Jose Luis Castillo: “Past his prime; a legend in his day.”
 
Vivian Harris: “Another underappreciated fighter who has been mismanaged. It’s a shame that his loss to Witter has hurt his career so much. It shouldn’t have.”
 
Kendall Holt: “A solid fighter who could become world champion. He’s had a couple of bad breaks. It’s all up to him. He has all of the physical tools but, mentally, he has to overcome negativity and setbacks. If he can overcome that he can be world champion.”

-PM-
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFLECTIONS    June 6, 2007

- Ron Ross

 

You can’t help rooting for Paulie Malignaggi once you see THE MAGIC MAN documentary, the story of Paulie’s climb from a dysfunctional childhood to championship prizefighter. It played at the Hoboken Film Festival last night. With Lou DiBella as Executive Producer and directed by Russel Best, you are taken on a journey of his life by living through his preparing for his dream, his championship attempt against Miguel Cotto. And what you learn about Paulie is that with an indomitable spirit, bones may be shattered, but dreams – never!

 

Paulie played Paulie and he talked just like him.

 

 

Sultan Ibragimov could have employed some unorthodox strategies against the Big Wheezer Shannon Briggs in Saturday night’s WBO heavyweight title bout in Atlantic City, such as sprinkling his hair with cat dander and patting himself down with perfume. But Shannon never had to reach for his nebulizer as Sultan did not take advantage of the asthma factor, at least not from outside the rule book.

Sultan would look at Shannon and Shannon would look back at Sultan. This happened a lot and it soon became obvious that Shannon Briggs was not going to be outlooked by Sultan Ibragimov. Occasionally Ibragimov would dart in and throw a punch. When he did, Sultan would look right back at him. At certain times, Sultan, emboldened, would come in and throw a short flurry of punches. His hands were very fast but Shannon would counter by looking at him and looking again. This went on for twelve rounds. It was a punch-counter’s delight. Running to the refreshment stand, the men’s room, counting the empty seats in the house did not interfere with counting the number of punches. Judge Luis Rivera seemed to give Shannon Briggs a round for every punch he threw. Scoring the fight 115-113 for Ibragimov, he scored five rounds for Briggs, possibly making him the only fighter other than the late, great Willie Pep ever to win a round without throwing a punch.

 

Ibragimov fought the fight he had to. He stayed out of harm’s way, took advantage of his fast hands and his slow, ponderous opponent. He fought to win and he won handily. Easily? It’s never easy when you’re giving away fifty-two pounds to a once-murderous puncher, but Ibragimov made it look almost easy. It wasn’t exciting but it was workmanlike and he stuck with his game plan.

 

Briggs, at 273 pounds looked big, very, very big. And slow. Very, very slow. His best days as a fighter are obviously far behind him. There is no shame to coming to the end of the road. It is only a shame when a fighter doesn’t realize when he is there.

 

 

Not taking any chances, especially after remembering the disaster created by the cancellation of the originally scheduled March 10th Briggs-Ibragimov bout, Warriors Boxing Promotions borrowed from baseball by having a pinch-hitter ready to go, just in case was Briggs struck out by a rising pollen count. They held Calvin Brock’s bout against Alex Gonzales to go on after the main go, having Brock ready to replace Briggs if need be. As it turned out, the pinch hitter batted in his own slot, decisioning Gonzales in eight rounds on the Late, Late Show.

 

 

The line-up in front of Danny Jacobs door has conspicuously dwindled with his stunning loss to Shawn Porter for middleweight crown in US National Championships in Colorado.  The pot of gold may no longer be there for Danny, but the youngster still has the goods.

 

 

The past month has seen a number of boxing officials take a verbal bashing by some TV commentators for decisions they rendered as judges or calls made or not made as referees. It’s not that any official is above being criticized. There are moments when all of us jump up and slap are hands to our foreheads, shouting, “I don’t believe it!” And it is certainly true that some officials are not qualified for their job as constant bad decisions by them confirm. But some of the officials put down these past few weeks were highly respected and put in years of commendable work. Not all – some. And I’m not saying that the specific criticism was not warranted. It is the way the criticism was leveled and by whom. For a TV commentator to state that a judge whose overall record is beyond reproach, is incompetent and that it was inexcusable to score the fight (De La Hoya-Mayweather) for De La Hoya was a cheap shot. Especially when this commentator, whom I generally hold in high regard, went on to state that Mayweather won by a huge margin. Opinion. Many saw it much closer. Then there was the second-guessing of a referee by another TV personality for permitting a fight to continue that the TV announcer felt should have been stopped, and permitting a fighter to “lose” his mouth guard without penalty. Again, a TV commentator certainly has the right to express an opinion. It is the manner in which it is expressed. Also, recognize how often a knowledgeable fight fan has to arch his eyebrows at the way the TV announcer is viewing the fight. It is very much the pot calling the kettle black.

 

 

Okay,  let’s see … Yeah, put the blame on wrestling – no, Ultimate Fighting and Mixed Martial Arts. That’s who’s burying Boxing. UFC and MMA!

 

Does anyone really believe the drivel that professional boxing is being buried by Ultimate Fighting? Face facts! The shovel is in the hands of the boxing world! Boxing is burying itself. The umbilical cord to HBO and Showtime feeds and fattens a chosen few. At the same time, it starves off the rest of the “nursery”. The cream is not passed down; it just stays at the top. Then to appease the appetite of these pay-netwok promoters, boxing is forced to feed them championships fights from matches that at one time wouldn’t have qualified as a local club main event. Eight weight classes became sixteen and six (or is it seven … or eight) sanctioning bodies were created to supply the burping, gurgling TV Monster’s cry, “I want championship fight” and sate its never-ending appetite. Approximately a hundred world champions! Where is the sport’s credibility? Quantity never equated to quality. And watering down a championship by divvying it up six ways does not increase your fan base. In the long run it’s a negative proposition. Do you think the aura of a Jack Dempsey would have shone with the same brilliance if he was Jack Dempsey, the World Boxing Battalion’s heavyweight Champion and stood alongside World Boxing Choice heavyweight Champion Gene Tunney and World Boxing Company’s Heavyweight Champion Jack Sharkey and World Boxing Crusade’s Heavyweight Champion Young Stribling and World Boxing Institution’s Heavyweight Champion Tom Heeney and World’s Boxing Public Heavyweight Champion Max Schmeling and World Boxing Corporation’s Heavyweight Champion Johnny Risko?

“Wouldn’t you rather take me to see a talkie movie  than to go to the prize-fights to see – who were we gonna see? Oh, you would rather go to the movies. Whoopee-doo!”

 

Yes, Boxing is burying itself but the dirt is soft and there’s still time to dig itself out.

-RR-

CES signs unbeaten cruiserweight prospect Aaron Williams

PROVIDENCE (April 22, 2007) - Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES) has signed undefeated cruiserweight phenom Aaron Williams (12-0-1, 8 KOs) to an exclusive promotional contract, CES president Jimmy Burchfield announced.

 
Williams, 21, is a nine-time U.S. amateur champion, highlighted by gold medals in the 2003 U.S. National PAL Championships as a heavyweight and International Junior Olympics. Williams, trained by former world light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustapha Muhammad, is co-managed by Pat Doljanin and Albert Falcon.
 
"All reports from members of Team CES - Matt Godfrey, Jason Estrada and Peter Manfredo, Sr. - were that Aaron Williams is a very talented fighter, based on a lot of their experiences in the amateurs. Everyone on Team CES welcomes Aaron. With his age and talent, he is championship material, the kind of fighter we want on our team. We always look for a fighter with championship potential, of course, but we also want marketable fighters who handle themselves well in and out of the ring. Aaron Williams is that kind of fighter and I'm delighted we've signed him."
 
Cleveland-native Williams, now fighting out of Las Vegas, is scheduled to make his CES debut in the co-feature on the May 11th "The Pride Is Back" card at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
 
Williams describes himself as a boxer-puncher who loves to throw body shots and lacks only professional ring experience. "I've known Jimmy Burchfield for three years," Aaron spoke about signing with CES. "He took a liking to me but I didn't want to sign with a promoter back then. When I became friends with (CES fighter) Joey Spina, after he signed with my co-managers, I got friendly again with Jimmy. We always liked each other and I'm very happy to sign with CES.
 
"CES is going to push me, get me a lot of exposure, and take me to another level through fights I need. My short-term goal is to stay busy. Someday, though, I plan to win a world title as a cruiserweight or heavyweight."
 
Doljanin's relationship with Burchfield, through Spina, opened the door to Williams' signing with CES. "Jimmy's track record speaks for itself," Pat explained. "Look what he's done for Vinny Paz, Scott Pemberton, Joey Spina, Peter Manfredo, Jr., Ray Oliveira, Gary Balletto and so many others. From working with Joey, I saw how Jimmy handles his fighters, and how his operation works. Jimmy runs a top notch, world-class boxing company. It's a good partnership.
 
"Aaron is a student of the game and a gym rat. At the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas where he trains, he's around all top boxing people like the Mayweathers. Aaron soaks-up everything. His former trainer, Jessie Reid, had too many commitments and now Aaron's trained by Eddie, who also trains Joey. They're (Eddie and Aaron) both Muslims and now it's like a father-son relationship. Aaron also has one of the best strength-and-conditioning coaches in boxing, Axel Merullo."
 
Williams' most notable victories to date have been against Zach Page (11-7 by six-round decision), who has a win against former world champion Lou Del Valle, and Charles Davis (17-11-1 by sixth-round decision), whose victims over the years include former world title-holder King Arthur Williams and 18-1-1 Javier Mora.
 
CES' growing stable also includes No. 3 world rated cruiserweight contender Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey (15-0, 9 KOs), NABF, NABA, USNBC & WBC Continental Americas champion: USNBC and IBF Intercontinental super middleweight title-holder Joey "KO Kid" Spina (19-1-1, 14 KOs), 2004 U.S. Olympian and heavyweight prospect Jason "Big Six" Estrada (8-1, 1KO), world-rated welterweight Ossie Duran (21-5-1, 9 KOs), WBC Youth super featherweight champion Matt "Sharp Shooter" Remillard (11-0, 7 KOs), and three-time world champion and reigning IWBF lightweight belt holder Jaime "The Hurricane" Clampitt (17-4-1, 7 KOs).
 
For more information about CES call 401. 724.2253 or go to www.cesboxing.com.

 

-CES-

 

 

“SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION”

FINAL QUOTES AND WEIGHTS 

 

No. 1 and 2 Ranked WBO Junior Welter Contenders Kendall Holt and Mike Arnaoutis

 Clash in Highly Anticipated Main Event; Unbeaten Heavys Marrone, Farrell in Co-Feature

Friday, April 20, 2007 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME

 In arguably the most significant bout in the history of “ShoBox: The New Generation,’’ Kendall Holt and Mike Arnaoutis will square off in a WBO 140-pound title elimination bout Friday, April 20 on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).  In a battle of undefeated heavyweights in the co-feature, Mike Marrone faces Mulachy Farrell.

 NOTE: WEIGHTS – Holt weighed 139 1/4 pounds and Arnaoutis tipped the scale at 140 at Thursday’s weigh-in. Marrone weighed 217 ½, Farrell 244 1/2.

 

 KENDALL HOLT

“I’m very excited about fighting on “ShoBox’’ again. They match fighters tough. It is great for boxing. There never is a clear cut winner going into the fight. It is a great opportunity for the up and coming fighters to show off their talent and abilities.

 “Arnaoutis is lucky he is getting this chance to fight for the mandatory because he just lost his last shot at the title. 

“Contrary to what people say, I do not lose focus in the ring. I do get bored at times, but I do not lose focus.

 “This will be a great and very entertaining fight with me being victorious. One way or another, I will win. My motivation for winning it all is my son Keshon. That is my edge and my push to get the win.”

 MIKE ARNAOUTIS

“ShoBox’’ always tests fighters and I have been tested on “ShoBox’ many times (he is 4-0-1). This fight is a special fight because it will show two elite fighters, but in reality I am the elite fighter.

 “Holt on his worst night got knocked out. On my worst night, I got robbed and lost a decision. 

“Tomorrow I will win. Nothing will stop me from having my hand raised. I know what I must do and it will be done 110 percent. After tomorrow, Holt will be thinking about playing chess. 

“Every fight I have whether it be a four-, six-, eight- or 12-round fight, I fight with the same intent, power and mind set as a world title fight. 

“When I get past Holt, which I will, of course, I have (WBO junior welterweight champion Ricardo) Torres on my radar. I need to erase the blemish on my record, but I am focused on Holt right now.”

MIKE MARRONE

“Fighting on “ShoBox” is a great opportunity and I am very excited. I feel like I am making my way through the division and I am grateful.

 “Farrell is a tough opponent, but I’m confident in myself that I will come out on top.”

 “This is a very important fight because it is a step up. I never look past anyone. Tomorrow can never happen without today. 

“Being around Lou Duva’s gym since I was a little boy gave me the opportunity to watch some of the great boxing talent come through such as Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield and so many others.  I was also fortunate enough to be able to pick up little things from the revolving door of talent that entered and I would imitate them.

 “I am used to fighting both tall and shorter fighters. If I need to go to the trenches with Farrell, I am ready.”

 

 MALACHY FARRELL

“I am excited about fighting on “ShoBox’’ and gain recognition. I know that Marrone is my toughest opponent so far.

 “I like to use my height as an advantage, but both of us are tall. We’ll see who can take advantage of that, but for his sake, I am not one to overlook. I may not have a lot of television exposure but I am not one to take lightly.

 “Never do I look for the knockout but if it comes to me, I take it. I always go for the win.”

 “I never have hatred for my opponent. That is, until that bell rings. But once the final bell rings the hate goes away.”

                                        BEY  

 

 

 

 

FISTS FLY, FIGHTERS FALL AT “HEAVYWEIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA”

 

- Ron Ross

 

Any more shows like the one Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing put on at Manhattan Center Wednesday night and the World Wrestling Federation better watch out. There were more thrills, spills, bodies slamming to the canvas, finishes you wouldn’t believe – and it was for real! Who knows, Newsday may even have to consider moving Boxing back above Lawn Croquette and Skittles.

 

In a co-feature that would be too unbelievable for a Hollywood scriptwriter to dare bring into the studio, Detroit’s Jonathon Banks, the Kronk Gym’s latest wunderkind, outrocky’d Rocky by climbing off the canvas twice in the first round of a scheduled 10-rounder for the NABO Cruiserweight Championship after being dropped by a couple of awesome rights by Miami’s sensation Eliseo Castillo. Castillo, 196,  who came in with a record of 20-1-1, 15 KO’s bombed Banks into Never-Never Land and it was only Banks’ desperate holding on for dear life that made it possible for him to hear the bell ring ending that disastrous first round.

 

Just like Rocky had Burgess Meredith in his corner exhorting him on, Banks had his own version in Emanuel Steward. Whatever Steward said to him in that 60 second respite may well be equivalent to Knute Rockne’s “Win one for the Gipper” plea. Banks came out looking slightly wary for the second round. Not intimidated or apprehensive, but cautious and businesslike. He jabbed, boxed and moved well, holding his own to everyone’s surprise in a close round. The third round was even more of a surprise, with Banks, now looking calm and confident, moving into a take charge mode. He started working off the left hand, hooking and jabbing and now more than willing to bring the fight to Castillo. Midway through the round he was throwing sizzling combinations while Castillo seemed to be looking for that one big punch.

 

Banks came out smoking in the fourth round, landing well with the left to the head and body. As Castillo tried fighting back, winging away with both hands, Banks unleashed a lightning-fast left-right combination to Castillo’s jaw that sent him sprawling. It was all over. 1:12 of the fourth round.

 

It seems that guys named Castillo tend to wind up on the wrong end of miracle comebacks.

 

Banks, who came in at 197, improved to 12-0 with 9 KO’s.

 

In the heavyweight co-feature, New Zealand’s pride and joy, David Tua, in his third fight of a slow moving comeback, showed that he is a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. Taking on Edward Guitierez , 227, Oak Lawn, Il, who had a record of 15-2-1, 6 KO’s, Tua, at 245 ½, took a round to shake off accumulated rust as the crowd booed and catcalled at his slow, methodical pace. Between rounds it was like someone oiled up the rusted joints of the Tua Man – no relation to the Tin Man. Tua threw the left hook. Guitierrez went down. The boos stopped. Now there were cheers as David “The Terminator” Tua moved forward, the jabs landing with much more force and each punch seemingly hurting his opponent.

 

Tua kept up the relentless pressure in the third round and then, in the fourth  he sent out his special delivery message to the heavyweight division. A left hook to the body and Referee Mike Ortega counted to ten. David Tua is back. Message delivered. No return receipt necessary.

 

Tua’s record is now 45-3-1 with 39 KO’s.

 

In the third fight of the ESPN-cast of the card middleweight Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin showed how sweet it is by unwrapping and sharing with Cincinnati’s 2-0 William Prieto as delicious an overhand right as could be delivered. Quillen stood by and watched as the ten count was tolled. His record is now at 6-0 with 5 KO’s, Quillen is fast becoming a local favorite.

 

The evening did not begin too auspiciously, with the card being delayed about an hour by an oversight of not having the mandatory ambulance with stretcher available. But once the action began, it was an all-forgiving crowd. There were also some all-forgiving fighters. Like, for instance, in the opening 4-rounder you had two heavyweights who were all for giving the other guy as much leather as he could deliver. But when you have a guy like Jon “The Fighting Marine” Schneider, a 197 ½ pound leatherneck from Yonkers making his professional debut, marching into the ring with an escort of full dress marines it has to be a cause for concern to a guy like Eddie Kimbrough, a 230-pounder from Milwaukee with an 0-1 record. Well, the bell rings and these two guys come out like it is Iwo Jima. And you know what happens at Iwo Jima. With wild, flailing punches coming from all directions and no let-up, it is quite a sight to see the smaller Schneider muscling Kimbrough around the ring. And then a howitzer lands – a right to Kimbrough’s jaw, then a left hook explodes on top of his head and the war is all over at 1:05 of the first round. Kimbrough does not sing “From The Halls Of Montezuma.”

 

The Fighting Marine is now followed by Bryant “The Fighting Cop” Pappas, 164 pounds, undefeated in three fights, all KO’s who takes on Louisville’s James Durham, 164, 0-1 as a pro. It is a tough act to follow, but Pappas tries hard. He goes after his man with a vengeance, dropping him about a minute into the round, surprisingly, with a left jab. Meanwhile, Durham is like a windmill, swinging wildly, always coming in, refusing to take a backwards step. But, unfortunately, he is a windmill that only makes wind. Pappas steps in with a solid flurry of blows and puts  Durham down again. There is no quit in this kid as he gets up and is throwing punches in every direction, which to his great dismay do not land. Again Pappas turns on his own windmill, a much more effective one and Durham is down again, for the third time and Pappas scores a TKO victory at 2:59 of the first round.

 

On the distaff side of the card, Brooklyn’s Cindy Serrano, 130, 13-0-1, 7 KO’s won a spirited 6-round decision over Tawnyah Freeman of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, 135, , 7-3, 3 KO’s.

 

Jorge Teron, 135, of the Bronx, improved to 11-0-1, 8 KO’s, with a hard fought unanimous decision over Armando Cordoba, Tampa, FL, 135, 21-26-2, 16 KO’s. The fight went down to the wire, all three officials scoring it 58-56 for Theron. I had it even at 57-57.

 

The closing act was an all-southpaw contest with Brooklyn’s “Mean” Joe Green, 159, 11-0, 8 KO’s, demolishing Omaha’s Damone Wright, 159,  17-26-2, 6 KO’s, dropping him twice in the first round, the first knockdown coming from an overhand left to the jaw and the second, a right hook to the body. Green was all over his man in the second round, dropping him with another left to the jaw when the referee stopped it at 29 seconds into the stanza.

 

It was one of the more exciting cards to be seen locally in quite a while, but if you were going to pick a high point it had to be when the ambulance and stretcher arrived.

RR

JULY 26th, 2006 PHOTOS

Cindy Serrano (l) jabs at her opponent, Tanya Freeman.

David Tua  (L) squares up against opponent . . 

. . .then starts his attack

Photos TRUFANBOXING