pugilistmatch.com – a new website for Professional Boxers seeking fights.

Posted on | July 6, 2008 | 3 Comments

For Immediate release: 7th July 2008

pugilistmatch.com is an international boxing matchmaker website created as a free marketing tool to aid both male and female professional boxers seeking fights as well as for matchmakers and boxing promoters searching for opponents for their events.

The concept behind the website is simple. Fighters’ representatives, or even the fighter themself, place the boxers details on the appropriate weight class page so that matchmakers and promoters can access the information and contact anyone that might be suitable for their events.

The concept behind pugilistmatch.com originated because British sports publicist Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro, who is currently based in Philadelphia, had been working with promoters and matchmakers in America and Europe to secure fights for various of his English and American boxing clients. Word got out around various gyms regarding his success and more and more people were asking for his help. It seemed that there were a lot of boxers looking for fights out there yet promoters couldn’t find them. Realising that most of the fighters are in the early stages of their careers and as such cannot justify having a publicist on their payroll, Rio decided that the best way to help them all would be to create something that would get their names in front of the people that matter – the matchmakers and promoters.

The website already has over 50 fighters listed – mostly American – but there are also a handful of boxers from Europe, Australia and Africa already registered.

In addition to the boxers’ listings there is also a forum where promoters and matchmakers can list their events, put speciific details for opponents they are seeking as well as an area where boxing related services may promote themselves for free.

TOMASZ ADAMEK HITS CHICAGO TUESDAY

Posted on | July 6, 2008 | No Comments

NUMEROUS PUBLIC APPEARANCES ON TAP FOR THE RETURN OF THE POLISH WARRIOR

CHICAGO, IL (JULY 7, 2008) In advance of his show down this Friday night, July 11th, against veteran brawler Gary Gomez at the Aragon Ballroom, #1 IBF mandatory cruiserweight contender and former light heavyweight world champion Tomasz Adamek will hit Chicago with a flurry of public appearances leading up to the ESPN2 televised ten round main event.

Advance tickets to THE RETURN OF THE POLISH WARRIOR, presented by Kathy Duva’s Main Events and Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, can be obtained through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or 312-559-1212).

The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. , adjacent to the corner of Broadway and Lawrence. Doors for this event will open at 6:30pm with the first bell at 7:15pm.

In addition to numerous scheduled television and radio interviews leading up to this week’s fight, Adamek will kick off this week’s public appearances with an open workout at JABB Boxing Gym at 2pm on Tuesday, July 8th.

Adamek will be joined by “THE POLISH PRINCE” Andrzej Fonfara, the outstanding Chicago based middleweight prospect who is facing Derrick “SUPERMAN” Findley in the co-main event on Friday night, along with undefeated super middleweight Piotr Wilczewski and undefeated heavyweight Mariusz Wach, both of who will also be fighting on Friday night. JABB Boxing Gym is located at 410 N. Oakley in Chicago (312-733-5222).

At 12Noon on Wednesday afternoon, July 9th, the final press conference for THE RETURN OF THE POLISH WARRIOR will take place at FERAJNA’S POLISH RESTAURANT at 6714 W. Belmont Ave. on the northwest side of Chicago . Along with participants in the main event and co-main event, many members of the outstanding undercard will also be present for one on one interviews.

On Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 7:30pm, Adamek and Fonfara will host a meet and greet for Chicagoland fight fans at CENTRUM SPORT SOCCER USA sporting goods store located at 5535 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago . (773-545-9777).

At 7pm, Thursday evening, July 10th, THE OAKS HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER , 300 S. Frontage Rd. in Burr Ridge, will play host to the public weigh-in for Friday night’s fights. The weigh-in will be held in the Oak Ridge #3 Room on the First Floor.

Adamek has previously fought twice in Chicago , both times against Australian slugger Paul Briggs. On May 21, 2005, Adamek won the vacant World Boxing Council Light Heavyweight championship in an outstanding battle against Briggs at the United Center . The fight, a blood filled back and forth war of epic proportions, was voted the 2005 “Fight of the Year” by many boxing writers.

Adamek returned to Chicago the following year and defended the world title against Briggs on October 7, 2006 at the Allstate Arena, again in a classic battle that was listed very high on “Fight of the Year” lists for 2006.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE JULY RING GIRL TODAY!!

Posted on | July 6, 2008 | 1 Comment

Our latest ring girl contest is now in full swing after much delay waiting for contestants. If you’re hot and look stunning in a bikini, send us 5 pictures and a short bio to be included in the August contest. Send everything to info@unlimitedfightnews.com. Voting for this month will last until July 31. Spread the word. Here’s the promo video to help you decide:

UFC 86: JACKSON vs. GRIFFIN – RESULTS, COMMENTARY, & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Posted on | July 6, 2008 | 1 Comment

by: Jack Bratcher

Tyson Griffin vs. Marcus Aurelio – Lightweight

Round 1: Feeling out. Griffin’s ankles are taped heavily. Crowd already restless. Exchanging punches. Tyson throws Marcus down and goes in for some ground and pound while standing. Big shots by Griffin. Marcus looking for a triangle. Griffin in full gaurd of Marcus. Aurelio looking for an armbar. Griffin still posturing up, standing and throwing down punches….he backs up and lets Marcus up. Big overhand right by Griffin that misses but would have ended the fight. Leg kick by Tyson. Tyson with a great body shot then an uppercut. Big leg kick by Griffin. Another one. Marcus shoots in but gets stuffed. Good round for Griffin.

Round 2: Tyson coming in strong with punches then leg kicks. Nice variety of punches from Griffin. Left hook by Griffin and big leg kick. Big leg kick Griffin. Aurelio moves in lands a shot then clinches. Against the cage clinched. Knees by Griffin. Foot stomps by Griffin. Knee by Aurelio. Griffin grabs a single leg. Picks up Aurelio and puts him down. Aurelio gets a takedown but Griffin jumps up and Aurelio looking for his back. Tyson gets side control and now back in the gaurd of Aurelio. Aurelio has a great active gaurd. You can tell Aurelio is very skilled off his back. Elbow by Griffin. Griffin doesn’t seem worried much about being submitted because he’s putting himself right in there deep in Aurelio’s gaurd without consequence. Another round for Tyson.

Round 3: Jab by Griffin. Leg kick by Griffin. Knee by Aurelio. Another leg kick by Griffin. Tyson’s stand up looks great. 3 jabs from Griffin. Another leg kick. Aurelio shoots from way back. Tyson lands a big combo. Aurelio looking tired. Griffin landing a number of combos and then a leg kick. Tyson rushes in for a takedown and puts Aurelio on his back. This is the only place Aurelio has really looked decent is off his back but Tyson isn’t worried at all. He’s in Aurelio’s full gaurd and Aurelio keeps looking for submissions but Tyson is too skilled for him. One more round for Tyson. Tyson’s fifth fight in a row that goes the distance but he’s won them all but one. This has to be the best Tyson Griffin we’ve ever seen. Lots of tools in this guy’s toolbox. 24 years old.

They just showed the results of the fan’s voting on the Griffin vs. Jackson fight and Griffin is the slight favorite to win according to the votes.

Josh Koscheck vs. Chris Lytle – welterweight

Round 1: This should be good. Head kick by Koscheck folowed by a strike by Lytle. Lytle with a combo. Lytle being a bit more aggressive right now. Lytle threw a huge overhand right that missed. Koscheck gets a takedown and is in Lytle’s half gaurd. Kos with some g n’ p. Elbows by Kos. Big elbow by Kos. Big punch. Kos moves Lytle against the fence. Lytle with butterfly gaurd. Big hammerfist by Koscheck. Kos probably won that round.

Round 2: Combos by Lytle. Leg kick by Kos. Kos looking for a takedown and gets it. Elbows by Kos. Big punches by Kos that cuts Lytle. More elbows by Kos. One thing is Lytle will not let Kos pass his gaurd but Kos is still pounding him from half gaurd. Kos grinding elbows and big punches now. Blood on the UFC camera looks nice. LOL. Blood on TV screen and you see someone come wipe it off. Side control by Kos. Lytle is a bloody mess. He’s laying in a pool of blood. Goldberg just said Lytle is still intelligently defending himself and I almost spit out my drink. He’s getting murdered! Bell sounds finally. Lytle’s corner is telling him he’s fine but he is not fine. He has a nasty nasty cut and he can barely walk or even open his eyes.

Joe Rogan is comparing Lytle’s cut to the enormous cut that Marvin Eastman received one time and he says, “Man that thing looked like a goat’s vagina.” Ahahaha holy crap Rogan is a nut. Man that was funny.

Round 3: But he’s coming back out. Damn. Kos has to feel sorry for him almost. Lytle lands an uppercut as Kos shoots in. Lytle looking for a kimora then looks for a guillatine. Kos gets out and is back in Lytle’s half gaurd where he almost killed him last round. Here comes the elbows. Rogan is grimmacing. This may be the bloodiest match ever. It’s getting close to that. Lytle can’t see; I’m sure of it. Yve Levine stood the fight up from inactivity. That’ ridiculous on the stand up but probably safe for Lytle. Lytle swinging. Props to the ref I guess for lettting the fight go. Kos backs up from Lytle as he’s swinging at him. Lytle lands some good shots as Kos is retreating and the bell sounds. The crowd boos Kos for retreating but damn man he probably felt sorry for the guy. Can you imagine if this fight was on CBS with all that blood? It would have been stopped in Round 1 probably. Unanimous Decision for Koscheck. Great perfomance by Koscheck. Kos’s cottontop hair is now pink from Lytle’s blood. That was some freakin awesome ground and pound from Kos. Kos has a new clothing company….marclothing.com….check it out he says!.

The voting is exactly 50 / 50 now for Jackson vs. Griffin.

Joe Stevenson vs. Gleison Tibau – lightweight

Round 1: I wonder if Joe will use the “karate shout” (prounounced “kee-eye”) again this fight? Left hand from Joe. Left body kick by Tibau. Joe lands a right hand that puts Tibau down then Joe gets a guillatine but Tibau escapes. Clinched against the cage. Big elbow by Stevenson. No “karate shouts” yet. Elbow by Joe. Still clinched. Another elbow. Combo by Joe then gets a takedown. Tibau has Joe in an omoplata shoulder lock and it is in deep. Joe’s arm looks terrible. It is locked in tight. Tibau was hitting Joe in the head and Joe was laughing at him. Joe is looking bored and relaxed telling ref to stand him up. They both sat in this position for about a minute and a half. It was so tight that Joe could not get out but also Tibau could not finish it. One time I wish there was no time limit to see how that would have played out. That was a smooth omoplata for sure.

Round 2: Joe comes out swinging. Pushing forward looking for a takedown. Underhooks by Tibau. Clinched against the cage. Tibau gets Joe down but Joe gets up. Joe swings, Tibau ducks and takes Joe down then immediately gets side control. Tibau is beating Joe Stevenson and just full mounted him. Both back to their feet. Joe better do something. Joe dancing around. Exact same thing. Joe swings then Tibaou ducks and takes him down and Joe catches his head in a guillatine with a beautiful submission. WOW!!! That was an amazing submission for Joe and such a great comeback. Congratulations Joe “Daddy” Stevenson. Joe thanks Robert Drysdale for helping him with his jits.

Now the voting has 53% for Griffin – 47% for Jackson

Patrick Cote vs. Ricardo Almeida – middleweight

Round 1: This is supposed to be a fight to decide the number one contender for the middleweight division according to what the UFC promos have been saying. Cote has a low stance to help him stuff the takedowns which he immediately did. Ricardo jumps up to gaurd and looks for a guillatine. They go to ground. Cote in Almeida’s gaurd. Cote stands up. Almeida up. Jumping kick by Almeida with nothing on it. Clinched against the cage. Almeida looking for takedown. Striker vs. Grappler in this match. Cote sprawling the offense of Almeida. Almeida still trying and finally gets the takedown. Almeida in Cote’s half gaurd. Almeida standing in Cote’s gaurd and throws some strikes that land on Cote’s face. Cote holding on tight to Almeida. Big punch by Almeida. Scramble by Cote. Elbow from bottom by Cote. Big body shots by Almeida. Ricardo Almeida dominated that round. Cote maybe landed two or three small shots at most that round. Great round for Almeida.

Round 2: There’s a problem with Almeida’s glove and it’s taking awhile until they fix it. Almeida pulls gaurd and has mission control. Crackhead control by Almeida. Cote gets out and stands up. Cote is tentative to get in too close. He gets in slowly and they clinch. Elbow by Cote. Leg kick by Cote. Almeida has some good head movement. Clinched against the cage. Ref calls for work. Almeida pulls gaurd for a guillatine but slips out. Cote lands a big right that drops Almeida at the end of the round. Bell rings. Renzon Gracie is in Almeida’s ear.

Round 3: Clinched against the cage. Cote backs up. Big leg kick by Cote. Cote is staying back and now throws a leg kick. Nice. Cote needs to turn it on. Another leg kick by Cote. Two leg kicks this whole round is the only strikes of importance and now a right hand by Almeida. Another leg kick by Cote. Left hook by Cote. Looking like a sparring match. Takedown by Almeida. Thirty seconds left. Side control by Almeida. Cote on top and the bell sounds. Close fight but I’m gonna say Cote by split decision. Goldberg says, “Cote with just enough ground game not to get submitted and Almeida with just enough stand up not to get knocked out.” That’s a really good way to sum that up. And I got it right; official call is Cote by split decision.

I’m sorry but if this is the number one contender match for middleweight, Anderson Silva will have a field day with either of these guys. Cote is by no means ready for Anderson Silva and I don’t even think he deservers a shot. I would much rather see Yushin Okami against Sivla. I mean who has Cote beat to deserve Anderson Silva? I know the middleweight division of the UFC has some slim pickings these days because Silva has cleaned them out but come on. No one wants to see Cote vs. Silva; especially after seeing him fight like that. I know two middleweights right now in the top ten who really deserve a title shot but they aren’t in the UFC. If Dana REALLY wants to own the claim that they have all the best fighters in the world then Matt Lindland and Frank Trigg both should be in the UFC fighting Anderson Silva for that title. As far as I know, the only reason those two aren’t in the UFC is because of Dana.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin – Light Heavyweight Title Fight

One thing I like about Forrest is that he doesn’t shave his chest hair. That’s a real man.
Round 1: Rampage is looking SERIOUS AS HELL. I don’t see Randy in Forrest’s corner. Not sure if they aren’t showing him or what. Rampage is looking SERIOUS. OH SHIT HERE WE GO. Forrest looks calm. Forrest sticking and moving and lands a leg kick. Uppercut by Rampage that misses. Head kick by Forrest. Right hand by Forrest. Forrest with a leg kick. Left hook by Rampage. Forrest is looking lighter on his feet. Forrest is outscoring Rampage but there’s some big strikes by Rampage that wobbled Forrest. Rampage has some good head movement. Forrest buckled Rapage’s leg with a kick. Rampage has some pwoerful strikes. Big uppercut by Rampage that knocks Forrest to the ground. One punch knocked him down. Forrest has Quinton in his full closed gaurd. Forrest gets up. Bell sounds and that was a hell of a round. That uppercut by Rampage was nasty that dropped Forrest as he rushed in. But Forrest recovered nicely. My hands are shaking as I type this I’m so nervous for this fight.

Round 2: Big leg kick by Forrest. Quinton is limping. Big knees by Forrest. He’s on top of Quinton now. Rampage is in trouble. He’s in Quinton’s half-gaurd. Elbows by Forrest. Forrest using his elbow to lean on Rampage’s throat and head. This is where Forrest training with Randy Couture should pay dividends and it is. He’s in side control now looking for an Americana but lets it go. Ground and pound by Forrest. Elbows by Forrest still looking for submission. Rampage is offering no defense. Full mount on Rampage. Elbows by Forrest. Forrest still pounding. Those leg kicks by Forrest is what mayy be the deciding factor in this fight. Rampage has doen nothing. At last Rampage makes one attempt to roll Forrest off but can’t get it. Forrest won that round easily. He made Rampage look like an amatuer. Juanito asks Rampage if he’s ok and he says yes. Juanito tells Rampage he has to make Forrest fight him which means brawl with him. Rampge’s leg is jacked…probably his knee.

Round 3: Rampage has thrown nothing. Rampage throws a telegraphed punch. Big punches by Rampage lands a couple. Leg kick by Forrest. Big left by Rampge lands. Forrest has to stay away from those punches of Rampage. They exhange a flurry. Leg kick check by Rampage. Big body shot by Rampage. Superman punch by Forrest misses. Left hand by Rampage. Head movement by Rampage looks like he’s getting in a groove a bit. Here comes Rampage moving forward swinging.. Bell sounds.

Round 4: Kicks by Forrest. Rampage is bouncing now. Comes in close now. Forrest tries to trip him but lands on his back with Rampage on top. Forrest has a cut over his right eye. Forrest has a triangle deep. Uh oh….Rampage picks him up for the patented Rampage pwer bomb but Forrest is able to slip out and falls back to the ground with Rampage back on top. Forrest is defending hiimself very well. Forrest stands up but Rampage hits him in the face on his way up. They exchange shots that land. Head kick by Forrest that is blocked. Combo by Forrest. Big left hand from Rampage. Three big rights by Rampage as the bell sounds. Rampage probably won that round. I can’t believe this is going to the fifth round. Big ugly cut over Forrest’s right eye.

Round 5: Everytime Rampage lands a good shot it wobbles Forrest. Leg kick by Forrest. I don’t know why Forrest’s corner didn’t tell him to keep with those leg kicks. Rampage lands a left. Forrest lands a right. Big leg kick by Forrest. Big right by Rampage and right back by Forrest. Body shot by Rampage. Rampage is backing up. Forrest trying to stick and move but not sticking alot right now. Rampage doing a good job of blocking. One minute left. Big right hand by Forrest. Leg kick by Forrest. Body shot by Rampage. Uppercut by Rampage. Round ends with Forrest throwing knees while holding Rampage n a muay thai plum.

There was Randy Couture I saw him! I saw him! I know you didn’t want us to see him UFC but I saw him!!

Well Jaunito Ibarra, Rampage’s trainer, said he would retire if Forrest wins so let’s see what happens.

Alot of times you have to really beat a champ to take his belt and I’m just not sure if they will give it to him although I think he deserves it.

HOLY SHIT FORREST DID IT!!! FORREST DID IT!! FIVE ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION!!

I was scared because the way Bruce Buffer announced the winner it sounded like he was going to say “Still the Light Heavyweight Champion” but he didn’t. He said, “THE NEW LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD FORREST GRIFFIN!”

Rampage was very classy and very humble in his loss. He said “He just whooped my ass. That’s all there is to it.”

Forrest said that they will have to fight again in a rematch and he admitted that everytime Rampage hit him that it hurt; and it looked like it hurt too.

Awesome Fight….Awesome Night. Best sport in the world.

Jorge Gurgel vs. Cole Miller, one of the preliminary fights from the night, is free to watch on UFC.COM.

Joe Rogan said it perfect; “You can’t say the Shogun Rua win for Forrest was a fluke anymore.” This really opens up the door for so many new match ups. And I really feel sorry for all the websites out there who try to put together UFC/MMA rankings. Good luck on trying to figure out the UFC LHW rankings now after this main event. LOL

UNDERCARD

Gabriel Gonzaga defeats Justin McCully via Submission (Kimura) Round 1

Cole Miller defeats Jorge Gurgel via submission (triangle choke) in round three

Melvin Guillard defeats Dennis Siver via TKO (Strikes) Round 1

Justin Buchholz defeats Corey Hill via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 2

STURM WINS UD OVER GRIFFIN

Posted on | July 6, 2008 | No Comments

July 5, Halle / Westfalen:

WBA middle champ Felix Sturm retained the title with an impressive display of slick, sharp boxing against American challenger Randy Griffin in the headliner of Universum´s show at the Gerry Weber Stadion. It was scored 116-112, 116-113 and 118-110. There were no knockdowns and neither man was at any time hurt. Griffin was under pressure in the last two and had Sturm had more power he would surely been stopped in the eleventh round. At the final bell Griffin also seemed unsteady. Sturm was off to a good start while Griffin looked a bit rusty and unsure off what to do. The champion controlled the tempo of the fight while Griffin´s sheer agression and hard work won him a few rounds.

Sturm have now 120 days to face mandatory challenger Sebastian Sylvester, who was ringside and must have been concerned about Sturm´s speed and slick style.

UPCOMING SUMMER BOXING IN CHICAGO

Posted on | July 6, 2008 | No Comments

HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING

FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2008/ESPN2
Tomasz Adamek vs. Gary Gomez, ten rounds, cruiserweights
Andrzej Fonfara vs. Derrick Findley, eight rounds, middleweights
Mariusz Wach vs. Eric Boose, eight rounds, heavyweights
Piotr Wilczewski vs. Thomas Reid, six rounds, super middleweights
Gerald Taylor vs. Walter Foster, six rounds, light heavyweights
Deividas Nekrasas vs. Quincy Miner, four rounds, cruiserweights
Mike Kurzeja vs. Thaddeus Hamlin, four rounds, super middleweights

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2008/OFF-TV
Francisco Rodriguez vs. Alex Becerra, ten rounds, bantamweights
Jose Hernandez vs. Jose Navarrete, eight rounds, featherweights
Ivan Rodriguez vs. Barbaro Zepeda, six rounds, featherweights
Mike Nevitt vs. TBA, six rounds, light heavyweights
Gadiel Andaluz vs. TBA, four rounds, lightweights

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2008/ESPN2
Tavoris Cloud vs. Julio Gonzalez, twelve rounds, light heavyweights
IBF Title Eliminator
Andy Lee vs. TBA, eight rounds, middleweights
Carl Davis vs. TBA, eight rounds, heavyweights
Oscar Leon vs. Zaid Zavaleta, eight rounds, junior lightweights
Juan Camilo Novoa vs. TBA, six rounds, junior middleweights
Jhonatan Ricar vs. TBA, four rounds, welterweights
Johnny Suarez vs. TBA, four rounds, junior middleweights

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008/SOLO BOXEO
Carlos Hernandez vs. TBA, ten rounds, lightweights
Antonio Escalante vs. TBA, super bantamweights

All shows at
The Aragon Ballroom
1106 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL
Tickets/Info–312-226-5800

ALEX VALDEZ LEADS NEW CHARGE OF FUTURE CHAMPIONS AT ESPINOZA BOXING CLUB

Posted on | July 4, 2008 | 4 Comments

LOS ANGELES (July 3, 2008) With super bantamweight Alex Valdez’s big win over Anytei Laryea in Chicago broadcast as the main event on SOLO BOXEO on June 20th, Los Angles based Espinoza Boxing Club continued it’s progress towards producing future world champions such as Junior Featherweight King Israel “EL MAGNIFICO” Vazquez and recently retired former bantamweight champion Martin “EL GALLITO”Castillo.

Said Frank Espinoza, President of Espinoza Boxing Club, “Since we started in 1991 our goal was to work with the finest prospects in boxing and build them into world champions. We’ve had success with Israel and Martin, and now it looks like Alex Valdez is on his way to a title shot within the next twelve months and we’re working with a real solid crop of kids that we’re excited about.

The newcomers are young prospects including Luis Ramos Jr., Manny “Suavecito” Roman, Jesus “Pollo” Hernandez, Carlos Molina and the recently signed Abraham Lopez. They’re all undefeated and I think we’ve got some future world champions.”

“We’ve also got Miguel Huerta who’s coming off the controversial decision loss to Javier Jauregui a few months back and he’s fighting on SOLO BOXEO on July 11th in Corpus Christi . And Julio “La Sombra” Zarate is fighting an IBF Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator later this summer.

Espinoza is commended for his managerial work with Israel Vazquez in the September 2008 issue of Ring Magazine in a special report on “The Five Best Managed Fighters.”

The 24 year old Alex Valdez has worked his record to 21-2-1 with fifteen knockouts following his win over Laryea. He is currently world ranked #2 by the WBC, #5 by the WBO, #10 by the IBF and #15 by the WBA. He is undefeated in his last seventeen bouts.

On June 27th, highly regarded lightweight prospect Luis Ramos Jr. improved to a perfect 5-0 with three knockouts with a devastating first round knockout of Noe Jimenez at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario , California . Ramos will next battle on July 25th at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon , California on an ESPN2 televised card.

Flyweight Manny “Sauvecito” Roman, despite being only 20 years old, has quickly moved into the contender category, winning his first ten round bout over Sergio Espinoza on April 7th. The win moved his record to 13-0-1 with five knockouts.

Los Mochis, Mexico native Jesus “Pollo” Hernandez moved to 6-0 (1KO) on April 7th as the lightweight knocked out the similarly named Jesus Hernandes in the fourth round. Hernandez will return to action on July 11th at the Quiet Cannon Country Club in Montebello, California.

Veteran super bantamweight Julio ‘LA SOMBRA” Zarate, 26-4-1 (16KO’s), riding a five bout winning streak, heads to South Africa where he will face Jeffrey Mathebula on August 29th in an IBF Title Eliminator. Zarate is currently world ranked #3 by the IBF and #6 by the WBA.

Super featherweight prospect Carlos Molina improved his record to 3-0 with a four round decision win over Odilon Rivera on June 19th in Irvine , California . Molina is also scheduled to return to the ring on July 30th at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon , California on the ESPN2 televised card.

Recently signed to the Espinoza Boxing Club stable, super featherweight Abraham Lopez raised his record to 2-0 with a first round stoppage of veteran Tomas Bernal on May 2nd. Lopez will return on July 25th at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on July 25th on an SOLO BOXEO televised card.

For more information on The Espinoza Boxing Club, please visit their newly remodeled website at www.espinozaboxingclub.com

GARY TODD’S COTTO v MARGARITO PRE-FIGHT REPORT

Posted on | July 4, 2008 | No Comments

“The Belter at Welter”

The bell rings, the ring is buckling with the weight of way too many well wishers, media hopefuls trying to get a break, and the usual hanger on’s, hustling their way in to anything that might come their way.

Cotto is oblivious, emotionless and has his eyes set on his loved ones, motioning them to the ring, lifting them up, kissing them.

It’s a tremendous sight.

Look across to the other side of the ring, and you’ll see a much different picture. Cotto has just battered his opponent, and it shows. The other fighter looks much older now, as he smiles to everyone in his immediate world. He’s smiling but its not a happy smile. He’s apologizing with his eyes.

This has been a typical scenario for Miguel Cotto [ 32 wins with 26 ko’s ] since his debut fight in 2001. It’s a family business, and business is good. Wherever Cotto goes, you can be sure his father, Miguel Snr, uncle, Evangelista, and brother, Jose, are never far behind him. They are a tight nit, formidable unit who live and breathe boxing.

Antonio Margarito has been fighting all his life. From the streets of Tijuana, to the small working class fight halls of the amateurs, where side bets and taquila was much more important than the kids in the red and the blue.

Margarito was no mug, and he caught on real fast. You cant buy food with trophies ! After an 18 – 3 career in the amateurs, Margarito turned pro in 1994, as a lanky 16 year old, fighting mostly in Mexico, then across the border to California. It was a battle inside and outside of the ring with Margarito going up and down the weights, trying to settle into his life as a boxer. After good wins over Cesar Valdez, Miguel Angel Gonzales, and David Kamau, he moved up the welterweight ladder, hammering the faded Frankie Randall over four rounds, to earn a shot at his first world title. After 28 fights and thousands of miles on the road, Margarito had made the bigtime. It was July, 2001.

Up for grabs was the WBO welterweight title, and his opponent was the tough southpaw, Daniel Santos. The fight was a nightmare for Margarito and Santos, as after all the training , the sparring in the gym, the roadwork, the fight was stopped due to a head clash in the first round, with both fighters gushing with blood. Santos would come again, and so would Margarito.

In March, the following year , Margarito got another chance and fought with heart and soul, to beat Antonio Diaz, for the WBO title.

Margarito was a name in the welterweight division, and he stepped up to defend his title, beating Danny Perez, Andrew” six heads” Lewis, and Hercules Kyvelos, before moving up in weight to fight Santos again. The fight with Santos was another shocker, with the fight being stopped in the championship rounds, due to another head clash. Santos won on points to take the 154 belt home.

This loss was a turning point in his career. He went back to welter and got his old title back in 2005, before “icing” the big punching, much touted, Kermit Cintron in that same year. After disposing Manuel Gomez, he punched his way into the record books, fighting Joshua Clottey in a fight in which he threw over 1600 punches over the 12 rounds. With big fights and superstar paydays just around the corner, next up was the lanky slick punching, Paul Williams [ 32-0 ].

This was always going to be a hard fight. Williams could fight and he been waiting all his life for that night. In the fight he outboxed Margarito and fought with ring smarts, Margarito had never seen before, thus losing his title over 12 rounds.

True to form, he came back again, and battered the jaded Golden Johnson in one round, on Cotto’s undercard. He was out to make a statement to the man from Caguas, Puerto Rico, and 5 months later, he did, punching the liver out of Kermit Cintron to snatch his IBF welterweight title.

Next up was meant to be, Joshua Clottey, but Margarito refused to fight him , and gave up his title, as he wanted his date with Cotto.

For me, this has to be a money decision for Margarito. Cotto has plenty, and has stated he wont be training any harder for Margarito, than he has for any of his other opponents. I believe him, and I don’t think he has to.

Margarito is a good fighter who has been on the fringe of the contender ladder for years. He deserved his shots and he has made the most of what he has as a fighter, which is his height and reach, and his ability to throw punches from all angles on the inside. Will this be enough to beat Cotto? I don’t see it. Margarito has to start quickly and establish his fast jab. Everything must come from the jab. Cotto is a slow starter but seems to get stronger as he grinds his opponents down. He has been down, but has always got up to finish the job.
[ Ricardo Torres ]

Some may say Margarito is coming into this fight as a natural welterweight, and they would be right, but you have to remember, Cotto walks around, and has been fighting at 147lbs, on fight night, forever, so im sure it wont be a factor in this fight. Some may say this fight will be about who can take each other’s body shots better, and they could be right, but for me, this fight will be who gets through with the jab.

For Margarito, it’s another, if not his last throw of the dice, and he knows it. For Cotto, it’s another opponent in his business of boxing. He will fight his fight, the way he has always done, giving his fans and Bob Arum, fits, along the way, but in the end, he will grind out a hard fought win over the 12 rounds. “This Battle” should definitely be a “Belter at Welter”

Gary Todd has been involved in all aspects of the sport of boxing for over 25 years , and he is an international author, with his book on world champion’s workouts. “Workouts From Boxings Greatest Champs” He is a proud member of the Boxing writers association of America.

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