INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE & THROWDOWN ENERGY DRINK PUT “THE HEX” ON MIXED MARTIAL ARTS WITH NEW SIX-SIDED RING
Posted on | May 8, 2008 | 1 Comment
Unique Fight Surface Developed by IFL, Throwdown Industries Will Debut August 15 in New Jersey
NEW YORK, May 8, 2008 – The International Fight League (IFLI: OTC.BB) today announced it is in the process of developing a hexagon-shaped mixed martial arts ring, to be used in future IFL competitions. The new ring, created in conjunction with Throwdown Industries, the makers of Throwdown Energy Drink, will debut on Friday, August 15, at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The fight card for that event will be announced in June.
Dubbed “The Hex,” the six-sided surface will measure 24 feet across (27’ 8 ½” end-to-end) and will be enclosed by five ropes. The use of The Hex maintains the viewing advantage for fans in attendance as well as the television audience that the ring provides, while also allowing for the strategic benefits of a hexagonal surface.
“From a production and live event standpoint, the ring has proven to be the most fan and media friendly environment, as well as providing the safest possible environment for our athletes,” said Jay Larkin, IFL CEO. “The Hex allows for the larger surface that is utilized in other MMA organizations while still retaining the advantages we have enjoyed with the ring.”
A prototype of The Hex is currently being constructed and will be housed in Las Vegas. Throwdown, the leader in MMA Gyms and Training centers, has built training centers and personal gyms for the top MMA athletes in the world. Athletes and coaches will have the opportunity to work out in it prior to the August 15 New Jersey event.
“‘The Hex’ is quite different from the other world-class MMA facilities we have built,” said Throwdown President Mike McIntyre. “We are excited to be putting our expertise to work in developing what we feel will be an optimal surface for the sport as it continues to grow.”
Tickets for the East Rutherford, N.J. event will be available at the IZOD Center Box Office (located at the Meadowlands), www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (201) 507-8900.
About Throwdown
Throwdown Industries, Inc. specializes in premium impact and action sports goods and services. Their current product portfolio includes a full line of MMA fight gear: cages, rings, racks, bags, gloves accessories, performance apparel, media and Training Centers under the THROWDOWN brand name.
Throwdown Energy Drinks: Classic and Rampage Punch – both available in regular and sugar-free formats — are scientifically designed for those who want to “Throwdown” by providing double the energy than the average drink in this category.
About the IFL
International Fight League™ (IFL) has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.
—
“I have not yet begun to fight!”
-John Paul Jones
Tags: East Rutherford > hexagon ring > IFL > IZOD Center > June > NJ > Throwdown Industries
Injury sidelines Judah, Mosley fight called off
Posted on | May 8, 2008 | No Comments
JUDAH INJURED, BOUT WITH MOSLEY OFF;
MAY 31 PAY-PER-VIEW SHOW CANCELED
LOS ANGELES (May 8) – The scheduled May 31 fight between Shane Mosley and Zab Judah has been canceled due to an arm injury suffered by Judah during his Las Vegas training camp it was announced by Golden Boy Promotions today. The HBO Pay-Per-View event was scheduled to take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Judah suffered multiple severe lacerations on his right forearm and received 50 stitches to close the wounds suffered in an accidental fall. As a result, Judah will be unable to train for four weeks and was forced to withdraw from the bout.
“It is very unfortunate that Zab suffered this injury and that this great event had to be canceled,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “We are already in discussions with all parties involved to attempt to reschedule the fight for the near future.”
Tickets purchased for this event may be refunded at the original point of purchase.
Tags: CEO of Golden Boy Promotions > HBO > Las Vegas > Mandalay Bay > pay-per view > Richard Schaefer > Shane Mosley > stitches > Zab Judah
CONTROVERSIAL REGGIE JOHNSON FIGHT AVAILABLE ON GOFIGHTLIVE
Posted on | May 8, 2008 | No Comments
WATCH THE CONTROVERSIAL FIGHT BETWEEN
REGGIE JOHNSON & JULIO GONZALEZ
ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV
NEW YORK, NEW YORK (May 8, 2008)—This past February 23rd in Lake Charles, Louisiana a battle of former Light-Heavyweight champions took place with little fanfare. There was no HBO License-fee, no Vegas lights or A-list stars.
Just two champions going at it tooth and nail for the right to be called IBA Light-Heavyweight champion and an opportunity to springboard in back into the thick of the division.
Reggie Johnson and Julio Gonzalez went at it in a terrific action-packed affair that most ringsiders were split on who should have had their hand raised.
You can be the judge as this fight has been made available on www.gofightlive.tv
When the scores were announced, fightnews.com account of the bout read “When the split decision was announced in favor of Johnson, the crowd booed heavily. Johnson had won in the eyes of two judges but it was Gonzalez who won the fans.”
That’s not all. The whole undercard from February 23rd will also be shown on www.gofightlive.tv which included bouts with undefeated heavyweights Eugene Hill & Justin Jones in separate bouts undefeated knockout artist Wilfred Scypion Jr.
Lanardo Tyner: “This is huge, it’s my opportunity!”
Posted on | May 8, 2008 | No Comments
Major step up against Arnaoutis headlines ESPN Friday night.
By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
May 8, 2008
Last year undefeated jr. welterweight prospect Lanardo Tyner made the sacrifice of uprooting his family from their Detroit, Michigan home down to Houston, Texas – with the notion that following his boxing idol, former world champion Frank Tate (a fellow Detroit native), would be a boost to his professional career.
Tate, who earned the International Boxing Federation middleweight championship by picking up the vacant title with a commanding 15 round unanimous decision victory over Michael Olajide in 1987, and was dethroned the following year by Michael Nunn, had left the Motor City after his fighting career ended and was training fighters at Hank’s Gym in Houston.
Tyner quickly realized the move to be a big plus, “This is the place to be. It’s good for family and to stay focused. My fun time down here is to train!”
The greatest benefit to the 32 year-old fighter would be the connection with gym owner Kenneth Richardson Sr. Richardson serves as manager and trainer, and the highly respected, no-nonsense boxing “good guy” made sure that the undefeated Tyner fit his criteria.
“No one works harder in the gym than Lanardo, and he has the punch. He is nicknamed “Pain Server” for a reason”, proudly stated Richardson, who cited Tyner’s record (19-0) and eleven knockouts. Richardson then firmly stressed, “But, Lanardo is also a family man and that is a must. You have to be good outside the ring. If they (any fighter) are not good OUTSIDE the ring – then you are in trouble.
If Lanardo Tyner is not good INSIDE the ring this Friday night, against USBA light welterweight titleholder Mike Arnaoutis, he will be in a lot of trouble!
In challenging “Mighty Mike” for his USBA crown, Tyner will be facing his most lethal opponent, by far. While feasting on lesser opponents throughout most of his five-year career, Tyner has not attracted much attention outside of Texas and will enter the ring Friday night at the Bally’s Ballroom in Atlantic City, as the betting underdog.
The likable Tyner will also be taking on the unenviable role as the “opponent” for the very first time as well, opting to travel into the popular Arnaoutis’s Atlantic City hometown to face the rugged and feisty twenty-eight year-old southpaw.
The importance of this televised ESPN “Friday Night Fights” main event has not escaped Tyner. “This is huge for me. I’m not fighting for much money here, this is my first time getting national exposure and it’s a real big opportunity for me and my family.”
Tyner is quick to point out his wife of ten years Toya, along with his two sons, Lanardo Jr. & Traydone, and his young daughter Nardica, as his driving force and inspiration.
Arnaoutis, lost his shot at a world title when he came up on the short end of a hotly contested twelve round split decision verdict against current champion Ricardo Torres (11/18/06) for the then vacant World Boxing Organization light welterweight crown, and then was soundly beaten by Kendall Holt last year in a twelve round WBO title eliminator bout. The always battle ready Greek fighter rebounded strongly this past March, earning the USBA title by out-boxing veteran Harrison Cuello over twelve rounds en route to a unanimous decision win.
Arnaoutis, 18-2-2 (9 KO’s), has fought the greater competition and has the experience over the undefeated (19-0, 11 KO’s), yet untested, “Pain Server” slugger. It measures up to be an exciting, and extremely meaningful, fight pitting two talented and deserving fighters yearning to better position themselves for the real prize…to become a world champion!
Unfortunately the originally scheduled highly anticipated co-feature bout between all-action light heavyweights Elvir Muriqi and Omar Sheika had to be cancelled after Muriqi claimed he suffered a late back injury.
In it’s place promoter Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing has added an eight round heavyweight bout between undefeated 2004 U.S. Olympian Devin Vargas, 15-0 (6 KO’s), and Dave Brunelli, 8-3 (3 KO’s), from Philadelphia.
Tickets, priced at $60 – $90 are still available by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Mike Indri can be contacted at RBFNJMIKE@aol.com
Tags: Boxing > Lanardo Tyner > lightweight > Mike Arnoutis. > USBA
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER – WEEK 6
Posted on | May 8, 2008 | 2 Comments
BY: JACK BRATCHER
”
[mpinpage]
I predict Matt Brown will win by murder.” That’s the quote his teammate gave before Brown’s fight with Jeremy May. That’s about how I’m feeling too before this fight. The guy looks solid. And he looks mean. And I love that. Brown said he’s been to jail, has been iinvolved with drugs, drinking, and fighting and that mma has given him something positive in his life that has helped him move away from those destructive tendencies. His opponent is Jeremy May; a young cocky type kid who is on Team Rampage. May is the one who put lime juice in Matt Brown’s dip last week and really pissed Brown off. The antagonism between the two helped to build this fight up. At the weigh in Jeremy is clowning around. Matt Brown was very serious and flinched at Jeremy May while May remained in his grinning goofy clowing mode. I’m rooting for Brown. He’s actually my pick to win the season. I hope I don’t eat those words tonight. Jeremy May has just come out and said that his knee “injury” was a farce and it’s been a way to pace himself whatever the hell that means. Rampage has been letting him out of hard training for about a week because he supposedly hurt his knee. He just came out and said it hurt a bit but it wasn’t enough to keep him from training. Why he would tell everyone that on TV I don’t know. All that did was make me lose the little respect I did have for him. How can you respect someone who does that, especially on national TV? All his teammates have to fight just the same as he does and they are going through the proper training while he fakes an injury to get out of training. Seriously, that is whack. You get a chance like this once in a lifetime and you’re gonna cheat yourself out of the full experience. I don’t get it. Matt Brown is 27. Jeremy May is 21.
Beautiful start. May comes out striking. Brown lets May do his thing and just sort of watches and blocks and dodges it all. Then Brown throws one punch and drops May. Brown immediately gets on top and gets in full mount. Brown goes for an arm bar but May gets out. May is up on his feet and Brown is on his back. Brown switched him and gets back on top. Brown is in side control knee on belly landing shots to May’s body. May gets up. Brown lands some hard shots to the face drops May. Brown landing some good shots to May’s face as he’s laying on his back. Brown grabs the muay thai plum and puts a big knee to May’s face. Big punch to his face then a big head kick to May’s chin drops him cold. Dana White said it was one of the best knockouts he’s ever seen on the Ultimate Fighter and I agree one hundred percent. It was awesome and makes me feel even more confident in my pick of Matt Brown to win the season. That was an awesome fight. Basically Brown let May shoot his wad and sort of tire himself out. Brown had the perfect game plan.
Forrest’s team is now 4 and 0. Rampage O. Jeremy May says after the fight that Matt Brown got lucky and it would never happen again. What a fucking asshole. This fucker can’t even give the guy the respect he deserves after he just beat your ass fair and square. Just like a young cocky 21 year old punk. I knew I didn’t like him for a reason.
Rampage wanted to know how Forrest keeps picking these fights to win. Forrest tells him their big “secret”. He’s been flipping a coin. Dana says the tension is building between Forrest and Rampage now because Rampage hates losing.
There’s one more fight on this episode. Luke Zachrich was picked last on the show and says he has alot to prove because of that. He’s on Team Forrest. Daniel Cramer is the opponent. He’s been labeled as the “pretty boy.” He used to work at a country club and sort of looks like an Ambercrombie and Fitch model according to one of his teammates. Seems like an interesting match up. How can you ever root for a “pretty boy.” I just like Forrest’s team better anyway. They just seem to have it more together. Someone from Rampage’s team was recently interviewed and he said that he really liked Rampage as a person but as far as coaching goes, he really didn’t have a whole lot to offer. He’s not very technical and he really thought Team Forrest had an advantage because of their trainers.
Clinched. Cramer swings. Clinched. Still clinched. Luke lands a shot. Cramer goes for a takedown but Luke lands on top then they both get up. Luke landing some good shots. Cramer comes in swinging and lands a little uppercut. Luke throws Cramer to the ground but he bouunces right up. Clinched again. Cramer lands some hard shots from the clinch, Cramer doing good now landing some bombs. Luke fires back. Forrest screams for Luke to put his hands up because he keeps getting pegged. Luke probably just took eight or nine hard shots but finally trips Cramer for a takedown. Luke is on top, gets Cramer’s back gets a rear naked choke but can’t sink it. The round ends with Luke laying on Cramer’s back. Holy shit what a round. I can’t believe Luke survived and came back like that. That was a phenomenal come back and showed alot of heart in Luke. Not the most technival fight but exciting nonetheless.
I said the other day this was my favorite season and someone asked me how could that be. Because of fights like this. That’s how.
Second round. They come out exchanging, Cramer gets a takedown and is in full mount. Landing some elbows. Luke showing terrible defense and gives up his back. Cramer landing shots. Cramer rolls him back over and starts landing shots. Terrible defense by Luke he’s just giving up now doing nothing but trying to cover his face. Not sure if he was tired out or what but Luke looked like he just quit at the end. Rampage said it’s the best fight he’d seen in a long time. I guess so because it’s their first and only win. Dana comes in to tell him he won ten grand. Matt Brown must have won that ten grand too but they didn’t show Dana giving him those props that I recall. Luke Zachrich says after the fight that he did get too tired in that fight. Rampage is happy with the win and says he’s going out to celebrate and does a little dance for the cameras.
Great show.
[/mpinpage]
Tags: antagonism > Arm > beautiful start > bratcher > chance > Control > destructive tendencies > drinking > drugs > everyone > farce > fight > Gonna > goofy > hell > juice > kid > knee > knee injury > lifetime > lime juice > little respect > Matt Brown > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA > national tv > opponent > punch > round > Seriously > someone > something > Team Rampage > teammate > teammates > The Ultimate Fighter > TUF > TUF week 6 > type > UFC > Ultimate Fighter > watches > WEEK > Week 6 of TUF
Mia St. John: She’ll always be The Knockout
Posted on | May 7, 2008 | No Comments
CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO READ THE ARTICLE BY AJ VITTONE
Ruiz on call and ready to rock
Posted on | May 7, 2008 | No Comments
LAS VEGAS (May 7, 2008) – Former two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz has announced that he’s prepared to replace WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev to fight another former WBA title-holder, Nikolay Valuev, for the WBA belt.
Chagaev pulled out of his scheduled mandatory defense against Valuev in May, reportedly due to a cold that forced him to break training, but Ruslan hasn’t made his initial mandatory defense since capturing the WBA belt on April 14, 2007 via a 12-round majority decision versus Valuev. His only title defense was a voluntary fight this past January in a 12-round decision against Matt Skelton. WBA champions are required to make a mandatory defense within a year of winning the belt and/or last mandatory defense. Chagaev is officially over the deadline and seeking further delays.
“We have to respect mandatory defenses and if Chagaev isn’t willing or able to fulfill his obligation as champion,” WBA No. 2 rated Ruiz said, “he should step aside so the WBA can move forward instead of standing still. There’s so much speculation about Chagaev. First there was Hepatitis B and now another viral infection – it must have moved from his intestines to his throat – and nobody really knows when or if he’ll be able to fight again. We will be filing a letter of petition with the WBA to strip Chagaev and order a fight between me and Valuev for the WBA title.”
Ruiz is also rated No. 3 by the WBC, No. 6 by the IBF, No. 10 by The Ring magazine, and No. 12 by the WBO.
“The heavyweight division drives boxing,” Ruiz added. “Fans are waiting for things to explode, but it seems like the heavyweight champions are holding the title belts hostage. They’re all tied up and don’t want to fight the best heavyweights. No wonder fans criticize heavyweights. I’m ready to clean-up the division and willing to fight any of the world champs or top contenders. How long do I have to wait for my title shot?”
Ruiz is the first and only Latino heavyweight champion of the world. He has fought in 10 world championship fights and defeated three world heavyweight champions — Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker – as well as top contenders such as Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo, Kirk Johnson and Jameel McCline during his 15-year pro career.
-JR-
Tags: Andrew Golota > Boxing > Evander Holyfield > Fres Oquendo > Hasim Rahman > heavyweight > Jameel McCline > John RUiz > Kirk Johnson > Nikolay Valuev > Ruslan Chagaev > Tony Tucker > WBA
Diego Corales Tribute
Posted on | May 7, 2008 | No Comments
Remembering Diego “Chico” Corrales
By Matt Yanofsky
One year ago today, the boxing world lost one of its legendary warriors as Diego Corrales died at age 29 following a motorcycle crash in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly after the crash, Las Vegas police revealed that Corrales’ blood alcohol level was nearly 3 times the legal limit during the time of the accident.
Corrales was the perfect example of how a fighter may have a chin made out of glass and still have steel-like heart and rock solid toughness. Although weak legs do to being weight drained was often the case, Chico became accustomed to coming off the canvas while inside the squared circle. This included five trips to the canvas against Floyd Mayweather, three in his trilogy with Joel Casamayor and once against Acelino Freitas among others. While always doing his best to get up and continue fighting is impressive, nothing comes close to what he did exactly three years ago today.
On May 7th, 2005, Corrales, The WBC Lightweight champion, put his title on the line in a unification bout with WBO kingpin Jose Luis Castillo. The fight was expected to be an action bout, but what actually happened couldn’t have been predicted. From the opening bell, Corrales and Castillo traded shots and refused to take a step back as the fight was extremely competitive. This was until a turning point in the 10th round as many fans were thinking about the famous saying that goes “all good things must come to an end”.
Castillo dropped Corrales with a picture perfect left hook just 25 seconds into the tenth round, sending him onto the canvas. Corrales, who intentionally spit out his mouth piece, arose to his feet at the count of 8 then received a brief break as the mouth piece had to be cleaned off. When the action continued, Corrales was on queer street as Castillo continued to tee off before scoring another knockdown. Corrales, who this time intentionally removed his mouth piece with his glove, got up at the count of 9 and then received a point deduction for delaying the fight due to his mouth piece antics.
After another brief time out to again clean the mouth piece, Corrales trainer Joe Goosen said “you gotta f****n get inside on him now” although Goosen probably figured at this time his fighter was going to be stopped shortly. As the Adidas catchphrase says “impossible is nothing”, and Corrales would be the perfect example of why.
Seconds after action returned, Corrales came out of nowhere and sprung back to life stunned the iron-chinned Castillo with a straight right hand. Corrales then threw a barrage of hooks and had Castillo out on his feet. Referee Tony Weeks jumped in to stop the contest at 2:06 of the 10th round of what went on to become fight of the year and to some, the greatest of all time. This would also be the last fight Corrales won.
On October 8th 2005 only 5 months after their thrilling war, Jose Luis Castillo missed weight for their rematch by 3.5 lbs. While many fighters would refuse to take the bout with an opponent who missed weight, Chico went on with the fight but lost by fourth round knockout. A third fight was scheduled for June 3rd 2006 however, Castillo again missed weight, this time by 4.5 lbs. Corrales was advised by his promoter, trainer, and manager not to take the fight and this time the bout was cancelled. Although there was no 3rd fight, Corrales’ body was still badly damaged as making the 135 lb limit at 6 feet tall was a grueling task for him.
Tides ended up turning for Corrales, as he was the one to miss weight prior to losing his titles in a split decision to Joel Casamayor on October 7th, 2006. Corrales, who said he didn’t even think he could make 140, had plans to move up to 147 lbs in the near future. It is extremely rare that a fighter moves up two weight classes and those who do definitely take on soft opposition to test out the waters. This was not the case with Chico.
Corrales shocked the boxing world once again by announcing he would be taking not only perhaps the most rugged, but also one of the most avoided welterweights in Joshua Clottey. Corrales weighed in at 149 lbs and walked into the ring on fight night at much healthier looking 160 lbs but unfortunately bit off more then he could chew. Corrales fought hard and landed some clean shots but was unable to move his opponent. Clottey, who was the much bigger and stronger man, dominated Corrales and dropped him twice before winning a wide unanimous decision.
Corrales’ heart may not have been enough to bring him to a title at 147 lbs as many expected his career was finished but the boxing world will never know. While Corrales didn’t exactly have a clean criminal record, he was always known as a family man. Corrales leaves behind a wife, six children, millions of fans, and a warrior’s mentality which may go unmatched forever.
Tags: anniversary > death > Diego Corrales > Matt Yanofsky > tribute
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