James Moore manages to fend off JC Candelo at MSG!

Posted on | March 17, 2008 | 1 Comment

Pawel Wolak clobbers his way to another KO win in the co-feature.

By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
March 15, 2008

New York – James Moore proved he was a legitimate draw as the Wamu Theater in Madison Square Garden was packed with the Irish fighters die-hard fans. The native of Arklow, Ireland also proved he was “for real” as a fighter, surviving an early scare from veteran contender Juan Carlos (JC) Candelo and prevailing to pull out a career defining ten round unanimous decision win.

Not fighting like a former contender who was coming into this fight with a record of 2-5-1 in his last eight bouts, a rejuvenated Candelo traded with Moore early and had the fair skinned middleweight hopeful cut over the eye in round three. While the cut was seriously bothering Moore, Candelo caught the troubled fighter more often then he should have and hushed the boisterous Irish faithful throughout the MSG Theater.

The thirty year-old Moore battled through the rough spots and began wearing down the body of the Colombian fighter, a weary thirty-four year-old fighter who has been in many boxing wars and is not the same fighter that challenged Ronald “Winky” Wright for his IBF light middleweight championship five years ago (12 RD Unanimous decision loss: 03/01/03) in Las Vegas.

The gutsy late round work by Moore solidified the win and ensured a Happy St. Patrick’s Day weekend for his huge legion of fans that filled the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Judge Bob Gilson scored it 97-92, Julie Lederman had it 97-93 and Tony Paolillo saw it a little closer at 95-94, all for the likeable James Moore, who stay perfect at 15-0 (10 KO’s), while the aging veteran Candelo, who can only be extremely proud of his all out effort, drops to 27-10-4 (18 KO’s).

The co-feature bout saw Polish middleweight Pawel Wolak pound cagey Dupre Strickland into quick submission. Slated for ten rounds, Wolak sent his loyal throng of delirious fans home early with his second round knockout of a durable boxer who had only been stopped once before, in his third professional fight (02/17/01 vs. Carl Handy: KO 3) over seven years ago.

Fighting his usual swarming, two-fisted attack, Wolak landed many hard body shots and controlled the action. The only concern was the blood flowing from Wolak’s right eye as the round ended.

Wolak came out “smoking” in round two, working the body and head of Strickland. With the cut over his right eye still bleeding freely, Wolak clobbered his weakened opponent into the ropes and drove an overhand right to the head, dropping Strickland down onto the canvas in a heap!

The usually durable Slidell, LA. fighter was unable to get to his feet and was counted out by the highly respected Steve Smoger at the 3:06 mark of round two. In Strickland’s last fight, he went the 10 round distance in a losing effort against another popular fighter, Irish John Duddy. With the impressive knockout win Wolak jumps to 20-0 (14 KO’s), while Strickland dips to 18-3-1 (7 KO’s).

On the Celtic Gloves Promotions undercard:

Brooklyn welterweight Martin Wright improved to 5-0-1 (2 KO’s) with his decisive four round unanimous decision win over Juan Carlos Sanchez, now fighting out of the Bronx, by way of Mexico. Wright controlled the bout from the onset and almost had Sanchez, now 3-3-1 (1 KO), out at the final bell.

Simon O’Donnell, trained by former two-time heavyweight world champion Tim Witherspoon, knocked out Ohio native Chris Overby in round two of a scheduled four round middleweight bout. After roughing up Overby throughout the first three minutes with a solid body attack, the Irish fighter who now fights out of Philadelphia dropped his damaged opponent with a big right head to the head.

Overby, now 8-9 (2 KO’s), stayed on his knees as referee Mike Ortega counted him out, 1 minute and 33 seconds into the second round. O’Donnell climbs to 5-1 (3 KO) with the impressive knockout win.

Jules Blackwell, from Philadelphia, battled Jaesung Lee, a Hanami, Korea import now fighting out of Queens, NY to a six round draw in an entertaining featherweight contest. Blackwell jumped out early until a nasty head butt in round two opened a cut on the forehead of both fighters; Blackwell definitely came out in worse shape and his performance was obviously affected.

Judge Bill Costello, a former welterweight world champion, scored the bout 59-55 for Lee, while Julie Lederman had it 58-56 for Blackwell. Ron McNair’s 57-57 scorecard made it a draw. Lee is now 8-1-1 (5 KO’s), while Blackwell manages to remain undefeated at 7-0-1 (2 KO’s).

The lone female bout saw good looking Philadelphia jr. middleweight Olivia Fonseca defeat New Yorker Cristy Nickel via unanimous decision over four rounds. While a close fight, Fonseca come on strong over the last two rounds; staggering Nickel in the third and landing several clean punches over the final three minutes to ensure victory. The judges saw it 39-37, 40-36 and 39-37 all for Olivia Fonseca, who improves to 2-1-2 (1KO), while the popular Nickel slips to 7-6 (4 KO’s).

Staten Island native Robert Phillips drew a too difficult task for his pro debut, in the name of Khabir Suleymanov, a rugged Russian brawler from Brooklyn. A head butt opened a difficult cut over the nose of Suleymanov in round one and only the proficient work of cut man Darren Antola, a Kenilworth, NJ native, kept the cut from being a problem for the head first fighter.

Suleymanov battered Phillips all over the ring and only the ropes appeared to be holding Phillips up at the end of the four round bantamweight match. The always-busy “Russian Twin” earned the one-sided unanimous decision victory, as the judges scored it 40-35, 40-36 and 40-35. Suleymanov stays perfect at 3-0 (1 KO).

Jose “Poncho” Espinal knocked down Joe Rosa once in the first round and twice in the second and final round of the scheduled four round jr. lightweight fight between two New Yorkers. Espinal, from Brooklyn, rose to 4-3-1 with his first professional knockout, as Rosa, from the Bronx, could not handle the Espinal barrage. Referee Mike Ortega wisely waved off the mismatch as Rosa arose from the deck for the third time; 58 seconds into round two.

Oisin Fagan had little trouble with Brian Carden, who traveled from St. Joseph, Missouri to get knocked out. Fagan, born in Dublin, Ireland hurt Carden often in round one with a strong body attack and had his opponent in deep trouble early in round two as referee Pat Sullivan came in and stopped the beating just 16 seconds into the second round. Fagan improved to 20-5 (13 KO’s), while Carden, not happy with the stoppage, dropped to 6-5.

In the final fight before the featured bouts, sharp looking jr. middleweight prospect Luis Ruiz stayed perfect, now 3-0, with a lopsided second round knockout over still winless Terrell Boggs (0-2).

After a solid first round Ruiz landed a wicked body shot late in round two which forced Boggs to turn his back, then squat in his corner as referee Steve Smoger quickly called a halt to the “All Ruiz” bout at the 2:14 mark, Boggs being Ruiz’s first pro knockout victim.

Ten fights, with tons of excitement and even live music. A great effort by Celtic Gloves Promotions, and an extremely entertaining night of boxing in the finest place for boxing…Madison Square Garden.

Mike Indri can be contacted at: RBFNJMIKE@aol.com

MARCH BADNESS CHICAGO BOXING RESULTS

Posted on | March 17, 2008 | No Comments

HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING

MARCH BADNESS/SOLO BOXEO TECATE

8 Count Productions/Top Rank Inc.

Cicero Stadium

Javier Jauregui UD12 vs. Miguel Huerta, 115-112 (twice), 117-110

NABF Lightweight Title

Brandon Rios KO2 (1:10) vs. Alvin Brown,

Leo Martinez TKO4 (:27) vs. Miguel Angel Figueroa,

Gadiel Andaluz KO2 (2:06) vs. Fred Fleming,

Javier Garcia KO1 (2:44) vs. Jose Guzman

Per Ake Persson: Euro News

Posted on | March 17, 2008 | No Comments

Boxing Press European Feature Writer Per Ake Persson
has submitted the following fight review:

March 14, Odense, Denmark:

Danish cruiser Anders Hugger moved to 10-0 with a close, unanimous decision over much more experienced American Louis Azille. It was scored 115- 112 on two cards and 116-112, which looked a bit generous to the localite – and many disagreed. Hugger was down in ninth but but was overall scoring with more punches than Azille, who was right in front of his opponent most of the time and was quite effective at times with brutal hooks to the head and body of his opponent but couldn´t keep it up. Hugger, cut and marked up, kept landing with his straight left and fought his way through the rough patches.

Lolenga Mock won the vacant EU supermiddle belt with close, controversial split decision over Italian Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye. It was scored 115-113 and 115-113 for Mock while the third card read 116-112 for Ndiaye.

Again, it was agression against cleaner punches and Mock attacked but looked slow and failed to get off while Ndiaye mixed good jabs with wild punches that missed their target completely. All in all it was difficult to score but Ndiyae looked like the winner –
and again many disagreed.

Vinni Skovgaard overcame a bad first round to stop Belgian Zelda Tekin in the tenth and final round to win the vacant WBC Int´l female jr welter title. Skovgaard was well ahead on points going into the last round when she floored her opponent with a left-right. Telkin got up but was stopped.

Middleweight Thomas Povlsen boxed well in two rounds and spoiled his way through four for a close decision
over Venezuelan Carlos Donquiz. Heavyweight Claus Bertino knocked out Romanian Iusan Zachei Livio with a right 30 seconds into the first.

News:

Reports on a possible Mikkel Kessler vs Edison Miranda fight May 24 on showtime could not be confirmed at
ringside in Odense.

It will be Marco Schulze that challenge WBO I/C middle champ Sebastian Zbik April 19 in Magdeburg.

It could be Ukrainian Viktor Plotnikov that challenge EBU welter champ Jackson Osei Bonsu May 3 in Antwerp,
Belgium.

P 3 Boxing in Finland have a show in the works for April in Helsinki headlined by jr. welters Juho Tolppola and Dennis Shafikovs in separate bouts.

Holm-Sanders Las Vegas Press Conference

Posted on | March 17, 2008 | 1 Comment

LAS VEGAS (March 15, 2008) – Fresquez Productions, Inc. concluded its three-city media tour today in Las Vegas with a press conference at The Luxor to formally promote the “Finally” pay-per-view event (10 PM/ET-8 PM/MT), headlined by Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm and Mary Jo Sanders in “The Battle for Pound-for-Pound Supremacy,” June 13th live from Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Finally,” produced and distributed by Integrated Sports, will be available for live viewing on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN and DirecTV for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

Albuquerque favorite Holm (21-1-2, 6 KOs) squares-off against Detroit icon Sanders (25-0, 8 KOs) in the 10-round main event for the vacant International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) junior middleweight title.

The three other scheduled PPV bouts are also IFBA title fights: Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback (26-5-2, 11 KOs), fighting out of Tampa (FL), versus Jeannine “G9” Garside (7-0-1, 3 KOs), representing Ontario (Canada); Wendy Rodriguez (18-4, 3 KOs), of Los Angeles, against Hollie “Hot Stuff” Dunaway (21-6, 10 KOs), from Van Buren, Arkansas. Eileen “The Hawaiian Mongoose” Olszewski (5-0), fighting out of New York City by way of Honolulu, takes on Carina “La Reina” Moreno (16-1, 5 KOs), of Watsonville, California, in the fourth PPV bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $50.00, $100.00, $150.00, $200.00, $350.00 and $500.00, are on sale at the Isleta Casino and Resort box office, www.tickets.com or at Fresquez Productions, Inc. (508.884.7484). For more information go to www.fresquezproductions.com or www.holmvssanders.com. Doors open at 5:30 PM/MT, first bout 7:00 PM/MT, first televised bout 8:00 PM/MT.

Holm-Sanders Las Vegas Presser Quotes

Holly Holm: “I fought my first fight and there was no one there to see us. I moved into main events and national television. Now, I’m headlining a pay-per-view. I’m going to ttrain extra hard because Mary Jo’s ‘O’ must go. I will be ready.”

Mary Jo Sanders: “The more I keep hearing and talking about this, the more excited I get. Lenny is putting on this show to hopefully breakdown the walls in women’s boxing. It’s a phenomenal fight card with lots of action. You’ll see a lot of action on my part.”

Mike Winkeljohn (Holm’s manager/trainer): “All I can say is I expect fireworks from Holly’s fists on June 13th”

Jimmy Mallo (Sanders’ manager/trainer): “I want to thank Lenny for putting on a great show and we will now being to prepare for the fight. Again, I am surprised they took this fight. I don’t see it going the distance.”

Hollie Dunaway: “I’m thrilled to be fighting on pay-per-view and adding another title to my collection. I’ll be keeping an eye on the other fights on this great card because some of he fighters may be possible opponents for me.”

Lenny Fresquez (Holms and show promoter): “We are excited about being here in wonderful Las Vegas to announce ‘Finally.’ Holly will be putting her pound-for-pound reputation on the line for the IFBA junior middleweight title in what I consider the best female match-up to ever take place. I want to thank everyone who was involved in this week’s press tour. We have finally finished the television bouts with an all-star line-up featuring some of the best females to ever fight on an all-women’s pay-per-view. Corina Moreno will now be fighting Eileen Olszewski for the IFBA strawweight title. Fans are going to see a great night of action; four action-packed bouts for a low price of $24.95.”

Doug Jacobs (Integrated Sports, president): “It’s going to be a wonderful night of boxing from beginning to end. This is one of the best female cards ever.”

Judy Kulis (IFBA, president): “We’re thrilled to be sanctioning these fights. This is going to take women’s boxing to another level. It is a major step for women’s boxing and will bring a lot of exposure to our sport.”

-FP-

SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY & ZAB “SUPER” JUDAH FIGHT CARD SHAPING UP

Posted on | March 16, 2008 | No Comments

SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY & ZAB “SUPER” JUDAH STAKE THEIR CAREERS ON INTRIGUING WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN, SATURDAY, MAY 31, AT MANDALAY BAY RESORT & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW

JORGE BARRIOS vs. ROCKY JUAREZ TO BATTLE ON TELEVISED UNDERCARD

LAS VEGAS, March 15 – With everything riding on the line, the stakes will be high when Sugar Shane Mosley and Zab “Super” Judah square off in a welterweight showdown on Saturday, May 31. Mosley vs. Judah: “High Stakes,” headlines a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink, Tecate Beer, Affliction Clothing and Southwest Airlines. The 12-round bout will take at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

In addition to the main event, Golden Boy is pleased to announce that former super featherweight world champion Jorge Barrios will meet 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Rocky Juarez as the featured undercard bout of the evening and also featured on the live broadcast.

Tickets, priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100 are now on sale and available at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7 580 or Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“It’s extremely high stakes for Zab and myself in this fight and I’m excited to be fighting him,” said Mosley. “We have similar styles in terms of speed and power and we both always come to fight. I think it will come down to who’s the hungrier fighter. I am hungry for this victory and I’m confident I will get it May 31.”

Judah rebutted saying, “I am willing to gamble everything on this fight against Mosley and I know I have to win it to set my career back on the winning path. I respect Shane as a great fighter but I know he can’t go 12 fast rounds with me. I plan to take him into deep waters and be the first one to stop him.”

Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions stated, “As a boxing fan, I am excited to finally see what happens when two of the best welterweights of this era get in the ring together. Both Mosley and Judah always come to fight with tremendous non-stop action and as they both need to win this fight to keep their dreams of another championship alive, I know we’re going to see the best of them May 31.”

Senior Vice President of HBOPPV Mark Taffet agreed, “Shane Mosley and Zab Judah have given boxing fans so many exciting, memorable performances for years. We expect May 31 to be another one of those great nights.”

A four-time and three-division world champion who has proven to be worthy of the venerable nickname “Sugar,” Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) continues to thrill fans with his speed, power and warrior’s heart. Mosley holds wins over the likes of De La Hoya (twice), Fernando Vargas (twice), Jesse James Leija, Luis Collazo and John John Molina while winning world titles in the lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight divisions. The 36-year-old Pomona, Calif. native also showed his mettle and toughness last November when he fought welterweight champion Miguel Cotto tooth and nail for 12 rounds, falling short via close decision. A win over Judah in May will put Mosley at the top of the line for a rematch with Cotto.

Judah (36-5, 25 KOs), a three-time and two-division world champion, is considered one of the most talented fighters of the past decade. The former undisputed world welterweight champion, 30-year-old “Super” Judah owns victories over Junior Witter, Micky Ward, DeMarcus Corley and Cory Spinks. He has recently been fighting with his speed, power and focus coming together like never before. Brooklyn’s finest is on track for a spectacular performance against Mosley on May 31.

The Mosley vs. Judah pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 61 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mosley vs. Judah fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

For more information please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.

LAS VEGAS PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

ODDS—MOSLEY SLIGHT FAVORITE AT 3:2.

RICHARD SCHAEFER

“Glad to be back at the Mandalay Bay on May 31 and this will be another thrilling night of boxing for all of the fans.

“Golden boy Promotions is very busy and so proud to be putting on great fights in the coming months—Hopkins vs Calzaghe in Las Vegas in April, Oscar de la Hoya vs Forbes in Los Angeles in May and then we come right back here to Las Vegas for this fight card at the Mandalay Bay on May 31.

High Stakes is the theme of the show and the whole card will be at risk and up for grabs. Crossroad fights for all of these fighters and what will make a great night of boxing.

MARK TAFFET

“We are here to announce this great fight. The people in boxing over the last year or so have been putting together these great fights and we have another one on our hands May 31.

“We have known both Shane and Zab have been a part of HBO for along time and when you look back at their careers and they have provided an incredible moments in boxing.

“They both have a lot on the line, and when you put two fighters that know there is so much on the line, knowing they have to win.

“They are King of the Rings and that is the way the fans know him. Great card and High Stakes top to bottom.

“Juarez and Barrios were here early and that tells you they are ready and excited about this fight May 31.

“Great to be a part of it and we are really looking forward to this night.”

MOSLEY VS JUDAH

ZAB JUDAH

“First of all want to thank God for having me here and making everyone safe to get here too.

“Everyone is watching my career—both the great fights and the other things. But it’s time to grow up and I give a lot of thanks to Golden Boy too because they have given me a great fight and a great fighter.

“This fight is not about Shane Mosley it is about me. On May 31 you are going to see the old Super Judah, the one that and if it even gets past the six rounds, you are going to see me finish strong and be the fighter I know I can be.”

SHANE MOSLEY

“I thank God so much for my career to date and for the opportunities I have had to make my career.

“Tremendous fight on May 31 and I am ready to go to war. After the Cotto fight we saw some things that we are going to work on but we will be ready and it is going to be a great fight.

“Zab is definitely a great fighter, and he can crack, and he is fast. But I am on a mission to be the top dog and I want to fight to get through this fight and then fight the best welterweights out there—Cotto, Mayweather.

“Zab is standing in my way and I am too old to fall back now. I want to make this run a great one and it is going to start with Zab on May 31.

“Get ready to go to work and it is going to be great.”

JUAREZ VS BARRIOS

RICARDO ROCKY JUAREZ

“Jorge Barrios comes to fight with a lot of heart and a lot of balls and a fighter like that is always dangerous. For some reason I always felt that I would fight him and now it is here. We know that this fight is the turning point that we could be back in the champion’s level.

“I still have a desire to become world champion and to prove to fans and critics that I can be world champion.”

JORGE BARRIOS

“Great opportunity on May 31 and to fight Rocky Juarez he is going to be an excellent fight. I think he is too small for me anyway and I am going to show him that night.”

Henry Crawford works his way to victory!

Posted on | March 16, 2008 | No Comments

Undefeated Paterson contender tested in hard fought main event.

By Mike Indri
RetiredBoxers Foundation
March 14, 2008

Newark, NJ – Having to wait more than 90 minutes because promoter Hilliard Edmond forgot the gloves – yes, the boxing gloves! – to be used by the boxers for the five scheduled bouts should have sent a message to the few people that actually came to the Robert Treat Hotel for this very under-publicized fight card.

After retrieving the gloves from his Maplewood home for the ten fighters and getting the debacle of a show to begin, the two hundred or so fight fans that painfully waited for some boxing action had to endure a shoddy undercard, which included six of the eight fighters making pro debuts. The hastily put together bouts did prevent another cancellation on behalf of Edmond promotions.

Luckily the eight round main event between highly regarded jr. middleweight contender Henry Crawford and Jerome Ellis, fighting out of Newark, by way of the Bahamas, somewhat salvaged the night for the new promoter.

Ellis’s “Ali-shuffle” in front of Crawford during the introduction heated up the crowd, but is was Crawford who was firing up Ellis with his clean right hands, and stiff jab as the fight began.

A loser of his last three fights dating back to November of 2006, Ellis was a much better fighter than his very deceptive 11-7-1 record would lead to believe, and caught Crawford with several big punches in round two. One of the bombs actually sent Crawford’s mouthpiece flying. Both fighters exchanged combinations and the fans appreciated the big time action.

Getting a “wake up call” slap from his long time trainer, Nettles Nasser, between rounds, Crawford settled down and began to box more in round three and made Ellis pay for his wide, knockout-minded swings. Each Ellis miss brought several hard body shots by the undefeated prospect.

Rounds four and five were all Crawford, and the difference was the jab and his superior boxing skill. A quick left hand caught Ellis clean on the chin and sent the stunned fighter to the canvas.

As long as Crawford kept to his fight plan of boxing smart and stinging the usually wide-open Ellis with his strong counter punching, win number nineteen was not far away.

Ellis was a good, hard test for the twenty-seven year-old Paterson fighter as there was not let up in the “Bahama Boomer” who continually was looking to make Crawford his eleventh knockout victim. Ten of the eleven Ellis victories have been by stoppage, and he was trying to catch his still learning opponent with that potent right uppercut and left hook.

Another solid Crawford left hand sent a dreary-eyed Ellis reeling into the ropes and down to the canvas for the second time in the fight late in round seven, and a questionable shot to the beaten fighter’s upper back drove him back to the deck in the eighth and final round. With no quit in him, Ellis quickly bounced off the floor and gave referee Earl Brown an earful as he disputed the call. Both fighters were slugging away as the bell sounded to end the exciting bout.

Judge’s Pierre Benoist and Lawrence Layton thought Crawford pitchout a shutout, as both scored it 80-69, while Al Bennet saw it 79-70 for the likable Crawford who remains unbeaten at 19-0-1 (8 KO’s) with the unanimous decision win. The durable Ellis, who has only been stopped once, slips to 11-8-1.

On the Edmond Promotions undercard:

After the lengthy delay Passaic featherweight Victor Valenzuela started things off in a big way as the highly acclaimed former amateur champion promptly delivered some action to the patient crowd, bouncing a couple of quick left hand off the body and head of Antwon Holcomb. Holcomb, fighting out of Indianapolis, Indiana and making his pro debut, was given the extra tough task of facing Valenzuela. Valenzuela caught the over-matched Holcomb with another nasty left to the head that dropped the stunned fighter. Obviously hurt from the blow, which knocked off the rubber band holding the dreadlocks of the Indiana fighter, Holcomb beat the count but referee Benjy Esteves wisely waved off the bout at the 1:05 mark of round one of the scheduled four round bout.

The promising Valenzuela is now 2-0 (1 KO), while Holcomb (0-1) drops his too difficult debut.

A “laugher” followed in a four rounder between two more young fighters making their pro debuts. Juan Guaman and Tawan Elman both proved they needed much more work in the amateurs as their “tough man contest-like” winging slap punches brought jeers from the sparse crowd. Guaman did connect with a right hand, which sent Elman to his canvas and looking to call it a night. After pulling himself off the deck and with Guaman looking to land again, Elman draped his arms onto the top rope and surprised referee Benjy Esteves by saying he did not want to fight on.

Credit to Guaman for his gutsy performance, as all fighters that enter the ring deserve their due – even Tawan Elman; who apparently decided against boxing as a profession, one minute and thirty-nine seconds into the first round.

Yet another four round battle of first time professionals followed!

Luckily this bout proved more entertaining, as Eddie Edmond and La-Take Williams gave it their all and scrapped out a four round draw. While Edmond appeared to land the more telling blows, the judges felt neither guy deserved to loss in this hard fought contest of novice junior middleweights.

Well trained Akima Stocks annihilated Angie Campbell in a scheduled four round female bout which served as an embarrassment to all involved in putting this match together, as well as the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board for allowing it to be sanctioned. Stocks, fighting out of Newark, had registered knockouts in both her two wins, as well as having another fight she was in command of being stopped and ruled a no-contest; due to an accidental head butt which rendered her opponent (Michelle Garland: 06/01/07 at the legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia) unable to continue. Campbell had never fought professionally, and looked like she hadn’t even laced up a pair of boxing gloves before tonight’s fight…she definitely had no business in the ring and that was obvious BEFORE the opening bell had even rung. Twenty-five seconds into the first round of this scheduled four round mismatch of 152-pound females it was all over; as Campbell had absorbed too much punishment from the dangerous Stocks, now 3-0 with three knockouts. Luckily Campbell did not get seriously injured.

Not one of the better run boxing shows and this type of event definitely will not get the boxing fan to return. Edmond Promotions had either make the commitment to higher quality and more evenly matched fights, or will be facing financial disaster once more. Fortunately the Crawford-Ellis main event was an entertaining eight rounds and the fans got to see highly touted Victor Valenzuela get his first knockout win as a pro with his picture perfect left hook.
Mike Indri can be contacted at RBFNJMIKE@aol.com

FULL FORCE PRODUCTIONS’ UNTAMED 19 BRINGS OUT ALL THE STARS IN PLYMOUTH

Posted on | March 16, 2008 | 1 Comment

THE GUILLOTINE CHOKE WAS IN FULL EFFECT AT UNTAMED 19

By: Rich Bergeron

Untamed 19 unfolded at a rapid pace on Saturday, March 15 at Plymouth Memorial Hall with thirteen bouts and several star studded guests in attendance.

The MMA luminaries who made the trip included: Dan and Joe Lauzon of UFC fame; the amazingly seasoned and decorated Aaron Riley, who Sherdog credits with a 23-10-1 record over a career spanning more than 10 years; Mark Dellagrotte (coach, trainer, and former fighter) from the local powerhouse Sityodong gym in Somerville, MA; UFC New Recruit Tamden “The Barn Cat” McCrory (8-1, 1-1 UFC); and the UFC’s upcoming “The Ultimate Fighter 7” contestants Erik “Chainsaw” Charles and Pat Schultz.

The Untamed promotion run by Mike True and Mike Varner is constantly improving its presentation. They flooded the crowd with free gear and fighters out for blood in the cage Saturday. There were a bevy of quick finishes and smart submissions. For example, a rarely-seen flying rear-naked choke was applied to finish one fight.

Mike Littlefield, the matchmaker of the event had to do some quick work to replace the main event opponent Dan Lauzon. Lauzon may have a chance down the line to fight for the belt again, but a staph infection locked him out of his Untamed title hopes on Saturday.

Doug Brown of Team Aggression, featuring both Dan and Joe Lauzon, had a shot at the circuit’s 155 pound title if he could withstand Will Kerr and come out on top. The main event fight was worth the wait. Coming in with a 5-1 record, Team Strikezone’s Will Kerr wasted no time finding a way to win. Brown (5-7), held his own and avoided disaster through almost three full minutes before succumbing to a picture-perfect heel hook. At one point Kerr landed a huge slam after ramming Brown into the fence. The heel hook came at 2:54 of the first round, but the fight ranged all around the cage while it lasted.

The fight that stole the show, though, was the prequel to the main event featuring two well-matched 140-pound warriors. AMMA fighter Paul Gorman’s bread and butter Guillotine submission expertise would be key. The tightly contested battle between Joe Cushman (another Team Aggression fighter) and Gorman went to a thrilling overtime round after two of the toughest rounds ever fought in Memorial Hall.

It was Cushman (7-2) who sunk a deep Guillotine right off the bat in the first round, leaving Gorman (5-6) scrambling to pop out of it somehow. Gorman managed a reversal and eventually ended up on Cushman’s back. He landed some effective elbows on the top. When the referee stood the fighters up at one point, Cushman had a burst of explosive energy and floored Gorman with a combination that came to a crescendo with a brilliant uppercut. Gorman weathered the storm and got back up to land a head kick and get a takedown. He landed a nice elbow and a left to Cusman’s mouth before the fighters were stood up again just before the end of the round.

The second round was a brutal back and forth brawl going from one cage wall to another and all over the mat. Gorman came out ducking punches and landing a left and right to the head. Cushman managed another Guillotine attempt and Gorman scored his first Guillotine that just wasn’t quite tight enough. Fighting off his back he reeled off some mean up kicks to keep Cushman from gaining any advantage. Cushman came right back and landed a phenomenal slam, rattled off some potent leg kicks, and jumped on top of Gorman again before the brawl went into overdrive to end the round with the crowd literally going wild. Both fighters traded elbows and punches in classic, old-fashioned toe-to-toe style to end the frame.

Though they brought the ring card girls and the big trophy in at the conclusion of the round, there was a buzz in the air suggesting the aura of a fight going to a winner take all third round. It was over almost as soon as it began. Team Aggression’s fighters were up 4 wins to two before Cushman’s brave battle came to a close. The coaching staff, including both Lauzon brothers, gave wise counsel and kept Cushman in the contest up until the very end when the art of the sport really shined.

Gorman’s final Guillotine choke left Cushman little choice but to tap out, completing a theme of tap outs and knockouts on a windy winter night of fights in Plymouth. Having seen Gorman fight a few times before, he has a tendency to go for the Guillotine even when it’s not there. Saturday night Gorman seemed to be a different fighter. Knowing full well how to go for and finish a Guillotine, Gorman also knew how to effectively escape one. He’s perfected the move to the point where he knows when to go for it, too. He’s also improved his all around game. It was a quick close to a fast-paced free-for-all that illustrates the beauty of the sport.

There’s such an “any given Sunday” chance involved that you could play the best game of your life and then lose on a Hail Mary pass. Just when you thought you were up by 40 points and the clock would soon expire, your opponent just shuts you down with something vicious and sinister. It can come in many forms and from all angles, but the end is almost always extreme when it comes to knockouts or submissions in mixed martial arts.

Further hammering home the high-intensity theme, Sityodong Fighter Scott Rehm’s second professional performance proved to be another candidate for fight of the night. Rehm, an intimidating Mick Foley-esque fighter, doesn’t have a very imposing physique, but he holds it down at 205 pounds with pure animal instinct. Snake Pit’s Ed Medeiros came into the first professional bout of the night with the much more sculpted frame and the bulk of the professional experience with a 3-3 record. Rehm, who won his debut in an absolute slugfest a few months ago, made Medeiros miserable Saturday night.

Before so much as a note could be scribbled about what Medeiros was doing in the fight, Rehm seized control. He landed a right hook, stuck the jab, pushed his opponent into the cage and went on a tear. The short, stout, and stocky Rehm has an incredibly rugged style of combat, and his over the shoulder loft and slam of Medeiros was just the icing on the cake of one of the night’s only completely one-sided affairs.

A few punches and a bit of a struggle later, Medieros wriggled to his stomach. Rehm took his back and pummeled him until the ref halted the fight due to repeated unanswered strikes. Rehm executed short, sharp elbows, well-placed punches, great ground work, and a capability for pinpoint striking that carried the day.

In other action Nick Pepper of Team Aggression extended his win streak to four fights over independent fighter Al Chai making his professional debut. Pepper dominated early on with striking, dropping head shots down on Chai to force the fight to the ground. He went to the rib shots after that, forcing Chai to roll right into a rear naked choke.

Team Aggression’s Bob Balaschi fell to 2-1 against Sityodong’s Eddie Saldana at 185 pounds in the third pro fight of the evening. Saldana’s attempt to go 4-1 after an early bout of slugging led to a huge right hook that transitioned to a standing Guillotine submission.

44-year-old Snake Pit Fighter Greg Mendes followed it up with another Guillotine instant win over independent fighter Pete Reverdo to end their 155 pound contest. Making his professional debut in MMA, Mendes waded into the action early with heavy hands. He landed a perfect right hand and bloodied Reverdo before clinching the final slick submission to close it out. Reverdo fell to 0-2 with the loss.

Aggression’s Eric Brown (5-4) and Sityodong’s Chris Cape (185) battled it out at 185 in the fifth pro fight of the night. The first round was slow with Brown throwing a few sloppy punches to start it and then Cape getting the takedown. Brown managed to gain leverage and control and get on top where he rained down rib shots, elbows and roundhouses to the head, and even a few attempts to Charlie Horse Cape with elbows. All the while Cape guarded well and caused a facial wound to open up on Brown’s head.

The second go around started with a couple role reversals before Brown sank his first rear-naked choke attempt. Cape broke the grip and managed to fight on a few more moments before Brown locked the second attempt and took Cape out with it at the 2:55 mark.

Keith Ferreira (1-0 according to Sherdog) from Team Gillette faced a resilient and unrelenting Dale Hartt of team Irish next at 170. Hartt wasted no time scoring the first takedown, giving Ferreira a good short slam, and dropping a few elbows and other assorted head shots before getting caught briefly in Ferreira’s last-ditch arm bar attempt. Hartt slammed his way out of the arm bar and settled in to end the fight with vicious blows to the head causing the fight to be called for excessive brutality. The knockout win reveals Hartt is truly a contender, and nothing will stand in the way of his continued success.

Although their last names make them sound like cousins, Travis Coyle and Chuck O’Neil didn’t get along like family in their 170 pound contest on Saturday. Team Aggression’s O’Neil (2-2), submitted Snake Pit’s Coyle (now 0-1) after Coyle dominated the early action with effective kicks and a particularly impressive left hook. O’Neil’s toughest dilemma in the fight was deciding which submission to close it out with. He couldn’t quite clinch it with a rear-naked choke, so he traded it in for a triangle choke that cut the show short in the first round.

The final fight before the two that completed the evening featured undefeated Bombsquad fighter Pat Audinwood (now 3-1) suffering from the wrath of Rob Conception of Dragon Warrior (now 4-4-1). Conception battled back after getting taken down and then nailed with a few hooks and elbows. Audinwood was stuck on his back for most of the fight after that. Conception cut off Audinwood’s circulation with an arm triangle to end yet another bout early in a night flush with brief, but beautiful performances.

The deepest fights came at the amateur level, due mostly to the shorter rounds involved. Two fighters making their debuts squared off first. Aggression’s Joe Proctor took on Independent fighter Adam Castor at 160 pounds. The fight raged on for three rounds with Castor fighting off his back a bunch and Proctor keeping top control, landing a slam, and almost getting caught in a triangle choke. And that was just the first round!!

Proctor went for a Guillotine choke in the second, but Castor worked his way out with punches and pulled guard for a while. A huge right hand in the third put the fight out of reach for Castor. Proctor grappled him into another Guillotine and Castor was all done.

Independent Amateur Chris Donglewic fell to 0-2 in the second amateur bout. Fabiano Estrela of Team Misfits made his super heavyweight debut by showing his stopping power. Donglewic showed a little early hope with a couple takedowns in the first round and a few well-placed hooks to the head. However, Estrela excelled early, too. He spent the first round landing knees, fighting to his feet, grappling well, sticking a fantastic reversal, and wailing on his opponent with wild hooks to the head.

The second round was short-lived as Estrela took his opponent down and dropped the hammer with explosive head shots that sealed the deal.

Team Aggression’s Alan Scott and Team Burrill’s John Larkin made their 160 pound amateur debuts at 160 and surprised the crowd with one of the most unconventional finishes of the night. Larkin edged out the first round with a takedown, which he backed out of, and then a few good shots to the head. All Scott could pull out was a few decent shots to the ribs of Larkin.

Larkin stumbled a bit in his overconfidence in the second. He set up and executed a great head throw takedown early only to wind up back on his feet and slugging wildly for Scott’s head. Scott pressed the action as much as he could. He almost secured a Guillotine in the early going. He landed an uppercut and took a shot to the chin. Taking his chances on the ground he nailed a takedown, took full mount, and peppered Larkin with rib shots.

The third round ended out of nowhere with Scott pulling off a move you might expect to see from a praying mantis attacking its dinner-to-be. The fight ended suddenly and with swift vengeance as Scott leaped onto Larkin’s back and sunk a flying rear naked choke. There was no point for Larkin to struggle any longer at that point.

Sponsored by the new movie “Never Back Down” and featuring all kinds of free give aways and a crowd pleasing format, Untamed is quickly evolving into one the state’s most premiere fight circuits. For more information about Full Force Productions and a schedule of upcoming shows go to: www.fullforce.tv

JOE LAUZON TALKS ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS MMA, FIGHTING IN THE UFC, AND FACING KENNY FLORIAN

Posted on | March 16, 2008 | 3 Comments

JOE LAUZON INTERVIEW

By: Rich Bergeron

They are two local Massachusetts stars who have not only achieved World Class sporting superstardom, they’ve also been feverishly passing on their skills to the next generation of hard charging Massachusetts MMA warriors.

Joe Lauzon and Kenny Florian are the hugest hometown heroes in a state that’s quickly becoming a breeding ground for the fastest growing sport in the world. One of MMA’s and the UFC’s most respected coaches is Mark Dellagrotte from the local powerhouse Sityodong gym in Somerville, MA; Dellagrotte’s protege and fellow trainer is Florian; the only man on the planet who’s beaten Kimbo Slice on tape–Sean Gannon–is from the Boston area; and the UFC’s upcoming “The Ultimate Fighter 7” season features Massachusetts natives Erik “Chainsaw” Charles and Buzzard’s Bay’s own Pat Schultz as part of the 32-fighter starting pool.

All but two of the above MMA experts (Gannon and Florian couldn‘t make it) graced Plymouth Memorial Hall Saturday March 5, 2008 for Untamed 19 to see thirteen thrilling cage battles go down in the town where the Pilgrims landed in 1620.

Joe Lauzon even emigrated back from Hawaii and gave up warm breezes and long training sessions with BJJ Legend and UFC Icon B.J. Penn to coach 8 of his Team Aggression fighters Saturday, who went 4-4 on the evening. Lauzon’s brother Dan Lauzon was also supposed to be on the card, but a staph infection put a stop to that plan. He was also there supporting Team Aggression, which Joe himself reports as having about 20 fighters under their wing.

“We have an incredible local scene,” said Lauzon before his last fighter’s performance in the main event of the night. “It’s one of the busiest circuits out there.” He pointed to shows happening all over the state, sometimes two or three times a week, sometimes two shows in one night. It’s the kind of rise to power, prominence, and promotional strength for Massachusetts mixed martial arts that Mike Goldberg might call “meteoric.”

At merely 24-years-old “J-Lau” is already a local, national and international legend. Lauzon may get to cut yet another notch in his belt and further solidify that legend if he can depart Colorado April 2nd on a Rocky Mountain High by defeating his new cross-town rival Kenny Florian. It’s Bridgewater vs. Boston with top billing on Spike TV‘s UFC FIGHT NIGHT 13, marking the second time Lauzon will appear on the network and the ninth straight UFC fight for Florian.

Catapulted onto the grand stage by his knockout bomb connecting flush to the face of Jens Pulver at UFC 63 in September of 2006, Lauzon went on to prove he was no flash in the pan overnight sensation. During his last appearance on Spike TV Lauzon dispatched Brandon Melendez by Triangle Choke in the 2nd round as part of The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale card.

Sitting in My Xyience seats at UFC 78 in November of last year, I almost missed him dispatch Jason Reinhardt in what seemed like the blink of an eye. He was done for the evening after less than a minute and a half of work and came out of the cage without a mark on him. Reinhardt never saw the rear naked choke coming until he was tapping out from Lauzon’s tightening grip.

As for what he thinks of his next showdown in the octagon with Florian, “It’s gonna be a good fight,” said Lauzon. “I have a little more experience, but Kenny’s been in the limelight a lot more in the UFC. I‘m looking forward to it. We both knew it was coming. I went to one of his seminars about a year ago. He‘s a great fighter.”

Lauzon certainly speaks the truth. Both fighters have only three losses, but Lauzon has 16 wins to Florian’s 8 (according to Sherdog). The bulk of Florian’s fights have been on the grand UFC stage. Though he’s not getting any younger at 32, he’s always in perfect physical form for his fights. He’s only suffered two losses at the UFC level, and both came against legends of the sport (Sean Sherk and Diego Sanchez). Lauzon, however, has the advantage of spending tons of time learning from another UFC legend, a guy he calls “the best.” Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Grandmaster B.J. Penn has adopted Lauzon as his understudy and brought him out to train in tropical Hawaiian temperatures he always hates to leave behind.

“It’s nice going to Hawaii,” said Lauzon. “It’s tough coming back here where it’s so cold.”

Yet, his homecoming had a purpose. He had a busy night screaming instructions at his own understudies from his cage side perch, his pupils posting a .500 record on the evening with four big wins and four losses that Lauzon wasn‘t ashamed of at all.

“All the fighters who lost still had great fights,” he said.

Since coming back from knee surgery and rededicating himself to perfecting his submissions with Penn, Lauzon has become known for more than just the one punch knockout. Poised to take down yet another of the UFC’s preeminent heroes when he meets Florian in the cage on April 2nd, Lauzon is excited about the level of exposure this contest represents. “Everyone can see it on Spike,” he said. “And to headline it and be a main event fight is awesome.”

As for what he considers his ultimate goal in the sport, he wants to “keep improving. Not because I have to, but because I love it.”

Joe Lauzon’s Computer Science degree could have confined him to an office if he hadn’t entered the sport that made him a household name. He can always look back and wonder what might have been, but he’s convinced he wouldn’t change a thing. He explained that he knows if he chose a different path he wouldn’t have to train so hard and wouldn’t have to be punched in the face so much. “But, I get to do what I love,” he added. “This is a great sport, and so many unpredictable things can happen. This sport never gets stale to me.”

Taking only one round to tear down his last two world class opponents, Florian is certainly nobody to funk with. It won’t be fun and games for Lauzon even if he does win. Florian will be facing an uphill battle, too. He’ll have to snap a six fight win streak of Lauzon’s in order to pull out a win for himself on the old familiar free TV stage.

As for my pick, I always like to go with a guy on a roll. I’ve seen Florian fight on TV, but never in person. They’re both phenomenal fighters who show no signs of fading talent, but to watch Lauzon fight is to witness pure, unadulterated skill in action. Though it’s Randy Couture who goes by the nickname “The Natural,” it’s Lauzon who lives by it.

For those who might disagree check out this highlight reel from 2005 courtesy of joelauzon.com:

STAY TUNED FOR A FULL POST-FIGHT REPORT FROM UNTAMED 19 INCLUDING AN UNPRECEDENTED PRE-GAME HIGHLIGHT REEL

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