TAKEDOWN RADIO REPORT
Posted on | January 17, 2008 | No Comments
The mobile Brute Adidas studios of TDR are back on the road this Friday after the incredible NWCA National Duals this past weekend. What an event. Record crowd, our new relationship with Live Sports Video and the action was terrific. Enough said. Iowa has earned their #1 Ranking. I want to thank all of our broadcast announcers, Steve Foster, J. Carl Guymon, Caleb Nimmers, Grant Turner, Maury Adams, Nick Passolano. they did a great job. The new broadcast relationship with Live Sports Video will allow us to partner and deliver to you and the wrestling world the video component we’ve been missing all the time. I don’t agree that TV validates what we do but it adds a different dimension for sure. Full entertainment options. Distribution through web casting is the future. I’m grateful for Michael Raite, the Feldmeier Family and LSV.
01-19-08 Reg. Live show From Missouri 9:06 AM CST
01-19-08 OK. St. V. Missouri at Columbia 12:30 PM CST
Ben Askren joins Steve Foster
01-20-08 Throwdown Industries- Show
Rampage Jackson Fantasy Camp
Live from Las Vegas (possible LSV) 9:00 AM CST
01-25-08 ISU @ Oklahoma at Norman Dual 6:00 PM CST
WWE’s Jim Ross Joins the Broadcast
01-27-08 Cornell U. @. Missouri Columbia Dual 12:00 PM CST
Ben Askren joins Steve Foster
February 2008
02-09-08 Oregon State Team and Staff in Studio 9:05 AM CST
First time in our history an entire team comes in the studio
02-10-08 Oregon St. Vs. Missouri 12:00 PM CST
Ben Askren joins Steve Foster
Check the broadcast times for each program. Our Guests will Include: Coaches, Wrestlers, fighters and other folks who’ll join us throughout each of these special days.
Takedownradio.com, KXNO.com, Matchannel.com, Mat-magazine.com are our web partners. Wrestlers and MMA competitors join us each and every week. You should too! TDR is available LIVE, Archived and Pod Cast as well. Visit Takedownradio.com for more details. Thanks for listening!
“This isn’t jiu-jitsu”
Posted on | January 17, 2008 | 1 Comment
POPPIES MARTINEZ POUNDS ON ONE OF HIS PREVIOUS OPPONENTs
LEMOORE, Ca. – Poppies Martinez isn’t mad.
The Lemoore mixed martial artist is used to the “haters.”
“People think I’m the same Poppies Martinez that came on to the scene,” said Martinez, who will take on Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Diego Saraiva on Thursday, Jan. 17 at Palace Fighting Championship 6’s “No Retreat, No Surrender” at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.
“Sure this is a tough fight, but I’m ready to take this and I’ve been in tough fights before,” Martinez added. “I’m improving every day and work with the best team at Capital City Fighting Alliance. I work with Urijah Faber.”
Although Martinez is the PFC World Lightweight Champion, he is slated as the underdog.
Atlanta’s Saraiva (9-6-1) fought three straight times in the UFC — all loses with the most recent coming at UFC 76’s “Knockout” in September to Jeremy Stephens (12-2) by unanimous decision.
Saraiva has never been submitted or knocked out — all of his losses have come by decision.
“He’s fought three times in the UFC and is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He is a good fighter and I’ve seen some of his fights. It’s going to be a challenge,” Martinez said.
But, Martinez warns, “This isn’t jiu-jitsu or some grappling tournament. When he tries to sub me, I’m going to punch him in the face.”
Martinez (14-3) defeated Stockton’s Brandon Jinnies (2-7) in October at PFC 4 for the PFC Interim Lightweight title and since has beat Minnesota’s Aaron Maldonado (3-2) and Taft’s Billy Terry (2-6).
In March, Martinez was beat by San Bernardino’s Shad Smith (9-8-2) for the PFC World Title, but Smith didn’t meet contract commitments with the PFC in October and has since been stripped of his title.
“Shad Smith blatantly breached our contractual agreement and we have every right to do what we want,” PFC President Christian Printup said. “There are a lot of qualified and hungry 155-pound fighters. The fact of the matter is, that anyone who holds a title in the PFC needs to be ready to fight tough fights every time out. We are committed to bringing in the best to compete in the PFC.”
And Printup believes that they couldn’t have found a tougher fight for the lightweight crown.
“I think the Poppies/Diego fight is the type of fight that defines the course of a fighters career. For Diego he has lost three in a row in the biggest show in the world against top-flight competition.” Printup said. “He needs a win desperately to get his career back on track. For Poppies this is his chance for validation. It’s simple he wins this fight and he has arrived.”
Saraiva is expected to be Martinez’ toughest fight since a May 2006 loss to Temecula’s Cory Cass (4-5) or a May 2005 loss to Fresno’s Cole Escovedo (11-4).
“I really don’t know much about him. I heard he is a good fighter and likes to come aggressive and has good stand up,” Saraiva said of Martinez. “A fight is a fight. You never know what is going to happen. I trained hard for this fight and I am focused.”
Saraiva has won eight of his nine fights by submission and of those, four were armbars.
“I’ve trained for this fight at every angle,” Martinez said. “I’m ready to see what he does when I punch him in the face. I’m telling you, I’m not scared of him being a black belt. I’ve regularly beat black belts before. This isn’t jiu-jitsu, this is MMA.”
Also featured on the 16-bout card is a PFC World Featherweight title fight between Oroville PFC titleholder Shawn Bias (12-5) and Oakdale’s Art Arciniega (3-1) and Porterville PFC World Bantamweight champ Shawn Klarcyk (6-1) takes on Oakdale’s Rolando Velasco (4-0).
Tickets are going fast and are priced at $40, $50 and $60 for public sale and can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with fights starting at 6:30.
Weighins will be on Wednesday, Jan 16 at 5 p.m. at The Den sports bar located on the third floor of the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.
Also on the card;
— Fresno lightweight Casey Olson (5-1) vs. Anaheim’s Scott Brommage (1-2)
— Sacramento heavyweight Brad Imes (10-3) vs. Coarsegold’s Anthony Ruiz (19-10)
— Lemoore welterweight Andrew Martinez (4-0-1) vs. Taft’s Doug Hunt (3-2)
— Santa Rosa middleweight Nate Loughran (6-0) vs. Fresno’s Richard Montoya (6-3)
— Moscow, Russia welterweight Alex Serdyukov (5-4) vs. Hamilton, MT’s Mike Gates (4-1-1)
— Sacramento bantamweight Joseph Benevides (1-0) vs. Eugene OR’s Jason Georgianna (5-1)
— Light heavyweight Ricardo Barros (1-1) vs. Grand Forks, ND’s Eric Pribble (4-1)
— Lemoore welterweight Tony Alanis (4-3) vs. Visalia’s Tom Owens (2-1)
— Madera heavyweight Joaquin Sanchez (1-1) vs. Taft’s Austin Achorn (0-3)
— Visalia bantamweight Brandon Miller (2-1) vs. Albuquerque NM’s Ed Tomaselli (3-4)
— San Luis Obispo light heavyweight Scott Lighty (0-0) vs. Humboldt’s Derek Thornton (3-9)
— Arroyo Grande light heavyweight Glover Teixeira (4-2) vs. Brazil’s Jorge Oliveira (2-1-1)
— Lemoore featherweight Sergio Quinones (1-1) vs. Bakersfield’s Fernando Arreola (2-3-1)
For more breaking PFC news log on to www.palacefightingchampionship.com
Happy Birthday Alex Ramos.
Posted on | January 17, 2008 | No Comments
Former “contender” in the ring, now fighting like a Real Champion!
By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
January 17, 2008
Growing up in the Bronx, Alex Ramos was always proud that he shared his January 17th birthday with legendary boxing world champion Muhammad Ali.
Since the age of eleven, when Ramos began boxing as an amateur, he always dreamed that one day he himself might be considered “the greatest of all time”. In those early dreams, Ramos, then a likable and charismatic teenager, who compiled an unbelievable 189 amateur victories (132 by knockout!), would always win an Olympic Gold Medal. Turning professional in 1980 at the age of nineteen, the highly touted “can’t miss” prospect dreamt of one day earning the ultimate boxing prize – becoming a world champion!
No one needs to be told of the pugilistic accomplishments of the great Ali. Turning 66 years old today, Muhammad Ali has earned his place in boxing immortality. He fulfilled his dreams inside the squared circle; a remarkable career glittered with 1960 Olympic Gold and three heavyweight world championship belts.
Unfortunately for Ramos his boxing dreams were never realized.
Definitely a dangerous opponent and always considered a very talented fighter, the four-time Golden Gloves Champion never reached the heights many expected out of one of the most prolific amateur boxers ever to come of New York.
Fighting professionally for over ten years, Alex managed to compile a respectable career record of 39 wins, against 10 losses and 2 draws. Twenty-five of those wins came by way of knockout.
Nicknamed the “Bronx Bomber” for his wearing of Yankee pinstripes on his boxing trunks, Ramos did manage to capture a USBA middleweight title in 1984, defeating Philadelphia’s Curtis Parker in a grueling twelve round battle.
Upon his retirement from boxing, Ramos, like too many other boxers, was to encounter his hardest fight of all. The cheering was to stop, his telephone would not be ringing and all his so-called friends, or “hangers-on” were moving on. This fight was for real, this was the one battle that counted the most; this was the fight of life!
Lucky for Alex Ramos, lucky for boxing and luckily for all retired fighters, the kid who at eleven years old was knocking out grown men in a boxing gym in the Bronx, could not and would not walk away from the sport he so dearly loved.
Without having obtained any “real life” skills, as well as battling depression and having to deal with the physical, emotional and mental hardships a career of hitting, and getting hit, in the head for a living brings, the outside world proved to be a very cold, scary and rough place for this unprepared, now retired boxer.
Determined to make a difference, Ramos founded the Retired Boxers Foundation, which was formally incorporated in 1998 as a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation.
Helping hundreds of fighters each year, the “RBF” has been able to secure housing, services, rehabilitation and emergency assistance for these former great athletes.
Working daily to help restore the pride and dignity to all ex-fighters who have seemingly lost hope, helping others who are suffering financially and medically, or simply trying to get the word out to the young and current boxers so that they realize there are services available to help them keeps Ramos, Jacquie Richardson (the RBF Executive Director), and all the RBF volunteers extremely busy.
Unfortunately, too many of these fighters who have thrilled us all over the years face a dark and difficult retirement without any kind of pension, access to medical care or financial assistance. Whether fighting on HBO or SHOWTIME for a championship belt or at a local arena fighting a ham & egg four rounder makes no difference to Ramos and the RBF. “We are here for the fighters, you better believe that,” proudly exclaimed Ramos, born to a schoolteacher mom and awning-maker dad. “I’m a fighter, and I’m going to die fighting for my brother fighters”!
That’s the REAL FIGHT in Alex Ramos today.
Maybe it is true that Alex Ramos was never able to reach his full potential as a fighter, and he never did win any Olympic Gold Medal or get that world championship belt, but the Alex Ramos of today is a great person, a “world championship person”, and is now winning the most important fight…the fight of life, and he is doing it for all the retired fighters in need.
I wish Muhammad Ali really knew what Alex Ramos and his Retired Boxers Foundation was doing for boxing, and for all the fighters. I’m sure that if he did, the great Muhammad Ali would be proud to be sharing his birthday with Alex Ramos…Happy Birthday to both World Champions!
If you would like to help the Retired Boxers Foundation, give Alex Ramos a call at (805) 390-7334. Wish him a happy birthday.
Mike Indri can be contacted at RNFNJMIKE@aol.com.
PENECALE’S PREDICTION FOR ROY JONES, JR. VS. FELIX TRINIDAD
Posted on | January 15, 2008 | No Comments
TRINIDAD VS. JONES
** In-Depth Preview and Analysis **
By Tony Penecale
In 2001, the most-anticipated potential superfight was between Ring Magazine’s top two pound-for-pound boxers. Felix Trinidad, ranked #2, was undefeated and annihilating everybody in his path as he rose from the welterweight through middleweight divisions. Roy Jones Jr., ranked #1. was one of boxing brightest stars and the undisputed light heavyweight champion. All Trinidad had to do was defeat Bernard Hopkins in the culmination of the middleweight championship series and the bout with Jones would be a reality. But fate intervened and Hopkins emerged victorious, sending Trinidad into periods of inactivity, only competing three times since. Jones went on his own way, eventually winning a version of the heavyweight title, before losing three straight bouts and contemplating retirement. Now six years later, two of the generations most dominant boxers will finally meet at the contracted weight of 170 lbs.
AGE, RECORD, AND STATS
Trinidad: Age: 35 years old
Record: 42-2 (35 Knockouts)
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 160 ** Weight for last bout (5-14-05)
Reach: 72″
Jones : Age: 39 years old
Record: 51-4 (38 Knockouts)
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 175 ** Weight for last bout (7-14-07)
Reach: 74″
RING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Trinidad: IBF Welterweight Champion (’93-’00)
WBC Welterweight Champion (’99-’00)
IBF & WBA Junior Middleweight Champion (’00-’01)
WBA Middleweight Champion (’01)
Jones: IBF Middleweight Champion (’93-’94)
IBF Super Middleweight Champion (’94-’96)
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion (’96-’04)
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion (’98-’04)
IBF Light Heavyweight Champion (’99-’04)
WBA Heavyweight Champion (’03)
Ring Magazine #1 Rated Pound-4-Pound Boxer (’94-’97)
STYLE
Trinidad: Boxing from a high guard, Trinidad stalks his opponents from the opening bell, as if he is on a seek-and-destroy mission. Trinidad uses his jab to open up his offensive arsenal, which includes a destructive left hook, which he delivers to either the head or body, and capable of changing the momentum in an instant. He has shown good recuperative powers, rising from knockdowns in several fights, going on to win by knockout.
Jones: Often with his hands at his waist, Jones relies on his natural speed and reflexes to outmaneuver and overwhelm opponents. Jones will sometimes abandon the jab and use lead hooks from the outside, either as a set up or a knockout punch. Once an opponent has been hurt, Jones will fire a volley of punches to the head, often punctuated by double and tripling his left hook.
STRENGTHS
Trinidad: * Power ? Ever since he emerged as a world class fighter, Trinidad’s explosive power has been his trademark. He won 13 of his 16 welterweight title fights by knockout, along with handing knockout losses to world-class fighters such as Fernando Vargas, William Joppy, and Ricardo Mayorga.
* Determination ? In several title fights, Trinidad hit the canvas early, only to rise and weather the storm from an over-zealous opponent. Trinidad would then seem energized and fight back with fury, usually winning by knockout shortly after.
* Home-Field Advantage ? The crowd at Madison Square Garden will be mostly pro-Trinidad. He is an icon to Puerto Rican fans and his coming back from a three-year retirement will have them in a patriotic frenzy.
Jones: * Experience ? Boxing has been with Jones since his father trained him when he was very young. Completed an extensive amateur career by winning the silver medal in the ’88 Olympic games (dubious scoring robbed him of the gold medal). He has been competing successfully on a championship level for the past 15 years, facing and defeating all styles.
* Speed ? While his hand and foot speed has diminished since his prime, Jones still has a quick trigger. He doesn’t throw punches in bunches like he once did but he still is adept at throwing two or three quick punches before moving from danger.
* Size ? In the last decade, Jones has competed at light heavyweight and has even bulked up to fight at heavyweight. Using the help of fitness guru Mackie Shilstone, Jones maintained his muscle and strength, which gives him a significant advantage over an opponent who has never competed above 160 lbs.
WEAKNESSES
Trinidad: * Foot Speed ? It has been discovered that the best way to neutralize Trinidad’s offense is moving on angles and using a jab to keep him from getting set. The game plan was devised by Oscar De la Hoya, in losing a close decision to Trinidad, then perfected by Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright, both who handily defeated him.
* One Demensional ? This flaw was fully exposed in the losses to Hopkins and Wright. In both scenarios, Trinidad was being out-boxed and absorbing punches. He was unable to make adjustments to his game plan and became discouraged with the passing of each round.
* Chin ? Even though he was off-balance many times when he was knocked down, Trinidad’s chin has always been shaky. He was legitimately stunned against Vargas, and he was battered and knocked out by Hopkins.
Jones: * Chin ? For many years, Jones seemed invincible. Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson finally found out that if Jones was hit solidly on the chin, there was a weakness. Jones lost back-to-back knockout losses, including a frightening loss to Johnson, where Jones remained unconscious for several minutes.
* Age ? In his prime, Jones was able to depend on his reflexes to compensate for some fundamental mistakes since no opponent could land clean punches against him. As he has gotten older, his reflexes have slowed, and he has been unable to avoid punches like in his younger days.
* Weight ? This bout is being held at a contract weight of 170 lbs. After his move to heavyweight, Jones admittedly had problems getting back to 175 lbs. Squeezing out an additional five lbs will not be easy and may affect his stamina.
PREVIOUS BOUT
Trinidad: Trinidad was outboxed and outpunched over 12 rounds, losing a wide unanimous decision to underdog Winky Wright. Trinidad was ineffective against Wright’s southpaw jab and tight defense and unable to readjust his gameplan during the bout, losing by the scores of 120-107 and 119-108 (twice). The most telling stat was he was outlanded by Wright 262-58 overall and 185-15 in jabs.
Jones: Jones endured a challenge from the determined but limited Anthony Hanshaw, knocking him down once, in winning a unanimous decision. Hanshaw pressed the action against Jones but was unable to consistently land clean punches. Jones was successful boxing from the outside and scored a quick knockdown in the 11th round, prevailing by scores of 118-109, 117-110, and 114-113.
3 BEST PERFORMANCES
Trinidad: * Fernando Vargas (12/2/00) ? This title unification bout pitted two undefeated champions against each other. What resulted was the 2000 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. Vargas was a young and fiery champion who vowed to fight Trinidad from the start. Trinidad blasted him to the canvas twice in the 1st round before Vargas recovered and fought back, knocking Trinidad to the canvas in the 4th round. The epic struggle, and some would argue Trinidad’s low blows, drained Vargas down the stretch and Trinidad finished the job with three brutal knockdowns in the 12th round, forcing the referee to stop the bout.
* William Joppy (5/12/01) ? In Trinidad’s first bout at middleweight, he took on defending WBA Champion Joppy, in the semi-finals in the middleweight title tournament. Many thought the quick-fisted and naturally larger Joppy would present problems for Trinidad but late in the 1st round, Trinidad stunned him with a combination and floored him with a crushing hook. Joppy survived and fought on wobbly legs until Trinidad drilled him again in the 4th round and finally finished him off with a vicious knockout in round 5.
* Yori Boy Campas (9/17/94) ? Trinidad was making his 4th defense of the IBF welterweight title when he took on the undefeated Mexican powerpuncher Campas. After going down from a left hook in the 2nd round, Trinidad started taking control and battering Campas in the 3rd. With Campas hurt against the ropes in the 4th, Trinidad unleashed a powerful barrage of punches, leaving Campas defenseless and shattering his nose in the process.
Jones: * James Toney (11/18/94) ? This was the first pay-per-view main event for Jones, and it came against Toney, a tough, well-schooled boxer, who many considered the best in the sport. Jones made it look easy, dominating a listless Toney from the beginning, and knocking him to the canvas in the 3rd round, and winning a clear unanimous decision by scores of 119-108, 118-109, and 117-110.
* Montell Griffin (8/7/97) ? Their first meeting had come five months earlier, with an unfocused Jones struggling with Griffin’s awkward style, before finally losing his title on a disqualification, after he struck Griffin on the canvas. The Jones that came to the rematch was focused and angry, which was evident when he staggered Griffin only moments into the opening round, and nearly decapitated him with a monster left hook, winning his title back after only two minutes.
* Virgil Hill (4/25/98) ? Hill was a polished professional who was a long-reigning light heavyweight champion. Jones kept him on the defensive early and was ahead after three rounds, before suddenly ending matters in the 4th, landing a right hand to Hill?s ribs, breaking several and leaving him grimacing on the canvas.
QUESTIONS
Trinidad: * How rusty will he be after returning from nearly three years in retirement?
* Will he be able to readjust his gamplan if he falls behind early?
* Will his power be effective at a higher weight against a naturally larger fighter?
Jones: * Will Jones weaken himself trying to get down to 170 lbs?
* Can Jones’ chin absorb Trinidad’s power punches?
* Will the partisan Trinidad crowd force Jones out of his gameplan?
PENECALE PREDICTION
When this bout was discussed several years ago, most boxing experts figured the Jones would be too fast and too large for Trinidad, with one even saying that if Trinidad kept moving up in weight at such a rapid pace that he would “run into doomsday” AKA Roy Jones Jr. Six years later, with both men past their primes, the determining factor will be that Jones is still too fast and still too large for Trinidad.
Trinidad will come forward early and Jones will be content to keep him away, boxing from the outside and using his natural advantage in foot speed to keep out of danger. A part-time semi pro basketball player, Jones will make good use of pivots, landing one or two quick punches, and then pivoting to end up on the side or even behind Trinidad. Jones will also jab to the head and fire a right hand to the body, a combination he has relied on since the first fight with Antonio Tarver. It will be effective in scoring points and keeping Trinidad off balance.
After losing the first two rounds, Trinidad will begin to apply more pressure, hoping to land power shots and change the momentum in his favor. Jones will counteract by employing more lateral movement and staying a step or two ahead of Trinidad. Trinidad will have a few moments where he is able to trap Jones on the ropes and fire away with both hands to the body and head. Jones will be able to block most with his arms but a few will be through to his body, with minimal effect.
Trinidad will start to show signs of frustration and discouragement in the 5th round and Jones will start to stand in front of him more often, landing at will with quick left hooks and right hands.
Early in the 7th round, with Jones winning the first six, Trinidad will look to pressure Jones on the ropes again. Jones will spring off the ropes with a left hook that staggers Trinidad and a follow up left hook-right hand combination will drop Trinidad against the ropes. He will be able to pull himself up and signal to the referee that he can continue. Jones will move in for the kill and land a flurry of hooks that sends Trinidad stumbling back into a corner, where his father and trainer Don Felix will throw in the towel, saving his son from any additional punishment.
Tags: Boxing > Roy Jones Jr. > Tony Penecale > Trinidad
QUICK MMA NEWS HITS
Posted on | January 15, 2008 | No Comments
1) UFC signs English Fighter Neil Wain for UFC 83
2) UFC fighter Roan Carneiro joins American Top Team
3) UFC Sues Randy Couture
4) Ken and Ryan Shamrock sign with EliteXC
5) Tamdan McCrory puts career on hold to finish college
6) Mac Danzig vs Marc Bocek at UFC 84
7) Gina Carano scratched from EliteXC February card
8) Green vs Van Meer only 11 days away at TFC
Irvine Named Fight Capital of California
Posted on | January 15, 2008 | No Comments
2008 Mixed Martial Arts “Fist Series” and
2008 Battle In The Ballroom Boxing Dates Announced
Newport Beach, CA: Following up on 23 years of Battle In The Ballroom boxing success at the Irvine Marriott, fight promoter Roy Englebrecht has announced a new mixed martial arts series at his Orange County venue, with the kickoff event called WinterFist 2008 set for Wednesday, February 20th. After selling out his first two Irvine Marriott MMA shows in 2007, Englebrecht has realized that a mixed martial arts market exists in Southern California and especially Orange County, and has decided to offer America’s first ever regularly scheduled Mixed Martial Arts shows, the “Fist Series.”
“With the addition of these four new 2008 MMA pro shows added to the six 2008 Battle In The Ballroom pro boxing shows, all in the 1,412 seat Grand Ballroom at the Irvine Marriott, I am thrilled to name Irvine as the “Fight Capitol of California,” stated Englebrecht. “No other city in California will host this many shows in one year, and the credit has to go to the thousands of fight fans who have supported all the shows over the past 23 years. Plus, this is America’s only pro boxing and pro mma series under one promotion company and at one venue.
“I have decided to take the business template that we shaped for the Battle In The Ballroom boxing shows, and transfer it to the sport of mixed martial arts and create another fight series,” said Englebrecht. “We will launch the ‘Fist Series’ with our February 20th WinterFist 2008 show, and then move to Sunday afternoons for SpringFist 2008 on Sunday, April 13th, SummerFist 2008 on Sunday, July 6th, and OctoberFist 2008 on Sunday, November 9th. We asked many MMA fans at our two Marriott shows what day they feel would be a good day to hold shows, and Sunday kept on coming up. So Sundays it will be. I also have no doubt that this new Fist Series will become the same huge success that the Battle In The Ballroom boxing shows currently are.”
For the first time ever in the short history of Mixed Martial Arts, a promotion has announced four dates over the course of a year, at the same venue, and will offer Season Seats for the series. “Again MMA fans asked if they could buy a season seat for all shows and be guaranteed a good seat each night, so we are happy to offer “Fist Series” Season Seats and fans will even be able to save some money as a season seat holder,” said Englebrecht.
Englebrecht also announced that his Battle In The Ballroom pro boxing shows will have some new wrinkles in 2008, and that opening night is Thursday, February 21st. Even though he is riding a streak of 18 straight sellouts dating back to February of 2005, Englebrecht will not raise ticket prices in 2008. He also announced that the Main Event on two of the 2008 shows will be Title Fights, with a championship belt on the line!
For the Fist Series Englebrecht will feature the first ever Fight Of The Night Award, a trophy that will be given, not just to the winner of the fight, but to both fighters in the bout that the fans feel is the Fight Of The Night.
“I’ll let Golden Boy, Top Rank and the UFC continue to fills arenas and I’ll fill Ballrooms,” stated Englebrecht. “While Golden Boy, Top Rank and the UFC showcase current Boxing and MMA stars, we’ll debut the boxing and mma stars of tomorrow, and we’ll do it with the lowest ticket prices anywhere. We’ll continue to create an upscale and exciting experience for our fans, in the 1,412 seat Grand Ballroom, continuing to elevate the WOW factor of the fight business.”
“With 36 current or former world champion boxers who have fought on a Battle In The Ballroom show over the past 23 years, I expect that we will now see the Fist Series become the first true minor leagues for Mixed Martial Arts fighters, giving them every opportunity to be successful, as we have for boxers, and help them move to the next level,” Englebrecht concluded.
So if anyone wants to attend a fight show in Orange County, either boxing or mixed martial arts, it pretty much will be at the Irvine Marriott and it will be a Roy Englebrecht show, because Irvine is now the Fight Capitol of California!
Tickets for all show go on sale Monday, January 14th at www.battleintheballroom.com.
UFC 79: CHUCK’S BACK, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Posted on | January 15, 2008 | 1 Comment
[mpinpage]
Note: this piece has somehow disappeared from our database, so we’re replacing it now.
UFC 79: CHUCK LIDDELL vs. WANDERLEI SILVA
YEARS-IN-THE-MAKING – THE LEGENDS FINALLY MEET
If you missed UFC 79 I do feel sorryfor you; especially if you’re an MMA fan and missed it for reasons not under your control. I ended that evening feeling the most satisfied I have felt all year after a UFC/MMA event. I have to admit most of my enjoyment mainly stemmed from watching Chuck Liddell cost me money.
Chuck Liddell fought Wanderlei Silva. After Liddell’s last two fights I had come to the conclusion that Chuck was not the same Chuck we used to know and therefore I had picked and bet on Wanderlei to win. Chuck just seemed to have been lacking any sort of real technique and had been failing to really mix it up and show any kind of well-rounded MMA skills. Instead, Chuck had basically just been throwing punches; and even then he had
stopped throwing the big overhand right that had dropped so many men before. So I picked Silva to KO Chuck.
One thing I knew for sure. One of these men were going to sleep and most likely it would be Chuck Liddell.
But two things happened I had not considered. First off, Chuck Liddell was obviously EXTREMELY motivated
for this fight to the point that he re-invented himself and his whole game.
And secondly, Wanderlei Silva has a chin made of granite.
Chuck Liddell did what I thought was impossible. He showed himself to be a completely well-rounded MMA master. I always heard Chuck had wrestling skills and of course knew that Chuck posessed more than punching power and some kicks, although for most of 2007 he showed us nothing that would make us think he was little more than an amatuer boxer.
I had picked Wandy to win and wanted Wandy to win because honestly I thought Chuck had let us down. But during the fight my emotions changed as I saw this NEW Chuck Liddell begin to emerge. His movements were fluid, he began throwing low and high kicks and then it happened…Chuck Liddell threw an elbow that looked completely instinctual and it cut Wanderlei immediately like he had just slashed him with a prison-yard shank.
Then they clinched, Chuck took Wandy’s leg and then TOOK WANDY DOWN and tried to do a little ground and pound but Wandy avoided the damage and they both got back to their feet. I had never seen a live fight where Chuck took someone to the ground. I saw a video of him doing it many years ago against an opponent but never had seen it live and frankly didn’t even know it was possible.
I remember conciously thinking during this fight that this is the closest thing I’ve seen to true Gladiators battling it out ever. It really is modern day Gladiators putting it all on the line. Man against man, toe-to-toe for all the marbles. Wandy was swinging and landed some vicious shots and so was Chuck. Chuck actually went down twice in the fight but both times appeared to me to be from slips though at the time I thought Wandy had dropped him.
Chuck has never hit anyone as much and as hard as he hit Wanderlei Silva, and they both survived some vicious shots.
Wandy trains to take punches and toughen his skin and it works because that guy took some incredible shots and much to his credit he never backed down. Wanderlei Silva has the heart of a lion and a warrior.
Wandy basically got into a mind frame of having a slug fest with Chuck and he went balls out swinging and kept coming at Chuck. But I think that was also his downfall because he didn’t mix it up enough. It was all punches and kicks from Wandy; no takedowns no submission attempts, no wrestling or ju-jitsu; not even elbows; just punches and kicks. Wandy clearly wanted to knockout Chuck and wouldn’t settle for anything else, whereas Chuck was able to see a bigger picture and knew that even more important than a knockout was a win. Chuck tried for over two rounds to knock out Wanderlei Silva and when it didn’t happen he had the wits to know that to get the win was still the main objective. And he made that happen.
This was a rennassaince Chuck Liddell; a Chuck Liddell that frankly I had given up hope that would ever exist. He proved me and alot of other doubters wrong. Chuck Liddell threw right and left hand strikes. He threw the looping overhand rights that so many now imitate. He threw low and high kicks. He threw elbows that cut.
And for the love of all that’s holy, with about twenty seconds left in the match, Chuck Liddell shot in and took Wanderlei Silva to the ground!! And even tried a little ground and pound.
To see Chuck Liddell reinvent himself live in front of the whole world I think was the greatest accomplishment
of the night. It was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen in my life and my favorite fight of the year.
At first I was bummed that it didn’t end in a KO. In my wildest dreams I would have never guessed this fight would go the distance. But, in the end I realized that it’s actually better that I didn’t have to see one of these warriors get knocked out. They both stood toe-to-toe to the very end and I think I would have felt alot worse if either Wandy or Chuck had been KO’d.
[/mpinpage]
Tags: amatuer > BACK > boxer > CASE > chuck liddell vs wanderlei silva > conclusion > Control > course > Emotions > event > EXTREMELY > fight > Game > granite > instinctual > KO > Legends > many men > nbsp > NEW > overhand right > piece > POWER > punches > punching power > RIGHT > Silva > sleep > technique > TOOK > ufc 79 > Wandy > YEAR > YEARS-IN-THE-MAKING
WBC NEWS
Posted on | January 15, 2008 | 1 Comment
WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS
January 14, 2008 ? Mexico City .
From the office of WBC President Jose Sulaiman:
RESULTS OF WBC PURSE OFFERS OF TODAY:
Heavyweight: Vladimir Virchis vs. Juan Carlos Gomez, final elimination.
Universum Box Promotion won the bid with an offer of $411,980.00, outbidding
Arena Promotions? offer of $400,000.
Light heavyweight: Chad Dawson vs. Adrian Diaconu, mandatory defense.
The WBC is happy that the camps of WBC champion Dawson and WBC mandatory
contender Diaconu reached an agreement, which will be addressed on a
separate communication.
Super middleweight: Carl Froch vs. Dennis Inkin, final elimination.
An agreement was reached, and Hennessy Promotions will promote
the fight in England on March 15, 2008.
Super lightweight: Timothy Bradley vs. Jose Luis Castillo, final elimination.
An agreement was reached and the fight will take place in Cancun , Mexico ,
on March 8, 2008, on the undercard of Maskaev vs. Peter.
Lightweight: Joel Casamayor vs. Jose Armando Santa Cruz, mandatory rematch.
Golden Boy Promotions, who is the exclusive promoter of both fighters, and who
agreed on the rematch during the WBC Annual Convention in Manila , did not
present a bid. Thompson Boxing withdrew their bid and the closed envelope was
returned to them, as they are very concerned to see that their own promoter would
not support their fighters.
Bantamweight: Veeraphol Nakhonluang vs. Vusi Malinga, final elimination.
Suchat Promotions won the bid with $72,000, outbidding Branco Promotions,
who offered $61,500.00.
Light flyweight: Omar Ni?o vs. Juanito Rubillar, final elimination. Gary Shaw
Promotions presented a bid, which will be sent to the WBC Board for approval,
according to the purse offer rules, as it seems to be under the expected limits.
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