FIGHTZONE MAKES YOU FAMOUS AND IFL NEWS
Posted on | August 16, 2007 | 1 Comment
Just coincidence or does being featured in FightZone Magazine and TV boost a fighter’s career?
We’ll let you be the judge.
First Edson Berto caught the attention of the new ProElite team after FightZone featured Edson in the much talked about bout with Brandon McConky which aired 6 times last November on Sun Sports. Edson has gone on to fight on 3 Showtime ProElite cards since then.
Next, Alan “Monstah Lobstah” Berube went from grabbing the microphone out of FightZone’s Jay Adam’s hand during a victory interview on our Sun Sports RFC VI airing to appearing on UFC’s Ultimate Fighter show.
And now we’re happy to announce that one of our personal favorites Chris Baten, who was featured on our last magazine cover and won a major victory over NFL Running back Herbert “Whisper” Goodman at the recent Ultimate Warrior Challenge in Jacksonville, will be fighting at the IFL World Championships event in Hollywood, Fl on September 20th. (See press release below)
Incidentally, the UWC fight featuring Baten’s sensational will is currently airing on Sun Sports FightZone Presents during August. Check your local listings for air times. And the Baten Story can be read at www.FightZoneMedia.com
Also included on the IFL card will be fellow Floridians -yAaron Riley (Port St. Lucie), Travis Cox (Naples), and Seth Petruzelli (Orlando). All of whom have been featured in FightZone.
If this keeps up, we’ll have to soon change our name to “Starmakers.”
We could not be happier for all of all the Florida fighters that FightZone co-publisher, Nancy Evans and FightZone TV co-owner Jay Adams have helped on the last year. Congratulations to all, you made us proud!
Al Martino, FightZone Media
IFL World Team Championship Rosters Announced
By IFL on August 15, 2007
The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s number one professional mixed martial arts league, today announced the rosters for the 2007 IFL World Championship on Thursday, September 20, at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. Many of the league’s top stars will be in action as the second-seeded New York Pitbulls (3-0 regular season), coached by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master and MMA legend Renzo Gracie take on the defending champion Quad Cities Silverbacks (2-1), led by MMA champion Pat Miletich. Additionally, a series of preliminary bouts will feature other stars of the IFL and competitors from American Top Team, one of the country’s largest and most active MMA squads.
Among the most anticipated matchups in the final include rematches between heavyweights Bryan Vetell (Jamaica, N.Y.) of the Pitbulls and Ben Rothwell (Milwaukee, Wis.), and between middleweights Fabio Leopoldo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa). Rothwell, the undefeated heavyweight, brings an 8-0 IFL record into the match, including four wins in 2007. He won a first-round KO over Vetell in their 2006 meeting in Moline, Ill. Leopoldo was the victor in the previous matchup with McGivern, via second-round submission at the same event.
Fans are also excited about the battles between light heavyweights Jamal Patterson (Hoboken, N.J.) and Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) and lightweights Deividas Taurosevicius (New York) and Bart Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill.). Patterson has first-round wins in all three of his IFL triumphs and faces a tough test in Ciesnolevicz, who has won five straight bouts. Taurosevicius, who served as the Pitbulls’ alternate earlier in the year, was promoted to starter for the team’s semifinal win over the Tokyo Sabres and proved up to the task with a victory. He steps up against Palaszewski, whose eight wins match Rothwell’s for the most in IFL history.
The Pitbulls’ Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will take on a replacement at welterweight for the Silverbacks, as standout Rory Markham (Chicago) injured his left hand in his semifinal victory and will not be available for the final.
“I think it’s fitting that two of our flagship franchises meet for the World Championship rings,” said IFL Commissioner and Co-Founder Kurt Otto. “We are looking forward to a night of non-stop action as the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu style of Renzo Gracie’s athletes goes up against Pat Miletich’s patented methods.”
The Pitbulls advanced to the finals by edging the Sabres, 3-2, while the Silverbacks registered a 4-1 triumph over the top-seeded Los Angeles Anacondas, on August 2 at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. The two teams did not meet during the 2007 regular season, but the Silverbacks did record a 3-2 win on Sept. 23, 2006, in Moline, Ill.
In addition to the team competition, the night will include four preliminary bouts of interest to IFL fans as well as local enthusiasts. In action will be popular IFL lightweight Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) of the Portland Wolfpack against American Top Team’s Aaron Riley (Port St. Lucie, Fla.); light heavyweight Allan Goes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) of the Tiger Sharks against Chris Baten (Tampa, Fla.); and welterweight Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.) against Travis Cox (Naples, Fla.). Rolles Gracie (New York), a Jiu-Jitsu champion, also makes his MMA debut against ATT’s Seth Petruzelli (Orlando, Fla.).
Following the Championship, the IFL will hold its season-ending “World Grand Prix,” pitting the league’s top athletes at each weight class. The semifinals will be held on Nov. 3 at the Sears Centre in Chicago, with the winners advancing to the World Grand Prix finals on Dec. 29 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The full rosters for the Finals follow. Bout order will be determined by coaches’ choice prior to the Official Weigh-in on September 19.
No. 4 Silverbacks (2-1 regular season team, 9-6 indiv.) vs. No. 2 Pitbulls (3-0, 10-5)
155 lb.: Bart Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill.) (8-1 IFL, 28-8 overall) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (Lithuania) (2-0, 8-2)
170 lb.: TBD vs. Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (4-2, 11-3)
185 lb.: Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa) (4-4, 10-5) vs. Fabio Leopoldo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (3-1, 5-2)
205 lb: Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) (5-2, 13-2) vs. Jamal Patterson (Hoboken, N.J.) (3-1, 3-1)
265 lb.: Ben Rothwell (Milwaukee, Wis.) (7-0, 22-5) vs. Bryan Vetell (Jamaica, N.Y.) (2-2, 3-2)
Preliminary Bouts
155 lb.: Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) (3-2, 16-9-1) vs. Aaron Riley (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) (0-0, 23-9-1)
170 lb.: Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.) (3-2, 10-9) vs. Travis Cox (Naples, Fla.) (0-0, 4-4)
205 lb.: Allan Goes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (3-1, 10-5-2) vs. Chris Baten (Tampa, Fla.) (0-0, 5-2)
265 lb.: Rolles Gracie (New York) (0-0, 0-0) vs. Seth Petruzelli (Orlando, Fla.) (0-0, 7-4)
THIS WEEK’S RUNDOWN FOR TAKEDOWN WRESTLING RADIO
Posted on | August 16, 2007 | No Comments
America’s Wrestling Radio talk show is now heard around the world. From our Brute Adidas Studios we broadcast on the following internet outlets: Takedownradio.com, KXNO.com, Matchannel.com,
Mat-magazine.com. Please be sure to join our live broadcast each and every Saturday as we talk to the worlds greatest athletes. Wrestlers and MMA competitors alike join us each and every week. You should too! TDR is available LIVE, Archived and podcast as well. Check out Takedownradio.com for more details.
This week on TDR-
9:05 Rider Asst. Head Coach John Hangey joins us to update us on Rider Camps, recruits and
the looming fall. Rider is one of those small private colleges that embrace and endorse wrestling
and the values that the sport can instill in a young person. Bravo’ Rider, Bravo!
9:20 Marty Morgan- Asst. Head Coach at Minnesota, the man the myth the legend. Recently
Marty has had a hand in training Sean Sherk and Brock Lesnar in their post wrestling
MMA careers, both successful. Good job Marty! He also has a tremendous class coming
in to join his stable of top drawer athletes.
9:20 Marty will stay on the line as we’re joined by his uncle, Pro Wrestling Great Red Bastien
Good article on Marty’s dad and uncle, Red Bastien, found on the web, from Star Tribune 1970.
CARNY FIGHTS — BULLIES, SWEAT, PRIDE
(Minneapolis Tribune, Sunday, May 3, 1970) By Merrill Swanon
The hundreds of nameless faces have been swallowed up by time, but the smells, sights and sounds of the carnival fighting shows remain fresh.The smell of ripe sawdust and sweat, the sight of countless town bullies crawling through the ring ropes, the sound of fists on flesh and breaking of bones will remain forever with Jim Morgan and Red Bastien.Those two, brothers-in-law now, were carnival fighters like Ruby Robert Fitzsimmons and Jack Dempsey were before them. The two hit the carnival circuit as teen-agers in the late 1940s and saw the “athletic shows” outdraw the girlie acts. Ten years later they also saw the athletic shows wither and die.
“One of the best fighters I ever saw,” Morgan said, “also was a pretty good drinker. Half the time when you had a good fight for him you couldn’t find him. He was apt to have been at a local tavern and fighting the town bully out in the street instead of bringing him back to the carnival where we wanted him.”
Both Morgan and Bastien found their carnival background influenced their present and their future. Morgan, who used to paint the banners on the tentfront, got out of the wrestling and boxing circuit after 10 years to become an artist for the Bloomington school system, to raise a family of boxing sons and to coach in the Golden Gloves program; Bastien, who became a carnival wrestler at age 16, is using that experience in the studios of Ch. 11 and in auditoriums and arenas around the country as a professional wrestler.”The only rich we got at the carnivals was rich in experience,” Bastien said. “Our pay wasn’t weekly – it was weakly. But I wrestled all sizes, shapes and colors, even though I weighed only about 145 pounds at the time. Most of the carnival wrestlers were middleweights – the biggery guys, the heavyweights, super heavyweights and dreadnaughts, could get work other places.”
There often would be a stable of 8 to 10 fighters in the athletic shows – either boxers or wrestlers or both, as Morgan was.Frequently, when things got dull around the midway, the wrestlers from one show would hop into a car and roar into another carnival town to challenge that show’s wrestlers.”If you wrestled against another carnival fighter,” Morgan said, “you’d tell that promoter you’d want 50 percent. Then they’d argue and maybe you wound up with 30 percent. Or maybe you wound up laying outside the tent someplace instead of getting your money. Sometimes the worst fight was afterwards.”Some of the carny wrestlers had no names or nicknames or pseudonyms by choice or necessity – like Smiling Irish (a Jewish fellow who never smiled).
Some wore masks to protect their identity, for a number of reasons. Bastien wore a mask on the West Coast when he was in the Navy and wrestled the carnival circuit – against regulations. Others were collegians who wanted to protect their amateur standing. Still others didn’t want to be recognized – period.Many, however, were proud of both their names and reputations and went on to become premier wrestlers on big-time cards, men like Bastien, Bobo Brazil, Johnny Moochy, Jack Guy and Chief Littlewolf.These men often fought each other for sport and for money on the carnival circuit, but more often it was the biggest and toughest man in town who answered the challenge.
“I remember one guy who was exactly 100 pounds heavier than I was,” Morgan said. “He lifted bales of paper all day, and believe me he was strong. He could have lifted me like a feather. But I just moved around behind him, got him on the mat and that was the end of it. I wouldn’t let him up.”The lure for the challengers varied from money to the urge to prove their masculinity and toughness. Most shows offered from $100 to $150 to beat one of the house fighters.”That $100 was a come on,” Morgan said. “Most guys seemed to think that they’d get the $100 for wrestling for five minutes, which was the standard time limit. But they found it was $100 if they beat the carny fighter – and beating one of those pros was doggone hard to do.”Between them, Morgan and Bastien wrestled close to 1,500 challengers in tiny rings and tiny, sweltering tents in tiny towns around the Midwest. Neither one lost a single bout to a tank-towner.”And it was all or nothing,” Bastien said. “There weren’t many rules and it got pretty rough at times.””In boxing you’d just box,” Morgan said, “but in wrestling you’d never know what was going to happen. A lot of them didn’t know how to wrestle and they’d as likely come in and fist-fight with you. You learned pretty fast to hold your hands pretty high and keep your chin tucked down.”
“In just about every town,” Bastien said, “somebody was recognized as the toughest . . . the town bully. The people would go get him when the athletic show hit town and he’d have no choice but to get into the ring. Some of them were pretty tough, but they couldn’t compete with the experience and knowledge of the pros.”The usual procedure was to take it easy on the first candidate on the program. He wouldn’t win, but he more than likely would climb out of the ring and tell his buddy that “it ain’t that bad.”Then his buddy would pick up the challenge . . . and his buddy, and so on through the night.
But pity the last one on the show.”You’re not going to chop up the first guy,” Morgan said. “But late in the night, when the crowd was getting slim, the guy running the show would say ‘let’s go home’ and you were supposed to take the last guy out of there in a hurry.”Most whipped the last opponent of the night fair and square. But there were some carnival wrestlers who were not nearly so gentle.”Some of them would break a guy’s finger . . . or maybe even his arm . . . to get him out of there,” Morgan said. “Or they’d cut him with an elbow. But if you were traveling with the carnival a broken ear or a broken nose didn’t mean you had a day off coming. You’d just keep on going.”
Sometimes the victim resented the beating he took. One, Morgan remembers, pulled a knife on the carny wrestler and Jim had to sneak into the ring and disarm him from behind.”It was about the biggest knife I’ve ever seen,” Morgan said.With an unruly crowd packed into the tent so the sides bulged, the famed “Hey, Rube” – a carny’s call for help – was a very real thing.”I’ve seen it used,” Morgan said, “but only as a last resort. No carnival peron would ever say it unless he really is in trouble.”Toward the end of the era, gimmicks became more popular than carny wrestler vs. town bully. There were tag-team matches, pitting carnival wrestlers vs. carnival wrestler, and there were women who issued a challenge to any male in the audience.”Mildred Burke (who later became the women’s world champion) was one of the women who toured the circuit,” Morgan said. “I saw a couplee of women in the carnivals, but I never saw them wrestle. I guess the guys in the crowd didn’t dare challenge them. I don’t know if they weren’t sure of how to wrestle them or were afraid of being beaten.”
And that gets back to pride, which more than anything kept carnival wrestling alive for as long as it was.”It was a tough life,” Morgan said, “but there was something about it that kept making you come back to it. I remember that one day in some town in Minnesota – it was like all the little towns we wrestled in – where I had 13 straight matches.”I won every one. I didn’t win because I was making that much money, but because I enjoyed wrestling and I was proud of it. I didn’t want to lose.”And he didn’t.But after a time, town toughs found other areas in which to emphasize their masculinity; soon, girlie shows were outdrawing the wrestlers.An era of American folklore was ending. But the smells, sights and sounds remain fresh to those who were there.(ED. NOTE – The above articles centering about the early days of Red Bastien are in a “tribute” book presented to the former wrestler, now 69, by his daughter-in-law, Marla Bastien, and her daughter, Keela, at the time of Bastien’s ascension to the Cauliflower Alley Club presidency in February, 2000. Some of the correspondence, in response to Marla’s Internet plea for photos, clips and other Bastien career memorabilia, is included below.)
9:40 John Rizzuti of Inside Texas Wrestling joins us to discuss all that’s going on in Texas
and Oklahoma
10:05 Greg Nelson- The founder, owner and head coach at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy
in Minneapolis, Mn., Martial arts expert battles a rare and difficult cancer
Training Jacob Volkman makes his pro debut on Sept. 29, Brock Lesnar, Brock Larson
By anyone’s standards, Greg Nelson is tough. The founder, owner and head coach at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy in Minneapolis, Min., he is one of the top martial artists in the world. Greg expects a great deal from his body and is familiar with the aches and pains that come with intense training and competition.
But in the spring of 2002, Greg began experiencing pain unlike any he’d known before. It started in his back and eventually moved down his body. His physician ran him through a battery of tests. A CAT scan revealed he had advanced non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He immediately started a six-month course of chemotherapy. After the fifth month of treatment, tests revealed his cancer had gone into remission.
Greg thought he’d wrestled another opponent into submission. But, he would quickly learn his battle with cancer was only beginning. Soon, a new pain emerged and, this time, coming up with a diagnosis and treatment required the combined expertise of a team of specialists at Mayo Clinic.
Unraveling a mystery
The new pain moved down Greg’s body, and his muscles began to weaken. The 38-year-old, who just a year earlier had been winning gold medals in international jujitsu competitions, came to rely on a cane to help him walk.When Greg’s pain began to spread and intensify, he was referred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Min., for more testing The pain became so debilitating, he was admitted to the hospital. “Greg had such severe pain that we sent him to the intensive-care unit to be sedated and monitored,” says Joseph Colgan, M.D., a Mayo Clinic hematologist. “His was probably the worst pain syndrome I’ve ever seen.”While Nelson’s wife, Vee, their children, Nina and Gunnar, and Nelson’s mother waited at his bedside, a team of Mayo Clinic physicians worked to determine the cause of his pain. Initial testing showed no evidence of active lymphoma.
“When our standard testing failed to provide a cause for the pain, we were stuck,” says Dr. Brian O’Neill, a Mayo Clinic neurologist. “It’s at that point Mr. Nelson benefited from being at Mayo. Our approach to care meant we were able to spend enough time with him to carefully analyze the problem. We had access to state-of-the-art technology to help in our diagnosis. We were able to bring together a team of specialists to work together on finding a solution to the problem. Without that, I don’t believe he would have survived.”During one of the team’s discussions, a member suggested using a high-powered MRI machine to scan Greg’s nerves for cancer. The scan revealed a faint abnormality in his upper sciatic nerve. It would take a biopsy to determine whether the abnormality was cancer; however, the nerve has important motor fibers, and the procedure involved significant risk.
“Few people dare to do this type of surgery because it’s very dangerous,” says Dr. O’Neill. “If something goes wrong, the patient could be paralyzed.”Robert Spinner, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, carefully removed a small portion of Greg’s sciatic nerve for testing. The results came back positive for cancer. On Christmas Eve, physicians were finally able to tell Greg and his family what was causing his pain: a rare disease called neurolymphomatosis. It’s a disease as uncommon as it is hard to pronounce. “I have only seen one other person with this disease in my entire career,” says Dr. O’Neill. “There are only 33 examples of this in medical literature.”
10:20 Brad Penrith- University of Northern Iowa Head Coach joins us. He’s rehabbing
his shoulder after surgery, he’s getting the room ready, he’s solidifying his recruits
and team for the fall, he’s chompping at the bit to get it going. We’ll join this
recovering Hawkeye turned Panther for a state of the University interview. Should be fun.
10:40 Pat Santoro- Head Coach of the Terps of the University of Maryland. Its been said that the
Terps are one of the teams to beat this fall. Why? Coach Santoro has been beating the
bushes for the best recruits. Young men who are determined to make it to the top with him.
We’ll discuss incoming freshmen and recruits. Who’s the spark plug on the team? Tune in
and find out.
KRAZY HORSE TO FACE JOE BOXER IN REMATCH TO RENEW THE RIVALRY
Posted on | August 16, 2007 | No Comments
HEATED RIVALS ‘KRAZY HORSE’ AND ‘JOE BOXER’
TO MEET IN HIGHLY ANTICIPATED GRUDGE REMATCH
____________________________________________________________
ShoXC Returns To SHOWTIME Saturday, Aug. 25
Live From Vicksburg, Miss. At 11 p.m. ET/PT
LOS ANGELES (Aug. 16, 2007) – To infer that “Krazy Horse’’ Charles Bennett and Victor “Joe Boxer” Valenzuela do not like each other would be an understatement of classic proportions.
“I don’t want to say I hate the guy because the word hate is a little harsh, but I definitely don’t like him,’’ said “Krazy Horse” (18-13-2), of Ocala, Fla.
“He thinks he beat me in our first fight. I am going to hush ‘Joe Boxer’ up. All he is doing is using my name to try to make himself look good and to make a name for himself. He’s trying to take the spotlight away from me, but that’s impossible.
“I look forward to kicking his butt, shutting him up and showing him what a real beating is. He is not at my level, so why does he continue to talk like he is? He’s made this fight personal, very personal.
“Now that I think about it, yeah, well, I pretty much hate him,’’
Offered “Joe Boxer” (5-2-2), of Covina, Calif.: “I can’t stand ‘Krazy Horse.’ He’s got a big mouth. He got a gift against me and he knows it. Anybody who saw our first fight knows I beat him. I wanted a rematch right away. The only reason he didn’t lose was because the referee didn’t stop it.
“He was done, fried, toasted. Any other fight, the ref stops it. I plan on shutting him up once and for all. Fighting on his home turf, I don’t have faith I can win a decision, so I will be going for a knockout for sure. I am really going to try and knock him out this time around. I have waited a long time for this.
“It’s just too bad ‘Krazy Horse’ was in jail and we couldn’t fight June 22 as scheduled. Actually, I think he went to jail on purpose. No matter how he acts or what he says, he doesn’t want to fight me.’’
The fighters – surprise, surprise – have been keen to get back at each other since their initial encounter on Aug. 5, 2005, at San Jacinto, Calif., ended in a controversial, highly disputed draw.
At the finish of a two-round fight, “Krazy Horse’’ lay flat on his back – seemingly unconscious.
“He was totally finished,’’ said Valenzuela,’’ who faces Bennett in the main event of ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series on Saturday, Aug. 25, at Vicksburg, Miss., on SHOWTIME. “He couldn’t get up. Two rounds and ‘Krazy Horse’ had nothing left.’’
“I was not unconscious, just overheated, tired and exhausted because I wasn’t in shape,’’ insisted Bennett. “The question is, did ‘Joe Boxer’ beat me unconscious? If he thinks that way he’s dreaming; he is not from planet earth. This time I am going to leave no doubt.
“I let it go after our first fight, but ‘Joe Boxer’ didn’t. So, now, it has become what it is. No way am I lacking motivation for this fight. In fact, I am motivated already. I am not drinking. I am a clean machine. I am in shape. I will knock him out in three and a half minutes.’’
The fighters’ verbal exchanges began almost immediately after the first fight and quickly escalated into a full-fledged war of words.
Tension reached a near crescendo after a May 2006 show in Laughlin, Nev. After each had won his match and swapped sarcastic syllables at the post-fight press conference, they nearly came to blows at the host fight hotel’s bar and casino.
“Actually, we had our little differences before the first fight, then we fought and I got the raw end of the deal,’’ Valenzuela said. “I have been waiting for a rematch since. He’s been trying to provoke me for two years. He likes to take digs at people; he taunts you. Every time I see him, he is smiling, showing me his fists, talking crap.
“I don’t know who he thinks he is, or who he thinks he is talking to or messing with. I can’t think of any grudge match that compares to this. It is just too bad it didn’t happen in June.’’
As unlikely as it may have seemed a year ago, “Krazy Horse” has become a bonafide MMA superstar. He has won four in a row, all by knockout.
“It’s a wonder what one victory on SHOWTIME can do for you,’’ he said. “My life has changed a lot ever since. I am more serious than I have ever been. There is a lot of money to be made. Guys are staying on top of me. I have people believing in me. That means a lot.
“For anyone to think I could one day become a star is unbelievable.’’
“Krazy Horse’’ scored a jaw-breaking, first-round knockout over KJ Noons in the first MMA bout ever shown on premium television—the SHOWTIME premiere of EliteXC (Feb.10, 2007, in Southaven, Miss.).
“Some people still think I landed a lucky punch,’’ Bennett said. “I am not getting the credit I deserve. But I know the only way to get credit is too keep winning. Going into that fight, they thought I was old and done. But the Noons’ fight only made me stronger. It rejuvenated me.’’
The shocking victory could not have come at a more opportune time for the second oldest of 12 children, who has literally been on his own since age 14.
“I grew up in Florida, but mostly everywhere and nowhere,” said Bennett. “One thing I have been trying to do is find all my brothers and sisters because I don’t know all of them. Our mom and dad were both drug addicts. They took mom away when I was five.
“My whole life has been a fight, a survival test. I live day by day. I didn’t make it through high school. I graduated from jail. According to the computer, I have been arrested 22 times since 1997. I’ve been busted for marijuana five times. But I’m clean now and ready to fight.
“I understand the opportunity presented to me in EliteXC and I’m going to make the best of it. I am going to show everybody. Until recently, nobody believed in me. I am going to shock them. For me to overcome so much, to look back at where I was to where I am today, is truly unbelievable.
“Can you believe it? I may become the face of EliteXC!’’
Regarding their first fight, Bennett says “I thought I beat ‘Joe Boxer’ — and after watching the tape, I knew for sure I did. But I can’t argue with the judges’ call.
“The difference this time is that it is going to be a clean KO. I won’t be in a rush to take care of business. I learned against Noons I have to be more patient and pace myself.’’
Said Valenzuela: “He can try and pace himself all he wants, but I am going to be taking the fight right at him. He couldn’t make it past two rounds the first time. What makes you think he can go three?
“For him to agree that our fight was a draw; well, what does that tell you? He knows he lost. Everyone knows he lost.’’
“Joe Boxer” moved five years ago from Covina to Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., where he trains at Millennia Gym. He got his nickname shortly after going to a gym where the vast majority of athletes specialized in jiu-jitsu.
“Practically every one except me was into jiu-jitsu,’’ he said. “I grew up in La Puente (Calif.) in the world of boxing. My uncles fought; one was an established pro who was killed on a flight on the way to a fight. I was always holding mitts. I grew up in a gym.’’
Valenzuela will be trying to fight his way back into the win column on Aug. 25. On the June 22 EliteXC/Strikeforce event in San Jose, Calif., Valenzuela lost by first-round submission (heel hook) to late substitute Edson Berto, who was subbing for “Krazy Horse.”
“I’m not going to make excuses, but for my last fight I was training for a stand-up guy. But when “Krazy Horse” couldn’t, or wouldn’t, fight me, they threw me in with Berto on just a couple days’ notice.
“At the time, I knew nothing about Berto, but everybody I talked to said he fought stand-up. When he came at me with knees and kicks, he caught me off-guard. I wasn’t prepared for him to be diving in.
“I thought Berto would stand and bang, which is what I want to do. I want to stand and bang and please the crowd. Nobody wants to watch guys rolling around. But I got surprised. I won’t be surprised on Aug. 25. I didn’t show my best against Berto. I will on Aug. 25.”
“Krazy Horse,” who cleared legal trouble in Florida, was cage-side on the night of the fight in Santa Ynez, Calif., and had some choice words for Valenzuela after the fight.
“This guy thinks he can hang with me and he loses to Edson Berto in 47 seconds? You have to be kidding, right?” said “Krazy Horse.”
“What a class act and total sportsman,” said “Joe Boxer’’ sarcastically. “He gives new meaning to the word ‘tasteless.’ I can’t wait to get him in the cage.’’
Valenzuela feels he is a much better fighter than the one “Krazy Horse’’ faced first time around.
“For sure I am very confident,’’ he said. “When we fought before it was only my second MMA fight. I was still really just learning. I was basically a boxer with no ground skills — well, maybe a little, but I am much more improved now.”
EliteXC announcer Mauro Ranallo will handle play-by-play for ShoXC with highly regarded color analyst Stephen Quadros, The Fight Professor, at his side. The executive producer of ShoXC is David Dinkins, Jr. with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For more information on ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series, EliteXC and other MMA-related stories, including bios, stats and photos, please visit EliteXC.com
# # #
About Pro Elite, Inc.
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KESSLER SIGNS CONTRACT FOR MEGA FIGHT WITH CALZAGHE
Posted on | August 16, 2007 | No Comments
WBC and WBA supermiddle champ Mikkel Kessler signed today at a press conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, his part of the contract for the megafight November 3 in Cardiff against WBO ruler Joe Calazaghe. Kessler told reporters he didn´t view fighting away from home would be a problem. Mogens Palle stated that negotiations with Sports Network´s Frank Warren had been long and very hard. There is still no time set for when the fight will take place but it could be in the middle of the night for European fight fans to give US viewers on HBO a nice evening with one of the biggest fights in 2007 – and it´s by far the biggest fight in history with a Nordic fighter involved. Only Ingemar Johansson´s fights with Floyd Pattersson 59-60-61 come anywhere close to this.
Team Palle will begin the season September 14 with a show in Horsens headlined by cruiser Johny Jensen, who will go for the vacant WBO I/C title. Jr middle Reda Zam Zam will try and get revenge on Carlos Donquiz, who stopped him in the very first round in March. Female bantam Anita Christensen will defend either the WBA or the GBU title on the show.
EBU supermiddle champ Cristian Sanavia have been in Berlin to spar with IBF 160 lb champ Arthur Abraham. Sanavia is currently a free agent and one can easily see him being signed up by Sauerland Event, who have a string of supermiddles for him to fight.
German heavy king Andreas Sidon will defend the title against Konstantin Airich September 21 in Luebeck. Sidon was blasted out by Odlanier Solis in 47 seconds last time out and at 40+ is well past his best – but then again Airich, a decent prospect, is no Solis. Solis is on the this show too as well as his Cuban stablemates Yan Barthelemy and Yuriorkis Gamboa, who also appear September 2 in Berlin.
Finnish heavy Juha Haapoja headlines a pro/am show put on by Steel Ring Promotions September 15 in Vasa. Steel Ring returns October 13 in Iisalmi with local welter Jarno Ruotsalainen on top. 8-0 jr middle Mika Joensuu is also on the bill.
Jr middle Marco Schulze and cruiser Serdar Sahin will be in the featured bouts to Natascha Ragosina´s defence of the WBA, WIBF and GBU supermiddle titles September 8 in Berlin.
Russian heavy Daniel Peret have fights booked September 15 in Karlstad, Sweden, and September 21 in Luebeck, Germany. Opponent in Sweden could be ex-champ Riddick Bowe while it could be against Willi Fischer in Luebeck. Peret have also began a career as manager and agent along with Norwegian Robert Walstad.
There will be purse bids tomorrow – Aug 16 – for IBF supermiddle champ Alejandro Berrio´s mandatory defence against Romanian, based in Canada, Lucian Bute.
JUNIOR WITTER SET FOR MONUMENTAL BATTLE WITH HARRIS
Posted on | August 16, 2007 | No Comments
Junior Witter claims his WBC light-welterweight title showdown with Vivian Harris in Doncaster on September 7 will decide who is the best ten stone fighter in the world.
The Bradford switch-hitter faces his New-York based challenger in his second defence of the most-coveted world title at the The Dome at Doncaster Lakeside on Friday, September 7 in a show to be screened live on Sky Sports.
The fight with Harris follows Witter’s points defeat of DeMarcus Corley to lift the belt a year ago and ninth round stoppage of Mexican Arturo Morua in January.
Witter rates Harris as better than his other rival world champions – American Paulie Malignaggi (IBF champion) and Welshman Gavin Rees (WBA champion).
“The WBC title is the world title that holds the most respect and this is between the two top fighters in the world now at light-welterweight,” said Junior.
“The other world champions are good as well. Paulie Malignaggi looked really good, very slick, in his last fight while Gavin Rees did everything right and Souleymane M’Baye did everything wrong when they fought recently.
“But I think Harris is better than both of them. It’s a very tough, tough fight for me and will sort out who is the best light-welterweight in the world.
“He has travelled well and I expect a tough fight. It’s not a foregone conclusion and he has a lot of skills.
“I expect it to be a very technical fight and he will try to use his range while I will try to use my speed.
“He’s a tougher opponent than someone like Jose Luis Castillo, who Ricky Hatton beat last time out. Harris is big at the weight and is a boxer.”
Hennessy Sports Proudly Present
“Vicious Hitters” @ the Doncaster Dome
Friday 7th September 2007.
Doors 6pm, Boxing Starts 6.30pm.
Ticket Prices:
· Premium Ringside £200 – Reserved with access to VIP Bar
· Inner Ringside £150 – Reserved with access to VIP Bar
· Outer Ringside £60 – Reserved
· Premium Unreserved (ground floor tiered) £50
· Unreserved (balcony) £40
For Tickets call the Box Office on: 01302 370777 or book via the web: www.the-dome.co.uk
12×3 WBC Light Welterweight World Championship
Junior Witter (Bradford ENGLAND) vs Vivian Harris (New York USA)
10×3 English Super Flyweight Championship
Robert Nelson (Bradford) vs Andy Bell (Doncaster)
8 x 3 Lightweight
Lee Meager (Salford) vs TBA ()
6 x 3 Lightweight
Nadeem Siddique (Bradford) vs Tom Glover (Maldon)
4 x 3 Light Middleweight
Andy Butlin (Huddersfield) vs Karl Chiverton (Mansfield)
4 x 3 – Light Heavyweight
Danny Grainger (Chesterfield) vs TBC
4 x 3 – Lightweight
Femi Fehintola (Bradford) vs Matthew Martin Lewis (Colchester)
ends
SIDDIQUE AIMING FOR THE TOP
Posted on | August 16, 2007 | No Comments
Nadeem Siddique claims he is heading for the top of the British lightweight scene now he is taking boxing seriously.
The undefeated Bradford boxer has won British Masters and Central Area titles up at welterweight and boxes Tom Glover (Maldon) over six rounds at the The Dome at Doncaster Lakeside on Friday, September 7.
Siddique is part of a high-quality undercard to support his friend and gym-mate Junior Witter’s WBC world light-welterweight title defence on the Hennessy Sports show which will be screened live on Sky Sports.
But despite winning all of his 19 pro fights, ‘Golden Boy Sid’ reckons he has not taking the sport seriously so far.
Siddique, 29, expects his career to move at a faster pace now he is a full-time professional.
Siddique, who has sparred with Witter at their gym in Sheffield, is hoping to face the likes of Hennessy Sports boxers Dave Stewart, John Murray and Lee Meager, who is also boxing in Doncaster next month.
Siddique stopped Tye Williams in four rounds in his last fight for the Central Area and British Masters Welterweight Titles in Bradford in May.
Now he wants to stay more active after returning from a break from the sport.
“I took a break from the sport and before then boxing was just a hobby,” said Siddique, who turned professional in 2002.
“But when I came back I trained for six months solidly and it’s not a hobby now, I’m a full time pro.
“I believe I’m one of the best in Britain and I’m definitely going to prove it this year. I train with world champions like Junior Witter and that is paying off.
“I’m ready to take on the big boys and hopefully I can fight the likes of Lee Meager, Dave Stewart and John Murray later this year.
“I know Jon Thaxton, and to be honest he’s a bit ahead of me at the moment. He is the business and I don’t see him at British title level in a year or so anyway.
“I can make lightweight easy. My last fight was at welterweight but I weighed in well inside the limit. If I fight for a title it will be at lightweight.
“I need to step up and test myself and want to make a name for myself this year. Hopefully I will get to show people what I can do on Sky Sports.”
Hennessy Sports Proudly Present
“Vicious Hitters” @ the Doncaster Dome
Friday 7th September 2007.
Doors 6pm, Boxing Starts 6.30pm.
Ticket Prices:
· Premium Ringside £200 – Reserved with access to VIP Bar
· Inner Ringside £150 – Reserved with access to VIP Bar
· Outer Ringside £60 – Reserved
· Premium Unreserved (ground floor tiered) £50
· Unreserved (balcony) £40
For Tickets call the Box Office on: 01302 370777 or book via the web: www.the-dome.co.uk
12×3 WBC Light Welterweight World Championship
Junior Witter (Bradford ENGLAND) vs Vivian Harris (New York USA)
10×3 English Super Flyweight Championship
Robert Nelson (Bradford) vs Andy Bell (Doncaster)
8 x 3 Lightweight
Lee Meager (Salford) vs TBA ()
6 x 3 Lightweight
Nadeem Siddique (Bradford) vs Tom Glover (Maldon)
4 x 3 Light Middleweight
Andy Butlin (Huddersfield) vs Karl Chiverton (Mansfield)
4 x 3 – Light Heavyweight
Danny Grainger (Chesterfield) vs TBC
4 x 3 – Lightweight
Femi Fehintola (Bradford) vs Matthew Martin Lewis (Colchester)
Marquee Names Headline September 15th Fight Card
Posted on | August 16, 2007 | No Comments
FIGHTING IS IN THE FAMILY’S SOUL
WBC WORLD SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE – 12 ROUNDS
Juan Manuel MARQUEZ vs. Ricardo Rocky JUAREZ
47-3-1 (35 KO’s) Record 27-3 (19 KO’s)
Dinamita Nickname Rocky
Iztacalco, Mexico Hometown Houston, TX
Mexico City Training Location Houston, TX
Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain Trainer Ronnie Shields
This will be Juan Manuel Marquez’s first defense since winning the title from Marco Antonio Barrera earlier this year. Marquez is known as one of boxing’s best, pound for pound fighters and has thrilled fans for over 14 years. Rocky Juarez is a hard working strategic and tactical brawler who has the confidence to beat a very accurate, talented and experienced boxer in Marquez. This fight is a compelling match-up of ring experience and desire.
Marquez was born in Mexico City and is one of eight children whose father was an ex-pro boxer with 35 fights to his credit. Entering the gym for the first time at the age of eight, Juan and his brother, current bantamweight world champion Rafael, quickly took to the sweet science, with his boxing career starting in amateur tournaments at age 13. With his brother’s recent ring loss to Israel Vasquez, Marquez is planning on winning this not only for his Mexican countrymen, but more importantly, for his entire family.
Juarez is a 2000 Olympic silver medalist and has been involved in some tough battles in the past, including two hard fought wars against Marco Antonio Barrera. But most importantly he is on a quest to beat Marquez for his 91 year old grandfather who has been by his side and in the gym with him throughout his entire career. Juarez will be fighting to prove to himself, his grandfather and his fans that he is a true world champion.
SOLDIER VS CONTENDER—WHAT A SLUGFEST
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 10 ROUNDS
Kassim OUMA vs. Sergio MORA
25-3-1 (15 KO’s) Record 19-0 (4 KO’s)
The Dream Nickname The Latin Snake
West Palm Beach, FL Hometown Los Angeles, CA
Philadelphia, PA Training Location Los Angeles, CA
TBD Trainer Dean Campos
Kassim Ouma looks to end Sergio Mora’s “15 minutes of fame” and Mora looks to prove he is a legitimate fighter and put his Contender days behind him, solidifying his unbeaten record.
An interesting battle in the making—a former child-soldier for a Ugandan Army, Kassim Ouma’s story is well known (and well respected) in the boxing community. Ouma, the former junior middleweight champion will take on The Contender’s first season winner and undefeated Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora in what looks to be a fast-paced fight, with many punches thrown.
In fact, Ouma holds the Compubox record for most punches landed in a junior middleweight title fight with an amazing 502. Don’t let that stat fool you into thinking this will be a lopsided fight though; Mora made himself a household name by his fighting style of a high-volume of punches thrown. This looks to be a true slugfest.
Jermain Taylor’s (who faced both fighters) take on the fight? Ouma lost to Taylor in his last fight and Taylor beat Mora in the 2000 Olympic trial finals. Also, Mora declined a fight on March 15, 2007 vs Taylor.
SOMETHING TO PROVE
IBF WORLD FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE – 12 ROUNDS
Robert GUERRERO vs. Martin HONORIO
21-1-1 (13 KO’s) Record 24-3-1 (12 KO’s)
The Ghost Nickname El Brochas
Gilroy, CA Hometown Mexico City
Los Angeles, CA Training Location Mexico City
Joe Goossen Trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain
Robert Guerrero is the two-time and current featherweight champion of the world. He will defend his title against a game Martin Honorio, who steps in on short notice for the chance to realize his dream of becoming a world champion.
Guerrero wants to prove he can defend and keep the title that he traveled overseas to regain. Guererro also has a fight pattern of rebounding after setbacks. He is now trying to set a new course by staying on top of the game. Honorio, coming off a 12 round split decision over Joe Morales, will look to prove that he is the bigger stronger fighter that can make “The Ghost” disappear for once and for all.
When Martin Honorio began to box, he didn’t have dreams of glory or world titles dancing in his head, he just wanted to learn how to defend himself from the daily beatings he endured in the crime-infested streets of Iztapalapa, Mexico. Since turning pro in 1999, Honorio has had a very exciting career and over time he has impressed insiders with his gritty style and his ability to lift his 5’10” frame (huge for a featherweight) from the canvas to win bouts.
SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS – 10 ROUNDS
Francisco BOJADO vs. Steve FORBES
17-2 (11 KO’s) Record 32-5 (9 KO’s)
Panchito Nickname 2 Pound
Los Angeles, CA Hometown Detroit, MI
San Diego/Los Angeles, CA Training Location Las Vegas, NV
Rob Garcia Trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. / Billy Hearns
Both fighters are at a momentous point in their careers. Bojado is coming back after a break from the sport and at the end of his “first” career that was failed by ring loss and weight gain. He is a rejuvenated, lesson-learned fighter and he knows this time around it’s different.
Stevie Forbes was known as a competitor even before his days as a “talent” on the Contender. Many felt his recent loss to NABF Champion Demetrius Hopkins was an unfair decision. He knows he has to win this one and re-establish himself as a legitimate contender.
This fight will act as a catalyst, slinging the winner forward in their career and getting them back on track for a championship run. Whoever wins this fight will start on his way to a “comeback.”
The “Fireworks” pay-per-view telecast featuring Marquez vs. Juarez, will take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tickets for this unforgettable night of boxing, priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale now at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office. Tickets are sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s stores and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The show will be broadcast live on pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with a suggested retail price of $44.95. The fight will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 61 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For your Marquez vs. Juarez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.
RONNIE SHIELDS LEAVES JUAN DIAZ’S CAMP
Posted on | August 16, 2007 | No Comments
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RONNIE SHIELDS ON HIS DEPARTURE FROM JUAN DIAZ’S CAMP
John Martinez
Boxingrealm.com
(14Aug07) Moments ago, I spoke with renowned trainer Ronnie Shields about an news flash that was published on Fightnews.com by Karl Freitag. The news brief referenced Shield’s decision to work the corner of the only four-time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield for his fight against WBO heavyweight belt holder Sultan Ibragimov instead of being present when WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Diaz battles IBF titlist Julio Diaz on October 13 in their unification bout. He gave a very honest assessment of what went into his decision to work Holyfield’s corner and how the situation came about.
JM: Ronnie talk about reports that have surfaced regarding your future with Juan Diaz?
RS: Yes. The reports are true. I was approached by Juan’s manager, Willie Savannah and he told me that I had to make a choice, train Evander or train Juan. Just like that.
JM: How do you feel about your decision now that it’s done?
RM: Well you know I want to be apart of history. Evander is the only guy that has one the heavyweight title four times and now he’s going for his fifth. And as a trainer, I can’t pass up being apart of history and of course, the money is going to be good.
You know, I don’t depend on anybody to look after me. I look after myself and this was the best situation that I could be in financially not necessarily for me, but also for my family. I should’ve never been put in this position in the first place to make this decision.
I could’ve continued training Juan up until I was leaving for Russia and that’s only for seven to ten days anyway. I could’ve formulated the plan and had my assistants finish the training because that’s why we have assistants anyway to take over when the supposed main guy isn’t there, you know? But I was told that I had to pick Juan or Evander and there was no negotiations or any other choices so that was it.
JM: Have you spoken to Juan about this issue?
RS: No.
JM: You haven’t had any conversations with Juan concerning this topic?
RS: Well when Savannah approached me with this in the first place, I asked him if I could talk to Evander and I told him that I’d like to talk to Juan first and he told me “no” that he’d talk to Juan. So, he told me that I had to make my decision right then and there and I did and all of this happened about a week and a half ago.
JM: Let’s switch gears for a moment and size up Evander’s challenge against Ibragimov. What are your thoughts on the challenge ahead?
RS: Well we’re going over there to win the heavyweight title and they can overlook us if they want but if they do they’re gonna get knocked out early. Everybody keeps saying that Evander’s over, but the old man keeps ticking and keeps winning. He’s been working real hard and I’ll tell you that they (Sultan’s camp) made a mistake and should’ve fought Evander two or three fights ago.
Evander is ready and he’s coming to fight. With every fight, Holyfield is getting better and better and better. It’s to bad for them (Sultan camp) that their gonna get a real good Evander Holyfield because with every fight, he keeps improving and keeps showing what he can do and if Evander wins, then he’s probably gonna get a mega fight with probably Klitschko.
We aren’t looking past this next fight. We take every fight one fight at a time, but what we’re saying is people keep hollering about him being old, but he’s saying “ you need to take a look at me” because he is really good and he can contend with anybody in the heavyweight division no matter who it is.
JM: Final thoughts on the Diaz matter?
RS: There aren’t any hard feelings. I ‘m sure they’re happy with the decision that they made and I wish them well in the future. And I’m sure that they wish me the same. Boxing is a business and they made a business decision to do what they did so I had to what I had to do.
I’d like to thank Ronnie for his time and his openness during this interview. He’s always been a class act and ambassador for this sport. In part two of my interview with Ronnie, he weighs in on Rocky Juarez’s fight with WBC super featherweight champion, Juan Manuel Marquez.
john@boxingrealm.com
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