Pair of undercard fights stealing the spotlight

Posted on | January 24, 2011 | No Comments

Lemoore, Calif. – Two of the Tachi Palace Fights undercard fights on February 18’s “All or Nothing” mixed martial arts card have stolen a little of the main cards thunder.

Bouts between Kyle Griffin and Alan Jouban and Tyler Freeland and Diego Melendez have caught the eye of MMA fans in Central California.

Tachi Palace Fights will stream live and free on MMAJunkie.com at 5:30 p.m. (PST) with MMAJunkie’s John Morgan, Tachi Palace Fight’s welterweight champ John Alessio and Fresno’s B95 Andre Covington cage side with the call.

The stream will be blacked out to fans within 100 mile radius of the Palace unless there is a sellout.

Tickets can be purchased at www.tachipalace.com or charge by phone at 1-800-225-2277. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tachi Palace Gift Shop and start at a low price of just $30.

Griffin (1-0), the younger brother of Ultimate Fighting Championship star Tyson Griffin, will test his skills against up-and-coming welterweight prospect Jouban out of Legends gym in Los Angeles, Calif.

“I’ve wrestled forever, and I would come into the gyms where Tyson would train and work with the guys. I would be a sparring partner, but was never really expecting to get fully involved with MMA,” said Clovis, Calif.’s Griffin, who made his debut in April 2010 with a technical knockout of Nick Ellison.

“I had to take a year off of wrestling at Oklahoma State because of a knee injury and then after I rehabbed, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I started to do a little jiu-jitsu and I liked it, I decided to take a fight. I moved out to Las Vegas to train with my brother. It kind of all just happened.”

Things just didn’t happen like that for Jouban.

“I’ve been training for over five years. I started with the Bomb Squad and met Chris Reilly. I then started to train Muay Thai and loved it. Muay Thai is my passion, but there isn’t much money in it. I started doing my jiu-jitsu training with Eddie Bravo,” said Jouban, who makes his MMA debut at 29 years of age.

“I took the long road to my MMA debut. I have some catching up to do. I pride myself on being well-rounded and not just a guy that’s very good at striking.”

The Griffin and Jouban bout is only slightly overshadowed by the MMA debut of Tyler Freeland, who was born with Hypochondroplasia, which is a rare form of dwarfism that gives the appearance of a normal trunk and head size, but smaller extremities.

“Yeah, Diego will have a height advantage on me,” joked Freeland, who will make his pro debut at 145 pounds after compiling a 15-6 amateur record. “I mean, I’m only 5-foot tall. But we really don’t concentrate on my height being a negative factor, we work on the things that I can do well in the gym and how my size can help me.”

Freeland trains out of Las Vegas, Nev. with Shawn Tompkins and company at Team Tapout.

“I find a lot of strength in being the shorter fighter. I can do anything any other fighter can do. I just have to close the distance,” Freeland said. “I have some good wrestling and good punching power.”

Melendez, who also trains in the Las Vegas area, will also be making his pro debut, but knows Freeland well. The pair competed against each other in an amateur fight with Melendez winning by submission.

“That was my very first amateur fight and I had not even really trained standup yet,” Melendez said. “Tyler had a lot more experience than I did and he tagged me a few times and took me down, but I was able to catch him with a triangle.

“I’m a much different fighter now. I’m more confident in my standup and I’ve been training a lot on my all-around game.”

Freeland claims to not be the same fighter either.

“When they called me for that fight the first time, I was at a house party drinking and partying. I wasn’t even really training hard or anything. It was a mistake I shouldn’t have ever taken a fight in the condition I was in,” said Freeland. “I take MMA a lot more serious now. I live out here full time and have made a commit to coach Tompkins.”

In the main event, Tachi Palace Fights Middleweight Champion Leopoldo Serao defends his title against Montreal Quebec, Canada’s David Loiseau. Serao (17-7) rides a 3-fight win streak and the Oakland, Calif. based grappler has recorded 13 submissions in his 17 wins. Meanwhile, the former UFC title contender Loiseau (19-10) has won four of his last six bouts.

The co-main event features a pivotal flyweight tilt, as the World’s top ranked 125 pounder Jussier da Silva puts his unblemished record on the line against World Extreme Cagefighting vet Ian McCall. Brazil’s Da Silva (9-0) made his first appearance in the U.S. in December with a decision victory over Danny Martinez. McCall (8-2) has notable losses to Dominic Cruz and Charlie Valencia, but the San Clemente, Calif. fighter will be looking to turn things around in a more natural weight class.

Las Vegas, Nev.’s Ulysses Gomez (7-1) will defend his Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight title against Chino, Calif.’s Darrell Montague (8-1) and Parlier, Calif. middleweight Mike Moreno makes his return to the cage after a two year absence to take on UFC vet Yuma, Ariz.’s Edgar Garcia (8-2)

In other bouts;

-Oakland, Calif. lightweight Dominique Robinson (5-4) vs. Las Vegas, Nev.’s John Gunderson (30-11-2).

-Porterville, Calif. lightweight C.J. Keith (7-0) vs. San Diego, Calif.’s Fabricio Camoes (10-5-1).

-Lemoore, Calif. welterweight Andrew Martinez (7-2-1) vs. Taft, Calif.’s Doug Hunt (8-4).

-Las Vegas, Nev. lightweight David Bollea (3-0) vs. Sacramento, Calif.’s Ryan Burton (3-0).

-Santa Rosa, Calif. middleweight Collin Hart (2-1-1) vs. San Bernardino, Calif.’s Mike Arellano (3-7).

Yeah I Said It! #4: Why sign contracts?

Posted on | January 24, 2011 | No Comments

I deal with all kinds of people in this business – some good, some bad – but the strange thing is no matter how much I despise or dislike someone or something, the one common thread that ties us all together is our love for the greatest sport in the world – mixed martial arts.

I find it interesting that fighters today have 10 trainers, four different managers, three agents, a pair of lawyers, and still out of this collective bunch of geniuses, not one of them takes the time to read the fighter’s contract.

I have said it over and over and over again every single time to this alleged group of masterminds “READ THE CONTRACT” before signing it. It’s not just with fighters but even corporate sponsors that want to get involved in the most exciting sport on the planet. You’ll notice I didn’t say “the fastest growing sport in the world.”

I can’t stand hearing that anymore due to the fact there is no other sport that even enters into the competition that we’re competing against. Until the time that elephant soccer, underwater rugby, or the National Rock-Paper-Scissors League picks up a television contract, there is nothing else to consider as “the fastest growing sport.”

I can’t express the gratitude and the appreciation I have for the MFC’s current sponsors. They are what make the well-oiled machine called the Maximum Fighting Championship run. At the same time, we have a large sum of money still owed to us by a handful of companies that signed contracts, promised big things, and have now gone to collections.

Just DON’T SIGN THE CONTRACT. Say it’s too much, say it’s not enough, but DON’T SIGN THE CONTRACT if you really don’t want to. Say you don’t like the terms, tell me you want to stretch it out, but DON’T SIGN THE CONTRACT.

Tell me you only want to a two-fight deal and then after that we can decide if we still want to continue and we can sign a new contract. Tell me you want three bottles of tequila in your contract, and if we agree on everything then SIGN THE CONTRACT.

See the difference is the MFC is a long-term company that has been in business 11 years which in the mixed martial arts world translates to 109 years. The majority of people who front an MMA promotion come into the business, pose and strut so they can look cool to their friends, and then in they disappear. They are short-term thinkers and their MMA business has a short-term lifespan.

This is the complete opposite of everyone on board with the MFC. We are here building, striving, grinding, and competing – putting our guts into everything we do every day.

So stop wasting our time and we won’t waste yours. This is where the big boys play and where corporate sponsors can get exposure through the only show based in Canada and one of about five in all of North America that is on live TV. We do what we say we’re going to do so you should do what you say but DON’T SIGN THE CONTRACT.

I asked a notable ringside physician for his medical opinion on this serious matter. He gave me a very simple diagnosis.

If your hand is sweating as you hold a pen over the dotted line, then it’s clear you have contracted “Contractus Scaredsillius” and you should be quarantied immediately.

If you, as a fighter or a sponsor, have the contract on the desk in front of you and you are smiling uncontronably as dollar signs flash in your eyes, then you are part of the MFC team. Welcome to the coolest club you’ll ever have exclusive membership to.

www.MFC.tv

Contender Star Jimmy Lange to Face Jimmy “The Fighting School Teacher” Holmes in Main Event Showdown March 12 at the Patriot Center

Posted on | January 24, 2011 | No Comments

Wilson and Jeter Lead All-Star Undercard

FAIRFAX, VA — Boxing’s biggest show in the Washington, DC area returns to the Patriot Center on Saturday, March 12 with hometown fighter Jimmy Lange (34-4-2, 24 KOs) squaring off against Jimmy Holmes (19-1, 10 KOs) of DeMotte, IN, in the Main Event. The 10-round bout will be contested at 160 pounds. Tickets for Jimmy Lange Boxing, an Ice Promotions event presented by Valcourt Building Services, start at $35 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Lange, who is headlining his 12th Patriot Center show, returns to the ring after scoring a dramatic 10th round knockout against Joe Wyatt last November. In typical fashion, the former Contender season one star slugged it out with his opponent, going toe-to-toe before landing a powerful right hook in the closing minute of the fight to secure his 34th win. He earned the North American Boxing Association’s (NABA) 154-pound U.S. title with the victory, sending him to a world-ranking of 15 by the World Boxing Association.

Known as “The Fighting School Teacher” for his job as a physical education teacher at Roselawn (IN) Elementary School (an hour southeast of Chicago, IL), Holmes captured his 19th win with a first-round TKO over Joseph Harden last December. An Indiana fan favorite who captured the state’s middleweight title, Holmes will venture outside of the state for the first time when he heads east to Fairfax.

Local fan favorites — undefeated Fairfax welterweight Todd “White Lightning” Wilson (9-0, 3 KOs) and middleweight Tony “Mo Better” Jeter (10-2-1, 9 KOs) of Stevensville, MD – lead a strong undercard lineup for the show.

Wilson, a former collegiate boxing champion at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) who works full-time in business development for Booz Allen Hamilton, is gunning for his tenth win after scoring a third-round TKO against Corey Goodwin last November at the Patriot Center. Since he turned pro in 2007, Wilson has developed a loyal following, complete with an ‘army’ of supporters clad in Kelly green t-shirts and a memorable ring entrance featuring a bag pipe player.

Meanwhile, Jeter has gone unbeaten in his last seven fights since returning to the sport in 2008 following a two-year hiatus. Two months ago, Jeter registered a second-round KO over Adrian Redmond. He’s probably best known to Patriot Center boxing fans for his devastating, one-punch knockout of Keith Gross on September 26, 2009. Both fighters are scheduled for six-round bouts against opponents TBD.

Heavyweights Ron “Heavy Duty” Gamble (1-0, 1 KO) of Arnold, MD and Abodurin “Bo” Akinyanju (3-1, 3 KOs) of Landover, MD will clash in a four-round contest of big hitters.

Gamble, a police officer, is a former All-Metropolitan football player at Hammond (Columbia, MD) High School and four-year starter at the University of Connecticut. The 6’2”, 254-pound heavyweight started boxing at age 28, compiling an amateur record of 11-3, including a win over Akinyanju in the semifinals of the 2009 Washington Golden Gloves competition. Gamble scored a second–round TKO over Vashawn Tomlin in his pro debut last November.

An aggressive southpaw who also stands 6’2”, Akinyanju boasts more ring experience than his opponent having fought 50 times as an amateur. Promising to be in better physical condition for their rematch, Akinyanju will look to exact his revenge after falling to Gamble during his amateur days. He suffered his first pro loss last November to Kevin Howard after winning his first three bouts via knockouts.

Charlottesville, VA middleweight George “Wartime” Rivera (11-6, 4 KOs) will face Shakir Ashante (16-9, 4 KOs) of Greensboro, NC in a six-round contest, looking for his 12th win after losing his last two fights to John Mackey and James Stevenson, respectively, in 2010. Rivera notched his best win to date at the Patriot Center on November, 1 2008 when he beat then undefeated Jessie Nicklow in a grudge rematch.
Ashante, who has fought former WBA world titlist Yuri Foreman, beat Alex Quiroga in his last bout more than a year ago.

All bouts are subject to change. Doors will open at 6:00 pm with the first fight scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm.

Tickets, priced at $35, $50, $75, $125, $200, $300 and $500 (plus applicable service charges), can be bought through all Ticketmaster outlets including the Patriot Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com/ and via phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT and 410-547-SEAT. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035.

Jimmy Lange Boxing events live up to their top billing and high acclaim as the best of its kind in town. Each show delivers action-packed fights, showcasing rising prospects, established veterans, and former world titlists in front of 5,000 enthusiastic fans. From his rock star ring entrances and aggressive and entertaining fighting style, headliner Jimmy Lange always delivers an exciting performance.

BANBULA: EXPERIENCE GIVES ME THE EDGE IN PRIZEFIGHTER

Posted on | January 24, 2011 | No Comments

Surrey-based Polish fighter plans to go from journeyman to star at Olympia

Michael Banbula has more fights under his belt than six of the other contenders in the line-up for Prizefighter Light-Heavyweights II on January 29 – experience that the Pole believes will see him claim the title.

Banbula is the veteran of 40 fights since turning pro in April 2004 and enters the 16th edition of Matchroom Sport’s eight-man, one-night tournaments on the best run of form of his career. The 30 year-old is unbeaten in his last five fights, including victory over Prizefighter Light-Heavyweights champ Tony Oakey and a draw with Sunderland’s Olympic favourite Tony Jeffries.

Liverpool fighter Tony Dodson is the closest man in the line-up to Banbula in the experience stakes with 31 fights to his name and the pair meet in the third quarter-final of the night. When the action gets underway at 8pm from Olympia in London live on Sky Sports and in 3D, Banbula is confident that he will have too much know-how for the rest of the field.

“I know that over ten rounds I would beat all of these guys,” said Banbula. “I have got a really strong amateur background too, I had over 80 fights as an amateur in Poland and won a few titles there.

“Professional boxing is miles away from the amateurs, training for a ten or twelve round fight is gruelling, training for the amateurs is more relaxed and carefree.”

Pundits and fans casting an eye over Banbula’s record will notice a surge in fortunes in the last year, something that the man himself puts down to teaming up with his new trainer, Andy Edge. Banbula acknowledged that Prizefighter is the biggest and toughest night of his professional career to date, but while Edge is keeping his feet on the ground, he has two potential targets in mind should he lift the trophy.

“Andy has really changed me – he’s a great trainer and a good friend and it’s helped me to win,” said Banbula. “My trainer always says don’t think about the money think about the glory and that’s the main goal.

“I would love a rematch with Tony Jeffries but the dream would be a fight with Tony Bellew for the Commonwealth title. If I win Prizefighter then I know I can get that shot – money comes and goes but the chance to fight for that title would be brilliant.”

Also in Banbula’s corner and in his ear before the night is a man with more Prizefighter pedigree than anyone else – trainer and manager Jim Evans. He was in the corner for back-to-back Prizefighter champions in the form of Patrick Mendy and Michael Sprott and Banbula is keen to keep Evans’ fantastic record going.

“Jim has been giving me inside tips but I can’t tell you what they are!” said Banbula. “I have to win this though to keep his record going and if I win I promised to send my Mum on a nice holiday too, so the pressure is on!”

Banbula and Dodson will face the winner of the fourth quarter-final of the night between St. Albans boxer Joe Smyth – aiming to build on a 7-1 record – and Kent man Menay Edwards, unbeaten in his first four fights as a pro. Unbeaten pair Travis Dickinson – younger brother of Cruiserweights II winner Jon-Lewis – and former Wales amateur captain Llewellyn Davies meet in the second quarter-final and will face either popular unbeaten Romford man Billy Slate or Margate banger Jack ‘13’ Morris in the first semi-final after they kick-off the night’s action.

Prizefighter Light Heavyweights II Draw:

Billy Slate v Jack Morris

Llewellyn Davies v Travis Dickinson

Tony Dodson v Michael Banbula

Joe Smyth v Menay Edwards

Tickets for Prizefighter Light Heavyweights II are available at £30 unreserved and £50 ringside at SeeTickets.com or through Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900. The £20 unreserved, £40 ringside and £120 VIP are now all SOLD OUT.

Dutch Cruiser Mitchell Balker Beats Nick Okoth In London, Looks For Next UK Fight

Posted on | January 24, 2011 | No Comments

On Saturday night London based Dutch Cruiserweight prospect Mitchell Balker got the first UK win under his belt, after beating Battersea’s fighting fireman Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth, at the Graham Earl promoted ‘Capital Punishment’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green.

Balker, who relocated to London in September last year to train with Johnny Eames at his Ultrachem TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, put the disappointment of losing his unbeaten record, when he faced #8 ranked Matty Askin on his British debut back in November last year, behind him and put on a dominating performance against the very tough Okoth.

Right from the opening bell Balker controlled the fight utilising crisp solid jabs to keep Okoth on the defensive, before swiftly moving in to land solid jabs and big right hands.

Round two see Okoth charge from his corner to take the fight to the Dutchman. Balker kept calm and stayed out of trouble by moving out of range and occasionally letting rip with accurate lefts and rights, to both head and body, that slowed the advancing Okoth considerably.

Round three see Balker shift up a gear and just plain out box Okoth by utilising crisp jabs and powerful combinations. Okoth pressured Balker onto the ropes, but the savvy Dutchman would just step around Okoth and launch controlled attacks of his own. Often just jabbing to the head but occasionally with a venomous three punch combination that ended with a solid left to the body.

Round four was more of the same and it was no surprise that come the final bell the referee declared Balker the winner by a clear 40-36 points margin.

Following the fight Balker said, “I got my win, my first in UK. I feel really good, my performance was good, I just got in the ring and did my thing. It’s good to win all four rounds. I felt strong and was totally in control and I pushed him. It went OK.

The body shots we worked on in the gym worked good. I went to Nick Okoth in the changing rooms after the fight and he told me like ‘if you had hit me two, three more times there I would go down, if you hit me more with the body shots I would go down’.

It was good performance but I could do more. I felt a little bit slow but it was still good.

I want another fight soon, build on the win and show what I can do.”

Balker’s manager/co-trainer Johnny Eames added, “I thought that Mitchell performed really well. It’s his first outing since Matty Askin, and he was fighting Nick Okoth, who really is a very, very brave man and gave a very good performance.

Mitchell boxed extremely well, boxed to orders and did what he was asked to do. It’s a shame he had a little bit of a cold, otherwise he may have had a stoppage, mind you I wouldn’t wish that on anyone really, especially Nick as he’s a lovely kid. But I think Mitchell would have definitely got the stoppage win.

Mitchell is a work in progress and we’re looking to get him out again soon, he’ll be available here for any fights against anyone outside the top ten.”

FIGHT REPORT: Morby Retains Title – Upsets, Drama And Controversy At York Hall

Posted on | January 23, 2011 | No Comments

By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

Former WBU Lightweight Champion, turned promoter, Graham Earl promised closely matched, exciting fights on his return to York Hall on Saturday night with his ‘Capital Punishment’ event. Being a man of his word, that’s just what Graham delivered and much, much more.

For a start there were no less than three drawn bouts, albeit two being declared under the new BBBofC ‘technical draw’ rule. There was a massive upset, when Alex Spitko stopping Navid Iran. There was bloody drama when two fights were stopped due to bad cuts and there was controversy as Manny Oshunrinde was denied a clear stoppage win, only to receive a ‘technical draw’. More on these a little later.

The headline Southern Area Super Middleweight title clash between Paul Morby and Daniel ‘The Slick’ Cadman was a closely fought affair, so much so that after ten hard fought rounds the Referee declared the bout a draw.

The bout got of to quite a slow start as both protagonists feeling each other out, as such it was impossible to declare a clear leader after the first couple of rounds. Cadman had set his stall out, deciding to close the Champion down. Whilst Cadman did all the controlling it was Morby that landed the more meaningful punches, just not enough.

Round three was a much more lively affair, with plenty of back and forth exchanges. About midway through the round the crowd leapt to their feet as one as Cadman backed Morby onto the ropes and let rip with a powerful flurry of shots. Cadman was driven on, to try and finish the fight early following landing a vicious left to the body, that clearly hurt the Champion. Morby survived the onslaught but round three was clearly Cadman’s.

Cadman again seemed to hurt Morby with a an equally vicious left to the body in the fourth round. However this was the wake up call the Champion needed, Morby came back with some world class ring craft and salvo of punches of his own as he boxed his way out of trouble. Whilst again a very close round I felt that Morby had done just enough to claim the round.

Round five was all Cadman. The reigning champ showed he has the heart of a Lion, soaking up onslaught after onslaught , any of which looked sure to end the Champions reign at a moments notice. At times the round got messy, as Morby clung to Cadman in an effort to stop further punishing salvos. Cadman’s round for sure.

Round six was more or less an extension of the later part of the fifth, with Morby grabbing hold of Cadman each time he mounted an attack. Saying that there was some scintillating action, just more holding than action. Again I gave the round to Cadman as he was by far the more positive and landed the more meaningful, and hurtful, punches.

Round seven was again a close round, like in the previous rounds there was a lot of holding, but there was also plenty of back and forth action. I gave the round to Morby purely as he had landed the more telling punches.

Round eight saw some excellent action, between the holding that is. Again another very close round, this time I just couldn’t split the pair.

Round nine was a scrappy affair, but did include some fiery exchanges, as well as some rather amusing moments – first Cadman is sent head first through the ropes following some nifty footwork by Morby, who sidestepped an attack before spinning the flaying Cadman head first through the ropes.

Just moments later the tables were turned when Cadman stepped aside, matador style, as Morby charged forward. Morby’s pace was such that the momentum almost propelled him completely over the third rope and onto the officials table. Finally following another grappling session Morby gets pushed down to end up kneeling in front of less than amused referee.

At the end of the three minutes again it was impossible to declare a clear winner of the round.

With just the one round to go this fight could go either way. Morby comes out hard and fast but Cadman doesn’t seem fazed and stands his ground. Following yet more grappling sessions, interspersed by some scintillating back and forth action. Both gave there all, it was without doubt a magnificent, and again too close to call, final round, even with the holding and pushing, and truly deserving of the rapturous applause that ensued as the final bell rang.

The cheers quickly turned to jeers though as the referee lifted both Morby and Cadman’s hands high declaring the fight a 96-96 draw, as such Paul Morby gets to retain his title.

Hopefully there will be a rematch in the not to distant future.

Prior to the headline bout American Super Middleweight Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Oshunrinde was clearly robbed of his first win on British soil by the fight being declared a technical draw following the fight being stopped, in the first round, due to a serious cut over Smyle’s right eye.

Unlike the earlier technical draw decision, when a cut was caused by an accidental clash of heads, the cut to Smyle’s eye, as well as a serious swelling below the right eye, was caused by the many solid and highly accurate jabs and punches Oshunrinde landed throughout the short encounter.

Both protagonists started fast, however Oshunrinde quickly took control with his superior jab, often forcing Smyle backwards. Around half way through the round Oshunrinde again sent Smyle backwards, but this time followed up and let rip with a big left-right to the head.

Smyle covered up quickly, but not quick enough to stop another heavy straight right. Oshunrinde looked set to continue the onslaught but the eagle eyed referee had spotted the blood gushing from a cut above Smyle’s eye and called a halt to the proceedings.

The highly anticipated clash between Ultrachem TKO’s exciting London based Dutch Cruiserweight prospect Mitchell Balker and Battersea’s fighting Fireman Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth proved to be one of the fight’s of the night.

Balker’s savvy ring craft proved to be too much for ‘The Ox’. Right from the start Balker controlled the fight utilising crisp jabs to keep Okoth on the defensive before moving in to land solid jabs and right hands before stepping aside to thwart any return salvos from the heavy handed Okoth.

Round two see Okoth charge from his corner before swinging wildly in a effort to gain a semblance of control. Balker kept calm and stayed out of trouble by moving out of range and occasionally letting rip with accurate lefts and rights that slowed the advancing Okoth considerably.

Round three see Balker step things up a notch and just plain out box Okoth with crisp jabs and wicked combinations. Each time Okoth advanced Balker would let him back him onto the ropes before spinning Okoth and launching a controlled attack of his own. Often to the head but sometimes with a peach of a three punch combination that ended with a solid left to the body.

Round four was more of the same and it was no surprise that come the final bell the referee declared Balker the winner by a clear 40-36 points margin.

Before the break Redhill’s Daryl Setterfield had a short and bloody battle with Jay Morris.

Prior to the fight stopping cut there wasn’t much to choose between the two as they slugged it out. However the turning point came about three quarter the way through the first round after an accidental clash of heads.

Blood gushed from a nasty cut above Setterfield’s left eye and in an instant Morris was all over him like a rash. Setterfield covered up, protecting the wound from possible more damaging blows, and soaked up the pressure until the bell.

World class cuts man Jimmy Tibbs got to work on the badly damaged eye as Johnny Eames calmed Setterfield, who looked concerned by the extent of the bleeding.

As the bell rang for the second round Morris shot across the ring and let rip with a series of massive bombs. However instead of covering up Setterfield returned fire with a brace of exocets of his own.

Both returned to boxing, rather than attempting to take the other’s head off, but following another close quarter exchange a second accidental head clash reopened the wound, leaving referee Bob Williams no option but to stop the fight and declare the bout a technical draw.

The third fight of the night was set to be a feisty affair, as both Sutton’s Danny ‘Cassius Connor and Stevenage’s Terry Holmes had publicly stated their intention of knocking the other out.

Round one started fast, Connor using his superior jab to keep the raging bull attacks of Holmes at bay. Connor showcased his boxing skills whilst Holmes seemed content to throw bomb after bomb whenever he got in range, or not as the case may be. It was a close round but I felt that Connor had done enough to secure the round.

Round two was more of the same, until around midway when one of Holmes’ bombs hit the target – hard. Feeling more confident Holmes went on the attack forcing Connor back. Connor continued to use his jab to keep the terrier like Holmes at bay, however Holmes just wouldn’t back down. I see the round in favour of Holmes.

Things settled down a bit in the third round and some good toe-to-toe action ensued. Holmes slowed things down a bit and instead of launching wild attacks started picking his punches. Connor was boxing beautifully but the tide had turned firmly in favour of Holmes with his more controlled approach.

Round four was more of the same again and at one point looked like Holmes may have the stoppage he predicted after landing a big right before pouncing on Connor with a flurry of big shots. Connor weaved and ducked but with his back to the rope didn’t seem to have an escape route so let rip with a few of his own. This was enough for Holmes to take to the back foot. Connor pushed forward and let rip with a salvo of his own. The crowd were on their feet as the action flowed back and forth until the final bell rang and Holmes was declared victor by a 40-36 points margin – whilst I agree Terry Holmes won the fight I don’t feel it was a four round shutout.

The second bout of the night see a massive upset as Navid Iran lost his unbeaten record to Mansfield’s Alex ‘Pit Bull’ Spitko.

The early going was all Iran, who dominated with vicious two handed attacks. At around the midway mark of the first round it seemed the fight may already be over after Iran landed a massive right. Spiko’s legs were gone, but somehow the plucky Latvian exile stayed on his feet to weather the storm.

The turning point of the fight came in the second minute of the third round when Iran seemed to run out of wind. Spitko turned the tables big time and let rip with a full blown salvo, Iran tried to run but Spitko stayed on him like a rash throwing flurries of shots until the referee Bob Williams stepped in to stop the fight at the 2 minute 39 second mark.

The opening fight of the night, between Joe Hillerby and Ryan Clark, also featured a battle of former World Champions turned trainers, as Graham Earl was in Hillerby’s corner and Carl Greaves in Clarke’s.

The normally fast starting Clarke seemed a little more cautious than normal, which allowed Hillerby to take the first couple of rounds by forcing the pace throughout.

Round three see the real Ryan Clarke emerge. Normal service is resumed as Clarke starts letting rip with heavy hands. Hillerby is made of sterner stuff though, standing his ground and trading with equal venom. Much closer round but Hillerby still gets the nod and is set for a good win.

More of the same in fourth with Clarke throwing everything but the kitchen sink in an effort to stop the advancing juggernaut known as the ‘Belfast Banger’. No surprise that Hillerby and Graham Earl come out the winners in this one.

Without doubt Graham Earl is a man of his word as ‘Capital Punishment’ featured well matched bouts that produced plenty of drama and excitement, as well as a little controversy to keep everyone talking.

So there you have it London’s first boxing show of 2011, can’t wait for the next – Bring it on!

Holyfield-Williams Post Fight Quotes

Posted on | January 22, 2011 | No Comments

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (January 22, 2011)

Evander Holyfield: “I’m very disappointed. He fought the way he should have. He understood he would have his head low when he threw the overhand right. If I didn’t move back, we’d clash heads. It was to his advantage to get lower because he’s short. Being that short he had to fight that fight. He didn’t have to, he chose to.”

“Stuff like this happens and I’ll shake it off. Hopefully, I’ll get this stitched up and it won’t be a problem. Life goes on, it’s part of boxing.”

Sherman Williams: “I’ve had my own personal setbacks. To get over what I did was a miracle. I trained hard for this fight. I was fighting a legend and I can’t take anything away from him. I feel like I should have won by TKO. I cut him with an overhand right, but I respect him.”

“I root for him. He’s almost 50 and still training and performing. I admire what he’s done but it’s time to let younger guys fight and older guys do television commentary. He’s not as good looking as I am. You’ve made sacrifices, won 4 world championships and fought in the Olympics. But this is a new time, a new era. Mr. Holyfield shouldn’t be taking punches from younger guys. That’s how I feel. It’s time for him to move on but, if he wants, we can do it again.”

“After the first round he was falling into my trap. When he felt I was in retreat…bang with the overhand right, and that’s when I saw blood.”

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Holyfield-Williams ends in No Contest

Posted on | January 22, 2011 | No Comments

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (January 22, 2011) – Tonight’s title fight between World Boxing Federation Heavyweight Champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield and challenger Sherman “Tank” Williams abruptly ended after three rounds due to a cut over Holyfield’s left eye that happened in the second round suffered in the second round. Holyfield was unable to continue after three and the fight was declared a no contest because the cut was caused by an accidental head butt and the fight didn’t go four rounds.

“I’m cut,” Holyfield said after the fight. “He head-butted me. He came down on me with his head. I don’t know about my next fight (March 5 vs. Brian Nielson in Denmark). I’m cut, I’m cut. I’ll give Sherman a rematch.”

“I’m back,” said Williams who staggered Holyfield at the end of the third round with an overhand right. “This fight was circus: on again, off again. But I stayed focused. I hurt him with an overhand punch. Let’s bring this fight to Atlantis – Holyfield-Williams II. I’ll take his place in Denmark and fight Nielson.”

Holyfield-Williams headlined the “Redemption In America” pay-per-view card, viewed by boxing fans in 17 different countries worldwide, live in front of a black-tie crowd from America’s resort — The Greenbrier’s Colonial Hall — in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

“Redemption In America: The Journey Begins Now” pay-per-view event, presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, was distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media.

“Redemption” fused world-class boxing and entertainment; showcasing a production that included high-energy music presented by Broadway performers, along with dancers and aerial artists. World-renowned saxophone player Clarence Clemons also headlined a live band between fights throughout the night.

In the co-feature, WBC #16 heavyweight Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (24-1-1, 10 KOs) dropped a much taller Julius “Towering Inferno” Long (15-15, 13 KOs) twice in the final round en route to a convincing win by 8-round unanimous decision. Johnson, a former world title challenger, won seven rounds on all three judges’ scorecards.

Former world heavyweight title challenger Monte Barrett (34-9-1) and veteran Charles “Showboat” Davis fought to an 8-round majority draw.

In the PPV opening bout, unbeaten Detroit middleweight Willie Fortune (10-0, 5 KOs) won an 8-round split decision against Lithuania-native Donatas Bondoravas (10-2-1, 3 KOs) in a spirited bout.

In one of three off-PPV fights, Detroit middleweight Domonique Dolton (10-0, 6 KOs) kept his undefeated record intact, pitching a complete shutout (80-72 three times) versus veteran Marcos “The Terminator” Primera for an 8-round unanimous decision.

NABA Heavyweight Champion Cedric “The Bos” Boswell (33-1, 26 KOs) successfully defended his title, knocking out Dominique “Diamond” Alexander (19-10, 9 KOs) in the second round via the three-knockdown rule.

Cleveland junior welterweight Miguel “Silky Smooth” Gonzalez (13-2, 12 KOs), 2008 U.S. National AAU champion, dropped Ramon Che” Guevara three times in the sixth round for an automatic knockout victory.

Special guests at ringside included former world heavyweight champions Lennox Lewis and Larry Holmes, as well as 4-time world heavyweight title challenger Jameel McCline.

Full Results:

HEAVYWEIGHTS
Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs), Atlanta, GA No Contest 3 rounds Sherman Williams (34-11, 19 KOs), Ft. Pierce, FL
Holyfield suffered cut over left eye due to accidental head-butt
(Holyfield retains World Boxing Federation heavyweight title)

Kevin Johnson (24-1-1, 10 KOs), Atlanta, GA WDEC8 (39-71, 79-71, 79-71) Julius Long (15-15, 13 KOs), Detroit, MI

Charles Davis (19-21-3, 4 KOs), Tucson, AZ D8 (77-75, 76-76, 76) Monte Barrett (34-9-1, 20 KOs), Jamaica, Queens, NY

Cedric Boswell (33-1, 26 KOs), Atlanta, GA WKO2 (2:23) Dominque Alexander (19-10, 9 KOs), Topeka, KS
(Boswell retained NABA heavyweight title)

MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Willie Fortune (10-0, 5 KOs), Detroit, MI WDEC8 (77-75, 77-75, 75-77) Donatas Bondoravas (10-2-1, 3 KOs), Chicago, IL

Domonique Dolton (10-0, 6 KOs), Detroit, MI WDEC8 (80-72, 80-72, 80-72) Marcos Primera (20-23-2, 13 KOs), Asheboro, NC

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
Miguel Gonzalez (12-3, 12 KOs), Cleveland, OH WKO6 (2:23) Ramon Guevara (9-21-2, 6 KOs), Grand Rapids, MI

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