Unbeaten Byarm Headlines December 11 in Baltimore!
Posted on | November 26, 2010 | No Comments
For Immediate Release
Baltimore, MD (November 26, 2010) Exciting heavyweight Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm will take on perennial spoiler Theron Johnson Saturday, December 11 in the main event of Baltimore Pro Boxing’s “Season’s Beatings” live from the Pikesville Armory.
Tickets start at $35 and can be ordered by calling 410-675-6900, logging onto Baltimoreboxing.com or going to the Armory’s box office.
Byarm, 9-0 (6 KO’s), is quickly building a reputation as a heavyweight prospect to keep an eye on, showing solid improvement each and every time he’s returned to the squared circle. The Washington, DC native scored his best victory to date in June, demolishing previously unbeaten Jason Freeman in 76 seconds.
Standing in his way will be tougher than advertised Theron Johnson of Chicago, IL. Johnson, who has a deceptive 4-3-1 record, is far from a pushover, and needed just 37 seconds to stop popular Baltimore native Jed Phipps on September 17.
Byarm and Johnson will battle it out over eight rounds for the East Coast Heavyweight Championship.
In the co-featured bout, crowd pleasing middleweights Scott “Cujo” Sigmon and “Vicious” Julius Kennedy will do battle for local bragging rights.
With a reputation for putting on exciting bouts and a never say die attitude, Sigmon is amongst the most popular fighters in the Beltway Region. Hailing from Bedford, VA, Sigmon has a solid 12-2 professional ledger with 5 wins by way of kayo. Since dropping a decision to well regarded Jesse Nicklow, Sigmon has won four straight bouts.
Kennedy, 7-1-1 (3 KO’s), is fresh off a scintillating ten round draw against the aforementioned Nicklow in a bout that had fans on their feet from bell to bell. The Windsor Mill, MD native is unbeaten in his last eight fights and owns a 2009 decision victory over heralded prospect Aaron Pryor Jr.
With the vacant East Coast Championship on the line, Sigmon and Kennedy will duke it over ten rounds.
Appearing on the action packed undercard will be multi-time amateur champion “Slick” Nick Kisner (6-0, 4 KO’s), former Towson soccer star Shelly Seivert (4-1-1, 1 KO), light heavyweight Dale “Hit Hard as Hell” Roberson-El (5-0, 3 KO’s) and heavyweight Mark Orendorff (1-0) amongst other local favorites.
In addition to $35 general admission seats, tickets are available for $50, with individual VIP seats on sale for $75 and $100. VIP tables are sold out. All VIP ticket holders will receive free Hor’dourves and half priced drinks.
Doors open at 7 pm and the opening bell is slated for 8. The Pikesville Armory is located at 610 Reisterstown Rd in Baltimore, MD.
For more information, go to Baltimoreboxing.com.
Tags: Aaron Pryor > Aaron Pryor Jr. > Armory > Auto > Boxing > Byarm > com > dc native > decision > decision victory > draft > Exciting > freight train > pikesville armory > Pro Boxing > prospect > s box > sigmon > Unbeaten > VIP > way > windsor mill
OAKLAND’S WBA WORLD CHAMPION ANDRE WARD & WORLD CONTENDER SAKIO BIKA FINAL WEIGH IN RESULTS AND CAPTIONS
Posted on | November 26, 2010 | No Comments
Judges: Hunter Walton, Tacoma, Wash.Marty Sammon, Santa Clara, Calif.
Jon Schorle, El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Referee: Dan Stell of Vacaville, Calif.
Weights: Andre Ward 168.0 pounds even; Sakio Bika 168.0 pounds even.
OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2010) — WBA Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward and World Contender Sakio Bika both landed on the exact 168-pound weight mark on Friday, one day before their world title clash on Saturday, Nov. 27 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. Oakland’s Ward will make the second defense of his World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight championship against world-ranked contender Bika, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Ward (22-0, 13 KOs), who has already secured a berth in the Semifinals of the SHOWTIME Super Six World Boxing Classic, will be making the second defense of his 168-pound title. The 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and tournament points-leader will face the tough Bika, (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, via Douala, Cameroon.
The World Championship night of boxing will begin at 4 p.m. featuring undefeated Mexican Jr. middleweight and 2008 US Olympian Javier Molina (4-0, 4 KOs), Sacramento’s undefeated lightweight Stan Martyniouk (10-0, 1KO), Houston’s power-punching Cornelius White (15-0, 14 KOs), plus four other bouts with the main event featuring Oakland’s finest starting at approximately 7 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $150, $75 and $35 are on sale now at the Oracle Box Office or visit www.coliseum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Goossen Tutor Promotions and TNT Boxing are promoting this night of World Championship boxing, with the championship bout in association with Golden Boy Promotions, the promoter for Bika.
In the first bout of the split-site doubleheader on SHOWTIME, former world champions “King” Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KO’s) of Germany and Carl “The Cobra” Froch (26-1, 20 KOs) of England will battle in the final Group Stage 3 bout of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. from Helsinki, Finland.
Here’s some of what the fighters had to say on Friday:
ANDRE WARD:
“I had a date to fight and I wanted to keep it. I wanted to choose the next best available boxer and we did that with Sakio Bika. Plus, there weren’t a lot of other options.
“I’m a competitor. I don’t like to lose at anything be it pickup basketball or a game of cards with my family. But they all like to beat me because of it. Even my family conspires to beat me at cards.
“Boxing is one of the only sports that if you’re pinned with one loss your pay scale definitely decreases. It’s important for me and my family that I get this win tomorrow night.
“I don’t care who wins tomorrow night’s first fight on SHOWTIME (between Abraham and Froch). I’m so locked into my own. I won’t even ask and I don’t care if anyone tells me. It doesn’t matter. I’ve never been so focused for a fight as I am for this one.”
SAKIO BIKA:
“We have studied what we need to do and we just have to do it. We have to do stuff that other fighters have not been able to do.
“We are not going to be like the other fighters he’s faced and go for the knockout. We just want to go for the win.
“People have labeled me a rough and tough fighter, even a dirty fighter. I will show that I can truly box and that I belong with the elite of this sport.
“Andre Ward is a champion. He wants to remain a champion. It’s my job to disrupt that and shake up the Super Six by pinning him with his first loss.
“I didn’t even watch him weigh in. I didn’t need to check him out. I’ve seen him before. I know what he looks like.”
Tags: Association > Auto > Boxing > championship > com > douala cameroon > draft > el dorado hills > loss > Middleweight Champion > middleweight championship > Olympic Gold Medalist > oracle arena in oakland > SAKIO > stan martyniouk > super > Super Middleweight > title > WORLD > World Boxing Association > World Championship Boxing > www
SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC WEIGH IN
Posted on | November 26, 2010 | No Comments
Tags: Auto > Boxing > CLASSIC > draft > Six > Weigh > WORLD > world boxing
“Snow Brawl” Pro MMA Official Weigh-In & Final Press Conference
Posted on | November 26, 2010 | No Comments
PUBLIC WELCOME
WHO: DAN “The Upgrade” LAUZON
E. Bridgewater, MA
13-4-0
DAMIEN “The Omen” TRITES
Allston, MA
5-3-0
Plus…..
GEORGE REBELLO (11-2-0), Providence, RI
TIAWAN HOWARD (7-5-0), Cleveland, OH
MAT SANTOS (2-6-0), E. Greenwich, RI
ED MEDEIROS (3-3-0), Taunton, MA
JEFF ANDERSON (5-2-0), Lincoln, RI
HITALO MACHADO (6-4-0), Danbury, CT
LIONEL YOUNG (4-4-0), Brockton, MA
LUIZ RODRIGUEZ (3-0-0), Somerville, MA
JASON BENNETT (4-3-0), Middletown, CT
TATEKO MATSUDA (4-3-0), Boston, MA
TYSON CHARTIER (Pro Debut), Waltham, MA
JUSTIN SWITZER (0-1-0), Lincoln, RI
DOUG BOLANES (Pro Debut), Framingham, MA
JOSH LABOSSIERE (Pro Debut), Narragansett, RI
RUBEN REY (1-1-0), Providence, RI
JAMES KING (0-1-0), Brockton, MA
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 – 7:00 PM/ET Weigh-In immediately followed by the final press conference
WHERE: Twin River
The Back Room at Wicked Good Bar and Grill
100 Twin River Road
Lincoln, RI 02865
1.401.82RIVER
WHY: Official Weigh-In and final press conference for Thursday night’s pro Mixed-Martial-Arts show at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI.
Tickets for “Snow Brawl,” priced at $25.00 (SRO), $50.00, $75.00 and $100.00 (VIP), are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6:00PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Snow Brawl.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)
Tags: Auto > Brockton > com > draft > greenwich ri > information doors > Jason Bennett > Lauzon > lincoln ri > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA > narragansett ri > press > pro debut > providence ri > Somerville > tiawan > ticketmaster location > Trites > Upgrade > www
L.A. Matadors Join The Mayor at Fred Jordan Missions
Posted on | November 25, 2010 | No Comments
Members of the Los Angeles Matadors joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Thanksgiving at Fred Jordan Missions distributing meals to the less fortunate.
The L.A. Matadors, Los Angles’ team in the groundbreaking, global World Series of Boxing, will host their home-opener at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 28, against inherent rival Mexico City Guerreros. The fighters in the World Series of Boxing are competing for a spot in the 2012 Olympic Games in London as the World Series of Boxing is the first league of its kind allowing boxers to retain their Olympic eligibility.
Tickets, starting at $20, can be purchased by visiting www.ticketmaster.com
Doors at Nokia Theatre open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout schedule for 7:30 p.m.
Tags: 2012 olympic games > antonio villaraigosa > Auto > Boxing > com > Doors > draft > fred jordan > global world > home opener > kind > matadors > Mayor > mayor antonio villaraigosa > Mexico City > olympic eligibility > Olympic Games > spot > Thanksgiving > Ticketmaster > WORLD > www
OAKLAND’S ANDRE WARD HAS A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS THANKSGIVING
Posted on | November 25, 2010 | No Comments
OAKLAND, CALIF. (Nov. 25, 2010) – World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Andre Ward has a lot to be thankful for as he gets ready to defend his title against contender Sakio Bika on Saturday at Oracle Arena in Oakland, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Sure, he’s considered one of the top-10 pound-for-pound boxers in world. And, yes, he’s and Olympic Gold Medalist and the tournament points leader in the SHOWTIME Super Six World Boxing Classic.
But what is Ward truly thankful for?
“I’m most thankful for my beautiful family,” Ward said. “While I won’t have the chance to spend this Thanksgiving with them, I look forward to Saturday’s fight with Sakio Bika and am blessed to perform in a sport that I love. I truly appreciate all of my fans and their support, and wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.”
With his world title at stake on Saturday, the Oakland native knew he couldn’t take Thanksgiving off to enjoy the traditional turkey and fixings and instead spent the day in the gym training for the second defense of his 168-pound title. .
The 26-year-old Ward (22-0, 13 KOs), has already secured a berth in the Semifinals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. The 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and tournament points-leader will face the tough Bika, (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, via Douala, Cameroon, who will be making his third world title appearance.
The World Championship night of boxing will begin at 4 p.m. featuring undefeated junior middleweight and 2008 US Olympian Javier Molina (4-0, 4 KOs), Sacramento’s undefeated lightweight Stan Martyniouk (10-0, 1 KO), Houston’s power-punching Cornelius White (15-0, 14 KOs), plus four other bouts with the main event featuring Oakland’s finest starting at approximately 7 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $150, $75 and $35 are on sale the Oracle Box Office or visit www.coliseum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Goossen Tutor Promotions and TNT Boxing are promoting this night of World Championship boxing, with the championship bout in association with Golden Boy Promotions, the promoter for Bika.
In the first fight of the split-site doubleheader on SHOWTIME, “King” Arthur Abraham will meet Carl “The Cobra” Froch in the final Group Stage 3 bout of tournament for the vacant WBC super middleweight world title. The world title match will be televised on same-day-delay from the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland.
Tags: Association > Auto > Bika > Boxing > CALIF > com > douala cameroon > draft > fight > junior middleweight > Middleweight Champion > oakland native > Olympic Gold Medalist > oracle arena in oakland > SAKIO > stan martyniouk > super > Super Middleweight > top 10 pound for pound boxers > tournament > World Boxing Association > www
A look backward and forward in the aftermath of MFC 27
Posted on | November 25, 2010 | No Comments
Leading up to MFC shows over the past few years, The Z-Files takes an in-depth look at the card, the fighters themselves, and the ramifications of each bout, all leading to the Top 10 Questions.
And in the past year, following each show The Z-Files has expanded its review and added in a rundown of notes, quotes, and fallout. These are not necessarily answers to the Top 10 Questions that were posed coming into the event, but some insight into what happened and what’s in store in the future based upon the results.
So coming out of MFC 27:
Douglas Lima already ranks up there with Patrick Cote as the classiest MFC champion. Not only is Lima an immense talent, but he has the charisma factor going for him in a big way – an element that Cote brought to a title reign unlike any other champion that followed.
And at just 22, Lima is only going to further master the entertainment aspects (pre-fight hype interviews, etc.) as time goes by. Who Lima faces next in his first title defense is open for debate right now but he is the kind of fighter who could truly be a great representative to the organization with a healthy run at the top.
Cote was first-class all the way while holding the MFC middleweight belt and could easily slide into a role as an ambassador for the sport or top organization representative once his fighting days are done.
It sure doesn’t hurt that Lima has quite a pack surrounding him. His brother Dhiego looked fantastic in his promotional debut at MFC 27.
While Douglas’s strength is his outstanding jiu-jitsu skills, it appears as though little (though not smaller) brother has a knack for the stand-up game as he flashed a one-punch knockout in the face of sturdy Bill Fraser. Anchoring both their corners was well-accomplished veteran Roan Carneiro, who stepped to the forefront of the Lima-Jesse Juarez, ATT Atlanta vs. Team Body Shop online battle, and could very well take it to the next level if a deal is put in place for “Jucao” to square-off against “The Kansas City Bandit” Jason High.
The home-town crowd wants it, and it may very well be in the works, but a rematch between Ryan Ford and new welterweight champion Douglas Lima shouldn’t be up next for either fighter. Lima is likely to face a seasoned challenger in his next outing.
Ford, meanwhile, needs to put at least one more win together before forcing the issue on a second tilt with Lima, who dominated their first clash en route to a second-round submission win. Ford looked good at MFC 27, but not to the point of deserving a third chance at the MFC crown. Let’s not forget this is the guy who lost twice to smallish welterweight Pat Healy, including the inaugural MFC 170-pound title fight, and then was beaten by Lima.
And at while he did pick up the win at MFC 27, Ford clearly lost Round 1 to Pete Spratt before moving on to the win over the aging warrior. Ford is a top contender, but not the No. 1 man yet.
Much has been made about the lackluster showings of David Heath and Dwayne Lewis at MFC 27. Both were far below expectations and need to regroup fast as they are both likely ticketed for returns at MFC 28 in early 2011.
The matchup for Heath could come against Tom Watson – both are coming off disappointments and need to re-fire their engines to stay in the mix.
What fate lies ahead for Lewis is up in the air. He could possibly get Rodney Wallace, the late replacement who outpointed Heath, or Wallace could wind up against Razak Al-Hassan, who wasn’t given the nod by the judges but arguably dodged past Lewis in the close split-decision outcome. Lewis could also get a crack at Glover Teixeira if his travel visa issues are sorted out, and if the Brazilian doesn’t ultimately get his much-anticipated showdown with Ryan Jimmo. Much of that sorting out in the light heavyweight ranks will come down to whether the Jimmo-Teixeira bout comes off.
Kajan Johnson calling out for a title shot is a premature move on the part of the exciting lightweight. While he may now be on the right path thanks to a new training regimen, Johnson needs to get on a serious winning run before declaring he’s worthy of a run at the belt.
Let’s not forget that he is merely 2-1 in his last three fights, and while he dominated in both victories, the loss sticks out like a sore thumb. Johnson needs to put at least two more wins together, boast a three-fight streak, and then call for his shot.
Looking forward to seeing early in early 2011:
Curtis Demarce, to see where he stacks up against a top-tier lightweight
A Knockout of the Year contender in David Heath vs. Tom Watson
Maybe one last hurrah from Pete Spratt
A return from Thales Leites
A clear-headed, eager-to-fight Ryan Jimmo
The first title defense of Douglas Lima with a opening act from brother Dhiego
Tags: Auto > bill fraser > carneiro > doesn > draft > entertainment aspects > immense talent > Juarez > knockout > MFC > organization > organization representative > Patrick Cote > punch knockout > run > shot > show > title > title reign > way > Z-Files
WBA WORLD CHAMPION ANDRE WARD TO DEFEND AGAINST WORLD CONTENDER SAKIO BIKA LIVE ON SHOWTIME® ON NOV. 27
Posted on | November 24, 2010 | 1 Comment
Press Conference Quotes
OAKLAND, Calif. (Nov. 24, 2010) – World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward and world contender Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika met with local Bay Area media members on Wednesday to discuss their anticipated world title fight just three days away.
It will be the second consecutive defense of his world title for the local fighter Ward (22-0, 13 KOs), who will have his hands full against Bika (28-4-2, 19 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, via Douala, Cameroon on Saturday, Nov. 27, live on SHOWTIME (live at 9 p.m. ET/PT).
In the first fight of the split-site doubleheader, “King” Arthur Abraham will meet Carl “The Cobra” Froch in the final Group Stage 3 bout of tournament for the vacant WBC super middleweight world title. The world title match will be televised on same-day-delay from the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland.
The Oracle Arena in Oakland will be the site of the World Championship night of boxing which will begin at 4 p.m. featuring undefeated Jr. middleweight and 2008 US Olympian Javier Molina (4-0, 4 KOs), Sacramento’s undefeated lightweight Stan Martyniouk (10-0, 1KO), Houston’s power-punching Cornelius White (15-0, 14 KOs), plus four other bouts with the main event featuring Oakland’s finest starting at approximately 7 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $150, $75 and $35 are on sale now at the Oracle Box Office or visit www.coliseum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Goossen Tutor Promotions and TNT Boxing are promoting this night of World Championship boxing, with the championship bout in association with Golden Boy Promotions, the promoter for Bika.
Here’s what the principals had to say on Wednesday.
ANDRE WARD:
“I thank God for the opportunity. I don’t take this time in my life for granted. I take my job seriously and appreciate the compliments, but I still feel that we have a lot of work to do before it is considered anything great.
“Sakio Bika and I have both had great camps. Come Saturday night I know that I am prepared both physically and mentally.
“Whether there are two or 100,000 fans in the stands makes no difference to me because I will still come in here to do my job.”
When asked about running in the ring:
“I step up and show what they’re dealing with in the ring. I am a fighter that doesn’t take a lot of punishment. Like Floyd Mayweather.”
SAKIO BIKA:
“I am happy Andre Ward has given us the opportunity. I am looking for the win. Training camp went very well and we will win this fight.
“We have been training hard for six weeks.”
On his preferred style of fighting:
“I don’t care what kind of style of fighting an opponent brings to me. I do what I have to do to win the fight.”
VIRGIL HUNTER, Ward’s Trainer:
“It’s good to be here once again in our hometown and at the Oracle Arena. We have a difficult, tough task ahead. Sakio Bika is a world class fighter. In this training camp, we have no stones left unturned. We prepared diligently and have plans to prevail. We wish Sakio Bika luck. When I say luck, I mean that he goes home to his family in tact. We plan to win just like we’ve been winning for years. When Sakio Bika gets into the ring with Andre Ward it will be a whole different ball game on Saturday night.”
On Bika’s style:
“Sakio Bika is a very determined and aggressive fighter. I’ve seen him get hurt on a few occasions and it intrigued me how he did get hurt and how he knows what to do when he does get hurt. We know he’s aggressive and we know how to neutralize that.”
On Andre Ward’s past knee injury:
“Andre Ward’s knee has finally healed. He beat Miranda, Kessler and Green with one leg. I am glad that he has his lateral movement back and that he is finally pain free. I’m glad to have all the weapons back. I am happy that he his healthy once again.”
RONNIE SHIELDS, Bika’s Trainer:
“It’s a pleasure to be here out in Oakland. Sakio Bika is ready to go. We are just looking forward to Saturday night. Sam Watson asked me to train Sakio and I said yes because of the type of fighter he is. I know that he is talented and I know what he is capable of in the ring. That’s what we are prepared for and we’re ready to go.
“We know what we’re up against with Andre Ward. We have a great fight on our hands. Andre Ward can keep his spot in the Super Six Boxing Classic Tournament. We just want the WBA Title.
“I have never seen Andre Ward fight live but I have watched him on television. He’s a great fighter.”
DAN GOOSSEN, Ward’s Promoter:
On the Super Six World Boxing Classic:
“The Tournament is a great, great concept. When it can be accomplished we’ll see a lot more come about with this great concept.
“Today is about this Saturday’s fight. When you get this close to a fight, you’re just thinking of retaining this title.
“Antonio Leonard (Ward’s manager) said it best when he said that Andre Ward has the wits and the ability to put it all together. He will be one of the superstars in the sports in the years to come.
“I am proud of Andre Ward and his march to making history. Everyone is witnessing something special for the Bay Area and Oakland. This is a privilege for Oakland and the entire Bay Area to have a man born and bred and who wants to continue to perform in front of his hometown fans. This man epitomizes what a mother, father, brother or whoever you are can be proud of. I am extremely excited about him and who he is as a person.
“Bika and his camp have talked a lot about their plans to dismantle Andre Ward and pin the loss on him. I believe that Virgil put it best when he said that people underestimate Andre Ward.”
ANTONIO LEONARD, Co-Promoter TNT Boxing:
“This is our fourth fight back in Oakland and nothing has changed. Andre is still the best 168-pound fighter in the world. He has done everything he said he would do when I met him in 2002. You don’t have to talk the talk and walk the walk .No doubt in my mind that Andre Ward wins the fight like always.”
Tags: Arthur Abraham > Auto > draft > Golden Boy Promotions > helsinki finland > Middleweight Champion > oracle arena in oakland > stan martyniouk > Super Middleweight > World Boxing Association > World Championship Boxing > world title fight














