Dustin Baynes is First Head Womens Coach at Waldorf in Iowa

Posted on | October 12, 2010 | No Comments

Des Moines, Iowa

Waldorf College has named Dustin Baynes as the new head coach for the new Waldorf Women’s Wrestling Program.

Waldorf is the first College in the state of Iowa to offer women’s wrestling. Now the program is fully funded and will attend many of the nation’s top international events culminating with the World Team Trials. As the program grows, Waldorf will expand its schedule to include the nation’s best events for women.

Only 60 colleges offer women’s wrestling nationwide. Waldorf is proud to offer another option to accommodate the growing demand among female athletes to compete in this popular sport.

Men’s wrestling has been one of the most successful sports teams at Waldorf College for the past 30 years.

With over 50 wrestler’s in the men’s program and an invitation to the National Duals, it’s Coach Baynes expectation to grow the women’s program into an Elite Level status just like the men’s program.

In selecting Baynes, Waldorf concludes its nationwide search for its women’s wrestling coach. Tyler Brandt, men’s wrestling coach, was the interim women’s wrestling coach and lead the effort to hire Baynes.

Dustin Baynes was a four-year starter and a 3 time captain for the Saints of Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. at 149 and 157 pounds. Baynes amassed 51 wins during his career, leading the Saints to an appearance at the prestigious Cliff Keen Duals in 2009.

Baynes was a regional qualifier as a sophomore, winning 15 matches and raised that total to 18 victories as a junior. He capped his career by winning 14 matches with one pin as a senior.

A native of Liberty Township, Ohio, Baynes was a three-year letterwinner in track, wrestling and football at Lakota East H.S.

He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in physical education from Limestone and continues his work toward his Master’s of Science in health education

SERGEY KOVALEV REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH SPLIT DECISION OVER DARNELL BOONE

Posted on | October 12, 2010 | No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATLANTA, GEORGIA (October 12, 2010)—This past Saturday night in Atlanta, Light Heavyweight sensation Sergey Kovalev ran his record to a perfect 10-0 with 9 KO’s as he was taken distance for the first time in his career and scored an eight round decision over veteran upset specialist Darnell Boone.

This was a great learning experience for Kovalev, who was sent to canvas for the first time in his career in round seven but stood up to win victory.

To have beaten a guy like Boone is a big growth for Kovelev specially in Boone’s home town as Boone has defeated against undefeated Ronald Johnson, Contender Willie Lee (14-3), undefeated James Countryman (8-0); prospect Rasheem Brown (17-2); undefeated James Johnson (7-0); prospects Calvin Green (20-3) and Louis Turner (12-2) in second round knockout stoped hot prospect Adonis Stevenson (13-0) and went to distance 10 rounds with Jean Pascal who is present Light Heavyweight WBC Champion . Boone also has the distinction of scoring a knockdown against world super middleweight champion Andre Ward.

“This is a great win for Sergey”, said Egis Klimas, who manages Kovalev.

“Boone is one of the toughest out there and for Sergey to beat him in just his tenth fight says a lot and gives us the confidence that he can compete with any of the prospects in Light Heavyweight division. “

Right after the win next day, Kovalev and Klimas hopped on a plane to Florida to meet with legendary promoter Don King about a potential promotional deal.

“We had a great meeting with Don”, continued Klimas

“If we can work something out, Sergey will be fighting on the big stage very soon”

Stevenson-McCants Headlines October 23 in Baltimore!

Posted on | October 11, 2010 | No Comments

For Immediate Release

Baltimore, MD (October 11) – Sensational prospect James “Keep em’ Sleepin” Stevenson will make his highly anticipated return Saturday, October 23 when he battles once beaten Phillip McCants in the main event of Baltimore Pro Boxing’s “Who’s The Man II” at the Pikesville Armory.

Tickets start at $40 and can be ordered by calling 410-675-6900 or going to the Armory’s box office.

Stevenson, 13-0 (10 KO’s), is regarded as one of the top young fighters in the Beltway Region, but injuries have sidelined him since March. The hard hitting Baltimore native has wowed local fight on various occasions with his punching power and boxing ability, winning all of his bouts in impressive fashion.

Dubbed as “The Mongoose”, McCants is a winner of six straight. The Philadelphia, PA native, who is 8-1 with 3 KO’s, soundly outpointed his last three opponents and is expected to give Stevenson all he can handle.

Stevenson-McCants is scheduled for six rounds in the junior middleweight division.

Unbeaten crowd favorite Steve “Show Stealer” Wheeler, 6-0, of Catonsville, MD looks to take another step in the right direction when he battles Akron, OH’s Bob Wilder in the six round co-feature. The rapidly improving Wheeler has sent every one of his opponents home early and stopped his last four foes within two rounds.

Appearing on the talent loaded undercard is exciting heavyweight prospect Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm, heavy handed Thomas “KO” Snow, former amateur star “Slick” Nick Kisner and Jed “The Punisher” Phipps.

In addition to $40 general admission seats, tickets are available for $50, with individual VIP seats on sale for $75 and $100. Exclusive VIP tables are $1,000 for ringside and $750 for second row seating. 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.

‘Cage of Horrors’ no trick or treat MMA show at Foxwoods

Posted on | October 11, 2010 | No Comments

Almeida-Strauss headlines CES Pro-Am MMA show Oct. 22

PROVIDENCE (Oct. 11, 2010) – Fresh off of its historic, inaugural Mixed Martial Arts show last month in Rhode Island, Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES) brings the “Cage of Horrors” pro-am MMA show to Foxwoods Resort Casino, featuring the CES MMA Lightweight Championship fight between undefeated Brazilian sensation Magno Almeida and veteran Daniel Straus, Oct. 22 at the Fox Theater.

Last month in the first sanctioned MMA match ever held in Rhode Island, Almeida (5-0-0) stole the show in the main event when he locked in a rear naked choke hold, forcing Mike “The Beast” Campbell (8-3-0) to tap out in the opening round. Almeida, fighting out of Wakefield (MA) by way of Brazil, has been training in California with UFC superstar Anderson Silva.

Straus (14-2-0), fighting out of Cincinnati, has won his last 10 fights, highlighted by his NAAFS Lightweight Championship victory this past February by fifth-round submission (strikes) versus Frank Caraballo in Cleveland.

“CES proved last month in our first MMA show that fighting is fighting and we know how to give fans what they want – fast action, entertainment and competitive matches,” Rhode Island-based CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “We used the same grassroots promoting and marketing plan we’ve been so successful at for so many years in boxing, adjusted for the MMA market, and made it work with a sold-out crowd. Our goal is to develop MMA fighters and help bring them to the top of the mountain – UFC. The winner of this main event has the potential to move onward and upward in this exciting sport. We’re building on what we experienced in our first MMA show and will continue to improve with each and every show. We love promoting shows at Foxwoods and will bring the same, if not more, excitement that we had there at our boxing show October 2. We plan to be one of the leading combat sports promoters in this country, offering MMA and boxing at the highest level to fans all over New England, for now, and beyond in the not-too-distant future.”

The full card will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $25.00, $35.00, $60.00 and $75.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254) or Foxwoods (800-200-2882), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com, or in person at Foxwood’s box office.

For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Foxwoods Resort Casino (www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6:00 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.

-CES-

Former Illini HD CH. Mark Johnson Talks of 100 Years of Wrestling Celebration

Posted on | October 11, 2010 | No Comments

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois wrestling program announced Wednesday the 100 Years of Wrestling Celebration on Oct. 22-23 to welcome back all former Illini wrestlers to the UI campus. Head coach Jim Heffernan will be joined by former head coaches Mark Johnson and Tom Porter at the reunion.

“The fact that wrestling has existed at the University of Illinois for 100 years is something that should be celebrated,” Heffernan said. “Beginning my 19th year on campus, I always look forward to the opportunity to spend time with our past student-athletes. It’s also a great time for former wrestlers from previous eras to reconnect with the program and university. We’re all looking forward to this event.”

The weekend will start with a tour of the UI athletic facilities on Friday at 3 p.m., with an evening social activity following. On Saturday, the Illini wrestling team will hold a practice for those attending the reunion, followed by the 100th anniversary of Homecoming football game against Indiana at 11 a.m. The official 100 Years of Wrestling Celebration will be at 6 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room at the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building, where former Illini wrestlers can reconnect while checking out past photos and trophies, and sharing an open microphone.

Those wishing to register for the weekend’s festivities should contact Chris Tuttle, director of the Varsity I Association, at 217.333.7777 or c-tuttle@illinois.edu.

About Mark Johnson

• Two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year

• 1995 NWCA National Coach of the Year

A former Olympic wrestler and NCAA All-American, Mark Johnson begins his 17th season at the University of Illinois. During the Johnson tenure, Illinois has finished in the top10 at the NCAA championships on nine occasions and in the top 15 in 12 of the last 14 seasons. Johnson has led the Illinois program to more wins, NCAA champions, NCAA qualifiers and All-Americans than any coach in the school’s history. He has compiled a 190-42-3 record over the last 16 years for an .815 winning percentage.

Johnson also has guided seven individual national champions in the last 14 seasons. In 2003, 165-pounder Matt Lackey joined Adam Tirapelle (149, 2001), John Lockhart (heavyweight, 2001), Carl Perry (141, 2000), Eric Siebert (150, 1998), Ernest Benion, Jr. (158, 1995) and Steve Marianetti (150, 1995) in earning NCAA titles under Johnson’s tutelage.

For the second-straight season, Johnson had a pair of true-freshmen starters in 2007-08, with Ryan Prater (141) and Grant Paswall (149) turning in solid results throughout the season. But the Illini were led all season by Mike Poeta (157) and Jimmy Kennedy (133), who finished second and fourth, respectively, at the NCAA Championships. Poeta won his first Big Ten title after starting the season 22-0, while Kennedy put together an 11-match winning streak that included an undefeated Big Ten dual season.

In 2006-07, Johnson inserted two true-freshman into his starting lineup in Kennedy and John Dergo and got favorable results from both. Kennedy finished the season ranked No. 9 at 133 pounds and Dergo ended the year No. 11 at 184, marking the first time since Carl Perry in 1997 that at least one true-freshman ranked in the Top-20. They also were the first true-freshmen to be placed in the same lineup in the Mark Johnson era.

The Illini qualified eight for the NCAA Championships and were led by Mike Poeta, who notched a third-place finish at 157-pounds and garnered his first All-America honor.

In 2005-06, the Johnson tradition of excellence continued as the Illini took home their third-straight Midlands title, joining Iowa and Iowa State as the only three-peat champions. At Midlands, Alex Tirapelle (157) and Pete Freidl (184) took home individual titles, while Mike Poeta (165) and Tyrone Byrd (197) grappled to runner-up finishes. Rounding out the top-eight finishes for Illinois were Donny Reynolds (174) in fifth and Troy Tirapelle (149) in seventh.

At Big Tens, the Fighting Illini finished second, just behind then-No. 1 Minnesota. In all, five Orange and Blue grapplers (Byrd, Freidl, Kyle Ott, Alex Tirapelle and Troy Tirapelle) made conference finals appearances, each finishing second in their respective weight classes.

With the performance at the league tournament, the Illini became the only team in 2006 to qualify all 10 wrestlers for NCAAs in Oklahoma City, marking the third time in school history all 10 grapplers made the trip to NCAAs (1995, 2000, 2006). Freidl took home All-America honors with a third-place finish at the championships, finishing his career a three-time All-American, while Illinois finished 25th overall.

On the year, Illinois finished second during the regular season in the Big Ten with a 10-2-1 overall record and 5-2-1 ledger in conference action.

The 2005 squad brought home Johnson’s first Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship, and the first for the program in 53 years. During that season, Johnson also garnered Big Ten Coach of the Year laurels, while Alex Tirapelle (157) and Friedl (174) took home individual league crowns out of five total finalists for the Illini. For the second season in a row, the Illini won the Big Ten regular-season dual meet title with a near-perfect 7-0-1 record. The team finished sixth at the national tournament after qualifying nine wrestlers, while 125-pounder Ott made a repeat appearance in the finals.

The team matched 2004’s achievement of five All-Americans in Ott (2nd, 125), Mark Jayne (7th, 133), Cassio Pero (7th, 141), Friedl (4th, 174) and Brian Glynn (3rd, 184).

In what served as a benchmark for the Illini program, the 2004 season served as a year of firsts. Johnson led the team to a Big Ten regular-season dual meet title and a Midlands Tournament team title – the first in program history – and feats accomplished by no other coach in Illinois history. The squad concluded the season with a seventh-place finish at nationals, including a finals appearance by Ott at 125. The team brought home five All-America honors, a feat which tied 2004 national champion Oklahoma State, and was the most for Illinois since 1948.

During the 2003 season, Johnson took eight qualifiers to the NCAA Championships from a squad that had five freshmen competing most of the year. The 2003 team finished ninth overall with two national finalists.

Matt Lackey finished his climb up the ladder with his win in the finals over Troy Letters for his first national title. Freshman Adam Tirapelle became the first Illinois freshman to make the finals as he ensured All-America honors with his second-place finish.

In 2002, during a rebuilding year, Johnson led a reshaped starting lineup to a 12-4 record and 10th-place finish at nationals. With seven new starters, the Illini still managed to qualify nine wrestlers for NCAAs after a fifth-place finish at Big Tens, equaling the 2001 squad’s NCAA representation. That year, the Illini crowned three All-Americans, following two straight seasons of awarding four All-Americans.

The Illinois wrestling team has progressively made school history year after year. In 2000, the team’s sixth-place national finish was the best since 1958, only to be topped by the 2001 finish of fifth place, which was the highest since 1948. The 2001 team also took second at the Big Ten Championships, sending nine athletes to the NCAA Championships and placing ahead of national power Iowa for the first time in Johnson’s career. For his coaching efforts in 2001, Johnson garnered Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. The team posted a 12-2 dual meet record and Johnson became the school’s all-time winningest coach during that season.

In 1996-97, Johnson led his team to a 14-1 dual meet record, a third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and a ninth-place effort at the NCAA Championships. At the time, his third-place outing became the best in school history in 39 years.

Johnson has guided 111 wrestlers to the NCAA championships over his tenure, an average of seven qualifiers each year. During the past 14 seasons, the Illini have crowned 40 All-Americans and produced seven national champions (out of 16 finalists).

Johnson earned National Coach of the Year honors from both the National Wrestling Coaches Association and W.I.N. Magazine in 1995 after posting a 13-2 dual record and a ninth-place finish at NCAAs.

On the recruiting front, Johnson has brought in nine classes ranked among the top 20 in the nation, including the second-ranked class in the nation in 1993 and the sixth-ranked group in 2004.

Johnson came to Urbana-Champaign from Oregon State University, where he served as the head coach from 1990-1992. The Rock Island, Ill., native led the Beavers to the Pac-10 Championship in 1992, earning conference Coach of the Year honors.

An alumnus of Alleman High School, Johnson grappled to a high school national championship his senior year. He went on to the University of Michigan, where he became a two-time All-American and two-time NCAA runner-up at 177 pounds. Johnson captained the Wolverines and finished his college career with a 103-18-3 record. He earned a B.S. in education in 1977 and was a dean’s list student. Internationally, Johnson competed on the 1980 Olympic team and in 15 U.S.A. Wrestling teams that competed throughout the world, winning two U.S.A. Wrestling national championships.

Before moving to Oregon State, Johnson coached at the University of Iowa as the top assistant coach under Dan Gable for eight years. While at Iowa, he helped groom four NCAA championship teams, 17 national champions, 55 All-Americans and eight Big Ten championship squads. In 1986, he garnered NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year accolades.

Prior to accepting his position at Iowa, Johnson worked as a physical fitness director and wrestling coach at the Boys Club of Sarasota (Fla.) for two years. Johnson began his coaching career at the University of Iowa as a graduate assistant coach from 1978-80. Internationally, Johnson’s coaching experience includes stints as assistant coach for the 1988 Olympic freestyle team and head coach at the 1986 and 1991 Olympic Sports Festivals. He also is a USA Wrestling National Coaching Staff member and a member of the Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Johnson and his wife, Linda, have two daughters, Tricia and Mackey, and reside in Champaign.

The Johnson File

University of Illinois
– Career Record: 210-46-5 (.814)
– Record at Illinois: 190-42-3 (.815)
– Head coach with the most Illinois wins, NCAA Champions, All-Americans and NCAA Qualifiers
College Coaching Experience
– Illinois, head coach (1992-present)
– Oregon State, head coach (1990-92)
– Iowa, assistant coach (1982-90)
– Iowa, graduate assistant (1978-80)

Honors
– Big Ten Coach of the Year (2005, 2001)
– NWCA All-Star Meet Head Coach (2002)
– Quad City Sports Hall of Fame (2000)
– IWCOA Man of the Year (1999)
– NWCA National Coach of the Year (1995)
– W.I.N. Magazine National Coach of the Year (1995)
– Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1992)
– Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame (1987)
– NWCA National Assistant Coach of the Year (1986)
Wrestling Experience
– Olympic Team, 1980
– USA Wrestling Team
– National Wrestling Champion (Twice)
– Two-time All-American (1976-77)
– B.S. in education, University of Michigan `77
International Coaching Experience
– USA National Coaching Staff member
– Olympic Sports Festival, head coach (1991 & 1996)
– USA Olympic Team, assistant coach (1988)
– World Espoir Team, head coach (1987)
Johnson by the Numbers

It is impossible to ignore the success that Mark Johnson has had during his 16 years at Illinois. In 1993, he took over a program that had posted two winning seasons in 10 years and has since transformed Illinois into a national power, having posted 16 straight winning seasons and 12 Top-15 finishes.

In 2005, Illinois won the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 1952.
Johnson led Illinois to a No. 1 national ranking in 2004.
Johnson was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1995 and also was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2005.
The 2005-06 season marked the third year in a row the Fighting Illini have brought home the Midlands Tournament team title. The Illini join Iowa and Iowa State as the only teams to accomplish the three-peat.
Johnson has led Illinois to 12 Top-15 finishes and nine Top-10 finishes at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in the last 14 years.
Matt Lackey became the seventh NCAA Champion for Johnson at Illinois when he won his title in 2003. He joined Adam Tirapelle (2001), John Lockhart (2001), Carl Perry (2000), Eric Siebert (1998), Ernest Benion Jr. (1995) and Steve Marianetti (1995).
In the last 14 years, Illinois has had 40 All-Americans, 27 of which came over the last nine seasons. The five All-Americans in 2005 and 2004 ties the school record set in 1948.
Over the last 16 years, UI has had an impressive 111 NCAA qualifiers, including 10 in 1995, 2000 and 2006, and nine in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2005.
NCAA Individual Champions
(During the Mark Johnson Era)

1. Iowa 26
2. Oklahoma State 20
3. Iowa State 10
4. Minnesota 8
5. Illinois 7
NCAA Top-10 Team Finishes
(During the Mark Johnson Era)
1. Iowa 15
2. Oklahoma State 14
3. Iowa State 13
4. Minnesota 12
5. Oklahoma 10
6. Illinois 9

Macklin, Murray And Booth Amongst Stars Attending ‘An Evening With Roy Jones Jnr.’ On Oct 23rd

Posted on | October 11, 2010 | No Comments

Stars from the British Boxing, including European Middleweight Champion Matthew Macklin, European Lightweight Champion John Murray and IBF Super Bantamweight Title Challenger Jason Booth, will turning out in force for ‘An Evening With Roy Jones Jnr.’ at the Cedric Ford Pavilion, Newark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire on Saturday the 23rd October.

Amongst the many Boxing stars set to join Macklin, Murray and Booth at the Carl Greaves promoted special event and spend an evening with living legend, four weight World Champion, ROY JONES JNR. are Commonwealth Middleweight Champion Martin Murray, English Super Featherweight Champion Anthony Crolla, English Bantamweight Champion Craig Lyon, former British Super Bantamweight Champion Esham Pickering, British Light Middleweight Title Challenger Martin Concepcion, Featherweight Joe Murray, former Lightweight campaigner Oliver Harrison

Promoter of the event, former WBF Super Featherweight World Champion ‘Cool’ Carl Greaves spoke of the golden opportunity for Boxing fans, “It’s a very special occasion, I mean it’s not often you could get the chance to meet a Boxing legend like Roy Jones Jnr.

‘An Evening With Roy Jones Jnr.’ Is a once in a life time opportunity for Boxing fans to meet a true living legend, and it’s not just for a couple of minutes like the usual photo and meet & greets.

Not only that but the fans will get to meet some great British Boxers like Matt Macklin, John Murray, Jason Booth amongst others – Oh and of course myself.”

Carl has put together an exceptional evening that, in addition to meeting Roy Jones Jnr., those lucky enough to attend will be treated to a four course meal, a photo opportunity with living legend Roy Jones Jnr. and auction of Sporting memorabilia, a raffle with a top prize of £500 as well as a comedian .

‘An Evening With Roy Jones Jnr.’ will be held at the Cedric Ford Pavilion, Newark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire on Saturday the 23rd October.

Ticket prices:
Gold SOLD OUT – Doors open 6:30pm – Champagne reception
Silver £100.00 – Doors open 7:00pm – Champagne reception
Bronze £75.00 – Doors open 7:30pm. Meals served 8:00pm

For tickets for this not to be missed opportunity to meet one of Boxing’s all time greats book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or call 07960 850645.

AUDLEY HARRISON JOINS FULL TILT POKER

Posted on | October 11, 2010 | No Comments

World Heavyweight title challenger to represent poker giants – Catch A-Force live on Sky Sports News today from Big Bear

Audley Harrison has signed a sponsorship deal with Full Tilt Poker ahead of his World Heavyweight title fight with David Haye in November.

Harrison will represent the fastest growing online poker site at a number of high profile live tournaments and online, while Full Tilt Poker branding will be prominent on the 38 year-old when he steps into the ring against Haye at the M.E.N Arena on November 13, in one of the biggest all-British fights the country has ever seen.

The Londoner had a chance meeting with Matchroom Sport managing director Eddie Hearn at the World Series of Poker in 2009. Both entered the main event and the business man drew a seat next to the Olympic gold medallist and after discussions, Harrison agreed to enter Matchroom Sport’s Prizefighter Heavyweights III tournament in October that year.
The fighter went on to win the event at London’s ExCeL before claiming the European title with a dramatic final round knockout of Michael Sprott, a title he vacated to path the way to his forthcoming Sky Box Office clash with Haye. Harrison is currently training at Big Bear in California ahead of the fight and Sky Sports News will be reporting on his training live with the fighter from 3.10pm (UK time) and throughout the rest of the day.

Harrison takes his poker very seriously and has the results to back it up with – a pair of WSOP cashes sit next to a runner’s-up finish at the Bellagio Cup and a third place ending at the Venetian Deep Stack in June this year.

“I fell in love with poker while living in Las Vegas and have spent time learning how to play the game from the professionals who reside there,” said Harrison. “I have had some great results already in the game and Eddie and I have been looking at joining the right team for a while now. We have found the perfect partner in Full Tilt Poker and I look forward to representing them both in the ring and on the tables. Next time I’m in action on the felt, I plan to have the WBA Heavyweight Championship belt round my waist.”

“I have heard it a hundred times from sportsmen and celebrities who think they can play the game but very few can, Audley is certainly in that small number,” said Hearn, Harrison’s promoter. “I watched him come close to winning the deep stack event at the Venetian in July and I think he has a big tournament result in his locker. The partnership with Full Tilt is an exciting one and I know Audley will be a great ambassador for the brand.”

Prospect Mark ‘Kid Dynamite’ Heffron taking fast lane

Posted on | October 11, 2010 | No Comments

CORK, Ireland (October 11, 2010) – Former British amateur standout Mark Heffron, managed by Gary Hyde, is taking the fast lane in boxing having fought his first three professional bouts within a 30-day period in three different European countries.

The 18-year-old welterweight, fighting out of Cork by way of Manchester, England, had a successful pro debut September 4, stopping Torszten Roos in the second round. Heffron’s next fight was only 13 days later in Poland, where he won a unanimous 4-round decision against 37-fight veteran Arek Malek. In his last action on October 2, “Kid Dynamite” lived up to his nickname by stopping 31-fight veteran Attila Molnar in the opening round of their bout in Hungary.

While other boxers are finding it difficult to secure fights, Mark fought his first three pro fights in less than a month. ‘We’re both very happy with his activity and progress so far,” Hyde said. “Unfortunately, Mark’s trainer, Joe Gallagher, could not be in his corner for his last two fights. He had two high-profile fighters fighting in the United Kingdom, but Joe will be with Mark for all of his future fights. One of Ireland’s top coaches, Belfast’s Paul McCullagh, did a great job working Mark’s corner in those two fights in Poland and Hungary.”

Heffron (3-0, 2 KOs), however, is facing tougher opposition outside of the ring, in terms of boxing politics prohibiting him from fighting in the UK. Heffron’s grandparents are from Kildare, Ireland and Mark is extremely proud of his Irish heritage. This past July, Hyde was denied permission by the British Boxing Board of Control to act as an overseas manager (Ireland) for a BBB of C licensed fighter as Heffron was about to take out a BBBofC boxer license. Heffron, who resides in Cork, Ireland, took out a Boxing Union of Ireland boxer license. The BBBofC were not to happy with this move, so they prevented “Kid Dynamite” from boxing in his scheduled pro debut September 5 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

Heffron had sold more than 200 tickets for the Wolverhampton show, but three days prior to the fight, Hyde received a call from the show’s promoter informing him that the British Boxing Board of Control would not approve Heffron to fight on the Sept. 5 show because he wasn’t licensed by the BBB of C.

“I called Robert Smith of the BBB of C and asked him what could be done to resolve that situation and he stated that Mark wasn’t fighting and that the decision was final,” Hyde explained. “Mark was ready and well prepared for his debut and I wasn’t about to disappoint him by telling him his fight was off. I quickly arranged for ‘Kid Dynamite’ to fight Sept. 4th in Harleem, Neatherlands. We flew at 5 AM from Manchester to Dusseldorf (Germany), drove three hours to Harleem, and Mark won his fight that same afternoon. Because he was stilled barred from fighting in the United Kingdom, I had to arrange for Mark’s next two fights in Poland and Hungary. Mark shouldn’t be experiencing this sort of boxing politics, especially so early in his promising career.”

Heffron, of course, is taking an entirely different route than most prospects that have the advantages of fighting in their backyards. Mark has fought three opponents in their home countries, which Heffron had never been before, never mind previously fought there.

“I plan to get Mark three more fights before the end of this year,” Hyde added. “My plan is for him to get to 12-0 and challenge for the Irish Welterweight Championship. I hope to have the BBB of C problem taken care of before November 13th because Mark is scheduled to fight on the Haye/Harrison WBA Heavyweight Title undercard in Manchester.”

Heffron captured a gold medal at the Junior ABA Championships and silver at the European Youth Championships. He finds himself in good company with Hyde’s other fighters, 2-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux and Georgian 145-pound amateur star Levan Ghvamichava. “Rigo” (6-0, 5 KOs), who is being touted as the hottest prospect in the world, is the WBA No. 3 rated super bantamweight despite having only six pro fights. Rigondeaux fights Ricardo Cordoba for the WBA Interim super bantamweight title on the Manny Pacquiao-Antronio Margarito card on HBO PPV live in Dallas, Texas also on November 13th. In 2009, Ghvamichava attracted Hyde’s attention when he beat current World Senior Champion, former World Junior champion and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, Rosniel Iglesias Sotolongo, of Cuba.

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