COMING UP ON GOFIGHTLIVE.TV
Posted on | August 20, 2010 | No Comments
Program Lineup Through Friday August 27
| Date | Sport | Event | Price | |
| Sat Aug 21 7:00PM ET | MMA | Chattanooga Extreme Fight Night V | $FREE! | More info |
| Sat Aug 21 7:00PM ET | MMA | Fight Time 1 | $FREE! | More info |
| Sat Aug 21 7:30PM ET | MMA | Locked in the Cage 5 | $9.99 | More info |
| Sat Aug 21 7:30PM ET | Wrestling | Deal with the Steel Wargames | $9.99 | More info |
| Sat Aug 21 8:00PM ET | MMA | IFL Fights Presents…..Vengence | $9.99 | More info |
| Sat Aug 21 9:00PM ET | Boxing | The Big Challenge – Adamek Vs. Grant | $9.95 | More info |
| Thu Aug 26 8:00PM ET | MMA | Rumble in the Cage 40 | $9.99 | More info |
| Fri Aug 27 7:00PM ET | Boxing | The Big Rock Out 3 | $TBD | More info |
| Fri Aug 27 8:30PM ET | MMA | Ring of Fire Presents Summer Brawl | $9.95 | More info |
MMA
Chattanooga Extreme Fight Night V
Sat Aug 21 7:00PM ET
Click here to watch this event on GoFightLive!
ITS GEORGIA v TENNESSEE from Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge. The battle between the 2 states continues with the best amateur and professional mixed martial arts fighters from Georgia battling against Tennessee’s toughest competition.
As of now there are sixteen confirmed male and female bouts including MMA, Low Kick Kickboxing & Muay Thai Fights, including a highly anticipated Professional mixed martial arts fight between Frank Milsap (Knuckle Up Fitness/Atlanta,Georgia) facing off against local hero Shawn Hankins (The Fight Factory/Chattanooga, Tennessee).
For full fight card and more details about this event, visit GoFightLive.tv or click here
Fight Time 1
Sat Aug 21 7:00PM ET
Click here to watch this event on GoFightLive!
Former UFC Heavyweight Contender and American Top Team MMA fighter Jeff ‘The Snowman’ Monson (34-11) will step into the cage against Jason Guida, seasoned pro MMA fighter with a record of 18-21.
The event called: ‘Fight Time 1’ includes a 12-bout card, which will feature some of the latest talent from gyms throughout South Florida. Well known promoters Davis and Gibson promise a quality, action-packed night. Monson was eager to be on the show when he found out that Davis, who also serves as Boxing Director of American Top Team, was putting on a MMA show in South Florida.
Monson is coming off a victory in Australia over Brazilian Ubiratan ‘Birao’ Marinho Lima and will headline the 12 bout card. Davis was recently featured as the boxing coach on Chuck Liddell’s team on the latest installment of Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter.
For full fight card and more details about this event, visit GoFightLive.tv or click here
Locked in the Cage 5
Sat Aug 21 7:30PM ET
Click here to watch this event on GoFightLive!
Locked in the Cage brings its brand of MMA action back to PA for its 5th installment.
For full fight card and more details about this event, visit GoFightLive.tv or click here
IFL Fights Presents…..Vengence
Sat Aug 21 8:00PM ET
Click here to watch this event on GoFightLive!
A hot MMA card from Cincinnati, OH – the Independent Fight League brings MMA fans a group of top up and coming fighters to compete in what is anticipated to be a bloody battlefield.
For full fight card and more details about this event, visit GoFightLive.tv or click here
Tags: Auto > camp jordan arena > chattanooga tennessee > Click > draft > fight > fight card > fight time > fighter > Fri > gofightlive > heavyweight contender > IFL > knuckle up fitness > knuckle up fitness atlanta > local hero > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA > Presents > show > visit
Title Town USA Book Review
Posted on | August 19, 2010 | No Comments
By: Darren McElligott
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Every so often, a book that is published seems destined to land on the top shelf of every serious sports enthusiast’s library. “Title Town USA: Boxing in Upstate New York” (History Press; 2010) is such a classic. Author Mark Allen Baker’s introduction begins by stating that “’Title Town USA’ is a boxing moniker that belongs to Canastota.” It is a fitting title for this 160-page book.
It would seem a difficult challenge to fit so much history into so short a book, yet Baker presents a strong case that one cannot understand the sport – including both the fights and the people who made them – without having an appreciation for the role that Upstate New York played. In its early days, boxing appealed to society’s lower classes and out-casts, including the Irish and Italian immigrants who built the canals and railroads. The author details this, along with the period when professional boxing was illegal in New York.
Both serious and casual boxing fans will enjoy Baker’s documenting the great fighters that fought in upstate cities like Syracuse and Buffalo. “Old-timers” such as the great Sam Langford, Harry Wills, Harry Greb, and Charlie Burley are among the more familiar names that are connected to upstate boxing history. Others, such as Thomas William Lawless (1908-1966), may be new to most readers.
Our father started taking my brother and I to the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremonies when I was four. We’ve returned to Canastota almost every year. The drive takes us through the village of Sherburne, where my great-great uncle lived. He had boxed in the New Jersey- New York area long ago, before his employment on the railroads landed him in Sherburne. There, he both trained boxers, promoter fight cards, and continued to box on occasion. Every year, when we pass through the village, Dad points out where “Uncle Pat” lived and where he promoted fights.
On one card, “Uncle Pat” beat Bucky Lawless. I’ve listened to “Uncle Pat’s” sons – now in their eighties – talk about their father’s close friendship with Lawless over the years, but had never read his name in any boxing magazine or book (other than the Ring Record Book). Pat’s sons also talk about Bushy Graham, Carmen Basilio, and others who fought on the cards in Sherburne. Reading Mark Baker’s book is, at times, like listening to our “cousins” John and Bill discuss local boxing history.
In more recent years, Baker writes, boxing legends fought in the upstate region. George Foreman, for example, fought in Utica. Around that same time, heavyweight Duane Bobick TKOed Chuck Wepner in the main event of another Utica fight card. My Uncle Tom made his pro debut on that card, with family friend Carmen Basilio working his corner. Tom would later fight on another Wepner card, this one in Binghamton. For many casual boxing fans, because fighters like Bobick and Wepner were never as successful as a George Foreman, they are known almost exclusively for their loses. But when you talk to a boxing historian, you find out, for example, that Bobick actually beat the great Cuban amateur champion Teofilio Stevenson in the Pan-Am Games, about a year before losing to him in the Olympics.
It’s said that journalists write the rough draft of a history that will continue to be debated for years to come. In that sense, it is boxing historians such as Mark Allen Baker who provide us with the second and third drafts, and bring a sense of objectivity to the debate. I think that this comes through in the interview with Mark and my father that follows.
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Tags: Author > Auto > book > Boxing > boxing fans > Boxing Hall of Fame > boxing history > Bushy > card > classic author > draft > DRIVE > employment > father > fight > fight cards > friendship > Harry Greb > history > induction > induction ceremonies > international boxing hall > International Boxing Hall of Fame > italian immigrants > mark allen baker > moniker > nbsp > new york history > old timers > page > period > press > Review > role > s library > sam langford > sense > serious sports > shelf > sports enthusiast > Uncle > uncle pat > upstate cities > USA Boxing > Utica > village > YEAR
15 Rounds with Mark Allen Baker
Posted on | August 19, 2010 | No Comments
By: Patrick McElligott
{1} Congratulations on your new book, “Title Town USA: Boxing in Upstate New York.” And thank you for producing one of the most interesting and valuable books on the sport’s history. What motivated you to approach this topic in the manner you did? For example, focusing on the upstate New York region, rather than New York City?
A. Thank you very much Patrick and it is a pleasure having the opportunity to speak with you. Your comments are very kind and I am indeed humbled. “Title Town, U.S.A., Boxing in Upstate New York” is a project I have been wanting to do for some time and having the chance to work with The History Press, made it the perfect opportunity. The motivation was my love for central New York, its residents and their rich boxing history. I have had the privilege to work with many of the wonderful people in Canastota, New York for decades now, especially those at the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and it has been a delightful and memorable experience.
{2} We were pleased to see information on the Frawley Act and the Walker Law. The records of many fighters from the second-half of the nineteenth century through the first two decades of the twentieth century are either incomplete or entirely missing, because boxing was either restricted or illegal in the state. How difficult is it to find reliable information on “bootleg bouts” and those fights with “newspaper decisions”?
A. It has been extremely hard. Records are incomplete or inaccurate, press reports are bias, licensing records do not reflect the record books. We have also tragically lost some of our premier historians, individuals like Hank Kaplan (Miami, FL) and Paul Zabala (Saratoga Springs,NY). Having written the inductee biographies for the International Boxing Hall of Fame (until 2002,) I know firsthand how invaluable individuals like these gentlemen were, the thought of not having someone to fill their shoes frightens me.
{3} Across New York, there has been increasing interest in community-based historical societies. This includes towns like Delhi, Sherburne and Norwich, which used to hold boxing cards on a regular basis. Does the International Boxing Hall of Fame have a program for accessing this information, since it frequently is not available on the internet?
A . Thank God there has been a renewed interest in these local groups because they provide an indispensable service to the community and institutions like the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Complimented by organizations such as Buffalo Veteran Boxers Association, Ring #44 these factions have a knack for unearthing valuable information. I am sure the International Boxing Hall of Fame has a method for accessing this data but am uncertain as to the flexibility and availability of it. There has been talk for many years about streamlining these resources, I hope that will come to fruition in the years to come.
{4} “Title Town USA” features great information that connects boxing with the immigrants who worked on New York’s canals and railroads. No other sport has had such a long and close relationship with the social, economic, and political dynamics of our culture than boxing. Why do you think there is such a lack of boxing gyms and clubs, outside of the large metropolitan areas?
A. Great question. Unfortunately much of the public remains outside the ropes with regard to boxing’s’ rich history. Many would like to see the public education system do a better job in enlightening students on the significance of the sport. An improved public awareness would naturally increase interest and thus funding for more gyms and clubs. Thankfully, upstate New York has been blessed with many apostles of “The Sweet Science.” Trainers like Ray Rinaldi of Syracuse refuses to be deterred from his mission of boxing public awareness.
{5} Some people associated with the sport, such as Teddy Atlas and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., work with charitable foundations that invest in communities. Should promoters assist in attempts to build boxing up from the grass roots’ level, by donating to boxing gyms and clubs?
A. God Bless both these gentlemen for keeping their priorities straight and bringing the great sport of boxing to a whole new generation. I think all of the sanctioning bodies should unite in the adoption of a minor ticket surcharge, let’s say two dollars. This fee would be used to fund three causes: a boxing veterans fund, the International Boxing Hall of Fame and finally a predetermined local boxing fund. The benefits of all three are obvious.
{6} What role have the small gyms and clubs played in boxing’s history? What impact does the lack of these gyms and clubs have on the sport today, in both amateur and professional boxing?
A. The art of self defense needs to be trained properly to avoid injury. Adequately funded gyms and clubs can attract qualified talent in all aspect of the sport, not just fighters. We needs these facilities to continue to cultivate that talent by providing opportunities. During the days of Tommy Ryan, the late 19th Century, the clubs, such as the Empire Athletic Club in Buffalo or the Rienzi Athletic Club in Rochester, could guarantee a solid match, an adequate venue, good seconds and a clean fight. They could avoid all the problems inherent with a major promotion.
{7} The history of amateur boxing is fascinating, though it is too often overlooked for a variety of reasons. In his autobiography, Sugar Ray Robinson devoted numerous pages to his amateur career, which included fights in upstate New York. However, he didn’t mention that George Gainford pulled him out of a scheduled match with Steve Kukol, in what would have been Ray’s last amateur bout. Kukol, a national Golden Gloves Champion, had gone the distance with Ray in each of their previous four fights, including two that Ray won by close, controversial decisions. Gainford explained his decision to pull Ray out of the fight by telling Johnson City promoter Mickey Barno that “Kukol knows Ray’s style too good – he always makes Ray look bad.”
In researching your book, did you find a lot of information on amateur boxing history? Have you considered writing a book on that topic?
A. My grandfather, who was a club boxer in Binghamton, New York used to tell me stories about the talented Steve Kukol. Those pre-WWII days saw many outstanding Golden Gloves’ champions, people like Kukol, Joe Kelly, and Willie Smith. People are shocked when I tell them that “Title Town U.S.A., Boxing in Upstate New York” ended up only a tenth of the size I actually wrote. There is, as you know, so much more to tell. If the right opportunity came along, I would certainly consider writing more.
{8} Pugnacious Promotions recently made their annual event at Saratoga Springs a “Pro-Am” card. I remember back on May 19, 1975, being in the featured amateur bout on the Mike Nixon vs Mike Rossman card at the Broome County Arena in Binghamton. Do you think that including some amateur contests on the pro fight cards builds interest in amateur boxing?
A. Wow, I can’t imagine the thrill – shivers just ran up my spine. That being said, I think it can build interest in the sport, but it must be done correctly, which would require the proper promoter in the “right” market. I would hate for it to have an adverse effect on a fighter, which could happen if an audience doesn’t understand or appreciate amateur boxing.
{9} Your book mentioned the Nixon vs Rossman fights. Those two fought during an era that produced some of the best light heavyweight fights and champions. Rossman, as your book notes, did go on to win the title. What do guys like a Mike Nixon or Dickie DiVeronica, contenders who fought against champions and top contenders, but never quite get the shot at the title, mean to fight fans?
A. They are an integral part of the fight game because they force a champion to “step-up” their skills – those who follow the sport know and understand this. Given the opportunity, they can also be tremendous ambassadors for the fight game. Dickie DiVeronica’s participation in in the Hall of Fame weekend is welcomed warmly by fans who have grown to appreciate his boxing skills. I know I speak for many fans when I say “Please invite more contenders to attend the Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend.”
{10} Another local fighter that I always had great respect for was Tommy Kost. He fought tough guys like Moses Harrell and Tony Ventura at the Broome County Arena, and he also fought at Madison Square Garden twice. Area boxing fans loved Tommy Kost, in part because he never looked to have local promoters put him in with soft opposition.
A. The late-1960s and early-1970s was another fun era for fight fans. Kost was , without a doubt, a fan favorite. Some of us thought he was crazy to enter the ring with Ventura in 1974 – the fight that saw him breaking his jaw in the first round. But I don’t think he would have had it any other way. Talk about the importance of clubs, Kost fought out of the Catholic Youth Center in Scranton for some time. Ventura “ate leather outta Lockport,” most, myself included, envisioned him playing fullback for the Chicago Bears rather than “lacing ’em up” against some of the Miami hopefuls at the time. Things might have been different for him too, had he beat Chuvalo in either fight.
{10A} When I think of Kost, I believe that he always entered the ring at about 196 pounds. I don’t remember him being over 200 pounds. Today, he’d be a cruiserweight, and many of his opponents would be considered small heavyweights. Do you think the heavyweight division should be divided, perhaps at about 225 pounds, so that a 205-pound fighter isn’t forced to challenge a 250-pound giant, like one of the Klitschko brothers?
A. As an advocate of safety this issue will have to be addressed, certainly that is an option. Since every few years we are getting a better caliber of athlete at these higher weight levels adjustments will have to be made.
{11} One of the most honorable people I’ve met in boxing was Carl Delberta, the founder of the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club. As a young man, he fought as “Carl Dell,” winning numerous amateur titles, and becoming a top welterweight contender while in Al Weill’s stable. Welterweight champion Freddie Cochran refused to fight Delberta.
In 1940, Delberta fought the legendary Charlie Burley, who was known for being “too good for his own good.” Burley, who never was given a shot at the title, was one of the few men who Sugar Ray Robinson opted not to face in the professional ranks.
You mentioned in a letter that your book started out much larger than its final form. Are you considering publishing a second volume, with more information on fighters such as Carl Dell and Bucky Lawless?
A. I would love to write a second volume and both those fighters are certainly worthy of much more attention. First, when I mentioned Burley to Eddie Futch, he just gave me that “blank stare” everyone seems to give you when you mention Burley – he was an extraordinary fighter. Many upstate boxing fans are aware of both Dell (Del Berta or Delberta) and Lawless. Dell fought some great fighters, including Burley, Holman Williams and the Cocoa Kid, and managed to get on some solid fight cards. I knew of Lawless as a youth and he fought some of my favorite fighters of the era including Jackie Brady – another fighter I would add to the list.
{12} My great uncle, Patrick McElligott, promoted boxing cards in Sherburne, N.Y. Among the boxers who fought on the were Bushy Graham and Carmen Basilio. I used to discuss those fights with Carmen years ago, though they do not appear on his official record. Bucky Lawless fought in Sherburne several times, although only one of those bouts is on his official record. Bucky often lived at Uncle Pat’s house, and Uncle Pat drove him to his fights around the northeast.
One of the fascinating things that is on Bucky’s record is that he fought against thirteen men who would hold championships. Some of these involved series, such as three bouts against Vince Dundee, and seven against Gorilla Jones. Bucky fought anywhere between 145 and 170 pounds, against guys who won titles in a wide range of weight classes.
What do you think is the impact of the much larger number of weight classes in boxing today? Would that larger number have made a difference in the career of a tough guy like Bucky Lawless?
A. An accurate, yet realistic line of demarkation must be drawn to insure safety, consistency and competition (value) – an extremely difficult task for each sanctioning body. When that range has been properly regulated for each weight class, then we can determine the magic number. I think the large number of weight classes can be confusing for a fighter.
Historians understand that weight class means little to an extremely talented fighter, someone like Harry Greb. Knowing what I know about Lawless, I think it would have helped him.
{13} Should there be a national boxing commission in the United States today? If there was one, what type of structure and authority might it have? Can you think of people who would be good for heading such a commission?
A. This is a question out of my expertise. As a historian we are interested in the preservation of the sport through its execution and its integrity. We are also concerned about the safety of the participants and fan satisfaction. What ever structure can best support these goals would interest boxing historians.
{14} Great fighters such as Sam Langford, Charlie Burley, and Georgie Benton never held world titles. Surely, in today’s circumstances, with at least four alphabet titles, they would. Does this increased number of “championships” help or hurt the sport? Or both help and hurt boxing?
A. At a dinner recently I asked each guest to name a current heavyweight champion, four out of five could not. There, in and of itself, is the issue, an identity crisis. Championships are validated by defenses and the caliber of those challenges – the solution is not dilution but validation. The three individuals you mention were a gift to this sport and champions in our heart.
{15} In 1995, we attended the fight card that featured Shannon Briggs knocking out Abraham Okine at the Turning Stone Casino. There were numerous boxing greats in the crowd. Are there going to be more local boxing cards associated with the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in the future?
A. I, like yourself, would also like to see more cards associated with the weekend. In the years ahead, let’s hope that the proper resources and conditions prevail to allow this to happen. The induction weekend is a wonderful opportunity for boxing fans from all over the world to enjoy the sport they love in the perfect setting, upstate New York.
Once again Patrick, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you and fight fans worldwide. I am grateful to this great sport and everyone who has helped make Canastota, New York, “Title Town U.S.A.” Fans can feel free to contact Mark Baker at P.O. Box 782, Hebron, CT 06248.
Tags: Auto > Boxing > Boxing Hall of Fame > boxing history > canastota new york > Club > draft > era > fight > Golden > Hank Kaplan > international boxing hall > International Boxing Hall of Fame > mark allen baker > Promoter > Saratoga Springs > talent > time > title > today > USA Boxing > valuable books
AFO 13 MMA DVD Available now on NESportsTV.com
Posted on | August 19, 2010 | 1 Comment
AFO 13, featuring 11 MMA fights from some of the best amateur mixed martial artists in all of New England, is available now on DVD at www.NESportsTV.com.
In the main event, undefeated welterweights Tyson Chartier (6-0) squares off with Nate Andrews (3-0). For Chartier, trained by world class striking coach Mark Delagrotte, this will mark his final amateur appearance before turning pro.
In the co-feature, fellow Delagrotte student Jerr Bermani (1-0) and Joe Powers (1-1) partake in a quick and explosive slugfest that ends suddenly with both fighters landing right hands simultaneously.
Also featured, an incredibly close and competitive welterweight tilt between Jim Armato (1-2) and the Jorge Rivera trained Dan Bartellini (0-1).
In perhaps the most drama filled bout featured on the DVD, Malden’s Ricardo Georges (1-1) does battle with Baltic, Connecticut’s Tal Stimson (0-0-1)
Middleweight’s Joe Palazio and Jonathan Cox both make their MMA debuts against each other.
Heavyweights Bill Nickerson (1-0) and Patrick Euglow do battle inside the cage.
Woonsocket, Rhode Island’s Nick Ryder (0-2) and Billy Keenan (0-1) go three hard rounds against each other.
Baltic, Connecticut’s Thane Stimson (1-0) takes on former wrestling standout Dinis Paiva (0-1).
Team Waikru’s Andrew Davis makes his MMA debut against Providence’s Cido Hoff (0-1.
Providence’s Tom Ventiquence fights Groton, Connecticut’s Morgan Gutgsell and in the evening’s opener, Robert Flint debuts against Marc Spencer.
For more info, please visit www.NESportsTV.com and www.AFOMMA.com
Tags: appearance > Auto > Available > baltic connecticut > Bermani > Close > com > draft > drama > groton connecticut > joe powers > jonathan cox > marc spencer > MMA > nate andrews > nick ryder > palazio > robert flint > student > Tal > woonsocket rhode island > www
NEARLY A DECADE IN THE MAKING: THE RETURN OF AMIR “HARDCORE” MANSOUR ON FRIDAY AUGUST 27TH AT DOVER DOWNS IN DOVER, DELAWARE
Posted on | August 19, 2010 | No Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (August 16, 2010)—On Friday night August 27th, a big night of boxing is planned at the beautiful Dover Downs in Dover, Delaware and the night will be a long time coming for one fighter in particular.
It was in 1997 a young Heavyweight named Amir Mansour turned pro with a first round knockout over Clifton Graham in Allentown, PA. Mansour showed tremendous speed to go along with power that catapulted him to nine straight wins with five of those victories coming by knockout.
In was that ninth fight where it became apparent that Mansour was not just a flash in the pan as he stopped thirty-four fight veteran Fabian Garcia in one round in Atlantic City.
That fight took place on June 1st, 2001.
Fast forward to the night of August 27, 2010. Instead of being a multi-time world champion, Mansour will carry that same record of 9-0 with five knockouts into his six round fight with Samuel Brown.
It has been more than nine years (111 months) since this upstart has set foot in a professional boxing ring.
Mansour was incarcerated for over eight years and is now looking capture the Heavyweight championship of the world.
“I have done a lot of thinking of the last eight years”, said Mansour
“When I was away I was locked with former pro fighter Calvin Davis and that kept me focused on boxing and this night has been a long time coming”
“What people don’t realize I don’t have any wear and tear on my body and I have not been taking any punches. When people see me, they will see how I kept in shape and they will be amazed at my speed.”
“I have had some of the best sparring possible as I have worked with IBF Cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham and Chazz Witherspoon so I have worked with the best. Working with those guys, in a way kinda makes up for lost time. And when I spar against them it gives me a good idea where I am at and I feel I am not that far away.”
“August 27th has been a long time coming for me. There have been many nights where all I could do is stay up and visualize my next fight and for it to be just a week away really has my focus like I have never had it before.”
For more information on Amir Mansour, Contact
Tags: Auto > Boxing Ring > calvin davis > Chazz Witherspoon > cruiserweight champion > DECADE > draft > fabian garcia > Fast > fight > first round knockout > Flash > heavyweight > knockout > NEARLY > particular > professional boxing > round > samuel brown > Steve Cunningham > time > time world champion
World’s top flyweight signs with Tachi Palace Fights
Posted on | August 19, 2010 | No Comments
Lemoore, Calif. – The word’s top rated 125-pound mixed martial artist will make his United States debut for Tachi Palace Fights in December.
Tachi Palace Fights signed Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil’s Jussier “Formiga” da Silva on Thursday to a 4-fight exclusive agreement. Da Silva, who is widely recognized as the world’s best at 125 pounds, will debut at Tachi Palace Fight’s 7 on December 2.
“We are extremely excited to have inked a deal with ‘Formiga’. This is something that I’ve really been working at since early this year,” said Tachi Palace Fights Entertainment Coordinator Jeremy Luchau. “We have worked really hard at developing some of the top talent at 125 pounds nationally and now we are able to expand international with this signing.”
Tachi Palace Fight’s current 125-pound champion Ulysses Gomez (6-1) of Las Vegas, Nev. recently signed to compete in the 135-pound Bellator Tournament. The Palace has also featured other big name flyweights in other promotions such as Rambaa Somdet, Pat Runez and Alexis Vila.
“I feel really well, it’s a dream come true to me. I hope to make my name known in the US,” said da Silva through the translation of his manager Matheus Aquino. “It’s a great opportunity to me. We had already tried to reach an agreement before, but unfortunately I couldn’t get the visa, I hope this time everything goes well.
“My friend said that this will be the most difficult fight of my life, and hopes I can submit the US consulate,” da Silva added with a laugh.
Certainly da Silva (7-0) is the cream of the crop of recent Tachi Palace Fights signings. On June 12 da Silva defeated Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision at Shooto Brazil. The victory over Pantoja (7-2) was the first since the Nova Uniao Kimura product dethroned long-time flyweight king Schinichi “BJ” Kojima (10-4-5) of Japan by decision.
“To bring in a fighter of Jussier’s caliber is really a credit to the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino and the Tachi Yokut Tribe,” Luchau said. “We’ve been dedicated to the 125-pound division for some time now and we want to continue to bring some of the world’s best athletes to Tachi.”
The flyweight division is starting to take off on North American soil and da Silva’s coming to American should go a long way in creating some of the more meaningful fights at that weight.
“I’m a jiu jitsu guy, I trained jiu jitsu all my life, and recently I was CBJJE world champion at Black Belt, but I’m always trying to improve, and I’ve been training a lot of boxing, muay thai and wrestling. You can expect a much improved fighter in my US debut,” da Silva said.
The search for an opponent has begun for da Silva, who only wants to come to the US to fight the very best and says there is no pressure on being the No. 1 fighter in the world at 125 pounds.
“It might be incredible to hear, but no (there’s no pressure being No. 1 in the world). Because being the No. 1 fighter in the world, everybody wants to fight against the best and this is good because I really love fighting and people in the fighting world get to know me,” da Silva added.
Tags: Alexis Vila > Auto > da silva > deal > decision > division > draft > entertainment coordinator > fight > fight of my life > Grande > Jiu > LIFE > nova uniao > palace fight > pound champion > rio grande do norte > Shooto > Tachi > tachi palace hotel > Thursday > time
TOKYO FIVE BRAND TO HOST SPEED DATING EVENT WITH KENDA PEREZ AT UFC FAN EXPO
Posted on | August 19, 2010 | No Comments
Tags: Auto > Brand > DATING > draft > event > expo > Fan > Host > host speed > kenda > PEREZ > SPEED > Tokyo > UFC
Nickels rolls into Retribution feud; 09 MFC award winner replaces Gouveia for clash with Lewis
Posted on | August 19, 2010 | 1 Comment
By: MFC Staff
Mike Nickels, co-winner of the 2009 Maximum Fighting Championship’s Fight of the Year, is stepping in to replace an injured Wilson Gouveia for a showdown against Dwayne Lewis at MFC 26: Retribution.
The owner of the Colorado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy returns to the MFC fold for the first time since he squared-off against David Heath at MFC 22 last October. A surprising stand-up war electrified the sold-out crowd and earned the nod as the organization’s best bout of the year. Nickels eventually posted the victory, coaxing a third-round submission out of Heath via rear-naked choke.
Nickels (8-3) is a renowned jiu-jitsu practitioner, earning six of victories via tapout. The six-foot-four Denver native, who holds a brown belt in BJJ, won gold at the 2005 Pan-Am Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships.
Lewis (11-5), a product of Fort McMurray, Alberta, and one of the MFC’s most popular fighters, had his seven-fight winning streak stopped at MFC 25 in May when he dropped a unanimous decision to former MFC light heavyweight champion Emanuel Newton. Prior to that loss, Lewis’s run of success had included a savage first-round knockout of veteran Marvin Eastman.
Gouveia steps aside due to a back injury.
“I’m disappointed that Gouveia had to pull out but the MFC did an excellent job with a replacement. Nickels is a tough opponent and stylistically we match up great,” offered Lewis.
“But that being said … I will still knock him out.”
Tickets for MFC 26: Retribution slated for Friday, Sept. 10 at the River Cree Resort and Casino are on sale now via the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024 and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone (780) 451-8000 and MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from “blocked::http:” claiming to be www.ticketmaster.ca.
Tags: Academy > Auto > award > brazilian jiu jitsu academy > David Heath > denver native > draft > fight winning streak > fighting > first round knockout > Jitsu > light heavyweight champion > Marvin Eastman > Mike Nickels > Retribution > River Cree Resort > River Cree Resort and Casino > showdown > submission > war > winner > YEAR















