Exclusive “Big Time” Interview With Boxer Jameel McCline
Posted on | October 16, 2011 | No Comments
By: Patrick McElligott
A few hours after Vitali Klitschko’s September 10th defense of his title against an undersized and overmatched Tomasz Adamek, former top contender Jameel “Big Time” McCline told his friends on FaceBook that he was going to return to the ring. McCline’s 39-10-3 record does not, without closer examination, explain why he has long been so popular among boxing fans, or held in such high regard among other fighters. More, in my opinion, boxing’s top promoters — and thus the members of the Boxing Writers Association who are uncomfortably close to them -– have never really promoted this top American heavyweight contender.
That is not to say that Jameel has not had opportunities. He is the only contender who has challenged for all four of the versions of the heavyweight title. Each time, he came up short. He has also lost several disputed decisions, including in non-title bouts, along the way. The result has been that members of the boxing community ask not if he has the ability to win “big time,” but what factors are keeping him from winning in the emphatic manner that he is so capable of?
For the past month, I prepared to interview Jameel McCline by reading numerous articles, both about him and interviews with him; watched films of his previous fights; and talked with his trainer. I came up with a list of questions that I thought were most important, and had some assistance from my son Darren.
Jameel McCline is 41 years old. He only fought once in the past three years, a disappointing loss to tough Chris Arreola in April, 2009. He is fully aware that it is not uncommon for retired boxers to watch a fight, either from ringside or couchside, and think, “I could lick either of these guys!” But that, as we will see, is not the case with Jameel.
Q: Why have you decided to make this comeback to the ring now?
A: The answer to that is three-fold. First, I have been aware of the lack of a strong American presence in the heavyweight division. That has an impact on the popularity of boxing in this country. In fact, it led directly to step two.
I was at a fight, and ran into Lennox Lewis. He asked me when I was making a comeback? I said, “I’m not.” He said that I really should.
A short time later, I saw Antonio Tarver. He asked me the same thing. I went away thinking, “Now, this is strange!”
Then I saw Bernard Hopkins. And B-Hop told me it was time for me to make my comeback.
Q: Bernard is a serious man.
A: All three of them are serious men. All three have been great champions of the sport. When they talk, you have to listen. And so I found myself thinking about my conversations with these three champions. And that led to the third factor.
I turned pro at the age of 25. I did not have any amateur boxing experience. Everything I learned was “on the job” experience. On one hand, this was clearly a disadvantage. But in life, you have to turn things around to your advantage. And I realized that I do not have the wear-and-tear that guys who began fighting amateur when they were eight or nine years old have. Boxing is a brutal business, but I didn’t really get beat up.
So I’m thinking about my conversations with these three, and about my career. And I realized that I have some unfinished business. That is why I am making my comeback at this time.
Q: Do you have a fight scheduled?
A: I have a date. My plan is to fight on February 11th, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Hollywood, Florida.
Q: How is training going?
A: Good. Very good. It’s very hard, too. I understand that I’m older now. Like your son Darren said, this isn’t going to be easy. But I am fully prepared to do all of the hard work necessary to accomplish my goal of winning the heavyweight title. I’m focused on taking it one step at a time.
Q: The great heavyweight champions tend to reflect American culture in a way no other athlete can. Jack Dempsey and the Roaring ’20s; Joe Louis and WW2; Ali and the turbulent ’60s. What would you bring to this tradition?
A: What I have to offer is the “Five Wells.” I am well-dressed. I am well-spoken. I am well-read. I am well-traveled. I am well-balanced. As heavyweight champion, I will offer a special style of leadership. And not just in the ring. I will serve as the ambassador of American heavyweights, to the world.
I’m a global traveler. In the United States, I’ve fought from New York City to Las Vegas. And I’ve fought in Switzerland, in Mexico, and in China. I’ve stayed in Russia, studied their culture, and learned their language. And that has helped me, for example, to understand the Klitschko brothers.
Q: The Klitschkos are an interesting pair. Most boxing people recognize they are great fighters, but neither has really appealed to the American audience. First, they are usually fighting much smaller opponents. Also, a number of writers and commentators say that they are not great technical fighters. I think they are both, in their own unique ways, absolutely technicians: they always break their opponents down in every fight.
A: Exactly. They break their opponents down. They do not rush it. Exactly right.
Q: Why do you think they aren’t popular in the US?
A: I never talk smack about anyone. And, I’ll tell you what, anyone who really knows the sport of boxing knows that both Vitali and Wladimir rank among the all-time greats. It’s not just that there are so few loses between them – what, maybe five? – but it is the manner in which they systematically break their opponents down.
You have to rank both of them among the top thirty or forty of all-time. And obviously higher among the heavyweight division. I think that Wladimir ranks a little higher than Vitali, but I respect both of these men as great heavyweight champions. Both brothers are simply amazing. I just hope that they both remain amazing and active, and that they give me the opportunity to match skills with them.
Q: I want to go back to something for a moment …. about what you will represent as heavyweight champion. As a retired social worker, who has trained a lot of teenaged amateur boxers – including a number who had problems at home, in school, and in the community, and who benefitted from the discipline boxing instills, I think that you are a perfect role model. There are a lot of kids in this country that need a proper role model, someone they can identify with.
A: Thank you. It means a lot to me to be able to be a role model for young people. To be able to show them that there are rewards for working hard and living right. Thank you, Pat.
Q: Now, there are already too many weight classes in boxing. Some are only about four pounds. But the heavyweight division is unlimited. Guys who are 201 pounds are expected to fight guys who are 260 pounds. Do you think there should be a Super Heavyweight division?
A: No, not really. Once you are a “big man,” you are big enough to compete against other big men. Just look at Chris Byrd. Or look at the great Joe Frazier. They were not big heavyweights. But they were great champions who could compete against anyone in the ring.
I do agree that there are too many divisions. I look back at boxing magazines from the 1950s and ’60s. There weren’t nearly as many divisions. But there were certainly great champions, and boxing fans loved it that way. And boxing can only become more popular again when the focus is on making it competitive, where the best boxers fight each other.
Hey, speaking of Chris Byrd. That was a good fight.I put him down in the second round. I thought I won; he thought he won; and he got the split-decision. No hard feelings at all. I’m telling you, at his best, Chris Byrd could have fought anybody.
Q: You tended to do your best when fighting the division’s other big men. In a 13-month stretch, you knocked out Michael Grant in one round; decisioned Lance Whitaker; and then decisioned two-time heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs. What advantages do you have in these fights?
A: Wow! You are the first person to ask me that. No other reporter has ever talked to me about that. You are astute.
This is another three-part answer. I’m big like them. I’m at least as strong as any of them, and much stronger than most of them. But the third part is key: I’m faster than any of the other big men in boxing.
Q: What has impressed me is that you seem to be most comfortable against them. You create the distance and positioning that allows you to get off your best shots.
A: Yes. Even against (Nikola) Valuev in 2007, I was comfortable in there. I had a strategy going into the fight, and everything was going as planned. I was feeling good, until my knee blew out.
Q: Your next fight after Valuev was against Samuel Peter at Madison Square Garden. That was one of a few very close decision loses that you had. As both a former amateur boxer, and trainer of pro and amateur fighters, I know how that can feel. How much of a role do you think that promoters have in influencing state commissions and even officials?
A: The pre-fight press conference told the story. Usually, the promoter speaks, and then both of the fighters and their trainers say a few words. As you know, that helps build interest in the fight. But Don is up there, on stage, and he brings up a Nigerian diplomat to speak. That would be like me having John McCain get on stage to promote me if we had been fighting in Nigeria
When the diplomat finished, Don called two of Nigeria’s top actors up on stage to talk. I whispered to my manager, “The fix is in,” and got up and walked out. That is the only time in my career that I have done anything like that. It seemed like there was some kind of business deal going on, that didn’t include my interests.
Now, remember, I had been scheduled to fight Vitali Klitschko earlier in the summer. Vitali pulled out of the fight, due to an injury. It was then that I was matched with Sam Peter. I ended up training too long, a total of 18 weeks. I knew beforehand that I was overtrained. When you have overtrained, you know that you risk losing your edge. You can go flat by the middle rounds. So going into the ring, I was intent upon taking him out early.
I’m not making excuses. Peter was a tough fighter. But I knocked him down three times early in the fight. And if you watch the films, you’ll see that with the second knockdown, the referee gave Sam a full 17 seconds, before letting us fight again.
I also think that I won enough of the later rounds that, combined with three knockdowns, I should have gotten the decision.
Q: I remember that after the fight, Peter’s manager attributed those knockdowns to Sam having a punctured ear drum. My impression was that you damaged his ear drum late in the first round. I’m also glad that you mentioned the issue of overtraining, which I think happens more often than boxing fans realize.
That brings us to another question: what do you think is a bigger problem for young fighters – overconfidence, or pre-fight anxiety?
A: I can only speak for myself. For me, being nervous before fights was an issue early in my career. This goes back to my not having any amateur experience. A boxer needs to be relaxed before a bout, or they risk burning up a lot of energy. Most boxers gain that ability while fighting as amateurs. It’s not that you don’t still get nervous after some experience, of course. But it’s learning how to deal with it.
Q: The late trainer Cus D’Amato used to say that the hero and the coward feel the same fear. The hero learns to channel it for fuel, while the coward is consumed by it.
A: Well said. That is right on target. And in most cases, I think, self-confidence is an internal process. It isn’t just there. It’s a growth process. And, again, without having that amateur experience, there were times, Pat, that I had to deal with self-doubt.
I knew that my trainer was impressed with my abilities. And I knew that the crowds were impressed by my performances. There were times when, after scoring a good victory, my corner would tell me how impressive I had been; the crowd would cheer me as I raised my hands; and my family and friends would embrace me after the fight was over. Still, late at night, alone in my thoughts, I would wonder: was I really that good?
Even when I started to become a ranked contender, that lack of real experience would sometimes effect me. I remember being in the gym, and questioning something my trainer said. My cousin confronted me afterwards, asking why I was actually questioning myself? We had a good talk that day. He made me look at myself, and for the first time, I really recognized that inside of that boxing ring, I was a beast. Stronger than other men. A beast. Able to accomplish more than other people. “Stop thinking that other guy is anything like you,” my cousin told me. Since that day, I have had self-confidence.
It takes that proper state of mind to put both wins and loses into the proper perspective. Now, Pat, you mentioned Grant, Whitaker, and Briggs. Those were really good wins. Knocking Michael Grant out in one round was impressive. Whitaker was a talented fighter. Shannon Briggs was a champion. Briggs won the first round on all three officials’ cards, and I won the next nine. That was an impressive win.
Q: I like what you are saying about putting every fight into the proper perspective. I’m thinking back to your 2005 fight with Calvin Brock. He was very talented. He was also very tough, or he couldn’t have gotten off the canvas that night. But that fight is a good example of the wear-and-tear that fighters endure. He won the decision, but six years later, you are the one in a position to make a meaningful comeback to the ring.
A: Yes, Calvin Brock was a really talented fighter. We put on a good fight for the fans that night. And I was surprised when I saw him starting to get up.
The time that I’ve had off has given me an opportunity to think. If you get one shot at the heavyweight title, you’ve accomplished something. Getting two shots is very hard. Three is almost impossible. Four is unheard of. I earned those fights. And the fans wanted to see them. Boxing fans do not have any financial stake, or promotional agenda. They pick out fighters they like. I’m one of the guys that the fans like to see win.
Tags: answer > anybody > Auto > big time > boxers > boxing community > boxing fans > boxing writers > champion > Chris Arreola > draft > emphatic manner > facebook > fight > focus > heavyweight > heavyweight contender > heavyweight title > Klitschko > McCline > mcelligott > number > person > promoters > Rank > Reporter > ring > ringside > role > round > someone > something > son darren > speaking > time interview > title bouts > top contender > traveler > Valuev > Vitali Klitschko > Wladimir > writers association
ABNER MARES AND JOSEPH AGBEKO LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Posted on | October 16, 2011 | No Comments
Dec. 3, 2011, at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., LIVE on SHOWTIME
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2011) – IBF and WBC Silver Bantamweight Champion Abner Mares and former two-time IBF Bantamweight World Champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko were the principals at a widely attended press conference Saturday to officially announce their highly anticipated rematch set for Saturday, Dec. 3, at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., which will be televised LIVE on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
In the co-featured bout, WBA Bantamweight Super Champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno will defend his title against former Two-Division World Champion Vic “The Raging Bull’’ Darchinyan. The doubleheader is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Don King Productions and Gary Shaw Productions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. The doubleheader will be televised live on SHOWTIME® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Here’s what those involved had to say on Saturday:
Abner Mares:
I’m really happy and ready to fight on Dec. 3. Right after the first fight I was asked if I had a problem with a rematch – I said ‘no.’
“I want to fight him again because he deserves it. He’s a great champion. If this is what the people want we’ll give it to them.
“I’m going to prove why I’m the champion come Dec. 3. I’m going to go for a knockout. Last time I prepared for 12 rounds, but this time I have something to prove. I want to prove that I am the champion. I want to knock him out. “
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“We are looking forward to setting the record straight on Dec. 3 at the Honda Center to erase any doubts that people may have.
“We thought the right thing to do was a rematch. The pressure was everyone was crying for a rematch and Abner had no problem with it. He’s young, he’s strong, he’s exciting – he’s exactly the kind of fighter fans like.
“Abner didn’t have to do the rematch. Just because the IBF ordered it doesn’t mean he had to do it. He took it because he wants to prove he’s the best in the division.
“I want to thank SHOWTIME for putting their muscle behind this great division.
“Both of these fighters on the co-feature have an impressive resume. Darchinyan is one of the most recognizable names in boxing and Moreno hasn’t lot in 10 years. The idea is the two winners on Dec. 3 will face each other in 2012.”
Frank Espinoza, Mares’ Manager:
“It’s time to clear the controversy. This fight means everything to Abner. On Dec. 3, he plans to show the world that he truly deserves to be called the top bantamweight in the world.”
Joseph Agbeko:
“I am not looking for the knockout on Dec. 3, I’m looking forward to a war. There will be no more low blows this time because the world is watching. I will prove to the world that I deserved to win the last fight and I will be victorious on Dec. 3.
“Do I still have respect for Abner Mares? Yes. At the end of the day we are both warriors and we do our job.
“I didn’t want to retaliate with low blows. After every round I came back to my corner and they told me to keep going after him and protect myself. They just kept telling me to do what we trained to do and not to change.”
Alan Hopper, VP for Public Relations for Don King Productions:
“Don (King) sends his best from Florida and is looking forward to seeing you all from the Honda Center on Dec. 3. He’s asked me to come and represent his company today. Abner Mares has a problem. He won the two biggest fights of his career with the use of low blows. The entire world and a new referee will be watching you closely on Dec. 3. So keep your punches up and fight fair.”
Chris DeBlasio, Senior Director, Communications, SHOWTIME Sports
“SHOWTIME is once again putting on a fight the fans truly want to see. For 25 years boxing has been the flagship sport of our network. We all remember the controversy that surrounded the first fight between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares for the SHOWTIME Bantamweight Tournament Final. But what we may have forgotten is that that fight was as exciting as boxing gets. It had all the drama, intensity and give-and-take action that defines the bantamweight division. We are proud to be part of this important rematch.”
Tags: 12 rounds > Abner Mares > anaheim calif > Auto > bantamweight world champion > Bout > Bull > center > champion > chemito > doesn > Don King Productions > Doubleheader > doubts > draft > everyone > fight > Gary Shaw > Golden > Golden Boy Promotions > Honda Center > IBF > King Kong > knockout > live > OCT > principals > quotes > raging bull > RECORD > rematch > Richard Schaefer > Showtime Championship Boxing > something > Tecate > time > Tools > Two > Two-time > WBA
Kevin Nash Tired of Ricky Morton’s Act ‘AWE Wrestling: Night Of The Legends’ PPV Tonight in Virginia
Posted on | October 15, 2011 | 1 Comment
FISHERSVILLE, Virginia (October 13, 2011) – A decade of bad blood will literally spill-over into the ring Saturday as “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash takes out his frustrations on re-sentful Ricky Morton, one half of The Rock-n-Roll Express, in the featured match of the “AWE Wrestling: Night Of The Legends” Pay-Per-View event, live from Augusta Expo in Fishersville, Virginia.
Nash, a former WWE and WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and his mystery tag-team partner will throw-down with the former three-time NWA Tag Team Champions, Morton and Robert Gibson (The Rock-n-Roll Express), to finally settle the score once and for all between Nash and Morton in front of a live national television/Internet au-dience and a packed live house in Virginia.
“I don’t know what his gripe is,” Nash said, “but he’s been on a tirade against me since the social networking, You Tube boom. He hates me. Nobody else is lumped in, only Kevin Nash, I didn’t really do anything. He is just a bitter old-timer guy who wasn’t as good a businessman as I am. He brings-up this situation over the course of time. What’s his problem? Hate is a strong word. I dislike but don’t hate a lot of people. It’s almost a sign of ignorance. You can dislike me, or disapprove of what I do….but hate?”
Nash’s tag-team partner will not be announced until fight night. Despite all of the speculation concerning who it is, Kevin doesn’t believe it will really matter, once he gets Morton in the ring. “Once I get my hands on Morton,” Nash remarked, “it won’t matter who my partner is. All it’s really going to be is a matter of how long the cat will play with the mouse before it’s enough. It’s like in the movie, Seven, when Brad Pitt unloads a clip into Kevin Spacey’s head. I would have used a potato peeler and rub-bing alcohol.”
Morton resents Nash cashing-in after Ricky, who claims he paved the way for Kevin’s financial success, was let loose by the WCW before making megabucks from wres-tling, endorsement deals and major public appearances like Nash and some other wrestlers. “He’s been doing this for 10 years, so three minutes isn’t going to be enough to squelch this on my part,” Nash concluded. “I want him to realize what he’s been saying. Maybe, I’ll teach an old man something new late in his life.”
The Awesome Wrestling Entertainment (AWE) superstar show will be available for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN De-mand, DIRECTV, AT & T and Verizon in the United States, as well as Bell TV in Cana-da, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. The broadcast will also be available live on an Internet pay-per-view basis at www.AWEonPPV.com and www.GFL.TV.
As if Nash versus Morton doesn’t offer enough animosity, legendary warrior Terry Funk goes mano-y-mano with his protégé, former ECW superstar Tommy Dreamer, to determine who the true King of Hardcore wrestling is in 2011. Dreamer, a 14-time WWF/WWE Hardcore Champion and two-time ECW world title-holder, plans to send the ageless Hall of Fame wrestler Funk, a two-time ECW and NWA heavyweight champion, into a retirement home for wrestlers.
And patriotic wrestling icon “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, waving the American flag and wielding his trademark 2 X 4, goes at hated Arab-American oil magnate, Mohammad Akbar, with a special vengeance.
After nine long years on the sidelines, Perry Saturn will make the most significant comeback in wrestling history, jumping right back into the fire against deadly enforcer CW Anderson.
WWE and WCW title-holder Fit Finlay battles 21-year-old rising-star and the AWE Heavyweight prospect, “Loose Cannon” Alex Silva, who will have “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel in his corner, and Sonjay Dutt meets Jamin Olivencia.
Other wrestlers among the 30 all-stars being showcased at the AWE Legends extrava-ganza include three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page (“DDP”), Amy “Lita” Dumas, former World Tag Team Champion and “Four Horsemen” member, Tully Blanchard with Babydoll, Midnight Express, Ivan Koloff, and Tommy “Wildfire” Rich. All wrestlers and matches are subject to change.
Go on line to www.
Awesome Wrestling Entertainment is “Made in the USA.”
Tags: Bad Blood > champion > Champions > com > event > Express > fight night > financial success > FISHERSVILLE > fishersville virginia > gripe > half > heavyweight > house > Kevin Nash > kevin spacey > mystery > national television > Nobody > old timer > partner > PER > potato peeler > ricky morton > robert gibson > rock n roll express > score > show > social networking > strong word > tag > tag team champions > tag team partner > television internet > time > time nwa > tirade against > Tired > TONIGHT > World Heavyweight Champion
Boxing Links (10-15-11)
Posted on | October 15, 2011 | No Comments
| Boxing’s time machine not ready to stop OCRegister $50 for a $100 Gift Card to use Towards Bikes, Apparel, Accessories, and Service By MARK WHICKER LOS ANGELES – How many boxing champions begin their careers 0-1? How manyboxing champions lose three fights out of five, in their 40’s, and still reach … See all stories on this topic »
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| Boxing: Cleverly out to let his fighting do the talking WalesOnline “With the fight in his back yard it might be a bit hostile,” conceded Cleverly, who has vowed to quit boxing if he loses his unbeaten record tonight. “But it’s just a ring and it’s only what happens in the ring that matters. I’ve been in the deep zone … See all stories on this topic »
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| Boxing Champion Michael Spinks Sues Former Promoter’s Estate BusinessWeek By Jef Feeley and Phil Milford Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) — Ex-heavyweight boxing champion Michael Spinks sued the estate of his former promoter, Ronald E. “Butch” Lewis, alleging Lewis failed to properly manage millions of dollars Spinks earned in his … See all stories on this topic »
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| Donaire vows to wow NYC Manila Bulletin By NICK GIONGCO MANILA, Philippines — Before Las Vegas got the monopoly of the big fights, New York was the center of prizefighting and the famed Madison Square Garden was considered the Mecca of Boxing. A long line of Hall of Famers have fought there … See all stories on this topic »
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| Innocent Man Leaves NY Prison For Boxing Ring CBS New York NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A man who spent 26 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit is trading his prison cell for a boxing ring. Dewey Bozella says when his world was caving in, boxinggave him hope. “It was my freedom, if you really want to … See all stories on this topic »
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| Twitter King Malignaggi chats with fans ESPN (blog) By Michael Woods Boxing is a sport which is resistant to change. No, guys don’t so much drink the blood from steaks anymore, but old school rules and values do stick around, as people figure that the boxers from back in the day had something that … See all stories on this topic »
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| Thompson: Zehm Was in ‘Boxing Stance’ KHQ Right Now In the second day of Spokane Police officer Karl Thompson’s use-of-force trial a jury heard Thompson tell a Spokane investigator that Otto Zehm was “ready to strike” and in a “boxing stance” while inside the Zip Trip on March 18, 2006. … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Q&A with the Boxing Room’s Executive Chef Justin Simoneaux … By Mary Ladd Boxing Room Executive Chef Justin Simoneaux. Photo: Liza Gershman. The Cajun and Creole dishes of his native Louisiana influence Chef Justin Simoneaux’s cooking at the recently openedBoxing Room. Simoneaux’s affinity for coastal … Bay Area Bites |
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Wrestling Links (10-15-11)
Posted on | October 15, 2011 | No Comments
| Angle wants Olympic wrestling return ESPN Kurt Angle wants to get real about wrestling again. Angle believes the time is right to swap that big gold TNA Wrestling championship belt around his waist for another shiny gold medal around his neck. Creeping up on 43, Angle is serious about becoming … See all stories on this topic »
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| Impact Wrestling Oct 13th – Bound For Glory Go Home Show WhatCulture! Angle congratulates him for winning them, but reminds him he’s the greatest wrestler ever and he’ll prove it at BFG. Then he extends a hand. Roode decides not to shake though and takes a mic. Roode says it’s the man with the bigger heart who will … See all stories on this topic »
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| Wrestling earns preseason No. 1 Centre Daily Times UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State enters the 2011-12 wrestling season ranked No. 1 according to InterMat, while nine wrestlers have earned national rankings to open the season — including three No. 1 selections. The defending Big Ten and national … See all stories on this topic »
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| Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan Founds Pro Wrestling Organization Spinner During a recent tour of Chicago morning news shows, Billy Corgan dropped an awesome, awesome bomb: He is getting involved in professional wrestling. While the Smashing Pumpkins frontman has always been an avid fan of wrestling, he has finally decided … See all stories on this topic »
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| Steven Takahashi has big shoes to fill at Pan Am Games Toronto Sun Steven’s dad Ray, the head coach at the University of Western Ontario, was a legend in amateurwrestling circles back in the day, having competed for Canada at the 1976 Montreal Olympics as a 17 year old. He also competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Games … See all stories on this topic »
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| Hulk Hogan Rips Obama, Tim Tebow: Has Little Nice to Say Gather Celebs News Channel It sounds like the only thing Hulk Hogan is doing these days is pumping himself up, by putting others down. Wait, wasn’t that his shtick when he was “wrestling?” Aren’t those acting days over…he is ‘retired’ from wrestling isn’t he? See all stories on this topic »
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| Wrestler Scott Hall at rock bottom in ESPN doc CBS News (CBS) – Scott Hall was one of the titans of the 90’s wrestling scene. As Razor Ramone, he was one of the greatest heels in the WWE (then known as the WWF.) He joined the WCW and was part of the original “nWo” clique alongside heavyweights like Hulk … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Flavorwire » Billy Corgan Founds Pro Wrestling Company By Judy Berman The Great Pumpkin is a big fan of professional wrestling. He talks about it on Twitter, stages elaborate stunts with luchadors at performances in Mexico, and recently released a God-awful 12-minute film about lady wrestlers as the music video … Flavorwire |
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| Billy Corgan Starts His Own Wrestling League @ Antiquiet By Reverend Justito Jerry Garcia had a successful line of neck ties, Paul Newman made salad dressing and now Smashing Pumpkins mastermind Billy Corgan is set to launch his own professional wrestlingcompany, called Resistance Pro Wrestling. Resistance … Antiquiet (RSS) |
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| BLABBERMOUTH.NET – SMASHING PUMPKINS Mainman Starting … SMASHING PUMPKINS mainman Billy Corgan told FOX News Chicago yesterday (Thursday, October 13) that he is starting his own professional wrestling company, Resistance Pro Wrestling. “I’ve been involved sort of behind the scenes with … BLABBERMOUTH.NET Latest News |
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| Billy Corgan starts pro wrestling group « Consequence of Sound By Michael Roffman The 12-minute short film on female wrestling? It appears that frontman Billy Corgan is quite the fan. So much so that he’s opened up his own group in Chicago called Resistance Pro Wrestling. Recently, Corgan sat down with Fox News … Consequence of Sound |
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| North Shore Edge Youth Wrestling Club — Evanston news, photos … By Thomas Choi The North Shore Edge is the newest youth wrestling club serving all the townships of the Northern Suburbs of Chicago. Head New Trier Wrestling Coach, Marc Tadelman, will be leading the North Shore Edge. Coach Tadelman changed the … TribLocal – Evanston |
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Weights from Nebraska’s “Rumble in the Heartland”
Posted on | October 15, 2011 | No Comments
GRAND ISLAND, NE (Oct. 14, 2011) – The official weigh-in for tomorrow’s “Rumble In The Heartland,” featuring Kimbo Slice, was held today. Below are the official weights:
Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (1-0, 1 KOs), Coral Springs, FL 244 LBS.
vs
Tay Bledsoe (2-3, 2 KOs), Omaha, NE 209 LBS.
Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm (12-0-1, 8 KOs), Washington D.C. 247 LBS.
vs.
Clinton Boldridge (9-16-1, 7 KOs), St. Joseph, MO 242 LBS.
Brandon “Pit Bull” Quintana (3-7, 3 KOs), Kearney, NE 135 LBS.
vs.
Sook Suyajuck (2-6-1, 2 KOs), Kansas City, MO 134 LBS.
Abel “Truth Serum” Perry (15-5, 7 KOs), Colorado Springs, CO 158 LBS.
vs.
Patrick Thompson (17-16-1, 7 KOs), Lincoln, NE 159 LBS.
Reuben Rodriguez (3-6, 0 KOs), Kearney, NY 163 LBS.
vs.
Sean “Hollywood” Wilson (5-6, 1 KO), Cambridge, NE 166 LBS.
Fighter Quotes
Kimbo Slice: “The fight will only last as long as he can endure the pain.”
Tay Bledsoe: “It’s going to be a great night and I’m going to do my thing. I know (Kimbo) is a big guy and hits really hard. You’ll have to come out (tomorrow) and see what I have planned.”
Maurice Byarm: “I trained extremely hard for this fight and I am a fighter. When I get in the ring fans get a fight every time”
Promoters: Gary Shaw Productions & Legacy Communications
Tickets are priced at $220.00, $138.00, $45.00, $29.50 and $19.00 (plus fees) and available to purchase at the Heartland Events box office (Monday-Friday, 8 AM-4:30 PM), www.HeartlandEventsCenter.com orwww.ticketmaster.com.
Doors open at 6 PM with the first bout scheduled for 7 PM. For additional information go online towww.GaryShawProductions.com or www.HeartlandEventsCenter.com.
Tags: Abel > Auto > Bull > Byarm > clinton boldridge > colorado springs co > com > coral springs > Doors > draft > fight > fighter > Freight > freight train > Gary Shaw > GaryShawProductions > heartland > information > kansas city mo > Kimbo Slice > Lbs > legacy communications > Monday > nbsp > OCT > official > orwww > Patrick Thompson > Pit > pit bull > promoters > quintana > reuben > ring > sook > st joseph mo > tay > Ticketmaster > time > train > truth serum
GABRIEL BRACERO RETURNS TO SHOWTIME® LOOKING TO CAPTURE FIRST TITLE BELT
Posted on | October 15, 2011 | No Comments
| MASHANTUCKET, CT/NEW YORK (Oct. 14, 2011) – Next Friday, October 21, rising junior welterweight contender Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (17-0, 3KO’s) will look to capture his first title as a professional when he takes on Daniel Sostre (11-4-1, 4KO’s) for the vacant NABF belt. Bracer-Sostre is set to open up the DiBella Entertainment promoted ShoBox: The New Generation doubleheader featuring highly regarded and top-rated Super Middleweight contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (19-0, 14KO’s) taking on Will “Power” Rosinsky (14-0, 8KO’s) at the beautiful MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Both bouts are scheduled for 10 rounds and will be televised live on SHOWTIME beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
The road to this point for Bracero has been anything but easy. A stellar amateur, the New York native turned pro in 2001 and ran his record to a perfect 5-0. While Bracero was experiencing success inside the ring, trouble on the outside was brewing all along and soon the young Puerto Rican prospect was arrested and incarcerated to spend the next six years of his life behind bars.
After being released in January 2009, Bracero wasted little time in getting his boxing career back in line behind well-respected trainer and manager Tommy Gallagher. Since his return Bracero has rung together 12-consecutive victories including his most impressive to date back in April of this year when he won a dominate eight-round decision over previously undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympic alternate Danny O’Connor (14-0) also on ShoBox. If Bracero can capture the NABF title against Sostre, he will be one step closer to fulfilling a life-long dream.
“I have been waiting for this for a long time,” said Bracero. “I am truly blessed and so grateful for what my team, and everyone at DiBella Entertainment has done for me.”
Regarding the fight Bracero is not looking past his opponent he says, but he states that his rigorous preparations have already won him the fight.
“The fight is already won. I have been working so hard with my team, and I feel great. I’m excited for this fight. Winning the NABF title puts me into the world ratings, and puts me in a position to start going after these champions. Whoever it is, it doesn’t matter to me. My job is to train and to fight, and focus on beating whoever they put in front of me. As always I plan on putting on an impressive performance Friday night for all my fans that are coming out to show their support, and the many more who will be at home watching on SHOWTIME.”
Bracero went on to make a special dedication for the fight.
“In addition to raising Breast Cancer Awareness with this card, I am also personally dedicating this fight to the National Diabetes Walk, which I will be participating in two days after my fight in N.Y.C. My son and my mother both suffer from Diabetes, so I want to dedicate this fight to them and to everyone throughout the world dealing with the Diabetes disease. I’m fighting for a bigger purpose and bigger meaning and promise I won’t disappoint.”
“Octoberfist: Fight Night Done Right” is being presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with The Breast Cancer Charities of America, P3R Publicity and Everlast. Tickets are priced at $125, $85 and $50, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.foxwoods.com orwww.ticketmaster.com, and by calling (800) 200-2882. Doors open at 7PM, with the first bout scheduled for 8PM. Showtime will begin live coverage at 11PM ET. |
Tags: Auto > bouts > boxing career > Bracer > bracero > career > com > consecutive victories > contender > DiBella > Dibella Entertainment > Doubleheader > draft > everyone > fight > la bomba > life behind bars > life long dream > little time > looking > manager > manager tommy > MGM Grand > middleweight > NABF > nbsp > new generation > o connor > OCT > October > POWER > Puerto Rican > ring > Rosinsky > ShoBox > SHOWTIME > time > tito > tommy gallagher > welterweight
Mixed Martial Arts Links (10-15-11)
Posted on | October 15, 2011 | No Comments
| MMA Today: Bryan Baker’s big opponents include leukemia ScrippsNews By BOB EMANUEL Jr., Scripps Howard News Service Most young mixed–martial–arts athletes experience their evolution in the sport in their mid-20s. Bellator Fighting Championships middleweight Bryan Baker is no different from most in many respects. … See all stories on this topic »
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| Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of October 8, 2011 MMAmania.com by Brian Hemminger on Oct 14, 2011 6:01 AM EDT in UFC News Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vastMMA landscape. Like Frank Mir and Roy Nelson pictured above, … See all stories on this topic »
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| Mixed Martial Arts news, rumors, results and opinions MMAGoss Former ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ season 2 contestant and Strikeforce veteran, Mike Whitehead, will return to the cage October 22 fighting in Rage in the Cage 156 and taking on Jojo Thompson. Whitehead is probably best known in recent months for several … See all stories on this topic »
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| Fighters make weight for Bellator card ESPN Schlemenko (41-7) has knocked out 25 of his opponents. He puts a four-fight wins streak on the line against Rogers. Franklin McNeil covers mixed martial arts and boxing for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Franklin_ See all stories on this topic » |
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| MMA’s worldwide leader in UFC news, gear and events Your home for MMA gear, UFC News, Events, Videos, and the greatest MMA forum on the planet, The Underground. www.mixedmartialarts.com/…/ |
Tags: Anderson Silva > Arts > Auto > Bryan Baker > cage > Champ > champion > com > draft > fight > fighter > fighting > Former > Frank Mir > gear > Gray Maynard > hardcore > hardcore fans > hemminger > howard news service > less than three minutes > lightweight champion > mid 20s > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA > nbsp > news > plain dealer > radio interviews > Roy Nelson > SCHOOL > Scripps > scripps howard news > scripps howard news service > service > sports > sports radio > technical knockout > time > topic > ufc dana white > Weekend
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