Big Fight Preview – Katsidis-Burns, Groves-Smith, Boulden-Saunders

Posted on | October 26, 2011 | No Comments

By: Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

I’m sure promoter Frank Warren must have been chanting ‘Remember, Remember the Fifth of November’ as he was planning his upcoming triple Championship headed ‘Gladiators’ show, which will take place at Wembley Arena on Guy Fawkes Night and shown live on BoxNation (Sky platform 456).

The pugilistic pyrotechnics on display will culminate in an explosive finale as former WBO Super Featherweight World Champion Ricky Burns and the Brit Bashing Aussie Michael Katsidis lock horns for the interim WBO Lightweight World title.

Katsidis is no stranger to battling it out on British shores, having stopped both Graham Earl and Kevin Mitchell in spectacular fashion, so will feel quite at home when he faces Coatbridge’s former Super Featherweight supremo Ricky Burns.

It bodes well that Burns has been stating that he feels stronger, since vacating the WBO title and moving up to the Lightweight division, as his good pal Kevin Mitchell can attest Katsidis is one seriously tough cookie.

Since beating our Kev, Katsidis has been in three seriously tough fights, the first against World #1 Juan Manuel Marquez, who he sent to the canvas prior to being stopped himself, then he took World #2 ranked Robert Guerrero the full distance. In his last fight Katsidis came back, from those two back to back losses, to KO Mexico’s Michael Lozada.

Burns on the other hand is unbeaten since 2007 and defended his World Crown three times, since beating Roman Martinez to lift the coveted title in September 2010.

It’s going to be a great fight but unfortunately I have to say that I think Katsidis, who’s a big Lightweight, is the stronger of the two and has to be the bookies favourite to win the triple crown by adding Burns to his list of British victims.

Heading up the explosive undercard sees George Groves defend his British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight titles against former British Champ Paul Smith.

Groves is riding high after his magnificent victory over James DeGale, but can’t afford to be too complacent against former champ Smith.

Yes I know, Smith lost his crown to DeGale and Groves then went and took it from DeGale, but believe me this is no easy fight for Groves.

Smith is not going to make the same mistakes, tactically, as he did against DeGale and as such is likely to revert to his normal style and bring the fight to Groves.

Both Groves and Smith fought different fights to how expected when they faced DeGale so any comparisons to those fights is right out of the window. I feel that this fight we’re likely to see them playing their normal game and as such are likely to see Smith coming forward with Groves boxing of the back foot for the first three or four rounds, then the more it goes on the real fireworks are likely to start as they go head to head.

The third championship bout on the card sees undefeated Middleweight sensation Billy Joe Saunders challenge Gary Boulden for his BBBofC Southern Area belt.

Saunders, a former Olympian, is without doubt one of the most exciting young fighters around today and to be honest I can see this fight, against the defending Champion, ending very much the same way as his past four bouts.

Boulden is a great Southern Area level Champion, but BJ is way above regional level or come to that domestic level. In his last four fights he barely broke into a sweat before dispatching his opponents, all in under 6 minutes.

Also on the card is ‘Del Boy’ Dereck Chisora, making his welcome return to the ring, since losing his British and Commonwealth Heavyweight straps to Tyson Fury back in July. On November 5th ‘Del Boy’ will be facing fellow Londoner Larry Olubamiwo.

As with Boulden-Saunders I can’t see this lasting very long at all as big Larry O isn’t in the same class as Del Boy, by a country mile, and I reckon Olubamiwo will be seeing stars before the end of the first round.

Also on the excellent card are ‘Super’ Bradley Skeete, Darren Cordona, George Michael Carmen as well as Billy Joe Saunders are fellow Jimmy and Mark Tibbs trained/TRAD TKO gym mates Frankie Buglioni and Gary Corcoran.

Frank Warren Promotions ‘Gladiators’ headlined by the interim WBO Lightweight title clash between Ricky Burns and Michael Katsidis will take place at Wembley Arena, and broadcast live on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456), on Saturday the 5th November 2011.

Tickets, priced £150 (Ringside), £100 (Floor), £75 (Floor), £50 (Tier) and £40 (Tier), are available now on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA

Mixed Martial Arts Links (10-26-11)

Posted on | October 26, 2011 | No Comments

Mixed martial arts fighter in Apple Valley domestic assault case returns to jail Pioneer Press By Jessica Fleming Brett Charles Rogers, a mixed martial artist was charged June 30, 2011 in Dakota county court with felony domestic assault. (Dakota County Sheriff’s Office) A heavyweight mixed martial artist who has pleaded guilty to felony domestic … See all stories on this topic »

Viacom buys Bellator, plans 2013 start on Spike USA Today By Sergio Non, USA TODAY MTV Networks’ Spike TV channel is getting out of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s business, but the broadcaster has increased its ties to mixed martial arts. Viacom, parent of MTV Networks, bought a majority stake in … See all stories on this topic »          USA Today

MMA: The 13 Most Under-Appreciated Fighters in MMA History Bleacher Report There are men in MMA such as Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre who will always be remembered. Then, there are the men that deserve to be remembered but, sadly, won’t be. These men are the most under-appreciated fighters in the history of mixed … See all stories on this topic » Bleacher Report

// 411 MMA Fact or Fiction: Penn vs. Diaz, Cro Cop’s Future, Siver vs. Cerrone … 411mania.com Is Chael Sonnen the best choice to host the MMA Awards? 411’s Mark Radulich & Jon Butterfield debate these topics and more in this week’s 411 Fact or Fiction: MMA! Welcome to another edition of 411 MMA: Fact or Fiction. As you know by now, … See all stories on this topic »

Local MMA stars to go out with bang Shreveport Times Special to The Times Tony Kelley and Matt Schnell are thrilled about the advantages a life as a professional mixed–martial artist could behold; the money, the fame, the chance to reach the ultimate prize — the UFC. However, the Shreveporters who have … See all stories on this topic »

Olympic Disappointment Turns to MMA Gold Sherdog.com Afterwards, he was faced with a decision: continue to pursue Olympic gold or try his hand at mixed martial arts. “That day, I went to have pizza with my wife in Beijing. It wasn’t good pizza,” Askren says. “I said, ‘When we get back, I want to go on … See all stories on this topic »       Sherdog.com

UFC 137: Donald Cerrone plans to get in the cage and whip Denis Siver’s ass MMAmania.com It’s a bold mentality, which has endeared his to company president Dana White, as well as mixed martial arts (MMA) fans. So, too, is his exciting style, which typically results in him finishing fights early. Last night (Mon., Oct. 24), “Cowboy” sat … See all stories on this topic »

Has MMA Already Surpassed Boxing in Popularity? Bleacher Report Most importantly beyond the items listed above, one of the most important factors regarding the success of MMA is that it is fan-centered and web-focused. Simply put, boxing is a sport for middle-aged to elderly men who have worked the same job most of… See all stories on this topic »      Bleacher Report

Downes finds happiness in a cage Yahoo! Sports Take his decision to bypass a potential career as a doctor, or a lawyer, or as perhaps a Secret Service agent, in order to become a mixed martial arts fighter. Anyone who only saw Downes’ last fight, a three-round loss to Jeremy Stephens at “The … See all stories on this topic » Yahoo! Sports

 

Blogs

Mixed martial arts fighter in Apple Valley domestic assault case … By By Jessica Fleming jfleming@pioneerpress.com A heavyweight mixed martial artist who has pleaded guilty to felony domestic assault charges is back in jail. News

Military Sports Report – After Action – Video: Justin Timberlake’s … By Dan Lamothe Marine Cpl. Kelsey De Santis smiles after winning her MMA fight Saturday night. (Photo by James J. Lee/Staff). In the blink of an eye, it was over. Justin Timberlake may want to take notice. Cpl. Kelsey De Santis, the Marine who famously … After Action

 

Web

Sherdog.com MMA Blog: Saturday, October 22, 2011 Villasenor Dazzles in Welterweight Debut at Jackson’s MMA Series 6 … Saturday, October 22 7:30 am PT: With this week in mixed martial arts being a relatively … sherdogblog.craveonline.com/blog/2011-10-22

LUCIAN BUTE & GLEN JOHNSON CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS

Posted on | October 25, 2011 | No Comments

NEW YORK (Oct. 25, 2011) – With a shot at the biggest fight in Super Middleweight history on the line, undefeated superstar and International Boxing Federation (IBF) Super Middleweight Champion Lucian Bute will make the ninth defense of his 168-pound title against ageless former light heavyweight champion Glen “The Road Warrior’’ Johnson on Saturday, Nov. 5, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

 

The largest box office draw in Canadian boxing, the undefeated, Romanian-born Bute will enter the ring at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec with an unblemished record of 29-0 with 24 KOs.  Bute has registered knockouts in seven of his eight title defenses and has only gone the distance five times in his professional career.

 

Johnson (51-15-2, 35 KOs), a legend for his bouts against Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver, will make his 10^thappearance in a world title fight.  The 42-year-old Jamaican-born Johnson has fought out of Miami for almost two decades.  The former world champ, who earned the nickname “The Road Warrior” for never shying away from challenging an opponent in his home turf, will once again travel to enemy territory for a shot at a championship.

 

The winner of Bute-Johnson could likely meet the winner of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, which concludes on Saturday, Dec. 17, on SHOWTIME. World champions Andre Ward (World Boxing Association) and Carl Froch (World Boxing Council) will clash in the Super Six Final in a showdown that will determine the world’s best 168-pound fighter.

 

What the fighters had to say on Tuesday’s call:

 

LUCIAN BUTE:  “We’re getting ready for a big fight. The fight will take place in Quebec City.  As you know, I’ve been in camp for seven weeks with one week left to go this week. I have a good feeling – it’s like I’m getting involved in the Super Six.  I feel that kind of feelings right now getting involved in a fight with Glen Johnson, who has so much credibility that I’m kind of finally part of the Super Six.  Glen Johnson has seen everything in boxing.  He has tremendous experience and I know him as a friend.  But I am also getting ready for my fight.  I’m very confident, I’ve been working hard as usual and I’m confident on Nov. 5 I’ll give a great performance.”

 

GLEN JOHNSON: “It’s going to be a tremendous fight – I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be very exciting.”

 

Lucian, what are your feelings that Mikkel Kessler and Kelly Pavlik declined to fight you?

BUTE:  “As you know, we made several offers. I don’t know why they turned it down.  It’s hard for me to say why.  What I know is I have no control on their decision.  Unfortunately, they would have been great fights, but at the end of the day I’m very happy that we ended up with Glen Johnson.  I believe that he will make things very interesting.”

 

Lucian, what was it like to spar with Glen Johnson?

BUTE:  “It was two years ago that both of us were preparing for our respective fights.  He was getting ready for Chad Dawson; I was getting ready for Librado Andrade.  We know that sparring is always different than a real fight.  He’s been training hard the last few years and I’ve been doing the same on my side.

 

“I think from the two of us I gained the most in that sparring.  I came there and built my confidence.  It was hard sparring, we wanted to win every day. It was competitive, it was great and I think I improved and proved my confidence after sparring with Glen Johnson.”

 

Glen, what were your thoughts on sparring with Lucian Bute?

JOHNSON: “I don’t know how many rounds we sparred, but I think it was around 96.

 

“It was great work. Both of us accomplished our goal.  We were doing hard work and I believe both of us got better. Obviously, I was fighting a better guy than Lucian was fighting.  I came out on the losing side and he came out on the winning side.  It is what it is, and we move forward from there.”

 

Can you each compare the step-up that each of you offers each other?   Lucian, how does Glen compare to your opponents? 

BUTE: “Glen Johnson has seen almost everything in boxing.  He’s always there and he’s always in great condition. He’s faced all the great boxers – Jones, Tarver, Dawson twice, he even fought Hopkins in the beginning and he looked good even if he lost it.  I can say by far that he is the best opponent with the best credibility.  His resume speaks for itself, so for me it’s a major step up.”

 

Glen, how does he compare to your opponents?

JOHNSON:  “He’s a great fighter.  He has a lot of talents, a lot of skills.  He shows a lot of guts in his fights.  He has fast hands, he’s strong.  He ranks amongst the best guys, but this is not sparring, this is fighting.  It’s a whole different level of fighting.”

 

Will you have any problem fighting a friend like Lucian after all of the time you’ve spent with him?

JOHNSON:  “I have a lot of respect for Lucian, but you’re fighting for your career, you’re fighting for everything here.  I’m going to go out there and give it my all and resume our friendship later. But I’ve got to go out there and do what I need to do to win the fight.”

 

BUTE:  “Exactly like Glen just said.  We’ve got mutual respect for each other, also our team respects his team.  I really cheered for him when he fought Allan Green and also when he fought Carl Froch. But with this my career is on the line.  It has nothing to do with respect or the friendship.  If I have to fight I’m going to give it my all. There are no friends in the ring; we’re going to be friends after the bout.  They can’t take away what I’ve been working for.”

 

Lucian, did you do anything different for Glen Johnson as compared to your other fights?

BUTE: “Every camp is a camp to become a better fighter.  I work very hard and I know what’s on the table.  I know Glen is working very hard. I know he has a strategy and we’ll have a great fight on Nov. 5.”

 

How would you describe Glen Johnson?

BUTE:  “With Glen Johnson, what you have in front of you is what you get.  He’s an aggressive fighter, he sets everything up with a nice jab, he’s got a really dangerous right hand and he likes to put on the pressure.  He wears his opponent down and if he puts that pressure on me all night it’s going to be a long night.  If I pick my moments here and there with the angles I think I can have a great evening.”

 

Glen, what is your philosophy on retirement and what do you expect out of yourself in this fight?

JOHNSON:  “I have plans on going on and moving forward.  I feel great. I look to putting on a tremendous performance.  I expect to come out of the fight victorious.  For me, it doesn’t have anything to do with age.  I feel great and I’m just looking forward to putting on a great fight.”

 

Do you have any trouble making 168 pounds?

JOHNSON:  “I have no problems making the weight.  The weight is not an issue.  We’ve made the weight the same way when we came to this class.  We’ve made it fairly easy and it’s getting easier each time so weight is not an issue.”

 

Lucian, obviously your opponent has quite the record.  What would it mean to you to stop Glen Johnson or are you just looking to go 12 rounds and get the win?

BUTE:  “As a fighter I’m going to bring it to the ring and I want to win as many rounds as possible to get the win and to keep my belt. If there is an opportunity, like any fight I’m going to jump on it.  I’d be happy and privileged to stop Glen Johnson, but I don’t think about that approaching the fight.  I’m just going to go there and do what I always do and do it the best way I can to give a great performance.”

 

Lucian, what does Glen Johnson bring to the table?

BUTE:  “He’s got credibility.  He’s been with all the best guys in the world so nobody can say anything about Glen Johnson.  Nobody can blame him about being an opponent – he’s been with the best guys and he’s been beating almost everybody.  That’s what he represents for me.”

 

Do you believe beating Glen Johnson would finally make you considered one of the best fighters in the world?

BUTE:  “I’ve been looking to fight everybody.  I want to fight anybody. I was always looking to fight the best fighters in the world. If they’re not available then this is not my problem.”

 

Glen, how will you fight Lucian?

JOHNSON:  “I got my game plan and I just have to be smart about what I’m doing.  If you watch on Nov. 5 on SHOWTIME you’ll see exactly what I need to do.”

 

Are you concerned about his uppercut?

JOHNSON:  “When you go in the ring you’ve got to be concerned about anything your opponent does well.  I’ve got to prepare for that particular style and take care of business.”

 

If you win, how long do you expect to stay at super middleweight?

BUTE:  “There are lots of fights available to me at 168 and I’ve got some good business in that category.”

 

How do each of you view the Andre Ward-Carl Froch Super Six Final?

JOHNSON:  “It’s a close fight.  I will have to go with the American because the fight is in America and I would assume that he would get the benefit of the doubt.”

 

BUTE:  “I think it’s going to be a nice, spectacular fight.  I think it’s going to be a close fight.  The question is how Andre Ward will cope with the strength and the power of Carl Froch. If he’s able to handle it, I think he’s got the ability and the boxing movement and I’d go with him.  But, let’s see first how he will react when he gets hit by Carl Froch.”

 

Glen, how you access your performance against Froch?

JOHNSON:  “Poorly.  I was very disappointed in what I was doing.  It was a close fight and it was an exciting fight and I know I have plenty more in me than what I showed him.”

 

Lucian, how would you describe fighting in your homeland in Romania and your adopted home of Canada?

BUTE:  “Everybody knows I call my home Montreal and Quebec City. I feel comfortable fighting here.  It was a privilege for me to fight in Romania. I took it as a privilege – a great experience.”

 

Lucian, do you feel any pressure to put on a better performance against Johnson than Froch?

BUTE:  “I don’t feel any pressure trying to do better than Carl Froch.  I have my own style and he has his style.  That was their fight and this is my fight.  I’m going to fight it the way I’m going to fight it and I don’t give myself any additional pressure to do better than him.”

 

How do you respond to some people saying this is the toughest opponent you ever faced while at the same time saying it’s a potential mismatch?

BUTE:  “We sparred together but I know one thing – this fight is going to be hard.  It’s not a mismatch at all.  It’s going to be a hard, tough fight.”

 

Lucian, do you think you match up better with Andre Ward or Carl Froch?

BUTE: “I think I could challenge both fighters, but if you ask me about my style I would love to face Carl Froch.”

 

Glen, in the past few years you’ve been in with the top 168 and 175 pound fighters in the world.  Do you want to go in there and really compete with Lucian or really beat him?

JOHNSON:  “We’re in it to win it.  We’re not about just competing. We’re in it to win it.”

 

Do you see any weaknesses in Bute?

JOHNSON:  “Bute has some weaknesses, we recognize them and we have our game plan and strategy to deal with those things.  I’m not going to say any of those things, but if you watch Nov. 5 on SHOWTIME you’ll see for yourself.”

 

Who do you think you match up better with Andre Ward or Carl Froch?

JOHNSON:  “I would prefer to fight Froch because I want to avenge my loss.  But I think they’re both great fighters and being in the super middleweight division for me is fighting the best fighters.”

 

The world title fight is promoted by Interbox, DiBella Entertainment and Warriors Boxing.

 

Steve Albert will call the action with Al Bernstein and Tarver providing color commentary and Jim Gray serving as ringside reporter.David Dinkins Jr. is the executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports with Ray Smaltz producing and Bob Dunphy directing.   

 

For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go to the SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.

Katajisto, Swierzbinski and Aliyev are new champions for Baltic Boxing Union (BBU)

Posted on | October 25, 2011 | No Comments

Mikko Foudilainen

President of Baltic Boxing Union
—
Baltic Boxing Union
President Mikko Foudilainen
bbu@balticboxingunion.com
www.balticboxingunion.com

Livingston making up for lost time

Posted on | October 25, 2011 | No Comments

NEW YORK (October 25, 2011) – Undefeated middleweight prospect DonYil Livingston, whose cousin is world super middleweight champion Andre Ward, is making up for lost time.   The 27-year-old Livingston (6-0-1, 3 KOs), fighting out of Palmdale, California, was a highly decorated US amateur boxer who was so disillusioned with the politics of boxing that he went on a boxing sabbatical for years before eventually turning pro in 2010 . He had a solid 178-23 (89 KOs) amateur record, including gold medal performances in the National Silver Gloves (1996, 1998 and 2000), National Junior Golden Gloves (1995-2000), 2000 National & International Junior Olympic s, 2001 National Under-19 Tournament, and 2004 Ringside World Championships.   “I got a bad decision in the 2002 Olympic Trials and lost my love for amateur boxing,” DonYil explained. “You can get seriously hurt boxing if you’re not 100-percent into it, so I decided to take time off until I got the desire to turn pro. I stepped away from boxing for 2 ½ years. I got married and became a father. I may have stepped away from boxing but, mentally, I worked on the fundamentals. I honestly believe I have benefitted from my time away from boxing because my body didn’t’ take any punishment. I’m 27, physically speaking, but I don’t feel like a 27-year-old boxer.”   Livingston’s pro career got off to a slow start. He had only two fights in 2010, but signed a promotional contact this year with Boxing 360, and he’s fought five times in 2011.   “We’re very high on DonYil,” Boxing 360 founder/CEO Mario Yagobi noted. “He was a great amateur and has all of the tools to become a champion. Plus, he has good bloodlines with a cousin like Andre Ward.”   “I’m very fortunate to be with Mario,” Livingston said. “He gave me my opportunity. It was very difficult for me to get fights.   I heard every excuse in the book. It was frustrating. I connected with Mario and it’s been a great mix. He’s moved me very well. Mario is getting me the right fights on the right cards. I’m confident that he will continue moving me in the right direction.   “I’m sharp, getting better and prepared to be in the ultimate position – to become champion of the world. All of the hard work takes place in the gym where I show my work ethic.”   DonYil’s pro career hit a slight bump in the road this past August, when he fought a six-round draw with Roberto Yong (4-3). That setback led to his most significant fight as a pro on Oct. 15 versus previously undefeated Kurtiss Colvin (6-0) on the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson undercard at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Livingston made a strong statement, defeating Colvin by way of a six-round decision (59-55, 58-56, 58-56).   “Coming off of a draw,” Livingston concluded, “that was a very significant fight for me. I had to make a statement against an unbeaten- up-and-coming prospect. It was do or die for me, so I had to fight the way I did to win. The draw was a mental check for me. I tended to start fights slowly but I knew I had to change for my last fight.”   Other members of Boxing 360’s stable include IBF World Light Junior Lightweight Champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, USBA heavyweight champion Maurice Sugar Moe” Harris, WBC #4 super bantamweight Leon “Hurry Up” Moore, former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, unbeaten welterweight prospect Vitaliy “Demyan” Demyanenko, WBC Caribbean & NY State super middleweight champion Lennox “2 Sharpe” Allen, Dominican lightweight champion Eudy “AK47” Bernardo, KO king Tyrone Brunson, Nick Casal, Mike Mollo, Joel Diaz Jr., and “King” David Estrada.   Go to www.Boxing360.com for more information about Livingston, Boxing 360 or any of its other fighters as well as scheduled events.

TOP BOXERS MARQUEZ, BRADLEY TO WORK OUT AT SANTA ANITA PARK ON SATURDAY, NOV. 5

Posted on | October 25, 2011 | No Comments

MARQUEZ SET TO FIGHT PACQUIAO NOV. 12 IN LAS VEGAS;

UNDEFEATED BRADLEY TO DEFEND TITLE ON UNDERCARD

 

            ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 22, 2011) — Santa Anita Park and Top Rank Boxing have announced that Juan Manuel Marquez, who is readying for a title fight with world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, will stage a sparring exhibition at Santa Anita Park on Breeders’ Cup Classic Day, Saturday, Nov. 5. 

Marquez will be joined at Santa Anita by undefeated WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley, who will be defending his title on Nov. 12 versus Cuban native Joel Casamayor. 

Marquez and Bradley will each spar (separately) in a track-side ring between races on Saturday afternoon.

Admission to the boxing exhibition will be free, with paid admission. Santa Anita’s admission gates will open early on Nov. 5 at 8 a.m. First live race post time is 10:20 a.m., and the first televised Breeders’ Cup race from Churchill Downs is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.

A boxing ring will be transported from the trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood and will be erected on Santa Anita’s apron adjoining the winner’s circle, earlier in the week.

            Top Rank will provide 10,000 Pacquiao-Marquez III posters, free of charge at Santa Anita on a first-come, first-served basis, and Santa Anita will conduct a drawing for two tickets to Pacquiao-Marquez III in Las Vegas.

“This is great news for Santa Anita and boxing fans throughout Southern California,” said Greg Avioli, the CEO of Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita.“We want to sincerely thank Bob Arum and his team at Top Rank for helping to make this happen. Bob is going to charter a plane to fly Marquez in from Mexico City on the morning of this event, and he’s been very supportive of the whole promotion. The fight has been completely sold out at the MGM for some time now, so to be able to raffle off two tickets is fantastic.

“We will continue to be forward-thinking with regard to our marketing strategy, and we’re going to continue to aggressively pursue new markets and customers.                                                                          

“Marquez is very well known in this area, and we think there’s going to be a lot of interest in seeing both him and Bradley working out, inside the ropes, on the grandstand apron.

            “I know our jockeys are excited about meeting both of these guys and they’re going to be able to use the Jockeys’ Room as their own dressing room. A lot of fight fans are horse racing fans and vice versa, and it should be a lot of fun.”

            Marquez brings a 53-5-1 record with 39 knockouts to his Nov. 12 trilogy showdown with Pacquiao.

            “My fight with Manny Pacquiao is going to be a war,” Marquez said in July.

            Bradley, the current WBO Junior Welterweight Champion, will fight Casamayor on Nov. 12. Bradley, from Palm Springs, has a perfect 27-0 record, with 11 knockouts.  

For weekly fight updates and pay per view information, log onto www.toprank.com.

            The Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to Santa Anita in 2012.  For more information on Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet or to make dining or seating reservations, fans are encouraged to visit www.santaanita.com, or to call (626) 574-RACE.

            Santa Anita’s 24-day Autumn Meet will conclude Nov. 6.

‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson leads New York State Boxing Hall of Fame Inaugural Class of Inductees

Posted on | October 25, 2011 | No Comments

NEW YORK (October 25, 2011) – The newly-founded New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (“NYSBHOF”), sponsored by Ring 8, held a press conference today at famed Gallagher’s Steakhouse in Manhattan to announce its inaugural class of inductees.   The late, great “Sugar” Ray Robinson, arguably the greatest boxer of all-time, leads a star-studded list of 12 boxers and eight non-participants who will be inducted into the NYSBHOF at its inaugural induction dinner, which is tentatively scheduled for next March in New York City.   The inductees include: “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Iron” Mike Tyson, Jake “Bronx Bull” LaMotta, Carmen “Upstate Onion Farmer” Basilio, Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, Mike “Bodysnatcher” McCallum and the late Gene “The Fighting Marine” Tunney, Benny “The Ghetto Wizard” Leonard and Tony Canzoneri.   Non-participant inductees include judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman, coach/instructor Steve Acunto, trainer/cut-man Jimmy Glenn and, posthumously, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer, New York Daily News boxing reporter/cartoonist Bill Gallo, and referee Arthur Mercante, Sr.   “The concept for the New York State Hall of Fame was the idea of one man who had the insight to contact the state, Tony Mazzarella,” Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. “The idea was around for a while and a group of us got together about 14 months and got this going.   “We plan to do this every year. Our first introduction dinner will be at Russo’s On The Bay in March of 2012. We have a wall at Waterfront Crabhouse which will list our Class of 2012 and another at the New York State Athletic Commission. We started this to honor New York fight people.”   The inductees were selected by a six-member NYSBHOF nominating committee comprised of Jack Hirsch, Steve Farhood, Henry Hascup, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Ron McNair and Neil Terens.   All boxers had to be inactive for at least three years and all inductees had to have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their careers.   POST CONFERENCE QUOTES   Tony Mazzarella (NYSBHOF President): “A dream is happening and with your help together we the dream is becoming reality. We are recognizing all who put on the gloves in the state.”   Bob Duffy (Ring 8 President): “We’re all volunteers and moving forward. It all starts with the Nominating Committee. Jack Hirsch stepped forward to lead it. This is a dream for New York fighters and that dream has become a reality. Because of the number of boxing people in New York, we can’t make everybody happy. It would be easier if this was a smaller state. It’s not about being friends of a friend. If you belong, you will be in.”   Jack Hirsch (NYSBHOF Nominating Committee): “It’s good to see so many good people in this business here and I see some future Hall of Famers. This is a celebration more than a press conference. The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame is only for New York people. Selecting was a difficult task and it will be even more difficult in years to come.”   Steve Farhood (NYSBHOF Nominating Committee): I want to thank Ring 8 because without Ring 8 we wouldn’t be here. I have tremendous respect for this organization. It really does take care of its own. This is an extension of that love. When we think of New York State, in terms of boxing, we think of a little place up the street, Madison Square Garden because it’s played such a huge part of boxing. Gleason’s Gym is another shrine. And New York is the media capital of the world. Now, New York hasaa Boxing Hall of Fame and I’m happy to be part of it.”   Henry Haschup (NYSBHOF Nominating Committee): “This is a great honor to be here to announce the first class of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.”   Harold Lederman (Class of 2012 inductee): “This is such an honor for me to be here, an unbelievable honor. What a fabulous idea to form the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. New York has more fighters, better fighters, and is still the Mecca of boxing. It’s such an honor to be in the same class as Sugar Ray Robinson, Tony Canzoneri and Benny Leonard. It’ll get better and better each coming year, bringing people to the forefront for what they did in New York and Madison Square Garden. I’m so honored to be in this first class. I’ve asked myself how did I get in the same class as Sugar Ray Robinson.”   Vito Antuofermo (Class of 2012 inductee): “I’m so glad to be in the first induction class. Me and Jack (Hirsch) go back to the first day I stepped in the ring.”   Jimmy Glynn (Class of 2012 inductee): “I want to thank everybody for being here. God bless and thanks. I had Vito when he first came here (Bronx). I sent him to a gym in Brooklyn where he lived.”

The Fight Nerd Interviews Jim Genia on NY Underground MMA scene

Posted on | October 25, 2011 | No Comments

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