Boxing News Thread

naner12 · Mar 10, 2008

Out of those on the list if D-Hop fights Witter I think his goes next.

Any prospects on that list you're liking 2-0 (or any not on the list)? From those listed I'm liking the way Steve Molitors been looking when he decides to use his slick boxing instead of engaging in slugfests.

I been liking Vanes Martirosyan from the '04 Olympic U.S. team. He isn't all that polished yet but he's been looking better every time I see him fight.

heyzel · Mar 10, 2008

Euro News; Kessler, Diaconu, Krasniqi, More

By Per Ake Persson

French jr. middleweight Christophe Canclaux is still waiting for his shot at the WBA title held by Joachim Alcine, who´s now sidelined with an injury. Canclaux will stay busy with a fight lined up for either March 22 in France or will be on Sauerland´s show in Neubrandenburg on April 12.

Talented Russian jr. welterweight Sergey Sorokin goes for the vacant (Italian Giuseppe Lauri relinquished it) WBC Int´l title on March 11 in Halle/Saale. Opponent is Kanat Kartenbaev from Kazachstan.

EBU flyweight champ Andrea Sarritzu defends against Frenchman Bernard Inom on April 26 in Sassari with OPI 2000 promoting.

Official challenger for newly crowned EBU light heavyweight ruler Yuri Barashian is former WBA king Stipe Drews.

Adrian Diaconu vs. Chris Henry for the WBC interim light heavyweight title will now go ahead on April 19 with site remaining Bucharest. The show was originally scheduled for March 29.

Team Palle´s response - in Danish only at teampalle.dk - to Warrior Boxing´s agressive press release where they claimed that Mikkel Kessler was afraid of facing Edison Miranda is bascially a calm "there are ongoing talks". There´s nothing decided yet on Kessler´s next fight but Team Palle don´t rule out that Miranda could be a future opponent this fall. Stylewise these two shape up well with Miranda´s agression against Kessler´s fine jab and good boxing.

German heavyweight Luan Krasniqi is at the crossroads in his career. First he pulled out of the position as mandatory challenger for the vacant EBU title as there were plans made for a show with WBA champ and stablemate Ruslan Chagaev. As that fight fell through when the WBA didn´t grant Chagaev permission for another voluntary defense Krasniqi must probably stay busy in order to remain in the title picture and perhaps face the winner of Chagev vs. Valuev. Luan have been inactive since losing a WBO eliminator against Tony Thompson in July of last year.

French veteran Alain Simon´s career came to an end this weekend after a stoppage loss to Croatian Drazen Ordulj, a guy Alain stopped back in 2001. Simon was as brave as they come and while not good enough to beat the likes of Aleksander Petkovic, Vincenzo Cantatore or Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, he always gave his all.

Spotlight Boxing promotes in Magdeburg April 19 with middleweight Sebastian Zbik and heavyweight Sebastian Koeber headlining. Slovenian welter Jan Zaveck, mandatory challenger for the EBU title, is also on the bill.

In Metz, France, Ann Sophie Mathis stopped Anna Pascal while cruiserweight Jean Marc Monrose took out German Marco Heinichen in the first round of a final tuneup before challenging EBU champ Johny Jensen

heyzel · Mar 10, 2008

U.S. Future Stars Opening Results

The Opening Day of Competition is Complete at the 2008 U.S. Future Stars National Championship

(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The opening day of U.S. Future Stars National Championship competition moved into evening action on Sunday night at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Welterweight action opened the session with a high-speed match between Errol Spence (Desoto, Texas) and 2007 Junior Olympic National Champion Wesley Padilla (Rock Springs, Wyo.). Errol maintained a quick pace to defeat Padilla, 17-7.

The next match-up featured middleweights Shawn Porter (Stow, Ohio) and Michael Gavronski (North Bend, Wash.). Porter, the 2007 National Golden Gloves champion and Olympic Trials participant, started round one with fast and sharp combinations to give him a lead of 14-1, and went on to win by stoppage in the second round.

The United States Army’s Zacchaeus Hardrick (Fort Carson, Colo.) and Richard Hardgraves (San Francisco, Calif.) faced off in a hotly-contested bout in middleweight action. Hardrick’s agility and quickness won him the bout by decision, 15-8. Other middleweights moving on in the competition were Jesse Hart (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Ramon Valenzuela (Chicago, Ill.), who each won their respective matches by decision.

Light heavyweight Dorian Anthony (Lynwood, Calif.) started his bout strong and never let up in his match-up with Rodney Ellison. He ended the first round with 4-0 edge before taking the bout on a 17-4 final decision. Thomas Williams (Laurel, Md.) and Andrew Hernandez (Phoenix, Ariz.) will advance to the next round as well.
2008 U.S. Future Stars National Championships preliminary action will continue Monday at noon at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with 38 bouts of outstanding competition.

Evening Preliminary Results
152 lbs/69 kg: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas, dec. Wesley Padilla, Rock Springs, Wyo., 17-7
165 lbs/75 kg: Shawn Porter, Stow, Ohio, stopped Michael Gavronski, North Bend, Wash., RSCO-2
165 lbs/75 kg: Zacchaeus Hardrick, Fort Carson, Colo., dec. Richard Hardgraves, San Francisco, Calif., 15-8
165 lbs/75 kg: Jesse Hart, Philadelphia, Pa., dec. Andre Penn, Rapids City, S.D., 13-9
165 lbs/75 kg: Ramon Valenzuela, Chicago, Ill., dec. Chap Huggins, Ft. Worth, Texas, 24-17
178 lbs/81 kg: Thomas Williams, Laurel, Md. dec. Jerry Martin, Norfolk, Va., 14-5
178 lbs/81 kg: Dorian Anthony, Lynwood, Calif., dec. Rodney Ellison, Cheyenne, Wyo., 17-4
178 lbs/81 kg: Andrew Hernandez, Phoenix, Ariz., def. Adam Axelson, Bozeman, Mont.

heyzel · Mar 10, 2008

Juan Diaz: A Potentially Costly Loss

Cliff Rold

Someone should get now former Lightweight titlist Juan Diaz (33-1, 17 KO) Riddick Bowe’s number. Bowe could tell Diaz everything he needs to know about the downside of a manager who aggravates the power brokers of the game. When the belts and victories are piling up, it’s okay but, with a loss, the bill comes due.

Diaz’s bill could be costly.

Diaz’s manager, Willie Savannah, had done an excellent job in boxing terms of maneuvering his young charge. The last eight years had been an excellent example of how to pace a blue-chip prospect through the various testing stages on the way to the upper echelon of the sport. It was a job comparable to the one Rock Newman did for Bowe.

There is though a business side to boxing and Savannah hasn’t made any more friends than Newman did in that arena. While less bombastic and public, Savannah has brokered Diaz’s promotional journey through affiliations with Main Events and Don King Productions. Neither relationship ended with the promoters speaking fondly of Savannah. In getting to Don King, Savannah also sparked a public war of words with a Golden Boy Promotions who thought they had the inside track to signing Diaz a couple of years ago.

Prior to the loss to Nate Campbell on Saturday night, Golden Boy again figured prominently in rumors of Diaz’s promotional future. Were he still undefeated, still in possession of three alphabelts at 135 lbs., he would enter any new promotional relationship with a strong hand. Instead, Diaz may be left playing stud with four cards.

None of this detracts from what the 35-year old Nate Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KO) accomplished on Saturday. With his back against the wall, he delivered a career best performance to wrest the WBA, IBF and WBO titles from around the waist of Diaz. Campbell’s short-term stock will sell high for the remainder of 2008.

The long-term upside remains with Diaz. Only 24, Diaz can be expected to get back in the saddle in short order. That he has to sell his upside off of a loss, and without the leverage of every promoter out there waiting with open arms, has little to do with Diaz.

That is not to say that Savannah burned all bridges.

Newman, after Bowe defeated Evander Holyfield in 1992, took the new champion on a tour of the world and played a role in Riddick dumping his WBC belt in a trash can. Through two soft title defenses against Michael Dokes and Jess Ferguson, that WBC belt looked of little consequence. Then Bowe showed up in less than his best shape and lost his remaining WBA and IBF belts in the Holyfield rematch in 1993. He never contested for anything more than what was then a meaningless WBO belt again.

This is one area where Savannah hasn’t left behind known bad feelings. Diaz made his mandatories and paid his fees. A couple wins, under anyone’s promotional banner, and Diaz can be in position to do some belt collecting again in short order. Also like Newman, Savannah is to be applauded for making sure his man made the best money he could get him; that is the difference between amateur and prize fighting after all. However, Diaz’s life will be easier if he’s operating under a power banner and there are only a few of those with the access to top Lightweights that Diaz will need.

If Diaz is to go to Golden Boy, how bad were their feelings when they missed Juan the first time through? That’s a question that will be important to follow. Will Bob Arum, who hasn’t had regular dealings with Diaz and Savannah, see his upside and ignore the past grievances of his brethren? And, given the quality of the action on Saturday, would Don King be willing to work with Diaz again for a Campbell rematch?

In terms of sport, one loss shouldn’t mean too much. It’s the nature of competition and the law of averages dictating that it’s not anyone’s day every day. Still, some losses come at worse times than others; some come with a higher price than others. Willie Savannah has played hardball for his charge over the years. That was his job. Now we find out how Team Diaz handles the hardballs that come firing back

heyzel · Mar 10, 2008

Eric Gomez High on Gerry Penalosa

PENALOSA IS INCREDIBLE/Ronnie Nathanielsz

Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez describes WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa as “incredible.”

Gomez made the statement in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard after a visit to Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym where he watched Penalosa train for his mandatory defense against former foe Ratanachai Sor Vorapin, the former world champion who had lost the title to Mexico's Jhonny Gonzalez, the fighter from whom Penalosa won the crown. Vorapin has a record of 72-9 ith 48 knockouts.

Gomez noted “Penalosa is older than I am but he is just in tremendous shape all the time and he was beating up some young kids at the gym.” Penalosa is 35.

Gomez said the sparring partners belonged to a group of young fighters that Roach has in his gym and he was sparring with lefties because Vorapin is a southpaw and is “also looking very, very good.”

The Penalosa-Vorapin world title fight will be staged by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN in cooperation with Golden Boy Promotions and the ALA Gym whose two young stars AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Rey” Boom Boom” Bautista will be featured on the undercard in what may well be career-defining fights.

The undefeated Banal (16-0, 13 KO’s) battles unbeaten WBC Latino super flyweight champion Caril Herrera (21-0, 13 KO’) while Bautista (24-1, 17 KO’s) defends his WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title against Genargo Camargo who has a record of 16-3 with 10 knockouts.

Penalosa has been training for some time now at the Wild Card Gym in preparation for a defense of the title he won by a sensational one-punch knockout over Jhonny Gonzalez in the Philippines-Mexico World Cup of boxing in Sacramento last August. The Philippines won the showdown 5-1.

heyzel · Mar 10, 2008

Spadafora Making a Welterweight Return

ERIE, PENN. - Michael Acri Boxing Promotions presents the 2008 debut of undefeated former IBF lightweight champion "The Pittsburgh Kid" PAUL SPADAFORA. Returning to the ring for the first time in over a year, Spadafora (40-0-1), fighting in a 10-round welterweight bout against an opponent to be named shortly, headlines a six-bout card at The Avalon Hotel in Erie, PA (16 West 10th Street) on Sunday, April 6, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Tickets, priced at $60 (Golden Ringside), $40 (Ringside), and $20 (General Admission), go on sale This Monday! March 10, and can be purchased at the Avalon Hotel, Dee's Cigar Store, Pony Express (1903 W. 8th St.) and Ringside Restaurant.

Spadafora, 31, resumes his career after spending 75 days over the past summer in protective custody for parole violation accusations that were ultimately rescinded. A variety of nagging physical ailments, including an inner ear infection and a training camp knee injury, further postponed his return to the ring. In his last bout, he won a 10-round junior welterweight decision over rugged Irish champion Osin Fagan, ending his two-year, 11-bout winning streak. on March 9, 2007.

"It has been a rough year but that I 'm in tremendous shape and look forward to doing what I love most, and that's boxing," said Spadafora. "I appreciate the support I received from fans throughout the world, which was a pleasant surprise to me."

Spadafora captured the IBF world lightweight title in 1999, upsetting the heavily-favored Israel Cardona via a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision. After successfully defending his world championship crown eight times during his four-year reign, he vacated the title to move up in weight.

The card will also feature Cincinnati super middleweight Stephan Pryor (10-3-1), Erie heavyweight Rocky Mullooly (2-1), Pittsburgh middleweight Chris Archer (9-2), and the pro debut of heavyweight Andres Taylor from Johnstown, PA.

2-0-Sixx · Mar 10, 2008

naner12 said:

Gamboa.

I like the Peterson brothers too. I think they're both steppin up a bit and look good, very promising.

I kinda like Andy Lee, boxing out of Kronk gym, although I haven't seen too much of him but from what I have seen he seems like a technically sound fighter, plus he has that long body frame.

Daniel Jacobs from what I hear is very talented, only had a couple pro fights though, seen him on youtube.

Ronald Hearns, son of Tommy Hearns. I just saw him fight not long ago I think on the pavlik/taylor undercard. I dunno much about him, but I like him.

And James Kirkland is a personal fav, mostly because I think he's very entertaining to watch and packs a lot of power. I could see him competing at a very high level (not necessarily being elite, just competing). He actually might be the least talented, but still, fun to watch.

Yep I agree, he's lookin good

naner12 · Mar 10, 2008

2-0-Sixx said:

Kirklands fight with Allen Conyers was the shit for a fight that didn't even last a round. They both floored each other and Kirkland stops him in the same round.

2-0-Sixx · Mar 11, 2008

Boxing legend Oscar "The Golden Boy" de la Hoya (L) and former IBF and USBA Super Featherweight titleholder Steve Forbes attend a press conference in New York February 28, 2008. Oscar first addressed the crowd by singing the lyrics, "Dont cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me ." Steve Forbes, visually shaken by the comments, whispered, "No Homo" into the mic. The World Championship fight is set to take place May 3, 2008 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. De la Hoya also announced he will retire from boxing at the end of the year to peruse a career as a lingerie model. AFP PHOTO/TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

ChuckTaylor84 · Mar 11, 2008

lmfao wtf

heyzel · Mar 11, 2008

WINKY OFFERS PAVLIK $4 MILLION, BUT DOES ANYONE CARE?

According to recent reports, former jr. middleweight champion Winky Wright has come on record to state that Golden Boy Promotions, in conjunction with Winky Promotions, has offered middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik a career-high $4 million payday for a potential showdown this summer...and they're willing to face him in his own backyard. read more
http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2178.html?PHPSESSID=610b35a61e0f4ace6464f35b3215bf84

heyzel · Mar 11, 2008

Roy Jones Jr. To Face Markus Beyer Next?

Great honour for Munich’s boxing fans and especially for three-time WBC super middleweight champion Markus Beyer who takes on Murat Mahmudov on March 14th in Munich after one and a half years of ring absence! Superstar Roy Jones, jr. is planning to come from Pensacola to Bavaria to watch Beyer who might be Jones’ next opponent.

In the past all attempts have failed to bring the “best boxer in the world” to Germany. Now it seems as if Jones, jr. is actually coming – ARENA-CEO Ahmet Öner made it happen!

Markus Beyer (34-3-1, 13 KOs) is very proud and excited about the possibility to fight the former world middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight champion who unified seven championship belts in 2001.

Beyer: “If two great fighters and former champions come together for a big fight that always means big money!”

ARENA-CEO Ahmet Öner: “If we can make it and agree on deal I will do all I can to make the fight in Gemany

heyzel · Mar 11, 2008

Quintana Ready To Halt Margarito's Plan

By Mark Vester

Last week, Antonio Margarito presented his master plan - a road to beating all of the Puerto Rican champions in the welterweight division. Margarito takes on IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron on April 12 in Atlantic City. The winner will face WBA champion Miguel Cotto in either June or July. If Margarito gets past both opponents, he will target the last man standing, WBO champion Carlos Quintana.

Quintana is not convinced that Margarito will get to him, but if he does - Quintana is ready to prevent the possibility of a sweep.

"Margarito said that he's going to beat Kermit Cintron in order to fight Miguel Cotto, win that fight and then go after me," Quintana told El Nuevo Dia. "I think it's going to be very difficult. I think Cintron will provide a very hard test for Margarito. Most believe that because Margarito beat him once, the same thing will happen again. But, I understand that Cintron is very motivated for this fight and he's got a big opportunity if he wins. If Margarito does win, a fight with Cotto will be even harder."

"Margarito had the opportunity to fight me, but he took another route. Why is he talking about me now? He is my mandatory, but he passed on the title shot to position himself for Cotto because he knows that he can't beat me. Margarito does not want to fight me. He's always had problems with left-handed fighters. If he comes, he'll get it, but I don't think he wants it."

heyzel · Mar 11, 2008

Danny Williams Backs "Heavyweight" David Haye

By Mark Vester

UK heavyweight Danny Williams is backing WBO/WBC/WBA cruiserweight champion David Haye to become a major player in the heavyweight division.

After last Saturday's knockout of Enzo Maccarinelli in two-rounds, Haye made it clear that he was moving up in weight to the heavyweight ranks. Williams has sparred with Haye in the past and was very impressed with his punching power. While most say that Haye has a suspect chin, Williams does not agree.

"Once David has put on the extra weight he will be punching even harder than Wladimir Klitschko. I've sparred with him a million times and I have hardly ever been hit so hard," Williams told Daily Mail. "I was immensely impressed and I can see this move up to heavyweight as the start of the next big thing for British boxing. I'd put him in with any of the champions tomorrow and I think he'd beat them all."

"David's level of improvement has been colossal and every time you see him he looks even better. People question his chin but I've hit it often enough in sparring and he hasn't gone anywhere

heyzel · Mar 11, 2008

The Baby Bull Goes Back to School

By Dave Sholler

It happens every year. Thousands of college graduates flood the job market, hungry and ready to make a buck. Although their flashy degrees cost nearly six figures, most workplace rookies are welcomed with woeful starting salaries. If low pay isn’t enough of a horse pill to swallow, a good percentage of these rooks must deal with older, more traveled co-workers who see their arrival as unneeded competition in an already crowded marketplace. Underpaid and hardly appreciated, many workplace babies come to wonder if a fifth or sixth year of college could have been more rewarding.

Lightweight boxer Juan Diaz hasn’t graduated college yet, but the 24-year-old is among a miniscule group of soon-to-be degree holders that thought they would not have to deal with the entry-level hassle. Since kicking off his pro career in 2000, Diaz has blown through opponents with relative ease. As his record ballooned, so did the hype surrounding the young man affectionately known as “Baby Bull.” For that reason, visions of future fights with Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz surely danced in the Houston native’s head, and the thoughts of hefty paydays made his handlers salivate.

However, last Saturday night, Juan Diaz got an unsettling dose of reality. Defending his titles against 36-year-old Nate Campbell, Diaz found himself on the wrong end of a split decision for the first time in his career. Outworked by a savvy industry veteran, Diaz lost to a seasoned fighter destined to win by any means necessary. Despite competing in a fight that would seemingly favor his own style, Diaz got bombed by Campbell at close range and ended up bloodied and bruised. Simply put, Campbell’s years of service proved to be the ultimate edge. For each ounce of youthful exuberance Diaz exerted, Campbell responded with calculated measures that oozed experience.

While the loss was physically and emotionally draining, the days leading up to the fight served as perhaps a precursor to the lesson Diaz was bound to learn on the second weekend of March. Entrenched in a management squabble, Diaz found himself in the unenviable position of preparing for a fight inside and outside the ring. Before he could even entertain the notion of Nate Campbell, Diaz – whether he realized it or not – was distracted by the Don King vs. Willie Savannah managerial mega bout. The fact that his future rested in the hands of two men who wanted nothing to do with one another was undoubtedly playing in Diaz’s mind. An intelligent, bright young man, Diaz knew he needed proper management. The fact that it was the source of much contention certainly became an unnecessary distraction in training camp. Fighters need mental clarity leading up to a fight and one must wonder if Diaz had the chance to get his mind “right.”

As he licks the wounds associated with his first loss, Diaz should take the defeat as a beneficial tutorial. Thanks to Campbell, Diaz discovered that there are still many valuable intangibles a young boxer should strive to learn. Other lessons not contained in textbooks or term papers were taught as well. For example, Diaz learned that sometimes you can fight your fight and still lose. He also saw that for every raging bull there is matador versed in reflex know-how.

Outside the ring, Diaz witnessed the cutthroat business dealings that plague the sport. Like a baby playing near an ignited stovetop, the 24-year-old unfortunately got burned. He’ll learn to keeps his friends close and his enemies closer though. He’ll learn that there are no management standoffs if you don’t first win in the ring. And he’ll become skilled in the art of deciphering managers who care and those who don’t.

In the months to come, Juan Diaz will graduate from college. Even with a diploma in hand, Diaz proved last Saturday that in the future he’ll need more than a college degree to survive in boxing.

Stiff Jabs

JAB ONE: I’ve forever criticized Sam Peter for his lack of progress. Against Oleg Maskaev, Peter finally appeared to have turned a corner. The “Nigerian Nightmare” established a nice pace for himself and looked poised. For the first time, Sam’s upper body worked in coordination with his lower half and as a result, Sam got off from different angles. Overall, Peter appears to be finding himself in the ring and it’s nice to see.

DOUBLE JAB: Kudos to HBO’s Emanuel Steward for pointing out that Sam Peter does not hit opponents on the back of the head intentionally. It doesn’t take much to see that Sam throws some wild, rangy shots that end up misplaced on the back of his foe’s skull. It doesn’t negate the fact that the shots are illegal, but Steward accurately assessed Peter’s unusual tendency.

TRIPLE JAB: Shame on Jose Luis Castillo. For what feels like the 300th time, the once-admired combatant failed to make weight. If he wanted to fight sluggishly, he should have signed up to fight heavyweights John Ruiz or Jameel McCline.

PARTING SHOT: Former king of the four-rounder Eric “Butterbean” Esch will be in my hometown of Atlantic City, NJ in the coming weeks to promote Yamma Pit Fighting, a new MMA organization founded by the original owner of the UFC. Maybe I can convince him to fight Kimbo Slice, as I suggested in my column last month. Anything’s better than Ken Shamrock, right?

heyzel · Mar 11, 2008

U.S. Future Stars Day 2 Results, Day 3 Bouts

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Thirty-four bouts were contested Monday night at the 2008 U.S. Future Stars National Championship at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, concluding the busiest day of the week-long tournament with some high-caliber matches.

In an eagerly-anticipated early round match-up in the middleweight (165 lbs) division, Luis Arias (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Dominic Wade (Largo, Md.) squared off in a contest that could easily have been mistaken for a championship round match. After Wade jumped out to an early lead, Arias adjusted to take the advantage at the close of the first round, 7-5. From there, Arias would never relinquish the lead, using a strong third round (6-1) to expand his lead and win by decision, 19-12.

Arias said after the match that he had a gameplan going in, and his ability to execute it led to his victory.

"I know he's good and I know his rep," Arias said of Wade. "I needed to just stay with him and gradually pick him apart. I just kept my hands up and made sure I had some power."

Another highlight-worthy match-up in the middleweight division featured 2007 Golden Gloves Champion Shawn Porter (Stow, Ohio) taking on Zach Hardrick (Ft. Carson, Colo.) in a stark contrast of styles. Porter, at 5-foot-8, was able to use his explosive power and quickness to get inside on the 6-foot-4 Hardrick and grabbed an early 9-2 lead after one round. After a relatively quiet round in the second, Porter came back with more impressive flurries in the third, and the official stopped the contest.

Porter said the match-up played right into his strengths.

"I'm a fast-paced fighter," Porter said. "Anybody who fights me knows that if they take me four rounds it's going to be a hard four rounds. That's just how I fight."

The Porter-Hardrick match was immediately followed up by an impressive fourth-round comeback effort in the heavyweight (201 lbs) division. Craig Lewis (Detroit, Mich.), on the back of a six-point third round, held a commanding 11-5 lead over the U.S. Army's Joe Guzman (Ft. Carson, Colo.) heading into the final round. Guzman would make a furious comeback in the fourth and, behind a supportive crowd that included several boxers from the U.S. Navy, took the lead briefly before Lewis landed a late shot to tie the score at 13 at the end of the fourth, forcing a split decision. The decision went to Lewis, who advanced to Tuesday's quarterfinals.

"I didn't know I was behind until I felt the tension coming out of the corner, and something just told me that I had to land a great shot," Lewis said.

Action resumes Tuesday with men's and women's quarterfinal action at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The afternoon session begins at noon local time, with the evening session starting at 6:00 p.m.

Preliminary Round Results

112 lbs/51 kg: Bruno Escalante, Waimanalo, Hawaii dec. Terail Singlton, St. Louis, Mo., 15-7
112 lbs/51 kg: Adam Lopez, San Antonio, Texas dec. Louie Padilla, Las Vegas, Nev., 12-8
125 lbs/57 kg: Lesley Walker, Las Vegas, Nev. dec. Rosey Summerville, Sumter, S.C., 8-3
125 lbs/57 kg: Glenn Dezurn, Baltimore, Md. stopped David Green, Monroe, La., RSC-1
125 lbs/57 kg: Mercedes Manriguez, Houston, Texas dec. Alexis Ramon, Fort Carson, Colo. – Army, 9-8
125 lbs/57 kg: Nicholas Chin, Port St. Lucie, Fla. dec. Lean Gumboc, Wailuku, Hawaii, 31-15
125 lbs/57 kg: Derrick Murray, St. Louis, Mo. stopped Ryan Schmidt, Grand Rapids, Mich., RSC-4
125 lbs/57 kg: Guy Robb Jr., Sacramento, Calif. dec. Vincent Montoya, Cheyenne, Wyo., 15-13
125 lbs/57 kg: Robert Rodriguez, Evans Colo. dec. Amir Iman, Albany, N.Y., 16-9
125 lbs/57 kg: Andre Ramirez, Camp Lejeune, N.C. - USMC dec. Jesse Carnell, Jerome, Idaho, 22-12
141 lbs/64 kg: Jared Robinson, Sumpter, S.C. stopped Ryan Soft, McLaughlin, S.D., RSC-3
141 lbs/64 kg: Daniel O'Conner, Framingham, Mass. dec. Michael Brooks, Oceanside, N.Y., 7-0
141 lbs/64 kg: Oscar Soto, St. Paul, Minn. dec. Juan Ulloa, Bend, Ore., 22-11
141 lbs/64 kg: Charles Watson, Johnson City, Tenn. stopped Earl Fitts, Wailuku, Hawaii, RSC-2
141 lbs/64 kg: Emmanual Taylor, Edgewood, Md. dec. Ronnie Reams, Colorado Springs, Colo., 20-13
141 lbs/64 kg: Jeff Strum, Wichita, Kansas dec. Termaine Woodward, Marquette, Mich. - NMU, 11-6
141 lbs/64 kg: Adrian Granados, North Riverside, Ill. dec. Luis Mora, Los Angeles, Calif., 18-8
165 lbs/75 kg: Jesse Hart, Philadelphia, Pa. dec. Ramon Valenzuela, Chicago, Ill., 26-2
165 lbs/75 kg: Shawn Porter, Stow, Ohio stopped Zach Hardrick. Fort Carson, Colo. - Army, RSC-3
165 lbs/75 kg: Christopher Chapman, San Diego, Calif. dec. Jesse Correa, Albuquerque, N.M., 15-14
165 lbs/75 kg: Aleem Whitfield, Geneva, N.Y. dec. Dennis Douglin, Morganville, N.J., 11-9
165 lbs/75 kg: Cerresso Fort, St. Paul, Minn. dec. Keande Leatherwood, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 11-10
165 lbs/75 kg: James Taylor, San Diego, Calif. - Navy dec. Joe Strong, Midwest City, Okla., 18-4
165 lbs/75 kg: Luis Arias, Milwuakee Wis. dec. Dominic Wade, Largo, Md. 19-12
165 lbs/75 kg: Lamar Russ, Fayettville, N.C. dec. Jonothan Culbertson, Camp Lejeune, N.C. - USMC, 20-5
201 lbs/91 kg: Donnavan Dennis, Davenport, Iowa stopped David Thompson, Brooklyn, N.Y., RSC-4
201 lbs/91 kg: James Thomas, San Diego, Calif. dec. Joey Dawejko, Philadelphia, Pa., 12-10
201 lbs/91 kg: Michael Bissett, Smyrna, Tenn. stopped Sifou Sua, Murray, Utah, RSC-2
201 lbs/91 kg: Akeem Holland, Fairfield, Calif. dec. James Sterling - Air Force, 33-4
201 lbs/91 kg: Paul Koon, Philadelphia, Pa. dec. Yuwshua Zadok, Atlanta, Ga., 19-18
201 lbs/91 kg: Craig Lewis, Detroit, Mich. Dec. Joe Guzman, Fort Carson, Colo. – Army, +13-13
201 lbs/91 kg: Craig Baker, Baytown Texas stopped David Imoesiri, Seattle, Wash., RSC-3, 1:36
201 lbs/91 kg: Jeremiah Graziano, Lenexa, Kansas stopped Jerome Amato, Camp Lejeune, N.C. - USMC, RSC-2, 1:57

TUESDAY, MARCH 11TH, QUARTERFINAL BOUT SHEETS

Noon Session

Ring 1
Bout 1: 106 lbs/48 kg: Malcolm Franklin, Colorado Springs, Colo. vs. Stephen Young, St. Louis, Mo.
Bout 2: 106 lbs/48 kg: Fabian Cervantes, Ableta, Calif.. vs. Keola McKee, Wailuku, Hawaii
Bout 3: 119 lbs/54 kg: Teddy Padilla, Santa Ana, Calif. vs. Antonio Nieves, Cleveland, Ohio
Bout 4: 132 lbs/female: Camille Currie, Brooklyn, N.Y. vs. Katonya Fisher, Bakersville, Calif.
Bout 5: 132 lbs/60 kg: Miguel Gonzales, Cleveland, Ohio vs. Duran Caferro, Helena, Mon.
Bout 6: 132 lbs/60 kg: Brett Simmons, East Cleveland, Ohio vs. Fidel Maldonado, Albaquerque, N.M
Bout 7: 138 lbs/female: Triva Pino, Honolulu, Hawaii vs. Ishika Lay, Jacksonville, Fla.
Bout 8: 152 lbs/69 kg: Greg Carter, Waterbury, Conn. vs. Joshua Gomez, El Paso, Texas
Bout 9: 154 lbs/female: Dequesa Martinez, Denver, Colo. vs. Bambi Manzo, Baytown, Texas
Bout 10: 178 lbs/81 kg: DeRae Crane, Marquette, Mich. vs. Lionell Thompson
Bout 11: 178 lbs/81 kg: Thomas Williams, Laurel, Md. vs. Dorian Anthony, Lynwood, Calif.
Bout 12: 201+ lbs/91+ kg: Tor Hamer, New York, N.Y. vs. James Medlock, Country Club Hills, Ill.

Ring 2
Bout 1: 106 lbs/48 kg: Louie Byrd, Denver, Colo. vs. Hector Torres, New Haven, Conn.
Bout 2: 119 lbs/54 kg: Roman Morales, San Ardo, Calif. vs. Aaron Loya, St. Louis, Mo.
Bout 3: 119 lbs/54 kg: Paul Romero, Phoenix, Ariz vs. Shawn Nichol, Lakewood, Colo.
Bout 4: 132 lbs/female: Caroline Barry, Colorado Springs, Colo. vs. Stephanie Han, El Paso, Texas
Bout 5: 132 lbs/60 kg: Eric Altamirano, Concord, Calif. vs. Jesse Carradine, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bout 6: 138 lbs/female: Jessica Owens, Norfolk, Va. vs. Kimberly Rose, San Diego, Calif.
Bout 7: 152 lbs/69 kg: Jose Elizondo, Carson, Nev. vs. Jovante Starks, Maples, Minn.
Bout 8: 152 lbs/69 kg: Leandre White, Detroit, Mich. vs. Errol Spence, Desota, Texas
Bout 9: 154 lbs/female: Heather Hartman, Hayward, Calif. vs. Lisa Kuronya, Portland, Mass.
Bout 10: 178 lbs/81 kg: Michael Faulk, St. Paul, Minn. vs. Kelly Buchanan, Corsicana, Texas
Bout 12: 201+ lbs/91+ kg: Alex Rivera, Coachella, Calif. vs. Tor Hamer, New York, N.Y.
Bout 13: 201+ lbs/91+ kg: Andrew Shepard, Fort Carson, Colo. – Army vs. Tavon Sol, Baltimore, Md

Ring 3
Bout 1: 106 lbs/48 kg: Sergio Ramirez, Omaha, Neb. vs. Gino Padilla, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bout 2: 119 lbs/54 kg: Ronny Rios, Santa Ana, Calif. vs. Jerry Guevara, Brownsville, Texas
Bout 3: 132 lbs/female: Liz Leddy, Portland, Maine vs. Jessica Chambers, Tacoma, Wash.
Bout 4: 132 lbs/female: Sarah Schmadl, Marinette, Wis. vs. Althea Saunders, Atlantic City, N.J.
Bout 5: 132 lbs/60 kg: Shemuel Pagan, Brooklyn, N.Y. vs. Eric Fowler, Montgomery, Texas
Bout 6: 138 lbs/female: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash. vs. Crystal Wortman, Panama City, Fla.
Bout 7: 152 lbs/69 kg: Jeremiah Wiggins, Newport News, Va. vs. Anthony Campbell, Covington, Tenn.
Bout 8: 154 lbs/female: Grace Parks, Bellingham, Wash. vs. Tia Daniels, Palm Bay, Fla.
Bout 9: 154 lbs/female: Maria Torres, Norfolk, Neb. vs. Franchon Crews, Capitol Heights, Md.
Bout 10: 178 lbs/81 kg: Jeffery Spencer, Fort Carson, Colo. – Army vs. Jeff Page, Andover, Kansas
Bout 11: 201+ lbs/91+ kg: Lester King, Lacey, Wash. vs. Lenroy Thompson, Port. St. Lucie, Fla.

Evening Session

Ring 1
Bout 1: 112 lbs/51 kg: Michael Ruiz, Fresno, Calif. vs. Mike Herrera, Arroyo Seco, N.M.
Bout 2: 112 lbs/51 kg: Bruno Escalante, Waimanalo, Hawaii vs. Adam Lopez, San Antonio, Texas
Bout 3: 125 lbs/57 kg: Robert Rodriguez, Evans Colo. vs. Andre Ramirez, Camp Lejeune, N.C. – USMC
Bout 4: 125 lbs/female: Jody-Ann Weller, Pomona, N.Y. vs. Patricia Manuel, Garden, Calif.
Bout 5: 125 lbs/female: Ashley Barnett, Cleveland, Ohio vs. Alexandria Cardenas, San Angelo, Texas
Bout 6: 141 lbs/64 kg: Jeff Strum, Wichita, Kansas vs. Jared Robinson, Sumter, N.C.
Bout 7: 141 lbs/female: Jackie Peterson, Vancouver, Wash. vs. Nakisha Copeland, Aiken, S.C.
Bout 8: 165 lbs/75 kg: Lamar Russ, Fayetteville, N.C. vs. Christopher Chapman, San Diego, Calif.
Bout 9: 201 lbs/91 kg: Jeremiah Graziano, Lenexa, Kansas vs. Craig Lewis, Detroit, Mich.
Bout 10: 201 lbs/91 kg: Paul Koon, Philadelphia, Pa. vs. Donnavan Dennis, Davenport, Iowa

Ring 2
Bout 1: 112 lbs/51 kg: Randy Caballero, Coachella, Calif. vs. Johnny Determan, Omaha, Neb.
Bout 2: 119 lbs/female: Latonya King, Warren, Mich. vs. Raelene Pineda, San Bernardino, Calif.
Bout 3: 125 lbs/57 kg: Mercedes Manriquez, Houston, Texas vs. Nicholas Chin, Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Bout 4: 125 lbs/female: Diedra Rhodes, St. Louis, Mo. vs. Victoria Munoz-Cardoza, Dallas, Texas
Bout 5: 141 lbs/64 kg: Emanuel Taylor, Edgewood, Md. vs. Adrian Granados, North Riverside, Ill.
Bout 6: 141 lbs/64 kg: Jamal James, Minneapolis, Minn. vs. Dan O'Conner, Framington, Mass.
Bout 7: 145 lbs/female: Jennifer Fenn-Wolfe, Austin, Texas vs. Brittany Inkrote, Red Lion, Pa.
Bout 8: 165 lbs/75 kg: Aleem Whitfield, Geneva, N.Y. vs. Cerresso Fort, St. Paul, Minn.
Bout 9: 201 lbs/91 kg: Akeem Holland, Fairfield, Calif. vs. Craig Barker, Baytown, Texas

Ring 3
Bout 1: 112 lbs/51 kg: Danny Lozano, Bowling Green, Fla. vs. Raul Lopez, Bronx, N.Y.
Bout 2: 125 lbs/57 kg: Derrick Murray, St. Louis, Mo. vs. Guy Robb, Sacramento, Calif.
Bout 3: 125 lbs/57 kg: Glenn Dezurn, Baltimore, Md. vs. Lesley Walker, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bout 4: 125 lbs/female: Cherrie Moyer, Garden City, N.Y. vs. Carmen Montes, Oxnard, Calif.
Bout 5: 141 lbs/64 kg: Oscar Soto, St. Paul, Minn. vs. Charles Watson, Johnson City, Tenn.
Bout 6: 145 lbs/female: Christina Swanson, Hollywood, Fla. vs. Suzana Rodriguez, Plymouth, Ind.
Bout 7: 165 lbs/75 kg: James Taylor, San Diego, Calif. - Navy vs. Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis.
Bout 8: 165 lbs/75 kg: Shawn Porter, Stow, Ohio vs. Jesse Hart, Philadelphia, Pa.
Bout 9: 201 lbs/91 kg: Michael Bissett, Smyna, Tenn. vs. Joey Dawejko, Philadelphia, Pa.

heyzel · Mar 11, 2008

Mundine, Soliman Prepare For Trilogy Bout

By Mark Vester

Most Australian fans are against it, but the fight will go on. WBA "regular" super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine will collide with Sam Soliman for the third time. The fight is scheduled for a May date in Melbourne.

Mundine already holds two wins over Soliman. A controversial split-decision win in 2001, and a ninth-round knockout to win the vacant WBA title last March. Soliman revived his career after a successful run on the boxing reality show "The Contender."

Mundine hopes the trilogy bout with Soliman will lead to a rematch with rival Danny Green, who currently holds the WBA light heavyweight title. Mundine holds a decision win over Green, but their fight was one of the most lucrative in Australian boxing history and most predict the rematch will do bigger business

2-0-Sixx · Mar 11, 2008

heyzel said:

According to recent reports, former jr. middleweight champion Winky Wright has come on record to state that Golden Boy Promotions, in conjunction with Winky Promotions, has offered middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik a career-high $4 million payday for a potential showdown this summer...and they're willing to face him in his own backyard. read more
http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2178.html?PHPSESSID=610b35a61e0f4ace6464f35b3215bf84

**crickets**

heyzel · Mar 12, 2008

David Diaz Heads Off To Las Vegas

CHICAGO, IL - World Boxing Council Lightweight Champion David Diaz broke camp today to travel to Las Vegas, NV in anticipation of his non-title ten round bout against Ramon Montano set for this Saturday night, March 15th at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Speaking after his last workout at JABB Boxing Gym, Diaz said “We’ve had a terrific camp, excellent sparring, and great conditioning. Strick and Mike (co-trainers Jim Strickland and Mike Garcia) put together a fantastic plan for me while we’ve been in Chicago, now it’s time to take care of the fight.”

About the fight being in Las Vegas, Diaz stated “It’s all business for me. This is no vacation at all. We’ve got some family and friends coming to the fight in Las Vegas and I’m sure a lot of Chicago fight fans will tune in to watch.” He also wanted to remind fans that his fight will be the first of the broadcast.

The Diaz/Montano battle will open the HBO Pay-Per View telecast of Marquez-Pacquiao II - UNFINISHED BUSINESS on March 15th at 8pm Chicago time.

Promoted by Top Rank Inc. and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Romanza Boxing Productions and MP Promotions, Marquez-Pacquiao II will take place Saturday, March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

heyzel · Mar 12, 2008

Fernando Guerrero: “I’m Gonna’ Spice it Up

By Cliff Rold

Every fighter was a kid once. It’s easy to forget that sometimes. We see them at the heights of the blood sport they have chosen as their trade, at the height of controlled masculine rage. The children they were are of little concern. Boxing fans tune in to witness the men they have become.

They were kids though, once, full of hopes, dreams, and anxieties. Often, that gamut of emotions is more pronounced for fighters. What other reason could there be to choose such a profession, to sacrifice, to suffer? They choose because they saw that someone else like them, someone with similar background and aspiration, is living in the big house on the big side of town, soaking in the cheers of the fickle but adoring mob. The bumps and bruises aren’t expensive in contrast.

When you meet 21-year old Middleweight prospect Fernando Guerrero (3-0, 3 KO) of Fruitland, Maryland, his soft spoken nature and humility could lead one to believe that there is a lot of the child left in him. Before he would agree to be interviewed, he asked that it first, “please,” be okayed with his coach. Beneath that demeanor, the fighter is there.

Guerrero, a 5’9 southpaw boxer-puncher, isn’t a household name in boxing circles just yet, but he might have the talent to become one. Born in the Dominican Republic, he’s grown up in the United States for the last sixteen years. The coach, Hal Chernoff, certainly sees big potential in a young man he’s been with since the amateurs. “He crushes. He’s very strong from head to toe; his core is strong. He’s got fast-twitch muscles and he uses his whole body when he punches; great technique and alignment. He just puts the whole thing together.” Chernoff showed enthusiasm when describing the move to the paid ranks. “From the time he started in the amateurs, all anyone’s ever said is this kid is gonna’ be a much better pro than an amateur.”

The amateur career wasn’t too bad. The 2007 U.S. National champion at 165 lbs., Guerrero fell just short of punching a ticket to the 2008 games in Beijing. He faced Shawn Porter, the young man he defeated on June 8, 2007 to become national champion, in the semi-final round of the Olympic trials. August 22nd turned out to be a different day, in calendar and form, with Porter advancing by a narrow 22-19 margin. Guerrero had lost a competitive decision earlier in the trials to eventual Olympian Shawn Estrada.

For a young fighter, the death of the Olympic dream is the birth of the another, maybe the one that really mattered all along. After all, no one ever bought the big house with a medal. Chernoff was reflective about the loss at the Trials. “In the amateurs, anything can happen on any given night. You’re fighting five times in a row. It’s a double elimination bout. There are different styles. All you have is a very little margin for making a mistake and that given night he wasn’t able to outpoint his opponent, so we put him in the pros.”

Turning pro seems to suit the Guerrero just fine. “My first pro fight, it took me a little bit (to warm up). I was excited, so I knocked him out in the second round. I just recently had my second pro fight and knocked him out with the first punch I threw.” From someone else, it might have sounded like bragging, but Guerrero stated the facts directly. That was the way it happened, nothing more or less. He knows the road yet to travel. “I haven’t been hit yet. I still feel like an amateur.”

Both Guerrero and Chernoff are looking to keep an active schedule. Since that first pro fight on December 8, 2007 against Derrick Douglas, Guerrero has stopped Anthony Reese (January 26, 2008) and Anthony Adams (March 1st). All three bouts were at the Fitzgerlad’s Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.

“My manager told me I’m fighting every month.” Guerrero stated. Chernoff knows how he’d like to see those fights develop. “When we went into this contract with Prize Fight Boxing,” based in Mississippi, they also promote the Peterson brothers, Lamont and Anthony, “we wanted to make sure we could get him 8, 9 10 fights in his first year. About the same in his second year. We’d like to see him pretty close to 20-0 by the end of his second year. Then we can settle down a little bit, pick our opponents more carefully, spread the fights out a little bit more, and start getting serious about stepping up into those ratings a little bit.”

Guerrero understands what strengths he brings to this development strategy. “I have speed. I have power in both hands. I’m a counter puncher when I need to be and a boxer when I need to be.” He’s ready to apply those tools to the future he desires. “If I keep this up, I’m gonna’ become a World champion. Nothing less.”

The kid in him comes out when he talks about what he can add to a sport that, below Heavyweight, is picking up steam. “My style, my personality, I’m gonna’ spice it up a little bit more.” In doing so, he’ll be trying to live up to what he grew up on.

“It doesn’t matter what anybody says; everybody loves Mike Tyson. I liked Sugar Ray Leonard. I like Oscar De La Hoya – he was my favorite.” Guerrero’s words started to pick up speed. “And Trininad. Yeah. Oscar and Trinindad. That’s what I’d like to be. Oscar De La Hoya’s speed and Trinidad’s power.” Guerrero smiled at the thought.

Who wouldn’t?

Boxing News Thread

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