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| Here is what Vargas had to say during a near-75-minute open media workout Thursday: FERNANDO VARGAS: “I don’t like anything about Mayorga. He has a face only a mother gorilla would love. I’m going to beat the (poop) out of him. He’s a stupid fighter. He doesn’t get it. “Mayorga says that I’m going to run. I’m not going to run. He’s a stupid (butt). I'm going to knock him out. He’s going to feel the heat. Read the Full Story..... |
| OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMP FERNANDO VARGAS Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, Big John McCarthy’s Ultimate Training Academy, Valencia, Calif. |
| A fit, trim and confident Fernando Vargas was mostly all business during an open media workout Thursday at Valencia, Calif. |
| Photos By: Jorge Garcia/For Showtime |
| “SEASON’S BEATINGS” DECEMBER 5TH AT THE HARD ROCK POWELL-CAUTHEN TITLE ELIMINATOR TO HEADLINE HOLLYWOOD, FL, November 16 – When December rolls around and holiday well- wishes are in the air, a select few world- class fighters will hold off on spreading cheer. Instead, on Wednesday, December 5th, they will be handing out season’s beatings to their opponents as Seminole Warriors Boxing and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing finish out another stellar year of boxing events at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood Florida with a star-studded card featuring an IBF junior middleweight title elimination bout between Sechew Powell and Terrance Cauthen, and separate bouts featuring the return of former WBO world champion Juan Urango to Florida, and rising heavyweight star Kevin Johnson. Read the Full Story..... |
| Joan Guzman dominated Humberto Soto for most of the fight to retain his WBO Jr. Lightweight Title Saturday from the Borgata Resort & Casino in Atlantic City. The show was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and was broadcasted live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark Series. Joan Guzman used his excellent counter-punching skills and took advantage of his much faster hand speed to control ten out of twelve rounds (on my scorecard) of this fight to keep his undefeated record in tact. Read the Full Story..... |
| Guzman Dominates Soto Article By: Bill Calogero - TheDailySports.com |
| AN INTERVIEW WITH LEONARD ELLERBE Interview By: John Martinez - BoxingRealm.com (19Nov07) Moments ago, I spoke with WBC welterweight king Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s adviser and co-trainer Mr. Leonard Ellerbe. During the Q&A, he was quick to dispel any thoughts that Ricky Hatton will still be standing for the twelfth and final round. In addition to this prediction, he had a message that Team Mayweather hopes to get out regarding the upcoming Presidential elections. JM: How do you answer critics that say this fight isn’t worthy of being telecast on HBO PPV due to Mayweather’s decisive edge in height, reach, and all around skill set? LE: Well first of all, a fight isn’t won on paper. That is why the two combatants have to go into the ring and prove themselves. Floyd is and has been the best fighter in the world for a number of years and December 8 will be no different. Read the Full Interview..... |
| Chapman Cracks Top 10! 24-year-old heavyweight prospect JD "The Natural" Chapman (28-0, 25 KOs) has officially cracked the top 10. The 6' 6" Arkansas-based power puncher has moved up to #10 in the WBO's most recent ratings, in addition to his #13 WBA and #14 WBC rankings. Manager Scott Hirsch says he's happy the world sanctioning bodies have been paying attention to his slugger's steady improvement. "JD has looked better in every successive outing and I'm very happy the world bodies recognized that." Hirsch says Chapman will be in a "significant step-up fight" against a fellow contender, early next year. "We're looking at dates in Vegas or Dubai," he explains. "JD has been bowling over everyone we put in front of him and we feel he's ready for prime time as of today." In his most recent outing, Chapman destroyed trialhorse Marcus Rhode in 1:20, dropping him three times with his electric right hand. |
| HARTFORD (November 13, 2007) – Championship pro boxing returns to Hartford on Saturday night, November 24 -- “Pinnacle FiteNite: The Heat’s On In Hartford” -- as NABF cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey defends his title belt against former WBO heavyweight title challenger Jeremy “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Williams, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Read the Full Story..... |
| Championship Pro Boxing Returns to Hartford Godfrey- Williams headlines “Pinnacle FiteNite: The Heat’s On In Hartford” Nov. 24 at the Connecticut Convention Center |
| Matt Godfrey pictured during his fight with Derrick Brown. Godfrey faces another difficult opponent in Jeremy Williams on November 24th, in Hartford. |
| Photo By: Barry Arpin - Property of Overhandright.com |
| UNIFICATION! KLITSCHKO vs. IBRAGIMOV TO PUT HEAVYWEIGHT BELTS ON THE LINE ON FEB. 23 NEW YORK , NY , November 20 – For several years, fight fans have longed for the day when the heavyweight championship of the world would be unified and one man would reign atop the sport’s glamour division. On Saturday, February 23rd, at ‘The Mecca of Boxing’, New York City ’s Madison Square Garden , that day will be one step closer when IBF & IBO Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov meet to unify their titles in a bout destined to bring clarity to the heavyweights once again. Read the Full Story..... |
| Mayorga Out Performs Vargas Article By: Bill Calogero - TheDailySports.com |
| “The Brawl” as it was billed, was yet another good fight for this very resurgent year in Professional Boxing. Both fighters showed a real dislike for each other for the very long promotional period. One of the reasons for the delay was that the fight was at a “catch-weight” of 166lbs. Ricardo Mayorga had to gain over twenty pounds. Fernando Vargas had to lose almost one hundred. Read the Full Story..... |
| HOLIDAY HAVOC IN THE BRONX DECEMBER 6 ***Andrey Tsurkan defends NABF TITLE vs. Yuri Foreman in"NYC Turf War" with Sergio Martinez vs. Ossie DuranIn the Co-Feature on VERSUS Televised Card At the Utopia Paradise Theater*** In the main event, it will be a 10 round Junior Middleweight battle of talented Eastern Europeans, as NABF CHAMPION and Ukraine born Andrey Tsurkan (25-2, 16 KO's) defends his title against undefeated Yuri Foreman (23-0, 8 KO's), born in Belarus in a 10 round Junior Middleweight bout. Star Boxing promoted Tsurkan, who now lives in the Bronx, will be defending his title in his second straight fight at the Paradise as he viciously knocked out Sammy Sparkman in the ninth round of a ten round bout in the Bronx on April 11, 2007. Foreman, who lives in Brooklyn, last fought on the undercard of Cotto/Judah at Madison Square Garden on June 9, 2007 where he won the biggest fight of his career; a 10 round decision over Anthony Thompson (23-2, 16 KO's). Read the Full Story..... |
| NEW YORK – Hard-hitting World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 11 154-pound contender James Kirkland (20-0, 17 KOs) hopes to continue his ascension to the top of the junior middleweight division when he takes on the dangerous Allen Conyers (11-2, nine KOs) Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, on ShoBox: The New Generation (live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast). In the co-feature, undefeated prospect Alfredo Angulo (10-0, seven KOs) will battle Archak Ter Meliksetian (16-5, 13 KOs). Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will present the doubleheader from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. Read the Full Story..... |
| UNDEFEATED JAMES KIRKLAND LOOKS TO CONTINUE HIS SUCCESS ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION Knockout Artist Kirkland to Face Allen Conyers on Friday, November 30, 2007,Live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT from Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, Calif. |
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| Writers & Contributors: Phil Santos Jim Amato John Martinez Ted Sares Bill Calogero Barry Chew Photographers: Barry Arpin Barry Chew Stacey Santos |
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| Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey gives his take following a tough, and somewhat controversial, win over Derrick Brown. |
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| Joey Abell won a majority decision over the previously unbeaten Teke Oruh in their ten-round Heavyweight bout. The Main Event was broadcast live from the Island of St. Lucia on Showtime’s ShoBox Series and was promoted by Goosen-Tutor Promotions. In what was billed as a fight between two young prospects, the fight itself was less than entertaining. What it showcased were two fighters that have been fed “tomato-can” caliber fighters up until this fight. It really showed. Read the Full Story..... |
| Photos By: Tom Casino - Showtime |
| Abell Decisions Oruh Article By: Bill Calogero - TheDailySports.com |
| Hasim Rahman continued his comeback with a non-impressive win over Zuri Lawrence Thursday night. The fight was the Main Event of Top Rank Inc.’ s “Fight Night” and was broadcast live from the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania on the Versus Network. Lawrence was a very late sub for this fight. He was coming off a win only days earlier and hadn’t been in the gym. He was the one that controlled most of the fight, scoring with his jab and was able to land several hard rights. Read the Full Story..... |
| Rock Nothing Special Article By: Bill Calogero - TheDailySports.com |
| HEAVYWEIGHT HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THE BOXING FAN IN YOUR LIFE FROM STEINER SPORTS Collectibles Signed by Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier, Jake LaMotta and Roy Jones, Jr. Provide Punch to Your Gift Giving New York, November 19—If you are looking for a “heavyweight” holiday gift idea for your boxing fan father, brother or buddy, look no further than Steiner Sports (www.steinersports.com), and order on line today! Collectibles signed by former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Joe Frazier, and all time middleweight titlists Roy Jones, Jr. and Jake LaMotta will provide powerful punch to your holiday gift-giving. The Joe Frazier autographed glove, priced at $250, heads the collection of items signed by the heavyweight icon. What Mike Tyson aficionado wouldn’t love a pair of his vintage black boxing trunks, a signed piece priced at $399.99? Just one of several Tyson collectibles. A memorable autographed photo (16x20) of Jake LaMotta punching Sugar Ray Robinson during their famous 1951 13-rounder has a $79.00 price tag. An autographed Roy Jones, Jr. boxing glove sells for $149.99, while a signed color portrait (16x20) is priced at $69.99. For ring fans of wrestling, signed collectibles by two great heavyweight champions will provide a holiday headlock. The Hulk Hogan 16x20 color autographed photograph with the “Hulkster” raising the world championship ($189.99), and the popular “Batista” arm pump color 8x10 signed ($44.99) are just two wrestling items available from Steiner. |
| Boxing's Bad Boys, Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga, continued their vulgar, trash-talking assaults on each other during Monday's final press conference at STAPLES Center. Unlike their first press conference, there were no punches exchanged, but only because they were separated by a sheet of plexi-glass borrowed from the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. Read the Full Story..... |
| FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FERNANDO VARGAS AND RICARDO MAYORGA |
| Photos: Jorge Garcia/ For Showtime PPV |
| Highly rated Cruiserweight Matt Godfrey takes on the biggest challenge of his young career when he squares off against Jeremy Williams on November 24th in Hartford, Connecticut. Godfrey comes in having scored two big wins in a row, besting Derrick Brown in his last fight and knocking out Felix Cora Jr. on ESPN prior to that. We spoke with world class trainer and former title contender "Ice Man" John Scully who has recently taken over as Godfrey's full-time trainer. Scully takes us through what Godfrey needs to do to be successful against Williams, his future at Cruiserweight, and whether or not Matt Godfrey has what it takes to become a world champion. Here is what the "Ice Man" had to say: Read the Full Interview..... |
| Undefeated Cruiserweight Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey takes on Jeremy "Half Man Half Amazing" Williams Interview with Godfrey's Trainer "Ice Man" John Scully |
| Photo By: Barry Arpin - Overhandright.com |
| Interview By: Phil Santos - Overhandright.com |
| Kermit Cintron (28-1, 26 KOs), of Reading , Penn. , will make the second defense of his International Boxing Federation welterweight championship against Jesse Feliciano (15-5-3, 9 KOs), of Los Angeles, in one of the top fights this Friday at STAPLES Center on SHOWTIME PPV. Two time world champion Fernando Vargas (26-4, 22 KOs) and three-time world champion Ricardo Mayorga (27-6- 1, 22 KOs) fight in what promises to be a street brawl in the main event of a highly anticipated pay-per-view telecast that begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and is being distributed by SHOWTIME? PPV. Also on the stellar card, former IBF 154- pound champion Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin (35-2-1, 22 KOs), of St. Petersburg, Russia, now fighting out of Los Angeles, will take on former two- time World Boxing Association super welterweight champion Alejandro “Terra” Read the Full Story..... |
| KERMIT CINTRON AND JESSE FELICIANO MEDIA ROUNDTABLE QUOTES Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, Sheraton Downtown, Los Angeles , Calif. |
| SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will present an extraordinary tripleheader as its season finale when IBO light heavyweight champion Antonio “Magic Man’’ Tarver defends against Danny Santiago, Vernon Forrest risks his WBA 154-pound crown against former IBF welterweight kingpin Michele Piccirillo and Nonito Donaire, fresh off his knockout victory over previously undefeated Vic Darchinyan in the Upset of the year, makes the initial defense of his IBF flyweight belt against mandatory challenger Luis Maldonado. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, the three scheduled 12-round fights will be televised live from Foxwoods Resort Casino, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast.) Tickets, priced at $250, $150, $125, $100 and $75, are on sale and can be purchased at www.foxwoods.com or by calling (800) 200-2882. QUESTION: Antonio, what are your thoughts on fighting on SHOWTIME December 1st? TARVER: I'm very excited to be back on SHOWTIME, the leader in boxing. And I'm thrilled to death that they're in the Antonio Tarver business. Read the Full Story..... |
| CONFERENCE CALL QUOTES ANTONIO TARVER, VERNON FORREST, DANNY SANTIAGO , MICHELE PICCIRILLO |
| ESPN Classic will broadcast the exclusive replay of Ricardo Mayorga's decision over Fernando Vargas on Saturday, Dev. 1 at 8 p.m., ET. Last night, at the Staples Center in Los Angles, Mayorga knocked down Vargas in the first and 11th rounds to capture a majority decision in a 12-round super middleweight bout. Two judges scored the Nicaraguan fighter a winner by scores of 115-111 and 114-112 while the third saw the bout as a 113-113 draw. Mayorga, who dominated the bout early and late, improves to 28-6-1. Vargas, who said before the fight that win or lose he would retire, falls to 26-5. He had 22 victories by knockout. |
| Exclusive Replay of the Vargas- Mayorga Fight Saturday, Dec. 1 at 8 P.M., ET on ESPN Classic |
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| Edison "Pantera" Miranda |
| "Ice Man" John Scully |
| On December 1st, live from Foxwoods Resort and Casino, three champions put their titles on the line in the season finale of Showtime Championship Boxing. Two respected veterans of the fight game, Antonio Tarver and Vernon Forrest, scored impressive victories over tough yet ill-equipped opponents in Danny Santiago and Michele Piccirillo. Nonito Donaire overwhelmed Luis Maldanado in his first title defense since upsetting Vic Darchinyan. All three men entered the ring with something to prove. For Tarver and Forrest an inspiring win would keep them on track for bigger, more meaningful fights that would lead to big paydays, and help cement their status as two elite fighters of this generation. A successful defense for Donaire versus a tough challenger legitimized his win over Darchinyan and proved that “The Filipino Flash” wasn’t “The Filipino Flash” in the pan. Three Champions entered, prevailed, and proved their points with authority. |
| Tarver, Forrest and Donaire destroy their opposition: All three Champions defend their titles winning by TKO |
| The “Magic Man” Antonio Tarver was expected by most to end Danny Santiago’s night early. Santiago has shown to be a tough, capable opponent but to claim that he is a quality contender would be quite a stretch, particularly at the World Championship level. His claim to fame came outside the ring where he failed to make weight for this past seasons Contender, while his most notable opponent in the ring was WBO Light Heavyweight boss Zsolt Erdei, who scored an 8th round TKO over Santiago in January. The contest was one sided, to say the least, as all three judges had it scored a shutout until Tarver dropped Santiago twice in the 4th prompting referee Steve Smoger to stop the fight. The TKO came at 2:53 in the 4th round. The decisiveness of Tarver’s victory was apparent as Smoger is universally recognized to be a ref who lets the fight take its course and never stops it too soon. Tarver delivered the type of performance that was expected of him, but the celebration didn’t last long before jeers from the crowd ensued “Stop ducking Dawson, Stop ducking Dawson” echoed in Tarver’s corner and continued into the post fight Press Conference. Tarver played it cool and proudly posed for photographers flaunting his IBO Light Heavyweight belt. This is nothing new for the “Magic Man” he has been heckled before on Dawson’s home turf while sharing a card with the WBC champ in June. Following the fight Tarver addressed the press and continued his assertion that if the fight makes sense he and Dawson will get together. While fans and media alike grow restless in anticipation of this great match-up Gary Shaw, Tarver’s promoter for this show and Chad Dawson’s full-time promoter, stood up for Tarver. Shaw assured the press in attendance that Tarver is not ducking anyone and as Dawson’s promoter his job is to put the most money in his fighter’s pocket. Shaw went on to say that a meeting between the two seemed to be inevitable somewhere down the road. How long and winding that road is I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. |
| Despite Michele Piccirillo’s impressive win loss record entering the fight, 48-3 (30), Vernon Forrest was expected to handle him with relative ease. The two fights that stand out on Piccirillo’s record are a win over Cory Spinks in 2002 to claim the IBF Welterweight title (a loss Spinks would avenge to take the belt back) and a loss to Ricardo Mayorga in 2005 for the WBC Junior Middleweight belt. The loss to Mayorga was the lone piece of common ground the two shared. Given the fact that Forrest has compiled quality wins over Shane Mosley (2), Ike Quartey and Carlos Baldomir while Piccirillo has fought primarily in Italy against lesser quality opposition. It is Mayorga however that looms over Forrest’s impressive record casting not one but two blemishes, make that the only two L’s on Forrest’s fine record of 39-2 (28) going into tonight’s fight. |
| “The Viper” continued his recent string of success by completely outclassing Piccirillo before finally scoring a TKO in the 11th. Forrest controlled the action from the opening bell flooring Piccirillo in the 5th and 9th rounds while out boxing him in almost every round in between. The knockdown in round 5 came when Piccirillo appeared to duck into a right hand that caught him somewhere behind the ear, fairly close to landing behind his head. Piccirillo complained about the placement of the punch to no avail, as the right call was made, and Forrest was awarded the knockdown. In round 9 there was no doubt about where Forrest landed. He caught Piccirillo square on the chin with a vicious overhand right that sent him crumbling to the canvas. Piccirillo demonstrated more heart than world class skills by absorbing everything Forrest could throw at him for 10 full rounds. Finally after being thoroughly dominated for the majority of the night Piccirillo’s body gave way. Forrest scored yet another knockdown, his third of the fight, in the 11th and this time Piccirillo could not rise to his feet due to a broken ankle he suffered on his way down. The TKO officially came at 2:21 in the 11th round. My scorecard had Forrest winning every round with two rounds by a score of 10-8, while the judges each found two rounds to award to Michele Piccirillo. Following the fight Forrest expressed an interest in fighting Oscar De La Hoya and/or the winner of Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton. When he was pressed he admitted that Mayorga, his lone conqueror, was on his radar but his preference was to pursue bigger fights. |
| Of the three champions in action this evening none had more to prove than Nonito Donaire. Luckily for fans in attendance that is exactly how “The Filipino Flash” fought. Right from the start Donaire peppered Luis Maldonado with power shots, sparingly using his jab to measure than punish his opponent. The damage was apparent and was written in blood all over Maldonado’s face. Donaire opened up cuts near both eyes which streamed down Maldonado’s face making it look as though his night would be very short. It was best described to me by ringside photographer Barry Arpin who said it looked like someone took a paint brush and splattered the canvas with blood. Surprisingly Maldonado fought on and in spots he actually landed enough to keep Donaire from attacking and ending the fight. The outcome was foreseeable as Maldonado was forced to keep both gloves around his head in an attempt to, literally, stop the bleeding. |
| After taking the first 5 rounds on my card amazingly Luis Maldanado rallied to take the 6th. Whether Donaire took the round off only to come back blazing or Maldonado simply emptied his tank is up for debate. What isn’t debatable is what happened next as Donaire furiously pounded Maldonado in round 7 until a thumping left hook floored the challenger. Maldonado bravely rose to his feet only to absorb the rest of the beating Nonito had to dish. The fight mercifully came to its conclusion as referee Charles Dwyer had seen enough after a Donaire uppercut landed flush to cap off a flurry of power shots. The TKO came at 1:16 in round 8. Donaire had made the first defense of his IBF and IBO Flyweight titles and given his performance we should see plenty more. Following the fight Nonito Donaire and his promoter Gary Shaw expressed their interest in unifying the titles at Flyweight then taking a crack a 115 and 118 pounds. |
| Ringside Report By: Phil Santos - Overhandright.com Photos By: Barry Arpin - Overhandright.com |