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Monday, January 29, 2007

Maureen "The real million dollar baby" Shea, talks about her boxing career


Maureen "The real million dollar baby" Shea, talks about her boxing career

MAUREEN SHEA INTERVIEW
MAUREEN SHEA (8-0, 4 KO's)TALKS ABOUT HER BOXING CAREER

Monday, January 22, 2007

Laura "The Ram' Ramsey's "Miss Motherland" TKO- Victory

Laura "The Ram' Ramsey's "Miss Motherland" TKO- Victory
By: Keishadivine El Empress

Laura "The Ram" Ramsey is the new GBU Middleweight Champion title winner, defeating Conjestina Achieng in the 6th round by TKO, in Africa, January 20 2007. "Queen" Laura "The Ram" Ramsey is fresh off a crowning, opening round- three knockdown, TKO of Ijeoma Egbunine early this month. "Fight Lady" Laura's manager said, "we are so honored to be here in Mombasa and for Laura to be bringing the title home. Look for more from Lady Ram..
See more at www.WBAN.com

SecondsOut Radio: Bernard Hopkins

SecondsOut Radio: Bernard Hopkins

  • SecondsOut Radio with Eddie Goldman


  • On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman speaks with the top light heavyweight boxer in the world, Bernard Hopkins (47-4-1, 32 KOs), about his plans to unretire and fight once again. As usual, the champ had quite a lot to say.

    It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, and listen, learn, and enjoy.

    Thanks, Eddie Goldman

    No Holds Barred blog

    No Holds Barred podcast

    No Holds Barred on MySpace

    Wednesday, January 17, 2007

    Jackie Kallen: A Boxing Pioneer

    Jackie Kallen: A Boxing Pioneer


    Jackie Kallen: A Boxing Pioneer Jackie Kallen found a love for the sport of boxing late in her career as a newspaper reporter, and she used that initial spark to create a bonfire in her heart. All it took was her attendance at one four-round fight to inspire the legendary "First Lady of Boxing" to shift gears and become a publicist for fighters. That led her to take a few more steps up the ladder until she became one of the first women to break the ranks of tradition in the male-dominated management side of the sport.Watching that one fight (featuring Tommy "The Hit Man" Hearns at the beginning of what would be an incredible professional career) would lead Kallen to eventually leave the reporting behind. Instead of trying to win herself a Pulitzer Prize, she wound up guiding one of the most prolific fighters of the modern era: James "Lights Out" Toney through the prime of his championship career. It wasn't long until a Hollywood movie starring Meg Ryan chronicled her life and struggles to be accepted and then finally revered by her peers in the fight game.As a child she never had dreams of being so intricately involved in the sport of boxing, but she did have the right attitude about life from an early age."I have always tried to live a spiritual life and do as much for the world (and the people who inhabit it with me) as possible. I always wanted to make a mark on the world so that after I'm gone people would know that I have been here," she said in a recent Fight News Unlimited interview. "I have never been a drinker, a smoker or a drug-user and I try to do something every day to make someone else's life better. I believe in the 'pay it forward' theory. I try to set a good example by my deeds—not just my words."Growing up she learned how to be an independent, free-spirited woman from her mother, who set a wonderful example for her to follow. "She was a very progressive, free-thinking woman who was compassionate as well as brilliant," said Kallen. She also looked up to Barbara Walters. She admired the famous journalist because Walters was "successful at the career I aspired to."Her unique, positive outlook paid huge dividends when Kallen finally managed to help elevate Toney to new, incredible heights. "After James Toney beat Michael Nunn in 1991, I realized that I was making a mark on the sport," she said. "I was being taken seriously and people were respectful of the hard work I put in day after day."The James Toney she knew and helped bring to glory was a much different man than they guy who Samuel Peter knocked all over the ring recently. "I managed James for six years and he was like a member of my family during those years. It saddened me the other night to see him get badly beaten and then to hear him sound so pathetically arrogant and delusional after the fight," she said like a disappointed mom admonishing her insolent child. "I wish he would have had the grace and class to congratulate Peter on the win and admit that it just wasn't his night. A gracious James Toney is something I've always wanted the public to see because when James wants to be nice—he can be a real sweetheart."There is so much about her career choice that she thoroughly enjoys despite the difficulties she faced to get where she is today. "I think I have always loved and respected the one-on-one aspect of the sport. Unlike a team sport, it is one combatant against another. It is a matter of who wants it more mentally, who is in better shape and who is more focused. I equate it to life in general," she said. "I am a very nurturing person and I find that managing a boxer involves being part mother, part babysitter, part psychologist and part business advisor. It is a very challenging role."She saw that Hearns fight in 1978 for one of her assignments as a newspaper writer. She even interviewed the young future-champion at the Detroit event. "That night changed my life," she said. "I saw my first 'live' fight and I fell in love with the sport. I soon approached Emanuel Steward about working for him as a publicist. I did that for over 10 years."Looking back she recalls a "very exciting" time for her as a woman making inroads in the sport that didn't normally invite females into the fold with open arms. "I always saw it as an honor to be able to blaze a new trail and be a role model for other women," she said. "I believe it shows people that they can succeed at anything they make their minds up to do."Though she did open the door for other women to follow, not many dared to even dip their toe in the foreign waters. The line behind her is not long enough in her eyes, even in the somewhat more accepting climate that exists today. "Interestingly, there are still very few successful female managers," she said. "There are female judges, female writers and, of course, female fighters. It astounds me that almost 20 years after I entered the sport, it is still a primarily male-dominated bastion."Kallen pays no mind to being a minority and expertly helps steer the careers of a small stable of prospects she hopes to take to the same heights she once took Toney to. "I currently manage Matt Remillard, an 11-0 Junior Lightweight who won the WBC Youth belt; Jeannine Garside, 6-0-1, who is the WIBA Featherweight Champion; Reggie LaCrete, a 2-0 light heavyweight and Michael Peralta, a 1-1 lightweight," she reported. "I am about to turn two other boxers pro within the next couple of months. I also opened a gym in South Central LA in connection with the Sheriff's Department. This is a facility open to kids-at-risk. I hope to open more in other similar areas."She started writing as a teenager, interviewing celebrities who passed through her hometown of Detroit. "As I said, Barbara Walters was a hero of mine and I always wanted a career as a celebrity journalist," she said. "I ended up doing it for over 25 years."She is grateful for the accomplishments she's made both inside and outside the ring. "I would have to say that taking a 19-year old then-unknown James Toney to the top was something I am quite proud of," she said. "On the personal side I am most proud of my two grown sons who are such amazing people. And my two grandsons, who are developing into superb athletes, specifically in their chosen sport: Hockey."Like anyone else, she has moments she would rather forget, too. "Career-wise my worst moment was when James lost to Roy Jones and the sordid aftermath of that event," she recalled. "On the personal side, when my husband walked out after 30 years of marriage, that totally devastated me."If she could go back and make one major alteration in her career she said she "would not have moved to Los Angeles after my divorce and given up my Galaxy Boxing Gym. I still miss that place and all the boxers who trained there."As far as the state of the sport, she's concerned most about the "lack of marquee names." Like many who can remember better days when there were fewer alphabet organizations and more recognizable legends populating the public art of pugilism, she is nostalgic for when almost every major champion in the sport was a household name. "The average person cannot name one champion, and since boxing is primarily on cable, not network television, the audience is smaller than ever before," she said. "Bad decisions have tainted the sport and MMA is taking over with the younger fight fans."She sees the rising popularity of MMA as a "major problem" threatening to absorb younger fans who might normally turn to boxing if MMA was not as prominent as it is today. "The older fans still enjoy boxing, but as they fade away the younger fans are growing up on MMA," she said. "They look at boxing as too boring, one-dimensional and 'old school.'"Still, she is not immune to MMA fever herself and said she would "absolutely" get involved in promoting it if she had the chance. "I have my California promoter's license and have already done one MMA show," she reported. Kallen also stays busy outside her career responsibilities and helps to counsel abused women. "I have been working with battered women for the past eight years, and it has become a passion of mine," she said. "I enjoy helping these women re-invent themselves and work toward re-entering the job force and society as confident, viable women. It is very fulfilling and satisfying."Demi Nguyen, a female fighter we chronicled in an earlier interview, considers Kallen a true inspiration and said she speaks with her mentor every night. "She contacted me before she turned pro and I went to the gym to meet her and watch her train," said Kallen about Nguyen. "She is a beautiful person—inside and out—and I really want to see her succeed. She is an excellent mother and would make a terrific role model for young women. I don't manage Demi, but as a close friend I hope to see her build her record up, beat as many girls in her weight class as possible and go out there and capture a world title. I think she will be a positive influence on a lot of people."She has a few of her own ideas about how to make women's boxing more appealing to the general public. She maintains that "more girls with star-power" are needed and "more exposure" would also help elevate female fighters. "Few female bouts are televised, so the public hasn't really seen the best that sport has to offer," she contends. "We also need really feminine women to showcase the sport. I have often heard it said that, when two women fight who basically look like men, the fans might just as well be watching male fighters. "Kallen was inaugurated as "The First Lady of Boxing" in an article in RING MAGAZINE back in the early 90s. The moniker stuck, and she even appeared in The Contender reality series as part of the support team for the contestants. "I frankly wish I had been MORE involved. A lot of my scenes were cut out of the final edit and I thought it would have added a lot to have a more visible female presence," she said about the experience. "With that being said, I think the show gave a lot of boxers the chance to be seen, and it put more money in their pockets than they would have had without the show. It's a great concept and I hope the show continues."As far as culling her own talented fighters from the vast field of multiple contenders out there, she has a simple formula. "I look for three main things: Natural ability (which you are either born with or you're not), good training and living habits (which amounts to "conditioning") and that intangible factor: heart," she explained. "The most talented and well-trained boxer will never get to the top without heart."Although she has done so many incredible things already, she still has some important goals she hopes to reach. "I hope to have more world champions in the future, and I'd like to open up more gyms in bad neighborhoods where kids need a safe haven and a good diversion," she said. "And I'd like to go into color commentating. As for life in general, I just hope to continue doing the things I love and remain healthy."Though she often points out that Meg Ryan's portrayal of her story in the movie "Against The Ropes" is inaccurate, she still maintains it is "very flattering!" The movie features Kallen as a single women with no kids when she was actually married with children. "I really don't know why," she said about the producers changing reality for the screen, "But the true story is far more interesting that the script they came up with."Kallen has also written a book: Hit Me With Your Best Shot: A Fight Plan For Dealing With All of Life's Hard Knocks. "The book was written as a way to help people live their life as if it were a championship fight. I find a lot of metaphors in boxing that apply to life," she explained. "I try to fight a winning fight every day. I am now writing a memoir, which is a very personal look at my life and what has driven me all these years."She has some poignant words of wisdom for any woman out there who dreams of trying to tread where few women have gone before. "Develop a thick skin. Don't listen to other people's ideas of what you should be doing," she suggests. "Always take the high road. Just because you swim in a tank with sharks doesn't mean you have to become one. Retain your dignity at all times, don't resort to talking like a truck-driver just to be 'one of the boys,' and believe in yourself. Most people don't really want to see you succeed. They may cheer you on at the beginning, but once you reach a certain point, their jealousies and resentments take over and they try to pull you down. You can't trust everyone. I learned that there are just some people who are out to get you and you can't change that."As far as what lies ahead for her, she's ready for whatever comes along. "I am always open to new challenges," she said.

    Monday, January 8, 2007

    Peter vs Toney Redemption 2, Simms vs Rivera and Ramsey vs Egbunine

    KING- 2, MAYOR "TREMENDOUS" TRAVIS SIMMS and QUEEN "RAMSEY"

    The Trilogy by Keishadivine El Empress

    Peter vs Toney Redemption 2, Simms vs Rivera and Ramsey vs Egbunine @ Hardrock Live on Showtime

    www.WildCardBC.com


    Samuel "The Nigerian Nightmare" Peter (28 wins 1 loss 22Ko's), ranked the ..1 heavyweight and WBC contender gracefully accepted and sang a sweet sciences victory last night, literally singing the words, "I am saying Thank You Jesus, Jesus My Lord", upon the decision of the highly controversial ramification redemption rematch thus, throning Samuel "The Nightmare Nigerian" Peter, the WBC heavyweight elimination bout winner against, James "Lights Out" Toney (69 wins, 6 losses, 3 draws, 1 no decision, 43Ko's).

    Samuel Peter a native of Akwaibom, Nigerian, residing in Las Vegas said, " I want to take the belts and win the world championship". Samuel Peter who ruled the steel-like James "Lights Out" Toney's dapper green hulk ring style and suave technique, the entire evening.

    James "Lights Out" Toney as usual landed superb right hands and projected excellent skill and a slick style of training due to Billy Blank, celebrity fitness guru and Tao Bo instructor and Coach Roach. James "Lights Out" Toney, of Sherman Oaks California, touts " I was sticking and moving and throwing the jab, he couldn't knock me out, I think, I threw more aggressive shots, nobody can knock me out, I won, I trust nobody".

    Keisha and James Toney trainer extraordinare Vic Roundtree)

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    Travis "Tremendous" Simms (25 wins 0 loss 19 Ko's) of Norwalk Connecticut, a WBA champion in recess and Undefeated, became the WBA super welterweight champion of the world, stopping Jose Antonio Rivera (38 wins 4 loss 1 draw 24 Ko's) of Worcester Mass, by TKO in the 9th round of a scheduled 12 round fight. Jose Antonio Rivera, a New England Golden Glove winner, two time world champion and current super welterweight champion of the world attempted, before the ten count, to recover courageously but, the referee Frank Santore Jr. stopped the bout. Tremendous Travis Simms after a two year layoff stated, "I won the title through preservation and power punches".

    Tremendous Travis Simms aspires to be the Mayor of Norwalk Connecticut one day, even if while actively pursuing a career in boxing. Travis Simms manager and wife Sandra Stokes Simms, is on his team and got involved with the sport, she didn't even like the sport boxing, she hated it, but she felt he needed help and now wants to manage other professional fighters. The sport of boxing is emerging with females in general and the numbers of professional woman in boxing is on the rise, as you can see.

    (Keisha and brothers, Travis and Tarvis Simms )

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    The under card featured female fighter Laura "The Ram" Ramsey's (8 wins 2 loss 4 KO's) of Florida, three- knock downs and TKO-Victory in the first round in a super middleweight bout with, Ijeoma "The Praise" Egbunine (12 wins 2 loss 9 KO's) of Atlanta, scheduled for six rounds, the referee stopped the fight. Ijeoma "The Praise" Egbunine's controversial defeat is major news, officially the prophet is quiet, about the crowning win of Laura "The Ram" Ramsey. "The Ram" is the boxing-talk of the town since the Queen reigned supreme and won.

    (Keisha Roberto Duran and Ijeoma Egbunine
    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    "EL Gato" Frankie Figueroa, Jr, was scheduled to fight on the under card as well, EL'Gato's Promoter and Team, pulled out, speaking technically of training.

    (Keisha and Frankie Figueroa)
    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    (Keisha and Luis Rivera of the Seeno Group, Promoter of "El Gato")

    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
    There were celebrities and luminaries at the live boxing event, in Hollywood Florida including Anna Nicole Smith, Bernard Hopkins, Fat Joe, and Hulk Hogan- Wrestling legend, Louis Collazo, Reverend Al Sharpton, Shannon Briggs and Shaquille O'Neal. The "Soul Generals", legendary band of the late James "Godfather of Soul" Brown, played the National Anthem. This was a great night of boxing entertainment sponsored by Don King Productions and the Seminole Hard Rock Live Hotel and Casino, Duva Boxing, Goossen Tutor Promotions and Seminole Warrior Boxing. What a way to start a New Year and it would not be complete without my monthly star studded professional thank you's, Amy, Brian, DJ, Eddie, Emily, Fran, Janis and Patricia, Princess, Jackie, Jill, Rich, Ryan, Sue and Wanda for promoting boxing- sports and woman in boxing worldwide.

    (Keisha and John Scully, authur of an up and coming boxing memoir, supporter of Rivera))
    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    (Keisha and Legendary Singer at Press Conference in New York City's Rainbow room)
    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    El Boxing Empress Keishadivine- El Empress

    Sunday, January 7, 2007

    NO HOLDS BARRED: Eddie Goldman Speaks w/ the IFL's Gracie Newton Miletich also Keisha Morrisey

    NO HOLDS BARRED: Eddie Goldman Speaks w/ the IFL's Gracie Newton Miletich also Keisha Morrisey

    Eddie Goldman

    # NO HOLDS BARRED on PodOmatic

    NO HOLDS BARRED: Part 1 -- Renzo Gracie, Carlos Newton, Pat Miletich, Matt Lindland, IFL World Team Championship Report

    NO HOLDS BARRED: Part 2 -- Ben Rothwell, Andre Gusmao, Erik Owings, Keisha Morrisey, IFL World Team Championship Report

    On this week's special two-part edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman reviews the International Fight League (IFL) World Team Championship Final held December 29, 2006, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

    In part one, we begin by recapping the fights on that show.

    On the card's main event superfight, Renzo Gracie won a controversial split decision victory over Carlos Newton. We speak with both Renzo Gracie and Carlos Newton right after their fight.

    The IFL World Team Championship title was won by the Quad Cities Silverbacks, coached by Pat Miletich, who won four of five fights over the Portland Wolfpack, coached by Matt Lindland. We speak with both Pat Miletich and Matt Lindland about their teams as well as their own plans for the future.

    In part two, we speak with Big Ben Rothwell, the heavyweight for the Silverbacks who is undefeated in IFL competition. He scored a first-round TKO over Devin Cole of the Wolfpack. We speak with two fighters from Renzo Gracie's New York Pitbulls, Andre Gusmao and Erik Owings, who each won their superfights on this card. And we speak with boxing and entertainment publicist Keisha Morrisey, who gives us her evaluation of this event.

    To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, just click here:

    http://nhbnews.podomatic.com/

    Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes.

    The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

    The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter.

    NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

    IFL, the International Fight League, the world's first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) in the U.S., and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada, and to check your local listings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site, ifl.tv, for a listing of IFL live events.

    BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

    Thanks, Eddie Goldman

    No Holds Barred blog

    No Holds Barred podcast

    No Holds Barred on MySpace

    Friday, January 5, 2007

    Travis Simms vs Jose Antonio Rivera, read the preview
    South Carolina Boxing Report by the Professor
    Date: Jan 5 2007 12:21 PM


    TRAVIS SIMMS, DOWN SOUTH GETTING RIGHT FOR WBA 154lb CHAMPION JOSE ANTONIO RIVERA

    Travis Simms and WBA ..1 Middleweight Contender Randy Griffin have been in Columbia, South Carolina, training for their upcoming fights. Simms has strong ties to South Carolina having fought here several times over the years.

    WBA Champion "In Recess" "Tremendous" Travis Simms takes on the current WBA Super Welterweight Champion Jose Antonio Rivera in a much anticipated fight on the undercard of the James Toney vs. Sam Peter heavyweight rematch.

    Simms is anxious to reclaim the title he won from Alex Garcia and Rivera is eager to prove himself to be the true champion. Both fighters are from the New England area and are familiar with each others style. This should make for an emotional and exciting fight for the fans.

    Travis Simms is hoping that this fight will put him back on track after being out of action for over two and a half years due to legal and personal issues. Jose Rivera is coming off one of the most impressive performances of 2006 against Alex Garcia, after moving up from the welterweight division.

    According to all reports, both fighters are in excellent shape for this fight. With so much on the line for Simms, expect him to be at the top of his game and give the performance of his life.

    Both Travis and Randy Griffin have considered coming back to train in South Carolina again. With access to two great boxing gyms, White Rock Boxing Gym and Palmetto Boxing and Fitness, Simms and company have been able to get in some great work.

    The recent influx of top professional boxers training in South Carolina could be the spark that takes boxing to another level here and hopefully lead to bigger fights in these parts.

    The fights take place on January 6th, 2007 at The Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Miami,Florida.

    Francisco "El Gato" Figueroa, Roman Karmazin, Guillermo Jones, Laura Ramsey and Ijeoma Egbunine are also fighting on the card.

    Monday, January 1, 2007

    NO HOLDS BARRED: Eddie Goldman Speaks w/ the IFL's Gracie Newton Miletich and Keisha Morrisey

    Eddie Goldman
    Date: Jan 1 2007 6:48 PM



  • NO HOLDS BARRED on PodOmatic



  • NO HOLDS BARRED: Part 1 -- Renzo Gracie, Carlos Newton, Pat Miletich, Matt Lindland, IFL World Team Championship Report

    NO HOLDS BARRED: Part 2 -- Ben Rothwell, Andre Gusmao, Erik Owings, Keisha Morrisey, IFL World Team Championship Report

    On this week's special two-part edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman reviews the International Fight League (IFL) World Team Championship Final held December 29, 2006, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

    In part one, we begin by recapping the fights on that show.

    On the card's main event superfight, Renzo Gracie won a controversial split decision victory over Carlos Newton. We speak with both Renzo Gracie and Carlos Newton right after their fight.

    The IFL World Team Championship title was won by the Quad Cities Silverbacks, coached by Pat Miletich, who won four of five fights over the Portland Wolfpack, coached by Matt Lindland. We speak with both Pat Miletich and Matt Lindland about their teams as well as their own plans for the future.

    In part two, we speak with Big Ben Rothwell, the heavyweight for the Silverbacks who is undefeated in IFL competition. He scored a first-round TKO over Devin Cole of the Wolfpack. We speak with two fighters from Renzo Gracie's New York Pitbulls, Andre Gusmao and Erik Owings, who each won their superfights on this card. And we speak with boxing and entertainment publicist Keisha Morrisey, who gives us her evaluation of this event.

    To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, just click here:

    http://nhbnews.podomatic.com/

    Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes.

    The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

    The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter.

    NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

    IFL, the International Fight League, the world's first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) in the U.S., and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada, and to check your local listings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site, ifl.tv, for a listing of IFL live events.

    BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

    Thanks, Eddie Goldman

    No Holds Barred blog

    No Holds Barred podcast

    No Holds Barred on MySpace