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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Surging Lightweight Boxer Bahodir ‘Baha’ Mamadjonov Signs with Promoter Don King




(Photo of Don ing by; Keisha Morrisey)
Emerging lightweight boxer Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov traveled to Don King’s office in South Florida today to sign a long-term promotional agreement with the legendary promoter.  

A heralded amateur with over 200 fights, Mamadjonov won several championships fighting out of his native Uzbekistan before moving to Houston two years ago to turn professional under the guidance of trainer Ken Richardson.  He has fought often and risen rapidly as evidenced by his record: 13-1 with nine knockouts.

“Signing with Don King brings me closer to my goal of winning a world championship,” Mamadjonov said.  “That is what drives me every day.  I want to win a world title for my family and the people of Uzbekistan who always believed in me.”

Key to Mamadjonov’s success has been a fearlessness and work ethic that has allowed the 25-year-old to take fights on short notice that less industrious fighters would have missed.  His trainer said some have gone as far as criticizing him for moving his fighter along too fast.

“My belief is that if a boxer is prepared and stays in training year-round, he can and should be ready to fight at all times,” Richardson said.  “Baha is passionate about the sport and wants to fight as often as he can.”

Mamadjonov’s rapid rise began when his first six fights took place in less than six months.  That was in 2011. He fought six more times in 2012.  

Richardson further tempted fate by accepting four key fights for Mamadjonov in the last 16 months on notice varying from two weeks down to three days.

Archie Ray Marquez was 12-1 before facing Mamadjonov on Nov. 10, 2011, and Michael Clark was 42-6 going in against the Uzbeki on March 1, 2012.  Mamadjonov won both fights by decision, serving notice he would be a force to be reckoned with. 

Undefeated Darley Perez was to have met Michael Katsidis last August, but Katsidis pulled out two weeks before the fight with a knee injury.  Mamadjonov took the fight and dominated until round five when an accidental clash of heads resulted in blurred vision in his left eye.  

After suffering a flash knockdown in round eight, Mamadjonov still almost won the fight, which went to Perez by split decision after 10 rounds.

Another undefeated and touted lightweight, Angelo Santana, lost his opponent on April 12 just one week before the match. Mamadjonov willingly accepted the challenge and made the most of the opportunity. 

After suffering a flash knockdown from a Santana jab in round 2, Mamadjonov took control of the fight. After six rounds, the three judges had the fight scored even at 66 apiece.  

In a pivotal round eight, Mamadjonov battered Santana unmercifully along the ropes before he crumbled to the mat.  The Cuban made it to round nine, but Mamadjonov floored him twice more before the referee halted the contest.

“I hit Santana with a body shot in the seventh round and I heard him groan so I tried to stop him,” Mamadjonov said.  “In the eighth round, I said to myself, ‘Baha, you must stop him now.’  

“Don’t forget, I took the fight on short notice and had to lose a lot of weight quickly.  There was no time for me to waste.”

Promoter Don King loves what he has seen from his newest fighter.

“I am extremely pleased and proud to have Baha with me,” King said.  “I expect great things from this young man because he’s dedicated and committed to becoming a world champion.  He took the fight with Santana on almost no notice and stopped a great lightweight.

“Baha reveres industrialist Alisher Usmanov from his native Uzbekistan and he wants to bring a world title back home for him and the people of Uzbekistan.”

Mamadjonov risked everything to come to the United States to pursue his dream of winning a world title.

“When you see me fight ferociously it’s because I want to achieve great things,” Mamadjonov said.  “I want a world title more than anything I have ever dreamed of in my life.”

Mamadjonov is proud to be represented by King.

“Don King is a superstar in my country,” Mamadjonov said.  “Just the fact I was meeting with him in his office today was news in Uzbekistan.  I can’t wait to tell everyone back home he is now my promoter.

Trainer-manager Richardson echoed the feelings of his fighter.

“Don always took my calls when I was looking for a promoter,” Richardson said, “and I never forget that.  When fate brought us together for the Santana fight, I was reminded that Don is a world promoter.  I’ve always said that if you are or want to be a world champion boxer, Don King is the guy you want to be with.” (photo of Don King by Keisha Morrisey )

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

It's Chocolate Time! Peter Quillin ready to unify world middleweight title




Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight champion Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin (29-0, 21 KOs) has officially arrived on the International boxing scene, after destroying challenger Fernando Guerrero (25-2, 19 KOs) en route to victory by seventh-round technical knockout in his first title defense, April 27 on Showtime Championship Boxing from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Now, the 29-year-old Quillin is one of the hottest boxers in the world, ready to unify the 160-pound division, assuming he can overcome some potential boxing politics in order to make a deal against one of the other major world middleweight title holders.

"I want to fight one of the other champions," Quillin said.  "Sergio Martinez would be my first choice, but he's injured and out for the rest of the year.  (Daniel) Geale is the IBF champion and that, right now, looks like the easiest unification fight to make."   

Unifications are difficult to make a for wide variety of reasons and, unfortunately, Quillin against any of the other world champions faces the additional problems stemming from animosity between rivals Showtime and HBO, as well as Quillin's promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, and Top Rank.  What Quillin has on his side, however, in addition to his rising popularity, is the fact that not only is he the only American-born world middleweight champion, but he's also the only American ranked among the consensus top 10 in independent rating systems. 

"We'll fight anybody in a unification or major fight," added John Seip, who co-manages Quillin with Jim McDevitt.  "Peter was awesome in his last fight. He really hurts his opponents with both hands.  He connected on 50-percent of his power punches against Guerrero and that's an astronomical number. Nobody in this division can handle him.  It's a numbers game, now.  The promoters and networks have to put egos aside and give fans what they want with Peter in a major fight.

"No offense to (Brian) Vera or (Marco Antonio) Rubio, but we're looking for much bigger fights.  Peter has earned the right to be a main event fighter.  He helped open-up Barclays Center and had a lot of fans there against Guerrero.  You don't make big money winning the world title belt; you do retaining it, and now it's time for Peter to reap the fruit of his labor. The biggest market in boxing is in America and a unification fight belongs here.  Martinez is out with injuries, (Julio Cesar, Jr.) Chavez won't fight us, Golovkin has a fight at the end of June, but Geale interests us."

The affable Quillin goes into animal status when he steps between the ropes and into the ring. He has developed into a monster counter-puncher with power in both hands, to go with a chameleon-like ability to adjust his style according to what's most advantageous in each particular fight, often surprising opponents who based their game plan on Quillin's previous fight, and he also possess an incredible chin that allows him to walk through punches.

In his last two fights, Quillin has recorded an amazing 10 knockdowns, four against Guerrero and six more last October when he ripped the WBO belt from previously unbeaten defending champion Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam (27-0).

"And one other knockdown in my fight before that (N'Jikam)," Quillin noted, "against Winky (Wright), making it 11 knockdowns in my last three fights. "I never want to lose and just work hard to win every fight. I challenge myself in training camp for every fight and I have great trainers - Eric Brown (boxing), Brad Bose (strength and conditioning) and Robert Garcia (nutritionist).  I'm improving every fight.  I've gained valuable experience, become more confident since becoming world champion, and feel very comfortable in the ring.  In my last fight, I showed improvement in ring generalship, composure, and even my interviewing skills.  I'm becoming the full package." 

It's Chocolate Time!


♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Ava Knight to Face Linda Soto May 11th in Toluca, Mexico

On May 11, 2013 at the Gimnasio Agustin Millan en Toluca, México  IBF ,WBC Silver, WBC Diamond Flyweight Champion Ava “Lady of Boxing” Knight, 11-1-3 (5KOs) of Chico, California will be defending her WBC Silver Female Flyweight Title against Linda “La Muñeca” Soto, 5-2-0 (3KO), of Sonora, Mexico in a 10-round bout. Knight is coming off a unanimous decision win over Susana Vazquez in January at the Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre in Chihuahua, Mexico.


♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Holly Holm-Mary McGee Set For May 11 Showdown at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque




Fresquez Productions held a press conference today to announce its next boxing event, “Mayhem,” headlined by 14-time, three division world champion Holly “The Preachers Daughter” Holm (32-2-3, 9 KOs) – the recognized pound-for-pound Queen of Boxing – against challenger “Merciless” Mary McGee (20-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday night, May 11th


♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.