WORLD CHAMPIONS ENZO MACCARINELLI & DAVID HAYE
Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT/7 p.m. GMT
The cruiserweight battle begins LIVE at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast) when SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING offers a cruiserweight world title unification bout between British brawlers Enzo Maccarinelli and David “Hayemaker” Haye from the O2 Arena in London.
Maccarinelli, of Swansea, Wales, is the World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion while Haye, a native Londoner, is the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titleholder.
Maccarinelli will be making his fourth title defense. Haye will be fighting for the first time since he climbed off the canvas to capture the WBC and WBA belts with a seventh-round TKO over defending champion Jean-Mark Mormeck.
Monday, February 25, 2008
NO HOLDS BARRED: Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez 3 Preview, Wladimir> Klitschko-Sultan Ibragimov
NO HOLDS BARRED: Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez 3 Preview, Wladimir> Klitschko-Sultan Ibragimov Review On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman reviews one of the worst heavyweight fights in years, the title unification bout between Wladimir Klitschko (50-3, 44 KOs) and Sultan Ibragimov> (22-1-1, 17 KOs), held February 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York. 
The IBF champion Klitschko won by unanimous decision also to capture the WBO title. We provide a scathing review of it and analyze the significance of this enormously dull affair, which was roundly booed by the fans. After the fight, we conducted interviews with Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, the Klitschkos' promotional company; Leon Margules of Seminole Warriors Boxing, which promotes Ibragimov; former world champion Vitali Klitschko about his plans to return to the ring; and promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank about whom middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will next face. We also have the audio from entire postfight news conference with Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov. While these heavyweights sent them home booing or snoring, this coming Saturday, March 1, the final contest in one of boxing's most> compelling recent trilogies will take place when WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez (42-4, 31 KOs) faces former world champion Rafael Marquez (37-4, 33 KOs). When these two first fought last March, that fight, won by Marquez by a seventh-round TKO, was an instant frontrunner for fight of the year - until their second fight last August. Vazquez gained revenge by winning with a sixth-round TKO in a fight so filled with action that it eclipsed even their first battle. Now this Saturday these two will meet again, this time, like their first fight, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Showtime will televise it in the U.S. We spoke with Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez on a recent media teleconference call. We also spoke with promoter Gary Shaw about the importance of this fight.>> To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link below and just press the play button on the player: http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-02-24T23_47_20-08_00>> You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking on> the download link (right-click to save it). You can also listen to it through the NO HOLDS BARRED blog, at> http://nhbnews.blogspot.com/, and MySpace page, at> http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews, also by pressing the play button on the player.>> Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes at> http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441. 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 (http://iancarpenter.com/).>> NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:>> Art of War (http://www.artofwarlive.com/), the undisputed arena> fighting championship, promoted by SUN Sports and Entertainment,> producing world class mixed martial arts events. For more information,> check out their web site, ArtOfWarLive.com (http://> www.artofwarlive.com).>IFL, the International Fight League (http://ifl.tv/), the world's> first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out> their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) (http://> msn.foxsports.com/story/1636002) in the U.S., and to check your local> listings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site (http://> ifl.tv/), for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule, at http://ifl.tv/TV-Schedule.html.>> Gladiator Challenge (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/), shaking up the> mixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year.> For more news and info, check out their web site,> GladiatorChallenge.com (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/).>> BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com/), your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.>> Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), for in-depth coverage of> Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator> Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com> (http://bjjmart.com/) or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear (http://> jiujitsuprogear.com/). FightBeat.com (http://fightbeat.com/), for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts. Thanks, Eddie Goldman
The IBF champion Klitschko won by unanimous decision also to capture the WBO title. We provide a scathing review of it and analyze the significance of this enormously dull affair, which was roundly booed by the fans. After the fight, we conducted interviews with Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, the Klitschkos' promotional company; Leon Margules of Seminole Warriors Boxing, which promotes Ibragimov; former world champion Vitali Klitschko about his plans to return to the ring; and promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank about whom middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will next face. We also have the audio from entire postfight news conference with Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov. While these heavyweights sent them home booing or snoring, this coming Saturday, March 1, the final contest in one of boxing's most> compelling recent trilogies will take place when WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez (42-4, 31 KOs) faces former world champion Rafael Marquez (37-4, 33 KOs). When these two first fought last March, that fight, won by Marquez by a seventh-round TKO, was an instant frontrunner for fight of the year - until their second fight last August. Vazquez gained revenge by winning with a sixth-round TKO in a fight so filled with action that it eclipsed even their first battle. Now this Saturday these two will meet again, this time, like their first fight, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Showtime will televise it in the U.S. We spoke with Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez on a recent media teleconference call. We also spoke with promoter Gary Shaw about the importance of this fight.>> To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link below and just press the play button on the player: http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-02-24T23_47_20-08_00>> You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking on> the download link (right-click to save it). You can also listen to it through the NO HOLDS BARRED blog, at> http://nhbnews.blogspot.com/, and MySpace page, at> http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews, also by pressing the play button on the player.>> Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes at> http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441. 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 (http://iancarpenter.com/).>> NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:>> Art of War (http://www.artofwarlive.com/), the undisputed arena> fighting championship, promoted by SUN Sports and Entertainment,> producing world class mixed martial arts events. For more information,> check out their web site, ArtOfWarLive.com (http://> www.artofwarlive.com).>IFL, the International Fight League (http://ifl.tv/), the world's> first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out> their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) (http://> msn.foxsports.com/story/1636002) in the U.S., and to check your local> listings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site (http://> ifl.tv/), for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule, at http://ifl.tv/TV-Schedule.html.>> Gladiator Challenge (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/), shaking up the> mixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year.> For more news and info, check out their web site,> GladiatorChallenge.com (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/).>> BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com/), your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.>> Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), for in-depth coverage of> Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator> Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com> (http://bjjmart.com/) or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear (http://> jiujitsuprogear.com/). FightBeat.com (http://fightbeat.com/), for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts. Thanks, Eddie Goldman
BROADWAY BOXING BACK MARCH 5; Stark/Ledesma REMATCH, Santana, Garcia and Jacobs to Light Up DBE Card at Manhattan Center
BROADWAY BOXING BACK MARCH 5; Gary Stark and Edgar Santana to Headline DBE Boxing Series at Manhattan Center
DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing returns to New York City on Wednesday night March 5 at the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center. Staten Island featherweight Gary “Kid” Stark (20-2, 8 KO’s) and Spanish Harlem welterweight Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana (22-3, 14 KO’s) will headline the night of exciting boxing action in the heart of Manhattan.
Gary “Kid” Stark
Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana
Danny Jacobs
Tickets for Broadway Boxing are priced at $150, $100, $80, $60, and $40 and will go on sale in early February. They will be available through DiBella Entertainment by calling (212) 947-2577. For more information on Broadway Boxing, please visit DiBella entertainment on the web at www.dbe1.com.
February 29's "Friday Night Fights" broadcast from the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana, featuring IBF #1-rated Sechew "Iron Horse" Powe
February 29's "Friday Night Fights" broadcast from the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana, featuring IBF #1-rated Sechew "Iron Horse" Powell (23-1, 13 KOs) and IBF and WBO #14-rated Allan "Sweetness" Green (26-1, 18 KOs) in dual main events, will mark the culmination of a lengthy group effort to bring world-class professional boxing to Central Louisiana.
Sechew "Iron Horse" Powell
Known as the "Pearl of Louisiana", the Paragon was constructed on Tunica-Biloxi Tribe land in 1994 and has quickly expanded to a sprawling 1,000,000 + square-foot resort that rivals anything Las Vegas can offer. With cypress trees and live alligators in its newly constructed eight-story glass atrium, over 2000 slot machines, the full complement of gaming tables, three hotel towers, a top-rated golf course and seven restaurants among its many amenities, the Paragon has turned a once-rural area into one of the country's newest hot spots.
So what does a casino traditionally do once it's all dressed up? It goes out for a night of world-class boxing.
David Rivas, Director of Political Affairs for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe as well as the first independent Native American boxing promoter in history, says that while the Paragon has hosted boxing in the past, this amazing coup to stage a major event started with a call to Louisiana-based husband-and-wife boxing promoters Mickey and Kerry Daigle of Keeppunching Entertainment.
"Kerry is a dear friend of mine. When they asked me who I thought could handle the boxing program for the Paragon, I recommended Keeppunching immediately. Mickey and Kerry are honorable people."
The Daigles began their Paragon tenure by putting on well-attended shows featuring local favorites such as Blake "Candyman" Prevost and "The Fighting Marine" Kasha Chamblin.
Then one day came word that a televised date, originally to be hosted by "The Contender" series of promotions, was suddenly available. Through some quick moves, Keeppunching was able to put together this sensational card and make the fight happen at the Paragon.
Kerry Daigle, KPE Director of Boxing to his wife Mickey's role as promoter, says it took some fast maneuvering.
"When I heard that The Contender had other plans, I spent hours on the phone coming up with an idea for a blockbuster show. When I had a plan put together, I called up my good friend Leon Margules (Head of Florida-based Warrior's Boxing) and together with Allan Green's promoter Tony Holden, we approached ESPN and finalized arrangements for this incredible double-main-event evening, one of the best nights of boxing that will be seen on ESPN this year."
Bordelon calls the big show a "coming out party," for the Paragon and for Louisiana boxing. "We're looking forward to having folks around the country find out about our outstanding facilities. In the Mari Center (Mari means "gathering" in the Tunica Biloxi Tribal language) there are only 2200 seats, so when you sit in this newly updated facility, it's like being at a very intimate gathering, but with all the modern technology and features that a much larger facility would have: great lighting and wonderful sound. The exposure through ESPN is wonderful for us. This will encourage people who have never visited Marksville to come and enjoy everything you could want from a top casino resort and the best southern hospitality on the planet to go with it."
When the bright lights go up and the cameras roll that February Friday night, one of the big winners will be the group who were able to collectively put it all together. While Las Vegas is known as the world's champion of top-level boxing, a hungry, young contender has emerged in Marksville, Louisiana.
And they're working hard on taking Vegas's title away some day.
Tickets are on sale now, priced at $100 Ringside (Limited Seating) and $40 (Reserved Stadium Seating) and can be obtained through http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or by calling the Paragon Casino Resort at 1.800.WIN.1.WIN. For more information on the upcoming show, go to http://www.keeppunching.com/. To visit the fabulous Paragon Casino go to http://www.paragoncasinoresort.com/.
NO HOLDS BARRED: Oleg Taktarov, Matt Horwich, Justin Garcia, Richard Schaefer
NO HOLDS BARRED: Oleg Taktarov, Matt Horwich, Justin Garcia, Richard Schaefer
http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-02-26T22_30_39-08_00
On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman starts a mostly mixed martial arts show by reporting the news announced Tuesday about the fight card for the debut show for the new YAMMA Pit Fighting mixed martial arts organization (http://yammapitfighting.com/). That event takes place Friday, April 11, at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and will be shown live on pay-per-view television.
The Boris Talis Cup Jiu Jitsu Team Competition was held February 21 at the historic Atlantic Oceana in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York. In that grappling event, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team Garcia, coached by Justin Garcia of the Jungle Gym in the Bronx, New York (http://www.junglegymbronx.com/), defeated the Russian Sambo Team Taktarov, coached by former UFC champion Oleg Taktarov.
We spoke about the event right after it with both Justin Garcia and Oleg Taktarov. Besides discussing this event, we also spoke with Oleg about his movie career and his upcoming fight with Don Frye at the April 11 debut show of YAMMA Pit Fighting.
We spoke with IFL middleweight champion Matt Horwich, who defends his title this coming Friday, February 29, at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. His opponent will be former Iowa Hawkeye wrestler Ryan McGivern, who defeated Horwich when they first met in December 2006 by unanimous decision. This event will be telecast on HDNet.
Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, was in New York last week to announce the April 19 fight between two champions, light heavyweight king Bernard Hopkins and super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe. We spoke with him about this fight, and also about the plans of Golden Boy Promotions to enter the worlds of soccer (football) and mixed martial arts.
To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link at the start of this message, scroll down that page, and just press the play button on the player.
You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking on the download link (right-click to save it).
Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes at http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441.
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 (http://iancarpenter.com/).
Make sure to check out my regular articles on the ADCC News at http://www.adcombat.com/ and on FightBeat.com at http://fightbeat.com/.
NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
YAMMA Pit Fighting (http://yammapitfighting.com/). The producers of the original UFC and Live Nation (http://livenation.com/), worldwide leaders in live entertainment, present YAMMA Pit Fighting mixed martial arts. On the streets, it's against the law. In the pit, it IS the law.
IFL, the International Fight League (http://ifl.tv/), the world's first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) (http://msn.foxsports.com/story/1636002) in the U.S., and to check your local listings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site (http://ifl.tv/), for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule, at http://ifl.tv/TV-Schedule.html.
BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com/), your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.
Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com/) or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear (http://jiujitsuprogear.com/).
FightBeat.com (http://fightbeat.com/), for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.
Thanks, Eddie Goldman
No Holds Barred blog http://nhbnews.blogspot.com/
No Holds Barred podcast http://nhbnews.podomatic.com/
The Boxing Standard http://boxingstandard.com/
No Holds Barred on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews
Enjoy!
Erykah Badu new CD, Launch Party; Meet & Greet and listening session, "Its About Time For A New Amerykah"
Erykahs new CD, "Its About Time For A New Amerykah"(Part One 4th World War)
Launch Party Photos By; Chris and Lori http://www.prefixmag.com/photos/erykah-badu-new-amerykah-nyc-photos/1/
Erykah Badu at Meet & Greet and listening session, "Its About Time For A New Amerykah".
Erykah's friends and guest attend the Meet & Greet and listening session, "Its About Time For A New Amerykah".
Launch Party Photos By; Chris and Lori http://www.prefixmag.com/photos/erykah-badu-new-amerykah-nyc-photos/1/
Erykah Badu at Meet & Greet and listening session, "Its About Time For A New Amerykah".
Erykah's friends and guest attend the Meet & Greet and listening session, "Its About Time For A New Amerykah".
17TH ANNUAL SPORTS LEGENDS AWARDS, PRESENTED BY THE PARALYSIS PROJECT OF AMERICA
LOS ANGELES – Basketball’s Kevin Johnson, boxing’s Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, hockey’s Luc Robitaille and thoroughbred racing’s Jose Santos returned to the limelight on Saturday, Feb. 23, when these memorable sports superstars were honored and their spectacular careers celebrated at the 17th Annual Sports Legends Awards at The Omni Hotel in Los Angeles.
Pictured (from left): Kevin Johnson (basketball, 2008 John R. Wooden Lifetime Achievement Award), Luc Robitaille (hockey), David Bailey (2008 Bill Shoemaker Award for Media Awareness), Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini (boxing) and Jose Santos (thoroughbred racing).
Also being honored will be Hall of Fame motocross champion and ESPN Supercross analyst David Bailey, who received the 2008 Bill Shoemaker Award for media awareness of the spinal cord injured and for his public advocacy for a revolutionary new safety device to be worn by motocross racers – the Leatt Brace.
2008 Sports Legends Awards honoree Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini .
Johnson was presented with the annual John R. Wooden Lifetime Achievement Award. The Paralysis Project of America’s annual awards ceremony, benefiting spinal cord research, was hosted by veteran sportscaster and sportswriter Diana Nyad, a Hall of Fame distance swimming standout in her own right, who was an honoree in 2007.
2008 Sports Legends Awards honoree Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini .
Pictured (from left): Kevin Johnson (basketball, 2008 John R. Wooden Lifetime Achievement Award), Luc Robitaille (hockey), David Bailey (2008 Bill Shoemaker Award for Media Awareness), Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini (boxing) and Jose Santos (thoroughbred racing).
Also being honored will be Hall of Fame motocross champion and ESPN Supercross analyst David Bailey, who received the 2008 Bill Shoemaker Award for media awareness of the spinal cord injured and for his public advocacy for a revolutionary new safety device to be worn by motocross racers – the Leatt Brace.
2008 Sports Legends Awards honoree Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini .
Johnson was presented with the annual John R. Wooden Lifetime Achievement Award. The Paralysis Project of America’s annual awards ceremony, benefiting spinal cord research, was hosted by veteran sportscaster and sportswriter Diana Nyad, a Hall of Fame distance swimming standout in her own right, who was an honoree in 2007.
2008 Sports Legends Awards honoree Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini .
Vazquez-Marquez III; The scheduled 12-round slugfest will air live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/PT this Saturday, March 1
Vazquez-Marquez III; Will take place this Saturday, March 1, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/PT(delayed on the west coast).
Photos: JORGE GARCIA
Vazquez-Marquez III, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Romanza Boxing Productions, will take place this Saturday, March 1, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Doors open at 4 o’clock. The first fight is at 4:15. Vazquez-Marquez goes live at 6 p.m. PT.
The scheduled 12-round slugfest will air live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/PT Vazquez-Marquez I and II produced the most exciting, bloody, give-and-take slugfests of 2007, with the second bout winning Fight of the Year and Round of the Year honors. Now the Mexican warriors face each other in the final battle for honor, pride and 122-pound supremacy on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).
Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez participated in a public open media workout Monday as they continue to wind down preparations for their highly anticipated rubber match, “Final Confrontation” for the WBC/The Ring Magazine super bantamweight title this Saturday, March 1, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
ISRAEL VAZQUEZ
“This is a fight the fans have been waiting for and the press has been waiting for and one I know I have been waiting for. Saturday is going to be a great night for boxing.
“I have faced other great fighters in my career. I have had some rough fights against Jhonny Gonzalez and Oscar Larios, but because of the intensity of the two matches against Marquez and the way our fighting styles are, this is an all time classic.
“It is very exciting for me to think of this trilogy and to think that a victory will carry me to the next level as a fighter.
“If he wants to beat me he has to fight me blow-by-blow. No other way around it. But I will not give him that opportunity.
“If I had revenge on my mind the second time around, you can bet that now I want to make sure that everybody knows that I am the best of the two.
“Honestly, I never expected to lose to Marquez (in the first fight). No disrespect to him, but the idea never crossed my mind. I never imagined he could beat me.
“I remember that early on he caught me with a right hand shot that made it impossible for me to breathe through my nose. As the rounds progressed, I felt like I was boxing inside a swimming pool, without any air coming in.
“I sat on my stool and thought about continuing but I realized that this is a sport and that I could have a better day some other time.
“Some of my fans understood my decision; others did not. Some media members said I was a quitter and that I could have continued. I wanted to prove to all of those who doubted me that I was more than capable to beat Marquez.
“(But) I did not put any pressure on myself to beat him the second time around. The only feeling I had was the need for revenge.
“I really wanted to show the world I was stronger and better than Marquez; that my strategy and conditioning would be too much for over him. I was so excited when the referee stopped the fight and I won. I was screaming like crazy because everything worked out that night.
“(Trainer) Rudy Perez became a part of my team before the second fight against Marquez and we only had a few weeks to know each other and work together.
“But now we have adjusted and jelled very well. He is a great tactician and I am learning a lot of different things from him that have helped me.
“His strategy for Saturday will be a very good one. But it will be up to me to carry it out.’’
“Marquez is going to have to fight me, but I will push him around. I will put pressure on him to get him off his rhythm, to make him change his strategy.
With much of their serious training concluded, the always gracious and classy Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez took part in a light open media workout Monday in South El Monte, Calif. Both world-class boxers were confident, relaxed and in good spirits as they met the media.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ
“I am at my best ever and feel really great. I am coming off an excellent training camp. I am really anxious for Saturday to get here and ready to give a better performance than I did in my last fight against Vazquez.
"I feel different for this fight. I know this.is something special that we are doing and because of that I trained even harder. "I am always confident but since losing I changed things around so I would feel more focused.
“I never make excuses or blame anybody for what happens to me in the ring. But I lost focus during the last fight. I know I did not underestimate Vazquez.
“But I made mistakes I don’t usually make. I never leave myself open with my hands down the way I did in our rematch. I had to review the tape to realize the mistakes I made. I didn’t do what I had to do in the ring. It was many things.
“Of course, it was a tough loss. Nobody wants to lose, especially in a world title fight. But I have moved past that fight and am ready to do it one more time.
“One thing’s for sure: If either of us makes a mistake on Saturday, it will be very costly and the other will make him pay for it.
“I know the last time that I had him hurt in the second and third rounds. (But) when I saw that he was hurt, I got anxious for the win. I became careless.
“Still, I was very surprised that the referee let the fight keep going when he was hurt. I knew Israel was hurt and I kept throwing punches, but the referee didn’t do anything about it.
“When the referee finally did stop the fight, I thought he was stopping it to save Vazquez from more punches. I didn’t think he was stopping it for me.
“The referee’s decision to stop the fight when he did bothered me. I was still throwing punches.
“(But) I did learn something from the loss. I learned that for this fight, I need to box intelligently in order to win.
“This fight definitely has the possibility of being better than the last two.’’
The showdown is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Romanza Boxing Productions.
Tickets, priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, may be purchased at The Home Depot Center Box Office, open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, at all Ticketmaster retail ticket locations, as well as http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and Ticketmaster-Charge-by-Phone, by calling 213-480-3232. Doors open at 4 o’clock. The first fight is at 4:15. Vazquez-Marquez goes live at 6 p.m. PT.
Photos: JORGE GARCIA
Vazquez-Marquez III, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Romanza Boxing Productions, will take place this Saturday, March 1, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Doors open at 4 o’clock. The first fight is at 4:15. Vazquez-Marquez goes live at 6 p.m. PT.
The scheduled 12-round slugfest will air live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/PT Vazquez-Marquez I and II produced the most exciting, bloody, give-and-take slugfests of 2007, with the second bout winning Fight of the Year and Round of the Year honors. Now the Mexican warriors face each other in the final battle for honor, pride and 122-pound supremacy on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).
Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez participated in a public open media workout Monday as they continue to wind down preparations for their highly anticipated rubber match, “Final Confrontation” for the WBC/The Ring Magazine super bantamweight title this Saturday, March 1, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
ISRAEL VAZQUEZ
“This is a fight the fans have been waiting for and the press has been waiting for and one I know I have been waiting for. Saturday is going to be a great night for boxing.
“I have faced other great fighters in my career. I have had some rough fights against Jhonny Gonzalez and Oscar Larios, but because of the intensity of the two matches against Marquez and the way our fighting styles are, this is an all time classic.
“It is very exciting for me to think of this trilogy and to think that a victory will carry me to the next level as a fighter.
“If he wants to beat me he has to fight me blow-by-blow. No other way around it. But I will not give him that opportunity.
“If I had revenge on my mind the second time around, you can bet that now I want to make sure that everybody knows that I am the best of the two.
“Honestly, I never expected to lose to Marquez (in the first fight). No disrespect to him, but the idea never crossed my mind. I never imagined he could beat me.
“I remember that early on he caught me with a right hand shot that made it impossible for me to breathe through my nose. As the rounds progressed, I felt like I was boxing inside a swimming pool, without any air coming in.
“I sat on my stool and thought about continuing but I realized that this is a sport and that I could have a better day some other time.
“Some of my fans understood my decision; others did not. Some media members said I was a quitter and that I could have continued. I wanted to prove to all of those who doubted me that I was more than capable to beat Marquez.
“(But) I did not put any pressure on myself to beat him the second time around. The only feeling I had was the need for revenge.
“I really wanted to show the world I was stronger and better than Marquez; that my strategy and conditioning would be too much for over him. I was so excited when the referee stopped the fight and I won. I was screaming like crazy because everything worked out that night.
“(Trainer) Rudy Perez became a part of my team before the second fight against Marquez and we only had a few weeks to know each other and work together.
“But now we have adjusted and jelled very well. He is a great tactician and I am learning a lot of different things from him that have helped me.
“His strategy for Saturday will be a very good one. But it will be up to me to carry it out.’’
“Marquez is going to have to fight me, but I will push him around. I will put pressure on him to get him off his rhythm, to make him change his strategy.
With much of their serious training concluded, the always gracious and classy Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez took part in a light open media workout Monday in South El Monte, Calif. Both world-class boxers were confident, relaxed and in good spirits as they met the media.
RAFAEL MARQUEZ
“I am at my best ever and feel really great. I am coming off an excellent training camp. I am really anxious for Saturday to get here and ready to give a better performance than I did in my last fight against Vazquez.
"I feel different for this fight. I know this.is something special that we are doing and because of that I trained even harder. "I am always confident but since losing I changed things around so I would feel more focused.
“I never make excuses or blame anybody for what happens to me in the ring. But I lost focus during the last fight. I know I did not underestimate Vazquez.
“But I made mistakes I don’t usually make. I never leave myself open with my hands down the way I did in our rematch. I had to review the tape to realize the mistakes I made. I didn’t do what I had to do in the ring. It was many things.
“Of course, it was a tough loss. Nobody wants to lose, especially in a world title fight. But I have moved past that fight and am ready to do it one more time.
“One thing’s for sure: If either of us makes a mistake on Saturday, it will be very costly and the other will make him pay for it.
“I know the last time that I had him hurt in the second and third rounds. (But) when I saw that he was hurt, I got anxious for the win. I became careless.
“Still, I was very surprised that the referee let the fight keep going when he was hurt. I knew Israel was hurt and I kept throwing punches, but the referee didn’t do anything about it.
“When the referee finally did stop the fight, I thought he was stopping it to save Vazquez from more punches. I didn’t think he was stopping it for me.
“The referee’s decision to stop the fight when he did bothered me. I was still throwing punches.
“(But) I did learn something from the loss. I learned that for this fight, I need to box intelligently in order to win.
“This fight definitely has the possibility of being better than the last two.’’
The showdown is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Romanza Boxing Productions.
Tickets, priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, may be purchased at The Home Depot Center Box Office, open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, at all Ticketmaster retail ticket locations, as well as http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and Ticketmaster-Charge-by-Phone, by calling 213-480-3232. Doors open at 4 o’clock. The first fight is at 4:15. Vazquez-Marquez goes live at 6 p.m. PT.
The "Sweet" Resurrection of Reggie Johnson; By Michael J. Campbell
By Michael J. Campbell
Photos Compliments of J and P
Reggie Johnson 2008 IBA Champ! THROWBACKS VS YOUNGBLOODS (JOHNSON VS GONZALEZ)
“Sweet” Reggie Johnson of Houston, Texas, said he wasn’t on a “comeback,” but rather was in need of some “get back” and returned to the ring for some unfinished business. Titles at middleweight and light heavyweight and 25 world title contests couldn’t satiate his desire to fight and after long contract disputes and wanting to “do things his way,” he finally got another big fight after a two and a half year layoff.
This was a hard fight...almost brutal at times...It appeared that Gonzalez had under-estimated Johnson, as I saw surprise and pain in his face from the start of the first bell...
A scheduled contest with top ranked “Gentleman” Glen Johnson was cancelled last November due to and arm injury suffered by Reggie during preparations. Three months later, Glen is scheduled to fight WBC champ Chad Dawson, and former WBO champion Mexican Julio Gonzalez, of Huntington Beach, California, stepped in to battle for the IBA Light Heavyweight Title.
Johnson came in via an extended ring walk, circling the arena, wearing a plain grey sweatshirt and knit cap, giving a very working man impression. When the bell sounded to begin action, Johnson charged across the ring scoring combinations and attacking the body from his southpaw stance. Rope burns and evidence of body punches were already apparent on Gonzalez’s back by the end of the first round.
OUCH! One heck-of-a head-butt in round 2...
The forty-one year old former champion demonstrated that his skills were still sharp in making Gonzalez miss many of his punches with superior speed and head movement. Gonzalez came forward constantly though and never lessened his work rate, which began to turn the bout his way as Johnson’s body attack disappeared. “I tweaked my left shoulder in the fourth or fifth round and I couldn’t utilize my left hand as much,” Johnson revealed after the bout.
The middle rounds saw Gonzalez outwork Johnson, whose elusiveness became less effective. Other than a good shot to the ear which staggered Gonzalez momentarily in the seventh round, rounds five thru nine were mostly Julio pushing Reggie into the ropes and landing the bigger punches.
In the tenth, Johnson had his biggest round of the evening landing multiple series of 1-2 combinations which went unanswered from Gonzalez and control of the bout’s pace had turned. The remainder of the contest saw Gonzalez wanting to engage in toe to toe action, while Johnson preferred to evade the initial attempts and draw his foe in for counterpunches, loading up for big power shots seeming to desire a knockdown or even stoppage.
In the end, it was a very tightly scored bout from which the judges had to decide between Gonzalez’s superior aggressiveness and high workrate which controlled the action and pace of the bout, or prefer Johnson’s great head movement, defense, and slicker boxing.
The referee for the bout was Rick Exe. Judge Mickey Lofton scored the bout 116-112 for Johnson, while judge Ray Clarey scored it 116-112 for Gonzalez, and judge Kenny Saintes scored it 115-113 for Johnson, resulting in a Split Decision victory for Reggie Johnson.
Julio Gonzalez commiserated, “I felt I won the fight. He won four rounds at most. It was completely obvious. I’m not afraid to go into anyone’s hometown to fight, but I just want a fair decision. Reggie, you said you’d give me a rematch, but let’s do it in California!”
Jesse Reid, James Green, and Bobby Benton worked Johnson’s corner.
Always one who gave back to his community, Johnson utilized local sparring in Houston and brought young prospects from Houston area gyms to fill out the undercard.
In the co-main event, Houston’s Maurenzo “T-Diddy” Smith engaged in a six round contest with comebacking veteran James “Machine Gun” Gatlin of Atlanta. After a long period of inactivity, Gatlin seemed ill-prepared to go the distance. Smith was able to have his will with him and land any shots he so desired. Gatlin was gassed and relied on the strategy of trying to draw Smith in and load up with one big shot. He didn’t land many and when they did, they did little damage. The referee called an end to the one sided affair midway through the final round. Smith now looks to contend for the Texas cruiserweight title in a bout which would complete his trilogy with rival “Crazy” Robbie McClimmans of Conroe.
“Mean” Eugene Hill of Dickinson, Texas, moved to 10-0 disposing of Rozell Traylor in the first round. Last year Traylor dropped his pro debut to Hill by second round TKO. With three more fights under his belt and coming off a victory, Traylor attempted to avenge his loss. Hill wanted to top his previous performance and did just that, knocking out his foe just before the end of the first round. He demonstrated his maturation as a fighter in remaining patient and focused during the bout. He cornered Traylor on the ropes and put him down twice with well placed combinations. The first time he bounced back up, but the on the second occasion, the referee counted him out.
Lafayette, Lousiana’s, Wilford Sypion, Jr. remained perfect in gaining his fourth knockout victory in as many tries. He is the son of the legendary middleweight who had memorable bouts with Marvin Hagler, Iran Barkley, Mustafa Hamsho, & Frankie Fletcher. With his opponent putting up little resistance, Sypion landed combinations and attacked the body, resulting in scored knockdowns in rounds one and three before referee Kenny Saintes had seen enough.
2007 Texas Golden Gloves champion Justin Jones of Houston, picked up his second victory scoring a shutout over Kirby Gillespie of Dallas. Jones boxed well, breaking through Gillespie’s jabs and clutching tactics to land flurries and body shots.
Houston heavyweight Herman “Skip” Scott received his 2nd victory by way of TKO when referee Rick Exe decided that Charles Scott’s activity level wasn’t at a high enough level for the bout to continue. Skip held a huge height and reach advantage over Charles.
Mike Martinez made quick work of Jerrick Stephens winning via first round stoppage.
The bouts will be delay broadcast online from the website http://www.greenplanetmobile.com/ .
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