★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience©®™

Saturday, March 2, 2013

No Holds Barred: Chris Thomas On Why Robot Combat League Is The Future of Combat Sports‏

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with our longtime colleague and correspondent Chris Thomas (http://www.facebook.com/mmafilms).

Based in Maryland, Chris has been involved both in MMA and traditional martial arts for many years in various capacities. He also is among those of us from the combat sports who are closely following the development of the new Robot Combat League (http://www.syfy.com/robotcombatleague), which had its debut show on Syfy in the U.S. Tuesday, February 26.

The Robot Combat League features 12 state-of-the-art robots engaged in a tournament where they fight each other. The robots are controlled by a human fighter known as a robo-jockey and an engineer known as a robo-tech. The first season of nine weekly episodes has already been filmed. Two of the 12 robo-jockeys, Andrew Montanez and Amanda Lucas, are professional MMA fighters.

The Nielsen ratings for the debut episode of the Robot Combat League showed it drew 1.351 million viewers, with just 1.143 million viewers for The Ultimate Fighter on FX on the same night but one hour earlier.

We spoke with Chris by phone Friday to discuss the significance of the Robot Combat League and review its first televised show.

"Coming out of the gate, Eddie, with drawing 1.35 million people on the debut night, it was pretty impressive," he said in this interview.

"It really gave a lot of people, I think, a glance at the future of combat sports. With the head injuries and the challenges of athletes getting bigger, stronger, and faster every single day, gosh, I can't say I hate to see it, but It could be the future of combat sports, these robots fighting with jockeys, so therefore there's no personal injury. Is it happening now? No. Do I hope it happens now? Not necessarily. But I sure did enjoy it."

We discussed what happened on this first episode, how apparently brains defeated brawn in the first televised fight, why we like the tournament format, what this sport might look like in the future, what improvements this show can make, and more.

♔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 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Gennady Golovkin Vs Nobuhiro Ishida

♔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 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Franchon Crews Opens ESPN Friday Night Fights Peterson Vs Holt

Female Fighter and friend Franchon Crews SANG the National Anthem for the Peterson vs. Holt bout last weekend. She ROCKED it Yhall!! She also auditioned for American Idol a few years back. Thanks for sharing Ronald Simms

Feb. 22nd, 2013 Franchon "The Heavy Hitting Diva" Crews steps in the ring this time to open the world championship boxing card of Lamont Peterson and Kendall Holt Washington, Dc at the DC Armory.

SALGADO-MENDEZ MOVES TO MAIN EVENT IBF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TO HEADLINE AT THE HANGAR ON MARCH 9 ARREOLA-STIVERNE POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS

Salgado vs Mendez HBO

SALGADO-MENDEZ MOVES TO MAIN EVENT IBF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TO HEADLINE AT THE HANGAR ON MARCH 9 ARREOLA-STIVERNE POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS

The Heavyweight elimination bout scheduled for March 9 between Chris Arreola and Bermane Stiverne has been postponed. The match up will be rescheduled to a later date due to a bronchial infection sustained by Chris Arreola.

The co-featured bout scheduled for that same night, as well as the remaining undercard bouts, will continue as scheduled with the much anticipated IBF junior lightweight championship rematch between Mexico's World Champion Juan Carlos Salgado (26-1-1, 16 KOs) taking on the #1 world contender and mandatory challenger Argenis Mendez (20-2, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic stepping into the spotlight. The co-semi-main bouts, will feature twin brothers, Javier and Oscar Molina.

HBO Latino®, Home Box Office's dedicated Spanish-language premium channel, will telecast the Salgado-Mendez bout, reaching today's many multigenerational and bilingual Hispanic households in the U.S., appealing to the wildly popular boxing and sports fan base.

The two originally battled for the vacant IBF super featherweight title in a September 2011 bout in which Salgado persisted and survived through a rough twelfth round in which Mendez had him down, but not out, to claim his first IBF World Championship by unanimous decision.

Javier "El Intocable" Molina (12-1, 5 KOs), the 2008 U.S. Olympian challenges the heavy-hitting Josesph Elegele (13-1, 10 KOs) in an eight round welterweight war and Oscar Molina (1-0), the 2012 Mexican Olympian makes his U.S. debut in a 4-round welterweight bout.

Other featured fights include #6 world rated light heavyweight, Cornelius "Da Beast" White (20-1, 16 KOs) versus Otis Griffin (24-11-2, 10 KOs) in a 10-round match up and the highly anticipated debut of Van Nuys, CA local featherweight, Juan Funez in a 4-round bout against Jose Garcia (1-5-1, 1 KO) of King City, CA.

Boxing 360's Aalan Martinez vs. Orlando Cruz March 15, 2013 WBO LATINO FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Friday, March 1, 2013

KeAndrae Leatherwood Confident Going Into Centeno Bout‏

One of the most dynamic prospects in the junior middleweight division, KeAndrae "Lightning" Leatherwood (12-1-1, 8 KO's), will headline the March 8 edition of ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.

Leatherwood will be opposed by undefeated prospect Hugo Centeno Jr. (17-0, 8 KO's), of Oxnard, Calif., in a 10-round junior middleweight bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Boxing 360. Leatherwood, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was a standout amateur who fought in more than 120 bouts, including competing in the National Junior Olympics and International Junior Olympics.

Centeno Jr. vs. Leatherwood, a 10-round junior middleweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT on fight night with the first bell sounding at 5:15 p.m. PT. The ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Leatherwood possesses some of the fastest hands in the division, hence his nickname, "Lightning." This bout will be a step-up in competition for Leatherwood, but his team knows his work ethic and world-class endurance will allow him to succeed. Leatherwood has been preparing for this next level of competition, readying his body and skills for the task at hand.

Fighting in the main event on the well-respected ShoBox series, Leatherwood knows this is the perfect opportunity to showcase his skills and propel himself to the next stage of his career. "I'm so excited to be on SHOWTIME," he said. "The exposure will be great for my career. My promoter Mario Yagobi has really come through and given me a golden opportunity. Now it's up to me to make a believer out of all the new eyes that will get the chance to see me perform."

Leatherwood is also excited about putting a win over a prospect like Centeno on his resume; a win that could vault Leatherwood up the ratings and further his chances at a title shot down the road.

"There are going to be some pretty upset people after I win, but my team and I will continue with the strategy we have laid out," he said. "This is an important fight for my career, but it's just the first step and I know I have to fulfill my end of things, which I will do on March 8."
Boxing 360's Yagobi believes this will be a coming out party for KeAndrae and he feels that a win under the bright lights of ShoBox will earn him the luxuries afforded to the cream of crop.

♔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 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will return to the ring on May 4 against Robert Guerrero.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will fight Robert Guerrero on May 4, and he's changing television networks to do it.

The biggest star in boxing dropped a surprise Tuesday while announcing his long-rumored next bout: After several years on HBO, Mayweather is moving to Showtime with a lucrative multi-fight deal.

Mayweather's move is a coup for Showtime, the CBS-owned network that has always trailed behind HBO in boxing prominence. Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs) is the sport's biggest moneymaker, and his new revenue-sharing deal with Showtime could include up to six fights over 30 months.

Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado Rematch

Paulie Malignaggi: I WILL Be Fighting In Abu Dhabi, Against Either Chaves or Soto

With the news breaking, that the negotiations between promoter Johnny Eames’ Showtime Sports Events (SSE) promotional outfit and WBA Interim Welterweight Champion Diego Chaves’ camp have been terminated, it seemed inevitable that the proposed title clash between the Argentinian and WBA Welterweight King, Brooklyn, New York’s Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi would no longer take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE in May. (Photo By; Keisha Morrisey)

However, following various transatlantic phone calls over the past thirty six hours, between SSE’s Managing Director, Gianluca Di Caro, and Paulie Malignaggi’s lawyer, Steven Bash, the mouthwatering clash, between the WBA’s top ranked Welterweight pairing remains a possibility for the Gulf state's inaugural World Championship event.

The deal clincher came after Gianluca Di Caro agreed to SSE continuing their pursuit of Chaves, by participating in the March 11^th WBA ordered purse bids.

In return Paulie Malignaggi agreed that should their quest be unsuccessful, that he would be just as happy to fight four weight World Champion, Tijuana, Mexico’s Humberto Soto in an equally mouthwatering WBF/WBA unification battle on May 18th.

On his arrival in Las Vegas, where on Saturday evening he will be color commentating on WBA Lightweight World Champion Richard ‘El Tigre’ Abril’s first defense of his Crown against Sharif ‘The Lion’ Bogere at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Paulie Malignaggi stated.

“The opportunity to fight in Abu Dhabi excites me.

I am a fighter always searching for new challenges and goals and winning the WBF welterweight title along with defending my WBA welterweight title in a historic place like Abu Dhabi would be a huge feather in my hat.

I feel like boxing could have a new city to hold mega fights and events and if by me fighting there I could be a part of that, well that is just the kind of situation I look for and it motivates me to strive to continue to be the best.

Whether the opportunity comes from Showtime Sports Events winning the purse bid or from possibly an opponent change to Humberto Soto it still remains an exciting situation for me as both of those guys are warriors and would be worthy opponents.”

Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi, against either Diego Chaves or Humberto Soto, for the WBF and WBA World Welterweight Championships, will headline a World Class evening of professional boxing at the Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on May 18^th.

Co-headlining sees IBF Flyweight World Champion, South Africa’s Moruti ‘Babyface’ Mthalane competing against Filipino super star Sonny Boy Jaro for the vacant WBF Flyweight title.

Supporting the exciting double header sees at least two further World Championship bouts, including WBF Light Welterweight Champion Zolani Marali defending his coveted Crown against mandatory challenger, WBF Interim title holder, Tijuana, Mexico’s Antonio ‘Cañitas’ Lozada Jr.

At least one further World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Championship bout is expected to announced shortly.

The final Championship bout of the night features former British and IBO World Champion Colin Lynes battling it out with Poland’s EBU-EU Champion Rafal Jackiewicz for the vacant WBF Inter-Continental Welterweight title, as well as earn the right to challenge the winner of Malignaggi – Chaves or Soto for the World title later in the year.

Supporting the sensational feature Championship bouts will see four future World Champions in action - two time Lithuanian National Amateur Heavyweight Champion Paulius Kasiulevicius, exciting Turkish Light Heavyweight Onder Ozgu, Albanian Middleweight Festim Lama and sensational London, UK based Saudi Light Welterweight Zouhair Siddiq, a highly exciting young prospect who was not only selected for the Beijing Olympics (unable to compete due to injury) but also won the prestigious London ABAs.

FULL UNDERCARD ANNOUNCED FOR MARCH 2 SHOWTIME® EVENT AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS JORGE MELENDEZ-RYAN DAVIS & THOMAS WILLIAMS- KEVIN ENGEL HEAD UP SHOWTIME EXTREME® ACTION

FULL UNDERCARD ANNOUNCED FOR MARCH 2 SHOWTIME® EVENT

AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS JORGE MELENDEZ-RYAN DAVIS & THOMAS WILLIAMS- KEVIN ENGEL HEAD UP SHOWTIME EXTREME® ACTION

Puerto Rican power puncher Jorge Melendez squares off against Granite City, Illinois' Ryan Davis and unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Thomas Williams of Fort Washington, Maryland puts his unbeaten record on the line in an eight round battle against St. Louis' Kevin Engel on Saturday, March 2 on SHOWTIME EXTREME just before the SHOWTIME® Boxing-Special Edition telecast from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas featuring the lightweight world title fight between Richar Abril and Sharif Bogere and the featherweight battle between Gary Russell Jr. and Vyacheslav Gusev.

Abril vs. Bogere, a 12-round fight for Abril's WBA Lightweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, March 2 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Corona and will be televised live on SHOWTIME telecast beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with preliminary fights to air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The co-main event will be a 10-round featherweight bout between undefeated phenom Gary Russell Jr. and Russia's Vyacheslav Gusev.

Twenty-four-year-old Jorge Melendez (25-2-1, 24 KO's) is bringing a 12-fight winning streak into his Las Vegas debut this Saturday and you can expect that he will be looking to add another victory and knockout to his record. The winner of 17 bouts by stoppage in three rounds or less, the Manati, Puerto Rico knockout artist is on the fast track to big things in the coming years. Hoping to slow Melendez' progress is 34-year-old "Dangerous" Ryan Davis (24-9-3, 9 KO's), a veteran of over 13 years in the sport. Unbeaten in five of his last six bouts, the Illinois native once took Zab Judah the 12-round distance and is looking forward to scoring the upset this weekend.

Maryland's Thomas Williams Jr. (12-0, 9 KO's) earned rave reviews for a 2012 campaign in which he went 5-0 with four knockouts (three in the first round) and he got 2013 off to an equally impressive start in January with a third round technical knockout over fellow prospect Jason Smith. On Saturday, the 25-year-old meets Missouri's Kevin "Hitman" Engel (20-7, 16 KO's), a hard-hitting 32-year-old who has won two of his last three heading into this pivotal matchup.

In other undercard action...

Unbeaten Jeffrey Fontanez (10-0, 9 KO's) of Caguas, Puerto Rico faces longtime standout Daniel Attah (27-13-1, 10 KO's) of Washington, DC by way of Calabar, Nigeria, in a six round lightweight bout.

Las Vegas super middleweight Luis Arias (3-0, 2 KO's) who fights under the Mayweather Promotions banner meets Mexicali, Mexico's Arsenio Terraza (9-3, 8 KO's) in a six round matchup and in the four round welterweight opener, Monongahela, Pennsylvania's Sammy Vasquez (6-0, 4 KO's) takes on Fort Lauderdale's Leandro Albornoz (15-2-1, 5 KO's).

OMAR FIGUEROA VS. HENRY AURAD

FULL CARD ANNOUNCED FOR MARCH 2 FOX SPORTS NETWORKS,

FOX DEPORTES & FUEL TV TELEVISED TRIPLE-HEADER AT

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY WELLNESS & ACTIVITIES CENTER

IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

OMAR FIGUEROA VS. HENRY AURAD, JERMALL CHARLO VS. GILBERT VENEGAS & ERROL SPENCE JR. VS. LUIS TORRES TO BE FEATURED

Texas' finest boxers will be out in full force on Saturday, March 2, when Golden Boy Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions bring world-class fight action to the Our Lady of the Lake University Wellness & Activities Center in San Antonio, Texas, featuring unbeaten Lone Star State rising stars Omar Figueroa Jr., Jermall Charlo and Errol Spence Jr.

In the eight-round junior welterweight main event, which will be televised live on FOX Sports Networks and FOX Deportes, Weslaco's Omar "Panterita" Figueroa Jr. (19-0-1, 15 KO's) battles Miami veteran Henry Aurad (14-6-1, 11 KO's). In the co-featured fights, Houston's Jermall Charlo (11-0, 7 KO's) takes on East Moline, Illinois' Gilbert Venegas(12-8-3, 8 KO's) in an eight-round junior middleweight fight and in a four round welterweight contest, 2012 United States Olympian Errol Spence Jr. (3-0, 3 KO's) of DeSoto takes on San Antonio's Luis Torres (4-2-3, 1 KO).

That's not all as there is a stacked undercard for fans on-site. In an eight round light heavyweight battle, hometown favorite Emanuel Ledezma (11-1, 2 KO's) takes on Mercedes'Felix Piedra (9-1-1). Also featured will be a junior welterweight matchup between two San Antonio newcomers, 1-0 Jairo Castaneda and debuting Christian Santibanez.

Plus, San Antonio's Felipe Castaneda (7-4-1, 3 KO's) meets Mission's Gabriel Rangel (7-8-4, 3 KO's) in a six round bantamweight bout, Austin middleweight prospectKurtiss Colvin (6-1, 5 KO's) battles Chicago's Darius Shorter (1-6, 1 KO) in a four round fight and another San Antonian, Joseph Rodriguez (1-0), takes on Plainview's Elio Ruiz (1-1) in junior lightweight action scheduled for four rounds.

Opening the event will be a four round middleweight bout pitting Austin's Kenton Sippio-Cook (1-0, 1 KO) against Dallas' Carlos Dixon.

Figueroa vs. Aurad is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 7:00 p.m. PT. The FOX Sports Networks and FOX Deportes bi-lingual simulcast will air live at 10:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. PT. FUEL TV will rebroadcast the fight on May 12 at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT.

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Saturday, March 2, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013