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Thursday, May 24, 2012

SHOWTIME® BOXING ANALYST AL BERNSTEIN ENTERS AWARD SEASON PRIMED FOR THE SPORT’S HIGHEST HONOR AND MORE

Bernstein to be Inducted into International Boxing Hall Of Fame,

Honored with “Good Guy’’ Award by Boxing Writers Association of America,

Release New Book, “30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths About Boxing, Sports and TV”

Al Bernstein has always been a man that likes to stay busy, but the coming weeks may be a tad hectic – even for him.

As SHOWTIME Sports^® gears up for what will be a sizzling summer of fistic action, Bernstein will be preparing himself for his impending induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the honor of being named the winner of the Marvin Kohn “Good Guy” Award by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and the launch of a new book, “30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths About Boxing, Sports and TV.” All the while, he’ll continue to prepare for the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts on June 2 and June 23.

Just days after the respected, longtime broadcaster calls the June 2 quadrupleheader in Los Angeles on SHOWTIME featuring boxing legends Antonio Tarver and “Winky” Wright in separate bouts, Bernstein will be at The Copacabana in New York City to receive the “Good Guy” Award at the Copacabana on Wednesday, June 6 before heading to Canastota, N.Y., for the 23^rd annual Hall of Fame induction weekend ceremonies which takes place June 7-10.

Bernstein will join an elite group of “Good Guy” Award recipients. Past winners include George Foreman, Don Dunphy and Alexis Arguello. It is the second major award he has received from the BWAA. In 1988, Bernstein won the prestigious Sam Taub Award for excellence in boxing broadcast journalism.

Bernstein will enter the Hall after being nominated for the first time. He is only the seventh broadcaster (and first from SHOWTIME) to be inducted.

Since 1980, Bernstein has chronicled the sport of boxing on television as ringside analyst, play-by-play announcer, host and reporter. He has called more than 2,500 fights and 68 pay-per-view telecasts. Bernstein has been at SHOWTIME since 2003. He started on national television at ESPN in the 1980s.

Bernstein’s book, “30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths about Boxing, Sports and TV” (published by Diversion Books) is scheduled for a mid-June release. In it, Bernstein humorously tells the story of his 30-year run as the “voice of boxing,” recounting the people and events that made this a special time in boxing, sports and television. The upcoming book is Bernstein’s sophomore effort; in 1980, he wrote “Boxing For Beginners,” a historical and instructional look at boxing.

Before that, Bernstein was a featured writer for The RING Magazine and Boxing Illustrated. From 1974-79, he was managing editor of Lerner Newspapers in Chicago. During that time, he won the Chicago Newspaper Guild’s award for best news story – an investigation into illegal land deals by suburban officials.

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

TRAINING CAMP QUOTES: ANTONIO TARVER & LATEEF KAYODE, "WINKY" WRIGHT & "KID CHOCOLATE" QUILLIN, AUSTIN TROUT, DELVIN RODRIGUEZ & LEO SANTA CRUZ

Training camp continues in full steam for the talented and confident boxers who'll be fighting on "Four Warned" - the highly anticipated quadrupleheader featuring a pair of boxing legends in dangerous assignments and two world championship fights on Saturday, June 2, live on SHOWTIME® from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

In the main event, former light heavyweight champion and current SHOWTIME boxing analyst Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver (29-6, 20 KO's), of Tampa, Fla., will face unbeaten, hard-hitting Lateef "Power" Kayode (18-0, 14 KO's), of Hollywood, Calif., by way of Lagos, Nigeria, in a 12-round cruiserweight bout.

Former world champion Ronald "Winky" Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO's), of St. Petersburg,Fla., returns to the ring to face undefeated Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin (26-0, 20 KO's), of Brooklyn, N.Y., in a 10-round junior middleweight co-feature.

In the featured world title fights, WBA super welterweight titlist Austin "No Doubt" Trout (24-0, 14 KO's), of Las Cruces, N.M., will defend against third-ranked WBA contender Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KO's), of Danbury, Conn., by way of Santiago, D.R., and IBF No. 1-rated bantamweight contender Vusi "Marvelous" Malinga (20-3, 12 KO's), of Johannesburg, South Africa, and unbeaten IBF No. 5-rated bantamweight contender Leo "Terremoto" Santa Cruz (19-0-1,11 KO's), of Lincoln Heights, Calif., will clash for the vacant IBF bantamweight crown.

Other than Malinga, who's still in South Africa, all the fighters on "Four Warned" train in the United States. Here's what the seven fighters said from their training camps:

Antonio Tarver

"I changed things up starting with my last fight against Danny Green. I ran when I needed to run and I got into condition. I didn't overdo it and over-train like I normally had to do in order to make weight. I had to kill myself to get down in the past and we're not doing that now. We're taking our time, working in the gym and working on strength and conditioning and we're being consistent.

"If we miss a day to get some rest, that's OK and it's not the end of the world. As long as I'm eating good, living right and getting my rest, that's the main thing. We're not going to beat ourselves up in sparring. If I get fatigued to the point where I'm not as sharp anymore, they'll pull me out. I'm doing things like the veteran that I am and we're doing it real smart.

"We're keeping things in perspective. It's about having my body catch up with my mind, because my mind is there. I'm sharp. The reflexes are still there as well, but the body has to catch up because when I put my mind on it, the mind is already there and I'm dialed in, but the body needs to get the endurance built up. Don't worry, things are coming along great and we'll peak on fight night.

"I'm working in Tampa with my longtime trainer Jimmy Williams and Buddy McGirt comes down three or four days a week. He'll also be down the week before we leave for the fight and he knows what we've got to work on. Jimmy and Buddy work together great and I think I've got the best of both worlds with these guys. Jimmy is a great guy in preparation and I think Buddy is the best trainer in the game between rounds as far as giving the proper instructions and making sure he has his fighter's attention and focus."

Lateef Kayode

"I've had a great camp at The Wild Card. I have a great team. We started early, so I've been working for a long time. It will be three months by fight time. I'm in the best condition ever. My body can take anything he throws at me. If he wants to trade, I will trade and if he wants to box, I will box. I can go 12 rounds without a problem, but there is no way he will be able to withstand the kind of punishment I will give him unless he plans on running away all night. Either way I am knocking this man out.

"If it goes the distance, they might try to rob me, so I am going to put Tarver to sleep before the 12th round. That way I am the judge and the jury."

Winky Wright

"Camp is great. We're ready to fight. I'm ready to kick some butt.

"It's been great training in Tampa, while being home to see my kids. It motivates me even more to have my family around, but I'm glad I went away to Phoenix for a month to get my body used to the intense training again.

"Now I'm just fine-tuning and getting ready for June 2. There are a lot of different things I'm doing in camp with my trainer Dan Birmingham, but you have to wait to see it on fight night."

Peter Quillin

"The day of the fight will mark the 32-year anniversary of my father leaving Cuba and coming to the United States. He arrived in the United States on June 2, 1980, so I have a stronger reason why this fight means so much to me. I'm living the true American Dream.

"Winky keeps saying he is coming to knock Kid Chocolate's head off. I really want to know who put a battery in this man's back. Now the fans will expect Winky Wright to keep his word, but I will continue to be the powerhouse that I am. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

"This camp has taught me that if I want to perform at the top level, then I have to prepare at the top level. You can expect nothing less from me - only hard work. I'm a fulltime fighter that believes the job can never be done. When it comes to boxing, there's always room for improvement and ways to get better.

"The atmosphere at Wild Card is really supportive. You feel like you are going into the ring with a posse of other professionals right there with you. I'm fortunate to have Freddie Roach and Eric Brown working (with me) six days a week and I'm also blessed to work with Brad Bose who does my condition training three days a week. My brother Chedrick and my father Pedro have been the key to me in this camp with their support and love for me. That's why I know I'm going to take Winky Wright to Pluto.

"Thanks to all my sparring partners for prepping and pushing me. I'm the sharpest I ever been.

"I can't relate to Winky's saying he's excited to be fighting on the same card as Tarver and that 'it feels good, it makes it easy to have your homeboy on the same card.' Winky makes it sounds like Tarver is going to help him fight me, but on June 2nd, it's just me and him. He'll wish he had Tarver's help.''

Austin Trout

"I'm training at Las Cruces PAL Boxing Gym, the same gym I've trained at since I was 10-years-old.

"Camp has been great. I'm focused. I'm in terrific shape. I'm right on schedule. My weight is good. All I need is for time to go by so I can get in there on June 2nd.

"I've been running six or seven miles a day and sprinting three or four of those miles. I've been sparring 12 rounds with 30 seconds rest with three different guys - Shiju Shabazz, Aie Han and J.C. Candelo.

"I want to dedicate this camp to my good friend Lavar Washington, a childhood friend who passed a few days ago.''

Delvin Rodriguez

"I've been training in the Adirondacks for the last four weeks and will stay here until I leave for the fight. This is my first time at this location, up in the mountains, and it's perfect, with no distractions and great running.

"This is my third camp with my trainer (former heavyweight contender) Fernily Feliz and we've had an excellent camp. Sparring has been terrific with Sechew Powell and Denis "Mama's Boy" Douglin.

"This is my third fight at 154 and I feel much stronger since moving up from 147. I don't have to worry about making weight."

Leo Santa Cruz

"This is a great opportunity to become a world champion. It will be the toughest fight of my career because I know Malinga will come very well prepared, but am very optimistic that I will win.''

"It's been a great camp. I've been training for almost two months and have had something like 95 rounds of sparring (with Julian Ramirez, Raymond Chacon and Joseph Diaz). I'm in great shape thanks to Jose Santa Cruz (trainer) and Daniel Garcia (conditioning trainer).

"This is a dream come true fore me. I am really looking forward to June 2nd.''

Tickets are on sale for as low as $25, with VIP floor seats priced at $200. Other tickets in the 8,000-seat outdoor stadium are priced at $50 and $100. Fans can purchase tickets at AXS.com or by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available for purchase by calling 1-877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 1-877-234-8425.

"Four Warned" features former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver (29-6, 20 KO's) facing unbeaten Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KO's) in a 12-round cruiserweight fight, former undisputed junior middleweight kingpin Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO's) returning to the ring to meet undefeated Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO's) in a middleweight bout, Austin Trout (24-0, 14 KO's) risking his perfect record and WBA Super Welterweight belt against Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KO's) and IBF number one rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malinga (20-3, 12 KO's) facing IBF number five rated contender Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO's) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. All four bouts will be telecast on Saturday, June 2, live on SHOWTIME® (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. "Four Warned" is presented by A.T. Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions with Trout vs. Rodriguez being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions and Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Malinga vs. Santa Cruz being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions. The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T.

Team Thompson Reflects on Poulard Bout

After ten hard-fought rounds against Canadian contender Nicholson Poulard last Saturday evening, Lionell “Lonnie B” Thompson returned to his corner feeling like a winner.

The Buffalo, NY native and former top ranked amateur had no doubt that his solid performance would raise his professional ledger to 13-0. Prior to the judges’ final tally being announced, Jean Pascal, Poulard’s brother, entered in the ring to congratulate Team Thompson on what appeared to be a victory; until the unexpected happened.

With the verdict in his possession, the ring announcer notified the pro-Poulard crowd at the Holiday Inn in Quebec that there was a split decision. Judge Don Ackerman scored the bout 97-73 for Poulard, followed by Pasquale Procopio’s 97-93 tally for Thompson. Shocked by Ackerman’s card, Thompson started raising his hand when Kelly Zolnierczyk’s 96-94 scorecard came in. Unfortunately, the decision went to the hometown favorite.

“I’m a fighter at heart so fighting a guy in his backyard isn’t a problem,” stated Thompson, who’s fought four times in Canada, once in the United Kingdom and in four different US states. “If the fight was close, I wouldn’t be mad if they gave it to him. If you win a fight by as wide of a margin as I (appeared to), something is wrong. One of the ringside reporters said he’d give Poulard two rounds if he was generous. The judges had to be paid off or were asleep. I can’t see any other way they scored the fight against me.”

Thompson also found himself in baffling situation at Friday’s weigh-in. Shortly before getting on the scale in front of the Quebec Boxing Commission, Thompson double checked his weight in his hotel room. On the hotel’s scale, he was half a pound under the light heavyweight limit if 175 lbs. To his unpleasant surprise, the commission’s scale had him almost a pound overweight.

“My scale had me at 174 and change. Their scale had me at 175.8 and when I took my underwear off, I was 176. How could I weigh more with less clothes on? Something clearly isn’t right there. I trained hard for four months for this fight and it was stolen from me in more ways than one. Even if I was rightfully awarded the decision, the belt would’ve remained vacant.”

“I’d love a rematch in America but I doubt he gives me one. The judges in Canada suck and they don’t know anything about boxing. The last time I checked, you win fights by landing punches, not throwing them and missing. Boxing is about being effective, if you’re not effective it doesn’t matter. Anybody with eyes knows that I won that fight and so does Poulard!”

Tim Ziccardi, Thompson’s manager, views his fighter as the clear-cut victor and doesn’t believe going back to the drawing board is necessary.

“We want to get him back in the ring as soon as possible,” said Ziccardi, who also hails from Buffalo. “He has no lumps or bruises and there’s no reason to stay on the sidelines when we don’t have to. I look at it this way, we stepped up and passed the test whether the judges want to give it to him or not. We’re planning to continue stepping up and keep moving forward, even after this unfortunate situation.”

Trout in Heavy Training for June 2 Title Defense

WBA World Junior Middleweight Champion Austin "No Doubt" Trout (24-0, 14 KOs) sounds tired. And he should.

Trout is in heavy training for his third title defense, against free-swinging junior middleweight contender Delvin "EL Peligro" Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KOs), on Saturday, June 2, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

The 12-round Trout vs. Rodriguez clash will be part of a scheduled Quadrupleheader live on SHOWTIME® that also includes former light heavyweight champion Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver (29-6, 20 KOs) taking on unbeaten power puncher Lateef "Power" Kayode (18-0, 14 KO's); Ronald "Winky" Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO's) vs. Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin (26-0, 20 KO's); and Vusi "Marvelous" Malinga (20-3, 12 KO's) going against undefeated Leo "Terremoto" Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO's) for the vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championship.

Ronald “Winky” Wright vs. “Kid Chocolate” Peter Quillin SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, June 2

Ronald “Winky” Wright, who will fight in the co-main event, making his return to the ring against rising star “Kid Chocolate” Peter Quillin. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will air live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on Saturday, June 2 from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will air live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on Saturday, June 2 from The Home Depot Center inCarson, Calif.

“Four Warned”; Antonio Tarver vs. Lateef Kayode

“Four Warned” features former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (29-6, 20 KO’s) facing unbeaten Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KO’s) in a 12-round cruiserweight fight, former undisputed junior middleweight kingpin Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO’s) returning to the ring to meet undefeated Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO’s) in a middleweight bout, Austin Trout (24-0, 14 KO’s) risking his perfect record and WBA Super Welterweight belt against Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KO’s) and IBF number one rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malinga (20-3, 12 KO’s) facing IBF number five rated bantamweight contender Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO’s) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. All four bouts are set for Saturday, June 2, and the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will air live on SHOWTIME® (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) with preliminary fights to air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (8:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. “Four Warned” is presented by A.T. Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions with Trout vs. Rodriguez being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Malinga vs. Santa Cruz being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions. The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T.

Support Gleason's Pro Boxer: Sonya Lamonakis‏

The DiBella Entertainment, Broadway Boxing show on June 14st in New York City's Roseland Ballroom.

Sonya with her 6-0-1 record will compete in an exciting six round undercard bout.

The Main Event features Light Heavyweight Sean Monaghan 13-0 in a 10 rounder.

Gleason's fighters include: Gabriel Bracero 18-1 in an 8 rounder and Floriano Pagliara 12-4-1 in a 6 rounder.

Russia to Face Freestyle USA Olympic Wrestling Team in Times Square in New York City on June 7 in Pre-London Tuneup

Russia to Face Freestyle USA Olympic Wrestling Team in Times Square in New York City on June 7 in Pre-London Tuneup

"The Grapple In The Apple" Puts Reigning World Team champions against Americas London 2012 hopefuls for second straight year at “Crossroads of the World”

USA Wrestling and Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc. has announced that a team of talented athletes from World champion Russia will face the U.S. Olympians who will represent our nation in the London Games in Duffy Square in New York’s Times Square on Thursday, June 7.

This major international freestyle wrestling match, billed as “The Grapple in the Big Apple,” will be the featured competition for the 2012 Beat the Streets Gala and Benefit, which will be held following the dual meet at Roseland Ballroom. Included in the Gala is the Beat the Streets Reception and Awards Ceremony.

This is the second straight year that Team USA has battled Russia as part of the Beat the Streets Gala in Times Square. In 2011, the United States defeated World champion Russia, 5-2, in a dual meet there. It was the first sports event ever held in historic Times Square, and thousands of fans packed the area to see history in the making.

The Russian lineup for the Beat the Streets Gala has not yet been finalized. The final roster will be provided to USA Wrestling at the conclusion of the Russian National Wrestling Championships next week.

The U.S. team for the dual meet has been determined. It will feature six of the athletes who earned spots on the men’s freestyle team for the London Games with victories at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa, April 21-22.

Included on the U.S. roster are four past World medalists:

2011 World champion Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg/163 lbs.
2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert at 84 kg/185 lbs.
2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
2011 World bronze medalist Jake Varner at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Burroughs will have significant local interest, as he is a native of Sicklerville, N.J., where he was a New Jersey state champion for Winslow Township High School in 2006.

The other two athletes who will compete for Team USA in London, Sam Hazewinkel at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Jared Frayer at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., will also wrestle on the U.S. team in Times Square.

The U.S. Olympian at 60 kg/132 lbs. has not yet been determined. A Special Wrestle-off for the spot between Shawn Bunch, Reece Humphrey and Coleman Scott will be held at a date and location to be announced shortly.

Competing in the Beat the Streets dual meet at 60 kg/132 lbs. will be Logan Stieber, a 2011 NCAA champion for Ohio State who placed second behind Scott at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City.

“Anytime you wrestle the Russians, you have to be ready. They are very good, very deep and you can’t look past anyone. We are just coming off of the Freestyle World Cup, and we need our Olympians to compete again. But this is not just about preparation for the Olympic Games. It is an important match that has been on our schedule and we are looking to win,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones.

Coach Jones sees the Grapple in the Big Apple as another step forward for the athletes and the men’s freestyle national program.

“At the World Cup, the great thing is that we got to gel as a team. These guys like each other, will fight for each other and want to make the USA the best nation in the world. We came together as a team. We learned a lot about ourselves at the World Cup. We are now working in tactical and technical areas, and in our training camp next week will work on those areas of concentration,” said Jones.

The USA vs. Russia event is free to the public, and will be shown on the largest single-faced LED screen in Times Square. A television partner for the event will be announced shortly.

This is the third straight year in which a major Olympic-style competition has been featured as part of the Beat the Streets Gala.

In 2010, an all-star challenge featuring top U.S. wrestlers was held on the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier docked on the west side of Manhattan. Competition was in all three Olympic styles and featured numerous U.S. World Team members and national champions.

Once again this year, a card of exhibition matches will be held in Duffy Square, featuring Beat the Streets athletes from middle schools as well as from the Public School Athletic League.

A complete schedule of events will be announced shortly.

U.S. ROSTER FOR BEAT THE STREETS GALA
At Duffy Square in Times Square, New York, N.Y., June 7
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jared Frayer, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
National Freestyle Coach – Zeke Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – John Smith, Stillwater, Okla.
Coach – Mark Manning, Lincoln, Neb.
Coach – Lou Rosselli, Columbus, Ohio
Coach – Bobby Douglas, Ames, Iowa
Medical and Support Staff – Daryl Miller (athletic trainer), Cyrus Poitier (massage therapist), Jenn Gibson (Nutritionist), Fred Roberto (Chiropractor)

ABOUT BEAT THE STREETS
The Mission of the Beat the Streets Wrestling Program is to expand and develop wrestling in the New York City Metropolitan area from the youth through the Olympic level. Our dream is to provide opportunities for boys and girls in the activity of wrestling, building lifelong skills.

May 25 Fight Night at the Horseshoe Heating Up! Martin to Face Woods in Cruiserweight Slugfest

CONTENDER JOSESITO LOPEZ STEPS IN TO BATTLE VICTOR ORTIZ ON JUNE 23 AT STAPLES CENTER ● LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

“Ortiz vs. Lopez,” a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship taking place Saturday, June 23, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif., is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. The co-feature will see former Three-Division World Champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto battle Argentinean knockout artist Lucas Matthysse in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight title which is presented in association with Baja Boxing Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Opening the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) will be top rated heavyweight contender Chris Arreola facing an opponent to be announced.

Former boxing star and champion Ray Mercer continues to help make a difference in the lives of inner city youth though Find A Dream

Former Heavyweight Champion Ray Mercer Looks To Help Youth At Find A Dream

Former boxing star and champion Ray Mercer continues to help make a difference in the lives of inner city youth though Find A Dream

Former heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Ray Mercer has been continuing to strive to make an impact in the lives of children across the United States. Since joining Find A Dream—a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that reaches out to community children and provides them a healthy channel to find and work towards fulfilling a dream—the boxer has been working hard to spread awareness about the importance of providing a sanction for inner city kids to work toward a positive goal..

“Boxing has always been such a big part of my life, both inside and out of the ring,” said Mercer. “It teaches discipline, confidence and helps keep kids on the right track.”

In recent months Find A Dream has been focusing on putting together an all-star team to help spread awareness throughout the country and help enrich the lives of inner city youth by providing them with boxing, martial arts, computer and educational programs. They recently have secured a building for their newest facility which they will be opening up shortly in South Carolina, and are focusing their efforts on opening up several other locations.

Mercer shares company with an elite team at Find A Dream, UFC legend and Hall-of-Famer Dan “The Beast” Severn, cruiserweight boxer Bobby Czyz, heavyweight KO artist Don Steele and actor Quinton Aaron, amongst several others.

“It means a great deal to see Find A Dream progressing the way they are,” said Mercer. “It’s all about giving back to the community, and if I all have to do is support Find A Dream to help kids’ dreams come true, than I am all about it.”

In 2012 Find A Dream is striving to continue to expand and impact the lives of children throughout various communities. Find A Dream plans to spread their word through boxing and MMA events, car shows, cook-offs, concerts and more in hopes of reaching out to communities and bringing awareness of the necessity to work towards enriching the lives of our youths.

“Find A Dream helps keeps kids off the streets and out of trouble,” said Mercer. We have a gym in Iowa, and soon are opening one up in Myrtle Beach. Our goal is to offer kids a safe environment to learn and work towards something positive.”

Find A Dream is a nonprofit organization unlike any other. We have partnered with professionals to deliver on our promise of positive change in young lives. Our communities become stronger when our youth is mentored through people of character with a true interest in pouring constructive, character-building activities and input into their lives.

To learn more about Find A Dream or become a sponsor or volunteer, visit www.findadream.org.

Byarm: “This is my shot at redemption”

Like most professional boxers, heavyweight Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm never thought about what it’d be like to lose.

The Washington, DC based Philadelphian stopped 9 of his first 13 opponents and was named one of the best prospects in the beltway region. Still, Byarm, who had less than 15 amateur fights, was learning on the job. Between his work ethic and sparring quality fighters such as Tony Thompson, Byarm made notable improvements with every fight. In his final bout of 2011, the crowd-pleasing 29-year-old stopped veteran Clinton Boldridge in 74 seconds and planned to step up the competition.

Earlier this year, Byarm got his opportunity; albeit under far different circumstances than he imagined.

On January 21 before a nationally televised audience on the NBC Sports Network, Byarm dropped a competitive decision to fellow American heavyweight Bryant Jennings in a bout that both men took on five days notice. The loss was unexpected, but he considered it a learning experience.

“The Jennings fight taught me that I had to be more patient and stick to my game plan,” said Byarm. “I wanted to impose my will on him but his defense and movement were very good and I didn’t make the adjustments my team discussed.”

Luckily, Byarm can prove that he’s amongst America’s top heavyweights when he challenges highly touted Magomed Abdusalamov at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV Friday, July 6 on ESPN 2’s Friday Night Fights. Like Jennings, Abdusalamov is yet to taste defeat, winning all 14 of his bouts by knockout. The 6’3 Russian’s last three opponents were a combined 34-1 and his most recent victory, a four round destruction of previously unbeaten Jason Pettaway, earned him the WBC USNBC title.

“He’s a decent fighter but I’ve seen a lot of flaws,” Byarm said of Abdusalamov. “I’m going to fight my fight and we’ve got a good game plan this time around. His record and knockouts don’t’ mean much to me because he hasn’t fought anybody of my caliber. He has punching power but I have punching power too. I know my will to win this fight is much higher than his. This will be my shot to show the world what I truly have to offer!”

The 10-round southpaw showdown between Byarm and Abdusalamov is promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions and Sampson Boxing.

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Wednesday, May 23, 2012