★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience©®™

Monday, July 16, 2012

Strikeforce: Rousey vs Kaufman; Saturday, August 18 - Valley View Casino Center - San Diego, CA

It's official. Strikeforce champion Ronda Rouseywill face former title holder Sarah Kaufman on Saturday, Aug. 18 in San Diego, California!

SHOWTIME Sports^® Announces ALL ACCESS: Ronda Rousey

Two-Episode Installment to Premiere

Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME^®

Emmy^®Award-winning SHOWTIME Sports^® will produce a new edition of the new documentary series ALL ACCESSwith an all-encompassing look at women’s mixed martial arts (MMA) sensation Ronda Rousey. The first episode will premiere on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME^®. The second episode will premiere on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, just days before Rousey defends her STRIKEFORCE^® Women’s Bantamweight title against No. 1 challenger and former champion Sarah Kaufman.

Throughout Rousey’s meteoric rise to MMA stardom, SHOWTIME Sports cameras have been following her to capture footage for ALL ACCESS: Ronda Rousey. From the gym to the cage and the makeup chair to the red carpet, Rousey is sharing her most intimate moments, granting virtually unfettered access including her historic and revealing photo shoot with ESPN The Magazine for the cover of their ‘Body Issue’ which was announced Tuesday.

“When we were creating the concept of ALL ACCESS, I felt Ronda was a perfect person to showcase for the fans. Her fiery personality and her drive, coupled with her Olympic background and dominance in women’s MMA, was deserving of this type of spotlight,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Not only is Ronda a captivating athlete in the cage, but she is attracting a great deal of attention for a relatively young sport. With ALL ACCESS: Ronda Rousey, viewers will not only get a glimpse into Ronda’s life but also into the world of women’s MMA.”

With Rousey as the current torch holder for women’s MMA, ALL ACCESS: Ronda Rousey will include a look back at the sport’s history through a series of interviews with Gina Carano, Cris Cyborg, and other influential females who have helped pave the way for women like Ronda.

ALL ACCESS: Ronda Rousey will re-air multiple times on SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME EXTREME and be available on SHOWTIME On Demand.

♔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.

Cobbs, Wiggins finally set to meet‏; The wait is over After a year’s worth of brewing hostility, Cobbs, Wiggins are ready to settle the score

What started as one fighter’s innocent plea for competition more than a year ago and exploded into a vicious, online war is about to reach its peak Thursday night at the Twin River Event Center.

“The Vermont Bully” Kevin Cobbs (4-0, 1 KO), one of New England’s rising stars in the light heavyweight division, will face the colorful Donte “Mr. Magic” Wiggins (1-0, 1 KO) of Queens, N.Y., in a four-round bout fight fans have been waiting for since last summer when Cobbs first included Wiggins on his now-infamous checklist of regional fighters he wanted to face.

“I’m not worried about him,” Cobbs said. “Whatever he comes with, I’m confident in my ability and what my coaches and trainers will provide for me. I’m ready for the next step, and the next step – I guess – is Donte Wiggins.”

The long-awaited showdown between Cobbs and Wiggins will be one of nine bouts on Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Built to Last” professional boxing card, scheduled for Thursday, July 19^th, 2012 in Lincoln, R.I.

The feud started last summer when Cobbs, only 1-0 at the time, publicly posted a list of fighters in the 175-pound division he felt he needed to beat in order to get to the top of his weight class. The list included Reinaldo Graceski of Springfield, Mass., and Alex Amparo, but the initial target was Joey Gardner, who had recently won the New England light heavyweight title by beating Keith Kozlin.

According to Cobbs, Wiggins wasn’t even on the list until Cobbs’ manager at the time, Bobby Smead, told him the road to the title would ultimately have to go through Wiggins, so Cobbs made a revised list that included his soon-to-be opponent.

Wiggins caught wind of the list through Smead – who, coincidentally, is now managing him instead of Cobbs – and began challenging Cobbs with a viral onslaught of online videos and postings through the social networking giant Facebook, most of it not fit for print.

“[Wiggins] made it sound like I was calling him out specifically,” Cobbs said. “I was just letting people know these are the guys I have to go through. Then he stepped up and said, ‘I’ve never even heard of you!’ and so on and so forth.

“We kind of just ran with it.”

The two agreed to face one another in August of 2011, but the fight fell through. Wiggins, who trained in Providence with Jose Santos, grew tired of waiting for an opponent and ultimately moved back to Queens since he hadn’t fought since November – a first-round knockout win over Paul Gonsalves in his first and only professional fight.

“I stayed in Rhode Island, because those were the people I was comfortable training with, but without any fights, I wasn’t making any money,” Wiggins said. “I was so far in debt I had to get another job, and then I had no offers to fight because I wasn’t in the gym. I honestly though it was over for me.”

Wiggins soon linked up with Smead, who promised to get him back in the ring. Last month, shortly after the July 19^th show was announced, Wiggins made Cobbs another offer to fight at 180 pounds, which Cobbs ultimately accepted, sparking another round of verbal assaults that haven’t stopped since the two signed their contracts.

Why, after a year, did Cobbs answer the bell?

“Because he called me out,” Cobbs said. “After everything with the first fight fell apart, we weren’t even looking at him. He was inactive. He was gone – nowhere to be found. He’d have to call me out. I’m 4-0. He’s only 1-0. It’s not helping me to call him out, but if he wants to fight me I’ll take the fight.

“The last thing I’ll do is duck somebody.”

The pre-fight hype includes a video interview in which Wiggins – surrounded by his entourage – questions Cobbs’ resume (Cobbs has won three fights since the two began feuding last summer) and predicts a win next Thursday.

“I wish the videos were done better. Then I’d probably like them,” Cobbs quipped. “They’re in a dark alley shooting dice – in dirty T-shirts. It just shows what kind of goons they are. That doesn’t hype me up at all. It’s not professional. It’s a joke to me.

“If anything, I got a great laugh out of it. All of that is just talk. He just constantly talks. The best thing he can do is try to get in my head. That’s the only way he can beat me, because there’s no way he can beat me in the ring.”

“Of course he doesn’t like [the videos], because he doesn’t want to get punched in the face,” Wiggins said. “He’s boring – very boring. Kevin Cobbs is an intermission fighter. CES puts him in the ring when they want people to go to the bathroom or get drinks. He’s a model, too; he’s got a six-pack so he can look good on posters.”

Come Thursday, Cobbs may have the edge in stamina; he’s remained active within the past year while Wiggins hasn’t fought since making his debut, but Wiggins has been working extensively with Mike Ocasio at former welterweight world title challenger Aaron Davis’ gym in the Bronx and promises a new look Thursday.

“I’ve been training for almost two months now; I feel good,” he said. “A lot of things came back to me rather quickly. This was more about weight and stamina than anything else. We’re doing lots of running and wind sprints, really building up my cardio so that I can take down the weight without being weak the night of the fight.”

The equalizer could be Wiggins’ power; he prefers to stand toe-to-toe and trade punches. He willingly exchanged with Gonsalves in their fight two years ago before catching his opponent with a right hand that sent Gonsalves tumbling to the canvas.

“Everyone says he’s a slugger. He likes for you to stand in front of him and bang with him,” Cobbs said. “He wants to close that distance and land that one big shot. He’ll have to do a lot of that because I’m not going to be standing in front of him. He’s been going online and telling me to just stand there and not run.

“Obviously, he doesn’t know boxing. In boxing, you have to do everything and anything to survive in the ring, whether it’s hold, move around the ring … play head games. The last thing I’m going to do is exactly what he told me to do.”

With the fight less than a week away, the talk has finally subsided. Cobbs and Wiggins are set to face one another in a long-awaited showdown that has grabbed most of the headlines leading up to this event, and could wind up stealing the show Thursday night.

“I’m not saying I’m the best in the world, but I have a lot of heart and I don’t mind getting in there as long as the people who buy tickets see that I give 100 percent,” Wiggins said. “I’m an action fighter, like an Arturo Gatti or Emanuel Augustus.

“That’s the style I’m trying to bring back. These other dudes want to pick and choose their fights. I want to make the crowd happy.”

Providence native and reigning New England super middleweight champion Vladine Biosse (13-1-1, 6 KOs) will star in the eight-round main event against face Saskatchewan, Canada naitve Mike Walchuk (9-5, 2 KOs) while Providence’s Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (20-3, 10 KOs) will face veteran Jesse Oltmans (10-3, 7 KOs) of Bartonsville, Pa., in the six-round co-feature. Super middleweights Keith Kozlin (6-3-1, 4 KOs) of West Warwick, R.I., and Reynaldo Rodriguez (6-4-1, 3 KOs) of Woonsocket, R.I., will look to settle the score in a rematch from their fight last July, which ended in a draw.

Attleboro, Mass., light heavyweight Rich Gingras (11-3, 7 KOs) will be featured in a special six-round attraction. Also on the undercard, Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (6-1, 4 KOs) will look to bounce back from his first loss in May when he faces Rahman Yusebov (8-8, 6 KOs) of Dallas in a six-round bout. Benny Costantino (7-1, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Dennis Ogboo (6-5, 5 KOs) of Lexington, Ky., in a four-round middleweight bout.

Lightweight Zack Ramsey (1-0, 1 KO) of Springfield, Mass., and welterweight newcomer Jansy Rivera (0-0) of Providence (San Juan, Puerto Rico) will also be on the undercard in separate four-round bouts. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Ayala adjusting to last-minute change‏; Nothin’ to a champ; Ayala ready for Saturday’s showdown despite another last-minute change of opponent

Once again, Elvin Ayala finds himself in the unenviable position of having to deal with a last-minute change of opponent, except this time he’s actually prepared for the unexpected.

Ayala (25-5-1, 11 KOs), the reigning World Boxing Council U.S. National Boxing Council (WBC USNBC) middleweight champion from New Haven, Conn., was originally scheduled to face hard-hitting Jesus Gonzales, but with Gonzales unable to acquire a license from the Mohegan Sun Department of Athletic Regulation, Ayala will now face sturdy veteran John Mackey (13-7-3, 6 KOs) in the 10-round main event of “The Fire Within” at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

This is nothing new for Ayala, who dealt with a last-minute swap in March when his originally-scheduled opponent, Hector Camacho Jr., suffered an arm injury the week before the fight. Ayala instead fought veteran Eric Mitchell on ESPN, winning by unanimous decision.

“Unfortunately, it is what it is,” Ayala said. “The only thing I did differently this time was tell my trainer [Marshall Kauffman] that this has been a problem before, so he said we’ll just prepare for both sides – left-handers and right-handers.

“The guy I’m fighting now is a lefty, so it works out. I got some sparring on both sides during camp, just to polish up on everything. It’s almost like the amateur days when you’d go to the weigh-in that day not knowing who you’re fighting yet.”

In addition to being a left-hander, which can be frustrating for more orthodox fighters such as Ayala, the 38-year-old Mackey typically saves his best for elite opponents. Last year, he faced Providence’s Vladine Biosse in Lincoln, R.I., and earned a hard-fought draw. Last month, he battled undefeated middleweight prospect John Thompson and came within at least four points on all three scorecards despite losing a unanimous decision.

“I’m relaxed when I fight, but not to the point where I’m not putting forth an effort, because I’m trying to win every fight,” said Mackey, who works full-time as a police officer in his hometown of Montgomery, Ala. “I’m very competitive, not just in the ring but in life itself.

“I hate to lose, but I don’t let it kill me if it happens. That’s life; you move on.”

Mackey wasn’t expecting a phone call after the loss to Thompson, but because he had been in the gym consistently the following week, he was ready to accept the challenge against Ayala.

“Something told me to just get back in the gym,” he said. “I wasn’t frustrated with the loss. I think I pressed the action the whole fight. His foot movement was good. I give him a lot of credit. I was never hurt, but I hurt him two or three times.

“It doesn’t hurt me to lose, but a loss would’ve been detrimental to his record.”

The same goes for Ayala, who is now ranked No. 20 in the WBC among middleweights and needs every win he can get to continue climbing to the top of his weight class. The way Ayala sees it, he needs to win and look good doing so, not just to impress fans, critics, etc., but to achieve goals he sets for himself in camp.

“I’m really hoping for a knockout,” Ayala said. “I’ve been working hard on moves that allow me to work my body a certain way so that I can generate more power. I like to box and get out of the way, so I never really plant my feet and just punch.

“Those are some of the things I’m working on. I’m hoping to get one of those shots in, not for anyone in the crowd, but to prove something within myself, just to know that whatever I work on in camp I can ultimately accomplish.”

Working with Kaufmman in his hometown of Reading, Pa., has helped Ayala clear his mind and broaden his horizons. He’s working on new techniques and implementing new philosophies that he hopes will help bring him to the next level. He’s barely watched any film of Mackey during these past few days, instead relying on his own conditioning and experience to carry him.

“We didn’t lock down on any particularly technique or style during this camp because you never know what will happen,” Ayala said. “I worked the best that I could toward lefties and right-handers in general. I’m in great shape. My philosophy is to just wait for the fight and hope for the best. I’m in shape and ready for whatever.

“I’ve always said if you want to be a world champion you have to beat whoever they put in front of you, and this is no different.”

Mackey’s most impressive victories have come within the past two years, starting with a majority-decision win over previously-unbeaten Donald Orr in June of 2010, followed by a fourth-round knockout win over 11-5 George Rivera five months later. Beating Ayala in his own backyard would be the crown jewel on his resume, but “The Lycan” promises to be ready for whatever his opponent has to offer.

“He’s a heck of a competitor,” Mackey said. “He’s been in there with some big names. He’s used to the bright lights. I think his style will match well with mine. I’m still giving up some things, but I’m just blessed to be in a fight of this magnitude.”

Former WBA Lightweight Champ Paulus Moses To Face Former World Champ Cassius Baloyi On July 28 In Windhoek, Namibia

Former World Boxing Association lightweight champion Paulus “The Hitman” Moses (28-2, 19 KOs) will face former IBF super featherweight champion Cassius “Mr. Shy Guy” Baloyi (37-6-1, 19 KOs), from Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 28 at the Ramatex Factory in Windhoek, Namibia.

Moses, who hails from Windhoek, took on World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Ricky Burns in his last outing on March 10. Moses gave a spirited performance in the Scotsman’s home country before losing by decision.

“I am a former world champion, so I know what it takes to win a title,” Moses said. “Baloyi is a former world champion, so it’s no different for him. I must win if I want to fight for a title again.

“My fans and I appreciate Baloyi for accepting the invitation to fight in my hometown. Baloyi and I will both come to fight, and may the best man win.”

“I also want to give special thanks to my promoter Don King and his staff. They believe in me, and I will prove I am worthy of another world title shot.”

Moses traveled to Japan in 2008 and defeated Yusuke Kobori to win the WBA lightweight crown. He lost the title in a showdown against then-WBA interim lightweight champion Miguel Acosta on May 29, 2010.

Moses subsequently responded with three consecutive wins—the first two over opponents from Argentina and both matches took place at the Windkhoek Country Club Resort in the capital city of Namibia. He scored a fourth-round technical knockout over Sergio Omar Priotti on Nov. 25, 2010, and he dispatched Miguel Lombardo with a first-round knockout in his last outing on March 19, 2011.

Prior to facing Burns, Moses won a unanimous decision over former Brazilian champion Sidney Siqueira at the Windhoek Country Club on Sept. 24, 2011.

Moses vs. Baloyi will be a co-featured attraction with the main event showcasing at WBO bantamweight elimination bout with No. 3-ranked Paulus Ambunda, from Namibia, taking on William Prado, from Brazil. The winner will also become WBO International bantamweight champion.

Adrien Broner vs. Vicente Escobedo July 21, 2012 world title fight at U.S. Bank; Watch 2 Days: Adrien Broner and other videos online from HBO Boxing

2 Days: Adrien Broner

CHARLES HUERTA RETURNS!!! "PATH TO GLORY" PITS CALIFORNIA Vs. TEXAS FIGHTERS

Thompson Boxing Promotions returns indoors as popular Charles Huerta heads a list of outstanding Southern California prizefighters appearing at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario on Friday, July 20.

Paramount's Huerta, 25, will bring his caravan of fans as he makes a move up to junior lightweight against the always dangerous Eduardo "Latigo" Arcos, 24, in the main event set for eight rounds.

Huerta (16-3, 9 KOs) trains in Maywood and has long been one of the area's most talented boxers. Huerta has quickness, skills and solid punching power to go along with good boxing sense. He'll be looking to prove that he belongs in the top 20 junior lightweights in the country.

Arcos (18-7-1, 15 KOs) out of Tijuana, Mexico tries to turn things around. The hard-hitting Mexican fighter has a time bomb ticking in his boxing gloves and always looks for the knockout. Decisions are not his preference and he will be looking to dismantle Huerta.

Allentown's Miguel Diaz (8-0, 3 KOs) returns to the West Coast and finds himself matched against flyweight Evaristo Primero (15-14-1, 7 KOs) in an eight round bout. Despite living in Pennsylvania the hard punching Diaz has become an Inland Empire fan favorite with his aggressive style.

Primero has fought some of the best prizefighters in the world including the late, great Johnny Tapia who he lost to by majority decision after 10 rounds. He's also slugged it out with contenders Raul Martinez and Hussein Hussein. The El Paso boxer is a solid veteran.

Colombia's Daulis Prescott (23-1, 18 KOs) faces Mexico's Pablo Torres (4-4-2, 4 KOs) in a featherweight bout. Prescott is the younger brother of Breidis Prescott who knocked out Amir Khan several years back. Both Prescott brothers wield serious firepower. Torres also has a punch. All of his wins have come via knockout.

Northridge, California's Rigoberto Flores (4-1, 2 KOs) meets Hector Garza (3-6, 2 KOs) of Texas in a six round junior welterweight contest. Flores is making his sixth appearance at the Doubletree. He's found success there and hopes not to stumble against the left-handed Garza.

In other fights Sylmar's Sergio Nuñez (6-0, 1KO) fights Houston's Jesus Mendez (3-2, 2 KOs) in a junior lightweight clash; San Pedro's junior bantamweight Isaac Zarate (3-0) opposes Corpus Christi's Jeremy Longoria (3-1, 1KO); and San Diego's junior welterweight Giovanni Santillan (2-0, 1KO) meets Laredo's Alberto Espinoza (1-1).

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/-PATH-TO-GLORY--RETURNS-TO-THE-INLAND-EMPIRE-ON-FRIDAY--JULY-20-.html?soid=1103463118837&aid=pY0GbSudAss

♔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.

Falowo moving on from first loss‏; What’s done is done. Falowo ready to put first career loss behind him as he returns to the ring next week

No matter how many times he watches the video, Thomas Falowo still thinks he beat Samuel Clarkson on May 24^th.

“I’ve watched it plenty of times,” Falowo said. “I’ve even watched it with and without sound.”

Unfortunately for Falowo (6-1, 4 KOs), the result is the same each time – a split-decision win for Clarkson and the first blemish on Falowo’s otherwise flawless record. The good news is he’ll get the chance to erase the memory for good on Thursday, July 19^th, 2012 when he returns to the ring to face Dallas’ Rahman Yusubov (8-8, 6 KOs) in a six-round middleweight bout on the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Built To Last” boxing event at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.

“Regardless of whether or not I won the last time out, it was still a competitive fight,” Falowo said. “Overall, it was a good experience. I learned a lot about myself. I stepped up in competition and did what I had to do, except get him out of there.”

Falowo, a Pawtucket, R.I., native, learned a lot in the loss to Clarkson and has worked on correcting his mistakes in training camp, working primarily on his balance and setting up his punches, the latter which is aimed toward helping him snap his year-long drought without a knockout. Part of that, Falowo says, has to do with the increased level of competition, but he also shoulders some of the blame for his inability to finish his last two opponents.

“I feel like I need to set up my knockouts better,” Falowo said. “I’m not a one-punch knockout puncher, so, for me, most of my knockouts come from combinations. It’s more or less a case of being smarter in how I go about it and how effectively I can throw more punches to set up those knockouts.”

Footwork is also an issue. Though Clarkson appeared to stagger Falowo toward the end of the fifth round, Falowo said he was more off-balance than hurt, which may or may not have affected the way the judges scored the bout.

“That might have given the impression that he did more damage than he really did,” Falowo said. “He really didn’t do much damage. I looked like I was wobbly, but I didn’t feel anything in my legs. I was actually hurt more in my third fight [against Zack Thomas].

“Part of it is footwork, and part of it is me standing up higher than I should. I’m working on it.”

Falowo hopes to get it right in time for next Thursday’s clash with Yusubov, who, despite his record, has knocked out the opponent six times in his eight victories and hasn’t fought anyone with more than one loss since March of 2011, and that was against former United States Boxing Assocation (USBA) welterweight champion Carson Jones, who was 28-8-2 at the time and is now 34-9-2.

“He’s a tough guy,” Falowo said. “He comes right at you, and he’s pretty solid. He’s a little shorter than I anticipated, so he’s sturdy, but he comes forward throwing those big shots, so I’ve got a pretty good idea of how he fights.

“I’m just always trying to progress regardless of whether I get a win, loss or draw,” he continued. “You usually learn more from a loss than a win anyway. I’m always trying to do better with each fight and take it to another level.”

Sunday, July 15, 2012

JOSESITO LOPEZ CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS IN JULY!‏

Dalia Gutierrez, 23, quit her job to live at Hope Gardens Family Center, a transitional housing complex that administers a program that helped her get back custody of her daughter.

Having lived at the center for about a year, Gutierrez wanted Wednesday to be different from the rest of the year. After all, it was her daughter's birthday.

She was one of more than 100 people who arrived Wednesday morning to attend Union Rescue Mission's "Christmas in July," an annual event held in downtown L.A. that invites homeless families to celebrate the holiday spirit with snow, Santa Claus and presents.

"I came just for the experience, so she can get the experience doing something else," said Gutierrez, who doesn't normally go to these events.

About 10:30 a.m., children and teens flooded the lot behind Union Rescue Mission's downtown shelter, racing to a penned-off area filled with mounds of snow.

Josesito Lopez, recent World Boxing Council Silver Belt welterweight champion, kicked off the event with the first snowball pitch aimed at a photo of his future opponent Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

"I was an underdog in the fight. Nobody expected me to win," Lopez said to the kids. "Just work hard and anything can come true."

Minutes later, a swarm of children rushed in, laughing and smiling as they balled up mounds of snow in the 82-degree weather.

"The goal is to bring summer and snow to kids who may not ever see it," said Alexander Cornejo, manager of Union Rescue Mission's volunteer department, as he got smacked with a large snowball. "Right now they can forget about their situation and [be] in La La Land."

In a white tank, black shorts, and Ugg-like boots, Zoey Dawson, 13, left the pit half-soaked with melted snow. Her friend followed her out with a snowball in tow.

"You don't have to sit there in the shelter and worry about things. You can just go out there and have fun with your friends," said Zoey, who lives at the shelter with her mom.

The event also featured a Santa Claus wearing a half-suit with shorts and Nike sandals; there was face painting, balloons, carnival games and free food.

Sporting a Tinkerbell-inspired face paint mask, Sharesse Perry, 23, played the ring toss at a booth. She had brought her 1-year-old daughter, Nabaeh, who sat comfortably in her stroller.

"This event brings the family together," said Perry, who has been staying at Hope Gardens Family Center. "So it doesn't matter where you're from ... you can still come here and everyone is still family."

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/JOSESITO-LOPEZ-CELEBRATES-CHRISTMAS-IN-JULY-.html?soid=1103463118837&aid=3fJCJuXXHuo

“Built To Last”; Rich Gingras added to July 19th show‏

Rich Gingras certainly wasn’t expecting the phone call earlier this week, but he was more than ready to accept the challenge. Such is the unpredictable nature of professional boxing.

Working full-time as the owner and head trainer at the Fight 2 Fitness gym in Pawtucket, R.I., the former “The Contender” reality television star hasn’t slowed down since his last fight on May 24th, which is why he willingly answered the bell when promoterJimmy Burchfield Sr. offered to add him to the “Built To Last” card Thursday, July 19th, 2012at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.

“That’s the way boxing is,” said Gingras, who lost to Terrance Smith in May when the ringside doctor stopped the fight after the second round due to a cut over Gingras’ eye. “The last thing I wanted to do was wait another two months before my next fight.”

Four days after the fight, Gingras (11-3, 7 KOs) moved his gym from the second floor to the bottom level, expanding from just under 5,000 square feet to 8,500, a space that now includes 33 heavy bags, six speed bags, seven spin bikes, full locker rooms and showers, and a regulation-sized boxing ring.

Needless to say, Gingras has kept in shape since the end of May; he weighed 183 pounds the night of his fight and has been walking around comfortably at 178 for the past six weeks, so he’ll be ready to fight at the light heavyweight limit of 175 when he returns to the ring next Thursday in a six-round special attraction.

“The longer you’re away from the gym, the harder it is to get back in shape,” he said, “so that’s why I went back in right after the last fight. I’m constantly working out, running everyday, and when I’m not working out myself, I’m training someone else, so I’m still burning calories.

“Eating food has become a whole other job just so I can keep up on my calories.”

Gingras recently signed a promotional agreement with Classic Entertainment & Sports, which will promote the July 19th show, and debuted with the company in May. His goal at the time was to stay as busy as possible, and that hasn’t changed despite his recent setback. The fight on the 19th will be his third since March, and he’s already looking forward to stepping back into the ring in October when CES’ Thursday Night Fight Series continues at Twin River.

“I want to get right back on that horse,” Gingras said. “When you live healthy, you heal fast, and I’m a fast healer. I take pride in staying in shape.”

Judah Brothers Boxing Club Fighting to Stay Open‏

The Judah Brothers Boxing Club, a safe haven for people of all ages living in New York City’s roughest areas, is desperately trying fighting off a serious economic onslaught.

The Judah Brothers Boxing Club is under the banner of the Thornhill Community Supportive Services Incorporated, a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization based in Brooklyn. Currently, Judah is in the process of making his gym an independent non-profit so he can continue aiding struggling New Yorkers on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, he is behind on the monthly bills and worries that if the gym is forced to close his members would be in serious trouble. To make matters worse, the landlord is planning to raise rent by $2,000 per month in the near future.

“I want to continue providing a positive place for people in bad situations to go but I need all the help I can get,” said Judah, who regularly bought food and drinks for members who couldn’t afford it. My goal is to run a free summer program for underprivileged kids and they’d spend a whole day at the gym instead of the streets. This is very important because kids are out of school now and can get into all kinds of trouble.”

The gym opened in August 2011 and was fully funded by legendary kickboxer and boxing trainer Yoel Judah. Many of the members laced up a pair of gloves for the first time and were educated about the discipline that the sport provides. In addition to a boxing program that’s attracted children as young as five, the gym has martial arts training, a wrestling program, a basketball court and ping pong tables.

All members receive hands-on training from Judah, former two division world champion Junior “Poison” Jones, famed Butterbean conqueror Mitch Rose and Yoel’s son Daniel.

“We have a lot of kids here that are coming for free,” said Judah. “A lot of these kids have (no family life) and no money. The gym keeps them off the streets and out of trouble, which is extremely important.”

With the assistance and dedication of his hard-working trainers, Judah is organizing a series of fundraisers for the gym.

Donations can be made via check to the Thornhill Community Supportive Services Incorporated in association with Judah Brothers Boxing Club, located at 1467 Bedford Ave Brooklyn, NY 11216. The Judah Brothers Boxing Club is located at 400 Liberty Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11207. For more information, please email judahbrothers@gmail.com.

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Monday, July 16, 2012

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Judah Brothers Boxing Club Fighting to Stay Open‏