★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience©®™

Sunday, April 21, 2013

BOXING'S SUMMER SEASON KICKS OFF WITH MARCOS MAIDANA VS. JOSESITO LOPEZ, ALFREDO ANGULO VS. ERISLANDY LARA & SAKIO BIKA VS. MARCO ANTONI‏

BOXING'S SUMMER SEASON KICKS OFF ON JUNE 8 AT

THE HOME DEPOT CENTER IN

CARSON, CALIF. LIVE ON SHOWTIME^®

MARCOS MAIDANA VS. JOSESITO LOPEZ

ALFREDO ANGULO VS. ERISLANDY LARA

SAKIO BIKA VS. MARCO ANTONIO PERIBAN

HIGHLIGHT NIGHT OF BOXING UNDER THE STARS

The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. will be the site of one of the most intriguing clashes of boxing's summer season, as Argentinean knockout artist Marcos Maidana faces off against Southern California favorite Josesito Lopez in a 12 round fight for Maidana's WBA Intercontinental Welterweight Championship in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader set for Saturday, June 8.

The tripleheader will also feature a 12-round junior middleweight showdown between all-action warrior Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo and number one rated WBC super welterweight contender Erislandy Lara and a clash for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight World Championship between number one rated WBC super middleweight contender Sakio "The Scorpion" Bika and Mexico's Marco Antonio Periban, the number four rated WBC super middleweight contender.

"If you're a fan of action fights, there is no better card to see than this one on June 8th,"said President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya. "All three high-stakes bouts have the potential to be the main event and the winners who walk out of the Home Depot Center with their hands raised will know they've been in a fight."

"Like all of our recent fights, the fight between Marcos Maidana and Josesito Lopez is a matchup in which there is no clear-cut favorite,'' said Stephen Espinoza, Executive General Manager and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. "You can make a legitimate argument for either fighter. Maidana is one of the most exciting fighters in any division, and he's facing an opponent, Josesito Lopez, who scored the biggest upset of 2012 and is now back in his most natural weight class.

"Top to bottom, this card is filled with fan-friendly, all-action fights. There is no question that Maidana vs. Lopez will be one of the most entertaining, hard-fought matchups of the year, and the Angulo-Lara and Bika-Periban are sure to be hotly contested and action-packed as well.''

"Outdoor boxing cards at The Home Depot Center's intimate 8,000-seat outdoor stadium continue to be annual highlights on the southern California sports calendar," said Katie Pandolfo, General Manager of The Home Depot Center. "With Golden Boy Promotions lining up this championship card, our fans are truly in for another great night of boxing."

"Josesito Lopez is a tough challenge, but I'm ready for everything he will bring to the ring on June 8th," Maidana said. "Beating him is the next step to getting a world title shot and I know I'll get the victory."

"I fight my best at home, and with the fans in my corner on June 8^th, Maidana doesn't have a chance," said Lopez. "He's going to push me hard from start to finish, but that's when I truly shine. I promise this will be a great fight for the fans."

"Lara is one of Cuba's greatest talents, but I'll have the California fans on my side and I'm determined to do whatever it takes to win," said Angulo. "This is the most important fight of my career and I will perform like it when the bell rings."

"Angulo hits hard and is a tough fighter making this a classic boxer vs. puncher match up," said Lara. "I'm really excited for this fight. Come June 8^th, I'm going to put on a boxing display and finally get the 'W' over a top fighter that has been taken from me in my past fights."

"I'm thankful to Golden Boy Promotions and the WBC for giving me this opportunity and I will make the most of it," said Bika. "Ever since I turned pro, my only goal was to win a world championship and on June 8th, Marco Antonio Periban won't be able to stop me from getting that belt."

"I've trained hard, I've made many sacrifices and I feel that my time is now to become Mexico's next world champion," said Periban. "Sakio Bika will be my toughest challenge, but I have the skills, determination and heart to beat him. I'll beat him and become the first Mexican super middleweight world champion and make history for all of Mexico."

Maidana vs. Lopez, a 12-round fight for Maidana's WBA Intercontinental Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona. The tripleheader will take place on Saturday, June 8 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. and will be televised live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Maidana vs. Lopez is presented in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions. Also featured will be a 12-round junior middleweight showdown between all-action warrior Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo and number one rated WBC super welterweight contender Erislandy Lara and a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight World Championship between number one rated WBC super middleweight contender Sakio Bika and number four rated WBC super middleweight contender Marco Antonio Periban. Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME Extreme at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast)

2012 was a busy year for former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Marcos "El Chino" Maidana (33-3, 30 KO's) as he began his quest for another world title, this one seven pounds north in the welterweight division. After a rough outing in his 147-pound debut against current IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander in February, the Argentinean knockout artist bounced back with an exciting, Fight of the Year candidate eighth round technical knockout win over rugged contender Jesus Soto Karass before finishing things off in December by defending his WBA Intercontinental Championship with a third round knockout over Angel Martinez in his native Buenos Aires. On June 8, the 29-year-old returns to fight in California for the first time since his breakthrough 2009 stoppage over former World Champion Victor Ortiz.

One of the toughest fighters in the fight game today, Riverside, California's Josesito Lopez (30-5, 18 KO's) has made a career out of beating the odds and he's not about to stop now. The winner of several regional titles since turning professional in 2003, Lopez stunned unbeaten rising star Mike Dallas Jr. in 2011, stopping the highly touted prospect in seven rounds. Two fights later, Lopez stepped in on short notice to face former World Champion Victor Ortiz in June of 2012 at STAPLES Center and scored a huge upset win, spoiling Ortiz' chance at a fight with Canelo Alvarez by halting him in nine rounds. The victory set up a bout between Lopez and Alvarez last September. Although he was giving up size and strength advantages to the WBC Super Welterweight World Champion, Lopez's gutsy effort in defeat earned him praise from both fans and media alike. On June 8, Lopez returns to 147 pounds to take on Maidana.

One of boxing's most popular warriors, Mexicali's Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo (22-2, 18 KO's) thrilled his avid followers in 2012, knocking out Raul Casarez and decisioning Jorge Silva in his first bouts after a year out of the ring due to immigration issues. Now back in the ring and eager to take on all comers, the 30-year-old knockout artist will face his toughest puzzle to date in Cuba's dynamic Erislandy Lara.

A product of the legendary Cuban amateur boxing program, Erislandy Lara (17-1-2, 11 KO's) garnered a host of amateur titles and accolades before defecting and beginning his quest for gold as a professional. Now living in Miami, Florida, the 29-year-old Lara rebounded from a highly controversial decision loss to former World Champion Paul Williams in 2011 to knock out Ronald Hearns and outpoint Freddy Hernandez, only to battle to a disputed draw with Vanes Martirosyan last November. On June 8, Lara vows to keep the judges out of matters against Angulo.

A respected veteran who has earned his stellar reputation with a hard-nosed attitude and exciting fights, 2000 Cameroon Olympian Sakio Bika (31-5-2, 21 KO's) believes that after tough world championship bouts with Markus Beyer, Joe Calzaghe and Andre Ward, his fourth shot at the belt on June 8 will be the one he capitalizes on. The winner of three straight, stopping Alfredo Contreras and Dyah Davis and scoring a punishing decision win over Nikola Sjekloca, the 33-year-old "Scorpion" is ready to sting Periban and capture his first world championship.

Mexico City's Marco Antonio Periban (20-0, 13 KO's) has impressed fight game insiders and boxing fans ever since his pro debut in 2008 and less than five years later, he's on the verge of becoming a world champion and adding to his country's championship heritage. The 28-year-old Periban went 4-0 in 2012 and got 2013 off to a sizzling start on March 16 with a second round knockout over Colombia's Samuel Miller to win the NABF Super Middleweight Championship. Now he will look to add the WBC belt to his collection on June 8.

♔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, 2021, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

STOP PRESS Chris Goodwin Vs. Oisin Fagan Title Fight Added To April 27th York Hall Event‏

Back in December last year Chester’s Chris Goodwin was due to travel to Cork in Ireland to face ‘homeboy’ Oisin ‘Gael Force’ Fagan, for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Inter-Continental Lightweight crown. However fate stepped in and the fight never got to go ahead.

Some four months later the pair finally go toe to toe for the WBF title, as they have been added to the upcoming Dave Murphy promoted ‘Thunder & Lightning’ event, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 27^th April 2013.

Goodwin, the reigning World Boxing Foundation Lightweight World Champion, switches allegiance to the more meaningful World Boxing Federation in his quest to add further silverware to his trophy cabinet, where he aims to not only include the WBF Inter-Continental but ultimately the WBF World Championship belt to his collection, that already includes the aforementioned World Boxing Foundation World Lightweight and both the International Masters Lightweight and Welterweight belts.

He is mightily unlucky not to also include the Lonsdale Belt to his collection, after losing, by a really close split points decision, to Carl Johanneson in their sensational BBBofC Lightweight Title eliminator back in March last year.

As stated previously Goodwin is keen to add the World Boxing Federation crown to his collection, but before he gets the chance he must first deal with the highly experienced championship campaigner Oisin Fagan.

Back in December Goodwin stated, “I know I am in for a tough night.

Fagan has been in with the likes of Paul Spadafora and Amir Khan, and he is an Irish hero.

He has a lot of experience. This is a real fight and I am getting excited about it already.”

You can be sure Goodwin’s thoughts haven’t changed over the past few months, especially since Fagan is an experienced championship campaigner himself, during his career the Dubliner has been crowned USA Oklahoma State Lightweight, Oklahoma State Lightweight and Irish Light Welterweight King.

In addition Fagan had also fought Verquan Kimbrough for the USBA Lightweight title, which he lost by a close split points decision.

Amir ‘King’ Khan then stopped the tough Irishman in the second round to lift the WBA International Lightweight crown in December 2008.

Then in 2009 Dublin’s Eddie Hyland had his hands full when they battled for the IBF Super Featherweight belt, Hyland winning by unanimous points decision after twelve sensational all action rounds of boxing.

Fagan’s last Championship outing was in 2010, when he unsuccessfully challenged Irish Lightweight Champion Andy Murray for his crown.

Main support sees Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne takes on Jay ‘IOW Assassin’ Morris, for the International Masters Welterweight title

Byrne’s sensational performance against former USBA Welterweight Champion Carson Jones back in December surely makes the plucky Irishman favourite to lift his first domestic crown.

However you just can’t write off Morris though, as the former British Masters Light Welterweight Champion is about as tough as they come.

Making his professional debut on the show is 2010 Commonwealth Boxing Championships Gold Medalist and European Silver Medalist Iain Weaver.

2009 ABA Champion Weaver was a pivotal member of Team GB Podium squad for almost four and half years, including the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, where he was pipped at the post for selection by eventual Gold Medalist Luke Campbell.

Peckham’s Diego Burton makes a welcome return to York Hall, where he has previously won twice, as well as scored a credible draw on his debut.

Woolwich’s Marianne Marston, the protégé of legendary Heavyweight Champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier and two time Cruiserweight Champion of the World Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, makes her well overdue debut, against Latvia’s Aleksandra Jasjukevica.

Marston, who is now trained by Barry Smith at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, is a big punching Southpaw that originally learned her craft in the fighting City of Philadelphia, USA, under the highly experienced eyes of the aforementioned greats Frazier and Cunningham.

Bermondsey based Nigerian battler Ideh Ockuko will be looking to put his last fight, against unbeaten prospect Adam Dingsdale, behind him.

It was a fantastic Battle Royale that could have gone either way, most present thought the match a draw, however the man that matters, the referee, gave the decision to Dingsdale by a very close 38-39 points margin.

21 year old Chris Rackley from Slough in Berkshire will be keen to impress when he returns to York Hall, the scene of his hard fought draw against the highly experienced Liam Griffiths back in February.

West Drayton’s unbeaten Welterweight Scrappa Smith makes his first visit to York Hall and will also be looking to build on his two great wins to date.

Last but not least Wokingham’s Mark Douglas makes his long awaited return to the ring, following a long, forced, sabbatical after he dislocated his shoulder whilst battling with Lee Purdy for the Southern Area strap back in 2009.

Oisin Fagan versus Chris Goodwin, for the WBF Inter-Continental Lightweight title, headlines Dave Murphy’s Thunderdrome Promotions ‘Thunder & Lightning’ event at York Hall, Bethnal Green in London on the 27^th April 2013.

Perez vs Jimenez; Tuff-N-Uff Hustler Rooftop

Tuff-N-Uff at Larry Flynt's Hustler Club Las Vegas!
From THE ROOFTOP overlooking the Las Vegas Skyline!
Perez vs Jimenez, April 26th! Doors open at 6pm!
OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY IMMEDIATELY TO FOLLOW!

Just when you thought you had seen it all, "Tuff-N-Uff: The Future Stars of Mixed Martial Arts" is ready to bring its legendary production to a whole new level – namely, the roof.

The nation's premier amateur MMA organization returns to action on Friday, April 26, and for one night only, the Tuff-N-Uff cage will visit the rooftop of Larry Flynt's Hustler Club, where the promotion will feature a full lineup of action-packed contests set under the backdrop of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. Hustler's resident DJs spin live music throughout the night, and the beautiful Hustler Honeys will also be on hand.

"We are very excited about presenting this unique event," Tuff-N-Uff exec Chris Irwin said. "By now, I think Tuff-N-Uff fans know the type of quality events we're committed to produce, and this special event will be no exception. Great fights in a unique, outdoor setting with the neon lights of Sin City in the background. It's going to be an amazing night."

The Tuff-N-Uff pre-party starts this Friday at 6 p.m., and the first fight starts shortly after. This limited, VIP experience is open to just 600 lucky fans, so don't wait to secure your ticket.

The night's featured matchups include two championship matchups. In the headliner, New Mexico's Daniel "Pretty Boi Nightmare" Jimenez (3-3) faces Epic Training Center product Mikey "Pretty Boy" Perez (6-4) in a 180-pound title affair, while the co-feature sees Excel's Mike "the Jersey Devel" Florio (7-1) meet Syndicate MMA's Cory Hendricks (4-1) in a light-heavyweight title fight.

Additionally John Hackleman Jr. (4-2), son of legendary MMA trainer and Hawaiian Kempo specialist John Hackleman, is scheduled to compete in a featured attraction.

"As always, we've got a fantastic lineup of some of the sport's brightest young talent," Tuff-N-Uff president Barry Meyer said. "And for one night only, we're going to hold those fights in a truly unique setting that should provide an incredibly memorable experience."

In addition to the night's featured contests, a full lineup of aspiring amateur fighters from some of the world's top academies – including camps from Las Vegas, New Mexico, California and more – are slated to compete.

The full fight card is available for viewing at TuffNUff.com.

Come see the future stars of mixed martial arts.

Amateur Star Iain Weaver To Pro Debut On Apr 27th York Hall Event

2010 Commonwealth Boxing Championships Gold Medalist and European Silver Medalist Iain Weaver has been added to the Dave Murphy promoted ‘Thunder & Lightning’ event, headlined by Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne versus Jay ‘IOW Assassin’ Morris International Masters Welterweight title clash, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 27^th April.

Weaver, who was a pivotal member of Team GB Podium squad in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, sensationally became the 2009 ABA Champion, with a 19-14 points win over Blain Younis, on his first Senior outing.

The following year Weaver won gold at the Commonwealth Boxing Championships in New Delhi.

On his way to the Gold Medal position, Weaver beat Olympic bronze medalist Bruno Julie, India’s Akhil Kumar and in the final Sri Lanka’s MDK Wanniarachchi.

With the Commonwealth Gold secured next up was the European Championships, which in 2010 were held in Moscow.

Weaver defeated the Spaniard Rodrigues Molina 11-3 in the 1st round, then beat Sweden's Bashir Hassan-Salad 8-3 in the second and then Frenchman Oualid Belaoura in the quarter finals.

He then went on to beat Ireland's Tyrone McCullagh in the semi-final to earn the right to face Germany's Denis Makarov in the final.

The first round was an edgy affair, neither Weaver nor Makarov seemed to want to give anything away. There was more action in the second round, after which Weaver was mightily unlucky to be trailing 3-2.

In the final round, Weaver fought hard in his attempt to overcome the deficit, however the judges continued to score points only for the German. At the end of the contest the scorecard read 7-2, in favour of Makarov.

There was little surprise, that with Commonwealth Boxing Championships Gold and European Silver firmly in his possession, that Weaver was selected, ahead of London 2012 Gold Medalist Luke Campbell, to contest the mainCommonwealth Games in 2010, which were again held in Delhi.

In the first round Weaver defeated Vusie Simelane of Swaziland 10-1, to set up a quarter final clash against home town favourite Kumar. Some good old fashioned ‘home cooking’ proved to much for the Englishman to overcome, leaving eventual Gold Medalist Kumar the 11-6 winner in front of the highly vocal home crowd.

After failing to be selected for the London 2012 Olympics Weaver announced his intention to turn professional.

Weaver will be making his debut, against a yet to be named opponent, on the undercard of the Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne versus Jay ‘IOW Assassin’ Morris International Masters Welterweight Championship clash that headlines Dave Murphy’s Thunderdrome Promotions ‘Thunder & Lightning’ event at York Hall, Bethnal Green in London on the 27^thApril 2013.

♔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, 2021, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Carson Jones to Devon Alexander: Step up to the plate!‏; Jones responds to Kevin Cunningham!‏

In an age where fighters build their records up by partaking in gross mismatches, Oklahoma City based welterweight contender “Mr.” Carson Jones is a boxing rarity.

The youthful but experienced 26-year-old began his career without true direction, taking a number of early losses against world class opposition. Since March 2009, Jones has an excellent 18-2-1 record with 13 wins by knockout. Along the way, Jones, whose overall professional ledger is 34-9-3 (24 KO’s), steamrolled previously unbeaten knockout king Tyrone Brunson, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Williams, welterweight contender Said Ouali and former title challenger Michael Clark.

In July 2012, Jones lost a hotly contested majority decision in the hometown of Kell Brook in one of the best fights during that calendar year. Dubbed as “Special K” due to his diverse talents, Brook dominated all 27 of his opponents up to that point. Against Jones, a bruised and bloodied Brook survived a number of rough moments and never considered a rematch.

Fast forward to 2013, where Brook found himself pitted against IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander; or so we thought. The two were scheduled to fight on multiple occasions, with each man pulling out of the fight due to an injury. On Saturday, May 18, Brook-Alexander was finally scheduled to take place on Showtime, but Brook suffered another injury that forced him to withdraw, leaving the champion without an opponent.

“I know a lot of guys are calling out Alexander and I can’t blame them,” said Jones, the IBF’s 7^thrated contender. “But how many of them have been through hell in a gasoline suit? Which one of them went overseas and got the short end of a decision against a fighter that is considered one of boxing’s next bright stars? Can anybody else out there vying for this fight claim to have faced the level of opposition I have? The answer is no.”

Jones also believes that his fan-friendly style would make for a great fight and a bout with Alexander would produce two winners; Carson Jones and the spectators.

“After Alexander’s sleep-induced fight with Randall Bailey, I think the boxing world needs an exciting fight. I do not run from my opponents. Unlike Bailey, I will cut the ring off and force him to fight my fight just like Tim Bradley did. Alexander’s known as Devon “The Great” but does his name mean anything? If he’s true to his moniker and wants to show how great he his, all Team Alexander has to do send me a contract and see me in the ring on May 18!”

Jones is currently in training with the hopes of facing Alexander or another top welterweight in the immediate future.

Jones responds to Kevin Cunningham!‏

Earlier today, Kevin Cunningham, trainer of IBF welterweight titlist Devon Alexander, took a shot at contender Carson Jones. Less than 24 hours ago, Jones, the IBF’s 7th rated contender and a former USBA champion, offered to face Alexander May 18 after his original opponent Kell Brook withdrew for a second time due to an injury. Jones, who has a deceptive record 34-9-3 with 24kos since he took many fights earlier in his career as an opponent, was abruptly rejected by Cunningham.

Jones, who said he respected Cunningham as a trainer before he hurled insults in his directions, believes that he only said that to keep his fighter away from a tough bout.

"These guys claim to be tough and from the streets of St. Louis, but how tough are they? The truth is that boxing wise, Devon’s anything but tough. Aside from quitting against Bradley, he’s been protected by his promoters and the premium cable networks. They want to talk about my 9 losses but forget what tough really is.

"I lost a few controversial fights and the only time Devon’s had any controversy, he received gift decisions in hometown. Cunningham and Alexander know deep down that records are overrated and there are plenty of 25-0 guys who can’t fight a lick. I earned my way up the rankings by knocking out quality fighters when my back was against the wall and that is something they can’t dispute no matter how hard they try."

Jones also views his close loss to the aforementioned Kell Brook as a reason of why he’s more than worthy for the title shot.

"I went into Brook’s hometown, gave him hell and lost a very close decision. From what I’ve heard, Brook offered good money to face him in England but Team Alexander was too scared. I proved that I am a real fighter time and time again by facing whoever, wherever and whenever. Can Devon do the same or are you guys into playing the matchmaking game and pretending all the people in boxing are idiots and actually believe these undefeated stiffs can fight. They call him Devon “The Great” Alexander, but he’s acting like a coward. Man up and take the challenge. I’m ready to go!"

"BEAUTIFUL BOXER": BEAUTIFUL STORY, BEAUTIFUL MOVIE

Note: The issue of transsexual athletes in the combat sports is still being debated, especially among their most backwards sector, North American MMA circles. This controversy has been covered in depth on No Holds Barred, with recent interviews with transsexual athletes Fallon Fox, Alaina Hardie, Ryka Aoki, and Donna Rose, as well as a commentary supporting Fallon Fox's right to fight in women's MMA.

But this issue is neither new for combat sports nor for my coverage of them. Back in 2005, for the now-defunct and dearly departed BoxingRanks.com site, I reviewed the movie "Beautiful Boxer", about transsexual muay Thai fighter Parinya Charoenphol, also known as Nong Toom. Since that site has totally closed down, I actually had to use the Internet Archive to retrieve it, here.

And since that time, the entire film "Beautiful Boxer" has been uploaded on YouTube, at http://youtu.be/ibZMW6AKe4o.

Take the time to watch it, and you will feel rewarded.

Below is the text of the original article I wrote in 2005 on the film "Beautiful Boxer", minus the links at the end to sites about the movie since they seem outdated as well. Just remember that it was originally written for the audience of what was then a major boxing web site, and that the article also received praise and appreciation from those involved in that site.

"BEAUTIFUL BOXER": BEAUTIFUL STORY, BEAUTIFUL MOVIE
by Eddie Goldman (March 6, 2005)

The fight game is once again emerging as the undisputed champion of cinematic drama. The Clint Eastwood film "Million Dollar Baby" made a big haul at the 2005 Academy Awards, winning four Oscars. The highly-acclaimed documentary "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story" will debut on the USA Network on Wed., April 20, after a run at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Another boxing movie called "Black Cloud" is set for its national debut on March 11.

And now from Thailand comes "Beautiful Boxer," a very different kind of story about a different kind of fighting and a different kind of fighter.

If you are expecting "Raging Bull," "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (my personal favorite), "Rocky," or any other of the traditional boxing films, this one is something quite different.

"Beautiful Boxer" is a dramatization of the story of Thai kickboxer Parinya Charoenphol, also affectionately known as Nong Toom. Thai boxing, or muay Thai as it is known internationally, is a brutal form of kickboxing that combines punches, kicks, elbows, fighting while clinching, and even some throws to the mat. And that's just the legal stuff. "Beautiful Boxer" is partially subtitled in English with most of the dialogue in Thai and some in English as well. Once you get past all that, you will find a very human story that will be hard to forget.

The reason is that Parinya Charoenphol, or Nong Toom, was a champion Thai boxer, and a transvestite who eventually had surgery to become a woman.

The film starts with the telling of Nong Toom's life story through flashbacks. Nong Toom is played by Asanee Suwan, himself a champion muay Thai fighter.

As a young boy Nong Toom was brought up to face a very hard life with dirt poor parents. Yet even then he was attracted to girls' clothing.

In an array of seeming contradictions, at least to prevailing stereotypes about gender, he ends up going to a fighting camp to learn muay Thai, and does very well. As his career develops, he starts to fight competitively and win almost all of his fights. An exception is a hometown decision given to a fighter whom he sliced and diced in the ring. Yes, corruption in boxing knows no bounds either of country or style of fighting.

While building a reputation as a top fighter in this brutal combat sport, he also remains gentle on the inside. This film is filled with his strikingly sensitive and haunting observations, with statements made in an increasingly feminine-sounding voice like, "I don't like to hurt strangers. But in the ring you have no choice." If you don't react to these types of statements, and the way they are delivered in this film, then you have a smaller heart than the tin man in "The Wizard of Oz."

Soon it is made clear that Nong Toom's main motivation for fighting as a professional is to earn enough money to pay for what is clinically known as sexual reassignment surgery, or more popularly as a sex change operation.

By this time Nong Toom is taking female hormones and openly appearing at his fights as a transvestite. He comes into the ring wearing women's makeup. This only adds drama to the matches, and many regard this, incorrectly, as simply a gimmick to add heat to the matches.

In the film, the underlying contrast of his success at this seemingly male and brutal style of fighting and his increasingly female appearance and psyche is highlighted, all the while decking and staggering preconceived notions about the nature of masculinity, femininity, and gender as effectively as Nong Toom's punches and kicks are stopping his opponents in the ring.

Eventually Nong Toom's success earns him a fight in Bangkok's famed Lumpinee Stadium, the Madison Square Garden of muay Thai. Despite his growing success as a fighter, he never loses sight of his main goal: To earn enough money for a sex change operation.

Nong Toom continues to take female hormones as part of that transition, while also continuing to fight. Yet the female hormones begin to transform his body and sap his muscle power. Now, as he is growing breasts and has to wear a bra into the ring, he starts losing fights to male opponents.

Women are banned from this style of fighting in Thailand. Even before his surgery, Nong Toom is shown the door from the muay Thai ring.

Yet he still needs cash for his surgery. So he goes to Japan in 1988 to participate in what is essentially a freak show match to face female pro wrestler Kyoko Inoue in the Tokyo Dome. The movie portrays their encounter as a real fight involving mixed styles. In the film, Kyoko Inoue plays herself, and performs various moves from the fake pro wrestling that are not known to work in real fights. In both the film and in the real fight, however, Nong Toom wins by a TKO as Inoue is cut and bleeding from his many blows. According to Tadashi Tanaka of Japan and Dave Meltzer of the U.S., both expert journalists in pro wrestling and the mixed martial arts, this was indeed a real fight and not a fake or staged one, even if it was very strange.

A key scene in the film takes place after this fight. A cute female groupie camps out by Nong Toom's hotel room awaiting him. When he arrives, she tells him that she believes that all this transvestite stuff is merely a gimmick, like some fictional pro wrestling persona. In his room she begins to disrobe and throw herself at him. He tries to be polite, but looks distraught and is obviously not sexually interested in her. At no time in the film do we see Nong Toom having sex or expressing sexual interest in anyone, male or female, but this scene touchingly makes clear that the direction he is heading in is as real as real can be.

Eventually Nong Toom has the sex change operation and becomes a woman. The real Parinya Charoenphol, who is now a successful model and actress in Thailand, makes a cameo appearance as a makeup artist in the film, as a sort of a visual endorsement of the authenticity of this dramatization.

In the U.S., "Beautiful Boxer" has made the rounds at some gay film festivals as well as some independent movie theaters. The fact that it is not an easy movie to pigeonhole, as a gay movie or a martial arts movie or what, led a reviewer in the Village Voice to complain that "some fences just can't be painlessly straddled."

Yet "Beautiful Boxer" is beautiful precisely because of its universality. It transcends all those social barriers that segregate transgender people from everyone else. Nong Toom could be the kid next door, or the fighter on the card you just watched, or anyone else. And that is precisely its point, that it is as natural for transgender people to be who they are as is the grass that grows underneath all our feet.

You will undoubtedly root for Nong Toom as you watch this film. Hopefully it will instruct you, if you didn't already realize it, that the issue of gender needs to be approached with reason, science, logic, history, and compassion, and not superstition, fear, ignorance, prejudice, and hatred.

Do you want a parallel? Look at how Black people were characterized just a century ago, as documented in "Unforgivable Blackness." Race and gender, of course, have very different histories and natures. For one thing, we know that race is not even a scientific category. For another, slavery, apartheid, segregation, and racial discrimination have a different social significance and history from gender discrimination. But the ideological prejudices are similar. The justifications of the persecution and oppression of all these groups use similar religious fundamentalist texts, which support the buying and selling of slaves, and the suppression of anything other than heterosexual relations.

This beautiful movie, "Beautiful Boxer," begins to break down these barriers with this dramatization of this real-life story. It is but one of countless real-life stories which demonstrate that the path taken by Nong Toom is not some "lifestyle," and not a mere "choice," but as natural as the sun that shines above us all.

Only the most heartless, the most prejudiced and bigoted, and the most empty- headed religious fanatics will fail to empathize with the very human dilemma which faced Nong Toom. And only the densest and most closed minds will fail to notice the contradiction between Nong Toom's brutal profession and his gentle and pacific nature.

It will indeed be a shame if this movie gets labeled as simply a gay movie. It is a movie for everyone -- everyone that is compassionate and open-minded, that is. Bigots can stay home and hate themselves as well as everyone else.

♔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, 2021, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

UFC 159: Jones vs Sonnen‏ Saturday April 27

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Middleweight superstar Sergio Martinez headlines the HBO Boxing triple-header: SERGIO MARTINEZ VS. MARTIN MURRAY, LUIS CARLOS ABREGU VS. ANTONIN DECARIE AND CHRIS ARREOLA VS. BERMANE STIVERNE on SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Middleweight superstar Sergio Martinez headlines the HBO Boxing triple-header: SERGIO MARTINEZ VS. MARTIN MURRAY, LUIS CARLOS ABREGU VS. ANTONIN DECARIE AND CHRIS ARREOLA VS. BERMANE STIVERNE on SATURDAY, APRIL 27 at 8:30 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Buenos Aries, Argentina and Ontario, Cal. exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: April 28 (8:45 a.m.) and 29 (12:15 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: April 28 (4:00 p.m.) and 30 (11:30 p.m.)

♔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, 2021, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Henderson vs. Melendez, Mir vs. Cormier, and Diaz vs. Thomson all take the stage at UFC on FOX this Saturday in San Jose.

Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez on UFC ON FOX SAT. APR. 20 LIVE FROM SAN JOSE

Benson Henderson will put his lightweight title on the line once again at UFC on Fox 7, where he will appear in the main event against former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez.

Mike Tyson on his criminal past, new stage show, and going vegan

“I love Mike Tyson because he did it his way.” –Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Today, Mike Tyson finds happiness in simplicity. During our visit to his home in suburban Las Vegas, the former heavyweight champion was a bit reserved until he got the opportunity to show off his beloved pigeon coop.

Tyson explains the nuances and habits of his pigeons just like an accomplished trainer would break down the fundamentals of boxing. Once Tyson allowed his pigeons to fly, he pointed out how the tumbler pigeons would roll over backward during flight. Some pigeons would do so at speeds so fast that they would often kill themselves or come close to death because they didn’t have time to land correctly.

In a sense, the tumbler pigeons mirror Tyson’s life during his younger days. Living fast and reckless only to narrowly escape death or destruction.

Growing up poor in Brooklyn, N.Y., during the 1980s could have that type of effect. Tyson became another soul consumed by the tragedies created by poverty.

“All of my friends were animals,” Tyson revealed while reminiscing about his turbulent childhood.

“We would rob guys. I grew up in a dysfunctional situation where drugs and violence were normal. I would’ve been a drug dealer. When I was starting my pro career and only making like $500 per fight, I used to always hook my boys up with money for crack to sell. But my whole life changed when they killed my friend over a drug deal gone bad. From then on, I never went back to hustling and I stayed focused on boxing.”

Tyson’s gift for obliterating opponents in the boxing ring rescued him from the poverty and criminal activity that gripped most of his peers. Under the guidance of legendary trainer Cus D’Amato (who died in 1985), Tyson became the youngest heavyweight boxing champ in history at the age of 20.

Indeed, Tyson found a way to escape poverty, but he couldn’t escape the allure that comes with money and fame. He slept with countless numbers of women, purchased dozens of exotic cars, threw wild parties, and delved into drug use.

One prison stint, a controversial biting of Evander Holyfield’s ear and two divorces later, Tyson lost nearly $400 million of the money he earned throughout his career.

“When I was younger, all I thought about was fame, fortune, girls, sex and drugs,” Tyson says. “When my career was over, I left a massive wreckage in my past. I realized I won a lot of superficial victories such as sex and money. I’m now trying to make amends. I love moral victories more. And that’s real love when you care more about morals than anything else.”

By the late 2000s, Tyson found himself attempting to walk the straight and narrow for the first time in his life. However, the tragic death of his 4-year-old daughter, Exodus, in 2009 caused Tyson to briefly relapse. She was killed in the family home after playing with a faulty treadmill.

“Where I come from, people aren’t happy, so they get hooked on drugs,” Tyson says. “People get drunk, snort cocaine, smoke marijuana and use syringes because they can’t stop [the] pain. They’re trying to kill pain. Drug use won’t stop until someone can stop the hurt. We’re in pain out here.”

Tyson walked away from drugs and alcohol and has been sober for three years. He’s a devout Muslim and has adopted a strict vegan diet for the past 12 months. The diet allowed Tyson to flush many of the impurities out of his system and he eventually lost 100 pounds.

Tyson now looks back on his past hardships and realizes that they made him stronger and led him to approach life differently.

“I’m glad I went through those experiences because I survived them, and look at where I’m at now,” he says. “Nothing’s perfect in life and I love who I am and who I’m becoming. I’m establishing a relationship with my wife and staying committed. I’m really enjoying this stage of my life.”

This stage of Tyson’s life actually has him on stage. Nearly two years ago, Tyson sat down with his wife, Kiki Tyson, and the two found an interesting way for him to tell his story to the masses. They came up with the one-man stage show, Mike Tyson: The Undisputed Truth.

The nearly two-hour show, directed by Spike Lee, features an unfiltered Tyson divulging stories on fi ghting Don King; time in prison; his mother’s drinking issues; his sexual conquests and how he once caught Brad Pitt making out with his ex-wife, Robin Givens.

“There’s not much of a difference in preparing for boxing and preparing for the stage,” he says. “Everything must be precise. You just have to possess a great deal of confidence and understanding of where to go and how to maintain energy.”

♔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, 2021, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

RECENT WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER AJOSE OLUSEGUN RETURNS TO ACTION THIS SATURDAY IN INDIANA

This Saturday night at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, WBC #3-rated junior welterweight Ajose Olusegun (30-1, 18KO's) will return to action for the first time since suffering his first pro defeat to Lucas Matthysse in a bout for the interim WBC title in September of last year. Olusegun will take on veteran

Rynell Griffin in an eight-round bout. The fight is promoted by Hitz Entertainment, in association with DiBella Entertainment.

"I am so glad that I'm getting back in the ring," said Olusegun. "This is going to be my first fight after my loss to Matthysse and I can't wait to do my thing."

Olusegun participated for his native Nigeria in the 2000 Olympics before successfully turning pro in May 2001 with a first-round TKO over Tony Montana.

He won the junior welterweight Commonwealth title in 2007 and defended the belt four times before picking up the British junior welterweight title in 2009.

With all of his professional bouts, up to that point, taking place in the U.K., Olusegun decided to relocate to the U.S. and signed with DiBella Entertainment (DBE). In his first fight under the DBE banner, Olusegun won a dominant near shut-out 12-round unanimous decision over Ali Chebah (35-1). The bout, which took place on Showtime®, was an official WBC light welterweight title eliminator.

The win earned Olusegun his shot at the title against Matthysse. In a grueling and entertaining slugfest, Olusegun was stopped in the 10^th-round of their scheduled 12-round championship bout. Olusegun admitted after that bout that he fought the wrong fight, but he took the loss as a learning experience. He is hoping to work his way back into another world title opportunity soon and has even offered up his services to IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander, who was scheduled to fight Kell Brook May 18, before Brook had to pull out after suffering an injury during training.

"I know that Devon is currently looking for an opponent and I would love to get in the ring against him. This is a great opportunity for me to share a ring with the champ and I am willing and able to step in. I am sure boxing fans around the world will like this matchup, so I'm ready to give everyone an exciting fight. I'm here, let's make it happen."

♔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, 2021, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

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