Thursday, July 25, 2013

No Holds Barred: Emile Griffith, 1938-2013

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman pays tribute to boxing legend Emile Griffith, who just passed away at age 75.

Upon hearing of his passing, our correspondent Charles Farrell wrote of Emile Griffith that he was a "spectacularly good fighter. His fights with Luis Rodriguez are works of art. Those two were as close to being equals as any two fighters I've ever seen." Those fights can now be seen on YouTube.

Back in October 2008, there was a media event in Manhattan for the publication of the book "Nine ... Ten ... And Out! The Two Worlds of Emile Griffith". This book was written by Ron Ross and published by boxing promoter Lou DiBella. We spoke with both of them at that event, and are reposting these interviews, which originally appeared on the now-defunct SecondsOut Radio, in their entirety.

This is what we wrote at the time about these interviews:

We spoke at length with the author of this book, Ron Ross, and its publisher, boxing promoter Lou DiBella, about the significance of this story about Emile Griffith, who had a Hall of Fame career in the 1960's and '70's as a welterweight and middleweight champion of the world many times over.

But this book, and our discussion, also delved into that second, less public world lived in by Emile Griffith, that of a gay man. In our conversations, we all emphasized the importance of promoting tolerance, even in this brutal world of boxing.

♔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, 2012, 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.

New Golden Boy Live! Series On FOX Sports

Brooklyn's top middleweight contender Danny "Miracle Man" Jacobs, former world title challenger Giovanni Lorenzo from Manhattan, the Bronx's undefeated rising star Eddie Gomez, welterweight prospect Steve Upsher, 2012 U.S. Olympian
Marcus Browne from Staten Island and Brooklyn's bantamweight prospect Claude Staten Jr. will be joined by Golden Boy Promotions Partner Bernard Hopkins and EVP of Programming and Research of FOX Sports Bill Wagner to hold a New York City press conference to officially announce the first event of the Golden Boy Live! series on FOX Sports 1. The Monday, August 19 event at Best Buy Theater in Manhattan marks the first of 24 Golden Boy Live! events scheduled to take place across the country in the next year

♔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, 2012, 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.

Thompson Boxing Promotions Signs Colombian Lightweight Prospect Cesar Villarraga‏

Thompson Boxing Promotions today signed Cesar Villarraga, a lightweight prospect out of Bogota, Colombia, to a promotional contract. Thompson Boxing Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions will share promotional responsibilities for the 27-year-old boxer.

"I am extremely happy to sign with Thompson Boxing and GSP," said Villarraga. "Ken Thompson, Gary Shaw and Alex Camponovo have provided an amazing level of support. I am anxious to start my professional career and I can't wait to start training for my first professional fight."

Villarraga hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman and Thompson Boxing Promotions client, Jhonatan Romero (23-0, 12 KOs), who recently captured the IBF junior featherweight title earlier this year. "Jhonatan set the bar high and that is how it is supposed to be," said Villarraga. "I have high aspirations. I want to be the first would champion from Bogota and the best to come from Colombia."

"Cesar has an exciting style to his game," said Ken Thompson, president and founder of Thompson Boxing Promotions. "He is a quick hitter that does not like to stand around and dance. He has great speed and a high boxing IQ that will serve him well as he climbs the ranks of the lightweight division."

"We are very happy to continue working with Colombian boxers," said Alex Camponovo, general manager of Thompson Boxing. "We have an elite team from the South American country that has proven itself over time and now Cesar, under the watchful eye of his manager/trainer Danny Zamora and our guidance, has the opportunity to reach his goals."

Villarraga starred for Colombia at the 2010 South American Games going through Hector Manzanilla (Venezuela) and Erick Banguera (Ecuador) to advance to the gold medal match against Everton Lopes of Brazil. Villarraga would bring home the gold in the 57kg event and would later qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. In London, Villarraga would lose early to Cuba's Roniel Iglesias. Rather than sulk in defeat, Villarraga turned the loss into a learning experience.

"The London games made me even more dedicated to the sport," said, Villarraga, who started boxing at age 15, a late start partly attributed to his early love of soccer. "Mentally I now know how to handle situations more efficiently. I have learned to value every movement, any shuffle of the feet and every punch has its purpose."

Villarraga had an amateur record of 250 wins against 30 loses. He is married and has two boys. The youngest is a new born at 10-months and the other is five-years-old.

JUAN CARLOS BURGOS TO FIGHT YAKUBU AMIDU ON JULY 26TH AT THE THUNDER VALLEY CASINO RESORT ON ESPN’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS‏

Tough Yakubu Amidu has stepped in for the injured Daulis Prescott to face two-time world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos (30-1-1, 20 KO’s) in a twelve round bout that will headline a great night of boxing at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Sacramento, California. The bout will take place on July 26^th and will be broadcast live on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.

The fight is promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing.

Amidu of Los Angeles via Ghana has an impressive mark of 20-4-1 with 18 knockouts and has faced solid opposition.

The twenty-eight year old is a former NABA Lightweight champion who has wins over John Revish (10-2-2); Joseph Laryea (11-2); Emeka Kodo (15-2) and Fatiou Fassinou (13-1).

Amidu won several championships in his native Ghana and is managed by world famous actor Vince Vaughn.

In his last bout, Amidu lost a split decision to undefeated Haskell Rhodes in a bout where many ringsiders believed that Amidu was a victim of a hometown decision.

In the ten round co-feature, Miguel Gonzalez (21-3, 15 KO’s) takes on Josenilson Dos Santos (26-1, 16 KO’s) in a Lightweight bout.

A full undercard will be announced shortly

Special guests scheduled to be in attendance will be former world champions Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, Loreto Garza, James Toney and Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez.

Welterweight Prospect Artemio Reyes Headlines "Locked 'n Loaded" Show July 26‏

In another exciting addition to its "Locked 'n Loaded" series, Thompson Boxing Promotions showcases up and coming welterweight Artemio Reyes, (19-2, 15 KOs) of Colton, Calif. against the veteran Sergio Perez, (28-14, 19 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico on Friday, July 26, 2013 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. The bout is scheduled for 8 rounds.

Reyes, who is riding a four-fight winning streak, last won in February with a second round knockout of Rodolfo Armenta. Reyes has fought most of his professional bouts in California's Inland Empire and is excited to put on a show for his hometown fans.

"The crowds at the DoubleTree are made up of boxing diehards that know a great fight when they see one," said Reyes, who is promoted by Thompson Boxing Promotions. "Perez presents a tough challenge because of his experience, but I put in a lot of work for this fight and I'm confident that I'll get the victory and the fans will get what they pay for."

In the intriguing co-feature, junior flyweights Sindy Amador, (10-0, 1 KO) of Riverside, Calif. and Jolene Blackshear (7-3, 3 KOs) of San Diego will battle for the vacant interim WIBA Jr. Flyweight world title in an 8-round fight. It is the first championship fight for Thompson Boxing Promotions at the DoubleTree Hotel. In ten undefeated fights, Amador has solidified her reputation as a bona fide brawler. Always pressing and never shy to take a punch to deliver two, Amador prefers to smother her opponents with a flurry of punches.

"That's my style," said Amador, who last won in April in a unanimous decision against Adrienne Alegria. "I stalk my opponents and deliver heavy punches whenever possible. Eventually they tire out and that's what I intend to do to Jolene on July 26. Most of my opponents find it difficult to make in-match adjustments. We'll see how Jolene handles the pressure."

The undercard features Colombian middleweight prospect Alex Theran (13-0, 8 KOs) putting his unbeaten record on the line in a 6-round bout against Juan Carlos Rojas (5-5, 4 KOs) of Mexico, while middleweights Ralph Lopez (6-1, 5 KOs) of Riverside, Calif. and German Valdez (2-1, 1 KO) of Mexico open the show in a 4-round fight.

Heavyweight Javier Torres (7-6-1, 4 KOs) of Los Angeles and super bantamweight Jorge Ruiz (2-0, 1 KO) of San Diego will also be on the card. Their opponents will be announced at a later date.

Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the first bell rings at 7:45 pm. The DoubleTree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at (909) 937-0900.

"Locked 'n Loaded" is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil and Everlast, in association with Time Warner Cable Deportes.

♔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, 2012, 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.

Friday, July 19, 2013

FLOYD "MONEY" MAYWEATHER NAMED 2013 ESPY AWARD WINNER FOR BEST FIGHTER FOR THE FIFTH TIME IN SEVEN YEARS

Eight-Time, Five-Division World Champion and boxing's biggest star

Floyd "Money" Mayweather was crowned the 2013 ESPY Award winner for the Best Fighter, giving him the honor for the second consecutive year and for the fifth time in the last seven years.

The award, voted on by fans throughout the country, recognizes Mayweather for his ring prowess and accomplishments. Currently training for his second fight of the year when he takes on Unified Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez on September 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. live on SHOWTIME PPV®, Mayweather is grateful for the award honor and appreciative of the support boxing and sports fans continue to bestow upon his career.

"I am truly blessed to receive my fifth ESPY award," said Mayweather. "This is such a great honor for me. My whole career has been about giving the fans great fights and entertainment, making them happy. Winning another ESPY, which is voted on by the fans, tells me I am doing something right. I appreciate the recognition and this award will be placed right next to the others. From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone who voted and gave me this good fortune."

ShoBox & Mayweather Promotions: The New Generation tomorrow, Friday, July 19, live on SHOWTIME®

Two of Mayweather Promotions’ most talented boxers, lightweight Mickey “The Spirit” Bey Jr. and world-rated super middleweight Badou Jack, will try to keep their unbeaten records intact when they face John “The Gladiator” Molina Jr. and Far...ah “Quiet Storm” Ennis, respectively, in co-featured fights on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® this Friday, July 19 (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Joint At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Back to the Top! Felix Sturm and Predrag Radosevic and Susi Kentikian and Carina Moreno 10 rounds - Flyweight division (for Moreno's WBA title)

"Back to the Top! Felix Sturm vs. Preadosevic" will take place tomorrow at 12am/CET at the Hotel Radisson Blu Dortmund (An der Buschmühle 1, 44139 Dortmund, Germany).

The undercard fighters will step on the scales first, followed by Konni Konrad and Edison Miranda, Susi Kentikian and Carina Moreno and to conclude the ceremony by the main event fighters, Felix Sturm and Predrag Radosevic.

Public Workout: Carina Moreno

WBA Female Flyweight Champion Carina Moreno at the Public Workout for her championship rematch with Susi Kentikian scheduled for July 6 at the Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany. The bout will be the co-feature of the big IBF World Middleweight Titile Eliminator between Felix Sturm and Predrag Radosevic.

Public Workout: Susi Kentikian

Former World Champion Susi Kentikian at the Public Workout for her July 6 rematch with WBA Female Flyweight World Champion Carina Moreno at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany. The bout will be the co-feature of the big IBF World Middleweight Titile Eliminator between Felix Sturm and Predrag Radosevic

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