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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Martin Responds: Bring It On Connor , I’ll Beat You So Bad You’ll Leave In A Body Bag‏

  ‘SUPER’ STEVE MARTIN WBU Light Welterweight International Champion; Martin Responds: Bring It On Connor, I’ll Beat You So Bad You’ll Leave In

A Body Bag

Malta’s newest Champion, ‘Super’ Steve Martin is seething, just a couple
of days after he won the WBU Light Welterweight International title, with
a sensational fifth round stoppage of Germany’s Sabri Ulas Goecmen, that
Great Britain’s Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor publicly called him out.

Following Connor’s provocative statement hitting the boxing and sports
news websites around the World, Connor’s Facebook page was inundated with
‘strongly worded’ messages from Martin’s irate fans, whilst Martin’s
overflowed with messages of support.

Thing’s then got a little more heated as Martin and Connor, who is the
current British Masters Welterweight and BBBofC Southern Area Light
Welterweight Champion, exchanged insults on the social media network.

Even though it is the Season of Goodwill to All, for some reason I don’t
think Connor is going to receive any gifts or seasonal greetings from
Martin, whose anger hasn’t subsided one iota, as is clear by the barbed
statement the twenty five year old from Pieta made earlier today.

“Bring it on Connor, I love to shut big mouths like yours, that are only
good for trash talking.

I’ll fight you in the ring, outside the ring, f**k even in one of those
poxy phone boxes, you Brits like so much.

You say you’ll come to my lovely Island to take what’s mine, I just hope
you can walk the walk, ‘cause after all the crap you’ve spouted, I’m gonna
beat you up so bad that you’re gonna leave my BACKYARD in a body bag.

So if you don’t have the balls to back it up, do us all a favour ‘Bruv’,
shut the f**k up.”

♔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.

World Boxing Federation Welcome Malta Back Into The Fold

WBF Vice President Jean Marcel Nartz today announced that the World Boxing
Federation have renewed their affiliation with the Malta Boxing Commission
(MBC), now presided over by two-division, two-weight world champion Steve
‘Celtic Warrior’ Collins.

The announcement comes just days after the newly reinvigorated MBC
successfully sanctioned and officiated the first professional boxing
championship event to take place on the islands since 1964, when John
‘Pancho’ Terribile became the first Maltese boxer to be crowned champion,
following his outpointing Charles ‘Gypsy’ Scicluna in August of that year.

On making the announcement Nartz said, “We are pleased to welcome the MBC
back into the ever growing WBF family.

The board of the MBC have worked extremely hard to strengthen their
organization, since the removal from office of the former President Mr.
Zammit in October.

Their determination to cement their position, as the officially recognized
professional boxing organization on the islands, has seen them make
various high profile appointments. The most noticeable being the
appointments of not one, but two renowned ex-world champions to head the
board: Steve Collins, as president, and Tim Witherspoon as vice president.

Just last week the new board of the MBC successfully sanctioned their
first event, the report from the independent observer praised them for the
professionalism, and noted the extreme care that was taken, in matters of
health and safety of the boxers competing, as well as the anti doping
tests that were undertaken.

Taking all these matters into account lead to the WBF executive to back
the MBC unconditionally. We look forward to soon sanction a WBF
championship in Malta and thus stop unserious so-called sanctioning groups
to damage the reputation of Maltese boxing and the MBC.”



♔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.

DANNY 'CASSIUS' CONNOR British Masters Welterweight Champion BBBofC Southern Area Light Welterweight Champion

Connor: Tell Martin I’ll Come To His Back Yard, Smash Him Up And Take His Title
British Masters Welterweight and Southern Area Light Welterweight Champion Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor has his eyes on an even bigger prize in the New Year, Steve Martin’s newly won WBU Light Welterweight International Title.
Hackbridge, Surrey’s Connor has had a magnificent year on the Championship trail. His first big scalp of the year was that of Ely, Cambs’ exciting young prospect Tyler Goodjohn, who he beat by a single point in a storming, all action British Masters Welterweight Title Battle Royale at York Hall back in May.
His second was even bigger, Eddie Hearn’s then unbeaten star, Enfield’s Chris ‘The Flash’ Evangelou, for the vacant BBBofC Southern Area strap at Hearn’s Matchroom Sport promoted mega event at Alexandra Palace in September.


Connor now wants to move on from the domestic to the International scene and the challenge to Pieta, Malta’s Steve Martin seems to be a logical move.
Martin, who won the coveted belt last Friday with a fifth round stoppage over German hard man Sabri Ulas Goecmen, is far less experienced than Connor, having only fought seven times previously to the Surrey man’s thirteen outings.
Following another grueling training session, at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in the heart of London’s East End, a clearly irked Connor spoke of his intention to rip the belt from the grip of Martin.
“I want to get it out there that Steve Martin from Malta is a fraud, he’s fought no one and I want to go over there and smash him up and take his title.
If he’s a man, he should accept my challenge. I’m not even saying I’ll fight him over here, I’ll come to his back yard and bash him up.
So if you’re a man Steve let’s get it on, let’s do this, I’ll come to your back yard and I’ll smash you up in front of all your mates, whatya say bruv.”

 ♔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.

A Week in Will’s World Part 3‏

Dear Friends, Fans and Members of the Media,
Before I get into further detail about my training and fight with Otis Griffin, I must address the horrific event that took place in an elementary school in Connecticut. The Sandy Hook tragedy is something incomprehensible. Thinking that a school is a safe place is now a doubt in so many people's minds. With my wife as a teacher, I get chills thinking about what the Sandy Hook staff and students went through that day. 

I just want to let the community, school and relatives of the victims know that my heart and prayers goes out to them. Fighting on Wednesday I will have the victims of Hurricane Sandy (which will receive some of the proceeds from Wednesday’s card) along with those who were part of the Sandy Hook tragedy in my thoughts and close to my heart.
As I write to you 48 hours before entering the ring to do my job, a sense of serenity cruises through me. Since my training has been intense and my corner is knowledgeable and strong, I know I can take this time to relax my mind and body. Sparring with Danny Jacobs, Curtis Stevens, Santandar Silgado, Seanie Monaghan and 2012 US Olympian Marcus Browne has kept me well prepared and on my toes. They all bring something different stylistically and each fighter has really helped me in camp. I really appreciate their willingness to assist me for this fight and I’ve also done the same for them since all of my sparring partners fought recently or have fights upcoming.
Some people may wonder if the wait time on fight night affects me, being that the main event fighters have to sit and wait longer than the other boxers competing that night. Although it may surprise you, my answer to that is no. This is due to how fights were scheduled during my extensive amateur career.  
Fighting in a heavier class in the amateurs left me waiting often since the smaller guys got to compete first. At first, it was almost exhausting just being at the venue, being ready and having just to sit there and wait.  Now that I have adjusted both mentally and physically, I find the wait good time to clear my mind and indulge conversation with my cornermen. Staying relaxed also comes from the people I surround myself with. My head trainer Felipe Gomez, my strength and conditioning coach Mike Spiegel, my cut man Mike Rella and my beautiful wife Jessica, who seemingly everybody in boxing recognizes since she can be heard shouting instructions from the crowd, encompass my surroundings leading up to the opening bell. The same will take place as I approach my next bout.  
On that note I want to thank you for following my fights, and hope to hear and see all of you this Wednesday night as I take on Otis Griffin at Roseland Ballroom.
Sincerely,
Will "Power" Rosinsky
16-2 (9 KO's)
♔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.

Rosinsky Returns December 19! Rosinsky-Griffin moved to main event!

Super middleweight contender Will “Power” Rosinsky of Queens, NY makes his return to the ring Wednesday, December 19 when he faces battle tested contender Otis “Triple OG” Griffin in an eight round featured bout at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.
The winner of Oscar De La Hoya’s “Next Great Champion” TV series, Griffin’s fought some of the top fighters in and around the light heavyweight division including Marcus Oliveira, Yusaf Mack, Danny Green, Jesse Brinkley, Shawn Hawk, Cedric Agnew and Jeff Lacy. The Sacramento, CA native, who played pro football prior to boxing, knocked out former world champion Byron Mitchell in 2010 and has wins over 4 undefeated opponents.

“I’m thrilled about this because his team made numerous inquiries about fighting me,” stated Rosinsky, who works full-time as an EMT for the FDNY. “He’s a very experienced fighter who lost some controversial decisions against world class opponents. Against me, there will be no controversy because the judges won’t be needed!”
Rosinsky, who is amongst the most popular fighters in the New York area, has an excellent 16-2 professional ledger with 9 wins by way of knockout. The 2005 United States Amateur titlist holds impressive wins over Aaron Pryor Jr., Zane Marks and Yasin Rashid. In October 2011, Rosinsky fought on a national stage for the first time, dropping a controversial decision to top-notch Edwin Rodriguez on Showtime.
In his most recent bout, Rosinsky lost a gutsy decision to former undisputed middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik on HBO. Against Pavlik, the popular New Yorker recovered from a flash knockdown to open a cut below Pavlik’s left eye, but ultimately dropped a competitive ten round decision.
“I’m looking forward to returning to the Big Apple,” said Rosinsky, who fought 15 of his 18 bouts in New York City. “I’ve had many good memories here and I’m putting the work in during my training to make sure that the fans will enjoy a great fight on the 19th.”


Dear Friends, Fans and Members of the Media, 
 
As fight night approaches, mixed feelings start to conjure. Unlike many fighters, calm seems to be one of my most prominent feelings. The reason is simple, I am definitely less anxious when fighting at home. I absolutely love the crowd. Their support and presence keeps me calm. There’s just something about fighting in New York that’s exhilarating but comforting. When I'm going into the final round, there isn’t much that can be compared to that energy from the crowd roaring and cheering their hearts out.
 
Looking back at the Pavlik fight, I’m grateful. Facing Pavlik was an opportunity that I couldn’t have passed up, even with the short notice. That fight was something that made me a better fighter in many aspects. I came into the biggest fight of my career with tons of pressure from the media, an unfamiliar crowd and fighting a top rated former world champ. I learned and will take that experience into every fight.
 
As far as my job is concerned, recently it has been slower than usual on my ambulance. The irony as I get closer to my fight. I had the common stomach aches, headaches, EDP's (Emotionally Disturbed Person) and occasional car accidents, luckily with no serious injuries. On a brighter note, Monday (Dec 10) was my last day at work until after the fight. Now instead of going straight to work after the gym and running or doing sprints right after work, I get to relax a little in between. I look forward to really focusing on the fight, getting into beast mode and watching more tape on my upcoming opponent.
 
The Pacquiao-Marquez fight showed us once again that anything can happen in a great boxing match. With a draw to kick off the trilogy and then two debatable wins for Pacquiao, they felt a fourth would do this duo justice. And it seems to have done just that. One perfectly placed straight right can evidently end everything. I hope Pacquiao recovers from that both physically and mentally. He is a great fighter and I’m optimistic that he will make good decisions going forward with his career. Ultimately, he should enjoy all the money boxing has brought him.
 
With Christmas approaching I just want to acknowledge all my fans that are coming to support me next Wednesday. As I always say, the fans are much appreciated and a big component to my fight career. Knowing they are there to support, my goal is to always try my best to deliver a crowd pleasing fight. The fact that people are still willing to come out and support me even when holiday season is right around the corner shows the quality of people that are behind me. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing all of my fans and can’t wait for fight night.

Sincerely,

Will Rosinsky
16-2 (9 KO’s)
@Wrosinsky


♔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.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Andre Ward to face Kelly Pavlik‏; Andre Ward vs. Kelly Pavlik video promo



MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

WARD VS. PAVLIK

  HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ELIMINATION
ARREOLA vs. STIVERNE

  SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013
GALEN CENTER AT USC
LOS ANGELES, CA
 On Saturday, January 26, World Champion Andre "S.O.G." Ward (26-0, 14 KO's) of Oakland, CA takes on Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik (40-2, 34 KOs) of Youngstown, Ohio in what promises to be a thrilling WBA and WBC Super Middleweight World Championship Bout.

This event will be the first boxing event at the Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles, CA, home to the USC Trojans Basketball and Volleyball teams.  "The layout of the Galen Center couldn't be better for the presentation of a boxing event and we are excited to host these world class bouts," said USC Senior Associate Athletic Director J.K. McKay.

When Ward captured his first world championship in 2009, defeating WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler, he went on to challenge three other world and former world champions in his next five bouts. World titleholders Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham and Chad Dawson all tasted defeat at the hands of Andre Ward. Next in line is the very powerful, former world champion Kelly Pavlik, who promises to take both title belts from Ward.

The co-featured bout has Riverside's Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola (35-2, 30 KOs) challenging heavy-hitting knockout puncher Bermane "B. Ware" Stiverne (22-1-1, 20 KOs) from Las Vegas, NV by way of Haiti. Both Arreola and Stiverne will put their power on display with the winner guaranteed to fight for the heavyweight world championship in his next bout.

This exciting HBO® World Championship Boxing doubleheader is being presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions in association with Antonio Leonard Promotions and SOG.

The Ward-Pavlik bout will be promoted in association with Bob Arum's Top Rank, Inc.

"Televising Andre Ward in an intriguing showdown against Kelly Pavlik is a great way to start the new year," said Kery Davis, Senior Vice President of Programming, HBO Sports.  "Combined with the heavyweight showdown between Cristobal Arreola and Bermane Stiverne, boxing fans can look forward to an exciting night of action on HBO."

An injury earlier this year limited 28-year-old Ward's activity in 2012 to one fight -- a thorough destruction of Chad Dawson in September. Pavlik, 30, has fought three times this year and posted wins (two via TKO and one unanimous decision) against opposition with combined records of 53-6.

"Kelly Pavlik has been determined to get back onto the top of the heap in boxing," his promoter, Top Rank's Arum said. "I know he's ready to give it his all against one of the best champions today. I really believe this will be an exciting, competitive fight."

"I've heard all the talk about Kelly Pavlik, but I know better than that. He's beaten plenty of the big names," Ward said. "Bob Arum has done a great job of keeping Kelly busy until an opportunity like this came along. You can bet that a former world champion like Kelly Pavlik, being afforded another title shot...he's going to be primed and ready. We are going to be ready too and it's going to be a tremendous show."

"Andre Ward's a hell of a world champ," said Pavlik, who's trained by California-based Robert Garcia. "He's the super middleweight king right now. He went through a tough tournament and proved where he's at. He beat everybody that he was supposed to fight and he's top dog. When I was champ, I was the one being pursued. Now he's champ and I'm in hot pursuit."    

"Andre Ward has conquered every challenge he's faced as a pro and has improved each and every time," said Promoter Dan Goossen. "He captured Olympic Gold in 2004; emerged from the tournament as a long shot to claim the Super Six World Boxing Classic and won both the WBC and WBA super middleweight titles in the process."

The Arreola-Stiverne fight shapes up as a bout unlikely to go the distance given the knockout rates of both combatants. Arreola, 31, has stopped all but five of his 35 victims, while the 34-year old Stiverne - whose only loss on his impressive record came more than five years and 11 fights ago -- has allowed only two of his 22 conquests to hear the final bell.

The always-entertaining Arreola was thrilled to learn the fight will be in front of his hometown fans, "I'm going to make 2013 my year." I'm excited to be back on HBO and fighting someone worthy and good in Stiverne. He's a tough fighter but my will and strength will break him down. I'm not going to let anyone stand in my way!"

An irritated Stiverne, who is trained by Don House, said about the fight with Arreola "It should have been done a long time ago." "I don't know what he's been doing besides running from me. I'm looking forward to the fight. He is a tough customer, but nothing that I can't deal with. I'll get the job done. I'm not concerned about a knockout. We have a plan that we want to execute. If the knockout comes, it comes."

"It'll be a great fight between Arreola and Stiverne," Stiverne's promoter, Don King, predicted. "It's the next step in bringing the world championship back to America. The fight is a must see."

"Boxing fans love the heavyweights and we have two of the best and biggest knockout artists in the business going toe-to-toe," Goossen stated. "Chris is back to full health and in great shape already. He is determined to become the first world heavyweight champion of Mexican descent. But he will not overlook Stiverne who has run over his heavyweight opposition -- including former world title challenger Ray Austin -- in impressive fashion. It will be a great night of fights at the Galen Center."



♔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.
Sampson and Manguita Teaming Up for Important Night of Dominican Boxing
On Monday, December 17, Sampson Boxing and Manguita Promotions will return to the Dominican Fiesta Hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with another star-studded night of professional boxing, including an all-Dominican main event and two female world title fights.

In the night's 10-round main event, hometown hero Victor "Mermelada" Cayo (30-3, 22 KOs) of Santo Domingo will face unbeaten countryman Vladimir Baez (17-0 with 15 KOs) of La Vega, Dominican Republic.

Cayo will be gunning for his second consecutive victory over and undefeated opponent, as he defeated unbeaten Julio DeJesus (15-0, 14 KOs) on August 11. Baez has won four straight by knockout since winning the Dominican Light Welterweight Championship in 2010.

In the 10-round co-feature will be Daihana Santana (30-6, 14 KOs) will be defending her IBF Female Featherweight World Title against Mandatory Challenger Helen Joseph (11-1, 6 KOs) of Nigeria, by way of Ghana.

Also appearing that night will be IBF Female Junior Featherweight World Champion Katy Pamela "La Super Baby" Wilson (16-1, 9 KOs) making the second defense of her title against Maribel Santana (12-10, 5 KOs).

On the undercard, Sampson Boxing will showcase future stars such as power punching Dominican super bantamweight Jonathan Guzman (10-0, 10 KOs), and heavy-handed super featherweight Braulio Rodriguez (10-0, 10 KOs), undefeated super middleweight Felix Valera (3-0, 3 KOs), and Santo Domingo's own future light welterweight star Juan Carlos Abreu (13-0, 12 KOs) in separate fights.

And in a very special added attraction, the "Hawk Flock" undefeated brothers John Jackson (13-1, 12 KOs) and Julius Jackson (13-0, 9 KOs) and undefeated light middleweight Samuel Rogers (11-0, 6 KOs) from the US Virgin Islands will each appear in separate bouts. John and Julius are the sons and Samuel is the nephew of all-time-great slugger Julian "The Hawk" Jackson.

"I have made it one of my missions to bring world-class boxing to the Dominican and stars like Javier Fortuna and Victor Cayo, as well as upcoming champions such as Jonathan Guzman, Braulio Rodriguez and Juan Carlos Abreu are a big part of those plans. I am very excited about this show and look forward to another successful co-promotional venture with Manguita Promotions," said Sampson Boxing President Sampson Lewkowicz.♔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.

Monday, December 17, 2012

DANNY "SWIFT" GARCIA, Unified Super Lightweight World Champion ZAB "SUPER" JUDAH, Former Two-Division World Champion February 9 world championship fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York

WBA Super, WBC and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion  Danny "Swift" Garcia and Two-Division World Champion Zab "Super"  Judah February 9 world championship fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, which will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT) .

Garcia vs. Judah, a 12-round bout for Garcia's WBA Super, WBC and 
Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Championships, is presented by 
Golden Boy Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsor Corona.  The SHOWTIME telecast begins live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT 
(delayed on the West Coast).

ZAB JUDAH, Former Four-Time and Two-Division World Champion
“You’ve got a hungry Zab Judah.  Get your seatbelt on because it’s going to be a roller coaster on February 9th.
“When you come into Brooklyn you have to show some respect.  [To Garcia] Take your ass whooping and head down I-95. 
“Danny is a cool, calm fighter.  His dad is the mouth.
“I am not perfect.  I make mistakes.  I got mad.
“I am too fast, too slick and too strong for Garcia.  February 9th is going to be fun.
“My first title fight was on SHOWTIME and now I have a chance to win the unified title [on SHOWTIME].
“It’s a dream to have an arena right in my borough.  After 16 years as a professional, I am going to be able to give my borough the championship of the world.”
ANGEL GARCIA, DANNY’S FATHER & TRAINER
“Danny is blessed.  I am blessed because of Danny.  I train him, Al [Haymon] picks ‘em and Danny fights ‘em.
“Zab was a champion, that was his time, his era.  There’s a new era.  It’s about Philly right now.
“Danny is still undefeated.  We’re not leaving those titles in Brooklyn.”
BERNARD HOPKINS, President of Golden Boy East
“A lot of fighters have made history in New York City, including myself.  What better way to start the second show at Barclays Center than with a fight like this one?  Golden Boy put on a great show in October and we are coming back with another great show on February 9th.
“Zab can’t be underestimated or disrespected.  He always brings his ‘A’ game.  Everyone knows Zab comes to fight.  He brings it.  Garcia, a Philly guy, is representing himself, his family and the City of Brotherly Love.
“They love Zab Judah in Brooklyn like they love Mike Tyson.
“This will be a test for Danny to disprove to any doubters out there.  He’s taking on someone he doesn’t have to fight…a living legend.”


♔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.

Steve Cunningham’s daughter has her dad’s fighting spirit‏

Steve Cunningham’s daughter has her dad’s fighting spirit

JOSEPH SANTOLIQUITO
POSTED: Saturday, December 15, 2012, 12:24 PM



You tend to lean in close to hear the faint, raspy whispers from the sweet, delicate voice. Step back and the chubby-cheeked, beautiful wide-eyed gift of a 7-year-old girl comes into focus and you tend to forget what she’s been through. You tend to push past the scar at the base of her throat from the tracheostomy. You forget the severed vocal cords and jagged 6-inch line that runs vertically down the middle of her chest from two open-heart surgeries, or the stroke that threatened her life, among many other things.
You forget these things when Kennedy Cunningham comes into view, a bright, vivacious, adorable girl. And all thoughts of the pain and suffering she endured just to inhale a gasp of air goes away.
Steve Cunningham is in the pain-and-suffering business of boxing. The former two-time IBF cruiserweight world champion with a granite-like physique doesn’t have to venture far to realize someone in the family is much tougher than he is. His eyes drift toward his daughter Kennedy, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital disease that occurs when parts of the left side of the heart (mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic valve and aorta) are not completely developed.
Basically, Kennedy was born with half a heart, the size of a tiny strawberry, though she probably exhibits more heart than most. It’s a struggle for her to run around for prolonged periods like other children. She tires quickly. Her coordination is just returning, breaking the atrophy that set in from long hospital stays. Her immune system is weak; a cold can mean another trip to the hospital.
“I feel special; I don’t understand everything that’s happened to me. I just know I have a strong heart,” Kennedy says. “I don’t want to be treated differently.”
Steve and Livvy Cunningham, Kennedy’s parents, don’t. They treat her as they would any child. Kennedy, the only girl and middle of three Cunningham children, goes to a regular school, participates in gym class, plays with other children and illuminates every room she walks into.
She will be ringside next Saturday, when her dad fights Tomasz Adamek on the nationally televised NBC broadcast at 4 p.m. from the Sands Casino Resort, in Bethlehem. It’s a rematch of the 2008 cruiserweight classic that was a Fight of the Year candidate.
During that title defense, Cunningham got up three times from knockdowns and lost by a split decision at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Cunningham (25-4, 12 KOs) has had to wait 4 years for a rematch, though this time it comes at heavyweight.
Steve’s fight with Adamek, a former cruiserweight world champion and heavyweight contender, is nothing compared to the emotional toil he and Livvy endured the first year of Kennedy’s life.
How can they forget?
X X X
In April 2005, 5 months into Livvy’s pregnancy, Steve and Livvy were in a doctor’s office laughing and chatting with an ultrasound tech. It was a routine visit to check on the measurements of their baby, and for Steve, the promise that Little Steve, the Cunninghams’ oldest, would be joined by a baby sister.
Subtle life shifts have a way of resonating. For Steve and Livvy it came when the tech guided the transducer probe to the baby’s heart area, turning a euphoric moment suddenly somber. Something wasn’t right.
“We were hoping it was a girl, and we didn’t sense anything was wrong until the tech left and came back with a doctor, who said he had to talk to us in his office,” Steve says. “We started to wonder what was up and he told us they found a complication. He explained that there could be something wrong with the baby’s heart. I’m from a family where everyone has kids and no one has any health issues, so it was a little hard to take.
“It was emotional. We’re Christians and we believe in what the Bible says, so we had to keep it under control. I had questions myself, ‘Why my daughter?’ I’m an emotional guy, but it all didn’t hit until later. God allowed me to look at it as a fight. That’s the way I saw it. We still have a chance, and if God is here, He won’t put us through this for nothing.”
Yet, Steve and Livvy expressed a gamut of emotions. Sadness, confusion, fear.
“We went there and I remember thinking, hoping someone was going to say, ‘Congratulations, you’re having a girl,’ and for me, I was shell-shocked,” Livvy says. “I remember being emotional that day driving home and Steve was a rock. He’s great in the clutch like that and definitely someone you want to lean on. I was scared. I didn’t know what to think. But for me, nothing was going to be 100 percent real until she was born.”
The next day, the young couple went to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and were directed to the Fetal Heart Program where a new term entered their world: hypoplastic left heart syndrome, or HLHS.
Serious heart defects occur in one in every 100 births. Out of that small percentage, 5 to 10 percent are born with HLHS.
“Kennedy has one of the most complex congenital heart defects,” says CHOP cardiologist Dr. Geoffrey Bird, Kennedy’s doctor. “HLHS is universally fatal without surgery. Some babies have a direct course in the three-part surgery. The surgery allows the body to grow and develop, so the heart can have one main pumping chamber instead of two.
“There’s been real progress recently in how to treat this disease. In the best-case scenario, 90
percent of babies born with this can have that single-chamber heart work well for 10 years or longer. What we learned is we can make the heart work better. Kennedy is a living miracle. She has one of the more complicated courses. What Kennedy went through at birth, only a small percentage of our population needs those extraordinary measures.”
The Cunninghams were offered the option to abort. “We weren’t aborting; that wasn’t even a discussion,” Steve says. “We were hopeful and trying to be as strong as we could be — going into the unknown. It was like flying in outer space without any navigation.”
Livvy kept thinking if Kennedy stayed in the womb, remained where she was, she’d be shielded from this terrible disease. “You’re a mother, and you’d do anything to protect your child,” she says. “But they told us there could be a cure.”
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome can be treated with three surgeries. Kennedy’s first would occur within her first few days, followed by a hospital stay of 10 days to 2 weeks. The second surgery would take place within her initial 6 months and the third by the time she was 2.
If only it was that smooth.
“It spins your perspective on life and you take it a day at a time, so I have a real good idea what \[Steve and Livvy\] were going through,” says Greg Olsen, the Carolina Panthers’ tight end whose 2-month-old son, T.J., was born with the same defect. “It gives you a crash course in reality. T.J. was born on a Tuesday, and the first thing Thursday morning he’s having open-heart surgery. We knew the risks going in. Doctors gave us a wide spectrum of prognoses and told us there were positive stories, and not so positive stories.
“It flips the world upside down on you and makes you appreciate what you have. T.J. is a twin, and he’s only 2 months old now, not doing a whole lot. But you see the two of them, T.J. and his sister, next to each other and you would have no idea. Aside from the big scar down his chest, you wouldn’t know anything was wrong with him. It’s still a disease that can take a life. But everything, thank God, is going well.”
T.J. is home without any feeding tubes or breathing assistance and has been breathing on his own the past month.
“We’ve been fortunate,” Olsen says.
The Cunninghams weren’t as fortunate.
X X X
Kennedy was born on Sept. 6, 2005, at Pennsylvania Hospital. Steve was with Livvy when she was induced. Just 3 days earlier, he had won a unanimous decision over Kelvin Davis in Cleveland.
“I didn’t want to leave her, but we wanted to keep things as normal as we could,” Steve says. “We were going to have breakdowns but not shutdowns. I went off to camp, because then, it was the most important fight of my career. I was promoted by Don King at the time and he didn’t care. There was no way he would have let me back out.”
Steve remained a pillar. His focus during training camp was to beat Davis, and in winning create a better opportunity for Kennedy and his family. “I wanted to be as strong as possible, and I don’t want to sound tough or anything, but I wanted to set an example for Livvy; I didn’t want to break down,” he says. “Oh, it was a great challenge. It was an opportunity to stand on the truths I believe in the Bible.”
When Kennedy was born, the Cunninghams got to hold her for 10 minutes before she was shuttled to CHOP’s cardiac intensive care unit. They wouldn’t hold her again for months. The next day, Kennedy underwent her first surgery. Steve and Livvy received hourly updates until the procedure was over, and were told surgeons were closing her up.
Then the updates stopped. An hour passed. Then another. Tension escalated. It grew when a nurse showed up, accompanied by a doctor, and escorted them to a white conference room furnished with two metal chairs. A minute’s walk felt like a death-row march.
Doctors told the Cunninghams the surgery went well, but Kennedy was losing blood and they couldn’t close her up. They warned them that she might not make it. “I was a mess; I began breaking down and thought the worst,” Livvy says.
“\[I thought\] she was still with us and I kept thinking we still had one more card to play and began praying right there,” Steve says.
The tiny girl literally fought for every breath she took; her heart could be felt beating under paper-thin skin. A day passed. She seemed stronger. “For some reason, we always saw her getting better, despite what we kept hearing,” Livvy says.
With each day, it appeared she was getting better. Then, 2 months later, more trouble. “Doctors came in and told us that they didn’t think she would live, every day they pumped so many fluids into her she blew up to twice her size,” Livvy says. “A major edema was occurring, but she needed the fluids and medicine. We were happy she began urinating.”
But Kennedy’s tiny heart was beaten up. She was on a bypass machine longer than expected and that damaged her lungs. She was so puffy she looked like a mini-sumo wrestler. Some days her eyes were so swollen she couldn’t open them to see her dad grab her petite, doll-like fingers and rub them against his head.
Steve and Livvy spent many long, gut-wrenching dark nights at CHOP. Steve would do his morning run, train and head back to the hospital. Livvy, who was working full time, would go right from work. They juggled their schedules and relied on Livvy’s mom, Randi Vega, to drive up from Baltimore every weekend to give them a break.
They gauged how sick Kennedy was by the number of intravenous drips she had (as many as 10 at a time) for pain meds, heart meds, blood-thinning meds, antibiotics, and what seemed like meds for the meds. There was a Christmas tree of monitors and cords helping to keep her alive.
“It was like a knock-down, drag-out fight and Kennedy was the fighter; she had staph infections that would knock an adult out,” Livvy says. “We’d always ask when we could bring her home until it reached a point we stopped asking. The nurses at CHOP made things so bearable. They knew everything about Kennedy. I was able to work and I knew she was in good hands. I love nurses, especially after everything we’ve been through.”
In the meantime, Steve tried resuming his career. He took a stay-busy fight in January 2006 at Madison Square Garden, stopping Lloyd Bryan in five rounds. He was aiming for a bout with IBF cruiserweight champion O’Neil Bell, but Bell wanted no part of Cunningham and was playing the waiting game.
It didn’t matter. Cunningham was already twisting inside, seeing his daughter propped up with her head back, nonresponsive.
“It bothered me not being able to pick her up,” he says. “Doctors told us when she was 4 months old about the tracheostomy. It would help her breathing and give us the freedom to hold her. I was against it at first, because I didn’t want any more tubes in her. I remember a day coming to see her and she had an IV sticking out of her head. That \[ticked\] me off. Just to see that was crazy. After the nurses explained it, it was OK. But the visual of that was disturbing.”
After the second surgery, in July 2006, Livvy noticed Kennedy’s left hand had balled into a fist and was pulsating. She asked the doctors why it was happening. Ten-month-old Kennedy had suffered a stroke.
A month later, Kennedy was cleared to go home, 2 weeks before her first birthday. She weighed 15 pounds. Her limbs were shriveled and she was hooked up to a ventilator, which Livvy and Steve learned to operate.
They thought they were prepared for anything. They thought. A few months later, they noticed that Kennedy’s eyes had rolled back. There was an obstruction lodged in her tracheostomy tube. “She wasn’t getting oxygen and we acted; we kept our cool and called the ambulance,” Steve says. “I remember putting her on a breathing bag and we kept her alive until the EMTs arrived. After that scare, she’s been home ever since.”
In April 2009, Kennedy had the tracheostomy tube removed. She didn’t begin talking until she was 3, and was almost 4 when she was able to walk. She still gets a strange look or two when children at the playground notice her tracheostomy scar. But Steve and Livvy refuse to see the world through a narrow, angry squint. “Kids do stare, but Steve and I always stressed that we would raise her normally. She’s not disabled and we’re going to treat her like she’s a normal child,” Livvy says. “No one has been really rude. Kennedy’s only real issues are with her vocal cords. It’s kind of a shame, because she likes to sing.”
Kennedy’s third surgery is pending. She might eventually need a heart transplant since her heart, in its current condition, can’t support an adult.
“She is a happy, playful, comfortable girl who’s doing great, considering the criteria for going through all of that,” says Bird, Kennedy’s cardiologist. “We’re thrilled with how far she’s come and don’t see a limit to her horizon. In reality, she may need more surgery down the road. A third surgery or transplant depends on how things go.”
Says Livvy: “As she gets older, things will get more dangerous. It’s why we think every day is a blessing — it really is, she knows how proud we are — proud of her taking a breath.
“She already has my vote for the best little girl in the world. It’s taught us about little victories. It makes you celebrate every little thing.”
Kennedy sleeps without any worries, and that eases her father’s anxiety. His upcoming bout with Adamek could be career-changing. But Cunningham now fights for something more than a payday. His fight is deeper than that.
“I fight with life and death involved,” he says. “It’s like if Kennedy wasn’t here, we wouldn’t be who we are. I know it’s no one’s fault what’s happened. I’m not angry at the world. She’s an inspiration to me. Winning and losing is a lot at stake for Kennedy.
“I have no questions about my faith. I see my prayers answered every day staring me right in the face. Dealing with Kennedy’s situation has made me know what it’s like being a man.
“I fight for her.”
♔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.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

ORGULLO DE ARGENTINAS

 
Coronando un año pródigo de acontecimientos estelares para nuestro pugilismo la productora "Boxeo para Todos" cierra esta temporada presentando el próximo Viernes 21 de Diciembre en el Club Universitario de La Plata ,14 y 501 -Gonnet-, el más esperado combate entre las campeonas de la actualidad enfrentándose por un lado alguien a quien ya no le hacen falta anuncios, porqu
e suena imposible agregar algo más sobre la formoseña Marcela "La Tigresa" Acuña ( T : 42 ; G : 37-17 KO-; P : 5-1 KO-.) actual poseedora del Cinturón Plata WBC supergallo, habiendo enfrentado también a lo largo de sus quince años de carrera a lo más rutilante del boxeo femenino mundial, nombres como los de Oliveras, Nava, Martin, Lopez, Ashley, todas titulares ecuménicas están presentes en su record además de haber sido, con su garra de luchadora como bandera, la pionera de la exitosa historia de nuestro pugilismo de "guantes rosas ", y en la esquina opuesta se presentará la actual campeona mundial WBO supermosca Carolina "La Turca" Duer ( T : 16 ; G : 13-5 KO- ; P : 3.) reconocida no solo por su cualidades sobre el ring tras haber conquistado el cinturón y retenerlo en seis ocasiones, sino también por su carisma y entrega en cada exposición suya ya sea en pelea o en diferentes actividades fomentando la práctica del boxeo apoyando su difusión. El combate está pactado a la distancia de diez asaltos en peso supergallo en el cual no habrá título en juego salvo el otorgado por la GENTE al haber ambas trascendido gracias a sus fuertes personalidades la frontera de lo meramente boxístico.
Reaparecerá en combate semifondo a ocho asaltos el ex campeón argentino superwelter Mateo "Chino" Verón (T:23 ; G:13-1 KO- ; P:8-3 KO- ; E:2.) enfrentando al experimentado santafecino Carlos "Gitano" Herrera (T : 27 ; G:23 -9 KO -; P : 4-KO 1-.) en pelea bisagra de sus respectivas campañas.
A la distancia de seis vueltas en peso supermediano saltarán al ring por un lado el sanisidrense Ricardo "Rayo" Ramallo ( T: 16;G : 12-10 KO-;P :3 -1 KO-; E : 1.) y por el otro el paceño José María Caffarena (T : 10 ; G :5 -3 KO- ;P : 3 -1 KO- ; E: 2.) para enfrentarse en lo que promete ser un choque a suerte y verdad por las espectaculares características de ambos púgiles.
Completarán combatiendo a seis capítulos en peso liviano el prospecto platense Nicolás Atilio Velazquez ( T : 6 ; G : 5 -2 KO- ; P : 1.) buscando afirmar su ascenso de campaña y el porteño Pablo "La Roca" Caldini (T :11 ;G : 4 -2KO- ;P: 5 -2 KO-; E: 2.) quien buscará enderezar su controvertido palamarés.
Así queda presentado este histórico festival, el cual dará inicio a las 21 Hs, entre dos luchadoras quienes siempre subieron al todo o nada al ring, ninguna de las dos registra empates en sus records, el cual será transmitido en directo por la TV Pública con los relatos de Osvaldo Príncipi y por la pantalla de la señal Ty C Sports en la voz de Walter Nelson en la narración del combate. Solo queda esperar al inconfundible Leandro Randolini presentando un escenario el cual lucirá a pleno y dos protagonistas animando un verdadero "Choque de Reinas" poniendo en juego su alma de campeonas, su temple de mujer y sobre todo su ORGULLO DE ARGENTINAS.
Gracias por acompañarnos.
ROBERTO OMAR COBE - PRENSA Y DIFUSIÓN - BOXEO PARA TODOS .

♔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.