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Boxing Articles By Jim Everett
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By Jim Everett September 4th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, former lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz, 33-1 (17), will face Michael Katsidis, 23-1 (20), after suffering his first career loss to Nate Campbell in March of this year. Coincidentally, Katsidis also enters the ring for the first time since his first loss against Joel Casamayor which took place only a week apart from Diaz’s bout with Campbell .
Since his loss in March which was his last contractual fight with Don King, Diaz has signed with Golden Boy Promotions and is looking forward to what he feels will be a better working relationship.
SaddoBoxing had the opportunity to speak with Diaz in an exclusive phone interview to discuss the difficult time he had with his last bout with Don King as well as his upcoming return to the ring. More...
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By Jim Everett August 29th, 2008 All Boxing Articles
**With Slideshow**
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
“Who did you beat to call yourself the champion of the world? You have to beat a champion to become champion,” bellowed WBC Champion Samuel Peter towards his challenger WBC Champion Emeritus Vitali Klitschko. The two heavyweights met at a press conference at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in New York City yesterday to announce their October 11 title fight at the O2 World Arena in Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany .
Vitali “Dr. Iron Fist” Klitschko, 35-2 (34), has not been in the ring since December 2004, when he defended his WBC and Ring titles against Danny Williams, knocking the Brit down four times before winning by TKO in the eighth round.
After having to reschedule his next defense against Hasim Rahman several times due to injuries, Klitschko retired from the sport in late 2005. He was due to return to the ring last year to face Jameel McCline, but again was forced to cancel the bout due to injury.
Klitschko feels the injuries are a part of all big sports, “A good example is world champion Ruslan Chagaev just a couple of months ago tore his Achilles tendon a week before the fight. It sometimes happens, nobody has a guarantee. I’m more than sure right now, I have checked my health, I’m 100% ready, I don’t have any problems and I’m very optimistic.” More...
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By Jim Everett August 23rd, 2008 All Boxing Results
On Friday August 22, 2008 the last U.S. boxer stepped into the ring for his Semifinal bout hoping to advance to the Final round to compete for Olympic gold but left the ring having to settle for a Bronze Medal.
“It’s just a blessing for me being here to experience the Olympics and then come out with a medal regardless of what happened tonight,” said heavyweight Deontay Wilder. “It was a good fight but he came out the better man tonight.”
A lot of the media has focused on the Beijing Olympics being the worst showing for the U.S. boxing team in the history of the modern Olympics, but that should not overshadow all that Wilder has accomplished in his short amateur career.
The native of Tuscaloosa , Alabama only began boxing just under three years ago; he not only made it to the Olympics but as the most inexperienced member of the U.S. team he was the only member to make it to the medal round.
Wilder’s Semifinal bout could have been billed as “Inexperience vs. Experience,” as he faced off against Italy ’s Clemente Russo the winner of the 2007 World Championships in Chicago. Although the U.S. heavyweight stood eight inches above the Italian he often gave up the height advantage allowing Russo to work on the inside and counter punch well.
Both fighters came out in the first round tentative as they circled in the center of the ring. Russo lowered his arms in an effort to draw in the taller Wilder who obliged by dipping his head to the right when he came into jab. More...
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By Jim Everett August 23rd, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
Photo ©William Trillo
Next week at the Morongo Casino Resort in Cabazon, California lightweight prospect Dominic Salcido, 16-0 (8), will put his unbeaten record to the test as he steps up in competition to face 2004 Olympian Vincente Escobedo, 18-1 (11).
Although Salcido has only been a professional fighter since 2003 he went through a period of inactivity having to take off eleven months to heal a broken right hand after delivering a technical knock to Odilon Rivera in March 2006. He quickly made up for lost time returning to the ring in February 2007 and competing in seven fights last year.
SaddoBoxing had the pleasure to speak to Dominic Salcido in an exclusive phone interview to discuss his big upcoming fight and his career.
SaddoBoxing: Next week you will be facing 2004 Olympian Vincente Escobedo; how do you feel about getting into the ring with someone with that much experience?
Dominic Salcido: “It’s a great opportunity, a big step for me; it’s a big opportunity for me to face a former Olympian. He was a great fighter at 130, it’s a big fight for me, a really big step, and I’m excited.”
SB: How did the fight come about for you?
DS: “The matchmaker called me and asked if I wanted this fight and I did, I took it right away. I always wanted to fight Escobedo since the amateurs. We never got a chance to meet up in the amateurs.” More...
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By Jim Everett August 19th, 2008 All Boxing Articles
On Sunday, August 17, 2008, the last two U.S. boxers competed in the Quarterfinals with only one moving forward to the medal rounds and the other suffering a discouraging loss, frustrated with the judges and the scoring system.
Welterweight Demetrius Andrade, arguably the most talented athlete on the U.S. boxing team and current world champion, fought in a disappointing loss to Jungjoo Kim of Korea.
Both fighters started out slow, circling in the center of the ring from which they eventually received two warnings from the referee to box. The action picked up slowly with an occasional jab and one-two combination from Andrade and a few punches from Kim, who flurried at the very end of the round to get on the scoreboard, 1-0.
In the beginning of the second round, Andrade lets his hands go, a three punch combination, two punch combinations and double right hook in succession. Kim covers up well and blocks most of the punches and scores from his own combination of a lead right, left hook, right and another left hook.
Andrade comes in again, working on the inside with a multiple punch combination; Kim does an excellent job of covering up with a tight peek-a-boo defense while he backs away. A solid left from Andrade connects with no point registering.
With a minute left in round two, Andrade charges forward with a punch combination that scores, Kim counters and scores as well. Kim throws a combination that is blocked by Andrade, but scores anyway.
More...
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By Jim Everett August 17th, 2008 All Boxing Results
Saturday August 16, 2008 was a big day for the U.S. as Michael Phelps made history by winning his unprecedented eighth Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics, but for the eight members of the U.S. boxing team, their story has not been as fruitful.
Middleweight Shawn Estrada and light flyweight Luis Yanez were unsuccessful in the second round of elimination bouts, leaving only welterweight Demetrius Andrade and heavyweight Deontay Wilder moving to the Quarterfinals.
The Beijing Olympics has been the worst showing in history for the U.S. since boxing became an Olympic sport in 1904. The previous worst showing the U.S. team had experienced was sending four fighters to the Quarterfinals in 2004 at the Athens Olympics.
Although he had a favorable draw, Estrada was not able to get past James DeGale of Great Britain to move to the Quarterfinal rounds. The British southpaw gave Estrada, who abandon his jab, a difficult time.
In the first frame, DeGale was the first to land a clean one-two combination that did not register a point. Estrada moved forward without utilizing his jab, lunging forward while trying to throw a straight right. Estrada was able to land with a right uppercut and right cross, but both punches do not register a point. The round ends 0-0.
In the second round, Estrada, still coming forward without utilizing his jab, circled right against the southpaw instead of to his left. He seemed unsure of how to deal with the southpaw style, only throwing rights and still, completely abandoning his jab.
DeGale scores with a straight left and a right hook also scores. Both fighters exchange punches which scored, ending the round at 3-1 for DeGale. More...
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By Jim Everett August 16th, 2008 All Boxing Results
The second round of elimination bouts did not fare as well for featherweight Raynell Williams as it did for team mate Demetrius Andrade, who will proceed to the quarterfinals on Sunday. On Friday, August 15, 2008, Williams lost his chance at an Olympic medal when he was defeated by Khedafi Djelkhir of France, an opponent he previously beat in the 2007 World Championships.
The southpaw Williams was looking to stick and move in the first round and Djelkhir was the first to score a point on the inside. Williams was the busier of the two fighters, using combinations, most of which landed on the gloves of the tightly defensive Djelkhir, but some punches did get through that did not register any points. Williams finally got on the board towards the end of the round, landing a clean counter right to even the score at 1-1.
Djelkhir was the aggressor in the second round, coming in on Williams and landing again, constantly stalking the dancing American. The U.S. featherweight was landing punches that were still not registering points. Djelkhir gets in a right hand, to which Williams responds with a body shot that goes scoreless. Round two ends in favor of the Frenchman, 4-1.
In the third round, Williams came out jabbing and two jabs land, snapping back the head of Djelkhir, but scoring only one point. Both fighters exchange and each score, before Djelkhir scores another point. A lot of action in the third round with both fighters registering less points than are actually landing. Although Williams is staying active, he seemed to spend too much time with leg movement rather than sticking and moving. Djelkhir leads at the end of the round, 7-4.
The U.S. coaches implore Williams to let his hands go in the last round. The fighters begin the fourth in a clinch and wrestle back and forth before exchanging punches that register points. A nice three punch combination by Djelkhir lands with his left hook registering a point. More...
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By Jim Everett August 16th, 2008 All Boxing Results
On Thursday, August 14, 2008 welterweight Gold Medal favorite Demetrius Andrade opened the next round of elimination bouts for the U.S. team competing in the Round of 16 against thirty-two year old Andrey Balanov of Russia, who Andrade had previously lost to as a young seventeen year old at the 2005 World Cup.
Following Andrade into the Round of 16 elimination bouts are featherweight Raynell Williams, who faces Khedafi Djelkhir of France later today, middleweight Shawn Estrada and light flyweight Luis Yanez compete tomorrow and Deontay Wilder moves into the Quarter finals on Sunday due to the smaller field in the heavyweight division.
A quick recap of the rest of the U.S. boxing team starts before the first punch was even thrown. Bantamweight Gold Medal favorite Gary Russell, Jr collapsed from dehydration on the Thursday before the weigh-in, trying to shed one last pound and was not able to compete in the Olympic Games.
Light welterweight Javier Molina was unable to cut off the ring as he chased the faster Boris Georgiev of Bulgaria to a 14-1 loss. Lightweight Sadam Ali abandoned his boxing skills and lost to Georgian Popescu of Romania by a score of 20-5.
One of the most crushing blows to the U.S. team was when two-time Olympian and Gold Medal favorite Rau’shee Warren thought he was ahead on points during the last round and did not throw any punches against Korea ’s Oksung Lee.
With only four seconds left in the bout, Warren noticed his coach telling him to throw punches, but it was too late, losing the chance to fulfill his Olympic dream by a score of 9-8. More...
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By Jim Everett August 15th, 2008 All Boxing Results
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
The U.S. boxing team had a strong finish on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, ending the opening round bouts with both their heavyweight and light flyweight fighters moving into the next round of competition.
The first victory came from the raw and inexperienced hands of 6’9” Deontay Wilder from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who has less than three years experience in boxing. Wilder was fortunate to get a great draw facing 6’2” Abdelaziz Touilbini from Algeria .
During the first round, Touilbini scored a point early in the bout while Wilder was tentative, throwing only one punch at a time. Wilder was clearly tight and was down 2-0 at the end of the round. More...
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By Jim Everett August 14th, 2008 All Boxing Results
On Tuesday, August 12, 2008, the U.S. boxing team suffered a devastating blow when top Gold Medal hopeful Rau’shee Warren lost in his first elimination bout to Korea’s Oksung Lee. Warren was the first U.S. boxer since Davey Lee Armstrong in 1972 and 1976 to compete in two Olympic Games.
Warren came into the Beijing Olympics as the current flyweight world champion and was the favorite to win the division. He entered the ring with a picture of his eight month-old son taped to his shoes, similar to when Sugar Ray Leonard taped a picture of his infant son to his shoes in the 1976 Olympics.
But unfortunately for Warren and the U.S., his outcome was not the same as Leonard’s.
The southpaw Warren’s hand speed and quickness were evident in the first round as he got out to an early two point lead. Warren, unconventionally, was able to jump in and score effectively against Lee, who didn’t take long to pinpoint the timing of Warren to score his own points. The first round ended with the score 2-2.
The second round was filled with back and forth action. Every time that Warren would score a point to take the lead, Lee would score as well, keeping the bout a tie 6-6 at the end of round two.
At the start of the third round, both fighters came out swinging with aggressive exchanges, but no clean punches registered a point for either fighter. Warren landed a clean left, to which the Korean fighter was credited a point. More...
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By Jim Everett August 14th, 2008 All Boxing Results
This past Monday, August 11, 2008, the featherweight and lightweight divisions had their first elimination bouts at the Beijing Worker’s Gymnasium on day three of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing , China where the U.S. team had mixed results.
First up for the U.S., was nineteen year old Raynell Williams, who faced off against Alessio di Savino of Italy in the featherweight division.
The fast southpaw Williams used his speed from the opening bell, having a clear advantage over di Savino, boxing well and landing combinations to score a point. He seemed to be able to register one point with each three punch combination, getting out to an early 4-0 lead at the end of round one.
In the second round, di Savino lands a left to get on the scoreboard with Williams landing a counterpunch at the same time, also registering a point.
The Italian walked straight in on Williams for the rest of the round and Williams was able to land easily. Unlike some of the other U.S. boxers who have already fought, Williams seemed relaxed and confident in the ring.
Going into the third round the score 7-1 was in Williams' favor. The scoring slowed down during the round with Williams only registering one more point.
Williams continued to box well through the last round and scored another point which gave him a final score of 9-1. After the fight, Williams felt that it was a big thing for him to stay calm in the ring and that he needed to use his jab more to set up his punches. More...
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By Jim Everett August 13th, 2008 All Boxing Results
Last Saturday, August 9, 2008, middleweight Shawn Estrada got the U.S. boxing team off to a great start, winning his preliminary bout against Ezequiel Maderna of Argentina by a final score of 10-2. Estrada could not have asked for a better draw, having previously beat Maderna at the Americas Qualifier in Guatemala by a score of 4-1 earlier this year.
Estrada used the ring well boxing to an early lead of 7-1 at the end of round two. The taller Maderna was unable to use his height advantage and struggled to score points.
Round three was a low scoring round with each fighter gaining only one point. Estrada smothered himself on the inside, which prevented him from throwing clean punches. He scored two additional points in the fourth round and gave the U.S. boxing team their first win, advancing to the Round of 16 where he will face James DeGale of Great Britian.
On the second day of Olympic boxing, the light welterweight and welterweight fighters took center stage and the U.S. had mixed results, going one and one.
The eighteen year-old U.S. light welterweight Javier Molina faced off against tough twenty-five year-old Boris Georgiev of Bulgaria, who had won a Bronze Medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Molina gave Georgiev some early opportunities, leaving his head open by bouncing his left hand from his chest to his leg, creating openings for the Bulgarian, which he capitalized on by ending the first round with a 6-0 lead. More...
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By Jim Everett August 12th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
Last month when SaddoBoxing got the opportunity to meet with the U.S. Olympic boxing team at a workout session at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York, I have to admit I did a little research on the various fighters to get myself more familiar with the team. I, of course, knew the East Coast amateurs pretty well, but needed to brush up on the rest of the team.
After reading up on all the athletes, one of the more publicized media highlights was that Luis Yanez had been dismissed from the team. The particular workout session I attended was just after he had been dismissed from the team and before his return, so he was not available for an interview, not to mention unavailable to sign a boxing glove the rest of the team signed, but I digress.
The background story was that Yanez left the Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs and did not return. He was originally leaving to attend his high school graduation and never returned, breaking off all communication with his coaches. Yanez was kicked off the team on July 1 after missing three weeks of mandatory training and refusing to respond to a letter from USA Boxing that insisted he return or risk expulsion.
Yanez was reinstated two weeks later with an agreement that overturned the decision to dismiss him from the team. Yanez released the following statement, “I want to thank USA Boxing for its understanding and sense of forgiveness. I sincerely apologize to head coach [Dan] Campbell , to my teammates, and to USA Boxing for not only breaking the rules of the Athlete Code of Conduct, but also for my lack of candor regarding the circumstances of my absence from the Resident Program.”
In the agreement, Yanez had to meet specific stipulations including a financial penalty for his absence. Although he was reluctant to specify a reason for his actions, he later stated he had been caring for his sister and her four children while she was undergoing medical treatment. More...
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By Jim Everett August 12th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Deontay Wilder was born on October 22, 1985 and lives in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He began boxing in 2005 and is coached by Jay Deas. He has a two-year old daughter, Naieya, who suffers from the medical condition Spina Bifida and serves as his biggest influence and motivation.
Wilder, who has only been boxing for less than three years, has already accomplished a lot by winning several local and national amateur titles. His career highlights include: two-time Alabama Golden Gloves Champion, Southern Golden Gloves Champion, Nation Golden Gloves Champion, Southeastern District Champion and National Champion.
To qualify for the U.S. Olympic boxing team, he not only had to overcome his opponents but also being under the weather. “Every major tournament I went to, I seemed to get sick; I caught the flu or something,” said Wilder. “At the second qualification, I said I’m claiming it right here no matter what happens.” More...
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By Jim Everett August 11th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
**With Slideshow**
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Raynell Williams credits his being part of the U.S. Olympic boxing team to his mother. He qualified at the final possible event for the U.S. Championships, the lone qualifier for the Olympic Team Trials after considering quitting boxing. His mother insisted that he compete in the final event and raised the money for him to do so.
In the U.S. Championships, Williams went through some big amateur names, winning decisions against Luis Del Valle from Newburgh, New York and Hylon Williams of Houston, Texas. In the finals, he won a decision against Rico Ramos for first place.
After winning a decision against Shemuel Pagan during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Williams faced Hylon Williams three times, winning two of the three matches for first place. He then earned his spot internationally by reaching the quarterfinals of the AIBA World Championships.
Williams' career highlights include: two-time USA Boxing Athlete of the Month, National Champion and Olympic Test Event Champion. More...
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By Jim Everett August 10th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
The veteran of the U.S. Olympic boxing team, Rau’shee Warren is the only member of this year's squad that was also on the 2004 team in Athens, Greece. In 2004, Warren was not only the youngest member of the boxing team but also the youngest male athlete on the U.S. team. During the Athens Olympic Games, Warren lost in the first round draw to one of the top favorites, Zou Shiming of China, who went on to win the Bronze Medal.
Unlike most of the 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing team, Warren decided not to turn professional so he could fulfill his dream of putting an Olympic Gold Medal around his mother, Paulette’s neck. Since the 2004 Olympics, Warren has stayed busy, winning the U.S. Championships three years in a row (2005-2007), the 2004 World Championships as a Bronze Medallist and won the 2007 World Championships.
Warren is the first U.S. boxer since Davey Lee Armstrong in 1972 and 1976 to compete in two Olympic Games and is a top favorite to win gold in the flyweight division. More...
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By Jim Everett August 10th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
**With Slideshow**
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
For Javier Molina, the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic boxing team, theentire experience has been a dream come true. From watching the Olympics as a child and being inspired by one of the 2000 Olympians, he could not be happier about his achievements.
“In 2000, when I first watched the Olympics, there was a guy from my gym, Francisco Bojado, who was on the Mexican team that worked out at my gym,” said Molina.
“I would always watch him fight and as a kid, I always dreamed that I was going to go to the Olympics. I would picture myself going, so when I actually made the team, it was a dream come true. I’m so excited about going, I can’t wait to walk in the opening ceremony and have my first fight there.” More...
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By Jim Everett August 9th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
**With Slideshow**
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
It wouldn’t be fair to say that Demetrius Andrade had an easy time on his road to the Olympics, but that’s exactly how he made it look and why he is favored to win a Gold Medal in Beijing, China. The 20 year old stormed through both the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and dominated the AIBA World Championships last year.
Back in August, 2007, Andrade stopped his first two opponents to get through the quarterfinals of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He then won both the semi-final and final match by a wide decision for first place. Just two months later, he won the finals at the AIBA World Championships, winning each of his five bouts by double-digit margins.
“It was good competition but I basically went through it,” commented Andrade on his qualification process. “I was working hard and I was focused. I didn’t let anybody stop me. I worked hard and I ran through it.” More...
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By Jim Everett August 9th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
**With Slideshow**
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Shawn Estrada is not one to shy away from a challenge. He was announced as part of the U.S. Olympic boxing team in August, 2007 after defeating two of the favorites in the US. Olympic Team Trials, Fernando Guerrero and Danny Jacobs, who both turned professional after their loss to Estrada.
Just to provide an idea of the level of competition they offered, they currently hold a combined record of 17-0 (17) in only eight months as professional fighters.
Estrada was one of three teammates that had their last opportunity to qualify nationally for the U.S. Olympic boxing team at the final Americas Olympic Qualifier in April of this year in Guatemala City. More...
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By Jim Everett August 8th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
**With Slideshow**
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Gary Russell, Jr. who was one of the favorites to win a medal at the Olympic Games, unfortunately will not get that opportunity in Beijing, China. He collapsed on Thursday night after running, trying to lose weight before Friday morning’s weigh-in.
The bantamweight Russell, Jr needed to meet the limit of 119 pounds but weighed 121 on Thursday before his run. He was treated with fluids for dehydration by doctors, but was not hospitalized.
In a statement released by USA Boxing, Russell, Jr stated, “I’m extremely disappointed, competing in the Olympic Games has always been one of my dreams, and I wish I would have been able to represent my country alongside my teammates.” More...
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