Philadelphia, PA is well known for producing a long line of quality fighters in many weight classes. Even at age 43, Bernard Hopkins remains the flag bearer of the legendary Philadelphia fighter in the sport today but there is a younger cast of boxers beginning to surge forth that will shortly begin to replace the old guard.
Super middleweight Gee Cullmer is one of those hopefuls and since turning pro in December, 2000, the 32 year old has racked up a promising 14-1-1NC (3) record including 10 straight bouts without a loss since dropping a four rounder to Dorian Beaupierre in 2003.
SaddoBoxing was fortunate enough to catchup with with Gee soon after he posted a hard fought majority decision over Mustapha Johnson at Philadelphia’s famed Legendary Blue Horizon last month and you won’t want to miss what this talented and thoughtful fighter had to say about his career and bright future. More…
SaddoBoxing Exclusive Interview With Gomez Trainer Bobby Rimmer
This week it was announced that Michael Gomez will face Amir Khan on June 21 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. Gomez will be hoping for the best birthday present he could ask for - if he can successfully defeat the Bolton Boxer, as it is Gomez’s 31st birthday that same day.
Gomez was to face Peter McDonagh on May 23 at Robin Park, Wigan, but McDonagh pulled out of the contest.
Khan, who has split with trainer Oliver Harrison and is now fighting under new trainer - Dean Powell, will be looking for his 18th professional win.
SaddoBoxing spoke to Bobby Rimmer this morning to find out how the ‘camp’ is feeling about the news.
“This is sure to be a ‘beltin’ fight!,” enthused Rimmer, “Michael gets ‘written off’ by everyone but he’ll be the best opponent Amir Khan’s ever fought and it couldn’t come at a better time. More…
What better stage to highlight a New York rivalry than a live HBO telecast from Madison Square Garden? Dmitriy Salita, 28-0-1 (16), hopes to take his first step towards the boxing elite by facing cross town rival Edgar Santana, 24-5 (15), on the undercard of DiBella Entertainment’s Boxing After Dark on June 21.
“I received a call a few days ago about fighting Santana,” Salita told SaddoBoxing. “The offer was good and I accepted the fight; I really hope this fight happens for New York City and for the fans.”
According to Salita, his fight is being considered as part of a potential triple-header telecast headlined by Andre Berto, who will face Miguel Angel Rodriguez, and a heavyweight co-feature of Chazz Witherspoon against Chris Arreola. More…
“I had kind of a rough childhood. I got into a lot of fights.”
There are a lot of things you can say about Matt Remillard, current WBC Youth Featherweight Champion. Arrogance is not one of them as itʼs breath of fresh air to see how grounded the 21 year old Remillard is.
His progression in the sport has been steady, amassing a 13-0 record while stopping 7 men, over fifty percent of his increasingly more difficult competition, inside the distance.
He fights out of Manchester, Connecticut in the same gym that he walked into years ago, as a young, tough kid with a self admitted chip on his shoulder doing community service. Matt Remillardʼs path to boxing was a bumpy one, but it was one that led him to where he is today, a champion.
SaddoBoxing: So Matt, what got you into boxing?
Matt Remillard: “Iʼve always liked boxing. I remember watching fights with my father and grandfather. You know, the classic fights like Ali vs. Frazier. Iʼve always been a fan of the sport.
I had kind of a rough childhood. I got into a lot of fights. I used to get in fights at school and stuff. I had to do community service. I was sent to the Police Athletic League by a police officer by the name of Anthony DeJulis.” More…
British super featherweight Steven Bell, 14-1 (5), has parlayed a heavily decorated stay as an amateur that saw him as Captain of Team England into a successful career as both a top level professional boxer and a burgeoning actor on some of his country’s most popular current television shows and a highly acclaimed feature film.
SaddoBoxing had the good fortune to catch up with Steven as he continues his campaign to rule the 130 pound division in the British Isles and you want want to miss what the 32 year old had to say about his fascinating careers!
SaddoBoxing: How do you feel about your performance recently in beating iron-chinned light welter journeyman Baz Carey over six rounds?
Steven Bell: “Yeah, I have had two good wins now since that defeat [to Femi Fehintola] in October. I won every round against Carey without any problems and boxed the way I planned, so was happy with the performance. More…
This Friday, April 18, 2008, South London’s charismatic Gary “Hot Stuff” Woolcombe, 25-1 (10), will be putting his British Light Middleweight title on the line for the first time since winning the vacant crown against Marcus Portman last December in Wigan, England.
The 25 year old has filled London’s York Hall for this hotly anticipated clash with big punching southpaw and former titlist Ryan Rhodes, 38-4 (26), on a Frank Maloney promotion and we had the good fortune to catch up with Gary as he was putting the final touches on his training camp.
SaddoBoxing: Who are you sparring against in the gym in order to prepare for Ryan Rhodes and can you say a bit about how that sparring is going?
Gary Woolcombe: “The sparring has been going really well. I don’t have a problem with southpaws. I have been sparring Sam Webb, he is an orthodox fighter, but he’s been turning southpaw for me. I reckon he’s a better southpaw than he is orthodox fighter, anyway.
“I sparred Tony Oakey a couple of times, we got let down by Craig Watson, and Tony jumped in at the last minute. I sparred Gokhan Kazaz quite a few times and had a good spar with him. I did actually spar Craig, but only once and also John Honney, he’s a lot better in the gym then he is on the night, but I had great sparring sessions with all of them.”
SB: What were the key components in your British title winning effort against southpaw Marcus Portman last December? What did you find that really worked for you and how were you able to nullify his effectiveness?
GW: ” I took the fight at a week’s notice, so I never had any southpaw sparring for it, I just took things as they came. I just adapted to his style, that’s what makes a good fighter. All my career, I have been due to fight, say, a come forward fighter, and the day before the fight, they change the opponent to a runner, so I had to learn to adapt to deal with the change of opponent.” More…
Recently I had the great pleasure to speak to former Light Heavyweight Champion Bob Foster. Without question, he was one of the greatest light heavyweights of all time, and there are those that say he may in fact be the greatest.
Foster had limited success as a heavyweight, but he owned the light heavyweight division. He beat Dick Tiger in 1968 for the world title. He was stripped by the WBA of his title in 1971, but kept on defending his WBC portion. In 1972 Foster unified the title, beating Vincente Rondon by a second round KO.
Throughout his career he would defend his title fourteen times. He would fight twice for the heavyweight title, losing to Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. Foster retired in 1974, but came back in 1975 and fought seven more times, winning five. He retired for good in 1978 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Shawn Murphy: Mr. Foster, the light heavyweight division has been filled with many great fighters over the years-Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, Gene Tunney and Billy Conn. Point blank, are you the greatest of them all?
Bob Foster: “Yes!”
SM: Letʼs go back to the beginning. How did you get your start in boxing?
BF: “I started boxing at the age of thirteen in the Golden Gloves in Albuquerque. Joe Louis Murphy was the main trainer of the kids in the gym. Joe Louis Murphy left to go into the Air Force, and then I went into there as well. In the Air Force I just continued to box.” More…
Tonight, Alfonso Gomez, 18-3-2 (8), will be stepping in the ring with WBA Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto, 31- 0 (25), for what will be his first opportunity at capturing a world title. Gomez, who made a name for himself on NBCʼs Contender series, has become more than a reality TV star and is perhaps the most successful cast member of that show.
Season one winner Sergio Mora has fought only three times against very limited competition, and although he has a shot at Vernon Forrest’s WBC 154 pound title this June, he has really failed to make a dent in his boxing career. By contrast, Gomez has beaten fighters such as former two division world champion Arturo Gatti, in what was Gattiʼs last bout, and more recently, world title challenger Ben Tackie.
Gomez has been dubbed a continuous underdog each time that he has stepped up in class, but in every instance, he has silenced his criticʼs. The question on everyoneʼs mind now is “Can Gomez once again prove the criticʼs wrong?” After all, Miguel Cotto is no Arturo Gatti or Ben Tackie. Cotto is undefeated and considered one of boxingʼs current pound for pound best fighters in the world. Cotto is also one of the sportʼs most feared punchers. When you add them together, Gomez starts looking like an even bigger underdog than usual. More…
Friday night at the Miccosukee Resort in Miami, Florida, undefeated Super Middleweight James McGirt Jr 18-0 (9) will face Carlos De Leon Jr 19-2-2 (12) in his first scheduled ten round bout live on Showtime’s Shobox, the New Generation.
No pun intended but the “new generation” is just what James McGirt Jr has become. He is the son of former World Champion James “Buddy” McGirt and has already made his own claim rising up the ranks of the heavily talented Super Middleweight division.
Only in the professional ranks for the past four years McGirt Jr fought in both the Middleweight and Super Middleweight divisions deciding to compete specifically at the 168 pound weight class last year. He has been very active in his career fighting five times in 2007 and looking to stay just as busy in 2008.
Saddoboxing had the pleasure of speaking with McGirt Jr at his father’s gym in Florida in an exclusive phone interview as he wrapped up his training camp. More…
“Iʼm trying to change the minds of the fans one fight at a time.”
These are the words that two time heavyweight champion, John Ruiz, kept saying in our interview yesterday. “I know I havenʼt been the type of guy to fill the arena, so to speak.” Ruiz has no delusions on how he is perceived. It is in any forum or article after one of his fights. He is not an action fighter. He has a hit and hold style that will lull any fighter to sleep, along with the audience.
But Ruiz wants to change that perception. He has a new trainer, a new camp and a great attitude. “I want to do the exact opposite of what I used to do. Iʼm working on changing my style.”
When we caught up with Ruiz he was at his home in Las Vegas with his wife Marybel.
Saddoboxing: Coming off your dominating win over Jameel McCline, where do you think this places you in the heavyweight landscape?
John Ruiz: “I feel very confident. There have been no new names at the top of the division for a while. I want to go after the guys I havenʼt fought. I feel very good and I am willing to fight anybody.”
SB: You looked fresh in your last fight nearly pitching a shut out. What have you done differently to put on such a performance?
JR: “I feel rejuvenated. I have changed my camp. I have brought on Manny Siaca. I feel motivated for the first time in a while. I feel like a student again. Iʼm learning so much. With my old people I felt like I was teaching them. I just feel so good about the people I have around me.” More…
On May 2, 2008, undefeated super middleweight Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell takes on Anthony “The Tyger” Hanshaw at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California on Shobox. Dirrell won an Olympic Bronze Medal in 2004 at 165 pounds while Hanshaw was in the class prior, losing to Jermain Taylor in the Olympic qualifier.
Dirrell was first spotlighted on HBO in June of last year on the undercard of Paulie Malignaggi vs. Lovemore N’Dou, in a winning performance against Curtis Stevens where many thought he could have done more.
Hanshaw hasn’t been active since dropping a lopsided decision to Roy Jones, Jr. as a light heavyweight. SaddoBoxing had the opportunity to speak with both Andre Dirrell and his trainer and grandfather, Leon Lawson, by phone.
SaddoBoxing: How long have you been training Andre?
Leon Lawson: “I trained him for over 12-13 years now. I just constantly train him. I got my son helping me. I worked with him the last 3-4 weeks. He’s down there now with my son.”
SB: What does Hanshaw do that might be problematic?
LL: “Nothing.”.
SB: Is he impressive at all? The last match I saw him in was the draw with Jean Paul Mendy.
LL: “Well no, I was glad Hanshaw didn’t lose. I been knowing Hanshaw for ten years or better. He’s came up with the group ahead of Andre as far as Olympics go. That was his year anyway. Andre, I’ve worked with him the last couple years and cultivated him. It all adds up and that’s why he’s so fast. He’s the fastest thing out there these days.” More…
Last night, trainer Bobby Rimmer confirmed to SaddoBoxing that former British Super Featherweight Champion Michael Gomez is to face Peter McDonagh in a re-match billed as ‘Redemption’.
The Irish Lightweight title fight promoted by Steve Woods / VIP Boxing, will be held at the Robin Park Arena, Wigan, England on May 23 - the eve of Ricky Hatton’s fight against Mexican-American Juan Lazcano.
Rimmer was obviously delighted with the news and said that Gomez was “over the moon” to be getting a second shot at McDonagh.
Controversy surrounded the first meeting of the two men when they fought for the Irish Lightweight title in Dublin in January 2006. Gomez seemed to stop fighting during the bout and suffered a fifth round stoppage to McDonagh and then retired from boxing.
In 2007, under new trainer Bobby Rimmer, Gomez took to the ring again and has gained re-newed confidence having won three out of his last four fights.
Last night at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, former British Champion Michael Gomez successfully defeated Baz Carey in a six round super featherweight contest.
Gomez’s trainer Bobby Rimmer told SaddoBoxing this morning that “Michael boxed really well - he did great”. More…
Saturday night in Cancun, Mexico, IBF, WBA and WBO Lightweight Champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz, 33-0 (17), will step into the ring for the first time in 2008 to face his mandatory IBF challenger Nate Campbell, 31-5-1 (25).
This morning as I thought I was finishing my write up on an interview I had done with Diaz, a boxing headline caught my eye, Don King Quits Juan Diaz. The premise of the release stated “Diaz’s attorney Fred Levin quit undefeated Lightweight Champion in February; promoter decides to follow suit by abandoning star boxer after Saturday’s match.”
SaddoBoxing had the pleasure of speaking to Juan Diaz in an exclusive phone interview earlier this week before he departed for Mexico and spoke about his promotional contract with Don King. Prior to King’s release, Diaz had already stated that this was his last fight under Don King and that his contract was set to expire on March 31, 2008. More…
Chicky said “Just do it” and I have been here ever since…”
There are the rare occasions in this sport when an achievement surpasses anything that could possibly have been dreamed of. A fighter dreams of becoming a world champion and after that, being inducted into the Hall of Fame while managers dream of managing a world champion and trainers dream of training world champions.
The world title is the peak of the mountain, so to speak, in boxing. Yet every now and again, we have those who go past that peak, they become the Mt. Everest of achievement. Fighters of the past like Ray Robinson, Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. Promoters like Don King, Bob Arum and Tex Rickard. Trainers such as Nacho Beristain, Emmanuel Steward and Ray Arcel.
People starting out in these professions all aspire to become just like the men mentioned above, men who are true heroes of the game that so many of us looked up to as kids.
In the past, I have mentioned that as a kid I watched Muhammad Ali fights on television with my father and it was watching those fights with dad that made me a lifelong card carrying fan of the sport.
As almost everyone out there knows, be they a fan of boxing or not, Ali has not only been a favorite of millions but is also widely considered the greatest heavyweight of all time, or at least ranked second behind Joe Louis.
What is often forgotten is that there was a man who played a pivotal role in making Aliʼs career as successful as it was in the ring. The man who stood in the corner between rounds talking to the champion, giving him strategy, and at times even buying him an extra few seconds when needed. That man, of course, is the one and only Angelo Dundee. More…
IBF Featherweight Champion Robert “The Ghostʼ Guerrero, 21-1 (14), steps into the ring on February 29 to defend his title against Jason Litzau, 23-1 (19), in a bout that will be televised on Showtimeʼs ShoBox series. This will be the second defense of Guerreroʼs title in his second reign as IBF Featherweight Champion.
Guerreroʼs first reign as champion came when he defeated Eric Aiken in September, 2006. He then lost his title to Orlando Salido on points two months later. Salido tested positive for drugs after the bout and was stripped by the commission. In February, 2007 Guerrero defeated Spend Abazi via ninth round TKO for the vacant title and became champion for the second time in less than six months. It was a busy up and down half year to say the least for the then 23 year old fighter out of Gilroy, CA.
Since that time, Guerrero has defended his belt against the tough Martin Honorio, needing less then a round to dispatch the veteran from Mexico City. Come Friday, February 29, Guerrero is not just looking to make another successful defense of his title but make a statement as well.
Knowing full well his opponent is the type of fighter who can not only bang, but box, Robert is doing anything but overlooking Litzau and will not allow this bout be just a routine title defense where the champion does just enough to retain the belt.
When all is said and done, at the final bell, Guerrero wants the boxing world to know that not only has he arrived, he is looking to go nowhere except higher in the ranks towards becoming one of boxing’s elite.
After a long training camp and full week of press conferences, SaddoBoxing was able to get in touch with the IBF Featherweight Champion, who was nice enough to give us a few minutes of his time to speak about Friday’s bout, what his plans for the future are and even a prediction on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez bout coming up this March. Here is what Robert Guerrero had to say exclusively to SaddoBoxing. More…
Featherweight Jason “The American Boy” Litzau, 23-1 (19), seems to have one mode when in the boxing ring; seek and destroy! Anyone who has seen Jason in action knows exactly what I mean. Over recent years, Litzau has been showcased on many ESPN fight cards and each time out, his bouts become more and more exciting. The reason is not because Litzau becomes a more complete fighter in each outing, but it has more to do with the frame of mind in which Jason steps into the ring.
Prior to his return bout after a lone career blemish, a KO loss to Jose Andres Hernandez in a bout he was winning comfortably up until the knockout, Jason was asked in an interview if he would change his style and add more defense. His reply was, “I am still going to fight the same way I always do, I step in the ring and it will be either me or him. The fans pay money to see the fight and with me they will get their money’s worth”.
A statement that we as fans appreciate, but also one that some observers have to question; how long can a fighter with that mentality last in this business? Especially with the featherweight and adjacent divisions being so deep in talent.
On February 29, Litzau will face IBF Featherweight title holder Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, 21-1-1 (14), another 24 year old fighter who has gained a reputation for being all business in the ring and letting it all hang out once the bell sounds.
Add Guerreroʼs southpaw stance and the challenger from St. Paul, MN will be in for a tough task come fight night. More…
It was a hard day at the office for Blackpool light middleweight Brian Rose, this past Saturday night at Blackpool Tower. Forcing a draw against tough fighter Manocha ‘Manoo’ Salari - it wasn’t the result Rose would have liked in front of his home-crowd. But, with his birthday the day before and a holiday abroad booked for the day after - it’s no wonder Rose was a little less focussed.
Rose’s trainer Bobby Rimmer, told SaddoBoxing last night “Brian was distraught after the fight”. He also agreed that Rose was dazed at the end of round two, but maybe that was the ‘kick’ he needed because the second half of the contest saw Rose dig in to pull-back the closing rounds. More…
SaddoBoxing: Since becoming the undisputed supper middleweight world champion, you have won the British Sports Personality of the Year Award and were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award; has anything changed for you?
Joe Calzaghe: “Not much changes me, Iʼm still the same guy down to earth, but I do get recognised more on the streets. It is harder going into places than before where I wouldnʼt have been recognised, but now I am; itʼs because I am getting the recognition finally. I think I deserved that, though, for being a champion for so many years, the most asked question I always had before was if I thought I had the recognition I deserved?
“But, they canʼt ask me that anymore because I had the ultimate recognition now by being voted by the public as the British Sporting Personality of the Year which was a massive honour for me and capped of a great year for me. I was also just as proud to see me dad pick up the Trainer of the Year too, which was amazing you know? It was an absolutely fantastic year 2007, also with the boys in the gym, three world champions now and a lot of others who are looking deserving of a title shot.” More…
Bobby Rimmer confirmed this evening that everything has gone great for his two young boxers fighting this Saturday night. Brian Rose and Jack Arnfield are boxing on the Steve Woods (VIP Promotions) fight night billed as ‘Power at the Tower’. A full venue is expected at the famous Blackpool Tower, in England’s beloved seaside resort city.
“Jack’s had a change of opponent,” Bobby began. “He was supposed to fight Martin Marshall, but is now facing David Kirk. The opponent was changed on Saturday, but you know Jack - he just gets on with it!”
Kirk, a southpaw fighting out of Nottinghamshire, is an iron-chinned, 33 year old light middleweight journeyman who has fought Arnfield’s stable-mate Brian Rose in May of 2007 along with a long list of the top fighters in Britain since turning pro in 1996. More…
