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All Boxing Interviews’ Articles
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By Daxx Kahn December 29th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Haitian Sensation Promotions
Daniel Edouard, 21-2-2 (12), like every fighter, wants to be a world champion, middleweight champion of the world to be exact, and so far, he has had an impressive start towards his goal.
In just under six years as a professional, Edouard has captured a fair share of minor titles including the USBA Middleweight and currently holds the WBA Fedecaribe Light Middleweight, WBA Fedecentro Light Middleweight and WBA Fedelatin Middleweight titles.
While the majority of titles "The Haitian Sensation" holds are regional Caribbean and Latin belts, the fact that he holds them all simultaneously sends out a message of “There is a new fighter on the rise and he is serious!” More...
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By Jane Warburton December 12th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
**With Slideshow**
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Yesterday, at ‘The Real Fight Club’ in London, England, promoter Frank Maloney invited press to attend the last training session of newly signed Darren Sutherland ahead of his pro debut in Dublin next Thursday.
Sutherland faces Bulgarian opponent Georgi Illiev, at Dublin City University, Ireland, on a ‘bill’ which features three ‘title’ fights.
Irish Olympic boxer Sutherland, lost out to Britain's Gold Medallist James DeGale in Beijing earlier this year to take the Bronze Medal and Maloney was quick to see Sutherland's potential, promptly signing up the Irishman.
Apart from the growing number of ‘white-collar boxers‘ attending the club - ‘The Real Fight Club’ has great facilities to provide world-class boxing training for professional boxers and also raises a lot of money for charity. More...
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By Ginamarie Russo November 8th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Last week during the conference call hosted by Roy Jones Jr, I had asked him if he were to compare his upcoming fight with Joe Calzaghe to the Roman Coliseum, who would he be? The exotic animal or the gladiator and why?
"I am the gladiator in this fight," Jones stated, "I am the gladiator because the gladiator is the underdog, and people doubt me."
Wednesday, at the final presser in Manhattan, I had followed that up with Joe Calzaghe. I asked him "Joe, I asked Roy last week who he would be considered in this fight if it was during the Roman Coliseum days; the exotic animal or the gladiator - who would you be?"
Calzaghe stated, "I am the gladiator, " to which I replied, "No, Roy said he is the gladiator." Calzaghe laughed and shot back "Hey that's not fair, you gave him a choice, and I am stuck being the animal?" More...
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By Jim Everett November 8th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Tonight at Madison Square Garden, Brooklyn favorite Dmitriy Salita, 28-0-1 (16), will face Derrick Campos, 17-5 (10), for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Light Welterweight title on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, Jr.
It is a night that Salita hoped he would be fighting for the WBA Light Welterweight title but unfortunately for him it’s something that he has only been “close to signing” on a couple of occasions, but has never come to fruition.
Salita is ranked number three by the WBA; looking back a little over a year ago he was hoping to line up a title match against then champion Gavin Rees. Rees lost the title to the WBA number one ranked Andriy Kotelnik in March of this year.
Kotelnik went on to win a voluntary defense of the title in September and was close to signing a contract to face Salita but withdrew due to an apparent rib injury. After hearing of the news, Salita issued an open letter to Kotelnik, “Last week it was your rib, and this week it's the money, make up your mind which excuse will be used not to take the fight. It is obvious to me that you don't want to fight me.”
Forced to find another opponent, Salita remains upbeat and is focused on the task at hand knowing that he needs to keep winning regardless of the opponent to get his title shot. More...
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By Jim Everett November 7th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
This Saturday night Emanuel Augustus will step into the ring at Madison Square Garden for the first time in his career to fight on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, Jr. He will face local New York favorite Francisco Figueroa 19-2 (13) as a late replacement for Figueroa’s original opponent Gavin Rees who pulled out of the fight last week due to a broken nose.
Augustus 38-29-6 (23) has one of the most deceiving records in the sport of boxing and has made a career out of taking fights on short notice. He has had his share of being on the wrong side of bad decisions and losing close battles, but win, lose or draw he is always entertaining. Floyd Mayweather was quoted as saying, “Augustus was the toughest opponent that he has faced in his career.”
In 2001 Augustus received the honor of Ring magazine’s “Fight of the Year” for his battle with Micky Ward in which over 2000 punches were thrown during the fight in back and forth action. Although the fight was very close Ward received a unanimous decision.
The most heinous decision he received in his career was his 2004 split decision loss to Courtney Burton. In the fourth round Augustus landed two solid body shots that put Burton on his knees which the referee ruled a low blow and provided Burton with five minutes to recover. More...
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By Curtis McCormick October 10th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Gianluca "Rio" Di Caro
One of the best boxers on the planet at any weight, IBF Cruiserweight Champion Steve Cunningham, took the time out from his busy schedule to speak with SaddoBoxing about a variety of subjects as he prepares for a title defense against dangerous former WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Tomasz Adamek at Newark NJ's Prudential Center on December 11, 2008.
SaddoBoxing: Although you were a Golden Gloves Champion, you only had 55 fights as an amateur. Given that amount of amateur experience, what was it that allowed you to compete with and defeat such proven operators as Sebastiaan Rothmann and Guillermo Jones before you even had 20 professional bouts?
Steve Cunningham: First, my faith and trust in God and Jesus name. It helps me to do all things in the name of Christ which strengthens me, so that right there is the ultimate.Second is the hard work, that I got from growing up in Philly, you know, fighting on the streets and then there's the hard work, you know, the extra hard work I got at boot camp in the Navy and working in the Navy.
It gave me drive, made me work harder towards being the best. I know that nothing can stop me when I'm right, training and working hard, I always do extra, I push myself. Basically that's it. The Lord and dedication to my training. More...
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By Jane Warburton September 24th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
This evening, Bobby Rimmer informed SaddoBoxing that sadly, he and Michael Gomez have parted company. “It’s all very amicable,” Rimmer says, “and I wish Mike all the best - I really do”.
Irish-born Gomez, a two-time British Super Featherweight Champion, has been with Rimmer for 12 months and the two had struck up a good friendship. Always the character - Gomez has never been short on words. I saw him at Wigan last week when he was there to support stable-mate Jack Arnfield and Mike, as always, enjoyed a bit of banter with the media in attendance. For me - he is a ’likable rogue’.
In June of this year, Gomez was stopped in the fifth by Amir Khan when they fought for the Commonwealth Lightweight title but before being stopped, Gomez managed to ‘rattle’ the Bolton boxer. More...
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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 Ginamarie Russo September 3rd, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
© Ginamarie Russo / Saddo Boxing
The visit to my hand doctor turned out to be more than just a follow up. I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow patient of Dr. Melone's, light welterweight Joel "Joelo" Torres.
Hailing from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, this young fighter was only in town for a night to follow up on his recovering tendon that he ruptured from his last fight, in May, against Christopher Fernandez.
We, 'we' being my twin sister and Tommy, who is also apart of his team, then arranged a meeting and met with Torres and his manager, Ricardo Figueroa, to talk boxing. Torres is just learning English and so Figueroa had to translate.
Torres is a humble 25 year old, with a lingering focus in his eyes. His presence is mellow, while his early memoir is anything but. At eight years of age, his brother was murdered. His mother passed away shortly after due to heartache and depression. 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 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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By Jim Everett August 8th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
**With Slideshow**
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
When I had the opportunity to meet the U.S. Olympic boxing team at a workout session at the famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York, I was thrilled with the opportunity. The chance to meet all of the athletes and have a chance to speak with them was thrilling, but I must admit I was especially excited to get a chance to speak with local favorite Sadam Ali.
New York is probably one of the best places to reside if you are a boxing fan outside of living in Las Vegas, of course. You have big fights in New York City, Atlantic City and even the Connecticut casinos that you can look forward to watching. But, you also have a strong amateur program with the New York Golden Gloves.
Several amateur champions turned into successful professional fighters, such as Emile Griffith, Floyd Patterson, and Sugar Ray Robinson. Other greats include Riddick Bowe, Mark Breland, Gerry Cooney, Joe Mesi, Mike Tyson and current Junior Welterweight Champion, Paulie Malignaggi. More...
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By Shawn M Murphy August 5th, 2008 All Boxing Interviews
Recently, I spoke with former heavyweight contender Earnie Shavers. Shavers, dubbed "The Acorn" by Muhammad Ali, had an incredible sixty eight KO's in seventy four wins during his career.
He is often regarded as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. He would fight twice for the heavyweight title, losing to Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes. Shavers beat such notables as Jimmy Young, Jimmy Ellis and Ken Norton during his career. Shavers retired in 1995 with a record of 74-14-1.
Shawn Murphy: Earnie, you got a late start in boxing didn't you?
Earnie Shavers: Yes, I was about twenty-two when I started. You know, I'm glad I did because all the guys who started very early on lost interest after a few years. At twenty-two, it was all new to me. I had a family, I was mature and I did what I had to do.
SM: How did you first get started in boxing?
ES: A good friend of mine, Vincent Austin, kept bugging me to go with him to the gym. After he bugged me long enough, I agreed. When I walked in the gym the trainer looked and me and said "Oh boy, we gotta heavyweight here. You could become a champ and make a lot of money". That got my attention. So on that same day I started boxing.
I fought a guy who would be a champion the following year. He out boxed me, but every now and then, I would land some good right hands and he would go flying across the ring. The guy told me I was gonna hurt somebody with that right hand. I went home and talked to my wife because I already had a good job at General Motors. She had a fit. I begged for a whole week until she said yes. More...
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