Jed Weinstein Presents hosted the fourth annual Box-NYC charity event at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. The star studded night was highlighted with live boxing televised on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Fights, fine-dining, a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament, model and celebrity appearances as well as live and silent auctions. Over the past three years Jed Weinstein has donated $100,000 to The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation through Box-NYC.
Local favorite Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin improved to 18-0 (14) by getting the best of veteran Antwun Echols 31-8-4 (27) over ten rounds. Quillin dropped Echols in the first round and dominated the fight which could have been stopped at anytime during the last three or four rounds.
The domination of Echols and the fact that he is 0-3-3 in his last six fights not winning since 2004 will hopefully indicate to him that it may be time to retire. During the last few rounds of the fight Echols bravely showed his fighter’s spirit by refusing to go down after being on the receiving end of many unnecessary blows, but it was clear that he was out on his feet. More...
As one of the appetisers on last weekend’s delicious menu of title fights, a fine domestic card was presented by Brian Peter’s promotions in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, deep in the West of Ireland. With a fine selection of local fighters on show and a host of international opposition, the arena filled early and a warm atmosphere sparked in anticipation of the evening’s event.
The Breaffy House International Sports Hotel and Resort played host to the festivities. It was an appropriate venue, often employed by Ireland’s best athletes as part of their mental preparation for high level competition, the bill’s headliner Bernard Dunne was in need of some psychological repair following the assassination of his reputation, public persona and ego last year, at the hands of the malicious Spaniard Kiko Martinez.
In his return to the ring, Dunne was opposed by Felix Machado, a former super flyweight title holder and a highly experienced campaigner. Super bantamweight Bernard Dunne had once again captured the attention of the Irish public and was coming to the West of Ireland to attempt to prove a point.
Brian Peters was visible by the ring prior to the events initiation, chatting to the patrons and surveying the arena for any potential details which needed attention. However, the beautifully prepared arena needed little more organisation.
The fighters in turn were preparing with an equal level of concentration, Adnan Amar readied himself in the dressing rooms with his trainer Brendan Ingle, Michael Sweeney smiled and chatted with his training team, Artus Jashkul nodded his head in time with the music pumping through his headphones and later Bernard Dunne paced between the dressing rooms and the arena‘s entrance. Other fighters meandered through the meticulously organised rows of chairs, many in an almost meditative state, mentally preparing to enter into hostilities later in the evening. More...
Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City NJ the fans were treated to a showcase and a slugfest. Miguel Cotto 32-0 (26) proved to be on a different level than Alfonso Gomez 18-4 (8) while Antonio Margarito 36-5 (26) proved he is still an immovable force in the Welterweight division by knocking out Kermit Cintron 29-2 (27).
In the main event Cotto, the WBA Welterweight Champion showed why he is at the top of the division by out-boxing, out-landing and outclassing his game challenger, Gomez.
Cotto came out in the first round swinging, landing shots to the head and body of Gomez.
What was most evident was Cotto’s power, each shot that landed backed up Gomez every time he connected. Not to say that Cotto has ever come into a fight unconfident but his demeanor seemed different from past fights appearing relaxed and very confident as he boxed and landed combinations.
Toward the end of the first round Gomez fell to the canvas from a left hook from Cotto that missed, seemingly off balance as he ducked under the punch. Cotto ended the round comfortably switching between a southpaw and an orthodox stance while landing combination
During the next two rounds the face of Gomez was already showing signs of wear and tear from the Cotto onslaught who continued to land combinations accurately using every punch in his arsenal, straight rights, left hooks and uppercuts. More...
On Friday night, Irish-man Martin Rogan became the first ‘Prizefighter’ winner after successfully defeating Alex Ibbs of Stoke in the quarter-final, Dave Ferguson of North Tyneside in the semi-final and bookies favourite - David Dolan of Sunderland, in the final.
Ironically, aged 36, Belfast Boxer ‘Rogie’ was the oldest of the eight boxers! Rogan received a cheque for £25,000 and the Prize-fighter trophy as well as significantly increasing his profile in a short space of time.
The York Hall, Bethnal Green, England, was packed with an excited crowd awaiting the first of this new style boxing tournament billed as ‘The Prize Fighter Series: The Heavyweights’ promoted by Barry Hearn of Matchroom Sports. Consisting of eight boxers, four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final - each contest of three x three minute rounds, all on the same night.
Rogan’s first opponent was Alex Ibbs of Stoke, aged just 22 - it was a match-up of the youngest versus the eldest contender! More...
The Prizefighter Series was a fantastic occasion on Friday night at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London England. The Matchroom Sports promoted event consisted of seven boxing contests to find the winner of the first Prizefighter Trophy and a cheque for £25,000.
Waiting backstage should one of the scheduled participants get an injury were boxers Derek Chisora and Dave Ingleby, hoping that they would get a 'wild-card' chance to compete as replacements.
The first quarter-final of the night was between big guy Dave Ferguson of North Shields and the more-experienced Billy Bessey of Portsmouth.
Both fighters go all out for it, right from the bell, but Bessey goes down from a big right punch after just 20 seconds of the opening round. He takes the count and continues boxing, but a body shot sends him slightly off-balance in the closing seconds. More...
Final Forum in association with Top Rank headlined an exciting night of boxing entitled “Fists a Flying at the Aviator” a sports and recreation center in Brooklyn , New York this past Thursday.
In the main event, NABF Super Welterweight Champion Yuri Foreman improved to 25-0 (8), out-boxing Saul Roman, 24-5 (20), over ten rounds with scores of 97-93 and 98-92 twice.
Foreman came out from the opening bell boxing and moving well which continued throughout the entire fight. During the third round, Roman was cut by an accidental head-butt over the left eye. The cut streamed with blood in the fourth round and was examined by the ringside physician who allowed the bout to continue. More...
Frank Maloney Promotions put on a competitive undercard to support the British Super Featherweight title fight between Andy Bell and Chirs Edwards on Friday night at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England.
Chief support came from a short lived encounter between Danny Reynolds of Leeds and Jason Rushton of Doncaster. Fighting for the Central Area Light Middleweight title - this was to be Reynoldsʼ first ten-rounder, however, it wasnʼt going to get past the first round! More...
It was a lively crowd that packed the Metrodome in Barnsley, England last night for the Frank Maloney promoted fight night billed as ‘Northern Rock !’
A full fight-card of eleven exciting contests was to be headlined by Stokes’ Chris Edwards making his first defence of the British Super Flyweight title against the younger Andy Bell of Doncaster.
Edwards won the ‘new’ belt from Jamie McDonnell in December and last night faced the taller Bell - who already held the English Super Flyweight title.
Andy ‘Ice-Man’ Bell looked ‘ice-cool’ as he made his entrance to the ring first, as the challenger. Edwards, flanked by the Impact Boxing Team and stable-mate Scott Lawton, entered the ring to the sounds of “I Predict A Riot!” More...
In 1991, Dublin’s National Boxing Stadium hosted it’s first professional show, in which the legendary Steve Collins defeated Danny Morgan in three rounds. The Stadium has enjoyed an illustrious run since that December; fighters such as Jim Rock, the Hyland brothers, Bernard Dunne and recently, John Duddy, have all become Irish heroes through the exposure they have received applying their craft in the country's premier boxing venue.
In Matthew Macklin, the stadium may well have found a new darling.
The timing of this card was perhaps unfortunate in that it coincided with Ireland’s Easter Holiday weekend. This fact ensured that the crowd never threatened to fill the National Stadium. However, promoter Brian Peters should have been pleased with the night, as the undersized, but warm, vocal crowd cheered the native fighters home in what was an supremely successful night for the Irish. More...
The arctic temperatures and early evening snowstorm did not dampen the mood at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield on Saturday evening as Bradfordʼs Femi "Fire" Fehintola won an all Yorkshire clash by soundly outpointing the very game and durable Jon Baguley over six rounds.
There was a fantastic atmosphere and Fehintola, returning to the ring for the first time since he won the English super featherweight title by squeezing past Ashton Under Lyneʼs Hollyoaks and Emmadale star Steven Bell last October, was eager to please the crowd with a good performance as he willed the flame haired Baguley forward and then looked to get off his hard counter shots.
20 year old Baguley fell into Fehintolaʼs trap from the opening bell as he, urged on by his legendary trainer Brendan Ingle and one particularly over enthusiastic security guard, surged ahead looking to find Fehintola with neat one-twos, but, for every shot that found its target, a much better one came firing straight back.
Undeterred, Baguley let his hands go again in the second but little got past Fehintolaʼs well kept guard and it was the Bradford man who again had the most success as he manoeuvred his opponent onto the ropes and shoeshined when in close. More...
If Rubin Williams truly was Andre Ward's first test as a professional, then he passed the exam with relative ease. Fighting in front of a restless home crowd in San Jose on Thursday night, Ward shut out his opponent before a cut forced an end to the bout at the closing of round seven.
The action started slowly, with neither fighter doing much more then exchanging jabs for the better part of two rounds. Yet even the early round jabs foreshadowed what was to be a dominant night for the 2004 Olympic Gold Medallist Andre Ward.
While Ward's jabs were fast and forceful, Williams offered slow, telegraphed jabs that placed Ward in no danger. An accidental clash of heads highlighted the action in the second round, leaving a laceration over the left eye of Williams.
Perhaps smelling blood, Ward stepped on the proverbial gas pedal in round three, switching to a southpaw stance and landing a pair of sizzling straight left hands that stopped Williams in his tracks as he attempted to move forward.
The Oakland native continued to pour it on in the fourth round, scoring his best punch of the night, a thunderous left uppercut that rocked Williams and had the crowd on it's feet. Ward poured it on a hapless Williams, landing calculated combinations of left hooks and uppercuts as Rubin lay guarded on the ropes. More...
It was an exciting night of boxing last Friday before St Pattyʼs day, March 14, on another great CES card. The atmosphere was electric at Twin Rivers Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island as the fan favorite and New England star Peter "The Pride of Providence" Manfredo Jr. got back on the horse against tough York, South Carolina native Shane "The Irish Hit man" Benfield in the super middleweight main event of the evening.
A great co-feature pitted the IWBF Lightweight Champion Jamie "The Hurricane" Clampitt against the always tough, ten time title challenger Belinda Laracuente. Clampitt was coming off both a win over Jane Couch in a rematch of The Ring Magazineʼs 2004 Womenʼs Fight of the Year and a win over former champion Mia St John.
The night also saw a slew of terrific supporting bouts with knockouts galore.
The Manfredo Benfield bout promised fireworks, as is the case every time that Rhode Islandʼs favorite son comes home. The hard hitting Benfield would be sure to check the chin of the never down Manfredo.
Benfield came into the bout scoring nine knockouts in seventeen victories and bearing only one defeat. With thirty four fights to his credit, Manfredo was clearly the more experienced fighter, although Benfield was five years his senior.
Benfield entered the ring taunting the crowd and pounding his chest, seeming relaxed and confident. Fittingly, Peter Manfredo marched into the ring to the tune "Iʼm Back In The Saddle Again". More...
It was a lively crowd last night at the GH Carnall Centre in Davyhulme, Manchester, England as David Barnes faced Ted Bami for the vacant British Light Welterweight title in a Matchroom Sports presented fightnight.
Dangerous Ted Bami of Brixton, London entered the ring to the sounds of a reggae melody with lyrics of “I am Dangerous.” A nervous David Barnes of Manchester entered the ring alongside trainer Bob Shannon and Andy Morris Jr.
It was a pretty close first round as both men suss each other out. An accidental clash of heads at the start of round two causes a cut under the left brow of Barnes, which sends a stream of blood down his cheek. More...
When Thomas Mashaba walked into the ring at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, CT for the sixth defense of his IBO featherweight title this past Friday night as the main event on ESPN2ʼs
Friday Night Fights, he believed that this would lead to bigger and better things. This would be the first time that he would fight in the USA and what a fight it turned out to be. The night was full of exciting bouts from beginning to end and none of them were tactical sleepers. Each and every one of them saw bomb after bomb being dropped as we watched two title fights and three great undercards.
The styles of Mashaba and challenger Cristobal Cruz were perfect for an exciting fight. Mashaba is an accurate puncher who can land from range who also fights well on the inside and he was clearly the better boxer, but Cruzʼs dizzying work rate is enough to make any man back up as he throws from all angles and never stops.
Cruz comes out of his corner in the first round and immediately begins working Mashabaʼs body with hard hooks. Mashaba lands a hard left, right hook combination that staggers Cruz, who does not look so much hurt as surprised. They drop bombs on each other in a vicious exchange.
At this rate, the fight does not look like it has any hope of going the distance. Mashaba begins to land at range and puts Cruz on his back foot. Cruz rushes inside to continue his onslaught to the body. Mashaba ends the round by landing a few good combinations of hooks and uppercuts.
Cruz immediately goes back to it in the second. It is beginning to become evident that he is outlanding Mashaba. Cruz begins to back Mashaba up and the Mexican's best work is being done inside. He buries his head into the chest of Mashaba and blasts away but Mashaba makes Cruz pay as he steps back and damages the challenger with a big hook. In the last twenty seconds ,they trade violently with neither man giving any ground to the other. More...
Thursday night at the Manhattan Center’s Grand Ballroom in New York City, local fans were treated to what Star Boxing’s Joe DeGuardia called, “the rebirth of Mighty Mike” Arnaoutis as he put on a boxing exhibition to win the vacant USBA Junior Welterweight title.
Back in 2006, Arnaoutis was a rising star of the division, he was undefeated and fought for the vacant WBO Light Welterweight title in November against Ricardo Torres. Although Torres was down in the seventh round Arnaoutis lost the bout by split decision.
Returning to the ring in April 2007, Arnaoutis was given the opportunity to fight an eliminator match for the same WBO Light Welterweight title against Kendall Holt losing by a lopsided decision. More...
DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing series hosted their latest installment last week at the Manhattan Center in New York City. Gary Stark, Jr was looking for revenge in the main event in his rematch against journeymen Andres Ledemsa after he suffered a surprise knockout loss to him in May of 2007.
Stark’s ambition was clear, he was looking for a knockout. When they first met Stark was putting on what seemed to be a boxing exhibition when Ledemsa caught him with an unexpected punch in the fifth round sending him to the canvas for several minutes.
Since the loss to Ledemsa in May 2007 Stark has regrouped and came back to win two confidence building decisions against two opponents with a combined record of 21-30-4. More...
On Friday night at the Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre in Nottingham, England, Rendall Munroe - the Boxing Binman from Leicester - faced champion Kiko Martinez of Alicante, Spain for the European Super Bantamweight title on a Frank Maloney Promotions show billed as “The Matador Versus The Bull “.
Rendall “2Tone” Munroe looked cool in his shades as he entered the ring to the sounds of ‘Jammin’ by Bob Marley. The Champion, Martinez, had support from the Spanish fans that had travelled to England and made his entrance to Spanish music but maybe he should have entered to the sounds of “It’s my birthday and I’ll cry if I want to,” because it was his 22nd birthday and he wasn’t going to be getting the present he wanted!
“Who are ya?” the British fans taunt as Martinez faces up to Munroe. More...
Last night at the Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre, Nottingham, England - promoter Frank Maloney staged an exciting night of 11 contests. The main event was Rendall Munroe challenging Spanish Kiko Martinez for the European Super Bantamweight title, billed as “The Matador Versus The Bull."
The other main event was Jason Booth defending his Commonwealth Bantamweight belt against Ghanaian Lante Addy. Apparently, Booth had little previous knowledge of Addy, having watched no video tapes of the challenger.
As round one begins, Referee Phil Edwards stops proceedings after just a few seconds to remove a thread of red cotton stuck to the head of Addy! The two men are toe-to-toe as they slug it out. More...
In the third and possibly final bout of their now legendary rivalry, Israel Vazquez, 43-4 (32), held on to the WBC Super Bantamweight title through a grueling twelve round split decision over Rafael Marquez, 37-5 (33). The back and fourth action saw the greatest bout of the trilogy and provided just enough controversy to consider a fourth fight down the road.
The fight was held in front of a capacity crowd at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, the venue being a return to where the rivalry began but this time, there were over 8000 in attendance, including an A-list of celebrities the likes of which are normally seen only at Las Vegas fights.
The boxers started the fight at a cautious distance as Marquez utilized his boxing abilities to keep Vazquez at bay. Although Vazquez was able to land his share of hard shots, including a right hand that seemed to buzz Marquez in the first, the jab of Marquez was the neutralizer throughout the first three rounds. More...
Gotham Boxing and Bash Boxing hosted a night of action packed fights at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on Thursday night under the moniker “The Russians Are Coming!” The Russians that they are speaking of are IBF Super Flyweight Champion Dimitri Kirilov and undefeated welterweight Dmitriy Salita, who fought in separate co-features.
In his first defense of the IBF title which he won last October, Kirilov, 29-3-1 (10), retained his belt in a majority draw against Mexico's Cecilio Santos, 22-8-3 (12), by scores of 118-112 and 114-114 twice.
Both fighters exchanged power shots with neither of them backing down throughout the twelve round match. Santos appeared to pick up many of the early rounds while Kirilov finished strong. More...
