Author: Boxing Press

Lightweight contender Jose Armando Santa Cruz retained his undefeated streak tonight at the Cicero Stadium in Illinois when he stopped former world-class contender Justin Juuko in the third round. Juuko, who has been in with such notable world-class operators as Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Diego Corrales looked to be on a drastic downward spiral when he was defeated by Manchester, England’s Michael Gomez only a short time ago. After this latest early stoppage defeat, it seems obvious that Juuko’s world championship pretensions are just that and he should not be involved in boxing any longer.

We will keep you up to date with the next career move of Santa Cruz as his journey continues on.

WBO super bantamweight champion of the world Joan Guzman successfully retained his title tonight with a unanimous twelve-round decision over game challenger Fernando Beltran Jr. Guzman, of the Dominican Republic, edged the youngster by scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112. The fight, held in Hidalgo, Texas may be Guzman’s last fight at the super bantamweight limit as there have been strong rumors as to his joining the esteemed company in the featherweight division four pounds north of his current weight class. We hope to bring you a confirmation of this or news of Guzman’s next title defense very soon.

Nottingham’s British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Carl Froch made a sensational US debut on Thursday night in the headline event of a live HBO Latino broadcast by stopping the highly respected Costa Rican Henry Porras in eight rounds at the Avalon venue in Hollywood.

Many had predicted a tough nights work for “The Cobra’. Porras is a top line operator, as his WBC #11 rating underlines, with a track record of holding his own against the world’s best including Danilo Haussler, Mikkel Kessler and most recently Otis Grant.

Froch, in just his 15th fight, outperformed them all to complete his progression from hottest prospect in world boxing to hottest property. (more…)

Romanian super middleweight star Lucian Bute moved his record to twelve wins without a loss tonight in his native Romania with a fourth round stoppage of Donnie McCrary. Fighting before his home fans in Galati, Romania, Bute continued the form that has become his trademark throughout his performances in his adopted home of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Now with twelve wins, all of which have arrived via the knockout route, Bute will return to Canada with his mission intact to become one of the world’s finest prospects. Look for Bute’s inclusion on the next high-profile fight card happening at either Montreal’s Casino or the Bell Centre.

5 years after his sensational gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Mohammad Abdullaev (Muhammadqodir Abdullaev) from Uzbekistan will challenge Miguel Cotto in a highly anticipated world championship fight on June 11 at Madison Square Garden of New York.

“This will be a historical fight on an historical location”, promoter Bob Arum said. “Thousands of fans from Puerto Rico will fill the arena to watch Cotto and to watch the parade of the Puero Ricans in New York the next day.“

Abdullaev defeated Cotto en route to his gold medal (17:11), but what is this win worth when they meet again as boxing professionals with their way to the top so different? Abdullaev, the second Usbekistani after Artur Grigorian (WBO lightweight world champion 1996 to 2004) to fight for one of the most prestigious titles in pro boxing, has taken a wondrous journey. Born in Tashkent he chose the United States for his first steps in his professional career after the 2000 Olympics. It didn’t work out the way he expected, although he was victorious for a long time. (more…)

Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. has signed Buffalo middleweight “Lightning” Les Ralston (14-1, 7 KOs) to a promotional contract, CES president Jimmy Burchfield officially announced today. “We’re building our stable of fighters by signing some of the best prospects in boxing” Burchfield said. “Les Ralston has a lot of potential and he fits right in with the type of hard-working, dedicated guys we want on Team CES. Having a good Buffalo fighter also expands our market of interest. He will be fighting on our next show. “Les is exactly what I’m looking for in a young fighter. He has a great work ethic and is a gentleman in and out of the ring. The public and media are really going to like him. I’m going to give him every opportunity and together we’ll climb the mountain and win a championship.” (more…)

The highlight of the press conference was when one of the Roman-clad Caesars models brought a tray of food to Cintron as Cintron spoke at the podium. Cintron said he is on weight so he is able to eat whatever he wants. The tray held a 12 oz steak, two cheeseburgers, and a plate of fries. While Margarito was talking at the dais, Cintron continued eating his steak and fries.

Press Conference Quotes:

Brock: “I’d like to thank Jameel McCline, because you can never go further in the boxing world unless someone is ready to challenge you. I’m looking forward to Saturday and progressing to the heavyweight championship, which is my ultimate goal.”

McCline: “I’d like to thank my opponent. He’s a young, strong and ready to go kid. It’s a compliment to his fortitude and courage to get in with me. Let’s face everyone knows I’m one of the best heavyweights in the division and for him to step-up to the plate is very admirable. Having said that I will make sure this is a short night. Calvin Brock is very confident and I think his confidence will be his downfall because I won’t have to go looking for him. I’ll be able to put my punches where they belong.” (more…)

Four undefeated fighters will put their perfect records on the line when “ShoBox: The New Generation” returns to Connecticut on Friday, May, 6, 2005. The main event will feature “ShoBox” veteran Sechew Powell against Cornelius Bundrage in a 10-round middleweight showdown. In the co-feature from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., junior middleweights Yuri Foreman and Kevin Cagle will square off in an eight-rounder tussle. SHOWTIME will televise the DiBella Entertainment doubleheader at 11 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on the west coast). The telecast represents the 61st in the popular “ShoBox” series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001. (more…)

Puerto Rican lightweight Juan “Golo” Gomez-Trinidad (23-4, 16 KOs) has signed a promotional contract with NER Promotions, NER president Rick Brutti announced today. The 30-year-old Trinidad is a cousin of the great Felix “Tito” Trinidad. “The Trinidad name is one of the most respected in boxing and we’re very happy to add “Golo’ to our stable of fighters,” Brutti said. “We plan on having him fight on our next show and if his schedule permits, his cousin “Tito’ may be working his corner that night. We’ll have more signing announcements in the next few weeks. NER is in this business for the long haul.” Trinidad has registered wins against impressive opponents such as (25-1) Efren Hinojosa (TKO7) for the vacant WBA Fedelatin title, (29-4) Wilfredo Ruiz (TKO2) for the WBO NABO lightweight belt, (20-5) Arturo Reyes (KO2), (15-1-1) Rosember Palacios (KOs) and veteran Emaniel Augustis (DEC10). Last week, NER made two-time Venezuelan Olympian Patriz Lopez (2-0, 2 KOs) its first signing.

Vitali Klitschko underwent successful back surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion should be able to fight again in September, according to Bernd Boente, Personal Manager, Klitschko Brothers. The 35-minute operation was performed by Dr. Hyun Bae, who removed a small spur from Klitschko’s spine. Vitali will be prohibited from flying for three weeks, so he will not be in the corner of his younger brother, Wladimir, when the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight champion faces unbeaten Eliseo Castillo on Saturday in Germany on HBO (9:45 p.m. ET/PT). It will be the first time one of the brothers has not worked the other’s fight. Vitali Klitschko will have to rehab for approximately six weeks, and can begin training in June, said Bernd Boente, Personal Manager Klitschko Brothers.

Opening Comments.

Marquez: I had a great preparation. My training has gone very well. I am looking forward to this fight and I think the people will really enjoy it. I am looking forward to giving them a great fight.

Polo: I know it will be a real tough fight against Juan Manuel Marquez on May 7. I have been training here in Colombia. I always train here for big fights and I think I have done well, so we stayed with this again. I am looking forward to another great fight.

Begin Press Questions.

Question: Juan, what are your thoughts on Polo and can you get up for this fight?

Marquez: Some may think otherwise, but I think that I am fighting a real tough guy here. He has fought for the championship quite a few times and has done well in those fights. (more…)

Both Carl Froch and Henry Porras scaled inside the super middleweight Championship limit of 12 stone this afternoon, even though their top of the bill ten-round showdown on the HBO Latino promotion at the Avalon venue in Hollywood tomorrow night is a non title affair. Nottingham lad Froch – who has been conversing with impressed Latino journalists in Spanish on this trip – came in at 11 stone 13lbs, whilst Costa Rican Porras was three quarters of a pound heavier. “That we both came in under 12 stone is a mark of how seriously we are both taking this fight,” said Froch after stepping off the scales. It just goes to prove that you don’t need a belt on the line to have a genuine contest. No doubt we could have got one of the spurious governing bodies to put their name to this, but I am not interested in fringe titles. They are for fringe fighters. I am more interested in getting into the WBC top ten and earning myself a shot at a real belt.

Froch continued: “Porras is a world class operator, that’s why he is WBC #11. He has been in with several top-level operators. But I am going to do a better job on him than the likes of Haussler, Grant and Kessler, who was lucky to earn a premature ninth round stoppage. I am going to make America sit up and take notice.”