Kendall Holt Vs Isaac Hlatshwayo
BOXING COUNTDOWN TO HOLT V HLATSHWAYO…
Kendall Holt wins via UD
Full report below
Kendall HoltRecord: 20 Wins 1 Loss |
Isaac HlatshwayoRecord: 25 Wins 0 Losses 1 NC |
Holt-Hlatshwayo Fight Promoter: Duva Boxing
Tickets: Ticketmasters
Venue: Bally’s, Atlantic City
TV: Showtime Boxing
Holt – Hlatshwayo
In a crossroads fight in the 140 pound division, Duva Boxing will pit two of the brightest young super lightweight talents in the world when Kendall Holt (20-1, 12 KO’s) squares off against unbeaten Isaac Hlatshwayo (20-0, 9 KO’s) for the vacant NABO Super Lightweight Championship on Friday night, November 3, at Bally’s Casino Ballroom in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Shobox: The New Generation, the popular Showtime series showcasing boxing’s young stars, will televise live at 11 PM/ET (delayed on the west coast).
Holt, the Paterson, NJ native, has reeled off five wins in a row, after his only career setback two years ago. Hlatshwayo has not yet tasted defeat during a six year pro career fighting mostly in his homeland of South Africa.
“Kendall has always been regarded as one of the top prospects in the division, but has had some injury setbacks recently,†said Duva. “Now, he is healthy and ready to become one of the top super lightweights in the world. First, however, he must beat Hlatshwayo, who has also made his mark recently as a rising young star with victories over world contenders Nate Campbell, and Phillip N’dou. This combination makes the bout an exciting and intriguing match up and very important to the future of the super lightweight division.
“The super lightweight division is stocked with talent like Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, as well as Castillo, Corrales and Gatti. The winner will be in line for a big fight in one of the most lucrative and glamorous divisions in boxing.â€
Gordon Hall, executive producer of ShoBox: The New Generation said, “This fight really is another great example of what Shobox is all about – two talented young fighters in their biggest fight to date. Shobox is about showcasing young talent, and seeing them develop.
“We had Kendall Holt in his toughest fight to date against David Diaz last year, saw him rise to the occasion with a victory, and again he faces a stern test in the undefeated Isaac Hlatshwayo. The winner should become a force in the super lightweight division.â€
“We are very excited to bring boxing back to our beautiful ballroom at Bally’s AC with Duva Boxing and expect a great event,” said Ken Condon, president of Bally’s Atlantic City.
Tickets are priced at $75 and $50, and are available at the Bally’s box office, or by calling Duva Boxing 973-237-0999, Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or Bally’s Park Place at 609-340-2000.
Alvarez – Guiterrez on Holt – Hlatshwayo Card
Duva Boxing has a signed a knockout co-feature to get the crowd on its feet for the blockbuster Kendall Holt vs. Isaac Hlatshwayo main event on Friday night, November 3, at Bally’s Casino Ballroom in Atlantic City: local hero and number one Atlantic City attraction Shamone Alvarez (15-0, 10 KO) will take on Enrique Gutierrez (9-0, 7 KOs) in a welterweight attraction.
Alvarez, the “Pride of Atlantic City†and a rising welterweight star comes into the fight undefeated in 15 fights, with 10 of his victories coming by way of knockout. Santa Monica’s Gutierrez, another welterweight prospect and former Golden Gloves Champion, also enters the fight undefeated.
“This undercard, headlined by Shamone Alvarez, supports the world class main event of Holt vs. Hlatshwayo, and ensures this will be one of the best cards in years in Atlantic City,†said Dino Duva. “And Bally’s AC and their magnificent ballroom playing host is icing on the cake.â€
ShoBox: The New Generation, the popular Showtime series showcasing boxing’s young stars, will televise live at 11 PM/ET (delayed on the West Coast).
In the crossroads main event in the 140 pound division, two of the brightest young super lightweight talents in the world collide when Holt (20-1, 12 KO’s) squares off against DiBella Entertainment’s Hlatshwayo (20-0, 9 KO’s) for the vacant NABO Super Lightweight Championship. Holt, the Paterson, NJ native, has reeled off five wins in a row, after his only career setback two years ago. Hlatshwayo has not yet tasted defeat during a six year pro career fighting mostly in his homeland of South Africa.
“Kendall has always been regarded as one of the top prospects in the division, but has had some injury setbacks recently,†said Duva. “Now, he is healthy and ready to become one of the top super lightweights in the world. First, however, he must beat Hlatshwayo, who has also made his mark recently as a rising young star with victories over world contenders Nate Campbell, and Phillip N’dou. This combination makes the bout an exciting and intriguing match up and very important to the future of the super lightweight division.
“The super lightweight division is stocked with talent like Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, as well as Castillo, Corrales and Gatti. The winner will be in line for a big fight in one of the most lucrative and glamorous divisions in boxing.â€
Hlatshwayo-Holt
A humble, soft-spoken young man and dedicated Christian, Issac “The Angel†Hlatshwayo was a choirboy when he was young. However, he was no angel.
One of five children, Hlatshwayo was a street fighting kid.
“I used to provoke guys to get them to fight me,’’ Hlatshwayo said. “It was just a matter of me enjoying fighting.’’
For a time, none of his relatives were quite sure how to handle the baby-faced boy brawler, whose passion for pavement punching began when he started beating up the neighborhood kids in the poor community where he was born in South Africa. Ultimately, however, his grandmother would step in.
“It was my Granny who motivated me to get started in boxing and join a boxing club,†Hlatshwayo said. “She thought it would help discipline me. In the African tradition, it is the grandmother who is the grand matriarch of the family, and whose word commands a great deal of respect.
“I had been getting into a lot of tough street fights and Granny was not happy with me. She persuaded my parents to allow me to join an amateur boxing club. It was all over after that. Once I got that smell of the leather and the liniment in my nostrils, there was no looking back.’’
Sure enough, Hlatshwayo became more disciplined once he began to restrict his fisticuffs to sanctioned activity in a ring. He also remained as successful. Hlatshwayo won the majority of his more than 50 amateur fights and is undefeated as a professional. His most notable pro victories came on 12-round decisions over fellow South Africans Phillip Ndou and Cassius Baloyi in May 2004 and August 2005, respectively, and American Nate Campbell on April 7, 2006.
“As long as I keep winning, things will fall into place for me,†said Hlatshwayo (26-0, 1 NC, nine KOs), who will take on World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 13 contender Kendall “Rated R’’ Holt (20-1, 12 KOs) for the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) 140-pound title on “ShoBox: The New Generation’’ Friday, Nov. 3, at Bally’s Casino Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J. The comebacking Holt has been sidelined with an injured his right hand, and will make his first start in 14 months.
The Duva Boxing-promoted “ShoBox’’ fight card will air on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m., ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
“This is a great fight and yet another dangerous test for me,†Hlatshwayo added. “Holt is one of America’s rising stars.†A solid, fundamentally sound fighter, Hlatshwayo is considered by some to be his native country’s top fighter. The 2005 South Africa Fighter of the Year currently is ranked at junior welterweight in three of the major governing bodies: No. 5 in the World Boxing Council (WBC), No. 7 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and No. 9 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
The scheduled 12-round jolt with Holt will be the fifth United States start for the five-foot-eight-inch, 28-year-old Hlatshwayo, and his second in a row at 140 pounds. The undefeated fighter will celebrate his 29th birthday one week after the “ShoBox†telecast.
“This is a big challenge for both young men,†said “ShoBox’’ blow-by-blow announcer Nick Charles. “Holt is definitely a puncher and the naturally bigger man. (But) I think he has a very difficult time finding Hlatshwayo. Holt’s long layoff cannot help either. In short, Holt is in against a guy who can really make him look bad if he is not in prime condition.
“As for Hlatshwayo, it is all about movement and fighting quickly. He needs to get in and punch, then get out while giving constant angles.’’
Offered “ShoBox’ analyst Steve Farhood, “Holt and Hlatshwayo are fighters who have teased us and who we have been looking forward to seeing more of. Holt was impressive defeating David Diaz on “ShoBox.†That win is even more impressive since Diaz subsequently secured a portion of the world title. Hlatshwayo defeated Campbell, who just won a fight that suggests he has plenty left as well.
“This fight will not only allow one fighter to advance and reestablish his credentials, but it could well lead to a title fight for the winner.’’
Holt, of Patterson, N.J., was an excellent amateur before turning pro on March 30, 2001. In his 15th pro outing, the unbeaten prospect scored a spectacular opening round, one-punch knockout over Gilberto Reyes on March 26, 2004, in Miccosukee, Fla.
In his next start, Holt suffered his lone defeat on a shocking first-round TKO to Thomas Davis on June 18, 2004, in Chicago. Holt staggered Davis early in the round and then rocked him two more times before Davis rallied to score two knockdowns. The referee stopped the fight without a count at 2:59.
“Nobody wants to lose, but I think it really got me in tune with my career,†Holt said. “It opened my eyes to what was really going on, how things are supposed to really go. I had been winning, but I was getting by on talent alone. Losing made me go in the gym and work harder. It made me more focused.’’
Holt has come back strongly and won five consecutive bouts, including the big victory on Feb. 4, 2005, on “ShoBox’’ over the highly regarded Diaz (26-0 going in). Diaz went on to win the interim WBC lightweight title in August 2006.
The fight against the previously unbeaten 1996 U.S. Olympian was a big step up in class for Holt, but he performed admirably. He scored a knockdown with a snappy left-right during a furious exchange in the last seconds of the first round, and Diaz was cut over the right eye at the same time.
Even though the rounds were close, Diaz seemed to get stronger as the match progressed. But Holt kept Diaz off-balance with constant movement. Diaz scored a knockdown when Holt’s gloves touched the canvas in the eighth, but Holt came back strongly in the ninth to stagger Diaz repeatedly.
“I have got some things to work on, but this means the world to me,’’ said Holt after the referee stopped a bout he was leading by 68-63 twice and 67-64 at 2:26. “I knew going in this fight was mine’’
After becoming the only boxer to defeat Diaz, Holt captured the WBO Intercontinental 140-pound belt with a 12-round split decision over southpaw Jaime Rangel (30-7-1 going in) on May 27, 2005, in Pompano Beach, Fla. Rangel scored a knockdown in the first and continually pressed forward, but Holt frustrated him with movement and won by the scores 115-111, 114-112 and 110-116.
In his last outing on Sept. 24, 2005, Holt won a 10-round unanimous decision over Volodimir Khodakovskiy in Atlantic City. In control for the most part, Holt won 99-92, 98-92 and 97-93.
Holt has been slated to fight a couple of times since, but due to his injury, the bouts never came off. He realizes the risks involved in engaging a skilled foe such as Hlatshwayo after so much time off and that it is asking a lot for a guy who relies on movement, timing and speed to box at peak efficiency.
However, ring rust is not a concern for the speedy Holt, who is too confident in his abilities and wants to be champion too badly to turn his back on the opportunity.
“I know it is going to be a tough fight,’’ the five-foot-nine-inch, 25-year-old Holt said. “Hlatshwayo throws a lot of punches. This is the most important fight of my career.
“The most important mission in my life is to take care of my four-year-old son the way he deserves to be taken care of. Win this fight against Hlatshwayo and it will open the door for my getting the bigger fights that will allow me to take care of him properly. Nothing will prevent me from doing that.
“I feel sympathy for Hlatshwayo. He is going to get caught in the crossfire of my mission.’’
While not exactly a road warrior (24 of his pro starts have taken place in South Africa), Hlatshwayo is no stranger to fighting and performing well on his opponent’s home apron. The fight that propelled him into the public’s conscience came against Campbell in Tampa, Fla.
“More people started to pay attention to me after that fight,†said Hlatshwayo, a useful, accurate puncher but definitely not a banger. “Now, I need to keep it going.’’
Hlatshwayo turned pro as a lightweight at the age of 22 on Feb. 15, 2000. After going 5-0 in 2000, he won six starts the next year and was named 2001 South Africa Prospect of the Year.
In his 14th outing, Hlatshwayo captured the South African title with a 12-round decision over Martin Jacobs on Oct. 5, 2002, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The energetic Hlatshwayo outclassed the defending champion in all departments and won 119-111, 117-111 and 117-112. Hlatshwayo vacated the national title to pursue his international career shortly after he successfully defended it a fifth and final time with an exciting, 12-round split decision over Ndou (115-113 twice and 113-115).
Hlatshwayo’s U.S. debut with Marty Robbins on Feb. 4, 2005, in Mashantucket, Conn., ended in a first-round no-contest. He was just starting to land long, straight punches to Robbins’ head, when the two cracked heads accidentally. Robbins got the worst of the butt and the fight was stopped after the first.
In his second stateside start, Hlatshwayo dominated William Morelo en route to winning a 10-round unanimous decision on May 13, 2005, in Las Vegas.
On Aug. 31, 2005, Hlatshwayo returned to South Africa and captured the International Boxing Organization (IBO) lightweight title with an easy decision over once-beaten Baloyi. Hlatshwayo dropped the three-time world champion in the second round en route to winning 119-108, 117-112 and 116-112.
Less than six months later, Hlatshwayo retained his title by winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Argentina’s Aldo Rios in Brakpan on Feb. 25, 2006.
Drained from having to make 135 pounds, Hlatshwayo was sluggish throughout and weary down the stretch. Not know for his power, Rios had Hlatshwayo hurt and in danger of being stopped in the 12th. Although the fight was closer than the scores indicated, Hlatshwayo won 118-111, 118-110 and 117-111.
“In the end I was very tired, but I came back,’’ said Hlatshwayo, who did not land many telling blows during the first 11 rounds.
Hlatshwayo was in top shape for his next outing, and it showed as he produced a career-best performance in a thrilling fight against the more seasoned Campbell (28-4-1 going in). Campbell seemingly had all the advantages going in, including home field advantage.
Pride is one of the South African’s most important attributes, so after spotting the fast-starting Campbell an early edge, the naturally bigger and stronger Hlatshwayo came back. Utilizing a sharp, steady jab followed with accurate combinations, Hlatshwayo outhustled his favored foe over the bulk of the IBF elimination bout and survived a late rally to win 117-111, 116-112 and 113-115.
At his best when an opponent comes to him, Hlatshwayo remained composed when Campbell picked up the pace and started to apply more pressure during the last two rounds. Instead of crumbling, Hlatshwayo remained calm and chose his spots while throwing punches in sequences. Although Campbell came on strongly, he had been outworked and outwilled in most of the rounds. Hlatshwayo was simply busier and fighting harder.
There would be no immediate in-ring, post-fight party for Hlatshwayo, however.
When the decision was announced to the crowd, Campbell dropped to the canvas in celebration with the premature belief he was the winner. Due to some language difficulties and the vision of Campbell prone on the canvas, Hlatshwayo thought he was the loser. It took several agonizing seconds before the verdict was explained to both boxers and Hlatshwayo was assured that he was victorious.
In his last fight on June 17, 2006, in Memphis, Hlatshwayo won a dominant, eight-round unanimous decision over Jeremy Yelton. Working behind a constant jab, he consistently ouboxed and outpunched Yelton en route to winning 80-72 twice and 79-73.
Hlatshwayo, who describes himself as a dedicated Christian, believes in clean living and hard work.
“My mom told me to stay away from the guys who take alcohol and smoke,†Hlatshwayo said. “We learned to live a much better life from the guys who drink or smoke.”
In preparation for a fight, Hlatshwayo trains nearly five hours a day.
“I really believe that if you work hard, in the end, you will live like a king,’’ he said.
Regarding his nickname, Hlatshwayo said, “They call me “The Angel’ because of my looks. I used to sing in the church choir when I was at school. Somehow, someone found that out about me and they started calling me it just after I’d turned professional.â€
Born and raised in Shisasi Village, Hlatshwayo grew up and still resides in nearby Malamulele, South Africa. In his spare time, the father of two loves to listen to music. He is managed and trained by Manny Fernandes.
“It is a challenge for me to fight in front of the Americans,’’ Hlatshwayo said. “I am ready to show that I am one of the best boxers to come out of South Africa.’’
Kendall Holt Vs Isaac Hlatshwayo Boxing Undercard
correct at time of publish
Shamone Alvarez vs Enrique Gutierrez
The card will be highlighted by appearances by Newark, NJ’s rising star Steven Ham (10-1, 9 KOs), and Venezuelan former amateur World Champion Patrick Lopez (8-0). Raymond Biggs Jr. (5-0) of Brooklyn, a two-time New York Golden Gloves winner will also see action on the card, as well as Vince Irwin, the popular slugger from Bayonne, NJ, and Puerto Rican amateur champion Roberto Acevedo complete the Duva card.
Kendall Holt Vs Isaac Hlatshwayo Results
Click for larger image © Ed Mulholland / Showtime Boxing
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In an upset last night at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, light welter Kendall Holt took Isaac Hlatshwayo to school, pulling away from the talented South African in the later rounds and dropping the visitor three times enroute to a wide points decision win.
Holt, 21-1 (12), remained patient despite early pressure from Hlatshwayo, 25-1 (9), and used an unerring sense of timing to prevent his opponent from gaining any meaningful momentum.
Hlatshwayo’s fate was sealed when he suffered a bad laceration above the eye during the sixth round and after that was rarely in the bout.
The loss may herald a return to the lightweight ranks for Hlatshwayo, who was undefeated
as both an IBO and South African Champion while Holt annexes the NABO belt after a year long absence from the ring.
Showtime Boxing Report…
HOLT HANDS HLATSHWAYO FIRST LOSS TO WIN NABO TITLE,
ALVAREZ OUTPOINTS GUTIERREZ IN BATTLE OF UNBEATENS
ON A “SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION†DOUBLEHEADER
FROM BALLY’S CASINO BALLROOM IN ATLANTIC CITY, NJ
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In an exciting, hard-fought bout, once-beaten Kendall “Rated R’’ Holt dealt previously undefeated Isaac Hlatshwayo his first loss and captured the vacant North American Boxing Organization (NABO) super lightweight title with a super impressive, 12-round unanimous decision in Friday’s main event on “ShoBox : The New Generation.’’ Holt scored three knockdowns and won going away.
In a battle of unbeaten welterweights on the Duva Boxing-promoted co-feature at Bally’s Casino Ballroom, Shamone Alvarez was credited with a flash knockdown in the first-round en route to winning a majority eight-round decision over fast-closing Enrique Gutierrez. The doubleheader aired on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
Holt (21-1, 13 KO’s) of Paterson, N.J., was making his first start in 14 months, but he showed no signs of ring rust. He dropped the world-ranked Hlatshwayo once in the ninth, 11th and 12 rounds en route to winning by the scores of 119-106 twice and 116-109.
“I trained and sacrificed really hard, which made the win easy,’’ said Holt, who was quicker, hit harder and was much stronger down the stretch .than his highly regarded South African foe. “Isaac was very active. I knew that he wanted to bang with me so I had to move a lot and give him a lot of angles.
“In the seventh, I became winded but I got a second wind in the eighth and was able to finish strong. I want the rest of the division to take me seriously. I can’t be over looked now.â€
Hlatshwayo (25-1, 1NC, nine KO’s), of Malamulele, South Africa, was supposed to be stronger in this, his second fight at 140 pounds, but it was not the case. He fought back gamely after getting cut over the left eye from an accidental headbutt in the sixth, but he was a beaten, battered and exhausted boxer at bout’s conclusion.
Alvarez (16-0, 10 KO’s), of Atlantic City, won by the scores of 77-74, 76-75 and 76-76. Nicknamed the “Pride of Atlantic City,†Alvarez built a lead during the early rounds but a surging Gutierrez (10-1, 8 KO’s), of Santa Rosa, Calif., came on very tenaciously to make it extremely close.
“He’s a typical Mexican fighter,’’ Alvarez said. “He came straight forward with constant pressure, but he was more precise that I thought he would be. I felt I was in control most of the fight but by the fifth I noticed he was getting stronger and his lateral movement was tougher to deal with. He was moving a lot more. He was getting tougher to hit.’’
Nick Charles called the action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of “ShoBox†is Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.
The bout(s) will re-air this week as follows:
Saturday at Midnight ET/PT SHOTOO (if no live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING)
Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Tuesday at Midnight ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Thursday at 11 p.m. ET/PT SHOTOO
Hlatshwayo Holt Boxing News
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