NorCal Boxing Report: Aug. 29

NorCal Boxing Report: Aug. 29
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 29, 2012

Some notes compiled on different things around the Northern California boxing scene, including Richard Hargraves, potential Jorge Linares fight in the area, Andre Ward-Chad Dawson undercard.

Click here to read the article...

Alan Sanchez stops Manuel Leyva in 10

Alan Sanchez stops Manuel Leyva in 10
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 26, 2012


FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- A day after a club show took place down the road in Sacramento, Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don Chargin Promotions and Paco Presents returned to the Fairfield Sports Complex Saturday as homegrown Alan Sanchez looked to continue forward progress as he took on veteran gatekeeper Manuel Leyva in a 10-round welterweight bout.

Sanchez took a few rounds to get untracked as the pace at the outset of the Sol Boxeo main event was not enthralling. Sanchez and Leyva showed each other too much respect early on, and Sanchez only started getting his offense really moving after Leyva bothered him midway through with some solid body work. Though Leyva may have only won a single round, the 6th being his best far and away, he forced Sanchez to open up a bit more, which lead to some exciting exchanges.

A Leyva from even a few years ago could have given Sanchez a scare on this night, but having been starched in four of his previous six, the29-year old from Downey, Calif. was well on the downside when this fight came together.

Click here to read the rest...

Otis Griffin gets back in win column in Sacramento

Otis Griffin gets back in win column in Sacramento
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 25, 2012


SACRAMENTO -- Friday night in Sacramento at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Sacramento favorite and former winner of the boxing reality show “The Next Great Champ” Otis Griffin (24-10-2, 10 KOs) found the win column again as he stopped the tough but inexperienced Adam Collins (11-8, 8 KOs) of Ironton, Ohio. The end came in the 2nd round of their scheduled 10 round over the limit light heavyweight bout and it was Griffin's first fight in Sacramento in nearly three years.

The fight was closely contested in the opening round until a shot near the top of Collins' head put him down in the final seconds of the opening round. Collins was not recovered from that blow as he kept pointing to the back of his head before getting dropped again early in the 2nd. Collins looked as though he rebounded well from the knockdown but Griffin finished him later in the round with a left hook, as referee Dan Stell called the fight. Official time of the stoppage was 1:22 of round 2.

Click here to read the rest...

Nonito Donaire gears up for Toshiaki Nishioka

Nonito Donaire gears up for Toshiaki Nishioka
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 24, 2012


Last Friday at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Nonito Donaire fired a pitch high but over the plate on Filipino Heritage Night prior to the hometown Athletics' game with the Cleveland Indians.

TQBR spoke to Donaire as he left the field on a variety of topics surrounding his compelling Oct. 13 HBO-televised scrap with longtime junior featherweight force Toshiaki Nishioka in Carson, Calif. at the Home Depot Center.

“It is very exciting for me,” Donaire said. “Like Nishioka said, it is not about the titles, it is not about anything, it is about fighting that guy. I believe that I have a lot to prove with Nishioka and we have great respect for each other. "

Click here to read the rest...

Mia St. John avenges loss to Christy Martin, opportunity to pass the torch exists

Mia St. John avenges loss to Christy Martin, opportunity to pass the torch exists
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 17, 2012


Tuesday night in Friant, Calif., a lightly populated central California town, two of the most recognizable names in women's boxing squared off in a rematch ten years removed from an initial battle that took place on pay-per-view.

Now both in their mid 40s, Mia St. John exacted her revenge on Christy Martin in a non-televised clash that, according to the two combatants, signaled the end of their respective professional boxing careers. It also could perhaps signal the end of an era in which women's boxing was treated as a sideshow or an appetizer rather than legitimate competition.

Both Martin and St. John graced the covers of two major publications in their heyday. Martin, who was nicknamed “The Coal Miner's Daughter,” was on the cover of the April 15, 1996 edition of Sports Illustrated. St. John was featured on the cover of the November, 1999 cover of Playboy, showcasing a different set of assets.

Click here to read the rest...

Mares-Moreno tops full Saturday boxing schedule

Mares-Moreno tops full Saturday boxing schedule
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
November 9, 2012

Saturday night, an important junior featherweight clash takes place at the famed Staples Center as Abner Mares and Anselmo Moreno do battle to determine who might give San Leandro's Nonito Donaire the biggest trouble in a future fight.

It was announced last week that Donaire will return to the ring on Dec. 16 against Mexican fan favorite Jorge Arce, marking the fourth time Donaire will step in the ring in 2012, a remarkable feat in today's game. On that undercard, fellow 122 pounder Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba faces his stiffest test as he meets Thailand's Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym.