Burgos battles Amidu to draw on FNF

Burgos battles Amidu to draw on FNF
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 26, 2013


Juan Carlos Burgos felt unfairly treated in his last fight by ringside officials, who scored his title-seeking effort against Roman Martinez a draw in January.

When meeting late substitute Yakubu Amidu in Friday's main event of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights in Lincoln, Calif., a split-draw verdict was once again rendered.

This time, Burgos didn't wear the look of a guy unhappy to be getting a draw, and with good reason.

Burgos didn't fight much like a guy with a long term memory of the recent betrayal by judges. He dominated early portions of rounds but allowed his hard-nosed opponent to come on late in rounds, obviously affecting the scores.

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Thompson confirms Pulev fight on Aug. 24

Thompson confirms Pulev fight on Aug. 24
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 25, 2013


Just less than three weeks ago, 41-year old Tony Thompson further added to his legitimacy as the best American heavyweight when, for the second time in five months, he stopped British prodigy David Price.

Thompson (38-3, 26 KOs) confirmed to RingTV.com on Thursday he will step in the ring again on Aug. 24, but not in any sort of tune-up. Pending IBF approval, his fight with unbeaten Sauerland Event heavyweight Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KOs) of Bulgaria will be the final eliminator for a shot at Wladimir Klitschko.

"I just found out today that it is for sure," Thompson told RingTV.com.

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Foreman shuts out Davis in Broadway Boxing main event

Foreman shuts out Davis in Broadway Boxing main event
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 24, 2013


Returning former junior middleweight titleholder Yuri Foreman made it an easy night on Wednesday at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, as he widely outpointed Philadelphia trialhorse Jamaal Davis in their eight-round main event.

Brooklyn's Foreman (31-2, 8 KOs) was fighting for the third time since a two-year reprieve from the ring. He had lost two straight fights, to Miguel Cotto and Pawel Wolak respectively, before taking a nearly two-year sabbatical.

Davis (14-10-1, 6 KOs) is the prototypical spoiler, but was unable to put enough together to give Foreman much issue. Foreman was able to control the action from the outside for much of the night, not allowing the rugged Davis to work inside.

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Shafikov signs with Top Rank, makes U.S. debut Aug. 17

Shafikov signs with Top Rank, makes U.S. debut Aug. 17
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 24, 2013


Lightweight contender Denis Shafikov of Russia signed a deal with Las Vegas-based promotional giant Top Rank Boxing, RingTV.com learned on Wednesday.

Shafikov will make his Top Rank and American debut on the Aug. 17 card headlined by Juan Diaz-Adailton de Jesus, which takes place in Laredo, Tex.

The card will be televised by UniMas on Solo Boxeo, but no word yet whether or not Shafikov's fight will make air. Along with the Diaz bout, Olympian Jose Ramirez fights.

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Jackson brothers return to Virgin Islands on Aug. 17

Jackson brothers return to Virgin Islands on Aug. 17
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 21, 2013


Nathan Lewkowicz confirmed to RingTV.com a card that will take place in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Aug. 17, featuring the local fighting sons of former junior middleweight and middleweight titleholder Julian Jackson.

In the eight-round main event, once-beaten junior middleweight prospect John Jackson (16-1, 14 knockouts) meets rugged journeyman Tony Hirsch (14-5-2, 6 KOs), of Oakland, Calif.

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Sister Hazel, Tonic make it through the rain

Sister Hazel, Tonic make it through the rain
Mark E. Ortega
Freelance
July 21, 2013

Saturday night in downtown Las Vegas, the Rock of Vegas free concert series continued as '90s acts Sister Hazel and Tonic played, while also enduring what was at times a torrential downpour.

Both bands formed twenty years ago this year, and being a 25-year old had me slightly out of place. The crowd was mostly people in their 30s and 40s.

"This band was popular during my first divorce," an attractive 40-year old woman told me during the end of Tonic's set. "I've only been divorced once."

"So, you're planning on increasing that number then?" I asked.

WBC comments on gloves controversy in Mexico

WBC comments on gloves controversy in Mexico
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 21, 2013


On Saturday, Paul Magno of Yahoo! Sports brought attention to a very serious situation regarding tampered gloves, which took place in Mexico last weekend prior to a women's bout.

The fight in question was the rematch between Riyo Togo and Mariana Juarez. The first fight took place in April, with the usually durable Juarez getting shockingly stopped in the first round. She previously hadn't been stopped since 2005.

According to the article, members of Juarez's team during a pre-fight inspection found the padding in Togo's gloves to have been tampered with.

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Bits & Pieces: Russell Jr.'s opponent named

Bits & Pieces: Russell Jr.'s opponent named
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 20, 2013


Golden Boy Promotions put on a fight card (in association with Mayweather Promotions) in Las Vegas this weekend, as John Molina stopped Mickey Bey in the final round of their 10-round main event. Mark E. Ortega gathered news and notes during the course of the evening.

Russell Jr.'s opponent named 

Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer announced that highly touted featherweight Gary Russell Jr. would return on the Aug. 9 undercard to Deontay Wilder-Sergei Lyakhovich. The card takes place at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif.

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Molina stops Bey in final round of ShoBox shocker

Molina stops Bey in final round of ShoBox shocker
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 19, 2013


LAS VEGAS – For nine plus rounds, Mickey Bey was putting together a signature performance in his ShoBox: The New Generation main event against John Molina at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Bey constantly beat Molina to the punch, utilizing his superior hand speed and footwork to build a wide lead on all three judges' scorecards. What makes boxing beautiful in comparison to other sports is that the scoreboard doesn't matter until it reads zero.

Molina was the latest example of this, as he stopped Bey on his feet at the 2:01 mark of the 10th and final round after being outclassed for most of the contest.

Despite Bey being superior for much of the fight, Molina never stopped coming forward. With his left eye badly swollen in the early rounds after eating numerous jabs from Bey, he began to have a hard time seeing the check hooks coming.

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Molina, Goossen hope third time is the charm

Molina, Goossen hope third time is the charm
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 19, 2013


Friday night, John Molina's career is more or less on the line as he meets unbeaten Mickey Bey in their ShoBox-televised ten-round main event in Las Vegas.

Coming off a close decision loss to Andrey Klimov just north of a month ago, Molina has switched trainers, from Oxnard, Calif.'s Robert Garcia to 45-minutes east in Van Nuys with Joe Goossen.

This will mark the third time Molina and Goossen have linked up. The two have been more on-again, off-again than Ross and Rachel of '90s sitcom Friends fame.

"I didn't watch Friends, so I'm not familiar with that reference, but how about more than Liz [Taylor] and Dick [Burton]?" asked Goossen on Wednesday, when asked about the renewed vows.

"I've got an eight-month old at home and the back-and-forth to Oxnard was tough on me," shared Molina on why he switched from Robert Garcia back to Goossen.

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Espinoza talks Matthysse-Garcia, more

Espinoza talks Matthysse-Garcia, more
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 19, 2013


Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer made a major announcement at noon on Thursday, when during a conference call he made it public that the highly anticipated junior welterweight showdown between Lucas Matthysse and Danny Garcia would be the Sept. 14 Showtime pay-per-view co-feature to Floyd Mayweather-Saul Alvarez.

In attendance at Thursday's ShoBox weigh-in to discuss the fight as well as a few other items was Showtime Sports executive vice president Stephen Espinoza.

Rumors of the Matthysse-Garcia fight had been swirling for weeks, and Espinoza admitted to RingTV the fight had been done before Thursday's announcement.

"The fight had been done for a little bit," shared Espinoza. "We wanted to wait for the right timing. For one, Richard was in Europe at the time. This is one of the rare occasions in boxing where a secret couldn't be kept. It's a miracle one of us didn't let it out. We've all been dying to make the big announcement."

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Bits & Pieces: Sparring partners pick Bey by knockout

Bits & Pieces: Sparring partners pick Bey by knockout
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 18, 2013


Though he only has nine knockouts in his 18 wins, the chief sparring partners for lightweight prospect Mickey Bey both agree in their assessment that Bey will stop John Molina on Friday in their ShoBox main event.

British welterweight contender Ashley Theophane and welterweight prospect Chase Corbin gave Bey most of his work in preparation for this fight, a ten-round bout that will be Bey's toughest test by far.

"John's been at a higher level and fought for the title, but Mickey is the one coming up," said Theophane to RingTV on Wednesday when asked about the fight.

"I think Mickey is gonna stop him. I expect him to outclass him and I don't think it is going the distance."

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Love opens up about his suspension, setback

Love opens up about his suspension, setback
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 18, 2013


Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas, middleweight contender J'Leon Love was in attendance at the Mayweather Boxing Club while his stablemates get ready for Friday's card at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

For the first time, Love discussed at length his suspension stemming from the diuretic he tested positive for following his close decision victory over Gabriel Rosado. The fight took place on the May pay-per-view undercard to promotional boss Floyd Mayweather's lopsided decision win over Robert Guerrero.

Prior to the fight, Love suffered a family tragedy, as his older brother Gerald was killed in a shooting in Love's native Detroit. The incident occurred less than two months before Love was set to make the biggest step up in his career.

"My brother was left with nine kids, and now, I've taken them up as though they were my own," shared Love. "I am the one in the family making the big money, so I'm going to make sure they are taken care of now."

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Cotto-Rodriguez agreed to in principle, manager says

Cotto-Rodriguez agreed to in principle, manager says
Mark E. Ortega
July 18, 2013
RingTV.com


The proposed Oct. 5 fight between Miguel Cotto and Delvin Rodriguez has essentially been agreed to by both sides, according to Rodriguez's manager A.J. Galante.

"Delvin's promoter, Joe DeGuardia, and I, have an agreement in principle with Cotto's people," Galante told RingTV.com on Wednesday evening.

"We are working on finalizing the documents. It's not 100 percent, but I would be surprised if it's not done by the weekend. But I stress that it is not 100 percent done yet."

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Donaire contemplated retirement, talks comeback, Rigondeaux, HBO

Donaire contemplated retirement, talks comeback, Rigondeaux, HBO
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 16, 2013


You wouldn't have guessed it based on the fact that it was easily the most important year of his professional career, but Nonito Donaire was at one point contemplating retirement during 2012. Last year, Donaire fought four times on the way to earning Fighter of the Year honors from the Boxing Writers Assoc. of America.

"Honestly, after the [Toshiaki] Nishioka fight, I was really thinking about retiring," Donaire told RingTV.com on Friday as he took in ESPN2's Friday Night Fights in Las Vegas.

"I felt like I had accomplished everything I set out to. I had won titles in multiple divisions, had made it onto pound-for-pound lists. I was ready to quit, and then I got the [Jorge] Arce fight [in December] and just decided to get back in the gym."

During 2012, Donaire conquered the 122-pound division, and his four-fight year was a rarity for a top fighter.

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Frampton out of Saturday fight with Briceno

Frampton out of Saturday fight with Briceno
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 16, 2013


Belfast junior featherweight contender Carl Frampton announced via Twitter on Tuesday that he will be unable to fight Everth Briceno this Saturday at London's Wembley Stadium as scheduled, due to an ear injury.

Frampton's tweets read:

"I'm upset to have to announce that I have been ruled out of my fight on Saturday by the BBBofC. An old injury mildly reoccurred in a spar. A specialist initially informed me I was fit to box. Today, the BBBofC ruled me out. I'm so, so sorry, especially to the people who were coming to support me. It has been an amazing camp and I'm gutted I won't be able to showcase my improvement in Wembley."

The bout was to take place on the monster Frank Warren card featuring Dereck Chisora against Malik Scott and Billy Joe Saunders against Gary O'Sullivan. Frampton was making his debut with Warren after jumping ship from Matchroom Sport following his win over Kiko Martinez in February.

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Atlas gives Povetkin 'a good shot' to beat Klitschko

Atlas gives Povetkin 'a good shot' to beat Klitschko
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 15, 2013


From 2009 to 2011, ESPN2 Friday Night Fights analyst and former trainer Teddy Atlas took on heavyweight Alexander Povetkin as somewhat of a personal project.

The two enjoyed a bit of success together before splitting in 2011, leaving both sides a bit embittered. Two years later, Povetkin faces an uphill battle in challenging Wladimir Klitschko in Moscow on Oct. 5 as a long-odds underdog.

Atlas was in Las Vegas on Friday to call that night's action for FNF, the job which kept him from working with Povetkin for his bout last February against cruiserweight titlist Marco Huck.

Though Atlas has previously been critical of Povetkin's performances since the two moved on from each other, he likes his former charge's chances against the younger half of the two-headed Klitschko monster.

"I gave him a good fight plan for Klitschko [when we worked together]," Atlas told RingTV prior to ESPN2 going on the air on Friday.

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Perez wins showcase against Riovalle

Perez wins showcase against Riovalle
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 13, 2013


INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Alejandro Perez started out his career underneath the Top Rank umbrella, but it ultimately didn’t work out, resulting in Perez going on his own for a long stretch.

Perez fared pretty well given the circumstances, scoring some credible victories over a range of contenders. Yet, Perez was unable to parlay those victories into a major fight, likely due to not having a powerful promoter at his disposal.

Earlier this year, Perez signed on again with Top Rank, believing they could navigate him up the ladder the correct way. Saturday night in Inglewood, Calif., their second run began with a showcase bout in the 10-round main event of Solo Boxeo against Edgar Riovalle.

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Consummate pro Perez ready for showcase bout

Consummate pro Perez ready for showcase bout
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 12, 2013


It hasn't been an easy road for Salinas, Calif. junior lightweight Alejandro Perez, who is wrapping up his tenth year as a professional fighter at the age of 27. Finally, it feels as though the young fighter has a bit of stability after signing with Top Rank just last month.

Perez headlines Saturday's UniMas Solo Boxeo card against Edgar Riovalle in a bout that can largely be considered a showcase fight, something Perez hasn't been the benefactor of many times over his 21-fight career. The fight headlines a card at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, Calif.

This will actually be Perez's second go-around with Top Rank, having more or less began his career with the company before suffering a shock decision loss to journeyman Adolfo Landeros in June of 2008.

That defeat derailed Perez a bit, while at the same time ending his relationship with the company. This forced Perez to navigate the tough sport of boxing pretty much on his own. For the situation he was presented, Perez has managed to become a solid gatekeeper, but with Top Rank, he hopes to become more than that.

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Bits & Pieces: Friday Night Fights notes

Bits & Pieces: Friday Night Fights notes
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 12, 2013


Tonight, a well-matched ESPN2 Friday Night Fights card takes place in Las Vegas at Texas Station Casino as Chris Avalos meets Drian Francisco in the 10-round junior featherweight main event while unbeaten prospects Abie Han and Glen Tapia put their “0s” on the line against each other in a 154-pound bout.

Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman shared the story on how Han-Tapia came together.

“Louie Burke (Han's trainer) informed us they were ready for a step up, so we offered Mat Korobov (who is coming off a career-best stoppage of Ossie Duran),” Goodman told RingTV.com shortly after Thursday’s weigh-in finished up.

“They told us, ‘No, we want Glen Tapia,’ and I said, ‘but Louie, Tapia is a 154-pounder.’ Louie told me Abie can make 154 pounds easy and that they wanted the fight.”

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The One undercard: What I'd like to see

The One undercard: What I'd like to see

Mark E. Ortega

Freelance

July 10, 2013

With September 15's highly-anticipated mega fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul Alvarez just a tad more than two months away, you would think by now we would have some clue how the undercard is shaping up.

There have been rumors of a fight between Lucas Matthysse and Danny Garcia appearing as the co-feature. That fight is one of the top four or five fights that can be made in all of boxing and would perhaps be the best pay-per-view co-feature to ever have been put together.

With that in mind, what about the rest of the undercard? Or what if Matthysse-Garcia doesn't get made? There are many logical bouts that can be put together that would all but guarantee fans get their money's worth out of the bouts leading into the main event.

Here is a list of fights I've come up with that seem plausible for the September 15th undercard. Note that none of these fights should break the bank and could come at a decent price.

Remembering Lenny LaPaglia

Remembering Lenny LaPaglia
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 8, 2013


Sad news broke over the weekend as entertaining Melrose Park, Ill., club fighter Lenny LaPaglia passed away Saturday in his home in Illinois at the age of 53 from a heart attack.

Though LaPaglia didn't possess championship credentials, he certainly had championship caliber heart. LaPaglia compiled a record of 36-9 with 33 KOs, retiring after a 1995 knockout loss to Thomas Hearns in Detroit.

LaPaglia participated in a great number of wars in the ring, none more memorable than his July 14, 1988 clash with St. Louis light heavyweight Art Jimmerson at the Felt Forum (now the Theater at Madison Square Garden) in New York City. The fight will have taken place 25 years ago next week.

Jimmerson, now living in Los Angeles, remembers the fight fondly when reached by RingTV.com on Monday afternoon.

“I remember having a seven-fight win streak at the time I was offered the fight,” recalled Jimmerson.

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Sturm stops Radosevic in fourth

Sturm stops Radosevic in fourth
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 6, 2013


Former WBA middleweight titleholder Felix Sturm found it hard to find the win column starting with the loss of the alphabet trinket to Daniel Geale last September.

Sturm lost an IBF eliminator against veteran Sam Soliman in February, though the bout was later overturned to a no contest when Soliman tested positive for a performance enhancing substance.

Still, the struggles with Soliman indicated that Sturm was perhaps nearing the end of his career. Looking to prove he had more to offer, Sturm met unbeaten Predrag Radosevic in an eliminator for the IBF’s No. 2 spot in his native Germany.

Sturm (38-3-2, 17 knockouts) turned in a quality performance against the unheralded Montenegro native, dropping Radosevic three times with body shots before the corner threw in the towel in the fourth round.

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EPIX taking a break from boxing--at least for now

EPIX taking a break from boxing--at least for now

Mark E. Ortega

RingTV.com

July 5, 2013

Beginning with March 2011's heavyweight title fight between Vitali Klitschko and Odlanier Solis, little-known premium cable network Epix jumped headfirst into the boxing game, televising European cards that were getting passed on by HBO and Showtime.

However, since this past May's heavyweight title fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Francesco Pianeta, the network has been mum regarding any new fights on their schedule. In fact, the Epix Sports Twitter account has been silent since May 16, causing one to wonder if the network has decided to bow out of the fight game for good.

"There are no boxing events planned this summer, but we remain interested in great opportunities that are a good fit for Epix," said Epix chief of staff Nora Ryan on Friday afternoon after being reached by e-mail.

Ryan continued by saying they are expanding their Epix Sports documentary programming, with several documentaries currently in development. Ryan said a few of these involve boxing and that she would notify RingTV of an impending announcement.

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