Boxing news around the Bay Area

Boxing news around the Bay Area - Mar. 25
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
March 25, 2014

Former Oakland boxer James Buggs shockingly passed away last Tuesday at the early age of 43 from an apparent heart attack.

Over the course of a 10-year professional career that ended in 2009, Buggs was a win some, lose some type of fighter. He compiled a record that consisted of eight wins, ten losses, and three draws, often taking fights on short notice and under unfavorable circumstances against a number of up and comers.

It is within the confines of Oakland’s famed King’s Gym that Buggs’ absence will be felt the most in the boxing community. It is there that Buggs worked with the city’s youth, teaching them the basics of the sweet science while also becoming a reliable figure in the gym for anyone to bounce their problems off.

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Boxing Around the Bay

Boxing Around the Bay
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
March 9, 2014


Sacramento’s Robb signs with manager, fights Apr. 5

Sacramento featherweight Guy Robb has proven himself to be one of the most consistently exciting fighters in northern California since his professional debut in 2010. Due to the lack of pro shows in the region, Robb only fought twice in 2013. The inactivity will hopefully come to an end as Robb signed with local manager Herb Stone on Tuesday, the fighter told the Gazette. The 25-year old Robb (12-1, 5 KOs) put on a gutsy display for a nationally televised audience in his lone defeat, a January 2012 loss to fellow unbeaten Joel Diaz Jr.

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A banner year for NorCal boxing in 2012

A banner year for NorCal boxing in 2012
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
January 3, 2013

After being dormant for many years, the boxing scene in Northern California turned the heat up in 2012 as over 20 different shows took place in the region with the area's biggest stars all scoring signature wins that could setup major fights as we begin a new calendar.

Oakland's Andre Ward only fought once in 2011, but he made the most of it, scoring a stoppage of light heavyweight king Chad Dawson at the Oracle Arena in early September in his first appearance as an HBO headliner. The bout was for Ward's bevy of titles at 168 pounds with Dawson moving down, and Ward dropped Dawson twice early in the bout before finishing him in the 10th.

Page comeback derailed

Page comeback derailed

Mark E. Ortega

Martinez News-Gazette

November 19, 2012


NATOMAS, Calif.--Last Saturday night, former WBA welterweight champion James Page did the improbable, returning to the ring for the first time following a 10-and-a-half year prison sentence, fighting rugged journeyman Rahman Yusubov in the six-round main event at the Four Points by Sheraton in Natomas, Calif. Unfortunately for Page and his team, the result wasn't what they were hoping for.

Page had been out of jail since the early part of the year, training at famed King's Gym in Oakland with a number of quality professional fighters, including middleweight prospect Omar Henry and junior middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo. He had worked himself down to 153 pounds for the fight, just one weight class heavier than where he contested most of his bouts in his prime in the late '90s.

San Francisco's Mayfield makes statement in HBO debut

San Francisco's Mayfield makes statement in HBO debut
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
October 29, 2013

VERONA, N.Y.—Last Saturday night, San Francisco junior welterweight Karim Mayfield took the biggest step in his career as he outpointed the durable Mauricio Herrera in their HBO televised ten-round attraction at the Turning Stone Casino & Resort in upstate New York. For Mayfield, it was his long-awaited debut on HBO.

Mayfield, 31, was able to outmuscle Herrera for most of the bout, utilizing his strength to back his opponent into the ropes and land vicious overhand rights almost at will. Mayfield was often criticized early in his career for falling in love with his overhand right but was able to work in some effective left hooks and uppercuts on the inside, landing more in combination than he has in previous bouts.

NorCal Boxing Report: Jan. 29

NorCal Boxing Report: Jan. 29
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
January 29, 2012

Trainer Hunter Begins Building Stable In The Bay Northern California 

Trainer of the Year Virgil Hunter had a banner year in 2011, leading Oakland, Calif.-based super middleweight champion Andre Ward to victory in the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic. Ward compiled wins against Arthur Abraham in the semifinals and followed it up with a victory over Englishman Carl Froch to unify both the WBA and WBC belts as well as earn the Super Six Trophy in the finals.

Hunter also helped raise the profile of middleweight hopeful Brandon Gonzales, who earned a narrow victory over venerable gatekeeper Ossie Duran in his ShoBox debut last October. Gonzales was set to fight on the Jan. 20 edition of ShoBox against Caleb Truax but suffered a torn hamstring just more than a week away from the fight. Hunter noted that Gonzales will likely begin work in the gym again in about three weeks from the time of this writing.

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Brandon Gonzales vs. Caleb Truax OFF

Brandon Gonzales vs. Caleb Truax OFF
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
January 9, 2012

Middleweight prospect Brandon Gonzales' year is not going to begin the way he would have liked it to.

Gonzales (15-0, 10 KOs), of Sacramento, Calif., was set to appear on Jan. 20th's edition of ShoBox: The New Generation against fellow unbeaten Caleb Truax (18-0-1, 10 KOs) of Osseo, Minn. at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

According to Gonzales trainer Virgil Hunter, that fight is now off as the Northern California based middleweight suffered a torn hamstring a few days ago, causing the fight to be called off.

"The fight is off, he tore his hamstring a few days ago," Hunter said in a phone conversation earlier Monday.

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