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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Twenty-Five Favorites for the Future, Part II

Twenty-Five Favorites for the Future, Part II
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
January 5, 2012

(Continued from part I.)

Joe Hanks, heavyweight, 28, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A. [18-0, 12 KOs] 
Though not as well known as American heavyweights of the future Seth Mitchell and Deontay Wilder, Hanks has quietly put together a respectable career in four years as an American heavyweight hopeful. Hanks scored an improbable one-sided win over then-unbeaten Golden Boy prospect Ashanti Jordan a few years ago and has stayed the course, though not with much fanfare. Hanks has yet to fight on television despite being one of the better kept secrets in American heavyweight boxing. With Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing backing him, Hanks should at least be able to break the barrier and make it on television moving forward. Despite being from the East Coast, Hanks established himself in the banquet halls and small houses in Southern California, fighting twelve times in all there. At one point, this writer recalls then-manager Prentiss Byrd offering to pay for Hanks’ spot on cards, yet he still had problems finding him fights. At 6’4” Hanks has good size and has good power that he has learned to utilize better recently; he’s scored six stoppages in eight fights since the opening of 2010. In a particularly shallow time in U.S. heavyweight boxing, Hanks is near the top of the class.

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Twenty-Five Favorites For the Future, Part I

Twenty-Five Favorites For the Future, Part I
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
January 4, 2012

Don't mistake this list as one to bank future successes of any of these fighters on, though I have faith that more than a handful of them will break through to the top level of the sport. No, what this list serves as is my 25 favorite prospects that I will be keeping an eye on in 2012 and beyond. What this means is the rubric is more than just in-ring ability. It takes into account whether or not they likely will emerge as big time ticket sellers, as determined by their fighting styles and personalities, among other things. One thing you can count on is this list features quite a number of names you won’t see elsewhere.

Sadam Ali, welterweight, 23 years old, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. [14-0, 8 KOs] 
The quick-fisted Ali was the first Arab-American fighter to box in the Olympics when he made the U.S. team in 2008. Since turning pro in January of 2009, the sharp punching Ali has yet to face a real test. He may be a bit undersized at welterweight and would probably find more success at 140 when he steps up his level of competition. After encountering managerial problems early in his career, Ali has begun to guide his own career. It will be interesting to see how Ali’s plans of getting to the top will work out without a major guiding influence. At 23 years old, Ali has a fair amount of time to get there.

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Inside the Super Six: Predictions from Within

Inside the Super Six: Predictions from Within
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 16, 2011

Tomorrow night, the historic, groundbreaking Super Six World Boxing Classic wraps up after beginning more than two years ago when Andre Ward and Carl Froch meet in Atlantic City for the Super Six cup, vacant Ring Magazine 168-pound title, as well as their respective alphabet soup titles.

We were able to speak to a majority of the fighters, promoters, and trainers who took part in the Super Six experience on a variety of subjects related to the tournament, most importantly who they feel will win tomorrow night.

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SoloBoxeo in Woodland

SoloBoxeo in Woodland
Mark E. Ortega
UndisputedFightMag.com
December 16, 2011


For the first time in history, live televised boxing will take place in Woodland, California as Telefutura’s SoloBoxeo comes to town. The card is topped by local attraction Alan Sanchez, who meets Alberto Herrera in an eight-round welterweight bout.

Sanchez [8-2-1, 3 KOs], of nearby Fairfield, California, is riding a three-bout winning streak. All three of those wins took place in Fairfield and were televised on SoloBoxeo. Herrera [8-3-1, 5 KOs], whose brother Mauricio will fight Pier Cote on Showtime in February, is coming off a dominant decision victory over unbeaten Marcus Robinson in October. Prior to that, Herrera lost three fights in a row to fighters with a combined ledger of 31-2-1.

Dyah Times Breed Big 2012 For Davis

Dyah Times Breed Big 2012 For Davis
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 7, 2011

 The tail end of 2010 saw the end to a wrenching, multi-generational grudge match spanning decades. Having suffered a defeat at the hands of Aaron Pryor Jr., the future of super middleweight Dyah Davis -- whose father had crossed paths with Pryor's -- remained unclear.

 The Coconut Creek, Fla. native quietly rebounded with an impressive 2011, going 2-0-1 with a signature victory over then unbeaten and highly regarded Marcus “Too Much” Johnson in a ShoBox 10-round headliner in April.

Slated to fight former Kelly Pavlik adversary Alfonso Lopez in the co-featured bout on ESPN Friday Night Fights’ season opener on Jan. 6, Davis is looking to carry his momentum into the new year. His November 2010 meeting with Aaron Pryor Jr. stalled said momentum, if only for a brief moment.

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Dirrell prevails, Avalos derails

Dirrell prevails, Avalos derails

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com
December 2, 2011

Friday night from the Chumash Resort & Casino, WBC #1 super middleweight Anthony Dirrell took one step closer to his aspirations of winning a world title, scoring a fourth round stoppage of #2 rated Renan St Juste of Canada in the twelve-round main event of a ShoBox: The New Generation televised card promoted by Gary Shaw Promotions.

Dirrell [24-0, 21 KOs] more or less controlled the action throughout despite a hesitancy to engage early on. Dirrell worked well in the opening round, landing a few nice combinations behind his jab.

Younger Dirrell steps up

Younger Dirrell steps up competition

Mark E, Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

December 1, 2011

Tomorrow night, unbeaten super middleweight Anthony Dirrell looks to put himself into world title contention as he steps up his competition in fighting Renan St Juste in a 12-round WBC super middleweight title eliminator atop a Showtime televised doubleheader live from the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.

The card, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, will also feature exciting once-beaten bantamweight prospect Chris Avalos against unbeaten Jhonatan Romero in a ten round attraction opening up the televised portion of the broadcast.

Team Tomlinson Talk Broner & Beyond

Team Tomlinson Talk Broner & Beyond

Mark E. Ortega

UndisputedFightMag.com

November 25, 2011

Saturday night, the vacant WBO super featherweight title left behind by Scotsman Ricky Burns will be contested between WBO #1 Adrien Broner [21-0, 17 KOs] and WBO #6 Vicente Rodriguez [34-2-1, 19 KOs] in the opening televised fight on HBO Boxing After Dark's split-site broadcast headlined by Saul Alvarez's WBC 154 pound title defense against Kermit Cintron.

Broner will be heading the portion taking place in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio at U.S. Bank Arena against the long-odds underdog Rodriguez, who hails from Argentina.

Santana set to prove he's no stepping stone

Santana set to prove he's no stepping stone
Mark E. Ortega
Leave-it-in-the-ring.com
October 5, 2011

It wasn't long ago that Santa Barbara, California's Francisco Santana was entering fights as the touted prospect with high expectations. Friday night, he'll step into the ring as the projected stepping stone for undefeated Jermell Charlo of Austin, Texas in the televised opener of ShoBox: The New Generation, a position Santana has found himself in a few times as of late.

After turning pro under the Goossen-Tutor Promotions banner in November of 2005, Santana was being groomed for big things.

“I was supposed to make my pro debut near my home at Chumash with Gary Shaw but the fight fell through,” Santana told Leave It In The Ring in a phone interview on Wednesday.

Bad Officiating Now a Domestic Problem in the US

Bad Officiating Now a Domestic Problem in the US
Mark Ortega 
Undisputed Fight Magazine, September 2011 issue
September 2011

THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE SEPTEMBER 2011 EDITION OF DIGITAL BOXING MAGAZINE, UNDISPUTED FIGHT MAGAZINE.

It wasn't long ago that American fight fans figured bad officiating was a foreign concept.

The popular line “You need a knockout to get a draw over there” is rumored to be founded during the title reign of Sven Ottke of Germany, who saw many an unpopular decision fall his way.

Unfortunately, particularly in the past few years, that ideal has been wiped away by an extraordinary number of bad calls in officiating in the United States just this year.

DiBella, Hearn on Berto-Brook

DiBella, Hearn on Berto-Brook

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

September 9, 2011

As the dust settles on Andre Berto's newly-claimed welterweight crown, Leave It In The Ring speaks to promoters Lou DiBella and [Matchroom Sports’] Eddie Hearn—who represent the latest IBF champion and undefeated Englishman Kell Brook, respectively—on the possibility of a meeting between the two welterweights.

“Well, we are fighting [Rafa] Jackiewicz who has beaten Jan [Zaveck] and Jackiewicz is #5 in the IBF, so when we beat him we will be right there for a shot at Berto,” stated Hearn just days after the enthralling but brief bout between the Haitian-born Berto and Jan Zaveck.

July 2011 Monthly Wrapup

July Monthly Wrapup

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

August 1, 2011

On the first day of each month at Leave it in the Ring, lead writer Mark Ortega will be doing a summing-up of the previous month's action for those that may have missed out on some of it, or just want to relive some of it.

Fighter of the Month – Amir Khan

Though he beat a fighter in Zab Judah who had never won against a marquee name in his entire career [despite getting numerous opportunities], Khan instantly jumped to the top of the Ring Magazine 140 pound rankings with his fifth-round stoppage of Zab. Khan likely put himself in the running for a Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight should Floyd beat Victor Ortiz like he is supposed to this September.

Lane out, Martinez in for Elegele on Friday

Lane out, Aaron Martinez in for Joseph Elegele this Friday?

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

July 18, 2011

Sometimes in boxing a door closes but a window opens.

That is the case for unbeaten young Joseph Elegele, who was slated to meet once-beaten Lanard Lane this Friday in the co-feature as televised by ESPN Friday Night Fights. Elegele-Lane promised to be an intriguing battle between two young prospects.

Lane's lone loss came against capable junior middleweight Mike Dallas, Jr. on ShoBox but had not fought since, making it over a year of inactivity. He looked to serve as a solid but passable test for Elegele who was being showcased on the Gary Shaw promoted card headlined by Anthony Dirrell against Kevin Engel.