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Sunday, March 31, 2013

The First Time: Boxing promoter Terry Lane's trip to Montreal for Bute-Brinkley


Terry Lane is absolutely one of my better friends in boxing. He, along with his fiance Tiffany and his younger brother Tommy, comprise the promotional company Let's Get It On Promotions, based out of Reno, Nev. 

The second fight I ever covered as a boxing writer back in February 2008 was one of their Reno shows headlined by Jesse Brinkley against Otis Griffin. Brinkley was the Lanes' fighter while Griffin was based out of Sacramento, the region in which I lived in. I had interviewed Griffin prior to the fight for ultimateboxingresults.com as one of my first articles for them. (Later on, I would co-host a radio show with Otis for a year, Fight Fan Nation Radio).

Brinkley wore Griffin down and stopped him in the 11th round. I had traveled to the fight with a good friend of mine and we met my older brother, Mario, in Reno. My brother had been covering boxing for a little more than a year longer than I had for 15rounds.com, so he introduced me to people and helped me along. The Lanes were some of the first people I met in boxing, and from the beginning, they treated me with respect and not like some no-name writer. As the years have gone on, they've become some of my better friends in the sport and I miss covering their shows in Reno, which have been reduced in number since Brinkley stepped away from the ring in 2011. Mark my words, they're some of the brightest young guys in the sport and some of the handful of people in boxing you can't find anyone who will say a negative word about them.

They were able to guide Brinkley to a world title opportunity against Lucian Bute. It all came to where Brinkley, as an underdog in his hometown, defeated Curtis Stevens in an ESPN2 Friday Night Fights headliner in early 2010. To this day, that is one of the best atmosphered fights I've ever covered.

I've begun a boxing column called "The First Time" for RingTV.com that asks people in the sport about their various boxing firsts, with a different topic comprising each column. For this first edition, the topic was the first time you traveled abroad for a fight. I asked Terry Lane to contribute his memories from going to Montreal to challenge Bute with Brinkley, and he gave me an unbelievably well-written story that I excerpted in the RingTV story here. This is the full length that Terry initially sent me, and it is a highly-recommended read as it puts you in the shoes of a up-and-coming boxing promoter getting their first taste of the highest level of the sport. It also gives you an idea of what kind of people the Lanes are and why I consider them some of the best people in the sport--their passion for it. Without further ado, here is Terry Lane's recollection of that trip to Montreal in 2010.

The First Time: Award-winning author Donald McRae & going to Tulsa to hangout with James Toney

Donald McRae is the writer of my favorite boxing book of all-time, Dark Trade: Lost in Boxing, which traces his journey through the sport from his earliest days through the mid-1990s. I've been lucky enough to trade correspondence with McRae ever since I turned the last page of that book. In my opinion, there is no journalist out there that does a better job of getting their subjects to open up, and McRae was able to capture some really personal moments with some of the sport's biggest stars. 

The following story is the full-length version of what Don sent me when I inquired about him contributing to a monthly piece I'm debuting at RingTV called "The First Time". The idea behind the column is to take a different subject every month, and ask various boxing people about their first memories related to that. For this first column, I asked people about their first trips abroad for a fight. In the RingTV story here, I excerpted Don's story and have linked it over here, where you can read the full body of his recollection, which I highly recommend you do. I'd like to thank Don for this contribution, it was far and beyond what I expected given his always busy schedule. Without further to do, here is Donald McRae's trip to Tulsa to meet James "Lights Out" Toney.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Berchelt impresses on Rios-Alvarado undercard


Berchelt impresses on Rios-Alvarado undercard
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 31, 2013


Undefeated Mexican junior lightweight standout Miguel Berchelt needed only one round to dispatch Carlos Claudio in his American debut on the undercard of the Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado undercard on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Berchelt (17-0, 14 KOs) needed only 1:53 to dispatch Carlos Claudio (15-10-3, 8 KOs) ,of Kissimmee, Fla. Berchelt landed a bevy of power shots early, then eventually stunned Claudio, sending him to the ropes. Berchelt wasted no time jumping on his opponent, landing a signature Oscar De La Hoya style flurry of punches that forced referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight.

Highly touted 2012 U.S. Olympian Jose Ramirez (2-0, 2 KOs) made quick work of Hastings, Neb.'s Charlie Dubray, dropping him twice in the opening round en route to a TKO. Ramirez bounced a right hand off the top of Dubray's head early in the round, resulting in a knockdown. Dubray returned to his feet and Ramirez jumped on him, unleashing a furious body attack before referee Robert Byrd halted the bout at 1:06.

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Friday, March 29, 2013

Crawford eager to shine as late replacement

Crawford eager to shine as late replacement
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 30, 2013


LAS VEGAS--Thursday afternoon, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum compared one of the young fighters in his stable to an understudy who gets the call when the lead in a big play calls in sick.

At least in that instance, the understudy knows his lines.

Saturday night, Nebraska's Terence Crawford will be ad-libbing his way through his first real test, and on major television no less, as he fights veteran gatekeeper and relentless power puncher Breidis Prescott. What's more, Crawford will be testing the waters in a foreign weight division.

Previously, Crawford (19-0, 15 KOs) has campaigned almost exclusively as a lightweight, where he possesses a number of alphabet rankings at the moment. But when WBA 140-pound titlist Khabib Allakhverdiev pulled out of a fight with Prescott due to injury, Crawford didn't hesitate to jump into the HBO co-feature.

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Rios, Garcia talk about Heredia team presence


Rios, Garcia talk about Heredia team presence
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 29, 2013

LAS VEGAS--One new wrinkle in Saturday's anticipated return bout between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado, and a recently developed storyline, is the news of the addition of strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia to the camp of Rios.

Heredia is most recently known for his work with Juan Manuel Marquez, transforming the veteran from a soft looking junior welterweight to the cut-to-shreds welterweight version that starched Manny Pacquiao abruptly last December. Prior to that, Heredia’s checkered past of helping athletes with performance enhancing drugs and then testifying against them made him a recognizable name.

Rios told RingTV.com after Thursday's press conference that he talked to Heredia in December, before Pacquiao-Marquez IV.

“I approached him at Pacquiao-Marquez and told him how Marquez looked good, healthy,” said Rios. “I told him we need to work together, but we didn't start working together until this rematch with Mike became official.”

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Rios-Alvarado rematch draws Gatti-Ward parallels


Rios-Alvarado rematch draws Gatti-Ward parallels
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 29, 2013

LAS VEGAS – When HBO vice president Kery Davis took the dais at the final press conference at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino for Saturday's junior welterweight rematch between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado, he opened with the formal announcement that the network would be revitalizing their Legendary Nights documentary series to examine the trilogy between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward.

It's only fitting. The seven-round slugfest, which Rios won by technical knockout last October, left the most bloodthirsty of boxing fans satiated. As it was with Gatti-Ward, the first Rios-Alvarado fight wasn't about titles or undefeated records. As Davis put it, it was about putting two guys together that all but guaranteed an exciting fight, however long it may last.

“Everybody has seen these two warriors fight,” said Top Rank CEO Bob Arum at the press conference. 

“The fight at the Home Depot Center was an instant classic. Many thought it was a Fight of the Year candidate, and for many it was just edged out by the fourth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.”

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Lederman's most memorable Boxing After Dark fights


Lederman's most memorable Boxing After Dark fights
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 27, 2013


Over the course of its 15 year run, HBO's Boxing After Dark series has produced some of the sport's most exciting matchups. The series has televised cards from all over the world in eight different countries with more than 125 championship bouts being broadcast.

The inaugural broadcast on Feb. 3, 1996 featured a smashing 122-pound contest between rising Marco Antonio Barrera and a still quality Kennedy McKinney. It was a back-and-forth war with tons of bad blood. The program, which has focused on building stars for its World Championship Boxing brand, has hardly looked back since that first show.

On Saturday, a rematch of one of last year’s best fights tops an HBO B.A.D. telecast.Brandon Rios looks to duplicate his mid-rounds stoppage of Mike Alvarado at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The first fight, which took place last October in Carson, Calif., was a B.A.D. opener (for Nonito Donaire-Toshiaki Nishioka), while this fight will headline – to lots of fanfare.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Bits and Pieces: Gamboa-Burgos possible for June 8


Bits and Pieces: Gamboa-Burgos possible for June 8
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 26, 2013


Gamboa-Burgos possible for June 8 at 135 pounds
As previously reported by Maxboxing's Steve Kim last week, the idea of Yuriorkis Gamboa fighting Juan Carlos Burgos as part of a June 8 HBO show is being contemplated.

According to Thompson Boxing general manager Alex Camponovo, who backs Mexico's Burgos, it would more than likely be a move to 135 pounds for both fighters, whose most recent fights were at 130 pounds.

Burgos (30-1-1, 20 knockouts) is coming off a highly-controversial draw against WBO 130-pound beltholder Roman Martinez in January that saw his team petition the WBO for an immediate rematch. Martinez defends his title against Diego Magdaleno in Macau on April 2, but the WBO elected to keep Burgos its No. 1 contender in lieu of the controversial nature of the bout.

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HBO reboots popular Legendary Nights to chronicle Gatti-Ward


HBO reboots popular Legendary Nights to chronicle Gatti-Ward
Mark E. Ortega
Freelance
March 26, 2013

The much anticipated return of HBO Sports' brilliant Legendary Nights series was announced to heavy fanfare in a press release Tuesday afternoon.


The original series, which aired in 2003, chronicled a dozen different fights or series of fights that were aired on HBO and had a major impact on the sweet science. Now a decade later, HBO will bring back the highly lauded program to examine the trilogy of fights between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward, which took place between May 2002 and June 2003 and earned two Fight of the Year honors in the process.

Young prospects round out Rios-Alvarado untelevised card


Young prospects round out Rios-Alvarado untelevised card
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 26, 2013


The word has been mostly mum on who would appear on the untelevised undercard to Saturday's highly-anticipated return bout between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado. Their bout, along with Terence Crawford's step-up against Breidis Prescott, will be televised on HBO’s Boxing After Dark at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

The card takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and Boxrec.com, the records and schedule database, has limited information listed on what the non-televised portion of the card will feature. Crawford was initially supposed to be part of it, but when 140-pounder Khabib Allakhverdiev was injured, Crawford took his spot against Prescott in the opening televised bout.

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Journeyman Boone an unsung hero in boxing

Journeyman Boone an unsung hero in boxing
Mark E. Ortega
Freelance
March 23, 2013

Years from now, most people will have forgotten about Darnell Boone.

I'm not talking 20 years from now. If last night's sixth-round TKO loss to Adonis Stevenson on WealthTV is the last we see of Boone, even a few years from now he will have faded from the memories of most. His 19-21-3 record, despite the level of competition and circumstances it has come against, won't standout as anything but subpar.
But to those who have closely followed Boone's career, which may end up being just a few others outside of myself, they will remember Boone as one of the sport's toughest journeyman or gatekeeper types of this era.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

April 12 FNF card gets an overhaul

April 12 FNF card gets an overhaul
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 21, 2013


News broke early Thursday that Andre Dirrell would no longer be in action in the April 12 edition of ESPN2's Friday Night Fights, which takes place in Shelton, Wash. Dirrell was slated to face tough gatekeeper Ossie Duran but was pulled from the card according to ESPN.com.

That isn't the only change that has been made. The middleweight bout between Brandon Gonzales and Will Rosinsky is now off the card as well. Goossen-Tutor Promotions matchmaker Tom Brown indicated to RingTV that Gonzales pulled a hamstring and had to be removed from the card.

Taking the main event slot is a featherweight ten-round bout between former 122-pound titleholder Rico Ramos, of East Los Angeles, and Oscar Gonzalez, of Mexico.

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Overseas promoters hope to fill Golden Boy void on HBO

Overseas promoters hope to fill Golden Boy void on HBO
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 21, 2013


Earlier this week, HBO announced that it would no longer be doing business with Golden Boy Promotions.

With that announcement came the opportunity for other promoters and fighters to slide into the televised dates that may have otherwise belonged to Golden Boy.

In the past, HBO has televised shows from Europe, often airing them in the U.S. in the afternoon with a replay later that night, sometimes coupled with a live American broadcast. Occasionally, as was the case with the Joe Calzaghe-Mikkel Kessler super middleweight unification in November 2007, bouts have been held well past midnight in Europe so they could be televised live in America.

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Bits and pieces: Groves added to Abraham-Stieglitz card


Bits and pieces: Groves added to Abraham-Stieglitz card
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 20, 2013


Groves added to Stieglitz-Abraham bill Saturday
Sauerland Events confirmed Thursday that super middleweight contender George Groves will appear on their Saturday bill headlined by Robert Stieglitz' rematch against WBO titleholder Arthur Abraham in Magdeburg, Germany.

Groves (17-0, 13 knockouts) is being showcased as a potential future challenger to the winner, which makes sense given his No. 2 ranking in the WBO. He made his first appearance under the Matchroom Sport banner just two weekends ago, scoring a third-round stoppage over journeyman Dario Balmacedo just days after parting ways with Frank Warren.

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Boone hoping history repeats itself against Stevenson

Boone hoping history repeats itself against Stevenson
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 20, 2013

With greater exposure comes greater opportunity.

The last time Darnell Boone and Adonis Stevenson met, it was on a small untelevised club show in Salisbury, Md. Stevenson, then an undefeated but untested 13-0, was promptly knocked out by a single overhand right in the second round of the fight.

Due to the where and the when, the win garnered Boone little fanfare.

When the two meet Friday night in Montreal, it'll be the televised headliner of a WealthTV broadcast with Stevenson on the verge of a world title challenge.

Tough journeyman Boone (19-20-3, 8 KOs) told Boxing Monthly in their May 2012 edition that the biggest purse he'd ever earned was the $12,500 he'd received to fight Anthony Thompson in 2006.

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Five that will benefit most from HBO-Golden Boy split


Five that will benefit most from HBO-Golden Boy split
Mark E. Ortega
Freelance
March 20, 2013

News broke early Monday courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole that HBO will no longer be working with top promoter Golden Boy Promotions for the immediate future. While that spells bad news for boxing fans around the world, it opens up opportunities for other people to come in and get those HBO dollars that previously were spent on Golden Boy fights. There are a number of different people or entities that could greatly benefit from this move, and below is a list of five that might see the biggest return.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Bits and pieces: Fortuna-Zamudio lands in Atlantic City

Bits and pieces: Fortuna-Zamudio lands in Atlantic City
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 19, 2013

The following “bits and pieces” of boxing news and items were compiled by RingTV.com contributor Mark E. Ortega during the Tim Bradley-Ruslan Provodnikov card last Saturday. 

Fortuna-Zamudio lands in AC 
 The April 19 ESPN2 Friday Night Fights card promoted by Sampson Lewkowicz has found a home. Undefeated featherweight contender Javier Fortuna will face unheralded Miguel Zamudio in Atlantic City at the Tropicana Casino & Resort, according to Nathan Lewkowicz, an executive at the promotional company as well as Sampson's son.

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Saturday, March 16, 2013

Vargas hopes patience pays off with tonight's HBO debut


Vargas hopes patience pays off with tonight's HBO debut
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 16, 2013


In the short term, it looked as though Jessie Vargas had made a mistake leaving the stable of fellow Las Vegas resident Floyd Mayweather Jr. to join up with Las Vegas-based Top Rank Promotions nearly a year ago.

 Prior to the switch, Vargas had been positioned well in showcase bouts on Mayweather pay-per-view undercards, perhaps the most visibility a young fighter could ask for.

 After being brought on with Top Rank, Vargas took a bit of a step back. He was no longer fighting Josesito Lopez or Steve Forbes type guys at the MGM Grand on pay-per-view. He had been relegated to fighting lesser heralded names like Aaron Martinez and Vito Gasparyan on ESPN2 at places away from the Las Vegas Strip.

 But when Top Rank and their matchmakers Bruce Trampler and Brad Goodman make decisions on what speed they are going to move you at, you would be smart to listen.

 “They did tell me to be patient, that they were gonna get me there,” said Vargas in a phone interview with RingTV on Thursday.

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Hercules’ Vasquez fighting for more than ring glory


Hercules’ Vasquez fighting for more than ring glory
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette (print paper)
March 14, 2013

Friday night, Hercules, Calif.’s Paul Vasquez faces the stiffest test of his sometimes-frustrating boxing career as he meets veteran Elvir Muriqi in an eight-round light heavyweight main event in Whippany, N.J.

 Vasquez has compiled a 9-2-1 record over a nearly ten-year career since turning pro in Fresno back in July of 2004. While frustrating inactivity has plagued him, Vasquez doesn’t fight for aspirations of world championships, but instead he fights to raise awareness to a cause dear to his heart.

 “My wife Brenda, she is a pediatrics nurse,” explained Vasquez in a phone interview on Monday.

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Commentary: Hopkins can enhance legacy with Povetkin fight


Commentary: Hopkins can enhance legacy with Povetkin fight
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 14, 2013


This past Saturday, Bernard Hopkins topped himself again by becoming the oldest recognized world champion at age 48 after handing undefeated light heavyweight beltholder Tavoris Cloud a clear decision defeat in Brooklyn in front of more than 12,000 fans at the Barclays Center.

 The victory is another accolade to add to a laundry list of them, leaving few worthwhile challenges to remain for the former longtime middleweight champion, who also holds the record for defenses in that weight class with 20.

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Younger Magdaleno maintains focus while title shot looms for older brother


Younger Magdaleno maintains focus while title shot looms for older brother
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 12, 2013


Less than a week from Saturday, Jessie Magdaleno will head on an expedition to Macau, where he hopes to witness his 130-pound older brother win his first major title. Junior lightweight contender Diego Magdaleno takes on WBO titleholder Roman Martinez in a fight that will be televised by HBO2 in the afternoon as part of a special “night” of boxing, and as usual with the Magdaleno brothers, Jessie will be along for the ride.

 But first things first, the younger, and according to many, the more talented Magdaleno brother has his own business to take care of. The 21-year old junior featherweight prospect fights journeyman Carlos Fulgencio on Saturday's Timothy Bradley-Ruslan Provodnikov undercard where he is expected to get a quick and impressive victory.

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Cloud-Hopkins: Will Father Time finally KO B-Hop?

Cloud-Hopkins: Will Father Time finally KO B-Hop?
Mark E. Ortega
ThePhillyGodfather.com
March 8, 2013

Saturday night, Philadelphia future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins tries to outdo himself by becoming the oldest world champion at age 48, besting his previous record of 46 years old when he defeated Jean Pascal by unanimous decision in their May 2011 rematch.

 Hopkins is coming off an uninspiring performance in defeat last April where he lost a unanimous decision to Chad Dawson in a rematch of their December 2010 bout that saw Hopkins climb off the canvas to rally late in the fight in order to secure a draw.

 “You’re not going to see a new Bernard Hopkins,” said the former lineal middleweight champion at the final press conference.

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RingTV Q&A: Larry Merchant



RingTV Q&A: Larry Merchant
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 8, 2013

After finishing up a 35-year run providing some of the most poignant words to some of HBO's greatest boxing moments, you had to know Hall of Fame broadcaster Larry Merchant wasn't going to rest on his laurels long. Since retiring in December, he played himself in a movie alongside longtime colleague Jim Lampley and got a call from Top Rank Promotions to help commentate on a historic boxing card that will take place in Macao next month alongside fellow all-time great broadcaster Tim Ryan as well as former colleague and legendary former heavyweight champion George Foreman.

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Griffin takes one more shot


Griffin takes one more shot
Mark E. Ortega
Freelance
March 8, 2013

It is interesting sometimes to think about how different a career could've gone if one thing went different.

If Zab Judah hadn't done the funky chicken against Kostya Tszyu in 2001, his career wouldn't have been taken off course by a suspension he earned for grabbing referee Jay Nady by the throat.

Prince Naseem Hamed probably wouldn't have opted for an early retirement if Marco Antonio Barrera hadn't handily embarrassed him just a few months later.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Soliman's banned substance identified


Soliman's banned substance identified
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 5, 2013

In an update to an earlier story, the performance enhancing drug that 39-year old Australian veteran middleweight Sam Soliman tested for in his A-sample when facing Felix Sturm last month was oxilofrine, an amphetamine-class stimulant.

The positive test was made apparent by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), the organization in charge of drug testing in German sports. NADA does Olympic-style drug testing and is affiliated with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), applying WADA's list of prohibitive substances, which can be found here.

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Sunday, March 3, 2013

Abril outclasses Bogere in ugly fight, keeps WBA lightweight belt


Abril outclasses Bogere in ugly fight, keeps WBA lightweight belt
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 3, 2013


LAS VEGAS – Richard Abril wanted to pick up a win without the judges factoring into the verdict in order to avoid being on the wrong end of a controversial verdict once again.

Abril didn't quiet his wish, but the gangly stylist tried to make sure he did enough to leave no doubt that he was a better boxer than Sharif Bogere in a very sloppy and dirty fight on Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Halfway through the Showtime Championship Boxing headlining bout, the official scorecards still had the fight in reach for the undefeated challenger, Bogere. As the bout moved into the deeper rounds, however, Abril closed the show dominantly.

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GBP plans stacked Fox Deportes card on March 16 in Cancun


GBP plans stacked Fox Deportes card on March 16 in Cancun
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 3, 2013


Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Robert Diaz informed RingTV.com Saturday night at the Sharif Bogere-Richard Abril card of a Fox Deportes card that is taking place in Cancun, Mexico on March 16 that features a number of quality fighters looking to get in the win column to start 2013.

In the main event, Pablo Cesar Cano (25-2-1, 19 knockouts), of Mexico, will fight Manuel Perez (19-8-1, 4 KOs), of Denver, Colo., in a ten-round junior welterweight contest. Cano is coming off a hotly contested split-decision loss to Paul Malignaggi in October at the inaugural card at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, Malignaggi's home. Perez is stiffer than his record indicates and is coming off a solid 2012 where he handed Edgar Santana and Jose Miguel Cotto defeats in consecutive fights.

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Russell shuts out Gusev on Abril-Bogere undercard


Russell shuts out Gusev on Abril-Bogere undercard
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 3, 2013


With the World Baseball Classic just getting underway and the major league season around the corner, saying that 2011 boxing Prospect of the Year Gary Russell Jr. is ready to make the jump from AAA to the majors is a fair assessment after he thoroughly outclassed Vyacheslav Gusev in a shutout in the Showtime televised co-featured bout to Saturday's Richard Abril-Sharif Bogere lightweight title bout.

Early against Gusev, Russell (22-0, 13 KOs) doubled and tripled his jab while also mixing in a wide array of shots to the body. Gusev (20-3, 5 KOs), of Prokopyevsk, Russia, stood in there and tried his best to get some work done, but was largely ineffective. At the sound of the sticks, indicating ten seconds remaining in the first round, Russell exploded with offense, landing a right hook that buckled Gusev. Russell followed up with a lightning fast combination that would have undoubtedly lead to a knockdown had it not come at the end of the round.

In the second, Russell and Gusev landed solid straight shots simultaneously, with Russell's more powerful punch producing the first knockdown of the fight. Despite his opponent being hurt, Russell didn't waste any punches when he returned to his feet, landing at very accurate rate, seemingly content to pick at his prey rather than finish him.

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Saturday, March 2, 2013

Baby Bull to return against famous namesake


Baby Bull to return against famous namesake
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 2, 2013


As has been previously reported, former lightweight world champion Juan Diaz will return to the ring following a two-and-a-half year layoff on April 13 in Corpus Christi, Texas, just a few hours' drive from his hometown of Houston.

What hasn't been previously reported until now is that Diaz's opponent will be Pipino Cuevas Jr., the namesake of the former welterweight titlist from the late 1970's who was a contemporary of Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, and Wilfredo Benitez. The opponent was confirmed by Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Robert Diaz.

The fight is slated to be televised by Fox Deportes on a Leija-Battah Promotions card and will be 10 rounds in the 135-pound weight division, where Diaz once reigned as the recognized lightweight champion, having held the WBA, WBO, and IBF versions of the crown simultaneously.

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Soliman tests positive for banned substance after Sturm fight


Soliman tests positive for banned substance after Sturm fight
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 2, 2013


At age 39, it seemed as though Australian middleweight veteran Sam Soliman had finally gotten a career defining victory, as he outpointed former middleweight titlist Felix Sturm over twelve tough rounds on Feb. 1, somehow prevailing on the scorecards in Sturm's backyard in Germany.

Unfortunately, news has just surfaced that Soliman tested positive for a yet to be determined designer drug in his post-fight A-sample, as confirmed by German Boxing Federation president Thomas Putz. They could now open Soliman's B-sample if Soliman's team asks for it to be opened, which could take place in the next week.

Though the substance has yet to be named, it has been narrowed down to an amphetamine that is performance enhancing. It is often used in cycling and helps produce a higher amount of oxygen.

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Friday, March 1, 2013

Bogere looks to become the latest African titleholder on Saturday


Bogere looks to become the latest African titleholder on Saturday
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 1, 2013

LAS VEGAS – On Saturday night, Sharif Bogere looks to follow in the footsteps of Ike Quartey, Joshua Clottey and Kassim Ouma – fighters who journeyed from impoverished African countries to more lucrative earnings and world titles in the United States – as he vies for his first major title in the headlining bout of Showtime Championship Boxing against Richard Abril for a vacant WBA 135-pound belt. 

Where the 24-year-old Ugandan hopes to take a different path from his predecessors comes after he wins Saturday. While all of those names won major titles and found themselves in marquee matchups, their dedication curtailed after their earnings reached a high point.

Quartey took a five-year hiatus after fighting big names like Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas and Clottey has hardly been seen since appearing in big matchups with box-office darlings Miguel Cotto and, more recently, Manny Pacquiao in 2010.

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Cotto plans ring return later this year


Cotto plans ring return later this year
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
March 1, 2013

LAS VEGAS – In attendance at Thursday's press conference for the Showtime-televised WBA lightweight title tilt between Richard Abril and Sharif Bogere on Saturday was three-division titleholder Miguel Cotto.

Cotto was there in support of his two fighters, junior middleweight Jorge Melendez and lightweight Jeffrey Fontanez, who will appear on the Showtime Extreme portion of the Abril-Bogere undercard.

Cotto recently revealed that he plans to fight three more times before calling it a day as a fighter and focusing on his family. RingTV caught up with Cotto as well as his attorney Gaby Penagaricano prior to the press conference to touch on a few subjects.

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