Jones willing to step in to challenge Alexander on May 18

Jones willing to step in to challenge Alexander on May 18
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
April 18, 2013


For the third time, Devon Alexander's mandatory defense of his IBF welterweight title against Kell Brook will be postponed after British challenger’s promoter Eddie Hearn announced that Brook suffered a stress fracture in his foot.

Alexander-Brook has been set to happen in three different months already in 2013. A Jan. 19 date was sunk when Brook suffered an ankle injury, and a Feb. 23. date was wrecked when Alexander suffered strained triceps. The most recent May 18 date, which is headlined by the Lucas Matthysse-Lamont Peterson fight, is now in jeopardy.

Kevin Bizier, an IBF approved challenger, recently declined the sanctioning organization’s offer to be a substitute challenger for Alexander on the Showtime-televised card.

However, one fighter willing to step into that May 18 date is Carson Jones, who gave Brook all the Sheffield native could handle in a fringe fight-of-the-year candidate last July. Jones came up just short, losing a 12-round majority decision as he assumed a late rally in the fight.

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Top 25 Prospects Final Report Card

Top 25 Prospects Final Report Card
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
January 5, 2013


When I first began contributing to TQBR, one of my first submissions was a list of 25 prospects that I had my eye on. Throughout 2012, I tracked their progress, even turning in a mid-year report on how they had done up until that point.

This piece marks a final report card on how those 25 fighters fared. Together, they combined for an astonishing 74-4 mark with 53 KOs, something that far exceeded my expectations when I first compiled the list.

This also marks my final contribution to TQBR as a staff writer, as I have decided in 2013 to focus more of my time on my weekly boxing column with the Northern California newspaper, the Martinez News-Gazette. By doing so, I felt as though I wouldn't have enough time to be a full-time contributor to TQBR and decided with editor Tim Starks' blessing it was time to move forward. I plan on still contributing the odd freelance piece online, though no destination has yet been determined.

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West Coast Boxing Report, Dec. 3

West Coast Boxing Report, Dec. 3
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
December 3, 2012

Devon Alexander-Kell Brook Likely Headed for Los Angeles 

Last week, talks began to surface that the Jan. 19 Showtime Championship Boxing card headlined by Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KOs) of St. Louis and Kell Brook (29-0, 19 KOs) of the United Kingdom was projected to take place in Las Vegas, likely at the MGM Grand. The bout will be for Alexander's IBF 147 pound belt.

The card, which will run against an HBO tripleheader in New York that same night, will instead take place in Los Angeles, according to sources close to the promotion, with an announcement likely being made Wednesday as to the venue and undercard.

Junior welterweight Lucas Matthysse is a name that has been mentioned for the televised undercard, with Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer saying matchmaker Eric Gomez would have an opponent ready for announcement in the matter of a few days. [UPDATE: Golden Boy matchmaker Robert Diaz confirmed via e-mail Tuesday that the card would take place at Nokia Theater in L.A., and that Matthysse would be in the co-main event in a three-bout broadcast.]

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Half-Year 25 Favorite Prospects Report Card

Half-Year 25 Favorite Prospects Report Card
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
July 4, 2012


In January, one of my first contributions to TQBR was a list of my 25 favorite prospects to start 2012. Now that we have met the halfway point of the year, compiled here is a report on how those 25 prospects have fared and a grade letter assigned. Over the first six months, prospects were 41-2 with 27 knockouts. Not a bad start.

MAKING THE GRADE 

Eleider Alvarez, light heavyweight, 28, 9-0, 5 KOs (2-0) B+ 
Alvarez didn't sparkle against Rayco Saunders on ESPN2 in April, but returned to the Bell Centre in early June to lay a whooping on once-beaten Shawn Hawk. Alvarez needs to be a little more active at 28, and if he is able to get two fights to close out '12 it will have been a good year for him. Next fight: N/A

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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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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.