Q&A: Tom Loeffler

By Przemek Garczarczyk

“I suspect that the fight in Hamburg against the undefeated 6-6 Mariusz Wach will be a great tribute to his coach and friend Emanuel Steward and that all boxing fans worldwide will see in the ring a special statement from Wladimir Klitschko,” said Tom Loeffler, managing director of K2 Promotions, in a Fightnews.com interview. Loeffler spoke about Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 50 KOs) preparations for his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO title defense against Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KOs), on November 10 in Hamburg, without his late friend and trainer Emanuel Steward plus what we can expect from Vitali Klitschko as a politician and what’s in the future from the newest K2 Promotions star Gennady Golovkin (24-0, 21 KOs). (more…)

Gavin: I’m good enough to beat ‘em all

As Britain’s only ever world amateur boxing world champion, Frankie Gavin was expected to take the fast track to professional glory. ‘Funtime Frankie’ was abundantly blessed with the attributes and instincts that simply cannot be coached. He was, in boxing parlance, a natural. But five and a half years on from that historic victory in Chicago, his passage to the summit has encountered a chain of interruptions – several cruel twists of fate and a couple self-inflicted – and, though he remains unbeaten, the 27-year-old is now keen to make up for lost time. (more…)

Rahimi wins as pro boxing debuts in Afghanistan

Photos: Team “Fight 4 Peace”

History was made in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday with the first professional boxing match in that country’s history. In the featured bout, Afghan middleweight Hamid Rahimi (21-1, 10 KOs) scored a seventh round stoppage over Said Mbelwa (19-9-4, 12 KOs) from Tanzania to claim the WBO Intercontinental ‘Peace’ Championship and also earn a spot in the top 15 middleweight world rankings. The card was billed as “Fight 4 Peace.”

(more…)

Laughlin, NV fightcard announced

Sterling Promotions, led by longtime Las Vegas based boxing promoter Sterling McPherson, will present a November 17 fight card at the world-famous Edgewater Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nevada. Headlining will be a ten round lightweight clash between Robert “Super” Osiobe (13-5, 6 KOs) and “Son Of A Champion” Pipino Cuevas Jr. (16-8, 14 KOs). Featured in the co-main event is unbeaten lightweight prospect Chris Hazimihalis (9-0, 7 KOs) against an opponent to be announced in a scheduled eight rounder. In a six round junior welterweight battle, unbeaten knockout artist Luis “El Animal” Cerda, (6-0, 6 KOs) and Cameron Krael (2-3-2) will face off. Also heavyweight Duane Mobley (6-0, 4 KOs) faces Chad Davis (4-10). Tickets are $15-$75.

Klassen stripped of WBF belt

By Ron Jackson

Howard Goldberg President of the World Boxing Federation has announced that Malcolm Klassen has been stripped of his WBF junior lightweight belt. In a letter addressed to Boxing SA Goldberg advises that after numerous attempts to communicate with Klassen concerning his overdue title defense and because he has exceeded the deadline to defend his title the WBF have decided to strip him. At his request the WBF had secured a fight for Klassen against Cezar Vazquez of Mexico at the end of December. The vacant title will now be contested by Vazquez and an opponent to be announced.

—————

Meanwhile it has been announced that South African light heavyweight champion Tshepang Mohale will meet Chamunorwa Gonarenda on November 19 at the Barnyard Theatre, Cresta in Randburg in a non title fight. The tournamenent will be presented by Showpony Promotions.

Nader presents cake to Santos at presser

Tuesday’s press conference ahead of the EU Middleweight Championship on Friday at Multiversum Schwechat, Austria was more about respect than anything else. Before both combatants shared their thoughts with the local press, challenger Marcos Nader (16-0, 2 KOs) presented a Sacher cake to champion Roberto Santos (18-6-2, 10 KOs), who turned 31 today. Surprised by this gesture, the “Tiger of Benidorm” spontaneously hugged his upcoming opponent to thank him. (more…)

Santana-Garcia in Nov 16 Shobox opener

On Thursday, Hall of Fame promoter Don King will announce a Showtime doubleheader from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida for November 16. The card will feature undefeated junior middleweight contender Omar “Oh!” Henry (12-0-1, 9 KOs) against “King” James de la Rosa (21-1, 12 KOs). In the co-feature, lightweight Angelo “La Cobra” Santana (13-0, 10 KOs) will face fellow unbeaten Juan “Johnny” Garcia (13-0, 8 KOs). Local favorite Joey “Twinkle Fingers” Hernandez (22-1-1, 13 KOs) will also appear on the card in a domestically non-televised bout against an opponent to be named.

Froch urges fans to raise the roof

Photo: Lawrence Lustig

Carl Froch has told his fans to lift the roof off the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England when he defends his IBF super middleweight world title against Yusaf Mack live on pay-per-view on November 17. It will be “The Cobra’s” first defence of the belt he ripped from Lucian Bute in his stunning fifth round stoppage in his hometown fortress in May. Fans have snapped up over 9,000 tickets for their hero’s ninth consecutive World title fight and Froch says his fans can once again make the difference against Mack.

“The atmosphere against Bute was absolutely electric – the best I’ve ever boxed in front of,” said Froch. “Mack will not have seen anything like it in his life. When he gets in there, he’ll be all alone and the noise when I walk to the ring will be deafening, the fans will raise the roof for me. (more…)

WBA Convention: Day Two

Report and photos by Boxing Bob Newman

Day 2 of the 91st annual WBA convention in Jakarta, Indonesia got underway Tuesday morning in the Golden Ballroom at the Sultan Hotel. The first order of the day was a memorial ten count to honor the memory of trainer Emanuel Steward. WBA Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza noted that Steward’s first champion was Hilmer Kenty- a WBA lightweight champion, then followed by Thomas Hearns- the WBA welterweight champion.

WBA president Gilberto Mendoza took the mic to make opening statements reviewing last year’s convention in Donetsk, Ukraine. Mendoza praised the work that was accomplished at the 90th convention, as well as the efforts made by Union Boxing Promotions head Yuriy Ruban who organized the convention. Mendoza reviewed the European organizing committee of Jesper Jensen (Denmark), Dave Roden (England), Thomas Putz (Germany), Gualtiero Bechetti (Italy), Mariana Borisova (Bulgaria), Victor Ageev/Igor Mazurov (Russia).

Carlos Chavez next reported on the WBA’s credentials committee regarding the board election process.

WBA Vice President Yang Sup Shim of Korea moved to re-elect Gilberto Mendoza Sr. to another term as president of the WBA. The motion was seconded by Aurelio Fiengo, Julio Castillo. In a overwhelmingly unanimous vote, Mendoza was elected to his tenth consecutive term after thirty years at the helm of the oldest governing body in boxing. (more…)

Gavin out to retire Witter

Frankie Gavin says he’ll retire British welterweight champion Junior Witter once and for all when they clash this Thursday night at the York Hall, Bethnal Green. The unbeaten Birmingham ace has only had 13 fights but he’s confident he’ll finish off the 38-year-old wily veteran even though Witter, the former WBC light welterweight champion, has never been stopped in 48 fights.

“Witter’s had a good career, he’s won the world title, plus Commonwealth, European and British titles, but I believe that this will finally be the end of the road for him when I take that Lonsdale belt from him. Full credit to him for turning back the clock to beat Colin Lynes and win the title, but I could have beaten Lynes. I’m going to give Witter the hardest night he’s ever had, I know that at his age and the amount of fight he’s had he hasn’t got the legs to be able to keep up with the pace and force I’m going to be setting and I’ll be looking to take him out from mid to late in the fight.” (more…)

Brunker focused on world title

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

WBO #3 featherweight Joel Brunker (24-0, 14 KOs) registered a sensational knockout over Carlos Fulgencio (19-8, 8 KOs) in Verona, New York on Saturday, which could see the hard punching Aussie featuring in more contests in America. Brunker’s manager, Angelo Di Carlo said “Joel looked great in stopping Carlos Fulgencio in round one last Saturday. It was a body shot that dropped him and he was down for five minutes. He had been the distance against rated Patrick Hyland in his previous fight and a few years ago went six rounds against Abner Mares. Brunker’s next fight will be on the undercard of the IBF/WBA middleweight title bout – Daniel Geale vs Anthony Mundine in January. We are interested in boxing the highly rated Filipino Rey Bautista. We are focused on a world title shot for Joel.”

Botha-Williams Update

A proposed boxing match between former world title challenger Frans Botha and rugby star Sonny Bill Williams could be in jeopardy. Botha and Williams are slated to meet in Brisbane, Australia on November 24, but Williams has sustained an injury last weekend that could torpedo the match. As a boxer the 27-year-old Williams, has compiled a 5-0, 3 KOs record since making his pro debut in 2009, while continuing his rugby career. He won the New Zealand heavyweight title in his last fight. The 44-year-old Botha is 48-8-3 with 29 KOs.

Guzman-Allakhverdiev signed

By Boxing Bob Newman

As previously reported by FightNews, former two-time WBO champion Joan Guzman and IBO Light Welterweight champ Khabib Allakhverdiev will tangle for the WBA “Regular” Super Lightweight title on November 30, in Fort Lauderdale, FL at the Bank Atlantic Center. Both fighters’ repreentatives involved- Vladimir Hrunov (Allakhverdiev) and Henry Rivalta of Aquinity Promotions (Guzman) presented the finalized contracts today at the WBA convention in Jakarta, Indonesia. The WBA is sanctioning the bout as former “regular” champ Marcos Maidana vacated to move to Welterweight and Danny Garcia is the “Super” champion after unifying his own WBC belt with that of WBA champ Amir Khan.

Montiel returns November 24

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Three-division world champion Fernando “Kochulito” Montiel (48-4-2, 37 KOs) will defend a WBC regional super bantamweight belt against Giovanni “Ruso” Caro (24-11-4, 19 KOs) on November 24 in the border city of Chihuahua in the Gimnasio Municipal Josue Neri Santos on an event presented by Promociones del Pueblo and Kochul Montiel. “I had a fight in Chihuahua this year and it went very well. The people here are great fans and the most knowledgeable in Mexico. I assure you the arena will be full and those attending will see a great show. For my part, I am preparing to defend this championship and return to large fight cards, but first I have to beat ‘Ruso’ Caro”, said Montiel.

Also on the card, super featherweight Alejandro “Flakita” Sanabria (33-1-1, 25 KOs) faces Nery “Pantera” Saguilan (24-2-1, 10 KOs) in a ten-rounder, super featherweight Abdiel “Mortero” Ramirez (14-1-1, 13 KOs) meets Eduardo “Chucky” Lazcano (24-3, 11 KOs) in a ten-rounder, and 2012 London Olympian Oscar Molina makes his pro debut.

Solis opponent named

Former world flyweight champion Ulises “Archi” Solis (34-2-3, 21 KOs) will face three-time title challenger holder Jesus “Azul” Iribe (22-7-5, 10 KOs) in his return to the ring this Saturday in the Centro de Usos Múltiples in Hermosillo, Mexico. Solis has been out of the ring for more than a year after an operation to repair a broken jaw. Solis claims his jaw was broken by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, but Canelo denies it was him.

The card will also feature the debut of Olympian Oscar Valdez.

Manny Pacquiao Wild Card workout

Photos: Chris Farina / Top Rank

Superstar Manny Pacquiao worked out today with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club as he opened camp in preparation for the upcoming fourth fight of his historic rivalry against three-division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Zanfer Promotions, Marquez Boxing, Tecate and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay Per View from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 8.

(more…)

Santa Cruz opponent named

Unbeaten in his last four fights, Mexico’s Victor “Nene” Zaleta (20-2-1, 10 KOs) will get the biggest opportunity of his career on November 10 when he faces unbeaten reigning world champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (21-0-1, 12 KOs) for his IBF Bantamweight World Championship in a co-featured attraction to the Abner Mares vs. Anselmo Moreno WBC super bantamweight world championship at Staples Center in Los Angeles. “I am so happy to be defending my title in front of a hometown crowd at Staples Center,” said Santa Cruz. “I feel like I can really conquer anyone after my fight in September against Eric Morel, so Zaleta had better come prepared.”

Ivan Calderon retires

Photo: Joel Colon/WBO

By Eliud Vazquez Torres

Ivan Calderon has called it quits today. After eleven years as a professional boxer, Calderon will no longer lace up a pair of gloves. “Iron Boy” first came on the scene as an amateur who represented Puerto Rico in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Three years later, Calderon would capture his first world title when he defeated Eduardo Ray Marquez for the WBO strawweight title. He went on defend that title eleven times before moving up in weight and defeating Hugo Fidel Cazares for the WBO junior flyweight championship.Calderon won his first 19 title fights including the Ring magazine junior flyweight belt before suffering his first defeat at the hands of Giovani Segura.

After an unsuccessful rematch with Segura, Calderon went back down to the strawweight limit. Earlier this month, he was unsuccessful in winning back his old belt back when he was stopped in five rounds against Moises Fuentes. This morning he officially announced his retirement at a new boxing gym built in Guaynabo, where the WBO held a “Kids Drug Free” program. The Guaynabo native will become a coach and the director of the new gym. (more…)

Adamek braced for Hurricane Sandy

Report and photo by Przemek Garczarczyk

“First round is for Sandy because it stopped me from my first day of training camp and Roger Bloodworth can’t join me because all the flights to the East Coast are cancelled. But I will fight her…” – said heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek (47-2, 29 KOs), who lives in the epicenter of Hurricane Sandy’s predicted landing in New Jersey and have to postpone his first training day before December 22 showdown in Bethlehem against Steve Cunningham (25-4, 12 KOs). Fightnews.com spoke with Adamek, who said that his family, wife and two daughters, are safe. (more…)

Dominican boxing controversy

By Robert Coster

At the ongoing WBO Convention, Luis Perez, in charge of WBO rankings, denounced the fact that the Dominican Republic is being used by Puerto Rican managers to pad the record of their boxers, pitting Puerto Ricans against local Dominican fighters with losing records and many of them with no victories at all. “Those same managers then try to have their boxers ranked in the WBO on the basis of these misleading and distorted results, fighting 2-3 times within 15 days,” stated Perez. For his part, former WBO President Ramon Pina Acevedo, himself Dominican, called the present situation “shameful”, “tainting the good name of Dominican boxing.”

Answering these allegations was Dominican promoter Jose Rafael Lantigua, President of Domini Boxing Promotions, who described the declarations of Pina Acevedo as the result of misinformation. “I would not want to have a revered figure like Pina Acevedo being used by unscrupulous elements. We have internationalized the Dominican boxing scene and there is nothing wrong with having Puerto Rican and Cuban prospects fight here. Prospects are brought along by fighting journeyman boxers — nothing new about that.” (more…)

Rahimi, Mbewla make weight

Photo: Team “Fight 4 Peace”

Both fighters made weight for Tuesday’s “Fight 4 Peace” in Kabul, Afganistan, the first professional boxing match in that country’s history. Local favorite Hamid Rahimi (20-1, 9 KOs) weighed in at 159.6 lbs and Said Mbelwa (19-8-4, 12 KOs) from Tanzania weighed 159.8. The WBO has officially sanctioned the bout as the WBO Intercontinental ‘Peace’ Championhip with the winner getting a spot in the top 15 middleweight world rankings.

Mbewla: I’ve said it before, and I say it again: the ‘Fight 4 Peace’ sends an important message, and I have great respect for Hamid Rahimi and his team for organizing this great event. But once the bell sounds, that will end. They’ve brought in the wrong man. I will knock Rahimi out.

Rahimi: What we’ve done here is unique. There is so much positive energy in Kabul and throughout Afghanistan that I feel I can’t lose. I’m going to get the win for my people and my country. But more important is the message of the’Fight 4 Peace’ to the world: Afghanistan is not synonymous with war and terrorism. If we can stand together to put on this event, then we can also send a message of peace, freedom and hope.

WBA Convention: Day One

Photos and story by Boxing Bob Newman

Opening day meetings of the WBA 91st Annual Convention commenced on Monday, October 19th at the Sultan Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, after arrivals of the directorate and many delegates over the weekend. President Gilberto Mendoza and Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza opened the meetings with a review of the agenda for this convention and minutes from the 90th convention in Donetsk, Ukraine. The day closed with the opening ceremony and banquet in the Golden Ballroom of the Sultan.

Several committee appointments were made and tasks assigned. WBA treasurer was assigned to report on the WBA insurance program for boxers.

The WBA Medical Seminar magazine made its return after a several year absence.

Also, the WBA KO Drugs review magazine was distributed. The WBA KO Drugs program has been active since it’s inception in Maracay, Venezuela in 1988.

WBA legal counsel Robert Mack will issue a report on scoring margins. (more…)

Cleverly ready to fight (someone)

Unbeaten WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly spoke to the media today at the Peacock Gym in London before he heads off to the US for his world title defence on Saturday 10th November at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. The champion is waiting to hear if he will be still be facing unbeaten Ryan Coyne who heads to court on November 1 to allow him to fight or there are three other potential challengers on standby. “All this last minute drama seems to be the norm for me so I just take it in my stride now,” said Cleverly. “Actually I’ve got a bit of notice this time, Juergen Brahmer pulled out last year with only 48 hours notice and in stepped Aleksy Kuziemski and I dealt with him. With still over a week to go until my fight that’s plenty of time to prepare for a new challenger if it’s not Coyne. I’m quite chilled out about it, my training has gone perfect so there are no worries there and I’m fit and ready to fight.”

Fedosov-Moore on Nov 21

Promoter Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing will continue his yearly tradition of doing a boxing event on Thanksgiving Eve with his final “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” installment of the year on November 21, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. In the night’s eight-round main event, heavyweight Andrey Fedosov (22-2, 18 KOs) will face comebacking “Rockin” Rodney Moore (17-6-2, 7 KOs). Also scheduled are a couple of undefeated area cruiserweights who love to mix it up, as Dimar “Strongman” Ortuz (5-0, 3 KOs) will face Terry Martin (5-0, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder. In other notable bouts middleweight slugger Donatas Bondorovas (15-3-1, 4 KOs) will take on “King” David Thomas (10-2-2, 8 KOs), while super middleweight prospect Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (7-0, 4 KOs), and Pacquiao sparring partner Abdulai “The Classiq” Amidu (20-0, 17 KOs) will face TBAs. Twelve bouts in all.
The Horseshoe Casino is just 20 minutes from Downtown Chicago. Tickets are priced at $90 Ringside & $40 Orchestra and available at all Ticketmaster outlets.

EBU Ring Officials seminar in Rome

More than 70 ring officials from 20 different European countries and the members of the board of directors have attended the seminar at the CONI center in Rome last October 13. Experienced Referees and Judges had the opportunity to share their knowledge with their younger colleagues. At the end of the day, Dr. Mario Sturla gave some interesting information concerning cuts and injuries. To enable everybody to follow the discussions there was simultaneous translation in 5 different languages.

WBC 105lb champ Fujioka defeats Argueta

By Joe Koizumi

Unbeaten Japanese Naoko Fujioka (9-0, 5 KOs), 104.75, kept her WBC female strawweight belt as she twice dropped previously unbeaten game and gallant Mexican national champ Victoria Argueta (11-1, 4 KOs), 105, and pounded out a unanimous decision over ten hard-fought rounds on Sunday in Osaki, Japan. Official tallies: Nopparat Sricharoen (Thailand) 98-90, Katsuhiko Nakamura (Japan) 98-90 and Yuji Fukuchi (Japan) 99-90, all in favor of the hard-hitting champ. The referee was Suehiro Tsuchiya (Japan).

Fujioka, one of the best current female world champs out of Japan, fully displayed her hard-hitting ability as she decked Argueta with solid shots in the third and seventh rounds. Argueta attempted to score with roundhouse left hooks, but the champ’s elusiveness averted the challenger’s wild rallies but landed solid long blows to the Mexican’s face all the way. Argueta’s durability and gameness also won the praise of the well-packed crowd. (more…)

Remembering Emanuel Steward

By Lindy Lindell
Photos: Bob Ryder

Prologue: Without Emanuel Steward, there would have been no Thomas Hearns; without Thomas Hearns AND Emanuel Steward, there would have been no Kronk. Just that simple.

The night Jimmy Paul got knocked out in Cobo Hall, Emanuel Steward decided to bury the hatchet with this journalist. I tell people that while Emanuel really isn’t a reader, he reads every word I write about him and his fighters.

What brought about the rift between us was a piece I had written for an obscure bowling publication, a tabloid newspaper out of Grand Rapids. Bill Chrisman had convinced the editor that he could fill a whole page twice a month on boxing activity in the state of Michigan. This was in the early-1980s, when activity was such that this was possible. I had seen almost all of the 100 or so professional boxers in Michigan in action and suggested to Chrisman the idea of doing an alphabetical listing of every fighter and a cogent comment about each. Some of the comments I made were well within the “smarty-pants” category. About heavyweight Dion Simpson, I said, “Grunts well, conveying the advent of his attacks with a basso profundo yelp announcing that a punch was on its way.”

The article had been printed and one day shortly thereafter I picked up the phone hearing laughter. It was Emanuel Steward: “I’m just sitting here reading your comments, and (more laughter) …” Steward went on to dominate the conversation, as he tended to dominate most of the conversations he was in, finally concluding with, “Keep up the good work.” (more…)