Dzinziruk: I will systematically break down Vera

Southpaw middleweight contender Sergiy Dzinziruk is preparing for his January 25th contest against hardnosed Texan Brian Vera on ESPN 2′s Friday Night Fights. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds at the middleweight limit and will be televised live from the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. A win over the gritty Vera could mean big things for Dzinziruk as he looks to put himself in position for a world title opportunity.

Dzinziruk defeated Daniel Santos in 2005 to win the WBO junior middleweight championship, a title he successfully defended 6 times. The former junior middleweight champion from the Ukraine by way of Hamburg, Germany will be looking to impress in front of a national audience, using his high level boxing ability to out maneuver his opponent Vera, a fighter with a more brute style.

“I’ve been working very hard in the gym, but specifically I’ve been working at getting the most out of my natural abilities. I have all the tools needed to become the very best and being aware in the ring doesn’t just come from the defensive side of things, you have to know your limits and capabilities offensively and be willing to push yourself further each time,” Dzinziruk said. (more…)

Jhonny Gonzalez Update

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Former two-division world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (52-8, 45 KOs) could reappear on February 23 in Mexico. Word is the opponent would be Nicaraguan Eusebio Osejo (21-12-2, 7 KOs) and the bout could be a twelve round featherweight contest for a WBC regional title. Gonzalez would make his return fight after his technical decision loss to Daniel Ponce De Leon on September 15 in Las Vegas. Gonzalez has been training about a month with his Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain at Romanza Gym in Mexico City. Jhonny hopes to faces the winner of Velez-Ponce De Leon the near future.

Geale backed for $20,000

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

There has been massive betting on the Daniel Geale-Anthony Mundine IBF middleweight title bout scheduled for January 30 in Sydney with one Aussie punter backing Geale to win with a bet of AUD$20,000. Geale is the hot favourite at $1.33 with Mundine at $3.25. The TAB betting agency said they expect the Geale-Mundine to generate a similar amount of money to the Green-Mundine that currently holds the record of AUD$4 million.

Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech said, “The only way Mundine can beat Geale is by knockout. And if he can’t, it’s time to give it away. This is Anthony’s last chance. He’s got to take risks and knock Geale out.”

Mundine is confident he will win by KO when he said. “This fight is about power. I know what I’ve got to do to win this fight and I’ll do it. I’m as fast as ever and I’m confident as ever. A lot of people will be shocked by what I am going to do. I rise to the occasion every time I’m put on the big stage and I’m going to do it again on January 30!”

Geale’s manager Bill Treacy said “Geale has the skills to defeat Mundine even if he brings his very best to the ring. Geale will show in 2013 he is the best middleweight in the world and that includes Sergio Martinez and Gennady Golovkin!”

Salido plans move to super featherweight

Already resting at his home in Ciudad Obregon, the now ex-world featherweight champion Orlando “Siri” Salido discussed what happened in New York’s Madison Square Garden, where she lost his title by technical decision in eight rounds to Mikey Garcia after having visited the canvas four times.

“It was a bad night, I was surprised in the first round and I couldn’t recover…I finally found my rhythm and distance and started connecting better and then came the headbutt that ended the fight. I feel that the best rounds for me had just come. I showed it the seventh round, but that’s boxing. I was well prepared and Garcia was better than me that night. I regret that headbutt. It was completely accidental, I went forward, I was attacking him and unfortunately we hit, but I reiterate that if the fight had continued I was going to dominate him in the last few rounds. I felt that his performance was going down and mine was going up.”

Salido says he plans to return in a ten rounder May as a super featherweight in Hermosillo or Ciudad Obregon, and then in September challenge WBO champion Rocky Martinez.

Boxing back in Philly Saturday

Boxing returns to Harrahs Philadelphia Saturday as a mammoth 12 bout card. This will be the tenth show that Joey “Eye” Intrieri’s Joey Eye Boxing Promotions and David Feldman have put on in Harrahs Philadelphia and celebrates the two year anniversary of the duo’s partnership with the casino. In the six round main event, Victor Vasquez (15-7-1, 7 KOs) will be making his 6th appearance at Harrahs when he takes on Esteban Rodriguez (6-4-1, 1 KO) of Lebanon, PA in a lightweight bout. (more…)

Garcia-Salido Ringside Report and Photo Gallery

Ringside Report: Matt Richardson
Photos: Ray Bailey

It may not have been the flawless crowning of a star many anticipated. But it sure was close. In a thorough, but ultimately anti-climactic, featherweight championship bout, Miguel Angel “Mikey” Garcia dominated Orlando Salido to secure an eighth round unanimous technical decision after the fight was stopped due to an injury Garcia sustained to his nose from an accidental head butt. Scores were lopsided for the new champion: 79-70 and 79-69 (twice) at the time of the stoppage. Click here for full report and GIANT photo gallery…

Boxing Buzz

With the passing of Emanuel Steward, what’s the future hold in store for the legendary Kronk Boxing Gym in Detroit? Johnathan Banks and Javan Hill talk about the gym’s future on a video by local TV station WXYZ. |more|

Congrats to Ricky Hatton, who will soon be a three-time dad. The Hitman and his lady, Jennifer Dooley, are expecting, according to Hatton’s recent tweets.

South African lightweight champ Viwe Mdletyeni may be stripped of his title by the South African boxing commission if he comes up dirty on a doping offense for methlyhexaneamine and furosemide. |more|

Trainer Jack Loew recalls the good times he’s had with former middleweight king Kelly Pavlik, who surprised the press last week with his retirement announcement. Read more in The Plain Dealer

Trainer and former great Jeff Fenech is telling the press Down Under that if Anthony Mundine can’t knock out Daniel Geale, in next week’s grudge match, he should retire. |More|

Dallas: I’m just going to be smart and fast

World-rated light welterweight Mike Dallas Jr. (19-2-1, 8 KOs) is geared up for what will be the biggest and most emotional fight of his professional career as he takes on interim WBC Light Welterweight Champion Lucas Matthysse (32-2, 30 KOs) on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The upcoming fight will be a monumental one in Dallas’ career and personal life, as it will be his chance of achieving his goal of obtaining a title belt, but also his first bout since losing his father to leukemia last November.

“This fight means a lot to me,” the 26-year-old boxer said. “It’s the biggest fight I’ve had. If I win this fight, it takes me to another level.” Dallas has dedicated the bout to his late father, Mike Dallas, Sr. He has been gruelingly training with Virgil Hunter to prepare for the 30-year-old Matthysse, who has scored KOs in 30 of his 32 wins. “I’m just going to be myself and box and take advantage of openings,” said Dallas. “I’ll do what I’ve been taught to do and force him to have to make the adjustments as the fight goes on. I’m just going to be smart and fast.”

Jorge Linares Update

By Gabriel F. Cordero

A source has told Fightnews.com that Cuban trainer Ismael Salas will be the new trainer of Venezuelan former two-division world champion Jorge Linares. This would be the fifth trainer in the career of Linares. Salas, who would replace Hall of Famer trainer Freddie Roach, has been on the corner of Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Erislandy Lara among others. Apparently Linares will train in Las Vegas for his return bout scheduled for March 16 in Panama City.

New opponent for Luis

Rising junior welterweight Tony “Lighting” Luis (15-0, 7 KOs), will now face veteran Jose “Loco” Hernandez (13-6-1, 5 KOs) on Friday’s ESPN Friday Night Fights at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY. The quick-handed Canadian’s original foe Miguel Gonzalez withdrew, citing an illness and opening the door for Hernandez. “Jose Hernandez is a very difficult opponent and there’s a reason he’s never been in a rematch,” said Luis’ promoter Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions. “To be honest, I think he’s tougher than Gonzalez and Tony will definitely be tested, but I expect him to pass with flying colors. I think Tony’s the real deal and this is the next step on his journey to be a world champion.”

The card will be headlined by a 12 round main event, as NABO titleholder Brian Vera (21-6-0, 12 KOs) defends against former WBO junior middleweight world champion Sergiy Dzinziruk (37-1-1, 24 KOs). Current WBA junior middleweight world champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout will be in attendance as a special guest.

Johnathon Banks breaking the mold with his double duty lifestyle

Report and photo by John DiSanto
Philly Boxing History (.com)

World-ranked heavyweight contender Johnathon Banks, 29-1-1, 19 KOs, of Detroit, MI, hosted a media luncheon at Harrington’s Bar & Grille, in New York, a few hours before the big Madison Square Garden championship boxing tripleheader Saturday. Banks, also the head trainer for heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, was anxious to discuss his upcoming rematch with Seth Mitchell (Saturday, February 16th on HBO), but it became clear that preparing for this important fight is just part of Banks’ very full career schedule.

In addition to working his way up the heavyweight ladder, Banks has taken on responsibilities as heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko’s head trainer. A long-time sparring partner of Wladimir’s, and a product of the legendary Kronk Boxing Gym and trainer Emanuel Steward, Banks stepped into the role as the champ’s trainer in the immediate aftermath of Steward’s recent death. Knowing the Steward training philosophies cold, and being so familiar with Klitschko, after eight years as his primary sparring mate, Banks was the obvious choice as a fast fill-in.

However, there is no plan to change things in Klitschko’s corner, as both Banks and Klitschko like the way things are working. (more…)

Sturm-Soliman IBF Officials

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

The officials that have been selected to officiate the IBF middleweight voluntary elimination fight for the mandatory position between IBF #1 Sam Soliman and IBF#3 Felix Sturm on February 1st at the ISS Dome in Dusseldorf, Germany are:

Supervisor: Lindsey Tucker (USA)
Referee: Mark Nelson (USA)
Judge: Howard Foster (England)
Judge: Mickey Vann (England)
Judge: Steve Weisfeld (USA)

Burgos camp demands a rematch

On the heels of Saturday night’s WBO super featherweight title bout that saw defending champion Rocky Martinez retain his title via a controversial draw against Juan Carlos Burgos, Burgos’ promoters are filing a request to the WBO for an immediate rematch. Before the scores were announced, the HBO broadcast team called into question the judges selected for the bout, with Max Kellerman saying “Keep your eye on Paolillo,” before the scores were even announced. Judge Waleska Roldan scored in favor of Burgos by a tally of 117-111, judge Tony Paolillo scored for Martinez 116-112 and John Signorile scored the fight even at 114-114. The official punch stats showed a 286-193 advantage for Burgos with a 234-164 tally on power punches.

Burns sparring with former challenger

WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns has linked up with his former challenger Andreas Evensen to prepare for his big unification showdown. The Scotsman was in training camp with Evensen at his gym in Trondheim, Norway, last week as he gets ready to face IBF Word Champion Miguel Vazquez at Wembley Arena on March 16. Burns beat Evensen over 12 rounds back in April 2010 to make the first defence of his WBO World Super-Featherweight title, but Evensen asked Burns to come and help with his fight against Alexander Miskirtchian for the European featherweight title next month in Denmark. Stablemates John Simpson, the Celtic Super-Featherweight Champion, and unbeaten middleweight prospect David Brophy, also joined Burns on the trip. (more…)

Report/gallery: Garcia vs. Yusobov

Ringside report by Gerardo Martinez
Photos by Jose Leon Castillo III

In boxing, as in any sport, it’s pretty difficult to lose when you have homefield advanage. On Saturday night in Ignacio, Colo., longtime Four Corners favorite Elco “The Animal” Garcia (27-8, 11 KOs) may have looked lathargic at certain points during his junior middleweight contest against the aggressive Rahman Yusubov (9-10, 4 KOs), but the cheers of the crowd of over 800 helped keep him going.

“If I would’ve lost, I would have retired,” stated the 41-year-old Garcia, after defeating his opponent by seventh round TKO at 2:13 of the round in what was the main event of a Prize Fight Boxing card at the Sky Ute Casino Event Center . . . Click here for more

Rakoczy takes on Velez Jan. 24

By Chris Morris/RockyMountainBoxing.com

HD Boxing will headline a female title fight on their next show, Thursday January 24th at the Coca-Cola Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The OKC Charity Fight Night is a black tie benefit show complete with dinner, cocktails, stogies, auctions and entertainment hosted by none other than ring legend Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini. Local boxing contender and reigning USBA champion ‘Kid’ Carson Jones will be in attendance as well. The Police Athletic League benefit is already completely sold out.

In the main event, Jessica Rakoczy (32-3, 12 KOs) will take on Ada Velez (20-4-3, 6 KOs) for the WIBA super bantamweight title. (more…)

Boxing Buzz

Twenty-two-year-old Steve Geffrard is looking to turn pro, after nine years in the amateur ranks. The Boca Raton, Florida, resident has inked a deal with Golden Boy Promotions and is looking at his debut in March.

Pro boxing returns to Boston’s Causeway Street next weekend with a local match-up between Danny O’Connor and Derek Silveira in a ten-round showdown. For the full story in the Boston Globe, click here.

Former WBC flyweight champion Malcolm Tunacao, of the Philippines, will go after a second title on April 8 in Tokyo, when he takes on Japan’s Shinsuke Yamanaka.

Heavyweight Manuel Charr will defend his WBC Silver International belt on February 22 in Galati, Romania against Yakup Saglam.

Jesus Soto-Karass ready to deliver action

By Miguel Maravilla
Photo: German Villasenor/Team Soto-Karass

Welterweight contender Jesus Soto-Karass (26-8-3, 17 KOs) is ready for his upcoming bout on Saturday against Turkish hardman Selcuk “Mini-Tyson” Aydin (23-1, 17KOs). Soto Karass looks in top shape and ready, spending the last two months staying active in the gym working out at the Ponce de Leon Boxing Club in Montebello, California. “We have made a few adjustments in this camp working on different routines, more movement in the ring here and I am very comfortable with the adjustments we have made,” Soto-Karass told Fightnews.com.

Soto-Karass is coming off an eighth round TKO loss at the hands of Marcos Maidana back in September. In an action packed fight as they both exchanged throughout the fight. “It was great fight, a war against Maidana unfortunately I lost that fight but that is boxing. Time to move on and now I am ready to take on Selcuk Aydin.” (more…)

Q&A: Dave Stanley, manager of Sam Soliman

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

Fightnews talks to Sam Soliman’s manager Dave Stanley, who says the February 1 Sturm vs. Soliman fight is a fascinating matchup and that Sam was given an offer he couldn’t refuse to fight Sturm. Stanley also says he has a high opinion of Anthony Mundine, but picks Daniel Geale to stop him on January 30.

Fightnews: Under your management Sam Soliman has registered three of his best ever wins which are Eromosele Albert, Garth Wood and Giovanni Lorenzo. Is Sam ready to beat Felix Sturm on February 1 in Duselldorf, Germany?

Stanley: I took over as Sam’s manager after his last fight at super middleweight against Anthony Mundine. We came to an agreement he should be boxing at middleweight, which is his natural weight and since then has recorded seven wins with no losses. He has shown to me he is at the same level as Felix Sturm. This fight is a fascinating matchup. (more…)

Top Rank to sign Zhou Shi Ming

By Robert Coster

Zhou Shi Ming, one of the most outstanding amateur boxers ever, two times Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012), three times world amateur champion (2005, 2007, 2011) is set to be signed by Top Rank Boxing next week. Hall of Fame Promoter Bob Arum is flying to China today for the signing of the Chinese light flyweight amateur mega-star at a press conference to be held in Beijing on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Shi Ming would be expected make his pro debut on an April 6th Top Rank card on the island of Macau headlined by WBA/WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria defending his title against Juan Francisco Estrada.

Truax tops Vanda in a crowd-pleasing brawl

By Ben Tighe at ringside
Photos: Jesse Kelley

A sellout Twin Cities crowd was treated to an electrifying brawl between Caleb Truax and Matt Vanda, who had announced that whatever the outcome, this would be his farewell bout. “Golden” Caleb Truax (now 21-1-1 with 12 knockouts) took a unanimous decision from Matt “The Predator” Vanda (now 44-15 with 24 knockouts) at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Saturday night. Truax did his scoring with a volume of jabs and power punches from a variety of angles, while Vanda tried to win with rugged aggressiveness. Both men engaged in mauling, brawling tactics as the fight progressed. Vanda maintained his aggressiveness throughout and all but walked through many of Truax’s power shots, but Truax’s advantages of size, strength, and age began to tell by the middle rounds. Scores read 99-91 96-94, 97-93 for Truax. (more…)

Lartei Lartey upsets Anderson

By Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside

Undefeated welterweight Emanuel Lartei Lartey (14-0-1, 7KOs) stepped into the lion’s den and out-boxed hometown favorite Michael “Slick” Anderson (12-2-1, 10KOs to capture a hard earned ten round unanimous decision victory and the USCB regional championship belt at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday night. The seven bout card promoted by All Out Promotions had a little bit of everything for the six hundred plus in attendance, including an upset, split decisions, a nice knockouts. The card was match by “The Boxing Diva” Renee Aiken. (more…)

Perez to fight at home in Colorado

By Chris Morris/RockyMountainBoxing.com

Steve Mestas and Air Tight Boxing have announced their next fight card. “The Uprising” is set for February 22^nd at Red & Jerry’s in Sheridan, Colorado, located in south Denver.  Mestas has said he is looking to put on a marathon card with 10 fights. The main event will feature Manuel ‘Manny’ Perez (19-8-1, 4KOs) in an eight-rounder against an opponent TBA.  (more…)

IBF light heavyweight champ Tavoris Cloud fires long-time trainer Al Bonanni

By James Slater

Upon calling up veteran trainer Al Bonnani, the former Don King Productions’ right hand man, so as to speak with Tavoris Cloud ahead of the unbeaten 30-year-old IBF 175-pound champ’s upcoming March fight with Bernard Hopkins, I was informed by the fast-talking veteran that he is no longer with Cloud. “December 1st, Cloud called me and let me go,” Al said, seemingly still somewhat shocked, if far from bitter, over what happened.

“I still can’t really see why; I got him to 24-0 and he was never hurt. But Cloud said he wanted a new approach and he has gone with James Prince (CEO of Rap-a-Lot Records/boxing manager). I think he was frustrated at the [Jean] Pascal fight [falling through] and when he called me and fired me he was in a bad mood and he didn’t want to train or do anything. But he asked me if I was okay. I told him I don’t wish him any ill at all, even if I’m not happy at the way he treated me. (more…)

Geale to help fire victims

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing

IBF middleweight champion Daniel “Real Deal” Geale will take a day off training in Sydney to travel to Tasmania on Monday to offer words of support to the victims of the bush fires that has ravaged the state in the past week, despite his IBF title defense against Anthony “The Man” Mundine being only ten days away on January 30 in Sydney. Geale will also give out several signed boxing gloves. Geale is recognised as the greatest boxer produced from Tasmania and there are many feel that he will soon be recognized as the best Australia has produced if he defeats Mundine and then accounts for WBC champion Sergio Martinez and WBA champion Gennady Golovkin in 2013.

Garcia stops Yusubov at Sky Ute

Ringside by Gerardo Martinez
Photo by Jose Leon Castillo

The crowd of a little over 800 was on their feet for the main event at the Sky Ute Casino Events Center in Ignacio, Colo., to watch their hometown hero Elco “The Animal” Garcia (27-8, 11 KO’s) knock his opponent Rahman Yusubov (9-10, 4 KO’s) down twice en route to a seventh round TKO win at 2:13 of the round in the Prize Fight Boxing/Sky Ute card. On the undercard: Plano, TX fighter Tony Mack (3-0, 2 KO’s) won by TKO against Detroit’s Joseph Hill (6-2, 2 KO’s) at 0:49 seconds of the third round; Daniel Calzada (6-6-2, 1 KO) of Doña Ana, NM had a tough time against Kansas’ Joel Vargas (4-8-1, 4 KO’s), but got the unanimous decision win with scores of 55-58 and 54-59 twice; Albuquerque’s Angelo Leo (2-0) earned his second victory as a pro with a unanimous decision win against fellow Duke City fighter Julio Gomez (1-1) with scores of 40-36 and 39-37 times two; Dallas debuter Cory Richards (1-0) won by unanimous decision against Shiprock’s Steve Victor (1-2-1, 1 KO) with scores of 40-36 times three; Albuquerque’s Hector Sanchez (0-0-1) earned a draw against the tough Omar Quevedo (0-6-1) of Los Lunas with scores of 37-37 times three, after being dropped twice in the first round; Opening up the festivities was Henry Anaya III (1-2-1) who fought to a majority draw against Shiprock’s Zamir Young (0-1-1) with scores of 36-39 and 38-38 twice. Look for a full report and gallery later today.