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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Vacant Belt Up For Grabs In Ayala vs. Cardona Showdown At Mohegan Sun
By: Michael Parente
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 30, 2011) – Elvin Ayala – known affectionately as “The Pride of New Haven” – plans on beating crosstown rival Israel “Pito” Cardona of Hartford, Conn., so convincingly that Cardona’s fans might reconsider their allegiance.
“People from Hartford are going to want to move to New Haven,” Ayala quipped.
Truth is, there’s more than just hometown pride on the line when Ayala and Cardona lock horns Friday, July 29th, 2011 in the co-main event of “Heat Wave,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville; the two are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Council U.S. National Boxing Council (WBC USNBC) middleweight title, a championship formerly held by some of boxing’s elite fighters in various divisions, most notably former two-time world champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams (39-2, 27 KOs), who won the WBC USNBC welterweight title in 2006 and went on to capture the World Boxing Organization’s welterweight and light middleweight titles in 2007 and 2008, respectively; and former WBO light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KOs), who also won the WBC USNBC light welterweight title in ’06. The list of former and current WBC USNBC champions also includes Worcester, Mass., super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez (18-0, 13 KOs), Providence, R.I., light heavyweight Joey “K.O. Kid” Spina (26-1-2, 18 KOs), and current North American Boxing Organization (NABO) champion and No. 7-ranked lightweight John Molina Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs).
“I’m taking the belt home,” said Cardona, who hasn’t fought since losing to Hector Camacho Jr. in 2009.
“There’s no way he’s beating me. He’s going to have to kill me. I don’t talk [trash]. I don’t even know who he is. He could be a great guy, but when that bell rings it’s a different story.”
Neither fighter in next month’s co-main event is a stranger to boxing’s biggest stage; Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs) fought current World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham for a world title in 2008 while the 36-year-old Cardona (36-10, 28 KOs) is a former two-time world champion in the super featherweight and light welterweight divisions, winning the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super featherweight title in 1995 with a unanimous-decision victory over Jeff Mayweather, and then capturing the organization’s light welterweight belt two years later by knocking out Steve Larrimore in Connecticut.
“I feel like it’s, ‘Here we go again!’” Ayala said. “I’ve been in this position before, but now it’s time for me to prove myself. I know [Cardona] is an older guy, but he’s well experienced. He’s been a world champion, so I know he has a lot of experience. I don’t want to make any mistakes. I’ve been looking better with each fight so far, so I want to do even better this time.”
While Ayala, 30, is in the midst of what could be his final run at another world-title opportunity, Cardona is taking what will surely be his last shot at adding a fifth title to his own resume; in addition to the two world championships he won in the ‘90s, Cardona is also a former United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight champion.
Though the records show Cardona lost a unanimous decision to Paul Spadafora in 1999 for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title, Cardona maintains he’s never lost a world-title bout on a level playing field, pointing to Spadafora’s arrest in 2003 for shooting his pregnant girlfriend as proof that his opponent “was on something” at the time of the fight. Two years later, Spadafora plead guilty to drug use charges and served additional jail time, though no link has ever been made between his drug use outside of the ring and his career inside the squared circle.
“When you mess around with drugs … you do stupid [things],” Cardona said.
Cardona also questioned the integrity of the IBF, which absorbed a serious blow in 1999 when former president Bob Lee resigned in the wake of racketeering and bribery charges, and claims he was “robbed” of a potential third world title.
“That’s another story for another time,” Cardona said. “Right now, I’m getting another title shot and it’s made me 10 times more motivated. I don’t lose title fights. You want me to fight for a title? Hell yeah! I’m soaking wet right now; I just worked out. I’m very excited. This is going to be a war.
“Guess what? My experience is definitely going to be a factor. I’ve been there. I’ve been with the best. I’ve been where he hasn’t gone. Nothing he brings will be a surprise to me. It’s going to be a fight, and it’ll come down to whoever wants it more.”
These days, facing Ayala is no easy task regardless of age. Since signing a promotional contract with CES, Ayala is 3-0 in 2011, including back-to-back knockout wins over Joe Gardner (April 1) and George Armenta (May 6). Working with newly-hired trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. has had a positive impact on Ayala’s preparation for this upcoming bout as he looks to continue his climb to the top of the rankings in the middleweight division.
“Not only is he saying the right thing, but with the way I feel when he speaks to me, I absorb everything a lot better than if it were coming from the average Joe,” Ayala said. “I trust a lot of what he’s saying. I could literally go in there with a blindfold on and have him tell me what to do and I would still win the fight.”
Cardona’s recent record is somewhat deceiving; while he’s lost his last four fights, he’s done so against elite competition, including a knockout loss to red-hot welterweight prospect Mike Jones (25-0, 19 KOs) and a unanimous-decision loss to Camacho Jr. (53-4-1, 28 KOs) for the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation title. Ayala is ignoring the numbers and heeding the advice of his peers.
“I few people I spoke to who have sparred against him say you can hit him with everything and he keeps coming forward,” Ayala said. “I’m not looking for a knockout; I’m just going to finesse it and put my skills on display. I’ve got OK pop, but my main thing is boxing. The goal is to hit him and not get hit.”
The undercard of “Heat Wave” features undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach (24-0, 12 KOs) starring in the second half of the co-main event, along with Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (3-0, 3 KOs) facing Russ Niggemyer (2-2, 2 KOs) of Hilliard, Ohio; New Haven welterweight Edwin Soto (6-0-1, 2 KOs) battling Jose Duran (6-5-2, 3 KOs) of Sarasota, Fla.; undefeated heavyweight Artur Spzilka of Poland (5-0, 3 KOs) facing Tobias Rice (3-3, 2 KOs) of Macon, Ga., and New Bedford, Mass., welterweight Johnathan Vazquez (4-0, 3 KOs) taking on Augustine Maurus of Lawrence, Mass., in Maurus’ debut. Cruiserweight Jose Torres of Worcester, Mass., will also make his debut, and super middleweight Keith Kozlin (6-2, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Woonsocket’s Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round intrastate showdown. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Heat Wave,” priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. For more information on “Heat Wave,” visit www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Santiago Hoping Third Time’s The Charm For Shumenov Title Fight
‘Fire& Fury’ on Solo Boxeo Tecate show July 29 LIVE at South Point Hotel Casino, Las Vegas
By: Bob Trieger
“Fire & Fury” is being promoted by KZ Event Productions, which is owned and operated by the Shumenov brothers, Beibut and Chingis, in Las Vegas. Shumenov-Santiago is somewhat of a boxing anomaly, featuring a pair of college graduates in a world title fight.
WBA #15 ranked Santiago (31-4-1, 19 KOs), fighting out of Ocala, Florida, is a two-time world title challenger. His signature victory was a fourth-round technical knockout of 30-1 Elvir Muriqi. Santiago was also featured on the third season of The Contender reality television series.
The Bronx native who lives in Ocala (FL) has had two proposed fights fall out, including one against Roy Jones, Jr. “I promised myself and my family that I would continue boxing as long as I still enjoyed it,” the University of South Florida graduate (business & accounting major) explained. “I still do. I opened a business - a gym around boxing (Central Florida Boxing – www.centralfloridaboxing.com) –to have something to fall back on when I retire from boxing. It’s turned out be a great thing. I had those two fights fall through but things like that happen when you’re self-promoted. But I stayed in my gym, working hard, and now I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”
Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian who is now fighting out of Las Vegas, set a light heavyweight record for capturing a world title in the fewest career fights, 10, when (Jan. 10, 2010) he won a 12-round decision againstGabriel Campillo in Las Vegas. Shumenov has successfully defended his WBA/IBA titles twice against No. 1 mandatory challenger Viacheslav Uzelkov (UDEC12) and three-time world champion William Joppy (KO6) last January in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. In his 11 pro fights, Beibut has defeated four world champions (Campillo, Joppy, Byron Mitchell and Montell Griffin) and two world title challengers (Uzelkov and Epifanio Mendoza).
“I don’t know Beibut but he’s obviously a unique individual having already accomplished what he has in 11 pro fights,” Santiago remarked. “But this is a business and I will do what I have to do in the ring against him. Boxing is what we’ve both chosen to do. Fighting is easy; it’s everything else in this business that’s difficult. Dealing with his people, though, I can tell you, they’re as professional as any I’ve ever worked with in boxing. It may be surprising for me to say this but, they’re very honest, first-class people. Everything they’ve said has actually happened.”
Santiago has more professional ring experience than Shumenov by 10 years, 24 fights and 97 rounds. Danny has lost two world light heavyweight title fights, both in 2007, to Zsolt Erdei (WBO) and Antonio Tarver (IBO).
“I don’t really have very much of an experience advantage over him,” Danny added.”Don’t look past his Olympics experience, on the grandest stage, fighting the best in the world. I may have more pro fights than him but he’s fought the same class of fighters, pro and Olympians, as I have.
“I’m not trying to butter him up but Shumenov is very exciting, smart, and strong. And just look at him - he’s a ‘brick-house!’ I need to be in the best shape of my life for this fight to fulfill the dream I had as a kid that I now have as a grown adult (win a world title).”
“Fire & Fury” is being presented by KZ Event Productions in association with Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Promotions, Guilty Boxing, Solo Boxeo Tecate and South Point Hotel Casino.
Tickets, starting at $25.00, are available to purchase at South Point’s box office, on-line at http://www.southpointeventscenter.com/events.php, or by calling 1.702.797.8055.
Doors open at 5:30 PM/PT, first bout at 6:00 PM/PT, first TV bout at 8:30 PM/PT
Go on line to www.KZEventProductions.com for additional information about “Fire & Fury,” Shumenov or any of the KZEvent Productions fighters.
BRONX BATTLES FEATURED ON PUNCHIN' AT THE PARADISE 12 THURSDAY JULY 7TH
Star Boxing News
By: Kevin Rooney, Jr.
On Thursday July 7th, Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing returns to the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, for the latest installment of its popular, "Punchin at the Paradise" fight night series. The card will feature a number of exciting match-ups, including two separate fights that matches Bronx vs. Bronx, in a battle for neighborhood bragging rights. In addition to the pro fights featured on the card, there are also four amateur bouts scheduled to open up the show. The entire show will be broadcast live on GFL.TV
On Thursday July 7th, Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing returns to the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, for the latest installment of its popular, "Punchin at the Paradise" fight night series. The card will feature a number of exciting match-ups, including two separate fights that matches Bronx vs. Bronx, in a battle for neighborhood bragging rights. In addition to the pro fights featured on the card, there are also four amateur bouts scheduled to open up the show. The entire show will be broadcast live on GFL.TV
"Our goal, and our vision with the series, is to be able to build up boxing here in the Bronx. We have a tremendous venue with the Paradise Theater, and now by putting together exciting fights, that match Bronx Fighters vs. Bronx Fighters, we are confident we are well on our way to achieving that goal," stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing. "Back in the glory days of boxing, these were the type of fights and cards you saw all the time. You have one guy fighting out of one gym in the Bronx, who is going to bring all his friends and supporters, fighting another guy whose gym is just a neighborhood away who will have all his fans cheering him on as well. Not only does it make for exciting fights, but also for a great atmosphere and in my eyes that's what boxing is all about."
The first Bronx Battle of the night will see tough veterans, Stephon "The Mandingo Warrior" Owusu (7-6, 4KO's) (Bronxchester Boxing Club) and Angel "White Tiger" Rios (9-4, 6KO's) (John's Gym) go toe-to-toe in a six round welterweight showdown. Both Owusu and Rios, have similar stories, as both began their careers in the late 1990's (Owusu in 1998, Rios in 1999). Both ran into some legal trouble a few years later that put their respective careers on the sidelines.
Rios who has been out of the ring since 2003, has been in with some pretty good opposition, having went the distance with former WBO super featherweight Champion, Mike Achondo, as well as former IBF, WBA and WBO lightweight Champion, Nate Campell.
Owusu, who made his return to the ring back in May on the first Punchin at the Paradise card of 2011, looked very good as he won a dominate four round decision before a strong contingent of fans in his first bout since 2000. With both fighters knowing that they can't afford to have any additional hiccups in their careers, you can expect an all out war when the two meet on July 7th.
The second Bronx Battle matches former NY Golden Gloves Champion, Danny Valle (4-0, 3KO's) against former bitter amateur rival, and fellow NY Golden Gloves Champion, Angel Torres, in a six round super featherweight showdown. There is bad blood between Valle and Torres that stems from their amateur days. They have talked about fighting one another for years, and now they will finally get a chance to settle the score once and for all on July 7th.
Also scheduled to see action on the card in separate four round bouts is the Bronx's super middleweight, Michael Ocasio (1-0, 1KO) and Mount Vernon welterweight, Juan Perez.
Ocasio, who trains at the Morris Park Boxing Club, was a former baseball standout, and was on scholarship at the University of Miami before injuring his shoulder and forcing him away from the sport. Now Ocasio, who comes from a boxing background, is looking to see how far his athletic ability can take him in the fight game.
Doors open at 6:30PM, with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. Tickets are priced at $30, $50 and $100 and can be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office at 718 823-2000, visiting www.starboxing.com or simply by CLICKING HERE: Tickets can also be purchased by visiting the Paradise Theater box office, located at 2403 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY.
Marquez, Dapudong Face-To-Face
WBA NEWS
James “Bouie” Fisher June 1, 1928 – June 30, 2011
By: Alex Dombroff
On behalf of the Fisher family, it is with great sadness that DiBella Entertainment announces the passing of legendary boxing trainer, James “Bouie” Fisher. He was 83.
Fisher, best known for his work with Bernard Hopkins, was a mainstay in the Philadelphia boxing scene for decades. He won the 2001 Eddie Futch-John F.X. Condon Award, presented by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America annually to honor the year’s best trainer.
Fisher leaves behind his wife, Peggy; 8 children: Andre, Bernadette, Bernard, Cecilia, James, Josephine, Valerie, and Victoria; and 15 grand children.
DiBella Entertainment joins the boxing world in mourning the tragic loss of this great man. Please keep Bouie and the Fisher family in your prayers at this difficult time.
Memorial service arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
On behalf of the Fisher family, it is with great sadness that DiBella Entertainment announces the passing of legendary boxing trainer, James “Bouie” Fisher. He was 83.
Fisher, best known for his work with Bernard Hopkins, was a mainstay in the Philadelphia boxing scene for decades. He won the 2001 Eddie Futch-John F.X. Condon Award, presented by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America annually to honor the year’s best trainer.
Fisher leaves behind his wife, Peggy; 8 children: Andre, Bernadette, Bernard, Cecilia, James, Josephine, Valerie, and Victoria; and 15 grand children.
DiBella Entertainment joins the boxing world in mourning the tragic loss of this great man. Please keep Bouie and the Fisher family in your prayers at this difficult time.
Memorial service arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
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