Monthly Archives: August 2013

‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley to meet with fans at Friday’s Showtime card in Indio

Posted on by
Reply

“Sugar” Shane Mosley of Pomona will be on hand Friday at a Golden Boy Promotions card at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, and he will sign autographs from 6 to 7 p.m. inside the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center. Those with a ticket to the fight will have this opportunity.

Mosley, 41, recently came out of a 1-year retirement and won a unanimous, yet narrow decision over Pablo Cesar Cano in May in Cano’s native Mexico.

Mosley, 47-8-1 with 39 knockouts, has won titles in three weight classes and he is expected to be a first-ballot selection into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. But that can’t happen until he’s been retired for five years, and he’s still going.

Friday’s main event will see heavyweight Deontay Wilder (28-8, 28 KOs) trying to keep his knockout streak alive when he takes on former champion Sergei Liakhovich (25-5, 16 KOs) of Belarus in a fight to be televised by Showtime.

Tickets for the event are priced at $25, $35 and $45. They can be purchased by calling 800-827-2946, or by going online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

 

 

 

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Manny Pacquiao agrees to do Olympic-style testing with VADA, but …

Posted on by
Reply

According to Fred Sternberg, a spokesman working the Nov. 23 fight in China between Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios (on HBO pay-per-view), the two fighters agreed months ago to do Olympic-style drug-testing under the umbrella of the Volunteer Anti-Doping Association.

A story that appeared Wednesday on YahooSports.com reported that Pacquiao signed the contract for that testing Wednesday.

When Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao first began negotiations for a fight between themselves some 3 1/2 years ago – a fight that has not happened – this is the type of random testing Mayweather wanted Pacquiao to do as it is considered more extensive than the basic testing typically done by boxing commissions.

Although Pacquiao later agreed to do the testing, his initial refusal put a cloud of suspicion over him regarding possible steroid use because he had moved up so many weight classes and still retained his power.

The testing for this fight is a good thing, but even if all his tests return clean, there will still be those out there wondering if Pacquiao was clean three years ago.

Pacquiao has never tested positive for steroids.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Deontay Wilder, 6-foot-7 heavyweight, might be America’s next hope

Posted on by
Reply

Let’s face it, there hasn’t been much to cheer about in recent times when it comes to American heavyweights. Deontay Wilder gives the U.S. hope.

Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is 27. He is 6-foot-7 and is 28-0 with 28 knockouts. That is not a misprint. He has knocked out everyone he has fought, including 16 in the first round. Wilder stopped Audley Harrison in the first round in his most recent start in April. Not that Harrison is all that, but when a guy has knocked out 28 consecutive opponents, he’s worth a long look.

Wilder on Friday will take on former champion Sergei Liakhovich (25-5, 16 KOs) of Belarus in the main event at Fantasy Springs Casino (on Showtime).

Wilder is nicknamed “The Bronze Bomber.” He is ranked in the top 10 by two of the four major governing bodies.

 

 

 

 

 

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Ishe Smith honored by police department as first Las Vegas-born world champion

Posted on by
Reply

Ishe Smith of Las Vegas on Feb. 23 realized a lifelong dream of becoming a world champion when he won a major junior middleweight belt with a majority decision over Cornelius Bundrage in Detroit. Smith on Monday was honored by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for becoming the first Las Vegas-born world champion.

“In my wildest dreams I would have never thought I would see the day when Las Vegas, my city and my hometown, would recognize my work and efforts to make this city proud.” Smith said during the presentation. “I am humbled and extremely touched by the proclamation I received today. I would like to thank my fans and family for all of their unconditional love and support. I am cognizant that all of this wouldn’t be possible without the help of my trainers and the opportunities I’ve been afforded by the Mayweather Promotions family.”

Smith, 35, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions.

Smith, 25-5 with 11 knockouts, will make the first defense of his belt when he takes on Carlos Molina (21-5-2, 6 KOs) of Chicago on Sept. 14 on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view).

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Glendale’s Gabriel Tolmajyan looking to move up the rankings ladder

Posted on by
Reply

Gabriel Tolmajyan of Glendale in April scored a mild upset of Jorge Maysonet Jr. Tolmajyan is hopeful he can keep it going with a victory Friday over Jose Pedraza of Puerto Rico at Morongo Casino Resort in Cabazon (on ESPN2).

“I can’t even describe how badly I want this,” said Tolmajyan, 27. “I feel like this is my opportunity to move up the rankings and solidify my status as one of the best in the (super featherweight) division. This is my time and I know that in this sport you don’t get many, so my plan is to come out and leave it all in the ring.”

The 24-year-old Pedraza (13-0, 9 KOs) is undefeated, just like fellow Puerto Rican Maysonet was before he was upset by Tolmajyan.

Tolmajyan is 14-2-1 with three knockouts.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Former world champion Ana Julaton to face Celina Salazar in Mexico

Posted on by
Reply

Ana Julaton, a former two-time super bantamweight champion from San Francisco, will take on Celina Salazar of San Antonio in a 10-round featherweight bout Aug. 17 in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico (on Televisa).

Julaton, 33, hasn’t fought since Aug. 3, 2012, when she stopped Abigail Ramos in the first round in Mexico. That was Julaton’s third fight of 2012, during which she went 2-1. In her first bout of the year, she lost her world title to Yesica Patricia Marcos via unanimous decision in Argentina. Julaton is 12-3-1 with two knockouts.

Salazar, just 24, has had only seven pro bouts and is 4-1-2 with one knockout. She’s coming off a majority-decision loss to tough Melinda Cooper this past September in Las Vegas.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Brandon Rios speaking in confident tones about upcoming fight with Pacquiao

Posted on by
Reply

Brandon Rios will be in the biggest fight of his career when he takes on Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 23 at Venetian Resort in Macao, China (on HBO pay-per-view). During the current press tour promoting the event, Rios has been bold.

For example, he believes he is more dangerous than Juan Manuel Marquez, who shocked the world when he viciously knocked out Pacquiao in the sixth round of their fight this past December in Las Vegas.

“I think I hit harder than Marquez, so the pressure will be on Manny right away,” said Rios, the former lightweight world champion from Oxnard. “Manny hits hard, has a lot of speed and movement – but nothing I cannot handle.”

Rios also suggested he is the future of Top Rank Inc., which promotes Rios and Pacquiao.

“I want to be Top Rank’s new big star,” Rios, 27, said. “I am younger, I can trade and take a shot, and I want the kind of money Manny makes.”

Who doesn’t?

Rios is 31-1-1 with three knockouts. Pacquiao, 34, is 54-5-2 with 38 knockouts.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Javier Fortuna, Luis Franco fight to draw in strangely scored bout

Posted on by
Reply

Featherweight contender Javier Fortuna of the Dominican Republic and Luis Franco of Miami, Fla. via Cuba fought to a 10-round draw on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

It was another case of weird scoring. Judge David Sutherland scored it 95-95, with Jerry Griffin giving it to Fortuna 96-94. The third judge – Chris Ritter – had Franco winning 99-91. That’s a 10-point differential between the cards of Ritter and Griffin.

Fortuna, 24, is 22-0-1 with 16 knockouts. Franco, 31, is 11-1-1 with seven knockouts.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail

Mike Alvarado, Ruslan Provodnikov a done deal for Oct. 19 in Denver

Posted on by
Reply

Mike Alvarado of Denver and Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia will square off in a junior welterweight title fight Oct. 19 at First Bank Center in Denver (on HBO), YahooSports.com and BoxingScene.com reported Thursday.

This could be a good one. Alvarado’s past two fights were against Brandon Rios. Rios stopped Alvarado in the seventh round of a slugfest in October at Home Depot Center. Alvarado boxed more in their rematch in March in Las Vegas and came away with a unanimous decision.

Provodnikov most recently engaged welterweight champion Timothy Bradley in a barnburner at Home Depot Center in March, Bradley getting a narrow decision.

Alvarado, 33, is 34-1 with 23 knockouts. Provodnikov, 29, is 22-2 with 15 knockouts.

The event is being promoted by Top Rank Inc.

Twitter Facebook Pinterest Reddit Tumblr Email Snailmail