Month: April 2005

2005: Marco Antonio Barrera Defends Title and more

LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2005 – It was a weekend to remember for Golden Boy Promotions, as not only did boxing superstar Marco Antonio Barrera defend his WBC super featherweight crown with a devastating second round knockout of number one contender Mzonke Fana, but two new world champions were crowned for the Golden Boy team. Last Friday night, at the Miccosukee Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida, Argentina’s Jorge Rodrigo Barrios stopped previously unbeaten Mike Anchondo in four one-sided rounds to win the WBO super featherweight crown. The very next night, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, Fernando Montiel was just as devastating, delighting boxing fans with a seventh round knockout of another previously unbeaten foe, Ivan “Choko” Hernandez, to earn the WBO super flyweight Read more [...]

Golden Boy Promotions salutes Jorge Rodrigo Barrios – Out Newest World Champ

LOS ANGELES,  Posted APR 13 – With a capacity crowd of his fellow Argentinean cheering him on at the Miccosukee Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios became the newest world champion on the Golden Boy Promotions roster Friday night, stopping Mike Anchondo in four rounds to win the WBO super featherweight crown. “Jorge Barrios is a true warrior and his performance against Mike Anchondo was explosive and exciting,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “This victory put the 130-pound division on notice that Jorge is here to stay, and we’re looking forward to more great things from him in the future.” Barrios, who was on the attack from the opening bell, sent the previously unbeaten champion to the canvas three times before Anchondo’s Read more [...]

Kenny Ellis Set For Ring return

(APR 13) Kenny Ellis (33-6-2, 22 KO) had to dig deep to find out if he would continue his boxing career after losing to Troy Rowland in June of 2004. Ellis took the fight on short notice knowing that he would need to win by knockout because of the ridiculous judging in Michigan. “We watched tape of Troy and felt like this was a great fight for Kenny” said Ellis’s promoter Brian Halquist. “Unfortunately, we found out two things: 1) Troy was a good fighter with a heart of gold and 2) Kenny can’t perform when he has to cut twelve pounds in twenty-four hours” Halquist said. Ellis lost fair and square to Rowland and Kenny would take this defeat harder than any of his career. For the next four months, Ellis stayed out of the gym, contemplating retirement. “I was kind of lost” Read more [...]

2005: Kenny Ellis Set For Ring return

(APR 13, 2005) Kenny Ellis (33-6-2, 22ko’s) had to dig deep to find out if he would continue his boxing career after losing to Troy Rowland in June of 2004. Ellis took the fight on short notice knowing that he would need to win by knockout because of the ridiculous judging in Michigan. “We watched tape of Troy and felt like this was a great fight for Kenny” said Ellis’s promoter Brian Halquist. “Unfortunately, we found out two things: 1) Troy was a good fighter with a heart of gold and 2) Kenny can’t perform when he has to cut twelve pounds in twenty-four hours” Halquist said. Ellis lost fair and square to Rowland and Kenny would take this defeat harder than any of his career. For the next four months, Ellis stayed out of the gym, contemplating retirement. “I was kind Read more [...]

2005: Golden Boy Promotions salutes Jorge Rodrigo Barrios – Out Newest World Champ

 LOS ANGELES,  Posted APR 13, 2005 – With a capacity crowd of his fellow Argentineans cheering him on at the Miccosukee Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios became the newest world champion on the Golden Boy Promotions roster Friday night, stopping Mike Anchondo in four rounds to win the WBO super featherweight crown. “Jorge Barrios is a true warrior and his performance against Mike Anchondo was explosive and exciting,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “This victory put the 130-pound division on notice that Jorge is here to stay, and we’re looking forward to more great things from him in the future.” Barrios, who was on the attack from the opening bell, sent the previously unbeaten champion to the canvas three times before Anchondo’s Read more [...]

Night of Honor Boxing Card – April 10, 2005

"Night of Honor" will be headlined by a lightweight ten rounder between Mexican contenders Jose Armando Santa Cruz, 18-0 (9KO's) of Lincoln Heights, CA and Omar Bernal, 25-6-3 (19KO's) of Mazatlan, Mexico. The co-main event features an eight round battle between welterweight prospects, Francisco Rincon, 9-1 (4KO's) of Coahuila, Mexico and Floyd Trumpet, 12-5-2 (6KO's) of Port of Spain, Trinidad. Also on the action packed card is a special feature attraction as hot prospect Jimmy Gonzalez, 1-0 (1KO) battles hard swinging Michael "The Midnight Stalker" Walker, 6-0 (4KO's) in a Chicagoland crosstown showdown. Additionally appearing on the card is local fan favorite Francisco Rodriguez, 2-0 (2KO's) in a scheduled four round bout. Fast rising super middleweight Ottu Holifield, 3-0 will Read more [...]

2005: “Night of Honor” will be headlined by Jose Armando Santa Cruz vs. Omar Bernal

 (APRIL 10, 2005) "Night of Honor" will be headlined by a lightweight ten rounder between Mexican contenders Jose Armando Santa Cruz, 18-0 (9KO's) of Lincoln Heights, CA and Omar Bernal, 25-6-3 (19KO's) of Mazatlan, Mexico. The co-main event features an eight round battle between welterweight prospects, Francisco Rincon, 9-1 (4KO's) of Coahuila, Mexico and Floyd Trumpet, 12-5-2 (6KO's) of Port of Spain, Trinidad. Also on the action packed card is a special feature attraction as hot prospect Jimmy Gonzalez, 1-0 (1KO) battles hard swinging Michael "The Midnight Stalker" Walker, 6-0 (4KO's) in a Chicagoland crosstown showdown. Additionally appearing on the card is local fan favorite Francisco Rodriguez, 2-0 (2KO's) in a scheduled four round bout. Fast rising super middleweight Ottu Holifield, Read more [...]

Not According to the Script Bernie McCoy

(APR 9) It was all set for the perfect Hollywood ending: Maureen Shea, as famous as the sparring partner for Hillary Swank during the actress' preparation for her starring role in "Million Dollar Baby" as she was as an up-and-coming amateur fighter, was in the finals of the New York Golden Gloves, one bout away from a title. Not only that, Shea, in a wonderful "back story", was a Irish fighter in a featured fight at Madison Square Garden, or the Theater at the Garden, where the Golden Gloves have been held in recent years. An Irish fighter featured at the Garden is a tradition going back, at the very least, to the 1940s and Billy Graham, the Greenwich Village welterweight, not the preacher. Hillary Swank, this year's Academy Award recipient for Best Actress, had jetted in for the fight Read more [...]

Winky Wright on N.E. Ringside Radio Show Plus Hauser & DeMarco Thursday night, April 7

(April 7, 2005)   World champion Ronald “Winky” Wright, along with award-winning author Thomas Hauser and former world welterweight champion Tony DeMarco, are this week’s special guests on New England Ringside Radio Show, Thursday night (6-8 PM) on WWZN 1510 The Zone. The two-hour New England Ringside Boxing Radio Show – hosted by Ted Bodenrader, Anthony Pepe, Rick Brutti and Joe Bills -- airs every Thursday night between 6-8 pm (ET) on Boston’s Boxing Station, The Zone (1510 AM), and also may be heard live on the Internet by going to newenglandringside.com. Wright (48-3, 25 KOs) will talk about his May 14 super fight versus Felix “Tito” Trinidad, as well as his career-changing victories against Shane Mosley. The shifty southpaw may also reminisce about, before defeating Mosley, Read more [...]

John Duddy rapidly climbing middleweight ladder

QUEENS, N.Y. (April 7, 2005) – Unbeaten Irish middleweight prospect John Duddy (9-0, 9 KOs) is on the fast track in the 160-pound division, especially after his electrifying, high-profile first-round knockout of previously undefeated Lenord Pierre (16-0, 11 KOs), rated No. 19 by the World Boxing Council, March 18 on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. ESPN in-studio analyst for the March 18 show from Foxwoods, “Irish” Micky Ward, among many others, is sold on Duddy. “He’s the real deal,” Ward said. “John can do it all – speed, power and a good chin. Now it’s all up to his management team as far as how fast they move him. He looked tremendous fighting an undefeated kid (Pierre). If they move him right, Duddy has a great future because this kid can really fight.” Duddy’s level Read more [...]

Mike Anchondo Loses Title on Scales!

LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2005 – Mike Anchondo became the former WBO super featherweight champion Thursday afternoon at the Miccosukee Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida, after weighing in 4 ½ pounds over the division limit of 130 pounds for his Friday night showdown with Argentina’s Jorge Rodrigo Barrios. Barrios, who weighed in at a lean and ready 128 pounds, has decided he will fight his larger opponent in the main event of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, and despite the title now being declared vacant, if “La Hiena” defeats Anchondo, he will be crowned the WBO super featherweight champion of the world. “I trained hard for this opportunity and I am going to win,” said Barrios. “I will not be denied.” Barrios will receive $30,000 from Anchondo’s purse in addition to his Read more [...]

2005 – John Duddy rapidly climbing middleweight ladder

 QUEENS, N.Y. (April 7, 2005) – Unbeaten Irish middleweight prospect John Duddy (9-0, 9 KOs) is on the fast track in the 160-pound division, especially after his electrifying, high-profile first-round knockout of previously undefeated Lenord Pierre (16-0, 11 KOs), rated No. 19 by the World Boxing Council, March 18 on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. ESPN in-studio analyst for the March 18 show from Foxwoods, “Irish” Micky Ward, among many others, is sold on Duddy. “He’s the real deal,” Ward said. “John can do it all – speed, power and a good chin. Now it’s all up to his management team as far as how fast they move him. He looked tremendous fighting an undefeated kid (Pierre). If they move him right, Duddy has a great future because this kid can really fight.” Duddy’s Read more [...]

Winky Wright on N.E. Ringside Radio Show Plus Hauser & DeMarco -April 7, 2005

BOSTON (APR 7, 2005)  World champion Ronald “Winky” Wright, along with award-winning author Thomas Hauser and former world welterweight champion Tony DeMarco, are this week’s special guests on New England Ringside Radio Show, Thursday night (6-8 PM) on WWZN 1510 The Zone. The two-hour New England Ringside Boxing Radio Show – hosted by Ted Bodenrader, Anthony Pepe, Rick Brutti and Joe Bills -- airs every Thursday night between 6-8 pm (ET) on Boston’s Boxing Station, The Zone (1510 AM), and also may be heard live on the Internet by going to ....link Wright (48-3, 25 KOs) will talk about his May 14 super fight versus Felix “Tito” Trinidad, as well as his career-changing victories against Shane Mosley. The shifty southpaw may also reminisce about, before defeating Mosley, Read more [...]

N.E. Ringside Radio Show doubles up

BOSTON (April 25, 2005) - New England Ringside Radio Show has added an additional broadcast Saturday evenings to go along with its regular Thursday night show on WWZN 1510 The Zone in Boston. (Thursday night, Apr. 28 with McBride - Saturday, Apr. 30 with Fraza) "Due to the tremendous response from the boxing public," NER president Rick Brutti explained, "we added a Saturday night show. Many of the biggest boxing fights are on Saturday night and our additional show enables us to go into more detail about them." Irish heavyweight champion Kevin "The Clones Colossus" McBride (32-4-1, 27 KOs) is this Thursday night's special guest live from The Stadium in South Boston. McBride will discuss his long journey leading up to his June 11th fight against "Iron" Mike Tyson (50-5, 44 KOs) in Washington Read more [...]

Jacl Welsh: Saying Goodbye to a Friend By Howie Reed

(APR 2, 2005) Saying Good-bye to an old friend. Sports Writer/race caller/pal Jack Welsh was found dead in his apartment on Monday Evening. He was more than a figure on the sporting scene in Las Vegas he was a true “one off” as they say in England. He was a 18th Century Gentleman forced to live in the 21st Century and doing very well thank you. Jack was a graduate of the University of Kentucky which meant that he always carried that touch of gentleman around with him. He proudly served in the United States Marines. The time frame for that could have been in any period of time from the Spanish American War up to and including Korea. At times he wrote for newspapers in Montréal and Philadelphia with stops in between. He was a flac for a minor league hockey team in Detroit and called Read more [...]