Category: Bob Trieger

World Super Flyweight Contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez preparing for career-defining 2025

LOS ANGELES (January 9, 2024, 2024) – Super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (14-1, 9 KOs) avenged his only career loss as a professional on December 14th, taking a 10-round unanimous decision from previously undefeated Ephraim Bui (10-1, 8 KOs) at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The fast-rising, then-No. 1 ranked Ramirez was coming off a loss in Brooklyn by way of a 12-round decision to veteran Fernando David Jimenez (16-1, 5-1, 11 KOs) last April 20th for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim Super Flyweight Championship. In retrospect, “Scrappy” gained invaluable experience versus Jimenez to become even more of a threat in the super flyweight division, and he is taking things one fight at a time until he gets another world title fight. “It felt good to Read more [...]

Brooklyn Heavyweight Prospect Pryce Taylor looks forward to 2025 After first fight for Salita Promotions

NEW YORK CITY (December 17, 2024) – Fighting for the first time with the full support of a promoter, Salita Promotions, undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor said afterwards that he feels positive and confident he’s going to make it in boxing. Taylor (5-0, 3 KOs), 28, destroyed KeShawn Jackson last Thursday evening in Flint, Michigan, fighting on a show presented by his promoter, in which he registered an impressive third-round stoppage to close his 2024 campaign on a high note. “It felt good fighting on a bigger stage in a small arena with a cool atmosphere,” Taylor spoke about his first fight with a promotional contract. “My manager, Keith Sullivan, supported me by agreeing to sign with Salita Promotions. He spoke with several promoters, but we felt Dimitri Read more [...]

Manhattan middleweight Jacob Solis has taken an unusual path into the ring

NEW YORK CITY (December 11, 2024) – When undefeated Manhattan middleweight Jacob Solis returns December 17th to fight on the “Holiday Fight Night 3 card, presented by Boxing Insider Promotions and streamed live on DAZN, he’ll be going back to the future in the intimate surroundings of Sony Hall in historic Times Square. The 33-year-old Solis has taken an unusual path to pro boxing. He started boxing at the age of nine because his mother needed a “babysitter” for Jacob and his younger sister in Santa Fe Springs in Los Angeles County. After training with his sister a few times, Solis admitted that he was scared of boxing when he first started sparring experienced foes. “They threw me in with junior amateur champions and I got my bell rung,” Solis explained. “I played baseball Read more [...]

John “Scrappy” Ramirez seeking Redemption with added experience

LOS ANGELES (December 9, 2024, 2024) – Fighting this Saturday night for the first time since he suffered the initial loss of his pro career last April, super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) will be seeking redemption in a 10-round match versus undefeated Ephraim Bui (10-0, 8 KOs). Ramirez vs. Bui is on a Golden Boy-show headlined by Alexis Rocha vs. Raul Curiel, streaming live on DAZN from Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. On his mercurial rise in boxing, despite a limited amateur career and including numerous bouts during Covid-19, the fast-rising, No. 1 ranked “Scrappy” lost a 12-round decision in Brooklyn to veteran Fernando David Jimenez (16-1, 5-1, 11 KOs) for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Flyweight title. It was simply a case Read more [...]

On December 12, at Legends Casino Hotel Roy Jones Jr. Will Become the First Head Trainer To Have Five Boxers on One Card  

TOPPENISH, WASHINGTON, December 5, 2024  --  Roy Jones Jr., consensus No. 1 Pound-4-Pound boxer in the 90’s and early 2000’s, will have five of his stable of boxers on the December 12 card in the Great Pacific Northwest at Legends Casino Hotel. “I am so excited to be back in Toppenish, Washington at Legends Casino Hotel, live on December 12, where my man Greg Fritz is a great host,” said Jones. “It’s going to be a great show, so don’t miss it!” Roy will be in the corner for all five of his fighters. The five fighters train, along with the rest of his large stable, in his gym on his farm in Pensacola. It’s the same gym Roy trained in throughout his professional career. These kids are blessed to learn from the legend. This historic event, promoted by Roy Jones Jr Boxing, Read more [...]

Kansas super middleweight prospect Marco Romero Capped incredible 12-month boxing stretch

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (November 26, 2024) -- Kansas super middleweight prospect Marco “El Tiburón” Romero’s (4-0, 3 KOs) recent victory in Portland, Maine, capped an incredible 12-month stretch in which he was 13-0 overall in the ring, combining nine amateur matches and four pro bouts. A promotional free agent, Romero destroyed Orlando “El Marro” Salgado (3-6, 2 KOs), blasting his way to sensational knockout – displaying the best left hook to the body in New England boxing since “Irish” Micky Ward – at the 1:21 mark of the opening round on a November 9th card promoted by Bobby Russo’s Portland Boxing Club at Exposition Building. “I’ve always had that power, especially that left hook to the body,” Romero commented. “I knew it was over when I hit him with that body Read more [...]

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez prepared for a war in World Cruiserweight Unification with Chris Billam-Smith

RIYADH, Saudia Arabia (November 12, 2024) –- World Boxing Association (WBA) Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) confidently puts his title belt on the line this Saturday in an intriguing unification fight against World Boxing Organization (WBO) Champion Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs), headlining the inaugural “Latino Night” in the 12-round main event as part of Riyadh Season, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ramirez vs. Smith-Billam will be streamed live on DAZN as well as broadcast for free on several television networks around the world. No shade, all respect is what Ramirez has for his British opponent, Billam-Smith. “Chris Billam-Smith is a World Champion for a reason,” Ramirez said. “He brings a well-rounded mix of power, Read more [...]

The Future of Boxing 18-year-old Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Kansas super middleweight returns to ring this Saturday night in Portland, ME

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (November 7, 2024) – Twenty-three-time national amateur champion, 18-year-old Kansas super middleweight prospect Marco “El Tiburón” Romero (3-0, 2 KOs), returns this Saturday night to the scene of his successful pro debut this past June in Portland, Maine, 1,300 miles northeast of his home in Overland Park, Kansas. A promotional free agent, Romero is matched against Orlando “El Marro” Salgado (3-5, 2 KOs) in a four-round bout on a card promoted by Bobby Russo’s Portland Boxing Club in Portland’s Exposition Building. “I had my first pro fight there and I love Portland people, especially Bobby Russo (who is also President of the National Golden Gloves),” Romero said. “I loved the crowd, everybody was so welcoming, saying, ‘Go KC.’ There’s good energy Read more [...]

Boxing’s next great boxing trainer Julian Chua is a rising star in the gym, ring and corner

LOS ANGELES (November 6, 2024) –- One of the hottest young trainers in boxing is Julian Chua, even though he still hasn’t received the high-level respect he deserves from many boxing fans and promoters. When Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) dethroned previously undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) Cruiserweight World Champion Arsen “Feroz” Goulamirian (27-0, 19 KOs) this past March, Chua’s stock took off because “Zurdo” is the first world champion the 33-year-old Chua developed into a world champion. The journey Chua took to become the head trainer of “Zurdo,” who is only two months younger than Julian, was unusual, to say the least. At that time, Ramirez was 39-0 and the first of Mexican heritage to be world super middleweight champion, as well as a promotional Read more [...]

Josniel Castro dominates Denzel Whitley

WORCESTER, Mass. (November 3, 2024) –World Boxing Council (WBC) U.S. Junior Middleweight Champion Josniel “TG” Castro (14-1, 8 KOs) turned in a dominating performance last Friday night against previously undefeated Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (14-1, 8 KOs) in the main event on the “Worcester Championship Boxing” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at DCU Event Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Fighting out of Boca Raton, Florida, Castro made his first title defense memorable by out-boxing Whitley for a 10-round unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 98-92). Castro’s crisp jab set-up his point-scoring combinations and also prevented Whitley from gaining any momentum throughout the clash. Whitley, of Holyoke (MA), is the NABF welterweight champion who moved Read more [...]

Team USA Secures Three Gold Medals at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (November 2, 2024) -– Team USA goes undefeated in the gold round on Friday, November 1 and brings home three gold medals. USA already secured three bronze medals before the start on Friday and now has a total of six medals and will have an opportunity to gain two more gold medals on Saturday, November 2. Lorenzo Patricio (Waianae, Hawaii) was the first bout for Team USA against Mohamed Al Manouchi out of Germany. Patricio would go on and win gold on a unanimous decision. Patricio with a dominating performance in his first international tournament won two of his three bouts on unanimous decision and the other decision was a 4-0 decision. Team USA power hitters, Joseph Awinongya (Joliet, Ill.) and Elijah Lugo (Marietta, Ga.) took care of business and dominated Read more [...]

Super Flyweight John “Scrappy” Ramirez Learned invaluable lessons from his world title loss and returning soon to the ring

LOS ANGELES (November 1, 2024) – Super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) learned an invaluable lesson last June at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, when he lost for the first time as a professional to Fernando David Jimenez (16-1), by way of a 12-round unanimous decision, for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Flyweight title. Unless your last name is Marciano, Mayweather, Calzaghe, Lopez or Ward, prizefighters generally don’t retire without a loss on their record. How a fighter responds to his or her first defeat is pivotal, because they either learn from the experience and improve, or go the opposite direction. “Scrappy” Ramirez is coming back to the ring with a vengeance, as well as a new outlook for the South Los Angeles fighter. “I Read more [...]

Malik Scott in Zurdo Ramirez’ corner

LOS ANGELES (October 30, 2024) – Former pro heavyweight contender Malik Scott has successfully transitioned from fighter to trainer, and he will be working the corner of reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KOs) for his November 16th unification fight with World Boxing Organization (WBO) titleholder Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 44-year-old Scott, who will assist Ramirez’ head trainer Julian Chua, passionately believes that not only will Ramirez defeat Smith, but Zurdo is the No. 1 cruiserweight in the world as well. Scott was Ramirez’ head trainer when Chua was unavailable for Ramirez’ debut as a cruiserweight (October 7, 2023), in which he defeated former Read more [...]

Zurdo Ramirez extremely proud to headline first “Latino Night” in World Cruiserweight Unification Fight versus Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith

LOS ANGELES (October 29, 2024) –- Reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-21, 30 KOs) is extremely proud to headline the inaugural “Latino Night” as part of Riyadh Season against World Boxing Organization (WBO) title holder Chris “The Gentleman” Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) on November 16th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ramirez vs. Smith-Billam will be streamed live on DAZN as well as broadcast for free on several television networks around the world. Fighting out of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, Zurdo was the first Mexican to capture the world super middleweight title in 2016, and he repeated that feat in the cruiserweight title last March, capturing the 200-pound division’s crown by dethroning previously undefeated WBA Read more [...]

Super Flyweight John “Scrappy” Ramirez Learned invaluable lessons from his world title loss and returning soon to the ring

LOS ANGELES (October 29, 2024) – Super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (13-1, 9 KOs) learned an invaluable lesson last June at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, when he lost for the first time as a professional to Fernando David Jimenez (16-1), by way of a 12-round unanimous decision, for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Flyweight title. Unless your last name is Marciano, Mayweather, Calzaghe, Lopez or Ward, prizefighters generally don’t retire without a loss on their record. How a fighter responds to his or her first defeat is pivotal, because they either learn from the experience and improve, or go the opposite direction. “Scrappy” Ramirez is coming back to the ring with a vengeance, as well as a new outlook for the South Los Angeles fighter. “I learned Read more [...]