Category: Boxing

2005: Troy Beets Meets Joseph Awinongya at the Emerald Queen Casino

(MARCH 28, 2005)  Tacoma, WA – Troy Beets (11-5-1, 7kos) will face Joseph Awinongya (12-8-5, 3kos) in the ten-round main event of the thirty-sixth installment of the Battle at the Boat boxing series, Saturday April 2, 2005 at the Emerald Queen Casino. Beets, the Mississippi southpaw, is eager to take on Ghana native, Awinongya. “Troy has a big jaw, lots of talent and is very difficult to hit” says his cousin Rusty who is not only his cousin, but his roommate and keeps Troy on track with his training. “He took his last fight against Russian Vadim Tokarev (for the IBF Intercontinental Cruiserweight title) without much training and paid the price” Rusty continued, “he’s ready for this fight and is coming to win!” In the 1994 Goodwill Games, Beets brought home the bronze medal Read more [...]

2005: Cruisin’ For A Bruisin” Showtime Championship Boxing

(MAR 28, 2005) NEW YORK - The two boxers widely recognized as the most talented in the exciting cruiserweight division will square off when undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite faces his World Boxing Association (WBA) counterpart, Jean-Marc Mormeck, in an eagerly anticipated world title unification bout Saturday, April 2, on SHOWTIME. The division’s most enthralling match-up in years will be shown on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). Don King Productions will present the event. Braithwaite (21-0, 17 KOs), of Georgetown, Guyana, has won 15 out of his past 16 bouts by knockout. The boxer-puncher will make the fourth defense of the title he won with a 10th-round TKO over Vincenzo Cantatore on Oct. 11, Read more [...]

Juan Laporte’s Gym (UTBANY, Inc.) honors a true hero of the Boricua community

(MAR 27) On Friday, April 15th, 2005, at the Juan Laporte's Boxing Gym, 700 Elton Ave. 2nd Floor 718-585-6753, Out of "El Barrio" comes forth a new warrior, seeking to prove himself on the frontlines of boxing, his adopted motto " Hasta la victoria siempre!" (-Ché Guevara) “El Chamaco” who campaigns at the red hot jr. welterweight level is not only an extremely talented fighter, but a very grounded and focused young man who sees himself as the torch bearer for Spanish Harlem and it’s supportive and boxing-savvy community. Edgar began his career on the island, under the tutelage of Felix Trinidad senior, training along side Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad, Fres Oquendo and the rest of the 1999-2001 Trinidad faction. The young Santana found himself in an enviable spot as he learned the Read more [...]

Kallen, Stallone & Braithwaite on N.E. Ringside Radio Show Thursday night, April 31

BOSTON (March 27, 2005) – This week’s New England Ringside Radio Show takes a bite of reality, boxing-wise, with special guests Jackie Kallen, Frank Stallone and WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite 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 www.newenglandringside.com. Kallen, of course, had a movie made about her life in boxing, Against The Ropes, starring Meg Ryan. Jackie also is involved in The Contender. She’ll discuss the reality series, what it was like managing James Toney, Read more [...]

Kallen, Stallone & Braithwaite on N.E. Ringside Radio Show  Thursday night, April 31

BOSTON (March 27, 2005) – This week’s New England Ringside Radio Show takes a bite of reality, boxing-wise, with special guests Jackie Kallen, Frank  Stallone and WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite 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 Kallen, of course, had a movie made about her life in boxing, Against The Ropes, starring Meg Ryan. Jackie also is involved in The Contender. She’ll discuss the reality series, what it was like managing James Toney, and her newest client, Read more [...]

Elena Reid, Lucia Rijker and more By David A. Avila

Life imitates art even in the world of female prizefighting. With the recent announcement that Lucia Rijker will be fighting Christy Martin for a $1 million prize to the winner, it opens the door for female professional boxers such as Elena “Baby Doll” Reid (16-1-5, 5 KOs) who fights on an all-women fight card Saturday in Laughlin, Nevada. Because of the phenomenal success of Academy Award winner Million Dollar Baby - a film that has grossed more than $75 million to date - boxer promoters are stepping up to take advantage of female boxers. “She’s a real million dollar baby and probably the best female fighter in the world,” said Arum of Rijker, who guest starred in the film as the villain in the movie that won Best Picture for 2004. Rijker, 37, has long been considered Read more [...]

Undefeated Cruiserweight headed for the Pacific Northwest” -Halquist Productions Inks Van Sickle!

(DEC 23) Undefeated Ohio cruiserweight prospect Chad Van Sickle signed with boxing promoter Brian Halquist today. Van Sickle, who is 13-0-2, will immediately be moving from Ohio to the Pacific Northwest. “We are very excited to have Chad as part of our promotional team,” said Halquist Productions President Brian Halquist, “Chad is undefeated and an incredible crowd pleaser. He will start working with our conditioning coach/nutritionist Dave Grisaffi immediately upon his arrival. Chad has all the tools to be a contender,” Halquist said. Van Sickle will join contender Kenny Ellis in the Halquist boxing family. “We are planning on signing a few more athletes,” Halquist said. For the past 3 years, Halquist had promoted the popular northwest boxing series, “Battle at the Boat” Read more [...]

One on One Exclusive Interview with Tonya Harding!

(OCT 24, 2003) Interview by Sue TL Fox:   WBAN recently met up on Oct. 15,  with Tonya Harding, her trainer, Paul Brown, and Linda Lewis at Grand Gym, in Portland, Oregon.  That particular day, Harding was ill, but still came into the gym and spoke with WBAN and worked out with Brown. Harding has now been training with Brown for about 12 weeks, and feels that she is going in the right direction with this noted trainer. TL Fox:  WBAN had been told that in about 1998-1999, which was much earlier that the Celebrity Match with Paula Jones that you were considering becoming a pro boxer, is there any truth to that rumor? Tonya: I  had offers for wrestling, but I do not believe I had any offers for boxing. TL Fox:   How exactly did you get involved in the celebrity-boxing segment Read more [...]

Vargas coming to Providence for Balletto in Halloween Homecoming

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Former world champion “Goyo” Vargas is coming all the way from Mexico to Providence on a mission to take Gary “Tiger” Balletto’s International Boxing Union lightweight crown at “Halloween Homecoming,” ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights show October 31 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. is presenting “Halloween Homecoming,” in association with Mohegan Sun, 94 WHJY, Westin Hotel and Gansett Juice. Vargas (43-7-1, 30 KOs), the former World Boxing Council super featherweight champion and present No. 16 rated contender, is cut from the same mold as great Mexican fighters such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Salvador Sanchez, Erik Morales, Carlos Zarate and Ricardo Lopez. Vargas’ lone loss in Read more [...]

Dawson-Welliver fight for WBC Youth middleweight title

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Two 21-year-old middleweight prospects, “Bad” Chad Dawson and Dumont “Dewey” Welliver, will fight for the vacant WBC Youth title in the 10-round co-feature October 31 on Haunted Homecoming,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. Hometown hero Gary “Tiger” Balletto (29-1-2, 25 KOs), born in Providence’s historic Federal Hill, defends his International Boxing Union World lightweight title against former world champion Gregorio “Goyo” Vargas (43-7-1, 30 KOs) in the 12-round main event on “Haunted Homecoming,” presented by CES in association with Mohegan Sun, 94 WHJY, Westin Hotel and Gansett Juice. Dawson and Welliver Read more [...]

Ruiz goes back to his ring future

SOMERVILLE, Mass. – Former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, John “The Quietman” Ruiz, has gone back to his roots to prepare for his December 13 WBA “Interim” heavyweight title fight against Hasim “The Rock” Rahman at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Ruiz, 31, now lives in Las Vegas, but he has returned home to Massachusetts for training camp. He’s running the same streets and hills in Chelsea, a working class suburb of Boston where he grew up, and working out at the nearby Somerville Boxing Club, where he first met his longtime manager, Norman “Stoney” Stone. After losing a 12-round decision and WBA title to Roy Jones this past March, Ruiz (38-5-1, 27 KOs) took some time off to resolve personal problems, and accepted an opportunity to replace David Tua Read more [...]

“Yeah, I Was in the Gloves” By Bernie McCoy

Even after all these years, the thing that I remember most vividly about that night was the boxing robe. It wasn't the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, but it was in the top ten. It was an almost black-red color, the color that cherries have when they're displayed on a fruit stand. On the back of the robe, in white script, was the legend "Salem Crescent". Those two words were enough for anyone who knew anything about Golden Gloves boxing in New York I was in the corner of a boxing ring in the gym at St Thomas Aquinas School, almost at the end of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. It was the first round of the Golden Gloves a long time ago. It was a time before headgear, it was a time before two minute rounds for first time boxers or as they were known in the Gloves, sub-novice fighters. If Read more [...]

Professional Boxing Series Continues at HP Pavilion at San Jose September 10, 2003

San Jose, CA--- Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E) and Golden Boy Promotions announced today that Miller Lite Fight Night at the Tank will continue at HP Pavilion at San Jose on Thursday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m. Featured on the card will be Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez (22-0-0, 17 KO’s) of Chino, CA. Gonzalez will face a tough opponent in Samuel Lopez (14-1-0, 5 KO’s) in this 12 round bout for the NABO Bantamweight Title. Also appearing on the card is undefeated super middleweight Ricardo Cortes (10-0-1, 6 KO’s) of San Jose, CA and undefeated prospect Arturo Quintero (7-0, 4KO’s) of Las Vegas, NV. Roger Gonzalez (22-0-0, 17 KO’s) hails from Chino, California and is currently the NABO bantamweight champion. He is one of boxing’s most highly regarded young contenders. Read more [...]

Irwin backs out of Balletto fight

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Billy “The Kid” Irwin, according to veteran promoter Jimmy Burchfield, is living up to his nickname. Acting more like a kid than man, Irwin has informed Burchfield that he is reneging on his agreement to fight Gary “Tiger” Balletto, claiming he didn’t have enough time to train. Irwin had verbally agreed to fight International Boxing Union lightweight champion Balletto (29-1-2, 25 KOs), of Providence (RI), October 31 in the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights main event, but the Canadian lightweight title-holder Irwin (41-5, 29 KOs) has officially backed-out of the match. “Two months isn’t enough time to train,” an irritated Burchfield rhetorically asked. “Irwin must believe Gary Balletto is the top lightweight in the world. Eight weeks is more than Read more [...]

Christy Martin, That was Then…. By Bernie McCoy

Its really not to difficult to imagine a scenario where several women, in various parts of the country, might have been sending long distance high fives to Laila Ali, last Saturday. They would have been watching, on TV, Christy Martin, on her hands and knees, gazing blearily into her corner as her husband/manager, Jim Martin, more than likely encouraging her to "stay down, stay down" Martin, of course did stay down, since, in fact, she was probably the last person in the Grand Casino in Biloxi, MS who wanted the one-sided boxing match with Laila Ali to continue. Those women? Lets give them names: Jovette Jackson, Del Pettis, Sue Chase, Angela Buchanan. They were all opponents that Christy Martin KO'd as part of a long string of carefully chosen bouts during her days as the "face" of Women's Read more [...]