Tag: WBAN

2005: Paulie Malignaggi coming back in August Signs new managerial contract with Sal LoNano

 TEWKSBURY, Mass. (June 27, 2005) - "The Magic Man" - Paulie Malignaggi - plans on returning to the ring in late August with a repaired right hand and new manager, Sal LoNano, who guided "Irish" Micky Ward the final four years of his memorable career. Malignaggi, 24, has been inactive since December 4, when he improved his pro record to 19-0 (5 KOs) and captured the WBC International light welterweight title. But he broke his right hand in that fight and has undergone surgery twice. "I've learned how much I love and miss boxing," the World Boxing Council No. 9 rated junior welterweight talked about his recovery period. "I feel like the kid who's been left behind. I belong in the mix and I see a lot of punks getting television time I should have. I'm coming back stronger than ever and Read more [...]

2005: ESPN-Jose Celaya At The Riot at the Hyatt

(MAY 9, 2005) ESPN2 will televise it's Friday Night May 13th boxing show from the San Jose Civic Auditorium, with every featured fighter on the card having fought in Monterey. The Main Event showcases 26-2 Jose Celaya from Salinas, who fought on five RIOT cards. The Co-feature to be televised is focused on Nonito Donaire, 11-1, who has Monterey RIOT experience. Jose Perez Jr. and Alejandro Perez on the off-television bouts also cut their boxing teeth fighting in Monterey. THE RIOT pro boxing series is moving from the Hyatt to the Conference Center in Downtown Monterey on July 2nd, and will feature many other top prospects. 7-0 Heavyweight George Garcia, a member of the Mexican Olympic Team will make his first Monterey appearance. A spectacular battle of the unbeaten matches local favorite Read more [...]

2005: Golden Boy Promotions Officially Welcomes Jorge Rodrigo Barrios

LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2005 – He is one of boxing’s newest world champions and also one of its most exciting, and on Friday, May 6, Golden Boy Promotions will formally welcome the pride of Argentina, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, to Los Angeles for a special presentation of his WBO world championship belt, as well as a roundtable discussion with the media. This event will begin at 10:00am, and will be held at the offices of Golden Boy Promotions. Barrios, who will be joined by Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, will be presented with his super featherweight world championship belt by WBO representative Mark Rios, and will also meet with the California State Athletic Commission before sitting down with the media to discuss his dominating victory over Mike Anchondo on April 8, Read more [...]

The Talk of a Mixed Match Rears it’s ugly head..again By Sue TL Fox

(APR 28) Yes, folks...you will need to endure again.  According to Team Wolfe, Ann "Brown Sugar" Wolfe will be taking on a male in the boxing ring.   Just this week Team Wolfe has sent WBAN two press releases about updates on Ann that include details of Ann getting ready to step into the ring with a male boxer.  [update: this fight never took place 2013] Team Wolfe said in their first release earlier this week, and sent to WBAN on about April 23, 2005, said the following: "In the meantime, many boxing fans are probably wondering if Wolfe is still planning to fight a man. The answer is "Yes". The fight will be moved to either late Summer or early Fall. According to the promoter PPV has already been locked in, so now it is just a matter of finding the right venue. The Wolfe camp continues Read more [...]

“A Ring of Their Own” Deserves Better By Bernie McCoy

(APR 26) I finally found "A Ring of Their Own". It took me almost as long as it took the sport of Women's boxing to get it's own TV show. The problem of female boxers getting TV exposure has been well documented, but in my case the problem of finding "A Ring of Their Own" was directly related to the fact that it is being broadcast in near obscurity on the Metro Channel in New York. The Metro Channel is a low tier cable channel, positioned slightly above public access outlets and substantially below the major sports channels such as ESPN and Fox Sports. "A Ring of Their Own" deserves much better. In addition to being the first TV show dedicated, exclusively, to the female boxing, the show manages to pack more boxing action into two hours than any existing show on the air. Additionally, the 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 [...]

Exclusive: McClain Talks about the Promotion of the Ali-Martin card By Sue TL Fox

(AUG 25) WBAN interviewed "Yahya" Johnny McClain one on one about the latest promotion that he was involved in with the Ali-Martin card that was held on August 23, in Biloxi, Mississippi. I spoke to McClain about the August 25th article on Fightnews.com that is entitled,  "Promoters Spar After Ali-Martin."  McClain said that in regards to that article, that  “it is not true.”  McClain went on to explain,  “Brian Young (Prize Fight Promotions) did not speak to me after the fight or any other time regarding those matters….AND if we did ‘spar’---I would kick his ass.” McClain also talked about the remarks made in that article about him removing the Prize Fight Banner at the Post Fight Conference.  McClain said, “I DID remove the sole banner, because he (Young) had the Read more [...]

Whaley’s fight cancelled after tragedy strikes event! Brad Rone Declared Dead after fight

(JULY 19, 2003) Last night in Cedar City, Utah, at the Cedar Raceway, Kelly Whaley was to have fought in the main event against Angela Poe, when one fight prior to their fight ended in tragedy. The Whaley team told WBAN that the venue could not have been any more perfect and it was going very well up to the point of a heavyweight bout between Billy Zumbrun of Ogden who fought the ill-fated Brad Rone of Las Vegas. With only about five seconds left in the first round, Zumbrun had delivered a body blow to the kidney, and that shortly after the bell range, Rone fell to the canvas. Rone was taken to Valley View Medical Center, where he was declared dead. The cause of death is unknown, but it has been speculated that it could have been heart related. An autopsy will be performed by the Salt Lake Read more [...]

“Little Mama” wouldn’t sit down! By Sue TL Fox- July 1, 2003

(JULY 1) Today in Biloxi, Mississippi, the press conference for the August 23rd, Pay-Per-View fight that is to take place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, proved to be quite exciting when Martin and Ali ended up in a pre-fight brawl! WBAN spoke to Laila Ali shortly after the incident and told WBAN about what had occurred between Christy "The Coal miner's daughter" Martin and herself. Ali said that Martin was the first to get up and speak about the upcoming fight, and that Martin gave thanks to Don King, who successfully promoted her as a boxer, and that "Laila" knows in order for her to be considered one of the best that she has to go through her (Martin). I asked Ali if she had interrupted Martin anytime throughout her talking, and Ali said, "no." Ali then went on to say that Read more [...]

Friday the 13th: Boxing card at the Chinook Winds Casino – by Katherine Dunn

Friday, June 13th, 2003, Chinook Winds Casino, Lincoln City, Oregon. Promoter: Top Rank; Matchmaker: Pete Susens  -Ringside Physicians: Dr. Luis Rios, Dr. Ron Shear; Referees: Jim Erickson, Dave Hagan, Jeff Macaluso; Judges: Greg Baker, Robert Flamme, Trevor Lewis, Denis Ryan; Regulation: The Siletz Tribal Athletic Commission I’ve decided to blame Bob Arum for the Friday the 13th horror show at the Chinook Winds Casino. In letting the casino and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz off the hook, I’m giving them credit for their first fight card, back on December 4 of 1999, when they hosted the excellent HBO broadcast of Fernando Vargas vs Winky Wright and Diego Corrales vs John Brown. That was promoted by Ringside Ticket, Inc run by Patrick Ortiz. Then the Siletz held the respectable Read more [...]

Michelle Gatewood wins her pro debut By Sue TL Fox, Ringside

(JUNE 16) On Saturday night (June 14) in front of a packed house of boxing fans, Lucky Eagle Casino, in Rochester, Washington, had it's "Fight Night 41".  In the women's bout, it featured two newcomers to the sport. Doll Crain, who weighed in at 100 lbs., and then had to put on some quick pounds for the fight, fought Michelle Gatewood, 110 lbs., out of Spokane, Washington. Crain has been on the fight scene for quite awhile working as a boxing trainer, and a cornerman for various fighters on many cards. Crain showed tremendous heart despite the brutal pummeling she endured. Gatewood punished Crain, she delivered one blast after another until Crain fell to the canvas. Crain would pop right back up, only to be sent right back down again. In the third round at 1:23 seconds, the referee Read more [...]