El campeón de peso mediano de la NABO Brian Vera (21-6-0, 12 KOs) defenderá su título ante el ex campeón mundial mediano Jr de la OMB Sergiy “Razor” Dzinziruk (37-1-1, 24 KOs) el 25 de enero en el Turning Stone Resort Casino Centro de Eventos en Verona, Nueva York. ESPN2 televisará. la funcòn.

Vera, actualmente en el puesto # 4 en el ranking de la OMB de peso medio, ganó el título NABO en agosto. Dzinziruk viene de un empate contra Jonathan González (15-0-1, 13 KOs) en Turning Stone el 01 de septiembre en un evento de HBO.

La pelea co-estelar es un choque de peso welter junior entre Tony “Lightning” Luis (15 “Boxing After Dark.” – 0, 7 KOs) y Miguel “Silky Smooth” González (20-3, 15 KOs).

Los boletos cuestan de $ 25 a $ 70. Llame a la oficina de Stone  al (315) 361-7469 o visite www.Ticketmaster.com.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/vera-dzinziruk-por-titulo-nabo-156351

|||

Next card a Caballero family affair

Fantasy Springs and Golden Boy already announced its next fight card, which will feature fan favorite Randy Caballero in the main event.

Caballero (15-0, 8 knockouts) will defend his WBO NABO bantamweight title against Manuel Roman (15-1-3) on Aug. 24 at Fantasy Springs. It will be Caballero’s 10th fight at Fantasy Springs.

What will make the night especially memorable is that younger brotherRyan Caballero will make his professional debut on the card.

By: Leighton Ginn

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120730/SPORTS03/207300310/Boxing-Notes-Fantasy-Springs-announces-next-card

||||

HOBOKEN, New Jersey (May 30, 2012) – American boxing fans will once again have an opportunity to watch some of the most promising prospects from North of the border as FIGHT NOW! TV TM – America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel – airs the fifth and final edition of the popular “Fast & Furious Boxing Series” on June 8 live from the famed Bell Centre in Montreal. Viewers may also watch on Ustream – ordering information is available at ustream.tv and fightnow.com.

Unbeaten World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) light heavyweight champion Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (8-0, 5 KO) makes his first title defense against Native American challenger Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk (23-1, 19 KO) in the 12-round main event.

 

“Promoter Yvon Michel (GYM Boxing) always delivers top fighters in entertaining, competitive fights,” says Mike Garrow, Co-Founder and General Manager of FIGHT NOW! TV. “Our FIGHT NOW! TV viewers always enjoy GYM (Groupe Yvon Michel) events. We’re very happy to be working again with this quality promotion to bring the best of Canadian boxing to the United States.

“The 28-year-old Alvarez, who lives in Montreal, was a 2008 Colombian Olympian who captured the NABO title last December, stopping Emiliano Cayetano in the opening round. Rated No. 15 by the WBO, Alvarez won all eight rounds in his most recent fight this past April against Rayco Saunders.

Hawk, who fights out of Atlantic City, New Jersey, is riding a five-fight win streak, four of which have come at light heavyweight after campaigning most of his professional career as a cruiserweight. Hawk, 27, has defeated top light heavyweights Henry Buchanan (20-2), Otis Griffin (23-8-2) and Rubin Williams (29-10-1) for the Sovereign Nations title.

In the co-feature, Montreal middleweight David Lemieux (25-2, 24 KO) makes his long-awaited comeback to the ring, after being sidelined since December from a right hand injury against Joachim Alcine (33-2-1, 19 KO). The wildly popular Lemieux, who is ranked No. 23 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”), takes on tough Mexican-American Jaudiel “Negro” Zepeda (12-5-1, 9 KO) in an eight-round match.

Also fighting on a power-packed undercard is a trio of undefeated heavyweights in eight-round bouts: Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (10-0, 6 KO) vs. Sylvera Louis (4-1, 1 KO), Eric Barrack (7-0, 6 KO) vs. Sheldon Hinton (11-8-1, 4 KO), and Didier Bence (4-0, 2 KO) vs. Stéphane “Brutus” Tessier. Gutsy middleweight Ahmad Cheikho (6-4-2, 5 KO) is also scheduled to be in action. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

For more information visit www.fightnow.com or www.groupeyvonmichel.ca.
About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.

Founded by Channel Zero, Inc. and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow, FIGHT NOW! TV is the only 24 hours a day, seven days a week combat sports channel in the nation. The network’s mandate is to bring the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW! TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW TV is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and matchups from around the globe.

FIGHT NOW! TV has also enlisted one of the fight game’s biggest names to join its camp, 5-time UFC champion and MMA legend Randy Couture, who serves as both spokesperson and analyst for the channel.

FIGHT NOW! TV, It’s ON! Call Your Television Provider To Order

For more information about FIGHT NOW! TV visit www.fightnow.com, or follow them on Twitter @fightnowtv and Facebook.com/fightnowtv.

 

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/05/fast-furious-on-fight-now-tv/

|||||

ALBANY, N.Y. — Karim Mayfield floored Raymond Serrano at the fourth-round bell, and then landed a solid right hand less than a minute into the fifth that stopped the challenger in the NABO junior welterweight title fight Friday night.

Mayfield and Serrano both swung at the bell of the fourth round, but Mayfield’s punch landed, sending Serrano (18-1) to the canvas. Serrano eventually returned to his corner, wobbling and recovering barely enough to go out for the fifth

“I stayed composed,” Mayfield said. “My corner told me that was a shot that was going to be hard to recover from. A minute’s time wasn’t long enough time to recover from a shot like that. In my mind I was thinking, I don’t want to let this opportunity go where I could’ve gotten him out of there, but didn’t.”

Mayfield (16-0-2 10 KOs) came out with a flurry in the fifth, and referee Eddie Claudio stopped it with Serrano staggering 47 seconds in.

“He fought a good fight,” Serrano said. “He caught me with a good shot. I’ll be back.”

Mayfield, listed shorter by an inch and crouching to make himself shorter, effectively ducked under many of Serrano’s punches in the first three rounds. Mayfield sent Serrano down in the third with a right counter and two more punches.

“I’m only 5-7, maybe even giving myself two inches,” Mayfield said. “When you got a guy that’s shorter than you and a guy goes down lower, it’s a little timid, because you don’t want to be reaching down to jab. Coming up with that coiling style is very intimidating, because you have to reach down, and I’m actually reaching up while you’re reaching down. I knew I could make opportunities from that.”

Serrano was game, especially starting out.

“I was surprised how easy it was for me to hit him,” Serrano said. “He’s strong.”

“He’s a pit bull,” Mayfield said.

But Mayfield crouched and kept his distance in the opening two rounds and was able to counter in the third. He nearly ended it with his right hand at the bell to end the fourth.

“Honestly, I was hoping he was a little timid — but he wasn’t,” Mayfield said. “I caught him with a great shot that put him down. That normally should’ve put a lot of guys out. He shouldn’t have gotten up from that, because I caught him flush.”

In the junior middleweight undercard, Kevin Rooney Jr. lost for the second time, beaten by late replacement Anthony Jones in a four-round decision. The southpaw Jones, who also fought and won four rounds nine days ago, came out aggressively and barely let up. Jones knocked Rooney down twice — in the first round and solidly with a straight left in the second. Rooney landed two good rights in the third round, including an overhand right, but it wasn’t enough. Rooney falls to 4-2.

 
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7948132/karim-mayfield-stops-raymond-serrano-5th-keep-nabo-title

|||||

It is a fight series is billed as “Fast and Furious” by promoter Yvon Michel and that’s exactly what was delivered by headliner Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (18-1 15KO) who stopped WBC Silver belt holder Noe Gonzalez (28-2 20KO) at 1:40 of the 2nd round in front of 2853 Bell Centre fans. After being the aggressor and establishing a solid body attack in the first round, Stevenson let his hands go in the second and didn’t stop. A left hand early in the barrage seemed to stun the Argentine fighter and from there on it was bombs away as the hometown fighter pressured and didn’t let up. After several consecutive head shots, referee Michael Griffin stepped in and stopped the action.

Gonzalez who seemed hurt several times during the barrage did little to protest the referee’s decision, walking meekly back to his corner one the contest was called.

“The punch that originally hurt his opponent wasn’t even a clean blow,” said Stevenson’s trainer Emanuel Steward. “It was a half-blocked blow and that is an attribute to the punching power of Adonis Stevenson.”

“It was my left hook I caught him with,” confirmed Stevenson, “I was like a snake. I saw him shaking and I just finished him.”

“He was always in balance and placed his punches really well,” said Steward. “He finished him off with well placed punches, very short accurate punches so he got caught with a lot of clean blows.”

It was Steward’s second fight with the Haitian born Stevenson and marked the first time the trainer has had a chance to give instructions between rounds. “It’s been two fights and he hasn’t got a drop of water on his trunks yet. I told him he was fighting a masterpiece and to continue what he was doing. He was getting anxious or overly aggressive just be patient and try to make him back up more. He wasn’t a counter puncher, he was a strong guy with his muscles all greased up to try and look impressive, but I noticed he could only fight coming forward so I said try and back him up and get him in a corner.”

With the win, Stevenson adds the WBC silver belt to his ever growing prize closet of hardware including the NABO, NABA and IBF Intercontinental. But while the WBC is a very real possibility the IBF #2 fighter still has his eyes set on fellow Montrealer Lucian Bute. Promoter Yvon Michel will keep the fighter on the shelf till at least after Bute’s May 26 bout with Carl Froch so the fighter will be available for any potential fight for mandatory challenger. “We expect a fight two days after the Froch fight to see if we’re free to fight for the number one position. The other think is that Ward already said that he is not fighting Anthony Dirrell. By having the silver if that title ever becomes vacant, he will be chosen along with Dirrell to fight for it. So right now we have a bit of a waiting game before scheduling his next fight. He’s in the position everywhere right now.”

For the fighter himself, the goal is still clear, “It doesn’t matter the WBC or the IBF, I want to fight Bute in Montreal” Stevenson said, “In Montreal you need big fights like that, me and Bute.”

By Dave Spencer
Photos Herby Whyne

http://www.fightnews.ca/mtl120420.cfm

||||

MONTREAL (April 16, 2012) – Rising light heavyweight star Eleider “Storm” Alvarez takes on battled-tested veteran Rayco “War” Saunders in this week’s ESPN Friday Night Fights co-feature at the famed Bell Centre in Montreal.

WBO NABO Super Middleweight champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (17-1, 14 KOs) headlines another installment of the popular Fast and Furious Series, presented in Montreal by Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron, in a 10-round unification bout with World Boxing Council (“WBC”) No. 2-ranked Noe “El Carbonero” Gonzalez (28-1, 20 KOs).

 Alvarez (7-0, 5 KOs), a 2008 Colombian Olympian who now lives in Montreal, is the undefeated North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) champion on a fast track to stardom. He captured the NABO title in his seventh pro fight, knocking out Emiliano Cavetano (21-3) in the opening round last December, and Eleider is already ranked No. 15 by the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”).

“Storm” faces Saunders (22-15-2, 9 KOs), who has been stopped only once in his pro career, in an eight-round, non-title fight. Saunders has defeated world-title challenger Tommy Karpency and fought three-time world title challenger Danny Santiago to a draw. World-class fighters such as Ismayl Sillakh, Edison Miranda, Marcus Oliveira and Chris Henry have been unable to stop the crafty boxer from Pittsburgh.

Another Colombian Olympian also living in Montreal, unbeaten heavyweight prospect Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (9-0, 6 KOs), meets veteran Kendrick “The Apostle” Releford (22-16-2, 10 KOs) in an eight-round bout.

Adonis Stevenson

“In addition to a legitimate Fight of the Year candidate in Stevenson-Gonzalez,” promoter Yvon Michel (GYM) commented, “boxing fans at Bell Centre and those watching on ESPN will see two top prospects in Alvarez and Rivas. They both have unlimited potential but this Friday evening will each face the stiffest tests of their young careers.”

Also fighting on the undercard is super featherweight Baha Laham (8-0, 3 KOs) vs. Leonis Francois (8-6, 2 KOs) in an eight-round bout, heavyweight Eric Barrack (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Sandy Pembroke (2-4, 1 KO) in a six-round match, and Montreal light heavyweight Schiller Hyppolite (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Martin Desjardins. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

The Officials for the Stevenson/Gonzalez Unification are:

Supervisor: Mike George, Rhode Island, USA

Referee: Michel Albert Griffin, Canada

Judges: Jack Woodburn, Canada

Claude Paquette, Canada

Richard Flaherty, Massachusetts, USA

 

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/04/storm-rising-as-alvarez-battles-saunders-in-this-weeks-espn-fnf-co-feature-stevenson-gonzalez-unification-title-fight-headlines-montreal-show/

||||||

Undefeated lightweight NABO champion Sharif “The Lion” Bogere, is patiently waiting for his moment to claim a major world title.

“I am just waiting for that day to come,” Bogere said in a message to Kawowo sports. “It’s just a matter of time before I get my moment. All am doing is keeping cool and putting my head up.”

The Ugandan prize fighter recently demolished Mexican fighter Sergio Rivera scoring his 14 career knockout to take his record to (22-0-0,14 KOs).

The Las Vegas based hot shot is ranked number 20 by IBO in his weight division while IBF rates him at number 5, NABF puts him at number 4, WBC has him at 20 and WBO rates him number 3.

Bogere is likely up for a summer title shot against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, who is the currently WBO lightweight champion.

Bogere is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. He will be the sixth Ugandan world boxing champion after John “The Beast” Mugabi, Ayub Kalule,Cornelius Boza Edwards,Kassim “The Dream” Ouma and Jackson “Action” Asiku.

 

Written by Phillip Corry

http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/boxing/867-boxing-star-waiting-for-his-moment-of-glory.html

||||

WBO NABO Jr. Lightweight Vicente Escobedo (25-3, 15KOs) is on the verge of cashing in his best career performance against Lonnie Smith last month, with a shot at one of the Jr. Lightweight champions in 2012.

The 30 year-old from Woodland, has been talked about as a possible opponent for WBO champion Adrien Broner in the coming months, but told WBN that he will take on any the belt holders at 130lbs.

“I would like a shot at Broner of course. I think I have the style and skills to beat him,” Escobedo told World Boxing News.

“But i’ll go for the first champion my manager and promoter can make a deal with and if that is Broner then I welcome it.

“He is a very talented fighter but I see chinks in his armour, although I wouldn’t tell what they were.”

Escobedo surprised many in his latest victory, not with the result itself, but with the manor of the job he did on Smith, who was undefeated in five years prior to his first round knockout loss in which he hit the canvas three times.

“I suppose that considering that I knocked out a good fighter in less than a round, you could argue that it was my best performance to date,” explained Escobedo.

“But before I think of world titles, I will be back in my hometown on May 12th in a bout televised on Telefutura again.

“The main goal is of course the title shot and we are talking about it for after my next bout. That’s what I am gearing up for,” he added.

 

By Phil D. Jay

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=51341

|||||

SAN FRANCISCO  – On May 18, undefeated NABO light welterweight champion, Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield (15-0-1, 9 KOs), headlines ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” when he defends his title against Philadelphia’s Raymond Serrano (18-0, 8 KOs) at the Exhibition Hall at The Times Union Center in Albany, New York. Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing in association with Prize Fight Promotions will promote the 10-round bout.

Mayfield, a San Francisco native, is no stranger to fighting on the east coast. Recently, he was in Philadelphia sparring with Danny Garcia in preparation for Garcia’s fight with Erik Morales. On October 1, 2011, Mayfield dominated Patrick Lopez (20-5, 12 KOs) winning a unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBO NABO light welterweight title.

“I’ve been in the ring with Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, Robert Guerrero and many other world class fighters,” Mayfield said. “I know I got the talent to become a world champion.  I’m in great shape and I’m always ready to go in case a fight comes up.  I’ve been in the gym working hard and my timing is on point.”

“Virgil Hunter, who’s one of the best trainers in the world, will be working my corner. He’s guided me to victory before and I know together, we’ll come up with a masterful game plan.”

“This is a big opportunity for Karim to show the world he’s an elite fighter,” said Prize Fight promoter Brian Young. “This will be the first time Mayfield headlines a nationally televised main event and we believe he has all the talent to become a world champion.  If he’s victorious, we want to push for a title shot by the end of the year.”

This is a big opportunity for Serrano, who is seeking his first regional title.  He’ll be fighting close to his hometown of Philadelphia where he’s fought most of his career.

“Serrano is a tough guy with a good record and I’ll be going into his backyard for this fight,” Mayfield said. “But I’m on a mission to get that world title shot and I’m not going to let anyone stop me.  I’m just going to keep winning and let my management and promotional teams do their jobs.  I’m taking on all comers but my focus right now is strictly on Serrano. I’ts an honor to be fighting as the main-event on ESPN.  It’s my time to shine.”

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=51186

|||||

Coachella’s Randy Caballero toughed it out to win the NABO bantamweight title against Mexico’s Jose Luis Araiza and Indio’s Omar Figueroa beat Ramon Ayala Friday in a lightweight bout that should have won him a regional title had he made weight.

Caballero (14-0, 7 KOs) expected a tough night, but was surprised by Araiza’s (32-6-1, 23 KOs) experience during the main event of the card at Fantasy Springs Casino before a crowd of more than 1,200 people that included Oscar De La Hoya and James “Buster” Douglas.

Coachella’s Caballero won the fight by unanimous decision but was not satisfied with the victory.

“I wasn’t myself,” said Caballero, 21. “I kept getting caught with those overhand rights.”

A counter right hand followed by a left hook stunned Araiza a bit in round two as the action began to heat up. Caballero seemed more comfortable with his distance and timing.

Araiza landed a few clean shots on the fast approaching Caballero in round three. A left-right combination landed squarely, followed by a short crisp left hook to the jaw in a rather slow round.

The fourth round saw a few good exchanges with a right uppercut sneaking in for Caballero and a four punch combination for Araiza to the body. A long counter right by Caballero was the last clean scoring blow of the round.

Araiza turned things around in rounds six and seven by landing big shots and mixing in blows to the body. Caballero stopped the rally by resorting to the jab in round seven. He also used more distance forcing Araiza to walk in to more punches.

Caballero became slicker with his punches and began to sharpshoot the Araiza. But the last two rounds saw both engage with Araiza landing the overhand rights and Caballero the shorter uppercuts inside.

All three judges scored it for Caballero 97-93 and 98-92 twice, giving the Coachella fighter the vacant NABO bantamweight title.

“It feels good my name is right there now,” Caballero said about winning the title. “But I got to make sure I never make those mistakes again.”

BY DAVID A. AVILA

http://www.pe.com/sports/boxing/boxing-headlines/20120317-boxing-caballero-wins-nabo-bantamweight-title.ece

||||

Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico – Mikey Garcia (28-0, 24KOs) stopped Bernabe Concepcion (29-6-1, 15KOs) in the seventh round to retain the NABO featherweight title.

A clash of styles in the first three rounds. Concepcion, usually an aggressive fighter, switched things up and started pure boxing match with Garcia. In the fourth, Concepcion was staying defense to avoid the big shots of an incoming Garcia, and tried to reply with counters. Garcia was using a heavy jab and trying to break the strong guard of Concepcion. By the sixth, Garcia started picking up the pace with punches to the body and head.

In the seventh, a two-punch combination sent Concepcion down for count. Garcia was stalking in a calm manner by working the head and body of Concepcion against the ropes to force the stoppage at 2:27.

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50485

|||||

No. 1-rated contender MIKEY GARCIA will risk his undefeated record, his NABO and NABF featherweight titles and his rating when he faces two-time world championship challenger BERNABE CONCEPCION on the Lopez-Salido II card which will take place Saturday, March 10 and will be televised live from Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, P.R. on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Photos by Peter Amador/Top Rank.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50417

|||||||

Wednesday’s presser in San Juan for the rematch between Orlando Salido and Juan Manuel Lopez revealed two things as it pertains to the main event: Lopez is intent on proving that the first fight was a fluke, while Salido just wants everyone to shut up and fast forward to fight night.

As was the case last April, Showtime will be on board to televise the clash, live from Coliseo Roberto Clemente (Saturday, 10PM ET/PT). The final presser before Saturday’s showdown saw both fighters say as much with body language as they did behind the mic.

Salido (37-11-2, 25KO) appeared disinterested for much of the media station, so much that he didn’t even make note of the promotional banner, listing Lopez’ name first despite the fact that he enters Saturday’s rematch as the defending champ.

The 31-year old Mexican was sporting his usual blue zip-up jacket with the WBO patched placed just above the heart, proudly representing the organization that crowned him champ in last year’s monster knockout upset over Lopez. His wardrobe – also including jeans and sneakers – was in stark contrast to that of the flashy Lopez (31-1, 28KO), who appeared in a suit and tie and with plenty to say.

Above all else, Lopez is trying his hardest to convince anyone who will listen that the JuanMa from the first fight and the one who will be present are two separate fighters entirely.

“I want to clarify that I have never offered any excuses,” Lopez said of last April’s affair, in which the Puerto Rican suffered a 5th round knockdown and was stopped on his feet two rounds later. “So Orlando, I don’t want to hear you say any excuses. I assure you that March 10 that title is mine.”

‘That title’ was Lopez’ – along with an undefeated record and a rumored showdown with Yuriorkis Gamboa. All of that went out the window the moment referee Roberto Ramirez Jr rescued the Puerto Rican southpaw from taking further punishment midway through the seventh round of an even fight.

Since then, Lopez has fought just once – a third round knockout of Mike Oliver in an uneven performance. Meanwhile, Salido has spent every moment of the past near-year knowing what it once again feels like to be a champ.

That hasn’t sat well at all with Lopez, who thirsts for a return to the spotlight.

“I hope you enjoyed your title reign, because come March 10 I’m regaining my title,” Lopez insists. “Orlando, you can return the title that I let you borrow for the past 11 months.”

Whether he woke up late, or just wasn’t in the mood to be there, Salido couldn’t be bothered to summon up a response to Lopez’ claims. Instead, he remained true to his motto of letting his fists do all the talking.

“I don’t have much to say,” stated Salido when it was his turn to the mic. “I now come to (this fight) with more confidence than the last time.”

 

By Jake Donovan

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50377

||||||||||

Concepción and García faced off today. Hard-hitting Filipino Bernabé “Abe” Concepción (29-5-1, 15 KO’s), a boxer managed by fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao, will have the golden opportunity to challenge world ranked undefeated featherweight Miguel Angel “Mikey” García (27-0, 23 KO’s) for the prestigious WBO North American Boxing Organization (NABO) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) featherweight titles this coming Saturday at the legendary Coliseo Roberto Clemente this Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Hailing from Virac, the capital city of the island province of Catanduanes in the Bicol Region in Luzon, Bernabe Concepcion, 24, comes from a very tough narrow split decision victory over California’s Aaron Garcia (10-3-2, 2KOs) last October at the San Manuel Indian Casino in Highland, California, a combat in which Aaron Garcia suffered a cut in his left eyebrow from accidental headclash with the Filipino.

Bernabé Concepción, a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, is mainly remembered for his second round KO lost to Juanma Lopez in Puerto Rico and for being disqualified in his WBO world title fight against then champion american Steven Luevano.

In that fight in which Abe Concepcion intentionally hit Steven Luevano with a violent right hook way after the sound bell that ended round seven. American referee Mr. Jay Nady disqualified Conception on the spot.

Meanwhile, tough opponent Mexican-American Miguel “Mickey” García, 24, the heavy handed figher from Oxnard, California is the promising current #1 featherweight by the WBA, #2 by the WBC and # 3 by the WBO.

It’s probable that that the winner of the Mikey Garcia vs Bernabe Concepcion clash would challenge the winner of the Juanma Lopez vs Orlando Salido fight for the WBO featherweight world title.

Mickey Garcia is a younger brother of former world champion Roberto Garcia.

Nowadays, Roberto García is the hugely successful trainer of some of the world’s top fighters in coming high profile bouts like “The filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire, Antonio Margarito, Joan Guzman and Brandon “BamBam” Rios.

Both Bernabe Concepcion and Mickey Garcia have promotional agreements with Top Rank. And fellow featherweight fighter Boricua star Juanma Lopez, fighting in the main event, is also promoted by Hall-of-famer legendary promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.

Here are Mikey and Bernabe’s toughts during todays presscon:

Bernabe Concepcion: “I’m excited for fight night on Saturday against Garcia. I came to Puerto Rico once before (in July 2010 to fight Juanma Lopez). Thanks to the promoter (Top Rank) and all the fans for having me back, but I hope for a different result this time.”

Mikey Garcia: “My fight with Bernabe Concepcion is a tough fight. It’s a dangerous fight and it means everything to me. If I want my world title shot, I need to win. There has been talk about me fighting the winner of Lopez and Salido. I want my chance. I hope to fight the winner of Saturday night’s fight for the belt before the end of the year.”

 

By Carlos Costa

http://philboxing.com/news/story-67372.html

||||||

A recent swing through California saw me catch up and chronicle several fighters and boxing luminaries prepping for their next big assignments in one way or another.

This past weekend I paid a visit to the Two Feathers gym in Riverside as unbeaten featherweight Miguel ‘Mikey’ Garcia was putting in work for his March 10th Showtime date with former title challenger Bernabe Concepcion for the vacant WBO NABO Featherweight title, set to go down in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

And while I definitely felt the need to get back home, it was only fitting that I again paid a stop to the Two Feathers gym beforehand, as I heard Garcia was going to be putting in his final sparring before heading out to Puerto Rico this Tuesday.

On this day his older brother Robert would make the trek from his Oxnard bases with a pair of sparring partners for his young sibling, undefeated Russian-born featherweight Evgeny Gradovich and 23-year old lightweight prospect Javier ‘Pelos’ Garcia, who is also Garcia’s nephew.

Getting in on the action was another talented featherweight prospect, 3-0 Saul Rodriguez, a stable mate of Mikey’s.

In a round-robin kind of format that saw each guy put in six rounds of work, Garcia went three rounds with the aggressive Gradovich before switching off for three rounds with Javier. Javier then stayed in the ring and went three frames with Rodriguez, who, in return then went three stanzas with Gradovich.

No matter what pairing I watched, the sparring was very intense and competitive.

After the work was done I said my goodbyes, this Oxnard/Riverside crew being a particular favorite of mine to keep tabs on, and headed back home.

And while it was another whirlwind jaunt through Cali over those five days I find myself being grateful that I’m able to work so closely in a sport I love so much and can only hope my photos and interviews/stories do a bit of justice to the memorable time that was again had.

 

Photos and text by Chris Robinson

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50318

 

||||||

It was a triumphant return to Woodland for Vicente “Chente” Escobedo (25-3, 15 KOs) as he destroyed “Lightning” Lonnie Smith (14-3-2, 10 KOs) in a first-round TKO to earn the WBO NABO Junior Lightweight title on Saturday at the Woodland Community & Senior Center.

“It feels great,” Escobedo said after the fight. “It should have happened a long time ago I believe, but it’s been a learning experience. I’ve been to the top, the bottom and now I feel like I’m back on the rise.”

The scheduled 10-round bout only lasted two minutes and 20 seconds as Escobedo quickly dropped his opponent three times.

“I expected Lonnie to come fight, which he did and I knew he was going to be aggressive, but I knew once I hit him with some shots he was going to think twice about coming forward.”

Escobedo was the aggressor for most of the fight. He caught Smith with a right hand and took control after the first knockdown. Escobedo said once he realized he could brush off Smith’s punches, he knew things were going to go his way.

“I was keeping my composure and keeping my defense tight, but coming with some hard single shots and that’s what caught him,” Escobedo said.

The fight card, which was part of TeleFutura’s Solo Boxeo, was sold out two days before the event even with added rows of seats. As Escobedo entered the ring, the crowd erupted and started chanting “Chente.”

“Coming out of the Olympics I was going to be the next big thing but then things didn’t happen as planned, but it’s OK,” Escobedo said about the trials and tribulations he has been through in his quest for a title belt. “But I never stopped believing in myself, my team never did and Woodland never did. I think this is a great gift for Woodland and I’m just overwhelmed and happy that I can give this incredible knockout to Woodland.”

Escobedo said he is going to hang around with his family and friends in Woodland for a few days before he has to return home to Southern California. He said its been close to a year since he last came home to Woodland.

“I’m passing through the town and I’m seeing all these different, new shops and I’m thinking, ‘that used to not be here,'” Escobedo said.

In the future, Escobedo might be a part of that change.

“Another dream of mine is one day, if I ever become a world champion, or a big, big superstar I would love to do something for the kids here in Woodland. I think it’s needed … to not only fix up the boxing gym but do some other kind of stuff because I know what it’s like growing up not having certain things so if I have the privilege to get those things for the kids, I think the kids are the future and that’s something I would love to do for my hometown,” Escobedo said.

As for his future and the path to a world title, Escobedo said that he made a statement with his victory over Smith.

“I think this is going to open a lot of doors,” he said. “I don’t know what’s next for me, I let my manager take care of that for me … but I’m motivated, I’m excited and I can’t wait for my next one.”

In the co-main event, Vacaville’s Manuel “Tino” Avila (7-0, 2 KOs) won a unanimous decision over David Reyes (2-2). Earlier in the night, Dmitry Chudinov (6-0-1) and Paul Mendez (7-2-1) fought to a draw, Jonathan Chicas (5-0) earned a majority decision over Ephraim Martinez (0-1) and Harry Gopaul (1-2-0) won by a second-round stoppage against Payton Boyea (0-1) in a battle of two Sacramento fighters.

By TOM WRIGHT

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/sports/ci_20099383

 

 

||||

Super-featherweight prospect “El Negro Mexicano” Lonnie Smith (14-2-2, 10 KOs) will face off against former world title challenger Vicente Escobedo (24-3, 14 KOs) on March 3rd in Woodland, CA for the WBO NABO Jr. Lightweight Title.  The Smith vs. Escobedo bout is scheduled for ten rounds and will headline Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo Series (check local listings).

This is by far the most important fight in Lonnie Smith’s career.  Even after a string of bout fall-outs, nothing deterred him from continuing to work hard in the gym. The 24 year old is excited and prepared for this opportunity.

“I’m a gym rat that doesn’t stop working.” Says Smith. “I have been focused and working very hard. This fight means everything.”

Smith is known for his action-packed fighting style. Although he promises to always deliver excitement in the ring, he is looking forward to showing boxing fans the improvements he has made in the gym.

“I hope that the people who have seen me fight before see the growth and maturity in my fighting style. I believe I have come a long way from just being a puncher. I am dedicated to improving my craft each fight.”

Smith lives in Las Vegas and trains with Skipper Kelp. Kelp is a former world-ranked welterweight, but has developed a reputation as a great boxing trainer.

Vicente Escobedo is a big step up in competition for Lonnie Smith.  Along with facing Michael Kadsidis for the interim WBO world title in 2009, he went the distance against current interim WBO and interim WBA world titlist Robert Guerrero in 2010. In Escobedo’s last fight, he beat former world champion, Rocky Juarez.

To make Smith’s task even tougher, the upcoming fight is taking place at the Woodland Community Senior Center in Escobedo’s hometown.  Smith remains confident, nonetheless.

“I am only going to Woodland, CA for a win!”

On Saturday, a young, hungry prospect is pitted against an experienced, skillful world title challenger. Lonnie Smith vs. Vicente Escobedo is a can’t-miss for boxing fans!

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50078

 

||||||

Earlier today in Las Vegas, Nevada, budding prospect-turned-contenders ‘Lightning’ Lonnie Smith and NABO lightweight champion Sharif ‘The Lion’ Bogere engaged in some fast-paced sparring at The Fight Capital Gym right off of Interstate 15.

Bogere, a native of Uganda now living and training out of Vegas, is one of Golden Boy Promotions’ prized young hopefuls and is eyeing a February 25th return on the undercard of the Marcos Maidana-Devon Alexander HBO showcase in St. Louis, Missouri. The 23-year old lightweight possesses a 21-0 record with 13 knockouts and is trained by the respected Kenny Adams.

Smith too has a fight just weeks away as he is eyeing a March 3rd assignment with Woodland, California’s Vicente Escobedo. Fighting at 130 pounds, Smith now holds a 14-2-2 mark with ten knockouts and has reeled off nine wins in a row.

The action was brisk right from the start as Smith began applying his trademark pressure while Bogere boxed and attempted to counter.

Things got a little sloppy and heated on a few occasions as the two fighters wrestled with one another, almost to the point where they had to be separated in the second round.

It was rigorous work for both sides and you could sense the respect coming from each man despite the frantic pace of the rounds.

Trainer and cut man Miguel Diaz was in the building working with heavyweight prospect Andy Ruiz and stuck around to watch the action from ringside.

“Two young fighters like Lonnie and Sharif, you can see the difference in the weight, the five pounds difference,” Diaz coined of Bogere, who has fought as high as 139 pounds as a pro. “You can see that when Sharif receives the punches, his body is, how do I put it, real hard. It was good work.”

Last month Diaz had one of his latest pupils, Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy, sparring with Smith in advance of his February 3rd victory over Hylon Williams Jr.

Lonnie went at Barthelemy with reckless abandon during their time in the ring and Diaz would be the last person to underestimate the aggressive Smith, regardless of who he is squaring up with.

“When you work with Lonnie you got to be ready, otherwise he’s all over you,” said Diaz

 

By Chris Robinson

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49609

 

 

 

 

 

|||||

WBO North American Boxing Organization (NABO) Executive Director, Mark Reels, has announced that tonight’s bout between Demetrius Andrade vs. Angel Hernandez will not be for the vacant NABO Jr. Middleweight title. Andrade’s original foe, Derek Ennis, backed out Monday; for which the bout was scheduled to be for the vacant NABO Jr. Middleweight title. Since Ennis dropped our of the bout, it (Andrade’s fight) will no longer be for the NABO Jr. Middleweight title.

|||||

BRONX, NY (February 7, 2012) – Veteran boxing promoter Joe DeGuardia had a brief respite this past Sunday, one day after promoting his second show in two weeks and a few days prior to his Star Boxing-presented ESPN Friday Night Fights show this week, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

TA lifelong New York sports fan, Joe eagerly watched the Super Bowl with his two sons, Joseph (15) and Andrew (10), in the Bronx at a relative’s home. Joe and Joseph were thrilled that their New York Giants won, but Andrew was heartbroken his New England Patriots lost.

For some unknown reason, Andrew is a Pats fan who showed the heart of a fighter last Friday, when he entered his classroom in Westchester — filled with Giants fans — wearing a Tom Brady jersey and Patriots hat along with #12 (Brady’s number) painted on one side of his face, Patriots on the other.

Andrew DeGuardia

“He didn’t care,” Joe said about his son being the lone dissenter among his classmates. “I was torn watching the game because one son was rooting for the Giants, the other for the Patriots. I was born and raised in the Bronx, a diehard New York sports fan. Joseph is the same as his parents (Giants, Yankees, etc.). Andrew, though, is a rebel.

“Andrew was ecstatic when the Patriots were leading. He was rubbing it in, even doing a ‘Cruz salsa dance’ after the Pats scored a touchdown. A little depressed after the game, Andrew bounced right back saying, ‘Wait until next year.’ Believe it or not, I honestly don’t know why, but Andrew is a Red Sox fan, too.”

Friday night’s fights this week should be easier for Joe to watch because both of his sons will be supporting two of Star Boxing’s most promising boxers, unbeaten 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, and undefeated junior welterweight prospect Raymond “Tito” Serrano.

Andrade(15-0, 10 KOs) takes on former world title challenger Angel “Toro” Hernandez (30-10 (17 KOs) in the 10-round main event for the vacant North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) junior middleweight title. Former World amateur champion Andrade – WBO #9, WBC & IBF #13 and WBA #15 – fights out of nearby Providence.

Tickets are $75.00, $40.00 and $30.00 (plus $5.00 facility fee for all tickets) and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office, subject to availability, or by calling Star Boxing at 1.718.823.2000 and online via www.StarBoxing.com.


http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/02/andrade-hernandez-nabo-junior-middleweight-title-fight-headlines-this-weeks-espn-fnf-card/

||||

WBO NABO Jr. Heavyweight champion BJ Flores (27-1-1, 16 KOs) scored a sixth round TKO over comebacking 40-year-old former welterweight title challenger Hugo Pineda (39-6-1, 28 KOs) on Saturday night with an enthusiastic hometown crowd at the Shrine Mosque in Springfield, Missouri. Flores dominated the entire bout with Pineda not able to connect on anything significant in the six plus rounds. Flores looked exceptionally sharp and did not give Pineda an easy target to hit and at times it looked as if Flores knew what Pineda was going to throw. Both fighters were tentative in the first, each carefully measuring the other and keeping at a safe distance, however, early in the 3rd Flores connected with a thunderous left hand to drop Pineda but he was able to continue. The Missouri native then began to work Pineda’s body and from this point forward, it seemed to take the starch out of him.

Flores turned up the heat in the fourth as Pineda began telegraphing his shots allowing Flores to pick his spots, as he pounded his opponent to the body with both hands. The fifth round was much of the same as Flores seemed to not be interested in stopping Pineda just yet, continuing to feed the man across from his a steady diet of lefts and rights to his belly.

To his credit, Pineda came out in the fifth more aggressive, trying to keep Flores off of him, letting both hands go. However, the bodywork delivered by Flores up to this point had sufficiently weakened Pineda so that Flores was able to walk right through the barrage. The round ended with Flores unleashing his own arsenal, throwing combinations at a blistering pace.

Standing from his stool to start the sixth, Flores seemed determined to end the contest. Flores began to fire the right hand, sending his opponent around the ring with every punch. After trapping Pineda against the ropes, Flores began dropping both hands on his opponent. Toward the end of the round, Referee Mike England had seen enough, determining that Pineda could not defend himself, ending the bout at 2:34.

Flores was asked after the fight how he thought he did. “I felt sharp tonight” He continued to add “this was my 3rd fight in 6 month and it was against a guy I was supposed to beat but beating someone impressively is always a tough thing. I executed my game plan and got him out faster than anybody else has ever knocked him out”.

Promoter Don King, who recently added Flores to his stable, was in attendance and was asked what was next for Flores and he said that a title fight is definitely in Flores future.

 

By Clint Rosser at ringside
Photos: David Martin Warr/DKP 2012

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/flores-pineda-report-107103

|||||
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4