Photos: Lomachenko Putting in Work For Salido Shot

Photos by:  Chris Farina/Top Rank –

SAN ANTONIO — Two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist and 2013 Prospect of the Year VASYL LOMACHENKO (1-0, 1 KO), is in a hurry to make his mark, and in only his second professional fight, he will be challenging three-time world featherweight champion ORLANDO “Siri” SALIDO for Salido’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title.  The Salido-Lomachenko world championship fight will be televised live from the Alamodome, Saturday, March 1, on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.  The telecast will also feature the eagerly-anticipated 12-round rematch between former World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion and Son of the Legend JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ JR. and Top-Five contender and two-fisted Texan BRYAN VERA.

“It has been a long, hard ride to get to this world title fight,” said Lomachenko.  “I may have only one professional fight on my resume but I have been boxing all my life,  dreaming that one day I would be fighting the best fighters. And now I am fighting a world champion who is one of the best in featherweight division. Salido is a very good veteran fighter and he has been in the ring with toughest opponents.  He puts a lot of pressure on you inside the ring and he comes to fight.  Defeating this kind of fighter would mean a lot to me. It would also add my name to boxing history and get me one step closer to joining the sport’s all-time best. Thank you to Top Rank and a special thank you to Bob Arum for making this fight happen — for making my dream come true. Tune into HBO World Championship Boxing on March 1st.  You will remember the Alamodome that night.”

Salido (40-12-2, 28 KOs), of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, México, completed a hat trick last year by winning a world featherweight  title for the third time.  He captured the vacant WBO featherweight title by knocking out No. 1 contender Orlando Cruz in the seventh round of their September 12, 2013 fight.  Salido captured his first world title in his third attempt.  After a No Decision to Robert Guerrero in 2006 and a split decision loss to Cristobal Cruz in 2008, Salido finally captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight title in 2010, avenging his loss to Cruz by winning a split decision.  His title reign was short-lived, losing a unification fight to World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa later that same year.  Salido bounced back in a big way, stopping undefeated WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez in the eighth round in 2011 to capture his second world championship crown.  Salido successfully defended that title twice, knocking out Kenichi Yamaguchi and Lopez in a rematch during his two-year reign, before losing it to Mikey Garcia last January. He enters this title defense having won six of his last seven fights by knockout.

Two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko jumped into the deep end of boxing’s international-sized swimming pool when he made his professional debut in a 10-round featherweight bout against the WBO’s No. 7-rated  featherweight contender Jose Luis Ramirez last September 12.  It didn’t take Lomachenko long to take to the water.  He knocked out Ramirez (24-2-2, 15 KOs) in the fourth round to become the new WBO International featherweight champion.  He ended the year as the WBO’s No. 5 world-rated featherweight contender as well as being proclaimed the 2013 “Prospect of the Year” by the majority of the major boxing media.  Lomachenko first gained international renown by winning gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games as a featherweight and a lightweight, respectively.  Known for his all-out aggressive style of boxing, Lomachenko is equally aggressive in plotting his professional boxing plan to a world title where he insisted on making his pro debut in a 10-round bout against a seasoned Top-10 rated contender where a victory could propel him to a world title shot in his next fight.

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-lomachenko-putting-work-salido-shot–74604

Photo: abc6.com/wlne.images.worldnow.com/images/24637198_BG1.jpg

ATLANTA – Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (20-0, 13 KOs) is shooting for the stars, better make that, The Star.

Not only does Andrade plan to succeed Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. as boxing’s pound-for-pound champion and biggest draw, the slick southpaw hopes to fight Mayweather prior to “Money” closing his boxing bank, so to speak.

Andrade, a native of Providence who now lives in Atlanta, defeated previously unbeaten  2004 U.S. Olympian Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan (33-1-1, 21 KOs) by 12-round decision for the vacant WBO title last November on HBO. The 25-year-old is now required to make his first title defense, likely in April according to Andrade, against WBO No. 1-rated mandatory challenger Brian “The Lion” Rose (25-1-1, 7 KOs).

The 36-year-old Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) will face either Amir Khan or Marcus Maidana on May 3 in Las Vegas on Showtime PPV.  The nine-time, five-division world champion Mayweather is the reigning WBC and WBA Super junior middleweight title holder.

“I’m getting ready to take over boxing after Mayweather retires,” Andrade said.  “I want to match my natural, God-given skills against his before he hangs up his gloves for good. Let’s unify the titles, Floyd.  We can do it here in Atlanta, Las Vegas or New York. You pick the place, just don’t leave me hanging and retire without fighting me. This is my time!”

Mayweather announced that he will fight only four more times, including May 3, and then retire next year from the ring as a boxer. Andrade needs to quickly position himself as a viable opponent and rising star in order to be seriously considered as one of only three more Mayweather opponents.  A match-up between the two could be like the passing of the torch, assuming Andrade continues to develop in the ring and marketable product.

Andrade has been described by some as a younger, taller (by 5 inches), southpaw version of Mayweather because of their similar styles and tremendous boxing skills.  Their similarities don’t end there, however. They are both African-Americans who flash endearing smiles, in addition to being former US Olympians (Mayweather – 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, Andrade – 2008), multiple National Golden Gloves champions (Mayweather 1993, 1994 & 1996, Andrade 2006 & 2007), and two of the few undefeated professional prizefighters.  Andrade was also the 2007 World Championships gold medalist.

Is Mayweather vs. Andrade in the stars?  Stay tuned, boxing fans.

http://www.boxingscene.com/andrade-ill-take-over-boxing-mayweather-retires–74599

Photo:  Getty Images/googleimages/-

By Miguel Rivera –

Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum, and Zanfer Promotions President Fernando Beltran, are discussing the possibility of a fight between Juan Manuel Marquez (55-7-1, 40KOs) and Mike Alvarado, which is being targeted for May 17th at The Forum in Los Angeles, California. The co-feature would see a lightweight bout between Mikey Garcia and Yuriorkis Gamboa. Marquez lost a twelve round split decision to WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley in October, and then a week later Alvarado (34-2, 23KOs) was stopped by Ruslan Provodnikov.

“A few minutes ago I just spoke with Fernando Beltran [who handles Marquez]. Juan Manuel Marquez, maybe he will go against Mike Alvarado. And then the winner? Although not officially, [the winner] would face the winner of the rematch between Pacquiao and Bradley. This is what might happen here. We are thinking about [doing that fight] at the new Forum in Los Angeles,” Arum stated to Carlos Narvaez.

http://www.boxingscene.com/marquez-alvarado-arum-beltran-discussing-5-17–74595

By Keith Idec

Promoter Main Events announced Tuesday that Sergey Kovalev will defend his WBO light heavyweight title against Cedric Agnew on March 29 in Atlantic City.

The scheduled 12-round bout between the Russian knockout artist and Chicago’s Agnew will be broadcast by HBO from Boardwalk Hall. The 30-year-old Kovalev (23-0-1, 21 KOs) had hoped after tearing through Ukraine’s Ismayl Sillah (21-2, 17 KOs) on Nov. 30 in Quebec City, Canada, that he could land a unification fight against Adonis Stevenson (23-1, 20 KOs), the WBC light heavyweight champion.

Stevenson stopped England’s Tony Bellew (20-2-1, 12 KOs) in the seventh round of the HBO main event that followed Kovalev’s second-round knockout of Sillah on Nov. 30. Stevenson, 36, has since decided to defend his title against Chicago’s Andrzej Fonfara (25-2, 15 KOs, 1 NC) on May 24 at Bell Centre in Montreal.

Stevenson’s decision left Main Events executives to seek a less appealing opponent good enough for HBO Sports executives to approve.

The 27-year-old Agnew (26-0, 13 KOs) defeated former light heavyweight contender Yusaf Mack (31-7-2, 17 KOs) by unanimous decision to win the USBA 175-pound crown in his last fight, April 12 in New Buffalo, Mich.

Mostly, however, Agnew has a faced a moderate level of opposition since making his pro debut seven years ago and figures to be a huge underdog in what should amount to a showcase fight for the hard-hitting Kovalev. Agnew is ranked No. 15 by the WBO, but is rated No. 3 by the IBF.

http://www.boxingscene.com/kovalev-face-agnew-on-march-29-atlantic-city–74559

By:  Floyd Brown —

After 18 years honing your craft, countless hours spent in the gym, and a childhood filled with sacrifice explain to your fans how it felt to be crowned world champion when you defeated Vanes Martirosyan at the end of 2013?

I knew when I was young that my sacrifice would pay off in the long run. I knew that if I worked not only hard but smart that I would be where I am today as world champion.But my dreams and goals go much farther than this. Winning my first title in the pro’s back in November was a great feeling. There are no words to explain what I felt in my heart. It was very special for me to do it with the team I put together and my father as head trainer, the man Paul Andrade.

Why did you decide to leave Virgil Hunter and rehire your father Paul Andrade as head trainer? Also what makes Poppa Bear such a great trainer?

Training with Virgil hunter was an experience to seek and learn what’s really the best for me. And what I found out is there is no one better for me than the one who raised me from an infant in this game. He taught me the art of boxing and also how to be a man. There is no trainer better for me than the Million Dollar man, the Silver haired professor of pugilism, Paul Andrade.

How do you feel about your opponent Brian Rose? And what do you feel he will bring to the table when challenges you for your WBO 154 LB strap?

I expect him to train hard and come into this fight in great shape so we can put on a great show for the fans. And trust me it is definetely going to be a shut out. The WBO is mines and I want the rest of the title also. I want to unify the division and be the undisputed champion. I know that’s me, I just need to opportunity to prove it.

How have things changed for you since becoming a world champion?

Nothing too crazy, it’s just a constant reminder that I can accomplish anything I want in life. But to answer the question I will say it moved me up a few “levels”.

What do you like your new residency of Atlanta, GA?

Haha, good question. The A is for the A team. We are here for the #Takeover and we are here to stay. I am new to the City but I can feel the love and support already.

How have you given back to your community since starting your pro boxing career back in 2008?

I have done many things to give back to my community. I have went and spoke to children in schools, writing letters to kids at the training center for delinquent children. I have volunteered some time teaching boxing at after school programs that my brother organized. But the biggest thing I have done to give back to my community is inspire them and show them that dreams do come true if you work hard and smart and keep God first.

What do you believe it will take(on your part and others) to see yourself at the top of the pound4pound list?

Its gon take my whole team to work harder and smarter. Work! Work! Work! Harder and smarter!

Which active boxers today inspire you to pursue greatness?

The best fighter today is Floyd Mayweather. I know I can get to his point and beyond.

How do you feel about the purse bid repeatedly being postponed prolonging your return to the ring?

I feel all types of ways about it. I am hungry and I want to get back in there as soon as possible and show the people that I am that guy for real. I want all the fights the fans want. I want to fight and beat the best. But at the end of the day what I have learned is cats really want some big $$$$$$ to get in there with me.

What are you plans and some of the things you are working on outside of the boxing ring?

We are working on the #TAKEOVER!!!! Stay tuned we have some great things going on, and this is my destiny. If you are the owner/manager of a brand and you want to get your company some worlwide exposure then send your info to- A.TEAMBOXING.EVENTS@GMAIL.COM and we can work with my team on an endorsement strategy that works for you and for us.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/2014/demetrius-andrade-interview/

By:  Rob Smith —

If you wondered what Manny Pacquiao’s strategy will be for how he plans on beating WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley, Pacquiao revealed it in an interview this week. The strategy is simple. Pacquiao says he plans on throwing a lot of punches to force Bradley to deal a lot of incoming. Whether that’ll work or not is another thing.

Bradley isn’t someone that is going to just stand around and let Pacquiao throw 1000 punches at him in a 12 round fight like Joshua Clottey did against Pacquiao in 2010. Bradley has already said that he’s going to use a lot of movement against the Filipino fighter, and choose when and where he wants to mix it up with him.

Pacquiao said via esnewsreporting that he’s going to fight like a “Young Manny Pacquiao, [be] aggressive, throwing a lot of punches. I want to maintain my name at the top, and prove that I can still fight.”

There’s little question that Pacquiao can still fight. He proved that in whipping Brandon Rios last November in Macao, China. The thing that Pacquiao has to prove against Rios is that he can do a better job cutting off the ring against him than he did in their fight in June of 2012, because Pacquiao did a rotten job of forcing Bradley to fight. Pacquiao also did a bad job of fighting for the full three minutes of every round. He looked like he was taking long portions of each round off, and this enabled Bradley go steal the round with minimal effort in the last portions of the rounds.

Bradley is probably going to try the same trick in their rematch on April 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. We saw in Bradley’s last two fights against Ruslan Provodikov and Juan Manuel Marquez that Bradley would come on in the last part of the round to make sure that he won it on the judges score cards. That’s something that he’ll no doubt be trying to do against Pacquiao again. Bradley will likely move for 2.5 minutes of the round, and then go after Pacquiao in the last 30 seconds to try and impress the judges in order to win the round.

Pacquiao can still throw a lot of punches if he moves his feet quick enough to stay close to Bradley. However, if he lets Bradley circle in front of him without cutting off the ring, then he’ll be stuck dealing with Bradley coming after him when and where he wants to in the last seconds of the rounds.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/2014/pacquiao-reveals-his-strategy-for-beating-bradley-im-going-to-throw-a-lot-of-punches/

By Edward Chaykovsky –

Billy Nelson, trainer of WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (36-2-1, 11 KOs), wants his fighter to be “extra busy” against mandatory challenger Terrence Crawford (22-0, 16KOs). The fight is scheduled for March 1 at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. Burns is returning from a controversial twelve round draw with Raymundo Beltran last September, where the Scottish fighter had his jaw badly broken.

Nelson wants his fighter to overwhelm Crawford with punches, not allowing the undefeated challenger to get started.

“I want Ricky to be in the middle of the ring, to work his jab, to dictate the distance and stop his punches and come over the top and rock his body. I want him to be extra busy and take Terence out of his comfort zone,” Nelson told Sky Sports Ringside.

Burns agreed with his train, stating: “I’m going to be using my jab in this fight. A fight can won off the jab.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/burns-trainer-wants-activity-jab-use-on-crawford–74512

By Victor Lee –

Nineteen-year-old slugger Mako Yamada (7-0, 2 KOs), of Fukuoka, Japan wrested the WBO female minimumweight title from formerly undefeated defending southpaw champion Su-Yun Hong (9-1, 5 KOs) this afternoon in snowy Chuncheon, South Korea by split decision scores of 97-93, 96-94 (for Yamada) and 97-96 (for Hong). Yamada employed a persistent body attack that weakened Hong over the first half of the boufemale minimumweight titlet. Yamada upped her work rate in the later rounds, throwing full-force hooks to the head that had Hong holding on for dear life. Not expecting to win a decision on the former champion’s home turf, Yamada burst into tears when the decision was announced. With this victory, Yamada became the first Japanese WBO female champion, and the first woman from Kyushu to win a world title. In the semifinal bout, former amateur standout southpaw Ja-Ik Goo (3-0, 3 KOs) stopped rugged defending South Korean Super Lightweight Champion Taek-Min Kim (15-7, 10 KOs) on cuts to win the national belt. Full report to come.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/yamada-topples-hong-to-become-wbo-female-minimumweight-champion-at-age-nineteen-236773

By Salven L. Lagumbay –

Chuncheon, KOREA–In a fast-paced action fight, Japan’s Mako Yamada outhustled and outpointed defending WBO minimum weight champion Su-Yun Hong over ten rounds at the city gymnasium here.

The shorter Yamada fought with laser-guided precision, sweeping the first three rounds to befuddle the taller defending champion who was heavily breathing starting in the second frame.

By the fourth, and egged on by hometown crowd, Hong upped his tempo a bit, making the fight exciting with both fighters taking and giving punches.

Yamada’s speed and volume-punching proved too much, however, as she cruised to a split decision victory.

Neutral judge Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines scored it 96-94 for Yamada, Japan’s Katsuhiko Nakamura saw it 97-93 for Yamada, while Korean judge Joint Sum Kwon had it 97-96 for Hong. The Korean judge scored three of the rounds a 10-10.

Referee Danrex Tapdasan observed that the defending champ Hong was already breathing heavily as early as the second round.

A possible rematch can be worked out, according to WBO Asia Chairman Leon Panoncillo who supervised the bout. Hong’s handlers own an option to Yamada’s next defense.

Yamada’s handlers, meanwhile, can also bid to hold the fight in Japan, which has recently affiliated itself to the WBO in a special ceremony last year with no less than WBO President Paco Valcarcel in attendance.

With the win, Yamada now boasts of 7 wins, no loss with 2 KO’s while the dethroned Hong tastes her first defeat against 9 wins.

NOTES: Former ALA fighter and RP champion Bart Abapo took time off from his job as a boxing trainer here to visit this writer and WBO chief Leon Panncillo and referee Tapdasan…Chuncheon is just two hours away from communist country North Korea…JBC’s Aaron Ning is probably the hardest-working boxing official in Korea…

http://philboxing.com/news/story-91891.html

Photo: Thomas Kienzle/AFP-Getty Images –

By:  Lem Satterfield –

Cruiserweight titleholder Marco Huck will make the 13th defense of his WBO belt against an opponent to be determined on May 3 in Germany, Sauerland Events announced on Friday.

Huck (37-2-1, 26 knockouts) was last in the ring in January, when he twice dropped Firat Arslan on the way to a sixth-round stoppage in a rematch of Huck’s unanimous-decision victory in November 2012.

“I am excited to have my next bout in Ludwigsburg,” said Huck, 29. “The atmosphere at the Arslan fight was off the charts, and I expect nothing less come May 3.”

Huck can establish a cruiserweight record for consecutive defenses with a win in May, having earned his belt with a unanimous decision over Victor Emilio Ramirez in August 2009.

The current record holder is ex-WBO titleholder Johnny Nelson, who won the belt with a fifth-round stoppage of Carl Thompson in March 1999 and defended it 12 times, retiring after a split-decision win over Vincenzo Cantatore in November 2005.

“It is giving me a vital kick,” said Huck. “I am still dreaming to step up to heavyweight, to be honest. But to achieve this milestone would definitely mean something special to me.”

Huck did lose a disputed majority decision to Alexander Povetkin in February of 2012, though that fight took place at heavyweight.

“Marco did show in his rematch with Firat Arslan that he is not only one of the best cruiserweights in the world, but a great showman,” said Kalle Sauerland.

“As Marco entered the arena, he was booed by about 90 percent of the crowd, and when he left, everyone was cheering him. Only a fighter like Marco Huck can do this, and on May 3, we will witness it again.”

 http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/317889-marco-huck

WBO cruiserweight Marco Huck has said he wants to step up to the heavyweight division to face Wladimir Klitschko, who holds four of the five world title belts. Huck, 29, defended his WBO crown with a sixth round knock-out of 43-year-old challenger Firat Arslan in Stuttgart on Saturday.

Huck wants another shot at a heavyweight title and his coach Ulli Wegner has said his fighter will be a champion in the division by the end of the year.

“My desire is to fight against the best in the world. And I hope the chance to fight Klitschko will now finally come,” Huck told SID.

Huck has already had a shot at a world title – when he lost on points to Russia’s Alexander Povetkin for the WBA heavyweight belt in February 2012.

“When I’m in top shape, no one in the world can beat me,” insisted Huck.

“Neither at cruiserweight nor at heavyweight. I can only beat myelf.”

Huck tried to convince the doubters that he was capable of taking on the 37-year-old Klitschko.

“Why not?,” he asked.

“The last 30 no-names he has already fought all lost against him, but I have already fought battles that people want to see.

“They want to see a Huck show because they know that at any minute, anything can happen.”

Huck’s performance in Stuttgart backed up his words as he took control of the fight from the fourth round, then unleashed a devastating volley of punches in the sixth.

He put Arslan on the canvas twice before the referee stepped in to stop the bout with more than a minute of the round left.

Beating Arslan, who suffered the eighth defeat of his career, and dethroning Klitschko are two entirely different propositions and Huck will need the performance of his career.

Huck will be giving away four inches in height (10 cms) and having weighed in at 199.5 pounds (90 kgs) for Saturday’s fight, he would need to bulk up.

Klitschko weighed in at 241 pounds (109kgs) for his unanimous points win over Povetkin in Moscow last Octber.

But the Huck camp are certainly talking themselves up.

“Marco will be a heavyweight champion by January 1 2015,” said Huck’s trainer Wegner.

“But we are not a one-man operation and have it all cleared with our management.”

With Vitali Klitschko’s WBC heavyweight title now vacant after his move into Ukrainian politics, Huck could well challenge for the title.

And Wladimir Klitschko, who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts, has vowed to keep the WBC title in the family.

http://www.boxingscene.com/huck-focuses-attention-on-moving-up-facing-klitschko–74047

Mikey García se declara listo para defender su cinturón (Top Rank)

Su oponente, Juan Carlos Burgos busca por tercera ocasión un título mundial; perdió contra Hozumi Hasegawa en el 2010 y empató con Román Martínez el 19 de enero de 2013

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO –  El actual campeón de peso súper pluma de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (WBO por sus siglas en inglés), platicó con La Afición de la pelea que sostendrá con el mexicano, Juan Carlos Burgos.

New York, NY   — “GARCIA READY TO GO” —  Undefeated WBO Jr. Lightweight champion and 2013 Fighter of the Year nominee Mikey Garcia shadow boxes during media day in New York City for his first defense of his new world title against  two-time world title challenger and current No. 1 contender Juan Carlos Burgos of Tijuana,Mexico.  Garcia vs  Burgos will take place on Saturday, January 25 and will be televised live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, on HBO Boxing After Dark®. The Garcia – Burgos world championship event will be promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Banner Promotions, Thompson Boxing Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, Warriors Boxing Promotions, Madison Square Garden and Tecate. Remaining tickets, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online atwww.ticketmaster.comandwww.thegarden.com. Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank.

 http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-mikey-garcia-juan-carlos-burgos-media-day–73863

WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck, and former beltholder Firat Arslan, went face to face at the final press conference for this Saturday’s highly anticipated rematch at Hanns-Martin Schleyer-Halle on January 25, 2014 in Stuttgart, Germany. At the press conference, both boxers promised to be victorious. Huck vowed to repeat the outcome of their 2012, where he won a twelve round unanimous decision. Many felt the outcome was highly controversial, especially Arslan, who vows to make things right by not allowing the champion to make it to the judges.

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-huck-arslan-face-face-final-presser–73890

Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines – It was a great start to a New Year for Leyte residents as WBO Vice President for Asia, Leon Panoncillo, Jr. who just arrived from Hawaii, went directly to Tacloban, Leyte to continue on more relief efforts provided by the World Boxing Organization.

According to Panoncillo, after WBO President Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel heard of the successful relief effort from his WBO Asia Pacific staff from the Philippines that distributed $10,000 US dollars worth of relief goods to help the survivors of the Yolanda / Haiyan Typhoon devastation this past December 8, 2013, Valcarcel has ordered more relief goods to be distributed to the people of Leyte. The continuing relief effort got the nod of the Executive Board members of the WBO to approve a second relief funds in the amount of another ten thousand US dollars that had brought both donation relief efforts now up to $20,000 US dollars, equivalent to 880,000 Philippines pesos.

The additional donation from the organization spread relief to more provinces in Leyte, especially surrounding areas in Tacloban City and hard to reach areas of Jaro and Santa Fe. Areas that was also completely destroyed by the Typhoon and news of seldom relief goods reaching in that District Barangay, after the disaster.

“It was really a good experience for me to see the disaster and got to help personally, I realize that we cannot take life for granted after seeing what I saw, anything can happen at any given time,” Panoncillo said.

  
“Giving my time to help on my busy schedule was not a problem for me, in fact it was an honor to help and distribute the tons of rice, noodles, water and variety of can goods that made their way to those provinces. Thousands of families benefited from the relief goods distributed by the WBO,” Panoncillo

http://philboxing.com/news/story-90957.html

By Alexey Sukachev –

Rising manager Egis Klimas spoke to BoxingScene.com about the diamond in his boxing stable, two-time Olympic gold medal winner Vasyl Lomachenko (1-0, 1KO). The boxer will go for a world title in only his second pro fight, when he challenges WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido on March 1.

– Vasyl Lomachenko is the jewel of your stable and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He debuted with an eye-catching win of Jose Ramirez in October. Has he exceeded your expectations, or equaled them?

– He is so special. The plan was to box with Ramirez, to go the distance with him in the first pro fight, maybe all ten rounds to show Vasyl’s skills and abilities. But that’s boxing. He threw a punch – it was natural – his opponent went down and out. For me, personally, it was a much more interesting turn of events.

Vasya dropped his opponent, made it look spectacular. He looked great. In the third, he landed a picturesque combo on Ramirez with such an ease, that it was astounding. He cut off the ring perfectly, he showed technique. Then he landed that punch. What are boxing fans waiting and looking for in a fight?

– I suppose, knockout is the right answer?

– Absolutely. And he delivered it. Had he danced with that Mexican for all ten rounds – I’ll tell you – someone would have certainly said how dull that fight was. Psychology. Like people say of [Guillermo] Rigondeaux. A great boxer? Yes! One you will pay to watch? Nah…

I’m totally delighted with the outcome of the fight. Lomachenko is a unique product, a special fighter. Not only me but also Bob Arum – we think he has a PPV future ahead of him. His first fight was PPV, despite him being a foreigner. His second fight will be PPV as well. People will pay to watch him.

– With all due respect to Vasily, his first fight wasn’t a complete blowout. He had marks on his face. He missed some punches, and he got hit by Ramirez.

– I’ve reviewed tapes of Ramirez fight. That bruise – it has come from a headbutt rather than from a punch. On one hand, it doesn’t matter – you should look after all the details while in ring. You should be ready for everything, including fouls and dirty tactics. On the other hand, that’s boxing.

I don’t think it is what we should worry about. You get hit in boxing. It’s not a ballet, it’s a tough game. But you should eat one to answer with a multi-punch combination, and it makes for a crowd-pleasing fighter, one who will be beloved. Much more dangerous are heavy blows, and we shall control that.

– Who has made Vasily such a great boxer he is?

– His father. Anatoly Nikolayevich [Lomachenko] made Vasya so great. 95% of Lomachenko is his father, who has prepared an absolute fight machine. His knowledge is great, his connection with his son is perfect.

– Anatoly Lomachenko is a great amateur coach. Perception is he doesn’t have full knowledge of the pro game yet. What can be done to strengthen Team Lomachenko? Can Vasily make a transition to a pro trainer from his father? Will it affect him?

– I saw many examples of that kind in boxing, when father trains his son. Shane Mosley, Nathan Cleverly, Roy Jones and so on. My perception always was like: “Nah, he will run into it, shouting, making an unnecessary fuss in the corner – we don’t need that. A father shouldn’t be a trainer”. In the case of the Lomachenko family, it’s different, and I feel cutting down this connection will cut off Vasyl’s pro future.

Anatoly Lomachenko is such a knowledgeable guy. He analyzes, he studies fights and boxing trends. Everything he says… it makes sense. And Vasily trusts him fully… But when they came to America, Papa Lomachenko himself asked us to find a pro coach with a great understanding of prizefighting to help them, to make their team stronger. It’s not just words. He can speak but he can also listen to.

Team Lomachenko is very strong. We’ve brought in rising coach Joey Gamache, a two-time world champion himself to the camp. Gamache is a very promising young coach, who was refined by the late great Emanuel Steward. He also works as a cutman. We also have a specific conditioning trainer and a speed-developing guru, who help us. Both Vasily and Anatoly accepted these newcomers.

FUTURE OF LOMACHENKO

– On March 1 he battles ultra-tough veteran champion Orlando Salido (40-12-2, 28 KOs) for the WBO title. If he is successful…

– Not “if”. When he is successful (smiles).

– Yes, when he is successful… Okay. I feel that questions about the Salido fight are worthless now. So when he is past Salido, I assume, only big-time fights and only stars will be on his mind. And if not stars then at least, other champions in the featherweight division. One of them is Gradovich. Is there a chance for that fight – between Gradovich and Lomachenko, both being managed by you and promoted by Top Rank?

– Of course, I don’t want this fight to happen. I’m against it. But that is the sport. If this fight comes along, we shall do it. Maybe I shall not be present at the arena for that show, so I don’t show any signs of support and sympathy for both of them. I’ll stay at home, popcorn in my hand (smiles), watching it by TV.

Friends clash against each other in the ring. Once, in 1955, there was a fight for the Soviet championship, when the two best Lithuanian fighters Algirdas Šocikas and Richardas Juškenas, who were also close friends, collided in the final. Richardas Juškenas is my father-in-law. And Šocikas asked: “What shall we do, Richardas”, while Juškenas answered: “What can we do? What shall we do? We should fight!” They fought, and Juškenas won…

One manager and one promoter – that is an intra-team fight, which is always possible. A more recent sample: Orlando Salido defeated Orlando Cruz – both were promoted by Top Rank. Yes, Lomachenko vs. Gradovich is surely possible.

– People say Rigondeaux is who you should fight next after Salido (not saying if) is done with. What do you think?

– It’s possible. Why not? I don’t feel Vasya isn’t ready – he is. But Rigondeaux should move up in weight to 126 lbs for this fight to happen. In one of his interviews, the Cuban master asked for a catchweight. It doesn’t make sense. Vasyl will not drain down to 122 lbs. That’s highly unlikely. If Team Rigondeaux wants that fight, go up in weight, and we shall be here.

– What a fight that would be? Will it be interesting to watch two prime (and, in my mind, still) amateurs in the prize ring?

– Guillermo [Rigondeaux] isn’t fun to watch – that’s true. His latest fights were disastrous – from that standpoint. Of course, he is a unique boxer; he moves perfectly, he is untouchable; he is a perfect product for an extreme hardcore purist. Sadly [for them], boxing is made for fans. It’s hard to find many, boxing the way Rigondeaux boxes.

Rigondeaux is not what HBO, what TV channels need from boxing. What they need is fights like James Kirkland vs. Glen Tapia, like Matt Korobov’s latest outing. Yes, Korobov was badly shaken, but he weathered the storm and knocked his opponent out. Ruslan Provodnikov – wow! What fights he has brought on the table.

Frankly, I don’t want this fight. Just because the Cuban fighter is capable of jinxing any fight against any fighter. He would run much, tip-tap – then jump out on the distance and run around. People will start quitting the arena after five to six rounds of such a horrible “blockbuster”. Who needs that? But if the offer is there, we should certainly weigh-in all the options and discuss it within our Team. We don’t rule this fight out.

http://www.boxingscene.com/lomachenkos-manager-on-career-future-big-fights–73405

The Nordic Fight Night in Frederikshavn has been postponed by two weeks due to an eye injury sustained by WBA, WBC & WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus (23-0, 7 KOs). The pound-for-pound number one will now face Myriam Lamare (22-3, 10 KOs) at the Arena Nord on February 1.

“When it comes down to a fighter´s health, we cannot take any risks,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. “The doctors have ordered Cecilia to sit out practice for ten days, which made it impossible for her to be in top shape on January 18. At the highest level, losing two weeks in the middle of your preparation is a nightmare. Against a world-class opponent like Lamare, Cecilia needs to be at 100 percent, not 90, 80 or 70.

“We want to apologize to the fans who have already bought tickets and hope that they will be able to join us on the new date. All fights will remain the same.”

Said Braekhus: “I am very sorry about the postponement but there is nothing I could do about it. I was gutted when I picked up the injury in sparring. I´ve been forced to postpone fights before, like against Anne Sophie Mathis due to my tonsillitis. Believe me, it is the worst feeling in the world. You feel like you let down your fans. So I was very disappointed at first but I am relieved that the postponement is for only two weeks and that my team has been able to set the new date quickly.

“I hope that all my fans will still come over to Frederikshavn and support me. Lamare is a very tough opponent, I couldn´t fight her without a proper preparation. My fitness and my hard training have always given me an edge over my opponents. I´ll now take a little break and then return to practice to get in shape for Lamare.”

Tickets for the January 18 date can be refunded until January 10.

http://www.boxingscene.com/cecilia-braekhus-myriam-lamare-pushed-back-feb-1–73020

By Edward Chaykovsky

WBO/IBO/WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51KOs) has brushed off the trash talk from undefeated contender Tyson Fury (21-0, 15KOs). Fury recently lashed out at Klitschko, claiming the unified champ was ducking him and taking on poor opposition. Klitschko says his management have tried to secure Fury for several dates, but Fury’s team says the boxer is not ready for such a task.

“We’ve been asking Tyson Fury about the fight and his team keeps saying he’s not ready yet, I am not done yet. I am not sure if it was from him but definitely from his management team. I think that such a fight against Fury that if he will continue to be successful will happen and I feel kind also bad that this fight with Tyson Fury and David Haye didn’t work [out], because of the injury to David Haye, but I think it would of been an interesting fight,” Klitschko told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

http://www.boxingscene.com/klitschko-tyson-fury-fight-eventually-happen–73036

By Luke Furman –

WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck (36-2-1, 25KOs) is still hungry to win a title in the heavyweight division. In February 2012, Huck moved up to the heavyweight division to face WBA “regular” heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin. Unexpectedly, Huck made it very competitive and came very close to taking Povetkin out in the later rounds. He went on to lose a close twelve majority round decision, and following the fight he dropped back to cruiserweight.

Two fights later he faced tough veteran Firat Arslan (33-6-2, 21KOs) and won a controversial twelve round unanimous decision. They are going to do it again on January 25th in Stuttgart, Germany. If Huck is successful, he wants to work his way to another heavyweight title shot by the end of the year.

“I’m still dreaming of the heavyweight division. It’s quite possible that I’ll be fighting in the premier division, for a title, by the end of 2014,” Huck said.

http://www.boxingscene.com/marco-huck-wants-another-heavyweight-shot-next-year–73048

By Salvador Rodriguez

WBO super featherweight champion Mikey Garcia (33-0, 28KOs), and his trainer/brother Robert Garcia, are taking no chances with the challenge of top contender Juan Carlos Burgos (30-1-2, 20KOs). They are set to fight on January 25th at the Theater in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Garcia will be making the first defense of his WBO crown after winning the title from Roman Martinez in November. Burgos had a controversial draw with Martinez in January and then came back to a surprising lackluster draw with Yakubu Amidu in July.

“I think Burgos is a great fighter, a true warrior, and he’s has shown that in the ring, demonstrating that against ‘Rocky’ Martinez. No one deserves this fight more than him.  He is also a fighter who’s had a long journey where for many he’s wanted to be a world champion. And certainly [fighting at] junior lightweight is more complicated and therefore we will prepare thoroughly without taking anything for granted,” Robert Garcia said.

http://www.boxingscene.com/garcia-take-no-chances-with-juan-carlos-burgos–72921

By Ryan Burton

WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (23-0-1, 21KOs) continues to hold out hope that he will be able to unify titles with WBC light heavyweight champion Andonis Stevenson.

The two fighters fought on the same card on November 30th in Quebec City, Canada. Kovalev stopped Ismayl Sillakh in two rounds while Stevenson stopped Tony Bellew in six. Kovalev fought in the co-featured fight and said that he made a point to watch Stevenson’s fight which immediately followed.

“He did a good job but I didn’t see anything special. He calls himself Superman,” Kovalev said with a smile.

Kovalev’s manager Egis Klimas said that effective immediately they have a new nickname for Kovalev.

“We are changing Sergey’s nickname. Instead of Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev it is going to be Sergey “Kryptonite” Kovalev,” Klimas told BoxingScene.com.

Klimas also said that Kovalev will remain inn the light heavyweight division for the foreseeable future. He said Kovalev doesn’t have any problems making weight so there is no reason to move up.

“I am comfortable at 175. I make the weight easy,” Kovalev stated.

“He will fight any cruiserweight at 175 though,” Klimas chimed in.

 http://www.boxingscene.com/kovalev-mocks-stevenson-call-me-kryptonite-kovalev—72933