Rios Loses Second Straight Battle with the Scale

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Former WBA Lightweight title holder Brandon Rios forfeited an opportunity to regain his title as he again failed to make the lightweight limit of 135-pounds for his bout against Richard Abril tonight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. However, the grudge match will go on as scheduled, with the title on the line for Abril only. Fighters weighed in Friday afternoon at the casino’s Mizuya Lounge.

Rios (29-0-1, 22 KOs) of Oxnard, California of course was originally scheduled to fight Yuriorkis Gamboa tonight, before the Cuban’s unexpected pullout during the beginning of the promotion’s press tour. Before that tantalizing match-up began to materialize, Rios and his team had publicly declared he was going to move up to 140-pounds. Rios had failed to make the 135-pound limit for a title defense against John Murray last November, and even before that weigh-in the talk was he was done at lightweight.

Abril (17-2-1, 8 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Isla de la Juventud, Cuba entered into the mix after getting into a shoving match with Rios at a Florida press conference that Gamboa opted to no-show. Abril, the WBA #1 ranked lightweight and reigning interim belt holder, felt he should have been fighting for the vacant title from the start and voiced that opinion at the presser. Abril claimed that title with a twelve-round decision over former champion Miguel Acosta in Panama last October.

Rios, the WBA #3 ranked lightweight, scaled 137-pounds on his first attempt Friday. When Rios returned to give it a second try he ended up being a little heavier than the first time around. Abril, who only loses have come by split decision to Hank Lundy and Breidis Prescott, came in at the division limit of 135-pounds.

Due to the fact that Rios did not make the lightweight limit, it is not clear whether or not Abril will lose his interim title should he not win tonight. In correspondence through e-mail, WBA Executive Vice President Gilberto Mendoza Jr. informed 15rounds.com that the status of the interim title in the event of an Abril loss would decided in a meeting of the WBA’s directors.

Highlighting the undercard, light welterweight contender Mike Alvarado (32-0, 23 KOs) of Thornton, Colorado will take on once-beaten Mauricio Herrera (18-1, 7 KOs) of Lake Elsinore, California in a ten-round affair.

Alvarado comes in off of one of his better wins as he became the first to take down 140-pound contender Breidis Precott inside the distance last November. Alvarado, the WBO #3/IBF #9/WBA #11ranked light welterweight, has been taken to the final bell just once in his last six outings. Alvarado weighed in at 140-pounds Friday.

Herrera, the IBF #7 ranked 140-pounder, last saw action in June of last year. In that fight, Herrera took a controversial majority decision over prospect Mike Dallas Jr. However, the last time Herrera was in Las Vegas, he scored the most impressive win of his career. In January of 2011, Herrera stunned the crowd at the Cox Pavilion to take a decisive ten-round decision over previously unbeaten Ruslan Provodnikov. Herrera weighed in at 140-pounds.

Opening the pay-per-view telecast, touted Mercito Gesta (24-0-1, 12 KOs) of San Diego, California by way of Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines takes on journeyman Oscar Cuero (15-7, 12 KOs) of Cartagena, Colombia in a ten-round light welterweight bout.

Gesta, the WBA #7 ranked lightweight and WBO #8 ranked 140-pounder, is coming off of a ten-round decision over former title challenger Ricardo Dominguez back in November. Though Cuero does not sport a very impressive record, he has not been stopped in almost four years, having gone the distance against notables Dannie Williams and Monty Meza Clay. Gesta weighed in at 138-pounds, while Cuero scaled 137.

Light middleweight prospect Mikael Zewski (13-0, 9 KOs) of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada looks to keep busy against Midwest journeyman Brandon Baue (12-5, 10 KOs) of Troy, Missouri in a bout slated for six or eight rounds. Zewski, a former amateur star, has been matched incredibly safe despite his credentials. The Canadian fought less than a month ago, scoring a first-round knockout of a 3-5 fighter in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Baue, who scaled 153 ½-pounds, has lost every time he has gone up against a remotely familiar name.

Terence Crawford (15-0, 11 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska will take on Andre Gorges (11-2, 6 KOs) of Windsor, Ontario, Canada by way of Baghdad, Iraq in the most competitively matched bout off the off-television undercard. Their light welterweight bout is scheduled for six or eight rounds, depending on the distance of the other preliminary bouts. Crawford, who scaled 142-pounds, has been out of action since a September eight-round decision over Angel Rios in Atlantic City. Gorges, who scaled 141-pounds, is coming in off of a twelve-round decision loss to Albert Mensah last July.

Former amateur standout Eric Flores of Inglewood, California will make his professional debut against Wilbert Mitchell (1-2) of Lake Dallas, Texas in a four-round light welterweight bout. Flores, a top amateur and former member of the Los Angeles Matadors World Series of Boxing team, weighed in at 139-pounds. Mitchell, coming in off of his lone pro win, weighed in at 137-pounds.

Ingelwood’s Anthony Flores, Eric’s brother, will also be making his pro debut against Gabriel Medina (1-0) of Hemet, California in a four-round light welterweight bout. Flores, the slightly older of the two brothers, weighed in at 140-pounds. Medina weighed in at 141-pounds. Both Flores brothers are managed by Cameron Dunkin.

In the opener, 19-year-old former amateur star Tremaine Williams of New Haven, Connecticut will turn pro against Jesse Anguiano (0-1) of San Antonio, Texas in a four-round super bantamweight bout. Williams, the 2011 National Golden Gloves Champion at 123-pounds, came in at 123 on Friday. Anguiano, who lost his debut on March 24th via decision, weighed in at 121 ½-pounds.

HBO Pay-Per-View will broadcast the three main bouts followed by the WBO Interim Light Welterweight title bout between Juan Manuel Marquez and Serhiy Fedchenko from New Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. TopRank.com will stream the preliminary bouts from Las Vegas live.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Top Rank, are available online at Ticketmaster.com

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBA Lightweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Rios 137*
Abril 135

Light Welterweights, 10 Rounds
Alvarado 140
Herrera 140

Light Welterweights, 10 Rounds
Gesta 137
Cuero 138

Light Middleweights, 6 or 8 Rounds
Baue 153 ½
Zewski 153

Light Welterweights, 6 or 8 Rounds
Crawford 142
Gorges 141

Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Mitchell 137
Eric Flores 139

Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Medina 141
Anthony Flores 140

Super Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Anguiano 121 ½
Williams 123

*Rios overweight, vacant title on the line for Abril only

Photos courtesy Top Rank
Alvarado-Herrera & Gesta-Cuero Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

Kaiser Permanente and Goodwill Southern California Reduce Carbon Footprint

Wireless News April 20, 2011

Wireless News 04-20-2011 Kaiser Permanente and Goodwill Southern California Reduce Carbon Footprint Type: News

Carrying everything from outdated cell phones to unwanted computers, Kaiser Permanente employees are determined to reduce their carbon footprint and Goodwill Southern California will be standing by with 24-foot trucks to properly recycle or dispose of the electronic waste, keeping it out of landfills. kaiserpermanentelocationsnow.net kaiser permanente locations

Celebrating a five-year Earth Day partnership, Kaiser Permanente and Goodwill reported that they have joined forces once again to commemorate Earth Day with e-waste collection sites at designated Kaiser Permanente Southern California facilities from Bakersfield to San Diego.

“Our e-waste event is one of the highlights of the year for me. It is truly remarkable to see the tons and tons of electronic waste that our employees, physicians, and members collect at each of our medical centers and regional offices. We started this event in 2007 as a means to assist the communities we serve in preventing harmful elements from getting into the local landfills. Through our partnership with Goodwill Industries, we are doing much more than that, we’re providing job opportunities to disabled individuals and helping to meet the broader definition of creating ‘healthy communities’,” said Richard D. Trogman, regional executive of support services, Kaiser Permanente Southern California region.

In the last two years, 65-thousand pounds of e-waste including old computers, monitors, printers, cables, video game consoles, and cell phones have poured into Kaiser Permanente-Goodwill collection sites. The groups said that that heap of electronic waste saved 2,887 cubic feet of landfill space which equals a pile of 41- thousand 2 liter soda bottles.

“We are thrilled to partner with Kaiser Permanente again this year in support of their commitment to green initiatives. Through these e-waste events, Kaiser Permanente and Goodwill Southern California are able to care for individuals, the community, and the earth. And that’s good for everyone,” said Douglas H. Barr, CEO and president of Goodwill Southern California. go to web site kaiser permanente locations

This year, the e-waste campaign has expanded to nine days and 30 Kaiser Permanente Southern California facilities. Kaiser Permanente- Goodwill noted that the region-wide annual event now also includes donations of clothes, books, shoes, toys, and small household items at some locations.

Kaiser Permanente’s e-waste collection campaign kicks off in Fontana, Anaheim, Irvine, Moreno Valley Hospital, and San Diego April 14 – 19. Continuing through April 22, the Company said that some of the other Kaiser Permanente locations collecting electronic waste include Bakersfield, Woodland Hills, Panorama City, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, South Bay, Baldwin Park, Downey, Bellflower, and Riverside.

The Kaiser Permanente Southern California corporate headquarters in Pasadena (393 East Walnut Street, 91188) will wrap up this year’s e-waste campaign on Earth Day, April 22. Kaiser Permanente noted that employees will be able to drop off their old electronics between 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Goodwill representatives will assist with heavy items, and will provide receipts for all donated e-waste goods they accept.

Kaiser Permanente is a health care provider and not-for-profit health plan.

GSC operates 66 retail stores, 42 attended donation centers, three campuses, and 27 program sites throughout Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans Ave.).

More Information:

www.goodwillsocal.org

www.kp.org/newscenter

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

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