This Saturday February 6th at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing presents an exciting six bout card, headlined by Atlantic City’s own welterweight contender Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez (20-2, 11KO) taking on exciting knockout artist Alexis Camacho (17-2, 16KO) being shown live on GoFightLive.tv. The show certainly brings together the past, present and future of Boxing in Atlantic City, and the industry in general. The ‘time machine’ factor adds to the other elements of this show that make it a bit more special then just your ordinary night of boxing in Atlantic City.

For starters, Alexis Camacho, one of the main event participants, recently began working with legendary trainer, and New Jersey native, Lou Duva. This will be Camacho’s first fight with Duva as his trainer. Duva, is one of the biggest names in boxing history, having trained countless world champions throughout his career, including most notably two of boxing’s all-time greats, Pernell Whitaker and Evander Holyfield. Certainly, Duva has a longstanding history with the great past of Atlantic City.

The show Saturday night at the Tropicana will be the first professional boxing event held there in a long time. DeGuardia, who has consistently promoted shows throughout Atlantic City for years, hopes the success of the show Saturday night will be the first of a soon to be series of Star Boxing promoted events at the Tropicana.

In addition to DeGuardia’s own events with his company Star Boxing, he has plans with the newly formed Boxing Promoters Association (which DeGuardia serves as the President) to bring boxing back to what it once was in Atlantic City. DeGuardia feels in time Atlantic City will again become a true fight city, where many of boxing biggest fights once took place.

“On Saturday night, significant elements of the past, present and future of boxing will all be at the Tropicana Casino in Resort,” stated DeGuardia. “Lou Duva was around when boxing was at an all-time high in Atlantic City, now on Saturday night he brings in one of his newest bangers. For awhile now Star Boxing has been consistently promoting shows in Atlantic City, we usually try to do at least a handful year in and year out, but this is the first time we are doing a show at the Tropicana in four years. The Tropicana is one of the the hottest night spots in all of Atlantic City, and we are looking to build off the success of this show Saturday with the intent of creating a regular series there. Further, I strongly believe that the future of the sport will strongly be dictated by the newly formed Boxing Promoters Association (BPA), which includes over 30 of the top U.S. promoters. There is nothing like seeing a live boxing event and Saturday promises to live up to the tradition and history of boxing in Atlantic City. We at Star Boxing and the BPA in general, truly believe that boxing is going to continue to flourish, and the fan base is going to continue to grow. I am very excited with the progress we have made thus far since the creation this past summer, and equally as excited to be returning to the Tropicana, to present an exciting an action-packed night of boxing this Saturday night. I am optimistic about the future of boxing in Atlantic City.”

The Tropicana Casino and Resort is located at 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ and can be contacted by calling (609) 340-4000. Tickets are priced at $100 (ringside), $50 and $30 with a limited number of V.I.P. packages available at $200. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office at (718) 823-2000 or visiting www.starboxing.com. Tickets may also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Tropicana North Tower Box Office.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:
Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since 1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com.

ABOUT TROPICANA CASINO & RESORT:
The Tropicana Casino & Resort is a 24-hour gaming destination located on the beach and Boardwalk. Featuring more than 2,100 rooms and suites and home of The Quarter, a 200,000 square foot entertainment complex, Tropicana is the premier resort in Atlantic City. With more than 20 restaurants, 25 shops, 12 bars and lounges, 2 pools, an IMAX Theatre and a spa, Tropicana is consistently rated as the “Must-See Attraction” in Atlantic City. For more information, visit the new official Web Site at www.tropicana.net For more exclusive discounts, current information, pictures, and video, be sure to check out the Tropicana on the Web at www.facebook.com/TropAC or follow us on Twitter twitter.com/TropicanaAC.

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Tropicana Resort and Casino

Star Boxing Exclusive Merchandise

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BROOKLYN (Feb. 2, 2010) – 2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali recently completed a strong training camp and now he’s ready to go Saturday night against fellow Brooklyn welterweight Jason Thompson in Newark, New Jersey.

Ali puts his perfect pro record (4-0, 2 KOs) on the line versus Thompson (5-4-1, 4 KOs) in a 4-round bout on Saturday night’s “Heavy Artillery” card, headlined by Tomasz Adamek and Jason Estrada, at the Prudential Center.

THE FIGHT CAN BE VIEWED LIVE ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV

“Everything was good leading up to this fight,” the 21-year-old Ali said. “I had good sparring that got me ready to go. I never underestimate anybody. As a boxer, anybody who has the heart and guts to get into the ring with me, I respect.”

Ali was the first Arab-American member of the U.S. Olympic Team, as well as the first New York City based member of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team in 20 years.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute will defend against former Middleweight title challenger Edison Miranda in April 17th in Bute’s adopted hometwon of Montreal.

“It will certainly be a pleasure for me to box again at the Bell Centre and to defend my title for the fifth time in front of my fans,” said Bute, a native of Romania based in Montreal. “I am taking Miranda very seriously. He demolished many good fighters and is a notorious puncher. I will have to keep my concentration level on high to stay champion.”

HBO will carry live coverage of the bout in the United States and hopes to pair it with Kelly Pavlik defending the middleweight championship against junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Martinez from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Pavlik-Martinez is still in negotiations.

“This is another shot for Edison and with his new trainer, I think we’ll do fine,”Said Leon Margules, who is Miranda’s co-promoter. “We’re excited about the fight. I think he can knock Bute out. Edison wants to show he belongs with the top 168-pounders and this is a great opportunity for him.”

Stephan Larouche, Bute’s trainer, said the styles of the two fighters — Bute being the skillful boxer and Miranda the brawler — should make for an entertaining fight.

“Styles make fights. I know this is a boxing cliché, but it’s the truth,” Larouche said. “Once again we have two world-class athletes with different styles that, when mixed together, have all the ingredients to explode. The fans are in for a treat.”

Atlantic City’s Mike Arnaoutis will have a shot to rebound from his controversial loss to Tim Coleman when he battles Delvin Rodriguez April 2 on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.

Arnaoutis, 22-4-2 (10 KO’s), appeared to do just enough to warrant a victory against the awkward Coleman, but dropped a hotly contested split decision. The former USBA Junior Welterweight champion will move up to welterweight for the first time after reportedly having severe difficulty making the 140 lb limit.

Rodriguez, like Arnaoutis, is looking to get back on track following an L. The Danbury, CT native dropped a unanimous decision in Poland to hometown favorite Rafael Jackiewicz and a split decision to Isaac Hlatshwayo for the then vacant IBF Welterweight crown back in August. Ironically, Rodriguez, 24-4-2 (14 KO’s), was also a USBA titleholder that came up short in his biggest bouts.

Arnaoutis and Rodriguez are scheduled to meet over 12 rounds.

For more New Jersey Boxing news, go to www.gardenstatefightscene.com

On Saturday February 6th, Atlantic City’s welterweight contender Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez (20-2, 11KO) will look to get his career back underway and once again begin his ascent into the upper echelon of the welterweight division when he takes on Mexican knockout artist, Alexis Camacho (17-2, 16KO). The show, promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, will take place at the Tropicana Casino and Resort and be broadcast live on GoFightLive.tv.
SHAMONE “THE TRUTH” ALVAREZ

The 33-year-old Alvarez began his professional career in 2002, and went onto to string together 19 consecutive victories, including picking up the WBO NABO welterweight title. In 2007 Alvarez squared off against Joshua Clottey in an official IBF title eliminator, dropping a decision to the eventual IBF welterweight champion.

After the loss Alvarez took some time off from the sport. He returned just under a year later to win a ten round decision over Terrance Cauthen in December of 2008.

The win over Cauthen put Alvarez in yet another official IBF title eliminator, this time against Delvin Rodriguez. The fight, which took place in March of last year, saw Alvarez lose a razor thin decision in a fight that many argued Alvarez could have won.

In October, Alvarez was scheduled to face undefeated Canadian contender Antonin Decarie (now 23-0), but the week of the fight, Alvarez injured his knee while running and had to pull out.

Alvarez is now back and according to the contender, more ready and hungrier than ever.

“This is my time,” stated Alvarez. “Physically and mentally I am one-hundred percent ready and focused to climb back into the world title picture. In both my losses I know what I did wrong and I have learned from them. You are going to see the old but at the same time the new and improved Shamone Alvarez when I get in that ring from now on. When I first came up I was very aggressive and took the fight right to my opponents. In my two losses my lack of aggressiveness cost me the fights, and cost me the world title opportunities. I’m on my third strike, trust me I don’t plan on striking out.”

In the fight against Camacho, Alvarez will be facing a big puncher and someone who will not be afraid to mix it up with him, something that Alvarez is well aware of, and looking forward to.

“I have watched tapes of him and I know that he can crack. You look at his record and you see that he obviously has some power but he has never been inside the ring with someone who is on my level. From what I have seen of him he is a typical Mexican style fighter, he comes forward, he throws big punches, he is durable, but he is there to be hit, and as you will see come Saturday night, he will be hit.”

While Alvarez states that he is not looking past the task at hand, he does have big expectations for himself in 2010.

“2010 is going to be a big year for me. God-willing everything goes well on Saturday, I am looking at a possible March 27th date to fight for the IBO title. Once I pick up the IBO belt, I will then hopefully have a chance to go to Canada to take on Decarie as we have unfinished business. At that point I will be ready to challenge any of the world champions in the welterweight division, it’s just a matter of who gives me that shot. There is no more playing around. You are going to see the dog come out of me this year, and for all those welterweight contenders and champions out there, look out because I’m coming for you.”

The Tropicana Casino and Resort is located at 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ and can be contacted by calling (609) 340-4000. Tickets are priced at $100 (ringside), $50 and $30 with a limited number of V.I.P. packages available at $200. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office at (718) 823-2000 or visiting www.starboxing.com. Tickets may also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Tropicana North Tower Box Office.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:
Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since 1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com.

ABOUT TROPICANA CASINO & RESORT:
The Tropicana Casino & Resort is a 24-hour gaming destination located on the beach and Boardwalk. Featuring more than 2,100 rooms and suites and home of The Quarter, a 200,000 square foot entertainment complex, Tropicana is the premier resort in Atlantic City. With more than 20 restaurants, 25 shops, 12 bars and lounges, 2 pools, an IMAX Theatre and a spa, Tropicana is consistently rated as the “Must-See Attraction” in Atlantic City. For more information, visit the new official Web Site at www.tropicana.net For more exclusive discounts, current information, pictures, and video, be sure to check out the Tropicana on the Web at www.facebook.com/TropAC or follow us on Twitter twitter.com/TropicanaAC.

At the end of last year many of Boxing’s experts picked their up and coming prospects. One guy who may of escaped there gaze is fledgling pro Yaundale “Money Shot” Evans. Since turning pro nearly 6 months ago the 21 year old has streaked to 5-0(3). His team have high hopes for the future and hope to get him back into action by the end of February early March on a ESPN undercard. Then he’ll take his place on the Roy Jones Jnr-Bernard Hopkins card on 3 April. They hope that by the end of August he may take his fight ledger into double figures with the aim of around 16 fights by the end of the year. His manager Paulie De Blasi says of his young charges prospects “He has the skills and knowledge to become a great fighter. With close to two hundred amateur fights and being so young really helps his chances of becoming a great professional. Being a southpaw also helps the cause. In my opinion it is up to Yuandale on how far he goes but the sky’s the limit”

Hello Yaundale, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – What can you tell us about your last fight and how you felt you performed?

Yaundale Evans – The fight was a good learning experience I actually had fun which is what I tend to do, every fight you have to love what you do. I fought an experienced fighter but I also made mistakes that I’ll fix, just giving the crowd who booed me from being from Ohio a whooping all 6 rounds to see.

Anson Wainwright – Did you get any positive feedback from Teddy Atlas or anyone else at ESPN?

Yaundale Evans – I mean Teddy saw the fight back in N.C. and felt I did good but this fight he said I’m not a finisher but if I recall he also called the fight needed to be stop, so I got positive and negative feedback but you know what? I’m the boxer in the ring the odds are against me Gino was from Laredo so if they wasn’t going to stop it in the beginning. I felt to pace myself and box my first 6 rounds.

Anson Wainwright – You’ ll be back in action in late February early March. Any ideas who your opponent maybe?

Yaundale Evans – I actually never know who my opponents are till they are in the ring with me being introduced ha ha but not a clue. I’ll be ready though because I train I’m ready whenever they call me.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us a bit about your team? Who your manager, trainer and promoter etc are?

Yaundale Evans – My team is full of guys who been successful with their boxing career we have Terrell Gausha rank #1 in the country in amateur, Prentice Brewer who is under rumble time promotions who is now 14 and 0, Willie Nelson who also is with rumble time 14 and 0 and our freshman Brett Simmons he just had his debut the same night I fought. So our gym pretty much is spectacular I would say. My manager is Paulie Deblesi, Promoter is Roy Jones Jr and Square Ring Promotions, trainer Renard Safo who I have been with since 12 tears of age, and I’m under Square Ring Promotions with Roy Jones and John Wart.

Anson Wainwright – What is the plan for you this year? How are you looking to progress your career this year? Where do you hope to be at the end of the year?

Yaundale Evans – The plan for this year is to continue to stay in shape train even harder and stay busy in the ring I don’t want to catch ring rust at all ha. I am actually coming for fighters who are in my weight class cause I want to experience the top spot n stay there ya know? I want to be at least 10-0 by this summer and continue to shine whenever an wherever. I will be studying my mistakes and practicing on not making them, getting more deep into boxing, studying other fighters and challenging myself to the higher limits. I hope Anson at the end of this year I will be high in rankings and ill have numbers under my belt. I’m thinking more of a title i’ll make sure I take a picture and send it to you Anson ha-ha once I attain one.

Anson Wainwright – So far in your career you’ve fought on a Roy Jones card when he beat Jeff Lacy. As well as cards with Guillermo Rigondeaux & Demetrius Andrade on. What can you tell us about the experience of being around guys like that?

Yaundale Evans – Aw man Anson I love Roy always did always will he’s a great guy, watching his fights gets me up and going I mean nobody can do it like him so I find myself smiling every time I see him fight. It’s like a dream come true. Everybody tries to met him now. I just feel good about being around them because I feel like now we getting somewhere. I’m around celebs so I feel in the boat with these guys now lol.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about how life was for you when you were young and how it took you into Boxing?

Yaundale Evans – Well actually life for me was I can say fair and average. I always was straight A student tutoring kids and attending Art after school programs. Single parent (mom) in the house with 2 other younger siblings. I rarely fought in school because I knew I wouldn’t be able to trade enough hits before they grab us loll and I was a people person. All the ladies liked me and I was popular. So growing up was ok I did get a lot of whoopings till I learned to run. My younger brother started amateur boxing before me 1998, and I would watch him go at it and thought to take it up. I was short so it wasn’t a sport I could really do regardless how good I was I wanted to be noticed and take the fame. So 2000 I started boxing amateur, I felt it was new and something crafty to try, plus it wasn’t a group thing like Basketball. I also attend Church.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career? What titles did you win and what was your record?

Yaundale Evans – Wow it’s been 10 Years now since I been in boxing, and 6 months since I been pro. I have so many fights it’s hard to remember but estimating I’m about 147wins and 13losses 16referee stop contest and 13 ko’s. We travel so many places cities and states we stayed busy building an amateur record to get known and respected. Amateur was hard and easy to me, I always had good national opponents. I was always a slim guy also so I fought at light weight classes. My only rival from Cleveland was Raynell Williams an Olympian from 2008 who is like a brother to me. I was a silver glove champ also making high rankings every year I went to the silver glove nationals, jr.olympic regional champ, I won the platinum gloves in Washington D.C. National Pal I made it to the finals, I won the jr golden gloves, State fair 2009 champ in Columbus, Golden Gloves rank #3 in 2009 Salt Lake City and my biggest tournament ever the USA open men tournament 2009 I made rank 3 Bronze medalist after fighting 5 times in the whole tournament I enjoyed the victories and opponents. I have 9 amateur belts most of them national titles.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing?

Yaundale Evans – Things I do when I’m not pounding at someone face ha-ha, um I attend a community college the field I attend is Computer Engineering. I like to draw cartoons and also ideal tattoos, I’m a neat freak so I’m always cleaning, chase woman ha-ha and play basketball. I always keep up with my mother and siblings and attend holiday meetings or family days. I’m more of a low keyed person so I shop on odd days the mall is not busy. I go see movies and I dine in on odd days. But most of the time study study study, I want to get my bachelor degree, and I watch a lot of known Boxers tapes like Roy Jones Jr. Floyd, De La Hoya, Ali, The Brown Bomber, B Hop and etc…… I even keep my eyes open to good amateurs and pros around my weight or other weights.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

Yaundale Evans – I completed my amateur goals already, pro goals are to receive that Super Feather weight title and other titles under that, keep a clean record off 0 losses and challenge myself as I grow I will not dodge better fighters I will fight them and win to better my skill. I won’t stop until I have won that title though; I want to make this career fun and earn a lot of good money and invest in things like houses, stores and things that I can make more money off. I want to continue to make the coach, manager, Promotion Company and promoter proud to see me grow as a prospect.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your hero growing up?

Yaundale Evans – I’m sure like a lot of athletes I’m the same with the hero deal, because mine is my mother, I watched her struggle an carry 3 kids on her back like it was a back pack with only loose paper in there. She fed us provided a roof over our heads and provided us with the correct house hold respect and manors we needed. She played a Daddy to me even though he was alive and in calling distance he slacked being a father. She was my Super woman and will remain ya know.

Anson Wainwright – Finally for fans who may not now you to well do you have a message for them?

Yaundale Evans – My message for the audience and people, who love to see me box, is that you can never give enough until you make history and get your message and point to the world. Always give more than 100% because that next man or woman is so no slacking because it’s someone who wants where you standing and they’re going to go hard for it or go home, remember no quitting

Thanks for this terrific interview Mr. Wainwright hope to speak again.

Anytime Yaundale, keep up the good work.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA (February 1, 2010) – Minnesota’s middleweight champion is slated to make his return to the ring this Friday. Andy “Kaos” Kolle (19-2 14 KO’s) will take on power punching Pat “The Cat” Coleman (29-15 20 KO’s) on February 5 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Kolle is coming off of a highlight reel knockout of Anthony Bonsante in March, and an impressive stoppage of Anthony Shuler in June. Although Kolle has been inactive for six months he insists that February 5th presents an opportunity to not only get back into action, but turn some heads in the Twin Cities.

“I am really looking forward to getting back into the ring, it has been too long! It has been a few years since I have fought in the Twin Cities so I can’t wait to come and show the boxing fans there what I got. I don’t know much about my opponent but that is nothing new to me so I will be ready for whatever he brings to the table”

Kolle vs Coleman will be promoted by Midwest Sports Council in association with RDS Company and will bring Boxing to the Venue made famous by Prince in the mid 80’s.

*Co-Main Events:

Heralded prospect and former Olympic prospect Javontae Starks (2-0 2 KO’s) finally gets to fight in his hometown. Starks, who is already being discussed as a future Title Contender, will do battle for the first time in his native Minneapolis when he takes on Matt Ellis (2-1) in the co-feature.

*Feature Bouts:

Starks’ stable mate Jeremy McLaurin (6-0 4 KO’s) from Coon Rapids will also be in action against local brawler Hector Orozco from Hopkins. Minnesota Bantamweight Champion Antwan Robertson (5-1-1), Minneapolis; Latin Sensation Jose Hilario (1-0) of St. Louis Park; and Don Tierney (1-1) of St. Paul round out this talented fight card.

*Fighters subject to change.

Page 2 – “Fight Night @ First Avenue”

Weigh-In Scheduled – February 4th @ 3:30 p.m. – Target Center

The next scheduled media event for “Fight Night @ First Avenue” is the weigh-in, set for 3:30 p.m., Thursday, February 4th at First Avenue. We recommend picking up your Fight Night @ First Avenue media credentials at that time. Please contact Brett Mauren at (612) 275-2885 for Media Credentials. Video highlights of featured fighters are available to all media outlets upon request.

Ticket Information:

Tickets for “Fight Night @ First Avenue” (18+) are on sale now at the First Avenue box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at 651-989-5151 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Arena seating ticket prices are $25, $35 (reserved-stage). VIP ring side tables are also available by calling 612-388-5228.

NEW YORK (FEBRUARY 1, 2010)—This weekend there will be THREE BIG BOXING BROADCASTS STREAMED LIVE!! On the world number-one site for live combat-sports action, www.gofightlive.tv

The weekend kicks off on Friday night from Philadelphia as a terrific eight bout card will originate from the number-one boxing venue in the world, The Legendary Blue Horizon.

In the main event, the USBA Jr. Middleweight champion Derek “Pooh” Ennis (19-1-2, 12 KO’s) tunes up for a spring title defense when he takes on veteran Edwin Vazquez (24-14-2, 8 KO’s).

In one co-feature, undefeated Ronald Cruz (7-0, 4 KO’s) face his most experienced opponent against the upset-minded Martinus Clay (13-24-4, 5 KO’s) in an eight round Jr. Middleweight bout.

There will be a very much anticipated heavyweight special attraction as former world junior amateur Heavyweight champion Joey Dawejko (1-0) makes his long awaited area debut when he squares off against Ricardo Johnson (1-0)

Fans can also witness Swedish heavyweight Andreas Gustafson (3-0, 1 KO) battle Levay King in f our round bout.

EIGHT BIG FIGHTS FOR JUST $5.99 LIVE FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5TH AT 7:30 PM EASTERN TIME BY CLICKING:

http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?event=575

SATURDAY FEBRURAY 6TH—ADAMEK VS ESTRADA—8pm eastern

One of the most exciting fighters in the world, former Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (39-1, 27 KO’s) makes his second start in the Heavyweight division after he dismantled former top contender Andrew Golota last fall in what was deemed the biggest sporting event in the history of Poland.

Adamek will battle former US Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (16-2, 4 KO’s) of Providence, Rhode Island in the twelve round Main Event for the IBF International title.

A lot is on the line as Adamek has been rumored for a possible April 24 can’t miss showdown with the equally exciting Chris Arreola.

One thing stands in the way of that fight as Estrada is highly motivated and is more than capable to spring the upset in front of what will be rocking Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey where Adamek has become an overwhelming hometown favorite since moving to nearby Jersey City.

This will be Adamek’s fourth fight at “The Rock” with each crowd being bigger and louder than the previous fight and Saturday will look to be no exception as Adamek could only be a couple fights away before challenging for the Heavyweight championship of the world.

Estrada has big expectations coming out of the 2004 Olympics and this is a golden opportunity to throw his name in the middle of the wide open Heavyweight division.

There will be a five fight undercard that features undefeated and very popular middleweight prospect, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin as he takes on perennial contender Fernando Zuniga.

Quillin of New York has a perfect record of 20-0 with fifteen knockouts and is eager to get back to action after an assortment of injuries have kept him out of the ring for the last sixteen months.

Quillin did not take the easy route back by agreeing to fight Zuniga.

Zuniga, who has a record of 28-9 with twenty knockouts, and been in with some of the biggest names of the middleweight divisions including William Joppy, Thomas Tate, Charles Brewer and Sam Soliman.

Just two fights ago, Zuniga scored an upset victory over than 19-1-2 Carlos Deleon. Zuniga just completed a six week tour as a main sparring partner for Bernard Hopkins as Hopkins prepared for his big fight with Enrique Ornelas.

If that isn’t enough, fans all over the world will be treated to an undercard of some of the best undefeated prospects in the country which include cruiserweight Patrick Farrell (4-0); Jr. Middleweight Dennis Douglin (6-0); Super Middleweight Patrick Majewski (11-0); and 2008 US Olympian Sadam Ali (4-0)

This can’t miss night of action begins at 8pm eastern time for just $9.99 and its all one click away at:

http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?event=581

STAR BOXING—THE EVE OF THE SUPER BOWL—SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6TH AT 7PM EASTERN

Joe DeGuardia Star Boxing usually puts on some of the most competitive boxing shows in the country and this tremendous card from the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City will be no exception as this card will feature an interesting Welterweight contest between Atlantic City’s own Shamone Alvarez battling knockout artist Alexis Camacho of Texas.

Alvarez, 20-2 with eleven knockouts will have the home ring advantage as he will be fighting in front of the hometown fans for the thirteenth time and he will be looking to get back in position to fight for a welterweight title.

Alvarez was on the brink of a title shot on two occasions but dropped close to decisions to former world champion Joshua Clottey and former title challenger Delvin Rodriguez.

Camacho of Austin, Texas has a record of 17-2 with sixteen knockouts, like Alvarez desperately needs a win to surge his career forward to a significant fight.

He has been training in New Jersey under the guidance of the Hall of Fame trainer Lou Duva.

After scoring a decision in his first bout, every one of Camacho’s wins have come early and on Saturday night he will be looking to add Alvarez to that list of opponents did not see the final bell against Camacho. For the record, Alvarez has never been stopped.

In the co-feature, it will be an eight round Heavyweight bout between the always exciting blood and guts warrior, Vinny Maddalone taking on Dominique Alexander.

Maddalone has a record of 32-6 with twenty-three knockouts and is known for his crowd pleasing efforts and he always gives his all no matter if he is in with a more talented fighter.

He is coming off a spirited effort in which he dropped a eight round unanimous decision to former undisputed Cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck less than two months ago in Mormeck’s hometown of Paris, France.

Alexander is 19-7-1 with nine wins coming early. Alexander has shared the ring with former IBF Cruiserweight champion Kryztof Wlodarczyk, former world heavyweight title challengers Kali Meehan and Fres Oquendo as well as top prospect Odlanier Solis.

Alexander is coming off a majority decision win over Galen Brown (32-12-1) last August.

A solid undercard will also be shown on the broadcast the will feature popular Light Heavyweight Chuck Mussachio (14-1-2, 5 KO’s) ; undefeated Light Heavyweight prospect Yathomas Riley (7-0, 5 KO’s) and eighteen year old Thomas LaManna, who will be making his pro debut.

All the action can be seen LIVE at 7pm, eastern for just $5.99 by clicking:

http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?event=589

Firstly you will be fighting Glen Johnson on 5 February. It has the makings of a very good fight. How do you see it?

Yeah I think it will be a great fight both of us know this is it, Glen knows it’s his last chance and I know if I lose I will have thrown away 2 years of hard work and I ain’t going to let that happen. There are a lot of people saying that Glen is past his best and all that but I just think Chad was smarter with him last time and used his boxing skills more than standing with him. The styles make for a good fight he is a come forward fighter and I am a counter puncher, so they tend to make good crowd pleasers. I have worked too hard and not cut any corners I will have just too much for him.

He’s obviously a former world champion with bags of experience but a win will set up a world title fight for you. How hungry do you feel for this fight?

Starving, I have trained hard and made the sacrifices of leaving my family, Glen is going to feel how hungry I am on Friday night.

Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, your trainer and promoter. Also where you are training for this fight?

I train up in the mountains in a place called Lake Arrowhead near Big Bear, at the Talon Boxing camp, it is perfect for getting ready for a fight no distractions, the gym is private so me and my trainer John Tandy (JT) get no distractions, we had Prince Badi and Kris Andrews up here for sparring but I also spar down in LA, either at Goossens, Wildcard or Fortunes and have had quality sparring from people like Edison Miranda as well. JT has been my trainer for 5 fights now and we are undefeated together, he has changed my whole approach to boxing, we work well together and he has got me into the shape I need to be for a fight like this. My managers are Rory Donadio and Greg Cipriano, they have both been like fathers to me and supported me in getting this far both financially and emotionally. Rory brought JT in after the Andrade loss and things have been perfect since then, I have beaten some of the best opponents of my career and am now looking to fight one of the best guys out there and go on to win a major belt, then start collecting them. My promoter is Lou Dibella, who with Rory and Greg quickly got our fight on another card after the Mosley v Berto card was canceled, also new members of my team are the Armstrong Performance and Treament center, they have been looking after me in regard ensuring my body can take the pounding of hard training. I wouldn’t be where I am now without all these guys and I am thankful to have such a great team supporting me.

Your now fighting up at 175 and have done for your last five fights. How much better do you feel fighting at Light Heavyweight than you did in your Super Middleweight?

So much better, I remember when I first met JT he took one look at me and was like how the hell have you been making super middleweight, I was like 196lbs and there was hardly any fat on me, I used to burn down from like 190+ to 168lbs in the last week, now my preparation is much better I have an on site nutritionist Michele Tandy (JT’s Wife) and she starts bringing my weight down slowly from the start of camp, by the end I am only losing 4-5 pounds in the last week and I feel so much stronger. I am 5-0 at light heavy so that tells the story as well.

Can you tell us about your younger days and how it took you into Boxing?

My dad and first trainer Bus (Percy Custus) got me into it, I remember being 7 years old when I first went into the gym, I remember my first sparring session and this bigger kid hit me in the body and I went down and thought to hell with this, but i went back and eventually kicked the kids ass, I had a successful amateur career then went on to turn pro.

Can you tell us about your amateur career what titles you won and what your final record was?

I was 40-7 I won two Golden Gloves 97 & 98 and a lot of Philly State tournaments, I lost to Jeff Lacy in the finals of the nationals in 2000 and turned pro

You just turned 30 which is still young in the Light Heavyweight division with Hopkins, Roy Jones Jnr, Tarver & Johnson all in there 40’s. Do you think that your maturing as a fighter and entering your prime now?

Yes I think I am in my prime now, I think the heavier guys mature a little later, so I am still relatively young in comparison to those guys, those guys have had their time now and now it is guys like myself, Chad, Cloud etc who are going to take over the division.

What goals do you have in Boxing?

To be a world champion, I want all the belts and I want to be remembered as a great, all the best fighters have lost at some point in their careers it is how you come back from those losses that make you a champion, I lost two fights and it was hard, but I made changes in my life and learned from them and never want to feel what it is like to lose ever again. I also promised JT the WBC belt, so after I get the IBF I will be coming for Pascal or whoever the champion may be then.

Who was your hero growing up?

Evander Holyfield, he was and still is a true warrior

Who is your toughest opponent that you’ve fought so far in either the pro’s or amateur’s?

People may be surprised by this but I think Richie Grant when I was fighting for the USBA at super middleweight, I have fought all my best opponents at light heavyweight Chris Henry and guys like that but I was in great shape for those fights, I fought Henry pretty much with one arm after dislocating my elbow in the 2nd round, my trainer actually clicked it back in between rounds, so that was a tough fight, but Grant was very awkward and no matter what I hit him with he kept coming.

Finally do you have a message for Glen Johnson ahead of your fight with him?

I am coming for you Glen you better be in shape and you better not be looking past me or you will get a big shock, you haven’t seen a fighter like me before I respect you and I have always liked you as a fighter and I am sorry that it has to be me that ends you career, you have had you time at the top, move aside the Mack Attack is coming.

Good luck on the 5 February Yusaf.

Thanks appreciated, make sure you tune in

Seven-time world champion and “Fighter of the Decade” Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao,General Santos,Philippines hits the speed bag at the Wildcard Boxing Club as he prepares for his upcoming World Welterweight championship against Joshua Clottey,Ghana. Top Rank’s “The Event”, will be held on Saturday,March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas,Texas and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View

Photos by Chris Farina of Top Rank

On Saturday February 6th, heavyweight fan favorite, Vinny Maddalone (32-6, 23) will get the weekend fireworks started early when he takes on Dominique Alexander (19-7-1, 9KO) in an eight round heavyweight match-up at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. The show, promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, and broadcast live on GoFightLive.tv, is headlined by welterweight prospect, Atlantic City’s own, Shamone ‘The Truth” Alvarez (20-2, 11KO) taking on knockout artist Alexis Camacho (17-2, 16KO).
VINNY MADDALONE

The Queens native Maddalone is no stranger to the bright lights of Atlantic City, having fought there four times before, one of which was named ESPN’s 2004 Fight of the Year.

“I’m excited to be returning to A.C.,” says Maddalone. “There is a lot of fight history in this city, so it’s extra special for me anytime I have the opportunity to fight there.”

Maddalone is coming off a hard fought decision loss back in December to former two-time cruiserweight champion, Jean Marc Mormeck. The fight which took place in Mormeck’s native France, saw Maddalone press the action and take the fight head on to Mormeck from the opening bell. Mormeck as well as Maddalone , is known for being a banger, but it was evident from the first time Mormeck felt Maddalone’s power he wanted no part in the brutal exchanges and began circling and boxing from the outside.

“I was surprised when he started moving like he did,” stated Maddalone. “From the tapes I have seen of him he usually stood right there in front of you, but then again that was at cruiserweight. I could tell right away in the first round when I hit him that I could hurt him.”

In what was an exciting fight, that brought the sold out crowd to their feet multiple times throughout the contest, Maddalone went on to lose by decision. Although Maddalone lost, as was the case when he fought in Europe in 2008; he dropped another hard fought decision loss to undefeated top five rated heavyweight Denis Boytsov; he further added onto his fan base, a base that has now begun to stretch worldwide.

“I’m a throwback fighter. Anytime I am in that ring you know you are going to see an exciting fight, and the people in Europe, as do my fans here in the U.S, appreciate that. Fighting is my life, it’s what I love to do, and come February 6th you can expect nothing less out of me. As I do every time I step into that ring, I am going to leave it all on the line and give the fans something to be excited about.”

A win in Atlantic City, could set up another trip for Maddalone back to Europe. There have been talks of Maddalone fighting on the undercard of Mormeck’s next fight, and if both win, Maddalone- Mormeck II could be on the horizon.

“I would love another opportunity to face Mormeck. It was an exciting fight that the fans loved, and want to see again, but first things first, I must take care of business this Saturday.

The Tropicana Casino and Resort is located at 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ and can be contacted by calling (609) 340-4000. Tickets are priced at $100 (ringside), $50 and $30 with a limited number of V.I.P. packages available at $200. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office at (718) 823-2000 or visiting www.starboxing.com. Tickets may also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Tropicana North Tower Box Office.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:
Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since 1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com.

ABOUT TROPICANA CASINO & RESORT:
The Tropicana Casino & Resort is a 24-hour gaming destination located on the beach and Boardwalk. Featuring more than 2,100 rooms and suites and home of The Quarter, a 200,000 square foot entertainment complex, Tropicana is the premier resort in Atlantic City. With more than 20 restaurants, 25 shops, 12 bars and lounges, 2 pools, an IMAX Theatre and a spa, Tropicana is consistently rated as the “Must-See Attraction” in Atlantic City. For more information, visit the new official Web Site at www.tropicana.net For more exclusive discounts, current information, pictures, and video, be sure to check out the Tropicana on the Web at www.facebook.com/TropAC or follow us on Twitter twitter.com/TropicanaAC.

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. – And you thought it was flat and dark on a nighttime drive from Phoenix to Tucson? The current view from I-10 East: Indian reservations, 18-wheelers, dust and an unobstructed view of where the sky touches the road. It is not picturesque. Still, you can understand the metaphorical appeal; a boundless expanse that enchants wandering souls.

There’s lots of time to think out here. Lots to think about, too. For boxing fans, Saturday brought a pleasant surprise worth treating. So let us.

All indications are that Floyd “Money” Mayweather will make a welterweight title match with “Sugar” Shane Mosley on May 1 at MGM Grand. Your reaction to this announcement passes for a litmus test. If you smile, shake your head and say “I never thought Mayweather’d do it, but I’m glad he did!” you’re capable of an objective view, despite Mayweather’s shenanigans. If you can’t pass even a smidgeon of begrudging admiration Mayweather’s way, though, you might be everything “Money’s” obnoxious fans say you are.

Chemist, reveal thy composition.

I will by way of a confession and a pledge. The confession? Back in December when 15rounds.com’s intrepid editor Marc Abrams sent a questionnaire that included “Fight you’d most like to see in 2010,” I didn’t choose Pacquiao-Mayweather. That fight won our survey, of course. But I chose Mosley-Mayweather and meant it.

Shane Mosley presents a more complicated challenge to Floyd Mayweather. There’s a good chance that if 2010’s most-demanded fight had happened – if it does yet happen – Mayweather would retreat to the ropes, take away much of the leap in Pacquiao’s left cross, solve Pacquiao’s timing, pop him with short rights, threaten him with a high left elbow, and then hold him till half the television sets in Manila were switched off in disgust. None of that plays with Mosley.

Mosley’s style is not complex as his speed makes it look. But it’s plenty complex. It’s also a style employed by a fighter that has seen every defense there is and knows that, often as not, physicality wins the day. Or as “Mad Men’s” Don Draper thought to put it: “At a certain point seduction is over, and force is actually being requested.”

Mosley understands force. And he will not be surprised by Mayweather’s reflexes. Mayweather, though, might be surprised by Mosley’s fearlessness. However underestimated Mayweather’s strength might be, there’s no chance it’s greater than Antonio Margarito’s. You saw how Mosley manhandled him.

Whatever the fighters’ history over the last decade, today Mosley offers Mayweather his best chance at redemption. But how in the world did a former multi-divisional champ with a 40-0 record come to require redemption? Steadily.

Whenever things first kicked-off and the name Floyd got switched to “Fraud” by a writer or two, doubts really got rolling round the time of the Carlos Baldomir fight. Mayweather bought his way out of a contract with promoter Top Rank and forwent a lucrative offer to fight Margarito – then the WBO welterweight champion – to face Baldomir instead. The fight was dreadful.

Then came the fight to save boxing with Oscar De La Hoya – a made-for-TV event that launched HBO’s “24/7” franchise and revealed Mayweather as thoroughly unlikable. Not unlikable in the professional-wrestling-heel sense so much as in the kid-who-shoplifts-a-candy-bar sense. Mayweather delighted in his own cleverness and originality while stringing together hip-hop clichés. Afterwards he retired. Then he came back. Then he retired.

Boxing fans realized they didn’t miss him. But he came back again anyway. He chose the lightweight champion for his welterweight return. He made no effort to weigh 144 pounds – as Golden Boy Promotions had promised he would – and looked three weight classes larger than Juan Manuel Marquez by the time the opening bell rang. But then Mayweather ran into R.A. the Rugged Man, a Long Island emcee, and got thoroughly outclassed on the radio; Rugged Man ran a check on Money’s credit and found him wanting.

The end of negotiations for a fight with Manny Pacquiao, combined with rumored invitations issued to junior welterweights, were the last confirmation Mayweather’s myriad of critics needed. Mayweather stood on the precipice of irrelevance, three years or so from a VH1 reality series like “Where’s my ‘Money’?”

But an earthquake struck Haiti, and the WBC’s Haitian-American titlist Andre Berto suddenly had to withdraw from his welterweight unification bout with Shane Mosley. And with Mosley and Mayweather sharing the same promoter and both available in the spring, well, redemption presented itself – cornering Mayweather. To his credit, Mayweather has met the challenge.

That brings us to the pledge. If he makes this fight with Mosley at the welterweight limit and beats him, however he does it, I’ll give Mayweather nothing but praise. I praise him today just for agreeing to the fight.

Mosley will turn 39 this year and might well be an old man by the time May 1 arrives. So be it. The assumption we must make is that Mosley is the same beast that went directly through Margarito a year ago. That also must be the assumption under which Mayweather signed, and now prepares, for this fight. Mosley is the sort of relentless body-puncher against whom making a “boring fight” would be a mark of excellence. If Mayweather makes May 1 dull, in other words, he’ll deserve our admiration.

If something happens to preclude this fight, though, scorn will be the order of the day. There likely won’t be press conferences or future “24/7” episodes enough to restore Mayweather’s standing.

The kids’ll forgive you, Money. A smug sound bite, a tour of the Big Boy Mansion, another roll of Benjamins unfurled at an HBO camera, Uncle Roger explaining why you’re better than Sugar Ray Robinson – they’ll get the job done. But remember, kids don’t write history. Adults do. And the adults are now gathered and watching closely. Your ultimate legacy is in the offing.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry

Light Heavyweight contender Yusaf Mack Joins Johnny and Dan to talk about his upcoming fight with Glen Johnson that will take place this Friday night on ESPN2. Also 15rounds.com Marc Abrams stops by to talk all things boxing.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com Manny Pacquiao won the 2009 fighter of the year and also won the fighter of the deacde award by the Boxing Writers Association of American (BWAA)

Pacquiao, who will be presented with his third Sugar Ray Robinson trophy in the past four years, heads the list of honorees who will be invited to receive their awards on June 11 in New York at the BWAA’s 85th annual banquet.

Freddie Roach, who has trained Pacquiao since 2001 and been an integral part of his success, will receive the Futch award for trainer of the year for the fourth time. He also won it in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

“Manny and I are a great team and to win this award you need a great fighter,” Roach told ESPN.com Sunday. “Hopefully, [junior welterweight titlist] Amir Khan will be my next guy. It’s my favorite award because its named after my trainer [the late Eddie Futch].”

Futch trained Roach during his fighting career before taking him under his wing as an assistant trainer.

“I give Eddie all the credit for where I am today,” Roach said. “He gave me great guidance during my apprenticeship with him.”

Lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and former titlist Juan Diaz will share the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier award for fight of the year. Their Feb. 28 all-action slugfest was an instant classic as Marquez went to Diaz’s hometown of Houston and stopped him in the ninth round to retain the title.

Also to be honored by the BWAA:

• ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, the longtime blow-by-blow voice of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights,” was selected as the Sam Taub award winner for excellence in broadcast journalism.

• Jerry Izenberg, one of America’s foremost sports columnists for the Newark (N.J). Star-Ledger for almost 60 years, will receive the John F.X. Condon award for long and meritorious service to boxing.

• Alexis Arguello, the Hall of Famer who won world championships in three weight classes, will receive the Marvin Kohn good guy award posthumously. Arguello died in July at age 57.

• Showtime broadcaster Nick Charles, who is fighting a battle with bladder cancer, and former heavyweight contender George Chuvalo, will share the Bill Crawford award for courage in overcoming adversity. Two of Chuvalo’s sons died from drug overdoses and a third son, as well as his first wife, committed suicide, and now he speaks to high school students about drug use.

The Nat Fleischer award for excellence in boxing journalism, the highest award the BWAA presents to one of its members, has not been announced yet. Balloting for the lifetime achievement award is ongoing. It is voted on only by past winners.

Photo by Chris Farina of Top Rank

Cruiserweight Patrick Farrell has dominated thus far as a pro, but knows there is plenty of room for improvement.

His first four opponents were a combined 2-5, giving the Jersey City native an opportunity to develop his skills. However, Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, Farrell is taking a notable step up when he meets Contender Season 4 alum Jon Schneider. Schneider, 7-4-1 (5 KO’s), is far from a world beater, but is expected to give Farrell a solid test in their four round bout on the Tomasz Adamek-Jason Estrada undercard.

“He’s a lefty and I have a couple of fights on tape”, said Farrell, who remembers watching Schneider on The Contender. “He is definitely a tough kid.”

Farrell’s last two bouts took place at North Bergen’s Schuetzen Park, a small venue that holds less than 1,000 people. While many young boxers get butterflies fighting in big arenas, especially one as loud as the Prudential Center, Farrell considers it an advantage.

“The arena is five minutes from my house and I have a lot of fans coming out.” “Boxing is an emotional sport so if anything, (the fan support) just adds motivation”.

Farrell, who has sparred with Adamek to ensure he is in top shape, trains at the Passaic Boxing Club alongside his Pound for Pound Promotions stablemates.

Duran-Davis, Tapia-Miles February 27 in AC!

Ossie Duran is one of the toughest gatekeepers in boxing, but is amongst New Jersey’s least known fighters from a local standpoint. The Ghana native never fought in the Garden State and is well traveled, spending time in England and Rhode Island before relocating to Paterson.

Duran doesn’t have a promoter or the luxury of fighting in his hometown, thus has been used as an opponent for a number of good boxers. Duran’s last four bouts came against contenders James Kirkland, David Lopez, former top ten rated Eromosele Albert and hot prospect Fernando Guerrero, who were a combined 91-14. While he was competitive in all four fights, Duran’s record in those bouts was 0-3-1, with all three defeats coming by razor thin decision.

Duran, who now trains under watchful eye of fellow Paterson native Aroz “Terrific” Gist, surprisingly received an offer to take on Philadelphian Jamal Davis February 27 at Bally’s in Atlantic City. While far from a pushover at 11-5 (6 KO’s), Davis is the least experienced opponent Duran has faced in five years. Even though Davis is not on the same level as his recent opponents, Duran isn’t taking him lightly.
“I train for every fight like it’s a world title fight”, said Duran, a former British Commonwealth Champion”. “I am looking forward to this fight and taking him out because (even with the losses) I am still knocking, so hopefully (a victory will) open doors”.

Duran and Davis meet over six rounds at Junior Middleweight.

Passaic’s Glen Tapia will also appear on the card. Tapia, 3-0 (2 KO’s), had a terrific amateur background and served as one of Joshua Clottey’s main sparring partners leading up to his fight with Miguel Cotto last summer. The junior middleweight was featured on the Cotto-Clottey card at Madison Square Garden, scoring a four round UD over David Lopez (who is unrelated to the David Lopez Duran fought)

Camden’s Tyrone Miles is scheduled to be Tapia’s opponent. Miles is 1-2 as a professional, most recently dropping a close decision to former New Jersey Golden Gloves champion Tyre Roberts. The Tapia-Miles fight is scheduled for four rounds and is also part of the Kendall Holt-Kaizer Mabuza undercard.

THE FARRELL FIGHT CAN BE VIEWED WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV

for more information click www.gardenstatefightscene.com

RENO, NEVADA — In the performance of his career, Jesse Brinkley weathered an early onslaught to outbox Curtis Stevens going away and claim the IBF #2 super middleweight ranking before his loyal fan base at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino on Friday night.

Stevens (21-3, 15 KOs) of Brownsville, New York surged out of his corner as was expected and put a hurt on Brinkley’s face in the first. A solid left hook early in the round knocked Brinkley’s mouthpiece three rows deep ringside. By the end of the first round, Brinkley (35-5, 22 KOs) of Yerington, Nevada, had a badly swollen right eye and looked to be in some serious trouble.

By midway through the second round, Stevens, 165, was in complete control of the fight. Then Brinkley, 167 ½, turned boxer and it was a whole different ballgame. Surprisingly, Stevens let off the gas pedal completely in the third, and Brinkley began landing in combination. A Brinkley flurry with Stevens against the ropes brought the crowd into the fight, and the energy in the building carried through until long after the sound of the final bell.

With the momentum now in Brinkley’s favor, the stage was set for one of the best rounds of the year thus far. Both fighters came out fast to start the fourth. Early in the round, both fighters decided to just stand in the middle of the ring and unleash bombs, with little to no regard for defense. While it was hard to decipher which fighter got the best of the exchange, it was Stevens that began to take a more measured approach. Brinkley resumed outboxing Stevens as the round came to a close.

In the fifth, Brinkley had Stevens against the ropes for stretches three different times. One clean right hand hurt Brinkley midway through, but the round was clearly Jesse’s. Things heated up late and both fighters kept going after the bell. Brinkley trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. rushed at Stevens, which prompted referee Vic Drakulich to bar him from entering the ring for the rest of the contest.

Early in the sixth, Brinkley wobbled Stevens, but did not pounce on his wounded prey right away. Brinkley stalked Stevens cautiously and eventually dropped him with a right hand. Stevens got up to a knee and rose to his feet. Fortunately for the New Yorker, the bell sounded before Brinkley could test how hurt he really may have been.

Midway through the seventh, Stevens seemed to clear the cobwebs and began to counter Brinkley effectively. Stevens looked good in the eighth as well, as Brinkley failed to press the action. Knowing he was behind on the scorecards, Stevens pressured Brinkley in the ninth, but seemed to get discouraged when he could not find a way to land any really telling blows.

By the tenth, the fight was back in Brinkley’s hands, as he jabbed Stevens silly for long stretches. Stevens would land some hard hooks in near desperation, but somehow Brinkley would walk through them and work over his opponent. In the twelfth, Brinkley’s conditioning seemed to outlast Stevens’. The result of a quick exchange sent Stevens down for a second time with less than thirty seconds left in the fight. To his credit, Stevens got back up and landed several hard shots with Brinkley throwing a heavy arsenal his way. But Brinkley showed his chin, and kept coming at Stevens until the bell ended the fight.

In the end, Brinkley won by deservedly lopsided scores of 117-109, 118-108 and 119-107. “I made it to this level maybe four times, and I failed every time,” reflected Brinkley. “This time I trained hard, fought a very tenacious puncher and I took him all the way and beat him nearly every round.”

Going into the fight, Stevens claimed he would knock Brinkley out early, and the Yerington native was weary of his punching-power at the outset. However, Brinkley found that he had overestimated Stevens’ knockout power during the fight. “He didn’t have the same kind of power I thought he would have,” said Brinkley, who believes Stevens would be better suited for the 160-pound middleweight division. “He didn’t have the same power as a Otis Griffin. He wasn’t as strong as a Jason Naugler.”

Brinkley, who also made a successful defense of his regional WBC USNBC Super Middleweight title, now has his sights set on IBF 168-pound champion Lucian Bute, who has an April 17th date set without an opponent. Bute is scheduled to fight at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and on HBO. “It is looking a lot like it is going to be me [on April 17th.] But if the money is not right, I am not going to hop in there with him,” said Brinkley. “It’s for the world championship. That is what I want, but I am not just going to hop in there for peanuts with him.”

The fact that Brinkley may be fighting for a world title makes his career turnaround one of the better boxing redemption stories in recent years. Winning a title would be a monumental achievement, but Brinkley understands that Bute will undoubtedly be the toughest test of his career. “Coach and I are going to have to handle a 6’1” left hander that is one of the nastiest in the world for a fight that is the exact opposite of what we just fought,” said Brinkley. “We just fought a short right hander and now I am going to fight a tall, lean left hander. I know it is coming. I am not going to turn it down. Offer me high six digits and we are going to fight.”

No matter the result, should the Bute fight come to fruition, Brinkley plans to make it exciting. “Honestly I would like to knock him out or catch a heart attack trying,” said Brinkley. Given the excitement he and Stevens provided Friday, sounds like a recipe for an entertaining fight.

In the co-feature, welterweight prospect Raymond Serrano (12-0, 6 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania boxed his way to an eight-round unanimous decision over Ronnie Warrior Jr. (13-3-1, 4 KOs) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Coming off of a long layoff, Warrior, 147, came out in a completely defensive posture to open the bout. Serrano, 146 ½, seemed to sweep the first three rounds by simply outworking Warrior.

Serrano did his best work in the fourth, as he backed Warrior into a corner and unloaded some heavy shots. The fight turned in the fifth, as Warrior finally got out of his shell and began throwing some punches. Serrano may have utilized a bit too much movement, as Warrior gained confidence and pressed the action. After two more rounds of little action, Serrano came out aggressively to start the seventh. However, one Warrior flurry seemed to bother Serrano late in the round. A close eighth closed out the fight. In the end the judges saw the fight a bit wide for Serrano, 79-73 across the board.

Middleweight prospect Brandon Gonzales (10-0, 9 KOs) of Sacramento, California flashed the punching-power that has made him one of the top prospects on the West Coast, stopping usually durable Dewey Welliver (18-20-1, 6 KOs) of Snoqualmie, Washington in the second round. Gonzales, 163, varied his attack to the body and head and Welliver, 159, was never in the fight. Early in the second round, a straight right hurt Welliver and the follow up dropped him. Referee Russell Morris immediately stopped it at 1:25 of the second.

In a pairing of pro debutants, Carlos Gayton (1-0, 1 KO) of Reno scored a brutal second round knockout of Jack Montgomery (0-1) of Dayton, Nevada. Montgomery, 173, left his chin dangerously exposed, and paid the price. Gayton, 171 ½, pressed Montgomery to the corner and uncorked a ferocious right that had him out before he hit the mat. Official time of the stoppage was 2:03 of the second.

Reno’s Tyler Hinkey (5-1-3, 4 KOs) fought to a unanimous six-round draw with William Mitch Williams (3-2-1, 3 KOs) of Jackson, Michigan. Williams, 215, weighed in with his clothes on, but Hinkey, 270, could not use his size advantage to any great success. After six rough rounds fought at close quarters, all three judges were in agreement at 57-57.

Chad Forrester (1-1) of Sparks, Nevada successfully avenged the loss he suffered in his pro debut nearly two years ago, scoring a four-round unanimous decision over Michael Goins (1-4, 1 KO) of Las Vegas, Nevada. Forrester, 220, wobbled Goins, 227, with a right in the third, dropping him with the following combination. The knockdown was more than enough to earn Forrester the nod, with scores of 38-37 and 39-36 twice.

Let’s Get It On Promotions bring both boxing and mixed martial arts back to the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino for “Reno Xtreme Fights III” on March 20th.

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

Nick Diaz scored an exciting first round knockout over Mariusz Zaromskis in a wild round to retain his Strikeforce Welterweight title at the Bank Once Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Both guys landed heavy shots that included Zaromskis landing a hard shot that sent Doaz down to the floor but Diaz popped right up and and began to pound away on the face of Zaromskis as he landed some huge shots until he landed a booming right hook that put Zaromskis down and out at the 4:38 mark of round one.

Diaz, of Stockton, California is now 20-8-1 with twelve knockouts. Zaromskis of London is now 13-4.

“I’ll fight anybody,’’ said Diaz, who has been victorious in seven of his last eight and hasn’t lost in more than two years. I felt real good fighting again at 170. But the guy I really want is Gegard Mousasi.’’

Cris Cyborg retained her Strikeforce Lightweight title as she stopped a tough Marloes Coenen in round tyhree of their scheduled five round five.

Cyborg controlled most of the action throughout the fight by Coenen showed toughness and got in some big punches for herself until Cyborg pounded her on the ground and the fight was stopped at 2:07 of round three.

Cyborg, 144 1/2 lbs of Curitiba, Brazil is now 9-1 with seven stoppages. Coenen, 143 3/4 lbs of Amsterdam is now 17-4.

I’m very happy to win this fight,’’ said Cyborg shortly the heated scrap was stopped at 3:40 of the third. “It was a good fight. I think I could have done more but she was the toughest fighter I’ve faced and has a great heart. I admire her a lot.’’

Coenen, a strikingly attractive submission whiz who couldn’t take down Cyborg, wanted the fight to continue. “This is extremely disappointing to say the least,’’ she said. “This was for a world title. It should have been allowed to go a little longer. I wanted to fight.’’

Former NFL Star and Olympic Bobsledder Herschel Walker proved that life begins at forty-seven years old as he made a successful pro debut by stopping an over matched Greg Nagy in round three of a scheduled three round Heavyweight fight.

Walker showed versatility as he was effective with strikes and on the ground and was in control for just about every second of the fight until it was stopped at 2:17 of round three.

Walker, 214 1/4 lbs looked in pronominal shape to winhis pro debut. Nagy, 210 1/2 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is 1-2

“I feel good but I didn’t do many things right and I still have a lot to learn,’’ said Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and a two-time Pro Bowl competitor. “The experience itself was exciting and I thank my opponent for fighting me. It’s tough to fight an old man. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

“I thought I’d be more nervous. I’m an MMA fighter now. I earned a little bit of a stripe tonight. This is one of my biggest athletic achievements ever.’

“Ruthless” Robbie Lawlor scored one of the most devastating one punch knockout over Melib Manhoef in round of their scheduled three round bout.

Manhoef dominated the fight as he was viciously kicking Lawlor’s legs and landing hard body shots until Lawlor landed a “Hayemaker” right hook that landed squarely on Manhoef’s chin and he was knocked out cold before he crumbled to the ground and for good measure, Lawlor landed a hard right to jaw the jaw and the fight was stopped at 3:33 of round one.

Lawlor of Granite City, IL is now 17-5-1 with fourteen knockouts. Manhoef of Amsterdam, Netherlands is now 24-7-1

“I knew this guy was really a killer, but I knew I would catch him,’’ Lawler said. “When he looks to finish, he really loads up. I just lured him in and got him.

“He was chopping and chopping and he was really hurting me with the leg kicks. When I felt the first one land, I knew I could get one more in and finish, and that’s what I did.’’

Former WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley remained undefeated as he pounded Wes Sims for much of their two-plus minute Heavyweight bout.

Lashley had the 6’8″ Sims on tne ground and continued to pound Sims until the referee stopped the bout at 2:06 of round one of their scheduled three round fight

Lashley, 252 1/4lbs of Coconut Creek, Fla is now 5-0 with two knockouts. Sims. 258 1/4 lbs of Lancaster, OH is now 22-13-1-2.

“Anytime you win and learn something, it’s a good night,’’ he said. “Sims is a tall guy who came in with nothing to lose, almost like he didn’t care, and those are the guys that are usually the hardest to fight.

“I want to continue to step up.

Jorge Arce captured the WBO Super Flyweight champion via a technical decision over a nasty cut was opened up over the right eye of Angky Angkota during round seven of their scheduled twelve round main event in Mexico City.

Arce continously cornered the smaller Angkota and wailed away on the game native of Indonesia. Angkota showed a lot of spunk and courage as he would try to fire back some wild shots. Angkota tried to “goad” Arce as he made body gyrations towards Arce in round seven in an effort to convince Arce that his punches were not effective.

Later in that round, the fighters clashed heads and a nasty cut started to drip blood down the right side of Angkota’s face.

When the scores were read, Arce 115 lbs of Los Mochis, Mexico was ahead by scores of 60-54, 60-54 and 58-56 to win a fourth world title and is now 53-6-1. Angkota, 115 lbs of Semerang, Indonesia is now 23-5.

“This is for my baby who was either born tonight or tomorrow”,said Arce

Former world title challenger Eduardo Escobedo scored a ten round unanimous decision over Joksan Hernandez in a Featherweight bout.

Escobedo dropped Hernandez in round three from a nice counter shot. The action was wildly entertaining especially at the outset of round’s eight and ten as the two stood toe to toe which was much to the delight of the crowd.

Escobedo, 126 lbs won his sixth straight fight since dropping a shot at then WBO Super Bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in 2007, won by scores of 97-92, 97-93 and 96-93 to raise his record to 27-3. Hernandez is now 17-2.

Alonso Lopez scored a third round stoppage over Sergio Cruz at 2:02 of round three of a scheduled four round Super Flyweight bout featuring debuter’s.

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Nonito’ The Filipino Flash’ Donaire,Philippines works out during a media day for his upcoming championship fight on “Latin Fury 13/Pinoy Power 3”, a Top Rank Pay Per View on Saturday,February 13 from the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas. Donaire takes on top-rated Gerson Guerrero of Mexico in the main event.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

While Peter Manfredo Jr. may never be among the elite of the division, he certainly looked impressive as he took apart fellow middleweight Matt Vanda over 10 rounds. Vanda (of St. Paul, MN) looked good during the early going as he sunk body shots to the midsection of Manfredo (Providence, RI.) But Manfredo quickly answered back with body shots of his own and in the second began to incorporate his most important punch of the fight; a short right uppercut aimed at the head of Vanda. This punch would begin to land with scary accuracy over the coming rounds and seemed to completely bewilder Vanda every time he attempted it. Manfredo also began working a double jab, right hand combo that was often the starting point for 4, 5 and 6 punch combos which were the norm during rounds 3-8. Despite his best efforts, Vanda never seemed to be in range to land his punches. He was either too far out and missing wildly or smothering himself on the inside while he ate uppercuts from Manfredo. In the sixth, Vanda charged in and was met with a perfectly placed left hook to the liver from Manfredo which put him on the canvas. Vanda rose and was battered around the ring for the remainder of the round. He survived on sheer heart and at times it seemed the fight was only mere seconds away from being stopped. Vanda knew just when to throw though and was able to keep the referee convinced that he was still in the fight. The seventh round was more of the same with Vanda doing just enough to keep himself from being stopped. Vanda had his greatest success in the 9th and 10th where he truly gave it his all, throwing every punch in his arsenal in an attempt to catch Manfredo. Unfortunately for Vanda, it was too little too late and when the final bell sounded, the outcome was never in question. People were heading for the exits when the scores were announced: 99-90 and 100-89 all for Manfredo who is now 34-6 18Kos. Vanda (42-10 22Kos) showed great heart throughout the fight but at this point should probably consider hanging up his gloves for good. Neither fighter was ever among the truly elite of their weight class but if tonight’s fight showed anything, it’s that Manfredo still has reason to believe he can be among he best, while Vanda should start taking a serious look at his reasons to continue fighting.

Local Featherweight prospect Matt Remillard of Manchester, CT needed one round less to dispatch outgunned Irvington, NJ native Rafael Lora in a rematch of their bout back in September of 09. Lora seemed intent to overturn his first loss to Remillard and came out working a stiff jab which seemed to have Remillard perplexed. Lora’s success ended after the first when Remillard began to open up with a jab of his own. .Remillard used the jab as a set up to push Lora to the ropes where he would unleash vicious shots to the body. During the third, Remillard began going both upstairs and downstairs with his left hook and was soon ripping of 3 and 4 punch combos on the wilting Lora. Right at the bell for round 3, Remillard got in two punishing body shots which had Lora limping back to his corner. He wisely decided to stay there instead of coming out for round 4, handing Remillard the TKO victory. Still unbeaten, Remillard runs his record to 21-0 12Kos while Lora, having lost his second fight to “The Sharpshooter” is now 11-2 5Kos.

A swing bout between welterweights Joseph Elegele of Melbourne, FL and Chris Russel of Shaddock OK was over a mere one minute and thirteen seconds after it began. Both fighters circled and felt each other out for the first minute before Elegele snuck in a left uppercut to the body of Russel which paralyzed Russel for the full ten count. Elegele improves to 3-0 2Kos while Russel slips to 1-1.

To a cascade of boos, lightweights Arash Usmanee of Alberta Canada and Jorge Ruiz of Miami, FL fought 4 and ½ rounds mired by incessant grappling and wild, inaccurate punches. Usmanee held a slight advantage in effective punching when, in a fitting end to such an ugly bout, the fighters heads came together and prompted referee Dick Flaherty to call a halt to the fight. Because 4 rounds had been competed, the scorecards were tallied and Usmanee came out on top; winning by scores of 48-47, 50-45 and 49-45. Usmanee remains unbeaten at 5-0 2 Kos while Ruiz drops to 7-11-2.

Welterweight fan favorite Adelita Irizarry (6-4 2KOs) of Hartford, CT was on the losing end of a split decision when she was out crafted over 6 rounds by Fayetteville, NC’s Rachel Clark (5-3-1 3KOs.) In her typical come forward style Irizarry started fast and began winging punches at the head of Clark, who initially was content to retreat and counter punch from her southpaw stance. Perhaps realizing that Irizarry was not going to stop moving forward, Clark began fighting back to good effect. She began to land a straight left hand that would halt Irizarry’s attacks long enough for her to move and reset. The defining moment in the fight came in the fourth when Irizarry, charging in as usual, walked into another straight left and was dropped to the Canvas. The knockdown proved to be pivotal as Clark narrowly took two of the judges scorecards 58-55 and 57-56 while Irizarry got the nod from only one 57-56.

In a four round lightweight bout, local up and comer Joseph Perez of Hartford, CT narrowly out pointed Luis Quezada of Caguas, Puerto Rico. Perez had a good opening round in which he scored with left hooks to the head of Quezada. The middle two rounds were highly competitive as the fighters took turns backing each other to the ropes and unleashing the best they had. Perez managed to steal the fight in the fourth as he backed Quezada along the ropes and scored well with both hands. Quezada had little to offer in return and let the fight slip away in the final minute and a half. When the scorecards were read, Perez snuck by with a majority decision: 38-38 and 39-37 twice. With the loss, Quezada fell to 1-2 which Perez improved to 3-0 1KO.

In the opening bout of the evening, Detroit MI super middleweight J’Leon Love made a successful pro debut by icing Philadelphia PA’s Vince Burkhalter in under two minutes. Wasting no time, Love went straight after Burkhalter from the bell. About a minute into the fight, Love dropped a left hook to the body and followed with a crisp right hand that dumped Burkhalter to the canvas. Burkhalter rose but was quickly pinned on the ropes and ate another right hand that dropped him face first to the canvas. Ten seconds later, the fight was over and Love had notched his first professional victory. Burkhalter dropped his third in a row and now stands at 0-3.

LAS VEGAS – Beibut Shumenov, a lawyer in Kazakhstan, had a plan. Gabriel Campillo, a boxer from a country known best for fighting bulls, had the power. Put them together and you might have a good light-heavyweight. As it is, Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson don’t have much to worry about.

The plan prevailed.

Shumenov won a split decision Friday night and took the World Boxing Association’s version of the title from Campillo in a rematch that had a different winner, yet some of the same controversy from last August’s majority in Kazakhstan. Campillo won that one, although Shumenov has been arguing about it ever since.

This time, it is Campillo’s turn to argue.

“I got robbed and I want it investigated,’’ Campillo said as he stood in the middle of the ring at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino while his angry trainer, Sergio Martinez, had to be restrained from taking the bout into some extra-curricular rounds.

It safe to say that the left-hander from Spain won’t be getting any legal advice from Shumenov, who was bloodied, yet nimble enough to jump through enough loopholes to escape with a decision. Shumemov (9-1, 6 KOs) won 115-113 on Jerry Roth’s card. Judge Patricia Morse Jarman scored it 117-111 for the Kazakhstani attorney. On Levi Martinez’ card, it was 117-111 for Campillo (19-3, 5 KOS), who also suffered a cut over his left eye.

“I’m not surprised by the decision,’’ Shumenov said. “I thought I won.’’

There was plenty to argue about. After the opening couple of rounds, Campillo’s superior power appeared to be the ruling factor. Shumenov, often looking dazed, began to back away. If nothing else the argument figures to continue until the two fight for a third time. No matter what happens, there doesn’t figure to be much of an argument about who doesn’t belong at the top of the light-heavyweight division. Shumenov and Campillo don’t.

In time, may be. At least, that was the suggestion from Shumenov, who had former David Tua trainer Kevin Barry in his corner for the first time.

“The difference is that I have the best trainer in boxing,’’ said Shumenov, whose company co-promoted the card with Oscar De La Hoya’s company, Golden Boy. “He gave me all the directions to win this fight.’’

Directions good enough for two judges, anyway.

On the undercard:

The 10th lesson plan in junior-middleweight prospect Erislandy Lara’s education got off to a slow start, grew rocky and ended with him scoring a 10th-round TKO of Grady Brewer in the first televised fight on Fox Sports Net. Early on, Lara (10-0, 6 KOs) a former Cuban amateur, looked flat-footed and one-dimensional. He tried to set up his best punch, a straight left. In the fifth, Brewer (26-12, 15 KOs), who won The Contender in 2006, delivered some of his own reality television with rights that stunned Lara. But a head butt badly bloodied Brewer over the left eye in the sixth. Brewer never seemed to recover. He was dropped by a left late in the 10th. Referee Tony weeks stopped it 16 seconds before the closing bell.

The card’s first fight ended in front of a lot empty seats. Anybody looking for their seat would not have seen it anyway, because of a quick body shot from Gayrat Ahmedov (13-0-1, 9 KOs), a cruiserweight from Uzbekistan. Sixty-five seconds after the opening bell, Ahmedov landed a short left that dropped Harley Kilfian (8-4, 7 KOs), a Wisconsin cruiserweight who crashed onto the canvas like a wrecked motorcycle.

The body work continued in the second bout, thanks to another fighter from Uzbekistan, junior-middleweight Ravshan Hudaynazarov (10-, 9 KOs), who threw a left that sent Kenyan Shadrack Kipruot (10-13, 7 KOs) backpedaling onto the seat of his trunks and unable to continue in a TKO defeat at 1:26 of the third.

Eloy Perez beat the stroke of midnight and David Rodela.

With late Friday just a few minutes from turning into early Saturday, super-feather weight Perez (16-0-1, 4 KOs) of Salinas, Calif., battled through 10 bruising rounds for a unanimous decision over David Rodela (14-2-3, 6 KOs) in the final fight on a card that featured Beibut Shumenov’s split decision over Gabriel Campillo for a piece of the light-heavyweight title.

Rest of the undercard:
Las Vegas welterweight Jessie Vargas (8-0, 3 KOs) won a four-round unanimous decision over Rickey McKinney (3-2, 2 KOs) of Baton Rouge, La.

Featherweight Ronny Rios of Santa Ana, Calif., stayed unbeaten (9-0, 4 KOs) with a six-round unanimous decision over Wilshaun Boxley (5-4, 3 KOs) of Coons Rapids, Minn.

And a long night proved to be a short one for junior-welterweight Carlos Molina (10-0, 6 KOs), who needed only 54 seconds to score a first-round knockout of Tyler Ziolowski (12-11, 6 KOs) of St. Joseph, Mo.

Chris Avalos remained undefeated as he pounded out Jose Nieves at 2:20 of round four of a scheduled ten round Bantamweight bout at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After a slow first round, Avalos dropped Nieves in round two with a hard right to the body. In round four, Avalos landed a combination that dropped Nieves for a second time. Avalos finished the fight as landed yet another flurry of punches that sent Nieves down for referee Rocky Burke at 2:20 of round four.

Avalos, 118 lbs of Lancaster, CA is now 15-0 with twelve knockouts. Nieves, 119 lbs of Carolina, Puerto Rico is now 17-2-3

“Avalos turned the fight with one shot,” said ShoBox’s expert commentator Steve Farhood. “As soon as Nieves backed to the ropes, in essence, the fight was over.

“He kept his poise and took what was given to him, and, when he turned it up, it turned out that Nieves couldn’t handle it.”

“I’m beyond happy, but I didn’t think it would end that quickly,” Avalos said. “I thought it would go into the sixth round. He was a good fighter, I take nothing from him. I was just the better fighter tonight.”

Archie Ray Marquez remained undefeated with an eight round unanimous decision over Derrick Campos in an entertaining Lightweight scrap.

Campos did not do much of anything over the first three rounds as Marquez used his height and reach to box well and stay out of the way of anything Campos could offer. Campos started to turn up the pressure in the middle rounds and had a little success.

Marquez was more consistent over the last three rounds and scored a knockdown when he landed a hard right to the head and the feet of the two fighters collided and Campos hit the ground on what was ruled a knockdown.

Marquez, 131 lbs of Albuquerque, NM won by scores of 80-71, 79-72 and 77-74 to raise his record to 9-0-1. Campos, 132 lbs of Topeka, KS is now 20-8.

“I like his style, but he needs to work on his power,” said Tarver, who served as ShoBox’s guest analyst. “He needs to turn his opportunities into power shots, rather than boxing away. I look forward to seeing him again and I think he has a bright future.”

LAS VEGAS — Shane Mosley has signed to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 1 at the MGM Grand, Mosley attorney Judd Burstein said Friday night while sitting at ringside after Beibut Shumenov took the World Boxing Association’s light-heavyweight title with a split decision over Gabriel Campillo at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Mayweather has yet to sign, but his advisor Leonard Ellerbe said he expects him to.

Burstein also said that Mosley will be willing to undergo Olympic-style blood-testing. Burstein was linked to performance-enhancing drugs in testimony to a grand-jury that investigated Balco. Mosley was listed as a Balco client.

“We’ve agreed to anything as long as Floyd is doing it,” Burstein said.

Talks for a Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight on March 13 broke down when Mayweather demanded that Pacquiao undergo Olympic-style blood-testing. Pacquiao refused and instead will fight Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

RENO, NEVADA — The super middleweight division has been thrust into the boxing media spotlight of late, and yet another intriguing clash of 168-pounders takes place tonight at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, as hometown hero Jesse Brinkley takes on Curtis Stevens in a bout with world title implications. Their twelve-round bout, with the IBF#2 super middleweight ranking up for grabs, headlines ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Fighters weighed in Thursday evening at the casino’s Xtreme Sports Bar & Lounge.

For Brinkley (34-5, 22 KOs) of Yerington, Nevada, the last two-and-one-half years have culminated to the position he finds himself in tonight, perhaps one win away from a crack at a world championship. It was then that Brinkley ended a two-fight skid and, with the help of his promoters Terry and Tommy Lane of Let’s Get It On Promotions, righted the ship of his career by beginning the eight-fight winning run that brought him back into contention. It has been an impressive turnaround, but Brinkley needs to win tonight for it to pay off. Brinkley, the IBF #7 ranked super middleweight, weighed in at 167 ½-pounds on Thursday.

Stevens (21-2, 15 KOs) of Brownsville, New York has rebuilt his career with a four-fight unbeaten run over the past two years. The last time Stevens took center stage was his biggest a career disappointment, as he lost a lackluster decision to Andre Dirrell on HBO in 2007. Stevens, once one of the more highly touted prospects in the sport, signed with Star Boxing and worked his way back up the ladder. Most impressively, Stevens is coming off of a third-round knockout of previously unbeaten Piotr Wilczewski last July. Stevens, the IBF #8 ranked super middleweight, came in at 165-pounds.

With the IBF title one of two 168-pound championships not locked up in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament, the stakes could not be higher for Brinkley and Stevens, as the winner would be in excellent position to challenge reigning champion Lucian Bute. The Canadian-based Romanian Bute does not have a deep pool of challengers to choose from, especially considering two of the top IBF contenders are in the Super Six tournament. Currently both the IBF #1 and #2 rankings are vacant.

In the televised co-feature, welterweight prospect Raymond Serrano (11-0, 6 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will take on Ronnie Warrior Jr. (13-2-1, 4 KOs) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in an eight-round bout. Serrano, who weighed 146 ½, is coming off of an up-and-down victory over journeyman Anthony Bowman last November. This is Serrano’s second appearance on ESPN2, as he scored a near shutout in a six-rounder over Jay Krupp last March. Warrior is a more experienced fighter than his record would put on, as he is a veteran of 24 fights, including several no contests. The southpaw Warrior scaled 147-pounds.

Reno heavyweight Tyler Hinkey (5-1-2, 4 KOs) will see action on the undercard against William Mitch Williams (3-2, 3 KOs) of Jackson, Michigan in a six-round heavyweight fight. Hinkey, who scaled 270-pounds, is looking to get back into the win column after going 0-1-1 in his last two bouts. For his last fight in August, Hinkey weighed 254-pounds. Williams, weighing in with his clothes on, scaled 215-pounds.

Middleweight prospect Brandon Gonzales (9-0, 8 KOs) of Sacramento, California will take on always game journeyman Dewey Welliver (18-19-1, 6 KOs) of Snoqualmie, Washington in a six-round bout. Gonzales, who came in at 163, is coming in off of a fourth-round kayo of Victor Villereal in Reno in December. Villereal had never before failed to last the distance. Welliver, who has been in with just about everybody from 154- to 168-pounds over his career, scaled 159-pounds Thursday.

Chad Forrester (0-1) of Sparks, Nevada gets a second opportunity to start his boxing career tonight against Michael Goins (1-3, 1 KO) of Las Vegas, Nevada in a four-round heavyweight rematch. In June of 2008, Goins scored a technical stoppage when the referee stopped the fight with Forrester taking a flurry against the ropes. Forrester weighed in at 220-pounds, while Goins scaled 227.

MMA competitor Jack Montgomery of Dayton, Nevada will make his professional boxing debut against Reno’s Carlos Gayton, also making his pro debut. Montgomery, a 7-7 striker in mixed martial arts, weighed in at 173-pounds. Gayton, who trains out of the Arce Boxing Club in nearby Sparks, scaled 171 ½-pounds.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Let’s Get It On Promotions and Star Boxing, are available online at GrandSierraResort.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

IBF Super Middleweight Championship Eliminator, 12 Rounds
Stevens 165
Brinkley 167 ½

Welterweights, 8 Rounds
Serrano 146 ½
Warrior Jr. 147

Heavyweights, 6 Rounds
Hinkey 270
Williams 215

Heavyweights, 4 Rounds
Forrester 220
Goins 227

Middleweights, 6 Rounds
Gonzales 163
Welliver 159
Light heavyweights, 4 Rounds
Montgomery 173
Gayton 171 ½

Photos by Mark Ortega

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

PHILADELPHIA (January 29, 2010)—On Friday night February 5th one of the most anticipated area debuts in quite some time will take place as former world Junior amateur heavyweight champion Joey Dawejko will fight a four round Heavyweight bout as part of the Special Valentine’s Day card at The Legendary Blue Horizon.

The card is promoted by Vernoca L. Michael and Blue Horizon Boxing promotions Inc.

There will be members from the Red Cross at the Blue Horizon where a station will be set up for donations for relief in regards to the recent Tragic Earthquake that took place earlier this month in Haiti and the boxing community is encouraged to help those in need.

Dawejko from the Tacony section of Philadelphia picked up boxing as a youngster after his grandfather took him to the local Golden Gloves that was ironically held at The Blue Horizon and Dawejko wanted to give boxing a try.

Dawejko started to have success as a junior boxer which facilitated Dawejko to step up the competition. In 2008, Dawejko traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico to compete in the prestigious world Junior Championships.

Four victories later Dawejko captured the championship when he defeated Eric Brechlin of Germany by a score of 9-1 Dewejko won his four bouts by a combined score of 43-16, and Dewejko was anointed the future of USA Boxing.

Dewejko didn’t want to wait another four years for the next Olympics to come around and decided to turn pro after finishing his amateur career with a record of 56-12.

“The wait for the Olympics plus I felt to go out on top was the perfect ending and it was time to go pro”, said the then eighteen year old prodigy.

Dewejko received a phone call that former Heavyweight champion of the world Hassim Rahman needed a sparring partner and Dewejko jumped at the chance to work with Rahman.

“I was still an amateur when that happened. It actually was before the world junior championship. I guess he liked what he saw in those sessions and we kept in touch.”

After sparring with Rahman for a second camp, Dawejko signed a contract with Rahman as the former champ is now the manager of young Dawejko.

Since then Dawejko has sparred with former WBC Heavyweight champion Samuel Peter as he prepared to take on Eddie Chambers.

Dawejko turned pro on September 26, 2009 in Kinder, Louisiana against thirteen fight veteran Royphy Solieau. Dawejko scored a knockdown in pounding out a six round unanimous decision.

Dawejko showed that he was a throwback as he fought six rounds in his pro debut rather than the four rounder’s that most fighters take in the first fight.

Now in Dawejko’s second start he will get to perform in front of the hometown fans.

“I go to just about all the fights at The Blue Horizon and sometimes I get lost in thought as I am always envisioning being in that ring and performing for the knowledgeable crowd that Blue Horizon has and I can’t wait until February 5th to display my skills in front of them”

Rahman will be ringside to watch his protégé fight undefeated Ricardo Johnson (1-0) of Ohio in the four round bout.

In the main event, USBA Jr. Middleweight champion, Derek “Pooh” Ennis (19-2-1, 12 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Edwin Vazquez (22-14-2, 8 KO’s) of Santurce, Puerto Rico in an eight round non-title bout.

In an eight round co-feature, former world title challenger Israel “Pito” Cardona (36-10, 28 KO’s) of Hartford, CT takes on the upset specialist Martinus Clay (13-24-4, 5 KO’s) of Philadelphia.

In a four round Heavyweight bout of Philadelphian’s, Tim Johnson (4-1, 2 KO’s) takes on Charles Hayward (2-2, 1 KO)

In a four round Ladies Welterweight bout, Jackie Davis (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia takes on Cassandra Lindsay (3-4, 2 KO’s) of Columbus, MS

Andres Gustafson (3-0, 1 KO) of Norrkoping, Sweden will travel across the Atlantic to do battle with Levay King (0-1) in a four round Heavyweight attraction.

In a battle of Phildelphia based Jr. Welterweight, Clement Bethea will make his pro debut against comebacking Henry Northan (0-1).

Northan, will be making his first ring appearance in nearly seven years.

Also seeing action is exciting undefeated Ronald Cruz (7-0, 4 KO’s) of Bethlehem, PA against an opponent to be named in a four round bout.

THE SHOW WILL BE STREAMED ALL OVER THE WORLD ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV FOR $5.99 BY CLICKING:

http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?event=575

Tickets are going fast for this exciting boxing event. The perfect pre-Valentine gift for your boxing enthusiast.

Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $200 for Queen Seating, $125 for Presidential Seats, $65 for VIP Seating, $55 for Ringside Seating and $45 for General Admission Seating. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-763-0500 or through PayPal by clicking here. Doors open at 6:30 PM / First Bout begins at 7:30 P.M.

The Legendary Blue Horizon™

1314 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA

IBF #7 ranked super middleweight Jesse Brinkley (34-5, 22 KOs) of Yerington, Nevada takes on IBF #8 ranked Curtis Stevens in a twelve-round elimination bout tonight at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada. The winner will move into the IBF #2 world ranking, placing them right in line for a shot at IBF kingpin Lucian Bute. Their bout headlines ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Fighters weighed in Thursday night at the casino’s Xtreme Sports Bar & Lounge

Watch Jesse Brinkley-Curtis Stevens Weigh-in

The elements are all there for rising welterweight prospect Raymond Serrano to become a boxing star. The former amateur standout has the look, he’s just 20-years-old, comes from a fighting family, fights at the prominent welterweight class and oh yeah, he’s from Philadelphia. Serrano, a gifted boxer-puncher, tests his wares before the world tonight in the ESPN2-televised co-feature from the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada.

Serrano (11-0, 6 KOs) was introduced to the sport of boxing by his father Ramon at an early age. “My dad used to compete as an amateur in Puerto Rico,” explained Serrano. “He got me into it and started training me when I was young, like eight-years-old.” Raymond’s uncle Ben Serrano also boxed professionally, notably defeating eventual titlist Doug DeWitt during a 21-fight career. Additionally, current junior middleweight contender Kermit Cintron is Ben’s nephew by marriage.

Despite the boxing bloodlines, Raymond did not inherit a love for the sport right off the bat. “When I first started boxing, I didn’t really like it,” admits Serrano. “I never wanted to fight.” Perhaps what began to change the young Serrano’s attitude toward the sport was his success. By 2005, the 16-year-old Serrano was making his mark on the national amateur scene. In June and July of that year, Brownsville, Texas played host to both the National and International Junior Olympic Championships, and Serrano won gold in both.

“That was one of the best experiences as an amateur,” said Serrano, recalling his Junior Olympic victories. “I went to a lot of tournaments before that, and made it to the championships and lost. I was determined to win the Junior Olympics, because the year before that I had won the bronze. I wasn’t that happy, so I came back the next year and won gold. It was a happy moment. After that I started traveling with the USA team and I learned a lot from that experience.”

While he went on to gain many accomplishments in the unpaid ranks, including a bronze at the World Cadet Championships in England in 2005 and a Pennsylvania Golden Gloves title in 2006, Serrano began to sour on the amateur game. The change in his outlook was due in part to the much maligned amateur scoring system. “There were a lot of fights that I thought I won, but because of the computer scoring I didn’t,” explains Serrano. “It is hard to fight four rounds and then they say you lost by one point, it is crazy. I went to the Under 19 [Championships], and I fought in the championship and lost, which I thought I won. Then I went to the Eastern Trials and lost by a couple of points. After that, I think I was 17 or 18, I decided to turn pro.”

While his three-point loss to Anthony Walker at the Eastern Trials in May of 2007 marked his final amateur contest, the controversial computerized scoring was not the only reason the young Serrano decided to make the leap to the pros. “I had over 100 fights, and I stopped getting excited when it came time for the amateur fights,” admits Serrano. “I decided I needed some excitement, so it came time to turn pro.”

That October, Serrano made his pro debut inside a hallowed Philadelphia sporting landmark, the Spectrum, making short work of Tierre King. However, it was not until his second pro contest that Serrano came to the realization of what it means to be a professional fighter. “I fought Jorge Delgado, and he had a lot of fights,” recalls Serrano. “It was my first time being in a fight and going the full four-rounds.” Serrano took the four-round unanimous decision. “That was a wake up call that it is not a game. You’ve got to train hard. It is not like the amateurs, because it is important that you don’t get any losses. The guy was tough too, he was a veteran.”

Early in his pro run, Serrano soon assembled the team that supports and prepares him to this day. Prominent promotional outfit Star Boxing, headed by Joe DeGuardia, took an early interest in Serrano and inked the young prospect. “In this business, if you don’t have someone looking out for you, no one will,” says Serrano. “And I have someone looking out for me. We got a good thing going on with Star Boxing, they are good people.”

Besides joining forces with a promoter, Serrano and his father brought in a new trainer, Danny Davis. “I knew Danny since the amateurs,” says Serrano. “We used to have Danny come give me pads in the amateurs. After my second or third fight, we brought Danny into our team. He is great.” Davis, who won a National Golden Glove title in 1991, has worked alongside Nazim Richardson, Freddie Roach and John David Jackson in the camps of Bernard Hopkins.

In addition to his experience working with the most renowned trainers and as a fighter himself, it is Davis’ approach to training that has left an indelible impression on his young pupil. “He goes out there and runs with me, and he pushes me,” says Serrano of his extremely fit trainer. “He doesn’t just tell me what to do, he actually does the workouts with me.”

Any rising young fighter could get caught up in his own hype, but Davis is not afraid bring his charge’s feet back down to sea level. “Somebody has to be grounded, and that’s me. I am the bad guy,” says Davis. “He has the people who tell him he’s great and he is this and that. I am the one that has to keep everything honest, and I do, and he respects me for that.”

In his most recent fight, Serrano moved to 11-0, but not with out some trials and tribulations. Serrano took on journeyman Anthony Bowman on November 21st in Tunica, Mississippi. The time comes in every fighter’s career that he must show he can overcome obstacles and adversity. Serrano was unexpectedly dropped by Bowman in the opening round. Although he was not hurt from the flash knockdown, a two-point round is huge in a six-round bout, and thus Serrano was behind the eight ball. Making matters worse, a headbutt had opened a cut on Serrano before the first round came to a close.

Serrano rose to the challenge, evening the score by knocking Bowman down in the following round, en route to a six-round unanimous decision victory. “My last fight, I didn’t look as good as I normally do,” admits Serrano. “But that is why I went back to the drawing board and trained harder for my fight coming up on ESPN. I also got cut, and that was my first time getting cut.”

Serrano’s trainer believes that the near slip-up against Bowman may be serving Serrano well. “He is back in the gym and I am seeing him really focused, more so than ever, and I have been with him for two years,” said Davis from camp last week. “Sometimes it takes a fight like that. I think that fight did something to him. This is a matter of life and death. I always tell him we have to treat it as such, and that it is a dangerous sport. You don’t know if you are going to come out or not. You have to take it serious.”

Serrano showed he could overcome adversity in his last fight, but his team will not rush their budding 20-year-old prospect. “He is turning into a more complete fighter, but we still have a long ways to go,” said Davis, who would like to give Serrano two or three more years before he tackles the upper echelon of the always tough 147-pound welterweight class. “He just turned 20, so people have to understand he’s still young. He is learning, and he is doing a lot of things better than two years ago when we first started. So I am definitely seeing the progress.

Next up for Serrano is an ESPN2 televised eight-rounder against venerable southpaw Ronnie Warrior Jr., tonight at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada. Warrior (13-2-1, 4 KOs) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is coming off of a two-plus-year layoff and may not have the most imposing record, but Serrano has learned from past mistakes. “I don’t know that much about him,” admits Serrano. “He’s a southpaw and he’s like an inch taller than me. I know not to take anybody lightly though, so I am ready for whatever.”

“This is a great opportunity for Raymond to once again showcase his growing skills on the national stage,” said Serrano’s promoter DeGuardia. “This will be his first scheduled eight rounder, and his first nationally televised co-feature, and he is still only 20-years-old.” DeGuardia has high hopes for him, but understands that it is one step at a time, “Ray has a very exciting crowd-pleasing style, and we expect him to have a very big year in 2010, but first he must get by Warrior on the 29th.”

Raymond Serrano appears ready to meet and possibly exceed everyone’s expectations, adding another chapter to his family’s boxing history. “I want to look good and show people what I got,” said Serrano. “You will be seeing me move up the ladder. My goal is to be champion of the world.”

Photo by Mark Ortega

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

On February 6th at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, Tomasz ‘Goral’ Adamek, the IBF Heavyweight International Champion (37-1, 27 KO), will take on Jason “Big Six” Estrada (16-2, 4 KOs) of Providence, Rhode Island, in a 12 round title defense. The fight is promoted by Main Events and Ziggy Promotions in association with Classic Entertainment and Sports Inc.

Fans who cannot make it to “The Rock” to see the live show can watch it online via GoFightLive.tv, for $9.99. Visit http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?event=581

to purchase the fight.

Three exciting undefeated fighters will also be featured on the GoFightLive show: Patrick Farrell, of Jersey City, 4-0, 3 KO’s; Saddam Ali, Olympian from Brooklyn, NY, 4-0, 2KO’s; and Denis Doughlin, of Morganville, NJ, 6-0, 3KO’s.

This GoFightLive on demand viewing will not be available in Poland or South Africa. Other may be added at a later date.

Viewing is restricted to residential homes only. Restaurants, bars or commercial establishments that wish to show the GFL on demand viewing must contact Main Events directly, 973-200-7050.

For more info visit: www.mainevents.com

It’s not exactly a comeback. Kevin Barry never really left. Home has always been in a corner, no matter how obscure. It’s just that the lights are beginning to brighten again for Barry at a post that has cornered a special place in his heart.

“Boxing is the love of my life,’’ Barry said.

That life, like marriage, tested Barry with familiar controversies, starting with his 1984 Olympic silver medal won in a disqualification of eventual heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield and including a split with David Tua in the courts of his native New Zealand.

Barry wasn’t sure he ever wanted to venture back toward the biggest stage, which in boxing can be as upside-down as the Down-Under in his homeland. In fact, he needed some convincing. But he’s glad he listened to a persuasive Beibut Shumenov (8-1, 6 KOs), a light-heavyweight from Kazakhstan who will have Barry in his corner Friday night in a Fox-televised rematch of his disputed loss by majority decision to World Boxing Association champion Gabriel Campillo (19-2, 6 KOs) of Spain at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas.

Initially, Barry wasn’t interested. He was content and busy in Las Vegas, training kick boxers, mixed-martial-arts fighters, kids who hope to box and old guys who think they still can. But Shumenov, also a Las Vegas resident, proved to be irresistible, perhaps because Barry saw some of himself in a 26-year-old fighter who decided to go pro three years after fighting for Kazakhstan at the 2004 Olympics.

“I actually had him work with a few young fighters of my own some time ago,’’ said Barry, who grew up in the in Christchurch on New Zealand’s south island and has been living in Las Vegas since 2004. “So I saw him early on. I saw the strength, the power, the hand speed. He had all the makings of a good fighter. He’s a real physical specimen. Very quick. Very explosive.’’

Also very smart and very sure of what he wants, Barry says.

“Over the last couple of months that I’ve spent with him, I found out so much more about the man,’’ Barry said. “He is so disciplined. He really lives the life of a professional athlete.’’

It’s a commitment that might have been forged during his years away from boxing, a sabbatical that also explains his record of only nine fights. The self-managed Shumenov worked as a businessman in Kazakhstan after the 2004 Games, Barry said.

“I’m not sure a lot of people know, but he is a lawyer in Kazakhstan,’’ Barry said. “He’s very intelligent. It’s really a privilege to work with somebody who has actually got something in the top six inches. You’re not having to beat it into him, day in and day out. He makes small adjustments. He does his homework. He corrects flaws. He’s a pleasure to work with.’’

Still, it’s early. Bright lights can blind with self-imposed, often unforeseen pressures. Then, there’s always that one, unseen punch that can scramble the top six inches of the best and the brightest.

“Of course, when the lights go on and the bell sounds on live TV, sometimes things change,’’ Barry says.

In 1984, they changed for Barry. Barry never got a chance to fight for the light-heavyweight’s gold medal. Silver was the color of consolation. Holyfield was repeatedly warned for hitting on the break. When the referee yelled break, Holyfield landed a flurry of combinations that put Barry on the canvas, knocked out and out of the gold-medal bout. That was the end of Barry’s career, at least inside the ropes. Twenty-six years later, the 50-year-old trainer has no regrets.

In some ways, he says his unique moment in Olympic history led to friendships and created opportunities that continue to this day.

He became friendly with Holyfield, although he is saddened that the ex-champion continues to fight. Holyfield’s bout with Frans Botha in Uganda, scheduled for Feb. 20, was canceled Thursday because the promised money came with no guarantees. There are reports that it will be re-scheduled, possibly for March 6 in Miami.

“It’s sad,’’ said Barry, who believes Holyfield is damaging his legacy. “He’s fighting, but as a shadow of the great fighter he was. That’s the sad part.’’

In the controversy immediately following the 1984 Olympics, there was an offer that might have made a difference in Barry’s life. A Barry-Holyfield rematch as pros was discussed. But the deal never came together, Barry said. He went home to New Zealand where, he said, “there wasn’t a lot of love for Americans’’ because of the Olympic controversy.

Meanwhile, pro boxing just wasn’t an opportunity in New Zealand in 1984. Eight years later, that changed with David Tua, a bronze medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Tua was washing dishes in an Auckland restaurant when Barry decided to approach him with an offer.

“In my day, that just wasn’t there, not in New Zealand,’’ said Barry, who added that he lacked power, yet was quick and had a terrific jab. “Then, there wasn’t anybody who could put together a professional package to make it work.’’

Tua’s power and entertaining Down-Under persona became an immediate hit in the U.S. that was punctuated by explosive stoppages of John Ruiz and Michael Moorer. But he fell short of a major title in disappointing performance against Lennox Lewis. Barry and Tua were together for 12 years before they headed to divorce court in messy proceedings that lasted six years. The case was finally resolved in October.

“In the position I was, I had pretty much given up at getting back to the highest level in boxing,’’ Barry said. “Even so, things had gotten a lot better. But then this happened with Beibut. I feel extraordinarily privileged. It’s rejuvenated my life. I just feel very lucky.’’

Lucky enough, perhaps, to also be in the corner for his first fighter with a major title, the only thing missing in the home his heart has always occupied.

NOTES, QUOTES

· Phoenix 17-year-old Jose Benavidez Jr., 1-0 after winning a stoppage a couple of weeks ago in Las Vegas, was back in his hometown a week ago after an impressive debut in his 10-fight deal with Top Rank. As a high school senior, he still needs time and bouts to prove he is a true prospect. But he already has captured the imagination of a Phoenix community that hasn’t had real boxing star since Hall of Famer Michael Carbajal. Kids stood in line at Central Boxing for nearly two hours just to get an autograph from Benavidez, who resumed training in Los Angeles at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in anticipation of a possible appearance on the Manny-Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey undercard March 13 in Dallas.

· If he could do it over, Pacquiao probably would never have posed like a body-builder in those photos that are all over the internet. One look and it’s hard not to think about Floyd Mayweather Sr.’s allegations about performance enhancers.

· And speaking of second thoughts, Wizard guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton flashed guns in a NBA locker room for a Washington franchise which used to be called the Bullets.

LOS ANGELES, January 25 – A pair of unbeaten prospects from Uzbekistan, light heavyweight Gayrat Ahmedov and junior middleweight Ravshan Hudaynazarov, are set to make their United States debuts in separate bouts on January 29 on the Gabriel Campillo vs. Beibut Shumenov II card at The Joint at Hark Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ahmedov (12-0-1, 8 KOs), a four-time Uzbekistan National Amateur Champion, and Hudaynazarov (9-0, 6 KOs) a 2007 World Military Games Gold Medalist, have been training in North Carolina with veteran trainer Don Turner in preparation for their January 29 bouts. Both fighters are promoted by Las Vegas-based KZ Event Productions, owned and operated by the Shumenov brothers, January 29 main event challenger Beibut and Chingis.

In his last fight, Ahmedov knocked out Douglas Otieno (19-2, 9 KO’s) in the opening round on the Campillo-Shumenov I card, capturing the PABA light heavyweight belts that Shumenov relinquished prior to challenging Campillo in their WBA Light Heavyweight Championship match last August in Kazakhstan.

“I’m excited for this fight because one of my goals has always been to fight in Las Vegas,” the personable Ahmedov explained. “I have trained in Las Vegas, but this will be my first time fighting there. The Shumenov brothers are the reason I am fighting in the United States and I’m thankful to them. Beibut is a fighter himself, so he knows what it takes to be a champion and understands what a fighter goes through so he treats us like people.”

Ahmedov continued, “If everything goes as planned and I win this fight, Beibut has talked about getting me a shot at a world title in 2010. Because Beibut and I are like brothers, so even though we are in the same weight class, we will never fight each other. We want to both be world champions together, just for different organizations.”

Ravshan also fought on the Campillo-Shumenov I event, stopping veteran Joseph Miyumo (30-7-5, 17 KO’s) in the sixth round to keep his perfect pro record intact. “I’m very happy to be fighting January 29 in Las Vegas,” Ravshan said. “It’s been one of my dreams to fight there. I want to thank my promoter, KZ Event Productions, for giving me the opportunity to fight in the United States. I want to wish Beibut luck in his bout and that I hope that he wins the world title. This is a very important fight for him and all of us with KZ Event Productions and I’m very happy to be promoted by KZ and grateful for what they’ve given me. I will not let them or the fans down on January 29 as I’m going to give everybody a good fight to watch, so don’t miss it.”

Ahmedov and Hudaynazarov are scheduled to be in 6-round bouts versus opponents to be determined.

“Campillo vs. Shumenov II” features the 12-round WBA Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between the defending champion, Spain’s Gabriel Campillo (19-2, 6 KOs), and IBA World title-holder, Beibut Shumenov (8-1, 6 KOs). The evening of boxing will be presented by KZ Event Productions and Golden Boy Promotions with Campillo vs. Shumenov presented in association with Sampson Boxing LLC. The bout will be televised live on Fox Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates beginning at 11 pm ET / 8 pm PT (check local listings). Doors will open at 6 pm and the first bell rings at 7 pm.

In the event’s opening televised fight, former Cuban amateur star Erislandy Lara (9-0, 5 KO’s) takes on veteran junior middleweight Grady Brewer (26-11, 15 KO’s), winner of hit reality television show The Contender II, in a 10-round bout.

Tickets for this action-packed night of boxing are priced at $150, $125, $100, $50 and $40 (general admission standing room tickets). Tickets may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

For more information, visit www.kzeventproductions.com or www.goldenboypromotions.com or follow Golden Boy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing