Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Scar
Read your PM

[raylawpc]

Hey, can one of you guys going to the banquet get Armando Muniz' autograph for me? Franks has been trying to get it for me, but he won't be there because of his diabetes. Can one of you guys pinch hit for Frank?

If somebody can get it, I'll PM my address to you. Thanks!

(And if by chance Ruben Oliviares is there, I'd really like his autograph too . . . )

[Expug]

Hey guys, got into LAX yesterday with Pops. Already alot of guys milling around. Met up with Marvin Johnson, Greg Haugen, Emile Griffith, Carlos Ortiz, etc. Had a good hash session with Armando Muniz, who introduced me to a guy named Francisco Espinosa. We talked for awhile and Franicisco kept asking me questions about how I think Antonio Margarito would do against Shane Mosley and a rematch with Cotto. I told him Margarito would take both fighters which he was pleased with. It turns out he's Margarito's manager and both these fights are signed. Too funny. Brian, hope to see you tonight, but definitely tomorrow morning. I'll rattle you guys off an update tomorrow. Gonna be meeting up with Rick later tonight. Whitaker is said to be a no-show cause he wants 1st class tickets all-round and he was just asking for way too much. Lennox Lewis is now supposed to be here tonight. Also, Greg Haugen is sporting a nasty black eye. Great story involved with that. Talk to you guys later.

Scartissue

Scar, I'll be in around 930pm Friday at Marriott Lax.
I sent you my cell via Pm.

Brian

[kikibalt]

Randy's cousin, Rocky Burke ref this fight

Featherweight Classic in Tucson: Mtagawa vs. Villa

By Ted Sares - In a fight that gave new meaning to the words “fury” and “courage,” Rogers “The Tiger” Mtagwa (25-12-2) and Mexican warrior Tomas “El Norteno” Villa (20-6-4) engaged in almost ten rounds of wild ebb and flow savagery.The battle was held on November 7 at the Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.

Things started fast. The first round was one of pure fury in which both engaged in legal, back-and-forth assault and battery and the crowd was up and roaring in disbelief when the bell rang. Villa’s punches were shorter and sharper; Mtagwa’s were wider but seemed to be more menacing. Both landed numerous times. This continued in rounds two and three..

In the fourth, Villa decked the Tanzanian with a sneaky right uppercut, but referee Rocky Burke missed it and called it a slip. Rogers then came back at the end of the round with a series of neck snappers. The fifth featured great body work by Villa including a rare triple hook ala Micky Ward. He also landed a number of jolting uppercuts that had the crowd ooohing and aaahing and chanting “Villa, Villa.” In the sixth, Villa continued his assault, but then Mtagwa suddenly opened up with a number of flush rights that stunned his opponent and likely won the round for him.

Mtagwa, whose face was now badly swollen, tired badly in the seventh and went down twice on slips--one of which easily could have been ruled a knockdown. Villa was now coming on and almost floored Mtagawa in the eight with a crunching left hook that landed flush at the bell. He finally caught up with and staggered the courageous Tanzania early in the ninth with malicious roundhouse punches and then decked him with two rattling rights that should have ended the fight right there and then. Somehow, someway, the “Tiger” survived the round after absorbing incredible punishment. He was even able to counter with some sharp punches of his own; perhaps signaling what was to come in the next and last round.

Mtagwa slowly went to his corner at the bell and Referee Burke gave him a long and hard look. While both fighters were swollen around the face, Villa was much the fresher. He raised his hands before the start of the last round acknowledging to the crowd that he was poised to soon end matters decisively and to their satisfaction.

However, it was not o be. As the bell sounded, Mtagwa immediately caught the shockedr Villa with a crunching right that sent him down hard. He then chased Villa across the ring like a madman launching a series of looping punches most of which seemed to land. After throwing about fifty of these wild unanswered shots, “El Norteno” again went down from a final malefic right. Miraculously, he too was able to get up, but Mtagwa quickly ended matters with one well-leveraged right at the 1.20 mark that sent the valiant Mexican crashing into the ropes for the third and final time in one of the wildest brawls you will ever hope to see.

Rogers Mtagwa resides in Philadelphia and more than lived up to that city’s reputation for producing rough and tough fighters. Meanwhile, Tomas Villa’s 12-fight win streak was ended by this crushing defeat, but he has nothing of which to be ashamed.

I would categorize this fight as a closet classic except that it may very well end up as Fight of the Year. It was that exciting.

[Boxingnut]

Sorry to hear this, Frankie. Life is a bitch, eh?

"Life is a bitch, and then you die", I heard that a long time ago....

or life's a bitch and then you marry one. Doesn't apply to anyone on here obviously.

[kikibalt]

Boxing in So. Calif
November 14, 2008 by Edgar Gonzalez
MyFightFans.com

By Francisco Salazar,
Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, tickets are going fast for the fight card taking place on Saturday, November 29th, featuring Paul Williams (35-1, 26 KO’s) challenging for a world title held by Verno Phillips(42-10-1, 21 KO’s). In the supporting bout, unbeaten local Heavyweight Chris Arreola (25-0, 22 KO’s) will take on Travis Walker (28-1-1, 22 KO’s) in a 12 round bout. Local fighters Josesito Lopez, Rico Ramos, Michael Franco, and Shawn Estrada, who will make his professional debut, will be featured on the card. Tickets are priced as low as $25 to $200 for ringside. For tickets, contact Ticketmaster. HBO will televise.

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As if fight fans in the Inland Empire could not have asked for more on November 29th, a fight card will take place the night before. One day after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 28th, boxing returns to the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. Thompson Boxing Promotions presents its final card of the year featuring the return of Welterweight contender Antonio Diaz. The fighter from Coachella, CA will return from his eight round unanimous decision victory over Juan Pablo Montes de Oca in August and will face a fighter to be determined. Also on the card will be a intriguing 140-pound fight between Pavel Miranda against unbeaten Mauricio Herrera. Unbeaten Featherweight Juan Carlos Burgos will also be featured. For tickets and information, contact Thompson Boxing Promotions at (714) 935-0900.

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As reported by Fightnews.com earlier, Super Middleweight Andre Ward will face a fighter to be determined in a 10 round bout at the Morongo Resort Spa & Casino in Cabazon, CA on Saturday, September 13th. The bout will precede the James Toney - Tony Thompson 12 round Heavyweight bout. 2008 Olympian Shawn Estrada will also fight on the card, two weeks after making his professional debut on November 29th.

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Four-time world title challenger Jose Navarro (26-4, 12 KO’s) returns from a nine-month layoff on Friday, November 21st as he takes on Alex Becerra (19-7, 9 KO’s) in an eight round Bantamweight bout at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello. The longtime Super Flyweight contender lost a split-decision to Cristian Mijares in February. All Star Boxing Promotions will also feature six more bouts including Super Flyweight prospect Manuel Roman taking Jose Luis Cardenas in an eight round bout. For tickets and information, contact All Star Boxing at (323) 781-4871 or (323) 816-6200.

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Also on this evening and about 75 miles to the east of Montebello, Golden Boy Promotions presents another solid card at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, CA. Bantamweights Michael Domingo (37-14-2, 16 KO’s) and Nestor Rocha (20-1, 7 KO’s) will battle in a 10 round bout. Former world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (39-6, 33 KO’s) will take on Reynaldo Lopez (30-5-2, 21 KO’s) in a 10 round Super Bantamweight bout. Telefutura will televise this portion of the card. Other notable bouts are unbeaten Middleweight Craig McEwan (12-0, 7 KO’s) will face hard-hitting Ivan Stovall (10-2, 7 KO’s) in an eight round bout. In a battle of unbeaten prospects, Super Bantamweight Cortez Bey (8-0, 5 KO’s) will take on Demetrio Soto in a six round bout.

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Boxing returns Thursday, November 20th to the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland, CA just west of San Bernardino. Unbeaten John Molina (13-0, 9 KO’s) will be featured in the main event, as he faced an opponent to be determined in an eight round bout. Also on the card will be unbeaten Welterweight prospect Aaron Martinez (8-0-1, 3 KO’s) taking on Hilario Lopez (10-6, 7 KO’s) in a six round bout. In an intriguing women’s bout, Lightweights Rhonda Luna (12-1-1, 1 KO) and Kina Malpartida (8-2-1, 1 KO) will battle in a six round bout.

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Boxing returns to the Central Coast of California as Gary Shaw Productions presents another edition of “ShoBox: the New Generation” card at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, CA on Friday, December 5th . Unbeaten Welterweight Luis Carlos Abregu (24-0, 21 KO’s) will take on a fighter to be determined in a 10 round bout. In the co-feature, Ricardo Williams (13-2, 7 KO’s) continues his comeback as he faces unbeaten Raymond Biggs (9-0, 6 KO’s) in an eight round Welterweight bout. For tickets, which start at $25, and information, contact the Chumash Casino Resort at 1-800-CHUMASH.

[scartissue]

Have already met up with Roger and Maria. Brian, I have your number. Looking forward to seeing Randy also. They're really starting to funnel in. Roger and I have already got into hash sessions with Armando Muniz and Gaspar Ortega. And of course my Pops has called a few of them out already. Looking forward to a good time.

Scartissue

[kikibalt]

Have already met up with Roger and Maria. Brian, I have your number. Looking forward to seeing Randy also. They're really starting to funnel in. Roger and I have already got into hash sessions with Armando Muniz and Gaspar Ortega. And of course my Pops has called a few of them out already. Looking forward to a good time.

Scartissue

You guys have a good time, you hear.....

[Rick Farris]

Hey, can one of you guys going to the banquet get Armando Muniz' autograph for me? Franks has been trying to get it for me, but he won't be there because of his diabetes. Can one of you guys pinch hit for Frank?

If somebody can get it, I'll PM my address to you. Thanks!

(And if by chance Ruben Oliviares is there, I'd really like his autograph too . . . )

Tom . . . I see Armando Muniz regularly and just got off the phone with him prior to logging on to this site. I'll try to remember to get it for you. There is a lot going on at the moment.

-Rick

[kikibalt]

by Marc Abrams on 13 November 2008

Bika stops Manfredo in three in Providence

Contender Season-three winner Sakio Bika scored a wil third round stoppage over Peter Manfredo Jr. in front of a pro-Manfredo crowd at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

Bika came out landing some solid shots in round one as Manfredo looked to stay in the pocket and trade with the bigger punching Bika. In round two, Manfredo scored a dubious knockdown when replays showed the fighters tangling their feet yet referee Ricky Gonzalez scoring a knockdown for “The Pride of Providence”. After the knockdown, Bika risked disqualification as he put his hands on Gonzalez in protest of the knockdown judgment.

In round three, Bika landed some vicious combination’s that had Manfredo up against the ropes. That set off a barrage of punches with both hands that battered Mabnfredo all over the ring. Finally a huge combination of rights forced Gonzalez to stop the onslaught at 1:50 of round three.

With the win, Bika, 166 lbs of Sydney, Australia is now 27-3-2 with seventeen knockouts. Manfredo Jr., 167 3/4 lbs of Providence is now 31-6.

In a sloppy ten round Jr. Middleweight affair, Contender season-three winner, Gardy Brewer outlasted Cornelius Bundrage in a foul-filled split decision that was void of action.

Brewer scored a knockdown in round three from an overhand right. In round five, Brewer was deducted a point for holding. That was matched as Bundrage was deducted a point for the same infraction a round later. The two grappled for the next three plus rounds until Bundrage was docked a point in the last round for hitting on the break.

Brewer won by scores of 94-91 & 93-92 while Bundrage took a card at 95-90.

Brewer, 153 1/2 lbs of Lawton, Oklahoma is now 24-11. Bundrage, 154 lbs of Detroit is now 28-4.

Former top-prospect, Jaidon Codrington had some early trouble but came back to stop William Gill at 2:57 of the eighth and final scheduled round in their Light Heavyweight bout.

Codrington was making his first appearance since his Contender-three final war with Bika is now 19-2 with fifteen knockouts. Gill is 8-21

Other Results:

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS: Jesus Caro (3-0, 3 KOs) WKO2 (3:00) Jose Velazquez (1-6, 1 KO), Worcester, MA; Diego Periera (2-0, 2 KOs), Providence, RI WTKO1 (1:43) Jerry Pressley (0-1), Rock Hill, SC. FEATHERWEIGHTS: Matt Remillard (16-0, 8 KOs), Manchester, CT WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 59-55) Mauricio Pastrana (34-10-2, 22 KOs), Miami, FL. SUPER FLYWEIGHTS: Isander Beauchamp (5-0-1, 2 KOs) 4DRAW Ernie Marquez (7-5-1, 3 KOs), Fort Morgan, CO.

Promoted by the Tournament of Contenders in association with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES)

Matchmakers: Mike Marchionte & Ted Panagiotis

POST FIGHT QUOTES

Sakio Bika: “I feel very happy. Thank God I got this opportunity to fight for the IBO world super middleweight title. This was for my wife and two children back home. This belt will be an early Christmas present for them. Next year is going to be good for me. Next, I want Bernard Hopkins.”

Peter Manfredo, Jr.: “He’s so strong. He throws wide but everything he throws is strong. I tried to roll and catch him in between but I couldn’t. I’m okay. I’m going to enjoy Christmas with my family. I have a lot of talent and I’m only 27. I’m have to think about what I’m going to do.”

Grady Brewer: “He’s a tough guy. I wasn’t able to hit him with shots that I should have. I respect his power. I fought his fight, kind of wild, but I got the win.”

Matt Remillard: “I felt great. I showed off more of my boxing skills. That kid’s dangerous. He’s strong, experienced and tried to suck me in with the right. I kept my composure.”

[Randyman]

Have already met up with Roger and Maria. Brian, I have your number. Looking forward to seeing Randy also. They're really starting to funnel in. Roger and I have already got into hash sessions with Armando Muniz and Gaspar Ortega. And of course my Pops has called a few of them out already. Looking forward to a good time.

Scartissue

You guys have a good time, you hear.....

Will do Frank. I'll be getting there about 11:00am tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it.

Randy

[Randyman]

Randy's cousin, Rocky Burke ref this fight

Featherweight Classic in Tucson: Mtagawa vs. Villa

By Ted Sares - In a fight that gave new meaning to the words “fury” and “courage,” Rogers “The Tiger” Mtagwa (25-12-2) and Mexican warrior Tomas “El Norteno” Villa (20-6-4) engaged in almost ten rounds of wild ebb and flow savagery.The battle was held on November 7 at the Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.

Things started fast. The first round was one of pure fury in which both engaged in legal, back-and-forth assault and battery and the crowd was up and roaring in disbelief when the bell rang. Villa’s punches were shorter and sharper; Mtagwa’s were wider but seemed to be more menacing. Both landed numerous times. This continued in rounds two and three..

In the fourth, Villa decked the Tanzanian with a sneaky right uppercut, but referee Rocky Burke missed it and called it a slip. Rogers then came back at the end of the round with a series of neck snappers. The fifth featured great body work by Villa including a rare triple hook ala Micky Ward. He also landed a number of jolting uppercuts that had the crowd ooohing and aaahing and chanting “Villa, Villa.” In the sixth, Villa continued his assault, but then Mtagwa suddenly opened up with a number of flush rights that stunned his opponent and likely won the round for him.

Mtagwa, whose face was now badly swollen, tired badly in the seventh and went down twice on slips--one of which easily could have been ruled a knockdown. Villa was now coming on and almost floored Mtagawa in the eight with a crunching left hook that landed flush at the bell. He finally caught up with and staggered the courageous Tanzania early in the ninth with malicious roundhouse punches and then decked him with two rattling rights that should have ended the fight right there and then. Somehow, someway, the “Tiger” survived the round after absorbing incredible punishment. He was even able to counter with some sharp punches of his own; perhaps signaling what was to come in the next and last round.

Mtagwa slowly went to his corner at the bell and Referee Burke gave him a long and hard look. While both fighters were swollen around the face, Villa was much the fresher. He raised his hands before the start of the last round acknowledging to the crowd that he was poised to soon end matters decisively and to their satisfaction.

However, it was not o be. As the bell sounded, Mtagwa immediately caught the shockedr Villa with a crunching right that sent him down hard. He then chased Villa across the ring like a madman launching a series of looping punches most of which seemed to land. After throwing about fifty of these wild unanswered shots, “El Norteno” again went down from a final malefic right. Miraculously, he too was able to get up, but Mtagwa quickly ended matters with one well-leveraged right at the 1.20 mark that sent the valiant Mexican crashing into the ropes for the third and final time in one of the wildest brawls you will ever hope to see.

Rogers Mtagwa resides in Philadelphia and more than lived up to that city’s reputation for producing rough and tough fighters. Meanwhile, Tomas Villa’s 12-fight win streak was ended by this crushing defeat, but he has nothing of which to be ashamed.

I would categorize this fight as a closet classic except that it may very well end up as Fight of the Year. It was that exciting.

I missed it. It sounds like Rocky had his hands full.

[Randyman]

by Marc Abrams on 13 November 2008

Bika stops Manfredo in three in Providence

Contender Season-three winner Sakio Bika scored a wil third round stoppage over Peter Manfredo Jr. in front of a pro-Manfredo crowd at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

Bika came out landing some solid shots in round one as Manfredo looked to stay in the pocket and trade with the bigger punching Bika. In round two, Manfredo scored a dubious knockdown when replays showed the fighters tangling their feet yet referee Ricky Gonzalez scoring a knockdown for “The Pride of Providence”. After the knockdown, Bika risked disqualification as he put his hands on Gonzalez in protest of the knockdown judgment.

In round three, Bika landed some vicious combination’s that had Manfredo up against the ropes. That set off a barrage of punches with both hands that battered Mabnfredo all over the ring. Finally a huge combination of rights forced Gonzalez to stop the onslaught at 1:50 of round three.

With the win, Bika, 166 lbs of Sydney, Australia is now 27-3-2 with seventeen knockouts. Manfredo Jr., 167 3/4 lbs of Providence is now 31-6.

In a sloppy ten round Jr. Middleweight affair, Contender season-three winner, Gardy Brewer outlasted Cornelius Bundrage in a foul-filled split decision that was void of action.

Brewer scored a knockdown in round three from an overhand right. In round five, Brewer was deducted a point for holding. That was matched as Bundrage was deducted a point for the same infraction a round later. The two grappled for the next three plus rounds until Bundrage was docked a point in the last round for hitting on the break.

Brewer won by scores of 94-91 & 93-92 while Bundrage took a card at 95-90.

Brewer, 153 1/2 lbs of Lawton, Oklahoma is now 24-11. Bundrage, 154 lbs of Detroit is now 28-4.

Former top-prospect, Jaidon Codrington had some early trouble but came back to stop William Gill at 2:57 of the eighth and final scheduled round in their Light Heavyweight bout.

Codrington was making his first appearance since his Contender-three final war with Bika is now 19-2 with fifteen knockouts. Gill is 8-21

Other Results:

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS: Jesus Caro (3-0, 3 KOs) WKO2 (3:00) Jose Velazquez (1-6, 1 KO), Worcester, MA; Diego Periera (2-0, 2 KOs), Providence, RI WTKO1 (1:43) Jerry Pressley (0-1), Rock Hill, SC. FEATHERWEIGHTS: Matt Remillard (16-0, 8 KOs), Manchester, CT WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 59-55) Mauricio Pastrana (34-10-2, 22 KOs), Miami, FL. SUPER FLYWEIGHTS: Isander Beauchamp (5-0-1, 2 KOs) 4DRAW Ernie Marquez (7-5-1, 3 KOs), Fort Morgan, CO.

Promoted by the Tournament of Contenders in association with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES)

Matchmakers: Mike Marchionte & Ted Panagiotis

POST FIGHT QUOTES

Sakio Bika: “I feel very happy. Thank God I got this opportunity to fight for the IBO world super middleweight title. This was for my wife and two children back home. This belt will be an early Christmas present for them. Next year is going to be good for me. Next, I want Bernard Hopkins.”

Peter Manfredo, Jr.: “He’s so strong. He throws wide but everything he throws is strong. I tried to roll and catch him in between but I couldn’t. I’m okay. I’m going to enjoy Christmas with my family. I have a lot of talent and I’m only 27. I’m have to think about what I’m going to do.”

Grady Brewer: “He’s a tough guy. I wasn’t able to hit him with shots that I should have. I respect his power. I fought his fight, kind of wild, but I got the win.”

Matt Remillard: “I felt great. I showed off more of my boxing skills. That kid’s dangerous. He’s strong, experienced and tried to suck me in with the right. I kept my composure.”

Bika was too big a mountain for Mafredo to climb. The few times I have seen him, he seemed like a monster. Very methodical and straight forward with lots of stamina and endurance.

Randy

[raylawpc]

Hey, can one of you guys going to the banquet get Armando Muniz' autograph for me? Franks has been trying to get it for me, but he won't be there because of his diabetes. Can one of you guys pinch hit for Frank?

If somebody can get it, I'll PM my address to you. Thanks!

(And if by chance Ruben Oliviares is there, I'd really like his autograph too . . . )

Tom . . . I see Armando Muniz regularly and just got off the phone with him prior to logging on to this site. I'll try to remember to get it for you. There is a lot going on at the moment.

-Rick

Thanks Rick. My favorite fighters back in the day were Armando Muniz, Ruben Olivaries, and Smokin' Joe.

[Randyman]

Hey, can one of you guys going to the banquet get Armando Muniz' autograph for me? Franks has been trying to get it for me, but he won't be there because of his diabetes. Can one of you guys pinch hit for Frank?

If somebody can get it, I'll PM my address to you. Thanks!

(And if by chance Ruben Oliviares is there, I'd really like his autograph too . . . )

Tom . . . I see Armando Muniz regularly and just got off the phone with him prior to logging on to this site. I'll try to remember to get it for you. There is a lot going on at the moment.

-Rick

Thanks Rick. My favorite fighters back in the day were Armando Muniz, Ruben Olivaries, and Smokin' Joe.

I'll do my best to remind him, Tom.

Randy

[Rick Farris]

Just got back from the WBHOF President's dinner. The best part of such an event is the people. I have to say, our Boxrec group is nothing but class. Dan, his Pops, Roger & Brian, my wife Monica and I all met afterwards for a drink, and I can't wait until tomorrow night when Randy, Jeri and Chuck Johnston join the group. Rog's wife Maria will be with us as well.

If you think we get along here, it's no different face-to-face, only better. We are all on the same page, have lots to share and learn. We all talked about Frank and were considering taking a drive to LaPuente and kidnapping him before the event. Since Kiki hits the sack early, it night be easier to abduct him from a sound sleep. I know what a Baltazar can do with a left hook, so we'd have to catch him off-guard.

And just for the record, Uncle John refused to leave Pug's room until Frank was present, which gives us reason to consider letting Frank sleep in peace. By the way, the main course for the banquet dinner is Menudo con Pata (spelling?). Uncle John wasn't impressed and said without Kiki in the house, he's just order some Irish Stew from room service.

By the way Tom, we'll make sure you get that Mando Muniz autograph, however, I'd appreciate Randy reminding me as he said he would.

Gotta get some sleep, mas manana.

-Ricardo

[bennie]

by Marc Abrams on 13 November 2008

Bika stops Manfredo in three in Providence

Contender Season-three winner Sakio Bika scored a wil third round stoppage over Peter Manfredo Jr. in front of a pro-Manfredo crowd at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

Bika came out landing some solid shots in round one as Manfredo looked to stay in the pocket and trade with the bigger punching Bika. In round two, Manfredo scored a dubious knockdown when replays showed the fighters tangling their feet yet referee Ricky Gonzalez scoring a knockdown for “The Pride of Providence”. After the knockdown, Bika risked disqualification as he put his hands on Gonzalez in protest of the knockdown judgment.

In round three, Bika landed some vicious combination’s that had Manfredo up against the ropes. That set off a barrage of punches with both hands that battered Mabnfredo all over the ring. Finally a huge combination of rights forced Gonzalez to stop the onslaught at 1:50 of round three.

With the win, Bika, 166 lbs of Sydney, Australia is now 27-3-2 with seventeen knockouts. Manfredo Jr., 167 3/4 lbs of Providence is now 31-6.

In a sloppy ten round Jr. Middleweight affair, Contender season-three winner, Gardy Brewer outlasted Cornelius Bundrage in a foul-filled split decision that was void of action.

Brewer scored a knockdown in round three from an overhand right. In round five, Brewer was deducted a point for holding. That was matched as Bundrage was deducted a point for the same infraction a round later. The two grappled for the next three plus rounds until Bundrage was docked a point in the last round for hitting on the break.

Brewer won by scores of 94-91 & 93-92 while Bundrage took a card at 95-90.

Brewer, 153 1/2 lbs of Lawton, Oklahoma is now 24-11. Bundrage, 154 lbs of Detroit is now 28-4.

Former top-prospect, Jaidon Codrington had some early trouble but came back to stop William Gill at 2:57 of the eighth and final scheduled round in their Light Heavyweight bout.

Codrington was making his first appearance since his Contender-three final war with Bika is now 19-2 with fifteen knockouts. Gill is 8-21

Other Results:

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS: Jesus Caro (3-0, 3 KOs) WKO2 (3:00) Jose Velazquez (1-6, 1 KO), Worcester, MA; Diego Periera (2-0, 2 KOs), Providence, RI WTKO1 (1:43) Jerry Pressley (0-1), Rock Hill, SC. FEATHERWEIGHTS: Matt Remillard (16-0, 8 KOs), Manchester, CT WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 59-55) Mauricio Pastrana (34-10-2, 22 KOs), Miami, FL. SUPER FLYWEIGHTS: Isander Beauchamp (5-0-1, 2 KOs) 4DRAW Ernie Marquez (7-5-1, 3 KOs), Fort Morgan, CO.

Promoted by the Tournament of Contenders in association with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES)

Matchmakers: Mike Marchionte & Ted Panagiotis

POST FIGHT QUOTES

Sakio Bika: “I feel very happy. Thank God I got this opportunity to fight for the IBO world super middleweight title. This was for my wife and two children back home. This belt will be an early Christmas present for them. Next year is going to be good for me. Next, I want Bernard Hopkins.”

Peter Manfredo, Jr.: “He’s so strong. He throws wide but everything he throws is strong. I tried to roll and catch him in between but I couldn’t. I’m okay. I’m going to enjoy Christmas with my family. I have a lot of talent and I’m only 27. I’m have to think about what I’m going to do.”

Grady Brewer: “He’s a tough guy. I wasn’t able to hit him with shots that I should have. I respect his power. I fought his fight, kind of wild, but I got the win.”

Matt Remillard: “I felt great. I showed off more of my boxing skills. That kid’s dangerous. He’s strong, experienced and tried to suck me in with the right. I kept my composure.”

Bika was too big a mountain for Mafredo to climb. The few times I have seen him, he seemed like a monster. Very methodical and straight forward with lots of stamina and endurance.

Randy

Bika is a real handful. He gave Calzaghe a great fight over here.

[bennie]

D-Day has arrived for David Haye as he takes on tough and experienced American Monte Barrett in his home city of London tonight.
The once-beaten Haye makes his official heavyweight debut after six exciting years at cruiserweight. The heavyweight division is wide open but first comes its gatekeeper in Barrett, a brash New Yorker with 40 fights at the weight behind him - 40 hard fights. Barrett went 11 rounds with monstrous Russian Nikolai Valuev in a crack at the 'world' heavyweight title, seven rounds with giant Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, the full 12 with Hasim "The Rock" Rahman... He was fighting heavies when Haye was a gangling teenager - and often beating heavies. Barrett has licked many a young heavyweight prospect, such as Dominick Guinn, Owen Beck and Tye Fields.
David Haye?
Haye is nine years the younger man and can whack - he can really whack - but ask yourself this: does Valuev whack, or Klitschko or Rahman? Of course they do, and Barrett took on Klitschko in London eight long years ago, climbing up from five knockowns before it was stopped. Barrett has seen it all before; he has shown he can hang in there.
Remember when a cocky unbeaten Haye cracked, "I've never met a fighter who doesn't respect my power"? It came just days before he took on a 40-year-old cruiserweight by the name of Carl Thompson, who soaked up his biggest shots and came back to hammer him at Wembley in September 2004. Haye was exhausted, beaten, subdued, all in five rounds. Barrett will know this; he will know Haye is used to blowing away his opponents.
Haye needed just 105 seconds to destroy Polish thumper Tomasz Bonin in a heavyweight 'tester' last year, dropped back down and survived a fourth-round knockdown against tough Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck in Paris to level the local star with a crushing right hand in the seventh. Then he blew away good Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli in just two rounds earler this year
That was Haye's last fight, and his last fight at cruiserweight.
The Londoner, 21-1 (20), has been the distance only once as a pro: on a bizarre night in Altrincham in the summer of 2006 when he held back and tapped his way to a 12-round decision over Belgian Ismael Abdoul. Haye looked like a man proving something to himself that night, or maybe the sweltering conditions affected his performance, but it was hardly a proper distance fight and you still wonder about his strength and power in the closing stages of a fight, of this fight, although the limit is 10 rounds tonight.
Still, the charismatic Haye is a proper puncher, a natural puncher, quick for a big man, quick and talented. Heavyweight should suit him. He just needs to get past Barrett.

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

South African boxer Edward Mpofu banned for life for using plaster of paris under gloves during a bout in September

According to SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) News, former South African featherweight boxing champion Edward “Spoiler” Mpofu was handed a lifelong ban from professional boxing. It was determined that Mpofu used plaster of paris over his wraps during a fight in September with Thanduxlo Dyani in East London, South Africa. Mpofu, and his manager Eugene Khanyille were charged with bringing the name of boxing into disrepute. As result Mpofu was banned for life, and Khanylie was given a 10 year ban. Mpofu tried fleeing the venue when local promoter, Mzimasi Mnguni became suspicious of the stiffness of Mpofu’s wraps. This comes just months after young flyweight, Samora Msophi, died three days after his South African title fight with Mfundo Gwayana in the same South African town of East London.

This brings back the chilling account of the Billy Collins Jr., Luis Resto fight of 1983. Who can forget the haunting black and white picture of a battered Billy Collins, Jr. after his vicious assault at the criminal hands of Resto and his trainer Panama Lewis? Just months ago Resto finally admitted to the use of plaster of paris, in addition to removing an ounce of padding under the gloves. During that fight Collins took a severe beating and suffered a torn iris causing blurred vision, which prevented him from ever fighting again. Collins, who fell into a deep depression began drinking heavily and was killed in a car accident 9 months after the fight with Resto in 1983. Many including Collins’ family believe that the fight with Resto resulted in the loss of his livelihood and broke him psychologically and many speculate the accident in the car was not an accident but a suicide. Both Resto and Lewis spent two and a half years in prison for this atrocity. The original jail time was based solely on the padding being removed from gloves with no knowledge of the plaster under the illegally tampered gloves. Our judicial system predicates itself on fairness and adheres to the double jeopardy rule but does this new evidence given by Resto constitute a stiffer penalty for all parties involved? This is yet another ugly stamp on the record books of our sweet science going sour.

[Bobbin & Weavin]

South African boxer Edward Mpofu banned for life for using plaster of paris under gloves during a bout in September

According to SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) News, former South African featherweight boxing champion Edward “Spoiler” Mpofu was handed a lifelong ban from professional boxing. It was determined that Mpofu used plaster of paris over his wraps during a fight in September with Thanduxlo Dyani in East London, South Africa. Mpofu, and his manager Eugene Khanyille were charged with bringing the name of boxing into disrepute. As result Mpofu was banned for life, and Khanylie was given a 10 year ban. Mpofu tried fleeing the venue when local promoter, Mzimasi Mnguni became suspicious of the stiffness of Mpofu’s wraps. This comes just months after young flyweight, Samora Msophi, died three days after his South African title fight with Mfundo Gwayana in the same South African town of East London.

This brings back the chilling account of the Billy Collins Jr., Luis Resto fight of 1983. Who can forget the haunting black and white picture of a battered Billy Collins, Jr. after his vicious assault at the criminal hands of Resto and his trainer Panama Lewis? Just months ago Resto finally admitted to the use of plaster of paris, in addition to removing an ounce of padding under the gloves. During that fight Collins took a severe beating and suffered a torn iris causing blurred vision, which prevented him from ever fighting again. Collins, who fell into a deep depression began drinking heavily and was killed in a car accident 9 months after the fight with Resto in 1983. Many including Collins’ family believe that the fight with Resto resulted in the loss of his livelihood and broke him psychologically and many speculate the accident in the car was not an accident but a suicide. Both Resto and Lewis spent two and a half years in prison for this atrocity. The original jail time was based solely on the padding being removed from gloves with no knowledge of the plaster under the illegally tampered gloves. Our judicial system predicates itself on fairness and adheres to the double jeopardy rule but does this new evidence given by Resto constitute a stiffer penalty for all parties involved? This is yet another ugly stamp on the record books of our sweet science going sour.

This is another disqusting show of greed, it is not about sport and boxing does not stand alone with this kind of idiotic displays of stupidity but ours stands out because the sport is about beating your opponate one on one and the damage is obvious when someone creats an unfair advantage for themselfs. It's greed because they are doing it to advance themselfs by beating their opponates and moving to the next level and more money. It's stupity because they are not stopping to think what they are about to do can affect the entire life of their opponant. I am a firm believer in strong punishment when someone is convicted of something like this, as far as I'm concerned it's attempted murder; they should go to jail, be banished from the sport, and do one day a week community service work until they're 65 when they are released; this will serve as a reminder to them and a deterant to others who have similar ideas.
Bobbin & Weavin

[kikibalt]

D-Day has arrived for David Haye as he takes on tough and experienced American Monte Barrett in his home city of London tonight.
The once-beaten Haye makes his official heavyweight debut after six exciting years at cruiserweight. The heavyweight division is wide open but first comes its gatekeeper in Barrett, a brash New Yorker with 40 fights at the weight behind him - 40 hard fights. Barrett went 11 rounds with monstrous Russian Nikolai Valuev in a crack at the 'world' heavyweight title, seven rounds with giant Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, the full 12 with Hasim "The Rock" Rahman... He was fighting heavies when Haye was a gangling teenager - and often beating heavies. Barrett has licked many a young heavyweight prospect, such as Dominick Guinn, Owen Beck and Tye Fields.
David Haye?
Haye is nine years the younger man and can whack - he can really whack - but ask yourself this: does Valuev whack, or Klitschko or Rahman? Of course they do, and Barrett took on Klitschko in London eight long years ago, climbing up from five knockowns before it was stopped. Barrett has seen it all before; he has shown he can hang in there.
Remember when a cocky unbeaten Haye cracked, "I've never met a fighter who doesn't respect my power"? It came just days before he took on a 40-year-old cruiserweight by the name of Carl Thompson, who soaked up his biggest shots and came back to hammer him at Wembley in September 2004. Haye was exhausted, beaten, subdued, all in five rounds. Barrett will know this; he will know Haye is used to blowing away his opponents.
Haye needed just 105 seconds to destroy Polish thumper Tomasz Bonin in a heavyweight 'tester' last year, dropped back down and survived a fourth-round knockdown against tough Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck in Paris to level the local star with a crushing right hand in the seventh. Then he blew away good Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli in just two rounds earler this year
That was Haye's last fight, and his last fight at cruiserweight.
The Londoner, 21-1 (20), has been the distance only once as a pro: on a bizarre night in Altrincham in the summer of 2006 when he held back and tapped his way to a 12-round decision over Belgian Ismael Abdoul. Haye looked like a man proving something to himself that night, or maybe the sweltering conditions affected his performance, but it was hardly a proper distance fight and you still wonder about his strength and power in the closing stages of a fight, of this fight, although the limit is 10 rounds tonight.
Still, the charismatic Haye is a proper puncher, a natural puncher, quick for a big man, quick and talented. Heavyweight should suit him. He just needs to get past Barrett.

Haye takes care of Barrett in five in London
Former world cruiserweight champion, David Haye re-introduced himself to the Heavyweight division by scoring five knockdowns en-route to stopping former two-time world title challenger Monte Barrett in five rounds in London.

After splitting the first two rounds, Haye socred two knockdowns in each of third & fourth rounds and finished Barrett off at 1:28 of round five with a hard left-right-left combination

[bennie]

D-Day has arrived for David Haye as he takes on tough and experienced American Monte Barrett in his home city of London tonight.
The once-beaten Haye makes his official heavyweight debut after six exciting years at cruiserweight. The heavyweight division is wide open but first comes its gatekeeper in Barrett, a brash New Yorker with 40 fights at the weight behind him - 40 hard fights. Barrett went 11 rounds with monstrous Russian Nikolai Valuev in a crack at the 'world' heavyweight title, seven rounds with giant Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, the full 12 with Hasim "The Rock" Rahman... He was fighting heavies when Haye was a gangling teenager - and often beating heavies. Barrett has licked many a young heavyweight prospect, such as Dominick Guinn, Owen Beck and Tye Fields.
David Haye?
Haye is nine years the younger man and can whack - he can really whack - but ask yourself this: does Valuev whack, or Klitschko or Rahman? Of course they do, and Barrett took on Klitschko in London eight long years ago, climbing up from five knockowns before it was stopped. Barrett has seen it all before; he has shown he can hang in there.
Remember when a cocky unbeaten Haye cracked, "I've never met a fighter who doesn't respect my power"? It came just days before he took on a 40-year-old cruiserweight by the name of Carl Thompson, who soaked up his biggest shots and came back to hammer him at Wembley in September 2004. Haye was exhausted, beaten, subdued, all in five rounds. Barrett will know this; he will know Haye is used to blowing away his opponents.
Haye needed just 105 seconds to destroy Polish thumper Tomasz Bonin in a heavyweight 'tester' last year, dropped back down and survived a fourth-round knockdown against tough Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck in Paris to level the local star with a crushing right hand in the seventh. Then he blew away good Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli in just two rounds earler this year
That was Haye's last fight, and his last fight at cruiserweight.
The Londoner, 21-1 (20), has been the distance only once as a pro: on a bizarre night in Altrincham in the summer of 2006 when he held back and tapped his way to a 12-round decision over Belgian Ismael Abdoul. Haye looked like a man proving something to himself that night, or maybe the sweltering conditions affected his performance, but it was hardly a proper distance fight and you still wonder about his strength and power in the closing stages of a fight, of this fight, although the limit is 10 rounds tonight.
Still, the charismatic Haye is a proper puncher, a natural puncher, quick for a big man, quick and talented. Heavyweight should suit him. He just needs to get past Barrett.

Haye takes care of Barrett in five in London
Former world cruiserweight champion, David Haye re-introduced himself to the Heavyweight division by scoring five knockdowns en-route to stopping former two-time world title challenger Monte Barrett in five rounds in London.

After splitting the first two rounds, Haye socred two knockdowns in each of third & fourth rounds and finished Barrett off at 1:28 of round five with a hard left-right-left combination

Nice win for Haye, a 'real' fighter in a division devoid of such.

[kikibalt]

The Grand Canyon



I shot these photos of the Canyon about five years ago.

[kikibalt]