Fight Club Members
Manager Estephan runs down roster

By Dave Spencer

As the most prolific boxing manager in the city, there certainly is no profiling Montreal's Camille Estephan's fighters. Estephan and his Eye of the Tiger team has blue chip prospects from heavyweight WBC Silver belt holder Bermaine Stiverne and former top ranked middleweight David Lemieux all the way down to novices such as Chris Plaitis who makes his pro debut this weekend. And every level in between including Dierry Jean and Nicholson Poulard who fight for North American titles Saturday as they launch a new four fight series entitled "Fight Club."

FightNews sat down with Estephan and got a complete rundown of his fighters and what we might expect to see in the future from his ever expanding roster. “I come from a boxing family,” said the Lebanon born manager who moved to Montreal in 1986. “My father was a boxer as well as my uncle. I have a passion for it, I grew up with it. I had stopped for school but when I started back in the gym, I noticed Bermaine Stiverne and initially I didn’t know who he was. I wanted to spar with someone and my coach was laughing when I said what about this guy? He’s very fast and you never see the jab coming. That’s how it started, he needed help, some advice, he had a controversial loss and was down and I told him he had to change some things. When his contract came up with his manager, I became his manager. I wanted to have a very structured setup for Bermaine, conditioning coach, nutritionist, boxing coaches and it was part of getting him structured and supported. We got him set up and other guys noticed.” read more

Kamal returns Saturday

Ibrahim Kamal (7-0, 6 KO’s) returns to the ring this Saturday May 19th on the Fight Club series card being promoted at the Holiday Inn in Pointe Claire, Quebec. His opponent for this lightweight bout will be Abou Bechelaghem (7-2-1) of Toulouse, France.

According to his record, the French lightweight appears to be one of the most promising young fighters in France in this division, and probably the toughest fight yet of Kamal’s young career.

Gary Freedman of Title Fight Promotions says:

“This opponent is only 24 years old and he has fought 10 times since turning pro 2 years ago. He holds a win over Virgile Degonzaga (8-5), who gave Ghislain Maduma (7-0) a very tough fight last year in Montreal. The guy also has never been KO’d, so we are expecting a battle from him and the win won’t come easy.”

The main event is a fight between Dierry Jean (21-0) and Lanardo Tyner (25-7-2) for the NABF super lightweight belt. Interestingly, Kamal and Jean both fought each other in the amateurs at the Canadian Senior Nationals (60 kg) and Kamal stopped Jean in the 4th round in what many observers have described as one of the best Canadian amateur fights in recent years.

As for his future, Kamal said, “my promoter has told me that there is a good possibility that we will fight for a Canadian title either at lightweight or junior lightweight, this summer. There is an offer out there. We just need to get the opponent to agree”.

Kamal, who has been controlling his weight between bouts and is doing strength and conditioning work with Lance Campbell of the Cabbagetown Boxing Club for the past few months, says that he can make the 130 pound weight this summer without any difficulty.

“I fought my entire amateur career at 132 lbs and with my current training program and diet, I feel that I can make 130 lbs. There are a lot of potentially interesting match ups out there for me at that weight.”

Stevenson ready for title shot

"My goal is to become world champion," states super-middleweight Adonis Stevenson said. "I don't care who I fight for the world title - (Lucian) Bute, (Andre) Ward or any world champion. I want to prove that I'm the best super middleweight in the world. I have the best trainer in the world, Manny Steward, and he's trained me to be much more than just a big puncher. I've improved a lot since I've been with him and I'm using my speed and movement to become more of a complete fighter. If none of the world champions are willing to fight me, I'll continue improving, fighting top 10 opponents, hopefully in a title eliminator, until I become a mandatory challenger."

Based on his last five fights, sensational super middleweight Adonis Stevenson (18-1, 15 KOs) is more than living-up to his nickname, "Superman.” Stevenson's last five fight fights been against opponents who had had a combined professional record of 107-8 prior to stepping in the ring to fight "Superman" - 28-1 Noe Gonzalez (TKO2), 27-1 Jesus Gonzales, 16-3 Aaron Pryor, Jr. (TKO9), 11-1 Shujaa El-Amin (TKO1) and Derek Edwards (KO3). All but Gonzales (only once) had never been knocked out before fighting "Superman."

All he's missing now is a world title belt, something he hopes to acquire this year, given a legitimate shot to challenge. "Superman" is qualified to fight any of the world super middleweight champions as a world-rated contender in each of the four major governing bodies: #2 IBF, #3 WBC, #7 WBA & WBO.

The dream match for the Haitian-born Stevenson, who lives in the Montreal of Longueuill, is, of course, a showdown in Montreal with IBF champion Lucian Bute. But he's making a title defense May 26 against Carl Froch. WBA Super and WBC champion Andre Ward is practically locked into a fight with WBC light heavyweight title-holder Chad Dawson, likely in September.

"Adonis Stevenson has proven that he's one of the best super middleweights in the world," Michel added. "He's better than ever since he teamed up with Manny. We know that he's ready for anybody and is the most deserving contender. If the WBC is seeking a replace for injured No. 1 rated Anthony Dirrell, 'Superman' is ready to fight in a title eliminator against anybody. It's only matter of time before 'Superman' adds a world title to his belt collection."

Cohen signs Luis

Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions is proud to announce the signing of one of Canada's top rated prospects, Tony "Lightning" Luis (14-0, 6 KOs) to a promotional agreement. The agreement should see Luis fighting on the other side of the border in the months ahead. "This is a huge move for Tony and Team Luis because he'll now have the opportunity to live his dream of fighting in the US," Matt Yanofsky Luis' advisor told FightNews. Fans can expect Luis still fighting in Canada about twice a year according to Yanofsky.

24-year-old Luis is a native of Cornwall, Ontario, who first caught the eye of many boxing observers with an impressive TKO 5 over Adrian Valdez on ESPN Friday Night Fights in June of 2010. Gifted with blazing hand speed and a vicious left hook to the body, Luis has already won the WBC Continental Americas Junior Welterweight Championship via KO1 over former NABA Champion Alejandro Barrera in October 2011 and was named a Goodwill Ambassador by the WBC.

As an amateur, Luis was a seven-time Ontario Champion, a 2006 Eastern NY Golden Gloves Champion, won three National silver medals and defeated 10 Canadian National Champions. During the day, he works as a counselor on an Indian reserve near his Cornwall, Ontario home. He is trained by his father Jorge. "Tony Luis makes an excellent addition to our stable and we're very proud to be working with him," said Greg Cohen. "He has made the jump from excellent amateur to outstanding professional and we predict big things will happen in his future."

Alvarez-Hawk at Bell Centre

By Dave Spencer

Group Yvon Michel (GYM) officially kicked off it’s fifth and final Fast and Furious show for the season set for Friday June 8th with NABO light heavyweight champion Eleider Alvarez (8-0 5KO) making the first defense of his title against Shawn Hawk (23-1 19KO).

Alvarez, a 28 year-old Colombian native who now calls Montreal is being fast-tracked by his promoters and is headlining The Bell Centre in just his 9th professional fight. The former Olympian certainly has done everything asked of him so far, scoring an eight round blank sheet against Rayco Saunders in his first ESPN experience in April and already ranked #15 by the WBO.

“He’s a guy with a lot of amateur experience,” trainer Marc Ramsay told FightNews. “He’s very gifted, very talented and his work ethic is one-hundred percent. He’s very professional and he takes care of all the small details he needs to take care of at that level. We’re trying to go to a better level of opponent every time and that he sees a bit of every style, southpaws, fast guys, guys who just want to go the distance, guys who are going to be more offensive like Shawn Hawk this time. We want to be sure that in the next year and a half that he is going to taste a little bit of everything so that when he does fight in a world championship, he’s not going to be surprised by anything.”

Alvarez fully understands the confidence he is being shown and is ready to step up and answer the challenge, “In the ring, I intend to justify the confidence they have placed in me, and put on a good show for the Quebec public,” said the y undefeated fighter. “Shawn Hawk is a fiery young boxer who has determined to win, but I am sure that I have what it takes to keep my belt in my adopted country."

Hawk who has spent the majority of his 8-year career at cruiserweight has trimmed down to the 175 pound light-heavy mark where he has campaigned for his last three fights. The 27-year-old Sioux Indian is coming of a big win in March against 20-2 Henry Buchannan and was also successful securing a win against Otis Griffin last fall, somebody Alvarez was due to go against in December before last-minute contract problems got in the way.

Middleweight prospect David Lemieux (25-2 24KO) makes his return as the night’s co-feature as the hard-hitting fighter tries to get back into the win the column against Jaudiel Zepeda (12-5-1 9KO) who Montreal fans know from him surviving eight tough rounds against hammer fisted Renan St Juste last July in Romania. It so far is the type of opponent who has been lacking on Lemieux’s docket, somebody who won’t crumble in the early rounds and be able to fight back a little.

“He went straight from knocking guys out in the first round to seasoned veterans like Rubio and Alcine,” Lemieux’s trainer Ramsay told FightNews. “He missed the transitional fights like we had for Alvarez with Saunders. He missed that type of fight. I’m not going to give him any more guys who will get knocked out in the first round, if that happens it’s because David did his job very well. We’re looking at guys like Zepeda as guys who are durable and guys who will challenge him a little bit. He’s going to be tasting the hot soup little bit by little bit. He’s not going to go too fast. We’re going to make sure that when we go back to the elite level, he’s going to be ready for it.”

“I want to get back in business,“ said Lemieux. “Fighting is the most important thing for me, so if this is what I have, this is what I got to do. I’m just going to keep training and fighting until I get back on top. Right now there will no more mistakes, nothing will be forgotten.”

The rest of the undercard will have a true heavyweight feel to it with a trio of fights featuring the big men. Three undefeated heavyweights, Oscar Rivas (10-0 6KO), Eric Barrack (7-0 6KO) and Didier Bence (4-0 2KO) all see action. Barrack meets with Sheldon Hinton (11-8-1 4KO) of Edmonton, Alberta while Bence goes through the right of passage that every Montreal heavyweight must go through in is Stephane Tessier. (3-28-11KO). While most have beaten him, few have ever stopped trial horse Tessier who has only seen his work night end early twice in all his defeats.

Exciting middleweight Ahmad Cheikho and one other bout to be announced round out the undercard.

Tyner steps in for Saturday

By Dave Spencer
Photo by Herby Whyne

There’s been a last minute change in Dierry Jean’s (21-0 14KO) opponent for Saturday night in Montreal as the undefeated will be facing off against Lanardo Tyner (25-7-2 15KO) instead of the originally scheduled Cosme Rivera. Promoter Camille Estephan of Eye of the Tiger Promotions cited visa problems as what forced a change from former world title challenger Rivera to Tyner who has lost his last three, all to undefeated opponents including Canadian Kevin Bizier. Despite not having fought at 140 pounds for close to four years, the bout will still be for the vacant NABF light-welterweight title. “He is a very strong opponent,” promises the promoter. “He fought 12 rounds with Jessie Vargas last February and faced guys such as Lamont Peterson and Canelo Alvarez not that long ago.

“We were concerned about paperwork for Rivera for a while so he was on standby for quite some time. He fought at 147 for his last few fights yet apparently he is a natural 140. I’m told he’s the type of fighter who is always in the gym ready for opportunities.”

Bergeron makes move to trainer
Hyppolite returns to action Saturday


By Dave Spencer
Photo by Herby Whyne

It’s amazing how time flies in boxing sometimes. Considered the best Canadian heavyweight of his era, it’s been almost four years since Jean Francois Bergeron last stepped into the ring. Thankfully this isn’t another comeback story although there’s more than a handful of present day heavyweights that the 6’5” southpaw who finished his career with a 27-2 mark could give problems to if given the chance. These days on fight nights Bergeron finds himself inside the ring for one minute at a time, as a trainer, something we’re seeing more and more of in recent months, especially now that the exciting Schiller Hyppolite is getting more fights. Hyppolite returns this Saturday as part of a stacked card at the Holiday Inn in Pointe Claire Quebec. So far the light-heavyweight has impressed in compiling a 3-0 record and it is somebody we expect to see more of as he has joined the Eye of the Tiger promotional team. We asked Bergeron about the move to training and his fighter Hyppolite and if there are any urges to lace the gloves back on. read more

See Thee Rise

Shark gone Fishing

Ex world champion hangs up the gloves

By Dave Spencer

After compiling a 27-3 career record in an eleven year career, former Olympian and world champion Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu has announced his retirement and is ready to hang up the gloves. Diaconu won the WBC light-heavyweight belt in 2008 in his native Romania on an emotionally charged night against an undefeated Chris Henry in front of the Country’s President at ringside and an ailing father in hospital.

Diaconu would eventually lose his world title to fellow Montrealer Jean Pascal; the first time a world championship between two Canadians was ever contested on Canadian soil.

Typically stoic on the outside, Diaconu was always a pleasure to talk to and would serve as the ying to Jean Pascal’s flamboyant yang. “I don’t want to talk about boxing, I want to do boxing,” Diaconu once told FightNews. “I want to show people real boxing and real quality boxing. It’s not my style to talk, for me, talk is cheap. I want things to happen, not to talk about it.”

As world champion, Diaconu was finally able to step out from fellow Romanian and world champions Leonard Dorin and Lucian Bute shadows. In fact Diaconu’s 12 round war with Henry was the most nervous Lucian Bute has ever been seen around a boxing ring. “When I’m in the ring, everything is in my control, here all I could do was watch, a tuxedo-clad Bute told FightNews at the time.

Pascal and current world champion Chad Dawson were the only people to defeat Diaconu inside the ring. Blessed with ferocious power, Diaconu was the only fighter to put iron-chinned Andre Thysse to the canvas, “I think he knocked me into the third round,” Thysse told FightNews at the time of the first round knockdown.”

An avid fisherman, FightNews wishes The Shark all the best in his retirement.

Dierry Jean launches Fight Club
New promoter launches four fight series

By Dave Spencer
Photo by Herby Whyne

The last time they had boxing at the Holiday Inn in west-island Montreal, Jean Pascal was involved in a barn-burner of a fight with Adonis Stevenson. Anybody who was there that night still remembers the epic battle at the Canadian amateur championships in 2003 that had fans on their feet for the duration of the fight. This Saturday should be no less exciting as a stacked card including two North American title fights. “It’s a top level show,” promoter and manager Camille Estephan tells FightNews. “In the eight fights, fifteen of the sixteen fighters have winning records. Only one guy has a losing record and he’s going up Chris Plaitis who is making his pro debut. It’s a top quality show and the fight with (Nicholson) Poulard is a 50-50 fight, nobody knows which way that one is going to go,” Estephan says of the fight with Poulard (17-3-1 8KO) who battles Lionell Thompson (12-0 8KO) for the vacant NABA light-heavyweight title.

“I think Nicholson is going to pull through,” says the promoter who also manages the 34 year-old fighter. “He’s never been in better shape than what he’s showing now, he had a great camp, everything is right, and we’re really excited.”

It’s part of the changing boxing landscape in Montreal that has managers of fighters turn into promoters to give their fighters the work and the rounds that they need. The two major players in town, Interbox and GYM (Group Yvon Michel) now principally revolve around their two major stars, Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal. The star driven system has left managers such as Estephan and Douggy Berneche who handles Arash Usmanee seeking out alternatives for getting their fighters inside the ropes. “I think the Montreal promoters have caught up with the boxing world being what it is,” says Estephan. “Now promoters wait for a TV date and they’re building boxers for TV, I’m not knocking that, but I think it is very important to have the fans involved and be there is what it’s all about. With Interbox, if Lucian doesn’t box, there’s no shows. With Yvon Michel, he’s a more little active, they have the “Rapide et Dangereux” shows that gives the guys some fights, but it’s not like it used to be.”

With a stable of fighters that includes Bermaine Stiverne, David Lemieux, Antonin Decarie, Dierry Jean and is ever increasing, Saturday’s show promises not to be one-off affair.

“This is going to be the start of fight series called “Fight Club”, says the promoter. “We’re going to have three on the west island and one in the U.S. We have TV talking to us, they want to do a date for Dierry (Jean). It will depend how he does with (Cosme) Rivera obviously, but this is the start of a promotion company. We did it out of a need; we want to bring Dierry all the way. The four fights are to bring Dierry to a title shot.”

The Jean-Rivera bout heads the action Saturday and Rivera promises to be Jean’s biggest test to date. The 35 year-old veteran has had an up and down career but has proven a good test for those who have faced him in the past. When he faced of against then rising star Andre Berto down the road from Montreal in Saratoga New York, it was Berto who ended up tasting the canvas for the first time in his career and forced to reach down further than he had ever before to secure victory.

Estephan believes the time is now for Jean and has Yvon Michel’s blessing in the situation. “When my guys needed fights, nobody was giving them fights, or there was issues with negotiations, we did what we needed to be done. I didn’t want to be in a position where I was desperate. This right here is a good example with Dierry Jean I believe he is as talented as anybody here in Montreal, but there is a lot of people ahead of him in the grid. I was very honest with Yvon, I want my guy to be in the spotlight, he’s ready and they didn’t have the space for him. He was very gracious about it, he understood and said go ahead.”

Shediac card delayed

New Generation Boxing is postponing Shediac Fight Fest XII. Promoter stated several venue issues outside their control have made it impossible to hold the event at Ecole LJR, and will be relaunching ASAP. New Generation apologizes but believes bigger and better will result. Tickets will still be good for the new date or fans can be reimbursed.

Froch counting on hometown fans

Photo: Lawrence Lustig

Carl Froch believes his loyal fans with be the twelfth man when he takes on IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham on May 26. The Cobra fights in his hometown for the first time since beating Andre Dirrell in a WBC world title defense in October 2009. Froch has been on the road since that night in some gruelling battles, and the 34 year old says he will take the IBF belt from the unbeaten champ to reward his followers for coming out in force – with the final batch of 400 tickets for the fight now released.

“I have to beat Lucian on May 26 – losing in front of my own fans is just something I cannot contemplate,” said Froch. “They have travelled thousands of miles to watch me during the Super Six, and now they have a massive world title fight on their doorstep as a thank you – but it has to be a party and the only way it will be is if I keep the title here.” (more…)

McGuinness defends NABA

By Heather McIsaac at ringside

Logan McGuinness (17-0-1 9KO) made quick work of opponent Meacher Major (20-5-1 17KO) with a TKO victory at 2:45 of the 2nd round, successfully making the first defense of his NABA super-featherweight title. McGuinness came out fast and furious and quickly mounted pressure on Major. The Buffalo fighter tried desperately to keep up with the hometown fighter whose aggression was ultimately too much to handle. The pair exchanged very clean, tight blows but it was McGuinness wobbling Meacher with surprising power. McGuinness pounced on the opportunity and struck with fury landing debilitating hooks and strong right hands to send Major to the mat for the TKO victory.

In the night’s co-feature, undefeated cruiserweight Denton Daley (6-0 3KO) took his time dismantling former Canadian champion Frank White (7-7-2 5KO) over the course of six rounds, carefully picking his shots and delivering them with great power for a TKO victory at 3:00 of the 6th round. White did his best trying to tie Daley up but a resulting headbutt left White with a swollen forehead. After a somewhat timid start, White came forward with more pressure against the slick Daley, earning high marks for his strong jaw and determination to keep pushing. But with White more a shade of red, bleeding and with a swollen eye, the ring doctor advised between the 6th and 7th round that fight be stopped. With the loss White has now gone six fights without a victory.

Undefeated welterweight Sam Vargas (11-0-1 5KO) continued his winning ways scoring a 3rd round TKO victory over Hungarian opponent Arvydas Trizno. Vargas came out deliberately, taking his time and feeling out his opponent as the bout began. The hometown fighter seemed to even be holding back as he had many opportunities to take advantage of his flat footed adversary. Trizno stayed calm and collected with Vargas delivering fast and clean combos. Trizno did his best to return some of the pressure late in the fight but came up short and was sent to his knees, bleeding after an attack from Vargas, and failed to stand up before the count was over, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:11 in the 3rd round.

Heavyweight Dillon Carman (3-1) played with Matt White (0-2), taunting him and holding out his left jab but had the skills to back up his opponent with strong shots. Carman was able to push his opponent to the ropes despite a size discrepancy where White struggled to keep his defense but soon had the referee stepping in at 2:27 of the 3rd round to call the fight in Carman’s favour.

In middleweight action Motor City's Brandon Cook (6-0 3KO) made quick work of Zoltan Surman (12-9-1 6KO), ending the fight with relentless body shots that made Surman take 2 knees and 2 eight counts before the 3rd body shot had the referee waving his hands. TKO at 1:06 in the 2nd round.

Steve Wilcox (2-0) had the cleaner more accurate throws and won a 40-36 (all 3 judges) decision over David Aucoin (2-6) in lightweight action. Aucoin came out looking good, using his tight body shots and strength to force Wilcox around the ring but there was not a lot of action in the first couple rounds. Things heated up as Wilcox found his feet and began to press through Aucoin’s defense and refusing to be pushed to the ropes. The two traded a lot of good combinations over the last half of the fight that the judges favouring the accurate cleaner blows of Wilcox.

Junmar Emon dominated the first fight of the evening and the first fight of his pro career with very tight combos and good footwork, easily penetrating Daryl Peron’s (0-2) defense. Scores after 4 rounds read 39-37, 40-35, 40-35 for Emon.

Lawson wins close one

By Francisco Salazar at ringside

Junior welterweight Holly Lawson won a disputed four round split decision over Elisa Moreno in Pomona California. Good action between the two fighters throughout most of the fight. At times, Lawson threw more punches over Moreno, successfully landing at times. However, Moreno landed the harder blows to the head of Lawson. Moreno was able to land right uppercuts and left hooks to the head. Lawson was the more effective fighter in the fourth round. One judge scored the bout 39-37 in favor of Moreno, while the other two judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Lawson. Fightnews.com scored the bout 38-38. Lawson, from Los Angeles by way of Vancouver, British Columbia, goes to 3-2. Moreno, from Kansas City, MO, drops to 3-2-1, 1 KO.

Spence scores road win

Mississauga’s Natasha Spence (4-0-1 2KO) travelled south to Poughkeepsie NY fighting outside of Canada for the first time, where she scored a 3rd round TKO victory over Racquel Bailey (1-2-1) of Oklahoma City in super featherweight action.

Claggett, O'Connell post  wins
By Mitchell Guerguerian at ringside

It was a short night in downtown Calgary Friday night as both pro fights of a pro-am card at the Chinese Cultural Center ended in the second round. In the main event, Steve ‘The Dragon’ Claggett (14-1-1 9KO) made it five stoppages in a row with a 2nd knockout of opponent Robert Balogh (14-11-1 7KO). Official time came at 1:33 of the second round.

In the only other pro bout on the card, 'Irish' Cam O'Connell made his pro debut a successful one as the Calgary super-featherweight handed Hungary’s Janos Varadi (1-2 2KO) his first loss as a professional. O’Connell forced his opponent to throw in the towel at 1:29 of the 2nd round.

Weekend Weights 

Poughkeepsie, NY
Female Super Featherweights (6)

Natasha Spence (3-0-1, 2 KOs), Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 132 LBS.

Racquel Bailey (1-1-1), Oklahoma City, OK 131 LBS.

WHAT: "Irish Invasion" Professional Boxing Card
WHEN: Saturday, May 12, 2012
WHERE: Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
PROMOTER: Final Round Promotions, in association with Team Snooki Boxing and Bob Duffy's Ring Promotions, sponsored in part by Title Boxing

Pomona, CA


Holly Lawson 144.5 vs. Elisa Moreno 143

Venue: Finish Line Sports Grill in Pomona, California
Promoter: Showdown Promotions

McGuinness faces Major test

24 year-old NABA Super Featherweight champion, Logan Cotton McGuinness (16-0-1, 8 KO’s), has handled the potentially treacherous transition from boxing prospect to boxing contender with brutal flair.

No longer simply punishing foes while honing his craft, Orangeville’s McGuinness has spent the past two years winning boxing’s hardened critics over with career-best efforts in a succession of fights put forth by promoter Hennessy Sports designed to test his will, as opposed to merely showcasing his skills.

McGuinness 16-0-1 (8 KO) vs Major 20-4-1 (17 KO)
Vargas 10-0-1 (4 KO) vs Arvydas Trizno 14-18-1 (1 KO)
Daley (5-0 2 KO) vs White 7-6-2 (5 KO)
Cook (5-0 2KO) vs Surman (12-8-1 6KO)
Wilcox (1-0) vs Aucoin (2-5)
Emon (0-0) vs Peron (0-1)
Carman (2-1) vs White (0-1)

As a result McGuinness has honed his style into a well-rounded blend of polish, poise, and power, combining nimble footwork, fluid combinations, and a crowd-pleasing style, all with fight-ending force.

All of those attributes were there for the world to see last October at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, when McGuinness took the biggest step of his professional career, dropping down from 135 to take on former world title challenger Benoit Gaudet for the vacant NABA 130 lb. title. read more

Pucek Back at the Boat

Sarah Pucek (4-2-1) returns to what has become her de facto boxing home as the BC featherweight is scheduled to appear at the next “Battle of the Boat” in Tacoma Washington on June 2. No opponent yet for Pucek has dropped her last two and other bouts will be announced shortly. Junior lightweight prospect Joel Diaz battles Guillermo Sanchez in the headliner.

Alvarez-Hawk set for June

By Dave Spencer
Photo Herby Whyne

Everything is falling into place for the next instalment of the “Fast and Furious” series at The Bell Centre in Montreal set for Friday June 8th. The main event will have unbeaten light-heavyweight sensation Eleider Alvarez (8-0 5KO) facing his toughest test to date as he defends his NABO title against Shawn Hawk (23-1-1 17KO).

Hawk who has spent the majority of his 8-year career at cruiserweight has trimmed down to the 175 pound light-heavy mark where he has campaigned for his last three fights. The 27-year-old Sioux Indian is coming of a big win in March against 20-2 Henry Buchannan and was also successful securing a win against Otis Griffin last fall, somebody Alvarez was due to go against in December before last-minute contract problems got in the way.

The 2008 Colombian Olympian has been nothing short of spectacular in his brief career thus far. Alvarez was dynamic in showing a wide arsenal of weapons in his recent appearance as co-feature on Friday Night Fights, an eight round shutout of Rayco Saunders. The fact that he is the headliner at the Bell Centre in just his 9th fight is a testament to his abilities and the level of opposition he already facing. Just for comparisons sake, Lucian Bute headlined the fabled hockey arena in his 14th fight, Jean Pascal and David Lemieux, their 24th.

Joining Alvarez on the card that coincides with Grand Prix weekend in Montreal will be fellow Colombian Oscar Rivas, a returning David Lemieux, Didier Bence, Eric Barrack and two other bouts.

Razor to return

Claggett headlines Friday

Steve 'The Dragon' Claggett (13-1-1 8KO) returns to action this Friday at the Chinese Cultural Center in Calgary Alberta as the light welterweight tries to keep his streak of four stoppage wins going as he faces all-action Hungarian Laszlo Robert Balogh (14-10-1 7KO) in one of three professional fights in a pro-am card presented by Teofista Boxing.

An exciting pressure fighter, Claggett started out 2012 with a resounding stoppage victory over rugged Ontario charge Ryan Wagner and has spent much of the year at the world renowned "Mayweather Gym" in Las Vegas where he has been turning heads with his all-action style. In March the Chinese-Canadian upstart spent six weeks as the primary sparring partner for two-division world champion Zab 'Super' Judah putting in over fifty rounds of work with the former world champion.

"I have learned a lot in the last few months sparring with Zab and spending time in the Mayweather Gym," Claggett said this week. "I am looking to put on a good show for my hometown fans as this could be my last fight here for some time. I have a lot of opportunities down south and am planning on putting on a show this Friday so I can move on to bigger and better things. People will see an improved fighter in this fight as I plan to take care of business."

Also on the card will be the pro debut of 22 year old five-time national champion 'Irish' Cam O'Connell who will be in tough in his pro-debut facing undefeated Hungary's Janos Varadi (2-0 2KO).

"I'm looking forward to making my pro debut," O'Connell said from his central Alberta training camp. "I have enjoyed a long and successful amateur career and I'm looking forward to losing the headgear and showing what I can do in the pro ranks."

Rounding out the professional portion of the card will be a heavyweight slugfest as Ed Jackson (0-1) of Phoenix, Arizona will take on Canadian MMA fighter Mariusz Zastawny who will be making his pro boxing debut.

Bute gets thumbs up

IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute received the green light to resume his training from the foot specialist in Florida. So Lucian will continue his preparation for the 10 th defense of his IBF title in Nottingham on May 26 th vs. Hometown hero Carl Froch. Bute, trainer Stephan Larouche and promoter Jean Bedard will meet with the media on Friday in Montreal, then Lucian and his Team will fly to England this weekend.

Usmanee passes test
Jumps to #5 in WBA

By Dave Spencer
Photo by Herby Whyne

By virtue of his recent strong showings in the ring, super-featherweight Arash Usmanee (19-0 9KO) has moved up to the number five spot in the WBA world rankings. It was a significant rise from the number ten spot where he had been sitting but wins against a former title challenger in Cristian Faccio, an undefeated fighter in Chris Howard, and 21-3-2 Innocent Anyanwu have all helped to propel Usmanee further up the ladder.

FightNews caught up with Usmanee after his most recent win last Friday night, a three round destruction over Faccio that had Uruguayan fighter’s corner literally throwing the towel into the centre of the ring. Usmanee looked huge in a fight fought at lightweight against a 5’4” opponent who had not that long ago fought at bantamweight. But the test wasn’t so much the opponent in front of him but a right hand that had been giving the boxer a few question marks since the Howard fight. It would have been hard to convince Faccio who was hit early and often that anything was remotely wrong with the hand in question. “That was the test coming in,” said Usmanee of his hand, “It’s not 100% healed, it’s been bugging me, but during the fight, it was alright. We’ll open it up and see how it is, but right now it feels good, I shouldn’t have any problems fighting on the 16th (of June).”

Unlike some other opponents on the night, Faccio didn’t fold immediately and proved to be a tough nut for as long as he was in there. “My performance was okay, you’ve got an experienced guy, so he’s not just going to lay down. My thing was go in and kill him, get on him instantly, but I’ve got smarter people than me around me so they told me to take it easy and take my time, bide my time and break him down. That’s where he was at the end, broken down and I was getting ready to take him out, and they threw in the towel.

“I’m always surprised when I hit them so hard and they don’t go down. I feel I hit hard but these guys seem to have iron jaws and with their experience they know how to roll with punches and absorb them, you can’t always catch them clean on the jaw, I’m always a bit surprised when they don’t go down because I feel that I should be laying them all out.”

Bute suffers infection

Lucian Bute has been bothered by an infection in his foot since last Saturday. However, the condition is improving and InterBox and Lucian Bute are confident that Lucian will be able to fight according to schedule.

A specialist/doctor has prescribed antibiotics to Lucian Bute to treat the infection. He will meet with doctors again later this week to ensure that the foot is healing according to schedule.

Usmanee stops Faccio

By Dave Spencer, FightNews Canada
Photos by Herby Whyne


Arash Usmanee pounded upon a much smaller Cristian Faccio of Uruguay right from the opening bell on route to scoring a 3rd round stoppage victory moments ago at the Chapiteau CCSE Maisonneuve in Montreal, Quebec. Usmanee walked through the one time world title challenger, digging hooks to the body and landing upstairs when Faccio dropped his hands. Faccio came to fight but couldnt match the intensity or power of Usmanee. With their fighter under constant pressure, Faccio's corner threw in the towel, signalling surrender at 1:58 of the third round of the scheduled 8 round contest. Usmanee improves to 19-0 (9KOs) while Faccio drops his 2nd in a row, slipping to 21-8.  Full Photo Report here

Pantelic successful in Mexico

Canadian cruiserweight Milos Pantelic (3-0-1) won a unanimous decision over action packed round over Jose Santos (1-2) and made quite a splash with his "come forward" aggressive style his promoter Allan Tremblay told FightNews. “They don't get to see the "big boys" too often so the contest was well received.” Pantelic was fighting in Yucatan Mexico for the second time where Tremblay has been focusing his recent attention.
Tremblay who also promotes Filipino super-bantamweight Ana Julaton (11-3-1) who has been featured a couple of times in Ontario also got back into the win column. “Julaton had a dominating performance beating Yolanda Segura (8-4) by unanimous decision and winning every round on all the scorecards.”

Former World Champion Jessica Rakoczy, 124 pounds (Right) and Brittany Cruz 125.5 pounds (Left) and pose on May 3, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the weigh-in for their May 4, 2012 fight at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Gene Blevins - Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Franjic great going eight


By Heather McIsaac
Photo Danielle Graham

FightNews recently caught up with Ontario light-heavyweight Steve Franjic (8-0-1) who was successful in his most recent outing, spoiling the homecoming of Anthony Russell (16-4-1) with an eighth round stoppage at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Franjic was methodical in his dismantling of Russell with an impressive body attack that paid dividends before the final bell. Read on for what the undefeated Orangeville fighter had to say. read more

Weights from Montreal

Venue: Chapiteau CCSE Maisonneuve
Promoter: Doug Berneche

Arash Usmanee 134.4 lbs. vs Cristian Faccio 134.6 lbs.
Kevin Lavallée 129.4 lbs. vs Dave McQuaker 132.4 lbs.
Frank Cotroni 159.2 lbs. vs Francis Lafrenière 159.2 lbs.
Mick Gadbois 139.6 lbs. vs Janos Vass 139.6 lbs.
Steven Harvey 201.4 lbs. vs Viktor Sazali 195.4 lbs.
Andy Gardiner 179.4 lbs. vs Patrick Tessier 177.2 lbs.
Nathalie Forget 118.6 lbs. vs Rosie Thomas 118.4 lbs.
Lucia Larcinese 130 lbs. vs Brandy Badry 135.4 lbs.

Frampton Comes Alive

Super bantamweight Carl Frampton (13-0 9KO) will be facing Raul Hirales (16-0-1 8KO) for the vacant IBF Intercontinental title as the chief support for the Lucian Bute and Carl Froch championship bout May 26 in Nottingham England.
Viewers watching on pay-per-view in Canada should get themselves a good fight between two undefeated fighters as Hirales has a couple of good wins under his belt including Charles Huerta who was 16-1 at the time and Enrique Bernache who was 18-2. Frampton is eyeing a fall showdown with Kiko Martinez in Ireland but first has to get by Hirales in what should be the toughest test in both fighters careers. As previously reported, viewers will also get to see Pier Olivier Cote (18-0 12KO) who hopes to extend his undefeated streak against Mark Lloyd (15-5 3KO).

Pascal Date Set

Stevenson to fight for top spot in IBF

August 11th is now set as the date for undefeated light heavyweight Tavoris Cloud to travel north to Canada to make the fifth defence of his IBF crown against former WBC champion Jean Pascal. The fight that will be shown on cable giant Showtime in the United States will be on Pascal’s home turf of Montreal or down the St Lawrence River in Quebec City. “We’re looking at what will be best for the promotion,” said Pascal’s promoter Yvon Michel. “We’ve got a couple surveys to finalize and once they’re done we’ll go where it will be best.”

With the main event in place, Michel wasn’t tipping his hand as to whether hard-hitting Adonis Stevenson will be featured on the undercard as a co-feature. “I have plans with Adonis but it doesn’t necessarily mean that he will end up on that show,” Michel told FightNews. “What I’m looking for Adonis’s next fight is to fight for the number one position in the IBF. Whoever will be available we’ll fight. Right now we’re in the process of asking everyone one by one like we did when we ended up with Jesus Gonzalez for the number two position. There’s definitely interest from Showtime, once I know the guy, then I’ll be able to make a move."

Laham, Anber split

The reunion didn’t last for long. Undefeated Baha Laham return to his amateur trainer Russ Anber lasted all of three fights. Anber was let go following Laham’s last fight, a six round draw in a walk-out bout featured on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. Anber was notified by text message the morning following the fight by Laham’s manager, Camille Estephan, that his services were no longer required and that the fighter would soon be advised of the same. Laham is due back in the ring on May 19th, no word on who will be in his corner, but don’t be surprised to see the Grant Brothers guiding the 30 year-old fighter.

Usmanee starts busy summer
Undefeated fighter eyes title shot for fall

By Dave Spencer
Photo by Herby Whyne

Arash Usmanee (18-0 8KO) was due for a final exam this month; instead the undefeated super-featherweight will be going to summer school starting this Friday as he faces off against Cristian Faccio (21-7 14KO) in his boxing home of Montreal. “Adrian Bronner called us for a fight in May for the world title,” Usmanee tells FightNews, “But I had just come back for training, and the timing just wasn’t right.” Adding to the bad timing was the fact that the Red Deer Alberta injured his right hand in his last fight in March, a ten round decision over undefeated Chris Howard in Atlanta.

“We want to see how it reacts and whether or not he has a good fight before moving on,” said his manager Doug Berneche who built a four part summer series around the 30 year-old fighter who meets former world title challenger Cristian Faccio this Friday. “If everything goes well, Arash will defend his WBC (Continental Americas) belt in June.”

Usmanee who has led a nomadic existence in his first eighteen fights boxing on both sides of the country and both sides of the 49th parallel is hopeful another opportunity will manifest itself sometime in the fall. “That was just one opportunity,” says Usmanee referring to the Bronner fight, “It was just bad timing, that’s what I’ve been training for, a world title. I had just come off a three week break and I would have had one month to prepare, it just didn’t make sense.”

Rather than pout or play a waiting game, Usmanee who fought six times last year and will be into the ring for a third time this year on Friday decided to continue on with what he does best…fight. “I enjoy fighting and enjoy training for a fight. I’m going and getting something out of it.

“I took three pretty high caliber guys all back-to-back. My last three opponents were all big fights. It won’t hurt me or my record to have a little bit easier fight this time.” Faccio should provide that easier touch if recent history has anything to do with it. After lasting less than two rounds in a WBC bantamweight title fight in 2008, the Uruguay fighter has shot up three weight categories with no significant wins along the way.

“We’re very close to the feeling that we’re ready for anybody,” Usmanne says, “There’s only a couple of boxers in the world right now that we might say no to. If the timing is right, I don’t think we say no to anybody. It doesn’t really matter who’s in front of me right now. Being considered as world challenger makes you feel good. We're getting more and more calls everyday. I'm often the last person to know, but I know we could be looking at something big happening very soon."

Lo Greco gets by Orozco

By Rick Scharmberg



Phil LoGreco (23-0, 12 KOs) remained unbeaten by coming off the floor to take a unanimous decision over southpaw Hector Orozco (5-11) in a six round junior middleweight bout.

Early in round one, Orozco dropped the in-your-face LoGreco with a counter left. It was a flash knockdown, and LoGreco came back to take the remainder of the round.

LoGreco smothered Orozco in round two, doing damage with his right to the head and body of Orozco. LoGreco continued to dominate Orozco in round three, this time with hard left hooks.

Orozco came back in round four. LoGreco pinned him on the ropes and in the corner, but couldn’t land anything of significance. Orozco countered nicely with his back to the ropes, landing a counter right hook, and landing left hands to LoGreco’s body.

With the bout relatively even after four rounds, thanks to the knockdown, LoGreco turned it up two notches in the last two rounds. Instead of fighting inside like he did in the previous rounds, LoGreco showed another dimension by staying on the outside. He dominated the fifth by landing numerous right hands against the lefty Orozco, and won the sixth round going away by working his left hook overtime. Orozco’s offense was non-existent after round four.

The scores were 58-55 (twice) and 59-54 in favor of LoGreco.

Usmanee-Faccio May 4

Undefeated Arash Usmanee’s (18-0 8KO) opponent was released on Thursday and the #18 (WBC) lightweight will be headlining against former title challenger Cristian Faccio (21-7 14KO) of Uruguay next Friday May 4 at the Chapiteau in east end Montreal as part of a nine bout card. Faccio travelled to Japan in 2008 where he lasted two rounds battling for WBC bantamweight title and two fights later was in Ireland where he faced Bernard Dunne just before the Irishman captured his world title. Faccio who has been stopped in three of his last five doesn’t look to be a monumental challenge for Usmanee but will be more of a test of how his right hand holds up. “We want to see how it reacts and whether or not he has a good fight before moving on in June to defend the WBC (Continental Americas) belt,” Usmanee’s manager Doug Berneche to FightNews. Berneche hopes to have the card finalized by Monday, “We’re just awaiting visas and medicals and we should be able to announce it then.”

Big Ray prevails in Calgary

Raymond Olubowale (9-5-1 6KO) was successful in his bid last night winning the vacant CPBP heavyweight title over Eric Martel (7-2) in Calgary Alberta. Martel was stopped in the eighth round of a scheduled ten in what the fighter described as a true war. Other winners included 40 year-old Peggy Maerz (2-2-1) avenging her loss against Michelle Nelson (3-3) and Kye Sabo (1-2) getting his first win versus Keenan Feeney (1-1).

Orozco better than record

LoGreco better show up for hard rounds

FightNews Canada caught up with affiliate Minnesota FightNews and got some thoughts on Phil Lo Greco’s opponent Saturday in Atlantic City, the 5-10 Hector Orozco. The word? "Hector Orozco is a much better boxer than his record,” says Editor Jesse Kelley. “Think of Willshaun Boxley who I think you have seen in Canada.” Boxley readers will remember is the fighter with a sub-.500 record who gave both Arash Usmanee and Pier-Olivier Cote all they could handle, a 5th round knockdown for Cote saved the day in fact giving him a one point victory on two of the scorecards.

“They’re not similar styles at all, but win or lose; most folks are shocked that a 5-10 guy is that good. Lo Greco looks to be a little more polished though and has a lot more power from the video I have seen. Orozco is so much like his name "The fighting Chihuahua"! Just a little guy that keeps coming and nipping at you! Also on a personal level, just a real down to earth, humble, nice kid!"

Kelly says that Orozco’s record is deceiving at that the 24 year-old was pretty much a kid when he first started his pro career. "His losses to Figueroa, McLaurin, Laase, and James, I had him up on the score cards. His bout versus Martell I am told by reliable people that were ringside said he won easily but well... Martell's hometown at a casino!” Orozco did avenge both the losses against Figueroa and McLaurin, handing both fighters their first loss. Kelly also states that the Hugo Centeno bout could have gone either way and warns that if Lo Greco doesn't show up to go hard rounds or take Orozco out with a body shot, it will be a hard night for the Canadian fighter. “Orozco will just keep coming and coming and he is getting more skilled as he matures.”

Lo Greco opponent set

Minnesota Boxing is reporting that Hector Orozco 5-10 will face Phil Lo Greco 22-0 this Saturday on the undercard to Bernard Hopkins vs Chad Dawson in New Jersey. Orozco is a 24 year-old Minnesota southpaw who has been thrown in tough over his six year career; Lo Greco is the 13th undeafeted fighter he'll be going against. Orozco fought last on March 31 and managed a split decision over Wayne Martel who was 24-3 at the time.

Whittom in tough Friday

This Friday night at Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, Omar Sheika battles Yusaf Mack for the USBA light heavyweight title, but before the main event, Nedal’s Boxing Promotions and Andre Kut’s KEA Boxing has put together a massive 11 bout undercard that will feature no less than seven undefeated fighters.
One of those seven will feature Stivins Bujaj (7-0, 5 KOs) of New York who will take on David Whittom (11-17-1, 7 KOs) of Quebec City in a six round Cruiserweight bout. Whittom has lost 12 of 13 but has usually put up good efforts along the way, being involved in several close decisions. Of those 12 losses, 8 have come against opponents with one or less defeats.
UPDATE: David Whittom replaced by Livin Castillo

Kamal opponent set

Undefeated Ontario lightweight Ibrahim ‘Firearm” Kamal (7-0, 6 KO’s) has been added to the May 19, 2012 fight card promoted by Eye Of the Tiger Management to be held at the Holiday Inn in Pointe Claire, Quebec. His opponent will be 24 year old Aboubeker Bechelaghem 7-2-1 of Blagnac, Haute-Garonne, France.

LeClair passes

FightNews is sad to announce the passing of three-time Canadian Title challenger Jean-Claude LeClair at the age of 57 years-old. LeClair who passed away Monday fought 47 times (37-9-1) in an eight career from 1973 until his final fight against Donny Lalonde in 1981. Leclair fought almost exclusively in home province of Quebec against such stars of the day including Eddie Melo, Fernand Marcotte and Donato Paduano. His fight against Paduano drew 10,000 people to the old Montreal Forum and he twice fought Marcotte for the Canadian middleweight crown, being stopped both times. FightNews sends its condolences to the Leclair’s friends and family.

Best ever Canadian Heavyweights

By Dave Baggs

Recently FightNews Canada asked who the best current heavyweight in Canada is. Nearly 70% of you answered George Chuvalo. So what exactly does this mean? That our readers are a sarcastic lot? That there’s been a dearth of quality big men since George hung them up? That there’s a lot out there who can’t name a current Canadian heavyweight, either at home or on the international scene? Well, probably a little bit of each but maybe and most importantly, nobody is currently captivating us and capturing our imagination.

With that in mind, we asked, who was the best Canadian heavyweight to ever climb into the boxing ring? The country has churned out some quality heavyweight since the early 1900's and even today, the future looks very promising. When we think of all of our heavyweights, both past and present, who comes out in your mind as the best? George Chuvalo? Sam Langford? Tommy Burns? Everyone could make a case for why they believe each of the aforementioned fighters deserve the recognition of the country's best. FightNews Canada has compiled a list of what it deems as the best 5 Heavyweights the nation has ever produced. We think you'll agree as well.....read more for our top five

Weights from Calgary

Eric Martel 242 lbs. vs. Raymond Olubowale 262.5 lbs.
Vacant Canada Professional Boxing Council (CPBC) Heavyweight Title

Michelle Nelson 114.5 vs. Peggy Maerz 114 lbs.

Kye Sabo 139.5 lbs. vs. Keenan Feeney 142 lbs. 

Promoter: Impact Boxing
Venue: Hyatt Regency Hotel
First Bell: 7pm
In support of Big Brothers/Sisters

Alvarez to headline

After his impressive eight round display light-heavyweight Eleider Alvarez has been pegged by promoter Yvon Michel to headline the next card of the Fast & Furious series to be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Friday June 8. Alvarez once again showed poise and a varied attack over the course of his impressive shutout of a defensive minded Rayco Saunders. The Colombian born fighter seems to be on the fast track and has built up an 8-0 record with increasingly tough opposition and picked up a belt along the way by winning the NABO belt in just his 7th fight.
Middleweight prospect David Lemieux may also be on the card but more will be known in a week’s time when his injured hand is reassessed. Also due to come back from injury will be heavyweight Didier Bence, the fighter promoter Yvon Michel calls the best Canadian heavyweight since Lennox Lewis. Not on the card is Kevin Bizier who Michel is holding for the undercard of Jean Pascal’s championship later this summer.

Bute training quotes

It was media day in West Palm Beach Florida for Lucian Bute and his team, here’s a little of what the world champion had to say as he prepares for his May 26th fight versus Carl Froch.

Lucian Bute
• By saying yes to fight Carl Froch in his hometown, I’m showing the world that I can fight anybody anywhere. I expect a tough fight; I’m working harder at the gym to be ready physically and mentally. I’m really looking forward to defend my Title for the tenth time. it’s going to be an amazing experience!
• I started my training camp about 7 weeks ago and now with just under 5 weeks remaining my training going very well. I am exactly where I should be. The sparring is started too, I have good sparring partners and I’m satisfied.
• While training we recreate the atmosphere of what we expect to hear at the Capital FM Arena of Nottingham. I can’t hear the bell and I can’t even hear my coach talking to me. On May 26th, I will be ready to face not only Carl Froch but also the hostile atmosphere of Froch’s fans!
• I am training in West Palm Beach again for this fight. My team takes me out of my comfort zone every training session. In the coming weeks I will work extra at the gym and during sparring. I am training for a 12 round war so I am sure to have all the energy required to fight Carl Froch in his hometown.
• My objective is to win the fight and stay World champion. I don’t target the KO but if it comes I will jump all over it. A KO would be a terrific ending to my fight.


Lucian’s trainer, Stephan Larouche
• We had a good start to training camp in February. We are now well into the second phase and concentrating on specific aspects of preparation. The sparring started 3 weeks ago. We leave Florida around mid-May and then travel to England to acclimate, finalize preparations and add the finishing touches before the fight.
• We fully expect Lucian to experience some discomfort on May 26th. Fighting in England will be difficult for him. Winning in Europe as the opposing boxer almost never happens. We recognize we have a huge challenge in front of us but we do have a huge advantage: We are the champion!
• This training camp is much like every other. However, the psychological preparation is different. We started this camp as if we were the challenger. On the evening of May 26th in Nottingham, Lucian will have to play the spoiler. Most of the fans in attendance will be against him. Nobody there other than a few fans will want him to win. This is the first time that Lucian will live this experience. Lucian will have to work harder than he does for his fights in Quebec and if he does, at the end of the evening, he will be the hero of the crowd.
• Carl Froch has many strengths and we have to neutralize them all, as Andre Ward did last December. Froch has an awkward style. Lucian should expect to be hit from unconventional angles: From below, sideways, etc. Rest assured we are training to adapt to all situations.

Emergence of Summer Fisticuffs

Martel to stick to gameplan
By Dave Spencer
Photography Herby Whyne


Hard-hitting Eric Martel (6-1) has made for some exciting fights of late. The Quebec heavyweight meets up with former Canadian champ Raymond Olubowale (8-5-1 5KO) this Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary Alberta and is hoping to sacrifice some of the excitement in exchange for a victory as he is scheduled for ten rounds for the first time as he fights for the vacant CPBC belt.

“No matter what, I have to stick to my game plan,” Martel tells FightNews from his Calgary hotel room.

Martel knows the price he’ll have to pay if he doesn’t. The Quebec fighter suffered his first loss this past December as he deviated from the blueprint and went headhunting against fellow Quebecer Sylvera Louis despite screams from his corner to go to the body. The wide lumbering shots were more often than not off the mark and helped drain the gas tank of Martel who was fighting at his heaviest weight as a professional and would eventually see him lose his undefeated record on the scorecards.

Previous to that Martel tempted fate and traded knockdowns in the opening round with Ukraine heavyweight Andriy Ivanov before securing the victory in the 3rd round. It was a lot more difficult victory than it should have been for Martel who essentially saved by the bell in the first.

The Olubowale fight has been the docket since last fall and has given Martel what should be more than enough time to prepare himself for tackling Mount Kilimanjaro who has had only one fight going on three years. “It gives me time, time to prepare for his style. Time to be in the greatest shape of my life.”

While Big Ray has to go back to 2008 for his last win, Martel assures FightNews he is taking the fight and his first crack at a title very seriously. “If I stick to my game plan this fight can finish earlier then the final bell,” adding he expects to be inside of the big 6’7” fighter. “Ray is dangerous from the outside because of is reach, so we will try to fight from the inside with angles.”

Pascal-Cloud set for Showtime

FightNews caught up with former WBC light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal this weekend and the Montreal fighter was charged now that his upcoming fight with Tavoris Cloud is all but a done deal. “I can’t wait for my next fight,” Pascal told FightNews, “We made a deal with Cloud, the deal is done, and we’re just waiting on a TV date from Showtime. I’m supposed to be fighting on either July 7th or August 11th and I can’t wait to get back in the ring.” While the negotiations were a long arduous process with Cloud and his promoter Don King, Pascal said he prepared to give everything to his preparation and another crack at supremacy at 175 pounds. “No doubt, no pain gain, I’m prepared to work hard and become champion for the second time. I think the match-up against Cloud will please the crowd, and you know me, I’m a crowd pleaser. It’s going to be a great fight, it’s going to be a war, I’ve been to hell, and I’m ready to go to hell again.”

Stevenson ready to go green?

By Dave Spencer
Photo Herby Whyne

With the talk of the natural rivalry with fellow Montrealer and IBF champion Lucian Bute still continuing, hard-hitting Adonis Stevenson and his team have opened up their options of “going green” on this Earth Day weekend. With the usual rabid media contingent trying to get their questions in, Stevenson’s promoter Yvon Michel was forced to answer from a slightly different source Friday night.

“What would happen if Ward vacates the title as he said he might do? What would happen then?”

Under normal circumstances, such a question might illicit murmurs or groans seeing as the promoter had just addressed it moments earlier, but seeing as the man with the microphone was Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward, Michel was given every courtesy to address the query, just in case the gathered masses missed it the first time.

“It means that Adonis will be fighting Anthony Dirrell for the vacant title,” said the promoter, reiterating what he had just said. continue reading

Asongwed drops one in Philly

By Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside

Friday night at the National Guard Armoryin Philadelphia, a raucous crowd of over 1, 000 strong saw Georgiy “The Chemist” Guralnik (3-0, 1KO) continued to step up in class with a hard fought four round unanimous decision victory over twenty fight veteran Taffo Asongwed (2-11-7) in undercard action. Many fighters at just their third fight would not have taken on a veteran like Asongwed who owned seven draws and had never been stopped, but not Guralnik who welcomed the opportunity.

The opening two rounds saw Guralnik win the exchanges in the center of the ring with the cagey Canadian. The heavy inside work from Guralnik in the first two rounds forced him to take a break in the third as Asongwed surged forward with his own right hands. Guralnik would get his second wind in the fourth round and went back to winning the exchanges on the inside right up until the final bell. All three judges saw it the same way 39-37 for Georgiy Guralnik giving him the well deserved unanimous decision victory.

Stevenson stops Gonzalez

By Dave Spencer
Photos Herby Whyne

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

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

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

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

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

Superman ready to set flight

By Dave Spencer
Photo Herby Whyne

As the dust settles in the super-middleweight division after two years and eight boxers, the question remains now that the Super-six is over, who’s next?

Who will establish themselves as part of the next wave and push the established elite after the division has been picked clean of suitable challengers?

Montreal promoter Yvon Michel believes he has the cargo in Adonis Stevenson (17-1 14KO) who takes on Noe Gonzalez (28-1 20KO) at the Bell Centre tonight. He also believes he has the man to deliver the cargo in Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward. While the nuts and bolts inside the ring will ultimately carry the day, Michel knows that long infiltrating reach of Steward inside the boxing world will contribute as much as anything to bringing his fighter to not only a possible championship level, but also to the big money of HBO and Showtime televised fights.

“The reason we’re doing this fight is because the winner will be a legitimate contender to anyone,” Michel told FightNews. “The reason it is on ESPN is because we want the world to see it, to acknowledge that Adonis deserves to fight against anybody and that a network like HBO or Showtime cannot say no because they don’t know him or are not aware of him.” continue reading

Steward: Don't miss Superman

By Dave Spencer
Photo Herby Whyne

Trainer Emanuel Steward talked of his latest protégé in Montreal Thursday, super-middleweight, Adonis ‘Superman’ Stevenson. Here’s what the trainer of 43 world champions and six Olympic gold medal winners had to say.

"Adonis is in great condition, in his last three sparring sessions, he sparred twelve rounds each day in very hot conditions with very big guys, big light-heavyweights. His condition is excellent and that’s the only thing that Gonzalez might have had a chance with. We taken that chance or advantage away from him if it ever was there. I can’t see Gonzalez avoiding the missiles of Adonis for twelve full rounds. Adonis is going to hurt him and knock him out.

I’m telling all my friends not to miss this fight, this is ‘Superman’. A new man who just landed on the planet and he’s going to bring excitement to boxing, unlike these guys who are trying to win decisions and take very little risk. Adonis Stevenson is what we need for our sport, he can knock people out. I’ve told all my friends, watch Friday night to see Superman."

Results from Toronto

Trupish wins by KO

By Tom Huynh at ringside
Photo by Dani Graham


Undefeated junior-middleweight Adam Trupish’s (11-0 8KO) power surge continued in Toronto Tuesday as he scored his fifth consecutive knockout victory at 1:30 of the 5th round over Darryl Cunningham (25-4 10KO). Trupish becomes just the second fighter to stop the Detroit veteran, with former world title challenger Anthony Dirrell being the first to end 2011.

Trupish showed his speed and power right from the very start. With the sound of the opening bell still resonating, the two-time Olympian connected with a right hook and straight left combination, knocking Cunningham down to the canvas twenty seconds in. The referee starts the count and Cunningham gets up after a few seconds. Not yet composed and on weak legs, he gets tagged again and goes down for a second time. The visiting fighter manages to get to his feet while the referee administers an eight count but has nothing left and holds on and is saved by the bell.

In the second and third rounds, Trupish starts to load up on punches, trying to finish his opponent. Cunningham does his best to get back into the fight, holding and hitting, trying to make the fight a dirty slugfest. The fight is taken to close quarters with Cunningham coming in with his head, and Trupish developing a bruise under his left cheek. The #12 WBA junior middleweight contender would have to endure more inside fighting and head butts coming his way causing the left side of his face to swell. Trupish continues to unload but punches himself out and looks tired to close out the middle rounds. Cunningham continues his pattern of punching and holding while Trupish's left eye is cut open and bleeding heavily. click for more and full photo gallery

Lo Greco Returns

According to website Chicago Boxing News, the opponent of welterweight Phil Lo Greco (22-0 12KO) has been confirmed. The undefeated fighter who recently inked a deal with Golden Boy promotions will be making his American debut in Atlantic City versus Cortez Bey (8-1-1 4KO) of Cleveland Ohio. Like Lo Greco, Bey is returning from a long layoff. The 27 year-old who made his pro debut in 2005 as a super-featherweight has not fought in two years while Lo Greco has been on the shelf since last May fighting a six rounder in Italy. The bout which will be on the undercard of the Chad Dawson versus Bernard Hopkins rematch and will also go six.

Weights from Toronto

Adam Trupish 159.4 lbs vs. Darryl Cunningham 158.4 lbs

Venue: Royal York Hotel
Toronto, Ontario

Trupish fishing for Trout

By Dave Spencer

As far as opponent changes go, you couldn’t get much more of a 180 degree turnaround. Undefeated Adam Trupish has seen his opponent change from 22-year-old undefeated Domonique Dolton to 37-year-old veteran Darryl Cunningham. “We had a signed contract with Dolton, but he pulled out last week. He said his head wasn’t into it.”

You can almost hear Trupish shaking his head down the phone line. As Canada’s entire one-man 2008 Olympic boxing team, Trupish has seen his share of oddities that the sport has dished out over the years. “I’m going from a young undefeated orthodox prospect to a veteran experienced southpaw,” says the fighter, seemingly unfazed by the change on a weeks notice. In fact, Trupish seems to be in a good mood, having just finished dinner, a rare treat with a same-day weigh-in pending in the morning. “We fight at 160, so there’s no problem,” says the current NABA junior-middleweight champion, a title he won last year at the very same Shaw Festival. “I’ll work the pads a bit at some point, but I’m fine.”

Trupish, a western Ontario native who now a now calls Edmonton home enjoys coming back to fight. “I enjoy fighting in Ontario, but I think I’m only getting five tickets,” says the fighter of what is an exclusive black-tie fundraiser for the Shaw Festival. In fact the boxer is hopeful for an opportunity to come back to the Windsor area at some point for a more fan friendly event.

For now though Trupish is getting the next best thing, a border war between Windsor’s Trupish and Cunningham, who comes from across the river in Detroit. “I grew up sparring in the Windsor-Detroit area,” relays Trupish who says the change to a southpaw opponent isn’t troubling to him. “I did sparring with the McLellan brothers and one of those is a southpaw, so I have no worries. I'm well prepared for whoever is in front of me.”

Cunningham has fought almost exclusively in the Detroit area over the course of his 10 year career, one of his losses came in his third career fight to Canadian Anthony Russell, who is also featured tonight. Cunningham has generally performed well, winning the fights he is supposed to against battle-tested warriors like himself including Rubin Williams and Antwun Echols. Stepping up though as he did against Andre Dirrell in December, Cunningham lasted all of two rounds, the only time he has been stopped in his career.

Trupish has adjusted well to the pro game after two Olympics but at 33, knows time is of the essence if he is to make it to the top. “I didn’t want to fight tomato cans,” said the fighter who has already moved to #12 in the WBA. “I think I’m better suited to the pros,” said Trupish who likened the amateurs and pros to baseball and softball. “You have to make some adjustments, but basically the skill set is the same.”

For future goals, Trupish hopes to rise to the level of some of his amateur and Olympic teammates. One such possibility includes a shot at WBA champion Austin Trout. “We’ve been in negotiations for at least 6 months,” Trupsih reveals, “It’s a question of coordinating everything, including the right date and television; but we hope to have a championship fight within the year.”

Shaw set for tonight

By Dave Baggs

The 27th annual Shaw Festival Boxing evening is upon us once again, the 2012 event scheduled for this Tuesday, April 17th. The Shaw Boxing Evening serves as the Shaw Festival’s major annual fundraising event. Believed to be the largest charitable boxing event in the world, the Shaw Boxing Evening has raised $7 million for the annual theatre festival. Not only is this event an excellent fundraiser for the Shaw Festival (which recently celebrated its 50th season), it also showcases some of Canada's best young fighters the country has had to offer. Larry “Razor” Sharpe, Neven Pajkic, Stephen Molitor, “Bad” Chad Brisson, Billy Irwin, Donovan Boucher, Clyde Gray and Moses James have all seen action under the bright lights of the Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto.

For the second straight year former Canadian Middleweight and Super Middleweight champion Adam "A-Bomb" Trupish will headline the card. The 2 time Canadian Olympian has had a stellar start to his pro career, collecting 10 straight victories with 7 of his opponents failing to hear the sound of the final bell. The 33 yr old is fresh off his most impressive outing, a 72 second stoppage of heavy handed Janks Trotter last December.

Trupish was to have faced fellow undefeated prospect Domonique Dolton of Detroit however visa problems for Dolton (11-0, 6KOs) has removed him from participating. Enter Darryl Cunningham. Cunningham, a well seasoned pro of 10 years, will head north of the US border for the fight time; bring with him 25 victories in 28 bouts including 10 wins by knockout. The 37 yr old Detroit fighter will be looking for continue upon his winning way following his KO loss to Andre Dirrell last November. Cunningham hold an impressive 3rd round KO over 3 time world title challenger Antwun Echols back in 2010.

The Trupish-Cunningham bout is scheduled for 10 rounds or less.

An all Canadian Light heavyweight bout will be featured as Orangeville, Ontario's Steve Franjic (7-0-1, 4KOs) takes on Kitchener's Anthony Russell (16-3-1, 5KOs). Both fighters will be looking to rebound following previous outings. Franjic, after looking so dominant in his 7 previous bouts, had a much tougher time with the less experienced Andrew Hernendez, a pro of only 3 bouts. Franjic took home the decision (58-56,58-55, and 56-56) but lost some of the luster that comes with being an undefeated prospect. Russell faired much worse as he took a big risk in taking on hard punching Pole Andrzej Fonfara last May. Russell had fought a total of 1 and a half rounds since 2007. Needless-to-say, that risk ended badly with the Canadian being stopped in 7 rounds in a bid for the vacant NABO Light heavyweight title.


Rounding out the card will be a battle of Middleweights with Danny Netzer (2-0, 1KO) fighting out of Isreal taking on Whitby, Ontario's Phil Rose (3-1-1, 3KOs). Netzer shocked Canadian boxing fans last November as he stopped reigning Canadian (NCC) Super Middleweight champion Eric Roy in 3 rounds in his pro debut. Rose, who is two fights removed from his first pro defeat, has given two undefeated fighters their first "L" and will no doubt be looking to add one to Netzer's ledger.

Storm Upgrade

With the sudden cancellation of the Antonin Decarie bout from Friday’s card at the Bell Centre in Montreal, rising light heavyweight star Eleider "Storm" Alvarez (7-0 5KO) steps up to take on battled-tested veteran Rayco "War" Saunders (22-15-2) as the ESPN2 televised co-feature.
Saunders provides an upgrade from the originally scheduled Daniel Regi of Hungary who had been knocked out in two of his last four fights inside of two rounds. Expect Saunders to stay upright far longer than that. The Pittsburgh fighter wins as many as he loses, but has only ever been stopped once in his career, that dating back to 2003. Alvarez should welcome the rounds after blowing out Emiliano Cayetano last December to win the NABO belt in less than a round.

Alvarez a 2008 Colombian Olympian who now lives in Montreal, is as groomed prospect as there is Canada right now exhibiting poise, power, patience and explosiveness inside the ring. He captured the NABO title in his seventh pro fight, and is already ranked No. 15 by the World Boxing Organization ("WBO").

Saunders has proven to be a tough customer in the past, defeating world-title challenger Tommy Karpency and fought three-time world title challenger Danny Santiago to a draw. World-class fighters such as Ismayl Sillakh, Edison Miranda, Marcus Oliveira and Chris Henry have been unable to stop the crafty boxer from Pittsburgh.

Cote opponent announced

By Dave Spencer

The opponent for Pier Olivier Cote (18-0 12KO) has been announced for his fight in Nottingham England on May 20th on the undercard of the Lucian Bute versus Carl Froch bout. The undefeated Cote will face off against Mark Lloyd (15-5 3KO) of Telford England. Cote is fresh off his devastating 2nd round knockout of Jorge Teron last December that was featured on Showtime. The 36-year-old Lloyd has lost his last two including a shot at the European Union championship.

Chief support for the Bute-Froch tilt was announced to be undefeated super-bantamweight Carl Frampton (13-0 9KO) who will be defending his Commonwealth belt. Also on the card will be Erick Ochieng, John Ryder, Ryan Aston and Scotty Cardle.

Harvey set for debut
Bute sparring partner compared to Andrade

By Dave Spencer

There are certainly no guarantees when a fighter turns pro, but for cruiserweight Steve Harvey who makes his pro debut on May 4th in Montreal, any remote chance of a lack of success certainly won’t have anything to do with the big man getting quality sparring beforehand.

Harvey who will be breaking his maiden under the big top tent or chapiteau in east end Montreal was summoned to Miami recently by Interbox to help in Lucian Bute’s preparations for his upcoming bout with Carl Froch. “Steven is with Lucian in Miami,” said Harvey’s manager Doug Berneche. “(Bute’s trainer) Stephane Larouche called us early last week. Steve has sparred before with (Eric) Lucas and Bute before when they were preparing for (Librado) Andrade because he has a similar style. He called and said guys, I need Steven. He’s the one who can push back and he has the chin, he has no sensitivity in his chin.”

Asked for his comments, Larouche told FightNews, “Steven is a real pressure fighter and always in great shape. He averages 100 punches almost every round.”

Montreal Shows Feminine Side

Larcinese who made her pro debut at a New York harness racing track in 2008 has only had the luxury of fighting at home twice in 13 fights. “I’m very happy I have an opportunity and get to fight in my home town. It takes of the pressure of going out and fighting in the other girl’s hometown.”

Result from Miami

By Chris Cook at ringside

WBC #1 ranked heavyweight contender Bermane “B-Ware” Stiverne (22-1-1, 20 KOs), 243 lbs, defeated Willie Herring (13-11-3, 4 KOs), 212.75 lbs, in an eight round contest. The Canadian Stiverne won via unanimous decision against a game Herring. Stiverne looked unimpressive in the contest, with Herring landing often and aggressing much of the fight.

Results from Las Vegas

By Andreas Hale at ringside

Unbeaten Mikael Zewski (14-0, 10 KOs)kept his streak going as he scored a 6th round TKO over Brandon Baue (12-6)in a scheduled 8 round welterweight bout. A body shot from Zewski sank Baue to a knee late in the sixth round and a few unanswered punches later saw referee Tony Weeks jump in to halt the fight at the 2:46 mark.

Terence Crawford ran his unbeaten record to 16-0 with his 12th KO being a devastating fifth round knockout of Andre Gorges (11-3) in their welterweight matchup. In the fourth round, Crawford landed a left hook right on the temple of Gorges that caused a delayed reaction and put the Canadian on one knee. Still shaken up entering the fifth, Crawford stalked his wounded prey and crushed him with an overhand right that sent Gorges face first into the canvas. Time of stoppage was :44. Complete photo report

Decarie injured,  Tyner fight off

Former world title challenger Antonin Decarie is off next Friday's televised Friday fight card from the Bell Centre in Montreal. "I'm not fighting," the welterweight contender told FightNews via email. Decarie (26-1 7KO) was scheduled to have met Lanardo Tyner in ESPN2 Friday Night Fight's semi-final. Adonis Stevenson is still set to meet Noe Gonzalez in the main event. Trainer Marc Ramsay confirmed to FightNews that the WBC International Champion sustained a rib injury while training and would not be able to go.

Laham back with a bang

By Dave Spencer
Photos Herby Whyne

It wasn't the easiest thing coming back. Not after three years. Not after
leaving the Canadian amateur program as well. And certainly not to his
original coach who had his doubts about the seriousness and dedication to
make it as a professional fighter.

Before he left for California and Sergio Martinez's last training camp, Russ
Anber revealed to FightNews how he was taking lightweight Baha Laham (8-0 3KO) with him. "I think he'll find out what it is to be a professional fighter, what it is all
about, what it really takes." It certainly wasn't a rah-rah speech or a
sound bite for the media. Anber had his doubts and some genuine concern
whether Laham could make the jump from good fighter who relied on his natural talent and do enough to get by, or become a fighter dedicated to being his best who could hang with the elite of the sport.

So how did it go?

“You know what?” Laham told FightNews, “It was fucking hard.”

“Russ took me telling me he wanted to show me what it is like to train with a real world class athlete. How the cream of the cream would do it. He told me for me to decide if I was ready to do it and that I would know after two weeks I would know. He said you’re going to know because you’re live, breathe and eat boxing.”
“He was awesome,” said Anber knowing full well the baptism by fire he was throwing the fighter he was reuniting with into. Read more

TELEVISION

ESPN FNF Katsidis vs Mensah
TSN Saturday 4pm

IRISH HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE Fury vs Rogan
 SUPER CHANNEL Saturday 5pm

FREE PREVIEW FEATURING Mikael Zewski
Free broadcast of Rios-Abril undercard Saturday 8pm

AMATEUR

GRANT BROTHERS 
Saturday night  Amsterdam Brewery, 21 Bathurst St., Toronto

CHAMPS BOXING
Saturday Night Best Western Cornwall Ontario


Listings are by no means complete, please check local club for more info. Have a show? email us and let us know.

Officials appointed

Ring officials appointed for the fight for the WBC Supermiiddleweight Silver world title, between Noe Gonzalez and Adonis Stevenson to be held in Montreal, on April 20th, 2012.

Referee: Michael Griffin (Canada)
Judge: Jack Woodburn (Canada)
Judge: Claude Paquette (Canada)
Judge: Richard E. Flaherty (Massachusetts)

WBC Supervisor: Mike George (Rhode Island)

Mrdjenovich: A Boxing Renaissance

By: Dave Spencer

Call it a boxing renaissance, a rise from a canvas of ashes like a phoenix; Jelena Mrdjenovich has not only erased the memory of ugly streak of six fights with five losses, she has turned things a full 180 degrees. As the losses mounted, so did the whispering. Whispers that didn’t take into account the closeness of the decisions. Whispers that didn’t look at what weight some of the fights were taking place at.

Don’t look now but they’re whispering something quite different in Edmonton right now.

A win on the other side in of the world in Japan. A loss avenged with a devastating highlight reel knockout. Twenty rounds and two agonizingly close decisions going the other way suddenly erased in less than a single round.

In part one of the FightNews extensive interview with the WBC featherweight champ, Mrdjenovich talked about what was different and how big he recent victories have been in turning her career around. In part two, read on about how the drop in weight has resulted in more power, who she is interested in fighting next, and whether she considers herself a different fighter than she was a year ago....continuing reading

Stiverne opponent named


An important heavyweight fight has been added Don King’s first boxing card on Saturday at the all-new Casino Miami Jai-Alai. WBC #1-ranked contender Bermane “B-Ware” Stiverne (21-1-1, 20 KOs), a Haitian fighting out of Miami, will face Willie Herring (13-10-3, 4 KOs), from Orlando. Herring has shown the ability in the past to defeat favored fighters on numerous occasions. Stiverne’s eye-popping 20 knockouts have generated much interest in him, and a world title match looms for him if he can get past Herring.

The headliner is headlined super welterweight Joey “Twinkle Fingers” Hernandez (20-1-1, 11 KOs) against Shakir “The Assassin” Ashanti (16-12, 4 KOs), from New Bern, SC. Hernandez has become a local favorite in South Florida by fighting in a crowd-pleasing style and for winning all but one of his matches. He will be up against a live underdog in Ashanti, who has availed himself well in his last three fights opposing Derek Ennis, Cory Spinks and George Rivera.

Ready to go at 'The Chapiteau'

As reported earlier on FightNews, boxing is ready to kick off at 'The Chapiteau' in east-end Montreal for a four fight card summer series. Presented by the East Boxing Club, the first show now set for May 4, “The events will have the same ideology as last year,” according to show organizer Doug Berneche, “To shine a light on Quebec boxing.”

Participants Arash Usmanee, Kevin Lavallée, Michael Gadbois, Eric Barrack, Frank Cotroni, Francois Miville, Nathalie Forget, Lucia Larcinese and Ibrahim Kamal will all be part of the action. The series will also mark the pro debut of Steve Harvey the 91kg. local product who won Bronze at the recent Pan-American Games. Harvey comes from the east-end neighbourhood Hochelaga-Maisonneuve where the fights are being held and has been a member of the East Boxing Club from the beginning.

After the May 4th launch, shows will be held on either June 8th or 16th (dependent on what GYM does in terms of shows), August 18 and September 22. Every event will be held at the same place; the Chapiteau at CCSE Maisonneuve.

Fast & Furious card set

By Dave Spencer
Photo by Herby Whyne

Next week’s “Fast and Furious” card from the Bell Centre in Montreal and broadcast live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights is all but set according to promoter Yvon Michel. Headlining will be IBF#2 Adonis ‘Superman’ Stevenson (17-1 14KO) taking on WBC#2 Noé Gonzales (28-1 20KO). The fight marks Stevenson’s second fight with acclaimed Hall of Fame trainer Emanual Steward.

“Adonis Stevenson is one the best pure punchers I have ever met in my entire life,” remarked Steward after the southpaw’s destruction of Jesus Gonzales in a mere 99 seconds in his last fight. “In addition to his boxing skills, he’s an unbelievable puncher. He’s got the fans excited because nothing sells like knockouts. This is what sells.”

Gonzales whose only loss was to Felix Sturm for WBA middleweight title in 2007 is certainly no slouch in the knockout department either, the powerful Argentine is riding a streak of 13 consecutive knockouts. In fact the last time either fighter heard the scorecards read was 2008 when Gonzales won a 6 round decision.

If the main event ends before the scheduled twelve rounds, expect the co-feature to go the distance. #14 ranked WBC welterweight Antonin Decarie (26-1 7KO) is scheduled to meet up Lanardo Tyner (25-7-2 15KO). “ESPN has approved him and we’re just waiting for the signed contract to come back,” said thMichel who used the Texas fighter last December versus an undefeated Kevin Bizier. Bizier managed to win a comfortable decision, but was forced to work every minute of every round in what was an exciting fight. “He’s an exciting fighter,” said Michel of Tyner whose last three fights have come against an opposition with a combined 52-0 mark. Decarie though is certainly used to hard work, going to the scorecards in 20 of his 27 career fights.

If Decarie is destined for a full work night, then so to is heavyweight Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (9-0 6KO) who draws Kendrick Releford (22-16-2 10KO). While the Colombian born Rivas has plenty of Ka-Boom in his fists, scoring six stoppages in nine fights, Releford has proven to be tough to stop and has brought many heavyweights the distance including Chazz Witherspoon, Malik Scott (twice), and Tye Fields. Many Montreal fans will remember Releford as the man who slipped into town just under the cruiserweight limit and put contender Troy Ross crashing to the canvas in a fight eventually won by the Canadian.

Montreal’s other “Brutish Colombian” Eleider Alvarez (7-0 5KO) also sees action as the heavyweight matches-up with Daniel Regi (13-6 6KO) of Hungary and never fought outside of Europe. Not to say that Regi’s record is padded, but he has never beaten a fighter with a winning record and win on Valentine’s Day earlier this year came against an opponent who was a brilliant 2-82-5 at the time.

Also on the card is Baha Laham (8-0 3KO) who has looked good in his two fights after a three year layoff winning both by knockout. Laham will face Leonis Marie Francois (8-6 2KO) who was in Canada last summer dropping a decision to Tyler Asselstine.

Rounding out the card will be an all-Canadian matchup of heavyweights as undefeated Eric Barrack (6-0 5KO) clashes with Sandy Pembroke (2-4 1KO).

Third time's a charm

By Dave Spencer

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, then Jelena Mrdjenovich is clearly not insane. After two razor thin losses and twenty competitive rounds with Canadian rival Lindsay Garbatt, Mrdjenovich took things out of the judge’s hands and scored a crushing one-round TKO victory in front of her hometown fan’s in Edmonton recently. FightNew’s had the pleasure of catching up with the new WBC and WIBA Featherweight champion.

Join us in this special two part interview as Mrdjenovich talks of her recent first round knockout of Lindsay Garbatt, what she considers her biggest victory to date and how she managed to take the scorecards out of play. read more

Luis & Luis: Making it work

By Dave Spencer


FightNews had the opportunity to catch up with Jorge Luis, father and trainer of undefeated lightweight Tony Luis, this weekend, both before and after Luis lay down a savage body attack on his opponent Ferenc Szabo of Hungary and chalking up his third straight stoppage.

The elder Luis let FightNews in on his philosophy of training his son, a dynamic that permeated itself throughout the sport for generations with all levels of success and failure.

“I question myself a lot,” revealed Luis knowing all too well some of the failures that marred the sport in the past. “Fathers tend to be harder or easier on their sons. They think their son is a champ and send him out against anybody, or they’re cautious and they’re hard on their son. I tend to be hard on him, maybe more than my other fighters. I want him to be just right and I want him to be aware of everything.

“Sometimes it’s tough with us. A father wants his son to look good in the gym every day; and sometimes you’re going to have off days, so you have to let up a little bit. The results of what you’re working on don’t always happen overnight. He’s still a young man, but we’re both men now, and we’re handling it better, we’re handling it with more maturity. It’s not always easy though.”

When asked what the toughest challenge to date has been for Luis clan, Jorge responds, “Sometimes he wants to try something one way and I’d like to try it a different way, but we manage to find that common ground and make it work.

“More than once, more than twice, I’ve offered for him to move to Montreal, we’ve had serious discussions on that. I’d have no problem in him moving there and working with somebody like Russ Anber or the Grant brothers, I’d have no problem with that. But he’s in Cornwall by choice, he’s with me by choice, and we make it work.”

The elder Luis also wanted to make special mention of the trunks worn by his son on Saturday, a tribute to the late Hank Boone, the Niagara Falls boxing trainer who died tragically in a car crash last October. “He meant a lot to both me and Tony,” said Luis, “We definitely felt we had to honour him and his memory.”

St-Juste on the mend

Super-middleweight Renan St-Juste was at ringside Saturday and let FightNews in on how he’s been doing since he was forced to retire with a left separated shoulder in the fourth round in his WBC elimination fight with Anthony Dirrell last December. The hard-hitting lefthander said that there is still no timetable on when he might return to the ring. “It’s so I can train with it now,” said St-Juste. “I can train but I really feel it afterwards.”

Chuvalo still Rockin'
Arda Ocal of The Score Television Network recently interviewed Canadian heavyweight boxing great George Chuvalo and asked about him gracing the cover of Our Lady Peace's new album, (It seemed like a cool idea); his toughest opponent (It wasn't Ali); and MMA (I think its repetitive).

See the interview in its entirety below.

Charles scores KO Victory
Luis, Lavallée have early nights

By Dave Spencer

In a bout that was quickly sucking the air out of behemoth concrete structure that is the Claude Robillard Centre in Montreal, Ali Nestor Charles (13-5-2 5KO) managed to bring fans to their feet with a somewhat surprising knockout victory over Martin Avila (13-9 6KO) at the end of the eighth round of a scheduled ten in UGC 29 Saturday night. Boxing dominated on this night in a series that mixes various forms of fighting but on this night saw seven of eight fights dedicated to the sweet science.

The bout was largely an awkward hug-fest that lacked any sustained action or intensity. Charles normally a middleweight scaled down to 154 pounds because of some unheard of title that was at stake. The weight drop seemed to drain the fighter who eight years ago had to withdraw from a fight he was winning at 160 pounds because he was severely dehydrated. Sluggish action prevailed throughout as single volleys would transcend into clenches and then into bouts of inactivity. When Charles landed a single left with a bit of leverage on it midway through the seventh round, it brought cheers from a crowd desperate for something to hang their hat on.

They would soon have something to cheer a round later.

A knockdown would end the 7th on a borderline low blow had Avila hitting the canvas awkwardly. Confusion seemed to reign for the moment on whether or not it was a legit knockdown with referee Steve St Germain only picking up the count at six. If the reaction of Avila was to be believed, the blow was definitely low. The Mexican who lasted all of four minutes with David Lemieux three years ago was not interested in sitting down between rounds and tried to walk off the effects of the blow, pacing back and forth, bending over and doing whatever he could to recover in the one minute that was allotted to him.

Avila seemed back up to speed in the eighth as the fight devolved back into its familiar pattern of miss and hug. It was on a break from such a hug that Charles finally capitalized. With Avila doing his best to hang on to his opponent around the waist, Charles moved to his side and managed to land a clean right hand and left uppercut to put his opponent down to the canvas. Avila managed to wobble himself upright somewhere between the count of nine and ten but the bout was called at that point.
As Charles was carried around the ring in celebration by his corner afterwards, he appeared spent with nothing left in the tank, not even for celebrating.
The victory extends Charles undefeated streak to nine fights and over five years. Expect Charles back in June at UGC 30. read more

Boxing back at the "Chapiteau"

FIRST CARD BEING FINALIZED FOR APRIL 28

Look forward to a returning series this summer as boxing returns to the “Chapiteau” a tent like structure in Montreal’s east end within the shadow of the Olympic Stadium. Two popular and well attended shows were held there last year in a vehicle that was designed to give local boxers some much needed work. Arash Usmanee and Kevin Lavallee are two names that should be staples on the shows that will be getting started as soon as April 28th. The initial date is still be finalized and may take place a week later according to Doug Berneche, manager of Usmanee and coordinator of the shows. Other dates include June 16, August 18 and September 22. Expect other names such as Francois Milville, Frank Cotroni and Michael Gadbois to be see regular work as well.

Toney tops Gunn
From Memphisboxing.com

On April 7 at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, seven-time champion and future Hall of Famer James “Lights Out” Toney (73-7-3, 44 KOs) received a five-round workout against Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn (21-4-1, 18 KOs) during which he was only lightly tested. Toney, at 43 years old, sported a softened midsection (he weighed in at 248 pounds) but displayed still-sharp reflexes and head movement as he stalked the younger Gunn and relied upon his slickness and considerable experience to avoid absorbing shots. Gunn landed a few lefts, mostly hooks, throughout the first five rounds that sent the sweat flying, but Toney’s popping jabs, one-two combos and lethal rights nullified any potential momentum for the less-experienced fighter. After round 5, Gunn failed to answer the bell due to a broken hand sustained in round 4.

Charles stops Avila in 8

By Dave Spencer

Montreal's Ali Nestor Charles scored a bizzare ending 8th round knockout over Martin Avila of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico moments ago at the Claude-Robillard Center in Montreal, Quebec. In a non eventful cluchfest, Avila forgot the golden rule of boxing.."protect yourself at all times" and upon breaking from a clinch hands down, was nailed by right then a left uppercut that dropped him hard to the mat. The referee was able to finally pickup the count at 6 with Avila (13-9, 6KOs) still on the canvas. Avila tried to beat the count but pulled himself upright after the count was reached. Time of the knockout was 3:00 of round 8. Charles, who last tasted defeat almost 7 years ago, improves to 13-5-2 with 5 of those victories coming by knockout.

Recent appointed WBC Goodwill Ambassador Tony Luis had little trouble with Hungary's Ferenc Szabo, dropping Szabo once in round 2 and 3 times in round 3 to earn the TKO victory. Time of the stoppage was 1:07 of the third frame. Luis (14-0, 6KOs) focussed his attack to the body of Szabo (14-17-2, 7KOs) to earn his third consecutive knockout victory. Luis, fighting out of Cornwall, Ontario is the reigning WBC Continental Americas Light Welterweight titlist.

Quebec southpaw Roody Pierre-Paul was able to drop Carlos Martinez in the opening round of their 6 round lightweight bout but the Laval lightweight was unable to finish off his Mexican counterpart, settling for a unanimous decision victory. Paul landed a left uppercut to produce the knockdown but the crafty Martinez hung in tough, fighting to the end. Each of the judges saw the bout the same, 60-53 in favor or Pierre-Paul who improves to 5-0 (3KOs). Martinez, for his troubles, drops his 6th straight bout, falling to 5-12 (3KOs).

Undefeated Montreal super featherweight Kevin Lavallee put Ivan Paszti to the canvas 3 times, ending matters at 2:17 of the first round of their 4 round contest. Paszti, fighting out of Abony, Hungary, jumped around the ring like a ping pong ball in a bingo hall but Lavallee had little trouble find him, scoring one knockdown with a single jab. The rest was merely academic with a couple of lefts to the body producing knockdown number 2 and a right hand falling Paszti (2-5) for the third and final time. Lavallee (8-0-1, 7KOs) had such an easy time that he had to ask his corner whether this was seriously his scheduled opponent.

Mascouche, Quebec's Francesco Cotroni improved his pro ledger to 3-0 (3KOs) with an easy opening round KO over Emanuel Guzman (0-5) of Montreal in a light middleweight matchup. Cotroni scored 2 knockdowns and was well on his way to dropping Guzman again when referee Marlon Wright jumped in and halted matters. Time of the stoppage was 2:27.

In a battle of debutting Lightweights, Jaber Zayani captured a 4 round unanimous decision over Dimitri Waardenburg. Scores of the bout were identical, 39-37 in favor of Zayani. Waardenburg was more economical with his punches early on but the taller Zayani finally started landing with authority in round three, his best round of the fight.

Light heavyweight Francois Miville dropped Ahmad Selemani twice in the 4th and final round but couldnt finish off the Quebec City fighter, settling for the 39-36 (thrice) decision victory. A right hand followed by a left uppercut put Selemani (0-6) down hard, face first on the canvas. Selemani made it to his feet (barely) and was downed again by a series of lefts. Milville (3-1) simply ran out of time trying to finish Selemani off and the fight went to the scorecards.

Toney-Gunn for IBU title now

An update on the sanctioning tonight’s Toney vs Gunn fight:

Nate Yoder, VP Of Operations of Prize Fight Promotions, informed Fightnews.com, “James Toney initially represented himself as the IBA Heavyweight Champion. His manager John Arthur informed us that he would handle contacting the IBA and all we needed to do was fly in the official for fight week. This was at the initial press conference eight weeks ago. I called Dean Chance on Monday and did not receive a return phone call. The purpose of my call was to book the plane ticket from Cleveland. After not being called back, I emailed Dean. Consequently, I received a return email from the IBA ratings chair that Toney had been stripped of the title due to inactivity and his foray into UFC. Since the title was vacant, I asked to fight for the vacant title. I was denied the vacant title. Therefore, we have secured sanctioning from the IBU and James Toney vs Bobby Gunn will be fighting for the IBU Heavyweight Championship.”

Smichet to come back
By Dave Spencer
Former Canadian middleweight champion Walid Smichet 20-7-3 14KO) declared to FightNews Friday that he intends to return to the ring very shortly. “I’m returning in June,” Smichet told FightNews, “I’ll be fighting at 154 pounds.”

Junior-middleweight would be the lowest weight for the 30 fight veteran who made his pro debut in 2002 as a middleweight and stayed there for the duration until the last few where he crept up closer to the super-middle limit and was stopped by both Peter Manfredo and David Lemieux for the Canadian 168 pound title, his last fight in April 2010. A svelte looking Smichet told FightNews what many have thought for years, that the come-forward warrior who rarely takes a step backwards is much better suited to 154 pounds.

Count reaches ten for UGC

Charles in Charge

By Dave Spencer

He already wears many hats. Promoter. Gym owner. Boxer. MMA fighter.

Add one more. After last Saturday, Ali Nestor Charles added “Liberal Party Backroom Strategist” entry to his ever growing curriculum vitae.

Charles was the trainer and architect behind Member of Parliament’s Justin Trudeau’s third round stoppage of Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau in a cancer research event in Ottawa.

Make no mistake though; the spirit of the occasion was lost on many in attendance. This was not a rag-tag pick-up hockey game where blue plays red and high fives are exchanged immediately afterwards and then again after a few pops.

Senator Brazeau who comes from a martial arts background came into the fight promising to win at any cost. Many in the party felt the same way, heavy hitters and cabinet ministers were on hand lending to an atmosphere that few professional fights would rival.
“The walk to the ring was electric,” Jorge Luis who worked Trudeau’s corner with Charles told FightNews. “It was like a Jean Pascal world championship fight. It was truly electrical but he was able to control it go in there and do his job.

“They booed us on the way to the ring, and I was like, ‘seriously?’ but the Conservatives are very well organized for events like this. They bought a lot of tables and were there in force.”

No matter where anybody lays on the political landscape, there was no denying Trudeau’s job was an arduous one.

Forty years old and your first fight EVER. Has there ever been more pressure put on an amateur debut? Trudeau’s political future didn’t depend on the battle, but some national columnists feel the win along with the spectacle has helped raise his stock back into the spotlight.

“It was like a world championship, all of Canada was watching,” said his trainer Charles. “He was so focused though.”

Luis agrees, “He controlled it well and went in there and did his job, he did what he trained to do, I was really impressed.”

The atmosphere though didn’t seem to faze Trudeau. “When I saw him warming up, I figured this kid didn’t know what he was in for or he’s handling this really well,” said Luis. “He was so calm and the other guy seemed a bit tense. Trudeau was nice and loose, I was impressed.”

Trudeau had prepared for the past six months according to Charles, “He has been with me for the past year but six months ago He came to me and talked about this fight. He trained seriously.

“I was very impressed, he did very good.”

“Tony Luis is the kind of young man boxing needs,” said Jill Diamond, Chairwoman of the WBC Cares Program. “He is a champion in the ring and an inspiration to young people outside of it. We are proud to make him a Goodwill Ambassador for WBC Cares.” The humble 24-year old was both thrilled and honored that the WBC chose to name him an ambassador.

“Being named a Goodwill Ambassador means the world to me,” exclaimed Luis. “It’s in my nature to help those in need and I’ll continue to do so for years to come. I appreciate the WBC for recognizing me and I hope to further represent them by winning more of their titles in the near future.” Luis returns to the ring Saturday evening when he faces veteran Ferenc Szabo at the Claude-Robillard Center in Montreal.

Alcine-Bizier unlikely

Increased chance of Cloud

By Dave Spencer

Promoters Yvon Michel and Don King have inched closer together on what has been a long and arduous negotiation process on a possible title match-up between IBF light-heavyweight champion and Tavoris Cloud and former WBC champion Jean Pascal. “I’m optimistic,” Michel told FightNews Thursday about the eventuality that the two will finally hook-up. “We’re finalizing TV and possible dates to stage the fight,” said Michel who is looking toward the end of June or early July to stage the bout, likely in Montreal or Quebec City.

Petryck no pushover
BC Fighter robbed at the border

By Lev Jackson

To win a professional boxing match, one must endure hellish preparations. Endless hours of training, countless rounds of brutal sparring, late night roadwork, not to mention a horrid fight diet to boil down to weight are all a must. After all the trials and tribulations of training the question is sadly too often asked, why bother if they take it away from the guy that earned it?

Vancouver junior welterweight Dave Petryck has found himself asking that question too many times. His 3-3-1 record is in no way a reflection of what his record should look like at this point in his career. Petryck has spent much of his career as a road warrior, having to go into other fighter’s backyards to find competition.

This past Saturday Petryck once again found himself on the wrong end of a horrendous decision, this time “losing” a four round decision to Miguel Garcia at the Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale, Washington, the scores read 39-37 the wrong way on all three cards.

Canadian boxing promoters and coaches alike who witnessed the bout voiced their displeasure with the decision.

“Watching it from the outside I thought Petryck won the fight but they gave it to the other guy,” said Ken Lakusta, promoter of Alberta based KO Boxing Promotions....read more

Lightening Strikes Saturday

By Dave Spencer
Photo by Herby Whyne

Undefeated super-lightweight Tony “Lightening” Luis (13-0 5KO) will have large noisy contingent behind him when he steps into the ring against Ferenc Szabo (14-16-2 7KO) at UGC 29 Saturday night. “We have a huge Cornwall contingent coming down,” the affable fighter told FightNews via telephone. “We have a couple of hundred trekking down and we’ve arranged a bus like last time so we’ll have a great local following.”

Like the bus and it’s one hour voyage to Montreal, don’t expect any stops or breaks along the way from Luis who has always been a volume puncher, but after a four year pro career, is finding his knockout touch in recent fights. “My basic style has never changed, I’ve always been a boxer first, brawler second,” said Luis who has finished his workday early in five of his last eight fights, including the last two in a row. “I’ve always been a good body puncher but I think my finishing instincts have improved over the last year or so. That and settling down on my feet more, knowing when to plant my feet, when to move, knowing when to sit down on my punches and turn them over. It’s all been a slow teach making the transition to the pros from the amateurs. Working with my dad day in and day out, the results are finally starting to show up now, the work is starting to come through.” read more

McGuinness faces Major test

NABA super featherweight champion Logan Cotton McGuinness (16-0-1 8KO) defends his title May 12 in the 12-round main event against challenger Meacher “Major Pain” Major (20-4-1 17KO), headlining the Hershey Centre Fight Series in Mississauga, Ontario, presented by United Promotions in association with Hennessy Sports.

The May 12 show continues the highly-successful third season of boxing at Hershey Centre for United Promotions, which is comprised of three Ontario boxing promoters –Adam Harris (Hennessy Sports), Tyler Buxton (Buxton Promotions) and Don MacDonald.

“We are committed to this series and boxing fans are turning out on an increased basis to watch many of the best Ontario fighters,” MacDonald explained. “We’re promoting as a unified group and the boxing scene here is exploding. We have three mores shows booked this year. Our May 12th show promises to be the best yet from top to bottom.”

McGuinness (16-0-1, 8 KOs), fighting out of nearby Orangeville, is coming off of his sensational come-from-behind NABA title victory last October against Benoit Gaudet. McGuinness overcame a severe cut and trailed substantially in scoring, but the 2012 NABA Fighter of the Year rallied and registered the knockout he needed in order to win the fight. The popular 24-year-old McGuinness is rated No. 8 by the WBA.
Major who lives in nearby Buffalo is riding a four-fight win streak going into his showdown with McGuinness.

“McGuinness is one of the best, most exciting prospects in boxing, not just in Canada,” Hennessy Sports Canada Director of Boxing Operations Jason Toufexis said. “He is a tremendous prospect who local fans are behind 100-percent. Logan is closing in on a major fight, but he has to get past Major, who is a tough fighter that has valuable experience. We expected the Hershey Centre to be rocking once again May 12. ”

Undefeated Brampton, Ontario cruiserweight prospect Denton Daley (5-0, 2 KOs), a Sheridan College graduate (business major) and former Canadian amateur champion, moves up to his first scheduled eight-round bout versus dangerous Frank White (7-6-2, 5 KOs).

Fan favorite Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (5-0, 2 KOs) faces TBA in a six-rounder, middleweight fight. Steve Wilcox (1-0, 1 KO), a lightweight from Hamilton, Ontario who is the oldest of five fighting Wilcox brothers at their father’s Steeltown Boxing Club, meets David Aucoin (2-5, 1 KO).

Junior middleweight Junmar Emon, of Toronto, makes his pro debut in a four-rounder against Hamilton’s Daryl Peron (0-1).

Bute-Froch on EPIX, Times Square

The May 26 Lucian Bute vs. Carl Froch IBF super middleweight championship will be televised live in the U.S., from Nottingham Arena, in Nottingham, England, exclusively on EPIX. EpixHD.com will stream the fight live as part of a special free trial offer for boxing fans. As has become the custom, EPIX will once again present the closed-captioned simulcast of this world championship rumble on the jumbotron in Times Square in New York City (Broadway between 44th and 45th).

Border Robbery

No confirmation, but there’s a good chance that when boxers Andy Mavros and Dave Petryk rode up the Pacific Highway and crossed the border back into BC on Sunday, both probably declared to Customs that they were victims of wrong-doing at the Silver Creek Casino in nearby Ferndale Washington.
Mavros (8-3) was sporting a 7 stitch cut thanks to constant headbutts from his opponent but was lucky enough to escape with the decision against Adrian Hermann (3-3-1).

Welterweight Dave Petryk (3-3-1) was not so lucky, he lost a 39-37 decision on all three cards to Miguel Garcia (3-2-1) who apparently even felt the decision should have gone the other way. According to reports of those who witnessed the fight, Petryk didn’t lose a single minute of the bout.

Also listed as being on the card that night is heavyweight Sandy Pembroke (2-4) who according to Boxrec scored his first career knockout and snapped a four fight losing streak versus fellow Canadian Jamie Walton (4-4-2), the man Pembroke was able to secure his only other career win.

Pucek doesn't  Medel
Mavros successful

Lisette Medel (6-1-1) defeated Sarah Pucek (4-2-1) by unanimous decision in a 5 round bout in Tacoma Washington. It marked the second straight defeat for Canadian Pucek who turned pro in 2008. Exciting and high-paced fight by all reports with both going for the knockout right till the final bell. 
Reports are that Vancouver middleweight Andy Mavros (8-3) was also successful in his trip into Washington this weekend. While Pucek fought at "Battle at the Boat" in Tacoma, Mavros was participating at "Rumble at the Reef" just across the border in Ferndale. Few details are available at this point on the Mavros victory over Adrian Hermann (3-3-1) which marked the a return to the ring for the first in just over a year for the Vancouver fighter.

Fort Langley BC featherweight Sarah Pucek (4-1-1) crosses the border tonight into Washington State where she is undefeated. Pucek was 4-0-1 in the Evergreen State and had never gone more than five rounds until losing in ten on home soil in Calgary in her first title shot last September. Pucek faces Lissette Medel (5-1-1) of California.

Lisette Medal 130 vs Sarah Pucek 126

Promoter: Halquist Productions
Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Tacoma
Tickets: Emeraldqueen.com
Doors Open: 6 pm
First Bell: 7 pm

Jean battles Rivera for NABF

By Dave Spencer
Photo Herby Whyne

Excellent card coming in Montreal on April 28 according to sources. As promised, Eye of the Tiger is presenting an NABF title shot for undefeated super-lightweight Dierry Jean (21-0 14KO) who takes on former two-time world title challenger Cosme Rivera (35-14-3 24KO). Even at the age of 35, Rivera who fought a unified championship for all three major belts against Zab Juddah in 2005 has proven to be a challenge for those who have faced him. He was the first man to put Andre Berto on the canvas in 2007 and has remained active over the years, the last two which have been exclusively in Mexico and has seen him move down a category in weight from his better known days at welterweight. Many Canadian boxing fans will remember Rivera crushing Hercules Kyvelos in four rounds in an IBF elimination fight. Jean has looked impressive in his two fights since suffering a broken jaw in a fight in 2010.

"We're still in negotaitions, but it is an exciting announcement that should be finalized by this weekend," said Camille Estephan of Eye of the Tiger.

Also on tap that night will be a light-heavyweight NABA matchup between Nicholson Poulard (17-3 8KO) and Lionell Thompson (12-0 8KO). The Buffalo New York product is well familiar to Canadian fans having fought in Canada three times last year and promoted by Hennessy Canada. Poulard who is brother to Jean Pascal has longed for a significant fight and he certainly seems to finally have his wish in what promises to be an exciting affair.

Also scheduled to be on the card are lightweight Ghislain Maduma, Ahmad Cheikho, Natasha Spence and the pro debut of Chris Plaitis.
FightNews has asked Eye of the Tiger Management whether recent news regarding high price of title fights in Quebec will have any bearing on match-ups or titles and is awaiting a response.

UPDATE: Camille Estephan responded almost immediately..."As with the title fights, we are prepared and aware. Looking forward to great and meaningful fights. We're optimistic our guys will finish the night walking away with the belts. With hard work comes great reward, and I can say that I am very proud of their efforts in their preparation so far.

The National Championship Committee (NCC) announced that it will have a new website www.ncccanada.com up and running very soon and unveiled the new belt it will be using from today forward. First to capture the belt was Sam Vargas last month in Mississauga. The belt is a beauty and features pictures of Tommy Burns and George Chuvalo, two warriors who have worn the red strap over the years. "We might change them up periodically – every couple years – to add other legendary Canadian Champions of our title," Ed Pearson of the NCC told FightNews.

Cortez also recalled another Canadian moment, other than his honeymoon to Niagara Falls, a 1983 visit to Vancouver for Michael Spinks versus Oscar Rivadeneyra in one of his first world championship bouts.

Cortez who has a boxing ring inside his house, was not short on ideas when asked about the sport. “We have to train the trainers to develop good talent,” Cortez told FightNews. “You don’t have the trainers like we did in the old days. You got guys in the gyms today we term gym rats. Gym rats are guys who hang around the gym but never fought himself, but he’ll go in and tell the fighter throw the jab, throw the right hand, throw the hook, keep moving forward. That’s not the way you train a fighter. You don’t have the Angelo Dundee’s, you don’t have the Eddie Futch’s, the Freddie Brown’s. You have a handful of good guys out there like Freddie Roach or Emanuel Steward, but there’s a bunch of trainers who need to be trained. We don’t have the trainers out there today, and they’re not developing good talent.

"If you get a good trainer to develop the talent, you can develop fighter to be an Olympic champion or at least decent amateur champions and when they get to the pros, they’ll be decent fighters. As a referee, I look at some of these champions when I’m in the ring and I say ‘Wow’, if I were fighting , I could be a world champion very easily. They make so many mistakes in one round, I never made that many mistakes in an entire fight, in my entire career. The name of the game is hit and don’t get hit, if you’re going to go in there as a slugger and take his head off, the fans might love it, but where are the fighters twenty years later, walking on their heels. You need trainers to keep guys sharp, not go in there a knock somebody’s head off.”

Cortez also believes that reality television may be the answer to some of the identity problems that plague the sport. “Id like to get involved at the amateur level to help create a local following. We would follow them at school at their jobs, whatever they’re doing, just to help create a nice buzz about these fighters. Create something so that when they turn pro, there’s a following.”

The Future of Boxing

Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez was in Montreal Wednesday to help local impresario Alex Choko drum up support for the stunning “The Future of Boxing” an elaborate testament to the sport of boxing and featuring its most important fighters and decision-makers. A total of 50 exclusive interviews are at the core of this ambitious project that had Choko travelling the world for the past five years and talking to the sport’s legends in intimate settings and packaged in a square 12x12 coffee table format that will produced in conjunction with the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The results which are stunning are brought to life by an accompanying DVD documenting many of the highlights of each interview.

Ali, Arguello, Chavez, Cooper, Dundee, Hagler, Hatton, Leonard, Sulaiman Tyson…the list is an extensive one and touches on all aspects of the sport, from fighters and trainers to referees, promoters and behind the scenes personnel, no stone is left unturned. “I support this project one-hundred percent,” Cortez told FightNews. “If he was a fighter, he would definitely be a world champion.

“The sacrifices Alex had make to remain independent and do this on his own are incredible. Using his own money, selling his cars, selling whatever he could, selling his gym, selling his country home he had with his family. Every time I see him I learn a bit more about him, he definitely has my respect.”

“All these interviews were done one-on-one, usually at their house,” said Choko. All these guys, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Cortez, they all had me into their homes.” Some interviews were easier than others, Choko spent three years tracking Marvin Hagler travelling to Italy before finally getting his ear at the Hall of Fame. “I showed him the book and told him who was on board and it went on and on. I finally told him, ‘You live in Italy, this would be like having a book on the world’s finest cars of all time and not including Ferrari.’ Twenty minutes later he was in my room doing the interview.”

The book will be released in September in three formats starting at $40.

Stayed tuned to FightNews in the next few weeks and months for much more on this project. For more information including sample interviews and video clips please visit www.futureofboxing.com

Golden Sensation

"We're excited to have Phil Lo Greco on our team and we believe he has what it takes to become another Golden Boy Promotions world champion," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to legendary promoter Regis Levesque who admitted to hospital yesterday in Montreal. The man who is now 78 truly was one of a kind in terms of boxing and regularly filled the old Montreal Forum with all-Canadian matchups. Levesque’s biggest scheme was to pit a 41 year-old Joe Frazier versus for Canadian champion Bob Cleroux who was 47 at the time. When the commissions balked at the idea, Levesque made efforts to hold the fight on a 747 airplane, well above the jurisdiction of local commissions.

Lower chamber versus upper chamber, M.P. versus Senator, Conservative versus Liberal. This weekend former world champion Jean Pascal joins Fight for the Cure in Ottawa Saturday, a fundraiser for cancer research. Pascal will be on hand for a celebrity match between Liberal MP Justin Trudeau and Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau. Tickets are sold out but more information is available at http://fightforthecure.ca/

Undefeated welterweight Phil Lo Greco announced on his Facebook page this morning that his next fight will be April 28 in Atlantic City.

Mikael Zewski also used the same platform to tell fans he will be back in action on April 14 in Las Vegas on the undercard of Abril-Rios undercard.

Middleweight David Lemieux was shut down in training because of a swollen hand and definitely won’t be part of Group Yvon Michel’s Bell Centre card in April according to the promoter. Michel said he preferred to exercise caution with his fighter.

No Title fights in Quebec

By Dave Spencer

Don’t be expecting to see any Canadian title fights any time soon. According to both promoter Yvon Michel and Ed Pearson of the National Championship Committee (NCC) a $5,000 non-refundable deposit payable to the Quebec Commission for any championship fights held in the province. “I don’t see us having any Canadian title fights anytime soon,” said Michel. “It was a good way to have our young fighters progress and fight for something, but not at that cost.”

The move was made as an apparent transparency move by the Quebec regulatory board to make it so that payment of officials came from the Commission, not the promoter. “Our cost of a world title fight is approximately $10,000 and is split between the two promoters,” said Michel that he might be saving money as a result. “But it costs about $500 to do the same for Canadian belt, I’d be losing about $4,500 for every other title fight.” The $5,000 figure obviously appears to be the average amount that it costs to stage a title fight inside the province, but with such prohibitive costs, expect all minor fights to disappear until the problem is rectified, something that Michel Hamelin, head of Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux is aware of and is working on.

Michel has been the master over the years of using various belts to gain recognition and rankings for his fighters. Otis Grant, David Lemieux, Eric Lucas, Jean Pascal and countless others all captured the belt and built upon it to raise their stature, often to the world championship level.

Ed Pearson lamented over the possible loss of what historically the most active region in the country. “We’ve had some great fights there over the years and it has served the boxers well and benefitted them,” said Pearson, “But we really can’t say it has done them five thousand dollars worth of good.”

Stevenson, Gonzalez Weights on Track

South America's WBC Silver Super Middleweight Champion Noe "El Carbonero" Gonzalez (28-1, 20 KOs) weighed in at 180.78 lbs and his opponent, Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (17-1, 14 KOs) weighed in at 176.37 lbs at the WBC-mandated 30-day safety weigh-in for their April 20 fight.

The two will meet in the 12-round main event of a Groupe Yvon Michel/Sampson Boxing blockbuster night of boxing at the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, that will also be televised live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.

The WBC No. 2-rated Gonzalez and IBF No. 2 ranked Stevenson will also be competing for Stevenson's IBF Inter-Continental, NABO and NABA titles.

The match-up has "potentially explosive" written all over it. Gonzalez has stopped his last 11 foes dating back to 2008 and Stevenson is coming off of a February 18 first-round knockout over Jesus Gonzales that is a strong candidate for knockout of the year.

"Noe knows how much this victory means to his career and he is ready for war," said Gonzalez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing.

Correction: According to his promoter Yvon Michel, Adonis Stevenson weighed in at 180.2 pounds

Bute joins Canadian Club

IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute became a Canadian citizen today in his hometown of Laval Quebec. Bute originally came to Canada in 2003 from Romania and served as an amateur sparring partner to Eric Lucas before signing pro with local promoters Interbox. Since that time he has transcended the boxing world to become very much a public figure in Montreal and Quebec. The undefeated fighter travels to England May 26 to face Carl Froch.

Anber raps about Martinez

By Dave Spencer


It definitely takes a little luck to make it in the world of boxing. At its best, it is a series of cyclical ups and downs where down looks as bleak as an Icelandic winter and up seems to bring a different class of parasite to the feeding frenzy. At its worst, well you often just disappear as quickly as the sweat off a well connected uppercut.

As we’re about to sit down at a local donut shop, trainer/entrepreneur/broadcaster and bon vivant, man about town Russ Anber demonstrates that things seem to be falling his way these days as he pulls out one of a full handful of winning coupons to snag his small coffee for free. Anber has reached world championship level before with Otis Grant as WBO middleweight champion and most recently brought prospect David Lemieux to the top of the middleweight division before departing ways last fall.
Anybody who witnessed last Saturday’s HBO fight featuring Sergio Martinez successfully defending his title versus Matthew Macklin not only saw the champion decked out in Rival boxing gear, but also a lot of the Montreal cornerman through the course of eleven rounds.

As Russ sips his free coffee, we talk about what has led him to this point that has him in the corner of arguably the number three pound-for-pound fighter and the king of the middleweight division. Read more...

Cave Sweeps Soto
Hali star back in June

By Cecil Wright
Photo Paul Adams

Tyson 'Prince of Hali' Cave defended his WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight title by pitching a complete shutout over Mexican challenger Jovanny 'Bambino' Soto in the main event at the Halifax Forum Saturday night. All three judges at ringside scored the bout 100-90 as Cave earned the unanimous decision triumph. Cave’s record improves to 17-2 while Soto drops to 32-13-1.

Cave set the pace from the opening bell by stalking his man and lighting him up with perpetual jabs and a few blistering combinations to Soto’s head. Cave continued to control the action throughout the early rounds as he stung Soto early and often with both hands while his unorthodox style was causing real problems for his opponent.

So dominant was Cave that the only time he was touched through the first four rounds was when he and Soto were separated by referee Craig Smith upon the break command....read more

Cave dominates Soto

A mega fight card in Nova Scotia Saturday as approximately 2.000 people crowded the Halifax Forum to see a total of 9 bouts, all featuring local maritime fighters. In the main event super bantamweight Tyson Cave (17-2 5KO) was barely touched over the course of ten rounds in soundly defeating Jovanny Soto (32-13-1 27KO) by unanimous decision sending the Mexican fighter to his fourth defeat in his last five fights.

In the co-main event, super-middleweight Jason Naugler (18-16-2 11KO) and Quebec’s Martin Desjardins (7-21-5 3KO) could decide nothing over the course of six rounds, settling for a draw. Both combatants were dire need of a win with Naugler on a nine fight skid while Desjardins was winless in seven. The draw will go down as a moral victory for Desjardins against the Dartmouth fighter who had the first two in this trilogy that dates back to the start of both fighters careers twelve years ago.

At 126 lbs, Joey Laviolette, of Lower Sackville, NS made a successful professional debut with a 1st round KO of Alberta's Dave McQuaker (1-5-1).

New Brunswick's light-heavyweight Travis Connors (5-2 3KO) earned a unanimous decision over Halifax mixed martial artist, Ricky Goodall who was making his boxing debut.

Featherweight Kyle MacNeil (3-0 1KO) defeated Winnipeg's Tim Watts (0-7-1) who is still looking for his first pro victory by unanimous decision.

Debuting Truro's Ryan McGrady won a split decision over Moncton's Marcel Maillet (1-3) in welterweight action.

Light-heavyweight Aaron Crawley, from East Preston, NS also was successful in his first pro fight as he jabbed his way to a unanimous decision over Norman Peters (1-9) of New Brunswick.

Also at light-heavy, Nathan Millier (3-0), of Big Cove, New Brunswick was impressive in his unanimous decision over a game Stephane Landry (2-2) of Halifax.

At 140 lbs, Matt MacLennan, of New Glasgow, NS and Ryan Burgess of Halifax fought to draw.

Wach rolls over Fields in sixth
By Rick Scharmberg and Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside

In a clash of 6’8 heavyweights, unbeaten Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KOs) showed he’s a force to be reckoned with after scoring a sixth round KO over Tye Fields (49-5, 44 KOs) on Saturday afternoon at the Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Wach sent Fields crashing to the canvas at 1:44 with a series of right hands to end it. Good give-and-take action up to that point.

Back home though Mrdjenovich obliterated memories of those past setbacks with a trio of knockdowns, grasping control of the fight from the opening bell.

Mrdjenovich captures the vacant WBC featherweight title with the victory and is the third in row and second consecutive knockout for the Edmonton fighter after losing five of six. It was also the second fight in a row that Mrdjenovich sealed the deal on a trilogy, winning convincingly by knockout and avenging a previous loss. In her previous outing, the femme fatale broke a 1-1 deadlock with a brutal 9th round knockout of Olivia Gerula. Garbatt has now been stopped in successive fights.

Jason Delaronde (13-0 4KO) is victorious with a 60-53, 58-53, 60-53 over Anthony Lessard (8-8-2 5KO) who ballooned up 3 weight categories to light-heavyweight from his last fight a year ago. Lessard was dwon at the end of the second round.

It took Rory Coveney (8-1 4KO) one punch and fifteen seconds to TKO Jesse Seberg who was making his pro debut in super-welterweight action.

Nothing was settled after four rounds as cruiserweights Paul MacKenzie (1-0-1) and Brad Soanes (2-1-1) fought to a 39-37, 37-39, 38-38 draw.

Heavyweight Rob Nichols (3-1 2KO) scores a TKO victory over Ken Frank (6-5-1 2KO) as referee Len Kovisto stops the action at 2:52 of the third round.

Steve MacGillvary makes his pro debut a successful one and wins a 40-36, 39-37, 38-38 majority decsion over Gary Kopas (2-4) in light heavyweight action.

Heavyweight Chad Nielson (1-2) gets his first professional win and scores three knockdowns in the first round over Clayton Gladu (1-6-1) with referee John Braak stopping the action at 2:15.

Mariusz Wach 247 battles Tye Fields 256 Saturday night at the Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City New Jersey. Fields(49-4 44KO) who resides in Edmonton is the number one ranked heavyweight in Canada by both the NCC and the CPBC.  Polish born Wach (26-0 14KO) who currently resides in New Jersey will be making the second defense of his WBC International title. Photo: Kasia Niedzwiecka, Global Boxing

Open Scoring in Edmonton tonight

If hometown fighter Jelena Mrdjenovich is going to avenge a pair of agonizingly close losses to rival Lindsay Garbatt tonight at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, she will have the benefit of open scoring to know exactly where she stands.
Scores using the controversial WBC policy will be known after the both the 4th and 7th rounds of the 10 round with the vacant WBC featherweight title at stake.
Both fighters weighed in yesterday right at the 126 limit with Mrdjenovich forced to shed her attire to account for the final two ounces.
The fight is the third in a trilogy that has seen Mrdjenovich first lose a spilt decision on her home turf before going into Oshawa Ontario’s Garbatt’s backyard and falling to an equally close majority decision. Mrdjenovich reveled to FightNews shortly before the second fight that her opponent was the busier of the two in the initial contest and that she would have to follow up on her big shots if she hoped to turn things around.
There is little doubt that the open scoring method that has been panned by the likes of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) could play a very large and integral part in the contest between the two closely matched combatants.

Morning Workout at GYM
Busy day for folks at Group Yvon Michel (GYM) this morning as they’re getting ready to announce plans for the summer that will include four shows between April and July. Also “Superman” Adonis Stevenson will step on the scales for his 30 day weigh-in in advance of his April 20th bout. Expected announcements will include the return of middleweight David Lemieux and former world champion Jean Pascal.

English Road will have Thorns

As Lucian Bute gets ready to depart for his Florida training camp on Monday, some revealing words from trainer Stephane Larouche on how they plan to approach the fight that takes the undefeated IBF super-middleweight champion away from his comfort zone of Montreal to Nottingham England.
He will be bothered according to the trainer, “I know there are things that will bother Lucian,” Larouche told FightNews, “But he knows it. He knows there may be people who may spit on him; people may throw their glass of beer at him as he walks to the ring. People will yell at him. People will insult him. He won’t get that positive energy walking to the ring, we already know that. Leaving the dressing room will be positive energy, the team around him will be positive. Then when the fight starts, all the presentations are over, it will be one against one.”
Bute arrives almost three weeks in advance of the fight in order to acclimatize himself to his surroundings and get used to the time change. “We’re going to do a week in London and then a week in Nottingham, we’re going to be there about nineteen days overall. I believe that we have the abilities, it’s a matter of delivery.”
In just what exactly might be awaiting him on the other side of the pond, FightNews turned to veteran cornerman Russ Anber who has been in England three times for world title fights and once for a Commonwealth title. “They seem to know what they’re going to be up against being in hostile territory,” Anber told FightNews, “But the Brits have a way of making you feel very much like an outsider, they’re really good at that. They will try to discredit Bute whenever they have they opportunity too.
“For example at the weigh-in they might have him come through the crown and be subject to a verbal assault and do things to try and get him off his game. For a fight of this magnitude that is something I wouldn’t want my fighter going through that. The other things is the actual dynamics of the corner. Working with the Commission on how things are going to operate. That was a little bit problematic for us last time we were there, we had to step on chairs to make our way into the ring. One thing with the Jean Pascal fight was that promoter was allowed right up to the ring apron and was banging on it right next to the judge. I know a lot of that sort of thing is difficult to control but bottom line is you want to make sure that your guy isn’t easily accessible as they may want him to be and that they make him feel as unwelcome as they possibly can."

Bute-Froch: 5,000 tickets sold in 48 hours
Carl Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title fight with Lucian Bute at the Capital FM Arena Nottingham on May 26 is racing to a sell-out after over 5,000 tickets were sold in the first 48 hours. The Cobra aims to become a three-time World Champion when he faces the unbeaten Canadian, who is making the tenth defence of his title. Froch is fighting in the UK for the first time since beat Andre Dirrell in the Super Six opener at the same Arena in October 2009. Tickets went on sale at 2pm on Monday when Froch and Bute came face-to-face at a press conference at the venue, and the demand for the hottest ticket in town was instant, with a huge queue forming at the Arena, and the phones and website were hot with fight fans snapping up the seats. Inside the first two days over 5,000 tickets for the fight in the 9,000 seat Arena were sold, and promoter Eddie Hearn expects the fight to be sold out in the next few days.

Bute-Froch in Montreal

champion. Coming off the back of the Super-six final, I have the hunger and desire, the commitment and the courage to do everything I need to become victorious in my hometown, I said I didn’t believe in miracles but Eddie (promoter Eddie Hearn) pulled off a miracle to get Lucian to come to hometown of Nottingham. But big respect to Lucian Bute, he’s been a great champion, he is undefeated, he means business and I’ve got a lot of respect for him, but I’m here to win the fight.

Stephane Larouche (trainer Lucian Bute):

This is what boxing needs real fights. What needs do be done now is to defend the belt in England and it won’t be easy. We’ll have to prepare perfectly, correctly, like we always do. Carl Froch has shown the will to win many times, he’s one of the most spectacular fighters in the division. He was always involved in the best fights when the Super-six was on…we know that. We know what it will be like for him to be home…we know what that is. Sometimes in boxing there is what you might call a miracle. We might say it was a miracle when Lucian stood up and finished the fight against Librado Andrade. Some people thought he lost the fight, that he got knocked out. If you think that, that’s fine, let’s say he lost he fight. But the future remains the same! He knocked out everybody except Glen Johnson, so we’re either 30-0, or 29-1, it’s up to you, but the future remains the same. I was there when Carl was on the floor in the second versus Jermain Taylor. He got a little bit lucky, Jermain Taylor got a little bit tired and he pulled out a miracle. They both were able to pull out a miracle, so I think we’re even on this. We have a major task on the table, we know that, but we’re not stupid, we know what we can do. In boxing, speed is hard to beat, and we will rely on our speed.