By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of April 1st to April 8th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Kameda Victorious in Japan
Koki Kameda (30-1) retained his bantamweight title with a decision victory over Panomroonglek Kaiyanghadaogym (36-2). He won with scores of 115-114, 115-113, and 116-113 for Kaiyanghadaogym. Kameda’s face was bloody and bruised, but he came on strong in the final round and attacked the body of Kaiyanghadaogym throughout the bout.
Del Valle Wins by TKO
Puerto Rican prospect Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (17-1) won a fifth round TKO over Andre Wilson (13-6-1) in a featherweight bout held at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Del Valle dropped Wilson once in the third and continued to apply pressure to his opponent before the referee stopped the fight at 1:32 of the fifth round.
Paul Spadafora Continues to Chase 50 Wins With Decision Victory
Paul Spadafora (48-0-1) won a decision victory over Robert Frankel (32-13-1) in the junior welterweight division on Saturday night in Chester, West Virginia. Spadafora won with scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93. Spadafora had little trouble in dispatching Frankel and is currently trained by Roy Jones Jr.
Thomas Dulorme Wins in Puerto Rico
Thomas Dulorme (18-1) won an easy decision over Ben Ankrah (17-13) in the welterweight division on Saturday night in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The scores were 80-72 on all three judges’ scorecards. There are plans for Dulorme to possible drop down to the junior welterweight division.
Teon Kennedy Returns June 1st
Former Super Bantamweight World Title challenger Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, has made the jump to the junior lightweight division and will take on Carlos Vinan of Newark, NJ in a ten round bout on Saturday evening, June 1st, at the Grand Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City. The card is being promoted by Peltz Boxing and will be streamed live at www.gofightlive.tv
“I’ve been struggling with my weight for some time,” Kennedy said. “Getting down to 122 for the title fight was not easy. I’m going to feel much more comfortable at 130.”
Fox Sports Reaches Multi-Media Rights Extension with Golden Boy Promotions
Fox Sports and Golden Boy Promotions have reached a multi-media rights extension to televise exciting live boxing in the United States and internationally. The new multi year agreement keeps Golden Boy Promotions’ bouts with Fox Sports for years to come and helps establish a Monday night boxing franchise on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), Fox Sports new, national multi-sport cable channel launching on August 17.
Under the new agreement FOX Sports retains exclusive domestic rights to 48 live two-hour events (featuring two or three fights per event) annually with many of Golden Boy Promotions’ brightest stars expected to be featured. FS1 is scheduling 24 live events per year, with FOX Deportes, the nation’s leading Spanish-language sports network, airing all 48 events live, an increase from 36 in the previous deal. The 24 events on FS1 will all originate in the U.S., and most are expected to run on Monday nights once the network launches. FOX Deportes will simulcast the same 24 events as FS1 in Spanish, plus air 24 others that originate from Mexico. Once events air on FS1, each will be available for encore presentations on FOX Sports regional networks. Fox International Channels also holds exclusive rights to all 48 live fights in the Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe (excluding the U.K.) and Middle East territories. Finally, all events will be available via authenticated streaming through FOX Sports Go.
Thompson Boxing Promotions Presents Locked N’ Loaded
Welterweights Aron “El Asesino” Martinez and Alberto “El Principe” Herrera headline a Locked N’ Loaded fight card at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario on Friday, April 26th. Martinez (18-2) faces Herrera (8-8-1) in a welterweight match that is scheduled for the main event.
Angelo Santana to Now Meet Bahodir Mamadjonov in Main Event of ShoBox
Undefeated lightweight Angelo “La Cobra” Santana (14-0) will now face Bahodir Mamadjonov (12-1) from Uzbekistan on Friday at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Las Vegas after his originally scheduled opponent, Carlos Cardenas, bowed out due to a shoulder injury. Amir IMama (8-0) will face Jeremy Bryan (16-2) in the co-feature. It will be televised live on Showtime beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Butler’s Commonwealth Title Challenge Moved to Wembley
Paul Butler’s Commonwealth Super Flyweight challenge will not take place on Saturday April 20th at Wembley Arena on the multi-title card headlined by Nathan Cleverly. Butler will challenge Yaqub Kareen for his Commonwealth bout alongside Liam Walsh’s WBO European Lightweight title defense.
Bobby Hitz Believes Oquendo Deserves WBA Title Shot
Promoter Bobby Hitz refuses to take “no” for an answer regarding Fres Oquendo’s WBA Heavyweight Title Shot against Russian WBA Heavyweight Champion Alexander Povetkin.
“Yesterday, we put out a press release telling the truth, and today they are calling, begging us to tell a lie. But I’m not afraid to tell the world what is really going on,” said Hitz. “We were offered a heavyweight title fight against Povetkin a couple of weeks ago and we accepted Povetkin’s lowball offer because we know that Fres can knockout Povetkin. And it is absolutely true that Povetkin’s handlers informed us that they were going in a different direction, because after studying Fres they realized that Fres was too fast, too slick and too big a risk for Povetkin. Povetkin’s handlers told us themselves that they want an ‘easy’ opponent which is why they are now considering the unknown Polish fighter Andrzej Wawrzyk who has fought nobody.”
“After we put out our release, I got a call from a major boxing website saying that they were concerned that Povetkin’s promoter, Sauerland, would take action against them so they would not run the story. But truth is an absolute defense, so they can say or deny all they want, but here in the U.S., we have freedom of the press and I intend to exercise my God-given right,” Hitz stated.
Magomed “Mago” Abduslamov Now Ranked #4 by WBC
Undefeated heavyweight contender Magomed “Mago” Abdusalamov (17-0) has been elevated to #4 in the latest WBC rankings. Mago is coming off of a stoppage victory over Victor Bisbal on March 8th and is heading into a showdown with Argentina’s Sebastian Ceballos (33-7-2) on April 27th.
“Mago is a top contender now,” said his promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “He will only have to win a couple more fights and he will be in a perfect position to begin his championship reign, which will last a long time. I have said this since early in his career. He is too strong for anyone in the world to handle. Some of his opponents come out and use up all their energy in a few rounds and maybe they look like they’re doing ok. But the pressure of Magomed is incredible and before long they are waiting to get knocked out like everybody else. He is the future champion of the world.”
Amir Khan vs. Julio Diaz to be Televised on Showtime
Former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir “King” Khan’s first fight in England in early two years against former World Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz will be televised live on Showtime on Saturday, April 27 immediately following the Showtime Championship Boxing event featuring Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia against four time and two division World Champion Zab “Super” Judah.
Amir Mansour Will Fight for North American Boxing Association Heavyweight Title
Amir “Hardcore” Mansour (17-0) will fight for the North American Boxing Association and the World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Titles against Devin Vargas (18-2). “I am grateful to have the opportunity to fight a fighter with the background of Devin Vargas,” said Mansour. “Others are ducking me, and props to him for coming to Dover Downs Hotel & Casino where I have never lost. It will be a challenge, but I am at the top of my game and ready to beat down any heavyweight in the world.” Vargas, a two-time National Heavyweight Golden Gloves Champion, represented the U.S. as team captain for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. This fight will occur on Friday April 12 at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.
Deontay Wilder to face Audley Harrison on April 27th
Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (27-0) will be crossing the Atlantic to face 2000 Olympic Gold Medliast Audley “A Force” Harrison (31-6) in the co featured fight that will headline the undercard on “The Return of the King: Khan vs. Diaz” bill at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on Saturday April 27th.
“There’s nothing like the day before, the morning of and night after you’ve claimed VICTORY,” said Wilder. “The emotion, the excitement and adrenaline rush that I have is ready to explode out of me. I’m a starving lion that’s ready to eat. On April 27 in Sheffield, England my next meal will be served; on the menu: Audley Harrison…Bon appetite. For the many fans in England, Deontay ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder is coming. You’ve been waiting for this moment and now it’s here. I can’t wait to show you guys why I am the light and the way for this dark division.”
Pacquiao Wants His Next Fight in Macau
Manny Pacquiao wants his next fight to be in Macau, according to his promoter Bob Arum. Negotions are ongoing for a September rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao wants his next fight to be outside the United States to avoid high taxes. More can be read at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/boxing-pacquiao-wants-macau-fight/629978.html
Steve Cunningham and Tyson Fury Media Workout Quotes
Both Steve Cunningham and Tyson Fury held a media workout in preparation of their upcoming April 20th clash. Below are some notable quotes.
Steve Cunningham:
“He wants to get under my skin with his antics, imitating Ali, doing all these tricks,” Cunningham said of Fury’s trash talking press conference performance from last month. “He wants me to just come in and punch him in the mouth, but I will stick to the game plan and not get out of control. It’s all about the game plan.”
“I’m going to utilize my strengths, and we’ve worked on my weaknesses,” Cunningham said. “So you’re going to see some different things. You’re going to see some things that are the same. I feel great. I feel strong. I feel energetic. I’m excited about this fight.”
Cunningham’s trainer, Brother Naazim Richardson, said, “Steve Cunningham has been overlooked. He is an intelligent fighter and he’s getting smarter all the time. See that’s the thing, he’s getting smarter all the time if you look at all his fights. In boxing power has always won guys things, but you never see anybody maintain with just power. Never happens…the strongest muscle in your body is that brain and the guy that can use that can find a way to manipulate almost any other person in the ring.”
Tyson Fury:
“Camp has been going really well, I’ve had great sparring – everything has gone really well – no stone has been left unturned, so no excuses,” Tyson said.
“We’ve given ourselves plenty of time to prepare, we’ve been over here now for six weeks, so that’s more than enough time to acclimatise and get used to the time difference.
“This is a great opportunity for me to come to the US and showcase my boxing skills at a big venue such as Madison Square Garden.”
“Steve Cunningham, you’re in big trouble. I hope you’ve been training really hard because I know I have and it’s fight time.”
