Boxing Insider Notebook: Riddick Bowe, Adamek, Hopkins, Kovalev, and more

By: William Holmes

The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of June 10th to June 17th covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.

Luna Victorious At Chumash Casino

Undefeated lightweight prospect Alejandro Luna (14-0) and Sergio Rivera (14-12) fought for the vacant WBC Youth Interim and the Central Coast lightweight titles. Luna fought the entire fight in a southpaw stance and sent Rivera to the canvas in the final round. Rivera got up but took more punishment and the referee stopped it at 1:53 of round eight.

Francisco Santana (15-3-1) won un the undercard against Leshon Sims by a decision with scores of 60-54, 59-55, and 59-55.

Riddick Bowe Loses in Muay Thai Debut

Former Heavyweight Champion Riddick Bowe took on Levgen Golovin of Russia on Friday night in Pattaya, Thailand in a Muay Thai match. The bout went as expected, Bowe was overweight, out of shape, slow, and ill prepared to defend against leg strikes. The bout was over in the second round.

Nielsen KO’s Andino

Patrick Nielsen (19-0) successfully defended his WBA Intercontinental Middleweight title on Saturday night in Aarhus, Denmark when he knocked out Crispulo Javier Andino (16-6-1) in the fourth round. Nielsen was in control the whole fight and knocked Andino down once in the fourth round with a body shot and stopped the fight with a combination after Andino beat the count.

Szpilka and Campillo Win Over the Weekend

Heavyweight contender Artur “The Pin” Szpilka and former light heavyweight champion Gabriel “El Chico Guapo” Campillo took interim bouts over the weekend in their native homelands before they compete on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on Friday, August 16th at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field. Campillo scored a second round stoppage of Ionut Trandafir Ilie in Sedavi, Spain. Szpilka won a ten round decision over former world title challenger Brina Minto in Bydogoszcz, Poland with scores of 100-90, 98-92, and 98-93.

Szpilka will be fighting Mike Mollo and Campillo will be fighting Andrzej Fonfara on August 16th.

IBF Orders Hopkins To Fight Kovalev

On June 17, 2013 the IBF ordered light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins o make his next title defense against newly-crowned #1 contender Sergey Kovalev of Russia. Kovalev scored his ninth knockout in a row over Cornelius White this past weekend.

“When the IBF issued today’s letter, ordering Hopkins to fight Kovalev next, without granting any exceptions to Hopkins in the interim, everything changed,” promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events said. “Kovalev has many opportunities, now. We are going to take a few days to evaluate and then decide upon the next move. Of course Sergey would be thrilled to face Hopkins if Bernard wants to fight.

“I want to fight Bernard Hopkins because he is a legend of boxing,” Kovalev said after knocking out White. “It was good news that Hopkins and Karo Murat fell out. C’mon and fight. I’m ready, are you ready?”

Broner vs. Malignaggi Weigh In Details

The weigh ins for the Adrien Broner and Paulie Malignaggi bout are open to the public on Friday, June 21, 2013 at the at 12:00 p.m. They will be held at the Brooklyn Borough Hall Outdoor Plaza at 188 Montague Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. The official weigh ins will begin at 12:30 pm.

Ricky Hatton Trained Prospect Aims to Show off New Skills

Zhanat Zhakiyanov says he’ll be showing off some new skills when he returns to action at the Holiday Inn in Belfast on June 28th. He had been working under the stewardship of Hatton just a month ago and he believes his ability has moved to a new level in that short time. Zhanat is the number one ranked super-bantamweight contender in Europe.

“Ricky makes me think more in the ring,” the 25-year-old- saive via a translator. “Before I was like a bull and used to think one hard punch was enough, but Ricky makes me relax, move, and defend better. “ “I know I am very lucky to be working with Ricky because in Kazakhstan and all of the former Soviet countries he is a hero. People admire him because of his career and because he beat Kostya Tszyu, who was also a her.”

Review of Joe Jennette: Boxing’s Ironman

In this first and only biography of New Jersey heavyweight boxing contender Joe Jennette, author Joe Botti chronicles the life and career of this interracial athlete who competed in the longest boxing contest of the twentieth century. From 1904 to 1922 Jennette faced and defeated the most dangerous fighters of his era, including Jack Johnson, Sam Langford, and Sam McVea. Jennette was unable to secure a title shot due to the fact that the world was fixated with finding a Caucasian boxer to defeat Jack Johnson in the “great white hope” era. The story deals with the struggles of interracial romance, racism, and the world of boxing in the early twentieth century. Joe Botti is the Founder and Head Coach of the Union City Boxing Club in Union City, N.J. A former amateur boxer, Botti has trained over 30 New Jersey Golden Glove champions and currently manages and trains professional and amateur boxers. The 448 page book contains over a hundred rare photo’s many never before published. The book is available on amazon.com. Link: http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Jennette-Boxings-Ironman-Botti/dp/0979982278/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370282590&sr=8-3&keywords=Joe+Botti

Acquinity Sports Promoter Henry Rivalta Sets Record Straight about Joan Guzman

Guzman has been criticized for failing to continue fighting in the eighth round of his world title fight last November, after he suffered a leg injury from an unintentional foul resulting in his first professional loss to Kjabib Allakhverdiev for the vacant WBA Light Welterweight Championship.

Rivalta stated the following:

“It was a pretty even fight all the way through. On video, you can see that Allakhverdiev stepped on Guzman’s toes more than 20 times. In the eighth round, they both stepped forward, and hit their shins. Guzman broke a small bone under his knee that virtually paralyzed him. I don’t care if you’re the strongest man in the world, you can’t put any weight on your knee after an injury like that.”

“Guzman also broke his right hand, back in the second round, but he didn’t complain and fought six more rounds like that. He had to stop with a broken tibia bone. He was coming on strong and had a great eighth round. Joan was only down one point and, if he was able to keep fighting, I’m confident that he would have won the fight. I thought Allakhverdiev should have been disqualified because his cornerman stepped on the mat and his promoter pounded the mat.”

Entire Hopkins vs. Murat Card Cancelled

Due to number two rated IBF Light Heavyweight Contender Karo Murat being declared ineligible to receive a visa by the United States Department of State, and his inability to enter the United States, his scheduled July 13th fight against IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York slated to air on Showtime as well as the entire card has been canceled.

“I’m extremely disappointed about the fight being cancelled,” said Hopkins. “I was already in the gym, sparring and preparing for the fight, but things happen. I know Richard Schaefer and the staff at Golden Boy Promotions are already working on something bigger and better. I stay in shape so being ready is never a problem and I look forward to whatever fight is made for me in the near future.”

50 Cent’s First Solo Boxing Promotion

Famed rapper and new boxing promoter, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, held a press conference on June 12th in Hartford, Connecticut to announce that his company, SMS Promotions, will rpesent the “50 Cent’s Birthday Bash) professional boxing event, July 5th live on ESPN Friday Night Fights, at the Connecticut Convent Center in Hartford.

Headlining the card will be a 10 round fight between Eleider Alvarez (12-0) and Allan Green (32-4). The co-feature will be between former IBF Featherweight Champion Billy Dib (35-2) and “Machine Gun” Mike Oliver (35-2).

Adamek’s Opponent Named for August 3rd

Tomasz Adamek’s opponent for August 3rd, NBC Sports Network Fight Night card has been confirmed. Adamek (48-2) will take on Tony Grano (20-3-1) in Gano’s own hometown in a 10 round heavyweight challenge.

Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva said,” This match up is against two guys that are right in front of each other and can punch, either can go at any time. This promises to be an exciting brawl.”

Headlining the card will be a 10 round middleweight contest between Curtis Stevens (24-3) and Saul Roman (37-9). Fast Eddie Chambers (36-3) will be making his cruiserweight debut against Thabiso Mchunu (12-1) on the same card.