By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of May 14th to May 21st, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing.
Juan Carlos Sanchez Retains Title
On Saturday at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Juan Carlos Sanchez (14-1-1) defeated Juan Alberto Rosas (36-7) by unanimous decision. The scores indicate that the fight was never close, as the official scores were 120-107, 118-109, and 118-109. Sanchez was able to score a knockdown in the first round.
Solis and Belmontes Score Victories in Texas
Main Events promotions held a card in Pharr, Texas on Saturday. Heavyweight contender and former Olympic Gold Medalist Odlanier Solis (18-1) took on Konstantin Airich (23-6-2) and according to Solis’ promoter, looked rusty. Solid still won with scores of 119-109, 119-109, and 118-110. Jerry Belmontes (16-0) also fought on the card and defeated the outmatched and outclassed Rameisis Gil (7-4-5) with scores of 79-72, 78-73, and 77-74.
Shelito Vincent Shares Past to Help Others
Shelito Vincent (2-0) spoke to a group of eigth grade students at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School as part of the school’s Leadership Conference, sharing the graphic, emotional stories of her troubled past in hopes that they don’t travel the same path as she did as a youth. She returns to the ring on Thursday, May 24, 2012 on the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield’s “Up For Grabs” professional boxing event at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I., against Carmen Cruz.
Her last arrest occurred in 2008, and she soon after took up boxing to help turn her life around. The main event is Vladine Biosse (12-1-1) against Joey Spina (26-2-2). Tickets can be purchased at www.cesboxing.com.
Pendarvis vs. Frankel Set for May 25th
On Friday May 25th at the Warner Center Marriot in Woodland Hills, California Cleotis Mookie Pendarvis (14-3-2) will be taking on Robert Frankel (30-11-1) for the vacant USBA Light Welterweight Title and Frankel’s WBC USNBC Light Welterweight title. Tickets can be purchased at www.bashboxing.com
Sampson Boxing and Greg Cohen Promotions Present Hard Rock Boxing July 6th
On Friday, July 6th Sampson Boxing and Greg Cohen Boxing present “Hard Rock Boxing” live from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas and will be televised live on ESPN Friday Night Fights. The main event will be between former WBO Super Flyweight Champion Marvin Sonsona (16-1-1) and Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz (18-2-1). The televised co-feature will be between Magomed Abdusalamov (14-0) and Maurice Byarm (13-1-1). Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com
Edwin Rodriguez Ready to Replace Dirrell in WBC Super Middleweight Title Fight
Undefeated super middleweight contender Edwin “La Bomba ” Rodriguez is ready, willing and able to replace No. 1 contender Anthony Dirrell, who was recently injured in a motorcycle accident, and fight No. 2 rated Nikola Sjekloca for the vacant World Boxing Council (“WBC”) 168-pound title. Dirrell is out of action for a reported six months, and Rodriguez is ranked No.3 by the IBF, No. 5 by the WBC, No. 8 by the WBA and No. 13 by the WBO.
Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright Give Media Quotes Before June 2nd Card
Antonio Tarver: “This guy is predicting he’ll knock me out in the fifth round. If Kayode comes in with that type of recklessness, he can be out before that because he has never been hit by someone who can punch as hard as me. And not just punching hard, I’m a sharpshooter. I punch organs. I target organs: liver, kidney, heart. I don’t just punch mass, I punch organs and I punch that chin. Remember that the chin is not a muscle so you can have all the muscles surrounding your neck and body, chest and abs, because if I touch that chin the right way, it’s lights out, baby.
“There are no more guys like myself. Shane Mosley lost. Bernard Hopkins lost. I’m the last Mohican. I’m the last guy who is 40-plus.”
Winky Wright: “Young guys, young guys. Inexperience and all of that. The nervousness is getting to them and they want to prove this and prove that. The only time you’ve got to prove something is in the ring.
“Fans cans expect a great fight. They can come to see Winky Wright knock Kid Chocolate’s head off – not knock him out – knock his head off. He thinks I’m going to run? We’ll see. I’m going to show him a fight.”
Beibut Shumenov Set for June 2nd Title Defense
Unable to secure a unification title fight against the other 175-pound world champions, World Boxing Association (WBA) Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov returns on June 2 to make his fourth title defense against former super middleweight world title challenger Enrique Ornelas (33-7, 21 KO’s) at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. in a fight that will be televised live on FOX Sports Net and FOX Deportes and will be televised on a delayed basis on FUEL TV. Tickets can be bought at www.ticketmaster.com
Golden Boy Promotions Signs Johan Perez and Julian Ramirez
Golden Boy Promotions signed current WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Johan Perez and unbeaten former amateur standout Julian Ramirez to multi-year promotional agreements. Johan Perez currently has a record of (15-0-1) and Julian Ramirez is (2-0), and had a record of (73-5) as an amateur.
Alvarez vs. Hawk Set for June 8th
NABO Light Heavyweight Champion Eleider Alvarez (8-0) will be making his first title defense on Friday, June 8th against Shawn Hawk (23-1) at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Alvarez previously competed in the Olympics and won the NABO title in December. Hawk is riding a five-fight win streak and has previously defeated Henry Buchanan, Otis Griffin, and Rubin Williams. David Lemieux (25-2) will be taking on Jaudiel Zepeda (12-5-1) on the undercard. Tickets can be bought at evenko.ca
Prescott Offers to Step in and Face Ortiz
Colombian slugger Breidis “The Khanqueror” Prescott (25-4, 20 KOs) says he’ll gladly step in and rumble with Victor Ortiz, now that Ortiz is in search of a substitute opponent on June 23 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Prescott says he’d have no trouble stepping up in weight to face Ortiz. “I’m ready to go, let’s do it! If they want an exciting fight to take the place of his cancelled rematch with Andre Berto, look no further. I’ll be there to drop bombs on June 23.”