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Latest Boxing News
 Ruiz jumps all over Arreola’s comments
LAS VEGAS – It didn’t take two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (43-8-1, 29 KOs) very long to respond to comments made by unbeaten heavyweight contender Chris Arreola and his promoter, Dan Goossen, at a press conference Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Arreola was quoted as saying, “There are a lot of old guys and former champs sitting around there that we need to take care of. Their time is up. They need to go.”
“This September,” Goossen added, “you’re going to see Chistobal fighting in California and you’re going to see him fighting a former world champion.”
If the WBA doesn’t rule that its heavyweight title-holder, Nicolai Valuev, immediately defend his title against the WBA’s mandatory challenger, Ruiz, “The Quietman” is ready to be the old guy, former world champion fighting Arreola in September.
“I’m willing to risk my WBA mandatory shot against Arreola, if he puts up his WBC mandatory,” Ruiz said from a Las Vegas gym where he’s been training. “What’s been taking him so long? I called him out in early May but he never said a word and his people never contacted mine. I don’t get it. He keeps complaining about not getting a title shot that he’s done nothing to deserve. Maybe he needs to push himself away from the dinner table and take a risk. I’m over-the-hill, huh? Well, I guess everybody thinks it should be a cake walk for him, but I’m not like his last opponent, who came out of retirement to fight him for the money.
“He wants to be the first Mexican to win the world heavyweight championship. Be a macho Mexican, Arreola. Walk the walk and fight the first and only Latino world heavyweight champ to really prove yourself. If it makes you feel better, I’ll retire for a few days, and wait for your call. Stop disrespecting me and talking trash unless you have the rocks to fight a real champion.”
Go on line to www.johnthequietmanruiz.com for more information about Ruiz.
 MOURNING FOR THE PASSING AWAY OF THE GREAT ALEXIS ARGUELLO
The World Boxing Council declares today, July 1, a day of world mourning due to the tragic passing away of our former champion and International Ambassador, Alexis Arguello, who passed away in his hometown of Managua, Nicaragua.
Arguello was paid an extraordinary homage by the WBC at the United Nations in New York in 1983, when the 20th anniversary of our organization was held. Subsequently in Las Vegas, he was inducted into the WBC Hall of Fame, together with 20 of the greatest champions of our organization.
Alexis was featherweight, super featherweight, and lightweight champion, and was named our International Ambassador when he visited Cancun during the Night of Champions, which was attended by 96 world champions.
Alexis was a great personal friend of mine, and we had frequent communication.
The Nicaraguan superstar is, without a doubt, absolutely one of the greatest Latin American fighters and world champions of all times.
He is also recalled as an exemplary person who fell into the clutches of drugs, just to rise as the great champion he was and show himself as an example, and obtained the Mayoralty of his beloved Managua.
The people of boxing will miss him very much, as much as I will.
In the ring, Alexis was a tremendous puncher, a brave fighter like only a few have been. He fought from 1968 to 1995, and in that span he won 64 times by knockout, 16 by points, and lost only eight of his bouts.
May such a great fighter rest in peace !!
 NTH Promotions seeks injunction to stop Rigondeaux fight July 17 on ESPN FNF
CORK, Ireland – Irish boxing manager Gary Hyde, president of NTH Promotions, is seeking an injunction to prevent 2-time Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux from fighting on the July 17th ESPN2 Friday Night Fights show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Rigondeaux (1-0, 1 KO), fighting as a bantamweight, now lives in Los Angeles after defecting from Cuba, where he was a 7-time national champion. The 28-year-old southpaw also won multiple World Championships titles, as well as a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-Am Games, during his incredible 243-4 amateur career.
“I first met Rigo in Belfast at the 2001 World Boxing Championships and subsequently traveled to Cuba,” Hyde explained. “Rigo signed a 5-year management contract with me in March of 2007. I am currently battling in the Miami courts to enforce our management agreement because he made his pro debut under the management of GSMG LTD and Marcus Concepcion, who work closely with the Arena Box outfit. I could find no record of either holding a manager’s license.
“I made an application for a temporary injunction to prevent Rigondeaux from boxing May 22, but the presiding judge allowed him to box in the interest of the public, although his purse was frozen. Our case is getting stronger by the day. The only contract with Rigondeaux, on file with the Florida State Boxing Commission, was dated May, 2009 with GSMG and Marcus Concepcion as managers. When GSMG and Concepcion learned of the 2007 contract with me, they showed-up with a 3-year contract dated July, 2006 with Antonio Gonzalez, director of GSMG, as manager. There are numerous contradictions in their contract that are coming out. I have the only valid managerial contract for Rigo and we are hoping the honorable judge acknowledges.”
Hyde also manages three other Cuban boxers who defected and are now fighting as professionals out of Ireland – heavyweight Mike “The Rebel” Perez (8-0, 6 KOs), winner of the World Junior Championships; bantamweight Alexei “The Hurricane” Acosta (5-0, 5 KOs) and super middleweight Luis “El Leon” Garcia (5-0, 4 KOs), both World Junior Championships champion in 2006.
“I applied for and was granted a European Union work permit for Rigo,” Hyde continued. “My intention was for Rigo to make his pro debut on a Brian Peters Promotions show in Ireland and then head to the United States, where Brian had laid the foundation with some of the major TV companies. We would then have a stage to showcase my ‘Cuban Young Guns.’ Rigo decided to go ahead to Miami because he has more connections there. Now, I’m battling for the guy I have signed to a contract, who was the best amateur boxer on the planet. We recently contacted Freddie Roach to ask about his roll as Rigo’s trainer. Freddie said that he wouldn’t be getting involved, but when I’m awarded a judgement as Rigo’s manager, I hope to have him as his trainer.”
 CARMEN BASILIO RECEIVES HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
CANASTOTA, NY – Canastota’s boxing legend Carmen Basilio added another title to his Hall of Fame resume on Saturday, June 27th - high school graduate.
Drafted as a teenager, Basilio served in the Marines during World War II and, because of his military service, never received his diploma. That changed today when the 82-year old Basilio was presented with his high school diploma along with Canastota High School’s Class of 2009.
“This is another championship day for me,” beamed a proud Basilio.
After his years in the service, Basilio entered the world of professional boxing and captured the welterweight and middleweight titles and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.
Following the graduation ceremony at Canastota High School, Basilio visited the Hall of Fame.
For more information, please call 315.697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com
 Batchelder Steps Back Into the Ring Against Whitaker!
Heavyweight contender Danny Batchelder (25-6, 12 KO's) steps back into the ring for the first time since losing to former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster in August. Danny's climb back up the heavyweight ladder does not get any easier as he is scheduled to take on former world title challenger Lance "Mount" Whitaker (32-5, 27 KO's) on July 17th in Redondo Beach California.
Batchelder steps back into the ring for the first time since last August, although two fights have fallen through, the first against Otis Tisdale when the whole card was cancelled and then a fight against Bowie Tupou that Danny had to pull out of due to an abdominal injury. With Lance Whitaker, Danny has another chance at the heavyweight crowns, taking on an opponent that has been to the top.
"Lance has had some big fights. He beat Maskaev, he was in against Ibragimov, so he has ring experience, but I feel my tenacity and my will to win will be the difference in this fight. I feel that I have more to prove than Lance does and I want to get to where Lance has been, so I'm definitely going to be coming with everything I've got!" remarked Danny on his opponent, "Im sure he's thinking that he should be able to beat me and a win or two for him probably could get him back into title contention. He does have a name in boxing. I'm sure he is planning on getting a win here and move on to bigger things."
Danny Batchelder wants to win this fight and work it into a rematch with either James Toney or Brian Minto, but is planning to take it one step at a time. "Lance would be the biggest name on my resume as far as an opponent I've beaten. Toney should have been that name, but as far as getting the actual win, Lance will be a good name to beat. I'm sure some opportunities will come up after this fight. I'd like to be smart after this fight, take a few fights, get some wins underneath me. After that, you never know, maybe a guy like Chris Arreola or one of these up and comers gets a loss, and they need a come back fight, there I am. A win against one of those guys would put me into an even bigger situation. I just want to climb up this ladder and do it as smart as I can."
Tickets for the Danny Batchelder vs Lance Whitaker are still available and can be purchased by calling 1 702 656-9570.  Godfrey plans to ground Hawk in July 10 ESPN2 FNF main event
PROVIDENCE -- NABF and SNBC cruiserweight champion, Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey, plans to showcase his arsenal of skills July 10, headlining ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, against unbeaten Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk.
In a battle of full blooded Native Americans, Godfrey (18-1, 10 KOs), rated No. 6 by the WBC and No. 7 by the IBF, is a Wampanoag who will be fighting in the 10-round main event against a Sioux, Hawk (18-0-1, 16 KOs).
The 28-year-old Godfrey, rated No. 10-ranked by The Ring magazine, has had his three most impressive performances fighting on ESPN FNF, knocking out Emmanuel Nwodo, Felix Cora, Jr. and Shaun George.
“I’ve got to prove to everybody watching on national television and others overseas that I am what I say – the best cruiserweight in the world without a world title,” Providence native Godfrey said. “I’m fighting a tough opponent like Hawk on ESPN gives me a step up in terms of being recognized as one of the top five names in the cruiserweight division.
“It’s a dangerous fight because Hawk is unbeaten, 16 knockouts in 18 fights. He doesn’t know how to lose. He’s training with all the confidence that he’s going to show everybody on national television that he’s a top cruiserweight. But he’s never fought anybody with my skills in the amateurs, pros or even sparring. On July 10th everybody will see.”
 O’Connor back boxing in Boston FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Highly active unbeaten prospect Danny O’Connor fights in his first scheduled 6-round bout Saturday afternoon (5:00 PM/ET start) in a junior welterweight Special Attraction against 30-fight veteran Sebastien Hamel at The Roxy in Boston’s famed theater district. The popular Irish-American will be in his seventh fight in eight months since turning pro last September.
“I’m excited to be fighting in my first 6-rounder,” O’Connor said. “It’s going to be a good experience, especially in Boston, where there will be a lot of my people. There’s no additional pressure on me fighting a home, though. I appreciate seeing and hearing all of the support, knowing they came to see me fight.”
2004 U.S. Olympic Team alternate O’Connor (6-0, 2 KOs) was impressive in his last fight, easily winning by 4-round decision against 22-fight veteran Travis Hartman on April 25 at Foxwoods. “I felt very relaxed in my last fight,” Danny noted. “It was like a day at the office. I’m really starting to feel confident. I’m going rounds and not feeling tight or anxious. Obviously, I was in great shape, and I’ll be in even better shape for this fight having been in a full strength-and-conditioning program for the first time with my coach, Eric Cressey. All of my work is going to kick-in this fight. I’m in the gym sparring 6, 8 and even 10 rounds. Sparring isn’t the same as fighting, but I’m ready to go six in this fight if it goes the distance. Each fight I’m learning and improving.”
The 24-year-old O’Connor, who defeated 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Felix Diaz a year ago in a USA-Dominican Republic dual meet, will fight closer to his Framingham (Mass.) home in front of hundreds of family, friends and fans at The Roxy.
“We’re looking forward to Danny’s first 6-rounder because that’s what separates the men from the boys in professional boxing,” O’Connor’s head trainer and co-manager (with Rob Valle) David Keefe remarked. “We’re moving forward. We have been busy and Danny is ready to move up.”
“We are proud of Danny and the progress he has made,” Seminole Warriors Boxing (O’Connor’s promoter) Leon Margules added. “The people in the Boston area should enjoy seeing the continued development of their great young prospect.”
Tickets, priced at $40.00, $55.00 and $75.00, may be purchased in advance in the Framingham area at Pepperoncini’s (486 Concord St.) or in the Rhode Island area by calling 617.803.8726.
For more information about Danny O’Connor go online to www.dannyoconnorboxing.com.
 Bernard Fernandez: Chambers is America's heavyweight hope
By: Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News
EDDIE CHAMBERS intends to celebrate the Fourth of July in the traditional way, which is to say with fireworks and some flag-waving. It's just that he'll be doing it in the ring, and far away from home. Hamburgers may or may not be on a grill anywhere near the Color Line Arena in Hamburg, Germany, but the Pittsburgh-born, Philadelphia-based fighter said he will take the occasion of the United States' 233rd birthday to spectacularly demonstrate that at least one American heavyweight is capable of taking a lead position in what long has been considered boxing's most prestigious division. "A lot of people say the best U.S. hope among heavyweights is Chris Arreola. I disagree. I say it's me," said Chambers (34-1, 18 KOs), who squares off with Russia's Alexander Dimitrenko (29-0, 19 KOs) in a WBO elimination bout, the winner of which becomes the mandatory contender to WBO/IBF titlist Wladimir Klitschko (53-3, 47 KOs), of Ukraine, who is widely considered to be the best heavyweight in the world - at least by those who don't think his older brother, WBC titlist Vitali Klitschko, is more deserving of that designation.
Wladimir Klitschko presumably strengthened his case for occupying the top spot Saturday with an efficient, 10th-round stoppage of Uzbekistan's Ruslan Chagaev, the WBA heavyweight champ "in recess," before a sellout crowd of 61,000-plus in a soccer stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. That fight was seen on an incredible 58.4 percent of all the televisions in use in Germany during its time slot.
There might not be any country where boxing is an easier sell now than in Germany, which is why Chambers is headed back to Deutschland, the site of his only professional defeat. Money talks, and no U.S. TV outlet expressed a serious interest in televising Chambers-Dimitrenko here, there or anywhere.
But by going into an hostile environment and knocking off one of the Eastern Europeans who currently dominate the heavyweight landscape, Chambers, 27, and his manager-trainer, Philly's Rob Murray Sr., hope to demonstrate to HBO and Showtime that "Fast Eddie" is an American big man worthy of their backing. At the very least, Team Chambers intends to return to these shores on a victorious note, which was not the case following Chambers' 12-round, unanimous-decision loss to Russia's Alex Povetkin on Jan. 26, 2008, in Berlin.
In that bout, Chambers had his moments early, but thereafter fought with a curious lack of urgency, which allowed Povetkin to come on in the middle and later rounds.
Chambers replaced his father, Eddie Chambers Sr., as his trainer after that bout with his manager, Murray, who learned some cheesesteak-and-scrapple-flavored tricks of the trade by observing such legendary Philadelphia cornermen as Yank Durham and Sam Solomon. This will be Murray's fifth outing with Chambers in a dual capacity.
"We talk all the time about what went wrong in the Povetkin fight," Murray said. "It's the one that got away. Eddie's mistake was that he prepared for a fight, but not the fight. Nobody in his corner that night knew what buttons to push.
"If I had been in the corner for the Povetkin fight, I would have pushed the right buttons."
Some of those buttons already have been pushed, during Chambers' training camp in the Poconos. Chambers, who weighed 219 1/2 pounds for the Povetkin fight, has gotten down as low as 205 in camp and he said he will enter the ring against Dimitrenko no higher than 211, which would be his lowest weight since Feb. 10, 2006, when he was 211 for a bout with Andrew Greeley at the Blue Horizon.
"Eddie's not only the underdog, he's undersized," Murray noted. "He's fighting for short money. We're going over there to take on these big Russians that nobody else wants to fight. But we're not ducking anybody.
"This is a guy who wants to be the heavyweight champion of the world, not just the heavyweight champion of Pittsburgh or Philadelphia or the state of Pennsylvania. To do that, he has to kick the door down. He's going to do it, too. After Eddie beats Dimitrenko, we want to fight Povetkin again and then both of the Klitschkos."
That's a pretty ambitious agenda for someone who has logged 51.4 percent of his pro bouts at the Blue Horizon, where he is 18-0.
So stunningly attractive that she once was featured in a Playboy magazine pictorial, Mia St. John understands that some fight fans never have taken her seriously. She was derided by critics as the "Bunny Boxer," a bit of eye candy who gained prominence as the lead-in to some of Oscar De La Hoya's pay-per-view bouts in the mid- to late 1990s. "I knew how they were marketing me. I don't blame them. I was what you'd call a willing victim," St. John, who turns 42 tomorrow, said during an appearance in Philadelphia last week to promote her new fitness book, "The Knockout Workout."
But life wasn't always lovely for St. John, a divorced, Mexican-American mother of two. In her latest instructional tome, St. John reveals that for years she battled alcoholism and bulimia, the result, she said, of self-esteem issues stemming from a childhood spent with a father who was "an angry and oftentimes violent drunk."
She never used to refer to her ugly past, but now that St. John (45-10-2, 18 KOs) is nearing the end of her boxing career - she is only 2-4 in her last six bouts- she said it's important to let women know that it's not the diet but the mind-set that can set them free.
"Diets don't work, because it's not about the food," said St. John. "It's about how you feel on the inside. Unless you learn to love yourself for exactly who you are, you're never going to stop the cycle of overeating."
Punch lines Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall is the setting for "Latin Fury 9" on Saturday night, the main event of which has Puerto Rico's Juan Manuel Lopez (25-0, 23 KOs) defending his WBO super bantamweight championship against Olivier Lontchi (18-0, 8 KOs), of Montreal . . . Hall of Famer Pernell Whitaker makes his debut as the trainer of former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora when Spadafora (41-0-1, 16 KOs) squares off against Ivan Bustos (25-12-3, 8 KOs) in a 10-round junior welterweight bout tomorrow night in Spadafora's hometown of Pittsburgh. *  PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: WBO 140-POUND CHAMPION TIMOTHY BRADLEY & FORMER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMP NATE CAMPBELL
 Tuesday, June 23, 2009, The Show at Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif. In an unusual twist of events, two world title belts -- one currently owned by Timothy “Desert Storm’’ Bradley, and one he recently relinquished -- will be on the line during a unique world championship doubleheader featuring four of the most talented 140-pounders in the world on Saturday, Aug. 1, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). .
Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) will risk his WBO belt against former unified lightweight world champ Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs) in the main event.
In the co-feature on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, the boxer Bradley dethroned to capture his first world title -- No. 3 -ranked Junior “The Hitter” Witter -- will face undefeated, No. 2-rated Devon Alexander “The Great’’ for the WBC title that Bradley voluntarily gave up.
The exciting twinbill will originate from the classy, brand-new The Show at Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa in the desert community of Rancho Mirage, Calif., a short distance from Bradley's lifelong home in North Palm Springs, Calif.
The event will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions in association with Don King Productions and Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa. Tickets go on sale July 3, at 10 a.m. (PT) and will be available for purchase online at www.HotWaterCasino.com/TheShow or by calling (800) 585-3737.
Homefield advantage or not, the talented, confident, supremely well-conditioned Bradley will have the toughest fight of his career against Campbell, of Jacksonville, Fla., a hard-hitting, determined veteran who captured three of the 135-pound world title belts when he shocked the boxing world by beating previously undefeated Juan "The Baby Bull'' Diaz.
Bradley, a non-stop puncher who makes for crowd-pleasing fights, is one of the elite fighters at 140 and will be the favorite, but he has been known to go down and Campbell has registered knockouts in 25 of his 33 victories.
The promising Alexander is the most highly touted fighter to come out of St. Louis since four-time world champ Cory Spinks. Alexander has stopped 11 of his 18 opponents, including the last three in a row. The vastly more experienced Witter, a Brit who’s making his second start in the United States, lost a split decision to Bradley in his outing before last in Nottingham, England. Witter's other defeat came against then world champion Zab Judah in June 2000.
Are the winners headed for a unification showdown? That question and many more will be answered on an evening of exciting fights on a hot summer August night in the desert.
What Bradley, Campbell, the promoters and Aqua Caliente executives had to say at Tuesday’s press conference:
TIMOTHY BRADLEY
“I don’t think people realize or understand how exciting it is for me and how important it is for me to fight at home and on SHOWTIME. I have been asking for a fight here for a long time. “It’s weird, really. I’m more well-known in England, the United States and Canada than I am in my own backyard. But that’s going to change on Aug. 1 and I am extremely happy about that.
“This will be a great night for boxing and an exciting night for the fans in this area to see one of their own in a great fight of this stature. I really appreciate Aqua Caliente for stepping up to the plate like they have.
“The recognition I get has been fantastic, but home is where I need the support. Home is where I want the support. Only stars and celebrities play the arena where we’re fighting, and I know I am going to shine.
“I’ve known Nate for a long time. I know what he brings to the table and that he is going to try and bring it to me. This is a tough, hard-fight. But that’s what I want. I want to fight the best.
“I didn’t have to take this. But I didn’t feel (Devon) Alexander had done enough to deserve a shot. Now, he’s fighting a guy I beat to win my first title, Junior Witter, on the undercard.
“That only makes this card better. I have to beat a highly regarded, determined, tough guy like Nate. I need his name on my resume to help get me where I want to go and am going to be.’’
NATE CAMPBELL
“I am just happy to fight. I had three lightweight belts and I couldn’t give them away, much less get anybody to fight me. I’ve fought bigger guys before so 140 is a very comfortable weight for me. I train all the time so the layoff won’t be a factor. “There’s a lot of respect going on here both ways, but once the bell rings we’ll be trying to tear the other’s head off.
“I have no problem fighting in his backyard, or anywhere for that matter. The only thing that matters is that I’m the baddest guy not only in the ring, but in the building whenever I fight.
“I’ve known Tim since when he was barely a blip on the radar screen. He fights with a lot of heart and he’s got the belt now, but I always feel like I’m the champion. He’s undefeated, but I am going to get that (zero). I plan to do it all on Aug. 1.
“I fight because I love to fight and I love the sport. Mostly, though, I love to win. This fight has all the makings of a great one. Style-wise, it will be amazing. It’s going to be a monster ordeal.’’
 Bobby Gunn Receives Support from Iraq!
Hackensack, NJ - A professional prizefighter is often referred to as a soldier or warrior, as they literally take blows to the head for a living. Bobby Gunn’s “Celtic Warrior” moniker is an excellent example of a pugilistic nickname. While swapping punches for a pay check is undoubtedly dangerous, his career is nothing compared the heroic men and women who risk their lives to defend our country. “These people are the real American heroes”, said Gunn. “We get in the ring and battle for sport a few times a year but these people fight every day for their lives and country. The soldiers of the past and present fighting to give us the luxury of living free are the real world champions.” To his pleasant surprise, Gunn was recently contacted by a fan named Conor, a New Jersey native serving in Iraq. An Irish-American soldier from the 1-114th Infantry, Conor extended support to Gunn for his July 11 world title fight against IBF/Ring Magazine Cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek. With an opportunity of a lifetime against Adamek already psyching up Gunn, Conor’s unexpected support brought his motivation to a whole new level. “That incredible email really moved me” said the current WBA-NABA and WBC-USNBC champion. “It made me feel like all my hard work and grueling training is nothing compared to what they have to go through. My friends in Iraq are a newfound inspiration.” Bobby Gunn vs Tomasz Adamek is taking place July 11 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. For tickets, call 973-200-7050. Fans can contact Bobby at Myspace.com/TeamGunn. |