Joseph Herron

“Danger Zone” weigh-in: Adrien Broner – 144.4, Marcos Maidana – 146.2

broner Maidana confront 1This afternoon from the Farmers Market in downtown San Antonio, Texas, WBA Welterweight Champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner and former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Marcos “El Chino” Maidana participated in the official preliminary weigh-in event and posed for the capacity filled venue of media members and fight fans.

On the eve of the highly anticipated main event of the evening, the defending champ seemed jovial and relaxed as he stepped onto the commission scale. Sporting a pair of shades, the reigning title holder began shadow boxing after he weighed in at a healthy 144.4 pounds.

When Maidana stepped onto the scale, “The Problem” began talking to the Spanish speaking Argentine fighter. Seemingly unphased by the inaudible banter, “El Chino” Maidana weighed in at approximately 146.2 pounds. Both men appeared to be full of energy and didn’t show any signs of dehydration.

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Trainer Rick Morones Jr: “Adrien Broner will KO Marcos Maidana”

broner 075Every great trainer throughout boxing’s storied history has insisted that fights are won and lost in the gym. If the age old adage is indeed true, former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Marcos Maidana could be in serious trouble this weekend.

Throughout the entire week leading up to the eventual “gun fight” with the hard punching Argentine, three division world champion and current WBA Welterweight title holder Adrien “The Problem” Broner has been finalizing head trainer Mike Stafford’s game plan at the Team Morones Boxing Club in San Antonio, Texas.

Talented, young gym owner and trainer Rick Morones Jr. has been thoroughly impressed with what he’s seen from the Cincinnati, Ohio native during the days leading into the highly anticipated showdown.

“Adrien Broner is a beast,” claims the 28 year old boxing mentor.

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James Kirkland vs. WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Demetrius Andrade in 2014?

001AndradeIMG_7429After impressively knocking out formerly undefeated Junior Middleweight Glen Tapia this past Saturday night on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, could James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) be looking at an immediate title opportunity in 2014?

Current WBO 154 pound title holder Demetrius Andrade (20-0, 13 KOs) could be making his first defense against the Austin, Texas native according to the former Olympian’s co-promoter, Artie Pellulo of Banner Promotions.

“Yesterday I left a message for 50 Cent, Kirkland’s promoter, and offered them the opportunity to face Demetrius Andrade for his WBO Junior Middleweight title,” insists the twenty-five year fight promoter. “Demetrius has to defend his title against the WBO’s mandatory challenger, but I believe I can make this voluntary defense against James Kirkland first.”

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Ronnie Shields: “Edwin ‘La Bomba’ Rodrgiuez is cut from the same cloth as Holyfield, Tyson, and Whitaker”

YouTube video
Video by Carlos Sacriste – On November 16th, at the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, California, undefeated Super Middleweight contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (24-0, 16 KOs) will take his first step in achieving boxing immortality when he challenges incumbent title holder Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (for his Super WBA 168 pound championship.

In this revealing and intimate video featurette, Edwin Rodriguez, legendary trainer Ronnie Shields, and expert conditioning coach Danny Arnold discuss the Super Middleweight title challenger’s preparation for the highly anticipated championship contest.

While most fight fans and boxing writers are heavily favoring the reigning title holder on November 16th, Edwin’s prolific trainer truly believes that his fighter is unlike anything Ward has ever seen in the ring.

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Nonito Donaire proves his mettle in stopping Vic Darchinyan…again

donaire8Although four division world champion Nonito Donaire had tasted defeat for the first time in twelve years when last seen in the ring, the Filipino Flash remained one of boxing’s premier fighters and an HBO attraction going into Saturday night‘s Featherweight grudge match with longtime nemesis Vic Darchinyan.

Since the disappointing loss to two time Olympic gold medal winner and Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux on April 13th, 2013, Nonito welcomed his first born son, Jarel Donaire, into this world and reconciled with his father, trainer, and mentor, Nonito Donaire Sr.

With the time away from the squared circle, the 30 year old fighter felt genuinely excited about the sport once again, and wanted to use the return bout with “The Raging Bull” as a gauge in which to measure his current level of boxing proficiency.

While most fight fans and boxing writers may not be able to determine his stature among the elite of boxing with last night’s performance, Nonito’s heart, grit, and physical durability was off the charts inspirational. Despite being a heavy favorite leading into the long awaited rematch, the Armenian born fighter gave Donaire Jr. everything he could handle in the squared circle.

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Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade: And the new…

andrade67If anyone asked the newly crowned WBO Junior Middleweight Champion how he envisioned the opening stanza of his first major title opportunity playing out prior to Saturday night‘s match-up with Vanes Martirosyan, “getting floored” would have been the furthest scenario from the former Olympian’s mind.

Although no fighter wants to overcome the adversity of getting caught by a sneaky left hand in the first round, it was the best thing that could have happened to the crafty southpaw.

In the outset of the highly anticipated contest, the fighter more affectionately known as “Boo Boo” seemed to be loading up on shots, while throwing just one punch at a time. After falling out of position while anxiously trying to land hard leather on Martirosyan’s chin, the Armenian-born fighter countered with a perfectly timed left hand that dropped Andrade.

“He caught me early, but I stayed focused,” admitted the 25 year old title holder. “I started using the jab from that point forward and began to pick him apart.”

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Nonito Donaire vs. Vic Darchinyan II: Revisionist historian

_MG_9679On July 7th, 2007, a scarcely known Filipino fighter named Nonito Donaire challenged the consensus regarded “Lord of the Flies”, Vic Darchinyan, for his IBF 112 pound title, and defeated the heavily favored champion with one swift left hook in the fifth round of their scheduled twelve round contest.

Today, it’s hard not to recognize the ripple effect of that impactful punch. Both fighters ended up going in two different directions professionally as a result of that significant blow to the chin of the formerly undefeated and highly regarded champion.

Since that fateful day, Nonito Donaire has gone on to compete in many lucrative bouts on the biggest stage of boxing, picking up three more division world titles and becoming one of the more highly regarded fighters in the entire sport.

In contrast, the “Raging Bull” from Armenia has garnered a respectable record of 11-4-1 with six knock-outs since the initial bout with the “Filipino Flash”, but has fallen short of most initial observations as one of the most feared pound for pound punchers in the entire sport, circa 2007.

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Keith “One Time” Thurman: “I’m more than just a puncher”

_MG_0970Photo and video courtesy of Carlos Sacriste

Every fighter at the world class level gets tested, in which they’re forced to prove their mental and physical durability. It’s what truly separates the good from the elite.

Interim WBA Welterweight title holder Keith “One Time” Thurman was given that proverbial “trial by fire” in his last outing against hard punching Argentine Diego Chaves, and passed the toughest test of his professional career with flying colors.

On December 14th, in San Antonio, Texas, the 24 year old fighter insists that the boxing world will see even more from “One Time” when he steps in the ring with rugged fight veteran Jesus Soto Karass.

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Adrien “The Problem” Broner: “I want to apologize to everybody out there”

Adrien BronerWhile promoting his December 14th, Welterweight title defense against hard punching Argentine Marcos “El Chino” Maidana in San Antonio, Texas, Adrien “The Problem” Broner spent some time apologizing to his die-hard supporters and detractors alike for a shocking “ménage a trois” video that was leaked online earlier this week.

Video interview attached:

“It is what it is,” stated the 24 year old fighter. “I want to apologize to everybody out there. I didn’t leak it, but I just want to apologize.”

While the “X Rated” video has been the topic “du jour” on many internet fan sites, most die-hard boxing fans are much more anxious to hear how the undefeated pugilist plans to deal with a heavy handed and resilient fighter like the former IBF Junior Welterweight title holder.

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Andre Ward vs. Edwin Rodriguez: Game on

ward1In the sport of boxing, the first shots of battle are often fired long before a single punch is ever thrown in the squared circle.  

On November 16th, two genuine “good guys” of the sport will tangle to decide 168 pound supremacy when universally recognized Super Middleweight Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward steps in the ring with undefeated contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez.   

Despite the positive and sportsmanlike reputation both combatants have garnered throughout their respective amateur and professional careers, an unexpected issue has worked its way into the pre-fight banter.  

During the first official press conference, which took place in Manhattan Beach, California, on September 28th, announcing the big Super Middleweight showdown, Rodriguez declared that he would indeed be participating in the “24/7/365” drug testing program administered by VADA, Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, and publicly challenged the historically outspoken anti-drug advocate to get involved with the same program before the date of their highly anticipated championship contest.

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