20.08.06 – By Vanessa McConnell: Top Ranks premier for the rest of the year: For many years Top Rank Boxing has provides boxing fans with the very best entertainment in the world, championship boxing. There is not a great boxer on the map that has not touched a fight card at some time or another promoted by Top Rank. This year was exciting and the ending is even more impressive..
Top Rank is presenting “The Grand Finale!” November 18 featuring the Manny Pacquiao (42-3-2, 32 KOs) vs Erik “El Terrible” Morales (48-4, 34 KOs) III in association with Wynn Las Vegas broadcast on HBO PPV from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Tiajuana and the Philippines face off in another well-anticipated rematch of the year, lets just hope no one goes to jail this time for passing out flyers to the Pacquiao after party in the parking lot. Visit www.unlvtickets.com for ticket information.
No doubt about it, Top Rank is set till the end of the year. Last weekend There was a fight featured on Telefutura at the Pasadena Convention Center in Houston, TX featuring the best NABA Flyweights, Super Lightweights, Middleweights, Super Featherweights, Welterweights and Super Welterweights going round for round for championship titles.
Next month Main Events will be presenting a fight card at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Sept. 14 and at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, which will be broadcast on HBO on Sept. 23. Topping the year off is the 12 round fights coming up with Miguel Cotto (27-0, 22 KOs) on December 2 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. presented on Showtime and the WBO Welterweight Championship bout with Antonio Margarito (33-4, 24 KOs) from Tijuana, Mexico.
One more round or let’s have a rematch?
The recent fight promoted by Top Rank Boxing, Wynn Las Vegas, Caesars Palace and HBO PPV titled “America’s Last Line of Defense” is two weeks in the can, but is all everyone keeps talking about. This rematch has been six or so years over due, it finally comes around in the seventh and no body knows what happened. It took a week to think about it and another week to review the tapes before you could get full scope of the fight.
Almost everyone walked away from the Thomas & Mack in Las Vegas shaking their heads because Rahman was winning the fight until the last round, give or take a few rounds, and lost the fight in the last round. The first fight was humiliating for Rahman, especially since there was not a network in the world not playing him rolling out of the ring over and over. And it was a frenzy to make a circus out of this fight too. It was a mess but it turned around in the champions favor. Although he did not win the fight and we all had a field day before the smoke cleared the air, in the end Rahman clearly won the fight in points but was caught off guard in the 12th round and never recovered.
Just that quick if you are not on your defense or paying attention to the very little things, your world can be turned upside down. Coming back from a hard hit and knock down from Maskaev, Rahman entered the center of the ring to touch gloves and got clobbered. He took his mind off the game for one second and the fight was over. The fight had extreme potential to land in the judge’s lap. There is no doubt that Maskaev is a strong boxer with concrete gloves, but Rahman has a hard head and was taking every blow like a man.
Rahman was lost focus in the last round, let his defense down and left himself open for the kill. It’s simple, very true and fits to every aspect of life and sports. Concentration is the game, keep the rhythm or you’ll be out the game. Both fighters gave it they’re all and was both just as determined to win the title of WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World, but there can only be one winner. Maskaev holds the title now and it’s up to Rahman to get it back. Now that will be a rematch to see.
Las Vegas Boxing Gym Fundraiser
A local boxing gym that keeps youths of the city off the streets and out of trouble has served its community for a while now has to turn to that same community for help. We came from a time when we believed it takes a village to raise a child, but we’ve gotten so far from those days. Now the only thing that matters to most is time, money, gas and parking space. You may recall a past incident where Barry’s Boxing Gym was closed to make additional parking for the strip club Treasures and ended up going out of business about a year ago, because they couldn’t afford to keep up with building codes and improvements.
Las Vegas Boxing Gym located on 1201 S Commerce St, 5 blocks north of the Stratosphere helps over 300 at risk kids ages 7 to 17, and will soon have to deny those children an outlet from the busy and dangerous streets they live in. The lease at their current building is due to expire at the end of September. It will be leveled and turned into a multi level parking structure.
The Las Vegas Boxing club was started by 41 year old former amateur boxer Robert Johnston to ensure that the youth of Las Vegas valley have a healthy alternative to negative influences facing at risk kids by teaching self discipline, high-self esteem, educational skills and good citizenship. Although membership is only $25 a month, those who cannot pay could still train for free. No one is refused because they can’t pay, the only requirement is to follow the rules, which is something most of them don’t do in the streets or at home.
A huge mistake on Robert’s part was going into a long-term verbal agreement with the current building owner, Raul Gil who is also the owner of the authentic Mexican restaurant Casa Don Juan. There was talk of Las Vegas Boxing purchasing the building and renting on the property longer than the eviction notice pronounces. Gil even claims that the new parking structure will house a boxing gym on site, but Robert will have to see it in writing to believe it. Now the Las Vegas Boxing Gym is forced to seek help and a new location. Word is the Palms may be hosting the upcoming fundraiser we’ll keep you posted.
“Training for boxing adds structure to otherwise chaotic lives,” Robert told Las Vegas Sun news reporter Marshall Allen. Now Las Vegas Boxing is turning to it’s community for help finding a new location, raising donations for additional equipment and preparing the building for a gym. Every contribution to Las Vegas Boxing is tax deductible. Professional organizations, fighters and figures are perfect assets to this organization’s cause because they could possibly provide sponsorships or financial assistance need to save Las Vegas Boxing.
Juan Diaz Day August 15
Last week Houston, TX Mayor Bill White announced that August 15 will be considered Juan Diaz Day in the city of Houston. The undefeated WBA Lightweight Champion is a Houston native who has defended his crown four times while attending college at the University of Houston Downtown where he is in his senior year.
“On August 15, 2006, Juan Diaz will be recognized during the Public Session of the Houston City Council for his dedication and service to the community,” stated in a release from Donald Tremblay Main Evenst. “The City of Houston salutes the commends Juan Diaz on this important occasion, and extends best wishes for a successful and rewarding year. There for I Bill White, Mayor of the City of Houston, do hereby proclaim August 15, 2006 as Juan Diaz Day in Houston, TX.
KY 3rd Annual Louisville Slugfest
Contributed by Chris Webb, Seminole Warrior Boxing & Redline Media Group
Back in the saddle and on the road back to the heavyweight title, it may be an omen of good things to come when former World Champion Oliver McCall makes his debut in the hometown of the legendary Muhammad Ali on Saturday, September 9, whens he fights for the WBC Fecarbox championship against veteran knockout artist Darroll Wilson. Chris Webb Promotions, Seminole Warriors Boxing, and Sampson Lewkowicz are pleased to present this outstanding night of hard-hitting boxing action, live from the Louisville Gardens on Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Louisville, Kentucky. Azteca American TV will televise the show nationally.
Also featured on this nine bout card will be highly touted Isreali Heavyweight prospect Roman Greenberg, who will look to improve on his 22-0 (15 KOs) record against an opponent to be announced shortly. A dynamite puncher with a granite chin and world-class experience, Oliver McCall (47-8, 34 KOs) has been a staple among the top heavyweights for over two decades. The former WBC heavyweight champion, who is currently ranked 6th in the world by the WBC, won the World Title when he knocked out Lennox Lewis in the second round.
McCall has fought the best of this era and is still a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. Unbeaten in his last seven fights, ‘The Atomic Bull’ is coming off a first round TKO of veteran Kenny Craven in June. With a nickname like ‘Doin’ Damage’, you know that Darroll Wilson (27-8-2, 21 KOs) can hit hard. Just ask top contender Shannon Briggs, who suffered his first loss via a third round TKO by Wilson back in 1996.
Since then, Wilson has battled the top names in the division, such as David Tua, Bert Cooper, Tim Witherspoon, and Ray Mercer. He knows that a win over McCall on September 9 will be a huge step towards putting him back in the mix among the best at heavyweight. Doors open at 6:30PM and the action all starts at 7:30PM. Tickets are priced at a fight fan friendly $20, $40, and $75, go on sale on Monday, August 14th at all Ticket Master outlets or by calling 502.361.3100.