“WAR TIME” George Rivera, 156 lbs. Charlottesville, VA won a 6 round unanimous decision over the very game Ike ”THE PRESIDENT” Ezeji 153 lbs., Bronx, NY in front of Rivera’s hometown fans at The Fluvanna High School Gym. Official scores were 58-56 on all three judge’s scorecards. Ezeji came to fight and actually scored an official knockdown of Rivera in the first round. From the second to the 6th Rivera swept every round and almost stopped Ezeji at the end of the fight.. Ezeji had several moments of his own and proved to be a spirited opponent for Rivera for the duration of the bout. With the win Rivera goes to 10 and 4 with 3KO’s. Rivera will return on April 11th at The Lynchburg Armory against Rodney Green. This will be a rematch for the Mid-Atlantic Jr. Middleweight Championship previously held by Rivera and now held by Green.
Juan Carlos Robles, 200 lbs. Waynesboro, VA won a 6 round unanimous decision over Francois “The African Warrior” Ambang, 196 lbs. Richmond, VA. Scores were 59-55, 59-55, and 58-56 for Robles. Both fighters showed high levels of skill in their six round showdown with Robles showing he is a contender on the verge of something big and Ambang showing he is a solid young prospect on the rise. Ambang caught Robles with a solid overhand right in the first and a nice left hook in the second. Robles worked behind a stiff left jab for most of the bout and in the middle rounds began following up with solid power combinations. It was a true professional prize fight between two guys that can fight. Very good performance by both men. With the win Robles goes to 12 and 2 with 5KO’s. Robles will return on April 11th in Lynchburg, VA against an opponent to be determined.
Scott “Cujo” Sigmon Bedford, VA 171 lbs., stopped Virginia Beach, VA’s previously undefeated Frankie “The Freight Train” Filippone 168 lbs. when Fillipone couldn’t come out for the third round due to an injured, and possibly broken, hand. The first round was all Filippone as Sigmon had a hard time with Filippone’s southpaw style. Filippone hit Sigmon with just about everything in the first. But in round two Cujo hit Filippone on every part of his body, arms, shoulders, chest, that he legally could. Cujo turned it in to a brawl and swelled up Filippone’s eye and bloodied his nose in the second. If the fight wasn’t stopped this one would have been a rock ‘em, sock ‘em classic! Good fight anyway. With the win Sigmon goes to 5 and 1 with 2KO’s. Next up for Sigmon is a fight that he has wanted his whole career, an 8 Round showdown against South Carolina’s Toris “The Bull” Brewer 14 and 2, 6KO’s on April 11th at The Lynchburg Armory in Lynchburg, VA.
The opening bout of the night saw Akron, OH’s Dannon Svab 198 lbs., stop the debuting Duane Douglas Pittsburg, PA 227 lbs., with a big right hand about 30 seconds in to the fight. Douglas couldn’t beat the count of ten.
The card was promoted by Major League Boxing.
Ain’t That ‘Da Truth’, Tyson Victorious At The Blue!
Philadelphia’s crowd pleasing Middleweight Jamaal ‘Da Truth’ Davis (AKA Tyson) continued his winning ways at The Legendary Blue Horizon on Friday night when he defeated Wilmington, Delaware’s Clarence Taylor in convincing style by winning every round.
Jamaal, better known in the boxing fraternity as ‘Tyson’, was in seriously great shape thanks to the grueling training and conditioning schedule set by his long time trainer Shar’ron Baker and “coach of the year” contender Brother Naazim Richardson during his time in camp at ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley’s training facility in Big Bear, California.
Tyson entered the ring in his usual Diamond Boxing pink ‘Fight for the Cure’ t-shirt. At every event he fights at Jamaal strives to bring awareness to Cancer support especially breast cancer from which his wife Patrilla passed away from in December 2007.
Just like he took care of business inside the ring with a dominating performance. Tyson also took care of business outside the ring through the sale of the pink ‘Fight for a Cure’ shirts to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. A donation by Jamaal and Diamond Boxing will by made to the ACS in honor of Jamaal’s wife Patrilla.
Tyson, who was overjoyed with the win and that he and his team sold over 60 of the Diamond Boxing/American Cancer Society shirts at the event and the profits will be added to the funds donated by Diamond Boxing for the his fight, spoke of the night. “I’m dedicating this fight to my first and only love Patrilla. What a great night. I really enjoyed myself. I’d like to thank Clarence (Taylor) for giving me a great fight, he really came to fight and gave the crowd a good show. I have to thank Shar’ron, she has always been there for me. She came up with some great work for me, she always does. I have to give a big shout to ‘Sugar’ (Shane Mosley) Naazim (Richardson) and the Concrete Jungle Team as camp at Big Bear was awesome. Must also thank Russell (Peltz), for believing in me and giving me the chance to prove myself, Rob (Epstein) and Diane (Bennett) of Diamond Boxing for supporting me and the American Cancer Society appeal, these guys are special. I’d also like to thank the crowd as they were awesome. More than anything I want to thank my family for their love and support.”
Diane Bennett from Tyson’s sponsor www.diamondboxing.com said from ringside “That it is great seeing Jamaal perform so well in the ring and what makes him so special is the way he has dedicated himself in helping raise funds for such a great cause”.
Should you wish to make a donation to the American Cancer Society please see their website – www.cancer.org
BOXING AND MUSIC ALIGN AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD; TWO CHAMPIONSHIP BOUTS AND LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE SATURDAY, MARCH 21
An exciting and innovative mix of world championship boxing and world renown musical entertainment align Saturday, March 21, at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., when Roy Englebrecht Events presents in association with American Dream Promotions “Rock This Box.”
The 12-round main event features Ron Johnson of Las Vegas facing John Johnson of Batesville, Miss., for the World Boxing Foundation vacant light heavyweight championship.
The 10-round semi-main event matches undefeated Melinda Cooper of Las Vegas against Monica Lovato of Albuquerque, N.M., for the International Female Boxing Association vacant bantamweight championship.
Three other Las Vegans also are on the card: undefeated lightweight Sharif Bogere in a six-round bout, super lightweight Josiah Judah in another six-round fight and unbeaten lightweight Johnny Frazier in a four-round match.
The award-winning musical artist will be announced shortly.
“We’ve taken the best of both world in terms of championship-level boxing and an award-winning musical artist and combined them for a complete night of entertainment,” said Roy Englebrecht.
“This truly is the case of something for everyone,” said Englebrecht. “This is an event that is more than boxing and more than music. It’s the best of both, and we envision this as just the start of a dynamic, on-going series.”
The 23-year-old Ron Johnson has a record of 10-1 with three knockouts while the 28-year-old John Johnson, a southpaw, has a mark of 12-2 with 10 knockouts.
Cooper has a record of 19-0 with 11 knockouts while Lovato, the current International Boxing Association female bantamweight champion, has a mark of 12-1 with four knockouts.
Both Cooper and Lovato are going for a second world championship.
Cooper won the Women’s International Boxing Association flyweight champion Jan. 14, 2005, by stopping Anissa Zamarron in the ninth round while Lovato took the IBA bantamweight title July 28, 2007, by decisioning Mariana Juarez.
Judah meets Loren Myers of Fresno, Calif. and Frazier faces Luis Tapia of Compton, Calif. An opponent for Bogere will be determined.
Bogere has a record of 6-0 with three knockouts. The 20-year-old, managed by Las Vegan Jimmy Alex, is one of the most highly regarded lightweight prospects in the world.
Judah has a record of 9-1-1 with two knockouts while Myers has a mark of 7-4 with two knockouts.
Frazier has a record of 2-0 with two knockouts while Tapia has a mark of 1-2 with no knockouts.