28.04.09 – When Star Boxing’s fan favorite heavyweight Vinny Maddalone (31-5, 22KO) steps into the ring this Tuesday, April 28th against Benji “Boom Boom” Baker (18-6, 9KO) at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, NY it will mark his ten year anniversary boxing in the professional ranks. Maddalone successfully turned pro on April 23, 1999, stopping Kinard Thomas at one minute twenty four seconds of the very first round..
Over the past ten years the Italian American Maddalone has continuously excited crowds with his aggressive come forward style, and knockout power. A recipient of the 2004 ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” fight of the year, Maddalone has earned the accolades as one of boxing’s ultimate blood and guts warriors, something he showed in his most recent outing, a extremely competitive, bloody and action packed eight round decision loss to highly regarded and undefeated Russian heavyweight Denis Boytsov (24- 0, 19KO).
Boytsov who is ranked as the WBA #6, WBO #7 rated heavyweight in the world had all he could handle with Maddalone who just wouldn’t stop coming forward all night long. Although Boytsov is Russian he now lives and trains in Germany, where the fight took place. The fans in attendance were so impressed with Maddalone’s effort that they were chanting his name and U.S.A. at the culmination of the 8th and final round.
“It felt great having them cheer for me, Germany is a great country I loved my time there,” stated Maddalone. “The people there seemed to really like me and like my style and what I was about. At the pre- fight press conference some of the reporters asked me about my tendency to get cut and bleed and how it affects me. I told them that when I bleed, when I start to actually see blood, that’s when I really start to fight. Everyone there got a real kick out of that.”
Maddalone lives a double life. Inside the ring he is a fierce warrior, looking to take your head off with each monstrous shot he throws. Outside the ring though is a different story. Maddalone is a successful business owner, happily married to his wife Kathy for 2 years. Rarely seen with out his trademark ear to ear smile Maddalone recently purchased the Bar/Restaurant 14 Below located in Whitestone, Queens. Maddalone has been operating the Bar/Restaurant, which he plans to change the name to Ringside Lounge, for the past few months. As if weighing his training with operating his bar wasn’t enough to keep him busy, his wife recently opened Fahrenheit Physical Therapy in Omni Fitness located in Pelham, NY. Fahrenheit PT specializes in all types of injuries, something that comes in very handy to any athlete, especially a professional boxer like Maddalone.
“Oh it’s great having my own Physical Therapy center. I can go as many times as I want and best of all my appointments are free,” laughs Maddalone.
So why does a 35-year-old successful business owner continue to fight? To Maddalone the answer is simple, “I love the sport.”
“Boxing has been great to me. If it weren’t for boxing I don’t really know where I would be right now. I love going out and giving fans exactly what they want to see and that’s an old school all-out war. When people see me fight they know that they are going to get their money’s worth and are not going to be disappointed. I give it my all each and every-time I step in that ring and to me that’s what boxing is all about.”
“Boxing could use some more Vinny Maddalone’s,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing, the longtime promoter of Maddalone. “Vinny never backs down from a challenge, and always gives everything he has each fight out. He is like a real-life Rocky. I can’t tell you how many times people have come up to me after seeing him fight and tell me that it was one of the most exciting fights they have ever seen and on April 28th we expect nothing less. To top it all off, he is one of the nicest guys in boxing.”
The show will kick off at 7PM sharp with an hour long cocktail reception. Immediately following the reception a four course elegant dinner will start being served, at which time the first bout will go on. There will be cocktail service throughout, with an open bar running for the remainder of the evenings fights.
“ACTION” JACKSON ASIKU
Jackson Asiku 24 – 3, put on a boxing exhibition in front of 4000 fans on Sunday Night, April 26th at Challenge Stadium in Perth, Western Australia as the main support bout to Danny Green when he stopped IBF & IBO World Super Featherweight Champion Gairy St. Clair of Guyana in the 9th Round in the bout that stole the show.
Asiku jumped on St. Clair from the start using a spear like jab and brutal body shots and also threw a short right hand to drop St. Clair in the second and buckle St. Clair in the 7th and knock him out in the 9th round for the first time in the former World Champion’s 53 fight professional career.
The promotion was billed as “Unfinished Business” and lived up to its moniker as St. Clair had previously beaten Asiku in a hotly disputed decision in 2003. “Action” Jackson Asiku was a man on a mission he has now put himself in line for a shot at World title.
Craig Christian, trainer/manager of Asiku said “Jackson’s ready to be champion he will beat any of the World Champs. We will fight any anyone, anywhere, anytime. Give us a chance and he will take the title home”. Asiku is a stable mate of the WBA World Featherweight Champion Chris John who is also trained by Christian.
Asiku said I want to bring the title back to Uganda and make my people proud, boxing is big in Uganda but I will make it bigger and give all of the youth something to aim for. You will see many Ugandan Champions after I win the title.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY VACATES WBC TITLE
Mr. Jose Sulaiman Chagnon April 27, 2009
President
World Boxing Council
VIA E-Mail
Don Jose:
It has been a privilege representing the World Boxing Council as its super lightweight champion for the past 12 months and no one was more proud to wear that illustrious green belt than I.
The WBC believed in me and recognized my victories, advancing my ratings accordingly. Because of your support I was able to challenge Junior Witter for the WBC title last year and defend it and unify it, and for that I will always be grateful. It is important that unified champions should be encouraged thus eliminating the title confusion that permeates the sport or the media that cover it and the fans who follow it.
However, because the WBC has issued an edict to choose between titles, it is with a heavy heart that I relinquish my WBC title and allow the contenders below me to challenge for it.
I will always cherish my reign as WBC super lightweight champion and I hope to have the opportunity to fight for that honor again.
Sincerely,
Timothy Bradley