Los Angeles (Monday, July 13th, 2009). Southbay Promotions presents heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Lance “Mount” Whitaker (32-5-1, 27 KOs) versus Danny Batchelder (25-6-1, 12 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight fight at the REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER in Redondo Beach, CA., Friday July 17. Whitaker, a former WBC Continental Americas and NABA Heavyweight Champion, has fought tough with some of the division?s contenders such as Ray Austin, Jameel McCline, and Monte Barrett while also holding a career-best knockout win over former WBC Heavyweight Champion Oleg Maskaev in 2003..
In 2008, Whitaker made quick work of Ron Johnson by knocking him out in their opening round before dropping a tough decision to Jason Estrada only two months later in a 10-round fight in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Whitaker however is now ready to kick off his 2009 campaign with a bang as he searches for another world title opportunity.
Batchelder, a former WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight Champion is a tough customer going all the way to a split decision against James Toney in 2007 and most recently saw action against former WBO Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster in August of 2008.
The undercard will be announced at a later time while the card will feature one MMA bout.
SPECTACULAR MMA BOUTS
Southbay Promotions has added two spectacular MMA bouts to its Friday, July 17, card featuring heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Lance “Mount” Whitaker (32-5-1, 27 KOs) against Danny Batchelder (25-6-1, 12 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round heavyweight fight at the REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
Sean “The Destroyer” Loeffler (13-4) from nearby Oceanside, CA will take on Jason Anderson (5-13) in a scheduled three round MMA fight. The 26-year old Loeffler is one of the most energetic and exciting competitors on the scene and is coming off a submission victory over Rubin Taigle earlier this year. Loeffler’s rabid fanbase will no doubt be in full force as the SoCal fighter knows how to entertain his crowd.
Also on the card will be ARMANDO MONTOYA (1-0) against CHRIS HOPE (2-0) in a second three round MMA bout. These two unbeaten fighters lock horns in a winner takes all fight. Someone’s ‘0’ will have to GO while the winner also takes home plenty of bragging rights as both combatants are from the Los Angeles area.
Doors: 7:00pm
Tickets: $250-200-100-75-50-35. Call to purchase (310) 303-0116
LIGHTNING AND THUNDER: ROBINSON AND RILEY LOOK TO MAKE NOISE IN RYE
On July 16th, two of Joe DeGuardia’s brightest stars, “The New” Ray Robinson (10-0, 4KO) and Yathomas Riley (5-0, 3KO) will look to stay unbeaten as they battle it out against two tough veterans on the Star Boxing promoted show at the beautiful Hilton Rye Town Hotel in Rye Brook, NY.
Robinson will be taking yet another step up in competition when he squares off against seasoned veteran Harrison Cuello (18-10-3, 14KO) while the light heavyweight Riley will battle it out against Andre Hemphill (8-11-2, 5KO). Both fights are scheduled for six rounds.
Neither Cuello or Hemphill are easy opponents. Cuello has been in with the likes of jr. welterweight contender Mike Arnaoutis, undefeated jr. middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan, former jr. welterweight champion Randall Bailey, and even holds a third round TKO of then highly touted jr. welterweight contender Edgar Santana.
Riley’s opponent Hemphill has only been stopped twice in his career, with his eleven losses coming against opponents with a combined 84-7 record.
The last time both Robinson and Riley fought it was back on February 13th, on the nationally televised ESPN “Friday Night Fights” telecast. Both were equally impressive, with Robinson scoring a third round TKO over previously unbeaten Darnell Jiles in the co-feature bout of the evening, and Riley handing a vicious four round beat down to Julius Jackson in the TV opener.
“I believe that one day you may see both Ray and Yathomas as world champions of their weight divisions,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and founder of Star Boxing. “Stylistically they are complete opposites, with Ray being more of a flashy type of fighter, that puts his combinations together well and boxes beautifully. He has lightning quick hands and uses his size (Robinson is extremely tall for his weight class, standing in at six feet even) very well to keep his opponents off balance.
“Yathomas on the other hand is an absolute terror inside that ring. He comes straight forward and if he catches you, you better believe you’re going to feel it. When he connects it almost sounds like thunder he puts so much force behind it. There is no question that Yathomas has tremendous power in both of his hands, and as seen in his last fight he is also a devastating body puncher. Both of these guys are very entertaining and always put on a good show. We expect them to both come out victorious on the 16th and continue to move forward in their respective careers.”
Both the 24-year-old Robinson and the 26- year-old Riley are highly skilled fighters, with good amateur backgrounds. Robinson boxed for the U.S. National team, and was ranked as one of the top three fighters in the world as an amateur in his weight class. Riley was a 2006 National PAL and National Golden Gloves champion, and also competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials. Robinson was born in raised in the fighting city of Philadelphia, while Riley hails from Miami-Dade County, but now lives and trains out of the Bronx. Look for these two prospects to continue to progress in the professional careers as they gradually climb the latter towards world title contention.
Tickets can be purchased through the Star Boxing office by calling (718) 823-2000 or by visiting the Star Boxing website ( www.starboxing.com) Tickets are priced at Gold Ringside – $100, Silver Ringside – $60 and reserved seating for $40. The Hilton Rye Town hotel is located at 699 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, New York, 10573. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first fight scheduled to take place at 7:30. Free parking will be provided to all guest attending the night of fights.
Former Team GB Head Coach Terry Edwards MBE To Take Up New Post At Rooney’s Boxing Gym In London
British Super Bantamweight Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston’s American visa woes, which prevented her debuting on the undercard of Brian Cohen’s WBC Americas title fight in South Philadelphia in May, have been well documented over the past few months, however the plucky blonde hasn’t been sitting back and sulking instead she has been training for six hours a day at Rooney’s Boxing Gym in London.
Marianne’s clear ability and dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by anyone that has visited Rooney’s Boxing Gym over the past few months, including Great Britain’s most successful coach of all time, Terry Edwards MBE, who offered to spend some time coaching her.
The timing of Terry’s offer couldn’t be better as just a few days earlier Marianne had been contacted by Ivan Cohen of ABB Corp inc/Bionic Bull Promotions, who promoted the May event that Marianne was due to debut at, to enquire if she would be able to make their South Philadelphia event on the 26th September.
During a break in her training schedule Marianne spoke of how this offer from Terry Edwards came about, “I was doing my normal workout when John (gym owner John Rooney Jnr) and Terry came into the gym. John introduced Terry to everyone and then they went out for coffee.
A little later I was sparring with Ben (Welterweight Ben Day), we were really going at it, we always do. Ben’s great to spar, he doesn’t treat me like a girl, you know, he doesn’t hold back. He’s slick and very hard to land a good shot on, a bit like Carl Froch style wise, you really have to work hard to get to him. We didn’t even notice that John and Terry had come back and were watching us.
After we finished Terry came over and said I had done really well as Ben is an awkward fighter to deal with. I couldn’t help thinking that was a huge compliment, then he blew me away by saying he’d like to come to the gym and work with me. To say I was excited at the prospect is an understatement, who wouldn’t be, Terry is the best coach in England.
I have enjoyed every single second of the time Terry and Dave (Dave Pocknell, Terry’s number two at Team GB) have spent working with me and am looking forward to the next session. They are so easy to work with and I always learn something new that improves my technique.
One of the things I really like about Terry and Dave is that they teach you the technical side of things as well. l believe this will really help me when I finally get to fight.
I’ve missed my training with Steve (former IBF Cruiserweight Champion Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham) and I’m missing all the guy’s at Shulers (The James Shuler Memorial Gym in West Philadelphia) but can’t complain too much when I get to work with one of the sports greatest coaches and get to train at a world class gym like Rooney’s every day.”
During their highly successful tenure as Team GB coaches Terry and Dave guided such luminaries as Audley Harrison, Amir Khan, James DeGale, David Price and Tony Jeffries to Olympic glory as well as securing a World Title for Frankie Gavin and a European Championship title for Luke Campbell. So just what do these two highly successful coaches think of their latest charge?
Terry Edwards, who is well known as someone that speaks his mind and doesn’t pull punches, said of Marianne, “I have been working with Marianne for the last four weeks and I think she’s made tremendous strides in that four weeks. I think she has a good style about her, she’s very gritty and determined. I think that potentially she could go all the way.”
Dave Pocknell then added, “I think her footwork is terrific, she has a powerful shot with the left hand, her movement is excellent and she really knows how to control the centre of the ring. I reckon she’s going to be a really good boxer.”
If all goes according to plan Marianne should finally be able to put all the new knowledge and technique that Terry and Dave have drilled her with into competitive action in South Philadelphia on the 26th September. Further details on this event are expected to be announced shortly