One the eve of Christmas Holiday, IBF World Champion Juan Urango, just back from a visit with family and friends in his Colombia, homeland, had this to say about the Junior Welterweight Division,”There are many exciting fighters in my weight class, and many compelling fights that can be made for the fans. I implore the HBO and Showtime television networks to get behind a series of fights that will result in a unified, undisputed Champion..The WBC Champion is Devon Alexander, the WBO Champion is Timothy Bradley, Urango is the IBF Champion and Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana both have the WBA Titles..
Juan Urango, as a 2 time IBF Champion wants to fight any or all of the other champions to prove he is the best at that weight.Said, Urango, “I am honored to hold the IBF World Title for the second time, but I think the fans deserve to find out who is the best at 140lbs. I call out the other champions to help me unify the titles in our weight class and give boxing fans a holiday present they deserve.”
Juan Urango, (22-2-1, 16 KO’s) is coming off his mandatory defense against former World Champion Randall Bailey who he stopped in the 11th round on August 28th in Hollywood, Florida. Urango’s only 2 defeats was a decision loss to the then undefeated Ricky Hatton in 2007, in only his 19th pro fight, and a decision to undefeated Welterweight Champion Andre Berto in May of this year in an attempt to fight above his natural weight to try and gain another World Title.
“What I admire most about Juan Urango is his desire to challenge the very best and always give the fans their monies worth” said Leon Margules, President of Warriors Boxing. “When Juan won the IBF Title the first time, I suggested several fighters for his first defense, but he insisted in Ricky Hatton, the best at that weight at that time. We believe Juan can unify the World Titles with his grit, determination and power.”
2009’s Most Compelling Sports Documentary: “Assault In The Ring” Debuts on DVD January 1”
DVD of HBO Sports Documentary Chronicling Infamous Collins-Resto Boxing Scandal Boasts Original Full Length Film, Plus Complete & Unedited 1983 Fight Broadcast and Exclusive Never-Before-Seen Interviews & Footage
NEW YORK (December 23, 2009) – Assault In The Ring, the critically acclaimed HBO Sports documentary from Live Star Entertainment, which revisits the infamous 1983 Billy Collins Jr.-Luis Resto boxing scandal, will debut on DVD January 1, 2010, it was announced today by the film’s writer, producer and director, Eric Drath.
In addition to the full-length documentary, the DVD will be jam-packed with bonus footage including the original CBS fight broadcast from Madison Square Garden; interviews with elite boxing trainers Teddy Atlas and Freddie Roach; never-before-seen footage of Luis Resto reconciling with fellow boxers; and insight from experienced corner men discussing illegal and advantageous cheating methods, which unfortunately, still continue to be practiced to this day.
Assault In The Ring was featured at IFP in New York City and The Tennessee Film festival as well as the HBO Latino Film Festival before its network television premiere on August 1, 2009, on HBO. A media buzz and high-praise for the film quickly developed:
“Mr. Drath resurrects it (investigation, criminal charges, lawsuits and death) vividly with a tension worthy of a “Law & Order” episode, but he doesn’t stop there.” – Neil Genzlinger/New York Times
“…Assault in the Ring is a masterpiece of storytelling with plot twists worthy of Alfred Hitchcock.” – Barry Horn/DallasNews.Com
“Assault” focuses on two subjects: Resto’s search for redemption and the truth about that night. The film illuminates the former and brings us closer to the latter.” – David Hinkley/New York Daily News
“Drath is a blend of filmmaker Michael Moore and TV detective Columbo as he manages to convince Resto that the truth will set him free.” – Colin Seymour/Examiner.com (SF)
The movie centers on a professional boxing match from June 16, 1983, where arguably the most heinous crime ever committed in sports was perpetrated. The fight between Billy Collins Jr. and Luis Resto ended in an upset decision victory for Resto, but was it was quickly discovered that his gloves had been tampered with. Collins, who was undefeated going into the fight and already enjoying a very promising career, would never fight again – killing himself eight months later as the result of driving off an embankment and crashing his car, less than one mile from his home in Antioch TN. Resto and his trainer would serve three and a half years in prison and be banned from the sport for life. The film picks up the story 25 years later with Resto living in the basement of a gym in the Bronx.
INTRODUCING WORLD CLASS CUTMAN—DARREN ANTOLA
DARREN ANTOLA
Professional boxing cutman to world champions
When a boxer wins a world championship, he gets most of the glory. Maybe some credit goes to a trainer, manager or promoter but some nights most important to him is his cutman.
Being a cutman to world class fighters isn’t a trade that is easily mastered but one young man from New Jersey fell in love with boxing and wanted to be involved in the sport at any level.
Enter Darren Antola.
Antola began to box at the Times Square Gym where he met Jimmy Archer who was the brother of Middleweight contender Joey Archer.
Unfortunately, Antola was in a car accident which cut short any type of in-ring career.
Antola had the fire to stay around boxing and would hang around boxing gyms and just talk boxing with the likes of Lou Duva and legendary cutman Ace Marotta.
Also at the gym was world renowned trainer Tommy Brooks, who just happened to be the son-in-law to Duva.
Also in the gym was another cutman named Jimmy Colotto. Colotto learned his trade from Chicky Ferrera and Charlie Goldman.
Colotto took Antola under his wing and young Darren began to learn everything there was to know about being a competent cutman.
Antola continued to observe and learn in the gym until he was ready to work his first corner.
Although a little nervous, Antola remembered a very important bit of advice he received from Archer and that is “Don’t Panic and just do your job”
Antola’s first experience with a cut happened in an exhibition bout in Ohio where Antola was working with Archer. The fighter for which Archer was working with suffered a cut just ten seconds into the round, when sitting in the corner, Archer told Antola “Darren, be ready to take care of that cut”
Much to his surprise the nerves were gone and Antola went to work on the fighter’s cut. The cut was not a problem for the remaineder of the fight and Antola had his calling.
Months later, Brooks came to Antola and told him that it was time to leave the exhibition circuit and join him and Duva in the paid ranks. Antola wanted to seek approval from his mentor, and Archer gave him his blessing to become a professional cutman.
From that point on, Antola begun working with Brooks and Duva first at the Red Brick Gym in Newark, New Jersey then later at a gym that Brooks and Duva opened up in West Paterson, New Jersey.
Antola has built up a great reputation for himself as he has been in the corner for Yuri Foreman’s WBA Super Welterweight title winning effort this past November 14th in Las Vegas. Not bad for a kid from New Jersey.
Antola also has manned the corner of other world champions such as former WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Kendall Holt as well as former Heavyweight champion of the world Riddick Bowe and former Jr. Welterweight champion Vivian Harris as well as former two-time cruiserweight title challenger Bobby Gunn.
Antola also is the chief cutman for some of New Jersey’s finest prospects such as Jorge Diaz, Jeremy Bryan, Victor Valenzuela, Pawel Wolak as well as Maryland’s undefeated Light Heavyweight, Mark “TNT” Tucker .