DENTON VASSELL believes the secret to becoming one of the world’s best welterweights is yoga. Manchester’s Commonwealth champion is stretched and bent daily by mum, Janet DaSilva who teaches the traditional girls exercise. He will even been doing yoga routine hours before Saturday’s (March 26) title defence against Namibian Bethuel Ushona at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena.
Vassell, 26, insists: “Yoga should be part of your lifestyle.
“I have had 16 fights won them all, work in a bank and whenever I need to relax I turn to yoga. It makes me a better person.
“People I am all power, speed and fitness but the yoga has made me elusive. She sits me down every day and we do stretching and breathing exercises.
“I can do stretches that most people can’t do because of the yoga mum does with me.
“Every day she stretches me out. It is so peaceful and stress relieving.”
Ushona, 29, is undefeated in 23 fights, and holds a win over countryman Ali Nuumbembe who was formerly based in Manchester.
The confident challenger said: “I haven’t even bothered looking at Vassell. I will work him out inside a round.
“I am one of the best welterweights in the world so what he can do doesn’t concern me.”
Vassell who has 16 professional fights won the Commonwealth crown in a thriller against Purdy last April.
In the chief supporting bout unbeaten hopefuls Matty Askin and Neil Dawson slug it out for the vacant Central Area cruiserweight title.
Other action packed clashes feature Tom Doran, Adam Little, Rhys Roberts. Jez Wilson, Jazza Dickinson and Tom Shaw
Tickets for this big night of title action are available £30, £55 (Ringside) and £75 VIP Ringside, www.brandhatton.com /0844 847 2500/0161 775 7500
Upshaw vs. Adama tonight John, your fighter Marcus Upshaw is facing former Ghanaian Olympian Osumanu Adama tonight for CFC Promotions “Chicago Fight Night”, on the line are two belts one being the vacant USBA Middleweight Title the other being the vacant IBO Intercontinental Middleweight Title, what also makes this bout special is the winner will go on and fight for the world title. How have you prepared someone like Osumanu Adama?
JDJ: “Fortunately for me, I have already faced Adama. I have a boxer named Dyah Davis whom defeated Adama last year so he his style is not new to me.”
CBN: Do you believe that certain habits are hard to break and do you plan on focusing on those habits w weakness that you figured out the first time one of your fighters face Adama.
JDJ: “Old habits are hard to break Richard; I just don’t see where this kid (Adama) has improved. He was beaten on Shobox and him dropping down to 160lb in this particular bout won’t help him. He has to be able to get past the 6’4 Upshaw’s jab and if he does, then he has to be able to either avoid or be willing to receive more punishment from Marcus.”
CBN: Many people feel Upshaw will pose a lot of problems for Adama due to two major reasons, one is his size advantage and the other is his conditioning. You spoke about Upshaw being 6″4, tonight at the weigh ins he looked to be in great shape, did Adama’s people picked the wrong opponent?
JDJ: “I think that they may have over looked or under estimated his talents because of his record. But early on he was mismanaged, his first manager had him boxing at cruiserweight. He had the height but not the framed for that weight.”
CBN: Is this the biggest fight for Upshaw? Considering what is on the line?
Is Adama the biggest threat Upshaw ever faced?
JDJ: “The biggest fight by far because of the belts but not the biggest name or the toughest style. It will be seen how well Adama handles the middleweight limit, especially if Marcus lands a couple of well placed body shots.”
CBN: Many people consider you a tactician, and many feel if you were not a trainer you can be a great chess player. Do you have Adama figured out; do you see who wins before the bells rings?
JDJ: “Please thank those people that feel that way about me. Many people have told me through out my life the same exact thing. I don’t have Adama figured out because he may have tried to make changes but once he gets hit those old habits that you mentioned earlier will come back. If Marcus follows my game plan then he “should” win with ease…if not then it may be a long night.”
CBN: John, how would did fight end and who will be victorious.
JDJ: “I see the fight ending with Marcus being victorious, as long as Marcus fights at his true ability. We have trained hard and we had a great camp so it is up to him. He has the talent now he just has to use it to the best of his ability and he should come with the victory.”
CBN: John, Thanks for your time and please come back to Chicago soon.
JDJ: “Thank you Richard, it is always a pleasure to talk and chat with you. Anytime my good man, I love Chicago it just needs to heat up in this city. Peace brother. See you tonight at the fights.”
CFC Promotions Presents: Marcus Upshaw vs. Osumanu Adama
March 25th, 2011 at the Hanging Garden Banquets
8301 Belmont Ave
River Grove, IL 60171-1001
(708) 456-2900
Tickets are available at the address above or contacting
708-333-3303
Weights from Chicago
Venue: Hanging Garden Banquets, River Grove, Illinois
Promoter: CFC Promotions LLC
TV: GoFightLive, Syria Tv, Comcast
Osamanu Adama-160 vs Marcus Upshaw-157
Vacant USBA Middleweight Title & Vacant IBO Intercontinental Middleweight Title & World Title Eliminator.
Angel Hernandez-154 vs Joey Hernandez-154
Vacant USBO Intercontinental Jr. Middleweight Title
Lanardo Tyner -147 vs Adrian Granados -148
Antonio Canas-140 vs Andrew Hartley -145
Eric Estrada-131 vs James Lester-130
Mike Jimenez-167 vs Cameron Allen -165
Brooke Dierdorff -132.5 vs Ashleigh Curry -133