Promoter Frank Warren is about to have discussions with Bob Arum about a potential fight between World Boxing Association (WBA) World Lightweight Champion Brandon Rios and the winner of John Murray against Kevin Mitchell.
Unbeaten American Rios, promoted by Arum’s Top Rank, defends his title against Urbano Antillon on July 9th in California, the same night that Murray and Mitchell clash at the Excel in London in a massive British showdown, live on Sky Sports 1HD.
Manchester star Murray and his London rival Mitchell are both eager to land a fight with Rios who is rated at number one in the lightweight division by the respected publication Ring Magazine.
“I’d love to fight Rios, he’s a class fighter and it would be fireworks between us. I’ve always wanted him, it wouldn’t be an easy fight, but facing him for the world title would bring the best out of me and I reckon I’ve got the style to beat him,” Said Murray.
“I’m unbeaten, I’ve done everything asked of me on the domestic and European stage so the next stop for me is the world title. Mitchell is in my way so I’ve got to destroy him first before I can get to Rios.”
Mitchell wants redemption after he lost in his first attempt at a world title in May last year against Michael Katsidis at West Ham United’s ground Upton Park.
He said, “Smashing Murray up is the only thing on my mind at the moment and once I’ve done that I’ll talk about Rios,”
“Frank is the man to produce the world title opportunities, as he proved by getting me Katsidis last year, so I’ve no doubts that he could get Rios, who’s a great fighter,”
“I let a lot of people down last year so first I’m going to repay them by knocking Murray out, then if a world title fight against Rios is next then I’ll do a job on him.”
Tickets for North ‘n South are available now, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150 and £200, from 0844 844 0444 or ticketmaster.co.uk
Tseveenpürev vs. Asiku on Saturday
This weekend the Capital’s boxing fans will be treated to a mouth watering battle for supremacy between a current and former World Champion. The international contest, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, pits Mongolia’s two time World Featherweight Champion Choi Tseveenpürev against Australia’s former IBO World Featherweight Champion ‘Action’ Jackson Asiku in a non-Championship bout.
In an amazing coup promoter Spencer Fearon has managed to persuade the two top flight fighters to headline his Hard Knocks Boxing promotions ‘Summer Smash’ event this coming Saturday.
Choi won the vacant WBF title in 2006, with a spectacular third round stoppage of Kenyan World Boxing Federation (WBF) International Champion David Kiilu at the Tara Leisure Centre in Shaw, Lancashire, and successfully defended the title twice in 2007.
The following year Choi vacated the WBF title in order to challenge Liverpool’s ‘Dirty’ Derry Matthews for his World Boxing Union (WBU) crown. On the fifth of April 2011, at the Bolton Arena in Bolton, Choi won his second World crown in spectacular fashion.
For five scintillating rounds Choi battered the highly rated Champion, sending Matthews to the canvas no less than five times, three times in the third and twice in fifth – the first via a wicked hook to the body midway through followed by vicious fight ending body shot in the final seconds of the round.
Choi, who never got the chance to defend the WBU crown, has longed for another championship shot and is hopeful that Saturday’s fight with Asiku, who lost his grip on the IBO belt in September, will kick start a third World championship campaign.
Speaking earlier Choi spoke of the upcoming fight and his fiercely burning championship aspirations, “My training’s over and I can knock him out, that’s it.
After this my ambition is another title, I have two belts now, World Boxing Federation (WBF) and WBU, but nobody wants to fight me for the belts.
I want a major belt, I need a Mexican. I like fighting, I’m ready for long time now.
The last year has been the worse time you know, so many protected fighters, they are just like kids, so protected and don’t want real fight.
British boxing used to be very, very good, nowadays they’re just like little boys, they fight like little boys.
Mongolese amateur kids would beat any top professional boxers in lower weight divisions.
I’m very happy now with Spencer (Fearon) and fighting in London. Best crowds at Hard Knock promotions shows. The best fans in the world, I will make them happy with a good win Saturday.”
WBU/WBF Featherweight Champion of the World Choijiljavyn ‘Choi Tseveenpürev, better known as Choi The Mongolian Warrior against former IBO Featherweight Champion of the World ‘Action’ Jackson Asiku from Australia headlines Spencer Fearon’s Hard Knock Boxing Promotions ‘Summer Smash’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday, 18th June 2011.
Main support, for Choi versus Jackson Asiku, sees Newly crowned Southern Area Light Welterweight Champion Darren ‘Mr R&B’ Hamilton take on Midlands Area Light Welterweight Champion Dave Ryan for the British Masters Light Welterweight title.
A top class undercard in support of the two featured bouts that includes West Drayton’s sensational Light Middleweight prospect Steve O’Meara who takes on Newark’s heavy hitting A.A. Lowe in a highly anticipated eight rounder.
Worthing, Sussex’s unbeaten Lightweight prospect Alex Dilmaghani is set to face a tough battle against former Irish title challenger, West Ham’s own Mickey Coveney.
Next up is another unbeaten rising star, Dagenham’s Joe Catchpole who will face Scunthorpe’s Steve Spence. Also at Light Middleweight, Hayes’ resident war lord Robert Lloyd Taylor is back in action against Leeds hardman Tommy Broadbent.
Philadelphia, USA based Irish Middleweight Simon ‘Slick Fightin Irish’ O’Donnell makes his first visit to the York Hall to take on Doncaster’s Jason ‘Daddy Cool’ Ball.
Finally the highly rated London based Slovakian Heavyweight Marek Onda will be making his professional debut.
Tickets, priced £35 (Standard seated) and £60 (Ringside) for the ‘Summer Smash’ event are available on-line now at www.tkoboxoffice.com, in person at The TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or The Real Fight Club, 2-6 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NQ or from any boxer appearing on the show. For further information call: 07960 850645
Bam on Boxing
Homecoming Faceoff
Lost in the commotion over Mike Jones’ return to Philadelphia are a couple of junior middleweights trying to avoid heading down the road to Palooka-Ville.
Kaseem Wilson, of North Philadelphia, and Phil McCants, of West Philadelphia, will kick off the June 25 card at the South Philly Arena in a scheduled six-round bout.
Wilson, 25, signed with Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., on the same day and at the same time as Jones. That was in the fall of 2006. At the time, Wilson was considered the better prospect. But a drab ring style and a somewhat questionable nightlife stalled the southpaw’s career.
Though his record (12-2-1, 4 K0s) does not appear shabby, it’s hard to think of an exciting fight in which Wilson was involved. After being K0d by Russell Jordan, of Buffalo, NY, in the summer of 2007, he disappeared for 15 months. He vanished again less than one year later after losing a dull eight-rounder to Henry Crawford, of Paterson, NJ.
Now Wilson wants to fight again and says he serious.
McCants, 30, a tall, rangy fighter nicknamed The Mongoose, defeated Jones as an amateur. He is 8-2-1, 3 K0s, as a pro, but his career also has been marked by periods of inactivity, one lasting more than three and one half years from March, 2006, to September, 2009. His style also does not send fans flocking to buy tickets.
Wilson and McCants agreed to fight each other in a loser-gets-a-day-job type of match because neither fighter had any options.
FINALJONESMUNOZPOSTER (1) When their fight is over, they can watch Jones from the back of the South Philly Arena, wondering how they fell off the fast track. Despite their respective negative styles, hopefully they will find a way to make their fight entertaining, since their professional careers depend on it.
Flores, Charles Talk Trash
Boxing is extreme; the buildup to a fight can be just as important as the fight itself. Without trash talk, boxing would not be as attractive to the electronic media or the casual fan. Take a look at fighters such as Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins and David Haye! They have built intensity to their fights by causing commotion. When a fighter is big-headed, cocky or arrogant, it could be because he is marketing himself, almost as if it were a publicity stunt. Other times it is because the fighters simply crave the attention. Either way the public enjoys it.
Over the weekend controversy started. Where? On facebook! Lightweights Anthony Flores (9-3-1, 6K0s), of North Philadelphia, and Osnel Charles (8-2), of Atlantic City, meet in a scheduled six-rounder on the Jones-Munoz card and this fight has officially gained the attention it deserves.
On writer George Hanson’s facebook wall there were comments from Charles and Flores. Charles instigated and ruffled Flores, who first tried to stay quiet. The two went back and forth debating one another’s skills, heart, and talent.
Charles: “Flores you’re going have to kill me to win this fight believe that.”
Flores: “Ha Ha! I’m done with this dude; I got you all upset. Like I said talk is over, I know you’re kinda big headed rite now but I’m about to humble you up real quick. See you in Philly when I hand you a L (loss).”
The thread is exciting, more exciting than most press conferences.
Charles is an athletic fighter with a stiff jab. Flores is a bit awkward, but relies on his boxing ability. The fight has potential to be a war and with intensity growing the two fighters will be ready to box when they meet in less than two weeks.
Gabriel Rosado
Philly’s Junior Middleweights
Between Gabriel Rosado, Derek Ennis, Jamaal Davis and Harry Joe Yorgey, it seems as if Philadelphia has it’s own junior middleweight tournament.
It started July 30, 2010, when Rosado faced off against Ennis in a 12-round bout at the South Philly Arena. If you missed that fight, you missed a characteristic all-Philly brawl. Rosado lost via majority decision.
Almost four months ago on Feb. 26, Rosado took on Davis at Bally’s Atlantic City. That night Rosado showcased his skills and finished the job with a 12th-round knockout.
Fans can look forward to seeing Rosado (16-5, 9K0s) against Yorgey (23-1,11K0s) on July 15 at Bally’s.
Seems like Rosado has been waiting for this fight for years. He said in a 2007 interview: “Oh yeah, and Harry Yorgey man up dawg, you are 17 – 0, don’t go fighting someone who is 14 – 22, pick on someone your own size, hint hint!.”
Rosado finally gets what he wants. There is no belt on the line but this fight is huge for both fighters. Currently Rosado is ranked No. 14 in the IBF. If he beats Yorgey, he will move higher; if Yorgey wins, he could get Rosado’s ranking. The winner deserves to be recognized at Philadelphia’s top junior middleweight.
Philadelphia Area Casinos
Casinos seem like the place to be with boxing now-a-days. It would be nice for the Philadelphia area to have a casino that is associated with boxing like Vegas has with the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay.
Joey Eye and David Feldman have promoted three cards at the Harrah’s Casino in Chester, PA. They appear to have been successful and more are scheduled.
Peltz Boxing has a show on July 1 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. Welterweights Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, and Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA square off in the main event. The casino is building a 2,500-seat Events Center and it should be ready by early 2012. If the July 1 card is successful, Peltz Boxing will be eager to work with Sands again.
In Bensalem, PA, the Parx casino is also expanding. Recent surveys indicate interest in boxing at their venue. If Foxwoods Casino is ever built, maybe they will hold boxing events as well.
Each of the three (possibly four) casinos in the area have their pros and cons. Harrah’s appears huge; the Sands is huge, and Parx a bit smaller, is more centrally located.
One downfall to boxing in Pennsylvania casino is youngsters under 21 are not permitted.
Many casinos give fights that big-time feeling. The atmosphere is terrific. Being able to put classic all-Philly fights in casinos is great. Having a casino nearby that will be commonly associated with boxing would be amazing.
IN OTHER BOXING NEWS: Nothing planned in professional fights around the area this weekend…There is an amateur show on Friday night June 17 at Roccos at Grant & Bustleton Avenues in the northeast…Also on Monday June 20, there will be a Mike Jones workout, open to the public, from noon-2.30pm at the Joe Hand Gym located on 3rd street above Spring Garden.
The author is a senior in sport and recreation management at Temple University. She recently joined Peltz Boxing as an intern. This is the fourth in a series of weekly columns. Follow Peltz Boxing on twitter @PeltzBoxing and our intern @bamonboxing.