BJ Flores scored a one sided beatdown over tough as nails Paul Jeanette (11-3) tonight at the Orielly center in Springfield Missourri. Scores were 100-90 by all three judges. Flores was in control from the beginning with a combination of hard body shots and a commanding jab that seemed to hurt Jeanette every time it connected. Flores showed he has improved his power and over all offensive arsenal with a blistering attack to both Jeanettes head and body.
Flores showed poise and great defense and had Jeanette out on his feet in both the 6th and the 9th rounds. Quick combinations with thudding body shots and standing right there in “the pocket” Flores was able to land hard powershots with overhand rights and straight right hands.
Jeanette seemed to be out in the 6th but recovered only to take further punishment in rounds 7-9. Flores almost closed the show again in the 10th when he pinned Jeanette against the ropes and continually rocked him with hard power shots. BJ Flores was in command the entire way and looked every bit ready for the big names in the cruiserweight division. A very good performance by the WBC continental Americas, Wba fedalatino and NABO and NABA us champion” KY 3
1996 U.S. Olympic Team Captain Lawrence Clay-Bey heading into Conn. Boxing Hall of Fame
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (October 16, 2011) – The captain of the 1996 U.S. Boxing Team, Lawrence Clay-Bey, will be inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) with six others at the seventh annual CBHOF gala induction dinner Saturday, October 29 in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville.
The other 2011 inductees include five-time world champion Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Paz, judge Glenn Feldman, world light heavyweight title challenger Eric “Magic Man” Harding, ringside physician Dr. Michael Schwartz and, posthumously, standout amateur boxer Kelvin Anderson and boxing coach Billy Taylor.
Also being honored are 2011 winners for professional and amateur Fighters of the Year, Delvin Rodriguez and Tremaine Williams. Don Trella will receive the Official of the Year award, and Peter Timothy will be the recipient of the Achievement Awrd.
“I’m pretty excited,” Lawrence talked about going in the CBHOF. “I think it’s cool, not to mention going in with Kalvin Anderson, who was the top fighter at the gym I started boxing at. Eric Harding and I shed some blood doing some sparring and Dr. Schwartz worked some of my fights.”
Clay-Bey, who was born in Hartford and lives in Bloomfield, didn’t start boxing until he was in his twenties, but he was a super heavyweight champion of the National Golden Gloves Tournament, captured a bronze medal at the 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships, and knocked out “Baby” Joe Mesi to qualify for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Lawrence was selected as captain of the U.S. Olympic Team that included future world champions in the pro ranks — Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Antonio Tarver, Fernando Vargas and David Reid. Clay-Bey was the subject of controversy when he lost a 10-8 decision in the second round to the eventual gold medalist and current world heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko. Clay-Bey stunned Klitschko for a standing 8-count, but, instead of being awarded two points, the officials awarded two points to Klitschko.
“My coaches protested but I didn’t have a problem with it,” the unassuming Clay-Bey said. I never look back and wonder, what if. Who knows, I could have lost in the next round. I was disappointed, of course, but I was a little older than the others and the deeper issue was competing in the Olympics, in which, three people lost their lives in the Centennial Park bombing.”
Clay-Bey had a 60-9 record as an amateur and won 21 pro fights, including 16 by knockout, with only three losses and one draw. Today, he is a transportation officer for the Connecticut Department of Corrections. “I’m just a boxing fan even though I’m asked all of the time if I want to be a trainer,” the 40-year-old Clay-Bey concluded. “If I were to get into tip-top shape today, I could compete with some of these guys, but I don’t want to.
“I’ve always been the reluctant type. I got into boxing to lose weight. With all of my boxing accomplishments, I still don’t like to be the center of attention. I was told by officials that I had to keep my acceptance speech down to five minutes. I laughed and said, nobody has to worry about me going over. I just don’t like the spotlight.”
Like it or not, at least for only one night, Lawrence Clay-Bey will be in the spotlight at the 2011 CBHOF induction dinner.
Tickets are still available for the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame dinner for $75.00 by calling Kim Baker at Mohegan Sun (860-862-7377). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. followed by cocktails, dinner and the awards ceremony.
TICKET ALERT! Windy City Fight Night 20, Friday, December 16th
CHICAGO, IL (October 16, 2011) Tickets are now on sale as ‘The Polish Prince” Andrzej Fonfara returns to the boxing ring on Friday, December 16th headlining Windy City Fight Night 20 at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions.
Advance tickets priced at $76, $51, $36 and $31 can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), the UIC Pavilion Boxing Office (312-413-5740) or the 8 Count Productions Office (312-226-5800). Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.
Also featured at Windy City Fight Night 20 in separate bouts will be sensational Puerto Rican newcomer, welterweight Luis “Sito” Santiago, 3-0-0 (1KO), hard hitting recent Chicago transplant, super middleweight Mike Gavronski, 4-0-1 (3KO’s) and heavyweight Curtis Tate, 3-2-0 (3KO’s) of Olive Branch, Mississippi.
Just 23 years old, Fonfara has become a popular name in Chicago sports, drawing tremendous crowds to his crushing knockout victories at the UIC Pavilion over the last three years.
In his last start on September 23rd, the Warsaw, Poland native destroyed Jose Spearman, stopping him with a brutal left hook body shot in the second round.
“Andrzej is turning into a star in Chicago. Boxing fans are turning out in record numbers to see his performances. He keeps on improving as a fighter inside the ring with his devastating knockouts and continues to build his army of Chicago fans” said Pesoli.
Fonfara, 19-2-0 (10KO’s), is unbeaten in his last ten contests, his last seven bouts finishing with his trademark brutal knockouts.
Fighting out of Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, the 26-year-old Luis Santiago has wasted no time making his mark as a must-see prospect to watch. Turning professional in April of this year, the all-action Santiago has marched through his first three opponents, all of the wins coming in front of his very large, loud and proud legion of supporters at the UIC Pavilion.
On August 26th, Santiago looked outstanding winning all four rounds against Clifford McPherson peppering the Cleveland native with a stiff jab and consistent right hand power shots to the head and body throughout the fight.
Hailing from Tacoma, Washington, the 25-year-old Mike Gavronski, 4-0-1 (3KO’s) quickly impressed Chicago fight fans with an excellent performance on September 23rd winning a four round shut out decision over cross-town rival Gerald Taylor.
Displaying a vast array of boxing skills combined with power in both hands, Gavronski imposed his will from the opening bell, earning a standing ovation from the 8 Count Productions faithful who hailed his performance.
With all three of his wins coming by way of first round knockout, the 27-year-old Curtis Tate has stunned fight fans across the country with his highlight reel stoppages. He will be making his Chicago debut on December 16th.
Much more information on these and additional bouts on Windy City Fight Night 20 will be announced shortly.
8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.
Fighters currently under the 8 Count Productions banner include; super middleweight contender Donovan George, light heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara, junior welterweight prospects Ivan Popoca and Adrian Granados along with welterweights Achour Esho and Jaime Herrera.
For more information on 8 Count Productions please visit their new website, www.8countproductions.com. Follow them on Twitter at 8_Count and Facebook at “8 Count Productions”.
Doors open at the UIC Pavilion at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine, just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at www.uicpavilion.com. The UIC Pavilion is now serving alcohol at all boxing events.