James “Lights Out” Toney will depart for Moscow, Russia, this Wednesday, October 19, in advance of his meeting with WBA #1 cruiserweight contender Denis Ledbedev at the Khodynka Ice Palace on November 4.
Wishing to get fully acclimated to the region, Toney (73-6-3, 44 KOs) will continue training in Moscow.
Already in the best physical shape he has been in years, 43-year-old Toney says he’s just putting the final touches on his camp and on fight night Operation Lights Out in Russia will be in full effect..
“You aint gonna see no lay down like Bernard Hopkins did,” said the always quotable former champion at middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight. “I will be there to kick his ass right in front of his people. He likes to wait until fighters from my generation get old and that’s made him feel like he can fight. But I’m going to show him what a big mistake he made thinking he can pull that with me.”
Toney’s promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, says the Ledbedev fight will be reminiscent of Toney’s last cruiserweight performance. “It’ll be 2003 all over again in that ring, when James took Vassiliy Jirov’s undefeated record and his IBF championship. James still has every bit of his talent and reflexes and just like in the Jirov fight, he’s coming in fantastic shape and ready for 12 rounds of action. Some of these guys Ledbedev has been beating, in their primes, relied on things they no longer possess. James, on the other hand, is extremely economical with his movements. He doesn’t rely on blazing hand speed or cat-like reflexes, he’s just an old-school technician who can stand there right in front you and yet you can’t touch him. He’s going to play with this guy.”
Toney says the Russian people have been very hospitable to him during his time there and even though he is there to defeat their fighter, he respects the Russian people greatly. “They are tough over there and they love boxing. They’re my kind of people. It almost makes me feel bad about what I’m going to do to their boy… almost.”
The First-Ever U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Boxing Participants are Announced
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The sport of women’s boxing will make its Olympic debut at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 24 American women who will vie for a spot in London have been determined after six months of qualifying tournaments. Eight women in each of the three Olympic weight divisions will compete in the first-ever U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Boxing in early 2012.
“The 24 women who have qualified for the first-ever Olympic Trials are all outstanding athletes that will represent our sport and country in a first-class fashion,” said Harold Adonis, USA Boxing president. “They have each dedicated endless hours in the gym and made tremendous sacrifices to chase their Olympic dreams and we look forward to seeing them all compete in this historic event. Congratulations to all of these fine athletes who have qualified for this once in a lifetime event.”
The three U.S. Pan American Games representatives claimed the first spots in the Olympic Trials, following a combination of domestic and international qualifiers. Flyweight Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.), lightweight Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.) and middleweight Franchon Crews (Baltimore, Md.) will all represent Team USA in the 2011 Pan American Games, which is currently underway in Guadalajara, Mexico.
“We are looking forward to this historic event and an outstanding week of boxing at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Boxing,” said Anthony Bartkowski, USA Boxing executive director. “The sport has come a long way over the last decade, and the talent and skill level of these women will surprise those who haven’t had a chance to see them perform before.”
The 2011 USA Boxing National Championships, which took place in June in Colorado Springs, was the second qualifying tournament for the nation’s top female boxers. As each of the Pan American Games representatives also placed in the top four in the major national tournament, three boxers in each weight class punched their tickets for the Olympic Trials in Colorado Springs. Flyweights Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas), Tyrieshia Douglas (Baltimore, Md.), and Poula Estrada (Palmdale, Calif.); lightweights Tiara Brown (Lehigh, Fla.), Lisa Porter (Northridge, Calif.), and N’yteeyah Sherman (Barberton, Ohio); and middleweights Alyssa DeFazio (Peoria, Ariz.), Tika Hemingway (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Tiffanie Ward (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) all won Olympic Trials berths at the USA Boxing National Championships.
The three 2011 National Golden Gloves champions were the next group to advance on to the inaugural Olympic Trials. Flyweight Cynthia Moreno (Phoenix, Ariz.), lightweight Mikaela Mayer (Los Angeles, Calif.), and middleweight Tiffanie Hearn (Louisville, Ky.) all claimed the fifth Olympic Trials berths in their respective weight divisions.
The 2011 National PAL Championships served as the final qualifying tournament with three boxers in each Olympic weight class moving on to the Olympic Trials. The nine boxers completing the Olympic Trials rosters are flyweights Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas), Alex Love (Monroe, Wash.), and Taversha Norwood (Marietta, Ga.); lightweights Patricia Manuel (Long Beach, Calif.), Bertha Aracil (Yonkers, N.Y.), Asia Stevenson (Washington DC); and middleweights Claressa Shields (Flint, Mich.), Andrecia Wasson (Centerline, Mich.), and Raquel Miller (San Francisco, Calif.).
The date and location for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Boxing are currently being finalized and will be announced shortly, however the event is currently slated to take place in February. The three winners of the Olympic Trials will compete in the lone international Olympic qualifier, the Women’s World Championships, May 21-June 3 in Qinhuangdao, China. Twelve boxers in each of the three Olympic weight classes will compete in the Olympic Games with the top eight finishers at the Women’s World Championships and four boxers per weight class selected by a tripartite commission earning berths in London.
U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Boxing Qualified Athletes
Flyweight/112 lbs
1. Christina Cruz, New York, N.Y. (Pan American Games representative)
2. Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas (USA Boxing National Championships)
3. Tyrieshia Douglas, Baltimore, Md. (USA Boxing National Championships)
4. Poula Estrada, Palmdale, Calif. (USA Boxing Championships)
5. Cynthia Moreno, Phoenix, Ariz. (Golden Gloves Championships)
6. Virginia Fuchs, Kemah, Texas (National PAL Championships)
7. Alex Love, Monroe, Wash. (National PAL Championships)
8. Taversha Norwood, Marietta, Ga. (National PAL Championships)
Lightweight/132 lbs
1. Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash. (Pan American Games representative)
2. Tiara Brown, Lehigh, Fla. (USA Boxing National Championships)
3. Lisa Porter, Northridge, Calif. (USA Boxing National Championships)
4. N’yteeyah Sherman, Barberton, Ohio (USA Boxing National Championships)
5. Mikaela Mayer, Los Angeles, Calif. (Golden Gloves Championships)
6. Patricia Manuel Long Beach, Calif. (National PAL Championships)
7. Bertha Aracil, Yonkers, N.Y. (National PAL Championships)
8. Asia Stevenson, Washington DC (National PAL Championships)
Middleweight/165 lbs
1. Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md. (Pan American Games representative
2. Alyssa DeFazio, Peoria, Ariz. (USA Boxing National Championships)
3. Tika Hemingway, Pittsburgh, Pa. (USA Boxing National Championships)
4. Tiffanie Ward, Hacienda Heights, Calif. (USA Boxing National Championships)
5. Tiffanie Hearn, Louisville, Ky. (Golden Gloves Championships)
6. Claressa Shields, Flint, Mich. (National PAL Championships)
7. Andrecia Wasson, Centerline, Mich. (National PAL Championships)
8. Raquel Miller, San Francisco, Calif. (National PAL Championships)
Dawson defeats Hopkins: Bam on Boxing
Bizarre Endings
The recent light-heavyweight championship fight in Los Angeles, CA, between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson had a bizarre ending, to say the least. The TK0 victory awarded Dawson left a bad taste. To replay the second round: Hopkins leaned on Dawson’s back; Dawson lifted Hopkins and tossed him to the canvas; Hopkins suffered a separated left shoulder; referee Pat Russell ruled an unintentional foul and, when Hopkins could not recover, raised Dawson’s hand in victory.
Hopkins has a history of using alleged ring injuries or fouls to his advantage, trying to get a breather in the middle of a fight. He is 46 years old and people naturally thought he was up to his old tricks. He tried this in fights with Joe Calzaghe, Antwun Echols and Robert Allen. Even though no single punch put Hopkins on the canvas, it appears that what Dawson did was unintentional. Therefore, the referee’s decision is the correct one.
Boxing has had its share of bizarre endings. Problem is, unlike the old days, rematches are rare. If there is a controversial ending in another sport, more than likely those teams will meet again down the line. Even in a one-on-one sport like tennis, players compete against each other several times in a season.
The Sept. 17 welterweight title fight in Las Vegas, NV, between Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Victor Ortiz had an unsatisfactory ending. Trouble began in the third round when Ortiz, who twice earlier had tried to head-butt Mayweather, finally succeeded and drew a stern warning from referee Joe Cortez. Ortiz practically left his feet and dove at Mayweather’s face. After Mayweather twice accepted Ortiz’ apology, Ortiz went in for a third apology and while the ref was looking away, Mayweather landed a left hook and a right hand to knock Ortiz out. Legal? Yes! Respectable? Not so much! Protect yourself at all times is a well-known saying in boxing and when a fighter sees an opportunity he must capitalize on it.
Let’s talk about last year’s fight in Carson, CA, between junior middleweights Kermit Cintron and Paul Williams. Williams led on two of the three scorecards after three rounds when, after some infighting and spinning, Cintron appeared to dive through the ropes onto the press table, then to the ground. Williams was on the canvas at the same time Cintron was on the ground. Cintron was unable to continue and Williams was awarded the victory by technical decision.
Why was Dawson awarded his victory by technical knockout and Williams his by technical decision when both opponents, Hopkins and Cintron, were unable to continue? Both fights were in California. Why the difference?
Perhaps Philadelphia got it right back in 1971 or maybe they robbed Eugene Cyclone Hart of a victory in his middleweight fight at The Spectrum against Denny Moyer. This bizarre finish found both men outside on The Spectrum floor with Moyer on top of Hart, whose head hit the concrete. The third ring rope down had become loose during an earlier prelim and when Moyer rushed Hart to the ropes, they fell through and onto the press table and the floor.
The boxing commission doctors declared a rare No Contest when the fighters failed to return to the ring immediately after the spill. Hart had controlled the fight until the tumble, having floored Moyer in the first round with his left hook. Back then, there was no such thing as a Technical Decision, which rewards the fighter who is ahead on points after four completed rounds. That rule did not come into use until many years later.
Boxing, as HBO commentator Larry Merchant says, is The Theater of the Unexpected and the unexpected is what keeps fans interested.
What about the second heavyweight title fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield win 1997 which ended with Tyson biting off a piece of Holyfield’s ear. That was just bizarre and it led to Tyson’s disqualification. Now that’s what I call intentional!
325973_2361165541249_1013637049_32639366_1761024905_o The bizarre ending to Tyson-Holyfield II goes down in boxing history, alongside the second match between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield which featured a man in a parachute landing in the ring, or trying to. After punches were thrown—at the man in the parachute—and order was restored, the fight went on an Holyfield won by decision. Either way, bizarre endings and controversy seem to hurt boxing in the short run, but in the long run some of those fights are the ones we remember best.
For those of you complaining about money spent on the pay-per-view fight between Dawson and Hopkins, forget-about-it. This fight will go down in history! If everything in boxing was cut and dry, it wouldn’t give fans a reason to argue and be so passionate.
Also, for those in Philadelphia who bought the fight because they were excited to see Hopkins defy logic and beat a 29-year-old man, be happy you saw another solid fight, courtesy of undefeated junior welterweight Danny Garcia, who thrashed ex-champ Kendall Holt over 12 rounds.
Garcia is one of the few fighters to come out of Philadelphia, fight across the country and still come home to a strong fan base. He continues to do well for his city, his team and himself. After his April win over ex- champ Nate Campbell, he could have very simply taken an easy fight but he did not hesitate to step up and take on Holt.
Anyone who bought that pay-per-view got to see another one of the Philadelphia contenders test him and come out successful! Congratulations to Garcia!
The author is a senior in sport and recreation management at Temple University. She recently joined Peltz Boxing, follow Peltz Boxing on twitter @PeltzBoxing and our intern @bamonboxing.
Nobles vs. Rabotte on October 28th
CHESTER, PA (October 18, 2011)—On Friday night October 28th, Gerald “The Jedi” Nobles will return after a four year absence as he will take on Joseph Rabotte in a six round Heavyweight part that will be part of a championship night at Harrahs in Chester that will be promoted by Joey Eye Boxing Promotions.
In the main event, Tony Ferrante will take on Tommy Karpency in a ten round battle for the Pennsylvania State Light Heavyweight championship,
Nobles of Philadelphia has a record of 26-1 with twenty-one knockouts and will be making his first start in four years, which was a first round stoppage over Andy Sample.
Nobles holds a stoppage win over former WBA Heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon and his only defeat was a controversial disqualification defeat to future WBA champion Nikolai Valuev in a bout that Nobles was ejected for low blows that appeared to be caused by Valuev’s trunks being elevated.
Rabotte is a veteran of thirty professional fights and should prove to be a good test for Nobles. Rabotte has fought contenders Seth Mitchell; Deontay Wilder; Nicolai Firtha; Mike Marrone and Anmir Mansour.
Victor Vasquez , 14-5-1 with seven KO’s will take part in a six round Lightweight bout.
Undefeated Super Middleweight Derrick Webster (10-0, 6 KO’s) of Glassboro, NJ taking on Teneal Goyco (4-2, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia in a six round bout.
Joey Tiberi (5-1, 4 KO’s) of Newark, Delaware takes on Mike Maley (4-8, 3 KO’s) of Whiting, Indiana in a four round Lightweight bout.
Alex Barbosa of Philadelphia will be making his pro debut against an opponent to be named in a four round Bantamweight bout.
Light Heavyweight Shawn Beckles of New York will be making his pro debut in a four round bout against Maurice Amaro (1-4) of Philadelphia
Anthony Young of Atlantic City will be making his pro debut against Andrew Jones of Buffalo, new York in a four round Welterweight affair.
Rounding out the show will be a four bout of pro debuting Jr. Middleweights in former UFC star Waylon Lowe of Philadelphia taking on Arkansas native Shelby Willhite.
Tickets are now on sale for $100 (VIP); $65 (Ringside) and $45 (General Admission) and can be purchased at the Harrahs Chester Gift Shop; By calling Joey Eye (267-304-9399); David Feldman (610-291-0806); 800-480-8020 or on www.webtix.net