NOTE: WEIGHTS (Oct. 27, 2011) – Brandon “Flawless” Gonzales (14-0-1, 10 KOs) of Sacramento, Calif., weighed in at 161.5 pounds and Ossie “The Ghanaian Gladiator” Duran (26-8-2, 10 KOs) of Paterson, N.J., 161 pounds one day before their eight-round middleweight main event showdown on ShoBox: The New Generation,Friday, Oct. 28, at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Bally’s Grand Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J.
In the eight-round welterweight co-feature, 2008 US Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina (9-0, 4 KOs) from Norwalk, Calif., tipped the scales at 146 pounds and Artemio “King” Reyes (13-1, 11 KOs) of Colton, Calif., weighed 147 pounds.
Here’s what each fighter had to say on Thursday:
BRANDON GONZALES:
“Nothing looks better than winning. Whether it’s in sparring or a fight on TV, I always try to perform to the top level.
“As far as my work ethic goes, it was always there. But what my trainer Virgil (Hunter) brings to the table is peace of mind and consistency. He knows so much about nutrition, strength and conditioning. He brings it all together.”
OSSIE DURAN:
“Gonzales has got to go through me so tomorrow we’ll see if he can. I need to look good so I can get more TV fights. That’s why I took this fight.
“Every fight is different. Every fighter is different. When I fought (James) Kirkland on ShoBox, the pace was quick. It had to be. For Gonzales, I’ll do whatever I need to do to prove to people I’m for real.”
JAVIER MOLINA:
“Reyes is predicting he’ll knock me out but I have no comment on that. Saying and doing are two separate things.
“I think Reyes is a good fighter and it’s time for me to step up so I took the fight.
“I’m happy to be on ShoBox. It’s my first ShoBox fight so I’m excited … and confident.”
ARTEMIO REYES:
“I took this fight for the opportunity to be on ShoBox. I couldn’t pass it up. It’s very important to look good, to catch the eye of people who put on the nationally televised fights.
“I’m going to knock (Molina) out. I’ve had a great camp. He hasn’t faced anybody. I have a great team around me. It’s mixture of everything.”
BRANDON GONZALES
161.5 LBS
OSSIE DURAN
162 LBS
JAVIER MOLINA
146 LBS
ARTEMIO REYES
147 LBS
RAMON ELLIS
135 LBS
JESSE CRAWFORD
135 LBS
JOHN LENNOX
222 LBS
DONNIE CRAWFORD
216 LBS
KOREY SLOANE
140 LBS
JASON SIA
139 LBS
ANTHONY ALLEN
127 LBS
JASON SOSA
131 LBS
KEVIN WOMACK JR.
143 LBS
KOREY PRITCHETT
140 LBS
WEIGHTS FROM CHESTER, PA
Franklin Lawrence 231 – Raymond Ocheing 246
Derrick Webster 168.5 – Teneal Goyco 171.5
Joey Tiberi 137 – Mike Maley 135
Alex Barbosa 121 – Brian Gonzalez 119
Anthony Young 145 – Kywame Hill 145
Venue: Harrahs Chester
Promoter: Joey Eye Boxing Promotions
1st Bell: 7:30 pm
Hall of Fame Flags at Half-Staff for Amilcar Brusa
CANASTOTA, NY – OCTOBER 28, 2011 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced its flags will fly at half-staff in memory of trainer Amilcar Brusa. He passed away yesterday. He was 89. 2007 Hall of Fame Inductee Amilcar Brusa.
Born on October 23, 1922 in Santa Fe, Argentina, Brusa began training boxers in 1950 and is regarded as the foremost boxing trainer in South America. On November 7, 1970, Hall of Famer Carlos Monzon won the world middleweight championship and became the first of 14 fighters Brusa would mold into world champion. Other boxers he guided to world titles include Miguel Angel Cuello, Francisco Quiroz, Rafael Pineda, Sugar Baby Rojas, Francisco Tejedor, Tomas Molinares, Luis Mendoza, Miguel “Happy” Lora, Antonio Esparragoza, Juan Diego Cordoba, Jorge Barrios, Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez and Carlos Baldomir. Renowned for his keen insight into the nuances of the sweet science, Brusa was named “Trainer of the Year” in 1989. For many years Brusa operated out of the La Brea Boxing Academy in Los Angeles.
“Amilcar Brusa was an outstanding trainer,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “His incredible resume, including 14 world champions, speaks for itself. We join the entire boxing world in remembering his life.”
In 2007, Brusa was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.