Trout routs LoPorto; Macklin wants Sergio Martinez bout

EL PASO, Texas (Nov. 12, 2011) – After three years without national television exposure, undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight champion Austin Trout dominated Frank LoPorto for more than five rounds before referee Rafael Ramos stopped the fight at 2:32 of the sixth in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation. In the evening’s co-feature from minor league ballpark Cohen Stadium in El Paso, Texas, the Brazilian-born prospect Michael Oliveira won by disqualification over Xavier Toliver when referee Robert Chapa ended the bout at 1:31 of round eight when Toliver punched Oliveira on the break.

Rich in talent and amateur credentials but lacking in exposure, Trout (24-0, 14 KOs), of Las Cruces, N.M., seized the moment. From the first bell, he outclassed his Aussie opponent with hand speed and boxing acumen. The rugged LoPorto showed heart and toughness in the bout but little else.

Leading with his head in an attempt to pressure the champ, LoPorto found himself on the canvas in the first round after walking directly into Trout’s right hand. When he returned to his feet, it appeared that the fight might not see the second round. Trout upped his work rate to stop the challenger early but LoPorto pushed himself to make it through the opening three minutes.

LoPorto (15-5-2, 7 KOs), of Melbourne, Australia, remained upright for the rest of the championship tilt but failed to accomplish much else. His punches were slow and telegraphed. His legs appeared largely unstable. And his head moved less than most of the hanging curves thrown in Cohen Stadium.

As SHOWTIME boxing analyst Steve Farhood put it during the fight, “Frank LoPorto won’t win this fight with skill. His only chance will be with will.”

Trout successfully removed the will from his game opponent. In addition to the first round knockdown, Trout bloodied the bridge of LoPorto’s nose early and tagged him with shots from all angles. The 154-pound titlist fought quicker, smarter and more effectively in the one-sided scrap. As Trout began to brutalize the 33-year-old LoPorto in the clutches of the neutral corner in the sixth round, the Australian’s trainer tried to end the fight but referee Ramos made the call himself.

“He is a tough guy,” Trout said afterwards. “He just kept coming. I felt like he wasn’t going to quit so I needed to stay busy. I just kept pushing, trying to get that stoppage.”

When asked about the quality of his performance, Trout responded “I felt like I did my thing. If anybody feels like I don’t deserve this belt, please come and take it.”

The win for Trout marked his third title defense.

In the eight-round middleweight co-featured attraction, Toliver (23-8, 15 KOs) stormed out his corner in an attempt to blitz Oliveira. Startled by the ambush, the 21-year-old youngster showed poise and recovered before the end of the round.

As the fight pushed on, it became clear that Toliver – who took the match on very short notice – started so quickly because his conditioning was lacking. Oliveira (16-0, 13 KOs), of Miami, Fla. served up plenty of combinations and the Atlanta-based Toliver ate most of them throughout the night. Early on, Toliver took punches in an attempt to counter his opponent. But by the middle and later rounds, he absorbed punishment while languishing against the ropes without retaliating.

At the end of the seventh, Oliveira bloodied Toliver’s bottom lip and the listless journeyman headed back to his corner exhausted. Toliver’s trainer Eric Williams threatened to stop the bout before the eighth but Toliver insisted that he fight on.

In the final round, the tired combatants were holding one another when referee Chapa broke the action to separate them. As Chapa pried them apart, Toliver caught Oliveira with a right hand to the face. The illegal action caused Chapa to end the fight via disqualification.

Referee Chapa also intervened earlier in the bout when he deducted a point from Toliver for a clash of heads in the fifth, after several warnings.

“This was definitely the hardest fight I’ve ever fought,” said Oliveira. “My conditioning was superior. I’ll be even better next time.”

The event was promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.

The telecast will replay on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and be available on SHOWTIME On Demand from Nov. 14 through Nov. 27.

Al Bernstein called the action alongside ringside analyst Farhood. The executive producer is Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

MACKLIN WANTS MARTINEZ SETS STAGE FOR MASSIVE 2012 NYC SHOWDOWN

New York, NY – (11/14/2011) – You don’t see or hear of many top fighters calling out the name of Middleweight Champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez. Martinez, the WBC Diamond belt Middleweight Champion, and 2010 “Fighter of the Year” is currently riding a four-fight win streak (W12 Kelly Pavlik, KO2 Paul Williams, TKO8 Serhiy Dzinziruk, TKO11 Darren Barker) that has seen him climb the pound-for-pound list, falling behind only Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, both of whom have so far expressed no serious interest in facing Martinez.

That being said it might come as a surprise to hear a fighter actually eager to enter the ring against Martinez, but that’s exactly the case with Ireland’s Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin. Macklin (28-3, 19KO’s), the former European Champion, and WBA #4 rated middleweight in the world, is coming off a very impressive and entertaining showing on EPIX against “Super” WBA Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm, in which Sturm was awarded a highly controversial split decision in his home country of Germany, on June 25.

Looking to further his career and secure another major fight in the middleweight division, Macklin signed with Lou DiBella’s DiBella Entertainment, also the promoter of Martinez. After signing with Dibella, Macklin traveled stateside, setting himself up in New York City with a plan to stay through the remainder of 2011 and promote his name to the large Irish communities within the New York City area.

“I’m enjoying life in New York. I felt it was important to move here so that I can build a fan base if I am going to fight here on a regular basis. I’m determined to give the city and the huge Irish community here a fighter to be proud of,” said Macklin.

Macklin realizes that Martinez is vying for a shot at the only two fighters ahead of him on the pound-for-pound list, but he feels that if those fights can’t be made, a bout against him, in New York City, on St. Patrick’s Day, is next biggest event out there.

“I’ve proved throughout my career that the bigger the challenge and the bigger the stage the better I perform, and there’s no bigger stage than fighting a guy considered to be among the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the world, in the Mecca of Boxing. Being in a massive world title fight at Madison Square Garden is the stuff every boxer dreams of and it’s close to becoming a reality for me now. The fact that it will be on St. Patrick’s Day is just the icing on the cake.”

While Macklin is by no means underestimating Martinez, he is extremely confident in his chances against the champ, especially after being on hand to witness Martinez’ last fight in person.

“I have a lot of respect for Martinez. What he’s done after taking up boxing so late is remarkable, but he’s really a natural light middleweight and I’m a big, strong middleweight. I believe that my size, strength and power will be too much for him. I think Darren Barker did better than people expected but I also think that Sergio underperformed that night. Maybe subconsciously he thought he was in for an easy night against Barker and wasn’t at his best because of that. On that performance, he was lucky he wasn’t in the ring with me because I would have knocked him out. He’ll have to up his game tenfold if he wants to hear the final bell against me, but I would expect him to and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I want to beat Sergio Martinez at his very best, with no excuses.”

Holly Holm vs. Anne Sophie Mathis Major boost for Women’s Boxing

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (November 14, 2011) – The ultimate confrontation – “World Dominance” – on December 2 between the top two women boxers in the world, American favorite Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm (30-1-3, 9 KOs) and French knockout specialist Anne Sophie Mathis (25-1, 21 KOs), promises to give women’s boxing a much needed boost in worldwide popularity.

“World Dominance,” presented by Fresquez Productions, will be held Friday night, Dec. 2 at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Holm-Mathis 10-round bout will be for the IBA Welterweight title and WBAN Championship Belt, as well as to determine the mythical No. 1 pound-for-pound world championship in women’s boxing.

“I agree that Holly and Sophie Ann are the two best women boxers in the world,” Holm’s head trainer Mike Winkeljohn said. “Holly’s beaten everybody here. She’s at the top of her game with nowhere to go (in the U.S.) Holly has a tremendous fan-base in Albuquerque. She makes so much more fighting there due to her fan-base, so there’s no reason for her to fight anywhere else. She’s always been willing to fight anybody. . Now, two continents are coming together. We’re both excited about this new challenge (Mathis) and she will be up for that challenge. “

Holm is a nine-time world champion in three different divisions (light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight) and the 29-year-old boxer has an amazing 20-0-1 (6 KOs) record in world title fights, in addition to sporting a 14-0-1 mark versus world champions. She has fought and beaten virtually all of the notable names of the past decade in women’s boxing, from 135 through 154-pound classes, including Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice). Holly is riding a 24-fight unbeaten streak, dating back to her only pro loss in 2004, when a serious cut under her eye prevented her from continuing to fight.

“Holly can box or do MMA equally well,” noted Winkeljohn, who trains Holm in both combat sports. “Women’s boxing isn’t on television in the U.S and, for sponsorships, she’s turned to MMA. Holly is the best boxer in the world and, MMA-wise, in a year she will be the best in women’s MMA, too.

“What separates her from others are her intelligence and drive. She works very hard and is a student of the game. Holly can change game plans on the spot. She always wants to do more in training than she did in the last camp. Sometimes, I have to make her stop.”

Six-time world titlist Mathis is the reigning the WIBA, WIBF and WBF World Welterweight Champion. She has won 24 consecutive bouts, dating back 16 years to her only pro loss in her second pro fight. Her Dec. 2nd showdown against Holm will mark the fifth anniversary of Ann Sophie’s first world title win, in which she stopped previously unbeaten Myriam Lamare (13-0) for the WBA crown and vacant EBU championship. Mathis’ victims also include world champions Couch, Yankovich, Ana Pascal and Nathalie Toro.

“Mathis is an anomaly because of her length and size,” Winkeljohn concluded. “She’s caused fits for opponents trying to close the gap because of her long arms. She hits hard, too. We don’t want to be on the end of her punches.”

For more information about “World Dominance: Holm vs. Mathis” go on line to www.FresquezProductions.com.