Undefeated heavyweight and WBC #15 World rated David “El Nino” Rodriguez (36-0-34ko’s) has agreed to face the tough and former World Boxing Council (WBC) Caribbean heavyweight champion Manuel ” El Toro” Quezada (29-7-19ko’s) for the WBC FECOMBOX (Mexican National) heavyweight title, this exciting matchup will take place at The Firelake Grand Casino in Shawnee Oklahoma, undercard to be announce shortly.
Underwood, Brown and Crews Advance at the 2012 World Championships While Shields Suffers Her First Loss
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) Lightweight Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.) moved one step closer to a berth in the 2012 Olympic Games with a convincing victory in her second bout of the 2012 World Championships on Monday in Qinhuangdao, China. Seventeen-year-old middleweight Claressa Shields (Flint, Mich.) suffered the first loss of six-year boxing career, but due to AIBA’s qualifying procedures, she could still have a shot at the Olympic Games. Featherweight Tiara Brown (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) and light heavyweight Franchon Crews (Baltimore, Md.) each won their opening bouts on Monday to advance in the tournament.
Underwood faced Zealand’s Alexis Pritchard in the second round bout and took early control of the bout. She more than doubled Pritchard’s point total in the first, taking a 5-2 lead after one and showcased more of the same in the second round. Underwood held a 12-5 lead after one but she poured it on in the third, scoring 10 points while holding Pritchard to only two in the round. The five-time U.S. national champion enjoyed a 22-7 lead as the final round began and went on to win a 28-9 final decision to advance to Tuesday’s action. She will face Norway’s Ingrid Egner on Tuesday. Under AIBA’s altered selection process, Underwood must be the number one finisher in the Americas to punch her ticket for London. The only other boxer from the Americas remaining in action is Brazil’s Adriana Araujo, who recently won the 2012 Women’s Continental Championships.
Shields entered the 2012 Women’s World Championships undefeated in her career but that streak ended on Sunday as she fell to reigning World silver medalist Savannah Marshall of England. Shields and Marshall boxed to a 2-2 tie after the first round but Marshall took the lead in the second round and didn’t let it go through the remainder of the bout. The British boxer held a 7-4 lead after one and extended it to an 11-7 advantage with one round remaining. She held on over the final two minutes to defeat Shields by a 14-8 margin. As all of the middleweight boxers from the Americas have now been eliminated, Shields could still end the tournament as one of the top two finishers based upon Marshall’s finish.
Brown faced off with India’s Mandakini Chanu Kangabam in her first bout of the tournament on Monday. The score was extremely close in the first three rounds with the two boxers tied at 7-7 at the halfway point. Brown entered the final round up one but left nothing to chance, outscoring her opponent by four points to win a 21-16 final decision. She moves on to a bout on Wednesday with China’s Jian Qin.
Veteran Franchon Crews (Baltimore, Md.) took on France’s Sabrina Delarue in light heavyweight action on Monday in her first bout of the event. Crews got off to a quick start, claiming a 4-1 lead after one and continued to build on her lead throughout the four rounds of action. She took a 16-6 advantage after three rounds and claimed a dominating 22-8 final decision in the bout. She will return to action on Wednesday in a contest with Dariga Shakimova of Kazakhstan.
Five U.S. boxers will highlight Tuesday’s competition in China with Olympic hopefuls Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) and Underwood facing Vietnam’s Luu Thi Duyen and Norway’s Ingrid Egner respectively. Light flyweight Alex Love (Monroe, Wash.) will see her first action in a contest with Nazym Kyzaybay of Kazakhstan while light welterweight Mikaela Mayer (Los Angeles, Calif.) takes on New Zealand’s Laura Matthews in her tournament opener. Bantamweight Christina Cruz (New York, N.Y.) will challenge Norway’s Shora Razaiz Jahroni in her second bout of the tournament.
More information on the qualification process for Shields following her loss will be available tomorrow.
U.S. Results
125 lbs: Tiara Brown, Lehigh Acres,Fla./USA dec. Mandakini Chanu Kangabam, IND, 21-16
132 lbs: Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash./USA dec. Alexis Pritchard, NZL, 28-9
165 lbs: Savannah Marshall, ENG, dec. Claressa Shields, Flint, Mich./USA, 14-8
178 lbs: Franchon Crews, Baltimore, Md./USA dec. Sabrina Delarue, FRA, 22-8
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
Bruun vs. Yuseinov on May 26th
Undefeated Danish Light Welterweight prospect Kasper Bruun (13-0-1, 3 KOs) will take on Bulgarian Champion Asen Yuseinov (10-3-2, 6 KOs) on Euro Event´s promotion at Skyline Arena in Randers, Denmark on May 26.
Already announced for the card is a clash between former WBC, WBA, WIBF, WIBA & GBU World Champion Anita Christensen (24-1-1, 8 KOs) and French Champion Isabelle Leonardi (8-9-2, 3 KOs).
In preparation for the tough Yuseinov, 25-year-old Bruun has been working with American trainer Jimmy Montoya, who also trains former Super Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler, and he is hoping that the input of the experienced cornerman will help him put on a good performance.
Kim Poulsen (20-1, 6 KOs), Abdul Khattab (1-0, 1 KO) and Stephan Alms (1-0, 1 KO) will make up the rest of the professional part of the show, that also includes an amateur national team match between Denmark and Estonia, against opponents still to be announced.
Tickets are on sale via www.billetlugen.dk and by phone (0045) 70 263 267.
MATCHROOM SPORT WIN RACE TO SIGN KAL YAFAI
Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport are delighted to announce the signing of Kal Yafai – and the exciting youngster has been backed by Carl Froch and Kell Brook to become a big star.
Yafai will make his debut on the undercard of Brook’s IBF welterweight showdown with American Carson Jones on July 7 at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, where Brook will be looking to secure a World title shot in the autumn.
The 22 year old from Birmingham turns over to the pro ranks after a glittering amateur career that saw him pick up key honours including World Junior title, three European silver medals and an ABA title, as well as representing Great Britain at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
“It’s a massive show and a fantastic opportunity and the sort of night all fighters want to appear in,” said Yafai. “It’s a huge showcase for my talent on the very first night and I can’t thank Eddie enough for putting me on such a huge bill in my first fight. It’s a new chapter in my career and it’s what I’ve wanted to do since I started boxing – to turn pro and become a World champion.
“I just want to get into the pro game and get a feel of it, I’m not going to rush into making bold predictions that I’m going to be winning British titles inside a year, but I’ve got big ambitions and I know that Eddie is going to want to move me on quicker than others because of my amateur pedigree, which I’m obviously really happy with.”
Two-time World super middleweight champion Carl Froch has trained beside Yafai at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield and has tipped his new stablemate to be a hit in the pro ranks.
“Kal has definitely got the goods to go a very long way in the pros,” said Froch. “He’s got fast hands, light on his feet and really strong – Kal is perfect for the pro game and he will be great to watch.”
Unbeaten Sheffield star Brook has also seen Yafai at close quarters and believes he is a great ambition to Hearn’s top class stable of British talent.
“I’ve seen Kal down at the EIS a lot and I’m really impressed with his attitude,” said Brook. “He’s keen to learn and improve which is really good to see – especially as he already has the makings of a top class fighter. We got on really well and he’s a very confident lad and that bodes well for his career. I’m delighted he’s making his debut on my show and I’ll be there to give him any advice he needs, and I’m sure the rest of Team Matchroom will be too.”
Yafai’s signature was much sought after and Hearn spoke of his delight at adding him to former Team GB teammate Scotty Cardle in his stable.
“Every now and then a fighter comes along that is very, very special,” said Hearn. “I’m so pleased that Kal has joined the team. He will be a superstar and deserves the superstar treatment and that begins now. We will give him the big build up for his debut at Sheffield Arena on July 7 and viewers and fans will be seeing plenty of him over the next few years.”
Tickets for Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones featuring Kal Yafai’s debut and the European title rematches between Gavin Rees and Derry Mathews (lightweight) and Kerry Hope and Greg Proksa (middleweight)are on sale now priced £30, £40, £60, and £100 from the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield box office on 0114 256 5656 and at www.motorpointarenasheffield.com.
VIP packages will be sold exclusively by Matchroom Sport priced £150 on 01277 359900 or at www.matchroomboxing.com. The package includes inner ringside seating (front seven rows), pre-fight party from 5.30pm-8pm with complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and canapés. (The bar will stay open as a pay bar after 8pm.)