Georgia Grand Jury Indicts Suspects in Ex-Boxing Champion Vernon Forrest's Murder - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

Georgia Grand Jury Indicts Suspects in Ex-Boxing Champion Vernon Forrest's Murder - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

Kelly Pavlik denying Paul Williams, boxing fans - ESPN

Kelly Pavlik denying Paul Williams, boxing fans - ESPNHaving met up with Paul Williams earlier this year in Canastota, NY, I was looking forward to the planned Pavlik - Williams matchup. According to ESPN's crack boxing reporter, Dan Rafael, the fight has big problems. Cancellation, in fact. You can read Rafael's column on the details right here but it's still anybody's guess what's going to happen.

Golden Boy Promotions Hosts ESPN Friday Night Fights with RJ Sockwell

:: Golden Boy Promotions Inc. ::Golden Boy Boxing is promoting a fight card tonight featuring the one and only R. J. Sockwell vs. Martin Vierra. R.J has a 4 and 0 record with three KOs but, of course, the peeps at BoxRec have mixed up the name and posted Vierra's opponent as Robert Stockwell. It's an easy mistake to make, but poor Vierra--he thinks he's going to fight a guy with an oh and oh record.

Vivian Harris is at the top of the card at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona. Also featured on the card is Philadelphia' Danny Garcia with a no-loss record and lots of KOs.

Keith Thurmond, up from Florida, is also a guy to watch. There are a couple of females on the card, too, and they're probably happy that Women's Boxing is back at the next Olympics.

Alfredo Angulo Rises up from Cintron Loss

 

David Rosetti and I visited with Kermit "killer" Cintron at the Hall of Fame Induction weekend at Canistota New York. Cintron was just off a stunning victory over tough Alfredo Angulo so recently that one side of his face store showed bruising. That was a great comeback for Cintron, a Pennsylvania boy who got his start in nearby Reading, PA. Ya gotta' love your local boys and Cintron is a 1st class gentleman, soft-spoken and sincere outside the ring. His tee-shirt has it right--life is a fight.

Lots of fight fans favored Angulo to win but it didn't turn out that way, so then it was Angulo's turn to stage a comeback fight. He told the ESNPN interview he was going to bring it and that's exactly what he did when he faced Gabriel Rosado.

Philadelphia boxer Gabriel Rosado wasn't paying attention in a half clinch with Alfredo Angulo in their Friday Night Fights Match on ESPN August 7. Both fighters had a hand free but Angulo fired a bomb that sent Rosado to the canvas. Rosado protested the knockdown and seemed okay but was distracted as Angulo closed in,determined to crush his opponent. Referees tell boxer to "protect yourself at all times" and that's advice that Rosada should have followed. Another crashing right hand put him to the canvas a second time. At that point, Rosado was wobbly, an impression that didn't escape Angulo's notice.

Angulo wasn't going to be nudged out of the game, not by a long shot. A third knockdown and the referee decided against a continuation. Rosado wasn't happy, but his chances of surviving were pretty slim.

Anthony Direlle Continues Serial TKOs

It was a matter of time before Alfreda Contreras would have hit the deck for the 10 count. Direlle's from Flint, Michigan and is not as well known as bro Andre Direlle but he's a hard hitter and 18 people retired from the ring against Direlle with only one decision and that one, unamimous.

Direlle is also notable because he returned to boxing after a long battle with cancer. He was out of the ring from 2006 to 2008 when he was cleared by his doctors to return to the sport.

Contreras was tough and had game during his match with Direlle on Friday Night Fights. Direlle opened up early with hard shots. Contreras has some moves but he's not a hard puncher and Direlle posted up and blasted back confidently. The referee wisely stopped it in seven.

International Boxing Hall of Fame: - Associated Content

International Boxing Hall of Fame: - Associated ContentClick on the headline--this is an article I wrote for an Associated Content website--tells you about the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canistota, NY.

International National Boxing Hall of Fame, Canistota, New York

A great place to visit at any time, but especially during the Annual Induction Ceremony. Here's my take on it from this years 2009 Induction visit.

Pro boxer Vernon Forrest fatally shot in Atlanta | ajc.com

Pro boxer Vernon Forrest fatally shot in Atlanta  | ajc.comIt kind of really sucks that we lost Gatti to a murder and now, Vernon Forrest. Vernon was a genius kind of fighter who could figure out the other guy and make him pay. What else could account for his two wins over the great Shane Mosely? Also notable is the way he took on Mayorga and made him look rough (which he is) and unschooled (which he was, last time I looked).

To me, those were greater accomplishments than his win over Sergio Mora, which brought him more notoriety because of Mora's participation on Ray Leonard-Sly Stallone Contender Series.

My condolences to Vernon Forrest's family and friends, as little as that may help.

In Memoriam: Arturo Gatti

 

Arturo Gatti's mom holds up his championship belt at the unhappy occasion of his funeral. Gatti was found dead in his hotel room, and his young wife is being held in a Brazil jail, under suspicion.

Late in his ring career, Gatti was soundly defeated by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. but exhibited the highest standards of courage and determination in his three battles with the legendary Irish Mickey Ward. Gatti was one of a kind, and while the media has not paid as much attention to him as it has to football stars like Michael Vick or the late Brian McNair, the boxing world mourns the death of this great champion.

Boxer Arturo Gatti found dead in Brazilian hotel room, foul play suspected

Boxer Arturo Gatti found dead in Brazilian hotel room, foul play suspected

Investigators certain Amanda Rodrigues Gatti acted alone in murder of husband, Arturo Gatti

Investigators certain Amanda Rodrigues Gatti acted alone in murder of husband, Arturo Gatti

The Associated Press: Gatti wife to AP: I'm innocent, will be proven

The Associated Press: Gatti wife to AP: I'm innocent, will be proven

Quick Shots

 

Marshall Kaufman: Boxing Trainer

 

Christy Brunner : Victor in Battle of Lancaster

This girl Christy has a winning personality and a fighting spirit. She didn't let a previous setback stop her from making Catherine Beck wish she were somewhere else this night. Christy was always strong and athletic, but looks hard to beat as she uses her boxing skills to outclass and outpunch an opponent who showed great heart.

Ivan Matute -- Fast and Furious

I met Ivan in two different gyms. He's currently at Brian Pedone's where I had a chance to work with him just a little. He's coming along very well under Brian's excellent tutelage and positive influence. Ivan came to the PA gyms with some experience in the sport from when he lived in New York. Check him out...he's nice...

Josh Rivera--Young, Well-Schooled, and Determined

I don't know if the young Mr. Rivera is 14 or whether he's turned 15, but he's shown steady improvement, a great work ethic, natural athletic talent, and fierce determination. The opponent was no shrinking violet and brought a lot of fight to this match.

Pacquiao KOs Hatton--Who Knew?

I did, and so did a lot of other people. I didn't pay for the fight and didn't see it yet but Hatton is unidirectional. He could probably beat a guy who just stood there and didn't punch back. Punching back against Pacquiao was probably a little bit like punching a puff of smoke. In this case, the smoke punched back. If you've seen Manny Pacquiao fight, you've seen he is capable of volcanic explosion.

If you looked at the Hatton-Mayweather fight, you would see Hatton lunging toward Mayweather in a corner. In my memory, I keep thinking I see Mayweather grinning. Then boom, it's over!

Freddie Roach must have seen Mayweather grinning before he knocked Hatton out. In the pre-fight hoopla, I saw Freddie Roach grinning, too. And this time I wasn't day-dreaming.

I'm glad Ricky Hatton made 7 or 8 million from the fight. Not bad for what Mayweather calls a good "class-B fighter."

Picking the Right Boxing Gloves - Associated Content

Picking the Right Boxing Gloves - Associated Content

Broadway Boxing from B.B. King's in New York

I'm at a burn-out crossroads with boxing so it's refreshing to watch the new young guns (and some older ones) on Broadway Boxing. Interesting matchups last night. I liked the 4-rounders by virtual unknowns--that's sometimes more exciting than the "big names." Put me on your mailing list--we're in Pennysylvania but fully intend to make it over there on some fine evening...

BTW, what's up with Curtis Stevens. I've heard nothing lately.