Boxing News With Don Smith

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Posted By Don Smith
Boxing Fans,
  For 7 years, Felko Promotions and Fort McDowell Casino have teamed up to offer “Bad Boy Boxing”, an event that features amateur  Boxing and amateur  MMA action within the confines of a Hexagon Ring.  Ironically, the presentation  isn’t sanctioned by USA  Boxing or the Arizona State Boxing Commission because the Arizona State Boxing Commission doesn’t have a inter Governmental Agreement with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation; therefore,  a hands off policy is in effect.  The next Bad Boy Fight Show  is scheduled  at  Fort McDowell Resort Casino inside the   Radisson  Ballroom on Friday, September 28 at 8 PM. Championship Night follows on  Friday, November 30 at the same venue starting at 7 PM.
    Interested applicants between the ages of 18-40   are required to pay a $50.00 registration fee and pass physical requirements. All applicants must be amateurs and there is no previous fight experience required. If an applicant lies about his or her  fight experience, he/she could be disqualified.  All fighters  are required to sell an allotted number of tickets. The September 28 show wont include women on the card but Bad Boy Boxing  has included women in the past.  Entertainment is provided by the “Bad Boy” dancers and the announcing chores are handled by two Felko Promotions associates. Don’t expect to see Jimmy Lennon, Ralph Velez or Michael Buffer  on mike at center ring, if you go.
  
   Bad Boy Boxing draws well but some local amateurs refuse to get involved because they see the show as gimmicky and unprofessional. According to these same critics, applicants are poorly  screened and the officiating isn’t consistent even  though some of the personnel received training from the Arizona State Boxing and MMA Commission. The other concern is safety; Bad Boy Boxing fans  can get very rowdy after a few big gulps of beers….remember when local bars used to stage tough guy contests…you get the picture.
  Before Felko Promotions assumed the role of promoter after  Fort McDowell approached others to take the job;but they said no thank you.  In light of the controversy surrounding Bad Boy Boxing, an attempt to contact the Arizona Department of  Gaming is still ongoing.   Interested men and women meeting requirements can contact Len Hayko  at 480-772-6000. Please, don’t jump into the ring blindly….read the fine print.
Junior Middleweight  Contender Gabriel Rosado, alias “King” started  training at Busted Knuckle Gym (9/5/12)  in Phoenix for his  Friday, September 21  battle with Charles Whittaker of the Cayman Islands. 26 year old Rosado, 20-5 w/12 knockouts, is favored to best his  38 year old opponent (38-12-2 with 23 knockouts) and lay claim to the #1 IBF Junior Middleweight ranking. The  Cayman Islands are  best known for offshore investment and not producing high caliber pugilists; but, Whittaker is  ranked #2 while Rosado trails at the #3 position….  winner is promised a  title shot at IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage down the road.    The televised bout (NBC Sports) is being  broadcast from  the Sands  Casino Resort Bethlehem  in  Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a hop, skip and long  jump from Rosado’s hometown of Philadelphia. In actual driving miles, the distance is 61 miles or 98.169984 kilometers. For directions to the Cayman Islands ask Mitt Romney.   
   Gabriel Rosado  turned pro at age 19 after a mere 17 amateur fights. Rosado has some intense supporters. One of them  recently posted a  boastful challenge to Saul Alvarez on behalf of the “King”…..be careful of what you wish for! Whittaker is a bit of an unknown despite his high ranking and he will face a hostile and skeptical crowd at the Sands on 9/21.  
  
  Rosado got the VIP treatment while he was in Phoenix; thanks to his marketing manager (Michelle Rosado) no relation to the fighter. She took her client over to  The Phoenix Boys Center, a Arizona historical landmark, where he looked in awe at  all the pictures and posters of more than 50   legendary fighters that adorn  the walls of the Center made famous by its’ legendary owner and founder  Al Fenn.  After the tour, he climbed into the Center’s ring and worked out with tough  Phoenix Middleweight Isiah McFadden.   A few days later (9/11), Michelle arranged an open media workout and press conference for Rosado  at the  Phoenix South Mountain KROC Center at 1375  East Broadway in Phoenix. Despite the overcast  weather (Monsoon  warnings), 75-100 boxing fans and  local members of the media  showed up to watch the contender workout with his trainer Billy Briscoe. Phil Johnson (Phil The Grill Catering) feed everyone ,who got in line, a scrumptious  plate of  barbecued pork, baked beans and coleslaw . Phil, a Native New Yorker, knows how to quiet a hungry belly. Rosado posed for pictures and answered questions after the workout. Good way to connect with fans.
___ 34 year old  Albuquerque  New Mexico welterweight  boxer Hector Munoz has lost 7 of his last 9 fights; but, he is convinced that he can pull off the possible  upset of the year  when he meets undefeated  23 year old Sadam Ali (15-0- w/ 9 knockouts)  in a 10 round bout scheduled for October 27 in Brooklyn, New York, Ali’s hometown. Hector (20-8-1 w/13 knockouts)  attributes his new found confidence  to a new radical  high tech conditioning program and a supportive   cast  of sponsors (including KNUXX Media  and Apocalyptic Sports Nutrition) who have helped restore his self confidence .  Ali is ranked #8 by the United States Boxing Association (USBA) and #12 by the North American Boxing Organization (NABO).  Ali is a huge favorite over the unranked Munoz  ;but, Hector  lies in waiting hoping to give Ali an early Halloween surprise.
SHORT JABS: Congratulations to Muhammad Ali for his  prestigious Liberty Medal of Freedom  which was awarded to him in  Philadelphia on 9/13……  Arizona favorites Javier Loya, Jose Benavidez Jr.  and Trevor McCumby will fight on the 10/13 card at the Home Depot Center in Carson California . The  trio must be delighted to  be under card attractions on a show that features ” The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire 29-1 VS. Toshia Nishioka 39-4-3   and Brandon Rios VS. rugged Mike Alvarado. Rios and Alvarado  posses identical records; 33-0-w/23 knockouts. Rios will be making his debut as a welterweight and the event will be aired on HBO PPV…. Most boxing fans think Timothy Bradley got smoked with the announcement that  Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2 w/38 Knockouts)  will face old nemesis Juan Marquez (54-6-1 w/39 Knockouts) for a fourth time,  December 8 on HBO PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas …Does Bradley feel a chill?….. Expect Jose Benavidez Jr. to be on the under card….14 year old Alfredo Escarcegar Jr.(Central Gym in Phoenix) is trained by his father Alfredo Sr. In a past column it was reported that Jr. is trained by Jose Benavidez Sr. who does work with the kid; but, Alfredo Sr. is the official trainer. Young Alfredo hopes to make the US Olympic team in 2016.    
 Local  boxing announcer Ralph Velez  is the subject of a short documentary which has been submitted to the Sundance Film Festival. With one in the can, film talk, Ralph is working on another cinematic project  and details are forthcoming. Next boxing gig for Velez is the Celebrity Theatre  Show for Iron Boy Promotions  On October 6. He will also emcee  Iron Boy’s September 29 Press Conference at the Filiberto’s Restaurant located at 3220 E. Baseline Road in Phoenix. The event is open to the public and fighters are very accessible and happy to sign autographs and pose for pictures.  Here is the lineup for  the October 6 Celebrity Show produced by Iron Boy Promotions. Doors open at 6 PM.
 Main Event:  135 lb contest Victor Castro (6-0) Phoenix, Arizona VS. Ephrain Martinez (4-2) La Cal, Mexico 
                      128 lb contest  Chris Lopez (4-0) Phoenix, Arizona VS. Diamond Baier (2-2-1) Phoenix, Arizona
                       122 lb contest Emilio Garcia (6-0) Phoenix, Arizona VS. Jensen Ramirez (2-1-1) Tucson, Arizona
                       135 lb contest Thomas Valdez (3-0) Tucson Arizona VS. Jesus Aguinaga  (0-0) Tucson, Arizona
7 Pro Fights    122 lb contest Carlos Castro (1-0) Phoenix, Arizona VS. Angel Gonzalez (0-2) Phoenix, Arizona
                      168 lb contest Lanell Bellows (2-0) Phoenix, Arizona VS. TBD
                      190 lb contest Keith Bush (0-0) Phoenix, Arizona VS. Douglas Jackson (0-0) Phoenix, Arizona
3 Amateur    122 lb Contest Francisco D De Vaca VS. Aron Lopez Mexico   
                      122 lb contest Edgar Brito  Phoenix, Arizona VS. Andrew Duran Phoenix, Arizona
    Bouts         175 lb contest Anthony Sims Las Vegas Nevada VS. TBD
   Iron Boy promotions may make a major announcement at their 9/29 press conference if not here is the scoop. Iron Boy will open a gym in the near future and the fledgling boxing company will soon announce future plans for future shows. Roberto Vargas (CEO) has no plans to pick up stakes and run. The October 6 show is the fourth of five planned shows at the Celebrity Theatre. Click onwww.ironboypromotions.com for the latest news...UNTIL NEXT TIME !