Category Archives: boxing
Before and After: The Incredible Rebirth of Mikey ‘Baby Face’ Faragon
Legendary Air Force Academy boxing coach Ed Weichers coached perfect storm
COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub yim hli ntuj 8, 2019) – Boxing coachEd Weichers, a charter member of the USA Boxing Alumni Association, guided the United States Air Force Academy from 1976-2014 to a record of 19 national collegiate boxing team championships.
Coach Weichers’ Fighting Falcons’ squads produced a remarkable 258 All-America boxers and 97 individual champions. His teams never finished lower than second in the nation for 27 years and he also served as president and vice president of the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA).
Coaching sports at a military school is much different, largely because student-athletes in most cases, tshwj xeeb tshaj yog boxing, are not professional prospects. “Our Cadets were not trained to be elite level amateurs or pros,” the now 68-year-old Weichers explained. “In 1976, the cost to put one Cadet through four years at the Academy was $80,000 tab sis, nyob rau hauv 2014, the year of my retirement, that figure was $417,000. Cadets are trained to go forward and serve. They fly, sib ntaus, win and defend freedoms that we all enjoy. Boxing at the next level is not part of the discussion. I got calls at the time about our boxers going to the next level, fighting in Tough Man Contests, etc. My answer is and has always been consistent: ‘You are not trained to be a boxer in the Air Force. Do not jeopardize your pilot qualifications or commission ability with a boxing injury.’ The Air Force has an investment in them, and I urged them to go forward and serve. I send them back to the real purpose of the boxing class/program at AFA. It teaches them how to handle press, stress, fear and anxiety. Boxing gives them the self confidence and self esteem to make good decisions in combat under pressure. The ability to handle these pressures and make good decisions are the difference in life and death in combat.”
Coach Weichers, ntawm chav kawm, attributes a large share of his success to the Cadets, who are intelligent, disciplined and team oriented. All Cadets take a mandatory core curriculum boxing course (10 lessons) their freshman year, followed by an intramural boxing program comprised of 40 squadron teams with a minimum of eight to a maximum of 16 boxers per team.
Not only did Weichers work with this incredible feeder system, the next step was the AFA Wing Open Boxing Championships, in which Cadets voluntarily signed-up to compete in one of 12 divisions to box for the No. 1 spot, earning a roster spot on the AFA Intercollegiate boxing team that competes in regional and national tournaments. The advancing 12 Cadets represented the entire Air Force Academy.
“Bottom line,’ Coach Weichers noted, “this formula was a perfect storm. I must give credit to and thank two Physical Education Department heads, Col. Don Peterson thiabCol. Larry Fariss, and two athletic directors who were instrumental to our support and success, Col. John Clune thiabCol. Randy Spetman.
“I was blessed with young men who I describe as overachievers. Cadets are tenacious. We built on an individual sport with a team concept. I had great assistant coaches, the best training facilities, and an environment of being surrounded by quality people in all phases.”
After he retired as head boxing coach at the Air Force Academy, Weichers led Team USA in 2014 thiab 2015 to five medals, including two golds, at the Pan American Games in Toronto.
“The plan was to hire Billy Walsh, who was the head coach of Team Ireland,” Weichers added. “I committed to sponsor Coach Walsh upon his arrival and make his transition smooth. I did that and Coach Walsh and I have become good friends. He is the correct man for the job, and he brings a great resume and reputation. He has helped turn the program around and created a winning culture. Team USA is back, ranked among the top 10 nyob rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no, and that is a direct result of Coach Walsh.”
USA Boxing Alumni Association
Created to champion lifelong, mutually beneficial relationships between USA Boxing and its alumni, –boxers, officials, coaches and boxing fans — The Alumni Association connects generations of champions, inspiring and giving back to USA Boxing’s future boxing champions, nyob rau hauv thiab tawm ntawm lub nplhaib.
The USA Boxing Alumni Association is open to anyone who has a love for boxing and would like to stay connected with amateur boxing. Members are granted access to a wide variety of special events hosted by the Alumni Association, including its annual USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.
To join the Alumni Association, simply register atalumni@usaboxing.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.
Weichers joined the USA Boxing Alumni Association because he is a huge supporter ofJohn Brown, former President and current Vice President of USA Boxing.
“John had the idea or concept (to form the alumni association) and I looked at the purpose and thought it would be a way to honor and recognize those who contributed over the years,” Weichers remarked. “I hope that successful professionals from the past and present recognize those who contributed over the years. I also hope that they remember their roots were with USA Boxing and give back. We all had help and our start and success did not happen alone. Be humble and grateful and give back.”
Weichers is high on Team USA, especially its overall potential in the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, hais tias, “We’re solid going into 2020. The key to success, nyob rau hauv kuv lub tswv yim, is head coach Billy Walsh. He is very experienced. His reputation and resume are top shelf. Coach Walsh is well known and respected on the international level. He has the ability to reach out to other countries and make positive things happen for our athletes. He has adjusted the culture in our boxing program, identifying our strengths, and making adjustment where weak. Coach Walsh brings leadership and credibility. Bottom line, we have the right coach for the job in place.”
Weichers’ association with the NCBA led to his relationship with USA Boxing at various levels and capacities. He has always felt gratified to give back to boxing, as well as an obligation to grow the sport at every level.
“I was lucky/blessed to work in a place I refer to as Camelot,” Weichers concluded. “It’s an athletic paradise; core values, honor code, and a mission that anyone can connect with and admire. I can say that I am a better person for my experience at the Air Force Academy.
“I love the sport of boxing, because of what it did for me, in terms of molding my life. The gratification that comes with seeing how young men and women grow and mature, as a result of their experience with boxing was very positive.
And countless Cadets are better people because they were coached by Ed Weichers.
NTAUB NTAWV:
Twitter: @USABoxing, @USABoxingAlumni
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
HAIS TXOG USA BOXING: The mission of USA Boxing shall be to enable United States’ athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence, develop character, support the sport of boxing, and promote and grow Olympic style boxing in the United States. The responsibility of USA Boxing is not only to produce Olympic gold, but also oversee and govern every aspect of amateur boxing in the United States.
DEVIN HANEY VS. ZAUR ABDULLAEV SEPTEMBER 13 AT THE HULU THEATER IN NYC
CLARESSA Shields vs. IVANA HABAZIN RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, KAUM HLI 5 NYOB RAU SHOWTIME®
SELINA BARRIOS WINS BY FIRST ROUND KNOCKOUT
UNBEATEN ADAM KOWNACKI DEFEATS CHRIS ARREOLA BY UNANIMOUS DECISION IN RECORD SETTING ACTION FIGHT THAT HEADLINED FOX PBC FIGHT NIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT FROM BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN
WBC Super Featherweight Champion Eva Wahlstrom retains title, fights split draw with Ronica Jeffrey
John Vera returns to ring with win
RJJ BOXING ON UFC FIGHT PASS
RAUG RAWS NTAUB NTAWV TAU
Las Vegas (Lub yim hli ntuj 3, 2019) – World Boxing Council (Qhov) female World super featherweight champion Eva Wahlstrom retained her title by fighting to a 10-round split draw last night with challenger Ronica “Queen” Jeffrey at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Wahlstrom vs. Jeffrey was the main event on another RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS series installment, which was streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports
RJJ Boxing Promotions offered free admission to reward its loyal Las Vegas fans and 5,400 turned out to watch the action.
Wahlstrom (22-1-2), fighting out of Finland, was coming off a loss by decision to undefeated Irish starKatie Taylor this past February at famed Madison Square Garden in New York City. The skilled Finn has been the WBC titlist since 2015 and this was her fifth successful title defense.
Jeffrey (17-1-1, 1 KO), a former IWBF world champion from Brooklyn, was riding a four-fight win streak going into last night’s fight against Wahlstrom.
Wahlstrom and Jeffrey are both tactical, pure boxers who fought that way last night, going back and forth without either being hurt. It was an even fight that could have gone either way with judgeTim Cheatham scoring it a draw (95-95), Richard Ocasio slightly favored Walstrom (96-94), thiabLisa Giampa inexplicitly had Jeffrey winning all 10 rounds (100-90).
Nyob rau hauv lub co-featured kev tshwm sim, former top 10 rated junior middleweightJohn “The Phenom” Vera(19-1, 11 Kos) moved up to middleweight, after losing for the first time as a pro last March in France toMichel Soro by way of a 12-round decision. Vera, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas, won a six-round decision against his Uzbek opponent, Ravshan Hudaynazarov (17-2, 13 Kos), the former WBA FEDALATIN welterweight champion.
Las Vegas-based super bantamweightJamie “The Miracle” Mitchell (5-0-2, 3 Kos) and VirginianBritain Hart (3-3-2, 2 Kos) battled to a six-round majority draw.
Local favoriteTrevor Covington won his professional debut, taking a four-round unanimous decision in the Fight of the Night against Los Angles super flyweightMing Freeman (1-4-1), who had a point deducted for a low blow.
Official results below:
MAIN EVENT – WBC WORLD FEMALE SUPER FEATHRWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Eva Wahlstrom (22-1-2, 3 Kos), Yeej, Helsinki, Finland
SD10 (96-94, 95-95, 90-100)
Ronica Jeffrey (17-1-1, 1 KO), Challenger, Brooklyn, NY
(Wahlstrom retained world title)
CO-FEATURE – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
John “The Phenom” Vera (19-1, 11 Kos), Fort Worth, TX
WDEC 6 (58-56, 58-56, 58-56)
Ravshan Hudaynazarov (17-2, 13 Kos), Las Vegas, NV by way of Uzbekistan
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS
Jamie Mitchell (5-0-2, 3 Kos), Las Vegas, NV
MD6 (589-56, 57-57, 57-57
Britain Hart (3-3-2, 2 Kos), Roanoke, VA
SUPER FLYWEIGHTS
Trevor Covington (1-0), Henderson, NV
WDEC4 (37-36, 37-36, 37-36)
Ming Freedom (1-4-1), Los Angeles, XWS LI
NTAUB NTAWV:
Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com, www.ufc.tv/page/fightpass,www.thomasandmack.com
Twitter: @RoyjonesJRfa, @RoyJonesJrOfficial, @UFCFightPass, @KeithVeltre, @ThomasAndMack, @wahlstrom_eva
Instagram: @RoyJonesJRboxing, @artofmusiclv, @rivalboxinggear, @UFCFightPass, @KeithVeltre, @ThomasandMack, @eva_wahlstrom
Facebook: /KeithVeltre, /UFCFightPass, /Thomas&MackCenter, /EvaWahlstrom,
Oshae Jones Ua Rau Keeb Kwm ntawm 2019 Yias American ua si
LIMA, Peru (Lub yim hli ntuj 2, 2019) — Oshae Jones (Toledo, Ohio) ua keeb kwm ntawm thawj hmo hmo kawg ntawm qhov kawg 2019 Yias Asmeskas Ua Si hauv Lima, Peru los ntawm kev ua thawj tus poj niam lub welterweight Pan American Games kub tus kws ncaws. Qhov no cim thawj zaug hauv Pan American Games keeb kwm Cov poj niam yuav muaj tsib qhov kev kawm hnyav, piv rau ob qho kev Sib tw Yav dhau los uas muaj peb cov kev kawm hnyav.
Jones yeej yeej Myriam DaSilva ntawm Canada los ntawm kev txiav txim siab yam tsis muaj kev lees paub, yeej txhua yam peb ncig, 10-9, los ntawm ob tug kws txiav txim plaub, thiab ob ntawm peb ncig, 10-9, los ntawm ib tus kws txiav txim.
Qhov cim no yog zaum ob thiab Jones thiab DaSilva tau mus rau-qhov-hau-lub taub hau, nrog Jones yeej nws 5-0 ntawm Pan American Ua Haujlwm Kev Ncaws Pob Ua Si thaum ntxov xyoo no.
Jones 'yav dhau los yeej Atheyna Bylon ntawm Panama nyob rau hauv lub quarterfinals thiab M. Moronta Herand ntawm Dominican Republic hauv lub semifinals los ua qhov kawg ntawm cov kev sib tw no.
Pab neeg USA yuav saib kom kaw tawm lawv qhov kev ua tau zoo tshaj plaws Pan American Games txij li thaum 1983, tag kis tsaus ntuj nrog plaub lub thawv mus rau kub, Keyshawn Davis (Norfolk, Va.), Virginia Fuchs (Houston, Texas), Na-aumi graham (Colorado Springs, Colo.) thiab Duke Ragan (Cincinnati, Ohio). Lawv plaub lub khoom ntxiv yuav tau ntxiv rau Jones 'cov pa kub thiab tsib lub chij tooj tsib uas yeej yeej rau lub asthiv dhau los Rashida Ellis (Lynn, Loj.), Troy Isley (Alexandria, Va.), Delante Johnson (Cleveland, Ohio), Yarisel Ramirez (Las Vegas, Nev.) thiab Cai Richard Torrez Jr. (Tulare, California.).
Ua raws li Asmeskas hnub kawg ntawm kev ntaus kis las los ntawm nyem rau ntawm no: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing/2019-Pan-American-Games
Tau
69 kg: Oshae Jones, Toledo, Ohio / USA, txim. dhau Myriam DaSilva / CAN, 5-0