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Legendary Referee Mickey Vann To Officiate MBC’s Inaugural Scottish Event This Saturday
Legendary globe trotting Championship referee Mickey Vann will be making one of his shortest international journeys in a long while, this coming weekend, when he officiates the first Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) sanctioned event in Scotland, the Stewart Allan promoted event at the Rivals Gym in Wishaw on Saturday 25th Plaub Hlis Ntuj 2015.
Vann, who has been the MBC’s chief referee since 2013, has been officiating for close to forty years, the first bout he refereed was Eddie Smith versus Joe Jackson at the Anglo American Sporting Club in Manchester on the 11thLub kaum hli ntuj 1976.
It would be some seven years later before Vann refereed his first domestic Championship bout, the BBBofC Central Area Featherweight Title fight between Steve Pollard and Steve Farnsworth at the Tiffany’s Nightclub in Hull on the 29th Lub peb hlis ntuj 1983.
Three years later Vann refereed his first International Championship contest, the Commonwealth Lightweight Title fight between Zimbabwe’s Langton Tinago and Australia’s Graeme Brooke at the Granada Studios in Manchester on 23rd Lub yim hli ntuj 1986.
With numerous British, Commonwealth and European title contests under his belt on the 8th Lub rau hli ntuj 1990 Vann refereed his first World Championship bout, the WBC World Minimumweight title fight between Japan’s Hideyuki Ohashi and Thailand’s Napa Kiatwanchai in Tokyo, Nyiv.
To date Vann has refereed one hundred and forty three International, Inter-Continental and World title contests for the World Sanctioning Organisations, such as WBC, WBO, IBF, WBU etc as well as an even higher number of European, Commonwealth, British and Irish domestic title fights during his eight hundred and eighty two bout career to date.
The most recent of these bouts being the WBO Inter-Continental Cruiserweight title fight between Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk and Russian Andry Knyazev, which took place in Kiev just last weekend.
In addition Vann has also judged one hundred and seventy three Championship contests since 1978, taking his officiating career total to an incredible one thousand and fifty five contests, sorry make that one thousand and fifty six contests if we include the upcoming event this weekend.
Shortly after returning from Kiev, the effervescent Vann spoke briefly about his career and the upcoming event he is to officiate in Scotland nyob rau hnub Saturday.
“What can I say I didn’t realise I’d refereed that many fights,
My most memorable fight would naturally be Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno at Cardiff Arms Park, that was history.
But have refereed so many memorable fights, where do I start, Shea Neary and Mickey Ward, now that was a great fight.
There’s some from years ago I can remember, like Jean-Marc Renard against Farid Benredjeb, oh what a war that was, they both ended up in hospital.
Another memorable fight was Cassius Boloyi against Phillip Ndou, It was a war, ib tug meej kev tsov kev rog
They were two South Africans but from different tribes, they wanted me to referee it, not a South African, which was very much appreciated.
I remember refereeing the WBC mandatory Lightweight title fight, between Leavander Johnson and Miguel Angel Gonzalez, in a bullring, which was an experience.
I refereed in America Jorge Paez and Angel Manfredy, that was a terrific fight, in fact refereed three or four times in America.
I think if you count them all I think I refereed in thirty nine different countries, I left school at seven and went back at thirteen and left again at fourteen and I didn’t know at that time that there were that many countries in the world. Kuv tsis tau, honestly.
I just enjoy what I do, you know I’ve been to Russia, Argentina, Nyiv, all over, I just got back from Kiev.
People come up for photographs, even in Kiev, with Mickey the dancer and then they pretend they are you moving about, it’s lovely.
I pick out nothing really, I just pick out what has been the big fights that I’ve enjoyed.
I qualified as a star grade referee in 1978 and I’m still going, I’d done hundreds of fights by then, it’s not a job really, it’s just enjoyment as such.
I wasn’t a very good pro fighter, I was a pretty good amateur, I had sixty six fights as an amateur and lost nineteen, but you used to have three fights a day in the Championships, you fought in the morning, won that you fought in the afternoon and if you won that you fought at night to get through to the next round, in the Army Championships and the boys clubs sort of thing, that’s what we all did.
As a pro I have fourteen fights but I lost nine, but I enjoyed it, I’m glad I turned pro and I’m glad I fought, I’m glad I fought amateur and pro and I missed it when I retired and I wanted to do something and my manager suggested I referee, I wanted to coach but Tommy Miller, my manager said to me ‘Jesus Mick what could you teach anyone’, so he said to me you want to be a referee, so I put in for it and it took me two years and I qualified.
I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and some times have been better than others, in fact they used to hate me in Scotland, they thought I hated the Scots. I heard this on the radio many times.
Alex Morrison will tell you, he thought I was hater of Scotsmen, Kuv tsis yog, just they never seemed to get the verdict from me, so it’s quite ironic that no hnub vas xaum it’s the Scottish promoter and the Scottish boxers that asked for me for this show.
I’ve always had great fun there and my all time favourite fighter is a Scotsman, Ken Buchanan, so it’s really nice that they want me to be there for the first MBC sanctioned event there, I can’t wait.”
Mickey Vann will be the referee for both the Sandy Robb versus Mathew Ellis and Scott Allan versus Isaac Quaye that co-headline the Stewart Allan (Rivals Promotions) event at the Rivals Gym in Wishaw, Scotland rau hnub Saturday 25th Plaub Hlis Ntuj 2015.
Daim pib luv nqi £ 30 thiab £ 40 yog muaj ncaj qha los ntawm ib yam ntawm cov boxers noj ib feem, los yog hu rau Stewart rau 07711 725257.
Sanctioning rau qhov kev tshwm sim yuav muab courtesy of rau lub Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) – Yog xav paub ntxiv nyob rau hauv lub Malta Boxing Commission thov mus rau:
Web: www.maltaboxingcommission.com
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E.mail: admin@maltaboxingcommission.com
International knockout artists Cheick Kongo and Alexander Volkov clash on June 26 in headlining bout of “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov”
Yooj yim Tweet: ".@ Kongo4real thiab @AlexDragoVolkov set to headline #Bellator139 nyob rau ntawm lub @KansasStarArena Lub rau hli ntuj 26. http://bit.ly/1GfVzbx"
Raug Monica, California. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 21, 2015) – French striking specialist Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) and former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-5) will stand toe-to-toe in the Bellator MMA cage on Lub rau hli ntuj 26.
The two sluggers clash in the five-round main event of “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov,” which takes place at Kansas Star Event Center Arena in Mulvane, Tej zaum.
The heavyweight slugfest joins previously announced matchups of lightweights Dave “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3) vs. John “lub Ntuj” Alessio (35-17) and former Bellator MMA featherweight champion Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (20-7) vs. Yamauchi li (18-2) on the event’s featured portion.
The night’s main card airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. THIAB/ 8 p.m. I, thaum ntej bouts kwj rau Spike.com.
Ntxiv bouts yuav qhia tawm uas tsocai.
Daim pib rau “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov,” uas pib ntawm cia li $17 and include cageside seats for just $97, uas tam sim no muaj nyob rau ntawm Ticketmaster.com.
Kongo, ib tug 6-taw-4 Frenchman, is a striking ace who boasts black belts in both Karate and Kendo. A multiple-time world champion in kickboxing, Kongo tam sim no hais txog ib hom on MMA thiab tau los ua ib tug 4-2 cov ntaub ntawv nyob rau hauv lub Bellator MMA banner. One of the most imposing figures in all of MMA, Kongo boasts 12 career knockout victories, including the sport’s 2011 “Knockout of the Year.”
The 26-year-old Volkov is an eight-time Bellator MMA veteran who rose to the promotion’s highest rank in 2012 as the Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion. Though he would eventually cede the belt to current title holder Vitaly Minakov, Volkov bounced right back with three-consecutive stoppage wins. Nyob rau hauv nws 24 hauj lwm victories, Volkov has scored 17 los ntawm knockout.
“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” - Friday, Lub rau hli ntuj 26, Kanas Star Event Center Arena, MULVANE, Kansas
Bellator Heavyweight Main tshwm sim: Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (24-5)
Bellator Sib Feature sib ntaus: Dave Rickels (16-3) vs. John Alessio (35-17)
Bellator Featherweight Feature sib ntaus: Pat Curran (20-7) vs. Yamauchi li (18-2)
Yooj yim Tweet: ".@ Kongo4real thiab @AlexDragoVolkov set to headline #Bellator139 nyob rau ntawm lub @KansasStarArena Lub rau hli ntuj 26. http://bit.ly/1GfVzbx"
Raug Monica, California. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 21, 2015) – French striking specialist Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) and former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-5) will stand toe-to-toe in the Bellator MMA cage on Lub rau hli ntuj 26.
The two sluggers clash in the five-round main event of “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov,” which takes place at Kansas Star Event Center Arena in Mulvane, Tej zaum.
The heavyweight slugfest joins previously announced matchups of lightweights Dave “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3) vs. John “lub Ntuj” Alessio (35-17) and former Bellator MMA featherweight champion Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (20-7) vs. Yamauchi li (18-2) on the event’s featured portion.
The night’s main card airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. THIAB/ 8 p.m. I, thaum ntej bouts kwj rau Spike.com.
Ntxiv bouts yuav qhia tawm uas tsocai.
Daim pib rau “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov,” uas pib ntawm cia li $17 and include cageside seats for just $97, uas tam sim no muaj nyob rau ntawm Ticketmaster.com.
Kongo, ib tug 6-taw-4 Frenchman, is a striking ace who boasts black belts in both Karate and Kendo. A multiple-time world champion in kickboxing, Kongo tam sim no hais txog ib hom on MMA thiab tau los ua ib tug 4-2 cov ntaub ntawv nyob rau hauv lub Bellator MMA banner. One of the most imposing figures in all of MMA, Kongo boasts 12 career knockout victories, including the sport’s 2011 “Knockout of the Year.”
The 26-year-old Volkov is an eight-time Bellator MMA veteran who rose to the promotion’s highest rank in 2012 as the Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion. Though he would eventually cede the belt to current title holder Vitaly Minakov, Volkov bounced right back with three-consecutive stoppage wins. Nyob rau hauv nws 24 hauj lwm victories, Volkov has scored 17 los ntawm knockout.
“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” - Friday, Lub rau hli ntuj 26, Kanas Star Event Center Arena, MULVANE, Kansas
Bellator Heavyweight Main tshwm sim: Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (24-5)
Bellator Sib Feature sib ntaus: Dave Rickels (16-3) vs. John Alessio (35-17)
Bellator Featherweight Feature sib ntaus: Pat Curran (20-7) vs. Yamauchi li (18-2)
BOXING HALL OF FAMER JOE CALZAGHE TO SERVE AS GUEST ANALYST FOR PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON SPIKE TV FIGHT CARD AT UIC PAVILION TAKING PLACE FRIDAY, PLAUB HLI 24 IN CHICAGO
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John Thompson reflects on Boxcino semifinal win and looks forward towards the final on May 22
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS LEADS TO LONG-AWAITED REMATCH
Lewiston, Maine (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 21, 2015) - Tshiab England Fights (NEF), America lub xov tooj-ib regional sib ntaus qib, yuav tuav nws xyoo mixed martial--kawm (MMA) kev tshwm sim, “NEF XVIII: Made in America,” rau Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 13, 2015 nyob rau ntawm lub Androscoggin Bank Colisee nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. Nyuam qhuav pib hnub no, the promotion announced that NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Champion Bruce “Zoo nkauj tub” Boyington (10-8) yuav ua tau raws li John “Thawj cov hoob kawm” Ray (2-7) on the card in a non-title bout at a weight of 150-pounds.
Boyington and Raio first met in February 2014 ntawm “NEF XII” nyob rau hauv Lewiston. Boyington dominated the early moments with his striking. Coming towards the end of the first round, Raio would take Boyington’s back and apply a rear-naked choke on the mat. The future lightweight champion waved his hand in the air, a signal which referee Jimmy Bickford took to indicate Boyington’s submission. Bickford stopped the bout and awarded the fight to Raio, drawing an immediate protest from Boyington who stated he was waving to his fans in the crowd as a sign that he was not in danger.
In the days that followed, a heated debate would rage on social media over the controversial finish to the fight. Both fighters, boasting arguably the two largest fan bases in all of New England, were at the center of an epic war of words between their respective supporters. It seemed as though everyone had an opinion, and the entire state of Maine was split.
“Things were crazy that week after the bout,” recalled NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “Our Facebook page was flooded with comments and private messages. Everybody and their mother was weighing in. It’s probably the most controversial moment in NEF history. Fans have been asking us for over a year when the rematch would happen. The time has finally come, Lub rau hli ntuj 13 nyob rau hauv Lewiston!”
Boyington would go on to have a highly successful finish to 2014, winning not one but two regional MMA titles, including the NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Championship. He would also win his professional boxing debut at NEF’s inaugural boxing event in October 2014. Boyington has, nyob rau hauv qhov tseeb, won four of his last five since the Raio loss.
“This fight is solely about redemption and giving the fans what they have been wanting to see,” stated Boyington when reached for comment. “Sometimes you have to step outside of what is best for you in this sport and entertain and that’s what I’m doing. I like a challenge—the biggest challenge—and that time will come, but for now, its about showing people what was about to happen last time and I can still show I’m three-levels above him by making the statement I’m about to embark on. I’m done with mishaps in that cage. I’m seizing every opportunity and will not let something slip again. Mark my words, its about to get tiag tiag in my fight.”
Raio is coming off two losses in a row to his archrival, Derek Shorey (2-1), including one defeat earlier this month at “NEF XVII.” In need of a win, the founder of First Class MMA may now be more determined than ever to return to the NEF cage.
“I know this is a fight that I want, Bruce wants, and a lot of MMA fans have asked for,” stated Raio when reached for comment. “I look forward to fighting Bruce. Hopefully when the fight is over, there will be no controversy.”
NEF tus tom ntej MMA kev tshwm sim, “NEF XVIII: Made in America” will originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine on June 13, 2015. Daim pib rau “NEF XVIII” pib ntawm cia li $25 thiab yog muag tam sim no nyob www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm kev hu mus rau lub chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm Colisee207.783.2009 x 525. Yog xav paub ntxiv nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim thiab kev sib ntaus card tshiab, thov mus saib cov qib lub website ntawm www.NewEnglandFights.com. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, koj yuav saib NEF yeeb yaj duab ntawm www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, ua raws li lawv nyob rau Twitternefights thiab koom nrog cov nom Facebook pab pawg neeg "New England Fights."
Hais txog Tshiab England Fights
Tshiab England Fights ("NEF") yog ib tug sib ntaus txheej xwm promotions lub tuam txhab. NEF lub hom phiaj yog los tsim lub siab tshaj plaws zoo txheej xwm rau Maine lub tua hluav taws thiab cov kiv cua zoo tib yam nkaus. NEF lub thawj pab neeg no muaj nws kim heev kev nyob rau hauv nqe ntaus rog kev ua si tswj, txheej xwm ntau lawm, xov xwm kev sib raug zoo, marketing, kev cai lij choj thiab advertising.
CZ53 This Friday – CZ52 Highlight Video
Turkish Prospect Ozgul Set For London Showdown With Miekle On May 2nd
Champions TKO Gym’s unbeaten Light Heavyweight prospect Onder Ozgul is set to make his fifth professional outing in just over a weeks time, when he takes on the highly entertaining Jody Meikle, from Scunthorpe, in a six round contest, on the Mark Lyons and Billy James-Elliott Wise Guys Promotions LORDS OF THE RING event at York Hall in London on Saturday 2nd Tej zaum 2015.
Ozgul, has built quite a reputation, as a seriously tough and uncompromising boxer, over the past year or so, following top class victories over the likes of Lithuania’s Dmitrij Kalinovskij, Bighton’s Iain Jackson, Lithuania’s Remigijus Ziausys and most recently over the Czech Republic’s big punching Karel Horejsek.
With a boxing style and approach uncannily similar to that of a certain ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that Ozgul’s Turkish fans have nicknamed their man ‘Little Mike’, a name that the British fans that have seen him in action have started to adopt too.
That aside, Ozgul’s resolve could be mightily tested by Miekle, who last time out scored a good solid draw against Portsmouth bruiser Sam Couzens, no surprise there as the Lincolnshire man not only likes a good old fashioned toe-to-toe slug fest, but also has a very entertaining mischievous streak.
Speaking at the famed Champions TKO Gym in Hackney, Ozgul spoke briefly about the upcoming showdown with the man they call ‘The Entertainer’.
“I’m happy I am fighting a six rounder, I’d be happy if it was an eight, I train for twelve rounds, so six is easy for me.
The way we look at it is if you can run a marathon, then running a half marathon is easy, that’s why we work so hard in the gym, so it is easy in the ring.
My last fight I trained hard, I trained for twelve rounds then too, the opponent was strong and durable but it was still an easy fight for me.
It will be the same next week, I will be ready for whatever Jody Meikle brings, I’ve been told Jody is tough, good that means we’ll have a very good fight.
I’m really happy that my brother Siar has got a title fight on May 2nd and even happier that I will be fighting on the undercard of his title fight and hope that everyone comes out and gives us both their full support.
I want to thank my sponsors and all those fans that come and support me and my brother (Super Welterweight Siar Ozgul), Thank you for supporting us, on May 2nd you’ll not be disappointed, I will be fighting at my best.”
Onder Ozgul versus Jody Meikle features on the undercard of Siar Ozgul – Matt Scriven MBC International Welterweight title fight that headlines the Mark Lyons & Billy James-Elliott Wise mav Promotions Lords NTAWM LUB NPLHAIB kev tshwm sim, uas yuav siv qhov chaw nyob rau ntawm lub York Hall nyob rau hauv Bethnal Green, London rau hnub Saturday 2ndTej zaum 2015.
Sanctioning rau qhov kev tshwm sim yuav muab courtesy of rau lub Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) -www.maltaboxingcommission.com
Daim pib luv nqi £ 35 (Standard zaum) thiab £ 65 (Ringside) yog muaj ncaj nraim ntawm ib yam ntawm cov boxers noj ib feem, on-line ntawmwww.tkoboxoffice.com or call the TKO ticket line on 07960 850645
ANDRE DIRRELL AND JAMES DEGALE TO MEET IN EXCITING SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, Tej zaum yuav 23 FROM AGGANIS ARENA IN BOSTON LIVE ON NBC & NBCSN
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Unified Kick Boxing World Champion Sam Allan Set For Pro Boxing Debut This Saturday
Sam Allan, one of the UK’s most successful professional Kick Boxers, is set to make the transition to the pro boxing ranks this tuaj hnub Saturday, when he takes on Middlesbrough’s unbeaten Chris Wood on the Rivals Promotions event in Wishaw, Scotland on April 25th.
Yog, who first began Kick Boxing when he was just five years of age, secured his first World title as an amateur at the tender age of thirteen and successfully defended the crown on numerous occasions before turning pro in 2011.
Since turning pro as a Kick Boxer Sam has had fifteen bouts, winning them all, including a World title unification bout against America’s then WKA World Champ Bobby Campbell in August 2013.
Yog, who was just twenty two years of age at the time, showed a maturity that belied his tender age, the youngster knew exactly what he had to do and with his brother Scott in his corner, executed his game plan perfectly, so much so that after twelve sensational rounds he became the first person to unify the ISKA and WKA championships and what’s more it was via a unanimous points decision.
Sam’s opponent, Chris Wood, who only recently turned pro himself, comes into the bout with a first round stoppage win over Latvia’s Edgars Milevics.
Facing an unbeaten opponent on his pro boxing debut clearly doesn’t faze Sam at all, as he made abundantly clear when he spoke earlier about Saturday lub upcoming fight.
“This just kinda happened, my brother Scott turned professional last year, so when my dad wanted to do a pro boxing show here with Scott it seemed a good time as any for me to turn pro.
We’ve got the same friends and they were having to go to different shows, because when I was fighting, he’s not and the other way around. This time they will be able to watch us both fight on the same show.
The different style of fighting isn’t a problem, a punch is a punch and since my last fight I have been preparing for this, I’ve been working a lot on the bags and pads and had good sparring, I’m a fighter and do what I need to do.
I don’t know much about Chris Wood, I’ve heard he likes to fight, that’s good, I like to fight as well.
The fans are going to love it, it’ll be a real fight not a stand-off, the fans want to see real fights, a bit of a tear up, yeah they’ll love it.
The fans deserve good fights, without them we wouldn’t get to fight as often, nyob rau hnub Saturday they’ll get a good fight that’s for sure.
They pay their hard earned money coming and supporting us, I can’t thank them enough for that and the best way I can do that is to have a cracking fight, that’s the best way to thank them for coming and supporting us.”
Sam Allan versus Chris Wood features on the Stewart Allan (Rivals Promotions) event at the Rivals Gym in Wishaw, Scotland rau hnub Saturday 25th Plaub Hlis Ntuj 2015.
Sanctioning rau qhov kev tshwm sim yuav muab courtesy of rau lub Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) -www.maltaboxingcommission.com
Daim pib luv nqi £ 30 thiab £ 40 yog muaj ncaj qha los ntawm ib yam ntawm cov boxers noj ib feem, los yog hu rau Stewart rau 07711 725257.