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Report by Gianluca Di Caro
Photos courtesy of Armando Ferrari
Scottish Promoter Thomas Melville made his intentions clear for all to see with his debut event Rau hnub Saturday hmo ntuj, even with seriously major dramas leading up to the event, including losing one of his big draws, former WBO Featherweight King Scott Harrison, from the card just a few weeks before, and two further match-ups dropping out in the days leading up to the show, yet the canny Scotsman still managed to produce an excellent, albeit it smaller, event.
Heading up the show was Glasgow’s former Commonwealth Champion Craig Docherty against Dundalk, Ireland’s Michael Kelly for the vacant World Boxing Union (WBU) World Super Welterweight title.
The atmosphere was electric as the two protagonists made their entrance into the arena, the Scottish fans sure do know how to make an occasion like this really special.
Right from the opening bell both boxers made their intention crystal clear and within seconds the toe to toe battle for centre ring began in earnest.
When I say toe to toe I mean toe to toe, whilst much of the action was at close quarters, at times they were that close to one another that you couldn’t have wedged a cigarette paper between them, so much so that referee Lee Murtagh had no option but to warn them about head clashes on numerous occasions.
Now even though they were that close neither man went defensive, both showcasing their exceptional tools of the trade to great effect, with slick hooks and upper cuts coming from all angles.
Docherty managed to just about secure the first couple of rounds, only just as they were so evenly matched, but in the third Kelly stepped it up, making himself a little space he really got into a flow and was letting rip with scintillating shots from every single conceivable angle.
Docherty responded in similar vein, however the slickness of Kelly’s work made it an upward battle for the Glaswegian.
Round four see Docherty change tactics, using his jab to great effect to set up the openings in order to let rip with some vicious body shots, however the Irishman seemed quite happy to soak these up before countering with powerful rights and the occasional double handed flurry.
Round five was a spectacular round, both protagonists raised the pace even further, which ultimately led to some fearsome exchanges. It was really hard to decide who fared the best or if either outfought or outworked the other, yes it was that close.
More of the same in the sixth, boy oh boy did they go at it hammer and tongs for the first couple of minutes or so of the round.
As the clock moved into the final minute of the round Docherty began to back Kelly up, before letting rip with a lightning quick right that dropped Kelly like a sack of potatoes.
In an instant Referee Lee Murtagh went to the Irishman’s assistance and waved the fight off, which sent Docherty, his team and fans into a joyous frenzy.
Have to say what an appreciative crowd in attendance, as the cheers of joy for Docherty were outweighed by the magnificent reception they gave Michael Kelly as he rose to his feet, these were genuine fans, their man won but they were equally appreciative of the magnificent performance of the Irishman.
Just before Docherty was crowned the new WBU Super Welterweight Champion the official time of the stoppage was announced, as two minutes and nine seconds of the sixth.
Main support for the Docherty-Kelly title fight was set to be Edinburgh’s Craig McEwan against Newport’s Lee Churcher, however this was not to be due to a weight discrepancy that was unable to be resolved in time, so some quick negotiations led to Nottingham based Czech fighter Vaclav Skromach being drafted in as a very late replacement.
McEwan started strong, taking the fight to the Czech lad, Skromach though is no mug and a nice tidy fighter himself and soon started letting rip with shots of his own.
McEwan started to target the body, coming in from some unbelievable angles to land some fearsome exocets, Skromach adjusted his defenses but clearly some were having the desired effect.
Skromach held his own well for the first couple of minutes but as the round entered into the final minute McEwan stepped up the punishment to the body, culminating with an awesome hook that landed right on the button to send Skromach to take to one knee.
It was a seriously vicious shot, so nobody was surprised that Skromach was unable to continue, again as with the main event the Scottish fans celebrated their man’s victory as well as applauded Skromach as he rose to his feet.
The official time of the stoppage was announced as two minutes and twenty nine seconds of the first round.
Prior to McEwan-Skromach was another six rounder, between Nairn’s Sandy Robb and Scunthorpe’s Jody Meikle.
Robb started fast, utilizing a good stiff jab and big rights that kept the highly entertaining Meikle in check and on the back foot for the first minute or so, but then the Scunthorpe lad began coming forward more, picking off Robb with some cracking right hands.
As the round went on Robb started to become even more forceful, leaving Meikle no option but to utilize hit and move tactics, most of the time he got these spot on but occasionally the Scotsman preempted these and was able to land a big right as Meikle attempted to slip out of range.
More of the same in the second, but in the third Meikle began to play to the crowd, especially when backed on to the ropes, cheekily winking at the ring card girls whilst avoiding shots.
Normal service resumed in the fourth, Robb began cutting off the ring to prevent Meikle utilizing his hit and run tactics, this was highly effective for the Scotsman as with nowhere to move to the Englishman had no option but to box his way out from the ropes, which he did in style.
As the fight settled into the final third, Meikle again began to play to the crowd, but in dong so ensured that this time he had judged the distance adequately to prevent the big looping rights from the Scotsman landing.
The final round was a cracker, whilst still in a similar vein as the previous round, with Robb backing the Englishman onto the ropes as Meikle played to the crowd, there was some excellent and highly entertaining boxing from both parties.
After six interesting, entertaining rounds Referee Lee Murtagh scored the bout 60-54 in favour of Robb.
The opening bout of the night see Rivals Gym’s former unified World Kickboxing Champion Sam Allan in action against Downpatrick, Ireland’s returning Marty Kayes.
Have to say this really was a cracking fight, both protagonists giving their all for every single second of every round, it was a true non-stop battle royale.
After four excellent rounds of boxing Referee Lee Murtagh scored the bout 40-37 in favour of Allan, much to the local fans delight.
Congratulations to Thomas Melville and his team, not only did they overcome the adversity of losing their co-headline bout as well as a few of the scheduled bouts, but still managed to put on an excellent event.
Congratulations are in order for Craig Docherty, who joins the likes of Ricky Hatton, Graham Earl, Kevin Lear, Shea Neary, Tony Oakey, Wayne Elcock, Wayne Alexander and other British legends of the past in becoming crowned the WBU World Champion.
Hnub qub Irish ntxiv rau daim card loaded nyob MCU Park hauv Coney Island
BROOKLYN, NY (Lub yim hli ntuj 17, 2015) – Coney Island attracts neeg ntawm txhua fab lub ntiaj teb tsoo New York yam kua ntau hom tshuaj lom ze thiab aura ntawm ntug hiav txwv. Muaj ntau qhov muag Irish yuav tsum ntxhi hmo Tuesday, Lub yim hli ntuj 25 nyob Coney Island, Thaum tus neeg tau sij hawm mus saib two-time Olympian John Joe Nevin hauv tes hauj lwm hauv MCU Park.
Promoter tau muab tso ua ke ib daim ntawv saum-tier sib ntaus, nrog ib dav array uas tuav hitters npaj yuav ua yeeb yam thaum lub so lo lus uas peb featuring dej das, tshav, tsev kho mob loj xuab zeb thiab carnival…thiab tam sim no lub qab zib kev kawm.
A 2012 nyiaj medalist rau lub Olympics, Yog Nevin 3-0 (2 KOs) thaum muaj kev, thiab yog pumped mus yuav tau ib feem ntawm nws lub npe “Brooklyn Brawl.
“Kuv pog mus yuav boxing nyob New York thawj zaug puas,” tus 26 xyoo Mullingar, Ireland neeg hais. “Kuv twb fought puv ntiaj teb tab sis kuv twb npau suav ntawm boxing nyob New York. Kuv paub hais tias muaj ntau ntau Irish kiv cua nyob rau sab thiab hopefully peb yuav coj ib co.”
Kiv cua yuav zoo siab nws two-fisted fury, nws qhov aggression thiab muaj siab mus cuag ib tug KO; nws yuav Nevin tus thawj tangle hauv 2015: “Kuv tsis tau fought txij xyoo tas los no ces peb nyob nraum saib tom ntej nqis cov xeb thiab uas qhia kuv yuav ua li cas.”
Nevin promises rau hauv daim ntawv uas zoo thiab muaj dabtsi prep haujlwm yuav tsum tau qhia tawm saum toj nws ntaus ntawv. “Cov boxing kuv mus nyob rau Philly gyms no yog vim li cas koj xav tau, ua hauj lwm rau ntiaj teb kawm boxers hauv lub tshav kub lub caij ntuj sov. Kuv yog npaj rau cov kev sib tw. Kuv yuav tos kom tau rov qab rau lub nplhaib thiab tau hauj lwm kuv tsiv dua.”
Yog txaus siab ntxiv no Irish prospect rau ib daim ntawv topped los Salita 25-3-1 featherweight contender Alexander Miskirtchian, yug hauv lub koom pheej Georgia. “John Joe Nevin yog ib tug poj prospect thiab kuv zoo siab heev tias nws yuav ua nws American debut ntawm NYC rau cov “Brooklyn Brawl” Series,” Hais Salita. “Irish zej zog muaj heev li keeb kwm los hauv droves pom ntau boxing champions thiab kuv ntseeg hais tias John Nevin muaj tag nrho cov cuab yeej kom ua raws li nyob rau hauv tus nplua nuj lineage thiab impress tus kiv cua boxing, kev cai txhua, nyob rau hauv NYC! John Joe yog tswj los yog ib qhov zoo tshaj plaws tswj nyob rau hauv cov kev ua si nawv, Cameron Dunkin, leej twg muaj lub zoo qhov muag rau cov neeg tseem ceeb txuj ci, kom peb cov me tus deal tiag tiag yog nws. Ua ib cov kiv cua, Rau kuv pog hais txog kev sib ntaus John Joe Nevin rau lub yim hli ntuj 25 Coney Island, hauv MCU Park!”
Nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim loj, ntiaj teb qub npe challenger Alex Miskirtchian (25-3-1, 9 KOs) tops slate tus tiv thaiv tsis tau kom paub Brooklyn battler Cornelius xauv (22-7-2, 14 KOs) nyob hauv lub featherweight clash teem tau rau 10 muab suav. Neeg khiav dej num NYPD Niyazov (7-0-3, 5KOs) raws li Ariel “Fuego” Duran (8-7-1, 5KOs) ntawm tus poj vaj nyob hauv ib co-ntseg hnav bout teem rau yim rounds. Salita no kuj yog tshwj xeeb yog tus pog txog muaj 6-kab tshaj welterweight clash ntawm Treysean “Txhais” Wiggins (6-1, 5KOs) ntawm Newburgh, N.Y. thiab Francisco “EL Gato” Figueroa (20-7-1, 13 KOs) ntawm qhov Bronx.
Rooj vag qheb rau 6 p.m. nrog tus thawj bout teem tau rau 7 p.m. raws li “Brooklyn Brawl: Boxing ntawm lub puam” theem pro boxing rau lub Coney Island boardwalk thawj zaug hauv 14 xyoo. Dhau kev boxing kev tshwm sim ntawm tus Brooklyn Cyclones’ venue tshwm sim rau lub Xya hli ntuj 8, 2001, Thaum ❏ Jr ❏ Camacho Hector. swb lawm Jesse James Leija ntawm ib controversial, referee-halted TKO.
Snag koj daim pib mus “Boxing ntawm lub puam” hnub no, kom koj poob mus rau lub caij ntuj nrog ib pob zeb em thaum raug txim, thom khwm em hmo ntawm pugilism.
Qhov rooj qhib thaum 6 PM. Teev rau BrooklynCyclones.com yuav tau koj daim pib los sis hu rau 718-507-TIXX (718-507-8499).
Lus tshaj tawm hauv xov yuav tsum tshaj tawm rau ib hnub tom ntej. Nyiam neeg nrog ib tug neeg yuav tsum tiv tauj Mark Fratto atmfratto@linacremedia.com
Daim pib mus qhia thiab tshiab rau “Brooklyn Brawl: Boxing ntawm lub puam,” Thov teev rau ntawm toBrooklynCyclones.com thiab SalitaPromotions.com. Ua raws li qhov txiav txim tag nrho ntawm kev ua rau cov kev tshwm sim tawm – thiab nyob rau hmo ntuj sib ntaus – nyob @BrooklynBrawlNY hauv Twitter thiab tom @BrooklynBrawl nyob Instagram, los yog los ntawm tus txheejtxheem qhov cim npe #BrooklynBrawl thiab #BoxingAtTheBeach.
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Pro Boxing se rau Cyclones’ MCU Park Tuesday, Aug. 25.
#BrooklynBrawl hauv internet: http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/ticketsmega/specialevents/boxing/
BROOKLYN, NY (Lub yim hli ntuj 14, 2015) – Brooklyn tub ceev xwm Dimash Niyazov tsis yog tus tsuas niaj hnub New York hero tej zaum yuav muaj lub nroog tas nyob hauv nws cov ces kaum hauv cov Aug. 25 Brooklyn Brawl. Poj vaj tibneeg tua hluav taws thiab cov hnab looj tes Golden qub amateur tau zus ib Jose tsib La Rosa, lub sij hawm rau nws pro boxing haujlwm ntawm cov chaw ua si MCU Coney Island nam hauv ob Tuesdays cias ntxiv rau tus npau ntub nws nyob rau txhua hnub raws li ib feem ntawm cov legions uas txaus siab rau cov txiv neej thiab poj niam comprise “New York lub Bravest.”
“Kuv twb yeej sis tw ua ib youngster thiab yeej xav kom tau ib pob pro, tab sis kuv muaj tsawg heev basketball thiab football. Nrog boxing li ntev raws li koj muaj tus tsav thiab cov kev qhuab qhia, koj yeej muaj ib tug tau zus ib nyob rau hauv hoob nyhav txawv, li ntawd, cov kev ua si nws yeej appealed rau kuv,” hais Rosa La tsib, ib welterweight, uas nws cov ntaub ntawv pro ntau zog rau 2-0 (1 KO) tom qab ib tug yeej los ntawm kev txiav txim siab peb hnub tom qab nws kawm tiav FDNY. “Tseem, Kuv nyiam pab neeg ces tseem yog ib tug tibneeg tua hluav taws ib txoj hauj lwm hauv npau suav. Pro boxing yog ib tug mob siab rau thiab nws kuj yog npau rau kuv tau ntev, kom kuv tau nyob ob tug npau suav rau ib tug.”
Rosa La tsib muaj tsuas tau boxing tau xya xyoo tag nrho li kev amateur thiab ib tug pro, tab sis ceev nrooj tus ascended rau lub elevations ntau tshaj yog nyob rau hauv cov kev ua si nawv twb. Ib tug neeg nyob hauv tus poj vaj, nws cov hauv paus hniav boxing ntsua kev Manhattan thiab Brooklyn tam sim no, nws yeej qhov twg qhov 2013 Golden hnab looj tes npe rau cov theem loj tom chaw Barclays.
“Kuv tuaj hauv seem Woodside-Astoria cov poj vaj, tiam sis muaj ties rau Brooklyn los ntawm txoj kev kawm, kuv los ua ib cov hnab looj tes Golden tau zus ib ntawm Barclays. Tam sim no kuv yuav ntaus hauv ib yawm venue hauv Brooklyn dua rau Aug. 25 hauv MCU Park,” hais Rosa La tsib, leej twg u Atlas Cops thiab cov me nyuam nyob rau hauv Flatbush. “Kiv cua kuv, tsev neeg thiab leej twg los yuav txhawb yuav muaj ib lub sij hawm zoo kawg thiab. Tam sim no muaj cai nyob rau hauv kuv lub battalion tibneeg tua hluav taws – uas muaj tsib firehouses – lawv paub los sib ntaus no thiab kuv cia siab tias muaj coob tus neeg ua yuav tau tuaj thiab txhawb.”
“Ib yam uas ua yooj yog txhawb sib txhua hnub. Kuv ntseeg tias nyob ntawd thiab, tus FDNY yuav yuav tsum muaj kom kuv nrog txhawb. Ua ib tug tibneeg tua hluav taws, peb txhawb sib niaj hnub nrog peb lub neej, Thaum peb mus ua kom tiav peb lub neej zoo,” Tsib La Rosa hais tias.
Nrog boxing li hais no ib resurgence nyob hauv cheeb tsam lub New York – kev tsom hauv TV lub teb chaws thiab nrhiav kev rov qab mus nws lub hnub nyoog lwm yam, Thaum cov kev kawm uas qab zib yog ib mainstay prime lub sij hawm thiab cov kev ua si nplooj – Thaum pib xyoo Brooklyn Brawl series hauv ib standout venue boxing tau tau zus ib-muab-promoter Dmitriy Salita. Salita no tau txaus siab pov ib daim ntawv teem rau Coney Island, lub seaside kev lom zem lo lus uas peb uas siv thrills rau ntawm revelers hordes txhua txhua lub caij ntuj sov.
“Brooklyn Brawl muaj uas ua tej lub zoo tshaj fights nyob New York nco tsis ntev los no thiab peb qhov yuam kev ntawm Aug. 25 muaj hauv daim ntawv qhia kom zoo li qub,” Hais Salita.
Nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim loj, ntiaj teb qub npe challenger Alex Miskirtchian (25-3-1, 9 KOs) tops slate tus tiv thaiv tsis tau kom paub Brooklyn battler Cornelius xauv (22-7-2, 14 KOs) nyob hauv lub featherweight clash teem tau rau 10 muab suav. Neeg khiav dej num NYPD Niyazov (7-0-3, 5KOs) raws li Ariel “Fuego” Duran (8-7-1, 5KOs) ntawm tus poj vaj nyob hauv ib co-ntseg hnav bout teem rau yim rounds. Salita no kuj yog tshwj xeeb yog tus pog txog muaj 6-kab tshaj welterweight clash ntawm Treysean “Txhais” Wiggins (6-1, 5KOs) ntawm Newburgh, N.Y. thiab Francisco “EL Gato” Figueroa (20-7-1, 13 KOs) ntawm qhov Bronx.
Rooj vag qheb rau 6 p.m. nrog tus thawj bout teem tau rau 7 p.m. raws li “Brooklyn Brawl: Boxing ntawm lub puam” theem pro boxing rau lub Coney Island boardwalk thawj zaug hauv 14 xyoo. Dhau kev boxing kev tshwm sim ntawm tus Brooklyn Cyclones’ venue tshwm sim rau lub Xya hli ntuj 8, 2001, Thaum ❏ Jr ❏ Camacho Hector. swb lawm Jesse James Leija ntawm ib controversial, referee-halted TKO.
Snag koj daim pib mus “Boxing ntawm lub puam” hnub no, kom koj poob mus rau lub caij ntuj nrog ib pob zeb em thaum raug txim, thom khwm em hmo ntawm pugilism.
Qhov rooj qhib thaum 6 PM. Teev rau BrooklynCyclones.com yuav tau koj daim pib los sis hu rau 718-507-TIXX (718-507-8499).
Lus tshaj tawm hauv xov yuav tsum tshaj tawm rau ib hnub tom ntej. Nyiam neeg nrog ib tug neeg yuav tsum tiv tauj Mark Fratto atmfratto@linacremedia.com
Daim pib mus qhia thiab tshiab rau “Brooklyn Brawl: Boxing ntawm lub puam,” Thov teev rau ntawm toBrooklynCyclones.com thiab SalitaPromotions.com. Ua raws li qhov txiav txim tag nrho ntawm kev ua rau cov kev tshwm sim tawm – thiab nyob rau hmo ntuj sib ntaus – nyob @BrooklynBrawlNY hauv Twitter thiab tom @BrooklynBrawl nyob Instagram, los yog los ntawm tus txheejtxheem qhov cim npe #BrooklynBrawl thiab #BoxingAtTheBeach.
Plus undefeated Keenan Smith, Paris Chisholm, Sam Ellsworth, Dustin Fleisher, Wang Zhiman and Zhang Zhilei
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Atlantic City, NJ (Lub yim hli ntuj 14, 2015)–This Saturday night at The Playground in Atlantic City, Heavyweight contender Chazz Witherspoon (33-3, 25 KO's) will look to further his pursuit at a championship opportunity when he takes on Nicholas Guivas (11-2-2, 9 KO's) in a 10-round bout that will headline a 12-bout card.
The fight card is promoted by Silver Spoon Promotions in conjunction with the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame.
Witherspoon of Paulsboro, New Jersey has been on the cusp of Heavyweight title opportunity knows that a big effort on Saturday will likely place him back in a significant fight that will put him in position to reach that lofty goal.
“Txhua yam yog yawm suab. I been working hard and had Eddie Chambers in camp. I feel good and healthy. I expect a big night,” Txawm hais tias tus 33 year-old Witherspoon.
It’s been a busy time for Witherspoon, who not only is the promoter for the event but just welcomed his 6th boy into the world with his wife Jennifer on August 6.
“We named him Lion. The pregnancy cut into my training a little but I am a focused guy and I have a good support team around us that I was able to get the proper training in and am very ready for Saturday.”
In Facing Guivas, Witherspoon is facing an upstart from Topeka, Kansas who has a respectable record of 11-2 and has 4 consecutive knockout victories to his credit.
“I really do not know much on him. He looks to be a strong guy. I saw that he has been boxing a while and has a good amateur pedigree. We have a strategy. I ran into him while taking fighters for medicals. He seems to be a nice guys but those are the guys who make the toughest fights. Rau hnub Saturday, I know I have to be on my game to put on a great performance.”
Witherspoon is just biding his time until he gets the right call to face a top-10 guy and as he keeps racking up the wins, he knows that time is in the very near future.
“I have been getting those calls already. Obviously I have a good record and name. But so far the money has not been right but I believe we are getting close to taking one of those fights.”
Witherspoon is happy to be promoting and headlining the inaugural fight at the new venue, which is close to his home in Paulsboro, New Jersey.
“It’s always great to fight in Atlantic City. It’s a good venue, there is a large video screen. It has a real entertaining ambiance and it is a great show, so we are looking forward to a great night on Saturday. There will be a lot of boxers and dignitaries in attendance and it will be a great night with the announcement of the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame.”
In 6-round bouts:
Keenan Smith (7-0, 2 KO's) ntawm Philadelphia, PA will fight Lavelle Hadley (2-0, 2 KO's) of Youngstown, OH.
Anthony Young (10-1, 5 KO's) of Atlantic City, NJ will take Jonathan Garcia (4-14, 1 KO) in a Welterweight bout.
Wang Zhimin (3-0, 1 KO) of China will fight Carlos Nieves (0-7-1) of Bronx, NY in a Jr. Welterweight bout.
Zhang Zhilei (4-0, 2 KO's) of Las Vegas, NV will battle Dennis Benson (2-6-1, 1 KO) of Norfolk, VA in a Heavyweight bout.
John Lennox (13-2, 5 KO's) of Carteret, NJ will take on Dan Pasciolla (3-1) of Brick, NJ in a Heavyweight fight.
In 4-round bouts:
Scott Kelleher of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against Xzavier Ford (0-1) of Concord, NC in a Jr. Welterweight bout.
Jerome Conquest (2-1) of Philadelphia will battle pro debuting David Perez of Pittsburgh, PA Lightweight bout.
Parris Chisholm (2-0, 1 KO) ntawm Washington, DC will fight Ronnie Jordan (1-5-1) of Cincinatti, Ohio in a Welterweight fight.
Dustin Fleischer (3-0, 3 KO's) of Monmouth County, NJ will see action in a Welterweight bout against David Ratliff (0-1) of North Carolina.
Kashif Mohamed (0-1) of New York, NY will box Samuel Ellsworth (2-0, 2 KO's) of Farmersville, LA in a Middleweight bout.
Eric Kitt (5-1, 2 KO's) of Pensacola, FL will take on Gilbert Alex Sanchez (5-6-1, 2 KO's) of Camden, NJ in a Middleweight bout.
The Playground is a brand-new, state of the art entertainment complex where the shops at the Pier used to be. The facility is 500,000 square feet.The Playground is located at One Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Tickets for this great night of boxing will range from $75, $100 thiab $150 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com
Qhov rooj qhib thaum 6:30 PM with 1st bell at 8 PM
PROVIDENCE (Lub yim hli ntuj 13, 2015) – Undefeated junior middleweight Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) has filed an appeal regarding the recent decision of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) to strip him of his WBO World junior middleweight championship. In the letter to WBO president Francisco Valcarcel, Andrade claimed the WBO failed to offer him a mandatory opponent during the past seven months for him to defend his title against.
Andrade’s appeal also mentions that the WBO sent a letter to him on January 23, 2015, which stated that the WBO would force a purse bid between WBO No. 1 challenger Jermell Charlo and Andrade, if the fight agreement wasn’t resolved within (30) days. However, the WBO did not force the purse bid, allowing Charlo to sign an agreement to fight Vanes Martirosyan, nearly 30 days after Andrade had signed his contract to fight Charlo.
A copy of the aforementioned fight contract, which Andrade signed on January 14, 2015 to fight Charlo for $300,000, was also included as evidence to support Andrade’s claim. Andrade stated that the signed contract proves that it was, in fact, Charlo’s team, not Andrade, that pulled out of the bout.
Andrade requested the WBO to allow him to fight anyone by stating, “We respectfully request that the WBO allow Demetrius Andrade to defend the WBO Jr. Middleweight Title against ANY one of the top 15 opponents. Only the WBO has the ability to force one of their approved challengers to fight him. We respectfully ask the WBO World Championship Committee to use their power to force a top 15 fighter to fight him at your earliest possible convenience. We would be more than willing to allow a fight to occur under the rules of a purse bid, if necessary. Please use your power and authority to step in and force a mandatory fight to allow Demetrius Andrade to defend his title in the boxing ring, where it should be decided and you have our word that we will honor the WBO by agreeing to fight anyone approved by the WBO before September 30, 2015.”
Team Andrade further expressed its willingness to defend his WBO title by agreeing to go overseas and fight a WBO approved opponent for less than $150,000 that, unfortunately, they were still unsuccessful at securing a bout.
Furthermore, Andrade argued that the WBO recently informed him of its intention to remove him from its top 15 rankings altogether, yet, the WBO continues to rate Saul “Canelo” Alvarez as the WBO World Jr. Middleweight No. 1 contender, although Alvarez hasn’t fought as a Jr. Middleweight since Sept. 14, 2013, nine months earlier than Andrade’s title defense. Team Andrade requested that the WBO World Championship Committee allow Andrade the same opportunity to defend his ranking.
Follow Demetrius Andrade on Twitter @AndradeATeam or @BooBooBoxing.
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