(L-R) – CES Boxing promoter Jimmy Burchfield, Micky Ward, former N.E. amateur standout Calvin Brown, Vinny Paz and Al Valenti, USA Boxing Alumni Association, Special Projects Consultant
COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub ob hlis ntuj 26, 2019) – USA Boxing Alumni Association’s tribute this past weekend to two of New England’s all-time greatest amateur boxers, Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Paz thiab “Irish” Micky Ward, was a major success at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
A sold-out fundraiser to benefit the USA Boxing Alumni Association was held at Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse on Friday evening, honoring Paz and Ward, in addition to Hall of Fame refereeSteve Smoger, who officiated numerous fights for both fighters.
Paz and Ward held a meet-and-greet Saturday night, prior to a CES Boxing event, as the popular boxers signed autographs and posed for pictures. They were brought into the ring, along with Smoger, and received a standing applause from the large crowd in attendance.
USA Boxing Alumni Association’s back-to-back nights at Twin River raised $3,000 (including proceeds from Sportsworld’s memorabilia auction) and added 20 new alumni members, including Paz, to its growing ranks.
“We were part of a magical weekend,” hais tias Al Valenti, USA Boxing Special Projects Consultant. “Vinny and Micky greeted so many of their fans. It is without question that these two warriors define what the USA Boxing Alumni Association is all about: bringing together so many members from so many years past that built the future for so many young boxers. It was especially rewarding to see past boxers, coaches and officials flock to Vinny and Micky. The entire two-day experience at Twin River Casino was packed with memories that we will all hold onto for years to come. We’d like to thankJimmy Burchfield (CES Boxing) for his hospitality and hosting Saturday evening’s event.”
USA Boxing Alumni Association
Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations 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.orgfor a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.
Atlantic City, N.J. – Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 19, 2018 – The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame (ACBHOF) tau tshaj tawm nws 2019 Induction Class. The Induction Weekend will take place at The Claridge, a Radisson Hotel located at Park Place & Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 21 – 23, 2019.
“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2019 and are very much looking forward to paying tribute to the new inductees in Atlantic City at our 3rd annual induction weekend next June” said ACBHOF President and FounderRay McCline.
Lub 2019 inductees in the Fighter category are:
Bernard Hopkins Tim Witherspoon, Sr.
Kevin Watts Virgil Hill, Sr.
Iran Barkley John Brown
Roberto Duran, Sr. Micky Ward
Trainers and Cutmen:
Ace Marotta English “Bouie” Fisher
Uas tsis yog-koom–Special Contributors:
Butch Lewis Bobby Goodman Stan Hoffman Nigel Collins Henry Hascup Jimmy Binns Sr. Tom Kaczmarek Tony Orlando Jr. Rhonda Utley-Herring
Bernard Hopkins will be inducted into his first Hall of Fame as part of the third annual class that will include a total of 19 inductees.
“I feel appreciated and it’s starting to settle in that I’m near that mark of living legend. I don’t see myself as a living legend. Let other people decide that. This is a great honor and I’m grateful for the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame for making this happen,” Hopkinssaid in a November 16 RingTV interview with Joseph Santoliquito.
“Watch who you co-sign for; you can’t sell me black to get in the door. You can’t sell me white to get in the door. You can’t sell me half white or half black or none of that to get in the door. But you can sell me LOYALTY” said former two-division championBernard Hopkins.
The 3rd Annual Induction Ceremony & Celebration Weekend will honor some of the world’s most iconic figures from the sport of boxing: Butch Lewis, Nigel Collins, Lus Askiv “Bouie” Fisherand New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame’s PresidentHenry Hascupare just a few named who will be enshrined with the 2019 induction class.
Inductees will be named in three categories: Fighter, Tus kws qhia & Cut-Men and Special Contributors.
“It was a great honor to hear I was going to be inducted into Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. Atlantic City is my second home, and as a pro fighter I’ve fought numerous times in this great city. It’s a great boxing town and it is an honor to be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame” hais tias Micky Ward.
Over the next several weeks there will be updates on the schedule of events, room packages and expected VIP appearances on the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame and the Claridge Hotel websites and social media platforms.
For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 3rd Annual Induction Weekend please contact the ACBHOF at (609) 318 -3188 los yog acbhof@gmail.com, or visit onFacebookInstagramthiab nyob rau Twitter.
PAST & PRESENT of USA Boxing: (L-R) 1972 Olympic bronze medalist Jesse Valdez, 2004 U.S. Nationals champion Austin Trout, future Olympic hopeful Sharaha-Taina Moreu, 2-time world (rau) champion Danny Romero, thiab 1984 Olympic silver medalist Virgil Hill.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO (Tej zaum 31, 2018) – USA Boxing has declared June as its “Alumni Association Membership Drive Month”.
“I have been involved in boxing my entire life,” USA Boxing presidentJohn Brown hais tias. “I’m a strong believer in USA Boxing and The Grass Roots Program; that truly makes up everything that IS boxing in America. The USA Boxing Alumni Association was started to keep this FAMILY together. I’m hoping that each of our current members will reach out to ONE other potential new member. I look forward to a busy month of June. ”
Created to champion lifelong, mutually beneficial relations 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.
Chris Cugliari thiab John Scullywill oversee two USA Boxing Alumni Association tables at the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, Lub rau hli ntuj 7- 10 Canastota, New York, during the its golf tournament and Memorabilia Show.
USA Boxing productWinky Wright (51-6-1, 25 Kos), a two-time junior middleweight world champion, is one of only three boxers being inducted into the IBHOF Class of 2018.
Multiple world champion as a pro and 1984 Olympic silver medalist, Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, three-time Fight of the Year participant“Irish” Micky Ward, lub ntiaj teb no champions Riddick Bowe, Junior Jonesand other “Alumni Association” members are expected to make supportive appearances.
“USA Boxing Alumni Association has enabled countless alumni to congregate at various events throughout the country since its inception last November,” added Cugliari, USA Boxing Alumni Association Executive Director. “By expanding our membership through a strong June campaign, we will build on our successful infancy and strengthen our ability to support the Alumni Association’s mission statement. We are very thankful for the support provided by our members and look forward to even better times to come.”
The Alumni Association drive will continue June 24-30 in Charleston, West Virginia during the 2018 Junior Olympics, Prep Nationals and Youth Open.
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 host by the Alumni Association.
To join the Alumni Association, simply register at alumni@usaboxing,.org for a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW (contact rich.bergeron@gmail.com for photo copies):
Boxing fans packed the Manchester Downtown Hotel Wednesday night to take in a spectacular night of elite amateur boxing. This was the final stop on a three-city tour of Boston and Springfield, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire. The scheduled fights featured Team USA amateurs facing the best amateur boxers from Ireland. By the final bell, Ireland managed to finish the eight bouts of the evening with a tie score, their best outcome of the tour. Team USA won the first two duals of the tour in Boston and Springfield, feem, los ntawm cov qhab nia ntawm 8-4 thiab 7-3.
Wednesday’s fights were not all about winning, Txawm li cas los. For the majority of the boxers involved it was a great opportunity to fine-tune their techniques and get some much-needed international competition experience. Some of Wednesday night’s best performers will also likely be representing their respective countries in the upcoming 2020 Olympics.
The main event of the night featured 2016 Youth World Championships Bronze Medalist Richard Torrez dominating 3-time Irish National Champion Dean Gardiner. The Irish fighter’s towering height and long reach simply could not overcome the fast pace and excellent defensive posture of the shorter American.
Torrez spent the first round executing masterful feinting and punch slipping while scoring with some bombing hooks. Torrez changed levels, used slick head movement, and never let his foot off the gas as Gardiner plodded forward with an unbalanced and wild approach in the early going. A thudding body shot connected for the Irishman in the first, but not much else.
Torrez kept up the quick work rate in the next frame, unleashing left and right hooks and landing cleanly through much of the round. He scored to the body and head easily, though much of the round saw his opponent covering up and waiting for openings. One straight left from Torrez sent his opponent reeling for a moment, but the taller man recovered and did land a phenomenal left hook to the head of Torrez as he was fighting off the ropes. Gardiner tried landing mostly straight punches on the outside and seemed unable to turn over his punches in close.
The third round saw both fighters slugging it out until the final bell with one of the wildest back and forth exchanges of the night, but it was too little and too late for Gardiner. He just could not get his range dialed in. Torrez just outworked his opponent again and landed a few slick uppercuts to go with his thundering right and left hooks. He used the jab sparingly but effectively, spending much of the final frame targeting Gardiner’s body. Torrez earned the Unanimous Decision win with his performance and didn’t take more than a handful of hard shots in the process.
Kelly Harrington, a World Championship Silver Medalist from Ireland, likely had her team’s most masterful performance in cruising to a unanimous decision victory over Stacia Suttles in the opening bout of the night. Suttles struggled to keep herself at the ideal punching range against the unrelenting attack of Harrington in the first round, spending much of the three minutes bobbing and weaving to try to avoid the crisp combinations of her opponent. Suttles did land her jab fairly consistently, and she did begin to put some combos together late in the round, but Harrington is an absolute expert when it comes to head movement. She looked as if Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was one of her coaches as she utilized a hands-low technique with constant feints, punch slipping and level changing. The first round saw her landing a beautiful straight left to the head and a fantastic body and head punching combination that landed solidly. She unleashed some fierce hooks, although a few were wild haymakers. Below is a picture of Harrington during one of just a few brief moments in the fight where she brought both hands up to protect her face.
Suttles caught Harrington with some glancing and flush shots in the second round, but she seemed to be having trouble getting power behind her punches. She did trade some decent right hands with her opponent, but it was clear by the end of the round that she just wasn’t going to be able to find any rhythm in the fight due to the craftiness of her opponent. Harrington spent the same round perfecting her range with crisp 1-2 combos and wild lead rights connecting. Harrington also scored some powerful left hooks with a picture perfect straight right landing just a few moments later.
The third round was more of the same for both fighters. Suttles worked much of the frame to track her opponent down, but every time she unloaded, she paid for it. One particularly solid left hook landed late in the round, but it just wasn’t enough. Harrington spent much of the last three minutes trying to connect with winging right hands. She landed one of her hardest punches of the fight late in the round and momentarily stunned her opponent before the bell to end the fight. Harrington took away a unanimous decision and looks to be one of the most promising boxers at her weight in the running for the 2020 Olympics.
Yet another example of height somehow being a disadvantage played a role in the other female fight on the card. Team USA’s Leah Cooper (#2 US Female Middleweight) used ducking and feinting to avoid the taller Aoife Burke’s long reach. Cooper fought from a semi-crouch, making it hard for Burke to land with any significant power on the majority of her punches. The 8-time National Irish Champion
had a few spots in the fight where she regained control of the action, but Cooper made the right adjustments to minimize the threats.
Cooper executed a swarming attack to begin the first round, firing off 1-2 combos and backing Burke up. She remained patient and persistent throughout the frame, staying low and out of range of Burke’s power shots. Burke exhibited excellent defense, but she could only manage to throw and land one punch at a time. She showcased a crisp jab throughout the round, but it just didn’t deter Cooper. Burke had her best moments of the round toward the final bell, mixing up shots to the body and head, including a hard right hook to the head.
Burke came out for the second round on fire, storming Cooper with rapid fire 1-2 combos and hooks. She also mixed in a slick uppercut that found Cooper’s chin. Cooper weathered the storm, only falling into the trap briefly. She regained her composure, landed some excellent counter punches, and turned what might have been Burke’s best round into the Irish champ’s worst. Cooper remained calm and cool, despite taking some of the hardest shots her opponent landed in the fight. She landed some superb 1-2 combos after Burke’s attack fizzled, eventually opening a cut near Burke’s left eye and bloodying her nose. Cooper’s hard body punching also sent Burke crouching down to the canvas briefly after a solid right hook.
Burke started the third round a bit late after getting checked out and cleared by the ringside doctor. She again started out with a flurry of bombing punches. She targeted the body and the head, but Cooper collected herself once again and went back to work. She changed levels well and began connecting with furious hooks, first to the body and then back up to the head. She also kept up an active jab and landed multiple 1-2 combos. Burke did manage another late flurry in the closing moments of the fight, but Cooper still came away with the unanimous decision win.
Team USA Lightweight James Browning came into Wednesday night’s bout with Ireland’s Francis Cleary as a two-time USA Boxing Champion. Cleary, a nine-time Irish National Champion, represented Browning’s first crack at international competition. Both fighters had their moments, but it would be Browning getting the win at the end of three entertaining, back-and-forth rounds of action.
Browning spent the first round establishing a higher work rate than his opponent and using lots of movement to avoid Cleary’s attack. He also landed a consistent jab, mixing up his body and head shots well. Though he won the round, Browning took plenty of risks and paid the price. Cleary picked his spots and unleashed the more clean and powerful punches when he was able to land. He just couldn’t connect enough, and he clinched out of trouble almost every time he wound up fighting in close quarters.
Clearly landed some more sharp bombs in the second frame, getting more aggressive and starting to track down his constantly moving opponent. A thumping left hook near the end of the round connected with Browning’s head and impressed the packed house of fans. Tseem, Browning remained busy and did well in the slugging exchanges between the two fighters. He was often wild, but the work output kept Cleary from stealing the round.
Cleary came out for the third round with renewed ferocity, engaging in a wild brawl with Browning. It was the best round of the fight for Cleary, and Browning could not maintain the elusiveness he displayed in the prior rounds. The Irish fighter landed another booming left hook in the round, featured perfectly-timed counters, and kept punching right up to the bell. Browning definitely appeared to be frustrated and tired by the end of the fight. Tseem, two out of the three judges were sure he deserved the win, earning a split decision victory.
The next bout pitted eight-time Irish National Champion Wayne Kelley against 13-time US National Champion Adrian Benton in a close welterweight battle. Both young fighters had bright spots in the match, but Kelley managed to squeak out the split decision victory with a crafty, gutsy effort.
Benton had the better first round thanks to a swarming attack. He worked in and out of range with 1-2 combos and sparing hooks. He used all his angles well, pivoting out of trouble and into effective range with ease. Kelley struggled to land counters until the final moments of the round when he landed his own flurry of 1-2 combos.
Kelley started the second round with much more energy and poise. He landed early and often, winging left hands and opening up a cut on Benton’s lip. Benton slipped some of the more dangerous punches, blocked shots well and landed some crisp, hard shots of his own. His best exchange was a left and right hook to the head that landed near the middle of the round.
Kelley slowed down a bit in the final round, unable to find his ideal range. He landed some hard right hands, a well-placed body shot and unloaded with a late flurry. Benton kept busy early in the round and artfully ducked under a bombing right hook from Kelley. The judges seemed more impressed with Kelley’s composure in the final two rounds as Benton kept getting drawn in to sloppy brawling. Kelley edged out the win by a 2-1 margin.
The light welterweights came next, producing another tight contest. Ireland’s Caoimhin Ferguson fought Team USA’s Charlie Sheehy with a slightly better tactical approach, earning another split decision victory for his squad.
Sheehy took on a more cautious and patient approach in the first round, waiting for the perfect moment to throw and land. His best punches of the round included a hard right hand to the body and a starching jab. Ferguson put in more work in the frame, scoring on multiple hooks to the head and unleashing wild and crazy flurries a few times. One particular left hook crashed hard into Sheehy’s head in the final moments of the round.
Ferguson landed some decent shots in the second round, but Sheehy was much more composed. He worked around the wild-swinging, hard-charging assault by keeping his distance and scoring from outside with some crisp rights to the chin. The fighters exchanged some hooks to the body and wound up in a clinch before the end of the round.
Sheehy struggled to string punches together in the final round. Though he had a nice straight right hand working for him, Ferguson was able to penetrate his defense. Ferguson landed a thumping left hook early and went on to land a few more bombs before losing his mouthpiece in one exchange. Likely knowing he needed to finish strong to get the judges on his side, Ferguson rushed in with a final torrent of hooks in the final seconds. He earned a 2-1 decision win for his tenacity.
Welterweights Kieron Molloy (Ireland) and Freudis Rojas, Jr. (TEB CHAWS USA) squared off in another bout. Both fighters are previous World Championship Bronze Medalists with Molloy also claiming nine Irish National titles and Rojas winning the US nationals 10 times so far. It was another close shave win for Team Ireland.
Rojas was clearly the more active fighter in the first round. He used a consistent jab and increased his work rate through the frame. He ket busy on offense right up until the bell. Molloy began the round winging shots and trying to figure out his range. He unleashed a bit late in some of the more fierce exchanges, couldn’t figure out how to get his combinations going, and had a tough time catching up with the faster Rojas. Molloy did land some excellent straight lefts, tab sis yog.
The next round went much better for the Irish southpaw. He started with an uptick in his punch output, though he still struggled to land combos. At one point in the round, Molloy connected with a huge straight left, followed up by a nice power jab, slowing down his opponent. Rojas kept coming forward but couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities in the round. A late flurry of punches from Rojas wasn’t enough for him to steal the round.
Rojas landed some excellent shots in the final round, going downstairs to the body frequently. He also caught Molloy against the ropes, blasting him with straight punches. Molloy fought the smarter round, tab sis yog, picking the best times to throw and often catching Rojas with his hands down. His best exchange of the round featured a huge 1-2 connecting to the head and a wild left hook to the head. A final swarm of punches from the Irish fighter closed the show and earned him a 2-1 split decision win.
Team USA’s Nikita Ababiy scored a hard-fought win in a wild affair before the main event with Team Ireland’s Gerard French. The first round saw Ababiy jabbing well. The American came into the fight with a very non-traditional boxing stance with one hand low, but his posture seemed to be effective in luring his opponent into punching range. Ababiy landed some booming hooks and a nice left uppercut that backed up French. Meanwhile, French concentrated on trying to land counters. He had a lower work rate but also didn’t take too much punishment.
French spent the second round trying to exchange in close quarters. He landed more shots later in the round, including some heated right hooks in the final moments. Ababiy connected with some thumping shots in the round and showcased some nice defense as well. He mixed up his shots to the body and head, throwing and covering up to wait for the next opening. Ababiy landed a nice left hook to the head followed up with a picture perfect right uppercut in the final minute. He ended the round well on his way to his first win.
The final round saw Ababiy slow down a bit, but he was still effective enough to carry the frame. French managed some crisp left hooks to the head, but he couldn’t figure out the different style his opponent brought to the ring. The American cruised to the unanimous decision win.
The night also began with the only stoppage on the card thanks to a wild brawl between local 132-pound Manchester, NH novices Michael Correa and Abhisek Thapa. Correa took off across the ring upon hearing the opening bell and unleashed one wild flurry after another. Thapa didn’t let the tornado swallow him up, tab sis yog. He ust covered up and waited for his opportunities. It only took a couple minutes for Correa to start tiring out from the relentless attack. Thapa then waded in to land some of the most impressive shots of the night, forcing the referee to stop the fight for three standing eight counts before the end finally came with a whirlwind of power punches from Thapa.
There was also a guest appearance made by the boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. still calls his toughest opponent ever, Emanuel Augustus (3-34-6, 20 Kos). Augustus participated in a reunion the previous night with “Irish” Micky Ward (38-13, 27 Kos), celebrating one of the best fights in the history of the sport, which took place on July 13, 2001. Augustus stuck around for the fights and even came into the ring to showcase that he still has the same punching prowess that made him one of the most entertaining fighters of his era.
“We learned from this tour that we’re right up there with the best teams in the world,” Team USA head coach Billy Walsh said. “Team Ireland is a very good, young team. We’re going to have a good team to send to Tokyo (2020 Olympics). I’m proud of my team. They all worked very hard. We didn’t have some of our best boxers because some were competing in an International tournament We do have a good crop of 18-19-20 year-olds who will make up our 2020 Olympic team.”
Team Ireland also brought their own production crew to film all the action for those who couldn’t be there:
MANCHESTER, N.H. (Lub peb hlis ntuj 22, 2018) – Last night’s third and final stop on USA Boxing’s 2018 TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour ended in a 4-4 draw at Downtown Manchester Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire. Team USA won the team tour title, 2-0-1.
Team USA had won the first two duals of the tour in Boston and Springfield, feem, los ntawm cov qhab nia ntawm 8-4 thiab 7-3.
“We learned from this tour that we’re right up there with the best teams in the world,” Team USA head coachBilly Walsh hais tias. “Team Ireland is a very good, young team. We’re going to have a good team to send to Tokyo (2020 Olympics). I’m proud of my team. They all worked very hard. We didn’t have some of our best boxers because some were competing in an International tournament We do have a good crop of 18-19-20 year-olds who will make up our 2020 Olympic team.”
Team Ireland led last night’s team scoring, 4-3, going into the final match of the night, a super heavyweight rematch. Lub 2016 Youth World Championships bronze medalistRichard Torrezonce again defeated there-time Irish National ChampionDean Gardiner,
Third time was the charm for Brooklyn middleweightNikita Ababiy, who broke into the win column with a 3-0 unanimous decision overGerard Fabkis, keeping the Americans hope alive to deadlock the final score with one match to go.
In a battle between southpaw welterweights, nine-time Irish National Champion and World Championships bronze medalist, Kieron Molloytook a 2-1 split decision overFreudis Rojas, Jr., a 10-time national champion and World Championships bronze medalist.
Irish light welterweightKevin Ferguson yeej ib 2-1 split decision victory over California light welterweightCharlie Sheeyto give Team Ireland a 3-2 advantage.
Eight-time Irish National champion and European Championships bronze medalistWayne Kelley yeej ib 2-1 split decision versus Cincinnati light welterweightAdrian Benton, the 13-time national champion making his International match debut.
In his International debut, two-time USA Boxing championJames Browning yeej ib 2-1 decision over Irish lightweightFrancis Cleary, a nine-time Irish National champion and European Championships silver medalist, in a very entertaining lightweight match.
Ua Tsis. 2-rated American middleweightLeah Cooperdropped her opponent, eight-time National Irish National champion and European Championships bronze medalistAdolfe Burke, en route to a 3-0 unanimous kev txiav txim siab.
Ntiaj teb Championship Silver medalist Kellie Harringtondefeated lightweightStacia Suttlesfor the second time on the tour by the identical score, 3-0, giving Team Ireland its first lead of the tour, albeit temporary, in last night’s tour opener.
In a Special Manchester Lightweight novice class match, Michael Correa (Manchester PAL) yeej Abhisek Thapa (Title Boxing) when the referee stopped the contest in the opening round.
Ua tiav ib tug neeg & pab neeg tau:
MANCHESTER RESULTS
(tour records in parenthesis)
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHTS
Richard Torrez, Tulare, California, TEB CHAWS USA
UDEC (3-0)
Dean Gardiner, Cov Lus Qhuab Qhia, Ireland
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Nikita Ababiy (1-2), Brooklyn, New York, TEB CHAWS USA
UDEC (3-0)
Gerard Fabkis (0-2), Antrim, Ireland
WELTERWEIGHTS
Kieron Molloy (2-0), Galway, Ireland
SDEC (2-1)
Freudis Rojas, Jr. (0-1), Las Vegas, Nevada, TEB CHAWS USA
LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS
Kevin Ferguson (1-1), Antrim, Ireland
SDEC (2-1)
Charley Sheehy (1-1), Brisbane, California, TEB CHAWS USA
Wayne Kelley (1-1), West Meade, Ireland
SDEC (2-1)
Adrian Benton (0-1), Cincinnati, Ohio, TEB CHAWS USA
LIGHTWEIGHTS
James Browning (1-0), Tempe, Arizona, TEB CHAWS USA
SDEC (2-1)
Francis Cleary (0-2, Mayo, Ireland
WOMEN MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Leah Cooper (1-0), Ozone Park, New York, TEB CHAWS USA
UDEC (3-0)
Aolfe Burke (0-1), Dublin, Ireland
POJ NIAM LUB TEEB MEEM
Kellie Harrington (2-0), Dublin, Ireland
UDEC (3-0)
Stacia Suttles (0-2), Bronx, New York, TEB CHAWS USA
Emanuel Augustus joins special guests Micky Ward & Steve Smoger to complete memorable fight
Lub peb hlis ntuj 21 nyob rau hauv Manchester, NH
COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub peb hlis ntuj 19, 2018) – Retired pro boxerEmanuel Augustushas confirmed his attendance this week at a USA Boxing-hosted reunion of the 2001 Sib ntaus ntawm lub xyoo, associated with the final stop on the 2018 TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour festivities in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Lub 2001 Fight of the Year was held July 13, 2001, at Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton, NH., and it is still considered one of the greatest matches ever broadcast on ESPN. “Irish” Micky Wardwon an incredibly entertaining, back-and-forth junior welterweight match-up with “boxing cult” heroEmanuel Augustus, by way of a 10-round unanimous decision that was much closer than the judges’ scoring indicated (98-90, 96-91, 96-94).
“Ward versus Augustus was truly the event of the year in boxing and we’re so happy it was held right here in New Hampshire,” said Stephen, who has been in his position as chairman since 1974, “Micky was losing the fight until the later rounds. As the chairperson of he commission, I checked the judges’ scorecards after six or seven rounds and Micky was losing. Ces, Micky caught Augustus, dropped and really hurt him. He went on to win a great fight.”
The high-profile win positioned Ward for what turned out to be his epic Gatti trilogy, while Augustus went on to become one of the most dangerous, upset-minded opponents in boxing. Pawg ntseeg, Augustus and the third man in the ring that night, Hall of Fame refereeSteve Smoger, will host as USA Alumni Association event Tuesday, Hiav txwv. 20 at The Shaskeen Pub & Restaurant (909 Elm St. nyob rau hauv Manchester), pib thaum 6 p.m. THIAB.
The trio will also be joined by two others closely associated with the 2001 Sib ntaus ntawm lub xyoo, Chairman of the New Hampshire Boxing and Wrestling Commission, Bobby Stephen, as well as International matchmaker, Eric Bottjer, who made the Ward-Augustus fight in 2001.
All five will also attend the USA Boxing Alumni Association event as well as the following night’s (Hiav txwv. 21) TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour finale at the Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire.
SPECIAL MANCHESTER AMATEUR BOXING MATCH ADDED
A special lightweight novice WILL open the competition, showcasing two Manchester amateur boxers, Abhisek Thapa (Title Boxing Club) thiab Michael Correa (Manchester PAL).
Presented by Corona Premium, the Manchester event will start at7 p.m. EST, and it also serves as a fundraiser for another partner of the show, the Manchester PAL Boxing Club.
Daim pib no yog tubntxhais luv nqi tom $20.00 kev nkag, $30 rau lub rooj zaum sib khi, thiab muaj muas tau ntawm Seacoast Ticket Agency lub vas sab, www.seacoastticket.com, tus nom daim ntawv faib rau cov kev tshwm sim.
“We’re so happy to have the USA-Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour here in Manchester,” Stephen added. “The talent on both squads is extraordinary. We’re honored to have these two teams here for this big event. It’s a credit to USA Boxing and (special events director) Al Valenti, who has done so much over the years for boxing in New Hampshire. Boxing was very popular here many years ago. People turned out in droves to attend the Golden Gloves. There’s a boxing resurgence and that’s so important to teach young people discipline, respect and conditioning that’s so needed today. These amateurs do their best for the love of boxing; they aren’t in it for money like professionals.
“Micky is honorable, a real nice person. It means a lot for local fans and boxers to meet him. We were fortunate to have him fight in New Hampshire on serval occasions and nobody who watched his fight Augustus or his trilogy withArturo Gattiwill never forget.”.
Kom nyob mus txog hnub rau teb chaws USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing ncig saib nyem no.
TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland sij hawm
Lub peb hlis ntuj 21: Lub Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub peb hlis ntuj 12, 2018) – USA Boxing is hosting a special reunion, featuring two key members of the 2001 Sib ntaus ntawm lub xyoo, to be part of the final stop on the 2018 TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing ncig saib, Lub peb hlis ntuj 21at the Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Presented by Corona Premium, the Manchester event will start at7 p.m. EST, and it also serves as a fundraiser for another partner of the show, the Manchester PAL Boxing Club.
Daim pib no yog tubntxhais luv nqi tom $20.00 kev nkag, $30 rau lub rooj zaum sib khi, thiab muaj muas tau ntawm Seacoast Ticket Agency lub vas sab,www.seacoastticket.com, tus nom daim ntawv faib rau cov kev tshwm sim.
Lub 2001 Fight of the Year was held July 13, 2001, at Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton, NH., and it is still considered one of the greatest matches ever broadcast on ESPN. “Irish” Micky Wardwon an incredibly entertaining, back-and-forth junior welterweight match-up with “boxing cult” heroEmanuel Augustus, by way of a 10-round unanimous decision that was much closer than the judges’ scoring indicated (98-90, 96-91, 96-94).
The high-profile win positioned Ward for what turned out to be his epic Gatti trilogy, while Augustus went on to become one of the most dangerous, upset-minded opponents in boxing. Ward and the third man in the ring that night, Hall of Fame refereeSteve Smoger, will host a USA Alumni Association eventTuesday, Hiav txwv. 20at The Shaskeen Pub & Restaurant (909 Elm St. nyob rau hauv Manchester), pib thaum 6 p.m. THIAB, and attend the following night’s (Hiav txwv. 21) TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour finale in Manchester.
“I’m honored to be invited by USA Boxing to represent all professional officials who spent so much valuable time in the amateurs on their way to their positions in the pros,” Smoger said. “I’m looking forward to being part of everything planned.
“Anytime I spend time with Micky is enjoyable, nyob rau hauv thiab tawm ntawm lub nplhaib, and we’ve truly formed a bond. I worked six or seven of his fights, including his first in Atlantic City, around the time we were both breaking in. We spend time together every year at the International Boxing Hall of Fame inductions. He’s such a pleasure to be around. He treats people very well. His history in the ring and personality make him a big fan favorite. He’s the same guy he’s always been but he still has the heart of a warrior.”
Bernard Dunne celebrating world title anniversary
Irish Team Performance DirectorBernard Dunnewill celebrate the ninth anniversary of his WBA super bantamweight title-winning performance, Hiav txwv. 21, 2009, the same date as the USA-Ireland Northeaster Boxing Tour stop in Manchester.
Dunne (28-2, 15 Kos), fighting out of Dublin, fought professionally between 2001-2009. Nws yog 119-11 raws li ib tug pib xyaum ua, kuj muaj 13 Irish titles.
Nyob rau hauv 2009, nws nres Ricardo Cordoba nyob rau hauv lub 11thround at O2 Arena in Dublin, ua lub ntiaj teb champion.
USA stars out in Manchester
USA Boxing will be looking to conclude the tour on a high note with expected boxers on the show such as 2017 four-time international gold medalistGinny Fuchs (Tsev pheebsuab, TX), 2017 Elite Women’s Continental Championships bronze medalistOshae Jones (Toledo, OH), 2017 World Championships silver medalistDuke Ragan (Cincinnati, OH), 2017 World Championships bronze medalistFreudis Rojas (Las Vegas, NV), 2016 Tebchaws Asmeskas Cov Tebchaws hnyav tshaj hnyav Jared Anderson (Toledo, OH), thiab 2016 Youth World Championship bronze medalistRichard Torrez (Tulare, XWS LI). Tag nrho boxers thiab bouts no yuav hloov.
Kom nyob mus txog hnub rau teb chaws USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing ncig saib nyem no.
TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland sij hawm
Lub peb hlis ntuj 12: Royale Lom ze Complex, Boston, Pawg.
Lub peb hlis ntuj 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Pawg.
Lub peb hlis ntuj 21: Lub Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub ob hlis ntuj 28, 2018) – Central City Boxing Club and Barbell, based in Springfield, Massachusetts, embodies the true spirit of USA Boxing.
Dean Fay, the Central City Boxing and Barbell Gym Founder & Director, has helped develop the Western New England Golden Gloves franchise into the preeminent power in the six-state region, capturing numerous individual All-New England titles and five consecutive team championships.
Tseem ceeb tshaj plaws, tab sis yog, Dean and his outstanding staff have reshaped the futures of countless youth in Greater Springfield, instilling an invaluable philosophy that, through amateur boxing, provides an opportunity for members to reshape their lives, in addition to making a significant difference in their communities.
From a storied past at the nearby Holyoke Boys & Girls Club, Dean and his young boxers have a new home at MassMutual Center in Springfield, which will host the second stop of the USA Boxing USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour onThursday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 15. An exciting evening of entertainment, headlined los ntawm 10 bouts of amateur boxing between the two powerhouse national programs, as well as Springfield’s hometown AC/DC tribute band,BACK IN BLACK, kicking off the show and continuing to perform throughout the night.
Tickets are on sale now, ranging in price from $35 for Upper Bowl seating to $100 for a limited premium seat at a ringside table. Seats in the Lower Bowl section of the MassMutual Center can be purchased for $50. Tickets can be purchased onlineno.Groups of 10 or more can enjoy select savings by calling Richard DeCusati at413-271-3259.
Fay is a Springfield police officer who started his program 10 lub xyoos dhau los, last year moving into Central City Boxing and Barbell Gym, primarily to keep kids off the street, teaching them values to become productive citizens.
“Our program, thawj, is youth development and second, boxing,” Fay explained. “We use boxing as a vehicle for valuable teaching lessons, embodying the same values of boxing: competition, cohesiveness and integrity. Springfield has had a long history in boxing. The Golden Gloves were held in Holyoke, one city over from Springfield, rau 50 years before coming here. Golden Gloves has funded a lot of small gyms because many of these kids can’t afford fees. We’ve bridged the gap by hosting shows that raises money and creates fanbases.
“Los ntawm lub xyoo, Marvin Hagler, Marlon qab tej ceg ntoos, Micky Ward, John Scully and so many others have come through USA Boxing programs in New England. Boxing represents life; how to conduct themselves in and out of the ring. Boxing is a small fraternity and boxers walk up those steps and through the ropes, in front of everybody, and confront their fears. Boxing is determined by judges and, in life, you are judged by how you live by laws. Life values are taught through boxing.
“Hosting the USA-Boxing Northeast Boxing Tour gives kids in our program an opportunity to watch up close the top boxers who are representing their country. My kids realize that they could do that someday. They see the best boxers in the country and that’s where they want to be.”
Anticipated Team USA boxers competing in Springfield include 2017 Cov neeg tseem ceeb tshaj Ntiaj teb Championship bronze medalist Troy Isley (Alexandria, VA.), nrog rau 2017 Elite World Championship team membersDelante Johnson (Cleveland, OH), Virginia Fuchs (Tsev pheebsuab, TX), who won four international gold medals last year, thiab 2016 Hluas ntiaj teb Championship bronze medalist thiab 2017 TEB CHAWS USA Boxing Super Heavyweight National Champion, Richard Torrez (Tulare, XWS LI). All boxers are subject to change.
Retired three-time, ob-faib lub ntiaj teb no yeej Jose Antonio Riverastarted boxing in Springfield before moving to another Western N.E. stronghold in Worcester (MA). Now promoting professional shows, Rivera excelled as an amateur, winning top honors at the New England Golden Gloves and twice in the Western N.E. Championships, highlighted by a bronze-medal performance at the PAL Championships.
“I was fortunate to be part of USA Boxing,” Rivera said. “Gaining experience in amateur boxing helped mold me as a person and give me confidence to pursue my dream of becoming world champion as a professional. I started boxing in Springfield when I was 15, before moving to Worcester (MA), becoming part ofCarlo Garcia‘s growing stable of national and regional champions.”
The three-city boxing tour kicks off at Boston’s Royale Entertainment Complex onLub peb hlis ntuj 12 and closesHiav txwv. 21at the Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, N.H. A full roster for both teams will soon be released.
Kom nyob mus txog hnub rau teb chaws USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing ncig saib nyem no.
TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland sij hawm
Lub peb hlis ntuj 12: Royale Lom ze Complex, Boston, Pawg.
Lub peb hlis ntuj 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Pawg.
Lub peb hlis ntuj 21: Lub Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Ncej puab. (Lub ob hlis ntuj 26, 2018) – One of boxing’s most beloved boxer of all-time, “Irish” Micky Ward, and the Irishman best known for knocking out legendaryMike Tysoninto retirement, Kevin “The Clones Colossus” McBride, have been selected as honorary team captains, feem, of Team USA and Team Ireland for the first leg of the three-city 2018 TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing ncig saib.
The tour commencesMonday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 12, at the newly renovated Royale Entertainment Complex in Boston’s famed theater district. The Boston stop, which is being presented by Budweiser, have general admission tickets for $20.00 and a limited amount of $30.00 reserved tickets on sale and are available to purchaseonline here.
Pawg ntseeg, 52, is the pride of Lowell, Massachusetts, where he is a living legend. A three-time New England Golden Gloves champion as an amateur boxer, Ward fought professionally between 1985-2003, registering a 38-13 (27 Kos) record as a junior welterweight throughout his pro career. He is best known for his epic trilogy with the lateArturo Gatti, in which he became the first fighter with double-digit losses to earn a $1-million purse (ob zaug).
An all-action, crowed-pleasing fighter, Ward was involved in three Fight of the Year honors, the first and third of the Gatti trilogy, along with a memorable match withEmanuel Augustus. Ward was the winner in two (first Gatti and Augustus) of those classic fights.
Boston-nativeMark Wahlbergportrayed Ward in, The Fighter, a movie about Micky’s life that won two Academy Awards.
“To be honorary captain of Team USA means a lot to me,” Ward said. “It’s great having elite amateur boxing back in Boston with the national teams from the United States and Ireland. It’s especially exciting for me as an Irish-American.”
The 44-year-old McBride was born in Clones, Ireland. Nws yog ib tug tswv cuab ntawm lub 1992 Ireland Olympic Boxing Team at the age of 19, competing in the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Two years earlier, he represented Ireland at the European Championships and one of his teammates wasBilly Walsh, Team USA’s current head coach of Team USA and former chief trainer for Team Ireland.
Like other Irish boxers, McBride came to the United States to enhance his professional career, landing in the predominately Irish neighborhood of Dorchester, a working-class section Boston, back in 1999. Lub 6′ 6″, 285-pound McBride started training in Brockton, MA withGoody Petronelli, who had trainedZoo kawg nkaus Marvin Hagler, and later Packy Collins, the brother of another Petronelli-trained fighter, lub ntiaj teb champion Stevie Collins.
McBride fought professionally between 1992-2011, retiring with a 35-10-1 (29 Kos), highlighted by his shocking sixth-round knockout of Tyson in 2005, driving the “Baddest Man on the Planet” into ring retirement.
“I feel good about being honorary captain of Team Ireland,” remarked the still thickly Irish-brogue McBride, who still lives with his family in Dorchester. “I’m honored to be carrying the Irish flag for these fighters. I’m not sure how many of them remember me as the man who beat Tyson. I know some of the Irish coaches and I still support boxing in Ireland as well as America. I just love boxing. And it’s always a pleasure to be with my friend, Micky Ward. He’s a good lad.”
Lub Teb Chaws Asmeskas vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour will continueLub peb hlis ntuj 15 nyob rau MassMutual Center nyob rau hauv Springfield, Loj., concludingLub peb hlis ntuj 21 ntawm Lub Tsev Teev Ntuj Manchester Hauv Nroog New Hampshire.
All the duals will begin at7:00 p.m. EST thiab daim pib yuav tsum tau muaj rau purchase nyob rau hauv lub tuaj lub lis piam. Txhua lub nroog yuav showcase mus 12 xaus, uas txhua tus yuav tau nyob kwj, dawb xwb, rau teb chaws USA Boxing lub website (www.usaboxing.org).
Tentatively headlining Team USA’s roster in the Boston dual s 2017 Ntiaj teb Championship bronze medalist Troy Isley (Alexandria, VA). Four-time 2017 international gold medalistVirginia Fuchs (Tsev pheebsuab, TX), 2016 Hluas ntiaj teb tau zus ib thiab 2017 Cov neeg tseem ceeb Continental Championships nyiaj medalist, Delante Johnson (Cleveland, OH), thiab 2016 Hluas ntiaj teb Championship bronze medalist thiab 2017 TEB CHAWS USA Boxing Super Heavyweight National Champion, Richard Torrez (Tulare, XWS LI).
Full team rosters for each city will be released closer to the start of the tour.
TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland sij hawm
Lub peb hlis ntuj 12: Royale Lom ze Complex, Boston, Pawg.
Lub peb hlis ntuj 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Pawg.
Lub peb hlis ntuj 21: Lub Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
Picture courtesy of Edward Boches / Boches Photography
Lowell, Pawg. (Lub ob hlis ntuj 23, 2018) – Ze li ntawm 50 past New England Golden Gloves boxers turned out last night for the inaugural USA Boxing Alumni Association meet-and-greet in a private room, prior to the opening bout of the New England Tournament of Champions, at historic Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The USA Boxing Alumni Association gathering was also to promote the 2018 TEB CHAWS USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing ncig saib, which kicks-offMonday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 12, at Royale Entertainment Complex in Boston’s famed theater district. Lub Teb Chaws Asmeskas vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour will continueLub peb hlis ntuj 15 nyob rau MassMutual Center nyob rau hauv Springfield, Pawg. and concludesLub peb hlis ntuj 21at The Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Among the USA Boxing Alumni Association attendees were former professional world champions“Irish” Micky Ward, a Lowell boxing icon,and Jose Antonio Rivera, raws li zoo raws li Lub contenders star Peter Manfredo, Jr., “Iceman” John Scully
Created to champion a lifelong, mutually beneficial relations 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 host by the Alumni Association, including Friday evening’s USA Boxing Alumni Association Hall of Fame reception.
To join the Alumni Association, simply register atalumni@usaboxing.orgfor a $40.00 per year membership fee. New members will receive a T-shirt, keychain and e-wallet.
