Tag Archives: Guillermo Rigondeaux

boxing, Roc Nation

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX VS. MOISES FLORES WBA SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ADDED TO ANDRE WARD VS. SERGEY KOVALEV PAY-PER-VIEW UNDERCARD

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WARD-KOVALEV 2: “THE REMATCH” SET FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2017

AT MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER, LAS VEGAS

PRESENTED LIVE BY HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®

 

NEW YORK, NY (April 19, 2017) – Reigning WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs) will face WBA interim titleholder Moises “Chucky” Flores (25-0, 17 KOs) in a long-awaited mandatory 12-round WBA title defense that will tarnish one fighter’s perfect record. Rigondeaux vs. Flores has officially been added to the Pay-Per-View undercard of Ward-Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 17. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

 

“I would like to thank Roc Nation Sports, Caribe Promotions and HBO for the opportunity to fight on the biggest Pay-Per-View card of the year. It will be a night of great boxing that fans will not want to miss out on. It’s going to be a chance to show HBO what they want to see. Some say I’m not exciting but it’s not my fault that once my opponents feel my power, they start running and stop throwing punches. Regardless of that, I’m going to give them what they want. I will be standing in the middle of the ring toe-to-toe and putting on a show for the fans. This is where I’ll show the world what my fans got to see in my last fight in the UK against [James] Dickens,” said Rigondeaux. “I want to thank Moises Flores for having the courage to step in the ring with me and accepting the mandatory challenge unlike many great fighters in my division. Moises is an exciting Mexican fighter who will bring a fight. I will be ready to exhibit why I am one of the best pound-for-pound boxers and the world’s best at 122 pounds. I’m ready to give fans the best fight out there, and the best is to come the evening of June 17.”

 

“I’m very excited to have my world title fight with Guillermo Rigondeaux rescheduled for Saturday, June 17 on HBO Pay-Per-View,” said Flores. “I’d like to thank my team at Probox Management and TGB Promotions along with HBO for providing this opportunity. I never stopped my preparations from the original date and look forward to making the Mexican fans proud when I defeat the great Rigondeaux.”

 

“Roc Nation Sports is thrilled to add Guillermo Rigondeaux’s championship defense against Moises Flores to the Pay-Per-View undercard of Ward-Kovalev 2: ‘The Rematch’,” said Roc Nation President & Chief of Branding and Strategy Michael R. Yormark. “We know these two champions are ready and eager to put on a big performance on boxing’s biggest stage and undoubtedly, ahead of the most anticipated fight of the year.”

 

“TGB Promotions is proud of this world title opportunity for Moises ‘Chucky’ Flores as he takes on one of the premier fighters in the sport, Guillermo Rigondeaux,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Chucky is well prepared and looking forward to making the Mexican fans proud of their new World Champion on June 17.”

 

Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs), was one of the most celebrated amateur boxers in Cuba before defecting and making his professional debut on May 22, 2009 in Miami, Florida. High expectations had no ill effect on Rigondeaux as he tore through his next five opponents. On November 13, 2010, in just his seventh pro fight, Rigondeaux faced Ricardo Cordoba for the vacant interim WBA World Super Bantamweight title and left the ring with the belt after scoring a split decision victory. Rigondeaux turned his attention to supremacy in the 122-pound division and accomplished what many considered the unthinkable by knocking out WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion Rico Ramos on January 20, 2012, becoming a world champion in fewer than 10 professional bouts. On April 13, 2013 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Rigondeaux scored his biggest victory to date by defeatingWBO and Ring Magazine World Champion and 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire. Rigondeaux came away with the victory by unanimous decision after out landing and out punching Donaire throughout the fight to unify titles. In November of 2015, Roc Nation Sports announced that it had signed Rigondeaux to an exclusive promotional agreement and featured him on the HBO Pay-Per-View undercard of the Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez mega-fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, where he defeated veteran Drian Francisco via a 10-round unanimous decision. Prior to beating Francisco, Rigondeaux was stripped of his title belts due to inactivity, but remained the WBA champion in recess. In May of 2016, Roc Nation Sports announced that Rigondeaux was reinstated of his WBA belt ahead of a 12-round WBA World Super Bantamweight championship showdown against number 13 rated WBA super bantamweight contender Jazza Dickens on July 16 at the Cardiff Ice Arena in Wales. In his first ever appearance in the United Kingdom, Rigondeaux gave fans a thrilling knockout against Dickens. The southpaw landed a big left hook, shattering Dickens’s jaw, halting the fight in the second round with a referee’s decision. Rigondeaux will be raring to go on June 17 in his title defense against interim champion Moises Flores.

 

Moises “Chucky” Flores (25-0, 17 KOs) learned the fight game growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, and spent the early years of his professional career building up his résumé in his home country. Now established as a title contender at 122 pounds, Flores looks to climb to the top of the division with his considerable talent. Flores is exceptionally tall for his weight class, measuring in at 5 feet 9 inches. As such, he tends to have a reach advantage over most of his opponents, although Flores isn’t one to merely fire punches from a distance and box from the outside. He likes to mix it up, and his record reflects that, with most of his opponents going down by knockout. Flores made his pro debut in August 2008 with a second round knockout of Oswaldo Salgado in Guadalajara, Mexico. He fought exclusively in Mexico over the first six years of his career and made quick work of most of his opponents. Flores made his U.S. debut in September 2014, winning a six round unanimous decision over Pablo Batres in Mesquite, Texas. He then gained a seventh round technical knockout of Mexican veteran Mario Macias in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in November 2014. That victory set up a 122-pound title shot against interim WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion Oscar Escandon in Carson, California, in April 2015. In an electrifying, all-action brawl, Flores earned a split decision to win the title. In his last two fights, Flores was able to defend the interim WBA World Super Bantamweight title against Luis Emanuel Cusolito, while also adding the IBO World Super Bantamweight title against Paulus Ambunda. Flores looks forward to claiming the full rights to the WBA World Super Bantamweight title on June 17 when he faces current champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in a 12-round championship showdown.

 

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Ward-Kovalev 2: “The Rematch,” a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA Light Heavyweight World Championships, is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Main Events, Andre Ward Promotions, Krusher Promotions and Corona Extra, sponsored by Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and Powered by Monster. The championship event takes place Saturday, June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Tickets for Ward-Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” are available on axs.com and at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office.

 

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boxing, Russia

VLADIMIR TIKHONOV WANTS TO TEST ACES QUIGG, RIGO AND/OR DONAIRE 

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RUSSIAN HITTER SEEKS STERNEST TESTS AT 122
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vladimir Tikhonov, rated No 9 by the WBA, and No 13 by WBO, has put word out that he’s ready, willing and more than able to rumble with the best and brightest in the super bantamweight division.

Scott Quigg, “let’s get it on”, he is calling the former WBA champion out, through promoter Dmitriy Salita.

Guillermo Rigondeaux, “I respect your skills but don’t believe you are invincible”, is Tikhonov’s message for the Cuban sweet scientist.

Nonito Donaire, “If you take care of business Nov. 5 against Jessie Magdalendo then how about you step to the line against me,”, said  the 15-0 (8 KOs) Russian.

“Tikhonov is a big, strong super bantamweight who knows how to use his height, reach and power,” Salita said of the southpaw pugilist tutored by Igor Shafer in St Petersburg, Russia. “Vladimir is very well schooled and wants to fight the best fighters in the division. Russia is producing lots of top notch fighters, contenders and world champions. I feel that Vladimir has the skills and experience to be the new face in the super bantamweight division!”

The 26 year-old Tikhonov got it done in his last outing against 40-4 Mikhail Krivolapov. Salita has proven himself to be judicious talent spotter, no surprise since he’s been to the mountain top himself, as a standout at 140 pounds, with a 35-2-1 record at junior welterweight/welterweight. “This Russian is ready to rock and makes heads roll at super bantamweight,” Salita said. “He can finish out this year with a bang and climb even higher in 2017!”
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Moises Chucky Flores receives IBO belt in negotiations for Rigondeaux showdown

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Flores holds IBO and WBA belts with co-manager Henry Rivalta. Photo By Team Pro Box Management
GUADALAJARA, MX (July 26, 2016) – This past Saturday, newly crowned undefeated IBO super-bantamweight world champion, Moises “Chucky” Flores (25-0, 17 KOs), received his belt from co-manager Henry Rivalta of Pro Box Management.  Last June, Flores scored an impressive unanimous decision victory over Paulus Ambunda (24-2, 10 KOs), in his home town of Windhoek, Namibia (Africa), to earn the world title strap.
Flores, who is also the WBA interim champion, is now the mandatory challenger to face WBA super-champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs).  Both camps are in negotiations with the possibility of the fight happening in the next few months.  If the fight comes to fruition, both the WBA and IBO world title belts will be on the line.  After receiving his IBO world title belt, and a big fight looming with Rigondeaux, Flores speaks on his current situation.
“Winning the IBO world championship is a testament to my hard work and the great team around me,” said Mexico’s Moises “Chucky” Flores. “Together we worked really hard to get this world title. I’m now the mandatory to challenge Guillermo Rigondeaux, a fight I’m looking forward to.  He’s very skilled but I feel I have all the tools to defeat him.  My management team is working hard to get this fight finalized.  It’s time to see who the best super-bantamweight is.  I going to bring that world title home to Mexico.”
boxing, ShoBox, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FACTS & FIGURES FOR MILESTONE 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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Prospect Developmental Series Celebrates 15 Years With A Four-Fight Telecast This Friday, July 22, Live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT)

 

Take A Look At The History Behind ShoBox:

http://s.sho.com/29zMdfs

 

NEW YORK (July 19, 2016) – Acclaimed SHOWTIME Sports®prospect developmental series ShoBox: The New Generationcelebrates its 15th anniversary this Friday, July 22 with a quintessential four-fight telecast, live on SHOWTIME®  at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Since its inception in 2001, ShoBox: The New Generation has been dedicated to promoting competitive fights pitting promising boxers in the toughest fights of their career. ShoBox has carved out its identity by matching top talent against each other.

 

“This is certainly an accomplishment for the series, but we wouldn’t be here for 15 years without the fighters,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of ShoBox: The New Generation.  “The credit should go to the young men who are willing to step up and take risks early in their career.

 

“As we’ve seen over the last 15 years, matching fighters tough at a young age escalates their career development, and we’re thrilled to provide the platform to introduce viewers to these talented fighters.  I’d also like to thank the promoters, managers and trainers who are willing to test their fighters at an early stage.  Working together with a diverse roster of promotional companies is vital for the advancement of the sport as we aim to find tomorrow’s stars today.”

 

After 15 years and 67 future world champions, below are some remarkable ShoBox facts and figures:

 

  • 67 fighters who fought on the series have gone on to become world champions (click HERE for full list)

 

  • July 22 is the 219th ShoBox telecast.  That means that, on average, fans have seen a future world champion on nearly one out of every three shows

 

  • An additional 75 fighters who appeared on ShoBox have fought for a world title

 

  • 150 fighters have suffered their first loss on the developmental series

 

  • There have been 96 matchups of undefeated fighters

 

  • There have been a total of 484 bouts aired on the series.  The percentage of decisions and stoppages is about 50/50.

 

  • The list of graduates who have won world titles includes: Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Tyson Fury, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Badou Jack, Gary Russell Jr., Jermall Charlo, Jermell Charlo, Andre Ward, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

 

  • Eight fighters won a world title in the fight immediately following an appearance on ShoBox: Joan Guzman, Robert Guerrero, Chad Dawson, Devon Alexander, Andre Ward, Rico Ramos, Jhonatan Romero and Demetrius Andrade.

 

  • There have been 11 fighters who lost on ShoBox and went on to become world titlists: Luis Collazo, Robert Guerrero, Eric Aiken, David Diaz, Isaac Hlatshwayo, Cornelius Bundrage, Rodrigo Guerrero, Ishe Smith, Gamaliel Diaz, Mickey Bey, and Badou Jack.

 

  • 22 U.S. Olympians have fought on ShoBox

 

  • There have been ShoBox shows in 71 different cities, 26 different states, and eight different countries.  The leading site for has been Santa Ynez, Calif., with 33 shows. Second is Las Vegas with 19.

 

  • Gary Russell Jr. was the first fighter to turn pro on ShoBox

 

  • The first ShoBox show came at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, 2001, at Bally’s in Atlantic City.  The first fight was John Molnar (18-1-1) scoring an eight-round technical decision over Victor Rosado (17-2-1).  In the main event, lightweight Leo Dorin (17-0) stopped Martin O’Malley (17-0) in the ninth round. Six months later, Dorin won the WBA lightweight crown, becoming the first ShoBoxfighter to win a world title

 

  • Steve Farhood’s Best Fighters (in no order): Timothy Bradley, Robert Guerrero, Lucian Bute, Joan Guzman, Diego Corrales, Ricky Hatton, Chad Dawson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Paul Williams

 

  • Farhood has worked all 219 ShoBox telecasts

 

Undefeated top 10-ranked super bantamweight Adam “Mantequilla” Lopez (15-0, 7 KOs) faces Roman Ruben Reynoso (18-1-1, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event.  In an eight-round co-feature, Jerry Odom (13-2-1, 12 KOs) faces Julius Jackson (19-1, 15 KOs) in a matchup of super middleweights.  Two eight-rounders will round out the four-fight telecast: O’Shaquie Foster (10-1, 7 KOs) meets Rolando Chinea (12-1-1, 6 KOs) in a lightweight scrap and undefeated Khiary Gray-Pitts (13-0, 10 KOs), of Worcester, Mass., will be opposed by once-beaten Ian Green (9-1, 7 KOs) in the super welterweight opener.

 

Tickets for the GH3 Promotions event from Foxwoods Resort Casino are priced at $45, $75 and $150 and can be purchased by phone from the Foxwoods Resort Casino at 800.200.2882 or online at www.foxwoods.com.

 

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez will serve as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

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Guillermo Rigondeaux’ manager accepts offer From Vasyl Lomachenko’s manager  

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CORK, Ireland (July 13, 2015) – Irishman Gary Hyde, the manager of unified super bantamweight (122 lbs.) world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), has accepted in principal the offer made by Egis Klimas, manager of World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight (126 lbs.) champion Vasyl “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KOs), for a Super Fight.

 

Rigondeaux is the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Super, WBO and The Ring magazine’s super bantamweight champion.

 

Cuban-native Rigondeaux, who now lives in Miami, and Ukrainian-born Lomachenko are both two-time Olympic gold medalists.

 

“‘Rigo’ will fight Lomachenko at a catchweight of 124 pounds, which should be no problem for Lomachenko because he weighed 125 pounds for one of his professional fights, Hyde said. “‘Rigo’ is a small 122-pounder who could make 118 without much trouble, but he would be giving away size and weight advantages to face Lomachenko.

 

“We would insist on a rehydration clause of 135 pounds for fight night. If Klimas agrees to this, then, we have a fight. Lomachenko is a masterful fighter like ‘Rigo’ and this match- up will be a classic. We have a pair of two-time Olympic gold medalists and current world champions going at it. I believe ‘Rigo’ is the more ferocious of the two fighters and I firmly believe ‘Rigo’ will dominate Lomachenko. Klimas, you know what you must do to make the fight, just pick up the phone and call me. ‘Rigo’ is ready!”

 

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him atwww.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.
boxing

Boxing’s most avoided world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux heading to UK next month To publically confront Scott Quigg

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CORK, Ireland (April 12, 2015) – Unified super bantamweight world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), arguably the most avoided reigning world title holder in modern boxing history, will travel to London next month in order to publicly confront his mandatory challenger, Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KOs), the World Boxing Association (WBA) “regular” 122-pound division titlist.

 

A month ago in an unusual move, Rigondeaux’ manager Gary Hyde formally petitioned the WBA to enforce a mandatory title fight between his WBA Super champion and Quigg. Hyde is awaiting the WBA’s decision. Rigondeaux is also the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and The Ring magazine’s super bantamweight champion.

 

A reigning world champion hasn’t been avoided by other world champions and top contenders like Rigondeux has for the past two years since, perhaps, junior middleweight Sergio Martinez, or possibly all the way back to middleweight Mike McCallum.

 

The top three super bantamweights in the world outside of Rigondeaux – International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) champions, Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz, respectively, plus Quigg – have avoided the Cuban great like the plaque. Once Santa Cruz’ promoter at the time, Oscar de la Hoya, announced that a Rigondeaux-Santa Cruz had to happen, Santa Cruz’ powerful adviser, Al Haymon, exercised a contract option and bought him out to avoid a fight with ‘Rigo.’ Frampton’s promoter, Barry McGuigan, has proclaimed his fighter, not Rigondeaux, as the No. 1 super featherweight in the world. McGuigan, though, is interested in Frampton fighting Quigg in a U.K. showdown, rather than a world mega-fight for three of the four major sanctioning world titles. As the “regular” WBA champion, Quigg is Rigondeaux’ mandatory challenger, yet, he apparently wants no part of the two-time Olympic gold medalist because his promoter, Barry Hearn, not only hasn’t pushed the issue, he’s in negotiations with McGuigan for Frampton to fight Quigg.

 

Former world super bantamweight champions Nonito Doniare, after he lost a unification fight to Rigondeaux two years ago, and Abner Mares chose to move up one division to fight as featherweights. And now Donaire reports that his manager was contacted by a Quigg representative to discuss a Donaire-Quigg fight in England.

 

Another two-time Olympic gold medalist, WBO 126-pound champion Vasyl Lomachenko, continually insists that “Rigo” has to move up in weight for a fight to happen despite him having no problems making 126.

 

“Quigg, Santa Cruz and Frampton have showed no desire to challenge Rigondeaux,” Hyde said. “These three fighters are trying to fool the public into believing that fight the No. 1 guy in the world is not important. While they are lining their pockets with ridiculous amounts of cash for fighting below par opponents, Rigondeaux is forced to wait around until some Asian opponent steps up. This is a sport in which we are accustomed to seeing the best fighting the best but, in the super bantamweight division, it’s the best versus the rest.

 

“Rigondeaux will travel to Manchester to fight Quigg, Belfast to fight Frampton, or Las Vegas to fight Santa Cruz. None of these so-called world champions, though, will consider fighting the acknowledged world super bantamweight champion. They’re all much more content to hold onto their belts than beating The Man in their weight class.”

 

Next month, Hyde reports, Rigondeaux will travel to the United Kingdom in a bold attempt to embarrass Quigg into fighting him. “I don’t like traveling overseas unless I have a fight lined up,” Rigondeaux explained, “but I will travel to England in May to publicly call out Scott Quigg. If he turns down the chance to fight our WBA mandatory, he will be remembered for that instead of being known as a great fighter. While I’m in the UK, I will also go to Belfast to checkout Carl Frampton to ask if he wants to prove himself against the best in his division.”

 

Understanding that the top super bantamweight action is currently in Europe, noting a record purse ($2.2 million USD) offered for a Frampton vs. Quigg fight, Rigondeaux is considering a major change in the not too distant future, moving his base from Miami to the UK, if that’s what it takes for him to get in on the action.

 

Hyde also manages former WBO middleweight champion and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 1 mandatory contender Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-1, 18 KOs), former WBA Interim cruiserweight champion Youri “El Toro” Kalenga (21-2, 14 KOs) and Georgian super lightweight Levan “The Wolf” Ghvamichava (14-1-1, 11 KOs) , as well as top prospects such as Cuban super bantamweight Marcos Forestal (2-0, 2 KOs), Irish heavyweight Con Sheehan and Bulgarian light heavyweight Blagoy Naydenov.

 

 

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him atwww.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.
boxing

Manager John Seip signs Italian super middleweight prospect Daniele Marco Scardina

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(L-R) – Daniele Marco Scardina and John Seip

 

MIAMI (April 6, 2015) – Veteran boxing manager John Seip has signed highly decorated Italian amateur boxer Daniele Marco Scardina to an exclusive managerial contract.

 

Seip is best known for guiding Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world middleweight title. The native New Yorker also manages rising British super middleweight Steed “The Stallion” Woodall (7-0-1, 5 KOs).

 

The 21-year-old Scardina hails from Rozzano, a town of less than 40,000 people in the Province of Milan. He started boxing in 2008 at the age of 16, following in his uncle’s footsteps who was a boxer at that time, as well as Daniele’s role model.

 

Scardina, who had 56 amateur bouts, captured top honors in numerous Italian tournaments including the Rovereto National, National Silver Glove, and two National Golden Gloves. He also won a bronze medal at an International event.

 

In 2013, he boxed for the Italia Thunder Boxing Team in the World Series of Boxing, winning his only match against a German opponent.

 

Scardina first caught Seip’s attention at the world famous 5th St. Gym in Miami Beach, originally opened in 1950 by Chris Dundee, and the home of countless world champions have trained there including Muhammad Ali, Carmen Basilio, Willie Pastrano, Emile Griffith, Archie Moore, Roberto Duran, Sonny Liston and Willie Pep. The rich tradition continues at the new 5th St. Gym, located nearby at 1434 Alton Street, where top fighters from around the world such as Bernard Hopkins still train.

 

“I first saw him training at the 5th St. Gym and he looked like a typical amateur,” Seip explained. “He threw wide punches and didn’t know how to throw a good jab. Trainers Guy Laieta and Dino Spencer started working with him and now he’s using his reach, fighting at a distance, and throwing combinations of jabs and hooks. He’s passionate about boxing, listening and learning every day. Daniele has good hand speed and power. He’s a handsome kid, too. I saw something in him, intangibles, and decided to sign him.

 

“Dino is an owner who has created a top-notch gym with great sparring opportunities in an atmosphere featuring so many talented fighters who really push each other. It’s already apparent that Danielle has improved his skills training there. He’s long, fast and powerful. His work ethic is incredible; he’s the first in the gym, last to leave. You can’t hurt this kid, either. We all believe that he has a very bright future.”

 
Scardina hits heavy-bag at 5th St. Gym in Miami Beach

Unlike fighters from Russia and former Soviet-bloc nations, as well as those from Latin America who come to the United States to establish their professional boxing careers, Italian-born fighters rarely have followed the same route as Scardina, who moved to Miami last year and sleeps on the floor of his brother’s apartment.

 

The lone Italian-born world champion who fought professionally in America is Vito Antuofermo (50-7-2, 21 KOs), who was the WBC/WBA middleweight champion in 1979-1980. Antuofermo, though, moved with his family to Brooklyn from Puglia, Italy when he was 17 and he learned how to box in America.

 

“I have always wanted to be a champion in America,” Scardina said. “That’s the American dream for me. I think I’ll have a great opportunity in this country to be the greatest boxer I can be with the right help. John Seip is the right manager for me because he believes we can the world championship together as a team.”

 

Scardina’s favorite boxers are Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Miguel Cotto. “I’m working on perfection as an outside fighter and to main my arms closer,” Scardina added. I’m fighting to become world champion.”

 

Scardina is expected to make his pro debut this May or June.

 

Follow Scardina on Instagram @danieletoretto.

 

boxing

Manager Gary Hyde petitions WBA To enforce mandatory title fight Between Rigondeaux and Quigg

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CORK, Ireland (March 12, 2015) – International boxing manager Gary Hyde, president of Nowhere2Hyde Management, has formally petitioned the World Boxing Association (WBA) to enforce a mandatory title fight between Hyde’s fighter, WBA Super & World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), and WBA “regular” 122-pound division titlist Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KOs).

 

Below find a copy of Hyde’s letter to the WBA:

 

 

Dear Chairman Mendoza:

 

I write as the manager of Guillermo Rigondeaux, the Unified WBA/WBO Champion.

 

I write to request enforcement of the mandatory.  Uniquely in the Super Bantamweight Division Guillermo Rigondeaux is the “Unified Champion” and Scott Quigg is the “Regular Champion.”

Clearly as the Regular Champion Quigg is the highest ranked contender in the division.  While he was injured he is now back in training and there is no reason why Mr. Rigondeaux cannot or should not fulfill his mandatory obligations against Mr. Quigg.

 

We are aware that there are some discussions about a bout between Quigg and Frampton.  However, we have been in touch with the IBF and they will not sanction the unification fight with anyone other than the highest level champion which in this case is Guillermo Rigondeaux.

 

We respectfully suggest that it is best to deal with the mandatory issue now and request that Quigg and Guillermo be directed to begin negotiations.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Gary Hyde

 

 

Hyde also manages WBA Interim cruiserweight champion Youri “El Toro” Kalenga(21-1, 14 KOs), former WBO middleweight champion and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 1 mandatory contender Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-1, 18 KOs), and top super bantamweight prospect Marcos Forestal (1-0, 1 KO).

 

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him atwww.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.
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Cuban amateur star Marcos Forestal Making pro debut tomorrow in Queens, NY Friday, Feb. 13

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(l-R) – Marcos Forestal & trainer Joe Goossen

CORK, Ireland (Feb. 12, 2015) – Celebrated Cuban amateur boxer Marcos Forestal will make his professional debut tomorrow night (Fri., Feb. 13) in a four-round super bantamweight bout against veteran Ignac “The Test” Kassai at 5 Star Banquet Hall in Queens, New York.

 

A three-time Cuban National champion, the 25-year-old Forestal defeated 2012 Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Rameriez 14 months ago in a sensational national championship final.

 

Fighting as a semi-pro in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) for undefeated 2014 team champion Cuba Domadores, Forestal was unbeaten in three WSB matches before defecting to the United States last April.

 

Forestal signed a contract this past October with Ireland-based, International boxing manager Gary Hyde, president of Nowhere2Hyde Management. Hyde also manages present, past and future world champions such as World Boxing Association (WBA) Super & World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion and two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist, Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), WBA Interim cruiserweight champion Youri “El Toro” Kalenga (21-1, 14 KOs), former WBO middleweight champion and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 1 mandatory contender Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-1, 18 KOs), and world amateur champion Blagoy Naydenov.

 

“Marcos Forestal is an excellent young fighter who has an action-packed style,” Hyde said. “He has what it takes to become world champion. We couldn’t find a US-based opponent to fight Marcos because they said he was another Rigondeaux and Olympic champion. While he beat an Olympic champion, Marcus wasn’t an Olympian. We flew in his opponent from Hungary. Kasai is a 56-fight veteran who has fought some of the top Europeans like IBF super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton, world title challengers Martin Ward, Bedak Zsolt  and Alexander Miskirtchian, and former European champ Anthony Settoul.”

 

Forestal is a 5′ 8″ southpaw who will campaign in the 122-pound super bantamweight division, the same weight class his fellow countryman and stablemate Rigondeaux rules.

 

“Guillermo Rigondeaux is a super champion and in Cuba I looked up to him like his younger brother,” Forestal added. “He has dominated the super bantamweight division and I will soon join him at the top.”

 

Living in Los Angeles and trained there by Joe Goossen, Forestal’s second pro fight is tentatively scheduled for March 6 in nearby Glendale, California.

 

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him atwww.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.