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Webster decisions Riojas in Atlantic City Wins by Seldon, Ajamu, Wikins and Manzueta

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Atlantic City, New Jersey (June 1, 2018)–Super Middleweight Derrick Webster pounded his way to a 10-round unanimous decision over Oscar Riojas in the main event of a five-bout card at The Claridge Hotel.

 

 

 

Mis Downing Promotions promoted the near-capacity show.

 

 

 

With the win, Webster captured the American Boxing Federation Continental Americas Super Middleweight title.

 

 

 

Webster was pinpoint with his jab, which he followed with a solid body work that reddened the sides of Riojas.  Webster stunned the gritty Riojas on several occasions, but the visitor from Monterrey, Mexico showed a good chin and remained on his feet for the ten-round bout.

 

 

 

Scores were all 100-90 in favor of Webster of Glassboro, New Jersey, who is now 26-1.  Riojas is 16-10-1.

 

 

 

“It was boxing in there.  I put on a display.  Roy Jones told me to keep him long, and that’s what I did.  I started the body work a little late, but the jab was my key.  I could have done a little more with the body, but the jab was everything tonight,” said Webster.

 

 

 

“In the 1st round, I hit him with a big right hand, but the bell saved him. I hit him good a couple more times.  Some guys know how to survive, and he is one of them.”

 

 

 

“We have been talking to the USBA about fighting for their title.  That will get me to where I need to be.  I am ready for a world title shot.  I have been putting it out there that I would like fight George Groves or Tyron Zuege.  I will go to China or Germany or wherever to fight those guys.”

 

 

 

Isiah Seldon scored two knockdowns en-route to a six-round unanimous decision over Lamar Harris in a super middleweight bout.

 

 

 

In round four, Seldon landed a perfect counter right that sent Harris to the deck.  In round five, it was another right that mad Harris’ glove touch the canvas for a 2nd time.

 

 

 

Seldon of Atlantic City won by scores of 60-52 twice and 59-53 and is now 12-1-1.  Harris of St. Louis is 9-15-4.

 

 

 

 

Prince Badi Ajamu won a eight-round unanimous decision over Edgar Perez in a cruiserweight rematch. Ajamu of Camden, New Jersey won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 to raise his mark to 29-4-1.  Perez of Chicago is 7-25.

 

 

 

James Wilkins stopped Joe Gbola at the end of round two of their scheduled four-round featherweight bout.

 

 

 

Wilkins dropped Gbolo midway through the 2nd round, and then pounded on his opponent for the rest of the round.  The bout was stopped in between rounds.

 

 

 

Wilkins of Brooklyn, NY is 4-0 with 4 knockouts.  Gbolo of Newbergh, NY is 3-3-2.

 

 

 

In the opening bout of the evening, Felix Manzueta stopped Antonio Allen in round two of a scheduled four-round welterweight bout.

 

 

 

Manzueta pounded on Allen until the bout was stopped at 1:17.

 

 

 

Manzueta of Dover, Delaware is 2-0 with both wins coming via stoppage.  Allen of Philadelphia is 0-8-1.

 

 

 

The card took place on Atlantic City Hall of Fame weekend, and stars such as Roy Jones Jr., Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, Hector Camacho Jr., Bruce Seldon, Mark Breland, Marlon Starling, Michael Spinks and Jeff Chandler were among the dignitaries that were sitting ringside.”

 

 

 

 

Mis Downing Promotions would like to thank their sponsors which includes The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame, The Claridge Hotel, Fantasea Resorts, AEI Insurance, Urgent Response, HairX, Buy Smart Motors & New Vision Property Management.

boxing

Hartford Boxing Promotions Announces inaugural show “Fight Night at the Capital”

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Undefeated light heavyweight
Richard “Popeye” Rivera to headline & Amateur star Sharad Collier turning pro
 
June 16 at Xfinity Centre in Hartford, CT

(L-R) – Sharad Collier, promoter/trainer Tony Blanco & Richard Rivera

HARTFORD, Conn. (May 3, 2018) -Hartford Boxing Promotions has announced its inaugural event, “Fight Night at the Capital”, to take place Saturday night, June 16, at Xfinity Centre in Hartford, Connecticut.

 

 

Boxing trainer Tony Blanco and his Hartford Boxing Center gym partner, Michael Tran, have teamed with their undefeated light heavyweight prospect, Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (7-0, 6 KOs), to form Hartford Boxing Promotions.

 

 

“I’m excited about the entire card and providing a platform for some of the best amateurs in recent Connecticut boxing history to fight,” Blanco said. “‘Popeye’ is in the main event. He’s sparred against world champions and each experience has given him more confidence. He’s on his way to greatness. We’re also showcasing (‘The Special One’) Sharad Collier in his pro debut. This kid is something special. Richard is exactly what Hartford needs, somebody youngster can look up to as a role model. ‘Popeye’ is exciting to watch and very popular. Sharad is going to be like that, too.

 

 

“I’m thrilled to partner with Richard and Michael to bring boxing back to Hartford, which is a hotbed for boxing, and it has a rich boxing history. There’s a lot of talent here right now and fans will see that June 16th.”

 

 

Boxing’s roots in the Hartford market dates back nearly a full century, headlined by International Hall of Famers Willie “Will o’ the Wisp” Pep and Christopher “Battling” Battalino. Other top-area boxers include world champion Marlon “Magic Man” Starling, world title challengers Gaspar “El Indio” Ortega and Israel “Pito” Cardona, and 1996 USA Olympic Boxing Team captain Lawrence Clay-Bey.

 

 

The hardest hitter in New England, rising star Rivera will defend his Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) New England light heavyweight title in the eight-round main event versus an opponent to be determined.

 

 

 

“I’m blessed to help bring boxing back to Hartford,” Rivera commented. “I’m honored to headline our first show, Fans will see good boxing and be entertained. I’m going to put on a good performance on an exciting night. I can’t wait!”

 

 

The 21-yer-old Collard, fighting out of Hartford like Rivera, will be competing in the National Golden Gloves Championships, starting May 14th in Omaha, Nebraska, before returning home to turn pro in a four-round Special Junior Welterweight Attraction versus Carlos Galindo (0-2), of Woburn, Massachusetts.

 

 

“Tony is like my second father and I’m grateful to him for allowing me to make my pro debut in my hometown,” Collier remarked. “I’m bringing a big fan-base and I’m going to put on a show. I’m familiar with a lot of fighters on this card. ‘Popeye’ is like my big brother. We train and have traveled together as amateurs. We motivate each other. I’m going to try and get a faster knockout than him June 16th.”

 

 

Undefeated Danbury, CT lightweight Omar “The Beast” Bordoy, Jr. (5-0, 1 KO) in his first scheduled six-rounder vs. Alexander “El Bravo” Picot (2-5-1), fighting out of Hartford by way of Puerto Rico.

 

 

Also fighting on the undercard, all in four-round bouts, are Hartford featherweight Luis “Lobito” Rivera (4-3) vs. Phillip Davis (1-1-1), of Worcester, MA; pro-debuting New Haven, CT lightweight Anuel Rosa vs. Cleveland’s Roger Blankenship (1-3), New Britain, CT featherweight Nathan Martinez in his professional debut vs. New Bedford’s (MA)Henry Garcia (1-0), Hartford lightweight Jose Maysonette vs. Justin Morales, of New Bedford, in a battle of pro-debut fighters, and another pair of pro debut fighters, Bridgeport, CT featherweight Jacob Marrero vs. Jimmy Santiago, of New York City.

 

 

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

 

Tickets, priced at $80.00, $60.00 and $40.00, are on sale and available to purchase, as well as $125.00 VIP tickets that include food and soft drinks), at Ticket Master outlets or at the Hartford Boxing Center gym.

 

 

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout starts at 7 p.m. ET.

 

 

Sponsors include Hot 93.7 FM, Hartford Boxing Center, Foster Buddies Network and HBC ProShop.

 

 

INFORMATION;

Facebook: /hartfordboxingcenter

Twitter: @hartfordboxing

Instagram: @hartford.boxing.center/

You Tube: /c/HartfordBoxingCenter

boxing

Hartford Boxing Promotions To launch this summer

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(L-R) – Michael Tran, Richard Rivera & Tony Blanco

HARTFORD, Conn. (April 4, 2018) – Professional boxing’s newest promotional company, Hartford Boxing Promotions, has announced its official formation, as well as tentative plans calling for its inaugural event this summer in Hartford.

 

 

 

Boxing trainer Tony Blanco and his Hartford-based House of Boxing gym partner, Michael Tran, have teamed with their undefeated light heavyweight prospect, Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (6-0, 5 KOs), to form Hartford Boxing Promotions. Rivera is one of the best and most popular pro fighters in New England.

 

 

 

“We want to bring boxing back to Hartford,” Blanco addressed why they founded this new promotional company. “Hartford is a hotbed of boxing. There’s a lot of talent here and Hartford has a rich boxing history.

 

 

 

“We hope to promote our first show on June 16th, subject to Connecticut Boxing Commission approval, at Xfinity Theatre in Hartford. It’s owned by Live Nation and has been used only as a concert hall, but it has an old-school feel and will be an awesome venue for boxing. We’re excited about promoting events in this new venue for boxing.”

 

 

 

Boxing’s roots in the Hartford market dates back nearly a full century, headlined by International Hall of Famers Willie “Will o’ the Wisp” Pep and Christopher “Battling” Battalino. Other top-area boxers include world champion Marlon “Magic Man” Starling, world title challengers Gaspar “El Indio” Ortega, “Iceman” John Scully and Israel “Pito” Cardona, and 1996 USA Olympic Boxing Team captain Lawrence Clay-Bey.

 

 

INFORMATION;

Facebook: /hartfordboxingcenter

Twitter: @hartfordboxing

Instagram: @hartford.boxing.center/

You Tube: /c/HartfordBoxingCenter

boxing

Grand Opening of Connecticut Boxing HOF new location Monday night, June 26, in Sky Casino at Mohegan Sun

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (June 13, 2017) – The Grand Opening of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame’s (CBHOF) new location in the Sky Casino at Mohegan Sun will be held there Monday, June 26, starting at 6 p.m. ET.
The media and public is welcome to attend the grand opening festivities. Dignitaries representing from Mohegan Sun and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes will be in attendance, as well as many CBHOF inductees, including Marlon Starling and “Irish: Micky Ward.
The original CBHOF location was in Mohegan Sun Arena but public availability for viewing was restricted to only during scheduled events held there. CBHOF inductees’ plaques and video of major fights held in Connecticut were displayed.
The new CBHOF will be open to the public during Mohegan Sun Casino operating hours.   In addition to the inductees’ plaques and videos of famous fights held in the Nutmeg State, the new location will also include rotating displays of historically significant boxing memorabilia. There will also be interactive displays for public use.
“We at the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame are extremely grateful to Mohegan Sun for hosting this great facility and for contributing generously to its construction,” CBHOF president John Laudati said. “We are very excited and anxious to have the ability to present the rich history of boxing in Connecticut while simultaneously honoring those who have contributed to that history.”
Go online to www.ctboxinghof.org for additional information about the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame.
ABOUT CBHOF: The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 to honor and celebrate the careers of outstanding individuals involved in the sport of boxing. Its inaugural Induction Ceremony & Dinner was held in 2005. Connecticut’s rich boxing history could never have flourished if it weren’t for the achievements of those enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
As a non-profit organization, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is deeply committed to keeping the fighting spirit of Connecticut thriving through various charitable contributions.
amateur boxing, boxing

Iceman John Scully’s 6th Official Amateur Boxing Reunion

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Saturday, March 18, 2017
12:00 Noon (until around 3 pm)
@ Monique’s Lounge (aka 108 Lounge)
181 East 108th Street
East Harlem, New York
10029
I am proud to officially announce my 6th Official Amateur Boxing Reunion that will take place on March 18 at Monique’s Lounge in Harlem, New York. I am expecting by far the largest turn out of any of the previous 5 reunions which were held twice at Rival Boxing in Las Vegas, once at Jimmy’s Corner in Manhattan and once each at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casinos.
Of the over 100 boxers attending this far, among them I expect the likes of 1988 Olympic Silver medalist Riddick Big Daddy Bowe, NYC Golden Gloves Champ “Poison” Junior Jones, 1984 Olympic champ Mark Breland, 1974 National Junior Olympic champ Marlon Starling, 1996 USA Olympic team captain Lawrence Clay-Bey and 1988 National Golden Gloves Champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson.
At my past reunions, including the most recent one held at the Rival Boxing Store in Las Vegas on November 18, we’ve had the likes of Roy Jones Jr., Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos, 1992 Olympian Montell Griffin, former three time world champions Mike McCallum and Iran Barkley, and “The Fighter” and Irish Micky Ward in attendance.
Among the most special of moments at my reunions, we had Mike McCallum and Alex Ramos, who met each other in the semi-finals of the 1980 NYC Golden Gloves, reconnect in Las Vegas in late 2014, we had Luis Ortiz and Lawrence Clay-Bey, who were brought together in 2015 at Foxwoods after not only not seeing each other in 38 YEARS but after not even knowing they fought against each other in 1977 until just a few days before they reunited and in NYC over the summer of 2015 we had 1984 New York City Golden Gloves 156 pound champion and runner up Dennis “The Magician” Milton and Jesse Lanton connect once again.
Any media who wish to attend the event in Harlem, New York on March 18 are more than welcome to be a part of the festivities.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=htZpAj5JPHE&feature=youtu.be ...former champion Michael Second To Nunn calling in to my Amateur Boxers Reunion in Las Vegas last year to speak to former (1986) opponent Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos.
boxing, ESPN Boxing, PBC on ESPN, Premier Boxing Champions

Connecticut’s top all-time great fighters & Foxwoods’ best fights

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PBC on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Doubleheader 
Thursday, July 21
From Foxwoods Resort Casino – 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
 
MASHANTUCKET, CT (July 19, 2016) — Connecticut may not have equal status with New York City or Las Vegas in terms of being a fight capital, but the Nutmeg State has produced five Hall-of-Famers with Foxwoods Resort Casino, located in Mashantucket, CT, hosting many of the sport’s greatest fighters and fights over the past two decades.
The tradition continues on Thursday, July 21, as rising middleweight contender Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (8-0, 6 KOs) faces former world champion Sam “King” Soliman (44-13, 18 KOs) in the 10-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN & ESPN Deportes.
Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, and features a 10-round middleweight clash between powerful Ievgen Khytrov (13-0, 11 KOs) and California’s Paul Mendez (19-2-2, 9 KOs).
Connecticut’s all-time greatest boxer is the late Willie “Will ‘o the Wisp” Pep (229-11-1, 65 KOs), who was born in Middletown and lived in Rocky Hill. Pep, who fought professionally between 1940 and 1966, was a two-time world featherweight champion who had an epic rivalry with Sandy Saddler.
Other Hall-of-Famers from Connecticut are world heavyweight champion (1926-28)Gene “The Fighting Marine” Tunney (65-1-1, 48 KOs), of Greenwich, who defeated the legendary Jack Dempsey twice; Ukrainian-born world featherweight (1925) titlist Louis “Kid” Kaplan (108-22-12, 72 KOs), from Meriden; world light heavyweight champion (1933) “Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom (222-42-31, 2 NC, 19 KOs), of Leonard Bridge; world light heavyweight titleholder (1926-27) Jack “Bright Eyes” Delaney (73-11-2, 43 KOs), who was born in Canada but lived in Bridgeport.
Over the year, many other Connecticut fighters have made an impact on the sport including Hartford’s NBA featherweight champion Battling Battalino (57-26-3, 26 KOs), who was the first world champion to lose his title on the scale, Hartford’s two-time world welterweight titlist Marlon “Magic Man” Starling (45-6-12, 27 KOs), Norwalk’s WBA junior middleweight champion “Tremendous” Travis Simms (28-1, 21 KOs), New Haven’s three-time world light heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (33-4, 18 KOs) and world welterweight contender Gaspar “El Indio” Ortega (131-29-6, 69 KOs), Stamford’s world No. 1-ranked welterweight Chico Vejar (92-20-4, 43 KOs), and Bloomfield’s 1996 Olympic Team USA captain Lawrence Clay-Bey (21-3-1, 16 KOs).
The No. 1 Foxwoods fight of all-time, held on April 16, 2011, was also promoted by DiBella Entertainment, and was selected as the 2011 Ring Magazine and BWAA Fight of the Year. Defending champion Andre Berto (27-0) and challenger Victor Ortiz (28-2-2) battled for 12 rounds, each getting dropped twice, with Ortiz winning a hard-fought decision (114-111, 114-112, 115-110) for the WBC welterweight title.
A close second place is the 2003 BWAA Fight of the Year, in which future Hall-of-FamerJames Toney (65-4-2) won a 12-round decision over reigning IBF cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov. The action started days earlier at the pre-fight press conference when a skirmish erupted as tables were overturned and glasses thrown. The animosity continued between the two fighters and their respective camps right up to the final bell. Previously undefeated, Jirov (31-0) started fast but faded, getting decked in the final round.
In 2004, New England favorite Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton, hailing from nearby New Bedford, MA, was involved in a great 12th round, come-from-behind knockout of always-tough Omar Sheika in a rematch of a previous draw, for a regional super middleweight title.
Two other N.E. fan favorites who fought regularly at Foxwoods were multiple-time world champion Vinny Paz (Pazienza during his boxing career), fighting out of Cranston, RI, and New Bedford’s all-action “Sucra” Ray Oliveira. Paz had a 13-3 record at Foxwoods, highlighted by his 1998 decision over Glenwood Brown and his 50thcareer win in his retirement fight against Tocker Pudwill in 2004. Oliveira was only 6-7-1 fighting at Foxwoods, but he faced nothing but iron and he did defeat a world champion, Vince Phillips, in their 2000 non-title fight that produced the second-most total punches (2,989) recorded at that time.
Brazilian boxing fans always turned out in force when countryman Acelino “Popo” Freitas fought at Foxwoods, primarily because of the large Brazilian community in Connecticut. Freitas fought there four times, all in lightweight world title fights, defeatingZahir Raheem and Artur Grigorian and losing to Juan Diaz and Diego Corrales.
Other great fights at Foxwoods include future world middleweight champion Andy Leecoming back from the brink of possibly getting knocked out to stop Craig McEwan in the 10th round of their 2011 fight, Carl Froch‘s dramatic late surge in 2009 to knock outJermain Taylor (who was well ahead on the scorecards) in the 12th round for the WBC super middleweight championship, Pernell Whitaker taking a close decision fromAndrey Pestryaev (115-113, 115-112, and 114-113) in their 1997 WBA eliminator (later ruled a No Decision due to Whitaker’s failed drug test), and Ike Quarteyovercoming two knockdowns to successfully defend his WBA welterweight title versusJose Luis Lopez in 1997 (Quartey was originally awarded a win by majority decision, but a scoring error was discovered and the fight was ruled a majority draw).
Two of the greatest boxers in modern boxing history, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Roy Jones, Jr., both fought at Foxwoods in 1998. In his 15th pro fight, Mayweather registered a third-round technical knockout of Miguel Melo, while Jones successfully defended his WBC/WBA light heavyweight titles with a 10th-round TKO of Otis Grant. In the Jones-Grant co-feature, IBF lightweight champion Shane Mosley successfully defended his title against Jesse James Leija, who was unable to answer the bell for the 10th round.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, are priced at $150, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com and www.foxwoods.com or by visiting the Foxwoods’ Box Office. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @DiBellaEnt, @FoxwoodsCT, @ESPNBoxing and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/premierboxingchampions. Highlights are available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.