Sad news for the boxing world. World-famous trainer and boxing hall of famer, Tommy Brooks, passed away yesterday after a brief illness at the age of 71. Brooks was born in Little Rock, Арканзас, and grew up in San Diego. He started his boxing career under Archie Moore and went on to fight for the U.S. Ратно ваздухопловство. He worked as a trainer with legends Lou Duva and George Benton, and throughout his career trained some of the biggest names in boxing including Evander Holyfield, Мајк Тајсон, Леннок Левис; the Klitschko Brothers, Пернелл Вхитакер, Freddie Pendelton, Чарлс Мареј, и многи други.
He is survived by his wife Donna (Duva), sons Brian, марлон, Џонатан, and daughter Cassandra and her husband, boxing trainer, Shaun George.
Details of funeral arrangements in Georgia and NJ will be forthcoming.
Лас Вегас (Јул 16, 2025) – Three-division world champion and Hall of Famer Shane Mosley has confirmed that he will appear at the Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday September 13, 2025 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10 а.м. на 5 п.м. The Expo will also coincide with the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford, that will take place later that evening at the Allegiant Stadium.
Mosley will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his 2nd Chance Boxing Promotions booth during the fan event held over the Mexican Independence Day weekend.
The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports’ легендаран, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Мајдана ИИ, Маивеатхер вс. Берто, Цанело вс.. Цхавез Јр., Цанело вс.. GGG II, Цанело вс.. Јацобс, Цанело вс.. GGG III and Canelo vs Munguia.
Centered in boxing’s long-time home – Las Vegas – this year’s Expo is a must-do for fight fans coming in for this legendary weekend, with dozens of professional fighters, промотери, and companies involved in the boxing industry. The Expo is the largest and only Boxing Fan Expo held in the United States. A full day of boxing fan experience awaits you! хттпс://boxfanexpo.com – @BoxFanExpo
Карте за тхе Бок Фан Екпо су доступни на адреси:
хттпс://bit.ly/BOXFANEXPO2025
Mosley will make his first appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, фотографије, personal items and memorabilia. Mosley will also have merchandise to sell for fans to enjoy.Boxing Fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing legend also known as“Sugar”.
“Шећер” Схане Мослеи, is a globally respected boxing icon and Hall of Famer. He competed from 1993 на 2016. Mosley held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF lightweight title, the WBA (Супер), the WBC welterweight titles, and the WBA (Супер) as well as the WBC and The Ring magazine light middleweight titles. He was also known as the lineal champion at welterweight (двапут) and light middleweight.
У 1998, the Boxing Writers Association of America named Mosley as their Fighter of the Year. He was also given the same honor by the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000. У 2000 и 2001, he was named the world’s best active and pound for pound boxer, by The Ring. Here are some of Mosley’s most notable fights, such as Oscar De La Hoya, Флоид Маивеатхер, Манни Пацкуиао, Мигел Цотто, Фернандо Варгас, Vernon Forrest, Антонио Маргарито, and Ricardo Mayorga among many others…
About 2ND Chance Boxing Promotions
2nd Chance Boxing Promotions is a mission-driven fight promotion company founded by Paul & Tiffany NuRoyal (formerly Nutall), in partnership with boxing legend ‘Sugar’ Схане Мослеи. President Shane Mosley is committed to mentoring fighters, scouting, coaching, and expanding opportunities for underprivileged athletes worldwide. His mission is to help every fighter rise—not just as a champion in the ring, but as a champion in life. As a branch of the 2nd Chance Saves Lives organization, 2nd Chance Boxing Promotions wants to empower underprivileged fighters around the world with real access to professional boxing opportunities—inside the U.S. and abroad. Their promotions spotlight grit, talent, and transformation, offering fighters not just a stage, but a path out of poverty and into purpose. 2nd Chance Boxing Promotions will promote licensed professional boxing matches across the United States while actively scouting and developing international fighters from underserved regions. The organization will partner with gyms, media platforms, and sponsors to elevate athlete visibility and create lasting impact. In addition to live events, the promotion will produce fight content, docu-series, and branded media that highlight the powerful personal stories behind each fighter. Through these efforts, 2nd Chance Boxing Promotions aims to create real economic opportunities for fighters and their families by offering contracts, тренинг, and the exposure needed to build sustainable careers in boxing. For more info go to: хттпс://2ndchancesaveslives.org/2c-boxing-promotions
About Box Fan Expo
Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to meet the stars of boxing that represent the past, present and future of the sport. With hosted autograph signings, meet-and-greets with current and former boxing world champions, limited edition merchandise for sale, giveaways and more, this is the ultimate event for fans of the sport.
Past boxing stars that have participated include: Флоид Маивеатхер, Мајк Тајсон, Роберто Дуран, Леннок Левис, Јулио Цесар Цхавез, Roy Jones Jr., Мануел Маркес Хуан, Сугар Раи Леонард, Томи Хеарнс, Марцо Антонио Баррера, Ерик Моралес, Дејвид Бенавидез, Teofimo Lopez, Андре Вард, Ryan Garcia, Цларесса Шилдс, Фернандо Варгас, Edgar Berlanga, Оскар Валдез, Маркос Маидана, Девин Ханеи, Микеи Гарсија, Ерол Спенс Јр, Роландо Ромеро, Сергио Мартинез, Тим Бредли, Jose Ramirez, Шон Портер, Кит Терман, Дени Гарсија, Деонтаи Вилдер, Амир Кхан, Абнер Марес, Јамес Тонеи, Џеси Варгас, Floyd Mayweather sr., Винни Паз, Миа Ст.. Јохн, Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Seniesa Estrada, Хорхе Линарес, Лео Санта Круз, Chiquita Gonzalez, Бадоу Џек, Нико Али Волш, Терри Норрис, Риддицк Бове, Еарние Схаверс, Мајкл & Леон Спинкс, Брендон Риос, Ентони Диррелл, Danny Jacobs and many more…
Exhibitors include boxing promoters, gear, одећа, equipment, energy drinks, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies, and other companies who showcase their brand to fans and the boxing industry as a whole.
Throughout the next few months leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.
Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available at Eventbrite:
ПАРИЗ, Француска (Април 18, 2021)– European Super Featherweight ChampionSamir Ziani (32-3-1, 7 КОс) has called outTevin “American Idol” Farmer (30-5-1, 6 КОс), former International Boxing Federation World Super Featherweight Champion, to fight June 5тхfor the WBC Silver belt in a World Boxing Council (ВБЦ) елиминација борба. The winner would position himself for a title fight against WBC World championОскар Валдез.
The battle of left-handed super featherweights would be on the June 5тхTriller pay-per-view card in Florida, headlined by undefeated World lightweight championTeofimo Lopez (16-0) вс. George Kambosos, Јр. (19-0), supported by an exhibition fight between 4-time World heavyweight championЕвандер Холифиелд и Мајк ТајсонconquerorКевин МцБриде.
According to Ziani’s managerГари Хајд, was offered the WBC eliminator against Farmer and the Frenchman immediately accepted, while all has been quiet from Farmer.
“”I was excited to fight Farmer on a great Triller show,” Ziani said, “especially because it is my dream to win a World title in the United States. “I am surprised to hear that Farmer has chickened out of our fight, but I suppose je knows his boxing is slipping downwards.
“I want you, Farmer! Accept the fight and be a real warrior. Don’t run away from me. I want to box in the capital of boxing, the United States, to show American fans what I can do. They say you’re a technician, I will show you that I am a true warrior. The ring is for real men with the ambition to beat the best, not box the weakest, тако, let’s give true value and pay respect to our noble art of boxing.”
Ranked No. 11 по ВБЦ, као ни. 9 in the International Boxing Federation (ИБФ), the 30-year-old Ziani is the reigning EBU European champion, riding a 10-fight win streak. У свом најновијем борбе (Седам. 5, 2020) and second title defense, Ziani dropped a bloodyAlex Dilmaghian (19-1-1) three times en route to a 12тхround win by technical knockout with 9-seconds left in what was a Fight of the Year candidate.
Ziani’s last loss was 4 ½ years ago to World title challenger and fellow Frenchman,Guillaume Frenois (41-1), by a razor-thin margin, 115-113 три пута, у Паризу. Раније у својој каријери, Ziani also suffered a disputed 10-round loss by decision (97-93, 96-94, 96-94) in Denmark to current IBF World Lightweight ChampionRichard Commey (18-0) у 2014.
“Ziani is an all-action fighter with an enormous work rate,” the Ireland-based Hyde added. “It would be a tantalizing match between two talented southpaws with the winner going on to fight for the WBC World title.”
The president of NoWhere2Hyde Management, Hyde has managed numerous world-class boxers during his career including world championsГуиллермо Ригондеаук,Иоури КАЛЕНГА и Simpiwe Vetyeaka.
This week we had the pleasure of interviewing Francois Botha, AKA “The White Buffalo.” We discussed his new fitness venture, his hopes to rematch Mike Tyson and how he got his nickname, among a few other topics. Листен овде:
ВОРЦЕСТЕР,, Маса. (Децембар 14, 2020) – Prior to his sensational performance on the recent Mike Tyson-Roy Jones, Јр. pay-per-view event, undefeated lightweight prospectЈамаине „Техничар“ Ортизwas boxing’s best kept secret. No more, мада, as Ortiz firmly established himself as a rising star in front of countless fans among the 1.6 million PPV buys.
Ortiz flew from Boston to Los Angeles on Thanksgiving. He was driven to his hotel, where he immediately saw Jones, checked his weight, and walked to Staples Center. “I was comfortable from the start,” said the young fighter who was fighting for the first time as a professional outside of New England. “I was there to get the job done. I was on a mission. I walk to see the Staples Center and that was cool. I later took my run around the Staples Center and there were a lot of statues. It was beautiful. It was cool seeing the Lakers locker-room.”
The 24-year-old Ortiz (14-0, 8 КОс), the reigning World Boxing Youth World champion, нокаутираоSulaiman Segawa (13-3-1, 4 КОс) with a bruising body attack, hurting his opponent in the sixth round, and closing the show in spectacular fashion in the seventh for the vacant World Boxing Council (ВБЦ) УСНБЦ (У.С) Silver lightweight title. Segawa had never been stopped before as a professional.
Ortiz displayed his overall arsenal: stiff jab, lightning quick hands and feet, switching back and forth effortlessly from orthodox to southpaw stances, punishing hooks up and down, and the most lethal body shots seen from a New Englander since“Irish” Micky Ward.
“I was calm and cool before the fight,” Ortiz added. “I like to go into a fight, ментално, like it was a sparring session and I always do good. I started out in an orthodox stance, established my jab and used it a lot. I think I should have used it more and could have beaten him with it. I listened to my coach (Роцки Гонзалез) and he told me when to switch. Body punching is the No. 1 thing with Rocky. I may not have shown it nearly as much in other fights, but he drills that into me all the time. In the sixth round, he told me to go more to the body, not looking to catch him, and in the seventh I really hurt him to the body.
“Segawa was definitely tough. He had beaten a lot of guys, including a few he upset. Every fight is a stepping-stone and I’m my worst critic. I felt that I could have knocked him out in the second round, but I didn’t want to go off the game plan
Ortiz set-up Segawa from the opening bell, сломио га доле, and finished the show in grand style as Seqawa was hurt and trapped on the ropes, drawing kudos from highly respected people in the industry such as„Шећер“ Раи Леонард, Теди Атлас, and others. Ortiz’ fanbase grew exponentially as boxing fans rushed to sign up to follow Jamaine during and after his breakout fight.
“Once people saw me perform and my style,” Ortiz continued, “they liked me. I could have shown more and thrown more combinations. I really needed to fight in front of the world. I got 5,500 new Instagram flowers that night. I guess, I’m no longer the best kept secret in boxing.”
“Our main goal is to win a world title,” Gonzalez commented. “This was fun and a great opportunity, but the motivation to be world champion is stronger. He dealt with this fight as just another fight, and he followed our game plan.
“His body shots set up the ending. I’m always telling him about Micky Ward’s body shots. You know, boxing is a dance, a salsa. Boxers need to dance; I don’t think they should just be orthodox. They all need to fight the other way and when Jamaine switched stances in the third, he never let up. I’ve trained him hard. I’m always on him and what better way to shut me up than ending it like he did on pay per view? It was a drop the microphone moment!"
Ortiz is promoted byЈимми Бурцхфиелд (Класична забава и спорт) and advised byРицхард Схаппи иЕддие Имонди.
Because of the uncertainty in boxing due to the pandemic, Ortiz’ 2021 schedule is unknown, but he isn’t boxing’s best kept secret anymore, “The Technician” is a bonafide rising star.
ВОРЦЕСТЕР,, Маса. (Новембар 17, 2020) – Undefeated lightweight prospectЈамаине „Техничар“ Ортиз (13-0, 7 КОс), the reigning World Boxing Youth World champion, hopes to steal the show on the November 28тхMike Tyson-Roy Jones, Јр. pay-per-view card, presented by Tyson’s Legends Only League, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The 24-year-old Ortiz, fighting out of Worcester, Масачусетс, will fight on the undercard against Maryland southpawSulaiman Segawa (13-2-1, 4 КОс) in an 8-round bout for the vacant World Boxing Council (ВБЦ) УСНБЦ (У.С) lightweight title.
“I feel good and I’m ready,” Ortiz said. “I’m privileged for this opportunity to fight on the Tyson-Jones card and get good exposure. I hope to steal the show. As a kid, I followed them both, especially Jones. I tried to imitate him”
Like all fighters, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected his career, although he has managed to train, albeit in various gyms and mostly by himself.
“It wasn’t too bad,” added Ortiz, who is an apprentice carpenter. “Not all of the facilities I use to train were open. Early on, I trained by myself, and did a lot of running. We were quarantined until late June, early July, but then I was able to get good sparring. So, уопште, it wasn’t too much of a change.”
Ortiz is promoted byЈимми Бурцхфиелд (Класична забава и спорт) and advised byРицхард Схаппи иЕддие Имонди.
“We’re happy our fighter, Jamaine Ortiz, will be getting such great exposure and he will show the world what we already know here in New England,” Shappy commented. “Jamaine ‘The Technician’ Ortiz is a force that will have to be reckoned with.”
ЦОЛОРАДО СПРИНГС, Круг. (Март 9, 2020) - По било којим стандардима, У.С. Олимпијац и бивши јединствени светски шампион у тешкој категорији Риддицк "Биг Дадди" Бове је несумњиво један од свих највећих боксера, аматер и професионални.
Рођен и одрастао у злогласном делу Бровнсвилле-а у Бруклину, Њујорк, која је такође изнедрила колеге светских шампиона у тешкој категоријиМајк Тајсон иСханнон Бриггс, Бове је почео да боксује у 13 у теретани боксерског савеза Бедфорд-Стуивесант.
„Желео сам да урадим свеМухамед Али учинио,”Бове је објаснио зашто се бавио боксом. „Био је мој идол. Желео сам да се придружим маринцима, али заљубио сам се у бокс и остао у њему. Заборавио сам на маринце “.
Бове је развио свој занат и постао изванредан боксер, састављање 104-18 аматер запис, истакнут његовим контроверзним наступом на сребрној медаљи на 1988 Олимпијске игре у Сеулу, Јужна Кореја.
Четвороструки шампион Њујоршких златних рукавица, Бове је такође заузео највише почасти на 1986 Светско првенство за јуниоре, заједно са бронзаном медаљом на 1987 Пан Америцан Гамес, упркос борби у свом последњем мечу са преломљеном руком коју је скривао од својих тренера.
Бове је имао ривалство саРоберт Салтерс, са којим је поделио четири шибице, али је победио Салтерса, 3-2, у У.С. Бок-офф за квалификовање за 1988 Амерички боксерски олимпијски тим. Укључили су и његове олимпијске саиграчеРои Јонес, Јр., Раи Мерцер, Кеннеди МцКиннеи иАндрев Маинард.
Контроверзни окруживао своју борбу на олимпијском првенству против будућег светског првака у тешкој категорији, Канадски супертешкаш Леннок Левис, који се кући вратио са златном олимпијском медаљом. Током његове борбе са Луисом, Бовеу је одузет поен за кундак главе „духа“ који се никада није догодио, а судија је Бовеу дао пар спорних осам тачака, од којих је последња резултирала заустављањем борбе у Левисову корист.
„Ту борбу никада није требало зауставити,- прокоментарисао је Бове. „Још увек сам срећан због освајања сребрне медаље. Још увек је имам. А онда сам постао професионалац. Моја мајка је имала 13 деца и желео сам да обрадујем своју мајку. Хтео сам да јој купим кућу. То ме је инспирисало да боксам. "
„Бове-ов аматерски и професионални успех учинио га је познатим међу америчким бившим боксерским студентима,", Рекао јеЦхрис Цуглиари, Директор америчке асоцијације боксачких боксера. „Његова комбинација моћи и вештине, заједно са његовим легендарним биткама са осталим америчким бившим боксерским бившим професионалцима, га успоставља као једног од највећих бораца које је УСА Бокинг икада произвео. “
Америчко удружење бивших боксера
Створен да се бори за живот, обострано корисни односи између УСА Бокинг-а и његових бивших ученика, –боксери, званичници, тренери и љубитељи бокса — Алумни удружење повезује генерације шампиона, надахњујући и враћајући будућим шампионима у боксу УСА Бокинг, у и ван ринга.
Америчко удружење бивших боксера отворено је за све који воле љубав према боксу и желе да остану повезани са аматерским боксом. Члановима је омогућен приступ широком спектру специјалних догађаја које организује Алумни Ассоциатион, укључујући и годишњи пријем Куће славних у Удружењу бивших боксерских савезника САД.
Да се придружи Алумни удружењу, једноставно се региструјте наалумни@усабокинг.орг За $40.00 годишње чланарина. Нови чланови добиће мајицу, привезак за кључеве и е-новчаник.
Са легендарним тренеромЕди Футцх у свом углу, Бове је постао први истински уједињени светски шампион у тешкој категорији, освајањем насловног појаса за сва четири призната главна санкциона тела: ВБЦ, ВБА, ИБФ и ВБО.
Бове се пензионисао са невероватним 43-1 (33 КОс) про рецорд. Имао је 5-1 (4 КОс) ознака у борбама за светске титуле, 7-1 (5 КОс) наспрам прошлих светских првака у тешкој категорији као што јеЕвандер Холифиелд (двапут), Пинклон тхомас, Тони Туббс, Бруце Селдон, Мицхаел Докес иХербие Хиде.
Бове се касније осветио за усамљени професионални губитак од Холифиелда, победивши у две од три борбе са „Реал Деал-ом“.
„Веома сам задовољан својом професионалном каријером,”Додао је Бове. „Победио сам Холифиелд два пута и мислим да је требало да буде три. Нисам болни губитник, али био сам светски шампион у тешкој категорији. Како је победио у тој борби? Изазивач треба да одузме појас шампиону, а он то није учинио. Мислио сам да сам победио бодом, у најгорем случају, можда је требало да буде нерешено, али нисам смео да изгубим борбу. Постао сам први који је икада нокаутирао Холифиелда. Моја професионална каријера није била лоша. Наставио сам вредно да радим и постао двоструки светски првак у тешкој категорији. “
Сада 51 и живи у Мериленду, Бове има неколико савета за америчке боксере који покушавају да се квалификују за 2020 Тим САД боксерски олимпијски тим.
„Само не размишљај о томе,”Нагласио је Бове, звучи као Никеова реклама. "Само уради! Успело ми је. Појавио сам се и нисам размишљао о томе. И увек завршите снажно “.
Риддицк "Биг Дадди" Бове, који је примљен у Међународну боксерску кућу славних 2015, оставио трага у аматерском и професионалном боксу. Нико то никад не може одузети крупном момку из Бровнсвиллеа.
ИНФОРМАЦИЈЕ:
ввв.усабокинг.орги
Твиттер: @УСАБокинг, @УСАБокингАлумни
Инстаграм: @УСАБокинг
Фацебоок: /УСАБокинг
О САД БОКСУ: Мисија УСА Бокинг-а биће да омогући спортистима и тренерима Сједињених Држава да постигну трајну такмичарску изврсност, развијати карактер, подржати боксерски спорт, и промовишу и развијају бокс у олимпијском стилу у Сједињеним Државама. Одговорност УСА Бокинг-а није само производња олимпијског злата, али и надгледати и управљати свим аспектима аматерског бокса у Сједињеним Државама.
Лас Вегас (Фебруар 20, 2020) – Two-division world champion Michael Spinks has confirmed that he will appear at the sixth annual Box Fan Expo on Saturday, Мај 2, 2020, at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas from 10 а.м. на 5 п.м.
Spinks will hold a Meet & Greet with his fans at his booth during the fan event held over the Cinco De Mayo weekend.
The Box Fan Expo is an annual fan event that coincides with some of the sports’ легендаран, classic fights in Las Vegas, including Mayweather vs. Мајдана ИИ, Маивеатхер вс. Берто, Цанело вс.. Цхавез Јр., Цанело вс.. GGG II, and Canelo vs. Јацобс. Centered in boxing’s longtime home – Лас Вегас – this year’s Expo is a must-do for fight fans coming in for this legendary weekend, with dozens of professional fighters, промотери, and companies involved in the boxing industry. The Expo is the largest and only Boxing Fan Expo held in the United States. хттп://boxfanexpo.com– @BoxFanExpo
Spinks will make his second appearance at this years’ Expo and will be signing gloves, фотографије, personal items and memorabilia. Spinks will also have merchandise on sale at his booth, and fans will also have an opportunity to take pictures with this boxing legend also known as “Jinx.”
About Michael Spinks Spinks is a two-division world champion, having held the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 на 1985, and the lineal heavyweight title from 1985 на 1988. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994. As an amateur he won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1976 Летње олимпијске игре.
Spinks is the brother of former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks, and uncle of Cory Spinks, a former welterweight and light middleweight champion. Spinks went undefeated in his first 31 професионални туче, beating such opponents as Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Еди Мустафа Мухамед, Marvin Johnson and Eddie Davis en route to becoming the undisputed light heavyweight champion. Following ten successful title defenses, Spinks moved up to heavyweight, and as an underdog defeated long-reigning IBF heavyweight champion Larry Holmes; на тај начин, Spinks became the first reigning light heavyweight world champion to win the heavyweight title. Spinks only defeat in his professional career came to the hands of Mike Tyson on June 27, 1988. The International Boxing Research Organization and BoxRec rank Spinks among the ten greatest light heavyweights of all time.
About Box Fan Expo Box Fan Expo is the ultimate boxing fan experience event, which allows fans to meet the stars of boxing that represent the past, present and future of the sport. With hosted autograph signings, meet-and-greets with current and former boxing world champions, limited edition merchandise for sale, giveaways and more, this is the ultimate event for fans of the sport.
Past boxing stars that have participated include: Флоид Маивеатхер, Мајк Тајсон, Роберто Дуран, Сугар Раи Леонард, Јулио Цесар Цхавез, Мануел Маркес Хуан, Томи Хеарнс, Рои Јонес Јр, Марцо Антонио Баррера, Ерик Моралес, Андре Вард, Микеи Гарсија, Маркос Маидана, Девин Ханеи, Дејвид Бенавидез, Ерол Спенс Јр, Сергио Мартинез, Кит Терман, Дени Гарсија, Тим Бредли, Деонтаи Вилдер, Амир Кхан, Шон Портер, Фернандо Варгас, Абнер Марес, Јамес Тонеи, Џеси Варгас, Винни Паз, Mia St.John, Лео Санта Круз, Бадоу Џек, Терри Норрис, Риддицк Бове, Еарние Схаверс, Мајкл & Леон Спинкс, Данни Јацобс, Цларесса Шилдс, Teofimo Lopez, Брендон Риос, Хорхе Линарес, and many more.
Exhibitors include boxing promoters, gear, одећа, equipment, energy drinks, supplement products, broadcasting media, sanctioning bodies, and other companies who showcase their brand to fans and the boxing industry as a whole.
Throughout the next few months leading up to the Event, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that will commit their appearance at the Boxing Expo.
MANCHESTER, Цонн. (Фебруар 12, 2020) – Women’s pioneerЏеки Каллен, the first and arguably most successful female manager in the boxing history, strongly believes unbeaten 21-year-old“Marvelous” Mykquan Williams (15-0-1, 7 КОс) will develop into her sixth world champion.
Виллиамс, fighting out of East Hartford, ЦТ, is the reigning the World Boxing Council (ВБЦ) United States super lightweight champion.
“Mykey has a lot of the qualities as some of the greats in boxing,” Kallen said. “He has some of the flash and speed of fighters likeРеј Леонард, and the training habits and dedication ofThomas Hearns и Мајк Тајсон. He also has a killer smile and good looks likeХектор Камачо, Ср.
“Mykey can go all the way to a world title. He has the speed, attitude, and heart, along with exceptional boxing ability. He has been groomed perfectly by his trainer, Paul Cichon, who has kept Mykey true to his style, working hard to perfect his skill. Mykey trains hard, eats right, and takes the game seriously.”
“Jackie’s very experienced and knowledgeable in boxing,” Williams remarked. “She’s worked with some great, world-class fighters, so she knows the route to take for me to get there.”
Cichon added, “I sought out Jackie as our manager because of her love for the sports, as well as the knowledge of that she brings to the table. She’s very well respected, as she certainly deserves to be.”
Boxing has dramatically changed since Kallen covered her first fight for a Detroit daily newspaper in 1978. The card showcased Hearns andMickey Goodwin. She became an instant fan and wrote about boxing on a regular basis. A legendary trainer/manager based in Detroit, Емануел Стевард, hired her as a publicist for his famed Kronk Gym. Some of her best friends to this day are fighters who she worked with back then. She and Hearns still get together.
After serving as Kronk’s publicist for a decade, Kallen decided to branch out and she started managing fighters. Her first client was heavyweightBobby Hitz, who today is a successful promoter and restaurateur in Chicago. She went on to manage a group of Who’s Who fighters, including world championsЈамес Тонеи, Bronco McKart, Tom “Boom Boom” Johnson, Пинклон тхомас иНонито Донаире.
Kallen, who overcame sexism in the boxing industry, is best known, можда, for her working relationship with Toney, largely because her life during that period was the inspiration for the popular 2004 филм, Against the Ropes, starringMeg Ryanas Kallen.
“Boxing today is a totally different animal,” she explained. “That’s not to say it’s better or worse, just different. There used to be more gyms in every city, heavy amateur programs, lots of shows on television networks, and enough local club shows to keep a young fighter active. I had guys back then who fought 8 на 10 times a year, који, наравно, is almost impossible in 2020.
“There wasn’t as much information available on opponents either. If you were lucky, you could buy a tape. If the fighter hadn’t been on television, мада, you were out of luck. There was no Internet, so there was nothing like BoxRec to check opponents’ records. You just had to believe the matchmaker. I had fighters expecting to fight a 14-4 guy who found out at the weigh in that he was actually 16-0.”
Бокс, likely the second-oldest profession, has continued to survive, albeit often on a roller-coaster ride.
“Today’s fighters are not as quick to fight each other as they were in the days of Hearns/Hagler/Leonard/Duran,” Kallen noted. “Back then, fighters wanted to really fight to be the best they could be. I see fighters today being more analytical and taking less chances.
“There are also more sanctioning organizations today. Back then it was most the WBA, WBC and IBF. Not to mention there was never one person who managed dozens and dozens of boxers at the same time. The game has definitely changed!"
Kallen, though is still heavily invested in the sport she loves. Confident Williams will be her next world champion, her dream is to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with Toney.
“In 1992,” Kallen concluded, “I was named ‘Manager of the Year’ and my love for the sport has never waned. As long as there is talent out there needing guidance, I will stay active.”
Last weekend’s middleweight title showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs also featured the annual Box Fan Expo, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The amazing memorabilia on display and live amateur boxing action complemented an array of past and present world champion fighters available for quick meet and greets.
As a lifelong boxing fan, it was a shame that I only had a little over two hours to spend at the event before heading back to the T-Mobile Arena for the start of the undercard bouts. The time I was able to spend was thoroughly enjoyable. The prices were reasonable to meet these fistic legends and have a few moments to talk and take photos. The average $20 -$25 price for a photo op was significantly less than what would have been lost at the casino in a single roulette spin.
James Toney was there in a suit, proving that he can even make plaid look stylish. For a guy known for a surly nature, he was very accommodating and mentioned he will be in Philadelphia for a live show on June 7 and hopes to see me there.
In the booth next over was Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Al Berstein, who I had the privilege of interviewing in 2011. When told of my admiration of his classy work and being a fan since his days with Barry Tompkins on ESPN’s Thursday Night Fights, he was humble and appreciative.
The line to meet Roy Jones Jr. was long but worth the wait. While the time to talk with Roy was short, I was able to mention what an honor it was to meet one of the greatest performers of my generation and how I sat only a few feet from him when he was on the Creed II set.
While the line to meet the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard was exceptionally long, you could see he was truly enjoying himself, flashing that million-dollar smile and doing his famous fists-raised photo op with fans. Unfortunately, with time running short, I did not have the opportunity to meet one of my favorite fighters growing up. I would have loved to have shown him a photo when I was four-years-old, swinging away on the Sugar Ray Leonard punching bag I was given.
A few feet away was one of Sugar Ray’s most-famous rivals, the great Thomas “Hitman” Hearns. While the Hitman has shown some slowing as he has aged, he still proves to be an imposing figure, but he now replaces that fearsome glare with a warm smile.
Also coming up to meet Thomas Hearns was current IBF Super-Featherweight Champion Tevin Farmer, a fellow Philadelphian, who I’ve had the opportunity to watch grow from a 7-4-1 journeyman boxer to a 29-4-1 светски шампион.
My visit wouldn’t be complete without stopping to see “The Pazmanian Devil” Vinny Paz, always one of my favorite action fighters and charismatic personalities. Instead of a handshake, he greeted me with a big hug and expressed disappointment that my dad didn’t join me at the expo.
In the short time frame, it was impossible to meet all of the great fighters there including Michael Spinks, Риддицк Бове, Ерол Спенс, Ентони Диррелл, and Earnie Shavers. With it being Cinco de Mayo weekend, the lines for some of the Mexican legends wrapped around the convention center floor. Микеи Гарсија, Marco Antonio Barerra, Ерик Моралес, and Juan Manuel Marquez all proved to be exceptionally popular. But nothing compared to the roar of the pro-Mexican crowd when the great Julio Cesar Chavez was introduced.
Attending this event was a dream come true and I could only wish I had more time to spend at the event. Everything was so professionally done and those in attendance were beyond accommodating.
Kudos toБок Фан Екпоfor such an exceptional event.
