 – Pictures courtesy of Mikey Williams –
PROVIDENCE (May 18, 2016)) – Undefeated blue-chip featherweight prospect Toka “T-Nice” Kahn-Clary (17-0, 11 KOs) continues to show improvement in each and every fight. Last weekend, the 23-year-old Liberia-native knocked out seasoned veteran Orlando Rizo (19-7) in the fourth round at Sportsman Lodge in Studio City, California.
Kahn-Clary, fighting out of Providence, may still be flying under the radar but he’s getting closer to becoming a breakout star. His most recent fight was his first scheduled 10-rounder.
“I put in a lot of hard roadwork, running seven miles a day, and (his head trainer) Peter (Manfredo, Sr.) really pushed me,” Kahn-Clary talked about preparing for his last fight. I got some good work from Javier Fortuna, sparring him a few times, and he’s a good southpaw.
“I wasn’t looking for a knockout but it just happened. I stepped left and threw a left. I didn’t load up but it was accurate, hitting him right on his chin. I was happy to get the knockout but I was looking forward to getting in some more rounds.”
“Nothing Toka does really surprises me because I’ve known since the beginning that he’s special,” Manfredo commented. “Toka continues to improve with each fight and he’s hungry to get to the next level. There’s no rush, he doesn’t turn 24 to next year. He’s still maturing. The kid he knocked out was Nicolas Walters’ main sparring partner.
“I just don’t want to put him in with the big names just yet. He’s maturing but he’s not all the way there. He’s improving all of the time, putting his combinations together better each fight. I’ve also noticed that he’s nice and relaxed in the ring now. He’s becoming a good boxer who always had power. Top Rank is doing a great job moving him. Everybody’s happy.”
 A decorated American amateur who had a 131-11 record, highlighted by a gold-medal performance at the 2010 National Golden Gloves Tournament, Kahn-Clary passed on a shot to make the 2016 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team to turn pro three years ago.
“I’ve been boxing 10 years now,” Kahn-Clary added. “Knowing what I’ve already accomplished, I also realize that I’m still improving. I’ll be back in the gym Monday to get ready for the next call we get about my next fight. (Top Rank’s) Brad Goodman is one of the best matchmakers in boxing. He and everybody at Top Rank are doing a great job positioning me for a big opportunity. That may not happen this year but, hopefully, it will sometime next year. I’m boxing so much better now than I ever did. I used to fight like I was in a fog but, now, my eyes are wide open.”
Not bad for a kid who left his mother and siblings in Liberia when he was six, only to have his father murdered a year after he arrived in the United States. He’s overcome many difficult obstacles in his young life, most of them tougher than any opponents he’ll every fight, including a stretch in which he was homeless. It’s only made him tougher and an even better overall person.
 Follow Kahn-Clary on Twitter and Instagram @TokaKahnClary, or friend him on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/tokakahn.
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Tag Archives: Rhode Island
Demetrius Andrade’s Open media workout Quotes & pictures
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Returns Oct. 17 at Mohegan Sun Arena
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(more pictures below)
PROVIDENCE (October 9, 2015) – Last night at Big Six Academy in Providence, undefeated super welterweight contender Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) hosted an open media workout in advance of his October 17th 10-round main event fight versus Argentinian opponent Dario Fabian “El Gallo” Pucheta (20-2, 11 KOs) at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Stripped earlier this year of his World Boxing Organization WBO) title due to inactivity, Andrade will face Pucheta for the WBO & World Boxing Association (WBA) International titles, marking his first fight in 16 months, since the 2008 U.S. Olympian stopped No. 1 mandatory contender Brian “The Lion” Rose (25-1-1, 7 KOs) in seven rounds of his first and only world title defense.
Andrade captured the vacant WBO 154-pound title November 9, 2013 by way of a 12-round decision over previously unbeaten 2004 U.S. Olympian Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan(33-0-1, 21 KOs).
Tickets are on sale, ranging from $200.00 to $25.00 (excluding fees). Call 401.261.3755 to purchase tickets as well as for bus special information.
DEMETRIUS ANDRADE:
“This turnout (of public) shows the support I have in Rhode Island. It’s been a while since they’ve seen me in the ring, but they’re going to start seeing me in big fights.”
“The cream always rises to the top. I’m going to show that I’m the best 154-pounder in the world.”
“It’s been frustrating (16-month layoff). This is something I’ve been doing since I was six and not to do it has been tough. I’ve tried to stay positive, working hard in the gym to stay in shape, but sparring in a gym is different than being in a fight when your opponent is trying to take your head off. October 17th, people will see what I’m truly made of.”
“I have other ways of making a living but I love what I do every day…box! This is a life-changing business. I’m very happy to get back in the ring October 17th. “I’m going to make a statement that I’m the future of boxing.”
“The WBO and WBA International titles are on the line in this fight. They took my (WBO world) title and it’s vacant right now. The reason I took this fight is to get ranked in the top 15 and fight for a world title.”
“My opponent (Dario Pucheta) has come all the way from Argentina to win. This is a tough business and to be 20-2 takes a lot of heart and guts. This is an opportunity for to make a statement. He’s hungry and believes because a win over me will make a name for him.”
“I’ve had some bumps in the road and it took a year to get settled. I haven’t suffered any damage in the ring. I feel good. The fans are going to say that they need to see a lot more of Demetrius Andrade.”
“Camps’ been good and I feel great. I want to thank CES for letting me showcase my skills on their card and to continue to bring great boxing to New England.”
Follow Demetrius Andrade on Twitter @AndradeATeam or @BooBooBoxing.
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Demetrius Andrade to return Oct. 17 with a vengeance
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Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
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PROVIDENCE (October 5, 2015) – All undefeated junior middleweight Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) has ever wanted to do since he first laced up a pair of gloves as a kid is to box and that’s why, after a 16-month stretch of inactivity, totally unrelated to injury, the 2008 U.S. Olympian is returning to the ring October 17 to headline a non-televised show at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
A myriad of reasons kept the 27-year-old Andrade out of the ring and without a purse check since June 14, 2014, when he destroyed No. 1 mandatory contender Brian “The Lion” Rose (25-1-1, 7 KOs) in seven rounds, impressively winning on HBO in what turned out to be his first and only World Boxing Organization (WBO) title defense. Andrade, fighting out of Providence, originally captured the vacant WBO 154-pound title November 9, 2013, also aired on HBO, defeating previously unbeaten 2004 U.S. Olympian Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan (33-0-1, 21 KOs) by way of a 12-round decision.
OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT – PUBLIC INVITED
Demetrius Andrade will hold and open media workout this Thursday night (8 p.m. ET start) at Big Six Academy, 816 Douglas Ave. in Providence.
During his past 16 frustrating months, Andrade has been stripped of his WBO title, essentially banned from fighting on network television, dropped from all ratings, and unfairly branded as a fighter who talks a big game but turns down tough fights.
“I’m relieved and grateful to be fighting again, especially close to home and in front of my fans,” Andrade said about his Oct. 17 fight against Argentinian opponent Dario Fabian “El Gallo” Pucheta (20-2, 11 KOs), a former South American champion, in the 10-round main event for the vacant WBO & WBA International super welterweight championships. “It’s good to finally have a date and I’m very happy to get back in the ring. It isn’t the fight I really wanted but Pucheta has a good record and he always comes to fight. I wanted to fight Delvin Rodriguez, which would have been a good fight in Connecticut because that’s where he comes from and I live in Rhode Island, but, I guess, his people didn’t want him to fight me. They must be saving him for somebody else.
“So, I needed to take this fight (off-TV vs. a non-ranked opponent) to get back into action, to where I want to be and belong. It’s not like I failed in the ring to lose my title belt. I was disappointed to lose it, of course, but that’s not what identifies me. People know who the best fighters are in the world. All I ever wanted was to do was fight. I want to stay active and I believe I can fill Floyd’s Mayweather‘s shoes as boxing’s next superstar.”
During his long hiatus from the ring, Andrade called out Mayweather, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Erislandy Lara, and other world-class fighters to no avail, remaining on the shelf waiting to landing a career defining fight that never materialized. Andrade, a 2007 World Championships gold medal winner and four-time national amateur champion, has filed a lawsuit against Roc Nation, claiming the promotional company, owned by Jay-Z, reneged on a promise to pay him $550,000.
“The only fight I ever turned down was against (Jermall)Charlo,” Andrade explained, “because I was in that situation with Jay-Z. I thought he and his company could really help me, in the ring and marketing-wise. I chose not to take that fight (Dec. 13, 2014 vs. Charlo) but, when things didn’t happen with Roc Nation, I signed a contract to fight Charlo (Jan. 14, 2015). Instead, he signed a deal to fight Martirosyan. I never knew anything about the (Matt) Korobov fight (for vacant WBO middleweight title) until after it was announced. I never intended to move up to middleweight, at that time, to fight him or anybody else. Later, I even offered to fight (Anthony) Mundine in his backyard (Australia) for short money, just to keep my title, but that didn’t work out either. I guess that’s all part of this game.”
Andrade trained three or four days a week, even without a date to fight, and he is stronger than ever, physically and mentally. He is returning to the ring with a vengeance, promising to make a major statement Oct. 17 and beyond.
“I’m going to make a statement that I’m the best 154-pound fighter in the world and show why nobody wants to fight me,” Andrade concluded. “I’m going to showcase all of my skills with my October 17th performance. I’m looking ahead, not in the past.”
Tickets are on sale, ranging from $200.00 to $25.00 (excluding fees). Call 401.261.3755 to purchase tickets as well as for bus special information.
Follow Demetrius Andrade on Twitter @AndradeATeam or @BooBooBoxing.
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