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Arizona Boxing News & Notes with Don Smith: Televised Boxing History, Boxing Noise, Pick! By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Sun, 11 May 2014 Boxing Fans, Professional boxing was introduced to television on a national scale by the NBC Television Network and sponsored by the Gillette Company (Cavalcade of Sports). The year of conception was 1946 and the popular ?Friday Night? boxing series ran until 1960 when a nervous and overly cautious and conservative NBC Network decided to drop the series after criminal allegations were levied against the sport. During its? heyday, the series was viewed by an estimated 10% of an American population totaling 170 million people. For the mathematically challenged, write down 17 million viewers. ABC reintroduced the series after the NBC drop and ran it until September of 1964 when the contract with Madison Square Garden expired. According to newspaper sources, ABC wanted to drop the boxing program earlier but couldn?t find a legal means of exiting the contract without incurring a heavy penalty. ABC network holds the dubious distinction of televising the first nationally televised boxing fatality in the ring. The date was March 24, 1962 and the combatants were Cuba?s Benny ?The Kid? Paret and Emile Griffith, trained by Gil Clancy. After a barrage of punches in the 13th round, Paret collapsed to the canvas and lay listless before medical personnel entered the ring and took the unconscious boxer to Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan New York City, New York. Paret was pronounced dead on April 3 as a result of a brain hemorrhaging caused by traumatic blows to the head. I grew up watching Friday night boxing and my cheap Uncle Tom would come over to watch every Friday because he didn?t own a TV and wasn?t going to buy one even though his net worth was estimated at ? of a million dollars. ESPN began televising boxing on April 10, 1980, when weekly boxing returned to television for the first times since 1964 with the debut of Top Rank Boxing on ESPN. Today, ESPN is home to ESPN Friday Night Fights and ESPN Deportes? Noches de Combates (Spanish Version), a weekly series which runs between January and August. ESPN Friday Night Fights began on October 2, 1998 and its? Spanish counterpart (formerly Viernes de Combates) debuted on January 10, 2004. Thank you ESPN for continuing the tradition of Friday Night Fights. We need more! Boxing Pick:: Boxing fan Julianne Pettigrew approached me this week and asked who I favored in the WBC World Heavyweight Championship war between Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola on Saturday. May 10. The fight is televised on ESPN and for die hard boxing fan; gas up your car and head to the Garden Center in Los Angeles. Sorry for the last minute notice, but I was bedridden with the flu for ten days; my first major illness in 25 years. The betting line favors Stiverne, but I told Julianne that my nickel was on Arreola because he has a chance of becoming the first fighter of Mexican descent to become a world heavyweight champion and I know how important that is to him. Forget his struggle in the first fight after Stiverne broke his nose early in the fight. I am convinced that Arreola is in better condition this time around and his love and respect for his father will motivate him to win the WBC Title. Arreola in 8 rounds or less. If it goes past 8, all bets are off. A win could boost sales for his recently released autobiographical video: Chris Arreola-My Own Worst Nightmare. According to Arreola pal (Ralph Velez) there is talk and thought about expanding the project into a full length feature film. An interview with Ralph is featured in the May 6 edition of AZ Front Row Magazine. The piece is written by Velez friend and writer Albert Alvarez and he has lot of praise for his close personal friend. Ralph has been hammered by Fan Base Promotions and some members of the Arizona boxing community for some of his actions in recent months; so a little positive publicity may cheer him up. He is expected to attend the fight. Ralph is currently working with a Professional Pension Fund project and he told AZ Front Row Magazine that his organization has struck a deal with ACF Global described by Mr. Velez as one of the biggest licensing companies in the world and together (according to the former boxing announcer) have formed ?The Legend of Boxing Brand?. Ralph goes on to suggest that Chris Arreola may become involved in project, but Velez doesn?t specify his possible role with the organization. For the record, the state of California established a ?Professional Boxers Fund? in 1982. To check for eligibility, call California Attorney General Kamala Harris at 916-322-3360 and a representative will direct your inquiry to the right person. Kamala?s office was very instrumental in my investigation of a maritime cargo fraud investigation, two years ago. Consumers should always contact consumer protection organizations before investing in new adventures. Better safe than sorry. Several boxers on the Arreola VS. Stiverne card have Arizona ties. 35 year old cruiserweight B.J. ?El Pedigroso? Flores (28-1-1) lived in Chandler Arizona for several years until he moved to Ozark, Missouri where he resides. In recent years, he has become better known for his on camera commercial work for Audi and NBC boxing than for his boxing accomplishments. His only defeat came at the hand of Danny Green in 2010. His scheduled for 6 rounds Saturday encounter with 38 year old journeyman Adam ?The Atom Bomb? may signal an end to a long and successful ring career. B. J. is a class act and the Arizona Boxing Community wishes him the best. Heavyweight Michael Hunter (4-0-3 knockouts) made his professional debut in Arizona and he goes for win # 5 Jerry Forrest (7-1-1) in an 8 round test for the young Mr. Hunter who is on a fast track to success. Super lightweight Abel Ramos (9-0-1) lives in Casa Grande Arizona where he enjoys immense popularity. His 6/4 round bout with Georgia?s Levan Ghvamichava (11-1-8 knockouts) will address where Mr. Ramos is in his career. Some boxing scribes think he can become a champion. Senor Levan may hold a different opinion. Other bouts on the program include: Amir Imam (11-0-10 knockouts) VS. Yordenis Ligas (15-2) in a super lightweight 10 round bout. Eric Molina (20-2) VS. Davarryl Williamson, 27-7-23 knockouts (heavyweight division) scheduled for 10 rounds. Trevon Bryan (10-0-8 knockouts) VS Avery Gibson (3-5-2) heavyweights, 6 rounds. Mario Barrios, 3-0. VS. TBA- Featherweight divison-4 rounds. Caleb Hunter Plant (debut) VS. Travis Davidson 2-2, 4 round middleweight bout. Razvan Cojanu (9-1) VS. Rodricka Ray (5-6-1) Heavyweights, 6 rounds. Layla McCarter (34-13-5) VS. Belinda Laracluente (26-28-3) super welterweights -6 rounds. Watch ESPN! Boxing Noise: When Heavyweight boxing newcomer Franshon McGee left Central Boxing 2 months ago and started working out at Busted Knuckle Gym in North Phoenix, a bit of finger pointing commenced as to how the 29 year old former footballer wound up switching work stationsa. Alan Viers (Head Coach at Busted Knuckle) categorically denies coercing McGee?s decision to change venues. He told me the 25 year old athlete with a 13-0, 13 knockout amateur record came to his gym voluntarily and started working out. Despite some very impressive workouts, a time table hasn?t been set for McGee?s professional debut. Robert Garcia, nephew of Central Gym manager Tom Garcia, has challenged McGee to a duel in the ring once the Cleveland State University Alum (McGee) decides to play for pay. Garcia, also a heavyweight, is 20-30 lbs. lighter than the 6? 6? 255 lb. McGee Viers say bring it on, so this columnist will follow the trail of words until a date and time is arranged for the possible meet and greet in the ring. Trainer Tom Garcia says his dollar is on nephew Robert Garcia while Viers backs his new pupil; competitive challenges are always good for boxing. Coincidentally, boxer Ray Lampkin Jr. left Central Gym recently to start working out at Busted Knuckle, also. Tom Garcia thinks the culprit is someone who hangs out at Central and has a beef with Tom and the venue. To add a little more intrigue to the situation, lightweight Mario Esparza, a onetime prot?g? of Tom Garcia, has signed on with Busted Knuckle. Before everyone goes cuckoo, fighters frequently changes gyms and coaches without releasing a press release. Good luck to all concerned and my suspicions be settled before they become capricious in nature. - More News: Able and capable Juan Curiel has been named Managing Director of the American Boxing Association, effective immediately. Curiel was born in Mexico City and immigrated to the United States in 1979, where he settled in the great windy city of Chicago. Juan has been an integral part of the ABA since 2013. After his induction, Mr. Curiel vowed to improve the quality of life for ts? athletes. Thank you Juan Curiel for you goal worthy promises. - Glendale Boxer Luis Olivares (SMS Promotions & Busted Knuckle Gym) will take his sore left hand to a medical specialist next week. We will keep you posted. Luis, fighting at light welterweight sports a record of 7-0 w/ 5 knockouts. Iron Boy Promotions will feature Oscar Valenzuela (6-0-1- 3 knockouts) VS. Alexis Del Borque 3-0-3 knockouts in El Paso Texas on June 6. Popular super middleweight Sijuola Shabazz hopes to fight on the card. Publicist Emily Pandelakis promises to send a press release next week with more confirmations. Nothing is ever easy in boxing. - Iron Boy card Alumni Xavier Montelongo takes his 6-1-1 record to Mazatlan, Mexico on Friday May 16th to do battle with a TBA opponent. - Arizona boxing coach Juan Varela didn?t make a wager on the Kentucky Derby, but he thinks Juan Carlos Benavides, fighting out Mexico, will upset undefeated Diego de La Hoya (4-0-3 knockouts) when the two meet on June 6 in Indio, California. Benavides (4-4-1) is one tough kid. Varela describes Diego de la Hoya as ?over hyped.? I agree! - South Mountain Boxing will host an old fashioned amateur boxing smoker at the Iron Boy Gym in South Phoenix on Saturday June 28th. Check the Iron Boy website or USA Boxing Arizona Website for details. Arizona VS. California 111, it should be fun. Admission is always reasonable and friendly to families. Light middleweight Janks Trotter, seasonal Arizona resident, returns to the ring after an absence of more than two years. Trotter (7-01-1 w/ 7 knockouts) will tangle Canadian Phil Rose (5-3-1-4 knockouts) in Winnipeg, Canada this summer. Headliner features Junior Mora VS. Steve Franjic in a sanctioned light heavyweight Canadian title contest. The winner plans to challenge Arizona super Middleweight/ light heavyweight Andrew ?Hurricane? Hernandez who was allegedly scheduled to fight Lanell Bellows on the 5/3 Mayweather card, but he didn?t and I could never get a confirmation that he was ever scheduled to fight Bellows on the card. - Damien Stonehard Gym in Chandler accepted a plea bargain at his court hearing on 4/21 over one count of prostitution. His charges and punishment was reviewed by Lynette Smith (USA Boxing in Colorado) and she decided to allow Stone to remain a member of USA Boxing Arizona inspire of the much publicized ordeal. His picture made the channel 5 news and website and other media outlets carried his arrest and conviction. Apparently, he has 9 lives. It isn?t his first brush with law enforcement. Upon hearing the announcement; several boxing coaches and trainers told me they would boycott any event scheduled at Mr. Stone?s Boxing facility. Others, say they don?t carry about his conviction. Cinco de Mayo Boxing: A capacity crowd ignored a warm (in the 90?s) Saturday, August 3 afternoon to watch Cinco de Mayo boxing in downtown Phoenix. The adults paid $5.00 will the kids were entered the festival for free. At least 75 adults watched through the chain length from the street side. There was no visible resentment of the ?free loaders? who brought their own food and beverages to the event. The only complaint heard was when the boxing fans found out that the Cinco de Mayo Festival wouldn?t show the Mayweather PPV fight as previously announced. The backup plan was to tell fans, a nearby Hooters Restaurant was showing the event for a $ 10.00 cover charge. That news didn?t bring a smile to any fans near me. The USA Boxing Arizona sanctioned show promised and delivered 26 bouts. USA Boxing Official Richard Soto told me there would be no breaks due to the length of the program and the lack of lights. Outstanding Boxing Trophy was awarded to Ariel Lopez (Red Nation Warriors Boxing) from Tucson. Outstanding Bout Trophy was awarded to Efrain Batrez from Impact Boxing in Flagstaff, Arizona. Team Boxing Trophy was awarded to Monster Fit Boxing in Flagstaff, Arizona. Time and lack of space prohibits me from mentioning all of the names of the competitors, but I will mention the belt winners. Sorry, personally it breaks my heart to omit names of anyone who participated. Lexus Galvan, Stonehard boxing, 119 lbs.-Jonathan Martinez, Louie?s Boxing, Salt Lake City , Utah 150 lbs.- Noah Espinoza Pascua Yaqui Tribe, 201 lbs.-Alejandra Cardoza, Monster Fit, Flagstaff 125 lbs.-Jesus Verdugo,, Stonehard Boxing, 145 lbs. ?Manuel Chavez, Unattached Mesa, 80 lbs.-Daniel Perez, Monster Fit Flagstaff, 80 lbs.-Damien Marquez, Unattached Mesa, 75 lbs.-Hayleigh Solano Salt Lake City Utah, 106 lbs.-Reno Sims, Unattached Mesa, 165 lbs.-Cory Grant , Stonehard Boxing, 155 lbs.-Marco Cabada, Impact Flagstaff, 119 lbs.-Joshua Bahe, Damon?s Boxing, 176 lbs.-Mario Ruiz, Broadway Boxing, 95 lbs.-David Torres, Prescott PAL, 138 lbs.-Efrrain Batrez, Impact Flagstaff, 110 lbs.-James Dominguez, Monster Fir Flagstaff, 125 lbs.-Mariah Bahe , Chinile Arizona, 60 lbs. ?Jamie Sanchez, Monster Fit Flagstaff, 95 lbs. ?Reina Ruiz, Broadway Boxing, 65 lbs. ?Damien Monticello, Monster Fit Flagstaff, 65 lbs.-Angel Gloria, Unattached Mesa, 90 lbs.-Daniel Langhorne, Sonny?s Gym, 65 lbs.-Tyler Echeveeris, Fuentes Boxing, 60lbs. ?Jesse Camacho, Sonny?s Gym, 55 lbs. Until Next Time! Happy Mother?s Day. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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