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Arizona Boxing News & Notes with Don Smith: Fight 2 Win Re-Cap, Fight Night Story & More By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Sun, 19 Apr 2015 Boxing Fans, Boxing Promoter Maritza Miranda Saenz (Bout Maker Boxing Promotions) was figuratively thrown under the proverbial bus after her first boxing show (2014) at Phoenix Convention Center receiving scathing reviews from the Arizona Boxing Boxing/MMA commission, scribes and fans; so, what would she do as an encore in her return to the same venue? The feisty daughter of a military war hero and civil rights attorney presented Fight 2 Win at PCC (4/11/15) and the result was a much better product and a more disciplined effort according to event staff members and independent boxing fans (no relatives) who attended both shows held at the Convention Center. MS. Saenz was all smiles when she addressed the Arizona Boxing Commission on Monday 4/13 with her head held high and her voice was vibrant. Fight 2 Win presented 8 bouts. Matchmaker Edward Rodriquez meticulously planned for 9, but headliner Walter Santibanes name was removed from the card when he tipped the official weigh-in scales at 12.2 pounds over his contracted limit. His future with BMBP is a touchy and weighty subject with the promoter and matchmaker. A career setback to Santibanes meant moving Arizona fighter Abel Ramos vs. Ramesis Gil (from Puerto Rico) into the main event contest scheduled for 6 rounds. Ramos (11-0-2) appeared lethargic in the first round and Gil was a bit wild. In the second round, Gil connected with a combination that stunned Ramos late in the second round and sent him down for an 8 count. It was a wakeup call for Ramos who put his boxing skills in fast forward and dominated Gil in rounds 3-6. In the end it was a unanimous decision victory (58-55 x 3) for Ramos who is scheduled to fight again on the May 15 US Airways card in Phoenix. Ramos gave Gil (8-10-5) credit for a strong punch in the second that sent him off balance, but he said the knockout came from a push after the punch. Gil did find the back of Ramos?s head on several occasions and was warned at least once by referee Wes Melton. In a debut bout for both fighters, Ryan Riddell (1-0) figured out Randy Hernandez early and gave him a boxing lesion. Riddell used his height and reach advantage to keep the shorter Hernandez (0-1) from getting inside. It was a very smart and correct strategy deployed by the young native Arizona fighter who received a nice ovation from an appreciative crowd. The 4 round contest resulted in a unanimous verdict in favor of an exuberant Riddell who had previous bouts cancelled. Riddell likes to showboat a bit, but it wasn?t offensive. James ?Too Sweet? Stewart (0-2) was hoping for victory # Uno but had to settle for a MD loss to Johnny Rivera (2-1) whose experience gave him a slight advantage. I scored the contest a draw, but it could have gone either way. Chris Flores was the third man in the ring. Stewart will win when he puts more punches together and he will. In a mild upset, Jameel Reynolds (1-5) knocked out an out of shape David Damore (0-1-3), from Chandler Arizona at 57 seconds in the second round. He didn?t look like a 0-5 fighter and he keep telling me that he was never an o-5 fighter; even though BoxRec confirmed his record as 0-5. His manager tried to quiet him down but Reynolds kept talking. According to Reynolds corner, Jameel will fight at 175 instead of the 187 he carried for the 4/11 fight. Reynolds has power and on 4/11, he wasn?t your average 0-5 fighter. Portland Oregon?s Ray Lampkin Jr. scored a comfortable 40-36x2, 39-37 victory over tough Mario Hermosillo of Mexico in a very busy four round contest. The 31 year old Lampkin is now 7-0 and after his victory, I asked him why he ate so many right hands and son of a prize fighter replied ?that?s boxing.? Ray has the skills to become a champion, but his attitude and ?lack? of dedication to the sport may derail his ride to the top. Hermosillo, 12-18-4, is a real warrior despite the loss. Phoenix boxer Jesse Ruiz (0-2-1) failed to use his height and reach advantage and had to settle for a draw with a shorter but more muscular Mulapi Enjani who came to fight but was wild at times. I had Ruiz slightly behind, but he has skills and the rust he acquired during his time of incarceration didn?t enhance his performance. Welcome back Jesse and good luck, next time. Undefeated prospect Isaac Dogboe kept his perfect record intact (6-0) by defeating tough guy Jazzma Hogue who couldn?t match the speed or power of Dogboe who couldn?t knock down Hogue even though his corner predicted an early knockout. Hogue is now 3-8 but quite the warrior; entertaining fight despite the UD verdict in favor of the man from Africa. Tim Riddell ran his record to 4-0 as he aggressively pursued Percy Peterson around the ring for four rounds and at the end; he was awarded a unanimous decision. Peterson slipped three times and I think one of the ruled slips was a knockdown, but who is counting. Riddell was the best fighter in the ring and he may have eased off the gas pedal from time to time; solid performance! Overall, it was a good night of boxing and fans, I talked to agreed. Ms. Saenz has no confirmed date for her next show. PPV Comment: I will be watching the Pacquiao/ Mayweather fight at a friend?s house and I hope you?re able find a place to sit and watch an event that will be talked about for a long time, good or bad. As boxing fans, we can only hope the contest lives up to all of the hype. If you don?t have a place to watch the fight there are at least 30 bar/restaurants showing the bout in Phoenix including Hooters, Twin Peaks and Los Portales Mexican Food Restaurant. I tried to get a complete list of PPV venues hosting the event, but Cox Communications and Direct TV didn?t have a clue. My research revealed the going rate is $25.00 per head at the majority of establishments showing the event, but Twin Peaks on Camelback in Phoenix beats everyone (I called) with a cover price tag of $15.00. There is a food or drink order minimum at all PPV venues I contacted. One word of caution, please don?t order the Iced Tea at Los Portales, I did and I warn you out of love and concern for your health. The bottom line: try another beverage! The home viewing cost is $89.00 or $99.00 for HD. I couldn?t find a single hotel or motel in Phoenix that was offering the viewing for guests. Industry analysts predict record PPV sales for the event and I agree with their logical and safe prediction. Fans who want to travel to Las Vegas and watch the weigh-in can do so for $10.00; the cost of gas and food is another story! For the record, the late Steve Lopez started the licensing of businesses that applied for PPV privileges and received a small royalty from each user. Steve passed on March 20 and his boyhood friend Wes Melton delivered a stirring eulogy at a memorial service attended by 45 of his closest friends and relatives. Fight Night Story: Craig Harris, 13 year veteran reporter with the Arizona Republic, received a news tip that asked him to investigate Celebrity Fight Night, a Phoenix, Arizona based 501 c-3 charity that raises money to fund the fight against various health causes including Parkinson Disease. He did and I recommend boxing fans and charitable donors read his in depth story and come to your own conclusion about the fairness of the piece. Charities are fair game and there are some good and some bad. People have a right to know how their donations are spent and yes, we are living in a cynical world where blanket trust is rare. Harris told Arizona Boxing News & Notes that Fight Night Founder Jimmy Walker declined his request for an interview, but after the story was released, the foundation executive emailed Harris with the following Statement explaining a 600K bonus and the Fight Night board?s decision to compensate Walker after 17 years of volunteering as the CEO of the event: ?to recognize my current and past contributions to Celebrity Fight Night after 17 years of not taking any compensation during that time. I previously provided free office space without charging any rent to Celebrity Fight Night.? Since the story reached the newsstands and spread through other media forums, a firestorm of criticism and support has followed. Go Daddy Founder Bob Parsons has offered to pay part of Mr. Walker?s approved and legal compensation package. Popular Arizona Republic columnist E. J. Montini is defending fellow journalist Craig Harris and the article which is available on the Arizona Central Website. I suggest everyone read it before forming an opinion. I have read the article and Mr. Montini?s defense. I called the Celebrity Night Foundation for a response to the article and Publicist Jason Rose sent a lengthy and supportive reply written by Dr. Abe Lieberman (Director of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center) and Steve Zabilski, Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The official response will be available to read in our next Arizona Boxing News & Notes. Sorry, but delaying the release of the response will give our readers more time to study the issue and this column is past its anointed deadline?sorry! Wait N See Box-Rec lists World Super Bantamweight Title holder Leo Santa Cruz (28-0-17 knockouts) fighting Hungarian Zsolt Bedak (24-1) , but Dan Ambrose and other boxing scribes persist that Alexis ?Beaver? Santiago (18-3-1) from Phoenix will face Santa Cruz in a 10 rounder on the under card of the May 2 Mayweather-Pacquiao fight in Vegas. My sources tell me no contract has been signed and Santa Cruz and manager Al Hayman is taking heat for allegedly seeking underwhelming opponents for the champion while Arizona Boxing Trainer Sonny Gutierrez likes Santiago?s chances if he gets a shot at Santa Cruz. If the Phoenix based fighter does sign, Sonny (Fight Hard Promoter) will have to find a replacement on his June 13 ?Wild Card All In? show in Glendale Arizona at the Renaissance Hotel. Sonny promises a title bout on the card with or without Santiago. Ambrose is calling the possible meeting of Santa Cruz vs. Santiago a huge mismatch, but in boxing, anything can happen. Boxing Chatter: Bout Maker Boxing Promoter Maritza Miranda Saenz gave some indication that she may chill a bit with her boxing shows because Arizona summers could be a strong deterrent against fan participation?.. James Buddy McGirt Jr. is on the April 25 Celebrity Theater Card along with a group of valley favorites: Francisco C de Vaca, Carlos Castro, Victor Castro, Alexis Zazueta, Joey Ruelas who has been sparring with David Benavidez, Daniel Garcia and Junior Rodriguez. Benavidez is fighting Rollin Williams for a junior light heavyweight title (171 lbs.) on the Celebrity Card. Both men epitomize what is good in boxing: two real winners! I will dwell on the full card, next column! Image Productions is teaming up with Iron Boy and Top Rank to present MMA USA Expo XV. It has four components: MMA, Wrestling, professional and amateur boxing. I talked to spokesperson Mark Green and he said the event will take place on June 13-14 at the Phoenix Convention Center in, where else but Phoenix, Arizona. For tickets, go online to: www.ticketforce.com. Mr. Green expects more than 20,000 to attend the event. More Boxing Notes: Undefeated Light Heavyweight Trevor McCumby is back in action on the May 15 US Airways card, produced by Top Rank. Jose Benavidez Jr. is fighting Jorge Paez Jr. in the main event title fight?..Ray Lampkin Lightning Jr. stirred the apple sauce a bit when he chose Jose Sr. to work his corner instead of Tom Garcia who was reportedly asked to work his corner?. Emmanuel Nieves has signed with Journeyman Promotions and the youngster is 4-0 after posting a UD Win in California. Former World Boxing Champion James Toney scored a double ?Good Guy? knockout with me when he took time to shake hands and pose for pictures with a group of veterans who took advantage of Bout Makers Promotion?s working agreement with Vet-Tix, a nonprofit organization benefitting veterans. To my knowledge, I was the only writer present who took time to report the thoughtful gesture from the big fellow. Toney isn?t officially retired, but he is focusing on the promoting side of the business. Toney told me he has fought three times in Arizona. When I mentioned the recent passing of his good friend promoter Dan Goossen, he closed his right fist and performed a gentle drum roll over his heart .Toney expects to return to Phoenix on May 15 to support tentatively scheduled under card performer Abel Ramos (11-0-2). Sorry to hear that super middleweight Sijuola Shabazz is reportedly hanging up his gloves. According to my sources, an injury and possible burnout are the two main reasons. The 29 year old New Mexico transplant won his last fight in 2014 and his 6-1 record showed that Shabazz had a little pizazz in his step and punch, good luck in whatever he decides to do. Arizona Boxing News & Notes is hearing that Celebrity Making of a Champion, a proposed reality show, is setting up camp in Phoenix and contemplating hosting an awards ceremony that will honor some of the major contributors to the legacy of Arizona Boxing. I suggested a few men and women who deserve consideration; expect Five Times World Champion Michael Carbajal and former World Champion Louie Espinoza to head the list. May 12 is a tentative date for the ceremony and fans will know more when Arizona Boxing News & Notes is informed; Central Gym is expected to be one of the filming location sites. Until Next Time! Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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