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Arizona Boxing News & Notes With Don Smith: Garcia vs. Vargas, Iron Boy 36, Stone Update & More By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Tue, 18 Oct 2016 Boxing Fans, Undefeated Welterweight Champion Danny ?Swift? Garcia (32-0-18 knockouts) has signed to fight Colombian Samuel Vargas (25-2-1-13 knockouts) in Philadelphia, Garcia?s hometown on November 12 and the bout will be televised by Spike TV. Garcia is a heavy favorite to win and some critics are calling the bout a mismatch. Controversy is nothing new with Al Haymon and his Premier Boxing Champions series and despite rumors of demise, the reported organizational glitches appear self-inflicted but repairable. When I look under the corporate hood, I see stress fractures as a result of PBC?s poor marketing and bad business decisions. A memory shared! Samuel Vargas lives in Toronto, Canada and I was ringside at the Roadhouse in Calgary Alberta in 2014 where he fought Juan Jesus Rivera and scored a controversial UD over the game Mexican fighter. It was supposed to be an easy fight for Vargas but he struggled with his hungry opponent and some fans thought the underdog won. The Calgary show was promoted by now defunct Fan Base Promotions who scrambled to find rooms for the fighters because the show was held during Calgary Stampede Rodeo Week. I wound up with the room reserved for Vargas and when I asked how and why, I was told by a spokesperson for Team Vargas that the fighter thought the accommodation was good enough for Mexicans; but not him. I was unable to get confirmation from Mr. Vargas. I was told Rivera heard the comment and was motivated to seek redemption; personally I was glad to get a free room and several meal vouchers. Since the loss, Rivera?s boxing fortunes have fallen on hard times and his latest defeat came at the hands of Abel Ramos (TKO) at the Legends Event Center in Phoenix on August 26, 2016. As for the future of PBC, we hope their reported reorganizing effort is effective. I talked to 3 boxing insiders and they believe at least 50 currently signed PBC fighters will get their walking papers. Hopefully, if pink slips are handed out, it won?t be before Christmas. Iron Boy 36: This summer, the city of Tolleson, Arizona was proclaimed a ?Purple Heart City? by Mayor Adolfo Gamez and the city council. On Thursday, October 13, Mayor Gamez (at a press conference) reiterated his pride with the proclamation while praising Iron Boy Promotions and other corporate benefactors for agreeing to help V.F.W. Post 6310 raise funds to find land and build an office and meeting place for the organization?s 500 members. To reach the wishful goal of raising $20,000.00, Iron Boy will present Iron Boy 36 (?Ring for Heroes?) boxing show at Veteran?s Park in Tolleson on October 29. 50% of the beer sales (donated by Crescent Crown Distributing) will go directly to the cause. A word to the general public, boxing fans can enjoy free general admission seating. V.I.P. tickets are available and priced at $50.00 & $75.00. I talked to Iron Boy CEO Roberto Vargas before the presser started and the soft spoken boxing executive was very proud of his role in organizing the event. IB publicist Emily Pandelakis represented the company at the podium and calmly extolled the virtues of the organization during five years of serving boxing to fans in Arizona, Mexico and Texas. The organization shows no signs of slowing down. The press conference was emceed by Arizona boxing figure Ralph Velez Jr, one of two regular announcers employed by Iron Boy Promotions. Velez opened his remarks by affectionately recalling personal memories he has of the city and some of its citizens. Ralph, during his stay at the podium, thanked Sonny Gutierrez (Sonny?s Gym) for conceiving and hosting an amateur boxing show (sanctioned by USA Boxing Arizona) set for noon at the park on October 29. He then heaped a little love on Iron Boy for assembling boxers for the free evening show and partnering with their many sponsors. The Tolleson park and recreation Department has free admission tickets available for pickup and there will be free general admission tickets at the park entrance. Here is a tentative bout sheet listing: Main Event- Carlos Castro 16-0 vs. Saul Banos 22-6 in a 10 round title bout, Nathan Gallimore 14-1-1 vs. TBA, Paul Romero 7-0-1 vs. TBA, Hector Lopez 4-0 vs. Anthony Casillas 6-0, Adam Lopez 3-0 vs. TBA, Joshua Greer Jr. 9-1-1 vs. Christian Renteria 5-3, Yulian Tembotov debut vs. Jesus Sanchez 1-1, Adrian Servin 1-0 vs. Eduardo Villa debut, Edgar Ortiz 2-1 vs. vs. TBA and Edward Ceballos 4-1-1 vs. TBA. Arizona Boxing News and Notes is proud to endorse the project and we proudly salute our veterans. Bell Centre Event: Eye of the Tiger Management forwarded their schedule of events planned for the David Lemieux vs. Cristian Rios battle on October 22 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Inbox, Golden Boy and Videotron also play a role in the presentation. Television listing indicates Indigo as provider, check local provider for viewer options. The weeklong campaign l begins on Monday October 17 at noon with a public workout held at Complexe Desjardins, 150 Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Montreal, QC H2X 3Y2. On Tuesday, October 18-1 p.m.?.Undercard press conference at 40 Westt, 2305 Route Transcanadiene, Pointe Claire ?Quebec, H9R 525. The Main Event Press Conference and Weigh-in will be held on Thursday and Friday at the St. James Theatre, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1 M 6. 10 bouts are scheduled and all bouts are subject to change. First bell on fight night, Saturday, October 22, chimes at 6:30 p.m. Card Report: In the co-main, Steven Butler (17-0-1) vs. Janks Trotter (10-3-1) for the vacant IBF North American super welterweight title. 8 other fights are scheduled: super lightweights- Ghisla Maduma 18-2 vs. Ricky Sismundo 30-9-3, super welterweights- Mian Hussain 16-0 vs. Silverio Ortiz 34-18, heavyweights ? Simon Kean 5-0 vs. David Torres Garcia 10-3, Welterweights-Batyrzhan Jukembayev 5-0 vs. Ivan Pereyra 20-7, super lightweights ? Mathieu Germain 7-0 vs. Manuel Mares 16-9, super lightweights - David Theroux 11-1 vs. Jose Emilio Perea 23-7, super middleweights- D?Mitrius Ballard 14-0 vs. Gergo Horvath 9-1-1, Lightweights-Ablaikhan Khussainov 2-0 vs. Attila Cserekyle 6-2-0. If you go, take a jacket and we predict the co-main will be a better fight than the main. Overall, it looks like a strong card; tickets are still available. Stone Update: Arizona boxing mentor Damien Stone convicted of one count of solicitation to commit child/vulnerable adult abuse (ARS 13-3623) on August 12, 2016 is currently serving 90 days in jail for his offense. After serving his period of incarceration, the 42 year old parent will begin 30 months of supervised probation. In the meantime, Stone has qualified for a work furlough program which allows him to leave his cell and commute back and forth to his place of employment during his court mandated jail term. Mr. Stone was also assessed a fine for his level one sexual abuse offense. Arizona Boxing News & Notes acquired the terms of his supervised probation through legal means and after hours of careful gleaning of all six pages of the document; we came to the conclusion that Stone?s return to amateur boxing may be problematic for three reasons. He may decide to find job placement in the pro ranks where bad personal behavior isn?t necessarily a determent to success. (1). A known conviction of a sexual offense prohibits membership in USA Boxing Arizona, a governing body of amateur boxing in Arizona. (2). Pursuant to uniform condition 21, Mr. Stone agreed to attend and actively participate in, and remain in sex offender treatment at the discretion of the Arizona Probation Department (APD). He (Stone) also agreed to abide by and comply with all sex offender treatment rules, which will be provided to him by the treatment agency. (3). Mr. Stone is allowed unsupervised contact with his minor children; however, offender must get APD approval before initiating contact with minor children. Update: Mr. Stone?s work furlough privilege has been revoked after he went to a forbidden place while on his work furlough; life is all about choices! A little background: We became aware of Stone?s May 2014 arrest on a tip from a boxing fan who was watching a local newscast when his face was splashed on the screen with others who were rounded up in what was described as a sex sting. At the time, Stone was managing Stonehard Gym in Chandler, Arizona. USA Boxing Arizona was shocked at the revelation of his bust and grappled with what to do with Stone, no stranger to unlawful behavior. Our intense coverage of the incident led to the eventual closing of Stonehard Gym despite several bizarre attempts by Mr. Stone to keep it open including trying to convince USA Boxing that someone else was taking over the gym management; Stone is very clever-fortunately not too clever to escape justice. Tourney Recap: Madison Boxing Gym hosted a 9 bout smoker at Greenfield Elementary School on October 8 and we were on the scene; but the results were left on the cutting floor due to a lack of space in our last edition. Here is a complete list of winners and there wasn?t a team or outstanding boxer trophy handed out because of a shorter than normal number of bouts performed. (1) 60 lbs. Fabian Montes (Central Boxing) (2) 70 lbs. Ronaldo Plata (Central Boxing). (3) 112 lbs. Hugo Ruiz (Pereida Boxing), (4) 90 lbs. David Ortiz (Campeones Boxing) (5) 112 lbs. Carlos Luzavila (Central Boxing) (6) 120 Oscar Lopez (Madison) (7) 90 lbs. Adrian Rodriguez (Unattached) (8) 70 lbs. Marques Silva (Madison) (9) 100 lbs. Thomas Valerio (Maricopa). It was a good show and we thank Ricky Ricardo Rodriguez for the invite. Boxing Banter: WBC Cruiserweight Champion Tony Bellew (28-2-1) retained his title by scoring a third round TKO stoppage of Scottsdale Arizona fighter B J Flores (32-3-1) who was floored four times. It was the first title defense for Bellew who immediately called out David Hayes, sitting ringside, after battering the 38 year old Flores. No word on whether or not Flores may have earned his last paycheck as a fighter; nothing lasts forever?.. Phoenix amateur middleweight Adolfo Ramos (Central Boxing) was planning to turn professional; but, will wait until he experiences another amateur bout or two. Ramos is being advised drop a few pounds and battle at 154??Jesus Serrano upped his record to 13-4-1 with a win in Mexico recently?.to set the record straight for the umpteenth time, Casa Grande welterweight Abel Ramos isn?t fighting on the October 29th ?Ring for Heroes? show in Tolleson as advertised??.Two days (10/19-20) of Copper Glove Boxing sanctioned by USA Boxing Arizona and hosted by Phoenix Boys Center INC. is a special feature at the Arizona State Fair available for fans after paying a modest admission fee at the gate which entitles goers to numerous fair amenities including watching other acts & attractions?. Arizona fighters Andrew ?Hurricane? Hernandez (16-4-1) and Edgar Brito have been added to the November 4 Ramos vs. Vences championship card at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Hernandez faces Top Rank prot?g? Jesse Hart (20-0) while Brito tries to dispose of ring rust when he takes on heralded Jose Gonzalez (5-0). I talked to both boxers and neither man seemed worried about their underdog status. Brito hasn?t fought in over a year after a bitter contract battle with Iron Boy Promotions. He is relieved that Iron Boy hasn?t raised a legal finger to stop him from resuming his boxing career?..Arizona Boxing News & Notes will shut down operations until October 26-vacation time! More Banter: Arizona residents Geoff Ronning, Ralph Velez Jr and Rigoberto Ledezma are preparing for the Masters boxing tournament at Sonny?s Gym in Goodyear on November 4 & 5. Mr. Ledezma may have second thoughts about participating based on his work load. I will be in Vegas on those days; so, our recap of the event will come from a surrogate reporter??Chicago super lightweight Adrian Granados (18-4-2) has signed with TGB Promotions ?.welterweight Abel Ramos (17-1-2) was offered a second go around with Maurice Hooker (21-0-2) on Showtime November; but, for a reason never explained, the contract was never signed??.A nod and wink to super bantamweight Manny Folly (7-0) of Philadelphia for his acknowledged charitable work in his community. The 24 year old aspiring boxer/ police officer fought his way off ?mean? streets in Philly to become a role model for kids to follow; thank you, Manny! Folly is managed by Cameron Dunkin and promoted by Victory Boxing Promotions. Editorial: Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day and we urge every eligible voter to participate in an exercise that is crucial in determining national and foreign policy. It is without reservation that we endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton as our choice to succeed Barrack Obama as our next president. Secretary Clinton is the only grownup of the two major candidates and although the former first lady is far from perfect; we fear the selection of Donald Trump will be a disaster. As we went to press, more sexual allegations against the real estate tycoon and GOP presidential nominee have surfaced and our prayers are with the victims if the allegations are proven true... ? Until Next Time! Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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