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Arizona Boxing News & Notes With Don Smith By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Fri, 18 Jan 2013 8-9 years ago, Mike Sanchez (USA Boxing) approached the Fiesta Bowl Committee with the idea of presenting amateur boxing at their Annual Fiesta Bowl Block Party in Glendale. The committee said yes and each year, the exhibition has drawn larger crowds. This years' Fiesta Bowl Boxing Invitational show attracted fighters representing 13 Arizona Gyms. Fans were expecting to watch 10 bouts,however a no show reduced the match total to 9. As a result of the no show, Robert Garcia (Fight Ready Boxing) was awarded a walkover victory. After raising Garcia's hand, ring official Richard Soto told the crowd that the 16 year old deserved the win because he worked hard and was ready to fight, therefore he earned his ringside recognition. Soto is always extolling the virtues of Olympic style boxing. The entry fee for Festival fans was $30.00 per head and that included a lunch and an opportunity to meet former Collegiate football All American Ahmad Rashad (Oregon) and former Kansas State Running Back standout Josh Scobey (Kansas State). The event was a prelude to Fiesta Bowl Game which pitted the Wildcats of Kansas State University against the Ducks of University of Oregon. When it was all said and done, the Wildcats went home with a whimper while the Ducks had a quacking good time. As promised, here are the official results of the 2013 Fiesta Bowl Boxing Invitational. Sanchez and his USA Boxing crew will be back next year and they promise an even bigger show for 2014. In the true spirit of amateur boxing, every participant is a winner. Bantam Division:75 lbs, Eduardo Torres (San Luis Pal) over Francisco Hernandez (Grant Park) Intermediate Division:135 lbs, Gustavo Zubiri (AZ Boxing Fitness) over Joshua Garcia (Central Boxing) Intermediate Division:110 lbs, Alexis Solares (Pereida Boxing) over Jesus Mata (San Luis Pal) Senior Division: 106 lbs Robert Garcia (Fight Ready Boxing) Walk Over Adrian Servin (Azteca Boxing) Senior Division: 132 lbs Alexis Urbina (Knockout Boxing) over Jose Guevera (Salvation Army Boxing) Senior Division: 152 lbs Danny Garcia (Central-United Boxing) over Adam Ortega (AZ Boxing Fitness) Novice Division: 125 lbs Luis Montoya (Pereida Boxing) over Doug Alvarez ( Aztlan Boxing) Open Division: 141 lbs Wilbur Lopez (Az Boxing Fitness) over Timothy Riddell (Hook City Boxing) Novice Division: 201 lbs Alberto Alvarez (Aztlan Boxing) over Hector Reyes (AZ Boxing Fitness) Open Division: 165 lbs Ramero Trejo (Taz Boxing) Danny Riddell Jr. (Hook City Boxing) At the end of the Festival, Daniel Garcia (Central-United Boxing) was named outstanding fighter while AZ Boxing Fitness was deemed Outstanding Team. Garcia, a 16 year old high school student, plans to take a shot at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. He is an outstanding prospect and very strong at this stage of his amateur career. He does eat too much leather , but learning defense takes time. AZ Boxing Fitness, located in Tucson, is the preferred training facility for tough and promising bantamweight Jensen Ramirez. Boxing Coach Sergio Zaragoza thinks he has several young boxers ready to follow Ramirez into the professional ranks, soon. Joe Agredano, 0ne of Arizona's most ardent and powerful supporters of amateur boxing , wasn't able to attend the event due to poor health. His boxing resume is a thick binder of work that includes serving as a USA Boxing Coachin the 1990's in tournaments against Canada, Russia and Mexico. His involvement with youth in Tucson, Arizona spans more than three decades and his dedication to the mission of the Aztlan Boxing Club. It is a remarkable accomplishment for a man who also found time to share the raising of six children while holding a fulltime job. As a young man, he worked as a miner and would eventually ascend to the position of property appraiser for the Pima County Assessor's Office where he was gamefully employed until his retirement. Mr. Agredano was introduced to boxing as a child. He recalls taking a rope and wrapping it around some trees to form a ring where he and other children would box and beat each other up. The lessons he learned from boxing were passed on his children and members of the Aztlan Boxing Club. The community organization is partially funded by the City of Tucson and the journey began in a Quonset Hut. Joe became a volunteer and has continued to teach the sport. Three of his children, Joseph, Mike and Annette serve as volunteers at the center.With Papa ailing, Annette (aka Netta) assumed the role of head coach for the two member Aztlan Boxing Team who traveled to Glendale for this prestigious event. At some point in the program, she was introduced as Annette Agredano, undefeated boxer (5-0-1) from Tucson, Arizona and representing Aztlan Boxing Club as a coach. It was difficult to clearly hear her introduction because of the boisterous football fans who were devoted to cheering on their respective schools; Kansas State and Oregon. And cheer they did. In retrospect, Kansas State seemed to have more fans but the Oregon Duck supporters appeared to be more confident of victory. After graduating from Tucson High School, Netta attended the University of Pittsburgh on a full Athletic Athletic Scholarship. She was a highly skilled soccer player who could have played professional , but the women's league folded at the time she was set for player tryouts. Ms, Agredano has the genes and pedigree to bounce back from disappointment, so she concentrated on her career goal of becoming a social worker. Once she had her degree, she thought all she had to do was knock on a few doors and opportunity would avail itself. She did the knocking, but at every door she was told repeatedly that she needed more academic work to qualify for the position she was applying for. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Bye, bye Pennsylvania! You can always return home if you have a family that loves you and a city that needs you. Once home, Annette secured a job working as a teacher's aid at Mission View Elementary where she helps special education students. She maintains a daily schedule that would break most people, but Annette Marie Agredano isn't most people. Up early and home late; there is never a second to waste. In addition to working her paid gig, she is in the gym five days a week where she helps train men and women ages 8-45. Then,of course, there is her own training which is guided by her brothers. Joseph Jr.,aka "P.D" and Mike. She fights in the bantam weight division (125 lbs) and at 31 years of age; Netta is a incredible physical specimen. Watching he leap into the ring between rounds (at the festival) to instruct her fighters was exhausting. And needless to say, her pupils listened. When our interview was over, Ms. Agredano went over to a fellow trainer and asked about me. Apparently, her life experiences have taught her to be cautious and I respect that. Her next fight is sometime in March. Aztlan Boxing is located South Tucson. Complaint Dept.: A number of Arizona boxing managers and trainers who handle fighters weighing 140 lbs and over want to know why their talent can't get a piece of the local action? Card after card seems to bypass them in favor of boxers representing lighter weight divisions. Here is a plausible explanation. The majority of boxers working regularly in Phoenix go out and physically sell tickets to family, friends and fans. I call it the honor and value system. If a boxer fails to sell a fair share, he or she may be fighting out of town or not at all. It's business and nothing personal; especially at the local level. I hear the complaint every day and will probably hear it tomorrow and the day after. As for a bias against boxers over 140 lbs. I don't buy it, but the absence of bigger sized fighters on the majority of local boxing shows may cause some fans to wonder. Cruiserweight Contender BJ Flores (28-1-1) has won a full shelf of amateur honors and several minor professional titles , but he doesn't have a world title belt and at age 34 (on January 29) he wants a world title shot before father time robs him of that opportunity. Flores has called out WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck and undefeated contender Lateef "Power"Kayode ,but neither prospective foe has accepted the challenge. Huck, a Bosnian fighting out of Germany, is slated to defend his title against some else in March and Kayode (born in Nigeria) is still catching flak over his performance with Antonio Tarver on Showtime. The outcome was initially ruled a draw then changed to a No Contest verdict after Tarver failed a subsequent drug test . I asked a spokesperson from the Kayode Camp if the 29 year old Freddie Roach trained fighter would fight Flores and the response was yes if BJ would put his belt(s) on the line and secure some television coverage for the bout. Since his lone defeat at the hands of Danny Green in 2010, Flores has won six recognized titles of the Intercontinental or NABF flavor. In a suprise announcement Kayode (18-0-), revealed plans to fight as a heavyweight, perhaps early as late February of this year. Plans can change! Flores, born in San Francisco, fought out of Chandler, Arizona for several years before he moved to Springfield, Missouri where he has developed a huge fan base. His lone professional fight in Arizona ( Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix) was a financial loss for him and his brother who co-promoted the event. Part of his lack of draw in Arizona was his inability to win over Hispanic and Latino fans despite his Hispanic surname. They just didn't buy what he was selling. NBC Boxing does like his wholesome good looks,so the Network hired him as a commentator for their Saturday slotted boxing series. I don't give him high marks as a broadcast analyst because of his "Homer" or pandering style. When I watch or listen to an analyst, I want to hear honest dialogue that captures and compliments the event. B J's persona ,on air, is just too safe for my taste. However, in the ring he has paid his dues and deserves a shot at Huck or Kayode. Hopefully, Flores vs Kayode will happen in Phoenix. More Boxing News: 126 lb Brandon Riddell (Hook City Gym) is making his pro debut on the Mayhem in - War Show at the Arizona Events Center in Mesa on January 18.. Riddell was scheduled to fight Angel Gonzales, but Gonzales is no longer an invited ring guest for whatever reason. It will be the first ever show at the renovated facility that used to house the Julio Cesar Chavez Restaurant. When Julio's name was on the marquee, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's boys used to raid the place, frequently...wonder why! Tickets available at select Food City Stores. Hennessy, one of the shows' sponsor's is offering a discount ticket offer with purchase. Keep the cap on until after the fight. The official press conference was held at the Hook City facility in Mesa on Thursday,(1/9) 5:30-7:30 p.m. Unfortunately, the facility phone wasn't working just prior to the event,so some fans may have thought the facility was closed. Don't you just love the phone company. Contact Crank It Up Promotions for further details.Ticket prices start at $25.00. Venue holds 1,200. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and first bell should be 7:oo p.m. or shortly after. Jesus Aguinaga (1-0) is scheduled to fight on the card. Super Middleweight Boxer Andrew "Hurricane" Hernandez pleaded "Nolo Contendere" at his January 8th hearing in Las Vegas and received a 9 month boxing suspension which will be lifted on August 10, 2013. In addition, he was fined $750.00 ( 30% of his purse). If you're doing the math and the lift date seems short, remember the 9 month suspension begins from the day of the bout. Keith Kizer emailed the hearing result and the August 10 suspension lift date was calculated by him. The boxer's once accessible telephone number has been changed or disconnected, therefore my attempts to reach him proved fruitless. He may coach boxing during his suspension time. Mr. Hernandez plans to continue boxing and we wish him the best. Everyone makes mistakes; even veteran writers. Susan Wheeler Hernandez , Boxing fan, photographer and mother of 10 year old amateur boxer Francisco Hernandez; will enter a local hospital next week for surgery. Susan is one of the good guys in boxing; here is wishing her a speedy recovery. She has two sons. Francisco lost his bantam bout at the Fiesta Bowl Block Park,but he won the honor of posing with Fiesta Queen and her court. Nice consolation prize. Entry fee for the event was $30.00 with free food and a chance to meet former football players Ahmad Rashad and Jacob Scoby. Ahmad played his college ball at University of Oregon and Scoby laced up for Kansas State. See you there next year. Light Welterweight Jorge Marquez's (5-1) injured hand will keep him on the shelf for a few weeks. The injury cost Marquez a possible chance to fight on the "To Be Determined 01/25/13 show in Calgary which may be moved to early February; due to blizzard like weather . Fan Base Promotions likes Marquez and will try to put him on a future card according to a spokesperson. Corrections: My New Years Resolution to not make any mistakes in 2013 has been broken. In our last column, it was said that Jose Benavidez Sr. spoke to "Leave It In The Ring" about his relationship with Trainer Freddie Roach and his sons. Sorry, it was Jose Jr. who told program hosts, David Duenez and Gabriel Montoya that everything was cool in the family and Dads' relationship with Roach was good. Jr. denied that Roach ever threw Benavidez St. out of his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. The other printed miscue wasn't my fault. In the piece about Humberto Avila,the accident victim, I identified his vehicle as a 2006 Nissan. In reality, the year is 2010. The father in law goofed. The family is still taking donations at:www.gofundme.com/betoandnico. Until Next Time. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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