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Arizona Boxing News & Notes with Don Smith: WBA Ranks Edwards #4, FBP News, GG News By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Sun, 16 Mar 2014  Edwards. Boxing Fans, The World Boxing Association has duly noted Middleweight Derek ?The Black Lion? Edward?s 1st round ShowTime televised TKO victory over highly regarded Badou Jack on 2/28 (Verona New York) by ranking him as the world?s 4th best super middleweight. The 34 year old Edwards has recently talked about scaling down and performing in the 160 lb. weight class, but his huge victory versus Jack and jettisoned ranking to # 4 in the world may make him rethink his strategy and stay the course as a super middleweight. My personal advice, as if anyone has asked for it, would be for him to fight as a middleweight. His counterparts in the super middleweight division appear bigger and there is always the huge presence of Adonis Stevenson who has moved up to light heavyweight. If he stays there; I might hedge my bet?on second thought, scale down and fight at 160. Don?t you like it when a boxing writer waffles a bit? I talked to Edward?s boxing advisor Clement Vierra (Hard Knocks Gym in Phoenix, Arizona) and he is leaning towards advising the Black Lion to stay in the Super Middleweight Division. Vierra recalls a lighter Edwards (160 lbs.) losing to undefeated Matt Korobov (22-0) prior to the Jack triumph and he attributes the 9th round TKO loss to less power and fatigue. Another factor to consider in the Korobov encounter is Derek?s last minute decision to agree to fight 10 rounds and not eight as previously agreed upon. If the former North Carolina resident had a do over on the decision, he might reverse the call. Derek was a Q & A guest in our last Arizona Boxing News & Notes column and his answers were honest and spot on. Unfortunately, Arizona Online News . Com twerked their presentation of the column and the result prompted irate complaints from Mrs. Derek Edwards (Kenyetta) and other readers who were directed to another site. I took a look at the online printed debacle and found the AZ. Online News version impossible to read. There wasn?t one sentence that was coherent which probably made my critics and competitors very happy. Humor is a good antidote. Kenyetta Edwards called to tell me about the WBA announcement. We had previously discussed a second round of Q & A with Derek and that second installment will be available in next week?s ABNN column. I felt in light of the online foul up, although it was only one site, Derek deserved more column space, so tell your friends. Boxing News: It?s official, Lightweights Wilberth Lopez (2-2-1) and Leon Spinks 111 (6-0) will mix it up on the April 4 at Sam?s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall (off Boulder HWY) in Las Vegas Nevada. The 26 year old Spinks is a grandson of former World Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks who upset Muhammad Ali in 1978 to earn the title. He lost to Ali in a rematch. Lopez is familiar to Arizona fight fans; he lost to Mario Esparza at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, 2013. Spinks 111 turned professional at age 24 and opinions about his boxing skill set vary from he is very good to ?he is using the family name to make a dollar or two before he is exposed as a wannabe?. Boxing fans will decide on April 4. Main Event Bout, 10 rounds for the vacated WBC USNBC Lightweight Championship features Phoenix, Arizona favorite Victor Castro (11-0) vs. Rashad Ganaway (14-4-1) from Arkansas. This bout will go a long ways in defining Castro, who has been trashed for not fighting tougher foes. Ganaway will go for an upset, but Castro should prevail. As for who should take the knock for setting up Castro with ?softies?, talk to his crack management team. Call Sam?s at for tickets. Phoenix Native Rollin Williams (23-16-2) is itching to get back in the ring at age 48 if the Arizona Boxing commission gives the green light. Now training at 168, the ageless boxing mentor could be added to the Iron Boy X11 card versus 28 year old super middleweight Sijuola Ade Shabazz (3-1) on April 26 at the Celebrity Theater. According to BoxRec, Williams hasn?t fought since the year of 1993 when Shabazz was 8 years old. For what it?s worth, I have mixed sentiments about scheduling the match. Cross your fingers and hope Rollin is a young 48; Shabazz will bring his best and that isn?t too shabby. Shabazz trains at Pro Edge Boxing Gym in Phoenix. Williams trains at his own gym, Top Level Boxing in Phoenix. Rodriguez Gym (Phoenix) won Open Team and overall Team trophies and produced the following Champions: Francisco Chavez- 114 lb. Open Champion, William Northern 111-178 lb. Open Champion, Emilio Ruelas-165 lb. Novice Champion, Daniel Ruelas-132 lb. JO Champion, George Chadwick 111- 152 lb. Novice Winner, Luis Holguin-152 lb. Novice Winner and Luis Ramirez-152 lb. Open(Non-Citizen) Winner. Rodriguez Boxing Club teammates Luis Holguin & George Chadwick 111 shared the 152 lb. Novice Title because of the 11th commandment in boxing: Thou shall not fight another teammate. Very sportsmanlike conduct exhibited by their coach (Seferino Rodriguez) and his two humble champions. Two Rodriguez 165 prot?g?s (Rueben Navarette & Nick Rodriguez lost in the Semi-final and Final, respectively. More Golden Glove News & Results: At the end of the tournament the following champion boxers (18 years +) advanced to the AZ Golden Gloves Regional?s held March 15-17 in Las Vegas Nevada at Barry?s Boxing Club. Call 702-368-2629 for more information and reservations. Here is complete list of Team Arizona Boxers representing Arizona and trained by Head Coach Seferino Rodriguez/ Rodriguez Boxing in Phoenix, Arizona. Sorry we weren?t forwarded the names of his capable assistants. 108 lb. Adrian Servin-Knockout Gym, 114 lb. Francisco Chavez-Rodriguez Gym, 178 lb. William Northern 111-Rodriguez Gym, 152 lb. Jesse Acosta-Boxing INC. Eastside, 165 lb. Manny Guajardo-Boxing INC., 132 lb. Raul Anaya-Broadway Boxing, 141 lb. Alfonso Olvera-Neutral Corner Gym, 152 lb. Carlos Cordova-AZ Boxing & Fitness in Tucson, Heavyweight Albert Alvarez-Red Nation Warriors Boxing Club & Super Heavyweight Dante Stone-Stonehard Gym. Winners proceed to the Open Golden Glove Nationals, May 12-17 in Las Vegas. Below The Belt: 108 lb. 16 year old boxer Ariel Lopez wasn?t able to fulfill his boxing dream at the recent Golden Gloves Tournament (in Mesa Arizona) due to an error committed by USA Boxing Arizona officials. Here is the rest of the story. Ariel received the benefit of a walkover in the first round of competition. Thanks to the walkover, Ariel advanced to the finals against 18 year old Daniel Salazar. Before the bout began, it was discovered that Ariel was 16 and Daniel was 18 and the pairing of a 16 year old and 18 year old is a ?oh no? in the USA BOXING rule book, so the bout was ruled a no contest; therefore denying Ariel a chance to advance to the Golden Glove Regionals. Why wasn?t the questionable infraction noticed before competition began. Ariel and his family dug deep to make the trip and for their effort they had nothing to show. John Colmenero (Red Nation Warriors Coach has filed a protest and asked for compensation to help the family deter their expense. A week before the event, Ariel, friends and family members rolled up their sleeves and watched cars to pay for the trip and due to a technicality; Team Lopez was delivered a low blow and will have to wait until next year. The decision doesn?t sound right to this arm chair referee. FBP News: Fan Base Promotions has closed shop in Arizona until further notice. Henri Westcott, FBP Marketing Director, told me his company will concentrate on Canadian and European shows for now, but the newly appointed Director of Marketing doesn?t rule out a possible return to the Grand Canyon State at a later date. Mr. Westcott went on to state, unequivocally, that anyone pretending to represent Fan Base Promotions in the state of Arizona without his written and notarized permission would be prosecuted to the full letter of the law. The handwriting was on the wall. Months ago, Fan Base released all their Arizona based fighters with the exception of Arizona prospect Mario Esparza and FBP Volunteer Ralph Velez issued a statement on 3/14 announcing that he would no longer donate his time to promote Fan Base interests and he will refrain from referring to himself as a Fan Base employer or member of the Fan Base Organization. His disclosure was made through social media sources. Fan Base is expected to notify Esparza trainer Tom Garcia that the young fighter will be released from his contract within the next few days. Given the fact that Fan Base has shut down its? Arizona operation, releasing Mario would be the prudent thing to do. A little background information; Mr. Velez was hired as a ring event announcer for Fan Base 3-4 years ago and later would perform similar duties with two other boxing promotional concerns, Iron Boy and Face 2 Face Events. In addition to being an announcer in the ring, Ralph expanded his communicative skills to include appearing on a local boxing show heard over the internet. As for his future, it is believed that he will continue acting in short films and producing Documentary films. No word on his latest acting assignment or film producing project. I am sure the boxing community wishes him and his family the best. FBP?s gradual cessation from the Arizona boxing market gives Iron Boy Promotions a legitimate claim as the Promotional King of Boxing in Arizona. The Phoenix based promotional company has presented 11 shows and # 12 is scheduled for the Celebrity Theatre on April 26 in Phoenix. Most of the shows attracted near capacity crowds while Iron Boy X1 turned boxing fans away. As for the departure of Fan Base, I think I speak for the majority of boxing fans who believe competition is good and in that spirit, I sincerely hope that all of the reputable boxing vendors consider Arizona as a viable venue. It would be nice to see Arizona compete with Las Vegas for some of the big PPV fights. Unfortunately, we don?t have the venues or number of quality local fighters to light up a marquee and fill a stadium. However, Arizona boxing is starting to move in the right direction. Let us hope the trend continues. Good Cause: Every 4th leap year I find a cause that compels me to ask my readers to help. Red Nation Warriors Boxing Club in Tucson needs donations and you can?t find a more deserving cause to help. The community based 501 c-3 Non-Profit organization sweats bullets to provide their kids with equipment and travel money, but unfortunately the dollar never stretches far enough. I would hope that the millions(?) of readers dedicated to this column would pick up their phone and call John Colmenero at 520-889-7529 and make a pledge. If we don?t pitch in, good kids may be shut out from a facility that has been so beneficial to the boxing community near Tucson, Arizona. Thank you for your support. Final Thoughts: I wish I had a nickel for every amateur fighter who said he/she was going to turn pro and didn?t. By my calculation, I would have enough coin to buy a truckload of Nehi Soda and Banana flavored Moon Cr?me pies. Light middleweight Joseph Bonas (1-0) has been added to Iron Boy X12 Card at the Celebrity Theatre (Phoenix) on 4/26. Bonas hails from Detroit and is managed by Cameron Dunkin. The buzz at Central United Boxing Gym in Phoenix is over the workouts of Franshon McGee, a novice heavyweight with basketball and football experience. At 6?5? 260 he has the size, but does McGee have the heart and focus to stay with the sport. Central Gym manager Tom Garcia is very impressed with the former Cleveland State basketball player and Arena Football standout who had a tryout with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Tom thinks McGee learns quickly and moves real well. Time will tell! Arizona Light welterweight Luis Olivares ended his bout with Jeffery Ramos after three rounds in Kissimmee Florida. The win ups the Arizona fighter?s record to 7-0 and he will go after #8 in Mexico on 4/4. The kid is on a fast track with SMS Promotions. Until Next Time Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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