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Arizona Boxing News & Notes: Top Rank & Iron Boy Reunite, Boxing Scandal & More By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Sun, 17 Aug 2014 Boxing Fans, It looks as if Top Rank Boxing and Iron Boy Promotions will join forces and present Iron Boy 15 at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix on September 20. Their collaboration on July 26 was definitely a commercial success. It?s too early to disclose the bout sheet, but here are some names being discussed: Top Rank prot?g? Light Heavyweight Trevor McCumby, Heavyweight Andy Ruiz (22-0), Middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. (2-0). Iron Boy bantamweight rising star Francisco De Vaca (7-0), possibly Frank Mendoza and Cameron Dunkin signee Alexis Zazueta; solid foundation for a good card if the foes come ready to fight. Ruiz is tentatively scheduled to fight former Heavyweight champion Siarhei Liakhovich 26-6. The former champ, nearing 40 years old, hopes a victory over Ruiz will reignite his dormant career. It is also understood that Phoenix fighter Edgar Brito will be on the card with(not against) Carlos ?The Chosen One? Castro whose absence from the ring was due to personal reasons and management change. I can?t confirm that Emilio Garcia will and return to the ring after a long absence because of some lingering issues. He may sign for the BMBP ?Phoenix Fight Night ?show on 9/26. Anything is possible in boxing and everything is subject to change. Lightweight Victor Castro (11-0) may be added if he signs with Iron Boy. Castro has a little ring rust due to his steep price request according to ring insiders. If he doesn?t fight in the next six months, his career may be in jeopardy. Boxing prospect Emmanuel Nieves was being lured to fight on the card, but his handlers are reluctant to sign a 3 fight exclusive deal in Arizona with Iron Boy. . Flexibility is a key word in any contract dealings Most fighters have legal representatives who read contract language very carefully. The Nieves family has the utmost respect for Iron Boy CEO Roberto Vargas and if Nieves decides to go elsewhere in September, I would be surprised, but stranger things have happened in boxing. Team Nieves was told the BMBP card is filled. So, the hunt is on for a gig. Nieves is too talented to remain dormant. I hope everything is resolved. 21 year old McCumby is a busy fighter and should graduate to 10 round bouts soon, but his handlers thought he was too tentative in his last fight (UD victory) and I?m sure he got an earful. I like the kid because he knows how to answer questions and is very polite as if he is from a different era. I my opinion, he is a good role model for young fighters and a talented lad. Trevor fights in Chicago later this month, which is near Yorkville Illinois, his hometown. More Top Rank News: NABF Junior Welterweight Champion Jose Benavidez (21-0) won?t appear on the Iron Boy 15 card but he is expected to resign with Top Rank Boxing, but the trigger date is unknown. A spokesperson for Top Rank confirmed a desire to resign the 22 year old undefeated prot?g? (21-0) and Team Benavidez seems inwardly happy to remain under the Top Rank Boxing Tent. Benavidez continues to call out tougher foes, Rios, Samuel Vargas, etc.. That is the best way to earn a shot at a world title. Some of his earlier foes were tomatoes, but the lad has a world of talent according to most boxing insiders and yours truly. Boxing Scandal: Former amateur boxing mentor Damien Stone remains out of jail on bond. He was seen at the Iron Boy 14 July 26 show, but didn?t discuss his pending Superior Court appearance on soliciting a minor. His Stonehard boxing gym in Chandler is closed, but the unearthing of some new information has some people scratching their heads. Damien, without legal permission, submitted former boxer Kevin Riding-in name to USA Boxing Arizona as the owner and manager of Stonehard Gym which was closed sometime in early July due to, in part, the criminal charges against Mr. Stone. Kevin knew nothing about the maneuver until I informed the married parent of three that he was listed as the owner of Stonehard Boxing club with Boxing USA and USA Boxing Arizona. Kevin became outraged and called USA Boxing Arizona and demanded that his name be taken off the registry and he reported the misrepresentation to the Mesa Police and talked to Detective Barry of the Mesa Police. Then he called Walt Hoskins, USA Boxing Secretary and asked that the correction be made. So how did something like this happen? When Stone was arrested for the second time on Solicitation charges, he was told by USA Boxing Arizona that he would have to step away from coaching kids and name a new coach to handle children working out in the gym. He refused to. Members of the boxing community began to hear of his dilemma and they picketed the Stonehard Gym with sign carrying marches. The handwriting was on the wall. Stone was desperate, so he notified USA Boxing Arizona that the gym was being transferred into the name of Kevin Riding-In, a 35 year old gentleman whose career job is working in a parks and recreation Department near the gym. He knew Stone Casually at the gym where Riding-In volunteered his boxing knowledge to boys and girls who wanted to learn the sport. . Stone, according to Kevin, told him that his run in with the law was a misunderstanding and everything would blow over and be okay. Kevin wasn?t aware of the protesters and the seriousness of Damien Stones crimes which send the 40 year old to prison. In the meantime, Stone was asking person after person to take over the gym including former Boxing champion Rico Hoye who knew of his plight through my column. Rico owns a gym in Scottsdale (Keep Punching INC.) with partners Vasiliy Jirov (former world boxing champion) and Rick Griffith (noted trainer). Hoye politely told the embattled Stone, ?No.? He wasn?t alone. My sources told me that Stone worked around the clock trying to find someone to save his sinking ship (gym); however, there was no na?ve captain to be found. My ongoing investigation revealed shoddy record keeping in the USA Boxing system. Countless errors including the names of listed gyms that are no longer in business and erroneous owners and phone numbers listed. Hopefully these comments will lead to an investigation and a correction of the problem. It is my understanding that an election will be conducted this fall. Perhaps the problem can be addressed. I thank the current USA Boxing Arizona President (Jacob Magallanez) Mag for calling the acute dilemma to my attention. Seeking Chance: I told Larry Tornambe I would throw his name out to the Arizona boxing community and beyond; so here is the toss for what it is worth. Larry served as the ring announcer for the legendary Blue Horizon Promotions for the last six years of their existence. He started his ring announcing career after interviewing Matthew Saad Muhammad in 1987. He has handled mike chores for more than 20 years and the talented announcer has been in the ring with a legendary list of fighters including: Hopkins, Joe Frazier, Danny Garcia, Michael Spinks and many more. He has a resume and tapes ready for inspection. Contact Larry at: announcerlarry@yahoo.com... Nice fellow looking for work! Boxing Notes: Tucson Junior Middleweight Roshawn McCain (2-1) will appear on the Roy Jones September 20 boxing show in Vegas. McCain was a knockout victim in his last ring appearance. Manager Jesse Haro called to see if I would mention his smoker tournament held on August 9 at Scrapyard Gym where Roshawn Trains. Rodriguez Gym in Phoenix won Team Trophy and Scrapyard Gym (Tucson) boxer Javier Quisada bested Jesse Acosta (UD) of Boxing INC. East out of Tucson for the Best Bout Trophy. Both dmen deserve a bow. Jesse told me hundreds of boxing fans showed up to watch the young men and women battle. Arizona is quickly becoming a hot bed for young and upcoming amateur boxers. At least six plan to turn professional this year; pretty impressive. Special kudos to USA Boxing Arizona Official Richard Soto and his hard working crew; please volunteer if you can!Mr. Soto would love to hear from avid boxing fans. Phoenix Fight Night: Ben Miranda Boxing Promotions (BMBP) will present their first boxing show at the Phoenix Convention Center (Downtown Phoenix) on Friday September 26, 2014. The card will be announced at a later date, but Keenan Carbajal, Grandson son of Arizona Boxing Trainer Danny Carbajal is expected to be on the card as well as other local fighters. I have some other names, but they aren?t confirmed. Five time world champion Michael Carbajal isn?t affiliated with the organization and doesn?t plan to attend the fight on September 26. The venue choice is excellent, close to the heart of downtown Phoenix and accessible to boxing patrons living in Central Phoenix. Ironically ?Phoenix Fight Night? is scheduled 6 days after Iron Boy Promotions presents their Iron 14 show at the Celebrity Theater on September 20. A press release sent on August 14 didn?t mention seat pricing or where to purchase tickets. Traveling to or calling the venue would be a good first start. More details are forthcoming in the next press release. Plans to have a second press conference were scrapped following the announcement of the formation of the Company. CM+PR is handling the press relations for BNBP and can be reached at 602-451-8719. One trainer who called the PR staffer (Erica) was told the 9/26 card is booked. Assuming, the contracts are signed, sealed and delivered, why delay the announcement of the card? I just love boxing; especially the promoting end of it. In Memory: On September 3, 2013 Arizona Amateur boxer Alexis Urbina was found unconscious and covered in blood in his family?s South Phoenix home. The 17 year old who aspired to be an Olympic boxer, died from his injuries two days later. As the date marking the tragic anniversary of his death approaches, let us vow to wage a war against violence. It has no rightful place in Arizona or America. Hug your kids! Female Promoter: She doesn?t want her name mentioned, but there is a wily and courageous woman living in Buckeye, Arizona who is thinking about presenting a boxing show in Buckeye. She emailed me and asked for my 2 cents worth and I tossed her some ideas. Before you think of me as barren of ideas, I once promoted a rock concert in Fort Worth Texas without any money and wasn?t strung up by an angry mob of creditors. . I actually made a dollar or two. She will decide in the next few weeks whether or not she will pursue the idea. I told her to watch out for sharks. Arizona resident Alma Canez was a fair and bright boxing promoter. Boxing isn?t brain surgery Time to break up the almost all boys club. ?.Until Next Time Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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