Another week in Northern California boxing saw a couple of firsts on the female side, along with some upcoming bout announcements that will ensure that the local fight fans will have plenty to look forward to in June.
PRO
? McMORROW DETHRONES KENTIKIAN: There?s a new unified flyweight champion of the world, and she?s from San Jose. In possibly the upset of the year in women?s boxing, Melissa ?Mighty? McMorrow (7-3-3) traveled to Hamburg, Germany, Wednesday and dethroned longtime WBO/WIBF 112-pound boss Susi Kentikian (29-1, 16 KOs) by majority decision (96-94 twice, 95-95). McMorrow was coming off a controversial split decision loss to Arely Mucino for the WBA interim crown in February.
?Mighty went into a foreign country in February, beat up the champion, and got robbed,? said McMorrow?s trainer Eddie Croft, himself a former three-time world title challenger at 122 and 126 pounds. ?She went into a foreign country again, beat up the undefeated champion, and became the new flyweight champion of the world.?
Buzz has already begun for a unification bout with Northern California?s other flyweight champ, IBF titleholder Ava Knight of Chico. HG Boxing, Knight?s promoter, has set aside a June 30 date for her next defense.
? BERTO TESTS POSITIVE: Former welterweight champ Andre Berto, who had been training in San Carlos? Undisputed Gym last fall and working with Bay Area-based nutritionist Victor Conte, has tested positive for nandrolone according to a report from BoxingScene.com. Berto had been scheduled to face Victor Ortiz in Los Angeles on June 23 in a rematch of their exciting scrap last year, and had already postponed the bout once due to a ruptured bicep.
Conte, the BALCO founder who once served prison time for steroid distribution in the past, sent CSNBayArea.com a statement to clarify his involvement regarding Berto?s failed drug test via e-mail:
?I had absolutely nothing to do Andre Berto’s positive drug test for nandrolone. Andre enrolled in the VADA drug testing program in early 2012. While using my nutritional products and protocols Andre’s blood and urine were randomly tested twice before his recent bicep injury and all tests were negative. After his positive test was revealed, Andre admitted that he recently took some supplements that were not provided by me and did so without my knowledge. It is possible that one these supplements was contaminated with trace amounts of nandrolone and caused his positive test result?I do my best to help athletes to make good choices, but unfortunately they do not always listen to my advice.?
? ALCANTARA, LUGO, BANKS VICTORIOUS: NorCal fighters pulled off a trio of triumphs this past week. Last Friday, Novato?s Jonathan Alcantara (6-7-2, 1 KO) floored Walter Sarnoi (10-3, 5 KOs) in the fifth round and won a unanimous decision at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. Richmond welterweight Luis Alfredo Lugo (13-17-1, 5 KOs) knocked Eddie Cordova (3-2-1, 1 KO) down in the first frame en route to a unanimous decision Thursday night at the Irvine Marriott. That same night, Redwood City heavyweight Yohan Banks (5-6-3, 3 KOs), who trains at San Mateo?s Westside Boxing Club, upset Skyler Anderson (16-2-1, 10 KOs) with a second-round knockout at Lakeside Golf Course in Burbank.
? ESCOBEDO READY FOR BRONER: Junior lightweight Vicente ?Chente? Escobedo (NorCal P4P No. 4; 26-3, 15 KOs) enjoyed a homecoming at the Woodland Community Center last Saturday, locking up a July 21 world title shot against WBO 130-pound champ Adrien Broner (23-0, 19 KOs) with a unanimous decision over Juan Ruiz (23-10, 7 KOs). Ruiz displayed an iron chin as well as an iron head, as he planted his noggin into Escobedo?s chest throughout the 10 rounds, forcing ?Chente? to ward him off like a bullfighter.
?My plan is to go forward,? Escobedo told BoxingScene.com. ?Whoever?s in the way, whether it?s Broner, or anyone else, it doesn?t matter. I want to get my title, and I want to stay at this weight class.?
The fight is tentatively scheduled for Cincinnati and will be televised on HBO.
? MORE RESULTS FROM WOODLAND: Following Escobedo-Ruiz, the rest of the card was entertaining for the most part aside from the co-feature, a mismatch where Watsonville?s Oscar Godoy (5-2, 3 KOs) stopped Mexico?s Jaime Del Cid (8-7, 3 KOs) in two rounds. In other action, Chico junior welterweight Moris Rodriguez (3-0-1, 2 KOs) scored a highlight-reel worthy second-round knockout of Vacaville?s Bret De La Torre (2-1), Richmond lightweight Ulises Soriano (2-0-1) brawled his way to a majority draw with Oregon?s Gabriel Pineda (1-0-1, 1 KO) in a NorCal Fight of the Year candidate, and San Francisco featherweight Denis Madriz (1-0-1) earned his first pro victory by stopping Fresno?s Luis Villagomez (0-1) on cuts before the fourth round commenced. Villagomez will file a protest with the California commission because he felt the cut over his right eyebrow was caused by a headbutt and not a punch?a result that would have made the fight a technical draw instead.
? WARD-DAWSON CLOSE: As reported on CSNBayArea.com, the team for Oakland?s super middleweight champion Andre ?S.O.G.? Ward (NorCal P4P No. 1; 25-0, 13 KOs) is close to an agreement with the handlers of light heavyweight boss ?Bad? Chad Dawson (31-1, 17 KOs) on a Sept. 8 fight in either Atlantic City or Southern California and is probably headed for HBO, based on HBO Sports president?s Ken Hershman?s outspoken desire to land the clash.
The biggest point of contention is the weight. Dawson told HBO?s Max Kellerman that he could move down from his current 175 pounds to the super middleweight limit of 168, and Team Ward is taking his words to task. The WBC, which had stripped Ward last week, has decided to restore him as champion and will allow him to put the 168-pound belt on the line in the event the two come to terms.
? THE FILIPINO FLASH IS BACK: San Leandro?s Nonito ?Filipino Flash? Donaire (NorCal P4P No. 1; 28-1, 18 KOs) has returned to the Bay Area to begin camp for his July 7 WBO junior featherweight title defense against Mexico?s Cristian Mijares (45-6-2, 21 KOs) at Carson?s Home Depot Center. The 122-pound Donaire will train at the Undisputed Gym and the SNAC offices in San Carlos, as well as the College of San Mateo, where he goes through track workouts for additional conditioning.
? GLENN DONAIRE RETURNS: Nonito?s older brother, Glenn ?Filipino Bomber? Donaire (NorCal P4P No. 9; 19-4-1, 10 KOs), continues his comeback march with a June 15 fight on Telemundo against unbeaten but untested 112-pounder Daniel Lozano (11-0, 8 KOs) in Kissimmee, Fla. Since his return from a three-year hiatus, Donaire has won two straight bouts, and annexed an interim regional belt, the WBC Latino flyweight title.
? COLEY AND HARGRAVES IN ACTION: A pair of SFC Boxing fighters will stay active next month. Junior middleweight Aaron Coley (1-0) of Hayward will come back to the site of his pro debut on June 2 when he faces Stockton?s John Dunham (1-8-1) at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello. Fellow 154-pounder Richard Hargraves (2-0-1, 2 KOs) will travel to the Black Bear Casino on June 23 in Carlton, Minn., to fight Michael Faulk (2-1).
AMATEUR
? MILLER IN GOLD MEDAL FINAL: San Francisco?s Raquel Miller has advanced to Saturday afternoon?s 152-pound gold medal bout at the AIBA Women?s World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, where she will meet Mariia Badulina of Ukraine. Already assured of a bronze medal, the Bayview native defeated Russia?s Irina Poteyeva 13-10 Friday to make it to the welterweight final.
?It?s amazing just to be here, and this journey has been remarkable, and I’m thankful God allowed me to experience it,? Miller told CSNBayArea.com. ?She’s standing in the way of me and history. I deserve this opportunity. I earned it through blood, sweat, tears, black eyes, and busted lips.?
No Bay Area female amateur has ever won a medal in international competition, and Miller will become the first one to do it whether she wins or loses. When asked if a fight of this magnitude has made her a bit nervous, she replied, ?No. In my mind, I just tell my self I’m at SFC [Boxing Gym] and its just another hard day at the office. I have 12 minutes to go until history and glory.?
? Round 12 Boxing in Sacramento will hold a show titled ?Knuckles and Noise? Saturday at 1 p.m. For more information, call Tim Brooks at (916) 910-5698 or e-mail [email protected].
? USA Boxing’s Region 11 crowned its Junior Olympic champions in Arvin last Saturday as Northern California’s best young amateurs met their Central California counterparts. The Senior Open winners will now advance to the National Junior Olympics in Mobile, Alabama, on June 18-22. Here are your winners:
BOYS
90 POUNDS: Steven Sepulveda (Dreamland B.C., San Jose) won by walkover 101 POUNDS: Conrad Rendon (Aleman B.C., Fresno) def. Izaiah Bautista (SFC Boxing, San Francisco) 106 POUNDS: Pedro Moreno (Caballero B.C., Sacramento) def. Efrain Vazquez (Refuse to Lose, Bakersfield) 114 POUNDS: Ruben Villa (Backyard B.C., Salinas) def. Alex Garibay (CYC, Concord) by walkover 119 POUNDS: Efren Lopez (Main Event B.C., Fresno) def. Luis Gutierrez (San Jose PAL, San Jose) by walkover 125 POUNDS: Matthew Guerrero (Felipe?s B.C., Lathrop) def. Gabriel Azua (Unattached, Galt) 132 POUNDS: Rosino Legan (Unattached, Gilroy) won by walkover 138 POUNDS: Jose Gomez (CYC, Concord) def. Oscar Medrano (Northside B.C., Visalia) 145 POUNDS: Joseph Murietta (Velarde’s T.C., Fresno) def. Michael Donato (Vacaville PAL, Vacaville) 165 POUNDS: Gilbert Alvarez (King’s Gym, Oakland) won by walkover 176 POUNDS: David Gaitan (Round 12 B.C., Sacramento) won by walkover 189 POUNDS: Tiofilo Bueno (Tulare A.C., Tulare) won by walkover
GIRLS
106 POUNDS: Marisol Lopez (King?s B.C., Avenal) won by walkover 114 POUNDS: Neesha Khan (Golden Gate B.C., San Francisco) won by walkover 119 POUNDS: Joselina Ortega (Velarde?s T.C., Fresno) won by walkover 125 POUNDS: Evelyn Borja (Velarde’s T.C., Fresno) won by walkover 132 POUNDS: Nancy Gutierrez (Caballero B.C., Sacramento) def. Selena Acosta (Velarde?s T.C., Fresno)
For more up-to-date news and fight schedules involving the Northern and Central California boxing scene, check out my blog at Norcalboxing.net.
