TalkingBoxing News
Lazcano Injured, Ndou Ready
FRI March 17 - With the news that Juan Lazcano has broken a finger and is unavailable to fight Ricky Hatton on May 13 on HBO in the USA, the “Black Panther” Lovemore Ndou has his hand up and is ready to take the fight.
“I think there is a greater power working to make this fight,” said Ndou. “Ricky Hatton vs. Lovemore Ndou must happen. HBO and the fans will not be disappointed when this fight goes down. Ricky and I are the two fittest fighters in the super lightweight division. We are punching non-stop round after round. This will be a guaranteed contender for ‘fight of the year’ when I give Ricky a whipping.”
The Team Fenech boxer who is a promotional free agent, is trained by three-time world champion & International Boxing Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech, with a record of 41 wins, 8 losses, 1 draw and 27 wins by knockout. The South African born Sydney, Australia resident Ndou is currently rated WBC No.3, IBF No.5 and No.9 by Ring magazine at super lightweight.
“I gave Miguel Cotto and Sharmba Mitchell hell in fights at short notice,” said Ndou. “With time to prepare, I will defeat Ricky Hatton on May 13. Anyone who has seen me fight knows it will be a war. Send me the fight contract for Hatton and I will sign on the dotted line.”
34 year-old Ndou says he wouldn’t want to be any boxer taking the fight with Hatton on May 13 ahead of him.
“Mysterious things happen in boxing,” he explained. “Lazcano has got a broken finger. The next guy may get a broken leg. Strange forces are at work here. Ricky Hatton vs. Lovemore Ndou must be made!”
Pito Cardona Comeback!
FRI March 17-
Former USBA & NABF lightweight champion
Israel "Pito" Cardona (34-6, 26 KOs) begins his long awaited comeback Friday
night
(March 17) in a six-round match against veteran Bobby McAndrews at
Worcester
(MA).
Cardona retired nearly four years ago at the age of 27 due to
managerial
problems, but his love of the sport as well as his burning desire to
capture
a major world title have led to Friday evening's return to the ring. "I
was
so frustrated with the sport I got out," Cardona explained. "Eight
months
ago I weighed 190 pounds. I work the third shift as a lieutenant for a
security company and eating late, well, it was easy putting on weight.
I
started working out to lose weight, trained with fighters like Ray
Oliveira
for his last fight and Matt Remillard, and decided I was going to give
my
boxing career one last chance."
Cordova turned pro in 1993 and he won his first 24 fights, 18 by
knockout,
including a 12-round unanimous decision in 1995 against Jeff Mayweather
(30-7-4) for the IBO super featherweight belt. After losing a 10-round
split
decision - only his second loss as a pro - to former IBF welterweight
champion Charles "The Natural" Murray (39-4), Cardona followed with a
stunning third-round knockout of "Mighty" Ivan Robinson (23-1) for the
USBA
lightweight title. Robinson had lost the IBF welterweight belt to
Philip
Holiday one fight prior to his bout against Pito and three fights
later,
Robinson beat Arturo "Thunder" Gatti for the first of two times in
their
1998 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.
"Pito" went on to win six in a row, including four successful USBA title defenses against Sam Girard (17-3-1), Richard Kiley (11-1-3), Golden Johnson (15-1-2), Which was also fought for the NABF belt, and Joel Perez (24-2-2).
In his only major world title fight, Cardona lost a 12-round decision to undefeated Paul "The Pittsburgh Kid" Spadafora (26-0) for the vacant IBF lightweight Championship. "Pito" retired after his 2002 loss by 10-round split decision to Miguel Figueroa (19-3-1). "I'm taking things fight by fight," Cardona said, "but, realistically, I'm going to have a few fights to get my feet wet. I'm stronger than ever and I'm going to make 147 easy. I plan on fighting at 140. Ultimately, I want to get the world title that I didn't win. This is a dangerous sport and I'm in it again to be a world champion. I should have been world champion a long time ago. This is my last chance and I'm going for it.
"I was tired of the sport, the politics of boxing, and I was screwed a
few
times. But boxing's in my blood and now I have a great team in my
corner. I
met my new manager, Bret Hallenbeck, and now everything is in the right
place at the right time. I'm being co-trained by Scully and Alex
Feleciano,
who has been with me since the beginning, and Gary Italia is my
nutritionist. I've been out almost four years and I'm still only 31.
This is
my last chance."
Halmich and Erdei Headline
FRI March 17- Only thirteen weeks after the exciting duel between Jürgen Brähmer and Andre Thysse on February 4 other young fighters off the Universum stable will return with the intention to electrify the spectators at Burg-Wächter Castello again.
German boxing queen Regina Halmich, WIBF flyweight champion, and "Firebird" Zsolt Erdei, WBO light heavyweight champion, are looking forword to entertain and excite the knowledgable croud in Düsseldorf with successful world title defenses in the main events.
„I’m a world champion for more than ten years now but I’m still eager to face strong opposition and fight exciting contests“, Halmich said. “It’s great to come to Düsseldorf because I know the fans think highly of boxing over here and they are also very critical. I’m sure the Universum management will get me a world class challenger.”
WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei will step into the ring after a six month layoff. Following his dramatic fight against Frenchman Mehdi Sahnoune on October 22 a long break was very necessary for the idol of millions of people in Hungary. Erdei fought Sahnoune with a broken rip and knocked his restless challenger out in a desperate 12th round.
„I like Düsseldorf as I know this city from my amateur times. The croud loves heated fights and I will give them what they like most“, Erdei said, the champion who is continuing the reign of retired Dariusz Michalczewski with the WBO title held for ten years by the “Tiger”.
Erdei’s trademark is his unusual walk to the ring to the rhythm of a Hungarian children song with the translated title: “Fly little bird”. Who would not be shy to select this kind of a song other than a truely self-confident world champion who beat the toughest fighters of his weighclass punch by punch?
On the undercard among others: Erdei’s friend and Hungarian countryman Karoly Balzsay (super middle), Michel Trabant (welter), Dieter Roth (heavy), Goran Gogic (heavy) and Aleksander Alekseev (heavy).
Stevie Johnston Returns
FRI March 17- Former two-time World Boxing Council lightweight champion Stevie “Lil’ But Bad” Johnston (38-3-1, 17 KOs) fights Dominican knockout artist Luis Ernesto Jose (24-4-2, 22 KOs) on March 31 in the 10-round main event at the Ybor City Multi Fight Complex in Tampa, Florida.
In the 12-round co-feature on the show co-promoted by Silverhawk Boxing and Ringsports Boxing Promotions, Sherman “The Caribbean Tank” Williams (27-10-2, 15 KOs) battles Adenilson “Maguilinha” Rodrigues (18-3, 14 KOs) for the vacant NBA Intercontinental heavyweight title.
The crafty Johnston, rated No. 8 by the WBC, is the reigning IBO and NABC light welterweight champion. The 33-year-old boxer captured the WBC lightweight championship twice between 1997 and 2000, and he had seven successful title defenses. In 2000, Stevie lost the WBC belt to Jose Luis Castillo and three months later they fought to a draw in which Johnston originally was declared the winner by majority decision, but a scoring error was revealed resulting in a controversial draw.
“I’m keeping busy and staying in top shape,” Johnston said from his Vero Beach training camp. “I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do. I’ve fought all over the world, but this will be my first time fighting in Tampa. I live in Vero Beach now and Tampa is about an hour drive away, so it’ll be like fighting in my new hometown.
“I don’t know too much about my opponent right now, but I don’t take anybody lightly. It doesn’t matter than he’s a southpaw. I just train for who they put in against me. This is the most important fight for me because I’m a little older and to get back to where I was, on top, I have to keep winning every fight.”
Denver-native Johnston has won three straight since famed Buddy McGirt started training him, including his 12-round decision (118-109, 116-111, 116-111) January 27 against Steve Quinonez, and seven of his last eight fights. Prior to hooking-up with McGirt, Johnston was inactive for more than two years due to life-threatening injuries suffered in a 2003 car accident.
Stevie’s list of victims during the course of his 12-year professional career includes Sharmba Mitchell, Jean Baptiste Mendy, Saul Duran, Cesar Bazan, James Page and Angel Manfredy.
Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first bout at 7:30 PM. Tickets, priced at $75.00 (VIP), $40.00 (reserved) and $25.00 (general admission) are available through TicketMaster. For more information call 813.223.7788.
Johnston and Williams are promoted by Silverhawk Boxing, managed by Rider Boxing, and trained by McGirt. For more information about Johnston, Williams or Silverhawk Boxing go to www.silverhawkboxing.com.
Star Boxing Signs Benitez
FRI March 17- Star Boxing is pleased to announce that unbeaten Jr. featherweight Roberto Benitez - one of the most highly decorated amateur boxers in United States history and a 2004 Olympic team member - is joining the New York based promotional company’s roster of world-class fighters.
“Roberto Benitez is a young man with talent and charisma, and he’s got ‘star’ written all over him,” said Star Boxing’s Joe DeGuardia. “I’m proud to have him on the team here, and what’s even better is that this is a New York fighter with a strong local following, so we’ll be able to bring him to his hometown fans on a regular basis.” Benitez (3-0, 2 KOs) is expected to be back in action this spring.
One of only four amateur boxers in history to win five US Championship titles, the 25-year-old Benitez utilized slick boxing skills and an exciting style to earn a spot as a 2000 Olympic alternate and as the US’ bantamweight representative for the 2004 Olympics (only a loss in a pre-Olympic qualifier kept him from the Athens Games). As a pro, he has continued his success, winning all three of his bouts, two by knockout. In his last bout, on November 19, 2005, Benitez stopped Nick Shaheen in less than a round. His next fight will be April 7 on Star Boxing's ESPN2 show in Tampa at Florida State Fairgrounds in a 6 rounder - special attraction on Nate Campbell-Issac Hlatswayo title eliminator card. This will be Star Boxing second of back to back ESPN shows, the first one being March 31 from Mohegan Sun, Griffin-Jones USBA Title Fight.
Outside the ring, Benitez - who owns an associate degree in business from Northern Michigan University - enjoys writing poetry and is also interested in crossing over into acting.
Forum
