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PHARR, TX – Two highly anticipated comebacks are set to begin Saturday night, May 19, at the Pharr (Texas) Convention Center, when Jerry Belmontes and Odlanier Solis return to the ring in separate spotlight bouts on a full card promoted by Main Events, Cavazos Boxing Promotions and Arena Promotions.

Lightweight Jerry Belmontes, 15-0, 5 KOs, returns after nearly one year out of the ring. The Corpus Christi native had a vast amateur career that included national titles in 2003 and 2007. He also made it to the semi-finals of the USA Olympic Trials in 2008. As a professional, Belmontes has beaten everyone put in his path, including his most recent opponent Justo Vallecillo, whom he defeated by unanimous decision in his last start on June 24, 2011. After the layoff, Belmontes is anxious to get back in action.

“What I’m looking for is getting my name out there as one of the top prospects,” Belmontes said. “I want to get as many fights as I can this year.”

The first of those fights comes Saturday night against Dominican Ramesis Gil, 7-3-5, 5 KOs, in the main event to be televised by TeleFutura on their Solo Boxeo Tecate series. Rising prospects like Belmontes are familiar territory for Gil, who has faced undefeated boxers in his last five starts. Gil upset Luis Joel Gonzalez in his last bout, and will be looking to do the same against Belmontes in their 8-round match.

Heavyweight Odlanier Solis, 17-1, 12 KOs, also looks forward to getting back to business on Saturday. The six-time national Cuban amateur champion and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist last fought fourteen months ago, in a challenge of WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, on March 19, 2011. That frustrating affair ended abruptly in the first round when a sudden knee injury forced Solis out of the fight almost before it began. Up to that point, “La Sombra” was boxing comfortably and staying on his game plan against the champ. However, the end came at 2:59 of the first round.

After some time off and a lengthy rehab, Solis is ready to fight again. He’ll face Konstantin Airich, 23-5-2, 17 KOs, in a 12-round fight for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title. Airich, a former European and Intercontinental champion, is riding a six-bout winning streak that includes knockouts in his last three. Solis will have advantages in age, height and weight – not to mention his world class amateur pedigree – but Airich has stayed busy and has never looked better than in his most recent outings. This title fight will be broadcast internationally, and highlights of the fight will be shown on TeleFutura’s Solo Boxeo Tecate.

Although the focus will be on these two major comeback stories, the remainder of the card is a Texas-heavy lineup that should thrill the Pharr fans, as well as TeleFutura viewers.

Super featherweight Oscar Tovar of Alton, TX takes on Gilberto Cancino of Brownsville, TX in the televised 4-round opener. Mission, Texan Raul Tovar faces Juan Ovalle of Mercedes, TX, in a 4-round welterweight bout.

In the non-televised portion of the show, lightweight Angel Hernandez, McAllen, TX, fights Ramiro Torres, San Antonio, in a 4-rounder, and Felix Piedra of Mercedes, TX, and Juan Ruiz, of San Juan, TX clash in a 6-round light heavyweight bout.

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TRAD TKO Boxing Gym

ERICK ‘THE EAGLE’ OCHIENG

English Light Middleweight Champion

By Rio

London – Monday 14th May 2012

Back in January Stoke Newington’s Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng won the English Light Middleweight title in emphatic style, on just his tenth professional outing, in a sensational all action battle against Liverpool’s Nick Quigley, that many have as an early contender for 2012 ‘Fight of the Year’ honours

In just under two weeks time 25 year old Erick will make the first defense of  this recently acquired  title, against Newark’s AA Lowe, on the undercard of the biggest, most meaningful UK event of the year so far, when Carl Froch challenges Lucian Bute  for the IBF Super Middleweight Crown, at the Nottingham Arena.

Following a recent training session, at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, an ebullient Erick was not only brimming with confidence, of victory on the 26th May, but was also keen to emphasise his Championship credentials.

“Yeah, I’ll be out again on the 26th May defending my English title against AA Lowe.

He’s a good boxer, he’s been around, so we’re looking to perform good, look good and retain my title in style.”

“Training has been excellent as ever, my manager/coach Brian Lawrence wouldn’t have it any other way and again I’ve had the best sparring you can get.

The quality of sparring here at the TRAD TKO makes all the difference, I did some eight rounders with Colin Lynes the other week and have had plenty of other quality sparring, these sparring sessions are great preparation.”

“I mean Colin Lynes is a former British, European and World Champion, you can’t get better than that, you’re always learning from those guys.

As you can see we’re not leaving any stone unturned in the gym, I’m in good shape so I’m looking to put a good performance on the 26th May.”

“I never look past people or my next fight, but have to say this is just the start, I’ve always said I am already a World Champion, just people don’t know it yet, they will soon but right now they know I’m the English Champion.

I will defend my title successfully on the 26th May and then by the end of the year my focus will be on the British or Commonwealth title.”

Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng’s English Light Middleweight title defense, against AA Lowe, will be main support at the Matchroom Sport promoted event headlined by the IBF Super Middleweight World Championship bout between Montreal, Canada based Romanian Lucian Bute and Nottingham’s Carl Froch, which  co-features Carl Frampton versus Raul Hirales, for the IBF Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title, at the Nottingham Arena in Nottingham on Saturday 26th May 2012 and will be shown live and exclusive on Sky Sports.

Tickets, priced £40, or  £50 including coach from London to Nottingham and return, are available on line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or direct from Erick at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA

PHOTOS

Erick Ochieng ready for first defense of his English title

PHOTO CREDIT

Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

JustListen2This Publicity & Promotion

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In another busy weekend for the World Boxing Federation, Women’s World Bantamweight Champion Renata Szebeledi retained her title and Attila Baran captured the vacant Intercontinental Super Middleweight crown in Hungary Saturday night, while Klara Svensson took home the female ditto at Light Welter on a show in Germany the day before.

Szebeledi, who won the WBF World title by going to Germany to defeat hometown favorite Pia Mazelanik in Lemgo last July, took on former foe Eva Marcu of Romania in Budapest, and once again the two women, both only twenty years old, gave each other a good scrap before the champion pulled home the victory.

The end came at 0:30 into round number eight when Szebeledi, at this point clearly on top of things, caught Marcu with some stinging blows, forcing the referee to intervene as the game Marcu seemed unable to defend herself. Having won ten of her last eleven bouts, Szebeledi improved her professional record to 16-9 (9), and Marcu fell to 7-4 (2).

On the same card, promoted by Feja Promotion, youngster Attila Baran (19) made short work of fellow countryman Janos Olah in their fight for the Intercontinental Super Middleweight strap. After a one-sided first round where Baran dominated his foe, the end came mercifully in the second of the scheduled twelve.

Baran put on an impressive performance, knocking down Olaf two times before referee Janos Baranyi had seen enough and waved off the onslaught at 2:55. In time, Baran, who is now 10-2 (5), could be an interesting name to follow, while the best days of 30-year-old Olah, 10-9-1 (3), are probably in his past.

On the previous night in Goeppingen, Germany, talented Swede Klara Svensson won her first professional title when she thoroughly dominated game but outclassed Hungarian Zsofia Bedo on a card put on by EC Boxpromotion for the vacant Women’s Intercontinental Light Welterweight title.

Svensson, now 5-0 (1) and managed by former European Champion Oktay Urkal, chased Bedo, 5-25-1 (1), for most of the ten rounder, and only guts and a big heart saved the Hungarian girl from going down or even being stopped. It was a flawless performance by the Malmo-boxer, who, if anything, lacks a bit of power in her punches.   In the end German judges Arno Pokrandt, Frank Michael Mass and Holger Wiemann all scored it the same: 100-90. Klara Svensson is undoubtedly one of the female stars of the future.

www.worldboxingfederation.net

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By Michael J. Jones

Scheduled for his third bout since losing his British title to Lee Selby, Stephen Smith is a man on a mission. The 14-1 (8) former amateur star has had plenty of drama crammed into his short career.

The 26-year-old, nicknamed “Swifty”, was considered one of the best young fighters in the sport when he dethroned teak-tough Scot John Simpson in only his eleventh pro fight. In lifting the Commonwealth featherweight title, Smith boxed with a maturity that belied his modest ring experience.

Unfortunately for the scouse slickster, a damaged hand kept him out of the ring for seven long months before he came back to edge dangerous Simpson in a bravely taken rematch.

Alas, as good as Stephen looked winning that gruelling contest, his progress was brought to a shuddering halt by Welshman Lee Selby just five months later. The bout was in the balance when a big left from Selby brought a sudden, dramatic end to the bout.

Since that bout though Stephen, trained by Joe Gallagher, has looked better than ever scoring two first round knockouts in his two subsequent comeback fights.

Stephen is scheduled to box a TBA opponent at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom on the 1st June, 2012.

Part of the famed Smith fighting brothers, I caught up with Stephen as he was putting the final touches to his fight preparation -

MJ) So Stephen, you obviously come from a boxing family, when did you first start boxing and who first taught you the basics?

SS)  I first started boxing aged nine and Jimmy Albertina taught me everything at the Rotunda ABC.

MJ) You were a brilliant amateur, a two-time ABA champion and 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist among your many other achievements over 150 or so bouts. Which tournament was your own personal favourite to compete in and why ?

SS) My favourite tournament was definitely the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. They really love their sport in Australia so we were all treated like kings there. They were really lovely people and it was a great place. Happy memories.

MJ) You turned pro in June 2008 with high expectations of you. You built a ten-fight unbeaten record before challenging tough Scot John Simpson for the Commonwealth title. For a first serious test they don’t come much tougher than Simpson but you pulled it off via split decision. It was especially impressive considering you damaged your left hand in the fourth round?

SS) Yes, I indicated to Frank Warren that I didn’t want to spend too much time fighting journeymen. I was a level above them and wanted to be tested at title level quickly, which I was. John Simpson is a great lad and a great fighter. It was definitely a very impressive result under the circumstances

MJ) Your hand injury kept you out of the ring for seven months; how frustrating was that period not being able to get back to action straight after your biggest win to date?

SS) Very frustrating. I was now a champion so I wanted to defend my title but couldn’t. I always prefer to fight regularly so it was even more frustrating for me personally.

MJ) Your first fight back was a rematch in Liverpool to Simpson who had defeated Martin Lindsey for the British belt in your absence. You seemed to hurt Simpson badly in the first but the rest of the contest was closely contested; you edged it on a majority decision. How sure were you at the final bell you had done enough ?

SS) To be honest, I thought I beat him better the second time round than the first, so I was very confident I had won. I probably should have got rid of him early after landing a great shot but rushed things and to be fair, all credit to him how he came back at me. He is as tough as they come.

MJ) In your next bout you lost your unbeaten record to Welshman Lee Selby. Most people say you just had your tactics wrong for that bout; would you agree with that statement and did you maybe underestimate Selby before the bout ?

SS) Not really, I was just flat. I was tired after a couple of rounds and had no legs so could only do what I did really; try to walk forward and grind out a result. Lee beat what was in front of him on the night and, fair play to him, but he knows as much as me that he didn’t see the real me and he certainly hasn’t seen the last of me either. I’m sure that fight will happen again down the line and I’ll put it right !

MJ) How much do you want a rematch; will it happen and how would you box him a second time? Also, would you be happy to return to the featherweight division again for the rematch ?

SS) As I said before, I definitely want the rematch, I will return to featherweight anyway and I do believe it will happen. I will have tactic’s prepared for the fight and believe I have more than enough to beat Lee Selby.

MJ) Lee went on to stop Simpson, the only man ever to do so, did you watch that fight and did you think it was a good performance or a case of the wars catching up with the Scot ?

SS) Yes I watched the fight and didn’t see anything to change my opinion of either. It was close, Simpson edging it if anything, then a body shot landed. It can happen to anyone, that’s boxing.

MJ) Since your only reverse you’ve won two bouts by first-round stoppage; do you feel you’re hitting harder than ever ?

SS) I have confidence in my punch power and believe, yes, I’m hitting harder now than I ever have.

MJ) Can you talk for a moment about the relationship you have with your brothers; you all seem very close. How does having brothers who also box help your own career ?

SS) I love all my brothers very much, we are a really close family. They are my best mates as well as brothers. I’m very lucky as they have all been through what I go through in the build up to fights, so are always there to talk to etc.

MJ) I noticed you have ‘Autism’ written on your shorts; do you support a charity that deals with Autism?

SS) Yes, we all back Autism and wear it on the shorts to raise awareness really. We have an Autistic little sister, Hollie, she’s amazing.

MJ) Boxing is a full-time, demanding job; what do you do to relax between training Stephen?

SS) To chill out between training I play a lot of snooker with my brothers and my dad.

MJ) Ideally, how would you like the remainder of the year to go in your boxing career ?

SS) For the rest of the year I’m hoping to get my British title back and move onto European level.

MJ) I know you have a lot of fans here in the WWBPL, what message would you like to give the ones who will be reading?

SS) A message to the WWBPL fans, thanks very much for all the support and I will keep giving it 100% to reach the top !

MJ) Many thanks for your time Stephen.

SS) Thank you mate

Michael J. Jones wrtes for The Worldwide Weekly Boxing Predictions League

Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith with Andrew of WWPBL

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Boxing News and Notes for: 07-05-2012 – Pacquiao vs. Bradley, Jackie Nava, The Frank Warren show, Anne Sophie Mathis and Holly “The Preachers Daughter” Holm, Junior Middleweight Gabriel Rosado, Alexander Dimitrenko’s Promise, Carlos “El Indio” Quintana

·         The Pacquiao vs. Bradley World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, June 9, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. And The three-bout pay-per-view undercard will feature undefeated No. 1 welterweight contender MIKE “MJ” JONES battling two-time world champion and current No. 2 contender RANDALL “The Knockout King” BAILEY for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title; undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion GUILLERMO “El Chacal” RIGONDEAUX defending his title against world-rated TEON “The Technician” KENNEDY; and five-division world champion and Méxican icon JORGE “Travieso” ARCE, in his first fight in a Las Vegas ring in over one year, taking on Puerto Rican knockout artist JESUS ROJAS in a 10-round junior featherweight fight. These six warriors boast a combined record of 171-15-5 (128 KOs) – a winning percentage of 90% and a victory by knockout ratio of 75%. The event will be produced and distributed Live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT,

·         Jackie Nava – The queen of Tijuana and quite arguably of female boxing, WBA super bantamweight champion Jackie Nava (27-4-3, 11KOs) put on an impressive performance as she defended her newly captured title versus San Pelayo, Colombia’s Diana “La Leona” Ayala (12-7-3, 7KOs) with a unanimous decision over ten championship rounds. The contest was the main event of “La Batalla En Tijuana (The Battle in Tijuana)”, a marathon fight card held at the Tijuana Municipal Auditorium. Nava, known as the “Aztec Princess”, defeated Panama’s Chantall Martinez earlier this year to strap the WBA belt around her waist.

·         The Frank Warren show at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday 11th May, headlined by Stephen Smith’s WBO Intercontinental Super-Featherweight title defence against Francisco Urena, has been cancelled after Urena pulled out injured. Liverpool stars Joe Selkirk, Rocky Fielding and Paul Butler, who were featuring on the undercard, will now go on the debut Queensberry Promotions BoxAcademy show which will take place on Friday 18th May at the Oldham Leisure Centre.  Ronnie Heffron had to withdraw from his clash with Liam Smith on the Oldham card due to a hand injury, so unbeaten light-middleweight star Selkirk will now joint-headline alongside super-middleweight ace Rocky Fielding, in separate ten-round contests. – Unbeaten Liverpool light-middleweight talent Smith will go on the Newport Sports Centre card on Friday 25th May which is headlined by Lee Selby’s Commonwealth Featherweight title defence against Patrick Okine.

·         Anne Sophie Mathis and Holly “The Preachers Daughter” Holm – Veteran boxing promoter Lenny Fresquez has predicted that “The Reckoning,” featuring a June 15 rematch between French knockout-artist Anne Sophie Mathis and Holly “The Preachers Daughter” Holm, will be the 2012 Female Fight of the Year. “The Reckoning,” presented by Fresquez Productions, will be held at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico..
“I think it’ll be closely fought and the Fight of the Year,” Fresquez said. “Hands down, they are the top two women fighters in the world. This will be the most important fight of Holly’s career, in which she’ll try to regain her pound-for-pound status.” Mathis will defend her IBA and WBAN welterweight title belts, as well as the mythical pound-for-pound crown, for the first time since capturing the coveted straps last December by way of a stunning seventh-round knockout of hometown darling Holm.

·         Number 7 ranked Junior Middleweight Gabriel Rosado of Philadelphia will take on Number 9 contender Sechew Powell of Brooklyn, NY (26-4, 15 KO’s) on Friday, June 1st in the main event on NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night boxing series, live from the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, PA. The 12 round fight will be for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Title. The NBC Sports Network telecast beings at 9PM ET.

·         Alexander Dimitrenko’s Promise – By Ruslan Chikov – Former European heavyweight champion Alexander Dimitrenko (32-2, 21KOs) is promising to return even stronger after suffering an eleventh round knockout loss on Saturday night, when he faced Kubrat Pulev (16-0) for the vacant European heavyweight championship (EBU). Dimitrenko, 29-years-old, started well and slowly he was fading and eventually stopped. It was the first stoppahe loss in Dimitrenko’s career. ”Dear fans, friends and fans of boxing. I heartily thank you for your support and your good wishes. It was a very difficult battle and Pulev was better. What does not kill you will only make you stronger. Life goes on and I’ll be back,” Dimitrenko stated.(BoxingScene)

·         Carlos “El Indio” Quintana (29-3, 23KOs) was very excited following Saturday night’s sixth round knockout victory over Deandre Latimore on the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto televised pay-per-view undercard.  The former welterweight champion resurrected his career with the upset win. ”We worked hard to get ready for this fight. We were out 15 months. We were happy to get in there and get the win. We are ready for whoever they put in front of us but we would really like Canelo next.”  The Puerto Rican fighter congratulated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for his dominating victory over Shane Mosley. “Canelo fought a good fight. He is a real fighter. A lot of people call him fake (champion) but I don’t think so. He is a real champion and I would love to fight him,” said Quintana.

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