Daxx Khan
One-on-One with M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein
SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (August 16, 2017) – M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelchtein recently sat down with mixfight.ru to discuss the recent M-1 Challenge 82 in Finland, M-1 Challenge 83 in next month in Kazan, Russia, and what fight he considers to be the most anticipated this autumn.
Williams: “I will die before I lose my title!”
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Aug. 16th, 2017) — Since setting his sights on becoming a world champion boxer nearly three and a half years ago, Jimmy Williams has never had to look far for motivation.
As a college student in 2008, Williams learned of the tragic passing of his mother, Belinda, found strangled to death behind an abandoned building. The case remains unsolved to this day, but Williams, the reigning, undefeated World Boxing Council U.S. Boxing Council Welterweight Champion out of New Haven, Conn., continues to fight in her memory, hoping one day to find the closure he’s sought for nearly a decade.
Williams’ mother would’ve been proud; the 30-year-old welterweight, a full-time truancy officer in West Haven whose wife is expecting twins in October, boasts a 13-0-1 record as he prepares to defend his title for the first time Saturday, Aug. 26th, 2017 at Foxwoods Resort Casino against Bronx, N.Y., vet Issouf Kinda (18-4, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event, presented by Williams’ long-time promoter, CES Boxing.
One week from Saturday, he’ll have a second angel on his shoulder when he climbs through the ropes. Williams is dedicating this upcoming fight to the memory of the late Ben Callahan, a 10-year-old boy from nearby Branford who drowned in a drainage pipe one month ago while swimming with his two brothers in the Brandford River.
Williams is close with the family; the father, Dave Callahan, is a personal trainer at Shoreline Athletics CrossFit in Branford, where Williams works on his strength and conditioning. Through the years, Williams formed a strong bond with Ben. They often worked out together when Williams was in town.
“Great kid,” Williams said. “You see the faith of his family. I’m ready to go out here and be a warrior for myself and show that I’ll fight for anybody that’s lost somebody.”
As Williams prepares for the inevitable challenges of fatherhood, it’s impossible to not feel empathy for a family that suffered such a tragic loss. Confident as ever, Williams knows he’s in for the challenge of a lifetime against the 22-fight vet Kinda, but promises to retain his title, even as his challenger threatens to “bring the belt back to the Bronx.”
“I’ll die in that ring before I give up the title,” Williams said. “I train real hard. I know I’m a champion and I know everybody wants to take what’s mine and what I’ve worked hard for.
“I know where I came from. Nobody’s going to take this. I’m going to show on the 26th why I’m undefeated and why I’ve got the belt.”
The Aug. 26th extravaganza is a rare double-feature; the live boxing event, which features eight bouts, begins at 6 p.m. ET at The Premier Ballroom, and all fans who purchase a ticket receive free entry next door at the Grand Theater for the live Pay Per View showing of the Floyd Mayweather–Conor McGregor fight in Nevada later that night.
“This is the only place in the world you can see both live boxing and the most talked-about fight in years in one place for just one price,” CES Boxing president Jimmy Burchfield Sr. said.
As an added bonus, the entire eight-fight card at The Premier Ballroom, presented by CES Boxing, will stream live on Facebook, free of charge, as part of the FIGHTNIGHT LIVE Facebook Series.
Williams’ title defense against the dangerous Kinda comes four months after the New Haven welterweight captured the WBC USNBC title with a resounding win over Nick DeLomba in Rhode Island. Williams has won nine consecutive bouts since his lone blemish, a draw against New Jersey’s Greg Jackson in 2013.
Kinda, a former North American Boxing Organization (NABO) lightweight and WBC Continental Americas super lightweight title contender, handed New England prospect Zach Ramsey his first career loss in May of 2016 and has tangled with the best in the light welterweight division, among them unbeaten Jose Carlos Ramirez, Ismael Barroso and Mike Arnaoutis, whom be defeated by unanimous decision in 2012.
USNBC title-holders have enjoyed great success in their careers. Nine current or former title-holders have gone on to win world titles and 28 others have fought for a major world championship. Since capturing the title in April, Williams has risen to No. 12 among welterweights in the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) rankings.
“He’s a warrior, just like myself,” Williams said of Kinda. “He didn’t come to lose. He came to take whatever’s mine. He knows if he beats me, it puts him back on a roll. He’ll be in grea shape. I’m just ready to go ahead and make the right adjustments and go out and win this fight, somehow, some way.
“It won’t be a walk in the park, but at this level where I’m at now, no fight will be a walk in the park.”
Also on Aug. 26th, both Sicilian heavyweight Juiseppe Angelo Cusumano (11-1, 9 KOs), a.k.a. “Rocky,” and standout Worcester lightweight Jamaine Ortiz (4-0, 3 KOs), who competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Reno in 2015, make their Foxwoods’ debuts in separate bouts.
The Foxwoods undercard also includes a six-round junior welterweight showdown between unbeatens Cristobal Marrero (4-0, 3 KOs) of New London, Conn., and Springfield, Mass., native Miguel Ortiz (2-0, 1 KO), plus a cruiserweight showdown between Richard Rivera (2-0, 2 KOs) of Hartford, Conn., and eight-time Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) vet Leandro Silva of Sao Paolo, Brazil, an intriguing, four-round crossover bout following in the footsteps of Mayweather-McGregor.
Aug. 26th also features a four-round middleweight bout between Hartford’s Jose Rivera (3-1, 3 KOs) and North Carolina vet Corwin Farmer (1-1), plus the professional debut of super middleweight Jarel Pemberton of Boston, the son of former world-title challenger “Sandman” Scott Pemberton, in a four-round bout against Nathan Schulte (0-2) of Woburn, Mass. Hartford welterweight Jeff Gonzalez, a two-time Western New England Golden Gloves champion, will make his professional debut in a separate four-round bout.
BOXING CHAMPION BOYD MELSON LAUNCHED CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS IN NEW YORK’S 11TH DISTRICT
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STATEN ISLAND-Today, Boyd Melson, former WBC USNBC champion, 2008 Olympic alternate, and Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, publicly launched his campaign for Congress against Republican Dan Donovan. The campaign released a video to mark the announcement which highlights Melson’s dedication to helping others through his service to our country, his passion and commitment to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries, and the personal struggle and vow he made to help those struggling with drug addiction. Melson’s deep passion for helping others motivated his stalwart advocacy and support for spinal cord research. He donated all of his professional boxing winnings and worked to raise a combined total of nearly $400,000 to fund research to cure spinal cord injuries. Melson has continued to support the non- profit he co-founded “TEAM FIGHT TO WALK” and has also taken on a new challenge-raising awareness about opiate and opioid addiction. He has donated earnings from fights to a non-profit which aims to defeat drug addictions among young adults and he conducts a weekly free boxing clinic on Staten Island for any resident in the borough who is battling a drug addiction. “I’ve spent my entire life fighting-for people I love, for causes I believe in, and for this country,” said Melson. “I want to represent those who live on Staten Island and in South Brooklyn because I can be their Champion and make sure their voices, needs, and concerns are heard throughout the halls of Congress.” Melson, who is mixed with Louisiana Creole and Jewish, is a native New Yorker who spent most of his childhood in South Brooklyn and Staten Island. After graduating from High School, he earned an appointment at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, following in the footsteps of his family to serve his country. While at West Point, Melson was quickly recognized as a skilled pugilist and racked up many achievements, including his winning of the National Collegiate Boxing Association National Championship. “The struggle that so many people here in New York, in this district, and all over the country are facing every day is tragic,” said Melson. I understand the challenges and barriers individuals with a drug addiction face and I want to do everything I can to help them. Ramping up law enforcement part of the solution, but by itself, is not the solution. We need to tackle this issue by helping people and giving them the resources they need to get healthy.” Melson filed paperwork to run for Congress in April. For four weeks spanning from May to June following Melson’s filing, he was away on Active Duty orders serving at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. His campaign raised more than $50,000 in the second quarter of the year. For more information on the campaign, please visit : www.boydmelson.com |
Canada amateur star Laviolette hopes to enhance his reputation against Sparrow Sept. 8 in Philly.
Philadelphia, PA—Junior lightweight boxer Joey Laviolette may have a big reputation in Canada, but he is a virtual unknown in the United States. The 29-year-old native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, hopes to change that when he takes on Avery Sparrow, of Philadelphia, PA, in the scheduled eight-round main event Friday evening, Sept. 8, at the 2300 Arena. The Sparrow-Laviolette contest tops a 10-bout card which begins at 7.30 pm.
Laviolette may be only 6-0, 4 K0s, as a pro, but he had a prolific amateur career in which he won 85 out of 111 bouts and four Canadian National Championships. He also was a member of the Canadian National Team from 2009 to 2011.
“My father used to train, although he never competed as a boxer, so he took me and my brother Matt to the gym when I was 10 years old and I just never left and that’s how I got started,” Laviolette said.
“When I was in high school I played recreational basketball and ice hockey but I never competed on a school team or in an official league.” As for going up against a talented fighter like Sparrow (7-1, 3 K0s), Laviolette does not appear to be intimidated or fearful.
“It’s a big opportunity to showcase my skills against a good fighter,” Laviolette said. “This will be my first professional fight outside of Canada, but going to somebody else’s hometown to fight never bothered me as an amateur and I don’t think it will bother me as a professional.
“I competed in the Francophone Games in Lebanon (for French-speaking countries) and the Panama Games in Mexico and in various tournaments in Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and the United States a couple of times and I won the Ringside Tournament there in 2009. “I feel I’m right where I need to be at 6-0 and this is a perfect point in my career to have a true test against Sparrow.”
A pro since 2012, Laviolette has boxed twice this year against a pair of Mexican featherweights. He out-pointed Juan Manuel Benitez over four rounds and stopped Emmanuel Villamar in six. Both fights were in New Brunswick, Canada. Away from the ring, Laviolette works as a carpenter during the day and he also is a musician, occasionally taking part in small acoustic performances in local pubs in Nova Scotia. He plays the guitar and refers to himself as an intermediate piano player. His favorite Canadian fighter is Arturo Gatti, but his all-time favorite is Sugar Ray Leonard.
Laviolette has been married to his wife, Lisa, since 2012, and they have a 4-year-old daughter, Breah.
“I know there is a lot of buzz in Philadelphia and the boxing community about this fight with Avery Sparrow, a true test for me,” Sparrow said. “I feel truly blessed to have the family I have and the ability to compete in a sport that has captivated me since my dad first took me to the Citadel Boxing Gym when I was 10. This next fight with Sparrow is everything I have been training for up to this point.”
Chicago Cruiserweight Junior Wright to Face Russia’s Ruslan Fayfer for IBF #2 Spot
“Junior Wright has shown throughout his career that he is one of the most dedicated fighters in the cruiserweight division,” said his promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “Fighting the best available contenders, Junior is once again showing his will and desire to be the best cruiserweight in the world. I expect a ‘Hurricane-like’ performance from him on Friday.”
Polish Champions Glowacki and Masternak join Ali Trophy as reserves
Former World Champion Krzysztof Glowacki (27-1, 17 KOs) and fellow Polish star Mateusz Masternak (39-4, 26 KOs) have signed-up to act as reserves in the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight quarter-finals.
Assuming they are not needed to act as reserves, the fighters will box on the undercards of the quarter-final they are assigned to.
Glowacki, who’s only defeat came at the hands of tournament favourite Aleksandr Usyk last year, is the reserve for the Mairis Briedis vs Mike Perez quarter-final and WBC World Title match-up at the Riga Arena, Latvia on September 30.
While former European Title holder Masternak has been named as reserve for the Murat Gassiev vs Krzysztof Wlodarczyk quarter-final and IBF World Title bout.
Ticket details for the World Boxing Super Series’ quarter-final between Briedis and Perez on September 30th at the Riga Arena in Latvia will be announced shortly.
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES FIXTURES
09/09/17 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final:
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Marco Huck (WBO World)
Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
16/09/17 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final:
Callum Smith vs. Erik Skoglund (WBC Diamond)
Echo Arena, Liverpool, United Kingdom
23/09/17 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final:
Yunier Dorticos vs. Dmitry Kudryashov (WBA World)
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USA
30/09/17 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final:
Mairis Briedis vs. Mike Perez (WBC World)
Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia
07/10/17 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final:
Chris Eubank Jr vs. Avni Yildirim (IBO World)
Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart, Germany
14/10/17 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final:
George Groves vs. Jamie Cox (WBA Super)
The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
TO BE CONFIRMED
Cruiserweight Quarter-Finals:
Murat Gassiev vs. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (IBF World)
Super Middleweight Quarter-Finals:
Juergen Braehmer vs. Rob Brant
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES AT A GLANCE
Number of participants: 16
Number of belts: 7
Number of world champions: 6
Number of former world champions: 3
Number of undefeated fighters: 9
Combined Record of participants: 423 wins, 17 losses, 294 KOs
Joe Smith Jr. Fights Nine Rounds With a Broken Jaw
Popular Long Island light heavyweight contender JOE SMITH JR. (23-2-0, 19 KO’S), gritted his way through Saturday’s ten round battle with SULLIVAN BARRERA (20-1-0, 14 KO’s), after suffering a broken jaw early in the 2nd round. Even with a broken jaw, Smith Jr. dug deep to fire away at the skilled Barrera until the final bell, in which he ultimately fell short by scores of 96-93 and 97-92 twice.
In a fight that had the cheering crowd on their feet throughout, Smith and Barrera went to war from the opening bell. Prior to breaking his jaw, Smith wasted no time showing his sheer power as he drilled Barrera with a hard left hook to the forehead in the opening round sending Barrera sprawling to the canvas. Barrera, hurt from the knockdown, showed his proven grit and determination by rising and finishing the round.
Although having his jaw broken in the second round, Smith continued to fight hard throughout the fight which featured excellent two-way action. Smith showed a great chin and tons of heart as he tried his best to fight through a debilitating injury. Smith landed some heavy blows stunning Barrera on occasion but Sullivan outworked him to grab the decision on the judges scorecards.
“Joe knocked down Barrera hard in the first round but in the second round he sustained a broken jaw,” said JOE DEGUARDIA, CEO and President of STAR BOXING. “It’s a similar injury to the one he suffered five years ago and frankly it’s amazing that he continued to valiantly fight over the next eight rounds and finish the fight.”
In his only other previous loss, Smith also suffered a broken jaw against Eddie Caminero five years ago.
Continued DeGuardia, “After spending part of Saturday night at the UCLA Medical Center, Joe will have surgery later this week in New York and we’ll know more then about a time frame for his full recovery. We congratulate Sullivan Barrera on his victory.”
We at Star Boxing are extremely proud of Joe for fighting this fight under such extreme conditions as are all his fans who came to the fight last night from Long Island and those who watched on HBO. Joe Smith is a true warrior and epitomizes what a real fighter is supposed to be.
Claressa Shields Named 2017 ‘Biggest Powerhouse’ in Sports by Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports Awards
The winners were chosen predominantly by children’s online voting.
Berchelt outclasses Miuara, Barrera “Educates” Smith Jr in Inglewood
Saturday night on HBO from the Forum in Inglewood California, Golden Boy Promotions, Zanfer Promotions, Teiken Promotions, Main Events and Star Boxing joined together to host a tremendous triple header featuring some of the sports most exciting fighters. In the main event, WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt made the first defense of his title against Takashi Miura, who lost that same title to Francisco Vargas the fighter Berchelt won it from this past January.
It was a “Matador versus Bull” type contest, as the very dangerous Miuara stalked Berchelt kept him off balance using combinations and foot work. There would be a flash knockdown in round one scored by Berchelt and brutal body punches landed by Miuara that had Berchelt gasping for air in later rounds. It was not the most exciting contest either fighter has participated in but both entered with a game plan and stuck with it. At the end it was Berchelt whose plan worked out for the better giving him a unanimous decision victory, official scores read 116-111, 119-108 and120-109 all in favor of Miguel Berchelt who retained his title and improved to 32-1 (28), Takashi Miura now stands at 31-4-2 (24).
The most exciting fight on the card, was between Jezreel Corrales and Robinson Castellanos for Corrales WBA Super World super featherweight title. It started with Corrales using his superior movement and boxing ability winning the first two rounds. An accidental head-butt in round two, invigorated Castellanos who applied pressure and started throwing body punches in high volume. A monumental round took place for Castellanos in the fourth, when he dropped Corrales not once but twice by punishing his body then following with combinations to the head.
Corrales goes down from a Castellanos uppercut.
They traded momentum in rounds five and six, Corrales scored a knockdown in the seventh after catching Castellanos with a punch he didn’t see, then went to win the eighth and ninth rounds. In round nine Castellanos turned the momentum back in his favor while Corrales posed more than punched.
Castellanos going down in round 7 from a Corrales left hand.
The tenth round would last only thirty seconds before a brutal head-butt, opened a cut under Castellanos eye and now with two cuts that had blood flowing freely, the ringside doctor advised referee Jerry Cantu to the contest. When scores were read, the judges seen it officially 94-93, 96-92 in favor of Corrales and once even at 94-94 allowing Corrales to retain his titles with a majority decision victory. With the win Corrales retained his title and improved to 22-1 (8), the hard luck Robinson Castellanos who always puts in a great effort now stands at 24-13 (14). With any luck the right thing will be done and a rematch made before Corrales faces another opponent.
A highly anticipated light heavyweight bout took place, between hard hitting Smith Jr and Sullivan Barrera for the WBC International light heavyweight title held by Smith Jr. When an overhand left dropped Barrera early in round one, it appeared this was going to be a short night for Smith Jr who has been battering opponents in highlight reel fashion lately. Once Barrera went down Smith Jr immediately ran to the ropes in a premature celebration, a bad habit often developed by fighters who begin to rely on their power. When Smith Jr jumped off the ropes he turned around to find Barrera and ready up ready to fight, the round finished with Smith Jr absorbing punishment from Barrera..
Smith Jr drops Barrera in the first with a left to the head.
The next nine rounds would be all Sullivan Barrera, landing continuous crisp clean combinations that backed Smith Jr to the ropes then snapped his head with uppercuts. On Occasion Smith Jr would get in a counter punch when Barrera dropped his hands, those were few and far between without enough power to deter the attack of Sullivan.
At one point, Barrera was handling Smith Jr so easily referee Jack Reiss went to the corner of Smith Jr and asked “Are you OK, you don’t normally fight like this”, in reference to Smith Jr the normally aggressive fighter entering what can best be described as “Survival” mode. This bout originally scheduled for twelve rounds, Star Boxing and Main Events promoters for the fighters agreed to a ten round limit on fight day. This was a wise decision by team Smith Jr considering as the tenth ended he was leaning forward and stamina seemingly non-existent. In my opinion should the fight have headed to the twelfth, Smith Jr more than likely would have ended up being stopped by Barrera who was showing no signs of fatigue. The final scores read 96-93, and 97-92 twice all in favor of Sullivan Barrera who along with claiming the 175lb WBC International light heavyweight title improved to 20-1 (14), Joe Smith Jr now stands at 23-2 (19).
Barrera snaps the head of Smith Jr back with clean uppercuts
In Undercard action-
Lightweight- Mercito Gesta 31-1-2 (17) def. Martin Honorio 33-11-1 (16) via KO 8.
Featherweight- Manny Robles Jr 13-0 (5) def. Christian Esquivel 30-12 (23) via KO 5.
Featherweight- Diuhl Olguin 12-6-3 (9) def. Horacio Garcia 32-3-1(23) via SD 8. Scores read 77-73 twice for Olguin and 76-74 for Garcia.
Super Featherweight- Recky Dulay 10-2 (7) def. Jaime Arboleda 10-1 (8) via KO 3.
Lightweight- Ryan Garcia 10-0 (9) def. Mario Antonio Macias 28-23 (14) via KO 2.