Pavlik Getting Settled in California…
Kelly Pavlik is out of Youngstown, Ohio. He’s been in Oxnard, California now for a week and is settling into life with a new trainer and a new outlook. Pavlik will turn 30 in April and is probably facing his last chance at regaining his position among the top fighters in the world. To state the obvious, Pavlik was more than happy to say goodbye to 2011. The year started in alcohol rehab and ended with him making news in a reported alcohol-related ATV accident.
Pavlik joined us on the East Coast Boxing Report at blogtalkradio.com on Tuesday to discuss his outlook moving forward and how he believes he can still be an elite fighter. The interview can be heard here:
Hopefully, 2012 is a better year for Kelly, both in and out of the ring.
Heavyweights Byarm and Jennings Fill Void on NBC Sports Network Debut…
Eddie Chambers made it three fights in row that he’s pulled out of when he announced on Friday he would not be facing Sergei Liakhovich this Saturday on the premiere of NBC Sports Network’s “Fight Night.” The real question is: Does anyone care?
I wasn’t exactly excited about the Liakhovich/Chambers bout to begin with. And now with two undefeated, albeit untested prospects squaring off instead, I think the show just got better. South Philly native Maurice Byarm, 13-0-1 (9), will face North Philly native Bryant Jennings, 11-0 (5), in a scheduled 10-round bout.
I have not yet seen Jennings fight, so I cannot even begin to make any kind of prediction of what to expect. I have seen Byarm on several occasions and believe he has good tools to work with. That said, he is still a work in progress. Turning pro after only nine amateur bouts, Byarm is still learning and has not yet put together a performance that would suggest he’s ready for the next level. But based on his record, neither has Jennings.
Byarm appeared on the East Coast Boxing Report right after Pavlik this Tuesday, which also can be heard at the link above. Although both have yet to go beyond six rounds, this is a scheduled 10-round bout, so it could be decided by which man has kept himself in the best shape without a scheduled fight. Byarm told Maxboxing he’s weighing about 245 pounds, suggesting he is in pretty good shape.
I give Kathy Duva and J. Russell Peltz huge credit for putting together what could be a very good fight on such short notice.
Full House Expected at Roseland Ballroom for Broadway Boxing…
Lou DiBella’s “Broadway Boxing” has become one of the best regular shows in the New York City area, as DiBella regularly packs the cards with fighters who boast solid followings in the area. This Saturday’s show at the Roseland Ballroom is no exception. Junior welterweight Gabriel Bracero brings along a large contingent of great Puerto Rican fight fans as he faces DeMarcus “Chop-Chop” Corley.
Bracero is technically sound yet doesn’t possess the power you’d like to see in an up-and-coming prospect; however, two of his three KOs have come in his last three fights. He is also coming off his best performance as a pro in a lopsided win over Daniel Sostre. The real test for Bracero will come when he faces a true prospect and whether he’s able to earn respect. Or will the perennial contender Corley pressure Bracero and walk through his punches? A great test might be against Baltimore native Tim Coleman, who is beatable but tough.
This fight with “Chop-Chop” however will likely prove little, as Bracero should easily outbox the faded former champion to a lopsided 10-round victory.
Newark welterweight Alex Perez has been added to the card against Josh Sosa, who has built up a 10-1 record mainly in Missouri. At 14-0 (8), Perez seems poised to make a move in 2012 yet I expect this to be his development year. I think he’ll make his move into the ratings in 2013.
Puerto Rican junior featherweight Luis Del Valle, 14-0 (11), is a fighter who could make his big move in 2012. He’ll face Jose Angel Beranza, a battle-tested veteran coming off a big win over the previously undefeated Christopher Martin. A solid win should put Del Valle in line for a TV fight by summertime.
Cruiserweight Ran Nakash makes his first appearance since his surprisingly good fight against Marco Huck while local prospects Seanie Monaghan, Boyd Melson and Delen Parsley round out the card.
Monaghan, 11-0 (8), will face his first test as a pro against Billy Bailey, a road warrior who is no stranger to fighting in a prospect’s own backyard. Monaghan should win but if there’s a potential upset on this card, this is it.
West Point grad Boyd Melson will likely bring a nice crowd as well as he is scheduled to appear in a six-rounder. Melson is a great story. He donates his purses to spinal cord injury research and has enlisted several high-profile fighters, such as Steve Cunningham, to join the cause. More information on this effort can be found at: http://www.justadollarplease.org.
Omar Sheika Headlines Hamilton Township Card…
Heading south into New Jersey, former title contender Omar Sheika is featured at Hamilton Manor in Hamilton Township near Trenton in a scheduled 10-round bout Saturday night. Sheika, 30-11 (21), is also scheduled for action again on February 24th at Harrah’s in Chester, PA.
Prospects Juan Rodriguez Jr., 7-0 (3), welterweight, and light heavyweight Derrick Webster, 11-0 (6) will also be on the card. If you plan on attending this show, please let me know. I’d love to get a report of how the action goes.
Fairfax Patriot Center Card Taking Shape…
Former “The Contender” star Jimmy Lange is one of the most successful local fighters in America. His shows at George Mason University’s Patriot Center easily draw 2,000 to 3,000 fans and they put on a very entertaining show. The atmosphere is family-friendly without the offensive music too often heard at boxing shows.
The February 11th card will feature two WBU title fights. And while the WBU belt ranks just one step above the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association title, the belts do add a feeling of relevance to the shows. Lange will face Ruben Galvan in a bout that should determine if Lange can seriously think about moving up in the junior middleweight ranks. He’ll need a better overall performance than he had against Raul Munoz last September.
The other WBU “World” title fight features Michael Stewart against Joe Wyatt at welterweight. This could be a really, really good fight. They’re well-matched and both come to fight. Without a doubt, this is the most appealing fight of the night.
Harry Joe Yorgey, 23-1-1 (11), returns to face the tall, lanky and awkward Zain Shah, 6-0 (4). This could be a good bout as Shah has improved greatly over his short career, learning to use his height and putting punches together that have surprising power. Yorgey has fought just once since suffering a beating at the hands of Alfredo Angulo and that was in Oklahoma. Don’t be surprised if Shah takes an early lead and holds on for the decision win.
Popular VMI grad and former collegiate champion Todd Wilson will again be part of the card with his large and loyal following, bagpipes and all.
If the Fairfax shows prove anything, it’s that I am 100% correct when I state that the average American sports fan is dying to be invited back into boxing without needing to pay for premium channels and ridiculous pay-per-view prices.
As always, Team Lange has set aside a block of tickets, available at special Maxboxing rates. Just send me an email if you are interested.
Jock-Sniffing Journalism…
In one of the worst cases of jock-sniffing, ass-kissing, disgraceful pieces of “news” re-porting I have ever seen, Elie Seckbach created a video titled “Floyd Mayweather, A Champ In & Out of the Ring.” Seckbach cites Mayweather’s donation of $100,000 to breast cancer research as “incredible.” The jock-sniffer then states in the video, “The fighter that many consider one of the greatest in history is always happy when he sees me.”
I guess to this “journalist,” it’s okay to engage in domestic violence, as long as you donate to a woman’s cause. To call Mayweather a champion out of the ring might be one of the most disgraceful and misogynistic things I have ever heard.
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