BREAKING NEWS
Wright signs
with Don King???
By Lisa Scott
In a startling and confusing development, Don King announced
at the "Night of Title Fights" post-fight conference that he had signed undisputed super welterweight champion Winky Wright.
I have signed Winky Wright! Thats right, I have signed Winky Wright, proclaimed King to the media who were still in attendance
at Madison Square Garden an hour after IBF champ Chris Byrd had narrowly retained his belt with a controversial draw over
Andrew Golota. Although this was contrary to reports that Lou DiBella had signed Wright to a promotional deal last week, King
would only respond, That is what makes America great! (More)
Sunday, April 18 2004
RESULT
Rodriguez KO's Lally!
Saturday night at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, NM on Southwest Fight Promotions' debut card: El
Paso heavyweight David Rodriguez (15-0, 15 KOs) remains unbeaten with yet another first round knockout. Rodriguez's foe, "Irish"
Jeff Lally (23-22-1, 10 KOs) went down three times before ref Lorenzo Saiz waved it over. Rodriguez wins the vacant New Mexico
state heavyweight title. On the undercard, in a rematch that mirrored their original match two years ago, Gustavo "La Parka"
Enriquez (12-4, 9 KOs) flattened El Paso's Frank Stevens (0-5) with a big right hand at just 1:57; in a four-round war, Jacob
Gomez (9-11-3) won by split decision over Jaime Gonzalez (1-4); Sergio Vela (14-6-4) and Ronnie Villa (6-10-4) fought an "out
of retirement" bout that ended in a majority draw; and in a pro MMA bout, Richard Montoya destroyed Sean Bolen in just 24
seconds. Full results, photos and the 10-bout amateur bout results coming tomorrow! -- Chris Cozzone and Ricardo Trujillo
Sunday, April 18 2004
RESULT
Byrd vs. Golota a draw!
Lisa Scott, David Rodriguez & Richard Thomas at
Ringside
Chris Byrd (36-2-1, 20 KOs) managed to save his IBF championship despite the strong challenge of Andrew
Golota (38-4-1, 31 KOs) in a fight that merited "Fight of the Year" consideration. It was obvious that the judges did give
Golota credit as he pressed Byrd every minute of each round but the result was a draw with scores of 115-113 for Golota, 115-113
for Byrd and the third judge seeing it a draw at 114-114! From the beginning, Golota - looking fit and trim - had his way
with the champ, applying pressure and pounding the retreating Byrd. Byrd kept his back against the ropes as if he was reluctant
to engage in full combat with the much bigger and stronger Golota. Golota looked to have a wide edge in the fight going down
the stretch, but Byrd was able to land more shots in two of the final four rounds, even staggering Golota once in round 9th.
Byrd went down four times from what looked like exhaustion and the effect of Golotas heavy body shots, but the referee did
not rule any knockdowns. To his credit, Golota never relented to any dirty tactics throughout the 12 round champmionship fight.
When asked about a rematch, Golota said, "We can do it tomorrow." FightNews scored it 116 to 112 for Golota.
***More details,
results and photos to follow***
Sunday, April 18 2004
RESULT
Undercard results from the Garden!
Lisa Scott, David Rodriguez & Richard
Thomas at Ringside
In the opening bout of the Don King mega-fight extravaganza "Night of Title Fights from The
Garden" on Saturday, middleweights Carlos Lamberti (4-0-1, 3 KOs) and Tarek Rached (1-1-1) fought to a preplexing draw. Lamberti
was able to counter Rached well plus Rached seemed confused by the southpaw stance of Lamberti in the first two rounds. In
the third round, Rached found his range and dropped Lamberti with a left-right to the head. Lamberti popped right back up
and Rached floored him moments later with a straight left to the head. Rached sent Lamberti again to the canvas in the first
minute of the fourth with a straight right to the head. Lamberti stayed in the survival mode for the remainder of the round.
The crowd booed the announcement of the draw loudly.
-----------------------------
Gerald The Jedi Nobles (22-0, 17
KOs) knocked out stepping stone Willie Williams (16-7, 11 KOs) in the opening stanza. Nobles started the round off with a
bit of roughhousing a headbutt and a low blow that went unseen by the referee but eventually the undefeated heavyweight figured
out that all he had to do was pound Williams for a victory. Nobles pummeled the clueless Williams for the next two minutes.
A defenseless Williams retreated to the ropes and Nobles attacked. Williams sunk to canvas after a thudding left hook to the
head. To his credit, Williams did try to get up but he immediately collapsed back to the mat. Referee Ken Zimmer reached the
count of ten at 2:10 into the first round.
-----------------------------
Luis Collazo (21-1, 9 KOs) completely dominated
Tom Davis (8-1, 4 KOs) to win an unanimous decision in a welterweight bout. Davis did occasionally catch Collazo with a right
hand over the course of six rounds but it was the veteran Collazo outworking and outclassing the relatively novice Davis (less
than ten fights). Scores was 60-54 twice and 60-53.
-----------------------------
Former light heavyweight champion
Lou Del Valle (32-3-1, 21 KOs), now campaigning as a cruiserweight, pounded the stuffing out of human punching bag Twion Taylor
(24-12, 18 KOs) over five rounds. Taylor never fought back. Taylor did not put out his jab or throw a meaningful punch the
entire length of the contest. Officially Del Valle was awarded a TKO at the end of the fifth round after the ringside physician
- in between rounds - requested that referee Ken Zimmer stop the one-sided beating.
***More results, details and photos
to follow***
Sunday, April 18 2004
RESULT
Ruiz (thankfully) KOs Oquendo!
Lisa Scott, David Rodriguez & Richard Thomas
at Ringside
In what was surely one of boxings most boring heavyweight championship fights, WBA titleholder John
The Quietman Ruiz was able to score a late round knockout over challenger Fres Fast Oquendo to end a dreadful performance
by both fighters. The most entertaining moments before the final stoppage involved a tangle of the feet where both men went
to the canvas in round 4 or who could forget when a frustrated referee Wayne Kelley exclaimed, "Start boxing! This is getting
ridiculous." The crowd chanted "Bullshit! Bullshit!" throughout the entire fight as Ruiz and Oquendo put on an extremely lackluster
show.
---------------------------------
In what was a very hard fight to score, Ruiz and Oquendo held, tangled, jabbed
and hugged while the crowd jeered their demonstration of boxing skills. Neither fighter seemed very energized. Oquendo would
put out a single jab at a time but he never followed up. A right hand at the end of the 9th round staggered Oquendo, but Ruiz
didnt have enough time in the round to take advantage of the situation. Fortunately Ruiz started to put his punches together
in the tenth to turnaround the momentum of this appalling contest that was no-contest. Ruiz continued to turn the heat up
while Oquendo continued to absorb the punches. In the eleventh, Oquendo was seemingly defenseless when Ruiz landed a clean
right hand and left hook that was followed by a right hook flush on the chin. Oquendo bounced off the ropes with his hands
down and buckled from the waist. Referee Wayne Kelley jumped in to halt the action - thankfully - at 2:33 in the 11th round.
Ruiz, a two-time WBA champion, is now 40-5-1 against 28 KOs, while Oquendo falls to 24-3 with 15 KOs.
***More details,
results and photos to follow***
Sunday, April 18 2004
RESULT
Santos punishes Lerma!
By Chris Cook, Chuck Dowling & Aaron Dye at ringside
WBO
jr middleweight champion Daniel Santos battered Tony Lerma over twelve rounds to retain his 154 lb. title at Tampa, Florida.
Santos cut the game Lerma over the left eye in round three. In round five Lerma caught Santos on the ropes and connected with
a hard barrage of punches, but Santos came back in round six to dominate the rest of the fight. Scores were 118-110, 120-107,
120-107. Conspicuous by his absence was fellow 154 lb. champion Winky Wright, who lives in neighboring St. Petersburg. The
card was promoted by Warriors Boxing.
Sunday, April 18 2004
RESULT
A "big" Mayorga beats Mitchell!
Lisa Scott, David Rodriguez and Richard Thomas
at Ringside
Former WBA & WBC Champion Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga (26-4-1, 23 KOs) won a lop-sided unanimous
decision against last minute replacement Eric Mitchell. The fearless Mitchell, now 16-4, won the crowd over and gave Mayorga
all he could handle in ten rounds of tough action. Mitchell landed alot of his power shots that staggered Mayorga on occasion
but Mayorga was always able to come back with a bit more. Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. had all he could handle with the fouling
tactics of both fighters. Mercante warned each fighter numerous times for roughhousing. Mitchell was deducted a point in round
6 for hitting on the break. The scores - which were greeted with loud boos - were 99-90, 98-91 and 97-92.
***More details,
photos and results to follow***
Saturday, April 17 2004
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