The Greatest Prize in Sports

[Infinity]

You love keeping us on the edge of our seats, wondering how our fighters did.....

[kenyan_cheena]

EL UNIVERSAL

Sunday 26 August 2007

LIMON RETAINS IBL BELT
AT ARENA COLISEO

Story by Miguel Trelles

Rafael Limon scored a 15th round knockout of a brave Brian Mitchell last night to retain the IBL lightweight championship in the main event of a card at the Mexico City Arena Coliseo. In a brutal, enthralling affair, Limon dropped the South African six times on the way to victory, with three of the knockdowns coming in the final round to end the contest two seconds before the bell. It was the first defense of Limon's second reign as IBL champion. He won the inaugural championship with a 13th round TKO of Japan's Teruki Nakata last December but lost it in his first defense against compatriot Enrique Bolanos in March when the bout was stopped in round five due to a cut on Limon's left eyebrow. Limon regained the title in a June rematch, which also ended in the 5th, this time as a result of a cut on Bolanos' right eyebrow.

Last night's stoush was free of such an unsatisfactory ending, with the two combatants giving their all in a fight that had the crowd on their feet numerous times. Mitchell had earned his title shot by virtue of his higher ranking following a draw with Greg Haugen in the June eliminator. He definitely tested Limon but couldn't quite match the champion's determination and aggression. Mitchell made a promising start in round one but Limon was quick getting into gear, controlling proceedings for most of the next four frames before Mitchell produced a strong late showing to steal an exciting 6th. Once again, Limon hit back, taking round seven and then flooring Mitchell twice in the 8th, both knockdowns coming before the round had reached its two-minute mark.

A hard left hook shortly before the bell almost finished the job but Mitchell survived to come up with a remarkable effort to take an action-packed round nine. Limon would not allow him to retain the momentum, though, and Mitchell tasted the canvas for a third time late in the 10th. Just when it appeared that the fight had left him the courageous South African rallied again, winning round eleven on the back of an energetic opening minute. But as he had done throughout the bout, Limon answered back in superior fashion, dominating the 12th. Unsurprisingly, the action slowed in rounds thirteen and fourteen, with neither man able to claim a decisive edge.

Limon looked to have a winning lead heading into the final frame, but he was determined to leave an impression and he did just that, knocking Mitchell out with just two seconds remaining. The first of the three knockdowns came from a stinging body shot one minute in, Mitchell grimacing as he made it to his feet at six. He stayed out of trouble for the next minute and it appeared he'd go the distance until a jolting cross floored him for the fifth time in the fight with thirty seconds remaining. Up at seven, he walked right into another cross only seconds later and fell forward to the canvas, referee Richard Steele's count reaching ten at the 2:58 mark of the round. Bushy-haired Limon dropped to his knees and lifted both arms to the heavens as his corner crew flooded the ring to celebrate with him.

Going into the final round, Limon (33-2(22)) held a seven-point lead on all three scorecards and ended up outlanding Mitchell 494-362. Limon acknowledged his opponent's fighting spirit and wished him all the best for the future, saying that he hoped Mitchell (34-5-2(23)) would be able to earn himself another shot at the title down the line. Limon then made a statement that will surely prompt discussion during the days to come, addressing current world lightweight champion Francisco Ortiz, his compatriot Patricio Marquez and "any of those other alphabet boys thinking of coming to the IBL".

"You know, I keep on hearing how Ortiz is the world champion," Limon began. "I keep hearing people say he's the best in the division, and that this belt I'm wearing around my waist isn't really worth much. Well, as far as I can see, a champion is supposed to defend his title, and that's something I've been doing a whole lot of lately. I won this championship in December and I've stepped in the ring with it on the line three times already this year. Ortiz has only fought once in '07, back in March, and since then he been carrying on like a baby sayin' he ain't gonna fight anyone else but Marquez.

"Is that the way a world champion behaves? I don't think it is. So I'm just gonna say one thing right here and now, tonight, to Mr. Ortiz: Please, do the right thing, and sign with the IBL. I'm getting real sick of hearing that you're the world champion. Come to the IBL and prove it. I'll be waiting for you in '08, man. You take this title away from me, sure, you can call yourself the best. But until then, it's just talk. And don't forget to bring Marquez with you, 'cause it's about time he stopped feastin' on has-beens."

Limon might be getting a bit ahead of himself, as it's likely he'll have to defend the title at least two more times before the possibility of a fight with Ortiz, Marquez or anyone else who signs with the IBL for '08 comes to fruition. Former Inter-Continental lightweight champion Ben Villaflor will be given a title shot, most likely in January, if he qualifies for the World Championship Conference, which he is now only one win away from doing after being victorious in his stage one qualifying tournament bout on the 4th of August. Following that, whoever's champion will next have to defend the title against either Uganda's Cornelius Boza-Edwards or former IBF junior-lightweight champion Hector Hernandez. The two of them will meet in a November elimination bout.

Hernandez earned a place in the eliminator with a 7th round knockout of former IBL champion Enrique Bolanos in last night's co-feature. Since losing his debut IBL (and lightweight) bout some thirteen months ago Hernandez (33-1-2(24)) has won five in a row, but he had quite a fight on his hands during the early rounds against Bolanos. After losing the title in a fashion that left just as bad a taste as when he won it, Bolanos was determined to earn another shot at it and through the first four rounds he was in good shape. Bolanos dominated the 1st and 4th while holding his own with Hernandez in the 2nd and 3rd. But early in round five he was caught by a wicked body shot and went down on one knee, the wind knocked out of him.

Bolanos (24-4-3(18)) quickly pushed himself up but was never the same from that point on. Hernandez controlled the remainder of the round and the fight, taking the 6th convincingly and then delivering a final indignation, sending Bolanos through the ropes and out of the ring late in round seven with a barrage of punches. Like something out of the WWE, a groggy Bolanos pulled himself back into the ring under the bottom rope but when he tried to stand his knees buckled and he collapsed back to the canvas, counted out at the 2:47 mark. It was a comprehensive ending to what had earlier looked like being a tricky evening for Hernandez, who will go into the bout with Boza-Edwards as a warm favourite to finally reach his goal of fighting for the IBL championship.

[kenyan_cheena]

THE GUARDIAN
LAGOS - NIGERIA

Sunday 26 August 2007

AMAKOCHI STOPS HARVEY IN 4TH,
RETAINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Story by Sani Yobo

Nigeria's world light-heavyweight champion Celestine Amakochi made a first successful defense of his title last night at the Surelere Stadium, knocking out the Englishman Len Harvey in the 4th round. Some might call it a fortunate win as Harvey started the fight well and looked set to give Amakochi a stern test. He landed some punishing, flush blows while dominating the opening round, the best of which were a left-right salvo a minute in and a jolting straight right at the round's midpoint. Rounds two and three were much closer, with both men already showing some noticeable swelling, Amakochi around his right eye, while Harvey wore a nasty mouse under his left eye.

Amakochi must have sensed the danger as he came out strong in round four, flooring Harvey with a right cross just before the round entered its bottom half and then finishing him off with a crippling ribshot as the final seconds ticked away. Harvey was in obvious pain and didn't attempt to rise. He was counted out after the bell, Amakochi retaining the championship and improving his record to 25-1(17). Harvey earned the title shot with an upset victory over Peru's Mauro Mina in June and while unsuccessful last night, the Englishman showed enough to indicate that if he challenges for the championship in the future he shouldn't be taken lightly. Harvey is now 24-3(15).

The world champion had made a superstar entrance to the ring thirty minutes earlier, wearing a confident gaze and a silk robe of white with green, tassled trim. His knee-length trunks were also white, featuring the same green tassles running up and down each side. Amakochi's boots were green with white laces. World famous recording artist Sade Adu gave a rousing rendition of the Nigerian national anthem before the participants were introduced. While they are competitors in the same 175-pound weight class, Amakochi's fellow Nigerians Dick Tiger and Taribo Keshi were a part of his entourage, as was welterweight Ademola Udeze and the heavyweight Samuel Peter.

In last night's co-feature Olympic medallist Mauro Mina once again moved to within a single victory of a world championship challenge with a less than convincing 10th round TKO win over the American Michael King. The Detroit native appeared on his way to a dominant win as the fight entered its 7th round. King had controlled proceedings and punished a struggling Mina, winning all but a single round on two scorecards to that point. But a left hook late in round seven opened a severe cut outside his right eye. The ringside doctor examined it soon after and allowed the contest to continue, but with Mina targeting it during the the next couple of frames the wound worsened and the fight was stopped 24 seconds into the 10th.

Coming off victories over Dick Tiger in March and the Australian Tony Mundine in May, King (28-8-1(21)) was set to stretch his winning streak to three fights but sadly for him, it was not to be. He had outlanded Mina 290-187 at the time of the stoppage. Mina (16-3(9)) will take part in his second eliminator this year after losing to Harvey in June. His opponent for the November bout will be the Jamaican Tyrone Shelton, who upset former world champion Harold Johnson in Philadelphia on Friday night. Mina was defeated by Amakochi in the semi-finals of last year's IBL Challenger's tournament, so if he can't grab onto this latest opportunity to secure a world title shot questions will certainly be asked about his ability to come through in the big fights.

[kenyan_cheena]

Mina is struggling to establish himself. If he loses to Shelton he can probably forget about a world title shot during '08, no matter how he performs.

One more article to go, then I can start working on the write-ups for the WCC QT bouts!

[Infinity]

Hurry, I keep falling off the edge of me seat!.....:P

[kenyan_cheena]

The Press
OF ATLANTIC CITY

Saturday 1 September 2007

Walker and Mugabi to meet
in middleweight eliminator

Story by Michael Ciferito

Elizabeth-born Mickey Walker and Los Angeles-based Ugandan John Mugabi clinched berths in a November IBL middleweight world title eliminator with victories on a fight card at the Boardwalk Hall last night. Walker recorded a 5th round TKO (on cuts) of Panama's Joe Gans while Mugabi obliterated Rubin Carter, flooring him four times on the way to a knockout in round seven. The two power punchers, one an experienced former WBO junior-middleweight titlist and the other a huge talent on the way up, will clash for the first time in their careers, a bout that is expected to be explosive. It's likely that the fight will be held at a neutral venue, possibly in Las Vegas.

Mugabi (35-3-2(32)) has now won four fights in a row since being defeated by Koichi Wajima in the semi-finals of the world championship tournament. He sent Carter to the canvas once in the 4th and 6th rounds and twice in the 7th, the Paterson slugger counted out at the 1:31 mark and losing for the third time in his last four outings. Some have said that Carter doesn't have what it takes to compete at the elite level in the middleweight division and that belief is seemingly being proven correct with each passing bout. Carter (22-6-1(17)) was something of a surprise qualifier for the Challenger's tournament final, where he was knocked out by Walker. Since then he scored a win over Brockton's Robbie Sims and then lost to Australia's former world champion Les Darcy in June.

The punch totals give a clear indication of Mugabi's dominance. He landed 192 of 559 shots, Carter just 85 of 389. Speaking afterwards, the 29 year-old veteran said he would be making the most of this opportunity, reiterating that his sole reason for coming to the IBL had been to be recognised as a world champion. That's something which didn't happen when Mugabi held the lightly regarded WBO belt, and he recalled how then-world 154-pound champion Mike McCallum had dismissed his efforts to secure a title shot. As for Carter, it will be interesting to see what 2008 has in store for him. Hopefully, it holds more success than the past eight months have.

Last night's main event ended in unfortunate fashion, with a bad cut on Gans' forehead, above his left eye, leading to the bout being called off 32 seconds into round five. The two-time Olympic champion appeared capable of giving Walker a real challenge, making a promising start in the 1st. Walker had the better of rounds two and three but Gans (16-3(9)) answered back nicely in the 4th, despite the blood streaming from his wound. The cut was opened two minutes into round three by a straight right hand and referee Frank Garza halted proceedings twice, in the 3rd and 5th, before a third inspection of the wound brought about the stoppage.

Walker (16-1(12)) was in action for the first time since being stopped in three rounds by Koichi Wajima in a March world championship challenge, and while happy to get the win he was genuinely disappointed that the fight didn't last longer. His trainer Jimmy Floyd was not in agreement, calling their early night a real blessing and saying that Mugabi will be the biggest test of Walker's career so far, even moreso than Wajima. The world champion defends his title today in Japan against Australia's Les Darcy in a fight that's a rematch of the inaugural IBL championship bout. Darcy was recognised as the top middleweight in the world going into their first meeting and will be desperate to regain that title.

[kenyan_cheena]

Just started working on the August fight reviews. Not sure how long it will take to get it done. Maybe four days, maybe a little longer. There'll be 23 fights reviewed, most of which involve forum members.

[kenyan_cheena]

Sorry about the delay in posting the August results, folks.

I haven't been in a writing mood during the last week. In addition, I've become obsessed with The Wire recently and after buying all the DVDs two weeks ago have been watching at least one episode every day since.

I also purchased the PC version of NBA2K11 on Friday and am planning to run a dynasty with it in the OT forum (anyone who is interested, I'll let you know in advance when I post the sign-up thread).

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Sorry about the delay in posting the August results, folks.

I haven't been in a writing mood during the last week. In addition, I've become obsessed with The Wire recently and after buying all the DVDs two weeks ago have been watching at least one episode every day since.

I also purchased the PC version of NBA2K11 on Friday and am planning to run a dynasty with it in the OT forum (anyone who is interested, I'll let you know in advance when I post the sign-up thread).

Oh, good times, NBA 2K11 is great times. Look forward to that starting up.

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Sorry about the delay in posting the August results, folks.

I haven't been in a writing mood during the last week. In addition, I've become obsessed with The Wire recently and after buying all the DVDs two weeks ago have been watching at least one episode every day since.

I also purchased the PC version of NBA2K11 on Friday and am planning to run a dynasty with it in the OT forum (anyone who is interested, I'll let you know in advance when I post the sign-up thread).

Good show, The Wire. And NBA2K11's a lot of fun as well....

[PWillisTheMan]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Sorry about the delay in posting the August results, folks.

I haven't been in a writing mood during the last week. In addition, I've become obsessed with The Wire recently and after buying all the DVDs two weeks ago have been watching at least one episode every day since.

I also purchased the PC version of NBA2K11 on Friday and am planning to run a dynasty with it in the OT forum (anyone who is interested, I'll let you know in advance when I post the sign-up thread).

The Wire is the greatest show in history. I grew up relatively close to the spots in the first season.

[kenyan_cheena]

The show never really caught on down here in Australia but I would see it occasionally when it was first shown. About six weeks ago I noticed it was being shown on one of our cable stations on Friday night and started watching. It was late in season three so it was difficult for me to understand what was happening but I still loved it.

The weird thing is that while watching the DVDs there's been a handful of episodes I can remember seeing bits of years ago, but had completely forgotten about it. My plan had been to watch one episode a day but that soon went out the window and I'm now at the midpoint of season four, so only sixteen episodes to go until I get through the whole series. I imagine I'll be a little bit upset when I finish it as the show has almost consumed me for the last month.

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

The show never really caught on down here in Australia but I would see it occasionally when it was first shown. About six weeks ago I noticed it was being shown on one of our cable stations on Friday night and started watching. It was late in season three so it was difficult for me to understand what was happening but I still loved it.

The weird thing is that while watching the DVDs there's been a handful of episodes I can remember seeing bits of years ago, but had completely forgotten about it. My plan had been to watch one episode a day but that soon went out the window and I'm now at the midpoint of season four, so only sixteen episodes to go until I get through the whole series. I imagine I'll be a little bit upset when I finish it as the show has almost consumed me for the last month.

Man, those couple of days after you finish a series you got really engrossed in really suck. Just that general feeling of not quite knowing what to do with your time now.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Man, those couple of days after you finish a series you got really engrossed in really suck. Just that general feeling of not quite knowing what to do with your time now.

Yep, and I have to say I've never been as engrossed in a show as I have been with The Wire. With the exception of a few incidents I haven't really had that emotional reaction where you get upset by things that happen in it, but I'm just left amazed and awestruck by the quality of the writing, the storyline and the acting. It feels so authentic that the characters are real to me and I find myself looking forward to watching the next episode while at work (as I am at the moment).

And also, Sonja Sohn is HOTT.

[kenyan_cheena]

Sorry, all. I shall try to get my tish together tonight and make some progress with the fight reviews.

[kenyan_cheena]

On the home stretch now. Should be able to have it completed over the weekend.

[kenyan_cheena]

It's time

[kenyan_cheena]

to turn

[kenyan_cheena]

the page!

[kenyan_cheena]