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[kenyan_cheena]

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Boxing

Larry Holman Blog

Clay and Briceno are making some noise
Monday, December 1, 2008 | Print Entry

Neither man was born in New York, but that hasn't stopped two up-and-coming boxers from igniting the city they now call home. 18-year-old Louisville-born junior-lightweight Cassius Clay and 20-year-old Venezuelan native Eduardo Briceno (featherweight) are amongst the most talented youngsters in the sport today, and in recent months they've been making headlines with some superb performances. In appearances at a pair of major Madison Square Garden events, firstly in late September and then just this past Saturday night, organisers scheduled the two to fight back-to-back on the undercard, with Briceno preceding Clay on each occasion. To date, both youngsters have made brilliant, undefeated starts to their professional careers, with Clay currently 13-0(9) and Briceno accumulating a 9-0(6) record.

While stylistically they are quite similar, possessing lightning fists and outstanding ring movement, they are like night and day as far as their personalities are concerned. Briceno is a laid-back, reserved and respectful man of few words, while Clay has shown himself to be cocky, arrogant, irreverent, and a skillful salesman, to boot. Both have signed two-year contracts with the International Boxing League, contracts that kick in at the beginning of the new year and will see them competing in the Development League in '09. Having fought his opening thirteen bouts at junior-lightweight, Clay confirmed that he'll be moving up to lightweight once he joins the IBL.

Interestingly, he first suggested that dropping down to featherweight was a possibility, adding that he was looking forward to "messing up that bum from Venezuela", a clear and deliberate reference to Briceno. It's not the first time Clay has taken a verbal shot at Briceno, although his antagonism is almost certainly a sign of the regard he has for the Caracas-born pugilist's skillset. Unsurprisingly, Briceno has taken Clay's behaviour with a grain of salt and a deal of amusement, while also suggesting that the thought of stepping in the ring against the Kentucky braggart fascinates him. Perhaps it's a matchup we'll see some day, but for now, with the two set to compete in different weight classes in '09, we can only speculate on an outcome.

Duran heading to the IBL, also

The management team of Panama's lightweight phenom Roberto Duran confirmed last week that the 18-year-old Los Santos slugger will join the IBL in '09. It's been a bizarre journey getting to this point, as during the early months of Duran's pro career in mid-2007, they expressed open disdain for the IBL, before warming to the idea of their charge signing with the organisation earlier this year, and then cooling on it for no apparent reason. The only conclusion one can make is that they are terrified of losing their meal ticket. Duran, currently a perfect 16-0(16), is being looked upon as a future world champion in the already talent-stacked lightweight division.

It was expected that at the start of his time in the IBL, Duran would be placed straight into the International Conference, but that plan has been scraped, and he is now set to join Cassius Clay in the Development League, a decision that will certainly make some of the division's top contenders breathe a sigh of relief. The possibility of a Duran-Clay clash in '09 is literally one of the most mouth-watering prospects we could hope for. A number of managers have criticised the IBL over their structure and format, with the Development League bearing the brunt of these complaints. It's been said that having these young up-and-comers literally feasting on each other just to make it to the IC is unfair. IBL vice-president Michael Vincennes dismissed these concerns with a brief and pointed response, saying that the "cream will always rise to the top."

[Romdawg88]

So so so happy to not be a lightweight right now. That is a going to be a super nasty division in a couple of years.

[kenyan_cheena]

You got that right. Just take a look at some of the names who are coming into the WCC in '09. I may have created a monster.

[kenyan_cheena]

I've completed a post which lists the World Championship Conference rankings as at the start of the 2009 season, but it won't be posted just yet. Next thing I have to do is figure out who is going to be in the '09 International Conference and Development League, which will take a while.

I'll admit that with the amount of inactive time I've had during the last year or so, I have forgotten some of the fighters that I introduced into the story during 2008 (both as amateurs and professionals), so I'll have to look back over the thread to make sure I don't miss anyone. Some list-making is in store.

The current universe date is 1 December 2008, so there's still two months before we get to the start of the '09 season. I'm not gonna linger for too long during that period, but will probably come up with two or three articles to bridge the gap.

[bob_bask]

Briceno coming up surrounded by some great fighters, going to be a interesting time.

Good work.

[kenyan_cheena]

Just a little update...

I've determined the International Conference competitors for heavyweight, junior-heavyweight, light-heavyweight and middleweight, so still five divisions to go. Taking longer than I expected, mostly just because for most of the names I don't have any lists to cut and paste from, so a lot of typing. If I do one division each night I can have it done by the weekend, though. Then onto the Development League...

[kenyan_cheena]

Big announcement regarding the International Conference coming up...

[kenyan_cheena]

TheSweetScience.com

FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER 2008

IBL raises stakes for
International Conference

Story by Michael Broughton

International Boxing League president James Molk sent shockwaves through his organisation yesterday with an announcement regarding the International Conference tournament. Molk revealed that, starting in 2009, the competitor who emerges as the tournament winner in each of the league's nine divisions will be rewarded with a shot at the world title in stage one of the following season's World Championship Conference. The reveal was obviously the highlight of a press conference at which Molk also unveiled the new format for the I.C., which is identical in its structure to that used by FIFA in its World Cup tournament. The 32 competitors in each weight class will be divided into eight groups of four, and contest three six-round "group stage" fights.

The top two in each group will then progress to the Round of 16, where each bout will be eight rounds, likewise the quarter-finals. The tournament semi-finals will be contested over ten rounds, with the tournament final to be a twelve-rounder. The four competitors who make it to the semi-finals will automatically be promoted to the World Championship Conference, while the losers from the Round of 16 will square off against each other for the right to take on the losing quarter-finalists for the final four WCC promotion spots. While the makeup of the 288 combatants to contest the tournaments is yet to be finalised, the league confirmed that a random draw will be held in early January where they will be placed in their respective stage one groups.

Eight fighters in each tournament will be designated as "#1 seeds", and will each be placed in a different group. Additionally, each competitor will be individually seeded from #1 through to #32. A points system will be employed in the group stage, with competitors to receive three points for a decision win and four points for a stoppage victory. In the case of a drawn bout, each competitor will receive one point. If any bout during the Round of 16, quarter-finals or semi-finals is drawn, the competitor with either the higher finish in the group stage or the higher seed will progress to the next stage. If a tournament final is drawn, a rematch will be held.

"This is something we have been contemplating for quite some time," said Molk. "We examined and studied a number of different options and formats, and believe that the one we have settled on is going to provide the most excitement and intrigue. The decision to reward each tournament winner with a world title shot was not something we arrived at easily, as we understand that it will bring about changes to how our world title fights are scheduled. But ultimately, we felt it was necessary to give the International Conference some real, tangible relevancy, and to give its competitors an end goal that every single one of them will be striving to reach."

[kenyan_cheena]

Quite a bit of database maintenance required for my uni at the moment. I've determined who the 32 IC competitors are for each division, and now have to get them all put into the group I've created for the 2009 version of it. Some of them were in the '08 version, some were in the '08 WCC, some were in the '08 Development League but have never had an actual fight simmed, and some were alphabet fighters. So there's some stats editing for win-loss-draw records, moving fighters from different groups into the '09 group, creating fictional alphabet fighters, etc.

Then, once I've done all that, I'll be going through all 288 fighters (plus the 180 in the WCC) and making any career stage adjustments that are necessary. Only after that is done can I then move onto the Development League and figure out exactly who is gonna be in that. It's a lot of work, but doing it now means that as I move forward, the only thing I'll have to worry about is introducing new fighters into the IBL.

[kenyan_cheena]

Okay, so everything I had to do for the WCC and IC has been completed. Now I can get started figuring out the Development League. Planning to write an article or two also to get the story through to the end of 2008.

[kenyan_cheena]

TheSweetScience.com

FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER 2008

Brian Jasper's Pugilistic Musings

A tale of two Johnsons

One appears to be on the verge of absolute superstardom, while the other is at the tailend of his career, staring at a tough road ahead. Texas-born, Los Angeles-based heavyweight Jack Johnson looks set to finally show what he's capable of in 2009, having qualified for the IBL's World Championship Conference after a perfect 5-0 campaign in this year's International Conference. In sharp contrast, Philadelphia native Harold Johnson was relegated from the light-heavyweight division's WCC this year, and will find himself competing in the IC in '09, but as a junior-heavyweight. The inaugural 175-pound division's IBL world champion planned to compete in the junior-heavyweight WCC next year, but his relegation scuttled those plans. He has, however, taken the setback like a man, and plans to fight his way into the WCC.

A gold medallist at the 2004 Olympics, Jack Johnson started his professional career with high expectations, and it all seemed to be going according to plan when he was signed by the IBL as one of its original competitors back in '06, with a perfect 13-0 record. But a trio of results curtailed his progress at vital times. The first was a controversial draw fought against fellow Athens gold medallist (and the man currently ranked at #3 in the WCC) Lennox Lewis in the Challenger's tournament semi-finals in October '06. Then there was an upset loss at the hands of Germany's Scott Mundt in June '07, Johnson's first defeat as a pro. Mundt was victorious by a technical unanimous decision when the bout was halted in the 6th round due to a cut over his right eyebrow, opened by a head clash in round five.

That loss had an effect on Johnson's seeding when the league staged its WCC qualifying tournament later in the year, which led to him facing Nigeria's Ike Ibeabuchi with a WCC berth on the line in October. Ibeabuchi won the fight by unanimous decision, and a disappointed Johnson was booted to the International Conference and relative anonimity for 2008. While Johnson has said his earlier IBL setbacks were frustrating, he admitted recently that this year was the most trying of his career, despite the five victories he recorded. His reasoning was that he believed more than anything that there was no one in the International Conference who could compete with him, and so the process of getting through the year was often "tiresome and boring".

Now 25 years old, the man who has been known as "The Galveston Giant" made headlines during the same interview by challenging former world champion Ken Norton to step in the ring against him in stage one of 2009's WCC. Johnson called it a perfect matchup for both of them, as a win will go a long way to helping them achieve their respective goals. There's been a deal of friction and animosity between Johnson and Norton in the past, with much of it stemming from their once mutual friendship with former heavyweight and current NFL player Sam McVey. For Norton, facing Johnson is a big risk, but it offers a huge reward if he is able to win. Whether he decides to accept Johnson's challenge or go a safer route to start '09 is something boxing fans are looking forward to finding out.

"You all heard what Norton said after Jackson beat him the second time," Johnson said. "He knows that he won't be getting another title shot in '09, but at the same time he has to stay at the top of the rankings to keep himself in the picture. So that means going 3-0 next year. What better way is there to start on that than by getting a win against a younger, hungry opponent, an opponent who is an Olympic gold medallist and went through this year with a perfect record? As for myself, I don't need to tell you what a win against Kenny Norton would do for my career."

Harold Johnson was the WBA light-heavyweight champion for almost three years before signing with the IBL in '06, where he became the organisation's inaugural world champion when he defeated Nigeria's Taribo Keshi by unanimous decision. Things have not gone well for him since then, though, as he was knocked out in the 13th round by Keshi's compatriot Celestine Amakochi in his first title defense. Johnson went on to lose his next two fights, also, admittedly against tough opponents in Tyrone Shelton and Sam Langford. A victory over the Argentinian Miguel Angel Cuello this past August ended his slide, but a somewhat unlucky defeat to Australia's Mark Somogyi in November was the last straw and saw Johnson relegated to the International Conference.

There had been rumours circulating that relegation would lead to Johnson choosing to retire rather than fight on in '09, but the 31-year-old Pennsylvanian denied this, saying that the only change he was certain of making was moving up to the junior-heavyweight division next year. Competing in the IC had admittedly not been in his plans, but with the IBL's announcement from last week that the winner of each IC tournament will receive a world title shot at the beginning of the following year, Johnson is looking towards the future with renewed enthusiasm. He feels confident that he will be the most talented and experienced competitor in the 200-pound division's International Conference field. He's also certain that, even if he does not win the tournament, he'll be good enough to secure a promotion to the WCC for 2010.

"I've heard that there's been a mixed reaction to it," Johnson said earlier this week, when asked his opinion about the new International Conference format. "Me personally, I think it's awesome. There was just something about the way it panned out this year that was unsatisfying. We never really got to see any of the top guys go up against each other, and that was purely because of the way the schedule was structured. That won't be the case in '09. Every fight is going to be vital, and what greater prize can you possibly award to the winner than a shot at the world championship? No, I think what they have done is fantastic, and I'm hoping that it leads to some unlikely, amazing outcomes. Just not in the junior-heavyweight division, ha ha."

Negotiations in full swing
for stage one of '09 WCC

While a handful of bouts for the opening stage of 2009's World Championship Conference have been set in stone for a while, most of the competitors still have no idea exactly who they'll be going up against. Some of them have spoken publicly about their plans and desires, which is giving an insight into the behind the scenes negotiations that would have started within hours of the conclusion of competition in this year's WCC. Amongst the fighters to have taken this path are the Canadian light-heavyweight Sam Langford, newly promoted lightweight Pernell Whitaker and Mexico's former world bantamweight champion Carlos Zarate, who is competing at featherweight in '09.

During a radio interview in his hometown of Nova Scotia, Langford (23-2(16)) said he had instructed his management to open negotiations with the team of former world champion Mauro Mina. The Peruvian was dethroned during a voluntary title defense against New York's Ray Landis on November 8. Landis is contractually obligated to make his first defense against the man Mina dethroned, Celestine Amakochi, at some point during stage one, leaving Mina out in the cold for now. Langford, who in the minds of many has already done enough to deserve a title bid after wins over Harold Johnson, Dick Tiger and Tyrone Shelton this year, has made it clear that his intention is to start '09 with a fight against a fellow top contender, a move which will put his status as being next in line for a title shot at risk while also strengthening his claim over it.

Athens gold medallist Pernell Whitaker has taken a somewhat rocky path to the WCC, but now that he's made it, he does not intend to waste any time. He'll bring a perfect 24-0(15) record into '09, and will be ranked at #11 to start the year. Whitaker has made it clear that he intends to be in position to have earned a title shot by the end of the year. With that in mind, he expects his first WCC opponent to be a top five contender such as Hector Hernandez or even the recently dethroned champion Ben Villaflor. The lightweight division's WCC is expected to be the most competitive and intriguing of the IBL's nine weight classes in '09. Whitaker is not the only outstanding talent to have achieved promotion, as he will be joined by, amongst others, Ghana's Azumah Nelson, the Colombian Radamel Ramos and Cuba's Orlando Zulueta (who Whitaker defeated in the gold medal match in Athens).

It's been more than two years since Mexico's Carlos Zarate last tasted defeat, which was a surprise majority decision loss to Korea's Jung-Il Byun in the semi-finals of the IBL's world championship tournament. Both men's careers have gone in opposite directions since then. Byun lost to Gilberto Roman in the subsequent title fight, and has struggled to accumulate a 4-4-1 record since then. He'll be competing in the featherweight division's International Conference tournament next year. Zarate, by contrast, has rebounded by going 6-0 in '07 and '08, a run that included two epic world title fights against Roman and a 4th round stoppage of Jeff Fenech in July. Zarate relinquished the world title after that win and sat out the rest of the year, preparing himself for his move up to the featherweight division.

There are some who believe that, due to his impeccable record during the last two years, he is deserving of an immediate shot at his compatriot Salvador Sanchez's world title. It's something that Zarate probably agrees with in private conversations, but with it being unlikely he has said he'll settle for taking on one of the contenders for Sanchez's belt, which include former champions Gilberto Vasquez and Miguel Bautista and Puerto Rico's Jose Molina. It's almost certain that if Zarate (35-2(25)) emerges victorious from his stage one stoush, he'll be challenging for the belt later in the year, putting him in a position to become the IBL's first two-division world champion.

[kenyan_cheena]

ESPN

Boxing

Updated: December 15, 2008 2.30 PM ET

James Toney returns to the IBL

By Larry Holman
ESPN.com
Archive

Former WBC middleweight champion James Toney has signed a contract to compete in the IBL's 2009 junior-heavyweight International Conference tournament. Toney ended a 21-month sabbatical last month when he defeated Oakland journeyman Oliver Patterson by 2nd round KO in a cruiserweight bout held in Los Angeles. He was approached by the league earlier this month and apparently put pen to paper last Friday. It's an unexpected return to the IBL for Toney, whose first stint with the organisation was an ordinary one when he was victorious in only one of three league bouts back in the bottom half of 2006.

Now 31 years old, Toney appeared to have the boxing world at his feet back at the beginning of 2004. He went into the year undefeated in 32 professional bouts, but suffered his first defeat (and lost his WBC title) at the hands of Bert Lytell that April, and was then knocked out in the September rematch. Toney recorded a couple of wins over weak opposition in early '05, leading to a challenge for Freddie Steele's IBF championship in October. Toney lost by unanimous decision, his third defeat in five fights over an eighteen month period.

2006 started with a meaningless win over Marcus White before Toney joined over 500 other fighters in signing with the IBL. He fell to a fourth career defeat in his first league outing, dropping a ten-round decision to eventual inaugural champion Koichi Wajima in the quarter-finals of the world championship tournament in June. A September win against the inexperienced Jamaican Hastings Gayle was followed by yet another loss for Toney, this time to the unfancied but hungrier New Jersey slugger Gene Armstrong to end the year and, as it turned out, Toney's time with the IBL.

He made the ill-advised decision to step into the ring against the tough German Christian Fritz less than two months later (February '07) in an IBO super-middleweight title fight, which Fritz won by a 10th round TKO. The fight was stopped due to some ugly swelling around a battered Toney's left eye. The defeat, Toney's sixth in ten bouts, appeared to end his career. Since then he's mostly kept a low profile, but had been seen on a few occasions with his good friend and the former world heavyweight champion Ken Norton. The most notable incident was back in June after Norton was dethroned by Peter Jackson, and Toney confronted a news crew that had set up camp outside Norton's San Diego home, calling them "a pack of vultures".

Toney had looked soft and out of shape at the time, so the fact that he'll be competing in the 200-pound division after contesting most of his previous career bouts as a middleweight is not a surprise. He appeared to be a little out of breath after dispatching Patterson last month, and so he'll have some long, hard training days ahead of him if he wants to be in suitable condition for his opening IC bout, which will be held at some point in February. He certainly could not have picked a more difficult way to spend 2009, as the IC tournament finalists in each weight class will have contested seven bouts by the time the season is over. Whether Toney (36-6-1(30)) is able to give the tournament a shake remains to be seen.

Larry Holman is ESPN.com's boxing writer.

[kenyan_cheena]

IBL ONLINE

The Official Website of the
International Boxing League

Saturday, January 10, 2009

2009 INTERNATIONAL BOXING LEAGUE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
PRELIMINARY STAGE GROUPS

Following is a division-by-division breakdown of the preliminary stage groups in the International Boxing League's 2009 International Conference tournaments. These groups were drawn using a lottery system, with the draw being carried out at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Friday the 9th of January. The tournament's preliminary stage consists of three bouts, each scheduled for six rounds, with each competitor to contest these bouts against the other three competitors in their tournament group. There will be a four-week break between each bout in the preliminary stage.

The tournaments will commence on the first day of the IBL's 2009 season, Monday the 2nd of February. A random draw was also held to determine the schedule for when the fight cards for each weight class will be held. There will be two cards for each weight class, with each card featuring eight bouts. The schedule for the opening series of bouts is as follows:

Week One

Monday 2 February and Tuesday 3 February: junior-heavyweights
Wednesday 4 February and Thursday 5 February: lightweights
Friday 6 February and Sunday 8 February: middleweights

Week Two

Monday 9 February and Tuesday 10 February: bantamweights
Wednesday 11 February and Thursday 12 February: light-heavyweights
Friday 13 February and Sunday 15 February: flyweights

Week Three

Monday 16 February and Tuesday 17 February: featherweights
Wednesday 18 February and Thursday 19 February: heavyweights
Friday 20 February and Sunday 22 February: welterweights

PRELIMINARY STAGE GROUPS

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

02. IGOR BEREZUTSKIY (RUSSIA, 26-4-0(20))
14. FRES OQUENDO (PUERTO RICO, 17-9-1(11))
20. FRANCESCO DAMIANI (ITALY, 15-6-2(8))
27. LUIS FIRPO (ARGENTINA, 16-3-1(9))

GROUP B

07. MIKE WEAVER (USA, 32-10-2(26))
10. FRED FULTON (USA, 17-6-1(10))
24. JIMMY ABBOTT (USA, 15-2-1(9))
30. CORRIE SANDERS (SOUTH AFRICA, 13-1-1(10))

GROUP C

04. RIDDICK BOWE (USA, 17-5-0(11))
13. PRIMO CARNERA (ITALY, 14-0-0(13))
19. MIKE HUNTER (USA, 36-11-4(23))
25. DON COCKELL (ENGLAND, 14-3-0(6))

GROUP D

06. VLADIMIR VIRCHIS (UKRAINE, 17-5-3(11))
12. SAM LEULUAI (NEW ZEALAND, 29-11-2(22))
23. ALEXANDER PETKOVICK (GERMANY, 36-8-5(26))
28. NATIE BROWN (USA, 10-8-1(4))

GROUP E

03. MIKE HANSON (USA, 13-5-0(10))
16. PIERRE COETZER (SOUTH AFRICA, 18-9-2(11))
22. MARK LYONS (USA, 14-6-0(11))
26. CARL MORRIS (USA, 14-4-1(10))

GROUP F

05. JOE JEANNETTE (USA, 20-4-0(13))
09. EARNIE SHAVERS (USA, 19-0-0(19))
18. GARY MASON (ENGLAND, 31-8-2(23))
29. VAUGHN BEAN (USA, 12-0-1(7))

GROUP G

08. EDDIE MACHEN (USA, 24-8-1(15))
11. GERRIE COETZEE (SOUTH AFRICA, 25-8-2(17))
21. FRANKIE GODDARD (USA, 38-12-2(24))
32. TONY GALENTO (USA, 13-2-0(5))

GROUP H

01. BRUTUS BRODY (USA, 18-2-0(18))
15. FRANCOIS BOTHA (SOUTH AFRICA, 30-10-1(22))
17. KALOLO UMAGA (SAMOA, 15-8-1(11))
31. TOM HEENEY (NEW ZEALAND, 17-10-1(9))

JUNIOR-HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

01. CARLOS DELEON (PUERTO RICO, 34-5-1(23))
13. ALEXANDER FRENKEL (UKRAINE, 15-2-2(8)
18. AL COLE (USA, 13-0-1(8))
32. LAUDELINO JOSE BARROS (BRAZIL, 13-9-1(9))

GROUP B

07. DAVID HAYE (ENGLAND, 17-6-1(8))
11. ELMER RAY (USA, 14-5-1(11))
21. GRIGORY DROZD (RUSSIA, 25-9-2(18))
31. RUDOLF KRAJ (CZECH REPUBLIC, 14-10-1(10))

GROUP C

03. NATE GIBBS (USA, 25-4-0(19))
15. LOUIS DEL VALLE (USA, 21-8-3(15))
19. MAGNE HAVNAA (NORWAY, 17-3-0(10))
25. FIRAT ARSLAN (GERMANY, 12-1-0(6))

GROUP D

06. DARIO WALTER MATTEONI (ARGENTINA, 29-9-3(19))
09. THOMAS SCHMELZER (GERMANY, 30-3-1(20))
23. JAMES TONEY (USA, 36-6-1(30))
30. DAN HARVISON (USA, 17-9-2(8))

GROUP E

04. DALE BROWN (CANADA, 17-5-2(11))
14. DAVID IZEQWIRE (NIGERIA, 22-8-1(12))
20. KENNY KEENE (USA, 33-10-2(23))
28. NATE MILLER (USA, 10-1-0(6))

GROUP F

05. RICHARD MASON (USA, 28-10-2(18))
10. VADIM TOKAREV (RUSSIA, 30-9-4(22))
17. GARY GOMEZ (USA, 20-9-2(13))
29. RYDELL BOOKER (USA, 19-8-1(14))

GROUP G

08. VINCENZO CANTATORE (ITALY, 14-6-1(11))
12. MARKUS BOTT (GERMANY, 30-8-1(18))
24. JEAN-MARC MORMECK (FRANCE, 12-0-0(7))
27. LOUIS AZILLE (DOMINICA, 11-1-1(6))

GROUP H

02. HAROLD JOHNSON (USA, 38-5-2(26))
16. TERRY DUNSTAN (ENGLAND, 23-9-2(13))
22. YOAN PABLO HERNANDEZ (CUBA, 23-9-0(17))
26. SAMMY REESON (ENGLAND, 16-3-0(9))

LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

01. JAMES FRANKLIN (ENGLAND, 32-3-0(23))
16. RICKY WOMACK (USA, 14-2-0(8))
22. PAUL ANDREWS (USA, 15-3-1(5))
31. MIKE ROSSMAN (USA, 11-8-1(4))

GROUP B

08. CHARLES WILLIAMS (USA, 16-6-0(8))
09. TOMASZ ADAMEK (POLAND, 16-0-0(11))
24. DAVID MAIER (USA, 13-1-1(9))
27. MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ (USA, 13-6-2(7))

GROUP C

04. STEVE FINLEY (USA, 17-4-0(12))
13. WAYNE THORNTON (USA, 28-6-2(17))
17. STEPHEN JENNINGS (WALES, 24-4-1(17))
29. RICHIE KATES (USA, 12-8-0(7))

GROUP D

05. MIGUEL ANGEL CUELLO (ARGENTINA, 32-9-3(22))
12. MICHAEL BARRETT (USA, 25-4-1(17))
23. JIMMY WEBB (USA, 15-1-1(6))
30. HENRY HANK (USA, 12-9-2(5))

GROUP E

03. TYRONE SHELTON (JAMAICA, 31-6-1(20))
14. DAMIEN WALEC (USA, 19-0-1(17))
21. WILLI HOEPNER (GERMANY, 17-8-3(11))
28. NICHOLAS MARTIN (ENGLAND, 17-9-3(10))

GROUP F

06. PAUL ANDERSON (NEW ZEALAND, 18-7-1(10))
10. JIMMY SLADE (USA, 33-7-0(17))
20. DAN BUCCERONI (USA, 14-7-0(7))
32. VICTOR CORDOBA (PANAMA, 10-8-3(5))

GROUP G

07. SCOT LONG (USA, 14-6-2(6))
11. PETITE FOURIE (FRANCE, 14-6-0(6))
19. FRANKIE SWINDELL (USA, 10-6-2(7))
25. AXEL MULLER (GERMANY, 12-1-1(8))

GROUP H

02. FREDDIE MILLS (ENGLAND, 15-2-2(8))
15. JIMMY ADAMICK (USA, 16-7-2(10))
18. KLAUS BIERHOFF (GERMANY, 29-10-0(20))
26. CLARENCE HINNANT (USA, 10-6-4(4))

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

01. MONTELL JACKSON (USA, 21-2-0(14))
15. LAURENT BOUDOUANI (FRANCE, 20-9-1(14))
20. KINGSLEY IKEKE (NIGERIA, 15-0-1(10))
30. TERRY JOHNSON (USA, 18-11-1(9))

GROUP B

08. DENNY MOYER (USA, 13-4-4(4))
10. MARVIN BLANKS (USA, 32-10-0(20))
18. TIBERIO MITRI (ITALY, 15-0-1(6))
31. DONATO PADUANO (CANADA, 14-9-1(8))

GROUP C

03. DAVEY MOORE (USA, 19-4-0(14))
14. ROGER MENETREY (FRANCE, 36-9-1(26))
19. RENE JACQUOT (FRANCE, 16-8-4(6))
28. GENE WELLS (USA, 18-10-1(8))

GROUP D

06. JESUS ENAMORADO (CUBA, 14-6-0(5))
11. PAUL PIRRONE (USA, 15-6-0(5))
24. JOHN MCCORMACK (SCOTLAND, 12-1-1(7))
27. JIM HALL (AUSTRALIA, 14-3-0(6))

GROUP E

04. RUBIN CARTER (USA, 23-7-1(18))
13. VITO ANTUOFERMO (ITALY, 18-7-2(7))
21. ANTON RAADIK (ESTONIA, 14-0-0(9))
26. MARCEL THIL (FRANCE, 12-1-0(8))

GROUP F

05. JAVIER AGUIRRE (MEXICO, 16-0-0(12))
12. DEVON EDWARDS (JAMAICA, 25-3-0(15))
22. LAURENT DAUTHUILLE (FRANCE, 11-6-2(4))
25. VICTOR ZALAZAR (ARGENTINA, 13-0-1(10))

GROUP G

07. ALAN MINTER (ENGLAND, 26-4-0(16))
09. ROBERT VILLEMAIN (FRANCE, 14-4-4(5))
17. TONY SIBSON (ENGLAND, 14-6-0(7))
29. HUGO CORRO (ARGENTINA, 13-7-1(5))

GROUP H

02. RANDY TURPIN (ENGLAND, 17-4-0(13))
16. STEVE BELLOISE (USA, 13-6-2(7))
23. JUAN CARLOS RIVERO (ARGENTINA, 16-8-3(10))
32. LOU GUTIERREZ (NICARAGUA, 11-7-1(6))

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

02. BENEDICT KHUMALO (SOUTH AFRICA, 18-4-1(11))
13. SANDRO LOPOPOLO (ITALY, 18-8-1(9))
22. PETER WATERMAN (ENGLAND, 13-1-1(11))
32. TSUYOSHI HAMADA (JAPAN, 9-6-2(4))

GROUP B

08. ALFONZO MONZANT (VENEZUELA, 26-5-0(20))
11. JIMMY FULTON (ENGLAND, 29-6-2(19))
20. GEORGE CHANEY (USA, 31-12-4(22))
29. JAMES PAGE (USA, 12-8-2(7))

GROUP C

03. VIRGIL AKINS (USA, 17-4-1(11))
16. JOHNNY GRECO (CANADA, 17-2-1(11))
23. REINHARDT KOHLER (GERMANY, 13-6-2(7))
30. SEYI OLOFINJANA (NIGERIA, 12-8-2(6))

GROUP D

05. IKE QUARTEY (GHANA, 31-8-0(25))
10. GASPAR ORTEGA (MEXICO, 14-0-1(8))
18. AARON LISTER BROWN (USA, 20-8-3(14))
28. JOSE STABLE (CUBA, 13-7-4(7))

GROUP E

04. JIMMY DOYLE (USA, 10-3-4(3))
14. BERNABE CARBAJAL (MEXICO, 15-4-3(9))
21. KIRKLAND LAING (JAMAICA, 14-1-0(10))
26. TITO MARSHALL (PANAMA, 16-8-2(8))

GROUP F

06. LERON MATHIS (USA, 29-4-0(18))
09. BRIAN MITCHELL (SOUTH AFRICA, 34-8-2(23))
24. ZAB JUDAH (USA, 12-0-0(10))
27. ISAAC HLATSHWAYO (SOUTH AFRICA, 13-6-1(7))

GROUP G

07. FRANCISCO BOJADO (MEXICO, 21-3-2(14))
12. ALVARO GUTIERREZ (MEXICO, 17-3-0(12))
19. ROBERTO CRUZ (PHILIPPINES, 24-12-0(14))
31. KID AZTECA (MEXICO, 10-7-2(5))

GROUP H

01. ERIC BENGTSON (USA, 14-3-3(7))
15. CLYDE GRAY (CANADA, 17-2-1(9))
17. GUSTAV EDER (GERMANY, 28-5-1(17))
25. JIMMY GARDNER (IRELAND, 11-0-1(7))

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

01. TERUKI NAKATA (JAPAN, 31-6-0(21))
16. SERAPHIN FERRER (FRANCE, 14-2-1(11))
18. JAVIER LOPEZ (MEXICO, 31-8-1(21))
30. ALDO SPOLDI (ITALY, 13-8-0(6))

GROUP B

07. FLORIANO BECITE (PHILIPPINES, 28-3-1(22))
10. JAGUAR KAKIZAWA (JAPAN, 31-7-5(16))
24. LUTHER WHITE (USA, 12-0-0(4))
28. ALFREDO PITALUA (COLOMBIA, 12-6-4(7))

GROUP C

03. GREG HAUGEN (USA, 27-8-3(17))
15. RICARDO UNABIA (PHILIPPINES, 34-8-2(19))
19. ASDRUBAL ROSALES (VENEZUELA, 21-3-0(13))
29. BUZZSAW YAMABE (JAPAN, 13-6-1(6))

GROUP D

05. ENRIQUE BOLANOS (MEXICO, 24-7-3(18))
12. RAY ADIGUN (NIGERIA, 22-8-1(15))
17. VILOMAR FERNANDEZ (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, 13-0-1(5))
27. BILLY PETROLLE (USA, 13-0-0(9))

GROUP E

04. VICENTE SANTANA (BRAZIL, 15-5-1(10))
14. ELEAZAR CONTRERAS JR (USA, 15-1-1(6))
20. CLAUDE NOEL (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 26-11-2(18))
26. FRED GALIANA (SPAIN, 13-2-1(8))

GROUP F

06. JUAN MEZA (MEXICO, 34-5-2(26))
09. KUROKAWA TAIKI (JAPAN, 18-4-2(9))
22. SAMUEL MENSAH (GHANA, 18-8-3(12))
32. ISHIMATSU SUZUKI (JAPAN, 10-8-3(5))

GROUP G

08. DANIEL JIMENEZ (PUERTO RICO, 21-1-1(13))
11. RICHIE PLUNKETT (USA, 18-5-0(14))
23. ANATOLY ALEXANDROV (KAZAKHSTAN, 20-9-4(14))
25. LARRY BOARDMAN (USA, 13-7-1(6))

GROUP H

02. IWAO OTOMO (JAPAN, 13-3-1(10))
13. DAMAZO COLLAZO (CUBA, 17-0-1(10))
21. RAY MANCINI (USA, 13-7-2(8))
31. SAMMY MANDELL (USA, 10-6-2(3))

FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

02. SERGIO PALMA (ARGENTINA, 32-4-1(26))
14. JET BALLY (PHILIPPINES, 23-8-3(13))
17. CARMELO NEGRON (PUERTO RICO, 18-6-2(13))
25. RAFIU KING (NIGERIA, 11-0-1(8))

GROUP B

08. HECTOR MARTINEZ (MEXICO, 30-3-1(22))
12. ANSEL BELL (PANAMA, 18-1-1(6))
21. ELOY ROJAS (VENEZUELA, 13-1-1(9))
26. CLEMENTE SANCHEZ (MEXICO, 19-8-1(8))

GROUP C

03. SOLLY SMITH (USA, 26-6-0(18))
15. CALVIN GROVE (USA, 17-1-2(6))
22. PETER KEENAN (SCOTLAND, 33-11-1(25))
29. BRUNO ALVES (PORTUGAL, 15-8-0(8))

GROUP D

05. ORLANDO SALIDO (MEXICO, 19-7-2(9))
09. WELCOME NCITA (SOUTH AFRICA, 15-5-2(4))
23. CHAN-YONG PARK (SOUTH KOREA, 30-10-1(20))
32. JACK WOLFE (USA, 12-6-1(4))

GROUP E

04. OMAR CALDERON (MEXICO, 23-4-2(14))
13. ROBERT BROWN (JAMAICA, 21-6-2(12))
18. JUNG-IL BYUN (SOUTH KOREA, 41-11-3(28))
27. ANUCHA THONGLAO (THAILAND, 13-5-2(3))

GROUP F

06. ANTONIO HAWKINS (USA, 32-3-1(25))
10. JESAN VALENZUELA (PHILIPPINES, 15-6-1(7))
19. ANTONIO HERRERA (COLOMBIA, 21-8-1(11))
31. STEVE CRUZ (USA, 13-9-2(5))

GROUP G

07. ALEXIS ARGUELLO (NICARAGUA, 16-0-0(14))
11. JOHNNY CUTHBERT (ENGLAND, 15-0-0(8))
24. TOSHIAKI NISHIOKA (JAPAN, 12-1-1(7))
30. OSCAR GARDNER (USA, 14-7-3(7))

GROUP H

01. LORIS STECCA (ITALY, 18-5-2(11))
16. MIGUEL BERRIOS (PUERTO RICO, 14-0-0(6))
20. JAVIER VIDRIO (MEXICO, 13-3-2(4))
28. MITSUNORI SEKI (JAPAN, 15-6-2(5))

BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

02. FELIX MACHADO (VENEZUELA, 29-8-0(19))
16. RAUL PEREZ (MEXICO, 14-0-1(11))
24. RICHIE SANDOVAL (USA, 14-0-1(9))
29. CARL TREMAINE (CANADA, 18-8-1(10))

GROUP B

08. GUSTAVO BALLAS (ARGENTINA, 29-3-0(20))
11. JOHNNY BREDAHL (DENMARK, 26-7-2(14))
22. JESUS PIMENTEL (MEXICO, 28-9-1(18))
32. TANCY LEE (SCOTLAND, 11-4-3(6))

GROUP C

03. JEROME GUSTILO (PHILIPPINES, 21-4-0(13))
14. JULIAN SOLIS (PUERTO RICO, 33-6-2(23))
19. OCTAVIO GOMEZ (MEXICO, 37-10-1(24))
25. HIDEKI TODAKA (JAPAN, 13-1-2(6))

GROUP D

05. ROBERTO RUBALDINO (MEXICO, 21-7-2(15))
10. MAURICIO MARTINEZ (PANAMA, 27-7-3(18))
23. STEVE DOTSE (GHANA, 14-3-2(10))
27. JOHN ARMOUR (ENGLAND, 19-7-1(9))

GROUP E

04. ENRIQUE PINDER (PANAMA, 24-7-3(18))
15. LUIS CASTILLO (MEXICO, 20-7-4(15))
18. ALPHONSE HALIMI (FRANCE, 25-7-3(14))
26. MACARIO SANTOS (MEXICO, 33-10-4(22))

GROUP F

06. GEORGE DIXON (CANADA, 21-1-0(8))
09. LUPE PINTOR (MEXICO, 33-8-1(23))
20. DANNY O'SULLIVAN (ENGLAND, 25-10-1(19))
30. THANOMCHIT SUKOTHAI (THAILAND, 14-7-1(9))

GROUP G

07. AKEEM ANIFOWOSHE (NIGERIA, 23-1-0(20))
12. JOSE BECERRA (MEXICO, 16-0-1(13))
21. CASPER LEON (ITALY, 24-7-0(13))
31. LEO ESPINOZA (PHILIPPINES, 12-6-1(3))

GROUP H

01. MANUEL ARMENTEROS (CUBA, 17-7-2(8))
13. CHRIS PINEDA (PHILIPPINES, 15-0-0(6))
17. JAKE MATLALA (SOUTH AFRICA, 39-9-3(29))
28. MANNY ELIAS (USA, 23-10-2(16))

FLYWEIGHT DIVISION

GROUP A

02. WILLIE DAVISON (USA, 27-7-2(20))
13. EFREN TORRES (MEXICO, 15-0-1(8))
21. VIC DARCHINYAN (AUSTRALIA, 14-0-0(12))
32. ARISTIDE POZZALI (ITALY, 11-6-3(5))

GROUP B

07. ISIDRO PEREZ (MEXICO, 24-8-2(16))
10. ERIC ORTIZ (MEXICO, 15-7-1(9))
17. JACKIE JURICH (USA, 14-1-0(8))
29. CHARTCHAI CHIONOI (THAILAND, 14-6-1(6))

GROUP C

04. ADRIAN HERNANDEZ (MEXICO, 37-8-2(28))
16. LUIS IBARRA (PANAMA, 15-2-3(8))
20. EMILE PLADNER (FRANCE, 13-0-0(5))
27. IGNACIO ESPINAL (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, 12-0-1(9))

GROUP D

05. NAM-HOON CHA (SOUTH KOREA, 21-5-2(12))
09. CARLOS SEDA (PUERTO RICO, 15-6-5(10))
18. CARLOS MURILLO (PANAMA, 14-0-0(12))
31. JOHNNY MCCLUSKEY (SCOTLAND, 12-7-3(4))

GROUP E

03. HILARIO ZAPATA (PANAMA, 21-3-1(10))
15. NETHRA SASIPRAPA (THAILAND, 31-11-3(22))
22. PERCY JONES (WALES, 12-0-1(8))
25. MAURICE SANDEYRON (FRANCE, 11-1-0(6))

GROUP F

06. ERIC MARSDEN (ENGLAND, 25-8-2(15))
12. HIDEKI SUZUKI (JAPAN, 19-5-2(10))
23. ALEJANDRO MONTIEL (MEXICO, 13-0-1(9))
28. RINTY MONAGHAN (NORTHERN IRELAND, 11-0-1(6))

GROUP G

08. DAISUKE NAITO (JAPAN, 30-8-1(19))
11. YOKO GUSHIKEN (JAPAN, 18-3-2(11))
19. HENRY NISSEN (AUSTRALIA, 33-12-3(23))
30. OMAR NARVAEZ (ARGENTINA, 16-6-1(8))

GROUP H

01. JOHN BEKKER (SOUTH AFRICA, 24-4-1(17))
14. FIDEL BASSA (COLOMBIA, 14-1-1(11))
24. SOT CHITALADA (THAILAND, 13-1-0(9))
26. ROSENDO ALVAREZ (NICARAGUA, 13-1-2(10))

[kenyan_cheena]

The Miami Herald

TUESDAY 13 JANUARY 2009

ALVAREZ VS BROWN
CONFIRMED FOR MARCH

Story by Michael Lawson

It's a showdown that has been a long, long time coming, and on Monday afternoon the camps of young Florida heavyweights Romy Alvarez and Cheetah Brown confirmed that their charges will step into the ring against each other at Miami's AmericanAirlines Arena on Saturday, March 21. The bout will be a stage one contest in the International Boxing League's World Championship Conference. Alvarez, who won two of his three WCC bouts in 2008, will come into the clash ranked at #7 while Brown (ranked #12) will be making his WCC debut after accumulating a perfect 5-0 record in the International Conference last year.

Alvarez brings a 13-4(7) record into 2009, while Brown boasts an 18-2(12) mark. Those numbers are mostly irrelevant, though, as Alvarez should go into the fight as a slight favourite due to the superior quality of opponents he has faced during the last twenty months. He's won six of the seven bouts he contested during that time, with former world champions Sergey Anyukov and Igor Berezutskiy amongst his victims. He also pushed Olympic gold medallist Lennox Lewis all the way before losing a unanimous decision verdict last August. By comparison, Brown's recent resume is considerably less impressive.

There have been three separate occasions since the commencement of competition in the IBL where Alvarez and Brown were on the verge of fighting, but each time a defeat for either man scuttled it. Back during the latter half of '06, they were competitors in the league's Americas Championship tournament. They both progressed to the semi-finals, where Brown scored a unanimous decision win over Sam McVey but Alvarez lost by split decision to Mike Weaver. Brown went on to win the tournament and the title with a 3rd round TKO of Weaver. On the same late December fight card, semi-final losers Alvarez and McVey clashed for the right to be the first man to challenge for the belt. Once again, Alvarez was on the wrong side of a split decision verdict, with McVey then dethroning Brown in February '07.

Flash forward to the second half of 2007 and the IBL's WCC qualifying tournaments, where Alvarez and Brown were bracketed to meet with a WCC place up for grabs. This time it was a Brown defeat that derailed their first meeting. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, the Tampa native suffered a shattering 4th round KO at the hands of Nigeria's Samuel Peter in August. The very next day, Alvarez gained some revenge on Mike Weaver for the loss he had inflicted upon him ten months earlier, stopping him in six rounds. Alvarez then recorded a brilliant 3rd round KO of Peter to secure his berth in the WCC, while Brown was consigned to the International Conference.

Last month Alvarez signed a new two-year, seven-figure contract with the IBL, a contract that he said will allow him to achieve his dream of moving his family from their long-time home in Belle Glade, Palm Beach County, to Miami. Now 25, Alvarez's initial IBL deal, signed back in mid-2006, was the equivalent of the league minimum in any of the other major US sports leagues, due to his lack of experience at the time. It expired at the end of 2007 and the upgrade he agreed to for '08, along with the prize money he earned in the WCC, was substantial, but still not quite enough to bring about the change he wanted to implement for his family.

"Man, you know, anybody who tells you they ain't doing this for the money ... they're lying, seriously," said Alvarez during an interview with ESPN's Larry Holman earlier this month. "From day one, I've looked at this as a way out. For myself, for my family ... hopefully for some of my friends some day, also. Of course, I want to win. I dream of the day, you know, that day when President Vincennes hands me that world heavyweight championship belt, and I lift it up over my head. But I've said it before, and I'll say it again now - you put your body through this hell, this punishment that only boxers can know ... you better be gettin' paid."

Brown's place in the WCC for 2009 was actually confirmed long before Alvarez's, as Brown's September win over Dre Kingston ensured he'd be there, even if he was to lose his final bout of the year. After his November 15 victory over Berezutskiy, which secured his own place in the '09 WCC, Alvarez was already looking forward to the new year and told his trainer Roy Jones that he wanted to fight Brown to start it. Brown recently said that he has long been eager to trade punches with Alvarez, even saying that the possibility of fighting him was one of his main motivations during 2008. While the bout will feature on the undercard of the March 21 event, it will surely be one of the most anticipated of stage one in the WCC, and should measure up to the weight of expectation.

[Romdawg88]

C.R.E.A.M.

About time we got that Brown/Alvarez fight, should be a hell of a fight. Hopefully, my chin doesn't let me down and we can keep the excellent run of form going.

[kenyan_cheena]

It's actually the only fight for stage one that's 100% confirmed so far (in my planning of them, that is), although a few others were implied in that earlier post from December 12. I still have to finalise the field for the Development League. Once that's done I can get to scheduling the WCC bouts.

[Romdawg88]

You know I think I'm going to have to go back and reread all of the mine and Brown's fights just to refresh myself. I really don't remember how they went outside of the basics.

[kenyan_cheena]

Those initial IBL tournaments were a lot of fun, especially in the heavyweight division. That Brown-McVey rivalry was pretty awesome.

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Those initial IBL tournaments were a lot of fun, especially in the heavyweight division. That Brown-McVey rivalry was pretty awesome.

That it was. It's still kind of crazy too look back at that and see my dude come out for the best from all that craziness considering he dropped three fights in a row there. Heck each of us in that Alvarez/Brown/McVey/Hanson quartet had a real rough patch at one point or other.

[kenyan_cheena]

I might have to do a little post on McVey to see how he went in his rookie NFL season, with the super bowl only a couple of weeks away.