First Lady defeats Yuratovac, Helenius knocks out Gammer
Cecilia Braekhus (12-0, 2 KOs) made a successful first defence of her WBA/WBC female welterweight titles as she clinched a unanimous points victory over Amy Yuratovac (6-3, 6 KOs) in Helsinki. The “First Lady” was ahead 98-92 on all three scorecards. “I am pleased with my performance,” she said. “Amy was an unorthodox fighter, she tried to fight and I tried to box, but I am happy I defeated her clearly.”
Braekhus made good use of her size advantage, cleverly keeping the American challenger at bay with her long left jab. In almost every round she connected with hard left-right combinations to the head, while Yuratovac tried to threaten with series of hooks to the body. However, most of them were absorbed by Braekhus´ solid defence. “Cecilia did very well tonight,” coach Ulli Wegner lauded. “Her development is tremendous. Today was a good test for her because her opponent was a true fighter and put on a strong performance. But Cecilia found the right solutions.” Braekhus outboxed her opponent throughout the entire distance of the fight, showing her trademark speed, anticipation and movement. “I was great to fight in Scandinavia,” she added. “I hope the fans enjoyed it.”
Also on the undercard of Pekka Maki´s show at the Hartwall Arena, Robert Helenius (8-0, 4 KOs) clinched a big victory over Scott Gammer (18-4, 9 KOs), knocking out “The Hammer” in the sixth round. In what was just his eighth fight, the “Nordic Nightmare” dusted the experienced Welshman three times. Gammer took a knee after a hard right to the body in the opening round before Helenius kept firing in his left jab as well as strong shots to body and head in the following. An uppercut wobbled Gammer in the fourth. In the sixth, Helenius landed another right to the body to send his opponent down. A brutal right hook to the chin then ended the encounter. “It was great to fight in Finland,” Helenius said. “Gammer is an experienced opponent but I clearly defeated him today.” Coach Ulli Wegner was also full of praise. “Robert keeps learning very fast,” he said. “To beat someone like Gammer at such an early stage of your career really shows how much talent you have. I will make one promise tonight: We will be back in this wonderful arena in Helsinki for Robert to fight for the world title. It might take a while and Robert needs to keep working hard in practice, but he got what it takes to be a champion.”
More pictures: www.boxing-online.com, credit: SE
Lauri beats Tolppola by DQ!
By Anson Wainwright
After the fallout of Chagaev-Valuev the new main event from the Hartwall Arena, Helsinki was between Italy’s experienced Giuseppe Lauri 48-6(28) & local Juho Tolppola 22-6-1(9) for Lauri’s European Union title Light Welterweight crown. The action got underway after Tolppola got a rousing reception during his ring walk. Despite seeming to have the better of the opening round Tolppola is deducted 2 points at the end of the round for headbutting Lauri on the bell. As the action continued Tolppola seemed to be getting the better of the action but was being warned regularly by the referee for holding. By the seventh the referee is forced to take another point much to Tolppola’s annoyance. This seems to be playing into Lauri’s hands as he’s coming on strong. Finally midway through the tenth the referee had seen enough and threw Tolppola out much to his and the crowds annoyance. One angry spectator actually made it into the ring but was quickly and without fuss restrained.
At the time of the stoppage Lauri was ahead on all three of the judges cards by 6 points on two of the cards and 1 point on the other. 15rounds.com scored it 85-84 to Lauri.
Norway’s Cecilia Breakaus 12-0(2) beat American Amy Yuratovac via ten round decision 98-92×3 to retain her WBA & WBC Welterweight title.
In another Heavyweight fight Jarno Rosberg 7-0(4) blitzed Hungarian Viktor Szalai 11-20-1(3) in just 26 seconds of the first round. Rosberg caught Szalai with a monster left hook that drops Szalai heavily in the centre of the ring.
Exciting Russian Light Welterweight Dennis Shafikov 20-0(11) destroyed Australian John Cotterill Jnr 23-8(10) in just 2.00 minutes. Shafikov shook Cotterill who then tries to hold but Shafikov manages to get through with a bone shaking left uppercut, that is soon followed by a crunching left hook that drops Cotterill into the ropes. Though he attempts to beat the count it is too late and he is counted out.
Unbeaten Heavyweight Robert Helenius 8-0(4) scored a sixth round stoppage over former British champion Scott Gammer 18-4-1(9). Gammer was down in the first from a body shot and twice in the sixth firstly from another body shot before taking another trip to the canvas this time from an over hand right. Gammer this time never made it to his feet before he was counted out at the 1.52 of the round.
In Super Middleweight action Niko Jokinen 5-0(4) easily outpointed Istvan Petroczki 7-9(2) 40-36.
Ever popular Evander Holyfield was at ringside. Holyfield had flown over in the hope of seeing Chagaev-Valuev.
Cummings Drops Davis; Stevenson Remains Unbeaten in Baltimore
For more information go to www.baltimoreboxing.com.
Alvarado hurt; Won’t face Malignaggi on June 27 PPV in Atlantic City
According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, The proposed Jr. Welterweight showdown betweenm undefeated Mike Alvarado and Paulie Malignaggi will not happen due to an injury to Alvarado.
Alvarado hurt his right elbow earlier in the week and when he tried to test it Friday, it “kept locking up and he couldn’t go,” Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman told ESPN.com.
“Mike knew the magnitude of the fight and he knows the kind of fighter Paulie is,” Goodman said. “Mike knew this was a make-or-break kind of fight and he felt like he had to be 100 percent to fight a guy like Paulie. It was an important fight for both guys. Alvarado is trying to prove himself and Paulie is desperate to get back on top.”
Goodman said Top Rank would try to leave Malignaggi (26-2, 5 KOs) on the card and match him with another opponent. He said that the fight with Alvarado would be rescheduled.
Berto decisions Urango to keep WBC Welterweight crown
By Johnny Schulz (ringside)
Andre Berto kept his perfect record intact while using slick boxing and superior hand speed to outbox tough Columbian Juan Urango 21-2-1 (16KO). Urango moved up to welterweight to challenge Berto, 25-0 (19KO) for his WBC Welterweight title. Berto consistently landed lead straight right hands and uppercuts as his speed proved to be too much for Urango. Often Berto would land a blistering lead left hook then end up on the other side of the ring as Urango was facing the opposite direction looking for him. Berto combined skilled boxing, superior hand speed, great footwork, and a great fight plan to overcome the hard hitting Columbian. Berto feels he is now ready to challenge the lead of the division and is now a complete fighter. The cards read 117-111, 118-110. I Had it just a just a bit closer at 116-112.
Kermit Cintron and Alfredo Angulo engage in a slugfest at the Hard Rock in Hollywood. Cintron gets back to form!
A twelfth round barn burner caped an exciting WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator fight between 2004 Mexican Olympian Alfredo Angulo, 15-1 (12KO) and Kermit Cintron 31-2-1 (27KO). Cintron calls this unanimous decision over tough Mexican Angulo, his greatest performance to date. The two traded punches all night and both proved to have phenomenal chins as they exchanged heavy power punches.
For Cintron, the former IBF Welterweight Champion, this now sets the table for a rematch, of a hard fought draw with WBC Light Middleweight Champion Argentinean Sergio Martinez in February.
“Kermit Cintron has always been one of the most talented fighters in the world, but tonight is the night he pulled it all together. He boxed against a never say Warrior.” Lou DIBella, DiBella Entertainment.
Philadelphia’s Yusaf “the Mack Attack” Mack 27-2 (17KO), was impressive with a fourth round knockout win over DeAndrey Abron 15-5 (10KO). Mack, the NABF and NABA Light heavyweight champion, landed a heavy right hand left hook the floored Abron, the former NABO Light heavyweight champion early in round 4. After an eight count Mack jumped on Abron, forced him in the corner and dropped in for a second and final time. The end came at 1:46 of round four.
2008 Puerto Rican Olympian Jonathan Gonzalez 3-0 (3KO) destroyed Laquel “Flash” Fleming1-2(1) from Tampa Florida in the third fight of the evening. Referee Telis Assimenios stepped in at 1:19 of the first round.
In the second bout of the evening, heavyweight Wilmer “The Latin Hamer” Vazquez, improved to 9-0-1 (5KO) with a close majority decision over experienced Andrew Greely 14 -27 (KO 
from Monroe LA.
The Latin Hammer commanded the fight by being first with one or two punch combos, but was caught by the slick counter punches on occasion. In the first round, Vazquez, the 2004 Venezuela Olympian broke out a little Ali shuffle which drew a response from the crowd and a gigantic left hook from Greeley. The cards read 58-56 twice and 57-57. I had it 58-56 Vazquez.
WBA to decide in seven days
The WBA will make a decision about the cancelled title fight between heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev and “champion in recess” Ruslan Chagaev in seven days. The fight was called off on late Friday evening because Chagaev could not fulfill the local medical requirements. “We are now waiting for the WBA´s decision,” Sauerland Event General Manager Chris Meyer said. “Of course Nikolai Valuev is the WBA heavyweight champion. Once again it showed that health-wise Ruslan Chagaev is not able to fight for the world title.”
Universum doubted the legitimacy of the Finnish federation´s decision. “I am healthy and ready to fight,” said Ruslan Chagaev. “I don´t understand the decision.”
It was not before Friday afternoon (after the weigh-in) that Universum turned in up-to-date blood tests which had been requested by the Finnish federation. Since the documents could not rule out a danger of infection for Nikolai Valuev, the Finns did not grant Chagaev a license for the title fight in Helsinki.
Chagaev-Valuev OFF! Card still on though.
By Anson Wainwright
Rumour have been doing the rounds through various website’s and other forms of media that this evening’s WBA Heavyweight title fight has been cancelled. This is unfortunately the case.
However contrary to popular belief the whole card hasn’t been scrapped 6 of the original 10 fights are still scheduled to take place this evening from the Hartwall Arena.
Both fighters weighed in yesterday afternoon and all seemed to be well however it now seems this was the quiet before the storm. Is seems that following the weigh in that while both teams were due to hand in blood tests from the last 28 days Chagaev hadn’t. Finally at yesterday’s rules meeting which proceeded the weigh in the Finnish Boxing commission issued Universum fighter Chagaev with the ultimatum that he had to hand in a blood test, when they did it is my understanding that it came back with a mild form of Hepatitis B. No confirmation of this has been available due to Finnish law prohibiting this.
It has been rumoured that Valuev could be offered a vaccination but it seems nothing came of that. In an attempt to keep the main event Sauerland said that Lamon Brewster was offered the fight with Valuev but declined it, while Kali Meehan was also offered it but due in part to him being promoted by Don King who was leaving New York when news of this first broke who said he wished to make the deal when he arrived early this morning in Finland. That was to late for the fight to go on however.
There were further meetings this morning between all parties which will decided exactly what the next step will be. It is the third cancellation of this fight and it would appear to be a long hard road back for Chagaev while Valuev looks certain to be made up as full champion. A disappointed Valuev said “I would of loved to make this fight, but due to circumstances it is not possible”
It is our wish that all fighters take part in bouts 100% healthy and is unfortunate that this intriguing fight was called off so close to fight time.
Braekhus, Helenius to fight in Helsinki
After the cancellation of the WBA heavyweight title fight between Nikolai Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev two Sauerland boxers will be in action at Hartwall Arena on Saturday night. WBA/WBC female welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus will take on Amy Yuratovac, while Robert Helenius clashes with Scott Gammer in a show promoted by P3 boxing and Tailor Events. Pekka Makki´s undercard will go ahead as planned.
“War Gods V” live webcast Saturday May 30
“War Gods V” takes place this weekend, Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Viejas Casino in Alpine, California. Headlining the card will be UFC veteran Vernon “The Tiger” White (26-32-2) vs. Canadian ECC Lightweight Champion Lew Polley (9-2).
Also on the card will be Muay Thai Champion Kit Cope (2-4) taking on undefeated Pancrase veteran Steve Magdaleno (5-0). Cope is most well known for being featured on MTV’s “True Life” on two separate occasions. His particular episode of “True Life” is one of the most successful and replayed episodes of any MTV show ever.
Other notable names on this card are Ryan Shamrock (1-1), son of UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, and MMA veteran David Gardner (16-11), who lost to Shinya Aoki at DREAM 7 earlier this year.
“New Breed Fighters XXII” online webcast Saturday May 30 live from New Jersey
This Saturday, May 30th, 2009 New Breed Fighters returns to the Resorts Superstar Theater in Atlantic City, New Jersey will be providing you LIVE access to all the action via webcast.
There will be a total of FIVE title fights on the card, headlined by a Welterweight Championship bout between Robbie “Flawless” Lawless (4-1) from Miletich Fighting Systems taking on the champion Jared “Flash” Gordon (4-1) from Rhino, N.Y. Fight Team.
Lawless will be looking for revenge in what will be the third title fight between the two. In their first match-up last November, Lawless won the title from a doctor’s stoppage due to a cut in round two. They met again four months later and Gordon won the welterweight title back from Lawless with a split decision.
Other title fights on the card include big Kyle Weaver (6-1) returning to defend his Super Heavyweight crown against Fight Factory’s Dan “Bear” Hughes (1-0). David McMahon (6-1) out of X-Treme Miletich will put his Light Heavyweight Title on the line against AFS Team Asylum’s Kyle Rigby (3-2).
Evan Chmielski (3-2) also out of X-Treme Miletich will be challenging the New Breed Super Welterweight Champ Ryan Vaccaro (4-2) representing Jersey Fight Club/Triumph Wrestling.
In the final title fight of the night for the vacant Cruiser Weight Title, Anton Burzin (3-0) from Rocco MMA will take on Devan Salisbury (2-0) who is fighting out of Renzo Gracie’s New York academy and Kru Phil Nurse’s Wat.
In addition to the five title fights, there are 13 other competitively matched-up bouts scheduled featuring some of the finest fighters representing the top teams and MMA academies in the North-Eastern United States. Expect over five plus hours of MMA action and the best part is you can watch it all LIVE for only $4.99!!
ESPN News- Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey practice civility at news conference March 10, 2010Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey practice civility at news conference. […]Calvin Watkins
- Manny Pacquiao plans to entertain at post-fight party March 10, 2010Manny Pacquiao has big plans for Saturday night -- after his fight against Joshua Clottey. […]Associated Press
- Muhammad Ali visits San Francisco Giants' clubhouse March 9, 2010Muhammad Ali showed up in the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse as part of a campaign for his charity. […]Associated Press
- Judge dismisses felony coercion charge in battery case against Roger Mayweather March 9, 2010A court clerk says a judge dismissed a felony coercion charge against boxing trainer Roger Mayweather, who faces trial June 1 on allegations that he beat and choked a female boxer at a Las Vegas apartment he owned. […]Associated Press
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. associate faces charges in Vegas shooting March 9, 2010Police say an associate of boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been arrested on attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges in an August shooting outside a Las Vegas skating rink. […]Associated Press
- Promoter Bob Arum expects sellout for Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium March 9, 2010Promoter Bob Arum said he expects a sellout for the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium. […]Calvin Watkins
- Britain's Amir Khan to defend WBA light welterweight title against American Paulie Malignaggi March 9, 2010Amir Khan of Britain will defend his WBA light-welterweight title against American challenger Paulie Malignaggi on May 15 at New York's Madison Square Garden. […]Associated Press
- Devon Alexander stops Juan Urango to unify WBC, IBF light welterweight titles March 9, 2010Devon Alexander knocked out Juan Urango with a right uppercut at 1:12 of the seventh round to unify the WBC and IBF light welterweight titles on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena. […]Associated Press
- Vitali Klitschko to fight Albert Sosnowski in WBC heavyweight title defense March 9, 2010Vitali Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Polish-born fighter Albert Sosnowski on May 29. […]Dan Rafael
- Victor Darchinyan wins decision, retains WBA, WBC super flyweight titles March 6, 2010Australian Victor Darchinyan scored an unanimous decision against Rodrigo Guerrero of Mexico City to retain his WBC and WBA super flyweight titles Saturday night at The Show inside the Agua Caliente Casino. […]Associated Press
- Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey practice civility at news conference March 10, 2010
