ANDRE WARD TO BE GUEST IN-STUDIO HOST OF THIS WEEK’S ESPN2
“FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS”
S.O.G. will Discuss his Upcoming World Title Defense on April 24 in the next stage of the
Super Six World Boxing Classic Tournament
Los Angeles, CA (February 25, 2010) – Newly crowned WBA Super Middleweight Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) – the last American to win an Olympic boxing gold medal — will be the special in-studio guest in Bristol, CT for this week’s ESPN2 telecast of “ESPN Friday Night Fights.”
The undefeated 26-year old native of Oakland, CA, who captured gold in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, upset and dethroned tournament favorite Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler in his Stage One bout in Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic back on November 21 of last year. Andre will, among other boxing-related topics, discuss his upcoming Stage Two confrontation – and first WBA title defense — against Allan Green set for April 24.
Green (29-1, 20, KOs), age 30 from Tulsa, OK, has been named as a Super Six replacement for Jermaine Taylor, who withdrew from the remainder of the tournament following a brutal knockout at the hands of Germany’s Arthur Abraham in his Stage One bout. Green’s only loss as a pro was to Edison Miranda by decision three years ago, who Ward beat in May of last year.
“I am very excited and appreciative for the opportunity afforded me by ESPN to come into the living rooms of my many fans and those of boxing who may not know me as well yet,” Ward said. “I invite you all to tune in to ‘Friday Night Fights.’
WORLD-CLASS SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT ALLAN GREEN OFFICIALLY JOINS SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC
Green To Challenge Andre Ward For WBA World Championship
Saturday, April 24, Live on SHOWTIME®
PHOTOS: The attached images of Allan Green are for EDITORIAL USE ONLY and must credit “HOWARD SCHATZ”.
NEW YORK (Feb. 22, 2010)–-World-ranked contender “Sweetness” Allan Green (29-1, 20 KOs), of Tulsa, Okla., has officially been named to replace fellow American Jermain Taylor in the Super Six World Boxing Classic and will take on undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) 168-pound champion Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) in one-half of a tournament doubleheader on Saturday, April 24, on SHOWTIME®, Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, formally announced today.
Also on Saturday, April 24, undefeated Carl “The Cobra’’ Froch (26-0, 20 KOs) of Nottingham, England, defends his WBC world title against former WBA 168-pound champion Mikkel “Viking Warrior’’ Kessler (42-2, 32 KOs) of Denmark. All the action will be televised on SHOWTIME beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (Froch vs. Kessler will be shown on same-day delay from MCH Arena, in Herning, Denmark, immediately followed by Ward vs. Green live from the U.S.).
A winner of six consecutive fights, Green will enter the Super Six World Boxing Classic with zero points heading into Group Stage 2—as per tournament rules, a replacement fighter enters the Group Stage competition tied with the last place fighter(s)—and be fighting for his first world title. It marks the first time since Tommy Morrison in 1993 that an Oklahoman has been involved in a world championship fight.
Green is an ultra-confident super middleweight currently ranked No. 3 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 4 in the World Boxing Council (WBC), No. 5 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 7 in the World Boxing Association (WBA).
“I always had a feeling I was going to get into the tournament,” said the 6-foot-2-inch, 30-year-old Green, who’s currently training in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “I don’t think I’m a long shot. I’m one of the best super middleweights in the world and the tournament rules allow me to come in and be in the mix with a chance to advance and ultimately win this thing.
“I just don’t see anyone who can beat me. I’ve watched all the fighters over and over. I’ve studied all of them and know I can beat any of them.”
Green is tall and strong with dynamite in both fists. He is spotting points to three rivals, but a knockout victory for a fighter who prides himself on power would put him in the thick of things. Green is coming off a clear-cut 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Tarvis Simms on ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME Oct. 2, 2009.
Ward will be making the first defense of the WBA belt he won on a convincing, 11th-round technical decision over Kessler in the Super Six World Boxing Classic opener.
SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC SCOREBOARD
Record Fighter Points
1-0 Arthur Abraham 3
1-0 Carl Froch 2
1-0 Andre Ward 2
0-1 Andre Dirrell 0
0-1 Mikkel Kessler 0
0-0 Allan Green 0
For information on all SHOWTIME Sports telecasts, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries from its events and complete information on the Super Six World Boxing Classic, please visit the website at http://www.sports.sho.com
ABOUT SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC
The inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic is a ground-breaking, six-fighter tournament from SHOWTIME Sports® featuring the class of the super middleweight (168-pound) division from around the world. All bouts in the Super Six tournament will be contested under the Unified Rules of Boxing. Each boxer fights three bouts against different opponents in the field in the points-based Group Stage of competition (Win – 2 pts with a 1-pt bonus for KO/TKO; Loss – 0 pts; Draw – 1 pt.). After the Group Stage, the four fighters with the highest point totals will advance to the single-elimination Semi-Finals. The winners of the Semi-Final bouts will advance to the Finals and fight for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic trophy.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
OMG, SOG
By Bart Barry
Time to start filling in the memory blanks about Andre Ward: “Who, ‘S.O.G.’? I’ve been following Andre since Athens. That’s a gold medal, kid; you don’t forget a guy with a gold medal!” If we start now, there’s a chance friends will think we’ve always been on the Ward bandwagon.
We haven’t, of course. Most of us outside Northern California did forget about Ward almost completely. The good thing about a guy whose nickname is “Son of God” is that he pretty much has to forgive us – even if he never noticed us in the past.
Because boxing sure has noticed him now. Saturday at Oakland’s Oracle Arena, Ward soundly whupped Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler, taking Kessler’s WBA super middleweight belt and his favored spot in Showtime’s Super Six tournament. The official result was an 11th round technical decision – scores of 97-93, 98-92 and 98-92 – because of a butt-induced cut over or under Kessler’s left or right eye. The details between TD and TKO only really matter to the Super Six leader board.
By every other measure, Ward outclassed Kessler the Dane in convincing a fashion as possible. One man was in his first world title fight, the other his 10th; one had 20 career prizefights, the other 32 knockouts. Yet it was the inexperienced man that fought like a champion, while the champion fought like a challenger who expects combat to come always on his terms.
Ward roughed Kessler up. He didn’t fight dirty so much as professionally: If an accident has to happen, it won’t be me who suffers for it.
That’s what makes Ward’s development so thrilling. He came out of USA Boxing as a knockoff Roy Jones Jr. – albeit a successful one. He had athleticism, technical flaws and lead left hooks. He was, then, another flashy American likely to be exposed soon as someone pinned him to the ropes. He was fast and cute, sure, but did he have any character?
Now we know he has plenty. He’s taken natural ability and almost shunned it in the gym, not allowing himself to rely simply on quick reflexes. He’s learned how to clinch and in-fight. He’s become a physical presence, taking two world-class punchers – Kessler and Edison Miranda – fighting them chest-to-chest and breaking their wills. If a bully could be humble and gracious, Ward would be that bully.
Kessler was the final test, and Ward passed it without doubt. He might lose his next fight, or more likely the one after that, but he’ll not lose because he’s unprepared. Ward is now a fully developed championship prizefighter, something people doubted he’d someday become.
A few doubts still lingered even into his sixth minute with Kessler, Saturday. It wasn’t that Ward was in trouble or even hitting range. No, it was the way he avoided Kessler’s punches. There was a nervous exuberance to it; a certain unseemly wonder in precluding Kessler’s gloves from touching him.
I watched Saturday’s fight with Big Syl, a friend and former Texas Golden Gloves champion who noticed very early the problem with Ward’s defense: It was inefficient. In many ways defense at the championship level is not about don’t-get-hit so much as get-hit-responsibly. Make your opponent sign a contract that says, “I agree to hit you with these three punches but not with that other one you don’t like.”
Initially, Ward didn’t want to get hit with any punch in his first championship fight. This allowed Kessler to make him work too hard. As Kessler made short squares on the canvas, Ward made wide circles. Kessler cornered Ward with his reputation for right crosses, not any actual punches.
But once Ward settled down, the gig was up for Kessler and Kessler’s reputation. Ward tagged Kessler with right-hand leads. Kessler got queasy. Of a sudden, Ward’s eyes grew: Ah hah, I can hurt you more easily than you can hurt me!
Were there accidental head butts? Yup. Was there clinching? Yes, tactically employed – nothing excessive. But Kessler was vexed. He’d shown up for a game of “Drop the American with 1-2s” and gotten a fight instead. Ward was too far away and then too close. He was also aware of Kessler’s unexpected fragility. Take note: Soon as a puncher makes eyes at the referee, that puncher’s in trouble.
When referee Jack Reiss ended the match in the 11th round, Ward thought he’d won by technical knockout. Instead we learned that of all the cuts round Kessler’s eyes, it was the one officially butt-induced gash that caused the stoppage. Whatever. The scorecards told exactly how close the fight was.
Whither Kessler the Dane? Good question. If he didn’t like the way Ward fought, he’s going to hate how (and where) Carl Froch puts hands on him in his next match. Kessler has approximately twice Froch’s talent, but maybe not Froch’s heart. Expect Froch to be considerably emboldened by what he just saw Ward do.
Far as Ward goes, he needs to handle Jermain Taylor mercifully as possible in his next fight – if Taylor’s people don’t talk Taylor into retirement before then. There’s no reason to think Taylor has a chance against Ward. But Andre Dirrell – Ward’s opponent in Group Stage 3 of the Super Six – just might. We’ll get there when we get there.
Instead, let’s end with a note about world titles. Sanctioning bodies are by no means saintly, but a number of commentators – in their hurry to express disdain for the “alphabets” – have taken to calling world championship belts “trinkets.” I would direct them to this tweet from @andreward (posted round 3:30 AM Sunday):
“I want my belt! When u take a belt from the champ, u have to give it back. The WBA will send mine in 10 days:(( But I want it now!! I’m gonna probably sleep with it a whole week…lol!! I’m just keepin in real.”
And for once, “real” is really likable.
Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry
Kessler: “I will bounce back”
Mikkel Kessler has vowed to bounce back stronger than ever after his
11th round technical decision defeat against Andre Ward. The Viking
Warrior was trailing on all three scorecards when the fight was stopped
due to a cut caused by an unintentional headbutt. “I have lost the world
title once and won it straight back so I know how to do it,” Kessler
said. “With the support of my home fans in Denmark I will beat Carl
Froch and become world champion again. That is why this tournament is
great – I have the chance to make amends immediately.”
Kessler admitted it was tough to fight Ward. “He was very fast and very
good. He ruined my style,” he said. “It was not my day. Now I will go
home, watch the tape and then bounce back stronger than ever.”
Said Wilfried Sauerland: “Congratulations to Andre Ward, he fought a
great fight and deserved to win. I was impressed by his speed and his
technical abilities. However, the referee should have stopped the
holding and headbutting, but we do not want to take anything away from
his performance and his victory. Mikkel will come back and do very well
in this tournament, no doubt about that.”
Added Kalle Sauerland: “Ward proved today that he belongs into this
tournament and that he is a great fighter with a golden future. The
great thing about the Super Six World Boxing Classic is that Mikkel can
take revenge soon as their paths might cross again. Mikkel and his team
will analyse the fight closely and draw the right conclusions. I have no
doubts that the Viking Warrior will come back stronger than ever and we
will see an exciting fight against Carl Froch. That fight will be massive.”
WARD DETHRONES KESSLER BY TECHNICAL DECISION IN SUPER 6 SHOWDOWN
By Mario Ortega Jr. & Rick McKenzie (ringside)
In a virtuoso performance, the last U.S. Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward added pro gold to his resume completely dismantling Mikkel Kessler to win the WBA Super Middleweight title before a raucous crowd of 10,277 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Not only did the win earn Ward two points in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament, but it may have elevated him into the elite category
Fighting before his hometown crowd, Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) dominated from the second round on in surprising fashion. Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) of Copenhagen, Denmark was the odds-on betting favorite coming into the Super Six World Boxing Classic, but was completely outclassed in every regard by the Oakland native.
After a pretty even first round, Ward, 166 ½, turned offensive, boxing and moving on the slower Kessler, 167. One of the only bright spots at any point in the fight for Kessler was his ability to force Ward to the ropes in the first few rounds. However, Kessler was never able hurt Ward in any of those instances. As a sign of things to come, Ward closed the second by measuring Kessler with his left and landing a laser right behind it. By the end of the third round, Ward had burned off all of his nervous energy and settled in like a proven veteran.
Ward maintained the momentum into the third and never relinquished control as his speed kept Kessler out of any type of rhythm. As the fight progressed Ward continually beat Kessler by getting in shots on the inside and manhandling him at long range as well. Ward staggered Kessler with a minute left in the fourth. At the close of the round, Kessler returned to his corner with a cut below his right eye.
By the fifth, Kessler was no longer forcing Ward to the ropes and the Oakland native was eating the Dane alive in the center of the ring. It was quite apparent that Kessler stood almost no chance fighting at that geography. In another veteran move, Ward kept Kessler at range with his right hand and busted him up with the right. Kessler could not get past Ward’s extended left hand and when he tried the results were not what he had hoped for.
After a short burst to start the sixth, Kessler’s morale low was in the dumps. By the end of round eight, Kessler looked like a fighter that wanted someone to save him from further punishment. Rounds nine and ten were just more of the same, as Ward continued to exact his dominance over his beaten adversary. Referee Jack Reiss called time 1:42 into round eleven give the ringside doctor a look at Kessler. Without much hesitation, the doctor called the fight. However, the referee had ruled the original cut was a result of a headbutt (which the earlier replay seemed to confirm). Thus, the fight went to the scorecards.
Swedish judge Mikael Hook somehow scored the bout 97-93. Better known South African judge Stanley Christodoulou and Californian Steve Morrow agreed with tallies of 98-92 all for Ward. The cut ruling may have cost Ward the extra point a knockout would have earned him in the tournament since a stoppage seemed eminent.
Tony Hirsch (10-3-1, 5 KOs) of Oakland added a once-noteworthy name to his resume as he scored a one-sided four-round decision over faded former welterweight contender Jose Celaya (31-6, 16 KOs) of Salinas, California. After a feeling out round, Hirsch, 164, began to pick up the pace in the second. The former pro football player controlled the distance, pot-shoting his Celaya, 166, at will. Stepping up the aggression, Hirsch landed a couple of telling blows on the flat-footed Celaya to punctuate the round. To his credit, Celaya never stopped trying, even while taking several hard shots late in the fourth. In the end, scores read 40-36 across the board for Hirsch. The fight was scheduled to be a six-rounder, but was shortened due to time constraints. While Celaya still has his heart and will intact, it appears his career may have come to an end.
In our next battle, a rematch from March of 2008, Karim Mayfield (10-0-1, 6KO’s) is going for his second win against Francisco Santana (11-1, 5KO’s), in a junior middle weight bout. The first round was the normal feeling-out precess with Santana coming forward for the better part of the round. Mayfield landed the biggest shots of the round with consecutive overhand rights.
The second round had a bit more action with both a few heated exchanges seemingly won by Mayfield. The two continued to measure each other out in the third with the bigger shots still being landed by Mayfield. The fourth round was relatively even with both guys not doing much fighting however Santana did land a meaningful left towards the end. Mayfield hurt Santana big time in the middle of the fifth fround with a series of body and head shots that hurt the game Santana, who went down to one knee. When he returned to his feet, it was only a matter of time before two powerful lefts to the body coupled with a right to the head put Santana down and out as the referee stopped the fight at 2:27 of round 5.—by Rick McKenzie
In our second bout of the evening, undefeated Stan Martyniouk (7-0, 1KO) met Anthony Martinez (21-32, 9KO’s) in a 4 round lightweight bout. Stan “The Man” moved well in the first round and when he stopped, landed blistering combinations. Although Martinez was game and continued to press forward, he was met with solid body shots and uppercuts. By the middle of the fouth and final round, Martinez was chasing and missing while throwing wild punches as Martyniouk cruised to a unanimous decision scoring 40-36 on all three judges scorecards.–by Rick McKenzie
Lightweight prospect Mel Crossty (4-0-1, 1 KO) of Cincinnati, Ohio scored one knockdown en route to a unanimous four-round decision over Carlos Herrera (2-3, 1 KO) of Oxnard, California. The knockdown came in the first, as Crossty, 130, landed a blow that caused the glove of Herrera, 130, to glance the canvas. Crossty upped the aggression in the third, rocking Herrera against the ropes. Herrera was game, still coming forward in the fourth, despite being completely outclassed. Scores were 40-35 twice and 39-36 for Crossty.
FOLLOW KESSLER-WARD LIVE
Follow all the action LIVE from the Oracale Arena in Oakland, California as Mikkel Kessler defends the WBA Super Middleweight championship against former Olympic Gold Medalist and undefeated Andre Ward. This bout is the final bout in Group Stage 1 of the Super 6 Super Middleweight affair. The action gets underway at 10pm in eastern/7pm Pacific and 4 am in Sunday in Copenhagen
12 Rounds–WBA Super Middleweight Title–Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KO’s) vs Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KO’s)
Round 1: Ward lands a jab and left hook..Kessler jab to the body..Jab..Ward lands a lead left…10-9 Ward
Round 2: Kessler jabbing…Ward lands a double jab and uppercut…big right…20-18 Ward
Round 3: Ward lands left off ropes..Big Right..Kessler lands a jab..Good right from Ward..Kessler lands a jab..30-27 Ward
Round 4: Ward lands a body combination…Kessler lands a big left hook..Ward lands a big right that hurts Kessler..Blood from under right eye of Kessler..Right buckles Kessler…Straight left…40-36 Ward
Round 5: Right from Ward..Great left hook..Nice jab..50-45 Ward
Round 6: Kessler lands a nice left hook..Ward lands a uppercut..Right and a jab..Jab..double jab..Kessler lands a nice right..Ward lands a straight on the chin…60-54 Ward
Round 7: Kessler lands 2 jabs..ward lands a jab…ward lands a right…70-63
Round 8: Ward lands a right to the body..Blood from Nose of Kessler..Ward backs up Kessler on the ropes…80-72…Kessler sayinh he cant see and is bleeding iver left eye
Round 9: Kessler lands a left inside…89-82 Ward
Round 10: Ward lands a stiff jab…Good exchange as Kessler catches Ward coming in..Nice right..Nice combo from Ward..99-91 Ward
Round 11: Ward lands a lead right..The doctor is now looking at Kessler’s cuts…AND THE FIGHT IS OVER..THEY ARE GOING TO THE SCORE CARD DOING TO THE CUT BEING OPENED BY A BUTT…109-100 WARD ON THE GFL CARD
97-93; 98-92; 98-92 ANDRE WARD
Super Six Superfight in Oakland
By Mario Ortega Jr.
Perhaps the most intriguing contest of much-publicized Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament’s Group Stage One takes place tonight at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, as hometown hero Andre Ward attempts to dethrone WBA Super Middleweight Champion, and tournament betting favorite, Mikkel Kessler. Both fighters weighed in on Friday afternoon before a lively audience at the Hilton Oakland Airport, just a brisk walk away from the place of their showdown tonight.
With the other two Americans, Andre Dirrell and Jermain Taylor, having lost to their Super Six counterparts Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham respectively, Ward will look to score the first points for the sake of the U.S. in the tournament. Ward, the WBC #1/WBO #1/WBA #7 ranked super middleweight, will also look to become the first of his 2004 U.S. Olympic teammates to win a professional world title. Both Dirrell and Vicente Escobedo failed in title bids earlier this year. Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) is the United States’ only gold medalist boxer from the last three Summer Olympiads.
Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) of Copenhagen, Denmark has been at or near the top of the super middleweight division for the better of the last five years. Originally claiming the WBA title with a seventh-round knockout of Manny Siaca in 2004, Kessler made four successful defenses and added the WBC belt, before suffering his lone pro loss to Joe Calzaghe in a super middleweight mega fight in 2007. Kessler rebounded seven months later to reclaim the vacant WBA title and make three straight title defenses. Kessler is nearly universally regarded as the current top 168-pound boxer in the world.
Entering this week, it appeared as though the final Group Stage One pairing would have the smoothest road to fight night. Both Kessler and Ward have been sportsmanlike throughout the entire pre-fight build-up, complimenting each other at every opportunity, while still exuding confidence in their own capabilities.
After the announcement that two California-based judges and a referee had been assigned to officiate the bout, Kessler’s promoter Wilfried Sauerland expressed his displeasure and there was talk that the WBA may not sanction the 168-pound title bout. “Not all the judges can be from California,” Sauerland told the Associated Press on Wednesday. “If it stays like this, definitely there won’t be a world championship on Saturday. We have a really serious problem.” Eventually Swedish judge Mikael Hook was named to join South African judge Stanley Christodoulou and Californian Steve Morrow. Respected California referee Jack Reiss remains the third man in the ring.
By the time Kessler and Ward stepped on the scale Friday, all the talk of cancellations, protests and non-title bouts felt like a distant memory and all that remained was the feeling that is was a “big fight,” the San Francisco Bay Area’s biggest in many years. The challenger Ward, shredded, stepped on the scale first to a large ovation and weighed in at 166 ½ pounds. The respected champion Kessler, a chiseled super middleweight in his own right, scaled 167-pounds.
Heading up the undercard is a rematch of an action-packed bout from March of last year, as undefeated light middleweight prospect Karim Mayfield (10-0-1, 6 KOs) of Daly City, California gives Francisco Santana (11-1, 5 KOs) of Santa Barbara, California the opportunity to avenge his only defeat in a scheduled eight-rounder. In their first bout, Santana had Mayfield in trouble in the fourth, but could not put the Bay Area native down. Mayfield turned the tables in the sixth, almost dropping Santana en route to a disputable six-round split decision. Mayfield weighed in at 151 ½ Friday, while Santana scaled 150 ½ pounds.
An oft-scheduled bout between former WBO #1 ranked welterweight Jose Celaya (31-5, 16 KOs) of Salinas, California and former pro football player Tony Hirsch (9-3-1, 5 KOs) of Oakland will finally come to fruition Saturday, as they are scheduled to square off in a six-round super middleweight bout. The two were originally scheduled to fight in March at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California before the fight was pulled without an explanation. Their bout was rescheduled for July 30th at the El Monte Expo Center in El Monte, California, but Hirsch was pulled from the card in favor of Freddie Norwood, a former 126-pound champion, who ended up scoring a decision win over Celaya. Hirsch weighed in at 164 pounds, while Celaya scaled 166, before the two met in a heated face-off.
Rising lightweight prospect Stan Martyniouk (7-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California takes on late replacement Anthony Martinez (21-32-3, 9 KOs) of Turrialba, Costa Rica in a four-round bout fought just below the light welterweight limit. Martyniouk’s original opponent, Theron DeLorme, was a late scratch and the assignment was handed down to Martinez, who has pretty much made a career out of these situations. Martyniouk enters the fight off of a six-round unanimous decision win over Jorge Marquez on September 12th. Martinez, who challenged Acelino Freitas for the WBO Super Featherweight title way back in 1999, has lost ten straight bouts, but failed to last the distance in just nine of his career losses. Martyniouk scaled 136, while Martinez weighed in at 138 ½ pounds.
In the opener, former amateur standout Mel Crossty (3-0-1, 1 KO) of Cincinnati, Ohio will meet Carlos Herrera (2-2, 1 KO) of Oxnard, California in a four-round super featherweight fight. Crossty, last seen fighting to a four-round draw with Jaime Rodriguez at the Oracle Arena in May, weighed in at 130-pounds. Herrera, winner of two straight, scaled 130 even.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.
Quick Weigh-in Results:
WBA Super Middleweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Kessler 167
Ward 166 ½
Light middleweights, 8 Rounds
Mayfield 151 ½
Santana 150 ½
Super middleweights, 6 Rounds
Hirsch 164
Celaya 166
Light welterweights, 4 Rounds
Martyniouk 136
Martinez 138 ½
Super featherweights, 4 Rounds
Crossty 130
Herrera 130 ½
Kessler-Ward Photo by Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor Promotions
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
WEIGHTS FROM OAKLAND
Mikkel Kessler 167 – Andre Ward 166 1/2
Northern California Notebook
By Mario Ortega Jr.
Ward Carries the Torch for Boxing in Oakland
The long and carefully architected road to a crack at a world title ends Saturday for the last U.S. Olympic gold medalist boxer, Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) of Oakland, California. In the first world title bout the city has played host to since Carlos DeLeon defended his WBC Cruiserweight title with a decision win over Bash Ali in 1984, Ward will attempt to unseat reigning WBA Super Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Not only is the title on the line, but their bout is also part of the Group Stage One portion of the much ballyhooed Super Six World Boxing Classic.
Both fighters began their fight-week media obligations with a public workout at King’s Gym in Oakland (Ward’s training home) on Monday. Since Ward turned pro in December of 2004, every fight has been carefully planned in order to bring him to where he stands on Saturday night, opposing a world champion in a big fight, at home no less. “This is what it’s all about, I’ve been at the highest level as an amateur and now I’m preparing for my first world title fight as a professional,” Ward told reporters on Monday. “I see all you guys and I know what a big fight is all about. I’m ready.”
In taking on Kessler, Ward and his promoters Goossen Tutor Promotions and Antonio Leonard Productions, have chosen the path of greatest resistance. Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) of Copenhagen, Denmark is generally regarded as the world’s number one 168-pounder and the odds-on favorite to win the Super Six tournament. “In my opinion, this Saturday the two best super middleweights are going to face off against each other,” said Dan Goossen during a press conference on Wednesday. “I applaud Mikkel Kessler for coming to Andre’s hometown to defend his title.”
Ward’s longtime trainer Virgil Hunter showed nothing but respect for Kessler’s ability and credentials during the Wednesday press conference. “We have a formidable task in front us,” admitted Hunter. “Kessler’s a real champion. All accolades he gets, he deserves. We know what’s ahead of us. We know we got a real champ in our way and we know that things will never be the same after Saturday night.”
Not only is Kessler-Ward the first world title bout held in Oakland in 25 years, it is the most significant fight in the once-boxing mad city’s history since Jimmy Ellis defeated Jerry Quarry to win the vacant WBA Heavyweight title in 1968. These facts are not lost on Oakland’s current boxing pride, making just his second appearance in front of his hometown fans on Saturday.
“It’s incredible to have this fight at home and the support here has been outstanding,” said Ward. “A lot of people say that boxing is dead in Oakland. There used to be two or three gyms full of boxers here. Boxing was a huge thing and to see the excitement for this fight here in Oakland and in the Bay Area and to give them something positive to support, I’m excited about that.”
Tickets for the event are available online at Ticketmaster.com.
Martyniouk Gets Busy
Those in attendance at the Oracle Arena on Saturday will get a look at one of Northern California’s brightest prospects, lightweight Stan Martyniouk (7-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California. Martyniouk, a former amateur star, will take on Theron DeLorme (1-0-1) of Reno, Nevada in a four-round swing bout.
“Training is actually going really great,” Martyniouk told 15rounds.com earlier in the week. “I feel like I am in better shape, both physically and mentally, than before my last fight. I am progressing and I am ready for this fight on Saturday.” Martyniouk, who rejoined his former amateur trainer Seifudeen Mateen before his last fight, is excited to perform in front of the potentially packed house on Saturday. “This is a major fight in Northern California. It is a great way for me to showcase my skills on one of the biggest cards in Northern California in a long time.”
While fighting on a big card could be a daunting task for some, Martyniouk does not seem to have any pre-fight jitters. “I am just going to get into the ring and do my thing,” said Martyniouk. “I fought in front of big crowds before. This is the biggest stage I have fought on, but there is not going to be any added pressure. I am just going to do what I usually do in the ring and get the job done.” Helping matters, Martyniouk has international amateur experience to fall back on. “I have fought in front of big crowds in the amateurs, especially during the World Cup in Moscow, Russia. Amateur experience plays a big role, and will help me out.”
Admittedly Martyniouk does not know much about his opponent DeLorme. “I really don’t know much about him. I know he is 1-0 with one draw and he had a lot of amateur fights, but I never heard of him when I was in the amateurs. I don’t know really anything about him, but we will see what he brings to the table on Saturday.”
Should Martyniouk come out of the fight on Saturday unscathed, his next fight is already planned for December 11th at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, underneath the heavyweight main event of Oleg Maskaev against Nagy Aguilera. However, Martyniouk refuses to look ahead. “I am not looking at the December 11th fight yet,” says Martyniouk. “I am taking one fight at a time and I want to win this fight first, this Saturday. After Saturday then we will look toward the December 11th fight.”
Nave Continues Return in San Rafael
Locally popular former WBF Welterweight Champion Paul Nave (17-8-2, 7 KOs) of San Anselmo, California will fight the third fight of his return tonight at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael, California. In the six-round main event, Nave will take on Daniel Schlienz (7-16-1, 4 KOs) of Duluth, Minnesota in a welterweight fight. Nave ended a nine-year sabbatical this past March with a four-round decision win over Mikhall Lyubarsky which was followed by a hard-fought six-round split decision over Derrick Thomas three months later.
While Nave’s first two bouts this year were fought at light middleweight, the “Marin County Assassin” will return to the 147-pound welterweight class tonight against Schlienz. Nave, who turned 49 in September, plans to campaign at 147-pounds going forward, with the ambition of eventually vying for a world title. Schlienz, who is 40-years-old himself, is 1-6 in his last seven bouts.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Nave’s Liberty Boxing Enterprises, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.
Julaton Ready for Biggers
Less than two months ago, rising female star Ana Julaton claimed the IBA Super Bantamweight title with a hard-fought ten-round decision over the vastly more experienced Kelsey Jeffries in front of a jam-packed crowd at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Julaton (5-1-1, 1 KO) of Daly City, California will return to the site of her title-winning bout on December 4th, as she vies for another world title against another experienced veteran in Donna Biggers (19-8-1, 16 KOs) of Boiling Springs, South Carolina. The vacant WBO Super Bantamweight title will be on the line as Julaton returns to headline in a second-straight world title bout at the HP Pavilion.
It is apparent that Julaton has not let her world title go to her head as she is not overlooking the threat Biggers may pose. “She is very tough, very experienced and she’s game,” commented Julaton. “I feel like, it doesn’t matter how many fights you have, as long as anyone has that type of attitude, it’s anyone’s game. So I am taking this fight very seriously. We signed a contract and both of us had eight solid weeks to train for this fight. So we are expecting a big splash on December 4th.”
Biggers dominated the competition in the South and Southeast on her way up the ladder, as she amassed one of the better knockout percentages in all of women’s boxing. Soon Biggers graduated to the upper echelon of the sport and went on to fight some of the biggest names, including distance points defeats to Kelsey Jeffries, Jackie Nava and Mia St. John.
In addition to training for the fight, Julaton and her team have been very active in relief efforts for the victims of the typhoons that swept through the Philippines in September. “What is happening in the Philippines right now is not something that is going to be fixed over night, so I foresee myself continuing to help with the typhoon relief,” Julaton told 15rounds.com. “They went through four unexpected typhoons, and how do you deal with that? It is tough just watching it on TV and seeing people’s lives and all their property gone.” The tragedy hit close to home, as Julaton herself had family members struck by the disaster. “It affects us all, even here in the States.” In another effort to aide the victims, Julaton and her team have arranged for a portion of their ticket sales purchased through TeamJulaton.com to be donated to the relief efforts.
Perez Has New Opponent for Co-Main Event
WBC USNBC Super Featherweight Champion Eloy Perez (14-0-2, 3 KOs) of Salinas, California was to meet returning San Jose native Arturo Quintero (15-4, 9 KOs) in the semi-main event on the Julaton-Biggers undercard on December 4th. Although the ten-round fight had been approved by the WBO-affiliated NABO, which was to have sanctioned the fight for the WBO NABO Super Featherweight title, the California State Athletic Commission decided against approving Quintero for the fight.
Quintero, once a promising prospect, has been out of the ring since June 2006, which apparently gave the Commission reason enough to not allow for him to fight in a ten-rounder. Quintero’s loss is unheralded Juan Santiago’s gain, as the Denver, Colorado-based fighter will now take his place against Perez. Santiago (11-2-1, 7 KOs) recently upset previously unbeaten prospect Ty Barnett by first-round kayo and has fought as high as 143-pounds.
Perez is coming off of his biggest victory, a ten-round decision over fellow unbeaten Dannie Williams at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California in September. The victory netted Perez the regional WBC title, inching himself closer to a world ranking. Winning the WBO NABO 130-pound title will do the same for the winner of the December 4th bout, as far as the WBO world rankings go.
The rest of the undercard at the HP Pavilion will consist of three four-round bouts. Former National Golden Gloves Champion Melissa McMorrow (3-1-1) of San Carlos, California will take on Gloria Salas (1-3, 1 KO) of Riverside, California in a rematch of their bout at the HP Pavilion last November. McMorrow scored a unanimous four-round decision over Salas, who was making her professional debut.
In a cruiserweight bout, San Jose’s Tony Johnson (3-0, 1 KO) will make his third straight appearance at the HP Pavilion, taking on Ron Simmons (3-3, 2 KOs) of Lewiston, Idaho. Johnson scored a devastating first-round knockout of Artis Walker at the last Fight Night at the Tank, which earned him the AMI Cup and a cash bonus. Simmons, who has competed in Washington and Idaho throughout his entire pro career, is coming off of a fifth-round knockout of Leo Bercier to avenge one of his losses.
In the opener, former multi-time amateur champion Aaron Alafa (3-1, 1 KO) of Visalia, California will take on HP Pavilion favorite Jonathan Alcantara (1-1-1) of Novato, California in a super bantamweight bout. Alcantara avenged a thrilling four-round decision defeat to Juan Tepoz in another exciting bout on September 12th. Both of their fights took place at the HP Pavilion this year and had the crowd cheering for the duration. Alafa is coming off of an entertaining four-round nod over Danny Pantoja last month, where he survived a slip that was ruled as a knockdown to earn the decision.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Roy Englebrecht Events, are available online at TeamJulaton.com.
Photo by Jan Sanders/Goossen Tutor Promotions
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
FOUR SUPER SIX FIGHTERS MAKE PREDICTIONS ON WINNER OF MIKKEL KESSLER-ANDRE WARD FIGHT
European Boxers Taking Kessler; Americans Are Picking Ward
To Win Nov. 21 Group Stage 1 Match On SHOWTIME®
NEW YORK (Nov. 19, 2009) — The two Europeans boxers – victorious over their American opponents in the first round of the Super Six World Boxing Classic – are predicting Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler will beat Andre “S.O.G.” Ward in the final Group Stage 1 matchup Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
The two Americans who suffered losses don’t see it that way and are for Ward. “I’m going with Ward,” said Andre Dirrell, after his Group Stage 1 defeat to Carl Froch in October. Dirrell, along with Froch, Arthur Abraham and Jermain Taylor, will be ringside Nov. 21 to catch all the action. “Ward has the ability to win,” continued Dirrell. “This is his biggest fight so he’ll have to stick to his game plan but I’m going with him.”
The matchup between World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Kessler and hometown, undefeated hero is a scheduled for 12 rounds and will be for Kessler’s WBA 168-pound title.
“Mikkel Kessler will win because of his strength and ring experience,” said Froch. “I’m looking forward to it because obviously it’s a fight that has major implications for me in the Super Six tournament. Andre Ward has that terrific amateur pedigree, winning the Gold medal at the Athens Olympics. He’s had some good wins in the pros but we will only find out how good he really is when he steps in there with Kessler.”
Taylor, who was knocked out by Abraham in the 12th round on Oct. 17, is behind Ward 100 percent. “I’m pulling for the U.S. guys. I can’t say why from a boxing standpoint but we are all U.S. Olympians. It’s a matter of those guys (European fighters) being cocky. Carl Froch has been very cocky and he knows his boxing skills are nowhere close to mine. Kessler is a pretty relaxed guy. He’s not too cocky by any means. I like him a lot but I am still going for our guys.”
Added Abraham: “Because I have not ever seen an Andre Ward fight live or on tape, I cannot say much. But Kessler is the favorite in this fight nevertheless. I have seen Kessler fight many times and he is very clever and very strong. I have to give the advantage to Kessler because of his strength, experience and cleverness.
“Andre Ward is not to be underestimated. He is very good. He is technically very sound and can also punch hard as he has shown in previous fights. But I hope that my new stablemate, Mikkel Kessler, wins.
He is very versatile, very experienced and he has a great vision/anticipation in the ring. And most importantly, the “Viking Warrior” is a true fighter. If you ask me for a prediction, I would go with a points
victory for Mikkel. The boxing fans can certainly be thrilled about this fight because it puts together two of the best technicians in the division.”
Froch, who won a decision over Dirrell, also on Oct. 17, said, “Ward will have the benefit of home advantage, which I’m sure will play its part but Kessler is very experienced and has won on the road before so I’m sure he won’t see it as an issue. I’m hoping for my own selfish reasons that Kessler wins because then he’ll still have the WBA belt. I’m fighting him next so if he beats Ward then it means that our fight becomes a massive WBC and WBA unification clash and I can get my hands on his belt.”
Abraham said he now gets recognized just walking the streets after beating Taylor. “The victory over Jermain Taylor was great. If you beat big names, you get a lot of recognition, and I notice that when walking through the streets. Not just boxing and sports fans follow the Super Six tournament but also a lot of normal people who would not necessarily watch boxing on TV. They are all interested in the Super Six because it is the best fighting the best.”
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