By Steven J. Canton

Florida boxing is certainly on an upswing, as we can currently claim five world champions. Joining Antonio Tarver with his spectacular stoppage of Roy Jones Jr., and then Glen Johnson dominating almost every round until stopping Jones in the ninth round on September 25, was Jeff Lacy, with his win over a tough Sid Vanderpool (by eighth round TKO), and Kassim "The Dream" Ouma defeating by decision, Verno Phillips, both on October 2, both picking up IBF titles in the process. In addition, we have Ronald "Winky" Wright, who defeated "Sugar" Shane Mosley and will be fighting a rematch with Mosley on November 20. Javier Castillejo has accepted $150,000 to step aside and allow this rematch to take place.

The winner must fight Castillejo within 90 days in order to retain the WBC belt. Don King won the purse bid for Tarver’s mandatory against Paul Briggs, which will be December 18. Tarver’s take will be a little more than 2 million. Glen Johnson was back in the gym Monday after his Saturday night fight with Roy Jones Jr. for a light workout. How is that for dedication? Ouma would like to fight the winner of Wright vs. Mosley, or possibly a unification with Daniel Santos. Meanwhile, Nate "The Gallaxy Warrior" Campbell will take on Robbie Peden for the vacant IBF title and vows to become Florida’s sixth current champion. He is now training and waiting for the exact date of the fight to be set. Roy Jones Jr. plans to focus his energy on promoting and wants to sign some of the top amateurs to fight under his Square Ring, Inc. company. He has also had some meetings with manager James Price, discussing the possibility of promoting Prince’s stable of fighters, including Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward. Hicklet Lau, a tough welter who fights everyone, took on Ray Oliveira in Boston, on October 1.

Oliveira won a decision and the IBU belt in the process. Exciting former lightweight world title challenger Lamar Murphy came out on the short end of another split decision, this time against the undefeated Jose Armando Santa Cruz. The bout took place at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California, on October 14. October 16, Jeff Gibson’s Elite Promotions, was back at the Club Ovation, in Boynton Beach. The Ibragimov cousins headlined a five bout card. Unbeaten 2000 Olympic silver medalist Sultan, stopped Najee Shaheed in round three and won the WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title, and Timur dropped Shawn Robinson four times, stopping him in the first round. Former world light heavyweight champ Lou Del Valle won a six round decision over game James Johnson, in an entertaining bout. Not only did a bout between Dimitri Kirlov and Oscar Andrade fall out, due to visa problems, but the ring announcer did not show up either. Jeff Gibson did an excellent job as both promoter and announcer on this night.

Many recognizable names were in attendance, including Glen Johnson, Michael Moorer, Daniel Edouard, Charles Whittaker, Howard Davis Jr., and Johnny Bumphus. Gibson’s next date is set for November 20. Warrior’s Boxing Promotions, Inc. and Golden Boy Promotions will bring an HBO Latino show on October 28, to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Hollywood. Kingsley Ikeke will go against Rene Arostegui in the main event, and heavyweight contender Eliecer Castillo will take on Kendrick Releford for the NABF title, in the co-main event. Former world champ Randall Bailey returns, on the undercard, to battle Ubaldo Hernandez, and Daniel Judah will fight for the vacant NABO 175 lb. title against Luis Gimenez. WBC lightweight champ in Jose Luis Castillo will be defending his title against former champ Joel Casamayor, on December 4.

Jeff Lacy is expected to defend his newly won IBF title against Vitali Tsypko on that same card, televised by Showtime, and promoted by Gary Shaw, from Las Vegas, at a venue yet to be named. The IBO will be holding its convention from October 28-31, at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, in Miami. The WBO will have its17th Annual Convention at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, from October 26-30, in Hollywood. The SJC Boxing Gym has to be one of the most diversified in the world, as fighters from at least 30 different countries (many of them world-class), have trained there. The SJC Boxing Gym in Ft. Myers, where many world champions and top contenders have trained, is available for training. Anyone who wishes to come to sunny, warm and tranquil Southwest Florida, should contact yours truly either by e-mail at sjcboxing@hotmail.com or telephone (239) 275-5275. Visit our web site at www.sjcboxing.com.