New York—USBA Cruiserweight titlist BJ Flores (21-0-1, 13 KOs) has not fought in seven months and it doesn't look like that is going to change anytime soon. Flores has turned down Duva Boxing's exceptional offer to fight NABO Cruiserweight Champion and rising star Ola Afolabi (13-1-3, 5 KOs). The offer included a significant payday, a television date, a shot at Afolabi's title, and a WBO Eliminator position.
"It's true, I offered BJ Flores his biggest payday in a long time to fight Ola on ShoBox on October 3," said Duva Boxing president Dino Duva. "First he accepted, and then when he was sent the contract, he wouldn't sign it. He obviously got cold feet and that's a real shame because the fight would have been for the NABO title and most likely a WBO eliminator as well."
"I would love to fight Flores. I was looking forward to fighting him on October 3 and was very disappointed when I heard he didn't sign the contract," said Afolabi. "Just call my promoter Dino Duva and make the fight."
"If BJ can ever get the courage to fight Ola I would be happy to make the same offer, anytime, anywhere," stated Duva. "Flores had a great win over Darnell Wilson in February, but what has he done since? He has done nothing except bullshit people for money and not fight. BJ talks a good game but what he really needs to do is get back into the ring and stop bullshitting outside the ropes."
"Ola Afolabi is the real deal," added Duva. "Ola is destined to become a world champion regardless of whether or not Flores fights him."
Risum Boxing-prospect Kim Poulsen Now a Lightweight
Risum Boxing-prospect Kim Poulsen (9-1, 1 KO) is now officially a full-fledged lightweight after 10 fights competing in or just above super featherweight. The Danish stylist has added enough physique for trainer Brian Mathiasen and manager Henrik Risum to be comfortable with the new weightclass, and Poulsen is personally also happy with his team’s mutual agreement:
“I can squeeze myself down below 59 kilos if I really drain myself, but we all agree that there is no point as it will probably be totally impossible for me by the time I am ready to fight for rankings and titles. I might as well start getting used to lightweight. I have gained a lot of muscle-mass since turning pro two years ago, and I will get even stronger, so not draining myself should make me better in the longer fights. After all, its not healthy cutting too much weight”, says Poulsen.
Manager Risum is working on Poulsen’s next fight, which could be in October, but nothing is set yet as original plans and budgets have been changed:
“I had Kim’s entire 2008 planned already in January, and the first half has gone according to plan. I have a contract with a promoter guaranteeing Kim two more fights before the end of the year, but unfortunately it doesn’t look like that contract will be honoured by the promoter, and that has set us back a bit. But I am working on a plan B now, and I am confident that Kim will still have fought five times in 2008 when all is said and done. That’s my goal anyway, but of course it is easier said than done and a lot of things have to fall into place”.
Poulsen last boxed in July, beating journeyman Sandor Fekete convincingly on points, and has since enjoyed a small break from training and a summer-vacation. Recently he helped former European and world title-challenger; welterweight Allan Vester prepare for a fight in Sweden, so sharing the ring with heavier boxers won’t be a new experience for the 21-year-old:
“I have sparred a lot with Allan and also (former European and current WBO I/C champion) Christian Bladt, and I am doing well with those guys. Fighting at lightweight from now on shouldn’t be a problem when I can hold my own with good, experienced welterweights like Allan and Christian”, concludes Poulsen.
"Stars of the Future" at York Hall
While such instantly recognizable names as Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton continue to pack out arenas around the world, these luminaries of boxing were once just pinpoints of light among a dense field of strivers, all trying to fight their way to the top.
It's the entry level of boxing that will provide the sport with tomorrow's headliners and it's no secret that some of the most competitive bouts in the game take place within this tumultuous tangle of ambition.
The scene in Britain today features a healthy crop of young talent and there is perhaps no one better in the UK at picking the cream of the crop than promoter Frank Maloney, who presents an impressive assemblage of up and coming boxers this weekend as London's famed York Hall hosts "Stars of the Future" on Saturday night, September 13, 2008.
Knockouts are the lifeblood of boxing and there is no other underclassman in the heavyweight division with a bigger punch than the towering Irishman, Scott Belshaw. The Belfast Bomber has stopped all but two of his nine victims to date and the 6 foot 7 inch tall 23 year old will be in no mood for mercy when he trades leather at York Hall on Saturday with Czech traveler Pavol Polakovic to top the bill.
Having shared the ring with such big hitters as Herbie Hide, Mark Hobson and Roman Kracik, Polakovic declared that he has nothing to fear from Belshaw and has defiantly vowed to snuff out the gargantuan slugger's promise.
Making their pro debuts on the "Stars of the Future" fight card will be a quartet of hot prospects scheduled to compete in four round bouts.
Heavyweight Tom Dallas is a former junior ABA champion who was runner up in the ABA super heavyweight finals and the 6 foot 6 inch tall man from Chatham is straining to be let off the leash but he'll have to scrap with an iron-chinned Slovakian veteran, Vlado Szabo, before he can post his first professional victory.
The latest in a long line of fighting Shinkwins of Watford, Liam Shinkwin, will swap punches with durable Crawley lightweight Robin Deakin, who floored Vinny Mitchell in January of this year and just narrowly missed knocking off the highly touted Londoner.
Another young man with boxing in the family, Vinnie Woolford of Margate, will make his maiden voyage in the paid ranks when he meets hard-nosed Northampton grafter Gavin Deacon.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents "Stars of the Future", featuring heavyweight Scott Belshaw, at York Hall in London, England on Saturday, September 13, 2008.
Tickets are priced at £50 and £30 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
8 Count Back at Cicero
CHICAGO, IL - Cicero Mayor Larry Dominick and 8 Count Productions President Dominic Pesoli met this morning at the Mayor’s office to discuss “LIBERTY”, the upcoming world class professional boxing card set for Friday, September 19th at Cicero Stadium.
Said Pesoli, ‘We’re very happy to return to Cicero as part of their huge Mexican Independence Day festivities. Mayor Dominick and his team have done a great job within the community to celebrate with the festival, parade and fireworks and we’re very happy to be part of it.
We’ve put together a terrific show of first rate professional boxing and we’re looking forward to an outstanding evening with boxing fans from Cicero and the rest of the Chicagoland area.”
Tickets for “ LIBERTY ”, presented by 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, along with Budweiser, TCF Bank, Aero Mexico, Jack Daniels, EL Jimador Tequila, Grossinger Auto Group, ABT Electronics and New York Jewelers, are on sale in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie . Doors for this event will open at 7pm with the first bell scheduled for 8pm.
Headlining the “ LIBERTY ” card is an eight round junior welterweight bout between Sonora , Mexico ’s Ramon Montano and Bayamon , Puerto Rico native Mike Gonzalez.
The 26 year old Montano, now living in Las Vegas , NV , sports a record of 15-5-2 since turning professional five years ago. Most recently he battled then WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz on March 15th in Las Vegas , losing a hard fought majority decision. Other notable names on his record include world ranked Dmitriy Salita (DRAW-8) and Americo Santos (W-SD8).
The heavy handed Gonzalez, 10-4-1 (9KO’s) now based in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , splashed onto the local boxing scene three years ago and quickly ran off a string of eight wins, all by knockout.
Most recently Gonzalez has fought against some of the best prospects in boxing, losing hard fought battles to Jorge Teron and Joel Torres both in their hometown of New York City . In his last local fight, Gonzalez devastatingly knocked out Jaime Alvarado in April 2007 at the PAR-A-DICE Casino in East Peoria , IL .
The co-main event features the return of Chicago fan favorite Luciano “EL MICHOACAN” Perez taking on Puerto Rico ’s Devin Lopez in a junior middleweight bout.
Perez, 15-8-1 (13KO’s), returns to Cicero Stadium where he has fought successfully twice before, a third round knockout of John Vaughn in March 2007 and a SOLO BOXEO televised knockout of Carson Jones in February 2006.
Two years ago, Perez battled fellow Mexican Francisco Rincon at the Aragon Ballroom in one of Chicago most action packed fights in recent years. The blood filled war, featuring continuous power shots from both warriors, was won by Perez as he rallied to win the fight in the last two rounds.
In his last major bout, Perez battled former world champion Carlos Baldomir at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon , California , losing a highly disputed ten round majority decision which was also broadcast on SOLO BOXEO.
Lopez, now fighting out of Hammond , Indiana , brings a record of 7-3-1 (6KO’s). He had won three in a row before being stopped by Aaron Pryor Jr. earlier this year.
In a special feature attraction, Noe Perez, brother of Luciano, will make his professional debut. The nineteen old amateur standout will battle local favorite Nick Arellano in a scheduled four round lightweight bout. Perez was the 132 pound 2008 Chicago Golden Gloves champion.
Also featured at “LIBERTY” is a six round light heavyweight bout between Chicagoan Gerald Taylor, 4-0-1 (2KO’s) who will look to continue his winning ways against Davenport, Iowa’s Jeffrey Osborne Jr., 5-11-2 (2KO’s) in a scheduled six round bout. Taylor is coming off a four round unanimous decision win over previously undefeated Walter Foster on July 11th at the Aragon Ballroom. In Osborne’s last bout he knocked out Courtney Buck in the second round on August 15th in Somerset , Wisconsin .
Opening the show, Chicago based fighters Miguel Angel Figueroa and Jeff “THE BIG FROG” Curran will battle in a four round bout.
More information on this card will be announced shortly.
The public weigh-in for “ LIBERTY ” will take place at TCF Bank/ Melrose Park at 1440 W. North Ave. at 7pm on Thursday, September 18th.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be noted boxing ring announcer Thomas Treiber.
