Frank Espinoza Discusses Abner Mares, Israel Vazquez and More

One of the staples of the Southern California scene is Frank Espinoza. Always calm, collected, suited and booted, the World Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2007 Manager of the Year has amassed a talented assembly of fighters in the area, namely bantamweights Abner Mares and Yonnhy Perez. The list also includes prospects like super featherweight Ronny Rios and the rising light welterweight duo of Carlos Molina and Luis Ramos Jr.

Of course, no mention of Espinoza’s career would be complete without the job he did in steering former super bantamweight king Israel Vazquez toward boxing immortality and an assured spot in the Hall of Fame. Leading up to this Tuesday’s press conference in L.A. for the April 23^rd tilt between Mares and Joseph Agbeko, Espinoza took some time out of his busy schedule this week to speak to Maxboxing about the current status of an active stable that has a combined record of 105-1-2 (65).

Check out the transcript, along with a second take on last Friday's ShoBox card featuring Franco-Miranda and Kayode-Iannuzzi!

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/frank-espinoza-discusses-abner-mares-israel-vazquez-and-more

Is Lateef Kayode’s Hollywood Story Ready for Prime Time?

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the last great University of Nevada-Las Vegas basketball team.

During a two-year stretch where the Runnin’ Rebels ran up a record of 69-6 and earned two Final Four berths, they loved to share their secret to success, one that I feel can be applicable to all standards of competition.

“Because we practice harder than anyone else,” UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian once said, “we deserve to win.”

Such is the mentality behind NABO/NABF cruiserweight holder Lateef “Power” Kayode, 15-0 (14), who dreams of fighting under the glitz and glamorous lights of the Strip one day. Until then, the Nigerian tirelessly toils at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, looking to warrant a world title shot when he takes on Nicholas Iannuzzi, 16-1 (9), on tonight’s edition of “ShoBox: The New Generation” from the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif.

“I want to show I deserve a title shot,” said the brick-fisted Kayode, who sports scars on his cheeks from a Yoruba tribal ritual. “I want to show that my hard work and everything I’ve been through are worth it.”

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/is-lateef-kayodes-hollywood-story-ready-for-prime-time

Mercito Gesta Brings “No Mercy” to San Francisco

The Filipino southpaw identifies the crux of his opponent’s attack and employs his swift feet to evade it. With his nemesis now vulnerable, a counter right hook comes all the way from the Pacific Ocean to club its target with precision. The lightning-straight left follows in ruthless succession.

As inevitable as the sun’s daily disappearance over the horizon, the helpless adversary relinquishes his equilibrium and staggers into the ropes, bewildered and facing sure defeat.

Rather than giving you the blow-by-blow for the last Manny Pacquiao extravaganza, I actually described the explosive ending for aptly nicknamed Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta’s second-round stoppage of Ivan Valle last October.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/mercito-gesta-brings-no-mercy-to-san-francisco

West Coast Watch: Conflicting Cards, a Swan Song for Drunken Master, and the Top Rank-Don King Alliance

Last weekend’s Watch was a marathon of ostentatious proportions but this midweek update covers a plethora of topics, namely an avoidance of a clash of cards in the Bay Area, a final look at the retiring Emanuel Augustus, and a brief hypothesis on what the new Bob Arum-Don King buddy picture might mean for Manny Pacquiao in the future.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/west-coast-watch-conflicting-cards-a-swan-song-for-drunken-master-and-the-top-rank-don-king-alliance

Candid Cameron: Bradley’s Contract, Donaire Moving to 122, Pavlik on Pacquiao Undercard?

Last Sunday, I received an email from BWAA Manager of the Year 2008 Cameron Dunkin. The message was short and sweet.

“Sorry I haven’t called.”

A whirlwind of sorts has engulfed the usually responsive Dunkin lately, so it’s always nice to hear from the classy Cameron. Several of his marquee fighters are approaching the most impactful bouts of their respective careers over the next 30 days, namely WBO light welterweight champ Timothy Bradley, top ten pound-for-pound bantamweight Nonito Donaire, and lightweight contender Brandon Rios.

Yesterday, we finally got in touch when Dunkin called me; he had left his Las Vegas stronghold at D & D Boxing to support Bradley ahead of his Silverdome showdown with Devon Alexander this Saturday in Pontiac, Mich. The transcript of our conversation is below.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/candid-cameron-bradleys-contract-donaire-moving-to-122-pavlik-on-pacquiao-undercard

West Coast Watch: The Saturday Morning Special Edition

It’s been awhile since I got back on the wagon but I did my due diligence and scoured enough reconnaissance from Interstate Highway 1 and U.S. Route 95 to bring you the latest Watch.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/west-coast-watch-the-saturday-morning-special-edition

A Tale of Three Prospects: Diego Magdaleno, Roberto Marroquin, and Jose Benavidez Jr.

Before they make the leap to contender, this Saturday’s edition of “Top Rank Live” offers fight fans an early opportunity to watch three of the brightest prospects in the sport.

The Fox Deportes-televised show will broadcast separate bouts featuring the undefeated trio of super featherweight Diego Magdaleno, featherweight Roberto Marroquin, and light welterweight Jose Benavidez Jr.

Here’s a primer on Top Rank’s version of “triple trouble” leading up to their respective battles at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/main-lead/a-tale-of-three-prospects-diego-magdaleno-roberto-marroquin-and-jose-benavidez-jr

Edwin "La Bomba" Rodriguez Embodies Dedication

All too often we hear fighters bombastically boast about taking on all comers and doing whatever it takes to be the best, pound-for-pound.

All too often, we are misled.

However, in the case of super middleweight prospect Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez, 17-0 (13), judging by his actions between bouts, it would be hard to question his commitment.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/edwin-la-bomba-rodriguez-embodies-dedication

Ava Knight Gears up for the Spotlight

Bantamweight contender Ava Knight has been practically begging for a fight against anyone, both anytime and anywhere. If you look at her brief eight-bout résumé, you would notice that the combined record of her last four opponents was 56-9-8.

After a 16-month stretch of inactivity, one of boxing’s obscure talents is finally ready to take off once again against Gloria Salas, 3-5-1 (1), on the undercard of this Friday’s edition of Telefutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate.”

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/ava-knight-gears-up-for-the-spotlight

My Fight Schedule for January-May 2011

Pacquiao v. Mosley, May 7, MGM Grand Las Vegas

Here are the fights I plan on covering live in the next few months. I probably won’t get to do all of them, but I’m going to try. If you happen to be at any of these events, feel free to swing by press row and say hello!

Jan. 7 (Fairfield, CA):

TV: Telefutura

Venue: Fairfield Sports Center

Featured Bouts: Brandon Gonzales v. Lester Gonzalez, middleweights; Alan Sanchez v. Cristian Favela, welterweights

Feb. 4 (Santa Ynez, CA):

TV: Showtime

Venue: Chumash Casino & Resort

Featured Bouts: Lateef Kayode v. Nick Iannuzzi, cruiserweights; Luis Franco v. Leonilo Miranda, featherweights

Feb. 11 (Vacaville, CA):

TV: TBA

Venue: Vacaville Ice Sports Rink

Featured Bouts: Alan Sanchez v. TBA, welterweights; Manuel Avila v. Edgar Flores, super bantamweights

Feb. 19 (Las Vegas, NV):

TV: HBO

Venue: Mandalay Bay Casino & Resort

Featured Bouts: Fernando Montiel v. Nonito Donaire, WBC/WBO bantamweight title; Mike Jones v. Jesus Soto Karass, welterweights

Feb. 25 (Richmond, CA):

TV: TV5 (Philippines)

Venue: Craneway Pavilion

Featured Bout: Ana Julaton v. Franchesca Alcanter, WBO super bantamweight title

Mar. 19 (Montreal, QC):

TV: Showtime

Venue: Bell Centre

Featured Bouts: Lucian Bute v. Brian Magee, IBF super middleweight title; Steve Molitor v. Takalani Ndlovu, IBF super bantamweight title

Apr. 30 (Toronto, ON):

TV: Zuffa Pay-Per-View

Venue: Rogers Centre

Featured Bout: Georges St. Pierre v. Jake Shields, UFC welterweight title

May 7 (Las Vegas, NV):
TV: HBO Pay-Per-View

Venue: MGM Grand Casino & Resort

Featured Bout: Manny Pacquiao v. Shane Mosley, WBO welterweight title

Gonzales, Avila Stake Their Claims Among Northern Cali’s Elite

Manuel Avila

In a little over 48 hours, professional boxing comes to Fairfield, Calif., this Friday in the form of Telefutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” series.

The Golden Boy/Don Chargin-promoted card has a distinct Northern California feel to it; six of the eight bouts feature at least one fighter from the region.

For middleweight Brandon Gonzales and super bantamweight Manuel Avila, Friday represents an opportunity to inch closer toward earning their spots alongside Nonito Donaire, Andre Ward, and Robert Guerrero in the upper echelon of Northern California’s pro fighters.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/gonzales-avila-stake-their-claims-among-northern-calis-elite

Another Climb for Otis Griffin

Sacramento light heavyweight Otis Griffin had lost 5 out of 6 and was faced with the prospect of hanging up his gloves. But after 4 straight wins, this modern day Cinderella Man is just 1 win away from a long-awaited world title shot! Read on for more.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/another-climb-for-otis-griffin