VIDEO: 1-on-1 with Floyd Mayweather

By Ryan Maquiñana
CSNBayArea.com



Floyd Mayweather joined me on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for a 1-on-1 interview earlier this morning to talk about his upcoming May 4 fight with Gilroy's Robert Guerrero, his move from HBO to Showtime, and whether or not he's still got it!

PHOTO GALLERY: Peterson Stops Holt in Eight

By Juan Marshall
ProAm Fight Talk

Juan Marshall of Pro Am Fight Talk was on hand for Lamont Peterson's successful defense of his junior welterweight title Friday night at the Washington, D.C. Armory.  (San Ardo's Roman Morales scored a fifth-round stoppage of Jesus Hernandez in the co-feature.)

Here's a gallery from the main event, which ended in Peterson's eighth-round technical knockout victory.  Catch the rest of Marshall's work here.

NorCal Roundup: Morales Stops Hernandez, Perez Upsets Hovhannisyan

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net


San Ardo junior featherweight Roman Morales (15-0, 8 KOs) won a Friday night battle of unbeatens as he stopped Jesus Antonio Hernandez (10-1-3, 2 KOs) with a crippling left hand downstairs in in the fifth round at the Washington, D.C. Armory.

Hernandez, who had been outlanded in each of the first four frames, stooped to one knee after the final blow from Morales and could not beat the count.  Official time was 2:59.

ESPN2 televised the encounter on their "Friday Night Fights" series.

PEREZ OUTWORKS HOVHANNISYAN

Hours later from the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, North Salinas junior lightweight Alejandro Perez (17-3-1, 11 KOs) pulled off the upset of previously undefeated Art Hovhannisyan (15-1-2, 8 KOs) behind a diverse attack highlighted by effective body work.  Perez held off a mid-round surge by the bigger Hovhannisyan and closed the show by winning most of their toe-to-toe exchanges.

Scores were 96-94, 96-93, and 95-93 for the NorCal slugger.  Perez-Hovhannisyan aired on Showtime's "ShoBox" series.

Ryan Maquiñana was the boxing producer for NBCOlympics.com during London 2012 and writes a weekly column for CSNBayArea.com.  He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ratings Panel for Ring Magazine. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.

Region 11 Alumni Perez, Morales on TV Tonight

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Morales (right) is starting to make the boxing world take notice.

SAN CARLOS – Roman Morales has scored impressive wins on national television three times in his last five fights, but he barely registered a double-take when he walked by the regulars at the Undisputed Gym a few months ago.

That’s alright, the 21-year-old junior featherweight uttered to himself.  In fact, Morales has used the anonymity to his advantage, and aims to ambush Jesus Antonio Hernandez Friday night on ESPN2 (6 p.m.).

Morales (14-0, 7 KOs) has embraced his current lack of celebrity, perhaps indicative of his beginnings in the sleepy town of San Ardo, located south of Monterey.  Renowned for its massive oil field, we’re talking about a place so obscure that one has to hit the zoom button several times on Google Maps to find it.

While he hasn’t gotten the general boxing public to notice him just yet, however, Morales’s opponents are usually left with a stinging remembrance of their acquaintance with him in their respective midsections.  You see, Roman “The Ribcracker” is a bona fide body puncher.

Along the way to his 14 wins, Morales has punished several foes downstairs, including the formerly undefeated Jonathan Arrellano, who was forced to consume a steady diet of crippling left hooks that careened like missiles and pummeled his kidneys last September.

Hernandez (10-0-3, 2 KOs), from Los Mochis, Mex., can attribute his perfect ledger to his ability to keep foes at bay with his boxing skills, but more so to expert matchmaking.  Aside from two draws with former amateur standout Aaron Garcia, Hernandez does not hold a single win over a fighter with a winning record.

Still, Morales can’t afford to cruise to victory on Friday.  With another national audience tuning in, if he wants people to start recognizing him, he’s going to have to win and win big—style points compulsory.

PEREZ READY FOR WAR WITH UNBEATEN ARMENIAN

North Salinas junior lightweight Alejandro “El Alacrán” Perez will finally come back from a year-long layoff Friday night when he encounters unbeaten Armenian prospect Art Hovhannisyan in Southern California.  The 130-pound clash will occur at the Morongo Casino in Cabazon and air on Showtime’s “ShoBox” series (11 p.m. PT).

The 26-year-old Perez (16-3-1, 11 KOs) is a compact puncher who displayed his walloping might two years ago in Fairfield when he shockingly flattened Antonio Escalante in the first round.  That win earned him a regional title shot at undefeated Diego Magdaleno, who Perez also floored in the first frame but ultimately lost a decision.

Since the Magdaleno defeat, Perez has only fought once, an eight-round demolition of Derrick Wilson in February of last year where “El Alacrán (The Scorpion)” put his foe down four times en route to the stoppage.

Perez has his work cut for him against the 31-year-old Hovhannisyan (15-0-2, 8 KOs), who can be just as aggressive and will try to capitalize on a split decision win over former world titleholder Miguel Acosta last July. 

The “ShoBox” series has brought the sport some magnificent wars, including last year’s NorCal Fight of the Year candidate between Sacramento’s Guy Robb and Joel Diaz Jr.  This matchup has that type of combustible potential.

OLYMPIAN RAMIREZ INKS NIKE DEAL, BOUT POSTPONED

Avenal lightweight Jose Ramirez (1-0, 1 KO), who represented Region 11 in the 2012 London Olympics, has signed an endorsement deal with Nike.

The past 24 months have seen the 20-year-old go from Starbucks barista and Fresno State student to U.S. Olympian, and now, a Top Rank-promoted professional pugilist with a major apparel contract before his second fight.

Ramirez will wear the swoosh on his shoes and have a clothing line adorned with his own logo, as the company takes another step toward increasing the stable of fighters in their boxing division. 

In recent years, Nike has signed Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza, who now trains in San Carlos.  Oakland’s Andre Ward is affiliated with Jordan Brand, a Nike subsidiary.

Ramirez’s next bout was supposed to take place Saturday night against Charlie Dubray (0-1) at Culver City’s GMT Studios, but injured his thumb in sparring and will instead fight on the undercard of the Mar. 30 Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado rematch at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

AMATEURS: NORCAL GOLDEN GLOVES HIT VACAVILLE

Despite rumors that the Northern California Golden Gloves would not occur this year, the tournament are going on as planned from Feb. 20-23 at the Georgie Duke Center in Vacaville. 

According to USA Boxing NorCal president Ben Bautista, most of the region’s top amateurs were expected to compete; the winners in each weight class will advance to the Region 11 Golden Gloves finals against their Central California counterparts. 

Here’s the list of Open Division CenCal champs courtesy of CCA Chief of Officials Andy Murrietta:

OPEN DIVISION:
108 lbs.: Conrad Rendon (Aleman B.C., Fresno)
114 lbs.: Victor Torrez (Modesto PAL)
123 lbs.: Efren Lopez (Main Event B.C., Fresno)
132 lbs.: Christopher Cruz (S.E. Fresno B.C.)
141 lbs.: Moises Maciel (Fresno PAL)
152 lbs.: Omar Medrano (Northside B.C., Visalia) vs. Neeco Macias (Unattached, Tehachapi)*
165 lbs.: Quilistro Madera (Main Event B.C., Fresno)
178 lbs.: Armando Gomez (Felipe’s B.C., Lathrop)
201 lbs.: None
201+ lbs.: Jose Luis Medrano (Northside B.C., Visalia)

*winner to be determined Saturday 

For more information on the NorCal Golden Gloves, check out usaboxingca.org.

CSN Bay Area Boxing Insider Ryan Maquiñana is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and panelist for Ring Magazine’s Ratings Board.  E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.

Guerrero Out to 'Humble' Mayweather on May 4

By Ryan Maquiñana
CSNBayArea.com

Robert Guerrero’s life will never be the same again, and he got the first taste of the ravenous media circus that will soon engulf it ahead of his May 4 pay-per-view extravaganza with Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“I’m definitely ready for this fight,” Guerrero said during Thursday’s conference call. “Having the right experience and putting God first, with what he put me through physically and mentally—inside the ring and outside the ring—prepares you for something like this. I can’t wait, and it’s time.”

Though his team had been negotiating the fight as early as last November, Guerrero (NorCal No. 3; 31-1-1, 18 KOs) was admittedly on pins and needles until the deal was finally secured on Monday night.  Mayweather had alluded to opting for a fight with Devon Alexander two weeks ago, but it turned out to be merely a smokescreen.

READ MORE: http://www.csnbayarea.com/fight-sports/guerrero-out-%E2%80%98humble%E2%80%99-mayweather-may-4

PHOTO: Donaire-Rigondeaux Press Conference

 

Nonito Donaire (left) and Guillermo Rigondeaux appeared in New York City Thursday afternoon to announce their Apr. 13 fight at Radio City Music Hall.  The HBO-televised bout will be for junior featherweight unification. (PHOTO: Chris Farina)

Miller Advances, Salazar Edged in Indepedence Cup

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Miller (left), shown here in a bout last year, won her Tuesday opener.

San Francisco's Raquel Miller won her opener at the Independence Cup in Santiago, D.R., with a 11-3 decision win over Gisela Perez on Tuesday in the 165-pound women's middleweight quarterfinals.  The City boxer advances to Wednesday's semifinals.

The previous day, Fresno's Gary Salazar dropped a 17-15 verdict to Puerto Rico's Hector Marrero Leon in a 123-pound men's bantamweight bout.

Team Rigondeaux to Donaire: "Our Drug Testing Stance Hasn't Changed"

By Ryan Maquiñana

Norcalboxing.net/BoxingScene.com 

Rigondeaux (left) and Donaire have not yet formally agreed to fight. (AP)

Unified junior featherweight world champion Nonito Donaire stated Tuesday that he has neither signed his contract to fight fellow titleholder Guillermo Rigondeaux, nor will he attend Thursday’s press conference in New York City to announce their Apr. 13 bout.

After CSNBayArea.com revealed that Rigondeaux had not yet agreed to random testing to be administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association leading up to the fight, Donaire (31-1, 20 KOs) released this statement via social media:

“I want you guys to hear it from me first. I am NOT going to NYC for the presser this Thursday [because] Rigo is backing off his agreement to VADA drug testing. Rigo's team verbally agreed to VADA testing both online and in negotiations. But now that the contract to start testing is infront of them, they are finding every excuse not to sign and delay the start of the testing. I have NOT signed my fight contract yet to fight him so I have no obligation to fight ONLY HIM. It disappoints me that top fighters these days run from everything that will hold professional boxing integrity to its highest standard. I will be looking into other opponents with my manager, Cameron Dunkin immediately."

During negotiations, Rigondeaux’s manager, Gary Hyde, said that his fighter would have no problem submitting to random drug testing, especially since it was part of his Olympic training program.   Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KOs) captured gold medals for Cuba as an amateur in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 before moving to Miami, Fla.

Over a week ago, a photo surfaced of Rigondeaux signing his contract, which was assumed to contain all of the details of the agreement, including VADA testing.  However, a source within his team informed BoxingScene.com Tuesday afternoon that there has been a misunderstanding, and that the fighter will agree to the stipulation after all.

“Donaire is trying to twist things to get out of the fight and save face,” the source said.  “Our position hasn’t changed.  We have agreed to the testing but requested a copy of the agreement in Spanish so Rigondeaux can read and understand what he’s signing.  [What you saw in the picture] was the fight contract.  [VADA testing] is a separate thing.  Rigo just got the VADA agreement in Spanish this evening.  He’ll sign it and he’s up in a few hours for his flight to New York.”

Ryan Maquiñana was the boxing producer for NBCOlympics.com during London 2012 and writes a weekly column for CSNBayArea.com.  He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ratings Panel for Ring Magazine. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.

Guerrero Scores Mayweather Showdown on May 4

By Ryan Maquiñana
CSNBayArea.com

[PROGRAMMING NOTE: I will be on CSN Bay Area tonight talking about Mayweather-Guerrero on SportsNet Central (9 p.m. PT after the Warriors game) and on Chronicle Live (9:30 p.m. PT). Here's a channel guide to find CSN on your TV: http://www.csnbayarea.com/page/channel-locations-csn-bay-area]

Gilroy’s Robert Guerrero has secured the pay-per-view fight of a lifetime against boxing pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 4 at the Las Vegas MGM Grand, a source with knowledge of the negotiations informed CSNBayArea.com Tuesday morning.

Showtime has secured the broadcast rights for the bout, beating out archrival Home Box Office for the honors. Under his new agreement with Showtime PPV, Mayweather will be able to fight as much as six times over a span of 30 months, starting with the clash against Guerrero.

Guerrero (NorCal P4P No. 3; 31-1-1, 18 KOs), currently the World Boxing Council interim welterweight world champion, will take on the incumbent Mayweather for the WBC’s full-fledged 147-pound belt.

Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs) has not defended the title since his September 2011 knockout of Victor Ortiz, which allowed the WBC to award Guerrero interim champion status after he defeated Selcuk Aydin at HP Pavilion last July.

[RELATED VIDEO: Guerrero has ‘great chance’ to upset Mayweather]

Almost a fortnight ago, Mayweather insinuated on social media that he would eschew the fight in favor of one with Devon Alexander, but ultimately, Guerrero won out.
“I’ve been calling all the big names out to fight me because I’ve learned that nowadays, nothing gets done until you open your mouth and push for it,” Guerrero told CSNBayArea.com after his previous outing, a unanimous decision over Andre Berto last November. “I know if I get a shot against Floyd, I’ll shock the world.”

The fight will mark Mayweather’s 10th pay-per-view main event and third on Cinco de Mayo weekend, while Guerrero will enter a bout of this magnitude for the first time.

READ THE WHOLE STORY: http://www.csnbayarea.com/fight-sports/guerrero-scores-mayweather-pay-view-showdown-may-4

2013 NorCal Golden Gloves Start Wednesday

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Despite rumors that the Northern California Golden Gloves would not occur this year, the tournament will go on as planned from Feb. 20-23 at the Georgie Duke Center in Vacaville. 

According to USA Boxing NorCal president Ben Bautista, most of the region’s top amateurs are expected to compete; the winners in each weight class will advance to the Region 11 Golden Gloves finals against their Central California counterparts.  

2013 Central California Golden Gloves Winners

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Lopez (left) moves on to the State Silver Gloves. (Fightsrec.com)

Here are the 2012 Central California Golden Gloves Champions, courtesy of CCA's Andy Murrietta.  They will now advance to the Region 11 Golden Gloves finals against the winners from this weekend's NorCal bracket, which takes place in Vacaville:

OPEN DIVISION: 
108#    Conrad Rendon-Aleman B.C., Fresno 
114#    Victor Torrez-Modesto PAL 
123#    Efren Lopez-Main Event B.C., Fresno
132#    Christopher Cruz-S.E. Fresno B.C. 
141#    Moises Maciel-Fresno PAL 
152#    Omar Medrano-Northside B.C., Visalia vs Neeco Macias-Unatt., Tehachapi
165#    Quilistro Madera-Main Event B.C., Fresno 
178#    Armando Gomez-Felipe’s B.C., Lathrop 
201#    None 
201+#  Jose Luis Medrano-Northside B.C., Visalia

NOVICE DIVISION: 
108#         Marco Arroyo-E. Stockton B.C.
114#         Giovanni Noriega-Bakersfield PAL
132#         Stephen Lippincott-Unatt., Los Banos
141#         Eduardo Sanchez-Lemoore B.C.
152#         Zachary Lopez-Hanford B.C.
201#         Julio Arrellano, Jr.-McDermont B.C., Lindsay
201+#       Jesse Grano-Pacific Coast B.C., Monterey 

*TBD 2-23-13 

 

Cherry Stops Escobedo in Atlantic City

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Cherry overpowered Escobedo in six rounds Saturday. (AP)

Woodland’s Vicente Escobedo never recovered from an early knockdown and was stopped by Edner Cherry in the sixth round of a junior lightweight bout in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night.

Escobedo (NorCal No. 7; 26-5, 14 KOs), who was coming off a controversial loss in a 130-pound title fight against Adrien Broner last July, hit the canvas in the closing seconds of the first frame when Cherry (31-6-2, 17 KOs) connected with a left hand to the midsection and followed it with a right hand upstairs.

Though Escobedo would beat the count, Cherry, fighting out of Miami, Fla., would finish the job in the sixth with two more knockdowns; most of the damage resulted from heavy right hands. With Escobedo on all fours, referee Allan Huggins officially waved off the bout at 3:00.

Escobedo, a 2004 Olympian, has lost two in a row after a four-bout winning streak.

CSN Bay Area Boxing Insider Ryan Maquiñana is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and panelist for Ring Magazine’s Ratings Board.  E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.