FULL RESULTS: 2013 Northern California Junior Olympics

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Your 2013 NorCal Junior Olympic champions. (Oscar Ortiz)

A new crop of champions were crowned at the 2013 Northern California Junior Olympics at Brisbane's Ring of Fire Boxing Club this weekend.

NorCal's finest now meet their Central Cal counterparts on May 11 at the Coyote Valley Tribal Youth Council in Redwood Valley for the right to represent Region 11 at J.O. Nationals in Mobile, Ala.

 
Here are your winners, courtesy of Lydia Martinez Razo, Oscar Ortiz, and Robert Rodriguez.  Click on the photos below to enlarge the view.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2013

SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013 

BEST BOUT (MALE): Uriel Sanchez vs. Noel Temores

BEST BOUT (FEMALE): Martha Arroyo vs. Ariana Garcia

BEST BOXER, JUNIORS (11-12): Cameron Smith

BEST BOXER, INTERMEDIATE (13-14): Angel Cordon

BEST BOXER, SENIORS (15-16): Angel Rios

Khan, Ramirez Outpoint Foes; F. Guerrero Stopped in 7

Guerrero showed heart but eventually was stopped by Quillin. (Tom Casino/Showtime)

Quillin Drops Guerrero Four Times, Seventh Round TKO:
http://www.boxingscene.com/quillin-drops-guerrero-four-times-seventh-round-tko--64901

Disaster Averted as Amir Khan Edges Julio Diaz:
http://www.boxingscene.com/disaster-averted-amir-khan-edges-julio-diaz--64904

Photos: Jose Ramirez Wins by Decision:
http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-beltran-mccumby-farenas-ramirez-win--64925

NorCal Boxing TV Guide: F. Guerrero, Khan, Ramirez in Action

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

From left to right: Fernando Guerrero (Tom Casino/Showtime), Amir Khan (AP), Jose Ramirez (Top Rank/Chris Farina)

 

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Showtime, 9:00 p.m.: Hayward-based Fernando Guerrero (25-1, 19 KOs) challenges Peter Quillin (28-0, 22 KOs) for the WBO middleweight title in Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

UniMás, 11:00 p.m.: Avenal's Jose Ramirez (2-0, 2 KOs) fights Antonio Martinez (1-1-2, 1 KO) in a lightweight bout at the Erwin Center in Austin, Tex.

Showtime, 11:30 p.m.: Hayward-based Amir Khan (27-3, 19 KOs) takes on Julio Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KOs) in a junior welterweight bout at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England.

READ MORE ON THE MATCHUPS: http://www.csnbayarea.com/fight-sports/boxing-notes-fernando-guerrero%E2%80%99s-road-%E2%80%98title-time%E2%80%99

Cal Men's Basketball and Jordan Brand Unveil New Look

By Ryan Maquiñana

Maqdown.com

Solomon and Kreklow show off the new look. (Cal Athletics/John Todd/ISI Photos)

The California Golden Bears men’s basketball team unveiled a new set of uniforms on Tuesday that were in line with the university athletic department’s program-wide rebranding venture.

Junior forward Richard Solomon and sophomore guard Ricky Kreklow modeled the standard home whites and road blues that were designed by Nike subsidiary Jordan Brand and will debut next season. 

Complete with a customized sans-serif typeface, rows of polka dots down the sides, and a new bear logo featured both on the shorts and on the back of the jersey as what Nike terms an “aerographic,” the fresh duds also serve a functional purpose as well.

“When you actually put the jersey on…you can actually feel that the jerseys are lighter than the jerseys we’ve had in the past,” Kreklow said in a video released by Cal Athletics.

A customary gold uniform will accompany the blue and white sets, with a fourth gray alternate set appearing in circulation for the first time in school history.  The team wore silver uniforms in 2010 for one game to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the first Air Jordan shoe. 

While traditionalist Old Blues may decry the new complexion of Cal’s sports teams, the modern look is here to stay, and the athletes are in favor of the changes.

“It’s like a sleek, nice look now,” Solomon said.  “I like the new logo, and I like the side print.”

Two weeks ago, athletic director Sandy Barbour revealed a restructured visual identity for all 29 of Cal’s intercollegiate programs after a lengthy two-year collaborative process with Nike.

RELATED: [New Cal Bears logo and uniforms]

“We feel we have developed guidelines that respect Cal's strong tradition and universally-recognized marks,” Barbour said. “At the same time, we realize that we need to create a look designed to evolve with our changing world.”

Not everything underwent a makeover.  The iconic script Cal will remain firmly in place as the school’s primary logo.

Quartet of Region 11 Boxers Tabbed for USA Boxing Training Camp

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Members of the Junior team pose after a study break. (Omar Sanchez)

USA Boxing has summoned four Region 11 amateurs to train with the national team for a mega training camp for all levels at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

In the Elite women's division, flyweight Marlen Esparza (Undisputed Gym, San Carlos) will hone her craft with coaches Benny Roman and Eugene Hart until May 11, when the team heads to the Women's Continental Championships in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.

A trio of local boxers in the Junior men's division will join her in Colorado.  Flyweight Evan Sanchez (Fresno PAL), light welterweight Brandon Trejo (Napa SAL), and light heavyweight Suray Mahmutovic (415 B.C., San Francisco) will train until May 7, when they head to Uman, Ukraine, for the Victory Day Tournament.  Sanchez's father Omar will be a part of a coaching staff that includes Edward Rivas and Willie Moses.

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.

San Jose Olympian Molina Passes Away

Team Guerrero
Press Release

Molina was a 1956 U.S. Olympian at lightweight. (Team Guerrero)

April 22, 2013 - Bay Area boxer legend Luis Molina, who was a San Jose native, recently passed away.  Molina was the cousin of Bob Santos who manages six-time and four-division world champion Robert Guerrero.  Molina was close to Guerrero and was the person who stamped the approval for Bob Santos to the young phenom in the amateurs.  

Having competed many times in the South Bay as a professional, Molina is the only boxer from San Jose to have fought in the Olympics (1956). 

In an era where there was only one champion in a total of eight weight classes, Molina worked his way to the No. 1 spot, but didn't get a title shot against Carlos Ortiz who was considered one of the best fighters of that time.

He died at the age of 74 and will be remembered by Team Guerrero and those who loved him in his hometown of San Jose California.

"Luis Molina was a great person and a good friend of mine," said Robert Guerrero. "I remember very clearly when he came to see me train at age 17 when I first signed with my manager Bob Santos.  My condolences go out to his entire family.  He will be missed by all who knew him."

"My cousin Luis was a tremendous person and fighter," said Bob Santos. "He had an incredible eye for talent.  Robert Guerrero was the last fighter he scouted and we all know where 'The Ghost' is at today. I'm please that Robert had the opportunity to know him on a personal level because he gave Guerrero advice that is invaluable.  He came from an era in boxing that is gone forever.  May he rest in peace."

This Week in NorCal Boxing: WBC Wrong to Strip Ward of Title

By Ryan Maquiñana
CSNBayArea.com

Andre Ward has been wrongly stripped of his WBC title. (Tom Casino/Showtime)

THIS WEEK IN NORCAL BOXING:

-WBC wrong to strip Andre Ward of title
-Donaire going under the knife
-Pacquiao to Asia for October return
-49ers' Gore breaks down Canelo-Trout
-Lamonakis wants loss to Salazar reversed

LINK: www.csnbayarea.com/fight-sports/world-boxing-council-wrong-strip-ward-title

NorCal Boxing Extra: College Boxing Champs, Robb Signs, Gonzales Gets Title Shot

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Colin Schmitt (left) and Mac Pham celebrate their USIBA national title victories. (Mac Pham)

RELATED: [NorCal Boxing notes: WBC wrong to strip Ward of title]

AMATEUR NEWS

UC Davis and USF enjoyed a successful weekend at the inaugural U.S. Intercollegiate Boxing Association National Championships, which took place last weekend at USF's Koret Center.

According to UC Davis assistant coach Joel Stern, the Aggies were named the Most Outstanding Team of the tournament, with novice featherweight Mac Pham, open light middleweight Colin Schmitt, and novice middleweight Fabian Rivera winning their respective championship bouts.

NIT middleweight champion Connor Morgan and women's bantamweight champion Adrianna Boursalian led the charge for USF, as they were two of five Dons to make the final day of championship bouts.  Teammate Nargis Shaghasi was crowned unopposed open light welterweight champion as part of the first national accolades ever awarded to women.

Here are all the results involving local fighters in championship bouts:

WOMEN:
119 lbs.: Adrianna Boursalian (USF) def. Jocelyn Lewis (Army)
141 lbs.: Nargis Shaghasi (USF) won unopposed

MEN:
125 lbs. (novice): Mac Pham (UC Davis) def. Shawn Sullivan (VMI)
152 lbs. (open): Colin Schmitt (UC Davis) def. J.R. Abellon (USF)
165 lbs. (novice): Fabian Rivera (UC Davis) def. Jack Ryan (USF)
165 lbs. (NIT): Connor Morgan (USF) def. Greg Gonzalez (Georgetown)
165 lbs. (open): Adan Gonzalez (Georgetown) def. Sebastian Doerner (USF)

Click on the photo below for results from all three days of competition.

PRO NEWS

GONZALES GETS TITLE SHOT

Sacramento super middleweight Brandon Gonzales (17-0, 10 KOs) will make his HBO debut on June 29 when he faces South Africa's Thomas Oosthuizen (21-0-1, 13 KOs) at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

Gonzales, the 2011 CSNBayArea.com NorCal Prospect of the Year, shook off seven months of inactivity by pounding out a unanimous decision over Don Mouton in January.  Oosthuizen holds the IBO 168-pound world title, which is a fringe belt but would nonetheless propel Gonzales into a high ranking with the major sanctioning bodies.

RELATED: [NorCal Pound-for-Pound Top 10: March 2013]  

"It's a huge opportunity for Brandon to show he belongs at this level," said Dan Goossen, who co-promotes Gonzales with Antonio Leonard.

ROBB SIGNS WITH BOXING 360

Featherweight Guy Robb (10-1, 4 KOs), one of the region's most exciting fighters, has signed a promotional contract with Boxing 360, who also handles Joel Diaz Jr., the only man to defeat the Sacramento native in a 2012 war that fans are still talking about one year later.

"A lot of people want me to fight Joel again," Robb said in a press release.  "They loved the first fight and hope we can duplicate the action.  My fanbase did grow after that fight and I love my fans because they are the kind of fans that really appreciate a fighter who leaves it all the line."

Since his last outing, a unanimous decision over Adolfo Landeros in Sacramento last October, Robb has served as a sparring partner for Nonito Donaire and kept in shape by training at the Golden State Bloodhounds gym with Ray Woods.

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.

Mayweather Calls Bay Area "Hyphy," Verbally Jabs Guerrero

By Ryan Maquiñana
CSNBayArea.com

Floyd Mayweather’s cutman Rafael Garcia hasn’t tallied the results on his famous punch counter, but it’s safe to say that the prevailing words of choice chanted at the boxing superstar’s namesake gym are hard work and dedication.

But as the media mobbed him at his Las Vegas workout on Wednesday, the reigning WBC welterweight champion uttered a term more closely associated with upcoming May 4 foe Robert Guerrero’s Northern California home turf.

“I have an auntie from the Bay Area. She’s been there since the 80’s,” Mayweather told CSNBayArea.com. “I had a chance to go to the Bay Area. They get hyphy.”

Mayweather made a point to single out the Bay Area fight fans, especially with regard to his success at the box office.

“When you look at the pay-per-view numbers, I get a lot of love from the Bay Area,” he said. “I know that Robert is from the Bay Area, and I know he’s going to have a heavy fanbase where he’s from out supporting him, but the only thing we should be worried about is giving the fans excitement, and giving the people what they want to see.”

READ MORE: http://www.csnbayarea.com/fight-sports/mayweather-calls-bay-area-%E2%80%98hyphy%E2%80%99-talks-guerrero-matchup

Guerrero Workout Recap: Maxim Models, Ministers, and Mayweather Mocked

By Ryan Maquiñana

CSNBayArea.com 

The IBA Gym in Las Vegas was the scene for quite the spectacle on Tuesday afternoon, as Gilroy’s Robert Guerrero conducted a media workout that wasn’t short on entertainment.

Immediately after inviting a nearby photographer into the ring, Guerrero’s father Ruben flailed at the stranger’s fists and slapped them in an unceremonious ode to his son’s May 4 opponent, Floyd Mayweather.

“Patty cake! Patty cake!” Ruben screamed, eliciting laughter from the throng of press in attendance. “Baker’s man!”

The elder Guerrero wasn’t displaying an aggressive affinity for nursery rhymes, but rather, describing what he thought about Mayweather’s renowned focus mitts routine—one that Ruben decried as “fake punches.”

READ MORE: http://www.csnbayarea.com/fight-sports/maxim-models-ministers-and-mocking-mayweather

UCA Law Enforcement Tripleheader Hits Richmond on Saturday

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

The United Combat Association will hold an amateur card Saturday at the Richmond PAL Sports Complex.  The main event will feature two of law enforcement's finest, Santa Clara PD's Matt Wurdinger and LAPD's Mike Barragan, facing off for the UCA light heavyweight state title.

In the co-main, Yolo Corrections' Cleon Jones takes on Rahasaan Harrison of the L.A. Sheriff's Department in an anticipated slugfest for the UCA super heavyweight state title.  The action continues as Santa Clara Sheriff Department's Brent Bugarin clashes with Jorge "The Baby Face Assassin" Caamal of the L.A. Sheriff's Department for the the vacant UCA welterweight state title.

There will also be a raffle that will include autographed gloves from Bay Area pro boxing stars Andre "S.O.G." Ward, Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo, and Fernando Guerrero, who fights for the WBO middleweight title on Showtime next week.

The event is sanctioned by USA Boxing.  Doors open at 4 p.m., and the first fight is at 6 p.m.  The Richmond PAL Sports Complex is located at 2200 MacDonald Avenue.  Tickets are $15 for general admission and $25 for ringside seats.  Proceeds from the card will benefit the LBC 38, Richmond PAL, and the Firemen Burn Center.

For more information, log on to unitedcombatassociation.com.

VIDEO: Rigondeaux Gets Off Canvas to Upset Donaire

By Ryan Maquiñana
CSNBayArea.com

Nonito Donaire’s 12-year win streak came to an end in New York City as Guillermo Rigondeaux outdueled him for the WBO, WBA, and Ring Magazine world junior featherweight titles at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night.

Rigondeaux's technical skills were decisive. (Chris Farina)

Rigondeaux used his handspeed—but especially his feet—to fluster Donaire (31-2, 20 KOs), who constantly sought an opening to land the knockout blow over the 12-round distance. Though Donaire would send Rigondeaux to the canvas via an overhand left in the 10th round, the San Leandro resident found himself stalking his Cuban foe in vain.

“I got up right away,” Rigondeaux said of the knockdown. “He didn’t hurt me.”
Meanwhile, Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KOs), who now lives in Miami, was able to stay out of Donaire’s striking distance, clocking the East Bay star with right jabs and swift left crosses, then subsequently maneuvering his way out of trouble repeatedly. In the 12th round, Donaire’s right eye closed shut, and the injury prevented him from one final push.

“The people that know boxing saw that it was a very good boxing fight,” Rigondeaux said. “I made him look the way he looked, which was bad, and I looked great…He’s an excellent fighter, with a great punch, but with one shot, you just can’t win a fight.”

READ FULL RECAP: http://www.csnbayarea.com/fight-sports/rigondeaux-gets-canvas-upset-donaire