MMA Fighting & Boxing Schedule, Fight Videos And Results
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“A victory (over Cristobal Cruz) would mean that I’m ready for big things and big fights against the world champions.”
Featherweight magician Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (19-0, 14 KOs) is in heavy preparation for his upcoming showdown with former IBF Featherweight Champion Cristobal Cruz (39-13, 23 KOs) on Friday, July 6, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and televised live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Boxing fans showed up in full force to provide a sell-out crowd for the inaugural “Live at the Lodge” event at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, Calif.
The event, which showcased six exciting bouts was broadcast on TeleFutura’s hit series “Solo Boxeo Tecate” and promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions. Fans in attendance also witnessed promoter Dan Goossen honor two of his former World Champion fighters when he presented Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas with awards commemorating the brothers on their storybook careers and dedication to the Goossen family.
A determined Mike Dallas Jr. shined brighter than the desert sun that was beating down on the ring set outdoors at Soboba Casino Friday night. In his fourth consecutive fight on ESPN “Friday Night Fights” Dallas locked leathers with Javier Castro and displayed blazingly fast hand-speed throughout the title fight, which marked Dallas’ first 12-round dance.
In round 6, Dallas caught his opponent with a heavy left and after seeing Castro stunned, unleashed a relentless assault forcing the referee to step in and stop the bout. Analyst Teddy Atlas was quick to comment on Dallas’ maturing as a fighter and pointing out how he was displaying great boxing prowess as he switched to the body and avoided Castro’s attempts to clinch.
The pride of Bakersfield, Dallas is trained by the 2011 Boxing Writer’s Association of Americas (BWAA) Trainer of the Year, Virgil Hunter and managed by the “First Lady of Boxing” Jackie Kallen. The “Silent Assassin” made plenty of noise on this night, becoming the WBO Latino Jr. Welterweight Champion and improving to 19-2-1, with 8 KO’s in the process.
Talented trainer Virgil Hunter (who also trains WBA/WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward) went 2-0 on the evening when he also called the shots for Sacramento’s Brandon Gonzales in the co-main event for his impressive win over Elie Augustama (6-5, 3 KOs). Gonzales improved to 16-0, with 10 KO’s in his 8-round unanimous shutout victory.
Augustama re-opened a cut above the left eye of Gonzales that he had sustained during training and almost forced him to withdraw from the bout. Gonzales was able to avoid stitches, allowing him to continue training and ultimately outclass his opponent to remain unbeaten.
The event, which was promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, also featured another talented young star from Sacramento in Guy Robb, who improved to 8-1, 4 KOs after a knockout victory over Rodrigo Aranda at 2:22 of round 5.
Former Olympian Javier Molina engaged in an all-out brawl with Octavio Navarez and scored a TKO3 victory, improving to 11-1 with 5 knockouts.
Two young, exciting, classy, established world champions, both from the United States, both in their primes and both widely recognized as the best in their weight class, will clash when undefeated Andre “SOG” Ward (25-0, 13 KOs) defends his WBA, WBC and RING super middleweight championships against once-beaten WBC and RING light heavyweight titleholder “Bad” Chad Dawson (31-1, 17 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., in the main event of “Ward vs. Dawson – World Champions – Made In America” on Saturday, Sept. 8, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
The mega-super fight, which was recently announced in Las Vegas, is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions in association with Antonio Leonard Productions and SOG Promotions. Tickets, priced at $300, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25, will go on sale TOMORROW, Friday, June 22 and will be available for purchase at the Oracle Arena box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com. The scheduled 12-rounder will be televised live on HBO® World Championship Boxing at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.
This type of compelling matchup where the top fighter in one division faces the No. 1 boxer in another division happens only occasionally in boxing. A few examples (where the smaller boxer won):
Floyd Mayweather was welterweight champion when he moved up and defeated Oscar De La Hoya for a junior middleweight title (May 5, 2007); Manny Pacquiao was the lineal 140-pound titlist when he beat Miguel Cotto for a welterweight belt (Nov. 14, 2009); Roy Jones was the undisputed light heavyweight boss when he went up and whipped John Ruiz for a heavyweight crown (March 1, 2003); and Timothy Bradley was a 140-pound belt-holder when he “beat” welterweight champion Pacquiao (June 9, 2012).
Much rarer is when the No. 1 in a weight class drops a division to face the leading man, such as what Dawson is doing. One example is Jones, who, one fight after dethroning Ruiz, went back to 175 pounds and defeated then-light heavy champion Antonio Tarver (Nov. 8, 2003).
Ward, universally acknowledged as 2011 Fighter of the Year and the lone U.S. boxer to win a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, and Dawson, a two-time world champion at 175, are both coming off impressive victories in the highest-profile matches of their careers.
The 6-foot, 28-year-old Ward, despite a broken hand, proved he was the planet’s No. 1 super middleweight when he won the Super Six World Boxing Classic on Dec. 17, 2011, by mostly manhandling England’s Carl Froch, who would go on to destroy Canada’s Lucian Bute last May 26. Going into that fight there was a small faction who believed that Bute was still at the head of the weight class. Now, however, there is absolutely no question that Ward is the man at 168.
The 6-foot-1 Dawson, who turns 30 on July 13, is coming off a dominant 12-round majority decision over the legendary Bernard Hopkins last April 24. At the post-fight press conference, Dawson expressed a desire to drop down and meet Ward rather than defend against a lesser-known light heavy contender. Dawson turned pro at super middleweight, but this will be his first start at 168 since February 2006.
“Chad’s the best in his division and I’m the best in my division,” said Ward, who’ll be giving away five inches in reach. “Chad has proven he wants to fight the best. I want to fight the best. You want to make a statement when you can, and this is the right time for a big fight like this. He’s coming off his best win. He’s a tree. I have to find a way to chop him down.
“Neither of us are all-time greats yet. We still have work to do.”
Said Dawson, “We’re both great champions, two young guys taking each other on. I think this fight is great for the sport of boxing. It’s a situation where he didn’t have to take the fight and I didn’t have to take the fight. (But) The deal got done, and there was no confusion. Everything went smooth.”
“Chad and Andre are the best fighters in their respected divisions, and both are worthy of pound for pound status,” said promoter Gary Shaw. “Anytime you have two great champions willing to risk it all, as we do in this fight, the fans are the ones who benefit the most. On September 8th, the world will witness, what I believe might be the fight of the year. It is highly unusual when two world champions, both owning the Ring belt in two divisions, agree to fight one another.”
“The fact that Dawson is coming down from light heavyweight to super middleweight and challenging Ward, who was “Fighter of the Year” in 2011, on his home turf, is proof that he has the heart of a warrior. He must be commended for his great courage, and these are what the old-time throwback fighters were all about.”
Oracle Arena has hosted four of the last seven Ward fights. “I’m excited. I would’ve fought anywhere, and I think I proved that in my last fight (against Froch in Atlantic City),” Ward said. “It’s great for me, and it’s going to be great for Oakland to have their champion come home.”
Offered promoter Dan Goossen, “It’s a risky fight, and Andre’s taking on a huge challenge, having just won the unified super middleweight title and now fighting the light heavyweight champ. But he’s ready for this challenge and the fans are going to see who is the preeminent world champion of these divisions.
“I commend both Chad and his promoter Gary Shaw being so confident in fighting Andre. The beneficiaries of this confidence will be the Bay Area fans and HBO subscribers, and I know the fighters will give them a great fight.
“We believe there will be 19,000 strong at Oracle Arena on September 8 screaming wildly for Andre to defend his championships in front of his hometown fans. I know the city and fans are thrilled we’re there and we’re going to bring a Las Vegas-level event to Oakland.”
“Fight fans win when elite fighters who have proven to be the best in their respective weight classes agree to meet in the ring and provide the sport with a compelling showdown,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president of programming, HBO Sports. “We applaud both Chad and Andre for stepping up and taking on this challenge and we’re thrilled to be televising the event live on our flagship boxing series.”
Former NABF Lightweight Champion Josesito Lopez will be spending a special Father’s Day this Sunday at Dodger Stadium as he kicks off the official fight week for “Ortiz vs. Lopez” on Saturday, June 23 at STAPLES Center. Lopez will be giving his best impression of Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw when he takes the mound before Sundays game. Just prior to that, he will be signing autographs with fans at the “Viva Los Dodgers” event in lot 6 of the Dodger Stadium parking lot.
Lopez lives and trains in Riverside, Calif., and is a big fan of the home town teams in Southern California. “I’m a huge baseball fan,” said Lopez. “It’s a great honor to be throwing out the first pitch in front of the great fans of Los Angeles. The success the Dodgers are having this year under their new ownership with Magic Johnson is amazing.”
“Ortiz vs. Lopez” is a 12-round fight main event for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship between Victor Ortiz and Josesito Lopez on a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader.
With a week to go before he steps up to challenge #4-ranked WBO Latino Junior Welterweight Champion Javier Castro for his international title belt at the Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, CA – with a possible world title opportunity for the winner lying in the balance – Mike Dallas, Jr. took time out to discuss his upcoming June 22nd ESPN “Friday Night Fights” main event.
This fight will mark the fourth straight appearance on ESPN for the 25-year old Bakersfield, CA native known as “The Silent Assassin.”
1. What are your thoughts on headlining an ESPN “Friday Night Fights” telecast with a possible world title fight at stake?
MD: “I look at this as a great opportunity for me to set myself up in a position to realize my dream of winning a world title. This will be my fourth straight time fighting on ESPN, and I have had mixed results so far. I know I am taking a step up in competition against a top five fighter in Castro, but I believe I am focused, prepared and ready for the challenge”.
2. You rebounded nicely versus Miguel Gonzalez after two tough losses. How is your mindset going into this fight against one of the world’s premier 140 pounders?
MD: “I’m feeling great both physically and mentally. I’m ready for this challenge. I’m looking forward to putting on a good performance in this fight and getting better and better with each fight.”
3. How has training camp gone for you?
MD: “I’ve been training in Oakland with Virgil Hunter and it has been going good. Virgil is a great teacher and has me well prepared. This will be our third fight together and I learn more and more from him every day.”
4. Compare your boxing style to Castro’s.
MD: “I am more of a boxer and have a bigger variety of weapons than he does. He is strictly a power puncher and has knocked out his last three opponents, so he is dangerous. I possess more speed and better defense. This is a classic matchup of power versus speed and should make for an exciting fight.”
5. What would be the significance of a win over a Top 5 opponent such as Javier Castro?
MD: It would be me taking a major step forward toward realizing my goal of fighting for – and winning – a world title and being recognized as the best junior welterweight in the world.”
6. What is your prediction on the fight?
MD: “I am not going to make any prediction. All I can say is that I am going out to box and just win.”
The six-bout event is being promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions in association with Soboba Casino. The Castro-Dallas bout is being promoted in association with Promociones Del Pueblo.
Studio City, CA (June 11) Imagine coming to America at age seven, having never worn, let alone owned a pair of shoes in your life. That is only one of many hardships overcome by brothers Rafael and Gabriel Ruelas on their way to simultaneously becoming World Champions and adored by their fans and the world of boxing.
Having worked the entirety of their young lives in Mexico instead of going to school, it seemed natural for the boys to sell candy door to door after school when they emigrated to Southern California. Gabriel had stopped to make a sale at the “neighborhood” gym of boxing trainer Joe Goossen, and upon seeing the ring and bags, asked Goossen to teach him the sport.
“I was reluctant at first, because here you have a 13-year-old kid asking for help and I was training professionals so I tried to send him away,” said Joe Goossen of young Gabriel.
Alonzo Strongbow, the #1 Flyweight in the World was there and persuaded Joe to give Gabriel a shot because he ‘saw something in his eyes.’
Gabriel asked several times if he could bring younger brother Rafael into the gym too. Joe denied the request on multiple occasions until he realized that he needed someone to spar with Gabriel, so he conceded and the next day Rafael put down his box of candy and came in to the gym.
“The very first day Rafael joined his brother, we put the gloves and headgear on him and threw him in the ring with Gabriel who gave his little brother a beating, until Rafael just used his natural ability and was able to slip away from several of the punches his brother was throwing,” Joe Goossen reflects. “I remember Frankie Duarte (top world contender) and I were watching this and nudging each other. We both knew what incredible talent we had in our gym, and now we had two of them!
“At the time I may not have known it, but I’ve certainly come to realize that this was a very special, once in a lifetime relationship between a trainer and a fighter. Then to have actually been successful with it, and turn these young kids into two World Champions was extraordinary and I’m quite proud of them. It’s a team effort on something like this and their dedication and desire to perfect what they were doing was unparalleled.”
Goossen Tutor Promotions is bringing a prominent reoccurring boxing series, titled “Live at the Lodge” back to the San Fernando Valley reflective of their “Country Club Series” in the 80s which enabled Gabriel and Rafael and many others to hone their skills in becoming World Champions. The first of these shows will be held June 23 at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, Calif. and will be broadcast live on Telefutura’s hit series “Solo Boxeo Tecate.”
Dan and Joe Goossen will be honoring the “Candy Kids” at the inaugural event for their contribution to the sport of boxing and the incredibly inspiring success story of the two World Champion boxers, and their rise from selling candy upon their arrival in America to success in and out of the ring.
“Little did I know twenty some odd years ago we would be honoring Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas for their achievements in the sport of boxing,” Dan Goossen said fondly. “They were literally selling candy door-to-door in the neighborhood as 11 and 12 year-olds and stumbled across my brother’s gym. They told my brother Joe they wanted to become boxers and the next thing I know they each became World Champions. They have been the benchmark for hard-work, dedication, heart and loyalty for every fighter we’ve signed since. Even today, I find that the Ruelas brothers are fondly remembered by boxing fans.”
“It’s a great honor to receive this recognition, especially in the valley where we grew up and had so many fights right here at the Reseda Country Club,” said Rafael Ruelas. “I try not to get too close to boxing and reflect back on my career too often because it brings back a lot of great memories. I miss the sport tremendously and I’m just very grateful to be receiving an honor like this.”
His brother Gabriel modestly stated, “It is very special to be receiving any kind of award in boxing, especially with so many World Champions who could be on the receiving end. I think what we had was a special scenario that was so unique because the Goossen’s really took us in. I didn’t look at them as a trainer and a promoter, they were family. That kind of loyalty is hard to come by anywhere, let alone in boxing.”
The event will be broadcast on TeleFutura’s hit series “Solo Boxeo Tecate” and promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions.
Former WBO Super Flyweight Champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona is
in Oxnard, California, preparing for his fight against Orlando Cruz with budding superstar trainer Pablo Sarmiento of Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez fame.
Sonsona (16-1-1, 13 KOs) will face Orlando “El Fenómeno” Cruz (18-2-1, 9 KOs) in the 10-round main event of Sampson Boxing and Greg Cohen Boxing’s “The Moment of Truth”, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, and televised live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
In the televised co-feature that night, Russian heavyweight power puncher Magomed “Mago” Abdusalamov (14-0, 14 KOs) will defend his WBC United States (USNBC) Silver Heavyweight Championship in a 10-round battle against fellow up-and-coming heavyweight Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm (13-1-1, 9 KOs).
“Working with Pablo, I give Marvin an excellent chance in his quest to once again be world champion,” said his promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “He was the youngest Filipino world champion in history and now that he has matured, with his talent, I have no doubt that he will regain the crown at 126 pounds.”
Lewkowicz says Sonsona has reason to want to look good: his countrymen back home will be watching. “I am very happy with my partner Sammy Gello-Ani in the Philippines who has secured TV-5 so that all Filipinos will have the opportunity to watch Marvin’s performance.”
21-year-old Sonsona is a native of General Santos City, Cotabato del Sur, Philippines. His only career loss was to Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO super bantamweight Championship in February 2010. In Cruz, he will be facing a fellow southpaw, who represented his homeland of Puerto Rico at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
“Pablo is a master strategist and by fight time Marvin will be fully prepared to put on an amazing show. He is headed straight back to the top, working with a super trainer with Pablo Sarmiento.”
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Headlining the undercard, popular heavyweight and current interim PABA Heavyweight Champion “Bronco” Billy Wright (37-4, 28 KOs) will continue his successful comeback in a six-round bout.
Also scheduled to fight six-round bouts are Las Vegas, via Puerto Rico, super middleweight Carlos De Leon Jr (21-3-2, 14 KOs); Las Vegas via Accra, Ghana, middleweight KO artist Bastie Samir (10-0-1, 10 KOs); and undefeated Las Vegas featherweight Rocco Santomauro (8-0).
Scheduled for a four-rounder is Jackson, Michigan, cruiserweight William “Lil’ Tyson” Williams (5-2-1, 4 KOs).
Orlando Cruz appears courtesy of Tuto Zavala’s All Star Boxing. Marvin Sonsona is co-promoted by Sammy Gello-ani of SGG Sports Promotions of the Philippines.
