Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

Brian Minto Turns Into the Beast on ESPN2�s Wednesday Night Fights
By Antonio Santiago-July 3, 2008

Last night, on ESPN2�s Wednesday Night Fights, heavyweight contender Brian Minto, 31-2, 20 KO�s, scored an easy win over John Poore, 20-3, 18 KO�s, when he dropped him three times in the very first round, scoring a knockout win just two minutes and twenty three seconds into their fight. The fight was for the WBA Fedelatin as well as the Pennsylvania State�s Heavyweight titles. It was a good welcome home party for Minto, who was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, the place the fight was held at, 33 years ago. The rather one sided beating took place at Butler�s Pullman Park.

Not much can be said about a fight that lasted 2 minutes and twenty three seconds of one sided action. Minto overpowered Poore from the beginning and although Poore tried, he was overwhelmed. A power-puncher, Poore was not given a chance to put blows together by the clever Minto, who looks increasingly like the Real McCoy among heavyweight contenders and hopers. Minto did not let Poore get off the hook, demonstrating an enviable killer instinct. Minto did not allow him to show his power either; a wise choice if there ever was one by Minto, because after all, not many of the boxers Poore has touched remember getting knocked out by the 37 year old Upper Darby, Pennsylvania native. Minto came to take care of things and look good on television and he achieved both things. Poore indeed just looked like he was the poorer of the two inside that ring.

It was a solid win for Minto in a keep busy fight. Those who saw him win will have him in mind for the next heavyweight title fights, but the question remains, can Minto do what he did against Poore versus somebody like Sultan Ibragimov, or even Monte Barrett, or Champion Wladimir Klitschko?

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

Popular Columnist Randy De La O Speaks to RSR
Interview by Antonio Santiago-July 3, 2008

�Boxing changed my life.�--Randy De La O

When I was a kid, my family and I drove one time to a Chinese restaurant food in Puerto Rico. As we waited for our order to be served, former 2-Time WBA Junior Lightweight Champion, Samuel Serrano, entered with two friends. I went to his table, and duly introduced myself as a future world champion, shaking hands with Sammy and star struck over the fact this was Samuel Serrano I was talking to. I still was not attending a boxing gym, so the only times I had seen a world boxing champion in person were during live fights, far away from my chair.

Soon after running into Serrano, I read an article on one of the American boxing magazines about the boxing scene in L.A., and how one could meet multiple world boxing Champions and other famous boxers in person just by hanging around Los Angeles gyms. People like Pipino Cuevas, Danny Lopez and Bobby Chacon. And I began to dream that someday perhaps I could be part of a boxing scene like that.

While eventually I moved to Arizona, in the Southwest United States, and I met several famous boxers in person there, I did not become part of that grandiose boxing circle aforementioned. Randy De La O, on the other hand, did. And because he did, today, he hosts a popular internet webpage dedicated to boxing and to the Los Angeles boxing scene. De La O�s story is not unlike those told by others involved in the sport: he had a couple of professional boxing fights himself, then refocused on serving the sport in another area. De La O is on a mission to keep the times when Chacon, Ruben Olivares and Chucho Castillo, for example, were staples in Los Angeles, by remembering those moments on his internet page.

It is a pleasure to bring you Randy De La O, former professional boxer and currently an internet boxing historian.

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

KO�d by Floyd Mayweather JR: Has Ricky Hatton Recovered?
By Eileen Teran-July 3, 2008

In a word: no. Ricky Hatton�s confidence was extremely shaken the night of the Floyd Mayweather, JR., fight on December 8, 2007. Ricky really didn�t imagine in his mind a scenario where he could lose that fight. He couldn�t fathom it. He went in there with every expectation of coming out the victor, and then to have it not play out that way, and lose in the embarrassing fashion that he did, in front of his mum, not to mention his tens of thousands of fans who made the intercontinental trip to see him, I don�t think he can get over it even now.

When you are an athlete of that caliber, and Ricky�s a great boxer, with 44 wins in 45 tries - he works hard, he trains tough, and he�s pretty single minded � with that amount of success and adoration, there does come a feeling of invincibility. And it does eventually go to your head. I don�t care who you are. It�s got to. No one wants it to, but after a while, with that many people paying to see you, with the commentators saying how great you are, and the papers writing up your matches and results in the most glorious of terms, it just kind of happens sub-consciously even if you don�t intend it to.

Ricky tried really hard to keep his down home, low-key, �I just hang out in the pub� type image, and surround himself with the same old chaps as before and all that. But, there does come a time, when Ricky Hatton looks around the pub, and perhaps after opening the newspaper for the 50th time in a row and sees his name there, he does start to realize he�s in a different league than the guys from the neighborhood. He�s a superstar in England.

With these thoughts running through his head, Ricky agreed to take on a fight of the best boxer in the sport, who is, by the way, naturally bigger than Ricky, and to fight in Las Vegas, on Floyd�s home turf. Then, Ricky flies around doing a huge marketing tour to build up the fight, which includes having to see Floyd Mayweather, JR., and his antics in city after city. Allowing Floyd to play the game he loves almost as much as boxing, which is engaging in mental warfare with his opponent before the match.

Add to that the HBO show �24/7� who comes into Ricky�s training camp to film him, plus Ricky�s trainer, Billy Graham, assuring Ricky that he�s got what it takes to beat Floyd, that they have Floyd�s number and there is NO WAY Ricky will lose, and lastly Ricky�s younger brother, Matthew, there everyday training with him, and looking up to at him with his large, admiring eyes.

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

WBA Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm Defends Title in Germany this Saturday
By Roger T. Tubajiki-July 3, 2008

This Saturday in Halle/Westfalen, Germany, 2-Time World Middleweight Champion, Felix Sturm, 29-2-1, 13 KO�s, who is coming off a 7-round TKO over Jamie Pittman this past April, will be challenged by Randy �The Gentleman� Griffin, 24-1-3, 12 KO�s, in a rematch of their draw last year at the same location.

The rematch between Ruslan Chagaev, the WBA Heavyweight Champion, and Nikolay Valuev, the former WBA Heavyweight Champion, which was to take place on the same day, was cancelled because Chagaev was diagnosed with Achilles tendon rupture sustained during his training preparation this past week, which pushed Sturm to the center stage.

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

Brian�s Boxing Mailbag
By Brian Wilbur-July 2, 2008

Welcome to my mailbag ladies and gentlemen. Last weekend was a fun night of fights. When Manny Pacquiao fights the entire Philippines stands still and watches him fight. Yes, an entire country is entranced, but the rest of the world is paying attention too. Pacquiao is an international superstar and his legend grew as he dominated and knocked out yet another championship caliber opponent.

Pacquiao dominated David Diaz using a perfect game plan. Credit has to go to Freddie Roach for his mentoring, and of course to Pacquiao for sticking to his game plan. I said in the weeks prior to the fight that Diaz could be the first opponent in Pacquiao�s career that would have the advantage if they traded punches. Manny would always chase people down in the lower weight classes looking for a brawl because hit harder and could take a punch better than anyone else.

Diaz, being a full sized lightweight, probably could have had a chance to defeat Pacquiao if he was given the opportunity to match the Pacman punch for punch. Manny did not give him the chance. He used his advantages in skill and speed to hit Diaz without getting hit in return, which is the ultimate goal in a boxing match. Pacquiao slipped, moved and used angles to outbox Diaz to perfection. Manny hardly had a scratch on his face at the end of the nine round slaughter. Diaz was a mess.

Now everybody wants to talk about Pacquiao�s next opponent. Personally I would like to see a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. A title unification match with Nate Campbell would not be bad either. More likely we will see a title defense against someone like Julio Diaz before fighting Ricky Hatton in 2009.

In this week�s mailbag we have feedback about Manny Pacquiao as well as some other interesting topics such as the heavyweight division and Floyd Mayweather. Please enjoy and mail me feedback!

Hatton vs. Pacquiao Revisited

Dear Brian,

Good day and God Bless. I am very happy with the achievement of my Pacman and thank God for that. Pacman's performance is good but Diaz also earned a lot of respect. He displayed a good character, he is strong and brave, so congrats to Diaz as well.

Now, I think if Pacman will continue to discipline himself in, and especially out of the ring, he will have a good chance of upsetting Ricky Hatton. I think, Pacman vs. Hatton is more realistic than Pacman vs. De La Hoya or Mayweather or Cotto. So, if Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton happens, what do you think Pacquiao should improve on in order to upset the Hitman?

Again, some people are saying that his defense is not very good because he always keep his hands down. Well, I think Manny can still improve and I really believe that Team Pacquiao has a good chemistry. Your thoughts please. Thanks a lot.

-Jason Calara

Jason,

I am more of a supporter of a Hatton vs. Pacquiao fight now than I was last week. In Ricky Hatton�s last fight he struggled with a former lightweight and in Pacquiao�s last fight he looked spectacular as a lightweight. Last week I thought that Hatton would have blown out Pacman, but now I am not so sure. Pacquiao would be competitive.

As you say, he would need to work on some aspects of his game in order to defeat an opponent like Hatton. He would need to work on his counterpunching first. Hatton will try to be aggressive and jump in so Manny needs to work on timing power punches in order to make Hatton pay for his aggressiveness. His defense could use some polishing as well although he has shown marked improvement in the past year or two. Pacquiao should also do strength training and work on his endurance because Hatton is a bullying opponent who will try to wear an opponent down with frequent clinches.

Team Pacquiao has good chemistry and Roach is very good at coming up with effective game plans depending on the opponent. Roach would likely come up with another good one to help Pacquiao be competitive against Hatton if that fight were to come about.

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

Heavyweight Hopeful Brian Minto Headlines ESPN2�s Wednesday Night Fights
By Geno McGahee�July 2, 2008

Brian Minto, 30-2, 19 KO�s, plans to rebuild his career where it all began on ESPN2�a place where he sent a message to the heavyweights, when he crushed Vinny Maddalone in the final round when he was way behind on the scorecards. He would have quite a run, beating former title challenger, Axel Schulz by TKO, but would lose to Luan Krasniqi in a rough fight. He has put together three victories since then and plans to make his way back into the ratings in a wide open heavyweight division against the relatively unknown, John Poore, 20-2, 18 KO�s. Both defeats have been by knockout and Minto will be trying to test that chin early. Although not a huge puncher, Minto has improved and the experience will be the likely difference in this fight.

Minto may also be known for his managerial problems and the contention that he may have been blacklisted from the game because of his defiance. Arguments over money and contractual obligations from both sides made Minto a big name in the daily boxing news on several websites. He spent much of his time during this period fighting overseas and now comes home and plans to regroup and take a shot at the bigger names of the heavyweight division.

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

The Critics Have Spoken: Evil Awakening Brings the Slash Back
RSR Press Release-July 2, 2008

Evil Awakening will be unleashed on DVD on August 19th, and the buzz surrounding this production grows each and every day that passes. The people are speaking and they are saying: �We Want The Slasher Film Back!� Evil Awakening delivers. It is not a remake. It is not based on an Asian horror film. This is an American Slasher. With Jason, Freddy, and Michael Myers dead and buried, a new legend arises on August 19th.

What the Critics are saying:

�Evil Awakening is a classic slasher film.� � Heidi Martiniuzzi, The Horror Post

�An entertaining ride!� � Verhoskan, Zombie Movie Data Base

�Highly Entertaining!� �Josh Agnew, Evil Klown

�It�s movie making at its finest!��Brian Morton, Rogue Cinema

Horror fans, it�s time to reclaim the genre and bring back the originality and Slasher film that has been clamored for. Evil Awakening is making a statement and winning the critics over. It�s time for you to own your very own copy. Click Here to Order Evil Awakening.

Order Evil Awakeining

You can check out the new trailer for Evil Awakening by clicking here!

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

Elite XC Commentator �The Fight Professor� Stephen Quadros Speaks to RSR
Exclusive Interview by Geno McGahee- July 1, 2008

�A lot of the movies are a little obvious and show too much gore onscreen.��Stephen Quadros

In 1990, a horror film would be released titled, �Demon Wind,� and it was an interesting low budget flick featuring some monsters and did a lot with very little money behind it. That was the first time that I witnessed Stephen Quadros act, but I would not have a full appreciation until I saw him in the 1991 classic, �Shock�em Dead.� The film dealt with a wannabe rock star, Angel Martin (played by Quadros) chasing a dream and falling flat on his face, until he made a deal with the devil, which turned him into a rock God. The movie was absurd and amusing and if you can find it, considering that it�s not on DVD, I recommend that you give it a chance.

Quadros seemed perfect for the role, considering his substantial history in music, and it is a love that still exists. He performs in several bands and throughout his career has had many unique opportunities, thanks in large part to his music. Versatility is the word that describes Quadros, as not only has he acted in several films and television shows, and has pursued a career in music, but he has also turned his love of martial arts into a profitable career.

He was a contributing columnist for Black Belt Magazine in the late 1990�s, co-authored a book on the subject, and has used his expertise to improve action films that featured Action Legends Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal. Quadros now does commentary on Elite XC, a Mixed Martial Arts program, featured on Showtime, displaying his knowledge of the game and also pushing the skyrocketing sport.

This interview with Stephen Quadros, despite my love of horror and interest in Shock�em Dead, is a window for all boxing fans. MMA has been viewed as the enemy of boxing, and the sports have been in competition with each other for supremacy in the fighting world in the eyes of many. Many boxers find their way into the cage or octagon and lose quickly, making many wonder just why they are doing it. MMA is very popular at the moment and provides a nice paycheck to the boxers, that is why, and Quadros pulls no punches as he explains why MMA has been moving up the ladder of popularity in sports as well as similar problems that both sports have.

Quadros has the nickname of �The Fight Professor� and when you consider his accomplishments and history in the realm of fighting, there�s no wonder why. He has followed many routes to the top, shown diversity, and has made his mark in both the MMA and film. Demon Wind and Shock�em Dead are well known in the horror community, and Elite XC is one of the hottest tickets and shows in town. It�s safe to say that Quadros is doing something right.

Ladies and Gentlemen, RSR brings you Stephen Quadros�

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

The Muhammad Ali Chronicles: The Spinks Jinx
By Peter �The Emperor� Stitt-July 1, 2008

�He began to take beatings, not just in the fights but in the gym. Even sparring he�d do the rope-a-dope because he couldn�t avoid punches the way he did when he was young.�-- Dr. Ferdie Pacheco talking of Muhammad Ali during the post �Thrilla� in Manila� period

I always got the impression with Muhammad Ali that he was playing with us. Boxing was this comedy genius� canvass and we, the fans, the media and even other fighters were his audience, his foil, often the gentle butt of his tricks and jokes. I didn�t know whether he was serious or not when he told us he would defeat Larry Holmes in 1980. Even later, I didn�t know whether he was serious when he, again, said that he would �return� and on neither occasion did I know whether I believed that he would or could. Muhammad is a unique individual and I am not sure that any of us understand where he is �coming from� because we, ourselves, have never had the genius or the humor to have been there ourselves.

I have a personal theory about Muhammad�s exploits with Leon Spinks in 1978 and, despite being an Ali fan myself, I suspect that some Ali devotees may well wish to take issue with me over my idea. I cast no aspersions about the character or integrity of any of the players in this drama but I have carried a suspicion with me now for thirty years and, frankly, Muhammad�s sense of mischief, his notions of his own place in history, his delight in �proving the experts wrong�, all of these things are still evident in the Muhammad of the present and do little to dispel my suspicions. I�ll tell this bizarre story from the 1970s and then present my belief for the reader to consider. RSR readers are the most discerning, scientific and intelligent in boxing (I should have been a politician) so I know my views will receive a fair and well thought-out hearing but let�s firstly consider the actual events of the times and consider the scene we were faced with as 1978 dawned.

Muhammad Ali, �The Greatest of All Time� in my opinion and in his own, was approaching the end of his career by January 1st 1978 and I, as a fourteen year old fan, and he, as an enormous ego that thrived on the limelight, really couldn�t face the idea of his retirement. I naively, like the young kid that I was, thought Ali was superhuman and, sadly, so did he, apparently. In his most recent fight on the 29th September 1977, Muhammad had struggled with the colossal hitting Earnie Shavers. Even in his losing fights with Frazier back in 1971 and Norton in 1973 and 1976 (yes the judges gave it to Ali but, let�s be honest, he lost the third Norton fight) I had never previously seen Muhammad so open to being hit as he was against Shavers, never witnessed him looking so helpless in a ring. Selfishly, I didn�t want the man to retire but I felt increasingly uncomfortable every time he fought because somewhere inside of me I must have known it was over. Muhammad didn�t make that realization and swore to continue in the most punishing sport of all. The challenge he set himself was to prove everyone wrong and achieve the �impossible.�

So the scenario can be set for the events that were about to unfold. We had an aging champion who was very aware of the history of the sport and his place in that history, an unapologetic egotist who, quite understandably, really did not want to see the final curtain fall on an obviously remarkable career. Also worth considering at this point is that the young Cassius Clay had dearly wanted to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history and felt bitterly cheated when it did not come to pass for reasons beyond his control. For some reason such relatively meaningless achievements really mattered to Muhammad and he was well aware that Floyd Patterson, a man who had refused to acknowledge his religiously motivated change of name, was still the youngest champ in history and had also regained the title just as Muhammad had done when he defeated George Foreman in 1974. I suspect that this foolishly perceived position of mere �parity� with Patterson in terms of superficial and meaningless achievements rankled with Muhammad and might have played some role in the events of 1978, consciously or unconsciously. I love Muhammad but I do not trust him. I remember him telling us that Joe Bugner and Richard Dunn would become heavyweight champions of the world at some point!

Ringside Report "The Heart Of Boxing" - Novice

Plunkett�s Picks: Ranking Boxing�s Best
By Mike �Rubber Warrior� Plunkett-July 1, 2008

When it comes to ranking some of the more notable attributes of today�s fighters, you�d be hard-pressed to find two fans that agree point per point on who has what, or who does what better than the next guy, based on the inevitable variances of past performance, quality of opposition and of course personal preference. It�s a far more subjective exercise than objective, but undeniably it can be a fun review nonetheless. In fact, it�s an excellent way of scoping the current level of health our sport enjoys today, and in doing so, one quickly realizes that the glass is far closer to being full than it is to being empty.

I�ve taken the liberty of listing five popular categories that I often find fans using as key measuring sticks when ranking some of the more popular boxers today. Keep in mind, this is totally subjective and to be honest, many of my rankings were in fact very close calls.