Sunday, November 25, 2007
SecondsOut Radio: Antonio Tarver, Vernon Forrest, Michele Piccirillo, Mayorga-Vargas Review
On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman begins by reviewing the majority decision victory this past Friday, November 23, by Ricardo Mayorga (28-6-1, 22 KOs) over Fernando Vargas (26-5, 22 KOs) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Vargas, 29, announced that he is now retiring as an active fighter.
This coming Saturday, December 1, there is another major card, this time to the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. On that show, former world light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (25-4, 18 KOs) takes on journeyman Danny Santiago (29-3-1, 19 KOs), and WBC super welterweight champion Vernon Forrest (39-2, 28 KOs) faces former IBF world welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo (48-3, 30 KOs). These fights, along with the title defense by IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire against veteran Luis Maldonado, will be televised in the U.S. on Showtime.
We spoke with Antonio Tarver, Vernon Forrest, and Michele Piccirillo on a media teleconference call.
It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, and listen, learn, and enjoy.
Labels: Antonio Tarver, boxing, Danny Santiago, Eddie Goldman, Fernando Vargas, Foxwoods, Luis Maldonado, Michele Piccirillo, Nonito Donaire, Ricardo Mayorga, SecondsOut Radio, Showtime, Vernon Forrest
Monday, November 19, 2007
SecondsOut Radio: Larry Hazzard, Fernando Vargas, Ricardo Mayorga, Kermit Cintron, Jesse Feliciano
On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman begins by reviewing the unanimous decision victory this past Saturday, November 17, by undefeated WBO junior lightweight champion Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) over Humberto Soto (43-6-2, 27 KOs) at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.
We next discuss the situation involving Larry Hazzard Sr., who, until this past Wednesday, had been the commissioner of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, which regulates combat sports, for almost 22 years. He had leveled numerous charges of alleged “malfeasance” against officials regulating boxing and mixed martial arts events in New Jersey in a letter to New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine by James Binns, his attorney, written on his behalf. Now, after establishing New Jersey as a leader in the fight for fighter health and safety in boxing's often suspect regulatory world, he is out as commissioner. This move by New Jersey officials has resulted in an outraged reaction by many in the combat sports world.
Next, we preview the fight slated for the Friday, Nov. 23, between veterans Fernando Vargas (26-4, 22 KOs) and Ricardo Mayorga (27-6-1, 22 KOs). This takes place in the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be shown live in the U.S. on Showtime pay-per-view. We also spoke with IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron and Jesse Feliciano, who fight in a co-feature.
It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, and listen, learn, and enjoy.
Labels: athletic commission, boxing, Eddie Goldman, Fernando Vargas, Jesse Feliciano, Kermit Cintron, Larry Hazzard, New Jersey, Ricardo Mayorga, SecondsOut Radio
Sunday, August 26, 2007
SecondsOut Radio: Fernando Vargas, Alfredo Escalera Jr., Ron Scott Stevens
On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman reviews the "Punchin' at the Paradise" fight card, which was held Friday, August 24, at the Utopia Paradise Theater in the Bronx, New York, and which was shown in the US on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights.
After his fight, we spoke with 27-year-old cruiserweight Alfredo Escalera Jr. (15-0-1, 11KOs), who survived a first round knockdown to take an eight-round decision over Harvey Jolly (6-5-1, 3 KOs). He is the son of the former world super featherweight champion Alfredo "Salsero" Escalera, who attended this fight.
The main event featured welterweight Delvin Rodriguez (now 20-2-1, 1 ND, with 12 KOs) in his first fight back after being stopped by Jesse Feliciano in March. His opponent was Keenan Collins (12-2-1, 1 ND, 8 KOs). Rodriguez's attempted comeback fight proved to be anti-climactic, as the bout was halted after the second round due to a cut over Collins's left eye. The referee ruled that the cut was caused by an accidental head butt. Since the fight had not gone at least four rounds, it was declared a no decision.
Video replays of the fight, however, seemed to indicate that the cut was caused by a right hand by Rodriguez, and showed no evidence of any head butt by Rodriguez. Controversy ensued, and Ron Scott Stevens, chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, said he would review the video in the commission's offices this week.
We spoke with Ron Scott Stevens after the fight about this controversy, and what the commission does, and does not, have the power to do in such instances. We also asked him about the proposed sanctioning of mixed martial arts in New York.
As many people already know, the September 8 fight between Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga has been postponed after Vargas was found to be suffering from anemia. No new plans for this bout have yet been announced, although its promoters have said that they want to see it rescheduled.
The 29-year-old Vargas had already announced that this was to have been his last fight, and that he was now going to become a promoter. Before the announcement of this fight's postponement, we spoke with Fernando Vargas on a media teleconference call this past week to get an idea of what he plans to do after he retires as an active fighter.
It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, and listen, learn, and enjoy.
Labels: Alfredo Escalera, boxing, Eddie Goldman, Fernando Vargas, Ron Scott Stevens, SecondsOut Radio
