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Ngoudjo, Urango to tangle
Warriors Boxing
With great surprise, No. 1 IBF contender Hermann Ngoudjo (17-2-0, 9 KOs) read the press release in which former IBF champion Juan Urango (20-1-1, 16 KOs) predicted a knockout of "The Black Panther." Ngoudjo will take on the Colombian, who resides in Miami, for the vacant IBF super lightweight title on Jan. 30 in Montreal.
For two years, Ngoudjo has fought the division's elite. He first suffered a split-decision loss against former world champion Jose Luis Castillo (57-9-1, 49 KOs) and then gained a split-decision win against former world champion Randall Bailey (38-6-0, 34 KOs). Last year, Ngoudjo lost against then-IBF champion Paul Malignaggi (25-2-0, 5 KOs), and in June he recorded another win against former champion Souleymane Mbaye (37-3-1, 21 KOs).
Six of Ngoudjo's opponents have fought in world championships, and five of them won the title. They have a combined 36 world championship bouts (20-14-2).
"Urango is a strong fighter and always comes very well prepared," said Ngoudjo, "but he is not near me in terms of the quality of the opponents he has beaten. He claims he will knock me out like his last opponents, but they were scared of him and that is certainly not the case for me. I am willing to mix with you, to back you up and beat you at your own game, and we will see who has got the best chin, the best stamina. Saturday morning, Juan Urango will have a very bad wake-up call because he will leave Montreal empty-handed, and the Black Panther will be world champion. This is the beginning of my era."
2009 is Rivera's year
By Anthony Ivey
When speaking with featherweight contender Carlos Rivera (14-3-2, 5 KOs), there is a consistent theme to the conversation.
"This is my year," he says without hesitation.
Over and over again, Rivera will reiterate this statement whenever he talks about where his career stands.
"I'm 31 years old, but I feel like a kid," Rivera explains. "My energy level is so high right now; I'm ready to make a statement this year."
The first statement he intends to make will be on Feb. 13 at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, in the main event against Johnnie Edwards. Edwards (14-3-1, 8 KOs) is the former NABA titleholder who also has two victories over former world champion Freddie Norwood.
While Edwards flaunts an impressive resume, Rivera has been on a roll with only one defeat in his last 10 starts.
"This is going to be my biggest fight, but it's going to be his toughest," says Rivera. "He's a short guy that likes to come straight in, so I'll stand on the outside and set everything up with my jab, then work the body."
And what else does Rivera see in 2009?
"This is just a stepping stone to a bigger opportunity for me," he says. "I see myself fighting for a title sometime this year."
One-on-one with Keith Thurman
By Anthony Ivey
I recently sat down with 2008 Olympic Trials silver medalist Keith "One Time" Thurman along with his trainer and manager Ben Getty for an exclusive one-on-one interview. Thurman is promoted by Starfight Productions, and his next fight will be on Feb. 13 at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, Fla.
Anthony: Keith, you just completed your first year as a pro. What are your reflections on 2008?
Keith: It was definitely a good year, but I am looking to an even better year in 2009.
Anthony: Any issues with transitioning from amateur to pro?
Keith: None whatsoever. I knocked people out in the amateurs; I'm knockin' people out in the pros.
Anthony: You developed quite a local following; how do you plan on expanding it?
Keith: Keep fighting, keep winning. I'm hoping to get some out-of-state fights and on TV so the rest of the world can see me.
Anthony: Is there anyone out there in the division you'd specifically like to fight?
Keith: Mike (Andre) Berto. Cotto, Margarito. I like to fight fighters that actually fight.
Ben: That would be a tremendous fight down here, two local Florida fighters fighting for a world title. That would be down the line, but right now we'll fight a Mike Jones or James De la Rosa.
Anthony: What's the meaning behind your nickname "One Time"?
Keith: It's my punching power. That one-time Mike Tyson punch. All it takes is one time. One time for my opponent to make a mistake, and that's it.
Ben: Since he's been 7 years old he's been knocking people out. I've been in camps over the last 20 years with guys like Mugabi and Hearns, and never seen anybody punch as hard as Keith, anybody. There isn't anybody today at 147 that punches as hard as Keith. Once we get on TV and he knocks somebody out, the whole world is gonna know about Keith.
Anthony: Anything you'd like to say in closing, Keith?
Keith: I'd like to thank everyone in the Bay area for coming out and supporting me. Keep an eye out for your boy in 2009.
Campbell part of tripleheader
Don King Productions
Daniel Santos will make his first defense of the WBA junior middleweight championship he won in July when he faces interim WBC junior middleweight champion Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez on Feb. 14.
The addition of the Santos-Martinez world championship to the previously announced HBO-televised card makes for an exciting tripleheader. The event already features WBO and IBF lightweight champion Nate "Galaxxy Warrior" Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) opposing his mandatory challenger, Ali "Rush Hour" Funeka, as well as another intriguing 154-pound pairing of former three-time world champion Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga (28-7-1, 22 KOs) and undefeated WBC No. 3-ranked Alfredo "Perro" Angulo in a WBC elimination bout.
Santos (32-3-1, 23 KOs) was offered the opportunity to replace Joe Greene, who had been scheduled to face Martinez (44-1-1, 24 KOs) in the HBO-televised co-feature on Jan. 17 in Biloxi, Miss., with Andre Berto vs. Luis Collazo in the main event. Greene pulled out because of a kidney-stone ailment. Santos attorney Gabriel Penagaricano advised Don King Productions that 10 days was not enough time for Santos to adequately train and prepare to make a Jan. 17 appearance.
Boxing fans will have the opportunity to see crowd-favorite Campbell risking both of his lightweight championships in a unification match and a decisive night in the 154-pound division with a world championship and an elimination bout.
Johnson lashes out
Warriors Boxing
It takes a lot to get Glen Johnson angry, but when he heard that a March 14 rematch between Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver had been finalized, he couldn't hold back his feelings.
"This is a disgrace to the sport," said Johnson, the former light heavyweight champ. "Didn't anyone watch the first fight? Do they think anything different will happen the second time around? HBO should have put this fight on a month earlier so it could have been the St. Valentine's Day Massacre Part Two."
Johnson, who is awaiting a fight against the winner of the WBC light heavyweight title bout between Adrian Diaconu and Silvio Branco, has good reason to be angry, considering he has beaten Tarver and lost a controversial decision to Dawson in their April 2008 match. But neither will fight him again, opting instead to rehash their October bout that saw Dawson knock Tarver down on the way to a 118-109, 117-110, 117-110 win.
"I thought HBO really meant business when they put together great, competitive fights like Margarito-Mosley, Berto-Collazo and Marquez-Diaz for the early part of 2009, but then they agree to put on a rematch of a fight that wasn't even competitive the first time," Johnson said. "It boggles my mind, especially when the only true rematch at 175 pounds is between Dawson and myself.
"I thought Chad Dawson was going to live up to his boasts and be a true fighting champion," Johnson added. "But it looks like I beat the fight out of him in April. Just a word of advice to Chad - you may make money now, but people will remember you later for ducking me.
"As for you, Antonio, you're a better actor than we all thought - you actually convinced HBO and Dawson to give you a rematch."
Contenders kick off 2009
Warriors Boxing
Three of boxing's top contenders will kick off their 2009 campaigns on Jan. 14, as Edison Miranda, Sechew Powell and O'Neil Bell headline Seminole Warriors Boxing's "Hard Knocks at the Hard Rock" at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla.
Tickets for this event, priced at $152, $102, $52 and $22, are on sale and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Live box office or TicketMaster.com.
A super middleweight who aims to be on top of the 168-pound weight class in 2009, Miranda (30-3, 26 KOs) returns to Hollywood, where he has won six of seven fights, including his 2008 Knockout of the Year candidate over David Banks last January.
Junior middleweight contender Powell (24-2, 14 KOs) is another fighter looking for a big 2009. Winner of four of his last five bouts, including stoppages of Terrance Cauthen and Kevin Finley, "The Iron Horse" is ready to fulfill his potential in the coming months.
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion, Bell (26-3-1, 24 KOs) will make his long-awaited return to the ring, and he'll be doing it as a heavyweight. With issues of making weight now behind him, Bell has the style, power and determination to make the heavyweight division relevant again.
Opponents for Miranda, Powell and Bell will be announced shortly.
One-on-one with Lenroy Thomas
By Anthony Ivey
Florida Boxing Beatdown's Anthony Ivey went one-on-one with St. Petersburg heavyweight Lenroy "TNT" Thomas (10-1, 7 KOs) to learn about the progress of his professional boxing career.
Anthony: How are you doing today, Lenroy?
Lenroy: Good, really good. Thanks.
Anthony: Your latest victory back on Nov. 7 was a shutout six-round decision over tough veteran Andrew Greely. Greely has taken guys like Timor Ibragimov, Kevin Johnson and Eddie Chambers the distance. How would you rate your performance against him?
Lenroy: I felt very good about it. He was very experienced, but I used my jab and my skills to control the distance. He caught me a couple of times, but nothing that bothered me.
Anthony: Do you have your next fight scheduled?
Lenroy: My team and I are working on something for early next year.
Anthony: Who is on your team?
Lenroy: My trainer is Dan Birmingham, and I am currently working on a contract with TKO Promotions.
Anthony: How is your conditioning right now?
Lenroy: It's good right now. I just keep working hard and trust in God. I work out at Dan's gym during the day and my strength training at night. I'll even come back to Dan's gym at night and work out by myself. I spar with "Winky" Wright, my idol. It's just all coming together for me right now. I'm very happy about it.
Anthony: Dan, where is Lenroy in terms of his career at this point?
Dan: I think he's coming along just great. He's got that hard jab from the southpaw side that's gonna mess a lot of guys up. He's 6-3, 240 with quickness and power. After he's had about 17 to 18 fights, we'll be targeting the guys in the top 20. After that, bring on Arreola, bring on Johnson. Lenroy is gonna surprise a lot of people, but not us. Every fighter needs that breakout fight. We were offered Travis Kauffman with less than a week's notice for the Dec. 5 card, but we are looking to go into a fight like that with enough time to look spectacular, not just good. And remember, he's only 23, not even at his full strength yet.
Anthony: Lenroy, any closing comments?
Lenroy: Yeah, I'd just like to say I feel as though I can hang with any of the guys out there. Like the Arreola-Walker fight. Arreola was so flat-footed, Walker had him beat. But he couldn't put him away. It's 10 rounds, not one. These guys are in my rearview mirror as far as I'm concerned. I will work as hard as I can to be the best, but in the end I don't control my destiny, God does.
Korobov transitioning to pros
By Anthony Ivey
Former 2005 and 2007 world amateur champion Matt Korobov already has had a tremendous start to his pro career. His debut was on the Chavez vs. Vanda pay-per-view undercard last November, scoring a third-round technical knockout.
"I was a little nervous about my pro debut at the Mandalay Bay, but I felt very happy about having the support of my trainer and promoter," Korobov explains.
Korobov is promoted by Top Rank and trained by Dan Birmingham.
"Training at Dan's gym is great. Dan is a very respectful guy. I am so happy training with boxers like 'Winky' Wright," says Korobov.
Looking to build a pro career off his stellar amateur background, he understands that the transition will take time.
"I had 210 wins and 11 losses as an amateur," explains the Russian transplant now living in Latana, Fla. "Right now I'm learning to transition into a pro style. Step by step, in two years I'll be ready."
Korobov, who will campaign as a middleweight, has found himself on the undercard of another big fight. On Dec. 13, Korobov will be in Atlantic City squaring off in a four-rounder prior to the Holt-Torres fight.
"After this, I will have maybe three more four-round fights before moving up," Korobov says. "Like I said, taking it step by step."
