Golden Boy Promotions
A former world super middleweight champion, Jeff Lacy made his name in the boxing world behind his concussive power and trademark left hook. Equally powerful Epifanio Mendoza has never taken a backward step in his nine-year pro career. On July 23 at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif., Lacy's irresistible force meets Mendoza's immovable object in a 10-round super middleweight bout.
Lacy-Mendoza will air live on ESPN2's Wednesday Night Fights beginning at 9 p.m. This bout marks the first ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights card at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.
Tickets, priced at $35, $75 and $125, go on sale July 1 at noon and can be purchased at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa Box Office at (951) 755-5391 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the first bell rings at 5:30 p.m.
"Jeff Lacy has waited a long time to get back in position to regain his title, and if he can beat a dangerous opponent like Epifanio Mendoza, he will be one step closer to his goal," said Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. "This fight should be one of the best of 2008, but with the power of both guys, I don't expect it to go the distance."
A 2000 United States Olympian, "Left Hook" Lacy (23-1, 17 KOs) has been one of boxing's most consistently exciting performers since he turned pro in 2001. A world champion in just his 18th fight after stopping Syd Vanderpool for the IBF super middleweight crown in 2004, Lacy successfully defended his title four times before being outpointed in a 2006 title unification bout against Joe Calzaghe. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native returned to the ring nine months later and outpointed Vitali Tsypko, only to have it revealed that he had torn his rotator cuff early in the fight. After surgery and almost a year away, Lacy was back in championship form last December as he scored a 10-round unanimous decision win over "The Contender's" Peter Manfredo Jr.
"This is going to be my first fight this year and my first time fighting at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa," said Lacy. "I'm going to make it a good one, and I will definitely make the statement that I'm ready for another world title shot."
Colombia's Mendoza (28-5-1, 24 KOs) fought under the radar in his native country until his 16th fight on Oct. 13, 2002, when he scored a shocking 30-second stoppage of unbeaten and highly touted Tokunbo Olajide. Among the 32-year-old's victims are Rubin Williams (KO1) and Rito Ruvalcaba (KO8), and though he fell short in a light heavyweight title fight against Chad Dawson last September, Mendoza knows that at 168 pounds, he'll be hard to beat.
"Jeff Lacy is a former world champion and he's a good fighter, but I'm hungrier than he is," said Mendoza. "I need a win in this fight, and I won't stop throwing punches until they raise my hand in victory."
Undercard bouts will be announced soon. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.morongocasinoresort.com.
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Starfight Productions
In front of a sold-out crowd on June 27 at A La Carte Pavilion, Carlos Rivera (13-3) pounded out an eight-round decision over local veteran Carlos Diaz (9-13) in the main event of a Starfight Productions card.
Rivera dropped Diaz in the second round after an explosive exchange. Diaz was able to recover and hurt Rivera in the fourth. After eight brutal rounds that left the crowd on its feet, Rivera won a unanimous decision.
In the co-main event, welterweight prospect Keith Thurman (6-0) continued his ruthless onslaught through the division by adding his sixth straight first-round knockout, this time over Jayson Jordan (6-23-3). Thurman hit Jordan with a massive right that sent him to the canvas where he would be counted out.
Shea Bailey of Starfight Productions was quoted as saying, "There is no prospect in the welterweight division that can beat this kid. It is not a matter of if he will win a world title, but when."
On the undercard, lightweight prospect Tyrese Hendrix (13-0-1) of Gainesville, Ga., won a unanimous decision over James Helms (6-2-1) of Ohio. Judges scored it 59-55, 59-55, 58-56.
In other results:
Ahsandi Gibbs (8-0) knocked out Ben Aragon (7-11) in the fourth round.
Nick Iannuzzi (7-0) won a unanimous decision over Dione Craig (4-13).
Jenna Shiver (7-3) knocked out Renee Douglas (11-6) in the fourth round.
Earl Ladson (14-18) of Ohio upset local favorite Jason Barnett (10-8) by unanimous decision.
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By Anthony Ivey
While Jenna Shiver is focused on her June 27 opponent, she has not let the events of her previous fight stray far from her mind.
"I feel awesome for this fight; I can't wait to get in there," says an enthusiastic Shiver.
But when the topic of her previous fight at the A La Carte Pavilion is brought up, Shiver's demeanor and expression quickly change from enthusiastic to serious.
"I feel frustration, with a strong desire for a rematch," explains Shiver (6-3-1, 2 KOs). "I gave Adawirky [Lopez] the first two rounds because she didn't have the ability to take them on her own."
Their May 9 encounter saw Lopez score effectively in the first half of their bout, with Shiver coming on strong during the last half. Shiver feels, however, that Lopez's fists were not the most damaging weapons that night.
"She's a dirty fighter. She scored with her head more than her hands," says Shiver.
And if it happens next time?
"I had never been exposed to a dirty fighter like that, so it mentally caught me off guard, but that won't happen again," says Shiver.
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By Anthony Ivey
When I was ringside on May 9 during Ahsandi Gibbs' last fight, one of his cornermen, John Scandria, was sending running commentary my way during the action.
"He's like a machine," said Scandria. "He gets stronger as the fight goes on. If this was a six or eight rounder, you'd see a knockout."
As you watch Gibbs fight, you can see Scandria's comparison being accurate. The fighter steadily builds a pace that his opponent can't keep.
"I just stay busy. I turn it on, and I keep it on," explains Gibbs.
He certainly kept it on the day I stopped by the 4th Street Gym, as he sparred for seven solid rounds.
"I get warmed up, and I fatigue less and less," says Gibbs (7-0, 2 KOs). "In my last fight I was hitting him with solid punches, but he was tough and it wasn't stopping him."
Despite not being able to stop his opponent, it was still a decisive victory for Gibbs.
Gibbs is set for six rounds of middleweight action on June 27 at the A La Carte Pavilion, but he isn't concerned about whom is in the opposite corner.
"I think he's about 5-11, but otherwise I don't really know much about him. I really don't care who the opponent is," Gibbs says.
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By Anthony Ivey
It would probably come as a surprise to most people that a fighter who has scored five first-round knockouts in as many starts is not looking to make it an early night.
"I never try for a knockout," explains Keith Thurman. "I just look for the opening, and throw a devastating punch to make stuff happen. I don't go in there and think I'm gonna knock this guy out."
Try telling that to Thurman's last opponent, Jesse Davis, who took a thorough pounding until the fight was stopped near the end of the first. It took hard-punching fellow welterweight prospect Omar Bell four rounds to seal the deal against Davis in his previous fight.
"Davis was one tough fighter; he took a lot of clean, hard shots before it was over. But I proved once again I have punching power, and that's something to be recognized," says Thurman.
Thurman's next opponent on June 27, Chris Gray, should prove equally tough. In his last two fights, Gray dropped a close decision to undefeated Raymond Biggs Jr., and then scored an upset victory over 9-0 Brian Mihtar on the undercard of the Tarver-Dawson championship doubleheader last April at the St. Pete Times Forum.
Still, none of this information alters Thurman's fight plan.
"Bottom line, I bring it from the first bell to the last bell," he says.
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By Anthony Ivey
While featherweight Carlos Rivera won in convincing fashion his last time out at the A La Carte Pavilion, there was something that wasn't quite right.
"I was sick the week going into that fight, and I had to eat up to the weigh-in just to get to the contracted limit," says Rivera.
Despite the illness, Rivera hammered home enough power shots to secure a unanimous decision victory that evening.
"My trainer, Jim, pushed me those last few rounds. This time I'm really ready for this one. I am going to stay technical and fight my fight," says Rivera.
That fight will be against sturdy veteran Carlos Diaz on June 27 at the A La Carte in an eight-round main event. In his last four fights Diaz has faced competition with a combined record of 57-5-1, mainly dropping close decisions to these opponents.
"He's faced some tough guys," says Rivera (12-3-2 with 4 KOs). "But no one can match me in speed and power. I plan on throwing 100 punches a round like I did back on April 5."
Even though Rivera is not looking past his current opponent, he knows that bigger opportunities are just down the road.
"We are going to start negotiating a title fight," he says. "We just are waiting for the right opportunity. After this fight, good things will happen."
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By Anthony Ivey
Undefeated St. Pete middleweight Inka Laleye has come quite a distance already, haling originally from Nigeria. Now it looks like he'll be traveling even farther as his next fight, scheduled June 27 under the banner of TKO Boxing Promotions, will be at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City, Iowa.
The last time Laleye stepped into the ring was on April 5 at the Bayfront Hilton in St. Petersburg. Despite being called on less than two weeks' notice, he battled fellow middleweight Craig Hodges to an entertaining four-round draw.
"From that fight I learned I need to use my reach and initiate action, be more aggressive," states Laleye (3-0-1, with 1 K0).
Laleye sounds like he's already applying what he's learned for his upcoming four-rounder.
"Training has been excellent," says Laleye. "I'm working with different styles, mixing it up."
Another thing that will be different will be the weight class, as Laleye is getting himself down to the 154-pound limit for this fight.
"I can get down to 154 - it just takes a little work," explains Laleye.
The card's venue is also unique, as Iowa is not normally known for its boxing. The last major fight in Iowa took place in 1991, between James Toney and Michael Nunn for the IBF middleweight championship.
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By Anthony Ivey
On April 19, Jason Barnett had an experience he will treasure for the rest of his life. On that night, he stepped into the ring with 2000 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist Audley Harrison in the co-main event to the much-anticipated Hopkins-Calzaghe megafight in Las Vegas.
"It was a great opportunity. I had everything to gain, and you couldn't beat the exposure," explains an enthusiastic Barnett (10-7, 4 KOs). "It was a real confidence booster. Audley is one of the top 40 heavyweights in the world, according to boxrec.com. Everyone was expecting me to get blown out early, but after the fight I definitely learned I can compete at that level."
And compete he did, as he fought well going into the fifth round before the referee ended the contest in what appeared to be premature fashion, causing Barnett to lose via TKO.
But now he is back home in Florida, ready for a return to the A La Carte Pavilion on June 27. His opponent that evening will be Earl Ladson, a heavyweight who recently dropped close decisions to solid opponents such as David Bostice, as well as undefeated Devin Vargas.
"I am not taking this guy lightly," says Barnett. "His record is deceptive. He has a solid chin, and has gone the distance with some good guys."
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