A Policeman, a Boxer, and a Gentleman: A Profile on Jason Gavern

12/01/201911/29/2019 Bill Barner

A police officer, a professional boxer, and a gentleman walk into a bar. “Hello, Mr. Gavern,” says the bartender. Jason Gavern is an officer with … continue

Ringside Report: Rumble at the Rock

03/24/2018 Bill Barner

Friday, March 23, 2018, Reymart “GenSan Assassin” Gaballo (18-0, 15 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, claimed the WBA Interim World Bantamweight Championship with a … continue

Ringside Report: Elbiali vs. Pascal

12/10/201712/09/2017 Bill Barner

Friday, December 8, 2017, a young talented prospect was out-boxed by a world-class veteran of the sport as Ahmed Elibiali (16-1-0, 13 KOs) fell to Jean Pascal (32-5-1, 19 KOs) in the sixth round of a scheduled ten-round bout at the Hialeah Park Casino in Hialeah, FL. The event was televised on FS1.

Elbiali, an Egyptian-born Miami local, entered the ring wearing blue shorts with white trim and red gloves. Pascal, a Haitian-born Canadian resident, fought in all black trunks and shiny gold boxing gloves. Both fighters were received warmly by the South Florida audience and touched gloves professionally.

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Ringside Report: Lara vs. Foreman

01/16/201701/16/2017 Bill Barner

Friday, January 13, 2017, WBA Super Welterweight Champion Erislandy Lara (24-2-2, 14 KOs) retained his title by knocking out Yuri Foreman (34-3-0, 10 KOs) in the fourth round of a scheduled twelve-round bout at the Hialeah Park Casino in Hialeah, FL.

The champion, Lara, is a Cuban-born fighter who resides in Houston, Texas. A Cuban expatriate, he has built an incredible career in professional boxing in the United States, earning him the handle “The American Dream.” Lara proudly wears this name across the waistband of his trunks. After losing to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a highly-contested split decision in 2014, Lara has won all of his last five bouts.

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Miami Actor Aygemang Clay Invokes Jack Johnson on Stage

06/26/201606/26/2016 Bill Barner

Veiled as the story of fictional boxing champion Jay Jackson, “The Royale” portrays the hurdlesreal-life Jack Johnson had to clear to become the first African-American heavyweight champion of the world.

“The Royale” has been presented in New York and Chicago, and is now in Miami, FL with local actor Aygemang Clay commandeering the lead role. Jack Johnson was born and raised in Galveston, TX. Ironically, the man who years later would become emblematic of segregation in sports actually grew up in a poor Texas neighborhood largely unexposed to segregation. Although he grew up with a lot of white friends, they were all similarly poor and he was rarely reminded of his skin color.

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Ringside Report: Briggs v. Marrone

09/07/201509/06/2015 Bill Barner

Saturday, September 5, 2015, former Heavyweight Champion Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs (59-6-1, 52 KOs) continued his campaign for a title shot by knocking out Florida native Michael Marrone (21-5, 15 KOs) in the second round of a scheduled twelve-round bout.

Briggs retired from boxing after losing to Vitali Klitschko by unanimous decision in 2010. In 2014, he returned to boxing hoping to secure another world title shot. Since his April, 2014 return, Briggs has won all eight of his bouts with seven coming by KO. Of Briggs’ last eight opponents, Marrone is only the second to make it through the first round.

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Twenty Heavyweight Champions Together in Florida

09/05/201509/05/2015 Bill Barner

On Friday, September 4, 2015, twenty World Heavyweight Champions gathered in Hollywood, FL at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Michael Moorer, Shannon Briggs, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko, Oliver McCall, Hasim Rahman, Riddick Bowe, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks, James “Bonecrusher” Smith, Michael Bentt, Ray Mercer, Tim Witherspoon, Lamon Brewster, Chris Byrd, John Ruiz, Mike Weaver, Bruce Seldon, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs, Tony Tucker, and Larry Holmes all attended the event. The atmosphere was light as the heavyweights, dressed in tuxedos, clowned around with one another, joked, and reflected on their careers.

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The International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame 2015 Induction Ceremony

07/14/201507/14/2015 Bill Barner

The International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame [IWBHF] induction ceremony, presented in large part by the World Boxing Council [WBC], took place in Ft. Lauderdale, FL Saturday, July 11, 2015.

The inductees walked the red carpet before the event, with inductee Laila Ali drawing the biggest crowd. To put it lightly, Ali came into boxing with very large shoes to fill. She lived up to the famous Ali name by earning 24 wins without a loss, including 21 KOs.

Noticeably absent was fellow 2015 inductee Ann Wolfe. Wolfe has recently found renewed fame with the viral popularity of her knockout of Vonda Ward and for her work training fighters, most notably James Kirkland. Event administrators indicated that Wolfe simply did not board her plane and gave no notice or cause. The reason for her absence is still unknown.

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Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: 5 Odd Side Stories

04/20/201504/20/2015 Bill Barner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yycflHn_Tss

1. A waiter in Hollywood, California and a snow storm in the Northeastern United States are to be credited, at least in part, for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao finally happening

Gabriel Salvador, a West Hollywood waiter, took his son regularly to the Wild Card Gym. Wild Card Gym is run by Manny Pacquiao’s trainer (Freddie Roach).

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Ringside Report: ESPN Thursday Night Fights – Lawson outpoints Prescott

03/29/201503/27/2015 Bill Barner

From Hialeah Park Casino in Hialeah, FL, ESPN2 broadcasts another night full of top-notch boxing.

NON-TELEVISED BOUTS

The first bout of the evening was Robert Alfonso (4-0) of Miami, FL v. Raymundo Lopez (4-11) of Holland, MI. As the boxers were introduced, Alfonso appeared chiseled and lean. Conversely, Lopez looked significantly less conditioned, entering the ring with a thick layer of blubber encasing his frame. Like Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley in the famous Saturday Night Live “Chippendales” skit, it was comically clear which one of these competitors was in better physical shape.

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