James Stillerman

Comeback Fighter of the Year: Jermain Taylor

Comeback Fighter of the Year: Jermain Taylor

After Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor (33-4-1, 20 KOs) suffered consecutive devastating knockout losses to Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham in his one and only appearance during the Super Six World Boxing Classic Tournament in 2009 which he left due to bleeding in his brain, most boxing fans didn`t believe that he would ever fight again, let alone become a world champion for the second time.

Taylor; however, did just that when he upset Sam Soliman for the International Boxing Federation Middleweight Title in October to became my Comeback Fighter of the Year.

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Terrance Crawford: Fighter of the Year

Terrance Crawford: Fighter of the Year

Undefeated World Boxing Organization`s (“WBO”) Lightweight Title Holder, Terrance “Hunter” Crawford (25-0, 17 KOs) went from a rather unknown up and coming contender to a potential superstar in 2014 as he obtained a world title from Ricky Burns and then successfully defended it twice against two great pugilists, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Raymundo Beltra, which makes him my 2014 Fighter of the Year.

Crawford traveled to Glasgow, Scotland in March and beat up two-division world champion, Ricky Burns, who was making his fourth title defense. Despite fighting the biggest bout of his career and being a long way from his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford showed no signs of being shy in the big moment. He proved to be no match for the tough and experienced Burns as he controlled the fight and effectively landed whatever he wanted, especially from the outside, en route to a twelve unanimous decision victory, despite fighting in Burns` backyard.

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Jean Pascal takes on Roberto Bolonti this Saturday on Integrated Sports Media

Jean Pascal takes on Roberto Bolonti this Saturday on Integrated Sports Media

Former light heavyweight champion and current North America Boxing Federation Champion, Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) takes on Argentina’s Roberto “The Beast” Bolonti (35-3, 24 KOs) in a ten round main event bout at the Belle Centre in Montreal, Canada on Saturday, December 6th.

The thirty-two year old Canadian orthodox pugilist has won three in a row since his loss to Bernard Hopkins. Pascal defeated Lucian Bute by way of a unanimous decision in his last outing in January of this year. If he defeats Bolonti, he`s tentatively scheduled to fight World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) and World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) Champion, Sergey Kovalev on March 14, 2015 in either Montreal or Quebec City. Pascal`s ranked number one by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) and WBO, number three by Ring Magazine and number four by the IBF.

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Danny O’Connor KOs Farmer

Danny O`Connor made a triumph return to the boxing ring in front of his hometown crowd as he dominated Andrew “The Doo Man” Framer and then knocked him out at 2:33 in the fourth round from a devastating left hook to the body.

“I was a bit nervous because this was my first fight in a while and I was boxing in front of my hometown fans, but I saw Farmer`s punches really well tonight and successfully counter-punch and landed what I wanted,” said O` Connor. “I wasn’t looking for the knockout punch, but it presented itself and I`m glad I won the way I did for my fans.”

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Berry vs. Palmer this Saturday in Maine

Boxing is making a comeback in Maine as undefeated Brandon “The Cannon” Berry, (7-0, 5KOs) takes on tough challenger, Eric Palmer (4-3-3, 1KO), in the main event at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine this Saturday, October 11th. This will be the first bout in Lewiston in over ten years and the first fight in this venue in over twenty years, which was made famous when Muhammad Ali beat Sonny Liston in their rematch bout for the World Heavyweight Belt in May 1965.

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Foxwoods Boxing Recap – Barthelemy Retains his IBF Title over Saucedo

Foxwoods Boxing Recap - Barthelemy Retains his IBF Title over Saucedo

The number three Ring Magazine Junior Lightweight Pugilist, Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy dominated former world title challenger, Fernando David “El Vasco” Saucedo as he won every round en route to a twelve round unanimous decision by three scorecards, 120-108. He also made his first successful defense of the Junior Lightweight International Boxing Federation Title that he won in July over former defending champion, Argenis Mendez.

Barthelemy controlled the action throughout this bout as he outworked and out landed Saucedo. He landed more effective and accurate punches, especially power shots which he connected on half of them.

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Chad Dawson’s Quest for a Third World Title Continues this Saturday against Tommy Karpency

Chad Dawson's Quest for a Third World Title Continues this Saturday against Tommy Karpency

Former two-time world light heavyweight champion, “Bad” Chad Dawson (32-3, 18KOs) will continue his comeback toward another world title when he squares off against former world title challenger, Tommy Karpency (23-4-1, 14KOs) in a ten round bout on Saturday, October 4, 2014 from the Fox Theater at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

“I`ve had a great camp, my weight is in check and I`m extremely excited to fight this Saturday,” said Dawson. “I`m looking to make a statement in this bout in front of my hometown fans and put the boxing community on notice that I`m back. After I defeat Karpency, I want significant fights in 2015.”

The Dawson vs. Karpency matchup will be televised on Showtime Boxing Special Edition which will headline reigning and undefeated International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) Champion, Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (20-0-0 -1NC, 12KOs) as he defends his super featherweight title against former world title challenger and IBF third ranked, Fernando Saucedo (52-5-3, 8KOs), in the main event. These fights are co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Warriors Boxing.

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Gilbert Defeats Matthews in an Action Packed Fight

Gilbert Defeats Matthews in an Action Packed Fight

Chris Gilbert escaped with an eight round unanimous decision by three scorecards of 76-75 in a close back and forth action packed bout over Steve Matthews. Windsor, Vermont native, Gilbert, improved to 12-1, 9KOs and got back into the win column following a lost in his last outing to Daniel Sostre. Matthews, from Greensboro, North Carolina, fell to 4-1, 2KOs.

Matthews controlled the first round and then Gilbert landed a devastating right hook that knockdown Matthews in the next round. Matthews barely beat the count as the bell rang ending the round. This was the first knockdown he has suffered as a professional. Matthews went after Gilbert in the third round and for the next six rounds, it was great two way action between these two fighters, as they both landed significant punches and the momentum shifted back and forth. Matthews was the more active boxer and landed the crisper punches in the fight while Gilbert connected on the more powerful shots. This was Gilbert`s fourth time fighting at the “Fight to Educate” event. Hopefully both of these junior middleweights can box one another in a rematch in the near future.

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Bermane Stiverne Interview: The WBC Heavyweight Champion Speaks Out

Bermane Stiverne Interview: The WBC Heavyweight Champion Speaks Out

Canada`s Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne became the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Heavyweight Champion after he defeated Chris Arreola on May 10, 2014 when he landed two crushing knockdowns in the sixth round that prompted the referee to quickly halt the bout. This victory enabled him to become the first Haitian-born heavyweight world title holder. Stiverne possesses an outstanding record of 24-1-1 with 21 victories coming by way of knockout.

He`s unbeaten in his last thirteen bouts and among those wins have come against Arreola in their first bout, Ray Austin, Franklin Lawrence and Demetrice King. Over the past couple of years, Stiverne collected the WBC Silver World Champion, WBC International Champion, World Boxing Association Fedelain Champion and the WBC USNBC Champion. The hard hitting orthodox boxer who has knocked out 81% of his opponents, will be making his first title defense against the undefeated yet untested, mandatory challenger, Deontay Wilder, 32-0, 32KOs. Stiverne and Wilder matchup should be an outstanding all action slugfest between two top ten heavyweight boxers, which fight fans will be sure to enjoy.

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The Next Big Thing in Boxing: The Fight Network

One of the significant issues in boxing is its lack of media coverage on the sport. Sports radio, television and newspapers rarely discuss boxing bouts or topics, unless it pertains to Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather, making the internet the only place to obtain information. It doesn`t help that ESPN Wednesday and Friday Night Fights remain the only television venue to watch boxing without individuals having to pay additional money to subscribe to HBO or Showtime and even more money for their paper view events.

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