Boxer Briefs: Catching Up with Boxing’s Heavy Hitters & Rising Stars—Bryant “By-By” Jennings

10/19/2014 Paul Jones

Undefeated Heavyweight contender Bryant “By-By” Jennings awaits his title shot

By Justin Jones – Bryant “By-By” Jennings’ (19-0, 10 KOs) is patiently waiting for reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) and undefeated mandatory challenger Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) to strike a deal and set a date for their bout.

Jennings’ eagerness for the Stiverne vs. Wilder fight to take place runs deeper than the boxing enthusiast who sees the bout as a compelling fight, one laced with numerous storylines (e.g. will Wilder’s KO streak continue? Will Stiverne deliver Wilder’s first professional loss? Etc).

continue

Boxing Goes High-Tech with GoPro

10/11/2014 Paul Jones

Paul “Paparazzi” Jones & Justin Jones | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones — Top Rank’s October 4th fight card at the Bally’s Event Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey featured Glen Tapia’s (22-1, 14 KOs) demolition of Donatas Bondorovas (18-6-1, 6 KOs). However, a small gadget featured on the undercard could change the way we experience the sport. Indeed, it appears that professional boxing is flirting with GoPro technology.

GoPro, Inc., the electronics corporation based in San Mateo, California, is among the vanguard in producing high-quality photo and video capture devices. The brainchild of billionaire, Nick Woodman, the GoPro has recorded everything from hiking to extreme sports and it has become a permanent fixture in ESPN’s X Games.

continue

Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia Tames Bondorovas in AC — Hart, Zewski, Reed, More!

10/05/2014 Paul Jones

By Justin Jones & Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

Atlantic City, NJ – Junior Middleweight Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (22-1, 14 KOs) continued on the comeback trail with his second consecutive knockout victory stopping Donatas Bondorovas (18-6-1, 6 KOs) in the main event of a seven-fight Top Rank card at the Bally’s Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.

Once again, Tapia showed that working with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has been a worthwhile investment. Tapia, who won via 4th round TKO, looked more patient and calculated in the ring than he did in his previous fight. The Passaic native also worked behind a steady stiff jab from the outset, which enabled him to set up his power shots with precision. Tapia landed thudding right hands, hooks, and body shots on Bondorovas with regularity.

continue

Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed Vows to Impress in His Top Rank Debut — Glen Tapia, More!

10/03/2014 Paul Jones

Light Welterweight prospect fights Juan Montiel in his Top Rank debut

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones & Justin Jones | Photo © Daniel Kucin, Jr.

Undefeated Junior Welterweight Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed, 10-0 with 6 KOs, takes an important step in his pro career when he faces Juan Montiel (7-6-3, 2 KOs) this Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The six-round bout, featured on the undercard of the Junior Middleweight matchup between Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (21-1, 13 KOs) and Donatas Bondorovas (18-5-1, 6 KOs), marks the first contest for Reed as a Top Rank fighter. While there is pressure to validate his signing, the 21-year-old Reed is not concerned about succumbing to it.

continue

Glen Tapia Crushes Collins in AC — Kirkland, Cotto, More!

06/15/2014 Paul Jones

By Justin Jones & Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Published June 15, 2014 | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

Atlantic City, NJ – Although Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (21-1, 13 KOs) made quick work of Keenan Collins (15-9-3, 10 KOs), stopping him early in the first round of Top Rank’s “Solo Boxeo” main event, there was noticeable change in the 24-year-old Junior Middleweight’s attack, patience, and movement.

He wasn’t merely focused on head-hunting or brawling to “please the crowd,” as stated by a candid Tapia in his post-fight interview at the Bally’s Hotel and Casino–which was filled with Tapia fans donning Team Tapia shirts and shouting “Jersey Boy.” Tapia displayed more attention to detail in this comeback effort after suffering his first loss to hard-hitting James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) and a lot of that can be credited to working with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

“Freddie demands perfection out of me and whoever he trains. If I do something good he lets me know it’s good, but it needs to be perfect,” Tapia said. “I feel like I’m a smarter fighter now and not just fighting with my heart. I’m actually putting my shots together now and being patient. I’m back and better than ever.”

continue

Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed Eyes National Spotlight on Saturday’s Top Rank Card — Glen Tapia, Russell Jr., More!

06/14/2014 Paul Jones

By Paul “Paparazzi“ Jones & Justin Jones – Capitol Heights, MD – This Saturday, Junior Middleweight Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia(20-1, 12 KOs) headlines a Top Rank card against Keenan Collins (15-8-3, 10 KOs) at Bally’s in Atlantic City (NJ). Tapia is determined to rebound with an impressive showing after being stopped by James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) last December in a fight of the year candidate. While the stakes are high for Tapia, perhaps no one on the fight card has more to gain than unbeaten Junior Welterweight prospect Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed (9-0, 6 KOs).

Reed, 21, who fights out of Waldorf, MD, will be facing the hard-charging Nicaraguan Alberto Morales (11-3-1, 1 NC, 8 KOs) in a 6-round undercard bout. The contest marks one of the rare occasions that Reed will fight outside the confines of the Rosecroft Raceway (Fort Washington, MD).

continue

Miguel Cotto: Puerto Rico’s Shining Star

06/09/201406/08/2014 Paul Jones

By Justin Jones — Manhattan, NY – If there was any doubt surrounding Miguel Cotto’s (39-4, 32 KOs) future hall of fame status, or uncertainty about who his signature victory would be against–as all the greats possess–last night’s stoppage of former middleweight kingpin Sergio Martinez (51-3-2, 28 KOs) was it ladies and gentleman.

Cotto proved to truly be Puerto Rico’s finest as he became the island’s first boxer to ever win a title in four different weight classes. What’s more impressive about the dominating performance is that he achieved the historic feat at Madison Square Garden (MSG), the world’s most famous arena, in front of a packed house of more than 20,000–the majority of them consisting of prideful and supportive fellow Puerto Ricans. Keep in mind he did this against one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world previously, and on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade. Most of all and frankly, the fight wasn’t even close.

continue

OPEN MIC: Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin Discusses Golovkin, Mayweather Jr., Stevens,and More!

05/16/2014 Paul Jones

Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones – Washington, DC —In April,WBO Middleweight Champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs) dominated Lukáš Konečný (50-5, 23 KOs) over 12 rounds at the DC Armory. When the final results were read, Kid Chocolate led on all three scorecards (119-109 [twice], 120-108) in a virtual shutout. After the fight, Quillin wasted little time in calling out the Miguel Cotto(38-4, 31 KOs)/Sergio Martínez(51-2-2, 28 KOs) winner and fellow New Yorker, Daniel Jacobs(27-1, 24 KOs).

Before his victory, Quillin sat down with Eastsideboxing’s Paul “Paparazzi” Jones for an exclusive interview. Kid Chocolate discussed his upbringing, potential opponents, his connection to International Boxing Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, and more.

Eastsideboxing.com: Can you talk a little bit about growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and discuss some of the hardships that you’ve faced along the way?

Peter Quillin (PQ):“Well, I was homeless in New York City. That’s away from family. While I was with family, it still was a struggle. My mom was raising four boys alone. My dad went to prison at an early age; me and my brother had to learn a lot of life lessons in the streets.”

continue

Adrien “The Problem” Broner Holds Media Workout—Photos and More!

09/15/201604/25/2014 Paul Jones

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones – Former three-division World Champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (27-1, 22 KOs) held an open workout today at the Bald Eagle Boxing Annex (DC) in preparation for his May 3^rd showdown against Carlos Molina (17-1-1, 7 KOs).

The 10-round Junior Welterweight bout, which is part of the Mayweather vs. Maidana (SHOWTIME PPV®) undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (NV), marks the return of Broner, 24, after losing to Marcos “El Chino” Maidana (35-3, 31 KOs) last December.

continue

“The Alien” vs. “Superman” Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You?

04/21/2014 Paul Jones

By Paul “Paparazzi“ Jones & Justin Jones – In the aftermath of Hopkins vs. Shumenov, Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins(55-6-2, 32 KOs) wasted little time in ditching his boxing gloves for his promotional hat to campaign for a showdown with Superman. That is, WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (23-1, 20 KOs).

“The Alien vs. Superman” sounds like a snazzy title for a forthcoming DC Universe original movie, but the potential matchup between two of boxing’s elite is a match-up that many boxing fans would pay to see.

“Stevenson, I’m coming to Canada. I’m getting my papers together,” said Hopkins.

Bhops also indicated that geography would not be a barrier to making this fight. “I’ll go anywhere they pay the most,” Hopkins said. “I’ve been in Canada. I love Canada. They’ve got a big fan base for Bernard Hopkins out there. And let me tell you something. This fight would do well at the MGM [Grand].”

continue