15.03.05 – What do Hector Roca, Floyd Mayweather Sr., Cornelius Boza-Edwards, Lennox Blackmore, Michael Bennett and Glen Johnson have in common? They will all be working the corners of women boxers on March 26 in Laughlin, Nevada. It will be the second show in the “A Ring Of Their Own” series, and judging from the talent in the corners, the much sought after acceptance by women pugilists has arrived..
Roca has received acclaim recently from the oddest of places, Hollywood. He trained Hillary Swank for her Oscar winning role in “Million Dollar Baby,” and of course has trained many world champions on the men’s side of the sport. Now he brings in Alicia Ashley, a 10-3 New York bantamweight to take on Elena Reid who hasn’t lost in 20 fights. Staring at him in the opposite corner with Reid will be former world champion and respected trainer Cornelius Boza-Edwards.
In another bantamweight fight featuring two undefeated women, Floyd Mayweather Sr., who trained his son, Floyd Jr., and Oscar De La Hoya, will grace the corner of Jennifer Salinas. At the other end of the ring in the corner of Laura Norton will be “Fighter of the Year,” Glen Johnson.
Lennox Blackmore, a former Commonwealth champion and trainer who guided Vivian Harris to a world title, will look to continue the winning ways of Swedish sensation Asa Sandell. Blackmore believes she is on track to upset the Laila Ali “apple cart” very soon.
Rounding out the name cornermen is former 2000 Olympic team captain Michael Bennett. Michael has recently taken on several girls in Chicago and is helping them make the conversion from amateur to pro, a process he knows well.
Arnie “TokyoÔa” Rosenthal said, “This will be like boxing fantasy camp on March 26. More attention than usual will be given to the corners between rounds. And the autograph hounds will be out in droves.”
His partner, Ken Weiss, was more philosophical. “This kind of crossover from the big name cornermen is exactly what women’s boxing needs. It not only helps the women’s techniques, but helps establish the female side of the sport.”
The show is live at Harrah’s Laughlin Casino on March 26, and will be televised to 30 million homes nationwide on a delayed basis.