LOS ANGELES (April 21, 2009) – Unbeaten Irish light welterweight sensation Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne fights for the first time in 2009 when he battles Mexican southpaw Jose Reynoso (10-2, 1 KO) in a scheduled 8-round bout May 1 at South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Not only will Byrne be making his debut in the glitz and glitter of Las Vegas, the 24-year-old Irishman will be fighting the night before the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown in the same city with Manny’s trainer, Freddie Roach, also in his corner..
Working out at Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, where he has sparred with Pacquiao, Amir Khan and Juan Marquez, Byrne has found a home. After having more than 200 amateur fights, including an Irish National title, Dean turned pro in Australia, where he captured the New South Wales State belt in only his fourth pro fight, and one fighter later added the Australian crown in a 10-rounder. On his way from Australia to relocate in Boston, Dean stopped in Los Angeles and trained at Wild Card, where Roach took an instant liking to him.
“I couldn’t have a better trainer,” Byrne said. “I’m so proud he’s my trainer. He says I got it and I’m going to prove that to him and me. I really can’t wait until this fight in Las Vegas and I’m trained by Manny’s trainer. It’s going to be a weekend of celebration. I’m not going to go out and jump on this guy (Reynoso). I want to show everybody what I can do – box! I’m starting to bring it on hard. On fight night I won’t be wearing headgear and big gloves. It’s a different feeling with the 8-ounze gloves and no headgear. I can’t wait to feel the power.”
Byrne (10-0, 4 KOs), fighting out of Los Angeles by way of Dublin, was supposed to fight in an 8-round bout March 16 in New York City that was canceled. The former Australian and New Wales champion hasn’t fought since defeating Francisco Rios Gil last December.
“Dean’s been doing great,” Roach remarked. “He’s learning to sit on his punches. For this fight he’s mostly been sparring with Dennis Laurente (30-3-5, 16 KOs), who is fighting in a 10-rounder in Las Vegas on the same weekend. Dean’s a good prospect and working together with Dennis, a lefty, has been great for both of them. Dean’s going to get great exposure fighting in Las Vegas the night before Manny’s fight with everybody in boxing in town. Dean told me he’s going to shine and I know we’re ready to go.”
Byrne’s manager, Steven Feder (Standing Eight Management) values Roach handling his prize prospect, Byrne. “I can’t believe a year in this business and I’m working with the best trainer in the world, Freddie Roach,” Feder commented. “He’s as excited about working with a prospect like Dean as he is with the best fighter in the world, Manny. Freddie loves boxing and is still a student of the game. I handle the business side and let Freddie do his thing – nobody does it better. Having Freddie in our corner is like being handed the Triple Crown winner, or like a 4-round handicap before the first rounds starts. We’re light years ahead of where we’d be right now without him.
“He really cares about his fighters. It’s like a tough father-son relationship; he may kiss them on one cheek, slap them on the other, but I don’t have to strategize with Freddie in our corner. The key is having a game plan because you don’t want the fighter thinking too much in the ring. There are no guarantees, of course, but Dean is a great kid and a talented, promising prospect. As a manager, I don’t want to be asking where my fighter is or if he’s trained today. Dean’s only concern in life is boxing and he’s always working hard in the gym. We expect big things from him.”
Cestus Fighters Shine in Texas !
This past Saturday night (April 18), Hot blooded Mexican and Mexican American fight fans enjoyed a great night of action packed boxing where Cestus Management fighters Jairo “El BARBARO” Martinez, Hector Ramos, Rodolfo “BABY COBRA” Gomez and James “QUICK DRAW” DuBois produced explosive performances at the I.B.C. World Championship Boxing Event at the Veteran’s Field in Laredo, Texas. The fight card will also be available on Gofightlive.tv .
The second bout was the young San Antonio , Texas , native Jairo “El BARBARO” Martinez (2-0) who got the crowed going early with a dominating performance over the tall and lanky Genaro Castonera over four rounds. Martinez, who is only eighteen, did not skip a beat as he pressured Castonera from the opening round landing vicious combination to both the head and body. In the end, “El BARBARO” was just too much for Genaro and the judges agreed as Martinez won an easy decision.
In the fourth bout of the night former highly decorated amateur and former United States Military Air Force solider Hector Ramos (3-0-0) took on Antonio Gamez in a four round bout. Before the opening bell Ramos looked like he couldn’t wait to get started and that’s exactly what he did as soon as the first bell rang. Ramos, started fast setting the pace with quick fast double jabs that found their mark followed by a jarring straight right hand followed by a left hook to the body which immediately had Gamez wincing. Although Gamez was tough and hung in their; he did put up a game fight and tried to land as many punches as he could throughout the fight, but Ramos who is a fighting machine methodically disarmed, dissected and punished Gamez giving him a severe beating over four rounds; winning a dominating points victory.
Soon after the Ramos-Gamez bout, the fans where treated to the freaky size of 6ft 3″ Welterweight Rodolfo “BABY COBRA” Gomez (4-0-0). Gomez, who is starting to be known for his technical boxing ability and uncanny reach (82″), squared off with Dwight Yett from Austin Texas in a fight scheduled for four rounds. Gomez, who also carries dynamite in both fists, quickly gave the fans what they wanted from the opening round; using fast hard snappy jabs followed by fast combinations to the head and body. Gomez kept this viscous assault going for the first two rounds and looked like he was just getting warmed up, when he went back to his corner at the end of the second round. Yett, to his credit was game throughout the bout and kept trying to bull his way in, taking some heavy bombs in the process, where at the end of the second round he walked back to his corner on shaky legs. That all changed as in the third stanza, as Gomez come out looking to finish the fight and landed a crippling hook to the body and a booming right hand to the head which sent Yett to the canvas which caused the referee to immediately call a halt to the contest.
In the six round co-main event of the evening, San Antonio native James “QUICK DRAW” DuBois (7-0-1) was outright robbed of a fight that he clearly won against the rugged Laredo based brawler Olvin Mejia. Mejia, came out aggressively in the first two rounds trying to land wild hay-makers on DuBois’ chin, but James slick boxing ability made Mejia look clumsy and Amateurish. The classy DuBois made the necessary adjustments needed and began to effectively counter and rip shots down the middle catching Mejia as he rushed in winging shots like a crazy man. By the fourth round of the fight, DuBois was in control breaking Mejia down and appeared to be well on his way to victory, in the fifth and sixth rounds Mejia’s face was a mess with one of his eyes swollen and rapidly closing as DuBois had really busted him up. Mejia looked like a loser at the end of the fight and by the expression on his face he new that he had lost and was shocked when the decision was announced a draw.
Gina Iacovou, the company CEO, said, “ Laredo , again, witnessed the talent and quality that our fighters are known for in the boxing world. Jairo ( Martinez ), Hector (Ramos), Baby Cobra (Rodolfo Gomez), and James (DuBois) put on amazing performances and showed what kind of multi talent that will elevate you to the next levels in boxing.”
Mike Michael, said “We are very proud of all of our fighters as every one of them gives better performances every time they fight. Our stable of fighters is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with and their progress is where it should be and will only get better. The boxing fans were able to see some real talented young prospects that have a big future in boxing. Michael added, “I would personally like to thank Gofightlive.tv, Recon Garza Promotions, Anthony Velasquez of Gente Entertainment for their continued support. I would further like to thank the beautiful city of Laredo and all of its fans and city leaders such as Mayor Raul G. Salinas, Sheriff Martin Cuellar, Carlos Villarreal, Jesus M. Olivares,Gene Belmares and Roy Medina for coming out and showing and giving all of their support to Cestus Management.
Other fight results: Reyes Esqueda won a four round decision over veteran Arturo Herrera; Hector Ferreyro won a twelve round decision for the vacant IBC World Heavyweight Title, Heavyweight Bill Willis knocked out Isaac Ruiz in the first round.
Tommy Rainone’s Confidence is Sky High After Yuri Foreman Sparring Sessions
Long Island, NY – Approaching the most significant fight of his professional boxing career, Tommy “The Razor” Rainone is not cutting any corners as he prepares to challenge Daniel Sostre for the New York State Welterweight title on May 8. The fight headlines a Ring Promotions show in Franklin Square, Long Island at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant.
Rainone has benefited greatly from sparring sessions with some of the best talent the tri-state area has to offer, most notably 27-0 junior-middleweight Yuri Foreman. Rainone has made two trips down to Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn to work with the #2 rated contender.
“You don’t get much better sparring than that,” says Rainone, 12-2 (4 knockouts), of Plainview. “He’s got great defense and a quick right hand. I know Sostre is not going to be as quick or as difficult to hit as Foreman is. Whatever happens on fight night, I’ll be ready for it because of what I’ve done in the gym. Being able to hold my own against him has made me very confident going into this fight.”
In the first session, Foreman’s world-class speed and movement got the better of the 29-year-old southpaw. Rainone showed great improvement two weeks later, reassuring himself that his training “is right where it needs to be.”
“The way he trains in the gym, he’s going to be ready for anything,” Foreman says. “He’s in great shape and very composed. His focus is much better now than it was when we sparred the first time. He still has another week left of sparring so he’s going to be even better. He’s the nicest guy outside the ring, not so nice inside.
“He boxes well but he also has a lot of heart and determination. When he applies all of his talents together, he’s very difficult to beat. I am very confident he will win his next fight.”
Rainone has also sparred with 2008 Swedish Olympian Naim Terbunja, as well as Mike Ruiz, whom Sostre defeated to win the New York title, and unbeaten prospect Chris Algieri.
“Tommy has been looking very good in sparring,” says Ruiz. “He’s looking very strong and is throwing a lot of good combinations. If he does what he’s doing in the gym, he beats Sostre no problem.”
With more than two weeks remaining until fight night, Rainone has already made weight. “One less obstacle I have to overcome,” Rainone says.