Yusaf Mack is upset following the cancelation of the card on the 30th January, Mack has had a rough time over the last few months, first a contest with Karo Murat falling through and now the fight with Glen Johnson. Mack said “I understand why the show has been cancelled and my heart goes out to Berto and the whole country of Haitia, but I am dissapointed I wasn’t given the chance to show the world the new Yusaf Mack, I have really turned my life around in the last two years with the help of my trainer John Tandy and my management team Rory Donadio and Greg Cipriano, I have won my last 5 fights and at last now I was given the opportunity to showcase myself in front of the world..
“I have been in camp since early Novemebr and I am in the best shape of my life, we have all worked really hard and I am dissapointed that HBO didn’t feel the card was still strong enough to continue the show without Shane and Berto. Johnson and me would have been a classic fight, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Sergio Mora and Vivian Harris were all on the card as well which made for a great show even without Shane and Berto. I am now hoping that another fight with Johnson or a fight with Taroris Cloud will be made as soon as possible so I can get focused again and show everyone what I am made of, the light heavyweight division can be one of the best divisions out there at the moment, I feel that I am a big part of it I just need to show everyone that I am no longer that guy that lost out to Berrio and Andrade, I wasn’t training like a world champion then and my legs let me down, I am now. Other guys have been handed chances without really deserving it, Pascal was coming off a loss when he fought and won the WBC title, as was Campillo when he fought for the WBA, now Chris Henry who I have already beaten recently, is now fighting for the WBA interim title, I have won my last 5 fights 4 against guys who have fought for world titles, it is my turn. I will fight any of them, Cloud, Johnson, Pascal, Dawson, just give me a chance and you will see who the new king of the light heavyweight division will be.
Lundy-Abril Headlines Friday night’s “Boston Pop” pro boxing card
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 19, 2010) – Professional boxing returns to Boston this Friday night as Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES) presents “Boston Pop,” headlined by exciting Philadelphia junior welterweight “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy against former Cuban amateur star Richard “El Tigre” Abril in the 10-round main event at The Roxy in the famed Theater District.
Lundy (16-0-1, 10 KOs), fighting out of Philadelphia, has boldly predicted a win by third-round stoppage against Abril (12-1, 6 KOs), whose lone loss was by a 10-round split decision to Breidis Prescott, who in his following fight knocked out rising star Amir Khan in the opening round.
“CES is a national promotional company that promoted shows last year in Texas, New York and North Dakota,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said, “but our home base is in New England and we’re reestablishing our presence in Boston to go with the shows we put on in Rhode Island and Connecticut. CES shows are known for competitive, entertaining bouts from the top to bottom of the card. Friday night is a continuation of that with a great main event along with some of the top New England fighters in action.
“We’re also inducting Carlos Garcia, who has done so much for kids at the Worcester Boys and Girl Club for years, into the CES Ring of Honor. Dr. Edgar Ballenas will be presented a special achievement award for all he’s done to help New England boxing. Plus, we’ll have former world champions Vinny Paz and John Ruiz as special guests. It’s going to be a great night.”
The 6-round co-feature pits intra-state rivals Chris Traietti (8-1, 5 KOs), an Iraq War veteran from Quincy, and dangerous Lawrence super middleweight Eddie “Thunder” Caminero (5-3, 5 KOs).
Two former New England amateur standouts, Peabody (MA) welterweight Simeon Dunwell (10-1, 3 KOs) and Josh “Bam Bam” Beeman (4-5-3, 2 KOs), of Providence, throw down in another 6-round match.
In 4-round undercard bouts, Boston light heavyweight Maceo Crowder (1-0, 1 KO), whose brother is 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade, meets New Haven’s pro-debuting Greg McCoy; Quincy junior lightweight Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (6-0, 2 KOs) takes on Francisco Palacios (4-9-5, 1 KO); Hartford middleweight David Bauza (3-0, 3 KOs) faces Erix Quinteros (2-3).
Ticket prices for “Boston Pop” are $40.00, $50.00 and $75.00 and available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254) or going online at www.cesboxing.com.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) for more information. Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 8 PM/ET.
Sherif Younan, Jr. Boxing’s Next Phenom
BROOKLYN (Jan. 20, 2010) – Born with boxing flowing through his veins, 14-year-old prodigy Sherif “Sugar Boy” Younan, Jr. could turnout to be the struggling sports savior in a few more years, based on his increased dominance in the amateurs, where he has captured too many championship belts (15), trophies (15) and medals (30) to fit into one room.
Younan recently captured top honors in the 165-pound division of the Northeast Regional Silver Gloves Tournament, qualifying for his fourth straight trip to The Nationals (Feb. 3-6 in Independence, Missouri), where he’s been a 3-time winner in three different weight classes. It’s been difficult enough keeping track of how many national and regional tournaments he’s won as a junior boxer.
His father, Sherif, has been his coach since The Phenom first entered a gym to celebrate his second birthday. His cake was in the shape of boxing gloves and another New York City trainer, Colin Morgan, gave the youngster a baby heavy bag as a gift.
Despite his youth, the Utrechet High freshman (in Brooklyn) is far from a boy among men at the Coney Island Gym, where he regularly trains and often spars with established professionals such as former IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi, who Sherif’s father now serves as head trainer, Danny Jacobs, Jr., Curtis Stevens, Joe Greene, 2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali, and Gary Starks, Jr., among the more notables.
“My son has been blessed by God,” the elder Sherif attributed his son’s skills. “We saw it, star quality as a boxer, when he was just a baby. He loved boxing from the first day in the gym. He started boxing competitively when he was only 8 years old in the 80-85 pound class. Last year, he fought at 139 pounds in The Nationals and now he’s at 165. He keeps winning as he grows. Someday, I think he’ll be a champion light heavyweight, if not a heavyweight.
“I think Sherif is like a young Roy Jones, Jr. – quick hands, great footwork and more power as he ages. He’s kind of a cross between a young Roy and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. His defense is real good and he throws a lot of punches. We have a great team and one guy who has really helped is Mario Boxing 360), a good friend and advisor who has shown a lot of support and love for my son. We don’t know exactly where we’re going, yet, but Mario will be one of the key guys guiding my son’s career. He’s going all of the way with us and we want to thank him for being in our corner.”
Sherif, unfortunately, falls one month shy of being old enough to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, which leaves Team Younan with what can only be described as a great problem – wait for the 2016 Olympics or turn pro at 17.
“I love boxing,” the man-child remarked between training sessions. “I’ve learned so much being around pros in the gym — Paulie everyday, Curtis a lot, and Sadam is like my big brother. I never get tired of winning and I’m always in a rush to get my next belt. An Olympic gold medal has always been my dream, but I’ll leave that (waiting for 2016 or turning pro) to my father and Mario (Boxing 360).
“Being trained by my father has been great. Mario (Boxing 360) is family; I gave him my winning medal from last year’s National PAL Tournament in appreciation for what he’s done for me.
“You know, if I were fighting myself, I’d run. My best punch is a left hook to the body; nobody can take it. I do throw a lot of punches, all precision punches – I hit ‘em right and don’t waste any.”
Sherif’s father/coach isn’t concerned with the decision he and his team will have to eventually make in a couple of years, regarding the Olympics or turning pro. No real concern right now because they have another tournament to dominate later this month at the 2010 National Silver Gloves.
“I just know that my son is going to be a real star in boxing,” the Egyptian native concluded. “He’ll only be 19 for the 2016 Olympics, but, then again, a lot of the Cuban and Russian (amateur) fighters are in their thirties. A lot of top pros didn’t box in the Olympics – Mike Tyson, Zab Judah and others. Winning an Olympic gold medal has always been my son’s dream, but turning pro at 17 instead of waiting around for 2016 is going to be tempting. It is what it is. We’ll see.”