“It might be your city, but don’t be mistaken this is my coming out party” – Those were the harsh words of wisdom Curtis “Showtime” Stevens had for Jesse Brinkley when asked about their upcoming showdown on Friday January 29th at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, NV. The bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, is IBF Super Middleweight Eliminator for the #2 ranking (Stevens is currently rated #10, while Brinkley is rated #6) and will be shown live as the main event on that evening’s ESPN “Friday Night Fights” telecast..
The 24-year-old Stevens (21-2, 15KO) is currently riding a four bout streak since joining Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing stable of promoted fighters, including a career best victory in his last bout when he scored a third round TKO over previously unbeaten Piotr Wilczewski (22-0) in July of 2009. Coincidently, the fight against Wilczewski, which was on the undercard of fellow Polish native Tomaz Adamek defending his cruiserweight championship, also saw Stevens; as he will do against the Nevada native Brinkley, enter into very hostile territory.
“I feed off the crowd so the more hostile the environment, the worse off it will be for him,” stated Stevens. “As I already told Jesse and all his fans when I went to first announce the fight in Reno, he hasn’t ever been in the ring with someone like me. To be honest, when I first heard about the fight I really couldn’t believe he accepted it. If he thinks he is going to use me as his stepping stone to bigger things in the super middleweight division, then he is in for a rude awakening.”
And according to that awakening Stevens refers to, it will take place on National T.V., center ring, in front of all his adoring hometown fans.
“He will realize he made a mistake when he wakes up on his stool or back in his dressing room because I promise you I am going to knock him out cold. I’m going to catch him and when I do he is going to go to sleep. 2010 is going to be my year. I’m calling out all champions and contenders, you better be ready, because this is my time.”
Leon Moore crowned WBA (PABA) Super Bantamweight title as professional boxing returns to Singapore
– Singaporean Mohd Nor Rizan returns to the ring with a solid and skilled unanimous points victory
– Singapore’s biggest ever professional boxing event a resounding success
16 January 2010, Singapore – Leon Moore became the latest international champion from the tiny enclave of Guyana in the Caribbean, as he cruised to a unanimous points decision (120-107, 119-108, 118-109) over Asia’s number one challenger, Indonesian Marangin Marbun, to claim the vacant WBA (PABA) Super Bantamweight title. Moore’s victory concluded an enthralling night of boxing as Professional Championship Boxing – A New Beginning, Singapore’s biggest ever professional boxing sport and entertainment event, put prize-fighting firmly back in the hearts and minds of Singaporean fight fans.
Moore said: “This is a great moment for me. I was confident I would win and I’d like to thank the Singaporean fans for their support throughout the fight – I’m happy they enjoyed it! Marbun is a great, tough competitor and he made me work hard every second we were in the ring. Now the world knows I am ready to fight for a world title and my promoters, Top Rated Boxing, are keen to stage that fight in Singapore – I hope everyone will come back to see me win again!”
More than 1,500 fans descended upon the Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Centre to experience the return of professional boxing in Singapore after a three year absence. They witnessed six enthralling bouts between fighters from nine countries across the world, with three knockouts and three going the full distance. The crowd and the set-up of the event created an atmosphere that was electrified by explosive punches and world-class boxing. The biggest cheer was reserved for Singapore’s pioneering and top professional boxer, Mohd Nor Rizan, who marked his return to the ring with victory over Mao Yi Jun of Kunming, China. Fighting his first competitive bout in Singapore since March 2007, Nor Rizan claimed a hard-working victory with a unanimous points decision (59-55, 59-55, 58-56).
Nor Rizan said: “This is the most meaningful win of my career so far. To have been out of the ring for so long, to make a comeback and win is amazing – and all in front of the biggest crowd I’ve experienced! I was always confident in my ability, but I have to thank my promoters and trainers, Top Rated Boxing, who prepared me brilliantly for the fight. Now I want to fight as much as possible in 2010, and hopefully you’ll see me winning a regional title sooner rather than later.”
John Leung, strategic advisor to Top Rated Boxing, said: “We are very pleased with tonight’s event – there were six great fights between well-matched boxers and the fans certainly enjoyed themselves. Tonight has proven that there is a place for top class professional boxing in Singapore and we will definitely be staging more events. I think we are well on the way to making Singapore the Mecca of Asian boxing and we truly welcome the approval bestowed upon us by the Asian arm of the WBA, PABA.”
In other bouts on the six fight card, organised by Top Rated Boxing, a Bangkok and Singapore based leading Asian sports management and promotions company, Padjai Kietyongyuth (Thailand, 2-0-1, 2 KOs), stopped Sugiri (Indonesia, 4-1, 3 KOs) in round two of a scheduled six round fight, while Filipino Ariel Barotillo (Australia, 4-0-2, 3 KOs) defeated Xu Cong Liang (China, 7-1, 3 KOs) with a split decision points victory. Saddam Kietyongyuth (Thailand, 19-0, 15 KOs) carried on his eight fight knock-out streak when he stopped Jong-Yoon Choi (Korea, 6-1, 2 KOs) in round two of a scheduled eight round fight and, in the evening’s other fight, Ariel Delgado (Philippines, 17-5-2, 7 KOs) also stopped his opponent, Zaragoza Uema (Japan, 13-5-4, 4 KOs), in the second round, of a scheduled 10 round fight.
THE “WILD WILD” WEST TAKES ON THE “ACE”
Just a month after a disappointing cancellation of her scheduled bout with Kasha Chamblin, K “Wild Wild” West is looking to start off her world title campaign for 2010.
This Thursday, January 21, 2010 at the San Manuel Indian & Bingo Casino in Highland, California, West (11-1-0, 2 KO’s) will be squaring off against former three-time world champion, Ada “the Ace” Velez (16-3-2, 6 KO’s) in what’s sure to be considered a showdown between the past and future of women’s boxing.
The bout will be the co-main event of the evening as both fighters slug it out for a title. West took the fight on short notice but has been active in the gym sparring with sure to be future world champion Dianna Guiterrez. Guiterrez is a southpaw and has given West a good look of what Velez will bring come fight night.
Taking time out of her training camp in Moreno Valley, California, West stated the following, “I’ve been following Ada’s career and have much respect for her accomplishments, but come Thursday night, I’m putting all that behind me and I’m coming to fight. The way I see it is, I have to fight the best, to be the best and Ada has been considered one of the best out there.”
When speaking to manager and trainer Juan West, he indicated that, “I hesitated to take the fight because I know how tough Ada is, but the world needs to know how tough K is and like most of her past opponents who were thinking, don’t let the pretty face and sweet smile fool you; K’s the real deal.”
This event is being brought to you by Patrick Ortiz of Ringside Tickets and will be headlined by Jose “El Nino” Reynoso (11-3-0, 1 KO) battling undefeated Aris Ambriz (13-0-0 8 KO’s) for the vacant GBU junior welterweight Americas championship. Tickets for the event are priced at $40 and $30 and can be purchased at the San Manuel box office or online at Ticketmaster.