TORONTO (June 17, 2011) – World cruiserweight contender Troy Ross is experiencing abdominal pains and has been hospitalized in Toronto, where he is undergoing precautionary tests. He has been forced to withdraw from fighting June 24 on the “Friday Night At The Fights” show at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Ross (24-2, 16 KOs), a two-time Canadian Olympian, is the top-rated International Boxing Federation (IBF) contender at No. 3 (#1 and #2 are not rated), as well as ranked No. 5 by The Ring magazine, No. 14 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), and No. 15 by the World Boxing Council (WBC). He is expected to return to the ring in late August.
NABA Lightweight Champion Logan Cotton McGuinness (14-0-1, 7 KOs), rated No. 11 by the World Boxing Association, defends his title for the first time June 24 in the 10-round main event against Daniel “Canerito” Ruiz. “Friday Night At The Fights” is being presented by United Boxing Promotions in association with Hennessy Sports and Groupe Yvon Michel.
Tickets to “Friday Night at the Fights,” starting at $30.00, may be purchased at the Hershey Centre box office, through Ticket Master by dialing 416-872-5000, or by going on line to ticketmaster.ca.
2011 USA Boxing National Championships Open Workout Quotes
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – A unique mix of athletes convened yesterday afternoon at the historic City Auditorium to showcase their skills at an public workout ahead of next week’s 2011 USA Boxing National Championships. The full U.S. Army team joined returning Olympians Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Raynell Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) as well as former national champions Louie Byrd (Denver, Colo.), Robert Brant (Oakdale, Minn.) and Lenroy “Cam” Thompson at the event, which took place on the Northwest Plaza of the facility.
Female flyweight National Team member Alex Love (Monroe, Wash.) traveled to Colorado Springs to join the group of elite athletes who all worked out on a warm June day in front of a substantial group of spectators walking and driving by. 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Nate Jones (Chicago, Ill.) made a surprise appearance at the event, joining his boxers Semajay Thomas (Chicago, Ill.) and Shawn Simpson (Chicago, Ill.) as they prepared for the upcoming National Championships.
Jones certainly made his presence felt, handing out flyers to those passing and driving by to encourage local attendance for the event finals at City Auditorium. Jones made his rounds throughout the downtown area, even walking up to the main street in the Colorado Springs downtown area to grow support for the future Olympians.
The 1996 Olympic medalist is one of three key alumni slated to be in attendance at the event with 1988 Olympic gold medalist Andrew Maynard and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward both planning to travel to Colorado Springs in support of their roots in the sport of boxing.
The 2011 USA Boxing National Championships will begin on Monday with sessions at noon and 6 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Christian School and run through Saturday, June 25 with final round action at the City Auditorium. All of the event participants will arrive by Sunday before the event draw on Sunday night. The final list of competitors will be set at Sunday’s registration and each athlete’s road to gold will be determined following Sunday’s tournament draw. Heavyweight Michael Hunter (Las Vegas, Nev.) has withdrawn from the tournament to focus on his U.S. Olympic Team Trials preparations.
All of the early round at the Colorado Springs Christian School will be free and open to the public, and tickets for Championship Night are on sale now through www.ticketswest.com. Tickets are only $15 if purchased before June 20 and $20 after the opening day of competition and they are going fast.
The USA Boxing National Championships have been held annually since 1888, making it the longest running amateur boxing tournament in the United States, and the event consistently showcases future Olympians and future World Champions. Former champions include Muhammad Ali (as Cassius Clay). Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Andre Ward.
USA Boxing National Championships Open Workout Quotes
Robert Brant, 2009 Light Heavyweight National Champion
On winning his first national championship:
“It felt really good, it was a great honor to represent my country.”
On staying hungry to winning another national championship:
“I realized its extremely hard to win and even harder to stay #1. It’s a huge honor to represent your country. It is much bigger than you.”
On his potential opponents at the 2011 USA Boxing National Championships:
“It is what I consider a packed division. It’s going to be a dog fight and it is going to come down to who is better prepared.”
On redeeming himself after not repeating in 2010:
“It is 100% important. My number one goal is to secure a spot for the 2012 games and it starts here.”
On training:
“I’ve worked extremely hard. I ran the miles and sparred the rounds. It’s going to come down to mental preparation.”
On what separates him from his competition:
“I’ve worked extremely hard the last five months and have mentally prepared.”
On his mental preparation:
“Not getting tense, staying relaxed, and knowing that I’ve been here before.”
Lenroy “Cam” Thompson, Two-time Super Heavyweight National Champion
On returning to a tournament he’s won before:
“It’s less pressure. I have less pressure because I have already qualified for the Olympic trials. This is a tune up but I want to make some noise going into the Olympic trials.”
On being even better this year in comparison to previous years:
“Usually I do not show up to the tournaments in shape, but this year I have been working really hard, so just being in better shape.”
On coming to Colorado Springs and the altitude:
“This year I came up and stayed with Louie Byrd for about a week.”
On that he’s most looking forward to during this championship week:
“Celebration, once all the fights are over the celebration parties. Also, getting to see my friends who I only get to see about four times a year.”
On why he will win the championship this year:
“Because, Cam is the man!”
Louie Byrd, Three-time National Champion
On the publicity he’s received leading into the event and potential pressure:
“Pressure has always been there. I’ve always done better under the pressure, the more the merrier.”
On any competition that worries him at the 2011 USA Boxing National Championships:
“Everyone comes to Nationals ready so I always have to be ready, but I’ve beaten everyone in this weight class.”
On what winning a national title means:
“It will be another National (Championship) under my belt. Every championship is another stepping stone to the Olympic Trials.”
On staying focused with the Olympic Trials coming up:
“You have to stay focused for every tournament. If you are not focused you may under- estimate the wrong opponent.”
On potentially boxing in front of a big crowd in the finals at City Auditorium
“It would be awesome, I love big crowds. Sometimes my dad says I go with the crowd and to not to let it get to me. Being from Colorado the crowd is in my favor.”
Shawn Simpson, Flyweight Contender
On being nervous for his first time in the tournament:
“No, I have fought in so many tournaments so it feels just like another fight.”
On how past tournaments have helped him prepare:
“They gave me good experience.”
On his goals for his first time in the USA Boxing National Championships
“To win the tournament, but also to place top four and get a spot in the Olympic Trials.”
On whether he was concerned about the altitude in Colorado Springs:
“No, I’ve been here two weeks already working out.
On how training is going:
“It’s been great and hard.”
Raynell Williams, 2008 U.S. Featherweight Olympian
On World Series of Boxing competition and whether that will help or hinder him:
“I don’t know if it will help me, because those are five round bouts and this will be three so it will be a different pace.”
On his goals for the tournament:
“To qualify to go to the (Olympic) Trials.”
On what he’s most looking forward to during the week of competition:
“I’m looking forward to the good work. There is nothing but top level boxers out here at Nationals so I am looking forward to the good work.”
On moving up to the lightweight division:
“I feel good at 132 pounds. I think it was the best thing because they moved the weight to 123 lbs and it was already difficult to make the 125 pounds.”
Alex Love, 2010 USA Boxing National Championships bronze medalist
On whether her bronze medal finish in last year’s event increased her drive to win in 2011:
“Oh yea! Now I have the experience. I’ve become seasoned, all the people from USA boxing and the coaches have helped a lot.”
On the altitude and if it concerns her:
“No, because I moved to Brighton, Colorado about two years ago when I heard about women’s boxing being added to the Olympics.”
On whether she’s nervous with the Olympics approaching:
“Of course, everyone is, but it’s a mix of pressure with excitement. More than anything, I am confident.”
How do you feel about the competition in your weight class
“Every fight is a battle. A lot of the girls have dropped down into my weight class so it will be interesting. Every fight is going to be a war.”
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
Eastern Pennsylvania Boxers Fill July 1 Card at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
Bethlehem, PA—When intra-state welterweight rivals Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, and Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA, square off July 1 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, they will be helping other local fighters display their skills as well.
A host of Eastern Pennsylvania-based fighters representing nearby towns will fill out the undercard, which begins at 7.30 pm in the 1,500-seat tent on the grounds of the Sands Casino.
Eliud Torres of Allentown, PA, takes on Bryne Green, of Vineland, NJ, in the six-round lightweight semifinal.
Torres, a 28-year-old southpaw, scored a solid win in his last fight May 21 in Reading, PA, when he earned a six-round decision over Travis Thompson, of Pottstown, PA. A pro since 2006, Torres is 5-2-2, 2 K0s.
Green, 27, comes into the fight off the biggest victory of his career, an eight-round decision over Ryan Belasco, of Wilmington, DE, on March 18 at Harrah’s Casino, Chester, PA. Green is 6-4, 3 K0s, in three years as a pro.
The other scheduled six-rounder features middleweights Rashad Brown, of Upper Darby, PA, against Todd Eriksson, of Dover, NJ.
Brown, 22, knocked out Philip Burnette, of Myrtle Beach, SC, in the first round June 3 at Harrah’s Casino, MIRANDA_SILO_77Chester, PA. Brown, former batboy for the Philadelphia Phillies, is 4-0, 2 K0s.
Eriksson, 25, fought the same night as Brown and lost a disputed four-round decision to Fred Jenkins, Jr. Eriksson is 3-6-2, 1 K0.
Popular heavyweight William Miranda (pictured right), of Allentown, PA, meets Zeferino Albino, of Philadelphia, PA, in a rematch of their four-round draw on the May 21 card in Reading.
Miranda, 33, is 2-3-1; Albino, 33, is 4-12-3, 2 K0s.
Albino scored a major win earlier this year when he knocked out Big John Poore, of Upper Darby, PA, in two rounds on Jan. 22 at Harrah’s Chester. Poore was 21-4, 18 K0s, prior to losing to Albino.
Another heavyweight, Eric Newell, who played football at Bethlehem Catholic High School and Kutztown University, makes his local debut in a four-round fight against unbeaten John Mercurio, of Philadelphia, PA.
Newell, 28, is 1-1, 1 K0. In his last fight March 4 in Atlantic City, he lost a four-round decision to Ali Santos, of Camden, NJ. In his pro debut last year, Newell knocked out Octavius Davis, of Wilson, NC, in two rounds.
Mercurio, 32, is 4-0, 3 K0s, and he defeated Miranda via four-round decision in his last fight April 1 at the South Philly Arena.
Grayson Blake, of State College, PA, and Anthony Abrams, of Philadelphia, PA, collide in a four-round junior middleweight contest.
Blake, 29, is 2-0, 1 K0. Abrams, 34, is 1-6, but has never been stopped and three of his losses were to Pawel Wolak, Gabriel Rosado and Jose Angel Rodriguez, all current world-rated junior middleweights.
Cesar Gonzales, of Reading, PA, and Joshua Arocho, of Vineland, NJ, meet in a four-round junior lightweight contest.
Gonzalez, 35, boxed a draw in his only pro fight May 21 in Reading, while Arocho, 22, is 1-4, 1 K0.
Welterweights Chris Plebani, of Bristol, PA, and David Navarro, of Philadelphia, PA, meet in a four-round contest with each man looking for his first win as a pro. Plebani, 24, is 0-2; Navarro, 33, is 0-3.
Tickets for the July 1 card are priced at $51 and $78. They can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or from the gift shop at the Sands Casino Resorts Bethlehem. They also are available online at www.ArtsQuest.org and www.peltzboxing.com.