World Boxing Council (WBC) silver junior middleweight title holder Vanes Martirosyan was impressed with Saul Alvarez’s dominating performance over Ryan Rhodes on Saturday night. Alvarez (37-0-1, 27 KOs) closed the show by stopping Rhodes in the 12thg round.
“Canelo looked great. He really put his punches together and made Rhodes fight tentatively,” Martirosyan said.
The Glendale, California, based Martirosyan (30-0-19KOs) earned a title shot versus Alvarez when he knocked out Saul Roman in seven rounds on June 4th at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Martirosyan wants to face Alvarez on September 17th for Mexican Independence Day weekend.
“I hear Canelo wants to fight in September. I say let’s do it. We can sell out STAPLES,” he said. “He has his Mexican fans and along with all my Armenian fans I also have many Mexican fans. I would be honored to fight on that date.”
Martirosyan’s hometown of Glendale is close in proximity to Staples Center and the 2004 US Olympian who holds wins over Tim Bradley and Andre Berto in the amateurs knows a fight with Alvarez would be huge in Southern California, “How often do you get two undefeated fighters in the ring together? My style and Canelo’s style guarantees a great fight for the fans. One thing I know is that it won’t go the distance.”
Even though he holds the mandatory position to face Alvarez, Martirosyan doesn’t think he would have to force his mandatory position to face the red headed Mexican fighter.
“I think Canelo will face me next. Why wouldn’t he? He has never ducked anyone. I’m sure he will do the honorable thing and fight me next,” Martirosyan stated confidently.
Anthony Crolla, Joe Murray, Martin Murray sign new deals
ANTHONY CROLLA, Joe Murray and Martin Murray have signed contract extensions with Hatton Promotions.
And Hatton Promotions President Ricky Hatton purred: “They will all be world champions.”
The terrific trio celebrated their new deals by storming to impressive wins at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena on Saturday night.
Martin claimed the British middleweight crown stopping Nick Blackwell, Joe won his first title outpointing James Ancliff to become IBF international featherweight champion and British lightweight king Crolla stopped Herve De Luca inside a round.
‘The Hitman’ added: “I am delighted and honoured that the lads have put their future in my hands and I intend to repay them by steering them to world titles.
“Martin is getting close, Anthony’s chance should come inside 18 months and Joe is one of the best young talents in British boxing.
“I think the lads can identify with me and see what the entire team at Hatton Promotions is trying to achieve.”
Murray who also holds the Commonwealth and World Boxing Association (WBA) inter-continental title said: “Everything has gone well with Hatton Promotions and I am happy to sign a new deal.
“This contract will take me to the next level and I do believe that I am with the right promotional organization to elevate me to world level.”
All three fighters are expected to return to the ring in September and October.
The Road to Gold is Set for the Competitors at the 2011 USA Boxing National Championships
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Over 500 athletes, boxers, coaches and officials arrived in Colorado Springs on Sunday in preparation for the 2011 USA Boxing National Championships, June 20-25. The event draw took place on Sunday evening, determining the path each athlete will have to navigate to take home a gold medal, and in the 13 Olympic weight divisions, a highly coveted U.S. Olympic Team Trials berth.
Preliminary action will be contested in eight of the 10 men’s weight classes and all three female Olympic weight divisions on opening day. Monday’s victors will join those who received opening day byes and the less crowded weight classes who will commence preliminary round action on Tuesday.
Several top athletes will showcase their skills in Monday’s action with 2008 Olympian Raynell Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) making his long awaited return to the national championships in an opening bout against Christopher Bell (Little Rock, Ark.). 2010 USA Boxing National Championships bronze medalist Toka Kahn Clary (Providence, R.I.) will join him in lightweight action as well.
Monday’s competition will feature a rematch of the bantamweight championship bouts as defending champion Joseph Diaz, Jr. (El Monte, Calif.) battles silver medalist Ricky Rodriguez (Greeley, Colo.). 2010 USA Boxing National Championships bronze medalist Daquan Arnett (Orlando, Fla.) will take the ring on opening day, facing off with Edgar Alvarado, Jr. (San Bernadino, Calif.).
In women’s action, five-time national champion Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) will begin her run toward a sixth straight crown, battling Tiffany Perez (Hammond, Ind.). Her fellow defending champion in an Olympic weight class, lightweight Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.) will kick off her 2011 USA Boxing National Championships on Monday as well with a first round contest with Tiara Brown (Lehigh Acres, Fla.).
Monday’s preliminary round action will be contested in two sessions at noon and 6 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Christian School and full results will be disseminated at the completion of each session. The brackets for each of the 20 weight divisions can be found at this link – http://usaboxing.org/news/2011/06/19/2011-usa-boxing-national-championships-brackets/42937.
For the latest news and updates on the USA Boxing National Championships, stay tuned to www.usaboxing.org and follow USA Boxing on Twitter @usaboxing.
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).