German boxing fans are looking forward to an all-German middleweight affair after the International Boxing Federation (IBF) officially named Benjamin Simon mandatory challenger for IBF intercontinental champion Dominik Britsch. Simon had won the i/c title in May 2010 and successfully defended it in November 2010 before being forced out of the ring to a 10 month lay-off because of a hand injury.
“It was too bad that Benny lost the last year because we were already on our way to a world title fight”, says manager and trainer Robert Rolle. “But now he’s back and we are very happy that we will finally get a big fight against a strong contender. We know that Dominik Britsch is a technically skilled boxer. But I’m sure that Benny will overwhelm him with his superior physique and pure power.”
Simon’s record consists of 22 wins in 23 pro-fights including 21 stoppages which equals an outstanding knockout ratio of over 91 percent. Birtsch is unbeaten in 26 fights including 9 knockout victories.
“I am looking forward to this fight and I want to thank my whole team and, of course, the IBF for giving me this chance and making it possible”, adds Benjamin Simon. “I always said that I want to fight good opponents. This is my chance to live up to my words.”
Besides the intriguing matchup between boxer and puncher there is also some explosive power to the constellation behind the scenes. While Simon is co-promoted by ARENA Sports and Prime Time Event, Britsch is the most promising prospect of the Sauerland stable.
“Everybody in Germany knows that Sauerland is having problems at the moment and everybody knows that they don’t like me at all”, says Prime Time promoter Eva Rolle. “We only hope that they will not relinquish the belt and pull out of this fight. This is surely a fight that German fans would love to see.”
If the involved parties cannot reach an agreement regarding the bout, the IBF will call for a purse bid. „I am optimistic that we will find some sort of solution”, says Simon’s co-promoter Ahmet Oner. “It’s a good fight and I see no reason why we shouldn’t do it. We are prepared to go to a purse bid if we have to but I will talk to Sauerland first and see what they’re planning. Right now boxing is struggling in Germany so we need fights like this to bring the sport back on track.”
Latest Repo Ric Signing Paul Cano Turns Pro Tonight
California’s Central Valley is becoming one of the hotbeds of young boxing talent in the country, and the latest promising fighter to emerge from the amateurs turn professional does so tonight. Clovis’ Paul Cano, who recently signed on with noted manager and boxing hype man Repo Ric, makes his debut in a four-round welterweight bout on the Telefutura Solo Boxeo undercard at the Woodland Community & Senior Center in Woodland, California.
Cano has been one of the top amateurs in the nation over the last two years. In addition to numerous state titles, Cano advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2010 USA Boxing National Championships and took part in the National Golden Gloves that same year. Despite his amateur credentials, Cano’s style is tailored made for the pros.
“The pitty pat amateur style was never really Paul’s fortay,” says Pete Lopes, Cano’s trainer. “He could do it, but he was definitely more suited for the pros. He’s a banger. He has a high punch ratio. Very tough. Granite chin. Rock hard body. Just a really hard worker. A strong Mexican fighter that I think the fans are going to love.”
Repo first got to know Cano while working with Saul Lomas, who was a promising fighter out of the Fresno area before an injury cut short his career in 2007. In fact, Lomas was a great inspiration for Cano wanting to become a pro boxer. “I used to see Repo Ric bring in one of his pro fighters, Saul Lomas, who was coming up,” recalls Cano. “Saul had a good aura and the way he was having fun with the sport of boxing and he was able to make a living out of boxing. I knew right then that is what I wanted to do. My coach, Pete Lopes, was actually Saul Lomas’ manager, so I saw him quite a bit. Seeing him be a professional boxer made me realize I could do the same thing he was doing. I still talk to him at this time and he gives me little pointers on becoming pro and he’s still someone the Central Valley looks up to as far as boxing goes.”
When the decision was made to turn professional, it was Lopes that reached out and sought Repo’s assistance in moving Cano’s career. “I think Repo helps us in so many facets,” explains Lopes. “He is a great hype man and he takes a lot of the pressure off of the fighters, especially young fighters when they first start. He takes a lot of the anxiety and that energy off of the fighter. I’ve been in the dressing room when he has done that. He kind of puts the focus on him when the energy might beat up on one your fighters, he absorbs that. Also, I know he is respected by matchmakers and promoters because he is a really hard worker. He is the type of guy that will get in a car and drive across the state. He will do the little things and he will do the big things. He studies the game, he studies boxing. He lives it. He is very competitive and I like that about him. He wants to be the best and he strives to be the best. He has a unique character that he’s created and a unique way about him and sometimes you need that. I don’t really want my fighters to be characters so much. I want them to develop their style and perception in the ring. But when you have a guy like Repo, he can kind of ease the anxiety and make a fighter more relaxed and focused on what’s at hand.”
For Cano’s debut, he takes on a solid opponent in Jonathan Chicas (3-0, 2 KOs) of San Francisco, California. It is a fight handlers of a fighter with as much potential as Cano rarely take right out of the gate, but Lopes and Repo have a different philosophy and believe in their fighter.
“We are not going to look for 30 bums to fight and have a soft career and then get challenged,” says Lopes. “We are going to fight quality fights, quality individuals, and we are going to try to move up the ranks and make something happen. The goal is to become prizefighters and challenge for a world championship one day.”
The path to a world championship begins tonight in Woodland.
Tickets for tonight’s event, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions, Paco Presents and Jorge Marron Productions, are available by calling Paco’s Mexican Restaurant in Woodland at 530-669-7946, Taqueria Guadalajara #1 in Woodland at 530-668-0628 or Travis Credit Union in Woodland at 530-668-0573.
STEVE MOLITOR’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS: PUT UP OR SHUT UP TIME FOR SEBASTIAN GAUTHIER
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario (December 16, 2011) — Two-time world super bantamweight champion Steve “The Canadian Kid” Molitor has picked out the perfect Christmas present for provincial rival Sebastian Gauthier, wrapped with a bow on top and even delivered it to Quebec City. Unfortunately, at least for now, the gift remains unopened.
Last month in Gauthier’s backyard, after Molitor (34-2, 12 KOs) won a 10-round split decision on the Lucian Bute-Glenn Johnson card at Pepsi Center in Quebec City, Team Gauthier loudly complained about an unfair outcome and requested an immediate rematch. Team Molitor has officially offered a rematch February 11 to Gauthier (21-3, 13 KOs) at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, which is where Steve lives and trains.
“It was a fairly easy fight for me,” Molitor said, “other than for the massive cut over my eye that I got from a head-butt in the first round. The cut bled into my eye (left) the whole fight and it was difficult for me to see. I hurt him a few times but couldn’t stick to my plan because of all the blood in my eye. It riled me a little and I lost my train of thought. I’ve been boxing 23 years and knew that a cut above the eye wasn’t dangerous or reason to stop the fight. I was a little worried about that, though, when the doctor checked me right before the 10th round.
“After the decision was announced, they thought he won or that it should have been a draw. But there was no real controversy because I knew that, hands down, I had won. The only judge that didn’t have me winning had the same last name as my opponent. Gauthier said he wanted a rematch and I said, no problem, but we’ll fight this time in Mississauga.”
In recent media reports, however, Gauthier has seemingly taken a side step, claiming that he now wants to fight Molitor sometime down the road. What apparently fueled talk about the decision being controversial may be attributed to French-Canadian television announcer Russ Anber’s posting of round-by-round scoring on in-house screens at the venue, which was viewed by 15,000 emotionally-charged hometown fans supporting Gauthier, who wore merchandise and used equipment by Rival Boxing, a Canadian company co-founded by Anber. All three judges scored the bout, 96-94, but the lone official who ruled in Gauthier’s favor, incidentally, was indeed Jean Gauthier.
“Gauthier talked the talk but he doesn’t walk the walk,” Molitor expressed his thoughts about why Sebastian hasn’t accepted the Feb. 11th fight offer. “That’s what separates him from being a world-class fighter. I don’t need Sebastian Gauthier; he needs me to be considered a world-class fighter. I’m already proven.
“There’s a lot of action in my division with (WBA champion Rico) Ramos fighting (WBA Interim champion Guillermo Rigondeaux) and it looks like (WBC & WBO champion Nonito) Donaire is fighting (Wilfredo) Vasquez in February. My division is congested at the top. I want to stay busy, stay active, so I’m going to squash this guy (Gauthier) February 11th to settle things once and for all. I won’t be satisfied unless I knock him out this fight.
“I hope he (Gauthier) will do what he said (fight a rematch) he would. He needs to strap on shoes and hit the road. I won my first title on the road and defended my belt on the road, too. That’s what it takes to be part of the elite group of boxers, going against a home crowd and hometown judging. I was asked about fighting Sebastian Gauthier in Quebec City and accepted without hesitation.”
Molitor was a five-time Canadian National amateur champion who first captured the International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) Super Bantamweight title in 2006 in his 23rd pro fight at the age of 26. The stylish southpaw traveled to the United Kingdom, where Steve stopped hometown favorite and previously unbeaten Michael Hunter (26-0-1) for the vacant title. Molitor successfully defended his crown five times during the next two years against, respectfully, 27-3 Takalani Ndlovu (TKO9), 56-8-1 Fahsan 3K Battery (DEC12), 34-4 Ricardo Castillo (DEC12), 30-2-1 Fernando Beltran, Jr. (DEC12) and 18-0 Ceferino Dario Labarda (TKO10).
In 2010, Molitor recaptured the IBF title by winning a 12-round decision in a rematch against Ndlovu, followed by a title-defense victory in the United Kingdom versus 35-5 Jason Booth, before losing by decision to Ndlovu last April in South Africa, completing their trilogy.
Now 31 and an 11 ½-year veteran, Molitor is rated No. 12 by the IBF but No. 7 by The Ring magazine, which has ranked Steve in its top 10 for more than six years.
“I’m a lot smarter now,” Molitor commented. “Over the years, I’ve learned a lot through the trials and tribulations of boxing. I train everyday with a 21 year old, Samuel Vargas, and I can keep up with the young cats, no problem. I’m right where I want to be.”
That’s assuming, of course, that Gauthier steps-up and accepts the challenge that he requested to fight Molitor again.