by Sylwester Jankowski (BoxingNews.pl): Andrzej Wasilewski, promoter of WBC cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (46-2-1, 33 KO), is disappointed that Antonio Tarver (29-6, 20 KO) withdrew from the fight with the Pole.
The teams of both fighters planned to make a bout in spring, but eventually “Magic Man” decided to face Nigerian Lateef Kayode on June 2nd. However, Wasilewski does not rule making this fight out in the near future.
“We wasted a few months due to Tarver, because we were ready for this fight from the beginning of this year and we were waiting for it. If we wanted to consist in normal business rules and not boxing, I didn’t talk to a man who lied us anymore. But it’s not about my ego. It’s important for Krzysztof to have great opportunities, and I hope he will get them. Tarver is a super star and he generates big money, but the title he wants is held by Krzysztof” – Wasilewski told sport.pl.
“The fact is that Krzysztof and I absolutely esteem Tarver’s class. It’s obvious that he is one of the most known fighters pound-for-pound in recent years. This guy fought several incredible battles, he is a celebrity who played one of the main roles in ‘Rocky’, he is a great character of American media. However, he withdrew from the fight [with Włodarczyk]. Tarver did the dirty trick on us, because he probably found that right now he is not ready to face Krzysztof and decided to fight an easier opponent. Of course Kayode is a big animal, but let’s be honest, he is unexceptional technically and Tarver rather outfox him” – Wasilewski added.
IABA UPDATE (NOLAN WINS GOLD AT OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS)
April 21st
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION
(The Irish squad are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport via Istanbul (flight TK No. 1977) at 1.20pm tomorrow (Sunday April 22nd). All media are invited to attend Sunday’s homecoming).
Adam Nolan claimed a gold medal to compliment his ticket for the 2012 Olympic Games at the (AIBA) European Olympic qualifying tournament in Turkey.
The Irish southpaw, a team-mate of World number one Katie Taylor at the Bray BC, came from behind to edge out talented German welterweight Patrick Wojcicki on a countback following a 14-14 tie in today’s 69kg final in Trabzon.
Wojcicki and Nolan both qualified for London 2012 by virtue of reaching today’s 69kg final as there were two Olympic places available in the welterweight class in the north-eastern Turkish city.
The first round of today’s encounter finished level at 3-3, Nolan, who works as a Garda in Bray, establishing his timing behind his raking left, Wojcicki boxing well on the inside.
The German took a tactical second frame 6-5 to establish a 9-8 lead going in the third.
However, Nolan, who has won four bouts in Trabzon this week, stepped up a gear to take the final stanza 6-5 before having his hand raised in triumph on accepted scores.
Head coach Billy Walsh, who has been working Ireland’s corner in Trabzon this week along with Zuar Antia and Eddie Bolger, was delighted with Nolan’s third round performance.
“He really pushed home in the last round. He pulled out all the stops. He showed that we’re here to win gold medals. If you want to hear Amhrán na bhFiann and the tricolour raised on foreign shores – that’s the motto of the team, said Walsh.
“Pete Taylor, his coach at home, has done a fantastic job with him over the last two years. He’s brought him on in leaps and bounds. He’s grown in confidence and hopefully he can make an impact in London.”
Nolan and Paddy Barnes qualified for the 2012 Olympics in Trabzon.
They join Michael Conlan, John Joe Nevin and Darren O’Neill, who qualified for the 30th Olympiad at the 2011 AIBA World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, on the Irish team for London 2012.
Nolan (gold), Barnes (bronze) and Tommy McCarthy (bronze) finished in podium positions in Trabzon.
Twenty six Olympic places were claimed in Trabzon this week.
Ireland finished third http://88.85.4.2/pdf/000082/C96B.PDF in the rankings tables at the 43-nation tournament featuring 196 boxers and in fourth spot http://88.85.4.2/pdf/000082/C95.PDF in the medals tables.
Hosts Turkey qualified six for London 2012 this week and finished on top of both the rankings and medals tables. Turkey had no boxers qualified for London 2012 prior to the Trabzon tournament.
The seven-man Irish squad are due to arrive home from Trabzon via Dublin Airport via Istanbul (flight TK No. 1977) at 1.20pm tomorrow (Sunday, April 22nd).
All media are invited to attend Sunday’s homecoming.
AIBA European Olympic Qualifiers Trabzon, Turkey
April 15th (Evening) (last 32)
60kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Joe Cordina (Wales) RET3
81kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Kennedy Katende (Sweden) 16-6
April 16th (Afternoon) (last 16)
64kg: Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Dimitri Galagot (Moldova) 11-24
69kg: Adam Nolan (Ireland) beat Thomasz Kot (Poland) 14-9
April 16th (Evening) (last 16)
81kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) lost to Bahran Muzaffer (Turkey) 15-18 (result was the subject of a protest by IABA)
91kg: Tommy McCarthy (Ireland) beat Copla Alem (Bosnia & Herzegovina) 12-3
91+kg: Con Sheehan (Ireland) lost to Muhammet Erkan Aci (Turkey) 12-17
April 18th (Afternoon) Quarter-finals
49kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Stefan Caslarov (Romania) 17-9
60kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) lost to Evaldas Petrauskas (Lithuania)10-19
69kg: Adam Nolan (Ireland) beat Tamerlan Abdullayev (Azerbaijan) 17-13
91kg: Tommy McCarthy (Ireland) beat Josepf Darmos (Hungary) 16-7
April 20th (Semi-finals)
49kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) lost to Ferhat Pehlivan (Turkey) 14-21
69kg: Adam Nolan (Ireland) beat Ionut Gheorghe (Romania) 19-10
91kg: Tommy McCarthy (Ireland) lost to Vladimir Cheles (Moldova) 12-15
April 21st Finals
69kg: Adam Nolan (Ireland) beat Patrick Wojcicki (Germany) 14-14 (countback)
(no countback scores available)
Irish squad and management
49kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family GG)
60kg; David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
64kg: Ross Hickey (Grangecon)
69kg: Adam Nolan (Bray)
81kg: Joe Ward (Moate)
91kg: Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)
91+kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel
IABA President: Tommy Murphy
Director of Boxing: Dominic O’Rourke
Team manager: Des Donnelly
Head coach: Billy Walsh
Coaches: Zuar Antia & Eddie Bolger
Performance psychologist: Gerry Hussey
Performance Analyst: Alan Swanton
Physio: Conor Murphy
SHEIKA – MACK FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY APRIL 24TH AT GLOBAL BOXING GYM IN NORTH BERGEN, NEW JERSEY
ATLANTIC CITY (April 22, 2012)—On Tuesday April 24th, The final press conference will be held at The Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen, NJ in advance of the USBA Light Heavyweight championship fight that will take place between Omar Sheika and Yusaf Mack. The fight will take place on Friday night April 27th at Resorts in Atlantic City.
This is an important bout as the winner of the bout will jump to the front of the Light Heavyweight picture while the loser may have their title hopes dashed.
The show is promoted by Nedals Boxing Promotions and Andre Kut’s KEA Boxing.
WHO: Omar Sheika (32-11, 21 KO’s)—former 4-time world title challenger—Paterson, NJ
Yusaf Mack (29-4-2, 17 KO’s)—Former World Title Challenger—Philadelphia, PA
Derrick Webster (12-0, 7 KO’s)—Undefeated Super Middleweight Prospect from NJ
Przemyslaw Opalach (9-1, 8 KO’s)—Exciting Polish Middleweight
Juan Rodriguez Jr. (8-0, 3 KO’s)—undefeated Welterweight from Union City, NJ
Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (7-0, 5 KO’s)—Undefeated Jr. Middleweight-Millville, NJ
Nedal Abuumoud—CEO Nedal Boxing Promotions
Andre Kut—CEO KEA Boxing
Mariusz Kolodziej—Founder of Global Boxing
PLUS OTHER FIGHTERS ON THE CARD
WHAT: Final Press Conference in advance of championship boxing card on April 27th at Resorts in Atlantic City
WHEN: Tuesday April 24th at 1pm
WHERE: Global Boxing Gym
5601-5711 Tonnelle Ave.
North Bergen, NJ 07047
Tickets for this championship night of boxing cost $80 and $50 and can be purchased by calling:
609-227-6959; 609-396-3005 and 609-586-3225