Articles of 2006

Fiorentino Decisions Clampitt In Barnburner

Published

17 years ago

May 19, 2006

BY GEORGE KIMBALLPROVIDENCE, R.I. – Every matchmaker’s dream is to put together a Fight of the Year, but having done so, CES’ Ted Panagiotis is unlikely to be basking in much glory around the house in the coming weeks. Once Jaime Clampitt’s right paw heals again, she may use it to smack her husband around the family home for having put her in with Missy Fiorentino.

Raising female boxing to a new art form, Fiorentino was a human buzzsaw, fearlessly bulling her way inside to throw lighting-quick and precise combinations as she wrested the IBWF lightweight title from Clampitt in the main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Pro/Am card at the Rhode Island Convention Center Thursday night.

Clampitt, a Rhode Island-based Canadian, and Fiorentino, from nearby Cranston, had been away from one another this long not only because they toiled for the same promoter, but because they were comfortably separated by a couple of weight divisions. With Fiorentino moving up and Clampitt moving down on the scale, the decision was taken to throw them in together at 135 pounds and let the Best Girl Win.

Both had earlier won IWBF titles in the same arena earlier in their careers: Three years ago Clampitt beat Eliza Olson to win the vacant 140-pound belt, only to lose it to England’s Jane Couch in her first defense, at Foxwoods. Last August she won the vacant lightweight title, stopping Shelby Walker in four, but had been out of action since with a hand injury.

Fiorentino, also promoted by Burchfield’s CES but trained by Peter Manfredo Sr., dropped a hotly disputed decision to Emiko Raika in a 2004 fight in Kyoto for the vacant featherweight title, but last year gained the 126-pound title when she defeated Esther Schouten at the Convention Center.

At the outset Clampitt boxed superbly, and made her 3¾ pound weight advantage seem even greater. Even in the first couple of rounds Fiorentino was probably throwing, and landing, more punches, but Clampitt seemed stronger (“She is,” explained Manfredo) and her blows more damaging.

But in the third Fiorentino was able to take charge, hurling herself inside Clampitt’s defenses. Clampitt may well have reinjured her right hand around this point as well, but in any case, once Fiorentio got on the inside and started winging all those multiple-punch combinations, Clampitt had no ready answer but to keep swinging. Thus did it become a fight of Missy Fiorentino’s making.

No, she wasn’t trying to turn it into a Pier Six brawl, she said later, “but we did want to keep the pressure on her.”

Manfredo credited the experience Fiorentino picked up in California last month when she and Providence cruiserweight Matt Godfrey spent two and a half weeks sparring with the animals in Freddy Roach’s Wild Card Gym.

“Missy sparred every day, with five or six different girls, most of them 150-160 pounders,” reported Manfredo. “

The 29-year-old Fiorentino, a college graduate, talks like a librarian but fights like a street mugger. She was mildly surprised to find Clampitt as willing as she was to allow the contest to turn into the sort of slugfest it did, since it played right into Missy’s hands.

Once she got the upper hand, said Fiorentino, “the important thing was for me to stay calm. When I get to excited sometimes I get wild and sloppy.”

Although Clampitt staged a mini-rally in the final round, the verdict was close but unanimous: Ed Scunzio and Dr. Clark Sammartino had it 96-94, Walter Stone 97-94, all for Fiorentino. The Sweet Science had Fiorentino winning 97-94.

The new champion extended her record to 14-1, while Clampitt fell to 16-4-1.

A disconsolate Clampitt remained in her dressing room afterward, but when trainer Chuck Sullivan met with the press afterward he was asked what Fiorentino-Clampitt bout had done for women’s boxing.

“You saw the fight,” he replied. “There were what, ten fights on tonight’s show? What was the best fight?”

No argument about that. The ladies put on a better show than the 18 men who performed on the card could muster. It was not only the best fight of the night, it may well have been the best women’s bout of the year.

Although there was no live television, the fight will be shown via tape-delay on “A Ring of their Own,” so there will be an opportunity to see what you missed. We’d be interested in having CompuBox’ Bob Connobio submit this one to an ex post facto punch count. Unless we miss our guess, Fiorentino had to have set some kind of record for punches thrown in ten two-minute rounds.

While his performance hardly measured up to Fiorentino’s (or, for that matter, Clampitt’s), had Jason Estrada had fought as well in Athens as he did against Robert Wiggins in Thursday night’s co-feature he might have come back with an Olympic medal.

Despite his 245-pound frame, Estrada is never going to be confused with a big puncher (he has managed just one kayo in six pro bouts), but against crosstown rival Wiggins he was the bigger, stronger – and faster fighter, dominating throughout to score a unanimous decision.

All three judges scored it 100-90. The Sweet Science card had it 99-91, awarding Wiggins the sixth.

And Estrada was, for once, relentless, sticking Wiggins with his flicking jab and tagging him with right uppercuts and right hands to the body all night long.

Given Wiggins’ reputation as a spoiler, some might have been surprised at the ease with which Estrada handled his foe, but Jason wasn’t one of them.

Going back to early in his amateur career, Estrada revealed that he and Wiggins had sparred “dozens,” and possibly hundreds, of rounds together, and after the first few such meetings the then-teenaged Estrada reckoned he had had the upper hand.

“He was probably quicker back then,” said Estrada of the 37-year-old Wiggins. “He’s starting to get a little old now. That happens. And I’m not sure he’s as, you know, determined as he used to be.”

Four losses in five fights will do that to you.

The 2002 US superheavyweight representative went to 6-0 as a pro with the win, while the veteran Wiggins dropped to 20-7-1 – but six of the losses have come in his last nine fights.

Ossie Duran and Marcos Primera may be a pair of wily veterans who have both seen better days, but Primera is clearly the more shopworn of the two. Duran, the Ghana-born, British-raised former Commonwealth champion, pretty much had his way with the Venezuelan, using him for target practice as he repeatedly beat Primero to the punch. All three judges scored it 60-54 for Duran, as did The Sweet Science.

Duran, Burchfield’s latest signee, improved to 21-6-1 in his first bout under the CES aegis, Primera 19-14-2.

Providence super-middleweight Bobo Starnino easily outpointed his Oklahoma opponent Eddie O’Neil to run his record to 7-1-1. Bobo (Not to be confused with Boo Boo, who fought earlier) scored a shutout, winning 40-36 on all three cards. O’Neill is now 8-12-1.

In earlier action, Pawtucket (RI) welterweight Eddie Soto improved to 5-0 by stopping his overmatched New Jersey opponent, Montez Wilson (0-4). With Wilson offering little in the way of resistance, referee Ricky Gonzales halted the bout at 2:20 of the third.

Thank God for small favors. Gonzales’ intervention caused Soto-Wilson to be the only one of ten bouts on the card not to go the distance.

The unique format saw the five-bout professional card preceded by five amateur bouts. This oil-and-water concept is against the regulations in most states – and used to be in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Racing and Athletic Commission made an exception for Burchfield, who demonstrated his gratitude by allotting the five-member commission at least twenty ringside positions, thus relegating the working press to a more remote section among the paying customers.

The piece de resistance of the amateur bill saw 2006 National Golden Gloves champion Demetrius (Boo-Boo) Andrade defeat One Shot Thomas of New York in their light middleweight bout. (And you thought USA Boxing regulations prohibited the use of nicknames? They do. One Shot’s real name is One Shot.

Hard-hitting middleweight Mark DeLuca Jr. the son former Massachusetts (and Duxbury) police chief Mark (Bazooka) DeLuca, earned the nod over Newton’s Nathan Busa in their four-rounder, while light welterweight Jesus Cairo of Pawtucket decisioned Diego Pereira of Providence.

In a pair of three-rounders, light flyweight Hector Colon, a five-time Junior Olympic champion from Providence, decisioned his South Boston opponent, Alex Frechette, while in a 90-pound bout matching a pair of 13-year-olds, Devon Shelton of Manfredo’s Gym outpointed Bostonian Andrew Lee.

LET IT RIDE (Pro/Am)
RHODE ISLAND CIVIC CENTER
PROVIDENCE, RI
MAY 18, 2006

PROFESSIONALS:

LIGHTWEIGHTS: Missy Fiorentino, 131, Cranston, RI dec. Jaime Clampitt, 134¾, Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan (10) (Wins IWBF title)

HEAVYWEIGHTS: Jason Estrada, 245, Providence, RI dec., Robert Wiggins, 221, East Providence, RI (10)

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Richard (Bobo) Starnino, 165, Providence, RI dec. Eddie O’Neal, 169, Lawton, Okla., (4)

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Ossie Duran, 152½, Accra, Ghana dec. Marcos Primera, 153, Puerto Cabello, Venezuela (6)

WELTERWEIGHTS: Eddie Soto, 141, Pawtucket, RI TKO’d Montez Wilson, 146, Camden, NJ (3)

AMATEURS:
(4 X 2-minute rounds)

165 Lbs: Marc DeLuca, Duxbury, Mass. dec. Nathan Busa, Newton, Mass.
152 Lbs: Demetrius Andrede, Warwick, RI, dec. One Shot Thomas, Brooklyn, NY
141 Lbs: Jesus Cairo, Pawtucket, RI dec. Diego Pereira, Providence, RI

(3 X 2-minute rounds)
105 Lbs: Hector Colon, Providence, RI dec. Alex French, South Boston, Mass.
90 Lbs: Devon Shelton, Providence, RI dec. Andrew Lee, South Boston, Mass.

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George Kimball

Articles of 2006

Peter/Toney Ii: Peter Has The Brutal Punch

Published

16 years ago

December 31, 2006

Adam Berlin

Samuel Peter claims he has dynamites in my two hands?

Heavyweight contenders Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter and James Lights Out? Toney get it on a second time this Saturday from the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. (Showtime).

The hard-slugging Peter, unlike Toney, is one of those strong, silent types notorious for letting their fists to the talking one the opening bell sounds, but the Nigeria Nightmare is as confident as ever and determined to turn Lights Out’s lights out for good.

I have got dynamites in my two hands,? said Peter, according the Lagos, Nigeria Vanguard, and I will crush James Toney once and for all. The Toney camp made the mistake of their lives by protesting and seeking a rematch. I am ready to teach him a bitter lesson.?

Sam Peter walked away with the W for Peter/Toney I at the Staples Center in LA last September, but it was by disputed split decision a verdict so disputed, there was even a dispute about the dispute which forced the WBC’s hand into mandating Saturday’s rematch.

Samuel Peter is the biggest thing to hit African boxing since Ghanaian superstar Azumah Nelson rocked the feather and junior welterweight divisions. The President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Prince Olaide Adeboye, admitted, according to allAfrica.com, We are rooting for Samuel Peter, of course. He is one boy we believe in to bring back the country’s lost glory in professional boxing. I am personally making arrangement to be at the ringside to see him fight Toney again. I was at the first fight in Los Angeles in September.

Peter has the brutal punch, and to me he was the clear winner of the first fight. But the WBC Board of Governors, of which I am a member, voted 21-10 for a rematch. There was nothing those of us Africans on the board could do in the circumstances. But I believe Peter will confirm he is better than Toney and will then go ahead to meet the champion and claim the belt for Nigeria and Africa.?

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Articles of 2006

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings for Asia

Published

16 years ago

December 31, 2006

Scott Mallon

There are claims that boxing is dying. Hogwash. The heavyweight division isn’t the only division in boxing and 2007 promises to be a banner year in boxing; especially for boxers hailing from Asia.

While Asia isn’t Vegas or Atlantic City, it is a region packed of diamonds in the rough; undiscovered gems and potential superstars who wait for their moment in the sun.

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Asia

1) Manny Pacquiao – There’s no way to dispute Pacquiao is the best fighter in Asia, if not all of boxing. He’s exciting, he wins with Je Ne Sais Quois and is definitely “the man” in boxing.

2) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam – Although his competition leaves much to be desired, his longevity and skills are undeniable. He is currently Thailand’s only world champion and is undefeated in ten years. Need I say more?

3) Chris John – A victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, however controversial, shows he belongs at the top of the heap. He easily outpointed Renan Acosta to close out 2006 and should have no trouble defending against Jose Rojas in February. A fight with Pacquiao would not be a good move on his part but a rematch with Marquez would not hurt – especially if he defeats the Mexican again.

4) Hozumi Hasegawa – Hidden away in Japan, Hasegawa is a sharp punching southpaw who put former champion Veeraphol Sahaprom to sleep. He recently bested Genaro Garcia and his herky-jerky style will give fits to any one who steps in the ring with him.

5) Masomori Tokuyama – Tokuyama has never shied away from a good fight and although he only fought once in 2006 (UD12 Jose Navarro), he ledger shows wins over Katsushige Kawashima (twice), Gerry Penalosa (twice) and In Jin Chi (twice). A fight with Hozumi Hasegawa is a distinct possibility in 2007.

6) Nobuo Nashiro – With only seven fights under his belt he took on WBA champion Martin Castillo – and defeated him. Although he’s only fought a total of nine fights, nearly all have been against quality opposition. A victory in a rematch with Castillo would cement his claim as the king of the 115-pound division.

7) Yukata Niida – This light-hitting minimumweight defended his title twice in 2006, winning a technical decision against unbeaten Eriberto Gejon (Tech Win 10) and the other on points over Ronald Barrera (W 12). Scheduled to meet Katsunari Takayama early next year – the best has yet to come for this WBA belt holder.

8) In Jin Chi – Won back the title he lost to Takashi Koshimoto in January from Rudolfo Lopez. While there’s little uncertainty to his skills, at thirty-three, 2007 may provide some insight as to just how much he has left.

9) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai –Sor Nonthachai is an exciting, top-shelf fighter with an iron chin. Has no trouble making mincemeat of mid-level opposition and deserves a title shot in 2007. Time is running out.

10) Rey Bautista – He’s young, relatively inexperienced in big-time boxing, but will continue to shine in 2007. One of the better prospects in boxing, he should snag a title in 2007.

Asian Fighters Ranked in Ring Magazine

Pound for Pound:

Manny Pacquiao (Philippines): #2

Jr. Lightweight

Manny Pacquiao (Philippines): #1
Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai: #9

Featherweight

Chris John (Indonesia) #1
In Jin Chi (Korea) #3
Takashi Koshimoto (Japan) #5
Hioyuki Enoki (Japan) #7

Jr. Featherweight

Somsak Sithchatchawal (Thailand) #4

Bantamweight

Hozumi Hasegawa (Japan) #2
Veeraphol Sahaprom (Japan) #3
Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (Thailand) #6
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (Thailand) #10

Jr. Bantamweight

Nobuo Nashiro (Japan) #1
Katsushige Kawashima (Japan) #7
Pramuansak Phosuwan (Thailand) #10

Flyweight

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand) #1
Takefumi Sakata (Japan) #7
Daisuke Naito (Japan) #10

Jr. Flyweight

Koki Kameda (Japan) #1

Minimumweight

Yukata Naiida (Japan) #2
Eagle Kyowa (Japan/Thai) #4
Katsunari Takayama (Japan) #5
Rodel Mayol (Philippines) #7

Boxing in Thailand

There’s no shortage of boxers in Thailand. With a huge pool of Muay Thai fighters to draw from and several talented amateur boxing prospects turning pro after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Thailand seems destined to remain a boxing powerhouse in Asia.

The country is known for having tough, determined and disciplined fighters who give their all whenever the step in to the ring. However, consistently losing while fighting abroad and padding their records with no-hopers has done nothing to enhance their reputation.

Whether because of a lack of marketability, a lack of funds or their unwillingness to travel abroad, the vast majority of boxers from Thailand remain a mystery to fans in the west. If anything though, the boxing scene involving Thai fighters will be active. In fact, it’s one of the most active in the world; since 2000, the number of fights has nearly doubled in the country.

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Thailand – August 2006

1) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
2) Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym
3) Somsak Sithchatchawal
4) Wandee Singwancha
5) Sirimongkol Singwancha
6) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai
7) Veeraphol Sahaprom
8) Pramuansak Phosuwan
9) Terdsak Jandaeng
10) Oleydong Sithamerchai

Current Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Thailand

1) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Flyweight) – Definitely the top dog in Thailand

2) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai (Super Lightweight) – He’s a seasoned fighter who has proven himself in the big-time. He’s one Thai who can fight outside of Asia. He has an abundance of skills and one-punch power. His overall ability and ease in dispatching anyone other than championship caliber get him the runners-up spot.

3) Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (Super Bantamweight) – After losing to Vladimir Sidorenko he’s bounced back. He’s young, he can punch, but the former interim champion needs to prove himself against a name fighter.

4) Somsak Sithchatchawal (Super Bantamweight) – Was his win over Monshipour a fluke or was Celestino Caballero just that good? Did Sithchatchawal catch Monshipour at the right time and can he rebound from the devastating loss? The jury is still out.

5) Wandee Singwancha (Flyweight) – He doesn’t have much of a punch which will be his downfall in the end. He can box, as was evidenced in his recent victory over Juanito Rubillar, but this won’t be enough. He can no longer make the Jr. Flyweight limit and with no punch he’ll have a hard time competing against the “big boys.” Although he’s now rated second by the WBC, he doesn’t deserve to be.

5) Sirimongkol Singwancha (Super Lightweight) – Get this guy a fight. He’s better than Jose Armando Santa Cruz and would have beat up Inada had the fight taken place. He’ll fight anyone but his biggest obstacle is staying motivated fighting tomato cans in Thailand. Like many Thais, he needs a fight against a name opponent.
6) Wandee Singwancha (Flyweight) – He doesn’t have much of a punch which will be his downfall in the end. He can box, as was evidenced in his recent victory over Juanito Rubillar, but this won’t be enough. He can no longer make the Jr. Flyweight limit and with no punch he’ll have a hard time competing against the “big boys.” Although he’s now rated second by the WBC, he doesn’t deserve to be.

7) Pramuansak Phosuwan (Super Flyweight) – A genuine tough guy. Always calm and focused no matter how heated the battle. But at thirty-eight, he’ll be in trouble should he fight one of the division’s elite.
8) Veeraphol Sahaprom (Bantamweight) – Will be lucky to get another crack at the title. Although he has a puncher’s chance of winning a belt, that’s about all he has left at this point. A third shot at Hasegawa is unlikely.

9) Oleydong Sithamerchai (Minimumweight) – He’s fought better than the usual opponents faced by Thais at his level and he moves up one spot with the departure of Terdsak Jandaeng. He lacks the punch and is in the wrong division to become a superstar. He’ll need to defeat a name opponent to convince me.

10) Saenghiran Lookbanyai / Napapol Kittisakchokchai (Super Bantamweight) – These two square-off in early March, supposedly to see who deserves a shot at Israel Vasquez. Kittisakchokchai has the edge in experience but some feel Lookbanyai has the edge in heart and is the favorite.

Neither has defeated a top twenty fighter and yet are ranked number one and two respectively in the WBC’s world.

In Kittisakchokchoi’s lone shot at the big-time, he was TKO’d in 10 by Oscar Larios. His dreadful performance against Larios and lack of quality opposition leads me to believe Saenghiran might have more of a shot at beating him than some suspect. Regardless, neither of them lasts longer than six rounds with Israel Vasquez.

Honorable Mention: Wethya Sakmuangklang, Denkaosan Kaovichit, Devid Lookmahanak, Nethra Sasiprapa, Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo, Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym

Thai Fighters Ranked in Ring Magazine

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam: #1 Flyweight
Pramuansak Phosuwan: #10 Jr. Bantamweight
Veeraphol Sahaprom: #3 Bantamweight
Ratanachai Sor Vorapin: #6 Bantamweight
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym: #10 Bantamweight
Somsak Sithchatchawal: #3 Jr. Featherweight
Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai: #9 Lightweight

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Articles of 2006

Iceman Stops Tito Ortiz Win Streak

Published

16 years ago

December 31, 2006

David A. Avila

LAS VEGAS—UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck “Iceman” Liddell’s fists proved too much for Huntington Beach’s Tito Ortiz who was stopped in the third round before a sold out crowd at the MGM Garden Arena on Saturday.

The punching machine Liddell (20-3, 13 KOs) repeated his victory in UFC 66 over the much-improved grappler Ortiz who has improved his punching and blocking. Ortiz was trying to avenge his loss of April 2004.

Despite all the new weapons displayed by Ortiz it wasn’t enough as Liddell pummeled the former champion and retained his title with a technical knockout at 3:59 of the third round. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the bout.

“This was the most satisfying victory of my career,” said Liddell, 36, of Santa Barbara. “Tito came back real tough.”

Ortiz (15-5, 8 KOs), a former wrestler, worked on his boxing technique knowing he would need it against the former boxer Liddell. But Liddell’s experience allowed him to find the right moment to pounce on Ortiz.

“I had him hurt, I just kept throwing punches,” said Liddell who also knocked down Ortiz in the first round with a left hook.

Ortiz was gracious in defeat.

“Chuck is the best fighter Pound for Pound in the (mixed martial arts) world,” said Ortiz, 31, who suffered a gash on the side of his left eye from a punch. “I’m disgusted by myself. I let my fans down.”

Other bouts

Underdog Keith Jardine (12-3-1) knocked out Forrest Griffin (13-4) at 4:41 of the first round in their light heavyweight showdown. A right uppercut followed by a left hook wobbled Griffin who was sent to the floor by a barrage of punches. On the ground Jardine landed right after right until referee John McCarthy stopped the fight for a technical knockout.

“I couldn’t believe he was hurt,” said Jardine about Griffin who is known for his resiliency. “I was so nervous coming into this fight, but now I know I belong here.”

Canada’s Jason McDonald (18-7) choked out Chris Leben (15-3) in a middleweight bout that was up for grabs. Though Leben seemed to control the fight with stunning left hands, once the fight went to the ground McDonald managed a chokehold at 4:03 of the second round. Referee Steve Mazagatti saw Leben was unconscious and stopped the fight.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (12-5) caught Brazil’s Mario Cruz (2-2) with a sneak right hand while both were tangled on the ground. Then the Belarusian pummeled Cruz until referee Herb Dean stopped the fight at 3:15 of the first round.

Third season winner of the Ultimate Fighter television reality season Michael Bisping (12-0) of Great Britain won by technical knockout over Eric Shafer (9-2-2) at 4:29 of the first round. A knee knocked Shafer groggy then Bisping knocked him to the ground and pounded him. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the bludgeoning.

Thiago Alves (16-4) caught Peru’s Tony De Souza (15-5) with a knee as he attempted to dive for his legs in a welterweight contest. After that it was pretty much over as Alves pummeled De Souza at 1:10 of the second round forcing referee John McCarthy to halt the bout.

Gabriel Gonzago (7-1) proved too strong for Carmelo Marrero (6-1) in a heavyweight bout. At 3:22 of the first round Gonzago of Massachusetts manipulated his way into arm bar forcing Pennsylvania’s Marrero to tap out.

Japan’s Yushin Okami (19-3) pounded Georgia’s Rory Singer (11-6) into submission at 4:03 of the third round of a middleweight bout. Okami seemed the more-rounded fighter with effective kicks to the head and more accurate punching.

Christian Wellisch (8-2) jumped to a quick start with an accurate left hook that rattled Australia’s Anthony Perosh (5-3) in a heavyweight bout. During the first round it seemed the Sacramento fighter might end the fight but the Aussie hung tough. Wellisch won by unanimous decision.

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