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‘KO’ Rates the Top 12 Boxers from New England
As the New England correspondent for The Sweet Science boxing website, it again falls upon me to produce an annual accounting of the top-rated professional boxers from Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Last year’s New England ratings were topped by Ocean State middleweight Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade.
Andrade continues to hold on to the top spot in 2022 but for how much longer? The now former WBO middleweight champion has given up his belt (and his promoter Eddie Hearn) after an uninspiring three-year title reign failed to produce any marquee matchups for Andrade at 160 lbs.
Jermall Charlo recently called out Andrade but we all know “Boo Boo” doesn’t want that smoke.
The biggest mover in these ratings is Jamaine Ortiz, the undefeated lightweight “Technician” from Worcester, Mass. Rated in my number eleven spot last year, Ortiz (pictured on the left against Nahir Albright) is now second only to Andrade in New England and he is a legitimate world rated contender on the verge of a title shot.
Top Rank has confirmed that Ortiz will face Vasyl Lomachenko later this year, likely in New York on Oct. 29. Ortiz previously sparred with “The Matrix” and aims to upset the defensive wizard.
KO’s Top 12 New England Ratings
1. Demetrius Andrade, Providence, Rhode Island: Now 34 years of age, time is becoming a factor for the former WBO middleweight champion. Big fights at moneyweight didn’t happen and Andrade is poised to move up to super-middleweight where he will chase after Canelo after meeting the unheralded Zach Parker in an interim title fight.
The tricky southpaw was supposed to fight Parker last May in the U.K. but the bout was scrapped when Andrade pulled out with a questionable shoulder injury.
No longer promoted by Eddie Hearn, Andrade (now 31-0 with 19 knockouts) has not fought since November of last year when he made his final defense of the WBO middleweight title, annihilating Jason Quigley in two very mismatched rounds in Manchester, New Hampshire. Andrade was actually upstaged on that night by another fighter from Providence—unified female super lightweight champion Kali Reis.
2. Jamaine Ortiz, Worcester, Massachusetts: What a difference a year makes. Ortiz has fought and won twice in 2022; beating Nahir Albright for the NABF lightweight title last February and then unanimously decisioning former world champion Jamel Herring last May in Las Vegas.
Now 16-0-1 with 8 knockouts, Ortiz is New England’s most promising up-and-comer. He’ll be a big underdog against Lomachenko but if he wins, the winner of Haney-Kambosos 2 awaits him.
3. Richard Rivera, Hartford, Connecticut: Another big mover in these New England ratings is 21-1 cruiserweight “Popeye” Rivera. The stick-and-move specialist looked great on the Uysk-AJ undercard battling Badou Jack to a hard-luck split-decision loss over ten rounds.
Rivera showed a very good chin, nifty boxing skills, and a faithful determination to his craft.
Promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, the 31-year-old Rivera vows to become a world champion. After the Jack debacle in Saudi Arabia, Rivera put the boxing world on notice. “I’m a force to be reckoned with,” he said.
(A couple days after the Jack disappointment, I followed up with Rivera to find out what’s next. “I’m filing an appeal,” he told me. “I’m not sure what will come of it but I definitely want a rematch on US soil. Whether or not I get the rematch, I’ll be training and waiting for any opportunity that comes my way.”) Rivera has 16 knockouts on his record.
4. Rashidi Ellis, Lynn, Massachusetts: The 29-year-old “Speedy” Rashidi is now 24-0 (15) after a 2022 move to junior middleweight where he stopped Jose Maruffo in one round in Texas.
Ellis’ career appears to be slowing down even if he isn’t. Inactivity has been costly for Ellis. Sister Rashida competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and she looks ahead to 2024 in Paris.
5. Kendrick Ball Jr., Worcester, Massachusetts: The 19-1-2 (12) Ball has bounced around the New England boxing scene since turning pro in 2016. He won a stay-busy fight last July on a Rivera Promotions show in Worcester, Mass. Ball can box a little and he did beat Bryan Vera.
At 29, Ball Jr. now competes as a light heavyweight. A 2021 TKO loss to Mike Guy in Springfield, Mass was changed to a NC when Guy tested positive for anabolic steroids.
6. Mykquan Williams, Hartford, Connecticut: After a 2021 automobile accident in which he broke his wrist, “Marvelous” Mykquan has won twice in 2022 to keep alive his status as the region’s top overall prospect. Now 18-0-1 (8) as a super-lightweight, it’s time for Lou DiBella and Jackie Kallen to introduce their undefeated fighter to bigger audiences and to better opponents.
7. Ronald Ellis, Lynn, Massachusetts: After upsetting Matt Korobov in 2020, “Akeem” Ellis has gone 0-2 against David Benavidez and Christian Mbilli. Ellis was stopped by Benavidez and then shut out on the scorecards against the unknown Mbilli. Ronald is yet to compete in 2022.
The elder Ellis brother is 18-3-2 with 12 knockouts. He made his pro debut way back in 2011.
8. Cassius Chaney, New London, Connecticut: This 35-year-old heavyweight lost for the first time as a pro last December, dropping an 8-round split decision to undefeated George Arias in New York. Chaney bounced back with a recent win at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut but here’s the skinny on the super-sized Chaney: he lacks passion in his profession and he paws with his punches. The big man is 22-1 (15) but it’s hard to see him making a splash at the world level.
9. William Foster III, New Haven, Connecticut: Known as the “Silent Assassin” due to his quiet demeanor, this 15-0 super featherweight is still in 8-rounders but not for long. Foster defeated two tough cookies on their own turf in 2022. Last January he beat undefeated Edwin De Los Santos in the Dominican Republic and in March he beat Philly fighter Avery Sparrow in Philly.
His older brother Charles Foster, 32, is an undefeated light heavyweight with a 21-0 (11) record. The heavier Foster holds victories over Denis Grachev and “Iron Magik” Alvin Varmall Jr.
10. Mark DeLuca, Whitman, Massachusetts: Now 28-3 after an upset loss (UD8) in 2022 to Edward Ulloa Diaz in the Dominican Republic, “Bazooka” DeLuca is now 34 and on the slide. The 2020 TKO loss to Kell Brook will probably be the biggest highlight of DeLuca’s pro career.
11. Greg Vendetti, Stoneham, Massachusetts: Following his 2020 unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Erislandy Lara, the junior middleweight “Villain” Vendetti has almost all but fallen off the map. Vendetti beat Jimmy Williams last year in Hartford to improve his record to 23-4-1 (12).
12. Brandon Berry, West Forks, Maine: Unranked in these New England ratings last year, Berry enters after picking up a UBO title at super-welterweight by stopping previously unbeaten Juan Manuel Witt (33-0-2) with a well placed sixth-round body punch last June. Perpetually on the comeback trail from adversity, Berry added another loss to his ledger in 2021 after a decision defeat in NH to journeyman Travis Castellon. “The Cannon” is now 24-6-2 with 17 knockouts.
Honorable Mentions: Tramaine “The Mighty Midget” Williams (New Haven, Connecticut), Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (Weymouth, Massachusetts), and Mike “Bad Man” O’Han Jr. (Holbrook, Massachusetts).
Williams is a 20-1 (6) super bantamweight southpaw with a great nickname. Standing just 5 foot 4, Williams flies under a lot of radars. In 2020, he challenged Angelo Leo for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title, dropping a 12-round unanimous decision. He’s only fought once since.
Hogan is 12-0 (11) as a tall middleweight and he just knocked out Cleotis Pendarvis in four at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Only 21, Hogan is one of Jimmy Burchfield’s best young fighters.
Standing 6 foot 2, I’ve heard Hogan compared to former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik.
O’Han is following in the footsteps of his father who also fought professionally. Very active since debuting in 2017, O’Han is a 16-1 (9) club show welterweight. Papa O’Han was active in the region’s club show scene from 1983 to 1995 going 14-6-2 (11) as the original “Bad Man” O’Han.
Photo credit: Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME
Boxing Writer Jeffrey Freeman grew up in the City of Champions, Brockton, Massachusetts from 1973 to 1987, during the Marvelous career of Marvin Hagler. JFree then lived in Lowell, Mass during the best years of Irish Micky Ward’s illustrious career. A former member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a Bernie Award Winner in the Category of Feature Story Under 1500 Words, Freeman Covers Boxing for the Sweet Science in New England.
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Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO
Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO
LAS VEGAS-Shades of Henry Armstrong and Baby Arizmendi. If you don’t know those names, look them up.
Floyd Schofield battled his way past Mexico’s super tough Rene Tellez Giron who walked through every blow the Texan could fire but lost by decision on Saturday.
It was a severe test and perfect matchmaking for Schofield who yearns for the big bouts against the lightweight giants roaming the world.
Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) remains undefeated and won the war over thick-necked Mexican Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) who has never been knocked out and proved to be immune to big punches.
In the opening rounds, the Texas fighter came out firing rapid combinations from the southpaw and orthodox stances. Meanwhile the shorter Tellez Giron studied and fired back an occasional counter for two rounds.
Tellez Giron had seen enough and took his stand in the third stanza. Both unleashed blazing bombs with Schofield turning his back to the Mexican. At that moment referee Tom Taylor could have waved the fight over.
You never turn your back.
The fight resumed and Schofield was damaged. He tried to open up with even more deadly fire but was rebuked by the strong chin of Tellez Giron who fired back in the mad frenzy.
For the remainder of the fight Schofield tried every trick in his arsenal to inflict damage on the thick-necked Mexican. He could not be wobbled. In the 11th round both opened up with serious swing-from-the-heels combinations and suddenly Schofield was looking up. He beat the count easily and the two remained slugging it out.
“He hit me with a good shot,” Schofield said of the knockdown. “I just had to get up. I’m not going to quit.”
In the final round Schofield moved around looking for the proper moment to engage. The Mexican looked like a cat ready to pounce and the two fired furious blows. Neither was hit with the big bombs in the last seconds.
There was Tellez Giron standing defiantly like Baby Arizmendi must have stood in those five ferocious meetings against the incomparable Henry Armstrong. Three of their wars took place in Los Angeles, two at the Olympic Auditorium in the late 1930s as the U.S. was emerging from the Great Depression.
In this fight, Schofield took the win by unanimous decision by scores 118-109 twice and 116-111. It was well-deserved.
“I tried to bang it out,” said Schofield. “Today I learned you can’t always get the knockout.”
Fundora
IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora needed seven rounds to figure out the darting style of Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz before firing a laser left cross down the middle to end the battle and become the undisputed flyweight world champion.
Fundora now holds all four titles including the WBO, WBA and WBC titles that Alaniz brought in the ring.
Fundora knocked down Alaniz midway through the seventh round. She complained it was due to a tangle of the legs. Several seconds later Fundora blasted the Argentine to the floor again with a single left blast. This time there was no doubt. Her corner wisely waved a white towel to stop the fight at 1:40 of the seventh round.
No one argued the stoppage.
Other Bouts
Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) didn’t make weight in a title bout but managed to out-fight David Stevens (14-2, 10 KOs) in a super middleweight fight held at 12 rounds.
Melikuziev used his movement and southpaw stance to keep Pennsylvania’s Stevens from being able to connect with combinations. But Stevens did show he could handle “The Bully’s” punching power over the 12-round fight.
After 12 rounds one judge favored Stevens 116-112, while two others saw Melikuziev the winner by split decision 118-110 and 117-111.
Super middleweight WBA titlist Darius Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) pummeled his way to a technical knockout win over southpaw veteran Chris Pearson (17-5-1, 12 KOs) who attempted the rope-a-dope strategy to no avail.
Fulghum floored Pearson in the first round with a four-punch combination and after that just belted Pearson who covered up and fired an occasional blow. Referee Mike Perez stopped the fight at 1:02 of the third round when Pearson did not fire back after a blazing combination.
Young welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte (5-0, 5 KOs) blasted away at the three-inch shorter Xavier Madrid (5-6, 2 KOs) who hung tough for as long as possible. At 2:50 of the first round a one-two delivered Madrid to the floor and referee Thomas Taylor called off the beating.
Iriarte, from Bakersfield, Calif., could not miss with left uppercuts and short rights as New Mexico’s Madrid absorbed every blow but would not quit. It was just too much firepower from Iriarte that forced the stoppage.
Photos credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
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Results and Recaps from Turning Stone where O’Shaquie Foster Nipped Robson Conceicao
Top Rank was at the Turning Stone casino-resort in Verona, New York, tonight with an 8-bout card topped by a rematch between Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster with the victor retaining or recapturing his IBF world junior lightweight title. When the smoke cleared, the operative word was “recapturing” as Foster became a two-time title-holder, avenging his controversial setback to the Brazilian in Newark on July 6.
This was a somewhat better fight than their initial encounter and once again the verdict was split. Foster prevailed by 115-113 on two of the cards with the dissenting judge favoring Conceicao by the same margin. Conceicao seemingly had the edge after nine frames, but Foster, a 4/1 favorite, landed the harder shots in the championship rounds.
It was the thirteenth victory in the last 14 starts for Foster who fights out of Houston. A two-time Olympian and 2016 gold medalist, the 36-year-old Conceicao is 19-3-1 overall and 1-3-1 in world title fights.
Semi-wind-up
SoCal lightweight Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) made a big jump in public esteem and moved one step closer to a world title fight with a second-round blast-out of Jose Antonio Perez who was on the canvas twice but on his feet when the fight was stopped at the 1:24 mark of round two. Muratalla, a product of Robert Garcia’s boxing academy, is ranked #2 by the WBC and WBO. A Tijuana native, Perez (25-6) earned this assignment with an upset of former Olympian and former 130-pound world titlist Jojo Diaz,
Other Bouts
Syracuse junior welterweight Bryce Mills, a high-pressure fighter with a strong local following, stopped scrawny Mike O’Han Jr whose trainer Mark DeLuca pulled him out after five one-sided rounds. Mills improved to 17-1 (6 KOs). It was another rough day at the office for Massachusetts house painting contractor O’’Han (19-4) who had the misfortune of meeting Abdullah Mason in his previous bout.
In a junior lightweight fight that didn’t heat up until late in the final round, Albany’s Abraham Nova (23-3-1) and Tijuana native Humberto Galindo (14-3-3) fought to a 10-round draw. It was another close-but-no- cigar for the likeable Nova who at least stemmed a two-fight losing streak. The judges had it 97-93 (Galindo), 96-94 (Nova) and 95-95.
Twenty-one-year-old Long Island middleweight Jahi Tucker advanced to 13-1-1 (6 KOs) with an eighth-round stoppage of Stockton’s teak-tough but outclassed Quilisto Madera (14-6). Madera was on a short leash after five rounds, but almost took it to the final bell with the referee intervening with barely a minute remaining in the contest. Madera was on his feet when the match was halted. Earlier in the round, Tucker had a point deducted for hitting on the break.
Danbury, Connecticut heavyweight Ali Feliz, one of two fighting sons of journeyman heavyweight Fernely Feliz, improved to 4-0 (3) with a second-round stoppage of beefy Rashad Coulter (5-5). Feliz had Coulter pinned against the ropes and was flailing away when the bout was halted at the 1:34 mark. The 42-year-old Coulter, a competitor in all manner of combat sports, hadn’t previously been stopped when competing as a boxer.
Featherweight Yan Santana dominated and stopped Mexico’s Eduardo Baez who was rescued by referee Charlie Fitch at the 1:57 mark of round four. It was the 12th knockout in 13 starts for Santana, a 24-year-old Dominican father of three A former world title challenger, Mexicali’s Baez declines to 23-7-2 but has lost six of his last eight.
In his most impressive showing to date, Damian Knyba, a six-foot-seven Pole, knocked out paunchy Richard Lartey at the 2:10 mark of round three. A right-left combination knocked Lartey into dreamland, but it was the right did the damage and this was of the nature of a one-punch knockout. Referee Ricky Gonzalez waived the fight off without starting a count.
Knyba, 28, improved to 14-0 (8 KOs). A native of Ghana coming off his career-best win, a fourth-round stoppage of Polish veteran Andrzej Wawrzyk, Lartey declined to 16-7 with his sixth loss inside the distance.
Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: Spotlights on Lightweights and More
Those lightweights.
Whether junior lights, super lights or lightweights, it’s the 130-140 divisions where most of boxing’s young stars are found now or in the past.
Think Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) a Texas product, hungers to be a star and takes on Mexico’s Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.
DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotion card that includes a female undisputed flyweight championship match pitting Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz and Gabriela Fundora.
Like a young lion looking to flex, Schofield (pictured on the left) is eager to meet all the other young lions and prove they’re not equal.
“I’ve been in the room with Shakur, Tank. I want to give everyone a good fight. I feel like my preparation is getting better, I work hard, I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport,” said Schofield naming fellow lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Now he meets Mexico’s Tellez who has never been stopped.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Tellez.
Even in Las Vegas.
Verona, New York
Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a WBC junior lightweight title rematch finds Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) looking to prove superior to former titlist O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card.
Last July, Conceicao and Foster clashed and after 12 rounds the title changed hands from Foster to the Brazilian by split decision.
“I feel that a champion is a fighter who goes out there and doesn’t run around, who looks for the fight, who tries to win, and doesn’t just throw one or two punches and then moves away,” said Conceicao.
Foster disagrees.
“I hope he knows the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. That’s the name of the game,” said Foster.
Also on the same card is lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) who fights Mexico’s Jesus Perez Campos (25-5, 18 KOs).
Perez recently defeated former world champion Jojo Diaz last February in California.
“We’re made for challenges. I like challenges,” said Perez.
Muratalla likes challenges too.
“I think these fights are the types of fights I need to show my skills and to prove I deserve those title fights,” said Fontana’s Muratalla.
Female Undisputed Flyweight Championship
WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.
Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.
But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.
“I’m really happy to be here representing Argentina. We are ready to fight. Nothing about this fight has to do with Marlen. So, I hope she (Fundora) is ready. I am ready to prepare myself for the great fight of my life,” said Alaniz.
In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. She was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.
Bad choice for Mucino.
Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.
Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.
Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.
Immediately after the fight she clamored for a chance to become undisputed.
“It doesn’t get better than this, especially being in Las Vegas. This is the greatest opportunity that we can have,” said Fundora.
It should be exciting.
Fights to Watch
Sat. ESPN+ 2:50 p.m. Robson Conceicao (19-2-1) vs O’Shaquie Foster (22-3).
Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Floyd Schofield (17-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (20-3); Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) vs Gabriela Fundora (14-0).
Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
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