Hall of Fame Fighters...
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Who...Elvin Ayala
From...New Haven, CT The Facts...Ayala fought a career-best fight but was stopped at 2.32 of the 12th round by Arthur Abraham, who retained his IBF world middleweight title on March 29 in Kiel, Germany. Despite the loss, Ayala's stock actually went up after his performance. He had earned the shot on the basis of his 10-round draw with "Contender" star Sergio Mora on Oct. 16, 2006, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. The draw elevated Ayala to No. 15 in the IBF ratings and he is expected stay to stay there. He is 18-3-1, 8 K0s. After back-to-back losses to David Banks, of Portland, OR, late in 2006 and early in 2007, Ayala had bounced back with a pair of wins over Jose Angel Roman, of West Palm Beach, FL, and Dillon Carew, of Guyana. A pro since September, 2003, Ayala, 25, also defeated Larry Marks, of Wilmington, DE; Virgil McClendon, of St. Louis, MO; David Estrada, of Chicago, IL. Elvin is trained by ex-pro featherweight Luis Rivera and by former welterweight contender (1950s and 1960s) Gaspar Ortega. He is managed by Allen Hadelman. Cappiello Promotions, of Boston, MA, is in partnership with Peltz Boxing in the promotion of Ayala. |
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Who...Martinus Clay
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Welterwight Martinus Clay is the newest member of the Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., group and he celebrated by forcing Shawn Purdy, of Detroit, MI, to retire on his stool after three rounds of their July 18 fight at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. Clay now is 13-18-4, 5 K0s. Born in Wilson, NC, and based there for most of his career, Clay had a reputation as a solid opponent who could give the local star a good workout in a losing effort. He won seven of his first eight fights, then lost six in a row. He moved to Philadelphia "because I want to further my career with better trainers." Clay works with Billy Bricsoe. They have been together for two fights--the win over Purdy and a March 28 six-round draw with Mustafah Johnson, of Indianapolis, IN, at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca, NY. Clay played defensive end for the Hunt (NC) High School football team. As an amateur, he won the North Carolina Golden Gloves title in 1997 at 140 pounds. He and his wife, Karen, have four children: Rontrey, 14; Jalen, 10; Martina, 9; Nathya, 4. |
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Who...Mike Jones
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...This 25-year-old welterweight looked brilliant at times when he white-washed rugged Gilbert Venegas, of Chicago, over eight rounds May 9 at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. All three judges had it 80-72 for Jones, now 14-0, 12 K0s, and ranked No. 8 by the USBA, No. 12 by the NABF. Jones was under serious fire for the first time March 28 but rallied in the last two rounds for a unanimous eight-round decision over Germaine Sanders, of Chicago, IL, at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca, NY. Jones scored another impressive win Nov. 9, 2007, when he stopped 44-fight veteran Israel "Pito" Cardona, of Hartford, CT, in three rounds at the New Alhambra. A pro since late 2005, Jones also K0d tough Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA. Managed by Doc Nowicki and Jim Williams and trained by Vaughan Jackson, Jones works at Home Depot in Cherry Hill, NJ. Jones has "about 70 amateur fights" but was not successful on the national scene. He returns Friday, Aug. 29, when he boxes Juliano Ramos, of Brazil and Florida, for the vacant NABA welterwweight title at the New Alhambra. |
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Who...Teon Kennedy
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...This 22-year-old former 2004 National Golden Gloves champion passed his biggest test July 18 when he blitzed previously unbeaten Thomas "K0" Snow, of Washington, DC, in two rounds at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. Kennedy, now fighting as a super bantamweight (122 pounds) goes to 9-0, 5 K0s. Kennedy had "aced" an earlier test March 7 when he earned a unanimous eight-round decision over tough Castulo Gonzalez, of Lynn, MA, at the New Alhambra. Kennedy scored a unanimous four-round decision over Arthur Parker, of Lancaster, PA, on Dec. 8, 2007, at the PAL in Hockessin, DE. Kennedy took the four-rounder to stay busy before Christmas. Previously, he had K0d James Franks, of Newport News, VA, in two rounds Oct. 5, 2007, at the New Alhambra. Kennedy, two-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champ, played basketball in high school. He is trained by brothers Wade and Randy Hinnant. Wade was a pro lightweight in the 1970s. |
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Who...Rogers Mtagwa
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Mtagwa returned to win the column March 7 with a unanimous 10-round decision over Aldo Valierra, of Mexico City, in an action-filled rematch televised by Univision/Telefutura at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. Mtagwa had won the vacant NABF featherweight title with a 12-round split decision over Valtierra on July 20, 2007, at the New Alhambra. However, after Mtagwa tested positive for ephedrine, a weight-reducing drug, the fight was declared No Contest by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. For their March 7 rematch, Valtierra was a third replacement and the rematch was fought over 10 rounds since Valtierra could not make the 126-pound championship limit on five days' notice. Mtagwa, 29, is originally from Tanzania. He is 23-12-2 with 17 K0s and one No Contest. He is ranked No. 14 in the world by the IBF at 126 pounds. A former USBA featherweight champ, Mtagwa also has beaten Joe Morales, Art Simonyan, Alvin Brown and Fernando Trejo. Mtagwa is managed by Joe Parella and trained by ex-middleweight contender Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts. |
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Who...Latif Mundy
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...This former 2004 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champion scored his career-best win May 30 when he forced George Rivera, of Charlottesville, VA, to retire on his stool after the fourth round of their scheduled eight-round fight at the Expo Mart in Monroeville, PA. The win, aired by Telefutura, raised Mundy's record to 8-0, 3 K0s. Mundy earned a six-round decision over Maurice Williams, of Camden, NJ, in their Nov. 9, 2007 rematch at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. Mundy used an overhand right to knock out Roberto Florentino, of Indianapolis, IN, in the first round of their Oct. 5, 2007 fight at the New Alhambra. A graduate of the Glen Mills Schools with a certificate in carpentry, Mundy, 24, finished fourth in the 2005 US Nationals at 152 pounds, one year after taking 3rd at the Nationals at 165. Mundy is trained by former pro lightweight Wade Hinnant and his brother Randy Hinnant and he is managed by Joe Hand, Jr., and "Doc" Nowicki. |
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Who...Kassim Ouma
From...Palm Beach Gardens, FL The Facts...Ouma, former IBF world junior middleweight champion, slid down the fistic ladder March 28 when he lost his third straight fight, this time to 5-1 underdog Cornelius "K9" Bundrage, of Detroit, MI, at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca, NY. Scores were 95-94 and 96-93 twice, all for Bundrage. Ouma slips to 25-5-1-1 and out of everyone's world ratings. Ouma was a shocking 10-round split decision loser to Mexico's Saul Roman on Nov. 2, 2007, at the Murongo Casino in Carbazon, CA. Eleven months earlier, Ouma had lost in his bid for the world middleweight title when he lost a unanimous 12-round decision to Jermain Taylor on Dec. 9, 2006, in Little Rock, AR. Ouma dominated fellow-lefty Sechew Powell on Aug. 5, 2006, at Madison Square Garden. Ouma, 29, also has beaten Marco Antonio Rubio, Freddie Cuevas and Francisco Mora. Originally from Uganda, Ouma lives in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Peltz Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions are partners in the promotion of Ouma. |
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Who...Omar Pittman
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Super middleweight prospect Omar Pittman, of North Philadelphia, had his moments, but let world-rated Jean Pascal, of Canada, off the hook twice late in their fight and lost a 10-round decision (97-92, 98-91, 98-91) on Jan. 11 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Pittman hurt the undefeated Pascal in the seventh and eight rounds, but was worried about his gas tank and did not finish the job. Pittman scored a fourth-round knockdown to earn a six-round split decision over Demetrius Davis, of Washington, DC. on Oct. 5, 2007 at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. It was a rematch of their May 31, 2007 fight in Glen Burnie, MD, also won by Pittman via six-round decision. The 25-year-old Pittman was a member of the cross-country team at Simon Gratz High School. Omar likes to roller skate in his free time. He was managed by the late Bob Botto, the "sausage king" of South Jersey. Trainer Dwight Triplett has assumed the role of manager since Botto's death early in 2007. Pittman, 15-4-1, 8 K0s, is back Aug. 29 at the New Alhambra. |
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Who...John Poore
From...Boothwyn, PA The Facts...Heavyweight "Big John" Poore suffered a setback when world-rated Brian Minto stopped him at 2.33 of the first round at Pullman Park in Butler, PA, Minto's hometown. The fight was aired live on ESPN 2. Poore, now 20-3, 18 K0s, went the distance for the second time when he overcame a bloody left eye to earn an eight-round decision over Dan Whetsel, of Toledo, OH, on Nov. 9, 2007 at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. Poore went the limit for the first time when he gained a six-round decision over Mike Miller, of Akron, OH, on Oct. 5, 2007 at the New Alhambra. Poore ended a 14-month layoff Aug. 10 with a fifth-round knockout over Dione Craig, of Cincinnati, OH, at the New Alhambra. This was his first fight with trainer Sloan Harrison. The win over Craig also marked Poore's first fight since June 16, 2006, at the New Alhambra when Cerrone Fox, of St. Joseph's MI, stopped him in 71 seconds of the first round. A one-time squid processor, Poore, 37, began boxing in "toughman" competition. |
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Who...Larry Robinson
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...This 32-year-old cruiserweight out-mauled fellow-South Philadelphian Simon Carr on July 18 at the New Alhambra to run his record to 10-3, 7 K0s. Carr's clinching tactics kept Robinson's big guns at bay. Robinson got off the floor in the first round May 9 and belted out William Bailey, of Chesapeake, VA, in the second round at the New Alhambra. It was Robinson's first fight in nine months. Larry had rallied to knock out crosstown rival David Williams in the fourth round Aug. 10, 2007, at the New Alhambra. Robinson had lost his previous two fights, including a six-round decision to Andre Ivanov on April 14, 2007, in Tampa, FL. Prior to that, Robinson was stopped in the last round of a schedued six-rounder by veteran Harold Sconiers on Nov. 10, 2006, in Tampa. He is managed and trained by Tony Bersani. Larry won five out of seven amateur fights. When he is not boxing, Larry has a seasonal job with a packing company. Aaron Jacobs of StarFights Promotions, Inc., of Tampa, FL, is partners with Peltz Boxing in the promotion of Robinson. |
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Who...Victor Vasquez
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Vasquez, the 'Fighting Barber,' suffered a setback when a badly swollen left eye forced him out of his May 9 fight with Delaware's Ryan Belasco after five rounds May 9 at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. Vasquez was down 48-47 on two cards, 49-46 on the third. He is 7-2, 4 K0s, but will be out of action for six months so that his eye can heal properly. Previously, Vasquez earned a six-round decision over Rami Ibrahim, of North Philadelphia, on March 7 at the New Alhambra. Managed by Kevin Yeiser and trained by Jimmy Arthur, Vasquez, who had only five amateur fights, is a popular attraction and he works as barber at "Consider It Done" in North Philadelphia. Vasqauez out-pointed Freudis Rojas, of Las Vegas, last Nov. 9 at the New Ahambra. |
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