The CBZ Newswire

by Chip Mitchell

Chip Mitchell: Okay, Robert, now you are a very spiritual person. How has your spirituality played a part in your boxing career?

Robert Guerrero: You know, it plays a big part. Not just in boxing, it plays a big part in my life. You know, outside of the ring, with my family, raising my kids in church, believing in Jesus Christ, it’s a big part of my life and that’s what guides my whole life. That goes through my training camp, boxing, being in the ring. It really is the number one thing in my life.

Chip Mitchell: Now, you’ve fought Orlando Salido who was a pressure fighter. You’ve fought Andre Berto who represents power and speed. You fought warriors such as Katsidis, boxers such as Escobedo and Cassamayor. There were other styles like Litzau and Aydin that weren’t the easiest to deal with. I already believe you are mentally strong. Does fighting so many different styles, along with that mentality, make you the optimum opponent to give Floyd a “1” in his loss column?
Robert Guerrero: Oh, most definitely! I mean, you hit it right on. Having the proper experience to be in the ring helps build a fighter the right way. Then you get the chance to fight different types of styles, so you have different experiences. Then when a fighter gets to the top they’re ready for it and they stay there. Having the mental experience outside of the ring, inside of the ring, putting all that together as a package, it’s a deadly force.

Chip Mitchell: Robert, you are 6-time champion in 4 different weight classes. I’m going to say that again. SIX TIME CHAMPION IN FOUR DIFFERENT WEIGHT CLASSES! That is a marvelous accomplishment. Not many people know this. Do you ever feel underappreciated?
Robert Guerrero: No, I don’t. You know, all I do is go out there and fight, set my heart and fight the best I can. If it gets recognized, it gets recognized; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But you know what, I know I put God first and he’s blessed me to be in this position. And being in this position, it’s incredible. It’s incredible and it truly is a blessing, and it’s helps me take full advantage of it. After this fight, everybody will know the accomplishments that I have, especially after beating Floyd Mayweather.

Q: What have you seen in Floyd that gives you so much confidence that you’re the man that’s going to take his O away?
Robert Guerrero: You know, being smart in the ring, fighting an intelligent fight. A lot of these guys just come in, they either lose their head or they’re mad at him and all game plans go out the window and also, being able to make the adjustments in the ring. Having the experiences that I’ve had throughout my boxing career and the different weight classes with guys who are fast, guys who are slick, guys who put pressure, guys who are boxer punchers, just having all the experience and putting it all together and being able to recognize to make those adjustments in the ring.

Q: So, Robert, any last comments before we let you go?

Robert Guerrero: I’m just ready to go. Can’t wait until fight night. That’s it. Thank you, God bless, and bye.

By Ricardo IbarraTACOMA, WA, March 26, 2013 — Long lay-offs are very often seen as a detriment to fighters. The perception being that they breed lethargy and a lack of focus. But for some, a lay-off can often give them a much needed break from the grind that is boxing and rejuvenate a stalling career. For former world title contender Zahir Raheem the latter seems to be the case. After a two-year long hiatus from the sport, “King” Raheem returned to the ring in very impressive fashion last Saturday night at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, stopping the durable Santos Pakau in two rounds. The bout headlined the 91st installment of Brian Halquist Productions Battle at the Boat series.

Raheem (32-3 19KOs 143 lbs.) got off to a slow start in the first round, working behind his jab and occasionally firing off follow-up right hands, seemingly trying to size up his opponent and assess what he had to offer. In the second round, though, Raheem began to press forward and open up with crisp combinations, landing solidly to the head and body. Pakau (28-8-2 11KOs) fired back as his opponent unloaded, but this only seemed to give Raheem more openings. Mid-way through the round a hard right hand-left hook combination dropped Pakau for a mandatory eight-count. As the action resumed, Raheem pressed and once again deposited Pakau on the canvas with a thudding left hook. Pakau would make it up once more, only to be dropped again seconds later, prompting the referee to wave the fight off at 2:20 of the second round.   Raheem, who is in search of another title shot, looked sharp and did not display the lack of timing and overall rust that can often be present after such a long stretch of inactivity. While his conditioning and stamina cannot be assessed in a two round fight, he looked as good as he has in years. Having recently signed to a long term promotional contract with promoter Brian Halquist, Raheem has plans of staying busy in the Pacific Northwest. He is scheduled to headline the next Battle at the Boat in June. (continue reading…)

Photos and Story By Ricardo Ibarra

What was to be a showcase night for up and coming Northwest heavyweight prospect “Vicious” Vincent Thompson turned into a tougher than expected assignment against journeyman Giovanni Sarran last Saturday night at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Washington. Fighting in front of a packed house of local fans and headlining Roy Englebrecht’s Fight Night Club, Thompson had to work to earn his victory over his resilient opponent, boxing his way to a hard-earned six round unanimous decision victory.

From the outset of the bout it was clear that Thompson (13-0 2KO’s 243lbs.) looked to impose his will over his opponent and end matters quickly. As the first bell sounded, he quickly rushed Sarran (3-5 1KO 229 lbs.) and unloaded with hard power shots to the head and body, pushing him back and punishing him along the ropes. For three minutes Thompson battered Sarran, hurting him on several occasions and seemingly having him on the verge of a stoppage. Nearing the end of the round, Thompson cornered Sarran, prompting the referee to issue a standing eight-count when a barrage of punches had him sitting on the ropes to avoid the onslaught. As the first round came to a close the overwhelming consensus among ringside observers was that the fight would not go much longer. (continue reading…)

Jimenez Continues to Dominate, Ortuz Displays Boxing Skills and Bantamweights Shine in Undercard Bouts

Donatas Bondorovas (R) stays on Michael Walker

By Kerstin Broockmann
Photos by Scott Dray

HAMMOND, IN, February 16, 2013 — Hitz Boxing’s Fight Night at the Horseshoe Casino featured an evening of local prospects slugging it out, including, in the main event, a return bout between Middleweights David Thomas of Evansville, IN and Lithuanian Donatas Bondorovas, now residing in Chicago. In their last outing at the same venue, Bondorovas won by second round TKO, after the referee stepped in to save Thomas, who felt the stoppage was early. The card also featured impressive displays from Bantamweight amateur standouts Johnny Determan and Adan Ortiz showing their strength in separate bouts, tough guy Dimar Ortuz trying to impose his will on Grover Young, and Michael Walker and Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez taking on each other at Super Middleweight. Rounding out the evening were Russell Fiore taking on Anthony Linsenfelser at Lightweight, Felix Abner and David Martin III in a hard-fought Heavyweight fight, and new prospects Jimmy Murphy, Tremaine Pride and Nick Ramirez seeking to improve their early-career records with mixed results.

Michael Walker (L) tries to avoid a jab from Bondorovas

In the main event, Donatas Bondorovas  (17-3-1, 6 KOs) looked to remove any doubts about his earlier victory  over “King” David Thomas (10-4-2, 8 KOs), who in turn wanted to avenge what he knew was an early stoppage, in a scheduled eight-round bout for the UBF Middleweight title. Both boxers exhibited solid skills in the first round, popping sharp jabs and landing powerful rights. Bondorovas’ ability to get inside Thomas’s guard with powerful rights shots gave him the round. (continue reading…)

Castillo Can’t Keep Up with Smith, Heavyweights Bring the Fire

By Kerstin Broockmann

Photos by Scott Dray

CHICAGO, IL, February 2, 2013–On ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, presented by 8 Count, Warriors, and Round 3 Promotions, last night at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion, Carlos Molina demonstrated again why he should be in contention for a title, showing great poise and effective offensive and defensive skills in dismantling former title-holder Cory Spinks. Antwone Smith stymied a game but faded Jose Luis Castillo. Local heavyweight Mike Mollo, returning to ring for the first time since 2010, showed lots of heart and decent power against Polish upstart Artur Szpilka, who bloodied and ultimately knocked him out after an entertaining brawl.

Carlos Molina (L) defends against Cory Spinks

The Main Event featured Carlos Molina (21 [16 KOs]-5-2, 153.5 lbs.), who had put one fight between himself and his latest loss, a controversial disqualification against James Kirkland in a fight he was winning, against another southpaw, former title-holder Cory Spinks (39 [11 KOs]-8, 153.25 lbs.) in an IBF Light Middleweight eliminator bout. Spinks holds victories against some respectable opponents, including Ricardo Mayorga and Zab Judah, but has struggled lately, and last night’s bout proved to be no exception. Though the bout began quickly, with both fighters looking to make their mark, Molina found his rhythm in the first round, while Spinks could not get close to Molina. When he tried, charging in with his head low, Molina pushed him down and countered with a flurry of hooks. By round’s end, Spinks was being driven back into the ropes and trying to stop Molina’s onslaught by grabbing Molina arond the waist. Spinks came out behind his jab in the second, a good strategy that initially kept Molina from finding a home for the left hook that proved his best weapon in this fight. By the end of the round, Spinks was again clinching, and sometimes grappling, to avoid punishment from Molina, who was effectively outboxing and outhustling him. The third round was the most competetive of the fight. After a slow start, both boxers engaged and landed some solid blows. Molina started effectively going to the body and continued to counter Spinks with his left hook. (continue reading…)