The CBZ Newswire

NEW YORK – Now available in eBook format for the Kindle and Nook, The Sweeter Science: A Look at Women’s Boxing takes readers inside this often unappreciated aspect of the sport.

Featuring a collection of stories by award-winning boxing writer Thomas Gerbasi compiled from 1998 to the present, this book featuring profiles of Christy Martin, Laila Ali, Lucia Rijker, Mia St. John, and Holly Holm, along with in-depth features on some of the most compelling athletes you may have never heard of. (continue reading…)

Huntington, NY

SOLD OUT CROWD AT THE PARAMOUNT SEES WINS FOR ANDRADE AND SELDIN

Joe DiGuardia’s Star Boxing presented a tasty smorgesbord Friday night at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, NY: on display were ladies fingers, cottage cheese, muffin tops, and pig knuckles — and that was just the ring card girls.

A hellishly fridgid (how’s that for an oxymoron?),  snowy night did not deter the fans as the Paramount was packed a full half hour prior to the fist bout, in anticpation of the top-notch main event featuring Demetrius Andrade.

In the main event, Demetrius Andrade whipped Freddy Hernandez over ten rounds. Hernandez tried his best but was constantly outpunched by the nimble Andrade. Andrade saw every punch even vaguely tossed his way and had an answer for each one. In the sixth, he landed a crunching right over Hernandez’s jab and Freddie dropped to all fours, seemingly out. He was able to get up and continue, but by the tenth was again on edge of being stopped. The cards were unanimous for Andrade, who continues to improve.

Andrade moved to 19-0 with thirteen knockouts. Hernandez dropped to 30-4 with 20 kayos.

In the co-main event, Baltimore’s Emmanuel “The Tranzforma” Taylor upset Puerto Rican junior welterweight Ray “Tito” Serrano of Philly. After a fairly even and uptempo first two rounds, Serrano began to wilt. Taylor used excellent defense and snappy power punches to take over the next three rounds. In the sixth, Taylor stiffened Serrano with a combo on the ropes, forcing ref Steve Willis to halt things at the 1:42 mark. Taylor looks like a good prospect. He improved to 16-1-0 (11 KO’s), while Serrano fell to 18-2-0 (8 KO’s).

OFF-AIR UNDERCARD

Heavyweight Constantine Bejenary had a brisk 90-seconds with Rocky Mullooly, then dropped him hard. Referee Ricky Gonzalez promptly rescued Mullooly from futher damage. In an outstanding four-rounder, Glen Cove’s Raul Nuncio 2-1-2 (1 KO) faced debuting Marcus Beckford of Hempstead, New York at middleweight. The tough bout saw the fighters battle to a well-deserved draw.

Alan Gotay stopped an overmatched and over-tatooed Shane Reynolds in just 45 seconds, then showed his immaturity by posing and posturing for the crowd. Reynolds was completely overmatched.

In the fourth bout, promising Cletis Seldin stepped in against the lanky Puerto Rican with the venerable name of Luis Rodriques. Seldin was all action, but also was using his jab consistently. He threw over 300 punhces in less than 3 full rounds, landed 130, and overwhelmed his opponent, finally dropping him with a body shot for the stoppage.

Said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing, “This was our fifth straight sell out at The Paramount and I’m thrilled at the constant support our events continue to receive from the fans and media on Long Island.”

Complete results:

Demetrius Andrade W UD 10 Freddy Hernandez
Emmanuel Taylor TKO 6 Raymond Serrano
Cletus Seldin TKO 3 Luis Rodriguez
Alan Gotay TKO 1 Shane Reynolds
Raul Nuncio D 4 Marcus Beckford
Constantin Bejenaru TKO 1 Rocky Mullooly

The Andrade bout will re-air Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND beginning today/Saturday, Jan. 26.

Star Boxing returns to The Paramount on Saturday, February 23rd with The Fighting Pride of Huntington, New York, Chris Algieri, battling Jersey City’s Jose Peralta in a junior welterweight battle that will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network.

By Juan C. Ayllon at ringside

Photos coutesy of Tom Barnes (http://www.tomba-images.com/) 

Fonfara (right) bounces a left off Johnson's head (photo by Tom Barnes)

CHICAGO, July 13, 2012 – The last time Andrzej Fonfara fought on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, he was stopped inside two rounds. That was four years and two days ago, to be precise, at the Aragon Ballroom, and his opponent was Derrick Findley, a squat and muscular, hard-slugging brawler.

Six foot-two and 160 lbs. back then, Fonfara looked like a spindly fawn trying to fend off a hungry bulldog with quick, sharp pokes from its left forepaw. He was surprisingly effective until the roof crashed down on him in the second. (continue reading…)

By Dan Hanley

 Marvin Johnson was a consummate blue-collar fighter. Exhibiting no airs about himself, no attempts at cuteness and lacking the fundamentals of cockiness, he walked to the ring with one aim in mind. To sling leather at his opponent until his foe dropped to his haunches. And with a patent disregard for today’s ‘win this time, look good next time’ approach, Marvin Johnson was one fighter who made it a point to leave nothing in the fuel tank for a safe journey home. (continue reading…)

by Dan Hanley

Rafael Herrera hitting the speed bag.

Over the years, as I would rummage my addled brain over fighters of yesteryear, I would dwell on Rafael Herrera and would always think of him in terms of, ‘the Gene Tunney of the bantamweights’. Like the Fighting Marine, here was an exceptional talent who had the audacity to dethrone a beloved champion and endured life amidst the shadow of his titular predecessor, despite brandishing his own style of mayhem on the fighters of his day. With the help of Rafael’s wonderful bi-lingual wife, Leticia, we touched gloves.

DH: Rafael, tell me a little of your background as a boy.

RH: Well, I was born in Huascato, Jalisco, Mexico. We were not wealthy and with 5 boys and 3 girls in the family, things were tight. (continue reading…)