The CBZ Newswire

Michael Buffer, at right, with the Cyber Boxing Zone’s Karl Hegman

Rodney Berman of South Africa’s Golden Gloves has confirmed that Hall of Famer, Michael Buffer will be doing ring-announcing duties for the final of the “Monte Carlo Million Dollar Super Four” tournament in Monaco on July 13.

Berman says it is only fitting that the legendary announcer, known for his catchphrase “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble”, does duty at such a major tournament. “He is a true professional and perhaps the only announcer whose presence resonates internationally,” said Berman. “He’ll be one of a number of stars at the final.”

Berman confirmed that WBA and IBO middleweight world champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, who fought on the first card in March, will attend the final.

An invitation has also been extended to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko to attend, not least to support countrymen Max Bursak and Dmytro Kucher, who fight on the “Million Dollar” undercard.

Golden Gloves intends upon developing a carnival theme in the buildup with meet-and-greet sessions and autograph signings adding to the mystique and magic of Monte Carlo.

Hot-running Edwin Rodriguez (23-0, 15 KOs) of the US and Denis Grachev (13-1-1, 8 KOs) of Russia will meet in the “Super Four” final for a US $1-million purse, to be split 60/40.

Co-headlining be the title fight between WBA and IBO light-welterweight holder Khabib Allakhverdiev (18-0, 8 KOs) and former champion Souleymane M’baye (40-4-1, 22 KOs).

On the undercard, European middleweight champion Max Bursak (26-1-1, 12 KOs) will defend against the UK’s Prince Arron (23-4-1, 5 KOs), while Ilunga Makabu (13-1, 13 KOs) and undefeated Dmytro Kucher (21-0, 15 KOs) will fight for Kucher’s WBC International cruiserweight belt.

By Karl Hegman

Juan Diaz, at right, headlined this year’s inductees (photo by Tom Glunz)

The long years stretch behind us into the past, forming corridors of time which echo to the opening bell’s ringing sound of valor. Those years and that valor have been given tangible focus here in a quiet shrine of tribute to the greatest champions the sport of pugilism has seen emerge from the sprawling metropolis of America’s fourth largest city. It is a city steeped rich in boxing tradition, and the flame that was lit from within these unique athletes was kindled there, never to go out.

A champion fighter must possess a certain kind of edginess and moral complexity in order to achieve their highest calling as a boxer. They all celebrate the same qualities and actions which add up to what we call heroism in this grim, cultish and yet beautiful art of the body. They are traits for all times and all champions of the highest caliber, and their lofty connotations are safe now as always because those who would pull it down somehow never stand tall enough to reach it. (continue reading…)

By Karl Hegman

Marlen Esparza (photo by Patrick Semansky)

“I don’t smoke dope, I don’t need to get high. I don’t need anything to back me up, I’m high all the time! I get high on adrenaline and terror, that’s right, terror not fear! I get high on victory! There’s nothing like that kind of high!”-Evel Knievel

Fighter Of The Year: Marlen Esparza

The 2012 United States Women’s Olympic Trials Flyweight Gold Medalist and the Women’s Olympic Flyweight Bronze Medalist. Pretty tough to compete with those kind of established credentials, folks. Esparza should have captured Olympic Gold in the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London, but was ill-prepared for the biggest boxing stage of all as she chose quick and easy cash in the form of commercial endorsements and public appearances over Boxing Immortality.

Nevertheless; Marlen wins this award for the third consecutive year, routing the male professional and amateur competition as she has proven herself to be at the very least the second best female amateur fighter in the United States. Esparza has made contradictory statements to several non-boxing media types over the course of the last quarter of this year regarding her boxing future, but take it from me folks, she’s done. In my 37 years of involvement in the sport from being an amateur champion myself to a trainer and finally a journalist, I can honestly say that this was by far my favorite fighter to chronicle. (continue reading…)

By Karl Hegman

Rocky Juarez (courtesy of Hogan Photos via Karl Hegman)

This contest pits two great Texas amateurs and features the boxer/puncher in Ayala versus the strength and power hitting of Juarez with the venue being the Alamodome in San Antonio in a contest that pits two of the most crowd pleasing featherweights in the history of the Lone Star State.

ROUND ONE: Ayala comes out with guard high and circling to his left as Juarez is stalking after him looking for the big punch to end it all. Both fighters spar in ring centre with Ayala getting through with a few right hands which capture the attention of the powerful, yet plodding Juarez. It is Ayala’s round all the way as he hits Rocky underneath with some telling hooks to the belly.

ROUND TWO: Juarez is now double jabbing in an attempt to get closer to his circling foe who is now moving and fighting to his right. Ayala stops and lands a booming four punch combination, under and over with both left hooks and right hands and spins out to his right as Juarez has reaped nothing but the wind for all of his efforts. Ayala round. (continue reading…)

By Karl Hegman

Juan Diaz, seen here at right versus Paulie Malignaggi (photo by Tom Glunz)

Here we are fight fans, coming to you from Reliant Arena in Houston as two Texas lightweight legends go at it for the big bucks and the big glory. Diaz is in tremendous condition as always, while Jenkins feels he can finish the youngster with a single shot and has trained accordingly, as his wont. Jenkins has apparently worked himself into condition after “Making the rounds” at the local pubs and dance clubs when he first arrived in the Bayou City, while “El Torito” has had a hard and laborous training camp of eight solid weeks at the Savannah Gym in southwest Houston.

Veteran Las Vegas official Davey Pearl will be the third man in the ring for this contest of tough Texas World Lightweight Champions. (continue reading…)