Carl Frampton Interview: Santa Cruz Can Come to Belfast By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent In a Real Combat Media international interview exclusive, World Boxing Association Super World Featherweight champion Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton, after his win over Leo Santa Cruz at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, spoke on […]
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Barry McGuigan Interview: The Clones Cyclone Invites Real Combat Media to Belfast for Frampton vs Santa Cruz Rematch and a Cold Guinness Brew By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent Part II: In an Real Combat Media international interview exclusive at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, last week, former World Boxing […]
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Julian J Rock Williams Interview: Ready To Be World Champion
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In a Real Combat Media international interview exclusive, Julian ‘J Rock’ Williams of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 21-0-1 with 14 knockouts, the world ranked junior middleweight contender who some say is the best fighter ever at 154 pounds, will fight champion Jermall Charlo for the International Boxing Federation World Super Welterweight championship on October 1, 2016, talked about boxing and the state of the junior middleweight division. The short but important interview with Williams took place after the Cherry versus Rhodes boxing event at the Sands Events Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on June 28, 2016.
Robert Brizel: “Julian, at 154 pounds, who are you looking forward to fighting next?”
J Rock Williams: “Anyone with a world title!”
Robert Brizel: “Would you fight Canelo Alvarez?”
J Rock Williams: “Definitely!!”
Robert Brizel: “Have you spoken to them (the Alvarez camp) yet? Have they expressed any interest?”
J Rock Williams: “Not yet.”
Robert Brizel: “Canelo is supposed to be fighting 23-0-1 WBO World Super Welterweight champion Liam Smith of Liverpool, United Kingdom, on September 17, 2016, at A T & T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Is that a good fight?”
J Rock Williams: “From what I hear (it’s a good fight).”
Robert Brizel: “Of the remaining world champions at 154 pounds, you have Erislandy Lara, Jermell Charlo and Jermall Charlo, you will shortly know which one of them you will be challenging for a share of the world title. Do you have a preference, and can you beat them this fall?”
J Rock Williams: “I have worked hard and trained hard to earn the opportunity, and still do. It does not matter who I have to fight. I will win. I will beat them all! I am the best fighter in the world at 154 pounds. I look forward to showing the world what I can do, and being a great champion! I will fight all challengers. I’m ready to be the world champion!”
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Vinny LaManna Interview: Son Fighting on CBS Tonight, USBA Bout Moved to Philly
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In a Real Combat Media interview exclusive, promoter Vinny Lamanna of Rising Promotions told why he believed his son Thomas ‘Cornflake’ LaManna, 21-1 with nine knockouts, Millville, New Jersey, will beat Dusty Harrison, 29-0-1 with 16 knockouts, Washington, D.C., for the vacant USBA Welterweight title at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia tonight.
Originally scheduled to be held at Mark Etess Arena at Carl Icahn’s Trump Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, the LaManna versus Harrison USBA bout and eight bout fight card bout on the CBS Sports Network has been moved to 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Local 54 Union Trump Taj Mahal employees are on strike over the offer of reduced contractual health benefits, causing the casino, which Icahn picked up in bankruptcy in March 2016, to incur a 100 million dollar revenue loss, leading to its permanent closing date on October 10. The casino is still open with $20 an hour scabs crossing the union picket line of $12 an hour workers. The boxing establishment opted not to cross the picket line, and moved the boxing show to Philly to avoid controversy.
Acknowledging Harrison is no ‘dog’ of a fighter due to his unbeaten ledger, Mr. LaManna nonetheless stated Mike Dallas Jr. got robbed in his draw with Harrison in their recent bout. LaManna, who predicted his son would beat Antoine Douglas when they fought, remained steadfast his son Thomas had a least four solid bouts of experience to Harrison’s one-the key factor in Mr. LaManna’s belief Thomas is going to win on CBS tonight. Real Combat Media predicts LaManna will win by ninth round stoppage. Mr. LaManna believes Thomas will win by eighth round stoppage. The bout could go the 10 round distance if the early rounds, known for fireworks in the 147 pound division, remain too cautious.
Robert Brizel: “Did your son Thomas make the 147 pound weight limit at the weight in Wednesday? How much did he weigh in at for the vacant USBA Welterweight title bout?”
Vinny LaManna: “Thomas weighted in at 146.1 pounds for the main event.”
Reader’s Note: Dusty Harrison weighed in at 146.8 pounds for his main event bout with LaManna. In the preliminary bout to the main event, 6’4” New Jersey heavyweight champion Dan Pasciolla weighed in at 245 pounds, while 6’5” opponent Ray Edwards weighed 256 pounds for their scheduled six round bout.
Reader’s Note: Doors at 2300 Arena, located at 2300 Swanson Street, will open at 7 P.M. Tickets for the eight fight card, which begins at 8 P.M., are priced at $75, $50 and $40. They are available today by calling Peltz Boxing at 215-765-0922, by calling Bam Boxing at 215-280-6709, by calling the 2300 Arena box office 267-273-0945, or at the door of 2300 Arena the night of the fight.
Robert Brizel: “Congratulations. That is a phenomenal accomplishment for Tommy.”
Vinny LaManna: “Yes.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think the lower weight will give Tommy an advantage against Harrison? The lower weight can make Tommy fast and stronger. He could also go back up in weight after the weigh in to his previous weight zone of 154 to 160 pounds. What is the whole strategy behind Tommy’s first venture in the 147 pound weight class?”
Vinny LaManna:” Well, this is Tommy’s real weight.”
Robert Brizel: “Is 147 pounds where tommy belongs?”
Vinny LaManna: “147 pounds is where Tommy belongs. Remember his fights where he weighed 164, his opponents were 154 and they entered the ring at 170 pounds, and Tommy walked in the ring at 165.”
Robert Brizel: “Harrison has an unbeaten record at 29-0-1. Does that impress you?”
Vinny LaManna: “Not one bit. “
Robert Brizel: “It looked like Mike Dallas Jr. got robbed at the DC Armory last May when he had to settle for a 10 round split draw with Harrison.”
Vinny LaManna: “Absolutely. 100 percent Harrison did not win that fight.
Robert Brizel: “Harrison’s 29-0-1 record appears o be padded. Is it?”
Vinny LaManna: “Look, everybody (each pro fighter) has their record. Tommy has fought four quality opponents, such as Antoine Douglas, Jamaal Davis, and a couple others. Harrison has fought one quality guy, Mike Dallas Jr., a bout which he lost and got a gift draw he know he did not deserve. Harrison got a gift.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think the moving of this bout from Carl Icahn’s Trump Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, currently under a strike after bankruptcy, and closing in October, has affected this bout in anyway? You and Tommy are familiar with the venue at 2300 Arena.”
Vinny LaManna: “Not at all. The Pennsylvania Athletic Commission and Commissioner Greg Sirb are a good commission. I feel confidential the judging will be neutral and fair.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think LaManna versus Harrison will go the distance. I predicted Tommy would win by ninth round stoppage.”
Vinny LaManna: “I say Tommy will win by an eighth round stoppage.”
Robert Brizel: “At 147 pounds, Thomas LaManna is taller, stronger and faster.”
Vinny LaManna: “(I agree with you) 1000 percent.”
Reader’s Note: Dusty Harrison is 22 years old, Tommy LaManna is 24 years old.
Vinny LaManna: “When they weighed in yesterday, and looked at each other eye to eye, they looked to be about the same height. Tommy has a longer reached, but they appeared just as tall.”
Robert Brizel: “Harrison could try to fight his way inside. Do you think Harrison will try to run hold and hide?”
Vinny LaManna: “I think Harrison is going to fight harder (than my son Tommy). Harrison is a dog of a fighter.”
Robert Brizel: Do you think Harrison trying to fight his way inside will expose him to Tommy’s harder and faster punches?”
Vinny LaManna: “Yes, but as I said before, Dusty Harrison is no dog of a fighter. He’s not 29-0-1 for no reason.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think Dusty Harrison will try to make a slugfest of it right away?”
Vinny LaManna: “No I don’t think so. I think the first couple of rounds will be boring.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think the fighters will be more cautious?”
Vinny LaManna: “They will both be cautious for the first couple of rounds. They both have a lot at stake on the line.”
Robert Brizel: “Are a lot of Tommy’s fans coming in to 2300 Arena to watch Tommy?”
Vinny LaManna: “A couple of hundred people.”
Robert Brizel: “Tell me about the corner and training changes for the better for Tommy after the Antoine Douglas loss.”
Vinny LaManna: “We’ve got a lot of experience in the corner. We’ve got Ray McCline, the trainer of Virgil Hill. We have got former world heavyweight champion Ray Mercer, welterweight mighty Mike Arnoutis, and various other fighters working with us. We’ve also been sparring cruiserweight fighter Chuck Mussachio and other talented local fighters in preparation. Nobody works harder in training than my son Thomas LaManna. We had a ten week camp to prepare for Harrison.”
Robert Brizel: “What do you think of you son’s opportunity tonight to fight nationwide on the CBS Sports Network?”
Vinny LaManna: “It’s a blessing! I would have preferred Friday or Saturday night. This way the crowd could have been there for both people.” (As opposed to tonight’s rescheduled Thursday night television date after the show was moved to Philly from Atlantic City).
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New Iran Barkley Interview: What Happened to Boxing in New York State?
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In a new Real Combat Media interview exclusive certain to send shockwaves through the New York State Athletic Commission and the New York boxing community, former world middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight champion Iran ‘The Blade’ Barkley, who lives in New York City, stated his particular views on the current state of decline of boxing in New York State, and how he would fix it.
Robert Brizel: “Iran ‘The Blade’ Barkley. Since the decision to require a million dollars life insurance per fighter per event in boxing and Mixed Martial Arts in New York State, all of the boxing promoters seem to be leaving New York in droves. They certainly have money. In your opinion, what happened?”
Iran Barkley: “Well, boxing became too expensive (for promoters in New York State). I believe that is what happened. The promoters don’t want to pay the insurance and the fees for their fighters. It has become hard to box in New York State.”
Robert Brizel: “What is the solution? Do you think the state legislature should or will change the amount of (the required fighter) life insurance down to a lower level, or not? Your view.”
Iran Barkley: “The New York State Legislature is going to have to lower the boxing and MMA fighter life insurance rate if want boxing back in New York. If the legislature doesn’t change the life insurance rate, boxing will be left like it is (now) in New York (dead).”
Robert Brizel: “Will MMA be affected by the high life insurance rates per MMA fighter?”
Iran Barkley: “MMA is going to have their share of difficulties. They are going to be paying out five million or ten million dollars of life insurance for their events. Worse, the MMA gloves are worse than boxing gloves.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think there will be more injuries in MMA?”
Iran Barkley: “Yeah, there are going to be more injuries in MMA. And that’s where the brain injuries are going to start occurring in the future, more so than boxing.”
Robert Brizel: “The New York State Athletic Commission currently sits, it functions, with no Executive Director since David Berlin was fired. Ndidi Massay is the acting chairman. Do you think it has to do with athlete’s injuries, or do you think the commission is just troubled?”
Iran Barkley: “In New York (at this point), it doesn’t matter who they put in there as commissioner, David Berlin or anybody else. They’ve got to regulate everything right. Boxing is a form of entertainment. New York is the mecca of boxing, so they gotta do what they gotta do. People have to be able to attend events, and enjoy fighting.”
Robert Brizel: “Would you consider running the New York State Athletic Commission at this point, or is that a job you don’t want?”
Iran Barkley: “I wouldn’t get on the New York State Athletic Commission. If I was to get it, I would make the rules much better, so there would be more fights and cards every year. In New York, boxing is entertainment.”
Robert Brizel: “Iran, you have a close relationship on a first name basis with a lot of the fighters in New York in recent years. You certainly know Lou DiBella, Joe DeGuardia, Russell Peltz, Felipe Gomez, Kevin O’Sullivan, Greg Cohen…..you basically know everybody. What happens now? Is there anything you can say to them, or the state legislature, to bring boxing back to New York, or is boxing doomed to be gone from new York for a long time now?”
Iran Barkley: “New York is the mecca state of boxing. What good are the changes? They are not going to help the people in New York who want to see boxing. They aren’t going to travel out of state to see boxing. They even drove out or take the railroad to see boxing in New York State, even on Long Island. Now, there ain’t gonna be no boxing in New York, and that’s a doggone shame.”
Robert Brizel: “What about Madison Square Garden and the Barclay’s Center? A lot of boxing events were booked in advance. Do you think these events will be cancelled?”
Iran Barkley: “Barclay’s Center wants to put money into boxing. Madison Square Garden I don’t know. Kind of flim-flam. If they don’t want to put money out for their team (The New York Knicks) then they are not gonna put money out for the boxing.”
Robert Brizel: “Iran, you have enjoyed watching boxing in a number of venues. We’ve been together at B.B. King’s in Manhattan, Webster Hall in Manhattan, Aviator Arena in Brooklyn, Long Island University Brooklyn……we’ve done a lot of local shows. Do you think there is any possibility for the local boxing shows to come back at this point, or do you think that is over too?”
Iran Barkley: “Everything is over with that million dollar life insurance requirement per boxing and MMA fighter per event, or however every many millions it will cost the promoters with that stipulation. The New York State boxing promoters are not going to spent that king of money. What about the smaller guys (promoters) can cannot afford that kind of money?”
Robert Brizel: “Some of the New York boxing promoters have been running to other cities?”
Iran Barkley: “It’s cheaper and better for the New York boxing promoters to take their shows to other cities. Now the boxing fans in New York will have to watch these shows on television or cable, something like that.”
Robert Brizel: “Blade, do you watch a lot of boxing on television yourself?”
Iran Barkley: “I watch certain fights and certain things.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you watch football or baseball on television?”
Iran Barkley: “Not football. Baseball sometimes. I’m interested in all sports, but I mainly just watch boxing. Baseball I’m into. I’m not watching it (much) because I’m bored.”
Robert Brizel: “Your boxing license is still active very year in New York. Correct?”
Iran Barkley: “Yes. It is.”
Robert Brizel: “Is the purpose of keeping your boxing license active just to know you’re okay? (by the medical tests).”
Iran Barkley: “most of the time, yeah, just to know I’m okay. Maybe I’ll get a lump sum (to fight again). Maybe I want to promote. I’ll do what I gotta do there.”
Robert Brizel: “If you were to start Iran Barkley Promotions with some of the local fighters, do you think it would ever get started in New York?”
Iran Barkley: “That’s where I would start it. New York is the mecca of boxing. I mean, boxing does not need to be turned out all over the country. I would do it (promotion) for the fans who enjoy boxing. It’s sad we don’t have that entertainment right now.”
Robert Brizel: “Blade, you were at The Garden the night heavyweight Magomed Abdusalamov got hurt after his WBC (USNBC) 10 round title bout with Mike Perez (November 2, 2013). The New York State Athletic Commission has turned over at the top several times, which doesn’t lead to stability. What in your view went wrong that night at The Garden, and how did it affect the decision to increase the cost of life insurance for professional boxers and MMA fighters in New York?”
Iran Barkley: “They should not have increased the cost of life insurance for fighters per event in New York. To me, the referee, Benjy Esteves Jr., should have had more control over that fight. He should have stopped that fight. There would not have been an injury like that (brain injury). They should have called the fight off. When Perez caught Abdusalamov later in the fight, that’s when everything happened (began to go wrong). Esteves should have stopped the bout when Perez pulled him apart the first time, like the third or fourth round, something like that.”
Robert Brizel: “Perez threw a forearm which broke Abdusalamov’s nose in the first round. Do you think the referee should have stopped it then, or the fighter has the option of continuing?”
Iran Barkley: “Abdusalamov was getting pummeled a little. Maybe the referee should have stopped it then. He should have stopped it after this happened and he pulled them apart. Abdusalamov would have had time to recover. The fight was over. I think it was a tough fight, a banging fight. In that kind of a brutal fight, the referee should have said no, and that’s it.”
Robert Brizel: “And now, the NYSAC, the New York State Legislature, and all of the boxing and MMA promoters are accountable for the consequences of that one fight?”
Iran Barkley: “Yeah! Everybody’s paying for this one fight. Common sense. Everybody could have exercised common sense. When the referee pulled them apart, he could have called the fight off when he pulled them apart. He could have stopped the fight.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think the fight continued because both fighters were unbeaten, and both felt a lot was at stake.”
Iran Barkley: “Yeah, there was a lot at stake. When this Cuban kid Mike Perez came over here from Ireland, they should have just called the fight off when Abdusalamov got hurt, and given it to him. Then we wouldn’t be going through what we are going through in New York State now.”
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Bobby Celtic Warrior Gunn Interview: Bring On Roy Jones Jr.
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
He turned pro with a four round decision win over Richard Palma at the Holiday Inn Holidome in Tucson, Arizona in April 1989. In a Real Combat Media international exclusive, Bobby ‘The Celtic Warrior’ Gunn, 43, 21-6-1 with 18 knockouts, Hackensack, New Jersey, talked ab out his reasons for accepting the lifelong dream of a challenge bout against Roy Jones Jr., 64-9 with 46 knockouts, Pensacola, Florida, for the vacant World Boxing Foundation World Cruiserweight title at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, on February 17, 2016.
Bobby Gunn was a Canadian amateur boxing champion, the IBA World Cruiserweight champion, and is the current Bareknuckles world heavy weight champion.
Roy Jones Jr. versus Bobby Gunn December 6, 2016 Press Conference in YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvhxhC9MqmA
Robert Brizel: “Bobby, wishes with your Roy Jones Jr. bout coming up. It’s a bout you can win. The victory will go to the fighter who works harder and wants it more.”
Bobby Gunn: “Thank you, my friend. It (my bout with Roy Jones Jr.) has been ten years in the making. We were originally supposed to fight in 2006. The fight fell through. Then in 2023, my fight with Jones fell through again. Now, I hope the third time is the charm. You are right, my friend, I am working (training) my ass off. Beyond measures (of training and preparation), I believe that this is God’s time. It has taken a long time to happen, but hopefully things (will) work out good (for me in my bout with Jones).”
Robert Brizel: “Bobby, there’s a line from an old James Bond 007 movie which goes ‘Never Say Never’. Why Roy Jones Jr. at age 43? Why do you want to fight him now?”
Bobby Gunn: “I will be 43 years old on Christmas Day 2016. I feel better than ever. Roy Jones Jr. is 48 years old. I believe it’s not about me anymore. It’s about how badly I want it. I won the vacant bare knuckles World Heavyweight championship. God rest his soul, the late Bert Sugar called me on the phone and told me you are the world bare knuckle champion.
I am the first bare knuckle champion since John L. Sullivan to be a part of that rich history. I was also inducted into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame as only the third bare knuckles world champion since Jake Kilrain and John L. Sullivan. AI have had a great boxing career! I have shared the ring with world champions. I have held many cruiserweight titles, but my upcoming bout with Roy Jones Jr. does something for me. Jones rejuvenates me. He puts my boxing on another level. To have that great honor to share the ring with an all-time great like Roy Jones Jr. will go down in boxing history.
You have to understand something. I am a proper gypsy man. My people come from Scotland and Ireland. We are tougher than coffin nails. I am not your ordinary man. I go into this fight with the highest respect for Roy Jones Jr. I love him and respect him, but I promise you as sure as that sun rise tomorrow, Roy Jones Jr. will never forget the name of Bobby Gunn.”
Robert Brizel: “Your recent opponents included Tomas Adamek, Glen Johnson, James Toney, and now Roy Jones Jr. Why did you choose to fight such difficult big name opponents this late in your career, when you could have fought easier opposition?”
Bobby Gunn: “Because fighting the best is what it’s all about. Fighting the great names is your legacy. That’s what it’s all about. When I was a boy growing up reading Ring Magazine. Listening to my grandfather. Listening to my father. I will got here, and make my mark on boxing history. I have been connected to many of the all-time great fighters, but remember something. I am also an active bare knuckles fighter. Just because on paper, people think I am inactive as pro boxer. Bare knuckle boxing is the same as pro boxing, but without the gloves. I take care of myself. I do not drink, I do not smoke, and I do not party.
I am married 23 years to my beautiful wife Rose. I have two children. My little girl Charlene is 8 years old, and my son Bobby Junior is 20 years old. He is a middleweight Prospect, undefeated in eight professional fights with six knockouts. I am watching my son, and I am guiding him the right way. I’m going to give him the things I never had, and I’m going to protect him and keep him away from the things which happened to me in the fight game.
The fight game is a dirty game but it is in my heart. I was born into boxing. I t is the only business in the world you love-but it hates you back. Believe me there’s a lot of bad stories about the fight game, and you can believe all those bad stories and add on to them more bad stories. That’s how bad some of the things are behind the scenes. I’m very grateful at this stage of my career. I feel great. I have great people behind me, and I am doing my own thing. No man can hire me, and no man can fire me. I am my own man, and I call the shots. I’m very thankful to be here.”
Robert Brizel: “Bobby, both you and David Estrada are experienced combination gloved and bare knuckles boxers. Do you think your mastery of both sciences gives you an advantage in evaluating your opponents?”
Bobby Gunn: “The truth is, my friend, bare knuckle boxing is almost exactly the same as professional boxing, but it is a different sport I have seen every opponent throughout my life that you can imagine I can look at somebody, I know exactly how much they have prepared. I can tell if somebody can fight just about 30 seconds into the fight. I can read their body language. I know what punches they are going to throw before they throw them. It is because I am a master at my game as the old professor. Professional boxing is basically the same as bare knuckle boxing. Very soon, the sport of bare-knuckle boxing is going to explode. I have got to state that, though I cannot reveal at this time. I have agreed to host legitimate sanctioned bare knuckle boxing in the future.”
Robert Brizel: “Bobby, in recent days, young boxing contenders such as Ed Brown in Chicago, and Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. in Guadalajara have been murdered, apparently without reason. Do you think today’s young boxing prospects come from backgrounds which are too difficult to overcome at times?”
Bobby Gunn: “It’s not about where they come from or their backgrounds anymore. It’s the mindset with people today. People have no regards for human life. There is no honor or loyalty anymore. The world is upside down. There are great young fighters coming up, and unfortunately many of them will never reach the level where they should be because of the difficult times in the world today. I believe today it is too convenient and way too easy for people to get in trouble. Unfortunately, it is a tragedy to hear of these young men dying and getting killed. People today are not like they used to be. At one time, a man had respect for another man. That does not exist anymore. A true proper man is like an extinct species. They are a dying breed.”
Robert Brizel: “Bobby, Roy Jones Jr. has gone the distance in world title bouts 14 times, while you never have. DO this give Roy an advantage when you fight him? Why or why not?”
Bobby Gunn: “Well, 12 rounds is only three minute rounds. Bare-knuckle fights can go over one hour with no rounds. That’s not the case in pro boxing. I have been to the belly of the Beast. I have seen things very few people have seen. I have been in situations where I thought I was never going to walk out of that place, where I had fights at the end of the day. I have seen it all. It is a pleasure for me to fight Roy Jones Jr. It is like going to the beautiful Hilton Hotel and relaxing-compared with some of the environments of fights I’ve had in the past. The Jones fight is a blessing. I just pray everything goes good, and I pray Roy Jones Jr. Shows up and he doesn’t make any excuses or pulls out with an injury. The world is on his shoulders, and a lot of pressure is on his back. I will be there, even if I have to drag myself I will be there on February 17, 2017. There is no man born of a mother I will not fight. If the money is there, I am there. My legacy is not on Facebook or Twitter or YouTube. My Legacy will go in the record books as the man with the name who came to fight, and gave his all. I have been involved in many controversial crazy fights. I have seen everything you can possibly imagine, from boxing’s end to bare knuckle boxing. Seeing it all and being there through it all it has molded me, and made me the man I am today in today. I am a good man a good man to fight.”
Robert Brizel: Bobby, you took off 11 years between 1993 and 2004. What happened?”
Bobby Gunn: “During that time, I was fighting for eleven years in the underground bare knuckle boxing fighting circuit. Let’s be honest, nobody could come back to professional boxing from that kind of activity, make it come back ,and fight the top fighters in the world and fight for World Championships if he wasn’t doing something right. You see, my friend, I have always been fighting. I never left fighting if I was fighting above the ground in huge arenas, and huge championship fights. I was also fighting under the ground behind closed doors in underground bare-knuckle boxing for eleven years. I was the bare-knuckles heavyweight champion of the world in the underground circuit .I have seen it all.”
Robert Brizel: “Your son Bobby Gunn Jr. is a rising 8-0 middleweight prospect. Are you or Roger Bloodsworth working with him right now? Do you think your son will reach the heights you did as a professional? What is Bobby Jr.’s potential?”
Bobby Gunn: “Right now I am working, training my son Bobby Gunn Jr. I believe my son will be a better fighter than I could ever possibly be. He is a boxer-puncher. He is the total package. He is a good boy, and I guarantee if he pursues his dreams, and listens to me in the right way, he will be a world champion. Mark my words.”
Robert Brizel: “Was Tomasz Adamek your toughest opponent? If you beat Jones, will you fight again? Does the WBF World Title have some meaning to you?”
Bobby Gunn: “Tomasz Adamek was my best fight, because it was for the Ring Magazine World Championship. Very few fighters get the opportunity to fight for that title. It is the Holy grail title of professional boxing, as it stands above all titles. Very few fighters have the opportunity to fight for the Ring Magazine title. It was the highlight of my career, and I put up a great fight. The truth is I don’t want to make any excuses. Tomasz Adamek is my friend, he is a class act, I love him and I wish him and his family the best. Everybody I fought throughout my career I have become very good friends with.”
Reader’s Note: Bobby Gunn made some additional comments questioning the stoppage of the Adamek fight, so bout footage was reviewed. Referee Earl Brown made a good call when he stopped the bout in the fourth round with Gunn taking too much punishment.
Robert Brizel: You wanted to fight Roy several times over the years, and the Jones bout kept falling through. How does it feel to finally get your chance to fight him after all this time?”
Bobby Gunn: “Like I said, it is the ultimate challenge in my life to fight a man who could possibly be the greatest top five fighter who ever lived. It is like fighting Sugar Ray Robinson. In my era, there’s no way, shape or form anybody would tell you any different. Boxers would cut their hand off to get the opportunity to fight Roy Jones Jr. And don’t underestimate Roy Jones Jr. You can’t go by any setbacks he recently had. Look at ‘The Old Mongoose’ Archie Moore. The Mongoose when an old Champion. Great fighters shows up it depends what Champion shows up. That night, a lot of their great fights are on their mind. I believe the Roy Jones Jr who will show up to fight me on February 17 will be a great Roy Jones Jr. That is what I am preparing for. I am preparing for a war!”
Robert Brizel: “Tell me about your nickname. How did you come about to be called ‘The Celtic Warrior?”
Bobby Gunn: “To be honest with you/ it was given to me over ten years ago because I am of Scottish and Irish descent. That is the reason why I fight like a true Celtic Warrior!”
Robert Brizel: “How do you feel about fighting Roy Jones Jr. in Delaware? The state is kind of rare when it comes to hosting boxing events.”
Bobby Gunn: “I think it is a great thing for the state of Delaware. I think Delaware is a beautiful state, and I believe it has great potential to start hosting good professional boxing.”
Robert Brizel: “Would you take a bigger fight at cruiserweight if you beat Jones? That is the question.”
Bobby Gunn: “If I beat Roy Jones Jr., or if I lose, it will be my last professional boxing fight. So, you can understand I am coming, and I am not leaving any regrets behind. This is my time. God’s timing is the most important thing in life, and I believe this is my time. I’m going to have a chance to show the world a great night of boxing, a great fight. Afterwards Roy Jones Jr. and I can go out in the street, and we can have a bare-knuckle fight if he wants to, or we can hug each other and be friends. It doesn’t matter, win, lose, or draw in the ring, or on the parking lot. I fight, and bring it because I am a proper man’s man.”
Robert Brizel: “Bobby, best wishes on February 17 against Roy Jones Jr. I presume you are training hard, and will be ready to fight a 12 round war with Jones come that day. Thanks again Bobby, and best wishes for success in your bout with Roy Jones Jr. from Real Combat Media.”
Bobby Gunn: “I would like to say this for the record. I am not interested in fighting anybody after Roy Jones Jr., but if I ever had the opportunity to fight anybody else, Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver are on my list. I would take a fight with either of them in a heartbeat. I believe it would be great for boxing. Styles make fights. At the end of the day, we are all on the senior tour, and it’s a good way to put lights on for the fans. The truth is a lot of these young bucks don’t even want to fight anymore. That is why we are still fighting. God bless you, Robert, you are a total class act, a true historian, reporter, and writer for the game. People like you in the game are top-class there’s very few like yourself. Robert God bless.”
Robert Brizel: “Will your son Bobby Gunn Jr. be in your corner when you fight Roy Jones Jr.”
Bobby Gunn: “Yes. My son, Bobby Gunn Jr., will be in the corner. He will not be on the card fighting because my nerves are too bad. I would not be able to handle the stress of both of us fighting on the same card, but he will be in my corner one hundred percent of the way!”
Robert Brizel: “You seem intrigued by the possibility of fighting Bernard Hopkins, if B-Hop defeats Joe Smith Jr. at light heavyweight, and you defeat Roy Jones Jr. at cruiserweight. Both bouts will be held on February 17, 2017.”
Bobby Gunn: “I think Bernard would come up and fight me at Cruiserweight. It would be a great fight because he never won a Cruiserweight title, or had a shot at a Cruiserweight title. I believe a bout with me and Hopkins could happen if I beat Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard wins that same night. In my heart of hearts, even though he says this is his last fight I believe there could be something there. Bernard Hopkins is a great fighter and I respect him. Right now, though, the man in front of me and my eyes is Roy Jones Jr. Both men are all-time legends.”
The post Bareknuckle World Champ Bobby ‘Celtic Warrior’ Gunn RCM Interview: Bring On Roy Jones Jr. appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Promoter Kevin O’Sullivan Interview: Boxing and Insurance in New York State
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Promoters Kevin O’Sullivan and Felipe Gomez head up New Legend Boxing in New York State. In a Real Combat Media exclusive, last month O’Sullivan, a top American promoter and matchmaker, granted an exclusive interview to discuss the state of boxing in New York State and its future in the light of legislative insurance changes. O’Sullivan is listed as the co-matchmaker with John Beninati for the scheduled Barclays Center card in Brooklyn, New York, scheduled for January 14, 2016. The Barclays event is co-promoted by Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Lou DiBella, which will feature a nine bout card with three main event world title fights, including James DeGale versus Badou Jack for the unified World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation World Super Middleweight titles.
The January 14, 2017 Barclays Center event will require 18 million dollars in traumatic brain insurance for all 18 male and female participants in the nine scheduled bouts, health insurance and accidental death insurance for each fighter, plus liability insurance for the event. The event will be telecast on USA Showtime and United Kingdom SKY.
Last month, the New York State Legislature passed new legislation requiring professional boxing and Mixed Martial Arts promoters to have one million dollar insurance policies per fighter per event for traumatic brain injury insurance. Since that time, the UFC is the only MMA group to hold an event in New York, in Madison Square Garden. That event earlier this year required 26 athletes in 13 pro bouts to each have a one million dollar insurance policy for the event in case anything went wrong. Nothing did, but the UFC had to pay $1650 per fighter for the brain trauma insurance in New York, for the event in order for it to proceed. These figures did not include the standard 50 thousand medical and 50 thousand accidental death insurance policies per fighter, which usually cost promoters approximately four thousand dollars per card. All total, the UFC had to pay 50 thousand dollars in in insurance for the November 12, 2016 Madison Square Garden UFC event to take place.
More scheduled events in March 2017 in New York State will also require extensive insurance policies as well for the events to take place. Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman are schooled to fight their WBA Super and WBC World Welterweight title unification match on a boxing card at Barclays Center on March 4, 2017. Promoter Bob Arum has a Top Rank boxing card scheduled at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 2017. Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs will unify the WBA Super, WBC, IBF and IBO World Middleweight titles at Madison Square Garden on a USA HBO Pay-Per-View Madison Square Garden card scheduled for March 18, 2016, which will also feature a WBO World Cruiserweight title defense by Oleksandr Usyk.
Robert Brizel: “What can we do to say boxing and MMA in New York. Kevin, how long have you been a boxing promoter?”
Kevin Sullivan: “We’ve had the New Legend Boxing Company for ten years (Kevin O’Sullivan, Felipe Gomez, Wilson Naranjo and James Foley have often been associated in professional boxing events together). We’ve been doing shows for about five years, under New Legend Boxing, as well as with Dibella Entertainment.”
Reader’s Note: BoxRec online lists 18 events promoted or co-promoted by Kevin O’Sullivan between March 2011 and September 2015, 14 in New York City, and one event in the Dominican Republic.
Robert Brizel: “I’ve spoken with Lou DiBella about the insurance situation in New York State. Any insurance policy issued has to state the terms of the insurance. I covered Lou DiBella’s seven bout Ford Amphitheater Coney Island Brooklyn boxing card with Errol Spence and Heather Hardy on August 21, 2016, the last boxing card held in New York State before the new insurance regulations went into effect. DiBella Entertainment gave a great show! MMA (suddenly) gets approved by the New York State Legislature, and in the same bill, professional boxing and MMA both require one million dollars traumatic brain insurance, 50 thousand medical insurance and 50 thousand accidental death insurance per fighter, per event. When you heard this (new insurance development), what was your reaction? Did you believe it was true?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Well, we had heard a rumor it was coming down (going to happen) for a while. As far as the basic medical coverage for the boxers, I would not so much argue with that. It was a low number we always took care of.”
Robert Brizel: “Now they say, a million dollars per fighter per event. What does that mean?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “In professional boxing, it used to be ten thousand dollars per fighter per event for regular medical (coverage). Then they (New York State) raised the figure to 50 thousand dollars per fighter per event. That was an increase in medical insurance to protect the boxers (in event of injury in the ring). On top of that, they have now added a one million dollar insurance policy requirement per fighter per event for traumatic brain injury.”
Robert Brizel: “So how much does it actually cost to insure and cover a professional fighter (boxing and MMA in New York State) right now?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “You can’t get the insurance.”
Reader’s Note: The UFC did get such a policy for their event at The Garden after this interview
Robert Brizel: “You are saying the million dollar policy is on top of the standard ten thousand?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Well, it used to be ten thousand. Now it is 50 thousand. They (New York State) raised that, which is fine, the insurance costs covered by the promoter. On top of that, they now require a million dollars.”
Robert Brizel: “But how much money in insurance money will boxing and MMA promoters actually be paying? Or is it nobody knows”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “It can be a ridiculous amount of money. The 50 thousand dollars is what the policy costs. It is not what it is for. The six thousand to seven thousand dollar insurance policy cost per show will go up.”
Robert Brizel: “So you are saying the promoter in New York State will have to have a million dollar insurance policy per fighter per event on top of the 50 thousand medical and 50 thousand accidental death policies per fighter per event?”
Kevin Sullivan: “And then, you also need your general liability insurance policy for the event itself.”
Robert Brizel: “You also need a (fight card) security bond.”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “You need a general liability policy in case someone was to get hurt if the stage collapsed, or something was to happen at the venue, an accident in the bathrooms, a fight broke out, something like that. That is a separate policy on top of the other policies: accidental hospitalization; medical; and death policies for the boxers; (and now) you need a traumatic brain injury policy, which is a million dollar policy per boxer; and then you need general liability for the venue itself.”
Robert Brizel: “What are the promoters saying now? Are the promoters trying to lobby the New York State Legislature to change the rule and lower the (insurance) amount?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Promoters are trying to work on it from many different angles. One, in Albany, they are working (with the New York State legislature regarding the insurance amount requirement) to see if they can get some sort of reduction of what’s being required. Second, they are also working with the insurance companies to see if they would write such a policy (for traumatic brain insurance-the policy has been written once since this interview for MMA, as previously stated) and what would the policy (if issued for a boxing or MMA event) actually cost.”
Robert Brizel: “Right now, do you think this whole thing was caused by Magomed Abdusalamov’s injury? (after losing a bout at Madison Square Garden on November 2, 2013, exposing New York State and the New York State Athletic Commission to liability). Abdusalamov did not pass away, and his family is suing over the medical expenses incurred from his brain injury. Do you think that’s the reason behind the (legislative) change?”
Reader’s Note: After incurring a traumatic brain injury and surgery, since 2014 Magomed Abdusalamov has recovered to the point where he can recognize family members, understand what is being said to him, and answer coherently in short sentences in a low voice. He lost 75 pounds from his 231 pound frame, but has gained more than half of the lost weight back. Russian businessman Andrey Ryabinsky funded Abdusalamov’s nearly $500 thousand dollar rehabilitation state at Helen Hayes Rehabilitation Hospital in Haverstraw, New York. Abdusalamov still had medical bill debts of over 800 thousand dollars. He can move his left arm and leg, but remains paralyzed on his right side after the brain damage put him in a coma for weeks, and he suffered a series of strokes. Charities such as Ring 10 continue to help Abdusalamov. In March 2014, the family filed a lawsuit for unspecified damages. The lawsuit is still in progress. Abdusalamov is lucky to be alive.
Kevin O’Sullivan: “I think that could be a reason why they refuse to lower what was passed in the New York State Senate. From my understanding, this (new brain trauma insurance) law was part of the MMA bill. Somebody requested this (the insurance add on to the bill). In that, there was wording regarding the New York State Athletic Commission. Technically, Albany oversees that, and has the ability to adjust that (million dollar) number up or down, for the insurance, what’s actually going to be required. I think they (Albany) doesn’t wait to reduce it, because if they do get sued again for any reason, this policy pretty much protects the state.”
Robert Brizel: “There’s no way they (New York State, and the New York State Athletic Commission) can settle the Abdusalamov incident because he didn’t pass away. Therefore, it’s an ongoing thorn in their back. It appears David Berlin and a number of other commission officials were dumped by the governor’s office. What happens now?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “New York State has an acting commissioner and an acting executive director for now.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think MMA is also in trouble. The UFC sold for billions. Do you think they can afford to pay for insurance on this level to bring MMA to Madison Square Garden? Do you think MMA is in a better position to take over (the ticket and television market for) competitive sports in New York State? Does this mean the end of boxing in New York and the rise of MMA? What happens now?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “I think eventually something g is going to have to give in New York, because (otherwise) you are making a sport (professional boxing) obsolete. Just like New York at one point did not have MMA, and all of the other USA states were profiting from it, now New York has MMA and it has lost boxing. They gained one sport which is much more profitable, but they lost something which is part of New York (sports) history. New York is taking all of the little guys, local fighters who have big crowds come out for local promoters. A lot of these small promoters cannot afford to take out this expensive insurance in New York.”
Robert Brizel: “You have fighters signed to New Legend boxing. What happens to these fighters now? Are you going to fight your fighters in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or other venues?”
Kevin Sullivan: “Yes. You have to try to keep them busy wherever you can keep them busy. Wherever we can get them the opportunity (to fight on a card outside of New York).”
Robert Brizel: “Have you or any of the other promoters considered lobbying the New York state Legislature directly to try to bring about a change in the new insurance law before the end of the 2016-2017 legislative year?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “New York promoters have gotten together and discussed various ways. Lou DiBella and Joe DeGuardia. They wrote and coordinated a letter trying to get the changes done. I believe they have the support of all other boxing promoters in New York State. They are trying to do something.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think the New York State legislature is going to budge on this? What are your initial reactions?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Hopefully, somebody (in Albany) will take a look at the situation.”
Robert Brizel: “What boxing cards did you have planned? What is on the table, and what was taken off the table?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Lou DiBella has a bunch of shows. I know they moved their Broadway Boxing series to Foxwoods. Felipe’s cards with me became too expensive. For us to go back to Resorts New World Casino in Queens, between the costs of the venue and the insurance costs, it’s impossible.”
Robert Brizel: “Does the cancellation of many boxing cards in New York have an effect on the contracted boxers to stay with their promoters? There was an expectation there was going to be many local boxing shows in New York.”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “I think it is going to hurt some (area) fighters, because this (New York City and New York State) is where you promote yourself and build your fan base and support. As you start to get better (as a fighter), you improve, your record improves, then you start to branch out, then you start to pick up more and more fans. You can find another state, and you can still have people come and follow you, it’s hurting our local guys.”
Robert Brizel: “Where will New Legend Boxing, Kevin O’Sullivan, Felipe Gomez, Wilson Naranjo and Kevin Foley do their shows?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “We (as a team) don’t really have a game plan until matters (in New York State) are resolved.”
Robert Brizel: “If things don’t resolve themselves, where will your team go to do boxing shows next?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or even the Dominican Republic.
Robert Brizel: “Do you think the costs will be higher for New York boxing promoters to do their boxing events in another state?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “The only thing is you are losing your ticket sellers and your fan bases (when you do your shows away from your home area).”
Robert Brizel: “How long can the fan base of New York area fighters be maintained in the face of this whole (period of) change?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “We hope the insurance issue gets resolved sooner rather than later. The longer it goes, the better the chance of losing steam, keeping people remembering what’s going on (in the boxing world), when people get used to going to other states (to see boxing shows) or just watching boxing on TV.”
Robert Brizel: “Have you and Felipe and the team discussed other options for moving your fighters? Do you think you just might move your fighters on somebody else’s boxing show?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Absolutely. We’re there. We’ll deal with the opportunity with other promoters to move our fighters (if it comes to that).”
Robert Brizel: “Has the insurance situation created a lot of stress, aggravation and tension on the part of New York boxing promoters? Do you think they were very affected or startled by it?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Yeah, because you are facing promises and contracts with fighters you are struggling to keep. You have to keep your fighters happy. Not only that, you have to maintain a business relationship with the people you are doing business with. It hurts them. The guys that do the video work. The guys who set up the rings. The guys who do your transportation. Of course you deal with it. Everything.”
Robert Brizel: “The relationship with all those people becomes strained, and if it is not resolved, it becomes damaged.”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “It affects everyone.”
Robert Brizel: “What are the fighters saying about what is happening in New York?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “Well, they are all asking when they are going to be fighting. Most have been active through the August 2016 period, so the situation is not too bad. Come the beginning g of the year, if they don’t have fights, then it is going to be a problem.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think that the way the New York State Legislative Bill was worded was deliberately designed to bring MMA up and push boxing out?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “I think it was more designed to eliminate competition with MMA, and that’s what subsequently happened.”
Robert Brizel: “Boxing didn’t expect that to happen. MMA has megabucks, and can afford the insurance, and boxing can’t. We’re going to have the TV, we’re going to have the monopoly on contact sports, we’re going to run New York, and the boxing people will just be pushed out. You think that was part of it?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “I don’t know if that was the intention of the new legislation (in favor of MMA over boxing), but that was obviously the result.”
Robert Brizel: “If you could, how would you fix boxing in New York?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “They (the legislators) would have to sit down and help the promoters to secure insurance companies who are willing to write the policies so that we have an insurance company in New York State who is willing to underwrite the boxing insurance policies. We (as promoters) have reached out to insurance companies who used to write the policies for boxing in New York, but as yet no insurance company has yet issued an insurance policy to a New York State boxing promoter, which is affordable and is what the state is looking for.”
Robert Brizel: “I certainly hope boxing picks up in the future. DO you think by the end of the current 2016-2017 legislative session in New York something will happen, that the promoters and the New York State Legislature will have made peace with each other?”
Kevin O’Sullivan: “I would hope so.”
Robert Brizel: “I would hope so too. Kevin O’Sullivan, thanks for interviewing with us at Real Combat Media, and keep us posted of boxing developments in the near future.”
Boxing is scheduled to return in New York after a five month hiatus on Saturday, January 14, 2017, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Floyd Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment will present a nine bout USA Showtime card of action packed boxing, with matchmakers Kevin O’Sullivan and John Beninati. Hopefully an insurance policies will be in place for the fighters and the event, and boxing fans will enjoy an evening of world class entertainment New York is famous for.
The post Promoter Kevin O’Sullivan RCM Interview: Updates on Boxing and Insurance in New York State appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Mike Weaver and Iran Barkley Interview: Boxers Stop Taking PEDs Or You Will Die!
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In a Real Combat Media international interview exclusive, former boxing champions
Mike ‘Hercules’ Weaver and Iran ‘The Blade’ Barkley, concerned about boxers taking steroids and other Performance Enhancing Drugs in the heavyweight division, warned boxers to stop taking the drugs or face certain death, the ultimate possibility of abusing your body at a young age and doing permanent damage.
Weaver won the WBA version of the world heavyweight title by knocking out John Tate in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 31, 1980 in the fifteenth round. Barkley held a share of the world middleweight super middleweight and light heavyweight crowns during his career, and won the WBB version of the world heavyweight title by stopping former champion Gerrie Coetzee in Hollywood California on June 8, 1997.
Iran Barkley: “Boxing has to clean its act up. What is wrong with all these guys taking all these steroids and performance enhancing drugs anyway? They should suspend these guys for wrongly using these drugs they are using? If you cannot fight on your God given talent, you don’t belong in the sport of boxing.”
Robert Brizel: “Should Alexander Povetkin be banned from boxing? Or is he innocent?”
Iran Barkley: “Povetkin? Yeah. I think he should be banned. They all should be banned. Thoseprofessional boxers using performance enhancing drugs all should not be allowed to fight. The only world class heavyweight out there who is clean in the damn game is Deontay Wilder. He’s fighting on his God given talent. All these other guys is trying to boost themselves up to beat him, and using performance enhancing drugs to try to beat him. Deontay would beat them any old way anyway. These guys got to use performance enhancing drugs, where did all this stuff come from? That’s what I want to know. Where did everybody start using performance enhancing drugs to try to increase their speed any power?”
Robert Brizel: “Should boxers who test positive for performance enhancing drugs be given second and third chance again and again?”
Iran Barkley: “No! I think they should keep these mother fuckers out! Why do you got to use illegal stuff to beat somebody? They should take their damn purses away, and award the other man all the money.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think many of the previous fights of Alexander Povetkin and others In boxing are now in question because they weren’t tested? Many Russian world champions have defended their title quickly against foreign opposition without being tested.”
Iran Barkley: “They were never properly tested for this kind of stuff. It just so happens a world title fight caused everything these guys did to come into question.”
Robert Brizel: “Did it require that, and should it have been done sooner?”
Iran Barkley: “It should have been done sooner. They should have tested these guys. If you can’t win on your God given talent, they should kick them (the cheating boxers out of boxing).”
Robert Brizel: “Iran, you fought Thomas Hearns twice, Robert Duran, Sven Ottke, and many other fighters, both famous and not so famous. Back in the day, none of your opponents cheated in the way they are cheating inside and outside the ring now. Why is this happening now?”
Iran Barkley: “Because they guys don’t really have the strength and the power they claim they have.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think the drive to win makes people lie and cheat?”
Iran Barkley: “Yeah. They are starting to lie and cheat because they don’t have the power they are supposed to have. They are fighting guys bigger and better, bigger and strong with better ability. And all these guys using all these steroids and stuff. C’mon man! If these guys don’t play the game cleanly, they should just get kicked out of boxing for good.”
Robert Brizel: “In the long run, when people lie and cheat, it catches up with them, doesn’t it?”
Iran Barkley: “Yeah, it catches up with them in the end. All it is a God given sign is they are trying to cheat. If you cannot win on your God given ability, you should be kicked out of the boxing game.”
Robert Brizel: “Do trainers encourage the sort of illegal substance use amongst boxers we are seeing today? The great heavyweight champions were never so influenced”
Iran Barkley: “Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, none of these guys had to resort to this. They did it (their accomplishments) on their God given talent. Some of these damn trainers should be looked at. If they don’t know what their fighter is doing, they should be suspended. How can it be you don’t know what your fighter is doing, and you’ve been around them? They already babysit their fighters in training camp, so, how is it you don’t know what is going on with your fighter?”
Robert Brizel: “In your career, back in the day, Iran, you also fought some very courageous but untalented fighters who knew when they stepped in the ring with you they were going to get knocked out. Yet, these fighters make no excuses and fought cleanly. What is causing this strange change today in the professional boxer’s mentality?”
Iran Barkley: “These guys. They already feel, they know they aren’t going to win in their careers. The problems they have in life start to wear them down. They started to turn to drugs. They start to thinking, well, if I win this fight, I’ll get the money, and I’ll do this and that. Once their get their steroid high, they are already hooked.”
Robert Brizel: “What about drugs which mask the steroids and other illegal substances?”
Iran Barkley: “All the substances which are illegal should be banned. When a doctor and a commission find a fighter with drugs in their system, they should be suspended until they come back and test positive.”
Robert Brizel:” You think the boxing cheaters today will stop using steroids and other illegal drugs?”
Iran Barkley: “They still need to stop using, or they shouldn’t be allowed a payday or to get in the ring. They don’t know what they are doing to their life. They are crazy. All this steroid junk is popping up because guys are afraid someone else is using the stuff, and they think you have to use stuff to beat him.”
Robert Brizel: “What do you think great fighters like Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis and Jack Johnson would make of all of the steroid use by heavyweight boxers?”
Iran Barkley: “It’s a slap in their face. They didn’t have to use that kind of stuff when they was fighting. They fought on their God given talent. When you enhance yourself and try to beat somebody, you aren’t going to win.”
Mike Weaver: “You have fighters taking this stuff to enhance their ability to do certain things, to fight better. It’s all cheating. It’s unreal.”
Robert Brizel: “What penalty should fighters face after being found guilty of using PEDs?”
Mike Weaver: “They should face the maximum penalty. They are just cheating. In my day, they fought on natural ability. In many my day, I never used anything. I never smoked or drank. I don’t smoke or drink. Never did. The only thing I ever did was ate right and took my vitamins.”
Iran Barkley: “We fought on our God given talent. We didn’t have to do that stuff.”
Mike Weaver: “Exactly.”
Iran Barkley: “What happens now? How many fights are taking place with fighters doing illegal performance enhancing drugs and stuff not getting caught?”
Mike Weaver: “Somebody told me the majority of fighters today are taking some kind of steroids or dope to enhance their performances in the ring.”
Iran Barkley: “Guys like Mike and me coming up, we didn’t have to use that stuff. We fought on our God given talent.”
Mike Weaver: “That’s right. We fought professionally on natural ability. No kind of stimulants, drug or needle shot. We trained and we fought. But today some of these fighters take all these drugs to make them look better and run faster. Whatever the illegal drugs do, they are used by fighters to give them an unfair advantage. They should be given the maximum penalty.”
Robert Brizel: “What does it do to a fighter’s brain and body in the long run to use performance enhancing drugs and other bad stuff on your body?”
Mike Weaver: “I never did it. In the long run, it’s going to affect the body, it will even kill you. I had a friend, a professional wrestler who took this PEDs when he was younger. He regretted it when he got older. The drugs caused him illness, and he died. He told me 90% of the professional wrestlers used steroids. He is one of them, who died. Eventually people who are on drugs and dope die. It’s going to take its toll on them. They try to do the best they can at a young age in their thirties. At a later age you are going die. When I was young I thought drugs and drinking would hurt you. When it was offered to me by another boxer, he said he had pills to make you bigger and stronger, I said I wasn’t going to do that.”
Iran Barkley: “I worked out daily, and did the job clean. The winning aspect of a champion.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think all the boxers jacked up on the Jamba Juice are gonna die?”
Iran Barkley: “Yeah these guys are gonna die in the long run. Boxing came a long way and took a long time after Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali to get where it is today, and now this.”
Mike Weaver: “Yeah, the boxers using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are gonna die.”
Iran Barkley: “They don’t got no faith themselves to win and fight on God given talent. Drugs won’t do you a good job to win like that. We hope they don’t die from it. I want to know that fighters fight clean like we fought clean.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think promoter and managers and trainers are encouraging their fighters into steroid and performance enhancing drug use today?
Mike Weaver: “Some of them are, and now (in the recent news) we know all about that.”
Iran Barkley: “They are sneaking steroisd and other performance enhancing drugs in. You know it’s not allowed. Some trainers might tell their fighters some commissions and promoters don’t know about it, to test you in your urine or whatever. They try to get away with it before their fighter fights, whatever they can get away with.”
Robert Brizel: “Iran, you fought Gerrie Coetzee. Mike, you fought Gerrie Coetsee, Michael Dokes twice, Carl Williams, Johnny du Plooy twice, Larry Holmes twice, and so on. You guys know the heavyweight division, Mike more so. Does today’s heavyweight division have a future?”
Mike Weaver: “I like to believe so. I’m not saying every heavyweight out there is using dope or drugs. Some out there are honest. There’s a place for good heavyweights out there. A few are bad, but most are still good.”
Iran Barkley: “Yeah I don’t think every heavyweight out here is using PEDs. A lot of clean guys is in the division. Those fighters doing everything (PEDs) are making the division look bad.”
Robert Brizel: Back then, in your day, fighters would never do steroids.”
Iran Barkley: “There was no need for it. We was fighters back then on our God given talent.”
Mike Weaver: “Back then, blood testing and urinalysis testing, we always had that.”
Robert Brizel: “Not in every state.”
Iran Barkley: “Places like Atlantic City and Las Vegas and New York City, their state commissions did comprehensive testing back then, but it wasn’t as critical as it is now.”
Mike Weaver: “Anti-doping tests are very critical now.”
Iran Barkley: “All that drug enhancing performing stuff in the Olympics just came out. Young amateur athletes should not mess with their bodies with performance enhancing drugs. It has an effect on them early when it catches up to them later. They don’t have their eyesight, or their body doesn’t function right. They destroy their body.”
Mike Weaver: “That’s exactly that’s what it does.”
Iran Barkley: “Guys like Mike Weaver and me, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and a couple of other guys, we fought for the love of the sport, and the money.”
Robert Brizel: “Iran, you have dealt with dishonesty in boxing for a long time. Do you feel that it catches up with the people who do the wrong thing?”
Iran Barkley: “It catches up to them.”
Mike Weaver: “It catches up with them. It does. I can say a lot about a couple fighters who aren’t here with us today. Certain things they did, I found out over the years what they did doing themselves. I love myself too much to do anything to my body. I use natural stuff and my God given talent. At 66 years old, I still work out.”
Robert Brizel: “Robert Brizel’s education in the athletes and the evils of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs is seen in the candidness and directness of what Iran Barkley and Mike Weaver had to say, telling the truth with the hope young athletes will not use PEDs to enhance their abilities and put their lives in danger from the long term effects of such illegal usage.”
The post Mike Weaver and Iran Barkley RCM Interview: Boxers Stop Taking PEDs Or You Will Die! appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Ex-WBA Cruiser Champ Robert Daniels Calls Out Roy Jones Jr. For WBF Title Shot
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Robert ‘Preacherman’ Daniels, the former World Boxing Association World Cruiserweight champion, now joins former cruiserweight champion Imamu Mayfield in calling out Roy Jones Jr. Jones, who won the vacant World Boxing Foundation World Cruiserweight championship last weekend by stopping Bobby Gunn, may find his anticipated retirement from the ring premature.
Daniels, 49-10-1 with 41 knockouts, Miami, Florida, wants to fight Jones, 65-9 with 47 knockouts, Pensacola, Florida, and it does not have to do with the fact both are from Florida.
Robert Brizel: “Why do you want to fight Roy Jones Jr.? Just because he won a new title at cruiserweight and you are back at cruiserweight?”
Robert Daniels: “Roy needs a better fight like me to give him a better fight.”
Robert Brizel: “You have been out of the ring for five years.”
Robert Daniels: “I’m back in shape.”
Robert Brizel: “Both you and Roy live in Florida. Are you staying in Florida?”
Robert Daniels: “I really want to move (in the future) to Seattle, Washington.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you want to fight a tune up bout before fighting Jones?”
Robert Daniels: “Yeah, I want a tune up (a scheduled tune up fell through in 2016) or I’ll just go with the Roy Jones Jr. fight.”
Robert Brizel: “Have you spoken to Jones about your bout proposal?”
Robert Daniels: “No, but I have met him. I was in his training camp over a decade ago in Pensacola, Florida. I was with promoter mural Muhammad at the time. Roy and I were training at different times in his training facility. I saw him a few times.”
Robert Brizel: “Why Jones? Why now?”
Robert Daniels: “I feel I’m just as good as anyone in the world (in the ring). Roy Jones is a name, not only a name. Roy Jones is made for me. That’s my opinion. A friend of mine, Glen Johnson, knocked Roy out. “
Robert Brizel: “Was moving up from cruiserweight to heavyweight a mistake for you?”
Robert Daniels: “Exactly. I agree with you. I was not a heavyweight. I am a cruiserweight. I got lazy, I didn’t want to do the work (to remain at cruiserweight), I made excuses. Fortunately, my body has not taken abuse. I never drank alcohol, smoked or used drugs.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think Roy would be afraid of fighting you?”
Robert Daniels: “Of course not! And I never thought that way with any of my opponents. When we step into the ring, we go in and take every fight as if it was a real title fight.”
Robert Brizel: “Why do you choose to call Roy out now? Both you and Roy are 48 years old. The bout would have to be approved in the jurisdiction where you want to hold it.”
Robert Daniels: “Roy Jones Jr. is a name. If I am gonna come back, it’s (gonna be) for a title, I’m gonna be a double winner.”
Robert Brizel: “What do you want to say to Roy in this interview?”
Robert Daniels: “I want Roy to give me an opportunity for me and him to fight, and fight for a world title.”
Robert Brizel: “What is your prediction against Roy?”
Robert Daniels: “My prediction is me winning.”
Robert Brizel: “Roy has been more active (as a fighter). Doesn’t inactivity hurt your chances?”
Robert Daniels: “Of course! I’d be crazy not to admit that. Activity produces a better outcome. I’ve always kept my body in top condition. I’m always training. I’ve been sparring.”
Robert Brizel: “If Jones does not respond, are you still interested in fighting Junior Wright of Chicago at 10 rounds for the vacant USBO cruiserweight title?”
Robert Daniels: “Junior Wright is world ranked. He fought for the world cruiserweight title twice. He has something I want. Defeating Junior Wright would put me back on top of the ratings once I beat him. That would stop people from throwing excuses at me (saying) you’re not this or that.”
Robert Brizel: “What does your close friend in Florida, trainer and former top heavyweight contender Jose Ribalta, have to say about your comeback plans?”
Robert Daniels: “Jose is just a friend. Jose feels if I want to go for it, I should go for it.”
Former world cruiserweight champion Robert Daniels is Robert Brizel’s education on the motivating reasons a retired champion wants to return to the ring.
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HEATED DAVID HAYE V. TONY BELLEW PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO, THE GLOVES OFF EPISODE & INTERVIEWS
David Haye – Tony Bellew LIVE this Saturday on AWE-A Wealth of Entertainment AND www.klowdtv.com 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
London, UK (February 27th, 2017)–Boxing fans can rejoice that this Saturday’s heavyweight showdown between former heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion David Haye and current cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew can be seen LIVE on AWE-A Wealth of Entertainment and for fans who do not have AWE, the fight will be available on the AWE channel on www.klowdtv.com. Anyone wanting to watch this great fight must be a registered user of www.klowdtv.com
The action begins at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT.
Haye (28-2, 26 KO’s) of London, England is the former WBA/WBC/WBO world cruiserweight champion as well as the former WBA World Heavyweight champion.
Bellew (28-2-1, 18 KO’s) of Liverpool, England is the current WBC Cruiserweight champion.
This has been a grudge match that has been brewing since Bellew stopped BJ Flores in October, and had an altercation with Haye, who was sitting at ringside.
The two will settle the score on Saturday from a sold old 02 Arena in London.
The post HEATED DAVID HAYE V. TONY BELLEW PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO, THE GLOVES ARE OFF EPISODE & INTERVIEWS appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Bronx Bomber Alex Ramos RCM Interview: Magical 1994 Comeback
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In 1994, former top middleweight contender and USBA Middleweight champion Alex ‘The Bronx Bomber’ Ramos embarked on a significant emotionally focused comeback attempt. In the history of the 160 pound middleweight division, Ramos accomplished what would prove to be the most successful comeback journey of any former contender. With full financial sponsorship from a drug dealer (this according to Alex Ramos), the training and the comeback bouts which took place were a rocket rise.
A resident of Simi Valley, California, Ramos founded the Retired Boxers Foundation in 1998, which assists boxers suffering from alcohol and substance abuse difficulties, homelessness, and health difficulties, into a dignified retirement situation.
Between November 1980 and November 1994, Ramos compiled a professional ring record of 30-10-2 with 19 knockouts. In a five month comeback span in 1994, Ramos suddenly finished off nine consecutive opponents, got reranked and was propelled into a WBA world middleweight title bout with then WBA world middleweight champion Jorge Fernando Castro of Argentina.
How did it happen to fast?
Robert Brizel: “What inspired the comeback, Alex?”
Alex Ramos: “Me winning the (world middleweight) championship. Boxing is what I do best, and I love the sport.”
Robert Brizel: “You really believed again you could win the world middleweight title?”
Alex Ramos: “Hell yeah! I really believed. I always had a confidence.”
Robert Brizel: “How long did you go back into training in 1994?”
Alex Ramos: “I went back in Freddie Roach’s gym. I must have been two good months in the gym (before I was ready to do battle in the ring once more).”
Robert Brizel: “What did Freddie Roach think of your comeback attempt?”
Alex Ramos: “Freddie always believed I had a puncher’s chance. Everyone knew I was tough.”
Robert Brizel: “Your first comeback fight in 1994 was at 164 pounds.”
Alex Ramos: “Yes. I fought my nine comeback wins between 163 and 176 pounds.”
Robert Brizel: “You won nine bouts in a row and found yourself into a world middleweight title bout weighing 159 ¾ pounds. That was incredible!”
Alex Ramos: “That was unbelievable! I never had a weight problem.”
Robert Brizel: “After you fought for the world title, your sponsor was still out there. You could have continued on and tried again if you wanted to.”
Alex Ramos: “Yes, I could have. My sponsor was still there.”
Robert Brizel: “After 1994, did you ever want to make a comeback another time?”
Alex Ramos: “I used to think about it, but then I said no more. I remember walking miles and miles to get my last check. It was a long walk. That was the longest walk of my life. I walked from Beverly Hills to my manager Shelly Finkel’s office to pick up my last check. My career as I knew it ended at that point.”
Robert Brizel: “You used to run from your home in the Bronx all over the city.”
Alex Ramos: I had the legs when I first began to box in New York City. I ran back and forth to my gym. I ran every roadway and every bridge. I trained at a gym on East 106th Street between Second and Third Avenue. I used to run from my home at 136th Street in the Bronx all the way to the gym in Manhattan. I was a runner. I used to run the Brooklyn Bridge and the Triborough Bridge (known as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge since 2008). I ran all over the place. I ran everywhere!”
Robert Brizel: “Do you still go back to the gym in California?”
Alex Ramos: “I still go to the gym to visit and see the guys. “
Robert Brizel: “On November 5, 1994, you wound up in a World Boxing Association World Middleweight title bout against Jorge Fernando Castro in Santa Cruz, Argentina. It was his first title defense, and your first world title shot, going for your tenth win in a row. You were on a red hot win streak. What went wrong?”
Alex Ramos: “I had been in the boxing game for a long time. My comeback was emotionally focused and well in motion. However, I was not quite ready for the world title bout when it was offered, and I got thrown into it too soon. I was the hottest fighter in the middleweight division, and I could not pass up on the opportunity of a lifetime. Winning a world title was what it was all about, a significant payday for me, and my sponsors could get paid back as well. I never got hit in the liver like he hit me. Oh my God. God knows, I gave it my all. I got knocked out in the second round. Thankfully I have been sober for three years now. It catches up with you in the end.”
Robert Brizel: “Ricky Hatton battled booze his whole career. Hatton got knocked out in November 2012 in the ninth round of a welterweight bout from a left hook to the liver thrown by Vyacheslav Senchenko. Liver damage caught up to Hatton, in the end, losing a comeback bout he was winning on points. “
Alex Ramos: “I’m still here, and I thank God.”
Robert Brizel: “You still work with youth in amateur boxing.”
Alex Ramos: “If I want to help somebody, I have a friend named Alberto with a gym. I work with kids and help them to learn boxing. It’s a big thing to me. It’s really nice working with the boys and girls. It’s nice.”
Robert Brizel: “What is your day to day health situation?”
Alex Ramos: “The only thing is I take medication. I have a stent in my brain. It’s the truth. It keeps me alive. I’m alive. I’m happy. I’m a lot smarter than before. I never married or had children. I’m happy. They are supposed to be making a movie of my life.”
Robert Brizel: “You are so far from the Bronx, the hood where you grew up. Ever want to go home?”
Alex Ramos: “I’m going home in April, for my induction into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. At times, I do miss the Bronx, but I like the weather out here in California.
Robert Brizel: “How did the late Hector Macho Camacho fit into all of this?”
Alex Ramos: “I came here (to do my boxing training in California) in 1986 with Hector Macho Camacho, and I stayed. Hector left and he went to Florida for a while, then he came back, then he left again, then the accident in Puerto Rico. Macho was a good friend. Hector was good to me. He was a good guy. A great guy. I loved him. He was a super guy.”
Robert Brizel: “And how are you today?”
Alex Ramos: “I weigh about 200 pounds. I thank God for my career. I thank God that I’m still alive, and I’ve still got my head together. It’s wonderful.”
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Rare Alan Blyweiss Interview: Double Broken Nose Bloodbath Bout with Tommy Morrison
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
You heard it right. Former Washington D.C. Golden Gloves champion Alan Blyweiss of Pennsylvania, in an exclusive Real Combat Media interview, tells of the unbelievable time, several decades ago, when he fought the one and only Tommy ‘The Duke’ Morrison in an amateur AAU National Golden Gloves 175 open class four round bout. Morrison won the four round decision, as Blyweiss took him on a double broken nose bloodbath trip through living hell. The bloody bout probably should have been stopped, but as both combatants were a bloody mess of equal measure, the bout was allowed to continue on till its four round conclusion.
Robert Brizel: “Alan, it is wonderful to get your telephone call. How is your health today?”
Alan Blyweiss: “I had two falls today. I fell punch drunk, but my mind is a little better today than it has been (overall, more recently). You know, it’s funny, like those Rocky movies. Towards the end, Rocky would have flashbacks of his fights, and I have been having flashbacks from my bouts.”
Robert Brizel: “Had this happened to you before?”
Alan Blyweiss: “Not as often as they come (the bout flashbacks occur) now.”
Robert Brizel: “Tell me about your health diagnosis, your future prognosis, and your plan of recovery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.”
Alan Blyweiss: “It’s called (I have been diagnosed with) Dementia Pugilistica. I am going to be treated by Dr. Barry Jordan of the New York State Athletic Commission. He is taking care of (going to supervise) all of my care, and he’s hooked up with my immediate plan of treatment. He feels the impression (level) of my treatment could be higher than they think (have recommended for me previously).”
Robert Brizel: “I’m delighted you called tonight! What a wonderful surprise to get your call and hear your voice!”
Alan Blyweiss: “You too! I have a respect for you as a boxing writer. If anyone can tell a story, it’s you. Thing have to be changed in boxing, or there will be many more like me.”
Robert Brizel: “It was a surprise when you contacted me over Facebook, and I responded, and then you called. I had spoken to your wife since your illness, and she said you mentioned me and my boxing writing for Real Combat Media at some point after you took ill. You’ve been in the black for several months, and the boxing community was worried you might never come out of it. Alan, how long have you existed in a black hole with loss of short term memory? How much time have you lost?”
Alan Blyweiss: “I have lost parts of my memory going back eight years. For example,, I know who my children are, but I cannot remember certain sport events with them, cherished memories they told me about. I know who everyone in my family is, it is just pieces of my memory are forever missing. It may gradually get worse, I do not know. As soon as I came out of where I was, my wife told me you had spoken with her, and I saw you had contacted me on my Facebook, so I reached out to you. I have no memory of your call to me several months ago after I became ill. My wife has made me aware you did reach out to me.”
Robert Brizel: “You remember when I came to cover a boxing match with you two years ago?”
Alan Blyweiss: “Amazingly, I do remember everything about you! The captain and his gold chains. I remember picking you up at the train station, you staying with my family, talking with me at the kitchen table, and the boxing match you covered I was involved with in Lebanon, Pennsylvania at the Masons Hall…..but…..I cannot tell you what I had for breakfast, lunch or dinner today.”
Robert Brizel: “What was your amateur record? Where did you train?”
Alan Blyweiss: “Wow. My memory is working perfectly when you talk with me. Good moment. I trained at the Hillcrest Boxing Gym. It is a legendary gym in Washington D.C., where I was trained by Vandel McKann. I had 88 total amateur bouts. All of them were AAU and PAL (Police Athletic League bouts). I had 66 wins and 12 losses. I fought mostly between 178 pounds and 185 pounds novice and open class.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you still have goals in boxing?”
Alan Blyweiss: “I’m not done with boxing. I want to do training. That’s what I am thinking about the most. That’s where I excel. I can train fighters.”
Robert Brizel: “Alan, when did you cross paths with Tommy Morrison?”
Alan Blyweiss: “I turned pro in 1989. I fought Tommy, I want to say in 1984. It was the year he won the national AAU tournament. It was an open class bout, three rounds, and it went to a three round decision. Tommy won the decision. We fought a bloodbath.”
Robert Brizel: “How bloody was it?”
Alan Blyweiss: “My nose was bleeding pretty bad. So was his. They kind of wanted to stop it (the referee and the ringside officials), but, given both of our noses were broken, they were reluctant to stop it. They let the fight go its bloody way until its bloody conclusion.”
Robert Brizel: Were you and Tommy Morrison friends?”
Alan Blyweiss: “I never knew him until then.”
Robert Brizel: “After your bout, was Tommy friendly?”
Alan Blyweiss: “Yeah. Afterwards he came up to me and said ‘Damn! I thought I was the only white boy!’ We were the only white kids there (in the national AAU tournament).”
Robert Brizel: “What was Morrison like personally to fight?”
Alan Blyweiss: “He was a heavy hitter. Man did he have a hook! Tommy spoke well. Tommy was a class act kid. He knew he was gonna be something but was not cocky. Tommy was very humble.”
Robert Brizel: “In your entire amateur and professional career, was your bout with Tommy Morrison the one you remember the most?”
Alan Blyweiss: “Oh absolutely. (By the way) I never saw him again (after that day).”
Robert Brizel: “Years later, your father got an HIV/AIDS letter of inquiry on your behalf regarding your amateur fight with Tommy Morrison. What happened after your family got the letter from the Center for Disease Control?”
Alan Blyweiss: “They gave us a list of doctors we could go to get the bloodwork done done at no charge to get tested for HIV/AIDS.”
Robert Brizel:” Did you go?”
Alan Blyweiss: “Of yeah, absolutely. It was probably in 1997 or 1998 when I went for the blood testing. It was a couple of years after it was out (Morrison went public with his HIV diagnosis).”
Robert Brizel: “What happened with your HIV/AIDS blood test results? Were you relieved?”
Alan Blyweiss: “Yes, I was relieved, but for other reasons then, not just because of Tommy Morrison. I was pretty promiscuous at that time.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think Tommy Morrison actually had HIV? For years before he made his successful comeback, he claimed Nevada had a false positive test, and stated he was HIV negative and had more recent blood tests to prove it. Your opinion of all this.”
Alan Blyweiss: “You know, when we all first heard about it (Morrison testing HIV positive), you heard statements Tommy made about his promiscuous lifestyle while he was a pro (during his career as a professional boxer). I think the Nevada HIV test result against Tommy Morrison was incorrect (however) if there was anything he got, Morrison got it from using unsterilized needles. You don’t go from light heavyweight to heavyweight like he went up in weight without using steroids to bulk up. Based on the Tommy Morrison I fought in the ring all the years ago, there is no way he could have gone up in weight like that, and emerge as a full-fledged heavyweight contender unless he was taking something.”
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Welterweight Angel Manfredy Interview: How You Go To Heaven With Boxing
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In a Real Combat Media international interview exclusive, former world welterweight contender Angel Manfredy cited his spiritual kinship with the lord as the inspiration for his current career training and working with boxers. A native of Hobart, Indiana, Manfredy, 42, fought between 1993 and 2004 and compiled a professional record of 43-8-2 with 32 knockouts. He last fought in April 2004, going 10 rounds with Craig Weber in a main event bout, in Cleveland, Ohio. Manfredy made some comeback noises, as he always does, but his desire for a multimillion dollar rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. after a decade of inactivity, without winning at least a couple of ten round high level comeback bouts (which Manfredy stated they would have to be scheduled for if he did do it), in theory, remains an improbability. Irish Mixed Martial Arts fighter Conor McGregor is the only known opponent on Floyd’s radar. The winner of Keith Thurman versus the winner of Kell Brook versus Errol Spence Jr. is clearly not on Floyd’s radar.
Robert Brizel: “How are you doing, El Diablo?”
Angel Manfredy: “It’s not ‘El Diablo’ anymore.”
Robert Brizel: “How about your other nickname ‘Got Jesus’, Angel?”
Angel Manfredy: “It’s how you go to heaven! It’s salvation! It’s the only way.”
Robert Brizel: “So what’s up?”
Angel Manfredy: “I’m (currently) working with Team Certified Sports Promotions. They are fresh. They are from the Midwest. They’ve been out there for a year. I’m working with light heavyweight Shawk Hawn, 22-3 with 17 knockouts. I’m working with him now, just moving his career to get him a title shot. I’m working May 14 and July 29 boxing cards.”
Robert Brizel: “Where?”
Angel Manfredy: “We haven’t got that yet.”
Lanardo Tyner: “How’s your health?”
Angel Manfredy: “Beautiful.”
Robert Brizel: “Are you still mad you never got a rematch with Floyd?”
Angel Manfredy: “He never gave me the opportunity. After I beat Ivan Robinson on HBO (in 1999), the highest television boxing rating ever for a television audience (or so Manfredy claims), I called out Mayweather for a rematch, but he never gave me the opportunity.”
Robert Brizel: “That was after you beat Julio Diaz. You might have beaten Paul Spadafora too.”
Angel Manfredy: “They did me wrong the day of the Spadafora fight. The gloves couldn’t fit my hand.”
Robert Brizel: “You only lost 115-113 on the three scorecards. How did the improperly fitted gloves affect your performance?”
Angel Manfredy: “It affected me very much. I couldn’t make a fist in the gloves. They rigged up the fights. They gave me the gloves the day of the fight. They are supposed to give you the gloves to try on the day before the fight. They did not follow proper procedures.”
I don’t know if you heard this. Spadafora was arrested recently for stabbing his brother, kicking his mother, resisting arrest, and making terroristic threats. Are you surprised? He previously did jail time for shooting his pregnant girlfriend. What do you think of him?”
Angel Manfredy: “I think he’s no good. I think he Paul Spadafora) doesn’t represent the boxing world. He’s a bad influence now.”
Reader’s Note: this past February, prosecutors in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, dropped assault and other charges against former lightweight boxing champ Paul Spadafora for allegedly stabbing his brother and kicking his mother during a family dispute, though he’s still charged with threatening police officers who intervened, and spitting on one. Spadafora waived a preliminary hearing on a single aggravated assault charge, several counts of making terroristic threats, and resisting arrest. The charges against his family members were dropped because they failed to show up to testify at a hearing about the December 2016 fracas. A judge has now stated Spadafora must go through drug/alcohol program in jail before he can attempt to get out from his current charges. Spadafora won the vacant International Boxing Federation lightweight belt in 1999 but surrendered the title in 2003.
Robert Brizel: “You are now 43 years old.”
Angel Manfredy: “42 years old!”
Robert Brizel: “You finished with a record of 43-8-1.”
Angel Manfredy: “With 32 knockouts!”
Robert Brizel: “Have you ever considered make a comeback to end your career with a win. Are you in fighting condition? Do you work out?”
Angel Manfredy: “It takes me three to five months to get in top shape. I’m only (160 pounds) now.
Robert Brizel: “You had some medical issues in the past. “
Angel Manfredy: “I’ve been good lately. It’s been years since something happened to me and I got out of hand.”
Robert Brizel: “Would you like to make a comeback?”
Angel Manfredy: “The only one I’d come back to fight is Mayweather if the money is right. I’d only come back for one person (Floyd). This is America. I’m 42 (years old). Mayweather’s 40.”
Robert Brizel: “You’d have to win some comeback fights to pursue that dream.”
Angel Manfredy: “I’ve been active teaching (training fighters), watching fights, so I’m still alive around the game.”
Robert Brizel: “Has anybody offered you the chance to make a comeback?”
Angel Manfredy: “Top Rank asked me if I would come back. They said ‘we want you’. Recently. Everybody wants me to come back. It’s not about the money. It’s about respect, and if the world want to see Manfredy back in the ring and on TV, it’s about respect.”
Robert Brizel: “So are you training any fighters?”
Angel Manfredy: “I’ve got some amateurs.”
Robert Brizel: “What gym are you using?”
Angel Manfredy: “Carr’s boxing gym. Ricky Carr (it is Ricky Carr’s gym), he’s an ex-pro fighter. The gym is located in Crown Point, Indiana. Ricky Carr is a big fan of mine, we clicked, and he hired me to work in his gym.”
Robert Brizel: “Tell me about, let’s take a look at the Book of Acts Chapter 2 Verse 238.”
Angel Manfredy: “That’s where Salvation is.”
Robert Brizel: “You used to wear Jesus on the front of your boxing trunks. Has spirituality turned your life around?”
Angel Manfredy: “Yeah. Without the lord I wouldn’t be here. Without the lord I wouldn’t be here. Ever when I was (fought as) ‘El Diablo’ (my old nickname), he (Jesus) was there with me.”
Robert Brizel: “The Book of Acts, Chapter 2, Verse 238, King James, international version of The New Testament says, says, Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’. Why is this particular passage significant to you today?”
Angel Manfredy: “It’s my salvation. It how you get born again. It’s how you get born again. There is no other way. I wore it on my trucks. That’s how I go to Jesus.”
Robert Brizel: “If and when you return inside the ring again, will Chapter 2, Version 238, appear on your boxing trunks?”
Angel Manfredy: “Yeah. I’ll have to get new trunks.”
Robert Brizel: “If you did return to the ring for a comeback bout or comeback bouts, how many rounds would it take you to break them down?”
Angel Manfredy: “I’d break them down easy. I have too much experience. I wouldn’t fight six rounds. Ten (rounds, I’m a 10 and 12 round fighter).”
Robert Brizel: “So the fights would have to be very serious?”
Angel Manfredy: “Yes. Or why do it?”
The post Welterweight Angel Manfredy RCM Interview: How You Go To Heaven With Boxing appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
The Iraqi Butcher, Super Middleweight Sinan Fradi RCM Interview: Revenge at 2:59
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In a Real Combat Media interview exclusive, a rare Iraqi professional boxer hopes to take the super middleweight division by storm in the next 12 months. He calls himself ‘The Iraqi Butcher’. Undefeated but unknown Sinan Fradi, of Dearborn, Michigan, fighting out of the World’s Best Boxing Gym under the tutelage of head training Julio Hernandez, may set the stage for the new wave of Detroit area fighters in the post-Emanuel Steward era.
After a one round nutty No-Contest bout in his professional debut, a boxing enthusiastic Fradi has settled down, winning two bouts by knockout, including a revenge win at 2:59 of the first round in his last outing against Brian Jackson, the cause of his pro debut No-Contest. Fradi’s plans include fighting ten bouts in the next ten months against a higher quality of opposition as he begins his ascent at 168 pounds in the same gym as Cornelius K9 Bundrage.
Robert Brizel: “Tell me about 2:59. Defeating Brian Jackson at 2:59 of the first round on March 26, 2017, at the Ford Community Center card promoted by Jaafar promotions. That’s a definitive win. The time of the victory was, shall we say, unique. Was that sweet revenge?”
Sinan Fradi: “My friend and gym partner, former world super welterweight champion Cornelius K9 Bundrage, felt I could take Brian Jackson out (in the rematch). Everyone else told me to keep jabbing.”
Robert Brizel: “Did you say in your mind, give it a few rounds (the second time) with Jackson?”
Sinan Fradi: “Everyone told me don’t rush it. The knockout was coming.”
Robert Brizel: “In your pro debut, the time you fought Jackson, you appeared overanxious.”
Sinan Fradi: “It was my pro debut. I was very excited. The second time (in the rematch) K9 Bundrage made a bet I would take Jackson out in the first round. Jackson (0-5) didn’t belong there. By the way, he had very nasty words to say about me, which promoter Eddie Jaafar conveyed. It was very personal (my desire for a rematch). The rematch was originally set for January, but he wouldn’t agree. He was brought in for the March 2017 rematch as a last minute thing. Jackson could not make super middleweight, so I had to come in at light heavyweight for the rematch to take place, which it did finally.”
Robert Brizel: “What happened in the No-Contest with Jackson?”
Sinan Fradi: “It was my pro debut (in Dearborn, Michigan, on October 30, 2016). It caused me a lot of heartache. He (Jackson) told the referee he could not see (after he claimed I accidentally hit him behind the head). It broke my heart for a second. It was not how I wanted to start my career.”
Robert Brizel: “What’s next for Sinan Fradi?”
Sinan Fradi: “More competitive fights. I told promoter Eddie Jaafar (I don’t want) no more bums. I need to fight every month. I need to get (fight) one fight a month, and at least eight to ten more fights this year, and not just on Eddie Jaafar shows.”
Robert Brizel: “Iraq is a more open society now. Would you like to fight on a boxing show in Iraq at some point in the future?”
Sinan Fradi: “Absolutely. I was there (I went home) in 2005, 2006 and 2007. They are following my boxing career in Iraq now. If I make it big over here, they will see my shows. I come from a family of great fighters! My two uncles, Majed Fredi and Mehsin Fredi, were Arabian champions and fought in the Olympics, in the Olympic qualifiers, for Iraq. They have major connections for me over there, so television boxing can be big in Iraq.”
The post The Iraqi Butcher, Super Middleweight Sinan Fradi RCM Interview: Revenge at 2:59 appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Happy Birthday Jose Ribalta Interview: Memories of Castro’s Cuba, Calls Out Mike Tyson for Gentleman’s Rematch
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In an international Real Combat Media boxing exclusive former heavyweight contender Jose ‘El Nino’ Ribalta, on the occasion of his 54th birthday on March 31, 2017, has become the first fighter to call out the retired Iron Mike Tyson to fight him. Ribalta, now working and living in North Miami Beach, Florida, left his native Rodrigo, Cuba in 1967 to immigrate to the United States, and lived in Washington D.C. until 1972. Ribalta moved to Florida in 1972.
Ribalta compiled a professional record of 38-17-1 with 27 knockouts between 1982 and 1999. Ribalta fought 10 rounds with Tyson at the Trump Plaza Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ribalta was knocked down in the second, eighth and tenth rounds before referee Rudy Battle stopped the bout at 1:37 of the tenth round. Ribalta came back title, but the opponent was changed by Don King to Buster Douglas instead. Douglas knocked out Tyson and won the world heavyweight title. Ribalta still feels that should have been his moment instead, and hopes Tyson will come out of retirement to fight him again.
Jose Ribalta: “Some people still say Iron Mike Tyson versus Jose Ribalta was the best heavyweight bout ever! I would like to fight Tyson again!”
Robert Brizel: You fled Fidel Castro’s Cuba with your family when you were four years old.”
Jose Ribalta: “I would like to go back to visit Cuba. The Ribaltas could not go back to Cuba. Of course I would like to go back (home to Cuba) one day. I would like to, though it’s unlikely it will happen. Fidel Castro was a dictator. He was a leader, of course. He was the boss, the one who called the shots. He and his soldiers were in control and had the good things. Everyone else in Cuba (the people he ruled) was not on his level.”
Robert Brizel: “What happened to your family in Cuba?”
Jose Ribalta: My father was a (cabinet) adviser to President Fulgencio Batista. He fled to exile into Spain, and died there. My father was never in prison. They did not kill him. My father sent my mother and ten of the eleven children to Washington D.C. My father knew Castro was taking over, so he got everyone (in our family) ready to leave. My oldest brother was 16 years old, and at 16 you had to serve in Castro’s army. He could not leave. My brother was an amateur boxer who fought Teofilo Stevenson in Cuba three times. Castro’s soldiers were looking to kill my dad, so he went into hiding.. My father could not leave until 1978, 11 years later. Things (the political climate) eventually calmed down. My oldest brother followed my father to America one year after that. They were eventually allowed to leave because the rest of the family was gone. I was one of three boxing bothers. I had another brother who was 8-1-1 as a professional welterweight.”
Reader’s Note: Fulgencio Batista Zaldívar (1901-1973) was the elected President of Cuba from 1940 to 1944, and U.S.-backed dictator from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown during the Cuban Revolution.
Robert Brizel: “You fought Mike Tyson in 1986. Your reflections on Tyson, then and now.”
Jose Ribalta: I fought Tyson at 211 pounds. I had a stomach virus before I fought him. I ain’t scared of him. Then or now. I’ll fight Tyson again. The judges had it 9-0, 8-1, and 7-2. I believe I won more than two rounds. The commentators would only say something when Tyson punched, not when I punched. When I fought 10 rounds with Larry Holmes, Holmes knocked me down. Two judges told me if not for the knockdown, they would have scored the fight for me. Holmes told me he hit me with the hardest right hand he ever threw, and could not believe I got up. Tim Witherspoon and Larry Holmes were afraid of me when they fought me. They did not want to fight me.”
Robert Brizel: “Why on your 54th birthday do you want a rematch with Iron Mike Tyson, 30 years after you first fought him? Is it for the money?”
Jose Ribalta: “Ten years after we fought in Atlantic City, we sparred in the gym. I did real good with him in the gym. I feel more confident (today) I can beat Mike Tyson if I get the opportunity to fight him again. I have not seen Mike since we sparred in the gym in 1996.”
Robert Brizel: “Where would you fight your rematch with Tyson? Las Vegas?”
Jose Ribalta: “Of course (in) Las Vegas. I want everyone to see me beat Mike Tyson.”
Robert Brizel: “Why should Mike Tyson return to the ring and grant you a gentleman’s rematch?”
Jose Ribalta: “I was the original guy Don King had for Mike Tyson’s title defense against James Buster Douglas. He knew the king of fighter I am. I was the original guy supposed to fight Tyson, which was supposed to be for the world title, my rematch. I got knocked down by Jeff Simms, who I beat over 10 rounds. Buster Douglas beat Oliver McCall, and he got the opportunity to challenge for Tyson’s heavyweight title instead.”
Robert Brizel: “Can you beat Tyson the second time around?”
Jose Ribalta: “I know I’ll beat Tyson if we fight again! Iron Mike might be afraid of what I’ll do to him this time? I still spar occasionally with the young kids in the gym. I should have been fighting my rematch with Tyson in Japan. So many people who saw me and Mike Tyson fight are still talking about it in Facebook today.”
Robert Brizel: “Nino, what do you want to say to Iron Mike Tyson?”
Jose Ribalta: “Mike, let’s do what we were supposed to do in 1990. It should have been me in the ring in Japan, not Buster Douglas. What’s interesting is so many people still love to watch our 1986 fight. There was no quitting on my behalf or Tyson’s behalf. See the results. People would love to pay to watch us fight again on pay-per-view. Mike and I could be the co-main event on Deontay Wilder’s next card. I know our fight would still draw. It’s a great idea. A lot of people of Facebook say do it, they reminisce about how we felt after each round (which we fought).”
The post Jose Ribalta RCM Interview: Memories of Castro’s Cuba, Calls Out Mike Tyson for Gentleman’s Rematch appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Armin Mrkanovic Interview: Highway Robbery in West Virginia UBF Title Bout
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
The Bosnian Prince, cruiserweight Armin Mrkanovic, has a record of 7-3. At 37, he has not realized his potential. Much like Manny Pacquiao’s highway robbery loss last weekend to Jeff Horn in Australia, Mrkanovic came out on the short end of the stick this past weekend as well. On June 24, 2017, Mrkanovic got robbed in an eight round decision loss to 10-2 Josh Himes in a Universal Boxing Federation All-America Cruiserweight vacant title bout held at the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville.
Himes appeared to win the first two rounds. Then it was all Mrkanovic. In an exclusive interview with Real Combat Media, Mrkanovic stated his viewpoints on the deserved win he did not get.
Robert Brizel: “Why did they call you the Bosnian Prince?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “A friend of mine who was a fighter said I was more of a romantic, and said we gonna call you the prince.”
Robert Brizel: “Did your good looks help you with women?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “My fighting got me there.”
Robert Brizel: “You were out of the ring over 28 months after you defeated Dave Valkeo. Why?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “My major issue was people pulling out on me, and not getting me the right fighters.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you have a promoter now?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “I have someone I am working with (who is) not a promoter.”
Robert Brizel: “In 2012 you lost a majority decision in four rounds to Rayford Johnson. Would you fight a rematch if you could?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “Yes.”
Robert Brizel: “How did the West Virginia fight with Josh Himes come about?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “I got a call from someone in West Virginia to fight a local guy for a belt, and since it was for a belt, it sounded interesting to me. So I looked at a tape of the proposed opponent, and I had no doubt I could beat the guy (Josh Himes).”
Robert Brizel: “How was the bout scored?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “77-75, 79-73, and 80-72 for Himes. If I was blind, I would never lose eight rounds to him.”
Robert Brizel: “At 37, do you think your career is over?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “No, it’s not. It’s not even close to being over. I have so much more fight left in me.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think won every round in West Virginia?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “I won at least five of the eight rounds. That’s being generous.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think the fight was fixed?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “It was home cooking. His corner told me the worst the bout could have been was a draw.”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think Josh Himes will give you a rematch?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “I asked him for a rematch right away. Himes told me it was a war, and he doesn’t know, and he walked away (from me in the ring after the decision was announced).”
Robert Brizel: “Would you ever fight again in West Virginia?”
Armin Mrkanovic: “If worse comes to worse, and I’m going to get a rematch in West Virginia against Josh Himes and that’s the only option I have, I’m going (back) to West Virginia. I want to expose this fighter. If there were any doubts that I beat somebody, I would want the chance to prove them wrong. I need this (fight result) to be made right.”
The post Armin Mrkanovic RCM Interview: Highway Robbery in West Virginia UBF Title Bout appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi: The Top Secret Interview Files Part I. Introduction
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In the Spring of 2016, Ike Ibeabuchi was released unconditionally from a Nevada State prison. Where was he? Ibeabuchi’s Nigerian relatives contacted Real Combat Media sports reporter Robert Brizel on Facebook to try to find out where Ike was after he was released from the Nevada State prison system. With some diligent detective work, Ibeabuchi was located in the custody of United State Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a holding situation similar to junior middleweight Alfredo Angulo. Ike would eventually be rereleased by ICE, and went to live with an aunt in Gilbert, Arizona.
Over the course of several months, Ibeabuchi spoke with Brizel about the possibility of hooking up with a trainer, his advisement, his living situation, his inability to work, his legal status and paperwork, his court appeal of his Nevada conviction and sentence (overturned twice but not removed from his record or granted retrial), his probationary status and travel conditions, and his involvement with the later Cedric Kushner and missing funds.
Lacking internet access, Ibeabuchi requested Brizel send him his boxing articles on an ongoing basis. One year later, many of Brizel’s envelopes sent to Ike were returned by the U.S. Postal Service. Ike expressed an interest in immediately fighting heavyweight Andy Ruiz. Despite having been out of the ring since March 20, 1999, when he stopped future world heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, Ibeabuchi sounded motivated and believed he could beat Ruiz. No promoter approached Ibeabuchi, who remained in limbo in Arizona without a green card. After filing paperwork, Ibeabuchi eventually did get his green card, then applied for United States citizenship. Ibeabuchi still needed special permission to travel, where and with dates, and he needed it in writing, for both training and pro fights. It now appears Ibeabuchi remains on lifetime probation in Arizona, though at the time of Brizel’s conversations with Ibeabuchi, Ike did not make this legal condition completely clear. The conditions of why this remains so (as Ibeabuchi completed his prison sentence) remain unclear.
Ibeabuchi earned several college degrees with honors while incarcerated, and also became a paralegal. His intense legal studies enable him to file timely and relevant appeals of his case. Of equal concern to Ibeabuchi was the millions of dollars he earned in the ring during his brief 20-0 boxing career. According to Ike, his bank accounts and investments were deposited in both his name and the late Cedric Kushner together. Ike’s later mother got a Ike to sign over Power of Attorney to a lawyer, who handled the funds for a fee. According to Ike, this prevented Kushner from access to Ike’s money.
When Ike gained his freedom, the lawyer refused to release Ike’s money or control of it, owing to the fact a sale had transferred Ike’s funds and investments from one bank to another. The new bank refused to pay Ike interest he was entitled to, which he had received on a regular basis from the original bank. The lawyer sued the new bank, and claimed he could now relinquish control of Ike’s money until the court case was resolved. According to Ike, he then sued the lawyer.
Ike stated he was working out at a local gym in Gilbert, Arizona. Ike was anxious to clear his name, get his money back, and resume his boxing career. Speaking with a highly educated sounding British accent, Ike appeared to be more concerned about a niece supposed to be going to his aunt’s to live who was a minor. Ibeabuchi reasoned if this occurred, he would have nowhere to live as this would violate the terms of his probation.
Ibeabuchi was ultimately rearrested and sent back to prison for violating the terms of his release. As a non-citizen, additional conditions plagued Ike, and he was working hard to remove them. Ike was rearrested for failing to complete a required treatment program. This was never mentioned in his conversations with this reporter, to the extent this reporter still wonders if Ibeabuchi even was aware of the requirement. With Ibeabuchi’s incarceration location in the Arizona ICE or Arizona State prison system, the contents of his interviews with this reporter will now opened in a lengthy series of articles on Real Combat Media.
Ibeabuchi was very anxious to have his story publicized, and to tell his life as was important to him, from mostly a strict legal viewpoint. Ibeabuchi also heard from this reporter first that his late mother had set up a website to call attention and raise money for Ike’s cause, but she died before Ike was released, after pursuing her son’s cause for over a decade. Unfortunately, the website was torn down before Ibeabuchi had a chance to read its contests, and his mother’s impassioned plea to help her son.
As the series of telephone interviews began, Ibeabuchi stated his biggest mistake was not going to trail in Nevada. He did not find out until after he pled guilty that the Nevada State’s star witness, his so-called victim, was a hooker and had been subsequently arrested and convicted of prostitution. Ibeabuchi would never have gone to jail if that fact had come out, and he had gone to trial. This was all according to Ike, who also reasoned certain individuals of the Las Vegas boxing scene were partially responsible for this, as they wanted to bury his boxing career to protect their investments in other heavyweight fighters they had signed. In the month of August 2017, this reporter’s locked five tier file cabinet will be opened, and the secret interview file of Ike Ibeabuchi, confidential writings sealed for 18 months, will be opened. Part of the reason for not coming forward with this information immediately was because there seemed to be some confusion regarding Ike’s precise legal and immigration status. Also, the details of Ike’s conviction and appeal were deeply personal, and this reporter had a concern at the time if the information was released, it could impact on Ibeabuchi’s desire to make a comeback in the heavyweight division. However, Ike wanted the interviews published.
The post Heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi: The Top Secret Interview Files Part I. Introduction appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi: The Top Secret Interview Files Part II. The Beginning
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
On April 7, 2016, at 9:43 A.M., less than six months after his conditional release by USICS in November 2015, former heavyweight contender Ike Ibeabuchi, hoping for a comeback, was arrested by the U.S. Marshal’s office and other police agencies in Gilbert, Arizona. Ibeabuchi, if he could give his side of the story, would have revealed he was scheduled to fly to Las Vegas 48 hours later, where he would make his first public appearance on television since defeating David Tua in 1999, ringside at the Pacquiao versus Bradley fight card.
Someone or some force, or so it may have appeared to Ibeabuchi, had acted to prevent him from his hope of a comeback in the professional boxing ring. When 2018 arrives, four years will have passed since Ike’s prison sentence ended, and he will have been out of the ring for 19 years. Given the passage of time, the possibility of Ike making any sort of comeback has become more remote, perhaps ridiculous to anyone besides Ike. However, if Ibeabuchi could have been signed immediately in 2014, he might have had a slim chance of a comeback. Unfortunately, USIC had an immigration hold on Ibeabuchi when his original Nevada prison sentence ended. Ibeabuchi would eventually be released on lifetime probation, receive a green card, and apply for United States citizenship.
In the telephone interviews between Brizel and Ibeabuchi, Ike never stated he required any sort of treatment program as a condition of his release. Based on this reporter’s series of comprehensive interviews with Ibeabuchi, either Ibeabuchi, who was in active contact with his probation officer, knew nothing of the requirement, or he did not share the information. Whatever the case, Ibeabuchi was only concerned with his living conditions, planned comeback, regaining control of his financial assets being held by a power of attorney sent up by his late mother, and clearing his name of a wrongful conviction for a crime Ibeabuchi stated never occurred as was portrayed in court. A promoter and trainers had been lined up for Ibeabuchi at his request. Manny Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz had been in touch with Ibeabuchi as well. On April 7, 2016, at 4:30 P.M., Ike Ibeabuchi was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and ordered held on $3500 bail. Ibeabuchi appeared in Maricopa County Supreme Court on April 16, 2016, in Phoenix, Arizona, to address an INS hold, and failure to address an outstanding warrant. Since disappearing into the USIC and Arizona penal systems, Ibeabuchi’s whereabouts in incarceration have been unknown.
Robert Brizel: “Ibeabuchi (as he prefers to be called), what purpose will these interviews serve?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I seek to clear my name.”
Robert Brizel: “What year were you locked up?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “From 2007 to 2014, I was locked up at Ely State Prison in Nevada, until I was released on probation. Then immigration held me elsewhere. From 2006 to 2007, I was held at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City. From 2003 to 2006, I was in the Nevada State Prison in Lovelock. From 1999 to 2003, I was held at High Desert State Prison.”
Robert Brizel: “What happened in the Supreme Court of Nevada in 2007?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “The Supreme Court of Nevada overturned my conviction in Habeas Corpus appeal, and remanded it to the lower courts-to effect my reversal and overturn.”
Robert Brizel: “Did you expect you would immediately be released then?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “Yes. I expected to be released immediately.”
Robert Brizel: “At that point, did you think you could resume your heavyweight boxing career?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “Yes, because I trained in prison very effectively, two times a day, from 2003 to 2007.”
Robert Brizel: “Were you moved in 2007?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “My release was neglected in 2007. I was delayed. I had to stop my training, due to the new environment I was placed in. (After my sentence reversal) I was moved to administrative segregation. I (fully) expected to be (unconditionally) released, but I was not released. They did not (release me). I was abandoned (in the Nevada State penal system.”
Robert Brizel: “What happened next? Where did you wind up?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “After the judgment (in my favor) in the Nevada State Supreme Court, was received and abandoned, from 2007 to 2014, I was held in Ely State Maximum Security Prison in administrative segregation.”
Robert Brizel: “Were you well treated at this point or not?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “(from a professional standpoint) I was allowed to train in Lovelock, High Desert and Carson City (Nevada State Prisons). As long as I was considered to train in a training regimen, it was considered fair. I was not allowed to train in Ely.”
Robert Brizel: “How long have you been out now? (released as a free man)”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I am training daily at 24 hour LA Fitness in Gilbert, Arizona.”
Robert Brizel: “Do they have a boxing ring and / or heavy bags there?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “Yes. They have.”
Robert Brizel: “How much do you weigh now, Ike?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “252 pounds. My condition is I am only training to be in good spirits. I’m waiting to restore myself from the abuse I have suffered (related to my incarceration). I am not training for any boxing engagements (yet). I am training to keep myself well. I go to the gym seven days a week to maintain (my) physical fitness (for right now).”
Part II: What happened in the Nevada State Court in 2007 to Ikemefula Charles Ibeabuchi? ‘The President’, boxing’s colorful heavyweight, continues his story as only he can tell it, is his own words, and much much more.
The post Heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi: The Top Secret RCM Interview Files Part II. The Beginning appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
Heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi: The Top Secret RCM Interview Files Part III Nevada Courts
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In our secret telephone conversations, Ike ‘The President’ Ibeabuchi, age 43, released from incarceration after 17 years, including the year spent in immigration limbo, went into great depth about his legal issues.
Before doing that, Ibeabuchi clarified the physical conditioning training he was involved with in 2016 in Gilbert, Arizona, and the intent behind it. Given, Ibeabuchi stated he sought an immediate bout with heavyweight contender Andy Ruiz. However, Ibeabuchi’s immigration status was as yet unresolved during our conversations (he subsequently obtained a U.S. Green Card lawfully and applied for U.S. Citizenship lawfully).
Ike’s physical conditioning program was geared only towards maintenance. Ike wanted to leave Arizona, with permission from the authorities monitoring his probationary status, to return to boxing training. His ability to leave Arizona remained unclear. Ike was apparently unaware of a requirement to begin a treatment program in Arizona related to his 1998 conviction in a sexual assault case. This needs to be clarified. Ike was convicted separately in 2001 of attempted sexual assault and battery in Las Vegas.
It now appears, based on this writer’s comprehensive research, and conversations with Ibeabuchi, that Ike was unaware of the treatment program requirement tacked onto the previous conviction, and Ike apparently gotten nailed and jailed on the old warrant.
17 years has now become 18, and in 2019 it will be 20 years since Ike was out of the ring, making his name long faded from memory, and his odds of a comeback far fetched.
Robert Brizel: “Ike, how much do you weigh now? What’s your condition?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “252 pounds. I’m only training (now) to be in good spirits. I’m waiting to restore myself from the abuse I suffered from the U.S. of A. I’m now training (at present) for any boxing engagements. I’m training to keep myself well. I go to the gym seven days a week to maintain my physical fitness.
Robert Brizel: “What happened in the Nevada Supreme Court?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “The Nevada Supreme Court reversed my conviction, and remanded it to the lower court for Habeas Corpus petition. When the lower courts abandoned it, and did not clear my penal record as the Nevada Supreme Court had ordered, the judgment of conviction was overturned. When the Nevada Supreme Court reversed it, the lower courts did not apply it, so the matter remained moot.”
Robert Brizel: “Your current fight right now is to clear your good name.”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “And to restore my status granted to me by the courts in the U.S. of A. I t’s not a political matter. I contacted Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada about my case. They did not write my back. The governor had written back to me earlier when he was attorney general. I had the Nevada Supreme Court letter of relief. The only thing the executive branch of government of Nevada issued was a certificate of discharge on February 28, 2014.”
Robert Brizel: “Where did immigration fit into the big picture?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I was transferred to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Eloy Detention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. I was (held) in administrative segregation by my own choosing instead of being housed with a roommate.”
Robert Brizel: “So you would not get into legal trouble?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I had my legal matters. I wanted to focus on my legal matters. I had more room to practice law (as a paralegal), as a consequence of immigration releasing me when they did.”
Robert Brizel: “You earned three associate’s degrees and a few certificates.”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I earned my Associate of Applied Science in General Studies in 2005 from Western Nevada College. Then in 2006, I earned an Associate of Applied Science in General Business. In 2007, I earned an Associate of Applied Science in Management. I then earned a paralegal certificate from Blackstone Career Institute in Pennsylvania by correspondence.”
Robert Brizel: “What happened to the money you earned as boxer during your career?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I had three bank accounts at Norwest Bank worth over 10 million dollars. Well Fargo purchased Norwest Bank (while I was incarcerated). This included a money market investment portfolio worth over 500 thousand to a million dollars. My mother assigned my power of attorney to a family friend, an attorney, in September of 2001, in the Supreme Court of Nevada. To date, he has refused by discharged from his status as overseer of my accounts (and return my money and financial assets to me) and will not provide me with financial records.”
Robert Brizel: “Where are you now in terms of resolving your legal matters?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I had an attorney in Arizona who opened the case to restore my legal status in the United States. In 2003, Arizona issued a grand jury warrant to extradite me, and it was illegal because Nevada had to dispose its own matters before Arizona could file for extradition. Arizona was my home state of residence when I got arrested in Nevada. Returning home, the circumstances of my immigration status brought me to Eloy in Arizona. I have regained all of my legal status in Arizona. My attorney is looking at what matter Arizona did not dispose when they tried to extradite me in 2003.”
Robert Brizel: “What is your current litigation status?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I withdrew from subsequent appeals. On Jan 19 to 21 of 2016, The Nevada Supreme Court and the Chief Justice, respectively, issued an order addressing the order of the Supreme Court in 2007 ordering it be upheld, owing to the circumstances of 2007 to 2014 when my certificate of discharge was issued by the State of Nevada.”
Robert Brizel: “Are you currently on probation?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “I refused parole because I already had relief from the Supreme Court of Nevada. Nevada then turned me loose to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Nevada lower courts or the state prosecutor have been ignoring the order handed down from the Supreme Court of Nevada.”
Robert Brizel: “Your immigration status now?”
Ike Ibeabuchi: “My green card was recently renewed on January 29, 2016. I filed for U.S. citizenship on January 29, 2016. The judgment of the Nevada Supreme County was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, and sent to homeland Security to put into my file. I can be called for a citizenship interview at any time. Once I am a citizen of the United States, I intend to resume my boxing career full-time.”
The post Heavyweight Ike Ibeabuchi: The Top Secret RCM Interview Files Part III – Nevada Courts appeared first on REAL COMBAT MEDIA.
