Tag Archives: HBO Boxing

Women on fight cards …

Women on fight cards …

Susi Kentikian will be battling Carina Morena this weekend in Dusseldorf, Germany for the vacant WBA Flyweight Championship.

On the theme of professional women’s boxing … I thought I’d check out the fight cards for this coming Friday, November 30th and Saturday, December 1st using the World Schedule on BoxRec.

Should be fun!

 

11/30/12 (Total of 3 bouts out of 26 Fight Cards, No televised fights)

Ginásio Municipal de Esporte Luiz Fragossa, Vila Anastácio, Sao Paulo, Brazil

4×2, Super Flyweight, Michele Da Silva (Debut) v. Fabiana Morais (Debut)

Lugogo Stadium, Kampala, Uganda

4×2, Light Welterweight, Florence Muthoni (4-2-0, 2-KOs) v. Shabilla Namaga (0-2-1)

Eclipse Convention Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

4×2, Lightweight, Yolanda Ezell (2-2-0, 1-KO) v. Liz Drew (11-10-0, 4-KO)

 

12/1/2012 (Total 5 bouts of out of 31 Fight Cards, 1 televised fight)

Hershey Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

4×2 Light Welterweight, Natalie Brown (5-2-0, 3-KOs) v. Tammie Johnson (4-3-2)

Mastergym, Duisburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

4×2 Lightweight, Michele Thon (4-0-0) v. Derya Saki (3-0-0)

Anhalt Arena, Dessau, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

4×2 Lightweight, Nicole Wesner (Debut) v. Hana Horakova (2-6-0)

Burg-Waechter Castello, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

(televised on Germany SAT1)

WBA Female Flyweight Title

10×2, Flyweight, Susi Kentikian (29-1-0, 16-KO) v. Carina Moreno (22-5-0, 6-KO)

Gimnasio Los Naranjos, Boquete, Panama

10×2, Super Bantamweight, Chanttall Martinez (17-5-0, 7-KOs) v. Migdalia Asprilla (9–2-2, 8-KOs) — Main Event

 

And the winner is … Germany with a total of three fight cards with a female bout on each one!

The big female fight, of course is the WBA Female Flyweight title match between Susi Kenttikian and Carina Moreno, which, thankfully, is being televised on Germany’s SAT1, but …. please, this is pathetic.

And here’s a question. Saturday night’s Austin Trout v. Miguel Cotto fight has a total of nine bouts on the card. Given all the incredible talent among NYC professional female fighters, not to mention women fighting out of the Northeast, not one female bout could be added by any of the count them, three promoters involved in putting the fight card together (that would be Golden Boy Promotions, SMS Promotions and Promociones Miguel Cotto)???

Oh right, it’s Showtime, but even HBO Boxing has female bouts on the undercard.

What gives???

 

The same old song …

The same old song …

One would think that HollyThe Preacher’s Daughter” Holm (31-2-3, 9-KOs), the current IBA & WBF lightweight welterweight champion, who is set to fight a world title defense on December 7, 2012 against Diana Prazak (11-1, 7-KOs) on a much ballyhooed card called “Fire and Ice” would command the attention of the boxing world enough to land the fight on HBO Boxing, Showtime, ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sport, PPV — heck ANY sports network that broadcasts boxing.

But no …

This much-anticipated bout, following on the heals of Holm’s two tough, hard-fought contests against France’s own Anne Sophie Mathis which should have promoters beating down the door at Fresquez Productions will not be aired.

And this AFTER the Olympics when women kicked serious butt and the US women’s team brought home not one, but two medals courtesy of Marlen Esparza (Bronze) and Claressa Shields (Gold).

So what gives?  What’s a “girl” got to do to get some friggin’ air time in the United States?

If fighters of the caliber and quite frankly fame of Holly Holm can’t get a fight broadcast, up-and-coming fighters don’t have a “prayer” to gain any visibility beyond a loyal crowd of followers and the potential for a local cable station to broadcast the fight card and/or video streaming of the event with the hope that it gets loaded on to YouTube.

No one’s talking either.

Meanwhile when it comes to MMA, women routinely fight on nationally broadcast fightcards such as Strikeforce — and even UFC is planning on adding women to their PPV fight cards in 2013. UFC in particular is readying to promote Ronda Rousey, who won acclaim and a lot of fans when she captured her women’s bantamweight championship belt on Strikeforce.  Rousey’s championship fight in August of 2012 also drew big numbers to Strikeforce, no doubt playing an important part in the calculus of UFC’s decision to bring her over as a UFC fighter on a PPV fight card. (See Dave Meltzer’s excellent piece here.)

But not so with boxing.

Is it that the sport itself is too stale and out of ideas on how to creatively promote itself in a way that can include the talent, heart and boxing savvy that women bring to the ring?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of answers — mainly just frustration and disappointment that yet again, a fabulous outing will be lost to viewers aching to watch it unless they can manage to glean a video stream.

Exclusive Interview with Sonya Lamonakis set to fight on June 14th @ Roseland Ballroom!

Exclusive Interview with Sonya Lamonakis set to fight on June 14th @ Roseland Ballroom!

Gleason’s Gym’s own scholar and favorite female heavyweight Sonya Lamonakis (6-0-1) will be returning to Dibella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing in a rousing six-round rematch against Tiffany Woodard (4-6-2) on June 14, 2012 at the storied Roseland Ballroom.

Lamonakis and Woodard have met twice before. While Lamonakis has won both fights, their last outing also under the Broadway Boxing banner at Mechanic’s Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts in August 2011 resulted in a split decision win.

Lamonakis and Woodard, August 2011

While Lamonakis has been hard at work prepping for this bout, she’s also been finishing up the school year at the Family Academy school in Harlem. In between her busy schedule, Sonya agreed to do an interview with Girlboxing.

1. You’ve got a fight coming up against Tiffany Woodard on June 14th as Roseland Ballroom in NYC as part of the Broadway Boxing series. Your last time out with Tiffany you won by a split-decision over six rounds. What is your game plan against her this time out?
This will be our trilogy. She is a tough opponent not to be taken lightly. We are both coming off a draw and want a win. I plan on working angles and combinations. I will be more active than the last time I fought her.
2. You are 6-0-1 now, that’s quite an achievement.  What are you looking to achieve with a win against Woodard?
A win! Again, I’m coming off a draw and I need to get that W and get ready for a title fight in the future.
3. What has your training been like for the fight?  I know your semester is winding down, but you are still working full-time as a teacher in Harlem. How are you able to make things work?
Training has been a little crazy.
I fired my trainers and will have Buddy McGirt in my corner. He worked with me about two months ago when he was here training a fighter for a big fight for about a month. Unfortunately, he went back to his home in Florida and I was lost without him. I attempted to work with “Blimp” Delon Parsley and Lennox Blackmore, but neither of them were to aggressive with my training and took it too lightly. I felt I was not being taken seriously enough and needed a change.
Work is winding down and the summer is here. I am delighted to greet it. I do my best to balance my career and my hobby. I always put my students first. One Saturday a month I set up a trip for my students to take them out of the city on a hike, or adventure so they can breathe some clean air and work on confidence, self-esteem, and finding themselves.
4. Kaliesha “Wild Wild” West issued a press release with her father and trainer Juan West stating that while women work as hard as men in the fight game, they are not catching any kind of breaks for fight promotions or TV air time. I know that you’ve had a great relationship with Lou DiBella and Broadway Boxing here in New York, but do you feel that Kaliesha has a point?  Are things really tough right now for female pro boxers trying to gain the experience, recognition and opportunity that comes with televised fights?
Unfortunately, women are not getting what they deserve. I have never been told or heard that my fights are boring or are not worthy of television. I dream of the day that I will fight on ESPN Friday Night Fights, or even Showbox, or HBO Boxing. For now, I am thankful that Lou allows me on his cards and always gives me TV time on SNY and MSG. It’s baby steps for women. Even as an amateur I had to fight against the odds to create a path for the women to get where they are today. I am proud to be part of the movement that opened up women’s boxing at the amateur and professional level.
5. You’ve only fought two fights since last April, one in August one in January–can you tell us what’s been going on in the women’s heavyweight division and why there seem to be so few fights?
Boxing is an expensive sport. The promoters want to make money. There is not a lot of money in women’s boxing. With the more wins I get the harder it is to find opponents. There are a lot more heavyweights but not ones that want to fight me. They ask for a lot of money and my promoter can only pay so much. It’s not like Lou is making $100,000 off my fight. I sell tickets to cover my purse and my opponents. I’m waiting for an offer from a woman on her card so I don’t have to worry about tickets and I can be the guest on a show.
6. Sonya, you are an inspiration to so many people not only as a boxer, but as a teacher and in your work against bullying. Your personal story is also one of redemption, hope and faith. Tell Girlboxing readers about your work in the community and how it is affecting the lives of young people?

Teaching school and guiding children is something I’m good at. I am positive role model for the children academically and personally. I attended colleges and received masters degrees and hold five different New York State Education Certifications in a variety of fields. I’m also an athlete and the students can relate to me. I love all my children and find the good in each of them. I do my best to instill values and morals in them that will lead to towards successful lives. I tell them that if they want to have choices when they are older they need to have an education. Without an education you have no choices to make. You have to take whatever job you can and do your best to survive. As an example, remember that episode on the Cosby’s when Bill gave his son fake money and had him pay bills until he ran out quickly. At that point he wanted more things, but he had no money left. So without an education, your choices will be limited, but with an education you can go anywhere.

7. One last question — with the debut of women’s boxing at the 2012 London Olympic Games, what do you feel most proud of?
I feel proud to be a part of the movement that accomplished this mission. I attended meetings, competed in the Nationals, signed petitions, advocated for the women and being an amateur boxer allowed me to be part of the debut of women’s boxing. I look forward to the Olympics and hope that it opens the doors for more women in the future of boxing.

Check out Sonya’s new sponsor website here!

For tickets to Sonya Lamonakis’ Broadway Boxing fight at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City contact Gleason’s Gym: 718-797-2872.  Tickets are: $45, $65 and $85.  The first bout is at 7:00 PM.

Smackdowning down the boundaries of the ring: Women’s Boxing and MMA!

Smackdowning down the boundaries of the ring: Women’s Boxing and MMA!

Ronda Rousey vs. Miescha Tate, March 3, 2012, Credit: Greg Bartram/US Presswire

Saturday night, Strikeforce aired a fabulous night of MMA bouts on Showtime that included Ronda Rousey’s (5-0) stunning take down of women’s bantamweight title holder Miesha Tate (12-2) with an armbar submission 4:27 into the first round.  In Rousey’s crowning as the new MMA bantamweight champion, heads are turning because of the high caliber of the effort both of these women put into the fight, but the “chops” they brought with them.  Rousey is a an Olympic Bronze Medalist in Judo, and Tate has been a sure-fire crowd pleaser since entering the ring.  Sarah Kaufman’s efforts against Alexis Davis were also hailed as “good” MMA.

So here’s the question: Where is women’s boxing in all of this?

Don’t get me wrong, it is FABULOUS to see MMA being promoted and aired as part of Showtime’s Strikeforce franchise and equally fabulous to read the positive press. David Casitlllo’s piece in The Bloody Elbow.com is a case in point, entitled Strikeforce Tate vs. Rousey Results: Why Women’s MMA Belongs In The Ring, includes the statement, “Rousey just “gets” MMA. There’s a brilliance to her game that reveals itself in the way she transitions. In understanding that each shift from one phase to the next is an opportunity. And that a takedown can be a sequence rather than a precession.”

What we are not seeing is the willingness of Showtime, HBO and ESPN to air these elite female fighters on their boxing shows.  It’s not as if the caliber of fighting isn’t there!  Flash back to the incredible displays of boxing prowess at the women’s Olympic Team Trials for one, but more importantly, take a look at the professional women who box their hearts out for a pittance, grateful for the opportunity to box at all nevermind a chance at a video stream.

Amanda "The Real Deal" Serrano and Ela "Bam Bam" Nunez after "fight of the year" contender

And if you’re looking for a case in point, look no further than undefeated IBF female super featherweight title holder Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano’s (14-0-1, 9-KOs) February 17th effort against Ela ‘Bam Bam’ Nunez (11-13-2) in an eight round co-main event non-title bout in Chicago. Boxing websites such as Philboxing.com are calling the battle an early contender for “fight of the year” status, but otherwise, it’s not as if the offers are pouring in to Serrano who puts on that caliber of fight EVERY TIME she enters the ring.

The fight was streamed live and for free on 360boxing.com, and for those lucky enough to watch the fight, it was a boxing treat albeit, within the parameters of a video stream with lagging images and breakups.  Imagine how much better and more exciting it would have been if it had also been promoted on Showtime?

So again, what’s the deal?  How about putting women’s MMA and Women’s Boxing on the airways!  And P. S., female boxers are VERY capable of fighting three-minute rounds!

In case you missed it, here’s the Serrano v. Nunez February 17, 2012 fight.  You be the judge.

An interview with Chevelle Hallback, women’s boxing champion for the ages!

An interview with Chevelle Hallback, Women’s Boxing Champion for the Ages!

Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback  first laced up the gloves in 1996.  Given that women’s boxing didn’t have many amateur boxing opportunities, she dove right in and fought her first professional fight less than a year later in 1997, earning her first win against Connie Plosser. Hallback has fought continuously since then with an impressive 28-8-2 (11 KOs) record.

On March 2, 2012, Chevelle Hallback will do it again, fighting a rematch against Terri “The Road Warrior” Blair (11-15-3, 6 KOs) at the Civic Center in Tampa, Florida.  In a year of firsts, this will be the first female main event boxing match in the state of Florida, an honor bestowed on Hallback in her first fight fought at home since she began her professional career!

“I’m looking forward to fighting at home for the first time in my career,” Hallback is quoted as saying. “Terri and I had a great battle in 2007.  She’s fought the best, has never been stopped and I’m training hard to make this an exciting fight for all the fans.  I appreciate Terri for stepping up for this fight.”

The “must see” March 2nd card is promoted by Estrada Entertainment Productions in association with Tampa Baby Boxing Promotions and Reyes “Macho Times” Promotions. (Ticket information can be found at www.tampabayboxing.com.)

Girlboxing had the opportunity to speak with Chevelle Hallback who graciously took time from her training schedule to talk about her upcoming bout, her career and her hopes and dreams for the future.

1. You have a fantastic rematch coming up on March 2nd against Terri “The Road Warrior” Blair, what can you tell Girlboxing readers about this fight?

This is going to be a great fight!  This is our second time meeting and when I say her name speaks for itself, I mean she is a warrior.  She’s been in there with everyone that is a somebody in boxing.  I don’t think her record really speaks for her [11-15-3, 6 KOs] because she is an amazing fighter.  The truth is, she got the short end of the stick in most of her fights.

Our first fight [in 2007] was a hell of a fight. It was a tough fight. I came out with a win [78-74, 79-73, 77-75, 8×2], but it was a close fight.

With the upcoming bout, the first time I’m fighting at home, history is being made.  The first time a female fight will be the main event on a boxing card in Florida. I can’t ask for anything more. I’m just excited about it and grateful!

2. When you fought Blair in 2007, you were quoted as saying, “It was rough. She never hurt me in the fight, but after the fight, those body shots she landed bruised my ribs.”  What are you looking for in your rematch with Blair?

She is a “come get you”, “come right at you” style fighter, but I train for everything. I’ve found through experience that when you think a fighter’s going to come straight at you and you train just for that, they may switch it up on you fight night.  To prepare myself whatever they may bring, I fight for all different styles. I don’t know what Blair’s going to do this time around, so I’m training for each and every style of boxing that you can think of.

3. Your last two fights were in Europe against Miriam Lamare and Cecilia Braekhus, both great fighters in the female light welterweight division.  You’ve made it known that you are itching to have a rematch against Miriam Lamare after a controversial loss in November of last year.  How is that going?

Hallback vs. Lamare

I want a rematch with both, to be honest with you.  Right now, I’m starting out with Miriam Lamare, I really, really believe that I got robbed in that fight. I really believe that I beat her hands down.  The Braekhus fight, it could have gone either way.

I’m going after Lamare first. I personally asked her for a rematch, but I haven’t had any feedback. After the fight my boxing advisor asked the matchmaker of the fight could we have a rematch and he was like, “no,” at the time.

In terms of a rematch I want it.  I want to do this again. I went to her woman to woman. The fans want it, even her fans were saying that they wanted a rematch.  I feel that I was robbed, and I’ll even go back to France.  I just want the opportunity to get a rematch.   [See below for video of Chevelle Hallback’s fight against Miriam Lamare.]

4. Can you tell our Girlboxing readers a bit about your boxing career.

I started training on March 20th 1996 to be exact when I first went into a boxing gym, and I turned pro in 1997, I think it was February of 1997.  I’ve been doing this for a long time.  I don’t have an amateur background. I never fought any amateur bouts at all so it was on-the-job training! But I progressed fast.

I am a student of the game and I used to study fighters like Roy Jones, Jr. and old fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson.  I wanted to fight like them.  Fighters that had awkward and unique styles.

I’ve been boxing for a long time, but I never took any serious damage during my career and I thank God for that.

5.  What are your goals after you’re upcoming match against Terri Blair?

It’s been a long time, but my goal and my dream is to be the first woman to fight on HBO.  There’s never been a women’s bout on HBO, not even Laila Ali.   That’s my goal. I’m going to keep going till either one of two things happen:  I reach the goal or my body tells me it’s time to quit. Right now my body is not telling me that! Like I said, it’s a plan and a goal and I’m striving for it.

I also want to tell Girlboxing readers, no matter how old you are if you feel that you’re capable of anything you keep going pursuing your dream, because if you don’t you end up saying, “I wish”, “I coulda’ woulda'” and it’s too late.

6. You’ve also had an amazing several months because you started the Fists of Steel Boxing Academy, how is that going?

I just started it this past July and it is going great!  I love it!

With any business it takes a while for it to build, but it is coming along and I’m happy about it.  I have an amateur now and I have a pro fighter, I have my kids and I also have classes.  I even have a professional football player taking one of my classes and he loves it.

My amateur fighter, Rebecca just won a fight at the state level. I was very excited about that and my pro fighter will be fighting on the undercard of my fight against Terri Blair on March 2nd.

7. You’ve been in the sport as a pro since 1997 and you’ve witnessed a lot.  What are the two or three things that have really changed in women’s boxing since then?

Well, number one, women will be fighting in the Olympics!  That’s huge for women’s boxing!

There are more women fighting and it seems that there’s usually one women’s fight on every boxing card these days, especially when it comes to local shows because the women are as good as the men. And more females are getting involved too.

When I first started, I went to the amateur shows, but there was no one to fight.  Either they weren’t in my weight class or they didn’t have the skills. That’s why I turned Pro. Now the amateur shows are amazing.  There are many more women fighting and the turnout is much bigger.

We still have a long ways to go, but with the Olympics and with what I’m trying to do, we might get it to the half way point where it’ll tip over and get into the spotlight in a positive way … but from when I first started, there’s a huge, huge improvement.

8.  If I mention Chevelle Hallback to a room full of female boxers they swoon!  They don’t call you “Fists of Steel” they call you “Abs of Steel.”  You mean a lot to the sport and continue to inspire a lot of women from professionals on through “Saturday” boxers.  What do you tell your own boxers in the gym to keep them going?

First of all, especially when they come in, I ask them, what they want to do and what their goals are.  I then tell them what to expect and what the path they’re going to take will be. If they’re there for at least a week, I remind them of their goals and of what they first told me — when I do that I’m talking to them on the inside. It helps people. It is not an easy sport. Sometimes we have to bleed for it.

Most important of all though is when you say you want to do something and you’re determined, and you have it in your heart and in your soul to do it, and you go through whatever you have to go through to do it, at the end of the day you can say, “I did it.”

I think that’s the best reward that anyone can have.

You say, “I did it,” and no one can take that from you.  You can give a person a gold medal, or titles or belts, and they’re going to get old or vanish, but what can never be taken away is that you did it.  And that’s what I tell my fighters and that’s what I’ll tell Girlboxing readers.

9.  Do you have any closing remarks?

Yes.  Tell them, Chevelle Hallback is here — and I’m not only doing it for me, but for women’s boxing and for women to do this in the future, “big time”!

***

Chevelle Hallback vs. Miriam Lamare Rounds 1 – 8 (Fight starts around 12:00 and is in French)

Chevelle Hallback vs. Miriam Lamare Rounds 8 (end)-10

Fight Reminder: Sonya “The Scholar” Lamonakis

Fight Reminder:  Sonya “The Scholar” Lamonakis!

Sonya "The Scholar" Lamonakis during a recent interview @ Gleason's Gym

Sonya “The Scholar” Lamonakis (3-0, 1-KO), four-time Golden Gloves champion and WIBA #1 ranked Heavyweight contender will be in an exciting fight with southpaw Tanzee Daniels (4-0, 1-KO) tonight at Foxwoods on the undercard of the Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez vs. Sergiy Dzinziruk bout to be broadcast on HBO.

As quoted in the presser for the Martinez-Dzinziruk fight, promoter Lou DiBella said, “If you like women’s boxing, this is going to be a war.”

Girlboxing has watched Sonya workout over the last weeks and has been inspired by Sonya’s focus as she has pushed herself to reach peak conditioning ahead of her battle.  If Tanzee has worked half as hard, this will prove to be an epic fight.

For further information on tickets, they can be purchased online here or by calling the MGM Grand at Foxwoods at 1-866-646-0609, or in person at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office.  You can also contact Gleason’s Gym at (718) 797-2872 for the latest update.

 

 

84th Annual Daily News 2011 Golden Gloves Week Seven Reminder and the start of the Quarter Finals!

84th Annual Daily News 2011 Golden Gloves Week Seven reminder and the start of the Quarter Finals!

The full week’s schedule is:

3/1/2011 – St. Finbar Auditorium, 1839 Bath Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214

3/3/2011 – C-Pac Center, 1020 East 48th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11203

>>>>>>>Quarter Finals!

3/4/2011 – St. Athanasius, 6200 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11204

3/5/2011 – Saint Patrick’s High School, 9511 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11228 (7:00 PM Start)

For more information click here.

PS – Fight Reminder for March 12, 2011

Sonya "The Scholar" Lamonakis

Gleason’s own Sonya “The Scholar” Lamonakis #1 ranked WIBA U.S. women’s heavyweight and four-time Golden Gloves winner will be fighting on the undercard of the Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez vs  Sergiy Dzinzinuk bout on March 12 @ Foxwoods to be broadcast live HBO.

For a limited time, Gleason’s Gym is offering tickets at $75 each.  (Purchasing through Gleason’s will save you the $12 service fee.)

Gleason’s advises to buy tickets now as they are going fast.  For more information contact Gleason’s Gym at (718) 797-2872 — you can also request information by email: info@gleasonsgym.net.