Hall of Fame Fighters...
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Who...Ronald Cruz
From...Bethlehem, PA The Facts...This 22-year-old junior welterweight scored the biggest win of his young career May 22 when he knocked out veteran Juan Ramon Cruz, of Hartford, CT, in four rounds at Bally's Atlantic City. Prior to that, on Feb. 5, Cruz K0d Martinus Clay, of Norristown, PA, in three rounds at the Blue Horizon. Cruz now is 9-0, 6 K0s. He also was impressive in a third-round stoppage over tough Julias Edmonds, of Philadelphia, on Aug. 8 at Bally's. Cruz followed that with another nice win, a six-round decision over tough lefty Ashantie Hendrickson, of Medford, NY, on Nov. 7 at Bally's. The win over Hendrickson was Cruz's seventh fight of 2009. As an amateur, Cruz won 25 out of 28 fights, all in a 13-month period from July, 2007, until August, 2008. When he is not fighting, he spends time with his 3-year-old daughter Jayshalis. Cruz is trained by Alec Morales and managed by ex-pro lightweight Jimmy Deoria. He returns Saturday, Sept. 25, at Ballys Atlantic City. |
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Who...Jamaal Davis
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...The 29-year-old Davis gets a big opportunity Aug. 21 against former world-title challenger Joel Julio, of Colombia, in a 10-round junior middleweight bout at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Davis earned a unanimous six-round decision over Mustafah Johnson, of Indianapolis, IN, on June 26 at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY. Davis (12-6, 6 K0s) had lost a four-round decision to Ossie Duran, of Ghana, on Feb. 27 at Bally's Atlantic City. Davis also scored a six-round decision over Josh Onyango, of Trenton, NJ, on Nov. 20, 2009, at the Blue Horzon. In other 2009 action, David beat Manuel Guzman, of Lancaster, PA, and Clarence Taylor, of Wilmington, DE, and lost to Jerome Ellis, of Paterson, NJ. Davis played football in high school, attending Overbrook High and University High in Philadelphia, before moving on to the Job Corps in Pittsburgh, PA. He spends his spare time with his 7-year-old son, Jamaal, Jr., and his 8-year-old daughter, Jabrea. Davis is managed and trained by Sharron Baker. |
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Who...Anthony Flores
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Flores appeared to be the victim of a bad decision when he was held to a six-round draw by Carlos Vinan, of Newark, NJ, on May 22 at Bally's Atlantic City. Now 8-1-1, 5 K0s, Flores lost for the first time as a pro to unbeaten Victor Valenzuela, of Passaic, NJ, in a terrific six-round fight Sept. 19, 2009, at Bally's. Flores, 23, underwent reconstructive surgery after a Valenzuela head butt resulted in a fractured eye socket. Flores knocked out 32-fight veteran Carlos Diaz, of Tampa, FL, in the first round May 1, 2009, at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia. He boxed a lefty for the first time as a pro Feb. 27, 2009, and scored a unanimous six-round decision over previously unbeaten Ikem Orji, of Laurel, MD, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. A two-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champion, the 5-foot-11 Flores is trained by Vaughn Jackson and managed by Jim Williams and Doc Nowicki. He's back Friday, July 30, at the Arena (formerly New Alhambra) in South Philadelphia against lefty Gustavo Dailey, of West Philadelphia. |
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Who...Dennis Hasson
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Dennis Hasson ends an injury-plagued (sore hands) eight-month layoff when he boxes Alberto Mercedes, of Milwaukee, WI, in a six-round fight on Friday evening, July 30, at the Arena (formerly New Alhambra) in South Philadelphia. In his last fight, D-Hass stopped Eric Pinarretta, of New Bedford, MA, in five rounds on Nov. 20 at the Blue Horizon. The 26-year-old Hasson is 9-0, 3 K0s, but, prior to beating Pinaretta, had not boxed since April 4, 2009, when he decisioned Johnny Hayes, of Atlantic City, NJ, at South Philadelphia High School. Hasson's biggest win came March 6 at the Blue Horizon when he beat Garrett Wilson, of South Philadelphia, on points after six rounds. Hasson is managed by Joe Hand and Doc Nowicki and trained by ex-lightweight Wade Hinnant. He lives in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, across the street from where Rocky Balboa lived in the Hollywood movie. |
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Who...Bryant Jennings
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...The newest member of Peltz Boxing, heavyweight Jennings is 3-0, 2 K0s. At Ben Franklin High School, he played football, basketball and ran the 200 meters for track and particpared in shot-put competition. The 25-year-old father of a 20-month son (Mason), Jennings hung around the North Philly recreation centers for years, playing basketball, before he decided to try the ring in December, 2008. With limited amateur experience, Jennings made it to the finals of the 2009 PAL Nationals and the US Golden Gloves, losing both to the experienced lefty Lenroy Thompson. Jennings was 13-4 as an amateur. One of eight brothers (four sisters), Jennings works for Federal Reserve Bank as a building engineer. He is managed and trained by Fred Jenkins. Jening is back Friday, July 30, in a four-rounder against Bernell Stewart, of Columbus, OH, at the Arena (formerly New Alhambra) in South Philly. |
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Who...Mike Jones
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Jones got some Showtime TV exposure and defended his NABA/NABO welterweight titles with a fifth-round knockout over Irvin Garcia, of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, on July 9 at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. Afetr a slow start, Jones began to break down Garcia in the third and fourth rounds before a series of combinations ended the match in round five. The 27-year-old Philadelphian, now 22-0, 18 K0s, is ranked No. 2 by the WBA, No. 2 WBO, No. 7 IBF, No. 7 WBC. There has been talk of Jones challenging Andre Berto, of Haiti, for Berto's WBC title later this year. Jones K0d Hector Munoz, of Albuquerque, NM, in five rounds April 17 in the big room at the same venue and highlights were shown on HBO. In his first fight in 2010 on Feb. 27, Jones outpointed Henry Bruseles, of Gurabo, Puerto Rico, over 10 rounds at Bally's Atlantic City. Jones has knockout wins over Luciano Perez, Juliano Ramos and Israel "Pito" Cardona. He is managed by Doc Nowicki and Jim Williams and trained by Vaughn Jackson. |
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Who...Teon Kennedy
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Kennedy showed big-league courage and heart when, fighting on fumes, he hung on to earn a 12-round decision over tough-as-nails Jose Angel Beranza, of Santa Ana, CA, on May 22 at Bally's Atlantic City. The win pushed Kennedy's record to 15-0-1, 6 K0s. It was Kennedy's first defense of the USBA title he won Nov. 20, 2009, in a tragic fight with Francisco Rodriguez, of Chicago, IL, who was K0d in the 10th round and died 48 hours later from brain injuries. The 25-year-old Rodriguez and the 23-year-old Kennedy had waged a battle for the ages. Kennedy, 23, is No. 9 according to 122-pounders according to the IBF, No. 28 with the WBC. Kennedy had a big year in 2009. He also earned decisions over Andre Wilson, of St. Louis, MO, and Lucian Gonzalez, of Reading, PA. His only non-winning effort was a controversial 10-round draw with Lante Addy, of Ghana, a fight Kennedy appeared to have won handily. Kennedy is managed by Doc Nowicki and Joe Hand. He is trained by Wade Hinnant and his brother Randy Hinnant. |
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Who...Rogers Mtagwa
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Mtagwa was stopped in the second round by WBA featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, of Cuba, in two rounds Jan. 23 in the WAMU Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Mtagwa had shocked everyone with his 12-round decision loss to WBO super bantamweight champ Juan Manuel Lopez, of Puerto Rico, on Oct. 10 at Madison Square Garden. Lopez was "out on his feet" in the 12th round, but Mtagwa failed to land the finishing punch. Scores were 114-113, 115-111, 116-111 for Lopez, now 27-0, 24 K0s. It is a strong candidate for Fight of the Year. Now 26-14-3, 18 K0s, Mtagwa scored his biggest win Nov. 7, 2008, when he knocked out world-rated Tomas Villa, of Odessa, TX, in the 10th and round of their brutal super bantamweight fight at the Casino del Sol in Tucson, AZ. Villa (20-6-4, 13 K0s), who had not lost in four years, knocked Mtagwa down in the ninth and was ahead on points when he was dropped three times in the 10th. Mtagwa, 31, is ranked No. 11 by the IBF at 122 pounds. He is managed by Joe Parella and trained by ex-middleweight contender Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts. |
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Who...Angel Luis Ocasio
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Ocasio ran his pro record to 2-0 on Feb. 26 with a unanimous four-round decision over Osnel Charles, of Atlantic City, NJ, at the Arena (formerly New Alhambra) in South Philadelphia. In his pro debut July 10, 2009, in the same ring, Ocasio had earned a four-round decision over Dan Morales, of New York. This two-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves featherweight champion compiled a 44-5 amateur record and has been going to the gym since he was 6 years old. He is a graduate of the Community Academy of Philadelphia--a Charter school--and he currently holds down a full-time job the Court Reporting Office (ERSA), 17th & Ludlow Streets, where he produces and ships court transcripts. Ocasio trains at the Front Street Gym in Kensington and he likes to play basketball and football and work on his computer. Ocasio boxes Sidell Blocker, of Pleasantville, NJ, on Friday, July 30, at the Arena in South Philadelphia. |
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Who...Gabriel Rosado
From...Philadelphia, PA The Facts...Rosado goes for the biggie Friday, July 30, when he challenges fellow-Philadelphian Derek Ennis over 12 rounds at the Arena (formerly New Alhambra) for Ennis' USBA junior middleweight title and a slot in the world rankings. Rosado scored his biggest win Feb. 27, a 10-round split decision over Saul Roman, of Tijuana, Mexico, at Bally's Atlantic City. It was the second solid win in a row for Rosado, who K0d fellow-Philadelphian Latif Mundy in seven rounds Nov. 7 in the same ring. Rosado had hit a roadblock Aug. 7, 2009, when he was stopped in two rounds by Mexico's Alfredo Angulo in Primm, NV. A stunning 10-round upset decision over former IBF junior middleweight champ Kassim Ouma had vaulted Rosado into the national spotlight on April 24, 2009. The 24-year-old Rosado is now 14-4, 8 K0s. Rosado had K0d New York's Ariel Espinal in five rounds 20 days prior to beating Ouma. A pro since 2006, Rosado also has beaten James Moore, Josh Onyango (avenging a previous loss) and Mustpaha Johnson. He is self-managed and trained by Billy Briscoe. |
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Who...Mike Stewart
From...New Castle, DE The Facts...A perfectly timed left hook flattened Brandon Baue, of Troy, MO, in the fifth round as Stewart cashed in on his third straight comeback victory Feb. 26. Stewart raised his record to 45-7-3, 24 K0s, at a sold out Dover (DE) Downs. Previously, Stewart had survived a cut right eye from a head butt in the first round and a bogus third-round knockdown to earn a six-round decision over Louie Leija, of San Antonio, TX, on Nov. 7 at Bally's Atlantic City. Stewart had ended his 19-month retirement April 24, 2009, by scoring a six-round decision over Luis Alberto Santiago, of North Philadelphia, at Dover (DE) Downs. The 32-year-old Stewart, now fighting at 147 pounds, is a former USBA junior welterweight champion. He has beaten Ivan Robinson, Chucky T, ex-IBF world champion Terronn Millett and Ebo Elder. Stewart's most ambitious year was 2004 when he twice boxed in Manchester, England, losing on points to Sharmba Mitchell and being stopped in five rounds by Ricky Hatton. |
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Who...Garrett Wilson
From...Philadelphia,PA The Facts...Wilson hopes to snap his three-fight losing streak when he boxes fellow-Philadelphian Reshawn Svott on July 30 at the South Philly Arena. Wilson (7-5, 2 K0s) lost to lefty Julio Cesar Matthews on June 13 at the Hyatt Hotel on Columbus Boulevard. Previously, he was stopped in four by former world-title challenger Omar Sheika, of Paterson, NJ, on March 26 at the Hamilton Manor in Hamilton Township, NJ. Now 27 and fightng as a cruiserweight, Wilson dropped a six-round decision to unbeaten Olympian Carlos Negron on Jan. 23 at Madison Square Garden. Wilson had earned a four-round decision over lefty Adam Willett, of Bellport, NY, on Dec. 1, 2009, in Westminster, MD. Wilson also scored a unanimous six-round decision over Ogi Daivii, of Baltimore, MD, on Nov. 25, 2009, in Erie, PA. Wilson started boxing while attending Gratz High School. He is married to Janae Martir and they have three children, ages 2 to 9. |
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