Archive for Little Rock

(more) Taylor decisions Ouma! (12-11-06)

Posted in 2006, Boxing News, Press Releases, Reports with tags , , , , , , , , on December 11, 2006 by Champ

By JD Meredith and David Hudson at Ringside – Fightnews.com

For Jermain Taylor, Kassim “The Dream” Ouma lived up to his nickname, for the middleweight king, fighting in front of his home town for the first time as a champion, could
not have asked for a dreamier title defense.

Well, short of a knockout, anyway, for while dominating the fight, Taylor was unable to floor the game Ouma.

While chants of “JAY-TEE!” filled the Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas, Taylor dominated the score cards in the early rounds, building a sizeable lead while Ouma could do
little but weather the storm.

Down the stretch, “The Dream” sought to turn into Taylor’s nightmare, rallying in a desperate attempt to dethrone the champion, but could not change the course of the fight.

All three judges scored it unanimously for Taylor, with scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 115-113.

Fightnews also had Taylor winning, though closer to the 115-113 score than the 118-110 ledger.

” He came in and fought all twelve rounds,” said the champion, now 25-0-1 (17 KOs). “He was a tough guy. He was just that tough.”

Ouma, now 25-3-1 (15 KOs), told the press that he would like another shot at Taylor, even if it was in Little Rock again.

” I’m never going to give up,” he said. (more)

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Andre Berto Makes HBO Debut in Co-Feature December Ninth!

Posted in 2006, Boxing News, Press Releases, Reports with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on December 1, 2006 by Champ

“Home For the Holidays” Has Stellar Undercard in Little Rock!
Undisputed and undefeated World Middleweight Champion Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor defending his title against Kassim “The Dream” Ouma will be the icing on the cake of the December 9th DiBella Entertainment championship fight card at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, as there are heaping portions of excitement layered on a truly stellar undercard as well.

Undefeated 2004 Olympian Andre Berto (15-0, 13 KO’s) will make his HBO World Championship Boxing debut, when the Winter Haven, Florida stalwart faces the stiffest test of his young career against Philadelphia area native Miguel Figueroa (25-4-1, 14 KO’s) in a ten round welterweight co-feature. Berto has been nothing short of sensational in his pro career, as he tries to extend his unbeaten string to 16 straight. Berto possesses all of the qualities of a boxing superstar: determination, hard work ethic, boxing skills, knockout power and charisma to take him to the championship level.

The WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight Championship will be on the line when Emanuel Augustus (34-28-6, 19 KO’s) of Brownsville, Texas, squares off against Russell Stoner Jones (19-15, 14 KO’s) of Denver, CO in the ten round title tilt, giving the card even more championship flair.

Newly-signed Ronald Hearns, (10-0, 8 KO’s), son of the legendary Former World Champion Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns, makes his DBE debut a six round middleweight bout against Kendall Gould (8-10-1, 5 KO’s) of Milwaukee.

Highly regarded Queens, New York product Jaidon Codrington (13-1, 11 KO’s) makes his way to Little Rock to face Thomas Reid (35-17-1,13 KO’s), the Jackson, TN, veteran pugilist, in a super middleweight contest scheduled for eight rounds.

A pair of Arkansas heavyweights join Jermain Taylor as the hometown heroes on the bill: Terry Smith (28-2-1, 18 KO’s) of Little Rock will see action against Ramon Hayes (15-21-1, 10 KO’s) of Athens, Georgia and Little Rock light heavyweight Ray Smith (5-0, 2 KO’s) takes on Randy Pogue (8-5-1, 2 KO’s) of Norristown, PA in a four round battle. Dominick “The Southern Disaster” Guinn (26-4-1, 18 KO’s), of Hot Springs will also be in action, taking on Zach Page (12-8-1, 4 KO’s).
Philadelphia junior welterweight Rock Allen (10-0, 7 KO’s) rounds out the outstanding fight card.

The twelve round world championship main event, Jermain Taylor vs. Kassim Ouma, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Peltz Boxing and sponsored by Alltel Wireless, StubHub and the motion picture Rocky Balboa, will be aired on Saturday, December 9th on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00PM ET/9:00PM CT/7:00PM PT.

Tickets priced at $650, $500, $300, $200, $150, $125, $75, $45, & $25 (Students Under age 18, Seniors & Active Military) are available through the Alltel Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets (501-975-7575) and online at http://www.ticketmaster.com.

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Smith Comes back from Oblivion to decision Long!

Posted in 2005, Boxing News, Press Releases, Reports with tags , , , , on September 3, 2005 by Champ

Thanks to a cut & discretion of the Ref
By JD Meredith at Ringside

Little Rock, AR – Saturday night at the State House Convention Center, gas prices weren’t the only thing on the rise. Before his home town, Terry Smith rose with them. Smith fought Detroit’s Julius Long in a 10 round heavyweight main event and this was a bout for the books. Prior to the main event all in attendance paused for a moment of silence for victims of the recent and ongoing crisis that hurricane Katrina created in her wake. Julius Long, stood at a mere seven feet, towered above Smith and you better believe that he came to get it on. Their bout was fought in very close quarters and from one side of the ring to another. The entire bout was a power struggle between the two warriors.

Rounds one and two saw both fighters testing their range and giving respect. Smith landed with power as he turned on the heat in round’s three and four. In round six, Long thundered through Smith’s guard with a jab and then a right hand over the top which staggered the ‘Troublemaker’. Smith was hurt bad and big Julius took the opportunity to open up his guns and pounded away. Against the ropes and seconds away from tasting the canvas (most agree that the fight should have been stopped in round six due to Smith’s balance, failed defense and inability to protect himself) Long cuts Smith with a right hand just over his left eye and time is called for a doctor to inspect it (the time taken to get the doctor to the ring and inspect the cut allowed Smith to regain his bearings). Smith somehow made it through round six. Using Long’s height to his advantage, Smith would get inside and lean on the giant to conserve energy. Long’s only method of conserving energy was to lean on the ropes, from which he countered Smith’s attacks with long upper cuts and overhand rights. Believe it or not Long’s jab was not as much a factor in the fight as you might estimate. He didn’t throw them with frequency but when he threw them they landed with piston-like force. Long turned it on again in the seventh. Cornering the wounded Smith. With a great a great counter Smith then turned the table and backed Long up into the ropes. Julius was content to fight from the ropes, as he countered very well from that position. Rounds seven through ten were filled with pure excitement as both fighters dug deep down to find the steam and grit that they would need to get through round ten. At the toll of the final bell (or in this case, electronic tone, similar to that used in amateur boxing) sounded, no one person was left sitting. Everyone was on their feet cheering for an amazing fight in which Julius Long and Terry Smith had just revealed 39 minutes of their heart, sweat, and blood. Smith was fortunate to have lasted the ten rounds and because he did, he won the judges over and won the war by a very close unanimous decision.

After the fight MemphisBoxing.com caught up with Long who said that he was surprised that the referee had not stepped in during round six to stop the fight while Long battered away at a dazed Smith. Long also said that he was not hurt in the fight but simply rolled with the punches (as Long was hit hard he faded with the punches, stumbling back to absorb the blows which made it appear that Long was hurt.)

Stay tuned for more on the under-card bouts.

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Smith–Long in ‘Rumble at the Rock’ Tonight 9/2!

Posted in 2005, Boxing News, Press Releases, Reports with tags , , , , , on August 17, 2005 by Champ

Little Rock Arkansas – Tonight, ESPN2′s Friday Night Fights will air its last edition of 2005 from the Statehouse Convention Center and MemphisBoxing.com will be there to cover the action. The Main Event features a match-up of height vs heart. Standing a colossal seven feet in the air is Julius Long, Long has compiled a 14-6 record by wading through fighters seeking contender status. Although, Julius will tower above hometown favorite and rising heavyweight Terry Smith, he will still have big problem in front of him. Not wanting to go over him, but through him. Little Rock’s Smith will be fighting in his 27th fight as a pro and has only tasted defeat on one occasion That loss, a ten round unanimous decision, was at the hands of now top 10 heavyweight contender of the world (IBF, WBO), Calvin Brock. In other action Lamont and Anthony Peterson will be fighting on the under card searching for some competition to keep their skills sharp. In recent fights each of the Petersons have been well superior to their opponents. These bouts should be battles and MemphisBoxing.com will bring you coverage and photos after the fight!

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TAYLOR DEFEATS HOPKINS!

Posted in 2005, Boxing News, Press Releases, Reports with tags , , , , , , , , on July 16, 2005 by Champ

Taylor Inherits WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO Middle Belts from Hopkins
After he shatters Bernards hopes for 21st Defense!
By JD meredith – Memphisboxing.com
Stock just went up in Little Rock, AK, for Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor. Saturday night at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, the 26 year old Taylor executed the reigning, undisputed, Middleweight Champion, Bernard Hopkins, by 12 round split decision (scores – 113-115 | 116-112 | 113-115).

Taylor’s age was not his advantage in this fight as much as desire and heart were.
Hopkins’ age (40yrs) was not his disadvantage as much as his non aggression and low punch numbers were.

Early in the fight, it was evident that Hopkins would attempt to use his boxing knowledge of dirty tricks to get in Taylor’s head (mainly low blows and head butts). It was a rough fight. Referee Jay Nady, warned Hopkins on a few occasions but no points were deducted for these slick fouls and Taylor managed to maintain his composure through them.Although there were no recorded knockdowns in the fight, it was a battle. An accidental clash of heads in the fifth left Taylor bleeding from a one and a half inch gash just above his hairline. The cut did not jeopardize the fight but it seemed that the sight of blood motivated Hopkins…a little.

Taylor fought a great fight. He appeared somewhat ancy and threw a few wild shots but largely did well to stay within his capabilities. During the course of the first nine rounds Taylor was very active and quicker than the champ. His excellent jab popped Hopkins frequently. In the later rounds it appeared as though Taylor became at a loss as to how to approach Hopkins. Hopkins’ defense was solid and he moved well and slipped under some of Taylor’s hard right hands.

In round 10, after largely sleeping through the first 9 rounds of the fight, Hopkins countered Taylor with a lead right hand that sent Taylor reeling into the ropes. Taylor managed to survive the round with no further damage.

Bernard never appeared hurt or stunned by a Taylor punch. Inactivity was his downfall. A strategy that appeared to depend solely on countering Taylor’s mistakes (which were few) was a bad choice. In no round did Hopkins ever stand toe-to-toe with Taylor and trade. He seemed to have time on his side when he would skip around the ring and toy with Taylor. Little did Hopkins know that Taylor’s determination and punch stats were building. Hopkins’ corner seemed to feel no urgency that they were behind on the scorecards. He did manage to win some rounds late in the fight but it was too little too late for the long reigning champion. The curtains were already closing.

Michael Buffer’s announcement of a split decision seemed to appeal to Hopkins much more than it did Taylor. Hopkins was smiling before the decision was read and appeared to invite someone from the crowd into the ring to celebrate. Taylor’s expression was more intense before the decision. Understanding completely the weight of what was about to be reveled. At the moment of announcement Hopkins’expression went from smile to shock and Taylor’s went from solemn to humble with tears of joy.

Jermain Taylor now holds the WBA Middleweight Title, WBC Middleweight Title, IBF Middleweight Title, and the WBO Middleweight Title (Talk about Bling!). Taylor is no longer the “Heir Apparent”. He’s the “Heir”

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Taylor, Guinn To Fight in Little Rock, March 27th!

Posted in Site News with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 19, 2004 by Champ

The heir to the Middlewieght throne, Jermain” Bad Intentions” Taylor (19-0, 14 KO’s) will be trading shots with Alex Bunema (24-3, 12 KO’s). Bunema last lost to Bronco Mckart by split decision in 2001. Undefeated Heavyweight, Dominick “The Southern Disaster” Guinn (24-0, 17 KO’s) will continue his quest toward contendership as he fights Monte Barrett. Barrett (29-3, 16 KO’s) handed Baby Joe Mesi his first trip to the canvas on 12/06/03. Guinn is a great boxer/puncher who has a great jab and packs a load with his power shots. Oh, did we mention that Guinn can take a punch like heavy bag?

So plan the “Guys Night Out” for the 27th of March and go catch these up-and-coming fighters take names at the Altell Arena, Little Rock, AR. If you can’t get out of town, the fights are on HBO.

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