Marconis Host Knockout Fundraiser!
March 11, 2010
“Rumble in the Jungle” show benefits two charities
“Marconi Fight Night 12″ was held last Friday night at the Marconi Automotive Museum and Foundation for Kids in Tustin, California. This year’s annual gala event, with a “Rumble in the Jungle” theme, featured a live boxing show and festive dinner to raise funds for this year’s chosen non-profit organizations.
Dick and Priscilla “Bo” Marconi were at the helm of this unique soirée. Their names are synonymous with philanthropic endeavors around Orange County and beyond. They are well-known in giving over one million dollars a year to help make a difference for at-risk youth in the area. The Marconi Foundation for Kids and Augie’s Quest are the two charities that will benefit from this always sold-out fight night.
Dick and his brother, Ray, are veterans of the fight game and two gentlemen I am honored to have befriended through boxing. Dick has been involved in many aspects of the sweet science, including amateur boxer, manager, promoter and founder of World Fighters Inc. The Marconis were also longtime family friends of legendary cutman Chuck Bodak.
“Macho” Camacho Heads to Denmark
March 5, 2010
New interview with the colorful southpaw!
Denmark, get ready: It’s “Macho Time” once again!
Hector “Macho” Camacho will be fighting–at the age of 47–on March 26 in Kjellerup, Denmark. He will be taking on Allen Vester (28-6-1, 5 KOs) for a title, the vacant WPBF (World Professional Boxing Federation) middleweight title. It may not be a WBC, WBO or an IBF belt but for the “Macho Man,” it’s a title he will be proud to win nonetheless.
The Puerto Rican southpaw (79-5-3, 38 KOs) and I had our first interview a couple of months ago. Now he’s back and brimming with excitement.
“What’s up, chula? Due that I leave in two weeks you gotta call me,” was the message I received. “Yes, ITS MACHO TIME! I’m looking a lot sharper; they gonna be surprised by what I’m bringing.
“Vester’s saying in Europe that I’m gonna quit in seven or go to sleep! Call me, chula, and you will get it like it is!”
Marconi Fight Night 12
March 4, 2010
Get ready for a “Rumble in the Jungle” TOMORROW night!
The final countdown begins for tomorrow night’s “Marconi Fight Night 12″ gala event and fundraiser benefiting the Marconi Foundation for Kids and Augie’s Quest.
I am looking forward to attending this exciting evening that will be held at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, California. While guests enjoy a delicious steak dinner and Martini bar, there will be both professional boxing and kickboxing matches, a live and silent auction and special celebrity guests.
At the wheel of this 12th annual charity event are Dick and Priscilla “Bo” Marconi. The couple is well-
known for their philanthropic endeavors with their non-profit foundation, whose goal is raising a million dollars a year for at risk-youth in the Orange County area.
News Flash: “KO JO” JACK OBERMAYER
March 3, 2010
Respected boxing veteran undergoes liver transplant
This “Chatter Box” column of mine serves many purposes: to report, to inform, and at times to (hopefully) entertain. Now I am using it to spread the message about one of the most respected individuals in the sport of boxing.
“Say a prayer for Jack Obermayer (“KO JO”) who’s in the hospital getting a liver transplant. He’s a great person who really needs our help!” was the emotional message I received from my friend Harold Lederman. The HBO “unofficial” ringside scorer continued, “I wish that boxing comes up strong for Jack in his time of need, just the way Jack came up for boxing for half a century. If you never spoke to God, please do it now for Jack!” Harold mentions that Obermayer, a veteran writer, had been ill on and off for the past year due to liver problems. He is now recuperating from the surgery that took place in Philadelphia.
Estrada & Sarnoi: Fellowship of Boxing
March 3, 2010
The two friends both have upcoming fights on tap!
Boxers Shawn “El Chamuko” Estrada (6-0, 6 KOs) and Walter “Schoolboy” Sarnoi (4-0, 2 KOs) recently took a break from their busy schedules to be guest speakers at the Victory Outreach in Los Angeles. The SoCal fighters visited the local church congregation, which includes kids, teens and adults, in hopes of inspiring the almost 2,000 attendees to have faith–and to never give up in their beliefs and dreams.
Both young men can talk the talk–and practice what they “preach.” Estrada is a 2008 Olympian and member of the U.S. Boxing Team that competed in Beijing and is now a successful pro fighter. But he told the crowd of the heartbreaking losses he has suffered through the years: an older brother killed by gang violence and his father died from kidney and heart problems just as he was returning home from the Olympics. And Shawn is one of 17 children (no, that is not a typo–17 kids!) in the Estrada family, who grew up in the Northern California and East L.A. area. Just 24, the unbeaten middleweight is also raising a young daughter of his own.
Apolo Anton Ohno–A Boxing Fan!
February 28, 2010
Walter Sarnoi and skating star cheer each other on
The Winter Olympics 2010 are coming to an end with the Closing Ceremonies taking place TONIGHT in Vancouver. There were many shining moments throughout the competition, but one U.S. athlete skated to his place in history and provided several minutes in the Games’ highlight reels.
Apolo Anton Ohno certainly made his mark in the speed skating world and has received world-wide attention as he competed in his third Olympics. But one little-known fact is his connection to boxing!
Pro fighter Walter “Schoolboy” Sarnoi (4-0, 2 KOs) has been friends with the short track superstar for several years now and is both happy and proud of his compadre’s record-breaking achievements.
“I’ve known Apolo for a while since I was a student at Northern Michigan in 2005,” the super bantamweight tells me in our exclusive chat this afternoon. “I know many of the members from the past and current Olympic speed skating teams including Shani Davis and Simon Cho.” The boxer attended the university on a full-ride scholarship granted by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Meet Trainer Fausto De La Torre
February 24, 2010
“Boxing saved my life!”
Every November we all look forward to a Thanksgiving feast–roast turkey and gravy with all the trimmings, green beans, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. A bountiful meal most of us take for granted.
This holiday dinner is one thing that boxing trainer Fausto De La Torre will never ever take for granted. In fact, there’s not much in life that the former amateur standout and veteran coach does take for granted.
Growing up and running amuck on the streets of L.A., a young Fausto didn’t have much self-respect, ambition or goals for his future. As a self-described juvenile delinquent, he didn’t even know if he had a future.
And that’s when fate and the sweet science stepped in.
“If it wasn’t for boxing, I don’t know where I’d be. I don’t know what man I would have become,” De La Torre explains quietly. “A while back, I got into some trouble as a juvenile. I was on the streets a lot.” His voice gets more somber and serious as he says, “I saw a lot. Guys getting shot, guys OD’ing in front of me…”
Arreola vs. Adamek in April!
February 22, 2010
“Ring of Fire”: Who will burn the brightest?
“I fell into a burning ‘Ring of Fire,’ I went down, down, down and the flames went higher,” goes the Johnny Cash song. The classic tune blared out from the speakers at last Friday’s Chris Arreola-Tomasz Adamek press conference to announce their April 24 showdown at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California.
The relatively new arena, which opened in the fall of 2008 on 37 acres of land, will be the site of this heavyweight clash, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and Main Events in association with Ziggy Promotions. Arreola fought in November 2008 when the venue first opened and 10,000 fight fans came out to cheer on their favorite heavyweight. The press conference was held in the arena’s lobby and many from the L.A. boxing community made the trek out to Riverside County to hear what the fighters had to say.
Hopkins-Jones By The Numbers!
February 18, 2010
Will their long-awaited rematch add up?
Bernard Hopkins will once again face his foe Roy Jones Jr.–after waiting 17 years for this second chance.
Their first meeting took place on May 22, 1993 and it was both fighters’ first shot at a world title. When the final bell rang, Jones (who was undefeated at the time) won by a unanimous decision 
(116-112). For Hopkins, it was only the second defeat of his career.
The two foes met face to face last week to proclaim their rivalry and to tout their upcoming matchup on April 3. “The Rivals: Hopkins vs. Jones II” will take place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, airing on PPV.
I’ve had some time to mull over the scope of this event, whether the fans’ interest remains, and to decide if their rivalry is real or just for show?
SILVER GLOVES: Meet 4 Young Champs!
February 11, 2010
National tournament features best in amateur boxing
Do you remember the quote “All that is gold does not glitter”? For these young fighters, their gold standard is SILVER!
Meet four boys from three states and four different cities: Deyon Christie (Las Vegas), Ryan Garcia (Victorville, CA), Gary Salazar (Fresno, CA) and Zimmie Dickinson (Washington, DC).
From coast to coast, they have one thing in common–they are THE 2010 National Silver Gloves Champions in their respective age and weight divisions after winning their prestigious titles last Saturday in Independence, Missouri (near Kansas City).
All four battled extremely tough foes during district, state and regional Silver Gloves tournaments to advance and win their national championship crowns. After whittling down over 1,000 regional boxers, just 350 athletes–the elite in amateur boxing–came from all over the U.S., spanning in ages 10-15, in eight appointed regional teams. Three rings held three days of action with the youth duking it out for the top prize. When the final bell rang in the 43rd edition of this tournament, only 70 hands were raised in glory.
