Lisa Brown spoke to 900 students and 66 staff members at the event. The students were thrilled to have six-time world champion female boxer at their school who could share her first hand experiences of overcoming adversity to reach her dream. “Bad News” shared several stories from her life explaining to students that in order to be successful they had to follow the four “D’s”: desire, dedication, determination and discipline.

Jerome Walker, a social sciences teacher, who helped organize the event said, “The response from the staff and students was nothing but positive as many labeled the day as the best black history assembly that they have ever witnessed! They loved the passion and personal connections Lisa made with the kids.”

By: GM Ross

 Steve ‘the Dragon’ Claggett (13-1-1) of Calgary, Alberta, is eager to get back in action. In January, Claggett knocked out highly touted Ontarian Ryan ‘The Nightmare’ Wagner (4-1-0), firmly establishing himself as the top light welterweight in western Canada. Wagner, however, wasn’t the opponent Claggett initially hoped for. In October 2011, ‘The Dragon’ called out fellow Albertan Rory Coveney of Edmonton via The Boxing Examiner. Negotiations seemed to be going smoothly; Team Coveney replied to Claggett’s defi positively, telling fans their man was “looking forward to fighting Steve.”

Unfortunately, all was not as it seemed. Fans hoped to see the fight added to the December 9, 2011, KO Boxing Promotions show in Edmonton, but no such luck. Claggett has kept active since calling out Coveney, defeating both Antonio Dos Santos (2-3-0) and Ryan Wagner (4-1-0) by TKO. Wagner was coming off a unanimous decision victory over none other than Rory Coveney, making Claggett’s victory that much sweeter. Despite his success, Claggett’s ambition to fight Coveney hasn’t wavered. “There has been so much talk about this,” said Claggett. “We should give the Alberta boxing fans what we said we would.”

According to boxrec.com, Coveney is scheduled to box in Edmonton on March 23. “I know about the KO Promotions show going on March 23rd in Edmonton,” Claggett told TBE. “I also know Coveney has no opponent so far. What about me? You said you wanted to fight in spring and, well, its spring. He asked for a winner takes all fight. That sounds good to me!” It sounds good to boxing fans, too. The TBE message boards were bombarded with discussion of the potential fight, leaving no question as to what Alberta’s boxing fandom want in March – Claggett vs Coveney.

TheBoxingExaminer.com

(Saturday February 18, 2012) – GYM promotions held the third episode of their Fast and the Furious series at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec and what a night it was for boxing fans who love knockouts. Light heavyweight contender Jean Pascal, Antonin Décarie, heavyweight fighter Eric Barak, former Montreal Canadiens tough guy George Laraque, and former Adonis Stevenson’s trainer Howard Grant were all in attendance with another 3000 enthusiastic boxing fans.

The main event featured the fearsome southpaw Adonis ‘’Superman’ Stevenson (16-1-0, 13 KO’s) of Longueuil, Quebec against former NABF super middleweight champion Jesus ’’El Martillo’’ Gonzales from Phoenix, Arizona for the IBF super middleweight title eliminator for the number two spot. Gonzales, another southpaw was named the most impressive boxer in the 2002 national amateur scene in the USA, earning three victories over Andre Berto, defeated Alfredo Angulo and the now WBC and WBA super middleweight champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward. As a pro, Gonzales won a major victory over hard punching Francisco Sierra last July.

On the other side, Stevenson is no stranger to success either. In the last ten months Superman came back to the elite group of the division by knockout wins over Derek Edwards, Dion Savage, and most recently Librado Andrade conqueror Aaron Pryor Jr. Now trained by the legendary Emanuel Stewart, Stevenson was looking to impress. Both fighter came into the ring to honour the passing of Montreal Expos and baseball great Gary Carter. Gonzales was wearing a jersey of Carter and Stevenson wore an Expos cap and for the first time yellow trunks, colors of the famous Kronk gym of Detroit City.

The fight itself lasted 1:39 seconds of the first round, but no one was disappointed. Stevenson promised a knockout and he delivered. Superman destroyed Gonzalez with a single but lethal straight left to the chin. El Martillo laid several minutes on his back before the ringside doctor and his cornermen helped him get on his feet. After the fight, Stevenson called out IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute once again. He also dedicated his performance to the memory of Gary Carter.

Adonis Stevenson improves his record to 17 victories, only 1 defeat and is now ranked number two by the IBF.

Baha Laham versus Csaba Toth

In a four rounds lightweight attraction, Lebanon born Baha Laham (7-0-0, 2 KO’s) of Montreal, Quebec versus Csaba ‘’Little Tyson’’ Toth (7-11-0, 4 KO’s) from Budapest, Hungary. During his amateur career, Laham won three gold medals on the Canadian amateur championships and was named the most outstanding fighter of 2001.

Now a prize fighter, Laham is looking for an impressive victory over a more experienced fighter. Very aggressive during the first two rounds, Laham dropped his opponent with a sizzling left hook to the body early in the third.

Little Tyson was not able to beat the count and Laham earns an exciting knockout win at 0:52 seconds of the third round. He moves his record to 8 victories and remains undefeated.

Ghislain Maduma versus Jeremy Abbott

In a six round light welterweight division attraction, Ghislain Maduma (5-0-0, 2 KO’s) a native of Congo but fighting out of Montreal took on Jeremy Abbott (3-2-0, 2 KO’s) of Dunnville, Ontario.

Both fighters came out swinging hard shots at the first bell, but Maduma got the better of the exchange by sending Abbott to the canvas with a left hooks to the body. Not long after, a powerful left hook from Maduma dropped his opponent to the canvas. Abbott got up and show courage by fighting back but a right, left, right, left hooks combinations from Maduma knocked him down for a third, triggering the three knockdowns rule in the process.

Ghislain Maduma by technical knockout in the first round. He improves his record to 6 victories and remains impressive and undefeated.

Tyler Asselstine versus Nicola Cipolletta

In an eight round super featherweight division attraction, Ottawa, Ontario southpaw Tyler Asselstine (8-0-0, 5 KO’s) did battle with Nicola Cipolletta (8-0-0, 2 KO’s) of Napoli, Campania, Italy. On this night, the fighter from Ottawa faced his first undefeated opponent of his young career. In his seventh fight in Montreal, the 2009 Canadian national team member and 2010 Ringside champion looked more than ready to answer the challenge.

Indeed. Asselstine easily defeated Cipolletta from round one to eight. By jabbing, moving and landing his powerful straight left but could not floor Cipolletta. The Canadian fighter dominated the Italian and earned his ninth victory of his career. The southpaw landed hard blows on Cipolletta who refused to engage and fought going backward the whole fight, showboating from time to time.

Tyler Asselstine from Ottawa got cheers from the crowd and remains undefeated with a unanimous decision win. All three judges had scores of 80-72 in favour of the winner.

 Oscar Rivas versus Ivica Perkovic

In an eight round heavyweight division attraction, Oscar’’Kaboom’’Rivas (8-0-0, 5 KO’s) of Montreal, Quebec faced Ivaca Perkovic (15-11-0, 11 KO’s) from Sibenik, Croatia. Nicknamed “Kaboom” for obvious reasons, the 2007 Pan-American silver medalist and 2008 Olympic Games participant his always looking for greater challenge in his promising career. Not only know for being a hard puncher, Perkovic also went the distance with former WBC International heavyweight champion Sinan Samil Sam.

During the two rounds, it was all Rivas who landed at will with vicious overhand right on the side of the head of Perkovic. In the third round, the same kind of action continued but only faster. Kaboom knockdown his opponent with another brutal right. Perkovic went down a second time with the same kind of blow. The Croatian fighter got up, but only to go down again for the third and final time of the fight as Rivas finished him with a right, followed by a vicious left hook to the chin.

Referee Alain Villeneuve decided he had seen enough and stopped the fight at 0:51 seconds of the third round. Oscar’’Kaboom’’ Rivas has now five straight victories by knockout and improves his record to nine wins and stay undefeated.

Arash Usmanee versus Innocent Anyanwu

In a eight rounds lightweight division attraction, the former NABA super featherweight champion Arash Usmanee (16-0-0, 8 KO’s) of Montreal, Quebec did battle with the former Dutch and BeNeLux super featherweight champion Innocent Anyanwu (21-3-2, 13 KO’s) from Amsterdam, Netherlands. Both fighters gave the boxing fans a very entertaining fight. Usmanee is a five time Canadian amateur champion with 130 wins and only 20 defeats. During his pro career, he earned notable victories over Pedro Navarrete, Aldo Valtierra, Alejandro Barrera, and Antonio Joao Bento. True to his reputation as a work horse, Usmanee always challenge fighters who possess more experiences than him to make it to the top of the mountain. On this night he had his hands full.

In the first two rounds, Usmanee controlled the action with combinations shots coming from all angles on his opponent. However, Anyanwu blocked most of them and waited for his moment. It would come by landing occasional but vicious overhand rights on Usmanee.

Round number three. The Dutch fighter is getting closer with significant straight rights as Usmanee counter with left hooks. In the middle of the round, Arash shook his left hand seemingly hurt after throwing a combination. This would be an important factor during the fight.

Round number four. Usmanee goes back to the jab and landed hard right hooks at close range, not using his left as much as he did in the first part of the fight. Anyanwu still on the attack and is successful with his right and now his left hooks. Usmanee goes down to the body with right body shots to slow down his foe.

Round number five. In the first minute, Usmanee goes down for the first time of his career after a brutal overhand right of Anyanwu. The hometown fighter showed courage by rising up and exchanging hooks toe-to-toe with a determined adversary. Anyanwu seem to have the better of the exchanges.

During rounds six and seven, Usmanee used movements and precise jabs to keep the aggressive Anyanwu at bay. The former NABA champion his getting to his opponent many right hands to the head and body. Once again, both pugilists are fighting in a phone booth. Usmanee starts to win on the exchanges in the seventh round, but Anyanwu close this one with another solid straight right that stuns the hometown favourite.

Eight and final round. Anyanwu caught Arash early. Usmanee use his range and landed effectives jabs. At long distance, the Canadian fighter has the advantage. Usmanee will finish the fight with rapid combinations, landing two hard rights on Anyanwu’s head.

This one goes to the scorecards. Judge Jean Gauthier gave a score of 76-75, Pasquale Procopio 77-74 and Jack Woodburn 78-73 in favour of the winner by unanimous decision, Arash Usmanee, remaining undefeated in the process. The crowd booed the decision and when Anyanwu rose his hands up, they cheered for the Dutch fighter.

Dierry Jean versus Ryan Barrett

In an eight round light welterweight attraction, the co-main event of the evening featured undefeated Dierry’’Douggy Style’’Jean (20-0-0, 13 KO’s) of Longueuil, Quebec against the former England super featherweight champion Ryan Barrett (25-9-3, 5 KO’s) a southpaw from London, England. Coming out of his most important and impressive win of his career against former world title challenger Francisco Lorenzo, Jean could not wait the showcase his talents in front of his hometown crowd. On the other hand, Barrett also had important oppositions in his career, facing the likes of former light welterweight kingpin Amir Khan and defeating Femi Fehintola for the England super featherweight championship.

The boxing fans did not wait very long for the action to start. Jean hurt Barrett with right and left hooks and drops him for the first time of the fight. He does so again with a right to the body.

In the second round. Jean is relentless as he punished Barrett on the ropes with a barrage of punches and knocks him down again for the third time. Barrett is barely getting up, but he would go down for a forth time by a brutal straight right to the body. Again, the courageous English fighter got up to finish the round.

In the third and final round of the fight. Jean jumps on his adversary and unleashed vicious hooks on a defenceless Barrett. Jean is really impressive in this one as he finish his task with a solid left hook on the body of his adversary, taking him down for the fifth and final time.

Referee Steve St-Germain called a halt to the action at 1:22 seconds of the third round. Winner by technical knockout and still undefeated, Dierry’’Douggy Style’’Jean.

The event features Larone Jet Whyte as the main event. Angel Face mgmt also hopes to raise funds to support Whyte as he prepares for the FTS, (Final Team Selection) February 28th -March 3rd in St Hyacinthe, Quebec.

Also on the card HUF Boxers; Kane Heron, Caitlin Trenholme, David Gibson, Helmand Alekozai, and making her amateur debut Edessa Zoleta.

WE STAND TOGETHER

WHERE: HUF Gym, 640 Crestview Ave. Mississauga, ON, L5G 3P9

WHEN: Monday, Feb 20th, Door Open at 2:00pm First Bell at 3pm

PRICE: Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, Children under 12 years old are FREE.

For more information and interview requests, contact: Olga Rosa:

olgah@hufboxing.com; 905.274.4483
www.hufboxing.com

How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

Theboxingexaminer.com

 Adonis Stevenson KO1 (1:39) Jesus Gonzalez
Dierry Jean TKO3 (1:22) Ryan Barrett
(Barrett down 5 times total)
Oscar Riva TKO3 (:51) Ivica Perkovic
Arash Usmanee WUD8 Innocent Anyanwu
(Usmanee down in the 5th)
(76-75 / 77-74 / 78-73)
Tyler Asselstine WUD8 Nicola Cippoletta
(80-72 / 80-72 / 80-72)
Ghislain Maduma TKO1 (3:00) Jeremy Abbott
(Abbott down 3 times)
Baha Laham KO3 (:52) Csaba Toth

full report to follow….
TheBoxingExaminer.com

TheBoxingExaminer.com

On Saturday, February 18, undefeated Canadian featherweight prospect Tyler Asselstine (8-0-0) of Ottawa, Ontario, will be stepping into the ring with Nicola Cipolletta (8-0-0) of Napoli, Campania, Italy, at Montreal’s Bell Centre. Both men are young, undefeated fighters, but only one will be victorious. Once more, the southpaw from Ottawa will do everything he can to impress Montreal boxing fans. The Boxing Examiner had a chance to talk with Tyler one day before the fight.

The Boxing Examiner : Good afternoon Tyler. How are you?

Tyler Asselstine: I feel great and I’m excited for the fight.

TBE: How was your training camp?

TA: The training camp was good leading up to this fight. My weight was on and I trained really hard for this one.

TBE: The promotion changed your opponent three times before tomorrow night’s fight. Does it bother you?

TA: No. I’m happy I get to fight a guy with a better record, so it’s more of a reward for me if I do well. I knew I was fighting Cipolletta for two and a half weeks, so I had time to prepare well for him. The part that bothers me is when a fighter backs down from a fight. Sometimes it happens in boxing, you just need to adjust to the circumstances.

TBE: You are facing your first undefeated opponent. Your thoughts?

TA: I’m excited about that actually. But one of us has to lose and it won’t be me.

TBE: Do you agree with the fact that when you are an undefeated fighter you give everything in the ring to remain that way?

TA: I do. It’s going be a great fight, because neither of us wants to lose. I know he’s going to do anything to protect his record and so am I. None of us want to have that one loss in our record.

TBE: Do you agree it’s going to be your toughest challenge yet?

TA: Absolutely and this is going to be an exciting fight because of that.

TBE: What do you know about Cipolletta?

TA: He has long arms and is a big boxer. I’m going to measure him with my jab and start working from there.

TBE: If you win tomorrow night, what’s next for you?

TA: I hope to fight for the NABA title of my division, but I don’t have a particular target, not now.

TBE: Boxing fans in Montreal love to see you fight here. You’re aggressive, elusive and precise. Do you plan to fight more here or in Ontario?

TA: I would love to keep fighting in Montreal. I love the city and the fans are great. A lot of my friends come to see me fight here and they like the city too and I’m starting to make a name for myself here.

TBE; Thank you Tyler and good luck!

TA: Thank you.

 On February 18, 2012, at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, five-time Canadian national amateur champion and former NABA super featherweight champion Arash Usmanee (16-0-0) will face former Dutch super featherweight champion Innocent Anyanwu (21-3-2). Usmanee was busy in 2011, fighting six times, earning amazing victories over Aldo Valtierra, Alejandro Barrera and, recently, Antonio Joao Bento. All of them had much more international experience than Usmanee, but the Canadian won nonetheless. He has successfully answered every challenge with courage and dedication. If all goes according to plan, Usmanee will be facing Chris Howard (14-0-1) of Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 17 in Atlanta, Georgia, for the vacant WBC Continental Americas lightweight title. The Boxing Examiner sat down to talk with this rising star the day before his fight with Anyanwu.

The Boxing Examiner: Good afternoon Arash. Do you have time for a few questions?

Arash Usmanee: No problem!

TBE: On Saturday night, you will fight Innocent Anyanwu, who possess a third round knockout win over Sergio Palomo. Your thoughts?

AU: He’s a tough guy and I take nothing for granted. I’m ready. I know he’s here to win and I hear he had a very good team around him. So, he’s going to bring everything in the ring to win and it’s going to be an exciting fight. But I have the style to beat him and I can’t way to show boxing fans tomorrow night.

TBE: In the last two years, we have seen you fight boxers who had much more experience than you. Like Pedro Navarette, Aldo Valtierra, Alejandro Barrera and Antonio Joao Bento. You’re not afraid of big challenges?

AU: To be the best, you have to beat the best. I want to climb to the top of the mountain and this is my way of doing it. Right now, I’m not fighting the best in the world, but I will get there, that is why I’m fighting a lot of tough guys. There’s no sitting around anymore for me. I’ve got a couple of medals but I want to get the belts now.

TBE: You had an impressive victory over Bento last December. People say it was your most exciting performance yet. Your thoughts?

AU: I agree, it was a very good fight and if I box tomorrow like I did against Bento, Anyanwu won’t make it to the end of the fight. Because Bento was an extremely tough fighter, very courageous and I was amazed by the level of punishment he was able to take. I tried everything to knockout Bento, but he refused to go down. I hope Anyanwu will bring the same kind of will in the ring. This time I will box better.

TBE: Are you expecting a knockout win over Anyanwu?

AU: We are planning to knock him out in the fourth round. This is not a prediction; we never know what’s going to happen.

TBE: If it goes to the limit, is it going to jeopardize your march 17 fight against Chris Howard in Atlanta, Georgia?

AU: Not at all. It won’t change anything. But if the fight with Howard goes the full ten rounds, my April 7 fight at the Claude-Robillard Center of Montreal might not happen, because it’s too soon after.

TBE: Thank you for your time Arash and good luck!

AU: It was my pleasure.