Amateur ring action returned to the Fair Park Coliseum, in South Dallas, as Dallas P.A.L. held its 1st Annual "Texas Blowout Boxing Tournament,” Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28. Back in 1998, when I first attended the Dallas Golden Gloves, it was held at the very same Fair Park Coliseum. It definitely felt good to see the old place again.

A supportive crowd watched two days worth of good bouts, some more controversial than others. Kudos to Ray Ximenez for organizing the event, Dennis Rodarte for announcing and Debbie Holmes for sending results, in addition to refereeing and registering the fighters.  [Please go to our “Amateurs” page for bout sheets and results from both days.]

All sporting events have their good and bad nights. For example, game six of the recent NBA finals. With four minutes left to play the Lakers had solid control of the game and the only thing left was to watch the celebration. On the other hand, game seven of the NHL finals could go down as the most exciting two minutes the Stanly Cup history. SWC 7 might not have reached the NHL level but what a card it was.  [read more]

SWC 7 event was held at the usual location, the Embassy Suites / Frisco Convention Center in Frisco, Texas. The crowd was a mixed demographic and the event was about 80% full. The octagon ring was raised and small; still it was difficult to see the fights, even from my vantage at ringside. Two medium sized screens showed music videos and the fights but the bright lighting made the screens hard but not impossible to watch. [This was a good night for a writer to lose his cherry at his first live MMA show.]  [read more]

Friday Night Fights in Frisco, a Mendelson Entertainment production, gave boxing fans everything they could’ve wanted.  There were knock-outs, shut-outs, a close decision and a huge upset.  Last Friday night was the first in a series of twelve professional boxing cards, of which 8 will be in Frisco and the other 4 in Austin.  Featuring a former Olympian and two highly decorated amateurs, Mendelson’s Friday Night Fights proved to be a good show.  If you missed it, here’s my perspective on how things went down.  [read more]

Main Event – Jesse Lara (Dallas, Texas) v Gilbert Vera (Austin, Texas)
Some might say if Jesse Lara could have the night back, he would love it. But taking the night back wouldn’t change the outcome. The closest Lara could come to changing it would be to go back a few weeks or even months and spend more time in the gym, more time on the road, and less time enjoying the fruits of his labor. Still Gilbert Vera would have something to say about all of that just as he did Friday, June 19, at the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas.  [read more]

In the officials category, award winners at the USA Boxing National Championships in Denver, CO, were: -JO National Tournament: Outstanding Referee, Rick Perez, NJ Outstanding Judge: Michael Margado, CA Outstanding 1st Time Referee: Floyd Favors, DC Outstanding 1st Time Judge: Laura Magallon, TX -Women's National Tournament: Pete Suazo Memorial Award: Nick and Joyce Cimmento -Men's National Tournament: Outstanding Referee: Brent Bovel, DC Outstanding Judge: Kristy Rosario, CA -For longevity and outstanding contributions to USAB: Spencer Carpenter, MI Jim McNally, MD Ray Silvas, TX

In 1981, an album called "Controversy" was released by a legendary musician named Prince.  From 1992-2002, a legendary puglistic artist by the name of Prince Naseem Hamed released hearty helpings of controversy onto the boxing world.  Though he hasn't done so officially, it appears that Hamed has passed the proverbial torch signifying boxing's premier showman and stirrer of controversy to the "Latin Legend", Luis Yanez.

Luis Yanez in venom cape before Rios fight.

The Dr. Pepper Areana, in Frisco, Tx., hosted the contest and the 2,500 fans in attendance (coupled with Yanez's showmanship) made for a surreal prizefighting experience.  Venom supplied Yanez with a tailored cape and some of its tastiest eye candy, to accentuate his ring entrance.  As Yanez entered his arena, he stopped, did a 360 to scan the crowd and proceeded to get his groove on.  Out of nowhere, Yanez pointed to head trainer, Dennis Rodarte, then co-trainer, "Handsome" Hector Beltran (12-1-1, 10 KO's) and all three of them broke out a choreographed dance routine.  It was a wild, funny and unforgettable scene that I can't say I've ever witnessed in prizefighting.  [read more]

The stars will be shining very bright deep in the heart of Texas tomorrow night.  Today, I had the opportunity to interview the star that could be shining brightest by the end of the night.  That star has a name and it’s Roberto Marroquin.

First of all, I want you, the reader to know that I have personally watched and judged Roberto in the amateur ranks.  In my opinion, he is one of the most well rounded boxers I have ever seen.  He has all the tools, and now, the power to go with it.  I rate him up there with other guys that used to be hot prospects, like Yuriorkis Gamboa and Andre Berto, who are now champions, and I think he will follow their footsteps.  You heard it here, first!   Also, did I mention, he’s only nineteen?  [read more]

The city of Dallas acquitted itself quite well as some of our local amatuers participated in the 2009 U.S. Men's National Championships and National Junior Olympics, held in Denver, Colorado.  [read more]

Thursday night’s Steele Cage event “Battle of the Texas Titans” at the Dr Pepper Arena was a great success by all indications. The newly renovated arena was extremely nice with extra seating, new giant screens, sound system, suites and a new club. The large and vocal crowd in attendance seemed to enjoy not only the fights but also the parade of celebrities ushered into the octagon. “Sugar” Ray Philips, Guy Mezger, Luis Yanez and crowd favorite Randy White to name a few.  [read more]

Will Smith (l) with Richard Steele (r)

After nervously dialing his number, I heard a loud, gritty, familiar voice answer, "Hello, this is Richard Steele."  Right then, I morphed back into the adolescent boxing fanatic that has seen Steele in hundreds of bouts over the last few decades.  What follows is my interaction with a true boxing legend.  We talked about his 40 plus years of prizefighting experience, the historic events he's been a part of, what he's presently doing and his future.  Honestly, this ended up being more of a boxing conversation than an interview.  [read more]

I hate to quote Forest Gump, but I have to say it, “Life’s like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re going to get.”  Today life presented me with a tasty chunk of goodness and it all happened at Grandpa Tony’s  located in Dallas at 3130 W. Mockingbird Lane – try the Carne Asada with a margarita and you’ll be set.  [read more]

Thursday, June 11 the newly renovated Dr Pepper Area will host a mixed martial arts card called “Battle of the Texas Titans.” One of the promoters of the event is none other the Richard Steele, known as one of the better boxing referees in the business. Now retired, Steele had been the third man in the ring for some of the greatest boxing matches over the last three to four decades. Since 2003, Richard Steele Promotions has brought MMA events to California, New Mexico, Tijuana, Mexico and Las Vegas, Nevada now its North Texas’ turn.  [read more]

Taronze Washington (l) lands a solid left hook to Vance Garvey.

The Main Event
The main event pitted junior middleweights Taronze Washington against Vance Garvey. Both men gave a solid effort. The champ started off strong and aggressive while the challenger was timid in the first round. The champ didn't sit between rounds. That is what is known as  the “Preparation H” tactic. Both men were in good condition. The challenger is a south paw and wasn't able to keep his right foot outside of the champs left foot. This is a must for south paws it prevented him from squaring up with the champ to apply more effective punching. Despite the challenger scowled express the champ continued to win most of the rounds.  The challenger showed signs of movement in the 3rd round. He would circle either right or left which circumvented the champs straight on approach.  The challenger's stuttering offense showed a glimpses of good speed on occasion. The champ is the gambling type forgoing the jab, standing in front of his opponent and not setting any traps. This is not a good idea when you have a dangling chin. The champion retained his title despite these risks.  [read more]

Team Barron; (left to right) Head Trainer Dennis Rodarte, Ricardo Barron, 2008 US Olympian Luis Yanez, KO Artist Coach Red

If the name KO-N-1 is familiar to you, it should be. That's where 2008 United States Olympian, Luis Yanez, and "Handsome" Hector Beltran were schooled by trainer, Dennis Rodarte. Unlike most local coaches, Rodarte doesn't let just any fighter rock the KO-N-1 moniker; fighters have to earn the right. There's a limited amount of amateur fighters in Rodarte's stable and Barron's at the top of the list. "'Roc-It' is my top amateur,” Dennis says. "He's always shown it in the gym and that's why I've always expected so much from him. It wasn't easy moving from gym to gym for a while, and we lost some guys, but of my core group of amatuer's,'Roc-It' is the oldest. And it's funny, just like 'Roc-It' looked up to Luis and Hector, my younger guys are now looking up to him."  [read more]

Errol Spence Jr.

Spence's very first fight was at the 2005 State Silver Gloves (which he won) and he hasn't looked back.  Since then he's brought home the 2008 Under 19 National Championship, the 2008 National P.A.L. Championship and most recently, the 2009 National Golden Gloves.  Errol was runner-up in last year's National Gloves and will be looking to defend his P.A.L. title in June.  Two Texas State Golden Gloves titles and three Dallas Golden Gloves titles are the icing on Spence's pugilistic cake.  To say the least, his rise to the top of the United States amatuer boxing scene has been meteoric; almost improbable.  Accomplishing all of this with less than four full years of boxing instruction, against Open-division competition (where very often you're facing grown men), is remarkable.  [read more]

Friday, May 15th boxing fans gathered in Lawton, Oklahoma for an exciting card presented by Comanche Nation Casino, catBox Entertainment and C3 Fights. Tracy Thomas of KXY Radio, announced the evening’s bouts to the packed house inside the 30,000 square foot EventTent provided by C3 Fights.

Boxing from Lawton OK, 05-15-09 - Geoge T.

At the bell, both men came out strong. Wallace stepping in and getting things started only to discover the Comanche Boy was ready and waiting. Sadly, both fighters had hardly even broken a sweat when the fight was stopped 42 seconds into round one by officials due to inclement weather. High velocity winds caused the EventTent to be unstable and the probable weather in the Lawton area caused official Gary Ritter to call the fight – No Contest. Later, Ritter stated that “so far it was a hell of a fight – could have gone either way.” Of course, fans and fighters were disappointed. C3 Fights promoter, Ron Tripp said, “I expected a KO. We’ll see in September.”  [read more]

Sundance Square, Ft. Worth, 05/08/09 - Joe Tesatore (l) and Teddy Atlas.

Over the years, I have been privileged to meet several boxing “stars.” The legendary Roberto Duran aside, Atlas must be the nicest man in boxing. No wonder ESPN Friday Night Fights is such a hit with boxing fans. How he comes across on the big screen is how he actually is; then those of us that have had the privilege to spend a few seconds with him come away impressed with how down to earth and what a boxing geek like us he really is. From my view at ringside I watched as he took as much time as necessary with every man, woman, and child that wanted their moment with him. And if the line wasn’t too long he would sit and talk boxing with whomever was in front of him at the time. What a class act.  [read more]