June 10, 2014 · 10:10 pm

Willie Nelson dropped to #5 in latest WBC rankings

June 7, 2014, New York,NY --- Willie Nelson (R) stops Darryl Cunningham in the 1st round Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ----Photo credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank

June 7, 2014, New York,NY — Willie Nelson (R) stops Darryl Cunningham in the 1st round
Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
—-Photo credit : Chris Farina – Top Rank


Despite recording a 1st round knockout over the weekend, Cleveland Super Welterweight contender Willie “The Great” Nelson saw his ranking by the World Boxing Council (WBC) drop from third to fifth in the rankings that were released today.

Nelson (22-1-1, 13 KO’s) returned to the ring after nearly a year off Saturday on the undercard of the Miguel Cotto/Sergio Martinez World Middleweight Championship fight. Originally scheduled to appear on the televised pay-per-view portion of the card against Andy Lee, Nelson was forced to an off tv fight against the well past his prime Darryl Cunningham due to crazy boxing politics.

Nelson did what he needed to do, scoring a first round knockout in quickly extinguishing an aging veteran that had been knocked out in two of his last three fights.

The irony in all of this is that the man that Nelson originally agreed to fight, Andy Lee, scored a spectacular fifth round knockout over the once beaten (by Willie Nelson) John Jackson. Lee was knocked down in the second round and Jackson was in control of the fight until being knocked unconscious.

One of the fighters that moved ahead of Nelson in the rankings? Yes, you guessed it, Andy Lee. The fact that Lee had never even fought at Super Welterweight and was down on the cards at the time of the knockout didn’t matter when the WBC released its rankings.

The other fighter that moved ahead of Nelson in the rankings was undefeated Jermell Charlo, who was much more deserving than Lee to do so. Charlo had fought three times since Nelson’s last fight, including a dominant twelve round decision over once beaten Charlie Ota in his last fight on May, 24th.

While I don’t agree with Nelson losing his place in the rankings, especially without losing a fight, there is a way he can jump back into the top three. Take on his originally scheduled opponent of this past Saturday, Andy Lee.

The two camps had already agreed on a fight so making the matchup now should be no problem with both ranked in the top 5. A win by Nelson would most likely put him in contention to fight for the World title. Yes, this is another obstacle for the 27 year old Nelson, who began his professional career in 2006, but whoever said that it was easy to become a World Champion?

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May 16, 2014 · 12:04 am

Gary Russell Jr. looking to make a statement in bout against Lomachenko

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January 9, 2014 · 8:26 pm

Cleveland’s Alicea looking to knock out the New Year

Eduardo Alicea & Robert Garcia taking a break while training

Eduardo Alicea & Robert Garcia taking a break while training

Cleveland middle-weight prospect Eduardo Alicea (4-0, 3 KO’s) is wasting no time getting into the ring in 2014, taking on Killeen, Tx’s Jas Phipps (4-1, 1 KO) this Friday, January 10th from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.

The event is being televised live on ESPN2 as a part of the “Friday Night Fights” boxing series. Alicea’s bout, while not the main event of the attraction has a chance to make it on TV, provided the scheduled TV matches end early.

Alicea is a former United States Junior Olympic National amateur boxing champion that represented America in the Cadet games in Azerbaijan in 2007. He had a reported amateur record of 143-16!

Training in Oxnard, California under the tutelage of one of the fight games best trainers, Robert Garcia, should help the 23 year old advance up the professional rankings.

Alicea was sharp in his last bout, in November, scoring a second round KO over Jake Constant in Missouri. While his previous four opponents entered with a combined record of 1-4-1, Phipps will enter as a much needed step up in completion to see where he stands as a professional.

The combined record’s of Phipps five opponents when he faced them was a well respected 16-1. He’s faced three undefeated fighters, only losing once, that was his last time out when he was stopped in the fifth round last July against Ronald Gavril, who is currently 7-0.

Despite Phipps entering the bout with not only the same amount of wins, but better quality wins, Alicea doesn’t seem fazed by his opponent.

“He’s a southpaw, that’s all I really know,” Alicea said.

Southpaw (left-handed) fighters often present problems because they tend to do everything opposite from what you’re used to seeing in the gym. With Alicea’s vast amateur experience, there shouldn’t be anything that Phipps brings into the ring, that Alicea hasn’t seen before.

With this being just his fifth professional fight, despite turning pro nearly two years ago, Alicea knows he has to start advancing his career in order to become a bonafide contender.

“My goal is to be at least 12-0 by the end of the year,” stated Alicea.

Based on his skill set, there’s no reason to not believe that the Cleveland based prospect can achieve that goal.

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April 25, 2013 · 8:08 pm

Shawn Porter & Wilkins Santiago sparring

Here is video I found of Shawn Porter & Wilkins Santiago sparring at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas in advance of Porter’s showdown with Phil Lo Greco

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November 9, 2012 · 11:53 pm

Gausha scores KO in pro debut

Cleveland native and 2012 US Olympian Terrell Gausha scored an impressive 2nd round KO over an outmatched Dustin Caplinger on Friday night at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.

Caplinger seemed to want to turn the bout into a wrestling match, trying to tie up Gausha instead of getting into exchanges. When Gausha was able to create space he scored a knockdown near the end of the initial round, then floored Caplinger twice in the 2nd round, forcing referee Tom Taylor to stop the contest at 1:55 of that round.

Anything less than a knockout win over Caplinger would have been a disappointment, and Gausha did his part, dispatching his man in impressive fashion.

Gausha will look to stay active and will hopefully fight again before the end of the year. Caplinger’s record falls to 2-4.

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November 9, 2012 · 6:26 pm

Cleveland Olympian Terrell Gausha debut’s tonight

Terrell Gausha posing at the weigh in.

Terrell Gausha posing at the weigh in.

2012 US Olympian and Cleveland native Terrell Gausha makes his professional debut tonight at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. Showtime is expected to televise Gausha’s bout, as he is one of several 2012 US Olympians debuting.

Gausha fought as a middleweight in the Olympics and will fight in the super-middleweight division for his debut against Dustin Caplinger.  Both fighters weighed in yesterday with Gausha hitting the scales at 164 pounds, while Caplinger was 165 1/2.

While Gausha has plenty of in ring experience as an amateur boxer, Caplinger has been a professional since 2003, but has only fought once since 2005, losing a four round majority decision in July. Overall Caplinger brings a record of 2-3, with 1 KO. He has been stopped one time among his three losses.

Gausha shouldn’t have any issues tonight and a knockout should be expected.

Gausha and Caplinger face off

Gausha and Caplinger face off

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April 1, 2012 · 1:52 pm

Kelly Pavlik vs Aaron Jaco

Kelly Pavlik scored a 2nd rd TKO over Aaron Jaco on March 31, 2012 from the Illusions Theatre in San Antonio, Texas.  It was Pavlik’s first fight under new trainer Robert Garcia and also his first fight since a 10 round majority decision victory last May. Pavlik improved to 38-2 (33 KO’s) while Jaco dropped 15-3.

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May 22, 2011 · 10:43 pm

Wilkins Santiago vs Russ Niggemeyer

Wilkins Santiago won a 4 Rd unanimous decision over Russ Niggemeyer on May 14th, 2011 in Campbell, Ohio.

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May 22, 2011 · 10:22 pm

Miguel Gonzalez vs Chris Fernandez

Miguel Gonzlez defeated Chris Fernandez via 10 Rd Unanimous Decision on May 14th, 2011 in Campbell, Ohio.  The fight was for the vacant WBF Intercontinental Jr Welterweight title, whatever the heck that means.

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April 16, 2011 · 10:20 am

It’s 10 in a row for Miguel Gonzalez

Cleveland lightweight Miguel “Silky Smooth” Gonzalez won his 10th fight in a row last night at the Ameristar Casino in St. Louis, Mo.  Gonzalez was declared the victor over Hector Alatorre by six round decsion.

Overall Gonzalez improved his record to 16-2, with 13 KO’s.

More details will follow.

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