Updates…
Just a couple of items I neglected to tell you about….
1. ARES star, Jose Medina (17-10-1, 7 KOs) lost a tough majority decision to Monroe, Michigan’s Bronco McKart (54-9-1, 32 KOs) last Saturday night. The judges had it 116-112, 116-112, 114-114.
This fight was for the Universal Boxing Association middleweight title.
2. I also have to tell you about my buddy, Jeff Ohl. I met Jeff a couple of years ago while training at Albany’s Quail Street Gym. My standard joke was to tell him I wanted him in the ring and he was dodging me. The truth is, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere him. Jeff is a tough, tough, dude with eight kickboxing bouts on his resume, (7-1). But at age 37, when lots of folks limit their exercise routines to walking the dog after dinner, Jeff decided to switch to boxing.
...with daughter, Madeline, age 6
He’s got to be one of the most disciplined guys I know, so the daily workouts were no big deal. It was just a matter of working them in between everything else he has going on, which includes his job as a Corrections Officer at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Beekman, NY, and running his own gym out of his home called “OhlSkool Boxing,” not to mention his responsibilities as a Dad.
“I just truly love the sport, the training, and the competition,” he said. He had his first fight about a year ago, which he won in a quick TKO, but then came a shoulder injury that kept him out of action for months. But Jeff refused to go out that way. He wanted one more fight before calling it quits for good – on his terms.
So he waited, and when the time came, he stepped between the ropes again to get back into shape for that one last fight.
Last Saturday, at the Fishkill Recreational Center, the fight happened.
Reach Jeff at Ohlskool Boxing: ohlskool72@yahoo.com
But as is often the case in this sport, things don’t usually go as planned. The opponent Jeff had in his sights cancelled at the last minute. No problem, organizers said, we have somebody else for you: Chase Hookway. There’s only one thing, they continued. He’s 22-years-old and is 6’5″ 200 lbs. Jeff thought for a nanosecond, just long enough to say to himself that a target that size should be easy to hit, and then said sure, let’s get it on.
“He was the toughest guy I ever fought,” Jeff said. “But I almost took him out in the third…I think my body attack made the difference…It was an awesome way to go out.” Indeed.
Congratulations, Jeff.
Mikey Faragon makes it 18-0
When trainer Andy Faragon called me late last night, there was no mistaking the satisfaction in his voice. I knew what he was going to say before he finished his first, and most important, sentence: “Mikey won the UD.” The judge had it 79-73, 79-73, 78-74.
In doing so, Mikey Faragon boosted his record to 18-0, (8 KOs). His opponent, Mexico’s Sergio Rivera (25-10-2, 16 KOs) is no joke. As I noted in an earlier entry in response to someone who wrote in questioning Rivera’s ability, the guy not only has a solid record but has been in there with some real talent – names like Sharif Bogere and Tim Coleman. They may have been losses, of which he only had nine in 37 fights going into last night’s contest, but still. The guy’s been around the barn a few times. This was a good win for Mike Faragon.
Andy was also proud to tell me that renowned trainer Emanuel Steward spoke to him while he and Mikey were coming out of the ring. “He told me he was very impressed, and that Mike has all the skills to be a world champion someday.”
And that’s not all. “Jim Lampley (HBO announcer) told me that he’s going to feature Mike in a May 12 HBO special on rising stars,” Faragon said.
Not bad, huh?
Rayjay Bermudez is Northeast Regional Champion
Last Saturday, 14-year-old Rayjay Bermudez from Troy, NY became the Northeast Regional Champion at 132-lbs. I apologize for not having announced this sooner but it just escaped me somehow.
The event took place at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY. In order to come home with the honor, Rayjay had to defeat none other than Connecticut’s Myquan Williams, the 2011 Ringside Tournament Champion, and the #1 ranked junior in the nation in that weight division.
Those of you who come to Capital Region amateur events and have seen Rayjay in action are probably not surprised by this development. I know I’m not. I remember seeing Rayjay a couple of years ago and being very impressed, but then he stopped boxing for a while and I never knew why. I caught up to him yesterday at the Schenectady Youth Boxing event and learned that he had suffered a knee injury.
But since coming back, he’s been training at Sweeney’s Gym in Delmar under the watchful eye of respected trainer, Bill Growick. “Rayjay has gotten bigger and has developed very well in the last eight moths especially,” said Growick. “He’s such a nice kid, too. He works as hard as any pro and deserves lots of credit for what he’s accomplished.”
This latest victory for Rayjay won’t be the last you hear of him. Believe it.
Schenectady amateur boxing event results
Coach Vince Kittle and Board President Jeff Christiana have so much to be proud of in Schenectady Youth Boxing (SYB). Unfortunately, as is the case with most boxing programs, most of what they do remains under the radar of public awareness. There’s something about boxing that makes folks turn away. Yet SYB remains one of the most effective youth development programs in the City of Schenectady. Other youth in the City may be spending their time on the couch, or roaming around looking for something to do, of maybe even getting into trouble, but not SYB kids.
At least in this space Kittle and Christiana will get their due. Heartfelt congratulations to them. Their hard work showed again yesterday as the Club hosted a great event at Schenectady High School.
The brave young warriors you see named below performed so well that each bout deserves a blog entry of its own, but as usual I was too busy working the fights to “watch” the fights, so I’m limited to providing only the results. Just know that if you weren’t there, you missed a special afternoon of terrific amateur boxing.
(Please feel free to write in and correct my spelling. The bout sheets are pretty unintellgible.)
125 lbs: Erwin Premchan (Schenectady) over Sam Tate (Lorenzo’s)
90 lbs: Dion Laurel (Old School) over Marcello Rizzo (Schenectady)
165 lbs: Kendo Anderson (Schenectady) over Julius Jimison (Schenectady)
122 lbs: Brandon Idrogo (Old School) over Christian Coakley (Old School)
201 lbs: Jason Taylor (Schenectady) over Mo Zhang (The Den) - Walkover
170 lbs: David Tomaso (Hudson) over Ben Wright (Schenectady)
152 lbs: Michael Black (Hudson) over James Charbonneau (Sweeney’s)
141 lbs: Jalil Salim (Schenectady) over Joe Gbolo (Schott’s)
In between the bouts I was approached by young Dion Laurel’s mother, Mimi, who introduced herself as a fan of the blog. Dion won the second bout of the day. It’s always nice to talk to the parents of these terrific young boxers. When you do this, you get a sense of why the kids are so special. (Nice talking to you, Mimi:>) – MR)
Amateur boxing tomorrow night!!!
If you have plans tomorrow afternoon, change them. You don’t want to miss the great amateur boxing action when it comes to Schenectady High School (1445 The Plaza, Schenectady, NY 12308) at 4:00 p.m.
The show will be hosted by Schenectady Youth Boxing and its head trainer, Vince Kittle. Clubs will come from throughout the muti-state Adirondack Region of USA Boxing.
Jose Medina to fight for title Saturday, 4/28
Medina on his way to a 4th round KO of Isaac Rodrigues at Turning Stone Casino on January 29, 2011 (PHOTO: Sara Rivest)
Jose Medina (17-9-1, 7 KOs) is not from the Capital Region, but try telling that to his growing number of area fans. The Tilton, NH native has fought here so many times, headlining ARES cards three times, that local fans could care less where he lives; they just know that when he’s in an Albany ring, he looks like a bona fide prospect.
He’ll be taking an enormous step forward tomorrow night when he takes on veteran Bronco McKart (53-9-1, 32 KOs) for the UBO middleweight title at the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH.
“We’re excited since it’s our first fighter in a world title shot,” said ARES’ Adam Neary. “This will be a classic youth vs. experience contest.” Theres no doubting the “experience” side of the battle, given McKart’s 63 pro fight history.
But I doubt Medina is all nerved up over it. In fact, one of the most appealing things about him is that he’s arguably one of the most relaxed fighters in the ring that you could ever find.
“We had dinner with him last night and it was impossible to tell that with 24 hours, he’d be in this fight, he’s just so relaxed – and humble.”
Check back for results! I’ll post them as soon as I hear. The next time you see Medina climb in to an Albany ring, he may just have a belt to show you.
“Passions & Struggles” Boxing Documentary is a Must See
Check out my column in today’s Record.
It will tell you about a boxing documentary you don’t want to miss. AND you don’t have to. It’s premier showing is TONIGHT (4/26) at 6:30 p.m. at Wolf’s 111 on Wolf Road in Colonie, NY.
Amateur Boxing Comes to Schenectady This Saturday
If you have plans this Saturday afternoon, change them. You don’t want to miss the great amateur boxing action when it comes to Schenectady High School (1445 The Plaza, Schenectady, NY 12308) at 4:00 p.m.
The show will be hosted by Schenectady Youth Boxing and its head trainer, Vince Kittle. Clubs will come from throughout the muti-state Adirondack Region of USA Boxing.
Faragon Fights THIS Saturday!
Mike gets quick counsel from Dad and trainer, Andy Faragon
Sorry I’ve been dark this week, folks, but I’m back…and just in time to remind you that our own Mike Faragon (17-0 , 8 KOs) is back in action THIS Saturday against veteran Sergio Rivera (25-9-2, 16 KOs) at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
The eight round contest will be on the undercard of the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson rematch.
This is no easy fight for Mike, not by a long shot. Rivera may have lost his last few outings, but they’ve been against folks like Sharif Bogere (21-0), Tim Coleman (18-1-1) and Josesito Lopez (27-3).
But Mikey’s not about to allow anyone to put a number on the right hand side of his record.
Check back for results.
Escelera vs. Brinson in ESPN2 Card @ the TU Center May 18
This just in from Star Boxing!!!! Let me add that the undercard is getting verrrrry interesting. What the press release doesn’t mention is that Catskill star Kevin Rooney, Jr. (4-1, 2KOs) will be facing Albany’s own Nick Castaldi, making his pro debut. I’ll have more to say about this later but for now, go out and get a pair of ear plugs. The crowd is gonna rock for that one. – MR
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