The Federal Boxing Alliance

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by GForce

March Signings

The following fighters were eligible to be let out of their WBO contracts. A small crop this month. Signings, or rejections, are listed below.

Stefen Tangstad - HW (unsigned)
Eddie Smulders - LHW (WBA)
Eddie Gazo - JMW (unsigned)
Keith Mullings - JMW (WBA)
Mark Breland - WW (unsigned)
Tony Petronelli - JWW (WBC)
Akinobu Hiranaka - JWW (WBA)
Jo Kimpuani - JWW (IBF)
Chartchai Chionoi - FLY (IBF)

GH

Quick question the cats who go unsigned when do they get another chance at making it to the big leagues.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Quick question the cats who go unsigned when do they get another chance at making it to the big leagues.

Yup. If a fighter wins and is above .500 he is eligible. So if a guy is 4-2, is eligible but is not signed, if he wins his next bout he is again eligible. And he'll stay eligible after any win as long as he's above .500.

Choinoi, for example, was passed over last time but fought again in February and won, so he was eligible again and this time was signed.

GH

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by GForce

Yup. If a fighter wins and is above .500 he is eligible. So if a guy is 4-2, is eligible but is not signed, if he wins his next bout he is again eligible. And he'll stay eligible after any win as long as he's above .500.

Choinoi, for example, was passed over last time but fought again in February and won, so he was eligible again and this time was signed.

GH

Alright cool, thanks for the quick answer and oh yeah just thought of something has Vargas gotten off his ass and had any fights yet.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Alright cool, thanks for the quick answer and oh yeah just thought of something has Vargas gotten off his ass and had any fights yet.

Yes, he actually fought for the first time in December, and just fought in February. He's now 2-0. He knocked out Eddie Gazo in December, then took a unanimous decision from Kofi Jantuuah in February. Because I modified the rules to make a fighter who would clearly be eligible after 5 fights (such as a guy who goes 3-0, and thus could at worst be 3-2 after five) able to move up, if Vargas wins one of his next 3, he'll be eligible and, given his rating, it would be unlikely he'd be passed up a second time.

The guy missing in action now is Johnny Tapia. I did the whole storyline early on about him fighting to change weight classes, and his number has NEVER come up. Of course, given Tapia's nature, this isn't out of the realm of possibility, which I think makes it all the more amusing

Doing the March schedule now...several title fights in the WBA alone, but a HUGE non-title fight as well to be announced.

GH

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by GForce

Yes, he actually fought for the first time in December, and just fought in February. He's now 2-0. He knocked out Eddie Gazo in December, then took a unanimous decision from Kofi Jantuuah in February. Because I modified the rules to make a fighter who would clearly be eligible after 5 fights (such as a guy who goes 3-0, and thus could at worst be 3-2 after five) able to move up, if Vargas wins one of his next 3, he'll be eligible and, given his rating, it would be unlikely he'd be passed up a second time.

The guy missing in action now is Johnny Tapia. I did the whole storyline early on about him fighting to change weight classes, and his number has NEVER come up. Of course, given Tapia's nature, this isn't out of the realm of possibility, which I think makes it all the more amusing

Doing the March schedule now...several title fights in the WBA alone, but a HUGE non-title fight as well to be announced.

GH

Alright thanks for the Vargas info and yeah I remember the Tapia storyline though until you had mention it it had completely slip my mind. Must admit ya have all interested in finding out what this huge fight is going to be.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Alright thanks for the Vargas info and yeah I remember the Tapia storyline though until you had mention it it had completely slip my mind. Must admit ya have all interested in finding out what this huge fight is going to be.

LOL!!! Well, March is going to be an interesting month...several title fights again, including one that is VERY interesting, given our discussion here.

I'll hope to have a Title Schedule and another write-up that is needed, given what's occurring, later tonight.

GH

[meade95]

Originally Posted by GForce

February Title Fight Recaps Cont.

WBC Bantamweight Title Fight: Carlos Zarate (4-0, 4 KO) vs Steve Dotse (0-2)

How incredible would it be for a winless fighter to take out an undefeated champion? Well keep wondering, because it sure as hell wasn't happening here. Zarate sends a message, writing it on Dotse's face for three rounds. Dotse tries to stand in, a tactic that lasts a round. He scored, but Zarate scored more, and harder, blows. Dotse is dropped in the second, blasted for the rest of the round, which leads to his right eye swelling quickly. Zarate then pummels Dotse for 1:45 in the third before ref Elmo Adolph says enough is enough. Zarate, now 5-0, has looked virtually invincible.

Carlos Zarate TKO 3 Steve Dotse

WBA Bantamweight Title Fight: Eder Jofre (4-0, 2 KO) vs Alfonzo Zamora (3-1, 2 KO)

Zamora packs a whallop, so it was surprising to see Jofre choose him as his first defense. Even more surprising is the ease with which Jofre disposes of him, following an even opening round. Jofre drops Zamora in the second, then hammers him in the third, putting him down twice, the second time for good. A scintillating effort from Jofre. Could he and Carlos Zarate be a unification bout down the line?

Eder Jofre KO 3 Alfonzo Zamora

IBF Middleweight Title Fight: Bernard Hopkins (4-0, 3 KO) vs Iran Barkley (4-1)

A tough customer, Barkley had been impressive in each of his prior bouts...except his loss in the tournament semifinal to Hopkins. Barkley clamored for a rematch, and Hopkins obliged him. In typical Hopkins fashion, he took 4 rounds to get going, surrendering 3 of the first 4 to Barkley. But from there on, it was a virtuoso performance by Hopkins, who rolled off shots that landed and made many of them miss. Barkley suffered swelling and a cut near his eye that made things tougher as the fight progressed, and Hopkins put him down in the 12th. But Barkley came to fight, as he always does, and made it through the 15 on guts. But guts rarely overtake talent, and here Barkley was outclassed for a second time.

Bernard Hopkins UD 15 Iran Barkley

GH

Excellent match-ups! -

Continued great work -

[GForce]

Originally Posted by meade95

Excellent match-ups! -

Continued great work -

Hey, look who snuck in Good to see ya back.

GH

[GForce]

President Henglein Livid At Title Bout
Roman's agreement "absurd"

When the newest batch of fight contracts rolled across the desk of FBA President Henglein, several things stuck out. One was the vast increase in the number of title fights slated for the month of March (14).

The other was one of those fights in particular.

WBC Jr. Bantamweight champion Gilberto Roman signed on to make his first title defense, which in and of itself is certainly not a problem. His opponent...a man who lost the only bout he's had and has yet to fight at this weight class...Johnny Tapia.

Since fighting to be let out of his contract early last year, Tapia had disappeared. There was talk of jail, drugs, everything under the sun, pretty much. Except for boxing.

But here he resurfaces, in what he calls his "natural class" and with a very real chance to become a champion in his first contest at Jr. Bantamweight.

"It's not as though this is, say, Miguel Canto, blowing through the Flyweight ranks and deciding to leave the class in hopes of winning a title at a bigger weight," an obviously frustrated Henglein said yesterday. "Johnny hasn't fought in a year. Hell, he hasn't been SEEN in a year. It's simply absurd."

But Tapia wouldn't hear of it.

"I am a world class fighter, and Roman knows he can't call himself a champion until he beats me."

Roman couldn't be reached for comment, but sources close to him have said it's a simple matter of money. "The curiosity factor of Johnny coming back in this fashion will increase the gate, increase the buys. And that's money in the pocket of a guy at a class that doesn't get much," one of the sources, who declined to be named, said.

As for Tapia, he laughed at the president's reaction.

"If he's angry now, wait and see how he feels when I'm the champ."

GH

[GForce]

March Title Fights

A full, full slate this month (14 belts on the line), and several good contests. Let's get crackin'.

Champs listed first

WBA Jr. Lightweight: Alexis Arguello vs Idelfonso Bethelmy
WBA Welterweight (VACANT): Luis Rodriguez vs Vernon Forrest
WBA Jr. Welterweight: Antonio Cervantes vs Saoul Mamby
WBA Flyweight: Ricardo Lopez vs Chan-Hee Park

WBC Jr. Welterweight: Kostya Tszyu vs Paul Spadafora
WBC Featherweight: Ernesto Marcel vs Ruben Castillo
WBC Jr. Bantamweight: Gilberto Roman vs Johnny Tapia

IBF Heavyweight: Mike Tyson vs Tyrell Biggs (BOUT CANCELED)
IBF Middleweight: Bernard Hopkins vs Robert Allen
IBF Jr. Middleweight: Maurice Hope vs Tadashi Mihara
IBF Jr. Lightweight: Julio Cesar Chavez vs Mario Martinez
IBF Featherweight: Vicente Saldivar vs Cecilio Lastra
IBF Bantamweight: Masahiko Harada vs Eddie Cook
IBF Flyweight: Michael Carbajal vs Hilario Zapata

GH

[Romdawg88]

Ha yes I love it that Tapia is one smart bastard, sit on your ass for a year and get a title shot, brilliant.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Ha yes I love it that Tapia is one smart bastard, sit on your ass for a year and get a title shot, brilliant.

Yeah, I had to laugh when I saw the draw gave him the shot. Roman's not up for a mandatory defense yet or anything of the sort, so by the rules he can choose to fight whoever comes up. It just happened to be Johnny.

And Tapia certainly has a very real chance at winning, which would be just a riot.

The real funny thing is I didn't know that when I talked about Tapia earlier. I was running through my spreadsheets and spitting out the matchups right after that.

GH

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by GForce

Yeah, I had to laugh when I saw the draw gave him the shot. Roman's not up for a mandatory defense yet or anything of the sort, so by the rules he can choose to fight whoever comes up. It just happened to be Johnny.

And Tapia certainly has a very real chance at winning, which would be just a riot.

The real funny thing is I didn't know that when I talked about Tapia earlier. I was running through my spreadsheets and spitting out the matchups right after that.

GH

Ha of course, We've should have known the minute you mention Tapia he was going to get a shot at a title, The Universe has that kind of sense of humor

[GForce]

Who needs a belt?
Leonard, Trinidad Sign To Battle

Luis Rodriguez and Vernon Forrest are set to have their rematch to fill the last vacant title, the WBA Welterweight slot. But despite the bout's importance, in the eyes of many it will be the division's secondary bout of the month of March.

That is because, in a shocking announcement, the man who was the tournament's #1 seed, 'Sugar' Ray Leonard has signed to fight #2-seeded Felix 'Tito' Trinidad in what is easily the most anticipated non-tournament, non-title fight to take place in Federal Boxing Alliance history.

"It's a shock, but it's a good, exciting shock," said FBA President Gregg Henglein. "These guys are warriors, exceptional fighters, and this contest will be a fabulous event."

Certainly, both men have a great deal at stake. Leonard hasn't fought since dropping a unanimous decision to Vernon Forrest in a stunner last September, eliminating him in the semifinals. Leonard said he's just been relaxing, waiting for the right time to come back. And this, he says, is it.

"I know what kind of a fighter Trinidad is," Leonard said yesterday. "But I don't want to fight the lesser fighters, I don't want to wait. I want to make it impossible for them to deny me a title shot so I can claim my belt."

As for Trinidad, he just stepped in the ring after more than a year away following his 1-round demolition in, arguably, the tournaments' greatest upset, at the hands of Rafael Pineda. But Trinidad came back looking impressive, though against a lackluster opponent in Juan Manuel Gonzalez (0-3-1). Still, Trinidad showed the ferocity and explosiveness expected of him in his first round TKO.

Some say Leonard was waiting for Trinidad to come back before he stepped in the ring again.

"This is exactly what Ray was waiting for," said his brother Roger. "Once Trinidad looked impressive, Ray knew that was his fight. It will vault him to #1, where he belongs, and he can bide his time until he's the mandatory."

But Trinidad is a hell of an opponent to stake your future on. He has dangerous two-fisted power that can strike anytime.

"He's never been hit like he'll be hit by me," Trinidad said via phone yesterday. "When his people approached me [for the fight], I was thrilled."

Experts, however, say this could be a horrendous matchup for Trinidad.

"Leonard will be in and out on him all night long," said longtime trainer Teddy Atlas. "Felix will wear down, and Ray will be glad to wait to take him out."

"Forrest fought a perfect fight against Leonard," said ESPN's Dan Rafael. "If Trinidad is perfect, he can beat him. But short of that, Ray's movement will be too much for Tito. Ray will hit him and hit him often."

The bout is scheduled for March 26, the night before Rodriguez and Forrest fight for the belt both Leonard and Trinidad target.

GH

[Romdawg88]

Damn you weren't kidding about this matchup being huge. I'm going to have to go Leonard, Trinidad hasn't ever done really well against elite boxers who aren't there for him to hit. The guy won what like 3 or 4 rounds combine against Hopkins, Wright, and De La Hoya (regardless of what the judges say).

How many rounds is this fight? If's it's ten Lenoard takes the UD but if it's 12 I think Lenoard stops Trinidad in the 11th or 12th.

[GForce]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Damn you weren't kidding about this matchup being huge. I'm going to have to go Leonard, Trinidad hasn't ever done really well against elite boxers who aren't there for him to hit. The guy won what like 3 or 4 rounds combine against Hopkins, Wright, and De La Hoya (regardless of what the judges say).

How many rounds is this fight? If's it's ten Lenoard takes the UD but if it's 12 I think Lenoard stops Trinidad in the 11th or 12th.

It's a 10 rounder. I expect Leonard to KO him late.

GH

[Romdawg88]

Ok ten-rounder Leonard UD though I admit if Leonard does end up stopping him late it won't suprise me. I really don't like Trinidad's chances in this fight his only shots are if Leonard is stupid enough to stand with him, which ain't happening, or landing a lucky shot, which is aslo doubtful. Should be fun though.

[GForce]

March Title Fight Recaps

WBC Jr. Bantamweight Title Fight: Gilberto Roman (4-0, 2 KO) vs Johnny Tapia (0-1)

The March title fight series gets the most anticipated bout out of the way in a hurry. Both Roman and Tapia come to the ring in excellent shape, Tapia wearing a sly grin the whole way down the aisle, fully aware he's in an exceptional situation. Roman, on the other hand, looks steady and determined.

Tapia controls the first two rounds, by which time Roman has already shown a bit of swelling near his right eye. Roman starts moving better in the third and sticking his jab more. Tapia's pace is bogged down and the fight takes a more even tone in rounds 3 and 4.

The tactical portion of our program ends 1/3 of the way through, and the fight starts to get increasingly aggressive, and increasingly ugly. Tapia is warned for holding and hitting, and for an intentional head butt in the middle rounds, while Roman is warned for a low blow and for hitting on the break.

Tapia jaws, sticks his tongue out, does his shtick, while Roman tries to plug away. But through 10, Tapia is thought to be ahead, having been the busier fighter, though he's landing a lesser percentage of his blows - and less powerful shots to many - than Roman.

But Tapia sees to be wearing down a bit, and the 11th round becomes an event unto itself. With his eye getting worse, Roman comes out firing, dodging a Tapia right and countering with an uppercut that sends him stumbling into the ropes. Tapia's hurt and Roman pounces. Tapia clinches, the ref separates them and Roman is right back on him, bullying him into the ropes and working Tapia over to the head and the body. Tapia's left eye is beginning to swell. He finds an opening with an uppercut, but Roman responds with a winging right hand that snaps Tapia's head violently, his eye swelling visibly by the second. The uppercut he slipped in may have spared him a stoppage, and he makes the most of it as, somehow responding from the wild right of Roman, Tapia fires a series of blows to the head that send Roman down to the canvas.

What appeared to be a 10-8 round in the making for Roman is turned in a flash to a 10-8 round for Tapia. Roman survives the closing seconds and sits shocked in his corner between rounds. He comes out aggressive again to start the 12th, getting back inside and rocking Tapia with a hard combination. Both fighters at this point are one-eyed bandits, slugging away as best as their exhausted frames will let them. Roman looks good early in the 12th, but is picked apart by Tapia late in the round, body shots working well.

Nothing much happens in the 13th until the closing 30 seconds, when Roman lets loose, landing a hard cross and straight left hand that back Tapia - who looks exhausted - into the corner.

When the 14th rolls around, Roman looks more energetic, and Tapia looks like a fighter trying to get through the final 6 minutes. He makes it through 2 uneventfully...then an event happens...fortunately for him, in his favor. A hard counter uppercut catches Roman perfectly, putting him down a second time. Roman slips on his first attempt to rise, but makes it to his feet and hangs on.

The 15th sees Roman give a gutty performance, standing in and doing what he can. Tapia doesn't roll over though, leaving nothing to chance, having said prior to the fight he feared FBA President Henglein would urged judges to not let him win. An even round with a lot of clinching late, that Roman perhaps steals with a pair of hard crosses in the waning moments. At the bell, a wait before heading to the cards.

144-139....

143-140....

142-141....

for your winner...








and NEW WBC Jr. Bantamweight Champion of the World...JOHNNY TAPIA!!!

An elated Tapia leaps on the corner ropes, raising his arms up in victory. His left eye is a mess, and he couldn't care less.

The swing of that shocking 11th round was the difference. Had Roman won the round 10-8, as he appeared on his way to doing, Roman wins a split decision 142-141, 143-140, 141-142.

But, in a stunner, the first title to change hands land in the lap...or around the waist...of Johnny Tapia.


Johnny Tapia UD 15 Gilberto Roman

More to come....

GH

[Romdawg88]

Well I'll be damn Tapia pulled it off, great great fight there. Hey what better way to pick up your first win then for it to be in a title fight.

[GForce]

March Title Fight Recaps Cont.

WBC Jr. Welterweight Title Fight: Kostya Tszyu (4-0-1, 4 KO) vs Paul Spadafora (0-2)

Tszyu sets a fast pace from the opening bell and Spadafora exchanges with him readily in the opening round. He acquits himself well for a while, but soon realizes that is not the best way to handle Tszyu. So Spadafora adopts a more conservative, measured approach, and he does so successfully, landing combinations effectively and keeping Tszyu at a distance. However, Tszyu still does enough, and with enough power, that Spadafora gradually starts to break down. It's a close fight, with Tszyu narrowly ahead when, in the 8th, Tszyu pushes Spadafora away and catches him with a clean, hard uppercut. Spadafora walks down Queer Street while Tszyu pounces, and after landing several power shots, Spadafora hits the deck and doesn't get up.

Kostya Tszyu KO 8 Paul Spadafora

IBF Jr. Lightweight Title Fight: Julio Cesar Chavez (4-0, 4 KO) vs Mario Martinez (0-1)

Chavez dismantles the overmatched Martinez, but draws a lot of criticism in the process, fighting a very dirty fight, drawing three warnings and losing a point. He didn't need to do any of that, as he belts Martinez around, cutting him badly in the third on the corner of his right eye, a cut that leads to a stoppage early in the fourth.

Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 4 Mario Martinez

WBA Jr. Lightweight Title Fight: Alexis Arguello (4-0, 4 KO) vs Idelfonso Bethelmy (0-2)

Bethelmy is most aware that he can't bang with Arguello. Much like Spadafora against Tszyu, his conservative tactics work well, relatively speaking, for a while. He lands more than 40 percent of his blows, but few power shots, and ultimately Arguello's power and aggression overtake him. Bethelmy is dropped for a flash knockdown in the final seconds of round 7, before hitting the canvas 3 times in the 8th, the last time for the 10 count.

Alexis Arguello KO 8 Idelfonso Bethelmy

More to come....

GH