Public Workouts at Roberts Off Ten, July 11

Due to an inability to secure a ring doctor to work the July 11 fights at Roberts Off Ten in Mounds View, promoter Tony Grygelko has announced that the event is being changed from a professional boxing card with two fights and an exhibition, to a series of  six public sparring sessions featuring the following boxers:

• Willshuan Boxley –vs- Ismail Muwendo
• Jeremy McLaurin –vs- Ronnie Peterson
• Jon Schmidt –vs- Charles Meier
• Caleb Truax –vs- Mohammed Kayongo
• Joey Abell –vs- Jim Maurine
• Tony Grygelko –vs- Michael Faulk

Of his own matchup with new pro Michael Faulk, Grygelko says, “Mike’s one of only two guys that beat me twice in my boxing career…I just want to prove to the world that he can’t really handle the pressure and power that a fighter like myself brings!”  Grygelko compiled a record of 5-2 (3 kayos) as a pro fighter, his last fight a first-round knockout loss at the hands of undefeated prospect Henry Crawford in November 2005.

The Fistic Mystic says: This should be an interesting spectacle. If I were going to be in town I wouldn’t miss it!

Boxing Results: June 13 at Roberts Off Ten in Mounds View

Results will be posted here as they become available.  The Fistic Mystic can’t make it to this show, so initial reports will be second-hand.

Joey Abell (now 25-4 with 24 kayos) defeated Larry White (now 3-7 with 2 kayos) by KO in round 2 of 8 scheduled

Jon Schmidt (now 9-1 with 6 kayos) defeated Dan Copp (now 0-1) by TKO in round 2 of 6 scheduled

Rocky Graziano Jr (4-1 with 3 kayos) -vs- Quincy Miner (3-3 with no kayos), heavyweights, scheduled for 6 rounds – This fight evidently did not take place, though Quincy Miner did make the drive up from Kansas City.  Consequently, Miner still has not fought since suffering a separated shoulder against Brad Laffin in Sioux Falls last November.

Jeremy McLaurin (now 4-0 with 3 kayos) defeated Harold McLeod (now 0-2) by TKO between rounds 1 and 2 in a fight scheduled for 4

Charles Meier (now 2-1 with no kayos) defeated Ryan Stock (now 0-1) by TKO in round 3 of 4 scheduled

A couple of MMA bouts also came off, neither of which (I am told) lasted two minutes.

Quincy Miner Added to Saturday Show

Kansas City heavyweight Quincy Miner (3-3) has notified the Fistic Mystic that he will be fighting on Saturday night at Roberts Off Ten in Mounds View, against 4-1 (3 kayos) Rocky Graziano Jr, the 46-year old heavyweight from St Paul who is riding a streak of three straight first-round knockouts.

The show is scheduled to feature local heavyweight Joey Abell (24-4 with 23 knockouts) against Larry White (3-6), with Jon Schmidt, Vlad Ustimchuck Jr, Jeremy McLaurin, and Charles Meier also penciled in.

Minnesota Boxing Roundup: Upcoming Boxing Events for Winter-Spring 2009

Minnesota may not have instantly become the center of the boxing universe, but it’s heartening to see the scene suddenly so much busier than usual.

With two shows by Seconds Out in January we got off to a nice start in 2009.  Another show in February inaugurated what is expected to be a series of fight cards at Epic Nightclub in Minneapolis.  Tony Grygelko says that he has invested in a cage for MMA bouts and a return to Epic for an MMA-only event is planned for March.

Now several more shows are coming up – two of them promoted by Justin Seurer of MSC – as well as a couple of big road trips for Minnesota fighters.  Here’s a brief overview:

Road Trippers and Local Events:

• Zach Walters (23-3) of Horton’s Gym in Duluth faces former two-time super middleweight world champion Byron Mitchell in Buffalo NY of all places, a fight which should give the winner a big career boost, whomever that may be.  Walters stays in his usual weight class (light heavyweight) while Mitchell moves up for only the third time.  Here’s hoping the Jungle Boy can take advantage of his length and athleticism to gain a huge win.
• Eastsider Matt Vanda (39-8) travels to the real center of the boxing universe on Saturday February 21 to face John Duddy (25-0) at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Duddy rose to prominence as the hottest of hot prospects for a couple of very good years before hitting a serious speed bump when Walid Smichet (Wally Who?) took him the distance in what turned out to be a non-unanimous ten-round decision win for Duddy.  Since then Duddy’s reputation has suffered and his momentum has waned.  The choice of Vanda, however much we might like him in Minnesota, bespeaks not a ton of confidence from Duddy’s handlers.  It should be remembered by even the most casual of local fight fans that Duddy defeated Anthony Bonsante back in 2007, just two months after Bonsante had handily defeated Vanda.
• March 21 is the targeted date for a Seconds Out show at the St Paul Armory.  This one is expected to include Willshaun Boxley and possibly Joey Abell, as well as Harley Kilfian, Jon Schmidt, and Dion Savage.  Abell has elsewhere disclosed that he will fight in March, but it isn’t certain whether it will be in Sweden, Philadelphia, or St Paul.
• One week later, on March 28, Minnesota sees its biggest in-state matchup in a couple of years when Anthony Bonsante and Andy Kolle mix it up for the state middleweight title.  This card, promoted by Justin Seurer, has been skilfully filled out by matchmaker Cory Rapacz with a ton of attractive young talent who probably aren’t demanding big money for their participation.  Foremost among the remaining matchups is a battle between Antwan Robertson and Brad Patraw, and all the remaining bouts should be interesting in their own ways.
• Caleb Truax hopes to appear in St Louis on the same night, on the undercard of Cory Spinks-Deandre Latimore.  According to Truax, if Grygelko is unable to get him on that Don King-Lou DeBella promoted show, he would expect to be inserted into the March 21 event mentioned above.
• A mixed boxing/MMA event featuring Raphael Butler is tentatively scheduled for April 4 in Rochester, but no details are yet available.  More information should become available soon, and the Fistic Mystic will try to keep you abreast of developments.
• Target Center hosts an event scheduled for April 18, the card for which has not been filled out yet.  But we know that Jason Litzau is expected to headline, with big brother Allen Litzau facing undefeated prospect Wilton Hilario in what has been described as the co-main event.  Matt Vanda has been tentatively scheduled to appear in this show, depending on the outcome of his February 21 fight with John Duddy (mentioned above).  The name of Shelby Pudwill has been dropped as a potential opponent, but obviously nothing is yet finalized.

Boxing Results: Friday February 13 at Epic Nightclub in Minneapolis

Sadly, the Fistic Mystic was unable to attend tonight’s festivities in Minneapolis.  The following results are courtesy of www.minnesotaboxing.com.  Brett Mauren’s ringside report can be found at http://www.minnesotaboxing.com/PastResults/epic_mnpls_feb13_2009/results.html

Phil Williams (now 10-1 with 9 kayos) defeated Isaiah Henderson (now 11-11 with 7 kayos) by unanimous decision after 6 rounds.

Caleb Truax (now 11-0 with 8 kayos) defeated Steve Walker (now 22-20 with 16 kayos) by knockout in the second round of a fight scheduled for six.

Joey Abell (now 22-4 with 21 kayos) defeated Marcus Rhode (now 34-37 with 29 kayos) by knockout in the first round of a fight scheduled for six.

Marcus Levesseur defeated John Marriot

Carey Vanier defeated Derek Abrams

Willshaun Boxley (now 5-0 with 3 kayos) defeated Felix Martinez (now 0-2) by knockout in the third round of a fight scheduled for six.

Marvin Rodriguez (now 1-1 with no kayos) lost to Dion Savage (now 5-0 with 3 kayos) by unanimous decision after 4 rounds.

Jeremy McLauren (now 3-0 with 2 kayos) defeated Sook Siyajuck (now 1-3-1 with 1 kayo) by unanimous decision after 4 rounds.

Jon Schmidt and Charles Meir boxed an exhibition after their opponents (William Deets and Fred Thomas) were no-shows.

Upcoming Boxing Event: February 13 at Epic Nightclub in Minneapolis

What to watch for:  Phil Williams returns to the prizefighting ring after an injury-forced absence of four months, facing tough Isaiah Henderson, a former IBC Americas cruiserweight titleist.  Joey Abell tests his chin against the strong but very beatable Marcus Rhode.  Caleb Truax faces Josh Rodriguez, who gave a good account of himself in a close loss to Jon Schmidt last month.  Jon Schmidt takes on an interesting opponent in William Deets, whose 2-8 record may be deceptive – check the quality of his competition and you’ll find that Deets has never fought an opponent with less than a winning record.  Note also that Deets is coming off a decision win against Tim Taggart down in Florida.  Willshaun Boxley hopes to capitalize on last month’s big win versus Torrence Daniels by fighting tough puncher Felix Martinez.  Jeremy McLaurin faces a guy with a funny name who turned pro at the age of 36.  Charles Meir and Fred Thomas meet in a battle of the winless.  And Dion Savage, fresh off a spectactular knockout of Jeffrey Osborne Jr on January 24, reportedly is returning to Minnesota for a fight with Marvin Rodriguez.

Phil “The Drill” Williams (9-1 with 9 kayos) -vs- Isaiah Henderson (11-10 with 7 kayos)

Joey Abell (21-4 with 20 kayos) -vs- Marcus Rhode (34-36-2 with 29 kayos)

Golden” Caleb Truax (10-0 with 7 kayos) -vs- Josh Rodriguez(4-6 with 3 kayos)

Carey Vanier -vs- Derek Abram (MMA)

Marcus LeVessuer -vs- John Marriott (MMA)

Jon Schmidt (7-1 with 5 kayos) -vs- William Deets (2-8 with 1 kayo)

Wilshaun Boxley (4-0 with 2 kayos) -vs- Felix Martinez (0-1)

Jeremy McLaurin (2-0 with 2 kayos) -vs- Sook Siyajuck(1-2-1 with 1 kayo)

Charles Meir (0-1) -vs- Fred Thomas (0-8-2)

Dion Savage (4-0 with 3 kayos) -vs- Marvin Rodriguez (1-0 with no kayos)

Boxing Results: January 17 at the St Paul Armory

Details are sketchy and the Fistic Mystic is consulting a variety of sources.  Best info now available is posted below, and I will attempt to verify what I have and get more for you tomorrow.  Thank you for your patience.

Jon Schmidt (now 7-1 with 5 kayos) defeated Josh Rodriguez (now 4-6 with 3 kayos) by split decision after 8 rounds

Joey Abell ( now 21-4 with 20 kayos) defeated Derek Amos (now 15-27 with 9 kayos) by TKO in round 1 of 6

Marcus Levasseur defeated R.T. Hicks (MMA)

Kerry Vanier defeated Sam Keigley (MMA)

Jeremy McLaurin (now 2-0 with 2 kayo) defeated Josh Jugyham (0-1) by TKO in round 3 of 4

Charles Meier (now 0-1) lost to Marvin Rodriguez (now 1-0) by split decision (?) after 4 rounds

Felix Martinez (0-1) and Willshaun Boxley (3-0) boxed in sparring gear in an entertaining exhibition match.

The hoped-for match between Rocky Graziano Jr and Emerson Chasing Bear didn’t happen.

Upcoming Boxing Event: St Paul Armory on January 17, 2009

What to watch for:  John Schmidt headlines a show for the first time, against tough Josh Rodriguez of Davenport, IA.  Joey Abell looks for a win against journeyman Derek Amos, who has shown some power but not much chin.  A couple of MMA bouts then muddy the pristine waters of pure pugilism – let’s pretend that didn’t happen.  Promising newcomer Jeremy McLaurin looks to stay unbeaten versus a guy with a funny name.  Charles Meier and former Mexican amateur titlist Marvin Rodriguez make their pro debuts in the same bout.  Felix Martinez tries to rebound from a loss to Jeremy McLaurin against an opponent to be announced – this fight would have been featured Willshaun Boxley, but Boxley had to drop out because the Mille Lacs boxing commission wouldn’t have permitted him to fight Torrence Daniels on January 24 at Grand Casino Hinckley.  As of Thursday Graziano and Chasing Bear wasn’t finalized, but they may appear on this card if we’re lucky.

Co-Main Event: John Schmidt (6-1 with x kayos) -vs- Josh Rodriguez (4-5 with 3 kayos), super middleweights, 8 rounds

Co-Main Event: Joey Abell (20-4 with 19 kayos) -vs- Derek Amos (15-26 with 9 kayos), heavyweights, 6 rounds

Marcus Levasseur -vs- R.T. Hicks (MMA)

Kerry Vanier -vs- Sam Keigley (MMA)

Jeremy McLaurin (1-0 with 1 kayo) -vs- Josh Jugyham (?-?), lightweights, 4 rounds

Charles Meier (debut) -vs- Marvin Rodriguez (debut), super middleweights, 4 rounds

Felix Martinez (0-1) -vs- TBA, lightweights, 4 rounds

Rocky Graziano Jr (3-2 with 2 kayos) -vs- Emerson Chasing Bear (4-0 with 3 kayos), heavyweights, 4 rounds (tentative, pending approval by the commission)

Happy New Year, Please?

Some of our Minnesota fighters gained ground this year, others saw their stock fall – some considerably.  This was a tough year for Minnesota fight fans, but there were some bright spots.  Here’s my take on who’s been moving up, who’s been going down, and who needs to make a move.

Risers:

• Caleb Truax has passed some milestones this year.  He ticked off five more wins to run his record to 9-0, he fought out of state twice (California in June, South Dakota in November), he beat two fighters who were coming off wins (Thomas Rittenbaugh and Bobby Kliewer), and he spent two weeks working out with contender Enrique Ornelas at Big Bear, CA.  There is not another fighter in Minnesota whose stock has risen as much as Truax’s in 2008.
• Willshaun Boxley has only fought three times since turning pro in 2007, but he has tried oh-so-hard to make more fights.  Those in the know acknowledge that Boxley has been willing to fight all the best young pros in Minnesota this year but the fights have just not developed.  Boxley’s inactivity is not his fault.  In January Boxley traveled to Chicago to face 28-fight veteran Barbaro Zepeda, and in February he kayoed Nick Arellano at the Myth in Maplewood.   Although Boxley’s upcoming fight with 12-7 Torrence Daniels will take place in 2009, the groundwork was laid in 2008.  This is enough progress to make Willshaun Boxley one of the top risers in Minnesota in a year when not much rising took place.
• Jon Schmidt isn’t one of the big names in Minnesota boxing, and he only fought twice in 2008.  But Schmidt engaged Tim Taggart in an exciting battle on Taggart’s home turf this year and came out the victor, then came out on the winning end against Silas Ortley at Grand Casino Hinckley.  These bouts saw Schmidt improve his record to 6-1, and that puts the Iron Man in a good place.
• RJ Laase made the most of his opportunities in 2008, winning all three of his fights including an exciting four rounder against the always competitive Mike Davis and a 3rd-round TKO against tough Tyler Gould.  The win against Davis looks even better in light of Davis’s 2nd-round TKO of Gould in December.  If Laase continues to win in 2009, there’s no telling what Chuck Horton might have in store for him.  Whatever you might think about Horton and his gym, there’s no denying the professional strides that both Andy Kolle and Zach Walters have made under his management.

Fallers:

• Anthony Bonsante’s August 1 loss to Adonis Stephenson and the inexplicable and embarrassing circumstances surrounding it didn’t just damage his career.  It further tarnished the already cruddy reputation of Minnesota boxers.  Bonsante is a talented and smart old fighter who could still resurrect his career if he faces and defeats Andy Kolle or Kenny Kost soon.  A rematch with Matt Vanda could also be a nice main event.  Help us out here, Mister Bonsante.  Minnesota fans need a sugar daddy.
• Zach Walters had some good moments in aught-eight.  His wins against faded veterans Carl Daniels and Aaron Norwood looked like nice steppingstones, and Shawn Hammack was supposed to be a nice looking and useful win.  When Walters suddenly went lame and got TKO’d in the final round of a bout he had been dominating, it was a big setback.  The cancellation of his October meeting with Cory Phelps further stalled his career.  Walters is a gifted  fighter with many advantages who should yet make a dent in the light heavyweight division, but the dawn of 2009 finds him no closer to a title shot than he was a year ago.
• Andy Kolle, who once told me that he would like to fight five or six times a year, has now fought just twice in the thirteen months since his decision win against Matt Vanda – one obscure win in Superior WI and one very well publicized 1st-round loss to welterweight titlist Paul Williams.  One good win would help Kolle to regain his stature as one of the top middleweights in the Upper Midwest, but 2008 has not been kind to Kaos.
• Joey Abell is just as good a fighter as he was last April, when his record was a glossy 20-1.  Now three consecutive losses have sullied his reputation and set back his career.  First came a shocking kayo loss to unsung Andrew Greeley, then a disappointing split decision defeat at the hands (and bullet-shaped forehead) of former cruiserweight titlist Al Cole, and finally – worst of all - an exasperating DQ loss to the woefully overmatched Jason Nicholson.  Now in the quest for a guaranteed win, Abell’s team has matched him with 5-24 Orion Sistrunk of Philadelphia.  Apparently Jimmy Poopwater was not available.  Seriously, Abell is big and strong and smart and athletic.  He doesn’t need to scrape the bottom of the barrel looking for guaranteed wins.  I respect you and I want to be your friend, Joey.  But I also think you should be fighting (and defeating) guys like Gerald Nobles at this point in your career, not a never-was like Sistrunk.
• Raphael Butler has continued to be Minnesota’s busiest prizefighter in 2008, fighting nine times.  Unfortunately, Butler lost four times this year – twice to respected heavyweights Eddie Chambers and Malik Scott, but also twice to unsung Texan Homero Fonseca.  Butler finds himself in a different position than he was in a year ago, and so do his fans.  A bout between Butler and Joey Abell would once have been considered a local superfight, but now it’s looking less and less alluring.  Someone had better make this fight while we’re still interested!

Sideways:

• Phil Williams – The thinking here is that Williams’ wins against Butch Hajicek (a useful measuring stick) and Marcus Upshaw (Minnesota’s knockout of the year) did much to elevate Williams’ status among Minnesota fight fans.  The loss to Marcus Oliveria knocked him back down a couple of pegs.  But Williams might be right when he says that losing to Oliveria was a blessing in disguise.  Williams acknowledges that he has concentrated too much on knockouts so far in his career, and volunteers that he needs to spend more time on his footwork and body positioning.  A broken right hand suffered early in his TKO win against Jason Dietrich has put Williams’ boxing career on hold for a while.  Time will tell whether Williams takes advantage of this opportunity to cultivate the less glamorous skills that any successful fighter must rely on.
• Matt Vanda headlined a pay-per-view event in Las Vegas this 2008, but it’s hard to say whether his stock has risen or fallen since this time last year.  Vanda brought his crowd-pleasing style to Canada to face Sebastien Demers in an IBF-sanctioned title fight last February, and in losing, pleased the crowd.  He also fought Julio Cesar Chavez twice, one of those bouts generating some controversy and the other being the aforementioned PPV headliner – but he lost both fights.  Vanda did manage two victories this year, but they came against Bruce Rumbolz and Desi Ford.  What does such a year get you?  If you play your cards right, it gets you some very good paydays and a lot of pats on the back.  But it does not make you a rising star.

Make a move, already!

• Kenny Kost, inactive since his April 26 loss to Hector Camacho Jr, works in the construction industry.  So it’s understandable that his summer and fall would be booked solid.  But it’s January.  A fight with Kolle, Bonsante, or Vanda should be makeable.  Caleb Truax has mentioned Kolle’s name more than once.  Even if no out-of-state fighters are kicking Kosts tires, he shouldn’t be lacking for prospects.
• Antwan Robertson – wait a minute, Antwan Robertson?  He’s a small man, record is 4-0,  only turned pro in 2007…so why is Robertson not listed as a “Riser” like Willshaun Boxley?  Simple: Robertson only fought once in 2008, and that wasn’t even in his weight class.  And it was in Canada.  Ugh.  This is no swipe at Lil Superman or his coach/manager, John Hoffman.  The Fistic Mystic understands that it’s hard for small men to find fights.  The good news is that the rumor mill suggests that Robertson may fight in Wisconsin on Valentine’s Day, and John Hoffman has been talking about putting on a show in Fargo this May.  Here’s hoping that Robertson finds some willing opponents in 2009.

Non-Factors:

• Troy Lowry only fought once all year and that was a loss.  At age 38 it appears that Lowry’s career is in cold storage.   It’s a shame for the local scene, because Lowry make an interesting opponent for either Andy Kolle or Kenny Kost, and with a win against either man he could angle for one more big payday.

Upcoming Boxing Event: January 17 at the Saint Paul Armory

This card is not final and is subject to change, but it’s probably a good approximation.

• Jon Schmidt (6-1 with 5 kayos) -vs- Joshua Rodriguez (4-5 with 3 kayos), super middleweights
• Joey Abell (20-4 with 4 kayos) -vs- Orion Sistrunk (5-24 with 1 kayo), heavyweights,
• Jeremy McLaurin (1-0 with 1 kayo) -vs- Joshua Juggingham [?], lightweights
• Charles Meier (0-0) -vs- TBA
• Marvin Rodriguez (0-0) -vs- Fred Thomas (0-8-2), welterweights
• Felix Martinez (0-1) -vs- TBA, lightweights

MMA fans will be treated to matches including Marcus LeVesseur, Carey Vanier, and Zak Shomack.