Arizona Boxing News & Notes With Don Smith: Surprise Visit by Vinny Paz, Media Workout Scheduled
By Don Smith
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Oct 2015
Boxing Fans, Former World Boxing Champion Vinny Pazienza, titlist in 3 different weight divisions, visited the Central Boxing Gym in Phoenix Arizona on Wednesday evening, October7 to promote his upcoming ?inspirational? film biography ?Bleed For This? Starring Miles Teller (Rabbit Hole, Footloose, Project X and That Awkward Moment) as Vinny Paz and Emmy winner Katey Sagal (married with children) stars as Vinny?s mom.
Directorial credit goes to Ben Younger and Academy Award winning Director Martin Scorsese is listed as Executive Producer of the film; release date is set for June of 2016. Gym manager Tom Garcia said the visit was a surprise and Garcia and 15 or so elated fans were treated to a partial sneak peek of the film and the reaction was very positive according to Garcia. Arizona Boxing News & Notes hopes to contact Pazienza and request an interview; you win some and you lose some.
ESPN Update: According to updated ESPN fight news, the network has added an Arizona fighter to their Wednesday October 14 Gila River Arena (Glendale, Arizona) show. Popular Phoenix Bantamweight Alexis Santiago (19-3-1) faces Mexico?s Gustavo Molina 20-8. It will be interesting to see how signing with Mayweather Promotions will affect the style and skill set of Santiago; Molina could be a good test. 18 year old Phoenix super middleweight David Benavidez was rumored to be on the card, but the proposed deal fell through. Arizona Boxing News & Notes leaked the rumor that Santiago and Benavidez would be added to the card and jumping cat whiskers, we were right! Remember, all bouts are subject to change. The disclaimer has become the National Anthem of boxing.
Lightweights Devon Alexander and Aron Martinez tangle in the main event; insiders are calling the 10 rounder a title elimination bout. The co-main features IBF Featherweight Champion Lee Selby (21-1) vs. challenger Fernando Montiel (54-4-2) in an 12 round IBF sanctioned title bout. The ESPN undercard has inked cruiserweight Thomas ?The hillbilly? Hanshaw (6-6) to match up with Lionel Thompson (15-3). Hillbilly may have to pack his overalls with a handful of rocks for this altercation; the 30 year old enters the contest with a boxing resume that lists 12 professional fights in 7 years-stuff happens. On fight night (actually afternoon in Arizona) doors open at 3 PM and first fight begins at 3:05 PM which means fans have to be track stars to reach their seats to watch the first contest. Arizona Boxing News & Notes suggests the appropriate arrival time should be no later than 2:30 for true boxing devotees who don?t want to miss one thrown punch. ESPN broadcast time begins at 6 PM.
There are two pre-fight promotional events worth catching if your personal schedules permit. On Monday, October 12, the Main and Co-Main fighters will hold a media workout at the Central Boxing Gym near downtown Phoenix on Van Buren Street commencing at 2:30 PM and concluding at 5 PM. As far as we know, the event is open to the public. The official weigh-in is set for Tuesday, October 3rd at 2 PM and the ? truth or pay the consequence? scale will be situated at the front outdoor concourse of the Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue in Glendale Arizona.
Tickets for the event promoted by Ring Pros Promotions and Fight Hard Promotions are priced at $200.00, $100.00, $50.00 and $25.00 for all general admission ducats, not including applicable service charges and taxes. To purchase your tickets call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745- 300 or go online to www.gilariverarena.com. Also, vouchers (good for up to 4 tickets) can be secured by adults who go to Rigo?s Auto sales at 4038 West Van Buren in Phoenix, Arizona and ask for the number they actually need. The voucher can be redeemed at the Arena Box-office for $6.25 per ticket and the seats are located upstairs. Rigo?s Auto Sales donated fight ticket vouchers to more than a hundred US Armed Service Personnel stationed in the Phoenix Area, good job. Anyone attempting to sell donated vouchers should think twice before finalizing the scam.
Schedule Update: Next column will feature update on the Roy Jones Jr./Iron Boy October 23 card at the Celebrity Theatre. We do have the latest dope on the Iron Boy 28/Top Rank Show at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix: Headliner Jessie Magdaleno (21-0-15 knockouts) hopes to keep his undefeated skein alive against Vergel (14-9-1- 9 knockouts) in a 10 round featherweight contest, Arizona super bantamweight Francisco C. De Vaca (12-0-4 knockouts) draws co-main honors versus Ricardo Proano (11-2-9 knockouts) from Mexico.
The undercard looks solid: light heavyweights Dustin Echard (11-1-8 knockouts) vs. Trevor McCumby (20-0-16 knockouts) 8 rounds-light heavyweights Engelberto Valenzuela (10-5-3 knockouts) vs. Que Peng (4-1-3 knockouts) 6 rounds-super lightweights Brandon Aguinaga vs. Luis Olivares 8-0-5 knockouts) 6 rounds-super lightweight Luis Ramos (23-2-10 knockouts) vs. TBA 6 rounds-Lightweights Victor Capaceta (4-8-3 2 knockouts) not a misprint vs. Victor Castro (15-0-7 knockouts) -Carlos Castro 13-0-5 knockouts vs. TBA 6 rounds- flyweights Pedro Romero 0-0-1 vs. Johnny Tijerina (debut) coached and trained by five time world champion Michael Carbajal. Until Next Time!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.
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