Boxing

Foreman right on track

Mike Sinclair — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:06:05 +0100

Yuri Foreman is happy with the pace of his progress after convincingly outpointing Alabama's Gundrick King in the second fight of his comeback at New York's Roseland Ballroom.

The 32-year-old former WBA world light-middleweight champion has adopted a low key approach to his ring return following a lengthy absence.

He came back with a points win over Brendan Baue in January and followed up by winning all six rounds on the cards of all three judges who scored him a 60-54 winner against King.

"I fought in January, my first after a two-year layoff and I felt rusty. This fight I felt much better," said the Brooklyn-based trainee rabbi, who is looking to get back to the top after losing his world title to Miguel Cotto in 2010 and subsequently undergoing knee surgery.

"I chose the path to go one step at a time, in smaller steps. I’m starting with six rounds, my next fight eight rounds and then 10 rounds," he added.

Foreman on the way back

Mike Sinclair — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:58:22 +0000

Yuri Foreman will have his second comeback fight at New York’s Roseland Ballroom on April 4.

The 32-year-old former world light-middleweight champion will face Gundrick King, winner of 18 of his 27 fights, over six rounds.

Brooklyn-based Foreman ended a two-year absence from the ring with a convincing six-round points victory over Brendan Baue in New York in January.

Suffering no reaction from the knee which required surgery after he suffered back-to-back defeats against Pawel Wolak and Miguel Cotto, Foreman is anxious to fight regularly to climb back up the world rankings.

Ahrens claims third pro win

Barry Toberman — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:37:34 +0000

Light-middleweight Danny “Kid” Ahrens described his victory over Andrew Patterson in Peterborough as “my best performance to date”.

Although his journeyman opponent was furious when the referee stopped the four-rounder midway through the second, he had taken a battering from the first bell.

With his father Genadi at ringside, the 19-year-old Israeli delighted trainer Spencer Oliver and manager/promoter Robert Waterman with an accomplished display in his third straight win in the pro ranks. Fight fans can judge for themselves as clips from the contest are due to be featured on Sky’s boxing show, Ringside.

Waterman said afterwards that “Danny looked a potential world class fighter for the first time. The action was frenetic but he was poised and balanced. He showed quick hands and threw an array of punches. This gives me the confidence that he is ready to step up. He no longer looks like a novice pro.

"Someone used the phrase ‘he’s got the fight in him’ and it’s true. He really wants to win – he’s so disciplined and dedicated. He loves the training and particularly the sparring."

Waterman added that Ahrens’ post-bout declaration of wanting to fight for a title by the end of 2014 was “not unrealistic” if he continued to progress. "He could have fought a dozen times by then."

Ahrens flew back to Israel after the fight but will return to his Hendon base next week to begin preparations for his next contest, which Waterman expects will be on a bill in Grays, Essex, in early April.

Foreman: It's good to be back

Mike Sinclair — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:16:10 +0000

Yuri Foreman ended his near two-year absence from the ring by winning all six rounds as he outpointed Brandon Baue in New York.

Former WBA light-middleweight champion Foreman, 30, proved his fitness following a lengthy spell recuperating from knee surgery.

The Brooklyn-based fighter took the shut-out decision 60-54 on the cards of all three judges as he dominated Baue, from Missouri.

The trainee rabbi, whose boxing career would have been effectively ended if he had lost, said: “Thank God I won."

Salita raring to go again

Danny Caro — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:14:56 +0000

Dmitriy Salita believes next month’s fight against Hector Camacho Jr will be the most important of his career.

Beaten by Amir Khan in a WBA Welterweight world title bout in 2009, the Ukrainian-born boxer has been preparing for the contest at the new Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

Salita said: "It's the most important of my fight career and a touchstone which will measure my status as a contender in the very talent rich welterweight and junior middleweight divisions.

"Although I've been a professional for several years, I’m realistically considering this contest as a new beginning of my fight career. I'm very excited and thankful for this opportunity."

Salita believes fans will see a new style when he gets into the ring after sparring with some top-level fighters at the renowned Kronk Gym of Detroit in Michigan.

"From the first day of sparring at the Kronk Gym, I noticed that the style and spirit of the facility and its fighters were very special and unique,” he said. “It’s very much like being in a real fight. The pride and intensity level there has taken my abilities to much greater heights. It has really made me view the sport in a much different way.

"When you train at such a high level of intensity and you’re able to control those sessions in the gym, it really increases your confidence and makes you a much better fighter. It’s been a real honour to train with the great fighters.

Salita has won 37 of his 39 professional fights, including 18 KO’s. He said: “on february 9, I’m confident I will take my next big step towards winning a world championship."

Salita to take on Camacho Jr

Danny Caro — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:53:44 +0000

Dmitriy Salita will be looking to close in on a second world title bout when he takes on seasoned campaigner Hector Camacho Jr in New York on February 9.

Speaking ahead of the fight, which will take place at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, Salita said: "I want good, significant fights. Camacho is a talented fighter and I expect for him to come prepared."

Ahrens claims second pro win

Barry Toberman — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:36:28 +0000

Israeli prospect Danny “Kid” Ahrens impressed a predominantly Jewish crowd with an accomplished second professional win in central London on Monday.

In a four-rounder at the Habad children’s charity dinner, the 19-year-old light-middleweight had durable journeyman Rick Boulter in trouble at the end of the first with some impressive combinations. He continued the attack at the start of the second as the crowd got behind him, his speed of punches catching the eye.

Finishing strongly against a tired opponent, he took every round on the referee’s scorecard in a performance delighting manager Robert Waterman and trainer Spencer Oliver, the former European super bantamweight champion.
Ahrens (real name Aharanov) said afterwards that he had been more relaxed than on his pro debut. "I was training hard and feel very fit. I thought I would get a stoppage but a win is a win. He was not an easy opponent."

The boxer received congratulations from his parents, who watched the fight online in Israel. He will return to Israel for a few weeks but would be back at his Hendon base to prepare for his next bout, probably in February.
Describing Ahrens as "a work in progress", Oliver said he had boxed “a lot better" against Boulter. "He's improving all the time. He doesn't work behind his jab enough and drops his hands a bit. But he realises that and he'll learn. He’s intelligent and picks things up fast.

"Having seen the improvement in 12 weeks, I’ll be excited to see how he is in six months. As long as we keep him busy, he’ll be in title contention in the next year."

Among the audience was boxing legend John Conteh, who said that Ahrens’ impressive amateur record was a “great grounding. He seems a mature lad for his age and has talent."

Oliver and Waterman are looking for the next fight to be a six rounder and Ahrens has no problems with that. "I am learning quickly and enjoy the training, even if it is hard. I am dedicated to what I do. There are differences from amateur boxing. More things are allowed in the ring and there is not the protective headgear. And if tonight’s fight had been in the amateurs, the ref would have stopped it in the first round."

Salita: Saturday night alright for fighting

Mike Sinclair — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:29:58 +0100

Dmitriy Salita overcame third-choice opponent Brandon Hoskins at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn to take another step towards a second world-title challenge.

Hoskins, from Missouri, gave Salita a useful test over six rounds before the Jewish welterweight prevailed by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 twice.

Hoskins, beaten for only the third time in 20 fights, was brought in at short notice.

Original opponent Vivian Harris was forced to withdraw following his recent knockout by British champion Brian Rose in Blackpool.

Hector Munoz, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was then pencilled in but that match-up also failed to materialise.

The Saturday night fight meant Ukraine-born Salita, an orthodox Jew, had only 40 minutes from the end of Shabbat until fight time so he stayed in a nearby hotel, walked to the arena and gloved up.

Perhaps understandably, he took time to get into his stride against the aggressive Hoskins before taking control in the second half of the fight and having a particularly good fifth round.

The victory took his record to 35 wins and one draw from 37 fights, with his only loss coming in a WBA world light-welterweight title fight against then champion Amir Khan in Newcastle four years ago.

Salita, 30, now hopes to challenge fellow Brooklyn resident Paul Malignaggi who climbed off the floor in the 11th round to retain his WBA welterweight title with a majority decision over Mexico’s Pablo Cesar Cano on the same bill.

Salita beats Hoskins

Mike Sinclair — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:36:29 +0100

Dmitriy Salita overcame third-choice opponent Brandon Hoskins at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Saturday to take another step towards a second world-title challenge.

Hoskins, from Missouri, gave Salita a useful test over six rounds before the Jewish welterweight prevailed by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 twice.

The victory took Salita's record to 35 wins and one draw from 37 fights, with his only loss coming in a WBA world light-welterweight title fight against then champion Amir Khan in Newcastle four years ago

Danny proves he’s ready to shine

James Masters — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:43:59 +0100

Daniel Aharanov made an explosive start to his professional boxing career after claiming an impressive debut victory against light-middleweight opponent Kevin McCauley.

The 19-year-old from Bat Yam recorded a 40-37 points victory at Camden Town Hall as he underlined his credentials with an action-packed showing.

Fighting under the name Danny 'Kid' Ahrenef, the Israeli fighter showed little sign of nerves and came within a whisker of knocking out his opponent in the second round.

Robert Waterman, Aharanov’s manager and promoter, says he is thrilled with the progress being made by the talented teenager.

"It was an exemplary performance and I'm more than proud of him," said Waterman, who previously worked with Roman Greenberg.

"He was giving away eight pounds to a vastly experienced fighter and a lot of people couldn’t believe that I put him in there on his debut against McCauley.

"But all the feedback has been very positive on what was a very tough fight.

"I wanted to pick somebody to test Danny and show him just how much work he has to do if he wants to reach the top.

"With Roman, I chose easier opponents early on and perhaps that lulled him into a false sense of security.

"But Danny showed his ability and talent. He started very well in the opening two rounds but just couldn’t keep it up towards the end, which I expected.

"He fought at a very fast pace, won the first three rounds and drew the last.

Aharonov began to dream of becoming a boxer at the age of 11 before becoming a successful junior and amateur fighter and winning several medals.

A proud Jew, Aharanov's roots remain important to him with the fighter proud of his religious heritage.

"Danny's such an exciting fighter and it's lovely to have what I would call my first traditional Jewish fighter,” added Waterman.

"He's not religious and he will fight on a Saturday because he knows his career would be over otherwise.

"But he keeps kosher, lays tefilin and wears tzizit."

* Dmitriy Salita has a new opponent for his fight at the Barclays Center on October 20 after original choice Vivian Harris suffered a crushing defeat.

Former world light-welterweight title challenger Salita will now meet Hector Munoz, from New Mexico.