Kennedy to face Becerra

Undefeated Teon Kennedy and Alex Becerra meet for the vacant NABA super bantamweight title on September 25 in the Grand Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City. The scheduled 12-round championship fight tops a seven-bout card which begins at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy, 24, of Philadelphia, PA, is ranked #8 in the world at 122 pounds by the IBF. A former National Golden Gloves flyweight champion, Kennedy has beaten Thomas Snow, Andre Wilson, Lucian Gonzalez, Francisco Rodriguez and Jose Angel Beranza en route to a 15-0-1 record, 6 KOs.

Kennedy’s 10th-round knockout last year over Rodriguez netted him the vacant USBA super bantamweight title and he successfully defended that crown with a 12-round decision over Beranza in his last fight May 22 at Bally’s. MORE

REST IN PEACE –
YORK VAN NIXON

NABA President George Martinez and his entire team wish to express their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of YORK VAN NIXON on his recent passing.

For those who were blessed with having crossed path with York, he came to symbolize genuine friendship, loyalty, and dedication to duty.

Among his noteworthy accomplishments outside of boxing, York was line-backer on the NFL championship team of the Detroit Lyons in the mid fifties. He proudly wore the Ring which symbolizes that major accomplishment.

York will be fondly remembered by all those who have worked with him in the realm of sports during his lifetime.  May he REST IN PEACE.

Boxing back in Cleveland

Warner Promotions will present an August 20 boxing card at the Nautica Pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio featuring heavyweight Nick Firtha (18-7-1, 8 KOs) against Mike Sheppard (15-10-1, 8 KOs) in a ten rounder for the NABA U.S. and Ohio state belts. The co-feature is a six-rounder between unbeaten jr middleweight Dante Moore (6-0, 4 KOs) and Corey Rodriquez (4-1-1, 3 KOs).

Welterweight contender Mike Jones, of Philadelphia, PA, puts his unbeaten record and his world ranking on the line in a scheduled 12-round contest against Irving Garcia, of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico July 9, in the ballroom at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall. Also at stake will be Jones’ NABA and NABO titles. Jones, 27, is 21-0, 17 KOs, and he is ranked among the Top 10 welterweights by all four major world sanctioning bodies: #3 WBO; #5 WBA; #7 IBF; #7 WBC.

This will be Jones’ fifth consecutive fight in Atlantic City and his first as a headliner at Boardwalk Hall. He has victories over Lenin Arroyo, Raul Pinzon, Henry Bruseles (who had not lost since Floyd Mayweather beat him in 2005) and Hector Munoz in previous Atlantic City fights.

“We are moving to a larger venue since the Jones-Bruseles fight sold out the ballroom at Bally’s last February,” said Hall-of-Fame promoter J Russell Peltz. “Ticket demand was high for that fight and we ran out of seats nine days before the match. We anticipate a high demand for tickets for this one, also.”

Jones won the vacant NABA title Aug. 29, 2008, knocking out Juliano Ramos, a Brazilian living in Boca Raton, FL, at The Alhambra in South Philadelphia. He made successful defenses against Dairo Esalas, Arroyo, Pinzon, Bruseles and Munoz. He added the vacant NABO belt when he K0d Munoz in five rounds on April 17. MORE

Jones Wins NABA Title!

Jr middleweight Carson Jones (26-7-2, 16 KOs) of Oklahoma defeated Maine’s Jason LeHoulier (21-3-1, 8 KOs) by way of 9th round TKO Thursday night in the main event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tony Holden promoted the event with Bobby Dobbs matchmaking. The bout had good two way action with Jones getting the better of Lehoulier and ending matters by way of a left hook in round 9. Jones picked up the vacant NABA light middleweight title with the victory.

Spivey Heading Home to Defend NABA Lightweight Championship

On April 3 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, X-Cel Worldwide’s "Dangerous" Dorin Spivey (37-5, 29 KOs) will defend his NABA Lightweight Championship in his home state against Baltimore’s Tyrell Samuel (14-3, 6 KOs).

The 12-round Spivey vs. Samuel bout will serve as the main event on promoter Jack Fulton’s International Championship Boxing Series (ICB) event.

“Dorin is fighting in his home state against a very tough kid and we’re looking forward to another exciting win for him,” said Spivey’s promoter, Nick Garone. “Dorin is still one of the world’s best lightweights and on April 3, he’ll prove it once again.”

Spivey-Major Photo Report

Photo: Bob Caico, Jr.
By Bob Caico
www.fightnews.com

Veteran Dorin Spivey of Portsmith, VA captured the NABA lightweight title with a fourth round stoppage against Meacher Major of the Bahamas. Spivey (36-6, 29 KOs) dropped Major (16-4-1), twice in round two, the second one just before the bell sounded. Both boxers fought a spirited third round, trading bombs on each other and taking turns shaking the other one up. In the fourth, Spivey unloaded a booming right hand that hurt Major and after a flurry of unanswered punches referee Charlie Fitch rightfully called off the action at :52. For more details and photos click here…