Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Q&A

If everything had gone according to plan, Oktay Urkal's opponent in his mandatory title defence on September 3rd would have been Thomas Damgaard. But the so far undefeated Dane (36-0-0, 27 KOs) pulled out because, according to a statement of his management, Team Palle, Damgaard needed more preparation time for the match. This is why Urkal (35-3-0, 11 KOs) will instead defend his European welterweight belt against the Russian Maxim Nesterenko (44-7-2, 28 KOs). Nesterenko was European champion from 1998 to 1999, Intercontinental IBF champion 1995/1996 and WBC champion 1996/1997. Urkal spoke with Fightnews about the upcoming title defense in Berlin and about the joys of boxing in a higher weight class.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Gutierrez

Chicago fight promoter Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing Promotions Inc. went back to some old stomping grounds Saturday night when he brought a small local fight card to Stone Park, IL. The card was held at the Casa Italia Social Center, in thier outdoor stage area. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds, and the Churches historic memorials throughout the grounds, it lent a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere to the cigar friendly event. Hitz Boxing has had to find alternative venues to stage their events since the Ramada Plaza in Rosemont was sold and is slated for destruction. "I have promoted many fights at the Ramada over the years, and it had become almost a staple to Chicago boxing," Hitz stated. This fight card almost did not happen at all. Promoter Hitz stated to Fightnews, "The Illinois Boxing Commission was very helpful in locating necessary paperwork that had been missing. Without that paperwork, the fight would have had to have been canceled. Then I had problems with several fights falling out at the last minute." In the main event, heavyweight Ed "Iron Man" Gutierrez won a unanimous decision over Eric French by scores of 58-56, and 59-55 twice. Gutierrez, now 15-0-1 with 6 KOs.

Saturday, August 27, 2005

champion

StarFight Productions closed another chapter in their long running "Fight Night at the Pavilion" with the successful return of welterweight Oscar Gonzalez. In front of a capacity crowd at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa, Florida, Gonzalez nearly decapitated his opponent with a crushing right hand that ended the night early. Gonzalez (9-3-0, 3 KOs), 147 lbs, was fighting for a title for the first time against tough Colombian Francisco Osorio (12-3-0, 10 KOs). In round three, Gonzalez put Osorio on the floor with a sickening thud, his head hitting the canvas first. To his credit, a dazed and seriously hurt Osorio rose on very shaky legs, only to fall into the ropes. Referee Dennis DeBon saved the brave fighter from further punishment by calling a halt to the bout at 1:41. With the victory, Gonzalez became the new NBA Jr. Intercontinental welterweight champion.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Erdei vs Sahnoune in Halle!

ccording to the latest news from the Hungarian TV channel RTL Klub, the next title defence of Zsolt Erdei will be in Halle, Germany. The main event of the Universum Box Promotion show on October 22th is the fight Erdei against the Frenchman Mehdi Sahnoune. The Hungarian WBO champ has already started the training in Hamburg but he may travel to the United States to a training camp. The reason is that his trainer Fritz Sdunek is going to work with Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles. The former Hungarian Olympian Karoly Balzsay also fight on the card.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Heavyweight Heat this Friday!

A lot is at stake when heavyweights Shannon Briggs (42-4-1, 36 KOs) and "Merciless" Ray Mercer (34-5-1, 25 KOs) collide on Friday live on pay per view from the brand new Hard Rock Live arena at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. It's a true crossroads fight where a loss would be devastating for either combatant. After dabbling in acting and mixed-martial arts, longtime heavyweight contender Briggs says he is again focused on the heavyweight crown. He has reeled off six straight victories and has captured 10 of his last 11 fights. Former WBO champ Mercer, meanwhile, has won 11 of his last 12, the only loss to the highly-regarded Wladimir Klitschko. Both fighters are eyeing this fight as a springboard back into the heavyweight title mix.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Karate .....

In the 16th century, Japan's most southern clan, the powerful Satsuma clan, invaded Okinawa. They colonized Okinawa for use as a trading post with China. They also levied taxes on their goods. These events forced the people of Okinawa to secretly develop the so-called " Te". In addition to the weaponless fighting methods, Okinawans were using their farm tools for defense and developing fighting systems. These systems were referred to as "Te", meaning hands, techniques, and methods. In combination with the influence of Chinese techniques it was often called "Kara", referring to the Tang Dynasty of China, that there was a sense of more preciousness as today's foreign goods, and "Te", techniques.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Judo

The system's founder taught jujitsu in a strutured and methodical manner.
For the next undred years, the martial arts were refined by Samurai who made a lifetime study of some twenty or thirty martial arts. Of these arts only one was based on weaponless self defense -- jujitsu. By the mid-1800's more than 700 different jujitsu systems existed. The most popular were takenouchi-ryu, jikishin-ryu, kyushinryu, yoshin-ryu, mirua-ryu, sekiguchi-ryu, kito-ryu, and tenshin-shinyo-ryu; the last two were instrumental in Judo's development.
It was during this time that Japanese politics disintegrated into disarray. Commodore Perry's visit to Japan in the mid-1850's also changed Japanese civilization by opening up a new world to them. In 1868 Imperial rule was restored (Meiji Restoration) and the decline of the Samurai class started along with a rapid decline in all martial arts. Although the government did not officially ban the martial arts, people were not encouraged to learn or practice them since the state was considered more important than the individual. Jujitsu literally fell into disuse. What was once the glory of the samurai was now looked down on and many well established jujitsu schools began to disappear.
If the budo concept was to survive the Meiji Restoration, it had to change and become a tool to cultivate an individual and make him a better person for the good of all. As a result budo found a home in physical education and sport.
Sport provided teamwork which was good for all and also developed the individual. It was a complete physical education; not just a game. Although self defense techniques were included in the training, emphasis was on using the techniques in a holistic manner. Dr. Jigoro Kano is credited with jujitsu's survival of the Meiji Restoration. He took jujitsu and adapted it to the times. His new methodology was called Judo.
In 1882, Dr. Jigoro Kano (The Father of Judo) made a comprehensive study of these ancient self defense forms and integrated the best of these forms into a sport which is known as Kodokan Judo

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

karate do continue

In the ancient times there was no law prohibiting people from arming themselves. Weapons were standard in fighting, and most cultures have their own sword fighting system. Japan is renowned for its Samurai culture in the caste feudal system. The code of the Samurai was developed in the 18th century. The effective use of a sword was essential for a warrior. Samurai practiced with them and carried them in daily life as the symbol of their class.In the later part of the 14th century however, the influence of the Chinese techniques on the development of Karate-Do becomes much more apparent. Under the ruler King Hassi of Chuzan of Okinawa, a policy was enacted prohibiting the people of Okinawa from arming themselves.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Muai Thai

Iz is a national sport of thai land. It has held for competition continuously since Sukhothai period, between 1257 - 1377 AD. During the reign of Pha Chao Sua, he disguised himself to box with ordinary people in 1702. He loved Muay Thai so much that he often fought incognito in village contests, beating the champions. During the reign of the King the nation was at peace. The King to keep the army busy, ordered it to train in Muay Thai. The interest in the sport was already high but now it took off yet again.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Kenwa Mabuni

The founder karate-do Shito-ryu, Kenwa Mabuni was born on 1889 in Okinawa. He elonged to the 17th generation from one of the bravest warriors of Ryukyu kingdom Kenio hiro. Kenwa Mabuni himself was a physically weak child; however, his family members often told him stories about his famous ancestors and he dreamed of becoming ontrolling. At the age of 13, Kenwa was accepted as a student at the school of the famous karate-do master Anko Itosu, who lived in Shuri. Kenwa Mabuni trained every day, even during typhoons, and within seven years he learned the art of Shuri-karate or Shuri-te. When Kenwa was 20 years old, he began to study the art of Naha-karate or Naha-te with the Grandmaster Kanryo Higaonna. Later both of these major directions of karate-do of Okinawa formed a basis for Shito-ryu karate-do style created by Kenwa Mabuni.