I just got back from the press conference and weigh-in for tomorrow’s No Turning Back, put on by The Contender. This was a fun time, with most of the fighters involved saying a few words about their upcoming fights. It was also good to see Sugar Ray Leonard, Sergio Mora, Alfonso Gomez, and Freddie Curiel and his wife Mariel again, as well as CMPR’s Emily Snider and Steve Webster. Linda Peterson and I got to spend a little time talking with all of them, which is always nice for us.
The weigh-in took place earlier in the day, and the results were announced at the beginning of the press conference. They were:
Elvin Ayala -
159¼ vs. Sergio Mora – 160
Ben Tackie – 148 vs. Alfonso Gomez – 148
Fontaine Cabell – 152 vs. Freddie Curiel – 151½
Arthur Brambila – 140 vs. Ernest Johnson – 140
Mora and Ayala will start off the evening, giving ESPN Classic their first live professional fight to ever air on this channel. This fight will begin at 6:00. Ayala is aware that he has a lot to overcome. “I know that I’m coming to his house,” Elvin said of Mora. “I’m glad to be a part of the first ESPN Classic live show. I’m not much for words, but I know I’m in shape, so whatever the decision is tomorrow, it’s going to be a great fight.”
Mora spoke a bit about his fight that never happened. “Everyone knows that I was ready for Kassim Ouma and that didn’t happen, so I took a couple of weeks off – I didn’t want to over-train. I went back to the gym, and I feel great. They got me a very formidable opponent in Elvin Ayala and I feel it’s going to be a great fight.
“He’s coming to fight, and he is coming to my home town and that’s always an up and up,” he continued, “but I’m just excited to be fighting on ESPN again – back on television, and just back to the limelight, back to fighting. I’ve been idle for a year and now I’m ready. It’ll be a good fight, and I’m excited for the fans and for The Contender.”
The main event tomorrow is Alfonso Gomez against Ben Tackie. Leonard reminded us of the super win Gomez recently had over Arturo Gatti. Tackie was not present, but Gomez had some things to say. “This is my second main event, and I’m starting to like it, I’m starting to like being the main event,” he chuckled. “It is going to be a good fight against another very tough opponent in veteran Ben Tackie.
“Tackie has been the distance with Kostya Tszyu, Ricky Hatton, Sharmba Mitchell, Juan Lazcano, just to name a few of the great fighters he’s fought. I come in very well prepared for this fight, because it is very important to make sure I capitalize on the victory I had against Arturo Gatti last July. So I come here 100% prepared and my goal is to stop Ben Tackie and that way I can actually put myself up there with bigger and better names in the near future. I want to thank everyone for coming and I promise I will not disappoint anyone.”
Contender season two fan favorite was Freddie Curiel. He faces off with Fontaine Cabell tomorrow night. “I know you guys don’t know much about me,” Cabell said when he got up to the microphone, “but come October 16th you guys will know who I am. It’s an honor to be here. I’m going to put on a show on Tuesday. I’m coming off two fights with Jimmy Lange, I’m in shape. I don’t know what you guys have seen in the past, but I assure you this is not the same Fontaine that you guys have tapes on. This is new and improved. The Jimmy Lange fight made me mature, and I feel great. I’m happy to be here, and it’s a pleasure.”
Freddie spoke next. “He’s right, it’s going to be an exciting fight. Every time I step into the ring I don’t just bring a fight, I bring my whole life with me. I put my heart in there every time. Come October 16th we’re going at it, because this is my life here, this is what I was born to do, and this time around you are going to see that I’m going towards greatness. God bless.”
Finally, thanks to Golden Boy Productions, Arthur Brambila will face off against Ernest Johnson. Brambila was not present, but Johnson said, “My last fight I got to be on the De La Hoya/Mayweather card May 5th, so it’s a pleasure to be on a card like this. I’m just happy to be part of this. I know I’m not part of the main attraction, but hopefully you guys come out and see me fight and I’ll put on a show. You guys will want to see me back here again.”
So the stage is set for tomorrow, No Turning Back from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. I am very excited to get to be there, and am really looking forward to it.
Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.
