Mexico's "Fighting Machine" Cruz becomes Berman's ninth IBF Champ!
24 October 2008 — Terry Pettifer
Mexico's furious fighting Cristobal Cruz became Golden Gloves Promotions 9th IBF world champion last night, when he outpointed fellow tortilla-lover and pre-fight betting favourite Orlando Salido over 12-rounds in Spokane, Washington.
The vacant IBF featherweight crown was on the line when the pair of Mexican gamecocks made their way into the ring, and when the fight was over, it was the veteran Cruz who strapped on the much sought after championship belt.
Mechanics? The fight was everything Berman - who was seated at ringside alongside US business associate Art Pellulo –thought it would be: a non-stop war between two of the toughest and most competitive fighters in the world.
"Cristobal is simply terrific and although a lot of people thought that his majority decision win over Thomas Mashaba earlier this year short-changed the South African, he proved that he's a worthy world champion by beating Salido" said Berman.
Both Berman and Pellulo, who jointly promote Cruz, were over the moon after witnessing the toe-to-toe battle. In the end, the decision was ‘split' with Cruz earning scores of 116-112 on two of the judges' scorecards, while Saldo copped the third judicator's verdict by a margin of 115-113. A strange disparity in arithmetic you'll agree, especially since the TV commentators as well as yours truly (watching the action live on M-Net SuperSport) had Cruz a two-point winner!
Quizzed on their immediate plans, both Berman and Pellulo agreed that Cruz now needed a well-earned break before they'd assess his options.
Meanwhile, Berman did confirm that South Africa's former two-time IBO champion Thomas "Merciless" Mashaba would be fighting for the vacant IBO featherweight title at Emperors Palace on February 14, against an opponent yet to be named! "Thomas will get his chance at winning a third world title and then we'll be looking at a return contest between him and Cruz later in 2009" concluded Berman.
The Emperors Palace bill may –subject to BSA approval — also include former box-office magnet Phillip "The Timebomb" Ndou, who at age 31, has reapplied for his license after three years inactivity.
Sidelight: *Berman was reluctant to confirm rumours that one of the most exciting boxers in South Africa may soon be joining the Golden Gloves Consortium in the next few weeks. All he would say is that the fighter's manager had emphasized his desire to work with South Africa's most successful boxing operation.
What with a tally of 208 world title fights to their name, Golden Gloves Promotions are still No-1, no matter what anyone out there may have to say!
The Timebomb is Back!
21 October 2008 — Terry Pettifer
Phillip "The Timebomb" Ndou is back! That's the official news from both the fighter and his manager-trainer Mick Castellan after numerous doctors had given their thumbs up following brain scans to determine whether the boxer was fit to continue his career.
Contrary to what has often been said, it was Ndou's own decision to retire after X-rays revealed a cyst at the base of his brain shortly before he was to fight in Britain.
"Those reports have subsequently been re-evaluated and it's the opinion of various doctors that the findings pose no immediate threat of death or permanent injury" said Ndou's trainer Mick Castellan.
Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman was clearly elated at the news and welcomed his "Timebomb" back into the fold with open arms.
"Phillip was one of the finest drawcards I've ever had and who can ever forget his thrill-a-minute slugfest in November 2001" said Berman. That particular contest was rated as one of the greatest fights ever seen on South African soil and earned Ndou an unprecedented Old Buck "pound for pound" belt.
"People tend to forget that Ndou is the only South African boxer ever to have knocked out all his victims en route to winning a world title" said Berman.
Ndou's WBU junior lightweight title victory over Carlos Rios produced one of the most frightening knockouts in the history of SA boxing.
So where to from here?
Berman elaborated. "Phillip first has to renew his professional boxing license, and then it's all systems go for a proposed fistic extravaganza at Emperors Palace on February 14, which we plan to call ‘St Valentine's Day Massacre' in reference to that famous date in history". The CEO of Golden Gloves also added, "No matter what anyone says, Phillip Ndou will again make a tremendous impact on the local scene, especially at a time when local boxing is as vibrant as it's ever been in the past"
The Ndou ledger speaks of 31 wins and 3 losses, with 30 knockouts, which in itself is one of the most imposing resume's in local ring history.
His only other losses were to Anthony Campbell in an overweight match early in his career and a stoppage defeat to current World's No-1 ‘pound for pound' star Floyd Mayweather.
"Phillip has told me that he plans to fight either as a junior welterweight or welterweight, or maybe both. It's his decision" concluded Berman.
Meanwhile Berman, who flies out of the country tonight for America, confirmed that he'll be having talks with his US business partner Art Pellulo of Banner Promotions, with an aim to also promote Ndou in the land of the dollar in 2009.
"Phillip is no stranger to America and at age 31 still has another three to four good years as a fighter".
Mashaba waiting in wings as Cruz battles Salido
8 October 2008 — Terry Pettifer
Former two-time IBO champion Thomas "Merciless" Mashaba is waiting in the wings, ahead of the October 23 battle for the vacant IBF featherweight title between Cristobal Cruz and Orlando Salido, both of Mexico.
Cruz (36-11-1, with 23 knockouts)) defeated Mashaba on a 'majority' decision to capture the IBO featherweight crown on March 7, and has noted his willingness to give the hard-hitting South African the first 'bite of the cherry', providing he (Cruz) gets past Salido (31-9-2, with 20 knockouts).
Since both Mashaba and Cruz are co-promoted by Banner Promotions (USA) and Golden Gloves Promotions (SA), the likelihood of the fight taking place on South African soil seems fairly good.
"Cristobal is now a fighter who figures under our joint promotional banner" said Golden Gloves CEO Rodney Berman, "And the chances of him beating Saldo in their forthcoming fight remains good. If that occurs we'll move heaven and earth to stage the glittering rematch at a venue of our choice"
Whereas everyone agrees that it was Cruz's phenomenal workrate that earned him a pencil-thin decision over Mashaba and the right to contest the vacant IBF featherweight championship, many experts, Teddy Atlas amongst them, still feel that the former locomotive driver was unlucky not to be awarded the decision.
Even though both Cruz (31) and Salido (27) hail from Mexico, there is an intense rivalry between the two because Cruz comes from Tijuana, Baja, California, Mexico and Salido comes from Ciudad Obregon, Sonora Mexico.
Berman believes that the Cruz/Salido bout will in fact rival that of other great Mexican wars, like the Zarate-Zamora and Olivares-Castillo grudge fights.
Also of particular interest to both Berman and his US business associate Artie Pellulo of Banner Promotions will be the debut of former Olympian hotshot Demetrius Andrade.
"Both Artie and I are convinced that Andrade will go on to become an outstanding fighter in the professional ranks and we're really looking forward to see him fight on the October 23 bill which takes place in the Pend O'reille Pavillion at Nothern Quest Casino, which is located at North 100 Hayford Road, Airway Heights, Washington.
The bouts will be televised LIVE on the Versus network in the United States.
Cristobal Cruz vs. Orlando Salido headlines World Championship fight card!
6 October 2008 — Terry Pettifer
Banner Promotions president Arthur Pelullo and Golden Gloves president Rodney Berman will present a sensational world championship fight card on Thursday, October 23, 2008, in the Pend O'reille Pavillion at Northern Quest Casino, located at North 100 Hayford Road in Airway Heights, Washington. The main event and co-featured bouts will be televised live on the Versus network.
In the main event scheduled for 12 rounds, Cristobal Cruz, 36-11-1 with 23 knockouts, of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, will battle Orlando Salido, 31-9-2 with 20 knockouts, of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico, for the vacant International Boxing Federation featherweight world championship. Salido and Cruz are the IBF's two top-rated contenders.
The 31 year-old Cruz is coming off a sensational performance in his last fight on March 7 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. Fightwriter.com's Graham Houston reported: "Toughness, tenacity and a CompuBox punch record for a 12-round fight carried Tijuana veteran Cristobal Cruz to a bitterly hard-fought majority decision win over highly regarded South African Thomas Mashaba in an upset...
"This was a terrific fight, almost non-stop action... With the fight in the balance, it was Cruz who finished the stronger in the last two rounds. A clear underdog, Cruz fought with a winner's attitude, going right at Mashaba and throwing punch after punch from all directions, body and head, around the sides and up through the middle. Among the 1,580 punches thrown by Cruz was a jarring left that had Mashaba's legs going in the last round.
"Fights such as this are great for boxing — 12 intense and exciting rounds, the issue in doubt to the very end..."
Salido, 27, is a 12-year professional veteran – he made his debut at 15. He is undefeated – 8-0, 1 ND – in his last nine fights. He is experienced against top opposition, and always gives strong performances. He has fought former world champions Robert Guerrero (ND12), Cesar Soto (W10), Juan Manuel Marquez (L12), Alfred Kotey (W10), Alejandro Gonzalez (L10), and Regilio Tuur (W8), as well as a number of contenders.
2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade of Providence, Rhode Island, who is co-promoted by Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Banner Promotions, will make his pro debut on the card and open the Versus telecast. Only 20 years old, he is a sensational prospect at 154 pounds and a former international amateur standout.
Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com: "Demetrius Andrade, the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxer widely regarded as the No. 1 professional prospect from Team USA, is turning pro. Andrade entered the Olympics as the reigning world amateur welterweight champion. He also was a two-time U.S. National champion and two-time national Golden Gloves champion.
"Although Andrade won a pair of Olympic bouts in Beijing to advance to the quarterfinals, he lost a controversial 11-9 decision to South Korea's Kim Jung-Joo in one of the most questionable results in a tournament littered with debate over the inconsistent scoring."
More exciting fights will complete the card. All bouts are subject to change without notice.
Doors open at 4:00 P.M., first fight at 5:00 P.M. (Pacific Time)
Ticket prices: $25, $45, $60, $75.
Tickets are available at Northern Quest Casino Box Office — 509-481-6700, and Ticketswest — 800-325-SEAT, and www.ticketswest.com.
For media credentials, contact Mary Lien at Northern Quest Casino: 509-481-2185 (tel.), 509-481-2163 (fax), malien@northernquest.com (email).
