Blogs

24 (5)

Redemption Tour: New-look Cusumano ready to put the past behind him June 24

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on June 23, 2022 at 8:30
24dfd1a9-ea0b-4510-91f1-2c40f68374af.png?r=971052399
Juiseppe Cusumano
F
Sicilian heavyweight Cusumano returns to Bally's Twin River June 24 with a new camp and a new outlook on his future in boxing
 

Lincoln, RI – The new Juiseppe Cusumano doesn’t like to look back too much at the old Juiseppe Cusumano

Juiseppe 2.0 is a leaner, stronger, more determined version of the old model, not the same Cusumano who barely lasted two minutes against Daniel Dubois in August.

Fight fans can expect fireworks Friday, June 24 at Ballys Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort when Cusumano (19-4, 17 KOs) unveils a never-before-seen rendition of himself in an eight-round bout against Brazilian heavyweight Irineu Beato Costa Junior at Summer Splash, presented by CES Boxing.

His long-awaited return to Ballys, where has hasn’t fought since 2019, caps a busy training camp in which the 6-foot-4 Cusumano spent the majority of time away from his residence in Danville, VA, and instead trained everywhere from Costa Rica and Tampa to Connecticut and New York.

Summer Splash also features Warwick, RI, resident Jaime "Hurricane" Clampitt battling Texas lightweight Miranda "El Alacrana" Reyes, plus the Ballys debut of unbeaten super middleweight and 6-foot-2 southpaw Francis Hogan of Weymouth, MA. Tickets are available at CESFights.com.

When Cusumano lost to Dubois on Showtime, a lopsided bout in which the "Sicilian Nightmare" hit the canvas three times before referee George Nichols stopped the fight, the 34-year-old heavyweight considered walking away from the sport. He had already begun thinking about life after boxing, using his payout from the Dubois fight to purchase a gym in anticipation of running his own fitness boxing courses.

But, in a plot twist straight out of Hollywood, Cusumano had a change of heart. He knew his performance against Dubois didn’t reflect who he was as a fighter or how much he had progressed under the guidance of promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. To quote a certain well-known fictional Italian boxer, there was "still some stuff in the basement." He had to make one more run at not only competing for a world title, but showing boxing fans there’s more to him than what they saw that fateful night in August.

"I told Jimmy, ‘That’s not me,’" Cusumano said. "I had only six rounds of sparring before that fight. I was in out of the gym. I had a lot of personal issues going on. And the whole world saw me like that. It eats me alive.

"It would’ve been different if I was ready and I went through a war and lost a close fight, but I wasn’t mentally ready – or really ready in any regard. I’ve got to get back on Showtime and show what I really have in my blood and in my heart.

"I won’t be a happy man if I don’t do what I’ve got to do. Then I’ll sit back and say, ‘Oh, I could’ve done that, but I didn’t.’ At least now if anything happens in my career that messes me up, I’ll know I gave it all I’ve got. No regrets."

After taking some time off to recover and reflect on his mistakes – and pray, Cusumano said – he received a call from the manager of unbeaten Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang inviting him to spar for two weeks in New Jersey. That turned into a three-week stay with Zhang’s camp in Tampa, this time with Cusumano participating in every minute of every workout, not just the sparring sessions.

"As soon as I finished camp there, I knew I didn’t want to go back home," Cusumano said.

As luck would have it, he then received a call from an associate in Costa Rica inviting him to fly south for a makeshift "boot camp" training in the jungles and mountains, often running eight miles a day in brutal conditions.

"The training I did there was unbelievable," Cusumano said. "It got me out of my comfort zone – way out – and it felt to me like when I got past that zone, I got lost. Now you’re in a different world and you’re still pushing. That’s what you need in fights. You have to get out of your comfort zone."

After Costa Rica, Cusumano reached out to his promoter, who then set him up at Champs Boxing & Fitness in Danbury, CT, under the guidance of coach Dave McDonough. Cusumano has been at Champs for the last four weeks, traveling back and forth to New York to spar with the likes of WBO world light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. and Connecticut heavyweight Cassius Chaney.

"I’m really proud of myself," Cusumano said. "You have to make tough decisions in life. I could’ve stayed home, ran the gym, worked a 9-to-5, but I knew I had already made a name for myself and hadn’t even put 100% into it. I never traveled and got the work like I should have. I didn’t stay consistent. I went back home, fooled around, got sidetracked. Now I’m making the sacrifices necessary to achieve this dream."

Cusumano still has family in Virginia, including his 12-year-old son, a budding southpaw baseball star who cranked three home runs in his last game. Being away from loved ones is difficult, but Cusumano knows if he doesn’t give it his all now, he’ll regret it later in life. This is the version of himself he always dreamt he could be.

"This is what I needed. I needed to be around boxing and be around good sparring. That’s what I was missing," Cusumano said. "Now, if I get a call and people need work, I’m there. That’s what I should have been doing all along."

Full fight details for Summer Splash are available online. For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.
 
Read more…

Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev vs. Anthony Yarde Mandatory Bout Scheduled for August 24 in Chelyabinsk, Russia

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on July 25, 2019 at 15:30
 Photo Credit_ David Spagnolo _ Main Events
"The Krusher"
Photo Credit: David Spagnolo / Main Events

Chelyabinsk, Russia: Fighting in his own hometown for the first time in his professional boxing career, WBO World Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (33-3-1, 28 KOs) takes on the WBO's mandatory challenger, Anthony Yarde (18-0, 17 KOs) of the UK, on Saturday, August 24th at the Traktor Arena in Chelyabinsk, Russia. The event will be presented by RCC Promotions, Main Events, Krusher Promotions and Queensberry Promotions. This will be Kovalev's 16th consecutive world title bout. That is more than the three other light heavyweight champions combined.
 
The Three-Time World Light Heavyweight Champ, Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev, explained the significance of this fight. "I am thrilled to fight for the first time in my home town of Chelyabinsk. It is a dream to defend my WBO title in front of all my friends and family back home. Thank you to Igor Altushkin, Egis Klimas and Main Events for making this dream a reality and thank you to Anthony Yarde for agreeing to fight in my backyard."
 
Challenger, Anthony Yarde, replied, "I am more than happy to achieve my goal in Russia and I think it is only right that a great world champion such as Kovalev is given the opportunity to defend in his home country. He has earned that right. What I know is that on Aug. 24 another World Title belt will be under British ownership and I will have done it the hard way-one that nobody will be able to question" He continued, "This is my time and I am going to show the world what I am all about. Everything has fallen perfectly into place for me. This will be my coronation as world champion and I am going to realize my dream by beating the most decorated of the current world title holders."
 
"We are so pleased that Sergey, one of boxing's greatest all-time road warriors, will finally get the chance to defend his title in his own hometown, where he grew up and where his most-devoted fan base resides," said promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events. "I can only imagine how excited Sergey's friends and neighbors will be to finally get the chance to see him perform in person. We are most grateful to Igor Altushkin, RCC Promotions, Queensberry Promotions and Anthony Yarde for making this great event possible."
 
Kovalev's long-time manager and friend, Egis Klimas added, "Sergey has wanted to fight in his hometown for a long time. But he has always been the one to go and fight in another fighter's backyard. Now that he is back where he rightfully belongs, on top of the light heavyweight division, it is exciting that he finally gets this opportunity. Thank you to RCC Promotions, Igor Altushkin, Queensberry Promotions and, of course, Anthony Yarde for making this fight possible."
 
"It is a fantastic opportunity for Anthony and he has earned his shot by working his way to the No.1 spot in the rankings. He has showed what he is all about by being prepared to go into Kovalev's backyard and it demonstrates the confidence he has in his own ability," explained Yarde's promoter, Frank Warren. "Everybody knows Kovalev is a tremendous puncher and a fearsome presence in the ring. It is something we first saw over here when he fought Nathan Cleverly, and he has continued to operate at the very highest level. Anthony possesses tremendous self-belief and we back him to come away with the spoils. But whatever does happen in the fight, it is one that he will take a lot of valuable experience from."
 
The fight will be seen on Match TV in Russia, BT Sport in the UK and US distribution information will be released soon.
Read more…

NBA Daily Show: Feb. 24 – The Starters

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on February 25, 2015 at 2:00

f1r2ZmXqFJu3Jtnkg6ZMIPxNN8-DE5-dzsWBNbBkk37kh7n1p-F6EdUXN4Otfj93KbzgsEjY2OIDSbDdejaS9QGVgwlO-4JXOvrrcFcyCzEmAaniOmUNtukRgTiuBvxr4FWy1G0oJhfkAs8X9FM2AjmZ5ggb2Uyr5jCHV18DoIwA7GHk-kVmi88=s0-d-e1-ft#%3Ca%20href=

The Starters discuss if the Grizzlies are a contender, debate the “Best Supporting Player”, “Best Director” and “Best Foreign Language Player”, consider if the All-Star break was too long, whether the Cavs signing Kendrick Perkins is a good idea, and if JaVale McGee “The Mentor” will work out well in Philly. Watch The Starters weekdays at 630ET on NBATV or get more of them on their website: http://nba.com/thestarters

sddefault.jpg?w=640&h=360&feature=em-uploademail&sigh=5Z9ZbW3kiidoLqz0On7dNMwez2M

Here are the Top 5 moments from week 17 in the NBA, Starters style. Watch The Starters weekdays at 630ET on NBATV or get more of them on their website:http://nba.com/thestarters

Read more…

Fever Live With Dj 4our 5ive On bigboxradio.net Episode 24

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on December 3, 2014 at 12:00

1. Kidd Kidd ft 50 Cent & Lloyd Banks - Big Body Benz 2. T.I. ft Rick Ross - You Can Tell How I Walk 3. Rick Ross ft Boosie Badazz - Nickel Rock 4. Meek Mill ft Boosie Badazz - F You Mean 5. Young Chris Feat_ Beanie Sigel & Guordan Banks - Legends Never Die... 6. Stalley ft Ty Dolla Sign - Always Into Something 7. Rick Ross ft Jay Z - Movin Bass 8. Tink (Feat. Rick Ross & Jay-Z) - Movin’ Bass (Original) 9. Rick Ross - I Love My Bitches 10. Dej Loaf - We Good Over Here 11. Dej Loaf - Try Me 12. Eminem ft Big Sean, Danny Brown, Dej Loaf, Royce Da 5 9 & Trick Trick - Detroit vs Everybody 13. Bobby Shmurda ft French Montana - Hot Boy (Remix) 14. Bobby Shmurda ft Fabolous, Jadakiss, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, Yo Gotti & Rowdy Rebel - Hot Boy (Remix) 15. Troy Ave ft Young Lito & Manolo Rose - All About The Money 16. Nas - The Season 17. Nas ft The Game - Hustlers 18. Nas ft Jay Z - Black Republican 19. Jay Z ft Swizz Beatz - Open Letter 20. Push T - Lunch Money 21. Rich Gang (Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan) - Lifestyle 22. Rich Gang (Rich Homie Quan & Young Thug) - Tell Em 23. PartyNextDoor - East Liberty 24. Tee FLii - Change Your World 25. Rick Ross ft K. Michelle - If They Knew 26. Jeremih ft Rick Ross & YG - Dont Tell Em 27. Big Sean ft E 40 - IDFWU 28. Kid Ink ft Usher & Tinashe - Body Language 29. Audrey Rose ft Troy Ave - That Love 30. Ariana Grande ft The Weeknd - Love Me Harder 31. Nick Jonas ft. Tinashe - Jealous (Remix) 32. PartyNextDoor ft Drake - Recognize 33. Mr. Probz ft T.I. & Chris Brown - Wave 34. Duke Dumont ft Jax Jones - I Got You 35. Kiesza - Hideaway 36. Vic Mensa - Down On My Luck 37. Clean Bandit - Rather Be 38. ZHU - Faded 39. Calvin Harris ft Big Sean - Wide Open 40. Drake - 6 God 41. Shy Glizzy ft 2 Chainz & ASAP Rock - Awwsome 42. Drake - How About Now 43. Meek Mill - Levels 44. Dj Drama ft Young Jeezy, Young Thug, Rich Homie & Quan - Right Back 45. The Execs - GTFOH 46. Busta Rhymes & The Conglomerate Ent. Presents O.T. Genasis - CoCo 47. Ace Hood ft Rich Homie Quan - We Don’t 48. Beyonce - 7/11

Read more…

Latest Blog Posts

Most Popular Blog Posts

Blog Topics by Tags

  • - (175)
  • in (147)
  • to (144)
  • of (143)

Monthly Archives