Blogs

Munhall’s Jesse Lubash won the 152-pound division at the USA Boxing Eastern Trials Saturday in Cocoa Beach, Fla., Saturday to qualify for the U.S. championships next month. Despite facing a hometown favorite in Orlando’s Robert Burwell, Lubash outscored Burwell, 29-22, in the welterweight division final. Lubash, 21, a Duquesne University student, qualifies for the U.S. [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… There was a time when Verquan Kimbrough and Monty Meza-Clay were fast friends, training and sparring together at the World Class Gym in Ambridge. Kimbrough was considered the rising star, Meza-Clay a fan-friendly brawler. Both were trained by Tom Yankello, who also worked Paul Spadafora’s corner when [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… Another news release that crossed my desk this week notes that Aliquippa lightweight Verquan Kimbrough has a bout scheduled in the “fight capital of the world.” Kimbrough (17-1-1, seven knockouts) will fight Ricky Alexander (6-5, five KOs) of Oklahoma City, May 25 at the Orleans Hotel and [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… The news release proclaims that “former heavyweight champions Roy Jones Jr. and Mike Tyson” will join Monty Meza-Clay in headlining a post-fight after-party and VIP reception at DejaVu Lounge in the Strip District. Don’t know which is more comical, that it was distributed by the PR director [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… If Monty Meza-Clay needed any motivation for tonight’s bout against Carlos Contreras at Heinz Field’s Great Hall, he got it Thursday when nobody showed up to watch their staged weigh-in at Bossa Nova, Downtown. It wasn’t for lack of effort on the part of his World Class [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… You have to applaud Monty Meza-Clay for his willingness to conduct public workouts to introduce himself to Pittsburgh fight fans. Meza-Clay, of Rankin, is as charismatic as he is entertaining, showing an eagerness to embrace potential fight fans and followers. It’s a necessary evil, considering the majority [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… For anyone who questions Paul Spadafora’s drawing power, consider that his biggest bouts once included undercards with the likes of Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright, now acclaimed as the world’s top middleweights. Spadafora also fought at every possible location in the Pittsburgh area, drawing crowds to Pitt’s [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… Two fights into his comeback, Paul Spadafora almost landed a bout with Arturo Gatti. HBO was trying to set up the fight, but Gatti instead chose Alfonso Gomez, of “The Contender” fame, for a July 14 bout in Atlantic City. Spadafora, eyeing a title shot in the [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… Not that Paul Spadafora needed a wake-up call – especially after spending 13 months in jail for shooting his girlfriend – but the death of Diego Corrales should serve as a reminder of how precious life can be in the fast lane. Where Sports Illustrated once compared [...]

Just when you thought boxing had become irrelevant… Sadly, Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s rise to prominence coincided with Paul Spadafora’s fall from fortune. Spadafora once whipped Mayweather in a sparring session in Las Vegas, and they were supposed to fight on several occasions. When Spadafora was International Boxing Federation lightweight champion, he wanted nothing more than [...]