Talk Tough with Shawn Darling July 26
Ring Side Reports:

Star Boxing promoted an entertaining card Friday, July 23 at Trump’s Taj Mahal. During the co-feature I watched in amazement from ringside while former collegiate football player Brian Minto (18-0, 11KO) and former minor league baseball player Vinny Maddalone (21-2,15 KO) exchanged bombs for 10 rounds. The entire time I couldn’t stop thinking they were only getting paid around $5000 for such a tough action packed fight. Minto got off the deck in the first to bloody Maddalone’s face and eventually stop him in the 10th round while trailing on all 3 judges cards. The main event featured 2x Olympian David Defiagbon (21-1, 12 KO) against 2x PABA heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev (29-5, 23 KO). Maskaev dropped Defiagbon in the sixth and went on to win a split decision over the previously unbeaten Defiagbon.

The next day I had the privilege of attending the Gatti vs. Dorin fight with my former sparring partner, 3x USMC boxing champ, Doug Santa Cruz and his lovely wife Kendel. The 11,863 in attendance got their moneys worth from the undercard alone. 38 year old, former WBC super featherweight champ, “Jesse” James Leija (47-6-2, 19 KO) won a close split decision over the highly favored 21 year old, WBC continental America Jr welterweight champ, Francisco “Panchito” Bojado (16-2, 11KO). Leija got off the deck in the second to earn the victory with scores of 96-93, 95-94, and 94-95. WBC super lightweight champ, Arturo Gatti (38-6, 29 KO) did not disappoint his Jersey City fans in the main event. He made short work of his opponent, former lightweight champ, Leonard Dorin (22-1-1, 8 KO) with a second round knockout from a left hook to the body. This win sets up a possible Gatti vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight next year.

Other News from Atlantic City:

A.C.’s “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (10-0-1, 4KO) will face Juan Urango (13-0, 10 KO) for the NABC lightweight belt August 5 at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The bout will be televised on Showtime, 11:00pm EST.

AC’s Leavander Johnson (33-4-2, 25 KO) informed me that Mike Clark (34-2, 15 KO) has pulled out of their proposed rematch that was to determine the number one contender for the IBF lightweight champ Julio Diaz. The bout was scheduled to be the main event on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights at the Miccosukee Resort and Casino in Miami, Florida August 20. Hopefully the IBF will find a suitable top 10 opponent for Johnson.

Kermit Cintron’s trainer, Marshall Kaufman informed me at the Taj Mahal that Cintron is resting his right hand that he ruptured a tendon in during his impressive victory over Teddy Reid July 17. He said he is having surgery and will not train for two and half months. They are waiting to see what the out come of the Margarito vs Santos fight is September 11 before they decide their next move. Margarito is the current WBO welterweight champ and is challenging Santos for the WBO super welterweight belt. If Margarito wins, Cintron would change from the interim champ to world champ. If Margarito loses he will have to defend the welterweight belt against Cintron in his next bout or be stripped.

In Other News:

The inside scoop on Danny Williams (Mike Tyson’s hand picked opponent) is that he has been getting beat up in his sparring sessions in preparation for their July 30 fight. My prediction is that Williams doesn’t make it out of the first round.

Top heavyweight contender, James Toney (67-4-2, 43 KO) will challenge Rydell Booker (22-0, 12 KO) for the IBA and IBO heavyweight belts September 23. (I can’t figure this one out.)