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TROY ROSS READY AND WAITING
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TONY LUIS SHOWS TOUGHNESS AGAINST RADKACH
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CANADA’S AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL BOXING MAGAZINE
Each issue is $5.00 Canadian. No subscription available. Issues available through Chapters Bookstores across Canada or directly from Publisher Dameon Okposio at cost of issue(s) plus postage.
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TABLE OF CONTENT 4 6 10 12 16 18 22
Water-A Boxer’s Friend Troy Ross-Ready And Waiting I’ve Won Dierry Jean vs Lamont Peterson Tony Luis Show Toughness Against Ivan Redkach Dameon Okposio Sponsors Fight Card In U.S.A. Kyle Marsh From Pro To The OBA
Publisher: Dameon Okposio
Editor: Dameon Okposio
Writers: Dameon Okposio
Contributing Photographers/Photos:: Jason Horvath Stewart Stick Tom Casino/ Showtime Sports Glen Grant
Photography: Durell Wambolt Donald Wambolt Magazine Design: Afsaneh Safari Khaledi Cover Design: Afsaneh Safari Khaledi
Contact: Dameon Okposio
Last issue # 30 featured:
-The Italian Tank Johnny Mercante -April 13, 2013 Amateur fight card wrap-up -The Secret Weapon Steve Hayden -Professional profile of Arash Usmanee - much more
Contributing Writers: Mercedes Kay Gold Vanessa Sawicki
647-224-2199
Web: www.dameonokposio.com Email: okposio@hotmail.com Twitter: @DOkposio Cell: 647-224-2199 Facebook: Below the Belt Boxing Magazine Mailing Address for : Below The Belt Boxing Magazine 14-30 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 286, Mississauga, Ontario L5R 0C1
Publisher/Promoter Dameon Okposio with arguably the greatest African boxer, former 3x World Champion, “The Professor, Azumah Nelson 39-62 (28 KO’s).
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Article by: Dameon Okposio Photos by: Durell Wambolt
TROY ROSS, READY AND WAITING PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Professional record: 25-3 (16 KO’s) - Ranked as fourth best Cruiserweight in the world by Ring Magazine - Season 4 Contender Champion - Commonwealth (British Empire) Cruiserweight Champion - Canadian Cruiserweight Champion AMATEUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Amateur record: 93-7 -2000 Olympic Team member -1999 Canadian Champion -1998 Canadian Champion -1998 Gold medal, Pre-Pan American Tournament -1998 Silver medal, Commonwealth Games -1997 Canadian Champion -1997 Silver medal, Francophone Games -1996 Canadian Champion -1996 Olympic Team – Quarter finalist (5th) -1996 Silver medal, Multi Nations Tournament, Liverpool -1995 Gold medal, Tammer Tournament, Finland -1994 Gold medal, Copenhagen Box Cup -1994 Gold medal, Magadan, Russia, Tournament
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Troy Ross Sparring
If you didn’t know anything about boxing, you may have thought that Troy Ross was an actor, and he is to a certain degree, having starred in a couple Hollywood movies. In the 2005 movie “Cinderella Man” starring Russell Crowe, Ross played the role of, John Henry Lewis, a light heavyweight champion from the 1930’s that challenged James J. Braddock for the heavyweight title. Troy appeared in the 2007 movie “Resurrecting the Champ” with Josh Hartnett and Samuel L. Jackson, playing the role of a younger fictionalized heavyweight boxer, Bob Satterfield. He also appeared in the 2008 film “Phantom Punch” a biopic of Sonny Liston, playing the role of heavyweight boxer Floyd Patterson. Troy’s acting career certainly increased his international profile, but for what he does best, he is still a well guarded secret. He is arguably one of the most underrated fighters and businessmen in the sport of boxing. With 128 fights to his credit, against the best competition in the world, Troy has barely endured any punishment and his fight purses have gone into several lucrative business ventures. Many fighters in his position have made more money and ended up with less at the end of their careers. Troy “The Boss” Ross has been his own boss and now sits in an enviable position as he reaches his prime. Troy was born in 1975 in Georgetown, Guyana and grew up with four siblings, two brothers and two sisters. His father, Charles Sr., took up boxing while in the Guyanese army and fought as a middleweight for Guyana in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. In 1982, the Ross family moved to Canada and settled in the Toronto area. Charles Sr., felt strongly about teaching his kids how to defend themselves and Troy’s first boxing lesson was with his father. In 1986, the Ross family moved to Brampton, Ontario,
a half hour away from Toronto and Troy started training at Bramalea Boxing Club. Troy’s father along with Bramalea boxing coach, Peter Sjouwerman, trained and cultivated his style. At age eleven, Troy had his first fight. He lost that fight, when his coach threw the towel in to stop the bout. The loss was disappointing for Troy, but even at that tender age, he used it as a catalyst instead of an excuse and he trained to get better. In his second fight, he stepped into the ring more focused and mentally prepared. He threw punch after punch, refusing to lose, until he heard the final bell. This time, Troy would walk away with the win and a valuable lesson about hard work and dedication. Troy continued to mature as an amateur boxer running off a succession of victories. In 1990, former professional fighter, Dewith Frazer, opened his own gym and Troy moved to Frazer’s gym that year to expand his boxing knowledge. The move proved to be successful, as Troy continued to improve, eventually earning him an opportunity to go to the Olympics for the first time in 1996, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia. Troy registered the first official knockout of the summer games to catapult him to the finals where he would meet Vasili Jirov of Kazakhstan. Troy lost the bout to Jirov who eventually went on to win the gold medal. Troy kept his composure, focusing on maintaining his position on the National team and creating another opportunity for himself at the next Olympics. Simultaneously, Troy attended George Brown College after graduating from North Peel Secondary School in Brampton. North Peel Secondary is now known as Judith Nyman Secondary School, renamed in 2010 after a former administrator and Associate Director of the Peel District School Board. Troy took sewing in
Troy Ross lands an uppercut on Carl Handy
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The tenth round was a slugfest. Both fighters planted their feet and started swinging. Both fighters wanted to close the show and you could see that. Both fighters were throwing with bad intentions and both fighters had their moments in the round. 20 seconds to go Luis landed a devastating right hand but both Redkach and Luis absorbed each other’s punches well.
Redkach to dig deep for the win and they both showed they are world class fighters. Luis was visibly upset after losing a fight that should have been scored closer or could have been a draw. This performance will still elevate the stature of Tony Luis. Questions of his toughness and skill level against a tough hard punching lightweight have been answered. BTB
Judge Gerald Deming scored 99-90, Teressa Mullens scored 97-92, Mack Thornton scored 97-93 all for a unanimous decision victory for Redkach. Luis forced
Photo by: Tom Casino / Showtime Sports
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DAMEON OKPOSIO SPONSORS FIGHTCARD IN U.S.A. Article by: Dameon Okposio
Junmar Emon victorious in Milwaukee
Photo by: Durell Wambolt
After two failed attempts to promote my own professional boxing show in this province and local promoters seemingly only putting on fighters that will pay them the most amount of money, I was advised to put my money into the American economy. I was told that the Ontario government doesn’t care that Ontario Athletic Commission was driving business and money out of the province by keeping Ken Hayashi at the helm of the Ontario Athletic Commission. To be straight, I am not saying that the office of the Athletic Commission is corrupt, other people are saying that. People who did not want to be named stated that the Ontario Athletic Commission doesn’t know or understand the sport of boxing. They stated that Ken Hayashi routinely oversteps his position and acts as matchmaker and medical examiner. Citing that he has absolutely no respect or trust for anyone he works with and he demonstrates it on a regular basis by making all the decisions concerning the health, welfare and ability of pugilists. No need for referees. The advantages of fighting in the United States is the abundance of promoters and fighters. The fight community is so large that you could essentially fight every month if you where intent to do so. The same can’t be said for anywhere in Canada with the exception of Quebec. In my pursuit to find a promoter to work with, I was able to connect with a fighter who was putting together his first promotion and also fighting on the card as well. Enobong “The Nigerian Gentleman” Umohette was the current USA Wisconsin State Heavyweight Champion and was fighting Dante Craig for the vacant UBF (Universal Boxing Federation) International Heavyweight Title. He gave me the opportunity to work with him and allowed me to place my boxers on the card. We both trusted each other, and teamwork in boxing can make good things happen. I ended up sponsoring the show. It was less expensive than trying to put on a show in Ontario, and this promoter knew what it was to fight and the politics of the fight game. There were no issues about who was affiliated with whom; he just wanted an action-packed fight
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KYLE MARSH, FROM PRO TO THE OBA When fighters in Ontario contemplate which way their career is going to go, all ways seemed riddled with obstacles and unreasonable obstructions and if you want to achieve success in boxing while living in Ontario, you have to accept the circumstances, decide which battles are worth fighting and you have to be ready to adjust your plans. Such was the case with experienced amateur fighter Kyle Marsh. Kyle Marsh represented the Peterborough Boxing Club while they were affiliated with Boxing Ontario. Aside from competing, Kyle also coached there. In 2013, Kyle decided to turn professional and obtained his licence from the Ontario Athletic Commission. He was scheduled to fight on Dameon Okposio’s professional boxing show that was scheduled for Saturday, August 10, 2013. Unfortunately, the show did not occur and through the process none of the opponents provided to fight Kyle Marsh were accepted by the Ontario Athletic Commissioner. It was rumoured that the Ontario Athletic Commissioner never had any intention of allowing the boxing card in August to occur and it was also rumoured that he is notoriously tough on opponents because he has no faith in his referees or judges to stop the action at the appropriate time. Kyle attempted to find matches on the East Coast of Canada. Nothing materialized and he took matters into his own hands, joining with the OBA (Ontario Boxing Association). As an organization, they are developing a lot of the current successful professional fighters and their senior elite fighters compete with no shirt or headgear. Marsh had been training consistently and wanted to stay sharp and since he had no fought professional yet, he returned for an amateur bout on Everton McEwan’s World Boxing Wars which took place at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall at Lakeshore Road and Brown’s Line in Etobicoke, Ontario on November 23, 2013. Everton McEwan had a packed house despite a snow storm and Marsh fought on the action-packed card in a pitch battle with an experienced OBA fighter. Kyle earned the victory, while gaining the experience to fight without headgear and no top. Kyle continues to train while planning his next move but now the OBA has provided an alternative that mirrors his professional ambitions. It’s good have options. BTB Wambolt Chris Johnson holds to hand pads for Trinity
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Article by: Dameon Okposio Photos by: Stewart Stick
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