From JoeyAbell.com

Joey Abell

From last spring up until very recently there was a healthy buzz going on in the Minnesota boxing world. Talks of Phil Williams vs Zach Walters, Jason Litzau vs Wilton Hilario, Joey Abell vs Raphael Butler, Andy Kolle vs Caleb Truax, Matt Vanda vs Phil Williams, and Zach Walters vs Matt Vanda were in almost every Minnesota boxing enthusiasts conversations. The bad news, all but two of these almost certain fights are now dead. The great news, we finally have the fight that has been talked about the longest happening. Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell and Raphael Butler will be stepping into the ring in the Target Center! Now, I have been told by several sources that this fight will be in the Target Center but I do not know if that venue is finalized and a firm date has not been announced. But the fight WILL HAPPEN. Another nice gift for boxing fans will take place November 13 in Hinckley. Matt Vanda and Phil “The Drill” Williams will be getting it on in front of a TV audience. (Tickets are available for this event)

I have to say, I can not complain. We will be given two SUPER SHOWS before 2010. I think  most fans will take that. By years end, 2009 will have brought us; Andy “Kaos” Kolle vs Anthony “The Bullet” Bonsante, Phil “The Drill” Williams vs Matt Vanda, and the biggest of them all (Heavyweights at Target Center), Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell vs Raphael Butler. Three big time Minnesota fights in one calendar year is pretty sweet science.

Andy Kolle and Anthony Bonsante, Photo Courtesy of Walters Photography, all rights reserved

 The key to making these last two super shows special, will be how the rest of the cards are rounded out. We Know the 13th will bring us Wilton Hilario vs Leon Bobo as well as Cerresso Fort and either “Bad” Brad Patraw or “Lil’ Superman” Antwan Robertson. Who Fort and Patraw or Robertson fight will go a long way in how super the show will be. The undercard for Butler/Abell is not yet known other than Ronnie Peterson will be taking on Patraw or Robertson depending on their bouts outcomes. Lets hope more big name Minnesota fighters will be heading to Target Center to take part in what will be the biggest boxing event of the year.

October 3, Pro Boxing at the West St. Paul Armory

October 17 at the St. Paul Armory “Golden” Caleb Truax will be fighting for a belt.

October 23 at Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen MN, “Bad” Brad Patraw vs Antwan Robertson - This fight is for the bantam MN title and has implications on the two super shows talked about above.

November 13 at Hinckley Grand Casino, Phil “The Drill” Williams vs Matt Vanda - This bout will be on Fox Sports North and is an incredibly intriguing match-up.

November/December at the Target Center, Heavyweights Joey Abell vs Raphael Butler - The two best heavies in Minnesota go toe to toe.

Ronnie Peterson Jr (3-0) of Coon Rapids, Mn will be traveling to Minot, ND this Saturday, Oct. 3rd to face Tomi Archambault (0-1). If all goes well, it looks like Peterson will be facing fellow bantamweight banger Brad Patraw in Dec. at the Target Center. Patraw has his sights first set on his showdown with Antwan Robertson on Oct. 23rd and then a fight date in Hinckley on the Phil Williams-Matt Vanda undercard on Nov. 13th against an opponent tba. Both Peterson and Patraw confirmed the verbal agreement to fight pending the outcomes of those fights.
Also in action is “The Principal” Ben Lane (5-1-1). Lane will box Mike Walter (3-0) in a six rd main event. Ryan Soft versus Saverino Garcia and Nick Runningbear-Yancy Cuellar are the other bouts rounding out the card.
Sept 28, 2009

Nice Ronnie Peterson interview here. MinnesotaBoxing.com

One Step at A Time – An Interview with Antwan “Lil’ Superman” Robertson

By: Laura Zink

Antwan Robertson, Photo by Adele Swerdyliak barefoot Photography

Upon hearing that the rematch between “Bad” Brad Patraw and Antwan “Lil’ Superman” Robertson was going to be for the Minnesota State bantamweight title, many Minnesota fight fans pondered the implications for the future of Minnesota boxing. They began to think about the significance of state titles, about the rising numbers in the bantamweight class, about the potential tournaments between the other bantams and the winner, and even about potential Minnesota bantam match-ups all the way into 2010. Clearly, this rematch has inspired some interesting questions about in-state competitions, questions most recently posed only about heavier weight classes. Perhaps this upcoming state title fight will shine some of the state spotlight on what could now be called the younger brother of the Minnesota middleweights – the Minnesota bantams.

But for Antwan Robertson, these future projections are the furthest thing from his mind. While the rest of the Minnesota fight world questions what will happen after this match for the bantam Minnesota state title, Robertson is focused about one thing and one thing only, the match itself. For Robertson, he likes to take his boxing one fight at a time.

“Actually, I don’t worry about none of that stuff,” Robertson explained. How I see it is, I’m just out here learning. The title is not really that big of a deal to me. I’m trying to learn step 1. I mean, it’s a good opportunity, but I just want to win so bad. It would be nice to have that around my waist. I wouldn’t mind that. But I don’t want to worry about other fights. I just don’t worry about anything but that person in from to me at that moment.”

If Minnesota fight fans took the same approach to this fight as Robertson, they would begin to understand better why this particular match is interesting all on its own. For starters, we don’t really know that much about Robertson as a fighter because only one of his pro fights was fought in Minnesota – his first match against Patraw. For Robertson, he believes that that match did not show anyone in this state who he truly is as a fighter.

“Actually, in truth, that wasn’t my night,” Robertson explained. “I made him miss and stuff, but…that wasn’t my night. I fought terrible that night. Actually, I didn’t even fight. I was actually a punching bag that night. And that is why I wanted a rematch, so I can show everyone that that wasn’t Antwan Robertson…that I am a better fighter than that. I was just nervous and being at that big stage so early, so…I mean, I was in tremendous shape. It wasn’t nothing about shape or nothing. As you can see, I went the distance with him, but…it just wasn’t my night.”

What fans wanted to see that night from Robertson was a more aggressive fighter, and if they saw more of his matches out of state, perhaps they would have seen it. His first two fights, one against Nick Leines in North Dakota, and one against Brandon Skinner in Illinois, both ended in first round knockouts. And his most recent match, against Minnesota’s own Hassan Wassa, Robertson believes that he did better than the final decision revealed.

“Actually, I’m not saying that that is why he won, but they did have the promoter in his corner,” Robertson said. “I was actually boxing him the first four rounds. I thought that I easily won the fight, but they called it a draw. One judge scored it 59-56 for me, and then 57-57, and then 58-57 for him. So it was a draw. I thought I won the fight though. I thought I was throwing a lot more punches, making him miss, a lot of combinations. I am not taking anything away from Hassan. He’s a good fighter, but I thought I won that fight clear as day. Everybody came up to me afterwards and said, ‘Aw, you won that fight. You won that fight.’ But whatever. I’m pretty sure that me and Hassan will get a rematch.”

And yet another thing that fans may not know about Robertson is how short his amateur career was…and why it ended so soon. Robertson had to leave the amateurs before he even had 10 fights.

“I actually got kicked out of the amateurs,” Robertson explained. “I don’t know if you knew that. Larry Goodman’s wife, Jann, I’m not sure what she is…maybe a manager or something, but she kicked us out because she found out that me and Caleb Truax did a Tough Guy, and I guess we weren’t supposed to. So she kicked us out. That’s why I turned pro, otherwise; probably right now, I would still be amateur if I didn’t get kicked out. I guess it was bad. She said that she didn’t want it, that she couldn’t do it or something. That’s what she told me, but I never knew it. When I got kicked out, I think Caleb had a pro fight. I think he was 1-0 by the time that I got kicked out. I don’t know what happened, but I called Jann Goodman to get my book or whatever, and she was just like, ‘Oh, you can’t fight amateur anymore because you did a Tough Guy.’ So I was like, ‘Okay.’ But I never knew.”

And there is yet another thing that many fans don’t know about Robertson which may shed some light on his fighting attitude. Robertson actually ended up at the boxing gym because he got into legal trouble. And what was that legal trouble about?

“I got into a fight…and I kept getting into trouble. So I got in trouble with the law. I was 18, and I started boxing because I started doing community service at ACR around 2003. I was streetfighting a lot, and then I was like, ‘OOoo. You can not get in trouble for fighting.’ So I just decided to fight.”

And yet another thing we may not know about Robertson is that he has more experience fighting Patraw than just that one pro fight.

“I actually fought Brad Patraw twice in the amateurs,” Robertson said. “He actually beat me when I had my fourth fight. And then he beat me again probably like a month after in the Upper Midwest. I would guess that he had about 75 fights at the time. I’m not sure exactly how many, but he had a lot more fights than me. I fought him my fourth fight and my fifth fight…and then he beat me. I just got tired in the late rounds. Actually, he waited until probably like the 3^rd round until he started like…landing punches or whatever. That’s about it. [Laughs] I did good against him though. It’s not like he just like, walked over me.”

And while Robertson did not have the experience in the amateurs to beat Patraw, he and Patraw are now in a somewhat similar stage in the professional game. Both fighters are coming into this bout with 6 professional fights under their belts. And Robertson believes that he may have some advantages over Patraw this time which some fans may not have noticed: their fighting styles and their level of competition in the pros.

“Brad is a good fighter,” Robertson explained. “I am not taking anything away from him. He’s a good fighter, but he is simple. He throws like single shots. He doesn’t throw combinations or nothing though.”

I’m fighting better fighters, and he was fighting bums,” Robertson said. “That is different than me going out and there and him fighting here…I guess. I mean, he hasn’t really fought nobody where he had to go much of the distance. He always knocked them out in the first round. We have the same amount of fights right now, 6, but I think that mine is better because I am going the distance and still learning. And he’s not really fighting no one that can punch him back and answer his punches.”

So now that we know a little more about Antwan Robertson’s side of the story, what can we look forward to when we get to see him fight again? What does he plan to do differently this time in his fight with Patraw?

“Better offense,” Robertson explained. “I mean, if you’ve seen my first fight, I wasn’t throwing no punches, no combinations. I had defense. That’s what I think about defense, and then offense. But this fight, I got to think about offense and then defense. But now I know where I stand. That is why I am training my butt off for 8 rounds. We are the main event of this fight. I got to show everyone that that wasn’t me. You will see a different Antwan. I promise you.”

And his training? How has he changed his training from the last time he was training to fight Patraw?

“SECRET!!!” Robertson exclaimed with a laugh. “That’s a secret!”

Well, I guess he won’t tell us everything. But it seems that the real Antwan Robertson has yet to be revealed. On October 23^rd Minnesota fight fans may get to finally find out just how super our “Lil’ Superman” can be.

Update: Willshaun Boxley loses to Eric Hunter by UD.

from PhillyKeith.com

Eric “Outlaw” Hunter (10-1, 4ko’s)

Featherweight

SouthWest Philly

After an extremely active and successful amateur career that netted 180 wins and many national accolades, Outlaw Hunter’s movement as a professional has been surprisingly slow. Turning pro in 2005, Outlaw easily won his first 5 fights, then hit a a pothole named Carlos Vinan who served Hunter with his only career loss in a fight that Hunter scored a knockdown in. Two fights later, Hunter rebounded and displayed his skills to the world on ShoBox when he picked apart the well regarded Tyrell Samuel over 8 rounds. He next fight would come 10 months later when he accepted a fight against Jules Blackwell on less than 24 hours notice and breezed to a 3rd round KO over the “house” fighter. Outlaw came back quick and scored two knockdowns en route to a one sided decision over tough trial horse Robert De Luz in August of 2008 but has since been inactive. It was recently announced that Hunter has signed with the newly formed TKO Boxing Promotions though he has yet to fight for them. if moved properly and kept active, it would be to no ones surprise if Hunter wins a world title one day. Hunter is trained by Sloan Harrison at the Kingsessing Rec.

 

our Boxley int, before this bout was known

According to Hinckley Grand Casino’s site , tickets for the November 13 card will soon be available for purchase. Along with Vanda/Williams this card also boasts Wilton Hilario (11,0,1) vs Adam Carrera (19,4)  Leon Bobo (18,3,1) along with Cerresso Fort, “Bad” Brad Patraw and more. Nov 13 boxrec.com

Matt Vanda and Phil Williams, Coutesy SnapLocally.com

Release from Tolzmann’s Twin Cities Boxing

Twin Cities Boxing is very excited to announce the ring return of Ugandan Amateur Sensation, Ismail “Sharp Shooter” Muwendo.  Ismail Muwendo (4-0) will be stepping up in class and rounds as he makes his (6) round debut against fellow undefeated prospect William Hernandez (2-0) of Chicago, IL.  The bout will be held at the St. Paul Armory on Oct. 17th.  This will be without a doubt Ismail’s toughest test to date; Hernandez just came off of an impressive upset victory over fellow Ugandan Hassan Wasswa.  Hernandez was also having a very solid showing against well known boxer Wilshaun Boxley before the fight was stopped do to weather conditions.  Ismail is extremely excited to get back in front of his fans against a very deserving - William Hernandez.  Ismail is “Sharper” than ever and promises to impress his fans!

Courtesy 13TwentyThree Photograpy, all rights reserved

Tony Grygelko has confirmed that Boxley will be fighting Saturday Sept 26 in Philly. Grygelko is heading home today from Vegas and I was not able to get more details from him. Willshaun Boxley (5,1) will be going up against Eric Hunter (10,1).  “The Outlaw” Eric Hunter is from Philly and will be fighting in front of his home town fans. Here is the fight card from boxrec.com.

“Jungledad” Mark Walters is next in our series of photo masters. Just like his son Zach ”Jungleboy” Walters turned me on to Minnesota’s boxing scene, Mark renewed my interest in the boxing still. Before this site, when I would  work out at Hortons old gym and then visit future ones, I was always impressed by the boxing pictures there. Shots of Zach Walters and Andy Kolle that made you feel like you were a part of the action or in a victorious moment. I live in Duluth and have had pictures taken of my son each of his 3 years. I have been very pleased with the outcome of all of them. For this years photos we got in touch with Mark Walters and could not be more happy with the results. He has a definite ability to capture the perfect moment in time. Below you can learn a little more about the man behind the camera.

Zach Walters, Courtesy Walters Photography

M….When did you realize you had the gift of capturing moments?

Mark…. I was 10 years old when I first got my hands on a camera.  When I was 15, I took a trip with my dad into the interior (I grew up in Madagascar).  I saw an old, old Malagasy woman, wrinkled, gray-haired with numerous charms around her neck.  I snapped a picture of her as she glared at my dad.  It’s an incredible shot!  Even now, I’m amazed that I was just a kid when I took it!
 
 
M…. Is sports photography your primary focus?

 
Mark….No.  I’m primarily a wedding and portrait photographer.  I got involved in sports photography when my sons started boxing and tae kwon do.  I’ve covered more boxing events than I can count, amateur and professional.  I feel privileged every time I’m allowed ringside.  I have a great deal of respect for each guy that gets in the ring.

 
M…. What is the work you are most proud of in your photography?

Mark…. I’m probably my own worst critic!  I always say that I shoot a lot and if I get just one from the evening, then I’m content.  It doesn’t always happen!  Of all events, boxing is considered THE most difficult sport to photograph. 

Zach Walters , Courtesy Walters Photography

Everything is completely unpredictable–where the boxers are standing, when the punches come, where the ref is in relation to the action, Then throw in the lighting!  It can be a technical nightmare!
I’m most pleased with two images from Zach’s pro years.  One is titled “Victory”, a shot of him following his win over Teddy Muller and the other “Knock-out” from his fight with Mike Wood.  Knock-out has won a regional (5-state) pro-photographers competition.  Everything was right for the shot.  I was in the right place, the boxers right in front of me, the punch came, Mark Nelson was positioned just right, the lighting was great and I reacted at the right time.  Just one of those sweet moments!

 
M…. Were you snapping shots before digital came along?

Mark…. Yes. . .a l-o-o-o-o-n-g time!!!  I held off switching to digital until about 5 or 6 years ago.  I wanted to BE SURE that digital would be able to match film in quality.

 
M…. Do you think anything is lost in the digital era of photography?

 
Mark….Yes,  TRUTH.  Before digital, a photographer had to have a firm understanding of lighting, shutterspeed, aperture as well as design and composition.  Now, if the image is not technically pure, you just make the adjustments on the computer.  If the layout isn’t just what you want, or someone or something is a distraction to your image, you just photoshop it out.  To me, the purity of photography has been diluted.  When I shoot, I still apply film skills to my shooting.  Call me old-fashioned or a purist.  I just like the results.

 
M…. What has been the greatest boxing event you have shot?

Mark….What is your definition of ‘greatest’?  I’ve not been to the MGM!!  I cover Horton’s events almost exclusively.  I think my favorite was the event where Zach fought Jesse Sanders.  That was quite the night!

 
M…. What fighters do you seem to get the best pictures of?

Mark….Without a doubt, Zach.  I’ve been shooting his picture since he was born!  I’ve covered all his amateur years including nationals, and all his pro fights except 3 or 4.  After Zach, probably Andy.  Again, I’ve shot pictures of Andy boxing since he was about 14.  I don’t box myself, but after watching them for years, I can sort of ‘feel’ what they are about to do.

 
M…. If you had to pick your best combat photography, MMA or Boxing, what would it be, and who was in it?

 Mark….Definately Boxing.  And it would be the Walters-Sanders match.

M…. How did you get involved in shooting combat sports?

Mark…. Like I said earlier, it was because of my sons’ involvement.  Nobody was covering the matches.  I have a saying “If you don’t have a picture, the event never happened!”  Images are history!  All events need to be preserved by somebody, somehow.  The newspaper wasn’t giving the boys any press, so I did.
 
M….Would you be snapping shots professionally if not for boxing and MMA?

 
Mark….Probably not.  I’ve become a boxing fan because of Zach, but sports photography is not my passion.  Nature photography is.
 
M…. Do you have a studio? Do you shoot graduation pictures, weddings, children?

 
Mark….We had a studio in West Central Minnesota for several years.  My best work is outdoor/on location photography and the demand for my work outside the studio was greater than the studio shots.  So we closed the studio and work out of our home. I like people to feel comfortable and to be in their natural environment, doing what comes naturally.  I do Senior (Graduation) portraits, weddings, families and children.  I also do Sports memory mate pictures.  You know, the ‘Future Champs’!!  Soccer, hockey, boxing, baseball.  The young athlete and their team, the buttons for parents to proudly wear, etc.  Now that Zach and Andy are pros, it’s fun to look back on their Fergus Falls boxing pictures from when they were 13-14 years old!!
 
M…. How can people get in touch with you?

Mark….Email:  waltfoto01@yahoo.comor call:  218-728-1902 or 218-213-1616.  Talk to my wife, Sharilyn.  I take the pictures, she handles all the business affairs!  Our website is www.waltersphotography.us.
If you want to see some of our work on display, we have a permanent display at BAM Style on Woodland Ave.  And during the month of October, we will have a large display at Bixby’s coffee bar, also on Woodland.

As many know, Tony Grygelko has had a working relationship with Roger Mayweather. Mayweather has been at several of Grygelko’s (Seconds Out Promotions) shows and has brought fighters up to get work. Caleb Truax and others at Lykes gym have been able to try the famous hand pad exercises Roger Mayweather and Money Mayweather have made seem so easy. Tony Grygelko was able to spend the week leading up to and following Money’s big Vegas date in Las Vegas. I asked him if he would share a little about that experience. Below is what he sent me. Thanks to Tony G for giving us a glimpse of what it is like to be around such a huge event.

Courtesy of SnapLocally.com

Tony Grygelko….First off I would like to congratulate the King of boxing on his triumphant return and thank the Mayweathers for letting Seconds Out Promotion be a part of this historic event.

Once again boxing steps up to prove why its the sport of kings! Only uneducated people could say that boxing is dead. Boxing is in and will always be in the souls of true fight fans.

We have had the pleasure of being at or involved in several large fights but we have never experienced something so exciting. It was like the Vanda/Bonsante fight that Seconds Out promoted at the Target Center times 10!

I think there has been a lot of confusion and speculation on this weigh-in issue. So I figured I would shed a bit of light on it for you. The contracted weight for this fight was 147 but there was a clause in the contract that said that Floyd had to pay $300,00 for every pound that he was over 144lbs. Trust me on this, Floyd and Roger are no dummies they already figure that money in the front end of the original agreement. So that’s why it was no surprise to them.

The whole event was a who’s who of Celebs, Professional Athletes, and entertainers. The after party event at Studio 54 was equally as popular.

After the fight my wife asked Roger what his thoughts were about the fight and he said if Floyd wouldn’t have had such a long lay off he would have stopped Marquez. Just goes to show that long lay offs affect everyones timing even Money Mayweather. So the lesson for all fighters out there is fight, fight, fight. After all its your craft and your trade.

All in all it was a great opportunity for Seconds Outs to continue its growth in professional boxing. There was so much that are team took away from this experience from HBO’s marketing to the professionalism of Richard Shafer. Maybe the biggest thing that was reinforced to us was that a true testament of a champion is defined in his work ethic. Watching Floyd and Roger condition for this fight made us realize why Caleb Truax keeps improving as a fighter. Flat out nobody in the world trains harder than the Mayweathers and nobody in Minnesota trains harder than the Team Truax- Jim Maurine, Tom Halsted, Ron Lyke and Caleb Truax.

We look forward to seeing you all at the St Paul Armory on Oct 17th. It going to be a great night of action topped with “Golden” Caleb Truax fighting for his first professional Title.

Thanks again Todd and thanks to all the fights Minnesota fight fans who consistently support us with text and emails. For more info on the Oct 17th event at the St Paul Armory check out soboxing.com.

Thanks
Tony G