Tag Archives: Fox Sports North

3 big cards in 5 weeks

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Minnesota is boxing! We have had more professional fight cards this year than any in recent memory. And there are at least three more coming. Three very big cards and two have huge Minnesota vs Minnesota fights on them. Its a very good time to love the local boxing scene. Having three big shows is great, but it does make for a juggling act by those trying to cover them to the fullest. We have been, and will try to continue to cover them all to the best of our abilities. The week leading up to each of these events we will try and dedicate all our resources to that show. Breaking news aside, all opinion pieces and interviews during that time will have a focus on the fights coming up that weekend. This plan can only work with cooperation of each promotion in granting interviews and passing along pertinent news. If you feel our coverage is leaning towards one card or another, I promise that is due to information flow. If we are granted interviews and given news, you can be sure it will be passed along to you. All this said, we are committed to trying to give new content on daily basis and if that means we have to veer from the above path, so be it. Below is a rundown of these three exciting fight cards.

 

November 13/ Hinckley Grand Casino/ Televised on Fox Sports North – Matt “The Predator” Vanda vs Phil “The Drill” Williams/ Wilton Hilario vs Leon Bobo/ The highly anticipated professional debut of Javontae Starks. Click on below poster for more on fight card and ticket information.

 

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November 20/ St Paul Armory - ”Golden” Caleb Truax vs Carl Daniels for the IBA Americas Middleweight Title/ Mohammed Kayongo vs James Todd for the WBF United States Welterweight Title. Click on below poster for more on fight card and ticket information.

 

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December 4/ The Target Center – Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell vs Raphael “The Silencer” Butler for Minnesota Heavyweight supremacy and Title/ Zach “Jungle Boy” Walters vs Larry “Razor” Sharpe. Click on below poster for more on card and ticket information.

 

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Matt “The Predator” Vanda vs Phil “The Drill” Williams, First Glance.

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I can not think of a more interesting instate fight in some time. There are a ton of story lines to this fight. Both Matt Vanda and Phil Williams have spent a good portion of the year trying to get a fight with Zach Walters and both were unsuccessful in their quest. When neither was able to seal a fight with Walters, they turned to each other. Both Vanda and Williams have shown they are willing to step in the ring with any worthy opponent, and right now there is no more worthy than each other.

 

The Peoples Champ, Matt Vanda, Courtesy SnapLocally.com

The Peoples Champ, Matt Vanda, Courtesy SnapLocally.com

 

Matt Vanda’s career has seen him go from protected prospect to fearless warrior who is willing to step in the ring with anybody. I have no doubt that if Raphael Butler  or Joey Abell called out Vanda, he would come running with a pen to sign the contract. To start his career he faced many of the same critics that some of today’s prominent boxers face. People said he was handed victories with over matched opponents. People questioned things outside of the ring. There has been talk of home town decisions in his favor. Now at 50 fights, 41 of them wins, Vanda has gone the whole spectrum of boxing talk. Today, the first comment by most when Vanda’s name is brought up is Warrior. Not too many would debate the star power and drawing power of Matt Vanda. Like I have stated before, you put Vanda in there with any number of guys from 154 to 170, and you have a huge fight. I don’t know that I can think of any other guy in Minnesota that this can be said of. The League loves its peoples champ.

 

Phil "The Drill" Williams (right) Courtesy of 13twentythree.com

Phil "The Drill" Williams (right) Courtesy of 13twentythree.com

 

For Phil Williams things have been much different. He has never wanted to follow the traditional path to the top. The Drill has not been a fan of build up fights. He believes in challenging himself by fighting the perceived best. He hasn’t always gotten his wish but after his fight with Matt Vanda, he will have only 13 fights, and will have fought Antwun Echols, Marcus Oliveira, and Matt Vanda. Pretty nice competition for a guy with so few fights. I was there when Williams put his money where is mouth was and turned down easy money because he didn’t feel there was any competition, or sporting chance in a fight. Its hard not to like that when most follow the build up approach.

 

Their paths may be very different but their destination is the same. Hinckley Grand Casino, November 13, broadcast on Fox Sports North. We will be breaking down this fight in the coming weeks with keys to victory for each fighter. Stay tuned we are just warming up.

Phil “The Drill” Williams and Matt Vanda on FSN Wild pregame show.

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Matt Vanda and Phil Williams, Coutesy SnapLocally.com

Matt Vanda and Phil Williams, Coutesy SnapLocally.com

 

I have just been informed that The Drill and The Predator will be interviewed live at the Xcel Energy Center during the Wild pregame show this Saturday on Fox Sports North. Be sure to check out what they have to say about their HUGE fight November 13.

Smoke and Mirrors, What was to be a crazy fall fight fan heaven is now…..

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Joey Abell

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

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.

 

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

 

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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.