Mississauga’s Zsolt Daranyi is going to the 2012 Youth National Boxing Championships in February, and he didn’t have to lose a drop of sweat or blood to qualify.

That’s because nobody wanted to fight the 152-pound 16-year-old last month at the Ontario Championships in Sarnia. As a result, Daranyi, who boasts a 41-3 amateur record, automatically qualified for the nationals.

“It just goes to show how much he’s feared in this province,” said Daranyi’s trainer, Chris Johnson, of Clancy’s Boxing Academy. “He was technically good a couple of years ago, but now he’s become a powerful kid. It’s not his skill that other boxers are afraid of now, it’s his power. They know they could get hurt.”

The national championships will be held in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec between Feb. 28 and March 3.

A gold at nationals will add to Daranyi’s impressive resume, which includes three provincial championships, a national title and a gold medal at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

His ultimate goal is Olympic gold, which he could contend for in 2016. Until then, Johnson, a bronze medalist at the 1992 Olympic Games, would like to see his pupil go for gold at the Commonwealth and Pan American Games.

Johnson said Daranyi reminds him of himself when he was a teenager, but he’s more mature as a fighter.

“There was another 16-year-old kid who could (strike so much fear into his opponents) and that was me,” Johnson said, recalling his experience at the 1988 Ontario Winter Games, where he won gold uncontested.

“I see the same trend happening with Zsolt Daranyi and I went on to win an Olympic medal, so that shows that he has all the tools. I’ve just got to clamp down on him and keep him in the gym, away from all the distractions outside.”

Al Bernstein, a veteran with four decades of experience, called the fight between Mississauga-based welterweight Samuel Vargas and Montreal’s Ahmad Cheikho “the most exciting match I’ve seen in the last three years.”

The bout, scheduled for 10 rounds, was won by Vargas, who remains undefeated (8-0-1). The referee stopped the fight after five rounds when he saw that Cheikho (6-4-2) was clearly hurt and couldn’t continue.

Read full article >>.

The co-feature turned out to be a war, as predicted, between unbeaten Columbian welterweight Samuel Vargas (8-0-1, 2 KOs) and outspoken Ahmad Cheikho (6-4-2, 5 KOs), who were representing, respectively, Toronto/Ontario and Montreal/Quebec.

In a toe-to-toe, old-fashioned brawl, Vargas and Cheikho went at it from the start. A well placed shot to the liver by Vargas dropped Cheikho in the first round, but Ahmad caught Vargas in the second round, knocking him to the mat face first for the first time in his career. A bloodied Vargas survived the round and a little later, momentum shifted to his favor. In the fourth, Vargas pinned Cheikho on the ropes, blasting away with left hooks to the body, and Ahmad hit the deck once again. Vargas’ all-out assault continued in the fifth round, in which Cheikho was knocked down during the final seconds. He managed to beat the count but failed to answer the bell for the sixth.

“The card as a whole was one of the most exciting I’ve been involved with in a long time,” commented International Boxing Hall of Fame nominee Al Bernstein, who called the action live from ringside. “The main event and co-main event were outstanding. The Sam Vargas-Ahmad Cheikho match is a fight of the year candidate. It was a total slugfest and Vargas came back from the brink of disaster to win.

TORONTO (Oct. 17, 2011) – The co-feature between unbeaten Columbian welterweight Samuel Vargas (7-0-1, 1 KO) and outspoken Ahmad Cheikho (6-3-2, 5 KOs), despite neither being natives of Canada, perhaps, best illustrates the provincial rivalry theme between Toronto and Quebec for the October 22 show, headlined by the NABA super featherweight title fight pitting Logan Cotton McGuinness and Benoit Gaudet at The Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

The Oct. 22nd card is being presented by Hennessy Sports, in association with Interbox and United Promotions.

Vargas moved to Mississauga, Ontario from Colombia, while Cheikho came to Montreal from Lebanon. Both boxers take great pride in their homes and plan to push that point when they face each other in the 10-round co-main event.

“This fight means a lot in the sense Quebec has had some of the best fighters in Canada and now we can show everybody that Toronto has better fighters,” Vargas said. “I expect a great show.”

“It’s a very important fight for Ahmad because he’s representing Montreal and the province of Quebec,” Ahmad’s manager Camille Estephan noted.

Styles make fights and this one shapes up as a classic pitting a pressure fighter and underrated defender, Vargas, versus a fast, slick Cheikho, who was a junior kick-boxing champion.

“He’d better be chewing some gum to strengthen that glass jaw he’s got,” Vargas warned. “I’m in great shape, right on weight and good to go, so he better be ready. I hope he knows he’s in for a one helluva fight. He’s a better fighter than his record shows and he can box a bit. But, I can brawl or box.”

The two rivals have two common opponents: Vargas fought a 10-round draw in his last fight against Tebor Brosch, who Cheikho was stopped by in one round in 2009; Michael Springer lost a four-round decision to Vargas and fought a four-round draw with Cheikho.

“We read somewhere that Vargas mentioned that he wants to test Ahmad’s chin,” Estephan added. “Ahmad is coming to Toronto to hurt Vargas. This from Ahmad to Vargas: I want to crush your bones.’”

McGuinness (15-0-1, 7 KOs), presently rated No. 11 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”), is the reigning North American Boxing Association (“NABA”) Lightweight Champion, but the Orangeville, Ontario native has given up his belt in order to fight Gaudet for the vacant NABA super featherweight title in the main event.

Former world title challenger Gaudet (24-2, 10 KOs), a former NABA super featherweight title-holder from Quebec, was stopped by defending champion Humberto Soto in their 2009 World Boxing Council (“WBC”) super featherweight championship match, which was the co-feature on the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton mega-fight card.

Hennessy Sports’ newly signed unbeaten light heavyweight prospect, Lionell “Lonnie B” Thompson (9-0, 6 KOs), will be fighting an opponent to be determined in a six-round match.

Also on the undercard is an enticing matchup between a pair of Ontario lightweights, Jeremy Abbott (2-2, 1 KO) and Harrison McBain (3-3-1), who will square-off in expected 6 round battle.

In four-round bouts are Ontario fighters Dillon Carman (1-0), a heavyweight prospect, light middleweight Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (2-0, 1 KO), and super featherweight Natasha Spence (2-0-1, 2 KOs). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, starting at $30.00, may be purchased at the Hersey Centre Box Office, through Ticketmaster at (855) 985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.

Promoters Adam Harris and Don MacDonald are trying to awaken professional boxing in Ontario from its perpetual state of slumber.

Taking their initiative one step at a time, the pair seem confident when discussing their strategy, one they hope will hurdle the major stumbling blocks that have historically smothered the visions of wishful fight planners.

On Wednesday, the two were joined by a crowd of punchers, managers and media members at a Toronto luncheon, promoting the first of what the duo say will be many compelling boxing shows to come in the province.

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BENOIT GAUDET
Former World Title Challenger
Drummondville, Quebec
24-2 (10 KOs)

STEVE “The Canadian Kid” MOLITOR
Former 2-Time World Champion/IBF #10
Mississauga, Ontario
33-2, 12 KOs

SEBASTIAN GAUTHIER
Former WBO I-C Champion
Saint-Jerome, Quebec
21-2, 13 KOs

SAMUEL VARGAS
Mississauga, Ontario by way of Columbia Montreal,
7-0-1, 1 KO

AHMAD CHEIKHO
Quebec by way of Lebanon
6-3-2, 5 KOs

WHEN:
Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011 – 1:00 PM

WHERE:
Real Sports Bar & Grill
Maple Leaf Square
15 York St., Unit A
Toronto, ON MSJ 0A3
416.815.7325

WHY:
To formally announce the October 22 show, headlined by McGuinness vs. Gaudet at The Hersey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, as well as showcase the rich, traditional Ontario-Quebec boxing and sports rivalry in Canada. The Oct. 22 show, co-featuring Vargas vs. Cheikho, is being presented by Hennessy Sports in association with Interbox and United Promotions. Molitar vs. Gauthier is the co-feature on the Nov. 5 Lucian Bute-Glen Johnson card, presented by Interbox, at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec.

Tickets for the Oct. 22 show, starting at $30.00, may be purchased at the Hersey Centre Box Office, or through Ticketmaster at 416.872.5000 or ticketmaster.ca.

Go on line at www.HennessySports.com for more information.

CONTACT: Bob Trieger, Full Court Press, bobtfcp@hotmail.com, 978.664.4482

This bout will be presented on the undercard of the Lucian Bute (29-0-0 24 KO) vs. Glen « Road Warrior » Johnson (51-15-2, 35 KO) Main-Event bout where Bute will be defending his International Boxing Federation (IBF) World title defense for a 9th consecutive time.

Sebastien Gauthier won his last four bouts, and is very happy to have this incredible opportunity to put his boxing career in overdrive. “Molitor has accomplished a lot in boxing, has a good name in the world of boxing and has achieved the highest of the highs in twice becoming World champion. This is a big test for me and it could not come at a better time in my career. I am both excited and motivated for this fight. Plus, I can count on the support of all boxing fans in attendance at the Pepsi Colisee. I can`t wait for November 5th!” states Gauthier, who has already begun training for the fight.

Steve Molitor, from Sarnia, Ontario intends to put his last defeat behind him. The “Canadian Kid” was scheduled to box on the Bute vs. Magee InterBox card last March but was forced to travel to South Africa due to a technicality to defend his title, where he lost a decision to Takalani Ndlovu. “I thank InterBox, my promoter Top Rank and my manager Cameron Dunkin for giving me the chance to fight on a major card. I am still bitter about losing my title, but this bitterness is motivating me more than ever to keep the course and once again become a World champion. I respect Sebastien. He is a talented boxer with good power so I have to be very prepared against him. Unfortunately for Sebastien, it won`t be against me that he makes a name for himself in boxing.”

InterBox President Mr. Jean Bedard is proud to have added this fight that he is co-promoting with Top Rank on the November 5th card. “Our objective is to offer significant challenges to our boxers with the goal of presenting the best show possible to our loyal fans. The Gauthier-Molitor bout is a perfect example of our plan. I am confident both fighters will offer a great fight to the Pepsi Colisee crowd as well as those watching the fight across the globe. Finally, this fight will offer good visibility to the City of Quebec from the rest of Canada.”

Tickets on sale September 17th. Tickets for the November 5th Bute vs, Johnson InterBox Gala go on sale on Saturday, September 17th.

Tickets will be available at the Pepsi Colisee box office, at the Billetech network by dialing 418-691-7211 –or- toll free at 1-800-900-SHOW –or- by visiting www.billetech.com –or- at the Club de Boxe Champion (514-376-0980). Members of Club Cage (Cage-aux-Sport Infoletter) and the Quebec Remparts Hockey Club will benefit from an exclusive pre-sale as of Monday, September 12th.

Event Broadcast

InterBox’s November 5th Gala will be broadcast on Showtime Championship Boxing (Bute vs. Johnson only) throughout the United States. In Canada, the entire Gala will be available on Pay-Per-View (Canal Indigo, Bell TV and SHAW). The entire card will also be available at all Cage-aux-Sports restaurant/bar locations throughout Quebec as well as at select commercial establishments. An International broadcast will be available as well.

Daranyi, 16, said he’s aspired to go to Ringside for the past five years. And when he finally got that opportunity, he made the most of it by defeating Gabriel Garza of New Jersey to win the open boys’ 145-pound title.
But Daranyi wasn’t satisfied with just winning alone.
“My goal wasn’t just to win,” said Daranyi, who boasts an amateur record of 40-3. “My goal was to leave my name there so people would talk about me and I think I did a pretty good job with that.”
Daranyi, who was also invited to train with the Canadian national team in Germany next month, credited his trainer, former Olympian Chris Johnson, for a lot of his success.

Read the full article. Congratulations Zsolt!

Conditions were perfect yesterday for Amateur boxers from across the Greater Toronto Area who took to the ring for the inaugural Arnie Boehm Classic at Clancy’s Boxing Academy.

The tournament is named after the man who trained Mississauga’s Chris Johnson as an amateur fighter. Boehm also trained Olympic gold medalist and former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

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Amateur boxers from across the Greater Toronto Area will step into the ring at the inaugural Arnie Boehm Classic tomorrow at Clancy’s Boxing Academy on Traders Blvd.

The tournament is named after the man who trained Mississauga’s Chris Johnson as an amateur fighter. Boehm also trained Olympic gold medalist and former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.
Johnson, who now trains former world featherweight champ Steve Molitor of Mississauga and top local professionals Logan McGuinness and Victor Lupo, hopes to create a lasting legacy for Boehm, a Kitchener trainer who passed away in 2002 at the age of 69.

“He was the world to me as a young man,” he said.

“I marvelled in the way he mentored myself, Lennox and many other kids who had no direction and no journey in life. He was able to give us a journey, not only through boxing, but through life.”

A number of Clancy’s fighters such as Mike Affaine and Taylor Page will participate along with boxers from Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton. Lewis, a former undisputed champion who went 41-2-1 over his 15-year career, is expected to make an appearance.

“I want to pay homage to everything (Boehm) has given to me and other people,” Johnson said. “Eventually, in four or five years, I’d like to get more sponsors and turn this into a national or maybe international tournament.”

This year’s event is presented by Planet Optical, Hennessey Sports, El Sombrero and the Adelaide Club.

So, Daranyi and his team from Clancy’s Boxing Academy in Mississauga have come up with a new strategy.

Read the full story in Brantford’s The Expositor.

After transforming from a raw prospect into a proven, polished contender Toronto’s Logan Cotton McGuinness (14-0-1, 7 KO’s, WBA #12) now has his sights set on not only defending his North American crown, but adding some world title belts to his ever expanding collection.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find another fighter who has improved as dramatically as Logan has,” McGuinness’ promoter, Adam Harris of Hennessy Sports Canada, said.

“He’s now a slick and gritty boxer-puncher who can dominate someone over the distance, or chop them down with either hand.”

Romanian-born Torontonian Victor Lupo (19-1-2, 9 KO’s, WBC # 22) saw his career kick into full gear in February, when he out-willed former world champion Junior Witter (37-3-2, 22 KO’s) over 10 rough-and-tumble rounds to capture the WBC International Silver Welterweight title.

“Simply put, Victor is a pit bull,” Harris said of Lupo, who saw his WBC ranking climb 18 spots with the win over Witter.

“There isn’t a fighter in the world he wouldn’t try to run through to win.”

Set to make his highly anticipated Canadian professional debut is four-time national amateur champion, and one of the most lauded prospects in recent Canadian boxing history, Oshawa, Ontario’s Colin Fish. Also scheduled to step through the ropes on June 24th are top Canadian featherweight prospect Tyler Asselstine, fan favourites Phil Rose and Brandon Cook, as well as Ryan Wagner and Jeremy Abbott facing off in a local grudge match. More fights will be announced shortly for what is shaping up to be an absolutely stacked card.

“This is just a great night of boxing, and a chance for us to thank the Mississauga fans for keeping the sport going here in Southern Ontario this past decade,” said Don MacDonald of United Boxing Promotions.

“Hershey Centre boxing fans have proven over the years that if you give them a reason to keep coming back, they will stick by you.”

Tickets for this can’t-miss 10th Anniversary event priced at $30 and $50 are available now at the Hershey Centre box office, or through Ticketmaster by calling (416) 872-5000 or logging onto www.ticketmaster.ca.

While the first two fights took place here in Ontario, tonight they will be facing off in South Africa at the Nasrec Indoor Arena in Johannesburg. Stay tuned for the results.