KENDALL HOLT THUMPS TIM COLEMAN ON ESPN "FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS"

March 16, 2012 (Morongo, Casino) - Live form the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, Calif., and televised live on ESPN "Friday Night Fights", former WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt (28-5, 16 KOs) and Tim Coleman (19-2-1, 5 KOs) went toe to toe in a scheduled 10-round main event bout that ended early. Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing were the promoters.



In the first round, Holt dominated, landing a devastating body blow that sent Coleman to the canvas. Showing heart, Coleman bounced up and finished the round. The onslaught continued in the second round as Holt battered the overmatched Coleman, putting him down two more times before Coleman's corner seen enough and threw in the towel, ending the bout at the 2:23 mark of round two.



Said the victorious Holt, "The fight was good. I was more patient with my jab than usual. There were a couple of things he was doing in there that got me a little hesitant at first, but (boxing superstar and cornerman) Roy (Jones) told me to keep using my jab. The more I was relaxed the more I started to see things. I'm percent 100% satisfied with this victory."



Jones Jr. added, "I thought Kendall looked very good. We have a couple of things we got to work on, but I think he's on his way back."



In the eight-round co-main event, La Puente's Abraham Lopez (17-0, 12 KOs) remained unbeaten by defeating Glendales's Gabriel Tolmajyan (12-2-1, 3 KOs) via unanimous decision. Both fighters started off slowly, trying to find their range. Lopez was backing up in the early rounds but started to come forward in the middle to late rounds. Both fighters had their moments, but Lopez was the busier fighter and triumphed by the scores of 79-73 and 78-74 twice.



Undercard Results:



(Six-round lightweight bout) - Alejandro Luna (9-0, 7 KOs) vs. Jose Mendoza (7-5, 3 KOs) -

Crowd favorite Luna remained undefeated with a fourth-round knockout.The aggressor throughout, Lubar landed hard punches to the head and body as Mendoza started to wear down. Luna kept coming forward. A right hand to the temple of Mendoza started the downward spiral for the tough Mexican. An overhand right by Luna dropped Mendoza in round four and he was down for the entire eight count. After getting up, Mendoza was still on wobbly legs and the referee stoped the bout at the 2:45 mark of the fourth.



(Six-round super-bantamweight bout) - Roman Morales (10-0, 6 KOs) vs. Rufino Serrano (12-4) - Keeping his record unblemished, the unbeaten Morales cruised to a unanimous six-round decision. Both boxers had their moments, but Morales was the stronger fighter, landing the harder blows throughout. Morales put Serrano on the canvas with a beautiful body blow in round five and continued to apply pressure throughout round six to win by 60-53 and 59-54 twice.



(Four-round featherweight bout) - Roy Tapia (3-0-1, 2 KO) vs. Jose Garcia (1-6-1, 1 KOs) -

Featherweights Tapia and Garcia slugged it during an entertaining match that ended in a four-round split draw. Both fighters came out aggressively, landing hard shots. Garcia was coming forward most of the fight and put Tapia down in round three with an overhand right. Tapia kept his composure and ended the out strongly. At the finish, one judge had it for Tapia (38-37), one scored it for Garcia (38-37) and the other called it 38-38.



(Four-round featherweight bout) - Derrick Murray (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Cesar Valenzuela (2-1-1) -

In a battle of undefeated prospects, Murray was too much for a game Valenzuela, winning a hard- fought unanimous decision. Murray, the shorter fighter, found a home for his body attack, dropping Valenzuela in the final round, and went on to win by 40-35 and 39-36.


(Four-round lightweight bout) - Jesus Gutierrez (3-0, 1 KO) vs.Manuel Del Cid (4-9, 1 KOs) - Gutierrez extended on his unbeaten streak by winning a unanimous decision for the for the second time in his career. The referee deducted two points from Del Cid, one in the second and another in the third, both for holding. The short-armed Gutierrez could not land anything significant as the taller Del Cid stayed out of range. Gutierrez wins by 40-34 across the board.

Former Junior Welterweight Titlist on ESPN's Friday Night Fights

Boxing Legend Roy Jones Jr. to Work Kendall Holt's Corner

Studio Host Bernardo Osuna Makes Ringside Debut on ESPN2

ESPN's Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature two top contenders - former Junior Welterweight titlist Kendall "Rated R" Holt (27-5, 15 KOs) and Junior Welterweight Tim "The Pitbull" Coleman (19-2-1, 5 KOs) in the 10-round main event on March 16. Friday's show will air at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN3 from Cabazon, Calif. The card is presented by Gary Shaw Productions.

ESPN2 studio host Bernardo Osuna, filling in for Joe Tessitore,will make his ringside debut on ESPN2 HD and ESPN3, with Teddy Atlas at the Morongo Resort Casino.



"I'm very excited to sit alongside Teddy Atlas and call the Friday Night Fights action near my home in California." Osuna said. "Calling fights is what I love to do the most, so filling in for Joe Tessitore is a great opportunity to get ringside. Once again, I've got big shoes to fill, so I can only be myself, share my passion, and hope that our viewers enjoy what promises to be a solid card. Former titlist Kendall Holt can't afford another defeat and Tim Coleman needs to rebound from his KO loss against Vernon Paris on Friday Night Fights, to show that he's a worthy contender. I guess that we've all got a lot to prove on Friday Night Fights."



Todd Grisham, currently an anchor for ESPNEWS' Highlight Express, MMA Live and SportsCenter, will fill in as Friday Night Fight's studio host. Prior to joining ESPN, Grisham served as WWE backstage interviewer, play-by-play commentator and occasional ring announcer. Grisham will discuss this Saturday's St. Patrick's Day fight between Ring Magazine's Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez and Matthew Macklin. Atlas will also discuss last week's Featherweight title rematch between Juan Manuel Lopez and Orlando Salido.



On ESPN Deportes' Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights), Robert Sierra and Delvin Rodriguez will call the fights with Leopoldo Gonzalez and Lindsay Casinelli in the studio.

Main Event:

New Jersey's Holt who defeated former lightweight titlist Julio Diaz on ESPN's Friday Night Fights last May, will have boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. in his corner this Friday. "It should make for interesting TV," Holt, said. "With Roy being in my corner, I know there will be a lot of eyes on the fight. Besides that, I think people are interested to see how I come back against Tim Coleman."

 
Holt, who's managed by NFL running back Brandon Jacobs enters Friday's fight with experience having fought current and former titlists Julio Diaz, Timothy Bradley Jr., Ricardo Torres, Isaac Hlatshwayo, and David Diaz. Holt said of Friday's fight "I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity that's been given to me, fighting on ESPN's Friday Night Fights. I know Coleman is coming with his A-game, so this will be an entertaining fight for everyone watching. I feel like my back is against the wall and I need to leave everything in the ring. Come fight night I'm going for broke"



Las Vegas' Coleman will look to rebound after a seventh-round knockout loss to Vernon Paris.



"I've seen Kendall fight a couple times in New Jersey," Coleman said. "Kendall's a good fighter. I think Kendall is dangerous with a left hook, but he's lacking in heart. I'm just going to go in there and outbox him. I feel like I'm a better all-around fighter than Kendall is."



Co-Feature:

Friday's co-feature will pit Featherweights Abraham "Chamaco" Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) against Gabriel "The Ghost" Tolmajyan (11-1-1, 3 KOs). California's Lopez is coming off a fourth-round knockout win over Gerardo Espinoza, while Tolmajyan of California is coming off an eight-round split decision against previously undefeated Daulis Prescott.

Follow ESPN's Friday Night Fights on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like on Facebook.



This event is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions in conjunction with Thompson Boxing and the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. Tickets priced $35 & $55 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Morongo Casino Box office or by calling the Box office hotline at (951) 755-5391. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745- 3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.



The Morongo Casino Resort and Spa is located at 49500 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA, 92230. Doors open at 5:00 p.m , first fight starts at 5:30 p.m. ESPN "Friday Night Fights" telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

ESPN "FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS" MARCH 16 AT THE MORONGO CASINO: KENDALL HOLT vs. TIM COLEMAN

March 13, 2012 - This Friday on ESPN "Friday Night Fights," welterweights Kendall Holt (27-5, 15 KOs) of Paterson, New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland's Tim Coleman (19-2-1, 5 KOs), collide in the 10-round main event at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif. Both fighters are looking to get back in the win column and promise to leave everything in the ring.



Offered Holt, "I always shine on ESPN and this Friday will be no different. Tim Coleman is a good fighter but he's not on my level. I've had a tremendous training camp and the addition of Roy Jones Jr. to my corner is only going to make my game better. I'm coming out to California to make a statement, get the knockout, and make another run for a world title."



Coleman has other plans. "I come to fight every time I step in the ring,'' he said. "Holt says I'm not on his level, but he'll be in for a big surprise when he gets in the ring with me. I know what it takes to win. I'm going to show everyone watching on ESPN why I belong with the best. Tune in this Friday because it's not going to be a boring fight. I can guarantee that!"



Said Promoter Gary Shaw, "I'm anticipating an explosive fight between these two warriors. There is a lot on the line for each fighter, and I know they're going to put on a great show. This whole card is stacked with great young talent."



Undefeated featherweight prospects Abraham Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs), of La Puente, Calif., and Gabriel Tolmajyan (12-1-1, 3 KOs) of Glendale, Calif., clash in the eight-round co-feature.



Undercard Bouts:

(8-round Super Bantamweight Bout)

Roman Morales (9-0, 6 KOs), San Ardo, Calif., vs. Rufino Serrano (12-3, 0 KOs), Santa Maria, Calif.



(8-round Jr. Middleweight Bout)

Julian Williams (8-0-1, 4 KOs), Philadelphia, vs. Dumont Welliver (18-25, 6 KOs), Spokane, Wash..



(6-round Lightweight Bout)

Alejandro Luna (8-0, 6 KOs), of Whittier, Calif., vs. Mexico's Jose Mendoza (7-4, 3 KOs).



(4-round Bantamweight Bout)

Roy Tapia (3-0, 2 KOs), Los Angeles, vs. Jose Garcia (1-5, 1 KO), Bakersfield, Calif.



(4-round Featherweight Bout)

Derrick Murray (1-0-0, 1 KO), St. Louis, vs. Cesar Valenzuela (2-0-1), Tucson, Ariz.


This event is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions in conjunction with Thompson Boxing and the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. Tickets priced $35 & $55 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Morongo Casino Box office or by calling the Box office hotline at (951) 755-5391. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745- 3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.



The Morongo Casino Resort and Spa is located at 49500 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA, 92230. Doors open at 5:00 p.m , first fight starts at 5:30 p.m. ESPN "Friday Night Fights" telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Roy Jones Jr. to work Kendall Holt's corner

By Keith Idec ~ BoxingScene.com


Kendall Holt has idolized Roy Jones jr. since he was a little kid.


They've become friends in recent years, so when Hold needed a chief second on short notice to work his corner next week for a nationally televised fight against Tim Coleman, Holt didn't hesitate to as the former pound-for-pound king. The future Hall-of-Famer gladly accepted that assignment Tuesday.


"I'm really excited about it, "Hold said. "It should make for interesting TV. With Roby being in my corner, I know there will be a lot of eyes on the fight. Besides that,I think people are interested to see how I com back against Time Coleman. This just add hype and eyes to the TV for this fight." Continue Reading...



Tickets priced $35 & $55 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Morongo Casino Box office or by calling the Box office hotline at (951) 755-5391. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745- 3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.



The Morongo Casino Resort and Spa is located at 49500 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA, 92230. Doors open at 5:00 p.m , first fight starts at 5:30 p.m. ESPN "Friday Night Fights" telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

GARY SHAW PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: Kendall Holt vs. Tim Coleman on ESPN Friday Night Fights at the Morongo Casino March 16

Mar. 1, 2012 - On March 16, 2012, Gary Shaw Productions and ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" bring another exciting televised boxing event to the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif. In the main-event, light welterweights Kendall Holt (27-5, 15 KOs) and Tim Coleman (19-2-1, 5 KOs) battle in a 10-round bout.



Says Promoter Gary Shaw, "This is going to be a great night of boxing. Both Holt and Coleman are looking to get back in the win column and I expect them to come out swinging. A win for either fighter can get them back into title contention."



Holt lost a split decision and the No. 1 spot in the WBC to Danny Garcia on the Chad Dawson-Bernard Hopkins Pay Per View card last November at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.



Holt, who's managed by star running back Brandon Jacobs of the Super Bowl Champions, New York Giants, went on to say, "I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity that's been given to me, fighting on ESPN Friday Night Fights. I know Coleman is coming with his A-game, so this will be an entertaining fight for everyone watching. I feel like my back is against the wall and I need to leave everything in the ring. Come fight night I'm going for broke."



In the eight-round co-feature, undefeated featherweight prospect Abraham Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs), of La Puente, Calif., will take on Gabriel Tolmajyan (12-1-1, 3 KOs) of Glendale, Calif. Lopez, a native of Jalisco, Mexico, is a big puncher with a crowd pleasing style. Tolmajyan will look to use his slick boxing style to get the victory.



In a six-round bout, hard-punching lightweight Alejandro Luna (8-0, 6 KOs, of Whittier, Calif., returns to action when he faces Mexico's Jose Mendoza (7-4, 3 KOs). Having grown up as a "Charro" in a family of Mexican cowboys, Luna's natural showmanship is evident every time he steps in the ring. Luna is always looking for the knockout.



In a rematch, Los Angeles' Roy Tapia (2-0-0, 1 KOs) and Jose Garcia (1-5, 1 KO) of Bakersfield, CA, collide in a four-round super bantamweight bout. The rejuvenated Tapia is back in boxing after his career was derailed when his father was deported back to Mexico and had to leave his corner. Look for Tapia to come out aggressive.



Featherweights, Derrick Murray (1-0-0, 1 KO) from St. Louis, and Tucson, Arizona's Cesar Valenzuela (2-0-1) battle to keep their undefeated records intact.



Unbeatens Julian Williams (8-0-1, 4 KOs), of Philadelphia, Los Angeles' Ray Rivera (2-0-0, 1 KOs) and Roman Morales (8-0, 5 KOs) of San Ardo, CA, will box opponents to be announced.



Tickets priced $35 & $55 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Morongo Casino Box office or by calling the Box office hotline at (951) 755-5391. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745- 3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.



The Morongo Casino Resort and Spa is located at 49500 Seminole Dr, Cabazon, CA, 92230. Doors open at 5:00 p.m , first fight starts at 5:30 p.m. ESPN "Friday Night Fights" telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.