Young manager Larry Army Potential power broker in boxing

Signs Ivan Redkach, others negotiating for services

Larry Army's Elite Management signs hot, undefeated prospect Ivan Redkach (photo courtesy of DiBella Entertainment)  WORCESTER, Mass. (July 29, 2013) - In a relatively short period of time, Massachusetts-based attorney Larry Army went from questioning whether he was out of boxing, into a potential up-and-coming power broker among the leading managers in the industry. The newest manager on the block is parlaying the tremendous success he had with his first and now former boxing client, undefeated world-rated super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez. Army also successfully convinced Peter Manfredo, Jr. to come out of retirement after losing to Sakio Biko and reinvented him as a middleweight.  Army guided Manfredo to eight quality wins, ultimately leading to Manfredo's world title shot against Julio Chavez, Jr. When his management relationship with Rodriguez ended after this past July's championship final of the Monaco Million Dollar Super 4 Tournament, Army really thought he might be all done with boxing. "To be able to put Edwin Rodriguez into a position to become a millionaire and the thought that the Monaco fight would be my last in the sport was tough," Army admitted. However, before he left Monaco, the 42-year-old Army had already laid the foundation to continue his managerial work, and today his Elite Management is formally announcing the signing of unbeaten Ukrainian lightweight prospect Ivan "Junito" Redkach (14-0, 12 KOs) to an exclusive, long-term managerial contract. Because Army was the architect of an incredibly well-designed campaign for Rodriguez, other high-profile, world-class boxers have recently contacted him about representing them.  "When I had the opportunity to speak to Ivan and see what type of athlete he is," Army explained, "I knew there was the potential to do even bigger and better things. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to work with him. He has everything real boxing fans want to see in a fighter; an entertaining style featuring pure knockout power. There's no doubt in my mind that he's on his way to becoming world champion." "Ivan regularly trains and spars in California with some of the top fighters from 135 pounds to 147 like (Miguel) Vasquez, (Michael) Katsidis, and (Daniel) Ponce De Leon.  Standing 5' 10", he can fight effectively in any division from lightweight to welterweight.  Unlike some other fighters, Ivan trains like a machine; he has dedicated his life to boxing and the pursuit to become the best boxer in the world.  As a sample of his daily routine, Ivan runs 10 miles every morning, goes to the gym to work 12 rounds on the pads, and then finishes things off with a rigorous swim." Redkach, a southpaw now living in Los Angeles, is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and trained by Mario Morales, who has worked with world champions Brian Viloria and the late Edwin Valero. Rated No. 15 in the world by the World Boxing Council (WBC), the 27-year-old Redkach has knocked out 12 of his 14 professional opponents.  The dangerous southpaw had a 260-40 amateur record and he was a 2008 Ukraine Olympic Team alternate.' "I saw what Mr. Army did with Edwin Rodriguez and wanted him managing my career," Redkach said.  "He made Rodriguez a millionaire, built him to 24-0, and now he's on the verge of a world title shot.  I'm excited.  One man's loss is another man's gain, I guess.  I'm confident that Mr. Army will get me a shot at my dream of winning a world championship."    "Ivan is the first of many significant signings Elite Management plans to make during the next six months," Army concluded. "Elite Management guides the careers of blue-chip fighters to put them in position to be wealthy champions. We just don't take a fighter's money, we earn it."

ABOUT ELITE MANAGEMENT:  Found in 2008 by Atty. Larry Army in Massachusetts, Elite Management is a full-service boxing management firm focused on branding professional boxers.  Elite Management is a proven expert in responsibly reviewing contracts, developing talent through effective matchmaking, gaining positive press, and attracting sponsorship and endorsement opportunities for athletes. Mr. Army is highly respected for successfully building a fighter's team:  researching, interviewing and securing the right trainer, strength-and-nutrition coach, nutritionist and cut-man.   He is also known for organizing training camps for high-profile fights, as well as obtaining paid sparring partners.

'Son of Drago' aims for Monte Carlo upset

 

Denis Grachev may be the underdog, but he’s training with the will of a champion ahead of his July 13 fight with Edwin Rodriguez for the Million Dollar Super Four crown in Monte Carlo, Monaco. 

The tournament is promoted by Golden Gloves. 

Grachev (13-1, 8 KOs) is holed up at Abel Sanchez’s Summit Gym in Big Bear, California, where the stable includes WBA and IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, who fights in the US later this month. 

Grachev earned his place in the final against Rodriguez (23-0, 15 KOs) with a rugged 10-round split-decision defeat of undefeated two-time champion Zsolt Erdei in Monaco in March. 

The man who trades by the name “The Son of Drago” says that while he was only in camp for 10 days for the Erdei fight, this camp would total six weeks’ training, leaving him in “the best form ever”. 

“We are high in the mountains, eight of us fighters, just boxing and training. It is hard work, very intensive, with jogging in the morning and much training the rest of the day. I wasn’t in my best shape last time, but this will be different.” 

Grachev says the fight with Erdei was the hardest of his career. “With his boxing style and experience, it was my most difficult fight. It was hard to find the key to beating him. I think it will be easier with Rodriguez. He is the favourite according to many boxing fans, but they are going to be disappointed. It will probably be his first loss.” 

Sparring with Golovkin has added sharpness to the Russian’s repertoire, but he’s also trained with Zaurbek Baysangurov, the WBO junior-middleweight champion, and two other Russians. 

“I’ve had very good sparring, especially Gennady [whose last defence topped the Monte Carlo card]. We are studying Rodriguez’s style and sparring accordingly.” 

A former champion kickboxer and mixed martial artist who has fought all over the world, he especially enjoyed the Monte Carlo experience. “It’s a fantastic place and I learned good boxing lessons there. I found out some of my mistakes and I am now working on them. Winning Super Four would mean a lot; it would be a great honour being better than Erdei and Rodriguez.” 

The Monte Carlo card includes champion Khabib Allakhverdiev (18-0, 8 KOs) versus Souleymane M’baye (40-4-1, 22 KOs) for the WBA and IBO light-welterweight championship, the WBC Silver cruiserweight fight between title holder Dmytro Kucher (21-0, 15 KOs) and Junior Makabu (13-1, 13 KOs) and a European middleweight title fight between Maksym Bursak (26-1-1, 2 KOs) and Prince Arron (23-4-1, 5 KOs).