Infante Suffers Vegas Loss To Highly-Touted Prospect

Daniel Infante got a taste of boxing on the big stage this past weekend as the 1-2 heavyweight from Youngstown who trains at Burnside Boxing and Fitness in Struthers appeared on the undercard of the Fury-Schwarz matchup at the sold-out MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Infante, 31, took on Philadelphia native Sonny Conto who is considered by many to be one of the top young rising stars of the heavyweight division.

Conto, 23, showed why Top Rank moved in quick to sign the bronze medalist in the 2017 National Golden Gloves Tournament and silver medalist in the 2018 edition of the tournament as he scored a second-round TKO victory over Infante to improve his record to 3-0 with all his victories coming by way knockout. 

Though he walked away with a loss, Infante has shown the willingness to take on anybody who is put in front of him and learned a little bit about the waiting game that is being a swing bout on a championship-caliber card as his bout actually went off after the main event.

Infante's two losses have come from fighters with a combined 9-0 record. 

Danny Rosenberger Slated For July Bout In Pittsburgh

Danny Rosenberger will continue to stay busy and look to build off his unanimous decision victory at the Metroplex in Liberty last month over Lansing, MI native Kevin Shacks when he steps into the ring next month.

The 29-year-old Rosenberger who will be fighting for the fourth time in 2019 will take on Pittsburgh native Justin Johnson (6-20-6) on July 13 at the Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead in suburban Pittsburgh in a 4-round super welterweight contest.

This will be the third-time fighting at Carnegie Music Hall for Rosenberger who scored a unanimous decision victory over Bobby Osterrieder his last time there in November of 2017.

Johnson, 30, will be fighting for the first time this calendar year after having a busy 2018 in which he fought six times against opponents with a combined 80-8-1.

Tickets will be available soon for the show which will also feature the Ukrainian duo who now calls Pittsburgh home in cruiserweight Lyubomyr Pinchuk and super bantamweight Oleg Dovhun.

Pinchuk, who just got robbed this past Friday in Detroit, MI, as the judges scored his bout against Detroit native Taylor Duerr (9-0-2), is currently 10-1-1 and will be taking on undefeated Johnnie Langston (7-0) of Sarasota, FL while Dovhun's opponent will be named shortly.

Fan favorite, 27-year-old Cleveland native Latiss "No Love" Norman will also be in action against 37-year-old Jade Ealy from Augusta, Georgia in a 4-round super middleweight contest.

We will have more information on this show in the coming weeks.

Ford Tough: Alliance Native Ryizeemmion Ford Wins Pro Debut With First Round TKO

Photo credit: Ric Kruszynski/WFC

Just like he did over 60 times before as an amateur,  Alliance native Ryizeemmion Ford entered the ring looking as composed as ever as the packed crowd at the MGM Northfield Park Center Stage made sure to let the 25-year-old super featherweight known as the Humble Beast that they were behind him.

Ford took a minute to feel out his opponent and assert his height while waiting for an opening, and once he found that opening it was good night for 32-year-old Michael Russell of Bowling Green, OH, a fighter with an MMA background who was also making his pro boxing debut.  

Photo credit: Ric Kruszynski/WFC

"I knew he was hurt from his body language," stated Ford on stunning his opponent.  "Then I went to finish him".

With the fight over in what seemed to be a blink of an eye after the referee called a stop to the action when a Ford flurry sent Russell to the canvas with a dazed look in his eyes,  Ford took some time to reflect on his short night of work.

"It feels so good to be out the way", Ford said of his debut.  "But it all feels so unreal".

Ford was also quick to acknowledge the fans that made the drive from Alliance to suburban Cleveland to support him.

"The crowd was really hype," said Ford.  "That got me more in my zone so yeah it was super hype".

With his debut out of the way, Ford hopes to be back in the ring soon with a date next month in Pittsburgh as a possibility if everything works out.

Photo credit: Ric Kruszynski/WFC

In the evening's main event, 32-year-old Cleveland bantamweight Antonio Nieves made quick work of Mexico native Jose Alfredo Rodriguez as the former world title challenger dropped Rodriguez for the count in the second round to improve his record to 19-2-2.

Photo credit: Ric Kruszynski/WFC

Also scoring a victory for Cleveland was 26-year-old heavyweight Alant'e Green who made quick work of his opponent, 33-year-old Michael Glasscox of Columbus, OH by scoring a second-round TKO victory.

Photo credit: Ric Kruszynski/WFC

With the victory, Green improves his record to 5-0-1 while Glasscox saw his record slip to 6-3-2.

Full Results from Cleveland
PRO
Antonio Nieves (Cleveland) KO2 over Jose Alfred Rodriguez (Mexico)
Alant'e Green (Cleveland) TKO2 over Michael Glasscox (Columbus, OH)
Ryizeemmion Ford (Alliance, OH) TKO1 over Michael Russell (Bowling Green, OH)

AMATEUR
201- Charles Smith DEC over Rockill Brown
141 - Armond Richard DEC over Vic Christian
157 - J.R. McElrath DEC over Brian Sims
125 - Andre Donovan DEC over Frank Brown
160 - Travis Charles DQ2 over Tony Kirksey
152 - Anthony Cannella KO2 over Ryan Arce
178 - Christian Juresic DEC over Stan Davis
165 - Nick Duganier DEC over Ben Cottrell

With A Little Help From A Friend: Rockill Brown Makes Smooth Transition From Football Field To Boxing Ring

Ford (L) and Brown (R).  Credit: ISNWW.com

Ryizeemmion Ford won't be the only one representing Alliance tonight at the MGM Northfield Park as amateur light heavyweight Rockill Brown will enter the ring for the ninth time in his career.

While this might be the biggest stage Brown has had the opportunity to box on, the transplant from High Point, North Carolina is no stranger to competing, especially in front of crowds.

Brown, 25, is a former defensive lineman for NCAA Divison III football powerhouse Mount Union.

"The transition to boxing from football was challenging at first," said Brown.  "But the one consistent in the two is hard work pays off and putting my nose to the ground and focusing on my craft day after day has put me in the position I need to be in to succeed just like football".

While Brown might be fairly new to competing in the boxing ring, this is not the first rodeo between the ropes for the former gridiron standout.

"I boxed for a couple years as a child but found I had talent in football so I stuck with it but I always had a passion to box," Brown explained.  "After I finished my career at Mount Union I refused to stay inactive and ran into Ryzeemion Ford at a local restaurant where my fire was lit once again to get in the ring and box".

Ford did more than just help ignite the fire in Brown to box again as the two have become friends as well as stablemates working under trainers Lorenzo Scott and Greg Sampson at Common Ground Athletic Club in Alliance.

"Having Ryizeemmion by my side has been a great blessing in the field of boxing," said Brown when asked what having someone with the talent of Ford around him at the gym meant to him.  "Getting tips and getting punched by a much more experienced boxer teaches you to listen with your eyes and learn with your body, he is a great motivation and continues to push me day in and day out".

While Brown is enjoying learning and fighting as an amateur, the 7-1 fighter knows that the sky could be the limit for him in the sweet science.

"I plan on taking my career to the pro level," said Brown.  "The goal has always been the same, be the best man and boxer I can be and I will be a champion one day.  I just have to follow the correct path".

Brown will take on Charles Smith in the opening bout of tonights Pro-Am card being promoted by WFC.

Long Time Coming: Ryizeemmion Ford Set For Pro Debut

Its been years in the making but the time has finally come for Alliance native Ryizeemmion Ford to make his pro debut tomorrow night in Northfield at the MGM Casino.

Ford, 25, had a very prolific amateur career which saw him do battle more than 60 times while winning multiple Cleveland Golden Glove titles as well as competing in the National Golden Gloves tournament on multiple occasions.

With nothing left to prove at the amateur level, Ford came to the realization it was time to take the leap into the pro ranks, a decision he announced earlier this year in February.

"I've been waiting for this for a long time and I'm just ready to weigh in so I can smash some food", said Ford with a hint of laughter in his voice.

Though training for a pro fight has its similarities to training for a pro bout, Ford was quick to point to the differences in his mental approach for his professional debut against 32-year-old Bowling Green, OH native Michael Russell in a 4-round super featherweight contest.

"Training for pros is different by my focus being different because I'm fighting for something bigger this time" stated Ford.  "I started my hard training further out than I would have for amateurs because I'm fighting longer and I have to be ready".

While Ford will have to dig deeper than he has mentally and physically at the pro level, the fact that he's able to make his pro debut so close to home and knowing that he will have a strong fan base in his corner to go along with his trainers Lorenzo Scott and Greg Sampson is a great feeling for the fighter known by many as the Humble Beast.

"It's very exciting", said Ford on fighting close to home.  "It's special because I have the opportunity to have my city come watch me perform and that means a lot".

Ford won't spend to much time celebrating if he comes out victorious tomorrow night.

"I'll probably take it easy for a week after and then I'll be right back in the gym doing what I do best since I might have a fight in July in Pittsburgh which is pending confirmation".

Regional Roundup

Pittsburgh Area

- Boxing returned to the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville this past Saturday as Wheeling, WV native Eric Bledsoe improved his record to 7-1-1 and claimed the ABF Colonial Atlantic Super Welterweight title with an 8-round unanimous decision win over Ohio native, Roy Barringer (6-3) in the evening's main event.

In the evenings co-feature, 23-year-old super featherweight prospect, Matt Conway of Pittsburgh improved his unbeaten record to 17-0 while making easy work of Mexico product Francisco Medel by scoring a second-round knockout.

- Ukrainian Lyubumyr Pinchuk (10-1) who now calls Pittsburgh home while training with Michael McSorely Jr. will travel to Detroit this upcoming Friday, June 7 to fight 29-year-old Taylor Duerr (9-0-1) of Detroit for the World Boxing Council United States (USNBC) Cruiserweight title in the main event at the Motor City Casino.

The 22-year-old Pinchuk will also be in action on July 13 when he fights undefeated Sarasota, Fl native Johnnie Langston (7-0) for the ABF Continental Americas Cruiserweight title at the Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead in suburban Pittsburgh.

Also appearing on the card will be fellow Ukrainian transplant Oleg Dovhun.

Dovhun, 25, who also trains with McSorely Jr. will fight for the ABF Continental Americas Super Bantamweight title against an opponent to be named.

Northeast Ohio

- Cleveland native Willie Nelson, 31, will be back in action after roughly a year and a half layoff from action.  The hard-hitting super welterweight from Cleveland who holds victories over Tony Harrison and Darryl Cunningham will face off against southpaw Ramses Agaton from Mexico in an 8-round matchup in Elkins, West Virginia on June 21st.

Nelson (26-3-1) is back in Youngstown working with Jack Loew at Southside Boxing Club.

- Cleveland native and former Olympian Charles Conwell Jr. will be in action this Saturday at Madison Square Garden on the GGG undercard.

Conwell Jr., 21, is currently undefeated with a 9-0 record as the super welterweight will take on 32-year-old Brooklyn native Courtney Pennington in an 8-round bout for the vacant USBA Super Welterweight title.

-Pro boxing will return to the Cleveland area as the MGM Casino in Northfield will host a pro-am being put on by WFC.

The main event will Antonio Nieves of Cleveland who challenged for a world title 2017.

The 32-year-old Nieves is 18-2-2 and will take on 29-year-old Jose Alfredo Rodriguez from Mexico in an 8-round bantamweight contest.

Also featured on the card will be the pro debut of 25-year-old Ryizeemion Ford of Alliance who will be making his pro debut against Michael Russell, 32, from Bowling Green, OH who will also be making his debut.

Ford and Russell will square off in a 4-round super featherweight contest.

Also featured on the card will be Youngstown State graduate who trained in Youngstown for a bit before returning back to Cleveland, amateur middleweight Brian Sims and former Mount Union football player turned amateur boxer Rockhill Brown of Alliance who is making a name for himself as a hard-hitting heavyweight amateur already capturing a Cleveland Golden Gloves title.

Infante Set For Bout In Vegas Against Hard Hitting Philadelphia Prospect Sonny Conto

After months of having fights fall through, Youngstown heavyweight Daniel Infante (1-1) who trains at Burnside Boxing Club will be packing his bags for Las Vegas for his second bout in just over a month.

Infante, 31, is coming off a hard-fought decision loss to undefeated Cleveland prospect Roney Hines (6-0, 5 KOs) in Cleveland on May 11th.

The challenge for Infante, who has shown that he will step up to any challenge will be just as steep as he is slated to take on 6'4" Sonny Conto out of Philadelphia in a scheduled 4-round bout on the undercard of the Tyson Fury-Tom Schwarz fight being held next Saturday, June 15th in the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Conto, who is currently 2-0 with both wins coming by way of knockout signed with Top Rank following a solid amateur career which saw him win bronze in the 2017 National Golden Gloves Tournament and silver in the 2018 edition of the tournament.

While I don't have confirmation, the bout should be viewable on the ESPN+ app.