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| First Golden Gloves bout a rich experience for CSU graduate's boxing debutCLEVELAND -- Eric Watkins is a late bloomer when it comes to boxing. But the 29-year-old Watkins ended his first ring encounter early as he took the measure of Lorain's Jose Torres on Saturday night in the Cleveland Golden Gloves Tournament at the Euclid Sports Plant. During the 152-pound sub-novice match between first-time fighters, Watkins used his steady jab to confound Torres at every turn. It forced referee Kamal Hasan to issue three standing eight-counts and then wave the affair over midway through the second round. "I was so nervous, I did what I do on the bag," said Watkins, a recent Cleveland State graduate working in video production. "I didn't know what was going on and then it was over."
It ended because Torres could not figure out how to avoid getting hit on the nose. Torres, 17, said he also was dealing with a bad case of the shakes. "I was too nervous," said Torres, representing Freddie's Boxing Club. "It all went pretty fast. I'll be back." Watkins, fighting out of Cleveland's West Side B.C., will be back next week to face Noah Klembara from the Valley Forge High B.C. Klembara decisioned Kevin Keglovic. In the novice ranks, former champion Von Hunter from the CMHA/Lonnie Burten Recreation Center advanced on a decision against Diego Avila from the Rock Hard Cash B.C. at 141 pounds. In the lone open division bout for experienced boxers, Derrick Moss from the West Side Boxing Club decisioned unattached Anthony Walls at 132 pounds. The tournament continues with two more preliminary rounds on Friday and Saturday in Euclid at 6 p.m. The finals are at Cleveland Browns Stadium on April 18. Cleveland Golden Gloves Saturday's results At Euclid Sports Plant Open division 132: Derrick Moss (West Side B.C.) dec. Anthony Walls (Unattached). Novice division 141: Chaz Roberson (Kings Gym), by walkover; DeAngelo Cunningham (unattached) dec. Keziah Sims (unattached); Von Hunter (CMHA/Lonnie Burten) dec. Diego Avila (Rock Hard Cash). 152: Matt Brown (Terminator B.C.) dec. Jamie Colon (Freddie's B.C.). Sub-Novice division 152: Noah Klembara (Valley Forge B.C.) dec. Kevin Keglovic (unattached); Eric Watkins (West Side B.C.) def. Jose Torres (Freddie's), RSC 2. 165: Kipp Latten (unattached) dec. David Taylor III (Glenville Recreation); Alex Vereschchagin (Empire B.C.) dec. Ernest Switzer (CMHA/Lonnie Burten).
In Boxing, Even the Weigh-Ins Are Cool March 20, 2009 at 4:44 am by Michael Rivest We were 24-hours away from the Pugnacious Promotions St. Patrick’s Day Showdown. It was time for everybody to gather at Albany’s Holiday Inn Express and officially weigh-in and fill out a million forms. It’s hard to describe the atmosphere at these events. All the fighters are there - along with their managers, trainers, cut men, friends and the media. Within 24-hours, the fighters will step between the ropes and do something that would get them arrested anywhere else. Yet there’s no animosity - quite the contrary, only good wishes and respect. But that’s how fighters are. I keep saying it over and over. But I can understand the disbelief, given what fighters do for a living, but it’s true. Here’s a story about that. I’m standing next to Cleveland’s Ryan “Tank” Thompson (9-6, 6 KO), 266-lbs. of ferocity who’ll be squaring off with local sensation, Shannon Miller (15-4, 9 KO). I’m not kidding, folks, I’ve owned cars smaller than this guy.
Anyway, I’m listening as he strikes up a polite conversation with a woman. After a few minutes of  gentle banter, he ever-so-respectfully asks her name. “Linda Miller,” she says with a smile, letting him know that she’s Shannon’s stepmom. What does Thompson do? Walk away? Get real serious? Nope. He kisses her hand, and with the utmost sincerity goes on and on about what an honor it is to meet her and how much respect he has for her stepson. What a truly class act Thompson is, I mean it. Of course, within 24-hours he’ll be looking to beat Shannon’s brains into a substance resembling guacamole. Only in boxing. Ryan “Tank” Thompson with Trainer Bill Godhard The trouble is, Thompson style is to come straight in, a dangerous thing to do with a guy like Miller. What Thompson will find waiting for him, of course, is a lot of Shannon’s leather. I predict Thompson will fall in round 4. You’d think everybody would be tense at a weigh-in, but that really isn’t the case either. You can actually feel a release of sorts, like the hard part is behind them. “That’s right,” says Shannon. “The fight is easy. It’s the training that’s hard. You get so beaten down getting ready for weeks and weeks. From this point on, it’s really easy. I feel great.”
But don’t you feel any, uh, fear? “No, not at all. First of all, I’m just not that way, but I really calmed down after the Maddalone fight,” referring to the Pugnacious Promotions 2005 brawl at Saratoga’s City Center, a fight that ESPN2 would call its “Fight of the Year.” Shannon and Vinnie Maddalone went at it hard and, although Shannon was TKO’d in the 5th round, anybody there will tell you it could have just as easily gone the other way. Shannon survived two earlier knockdowns and led on Teddy Atlas’ scorecard, drawing even according to the ringside judges. But after the weigh-in, it’s over. They can eat, then do what only real warriors could possibly do the night before a fight – go home and sleep. For local fans, the Pugnacious Promotions St. Patrick’s Day Showdown couldn’t be any better or more exciting. Shannon Miller, Mike Faragon, Brian Miller, Jackie Trivilino, Bryan Abraham, Zach Smith. It doesn’t get any better than this. Hats off to Pugnacious Promotions for giving local boxing fans there money’s worth – every time. For more information, call Lisa Elovich @ Pugnacious Promotions (518-527-0160) info@pugnaciouspromotions.com
West Side Boxing Club pro's go 3-0 in Akron Full results and event writeup as reported on BOXREC.COM September 30, 2008 By anonymous poster on Boxrec.com
After some last minute cancellations a five bout card took place last night in Akron, Ohio at Chaparells Community Center. In the main event two unbeaten heavyweights battled to a crowd pleasing draw. Jason Freeman 3(1)-0-1 of Dover, Ohio knocked Andreus 'Taylor Made' Taylor down in the first round with a left hook. Taylor looked very shaky after beating the count. After a lengthy assessment by referee Jim Villers the fight was ordered to continue. Freeman however, argued with the referee that the bell had ended the round. Finally, after at least 30 seconds Freeman obeyed the referee and re-engaged in combat. He almost knocked Taylor down again before the bell ended the first round. It's my opinion that had Freeman not argued with the referee and had went after Taylor when ordered he probably would have stopped Taylor in the first round. Perhaps in boxing, like Murphy's Law, no good deed goes unpunished. In the third round Taylor dropped Freeman with a short right uppercut. In the fourth round Taylor opened a cut over Freeman's left eye and won the round. The scores were 38-36 Taylor, 37-37, and 37-37. Sorry, I didn't get the names of the judges.
In the opening Cruiserweight bout Rayshawn Myers(WSBC) of Cleveland scored his first win as a pro with a first round TKO over John 'Cowboy' Milan of Cleveland. I thought the referee, Jim Villers, stopped this fight too quick at 27 seconds. There were no knockdowns. Myers landed one punch that somewhat stunned Milan. Myers then threw 8 to 12 quick punches without a return that prompted the referee to stop it. Myers improves to 1-2.
In the second bout of 155 pounders, Shane Gierke of Streetsboro, Ohio knocked out novice John Meyers at 2 minutes and 12 seconds into the third round. This was not only Meyer's first pro boxing match, it was his first boxing match. He said he had one previous kickboxing match. Nevertheless, Meyers made a good account of himself as Gierke improved to 4(3)-16(10)-1 with the kayo. Meyers was out for about two minutes after being counted out.
Next heavyweight Jason 'Big Daddy' Massey(WSBC), the second fighter for Cleveland manager/corner man William Godhard, scored a four round unanimous decision over Tramane Dawson also of Cleveland. Both fighters were making their pro debut. Massey scored a knockdown in the second round. Referee Jim Villers took a point away from Dawson in the fourth round for holding. I didn't think this was justified. Dawson threw more punches in the fight but could not phase his larger opponent.
William Godhard went 3-0 for the night when his second heavyweight Ryan 'The Tank' Thompson(WSBC) scored a second round TKO over another novice, James Rankin 0-1(1). Referee George Nichols stopped the fight justifiably at 2 minutes 21 seconds. Thompson improved to 7(6)-6(0).
This was my first time in Akron and I saw some other firsts. Before the show began ring announcer Randy Jarvis called all the fighters on the card to come to the ring. He introduced each one of them and told a little about each fighter. I thought that was a nice touch. I wish televised cards would do more pre-fight interviews with the less famous fighters on their cards. He also introduced light welterweight Lee Kreisher 1(1)-4(3)-0 whose opponent from Indianapolis did not show because their car allegedly caught fire on the way to Akron.
Another first. The beautiful ring card girls did not have ring cards. Instead before each round the two scantily clad ladies would hold up 1, 2, 3, or 4 fingers while they walked around the ring. Another first for me. Ring announcer Randy Travis invited anyone in the audience to come up to the ring for a push-up contest. The winner got $20.00. Also, during the intermissions Jarvis would ask boxing trivia questions with the winner earning free beer.
Arsenault Chalks Up KO 1 in Bay City
Posted: July 20, 2008
Story & Photos by: Bob Ryder | | Heavyweights Lee Thomas & Ryan Thompson All photos by Bob Ryder. |  | |
Despite the overcast and threatening weather, promoters Greg Ahrens, Carlos Llinas and Art Dore attracted a SRO crowd to the annual summer show in Bay City. As in the last few years, Hooters on the Saginaw River was the venue. The six bout card featured several local favorites and were all scheduled for 4 rounds. In the main event Bay City's heavyweight Brandon Arsenault scored a first round KO over Matt Eckerly. After several minutes of Eckerly holding and grabbing, Arsenault was able to extricate himself long enough to unload several shots to drop his foe for the count to the delight of the hometown crowd. In another heavyweight attraction, Ryan Thompson overcame two knockdowns in the first round to score one himself in the fourth and prevailed in a majority decision over Lee Thomas. The first round started out with some good exchanges but coincidently as a light rain started to fall in the second the bout disintegrated into a mauling, sluggish affair.
Erie's Mullooly winded in Classic heavyweight bout BY RON LEONARDI
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com [more details]
Published: November 23. 2007 1:10AM
Rocky Mullooly, right, lands a punch against Ryan Thompson during the third round of their heavyweight bout at the Erie Boxing Classic on Wednesday at the Avalon Hotel. JACK HANRAHAN/Erie Times-News
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Rocky Mullooly did not encounter any problems with conditioning while training for his Erie Boxing Classic heavyweight fight. His four-round bout against Cleveland's Ryan Thompson was a different story at Wednesday's 23rd annual event. Thompson (4-2) scored a technical knockout at 2 minutes, 42 seconds of the fourth round before a crowd of 902 in the Avalon Hotel's main ballroom, sending Mullooly to his first defeat in three pro bouts. Mullooly, 32, ran out of gas beginning late in the second round and took a combined five standing eight-counts over the final two rounds before the fight was stopped. "My conditioning had been great," Mullooly said. "I was running five to six miles a day and sparring, but something happened in the first round. I don't know if it was tension or nerves, but I couldn't get it going. I was just gassed and I have no idea why. I never fought like that before. I just didn't have it and I got my butt beat."
Mullooly took two standing eight-counts in the third round, each time dropping to one knee resulting more from a lack of energy and inability to breathe and to stay on his feet than any shots Thompson was throwing. Early in the fourth round, Mullooly again kneeled to the canvas for an eight-count. Wobbly on his feet during much of the final round, Mullooly tried to get back in the fight with a couple of flurries, but Thompson began landing punches that produced two more standing eight-counts before the fight was stopped. "His punches weren't all that thundering, but there were so many of them I couldn't stop," Mullooly said. " I tried to keep coming at him but it wasn't there. My conditioning has never been a problem until tonight. I want to fight him again and he agreed to it. If I fight him again, I'll stop him." Mullooly weighed in at 230½ pounds and Thompson at 247½ pounds. Mullooly's conditioning problem Wednesday was equally perplexing to his trainer, Matt DeForce. "He just didn't have it and for some reason he was flat and I don't know why," DeForce said. "He'd been looking good in the gym, working hard and put a lot of rounds in. Some days you just don't have it."
Thompson Stops 7'1 Mazyck! September 28, 2007 By Tom Luffman at ringside In the most interesting looking match of the night, much-hyped 7'1 329 pound heavyweight prospect Ernest "Zeus" Mazyck (6-0) looked to have an easy contest as he took on 37-year old Ryan Thompson (2-1) from Cleveland. Zeus sported an athletic physique, while Thompson had a paunch and was much shorter. Upon seeing both men enter the ring one ringsider remarked, "they're throwing that guy (Thompson) to the lions!" Indeed, if you could judge the outcome of a boxing match based only on looks, Thompson would not have made it out of the first round. The first round saw Mazyck come out strong throwing a lot of punches. Thompson was able to get under the big man's arms and score two big rights to the chin which seemed to stop "Zeus's" momentum. In round two Mazyck tried to establish his jab, but Thompson was able to remain close and force the longer armed Zeus to try his hand at trading inside. He was unable to as most of his punches were errant or smothered by the close proximity of Thompson. By the end of the round Thompson had his man hurt and the crowd, which had cheered the favored Goliath when he enter the ring, started to increasingly cheer David. Round three a worn out and hurt Mazyck resorted to holding often and losing his mouthpiece frequently. Finally in round four referee Malik Waleed had seen enough and stopped the contest at 1:34.
El Sol De Cleveland
Posted on 03-01-2006 WEST SIDE BOXING ACADEMY OPENS BOXING COACH WELCOMES HISPANIC BOXERS Antonio Castro
lb4lb@adelphia.net When you are driving along West 25th Street and you come up to the corner of 25th & Meyer, you will notice a large brick building with the name KREDO Industrial Supply located on it. Little did you know that in the back end of the building on the 3rd floor there is a promising gym that opened its doors in February 2006. The gym is called the Westside Boxing Club, and the owner is Coach Bill Goddard. Boxing heads will recognize the name. “Is that the same Bill Goddard that used to own the Cleveland Boxing Academy?” “Is that the same Bill Goddard that was a Golden Glove champion in the 70’s?” “Is that the same Bill Goddard that made it to the final 10 of the World T oughman contest in 1983?” Yes, yes, and yes again!!!.
With his boxing days well behind him, Coach Goddard now loves working with the kids. His coaching philosophy is to focus more individual attention on the kids and let them have fun and enjoy the experience. “You can’t just be a coach today for the kids. They have other issues going on.” Goddard says. Being more than a Coach means a lot towards the progression of what the kids want to do when they get older. If anyone should know, it would be Coach Goddard.
He started boxing in high school at 17 years old. He was a Cleveland Golden Glove  champion and 2-time runner up during his five years involved with the Golden Gloves. Coach Goodard started coaching in 1975 at the Cleveland Christian Home for Kids. He then moved along to the Parma Boxing Club. He even tried the toughman competition route and ended up making the final 10 of the world championships at light heavyweight in 1983. All this led to Coach Goddard opening up the Cleveland Boxing Academy. The Academy had to close its doors due to financing 3 years ago, but Coach Goddard still maintained that itch.
Coach Goddard is assisted by Matt Alden, who has been in the boxing game for 10 years, and has been training for 3 years. Alden started getting into the sport at the age of 25 under the tutelage of Coach Goddard at the Cleveland Boxing Academy. Alden says he still enjoys sparring and loves teaching and working with the kids.
There are about 15 members in the gym now. Notables are heavyweight professional Dan Jambor, and amateur standout JP Ahmad. Dues range between $25/month to $30/month, based on age and level. The gym offers a regulation size 20 foot boxing ring, 3 heavy bags, 1 speed bag, 1 double end bag, 1 uppercut bag, and a structured workout session. The gym is located on the corner of West 25th and Meyer at 3256 West 25th street.
Coach Bill Godhard. 1983 World Toughman | |
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