Tag Archives: sirb

Posted on 04/18/2018

By: Ken Hissner

We all know there are at least 1500-3000 boxing fans that will attend a boxing event in Philly. Two 1000-1500 facilities can be filled on a given night there. On April 28th the Peltz Boxing promotion at a 5,000 seat facility with a co-feature in itself that would fill one of these small venues like SugarHouse Casino or 2300 Arena, will they fill the Liacouras Center on the Temple University facility?

On December 1st of 2017 Boxing Director Greg Sirb “made the decision” to have two events in Philly on the same night. The writers were wondering “which one should I cover?” I told Marshall Kauffman who was promoting at the 2300 Arena “wherever Christian Carto fights I will be there” knowing both his King’s Promotions and Manny Rivera’s Hard Hitting Promotions who was at the SugarHouse Casino have had Carto on their events. He came back and knowing Carto would be at the SugarHouse said “I’m having “Boots” Ennis on my show, whom I feel is the best prospect out of Philly since 1984 Olympian Meldrick Taylor, I told him it didn’t make a difference. For “Boots” can finish an opponent within 3 minutes whereas Carto wares them down with his boxing ability until he lowers the boom on them while “Boots” is in a hurry to get it over with. So I’d rather see 5-8 rounds of Carto than 3 minutes of Boots even though the latter is a more skilled boxer in my opinion and Carto a more exciting one. Obviously that night I went to the SugarHouse Casino to see Carto.

Now, Hard Hitting co-promoting with Greg Cohen Promotions will be at the 2300 Arena that can’t compare with the SugarHouse Casino for parking or a better area. One of my concerns is that the promoter’s show I don’t go to will not be pleased with me though going to the better overall show comes first. Of course Sirb will be at the 2300 Arena since Showtime will be there and that is also a concern to rather be at the show he isn’t.

Hard Hitting has only had one bad show while having the reputation of competitive fights. Not that King’s doesn’t have competitive shows because they do. Both promotions have good competitive matchmaking.

Both events have out of town main events which will not be known to the average fan. Having just finished an article today on Mykal Fox who will be in the main event at SugarHouse and ring announcer Alex Barbosa “making a comeback” there will influence me, Jeremy Cuevas and David Murray will be at the 2300 Arena which also interests me. Both main events should give the main boxer in Devin Haney and Mykal Fox a challenge if not more.

I’m sure Philadelphia area PA commissioner Rudy Battles doesn’t know about the double in one night show like he didn’t about the December 1st event until I contacted him, why does he allow Sirb to make these decisions knowing he (Battles) doesn’t approve of this? Sirb hates the Press, especially this writer, so he could care less how we feel.

In the meantime Carto will be on the Peltz Boxing show April 28th and who knows where “Boots” will show up after winning his 19th fight in 24 months Saturday in Va? Of Course Chris Middendorf who has promoted his fights along with manager Cameron Dunkin make those decisions. With 2300 Arena having 6 fights and SugarHouse having 7 fights it allows either to add one more fight. If “Boots” ends up anywhere it will probably be the 2300 Arena though the chances of being on Showtime considering the undercard would be of interest since he probably would have his fight shown. But then Middendorf’s Victory Promotions may do a show of their own since Middendorf has just informed this writer “it’s time to step up the competition and get “Boots” into the ratings”. It may not be long before he steals the spotlight from former champion Danny “Swift” Garcia or stable mate “The New” Ray Robinson. But that’s another one of those “wait and see moments!”

Posted on 11/13/2017

By: Ken Hissner

The Philly based writers like this one are quite upset with what Boxing Director Greg Sirb with the Pennsylvania Boxing Commission has permitted. Both promoters Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions and Manny River of Hard Hitting Promotions have no problem with it for both may sell out which Hard Hitting has done at all Sugar House promotions and King’s is the busiest promoter in Pennsylvania at this time. Whoever scheduled that date first should be the only promoter working that night. Why not have one on Friday and the other on Saturday of that week?

BUT, the writers who choose one show will probably be in the “doghouse” of the other promoter. Both shows look good. Christian Carto 12-0 (11) is on the Hard Hitting show and Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 16-0 (14), was just got added to the King’s Promotion’s show. Both are the two most popular and skilled young talents in the state and possibly the country.

This writer contacted the “Right to Know” Department in Harrisburg, PA, wanting an answer to such a thing happening in the same city. No results as of yet which is no surprise. Then, called Boxing Commissioner Rudy Battle who didn’t seem to know about this move by Sirb but I could hear in his voice he wasn’t for it and said he would to contact Sirb about it. It will do no good since Sirb runs the commission.

There are fans of boxers on both cards who also will be shortchanged. On the King’s show a good boxer in Tyrone Brunson is fighting a no name that lost to Kermit Cintron a year ago. Brandon Robinson against Christopher Brooker will be a possible barn burner. Joe Hanks, 21-2, is fighting one of those North Carolina boy’s with a 7-0-1 record. Popular Omar Douglas out of DE is looking to bounce back from his back to back losses though he got shortchanged in the last one. Another favorite DE fighter Kyrone Davis who trains in Philly is in with a 19-12 guy but who lost his last 5 of 6 fights. The rest are young boxers with 1 or less fights.

Hard Hitting has no opponents yet but has popular Joey Dawejko on top and rumors are he might be fighting for a minor title. There are 4 Spanish well known ticket sellers on the undercard in Branden Pizarro, 8-0, Jeremy Cuevas, 5-0, Angel Pizarro, 3-0 and Gadwin Rosa, 4-0. In addition former top amateur heavyweight Darmani Rock is making his Philly debut at 9-0. With just over 3 weeks to go Hard Hitting has to come up with opponents for a comparison.

Since Sirb, I admit is hard working though always has a good assistant and overworks his officials along with bringing in out of state one’s looks down on the press, especially this writer, and he could care less if we are shortchanged. My memory doesn’t come up with the last time this happened in Philly. Sirb has already allowed this writer to be removed from a Joe Hand Promotions weigh-in and threatened to ban me from ringside for reminding him of it at the next scheduled show. Like the phrase from a Jack Nicholson movie I can say “you can’t stand the truth!” That goes to all who read my articles and show results!