Tag Archives: toronto

Posted on 07/12/2017

Second Mayweather-McGregor Press Conference Thrills Target Audience
By: Sean Crose

Well…at least Conor’s fans were happy. Wednesday’s press conference for the Mayweather-McGregor novelty boxing match was loaded with screaming, swearing and the thunderous approval of thousands of live fans. I have to be honest, I found it tiring. People loved it, though, and the affair seems to have delivered in a big way. Word is that McGregor won clearly. Good for him if he did. Frankly, the whole thing gave me a headache. Was it harmful? No. Was it indicative of a society in decline? No. Did it help sell a fight? Absolutely. Make of it what you will.

Photo Credit: Esther Lin and Showtime

The truth is that these press conferences actually appear to be what Mayweather-McGregor is all about. In other words, these media and fan gatherings are more important than the fight itself to those who want to watch it. At least that’s I’m reading on Twitter from people who look to be willing to spend good money on this pay per view. For what it’s worth, McGregor came off as a nasty piece of work, swearing, making the kinds of statements that infuriate social justice warriors and exhilarating the crowd, which clearly adored him. I’ll let you in on a secret – I doubt he’s really that big of an ass. Don’t tell anyone.

Having said that, I thought Floyd held his own, but what do I know? Truth be told, this fight isn’t targeted towards people like me. As I’ve stated before, this is a boxing match for people who don’t like boxing. Sure, some boxing fans will buy it. But it’s not geared towards them. It’s geared towards those who don’t like boxing. In other words, most of the known universe. For the record, there were shenanigans with the Irish flag and a money bag Floyd had brought onto the stage (McGregor said there was only five grand inside). Honestly, I have a somewhat hard time believing either man is inside the others’ head, but again, what do I know? I’m a boxing writer and this whole thing is being marketed to those with other interests.

By the way, McGregor lashed out at some of us “boxing experts,” letting us know how clueless we all are. I didn’t take it seriously, though – and if you take any of this seriously, you might want to take a step back and try to view things objectively. Still, if this sort of thing is your cup of tea, it’s probably the best cup of tea you’ll ever have.

Enjoy.

Posted on 07/29/2016

Air Raid Alert: Bomber Strikes Again
By: Andrew Dodd

Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall hosted an exciting night of pugilistic action last night. The energetic crowd witnessed some of Ontario’s finest rising stars. These events provide a necessary forum for the fighters to develop their chops and develop a fan base. They all delivered.
Mayron Vieira Zeferino, who is better known as the Brazilian Bomber, represented Grants MMA: Rival Boxing in his second pro bout. (See record: http://boxrec.com/boxer/750173 ) His opponent, Danyk Croteau, is a solid, technically sound fighter from Quebec who was looking to add on to his 1-0 record.
The pair of 1-0 boxers set to battle in a four round contest and, as they say, someone’s O had to go!

Photo Credit: Mette-Margrethe Moller Nielsen

The partisan crown announced its bias immediately as fans of the Bomber screamed vociferously for their man. In fact, at one point, the Danforth Music Hall resembled an arena in Rio as chants of “Você vai morrer” rang throughout the Hall!

While pressure from the crowd and inner pressure to impress can often be the downfall of young fighters, Mayron remained calm for the start of the initial stanza. With a deliberate and pawing job, he probed for openings. He found the vulnerability and exposed it with a crisp left hook. “Bombs away”, one could hear.

This set up a left hook, right hand combination that dropped the game Quebecer. Not surprisingly, the crowd went in a frenzy and, to his credit, the Bomber remained calculated and composed. He slipped and weaved out of trouble as Croteau sought to answer.

The already confident local was now ahead 10-8 with momentum.

The second round saw some discouragement, and swelling, in the visitor’s face. Myron found some continued success with the left hook and with one-two combos. He also cleverly went to the body and was not head-hunting as novices are wont to do. Without scoring any significant shots or blows, he deposited another round in the bank to extend his lead to 20-17- vital in a four round contest.

The third round saw a more determined and committed Croteau. In utilizing a more dynamic attack strategy, he managed to win his first round. Mayron, while countering well, was no longer finding a home for his anticipated left hook. Going into the fourth and final round, the scores were likely 29-27 for Zeferino. This would indicate that Croteau would be looking to press the action for a stoppage or knockdowns to make up for the deficit.

In placing hard combinations from range, the taller Croteau was enjoying success. However, time was not on his side. The Bomber relied on evasive techniques- more than bombing- in the last round which proved intelligent and effective. This mature and intelligent strategy allowed him to go to the final bell ahead on the cards and a “W”. After winning a unanimous decision, the Bomber is now 2-0.

In main-event action, the uber –popular Steven Wilcox defeated Juan Orozco via a dominant eight round decision. Wilcox continues to rise in the rankings and his bout is scheduled for October 1st in Hamilton. At 14-1, he is on the track for big success.

Brazil has brought bikinis, jiu jitsu, soccer magic and acai to the world, will Mayron add his name? Fans should make sure to attend at his next outing to find out. These fun local shows serve to launch these upcoming stars. Supporting the fighters and events make a big difference in developing Canadian talent.
Check out Grants MMA: Rival Boxing’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HeadrushTrainingCenter/ to follow these two and others!

Posted on 05/02/2016

New Toronto Promoter Hoping to Follow Quebec’s Lead
By: Ed Hitchins

When Ryan Frazer talks about boxing in Canada, he points to one place known for its resounding success.

“Quebec has winners,” Frazer says. “David Lemieux has been around the world and back. Otis and Howard Grant. Their commission supports them.

Trainer DeWith Frazer (second from left) is hoping his network, which includes stars such as (from left) Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis and Roy Jones, will launch his son Ryan’s forte in promoting to a high level.

“Their amateur shows are bigger than ours. Guys like myself and other promoters need to show up at these amateur shows and help these kids,” he says.

It’s part of the 23-year-old’s motivation to start North Corner Promotions in Toronto, Ont. Fresh out of St. Lawrence College in with a degree in marketing, Frazer says couldn’t see himself in a long-term, 9-to-5 situation.

“I came home from college and I see the boxing scene in Toronto isn’t that great,” Frazer says. “I felt I could really spice things up around here. My father told me if I pursue it, I can really make a difference for boxing in Ontario.”

His dad would know a thing or two about that.

Trainer Dewith Frazer has been involved in boxing for the better part of 30 years, and some of his notable clients including 1988 Olympic silver medalist Egerton Marcus, as well as former IBF champion Steve Molitor.

The elder Frazer says Ontario has lagged in boxing for a generation for a multitude of reasons, finances being a major problem.

“What we’ve been suffering from here is something called ‘not-to-many-action,’” Dewith says. “You may see a fighter fight in June. But you won’t see him until the next June.

“That can’t work. Especially with a young guy coming up, they need to be active. Not only to get publicity, but also to grow,” says Dewith at his studio in Mississauga, Ont.

He says that during the past three decades, most promoters in Ontario aren’t boxing promoters.

“They don’t know the environment,” Dewith argues. “Boxing is a very small business. If they don’t know you, they won’t do business with you. There hasn’t been anyone here that has been known to the boxing community.
“We see Lennox [Lewis] come into the mix,” he says. “He could make a difference, because he is a known commodity.”

Dewith believes his experience and networks linking top people will be able to help his son’s endeavour create a fan base in order to harness and nurture developing talent.
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“When I need a fighter that we’re having a problem, we could call Roy Jones,” he says. “Bob Arum and Top Rank do sign fighters from here. I know about Zsolt [Daranyi Jr] who’s contract was recently bought by Cameron Duncan from Top Rank. We have local fighters from here that Top Rank or Golden Boy have no problem allowing us to promote them in our city.

“It is a huge asset to know that,” Dewith says.

However, in a congested sports market that includes teams in Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NHL, the Frazers face an uphill climb promoting in the Canada’s largest city.

Dewith however is not deterred by that.

“The thing is, we have talent here,” he says. “Talent sells. We have kids that have the talent.

“We have to teach them how to speak to the media, how to dress, how to do charity work. We also have to teach the value of our sport,” Dewith says. “That’s what people are looking for right now, a leader.”

Hoping to put together their first show later this summer, Ryan has very lofty expectations. And he hopes to host the regular shows that are the norm in La Belle Province in just a few years.

“I want to make Casino Rama (in Rama, Ont.) the spot within five years,” Ryan says. “That’s the only resort we have like Vegas around here. I feel if I can make it there, I can possibly do Fallsview Casino (In Niagara Falls) as well.

“The boxing community is here, we just have to work together,” Ryan says.