Decarie Dominates Alvarez

By Marc Abrams (in association with 15rounds.com)

Antonin Decarie scored a ten round unanimous decision over fringe contender Shamone Alvarez of Atlantic City in a welterweight bout at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

Alvarez has some success early as he moved in and out and got through with some left hands. Decarie started taking over as early as round three has began to get through with some good right hands. In round five, Decarie sent Alvarez to the canvas with one of those sharp rights and again sent Alvarez down at the end of round eight eight. The plethora of right hands opened up a cut over the left eye of Alvarez. Alvarez was not much of a threat heading down the stretch as the native son Decarie performed well in his first major headlining appearance.

Decarie, 147 lbs of Laval, Canada won by scores of 99-89; 98-90; and 97-91 to raise his record to 25-1. Alvarez, 147 lbs, is now 21-4.

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Thomas LaManna Poised to Impress in his Pro Debut

By Eugene Sirota

With just hours remaining until he steps into the ring for the first time as a professional, it would be understandable for Millville, NJ's Thomas LaManna to have a few butterflies in his stomach. However, as I interviewed the high school senior over a tray of his mother's homemade baked ziti just after he weighed in at Bally's, he spoke with the confidence of a veteran who's been down this road before.

Self-assured without being cocky, LaManna speaks with maturity well beyond his nineteen years. Although the man he's facing, Anthony Williams (0-2 of Wilson, NC), hasn't fared too well in his pro career to this point, Thomas isn't taking his opponent lightly. "I have prepared for this fight by sparring with the best guys around" LaManna said of his work at the Atlantic City PAL with Shamone Alvarez, Patrick Majewski, Osnel Charles, and Decarlo Perez.

With this fight happening in his own backyard (he's expecting close to 300 friends and family to be in attendance), many distractions are bound to pop up. However, LaManna has not allowed to his focus to be derailed. "Everyday its: school, gym, home." Thomas said of his regimen, "That's it, and I never take a day off, not even Super Bowl Sunday."

The man responsible for handling all those distractions outside the ring (as well as working his fighter's corner) is none other than Thomas' father Vincent. Many of this site's readers probably know Vinny LaManna from his days as a promoter in the 90's. In addition to having over fifty fights under his belt as a promoter, the elder LaManna has managed Ray Mercer, Bert Cooper and Michael Covington.

Guiding your own flesh and blood though the toughest business there is no enviable task, but Vinny LaManna is defiantly up to it. Not only does he have an abundance of experience to draw on, he has also has the help of trainer Hassan Hammed-El and cut-man Joey Eye.

Speaking with father and son, the bond between the two was clear, but don't expect Vinny to baby his son. "He doesn't get any special treatment" said Vinny "I look after all my fighters like they my kids anyway."

Thomas LaManna's fight is scheduled for four rounds in the junior welterweight division.

Other local fighters in action:
Atlantic City's John "The Eastern Beast" Brown (24-18, 11 KO) takes on 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Williams (16-2, 9 KO).

Promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and sponsored by Corona, tickets are priced at $75 and $50 may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail outlets, Ticketmaster Call Center 800-745-3000 and Bally's Atlantic City (day of event).

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Alvarez Out to make a Statement!

This Friday, Atlantic City's, Shamone "The Truth" Alvarez (21-3, 12KO's) travels across the border, as he looks to get back into the win column when he takes on Canada's, WBA #8 rated welterweight, Antoni Decarie (24-1, 7KO's) at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. The bout, scheduled for ten rounds, will headline this week's edition of ESPN's "Friday Night Fights". Alvarez-Decarie marks the return of Groupe Yvon Michel's highly regarded FAST AND FURIOUS boxing series, and is presented by the Casino de Montreal in collaboration with Videotron, and Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing

The last time anyone saw Alvarez on ESPN was back in March of 2009 at the Mohegan Sun, when he went to war for twelve rounds with hometown favorite Delvin Rodriguez, ultimately losing a razor thin decision and in the process missing out, once again, on his shot at the IBF Welterweight Championship. The bout against Rodriguez was an official IBF Welterweight Title Eliminator, the same Eliminator he lost in two years prior, to eventual IBF Champion, Joshua Clottey.

Alvarez road through the paid ranks has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride. After an impressive amateur career, which saw him win numerous state and regional titles, Alvarez turned pro in July of 2002, scoring a first round knockout over Steve Evans. Over the next five years, Alvarez would improve his record to an impressive 19-0, 11KO's, picking up the WBO NABO Welterweight Title along the way and steadily moving up the welterweight world rankings as well as beginning to gain national attention and exposure fighting on ESPN and Showtime.

Then came his shot at his first world title opportunity, all he needed to do was get by Joshua Clottey. Alvarez, was competitive, and fought a tough fight, but in the end, it wasn't enough, something Alvarez blaims on his lack of experience to that point in big fights. Clottey would go on to challenge for and win the IBF Championship, just a year later, while Alvarez was forced to sit inactive and watch from the sidelines.

Finally just a little over a year after the Clottey fight, and a switch of promoters to Star Boxing, Alvarez got his career back on track, winning a ten round decision over former U.S. Olympian Terrance Cauthen. Then came the aforementioned bout with Rodriguez, one that was very debatable, but one that the humble Alvarez blaims on no one but himself.

"I let the fight be too close. I should have never let it get as close as it was. If I stuck to my game plan, I would have easily walked out of there that night as the winner, but hey, that's boxing. It was a learning experience for me. I know if I ever get on that stage again, what I can and can't do if I want to come out on top. It is never a good idea to leave it up to the judges hands, especially in someone's hometown, and I have no intentions of doing that on Friday night."

Alvarez once again bounced back from his defeat against Rodriguez, when he took on heavy-handed Alexis Camacho in March of 2010. Alvarez controlled the bout against Camacho before scoring a brutal one punch knockout in the 7th round of their scheduled ten rounder.

In his most recent outing, Alvarez was upset by Ghana's Ayi Bruce, losing another close decision, one that Alvarez says was very hard to swallow.

"The loss to Bruce was tough for me, because there is no way that he even belongs in the same ring as me. I take nothing away from the kid, he is tough, but he is just nowhere near on my skill level. I had an off night and that's all it is, that was not the Shamone Alvarez I, or everyone else knows in that ring that night."

Though he has three losses on his record, Alvarez has by no means ever been "beat up" in the ring. Each of his losses has been close, and he has been highly competitive in. Each time in his career Alvarez has had his back to the ropes, he has be able to bounce back, something Alvarez guarantees will once again happen this Friday.

"I know I am going to bounce back just like I have in the past. The important thing is not how you lose, but how you bounce back, and that's where my mind is right now. Everyone is going to see the real Shamone Alvarez in the ring this Friday. I know I am one of the top welterweights in the world, and for those who don't believe it, make sure to tune in."

Alvarez-Decarie is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel in association with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and is presented by Casino de Montreal in collaboration with Videotron. ESPN2 will begin live coverage at 9PM ET.

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Douglin to face Carrasquillo!

Morganville, NJ (February 3, 2011) – Unbeaten junior middleweight Denis “Da Mommas Boy” Douglin will look to take another step in the right direction when he battles cement fisted veteran Doel Carrasquillo Friday, February 18 at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, MD.

Douglin, 12-0 (8 KO’s), is scheduled to fight in an eight rounder for the first time as a professional. The Morganville, NJ native stopped his last five opponents, most recently demolishing 11-2 Matt Berkshire in less than two minutes on December 17.

Although his counterpart’s record of 14-17-1 with 12 KO’s doesn’t indicate frequent success, Carrasquillo is a proven spoiler that shattered dreams of notable fighters such as Isam Khalil, Wayland Willingham, Keenan Collins, The Contender’s Aaron Torres and Jorge Melendez. The Lancaster, PA based Puerto Rican is Douglin’s most experienced opponent to date, having also gone toe to toe wit the likes of 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Williams, highly touted Willie Nelson, Steve Chambers, unbeaten contender Mike Jones and Tim Coleman amongst others.

“I know he is a very rugged and tough guy, so I am training for a hard eight round fight,” said Douglin, the 2008 National Golden Gloves Middleweight Champion. “My goal is to knock him out, impress the fans and leave it out of the judges’ hands!”

The Douglin-Carrasquillo bout is part of the untelevised portion of an ESPN Friday Night Fights card promoted by Prize Fight Boxing in association with Global Boxing Promotions.

Fans can reach Denis at twitter.com/damommasboy.

Contact – Matt Yanofsky (Team Douglin Publicist) 551-206-0578

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Douglin inks with Haymon!

Morganville, NJ (January 12, 2011) – Junior Middleweight sensation Denis “Da Mommas Boy” Douglin has signed an exclusive agreement with world renowned advisor Al Haymon.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in professional boxing, Haymon’s impressive clientele includes Floyd Mayweather, Paul Williams, Andre Berto, Daniel Jacobs and Antonio Tarver amongst others. His fighters all have appeared in lucrative bouts and on the biggest fight cards to ensure maximum exposure, which is exactly what Douglin was looking for.

“I’m excited about working with Al,” said Douglin, who was voted as New Jersey’s best prospect by a panel of local journalists. “He’s done great things for his fighters and I’m happy to have him as part of the team. 2011 is definitely going to be a huge year for me.”

A 2008 National Golden Gloves Champion, Douglin’s unblemished professional ledger stands at 12-0 with 8 wins by knockout. He was a perfect 6-0 with 5 stoppages in 2010 and is recognized amongst the top prospects on the east coast. In addition to his well rounded skill set, many in the boxing world have taken an interest in Denis’ career due to the fact that he is trained by his mother.

Douglin’s next bout is scheduled for February 18 in Salisbury, MD on an ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights undercard.

Fans can follow Denis at twitter.com/damommasboy

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ESPN Names Diaz and Tapia as Notable Prospects!

Boxing scribe Dan Rafael of ESPN.Com named New Brunswick's Jorge Diaz and Passaic's Glen Tapia to his list of notable prospects.

Diaz and Tapia are both unbeaten following solid 2010's, where Diaz scored a number of solid victories while Tapia made a major name for himself as Manny Pacquiao's lead sparring partner for the Margarito fight.

Both Diaz and Tapia are handled by John Lynch's Pound 4 Pound Promotions but have also fought on Top Rank Live cards.

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