The bid was for the right to hold the IBF's junior welterweight title fight between Zab Judah of Brooklyn, NY and Las Vegas, and South Africa's Kaizer Mabuza. SM: Milton it was a pleasure to speak with you, best of luck. Super middleweight: Vladimir Shishkin (10-0, 6 KOs) vs. Oscar Riojas (21-13-1, 10 KOs), 10 rounds. 43 years ago this month, KRONK crowned our first world champion! Salita, who grew up poor in New York, saw boxing as an outlet to a better life and, eventually, came to train at Kronk more than a decade ago. Twice those fights involved the sports leading ambassador, Pacquiao, who brought in crowds of 40,000 to 50,000 fans into Cowboys Stadium against inferior opponents Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito. ET Saturday on Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Two new names popped up who are causing the kind of fan reaction that also gives us hope for 2011 American Brandon Rios and Mexican Saul Alvarez. For more information, please see our SM: After several title defenses you ran into Donald Curry. Among the many world champions who trained at Kronk at least once during their careers are Michael Moorer, Wilfred Bentez (in the Tucson gym), Hctor Camacho, Julio Csar Chvez, Naseem Hamed, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Jermain Taylor and Tyson Fury. He was a successful UFC fighter as well as a successful pro wrestler in the WWE. In September 2006, the original gym at 5555 McGraw Avenue between 33rd and Junction Streets in Detroit closed temporarily after thieves stole copper water pipes, cutting off supply to the building. SM: Did the hand affect your future bouts? SM: Whats in the future for you Milton? Welcome to r/boxing, the official home of pro boxing on Reddit! Another 35 fighters came to Kronk from the suburbs, other states and other countries to be trained by Steward, and left. ESCOT is KRONK Boxing Gym's youth development program. Shane Carwin was one of the scariest fighters in the UFCs Heavyweight division during his tenure. Gracie and his family are considered royalty in the sport of BJJ and Royce is often seen as one of the reasons the UFC is incredibly popular, along with being one of the most influential men in the history of MMA. Golf without the Masters? Only boxing officials, trainers, refereesand fighters will be allowed in the event, as COVID-19 protocol will be strictly enforced according to regulations set by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission and the state. By. Duane Thomas said the same thing. I had about two weeks notice. No one has an easy time with the long-haired fighter. Guida has become one of the most feared fighters without a title. Newsletters on topics that interest you most. Turning pro in 1980 under trainer Emanuel Steward, McCrory ran off twenty victories before meeting Colin Jones in 1983 for the vacant WBC welterweight title. It was just too much time spent on The Fight That Never Took Place. The UFC lightweight title is in Maynards bulls eye. There was even a saying forit: Right leg: hospital, Left leg: cemetery. Cro Cop is actually still actively fighting and has had a career revitalization in the last year, to the point that he is actually returning to the UFC for the first time since 2011 to headline a fight card in Poland. Though Maynards record indicates he is unbeaten thats not entirely true. You know I won an amateur world championship, a professional world championship and I had reached all my goals. Each year, Fikes brings his Atlanta team up to Detroit for an Atlanta vs. Detroit fight night. Fikes was a fantastic fighter and now trainer of his own. Today its really different. Boxing has a long history of providing the framework for memorable movies and it did it again with The Fighter, a film that did more for boxing than any promoter did all year. That is until he clashed with Edgar. "I've known Emanuel since I was a kid," said Salita, who was born in Russia. Any time youre going up against the top in the world, you evolve and change and so Im prepared for a new fight, so it will be good. Guys like Mayweather, Pacquiao, even Sugar Shane Mosley are too small. Whatever Haye and the Klitschkos decide the fighter with the most upside at the moment however seems to be Sergio Martinez. WebToday KRONK is the combination of a legendary boxing tradition, a champion's mindset, KRONK-style training, and Emanuel Steward's belief in preparing youth for life inside and outside the boxing ring. The gym and recreation center was officially closed by the Recreation Department on November 28, 2006 due to the prohibitive cost of repairs to the plumbing and building infrastructure.[5]. thesweetscience.com All rights reserved. After seeing fury give sugar hill a lot of praise throughout the last couple of fights Ive looked at the gym and seen the talent theyve had. Anyone watching TUF remembers Maynard tapping out from a Diaz guillotine choke. He has worked with trainer Sugar Hill Steward, trainer for world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, along with several media outlets, to help make that a reality. As the Olympics draw nearer, Steward is teaching Hearns to become more than a two-punch fighter. Foo Fighters, the Killers to Hit the Beach for 2023 Sea. The 36-year-old compiled a 10-7 record in the UFC while earning Fight of the Night honors once and Knockout of the Night twice. They tricked us and told us that if we came down to the gym we had to bring shorts and shoes and we would have to box too. Silva is a very tough customer and eager to crash the elite. Two other fighters who gave us moments to remember in 2010 were Juan Manuel Lopez, who knocked out three solid opponents including highly respected Mexican warrior Rafael Marquez, and Giovani Segura, who won four times (thats three years work for Mayweather) in 2010, all by knockout. The latter was not so much an upset as it was a stunning reminder that when someone makes a mistake against a highly skilled opponent in this sport they dont end up embarrassed. SM: What was your feeling on the draw in the first fight? It was neither the best of times nor the worst of times. In refreshing contrast, the F-8 earned the sobriquet The Last of the Gunfighters (not to be confused with the 1984 sci-fi movie The Last Starfighter) as it was the final American fighter built with guns as its primary weapon. MM: I trained some amateurs from about 2001-2004. After several title defenses he ran into Donald Curry in 1985. "I have a responsibility to do the best that I can with the potential I see," said Salita, who envisions big fights in Detroit facilities such as Little Caesars Arena and casinos in the future. Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Next comes a rematch with Gray The Bully Maynard (11-0) tomorrow at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. The bout ended in a draw and McCrory would win the rematch five months later. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He used simple grit and toughness to win fights and that resonated with the fans. The card was headlined by Kronk fighter Vladimir Shishkin who defeated Oscar Riojas via ninth-round technical knockout.[8]. What have you been up to since you retired from the ring? A Shocker in the Philippines as Suganob Topples Vicelles, The Only Option for Gilberto Ramrez is to Defeat Gabe Rosadoin Convincing Fashion, Ilunga Makabu Faces an Unexpected Rival in Badou Jack, The Hauser Report: A Club Fight Promoter Faces a Choice, Gennady Golovkin vs. Erislandy Lara: Return of the Battle of the Forties, Results from SoCal Where George Yuyu Acosta KOed Marlin Sims, Josh Taylor Assures Us His Fight With Tefimo Lpez Will End in a Knockout, Boxing Odds and Ends: An Auspicious ShoBox Debut and More. Back in April 2008, the artillery shelled out was not enough to beat the Las Vegas fighter. You have been icing them, said McCroy. Privacy Policy. SM: Was there ever any talk of you fighting the big dogs, like Duran, Leonard, and Hagler? Get the official KRONK gear, like this custom-made gym bag. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. However,in a shocking announcement, it was announced that the 51 year old Ken Shamrock would be headlining an upcoming Bellator card against Kimbo Slice. Hilmer Kenty, our first fighter, Thomas Hearns, Milton McCrory, Jimmy Paul, Duane, Steward-Williams said. Filmed at KRONK Gym and now in production the new documentary "Thomas 'Hit-Man' Hearns." It's where champions were groomed, tested, trained and, eventually, turned loose to contend for titles and glory. Under the guidance of his father, Fikes's boxing journey would have a door opened to him that many in the Detroit area would only dream of. All in all, it wasnt the best of years for boxing but it was a good year that picked up speed in the final months and, like that great golf shot you finally hit out of the rough on the 18th, left us with reasons to hope for a better year in 2011. WebKronk style is affective aggression behind good fundamentals. A fitting honor for a fitting hero. David "Tank" Abbott was an early icon in the sport of MMA and was also one of the first to wear the traditional MMA gloves that all fighters are required to wear now. I really didnt want to stick around for the 1984 Olympics so I turned pro at eighteen. In October 2017, the building was destroyed by afire. MM: Yes, Im a fighter so I do quite a bit. It involves athletes from across the world using a variety of different martial arts to reign supreme over their opponent. They were living on the far West Side at the time, and there happened to be a gym nearby. Couture was 47 years old when he finally retired from the sport. He did suffer a defeat to Nate Diaz during The Ultimate Fighter series and subsequently avenged that loss last January. That is what boxing needs more of fresh faces and new stars so as fans we should root for guys like Alvarez, Ward, Rios and young Brit Amir Khan, who is a star in England but still a question mark with a questionable chin but a fighters heart here in the U.S. Those guys and others not yet as well known are the future of boxing, a sport that for too long has been recycling the likes of Mosley (as it will again in May for one last beating against Pacquiao in a fight that's a joke), Bernard Hopkins (who can still fight although it is unclear why he bothers or where its all headed), Roy Jones and, sadly, even 48-year-old Evander Holyfield, who continues to delude himself but not many other people into believing he will soon unify the heavyweight title again.If fighters like Ward, Alvarez, Rios, Khan, WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto and middleweight king Sergio Martinez continue their rise they could be the antidote for the art of the retread that Arum and Golden Boy have been forcing fans to buy the past few years at the expense of what boxing needs most fresh faces. Kathy Duva confirmed the fight will take place at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, late February or early March this year as part of Main Events' Brick City Boxing Series. I found out my nose was broke my first week of training in Arizona. "My Russian opponent is undefeated but he hasn't been in thetrenches with a true warrior," said Riojas, a 36-year-old fighter from Mexico. He trained 41 World Champion fighters throughout his career at Kronk Gym. I just wasnt what I used to be. I guess I would like to maybe get back into boxing. SM: When did your troubles with your right hand start? It was just a different era; its just hard to compare us to todays guys. Click here to see the full KRONK x ROOTS collab. When I went to Vegas to start training they cancelled my bout because of it. In the past, Detroit bred multiple World Boxing Champions. Fedor retired in 2012, but still remains the head of the Russian MMA union. The Klitschko brothers continue to It seems that Kronk, which served countless thousands of at-risk youth, would die along with the man who dedicated his life to it. TM & 2023 BoxingScene.All Rights Reserved. The man was never invovled in a boring fight and was famous for his overhand right that put many men to sleep. I remember thinking earlier in the fight that the guy couldnt really punch. In fact, the number of international fighters training at the Kronk facility is notable. Shawn Murphy. Look at the welterweights today like Mayweather. Only at the Real KRONK Gym Store. He was just 13 years old. After the Robert Curry fight in 1991 I hung it up. If somehow it gives us Mayweather-Pacquiao, the emergence of Alvarez and Rios, the ascension of Martinez and Haye vs. the best available Klitschko in addition to the kind of solid performances that always come along, it could be a year to remember. Nowadays, Gracie is still involved with the MMA scene andis now the official brand ambassador for Bellator. The first fight I really punched myself out after the eighth round. Former KRONK legends were in the house to watch the next generation of young KRONK stars in action. 15 15. Having said that, the sport was not without its signature moments. I was told as an amateur that I was just being used for a sparring partner and wouldnt go anywhere. The larger issue is what does it say about a sport when it cannot deliver its top event? Stann dropped down from light heavyweight and well see if the cut in weight benefits the Marine. Timur Kerefov (8-0, 4 KOs), another Kronk fighter from Russia, will face Calvin Metcalf (10-4-1, 3 KOs) of Kansas City in an eight-round co-main event. As history has proven time and again, that is what happens when boxing has a compelling personality to sell it and Pacquiao is that. But after that I never really had the confidence in my right hand that I did before. The training facility opened shortly after World War I (~1920) and closed in 2006. Huerta was a former mainstay in the UFCs Lightweight division form 2006-09 and has been in the cage with some of the best fighters at his weight class. The Foo Fighters have added three headlining shows to their 2023 live itinerary as they prepare to return to the stage following the sudden death of drummer Taylor Hawkins last year. Please enter valid email address to continue. After a short amateur career in his 20s, Fikes later came on board at KRONK as a coach and was instrumental in revitalizing the amateur program using all of Emanuel's styles. Tommy was the Hit Man, I was the Ice Man, said Milton Ice Man McCrory. The seven-bout card will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass, beginning at 7 p.m. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. MM: Duran and Pipino Cuevas turned me down. If you look at the kronk fighters from Lewis, adonis Stevenson to Tommy hearns and now fury they all had solid Her father was a well known American boxer, trainer and commentator for HBO Boxing. The bright red and yellow colors spell out the name Kronk Gym on the doors outside the boxing gym. Top 15 Interesting MMA Where Are They Now Stories, 10 Best Feud-Ending Matches In WCW History, Ranked, 10 Wrestlers WWE Is Likely To Release Next, 10 Worst WWE Wrestlers To Compete For A World Championship At WrestleMania. Im watching football right now. Kronk spent several years in a facility on Warren in Dearborn before moving to its current home in the basement of a church at 9520 Mettetal in Detroit, where Thursday's event will take place. It was winter time and there was nothing else to do so me and my brother Stevie decided to go check them out and see if they were lying. I never wanted to fight a guy like Marlon Starling who held their hands up over their head. This is a place for friendly and civil debate about the greatest sport on earth. Marlon Harrington is a Golden Gloves champ, and Jermaine Franklin, a 26-year old heavyweight from Saginaw, is unbeaten after 20 fights. In 1998 Kronk opened Kronk Gym website, promoting the gyms and their fighters. And thats what I thought going in against Jones, but he had the edge in experience. Emanuel Steward founded the boxing team inside the Kronk Recreation Center after his younger brother wanted to be taught how to box. For the sake of the sport, we should all be lighting candles each night in hopes our prayers will be answered and Haye will finally agree to meet one of them. Produced by VFU, Virtual Fights Unlimited. SM: So what was the highlight of your amateur career? Duane Thomas, another Kronk fighter, beat John Mugabi for the WBC light middleweight title in 1986. More than any other former star from the fabled, 80-champion Kronk gym, Mays represents the tragic waste of lives and talent that have dogged many Kronk fighters. ". Kronk also has taken on more of an international appearance withShishkin, ranked No. and our I still go to Kronk quite a bit though. The fact that he was able to hold a job as an engineer, while also fighting the scariest men in the world is a huge accomplishment. However, one thing that all of the men on this list have in common is that they have a life after fighting that is worth sharing. None is dead or in jail. : Hardcore Holly WWE Shows Latest Results Raw results, Feb. 13, 2023: Belair denies Bayley and Lynch the Elimination Chamber in chaotic Triple Threat Match Full Results WWE NXT results for Feb. 14, 2023: Roxanne Perez & Meiko Satomura defeat Chance & Carter, agree to future NXT Women's Title Match Full Results In 1980, Kenty became Kronk's first world champion, Hearns following him months after. Well see on January 1.. Now Festival. MM: You know I was supposed to fight on the first Leonard-Hearns undercard. Thats why it was difficult for me against Jones. There, Huerta has seen a career revitalization and is among the top fighters at his weight class in the promotion. MM: I was about twelve years old. The Iceman, as he was known, had a 105-15 record as an amateur. I did 50/50 or so with them so I thought I had the edge on most fighters. Naseem Prince Hamed current featherweight champ. More than any other former star from the fabled, 80-champion Kronk gym, Mays represents the tragic waste of lives and talent that have dogged many Kronk fighters. After a few minutes he told me Man you have really been icing those guys lately. His war with Michael Katsidis is a strong candidate for Fight of the Year and his technical skill and calm demeanor make him the uncrowned challenger to Pacquiao. McCrory's brother, Steve McCrory, was also a world champion who as an amateur won the flyweight gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. MM: I wasnt 100% for that one either. Edgar (13-1) has emerged from the milieu of nondescript MMA fighters to become one of the more brilliant performers for Ultimate Fighting Championship. Davis is a go-for-broke kind of fighter and is looking to get back in the win column after a tumultuous battle with Nate Diaz last August. "This door has led many to pain and fame." He made me piss blood. Gold for the titles theyd win. Everything back then was Sugar Ray this and Sugar Ray that. The Ultimate Fighter has revolutionized the MMA world and it's still a very interesting show after 11 seasons. "All the guys WebIt was located at 5555 McGraw Ave, in the bowels of the Motor Citys old Kronk Recreation Center, in the brick, closed confines far from the publics view. Get in on the latest boxing conversations in our Forum and comment on articles. He has matinee idol looks, a big enough punch to put Paul Williams to sleep with one shot and a work ethic second to none. GSP currently lives in Montreal and continues to train and assist at Tristar gym. Can he survive Guida? SM: After the McCallum fight you fought only six times in the next four years. John Dodson, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 14, defeated TJ Dillashaw in the finale by first-round TKO and started what has been a nine-year stint with the promotion. Hominick owns and operates a very successful MMA training center in London, Ontario namedAdrenaline MMA Training & Fitness. The principles and disciplines he learned from Emanuel Steward are carried on through his own youth program, modeled after the one he grew up in at KRONK. "All the guys wanted to test me out," he said. The Argentine fighter had a year for himself, starting with a drubbing of Kelly Pavlik followed by his demolishment of Williams. The Kronk "franchise" began to sell Kronk merchandise through catalog sales. I just think I grew as a fighter. Looking to take the belt for sure, said Maynard. Stephens needs a win too. He also holds the record for the most consecutive submission victories in the UFC with 11. And that's why they've come to the Kronk gym as they seek to revive to its legacy. These guys are too little. The Mayweather is such a person as well, but for different reasons. Were you 100% for that one? "If those walls would talk ," he said. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. "There's a tremendousamount of nostalgia in Kronk," said Dmitriy Salita, a former world title contender who trained at the Kronk Gym during his pro career before becoming a boxing promoter. Serra retired in 2010 and now trains fighters with Ray Longo under the team name Serra/Longo Competition Team. MM: In 1987 I fought Herman Cavasuela, defending my NABF title. After ending his career fighting in the USA with a few consecutive losses, Huerta then moved on to ONE Championship, which is the biggest MMA promotion in Asia. Decades after its heyday during the 1980s and '90s, the name Kronk still carries a mystique in the boxing world. Southfield (CW50) - At the young age of 12, Taurrek Fikes found himself in the ring, boxing. By then I had like five first round knockouts and from then on the name just stuck. Emanuel Steward's Influence on KRONK Today. In 1980, Kenty became Kronk's first world champion, Hearns following him months after. Gordeau hasnt participated in an MMA fight since 1995 and he now lives in the Netherlands, where he operates his own gym with his brothers called Dojo Kamakura. He has had some world famous guests at his gym, including the man who defeated him at UFC 1, Royce Gracie. Former Boxing Champion Milton McCrory started boxing and training at Kronk Gym in 1975. Donald Curry was a very good fighter, but the weight just killed me. Salita said many of the fighters from overseas come for weekslong training sessions at Kronk, mix it up with sparring and workouts, then return back to their native countries. He later appeared as the Kerefov is a contending middleweight, and junior welterweight Shohjahon Ergashev of Uzbekistan is ranked No. Where the fight will be held is up to the winning bidder.. When/where: Seven fights, starting at 7 p.m.; Kronk Gym, Detroit. In the 1990s the Kronk stable included two-time WBA welterweight champion Mark Breland, top amateur prospect and future contender Tarick Salmaci, and repeat welterweight contender Oba Carr. MM: Taking the fight with McCallum on two weeks notice with a broken nose was bad and I regret that. I never dreamed boxing would turn out like it did for me. Boxers relocated to a Dearborn Gold's Gym. While both fights were, as expected, lopsided affairs, they showcased the one boxer who has transcended his sports confining walls to become a cultural icon and world celebrity. MM: Not really. On top of that, Ortiz also had numerous issues with UFC President Dana White, which culminated in them agreeing to fight each other, which never actually happened. Were not going anywhere, were here to stay, Mitchell said. Where the boxing discussion is always Non Stop! You don't have to box to be a part of ESCOT. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. College basketball without March Madness? Randy Couture is perhaps best known for his unbelievable trilogy with Chuck Liddell, as well as being one of the oldest combatants in UFC history. Liddell was an absolute machine in the octagon. Trusted, up-to-date local Detroit and Michigan breaking news. Matt Serra wentdown in the MMA history books as the man who pulled off one of the greatest upsets in the sport of MMA when he defeated Georges St-Pierre to win the Welterweight world title. There are some big names with ties to Kronk Gym. He came to Kronk to train in 2009 and got what he expected, a collective examination from experienced fighters who wanted to see if he belonged. Winning this fight will put Zab right in the mix with the winner of Bradley-Alexander and Amir Khan. Duva elaborated, Zab will work very hard to win this fight so that he will be one step closer to his ultimate goal of unifying all of the Junior Welterweight titles by the end of 2011!. Only at the. More from Rolling Stone. Gomi lost to Kenny Florian but knocked out Tyson Griffin. Talk about anything boxing related here. It was named after a former city councilman, John F. Kronk. The Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury rematch takes place at 9 p.m. In 1983, Kronk fighter Milton McCrory won the WBC welterweight title vacated by Sugar Ray Leonard; Jimmy Paul beat Harry Arroyo for the International Boxing Fe I fought Lupe Aquino after that and got dropped a couple times and lost a split decision. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic is an absolute legend in MMA, known moreor his time in the mid 2000s with PRIDE. The one and only! Maynard seeks to find out if Edgar has added any more fighting tools to his repertoire. That name is still strong today because there are still champions coming from all over the world, right now," Carey said. We were little kids and Jimmy told me he was boxing and I didnt believe him. Chris Leben (21-6) fights Brian Stann (9-3) in a middleweight fight. By the time Ebersole joined the UFC, he was already a veteran of more than 60 pro MMA fights. The heavyweight division, which many believe determines the relevancy of boxing to the larger world, remains a vast desert of disinterest here in the US. KRONK is quickly re-emerging as the boxing training destination of choice, a competitive force and a community leader. The fighters that emerged under the tutelage of the great Emanuel Steward are forever synonymous with the no-frills gym from which they hailed. It's the same bag used by Emanuel Steward and all the champions. Kronk began to earn fame during the late 1970s, when prospects like Hilmer Kenty, Thomas Hearns and Mickey Goodwin trained there. He is also the first ever victor of a UFC fight, as his fight was first on that fateful night.