Draw in Sanders-Holm fight;

lightweight title for Harris

BY MIKE BRUDENELL • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • October 18, 2008

photo by Bob Ryder

more photos!

The runner turned hunter at the Palace on Friday night.

Holly Holm, often criticized for dancing around the ring and not making the fight, fought to a majority draw for the vacant IBA junior middleweight title against Detroit’s Mary Jo Sanders in a true slugfest.

Rushing Sanders (25-1-1, 8 KOs), the Albuquerque-based Holm (22-1-3, 6 KOs), 26, launched a two-fisted attack early in each of the 10 rounds, Sanders taking some hard shots to the head but fighting back with right and left uppercuts.

The judges scored the fight 95-95, 93-97, and 95-95 before a hometown crowd rooting Sanders on every punch she landed.

Afterward, Holm, who defeated Sanders for the IFBA championship -- a separate title -- in New Mexico on June 13, said she was shocked at the decision.

“I felt I did enough to win the fight,” said Holm. “The crowd roared very time she landed a single punch. I felt I threw two to her one and power shots as well.”

Sanders, Holm fight to a draw

By MARVIN GOODWIN
Of The Oakland Press

photo by Scott Statson

more photos!

AUBURN HILLS — After 10 bruising rounds of championship fighting, Mary Jo Sanders of Auburn Hills and Holly Holm of Albuquerque, N.M., in a rematch of their June bout in New Mexico, had to settle for a majority draw before some 4,000 spectators at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Both fighters had their moments, and both felt they did enough to win.

“I think she had to prove herself, fighting in my hometown,” said Sanders, who lost a unanimous decision in their first fight. “I knew she had to fight. We could do it again. I wouldn’t mind as much.”

Holm was aggressive the first part of the fight but Sanders, the daughter of former Detroit Lion Charlie Sanders, seemed to rally toward the end, landing solid shots in the ninth and 10th rounds.

“I think I did enough to win the fight,” Holm said. “She had a couple good last rounds. (But) I felt rounds one through seven were mine, no doubt.”

Moments after the decision was announced, Jimmy Mallo, who trains Sanders, seemed lukewarm toward a rematch. “It’s possible, but we’ll have to see,” he said. MORE

 

Fight fans, print this downloadable voucher, then present it at the door on fight night to receive one free admission.

Showdown in Motown October 17!

Women’s Superfight Rematch for the IFBA Light Middleweight title
at Palace of Auburn Hills
 

In a 10-round rematch of the two best active female boxers in the sport, Detroit icon Mary Jo Sanders (25-1, 8 KOs) will face New Mexico’s Holly “Preacher's Daughter” Holm (22-1-2, 6 KOs), on Friday, October 17 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan.

In June of this year, Sanders, the six-time champion in four different weight divisions, was dealt her first career loss in five years as a professional. Fighting in her backyard of the Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque, Holm scored a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Sanders and won the IFBA Junior Middleweight world title.

This time, however, the Detroit native vows the outcome will be drastically different.

Sanders says she didn’t to stick to her game plan in the first fight and is eager to avenge the loss and recapture the IFBA title. “I've been given a second chance with this rematch and intend to take advantage of it.

Sanders, the Ring Magazine Female Fighter of the Year, is the former WBC, IBA and WIBA Welterweight; WIBA Junior Middleweight and current IBA Middleweight World Champion. The formidable Holm has held the IBA Light Welterweight; WIBA, WBC, IFBA, WBA, and IBA Welterweight; and IBA Light Middleweight Championships.

The “Showdown in Motown”, promoted by Donofrio Boxing in association with KO World Class Boxing, will headline an exciting night of professional boxing at the Palace of Auburn Hills. MORE

Mary Jo Sanders Aches for Rematch

She'll fight Holm at Palace Oct. 17

BY MIKE BRUDENELL • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Detroit's Mary Jo Sanders will get her shot at ring redemption, and she'll do it at the home of the Pistons in Auburn Hills.

Sanders will meet New Mexico's Holly (Hottie) Holm at the Palace on Oct. 17 in a rematch Sanders is aching for and one Holm says will once again embarrass Motown's queen of boxing.

In June, Sanders (25-1, 8 KOs) lost to Holm (22-1-2, 6 KOs) in Albuquerque, her first defeat in what had been a dream run until then.

Tyner Serves Pain to Abadia

by Andre Courtemanche at ringside

photos by Bob Ryder and Andy Kochanowski

Undefeated lightweight Lanardo “Pain Server” Tyner sent a clear message to rival Vernon “Iceman” Paris last night at Donofrio Boxing’s “Fire & Ice” event at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan.

With the injured Paris watching from ringside, Tyner used a fearsome body attack to dispose of normally durable Panamanian Victorio Abadia 1:44 into the first round of the night’s main event.

Credit trainer Frank Tate, as Tyner has been showing steady improvement over the past year. From roots as a crude brawler, the 32 year old has evolved into a highly effective pressure fighter with crowd-pleasing power. He advanced behind a smart jab, manoeuvred Abadia into a corner and floored him with a wind-sapping hook to the body.

Moving in for the kill after Abadia rose still looking for his breath, Tyner fired two more shots to the belt line that put the Panamanian down for good.

Abadia’s corner complained of low blows but most ringside observers felt the KO legitimate.

“The Pain Server” is now 19-0, 11 KOs. Abadia falls to 22-7, 8 KOs.

Negotiations for Tyner and Paris to finally face off are still underway, with a late summer, early fall date projected. MORE

PARIS INJURED, TYNER STEPS UP

TO MAIN EVENT!

The Donofrio Boxing “FIRE & ICE” card that was to feature Detroit’s two hottest lightweights, scheduled for Friday, February 1 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, was dealt a blow this week when undefeated Vernon “The Iceman” Paris announced he had suffered a hand injury.

Paris (17-0, 12 KOs) was scheduled to face Mexican veteran Roberto Valenzuela in the eight-round main event Friday, but is now forced to withdraw. Taking his place on top of the show will be his bitter rival, also undefeated Lanardo “Pain Server” Tyner (18-0, 10 KOs).

Promoter Joseph Donofrio says that while the loss of Paris is a disappointment, what’s left is still a very solid night of boxing for the fight-hungry Motown fans. “Lanardo Tyner never even asks who he’s fighting. He just says ‘get me a fight.’ We had him paired up with a guy (Panama’s Victorio Abadia) who is 22-6-2 with 8 knockouts before we had matched any of the four-round fights on the undercard! For a kid who is looking at a big-money showdown with Vernon Paris later this year, that’s a pretty impressive opponent to take on. That’s the kind of fighter Lanardo is.”

In addition to Tyner’s battle with Abadia, Detroit’s undefeated middleweight knockout artist Brian “The Lion” Mihtar will return for a six-round scrap with Ukraine’s Mikhall Lyubarsky.

Also scheduled for the undercard are Michigan veterans Bernard Harris and Chris Grays in a welterweight battle; a super lightweight double-pro debut between Sterling Heights, Michigan’s Luigi Gjokaj and St. John’s, Michigan’s Angel Mondujano; the super featherweight pro debut of Kingsville, Ontario’s Anna Jayne Mc Neil vs. Tennessee’s Melinda Woody and a super lightweight four-rounder between Brant, Michigan’s Cory Hall and West Palm Beach, Florida’s Howard Davis Jr.-trained Trevor Latulas.

Known for going the extra mile in his well-attended shows, Donofrio says he’ll also have live entertainment and a high-energy dance troupe performing for the fans.

“We’ve still got a top-quality night of boxing going on and the thousands in attendance will most certainly get their money’s worth. Watching Lanardo Tyner and the relentless way he overpowers his opponents will make for an excellent preview of the Tyner-Paris fight. In all, we’re very proud to be putting on a show that’s so packed with local talent.”

Premium tickets for “FIRE & ICE” are priced at $85.00 front row, $75.00 ringside, $50.00 VIP and $25.00 reserved, and are on sale now at www.palacenet.com, The Palace Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. For more information, visit www.donofrioboxing.com. Doors will open on fight night at 6:30 pm. The action starts at 7:30 pm.

FIRE & ICE AT THE PALACE

 “ICEMAN” PARIS AND “PAIN SERVER” TYNER APPEARING IN CO-MAIN EVENTS AT THE PALACE OF AUBURN HILLS FEBRUARY 1, 2008.

MIHTAR ALSO IN ACTION!

On February 1, Detroit-based promoter Joseph Donofrio of Donofrio Boxing will return for “FIRE & ICE” a five-bout night of professional boxing at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Co-headlining will be Detroit’s two hottest undefeated lightweight prospects, Vernon “The Iceman” Paris (17-0, 12 KOs) and Lanardo “The Pain Server” Tyner (18-0, 10 KOs) in separate bouts. The two sharp-punching Motowners have been sniping at each other publicly for quite some time and the Palace event will serve as a preview to their showdown, currently being discussed for later this year.

Aside from being a staple on Fox Sports’ televised boxing, Paris is best known for surviving being shot three times in 2006 and returning to the ring just two months later. The 20 year old made seven ring appearances in 2007, scoring six knockouts.

Tyner, a relentless pressure fighter, scored the most impressive win of his career last September when he stopped normally durable veteran Marteze Logan in nine brutal rounds. Fearless, with an all-action style, Tyner has become a favorite of Michigan fight fans. MORE

Joseph Donofrio

CEO, Donofrio Boxing

People ask me why I got into promotions and I always tell them that boxing in our city and in general has been on the decline for many years and I’d like to try and reverse that trend.

It’s my belief that boxing isn’t dying, only poor-quality boxing. With so many other entertainment choices available to ticket buyers, why would anyone spend their hard-earned money to watch a series of mismatches and first-round knockouts?

The Donofrio Boxing philosophy is simple: Give everyone who buys a ticket the best night of professional boxing possible by providing competitive match-ups featuring the most exciting young fighters in the sport.

It was an unforgettable night of boxing many years ago that made me a life-long fan and I hope I can do the same for others who are discovering the sport at my shows.

Thank you, and please enjoy your visit to my site.

Watch a TV commercial for our last fantastic event!

Tyner Stops Logan!
 

by Andre Courtemanche at ringside
photos by Bob Ryder
 

Detroit lightweight Lanardo "Pain Server" Tyner scored an impressive ninth-round TKO over normally durable veteran Marteze “Too Sweet” Logan of Tennessee in the main event of the "Boxing Under the Stars" event Friday at Meadow Brook Music Festival in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

A vocal crowd estimated at more than 3,000 showed up for promoter Joe Donofrio's outdoor fight night.

The heavy-handed Tyner (17-0, 12 KOs) set to work on battering the body of Logan early, then later switched to the head. He dropped Logan in the first with a right hand and again in Round Eight with a combination. At the bell to start the ninth, an exhausted Logan (25-30-2, 6 KOs) elected to stay on his stool. More