http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/oliver_mccall/75281 Recent articles about Oliver McCall en-us LAS VEGAS—In the second night of Top Rank's boxing extravaganza in Las Vegas, local welterweight contender Jessie Vargas pounded out a 10 round unanimous decision over durable Vito Gasparyan of Glendale, Calif. at the Texas Station Gambling Hall on Friday night. Vargas did a lot of solid work to the body, which helped slow Gasparyan down much earlier than he would have liked. Gasparyan landed, but it was usually arm punches around the guard of Vargas rather than flush shots on the chin. Vargas opened up early in the fight and allowed Gasparyan catch him with solid counters. Vargas then adjusted his gameplan to fight more on the inside, as he was on Gasparyan's chest for much of the night. Predictably, Gasparyan took Vargas' best shots and moved forward, as the budding welterweight isn't known for his pop with a KO ratio of less than 50 percent. Vargas landed in combination on the inside, but never was able to move before getting hit with a counter. Gasp... Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:44:02 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/jessie_vargas_pounds_out_decision_over_vito_gasparyan/12390238 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/jessie_vargas_pounds_out_decision_over_vito_gasparyan/12390238 Jessie Vargas Pounds Out Decision Over Vito Gasparyan http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/jessie_vargas_pounds_out_decision_over_vito_gasparyan/12390238 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png (Thomas Hearns, with Emanuel Steward) The roster of acclaimed fighters Emanuel Steward trained, ones he built from scratch or rebuilt entirely or merely visited for a touch-up, never seems to stop scrolling down the screen: Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez, Miguel Cotto, Naseem Hamed, Gerald McClellan, Michael Moorer, Jermain Taylor, James Toney... but, as of today, the roster is complete. Steward passed away at age 68 Thursday. This is the kind of trainer Steward was: With Steward in Oliver McCall's corner, McCall beat Lewis. When Steward switched teams for a rematch, Lewis beat McCall. Before Steward came along, Klitschko was a talented but deeply flawed heavyweight. After Steward came along, following a brief rough patch, Klitschko became unbeatable. Steward's specialty was unrealistically tall fighters, but what he did with them varied; Hearns was an offensive juggernaut, a kill-or-be-killed ... Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:36:37 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/emanuel_steward_one_of_the_all_time_great_boxing_trainers_passes_away/12056551 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/emanuel_steward_one_of_the_all_time_great_boxing_trainers_passes_away/12056551 Emanuel Steward, One Of The All-Time Great Boxing Trainers, Passes Away http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/emanuel_steward_one_of_the_all_time_great_boxing_trainers_passes_away/12056551 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Top 5 Heavyweight Boxers from the 1990s The more time that passes, the more that boxing in the 1990s looks good. It gets a bad rap following one of the greatest decades, as the 80’s was a golden era for the sport. But the 90’s were better in certain areas--particularly in the heavyweight division. In the 80’s it was all about Holmes and Tyson for the most part. While it’s good for the sport to have a long-reigning supreme commander at the top, the 90’s had more parody, with the throne being contested by a group of big-name fighters who made for many memorable fights. 1. Evander Holyfield Credit: Gary Rothstein/Icon SMI In 1990, he became World Heavyweight Champion, a position he still held until late-1999. After winning the belt against Buster Douglas, he beat two still-dangerous ex-champs in George Foreman and Larry Holmes. He lost the belt to Riddick Bowe in 1992 in his first career loss, but regained it the next year in an inspirational decision win. Holyfield then had a bit o... Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:59:44 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/5_best_heavyweights_of_the_1990s/12000940 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/5_best_heavyweights_of_the_1990s/12000940 5 best heavyweights of the 1990s http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/5_best_heavyweights_of_the_1990s/12000940 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Junior middleweight Charles Whittaker hopes everyone underestimates his chances of beating Gabriel Rosado when the two collide Friday evening, Sept. 21, at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. The winner of the scheduled 12-round contest will become the No. 1 contender and official mandatory challenger for IBF world champion Cornelius K9 Bundrage. Whittaker, 38, of the Cayman Islands, has boxed under the radar during most of his 19-year career. His 38-12-2 record includes 23 knockouts, but he rarely has been in high-profile matches. "This fight means the world to me," Whittaker said. "I have paid my dues and ready to be number one in the world. After this fight I will challenge for the IBF 154 world title." Whittaker gained the No. 2 slot in the IBF ratings due to a pair of 12-round victories in his two most recent fights--over Keenan Collins, of Reading, PA, 14 months ago in the Cayman Islands for the vacant USBA junior middleweight title, and over Giorbis Bar... Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:01:29 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/charles_whittaker_looking_to_break_out_against_rosado_on_sept_21/11523961 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/charles_whittaker_looking_to_break_out_against_rosado_on_sept_21/11523961 Charles Whittaker looking to break out against Rosado on Sept 21 http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/charles_whittaker_looking_to_break_out_against_rosado_on_sept_21/11523961 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png At 6’ 2” and nearly 230lbs, Elijah McCall (10-1-1, 9 KOs), son of former heavyweight champion Oliver McCall, is a rising prospect with athleticism and dynamic punching power looking to make a name for himself in the heavyweight division. In The following interview that took place on June 30, 2012 at the Chicago Park District [...] Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:06:06 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/elijah_mccall_exclusive_interview_the_son_of_a_champion/11138663 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/elijah_mccall_exclusive_interview_the_son_of_a_champion/11138663 Elijah McCall exclusive interview: The son of a champion http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/elijah_mccall_exclusive_interview_the_son_of_a_champion/11138663 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png After a two-year hiatus from the ring (2010 to 2012), former heavyweight contender, Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) is back this Friday at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., with his second fight of the year against journeyman Joey Abell (28-5, 27 KOs). Oquendo has been in the ring with some of the top heavyweights of this era, including Evander Holyfield, James Toney, Chris Byrd, John Ruiz, and David Tua. Unfortunately, the Chicago-based Puerto Rican has lost to all of the top names on his resume. The 39-year-old's best victories have come against fringe contenders like David Izon, Javier Mora, Clifford Etienne, and Obed Sullivan, but hasn't scored a significant victory since a 2007 unanimous decision over Elieser Castillo. Most recently, Oquendo has lost two of his last three, dropping decisions to Jean-Marc Mormeck and Oliver McCall in 2010. The Minnestoa-based Abell has spent much of his seven-year career on the Minnesota club circuit, fighting opposition appropriate for the Minnesota club circu Wed, 23 May 2012 22:04:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/fres_oquendo_on_comeback_trail/10860422 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/fres_oquendo_on_comeback_trail/10860422 Fres Oquendo on comeback trail http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/fres_oquendo_on_comeback_trail/10860422 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/6/96bb8deacb213d39c94788f5586319e876267ee1/mini/Oquendo_v_Etienne_bad1.jpg "I'd love to fight Seth Mitchell, Chris Arreola or Bryant Jennings, but they don't want any part of me. Those guys will never step up to the plate." Fres Oquendo Chicago-based heavyweight veteran Fast Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) will take on Coon Rapids, Minnesota, southpaw Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell (28-5, 27 KOs) for the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Championship in the 10-round main event of Hitz Boxing's "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" event at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, this Friday, May 25. The 39-year-old two-time heavyweight title challenger and former NABF, NABA and USBA champion says his comeback is all about leaving boxing on a high note after suffering so many disappointing and highly controversial setbacks. In two of his last three fights, Oquendo lost decisions of the very debatable sort to former champion Oliver McCall and Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck, who went on to face Wladimir Klitschko in a big-money mat... Mon, 21 May 2012 12:50:37 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/oquendo_looking_to_end_career_on_a_high_note_land_another_big_fight/10839812 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/oquendo_looking_to_end_career_on_a_high_note_land_another_big_fight/10839812 Oquendo looking to end career on a high note & land another big fight http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/oquendo_looking_to_end_career_on_a_high_note_land_another_big_fight/10839812 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/6/9632de9d6fdfa2ed7db53cb009c2eb25d0d7bab7/mini/John_Ruiz_vs_0703.jpg Ten Greatest Heavyweights in Boxing History While one of the easiest lists to compile, with so many many hallmark names at the top, it is one of the more sticky rankings in the sport. The number one and two spots are easy enough, with an even argument on Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. After that, it is an absolute free-for-all with some of the giants from the past. This division, more than any other, requires one to ignore the head-to-head fantasy component. Let’s face it, what a heavyweight really is has changed drastically over the years. Up to 4 of the people on this top-ten might not even be a heavyweight in today’s era of 250-pound cyborgs. This division really forces one to be mindful of the fact that a fighter can only really be judged against his era. There are so many different factors and who’s to say which ones should carry more weight? One can go off any number of things, like accomplishments, won-loss record, quality of opposition, or a ton of other factors. Not to mentio... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:44:06 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_best_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9270806 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_best_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9270806 Top 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers of All-Time http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/top_10_best_heavyweight_boxers_of_all_time/9270806 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Helenius-Chisora Results & Povetkin-Boswell Results: The Night of the Heavyweights card took place in Helsinki, Finland, and was broadcast live to the United States on EPIX. In the first fight of the evening, Alexander Povetkin easily took care of Cedric Boswell to win by stoppage. In the second, Dereck Chisora seemingly punished Robert Helenius all night, but ended up losing a controversial split decision. Read on for the full Helenius-Chisora and Povetkin-Boswell results. Credit: Photo Wende Alexander Povetkin, Chekhov, Russia, defended his WBA Heavyweight Title with an 8th-round knockout of challenger Cedric Boswell, Atlanta via Detroit. Povetkin, 227, took charge from the beginning. Boswell offered a lively jab, but when Povetkin moved in close, he seemed lost and a bit overwhelmed. Boswell, a marginal choice as a challenger for a "world title," did about as well as he could. But there is a reason why the 42-year old's best moments in the ring in a 17+-year ... Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:52:53 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/chisora_robbed_in_helsinki_povetkin_wins_easy/8491972 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/chisora_robbed_in_helsinki_povetkin_wins_easy/8491972 Chisora Robbed in Helsinki, Povetkin Wins Easy http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/chisora_robbed_in_helsinki_povetkin_wins_easy/8491972 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/d/5d35f66934343cdaa543330ea75131b039899300/mini/BOXING_2010_7671.jpg Cedric Boswell is looking to become the first American boxer in five years to hold any of the major world heavyweight belts when he meets WBA champion Alexander Povetkin on Saturday. The 42-year-old Boswell has won 14 successive fights since the only loss of his career to Jameel McCline in 2003. The only win of note since then was a 10-round decision over then-45-year-old Oliver McCall in March. McCall won the WBC title from Lennox Lewis in 1994, defended it against Larry Holmes, then lost it to Frank Bruno the next year. Boswell, in the leadup to his first shot at one of the major belts, said ''the American dream will soundly defeat the Russian pretender.'' Povetkin took the vacant WBA title by beating Ruslan Chagaev on points in August. Wladimir Klitschko gave up the WBA title he won from David Haye when he was made a ''super champion'' by the WBA. Povetkin now faces Boswell, a former sparring partner. ''It will be an interesting fight for me, for everyone,' Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:20:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boswell_eyes_american_heavyweight_dream/8473324 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boswell_eyes_american_heavyweight_dream/8473324 Boswell eyes American heavyweight dream http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/boswell_eyes_american_heavyweight_dream/8473324 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Live world championship boxing returns to EPIX (follow @EPIXsports on Twitter for the latest updates on EPIX boxing) when newly-minted undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion ALEXANDER POVETKIN makes his first world title defense, against CEDRIC “The Boz” BOSWELL, Saturday, December 3. Presented by Sauerland Event, the live broadcast will emanate from Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland. The WBA heavyweight championship will be televised live in the U.S. exclusively on EPIX, the multiplatform premium entertainment service.  EpixHD.com will stream the fight live as part of a free two-week trial offer.  The live broadcast and the live stream on EPIX and EpixHD.com, respectively, will begin with the main event at the new time of 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT. Following the Povetkin-Boswell heavyweight title fight, the broadcast and live stream will continue with undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) and WBA Intercontinental heavyweight cha... Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:21:08 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/povetkin_boswell_to_be_broadcast_at_330_eastern_on_epix/8414080 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/povetkin_boswell_to_be_broadcast_at_330_eastern_on_epix/8414080 Povetkin-Boswell to be Broadcast at 3:30 Eastern on Epix http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/povetkin_boswell_to_be_broadcast_at_330_eastern_on_epix/8414080 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png On a night when undefeated records fell by the wayside, Mariusz Wach made sure at least one fighter escaped with his perfect record intact. Defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) International heavyweight title for the first time, Wach stopped pesky veteran Jason Gavern (21-9-4) at the 1:03 mark of the sixth round Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Arena to retain the belt and improve to 26-0 with 14 knockouts. Ranked No. 8 in the WBC, Wach knocked down Gavern in each of the first two rounds, but the Chicago native – ranked 29th in the WBC – fought back in the third and fourth and brought the raucous to its feet before Wach forced the stoppage in the closing minutes of the sixth. The Wach-Gavern heavyweight showdown, schedule for 12 rounds, was the main event of “November Reign,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports in association with Global Boxing and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. The show featured two upsets with Rick Dawson of New Haven, Conn., and former... Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:59:45 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/wach_defeats_gavern_majewski_upset/7902943 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/wach_defeats_gavern_majewski_upset/7902943 Wach Defeats Gavern, Majewski Upset http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/wach_defeats_gavern_majewski_upset/7902943 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Though he spent the duration of his training camp preparing to face former world champion Oliver McCall, undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach isn’t concerned with having to stand toe-to-toe with a new opponent Saturday night at Mohegan Sun. “I was looking forward to facing the former world champ,” Wach said at Friday’s weigh-in, “but I’ve trained hard and I’m ready to fight anyone. I look forward to putting on a great show for the fans.” Wach (25-0, 13 KOs) will now defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) International heavyweight title against 29th-ranked challenger Jason Gavern (21-8-4, 10 KOs) of Kissimmee, Fla., in the 12-round main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “November Reign” show, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 at the Mohegan Sun Arena and presented in association with Global Boxing and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. Both fighters clocked in at similar weights Friday; Wach weighed 248 pounds and Gavern tipped the scales at 248 ¼ pou Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:41:33 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wach_ready_for_anyone_including_late_sub_gavern/7885762 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wach_ready_for_anyone_including_late_sub_gavern/7885762 Wach Ready for Anyone, Including Late Sub Gavern http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/wach_ready_for_anyone_including_late_sub_gavern/7885762 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/2/b2d2f71bf0320966628e609b8fbb5f5f6f8a8042/mini/Press_Conference_Boxing_ced3.jpg What may seem like insurmountable odds for most fighters might wind up playing into Jason Gavern’s favor Saturday night as the Florida-based heavyweight prepares for the opportunity of a lifetime. The 34-year-old Gavern (21-8-4, 10 KOs), a Kissimmee, Fla., resident born in Harrisonburg, Va., will face undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach (25-0, 13 KOs) of North Bergen, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 for Wach’s World Boxing Council (WBC) International heavyweight title in the 12-round main event of “November Reign,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports in association with Global Boxing and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Wach was originally scheduled to face former world champion Oliver McCall in Saturday’s main event, but the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation was unable to license McCall, 46, so Gavern will answer the call on short notice, a trend he’s grown accustomed to in his professional c... Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:36:30 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/jason_gavern_steps_in_to_face_undefeated_mariusz_wach_on_saturday/7845385 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/jason_gavern_steps_in_to_face_undefeated_mariusz_wach_on_saturday/7845385 Jason Gavern Steps in to Face Undefeated Mariusz Wach on Saturday http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/jason_gavern_steps_in_to_face_undefeated_mariusz_wach_on_saturday/7845385 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png