SM: So what was the highlight of your amateur career? (Saturday Update: the fight is March 5th, in NJ at the Pru Center. They would all be less than they could be and so it was with boxing this year. 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. Me and my old trainer Walter Smith were driving on a trip somewhere and he asked me if I ever heard of a ring announcer or a radio guy named Iceman? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. r/boxing does not tolerate racism or intolerance of any kind. 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. Found this while looking up info on Milton McCrory Nice to see Beard as a trainer and McCrory at Chrsyler Corp. McCrory should've had a better career, but the Curry loss did him in. I think I could show people a whole lot about the mental discipline. This man is without a doubt one of the lesser known fighters on this list, but has a very interesting story. Jimmy Paul got me started in it. Guys like Mayweather, Pacquiao, even Sugar Shane Mosley are too small. Emanuel told Leonard later that he knew Milton would have beat him. Back in April 2008, the artillery shelled out was not enough to beat the Las Vegas fighter. MM: I was about twelve years old. Chambers was considered one of the bumper crop of up-and-coming young Kronk fighters, winning his first 16 fights, 11 by knockout, before losing to Bobby Joe In 1984 four Kronk team members of various weight classes were ranked world's top ten by AIBA: Steve McCrory #1 at 112 lbs, Mark Breland #1 at 147 lbs, Frank Tate #5 at 156 lbs, and Ricky Womack #3 at 178 lbs.[4]. 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. 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. Marcus The Irish Hand Grenade Davis (22-8) clashes with Jeremy Stephens (18-6) in another lightweight fight. Since his retirement, Couture has begun to dabble in acting and has starred in the Expendables series, as well as appearing on Dancing with the Stars. Red for the blood theyd sacrifice. SM: Milton it was a pleasure to speak with you, best of luck. 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. "(We're looking) for a boxing resurgence headed by Kronk," said Salita. They end up unconscious. This guy couldnt punch and I went down. : 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 Most of them worked hard and trained inside the famous Kronk Boxing Gym. The history, legacy, and former boxers are definitely part of Kronk Gym, but Rhonda Mitchell said the future of the gym is even better. SM: Did the hand affect your future bouts? SM: Milton last question, where did your nickname Iceman come from? 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. Shane Carwin was one of the scariest fighters in the UFCs Heavyweight division during his tenure. SM: What about the Mike McCallum fight? MM: Most of my early fights were knockouts. What: Detroit Brawl At The Legendary Kronk. 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. He had the chance and, you know, he took it and the time is now for me and Im prepared, said Maynard (11-0). Between his epic battles with Ken Shamrock and Chuck Liddell, Ortiz was almost always in the spotlight throughout his MMA career. 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. WOODS: I Think Pascal Will Beat HopkinsAnd Hopkins Couldn't Be Happier. Mayweather was momentarily in trouble for the first time in his career but the moment passed quickly and Mosley never had another. MM: Randy Shields, and then Pete Ranzany. I was way ahead of my time. I took the fight because I really thought I could beat Mike, even on short notice. SM: Was there ever any talk of you fighting the big dogs, like Duran, Leonard, and Hagler? That is until he clashed with Edgar. MM: Well I worked for Chrysler for about fifteen years. I sparred with guys at Kronk like Hearns, Hilmer Kenty and Caveman Lee. WebProbably the most experienced Kronk fighter is the 17-year-old Hearns, who's won 79 of 84 fights and is currently ranked third in the nation at 132 pounds. The fighters that emerged under the tutelage of the great Emanuel Steward are forever synonymous with the no-frills gym from which they hailed. What would the NFL be without the Super Bowl? Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. This is another fighter that technically hasnt retired, but is thought to be done with fighting. 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. 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. The UFC lightweight title is in Maynards bulls eye. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Heavyweight Apti Davtaev, 31, from Russia, is a big man (6-foot-7, 250 pounds) with a big punch, according to Salita. The Klitschko brothers continue to You have been icing them, said McCroy. 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. SM: Milton its great to speak with you. I still go to Kronk quite a bit though. WebWith all of that talent, Arthur Bernard Mays died an alcoholic pauper in 1994 at the age of 33, his brilliant talents withered. The bright red and yellow colors spell out the name Kronk Gym on the doors outside the boxing gym. Im watching football right now. The Iceman, as he was known, had a 105-15 record as an amateur. 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. Pete told me at the weigh-in I wasnt going to knock him out. About the fourth or fifth round I knew I was going to stop him soon. Mayweather is such a person as well, but for different reasons. 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. Middleweight: Timur Kerefov (8-0, 4 KOs) vs. Calvin Metcalf (10-4-1, 3 KOs), eight rounds. 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. I had about two weeks notice. You don't have to box to be a part of ESCOT. Shamrock has been out of MMA competition since 2010, was dabbling in pro wrestling again, and was thought to have been retired from the sport of MMA. MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Every time you see a Kronk fighter, you can expect to see something special. The world took notice. 15 15. 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 fought Lupe Aquino after that and got dropped a couple times and lost a split decision. Specifically, those guns were four Colt Mk 12 20mm cannons, backed up by four AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking When I went to Vegas to start training they cancelled my bout because of it. 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. The bout ended in a draw and McCrory would win the rematch five months later. The roof was destroyed and the basement gym was heavily damaged. After a few minutes he told me Man you have really been icing those guys lately. It involves athletes from across the world. October 19, 2010. Now Festival. 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. You know, if I keep winning fights, the respect will come eventually, said Edgar during a conference call. Detroit, and Kronk, They were living on the far West Side at the time, and there happened to be a gym nearby. "All the guys A victory by either fighter could mean a ticket to the big time. SHOWTIME did all it could to further the future of the sport, offering up a continuation of its interminably long but still bold Super Six super middleweight tournament as well as the launching of a short form bantamweight tournament which already gave fans to two stirring and surprising finishes with Joseph Agbeko decisioning Jhonny Perez and Abner Mares upsetting Victor Darchinyan in a battle of contusions. I Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. MM: I trained some amateurs from about 2001-2004. The history and accolades of Kronk are all around the gyms wall. During the fight I was throwing some real punches but he never went down. 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. 2. Along the way, Segura defeated one of the great minimum weight fighters in history, slick Ivan Calderon, to win the belt on Aug. 28. I found out my nose was broke my first week of training in Arizona. Edgar (13-1) has emerged from the milieu of nondescript MMA fighters to become one of the more brilliant performers for Ultimate Fighting Championship. "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. Riojas has already called out Shishskin. Couture was 47 years old when he finally retired from the sport. Another 35 fighters came to Kronk from the suburbs, other states and other countries to be trained by Steward, and left. He is regarded as a fantastic coach, so we wouldnt be surprised to see him hang up the gloves for good and continue to coach the next generation of fighters. Having said that, the sport was not without its signature moments. News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. I just wasnt what I used to be. The man was never invovled in a boring fight and was famous for his overhand right that put many men to sleep. We said ok, went down to the gym and never stopped boxing. The reason Georges is on this list is because of the huge impact he has had on the sport since his departure. If so, you have come to the right place. Twenty five knockouts. The door itself spoke to all Of toil and determination. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. WebKronk style is affective aggression behind good fundamentals. MM: I wasnt 100% for that one either. Gold for the titles theyd win. The only difference in the second fight was that I knocked him down. Brian Ebersole. Click here to see the full KRONK x ROOTS collab. Its a perfect time. Can he survive Guida? Boxings greatest era was awash in the Kronk colors of gold and red. They were six and nine at the time and I missed my kids, wanted to be around more. ), We are very happy that Zab has the opportunity to fight for the IBF Junior Welterweight title right here in New Jersey. But its inside the gym where that respect is earned and given. He later appeared as the IBF Championships Chairman, Lindsay Tucker explained, It is a 50-50 split of the earnings between the two fighters. SM: You keep up on boxing today? 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. Welcome to r/boxing, the official home of pro boxing on Reddit! Kronk's Vladimir Shishkin of Detroit (10-0, 6 KOs), via Russia, will take on Oscar Riojas (21-13-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight main event. Lastly, boxing gave us another magical cinematic moment as well with the release of The Fighter, a film based on the life and hard times of junior welterweight scrapper Micky Ward. He is also the first ever victor of a UFC fight, as his fight was first on that fateful night. [3], Kronk began to earn fame during the late 1970s, when prospects like Hilmer Kenty, Thomas Hearns and Mickey Goodwin trained there. GSP is one of the leading advocates of a sport clean from PEDs and is thought to have been a major catalyst ofthe recent crackdown on PEDs in the UFC. There are some big names with ties to Kronk Gym. He came up in the original KRONK Gym as part of the original ESCOT (Emanuel Steward Champions of Tomorrow) in the early 1980's. Look at the welterweights today like Mayweather. Judah (39-6, 26 KOs) is promoted by Main Events and his own firm Super Judah Promotions, and Branco Milenkovic, of South Africa, promotes Mabuza (23-6-3, 14 KOs). They are two of the sports brightest young prospects because each comes to the arena the old-fashioned way carrying nothing but bad intentions.Aggression and knockouts still sell boxing faster than anything else and each exhibited plenty of both this year and left fans wanting to see more. February 2, 2022 / 4:10 PM It seems that Kronk, which served countless thousands of at-risk youth, would die along with the man who dedicated his life to it. Maynard seeks to find out if Edgar has added any more fighting tools to his repertoire. Kerefov is a contending middleweight, and junior welterweight Shohjahon Ergashev of Uzbekistan is ranked No. It was named after a former city councilman, John F. Kronk. In this list, we'll look at the Top 15 Where are they now stories in MMA. Theres so much history here, that you just dont want to see this thing forgotten," Wayne mayor John Rhaesa said. MM: You know I was supposed to fight on the first Leonard-Hearns undercard. Were not going anywhere, were here to stay, Mitchell said. Says a lot about the fate of fighters and African-American men from the inner city. Fikes was a fantastic fighter and now trainer of his own. The larger issue is what does it say about a sport when it cannot deliver its top event? He trained 41 World Champion fighters throughout his career at Kronk Gym. Please enter valid email address to continue. It may not prove to be much of a fight but at least it will give us something to talk about for a few months. He was just 13 years old. Of a speed bag bouncing in rhythm from a muted distance. 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. 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. "I work with (Kronk trainer and Emanuel's nephew) Sugar Hill (Steward) and we're talking about: 'That's what we want to bring back:quality, high-level fights.' Whatever Haye and the Klitschkos decide the fighter with the most upside at the moment however seems to be Sergio Martinez. #PainAndFame. McCrory (35-4-1 with 25 KOs) was no match for Curry and lost his title via a knockout in round two. And it's part of thelarger push to showcase the next wave of Kronk fighters. Through ESCOT (Emanuel Steward Champions of Tomorrow), originally started in the 1970s and now reborn as KRONK's official youth development program, kids across Metro Detroit can become champions in life. He is still seen by many as the best Heavyweight of all time. UFC 125 will be televised on pay-per-view. After being named Kronk Recreation Center's head boxing coach, Emanuel's team would go on to produce 41 World Champion fighters throughout his career. Please read the rules before posting/commenting. Former Boxing Champion Milton McCrory started boxing and training at Kronk Gym in 1975. Totowa, NJ Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO, announced their promotional firm won the purse bid held at IBF headquarters in East Orange, NJ, Thursday. thesweetscience.com All rights reserved. Few predicted Frankie Edgar would grab the UFC lightweight championship last year but he did. He is a former champion in both the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions and is without a doubt one of the most influential fighters in the UFC. 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. MM: Duran and Pipino Cuevas turned me down. I was bleeding early in that fight. SM: After several title defenses you ran into Donald Curry. He made me piss blood. He would lose one last world title bout in 1987 against WBA World light middleweight champ Mike McCallum and retired in 1991. 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. It was only the heavier welterweights he had problems against. The seven-bout card will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass, beginning at 7 p.m. For the second straight year the sport could not deliver The Fight, the only one fans universally wanted and even casual fans craved the mix between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao. WebThis has led to a lot of his fighters being great technicians with by the book technique and the ability to carry it through to the later rounds with a clear mind. Former KRONK legends were in the house to watch the next generation of young KRONK stars in action. Though Maynards record indicates he is unbeaten thats not entirely true. ET Saturday on I did 50/50 or so with them so I thought I had the edge on most fighters. 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. GSP is without a doubt one of the best fighters of all time and perhaps the most popular fighter in UFC history. Kronk kept producing champions into the 1990s before the focus of the sport began changing, with the prominence of American fighters waning. Throughout his career in PRIDE, Cro Cop was known for his absolutely hellacious left high kick. SM: After the McCallum fight you fought only six times in the next four years. The one night he appeared in a boxing ring, he set the years pay-per-view standard against Shane Mosley while also leaving a first hint of dark mystery when he was staggered by two stinging right hands in the second round. I thought that his punches werent doing anything to me but after the fight I pissed blood. After the Robert Curry fight in 1991 I hung it up. Fedor retired in 2012, but still remains the head of the Russian MMA union. The two have unfinished business that should be settled this year if Arum stops standing in the way. The On October 7, 2017, the original Kronk Gym went up in flames in a suspicious fire. I remember thinking earlier in the fight that the guy couldnt really punch. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Her father was a well known American boxer, trainer and commentator for HBO Boxing. And thats what I thought going in against Jones, but he had the edge in experience. The Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury rematch takes place at 9 p.m. MM: Yes, Im a fighter so I do quite a bit. SM: Whats in the future for you Milton? Taurrek Fikes, Boxing Coach at Dungeon Boxing, joins Jackie Paige on Community Connect to talk about his days training at KRONK Gym under Emanuel Steward and the kind of impact Steward had on his life. None is dead or in jail. Alvarez is already a star in Mexico without having yet won a world title and Rios is the definition of promise. Whether the star will continue to shine and promise will be fulfilled may be answered next year and so we wait anxiously to find out. March 26, 2022 at the Inkster Recreational Complex, First published on February 2, 2022 / 4:10 PM. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Get in on the latest boxing conversations in our Forum and comment on articles. As the end of another year approaches, theres no need to invoke Charles Dickens to describe what went on in boxing. He is also the author of his biography, titled Bar Brawler., Coming in at number one on this list is the Russian Heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko. The name itself carries the aura. Pete was the first to take me ten rounds, he was tough. 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. Mark Hominick is one of the more recent retirements on this list. Kronk opened a second gym in Tucson, Arizona during the 1990s. Boxing, fitness, youth development, media, and more are all here at KRONK. Get the official KRONK gear, like this custom-made gym bag. What most people dont know is that the biggest MMA organization in the world, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championshp), has actually been around for over 20 years, so the sport does have a fairly extensive history. 10, according to the World Boxing Council, and others. "I've known Emanuel since I was a kid," said Salita, who was born in Russia. A "Save the Kronk" campaign aimed at keeping the facilities from closing due to budget shortfall was spearheaded by Emanuel Steward. But after he died in 2012, the biggest void possible staredat the remaining crew. By the time Ebersole joined the UFC, he was already a veteran of more than 60 pro MMA fights. Webportland, maine country club membership fees woman's world horoscope for this week Read on and enjoy! I guess I would like to maybe get back into boxing. Huerta, like Ebersole, is also a head trainer at Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand. Foo Fighters, the Killers to Hit the Beach for 2023 Sea. It's the same bag used by Emanuel Steward and all the champions. SM: So how did it all start for you, boxing? As the Olympics draw nearer, Steward is teaching Hearns to become more than a two-punch fighter. WebCareer Kronk Gym. He used simple grit and toughness to win fights and that resonated with the fans. Stephens needs a win too. Of grunts, of groans from some of the amateurs growing up, and also some of the greatest boxers who ever lived. The amateurs played a big part of my life. 43 years ago this month, KRONK crowned our first world champion! Hominicks last fight was in late 2012, and since then, he has been hard at work to become an entrepreneurial success. College basketball without March Madness? [6], The new facility opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2015 at 9520 Mettetal St.[7], On August 20, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions on sports events, the gym hosted its first ever professional boxing event, a long-time dream held by Steward. ". In general, Hispanics fighters continued to dominate much of the sports front pages with Juan Manuel Marquezs two victories in lightweight title fights leading that storyline. Steward accused Smith, the high-flying 1970s promoter who served 5 1/2 years in federal prison for embezzling $21.3 million from Wells Fargo Bank, of talking Hearns into leaving Kronk. Shawn Murphy. 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. SM: As a pro who was your first real test? It reopened in 2015. Some fighters currently trained by Serra are UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman, as well as TUF finalist Al Iaquinta. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It was just a different era; its just hard to compare us to todays guys. The bout will be part of a PPV card. Marlon Harrington is a Golden Gloves champ, and Jermaine Franklin, a 26-year old heavyweight from Saginaw, is unbeaten after 20 fights. "If those walls would talk ," he said. After my third fight my trainer, Walter Smith, said, You have been knocking them out.