Louie Burke: Austin Trout Update

By Louie Burke

Since defeating Rigoberto Alvarez for the WBA World Light Middleweight Championship Title in February 2011, Austin ‘No Doubt’ Trout has been busy. Austin is busy establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Boxing Ring. He defended his World Championship Title against David the ‘Destroyer’ Lopez on June 2011 in a unanimous decision. Austin 'No Doubt' Trout is also busy living up to the responsibilities that a World Champion has to his community.

 In March, shortly after winning the World Championship, Austin Trout shaved his head bald to raise money to KO childhood cancer. This “St. Baldrick’s” fundraiser helps support research for finding cures for childhood cancers. Austin was honored to share the stage with courageous youngsters who were fighting for their lives against cancer.

 Shortly after “St. Baldrick’s“, Austin ‘No Doubt’ Trout donned a pair of running shoes, not for roadwork, but to participate in the March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon, raising money for worldwide programs to help prevent birth defects.

 A couple of weeks later, he slipped on a pair of shorts, not boxing shorts, but swimming shorts, to be the prize going into a Dunking Booth, for the “One Small Voice” organization, which raises money to educate and find a cure for diseases that cause blindness in children. The Champ got soakin’ wet for a great cause! In August, the Champ’s fancy footwork was tested in a ‘Zumba-thon’ for this great organization.

 After that, Mr. ‘No Doubt’ Trout put on the charm to meet and greet all the nice people that came to the “Habitat for Humanity” celebration. Habitat for Humanity is an organization that combats poverty by building eco-friendly homes for low-income families and victims of natural disasters.

 Then a couple of weeks later Austin “No Doubt” Trout was the guest at a “Meet and Greet the Champ” at the “Child Crisis Center”, striving for more community awareness of this organization. The “Child Crisis Center” helps prevent issues involving domestic violence, drugs and sexual abuse in children.

 Beginning September 2011, Austin Trout is serving on the Board of Directors for the Police Athletic League. This is an organization that is part of Austin’s roots in boxing. It was in the PAL Boxing Gym that Austin developed from a scrawny kid into a World Champion Boxer. His participation on the Board of Directors will ensure that other young kids have the same opportunities that he had.

 Then in November, he’ll be working on his fancy footwork, not in the ring, but on the dance floor, in Las Cruces’ version of dancing with the stars, “ Look Who’s Dancing!” mamboing and cha-cha-ing to raise money for New Mexico State University’s dance company.

 In December Austin Trout will play Santa Claus, giving brand new bikes away to the kids, whose families cannot afford to buy one. In the last 3 years Austin has participated in the “Jim Franklin Bike Give-Away,” already having given hundreds of bikes to underprivileged youth in the Las Cruces area.

 A full plate to say the least! When asked if the charities Austin’s involved in distract him from his grueling training regiment, he simply answers, “God gave me the opportunity to fight for, and win the World Championship! I feel God gave me that opportunity so I can help other people that are less fortunate than me or that might need a shoulder to lean on. I’m just a “Soldier of God”!

Trailer for the Documentary "Box or Die", Directed By: Uri Borreda

Posted here with the expressed permission of Uri Borreda

 Short Synopsis:By Uri Borreda

 This is the story of a 16 year old boy from Belgium, who was faced with the choice of boxing for survival. The story makes a curious turn at the boxing ring, where he meets Victor "Young" Perez, a Tunisian born Frenchman, and the first ever Jewish World Flyweight Champion, who had become a legend during his time. The story becomes even more amazing when it becomes apparent that the entire story takes place at the Auschwitz Death Camp between the years 1942-1945. The Jewish boy’s name is Noah Klieger, who is today 82 years old; a highly reputable reporter for the Yediot Aharonot daily newspaper; a reporter for the French Sports Magazine, L'EQUIPE; a former editor of the Sports Section of Yediot Aharonot; as well as a former chairman of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Team. The story is based on Noah's book “Dozen Rolls for Breakfast ".

Classic Boxing Movie: The Ring (1952)

You can read the review and synopsis for "The Ring" here.

Joseph Agbecko vs Abner Mares: The Complete Fight

Recap: Agbeko vs Mares - Bantamweight Tournament Final - SHOWTIME Boxing

Showtime Bantamweight Tournament: Joseph Agbecko vs Abner Mares

Courtesy of Showtime Boxing

Courtesy of Ringtv.com

By Randy De La O

Wow, I hardly know where to begin. Last night's fight, low blow's and questionable referring aside, was actually pretty good. Lot's of action and a good performance by both fighters, though for the most part the fight was dominated by Abner Mares. Joseph Agbecko, for his part, started coming on in the late rounds, though it was, perhaps, a case of too little too late.

 Mares, a bold fighter by nature, immediately took the fight to "King Kong" Agbecko, working the body (and more) with left hooks that would take their toll on Agbecko. Mares showed a good set of whiskers in the fight, especially in the fourth when Agbecko landed his best punch, a right hand flush on Mares' kisser, buckling him. His knees buckled but his will stood and Mares never lost a beat. Mares was simply in better form last night.

 Still, you can't get away from the low blows by Mares or the lousy referring by Russell Mora, Agbecko is correct when he says he was fighting both Mares and the referee. It eventually became uncomfortable to watch. I like Mares and I think he is a terrific fighter. It pained me to see him win like this. I don't think it was done intentionally and I do think that some of the low blows were caused by Agbecko holding Mares' head down, some of them were borderline, landing just at or below the belt line. Still, there were just too many actual low blows to ignore and Mares should have had a point or two deducted.

 The first knockdown by Mares, of Agbecko, was somewhat questionable but both sides could make a case for it's legitimacy but it was not the worst call I've seen. The second knockdown in the 11th round was too obvious to excuse. Not only was a point not deducted from Mares but it was called a knockdown by the usually competent Mora. That Mora allowed the fouls to continue without a point deduction was inexcusable and beyond belief. It was almost surreal.

 I don't know how the fight would have turned out if a point had been taken away from Mares. He might have become more aware and kept his punches up or he might not have, maybe Agbecko would have fought differently not having to worry about being hit low but we'll never know because Mora did not do his job. It was a bad night for everyone, though Mora was not without his own culpability, I couldn't help feel for him when he said, almost pleadingly to Jim Gray, "Hey, don't ruin my night for me". It was definitely a bad night for Agbecko who feels, and rightly so, that he unjustly lost his title. It was a bad night for fight fans at the Hard Rock Casino and at home watching the fight. Mora himself seemed almost puzzled by the questions from Jim Gray. Everyone was cheated out of a good and fair outcome. No pun intended but it was a low blow for boxing last night.

 Mares said he would give Agbecko a rematch. Let's hope that he's man of his word and that it happens soon. If ever a fighter deserves an immediate rematch, it's Agbecko.