LAX Crowne Plaza: Weigh-in with Abie Han and Louie Burke

Yesterday Jeri and I drove down to the Stubhub Center (formerly the Home Depot Center) in Carson to pick up our tickets for tonight's fights.between J.C. Chavez Jr. and Andrzej Fonfara. It will be nice seeing Chavez Jr. fight but the real reason we're going is to see Abraham "Abie" Han vs Fernando Guerrero. Han is trained by my cousin Louie Burke, so this is family.

After getting the tickets we drove to the LAX Crowne Plaza for the weigh-in and to spend some time with Louie. We had a chance to meet Abie. What a great young man. What my old late trainer, Mel Epstein, would call - a deserving guy!. We'll be rooting for him tonight. He looks to be in great shape, and confident.

We had lunch, took a walk and then we left so they could get back to the business at hand. Best of luck to Abie Han tonight!

A Night of Champions: New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame and Las Cruces Police Athletic League (PAL) Press Release

Date: June 25, 2013

Contact: Lorenzo Alba

Phone: 575.654.4170

Email: lalbajr@gmail.com

Website: ANightofChampions.com

Event Poster attached

New Mexico Boxing Legends to be

Honored in Las Cruces this Friday for Local Charity.

"A Night of Champions" is a dinner & ceremony fundraising event presented by the Las Cruces Police Athletic League (PAL) and the New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame scheduled to take place on Friday June 28, 2013 at the Las Cruces Convention Center. For the first time ever, the greatest names in New Mexico boxing history are scheduled to be under one roof as the New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame inducts its five newest members. The new inductees will include former world champions: Bob Foster, Danny Romero, Johnny Tapia, Holly Holm and Austin Trout. Currently, all but Foster have committed to being at the event, with Teresa Tapia representing her late husband, Johnny Tapia.

Tickets are available online at ANightofChampions.com or at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Avenue in Las Cruces. Proceeds from both events will go to the Las Cruces PAL Boxing Club, a non-profit program that for over 40-years, has taken “at-risk” youth off the streets and taught them discipline through boxing. 

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a VIP pre-party, when attendees will have the opportunity to meet the inductees along with complementary drinks. The NM Hall of Fame ceremony will begin at 7 p.m., with dinner being served to all attendees.

Ticket prices are as follows:

·      $50 - Ceremony & Dinner

·      $100 – Ceremony & Dinner plus VIP Pre-Party entrance

·      $600 – Reserved table for up to 10 people for Hall of Fame event *

·      $1100 – Reserved table for up to 10 people for Hall of Fame event plus VIP Pre-Party entrance *

*Tables will only be sold online or by contacting Lorenzo Alba atlalbajr@gmail.com

 The Austin Trout Youth Boxing Classic, a regional amateur boxing event celebrating boxing in the Southwest, will be held on Saturday June 29, 2013 beginning at 2 p.m. 

Admission for the boxing event is as follows (sold at door):

•  $10 - Admission

•  $15 - Admission w/ access to beer tent

•   $1 - 4yrs & younger

  

For more information on both events, please visit ANightOfChampions.com or contact Las Cruces PAL Director, Lorenzo Alba, Jr. at lalbajr@gmail.com

Recap: Canelo Alvarez vs. Austin Trout - SHOWTIME Boxing - Omar Figueroa vs. Abner Cotto

Austin Trout vs Canelo Alvarez: Alvarez wins a 12 Round Decision

Kudos to both Austin Trout and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for putting on a good show at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday night. Both guys show class and heart during the fight, especially Trout after getting caught with a right hand and knocked down during the seventh round. He was hurt but to his credit he was immediately back in the fight and in my eyes, won the rest of the round. Alvarez, for his part, showed some resolve in the fight. I don't think he won the fight but he did better than I thought he would.

Overall, I thought Trout outworked and out hustled Canelo for most of the fight. Watching the fight I had the feeling that the onus was on Trout to take the fight to Alvarez. Both fighters were champions going in but I think that Trout was given the role of a contender and therefore had to take the fight to Alvarez and win convincingly, he had to take the title, so to speak or the fight was going to go to Alvarez. That's not to say that it was a robbery. It was a close fight and many of the rounds were hard to judge. I just happen to think the wrong guy got the win. Speaking of judging, what fight was judge Stanley Christodoulou watching? He scored the fight an atrocious 109-118 in favor of Alvarez.

Both Trout and Alvarez showed good sportsmanship after the fight. Though he he clearly believed he won the fight, Alvarez did not gloat or boast and Trout accepted the judges decision with class.

Will there be a rematch? I hope so. It's my guess that Canelo Alvarez will not want to face Austin Trout again any time soon. Why would he risk it?

As for Austin? We have not seen the last of him. You can't keep a good man down and he will be back. You can take that to the bank!!

Also, look to see more of Omar Figueroa who looked spectacular in the short time we saw him, knocking out the undefeated Abner Cotto of Puerto Rico in the first round. Smart, articulate and charismatic, he handled himself well inside the ring and in his interview.

Austin Trout vs Saul "Canelo" Alvarez

Suffering from a mean headache right now. I hope it's gone before Austin Trout and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez get it on tonight at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.  Both fighters look to be in great shape. With their contrasting styles it has all the makings of a great fight. I think it's that contrast in styles that will make all the difference in the world for Trout.  He has more options than Alvarez, more overall skills to draw upon. Alvarez is at his best with a stationary target. Trout will make his stand tonight and he can fight on the inside when he has to but he will not be a stationary target for Alvarez. Trout will win tonight by a 12 round unanimous decision or a late round knockout from an accumulation of punches. Either way, I see Trout winning this fight.  

Spotlight on Trainer Louie Burke

A great video on my primo (cousin) Louie Burke. He's the real deal. Our family and this site supports him in all he does!!

Austin Trout Day-Las Cruces, New Mexico

December 15, 2012 Austin Trout Day in the Land of Enchantment. Celebrating Austin Trout's victory over former champion Miguel Cotto. Congratulations to Austin Trout and the the state of New Mexico. This is how you treat a world champion.

Parade for Austin Trout. Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Austin Trout and trainer Louie Burke

Austin Trout Championship Parade, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Austin "No Doubt" Trout Press Conference

Fight Night: Trout vs Cotto

Austin Trout vs Miguel Cotto - Recap - Showtime Boxing

Miguel Cotto: A Fghter and His Son!!

Miguel Cotto doing his best to console his son.

By Randy De La O

The hurtful downside of boxing. I feel for his son. You know his father is his hero. Man, this photo really touches me. To Miguel Cotto, nothing to be ashamed of, you fought the good fight. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose, you've had a great career and you are a shoo in for the Hall of Fame! To his son: Your Pops will always be a hero, nothing can change that!! He did things most men couldn't or wouldn't.

Now I understand why Cotto was in a hurry to leave the ring. He had bigger things to contend with. Family will always come first to a real man!

Austin "No Doubt" Trout vs Miguel Cotto: Trout by Unanimous Decision

Miguel Cotto,  Louie Burke and Austin "No Doubt" Trout at the end of the 12th round.
At Madison Square Garden, New York

By Randy De La O


Last Saturday night, December 1, at Madison Square Garden in New York, Austin Trout, from Las Cruces, New Mexico, successfully defended his WBA Super welterweight/junior middleweight title against always tough, former champion Miguel Cotto, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, with a 12 round unanimous decision. Trout was the champion but he was definitely the underdog going into this fight.

In the weeks leading up to the fight Trout and his trainer Louie Burke expressed their confidence in a victory. Trout, who has made it a habit of beating fighters on their home turf seemed undisturbed with fighting Cotto at the Garden, where Miguel Cotto is so popular he has out sold Muhammad Ali as a headliner.

Cotto, recently coming off a successful rematch with Antonio Margarito and with an exceptionally strong performance in his loss to Floyd Maywether was equally confident. Perhaps a little too confident and thinking ahead to a fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Still, you could hardly blame him, he was building momentum leading up to this fight.

I personally took some exception with certain boxing customs and protocol that were broken leading up to the fight. The fight was billed as Miguel Cotto vs Austin Trout. Traditionally, it is the champion who receives first billing. A minor gripe maybe, and a far second to entering the ring first, as well as being introduced first. These are privileges given to a reigning champion. Privileges that have been earned. I have no doubt that was negotiated but it's a safe bet it will never happen again.

Trout, who is known as an defensive fighter came out aggressively in the first round, and maintained that aggressiveness throughout most of the fight. It was no surprise to anyone that Trout would use his jab, hand speed and counter punching abilities in his fight with Cotto. What was a surprise was his willingness to trade punches on the inside and even more surprisingly, beating Cotto on the inside. Trout was consistently going to the body and using effective combinations throughout the fight.

Cotto had his best rounds in the middle of the fight where, for a time, he seemed to be gaining some momentum in the fight and possibly turning things around. By round 7 Trout seemed to regain control of the fight and was again dictating the tempo. He maintained control for the remainder of the fight.

That's not to say Cotto did not have his moments, he did, but overall Trout never seemed hurt or in trouble during this fight. Trout, maybe remembering where he was, closed the show with a strong finish in the 12th round. When the fight was over I don't think even the biggest fans of Miguel Cotto were in doubt of the outcome. Judges Steve Weisfeld and John Poturaj had it 117-111 in favor of Austin Trout, judge Adalaide Byrd also had the fight in Trout's favor with a score of 119-109.

The thing about scores is they don't always tell the whole story. I think Austin won most of the rounds but a few of them were close. They were hard fought rounds by both fighters. Both fighters had to dig down but in the end Trout dug a little deeper. Both fighters are deserving of respect. I don't know if this was a “Last Hurrah” for Cotto but if it was it was the only good way to go out, still on his feet, against a young strong champion out to prove he is the best, not unlike the Miguel Cotto of a few years back. It was the passing of the torch. Best of luck to both fighters in all they do and thanks for a great fight!!

Congratulations to Austin Trout for a great performance, as well as trainer/cornerman Louie Burke, Randy "Moose" Gomez and the rest of Team Trout. Congratulations Las Cruces, New Mexico!

Austin Trout vs Miguel Cotto

Austin Trout (Defending his WBA Super welterweight Title) vs Miguel Cotto

12 Rounds, December 1, 2012

Madison Square Garden, New York

By Randy De La O

There is no denying that Miguel Cotto  of Puerto Rico, will be the biggest test in New Mexico's Austin Trout's professional career. For the better part of the last decade, Cotto has been at the forefront of the elite fighters, losing only to Antonio Margarito, Manny Paquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. In both the Margarito and Pacquiao fights, he was severely beaten, however he did avenge his loss to Margarito in a rematch last December when the fight was stopped due to swelling and damage to Margarito's eyes. During the course of his career Cotto has faced and fought the best, including  Zab Judah, Sugar Shane Mosley, Ricardo Mayorga, Joshua Clottey, Alfonso Gomez and many others

Austin Trout, fighting as a professional since 2005 is one boxing's newest and freshest face. Trained by  New Mexico native and former boxer Louie Burke his entire amateur and professional career, he is well prepared for whatever awaits him this Saturday night in his fight with Miguel Cotto. Much has been written since the fight was signed about Madison Square Garden and New York  in general, being Cotto's home turf, but Trout has been there before, winning the title in Guadalajara, Mexico with a hard fought 12 round unanimous decision against tough Mexican Rigoberto Alvarez (older brother of Saul Alvarez), and then held his first title defense in San Luis Potosi, Mexico against native Mexican David Lopez. Trout has entered the lion's den before. The concept is nothing new to him.

Still, Trout will need all his focus and confidence to beat Cotto. No easy task but definitely doable. Trout has never lost a fight. He holds the title. He has the height and hand speed advantage and he has youth on his side. He is a good defensive fighter. If it becomes a battle of attrition I have to believe that the man who has been beaten thrice will have a harder time digging deep.

All that of course means absolutely nothing. Each man will fight for his own destiny and future. Nothing that you or I believe will change anything. It's up to them. Me? I'm going with Austin Trout. I think that Miguel Cotto will bring out the very best in Austin Trout. Look for a good hard fought 12 rounds.

Austin Trout, Miguel Cotto Make Weight

Photo Courtesy of Showtime Boxing

Courtesy of Fightnews .com

Showtime Boxing : Cotto vs. Trout: News Update

Louie Burke on Austin Trout, Miguel Cotto and his New Mexico Hall of Fame Induction

Congratulations to my cousin Louie Burke for his Induction into the New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame. A well deserves honor!

Here is a link to an article on Louie Burke's induction in SOUTHWESTFIGHTNEWS.

All Access: Cotto vs. Trout - Full Episode 1 - SHOWTIME Boxing

Rocky's Ring: Burke an El Paso Hall of Famer

By Jason Groves jgroves@lcsun-news.com
Posted:   06/11/2012 06:17:57 PM MDT
Courtesy of Las Cruces Sun-News
Original Article: Here


LAS CRUCES - A good boxing official goes unnoticed during the course of a fight.
Throughout the course of a career is a different matter.
Rocky Burke has made his living in the ring, earning induction into the El Paso Boxing-Martial Arts Hall of Fame on Saturday.

"I'm really proud of my brother," said trainer Louie Burke, Rocky's brother and also inducted on Saturday. "I think he is one of the best referees in the world. Being from Las Cruces, it's hard to break into the big megafights. The thing about a good referee is that you don't see them. You get a lot of these referees that think they are part of the show."

Rocky Burke has been officiating fights for roughly 20 years, finally finding a way to stay connected to the sport that defines the Burke family.

Burke got off to a 7-0 start as a professional before life got in the way. He worked for his father, Sammy Burke, for Burke Outdoor Adverting and was also working for Newman Outdoor Advertising.

"I had three stressful fulltime jobs and it was too much, more than ever before," he said.

Burke stepped out of the ring as a fighter in 1981, just as Louie Burke's career was on the rise.

Burke helped train and manage his younger brother's career as well as other fighters from the area.

"Rocky knows the fight game as good an anyone out there," said Lorenzo Saiz, a fellow referee from Las Cruces who has been in the ring for 20 years. "No. 1, he was a fighter. He was also my manager when I was fighting professional and now he's an official. Everything to do with the business, he has done it."

Rocky Burke continued in boxing as a judge before finally returning to the ring as an official, where he has traveled the world and refereed several world title fights.

"I have been fortunate to travel to different countries, a lot of fights in Mexico because I speak Spanish," Rocky Burke said. "As a boxer, I know what fighters go through. I can look in their eyes and see if they are hurt or if they have something left."

Among the memorable fights Burke has officiated was Johnny Tapia's fight against Javier Torres in 2000 at the Pan American Center on Showtime.

Gaining entry into the El Paso Boxing Hall of Fame was significant for the Burke family. Rocky Burke's officiating career continues on Saturday as he will officiated an undercard bout on the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.,/Andy Lee card at the Sun Bowl.

"It's special that our neighbors to the south have given us some recognition because I don't think the northern part of the state likes to recognize us in any sport," Rocky Burke said.

Sammy Burke, Louie Burke and Rocky Burke were each inducted on Saturday, marking a special day for a family that continues to contribute to boxing in the area.

"I started coaching kids before I even turned professional," said Louie Burke, who was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame last summer. "My dad felt for me to improve as a boxer, it was important for me to learn how to coach. My dad (Sammy Burke) had a lot of stories on the old timers who were inducted into the Hall of Fame who I was there with Saturday. They were guys who I tried to emulate and copy and a lot of them voted for me to be in the Hall of Fame."

Jason Groves can be reached at (575) 541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.

A Few More Photos

A few more photos from last week at the Torrance Marriott in Torrance, California. It was the hub for the media and boxing community, as well as the participants in "Four Warned" the multi main event at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Louie Burke, me (Randy De La O), Jeri De La O, Randy "Moose" Gomez

Bob Spagnola, Louie Burke, Jeri De La O, Randy "Moose" Gomez,
a friend of the Trout family and Austin Trout's mother.

Al Bernstein, Me, Steve Farhood, and  friend.

1976 U.S. Silver Medalist Charles Mooney, Louie Burke,
1976 Gold Medalists Howard Davis and me.