DANBURY, CONNECTICUT (April 29, 2014) – Undefeated, hard hitting junior middleweight prospect Frank Galarza, 13(9)-0-2 , has inked a new multi fight managerial contract with A.J. Galante. Galante, President of the professional boxing management company, Elite Boxing Enterprises, has guided Galarza over his last 5 bouts.

Galarza (13-0-2, 9 knockouts) will return to the ring on May 16 on ShoBox against unbeaten Sebastian Bouchard (9-0, 2 KOs). Galarza made a splash in January when he brutalized previously unbeaten John Thompson in the second round on ShoBox.

“I’m very excited to continue to work in managing Frank.” Galante stated, “Our first year together has been extremely busy and successful. I recognized from the first time I met Frank he has what it takes to be a World Champion, and I look forward to guiding him there. We are both young, hungry, and have something to prove to the boxing world, and we will accomplish everything we set out for.”

Galarza is the current WBC Latino Junior Middleweight Champion, and ranked #30 in the world by the sanctioning body. Fighting out of Brooklyn, NY, Galarza is also the current New York State Junior Middleweight Champion. Over his first 13 fights, he became an instant fan favorite in New York’s club fight scene with his aggressive, brawling style. This past January however he took a National TV audience by surprise, by brutally knocking out then undefeated prospect John Thompson, just seventeen seconds into the second round. The fight was broadcasted live on Showtime’s Shobox series. Galarza is excited to continue his relationship with Galante and Elite Boxing Enterprises, “It’s an honor to be with a great manager like A.J. who dedicates his time, and constantly looking out for me both inside the ring and out. He was one of the first people to ever believe in me in Boxing, and we are the true definition of a team. He may be young but has a smart mind for the business. We’re both growing in this sport together.”

The Twenty Seven year old Galante founded Elite Boxing Enterprises in 2011, and has been managing boxers for three years. He guided former client Delvin Rodriguez over a span of 6 fights, from a year layoff in 2011, to the biggest fight of his career against Miguel Cotto in October of 2013. Galante originally signed Galarza in April 2013.

Lanardo Tyner, two others fail drug tests on Feb. 28 Mayweather Promotions show

Welterweight Lanardo Tyner was supposed to be facing Jermall Charlo this past weekend on the Sho-Extreme portion of the Keith Thurman-Julio Diaz card that took place in Carson, California.

Tyner was inexplicably pulled out and was replaced by a late substitute. BehindTheGloves.com was informed from a trusted source that Tyner had failed a drug test following his Feb. 28 split decision loss to Chris Pearson on a ShoBox card promoted by Mayweather Promotions that took place at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

BehindTheGloves.com contacted the Oneida Indian Nation Athletic Commission to find out more information. Executive director/commissioner Dan Gustafson informed BTG that it is their policy not to release names, but did tell BTG that not one, but three fighters failed drug tests in relation to that show.

UPDATE: Literally minutes after this story went up, Fighthype released a piece saying that the other two fighters that tested positive were Mayweather Promotions fighters Luis Arias and Chris Pearson, who both tested positive for marijuana.

The Oneida Commission also informed BTG that the suspensions were for 45 days, meaning technically both Pearson and Arias could have fought on this weekend’s Mayewather-Maidana card. So it was up to Mayweather Promotions to keep them off the card.

BTG had information previously that the two fighters in question were the ones who tested positive, but awaited confirmation. BTG reached out to Pearson’s publicist Radio Rahim for a statement a few days ago and was provided with the following statement:

“Chris is sparing with Miguel Cotto. He feels his last performance showed him areas he needs to work on. He opted to continue working on his technique while getting Cotto ready for Martinez. Chris will be back in the ring soon, facing tough competition and showing vast improvement.”

In that statement, there is no admission of a positive test.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

Alexei Collado upset by Rod Salka on SHOBOX

MONROEVILLE, Pa. (April 19, 2014) – Rod Salka put on a boxing clinic for Alexei Collado in Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation main event. And then he stated his case for a world title shot.

Salka was the more intelligent and effective fighter from the opening bell, pounding the body and utilizing his superior movement in an impressive 10-round unanimous decision victory (96-94, 96-93, 96-93) over the previously undefeated Collado at the Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, Pa., just down the road from his hometown of Bunola, Pa.

The naturally bigger fighter, Salka scored a third-round knockdown and essentially kept Collado at bay, limiting him to looping, clubbing right hands that rarely landed.

“I’m heading to Carson next week to call out the winner of Figueroa-Belmontes,” said Salka as he celebrated with his Pittsburgh-area fans after the fight. “I want to fight whoever wins that, doesn’t matter to me. I earned a shot at the title.”

Salka was referencing next Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING showdown between WBC Lightweight World Championship Omar Figueroa and Jerry Belmontes at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

“I dictated the pace of the fight. I kept him where I wanted him and forced him to keep going for that overhand right, which he couldn’t land cleanly. I was throwing first and throwing last, just like I wanted to do. I mixed up my offense well and kept my hands up.”

It was a learning experience for the previously undefeated Collado (18-1, 16 KOs), a former Cuban standout who had over 300 amateur bouts.

“He was smart and that was the difference,” Collado said. “He kept moving. His movement was the problem for me.”

ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood agreed with Collado’s assessment and was impressed with what he saw from the lightweight contender.

“You have to love what Salka did and how he did it,” Farhood said. “Even after scoring a left hook knockdown, he stayed with his game, didn’t try to do what he couldn’t do and remained poised and confident in his own abilities. His conditioning was fantastic and even though he did nothing to surprise Collado, the Cuban couldn’t find the answer.”

In the ShoBox co-feature, undefeated Dominican prospect and Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz scored a close, eight-round split decision victory over Emmanuel Lartey, scored 77-75 (Diaz), 77-75 (Lartey), 77-75 (Diaz).

Diaz was aggressive early and was most effective when he utilized combinations, but was hurt in the third by a right-left combo from Lartey (15-2-1, 7 KOs) that seemed to change the pace bout for a few rounds. Diaz (15-0, 8 KOs) came back and took control of the fight, doing his best work against the ropes and spoiling a potential birthday celebration for the now twice-beaten Ghanaian prospect.

“It’s disappointing to know it was scored a split decision,” Diaz said. “I think I dominated most of the rounds so I don’t see how the judges scored it that way.

“I want to see my family – it’s been three months – and then head back to Oxnard to get in the gym with Robert (Garcia).”

Lartey also took issue with the judges’ scorecards. .

“I can’t tell the judges what to do,” Lartey said. “I think it should have been scored a draw. This is the only job I know. I need to go back to the gym and work on some things.

In a matchup of southpaws in opening bout of the telecast, local favorite and undefeated welterweight prospect Sammy Vasquez, Jr., handed fellow unbeaten Juan Rodriguez, Jr., the first loss of his career with a dominating first round TKO.

Vasquez (14-0, 10 KOs) scored a knockdown with a left shot to the face less than 20 seconds into the bout, followed by a left body shot that sent Rodriguez (11-1, 5 KOs) to the canvas less than a minute later. Rodriguez went down yet again after a barrage of punches, spit out his mouthpiece and the referee stopped the bout at 2:49 of the first.

“It’s not that it was easy, it was that it was well-executed,” said Vasquez, a U.S. Armed Forces veteran who served two tours of duty in Iraq. “We had a game plan, stuck to it and that’s what happened. All the fans, the soldiers watching overseas on AFN (American Forces Network), my family watching on SHOWTIME, that was the biggest part of the night.”

Friday’s fights will replay on Thursday, April 24 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ANYTIME and On Demand through May 16.

Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

-PRESS RELEASE

Photo courtesy of Hogan Photos

Eddie Gomez to face Francisco Santana on June 6 ShoBox

The day before Sergio Martinez and Miguel Cotto tangle at Madison Square Garden in perhaps the year’s most anticipated fight, an enticing doubleheader will take place a few hours upstate at Turning Stone Casino that will be televised on ShoBox. The fight takes place near where the International Boxing Hall of Fame will induct their latest class of inductees that same weekend.

The main event featured unbeaten young welterweight phenom Eddie Gomez against battle tested Francisco Santana in a ten round bout, Santana confirmed Monday on Twitter.

The 21-year old Gomez (16-0, 10 knockouts) is one of the sport’s fastest risers. In January, he outpointed unbeaten Daquan Arnett in his hometown of Brooklyn, proving he’s ready and willing to take on all comers.

Santana (19-3-1, 9 KOs) of Santa Barbara, Calif., has shown he has matured as a fighter in compiling a seven bout win streak dating back to a October 2011 defeat to unbeaten Jermell Charlo, a bout that also took place on ShoBox. Most of Santana’s recent bouts have hovered near the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

“It’s gonna be a helluva fight for sure, “said Santana. “I like to come forward and Eddie is an explosive fighter.”

The 27-year old Santana has the edge in experience, having fought as a pro since 2005. Once a top prospect in the Goossen-Tutor Promotions stable, Santana’s career hit a dip when he lost twice to current junior welterweight contender Karim Mayfield. Their first encounter was a crazy six-round war that saw Mayfield nab a split decision. A year and a half later, Mayfield handed Santana his only stoppage defeat, though Santana maintains he wasn’t in the right place for that fight.

Six of Santana’s last seven fights have been at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, just a short drive from his Santa Barbara stomping grounds. Santana will fight east of Las Vegas for the first time in his career when the two meet.

Also on the card, middleweights Nick Brinson (16-1-2, 6 KOs) and Hugo Centeno Jr. (20-0, 1 NC, 11 KOs) meet in a ten-round bout. Both guys are familiar to ShoBox audiences and the bout is another extremely well-matched one.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

Love, Pearson win, Jack upset by Edwards on ShoBox

Friday night in Verona NY, Shobox featured three undefeated fighters in showcase bouts. In the main event 26 year old super middleweight J’Leon Love (17-0, 1 NC, 10 knockouts) outclassed Vladine Biosse (15-3-2, 7 KOs) en route to a 10th round TKO. Time of the stoppage was 0:45.

Love dominated the fight throughout. He hurt Biosse on numerous occasions. It was an ugly fight at times with both men being cut in the fight.

This was a solid performance for Love who nows looks ahead for a bigger fight.

In a shocking upset Derek Edwards (27-3-1, 14 KOs) scored a spectacular first round knockout over previously undefeated Badou Jack (16-1-1, 11 KOs)

The 34 year old Edwards landed a massive overhand right hand that Jack walked right into. Jack was hurt really bad but beat the count.

Edwards landed another right hand that put Jack down again and the referee stopped the fight. Time of the stoppage was 1:01 in round one.

Edwards was stopped by Adonis Stevenson in round three in 2011. He was also stopped by Matt Korobov in round nine in his last fight. This is the biggest victory of his career.

This was a big setback for Jack who was said to be in line for a match against James DeGale in a title elimination bout possibly underneath Mayweather’s PPV in May.

23 year old prospect Christopher Pearson (14-0, 10 KOs) stepped up in competition against tough veteran Lanardo Tyner (31-9-2, 20 KOs) and scored a split decision. The judges scored the bout 76-75 for Tyner, while two judges had it 78-73 for Pearson.

Pearson landed more punches while Tyner landed the more impactful punches.

Tyner knocked Pearson down in round six. It started with an overhand right that rocked Pearson then Tyner landed a barrage of punches that sent Pearson to the canvas.

It was a closer fight than the judges scored it. This should be a good learning experience for Pearson.

The card was promoted by Mayweather Promotions and televised on Showtime.

-David Lopez / @PRLopez333

-Contributor to www.BehindTheGloves.com

Photo courtesy of Tom Casino / Showtime

Weights from Turning Stone

Tomorrow night at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Mayweather Promotions returns to ShoBox with a tripleheader featuring their young talent. Headlining the card is super middleweight J’Leon Love against lightly regarded Vladine Biosse in a ten-round bout. Love (16-0, 1 NC, 9 knockouts) weighed in at 168 pounds and Biosse (15-2-2, 7 KOs) weighed in at 169.

In the co-feature, unbeaten Badou Jack looks to stay on track as he faces Derek Edwards in a ten-round super middleweight bout. Jack (16-0-1, 11 KOs) and Edwards (26-3-1, 13 KOs) both weighed in at 168 pounds.

Explosive junior middleweight Chris Pearson is in the televised opener and returns against veteran Lanardo Tyner in an eight-round bout. Pearson (10-0, 9 KOs) weighed in at 156 and Tyner (31-8-1, 20 KOs) came in at 154.

In the untelevised bouts are a number of young prospects. Luis Arias (8-0, 4 KOs), 162.5, meets Dashon Johnson (15-14-3, 5 KOs), 166.5 in an eight-round super middleweight bout; junior featherweight John Franklin (6-0, 3 KOs), 119.5, faces Jesus Bayron (5-9, 4 KOs), 121, in an eight round bout; debuting welterweight Ladarius Miller, 144, faces Douglas Rosales (0-2), 146, in a four-rounder; Andrew Tabiti (4-0, 4 KOs), 193, meets Dorian Hatcher (1-6), 198, in a four-round bout.

Below is some video footage of the weigh-in that took place on Friday.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

Love ready to begin 2014 with a bang on ShoBox this Friday

J’Leon Love endured a difficult 2013 and although he remained unbeaten throughout, the year did not pass without loss. His name became synonymous with ‘cheating’ following his fight with Gabriel Rosado back in May, and a hard earned victory was overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and declared a no-contest. Love, fighting primarily at middleweight, was initially a pound and a half over the 160 pound limit and was found to have used a banned diuretic in order to meet the weight, at the second time of asking. There are many times when a fighter can simply grow out of a division, others when a lack of discipline is the culprit. In this instance, the plot is a little thicker.

“I had never had a problem making weight until my fight with Rosado and I was just going through a lot,” said Love “I had lost my brother during camp, he was shot and killed and I was going back and forth, taking care of business at home, burial arrangements and things of that nature. He had nine kids, so I had to do things for them, buy suits, haircuts, clothes, shoes, things that a parent would have to do was now my responsibility. They are my nieces and nephews. I don’t want them to ‘want’ for anything.”

“But with all of that, and trying to focus  on the fight, my mind just wasn’t there and my body wasn’t responding the way it was supposed to. It was just hard for me, man. I just had a lot going on. I was depressed. I honestly didn’t care about the fight. I just wanted to fight. People can say they are excuses but you would only have to be in my shoes to know exactly what kind of predicament I was in.”

Understandable.

Talking to Love is refreshing and genuine, and his views on life are reserved for those who have battled adversity and endured tragedy. “You know what?,” he said “God puts you in different situations, that’s how I put it, he don’t put people in no situations that they can’t handle, and I have been through a lot in my life. I feel like I have accepted losing a family member, my brother, and I know he’s in a better place. It’s time to focus. I got sidetracked, and even just being in the position I’m in, to have a great promoter like Floyd Mayweather, to be making crazy money, to be doing the things I’m doing, anybody could get sidetracked. I have had some humbling moments though, and learned that if you don’t keep sight of what you really want, it is easy to fall off track, and that’s what happened.”

Love (16-0, 9 knockouts), was back on track in December of last year following a suspension. He overcame Lajuan Simon in the sixth round of their contest with a brutal and impressive knockout of the two-time world title challenger. “Lajuan Simon was a veteran fighter, man. A guy that has been in there with a lot of big names, a former title challenger, it was definitely an honor to share the ring with him. Obviously, there was more at stake, it was my first fight back and I definitely had to make a statement. It sucks it had to be Lajuan Simon but I had to do what I had to do.”

Love did make a statement. He had to work hard at times throughout the contest which meant he displayed many of his technical qualities en route to his win. The knockout, and the hunger he showed to score it however, should be the worry for his peers at middleweight. “I was just enjoying myself in there, you gotta have fun in this sport. Obviously you can get hurt but you have to enjoy it, so that’s exactly what I did. I love what I do. It’s not a job to me, it’s my passion, it’s my life and, you know, I put all my hard work and dedication into it.”

The boxer-puncher will square off against Vladine Biosse (15-2-2) when ‘The Money Team’ head to the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY., this Friday on ShoBox: The New Generation. It will be his first fight of the year and, although Biosse is capable, one would expect a victory. “He’s a very awkward southpaw fighter. A very good fighter and I have watched a lot of film on him and I can’t knock him. He’s doing good things in the sport, he’s had some minor setbacks but that just makes somebody hungry. If you beat me, your in contention for a lot of things so I can’t let that happen. I got a lot at stake,” said Love “I take my hat off to him, as far as making this fight happen, and we are just looking to put on a great show for the fans and, you know, may the best man win.”

A win for Love would be another step forward on the road to redemption. Boxing critics and fans alike can be a fickle bunch and back-to-back victories over reputable competition should erase the memory of what is probably best forgotten.

-Terence Strawson / [email protected]

-Contributor to www.BehindTheGloves.com

Boxing politics in a nutshell

This isn’t anything but a personal commentary on the boxing business based on what I saw this past weekend.

Last April, Cuban junior welterweight sensation Angelo Santana took part in his first Las Vegas main event, facing career spoiler Bahodir Mamadjonov in a ShoBox headlining bout.

Santana reportedly prepared for the biggest night of his career by staying out late and later staying up late with some of the women of Las Vegas during that week. What resulted was a stoppage win for Mamadjonov, who makes a habit of coming into his fights as prepared as possible, even when called on a few weeks notice.

So when both of these guys returned to the ring this past weekend, and one was headlining ShoBox, and the other one fought on television, who would you guess filled each role? It was Santana who headlined, getting dropped by contender Hank Lundy on the way to a wide decision loss, while Mamadjonov fights on a small show in Atlanta.

Proof that sometimes it isn’t whether you win or lose but who you know. Mamadjonov is an Uzbek living in Houston, Tex., which doesn’t really move the needle for TV executives, apparently. His one loss came in a give and take fight against then unbeaten Darleys Perez. He’s only 26 years old and really should be in the mix to face a top ten opponent in his division, but will probably be shutout and resort to fighting ESPN fights if he’s lucky on two or three weeks notice.

If only Santana had just decided to try and avenge his knockout defeat, Mamadjonov would’ve been back on TV. Bad luck.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

Lundy decisions Santana

Friday night, Philadelphia junior welterweight Henry Lundy out fought Cuban Angelo Santana en route to a ten round unanimous decision.

The 30-year old Lundy (24-3-1,b11 knockouts) dropped Santana (14-2, 11 KOs)  in the ninth round of a fight he mostly dominated, earning a 98-91 verdict on all three cards.

Lundy built upon closing strong in 2013, where he did similar damage to Olusegun Ajose on ESPN2. Lundy looks to position himself for a major fight in 2014, saying he wants a fight with Lucas Matthysse. Lundy was supposed to fight the Argentinian last January, but promotional issues cost Lundy the fight.

In the co-feature, junior welterweight Amir Imam (13-0, 12 KOs) scored a fourth round knockoutof previously unbeaten Jason Robinson. Imam knocked Robinson (14-1, 6 KOs) through the ropes tremendously, all the way to the floor. Robinson somehow made it back to the ring but was ruled knocked out.

-Managing editor at www.Behind

Lundy all business before Santana bout on ShoBox

Philadelphia junior welterweight Henry Lundy has been knocking on the door for a big fight for the past few years. Whatever the reason, whether it be a badly timed defeat or out of the ring issues, those opportunities have slipped through his fingers.

Tomorrow night, Lundy takes on once-beaten Cuban Angelo Santana in a crossroads bout in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation, taking place in Cleveland, Ohio. On paper, it is maybe the most intriguing ShoBox matchup in a few years.

Behind The Gloves spoke with Lundy early on in fight week in a phone interview, and the Philly fighter sounded ready and focused for a bout that could finally lead him to that title shot.

Lundy’s resume reads better than many current champions. He owns wins over current WBA lightweight titleholder Richar Abril as well as then contenders Olusegun Ajose and Dannie Williams. He lost a close fight to Raymundo Beltran in 2012 and performed well in traveling to the Ukraine to lose a decision against Viktor Postol.

“I never took no easy fight, I took all hard fights,” said Lundy.

“I live by that sword. They say this guy is a puncher, is a kiler, so put me in the ring with him. I’m gonna prove like I did with [Olusegun] Ajose. I was a five or six to one underdog in that fight. But I showed the world what I could bring out.”

Lundy told BTG that he’s going into the ring with more than just the regular dedication that has been a signature of his. The 30-year old Lundy lost an uncle who was very close to him just recently and thinks that it will give him an added boost when the bell rings.

“What I’ve got on my mind, I’ve got a lot of pain and hurt I’m dealing with,” said Lundy. “I’m coming in that ring and I’m gonna be victorious.”

“Death happens in everyone’s family. I lost my uncle that I was really close to. He was the first one to introduce me to boxing. We just recently buried my uncle last Friday, so I’m going in the ring with that on my mind and this fight will be dedicated to him.”

Lundy is facing a fighter in Santana who is coming off the first loss of his career, which he sustained last April against spoiler Bahodir Mamadjonov in a ShoBox main event. Rumors swirled after the fight that Santana partied too hard the night before, being his first trip to Las Vegas. Lundy doesn’t buy the excuse.

“All that, that’s some bull,” said Lundy.

“You know you have to fight. You’re really gonna tell me you were running around Vegas having sex when you have to fight?”

Lundy is prepared for Santana to come in at his peak, knowing that another loss would take the remaining luster from the Cuban.

“In this fight with Santana, on paper they have me as the favorite. But it’s on a Don King card, I’m the underdog. I’m going in there with everything on the line once again. Santana knows what is on the line and I expect him to be ready. But I’m going in there with everything on the line, so don’t be surprised to see the best Hank Lundy you’ve seen.”

Lundy believes that a win on Showtime tomorrow can lead him to that elusive title shot.

“I know once I shine on this network, everybody is gonna be knocking down my door. If you look at my ratings with ESPN, I do crazy. I’m a TV friendly fighter, I’m entertaining, and I put on good fights. No one can take that away from me.”

Lundy’s name was rumored to be in the mix to face fellow junior welterweight contender Karim Mayfield on HBO as the two had an entertaining back and forth on Twitter, but the fight didn’t come to fruition. Instead, Mayfield will face once-beaten Puerto Rican fighter Thomas Dulorme, who like Santana, recently suffered a loss that killed some of the hype.

“With Karim Mayfield, I got the word from my manager James Prince that Bob [Arum] told the matchmakers to make the fight and then we heard no more for Karim,” said Lundy.

“I don’t back down from nobody, you call me out, I’m gonna give it to you. One thing about me, if I say I’m gonna do something, I’m gonna do it. We could’ve fought on that HBO card. Like I told him, I’m always in the gym and I’m always ready. He tucked his tail.”

Lundy was set to face Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse last January for an interim title on Showtime, but outside the ring issues kept the fight from happening. Lundy has signed more contracts than the most well-traveled Major League Baseball utility players, and it ended up coming back to haunt him. At this stage, Lundy says he’s got everything sorted out.

“I’ve put that behind me and I can focus on boxing. Now, you’ll see a more focused Hank Lundy in that ring.”

Lundy is hopeful that a win tomorrow night can line him up for a big name like a Matthysse or even a Danny Garcia, whom Lundy knows extremely well, both being from Philadelphia. Lundy was in the minority in picking Garcia to beat Matthysse, going against the so-called experts.

“I know Danny is a Philadelphia guy and deep down what he’s got inside of him,” said Lundy.

“We were side by side in the amateurs. So I know what he had in him. If you step to Matthysse and show you aren’t scared, he kind of tucks his tail a little bit. I’m a boxer puncher who can punch. Matthysse makes a lot of mistakes and I knew Danny was going to capitalize.”

“Even when we were in the amateurs, Danny always knew how to win. After that fight, I wanted the winner. I felt like I did enough in this game to fight for a world title. I told him, no disrespect, I want to fight the best and he’s the best.”

One thing that isn’t on his mind these days is revenge against John Molina, who scored a come-from-behind knockout against Lundy in an ESPN2 bout in 2010. Lundy felt slighted that Molina said he would give him a rematch if it were for a world title.

“Everything happens for a reason,” said Lundy. “I’m not gonna sit here and lie to you. If that fight had went right and it didn’t get stopped, I would have fought for a title and not been ready. After that setback, I grew up as a fighter and got more mature.”

“Everybody saw what I was doing to him. I was handling him. Right now, I would actually hurt him. But what I don’t respect about him, don’t try and wait until I get a world title and then come knocking on my door. I’ve been trying to fight him and he’s been running. So when I get that title, don’t come knocking on my door.”

For Lundy, he’s got a tough test in front of him in the form of Santana, who was close to the top of many scribes’ list of top prospects to begin 2012. If the Mamadjonov fight really was an aberration and Santana learned from the mistakes he made heading in, it could prove to be an entertaining and back-and-forth fight.

For Lundy, at age 30, it could be his last shot to get that opportunity to fight for a world title. A loss would be devastating and it isn’t something that Lundy is preparing for.

“I know what my uncle has distilled in me,” said Lundy. “He’d want me to go out there and handle business, and that is exactly what I intend on doing.”

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega
-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com