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The MMA Minute: Cox Moves Forward With Sylvia vs. Mercer Boxing Match
By Ariel Helwani
March 31, 2009
Monte Cox will not let the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board get in the way of booking a Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer boxing match on Adrenaline MMA’s next card.
Earlier today, VERSUS.com spoke with the MMA agent/promoter to talk about the location switch for his upcoming Adrenaline MMA III show. Originally scheduled to be held in New Jersey, the event was moved once the NJSAC announced last week that they would not sanction the proposed boxing exhibition between Sylvia (0-0 in boxing, 24-5 in MMA) and Ray Mercer (36-7-1 in boxing, 0-0 in MMA).
Adrenaline MMA III will now take place on June 13 at the 17,000-seat BJCC Arena in Birmingham, Ala.
“I think New Jersey not sanctioning this fight is ridiculous,” Cox said. “It must not have been as compelling as the Bonaduce-Canseco fight.”
The recent Danny Bonaduce vs. Jose Canseco boxing match fight actually took place in Pennsylvania, but I get what Cox is trying to say. Sort of.
Anyhow, Cox said that based on the NJSAC’s line of thinking, he didn’t believe they would have sanctioned recent MMA fights between Bobby Lashley and Jason Guida or Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir due to the difference in experience between the competitors.
Cox also mentioned that he is considering having the Mississippi Athletic Commission sanction the event since Alabama doesn’t have a regulatory body to oversee the fight. He insisted that this was not the reason why he chose Birmingham as the new location for Adrenaline III.
“That had nothing to do with why we went to Alabama,” Cox said. “Every place I contacted, in addition to Birmingham, would have sanctioned the bout.
“We have a big sponsor down there.”
Cox said that his client Tim Sylvia is gearing up to face Paul Buentello on Affliction’s third show tentatively scheduled for July 11. And despite wanting to try his hand at boxing, Sylvia has no plans on leaving MMA.
“Sylvia never attempted a takedown in his career,” Cox said. “He stands and he punches.
“We’re hoping that this can maybe open some doors in boxing. A 6”8 heavyweight boxer can make some more (money) than MMA guys. (But) if he can’t go through Mercer, he will probably not have much of a boxer career."
Cox also mentioned that he is looking for opponents to face MMA veterans Jeremy Horn and Rich Clementi on the upcoming Adrenaline III card.
MAYNARD MMA DEBUT OFFICIAL
And speaking of strange fights in Alabama, Kyle Maynard, a congenital amputee with no elbows or knees, will make his amateur MMA debut on Saturday, April 25, at the Auburn Covered Arena in Auburn, Ala. His fight will be a part of an event dubbed “Auburn Fight Night.”
His opponent has yet to be announced.
Maynard currently works as a speaker for the Washington Speaker’s Bureau, specializing in motivational speeches. He finished his high school wrestling career with a 35-16 record, and won the 2004 ESPY Award for “best athlete with a disability.”
The 23-year-old actually tried to make his MMA debut two years ago in his hometown of Duluth, Ga., but the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission denied Maynard a license to fight. Shocking, but true. As mentioned earlier, MMA is not regulated in the state of Alabama, so that was not an issue this time around.
“The first question that I receive from everyone is do I fear for my safety while fighting in the cage?” Maynard said via press release. “Absolutely not. Despite my lack of limbs I can protect myself just as much as the average fighter. I have been preparing for this fight for years and I cannot wait for Saturday, April 25 to arrive. There is no challenge and no goal that I have worked as hard for as this one. I would like to thank all of my family, friends and training partners for their support as I enter the last 30 days of my training camp.
Promoter David Oblas has no qualms with booking a fighter who cannot strike with his arms or legs – a major part of mixed martial arts - in an amateur MMA fight.
“I’ve been promoting fights since 2002, nearly 50 events combined, and I’ve never seen someone with the drive that Kyle possesses,” Oblas said. “I’ve seen Kyle overcome every obstacle put in front of him and on Saturday, April 25 he will overcome yet another. This is something that Kyle has wanted to do for years now and something that I’m happy to help him achieve.”
Maynard’s drive and perseverance should be applauded, and what he accomplished as a high school wrestler was nothing short of remarkable. However, I simply don’t see how he will be able to properly defend himself in an MMA match with no arms or legs.
FIGHTIN’ WORDS
“I think with the Garcia fight I proved that I was no joke. I’ve fought a long time and a lot of good guys. So it’s not a new thing that I’m fighting at this level. This is an important fight. He’s in a tough spot because if he loses, where does he go from there?”
- Mike Brown talking to WEC.tv about his upcoming featherweight title defense against Urijah Faber on June 7. Both fighters are soft-spoken and respectful, but I get the feeling that there is no love lost between them.
FINAL SECONDS
* JZ Cavalcante (14-2-1) will finally make his return to action in May against Tatsuya Kawajiri (23-5-2) at DREAM.9. “JZ” recorded a loss and no contest in his last two fights, and come fight time, he will have not fought for close to 13 months. [Sherdog]
* Mike Budnik (7-2) will replace the injured Cole Province in his bout against Rafael Diaz (11-5-1) at WEC 40 this Sunday. This is an important fight for Budnik as he is currently stuck in a two-fight losing streak, the first two losses of his young career.
* Cain Velazquez (5-0) will get a step up in competition when faces Heath Herring (28-14) at UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany. I like Velazquez’s chances.
* And finally, Sengoku officially announced the second round matchups for their featherweight grand prix which takes place on May 2 at the National Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo: Hatsu Hioki (18-3-2) vs. Ronnie Mann (16-1-1), Michihiro Omigawa (15-5) vs. Nam Phan (5-7-1), Masanori Kanehara (12-5) vs. Chan Sung Jung (3-0) and Marlon Sandro (13-0) vs. Nick Denis (7-0).
