Spinks (39-6, 11 KOs), a former undisputed welterweight champion and subsequent two-time IBF junior middleweight champion, had been thought by some to be near the end of his career after losing the IBF 154-pound crown to Cornelius “K9” Bundrage in 2010.

Spinks rededicated himself to the sport but was still the underdog entering the ring this past weekend to face Powell (26-3, 15 KOs), the IBF No. 5-ranked contender. Spinks swept all three judges’ scorecards 116-112 and 115-113, twice.

“I was in perfect condition and felt like I could do anything I wanted during the fight,” Spinks said. “Powell thought he was going to pressure me, that I would be old and run from him. I think he was surprised when I stood toe to toe with him and was the one bringing the pressure.

“He became more aggressive in rounds six and seven, and a local reporter wrote that I was in trouble, but Powell didn’t give me anything I couldn’t handle. I knew he was swinging for the fences in those rounds, so I let him go because I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Spinks also noted that he feels like a young fighter.

“I’m only 33 years old, I feel like new money right now,” Spinks said. “I performed well in this fight, my second match with new manager Scott Hirsch and trainer Anthony Ham. I’ve won five world titles, I have a name and I think I bring a lot to the table for a marquee name, a world championship fight or both.”

Promoter Don King attended the fight and was impressed.

“Sechew Powell is a good, dangerous fighter, and certainly no light touch for Cory,” King said. “I was proud of him on Saturday night.

“When he trains right and applies himself to the sport both mentally and physically, there is no question he poses a significant threat to anyone at or near 154 pounds.”

Trainer Anthony Ham was pleased with Spinks’ performance as well.

“Cory was in the best shape of his life,” Ham said. “He dominated the fight with his jab and right hook. This is our second fight together, and I feel like Cory has won 20 of the 22 rounds since we teamed up. I think he will be even better in his next fight.”

Manager Scott Hirsch said he had a reason for wanting to work with Spinks.

“I felt the reports a few years ago of Cory’s demise were greatly exaggerated,” Hirsch said. “I agreed to work with him because I felt he was just too good and had a lot left in his tank. He proved me right on Saturday against one of the best fighters in his division. The Spinks Jinx is back and ready to wreak further havoc in boxing.”

Highly ranked cruiserweight B.J. Flores (27-1-1, 17 KOs) availed himself well against notable veteran Hugo Pineda (39-6-1, 28 KOs). Flores’ supporters from his hometown of Springfield, Mo., filled the historic Shrine Mosque, and Flores gave them what they came to see.

“I was calculated but aggressive in the first few rounds,” Flores said. “By the third, I knew where I was going to go. I cut him over the right eye in the second round with a left hook, and I floored him in the fourth. Every time I hit him I felt like I hurt him.

“I was going up and down with punches to the head and body, which confused him. Then I caught him with a good straight right hand for a knockdown in the fourth round. He barely made it up from that.”

Flores wobbled Pineda again in the fifth round beforePineda’s corner threw in the towel near the end of the sixth.

Promoter Don King liked what he saw in Springfield, Mo.

“I give B.J. a lot of credit,” King said. “He’s built a big following for himself in Springfield, and he gave the crowd a good show.

“I enjoyed the people in Springfield and B.J. wants big fights and a world title shot, so the Show Me State is definitely in the mix.”

Alan Hopper, DKP

Don will begin passing out large butterball turkeys at the former Jai Alai on 45th Street, in Mangonia Park. Joining Don King today will be a few known boxers like Tavoris Cloud, Joey Hernandez, and Angelo Santana. Knowing DK, he will most likely be joined with other notables for this special Holiday giveaway.

The next stop on the tour will be in Deerfield Beach, at the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. After that, they will continue on to Church World Service, in Doral. The last stop on the “Turkey Tour” will be at the Lumily’s Mission for Haiti, located in North Miami.

IBF Light Heavyweight Champ Tavoris Cloud Risks Title Against Zsolt Erdei,
and WBA Super Bantamweight Champ Rico Ramos Defends His Title
against Two-Time Gold Medalist, Guillermo Rigondeaux
On Saturday, Dec. 31, from Anaheim Convention Center

WHO:

Don King, Promoter, Don King Productions
Dan Goossen, Promoter, Goossen Tutor Promotions
Rico Ramos, WBA Super Bantamweight Champion
Guillermo Rigondeaux, 2 Time Olympic Gold Medalist

WHAT:

Kickoff press conference for the event that will ring in the New Year on December 31, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena. The SHOWTIME Championship Boxing Doubleheader, which is co-promoted by Don King and Dan Goossen in association with DiBella Entertainment features four elite fighters with an incredible combined record of 84-0, with 54 KOs.

Tavoris Cloud (23-0, 19 KOs) of Tallahassee, FL puts his IBF light heavyweight championship on the line agains Zsolt Erdei (33-0, 18 KOs) of Budapest, Hungary. After defending his (now vacated) WBO Light Heavyweight title 11 times, Erdei moved up to cruiserweight and won the WBC championship, and has since returned to 175 pounds, where he will now fight for another title.

In the other bout of the championship doubleheader, WBA super bantamweight champion Rico Ramos (20-0, 8 KOs) of Whittier, CA will look to make the first defense of his title against Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux (8-0, 6 KOs), who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

“My back slides out on me from time to time and my doctor thought it would be best for me not to board an international flight today,” King said from his home in South Florida.

King especially wanted to be at Aydin vs. Dan II due to the fact Oner had announced he will contribute 25% of the proceeds from the event to help victims of the recent earthquakes in eastern Turkey. The fight will take place in Aydin’s hometown of Trabzon, and Oner is also a native of Turkey.

“Ahmet Oner and Selcuk Aydin are Turks who will give back to their home country tomorrow night, and I wanted to be there to support them and help draw attention to the especially hard-hit city of Van.

“I want Ahmet and Selcuk to know I will be there in spirit, and I wish them the best with their fundraising effort at the fight. Two big earthquakes in just over two weeks have left the survivors in need of help, and I want the people of Turkey to know my thoughts and prayers are with them.”

Oner commented at a recent press conference in Istanbul about the plight of people in eastern Turkey.

“We want to show the people that we care for them,” Oner said. “The people in Van have suffered badly from the tragedies. It is important to let the world know that these people need help. We can only do our little part, but we hope that more people follow our lead.”

“I can’t find the words to explain how I feel signing to fight for a legend like Don King,” Paris said in King’s South Florida office. “People are now going to see what Vernon Paris is truly capable of.”

King was energized by the exuberance of the 23-year-old fighter, and he also enjoyed speaking to Paris’s father, David, and mother, Rosa.

“I just got off the phone with Vernon’s mother, and Vernon’s father is here with me in my office, so this a real family affair,” King said. “I’ve been watching this young man closely, and Floyd, Manny, Amir Khan, Timmy Bradley and all the rest of them around 140 pounds better watch out. Vernon Paris is just 23, and his enthusiasm and confidence reminds me of Ali. I will set them up, and it’s up to Vernon to keep on winning. I like the path this young man is on. I think he is special.”

Born in Tallahassee, Fla., but raised in the Motor City since age 6, Paris hasn’t suffered a defeat since an amateur loss at 17. His best outing as a professional came on Aug. 5, when he stopped respected contender Tim Coleman with body shots in round seven when they met in California with the USBA junior welterweight title on the line.

A skilled boxer-puncher, Paris is fundamentally sound with a lion’s heart. His strong determination and will to win are his best assets.

“If I can continue to do well, I want to be a role model for the kids in Detroit who are literally killing each other in the streets of our city,” Paris said. “I’ve been shot and stabbed on those streets, and I can show kids that through good things like god, athletics and education you can avoid some of the pitfalls I fell into. If I can make it to a better life, so can others.”

WHO:
International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Bantamweight Champion Abner Mares
Former Two-Time IBF Bantamweight World Champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko
World Boxing Association (WBA) Bantamweight Super Champion Anselmo Moreno
Two-Division World Champion Vic “The Raging Bull’’ Darchinyan
President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar de la Hoya
Hall of Fame Promoter Don King
President of Gary Shaw Productions Gary Shaw

WHAT:
In a highly anticipated rematch of one of the year’s most talked about and exciting fights, unbeaten rising star Abner Mares (22-0-1, 13 KO’s) of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Bantamweight Championship titles against the boxer he dethroned, former Two-Time IBF Bantamweight World Champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko (28-3, 22KO’s) of Accra, Ghana in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, Dec. 3, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

In the co-featured world championship bout, Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (31-1-1, 11 KO’s), of Panama City, Panama will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) Bantamweight Super Championship against former Two-Division World Champion Vic “The Raging Bull’’ Darchinyan (37-3-1, 27 KO’s), of Sydney, Australia, by way of Vanadzor, Armenia, Armenia.

Tickets for Mares vs. Agbeko II, priced at $150, $100, $50 and $25, are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com, via charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000 and at the Honda Center Box Office.

Thank you for your great support for November 5th’s SOLD OUT Viva Don King boxing event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. It was an unequivocal success.

Bringing boxing back to the people was my goal and we certainly succeeded beyond our own expectations thanks to Chairman James Billie, of the Florida Seminole Indian Tribe, James Allen, CEO of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the Tribal Council, Wealth TV and Scott Hirsch.

Not only was this an excellent night of Championship boxing, but also an extraordinary night of entertainment featuring Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, famous for “If you don’t know me by now, you will never, never, never know me….”

The fight program was broadcast worldwide in over 200 countries and territories on a live and delayed basis via WealthTV in the U.S.

Our theme is yesterday, today and tomorrow. The people are the most important aspect. So in that respect, my dedication and commitment is to continue to bring you, the masses, world class boxing and entertainment.

Again, thanks to all the countries and territories that carried Viva Don King.

This sold out event would not have been possible without you … the people.

Don King

Trinidad, a five-time world champion who King promoted in his most thrilling world championship matches, was not able to come to South Florida to celebrate the milestone birthday with his longtime promoter on Aug. 20, so he sent the big present to let King know how much he appreciates all of his efforts on his behalf.

In a note that accompanied the gift, Felix “Tito” Trinidad and his father Juan Felix “Papa” Trinidad Rodriguez Sr. gave birthday wishes and noted their gratitude to King.

“We want to express congratulations on your 80th birthday and hope that you maintain good health for the years to come. We want to express our gratitude to you for the opportunities you gave us.”

King said it was completely unexpected.

“You can imagine my surprise when I received this gift from Tito and Papa,” King said. “We had been planning on getting together, but our schedules had not lined up. What a pleasant surprise it was for them to let me know they still love and appreciate me. I feel the same way about them.”

“Smokin’ Joe Frazier was the embodiment of what a great heavyweight champion and person should be. He was a great gladiator. When Smokin’ Joe came to the ring, you knew you had someone who was coming to fight. I was proud to have known and promoted him, and I was honored to call him a friend.

“The courage Smokin’ Joe showed in “The Thrilla in Manila”—answering every Ali onslaught with an equally withering response—will remain in the hearts and minds of boxing fans around the globe forever. It was one of the most dramatic fights in history. Although the warrior inside Smokin’ Joe wanted to answer the bell for the 15th and final round, his chief second and friend Eddie Futch acted as more than a corner man to step in and refuse to let him continue, so he could live to fight another day and smoke ‘em some more.

“One cannot underestimate the contribution Smokin’ Joe and Ali made to progress and change by creating the space, through their talent, for black men to be seen, visible and relevant. The Thrilla in Manila helped make America better.

“Not only was he a great fighter but also a great man. He lived as he fought with courage and commitment at a time when African Americans in all spheres of life were engaged in a struggle for emancipation and respect. Smokin’ Joe brought honor, dignity and pride for his people, the AMERICAN people, and brought the nation together as only sports can do.”