::DEEP SOUTH BOXING::

Dunaway Looking For Championship Fight After Defeating Cordova

From Staff Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Former female minimumweight world champion Hollie Dunaway won a 6-round split decision over previously-unbeaten Chantel Cordova Thursday (Jan. 28) at the Cola-Cola Center.

The match was contracted for flyweight, and both weighed 107 pounds.

Dunaway, who improved to 23-8-1, 10 KOs, won 58-56 and 60-54 on two cards. Cordova (7-1-1, 3 KOs), from Colorado, won 59-55 on the third card. There were no knockdowns.

"From talking to people at ringside, they told me they thought Hollie should have won a unanimous decision," said Ron Brand, Dunaway's manager who also worked her corner. "It was a rough and tough fight. Hollie was landing solid shots. Chantel hadn't been in the ring for a couple of years, bu she was still an undefeated fighter."

Dunaway is originally from Van Buren, AR. She currently lives in Las Vegas.

"It was a good, hard-fought fight," Brand said. "Hollie set up the jab and right crosses. In clinches, Hollie caught her on breaks. They put on quite a show."

Though Dunaway has no championship belt at the moment, Brand said she is ready to fight for one.

"We were glad to get a win," Brand said. "We'd definitely would like to fight for a belt pretty soon."

Taylor Boxes, Jabs Her Way Past Patton In Winning Decision

From Staff Reports

BAY ST. LOUIS, MS - Patience and throwing a lot of jabs were what New Orleans super featherweight Geni Taylor said carried her past Gulfport's Jasmine Patton (Saturday night (Jan. 23) at Hollywood Casino.

Taylor won a 4-round unanimous decision over Patton, who was making her professional debut on the Les Bonano card. Taylor (2-0, 1 KO) won 40-36 on all three official scorecards.

Taylor and Patton had a history before Saturday's bout. They fought once as amateurs, and Taylor was awarded a decision victory.

Taylor said she and Patton fought differently as professionals.

"(Patton) was a lot different than when we fought as amateurs. The first time, she did a lot of backing up and her punches were not as straight as they were Saturday. She was very green. This time, she kept her stance."

Taylor said she thought she won all but one round.

"I thought I lost the third round. "We clashed heads and that stung me. I threw a right hand and she tried to throw a left hook and our heads clashed," Taylor said. "My right eye started swelling after that."

Taylor said some aspects of her style also gave Patton reason to pause.

"The first time we met, I came out aggressive," Taylor said. "I surprised them this time because my coach wanted me to come out and box. The first time I threw no jabs. This time, I threw a lot more jabs."

Taylor said she plans to fight at 122 in the future. She weighed 128 against Patton. Patton weighed 130.5

"I want to take February off to get my body in shape and then get started back in March or April," Taylor said. "I walk around at 128, but I want to be at 120 for my next fight."

A second women's fight on the card saw Columbus, MS' Cassandra Lindsey upset Batesville, AR slugger April Ward in a light middleweight bout that was scheduled for 4 rounds. Lindsey knocked down Ward in the first round and then forced Ward to retire after the third round.

Lindsey improved to 3-4, 2 KOs. Ward suffered her first loss and fell to 4-1, 4 KOs. It was the first time Ward had gone into the third round.

Ward weighed 153.5, while Lindsey weighed 158.

Patton Hoping To Hammer Out A Victory In Boxing Ring On Saturday

By Gail Janotta
Staff Writer

Super bantamweight Jasmine Patton is the lone female boxer at the Gulfport (MS) Boxing Club. On the eve of her professional debut, Patton would like nothing better than to be a positive example for what hard work and dedication can do.

Patton debuts Saturday (Jan. 23) in a 4-rounder at Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis (MS) against New Orleans boxer Geni Taylor (1-0, 1 KO).

"I'm the only female in my boxing gym, so I'm ready to win on Saturday," Patton said. "I have worked really hard training seven days a week for the fight."

Outside the gym, Patton is also one of the few females to work in the construction business building houses. She credited a co-worker for getting her interesting in boxing.

"A friend of mine who also boxes over in Moss Point suggested I go with him to the gym one day," Patton said. "He said he always thought I could box."

Patton and Taylor fought as amateurs, a fight Patton vehemently has said she thought she won despite coming out short on the scorecards.

"(Taylor) fought well in our first match. She gave it her best shot," Patton said. "She put up a really good fight."

Patton said her jab is her biggest strength.

"I think I have a really good right jab," Patton said. "Well, I think I have a good jab, period. I really want to win the first fight. My coach (Warren Migues) is always telling me to use my jab, use my jab. And I have a lot of heart."

Patton said there are areas where she needs to improve before she gets to where she wants.

"I always have to work on my movement," Patton said. My coach says I need to keep moving around the ring using my jab, but I tend to stay stationary. I have to work on keeping my head up and throwing as many jabs as I can."

Patton said she fully expects to put on an entertaining fight on Saturday

"I hope I win. For anyone that pays to come see us, they are going to get a good fight," Patton said. "It's going to be well worth the money."

Patton said women's boxing should be taken as seriously as their male counterparts.

"The boxing world tends to overlook the female boxers," Patton said. "I don't know if they just overlook us thinking we aren't strong enough or maybe don't work hard enough, but we can fight just as well as the men.

"It doesn't matter if you train for 10 months or six years, if you work hard enough you can accomplish what you want," Patton said. "As long as you work hard, you can win."

New Orleans' Taylor Puts NFL Playoffs On Hold To Focus On Fight

Super bantamweight Geni Taylor goes for her second pro victory Saturday in Bay St. Louis, MS. (Photo credit: Team Taylor)

By Gail Janotta
Staff Writer

BAY ST. LOUIS, MS - While most of the nation focuses Saturday (Jan. 23) on the National Football League's NFC Championship game between nearby New Orleans and Minnesota and its Mississippi quarterback, Brett Favre, one New Orleanian has something quite different on her agenda.

Super bantamweight Geni Taylor is scheduled to step into the boxing ring for a 4-rounder on Saturday at Hollywood Casino at about the same time the Saints and Vikings are meeting with a berth in Super Bowl XXIV on the line. Taylor (1-0, 1 KO) goes for her second straight victory since she turned pro last month. She meets Gulfport, MS' Jasmine Patton, who is making her pro debut.

Born into a military family in San Diego, CA, Taylor has called New Orleans home since she was 5 years of age. Sadly, however, Taylor said her father never saw her win during her decorated amateur career. She was a National Golden Gloves and Silver Gloves champion.

"My dad passed away in 2008. When my dad would come to see me, I would lose," Taylor said. "I think I was just so nervous. It broke my heart he never got to see me win a fight. I am dedicating this fight to him."

In her pro debut, Taylor wasted little time in taking out Geboria Mayfield, of Columbus, MS. Taylor TKO'd Mayfield at 37 seconds of the first round in their fight at St. Bernard Cultural Center in Chalmette, LA.

"I just think I wanted that fight more than she (Mayfield) did," Taylor said. "I fought Jasmine in my last amateur fight. I really didn't want to fight her because I had pulled a hamstring a few weeks before. WhenI got there, I knew I would have to beat the heck out of her to be able to win. I hit her so hard her legs flew out from under her. It's going to be a good rematch."

Taylor won a decision against Patton in that amateur fight. However, Patton has gone on record saying that she thought that she won the fight.

Fierce body shots are weapons Taylor loves to use. She said her body work is her strength now that she has turned pro.

"I like using body shots, which I feel is one of my strengths, but in the amateurs, it's a points system and you don't get credited for those," said Taylor. "I have a new respect for people getting hit with body shots. I have been hit by one. I have also been told I don't fight like a girl, which is a compliment to me."

Taylor said she is focused for Saturday's fight.

"I always have to work on keeping my mind focused and listening to my coach," Taylor said. "Sometimes I might not agree with them, but I know they can see things I can't. They usually let me do what I want in the first round but starting the second round, I do exactly what they tell me to. I know I have to use my brain more as a mental aspect. I work on this continually."

Taylor's trainers at the Freret Street Gym are James Joseph and Dawson Barze.

In 2008, Taylor won the National Golden Gloves Bronze Medal in Fort Lauderdale, FL. That same year, Taylor won Bronze in the National PAL Tournament in Oxnard, CA.

Taylor said she hoped female boxing will become popular. More recognition for female boxers from HBO is one thing Taylor hopes will change in the future.

"I hope that I can help the sport. Its changed a lot over the years," Taylor said. "Girls now can fight just as good as the men. I just wish HBO would give the women more opportunities."

Taylor guaranteed boxing fans will get their money's worth Saturday.

"One thing folks don't realize about me is I weighed 215 pounds at one time and lost 93. I can guarantee a good fight," Taylor said. "I am very entertaining. I want this fight so badly and maybe, just maybe, it might make it to the second round. But I know there is no way (Patton) could want this as much as I do."

"One thing is for sure," Taylor said, "if you don't come ready to fight me, you're in for a long night."

Long Journey Carries Gogarty To Success In And Out Of Ring

After her boxing career ended, Deirdre Gogarty became a highly-sought after trainer. (Photo credit: Ragin' Cajun Boxing)

By Winston Mount-Batten

LAFAYETTE, LA - The trip from the top of the world to the lowest rung on the ladder can be slow and excruciatingly painful, or fast and nearly pain free. Seldom are you allowed to plan your own itinerary for this excursion. In some cases the slide downward is not only pain free, but planned well in advance.

Trips like this for the male population, who have enjoyed centuries of dominance, are difficult to say the least. For women, who have only recently been in a position to make it to the top, departing from the mountain's crest has, to my knowledge, never been planned.

What do you do when you are at the very bottom of the valley? The strong willed (nearly all who have made it to the top are strong willed, but the fall can easily break the spirit), place their foot on the bottom rung and try to ascend once again. An example is Donald Trump, who with all his real estate, hotels, restaurants, casinos, etc., found himself in bankruptcy court one day, the next nearly penniless, and in debt up to his well styled hair. What to do? "The Donald" scrambled back up that ladder and placed himself in a position to tell all, "YOU'RE FIRED!"

Unlike "The Donald," whose trip was unplanned, we have a young lady from an aristocratic Irish family, who not only made the ascent to the pinnacle, but also planned the descent.

In 1987, Deirdre Gogarty, the youngest child of two dentists, made up her mind to enter the world of boxing. With absolutely no knowledge of the "Gentleman's Sport," only the inspiration from seeing Ireland's Barry McGuigan win the world featherweight crown from Eusebio Pedroza in front of over 100,000 fans, Deirdre made her decision.

Letting her family think that she had a boyfriend who boxed, Deirdre joined the Drogheda (Ireland) Boxing Club. Although she was allowed to use the facility, no one offered any training advice and she had to learn by watching the other young boxers in the gym. The disappointment of learning that women's boxing was against the law in Ireland - and most of the world - did not deter her determination to box. A move to Dublin to attend the prestigious Fitzwilliam Institute of Art also took her to St. Saviours Boxing Club, the No. 1 boxing club in Ireland. There she met Pat McCormack, a former amateur and professional champion, who decided to help her after seeing her willingness to learn and her never-ending quest to become the best conditioned athlete possible.

After four years in the gym while attending school, she became an Irish urban legend in boxing circles. A mere slip of a lass who was fearless and never turned down the opportunity to spar with anyone from flyweight to heavyweight. Finally, in 1991, she had her first fight while working as an animator on The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She faced Ann-Marie Griffin in Limerick, winning a four-round decision in an illegal underground match. Another illegal underground (literally) bout in the basement of a pub in London, was for the British Lightweight championship and Jane Johnston was easily handled. Deirdre had her first title.

Reflecting on her boxing career which had encompassed only two bouts in nearly six years, Deirdre decided that her only alternative was a move to someplace in the world where women's boxing was legal. Sending out letters to managers and promoters all over the world resulted in only replies from sleazy topless boxing promoters.

A friend of Pat's, Paddy Sower, of London, recommended that Deirdre write to the "Professor," Beau Williford, of Lafayette, LA, in the United States. Sower explained how Williford made world champions out of Glenn McCrory and Dennis Andries after their careers were suffering a downslide. After months passed with no response from Williford, Deirdre was distraught, but still determined.

Out of the blue a call came in from Williford. Suddenly she was on her way to America. Four years later, with many trials and tribulations behind her, she was the undisputed featherweight champion of the world.
Along with former opponent Christy Martin, they were the face of women's boxing.

A shoulder injury forced Deirdre to retire from the ring. She voluntarily relinquished her undisputed world title.

Her thriving graphic design company in Louisiana kept her busy, but she was still in the gym daily helping her "Professor" with his Ragin' Cajun Amateur Boxing Club. Beau watched, taught and entrusted her. Before long she was no longer an apprentice but the Professor's chief assistant, who he could trust to train and match the club's young charges. She took over the training of a young female pro, Kasha Chamblin. Kasha went on to the No. 1 spot in the world and two world title bouts. All this after only one amateur fight.

Other boxers in the gym noticed Gogarty's success and asked for advice.
She soon was assigned the task of training new pro Wilford Scypion, Jr.
(son of Wilford Scypion, who battled Marvelous Marvin Hagler for the World Middleweight Title) and is slowly developing Wilford into what she and Wilford's agent Kerry Daigle of Keepunching, LLC believe will be a top notch professional. Scypion sports a 7-1 (7 KOs) pro record.

Blake Prevost, a former USA Boxing National Amateur champion and U.S.
Marine champion, requested her services, with the approval of Daigle, of Keepunching, LLC, after Prevost was off for 31 months because of a broken ankle and hand. Blake recently had his second bout under Deirdre's tutelage and has scored two unanimous decision wins.

Having been entrusted with these two fine young prospects is quite an accomplishment, but the truth will be told when their Win-Loss totals are calculated.

"I have no fear of being the chief trainer and second for Blake and Wilford. I have learned from the best," Gogarty said. "Several years ago, I had a chance meeting with former Top 10 heavyweight and current world class referee, Randy Neumann. Discussing an upcoming bout of my own, Randy's words of wisdom to me were. 'You have nothing to worry about, you have the "Professor" in your corner and he always knows what to do in any situation.'

"Randy was, of course, referring to my manager/trainer, Beau Williford, and Randy's statement confirmed my own beliefs. "Professor" Williford knows boxing and he has taught me well," Gogarty added. "I have him in the corner as one of the world's best cut men and he will be there to guide me through and storm.

"Starting at the bottom is nothing new to me and I am well prepared for the journey back to the top as a coach," said a confident Gogarty.

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