ITALY ROCKS (AND WALKS) FOR RETIRED PROFESSIONAL BOXERS!

Young Englishman from Italy Plans 24 – Hour Walk to Raise Money for Retired Boxers in Need

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    August 10, 2006

[Simi Valley, CA]   A 24-hour walk is being planned by a young Englishman to raise money for boxers who have fallen on hard times.  Peter Lerner (25) – who moved to Rome two years ago – hopes to walk the coastal road outside the capital on November 4 for a day and a night, to raise funds for the Retired Boxers Foundation.

The American based charity set up by former world middleweight title challenger Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos helps boxers who were celebrated while they battled in the ring – but are now struggling with ill health, finances and their retirement.  Ramos, the Founder and President of the RBF had this to say about Peter Lerner:  “My heart is touched that a young man like Peter Lerner is willing to literally ‘walk the talk’ on behalf of my brothers in boxing. Peter is a bigger man than I have ever met in the ring and he is one of our Undisputed Champions for Dignity!”

Writer and English teacher, Peter, who was recently made RBF’s Italian representative said: “The public is well aware of the tragic events which befell Michael Watson and Gerald McClellan.

“However, there are many boxers who suffer similar problems but the public is not aware of them.

“They are men who once won the applause of the crowd, but are now suffering and forgotten.”

Peter, who left Manchester in 2004 to experience a new culture, hopes former colleagues, friends, family and boxing enthusiasts from his home city will sponsor his journey.

His route will take him along the coastal road from seaside resort Ostia, just outside Rome, and he estimates he could walk about 70+kilometers.

People can sponsor him per kilometer or as a one-off donation by contacting him at peterlerner@gmail.com or by contacting the Retired Boxers Foundation at www.retiredboxers.org

To prepare for the grueling challenge he has been jogging, mountain climbing and playing lots of football – but as November approaches he plans to step up the fitness pace.

Peter used to box a little around Greater Manchester in his younger days and has always been passionate about the sport which he describes as brutal yet beautiful.

He said: “I have never been to a football game or a concert which could match the atmosphere, emotions and sheer adrenaline generated by watching a favorite fighter.

“The tension can be incredible, the tension of knowing that your fighter could be one decisive moment away from victory or defeat.

And he added: “Unfortunately, hand-in-hand with this goes the risk of injury (both short-term and long-term) or even death.

“Though capable of moments and feelings of great beauty, boxing is also a sport which is, by its very nature, brutal.”

The foundation’s team of legal and medical experts help to solve the problems of boxers all over the world and shortly after emailing Alex Ramos earlier this year to tell him about the walk, Peter was appointed RBF representative in Italy.

Peter said: The foundation’s ethos is that boxers, like all other professionals, should be able to retire with dignity.

“I would like to give something back to the sport which has given me so many exciting moments.”

Although Peter writes mainly fiction outside his job teaching English as a foreign language, he hopes his role as RBF representative will give him the opportunity to help, meet and interview boxers and industry professionals world-wide.

He plans to record people’s experiences within the sport and distribute them as a newsletter to industry professionals.

He said: “The people involved in the industry are the best able to talk about it, the most involved.

“It’s about letting them speak about their opinions and experiences, I’m just the organizer.

“The idea is to create and archive of people’s thoughts and memories who are involved in the sport.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring Peter can contact him at peterlerner@gmail.com or 0161 368 5127.

ABOUT THE RETIRED BOXERS FOUNDATION:

The Retired Boxers Foundation was initiated by former 1984 USBA Middleweight Champion, Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos.  The mission of the RBF is to assist retired professional boxers in the transition from their glorious days in the ring to a dignified retirement.  For more information on the Retired Boxers Foundation, visit www.retiredboxers.org.

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INTRODUCING MARCEL NIESSEN AND MARISCHA SJAUW

The Retired Boxers Foundation European Representatives

The Retired Boxers Foundation is proud to add our long time friends to our list of International Representatives.  You can look at this site for information on what's happening in Europe and for some interesting information about the European Fight Scene and women's boxing.  Marischa Sjauw is a 4 Time World Champion.  For more information on Marischa, visit her site at http://www.marischasjauw.com/.

ABOUT MARCEL AND MARISCHA:

We met Alex through the Prince Ranch where he was with Hector "Macho" Camacho. Marischa and I lived in that ranch. We lived a total of three years in the states and got to meet a lot of interesting people. But we stayed in touch with a select few. And Alex was one of them.

We gave up our jobs in Holland to go to the US and box.  I was a prison guard and Marischa a secretary.

After that we wanted Alex to train and advice Marischa. After the US adventure we went to Germany and stayed there for 3 years. I started to do matchmaking (while training some fighters) and Marischa continued to box. The matchmaking started out for women first, but we got more and more requests to do male boxing as well since we offer extra service to the promoter.

Now we are back in Holland. The matchmaking is picking up but we have time for other things and would like to support the RBF and get something going here.

Marischa bio (she won 4 titles in 8 months btw):

MARISCHA SJAUW was born on August 27, 1971 in Paramaribo, Surinam, a former Dutch colony which is also the birthplace of LUCIA RIJKER. Her family moved to Holland in 1977. She was an all-around athlete in school and graduated with an Economics major from Meao College in Landgraaf, Holland. This 56" lightweight began boxing at age 19 to stay in shape. Two of Marischa's five brothers were boxers which encouraged her to take up the sport after winning European titles in the martial arts discipline of Kun-Tao. Marischa fought 6 fights in Europe before she came to America including a 5th round TKO over Anne Sophie Mathis from France, on November 18th 1995 in Langraaf. This win made Marischa Sjauw the new WIBF European Super-Welterweight Champion.

On March 21, 1998, at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City, Marischa came off a two-year layoff to face Richmond, Virginias hard hitting LISA ESTED (141 lbs.) Marischa was sent to the canvas by one of Esteds vaunted rights, but she mounted a late charge only to lose by unanimous decision over six rounds. Marischa's first pro loss dropped her record to 6-1-1. Ested moved her own pro record to 6-1-0 with the win.

On May 24, 1998, at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, KATHY COLLINS of Plainview, New York won the WIBF lightweight title by earning a 10-round unanimous (96-94) decision over Sjauw. Sjauw, who had taken the fight on short notice, started quickly and took the battle to a clearly surprised Collins who was well behind by the end of the fifth round. Collins dug deep to get back into the fight, and the two went toe-to-toe in the final round before Collins got the narrow decision. Kathy Collins later admitted that Sjauw was one of the finest she had ever fought.

On November 7, 1998, at the Sons of Italy Lodge in Lake Worth, Florida, DAISY OCASIO (61", 147 lbs.) of Puerto Rico moved her pro record to 3-0-0 by defeating Marischa (135 lbs.) by majority decision over four rounds. Ocasio is a former Olympic track and field competitor and Pan American Games Gold Medalist. She used her reach advantage and much clinching to offset Marischa's boxing skills. Many at ringside thought Sjauw had done enough to win the fight, so this was a very tough loss for "LaMatadora".

On December 30, 1998, at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia, Sjauw won a 4-round unanimous decision (40-36, 40-35, 40-35) over SHAKURAH WITHERSPOON of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Witherspoon took knees after absorbing body shots in the first and third rounds. This match moved Marischas record to 7-3-1 with 3 KOs while Witherspoon fell to 2-8-1.

On January 15, 1999, at the Sons of Italy Lodge in Lake Worth, Florida, Marischa (139 lbs.) won a clear 6-round unanimous decision over LISA CUEVAS (138 lbs.) of Orlando, Florida by 60-53 on all scorecards, moving her record to 8-3-1 with 3 KOs.

On February 20, 1999, at the Thornaby Pavilion in Teesside, Britains JANE COUCH successfully defended her WIBF welterweight title with a hard-fought 10-round unanimous decision (96-95, 97-93, 98-93) over Marischa. The margin of Couchs victory in the scorecards was a surprise to most. Jane Couch since said she found this "a hard fight" and that she thinks Marischa is "a great fighter in and out of the ring". The fight was the first female title bout in the UK to be sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control making it another milestone in the long battle to have the sport officially recognized in Britain. Jane moved her pro record to 9-2-0 with the win while Marischas fell to 8-4-1.

At this point, the results of Marischas intense training began to really bear fruit, and the Dutch girl went on a rampage.

On August 9, 1999, Sjauw decimated BLAIRE ROBINSON (5-1-0) at the Arrowhead Pond, stopping the tough Californian via the 4th round TKO route with a vicious body assault.

Three weeks later at Californias fabled Del Mar Racetrack, Sjauw, using the same body attack, dispatched JENNIFER MC CARTNEY in round 2 following her rib-cracking work downstairs.

Two weeks later on September 10, 1999, Marischa took her act on the road again. This time, she ventured into hostile territory to Michigans Soaring Eagle Casino where she tested World Featherweight Champion, durable BEVERLY SZYMANSKI. At the end of six grueling rounds, Sjauw again was the unanimous victor.

October 7, 1999 found Sjauw enroute to Texas to test Texan SNODENE BLAKENEY (6-2-0). Blakeneys only losses were controversial decisions to world titlist JEANNE MARTINEZ. Sjauw won a bizarre majority decision. One official gave her every round, a second gave her all but one stanza while the myopic third official somehow thought he was watching a draw.

Sjauw then culminated her sensational streak by outclassing highly-touted ISRA GIRGRAH in a 4-round encounter. Marischa had thus disposed of two World Champions in a scant five week period. GIRGRAH, who took CHRISTY MARTIN the entire distance, losing a close decision, was never in the fight against the girl from Holland.

After a hiatus of several months, Marischa ushered in the millenium with a February 11th split decision win over Russian import and IFBA/IWBF world lightweight titlist ZULFIA KOUTDOUSSOVA in Kenner, Louisiana. In her toughest fight in a long time Sjauw outlasted Koutdoussova for the split-vote tally in a long time, "classic boxer vs. classic puncher" matchup. Sjauw proceeded pressure throughout utilizing her punching power to negate the busier but feather-fisted Koutdoussova. In this bout, Sjauw picked up the first of her four world championship belts.

A trip to Auckland, New Zealand offered Sjauw the opportunity to add another belt to her collection and she didnt disappoint. Soundly trouncing Oceanic titlist WENA KARAKA with a near shutout score, Sjauw won the WIBF Light Welterweight hardware. This was accomplished a mere two months after her Louisiana title.

Sjauw stretched her win streak to eight and her world-titles to three with an easy 3rd round TKO over German champion HEIKE NOLLER (10-1-7kos) in Cologne, Germany on May 13th. The fight added the WIBF Lightweight World Title to Sjauws collection.

On October 7th, Marischa Sjauw added a fourth world title, stepping up in weight and annexing the IFBA Junior Welterweight hardware. Marischa did this by defeating tough veteran BRITT VAN BUSKIRK by UD over 10 rounds. Britt just came of a prestigious win over Sumya Anani, aka the girl that beat Christy Martin, three weeks earlier. The fight took place at the "Sky Ute Casino" in Durango, CO.

With the win Sjauw moved her personal log to a scintillating 17-4-1. She also managed to win four World Titles back to back within the short period of eight months.

This outstanding achievement marks Marischa Sjauw as one of the premier stars in the sport of womens boxing today.

On December 22, 2000 at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, Marischa (137 lbs.) handed local favorite and former national amateur champion LIZ MUELLER (5'3", 134 lbs.) her first loss in six pro fights with a 77-75, 75-77, 78-75 eight-round split decision. Mueller came off an exciting win over world champion Jane Couch a few months earlier. Women's boxing got an unexpected early Christmas present when this bout was upgraded from six to eight rounds and also seen live on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights after a male boxer canceled from the card for medical reasons. Sjauw and Mueller both put on a great show in a hard-fought bout with nonstop straight-ahead action. The taller Sjauw threw and landed more punches and also jabbed effectively. This was a first-rate show by both boxers that should have improved the reputation of women's boxing with the usual ESPN2 audience, which had recently been exposed to some poorly chosen female bouts. Sjauw moved her total pro record to 18-4-1, while Mueller fell to 5-1 as a pro boxer (she was 15-3 as an amateur).

On April 21, 2001 at Chinook Winds Casino and Convention Center, Lincoln City, Oregon, WIBF Intercontinental junior welterweight champion LISA HOLEWYNE (5'8", 141? lbs.) of Crawford, Texas won a very controversial ten-round decision over Marischa (141? lbs.) to take the vacant WIBF Welterweight title. The scorecards were 99-93,99-94,97-94 for Holewyne but Sjauw controlled and should have won the bout according to many ringside observers. There was a flap over irregularities on the scorecards, on which the boxer's names and corners had been visibly interchanged. Reporter Franco Fontanero from www.fwoboxing.com suspects the judges scored for the wrong fighter by mistake since the ladies had to switch corners before the fight. Holewyne moved to 13-7-1 (5 KO's) with the controversial win, while Sjauw's record slipped to 18-5-1 (6 KO's). Sjauws team because of the scorecard irregularities protested this result.

On June 16th in Anchorage, Alaska. In an action packed fight Marischa defeated tough KELLY WHALEY via an 8 round UD. Marischa won every round and moved to 19-5-1.

The Pala Casino in San Diego was the scene of a bloodbath on October 12th, 2001. SUMMER DELEON and Marischa received a standing ovation after putting up a first class show. The fight was a thriller as both girls traded heavy blows from start to finish. Deleon was bleeding hard from the nose and covered everything and everybody ringside with blood. Marischa moved her record to 20-5-1. Fightreport by Mel Baron: Click Here

November 13, 2003
Marischa is back after being off for 2 years. In a four round battle of female welterweights, Marischa Sjauw was victorious with an explosive performance against Kelly Whaley. Sjauw attacked immediately and was able to land punches almost at will in round one. In the second round, Sjauw nearly scored a knockout, connecting with several solid hooks which, if not for the ropes directly behind her, would have sent Whaley to the canvas. Whaley fought back aggressively in rounds three and four but was unable to fend off her quicker more aggressive opponent. All three judges scored the bout for Sjauw, the victor by unanimous decision.

On January 31, 2004
Marischa advanced her record to 22-5-1 (7 KO) with a second-round TKO over Laura Stefanescu of Romania. Marischa was fighting for the first time with a German pro license, reportedly showed some ring rust after a two-year absence from competition, but easily overwhelmed Stefanescu, who turned away as Sjauw began to land the first solid punches of the fight. The Romanian's corner threw in the towel at 1:03 in the second round after Sjauw found the mark with several hooks.