Seldin to Face Rodriguez on January 25

Welterweight Cletus "Da Hamma" Seldin is scheduled to fight Luis Rodriguez on January 25 at the Paramount Theatre in Long Island, New York. This bout will be on the un-televised undercard of the Showtime program ShoBox.

Seldin (9-0, 7 KOs) won all four of his 2012 fights by knockout, each ending inside two rounds. Seldin has been doing his damage with the overhand right. Seldin told The Jewish Boxing Blog, "It is becoming my signature punch." But Cletus has more in his arsenal than that one punch, noting,  "It's not a must-land punch for me; I just know how to get the timing just right before I throw it."

Rodriguez (6-6-1, one KO) will try to avoid being clocked by that overhand right. The Puerto Rican native is moving up in weight; he's never fought above 140 pounds. The 25 year old, has lost his last three fights, but don't be fooled. All three were to boxers with strong records. In his six losses, he has only been stopped once. In that fight, he put down Luis Gonzalez twice in the third round before being dropped himself. The fight was stopped with Rodriguez on his feet and throwing punches.

Despite Rodriguez's toughness, this will be a difficult task. He's fighting a man who is strong and powerful for a welterweight, while Rodriguez only has two fights at junior welterweight. This bout is scheduled for six rounds.

Groenteman to Return on January 19

Junior welterweight Barry Groenteman is scheduled to fight Samir Boukrara on January 19 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The fight is scheduled for six rounds.

Groenteman's 2012 was less than ideal in the ring. After grabbing his fourth straight win, he lost a disputed split decision to Andrea Carbonello. Groenteman (7-5-2, 2 KOs) endured several cancelled fights thereafter, including a much desired rematch with Carbonello. In October, he drew with the capable Tarik Madni. This will mark the seventh straight fight Groenteman will have in his home country.

Boukrara (12-16-1, 2 KOs) is not on the same level as Carbonello or Madni, but he is experienced. The native of Morocco has mostly fought in France. Boukrara, who fights orthodox, is moving up in weight and is eight years older than Groenteman. He hasn't fought since October of 2010 and has lost his last four fights and nine of his last ten. But all nine of those losses were to men with good records. His lone win in that span came against a fighter with a losing record.

Michael Brooks vs. Bryan Acaba

November 15, 2012
Plattduetsche Restaurant
Long Island, New York



Brooks: camoflouge trunks
Acaba: black trunks, white trim