BOXING

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Ntoh vs. Sheika
By Robert Hoffman at ringside

The main event of the evening was a scheduled 10 round fight between Omar Sheika (now 26-6-0, with 17 KO's) and Manu N'Toh (now 15-7-1, 9 KO's). Sheika, a former World title challenger, gave Manu N'Toh all that he could handle for the entire 10 rounds. Much of the first 4 rounds saw Sheika stepping back as N'Toh pressed forward trying to overwhelm the veteran Sheika, who spent the majority of the fight trying to counterpunch, and then tie up the faster punching N'Toh. Sheika seemed to be landing the cleaner and more effective shots, but it was N'Toh who pressed forward and dictated the pace of the fight early on. This was a very close fight that could have swung either way due to what impressed the judges most. Activity, power, or stamina. Although neither fighter was down in this fight, N'Toh was able to think on his feet and outwork Sheika. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Sheika by scores of 97-93, and 98-92 twice. This was deffinitely not one of Sheikas better performances. Sheika looked tired and confused throughout the fight.

In the main event, former Ukrainian Olympian Vitaliy Kopytko (now 23-6) suffered a dissapointing DQ loss in his super middleweight contest with Manu Ntoh (now 15-6-1).

The first round was an interesting matchup of power versus skill and speed with Kopytko using his speed and footwork to win the round.

In round two, Ntoh connected with several looping left and right hooks that staggered Kopytko back into the ropes. Vitaliy then turned his back to Ntoh and it looked for a moment that referee John O'Brien might have to intervene. Kopytko then suddenly regained his senses and fought on. Within seconds, however, Kopytko landed two low blows in a row, prompting O'Brien to deduct a point. Ntoh responded by blasting away at Kopytko with a volley of left and right hooks that floored Kopytko. When the action resumed, Kopytko landed two more low blows and was disqualified by O'Brien. Time of the DQ was 2:46 into round two.

Ntoh KOs Meux!
By Scotti Vandevender

Prior to the nationally televised action on ESPN from Sam’s Town casino, Manu Ntoh (12-6-1, 8 KOs) pounded out a third-round KO victory over Tyrone Muex (10-19-3, 2 KOs), landing a tremendous left hook that felled the local Memphis-area fighter like a tree sawed at the roots

Weigh-ins precede upcoming fights
By Wade Baker McALLEN — Julio Gonzalez stood eye-to-eye with Manu Ntoh on Wednesday.

The brief staredown between the two boxers transitioned into smiles and then laughter. The two turned away with a grin, composed themselves and then refreshed their faces with another fierce stardown to conclude the news conference.

That friendly feel won’t be the case Friday night.

Gonzalez and Ntoh highlighted the news conference at McAllen’s Best Western Rose Garden Inn to promote their 10-round Miller Lite Texas Title Series main event light heavyweight bout set for Friday night at the La Villa Real.

“He handicaps himself,” Ntoh said of Gonzalez, who’s over one foot shorter than Gonzalez. “He’s the taller and bigger fighter, but that hurts him in the long run. That’s his disadvantage against a guy like me.”

The 6-foot-2, 177-pound Gonzalez (33-1) is no stranger to the boxing world. The fourth-ranked World Light Heavyweight contender scored the biggest fight of his career in July 2001 when he dropped a 12-round decision to Roy Jones, Jr. for the World Light Heavyweight Championship at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

It marked the only loss of Gonzalez’s professional career.

“That put me on the map,” Gonzalez said. “I got knocked down three times. I hit the ground in the first, fifth and 12th rounds but I got right back up every time. I was expected to go in there and get knocked out, but I didn’t. I stood toe-to-toe with Roy Jones. There aren’t many boxers around that can say they took Roy Jones, Jr. 12 rounds.”

Since the bout Gonzalez has won five straight matches, including three knockouts during the span. In his first trip to the Rio Grande Valley, the Mexico native was originally slated to fight E.T. Whitaker. However, Whitaker pulled out of the fight over the weekend because of a nagging shoulder injury.

Gonzalez isn’t concerned about the lack of preparation for the bout.

“You get used to last minute changes in this business,” Gonzalez, 26, said. “If you want to get to the top you just learn to deal with it and go out and fight. You can’t worry about who you’re fighting. You just have to worry about winning.

“That’s how you win championships in this business. Friday is just another fight for me.”

Ntoh agrees with Gonzalez and looks at the fight as just another stepping stone.

“I don’t look at this as me being pushed into a fight,” Ntoh said. “I want this fight. I feel like this is my fight. I have the chance to beat the fourth-ranked boxer and that’s how you advance up the ranks. This is just an opportunity for me.”

And when Gonzalez and the 5-foot-1 Ntoh step into the ring Friday night those smiles and that laughter that appeared at the news conference Wednesday will no longer be glued to their faces. Instead, the two boxers will look to add another notch to their careers.

“Winning this fight is my only option,” Gonzalez said. “That’s all I’m thinking about right now.”

Handy and Ntoh ends in draw..
MAR 31) On March 28, 2003,

at the Alario Center in Westwego, Louisiana promoter Les Bonano matched local favorite Carl Handy and Manu Ntoh for the vacant IBA America's Lightheavyweight title. The two battled on even terms for twelve rounds to
a split decision draw. Both camps voiced their displeasure at the decision but this was not an easy fight to score. The title remains vacant.

PA - NABO title fight - Jan 2003
Salem Tops Ntoh In Great Fight
By Sam Gregory @ RingsideLast night at the Zembo Temple in Harrisburg, Pa. Jim Bores and Rising Star Athletics put on a first class, very exciting event. The main event had the 19-2 with 10 KO's Kabary Salem fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y. taking on the very game Manu Ntoh 11-4 (7) fighting out of Atlanta Ga. Going into the fight Salems' only 2 losses were decision losses to both Antwun Echols and Eric Harding. Last night was the third time I saw Salem fight and he was by far at the best I've ever seen him.

Fighting for the NABO super middleweight title Ntoh came out in the first round very strong looking for an early KO against Salem. The very slick Egiptian used the rather small ring as well as I've ever seen, avoiding Ntoh's barrage of power punches.

By the third round Salem turned the fight around and landed several power punches of his own that didn't seem to faze Ntoh at all. Going into the fifth round the fight became an all out brawl and stayed that way until the closing bell.

It was a very close fight and could have gone either way. Kabary Salem prevailed and won a very close UD to win the NABO super middleweight belt.

The Rumble at the Roxy II featured Manu Ntoh fighting Roosevelt Walker in the main event. Both super middleweights, Ntoh came in with a record of 10-4 (6 KO's) and Walker with a record of 22-13-1 (13 KO's). Walker was able to knock Ntoh down in the first round and nearly take him out, but the end of the round saved Ntoh from a first round loss. The second round saw Ntoh come storming back to force the referee to stop the bout halfway through the second round. The crowd also enjoyed the attraction of having Cuba Gooding Jr. lead Ntoh into the ring for his bout.