Cauthen Tabbed Trentonian’s Fighter of the Year
By
Dan Hirshberg
 To
say that 2006 was a year to remember for Terrance
Cauthen is an understatement. The Trenton native, whose
career seemed to be on the ropes in mid 2005, had a
sensational 2006 and things are only looking better as
2007 looms.
If
this were baseball, ht would be Comeback Player of the
Year. In the world of Trentonian Boxing, he is the
Fighter of the Year.
Cauthen won all four of his fights in 2006, giving him
an overall string of six consecutive victories. IN his
last outing in October, he claimed the USBA’s Junior
Middleweight title. That came on the heels of an IBU
Junior Middleweight Championship.
It is
clear that Cauthen’s abandonment of the junior
welterweight division and foray into the junior
middleweight division has been key. No longer saddled
with having to lose excess weight for a bout, Cauthen
can train more effectively.
“Moving to junior middleweight has made him a different
fighter,’ said Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing, Cauthen’s
new promoter. “It has made him a lot more exciting.”
In
the most recent IBF rankings, Cauthen is listed at No.
7. And on January 25, he can leapfrog to No. 2. That
night he faces Raul Frank at the Paradise Theater in the
Bronx, NY. The winner of that fight will move to No. 2,
ahead of people like Shane Mosley, Verno Phillips, Roman
Karmazin and Vernon Forrest.
This
is the most exciting it has been in my one year with T,”
said an elated Alan Daniel, Cauthen’s manager.
“It’s
a good feeling to know the position that I will be in if
I win that fight,” offered Cauthen. “I’m excited. I’m
ready.”
The
position that he will be in has to do with championship
potential, with only two guys ahead of No. 2. The
division’s champ is Cory Spinks and Rodney Jones is No.
1.
“Terrance will have a world title shot in the near
future,” predicted DeGuardia.
Ironically, Frank was supposed to be Cauthen’s opponent
for his last fight. Instead, Cauthen knocked out Dante
Craig for the USBA Junior Middleweight crown and an
automatic Top 10 ranking for the IBF. He came in at No.
8 last month.
“I’m
very happy with the way things have been for me,” said
Cauthen, who checked out in person Frank’s latest bout,
a second round technical decision win over Thomas Davis
earlier this month “I still have a long road ahead of
me.”
And
that road starts with Frank (27-5-3), who had one shot
at a world title already and ahs been on the cusp of
another shot one other time.
“I
respect him,” said Cauthen. “I know what he can do. I’m
game for a great fight, but I
know
it won’t be easy. I’ve got to keep it in perspective.
Raul is thinking the same thing that I’m thinking about
this fight. That it’s a big opportunity.”
An opportunity
that Cauthen is ready – and willing – to take.
DeGuardia Adds Some Heat!
Continuing to add to their ever-growing
stable of world champions, top contenders and promising
prospects, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing proudly announces
the signing of former NABF and NABA Junior Welterweight
Champion and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Bronze Medalist
Terrance “The Heat” Cauthen (31-3, 8 KOs) to a
promotional agreement.
“I’m
honored they would pick me to be in the same stable as
one of the best light heavyweights in the world, Antonio
Tarver,” said an enthusiastic Cauthen about the deal.
“They moved him well and hopefully with his promoter, I
can take that same trail.”
Campaigning in the welterweight and junior middleweight
divisions, the slick southpaw from Trenton, New Jersey,
says that without struggling to make weight and with a
whole new support team behind him, it will allow him to
become the fighter he always knew he could.
Cauthen’s resurgence will continue on October 11 when he
challenges for New York veteran Raul Frank’s USBA Light
Middleweight title in the 12-round co-main event of a
card at the Westchester County Center in White Plains,
New York.
“When
I was approached by Team Cauthen, I was naturally
interested, as Terrence certainly has the pedigree to
become champion,” explains Star boxing President Joe
DeGuardia when asked about the signing. “Terrance
reminds me of Winky Wright, as he has a smooth and
relaxed poise that makes him a real threat against
anyone in the ring. Real professors in the game
appreciate such ability. With the right
opportunities, Terrance will be able to show the world
what he’s capable of. With Star Boxing backing him and
his new managerial team lending their tremendous
support, the world should get ready for an all-new
‘Heat’ in the junior middleweight division.”
Cauthen Shines Bright on
Starry Night!
The
stars shone bright last Friday, at the Westchester
County Center in White Plains, New York, as all the Joe
DeGuardia’s Star Boxing warriors were victorious in
their bouts – but perhaps none shone brighter than USBA
Junior Middleweight King Terrance Cauthen.
Cauthen, now 32-3, 9 KOs, announced himself as the new
junior middleweight to watch by winning the vacant
championship while stopping fellow former Olympian Dante
Craig in round 10.
“Terrance looked extremely good,” said Star Boxing CEO
Joe DeGuardia. “Against Craig, he was surprisingly more
aggressive than in the past and never let Craig fully
into the fight.”
DeGuardia says Cauthen, who started his career at
lightweight, may have found a home at 154 lbs. “Terrance
was already one of the game’s finest pure boxers. He’s
an Olympic Bronze Medalist. But now that he’s not
killing himself to make weight and has added some power
to his slickness, he’s going to remind a lot of people
of Winky Wright. We’ll be looking to land him a showcase
fight on HBO or Showtime in the near future.”
Also
victorious at the White Plains show were Star Boxing’s
newest acquisition, the corporate muscle and former
“Contender” star Joey Gilbert, who defended his NABO
Middleweight Championship by stopping “Pretty Boy” Keith
Sims in round six. Gilbert moved his record to 13-1, 10
KOs in taking out the game Sims.
“We’re
also very proud of Joey and his performance,” DeGuardia
continued. “He took another big step toward his dream of
a world title and dismantled a determined opponent in
the process. Joey has the whole package and he
promises to become a very popular champion with
crossover appeal.”
Other
Star Boxing stable fighters scoring shutout unanimous
decision victories were the “Kosovo Kid” Elvir Muriqi,
who won over eight rounds against Illinois’ Ted Muller;
future heavyweight champion Kevin Johnson, over six
rounds against Detroit’s Demetrice King; and Brooklyn’s
promising super bantamweight Roberto Benitez, over four
rounds against England’s Vineash Rungea.
“All
our guys had terrific nights and we’re very proud of all
of them. The fans in White Plains were terrific and
we’ll be back there soon. Our congratulations and thanks
go out to all the fighters and people who made that
terrific night of boxing come together.”
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