Press Releases
December, 2007
CHANGING SPORTS: New goal has a ring to it
Former Rebel Kambala wins boxing debut
By STEVE CARP
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Fortunately for Kaspars Kambala, he didn't revert to his civilized basketball behavior Sunday. Otherwise, his fledgling boxing career probably would have been short-lived.
Kambala, the former UNLV basketball center who at age 28 has decided to trade his sneakers for boxing gloves, had an impressive debut in the ring. Burying Takilesi Fifita with an avalanche of blows, Kambala gained victory when the scheduled three-round amateur heavyweight bout at Trinity High School was halted 42 seconds into the second round.
The 6-foot-9-inch, 270-pound Kambala said he always has loved boxing, going back to his days as a youth in Latvia. Now, with notable boxing referee Richard Steele guiding him, Kambala hopes to develop his skills to where he can become an effective professional, perhaps even fight for the heavyweight championship of the world some day.
"That's the goal," he said. "It's no joke. I'm serious about this."
Fighting in front of a couple hundred spectators, including former Rebels teammates Dalron Johnson, Tony Lane, Warren Rosegreen, Patrick Savoy, Grant Rice and Chris Richardson, Kambala dominated from the opening bell, using his considerable height, reach and weight advantage to keep the 5-8, 240-pound Fifita at bay.
Kambala launched two flurries of punches in the opening round, the first opening a cut on Fifita's lower lip, the second knocking the headgear off the Westminister, Calif., heavyweight.
In the second round, Kambala continued his assault. Fifita was administered a standing eight-count, and after a visit from the ringside doctor, the fight was called off.
"It was great," Kambala said. "I had so much fun. Especially when I knocked his helmet off.
"I just wanted to keep attacking and keep the pressure on him. His head was moving back and forth so much as I was hitting him, he was bouncing like a tennis ball."
Steele, who worked Kambala's corner, said the debut was perfect.
"I wanted to see if Kaspars could do in a real fight what we practiced in the gym, and he did," Steele said. "I've worked with a lot of great athletes, and he's the best I've worked with. He also has two things any boxer needs to be successful. One is meanness. He has a mean streak to him. That's something you can't teach.
"The other thing is his movement and reaction. He's a natural. He moves so well on his feet. He's 270 (pounds), but he moves like a lightweight."
Their relationship dates to 1998 when, as a sophomore with the Rebels, Kambala asked Steele to show him fundamental boxing skills. Steele, an ordained minister, officiated Kambala's wedding a couple years later, and the two have remained close.
"I have complete trust in Richard," Kambala said. "He's been around boxing a long time. He's teaching me so much already. I know I'm in good hands."
Kambala enjoyed a successful pro basketball career after leaving UNLV in 2001. He played for four teams in Europe, including Real Madrid, and made millions. So why give up basketball for boxing?
"I want to test myself," Kambala said. "I need to do this for me. I want to prove myself I can do this by myself."
At 28, Kambala decided it was now or never. So he put his basketball career on hold to enter the ring.
The fact he had tested positive for a banned substance -- reportedly an antidepressant -- in December while playing in Turkey for Fenerbauche Ulker and is currently ineligible to play helped make his decision to box much easier. According to Warren LeGarie, Kambala's agent, Kambala isn't eligible to return to the court until Feb. 1.
But LeGarie said Kambala is dead serious about boxing.
"At first, I wasn't sure if he was," LeGarie said. "But the more I talked to him, the more I realized he wanted to do this.
"For the first time, he thought this was something he could define himself with. He can't blame his teammates, his coaches or the referees. It's all about him."
Kambala said he's aware of the responsibility he has to himself once he steps through the ropes.
"I like it," he said of the one-on-one competition. "You only have yourself to rely on."
Steele said the plan is to get Kambala in the ring once a month.
"I don't see him being an amateur long," Steele said. "Ten fights or less -- and it looks like less."
Kambala, clutching a trophy he earned for his efforts Sunday, said he's ready to build on his successful debut.
"I know I have a lot to learn, but I felt pretty good about the way I performed," he said. "Whatever Richard says is fine by me. We'll go forward and keep trying to get better."
November, 2006
Steele Retires From Refereeing – Back Promoting!
LAS VEGAS, NV – November 26, 2006 – Hall of Fame Referee, Richard Steele, has decided once and for all to call it a career as a referee. And what a career it was! Steele, arguably the greatest referee of all time, refereed over 170 championship bouts in his 30 plus years, more than any other referee, and some of the greatest fights in boxing, including the 3 greatest rounds in history, Hagler vs. Hearns.
Steele will try his hand at promoting much like he did after his first retirement in 2001. Initially, he will dive into the ever growing sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) under the name of Steele Cage Promotions. He is already in discussion with various venues in Las Vegas, Nevada and Dallas, Texas. Steele will not sway far from his roots as he will also look to promote boxing in 2007.
If you are interested in learning more about Steele Cage Promotions, please contact Richard Steele at 702-491-9036 or Jeff Zimmerman at 214-435-0994.
February, 2006
Quintet to be inducted into local Hall of Fame
Anthony, Steele, Feour, MacCall, Higgins make up newest class
By STEVE CARP
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Diversity is the theme for this year's Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductees. A home-grown basketball player. A world-class referee. A standout journalist. A tennis entrepreneur. A giant in the medical field.
That's the makeup of the Class of 2006, which is comprised of Greg Anthony, Richard Steele, Royce Feour, George MacCall and Dr. Gerald Higgins. The hall's five newest members are scheduled to be honored June 30 at Cox Pavilion and the official announcement will come Wednesday at the Findlay Auto Store at the Galleria at Sunset mall.
"It means everything," Anthony said Saturday from Houston, where he is working for ESPN and ABC at the NBA's All-Star Weekend. "Having grown up in Las Vegas, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and appreciation."
Anthony, 38, starred at Rancho High School and UNLV, and was the starting point guard for the Rebels' 1990 national championship and 1991 Final Four teams coached by Jerry Tarkanian. He was a first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks in 1991 and went on to play 11 years in the NBA before moving on to a career in television.
For Steele, becoming the first boxing referee inducted into the hall is special.
"I've been inducted to so many different things and honored by so many people in so many countries," Steele said. "But this means more to me. This is my home. These are my people. My family's here. To be honored by my people is very special indeed."
Steele, 62, spent 40 years in boxing, working 167 world title fights, the most of any referee. He has a close friendship with Feour, whom for decades was one of the sport's best and most respected reporters.
"It's something I never thought would happen to me," Feour said. "I always thought about being on the committee that selects the Hall of Fame. Instead, they selected me. I was actually quite shocked."
Feour, 66, worked at both the Review-Journal and the Las Vegas Sun, and also worked at the Reno Gazette-Journal while a student at UNR. In addition to covering just about every major fight that has been held in Las Vegas over the past 40 years, Feour also covered UNLV basketball, and wrote about baseball, football, high school sports and hockey. In September, he was inducted into the Nevada Press Association Hall of Fame.
While covering tennis, Feour befriended MacCall, a former Davis Cup captain who helped grow the sport in Las Vegas in the early 1970s and whose charitable work with the Inner City Games helped bring sports to many youths in the community.
"To have an honor like this at my age is wonderful," MacCall, 87, said of being the first tennis person to be inducted. "It's hard to put into words, but I'm still a little stunned."
Equally stunned was Higgins, an orthopedic surgeon who has been in Las Vegas since 1969. His long-standing relationship with UNLV athletics spans four decades and he has cared for thousands of athletes.
"It's an accolade more for the community than for myself," Higgins, 71, said. "I've been lucky to have such a wonderful relationship with the university all these years."
The Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame has been in existence since 1997. Ticket information for the June 30 banquet, which is open to the public, will be announced Wednesday.
Oct, 2005
Huge Knockout For Nation Sports And Richard Steele Boxing Club
Ken Norton and other boxing greats attend first annual golf fundraiser benefiting youth sports of Henderson and Las Vegas
By Jeff Zimmerman – Public Relations for Richard Steele Boxing Club
The gathering at the Black Mountain Golf Course last Wednesday in Henderson seemed more befitting of a Boxing Hall of Fame ceremony than a charity golf tournament as boxing greats Ken Norton (former Heavyweight Champion), Diego “Chico” Corrales (current Lightweight Champion), Wayne “Pocket Rocket” McCullough (former Bantamweight Champion), Joe Goosen (renowned Boxing Trainer) and the emcee and host himself, Hall of Fame Referee Richard Steele were all there for the first annual golf fundraiser benefiting the youth of Nation Sports and the Richard Steele Boxing Club. Also in attendance was former football player and pro bowl linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Michael Merriweather and about seventy other charitable individuals from the community that participated in the day’s affairs which included a golf tournament, luncheon with a raffle and auction.
On this beautiful, balmy day in Henderson, however, the discussions centered less on knockouts and weigh ins but more on short games, bogeys, mulligans and of course the youth of Nation Sports that this tournament was to benefit. The boxing theme, though, was not lost on the day as Richard Steele and Ken Norton entertained the audience at the luncheon with a little teasing while reliving their boxing days in the Marines. Steele quipped, “I was too quick for him, he couldn’t catch me, although he is the only guy to have knocked me down.” Norton was quick to respond, “And this was before I even knew how to box.” Steele even brought up Norton’s 1-2 record against Ali by conceding to everyone that Norton likely won 2 out of 3 when he told Norton, “I’ll give you two wins over him, but definitely not three”. This drew a huge roar from the crowd, who seemed to be mesmerized by these boxing icons banter back and forth.
The golf tournament was played in a scramble format which included lowest team score, longest drive and closest to the pin. Prior to the tournament, players were able to buy raffle tickets towards prizes such as autographed boxing gloves, golf balls and Home Court merchandise. And for those golfers that could use a little help, mulligans were also available. At the conclusion of golf, lunch was provided with the raffle as well as an auction to have lunch or dinner with Heavyweight Champion Ken Norton and for a pair of boxing gloves signed by Ken Norton, Wayne McCullough, Diego Corrales and Richard Steele – a boxing fan’s dream collectible.
Due to the success of their inaugural event, Nation Sports and Richard Steele Boxing have already begun plans for next year’s festivities, likely to be held in May, which is sure to be bigger and better. If you are interested in donating at anytime to this worthy cause, please contact Home Courts at 702-566-4081.
Nation Sports provides quality sports programs geared toward Las Vegas and Henderson youth and teaches fundamentals, builds self esteem and creates athletic awareness. Some of the sports in the program includes volleyball, basketball, soccer, boxing, martial arts and wrestling and are held at Home Courts in Henderson.
May 7, 2005 - The referee for the SHOWTIME-televised Jose Luis Castillo vs Diego Corrales WBC/WBO unification fight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas will be Tony Weeks. Judges will be Daniel Van de Wiele, Lou Moret and Paul Smith. For the Juan Manuel Marquez vs Victor Polo WBA/IBF featherweight clash, the referee will be Hall of Famer Richard Steele. Judges will be Fred Steinwinder, Tom Schreck and Adalaide Byrd.
May 3, 2005
MEMORIAL PLANNED FOR BOXING WRITER
A memorial service for longtime boxing writer Jack Welsh will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Islander ballroom at Mandalay Bay.
Welsh, 80, died in his sleep after covering a boxing card Saturday at Caesars Palace. Welsh was a Las Vegas resident for more than 20 years, and his writing career spanned more than five decades and garnered numerous awards.
Richard Steele, the Hall of Fame referee and an ordained minister, will officiate the service .
April 6, 2005
Teamsters, JAB Fight
for Jack Johnson Pardon
Statement of Richard Steele, Professional Boxing Referee
and Member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame
Good afternoon, and thank you for coming. My name is Richard Steele, and I have more than 40 years experience in boxing. As a referee, I have worked more world title fights than any other current or past referee, so I have spent a great deal of time with champion fighters. I was also recognized by Nelson Mandela for refusing to referee fights in South Africa while that country was governed by the rules of apartheid—fairness, equality and human rights are vitally important to me.
I am a great admirer of Jack Johnson. He did so much for the sport of boxing and, in particular, for African American boxers struggling for respect and recognition during a difficult and painful time in this country’s history. I support the Joint Association of Boxers’ efforts to right Johnson’s record and secure a pardon for him. It’s time for this negative mark on boxing’s history to be erased.
I would like to thank JAB and the Teamsters for giving me the opportunity to weigh in on this issue. Thank you to Representative King for spearheading the effort to put Congress on record in support of a pardon for Jack Johnson. And thank you to those members of Congress who have agreed to co-sponsor this resolution. This is a wrong that deserves to be righted—in the interest of fairness and righting the record, and on behalf of Jack Johnson, I urge Congress to pass this resolution when it comes before you.
Thank you.
