Boxing Trend

GIOVANNI LORENZO - RAUL MARQUEZ

2008-06-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

IBF Middleweight Mandatory Eliminator

Hard Rock Live in Hollywood , FL

SHOWTIME TO BROADCAST LIVE

MIDDLEWEIGHT MELEE: The Hard Rock Live in Hollywood , FL will serve as the site for a Showtime World Championship Boxing middleweight doubleheader. The 12 round non-title main event bout will feature a rematch between Edison Miranda (30-2, 26 KO’s) and undefeated IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (26-0, 21 KO’s). In the co-feature undefeated IBF #4 ranked contender Giovanni Lorenzo (26-0, 18 KO’s) challenges IBF #13 ranked contender and former world champion Raul Marquez (40-3-1, 29 KO’s) in a 12 round IBF Mandatory Eliminator bout. IBF champion Abraham is mandated to fight the winner of Lorenzo-Marquez in his next bout. SHOWTIME’s June 21 broadcast will begin at 9pm ET / PT. Tickets, priced at $202, $152, $102, and $52 are now on sale and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Live Box Office or TicketMaster.com.

GIOVANNI LORENZO: TIME TO STEP UP - Undefeated middleweight contender Giovanni Lorenzo has been waiting for this opportunity. He has hungered for the chance to showcase his talents and prove to the world that he is ready to battle for a world title. The only person standing in his way is Raul Marquez:

On Marquez’s abilities: “Marquez has many strengths, as do most former world champions. He is durable, he’s been active, and he can punch. He has been in with the best in the world. Also, he is a southpaw and I have never faced a southpaw before. He works every minute of every round and bangs to the body hard. He's tenacious, focused, but also very relaxed. He is a tough out for anyone. That is why so many fighters have avoided him. But so far no one has been able to defeat me. He has been defeated and he knows how to lose. That will be the big difference in the fight.”

On Marquez’s age and stamina: “Marquez has been the distance [10 rounds or more] numerous times and the most I have gone is 8 rounds, so I don’t expect any advantages if the fight going longer. I have been preparing for the old Marquez and I expect a hard physical fight from start to finish. I know that although he has been stopped he has never been counted out, so I want to be the first man to ever do that. If I can, it will be a huge accomplishment.”

On Pavlik-Lockett: “I think Pavlik could get beat. He is an overrated fighter

who wants to fight bums who nobody gives a damn about. But if HBO

wants to keep paying him the amount of money he is asking to fight these

bums, then they deserve the poor ratings that they have been getting.

Pavlik is never going to fight me. His management already confirmed this

. . . which is why we are moving on and planning to face Abraham in our

next fight.”

RAUL MARQUEZ: FINAL SHOT? Former world champion Raul Marquez recognizes that this IBF eliminator bout on June 21 against Lorenzo may be his final opportunity to earn a world title shot. Since losing to Jermain Taylor in June 2004, the 16-year veteran and 1992 Silver Medalist has rattled off a 5-0-1 record. With the help of his trainer/father, Arturo Marquez, Raul plans to knock off Lorenzo and then challenge IBF champion Arthur Abraham . . . or any other world middleweight champion willing to fight him.

On Lorenzo’s opposition: “Lorenzo’s young and hungry and this is a big opportunity for him. But the guy’s never been tested. The biggest name on his resume is Archak [Ter-Meliksetian]. He’s been fighting nothing but journeymen.”

On Lorenzo’s skills: “He’s powerful and strong. When you knock out 18 guys you have some power no matter who the opponent is. But I don’t think he is a full-blown middleweight and a lot of the guys he’s fought were welterweights and jr. middleweights. He hasn’t been in with a true middleweight. I’ve watched tape of him and I think he’s an average guy, an average fighter. Nothing impressive. I don’t compare him with the talent of guys like Jermain Taylor and Fernando Vargas when I fought them. They had better resumes.”

Marquez is training for the bout in Houston , and other than suffering through the heat and the humidity he is enjoying training like never before: “Since I lost to Taylor I’ve had six fights. The training is hard and you really have to want it. It’s hard at any age, but it gets even harder at 36. But I’m different now. I’m older, wiser, and more mature. I love boxing more now than ever. I appreciate it more. I train happy.”

Next Week: Training Camp Tidbits

For more info: Main Events (973) 200-7050

Donald Tremblay

dtremblay@mainevents.com

World Class Professional Boxing Returns to Chicago

2008-06-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

World Class Professional Boxing Returns to Chicago as Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions,HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated present FEARLESS, an action packed evening of world class professional boxing on Friday, June 20th at the Aragon Ballroom.

Tickets for FEARLESS are on sale now through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) and the 8 Count Production offices at 312-226-5800. The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

Headlining FEARLESS is an outstanding bantamweight clash as world ranked Alex Valdez,(20-2-1, 15 KO’s), of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico battles Accra, Ghana native Anyetei Laryea,(17-4, 8 KO’s) over ten rounds. Valdez is currently ranked # 4 by the WBC, #7 by the WBO, # 10 by the IBF and # 15 by WBA.

In the co-main event, Salinas, California's super bantamweight Alejandro Perez, (12-0-1, 7 KO’s) squares off against Mexico City’s Adolfo Landeros,(17-10-1, 8 KO’s) in a scheduled eight rounder.

In a special feature attraction bout, former world champion Montell “ICE” Griffin, (48-7, 30 KO’s) of Chicago will face Baltimore native Corey Cummings,(15-2, 12 KO’s) over ten rounds in the light heavyweight division. This will be Griffin’s first bout in his hometown in nine years.

On the outstanding under card, Chicago favoriteIvan Popoca, (6-0-1, 5 KO’s) will face KhristianGeraci, (3-2-1, 2 KO’s) in a six round welterweight bout. Also on the undercard, Michigan nativeFrederico Flores Jr. (4-2, 2 KO’s) faces ChicagoanGustavo Palacios, (2-3, 1 KO’s) over four rounds.

Rounding out the card is a four round junior lightweight battle between Chicago native JuanBailon, (2-0, 1 KO) and Mexico’s Gerardo Alarcon, (0-1).

Along with Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated,FEARLESS is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.

The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoliin 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finestChicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visitwww.8countproductions.com andwww.jabbboxinggym.com

For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit

www.toprank.com

RICKY HATTON VS. JUAN LAZCANO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT

2008-05-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS SIGNS DEAL WITH VERSUS TO TELEVISE
RICKY HATTON VS. JUAN LAZCANO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT
ON MAY 24 FROM MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

Malignaggi vs. N’Dou World Championship Bout Also On Card Lineup

LOS ANGELES (May 12, 2008) – Golden Boy Promotions announced today a deal with VERSUS, the sports network that celebrates real competition in all its forms, to televise the Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi vs. Lovemore N’Dou world championship doubleheader. The fights will air live on VERSUS on May 24 at 3:30 PM ET and will originate from the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England. The event marks the first time that Golden Boy Promotions and VERSUS will work together to televise a boxing event. The fight will be televised by Sky Box Office in the United Kingdom.

The main event will feature Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton and Juan Lazcano in a 12-round bout for Hatton’s IBO and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight World Championships with the co-featured bout pitting IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Paulie Malignaggi vs. Lovemore N’Dou in a re-match battle for Malignaggi’s title. The bouts are promoted by Punch Promotions in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Frank Maloney Promotions. Malignaggi vs. N’Dou is presented in association with DiBella Entertainment.

“I’m very excited to bring Ricky’s fight to his American fans through VERSUS,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “This is a step in the right direction for fight fans as we at Golden Boy hope to continue to bring big names and big fights to non-pay TV on cable television. The fights between Hatton and Lazcano and Malignaggi and N’Dou are the perfect start to what I hope will be a long relationship with VERSUS.”

“We are thrilled to be bringing this level of fight to our network,” said Marc Fein, Executive Vice President of Programming, Production and Business Operations for VERSUS. “We look forward to continuing to build our boxing franchise and look forward to working with Golden Boy Promotions on this event.”

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. For more information on VERSUS, please visit www.versus.com.

Published Nov. 17th – The Ropes Held Him Up --- Boxing Essays and Articles

2006-11-18T07:45:00.000-08:00

New boxing book pounds away

JE Grant’s The Ropes Held Him Up -- Boxing Essays and Articles was published Nov. 17 and is now available.

Click on the title above to place your order.

The collection of boxing pieces covering a wide variety of fights and issues facing the sport today provide the reader insights into the professional scene.

Grant, who currently writes for the highly-acclaimed Boxing Scene.com, continues to highlight the action of fighters worldwide and jabs at those that he sees as pounding at the sport.

ABOUT AUTHOR

JE Grant is a pen name used exclusively by the author for writing about boxing. This is his first compilation.

ABOUT LULUFounded in 2002, Lulu is the world’s fastest-growing print-on-demand marketplace. Please see www.lulu.com for more information.

Superfighter News Statement From Stephen Duval Founder and CEO

2006-11-15T17:02:00.000-08:00

It is with great regret that I announce the postponement of the Superfighter Pay-Per-View event scheduled for December 2nd in Melbourne and December 1st in the USA . The team will continue working until the inaugural Superfighter event is staged, with our intention to hold the tournament in the United States in early 2007.

When we launched the event on October 17 in Melbourne , the Superfighter team was confident all elements were secured to run a successful inaugural tournament.

However; recent withdrawals coupled with the unexpected challenges for fighters’ securing the proper clearances to enter Australia in time to train and acclimate themselves led Superfighter to the conclusion that the final December 2 field would not be of an appropriate caliber.

Superfighter’s objective has always been – and will remain - to showcase the world’s most exciting elite boxers.

Due to the withdrawal of Calvin Brock and Samuel Peter, and the visa/entry issues, the investors and management of Superfighter made what we believe to be the appropriate decision to postpone the event regardless of the significant monetary losses we are incurring.

All ticket sales will be refunded.
The Superfighter team believes in this innovative boxing format and is dedicated to its goals. We are committed to our promise to fight fans worldwide - to promote world class boxing events.

Stephen Duval
Founder and CEO

HBO PPV: MANNY PACQUIAO VS. ERIK MORALES III

2006-11-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

"THE GRAND FINALE" SET FOR NOVEMBER 18 at THOMAS & MACK LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW

It's official. Three-division world champions MANNY "PAC MAN" PACQUIAO and ERIK "EL TERRIBLE" MORALES will get it on for the third time to determine who really is the best man inside the ring.

Pacquiao and Morales each own a victory over the other in their two previous fights - both considered "Fight of the Year" candidates -- which have attracted over 700,000 pay-per-view buys combined.

The announcement was made by Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank and Shelly Finkel, Pacquiao's manager. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Wynn Las Vegas, Pacquiao-Morales III will be a 12-round super featherweight bout, from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV, and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Jimmy Lange and Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson to Headline December 9th Boxing Event at the Patriot Center

2006-10-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

FAIRFAX, VA (October 28, 2006)– Two of the Washington area’s top boxers will serve as co-headliners and a highly-anticipated, super lightweight contenders’ rematch highlight a six-bout fight card presented by Major League Boxing set for Saturday, December 9, 2006 at the Patriot Center.

Northern Virginia fan favorite JIMMY LANGE (27-3-1, 19 KOs) will return for his fourth consecutive bout in Fairfax joining one of the region’s all-time great fighters, former three-time world champion MARK “TOO SHARP” JOHNSON (44-5, 28 KOs) of Washington, D.C. as the evening’s main attractions. Opponents for both fighters will be announced shortly.

After an impressive showing earlier this month “THE PRIDE OF PORTSMOUTH ” DORIN SPIVEY (34-4, 28 KOs) returns to Northern Virginia to face DEAN “THE PIT BULL” WHITE (13-5-1, 6 KOs ) of Smithsburg, MD in an exciting eight-round rematch. The two fighters squared off back in 1998 with Spivey earning a seventh round TKO in Virginia Beach .

Lange looks to continue on the winning track after scoring a tenth round TKO win over Tommy Wilt earlier this month at the Patriot Center .

“I look forward to getting right back to work and preparing for December 9,” said Lange who recently returned to camp at trainer Buddy McGirt’s Vero Beach , FL gym. “I chose to return to the Patriot Center for my next fight instead of pursuing other options because of the great support I always receive from my hometown fans.“

Johnson, the first and only African-American boxer to ever capture a world championship flyweight title, suffered a loss to WBO bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez in his last fight held on February 25, 2006 in Las Vegas . This will be Johnson’s second fight in Virginia (first was June 12, 1992 in Alexandria ) and first area appearance since July 2004 (Bowie, MD).

“Boxing has been great to me and my goal is to get back into world title contention, eventually fighting (Robert) Guerrero for his IBF Featherweight Title,” explained Johnson who has captured the WBO Super Flyweight, IBF Flyweight and Super Flyweight championship belts during his illustrious 12–year career. “It all starts with this fight in December where I’ll get a chance to see how I feel fighting at 126 in front of a great hometown crowd.”

Promoter Joe Hensley of Major League Boxing anticipates another attractive and competitive card, top-to-bottom, with a total of six bouts to be scheduled. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the first bout slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will go onsale in the immediate future.

PROMOTER:
www.MajorLeagueBoxing.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brotman•Winter•Fried Communications – 703-534-4600
Brian Bishop (brian@bwfcom.com) ext. 210
Mike Schaffer (mike@bwfcom.com) ext. 217

Lange Scores 10th Round TKO to Regain Winning Form Saturday Night at the Patriot Center

2006-10-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

FAIRFAX, VA (October 9, 2006) --- Needing a strong performance to get back on the winning track, popular Northern Virginia middleweight contender Jimmy Lange didn’t disappoint the 3,614 boisterous fans Saturday night at the Patriot Center, using an impressive surge late in the fight to record a ten-round technical knockout (2:45) over tough veteran Tommy Wilt in the Main Event. Lange of Great Falls, VA, improved to 27-3-1, 19 KOs, while Wilt from Altoona , PA , dropped to 20-6, 4 KOs .

Due to a schedule conflict, Lange’s head trainer Buddy McGirt was unable to work Saturday’s fight, so Lange’s camp enlisted the legendary International Boxing Hall of Famer Angelo Dundee and the highly-regarded Tommy Gallagher to serve as his corner men. Both seemed to provide the necessary motivation and support for the season-one Contender star who was looking to bounce back after suffering a disappointing loss last February.

In the co-Main Event bouts, Dorin “The Pride of Portsmouth” Spivey (34-4, 28 KOs) earned a well-fought, eight-round unanimous decision (80-72, 79-73, 78-74) against Mexico’s Roberto Valenzuela (37-26, 33 KOs), and Newark, DE’s Larry “The Laser” Marks (29-8, 16 KOs) defeated Washington, DC’s Purcell “Hard Rock” Miller (22-5-1, 18 KOs) with a commanding eight-round unanimous decision (80-71, 79-72, 79-72).

Lange’s Contender co-star Anthony “The Bullet” Bonsante (27-8-3, 16 KOs) of Shakopee , MN , delivered a strong performance by knocking out Larry “The Gladiator” Brothers (6-20, 4 KOs) of Washington , DC at 2:34 in the fourth round of a scheduled six-rout tilt. Dumfries, VA’s Derek Amos (14-23, 9 KOs) and Juan Carlos Robles (4-0, 2 KOs) of Waynesboro, VA, got the evening started with a competitive heavyweight slugfest with undefeated Robles emerging victorious with a four-round unanimous decision.

Jed Phipps (17-5, 10 K0s) of Baltimore , MD failed his physical, canceling his heavyweight showdown against Washington , DC ’s Rohan “The Buffalo Soldier” Wallace (6-4, 4 KOs ). Time limitations imposed by the venue prevented two other swing bouts featuring “Money” Mike Sawyer (2-1, 2 KOs) of Falls Church, VA vs. Sault St. Marie, MI’s Randy McRorie (0-1) and Riverdale, MD’s Horace “The Reason” Grant (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Jonathon Felton (2-4, 2 KOs) of Woodbridge, VA, from taking place.

Among the notable dignitaries attending the fight were undefeated welterweight contender Paul “The Punisher” Williams, former middleweight champion William Joppy, former world champion Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker (who served as Spivey’s trainer), “First Lady of Boxing” and Contender star Jackie Kallen, popular George Mason University men’s basketball head coach Jim Larranaga and former Washington Redskins star Brian Mitchell.

Joe Hensley of Major League Boxing (www.majorleagueboxing.com) was the promoter of record and Nick Tiberi served as matchmaker.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brotman•Winter•Fried Communications
Brian Bishop/ Mike Schaffer - 703-534-4600

Legendary Angelo Dundee Joins Jimmy Lange’s Corner

2006-09-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

FAIRFAX, VA (September 19, 2006) --- Johnny Lange, father and manager of top middleweight contender Jimmy Lange, announced today that boxing legend Angelo Dundee will serve in Jimmy’s corner for his 10-round Main Event bout against Tommy Wilt on Saturday, October 7 at the Patriot Center.

“I’m extremely honored that one of the true legends in the sport will be in my corner on October 7th,” said Lange (26-3-1, 18 KOs), who trains in Vero Beach , FL with highly-regarded former champion Buddy McGirt. “It means a tremendous amount to me to have a man of Mr. Dundee’s stature and talent, offering me guidance and advice on one of the most important nights of my career.”

"I am pleased to work with Jimmy Lange and once again travel to the DC area,” said Dundee . “It is always exciting for me to work with young, upcoming talent. I expect a solid performance from Lange and an impressive win."

The highly-respected International Boxing Hall of Fame member Dundee has worked with many of the world’s greatest fighters including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, “Sugar” Ray Leonard and Carmen Basilio. Known as a master motivator, Dundee recently trained Russell Crowe for Crowe's characterization of James J. Braddock in "The Cinderella Man."

The Lange-Wilt battle headlines an exciting evening of world-class boxing featuring nine total bouts, including Anthony “The Bullet” Bonsante from The Contender, presented by Major League Boxing Saturday, October 7 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA.

Tickets, priced at $500 (VIP Ringside), $350 (Ringside), $250, $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, are available through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Patriot Center box office, at www.ticketmaster.com and www.majorleagueboxing.com, or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT.

George Mason University faculty, staff and students, area high school and college students, local law enforcement officials, firefighters and military members may receive a discount on select tickets by presenting a valid ID at the Patriot Center box office only. For more details and information, contact the Patriot Center box office at 703-993-3000 or visit online at www.patriotcenter.com.

PROMOTER:
Major League Boxing (http://www.majorleagueboxing.com/)

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brotman•Winter•Fried Communications
Brian Bishop/ Mike Schaffer - 703-534-4600

2000 MEXICAN OLYMPIAN RE-SIGNS WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS

2006-09-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE

Los Angeles – WBO Junior Featherweight Champion and current Golden Boy Promotions fighter Daniel Ponce De Leon has re-signed a multi-fight deal/multi-year deal with Golden Boy Promotions.

“Golden Boy Promotions is committed to the success of Daniel Ponce De Leon and we are very pleased that he has decided to remain in the Golden Boy family. At Golden Boy Promotions we believe in transparency and I believe that Daniel re-signing is a indication that we are doing things the right way.” said Golden Boy Promotions, President, Oscar de la Hoya.

Said Daniel Ponce de Leon “I knew that my contract was due to expire and I had no doubts about re-signing. I feel completely satisfied with my relationship with Golden Boy Promotions. Their openness and honesty lets me know that they are looking out for my best interest.”

“I am very proud of my son.” Said Joel De La Hoya, manager of Ponce De Leon. “…It makes me feel good that a fighter that I manage has nothing but great things to say about Oscar’s promotional company. Oscar (De La Hoya) understands a fighters needs and that is important for them to know”.

Daniel Ponce De Leon 27-1 (25 KOs), who was born in Cuauhtemoc, Mexico is a hard punching southpaw who is a native member of the Tarahumara Indian tribe of northern Mexico. He is known for his very aggressive style proving that he is a modern warrior in the ring.

For more information,

Contact:
Marylyn Aceves Golden Boy Promotions 213-233-2951

Purcell “Hard Rock” Miller to face Larry “The Laser” Marks in Eight-Round Clash

2006-08-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

Co-Main Event Announced for October 7th Show

FAIRFAX, VA – One of Virginia’s top boxing cards just got bigger and better. Major League Boxing announced today that the co-Main Event for the October 7th card featuring Jimmy Lange vs. Tommy Wilt will showcase Washington, D.C.'s own PURCELL "HARD ROCK" MILLER (22-4-1, 18 KOs) taking on former world title challenger, LARRY "THE LASER" MARKS, (28-8, 16 KOs) of New Castle, DE, in an explosive eight-round middleweight clash.

Miller, a Washington, D.C. boxing icon known for his legendary ring entrances featuring a ten-piece brass band, possesses legitimate knockout power in both hands with 18 of his 22 wins ending inside the distance.

"I don't like to leave it in the judges' hands," says Miller. Miller's list of opponents is an impressive one including: Dante Craig, Jason Naugler, Robert Frazier, Carl Daniels, Raul Frank, and Kenny Baysmore. Miller is confident that he will add the talented Marks to his list of KO victims and move on to a title shot in the near future.

The veteran Marks is not concerned about Miller's vaunted punching power. "I'm not worried," says the confident Marks. "Besides, I've got a lot of pop in my punches too. He'll see." Marks has also faced a list of world class opponents, having once challenged for a World Title on HBO against Andrew "6 Heads" Lewis. In addition to Lewis, Marks has fought current World Champ Cory Spinks, Tokunbo Olajide, Angel Hernandez, Clarence "Sonny Bono" Taylor, Charles "The Natural" Murray, Andrew Murray, Brandon Mitchem, and Michael Covington. The winner of this showdown should make a huge leap in the middleweight ratings.

JIMMY LANGE (23-3-1, 16 KOs) of Great Falls, VA will be featured in the Main Event against Altoona, PA’s TOMMY WILT (20-5, 4 KOs). Lange has headlined the Patriot Center's first two successful boxing shows, each drawing more than 5,000 plus fans. Lange will be showcased in the Main Event of the six-bout card promoted by Major League Boxing in association with Guzman Entertainment. Doors will open at 7 PM, with the first fight scheduled for 8 PM.

The undercard features an exciting mix of world class contenders and up-and-coming prospects. Scheduled to compete are: Portsmouth, VA's DORIN SPIVEY (34-4, 28 KO'S), Leesburg, VA's PERRY BALLARD (18-1, 14 KOs), Falls Church, VA’s "MONEY" MIKE SAWYER (2-1, 2 KO'S), Front Royal, VA's ANDREW FARMER (2-0, 2 KOs), and heavyweight prospect HORACE “THE REASON" GRANT (1-0, 1 KO) of Riverdale, MD.

Tickets, priced at $500 (VIP Ringside), $350 (Ringside), $250, $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, are available for purchase through all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Patriot Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.majorleagueboxing.com, or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT. George Mason University faculty, staff and students, area high school and college students, local law enforcement officials, firefighters and military members may receive a discount on select tickets by presenting a valid ID at the Patriot Center box office only. For more details and information, contact the Patriot Center box office at 703-993-3000 or visit online at www.patriotcenter.com.

NOTE: Bouts are subject to change.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brotman•Winter•Fried Communications – 703-534-4600
Brian Bishop (brian@bwfcom.com) ext. 210
Mike Schaffer (mike@bwfcom.com) ext. 217

________________________________
Brian Bishop
Brotman Winter Fried Communications
111 Park Place
Falls Church, VA 22046
TEL: 703-534-4600 ext 210
FAX: 703-536-2255

HBO PPV: HASIM RAHMAN VS. OLEG MASKAEV II

2006-08-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

AMERICA'S ONLY WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION HASIM RAHMAN BATTLES OLEG MASKAEV OF KAZAKHSTAN ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 12

Las Vegas - America's only current world heavyweight champion, Baltimore-born Hasim Rahman, will defend his world title for pride, honor and country when he takes on hard-punching No. 1-rated contender and mandatory challenger Oleg Maskaev of Kazakhstan, at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, on Saturday, August 12.

Promoted by Top Rank in association with Dennis Rappaport Productions, Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas., Rahman-Maskaev II will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Tickets, priced at $600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, go on sale Friday, May 12. They can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack box office, online at www.unlvtickets.com or by calling (702) 739-FANS Rahman is the last remaining American to hold a world heavyweight title in a division dominated by natives of the former Soviet Union.

"The Rock is America's Last Line of Defense," said Bob Arum of Top Rank. "He's a great champion but he's in very tough against Maskaev.""Rahman-Maskaev II is a very intriguing heavyweight title fight," said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. "Rahman wants to defend his belt and avenge his 1999 loss to Maskaev, and Maskaev is just as determined to win again."

In their previous bout in 1999, Maskaev rallied late and slammed Rahman with an overhand right to the head which sent him through the ropes head-first and onto the HBO announcing team table. It was a chilling, riveting finish with Maskaev getting the stoppage in the eighth round. That was seven years ago and Dennis Rappaport, the promoter of Maskaev, said, "Oleg has had a lot of peaks and valleys since that win over Rahman. But Oleg has battled back and he has earned his position as the No. 1 contender."

Hasim, 33, is an 11-year pro and a two-time heavyweight world champion. Hasim won the WBC interim heavyweight world title in August, 2005, with a 12-round unanimous decision against Monte Barrett. In his last fight he defended the WBC heavyweight title with a 12-round draw against former three-time world champion James Toney on March 18.

After the Toney fight, Hasim said, "The heavyweight division needed a good fight. I think we put on a good fight. He can punch harder than a lot of heavyweights I've been in with. He's brave, he's got heart, he's got speed, power, he's a force to be reckoned with. I ain't ashamed to admit I learned a thing or two from James Toney tonight. James proved he could stand up to a heavyweight power puncher. I earned some respect from James, and he earned some respect from me. Now it's time to exact some revenge from Maskaev. He may consider this mandatory title challenge, but come August 12, Judge Rahman is going to dish out a mandatory sentence."

Hasim was first scheduled to challenge WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko on April 30 for the title, but the fight was postponed and rescheduled twice - on June 18 and July 23 - due to injuries sustained by Klitschko. The WBC authorized the fight for the interim title in Klitschko's absence, with the condition that Klitschko fight the winner in his next fight. Hasim was again scheduled to fight Klitschko on November 12, but Klitschko was again injured in training and retired.

Having won the interim world title and the world title vacated, according to WBC rules, Hasim became WBC heavyweight world champion. It was the same WBC rule that applied when Lennox Lewis and Ken Norton became WBC heavyweight world champions after winning final world title eliminators. Hasim "The Rock" Rahman became heavyweight champion when he shocked the world on April 22, 2001 when he landed a picture-perfect right hand that knocked out champion Lennox Lewis.

Maskaev grew up in Abai, Kazakhstan where he labored on a farm, worked in a coal mine, joined the Russian Army, became a Lieutenant, joined the Russian Amateur Boxing Team, became a National Champion and stopped Vitali Klitschko in one round.

The Rahman vs. Maskaev pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed domestically by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 56 million pay-per-view homes.

The telecast will be available in high-definition television for those viewers who are HDTV capable. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. Rahman vs. Maskaev daily updates can be found during fight week at www.HBO.com.

BARRERA-JUAREZ II TICKETS GOING FAST

2006-08-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES – It goes without saying that whenever boxing superstar Marco Antonio Barrera steps into the ring, it’s a big event for fight fans. But add a hungry challenger looking for redemption in a rematch to the mix, along with two more highly anticipated championship bouts, and you’ve got a night that will go down in history as one of the greatest fight cards in recent memory.

And the fans have responded, as tickets to the September 16 “Too Close to Call” card at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino - which features the championship rematch between Barrera and Rocky Juarez, along with the Jhonny Gonzalez vs Israel Vazquez and Jorge Rodrigo Barrios vs Joan Guzman title bouts – have been selling at an amazing rate since going on sale on July 15th.

“I’m pleased with the response to this event, but with the caliber of fights that we’re putting on, I’m really not surprised,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, the event’s promoter. “This is a fight fan’s dream card, and everyone who sees this card will remember it forever.”

To get your tickets to “Too Close to Call”, which are priced at a reasonable $75, $150, $250, and $350, visit any Ticketmaster outlet, ticketmaster.com, or call (702) 474-4000.

CONTACTS:
Debbie Caplan Golden Boy Promotions 818-831-4151
Marylyn Aceves Golden Boy Promotions 213-489-5631
Donald Tremblay Main Events 973-893-9100
Scott Ghertner MGM MIRAGE 702-891-7272
Ray Stallone HBO 212-512-1987

UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT GIOVANNI LORENZO RETURNS TO RING ON BALDOMIR-GATTI UNDERCARD ON JULY 22

2006-07-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Undefeated middleweight contender Giovanni Lorenzo returns to the ring in a 10 round bout against Canadian Bryon Mackie in a 10 round middleweight bout on the Carlos Baldomir-Arturo Gatti July 22 undercard, it was announced today by MAIN EVENTS CEO Kathy Duva. Lorenzo, who is ranked in the top-15 by the WBC and the IBF at jr. middleweight, will be boxing for the first time since dismantling Archak Ter-Meliksetian in seven rounds on March 10, 2006 (TKO 7).

Lorenzo (20-0, 12 KO’s) has stopped seven of his last eight opponents. The 25-year-old Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native captured the Dominican Republic middleweight championship on April 2, 2005, when he destroyed Rafael de la Cruz in two rounds (TKO 2).

"I want change the face of boxing in my native Dominican Republic and around the world, so there is only one fight that I am interested in and that is a title shot against Jermain Taylor,” said Lorenzo. “Like Taylor I am young, hungry, and undefeated. I am a 2000 Olympian and my style speaks for itself. I’ve said it before and I'll say it again. Give the young guys a chance and let’s get it on."

Main Events VP Carl Moretti has had preliminary discussions with Lou Dibella (Taylor’s promoter) about the possibility of Lorenzo fighting the undisputed middleweight champion.

Mackie (27-12, 10 KO’s) has won five of his last six bouts. The 32-year-old Orangeville, ON, Canada native defeated all five opponents by knockout. One of those whom he defeated was veteran Ian Mackillop (TKO 9). His sole loss during this string was to highly-respected rising prospect John Duddy on Nov 4, 2005 (TKOby 4). In his last bout on April 13, 2006, Mackie knocked out Terrence Jones (TKO 5).

For More info: MAIN EVENTS (973) 893-9100
Donald Tremblay

OLN PARTNERS WITH TOP RANK TO ADD BOXING TO NETWORK'S WEEKLY SPORTS SCHEDULE

2006-07-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

Deal Includes Both Live and Classic Fights Beginning July 27

STAMFORD, CT – OLN, home to the NHL, the Tour de France and the Professional Bull Riders, announced a partnership with leading boxing promoters Top Rank to bring professional boxing to the network’s sports lineup. Fight Night will consist of a series of live fights promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank group, as well as classic fights from their vast library, and will air Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET beginning July 27.

“As OLN transitions to Versus, we continue to seek out sports that fortify the competitive core of the brand,” said Gavin Harvey, President of OLN. “Boxing is the ultimate statement of man vs. man and is an exciting addition to our expanding portfolio of competitive genres.”

The newly added Fight Night will showcase 12 live events per year – roughly one per month. Wally Matthews, a veteran boxing writer who has covered the sport for two decades, and Bob Papa, who has called boxing for ESPN and currently for NBC, will host Fight Night on OLN. Michael Buffer, the tuxedoed announcer who coined the catchphrase “Let’s get ready to rumble!” will serve as the ring announcer for the live fights. Details of the first live event, scheduled for July 27, will be released shortly.

On nights when OLN and Top Rank are not presenting a live event, the network will take advantage of Top Rank’s extensive library of classic fights to present Fight Night: Top Rank's Legends of the Ring, hosted by Michael Buffer. From Muhammad Ali to Joe Frazier and Sugar Ray Leonard to Thomas Hearns, these classic fight packages will not only include the action inside the ring, but tell the back-story of each match as it happened. When feasible, classic fights will be enhanced to include interviews with the contenders, pre-fight press conferences, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes banter between contenders.

"Partnering with Top Rank allows OLN to get in the boxing game in a big way,” said Marc Fein, Senior Vice President of Programming and Production for OLN. “They have a reputation for organizing great fights and they consistently deliver a solid audience. This new partnership gives us the opportunity to grow the sport while also attracting a broader audience to our channel.”

“Top Rank is delighted to be associated in this venture with OLN. We anticipate that OLN will become a major force in boxing and that boxing will help the network thrive,” said Bob Arum, CEO, Top Rank. “Twenty-six years ago Top Rank launched a boxing series on ESPN that lasted for 15 years and helped build the network into a major force in sports broadcasting. We are convinced we will do the same for OLN.”

OLN News Release

FIREWORKS WILL FLY AND EXPLODE FOR “INDEPENDENCE”

2006-07-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

MERRILLVILLE, IN.- Jimmy “The Fighting Schoolteacher” Holmes will put his IN.B.A. State Middleweight Title on the line as Octavius James/One In A Million Inc. returns to the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN for “Independence,” the next action-packed card, on July 14, 2006.

Tickets are on sale now starting at just $25, doors open at 7 p.m. and the action launches at 8 p.m. with the first bout. Tickets are available at the Star Plaza Box Office 219-769-6600 or through any Ticket Master location 312-559-1212 or www.ticketmaster.com

Holmes (13-0-1, 7 KOs) will headline a card filled with local favorites, including CO-Main event fighter Ruben “The Modern Day Warrior” Galvan (25-9-2, 9 KOs), a fighter with deep talent and extensive ring experience, including several internationally televised bouts.

“Independence” promises the same kind of bell-to-bell action that has become One In A Million's trademark, said Jack “Kid” Callahan. “Our fans look to us because they demand tough guys like Jimmy and Ruben, and ‘Independence’ is going to give them more of what they've always asked for,” Callahan said.

“Independence” will also feature crowd favorites “Marvelous” Shay Mobley (14-6-1, 6 KOs), a Chicago Middleweight, and Gary's own Jermaine “Too Sweet” White (13-1, 6 KOs), fresh from a Light Welterweight bout televised on Showtime, and “Superman” Derrick Findley (4-1, 3 KOs), an up-and-coming Middleweight.

Another area fighting superstar, Johnny “Kid One In A Million” Novak (17-1, 6 KOs), returns to the ring after his first 10-round bout last month at Resorts Casino East Chicago.

For more information on the “Independence” spectacular or group sales, call 866-438-7372.

FERNANDO VARGAS CLOTHING COMPANY IN PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH UNIVISION RADIO TO PROMOTE JULY 15 MOSLEY-VARGAS REMATCH

2006-07-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

“Nawshis Clothing” just one component of the boxer’s growing entrepreneurial empire

OXNARD, Calif. – “Nawshis Clothing” and “Ice Link Watches” have joined forces with Univision radio in a national multi-market promotion to publicize the July 15 rematch between Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas. The huge four-week promotion will reach over 21 million homes and will run adjacent to World Cup soccer reports and updates. Southwest Airlines will provide airfare and MGM Grand will provide hotel accommodations for the winner, while “Nawshis Clothing” and “Ice Link Watches” provide prize packages.

“Nawshis Clothing” manufactures button shirts, hats, plaids, fits, and t-shirts . “In the last two years, I envisioned my own line where some of my most favorite pieces of clothing could be enjoyed by everyone who wants to look SICK,” said Vargas. “Nawshis is about urban lifestyle at its finest. Whether you are out night clubbing, looking for some fine ladies or with your girl on a dinner date, Nawshis has style and class”.

But clothing isn’t the only industry that Vargas has entered:

He owns and has real estate holdings in southern California and is now a real estate developer in Palm Desert.

He is a master telecommunications agent and represents all cellular carriers as well as the dish network in Southern California.

He is now developing FPS and will be soon offering flash videos of the ferocious one training and fighting.

He will be hosting a TV talk show now in development on Telemundo (Mun II).

Mosley and Vargas will meet again on Saturday, July 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mosley vs. Vargas II will be presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Tickets, which are priced at $800, $600, $400, $200, and $100, will go on sale Friday, April 28th, at noon. Tickets will be available at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office and also will be sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Tower Records/WOW!, Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Robinsons-May stores and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at http://www.mgmgrand.com/_ or http://www.ticketmaster.com/_.

“Alpha Dog”, the Nick Cassevetes film in which Vargas makes his cinematic debut, is expected to hit theaters in the fourth quarter of 2006. The film stars Justin Timberlake, Sharon Stone, and Bruce Willis.

For more info: MAIN EVENTS (973) 893-9100, Donald Tremblay

New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Inductions Announced

2006-07-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday evening, November 1, 2006, a 7:00 P.M. the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame will hold it’s Thirty-Seventh Annual Dinner and Induction Ceremonies at the Beautiful Venetian (formerly called the Cameo), 546 River Drive, Garfield, N.J. starting at 7:00 P.M.

Tickets are priced at ONLY $75.00 per person.

13 of Boxing’s finest will be inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame and they are as follows: Dr. Mark Belafsky, Jeff Chandler, Doug DeWitt, Bob Fernandez, Eugene Grant ,James “Hard Rock” Green, Tony Riccio, Renaldo Snipes, and Frank “The Shark” Toledo.

Posthumus inductions: Pat Comiskey, Jimmy DeForest, Al Gavin, and Johnny Howard.

For the 21st time, the Hall of Fame will be honoring our Amateur & Professional Boxer of the year as well as the Amateur Official and Coach of the year, plus our “2006 Woman of the Year” Stefani “Belloise” Pedone.

BALDOMIR-GATTI NEARING SELLOUT!

2006-06-29T02:05:00.000-07:00

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – If you are interested in attending Arturo Gatti’s July 22 showdown against WBC world-recognized linear welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir, then you’d better contact TicketMaster soon. Main Events CEO Kathy Duva announced today that only 300 tickets remain to the highly-anticipated welterweight battle that will take place at Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, NJ. (Boardwalk Hall Arena is scaled for a capacity of 12,000 seats).

Main Events is promoting the evening of boxing, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego and Caesars Atlantic City.

The 12-round championship bout will be broadcast on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” series.

Tickets, priced at $400, $250, $150, $100 and $ 50. They can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420.

Baldomir (42-9-6, 12 KOs) shocked the universally recognized welterweight champion Zab Judah Jan. 7, 2006, to win the welterweight title (W 12). The 34-year-old Santa Fe, Argentina, native has not lost a bout in more than five years, compiling an 18-0-2 record in his past 20 bouts.

Gatti (40-7, 31 KOs) is a two-time world champion who is responsible for several of the top non-heavyweight live gates in the history of Atlantic City, NJ. The 33-year-old Jersey City, NJ, resident by way of Montreal, Canada, dismantled undefeated Danish bruiser Thomas Damgaard in his most recent bout Jan 28, 2006, (TKO 11). Gatti has won six of his past seven bouts and is ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Council and No. 6 by The Ring magazine.

For more information: Main Events (973) 893-9100
Donald Tremblay

Sycuan Ringside Promotions (702) 880-5500
Jim Hunter

EMC (609) 399-0133
Ed Keenan

“Fists of Fury” Weigh-In and Fight Card Info

2006-06-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

Westerville, Ohio - On June 24, 2006 at 3:00pm EST http://www.wenppv.com/ will air LIVE the official weigh-in and press conference for "Fist of Fury". Then at 7:30pm EST the nine bout card will air at 7:30pm EST and will simultaneously be seen in nationally in the United States as well as in Australia.

"Wireless Events Network"

Our core technology supports over 40 handheld mobile devices that fight fans can watch the LIVE broadcast.This means you can watch this fight LIVE no matter what you are doing, our network can reach over 700 million potential viewers across the globe.

The fight card line up for Saturday's boxing event will consist of a group of talented "prospects" listed below:

Adam Smith (Youngstown, Ohio) vs. James "The Vanilla Gorilla" Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio) 4-1 (6 ROUNDS - Heavyweight)

Missy Fields (Youngstown, Ohio) - pro debut vs. Gigi Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) 1-1 (4 ROUNDS - Female Heavyweight)

Marvin Greathouse (Cleveland, Ohio) 5-5 vs. Eric Deere (Marysville, Ohio) 6-1-1 (4 or 6 ROUNDS) MIDWEST Junior Middleweight AMERICAS TITLE

Carl Dunaway (Cleveland, Ohio) 1-2 vs. Darryl Ross (Columbus, Ohio) 2-2 (4 ROUNDS - Middleweight)

Derrick Holsinger (Portsmouth, Ohio) 2-1-1 vs. Ryan Carroll (Delaware, Ohio) 2-0 (4 ROUNDS - Cruiserweight)

Cliford Mcpherson (Dayton, Ohio) 8-13-1 vs. Chris "Freight Train" Overbey (Bellfontaine, Ohio) 6-3 (4 ROUNDS - Junior Middleweight)

John Lipcomb (Cleveland, Ohio) 3-3 vs. Mike Siano (Columbus, Ohio) 2-0 (4 ROUNDS - Welterweight)

In addition to the fantastic bouts "WEN PPV" will conduct an in-depth interview with newly crowned IBF Featherweight king Eric "Mighty Mouse" Aiken. Tickets are now on sale for "Fists of Fury" for only $10.00 on Saturday June 24, 2006 starting at 7:30pm Eastern Standard Time.
Tickets are available now at:http://www.wenppv.com/http://www.13thround.com/http://www.muhammadalifights.com/http://www.youngvictorboxing.com.au/

SPECIAL EDITION OF "SHOBOX" TRULY IS "THE NEW GENERATION"

2006-06-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

Undefeated Heavyweight Chazz "The Mensa Mauler/Gentleman" Witherspoon vs.Unbeaten Heavyweight Mike Alexander

Undefeated Middleweight James McGirt Jr. vs.Once-Beaten Middleweight Stephan Pryor

Undefeated Middleweight Ronald Hearns vs.Middleweight Hector Hernandez

Unbeaten Junior Welterweight Jorge Paez Jr.vs.TBA

NEW YORK - SHOWTIME will make television history when four sons of former world champions and a cousin of another are featured in a special edition of "ShoBox: The New Generation" Saturday, July 1, 2006, (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) from the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan.

The SHOWTIME fistic series, which normally airs on Fridays at 11 p.m. ET/PT, will move to Saturday night for one time only and revert to its usual time slot for the following edition on Friday, July 28. Talk about all in the family and following in your dad's footsteps. Want bloodlines? Want to see what it really is like to have prizefighting in your genes? How do you escape these shadows? Which youngster will leave the best impression? Tune in July 1 when your questions will be answered as "ShoBox" becomes the "Second Generation" for a night. The outstanding lineup on a DiBella Entertainment-promoted fight card will feature: Chazz Witherspoon (12-0, seven KOs) against Mike Alexander (11-0, eight KOs) in a 10-round battle of unbeaten heavyweights; James McGirt Jr. (11-0, 1 NC, seven KOs) against Stephan Pryor (10-1, seven KOs) in an eight-round middleweight showdown; Ronald Hearns (8-0, six KOs) against Hector Hernandez (8-1-2, three KOs) in another eight-round middleweight bout, and unbeaten junior middleweight Jorge Paez Jr. (9-0, seven KOs) against an opponent to be announced in a six-round junior welterweight.

Witherspoon is the second cousin of former two-time world heavyweight champion, Tim Witherspoon. McGirt, Pryor, Hearns and Paez are the sons of legendary former world titleholders Buddy McGirt, Aaron Pryor, Thomas Hearns and Jorge "Maromero" Paez, respectively.

"I have covered just about every sport, and I am always fascinated when a son or daughter takes up a sport his or her parent or close relative was exceptional at," said "ShoBox" blow-by-blow announcer Nick Charles. "What part is genetics? What part is the environment of just being around somebody who excelled on the world stage? Can these young fighters even come close to achieving the same as their famous relatives? How much can their dads or cousins pass on, and how much do they all have to be their own men, their own fighters? "It is intriguing to watch from our perspective, but think about the pleasures and pressures on both father and son to live up to a standard that often is a legacy."

Because of their famous last names, the kids make news each time they enter the ring. Now, they all will be making news on the same telecast.

"In a sense, a boxing son is like the son of a basketball coach. Those kids are usually point guards and always mature and court-savvy. The kids we are going to see on "ShoBox" grew up in boxing gyms. But there is a lot of pressure on them to prove themselves. They are held up to a higher standard because of what their dads achieved. The talent is often in place, but is the hunger there?

"This should be a really compelling show -- and one that fits perfectly with the theme of 'ShoBox: The New Generation'."

BALDOMIR-GATTI TICKETS GOING, GOING . . . !

2006-05-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

Fewer than 2,000 remain — 1,100 of which are priced at $50

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (May 30, 2006) – The Arturo Gatti machine continues to churn out stunning live-gate revenue numbers. With still nearly two months to go before his July 22 showdown against WBC world-recognized linear welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir, Main Events CEO Kathy Duva has announced that there are fewer than 2,000 seats remaining for sale. Of the 2,000 tickets, over 1,100 are priced at $50. (the Boardwalk Hall Arena is scaled for a capacity of 12,000 seats).

Main Events is promoting the evening of boxing, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego and Caesars Atlantic City.

The 12-round championship bout will be broadcast on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” series.

Tickets, priced at $400, $250, $150, $100 and $ 50, go on sale to the public Saturday, April 1. They can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420.

Baldomir (42-9-6, 12 KOs) shocked the universally recognized welterweight champion Zab Judah Jan. 7, 2006, to win the welterweight title (W 12). The 34-year-old Santa Fe, Argentina, native has not lost a bout in more than five years, compiling an 18-0-2 record in his past 20 bouts.

Gatti (40-7, 31 KOs) is a two-time world champion who is responsible for several of the top non-heavyweight live gates in the history of Atlantic City, NJ. The 33-year-old Jersey City, NJ, resident by way of Montreal, Canada, dismantled undefeated Danish bruiser Thomas Damgaard in his most recent bout Jan 28, 2006, (TKO 11). Gatti has won six of his past seven bouts and is ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Council and No. 6 by The Ring magazine.

For more information: Main Events (973) 893-9100
Donald Tremblay

Sycuan Ringside Promotions (917) 853-4484
Michael Marley

EMC (609) 399-0133
Ed Keenan

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING ON A SPECIAL NIGHT

2006-05-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Roman Karmazin will defend his IBF junior middleweight title against former undisputed world welterweight champion Cory Spinks on a special edition of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, July 8, LIVE on SHOWTIME from the Savvis Center in the challenger's hometown of St. Louis, Mo.

The fight will be promoted by Don King Productions. Karmazin (34-1-1, 1 ND, 21 KOs), of Russia, stamped himself as one of the junior middleweight division's best in his last start when he captured the IBF 154-pound title with a convincing, upset 12-round unanimous decision over highly regarded Kassim Ouma on July 14, 2005, in Las Vegas.

Karmazin has won five consecutive starts (with one no-decision) since suffering his lone loss on a decision to Javier Castillejo in a bout for the WBC Interim 154-pound crown on July 12, 2002.

Spinks hopes to accomplish what Jose Antonio Rivera did earlier this month on SHOWTIME when he stepped up in weight on his home turf and stunned Alejando “Terra” Garcia to win the WBA 154-pound title. Spinks (34-3, 11 KOs) will make his first appearance since losing his undisputed world welterweight titles to Zab Judah via a ninth-round TKO on Feb. 5, 2005, also at the Savvis Center and on SHOWTIME. That exciting bout was witnessed by 22,370, one of the largest crowds in history to witness an in-door arena boxing match.

HBO SPORTS PRESENTS A HOT LATE-NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER

2006-05-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

JHONNY GONZALEZ VS. FERNANDO MONTIEL
WALTER MATTHYSSE VS. PAUL WILLIAMS

The tenth season of the hit late-night HBO boxing series rolls on with the intriguing doubleheader HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: JHONNY GONZALEZ VS. FERNANDO MONTIEL AND WALTER MATTHYSSE VS. PAUL WILLIAMS, presented SATURDAY, MAY 27 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT), outdoors from the Home Depot Center in Carson, Cal., exclusively on HBO.

The commentators for the HBO BOXING AFTER DARK series are Fran Charles, Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis.

The event will be presented in Spanish language on HBO Latino.

HBO2 playdates: May 28 (7:15 a.m., 5:45 p.m.) and 30 (11:00 p.m.). All times ET/PT.

In the main event, it's a 12-round bantamweight showdown, as world-class competitors Jhonny Gonzalez (32-4-0, 28 KOs) and Fernando Montiel (32-1-1, 24 KOs), both from Mexico, square off in a contest that promises big action. These two talented 118- pounders - who are friends outside the ring - are sure to produce an exciting match.

The opening fight features Walter Matthysse (25-0, 24 KOs) of Trelew, Argentina, versus Paul Williams (29-0, 21 KOs) of Augusta, Ga., in a ten-round welterweight clash. Both 147-pounders are undefeated and the winner emerges as a formidable presence in this high-profile, highly talented weight class.

Immediately following the doubleheader, HBO will present the half-hour special "Countdown to Tarver-Hopkins," previewing the June 10 light heavyweight pay-per-view showdown between Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins.

ANTONIO TARVER vs. BERNARD HOPKINS "FIGHT TO THE FINISH"

2006-05-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, March 28th-When boxing historians look back at the date of June 10th, 2006, one of two results will be crystal clear- it will be the day that light heavyweight Antonio Tarver cements his hall of fame credentials by ending the career of boxing legend Bernard Hopkins, or it will be the day when middleweight great Hopkins, ends a legendary career with a stirring win over one of the top light heavyweights of this era.

However, one thing is certain. When Antonio "The Magic Man" Tarver and Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins meet on Saturday, June 10th at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, it will definitely be a "Fight To The Finish".

The two boxing superstars will meet in "Fight To The Finish" - a 12 round light heavyweight bout presented by Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions and Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, and will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9pm (ET) / 6pm (PT).

"Bernard Hopkins was a great fighter, but his time is past," said Tarver, the premier light heavyweight of this generation. "My time is now, and I see it as a personal insult that Hopkins would even consider coming up to light heavyweight to challenge me. I will punish him in the ring accordingly."

"After everything I've accomplished in this sport, and with all the obstacles I had to go through to get here, I don't even entertain the thought of losing in my final fight," said Hopkins, who reigned over the middleweight division for over a decade. "I will win this fight over Antonio Tarver, cement my legacy and finish my career in a fashion where no one will ever forget what I brought to the boxing ring."

"Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins are two great champions who have enjoyed tremendous success," said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing. "Both of them will be putting it all on the line in this highly anticipated fight. Fans will see them both fighting with the intense fire that only a fight like this can inspire."

"Legacy is probably the most important thing to a truly elite fighter," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "Both Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins have had amazing careers, but June 10th will directly affect how boxing fans remember them. That's a lot to have on your shoulders, but if any two boxers can handle that pressure, it's Tarver and Hopkins, and I expect both of them to leave it all in the ring when they fight."

"Bernard Hopkins is one of the greatest middleweights of this era, facing perhaps the greatest challenge of his career in his final fight. Antonio Tarver is the world's pre-eminent light heavyweight whose resounding wins over Roy Jones re-affirmed his stardom," said Mark Taffet, HBO Senior Vice President of Sports Operations & Pay-Per-View. "Tarver-Hopkins is a big fight with storylines that will intrigue boxing fans."

Tickets for the Tarver vs. Hopkins "Fight To The Finish" are priced at $750, $600, $400, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com.

"Borgata is thrilled to be partnering with Star Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions to present such a high profile fight," said Larry Mullin, president and chief operating officer for Borgata. "The June 10th event underlines our dedications to continuously raising the bar and bringing top-notch entertainment events to Atlantic City."

The pride of Tampa, Florida, 1996 US Olympic Bronze medal winner Antonio Tarver (24-3, 18 KO's) came up the hard way in the pro ranks, forced to fight all comers as he looked for his one big break. In 2000, "The Magic Man" was one win away from forcing a fight with pound for pound and light heavyweight king Roy Jones Jr., but he lost a hard - fought decision to Eric Harding ( a loss later avenged by a knockout).

But Tarver's time would come, and after fighting his way back into the number one spot at 175 pounds, he finally won a world title by shutting out former world champ Montell Griffin for the WBC and IBF crowns on April 26, 2003. His brash style forced Jones hand, and the two met for the undisputed title on November 8, 2003. After a torrid 12 rounds, Jones retained his title via a highly controversial majority decision, and the fans and media demanded a return bout.

Tarver got his rematch on May 15, 2004, and in the shot heard round the world, he knocked Jones out with a single left hand in the second round, and a worldwide superstar was born. "The Magic Man" would next split an entertaining pair of bouts with highly regarded Glen Johnson before settling the score once and for all with Jones on October 1st, 2005 with a clear cut unanimous decision that may have spelled an end to Jones career.

Now he wants to do the same to Hopkins.

One of the most compelling figures in sports today, Bernard Hopkins (46-4-1, 32 KO's) has lived his life and built a career by doing things his way. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Hopkins turned pro with a loss in October of 1988, but after that it was tough - if impossible - to make him lose again. Beginning with a 1990 win over Greg Paige, Hopkins would lose only once (via decision to Roy Jones Jr) over the next 15 years.

Along the way, Hopkins - who fought the boxing industry as hard as he fought inside the ring - won the world middleweight title in 1995 and defended it a record 20 times. He also unified the crown on September 29, 2001 when he stopped the legendary Felix "Tito" Trinidad in the 12th round before a packed house at Madison Square Garden.

The Tarver vs. Hopkins "Fight To The Finish" pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9pm ET/6pm PT on June 10, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to over 56 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry.

DAVID DIAZ HEADLINES AT CICERO STADIUM

2006-05-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

OUTSTANDING UNDERCARD FEATURES GILBERT VENEGAS AND FRANCISCO DIAZ

Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, returns to Cicero Stadium on Friday, June 16th to present “DESTINY,” an action packed evening of world class boxing headlined by Chicagoland’s most popular boxer, David Diaz in a twelve round bout for the IBA Lightweight World Championship.

“DESTINY” is presented by 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated along with Miller Lite and TCF Bank.

Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie Ave., just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 6pm with the first bell at 7pm.

Tickets, starting at $30 are on sale in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

Diaz, (30-1-1, 16 KO’s) returns to the ring, following his ten round unanimous decision win over Silverio Ortiz on the 8 Count Productions’ MADNESS IN MARCH event at the Aragon Ballroom.

“David was in a very tough battle last time out against Ortiz but won the last couple of rounds as he continued to display his warrior spirit. That’s exactly what our fans want to see and that’s why he’s so popular in Chicago. Fans know he’ll fight to the end and they have a great deal of respect for him” said Pesoli.

An outstanding undercard for this event will feature bouts including middleweight Francisco Diaz, (14-1, 8 KO’s) of Shawnee Mission, Kansas and Chicagoland fan favorite, welterweight Gilbert Venegas, (9-2-2, 6 KO’s). Additional information on the undercard will be announced shortly.

Stated Pesoli, “Francisco Diaz is a tough, good looking kid from Kansas, he’s been very successful in his first fifteen fights and we think our fans will really take to him. Venegas caught a tough break with the cut in his last bout with Rincon but we’re looking for him to successfully bounce back.”

Continued Pesoli, “Jerry Alfano (matchmaker for 8 Count Productions) continues to put together great matches for our fans. We’ll be able to announce more details for this card later this week. “

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1997 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com

TICKETS ON SALE IN ADVANCE BY CALLING 312-226-5800

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
www.8countproductions.com
bbahrmasel@aol.com

8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS SIGNS WELTERWEIGHT PROSPECT FRANCISCO RINCON

2006-05-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING has announced that welterweight prospect Francisco Rincon has signed an exclusive promotional agreement, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions.

Rincon, a native of Coahuila, Mexico now fighting out of Dallas, Texas carries a professional record of 11 wins, 6 by knockout and 3 losses. He most recently appeared on the 8 Count Productions’ MADNESS IN MARCH event at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom on March 17th scoring a fourth round stoppage over Gilbert Venegas in a co-main event battle broadcast internationally on Telefutura’s SOLO BOXEO series.

Said Pesoli, “Francisco is a highly skilled kid, he’s only 22 and has great potential in the welterweight division. He’s almost six feet tall and his height coupled with his boxing skills and toughness should serve him well.”

“He’s fought twice on our shows; the first was a second round knockout of Fabian Luque last April at Cicero Stadium and then he stopped Gilbert Venegas two months ago. Jerry (Alfano, 8 Count matchmaker) and I along with our fans were very impressed.”

Continued Pesoli, “We’re hoping for big things from Francisco and looking forward to working with him to further his career. I’ll have an announcement of his next fight very shortly.”

Along with his stoppages over Venegas and Luque in Chicago, Francisco Rincon’s three year pro career also includes wins over welterweight prospects Frankie Figueroa and Juan Antonio Lopez. He made his pro debut at the age of 19 with a decision over Eddie Neal on August 2, 2002 in Odessa, Texas.

Francisco is also a team member of welterweight world champion Antonio Margarito’s training camps in Southern California.

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1997 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

Other fighters promoted by 8 Count Productions include featherweight prospect Jose Fernandez, undefeated brothers Jorge and Jimmy Gonzalez, undefeated lightweight prospect Mike Gonzalez along with Chicagoland fan favorites junior middleweight Miguel Hernandez, middleweight Freddie Cuevas and welterweights Luciano Perez and Gilbert Venegas.

The next evening of action packed world class professional boxing presented by 8 Count Productions takes place on Friday, May 12th at the Aragon Ballroom.

The event, WAR BY THE SHORE, is presented by 8 Count Productions and Oscar De La Hoy’s Golden Boy Promotions along with Miller Lite and TCF Bank.

The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Avenue on the north side of Chicago. Doors for this event will open at 6pm, with the first bell scheduled for 7pm. Tickets starting at $25 are available in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

For more information on 8 Count Productions and the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing gym, please visit their respective websites at www.8countproductions.com. www.jabbboxinggym.com

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
www.8countproductions.com
bbahrmasel@aol.com

JORGE GONZALEZ TO WORK WITH “FEROCIOUS” FERNANDO VARGAS IN PREPARATION FOR “THE REMATCH”

2006-05-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

Undefeated middleweight, Jorge Gonzalez is headed to Southern California to train with two time junior middleweight champion of the world Fernando Vargas next week, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

“My friend Rolando (Arellano, co-manager of Vargas) called me last week and asked if Jorge was available. He had seen Jorge’s most recent win over Findley this past February and thought he would work well with Fernando” stated Pesoli.

Gonzalez, 4-0, will work for approximately six weeks as Vargas prepares for THE REMATCH with “Sugar” Shane Mosley on July 15th at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Continued Pesoli, ‘Vargas was at our place (JABB Boxing Gym) last summer for two weeks as he prepared for his bout with Castillejo in Chicago. After seeing the hard work and dedication he put in here, I’m positive this is a great opportunity for Jorge. He’ll learn a great deal of the type of training, preparation and dedication that it takes to be a world champion in boxing.”

After an illustrious amateur career including winning the Chicago Golden Gloves, Gonzalez turned pro on December 10, 2004 with a unanimous decision over Corey Budd at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. His most recent win was a six round decision over undefeated prospect Derrick Findley on February 17th of this year, broadcast internationally on Telefutura’s SOLO BOXEO series from Cicero Stadium.

“Jorge will be back in the ring later this summer, probably in the best shape of his life after working with Vargas” said Pesoli.

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1997 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

The next evening of action packed world class professional boxing presented by 8 Count Productions takes place on Friday, May 12th at the Aragon Ballroom.

The event, WAR BY THE SHORE, is presented by 8 Count Productions and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions along with Miller Lite and TCF Bank.

The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Avenue on the north side of Chicago. Doors for this event will open at 6pm, with the first bell scheduled for 7pm. Tickets starting at $25 are available in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

For more information on 8 Count Productions and the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing gym, please visit their respective websites at www.8countproductions.com. www.jabbboxinggym.com

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
www.8countproductions.com
bbahrmasel@aol.com

HASIM RAHMAN vs. OLEG MASKAEV II“ AMERICA’S LAST LINE OF DEFENSE!”

2006-05-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

AMERICA’S ONLY WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION HASIM RAHMAN IN HIS ULTIMATE CHALLENGE VS. OLEG MASKAEV OF KAZAKHSTAN

Las Vegas – America’s only world heavyweight champion, Baltimore-born Hasim Rahman, will defend his world title for pride, honor and country when he takes on hard-punching No. 1-rated contender and mandatory challenger Oleg Maskaev of Kazakhstan, at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, on Saturday, August 12.

Rahman is the last remaining American to hold a world heavyweight title in a division dominated by natives of the former Soviet Union.

“The Rock is America’s Last Line of Defense,” said Bob Arum of Top Rank. “He’s a great champion but he’s in very tough against Maskaev.”

Rahman vs. Maskaev II is promoted by Top Rank in association with Dennis Rappaport Productions, Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas. Rahman vs. Maskaev II will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Tickets are $600, $400, $300, $200, $100, $50 and can be purchased at the Thomas and Mack box office, online at www.unlvtickets.com or by calling (702) 739-FANS.

"Rahman-Maskaev II is a very intriguing heavyweight title fight," said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. "Rahman wants to defend his belt and avenge his 1999 loss to Maskaev, and Maskaev is just as determined to win again."

In their previous bout in 1999, Maskaev rallied late and slammed Rahman with an overhand right which sent him through the ropes head-first and onto the HBO announcing team table. It was a chilling, riveting finish with Maskaev getting the stoppage in the eighth round.

That was seven years ago and Dennis Rappaport, the promoter of Maskaev, said “Oleg has had a lot of peaks and valleys since that win over Rahman. But Oleg has battled back and he has earned his position as the #1 challenger.”

Maskaev grew up in Abai, Kazakhstan where he labored on a farm, worked in a coal mine, joined the Russian Army, became a Lieutenant, joined the Russian Amateur Boxing Team, became a National Champion and stopped Vitali Klitschko in one round.

At the age of 33, Hasim is an 11-year pro. A two-time heavyweight world champion, he defended the WBC heavyweight world title in his last fight with a 12 round draw against former three-time world champion James Toney on March 18.

After the fight, Hasim said, “The heavyweight division needed a good fight. I think we put on a good fight. He can punch harder than a lot of heavyweights I’ve been in with. He’s brave, he’s got heart, he’s got speed, power, he’s a force to be reckoned with. I ain’t ashamed to admit I learned a thing or two from James Toney tonight. James proved he could stand up to a heavyweight power puncher. I earned some respect from James, and he earned some respect from me.”

Hasim won the WBC interim heavyweight world title in August, 2005, with a 12-round unanimous decision against Monte Barrett.

Hasim was first scheduled to challenge WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko on April 30 for the title, but the fight was postponed and rescheduled twice - on June 18 and July 23 - due to injuries sustained by Klitschko. The WBC authorized the fight for the interim title in Klitschko’s absence, with the condition that Klitschko fight the winner in his next fight.

Hasim was again scheduled to fight Klitschko on November 12, but Klitschko was again injured in training and retired. Having won the interim world title and the world title vacated, according to WBC rules, Hasim became WBC heavyweight world champion. It was the same WBC rule that applied when Lennox Lewis and Ken Norton became WBC heavyweight world champions after winning final world title eliminators.

The Rahman vs. Maskaev pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on August 12 has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed domestically by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 56 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in high-definition television for those viewers who are HDTV capable. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry.

Rahman vs. Maskaev daily updates can be found during fight week at www.HBO.com.

Contacts:
Lee Samuels/Dena duBoef, Top Rank (702) 732-2717
Ricardo Jimenez, Top Rank (909) 615-3436
Bill Caplan, Top Rank (818) 515-1616
Kelly Swanson, Rahman Interviews (202) 783-5500
Fred Sternburg, Sternburg Communications (303) 740-7746
Dennis Rappaport Productions (718) 528-4086
Ken Langdon, Caesars Palace (702)-731-7506
Alyssa Bushey, Caesars Palace (702) 731-7216
Brandon Cox, Wynn Las Vegas (702) 770-2107
Ray Stallone, HBO (212)-512-1987

"SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION" TO FEATURE NABA/NABO FLYWEIGHT TITLE AND SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CLASH

2006-05-04T04:21:00.000-07:00

Cesar "El Gallito" Lopez vs. Glenn "Filipino Bomber" Donaire

Juan Manuel Buendia vs. Alexis Divison

Friday, May 5, 2006, At 11 p.m. ET/PTFrom Lucky Star Casino, Concho, Oklahoma

NEW YORK (May 1, 2006) - SHOWTIME will kick off the Cinco de Mayo weekend with the first of excellent back-to-back fight cards on Friday, May 5.

In the main event on "ShoBox: The New Generation" (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast), North American Boxing Association (NABA) flyweight champion Cesar "El Gallito" Lopez (18-2, four KOs) defends against Glenn "The Filipino Bomber" Donaire (15-2-1, nine KOs). The vacant North American Boxing Organization (NABO) 112-pound belt will also be on the line in the 12-round bout.

In the 10-round co-feature, undefeated super welterweight Juan Manuel Buendia (12-0, 4 KOs) collides with hard-hitting Alexis Division (16-2, 13 KOs).

Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Tony Holden Productions, will promote the doubleheader from the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Okla.

Lopez, of El Paso, Texas, is a master technician who creates crafty angles and picks apart his opponents. At his best when he can maintain a fast pace and utilize his excellent movement, the soft-spoken warrior with a docile and humble demeanor is the NABA flyweight champion and former Texas State 115-pound titleholder.

Lopez, using his lightning-quick speed and technical skills, won 18 consecutive bouts and ascended to the top 10 of the world rankings (WBA No. 7, WBO No. 8 and IBF No. 10). Although he dropped his last outing, a 10-round decision to top-10 contender Gabriel Elizondo (19-1 going in) on Dec. 8, 2005 in New Mexico, he is ready for his ShoBox debut.

"This is a great opportunity for me to get back to where I was," said Lopez, whose flyweight title was not on the line in this super fly event. "I did not have my best night against Elizondo, but I will be ready on May 5. Donaire has never fought a boxer like me."

During his world-ranked amateur career, Lopez represented the United States in the Junior Golden Gloves World Championships. At 18, he turned pro only to lose a majority four-round decision to Fidencio Reyes on May 17, 2001, in Victoria, Texas. Lopez lost by the scores 39-37, 40-36 and 38-38. Three years later, Lopez avenged his loss in a rematch with Reyes by winning an eight-round split decision (July 9, 2004, in El Paso).

"I knocked Reyes down twice in our first fight, but the referee ruled those slips both times," said Lopez. "I always wanted to fight Reyes again because he did not beat me the first time and I knew he definitely would not beat me the second."

Lopez captured the NABA title on Jan. 24, 2004, and made two successful defenses, the last coming on a 10-round decision over Alejandro Moreno on Dec. 10, 2004, in Albuquerque, N.M.

On May 5, Lopez needs a victory to keep alive his dream of becoming the first El Paso fighter to win a world title. Bantamweight Fernie Morales and lightweight Juan Lazcano came close in 1990 and 2005, respectively, but fell short.

"I think about it all the time," Lopez said. "My goals were to win a regional title, to win a world title and be the first world champion from El Paso. I am sure other boxers from El Paso have the same goal, but I would love to be the first."

Donaire, of San Leandro, Calif., by way of General Santos City, Philippines, is subbing for his younger brother, NABF Super Flyweight Champion Nonito, who was scheduled to fight Lopez on the May 5 ShoBox card but sustained an injury during training. Glenn, unlike his younger brother, is an aggressive-minded, two-fisted banger who likes to get in close and throw hard combinations to the head and body.

The older Donaire turned pro at age 20 with a first-round knockout over Eduardo Reyes on Aug. 27, 2000, in Del Mar, Calif. Donaire continued to dispose of opponents early in his next four fights, scoring knockouts inside the first, second and fourth rounds. After suffering a loss in his sixth bout, Donaire rebounded to win his next eight, including a 12-round decision over Phanomchai Dejritha to capture the World Boxing Organization Asian Pacific (WBO/AP) flyweight title on Nov. 22, 2002, in Guam.

Donaire then lost in a shocking first-round TKO to Zcy Gorres on March 19, 2005. The fight, scheduled for eight rounds, was over at the 2:03 mark of the opening session. As the boxers sized each other up, both simultaneously moved in, which caused their heads to collide. Donaire got the worst of the unintentional exchange and the referee gave him a few minutes to recover. Shortly after the bout resumed, Donaire committed a big mistake and lowered his hands. Gorres took advantage and landed a right hook solidly on the jaw.

"I definitely wanted to continue," said Donaire, who vehemently protested the decision. Donaire rebounded to pound out a lopsided 10-round decision over veteran Juan Alfonso Keb Baas on June 24, 2005, in Cabazon, Calif. In his final 2005 start, Donaire scored a sixth-round TKO over Benito Abraham on Nov. 5 at Stateline, Nev.

A number of fighters who have appeared on the series have gone on to become world champions, including Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Leonard Dorin, Joan Guzman and Scott Harrison.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: Hatton vs. Collazo

2006-04-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton vs. Luis Collazo headlines World Championship Boxing fight card May 13th

Promoters Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions and Dennis Hobson and Robert Waterman/Fight Academy will present a sensational world championship fight card on Saturday, May 13, 2006, at the TD Banknorth Garden, located on Causeway Street in Boston's Downtown North section.

The main event will be televised live on HBO's "World Championship Boxing" series.In the 12-round main event, World Boxing Association and The Ring jr. welterweight world champion Ricky "Hitman" Hatton, 40-0 with 30 knockouts, of Manchester, England, will move up in weight and challenge WBA welterweight world champion Luis Collazo, 26-1 with 12 knockouts, of Brooklyn, New York.

Now 27 years old, Ricky's outstanding performances last year stood head and shoulders above those of any other fighter. He was named "2005 Fighter of the Year" by The Ring, the Boxing Writers Association of America, and ESPN.com.From TheRing-online.com, December 21, 2005: The Ring is pleased to announce that it has selected Ricky Hatton as 2005's Fighter of the Year. Hatton is the first-ever British boxer to receive the award since its inception in 1928.

Hatton earned top honors by stopping long-reigning junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu at the end of the 11th round on June 4 in Manchester, England. In his second bout of the year on November 26, Hatton knocked out WBA junior welterweight titleholder Carlos Maussa in the ninth round in Sheffield, England.

"Not only did Hatton take the title away from one of the greatest 140-pounders of all-time and make his first defense against a highly rated challenger, he did it in the sort of entertaining and definitive manner that attracts fans and fills venues," said The Ring's Editor-in-Chief Nigel Collins.

Collazo, now 25 year old, won the WBA world title in April, 2005, with a 12-round decision against defending champion Jose Antonio Rivera in Rivera's hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. A talented lefthander, Luis successfully defended the title last August with a seventh-round TKO win against former WBC lightweight world champion Miguel Angel Gonzalez.

In the co-featured 12-round fight which will not be televised, International Boxing Federation featherweight world champion Valdemir Pereira, 23-0 with 15 knockouts, of Sao Caetano Do Sul, Brazil, will make his first title defense against former former European, British, and Commonwealth super bantamweight champion Esham Pickering, 29-4 with 11 knockouts, of Newark, England.

Pereira won the title on January 20 with a 12-round unanimous decision against Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym of Thailand.An exciting lineup of supporting bouts is planned to complete the event.

All bouts are subject to change without notice.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER

2006-04-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

WBA Super Welterweight Champion Alejandro "Terra" Garcia vs. No. 3 Contender/Former WBA Welterweight Champion Jose Antonio "El Gallo'' Rivera

IBF Junior Bantamweight Champion Luis "El Demoledor" Perez vs. No. 1 Contender Dimitri "The Baby'' Kirillov Saturday

May 6, 2006, At 9 p.m. ET/PT DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts

NEW YORK - Home sweet home. In some major sports, home field advantage is huge and often can be the difference between winning and losing. Not so in the sweet science, however, where performance and what one does in the ring counts most.

"Once the bell rings, it is just you and your opponent," said Alejandro "Terra" Garcia (25-1, 23 KOs), who defends his World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight belt against local favorite and former world welterweight champion Jose Antonio Rivera (37-4-1, 24 KOs) Saturday, May 6, 2006, on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). "Rivera may have a big crowd rooting for him, but I still have my fists. They are the great equalizer.''

In front of what will be a raucous setting at the DCU Center at Worcester, Mass., and millions more watching on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Garcia will make the first defense in his second stint as WBA 154-pound champion. In an exciting junior bantamweight world title fight that will open the telecast, talented southpaw Luis "El Demoleder" Perez (23-1, 15 KOs) defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt against mandatory challenger and No. 1 contender Dimitri "The Baby" Kirillov (28-2, 10 KOs). The world championship doubleheader is promoted by Don King Productions.

"Having a big crowd of people on hand to support you is great, but what good is it if you give them nothing to cheer about?" Garcia asked.

Garcia, of Tijuana, Mexico, was reinstated by the WBA as its 154-pound champion when Travis Simms refused to give him a rematch. The only defeat in Garcia's career came when he was dethroned by Simms on a controversial, one-punch fifth-round knockout on Dec. 12, 2003.

Entering the fifth round of the battle of unbeaten super welterweights, Simms led, 39-37, on two of the scorecards and was even on the other. Garcia seemed to be coming on. However, with 1:39 to go in the stanza, Simms caught Garcia with a sharp left hook to the jaw. The challenger followed with a stiff right uppercut that nailed Garcia squarely on the chin. The fighters fell into a brief clinch with their arms resting around each other. The referee, who was behind the action, yelled "break" from a distance.

Garcia dropped his hands as he waited for the referee to step in and separate him from Simms.
Simms, however, beat the referee to the punch. As the boxers took a step back, Simms hit Garcia with a picture-perfect left hook flush on the chin. Garcia fell toward the canvas, out cold before he slammed on the floor. With his right glove folded over his face, Garcia never moved as the ref counted him out.

"I got careless," Garcia said. "I know I am supposed to protect myself at all times, but I was only doing what the referee told us to do when he went over the rules before the fight.
"Simms hit me on the break. The ref started to separate us and I stepped back and relaxed. I did not think it was a fair punch. I wanted a rematch, but Simms never gave me one.''
After winning his next fight, Garcia captured the WBA interim 154-pound crown with a ninth-round TKO over Rhoshii Wells on May 21, 2005, in Chicago.

In his last start, Garcia retained the interim belt with a 12-round unanimous decision (118-108 and 117-110 twice) over Luca Messi on Aug. 13, 2005, in Chicago. The bout represented just the second time that the young Garcia had exited a ring victorious without knocking his opponent out.

Shortly after the victory over Messi, the WBA declared Garcia its 154-pound world champion.
Garcia captured the WBA title the first time with a third-round KO over defending champion Santiago Samaniego on March 1, 2003, in Las Vegas.

Known as "Terra," which is short for "terrain," Garcia got the nickname because he said that he ate dirt all the time when he was a little boy.

It figures to be a down and dirty, exciting slugfest when Garcia defends against Rivera, of Worcester, by way of Philadelphia. Rivera, the WBA No. 3 super welterweight contender, will step up a notch in weight and make his first start since losing his WBA 147-pound crown to late substitute Luis Collazo on a 12-round split decision (115-113 twice and 113-115) April 2, 2005, in Worcester.

"I pushed the whole fight," said Rivera, who came up short in a thrilling, give-and-take contest that featured numerous exciting exchanges. "I do not know how Collazo got the split decision."
After losing in a major upset, Rivera will get a chance to win a second world title in his hometown. "This is a great opportunity. Garcia is coming to Worcester to defend his title,'' Rivera said. "I will be ready and prepared to take his belt. I do not think he is any more special than anyone I have fought.''

Rivera claimed the vacant WBA welterweight crown with a 12-round decision (116-111, 116-114 and 114-114) over previously unbeaten Michel Trabant (38-0) on Sept. 13, 2003, in Berlin, Germany. "I still get goose bumps just thinking what an amazing feeling I had after winning the title," Rivera said.

A class act and true working-class hero outside the ring, Rivera works as a court officer in the Worcester Juvenile Court and volunteers his time at a youth club. He was the Rotary Club's Worcester Citizen of the Year in 2005. "Boxing is what I do but there is more to life than boxing," he said.

As thrilling as Garcia-Rivera will be, the recently added Perez-Kirillov scrap may turn out to be the fight of the night. In Perez, fans will see one of boxing's most feared and crowd-pleasing boxer-punchers.

"Among the smaller weight champions, Perez is one of the most exciting in the world," Dan Rafael of ESPN.com said. "I have never seen him in a bad fight.''

Perez, of Managua, Nicaragua, is making the third defense of the IBF 115-pound crown he won with an upset 12-round decision over Felix Machado Jan. 4, 2003, in Washington, D.C., on SHOWTIME. In his last start, Perez retained his belt with an impressive sixth-round knockout over Luis Bolano on April 30, 2005. This will be Perez' fourth appearance in the United States, and his second on SHOWTIME.

Kirillov, of St. Petersburg, Russia, has won five straight fights, including a 12-round decision over Reinaldo Lopez in an IBF elimination bout in his last outing on Sept. 10, 2005, in Moscow, Russia. Kirillov, who is making his U.S. debut, is no stranger to fighting on the road. Besides his homeland, he has boxed in five different countries - Belgium, Spain, England, Denmark and Japan. Kirillov is getting his second shot at a world title. In his first, he dropped a close 12-round decision to World Boxing Council (WBC) 115-pound champ Masamori Tokuyama on Jan. 3, 2004, in Osaka, Japan.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING's Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The producer of the SHOWTIME telecast will be Ray Smaltz with Bob Dunphy directing.

CALVIN BROCK TO SERVE AS ESPN2 “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” IN-STUDIO GUEST

2006-04-28T03:05:00.000-07:00

BLOOMFIELD, NJ (April 27, 2006) – Undefeated top-10 heavyweight contender Calvin Brock will appear in-studio on the April 28 broadcast of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights”, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. Brock will discuss his upcoming June 24 bout against fellow-undefeated heavyweight contender Timur Ibragimov (21-0-1, 13 KO’s).

Brock (28-0, 22 KOs) has stopped four of his last six opponents. In his last bout on Feb 25, 2006, the 31-year-old Charlotte, NC native frighteningly annihilated Zuri Lawrence with a single left hook that immediately knocked Lawrence unconscious and sent him crashing to the canvas (TKO 6). The bout opened the Fernando Vargas-Shane Mosley HBO PPV broadcast. Brock is ranked in the top-10 by all three major sanctioning bodies and by The Ring magazine.

ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” telecast begins at 8:00 pm ET.

The June 24 Brock-Ibragimov 12 round showdown will serve as the main event of the “UNDEFEATED . . . BUT NOT FOR LONG” doubleheader that will be broadcast on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” series, beginning at 10:00 P.M ET/PT. The opening bout pits the hottest young fighter in the world, undefeated WBA #5 welterweight Joel Julio (27-0, 24 KO’s), against undefeated WBA #2 welterweight Carlos Quintana (22-0, 18 KO’s) in a 12 round WBA Welterweight Eliminator. Caesars Palace’s Open-Air Roman Amphitheater will serve as the site for the highly-anticipated doubleheader.

For more info: Main Events (973) 893-9100
Donald Tremblay

HBO Latino Launches New Boxing Series, Generación Boxeo

2006-04-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Debuting Exclusively, Thursday, April 27April 24, 2006

Regarded as the network leader in the telecasting of professional boxing, HBO Sports introduces a new, exclusive Spanish-language boxing series that will launch on HBO Latino, Thursday, April 27 at 10 p.m./ET/PT. Five additional boxing events will be presented in 2006.

The Generación Boxeo series, an innovative and dedicated original program created for HBO Latino, will feature the best young Latino fighters, behind-the-scenes interviews and round-by-round Spanish-language commentary by Raul Marquez and Mario Solis.

“The Generación Boxeo series captures the action, spirit and fury of the ring for boxing enthusiasts,” said Adrion Porter, director, Brand Development at HBO. “This is another great opportunity for us to continue the event-level type of sports programming that “Oscar De La Hoya Presenta Boxeo De Oro” did on HBO Latino previously.”

The April 27th event will feature the delayed broadcast of three fights: Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., son of legendary Mexican champion Julio Cesar Chavez, against undefeated challenger Tyler Ziolkowski in a junior welterweight bout; unbeaten Mexican-American Juan Diaz defends his lightweight title against Jose Miguel Cotto, brother of Puerto Rican boxing sensation Miguel Cotto; and Mexican Jorge Arce, considered one of the best young fighters of the moment, takes on veteran and two-time champion Rosendo Alvarez of Nicaragua in a flyweight title fight.

Currently available in 45% of HBO’s cable households, HBO Latino is a dedicated Spanish-language channel designed to reflect the diversity of Latino culture in the country. HBO Latino features U.S. premieres of Spanish-language movies and documentaries; music videos; and original short-form programming, such as “Habla,” that spotlights entertainment and cultural issues; plus a mix of popular Hollywood films and the best of HBO’s originals.

Along with Generación Boxeo, boxing coverage on HBO Latino includes HBO’s flagship World Championship Boxing series, with live ringside Spanish-language commentary, and the critically acclaimed HBO Boxing After Dark.

Contact Info:Jodie Hauptmann212-512-5431

ANTONIO ESCALANTE HEADLINES WAR BY THE SHORE

2006-04-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

IN CHICAGO ON FRIDAY MAY 12TH
UNDEFEATED PROSPECT ABNER MARES IN CO-MAIN
SPECIAL ATTRACTION RITA FIGUEROA IN WOMEN’S TITLE BOUT--ACTION PACKED UNDERCARD FEATURES FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ, BARBARO ZEPEDA AND JOSE MANUEL ORTEGA

TICKETS NOW ON SALE BY CALLING 312-226-5800

Fight of the Year winner Antonio Escalante returns to Chicago on Friday, May 12th to face Juan Ruiz for the WBO/NABO Super Bantamweight title at the Aragon Ballroom as the headline bout for WAR BY THE SHORE, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

WAR BY THE SHORE is presented by 8 Count Productions and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions along with Miller Lite and TCF Bank.

El Paso native Escalante, 17-1-0 (7) battled Chicagoan Jose Hernandez in an internationally televised war for the ages on January 27th at Cicero Stadium winning a ten round unanimous decision. Ruiz of Santa Clarita, California is coming off a twelve round decision over Priest Smalls on November 12, 2005 in which he captured the title.

The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Avenue on the northside of Chicago. Doors for this event will open at 6pm, with the first bell scheduled for 7pm. Tickets starting at $25 are available in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

Said Pesoli of the main event, “We’re thrilled to partner with Oscar in bringing Antonio back to Chicago. Since his war with Jose in January, I’ve gotten a huge amount of calls from fans wanting to know when both guys will be back on our shows. Ruiz is a very tough kid who’s won some big bouts over guys like Smalls, Cristobal Cruz, Philip Payne and Dustin Kim. His win over Smalls was for the title and this is his first defense of the belt.”

“There’s not much I can add to Escalante’s rep. For a 20 year old kid, he’s got a lot of poise and the fans at the fight with Hernandez were overwhelmed by both guys’ skill and heart.”

The co-main event of the evening will be a ten round bout featuring undefeated super bantamweight prospect Abner Mares. Mares, 8-0 (5KO’s), a native of Jalisco, Mexico now fighting out of Hawaii Gardens, California recently won an eight rounder over Omar Adorna on February 24th at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He was also a member of the 2004 US Olympic Team.

In a special feature attraction of the evening, Chicagoland’s most popular female boxer, Rita Figueroa, 7-0 (3KO’s) will face Fort Worth native, Rita Serrano, 3-2 (1KO) in an eight round bout for the WIBA Federlatina Lightweight Title.

Also on the card are bouts involving featherweight Barbaro Zepeda, bantamweight Francisco Rodriguez and welterweight Jose Manuel Ortega.

Added Pesoli, “Tickets are going to move fast for this show, we had a huge crowd at our last event at the Aragon Ballroom on March 17th for David Diaz. Our fans want quality events and highly competitive matches and that’s what we do best.”

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxinggym.com/

For more information on Antonio Escalante and Abner Mares please visit the Golden Boy Promotions website at http://www.goldenboypromotions.com/.

Additional information on this event will be announced very shortly.

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
http://www.8countproductions.com/
bbahrmasel@aol.com

Professional boxer Franchesca Alcanter, Child Seek Network and Athlete Representative Krysti Rosario team up to “Fight For The Missing ”

2006-04-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

On April 26, 2006 pro female boxer Franchesca Alcanter, the ChildSeek Network and Athlete Representative on the National Board of Directors for USA Boxing Krysti Rosario will bring the faces of missing children to the ring.

The event will take place at

Buffalo Run Casino
8520 S Highway 69A Miami Oklahoma
(918)542-7140
http://www.buffalorun.com/showplace.htm

Team Alcanter will be bringing attention to missing teen Kathy Schmitt Kathy ran away from protective care custody Jul 24, 2003 from Woodward, Oklahoma. When a child goes missing it is important to keep their story and information in the public eye. This will be Alcanter second Fight For The Missing. In March she took the cases of Ashley Martinez to the ring.

Franchesca being a public figure knows that she can assist in the search for missing children by lending her name and support in the effort to locate them.

It is our hope and hers that by doing so other pro boxers will join us and “Fight for the Missing”.

Franchesca, known as the "Chosen One" by her fans will meet with Ashley's parents. Buttons and fliers of Ashley will be handed out.

Franchesca is from Kansas City Missouri and has been fighting since 1999. Her uncles and grandfather were fighters so it is in her blood.

Franchesca worked as a model and at one time was Miss Hawaiian Tropic. She later became a round card girl which brought her to the ring. It was then she realized where she wanted to be and began working toward a career in boxing.

Krysti Rosario is the Athlete Representative on the National Board of Directors for USA Boxing.

The ChildSeek Network is a non-profit 501c (3) organization based in Oregon that assists families and law enforcement in the search to bring missing persons home.

ChildSeek Network fosters community involvement through education, events, and resources.

For more information contact the Child Seek Network at (503)685-9382 or 503-957-9963 or Krysti Rosario at Bxingirl@aol.com

Contact Information:
Judy Maher
PO Box 1902
Wilsonville, Oregon 97070
(503) 685-9382
Cell (503) 957-9963
E-mail:http://www.seek@childseeknetwork.com
http://www.childseeknetwork.com/newsite/fight.htm
Child Seek Network is a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization

“BACK TO THE FUTURE III” ON MAY 11

2006-04-21T22:39:00.000-07:00

Undefeated featherweight Jason Litzau to headline card

BLOOMFIELD, NJ – Main Events returns to North Bergen’s Schuetzen Park for “Back to the Future III”, the third in a series of planned boxing events in north Jersey, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. The main event features a 10 round featherweight contest between undefeated WBA #13 ranked featherweight Jason Litzau (17-0, 15 KO’s) and awkward Nepalese southpaw Debind Thapa.

Tickets, priced at $150 (VIP), $50, and $25, can be purchased by calling Main Events at (973) 893-9100. The $150 VIP ticket entitles the owner to a dinner, drinks, and a “Meet and Greet” with boxing celebrities in attendance.

Litzau (17-0, 15 KO’s) is ranked #13 by the WBA. In his last bout on Jan 28, 2006, the 22-year-old St. Paul, MN impressively stopped former world title challenger Carlos Contreras on the Arturo Gatti-Thomas Damgaard undercard (TKO 6). Contreras had gone the distance with world champions Johnny Tapia and Lehlo Ledwaba, and with world title challengers Art Simonyan and Adan Vargas. Litzau has stopped 10 opponents n the first round.

“I chose Thapa as an opponent because he is as unorthodox as he is,” says Litzau. “In order to be a world champion and be one of the sport’s elite fighters you have to beat all styles. This is an excellent learning experience for me”

Thapa (20-5-1, 11 KO’s) once challenged for the NABF super flyweight and NABF super bantamweight titles.

The following fighters will also appear on the May 11 card:

Allen Litzau (10-1, 6 KO’s) has won his last nine bouts, five by knockout. The 24-year-old St. Paul, MN native competes at featherweight.

Wayne Johnsen (11-1, 6 KO’s) is a 28-year-old light heavyweight from Lyndhurst, NJ. In his last bout on March 10, 2006, Johnsen stopped Clifton Robertson in five rounds at Schuetzen Park (TKO 5).

Alex Perez (4-0, 3 KO's) is a 23-year-old junior middleweight from Newark, NJ who has stopped three of his four opponents. He is a former NJ Golden Gloves Champion.

Henry Crawford (9-0-1 3 KO’s) is an undefeated 25-year-old welterweight from Paterson, NJ who captured the most impressive win of his career on Nov 30, 2005, at Schuetzen Park when he destroyed Tony Grygelko in one round (TKO 1).

Jerson Ravelo (15-1, 10 KO’s) represented the 2000 Dominican Republic Olympic Boxing Team. The 28-year-old light heavyweight lives in Newark, NJ. He has won his last two bouts, and has stopped six opponents in the first round.

For more info: MAIN EVENTS (973) 893-9100
Donald Tremblay

WOMEN'S BOUTS ADDED TO LIGHTNING STRIKES

2006-04-21T04:52:00.000-07:00

Two action packed women’s bouts featuring four undefeated female prospects have just been added to the LIGHTNING STRIKES April 21st professional boxing card at Cicero Stadium, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. Tickets, starting at $30 are on sale in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

Stated Pesoli, “These are all very tough skilled women with heavy hands. Our crowds have really enjoyed seeing Rita Figueroa’s battles and our matchmaker Jerry Alfano has done a great job matching up these girls. Of the eight bouts these women have been in, seven have ended by knockout. I expect to see a high level of action as soon as the bell rings”

Continued Pesoli, “The whole card is well matched and that’s what our fans want. We’ve done five professional shows this year, three at Cicero Stadium. The crowds there have been terrific and we’re very appreciative for their continued support.”

“Omar and Emmanuel have both fought on our shows before and they’re both in against hard punching tough guys. The Binkowski/Walker fight should be a slug fest from the opening bell. The other two Polish kids are very solid prospects over there.”

‘Finally, I can’t forget Michael Walker. Last year Jimmy Gonzalez and him put on the best six round fight we’ve seen in Chicago in many years. He just beat Kendall Gould on our show at The Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana last month and looked terrific knocking him out in the seventh round.”

The full fight card and records are as follows

Michael Walker, 10-0-1 (8), vs. TBA, middleweights, eight rounds
Art Binkowski, 14-1-2 (9) vs. Tipton Walker, 13-12-1 (6), heavyweights, six rounds
Omar Reyes, 2-2 vs. Darby Smart, 9-3 (4), featherweights, six rounds
Emanuel Hernandez, 5-2 (1) vs. Jeff Curran, 1-0 (1), super lightweights, six rounds
Rafal Jackiewicz, 19-8 (10) vs. TBA, welterweights, six rounds
Nora Reyes, 1-0 vs. Stacey Reile, 2-0 (2), featherweights, four rounds
Christina Christian, 4-0 (4) vs. Tachany Evans, 1-0 (1), heavyweights, four rounds
Damian Jonak, 2-0 (1) vs. Mike Hatfield, 0-1, super welterweights, four rounds

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com

TCF Bank is a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation (NYSE: TCB), a $12.7 billion Minnesota-based financial holding company. TCF Bank offers convenient deposit products, lending and business banking services at more than 235 full-service locations in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas, including stores inside most Jewel-Osco Stores and many Cub Foods Stores. Other TCF lines of business offer investment and insurance services, Express Trade Brokerage accounts, as well as mortgage products and services. For more information about TCF Bank or its products, call 1-800-TCF-BANK or visit the TCF Web site at www.tcfexpress.com. Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
www.8countproductions.com
bbahrmasel@aol.com

WBO Jr. Welterweight Championship COTTO vs. MALIGNAGGI

2006-04-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

SAT., JUNE 10 at MADISON SQUARE GARDENLIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW!BATTLE OF THE UNDEFEATED!

MIGUEL COTTO TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AGAINST TOP-10 CONTENDER PAULIE “MAGIC MAN” MALIGNAGGI MADISON SQUARE GARDEN JUNE 10, 2006 – LIVE ON PPV!
-----------------------------------------------
UNDEFEATED IRISH SENSATION JOHN DUDDY
TO MAKE FIRST DEFENSE OF WBC CONTINENTAL AMERICAS MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE
---------------------------------------------
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL STAR
TOMMY ZBIKOWSKI’S PRO DEBUT!

NEW YORK, NY (March 29, 2006) – Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment, present the biggest rumble New York has witnessed since the Jets took on the Sharks. World jr. welterweight champion MIGUEL COTTO, the pride of Puerto Rico, returns to Madison Square Garden to take on undefeated Top-10 contender PAULIE “MAGIC MAN” MALIGNAGGI of Brooklyn, N.Y., Saturday, June 10. Cotto vs. Malignaggi headlines a championship card, which will include six bouts on the Pay Per View telecast.

Highlighting this boxing pay per view extravaganza, in separate bouts, will be undefeated Irish middleweight sensation John Duddy, making his first defense of his WBC Continental Americas title; former world champion “The Flushing Flash” Kevin Kelley; undefeated lightweight contender and son of the Mexican icon Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.; undefeated Puerto Rican featherweight prospect Juan Manuel Lopez; and making his pro debut, Notre Dame defensive back Tony Zbikowski.

Tickets, priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale now at the MSG Box Office, TicketMaster outlets & Ticketmaster phone (212/307-7171), and www.ticketmaster.com / www.thegarden.com.

This marks the second consecutive year Cotto, (26-0, 22 KOs), of Caguas, Puerto Rico, has headlined at the “Mecca of Boxing” on the eve of New York’s annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Last year, he knocked out Muhammad Abdullaev to retain his title in front of a huge crowd.

He faces a tough challenger in Malignaggi, (21-0), who promises he will dethrone Cotto and win the world title.

"I'm going to cash in on this opportunity; my legacy begins by beating Cotto for the WBO title," the outspoken Malignaggi said.

"I just don't want to be the next great Italian fighter, I want to be the next great fighter in the world. I've been under a microscope and 'dissed' by people, but I'm going to prove my detractors wrong.

"Cotto's coming to my house. He's going to find himself unwelcome with nothing there for him except knuckle sandwiches from me. I'm a fresh 21-0 without being in any wars. Cotto is 26-0 with a lot of mileage on him. I'm going to make him 26-1. (Ricardo) Torres put him down and (Chop Chop) Corley had him going. Cotto needed some hometown help from the ref to beat Corley."

Cotto responded, "Malignaggi sure talks a lot. Let's see what happens when we get into the ring. He calls himself the ‘Magic Man’ but on June 10 I’m going to perform a little magic myself and make him disappear."

Cotto is a powerful force who strikes with extreme power. He has defended his world title five times while earning "Puerto Rico Fighter of the Year" honors for the last two years in a row.
"We worked hard for many years to get to this level and I was very proud to receive the Fighter of the Year honor," he said.

Miguel won the WBO world title on September 11, 2004, with a sixth-round TKO against previously undefeated Kelson Pinto. Miguel is experienced against very strong opposition, and has beaten current or former world champions DeMarcus Corley, Randall Bailey, Carlos Maussa, and Cesar Bazan, as well as contenders Ricardo Torres, Muhammad Abdullaev, Kelson Pinto, Victoriano Sosa and Lovemore Ndou.

In Cotto's last fight on March 4 in Bayamon, PR, he TKO'd Gianluca Branco (36-1-1) at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez and drew a capacity crowd that chanted, "Cotto…Cotto…" during the start of the undercard bouts and continued through the main event.

Miguel gave a strong performance and dominated the fight; he outworked Branco, worked the body well, and steadily wore him down; Branco was cut on his scalp by a clash of heads in the 5th round, and was swollen under his right eye and on the right side of his jaw in the 6th; Miguel landed a left hook to Branco's right shoulder in the 8th round, and Branco grabbed his shoulder in pain and turned away from the action; the referee stopped the fight at 0:49; after seven rounds, Miguel led by scores of 70-63, 69-64, 69-64.

After the fight, Miguel said, "I knew I had to take my time with Branco, I never wanted to be reckless. I felt I was putting enough pressure on him. I felt a lot stronger than him, I was breaking him down. It was just a matter of time. I started to work on him with the first ring of the bell. It wasn't an easy fight, it was a tough fight. He did not hurt me. He had his good punches, but this was our night. He came to try and use his style, to try to block and then punch. I think I looked better than September 24. I'm going to try to do this from now on. The fight with Ricardo Torres was a war, this was a boxing fight. Getting the win is the important thing."
For Additional Information (Media):

Lee Samuels, Top Rank: (702) 732-2717/(702) 378-1083
Ricardo Jimenez, Top Rank/Cotto: (909) 615-3436
Meredith Greenberg, DBE/Malignaggi: (212) 947-2577
Bill Caplan, Top Rank: (818) 515-1616 or (818) 831-0046
John Cirillo, Cirillo World: (212) 972-5337
Fred Sternburg, Sternburg Communications: (303) 740-7746/(303) 548-0707
Ed Keenan, Event Marketing and Communications: (609) 399-1330
Eric Gelfand, Madison Square Garden: (212) 465-6659

BARRERA COMES TO CALIFORNIA

2006-04-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS’ BIGGEST MONTH EVER CONCLUDES WITH BACK TO BACK HBO MEGACARDS

LOS ANGELES – Golden Boy Promotions, in association with AEG, is ready to present perhaps the most explosive month in the history of the sweet science.

Beginning with a show on Saturday, May 20th, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, and concluding with another epic card on Saturday, May 27th at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, some of the greatest fighters in the world – including Marco Antonio Barrera, Rocky Juarez, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, Jhonny Gonzalez, Fernando Montiel, and Daniel Ponce DeLeon - will be displaying their wares for fight fans watching both live and on HBO.

“I’m amazed at the amount of talent and competitive matchups that we’re going to be able to provide to boxing fans in May,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, who kicks off the month with his own mega bout against Ricardo Mayorga on May 6th. “I’ve personally never seen a pair of shows like this back to back, and I’m excited that I’ll be able to just sit back and be a fan on both nights.”

The May 20th event at STAPLES Center, which will be televised live by HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:30pm ET / 7:70pm PT, features the return of the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera (61-4, 42 KOs), who will defend his WBC Super Featherweight world championship against 2000 US Olympic Silver medalist Rocky Juarez (25-1, 18 KOs) in a highly anticipated 12 round battle.

In the co-featured bout, Argentinean bomber Jorge Rodrigo ‘La Hiena’ Barrios (45-2-1, 32 KOs), one of boxing’s most exciting fighters, defends his WBO Junior Lightweight crown for the second time when he faces Hungary’s unbeaten Janos “The Bone Cracker” Nagy (23-0, 14 KOs).

Just seven days later, on an HBO Boxing After Dark televised card (10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT) at the Home Depot Center, two more world championships will be on the line. In a main event that has historical implications, WBO Bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez (32-4, 28 KOs) - a concussive puncher with either hand – will get a stern challenge from one of boxing’s best, pound for pound, WBO Junior Bantamweight champ Fernando Montiel (32-1-1, 24 KOs), who will rise in weight to try to win his third world title in a different weight class.

Another WBO champion, Junior Lightweight king Daniel Ponce DeLeon (27-1, 25 KOs), will defend his title for the first time in the co-main event, when he takes on unbeaten Mexican prodigy Alejandro Barrera (18-0, 12 KOs).

Also featured on May 27th is an intriguing welterweight clash between highly regarded contenders Walter Dario Matthysse of Argentina and Paul ‘The Punisher’ Williams of Augusta, Georgia. Combined, these two 147-pound standouts boast a record of 52-0 with 43 knockouts. Unbeaten rising star Abner Mares (8-0, 5 KOs), a member of the 2004 Mexican Olympic team, will also be in action.

Tickets for the May 20th event – Barrera vs Juarez - priced at $50.00, $75.00, $125.00, $200.00 and $300.00, are available at STAPLES Center box office, Ritmo Latino Stores or by calling 213-480-3232. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets for the May 27th event – Gonzalez vs Montiel - priced at $25.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $150.00 are available at THE HOME DEPOT Center box office or by calling 213-480-3232. Tickets are also available online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, please visit our website at www.goldenboypromotions.com

CONTACTMarylyn AcevesGolden Boy Promotions213-489-5631Marylyn@goldenboyllc.com

"SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION" TO FEATURE UNDEFEATED PETERSON BROTHERS

2006-04-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

Undefeated Junior Welterweight Lamont Peterson vs. "Mayhem'' Matthew Strode

Undefeated Junior Welterweight Anthony Peterson vs. Unbeaten Jermaine "Two Sweet" White

Friday, April 28, 2006, At 11 p.m. ET/PTFrom 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, New Town, North Dakota

NEW YORK - Brothers Lamont and Anthony Peterson of Washington, D.C., grew up homeless, but they feel right at home in the ring. The up-and-coming, unbeaten junior welterweights are a combined 32-0 with 20 knockouts.

Lamont, who at 22 is 14 months older than Anthony, is 16-0 with seven KOs.

Anthony is 16-0 with 13 KOs.

In their SHOWTIME debuts, the talented three-year pros will co-headline an excellent fight card Friday, April 28, 2006, on "ShoBox: The New Generation'' (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). The bouts will represent the 11th time that the Petersons have appeared on the same fight card.

Both Petersons have been matched tough. Lamont will face Matthew Strode (20-1, 9 KOs) of Greensboro, N.C. by way of Philadelphia, in a 10-round bout. Anthony will meet Jermaine White (12-0, 7 KOs), of Gary, Ind., in an eight rounder.

The card will originate from the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in New Town, North Dakota, and will be promoted by Brian Young's Prizefight Boxing. Two of 12 children, Lamont and Anthony are well-acquainted with the trials and tribulations of inner-city strife. By the age of 10, the brothers were left to fend for themselves on the mean streets of D.C. With their biological father in prison and their mother battling personal demons, the Petersons spent days washing windows of cars at intersections and nights sleeping in bus stations or breaking into a basement to find shelter.

For two years, they bounced between foster homes and lived in cars. Forced to survive on a day-to-day, meal-to-meal basis, their youth was effectively stolen.

"We lived in a big house we owned," Lamont said. "There were seven of us kids living with my mother and father. Then my father started getting into drugs. He got caught and went to jail. He wound up coming home to take the rent money. First the lights went out, then the water. So, we ended up living in a house without lights or water. "Eventually we got kicked out. The seven of us had to sleep in the station wagon for two or three days before we could get into a shelter home. After we lived there for two years, we ended up back on the streets. Some nights we walked the streets, some nights we stayed in greyhound stations. We did whatever we could to survive.''

Fortunately, the brothers now have a roof over their heads - they share an apartment - and their father is back in their life. Much of the credit for the Petersons making it through the most turbulent of times and getting to this point in their lives and careers goes to Barry Hunter, a trainer and confidant who met Lamont when he was 10 and Anthony was eight. Hunter treated the Petersons as his own sons.

Both blossomed under Hunter's watchful eye and today are well-spoken, humble, and joyous young men who also happen to be terrific fighters.

"One look at the Peterson brothers brings a single word to mind: class," ShoBox analyst Steve Farhood said. "Their boxing skills are superb, and they are technically sound. Lamont is so dominant as a boxer that he can dig his toes into the canvas to improve his power without leaving himself vulnerable.

All that is missing is fight-ending power.

"Being brothers might work against these guys because the public initially will have trouble separating them. Their styles are similar, they have been fighting on the same cards, and, at most, they are one weight class apart. "That aside, they belong on 'ShoBox' because any talk of sizzling prospects has to include the Peterson brothers.'' Lamont has been fighting for nearly half of his life. "I used to fight in the streets a lot." Lamont said. "My brother-in-law took me to the gym when I was 10 or 11 years old after my brother and I got out of foster care. I wanted to start boxing when I was eight, but we went into foster care for two years. They did not let us box there."

Both Lamont and Anthony, who are co-managed by Shelly Finkel and Brian Young, made it to the finals at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials before losing to the eventual U.S. representatives at 132 and 141 pounds. In a classy move, Lamont had elected to vacate his spot at 132 and move up to 141, freeing up a slot for his younger brother on the Olympic team. Lamont, the nation's top amateur boxer heading into the Trials, lost a disputed decision to Rock Allen. A five-time national Golden Gloves champion who compiled a 168-20 amateur record, Peterson was forced to be an alternate.

While the Petersons excelled in the amateurs, their styles seem more suited for the pro ranks. Behind a stiff jab and solid body work, both dole out punishment in a methodical, workman-like fashion.

"When Lamont and Anthony first came into the gym, I never trained them like a regular junior or amateur," Hunter said. "They used to get into trouble when they were younger fighting in the juniors because they fought so much like pros."

While a championship remains the ultimate goal, a higher ideal appears to resonate in each step the Petersons take.

"We are not in this for the money'' Anthony insisted, "or even the history books. We are doing it for the kids from where we come from. Because we come from nothing, we can show the kids there is a way out. You can do it if we can do it.'' The drive to succeed on multiple levels fuels both fighters.

It is this willingness to give back which may serve as inspiration when the Petersons face adversity on the championship level.

"My brother and I always knew that we should never give up," Lamont said. "No matter how hard it is -- we went through harder things. So we will never give up.''

The telecast represents the 75th in the "ShoBox" series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001. "ShoBox" features up-and-coming prospects determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a chance at a world title. A number of fighters who have appeared on the series have gone on to become world champions, including Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Leonard Dorin, Joan Guzman and Scott Harrison.

Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of the telecast is Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.

For information on "ShoBox: The New Generation" and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.

HBO SPORTS PRESENTS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT OF HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ACTION

2006-04-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

WHEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: CHRIS BYRD VS. WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO IS SEEN LIVE SATURDAY, APRIL 22, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

HBO heads overseas for a heavyweight title showdown when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: CHRIS BYRD VS. WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO is seen live from the SAP Arena in Manheim, Germany on SATURDAY, APRIL 22 at the special times of (5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT) with a second broadcast on HBO at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) the same evening.

The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant will be ringside for the event, which will be closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

HBO2 playdates: APRIL 23 (8:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.) and 25 (11:00 p.m.).

All times ET/PT.In a rematch that appears like the completion of a trilogy, title-holder Chris Byrd (39-2-1, 20 KOs) from Las Vegas, NV takes on Ukrainian native Wladimir Klitschko (45-3, 40 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight title fight.

Byrd, making his third trip to Germany to fight a heavyweight named Klitschko, initially faced off and defeated Vitali Klitschko in April of 2000, confirming Byrd's ability to rise to the challenge at hand.

In October of 2000, he went back to Germany and absorbed a loss at the hands of Wladimir, who had vowed to avenge the family loss. Byrd, a native of Flint, Mich., is currently on a nine-fight winning streak during which he captured the title status he currently enjoys.Wladimir, 30, who was detoured by two losses in his last eight fights, is on a three-bout winning streak and is looking to regain a title for the Klitschko family, which has become enormously popular in the German boxing world.

Vitali, who held a world title, retired at the close of 2005 from a string of injuries. Now younger brother Wladimir has a chance to shine in the spotlight against one of the craftiest professionals on the scene.

8 Count Productions announces spring schedule

2006-04-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

LUCIANO PEREZ RETURNS TO THE RING ON THURSDAY, APRIL 27TH

“MACHO” MIGUEL HERNANDEZ FACES FORMER WORLD CHAMPION RAUL MARQUEZ ON SATURDAY, APRIL 29TH

WAR BY THE SHORE HITS THE ARAGON BALLROOM ON FRIDAY, MAY 12TH

BETTER BOYS FOUNDATION BENEFIT, FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2006--AMATEUR BOXING AT THE PARK WEST THEATER ON FRIDAY, MAY 12TH

JOSE HERNANDEZ AND MIKE GONZALEZ BACK IN ACTION ON CYSTIC FIBROSIS BENEFIT SHOW ON SATURDAY, MAY 20TH AT THE ARAGON BALLROOM

FOURTH INSTALLMENT OF FIGHT CLUB RETURNS TO THE PARK WEST THEATER ON FRIDAY, JUNE 2ND

FREDDY CUEVAS BATTLES JOHN DUDDY IN NEW YORK CITY ON SATURDAY, JUNE 10TH

DAVID DIAZ HEADLINES AT THE ARAGON BALLROOM ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16TH

Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING has announced a massive spring schedule of events featuring Chicagoland’s most popular fighters.

Said Pesoli, “It’s an incredibly busy time and our crowds continue to grow, our fight cards this year have been terrific with fantastic bouts and we’ve had a chance to showcase Macho, Luciano and Freddie on other shows in Louisiana, New York City and California. We’ve already done six pro shows and one Fight Club event and sponsored the Chicago Golden Gloves for three weeks and the rest of the year shows no let up.”

Continued Pesoli, “The announcements I’m making today are just what we’ve confirmed for the spring, I’ve got quite a few other things which should be finalized shortly.”

The previously announced LIGHTNING STRIKES event scheduled for Friday, April 21st at Cicero Stadium features the following fights;

Michael Walker, 10-0-1 (8), vs. TBA, middleweights, eight rounds
Art Binkowski, 14-1-2 (9) vs. Tipton Walker, 13-12-1 (6), heavyweights, six rounds
Omar Reyes, 2-2 vs. Darby Smart, 9-3 (4), featherweights, six rounds
Emanuel Hernandez, 5-2 (1) vs. Jeff Curran, 1-0 (1), super lightweights, six rounds
Rafal Jackiewicz, 19-8 (10) vs. TBA, welterweights, six rounds
Nora Reyes, 1-0 vs. Stacey Reile, 2-0 (2), featherweights, four rounds
Christina Christian, 4-0 (4) vs. TBA, heavyweights, four rounds
Damian Jonak, 2-0 (1) vs. TBA, super welterweights, four rounds

Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. Tickets, starting at $30 are on sale in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

On Thursday, April 27th, Chicagoland knockout artist, Luciano “El Mohicano” Perez, 13-3-1 (12) heads to the San Miguel Casino in Highland, California to take on Los Angeles native, Calvin Odom, 14-8 (10) in a ten round welterweight fight. Perez is coming off a SOLO BOXEO broadcast sixth round knockout of Carson Jones on February 17th at Cicero Stadium on the 8 Count Productions’ HEART AND SOUL event.

On Saturday, April 29th, WBC United States Middleweight champion “MACHO” Miguel Hernandez, 19-3 (9) takes on former world champion Raul “El Diamante” Marquez, 35-3 (24) in a scheduled 10 round middleweight bout at the Coushetta Casino and Resort in Kinder, Louisiana.

On Friday, May 12th, 8 Count Productions teams up with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions to present “WAR BY THE SHORE” an internationally televised SOLO BOXEO De Miller event at the Aragon Ballroom featuring the return to Chicago of super bantamweight Antonio Escalante, 11-1 (7) of El Paso, Texas in a ten round bout against Santa Clarita, California native Juan Ruiz, 21-2 (6). Escalante’s last bout was a Fight of the Year candidate against Jose Hernandez on January 27th on the 8 Count Productions RING OF FIRE event at Cicero Stadium.

Also featured on the “WAR BY THE SHORE” event is hot super bantamweight prospect and 2000 Olympian Abner Mares, 8-0 (5) in the ten round co-main event. In an eight round special attraction bout, Chicago’s most popular women’s fighter, Rita Figueroa, 7-0 (3) will take on Fort Worth native Rita Serrano, 3-2 (1) for the Women’s International Boxing Association, FEDARLATINA Lightweight Title.

Other Chicagoland favorites on the card include light heavyweight Mike Nevitt, super featherweight Barbaro Zepeda and welterweight Jose Manuel Ortega.

The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Avenue on the north side of Chicago. Doors for this event will open at 6pm, with the first bell scheduled for 7pm. Tickets starting at $25 are available in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

Also on Friday, May 12th, 8 Count Productions will present the finest in Chicagoland amateur boxing, FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2006, a benefit for the Better Boys Foundation. Tickets can be obtained in advance by calling 773-277-9582.

On Saturday, May 20th, featherweight warrior Jose Hernandez, 19-3 (13) will return to the ring at the Aragon Ballroom in an eight round attraction as part of the ROCK AND BOX benefit for cystic fibrosis. Also undefeated hot lightweight prospect Mike Gonzalez, 6-0 (6) will be featured in a six round bout. Tickets for this event can be obtained by calling Matt Johnson at 847-494-0536.

On Friday, June 2nd, JABB Boxing Gym will present the fourth installment of FIGHT CLUB, Chicagoland’s finest white collar amateur boxing series. Advance tickets are now on sale by calling the 8 Count Productions’ office at 312-226-5800.

On Saturday, June 10th, “CLASSY” Freddie Cuevas, 25-8-1 (17) travels to New York City to face unbeaten middleweight prospect John Duddy, 16-0 (14) at the legendary Madison Square Garden in a ten round bout. The Cuevas/Duddy bout will be televised on Pay Per View as part of the Miguel Cotto/Paulie Malignaggi, super lightweight championship showdown event.

On Friday, June 16th, lightweight David Diaz, 30-1-1 (16) will headline a huge evening of professional boxing at the Aragon Ballroom in a ten round bout. Diaz is coming off a ten round unanimous decision over Silverio Ortiz on March 17th on the 8 Count Productions’ MADNESS IN MARCH event.

Much more information on these events will be announced very shortly.

For more information on 8 Count Productions and the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxinggym.com/

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
http://www.8countproductions.com/
bbahrmasel@aol.com

Showtime adds cruiserweight bout to Garcia-Rivera card

2006-04-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

IBF No. 1 Cruiserweight Contender Steve "U.S.S." Cunninghamvs.IBF No. 2 Cruiserweight Contender Guillermo "El Felino" Jones Saturday, May 6, 2006, At 9 p.m. ET/PTDCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts

NEW YORK (April 10, 2006) - The top two cruiserweights in the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Steve "USS" Cunningham (19-0, 10 KOs) and Guillermo "El Felino" Jones (33-3-2, 26 KOs), will collide for the IBF cruiserweight crown.

The belt became vacant when O'Neil Bell was stripped for not defending against Cunningham, his mandatory challenger.

Cunningham, of Philadelphia, is ranked No. 1 in the IBF, No. 2 in the WBC and WBO, and No. 4 in the WBA. A talented boxer-puncher, who was an All-Navy Military champion, is trained by the legendary Richie Giachetti.

Cunningham is coming off a fifth-round TKO over Lloyd Bryan on Jan. 7, 2006, but his biggest win came when he outpointed former world champion Kelvin Davis across 12 rounds in an IBF eliminator Sept. 3, 2005.

Cunningham also owns a victory over Jones. In a good, close fight on April 2, 2005, he recorded a 10-round split decision win by the scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 93-97. Jones, of Colon, Panama, is 11-1-1 in his last 13 starts. He has won two straight against former cruiserweight titleholders since falling short to Cunningham.

In his last start, Jones scored a fourth-round TKO over Wayne Braithwaite on Sept. 3, 2005, in Cleveland on SHOWTIME. On May 21, 2005, Jones registered a fourth-round TKO over Davis in Chicago. Jones twice fought for the WBA junior middleweight title, but has been campaigning as a cruiserweight since 2002. He fought to a controversial 12-round draw against WBO cruiserweight champ Johnny Nelson on Nov. 23, 2002.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING's Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The producer of the SHOWTIME telecast will be Ray Smaltz with Bob Dunphy directing. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING celebrates 20 years of hard-hitting, explosive programming in 2006.

ART BINKOWSKI VS. TIPTON WALKER JUST ADDED TO FULLY LOADED LIGHTNING STRIKES CARD

2006-04-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

AT CICERO STADIUM
TICKETS ON SALE NOW BY CALLING 312-226-5800

Polish heavyweight prospect Art Binkowki will face tough Benton Harbor, MI native Tipton Walker in a special attraction bout just added to the LIGHTNING STRIKES April 21st professional boxing card at Cicero Stadium, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. Tickets, starting at $30 are on sale in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

Binkowki, “The Polish Warrior” is making his return to the ring after a 10 month layoff which saw him portray Corn Griffin in the award winning Cinderella Man movie last year, the story of heavyweight champion Jim Braddock. Braddock’s TKO stoppage of Griffin in the third round on June 14, 1934 at the Madison Square Garden Bowl in Long Island City, NY is an integral part of the movie as both fighters had been down in the second round.

Binkowski’s portrayal of Griffin was noted by Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee and Academy Award Winners Ron Howard and Russell Crowe for it’s authenticity.

Although Binkowski, 14-1-2 (9KO’s) has fought previously in Chicago, this is his first appearance on an 8 Count Productions’ event. His last bout in Chicago was a draw with fellow contender with Charles Hatcher on November 24, 2004.

Walker, 13-12-1 (6KO’s) is returning to the 8 Count Productions’ ring in which his last appearance was a fourth TKO destruction of then highly regarded Chicago contender Chris Thomas.

Said Pesoli of the matchup. “Art’s been off for a while with the movie but he’s in tough right off the bat with Walker. This is a terrific matchup, both guys are very heavy handed and will be throwing hard leather from the opening.

It’s a real fight fans bout, as it’s only a six rounder, they’ll be throwing bombs early and often.”

Continued Pesoli, “Art’s been a solid prospect for a while and a big draw to the Polish fans here in Chicago. Walker’s annihilation of Thomas was the night Jorge Paez fought on our show at DePaul and we had about 3,500 fans there that night. While they no doubt enjoyed seeing Paez, I’m sure they still remember the hard punching Walker.”

The Binkowski/Walker fight is part of an eight bout action packed card at Cicero Stadium.

The full fight card and records are as follows

Michael Walker, 10-0-1 (8), vs. TBA, middleweights, eight rounds
Art Binkowski, 14-1-2 (9) vs. Tipton Walker, 13-12-1 (6), heavyweights, six rounds
Jorge Gonzalez, 4-0 vs. Rashad Holloway, 3-1 (2), super welterweights, six rounds
Omar Reyes, 2-2 vs. Darby Smart, 9-3 (4), featherweights, six rounds
Emanuel Hernandez, 5-2 (1) vs. Jeff Curran, 1-0 (1), super lightweights, six rounds
Rafal Jackiewicz, 19-8 (10) vs. TBA, welterweights, six rounds
Nora Reyes, 1-0 vs. TBA, featherweights, four rounds
Christina Christian, 4-0 (4) vs. TBA, heavyweights, four rounds

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxinggym.com/

GATTI TO BATTLE WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION CARLOS BALDOMIR JULY 22, FOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

2006-04-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

***APRIL 12 NYC PRESS CONFERENCE***

WHO: CARLOS BALDOMIR, WBC Welterweight Champion, 42-9-6, 12 KOs, Santa Fe, Argentina

ARTURO “Thunder” GATTI, 40-7, 31 KOs, Three-Time World Champion, Jersey City, NJ

WHAT: Press conference to announce their July 22 WBC Welterweight Championship bout. 1-on-1’s will be available.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 12, 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Argentine Pavillion, 32 West 46th (between 5th & 6th Ave.), Manhattan
(212) 921-0835

WHY: Arturo Gatti, boxing’s most exciting fighter and one of its most popular stars, returns to the ring July 22 when he battles WBC world-recognized linear welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. (Baldomir is also recognized as The Ring magazine’s welterweight champion and will be presented with The Ring’s Championship Belt at the press conf).

Main Events is promoting the evening of boxing, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego and Caesars Atlantic City. The 12-round championship bout will be broadcast on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” series.

Tickets, priced at $400, $250, $150, $100 and $ 50, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

For more info.: Donald Tremblay, Main Events: (973) 893-9100
Michael Marley, Sycuan Ringside Promotions: (917) 853-4484
Ed Keenan, EMC: (609) 399-1330

GATTI REPAIRS LIGAMENT IN RIGHT HAND CLEARED TO RETURN TO RING

2006-04-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

BLOOMFIELD, NJ - Boxing superstar Arturo Gatti underwent minor elective surgery to repair the torn ligament in his right hand that has caused him problems in his past few bouts, it was announced by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva.

Gatti chose February for the elective surgery so that he would be ready in plenty of time for his June/July return to the ring on HBO.Gatti’s manager Pat Lynch reports that Gatti’s ligament was re-attached by Dr. Charles Malone at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, NY.

Lynch also said that Malone cleared Gatti to fight.

In his last bout on January 28, 2006, Gatti (40-7, 31 KO’s) stopped undefeated Danish welterweight Thomas Damgaard (TKO 11).

8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS LIGHTNING STRIKES

2006-04-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 21ST AT CICERO STADIUM
ACTION PACKED CARD WITH 8 FIGHTS FEATURING
CHICAGOLAND FAVORITES JORGE GONZALEZ, OMAR REYES
AND EMMANUEL HERNANDEZ,
POLISH NATIONALS RAFAL JACKIEWICZ AND PAWEL KOLODZIEJ,
FEMALE PROSPECTS NORA REYES AND CHRISTINA CHRISTIAN
SPECIAL ATTRACTION MIDDLEWEIGHT MICHAEL WALKER
TICKETS ON SALE NOW BY CALLING 312-226-5800

Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, along with Miller Lite and TCF Bank present LIGHTNING STRIKES, a terrific evening of professional boxing on Friday, April 21st at Cicero Stadium.

Tickets, starting at $30 are on sale in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.

Said Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, ‘This is our fourth show this year at Cicero Stadium and the crowds have been terrific for each show. They’ve seen great fights and this event has much more of the same. We’ve got a wide array of fighters from local favorites like Jorge, Omar and Emmanuel. Then we’ve got four fighters making their 8 Count Productions’ debut including Rafal and Pawel from Poland both of whom are very tough and highly skilled guys.”

“Then we have two female boxers I’m very happy to have on our show, Nora Reyes and Christina Christian. They’re both undefeated and they’re both very good fighters. I think our fans will take to them just like they have to Rita Figueroa.”

“Finally, we’re bringing back Michael Walker, he’s a very tough kid who had a war with Jimmy Gonzalez last summer on our show at the Aragon. Our fans still talk about that fight and what a brutal fight it was. He recently knocked out Kendall Gould on our show at The Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana and is looking to keep on moving up in the rankings.”

Continued Pesoli, “Our matchmaker Jerry Alfano continues to do a great job making our fights. Our fans don’t want to see mismatches and we have no interest in promoting them. He’s made the bouts already for Jorge, Omar, and Emmanuel and they’re all in tough. We’ll announce the rest as soon as they’re finalized.”

The full fight card and records is

Michael Walker, 10-0-1 (8), vs. TBA, middleweights, eight round
Jorge Gonzalez, 4-0 vs. Rashad Holloway, 3-1 (2), junior middleweights, six rounds
Omar Reyes, 2-2 vs. Darby Smart, 9-3 (4), featherweights, six rounds
Emmanuel Hernandez, 5-2 (1) vs. Jeff Curran, 1-0 (1), junior welterweights, six rounds
Rafal Jackiewicz, 19-8 (10) vs. TBA, welterweights, six rounds
Pawel Kolodziej, 12-0 (7) vs. TBA, cruiserweights, six rounds
Nora Reyes, 1-0 vs. TBA, featherweights, four rounds
Christina Christian, 4-0 (4) vs. TBA, heavyweights, four rounds

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com

8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS SPONSORS 2006 CHICAGO GOLDEN GLOVES

2006-04-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING is once again proud to sponsor the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament for the second year in a row, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions.

Said Pesoli, “8 Count Productions is very happy to play a role in the development of these amateur fighters. Numerous pro fighters that our fans see at our events were Chicago Golden Glove champions, guys like David Diaz, Jose Hernandez, Rudy Cisneros, Jorge Gonzalez and Jimmy Gonzalez were all very successful amateurs.” “Many of the current participants train at our place, JABB Boxing Gym and our team looks forward to supporting them at St.
Andrews.”

The Chicago Golden Gloves runs through Friday, April 7th.

For more information on ordering tickets and the schedule of bouts, please visit their website at www.chicagogoldengloves.com For more information on 8 Count Productions including their next event, THUNDER STRIKES at Cicero Stadium on Friday April 21, please visit their website at www.8countproductions.com

Additional information on the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing Gym, home to Chicago’s finest pro and amateur boxers, can be obtained by visiting their website at www.jabbboxing.com

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie BahrmaselPublicist/8 Count Productionswww.8countproductions.com bbahrmasel@aol.com

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING PRESENTS DIEGO CORRALES-JOSE LUIS CASTILLO 3

2006-04-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

WBC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

WBC Lightweight Champion Diego "Chico" Corrales vs. Former Two-Time WBC Lightweight Champion Jose Luis Castillo Saturday, June 3, 2006, At 9 p.m. ET/PT From Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada

NEW YORK - It is official! Diego "Chico'' Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo are signed, sealed and ready to deliver once again LIVE on SHOWTIME Saturday, June 3, 2006 (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

The world's most talented and courageous lightweights will collide in their eagerly awaited rubber match for Corrales' World Boxing Council (WBC) title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 12-round world title bout will be co-promoted by Top Rank, Inc., and Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas. Let the questions begin.

Can Castillo make 135 pounds? Can Corrales bounce back after getting knocked out in their last meeting? Did Castillo have an unfair advantage in the rematch? Is Corrales completely healed from a rib injury that caused their Feb. 4 fight to be postponed? Can Castillo perform with more intensity than he did in his most recent outing? How much does Corrales have left? Can the third chapter end with a clear winner and without controversy? Most importantly, who is the most talented lightweight boxer in the world?

Stay tuned to America's No. 1 Boxing Network. All of your questions will be answered when the 20th anniversary celebration of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING continues on June 3. Simply, it doesn't get any better.

"I fully expect this fight to be a rerun of the original in both action and result," said Gary Shaw. "This will not just be Chico's coronation, but Castillo's retirement. Corrales-Castillo 3 will successfully defend its title as fight of the year!"

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum added: "This is a real fight, an exciting world title fight between two great champions who have explosive knockout power. Fight fans throughout the world will be anxious to see this showdown of big punchers."

Corrales (40-3, 33 KOs) won the historic first bout against Castillo - and the near-unanimous 2005 Fight of the Year -- when he dramatically rallied from the brink of defeat to register a memorable 10th-round TKO to unify the title and capture the WBC lightweight belt on May 7, 2005.

Castillo (54-7-1, 47 KOs) won the brief, but brutal sequel on Oct. 8, also at Thomas & Mack, with an impressive and sudden fourth-round knockout. Despite losing the rematch, Corrales came away with both his world title belts because Castillo failed to make the 135-pound limit and one of his camp members was caught trying to tamper with the scale at the weigh-in.

"I feel fine. My rib is fine," Corrales said. "I would be lying if I said I was not thinking about Castillo and whether he can make 135 pounds, but I have to prepare as if he will make the weight easily and be at full strength. "What has happened in the past is history. We have each won once. Now, it comes down to who wins on June 3. I respect Castillo and I think he respects me, but it is time to get down to business one more time. This is what boxing is all about. I cannot wait for June 3.''

Said Castillo: "I said after our last fight that if they wanted to make this like the 'Rocky' movie series, I did not care. I will fight Corrales five or six times. I am not worried about the weight, or making the weight. It won't be easy, but I will do it. "Corrales comes forward and wants to fight. I love his style. On June 3, we will give the fans another great fight.''

HOLYFIELD TO ENDORSE GRANT BOXING PRODUCTS

2006-04-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

New York --- Evander Holyfield, four time world boxing heavyweight champion, has signed on to endorse a brand new line of Grant Boxing equipment that will be available at retail.

Grant Boxing, Inc. began when owner Grant Elvis Phillips, at 28 years of age, established himself as the youngest trainer and manager of a world champion in professional boxing ever.

In 1996, he began making custom products for high-profile fighters. Phillips soon cultivated world-class athletes such as Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather, Winky Wright and Laila Ali as loyal customers.

Grant Boxing, Inc., manufacturer, marketer and licensor of the hand crafted boxing equipment and apparel, recently teamed with Century Incorporated, to license and market Grant products on a retail level. Century is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of individual contact sports equipment.

Under the promotion agreement, Grant products will make their retail debut by hitting stores with an upscale line of boxing equipment and accessories offered nationally by Century. To learn more about this exciting new product line please call Century at (800) 654-4701.

"It is truly an honor to have such highly esteemed boxing professionals promote Grant products. Now the world will be introduced to the highest quality gloves available, deemed the best equipment out there by remarkable fighters," Phillips said.

BALDOMIR-GATTI TICKETS TO GO ON SALE

2006-04-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (March 30, 2006) – Tickets for the highly-anticipated Carlos Baldomir-Arturo Gatti WBC World Welterweight Championship will go on sale to the public on Saturday, April 1 at 11:00 am ET, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva.

Main Events is promoting the evening of boxing, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego and Caesars Atlantic City.

The 12-round championship bout will be broadcast on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” series.

Tickets, priced at $400, $250, $150, $100 and $ 50 can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420.

Baldomir (42-9-6, 12 KOs) shocked the universally recognized welterweight champion Zab Judah Jan. 7, 2006, to win the welterweight title (W 12). The 34-year-old Santa Fe, Argentina, native has not lost a bout in more than five years, compiling an 18-0-2 record in his past 20 bouts.

Gatti (40-7, 31 KOs) is a two-time world champion who is responsible for several of the top non-heavyweight live gates in the history of Atlantic City, NJ. The 33-year-old Jersey City, NJ, resident by way of Montreal, Canada, dismantled undefeated Danish bruiser Thomas Damgaard in his most recent bout Jan 28, 2006, (TKO 11). Gatti has won six of his past seven bouts and is ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Council and No. 6 by The Ring magazine.

For more info: Main Events: (973) 893-9100 Donald Tremblay
Sycuan Ringside Promotions: (917) 853-4484 Michael Marley

FIGHT BEAT ENTERTAINMENT PROUDLY PRESENTS “THE ROAD TO GLORY”

2006-03-31T06:03:00.000-08:00

IBA WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – FULL BOUT SHEET

(MAIN EVENT): 12 Rds, Vacant IBA World Cruiserweight Championship
Bobby Gunn (15-2, 12KO Lignum, VA) – 181 lb.
Vs. “The Bonetown Brawler” Shelby Gross (16-3, 13KO, Ridgeway, SC) – 189 lb.

(CO-FEATURE): 10 Rds, Mid-South Super Featherweight Championship
Jerome “J1” Pillow (13-0, 10KO Columbia TN) – 129 lb.
Vs. Marty Dale “Too Sweet” Robbins (21-31-1, 15KO) – 130 lb.

6 Rounds, Welterweight
James “Spider” Webb (18-1, 15KO Columbia, TN) – 146.5 lb.
vs. Rohan “The Beast” Nanton (4-18, 4KO Brooklyn, NY) – 150 lb.

4 Rounds, Super Featherweight
Melinda “2Cute” Woody (0-1, Cleveland, TN) - 129 lb.
vs. Ashlyn Johnson (0-2, Hamilton, OH) – 126 lb.

4 Rounds, Lightweight
Sammy “Silk” Sparkman (17-14-1, 8KO, Columbia, TN) – 150.5 lb
vs. Martez “Two Sweet” Logan (22-21-2, 5KO, Covington, TN) – 146 lb.

4 Rounds, Light Heavyweight
Joseph Grubbs (1-1, 1KO Cleveland, TN) – 171 lb.
vs. Shane Horn (1-0, Lexington TN) – 184 lb.

4 Rounds, Light Heavyweight
Edgar King (1-3-1, Athens, TN) - 175 lb.
vs. Caleb Watson (0-0-1, Sweetwater, TN) – 180 lb.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING PRESENTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER

2006-03-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

The 20th anniversary celebration of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING continues on Cinco de Mayo weekend with a world championship doubleheader Saturday, May 6, on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

In one of two world title fights promoted by Don King Productions, hard-hitting Alejandro "Terra" Garcia (25-1, 23 KOs) will make his first defense as WBA super welterweight champion when he faces enormously popular local favorite and former WBA welterweight titleholder Jose Antonio "El Gallo" Rivera (37-4-1, 24 KOs).

In the co-feature, O'Neil "Supernova" Bell (26-1-1, 24 KOs) makes the first defense of his undisputed cruiserweight crown when he takes on undefeated Steve "USS" Cunningham (19-0, 10 KOs).

Garcia, of Tijuana, Mexico, was recently reinstated by the WBA as its 154-pound champion when Travis Simms refused to give him a rematch. The only defeat in Garcia's career came when Simms dethroned him on a controversial, fluke fifth-round knockout in December 2003. Garcia captured the WBA interim 154-pound crown with a ninth-round TKO over Rhoshii Wells on May 21, 2005. In his last start, Garcia retained the interim belt with a 12-round decision over Luca Messi on Aug. 13, 2005.

Rivera, of Worcester, by way of Philadelphia, is the WBA No. 3 super welterweight contender. He is stepping up a notch in weight and making his first start since losing his WBA 147-pound crown to Luis Collazo in a thrilling, give-and-take 12-round split decision on April 2, 2005, in Worcester. Rivera, who came up short by the scores 115-113 twice and 113-115, was supposed to challenge the then-WBO 154-pound kingpin Daniel Santos last September on SHOWTIME, but was forced to withdraw with an elbow injury that required surgery.

Bell, of Atlanta, by way Montego Bay, Jamaica, became the cruiserweight division's first undisputed champion since Evander Holyfield in 1988 when he scored an exciting, upset 10th-round knockout over Jean-Marc Mormeck on Jan. 7 2006, on SHOWTIME. Bell, who entered the ring as the IBF champion, was leading the WBC-WBA titleholder on two of the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

Bell is unbeaten in his last 26 starts (25-0-1, 23 KO’s) dating to April 1998. Cunningham, of Philadelphia, is ranked No. 1 in the IBF, No. 2 in the WBC and WBO and No. 4 in the WBA. A talented boxer-puncher who was an All-Navy Military champion is trained by the legendary Richie Giachetti.

Cunningham won a 10-round decision victory over Guillermo Jones, who owns an upset win over former world champion Wayne Braithwaite, and a 12-round decision over former IBF cruiser champ Kelvin Davis. In his most recent outing, Cunningham scored a fifth-round TKO over Lloyd Bryan on Jan. 7, 2006, in New York.

Dibella Entertainment announces fund in honor of Leavander Johnson

2006-03-29T17:04:00.000-08:00

To make a non-tax deductible donation to The LEAVANDER FUND, please send a check or money order, made payable to The LEAVANDER FUND, to:

DiBella Entertainment 350 Seventh Avenue, Suite 800 New York, NY 10001 Attn: Meredith Greenberg

8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS NEWSLETTER, MARCH 28, 2006

2006-03-28T16:18:00.000-08:00

HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING

LIGHTING STRIKES AT CICERO STADIUM ON APRIL 21ST 8 COUNT SPONSORS CHICAGO GOLDEN GLOVES FIGHT CLUB RETURNS THIS FRIDAY AT THE PARK WEST MIKE GONZALEZ STAYS PERFECT WITH 6TH KNOCKOUT “MACHO” TAKES ON RAUL MARQUEZ ON APRIL 29TH CUEVAS TO FACE DUDDY IN NEW YORK CITY ON JUNE 10TH

8 Count Productions next action packed event, LIGHTNING STRIKES, will take place on Friday, April 21st at Cicero Stadium. Featured fighters on the card include undefeated junior middleweight prospect Jorge Gonzalez, junior welterweight Emanuel Hernandez and Chicagoland fan favorite, featherweight Omar Reyes. Also on the card are two special attraction female bouts featuring featherweight Nora Reyes and heavyweight Christina Christian both of whom are undefeated.

Tickets for this event are on sale now by calling 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie in Cicero, IL, and is easily accessible from the Eisenhower and Stevenson expressways. Additional information on this event will be announced shortly.

8 Count Productions is proud to announce their sponsorship with the Chicago Golden Gloves taking place over the next two weeks at St. Andrews Gym on the north side of Chicago. For tickets and scheduling information on the Chicago Golden Gloves, please visit their website at http://www.chicagogoldengloves.com/

FIGHT CLUB, Chicago’s hottest white collar boxing show returns to the Park West Theater this Friday night, March 31st. Advance tickets sales can be purchased by calling 312-733-5222. For more information and to view the poster for this event, please visit the JABB Boxing Gym website at http://www.jabbboxing.com/

Lightweight prospect, Mike Gonzalez stayed perfect this past Saturday night, running his record to 6-0 with six knockouts with a fifth round knockout of Joseph Pujoe at the Grand Victoria Casino at Rising Sun, Indiana.

Middleweight “MACHO” Miguel Hernandez will travel to Kinder, Louisiana to battle former junior middleweight champion Raul Marquez in a ten round bout on Saturday, April 29th at the Coushetta Casino and Resort.

For an in depth interview with Miguel by Juan Ayllon of Cyberboxingzone, please visit their website at http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/

On Saturday June 10th, junior middleweight Freddie Cuevas will travel to New York City to face undefeated prospect John Duddy in a ten round bout at Madison Square Garden on the PPV event headlined by Miguel Cotto vs. Paulie Malignaggi.

The Cuevas/Duddy fight will be one of six bouts on the televised PPV.

Stay tuned for much more information on all 8 Count Productions happenings and visit their website at http://www.8countproductions.com/ for the latest updates.

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
http://www.8countproductions.com/
bbahrmasel@aol.com

“Big-Time Professional Boxing at Wild Bill’s Concert Hall”

2006-03-27T16:21:00.000-08:00

A Night of Champions Power, Pride and Honor

Wild Bill's Concert Hall - We have great news for fight fans in the Atlanta metropolitan area. On Tuesday April 18, for the first time ever, a fistic 8 fight professional boxing card comes to Wild Bill's Concert Hall located in Duluth, GA.

Promoter Dana Pitcher of Dana Pitcher Productions, along with legendary matchmaker Peyton Sher have put together an exciting card totaling 50 plus rounds of professional boxing, featuring world class boxers and local young talent in competitive bouts.

The main event is headlined by former IBF World Bantamweight Champion “The Cincinnati Kid” Tim Austin, perhaps the most feared contender in boxing against Colombia’s, Luis “El Monstruito” Bolano 41-5 (31KOs). Austin, 27-1 with 24 knockouts, who is currently ranked #8 in the March WBC ratings, will box against Bolano in a 10-round contest.

In the co-feature, Atlanta's most popular featherweight Jorge "Baby Face" Lacierva 27-6 (18 KOs) steps it up in a 10-round bout against Colombia’s knockout artist Reynaldo “El Doberman” Hurtado 37-8 (28KOs). He is a world-class fighter who has fought on Telemundo, Telefutura, ESPN, and Fox Networks. Lacierva has won several titles including the WBC Latino Title, IBA World Championship, NABO Championship, and he has challenged for the IBF World Championship.

Lacierva is especially looking forward to his fight on April 18; this is because he will be fighting in Atlanta.

“I’m really excited about fighting at Wild Bill's Concert Hall,” said the 27-year-old Santa Anita, Mexico native. “Everyone has been extremely supportive and it’s an honor for me to be fighting here in front of all my friends and family, he said.”

Also featured in a lightweight 10-round special attraction Accra, Ghana’s Alex “Ali” Baba 21-9 (16KOs) steps it up in a 10-round bout against Ocotlan, Mexico's Jose German Cruz 16-2 (14 KOs). Baba now makes his home in Doraville, GA and he is ready to give local fight fans what they have been waiting for. Previously, you have seen him on Fox Sports, ESPN, Comcast Sports, HBO, Showtime, and MSG and now you can see him live.

A full under card features great match ups including welterweight Ed Paredes 6-1 (3Kos) from Puerto Rico against unbeaten pugilist from Mexico City, Mexico Aaron Martinez 3-0 (1KO), in what should be a very competitive 6-round fight. Unbeaten lightweight Tyrese “Head Honcho” Hendrix 5-0 (2KOs) from Gainesville, GA. will fight 25 year-old Joel Ortega 7-3 (3KOs), Nuevo Laredo, TA, Mexico).

Also appearing on the card will be Dallas-based welterweight knockout sensation "Handsome" Hector Beltran 10-1 (9KOs) who will face hard hitting Johnny Edwards 6-0 (3 KO's) of Greensboro, NC, and Dallas' Jesse Orta 6-7 (4 KOs) will square off against Juan Carlos Ramos 3-4 (1KO) of Nuevo Laredo, TA, Mexico. Rounding out the show will be Mexico’s Alan Martinez 1-0 (1KO) against an opponent TBA.

Wild Bill's Concert Hall address is 2075 Market St. Duluth, GA. It is located just off of I -85 on Pleasant Hill Road, right in front of Gwinnett Place Mall.

Ticket prices are: Ringside Seat $75.00, VIP-Floor Seat $55.00, VIP-Table Seat $ 90.00, TKO-Table Seat $35.00 & General Admission $25.00

Tickets go on sale Wednesday March 29th at all: Discolandia Record Shops, El Progreso Stores and Wild Bill’s Concert Hall.

For more information call 678-473-1000 en espaniol llame 404-519-8467

Doors will open at 7:00PM, with the first bout scheduled for 8:00PM. For additional information please go to www.wildbillsatlanta.com

Dana Pitcher Productions is also pleased to announce that “A Night of Champions” (Power, Pride and Honor ) will be televised, following the event, in an unprecedented television broadcast deal with Comcast – Charter Cable and Cox Communications to carry a series of boxing events produced by DPP.

Media Contacts:
Alvin Topham
Dana Pitcher Productions, Inc.
E-mail: top@danapitcher.com

Postal Service Unveils Sugar Ray Robinson 2006 Commemorative Stamp

2006-03-26T11:26:00.000-08:00

To be dedicated at Washington 2006 Stamp Exhibition

In April, the Postal Service pays tribute to six-time world-champion Boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson on a stamp.

Resembling a vintage fight poster from the 1940s and '50s, the "Sugar Ray Robinson" stamp design features block lettering and a halftone image of Robinson created from a photographic portrait made during his peak fighting years. He reigned as the world welterweight and middleweight champion.

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO BRING TOP FILIPINO TALENT TO THE UNITED STATES

2006-03-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

GBP SIGNS BAUTISTA AND GORRES TO MULTI-FIGHT DEALS

LOS ANGELES -- In recent years, some of the most exciting and talented fighters have hailed from the Philippines. In 2006, Golden Boy Promotions will bring some of that talent to the United States, as the Los Angeles-based promotional company is pleased to announce an alliance with international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, SGG Promotions, and ALA Boxing Management that will bring the best of Filipino boxing to American arenas and living rooms.

The first two signees from this alliance are unbeaten and top world ranked bantamweight Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista (19-0, 14 KOs) and super bantamweight Z “The Dream” Gorres (22-1-1, 12 KOs).

“The hottest talent pool in the boxing world right now is in The Philippines,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, “so to bring exciting young fighters like Bautista and Gorres to the States to train and fight is an important step in the development of our company because we want to continue to bring the best fighters in the world to fight fans, and this is just another avenue of doing so.”

Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista may only be 19 years old, but the native of Candijay has already established himself as one of the most dangerous 118-pounders in boxing. The WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion, Bautista has shown an ability to not only take out his opponents with either hand, but to also box effectively over the 12 round championship distance, something he did impressively when he decisioned Vuyisile Bebe last year.

In his last bout, on December 23, 2005, Bautista fought for the third time in the United States, decisioning tough veteran Gerardo Espinoza over eight rounds.

Another young gun at just 23 years old, Z “The Dream” Gorres is the younger brother of former junior welterweight contender Jun Gorres, but he has done more than enough to carve out his own identity in the fight game.

A native from Cebu Province, Gorres made his debut in 2001 with a win over Rudy Hibaya and he hasn’t looked back since. Holder of an impressive first round stoppage win over fellow Philippine prospect Glenn Donaire in his US debut last March, Gorres returned to the States in his last fight, nearly shutting out Jose Tirado in February.

Both Bautista and Gorres are expected back in the US rings this spring.

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, please visit our website at www.goldenboypromotions.com

CONTACT Marylyn Aceves Golden Boy Promotions 213-489-5631 Marylyn@goldenboyllc.com

Luan Krasniqi faces David “The Boss” Bostice

2006-03-24T17:29:00.000-08:00

(Editors Note: Translated from German by Boxing Trend)

Krasniqi vs. Bostice on the 29 April 2006

Hans-Martin-Schleyer-hall, Stuttgart (ZDF - German television - live)

HAMBURG -- The lion is clawing: After the sensational fight for the heavyweight world championship in September, Luan Krasniqi (34) again climbs into the ring.

On the 29 April, he wants to celebrate in the Stuttgarter Hans-Martin-Schleyer Hall against David Bostice (33).

The opponent is not named for nothing “The Boss”: 46 battles - 35 victories - 15 by KO. The fighter, 1.96 meters in height (6’4”), out of Los Angeles has been a professional since 1996 has fought against notables of the – such as Francois Botha, Wladimir Klitschko, and the former cruiserweight world champion Alfred Cole, whom he defeated over 10 rounds.

David Bostice is a very learned boxer and is not to be underestimated. Luan boxes in Stuttgart before many home fans. They will roar and certainly support Luan as the “Lion” becomes more powerful, according to Universum leader Klaus-Peter.

At present Luan Krasniqi is ranked number 3 in the WBO.

The 1.92 meter (nearly 6’3”) Krasniqi has a realistic chance to be able to box again for the world championship, perhaps even against heavyweight world champion Lamon Brewster, who will defend its title against Serguei Lyakhovich on 1 April.

Recently, Krasniqi lost by 9th round knockout against Lamon Brewster, on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Max Schmeling. Luan Krasniqi hopes that this will be the year to redeem himself and bring the title back to Germany.

On the 29 April, the fans may see for themselves that “Luan the Lion” has the bite in addition and will beat back “The Boss.”

Ticket-hotlines:

Universum: 040 / 69,65,59,59 CTS: 0180 / 55,70,000

"SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION"TO FEATURE SUPER WELTERWEIGHT TUSSLE,SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN

2006-03-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

WBA No. 13 Super Welterweight Contender Anthony "The Messenger" Thompsonvs.Super Welterweight Contender Darnell BooneOnce-Beaten Super Lightweight Contender "Vicious" Victor Ortizvs.Undefeated Super Lightweight Contender "Feisty" Freddy BarreraFriday, March 31, 2006, At 11 p.m. ET/PTFrom Maywood Activity Center, Maywood, Calif.

NEW YORK (March 20, 2006) - For Anthony Thompson, his message is clear.

"I want to step up and fight guys in the top 10," the promising super welterweight said. "I hope to fight for a world title soon. I am confident in my ability and I will be ready."

Thompson (20-1, 15 KOs), of Philadelphia, will attempt to deliver his message to Darnell Boone (10-4-1, 4 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, Friday, March 31, in the "ShoBox: The New Generation" main event on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast). In the co-feature from Maywood Activity Center in Maywood, Calif., southpaw Victor Ortiz (12-1, 8 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., by way of Liberal, Kansas, will face Freddy Barrera (10-0, 1 KO), of Colton, Calif. The doubleheader will be promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank, Inc.

The following night on April 1, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will continue its 20th anniversary celebration with a world heavyweight championship bout between World Boxing Organization (WBO) Champion Lamon Brewster and once-beaten challenger Sergei Liakhovich.
A classy, religious, respectful and modest young man outside of the ring, Thompson turns into an aggressive-minded, crowd-pleasing, exciting Philly fighter between the ropes.

"When Thompson turned pro he was considered as promising a prospect as any young fighter in the States," said ShoBox analyst Steve Farhood. "Now, he's clearly ready to move up and realize his potential. In Darnell Boone, you've got a warrior who has knocked down Andre Ward and beaten some notable opponents in James Countryman and Rasheem Brown. He will be a tough test for Thompson."

"I am not a guy who likes to go around beating up people and punching them in the face," Thompson said. "I do not talk trash. I am a very nice, humble person, and I like to do things for people. That is what really brings me joy."

Thompson deserves any happiness that comes his way. A single father, Thompson twice has suffered through unthinkable tragedies. Two of his daughters died before their first birthday.

In 1996, Thompson lost six-month-old Yakira to the rare Zellweger syndrome. Four years later, two-month-old Yasheva lost her battle with the same hereditary disease.

"I had to see a part of me die," Thompson said. "Your kids are a reflection of you." Yet, Thompson has found the strength to carry on through religion.

"I am a Hebrew Israelite," Thompson said. "I can read Hebrew a little. That is why my nickname is 'The Messenger.' I have a grip on life and I realize that there is nothing out there. This world is nothing but illusion, and if you live by the world, that is what you will resemble.

That is not a good thing. You want to have something positive. The whole duty of man is to fear and serve God. That is the bottom line.

"I do not put any burdens on myself. It makes life that much easier. I just hope that I can live up to the expectations everyone has for me. I am going to give my best."

The Hebrew Israelite faith has many of the same beliefs and observes the same holidays of the Jewish faith. For a time, Thompson would not fight on Fridays.

"After I lost my only fight, I talked to my father about my boxing career and my religion," Thompson said. "My father, who is very devout, said 'you are a man now and have a family to support.' So, now I fight on Fridays."

In a spectacular amateur career, the lifelong Philadelphia resident compiled a 151-9 record and won numerous titles, including national championships, Golden Glove titles, and PAL crowns.

"I won five straight national titles in 2000," said Thompson, who started boxing when he was 10 years old. "I do not think anyone in amateur boxing has ever done that."

Despite his success in the nationals, the heralded amateur failed to make the 2000 United States Olympic team. He was considered a virtual lock to make the 2004 squad, but opted instead to turn pro. First, though, Thompson went to school at Temple University in Philadelphia for a semester.

"I had a 3.0 grade point average," Thompson said. "It was hard to leave school, but I had to follow my heart. I do not regret it."

Thompson turned pro at age 20 on March 17, 2002, and won his initial 15 starts. However, in a stunning result, he suffered a third-round TKO to Grady Brewer on Feb. 28, 2004, in Las Vegas. After boxing effectively and winning the first two rounds, Thompson got caught with a vicious left uppercut that sent him down to the canvas. The referee stopped the bout without a count at 2:10.

"I tried to put the Brewer fight behind me quickly," said Thompson, has won five straight since, including a third-round knockout over Adrian Lopez on Dec. 23, 2005. "I lost focus in that fight, but Brewer is a tough guy and definitely underrated. I just got caught with a good shot."

Darnell Boone, at the age of 26 has been fighting as a pro for over 18 months. He has fought from 156 to 169 pounds, and has been very active in the ring with 11 fights in the last 13 months. He fought seven times in 2005, and this will be his fifth fight so far this year.

In his last eight fights, Boone has fought on the road against hometown or "house" fighters, all of whom were favored to win. Boone notched three impressive wins against previously undefeated prospects in that span and had two questionable losses.

In Boone's last outing, one of the disputed losses, he dropped an eight-round unanimous nod (79-73 and 77-75 twice) to Enrique Ornelas (22-2 going in) on March 3, 2006. It was a close fight with Ornelas starting fast and building an early lead. But Boone rallied in the second half of the fight and many at ringside felt he earned the win. The fans booed the decision.

In one of Boone's most noteworthy performances, he scored a devastating knockdown of 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward (Nov. 19, 2005). Ward went down in the fourth and was still unsteady in the fifth although he managed to recover for the sixth and final round. Ward edged Boone on all three judges scorecards (59-55, 58-56, 57-56) but suffered the first knockdown of his career. Although Ward took the decision, Boone established himself as a tough challenger.

"Everybody knows I won that fight," said Boone.

In the Super Lightweight co-feature, Victor Ortiz, only 19, has won five in a row since suffering his lone loss on a controversial first-round disqualification to Corey Alarcon on June 3, 2005, in Oxnard, Calif. Ortiz dropped Alarcon in the first, but he got up and action resumed. Moments later, after the referee had separated the boxers from a clinch, Ortiz scored another knockdown that put his opponent flat on his back.

This time, Alarcon did not get up. However, the punch was ruled illegal by the referee and Ortiz was disqualified.

"I thought the decision was total bull," Ortiz said. "The referee said, 'Box out.' He did not say break. I think it was a cop out what Alarcon did. People saw that I was not hurt and I did not lose this fight. The ref never called a break. He was tongue-tied. He just tapped me on my arm. Alarcon was already weak and did not want to fight."

A fast, smart, talented youngster who was the National Junior Olympic champion and National PAL champion in 2003, Ortiz has won three consecutive bouts inside of the distance. In his most recent effort, Ortiz stopped Nestor Rosas in the fifth round on Feb. 10, 2006, in San Antonio, Texas.

Barrera is a very busy fighter who makes for fast-paced, exciting bouts. His streak of points victories ended in his last start when he scored a fifth-round KO over southpaw Daniel Gonzalez on Feb. 17, 2006, from Ontario, Calif. "It is the best feeling I have had," said Barrera, referring to his first knockout. The referee halted matters at 2:25 as Barrera was unloading rights and lefts on Gonzalez.

"Gonzalez' body shots slowed me down, but he never hurt me," Barrera said. "I was able to land the right hand whenever I wanted. I think the right hands were what worked for me best."

The telecast represents the 74th in the "ShoBox" series, which debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001. "ShoBox" features up-and-coming prospects determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a chance at a world title.

A number of fighters who have appeared on the series have gone on to become world champions, including Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Leonard Dorin, Joan Guzman and Scott Harrison.

Nick Charles will call the action from ringside, with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of the telecast is Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan producing.

HOT PROSPECT MIKE GONZALEZ BATTLES THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AGAINST JOSEPH PUJOE IN LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT

2006-03-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

Bayamon, Puerto Rico native, Mike Gonzalez seeks to continue his status as one of the hottest lightweight prospects in professional boxing as he faces Joseph Pujoe of Gary, Indiana this Saturday night, March 25th in a six round bout, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING. This return of World Championship Boxing to the Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana is co-promoted by Octavius James’ One in a Million Inc. of Merrillville, Indiana.

Tickets are on sale now in advance by calling 312-226-5800 or the Grand Victoria Casino at 1-800-GRAND-11. For directions and information on the Grand Victoria Casino, please visit their website at http://www.grandvictoria.com/.

The 26 year old Gonzalez, now fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a perfect 5-0 with five knockouts in his eleven month old professional stint. Pujoe brings a record of 5-4-1 (1KO) to the ring and this is his second bout at the Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, IN as he beat Anthony Cobb this past December on the first evening of World Championship Boxing presented by 8 Count Productions and One in a Million, Inc.

Said Pesoli about the fast rising Gonzalez, “Mike’s come along very nicely as a pro. He’s not only winning in decisive fashion but our matchmaker Jerry Alfano has done an outstanding job of putting him in against solid guys with an array of skills which really teaches him about different styles and helps prepare him for future bouts. Pujoe is a very slick veteran who will pose a different set of problems for Mike to solve.”

“Mike’s got great power as proven by his KO’s but we want to make sure he doesn’t fall in love with his power and he’s really adapted well to our game plan. He’s been great to work with, always on weight, on time and well prepared. I’m looking forward to big things from him.”

The main event will feature a Women’s IBA World Title Bout between Sumya “The Island Girl” Anani of Overland Park, Kansas and Terri “The Road Warrior” Blair in a ten round matchup.

The full evening’s bout sheet is as follows:

Sumya Anani vs. Terri Blair, ten rounds, junior welters IBA Women's World Title Fight
Michael Walker vs. Manny Castillo, eight rounds, middleweights
Mike Gonzalez vs. Joseph Pujoe, six rounds, lightweights
Aaron Pryor Jr. vs. Tyrone Downey, four rounds, middleweights

For more information on this event, please visit the 8 Count Productions’
website at http://www.8countproductions.com/

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
http://www.8countproductions.com/
bbahrmasel@aol.com

LIGHTNING STRIKES SET FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 21st AT CICERO STADIUM

2006-03-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

DIAZ AND ORTIZ THRILL PACKED HOUSE AT THE ARAGON

ZEPEDA AND FIGUEROA BOMB AWAY IN SIX ROUND COLLISION

RINCON STOPS VENEGAS IN FOURTH

HUGE WINS POSTED BY MIKE NEVITT, RITA FIGUEROA, WILTON HONARIO, JOSE MANUEL ORTEGA AND TAVORIS CLOUD

SUMYA ANANI VS. TERRI BLAIR IN WOMEN’S WORLD TITLE FIGHT THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT GRAND VICTORIA CASINO IN RISING SUN

IN UNDERCARD FEATURES UNDEFEATED PROSPECTS MICHAEL WALKER, MIKE GONZALEZ AND AARON PRYOR JR.

8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING packed the house this past Friday night as a huge crowd turned out for MADNESS IN MARCH, a St. Patrick’s Day event at the Aragon Ballroom. Chicagoland’s most popular fighter David Diaz took a unanimous decision in his ten round bout battle with Silverio Ortiz that had the crowd on their feet for the duration supporting the two warriors in the electrifying main event.

In the co-main event Francisco Rincon returned to Chicago with a fourth round stoppage of Gilbert Venegas. With most of the fight being fought evenly, Rincon earned the victory after Venegas suffered a bad cut in the third round and the ringside physician declared that he could not continue.

Undercard action saw a first round knockout by newcomer Wilton Hilario over Jeremy Marts, a six round decision by Barbaro Zepeda over Miguel Figueroa in a six round brutal war which had the packed house screaming and cheering for both fighters and a six round decision for IRISH Mike Nevitt over Jesse Sanders.

Others posting victories includes Rita Figueroa, Jose Manuel Ortega and Tavoris Cloud.

Said Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, “The huge crowds are a testament to what were doing and will continue to do, promote quality events and competitive fights. Fans know when they come to our events, they’ll have a great time and see terrific fights. We’re extremely thankful for their continued support.”

The entire off-TV undercard will be available for viewing this week at Maxboxing.com.

Maxboxing also has terrific stories on Dominic Pesoli and David Diaz at these two links, http://www.maxboxing.com/Fischer/Fischer0316a06.asp and
http://www.maxboxing.com/Kim/Kim031506.asp

For an entire wrap up including pictures of the MADNESS IN MARCH event, please visit Cyberboxingzone.com Cyberboxingzone also carried an excellent interview this week with 8 Count Productions’ matchmaker Jerry Alfano at this link http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/news/archives/00001747.htm

This Saturday night, March 25th at the Grand Victoria Casino in Rising Sun, Indiana, 8 Count Productions along with Octavius James’ One in a Million Inc. present an action packed evening of professional boxing headlined by a ten round women’s world title fight between junior welterweights Sumya Anani and Terri Blair. Also featured on the card are undefeated prospects Michael Walker, Mike Gonzalez and Aaron Pryor Jr, the son of boxing legend Aaron Pryor Sr.

Tickets are on sale in advance by calling 312-226-5800.

The next Chicagoland 8 Count Productions event will be LIGHTNING STRIKES on Friday, April 21st at Cicero Stadium. Details on this event will be announced in the coming days.

For more information on 8 Count Productions events and fighters, please visit their website at http://www.8countproductions.com/. For more information on Chicago’s best boxing gym, the 6,000 square foot JABB Boxing Gym where the pros train, visit http://www.jabbboxing.com/

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
http://www.8countproductions.com/
bbahrmasel@aol.com

JASON LITZAU TO BE FEATURED ON ESPN CLASSICS ON MARCH 21

2006-03-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

July 2005 bout against John Nolasco selected for the “Classic Boxing” program on ESPN Classics

BLOOMFIELD, NJ (March 20, 2006) – On Tuesday, March 21 at 8:00 pm ET, undefeated featherweight Jason Litzau’s July 15, 2005 split-decision victory over John Nolasco will be featured on ESPN Classics “Classic Boxing” series, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. The 10-round bout, which was originally broadcast on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” program, was selected by ESPN.com as one of 12 “Unforgettable Bouts” from 2005.

Litzau (17-0, 15 KO’s) is a 22-year-old native of St. Paul, MN. In his last bout on Jan 28, 2006—on the undercard of Arturo Gatti-Thomas Damgaard—Litzau dismantled two-time world title challenger Carlos Contreras to earn a sixth round stoppage (TKO 6). Among those at ringside impressed by Litzau’s performance was legendary champion Pernell Whitaker, who described Litzau as “sharp”.

"I am honored that ESPN would select my fight against Nolasco as an ‘instant’ classic", said Litzau. He joked, "I am only 22 years old and already I am a classic.

“But seriously, there will be a lot more classic fights before my career is over. I just hope that the ESPN2 Friday night fight decision-makers give me another chance to fight on their show before I get too old," Litzau added with a smile. "I can't wait to fight on TV again!"

For more info:

Main Events (973) 893-9100, Donald Tremblay

FLOYD MAYWEATHER vs. ZAB JUDAH SWORN ENEMIES! SAT. APRIL 8

2006-03-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

AT THOMAS & MACK CENTER, LAS VEGAS, NV LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW! FLYWEIGHT SUPERFIGHT! JORGE ARCE TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AGAINST TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION ROSENDO ALVAREZ ON 'SWORN ENEMIES!' PPV EXTRAVAGANZA!

LAS VEGAS -- compelling match between two of the strongest competitors in boxing's lower weight divisions, World Boxing Council interim flyweight champion Jorge “Travieso” Arce and Rosendo “El Bufalo” Alvarez , has been added to the card headlined by “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather vs. Zab “Super” Judah at the Thomas & Mack Center on April 8. The bout will be broadcast domestically on HBO Pay-Per-View and is being co-promoted by Top Rank and Don King Productions in association with Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas.

The colorful Arce (43-3-1, 32 KOs ), from Los Mochis , Mexico , has always been a fan favorite among his countrymen due to his wide open, risk-taking style. Recent appearances on big pay-per-view cards have gained him new fans throughout the world.

Arce's 23-fight winning streak and world champion status will face a stiff challenge against Alvarez (32-2-2, 24 KOs ), a two-time world champion making his first world title appearance at the 112-pound limit. The proud Nicaraguan's greatest accomplishment came in a draw against the legendary Ricardo “Finito” Lopez in 1998. Not only did it stand as the only blemish on Lopez's undefeated record of 51-0-1, but Alvarez also knocked Lopez down for what turned out to be the first and only time in his Hall of Fame career.

"We are not friendly rivals, we are just rivals, he thinks his going to knock me out, but I doubt it very much, his time has come and gone, now is my time," said Arce. “I don't dance, I come to fight when I'm inside that ring. Mark my words, on April 8, “El Bufalo” will be an endangered species!"

A recent outburst between Arce and Alvarez has added additional intrigue to this match. In his last appearance on Jan. 28 in Cancun , Mexico , Arce successfully defended his title against Adonis Rivas, who boxes out of Alvarez's Nicaraguan stable of fighters. Alvarez attended the event where his fighter suffered a loss by technical decision. A dispute erupted in the ring after the decision and blows were exchanged between Alvarez and Arce.

“I want revenge and I want to shut his big mouth,” the normally even-tempered Alvarez said of Arce. “He will not be talking so much and will be wearing dentures when I'm through with him. I want to crush his star. I will not sleep until I defeat this clown.”

Alvarez added: “My promoter Don King will be facing his arch enemy in Arce's promoter Bob Arum, so I want to win for him as well. I can't let Don down.”

Don King would like nothing more than to see his fighter follow through on his pledge.

“Victories are always sweet,” King said, “but the taste is even sweeter when it comes against my toughest promotional foe Bob Arum.”

King added: “Alvarez and Arce are two of the biggest little giants in the sport of boxing. They will fight for their countries, honor and pride. This is the biggest fight for Alvarez since he faced Ricardo Lopez. His legacy is on the line in this one.”

Both Arce and Alvarez became 108-pound world champions in 2001—Arce for the WBC and Alvarez for the World Boxing Association. Both fighters expressed interest in facing each other, but the world title unification match never materialized.

While Arce won his first world title as a 108-pounder in 1998, Alvarez won his first world title at the minimum weight of 105 pounds in 1995. Alvarez moved up to the 108-pound limit in 2000 and won the world title there in 2001. Both fighters moved to flyweight last year.

Arce has not lost a match since 1999. Two of his three losses came in world title fights against world champions Michael Carbajal and Victor Burgos (his other loss came in his fifth fight).

Alvarez has not lost a match since 2000 and has only lost twice in his career, both against world champions. His first loss came in a re-match with Lopez, and he was disqualified against Beibis Mendoza. A win for Alvarez against Arce would make him a world champion in three different weight divisions.

The Mayweather vs. Judah pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on April 8, has a suggested retail price of $44.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 56 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HDTV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For your daily Mayweather vs. Judah fight week updates, log onto http://www.hboppv.com/.

# # #

For Additional Information (Media):

Lee Samuels/Dena duBoef, Top Rank (702) 732-2717
Kelly Swanson, Swanson Communications (Mayweather interviews) (202) 783-5500
Alan Hopper, Don King Productions (Judah, Alvarez) (954) 418-5839
Fred Sternburg, Sternburg Communications (303) 740-7746
Ken Langdon, Caesars Palace (702) 731-7506
Debbie Munch, Caesars Palace (702) 731-7367
Denise Randazzo, Wynn Las Vegas (702) 770-2121
Ray Stallone, HBO (212) 512-1987

DE LA HOYA vs. MAYORGA World Super Welterweight Championship From MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA

2006-03-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

Oscar De La Hoya Returns to Ring Facing Ricardo Mayorga‘The Golden Boy’ to take on ‘El Matador’ for WBC 154-Pound Crown on May 6

LOS ANGELES—One of the most popular boxers in history, “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya, will return to the ring to challenge dangerous World Boxing Council super welterweight champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga in a fight appropriately titled Danger Zone, that will be promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don King Productions on May 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and on HBO Pay-Per-View.

“My goal is to always face the best,” said De La Hoya. “and Mayorga is a dangerous world champion who has no fear. I’m ready to step back into the ring for this great match-up.”

Tickets for De La Hoya vs. Mayorga, “Danger Zone,” priced at $1250, $950, $750, $350 and $150 go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Noon.

Tickets will be available at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office and also will be sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Tower Records/WOW!, Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Robinsons-May stores and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at http://www.mgmgrand.com/ or www.ticketmaster.com.

De La Hoya, the 1992 US Olympic gold medal winner, has been spending much of his time since his last ring appearance - a hard-fought loss at the hands of longtime middleweight king Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins at the MGM Grand on Sept. 18, 2004 - promoting boxers that fight under his highly successful Golden Boy Promotions banner. This will mark the first time De La Hoya’s promotional firm has been the lead promoter of one of his fights, in association with Mayorga’s promoter, Don King Productions.

“This is a big fight for Oscar and an important event for Golden Boy Promotions,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. “All of us are looking forward to this with great anticipation.”

HBO Pay-Per-View is also happy to see De La Hoya’s ring return, as he has been one of the most popular pay-per-view attractions in the network’s history.

"There will be great interest surrounding Oscar De La Hoya's highly-anticipated return to the ring against the exciting slugger Ricardo Mayorga," said HBO Pay-Per-View's Mark Taffet. "It's the kind of big event that pay-per-view boxing fans look forward to."Don King, who promotes the champion Mayorga feels confident his fighter will be victorious on May 6.

"I promoted the first fighter to ever defeat The Golden Boy and I have a good feeling about Ricardo's chances in this one," King said. "When El Matador has been in peak physical condition nobody has been able to stop him. He knows what he has to do and is already in training for this fight."

Richard Sturm, President of Sports and Entertainment for MGM MIRAGE, said, “We are excited to host Oscar’s return to MGM Grand, both as a promoter and a fighter. We also look forward to working with Don King as everybody knows he has promoted some of the biggest fights in boxing history. Over the years, MGM Grand has hosted the biggest stars in sports and entertainment and Cinco de Mayo weekend promises to continue the tradition.”

East Los Angeles’ De La Hoya (37-4, 29 KOs) has already established himself as one of the greatest boxers in history, having won world championships in an incredible six different weight divisions: 130, 135, 140, 147, 154 and 160. When he attempts to win Mayorga’s WBC 154-pound crown, he will be making his 28th appearance in a world championship match. In terms of box office receipts and pay-per-view sales, the 33-year-old has been the most popular non-heavyweight boxer in history.

To get to this point in his career, “The Golden Boy” has faced a star-studded array of the finest fighters of this era - such as Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Arturo Gatti, Pernell Whitaker, Fernando Vargas, Felix Trinidad, and Julio Cesar Chavez - over the course of his amazing 13-year career.

Mayorga (28-5-1, 23 KOs), a native of Managua, Nicaragua, is also a fan favorite because of a full-tilt boxing style that requires an immense amount of courage and bravery—both from Mayorga and anyone who steps into the ring to oppose him.

“This is a fight I have always wanted,” said Mayorga. “I thought Felix Trinidad would be the defining fight of my life but it didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to. Now I’m getting a chance for redemption. I must win this fight for me, the people of Nicaragua and everyone in the world who loves me because of the way I fight.”

The vociferous trash-talker added, “De La Hoya doesn’t like to get hit and he’s not going to like me after I punch him in the face.”

El Matador has faced one of the toughest schedules in boxing in his last eight appearances, considering he has met five reigning world champions, two former world champions and a ranked opponent, who together sported an incredible record of 244-9-3.

Mayorga knocked out World Boxing Association welterweight champion Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis to win his first world title in 2002 and stunned the world in 2003 by scoring a third-round technical knockout over reigning 2002 Fighter of the Year and undefeated WBC welterweight champion Vernon “The Viper” Forrest—and decisioning him in an immediate rematch.

In his next match, Mayorga attempted to become the undisputed welterweight champion by challenging International Boxing Federation titleholder Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks. Spinks’ slick boxing style frustrated the Nicaraguan brawler to the point he was penalized for hitting after the bell in round five and holding in round 11. Spinks won a disputed majority decision.

Always up for a challenge, Mayorga jumped at a middleweight fight with three-time world champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad, the man who gave De La Hoya his first loss in their historic meeting in 1999. In one of the most entertaining fights of 2004, Mayorga scored a knockdown in round three before the Puerto Rican knockout artist won the battle of the bombs with a ninth-round technical knockout.

In his last appearance, Mayorga knocked down former IBF welterweight champion Michelle Piccirillo three times in the first four rounds and cruised to a unanimous decision win for the vacant WBC super welterweight championship.

The De La Hoya vs. Mayorgapay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on May 6 has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed domestically by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 56 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in high-definition television for those viewers who are HDTV capable. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. De La Hoya vs. Mayorga daily updates can be found during fight week at http://www.hboppv.com/

For further information contact:

Marylyn Aceves Golden Boy Promotions 213-489-5631
Debbie Caplan Golden Boy Promotions 818-831-4151
Kelly Swanson Swanson Public Relations 202-783-5500
Alan Hopper Don King Productions 954-418-5839
Scott Ghertner MGM MIRAGE 702-891-7272
Patrick Byrne HBO Pay-Per-View 212-512-1361

GOLDEN BOY WON THE PURSE OFFER FOR VAZQUEZ-LARIOS IV

2006-03-17T21:02:00.000-08:00

North American Promoter “Golden Boy Promotions” of Oscar de la Hoya won today the purse offer for the WBC superbantam title bout between champion Israel Vazquez and challenger Oscar Larios, both of Mexico.

Golden Boy got the rights to promote this fight with a bid of $200,000 USD and as of today he will have ten working days to make the 10% deposit with the WBC Headquarters.

Besides the winning promoter, other two promoters participated: Prestige, a Mexican company headed by Dr. Fausto Daniel Garcia, and North American promoter Sycuan.Avel Gonzalez, of Miami, Florida, and member of the WBC Board of Governors supervised the purse offer.

Approximately half an hour after the purse offer, the WBC Executive Office received the visit of the world superbantam champion Israel Vazquez, being one of the first to know the outcome of the purse offer.

CHRIS BYRD VS. WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

2006-03-16T16:49:00.000-08:00

HBO SPORTS announced that on Apr. 22 in Mannheim, Germany, Chris Byrd will defend his heavyweight title against Wladimir Klitschko. The scheduled 12-round fight will be carried on HBO's World Championship Boxing, which will present the fight live on a Saturday afternoon. The Bryd-Klitschko championship fight from Germany will be shown live on HBO on Saturday, Apr. 22 at 5:00 p.m. ET/ 2:00 p.m. PT AND AGAIN at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING CONTINUES WITH WBO HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT

2006-03-16T05:10:00.000-08:00

WBO Heavyweight Champion "Relentless" Lamon Brewstervs.Once-Beaten Contender Sergei "The White Wolf" LiakhovichSaturday, April 1, at 11 p.m. ET/PTWolstein Center at Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio

NEW YORK - The most exciting - and courageous - heavyweight champion in the world is returning to America's No. 1 Boxing Network on Saturday, April 1.

Lamon Brewster may not be the division's most hyped boxer but he makes for the most interesting, entertaining, crowd-pleasing scraps and he doesn't care where he fights.

"I want to be universally known as the world champion, not a United States or regional champion or somebody who just fights in his backyard," said Brewster, who is nicknamed "Relentless'' but might as well be known as "Fearless." "That means fighting anybody, anywhere."

"Boxing is not a beauty contest. It is not the Olympics where you get points for style and grace. It is all about winning, and all I do is win.''

Brewster (33-2, 29 KOs), of Los Angeles, by way of Indianapolis, Ind., will make the fourth defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) title when he faces once-beaten Sergei "The White Wolf'' Liakhovich (22-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 1, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). The 12-round world title fight will be promoted by Don King Productions and take place at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. This will be the first heavyweight world championship fight to take place in the city since 1983.

Brewster, who rallied to score a dramatic fifth-round TKO over Wladimir Klitschko to capture the WBO crown, has been victorious in his last nine starts, including eight by knockout.

To illustrate his willingness to compete anywhere, the 2005 WBO Fighter of the Year traveled to Hamburg, Germany for his last outing to defend against local favorite Luan Krasniqi. The bout drew more than 10,000 fans on Max Schmeling Day, Sept. 28, 2005. In a thrilling, give-and-take battle, Brewster exited with a hard-fought ninth-round TKO. But he had to rally and survive "a long count" to do it.

Brewster was losing through seven rounds. In the eighth, he turned the fight around when he landed a hellacious left hook with 30 seconds to go in the stanza that left Krasniqi stiff-legged and crumpled against the ropes. The match nearly ended there but the referee appeared to provide an extremely long count that allowed Krasniqi to get to his feet before the bell sounded. Television replays estimated the count to be between 13 and 17 seconds.

"I should get credit for two knockouts because I knocked him out twice," said Brewster.
Outboxed during the first six rounds and knowing he needed a knockout to win, a nearly exhausted Brewster ended matters when he floored the determined challenger again with 12 seconds left in the ninth round. This time, the referee quickly waved the fight off without a count.

"It was just my willpower and my determination," said Brewster, who has won 83 percent of his starts by knockout. "Luan was a good fighter. He landed many good shots. But I proved by going to Germany and defeating a game challenger that I am a world champion.

"I always fight from will, not always from skill."

In a sensational performance in his outing before last, Brewster successfully defended his title with a devastating 53-second, first-round knockout over Andrew Golota on May 21, 2005. The fight was in Chicago, but it might as well have been Poland. There were more than 20,000 in attendance, almost all rooting for the Polish-born Golota.

Aside from the ovation they afforded Golota during introductions, Brewster gave them nothing else to cheer about. Ten seconds after the opening bell, Brewster dropped Golota with a sensational left hook. The challenger made it to his feet, but was knocked down again from another crunching left hook. A third left hook finished Golota and ended one of the quickest - and most stunning -- heavyweight title fights in history.

"They cannot see me," said Brewster after registering the 13th opening-round knockout of his career. "When God is with you, they cannot take it away. If we cannot work and make it, we can still take it. Golota was the only thing keeping me from the land of milk and honey. I was an F-16 and he was a B-52 bomber and I shot him down.

"I am not saying I am great, but there was Lennox Lewis and before that Evander Holyfied and before that Mike Tyson. Now there is me. I need to stand up and be a great champion. I am here to stay."

Liakhovich, of Scottsdale, Ariz., by way of Minsk, Byelosrussia, has won six in a row, including a unanimous 10-round decision over Dominick Guinn in his last start on Dec. 3, 2004. A boxer-puncher with excellent overall talent and skills, Liakhovich outpointed the then-highly regarded Guinn by the scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice.

Now, he gets Brewster.

"This is exactly the kind of big fight that I have always wanted," said Liakhovich, who compiled an excellent record of 145-14 in the amateurs and represented Russia in the 1996 Olympic Games. "The heavyweight division is wide open. All I have ever been looking for is a chance to show my skills and talent.
"I am not worried about ring rust. I am sharp. I stay in shape."

Liakhovich has fully recovered from an injury that forced him to withdraw from a fight with Owen Beck in September 2005 on SHOWTIME.

"I suffered from bruised cartilage but I am fine now and will definitely be 110 percent for Brewster," he said. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I will be ready. I am supremely confident."

A patient boxer-puncher with excellent movement and good overall talent and skills, Liakhovich is not easily discouraged, and seems to wake up when he is hit. He likes to shoot combinations from all angles but may be at his best when he can press forward and work the inside. He surprised some onlookers, however, in his match against Guinn by effectively moving off his combinations and exhibiting nimble footwork, particularly for a big man. At 6-feet-4, he possesses a significant height advantage over the defending champion.

"This is going to be a great fight for me. Not for Brewster," Liakhovich said. "Brewster is making a big mistake if he thinks this is going to be an easy fight. If it is an easy fight for anybody, it will be me."

The most recent World Heavyweight Championship bout in the Cleveland area took place on September 23, 1983 in Richfield, OH. World Boxing Association Champion Michael "Dynamite" Dokes was upset by South Africa's Gerrie Coetzee by KO 10 of a scheduled 15-round bout. Prior to that, at the same Richfield Coliseum, Muhammad Ali scored a 15 round TKO over a game Chuck Wepner for the WBA & World Boxing Council heavyweight titles on March 24, 1975. Both fight cards were promoted by Don King.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING's Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast will be David Dinkins Jr., with Bob Dunphy directing.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING celebrates 20 years of hard-hitting, explosive programming in 2006. In March 1986, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING was born when "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler defeated John "The Beast" Mugabi in a spectacular and unforgettable 11th-round knockout in Las Vegas. Since that time, the network has aired some of the most historic and significant events in the sport including both Holyfield-Tyson bouts. Always at the forefront of boxing, SHOWTIME has set itself apart by telecasting "great fights, no rights" on the first Saturday of every month. SHOWTIME is the first network to regularly deliver live boxing in High Definition. In addition, SHOWTIME continues to be a pioneer in sports television with a number of interactive features across multiple platforms making SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts the most enjoyable, immersive viewing experience for the boxing audience.