2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada fighting again on ESPN2 FNF this week

Posted on | May 20, 2008 | No Comments

PROVIDENCE (May 20, 2008) – 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada fights this week on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights for the second time in seven weeks when he faces Carolina heavyweight champion Moultrie “Jack Hammer” Witherspoon (14-1, 8 KOs) in an 8-round Special Heavyweight Attraction co-feature on “Ring Warriors,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), live from Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Providence native Estrada (12-1, 2 KOs), rated No. 9 by the NABO, is coming off of arguably his most impressive victory as a pro, taking a one-sided 10-round decision from former NABO/NABA/WBC Continental Americas heavyweight champion Lance “Mount” Whitaker (32-5-1, 27 KOs) in their April 4 ESPN2 FNF show headliner.

On his personal mission to become heavyweight champion of the world, Estrada has fought anybody his promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, has put in the ring with him and none of them has had a losing record (203-73-9 combined record of his opponents when they fought Estrada).

“I’m not looking past Witherspoon,” Estrada said. “He’s coming to beat me, but it’s not happening in my house. I will be world heavyweight champion someday and he’s in my way. I’m real excited to be fighting on ESPN2 Friday Night fights for the second time in seven weeks. Fans all over can see what skills I take into the ring. I’m challenging anybody who believes they can stop me to step up to the plate. Arreola is fighting Witherspoon (June 21). Give me the winner and I’ll show the world who is the best heavyweight prospect, Jason Estrada.

“I dominated the United States amateur scene for years and I’m going to do the same as a pro on the way to becoming heavyweight champ. I’m willing to fight anybody to prove it – prospect, contender, veteran, comebacker, champion or title-holder moving up from cruiserweight. Anybody!”

The 27-year-old Estrada was one of the most highly decorated American amateur boxers ever, compiling an amazing 261-14 record in U.S. competition, becoming the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. Highlights of his amateur career included representing the United States in the 2004 Olympics and capturing a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-American Games.

During his tremendous amateur career, Estrada defeated some of today’s leading professionals including former world title challenger DaVarryl “The Touch of Sleep” Williamson (24-5, 20 KOs), unbeatens Malik Scott (30-0, 10 KOs) and Donnell “The Real Touch of Sleep” Holmes (28-0-2, 24 KOs), Malcolm “The Showstopper” Tann (23-4, 12 KOs), and Felix “Bad News” Cora, Jr. (18-2, 9 KOs).

Tickets for “Ring Warriors” are priced at $25.00, $35.00, $50.00, (Bronze), $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and limited $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Event Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI), or any TicketMaster location. Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Events Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.

BOXING SUPERSTAR MANNY PACQUIAO JETS TO CHICAGO FOR WEDNESDAY PEP RALLY

Posted on | May 20, 2008 | 2 Comments

CHICAGO, IL, (May 20, 2008) Boxing superstar MANNY PACQUIAO jets to Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday night in preparation for a full media day on Wednesday, May 21st which includes a Public Pep Rally at 12Noon at Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn (corner of Adams and Dearborn) to promote his showdown with World Boxing Council champion DAVID DIAZ set for June 28th at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“I am looking forward to my first visit to The Windy City and meeting Chicago’s great boxing fans — both Hispanic and Filipino,” said Manny Pacquiao. “Chicago has a lot to be proud of in its world champion David Diaz. I just hope Chicago doesn’t think of me as an ill-mannered guest when I go after David and his title with everything I have on June 28th.”

When two explosive world champions at the top of their game mix it up for the world title, it’s a “Lethal Combination!” Newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion MANNY PACQUIAO and WBC lightweight champion DAVID DIAZ will battle in a 12-round rumble with Diaz’s title at stake.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Pacquiao vs. Diaz will take place Saturday, June 28, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT.

Remaining tickets for Pacquiao vs.Diaz, priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall, 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 or Mandalay Bay (702) 632-7580. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“This will be my hardest-fought battle,” said Pacquiao. “It’s been over three years since I have changed weight divisions and I will be doing it against the lightweight division’s world champion. I saw how he took the fight to Erik Morales in his last title defense and I’m expecting to see the same firepower out of him when we meet. But this is my drive for five. Five world titles in five different weight classes and I will not be denied. I am fighting for history, for destiny and for my people of the Philippines.”

“Manny Pacquiao has beaten many great fighters, especially Mexicans like Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Larios and Solis. That’s why they call him “The Mexicutioner,” said Diaz. “I will shock the world and beat Pacquiao at his own game, power for power. He’s a great champion but he’s fighting in my division – lightweight. I have worked too hard for this world title and I will not give it up to him.”

“Two world champions, at the top of their game, matching each other in speed, power, stamina and courage is a recipe for a great fight,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Manny has never felt the power thrown at this weight class just as Diaz has never gone toe-to-toe with such a human dynamo. But Manny possesses an inner strength from his fellow countrymen the likes I have never seen as a promoter with over 40 years of experience.

Manny is more than a national treasure to the Philippines, he is the very symbol of its national pride. He doesn’t fight for himself, he fights for his people. It’s a responsibility that no other athlete could, or attempt to, accomplish.”

“Boxing fans recognize that in Pacquiao vs. Diaz you have one of the sport’s best fighters and biggest attractions moving up in weight to challenge a bigger, stronger champion,” said HBOPPV’s Mark Taffet. “It’s a very intriguing proposition and we look forward to the event.”

Dubbed “Republica Enemy No. 1,” Pacquiao (46-3-2, 34 KOs), from General Santos City, Philippines, has blitzed through the best fighters Mexico has had to offer since 2003 including Erik Morales (KO 3, TKO 10), Marco Antonio Barrera (TKO 11, W 12), Juan Manuel Marquez (W 12, D 12), Oscar Larios (W 12), Emanuel Lucero (TKO 3), Hector Velazquez (TKO 6) and Jorge Solis (KO 8). Pacquiao was named 2006 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring magazine for his two spectacular knockout victories of Mexican icon and three-division champion Morales, as well as his dominating 12-round unanimous decision over former world champion Larios. The hard-hitting southpaw has won 22 of his last 23 bouts including 2007 victories over Barrera and Solis. Pacquiao’s 12-round split decision victory over Marquez earlier this year not only avenged a disputed draw from their 2004 battle, it also made Pacman a four-division world champion.

Diaz (34-1-1, 17 KOs), from Chicago, will be making the second defense of his title. He successfully defended it against the three-division world champion Morales last summer winning a hard-fought unanimous decision over the future Hall of Famer. Although behind on the scorecards early, Diaz remained cool and rallied before the raucous hometown Chicago crowd of 10,000 to capture the decision. He swept the championship rounds and won the decision by scores of 114-113, 115-113 and 115-112. With the victory, Diaz cemented his place among the best lightweights in the sport and one of the most popular and respected athletes in the sports-crazy town of Chicago. A member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Diaz, with 12 years of experience as a professional, is more than prepared to handle the pressures that come with battling boxing’s pound-for-pound most exciting fighter.

The Pacquiao vs. Diaz pay-per-view telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to 71 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. For Pacquiao vs. Diaz fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

ADAMEK RETURNS TO CHICAGO ON JULY 11

Posted on | May 20, 2008 | No Comments

ESPN2 “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” TO BROADCAST

CHICAGO, IL (May 19, 2008) – IBF #1 ranked mandatory challenger Tomasz Adamek will return to the Windy City on July 11 when he headlines an exciting fight card at the Aragon Ballroom against veteran brawler Gary Gomez, it was jointly announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva and 8 Count Productions President Dominic Pesoli. ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” broadcast begins at 9:00 pm ET/8:00 pm CT.

“It was very important to Tomasz to fight once more prior to his showdown against Steve Cunningham,” said Duva. “What better place for him to fight than in Chicago where he was warmly welcomed by his Polish brethren the last two times he fought here?”
“We’re very happy to once again work with Kathy Duva and the Main Events team to co-promote this event,” said Pesoli. “Chicago fight fans will be thrilled to see former world champion Tomasz Adamek once again after his two ‘Fight of the Year’ wars he won over Paul Briggs in the last few years in Chicago.”

Adamek (34-1, 23 KO’s) earned the IBF’s #1 mandatory position in his last bout on April 19, 2008, when he schooled former undisputed world cruiserweight champion O’ Neal Bell for seven rounds before forcing Bell to retire on his stool prior to round eight (TKO 7). The 31-year-old Zywiec, Poland native has stopped 15 opponents within the first three rounds. He captured the vacant WBC light heavyweight championship on May 21, 2005, when he decisioned Paul Briggs (W 12). He defended the title twice before losing to Chad Dawson on Feb 3, 2007 (L 12). Since moving to cruiserweight he is 3-0, 2 KOs.

Gomez (18-9, 7 KO’s) lost a split decision to Jeremy Williams in his last bout on August 18, 2007, (L 8). Prior to the bout the 33-year-old Salt Lake City, UT native had gone 4-1-1 in his last six bouts. On July 21, 2005, Gomez lost a decision to Charles Davis in an unsuccessful attempt to win WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight championship (L 10). Gomez has never been stopped in his career.

Popular Polish middleweight Andrzej Fonfara, who now resides in Chicago, will compete in the eight round televised co-feature bout against an opponent to be determined shortly. Fonfara is 10-1, 3 KO’s.

EUROPEAN BOXING NEWS

Posted on | May 20, 2008 | No Comments

Ruslan Chagaev´s postponed defence of the WBA heavyweight title against Nikolai Valuev will according to German newsagency DPA go ahead July 5. Site is not determined. Meanwhile Universum strongly dismiss a story in Bild Zeitung as to why the fight was postponed. According to the tabloid, basing its story on Chagaev´s former manager Taymas Niyazov, the champ suffers from a detached retina that he had surgery on already back in 2001 – but now the injury is even worse. According to Niyazov / B Z Chagaev is almost blind in the left eye. Niyazov is said to have written to WBA, Universum, Sauerland Event, German network ZDF after Chagaev had beaten Matt Skelton informing that according to several sources Chagaev´s eye condition is worse than ever. It´s said that not even with surgery will Chagaev´s eyesight improve much. Meanwhile Chagaev states to B Z that he sees good enough to beat Valuev a second time as well. Universum boss Klaus Peter Kohl dismiss Niyazov and the story and says that Chagaev passed the yearly medical checkup as well as a further medical when the content of the letter was known and that the WBA have given green light for Ruslan to fight on.

Mikkel Kessler and Dimitri Sartison clash for the apparently by then vacant WBA supermiddle title June 21 at the Brondby Hall on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Sartison, WBA # 4 and 22-0, was born in Kazachstan but grew up in Germany representing Gifhorn in the amateurs. In 2003 he turned pro with Spotlight Boxing and have developed steadily into a solid boxer / puncher. Last year he beat stablemate Gusmyl Perdomo in an internal eliminator for his career best win. Kessler, 39-1, comes back from the superfight against Joe Calzaghe and the loss of the WBA and WBC titles and must be regarded as a big favourite. The Dane will spend three weeks at the famed Big Bear training camp in California with Jimmy Montoya as trainer. Montoya have previously worked with Kessler then the then undefeated prospect was with WBA bantam champ Johnny Bredahl. Kessler leaves for California May 9.

German cruiser Marco Huck take on Slovakian Frantisek Kasanic for the IBF I/C title May 17 in Bayreuth. At the same time the internal Sauerland eliminator between heavies René Dettweiler and Cengiz Koc is postponed until July 19 as Dettweiler needs to adjust to new trainer Otto Ramin. Dettweiler was trained by Ramin in the amateurs but have been with Manfred Wolke since turning pro.

Italian jr middle and former IBF world champ at welter, Michele Piccirillo, last seen challenging for the WBC crown, continues his career with a fight against Czech Patrick Hruska on the undercard to Lynes-Branco May 16 in Torino. Heavyweight Paolo Vidoz fights Brit Matthew Ellis.

There´s been some misunderstandings around German jr light Vitali Tajbert. He still holds the EU title, however he also accepted a position as EBU mandatory challenger, which according to the rules meant he would be stripped of the EU belt. Tajbert then decided to remain EU titlist and let go off the spot as mandatory challenger.

Cuban Erlandis Lara have according to Bild Zeitung fled the country by boat with Arena Box Promotion financing it and is hiding in Mexico while awaiting the paper work to be done to travel to Germany. Meanwhile Guillermo Rigondeaux was supposed to have been on the boat but jumped off in the last moment.

Oakey Ready For Unification Bout

Posted on | May 20, 2008 | No Comments

The first half a sporting double for the South Coast city of Portsmouth, England became a reality this weekend at Wembley Stadium when Portsmouth defeated Cardiff City 1-0 to win the FA Cup.

Now, light heavyweight Tony Oakey has to keep his side of the bargain by keeping his British title when he meets Commonwealth champion Dean Francis on Friday, June 13 at Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Sports Centre.

Oakey will make a personal plea with the Portsmouth football club to have the FA Cup on show on June 13 to give him extra incentive to beat Francis. The atmosphere at the Mountbatten Centre will be as electrifying as it was in Wembley Stadium when Portsmouth turned back Cardiff City with both fighters being propelled on by their vocal supporters.

This is Oakey’s first appearance in his hometown in over three years and the 32 year old will be looking to erase the memory of a disastrous night at the Mountbatten Center in 2003 when he lost his WBU title to Matthew Barney.

Oakey’s career went into freefall following the Barney fight but the Portsmouth man has since regrouped, rebuilding his career under trainer Johnny Eames while re-signing with his former manager, now promoter, Frank Maloney.

Oakey’s drive and ambition is to add the European belt before the end of 2008 as that is one of the few titles that he has not yet held during his ten year professional career.

“I couldn’t be at Wembley Stadium to watch Portsmouth win the FA Cup due to my training schedule,” said Oakey, 25-2-1 (7). “I also can’t be at Manchester next week to see the homecoming of my friend Ricky Hatton but I’m hoping to have both the FA Cup and Ricky Hatton ringside when I fight on June 13.”

A former European and British champion at super middleweight, Dean Francis, 29-3 (23), remains a very dangerous puncher as he has recently knocked out opponents at both cruiserweight and light heavy.

“I intend to put Oakey into retirement”, said Francis. “I will show the British boxing public that this is the second coming of my career.”

Frank Maloney Promotions presents the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight title fight between champion Tony Oakey and challenger Dean Francis on Friday, June 13 at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth, England. Tickets are priced at £80 and £40 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508. Sky Sports will televise.

COV GLOVE TO BE FEATURED THIS FRIDAY ON ESPN 2 “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS”

Posted on | May 20, 2008 | No Comments

PHILADELPHIA (May 20, 2008)-COV GLOVE will be featured this Friday night as Aaron Williams and Jose Luis Herrera headline a night of boxing in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

COV GLOVE is a synthetic material that covers the tape on the wrist. It protects from tape coming loose which in turn stops action in fights. COV GLOVE also protects from the tape scratching against the eyes.

“We got great response after the first card that the product was used on ESPN 2 in late March.” said COV GLOVE founder, David Price.

“Since then I have had a lot of commissions and promoters call me and ask how they would go about implementing the product in their fights and states. The fighters that have used it have commented to me about how they feel and how stylish they are. When Teddy Atlas, who is very concerned with safety issues in boxing, mentioned the product during the Kassim Ouma-Corneilius Bundrage show validates COV GLOVE.”

The Williams-Herrera show will be shown all over the country on ESPN 2

Gary Shaw Dreams About a Tito vs. Kimbo Fight

Posted on | May 19, 2008 | 1 Comment

by: Jack Bratcher