JIMMY KIMBO: KIMBO SLICE INTERVIEW ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE

Posted on | February 8, 2008 | 1 Comment

XYIENCE VS. BERGERON COURT HEARING FROM LAS VEGAS

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | 2 Comments

I made this music player at MyFlashFetish.com.

If you have problems with playing the file above or want to hear an even better version of PART TWO, go to OUR PODCAST PAGE to hear a new and improved version of the second half of the hearing.

FROM VALIDATION TO VINDICATION: MAKING MAJOR HEADWAY IN MY FIRST OFFICIAL COURT HEARING

By: Rich Bergeron

Today was a historic moment for Fight News Unlimited. I appeared by telephone in Clark County District Court before Judge Timothy Williams in what proved to be an incredible turn of events for my case. I can definitively say now that perhaps I might have been a little too cynical about the judge in this case. Although he chewed me out a bit in the end for trying to push my luck, Judge Timothy Williams today represented himself with a great degree of fairness and finally seemed to see through the facade of Xyience’s frivolous case against me.

The buzz surrounding this case and the whole Xyience saga has truly exploded in recent days, putting this issue into the public spotlight where it truly belongs. For so long this story has unfolded with documents, a recording here or there, and blog after blog exploring the depth of what’s turning out to be a spectacular and intriguing scandal. Connecting the dots over the course of more than a year now, I have come to the conclusion that the ramifications of this situation could possibly lead to an international news story that will shock the entire mixed martial arts landscape.

Catapulting this issue from rhetoric to raw reality, today’s hearing represented the principles of free speech and due process coming together to produce pure magic. While weak on the procedural points of law involved in this case, I emerged in triumph from my first attempt at practicing law in a public forum as a pro se defendant. I also came to the point where I am confident now that I finally have more of a grip on the importance of those tiny nuances of process that can make or break a big case.

Clearly, though, sanity and logic ruled the day. The judge himself summed it up best when he told the Xyience attorney that this case was going to ultimately be decided on the merits. For once it was Xyience’s $300 an hour attorney left wondering why she couldn’t make any headway whatsoever. I can’t say for sure because I wasn’t physically there in the courtroom, but I sensed a bit of raw emotion from Pamela Lawson, Esquire of Hunterton and Associates today. Having to use my imagination to gauge her state of mind when the dust finally settled, I would not have been surprised at all if she shed a tear or two on her way home today. As I’ve done time and again with this case, I made a bold prediction before the proceedings today in an email I sent to Attorney Lawson a few days ago telling her I couldn’t wait to beat a slick lawyer at her own game.

Her day’s work will likely cost Xyience more than $900, which is as far as I can see a clear indication that maybe I’m in the wrong business. Maybe I need to start studying to take the bar exam myself and start my own firm called Lawsuits Unlimited. I have to admit I get most of my background knowledge from watching Law and Order marathons, but I also made sure to painstakingly examine the tenets of the First Amendment and the plethora of precedents that protect the press in situations like this one.

I also have a keen sense of confidence in the idea that the truth will always shine through. I am still motivated by the fighters more than anything. Looking back and ahead, they will be the ones who have had to suffer much more than I have thus far. Not only the ones who step in the octagon to battle for sport and got stiffed on sponsorships, but also now the hordes of investors who now have to fight for their stake in Xyience through complicated, drawn out lawsuits that may never really promote any tangible justice at all.

I get the sense that the tide is turning and that there is hope moving forward. It is a funny feeling I’m experiencing for the first time since the beginning of the case when I had just scratched off the surface layer of this scandal. Back then I had only just begun to reveal the corrupt motivations of the major movers and shakers bringing the whole organization down to their crude, careless, and selfish level.

The recording above speaks for itself, but I would be remiss if I didn’t thank everyone who helped me out along the way and fought from day one with me for the same principles I’ve always believed would provide me saving grace. Zach Arnold and Adam Swift in particular followed my lead and went out on a limb with their own highly intellectual reports and analysis of the situation here that’s still unfolding and morphing into a more and more ugly monster. Those who I can’t mention know who they are, too. Without your insider knowledge and your trust that I would do the right thing with it, none of this would have come to this full circle point.

Finally getting the tightest possible handle on the truth has always been more important than any praise or recognition this effort might lead to for me. The greatest glory I could hope for in this will come when my case becomes the standard bearer for American bloggers in every locale who choose to fight the crooked system no matter what the odds.

This is for the folks who choose to do the right thing rather than cower in the face of corporations and lawyers out to crush the truth and paint would be whistleblowers in a criminal light. Let the reverberations of the final determination of this case ring forever in the ears of those cowering critics who shot from the hip in denouncing my work as conspiracy theory ranting. Let them eat their words with a side of humble pie. There may still be a lot of ground to cover before this juggernaut of a judicial fraud finally crumbles under the big fat foot of justice, but today I think I was able to shine the spotlight on the ugly underbelly of American greed. I just hope enough people choose to take a good hard look at why this all happened when the smoke clears in the end. If just a few people out there who’ve been following this incredible saga come away with the sense that looking the other way solves nothing and action trumps apathy, I’ve done my job.

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Holt Decisions Tackie, Matirosian Stops Munoz In Las Vegas

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | No Comments

By Matt Yanofsky

Former WBO title challenger Kendall “Rated R” Holt 23-2 (12 KO’s) scored a majority decision over the always tough Ben Tackie 28-9-1 (17 KO’s). Holt was able to land clean shots in sports but unfortinuately, there were some periods of little action. The always tough Tackie showed his famed iron chin and was able to walk through many of Holt’s power shots. Tackie was only able to land 58 punches in the ten round contest. scores were an unexplainable 95-95 and 98-92 twice for Holt.

2004 olympian and rising Junior Middleweight star Vanes Martirosian improved to 19-0 (13 KO’s) with a third round destruction over Michi Munoz 20-2 (13 KO’s). Matarosian went to work immedately, dropping Munoz in the opening round with a straight right hand. The free swinging and much shorter Munoz had little luck in landing his haymakers. Matarosian continued to tee off during the second round landing almost at will. Martirosian dropped Munoz twice, and possibly broke his nose before referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bout 2:20 into the third round.

TDR to Broadcast Missouri Vs. Oregon State Beavers Sunday

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | No Comments

Sunday, Live From the Hearns Center on the Campus of the Tigers of Missouri, TDR brings to you Live wrestling coverage starting at 1:30 PM CST. Join TDR’s Steve Foster, Scott Casber and Ben Askren for the color, the play by play and the excitement for this tremendous meet.

Coach Jim Zalesky returns to the midwest with His Oregon Beaver Squad of the Pac-10 to face the Big 12 Powerhouse Missouri Tigers and Coach Brian Smith. With only one day off after facing the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, and a Saturday studio radio visit with the Takedown Radio Crew, the Beavers will complete this road trip in front of an electric crowd at the Hearns Center.

Its always exciting to provide play by play for a meet like this and invite you to join us LIVE Sunday at Takedownradio.com starting at 1:30 PM CST.

Alatorre faces uphill battle in MMA test against Franco

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | No Comments

LEMOORE, Ca. — Elvis Franco is preparing for an upcoming mixed arts bout in Visalia like he has none other.

“I’m going to bring it all, punches, kicks, elbows, takedowns, submissions, you name it. And hopefully things go my way this time,” said Franco, who lost by submission at the Palace Fighting Championship in June to Anaheim’s Scott Brommage (1-3).

But Franco isn’t training just to even up his record, but he is preparing for a big name in Central California — Hector Alatorre, who is a professional boxer with a 15-3 record.

The bout will take place on Feb. 29th in Visalia at the Visalia Convention Center.

“I’ve been ready to fight for a while. I’m tired of waiting,” said Franco, who trains with Team Ochoa — a local fight team that has some of the Valley’s top up-and-coming fighters.

“I think it’s an interesting fight. On one hand you have a very talented boxer in Alatorre. He has exceptional quickness, fast hands and really good reflexes. He has the potential to be a really dangerous striker in MMA with his hands by using angles and movement that aren’t typically seen in an MMA fighter. He has never been a big puncher, that’s one of the things that limited his boxing career somewhat, but when you move to MMA gloves you would expect him to have some more sting in his hands,” said PFC President , who promoted Alatorre for boxing shows at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.

“The thing is, and we’ve seen this with a lot of pure boxers who try their hand at MMA, will Hector be willing to get close enough to land his hands and risk being taken down? To me that’s a huge question. Elvis will have an advantage on the ground and he is a solid striker too. I’ve sparred with him. He has heavy hands, he may not be as fast as Hector but he hits harder.”

After Alatorre announced his decision to try MMA in January, the fans have been buzzing to see what the 26-year-old had to offer.

“It’s just like anything else, it’s a challenge to me,” Alatorre said. “I’m focusing on everything from ground to striking and takedowns to sprawling. You never know in MMA what is going to happen.”

Alatorre is coming off a devastating boxing loss to Don Juan Futrell (20-3-1) for the WBC USNBC welterweight title on Dec. 6th at the Palace.

“I have a lot of respect for Hector and his family. I was his promoter for his entire boxing career and we got him on ESPN twice, and we made him more money in boxing than he would have ever gotten from any other promoter in the country. If he has been seriously training for this, and he can check kicks, stuff takedowns, if he has basic sweeps and submission defense and here’s the big thing if he trains properly, because it’s no secret we had a lot of problems with him and his weight in boxing,” Printup said.

“He wasn’t as dedicated as he could have been 100 percent of the time to training and that kind of derailed his career. He has reached his ceiling in boxing, so because of our history I want him to succeed in MMA, but I am Elvis’ promoter in MMA and I have the utmost confidence that he’s going to leave the cage a winner. He has nothing to lose. No pressure. All eyes will be on Hector and he hasn’t always handled pressure well. This will be interesting.”

Franco might be the best-kept secret on Team Ochoa. His loss to Brommage came after being accidentally heeled in the eye and Brommage locked up a leg lock, while Franco clutched his eye.

“My strong points are my striking, but I might have a bit different game plan for this fight,” Franco said. “I heard that Hector has been working with Luis [Gonzalez] on his jiu-jitsu, but he has some work to do. Only a few months of jiu-jitsu won’t prepare you. He’s going to have to work a lot longer than that. I know he’s been boxing for years and I think once he gets in there and gets hit, that’s what he will go back to.”

But no matter the outcome, Alatorre plans on providing an exciting fight.

“Some people are going to come out because they want to see a boxer turned on to MMA and some are going to come to see me lose,” Alatorre said. “There are also going to be people there that are they’re pulling for me.”

One of the biggest questions is if Alatorre has switched permanently to MMA or will he continue to be a boxer.

“I’m going to do both. I’m going to do whatever I can to make money for my family,” Alatorre said. “If it don’t make dollars it don’t make sense to me.”

Printup has his own take on Alatorre, who has lost three of his last four fights.

“I can’t say he’s finished with boxing. I can just say that we have elected to not extend his promotional contract. You can only do so much, as promoters you provide opportunities and if the fighters can’t capitalize on them sometimes you have to make tough decisions. But at the end of the day it’s a business. The other thing is Hector has been boxing for a long time, I mean since he was like 8-years-old. I really didn’t want to see him fight too many more fights,” Printup said.

“I didn’t want him to take too many more punches. Our goal was to provide him with opportunities to fight meaningful fights like the Don Juan Futrell fight and then he would have had a chance to get another meaningful fight and with a win there he could have made that one big payday. We all wanted it for him and he could have banked that and segued into the next chapter of his life. One of my greatest responsibilities as a promoter is to protect our fighters and be honest with them. Hector peaked as a boxer a while ago.”

Franco is hoping to help cut Alatorre’s venture into MMA short. He is expected to be the more well rounded fighter and some local fans believe, even the better striker.

“Obviously Franco will have a marked advantage on the ground, but more than that. We have to see how Alatorre responds to taking leg kicks. For a guy like Hector he’s going to have to really rely on his footwork and speed, moving in and out to land strikes and not stay stationary because Elvis can take him down no question. Franco trains with some of the better MMA fighters in the Valley. So after a few kicks to his lead leg will Alatorre be able to move like he’ll need to in order to avoid being taken down?” Printup said.

“MMA is just so different from boxing, because you have so many variables to consider, especially in the clinch. In boxing when you clinch you’re just dirty boxing, creating space and throwing punches. In MMA of course you have to be mindful of knees, elbows, throws and not changing levels improperly and getting caught in a standing guillotine which is a very easy submission to catch someone in if they’re not ready. Elvis is an MMA fighter he won’t have to think as much as Alatorre he will be reacting. I think that’s an advantage because he can be more efficient and dictate the pace of the fight, because he won’t have to spend as much time thinking about what to do. He knows what to do.”

And Franco has a game plan, too.

“I’m not going to play his game. I’m going in there to do my thing and bring the fight to him,” Franco said.

Whatever the outcome, it will be a spectacle.

“I’m definitely a proponent of boxers crossing over into MMA and vice versa, but like anything in life the true meaning of the transition is the key. Is someone like Alatorre testing out the MMA landscape because he truly wants to achieve greatness, or is he just looking for a way to make money? If a boxer just gets into MMA for a paycheck in between boxing matches, they’re risking a lot. Especially a guy like Alatorre, he has way more value as a boxer than he does as an MMA fighter. So losing hurts his value in boxing too. Plus the risk of injury is greater in MMA simply by virtue of the nature of the combat,” Printup said.

“If he gets his ankle broken, he’s not going to be able to box for six to eight months and that’s going to hurt him. So there’s a lot of risk. Providing the boxer takes the proper steps and time to train and be comfortable using their boxing skills in MMA combat and have enough ground skills to be able to do more than hang on in a closed guard and hope for the referee to stand the fight back up, then it’s a good thing. Otherwise it’s an unnecessary risk. There are some guys like Dewey Cooper and Manuel Quezada, who have storied martial arts and professional kickboxing careers that can make the transition more easily. For a kid like Hector Alatorre, he has tools to be good but has he prepared enough or is he just looking to make a quick buck?”

HDNET FIGHTS ANNOUNCES DEAL WITH STRIKEFORCE ™

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | No Comments

First Event of Multi-fight deal to air LIVE exclusively on HDNet – Saturday, February 23

DALLAS (February 7, 2008) – HDNet Fights announced today that it is partnering with Strikeforce ™ to present four mixed martial arts events in 2008. The first of these events will be “HDNet Fights Presents: Strikeforce ™ at The Dome” LIVE from the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, Saturday, February 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET. This live exclusive coverage will only be available on HDNet.

“We’re excited about this new deal with Strikeforce ™ as they are such a well respected MMA organization,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “This announcement reinforces our commitment to deliver a minimum of 24 events in 2008 and the partnership between HDNetFights and Strikeforce ™ guarantees many great match-ups for MMA fans.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to showcase our brand of mixed martial arts on HDNet,” said Scott Coker, President of Strikeforce ™. “HDNet delivers television content to viewers in the highest quality format possible and Strikeforce ™ has worked diligently to produce the finest, world-class fights for mixed martial arts fans. Together, the two entities will be able to deliver a superior product.”

The evening’s main event features former University of Washington football standout and NFL lineman turned martial arts fighting sensation, Bob “The Beast” Sapp (8-2-1) meeting 6’11” K-1 kickboxing star and undefeated professional boxer Jan “The Giant” Nortje (25-17).

At 6 feet 4 inches tall and 375 lbs, the 33-year-old Sapp was recruited in 2002 and 2003 by Japanese martial arts fight federations, Pride Fighting Championship and K-1, respectively. His astonishing size and strength, which he has used to defeat some of the most seasoned martial arts combatants, including five-time K-1 World Champion, “Mr. Perfect” Ernesto Hoost, helped catapult Sapp to the forefront of pop culture in Japan and earned him starring roles in over 200 television commercials there as well as dozens of endorsement deals for a wide array of Japanese consumer products ranging from bento boxes to ice cream.

Most recently, Sapp has been courted by the world of Hollywood including two appearances on the silver screen – the first in the comic book adaptation of Elektra, and, the second, playing a supporting role in the Adam Sandler re-make of Burt Reynolds’s football comedy, The Longest Yard.

Nortje is coming off a second round TKO victory over Dong Wook Kim. That match-up took place before over 17,000 fans at Japan’s Yokohama Arena on K-1’s “World GP 2007 Final” on December 8.

The evening’s event will also feature a heavyweight contest pitting former UFC Heavyweight Champion and K-1 North America king, Maurice “Big Mo” Smith(73-20-4), against fellow legend and six-time world kickboxing champion, Rick “The Jet” Roufus (57-7).

And, in a classic clash of styles, World Muay Thai Champion, Duane “Bang” Ludwig(16-7), will be challenged by the ground fighting expertise of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ace, Steve “The Red Nosed Pit Bull” Berger (20-17-2), in a 170 lb. limit match-up.

Also, fans will see hard-hitting thoroughbred Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (13-2) taking on former NCAA National Boxing Champion turned Matt Lindland protégé, “Diamond” Ryan Healy (9-2-1), in a 160 lb. limit catch weight mixed martial arts battle.

About HDNet Fights

HDNet Fights (www.hdnetfights.com) is one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA organizations in the country. Founded by Mark Cuban, HDNet Fights promotes, produces and airs over 24 live MMA events annually for broadcast on HDNet. HDNet Fights is unique as a unifying force in the MMA industry partnering with leading promoters, including M1, Sportfight, IFL, Ring of Combat and others to offer the quality match-ups and productions that MMA fans demand.

Founded in 2007, HDNet Fights is led by CEO Andrew Simon while company operations are handled by Dallas MMA legend and former UFC champion, Guy Mezger.

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the home for HDNet Fights and is the leader in offering live MMA broadcasts and the leading news and information show for MMA fans, “Inside MMA”.

In addition, HDNet provides viewers with the best in original news, sports, music and entertainment programming. From “Dan Rather Reports”, to championship sports coverage from the NHL, NASCAR and Major League Soccer to “Guys Night In” every Friday and the HDNet Concert Series every Sunday, HDNet offers great programming with the world’s best picture quality.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager and COO Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.

About Strikeforce ™
Strikeforce ™ is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, Strikeforce ™ has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Since then, it has produced the first SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event in history with its world championship “Shamrock vs. Baroni” card on June 22nd of this year followed by the first-ever mixed martial arts event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion on September 29th.

HOPKINS AND CALZAGHE MEET IN LONDON TO CONFIRM BATTLE OF THE PLANET

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | No Comments

Legendary fight to take place in the PH Ring on April 19

Tickets On Sale Today

LOS ANGELES, February 7, 2008 – Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe, fighters with a combined 43 wins in world championship bouts met today in London to confirm that on Saturday, April 19, in the Planet Hollywood (PH) Ring in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a rare contest between linear champions, light heavyweight champion Hopkins will defend his title against Calzaghe, the undisputed super middleweight champion, in a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship to determine the true premier champion of this era. Tickets for this epic battle go on sale today.

Hopkins vs. Calzaghe “Battle of the Planet” is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Frank Warren’s Sports Network and Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and will take place in the PH Ring at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, April 19. Tickets, priced at $1500, $1200, $450, $350 and $250, are on sale and may be purchased by calling 866-USFIGHT or online at planethollywood.com. The match-up will air live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. PT.

“I respect what Joe Calzaghe has accomplished in this game over the years, but he will be stepping into a different realm on April 19th,” said Hopkins today in London. “All Joe’s other American opponents had to go to Wales or England—let’s see how Joe performs in the United States—the USA is the stamp of approval. There’s old Poppy Hopkins standing at the gate of America waiting for Joe to bring the key to try and open the door.”

“This will be Bernard’s last fight—I am going to be a legend after this fight. I’m going over there to win and you will see an awesome performance,” said Calzaghe at today’s press conference in London. “I’ve trained like a challenger every single fight, that’s why I have been a champion for ten years. I’ll be in the best shape, enough to do 15, 20 rounds. You haven’t seen Hopkins flat out on his back yet—you will in the PH Ring on April 19.”

“This is a match we’ve all been waiting years to see, and finally, the time is right for Hopkins and Calzaghe to meet,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Hopkins holds the record for most middleweight title defenses and Calzaghe holds the record for most defenses at super middleweight and no one today comes close to either of them when it comes to longevity at the elite level. This is the only logical Super Fight for both of them and fans are going to love this match-up.”

“Joe Calzaghe has conquered every obstacle put in front of him over the last 14 years and with no more challenges left for him at super middleweight this was the only fight he wanted,” said Frank Warren of Sports Network. “I’m pleased that we were able to work together with Golden Boy Promotions to bring this mega-fight to boxing fans and to see once and for all who the better fighter is – Hopkins or Calzaghe.”

“Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is the new contender on the Las Vegas Strip and is emerging as a very powerful force in the entertainment capital city of the world,” said Robert Earl, Co-Chairman of Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. “I am delighted that Planet Hollywood is presenting its first major sporting event with the sport that Vegas is most famous for – boxing – and this mega-fight between Hopkins and Calzaghe. Having partners like Golden Boy Promotions, Sports Network and HBO make this event, at the PH Ring, all the more exciting.”

“HBO Sports is thrilled to present the fight between Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe live on the network,” said Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports. “This is the type of big event programming that has been a staple of our World Championship boxing franchise for 35 years.”

One of the greatest middleweights of all-time, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) has epitomized excellence for almost two decades in the fight game. Owner of the middleweight title for over ten years and for a record 20 successful defenses, Philadelphia’s Hopkins moved up to the light heavyweight division in 2006, and immediately won The Ring Magazine World Championship with a dominating 12 round decision win over Antonio Tarver. In his last fight, on July 21, 2007, Hopkins continued his amazing run at the age of 42, outpointing Winky Wright. Now it’s on to Calzaghe.

Unquestionably one of the greatest super middleweights in boxing history and currently The Ring Magazine Super Middleweight World Champion, Newbridge, Wales’ Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) has never tasted defeat in his pro career and has held the world super middleweight title since he defeated Chris Eubank in 1997 for the World Boxing Organization Championship. Twenty-one consecutive title defenses followed that victory — fourth-best on boxing’s all-time list — and after big wins over undefeated champions Jeff Lacy in 2006 and Mikkel Kessler in 2007 in which he added the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) championship belts to his collection, he now seek a bigger challenge at 175 pounds where Hopkins awaits.

Hopkins-Calzaghe is only the second time two reigning Ring Magazine champions have fought since the new championship policy was established in April 2002 (the first contest happened on December 8, 2007 when Floyd Mayweather met Ricky Hatton for Mayweather’s Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship).

###

About Golden Boy Promotions

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2001 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. In 2007, in its sixth year of promoting, Golden Boy Promotions set a record by selling over 2.5 million in pay-per-view homes in a single night. Also in 2007, Golden Boy Promotions established the record for highest grossing pay-per-view homes in a single year with more than 4 million total. Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing’s most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the United States on networks such as HBO, HBO Latino, TeleFutura, SHOWTIME and ESPN. Golden Boy Promotions currently has close to 50 fighters under contract including future hall of famers Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

About Sports Network

Founded in 1996 by leading British boxing promoter Frank Warren, Sports Network has become one of the worlds biggest boxing promotions company. A boxing promoter since 1980, Warren has staged in excess of 300 World Championship fights, including Joe Calzaghe, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Ricky Hatton, Frank Bruno, Mike Tyson, and Naseem Hamed.

Among the most celebrated have been Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler, Calzaghe v Jeff Lacy, Hatton v Kostya Tszyu and Frank Bruno vs. Oliver McCall. Warren will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fall later this year for his phenomenal promotional achievements. Current World Champions under the Sports Network Banner include: Calzaghe (WBO/WBC/WBA Super-Middleweight Champion), Gavin Rees (WBA World Light-Welterweight Champion) Enzo Maccarinelli (WBO Cruiserweight Champion), Alex Arthur (Interim WBO Super-Featherweight Champion). He also promotes a host of youngsters who are the new generation of stars to emerge from the Sports Network stable including Amir Khan, Kevin Mitchell and Jamie Cox.

About Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino

Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is a joint venture partnership involving Robert Earl, Founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood International Inc, Bay Harbour Management LLC, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc and is a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest program. The hottest new property on the Las Vegas Strip, Planet Hollywood features over 100,000 square feet of gaming, fine dining restaurants including KOI and Strip House, an award-winning buffet, casual dining options, lounges, Privé nightclub, Planet Hollywood Spa by Mandara, and is the home of STOMP OUT LOUD. The property is encircled by Miracle Mile Shops with over 170 specialty stores and restaurants. For more information log onto www.planethollywood.com.

HDNet Fights Presents: Maximum Fighting Championship: Rags to Riches

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | 1 Comment

Full fight card

DALLAS (February 7, 2008) – The full fight card for HDNet Fights Presents: Maximum Fighting Championship: Rags to Riches became available today. The event will air LIVE on HDNet on February 22 from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Main Event – Welterweight
Pete Spratt, (19-10): San Antonio, Texas vs.
Ryan Ford, (4-0): Edmonton, Alberta

Middleweight
Jesse Forbes, (5-2): Tempe, Arizonavs.
Chris Camozzi, (5-0):Lakewood, Colorado

Lightweight
Mike Maestas, (4-1-1): Albuquerque, New Mexicovs.
Ryan Heck, (5-0): Edmonton, Alberta

Light Heavyweight
Craig Zellner, (4-2):Albuquerque, New Mexicovs.
Ryan Jimmo, (4-1): Halifax, Nova Scotia

Light Heavyweight
Steve Steinbeiss, (3-1): Tempe, Arizona vs.
Dwayne Lewis, (3-3): Ft McMurray, Alberta

Welterweight
Jason Zorthian, (2-1): Edson, Alberta vs.
Ryan McGillivray, (5-2): Edmonton, Alberta

Light Heavyweight
Allan Hope, (Pro Debut):Edmonton, Alberta vs.
Jason Kuchera, (2-0): Edmonton, Alberta

Welterweight
Josh Groves, (2-0): Albuquerque, New Mexico vs.
Gavin Neil, (1-0): Victoria, B.C.

About HDNet Fights
HDNet Fights (www.hdnetfights.com) is one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the country. Founded by Mark Cuban, HDNet Fights promotes, produces and airs over 24 live MMA events annually for broadcast on HDNet. HDNet Fights is unique as a unifying force in the MMA industry partnering with leading promoters, including M1, Sportfight, IFL, Ring of Combat and others to offer the quality match-ups and productions that MMA fans demand.

Founded in 2007, HDNet Fights is led by CEO Andrew Simon while company operations are handled by Dallas MMA legend and former UFC champion, Guy Mezger.

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the home for HDNet Fights and is the leader in offering live MMA broadcasts and the leading news and information show for MMA fans, “Inside MMA”.

In addition, HDNet provides viewers with the best in original news, sports, music and entertainment programming. From “Dan Rather Reports”, to championship sports coverage from the NHL, NASCAR and Major League Soccer to “Guys Night In” every Friday and the HDNet Concert Series every Sunday, HDNet offers great programming with the world’s best picture quality.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager and COO Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.

About Maximum Fighting Championship
The Maximum Fighting Championship is Canada’s leading promotion for the world’s fastest-growing sport of mixed martial arts.

Mark Pavelich created the Maximum Fighting Championship and has breathed life into it ever since to the point of it becoming a true standout in the world of mixed martial arts promotions.

Since its inception in 2001, the MFC has been a true success story with tremendous support from the fans as they have sold out venues in Edmonton, where the MFC headquarters are located. The MFC will be bringing its flair to more fans soon with shows planned for U.S. and other destinations in Canada.

The MFC will continue to put on exciting and dynamic events in the future. The Maximum Fighting Championship is one of the leaders in mixed martial arts in North America today and will continue to bring mixed martial arts into people’s homes around the world.

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