CHECK OUT OUR LATEST MMA WRITER
Posted on | January 27, 2008 | No Comments
WE’D LIKE TO WELCOME JILL WARD TO OUR WRITING STAFF.
TONY PENECALE’S PHILADELPHIA BOXING REPORT
Posted on | January 27, 2008 | No Comments
CELEBRATION OF CHICAGO BOXING SET FOR FEBRUARY 15
Posted on | January 27, 2008 | No Comments
Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions mark their ten year anniversary as THE HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING with an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing as they present CELEBRATION on Friday, February 15th at Cicero Stadium.
Said Pesoli, “I’m honored to enter my second decade promoting professional boxing. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience presenting monthly and sometimes twice monthly events in Chicago . I’m very thankful to the fight fans in Chicago who have been loyal to 8 Count Productions over the last 10 years and we will continue to honor them with great fights and terrific events.”
“On the 15th we’re partnering with Top Rank to bring back Mike Alvarado who’s looked terrific winning twice here in the last year. He’s in a very tough fight against Jesus Rodriguez who’s a very solid kid from California that I saw win a terrific battle on Showtime last October.”
“We’ve also got great young prospects Francisco Rodriguez, Andrzej Fonfara and Ivan Popoca on the undercard. All three of them have turned out to be fighters that our fans have really taken to heart.”
“Additionally, Freddie Cuevas, who’s been amongst the most popular fighters in Chicago over the last ten years is returning to the ring.”
“Also Top Rank is also sending one of their highly regarded prospects,
super featherweight Alejandro Perez.”
Tickets for CELEBRATION are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices at 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 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.
Along with Chicago ’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, CELEBRATION 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 CELEBRATION will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.
8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 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 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
For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit.
www.toprank.com
CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998
WORLD FIGHT NIGHT THURSDAY SET FOR JANUARY 31
Posted on | January 27, 2008 | No Comments
GO FIGHT LIVE LAUNCHES “WORLD FIGHT NIGHT,” THURSDAY, January 31, 2008 WITH STAR BOXING’S “PUNCHIN’ AT THE PARADISE!”
WEBCAST LIVE FROM NEW YORK ON WWW. GOFIGHTLIVE.TV
New York, NY (January 28, 2008) Go Fight Live is offering its first live boxing webcast of the new year, Thursday January 31, 2008 starting at 7:30 PM (EST) on www.gofightlive.tv
Bronx, NY – The fists will be flying once again in New York, and GoFightLive’s “World Fight Night” will be there to cover all the action, as Star Boxing kicks off the New Year with “Punchin’ at the Paradise 8”. The bouts include:
Main Event – Former World Champion, Lou “Honey Boy” DelValle Square Off Against Fellow Bronx Resident Newton “The Butcher” Kidd (10 Rds.)
Co-Feature – Former World Title challenger, Elvir “Kosovo Kid” Muriqi takes on Darby, PA’s Dhafir Smith (10 Rds)
Co-Feature – “Slick” Alicia Ashley and Brooke “No Mercy” Dierdorff will square off in a super-bantamweight showdown for the NABF championship.
The phenomenal event, which will feature 7 action-packed professional bouts, will represent GoFightLive’s first installment of their new “World Fight Night” series, and will be the 8th such installment of Star Boxing’s “Punchin at the Paradise.”
GoFightLive is partnering with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing to broadcast the entire “Punchin’ at the Paradise” series. This first live boxing webcast of its kind, “World Fight Night USA” will feature a classic New York intra-borough rivalry between former light-heavyweight world champion, Lou “Honey Boy” DelValle and fellow Bronx native, Newton “The Butcher” Kidd, a 2-time Golden Gloves champion. In the evening’s co-main event, “The Kosovo Kid” Elvir Muriqi (34-4, 21 KO’s) returns fresh off his inspiring performance with light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver, to take on Darby, Pennsylvania veteran Dhafir “No Fear” Smith. Also slated for action is Puerto Rican light welterweight Joel Torres (8-0, 5KO’s), former WIBF bantamweight champion Alicia “Slick” Ashley, and making their pro-debuts are New York City featherweights Ronica Jeffrey and Eddie Irizarry. Also, returning to the Paradise Theater for a fourth time is fan-favorite cruiserweight, Jon “The Fighting Marine” Schneider (6-1, 4KO’s).
GoFightLive’s “World Fight Night” will feature top national boxing events, making them available, for the first time, worldwide on www.gofightlive.tv. All events can be viewed FREE of charge, to include live weigh-in coverage, pre-fight interviews, all the way to the main event, as well as post fight coverage and wrap up!
For those fight fans who are unable to catch GoFightLive’s live webcast, the entire “Punchin’ at the Paradise” event will remain available on www.gofightlive.tv, to view at their convenience.
“GoFightLive is the only website in the world that gives boxing fans everything they are looking for,” says Jerry Palmer, CEO Go Fight Live. “We are excited to be partnering with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing for our 4th live boxing event. Aside from our live event broadcasts, www.gofightlive.tv also hosts interviews, boxing shows, archived video, photos, boxer data, event information, and all the up to date news fight fans are looking for.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION call Star Boxing @ 718- 823-2000, GoFight Live @ 516 445-9100. or visit www.gofightlive.tv or www.starboxing.com
EUROPEAN BOXING NEWS
Posted on | January 27, 2008 | No Comments
German press writes today that former IBF and WBA
supermiddle champ Sven Ottke could be coming back to
face Dariusz Michalczewski May 24 in Hannover.
Michalczewski, 48-2 and former longtime WBO lightheavy
ruler, should have fought another oldtimer in Graciano
Rocchigiani but “Rocky” have pulled out. Ottke makes
no ifs and buts about why he is coming back: money –
Ottke retired well off but an expensive divorce have
cost him a lot of money. The fight with Michalczewski
is not a done deal yet but should be signed next week.
Ottke, 34-0, retired in 2004 after 20 successful
titledefences. Michalczewski quit in 2005 after first
losing the WBO lightheavy belt and then to then WBA
cruiser king Fabrice Tiozzo. Both men have their best
days far behind them but should be fresh enough to
make it interesting. The fight is made at 84 kg / 185 lbs.
January 26, Berlin, Germany:
Russian heavy Alexander Povetkin, 15-0, outscored
“Fast” Eddie Chambers, 30-1, over twelve in an IBF
eliminator. There were no knockdowns. It was scored
117-111, 119-109 and 116-112. The early part of the
fight was very exciting with Chambers getting off with
quick counters against his agressive opponent.
Povetkin was clearly rocked in the first and third but
worked hard and gradually took over, in the mid-rounds
it was as if Chambers gave it away. He protected
himself well but his workrate dropped. Povetkin kept
coming, kept a very fast pace and while not that
effective he was winning rounds. In the eighth
Chambers came back a little but by now he was tired
and not that precise with his punches.
In the co-feature EBU middle champ Sebastian Sylvester
outscored French challenger Francois Bastient. It was
scored 120-108, 118-109 and 119-108. The challenger
was down in the eighth and outboxed throughout. At the
same time Sylvester took no risks which for a not very
exciting fight.
Cruiser Enad Licina impressed in outpointing tough
Czech Lubos Suda over eight. It was scored 79-73,
80-74 and 80-73.
Jr welter Frank Shabani won over Italian Italo
Brussolo in another eight-rounder.
Sauerland Event´s First Lady, jr welter Cecilia
Braekhus stopped Wanda Pena Ozuna in the fourth and
final round,.
News: Sweden-based Ugandan Peter Semo pulled off of a
big upset last night in Rome when he stopped defending
IBF I/C jr welter champ Fedele Bellusci in the tenth
round. Bellusci was down in the second and twice more
in the tenth before it was stopped. Semo, promoted and
managed by Scandinavia Pro Box (Rolf Traff and Eddie
Bazira) normally campaigns at lightweight
The two Belgian EBU champs, Jackson Osei Bonsu and
Carmelo Ballone will both make voluntary defences
during the spring. “Sugar” Osei Bonsu, at welter, will
reap off the resurrection of boxing in Antwerp and
defend the title May 3 while bantam Ballone face Marat
Mazimbaev March 15 in Almaty, Kazachstan.
Matt Skelton could be the one for Luan Krasniqi if
Aleksander Dimitrenko doesn´t change his mind in
regards of the fight for the vacant EBU heavy title.
Finnish heavy Juho Haapoja goes for the new and vacant
Baltic Boxing Union title April 5 in Vasa on a Steel
Ring promotion. The BBU title is open to all boxers
living in the Baltic Sea region.
Dutch lightweight Innocent Anyanwu headlines a show in
the Hague Februay 17. Anyanwu will have another fight
in the Netherlands before headlining the annual
Fernand Roelands Memorial May 1 in Bruges, Belgium, in
a possible defence of the BeNeLux title.
VELASQUEZ TWINS TRIUMPH
Posted on | January 27, 2008 | 3 Comments
BACK IN ACTION FEB 8, 2008 IN BOSTON
Miami FL, January 27, 2008 Photo by Tom Barnes
The hard hitting “Velasquez Twins”, super featherweight Carlos Ivan (6-0, 6 KO’s) and featherweight Juan Carlos (6-0, 4 KO’s) extended on their wining streaks while looking impressive in their TV debuts. Goldenboy Promotions rising stars, dazzled the Chicago fans at Cicero Stadium in a Co-promotion with 8 count Productions.
In the first fight of the evening, Juan Carlos displayed a combination of speed and power knocking out Noe Inunza of Southern California. Early on, Inunza got awarded a knock down, but as the replay showed, it was clearly a slip. As the rounds went on, Velasquez overwhelmed Inunza, landing power punches from various angles. Smelling blood, Juan Carlos applied pressure landing a violent flurry that sent Inunza to the canvas in which he never recovered. Referee Gerald Scott ended the bout at 1:56 of the forth round. When asked about his performance and ecstatic Juan Carlos stated,”I feel good I got the knock out. Once I knew he was hurt I had to jump on him and take him out. I’m now looking forward to my next bout. My brother and I will continue to work hard”
Heavy handed Carlos Ivan has knocked out every opponent he’s faced as a pro. This time his sixth victim was Ever Perez as he landed a calculated left hook that reminded you of a young Trinidad. The punch landed flush on the face of Perez sending him to his back. A wobbly Perez some how got back to his feet, but went back to the canvas as his equilibrium was off ending the contest at 1:58 mark of round one. Carlos Ivan commented on his performance as he went on to say, “I’m excited that the boxing community got to see me fight. The fans love knock outs and I’m happy to have delivered in all my fights. I’m ready to get back in the gym.”
On February 8, 2008, the “Velasquez Twins” will be back in action at “The Castle” in Boston, Massachusetts. Opponents will be announced shortly as these two warriors are eager to get back in the ring.
RESULTS FROM MANSFIELD, MA BOXING FIGHT CARD
Posted on | January 26, 2008 | No Comments
RESULTS FROM MANSFIELD
(Mansfield, MA)
January 26, 2008 – “The Ultimate Showdown II”
WOMEN’S SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS
Missy Fiorentino (17-1, 6 KOs), Cranston, RI WDEC6 (60-54, 59-55, 57-57) Ela Nunez (5-3, 1 KO), Jamestown, NY
(Fiorentino wins vacant IWBF Super Featherweight Championship)
-Fight stopped by doctor after six rounds due to accidental headbutt that caused a severe cut on Fiorentino’s forehead-
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Rich Gingras (8-0, 4 KOs), Claremont, NH WDEC4 (59-54, 59-54, 59-54) William Bailey (7-13-2, 4 KOs), Chesapeake, MD
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Mark DeLuca (4-0, 3 KOs), Whitman, MA WKO4 (1:17) Charles Kirby (1-3, 0 KOs), Philadelphia, PA
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Edwin Rodriquez (1-0, 1 KOs), Worcester, MA WTKO1 (1:33) Samuel Ortiz Gomez (0-4), Orlando, FL
AMATEURS
Masters:
Steve Gentile (Howard Beach, NY WRSC3 Ed Nelson (Petronelli’s Gym)
Eric Flaherty (Bishop’s Boxing) WDEC3 David Fascaldo (Petronelli’s Gym)
J.R. Moore, Monroe, LA WDEC3 Frank Azevedo (Petronelli’s Gym)
Open:
Calvin Marte (Worcester Boys & Girls Club) WDEC3 Mike Tremblay (Manfredo’s Gym)
Jesus Caro (Manfredo’s Gym) WDEC4 Norfolk Francis (Cappiello’s Gym)
Promoter: Peter Manfredo, Sr.
-PM-
SHOXC FIGHT CARD DELIVERS KNOCKOUTS AND DECISIONS
Posted on | January 26, 2008 | No Comments
POPULAR PHILADELPHIA FAVORITE EDDIE ALVAREZ
PUTS ON A SHOW EN ROUTE TO KNOCKING OUT
ROSS EBANEZ IN THE SECOND ROUND ON SHOXC
Eddie Alvarez (left) celebrates after closing the show with a second-round KO over Ross Ebanez.
Paul Daley (right) knocked out Sam Morgan in the first.
Kala Kalohe Hose (right) kicked off the EliteXC fight card on SHOWTIME by knocking out Fred Belleton in the first round of a slugfest Friday in Atlantic City.
Tonya Evinger (on ground) was an impressive first-rounder winner over Julie Kedzie (submission).
Bao Quach (left) scored an upset decision victory over Bobby McMaster.
Friday, Jan. 25, 2007, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME
Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City Hotel & Casino
ATLANTIC CITY (Jan. 26, 2008) – On an exciting night that featured solid, non-stop action and entertaining fights, crowd favorite Eddie Alvarez (12-1) of Kensington, Pa., sent the hometown fans home deliriously happy by knocking out Ross Ebanez (18-6-1) of Hilo, Hawaii, in the second round Friday on the 2008 premiere of ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series on SHOWTIME.
In the co-feature presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s Live Fight Division, EliteXC, talented Paul “Semtex” Daley (17-6-2) of England scored a first-round knockout over Sam “The Squeeze’’ Morgan (19-10) of St. Paul, Minn.
The SHOWTIME telecast aired at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City Hotel & Casino,
Other televised fights: Bao Quach (12-8-1), of Huntington Beach, Calif., registered an upset three-round unanimous decision over Bobby McMaster (8-3), of Boston, “The Hawaiian Rocky Balboa,” Kala Kolohe Hose (5-1), of Honolulu, scored an impressive first-round knockout over Fred Belleton (5-2), of Stoughton, Mass., and Tonya Evinger (6-2), of Reno, Nev., by way of Oak Grove, upset Julie Kedzie (9-7), of Albuquerque, N.M., by way of Greenwood, Ind., with a shockingly easy first-round submission.
In non-televised undercard bouts, promising Wilson Reis (3-0), of Philadelphia, submitted Zach Makovsky (3-1), of Philadelphia, at 1:15 of the second round (side choke), James “Binky’’ Jones (5-5), of Baltimore, Md., submitted Mark Getto (1-4-1), of Philadelphia, at 1:12 of the first (kimura), Brett Linebarger (3-1), of New Jersey, knocked out Sergio Vinagre (2-2), of New Jersey, at 2:29 of the third round, Matt Makowski (2-0), of Philadelphia, submitted Joe Shilling (0-1), of Los Angeles, in the first (choke) and Charlie Brennemen (5-0), of Philadelphia, remained undefeated with a split three-round decision over Drew Puzon (1-2) of New Jersey.
With the crowd chanting “Ed-Dee, Ed-Dee’’ even before he made an appearance into the arena, Alvarez (eddiealvarez.proelite.com) was clearly the evening’s most popular winner. After dropping Ebanez during an excellent, fast-paced opening round, he downed the Hawaiian again in the second.
Ebanez (rossebanez.proelite.com) quickly made it to his feet after going down the first time, but Alvarez pounced on him immediately after the second. He landed three big right hands before the referee stepped in and waved off the fight at 2:32. For Alvarez, it was his 11th victory inside the distance.
“I was a little hesitant in the first round after he caught me with a couple of good shots,’’ the exciting Alvarez said. “But I knew I won the round and that he would try and come out strongly in the second. So I stayed patient, continued to circle to my left and closed the show.
“Fighting and winning on SHOWTIME was really a great thing.’’
Daley (pauldaley.proelite.com) overcame a fast start by Morgan to win his fifth in a row inside two rounds. Morgan (sammorgan.proelite.com) may have been slightly ahead after the initial two minutes, but Daley delivered a right elbow that landed flush and that was that.
“There are a lot of good fighters in EliteXC, and Eddie Alvarez is one of them,’’ Daley said. “But I am the best. I came to the United States to become a world champion. I’ll fight anybody. Line ‘em up.
“He got me with a couple good left shoulders, but I was never hurt. I think the referee did a good job stopping it when he did.’’
In a minor surprise, the soft-spoken, streaking Quach (baoquach.proelite.com) dealt McMaster (bobbymcmcaster.proelite.com) a second straight defeat by the scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28.
“I wasn’t worried when he had me down,’’ said Quach after winning for the seventh consecutive time. “I always felt stronger. My leg kicks were the difference.
“This was a great win for me, but all wins are great. What I really wanted was to knock him out.’’
Evinger (tonyaevinger.proelite.com) was perhaps the most impressive winner on the telecast, mostly dominating Kedzie from the outset before getting Kedzie (juliekedzie.proelite.com) to tap out (rear naked choke) after only 1:43 had elapsed.
“It was a hard fight, but I finally did what I had to do and planned to do and, for once, didn’t screw it up,’’ Evinger said. “Lots of people were picking Julie to win and saying bad things about me. I like Julie; she is one of the top-rated girls in the world and I really don’t care what they say about me.
“But I think now the fans have to take me seriously. I really wanted to win this. I guess it does make a big difference when I actually listen to my coach (Ken Shamrock).
“If Gina (Carano) is ready for a rematch, let’s do it. I really want to avenge my loss to her.’’
In the telecast’s opening bout, Hose (kalakolohehose.proelite.com) won a slugfest with Belleton (fredbelleton.proelite.com), stopping him with a perfect right hand to the chin at 4:32 of the first.
It was Hose’s fifth straight victory inside the distance since losing his pro debut (when he fought as a 250-pound heavyweight) and his fourth in a row that ended by KO or TKO in the first round.
This one went a little longer than usual, however. Hose’s last two fights ended in 20 seconds and 38 seconds, respectively.
“I knew I had to keep pressuring and get inside because he was so tall. I knew I had to close the distance,’’ said Hose, who was scheduled to face EliteXC/ICON Sport middleweight champion Robbie Lawler in Hawaii in December ’07, but the match was postponed after Lawler suffered a torn bicep in training.
“If I fight Lawler next, that would be great. But I will fight anybody. I just like to fight.’’
Colorful play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo called the ShoXC action with the “Fight Professor” Stephen Quadros serving as color analyst. Legendary Frank Shamrock, who fights Cung Le March 29 in San Jose, Calif., on SHOWTIME, was a guest commentator on the telecast. The executive producer of ShoXC is David Dinkins, Jr. with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
The next EliteXC fight card on SHOWTIME is Saturday, Feb. 16, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. In a long-awaited grudge fight, the incredibly popular pride of Perrine, Fla., Kimbo Slice will take on David “Tank’’ Abbott of Huntington Beach, Calif., in the main event.
Tickets for a spectacular 10-bout event start at $35 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com and at the BankUnited Box Office at the University of Miami.
For more information on EliteXC and other MMA-related stories, including bios, video-on- demand, photos, stats, Fantasy Fight Game TM and more, please visit ProElite.com and EliteXC.com.
About ProElite, Inc.
ProElite Inc. [PELE.PK] delivers the most exciting entertainment experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on Showtime Networks and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem all the while remaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools. ProElite’s live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world’s top fighters [elitexc.com]. ProElite’s interactive business, ProElite.com, capitalizes on the growing popularity of the sport of mixed martial arts by building a community of MMA enthusiasts. In addition to streaming the most exciting live fights to the web, ProElite expands the fan base of the sport by providing a comprehensive set of online social networking tools for fans, fighters and organizations. ProElite.com – Empowering the Fight Community TM
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® ON DEMAND. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
