ELITEXC EVENT LIVES UP TO BILLING
Posted on | October 27, 2007 | No Comments
SHOXC STUNNERS: JARED HAMMAN CHOKES OUT AARON ROSA,
JAVIER ‘SHOWTIME’ VAZQUEZ RETIRES AFTER FIRST-ROUND WIN
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME
Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California
SANTA YNEZ, CALIF. (Oct. 27, 2007) – On a night when Tito Ortiz’s protégé Aaron Rosa suffered his first loss to undefeated Jared Hamman, Javier “Showtime” Vazquez shocked the Mixed Martial Arts world by announcing his retirement Friday on ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series on SHOWTIME.
“I am better suited as a coach than I am as a fighter,” said Vazquez (12-2) following a 1:15, first-round victory by way of submission (rear-naked choke) over JC “Crayola’’ Pennington (14-4-1). “When the sport feels like it’s a job and you’re clocking in, then it is time to go.
“Win or lose, I knew this was going to be my last fight. I signed for this fight about a month ago. But I actually knew before that this would be it. I just wanted to give myself one more chance to make sure that I was doing the right thing.
“To train everyday, as opposed to having to train everyday, are two different things. I don’t know, maybe one day my feelings will change. But the time feels right, and now I can focus on my life. My camp and family knew what I was up to about a month ago. We have a second child on the way.
“Right now, I am retired,” added Vazquez (javiervazquez.proelite.com), 31, of Pomona, Calif., who was one of the top Jiu-Jitsu practitioners and most explosive and dynamic grapplers in the world. “I am still going to go to the gym every day. I am a master teacher, and I feel I will produce better fighters than me. I think I have made a lot of 145-pound fighters happy.
Gary Shaw, EliteXC Live Events President, was caught totally off guard by Vazquez’s announcement.
“This came as an absolute surprise,’’ Shaw said. “I had no clue that he was even considering retiring. I give Vazquez a lot of credit for doing what he feels is right for the good of the sport.”
In other televised bouts presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s Live Fight Division, EliteXC, that aired at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Chumash Casino Resort: Malaipet (3-1) outpointed Kaleo Kwan (8-7) at 155 pounds; Mushin Corbbrey (12-2, 1 NC) rallied to defeat Bobby McMaster (8-2) at 155 pounds; and Shayna Baszler (10-4) submitted Jennifer Tate (4-1) at 135 pounds.
In results of contests streamed live on ProElite.com, the Internet’s premier MMA social networking and entertainment site, that began at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT: Unbeaten 135-pounder Chris Cariaso (6-0) scored a unanimous decision over Rick McCorkell (6-4); undefeated 185-pounder Giva Santana (10-0) submitted Jaime Fletcher (8-3) in the first round at 2:46; and Shane Del Rosario (3-0) submitted Amedeo Viola (0-1) in a triangle choke 2:27 into the first round of their 225-pound bout.
“This was truly another great ShoXC cage fight card,” Shaw said. “I really believe that ShoXC continues to do for MMA what ShoBox has done for boxing. Tonight’s card featured a lot of great, exciting fights and offered a bit of everything.
“Jared Hamman was awesome. Shayna Baszler exemplified that women do indeed have a place in MMA and with this win may have earned a fight with Gina Carano. Malaipet possesses a ton of talent. I know Kwan’s legs are going to be sore in the morning. Corbbrey continues to demonstrate a ton of skills.
“The fans in attendance, the viewers on SHOWTIME and ProElite.com all received a couple hours worth of quality, competitive, exciting fights. I am very happy for everybody involved.”
As surprising as Vazquez’s retirement announcement was the performance of Hamman (10-0), who dominated Rosa (10-1) en route to triumphing by way of second-round submission (rear naked choke) at 1:46. Hamman, a college football coach, has yet to have a fight enter the third round.
“This is definitely the biggest and most important win of my career,” said Hamman (jaredhamman.proelite.com), of San Bernardino, Calif., who used a series of body slams to eventually render control over Rosa (aaronrosa.proelite.com). “Fighting on SHOWTIME really added more pressure. But what’s cool is that all my players (at the University of Redlands) were able to see me fight and win.
“I don’t know what is next, but for now this is very exciting. Rosa was definitely tough.”
Rosa of San Antonio, by way of Del Rio, Texas, conceded afterward he was not at full strength.
“I don’t make excuses, but I was not 100 percent,” he said. “I got sick recently and it totally messed up my cardio. I got tired in there. I would definitely love to fight him again.”
Pennington (jcpennington.proelite.com), of Slidell, Louisiana, is hopeful of getting another shot on a ShoXC fight card.
“I fought a guy in Vazquez who was naturally much bigger and strong than me,” he said. “I knew Vazquez was tough. I look forward to fighting again soon and regaining my winning ways.”
Baszler (shaynabaszler.proelite.com), of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, made quick work of Tate (jennifertate.proelite.com), of Lodi, Calif., by way of Stockton, Calif. Baszler triumphed by way of submission (arm bar) 44 seconds into the first round.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect it to go that quickly,” Baszler said. “I slipped a punch, the take down was there and I took it. I did what I trained to do.
“I love fighting on SHOWTIME. I know all of my family and friends were watching. I didn’t get a lot of airtime, but I am very happy with this win. I’ve fought the best and I am ready to fight anybody.”
Offered Tate, “I am really disappointed that the fans didn’t get to see the real Jen Tate tonight. I am a much better fighter than I showed and I hope EliteXC and SHOWTIME give me another chance.”
In a fast-paced, one-sided war, Malaipet registered a unanimous decision over Kwan.
Kwan landed a left hook and a series of gyrating jabs, drawing blood over Malaipet’s right eye in the opening round. But Malaipet dominated the fight with a series of thunderbolt low kicks and flying knees to Kwan’s face.
“I am happy with my performance,” said Malaipet (malaipet.proelite.com) of Upland, Calif., who was victorious by the scores of 30-26 and 30-27 twice. “But I guarantee I will be faster, better and swifter next time. I was not 100 percent for this. But once I sign for a fight there is no backing out.”
Said Kwan (kaleokwan.proelite.com) of Waimanalo, Hawaii, “I caught him with some good left hooks, but I didn’t pressure him enough. I think I only tried to take him down once. But I am Hawaiian. You hit me, I hit back. I wanted to test myself. I lost, but I know I’m not that far behind the best.”
.
In the opening telecast of the evening, Corbbrey of Bluffton, S.C., was dominated by McMaster until rallying to win by way of submission (guillotine) at 4:49 of the opening round.
“He was tough as nails. Tougher than I thought, and I knew he was going to be tough,” Corbbrey (muhsincorbbrey.proelite.com) said. “This was a great fight. I was able to show my Jiu-Jitsu and ground skills. This wasn’t the way the fight was supposed to go. He had me down a long time, but I kept moving my head. He never caught me with a solid, great punch.”
Said McMaster (bobbymcmaster.proelite.com), “I am not disappointed. This was my first fight at the master level, and I thought I beat him pretty good for the whole round. I will know next time what not to do. I’m not happy because I lost but these are the rules of the game.”
The executive producer of the telecast was David Dinkins, Jr. with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
EliteXC returns to SHOWTIME Saturday, Nov. 10, when “EliteXC: Renegade,’’ presented by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, makes its highly anticipated debut in Corpus Christi, Texas, live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). Calling the action will be Mauro Ranallo and Stephen Quadros.
The main event will showcase an EliteXC world title fight in a brand new weight class – 160 pounds — between talented, crowd-pleasing Nick Diaz (15-6) of Stockton, Calif., and exciting, hard-hitting KJ Noons (5-2) of San Diego, Calif.
An eagerly awaited match will mark the EliteXC debut of Kimbo, the legendary underground bare-knuckle fighter who became an overnight pop-culture sensation when his fighting videos were posted on various video host sites throughout the Internet. On YouTube, Kimbo’s videos have been downloaded in excess of seven million times – and counting.
Kimbo, of Miami, Fla., will face six-foot, 275-pound veteran Mike “The Rhino’’ Bourke.
A compelling Nov. 10 co-feature will match a Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu against an Xtreme Couture fighter when streaking, world-ranked welterweight, Jake Shields faces Mike “Quicksand” Pyle.
In another televised fight, Kyle “KO’’ Noke (13-3-1), the bodyguard of the late “Crocodile Hunter’’ Steve Irwin, will make his EliteXC debut in a 185-pound fight against Seth “Mass Destruction’’ Kleinbeck (8-3) of Ozark, Ark. A fifth television match is expected to be announced in the near future.
For more information on ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series, EliteXC and other MMA-related stories, including bios, videos, photos, stats and much 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 mixed martial arts 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® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND™ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. 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. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.
RUIZ WANTS CRACK AT CHAGAEV’S WBA TITLE
Posted on | October 25, 2007 | No Comments
Ruiz Petitions WBA
LAS VEGAS (October 25, 2007) – Team Ruiz has formally petitioned the World Boxing Association, on behalf of two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (42-7-1, 29 KOs), rated No. 3 by the WBA, to request reconsideration of its October 10, 2007 ruling that ordered an elimination fight between No. 1 rated Nicolay Valuev and No. 2 Sergei Liakhovich to determine the mandatory challenger for reigning WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev.
The petition is based on the fact that Ruiz should be rated higher than Liakhovich, according to the WBA Rules and Guidelines on Ratings, which were not followed when the decision was made regarding the aforementioned ordering of the Valuev-Liakhovich eliminator. Team Ruiz noted two key WBA rules that were not followed:
Following Ruiz’ split decision loss to Chagzev in their WBA title eliminator on November 18, 2006, Ruiz should have been rated no lower than No. 2, according to Appendix A of the Rules of the WBA, page 20: “The boxer with the higher rating who is defeated by the boxer with the lower rating, will be automatically demoted to the position of the boxer who defeated him provided the result of the fight has been a Split Decision or Unanimous Decision.” Ruiz was rated No. 1 at the time of their fight, Chagaev No. 2.
Based on the WBA’s “100 Point System for Ratings Position Evaluation,” Appendix A, pages 21-25, Ruiz’ score was a minimum of 58, while Liakhovich’s was only 17. Boxers receive points for several categories: Ruiz received 12 points for his 40+ victories (18 minus 6 for his 6 losses), 18 for his victories against rated contenders, 3 for defeats to rated contenders, 8 for winning WBA regional titles and defending them more than three times, 4 for capturing the WBA title, 3 for defending his WBA belt more than 3 times, 4 for capturing a second WBA title, and, most importantly, 6 for activity (2 bouts since November 18, 2006) over the past 12 months.
Liakhovich earned 8 points for his 23 victories (9 minus 1 for 2 losses), only 6 for caliber of opponents (WDEC12 vs. Lamon Brewster for the WBO title and LKOby12 Shannon Briggs), 1 point for his defeat by a rated opponent (Briggs), 2 for capturing the WBO championship and defending it once, and zero points for activity (the proposed WBA Valuev-Liakhovich will take place more than 12 months following Liakhovich’s Nov. 6, 2006 loss to Briggs).
Team Ruiz also noted that when evaluating the important criteria of activity, Ruiz engaged in negotiations with Don King Productions (DKP) and Liakhovich’s management team, starting in late August, 2007 for a Ruiz-Liakhovich bout to occur on either October 6 or October 13, 2007. Ruiz rejected the initial terms but, after further negotiations with DKP, John signed a contract on Oct. 1, 2007 to fight Liakhovich on Oct. 13. Liakhovich, however, refused to fight Ruiz, who ended-up stopping Otis Tisdale in the second round of their Oct. 13 bout in Chicago. It marked the first time in the 21st Century Ruiz fought an opponent that wasn’t a world champion, former title-holder, or rated in the top 10.
Ruiz took the Tisdale fight to stay active and earn his rating. Liakhovich and his management team were quoted in many recent news reports as saying that they refused to fight Ruiz because they were waiting for an elimination match versus Valuev. Noting the inactive and relatively mediocre career of Liakhovich, Team Ruiz feels that Ruiz justifiably deserves to be rated higher than Liakhovich, and has formally petitioned the WBA to rescind its Oct. 10 resolution ordering an elimination bout between Valuev and Liakhovich, replacing Liakhovich with Ruiz.
-JR-
EUROPEAN BOXING NEWS
Posted on | October 25, 2007 | No Comments
It´s official I: IBF middle champ Arthur Abraham defends the title December 8 in Basle. Opponent will be Brit Wayne Elcock, who scored a big upset in beating Howard Eastman to win the national title. As previously reported EBU supermiddle king Cristian Sanavia fights Danilo Haussler in one of the chief supports.
It´s official II: WBO jr middle titleholder Sergey Dzinziruk square off against Czech Lukas Konecny in the co-headliner to WIBF fly queen Regina Halmich´s farewell fight November 30 in Karlsruhe. The EBU writes that its lightheavy champ Thomas Ulrich face Yuri Barashyan on this bill as well.
It will be Latvian Roman Dabolins that takes on Dutchman Andre Janssens for the vacant Belgian heavyweight title November 1 in Izegem.
OPI 2000 won the purse bids today for EBU jr lightweight ruler Leva Kirakosyan´s defence against Belarus Sergey Gulyakevich. Site and date is to be announced. Kirakosyan resides in Spain but hails from Armenia.
Multiple female supermiddle champ Natascha Ragosina is looking to add a fifth belt to her collection when she headlines SES´ promotion in Dessau December 15. Ragosina holds the WIBF, WBA, GBU and WIBA titles and will now try and get the WBC crown as well.
German manager and promoter Falco Behling insists he still have valid contracts with lightheavy Kai Kurzawa, heavyweight Eddy Kalnars, jr middle Nick Klappert and the Kempe twins, Matthias and Andreas. The matter could be heading for the courts if no agreement can be reached with the parties involved. Behling claims he has offered all fights in the US where he also have business.
Rachid Kanfouah and Belaid Asham clash for the French lightheavy title January 24, 2008, in Paris.
Spotlight Boxing returns to Solten, Austria, December 4. Topping the bill are WBC Int´l cruiser champ Rudolf Kraj, ex-IBF middleweight challenger Khoren Gevor and Russian heavy.
JAMIE MOORE AIMING FOR EUROPEAN TITLE
Posted on | October 25, 2007 | No Comments
Jamie Moore Closing In On European Title
You’ll hear boxing fans lament, “They don’t make fighters they way the used to,” and few will argue with that point, but every now and then, there are rare exceptions. British light middleweight champion Jamie Moore is one such example, a hard as nails pressure fighter as tough as they come but also a southpaw who can stand back and take an opponent to school with his pugilistic skills.
The man from Salford, Manchester is a major player among the fight fraternity in the UK and a true local hero in and around the north of England. Moore didn’t achieve that status by getting easy fights or soft title opportunities, but rather had to claw his way back from bitter disappointment and career setbacks.
Now Moore is ranked highly by the WBC and is one bout away from contending for the European title, currently held by undefeated slugger Zaurbek Baysangurov.
But before he can get his crack at the Russian’s continental crown, Moore, 27-3 (18), must once again turn back the aspirations of Britain’s most difficult boxer, Andrew Facey of Sheffield, whom the British champion meets this Friday at Robin Park Centre in Wigan.
Facey, 19-4-1 (6), was gunned down by Moore in the seventh round when they last met in the ring in November, 2004 but the 35 year old has shown improvement since then, pushing Commonwealth king Bradley Pryce the 12 round distance before spoiling the undefeated record of Moore’s promotional stablemate Gary Woolcombe to win the English title this past January.
For his part, Moore is fully aware that beating Facey again is the key to meeting his future goals and isn’t about to let his focus slip.
“A lot of people think that I’ll underestimate Facey, but the opposite is true,” said Moore.
“I know how difficult a fighter he is; I had him on the floor five times in our first fight and he kept getting up. He’s a really awkward customer but I have the added incentive of the European title fight if I beat Facey so no question, I have to win this fight.”
Moore is coming off his highest profile win to date, a dominating points victory over world class operator Sebastian Andres Lujan of Argentina this past April and the 28 year old Englishman’s promoter, Frank Maloney, has confidence that Moore is primed for bigger things.
“Jamie should get past Facey but it won’t be an easy fight,” said Maloney. “He’s the mandatory challenger for the European title and that’s a fight I strongly believe Jamie will win after the Facey contest.
“Should that happen, Jamie will then be ranked very highly by the WBC and we’re then looking at a world title shot. Providing all goes well this weekend in Wigan, we should be making an announcement next week about the European title as I’ve been negotiating with the champion’s manager.”
With so much on the line, Moore realizes that looking past the opponent in front of him is possibly the biggest danger of all.
“I don’t know that much about the European champion right now because I’m not thinking about that fight,” he said. “If I don’t take care of Facey, there will be no European title fight.
“I have no doubt in my mind that I can beat both Facey this weekend and Baysangurov, when the time comes. I’ve been waiting so long for a European title fight and I’m not going to let these opportunities slip by.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents ‘National Service’, featuring Jamie Moore fighting challenger Andrew Facey for the Light Middleweight Championship of Britain at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena on Friday, October 26. Sky TV will televise live.
Tickets are priced at £65 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508. For any further press information please call 0208 267 7647.
Press Release composed by Curtis McCormick for www.frankmaloney.com
RANDY COUTURE’S PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE STREAMED LIVE ON PRO-ELITE
Posted on | October 25, 2007 | No Comments
PROELITE.COM TO PROVIDE
EXCLUSIVE WORLD-WIDE LIVE STREAM
OF RANDY COUTURE’S PRESS CONFERENCE
THURSDAY AT 1:30 P.M. PT/4:30 P.M. ET
LOS ANGELES (Oct. 24, 2007) – So, what were the real reasons why he left Ultimate Fighting Championships? Is the Mixed Martial Arts legend really retired? What is his opinion of his former boss, Dana White, and his reaction to the UFC president bolding proclaiming he “owned him’’?
Was his intention to resign to put pressure on White to let him out of his contract so he can get a much-desired fight against Fedor? Was he making, as reported, millions of dollars per fight? What are his plans for the future?
Those questions and many more will be answered by legendary, three-time heavyweight champion Randy Couture during what figures to be a lively and emotional, no-holds-barred national press conference Thursday in Las Vegas that will be aired live and in its entirety on ProElite.com.
“We at Xtreme Couture feel that it is important for Randy’s side of the story to be heard,’’ said Xtreme Couture Public Relations Director Sean O’Heir. “We are glad to work with the Pro Elite team to help deliver his message directly to his fans, unadulterated and unfiltered as he says it. Pro Elite has done a marvelous job streaming live broadcasts of MMA events around the world. We are excited that they will bring their attention to detail and expertise to Randy’s Press Conference.’’
The exclusive world-wide live stream will begin at 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET and originate from the celebrated and world-renown fighter’s gym, Xtreme Couture, in Las Vegas. Register early at www.proelite.com to see this historic press conference!
ProElite.com’s wall-to-wall coverage will include a live forum chat from Xtreme Couture. Interviews will include fighters and other dignitaries in attendance. It will begin at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET.
For those who miss it the first time around, or merely want to view it again, the press conference will be recorded and put up on ProElite.com later in the day. Check out this thread in the Forums for more details (http://www.proelite.com/forums/12345/topics/36913).
About Pro Elite, 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 mixed martial arts 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
HDNET NAMES ANDREW SIMON HDNET FIGHTS CEO
Posted on | October 25, 2007 | 6 Comments
HDNet Taps Andrew Simon as CEO, HDNet Fights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DALLAS (October 24) – HDNet has named Andrew Simon CEO of HDNet Fights, the high definition network’s new venture into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Simon will lead the strategic direction and overall execution of the network’s Mixed Martial Arts initiative. He will also oversee development of all HDNet Fights branding and sponsorships.
Simon will work alongside Guy Mezger who was recently named general manager of HDNet Fights. Mezger, a former MMA champion, will handle all fighter relations and matchmaking for HDNet Fights.
“Andrew brings a proven track record in sales, marketing, video-on-demand, pay-per-view and strong MMA experience to our network,” said Mark Cuban, chairman and co-founder of HDNet. “Andrew’s strengths as a leader in the media industry combined with Guy Mezger’s unparalleled reputation in MMA, creates a powerhouse team for HDNet Fights. We’re thrilled to have them on board.”
“I jumped at the chance to help build an MMA organization that treats the athletes and sponsors with the respect they deserve,” said Andrew Simon. “Mark has set the standard for treatment of athletes in the NBA, and we will do the same for MMA.”
Andrew Simon comes to HDNet Fights from Cox Communication in Las Vegas, Nevada where he served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales. During his tenure at Cox he was recognized with multiple industry awards including Top 40 Under 40 from In Business Las Vegas, and numerous CTAM and ADDY awards recognizing excellence in leadership and cable marketing. Prior to his tenure at Cox, Simon held management roles with MGM Mirage (formerly Mirage Resorts Inc.) and Deloitte Consulting.
Simon is a graduate of Cornell University, with an MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA.
About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.
HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report”, “Dan Rather Reports” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and “NASA on HDNet” (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010). HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR Grand National Division, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and Mixed Martial Arts; groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including U2, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani and more; entertaining and irreverent lifestyle programming including “Deadline!”, “Art Mann Presents”, and “Get Out!” HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to the critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning “Arrested Development”, “The Black Donnellys”, “Blade: The Series”, “Star Trek: Enterprise”, “Smallville”, “Joan of Arcadia”, “Boomtown” and “Andy Richter Controls the Universe”.
HDNet Movies also features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases – all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.
Only HDNet Movies exclusive “Sneak Previews” bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies “Sneak Previews” have included the Academy Award nominated “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”, Toronto Film Festival nominee “The War Within”, and “Bubble”, the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films “Cashback”, written and produced by Sean Ellis, and, most recently, “Broken English”, from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne. Upcoming Sneak Previews include “Quid Pro Quo”, starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, “Hunter”, the story of the life and death of infamous gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson from director Alex Gibney and producer Graydon Carter, and “Flawless”, starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager 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, and for more information about HDNet Fights, visit www.hdnetfights.com
EL KORITA RESTAURANT TO HOST BIG NIGHT OF CHICAGO BOXING
Posted on | October 25, 2007 | No Comments
EL KORITA restaurant will be the place for Chicago fight fans Thursday night, October 25th as they host this week’s 3 GALLOS/SOLO BOXEO weigh-in on the eve of world class professional championship boxing set for Cicero Stadium on Friday, October 26th.
EL KORITA is located at 4933 S. Ashland on the southwest side of Chicago, just ten minutes south of the Stevenson expressway. The weigh-in, scheduled to start at 7pm, will feature former world champion Martin “EL GALLITO” Castillo, world ranked contender Giovanni “THE AZTEC WARRIOR” Segura and prospect Jorge “EL MAROMERITO” Paez Jr. son of former Mexican boxing champion Jorge “EL MAROMERO” Paez Sr.
The open to the public weigh-in is an excellent opportunity for fans to obtain pictures and autographs from their favorite fighters. Tickets for the
3 GALLOS/SOLO BOXEO evening of world class professional boxing can also be purchased in advance at the weigh-in.
3 GALLOS is presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated along with TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters.
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. Tickets are available in advance by calling 312-226-5800.
The full 3 GALLOS card is as follows;
Martin Castillo vs. Jonathan Perez, ten rounds, super flyweights
Giovanni Segura vs. Wilfrido Valdez, ten rounds, junior flyweights
Jorge Paez Sr. vs. Aaron Drake, eight rounds, junior welteweights
Guadalupe Diaz vs. Joshua Rodriguez, six rounds, welterweights
Miguel Angel Figueroa vs. Cory Hall, four rounds, lightweights
Eric Estrada vs. Greg Dziubek, four rounds, super bantamweights
Elliott Alvarado vs. TBA, four rounds, welterweights
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
CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1997
SHOBOX SET FOR 100th TELECAST
Posted on | October 25, 2007 | 1 Comment
SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION
TO COMMEMORATE 100TH TELECAST
WITH SIGNIFICANT HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Eddie Chambers to Face Calvin Brock in IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator
Live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT from Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Wash.
NEW YORK (Oct. 22, 2007) – ShoBox: The New Generation will celebrate its 100th telecast with arguably the finest match-up and most significant heavyweight fight in the series’ distinguished six-year history.
The heavyweight “Battle for the Ages” will pit “Fast” Eddie Chambers (29-0, 16 KOs) against Calvin “The Boxing Banker” Brock (31-1, 23 KOs) in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title eliminator Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, on ShoBox: The New Generation (live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).
Brian Halquist Productions, Goossen Tutor Promotions and Main Events will present the 12-round title elimination bout from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash. The SHOWTIME telecast will open with an 8-round Jr. welterweight bout pitting Joseito Lopez (21-2, 13 KOs) against the very tough Tyrone Harris (21-3, 14 KOs).
“This is perhaps the most significant fight we have had in ShoBox history in that it has the potential to severely impact the heavyweight division,” said Gordon Hall, vice president and executive producer for the premium network’s acclaimed boxing series. “Plus, the match-up epitomizes what ShoBox is all about—a young, rising star in Chambers in his toughest fight to date. Add world title implications and you’ve got a fight that you don’t want to miss.”
“This is the type of fight that will get fans excited about the heavyweight division. Line up the top contenders and let them fight their way to the title. Chambers will be up to the task,” exclaimed promoter Dan Goossen.
Chambers, of Philadelphia, Pa., is coming off an impressive unanimous decision win – in his ShoBox debut – over crafty veteran Dominick Guinn (May 5, 2007 on SHOWTIME). Chambers is not only fast, as his nickname alludes, but he is strong and agile with impeccable footwork. Chambers says he has been preparing for this fight since his professional career began in December 2000.
“This is my big opportunity to show the boxing world that I am ready to take the next step toward my goal of becoming heavyweight champion of the world,” said the 25-year-old Chambers, who is the No. 10 International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight contender.
“A win over Brock and I am that much closer to my match-up with (current IBF) heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko,” Chambers continued. “But I am not thinking that far ahead, as I am focused on a very dangerous opponent.”
“Fast Eddie is on the ‘Fast Track’ toward success,” said Rob Murray, Jr., Chambers’ manager. “We are very confident that Eddie will make a big statement in the heavyweight division.”
Brock, 32, of Charlotte, N.C., is a hard-hitting veteran whose lone loss came at the hands of IBF Heavyweight Champion Klitschko. Brock’s power, ring smarts and experience will test his unbeaten opponent.
“Chambers has a lot to prove,” Brock said. “I have been around the game, so I know what to do and what to expect. Chambers is still very green.”
“I hope the ratings are great,” said Brock, when asked about being a part of the 100th ShoBox telecast. “It’s very special to be part of this history-making broadcast. Most importantly, I hope fans tune in to watch a great and exciting heavyweight fight.”
The Chambers-Brock victor will take on the winner of the Oct. 27, 2007, match-up pitting IBF No. 5 contender and former IBF/WBO heavyweight titleholder, Chris Byrd, against IBF No. 11 contender and 2004 Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medalist, Alexander Povetkin.
This will be the second of the three young, rising stars heavyweight Events Goossen Tutor Promotions has put together to close out the year on heavyweight boxing on Showtime, leading off with last Friday’s Travis Walker-TJ Wilson upset. On November 16, from the beautiful Island of St. Lucia, #7 WBC heavyweight contender Cristobal Arreola challenges undefeated heavyweight Teke Oruh in the Showtime main event. The opening bout that evening will be 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward against undefeated super middleweight prospect, Roger Cantrell.
Play-by-play announcer Nick Charles and expert analyst/boxing historian Steve Farhood will call the action from ringside. The executive producer of ShoBox is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
For information on Showtime Sports Programming, including exclusive video, photos and news links on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and EliteXC mixed martial arts telecasts, please go www.SHO.com/sports.
About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talented fighters matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise crowd-pleasing and competitive fights while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. The growing list of fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes Leonard Dorin, Scott Harrison, Juan Diaz, Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Joan Guzman, Juan Urango, David Diaz and Robert Guerrero. Kelly Pavlik became the 20th fighter who has fought on ShoBox to win a world title with his victory over Jermain Taylor on Sept. 29, 2007.
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