GATTI LEAVES BEHIND THUNDEROUS MEMORIES
Posted on | September 3, 2007 | 2 Comments
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES “THUNDER”
Tribute to Arturo Gatti – Boxing’s Blood & Guts Warrior
By Tony Penecale
The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City is now quiet. Where once the thunderous chants of “GATTI… GATTI… GATTI” shook the arena, as sellout crowd after sellout crowd cheered on hometown hero Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, all that is left now is silence… and memories.
There is an old saying that “All good things must come to an end”. Recently that adage proved true as the career of Arturo Gatti, boxing’s equivalent to a roller coaster, came to an end in his own backyard of Atlantic City. Now that it is over, it is fitting to give tribute to Gatti, whose career provided a number of thrills over an excitement and drama-filled 16 years.
Known for his determination and resiliency, Gatti carved a niche for himself coming back in situations that seemed to be impossible, whether it was in a fight that he was hurt or losing badly, or after a loss that would seemingly derail his career. Friend and former opponent Mickey Ward once likened Gatti to horror movie villain Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th series, saying that no matter what happened to him, he would always keep coming back. It is ironic that the night that Gatti ran out of sequels happened to fall on Saturday the 14th.
As we say good bye to a favorite, it is easy to see why the fans felt such a connection to Gatti. While he was not as talented or dominant as pound-for-pound greats such as Roy Jones Jr. or Floyd Mayweather Jr., Gatti was a blue-collar fighter that despite his vulnerabilities, would always give maximum effort, whether win or lose. It would be easy to envision Gatti pictured in a black-and-white broadcast, with Howard Cosell or Don Dunphy, calling the bout. He was definitely a throw-back fighter from another era.
It seemed that Gatti was on borrowed time for nearly a decade now. After three straight defeats in 1998, it looked like Gatti was on the downswing. But he rebounded with four straight wins, including a knockout of former titlist Joey Gamache and a blood-soaked decision over fringe contender Joe Hutchinson. This opened the door for a bout with superstar Oscar De la Hoya, which saw Gatti fight hard but succumb to the superior size and power of “The Golden Boy”.
While the loss to De la Hoya surely seemed to be the end of the road, it was a rejuvenated and reinvented Gatti that returned 10 months later, working under the tutelage of Buddy McGirt. After an impressive win over former titlist Terron Millet, a bout with popular New England slugger Micky Ward was signed. Often bouts look good on paper, and this one certainly did, but what happened in the ring certainly exceeded expectations, and their subsequent rematches, with Gatti winning the final two bouts in the series, forever linked them together in one of boxing’s greatest trilogies. The second bout also marked the start of his run as the main attraction at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, where he would compete nine straight times, including eight sellouts.
Gatti parlayed his wins over Ward into another title run when he defeated Gianluca Branco for the WBC junior welterweight title, registering two defenses. From there it was on to a lucrative Pay-Per-View showdown with the vastly talented Floyd Mayweather. While most boxing scribes predicted a dominant Mayweather victory, there were a few that figured Gatti would give him Hell as long as it lasted. That prevailing hope once again brought the Gatti faithful to Atlantic City. However, in the end, it was Mayweather’s supreme talent and speed that rendered the bout a mismatch before McGirt pulled the plug in the corner after six one-sided rounds.
While the drubbing by Mayweather certainly seemed like the end for the popular Atlantic-City icon, Gatti was able to resurrect one more time. Six months after the defeat, Gatti, moving up to welterweight, returned to a sold out Boardwalk Hall to take on Thomas Damgaard, who was sporting a perfect 38-0 (28) coming into the bout.
If every great warrior has one great war left in him, this was Gatti’s. Damgaard never knew what hit him. Gatti boxed well from the outside and slugged toe-to-toe when he needed to. Damgaard’s face would show the effects of the battle after each round, before he was finally rescued by the referee in the 11th round, as a final Gatti right hand had him staggering around the ring.
In hindsight, this would have been the perfect night for Gatti to walk away, victorious in front of his loyal following. But with a title shot looming with the solid-but-unspectacular Carlos Baldomir on the horizon, Gatti would glove up again and challenge for the Argentine fighter’s title. Gatti couldn’t cope with the physically stronger Baldomir, who was making his first defense, and was gradually worn down over the course of the bout, before finally succumbing in the 9th round.
One year later, on July 14, 2007, Gatti looked to reinvent himself one more time, this time against a former star of the “The Contender” reality show, Alfonso Gomez. While Gomez was seen as a light-punching opponent with average speed, he had competed against natural middleweights on the show, including a victory over highly-regarded Peter Manfredo, Junior.
It was evident from the early going that the Gatti that inhabited the ring was not the same Gatti that wowed opponents and fans throughout his career. Gomez landed every punch in his arsenal from the start. And when Gatti would fire his punches, Gomez had no problem in landing counters, primarily landing repeated right hands over Gatti’s jab. In the past, Gatti would march through the punches and bloodshed to unleash his attack. On this night, he was unable to march through and unable to unleash a sustained attack. All that remained from Gatti’s prime was his heart.
Sensing it would be the last time they would chant his name, the crowd ramped up the “GATTI” chants in hopes of one more miracle. That miracle was dashed in the 7th round. With Gomez winning the first six rounds, he looked to close the show in the 7th, landing a volley of punches against a weakening Gatti, who tried in vain to fire back. A brutal right hand sent Gatti slumping to the canvas, his upper lip ripped open, where referee Randy Neuman started the count. Before he could complete it, New Jersey Commissioner Larry Hazzard Jr. immediately entered the ring and halted the contest. In the end, Gatti went out on his shield, in the way that many warriors before him had.
After the bout, longtime HBO color commentator, Larry Merchant, broadcasting from Los Angeles, gave tribute to Gatti, speaking like he was delivering a eulogy. Delivering a classic comment, he spoke on how Gatti’s hourglass had run out and as a collector of artwork and glass, he would have loved to have “Gatti’s hourglass” in his collection.
Back in Atlantic City, HBO analyst Max Kellerman was in the dressing room to interview Gatti who was still leaking blood through the bandages on his cut lip. While the dressing room was a somber place, with several, including Kellerman, holding back tears, it was a smiling Gatti who thanked his fans for their support over the years and announced his retirement, citing an inability to make 140 lbs anymore and his ineffectiveness at 147 lbs. Realizing it was time to call it a career, Gatti said “Hasta la Vista, Baby”, before giving a final thumbs up and then hugging his team, including Micky Ward, who served as his trainer for the bout. Paraphrasing the popular quote, Gatti fought his career so that when he finally said Goodbye, he was the one smiling while everybody else was crying.
As I watched Merchant’s tribute, followed by Gatti’s interview, I felt it appropriate to put my own tribute together, including some of my favorite memories. Being a Gatti fan was like being in a cult. When he fought, the world stopped. And you felt like you were in there with him, enjoying the highs and suffering through the lows. And now that he is retired, Boardwalk Hall is silent. There will be other fighters and big fights there, and hopefully there will be a new star soon to capture the fan’s imagination, but there is only one Gatti and the atmosphere he provided in Atlantic City and on HBO will be sorely missed.
Personal Memories:
“Thunderstruck” Artruro Gatti vs Joe Lofantant(5-15-92) – It was the 2nd preliminary bout on my first live PPV card (and the first card I attended since I slept through a title fight when I was five). The catchy ACDC classic “Thunderstruck” blared over the loud speakers as a skinny, bushy-haired 20-year-old Italian kid, with a 5-0 (5) record, made his entrance. I remember my dad smirking at me as I sang along with the classic tune and saying “I guess you’ll be rooting for this kid!” And I was. Gatti certainly did not disappoint, attacking Joe Lafontant from the opening bell and punishing him over six rounds, winning a unanimous decision in the process. I became a fan that night!
“BAD” Arturo Gatti vs Wilson Rodriguez (3-23-96) – I was lucky enough to be one of the few in my dorm to have HBO access, and I had just gotten back from boxing an amateur tournament to tune in to the Boxing After Dark telecast of Gatti’s first defense of the IBF super featherweight title he had won from Tracy Harris Patterson three months earlier. Fringe contender Wilson Rodriguez was not expected to pose much of a threat but apparently he did not read the script. Rodriguez attacked Gatti early and had him bloody and swollen by the time the 1st stanza had completed. The assault continued with Gatti going down in the 3rd and his face looking like Rodriguez was assaulting him with a bat instead of his fists. When things seemed bleakest, Gatti started to uncork a vicious body attack, slowly sapping the strength from a fading Rodriguez. And when it seemed like the cuts and swollen eyes were going to force the doctor to intervene, Gatti saved his title, destroying Rodriguez with a highlight reel left hook. With the cheering in High Hall Room 112, it felt like we were there at Madison Square Garden watching it live.
“Homecoming Brawl” Arturo Gatti vs Gabriel Ruelas (10-4-97) – It was Homecoming at my college and I knew I would be enjoying the festivities. Long before the days of TIVO and DVR, I was able to set my VCR on timer so I wouldn’t miss Gatti’s defense against a resurgent Gabriel Ruelas. So, at 2:00 am, I put the tape in and a roommate and I sat together and watched the 1997 Fight of the Year. Gatti was in control early before Ruelas badly staggered him in the 4th round and continuing the assault in the 5th. From there, it was time for another miracle as Gatti launched a right hand that broke several ribs and took the air from Ruelas, opening him up for a massive left hook that ended the bout.
“Dueling Parties Declined” Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward (5-18-02) – On this beautiful May evening, I had been invited to two college graduation parties, one for a cousin, and one for a former roommate. Also on this night was a bout that I had been salivating over ever since I saw it signed, Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward. Graduation parties come all of the time but Gatti-Ward only comes once (or three times… but I didn’t know that) so I declined both parties, using “the other party” excuse. I did make a guest appearance at my cousin’s party, staying about an hour, and racing home at 100 mph just in time to catch the HBO broadcast. It was well worth it. Some fights you watch in a recliner, some fights you watch on the edge of your seat. This fight I watched on my feet. It was that amazing. Even though Gatti was on the losing end of a close decision, the spectacular action was a definite highlight. I felt bad about skipping the parties but I know that I made the right decision.
“A Friendly Wager on the Rubber Match” Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward III (6-7-03) – When they announced the rubber match between Gatti and Ward to be in Atlantic City, I knew that I had to be there. The day tickets went on sale, I scoped up four of them and went to the show with my dad, my neighbor, and his brother-in-law. I also made a side wager with a friend of Irish descent at a local fitness center. If the Italian (Gatti) won, he would wear a red, white, and green hat all night. If the Irish fighter (Ward) won, I would work out all night in a Leprechaun hat. I’ll never forget the feeling in the seats that night. There was a buzz immediately following the main undercard bout. That buzz intensified when Ward made his way to the ring. And when Gatti appeared the buzz became pure electricity. The bout had a series of momentum shifts with Gatti boxing well early before breaking his hand and absorbing a pasting from Ward. Just when Gatti was reclaiming control, a Ward right put him on the canvas. But in true Jason Voorhees form, Gatti was up immediately and ready for more, outboxing and outslugging Ward over the final four rounds to win the decision and cap off their amazing trilogy. It was such a great fight, that upon leaving I was exhausted and covered in sweat myself! And my friend did hold up to his end of the bet, wearing the Italian colors all night.
“A Friend’s First Fight” Arturo Gatti vs Carlos Baldomir (7-22-06) – This fight certainly does not stand out for the result but for the opportunity to take a life-long friend to his first boxing match. I had been friends with Mike for over 20 years and he was always a quiet and generally reserved guy. He had always been a Gatti fan and had never attended a live fight, so I got him a ticket to attend this bout with a fight fan’s group, including my dad, my neighbor, and another friend (and former opponent) from my amateur days. All during the bout, it was Mike’s chants that were the loudest. As Gatti was falling behind, it was Mike that kept chanting and yelling encouragement. After the bout was finally stopped in the 9th round, we were all understandably dejected, but Mike, while disappointed, was still exhilarated. He had seen one of his favorite fighters engage in a slugfest live. He later confided in me that it was an awesome experience and he was hoarse for days. Even though our hero had lost, I am glad that my friend took a great memory from it.
Tags: Arturo Gatti > Boxing > Floyd Mayweather > Kathy Duva > Micky Ward > welterweight
DUDDY TO FIGHT AGAIN ON OCTOBER 20
Posted on | September 3, 2007 | No Comments
Duddy looks to continue European campaign
Unbeaten middleweight sensation John Duddy will look to continue his march to European and World honours on the next Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the National Stadium, Dublin on Saturday, October 20th on the night of the “Celtic Tigers”.
Duddy will headline the event with support from Irish middleweight champion, Matthew Macklin and undefeated light welterweight Paul McCloskey on what promises to be a real showcase of Ireland’s finest fighting talents.
All three men are pushing towards title contention with the trio eyeing up European titles. Duddy is adamant though that he is not looking beyond his next outing at the spiritual home of Irish boxing. The New York based Derry man said, “Everyone wants to know about the future and talk about European titles and World titles but I never give it a second thought because I always need to stay focused on the job at hand and for me that’s October 20th at the National Stadium.
”I’m in a great position now because there are avenues open to me on both sides of the Atlantic. I’ve a good team behind me with the McLoughlin brothers so we’re definitely moving in the right direction.”
Also on board that team is new trainer Don Turner. The veteran American was in Duddy’s corner for the first time at the National Stadium in July when he stopped seasoned Italian campaigner Alessio Furlan in the tenth and final round. Turner was pleased with Duddy’s performance and the fighter himself was thrilled to be back home after 20 consecutive wins Stateside.
“I’m delighted that we made the decision to come home for my last fight and I’m already looking forward to this next one,” said Duddy. “Fighting in New York is something special and for a guy from Derry to headline at Madison Square Garden is amazing but at the end of the day it’s just not home.”
Duddy enjoyed the acclaim of his home crowd last time and he says the atmosphere left his speechless. “I can’t enjoy the crowd until I’ve done the business in the ring but as soon as the referee stopped the last fight at the Stadium I turned and looked out into crowd and it was amazing. Everyone was going nuts and it’s just an incredible feeling. I fought at the Stadium so many times as an amateur but that was something else and I have to take my hat off to everyone who came out to support me. Hopefully they’ll all be back on October 20th.”
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: JAMES MCGIRT JR. LOOKING TO ADD ANOTHER WIN TO HIS UNDEFEATED RUN
Posted on | September 3, 2007 | 1 Comment
Undefeated James McGirt, Jr. fighting at home again in Big Apple
Broadway Boxing co-feature Wednesday night at Cipriani
VERO BEACH, Florida (September 3, 2007) – Undefeated super middleweight prospect James McGirt, Jr. (16-0, 9 KOs) has returned home to New York City for Wednesday night’s eight-round co-feature against veteran Thomas Reid, showcased on Broadway Boxing, at Cipriani Wall Street.
The 24-year-old southpaw McGirt, rated No. 36 by the World Boxing Council, is a native of Brentwood (NY), but he lives and trains in Vero Beach (FL) with his father, James “Buddy” McGirt, former world champion and Trainer of the Year.
“It’s a special feeling for me as soon as I land in the airport,” McGirt spoke about fighting at home. “This will be my fifth fight in a row in New York. I love being there, everything about New York City. I get to see and perform in front of my family.”
McGirt is coming off of a devastating first-round knockout of Delray Raines (8-2) on June 20 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. James took the fight against Reid (35-14, 13 KOs), whose last action was a loss by six-round decision last December to Jaidon Codrington, on a little more than two weeks notice.
Reid is known for eating up rounds and has taken the likes of former world champions Montell Griffen (twice) and Danny Green, as well as Prince Badi Ajamu, Yusaf Mack, Khalid Jones, Julio Cesar Gonzalez, Rodney Moore and Elvir Muriqi, the full distance during the Tennessee native’s 14-year pro career.
“I am happy to have an opportunity to fight, anytime,” McGirt explained. “When we got the call for this fight, my manager (Dennis Witherow) spoke with me and my father, and we decided to move forward. I’m always in shape, and work hard everyday on my boxing skills” “Even when my father was in California working on The Contender (‘Buddy’ is a coach for the television reality show’s upcoming third season), I was in the (Vero Beach) gym every day working hard. This is what I do (fight) for a living, so I take pride in my conditioning and training.
When asked about his upcoming opponent, McGirt said, “To be honest, I don’t like to know too much about my opponent. That’s my dad’s job. He studies the tapes, breaks down my opponent’s weaknesses, and tells me what to do. I know he (Reid) goes rounds and has been around a long time.”
-JM-
Takedown Wrestling Radio Weekly Rundown
Posted on | September 3, 2007 | 1 Comment
America’s Wrestling Radio talk show is now heard around the world. From our Brute Adidas Studios now broadcast on the following internet outlets: Takedownradio.com, KXNO.com, Matchannel.com,
Mat-magazine.com. Please be sure to join our live broadcast each and every Saturday as we talk to the worlds greatest athletes. Wrestlers and MMA competitors alike join us each and every week. You should too! TDR is available LIVE, Archived and Pod Cast as well. Check out Takedownradio.com for more details.
Joining us in studio for this weeks special program is Jeff Murphy of Kemin Industries.
Our guests this week include:
John Stutzman head coach of the Bloomsburg University wrestling. In his first year as head coach Stutzman led the Huskies to a mark of 11-9, 4-2 in the EWL. Bloomsburg also sent five wrestlers to the NCAA championships. Prior to becoming the Huskies’ head coach last season, Stutzman spent five years as the recruiting coordinator at both Northern Illinois and Bloomsburg. Stutzman has been able to bring in four nationally-ranked recruiting classes with the 2003 Bloomsburg recruiting class ranked as high as 14th, nationally, by Intermat. As an assistant coach he has had the opportunity to coach over 22 NCAA Division I national qualifiers, two Division I All-Americans, and one Olympic Trials participant. He has also coached for the New York Athletic Club at the 2004 US Olympic Freestyle Trials.
Eric Bellas- Author of Train Like a Champion, PSU Grad 2001, Wrestling Coach in San Diego, Ca. his book is now available in a hard copy edition.
Greg Jackson- Jackson MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Greg Trains some of the worlds greatest MMA stars like George St. Pierre (Canada), Sugar Rashad Evans (Mich. St.) and many others. Recently one of Greg’s students had a falling out, rather publicly, with his gym. Tune in to hear what Greg has to say about the charges Diego Sanchez laid out rather publicly.
Archie Randall- Head Coach of Oklahoma City University. Recent hiring of Wayne James as asst. for both Men’s and Women’s programs has only served to strengthen the resolve of this coach. A month earlier and more Archie signed athletes Will Shelton, Colin MacMillan, Tyler Untrauer, Billy Burt, Aaron Richards, Jake Mabry, Brandon Tullos. His additions to the women’s program also indicate a drive to the future with the signing of Nicole Woody, Lacey Novinska and Samantha Phillips. This coach is driven by goals and a sincere look to the future. Tune in the hear what plans he has for the 07-08 season.
Nicole Woody- 2007, 102 pound Junior National Champion from Gambrills, MD will join us as her coach Archie Randall stays air. This wiley little spitfire may surprise some of you but not Coach Randall. Question for Nicole: Why Oklahoma City University and what’s more, Why Coach Randall. Nicole joins Lacey Novinska, Ashley Hudson, Samantha Phillips and the balance of the team for what Coach Randall calls his best recruiting class yet.
Zac Hall (Ithaca, Mich.) was named TDR/TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for July 3-July 9
Hall claimed a double title at the ASICS Kids National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships in Green Bay, Wis., July 6-7, winning the Novice 80-pound division in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. This is the third consecutive year that Hall has won a double-title at the ASICS Kids National Championships. In 2006, he was a double champion at the Novice 75-pound class. In 2005, he was a double champion in the Midget 70-pound weight class. At the ASICS Kids Greco-Roman Nationals, Hall won five straight matches to claim the gold medal. He defeated Tommy Forte of Indiana in the finals, 2-4, 1-1, 3-2. In freestyle, Hall also had five straight wins on the way to the title. In the championship match, Hall stopped Anthony Gonzalez of Michigan by technical fall, 7-0, 8-0.
Mike Duroe, Head Coach (3rd season) (TDR’s Hero of Wrestling List)
Duroe, head coach of the 2005 and ’06 U.S. Freestyle World Team and head coach of the University of Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling Club from 2003-05, begins his second season as head wrestling coach at Cornell College. In 2006 the U.S. team finished third in the world with four medalists. In his first season at Cornell, Duroe’ s squad won a school-record 15 dual meets and the Rams qualified two wrestlers for nationals with one All-American.
Duroe, a native of Charles City, has been head coach at Northern Michigan University, an assistant at the University of Pennsylvania and head coach of the Northwestern University Wildcat Wrestling Club. He was a member of the coaching staff for the Pan American Games (2003) and the Olympic Games (1996, 2000 and 2004). At Northern Michigan from 1980-85, Duroe compiled a record of 82-27 with 23 All-Americans and two NCAA champions. For two years he was in charge of the Northwestern Wildcat Wrestling Club before leading New Trier ( Ill.) High School from 1986-98. From 1998-2001 Duroe was national resident coach at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He was the head assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania from 2001-03 before joining the Hawkeye Wrestling Club in 2003.
Duro will update us on his squads preparedness as they get ready for Baku, (Azerbaijani: Bak?), sometimes known as Baky or Baki, is the capital and the largest city of Azerbaijan.
Join us every week on Saturday morning’s for 2 hours of America’s Wrestling Radio talk show. TDR can be heard on great radio stations and web sites around the world like: Des Moines Sports Station AM 1460 KXNO, Takedownradio.com, KXNO.com, Matchannel.com, Mat-magazine.com. Please be sure to join our live broadcast each and every Saturday as we talk to the worlds greatest athletes. Wrestlers and MMA competitors alike join us each and every week. You should too! TDR is available LIVE, Archived and Pod Cast as well. Check out Takedownradio.com for more details.
GUNN WELCOMES SPECULATION OF TARVER FIGHT
Posted on | September 2, 2007 | No Comments
Gunn Responds To Rumors Of Potential Tarver Fight
For Immediate Release
Former IBA Cruiserweight champion and WBO title challenger Bobby Gunn 18-3 {15 KO’s} is excited upon hearing the speculation regarding a fight with former undisputed Light Heavyweight champion Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver. Two different websites have reported the potential clash. Gunn hopes these rumors can get him a date with a man he calls a great champion.
“I have made calls to Tarver’s promoter and his camp”, said the hard hitting Canadian. “I will fight Tarver anytime, any place, and at any weight. This is not a movie, I am the real life Rocky Balboa and this will be a real fight. I am not obligated or contract to any promoters and I am self managed. I have a great team of attorneys that look out for me so this will not be complicated to get done, if you want an opponent who is colorful and has a world wide fan appeal, you should look no further then me”!
Clips from Gunn’s last fight can be seen here
Real Fighting Championship Will Air on FightZone TV!!
Posted on | September 1, 2007 | No Comments
FightZone TV Presents RFC VII On Sun Sports
FightZone TV is proud to announce, that In keeping with our goal of bringing Sun Sports’ millions of viewers the best MMA fights in the country, we are presenting Real Fighting Championships (RFC) VII “Night Of Champions” airing 6 times in September.
And a night full of Champions it was, as James Edson Berto, recently featured in three Showtime Pro Elite nationally televised events, faced Chris Mickle in a match for a Lightweight belt.
Lew Polley and IFL’s latest addition, Chris Baten, put on one of the best Florida fights ever recorded. This epic battle between two outstanding, well-conditioned fighters is a “Must See FightZone TV Event.”
Other highlights include matches between America’s Top Team Luis Nazario and Tampa favorite Chris Holder; Danny Ruiz and Robert Hitte; Allen “Monster Lobstah” Berube just prior to his appearance on UFC’s Ultimate Fighter in the cage against Josh Powell and Carl Greco-Ognibene vs Mike Van Meer.
And you certainly don’t want to miss the ladies match between Canada’s Liz Posner and Kim Predmore. Add well-known Florida Trainer, Ralph Garcia’s first professional fight and a Matt Arroyo appearance and you have 1-1/2 hours of nonstop MMA action.
Commentary is provided by Fight Zone’s Jay Adams alongside UFC’s Stephan Bonner with Nancy Evans getting all the “Behind the Scenes” interviews with the fighters.
The event was held at the Sun Dome in Tampa in front of a SRO crowd and a spectacular pyrotechnics display.
So whether you were there in person at the largest MMA event ever held in Tampa or want to see what you missed, FightZone TV puts you in the middle of all the action right in the comfort of your home.
FightZone TV, RFC and Sun Sports – Making MMA History Together.
FightZone TV Presents is aired on Sun Sports to over 6,000,000 Florida homes and on FSN Satellite to over 2,000,000 Sports Package subscribers.
Below is the airing schedule for RFC VII in September and RFC VIII in October which features a special guest appearance and exclusive ring interview with Chuck Liddell. Enjoy!
www.FightZoneMedia.com
FightZone TV Presents Sun Sports Airing Schedule
09/01/2007
11:00PM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 6 RFC VII: Night of Champions (D)
09/09/2007
2:00AM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 6 RFC VII: Night of Champions (R) NON-MARLINS
09/15/2007
10:00PM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 6 RFC VII: Night of Champions (R)
09/17/2007
11:00PM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 6 RFC VII: Night of Champions (R)
09/22/2007
12:00AM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 6 RFC VII: Night of Champions (R)
10/10/2007
4:30AM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 7 RFC VIII: Invasion of the Cage (D)
10/13/2007
5:00PM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 7 RFC VIII: Invasion of the Cage (R)
10/16/2007
11:00PM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 7 RFC VIII: Invasion of the Cage (R)
10/25/2007
10:00PM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 7 RFC VIII: Invasion of the Cage (R)
10/31/2007
4:30AM
(MRL) FIGHTZONE Presents: 7 RFC VIII: Invasion of the Cage (R)
KEVIN MCBRIDE’S BOSTON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Posted on | August 31, 2007 | No Comments
Kevin McBride’s Boston Press Conference Quotes
McBride: “It’s great having a manager like Jerry Quinn, who has been very good to me, putting together my new team. Talk is cheap; seeing is believing. It’s going to be an exciting fight with two big men in the ring. Fighting has been a dream for me and it wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for Jerry Quinn. You’re only as good as your last fight, but it was ill advised for me to fight, and now I’m focused and hungry.
“Boxing is the toughest sport in the world. One punch can change a chapter. When I land my big punch on Golota’s chin it’s going to be the next chapter for me as I continue my dream of winning the biggest prize – the world heavyweight title. I will be the first Ireland-born heavyweight champion of the world. I accomplished my other two dreams in boxing: fighting in the Olympics and fighting Mike Tyson. My father told me if I believed in myself and worked hard I’d beat Tyson and I did. It was the greatest night of my life. I beat one legend, Tyson, and met the biggest of all, Muhammad Ali, who told me I was the latest and he was the greatest.
“I’m excited to be fighting in Madison Square Garden where all of the great heavyweights have fought like Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. This is going to be like a modern day Cinderella Man story. I know I have what it takes to be champion of the world ad I’m going to make it there with the team ‘Mighty’ Quinn has put together. It’s going to be a great night, more exciting than the Tyson fight. Golota’s a big name, too. I’m stronger than I was in the Tyson fight, lifting 260 pounds back then and 460 now. You can see the difference.
“There will be a lot of Polish there for Golota, but I’m going to have a lot of Irish supporting me, waving the Irish flag high when I win. On October 6th I’m going to win and retire Andrew Golota the same way I retired Mike Tyson.”
-KM-
LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN: RUA VS. LAWLER PREVIEW SHOW DEBUTS TONIGHT
Posted on | August 31, 2007 | 1 Comment
EliteXC’s “Countdown To Rua vs. Lawler”
Premieres Friday on SHOWTIME
NEW YORK (Aug. 31, 2007)—SHOWTIME will premiere “Countdown to Rua vs. Lawler”—profiling EliteXC’s anxiously awaited mega-MMA event ‘Uprising’, the biggest and most collaborative event in Hawaiian history—tonight at 1 a.m. ET/PT (morning of Saturday, Sept. 1).
The dramatic and hard-hitting 30-minute documentary will air at various times on the premium network until Sept. 15, when Murilo “Ninja” Rua makes his initial title defense of the EliteXC Middleweight Championship against “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler. (See next page for complete schedule)
The stacked fight card, which pits Rua of the world renowned Chute Boxe Academy and Lawler of the Miletich Fighting System in the main event, also features two match-ups with members of Team Gracie facing fighters of Team Penn.
In matching fighters from all of these legendary and pioneering fight camps on one card, ProElite’s respected live fight division, EliteXC is exposing the national audience to the roots of the sport and aiding MMA’s explosive growth. In less than eight months, this burgeoning MMA event organization has managed to produce some of the best MMA programming on television.
“Uprising” will air live on SHOWTIME from Honolulu at 10 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on the West Coast) and features up to five live fights, with additional matches streaming live immediately following the telecast at ProElite.com, the premier mixed martial arts social networking and entertainment internet site.
Produced by Emmy award winning Planet Grande Pictures, “Countdown” is wrought with fight highlights from each fighters colorful past, furious training sessions and coaching from the world’s top MMA academies—Gracie, Penn, Miletich, and the Brazilian family of fighters known as Chute Boxe Academy. “Countdown to Rua vs. Lawler” takes viewers across the globe to the places where MMA legends are born.
In Brazil, Rua and his world-class fight team at Chute Boxe prepare for the most important assignment of their young champion’s life. With brother Mauricio “ShoGun” in his corner, “Ninja” Rua prepares to lay it all on the mat, not only in defense of the EliteXC middleweight belt, but also in honor of the MMA pedigree that the Chute Boxe and Rua families represent.
Back in the United States, at Pat Miletich’s school in Iowa, Lawler prepares in America’s heartland to wrestle (and pound) the EliteXC strap from Rua, so he can place it alongside his ICON Middleweight Championship belt.
“I respect Chute Boxe and all of the champions that have come out of Brazil,” Lawler admits. “But I am coming hard. I am coming to knock him out.”
With 11 knockout wins, Lawler is revered for his aggressive style and no nonsense approach in the cage. With victories over Falaniko Vitale, Joey Villasenor and Frank Trigg, Lawler has earned recognition and respect throughout the world.
In the program, Lawler reveals plans to leave the Miletich Fighting System after this fight and open his own MMA training school in Illinois. Defeating Rua on Sept. 15, and earning the notoriety that comes with another major championship belt, Lawler will be on his way to legendary status in the worldwide MMA community.
“Rua vs. Lawler,” said EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw. “Two great champions. Two great fight camps… and no one knows who is going to win.”
Featuring interviews with the leading MMA journalists David Doyle (Yahoo! Sports), Josh Gross (Sherdog.com), Sam Caplan (CBS Sports), Loretta Hunt (The Fight Network) and Stephen Quadros (SHOWTIME Color Commentator), “Countdown” takes fans into the training camps and the homes of Team Gracie’s Nick Diaz and Jake Shields and Team Penn’s “Iron” Mike Aina and Renato “Charuto” Verissimo.
Diaz reflects on his life’s ambitions as an irreverent student in high school, “I just wanted to fight,” he said and takes you along for a ride through a grueling Iron Man triathlon.
The boyishly handsome Shields introduces viewers to his six-year-old daughter and tells how her birth has delivered him from street fights in central California to center stage on national television.
An ocean away in Hawaii, B.J. Penn’s teammates, Aina and Verissimo know that Sept. 15 is the opportunity of a lifetime for them. Competing in front of family and friends, they are confident and determined to defend their home turf and show that they too belong among the world’s elite.
With hard-hitting highlights, revealing interviews and the biggest fight teams in the world assembled, “Countdown” portrays the EliteXC groundswell that is “Uprising!”
Attached Photo: Credit Tom Casino/EliteXC…Murilo “Ninja” Rua wining his EliteXC Middleweight Championship belt on June 22. Pictured with EliteXC Live Division, headed by Gary Shaw.
Whet your appetite for the biggest MMA event in Hawaiian history.
Catch “Countdown To Rua vs. Lawler” on SHOWTIME at the following times:
DAY DATE TIME CHANNEL
Friday Aug. 31 1 a.m. SHO
Saturday Sept. 1 12:30 a.m. SHO
Monday Sept. 3 4 p.m. SHO
Tuesday Sept. 4 Midnight SHO
Wednesday Sept. 5 Midnight SHO
Sunday Sept. 9 11 p.m. SHO
Monday Sept. 10 7:30 p.m. SHO
Wednesday Sept. 12 1:30 a.m. SHO
Thursday Sept. 13 Noon SHO
Friday Sept. 14 1:15 a.m. SHO
For more on “Uprising” and for complete bios, photos and videos of your favorite fighters, visit fighter homepages at www.ProElite.com.
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. 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.
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