THE BAZOOKA’S COMING BACK TO BOXING
Posted on | July 19, 2007 | No Comments
BAZOOKA READY TO RELAUNCH
***Ike Quartey Looking to Get Back Into the Ring***
Accra, Ghana July 17—Ghanaian Boxing superstar Ike “Bazooka” Quartey (37-4-1, 31 KO’s) is ready to start fighting again and is prepared to take on all comers. While he is busy preparing for the opening of his new hospital in Accra , he has already begun intense training back at home in preparation for his next battle.
The former WBA Welterweight Champion will be moving back down to the 147 pound weight class. The change comes after losing a decision at middleweight against Winky Wright, who has actually gone up in weight to 170 for his next fight.
“Even though everyone knows that I beat Forrest, I did have a tough night against Winky. Neither fight was at the right weight for me,” said Quartey. “I feel like I can be slicker and move better in the ring at 147. Fighting at welter will allow me to polish my defense and have a much more explosive offense in the ring. I’m joining Mosley and Oscar in moving down and I will be a factor in the welterweight division.”
“I still have fire and ability,” said Quartey. “I want to leave a winning legacy for my fans across the world and I plan on doing that at this point in my life. I am in the best shape of my career and am ready to fight the best. I want people to know that Ike Quartey still has what it takes.
”The “Bazooka” has had a storied career which has seen him fight some of the greatest pugilists in the sport including back to back bouts against Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas.
Quartey looks forward to stepping back into the ring in September or October.
SHOWTIME STEPPING UP MMA COVERAGE
Posted on | July 19, 2007 | 1 Comment
SHOWTIME TO DEBUT NEW MIXED MARTIAL ARTS SERIES
ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series
Series Premiere Friday, July 27, Live at 11 p.m. ET/PT (except on West Coast)
NEW YORK (July 19, 2007) – Showtime Networks Inc. and mixed martial arts organization EliteXC officially announced today the debut of a new series on the premium television network, ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series. The series will premiere live on Friday, July 27 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Following the successful model of the network’s critically acclaimed, prospect-oriented boxing series ShoBox: The New Generation, ShoXC will put talented, up-and-coming fighters on the fast track to stardom. The mission of the series is to pit young fighters against quality opposition in tough, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches.
“This network and our partners at EliteXC have made a long-term commitment to developing the sport of professional mixed martial arts,” said Ken Hershman, senior vice president and general manager, Showtime Sports & Event Programming. “ShoXC is one of the most important components to that development. Now, young fighters will have an elite proving ground to showcase their talents on national television. In addition, the fans now can track MMA’s future stars as they develop their fighting style and skills.”
ShoXC will air regularly on Saturday nights—following the Friday premiere—and will feature fighters from all over the world. In the debut episode, matches will take place in a 20’ x 22’ foot hexagon cage. MMA fights on other ShoXC telecasts may take place in a cage or a ring.
“‘ShoBox’ is a truly unique, one-of-a-kind series for the true boxing fan,” added Hershman. “’ShoBox’ has introduced fans to many of today’s top fighters, including more than 15 current world champions. We expect the same kind of success stories to come out of ShoXC.”
Gary Shaw, EliteXC President, Live Events said, “I believe that ShoXC will be as popular and important to the MMA audience as ShoBox is to boxing.’’
The initial two-hour ShoXC telecast will feature up to five fights with Edson Berto of Orlando, Fla., facing K.J. Noons of San Diego (155-pound match) in the main event. Also on the card, Aaron Wetherspoon of Irvine, Calif., will meet hometown champion Jeremiah Metcalf of Santa Ynez in a King of the Cage/Gladiator Challenge welterweight championship unification match.
And, as is the precedent for EliteXC, additional fights will be streamed live on the Internet (www.ProElite.com) immediately following the telecast.
EliteXC announcer Mauro Ranallo will handle play-by-play for ShoXC with highly regarded color analyst Stephen Quadros, The Fight Professor, at his side. The executive producer of ShoXC is David Dinkins, Jr. with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
# # #
About Pro Elite, Inc.
ProElite Inc. 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.
PFC’S “STEP UP” WEIGH IN RESULTS
Posted on | July 19, 2007 | No Comments
Hanford’s Chris Botelho (4-2) 169 vs. Bakersfield’s Josh McCartney (1-1) 165
‹welterweight title eliminator
Sacramento’s David Espinosa (3-0) 134.5 vs. Porterville’s Shawn Klarzcyk
(5-1) 135 for the vacant PFC World bantamweight championship
Oroville’s Shawn Bias (10-4) 145 vs. Minnesota’s Aaron Maldonado (4-0) 142
for the vacant PFC World featherweight crown.
Fresno¹s Casey Olson (4-1) 155 vs. Stockton¹s Brandon Jinnies (2-5) 155,
lightweights
Lemoore¹s Kenny Ento (6-2) 184.5 vs. Palika Drummondo (2-3) TBA,
middleweights
Calousa¹s Ruben Villareal (11-13-3) 259 vs. Tulare¹s Rafael Del Real (4-5)
223, heavyweights
Las Vegas¹ Dewey Cooper (0-0) 205 vs. Adam Smith of Venice Beach (1-0)
214, light heavyweights
Las Vegas¹ Angelo Antuna (4-0) 146 vs. Palmdale¹s Seth Dikun 144,
featherweights.
Lemoore¹s Mickey Martinez (2-0-1) 166 vs. Bakersfield¹s Robert Breslin
(3-6-1) 161, welterweights
Sacramento¹s Mark Munoz (0-0) 223 vs. Taft¹s Austin Achorn (0-0) 249,
heavyweights
Fresno¹s Ralph Lopez (2-0) 157 vs. Sacramento¹s Marcus Blood (1-1) 151,
featherweights
Lemoore¹s Elvis Franco (0-0) 145 vs. Anahiem¹s Scott Brommage (0-2) 147,
featherweights
Visalia¹s Mike Cook (3-1) 231 vs. TBA, heavyweights
Coalinga¹s Mario Rivera (3-4) 169 vs. Bakersfield¹s Joe Chaidez (2-0) 168,
welterweights.
Sacramento¹s Jeremy Freitag (4-5) 206 vs. Philadelphia¹s Lamont Lister (3-2)
202, light heavyweights
Bend, Oregon¹s Jason Georgianna (3-0) 138 vs. Merced¹s Rolando Velasquz
(2-0) 138, bantamweights.
‹ Brazils¹ Cleverson Dezonet (1-1) TBA vs. Dinuba’s Rolando Jaime (0-0) 170,
welterweights
DERRICK GAINER NOTCHES ANOTHER WIN
Posted on | July 19, 2007 | No Comments
Derrick Gainer Returns Victorious!
Former WBA Featherweight Derrick “Smoke” Gainer 41-7-1 {24 KO’s} returned to the ring Saturday with a split decision victory over the tough Carlos Navarro 27-6-1 {22 KO’s}. The fight between two southpaws was featured on the undercard of the Roy Jones -Anthony Hanshaw pay per view. Navarro was the aggressor for much of the fight, but had most of his shots altered by Gainer. The former WBA champion was able to stun Navarro, while showing he still had his world class hand speed. Gainer was able to land a few vintage combinations to both the body and the head throughout the contest.
Gainer was happy to return victorious and applauded his tough opponent. “Navarro is a very game fighter he came to win and I knew he would be tough. The fight was close due to his aggression; he landed a lot of punches on my arms and one clean punch in the third round. I didn’t throw as many punches as I wanted to. I have been in similar fights where it was close and the decision went the other way but tonight it was my time and I know I deserved to win the fight”.
Gainer also revealed his plans to drop down to the Junior Lightweight division and fight for a world title in the near future. “I plan on becoming a world champion at 130 pounds and I will stay active. I took this fight at 135 pounds, so it was easier on my body to make weight. I’ll fight any of the big names at 130 pounds, look at my resume; I have fought nothing but the best! Let’s make a fight with one of the champions. The boy from South Africa {Mzonke Fana} mentioned my name in an interview and I’ll go to South Africa and take his belt. My manager just spoke with the IBF I am sure they will rank me and this time Fana will have no excuses!
BRIGGS CALLS OUT KLITSCHKO
Posted on | July 19, 2007 | No Comments
Miami Florida, July 18, 2007
Former WBO heavyweight champion, Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs is seeking a shot at Wladimir Klitschko, as he stated, “I’ve been calling out Klitschko for years and got no love.” Briggs, who was diagnosed with walking phenomena prior to his title defense against Sultan Ibragimov, mentioned, “No matter what his people are trying say, I was not 100% going into that fight. Give me the opportunity to fight at full strength, and we’ll see what happens. If Klitschko is so great, he should have no problem taking a fight with me.” Wladimir, who stands at the top of the heavyweight division, recently retained his IBF strap by dominating Lemon Brewster in Cologne, Germany.
EARLY AUGUST BOXING ACTION SCHEDULED FOR SHOWTIME
Posted on | July 18, 2007 | 1 Comment
For Immediate Release
HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECTS KEVIN JOHNSON & DAMIAN WILLS
TO COLLIDE AUG. 3 ON SHOWTIME
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Eric Hunter to Take on Joel Santiago in Featherweight Co-Feature
Friday, Aug. 3, At 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME from Far West Rodeo, Doraville, Ga.
NEW YORK (July 16, 2007) – Two up and coming heavyweight prospects, Kevin “The Kingpin” Johnson (15-0-1, 6 KOs) and Damian “Bolo” Wills (22-1-1, 16 KOs), will have their chance to make a mark on the American heavyweight picture when they meet on the renowned SHOWTIME series – ShoBox: The Next Generation, Friday, August 3, from Atlanta, Ga. In the featherweight co-feature, Eric Hunter (7-1, 3 KOs), of Philadelphia, Pa., will take on Joel Santiago (8-0, 2 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico.
The exciting doubleheader, promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing will air on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) from the Far West Rodeo, Doraville, Ga.
While Wills has defeated nearly 75 percent of his opponents via knockout, Johnson has experience against some of the most powerful punchers in the heavyweight division. He sparred against current International Boxing Federation (IBF) Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko prior to his bout against Samuel Peter. Johnson also has trained with Jameel McCline, Monte Barrett and Faruq Steward.
“I have been sparring with Jameel since I was an amateur,” said Johnson about McCline, who will face Vitali Klitschko Sept. 22 on SHOWTIME. “Sparring with these guys has prepared me to fight anyone. I am ready to take on the best.”
Johnson has more than just an impressive sparring resume. He also boasts an impressive jab.
“I have the fastest jab in the heavyweight division,” Johnson said. “The fastest guaranteed. I will bet you right now half of my purse when you see it.”
The 27-year-old Wills has boxing in his blood. His father, Mark “The Big Chill” Wills, was a professional fighter in the 1980s and ‘90s, and took his son to the gym with him since he was three years old.
“This is the chance I have been waiting for,” Wills said. “To fight on SHOWTIME is an amazing opportunity, and I promise I will not disappoint.”
While he grew up around boxing, Wills did not start training seriously until he was 19 years old. That was when he began working with Terry Claybon in Los Angeles.
“Claybon taught me how to box. I didn’t know how to box before that,” Wills said. “I thought I was working out in the gym, but I really wasn’t doing anything.”
Now, with the help of Claybon, Wills is a polished fighter with amazing potential. In 22 professional bouts, he has knocked out 11 opponents in the first round.
(more)
2-2-2
JOHNSON, WILLS TO COLLIDE ON “SHOBOX” – Aug. 3, 2007
“I can’t wait to get into the ring and show the whole world what I have,” Wills said. “I am ready to knock Johnson out so I can get a chance to continue my climb through the heavyweight rankings. I want to compete for a title fight, but first I am going to knock him out.”
Blow-by-blow announcer Nick Charles will call the action from ringside with expert analyst and boxing historian Steve Farhood at his side. The executive producer of “ShoBox” is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing.
For information on “ShoBox: The New Generation” and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts, including complete fighter bios, records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.
About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, “ShoBox: The New Generation” has featured young talent matched tough. The “ShoBox” philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches 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 (interim) and Robert Guerrero.
On July 7, 2007, Nonito Donaire and Joachim Alcine became the 17th and 18th “ShoBox” alums to garner world titles when the pair pulled off socking upsets over Vic Darchinyan and Travis Simms, respectively on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
CHAZZ WITHERSPOON MAKING BIG MOVES
Posted on | July 18, 2007 | 1 Comment
For Immediate Release
UNDEFEATED CHAZZ WITHERSPOON FOLLOWING HIS COUSIN TIM ON THE ROAD TO A HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE. NEWLY SIGNED DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT PROSPECT IN CO-FEATURE ON BERTO-RIVERA CARD IN HORSE COUNTRY AT SARATOGA
***Chazz hopes to delve into Thoroughbred Industry***
New York, July 17–Undefeated heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon takes to the national stage when he takes on Talmadge Griffis (24-6-3, 16 KOs) next Friday, July 27, on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights at Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga. The DiBella Entertainment heavy hitter hopes to follow the same path as his cousin — former heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon — on a road which leads to a title belt.
Witherspoon was a 2004 Olympic alternate and National Golden Gloves winner. He has also impressed in his pro career, remaining undefeated in 18 fights and stopping his last five opponents. In his well-traveled, 9-year career, Griffis from Colorado Springs , CO has faced heavyweight stars David Tua and Clifford Etienne.
“I’m happy to have the opportunity to be on the national stage again with ESPN2. This will allow me to come out and show the world what I’ve been doing and how I am progressing,” says the Philadelphia native, who will appear in the co-feature of the Andre Berto vs. Cosme Rivera main event presented by Pugnacious Promotions and DBE which will be televised nationally. “I will be able to show people that I am getting better with each fight and I am putting in the time to be a top contender. I appreciate Lou DiBella giving me this opportunity and I thank ESPN2 as well.”
Witherspoon is also thrilled to be in thoroughbred country as the Saratoga Racecourse starts its renowned race meet, as he hopes to enter the equine industry down the line.
“I am very interested in horses and the breeding of horses. I would like to learn more about the thoroughbred racing game and what it takes to own and raise a championship caliber horse,” says Witherspoon. “Getting involved in the racing game is something I might like to do when I am done with boxing.””
Tickets and more information are available from Pugnacious Promotions, www.pugnaciouspromotions.com or 518-326-9756. Call or visit for more information. Tickets are $125 for Golden Ringside and $75 for Ringside. General Admission open seats are $40.
MORE MMA VS. BOXING THOUGHTS
Posted on | July 18, 2007 | 2 Comments
MIXED MARTIAL-ARTS vs. BOXING………my two cents by: Jack Bratcher
[mpinpage]
I was recently watching a boxing match where one of the fighters threw over 1,000 punches during the course of the match; one-thousand punches…..and he never knocked his opponent down. Can you believe this? Could you imagine an MMA fight where this occurred? Of course not. Imagine Chuck Liddell hitting someone 500 times during a fight. Can you just imagine what Chuck’s opponent would look like after that fight? Also, for someone to hit another guy 500 times (if only half of the thousand punches landed) and for the one being hit never to get knocked down, what does that really say? Boxing has its place. Some people enjoy a “fight” like this where someone can be hit 500 times and never really suffer any damage but those are not the kinds of boxing matches that have ever appealed to me. To be honest, to see someone dance around and throw a thousand punches at another guy with big padded gloves on, and never knock the guy down or do any real damage, personally to me, is gonna get boring. How many different types punches can a person really throw in a boxing match? It’s the same thing over and over and over. Then look at a mixed martial-ats fight where you have all those same punches that boxers have at their disposal but you also have a multitude of other techniques at your disposal. It really bothers me when I hear critics say that MMA is nothing more than human cock-fighting but boxing is a real sport or even an art. That’s just crap and the only people who would say such a thing are people who are UNEDUCATED about the sport of MMA. Boxing is one aspect of fighting. Boxing is PUNCHING (and punching, and punching, and more punching). I’ve enjoyed watching some boxing but really the only people that were ever exciting to me were the boxers who could come out there and end a fight. Boxers like Tyson and Tommy Morrison in his prime, I loved to watch fight because they had the power that could end fights. I liked the hard-hitters, the guys with some real KO power. If boxing can be called a sport or art (which it is), then so can MMA because it encompasses everything that boxing is but ADDS to it really unlimited possiblities. Can wrestling be called a sport? I’m not talking about the WWE; I’m talking about real collegiate and olympic wrestiling. Of course it can….it’s even in the olympics. Can kickboxing and karate be called a sport? Of course. Can Judo and Jui-Jitsu be called a sport? Of course, all of these can. Then why should MMA, which combines all of these sports that I’ve just mentioned, not also be considered a sport? The answer is obvious. It is a sport and the only people who can’t recognize this probably either have a vested interest NOT to realize it or either have an innate ability NOT to be able to comprehend and process information.
I think there will always be a place for boxing, and rightly so. It can be good entertainment and a good sport. I don’t see any reason why people can’t enjoy a good boxing match and also a good MMA fight. Today there is so much talk about these two different sports about which one is better and is boxing on its way out. Well, I personally don’t have a problem with boxing. If people want to train as boxers and do that and participate in this legendary sport then so be it But to me, it’s just not nearly as exciting to watch a sport that only uses punching as it is to watch a sport that uses all the same punches that boxing does but also includes a combinaton of all the great combat sports. MMA has taken fighting and turned it into an art. It has taken what is possible when two men fight and turned every aspect of that literally into an art: the kicking, the punching, the grappling, the wrestling. The Octagon has become the home of today’s warrior, today’s gladiators. MMA athletes devote their lives to training in these different combat techniques to refine their skills and to become stronger and more powerful athletes. It has become a science as well as an art. Because the fighters must be at certain weight levels to participate in a match, like a scientist mixing the right formulas, they are able to mix the right amount of exercise and food to maintain the right weight and to cut the right amount of weight if need be within a certain time limit. MMA fighters are among the most disciplined athletes in the world. Videos of certain professional fighters’ workout routines have recently been shown on nationwide TV sparking awe and respect among the athletic world.
Make no mistake, MMA is a legitimate sport sanctioned by athletic commissions and it is among the toughest in terms of competition and skill level. Personally I’d like to see some big name professional boxers move over into the MMA arena. I think it would be exciting. They could add some kicks to those punches; throw in some wrestling and jui-jitsu and they could possibly move into a contender status. But they would definitely have to add more to their arsenal than just punching if they were going to participate in high-level mixed martial-arts competition. Hey, it’s a big enough world where we can all get along. I think there’s a place for boxing and MMA. I don’t see them in conflict with each other except in the fact it seems many more people are willing to shell out forty bucks for an MMA pay-per-view than for a boxing pay-per-view. But having said that, there really just hasn’t been any big name pay-per-view boxing matches that I would want to see in a long time or I probably would order it. I definitely don’t want to order a pay-per-view boxing match where some guy is throwing a thousand punches and he never even knocks his opponent down and it goes twelve rounds. I’d much rather see a Chuck Liddell come out there and throw four or five good punches and a kick and his opponent not only goes down but goes out cold in the first round. It is much more entertaining. And then there’s still enough time left for four or five more entertaining fights.
[/mpinpage]
Tags: amount > are > boxing match > boxing matches > bratcher > Chuck Liddell > cock fighting > combat > course > crap > everything > fight > gloves > Gonna > half > interest > judo > many different types > martial arts > Mixed Martial Arts > multitude > nbsp > NOT > opponent > person > place > POWER > punches > real sport > reason > someone > Thoughts > tommy morrison > two cents > Tyson
SEARCH OUR BLOGS
SEARCH THE WEB
Subscribe in a reader
US Money Reserve
Bodybuilding fitness software: Gain weight & build muscle fast.
Photographers - Boston, MA
PRO-SEBLOG.COM: EMPOWERING ORDINARY PEOPLE TO PRACTICE LAW ON THEIR OWN BEHALF
CLICK HERE TO ORDER AN AWESOME SELF-HELP LEGAL COURSE
MARKETINGBOSS.INFO: MARKETING TIPS FOR YOUR SITE & BUSINESS
Boxing Live
RING GIRLS
OUR SPONSORS
