Jean Pascal Media Conference Call Transcript
Posted on | May 17, 2011 | No Comments
Yvon Michel
Thank you, everybody, for joining on for this conference call. First, I would like to thank all our partners for this event HBO, Golden Boy Promotions, Gary Shaw Promotions, and InterBox for helping us to put on a very exceptional show here in Montreal. We are ten days from the fight. Next week is fight week, and everyday there will be activities. It’s going to be a boxing week in Montreal. We will have public trainings, press conferences, the weigh-in, and then the event.
It is going to be a great show. We have nine fights that are going to be shown, especially the two great fights starting with Chad Dawson vs. Adrian Diaconu. Both are former WBC Light Heavyweight champions. They will try to qualify themselves to fight for the title again. Then there is the great rematch of the fight between Pascal and Hopkins which took place on December 18 of last year. So, Jean Pascal will be trying again to retain his title against Bernard Hopkins, who will try to make history once again by trying to be the oldest boxer in history to ever win a world championship title.
Right now we have a little over 13,000 tickets sold. We are expecting a crowd near or a little over 17,000 people. Tickets are still available in Canada. It will be also on pay-per-view too. Canadians can go to Shaw TV, Bell TV, Sasktel and Viewer’s Choice Canada.
Jean Pascal was born in Haiti, but moved in Canada when he was four years old. So he was raised in Canada and learned boxing in Canada. He has represented Canada in numerous international competitions, including the PanAm Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Olympic Games in 2004. He turned pro in 2005. He became World Champion in 2009. Since he moved to the light heavyweight division, he has fought seven times and has never lost. It’s going to be his fifth light heavyweight title defense when he gets in the ring against Hopkins on May 21st.
His trainer is Marc Ramsay. He’s been with Marc Ramsay since his amateur days. He was with Marc when he was on the Canada National Team. So, when he turned pro, he kept Marc and most of his people who were with him at that time.
He’s a great athlete and has a lot of ambitions. His ambition is to become an ace in boxing, and become the best of his kind. He is entertaining. He’s spectacular. Another big thing is that he wants to be a role model. He always was careful in everything he has done and said in his career. So, he believes that he is in the position to be a role model for society. A role model for youth in the sport, and one of his goals is to make sure that boxing is a clean and straightforward sport. On May 21st, he wants to start his own dynasty and be Bernard Hopkins’ successor. So, I introduce to you, Jean Pascal.
Jean Pascal
Hi, everybody. I’m really excited to talk to you. I’ve been training really hard for the rematch against Bernard Hopkins. I’m totally prepared. I’m well prepared. I know today you guys are going to ask me a lot of questions about those tests that I asked Bernard to do. But if you think about it seriously, if Obama was willing to show his birth certificate, then why can’t Hopkins take the test?
Q
How do you feel 10 days out from the fight?
J. Pascal
I know it’s going to be a tough challenge, but he I am a fighter of challenges. I know that I need to bring my A-game and that is exactly what I am preparing to do.
Q
I want to know, do you regret calling Hopkins a cheater at the press conference in Montreal? Are you concerned when he says that he might take legal action and try to get a lot of money from you after the fight?
J. Pascal
That just makes me laugh, because if he wants to sue me, I will file a complaint because he said he’s going to kill me. Also, it’s sad that we have to go through all of this for central blood tests. If we are both clean, let’s just take the test, simple as that.
Q
You think he’s trying to get inside your head by saying that he wants to kill you?
J. Pascal
He’s trying to make me quiet. But, that won’t work. I’m going to bark like a dog, and I’m going to explode in the nation.
Q
Yvon, is there any different drug testing going on this fight than normally would be done in the province?
Y. Michel
Not that I know of.
Q
I’ve been hearing that maybe there was going to be some sort of test. What is the general testing procedure for a major fight in Canada?
Y. Michel
No. I believe there’s a choice between before or after the fight. But, what I was told is that the procedure will be the same, but there might be a more extensive testing on the urine sample.
Q
So, in other words, test for more things than they maybe do normally?
Y. Michel
Maybe. It was a possibility that I was told that the procedure will be exactly the same.
Q
Jean, my question is for you now. I understand where you’re coming from about you’d like to make sure everybody’s clean. I can appreciate that without question. But, do you think that Bernard is cheating?
J. Pascal
I don’t think Bernard’s cheating. I said that at the press conference, “Bernard, I know you’re a clean fighter.” He said “who am I to ask him that?” I wasn’t going to be disrespectful. I just wanted to make sure that the fans’ voices were heard to let them know that we participate in a clean sport. That’s it.
Q
Well, when this came up, was there any negotiation for a fight. Both sides will ask for different things whether it’s the kind of gloves you wear or what the weight’s going to be for the fight, all kinds of different things. Did you ever, at any point when your people were negotiating this re-match, think to ask the Hopkins’ side to put this in the contract so there would be no issues as opposed to bringing it up at the last minute?
Y. Michel
I can answer that. Jean asked us about it, but not for the first fight.
Q
No, I mean the second fight, Yvon.
Y. Michel
No, for the second fight, it was too late. Once the fight has been ordered by the WBC and had been bought by HBO, we were forced into the fight. We didn’t have that negotiation power to add anything that was not in the first fight.
J. Pascal
Because it is the rematch, Hopkins doesn’t need to agree with any extra things that I’m bringing to the table.
Q
I want to ask you about the fight specifically, aside from all this stuff about the drug testing. Jean, it was a very close fight in the first fight. You are younger by – you are 28, Bernard’s 46 – so there is a big, big age difference there. You should be entering your prime or in your prime right now as a fighter. Was it a harder fight than you anticipated? If so, what can you do better in the second fight to make sure that you get the W this time?
J. Pascal
It wasn’t harder than I thought because I knew Bernard was still a good fighter. I know when you fight with Hopkins, it’s always complicated. He has a lot of experience. I’m young, but I did some things wrong last time. But, with the rematch, I’m going to expect to be me and to show the world that I’m a great fighter, and I’m better than Bernard Hopkins.
Q
Anything in particular? Maybe better footwork or keep him down next time you drop him to the canvas?
J. Pascal
Tune in May 21.
Q
Bernard said yesterday [at his media workout in Philadelphia] that he still has the title belts that you gave to him as a gag, and he kept them. He has them in his apartment. Does that irk you that he hasn’t returned those belts and don’t you want them back before the fight?
J. Pascal
No, because that was the only way he was going to get them. Because he knows that he cannot beat me. So, that was a really nice gift from me, because he knows that he cannot beat me. So, that’s why he took the belts. If a fighter wanted to do that to me, I would say no, keep your belts because I will earn them in the ring May 21.
Q
Everybody realized that you had slowed down after the first round on December 18. So, what have you done in the camp to try to overcome that?
J. Pascal
Bernard Hopkins said that I was a four round fighter, and this is it. I’m going to knock him out inside four rounds.
Q
Yes, but if it takes more than four rounds?
J. Pascal
Be there. You’ll see that’s what I will be able to do.
Q
George Foreman has predicted a knockout win for Bernard Hopkins next May 21st. So, how do you feel about that?
J. Pascal
It’s not a problem. That will make my win more spectacular or even better, since a great athlete like Foreman is considering that I am the underdog.
Q
What have you learned from the first fight, since you seemed to be exhausted after five rounds? Have you changed anything in your preparation? Have you planned to manage the fight differently?
J. Pascal
Look, for the first fight, we tried new training methods. Not the same that we had used in the past because we believed that you should not get into a boring routine with training, you should try new things. But, for this fight, I used my old recipe. So, I trained like I was training before.
Q
What changed?
J. Pascal
You’ll see everything on May 21 and I’ll tell you after.
Q
Is there a rematch clause for a third fight between the two no matter who wins?
Y. Michel
There is no rematch clause. There is not a request on either side for rematch. But we realized also, that any way if you have a rematch clause on the fight that nobody wants to see, no network will be willing to buy it. So, that doesn’t mean anything. If you don’t have a rematch clause, but everybody wants to see a rematch, and networks are willing to pay whatever to show it, then you can have it. So, that’s why we haven’t insisted or asked Golden Boy to have anything.
Q
Do you think there is a possibility that you will be sued by Hopkins for your statement about the doping test?
J. Pascal
I didn’t say that he was cheating. I said that he’s a legend and he should lead by example. He should have taken the lead. Look, another boxer who’s representing his country for free, only for the honor, has to go through the Olympic testing series before going to the Olympic games. A pro fighter has to pass obsolete tests only. So, these tests have to be updated in 2011.
It was a trend that was started by Floyd Mayweather. Even Manny Pacquiao said recently that he would take the test if he can bring in the fight with Mayweather. So, if Hopkins doesn’t want to take the lead and do that, I am is willing to do it. Also, it’s funny how Golden Boy stressed how Manny Pacquiao had to take the test. Now, they are looking bitter and trying to avoid the subject.
Q
I notice from your record that you fight almost exclusively in Canada as the world light heavyweight champion, you’ve not defended your championship outside of Canada. What are your feelings on fighting outside of Canada?
J. Pascal
I have no problem fighting outside of Canada. I’m going to go where the fans want me to go. I fought in England in 2008. I wasn’t scared to go overseas, because I’m a warrior. I’m a soldier. I always want to give fans the best show possible.
Q
That one fight that you did have in the United States was against Omar Pittman. Can you talk a little about that fight?
J. Pascal
That was a good fight. I dominated Pittman. I fought with only one arm, because at the time, I had my shoulder injury and it was bothering me a lot. So, I think that I did pretty well with only one arm.
Q
Now that you’re the world champion, Mr. Pascal, do you think it’s important to defend your championship throughout the world? Can a world champion exist in just one country, Canada?
J. Pascal
Of course. I was willing to go to the United States for the rematch to beat up Bernard Hopkins. But, he has no fans in America. So, that’s why he chose to go back to Canada to make more money. He knows that in Canada we will have a great fight, great fans, and he knows he’s going to make more money in Canada than he’s going to make in America because he has no fan base.
Q
You’re Haitian, isn’t that correct?
J. Pascal
Yes, yes, I’m Haitian.
Q
What about defending your world title in Haiti? Is that something that you ever think about?
J. Pascal
That would be awesome. But, right now, I think the country has other concerns. I’m going to try to help the country to rebuild because we had a really bad earthquake last year. That was really, really terrible. So, that I don’t think this is the right time. But, probably in the future, it will be something really, really nice.
Y. Michel
I’d like to make a statement on that. Yes, though Jean Pascal is fighting where this is the best business possible. If it would have been the best business to fight in the States, he would have fought in the States. But, what I find funny is we never ask the American champion if they would be willing to defend the title outside USA to see if they are real champions, though.
Q
Are you angry that George Foreman has chosen Bernard Hopkins, has predicted a KO win for Hopkins?
J. Pascal
I have a lot of respect for Foreman. He’s a great legend. And, it’s not upsetting at all because if I win, it will going to be an even stronger exploit, because somebody like George Foreman believes that Hopkins still has what it takes to beat me.
Q
Now, with the war of words that has been going on the last couple of months, will you take more risk in the ring to try to finish him up?
J. Pascal
My style is to take risks. I’m not a boring fighter. I like to fight a spectacular fight. It hasn’t always been the case in the past for Hopkins. Yes, I’m going to take risks. Yes, I will try to get the knockout and we’ll see whatever happens, happens.
Q
At the outset of this teleconference today, Yvon had said that you want to be a role model. I just wonder if you can talk a little bit about that because in Canada where boxing doesn’t have the kind of profiles of a sport like hockey. How do you think defeating Bernard Hopkins might help you get there?
J. Pascal
Well, I think boxing right now is the second biggest sport in Canada. That’s why Bernard Hopkins is coming to Montreal to try to beat me, because he knows boxing is great. It’s good in Canada. I’m just going to be me, a simple guy. I’m trying to do the right thing to show the good example to the younger kids.
Q
Do you think beating somebody of Mr. Hopkins’ stature in the sport will help you further that aim or get the attention of Canadians outside of Quebec?
J. Pascal
Yes, of course to beat a legend like Hopkins, it gives me a lot of credibility and I’m not going to be seen as a champion. I’m going to be seen as the one who put Hopkins to sleep and the one who sent Hopkins to the Hall of Fame.
Q
Most of the experts in the United States are picking Hopkins to win next week. Do you think that you need to beat Hopkins to have some recognition in the States to really make a statement as a light heavyweight champion?
Y. Michel
When Jean fought Hopkins the first time, he was the odds favorite. Most of the people believed that Jean was going to be too young, too strong and too fresh for Hopkins who was coming off two ordinary fights, two ordinary performances against Ornelas and Roy Jones. So, most of the people believed that Hopkins should have called off and not taken the fight, but because of his performance, the draw that he got against Pascal, Hopkins is back in people’s minds. He’s a great. He’s a phenomenon. Most people didn’t know who Jean Pascal was until he fought Chad Dawson. But, the same people believed that it was a counter-performance by Dawson instead of a great performance of Jean Pascal.
Now, some believe that Jean was exposed when he fought the great Hopkins, so a win for Pascal over Hopkins next week will be a great win. It will make Jean Pascal go from a champion to a star around the world and in the United States because it will be a significant win. Not a win against somebody who is over the hill and too old like it would have been December 18th, but a win against the great fighter who has still has what it takes to put up a great fight. So a win next week for Jean will be a break-through fight.
J. Pascal
I would like to set the record straight. I never accused Hopkins of anything, but I certainly didn’t expect to get that kind of reaction out of him. If you’re not taking anything, why would you be upset? Also, I really think that people who don’t want to disclose the truth are people have something to hide. Ask me the same question about the test and I will tell you anytime, anywhere I’m willing to take the test. You can even take my arm to take the test. Also, I won’t call the Quebec Commission to find out what kind of tests they’re going to make in advance like Hopkins did.
Y. Michel
Next week in Montreal, May the 21st is going to be a great week. On May 21st at the Bell Center there will be a big crowd. The fans will be full of emotion, full of energy and if there are 17,000 people there, they will be 17,000 people cheering for their hometown favorite. They will all be behind Jean Pascal no matter what anybody has said before. You will see. We are expecting a huge success in all departments, outside and inside the ring. So tune in or come here. You’re going to have a great night.
# # #
NOTE: If you have not seen HBO’s “Face-Off: Pascal-Hopkins II,” we invite you to do so by clicking on the link below. This five minute version of their face-to-face encounter is not to be missed.
“Dynasty II: Pascal vs. Hopkins” is presented by Groupe Yvon Michel and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Casino de Montreal, Videotron and Coors Light. The 12-round WBC, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship fight will take place Saturday, May 21 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada and will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT in the United States and distributed live on pay-per-view in Canada on Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, Viewer’s Choice and Sasktel in French and English beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. A 12-round light heavyweight bout between former World Champions Chad Dawson and Adrian Diaconu will also be featured on the telecast. Dawson vs. Diaconu is presented in association with Gary Shaw Productions and InterBox.
Tickets, priced at C$500, C$350, C$250, C$175, C$110, C$75, C$50 and C$35, are on sale now and may be purchased at the Bell Centre box office or by calling (514) 790-2525 or (877) 668-8269. Tickets are also available online at www.evenko.ca.
Tags: Adrian Diaconu > age > Arm > Auto > Bernard Hopkins > camp > champion > championship > choice canada > commonwealth games > conference call > draft > everybody > everything > fight > footwork > Gary Shaw > Golden > Golden Boy Promotions > heavyweight champions > Interbox > international competitions > Jean Pascal > lead > light heavyweight division > light heavyweight title > nbsp > Nobody > Olympic Games > panam games > particular > press conferences > recipe > rematch > request > round > SaskTel > seven times > shaw tv > test > time > World Champion > yvon
Mixed Martial Arts Links (5-17-11)
Posted on | May 17, 2011 | No Comments
| MMA has boxing on the mat Montreal Gazette By JACK TODD, Special to The Gazette May 16, 2011 George St-Pierre (right) battles Jake Shields in the welterweight title bout during a recent mixed martial arts bout in Toronto. MONTREAL – Here we are, five days away from what may be the biggest … See all stories on this topic »
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| Quintin Harlan: New York, MMA at it again The Herald Bulletin Such is the case with the sport of mixed martial arts seeking regulation in the state of New York. In the United States of America, currently, just five states do not sanction MMA competitions. Alaska and Wyoming do not have any kind of sanctioning … See all stories on this topic »
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| 2011 NCAA Champion Bubba Jenkins Commits to MMA, Signs with Gorilla Management Bloody Elbow by Leland Roling on May 16, 2011 2:00 PM EDT in MMA News According to Gorilla Management, the same company that represents 2011 World MMA Scouting Report prospects Ricardo Tirloni and Tony Johnson Jr., 2011 NCAA Division I champion Bubba Jenkins has … See all stories on this topic »
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| Rampage Jackson retiring in two years: ‘I always said I’ll retire when I’m 35’ MMAmania.com by Jesse Holland on May 16, 2011 11:39 AM EDT in UFC News Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson has two things on his mind: fighting Matt Hamill in the main event of UFC 130 on May 28 and retiring from mixed martial arts when he’s … See all stories on this topic »
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| Randy Couture, Cablevision Set to Unveil 24/7 Fight Now! MMA Channel Bloody Elbow by Leland Roling on May 16, 2011 4:00 PM EDT in MMA News According to the The Sports Business Journal, Cablevision is going to launch a 24 hour mixed martial arts television network in the New York area. MMAPayout has the story: Cablevision’s sports … See all stories on this topic »
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| Fedor Emelianenko a Slight Favorite in Superfight Versus Dan Henderson Bleacher Report With final negotiations still on the table, a catch-weight of 220 pounds for the two mixed martial arts veterans seems to be in place. Bringing his prolific 31-3 overall MMA record to the cage, Emelianenko will be looking to bounce back from his only … See all stories on this topic »
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| In The Ring With UFC Champ Frankie Edgar myfoxny.com COM – Mixed martial arts fighter and UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar ‘took on’ FOX 5 Sports Director Duke Castiglione in the ring. It wasn’t exactly a ‘fight’ in the true UFC sense of the word. It was more like an interview. … See all stories on this topic »
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| Phil Davis Fully Anticipates Beating Rashad Evans at UFC 133; Could Jon Jones … MMAWeekly Fortunately for him, and his fans of course, Davis discovered mixed martial arts, according to him, like most people do: he knew a guy who knew a guy who thought he should try it. The rest is history, but it all leads up to a showdown with Rashad Evans … See all stories on this topic » |
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| Cablevision offers MMA channel : MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA By Jason Cruz Fight Now!, America’s first 24 hour television channel dedicated to giving viewers a front row seat, seven days a week to experience the very best in boxing, wrestling/grappling, mixed martial artsand other combatant styles; … MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA – http://mmapayout.com/ |
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| AMMS Mixed Martial Arts MMA – 11677 National Boulevard Los Angeles … Reviews and ratings of AMMS Mixed Martial Arts MMA at 11677 National Boulevard Los Angeles, CA, 90064. Get phone numbers, maps, directions and addresses for … www.mojopages.com/biz/amms-mixed-martial…/40828203 |
Tags: AMMS > Arts > Auto > Bloody > Boulevard > Bubba > business > cablevision > champion > chance > com > draft > Elbow > ESPN > Gorilla > Heavy > herald bulletin > light heavyweight champion > Matt Hamill > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA > montreal gazette > nbsp > NCAA > NCAA Champion > ncaa division i > news > Rampage Jackson > Randy Couture > RIGHT > roling > s sports > satire > scouting report > sports > sports business journal > State of New York > title bout > topic > ufc light heavyweight champion > welterweight > welterweight title
Team Takeover’s Top 10 Reason’s Why We Dislike Dana White
Posted on | May 17, 2011 | No Comments
Tags: Auto > Dana > Dana White > Dislike > draft > reason > Takeover > team > team takeover > White
MEET IRISH MIDDLEWEIGHT ANDY LEE AND CELEBRITY RING ANNOUNCER AMY HAYES! ALL ARE WELCOME!
Posted on | May 16, 2011 | No Comments
***MEDIA ALERT***
ROSEMONT RUMBLE PUBLIC
WEIGH-IN ADVISORY
The media and general public are invited to the official weigh-in for Hitz Boxing’s “Rosemont Rumble” event at REAL TIME SPORTS BAR in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, tonight (Tuesday, May 17, 2011) at 6:30 pm.
Rosemont Rumble will be held the following night at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont,Illinois, featuring Irish middleweight contender Andy Lee (25-1, 19 KOs) taking on tough veteran Alex “The Technician” Bunema (31-7-2, 17 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the NABF and NABA Middleweight Championships.
Rosemont Rumble will also feature, in its main supporting bout, fellow Irishman Henry “Western Warrior” Coyle (13-2, 10 KOs) against an opponent that is temporarily TBA.
The stereo Irish fighters will be backed up by exciting pressure fighter Yakubu Amidu (18-2-1, 16 KOs) vs. Gerardo Robles (13-9,6 KOs) of Kansas, imposing Chicago heavyweight Dave Latoria (8-0, 4 KOs) vs. Detroit’s Phillip Jewel (4-6-1, 3 KOs), Chicago lightweight Russell “Rocky” Fiore (4-1-1, 4 KOs) vs. Cleveland’s pro debuting Kevin Walker, Chicago light welterweight George Esho (0-1) vs. Washington’s Lalo Neal (3-10-1), Chicago middleweight Ramon Valenzuela Jr. (4-0, 1 KO) vs. California’s Loren Myers (7-11-1, 2 KOs) and Chicago heavyweight Felix Abner (2-2, 1 KO) vs. TBA.
All fighters involved, celebrity ring announcer Amy Hayes and promoter Bobby Hitz will be available for photographs and interviews.
Real Time Sports Bar is located at 1120-22 West Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village (Phone 847-534-5000). For more information on Real Time Sports Bar, please visitwww.realtimesportsbar.com.
Tickets for the Rosemont Rumble are $100 ringside and $30 G/A, and are available through Ticketmaster, the Rosemont Theater Box Office or Fanfueled.com (search Hitz Boxing).
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center is located at 5555 N. River Road in Rosemont. All bouts are subject to change. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 and fights start at 7:30.
For more information, visit www.hitzboxing.com.
THIS JUST IN: TICKETMASTER TICKET SPECIAL!
PURCHASE FOUR (4) GENERAL ADMISSION SEATS AT REGULAR PRICE ($30) FROMTICKETMASTER.COM AND RECEIVE A FIFTH TICKET FREE! MAKE SURE TO ENTER THE CODENAME: HITZ TO RECEIVE THE BONUS TICKET!
All bouts are subject to change.
Tags: ALERT > Amidu > Andy Lee > Auto > Boxing > Celebrity > celebrity ring > center > com > contender > donald e stephens convention center > draft > elk grove village > elk grove village illinois > Esho > event > fellow irishman > grove village illinois > hitz boxing > Irish > kevin walker > Loren Myers > media > middleweight > nbsp > official > real time sports > ring > ring announcer amy hayes > rosemont illinois > rosemont theater > round > RUMBLE > sports > Technician > time > veteran > welcome media > welterweight > west devon > western warrior
Congratulations Abound for Mantequilla Gonzalez!
Posted on | May 16, 2011 | No Comments
Trio of Promoters Praise Puerto Rico’s Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez for his Impressive Knockout on Friday Night Fights
The promoters of Puerto Rican junior middleweight slugger Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (13-0, 13 KOs), Gary Shaw, Javier Bustillo and Leon Margules, wish to congratulate their 21-year-old fighter for his impressive performance on Friday night at the Chumash Casino Resort and live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Making his national television debut in the United States, Gonzalez wore down and stopped former Contender contestant Rudy Cisneros (12-3, 11 KOs) of Chicago at 1:50 of round seven.
While Gonzalez had previously gotten rid of most of his opponents early, according to Shaw, taking Cisneros to round seven was part of the plan.
“Jonathan watches a lot of tape and studies his opponents in-depth. He knew going in that Cisneros would be dangerous for the first few rounds, so he took his time and boxed until the opportunity presented itself to end things. When you hit as hard as he does, it would be easy to think you can just walk in and destroy everyone, but Mantequilla showed a lot of maturity in sticking to the better plan.”
For Margules, what impressed most was how easily Gonzalez handled Cisneros.
“On the inside, on the outside, coming forward, boxing and moving, it was apparent no matter what he was doing, that Jonathan was a class above. I’ve seen him walk through plenty of opponents, but tonight was a reminder of just how skillful Jonathan is when he needs to be.”
Bustillo says he’s happy to see his young fighter still packs a punch in the later rounds of a fight. “Jonathan had never seen the seventh round of a fight before and now we know he still hits like a mule, no matter what round. A big part of that is all the work he did in training camp before the fight. It all paid off.”
A member of the Team Puerto Rico Boxing squad comprised of Puerto Rico’s brightest future stars, Gonzalez’s next appearance is scheduled for June 11 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City as part of the Boricua Invasion back-to-back boxing shows on Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend. The fight, against an opponent that is temporarily TBA, is also scheduled to be shown live on ShoBox: The New Generation.
For more information on Jonathan Gonzalez, or on Boricua Invasion I & II, visitwww.teampuertoricoboxing.com or www.latinoboxing.com.
Tags: appearance > Auto > Boricua > Boxing > camp > Chumash > Chumash Casino Resort > com > contender contestant > draft > ESPN > everyone > few rounds > fight > Friday Night Fights > Gary Shaw > impressive performance > Invasion > jonathan > June > junior middleweight > knockout > margules > maturity > mule > national television debut > nbsp > opponents > Praise > promoters > Puerto Rican > punch > resort > Rican > round > rudy cisneros > time > training camp > Weekend > work
ROBERT GUERRERO DAY CELEBRATED BY “GHOST” FANS IN THE CITY OF GILROY
Posted on | May 16, 2011 | No Comments
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Tags: Assemblyman > Auto > behalf > california assemblyman > champion > city > city of gilroy > city of gilroy california > community leader > Council > DAY > Donor > draft > entire city > Family > fans > FIVE > garlic capitol > Golden > hometown hero > Immediate > key > key to the city > marrow donor program > national marrow donor > national marrow donor program > native son > nbsp > pinheiro > press > program > roll > roll model > senate > state assembly > state senate > testament > time world champion > true testament > work
Cohen Congratulates Faragon for Impressive Victory
Posted on | May 16, 2011 | No Comments
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Tags: American > Arturo Gatti > Auto > award > Beast > body > card > com > combination > crowd > draft > empire state plaza > event > Faragon > fight night > fighting > FOUNDER > greg cohen > guilderland new york > head > HEARTS > Impressive > impressive victory > information > information visit > kid > Kos > last thursday > main event > miguel rodriguez > Mikey > national television exposure > nbsp > Plaza > punches > round > Spring Fever > Thursday > thursday night > unanimous decision > visit
BERNARD HOPKINS REPRESENTS GREATNESS FOR OVER 40 CROWD
Posted on | May 16, 2011 | No Comments
The Former Two-Division World Champion And Future Hall of Famer Represents Older Athletes When He Faces 28-Year-Old Jean Pascal This Saturday Night At The Bell Centre in Montreal live on HBO World Championship Boxing®
Montreal, Canada (May 16) – When former Two-Division World Champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins enters the ring this Saturday, May 21 to face WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal at the Bell Centre in Montreal Canada, he will be 46 years, four months and six days old, over a half a year (192 days) older that George Foreman was when he defeated Michael Moorer for the heavyweight championship on November 5, 1994. A win for Hopkins not only means becoming the Light Heavyweight World Champion again, but it also means he will break Foreman’s longstanding record as the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a major world title.
“This fight is more about history than redemption,” said Hopkins. “I want to be known as the modern day Archie Moore. Moore also went up to Montreal when he was over the age of 40, faced a younger hometown favorite [Yvon Durrelle] and knocked him out. It means more to me to break the age record and prove that I am representing not just the older fighters, but older athletes in any sport.”
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s fight, Hopkins is already among an elite class of athletes who have made statements in their respective sports well into their forties. Hopkins’ first victory at the age of 40 came when he defeated Howard Eastman on February 19, 2005. He followed that with wins over Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright, Kelly Pavlik, Enrique Ornelasand Roy Jones Jr.
“This is not just historically significant for boxing,” said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions and Ten-Time World Champion in six weight divisions. “This is history making in sports…period. For Bernard to perform at this level at his age is something to be honored, revered and noted by students of this game and sports fans across the board. Yes, we have seen great athletes compete into their forties, but for Hopkins to be 46 and competing like this is just incredible.”
“I am going to go out there on Saturday night and fight for all of the old guys out there,” said Hopkins. “I am living proof that life isn’t over at 40. I am leading by example to show that you can continue to do what you love well into your forties. My motivation is to get in that ring and prove to the young lion that the old lion still rules the jungle.”
NOTABLE ATHLETES OVER THE AGE OF 40*:
· Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (NBA) – The iconic L.A. Laker retired in 1989 at the age of 42 after helping lead his team to back-to-back championships in ’87 and ’88. At the time of his retirement, Abdul-Jabbar was the all-time leader in points scored, games played, minutes played and field goals made.
· George Blanda (NFL) – An all-time leading NFL scorer, Blanda played until the age of 48 (from the 1940s-1970s). He is still the oldest player to suit up for an NFL game.
· Brett Favre (NFL) – The 20-year NFL veteran is the first quarterback to have wins against all 32 NFL franchises and the only quarterback to throw for over 70,000 yards. In the 2009-2010 season, Favre became the first 40-year-old quarterback to win a playoff game when he led the Minnesota Vikings to victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
· Bob Fitzsimmons (Boxing) – Boxing’s first three-division world champion, Fitzsimmons retired from the sport in 1914 at the age of 51. He is revered as one of the greatest punchers to ever step into the ring.
· Gordie Howe (NHL) – The NHL Hall of Famer is the only player to grace the ice into his 50s and to play in six different decades (1940s-1990s). After stepping away from the NHL at the age of 43, he returned nine years later at the age of 52 to play for the Harford Whalers, scoring 15 goals in the ’79-80 season.
· Archie Moore (Boxing) – “The Old Mongoose” had one of the longest careers in the history of boxing. With 219 professional fights and the most knockouts in history (131), he won the light heavyweight world title at the age of 39 and continued to fight until he was 47 years old.
· Jamie Moyer (MLB) – As part of the 2009 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, Moyer pitched a team-high 16 wins at the age of 45.
· Jack Nicklaus (PGA) – The most decorated golfer in PGA history, Nicklaus began amassing championship wins in his twenties. At 40, he won both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Nicklaus made history again when he won the Masters at the age of 46 and still holds the record as the oldest Masters champion.
· Richard Petty (NASCAR) – The winningest driver in NASCAR history, Petty drove in over 2,000 races during his 35-year career, winning the Daytona 500 twice after his 40th birthday. He retired in 1984 at the age of 47.
· Jerry Rice (NFL) – At the age of 40, the Hall of Fame wide receiver scored his two hundredth career touchdown and surpassed Walter Payton to become the NFL’s all-time leader in total yardage. That same year (2002 NFL season), he helped lead the Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII. Rice’s 48-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of that game made him the first NFL player to score a touchdown in four Super Bowls.
· Nolan Ryan (MLB) – Ryan threw two no-hitters at the age of 40 and amassed over 1,000 strikeouts in his six seasons after hitting the four-decade mark. He retired at the age of 46.
· Willie Shoemaker (Horse Racing) – In 1986, Shoemaker became the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. He was 54 years old.
· Dara Torres (Olympic Swimming) – At the age of 41, Torres swam her way to three silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She is the oldest swimmer in history to be placed on the U.S. Olympic team.
*References: SI.com, Askmen.com and Wikipedia.com
NOTE: If you have not seen HBO’s “Face-Off: Pascal-Hopkins II,” we invite you to do so by clicking on the link below. This five minute version of their face-to-face encounter is not to be missed.
Tags: age > Antonio Tarver > Archie Moore > Auto > Boxing > Centre > champion > championship > De La Hoya > draft > FACES > fight > first victory > Former > Golden Boy Promotions > HBO World Championship Boxing > heavyweight > heavyweight world > hometown > howard eastman > Jean Pascal > Kelly Pavlik > LIGHT > light heavyweight champion > longstanding record > Michael Moorer > montreal canada > nbsp > NFL > Old > Oscar De La Hoya > PGA > player > REPRESENTS > ring > Roy Jones Jr. > time world champion > Two > victory > weight divisions > Winky Wright > World Championship Boxing
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