Juan Manuel Lopez: Highlights from Puerto Rico’s Rising Star – SHOWTIME Sports – Boxing Boxeo

Posted on | April 12, 2011 | No Comments

Interview with Olivia Goodwin – The UK’s Newest And Youngest Boxing Promoter

Posted on | April 12, 2011 | No Comments

By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

Boxing is predominately a male domain, especially in the UK, but over the past few years the fairer sex have slowly but surely been making their presence known.

Following a highly publicised court action in 1998, against the British Boxing Board of Control, by Jane Couch Female boxers were finally able to complete in the paid ranks.
Ms. Couch then went on to win numerous titles and is now a successful coach, manager and promoter.

In recent years London boxers and boxing fans have been treated to some excellent shows by another pioneering lady – Miranda Carter – who has earned an enviable reputation for her superb well matched Sunday afternoon York Hall events.

More recently, in fact just last month, another young woman was granted her professional promoters license by the BBBofC, and young is the appropriate term as the UK’s newest promoter, Olivia Goodwin, is just twenty two years of age. That’s a whooping nine years younger than any previously licensed promoter.

Olivia is already well known by many of the Capital’s boxers as she is the daughter of boxing promoter Steve Goodwin and has worked alongside him at all of his excellent shows.

Saying that please don’t go thinking Olivia is just playing at the game or her being a publicity tool for her father’s events. Far from it Olivia – whose maiden outing, as a professional boxing promoter, is set for June 4th at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London – is very much her own person and as you will read in the interview below earned her license the hard way and intends to bring some creative new concepts to the events she will be promoting.

I am fortunate to know both Olivia and Steve well, having covered most of Steve’s shows, so on learning that Olivia had been granted a promoters license instantly arranged an interview with her.

Rio) Thank you for taking the time to talk with me today Olivia and congratulations on gaining your professional boxing promoter’s license. My first question has to be why did you decide to become a promoter?

Olivia) Yeah, It’s quite an achievement, especially as I am only twenty two, to get my promoters license, the youngest was 31 before that. It’s something that I would have only dreamed of getting, obviously my dad helped me but I did it myself, I did all the studying, which took hours and hours and hours. I know the rule book inside out, when I went for my meeting they were impressed.

The main reason I wanted to do it is because I enjoy boxing and as you said I am only the third woman promoter in the country, that’s going to bring interest from the public whereas another male wouldn’t. You have to use some things to your advantage sometimes and the fact that we can bring the public in because I’m a woman promoter is something we need to do to create a spark.

Rio) So what can we expect to see at an Olivia Goodwin promoted event that is different from a Steve Goodwin show?

Olivia) The next couple of months is all about getting out there in the press and generating publicity, coming up with some good ideas. I want it to be that when new people come to the show they are ‘Wow, why haven’t we been coming to these shows before’.

I’ve just been learning from my dad really and obviously I have only just got my license so now it’s all about sitting down and coming up with ideas, so if you ask me this in a few weeks I’ll probably have something really creative ideas, but right now I have been focusing on getting my license. The amount of studying I have put into it, because I want to be a promoter I need to know my stuff. I don’t want to be someone who gets something by fluke, I wanted to get it because I deserved it. I didn’t want people to say I got it because I’d been in boxing for a year. I learned the rule book inside and out. At the board meeting they said it was obvious I had gone through the rule book with a fine tooth comb, which I did.

I wanted to know everything and now I do know everything. I pointed something out to my dad the other day. There are rules you don’t need to know on a show to show basis but because I am so fastidious I really studied the rule book inside and out.

Rio) Do you think Boxing at the London 2012 Olympics will help raise the profile of Small Hall Boxing in London?

Olivia) I think with Women’s boxing being introduced at the London 2012 Olympics, mind you just the fact that we have the Olympics in London as well, is going to help boxing in every way. It’s all about creating interest and until my dad became a promoter I didn’t realise how bad it is. Ticket sales from the outside public is so low, currently it’s all down to the boxers to sell tickets. It doesn’t need to be that way as everyone I speak to loves boxing, so why aren’t they going to the shows.

The answer is simple there just isn’t enough exposure of boxing in the media these days, hopefully Women’s Boxing at the Olympics and myself becoming involved may bring the spotlight on the sport a bit more and more people will come to shows because of it.

Rio) You say that you hope that your becoming a promoter will bring the spotlight to the sport, how do you mean?

Olivia) Basically by the fact of me coming in as a promoter if I can grab the public awareness and publicity it will encourage people to come to more boxing shows, I don’t just mean mine I mean all boxing events, and show their support for local fighters.

Once you get boxing out there, boxing isn’t out there these days, the only people that know about the shows are the boxing industry. That’s all well and good but what about Joe Bloggs down the road, he likes boxing but he doesn’t know that there’s a show going on at York Hall. The only way he’d know is if he bought Boxing News. It really is only people that are one hundred percent involved in the sport, or know one of the fighters, that know when boxing shows are on.

So if I can get out there, not just in the boxing press, and get it known and the public start coming in Boxers ticket sales can be lowered. It’s a lot of pressure on Boxers to get ready for fights but then to have to sell say one hundred tickets it’s just not right. Boxers should be Boxing not spending every free minute trying to sell tickets. If you get the public sales then Boxers will not need to sell tickets in order to fight, and that is my aim as a promoter.

Rio) So you aim to be a Promoter with a capital ‘P’ – one that promotes and sells the event rather than rely on boxers selling tickets?

My intention is to eventually have my shows selling enough tickets to the public that the Boxers are paid to fight, not paid a percentage of their ticket sales. I know that it is unlikely to be able to say to a Boxer on a show without TV that he doesn’t have to sell any tickets but if I can get enough people though the door so I can say to the Boxer you don’t have to sell a hundred tickets.

I mean one hundred tickets is a lot, if you said to me here is a hundred tickets, well I know a lot of people but I couldn’t personally sell that many, and neither can many of the boxers so they are struggling to get fights. That’s not right, at the end of the day if I can reduce the amount they have to sell because I have had the exposure that encourages more people to attend Boxing events then I think that’s a good thing.

My dad agrees, he doesn’t think Boxers should have to sell so many tickets just to fight either. He’s been doing what he can but obviously it’s really hard to grab the mainstream media’s attention and get some serious exposure for the sport, but hopefully that’s what I can do.

Rio) When is your first event?

Olivia) My first show is going to be on June 4th at York Hall and it’s going to be a big celebration to my new career. A big statement of my intentions as a promoter. I want it to be, I can’t say better as Goodwin Promotions shows are of top quality, but on the same level as Goodwin Promotions shows. I hope that we will grow together, I believe in boxing you should not be working against each other, you should be working together. That is what we will be illustrating to everyone.

It would be nice to get a Heavyweight in, but they are few and far between. To be honest I will probably use some of the managers as Goodwin Promotions, just because I already have an established relationship with them over the past year.

As I said we want to work together, we need to create work for the boxers, it’s not about working against each other and trying to stop others putting on shows. It’s about everyone being successful.

Rio) Is there anything else you would like to say or anybody you wish to thank?

Olivia) I want to thank the British Boxing Board of Control for giving me the chance, I know I’m young but age isn’t a barrier, it’s ability that matters and I have the capabilities to do well in the Boxing industry.

I’d also like to thank my dad for helping me and giving me the opportunity to work with him and learn everything and the support in my decision to become a promoter.

I’d also like to thank all the Boxers that have been on the Goodwin Promotions shows and I look forward to having them on our shows in the future.

Rio) Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today and I wish you the best with your 4th June show.

Olivia) It’s my pleasure and thank you for interviewing me.

Olivia Goodwin’s first event under her Goodwin Main Events banner will be on the 4th June 2011 at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London.

Mixed Martial Arts Links (4-12-11)

Posted on | April 12, 2011 | 1 Comment

MMA fighter charged with sexual assault Toronto Sun By KELLY PEDRO, QMI Agency LONDON – Mixed–martial arts fighter Kasheem “The Dream” Peterson was training at the Adrenaline Training Centre in London when police walked in and asked to see him. His coach, Tillsonburg-area native Shawn Tompkins, … See all stories on this topic »

Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley Medical Suspensions, Diaz and Daley On List Yahoo! Sports Daley, initially to MixedMartialArts.com. The event took place Saturday night at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. Both main eventers, Nick Diaz and Paul Daley were on the list. Diaz was suspended for 60 days due to an eye laceration, … See all stories on this topic » Yahoo! Sports

It’s shaping up as big month for Gracie Inland Valley Daily Bulletin It seems everywhere fans of mixed martial arts look in April, they are bound to see a reference to Cesar Gracie. Gracie, who runs the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy in Pleasant Hill, Calif., saw two fighters from his camp defend their Strikeforce … See all stories on this topic »

MMA Fighting Stances: Mixed martial arts intelligence from the cage and ring USA Today (MMA Diehards): Bellator bantamweight beltholder Zach Makovsky says his promotion’s champion can compete with the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. Makovsky also touches on his humble background, Bellator’s tournament … See all stories on this topic »

Dream fights left in the UFC for 2011 Yahoo! Sports Now, it looks as though his legal troubles are behind him, and a showdown with Bisping could forever eliminate one of them from ever getting a title shot again. Hobson Lopes has been a fan of mixed martial arts since the days of Tank Abbott. … See all stories on this topic »

‘We’re not that kind of people’ London Free Press By Kelly Pedro, The London Free Press Mixed–martial arts fighters Malcom Gordon, left, of Vancouver and Kasheem Peterson, center, of Philadelphia share a laugh with sponsor Mike Stroops at the home of trainer Shawn Tompkins in Las Vegas, Nevada Tuesday … See all stories on this topic »

UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields Primetime Starts Wednesday Heavy.com UFC Primetime delivers an extraordinary amount of access to two of mixed martial arts‘ best, as they head into the biggest mixed martial events in history before a sellout crowd of 55000 at UFC 129. Christopher Martello of Spike TV serves as executive … See all stories on this topic » Heavy.com

Charity Event Moved Because of Entertainment KSTP.com Supporters of Mixed Martial Arts will speak to the Forest Lake City council tonight to ask that city a ordinance prohibiting their sport be changed. The effort to change the law is a reaction to an incident that occurred earlier this month when charity … See all stories on this topic » KSTP.com

Joe Lauzon to fight Curt Warburton ESPN 22 in Fort Hood, Texas. The 6-foot-6 Morecraft rebounded from the first loss of his career with a win over Sean McCorkle in March. Franklin McNeil covers mixed martial arts and boxing for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Franklin_McNeil. See all stories on this topic »

 

Blogs

Will Finance Committee smackdown mixed martial arts bill … By Brian Lockhart You can bet mixed martial arts proponents will be working hard to squelch any effort to tie their bill to a politically contentious debate over whether Connecticut should demand greater oversight of one of the state’s most successful … Political Capitol – http://blog.ctnews.com/politicalcapitol/

 

Web

Mixed Martial Arts: Muscatine man captures title in Council Bluffs MUSCATINE, Iowa – Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Junior Hernandez is only 24, but he already has his third. www.muscatinejournal.com/…/article_fc22ef70-626e-11e0-9e…

It’s Round Two for mixed martial arts fights in W.Va. – State News … Shaun Marshall practices hits on an opponent recently at Butch Hiles MMA gym on Summers Street. Although mixed martial arts bouts are now legal in West … dailymail.com/rssFeeds/201104101409

 

WORKOUT QUOTES: YONNHY PEREZ WANTS TO KO DARCHINYAN, FIGHT AGBEKO-MARES WINNER

Posted on | April 11, 2011 | No Comments

Monday, April 11, 2011,
Santa Fe Springs (Calif.) Activity Center

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
Saturday, April 23; Telecast Begins Live on SHOWTIME at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
From Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, Calif.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. (April 11, 2011) – After a spirited 60-minute media workout Monday at the Activity Center here, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight champion Yonnhy Perez (20-1-1, 14 KOs), of Santa Fe Springs, proclaimed himself fit and ready for his important 12-round fight against two-division world champion Vic Darchinyan (35-3-1, 27 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, in The Bantamweight Tournament: Winner Takes All on Saturday, April 23 LIVE on SHOWTIME® (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.

In the tournament finals, Joseph King Kong Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs), of the Bronx, N.Y. will defend his IBF 118-pound title against undefeated rising star Abner Mares (21-0-1, 13 KOs), of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.

Perez will be making his initial start since he suffered the lone loss of his career on a 12-round decision to Agbeko in a rematch on Dec. 11, 2010. In his first defense of the title he took from Agbeko on Oct. 31, 2009, Perez boxed a draw with Mares on May 22, 2010. All three fights were on SHOWTIME.

“I want my title back and the best way to do that is to win my next fight and then challenge the winner between (Joseph) Agbeko and (Abner) Mares,’’ Perez said. “Both Agbeko and Mares got a shot at my title and they were great fights. A rematch against either would be just as exciting as our first fights.

“I’m totally recharged and ready to win by knockout. When I win this fight, I will be back in the game.’’

(on his training camp)

“This training is distinctly different in that I have a lot of motivation. I was able to train in Colombia (for six weeks beginning in late February) and that motivated me so much. At first I trained with my old trainer from my amateur days and then Danny Zamora (his current trainer) arrived in Colombia to help me finish out the training there.

“But the most important thing for me was being able to be with my family during that time. That helped me immensely. My mind is on them all the time, whether I am with them or not, so being able to be with them was a major factor. I didn’t have to wonder if everything was OK; I was right there with them. That made me more calm and at ease.

“I am not making excuses but before my last fight, I did my entire training camp in the U.S. and I felt so unmotivated because my mind was with my family and there was nothing I could do about it. I was mentally drained and the proof was in my flat performance against Agbeko. He fought the perfect fight that night but I wasn’t there mentally. I wish I could erase the past and continue to the future on a positive note, but I lost. Now, my confidence is back and I am ready to win again.

“This has been my best training camp and I feel I have never been better. Motivation is the key with me. I am still hungry and you will see that when we fight. You’ll definitely see an improved performance from me. I feel really strong. I’ll show you everything on April 23.’’

(on the brash-talking Darchinyan’s vow to win by knockout)

“Vic Darchinyan can make any comment he would like to make. It’s a free country and he has the right. (But) His words don’t motivate me. I get my inspiration and my motivation from my family.

“Darchinyan is a great fighter but he has faded in his last couple of losses. Abner Mares put him at the door and I am going to put him out.

“The only thing Darchinyan has going for him is his power punch. I am a natural bantamweight; he is not.’’

(his prediction on Agbeko-Mares)

“I have much respect for Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko because they are both great fighters. However, Abner Mares is a great friend of mine and I believe he will win.’’

PROMOTER KEN THOMPSON

“Training in Colombia has done wonders for Yonnhy. I’ve never seen him more focused. He will show fight fans this on April 23 with an early KO. You can take that to the bank.”

Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25, are available online at Ticketmaster.com, and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at STAPLES Center Box Office.

Michael Grant: Talks Career, His Move to Lightweight, Kevin Mitchell etc.

Posted on | April 11, 2011 | No Comments

By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

Back in the early 2000s there was a real buzz around the British amateur boxing scene, there were some excellent young fighters coming through the ranks with serious championship potential, none more so than a particular pair of teenage buddies from London, Michael Grant and Kevin Mitchell.

A month or so ago I was fortunate enough to interview Kevin, earlier this week I caught up with Michael, at the TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, and had an interesting chat with him. However before I move on to the interview with Michael here is a rundown on his career to date.

Both Michael and Kevin won multi titles, including the coveted ABAs, so it was no surprise that big name managers and promoters were keen to sign them to the pro ranks. Kevin was the first to turn over, signing with Frank Warren in 2003, and start an illustrious career that has seen him undertake thirty two bouts, during which he netted the British and Commonwealth belts as well as the IBF and WBO Inter-Continental titles and a shot at the interim WBO Lightweight crown.

Michael’s career on the other hand took a massively different course. Turning pro is 2005 MIchael signed with a manager who ‘promised him the earth’ but instead delivered a mix of four and six round Dinner and small hall shows for a couple of years.

Just one year into his pro boxing career it looked like his dream was doomed to end prematurely due a serious dislocation of his shoulder, which required open surgery, sustained during his fight with Ceri Hall in October 2006

In 2008, having fully recovered from the injury, Michael signed management papers with Johnny Eames and switched his training to Johnny’s excellent TKO Boxing Gym in Canning town.

On the 24th September 2008, Michael returned to the ring against Jay Morris and put on a superb boxing display to get the win and at last Michael’s career finally started moving in the right direction.

Just a few days after the fight with Jay Morris, straight talking Johnny Eames told SecondOut.com’s Danny Coyne “I keep on saying it but Michael Grant is probably one of the best fighters I have trained and I have trained the likes of Graham Earl and the brilliant Kevin Lear over the years.” something Johnny still says to this day.

Just a few weeks later, the world got to see that Johnny was true to his word as Michael was world class as he plain out boxed #15 ranked Gary Reid to secure victory at the O2 Arena, on the undercard of David Haye’s Heavyweight debut against Monte Barrett on the 15th October 2008.

Things were definitely heading in the right direction for Michael, he’d beat a quality opponent on a major televised show.

In his first fight in 2009 another quality opponent was lined up, France’s top 5 ranked Christopher Sebire. As before Michael’s performance was scintillating and earned him a close 58-57 points victory.

Next up for Michael was an appearance in the ever popular Prizefighter series. Unfortunately for Michael disaster struck, an accidental clash of heads in the first round caused a deep cut over Michael’s left eye. Michael was able to continue but the cut worsened considerably in the third round which concerned referee Ian John-Lewis enough for his to stop the fight with 48 seconds remaining on the clock.

On the 12th February 2010, just one day before his best friend Kevin Mitchell had his eleventh title fight, when Kevin defended his WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title, Michael took part in his first title fight of his pro-career, against Steve Williams the vacant English Light Welterweight belt.

After ten, very close, hard fought rounds the judges scorecards were read out showing a 95-96 and 94-97 (twice) victory for Williams. Michael found it hard to hide his disappointment and decided to take a little time away from the sport to consider his options.

Having a new found hunger for the sport Michael returned to training in earnest late in 2010 and is set to return to the ring on the 7th May at Graham Earl’s ‘Redemption Day’ double title headlined event at York Hall in London’s Bethnal Green.

Now we’re up to date on Michael’s career I’ll move on to the interview.

Rio – Hi Michael, Thank you for taking the time to talk with me today. Firstly could you tell us a little about your excellent amateur career?

Michael Grant – I won the ABAs in 2005. I’d got to the finals twice and the quarter finals before, which I thought I was robbed. I thought I should have been a four time ABA champion but that’s why I hated, no not hated because I did eventually become champion and I boxed for England. I boxed in South Africa, in Italy, Malaysia and quite a few countries.

In that sense it made me who I am today as I got the experience of fighting in different countries and I won the ABAs which was the highlight of my amateur career.

Rio – You are to campaign in the Lightweight division, throughout your pro-career you’ve been a Light Welter, what prompted the change of division?

Michael – In the last year as an amateur I was Light Welter, before that I had always been a Lightweight. The last bit of my amateur career I found it hard to make the weight, because obviously I like eating the chicken and stuff.

I was finding it a bit harder, then I was feeling a bit stronger at Light Welter as I was eating literally what I wanted and I was making the weight. But I was actually a Lightweight, I was Lightweight for a good seven years before I was at the ABAs, so I’ve naturally been a Lightweight.

Rio – Do you think the change of division will be more to your advantage?

Michael – The guys were bigger than me at Light Welter, now I’m likely to be the bigger at Lightweight. That’s the advantage, that’s what I can’t wait for because I feel strong now, stronger than I did at Light Welter and the guys I’m going to be fighting will be around the same size or even smaller so I’ve got a good advantage. I’ll be coming back as a strong hot prospect.

Rio – Your last fight at Light Welter was for the English title, are you looking to get back into championship contention as soon as possible?

Michael – At Lightweight I’m looking to go all the way. Johnny’s (Johnny Eames) has got me this fight, which was like lastminute.com, I just can’t wait to get back in there. I might not be fighting for much money but I’m just trying to get into the top ten Lightweight so Im happy to take any fights.

By the end of the year I want some kind of title, British title as soon as. I’ve seen the person that’s got it and I’ll smash him to pieces. I’m going to be straight this year is going to be an exciting year and next year even better.

Rio – You were unfortunate in that your last two fights ended in contentious losses for yourself, what are your thoughts on these?

Michael – Both my losses as a pro could have been avoided. My last one for the English title, looking back at it, I could have done more to make it more convincing.

The Prizefighter now I look back on that I don’t think really that was for me but I went in it and I thought I was winning until the referee stopped it.

I’d got the cut in the first round and the referee stopped it in the last minute of the last round, a bit dodgy there I thought. Yeah and it left a nice scar on my face.

Rio – Your back here at the TKO Boxing Gym now, there’s a lot of quality fighters here for sparring. Who have you been sparring recently?

Michael – When I first come back Colin (Lynes) was fighting so I did a few rounds with Colin. I’ve also been sparring with a couple of people from the gym, Sam (Standing), Ricky (Boylan) and in time I’ll be sparring with Kevin (Mitchell), my pal Kev I’ll be sparring with him ‘cos he’ll be fighting soon as well. I’ll be helping him and he’ll be helping me.

Yeah there’s always good sparring. That’s the best thing about being down here there’s always good sparring, even Lightweight or Light Welterweight. You’ve got Pat (McAleese) as well, I’ve been sparring with him, he’s heavier, he hits a lot harder. There’s all different type of sparring here, it’s great.

Rio – How has the time out affected you?

Michael – The time out I think was the best thing I could have done. Sometimes it can be the worse thing to do, but I think it is the best thing because that hunger’s come back, it’s come back with a vengeance.

I had a lot of things in my life that was there before, what shouldn’t have been in there that was distracting me and that’s all gone so I’ve got a career ahead and I’m a hundred and ten percent on my game this time and I’m going to make sure that everyone knows I’m back properly.

Rio – For people that have yet to see you fight how would you describe yourself?

Michael – I just see myself as…Quick and hard to hit, well I try to be hard to hit and quick. I’m in and out and I’ve developed some power. I’m going to be a lot stronger. I aint going to be always bang, bang, bang and off, I’m going to be standing there a lot more and looking to take people out.

Rio – Of all your career fights, both as a pro and amateur, which holds the fondest memories?

Michael – My favourite fight was when I was boxing for Finchley, I think it was in 2000 or 2001, and we boxed in Las Vegas. I boxed Julio Caesar Chavez’s nephew, I didn’t know at first who I was boxing. On the day I came out first obviously as the away fighter. All of a sudden all these cameras came out of nowhere, people cheering, lights going and then music come on, you don’t normally have music on an amateur show.

I looked at my corner and John Oliver, my coach, he was laughing and said ‘I didn’t want to tell you, but you’re fighting Julio Caesar Chavez’s nephew.’

I didn’t mind anyway and I looked down and there’s Julio Caesar at ringside watching, so that was an experience. Yeah I won as well so it was really special and I got the experience of fighting a Mexican which was good.

Rio – Thank you for talking with me today – finally is there anything you want to say to the readers

Michael – Watch out for me it’s gonna be a hell of a year.

I have to say that I agree with part of that last comment, the watch out for him part. As I had said in the build up to the interview Michael is an exceptional talent and with his new hunger as well as the maestro Johnny Eames orchestrating his career you can be sure that it is only going to be a very short time before Michael will be challenging for titles, both domestic and on the World scene.

Michael’s return to the ring, and his first professional bout as a Lightweight, will be on Graham Earl’s ‘Redemption Day’ event at York Hall on Saturday 7th May 2011 – which is co-headlined by Leon ‘Solid’ Williams versus Danny Couzens for the Southern Area Cruiserweight title and Paul Morby-Daniel Cadman II – the rematch – also for the Southern Area title, this time the Super Middleweight belt.

Between the three top bouts and a top quality, properly matched, undercard this is without doubt a don’t miss event – so don’t miss it, you’ll regret it.

Tickets for ‘Redemption Day’ event at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 7th May 2011 on sale and priced £35 (Unreserved) or £60 (Ringside) and available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or call in person at The TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA. For further information call 07960 850645.

Shaw/Espino Ink Super Bantamweight Nehomar Cermeño

Posted on | April 11, 2011 | No Comments

Gary Shaw of Gary Shaw Productions is proud to announce the signing of Venezuelan former WBA Interim Bantamweight Champion and current WBA #6 super bantamweight Nehomar Cermeño (20-3, 12 KOs) to a co-promotional deal with Panama-based Rogelo Espino of Promociones Y Eventos del Istmo.   31-year-old Cermeño is a former Olympian and one of Venezuela’s most popular fighters. He became champion in 2009 by defeating top contender Christian Mijares and then defeated him again in a rematch.   Cermeño made another successful defense against Alejandro Valdez before losing his belt to the formidable Anselmo Moreno by split decision. He lost again to Moreno by another split decision in a rematch.   “This is a great signing of a very talented fighter and I’m proud to be making this deal with Nehomar and with Rogelo,” said Gary Shaw. “Both Cermeño’s fights with Moreno could have gone either way. In fact, all three of his losses were by split decision. He’s a very tough, very skilful boxer and a great addition to our stable.”   Promociones y Eventos del istmo has been awarded “Promoter of the Year” by the Panamanian Boxing Commission for 10 consecutive years. Currently, they have 27 boxers signed and have promoted 20 world title fights.   “Together Gary Shaw and I will be looking for an opportunity for a new world title fight for Cermeño,” added Espino. “This deal is going to be great for all of us.”   For more information on Promociones Y Eventos del Istmo, please visitwww.proboxpanama.com. For more information on Gary Shaw Productions, please visit www.garyshawproductions.com.

 

Andre Berto Training Camp Notes; Berto-Ortiz headlines ‘East-West’ Showdown’ Apr. 16 at MGM Grand at Foxwoods

Posted on | April 11, 2011 | No Comments

NEW YORK, NY (April 11, 2011) – World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Welterweight World Champion and undefeated star Andre Berto is experiencing one of his best training camps ever in preparation for his sixth title defense April 16 against WBC # 5 rated challenger “Vicious” Victor Ortiz in the 12-round main event headlining the “East-West Showdown” card at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

“East-West Showdown: Berto vs. Ortiz” is presented by DiBella Entertainment, in association with Golden Boy Promotions. The bout will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing starting at 9:45 PM/ET 6:45 PM/PT. The broadcast kicks off with Amir “King” Khan (24-1, 17 KOs) defending his WBA Super Lightweight World Title against Paul “Dudley” McCloskey (22-0, 12 KOs) from the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England.

Berto (27-0, 21 KOs), a 2004 Haitian Olympian fighting out of Winter Haven, Florida, captured the vacant WBC Welterweight World Title in 2008 by way of a seventh round technical knockout of Miguel Angel “Miki” Rodriguez. The lightning-quick boxer has made five successful title defenses against World Champions Steve “2 Pound” Forbes (UD12), Luis Collazo (UD12), Juan “Iron Twin” Urango (UD12), and Carlos “El Indio” Quintana (TKO8), as well as veteran Freddy “Riel” Hernandez (TKO1) last November.

Below are notes from Berto’s training camp in Winter Haven, Florida and his comments:

Training Camp

“This training camp has to be one of my best thus far, simply because I have been staying in shape during my off time with my strength-and-conditioning coach, Cleveland Berto. So, when training camp came around, I got in rhythm within the second week. As the weeks go on, I’m feeling stronger, faster and more conditioned. I am ready to get in the ring.”

Different Preparation for Ortiz

“I always work hard in training camp. He’s a southpaw with power, so we have to prepare and tweak a couple of things to get ready for the fight.”

Typical Berto Training Day

“I work harder and harder as fight night gets closer. We do two-a-days, swim three times a week, run and go to the boxing gym every day.”

Gameplan

“I need to do what I’ve been doing: stay sharp, smart and, of course, be the last man standing.”

Fighting at Foxwoods

“It feels good to be back on the East Coast, closer to where it all started for me. It’s a new venue so this gives two great fighters the opportunity to put it on the map because this fight will be a good one. People will remember who and where it was fought.”

Tickets are priced at $350, $200, $125, and $65 and went on sale today through the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mgmatfoxwoods.com, by calling the MGM Grand at Foxwoods at 1-866-646-0609, or in person at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office.

For information about DiBella Entertainment, including a list of all upcoming bouts, please visit www.dbe1.com, or follow Lou DiBella on twitter, @loudibella. Follow Andre Berto on Twitter, @AndreBerto.

For information on Golden Boy Promotions, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, on twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing or Victor Ortiz @VICIOUSOrtiz.

Follow HBO Boxing news at www.hbo.com/boxing, Facebook at www.facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitterwww.twitter.com/hboboxing.

 

Al Bernstein to Emcee 2011 BWAA Awards

Posted on | April 11, 2011 | No Comments

 

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