UNDEFEATED STRIKEFORCE MMA STAR BRETT ROGERS TO APPEAR ON LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY FRIDAY

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

WHO: Hard-hitting, Unbeaten Brett Rogers

WHAT: Undefeated American powerhouse Brett “The Grim” Rogers will be a guest on

NBC’s “Last Call with Carson Daly” late night program. Rogers will face world
No. 1 ranked heavyweight fighter Fedor Emelianenko in the main event of the upcoming STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL: Fedor vs. Rogers event LIVE on the CBS Television Network (9 p.m., ET/PT) this Saturday, Nov. 7. The event takes place at Sears Centre Arena in Chicago.

Rogers will discuss his rapid ascension to the top of the MMA heavyweight ranks. The Minnesota resident will detail his childhood growing up in the projects of Chicago and his transition from working as a tire technician at Sam’s Club to a superstar heavyweight fighter. The knockout artist, who has scored 10 KO victories in his 10 career professional fights, will be facing his toughest opposition yet in Emelianenko aka “Fedor,” who has dominated the heavyweight ranks for the better part of a decade.

WHERE: “Last Call with Carson Daly” on NBC

WHEN: Tomorrow/Friday, Nov. 6 at 1:35 a.m. ET/PT, 12:35 a.m. CT/MT

STRIKEFORCE FIGHTERS, EXECS CAN’T WAIT FOR SATURDAY NIGHT TO ARRIVE; FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

Thursday, Nov. 5, CBS Channel 2 WBBM, Chicago, Illinois

CHICAGO (Nov. 4, 2009) – The Mixed Martial Arts fighters who will appear on the CBS Television Network this Saturday, Nov. 7 (9 p.m. ET/PT) and executives for Strikeforce and M-1 Global participated in a jam-packed final press conference at CBS Channel 2 WBBM Thursday for “STRIKEFORCE: Fedor vs. Rogers’’ at the Sears Centre.

In the four bouts on the CBS broadcast, the legendary Fedor “The Last Emperor’’ Emelianenko (30-1, 1 NC), of Russia, will meet unbeaten, hard-hitting Brett Rogers (10-0) of St. Paul, Minn.; streaking, world-class Jake Shields (23-4-1), of San Francisco, who has won 12 in a row, will be opposed by colorful Jason “Mayhem’’ Miller (22-6), of Orange County, Calif., for the Strikeforce world middleweight belt, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi (29-2-1), of the Netherlands, will put his 13-fight winning streak on the line against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4) of Murrieta, Calif., in a non-title scrap; and Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) of Marina Del Rey, Calif., and Antonio “Big Foot” Silva” (13-1), of Coconut Creek, Fla., will clash in a battle of top-notch Brazilian heavyweights.

Tickets, starting at $35, are on sale at the Sears Centre Arena box office (www.searscentre.com), at all Ticketmaster locations (800) 745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and STRIKEFORCE’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).

Doors for the live event open at 5:15 p.m. CT. The first non-televised bout begins at 6 o’clock CT.

What the fighters and executive said Thursday:

SCOTT COKER (Strikeforce)

“We are very excited to be here. We are happy to have fights on CBS and in primetime. We have a historic night of fights ahead of us. We have the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, Fedor Emelianenko, fighting Mr. Brett Rogers. We also have the Strikeforce middleweight title belt on the line between Mr. Jake Shields and Mr. Mayhem Miller. It has been an exciting week with Jason!

“When you talk about companies working with partners, you find try to find a partner where the goals are common and aligned in future business plans. With M-1, we have found that to be true. They have been amazing partners.

“We know Alistair (Overeem) will be fighting in the first quarter of next year. Depending on the outcome of this fight and the next, we can work on putting a fight together. You see the matchup potential between the winner of the Silva vs. Werdum fight and the winner of the Fedor vs. Rogers fight. I think it would make sense for those two guys to fight each other in the future depending on how things go. Then, Alistair can come in later and fight the winner of that fight. We have some great heavyweight fights upcoming and we are looking forward to promoting them.

“I believe Alistair will be available in the first quarter. We will get him in the mix as well as some other heavyweights we will announce here in the next week or so.”

“Fedor is the reigning champion (of WAMMA). I believe that they will honor the fight and that the fighter that wins the fight will get the belt.

“The beauty of this deal is that we get to watch Fedor vs. Rogers on CBS for free. We can try to get as many millions of eyeballs as we can to drive mixed martial arts forward as a mainstream sport. We are proud to do that.”

JOOST RAIMOND (M-1 Global):

“We have a huge fight card on the line. It is unprecedented. It is the best fight card we could ever imagine. With CBS, we have found the greatest outlet ever to bring the great sport on MMA and these great athletes to a huge audience. I think now the overall U.S. public can enjoy the wonderful event we have on Saturday night at the Sears Centre.

“The partnership with Strikeforce and M-1 Global is tremendously important. We have gotten off to a great start. We have had a lot of media attention for the event. Thanks to Scott Coker for working with M-1. This partnership allows us to bring you the best events possible with the best fighters possible. We have Strikeforce’s Brett Rodgers and M-1 Global’s Fedor Emelianenko as the headliner. We are all in great anticipation of what is going to happen there.

“For us, the American market is extremely important. In a partner, we look for a company with the same goals. Synergy is extremely important and what we can bring from both our sides is Strikeforce has an amazing stable of fighters and M-1 Global has a growing stable of fighters with Fedor and Gegard [Mousasi] heading that up. Together we have the additional strength in putting on very good events. Strikeforce has a great base in the U.S. and we bring international knowledge to the table.”

SERGEI MATVIENKO (M-1)

“We hope that the relationship we are starting now will be very long and beneficial. As far as we can see, MMA is getting more and more popular all over the world – not only America or Japan. We hope that the show will be liked by all of the spectators. I really believe we won’t disappoint anyone that will be watching the show. Let the strongest win.”

FEDOR

“I watched the fight of Brett against Andrei Arlovski. I know that Brett is very strong. He has a very strong knockout punch. We usually train for all fights in the same way with some slight difference regarding the opponent. This time we are just doing some corrections regarding the technique of Brett.

“I am certainly planning on performing in the United States. I know for sure I will have two fights next year in the U.S. and then we will see if the contract will work. Maybe we will sign another contract.

“I never think about how impressive I am. I just come to the ring to show my techniques and skills. I want to finish the fight as fast as possible.”

BRETT ROGERS

“I am ready to go. I have been training real hard. It has been a long training camp. I understand who I am fighting, but he is just a man. I can’t wait.

“Up until this point, I have had to get back to work the next day. It is a great experience training and focusing on what I have to do come fight night.

“It does feel good to come to Chicago and put on a show in my birthplace. At the same time, Minnesota would have been good. My goal is to go out and put on a good show.

“(With two days to go) I just meditate and do what I normally do. I try not to get stressed. If I get stressed I am going to lose focus on my main goal. I just stay relaxed. Come Saturday morning, I definitely get into that fight mode. I think about everything that is coming, knock out the butterflies and then after that it is on. I am in that ball right now and I am ready to explode. This is the first time coming into a fight that I can just train and fight. I am ready to go.”

JAKE SHIELDS

“I feel great at this weight. I am willing to fight wherever – welterweight, middleweight, wherever. I am just looking for good fights. I think Miller was the fight that makes sense. I am willing to go up in weight. I am not that small. People forget, I cut a lot of weight (to make 170). People make too big of a deal about the weight. I’m not going to use that as an excuse. Win or lose I am ready to fight and I don’t think weight is going to be a factor.

“I fight because I want to keep myself interested in the challenge. If it is not interesting, there’s no point in doing it any more. It is exciting for me to bounce between the weights. Right now I’m worried about going up and staying up, but who knows what the future holds if they find a good opponent in the ‘70s. Right now I am not worried too much about that. I am just looking at one fight at a time, but it does keep it interesting for me.

“I am taking it one fight at a time, but most likely I’ll take another fight at 185. My weight is up right now and obviously I’m willing to drop back down, but I wouldn’t want to go up and down every other fight. That makes it difficult. Really, I’m just worried about getting through Miller and see what happens from there.”

JASON “MAYHEM’’ MILLER

“(Referring to Shields’ winning streak) All good things come to an end. It is an amazing streak that Shields has put together. I am proud to be guy standing across the cage from him on Saturday night.

“I don’ think I’m going too overboard [in the spotlight]. My goal is to provide entertainment for the CBS viewers. If they just want to watch a bar fight they can go to their local brew house. I am going to try to perform so that everybody is talking – that includes walking to the stage, and all the way to the post-fight press conference.

“I think people think because I am on TV every minute that I am standing in front of a camera every minute. Honestly, Bully Beatdown takes about two weeks to film and then they just replay it nonstop. Everyone thinks I live inside the box in their living room. It is not true. I actually walk around and do things outside of that.

“As far as marketing goes, you stick me in front of a camera and a microphone and I am going to blah, blah, blah and hopefully you are going to either want to watch me get me teeth knocked out or knock somebody’s head off. Part of my job is standing in a cage and beating somebody up, but the other part of my job is to make sure that you care about the fact that I am going to do it.”

GEGARD MOUSASI

“Every time you win, people expect more of you. There is some pressure, but I feel like I have good people around me that keep me focused. It is a very good fight for me and I am well trained so, God willing, it will be a good night.

“It is huge exposure for us fighting on CBS. It is a great card. I think any fight could have been on the main card, so I am concentrating on winning and doing my part. It is a big deal.

“I will try to finish the fight, but every fight is different. Sometimes you can finish the fight quickly, other times not. I don’t really care. I just want to win if it is decision or submission or anything. I’m just going to do my best to win.”

RAMEAU THIERRY SOKOUDJOU

“I believe he got injured during a fight, so I am looking forward to fighting him now. This is a great opportunity for all of us. I know this will not be an easy fight. No fights are.

“But I am here to give my best. When it is over, Mousasi will know he will have been in a very hard fight for both of us.’’

FABRICIO WERDUM

“I am very happy to be here. This is a great opportunity for me. I think the Mike Kyle fight was hard, but I’m ready for all fighters. I have trained a lot and have trained with the best fighters and coaches in the world. My focus now is on this big fight. After that, my goal would be to fight Fedor or Rogers.

“But I know I can’t look ahead. For me, the future is Saturday.’’

ANTONIO SILVA

“It has been a while since I have fought in the States. It’s great to be part of a card that includes fighters like Fedor and Brett Rogers. I’ve come to seek what I think is mine. I will be working very hard for that.”

“Werdum is a fighter of many qualities. He’s fought in many events. He has strengths and weaknesses. I’ve been training very hard in Jiu-Jitsu and standing up with my coach. I just came out of a fight in Japan and have been fighting ever since. It is do or die. It is a big fight and it is very important. I have come and I am ready to lay it down.”

Cool Combat Sports Links: Mixed Martial Arts, Wrestling, Boxing (11-05-09)

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

Under Armour in deal with mixed martial arts star

Strikeforce preview: The undercard

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Could Be the Next Test for Cain Velasquez

Edmonton MMA scene warms up with HeatXC 4 Saturday

Strike two: Promoter gears up amateur ‘team’ MMA

Former tire shop worker faces MMA’s best

Beatdown on the Bay MMA event moved to Nov. 28

Strikeforce on tape delay? Orlando station responds to fan outrage

Injuries, Kimbo Slice and Pat Barry

WRESTLER’S EYE VIEW ON HULK HOGAN COMING INTO TNA, WHETHER HE IS THE MAN TO RIGHT THE SHIP AND MORE

Members of wrestling club place

Roxbury Latin’s Ward inducted into Wrestling Hall of Fame

Area wrestlers take wins in tournament

Book Exposes Pro Wrestling’s Cocktail of Death

PENN STATE WRESTLING; Intrasquad dual to open Lions’ season

Rens takes over as FdL wrestling head coach

‘WWE: Smackdown vs. Raw 2010’

Wrestler’s hearing changed to Dec. 2

Titan wrestling coach Dan Hicks battles to save program

Dangerous Women of Wrestling Press Release 11/19

Gatti Widow Gets Money to cover legal fees, child care

Boxing: The Beast earns his happy ending

Boxing historian: Pacquiao now on cusp of boxing glory

Williams vs Martinez: Both Boxers Comment on The Fight

Pacquiao-Cotto bout 50-50 affair, says Rourke

Fall Fight Night brings 15-bout boxing show to Bay City

Fighting talk
The best soundbites in the build-up to David and Goliath

Boxing: Boxing set for Piper’s Opera House in V.C.

Glen Johnson Bio: Johnson vs Dawson Fight Odds

EXCLUSIVE TABLES HOSTED BY BOXING LEGENDS NOW ON SALE; WORLD’S GREATEST EVER BOXER; ONCE IN A LIFETIME DINNER WITH BOXING’S ROYALTY

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

The greatest gathering of boxing legends the world has ever seen

First eight fighter’s tables released and available for limited time – each fighter will be hosting a table of ten special guests

ROBERTO DURAN – “Hands of Stone” – lightweight hero from Panama

AARON PRYOR – “the Hawk” – Captain of USA team – welterweight champion

JEFF FENECH – the Pride of Australia – three time world champion & Captain of the World team – featherweight nominee

EMILE GRIFFITH – IHOF inductee – welterweight nominee from Virgin Islands

BOB FOSTER – IBHOF inductee and long time champ – USA – light heavyweight legend

CARLOS ORTIZ – three time world champion – lightweight nominee from Puerto Rico

MICHAEL CARBAJAL – “Little hands of steel” – 4 times world champion – flyweight nominee

JOE CALZAGHE – The Pride of Wales – undefeated (40-0) – light heavyweight nominee

WORLD’S GREATEST EVER BOXER

BLACK TIE DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY

Paris Hotel & Casino

Las Vegas

Sunday December 13 2009

Three course meal – fines wines, champagne and international beers.

High quality entertainment and audience interaction with

Greatest Ever boxing legends

TO VIEW PRICES AND SECURE YOUR TABLE WITH YOUR FAVOURITE GREATEST EVER BOXER GO TO WWW.GREATESTEVER.COM NOW

EVENT ONLY TICKETS OR WEEKEND PACKAGES ALSO AVAILABLE AT WWW.GREATESTEVER.COM – BOOK NOW

Other World’s Greatest Ever Boxer Nominee tables to be released in coming days

FEDOR, BRETT ROGERS, “MAYHEM” MILLER, JAKE SHIELDS AND ALL THE FIGHTERS TO WEIGH IN; PUBLIC INVITED TO ATTEND Friday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. CT (Doors Open at 4) at Sears Centre

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

WHO: MMA Superstar & World’s Universally Recognized No. 1 Heavyweight FEDOR EMELIANENKO

Unbeaten American Powerhouse BRETT ROGERS

Exciting Submission Expert JASON “MAYHEM” MILLER

World-Ranked Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt JAKE SHIELDS

STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight Champion GEGARD MOUSASI

Light heavyweight Judo Expert RAMEAU THIERRY SOKOUDJOU

Heavyweight KO Artist ANTONIO “BIG FOOT” SILVA

Brazilian Heavyweight Submission Expert FABRICIO WERDUM

& All the local and undercard fighters

WHAT: The athletes will participate in the final weigh in on Friday, Nov. 6, just one day prior to the STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global: “Fedor vs. Rogers” event LIVE on Saturday, Nov. 7 on CBS Television Network (9 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) from Sears Centre Arena in Chicago.

Simply referred to as “Fedor” by fans around the world, the Russian is one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. The Russian military combat Sambo specialist boasts a record of 30-1, 1 No-Contest with 16 wins by submission, seven knockouts and seven decisions. The 28-year-old Rogers (10-0) is a massive physical specimen standing 6-feet, 5-inches tall and weighing 265 pounds. He possesses two of the heaviest hands in the sport of MMA, an attribute that has helped him knock out all 10 of his professional opponents.

Mousasi, the STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight Champ who is on a 13-fight win streak, will face Sokoudjou in a non-title matchup of two, hard-hitting KO artists. Miller, a submission expert and host of MTV’s smash-hit reality series Bully Beatdown, will face fellow submission specialist Shields for the Strikeforce world middleweight title. Silva and Werdum, two talented Brazilian heavyweights, will square off in a dangerous matchup between a submission expert (Werdum) and a brutal KO artist (Silva).

Tickets, starting at $35, are still available at the Sears Centre Arena box office (www.searscentre.com) as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and STRIKEFORCE’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).

WHERE: Sears Centre Arena – Main Concourse

5333 Prairie Stone Parkway

Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

WHEN: Friday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. CT.

“HDNET FIGHTS PRESENTS: WORLD VICTORY ROAD – SENGOKU 11,” PREMIERING LIVE ON HDNET

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tune in after Fedor’s fight to catch top fighters headlining this impressive card early Saturday morning, November 7, at 2:00 a.m. ET on HDNet

DALLAS (November 5, 2009) HDNet will broadcast exclusive LIVE coverage of “HDNet Fights Presents: World Victory Road – Sengoku 11,” early Saturday morning, November 7, at 2:00 a.m. ET from Tokyo, Japan. The event is stacked from top to bottom with a mix of top ranked talent, up-and-coming prospects, and established MMA stars.

In the main event of the evening, Hatsu Hioki (20-3-2), one of the top five featherweights in the world, meets the always-tough Michihiro Omigawa (7-8-1). Hioki is undefeated in his last nine fights, but was forced out of the Sengoku Featherweight title tournament in August due to an injury incurred in his classic bout with Masanori Kanehara. Kanehara went on to defeat Omigawa in the tournament final and claim the Sengoku title. A Hioki victory would set up a highly anticipated rematch with Kanehara.

In the co-main event, top ten middleweight and Sengoku Middleweight Champion, Jorge Santiago (21-7), faces impressive prospect Mamed Khalidov (19-3-1) in a non-title bout. Santiago is on a nine-fight winning streak, all by way of knockout or submission, while Khalidov is riding a 17-fight undefeated streak of his own including 12 first round finishes.

“Hioki has been on an unbelievable streak and may be the best featherweight in the world,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “Then, in the co-main event you have two guys who, between them, have put together 26 wins in a row! This is MMA folks – not boxing – no protecting win/loss records here!”

Other bouts on the loaded card include: Kevin Randleman (17-13) vs. Stanislav Nedkov (7-0), Jim York (11-3) vs. Dave Herman (15-1), Satoru Kitaoka (25-9-9) vs. Jorge Masvidal (18-4), Akihiro Gono (29-15-7) vs. Yoon Young Kim (12-4), Marlon Sandro (14-1) vs.Yuji Hoshino (16-7-7), and Shigeki Osawa (3-0) vs. Ronnie Mann (16-2-1).

HDNet’s broadcast of “HDNet Fights Presents: World Victory Road – Sengoku 11 begins early Saturday morning, November 7 at 2:00 a.m. ET with an encore presentation that evening at 8:00 p.m. ET

Vested interest in Valuev-Haye WBA Title Fight for former champ Ruiz

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

“David vs. Goliath” PPV card live Saturday from Germany

NUREMBERG, Germany (Nov. 5, 2009) – The most interested spectator Saturday in Versicherung Arena for the WBA heavyweight title fight between defending Nikolai “The Russian Giant” Valuev and challenger David “The Haymaker” Haye will be former 2-time WBA title-holder John “The Quietman” Ruiz.

Ruiz (43-8-1, 29 KOs), the WBA top contender, agreed with the promoters for Valuev and Haye to “step aside” as the WBA “Official Challenger.” By defeating ex-IBU champion Adnan “Aachen Assassin” Serin (19-10-1, 7 KOs) in Saturday’s 10-round co-feature on the “David vs. Goliath” Pay-Per-View event, he is guaranteed a title bout against the Valuev-Haye winner by the end of May, 2010.

Valuev-Haye is promoted by Wilfried Sauerland’s Sauerland Event and its Managing Director, Christian Meyer, in association with Don King Productions. The “David vs. Goliath” show is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, TVN, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice, Shaw PPV and Bell TV for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. A replay will be shown that same night at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.

Ruiz doesn’t necessarily care who wins the title fight between Valuev (50-1, 34 KOs), who “The Quietman” has dropped two close decisions to in Germany, and London-based Haye (22-1, 21 KOs). He will be watching Valuev-Haye closely, though, after his scheduled PPV-opening bout against Serin.

“I’m 0-3 in Germany and 6-0 fighting in England,” Ruiz joked, “so I guess I’d rather fight Haye. “I’m really looking forward to this fight. I know no fight is easy and that I have to get past this one to get the winner of Valuev-Haye. I know there’s another world title fight in the horizon for me, but I have to win this fight to get the next one.

“I’m very happy that my fight is going to be on pay per view in North America. My fans and media there haven’t been able to watch my last few fights because they weren’t televised there. They think I still fight the same way (clutch-and-grab), but I’m much more aggressive, and now they’ll be able to see how much I’ve improved. I’ve been working hard the past three months with my new head trainer, Miguel Diaz, and assistant (former WBA bantamweight) Richie Sandoval. Somewhere along the line, I got away from the basics, and we’ve been working in that area. I had been leaning in and landing too close to my opponent, which resulted in a lot of clutching and grabbing. We’ve improved my style; I’m more aggressive now, moving more and getting hit less.”

Additional undercard bouts and highlights will also air on PPV. Two other former world champions are on the card, heavyweight Sergei Liakhovich (23-3, 14 KOs) and cruiserweight Kelvin “Concrete” Davis (24-10-3, 17 KOs) vs. Jeremy “The Best” Bates (22-16-1, 18 KOs) and unbeaten IBF No. 10 rated Alexander Frankel, respectively. Undefeated WBC & WBA No. 3 rated cruiserweight Francisco “The Wizard” Palacios (18-0, 11 KOs) is also on the undercard versus DeLeon Tingsley (9-4-1, 5 KOs).

For more information about the Valuev-Haye PPV go to www.integratedsportsnet.com.

Integrated Sports is North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events is Integrated Sports. Among the many events brought to North American viewers by Integrated Sports include World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Ricky Hatton, Christian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Kahn, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports has distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Team of Argentina, and World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

Don King Productions has promoted over 500 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including three of the top five: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.

DKP has promoted or co-promoted 11 of the top 20 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including five of the top seven: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995; and Trinidad vs. De La Hoya, paid attendance: 11,184, gross: $12, 949, 500. Sept. 18, 1999.

MIGUEL COTTO’S PUERTO RICAN ROOTS YIELD HIGH RESULTS FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AND CELEBRITIES

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | No Comments

Small Island, BIG TALENT . . .

LAS VEGAS (November 5, 2009) – Jennifer Lopez …Carlos Beltran … Roberto Clemente. . .it takes longer to escape a New York City traffic jam than to drive the length of Puerto Rico, which measures only 100 miles by 35 miles. . . Benicio Del Toro… Reggie Jackson…Chi Chi Rodriguez. . .the population of Puerto Rico is about 3.9-million. That means the entire Commonwealth has fewer residents than at least a dozen metropolitan areas in the USA. . .Marc Antony… Carmelo Anthony … Freddie Prinze Sr. . .yet the number of sports and entertainment stars and superstars produced by this island is overwhelming.

Miguel Cotto, who takes on Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, November 14 live on HBO Pay-Per-View®, is today’s brightest boxing star from Puerto Rico, which has produced more champions and legends per square mile than any place in the world.

The island people’s lives have been seeped in the love of the game and the thrill of a fight, as Puerto Rico has produced successful baseball and boxing superstars for decades. As for boxing champions, the first of more than 50 world titlists was Sixto Escobar, who twice reigned as bantamweight champion in the mid-’30s. In the ’60s, lightweight and junior welterweight champion Carlos Ortiz was the first Puerto Rican to be recognized as a pound-for-pound great.

One decade later, three-division champion Wilfred Benitez established a reputation as the best defensive fighter of his era. Benitez won his first world title at age 17, still a record. In the ’70s and ’80s, Wilfredo Gomez, who was another three-division titlist, flaunted a rare combination of power and boxing skills. Gomez made 17 successful defenses of the junior featherweight title and knocked out hall of famers Lupe Pintor and Carlos Zarate.

Immediately preceding Cotto was wildly popular Felix “Tito” Trinidad, who won titles at welterweight, junior middleweight, and middleweight. Trinidad reigned as a champion from 1993 to 2001, and defeated Fernando Vargas, Pernell Whitaker, and Oscar De La Hoya.

Other notable Puerto Rican champions: John Ruiz, who was the first Hispanic to win a portion of the world heavyweight title; Carlos DeLeon, who won the WBC cruiserweight crown four times; charismatic junior lightweight and lightweight champion Hector Camacho; power punching two-division champion Edwin Rosario; Esteban DeJesus, who defeated Roberto Duran; light heavyweight champion Jose Torres; and reigning light flyweight champion Ivan Calderon, who is unbeaten in 34 career bouts.

Now it’s Cotto’s time to perform on the biggest stage of his career and should he be victorious, he will find his place atop the 2009 leader board of great athletes and stars emanating from this small but prideful island.

Categorized List of Fighters, Athletes and Celebrities

Boxers

Benítez, Wilfred, three division champion, member International Boxing Hall of Fame

Calderón, Iván, reigning light flyweight champion who remains unbeaten

Camacho, Héctor “Macho”, sensational junior lightweight and lightweight titlist

Cotto, Miguel, former junior welterweight titlist and reigning welterweight champion

De Jesus, Esteban, lightweight champion who defeated Roberto Duran

De León, Carlos “Sugar”, four-time cruiserweight champion

Escalera, Alfredo, junior lightweight champion

Escobar, Sixto, first Puerto Rican World Champion (bantamweight), Hall of Famer

Gomez, Wilfredo, three-division champion, Hall of Famer

Lopez, Juan Manuel, unbeaten reigning junior featherweight champion

Montañez, Pedro, fought for lightweight and welterweight titles, Hall of Famer

Ortiz, Carlos, lightweight and junior welterweight champion, Hall of Famer

Rosario, Edwin “El Chapo”, lightweight and junior welterweight champion, Hall of Famer

Ruíz, John, first Hispanic to win a portion of the heavyweight title

Serrano, Samuel, longtime and two-time junior lightweight champion

Trinidad, Felix “Tito”, three division champion, Pound-for-Pound legend

Vazquez, Wilfredo, three-division champion

Venegas, Juan Evangelista, first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic Gold Medal (1948)

Athletes

Alomar, Roberto, former MLB All-Star 2nd baseman

Alomar, Sandy Jr. former MLB catcher

Anthony, Carmelo, NBA player, Denver Nuggets (Puerto Rican father).

Arroyo, Carlos, NBA player, Miami Heat

Barea, José Juan, NBA player, Dallas Mavericks

Beltrán, Carlos, MLB player, centerfielder New York Mets

Bithorn, Hiram, baseball player, first Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball

Cepeda, Orlando “Peruchin”, member of MLB Hall Of Fame

Clemente, Roberto, first Puerto Rican member of MLB Hall Of Fame

Delgado, Carlos, MLB baseball player, New York Mets

Fernandez, Lisa, Olympic gold-medalist (softball)

Jackson, Reggie, baseball player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame (Puerto Rican father)

Lee, Alfred “Butch”, former basketball player, first Puerto Rican to play in NBA

López, Javy, former baseball player ( Atlanta Braves).

Lowell, Mike, MLB baseball player, Boston Red Sox.

Moseley, Jonny, skier, first Puerto Rican to belong to the U.S. Ski Team.

Posada, Jorge, MLB baseball player, New York Yankees.

Rivera, Marco, former NFL player, first Puerto Rican selected to Pro Bowl.

Rivera, Ron, former NFL player, first Puerto Rican in the National Football League.

Rodríguez, Iván, MLB baseball player, Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez, Juan “Chi Chi”, golfer, member of golf Hall Of Fame

Williams, Bernie, former baseball player, New York Yankees

Celebrities/Entertainers

Antony, Marc, actor and singer

Albino, Natalie and Nicole, “Nina Sky” R&B
Ayala, Raymond, a.k.a. “Daddy Yankee”, Reggaeton singer

Banks, Lloyd, Rapper (Puerto Rican mother)

Cartagena, Joseph a.k.a. “Fat Joe”, Rapper

Dawson, Rosario, actress

Del Toro, Benicio, actor
Dorough, Howie, singer, member of the Backstreet Boys

Figueroa, Elmer simply known as “Chayanne”, Singer

Leguizamo, John, actor (Puerto Rican father)

López, Jennifer, actress, singer, dancer

Muñiz, Frankie, actor (Puerto Rican father)

Morales, Enrique Martín “Ricky Martin”, Singer
Nolasco, Amaury, actor (TV star, Prison Break)

Ortiz, Ana, actress, television series (Ugly Betty)

Phoenix, Joaquín, actor
Prinze, Sr., Freddie, comedian/actor

Rodríguez, Adam, actor (CSI MIAMI)

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate, Firepower: Pacquiao vs. Cotto will take place Saturday, November 14 at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed Live on HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, who has held a world title every year since 2004, has been in training since August, preparing for his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship defense against boxing’s No. 1 pound for pound fighter and boxing attraction Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao (49-3-2, 27 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines.

HBO’s® fast-moving reality series “24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto” returns with an all new episode This Saturday! November 7 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT. The four-episode series chronicles the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their November 14 pay-per-view showdown. Episodes one and two are available on HBO ON DEMAND®.

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