FOUR FIGHTS ON “UNDEFEATED CHAMPIONS” PPV SEPTEMBER 12 IN PUERTO RICO

Posted on | August 26, 2009 | No Comments

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (August 26, 2009) — Four exciting, entertaining fights will be showcased on the “Undefeated Champions” pay per view show, presented by PR Best Boxing Promotions, September 12th at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot, featuring world champions Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon and Roman “Rocky” Martinez in title defenses.

Promoter Ivan Rivera, president of PR Best Boxing Promotions, announced that Dominican Juan Mercedes has been added to the PPV card.

Mercedes (23-2, 16KO’s) will face Mexican Jesus Martinez (18-6, 6KO’s) in a 10 round bout at 115 pounds, while Olympian Carlos Negron (4-0, 4KO’s) will fight Larry Carter (3-4-1, 3KO’s) in a 6-round fight at 186 pounds. These two fights will start the PPV broadcast.

The other two PPV fights will be WBO junior flyweight defense of champion Calderon (32-0-1 6KO’s) against Rodel Mayol (25-3-1, 19 KO’s) in a rematch, as well as Roman “Rocky” Martinez (22-0-1, 13 KO’s) defending his WBO junior middleweight title versus Argentinean Vicente Martin Rodriguez (25-2, 13 KO’s).

“Undefeated Champions” PPV card is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand and DirecTV for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

For more information about the “Undefeated Champions” PPV show, go on line to www.integratedsportsnet.com.

-IS-

Station Casinos Collapse Backing UFC-owning Fertitta Brothers into a Corner

Posted on | August 26, 2009 | 2 Comments

By: Rich Bergeron

When it rains, it pours for the Fertitta family. Last Friday the patriarch Frank Fertitta, Jr. died while undergoing treatment for heart disease in a California hospital. The death comes at the tail end of a long and painful campaign of pending bankruptcy that finally ended in the Chapter 11 proceedings that are now ongoing for Station Casinos. Services for the founding father of Station Casinos have been set for this Friday and Saturday. Yet, amidst all the major media reporting of this tragedy, only the Los Angeles Times piece on the subject has so far included the truth about the skimming investigation Frank was suspected in. Even then it was too little, too late.

The fact that Frank had been suspected of and investigated for skimming during his early career was much more important to the downfall of Station Casinos than many might think. It is this bare fact and the stigma that Frank never quite shook which kept him from being in charge of the company until his death. Instead, he was CEO of Fertitta Enterprises for a time, working on investments and land deals since he couldn’t get involved in running the casinos. He left that job to his sons, with Frank III taking the reigns first in 1993. It just might be this early mantle laid upon Frank’s oldest son that created the conditions which now exist today. The billionaire Fertitta brothers have shown over the years that they were never quite prepared to run the family business, unless the goal was to run it into the ground.

Perhaps the fatal blow to the family business and maybe even the father himself was the potential loss of Palace Station to Boyd gaming, a long-standing opponent and major competitor in the locals Vegas gaming market. Frank Junior reportedly spent every lunch hour he could at Palace Station, which was his true pride and joy and a place he might have loved even more than his own sons. This was the place that made the pauper into a prince. It all began with a little place called simply “The Casino.” The name changed almost overnight after Frank Junior bought the shabby property and turned it into The Bingo Palace:

Knowing that Palace Station might be snatched away from the family by a well-placed bid in bankruptcy court must have been hard for Frank Junior to deal with. His sons must have been equally disturbed by the fact that their poor financial management of the company and over extending of company debt could ultimately lead to them losing their father’s prized property to the highest bidder. Despite early rejections of Boyd’s offers to purchase a group of core, less debt-laden properties during the days before bankruptcy set in, the competitor is now more intent than ever on acquiring whatever it can from its ailing enemy. If they get what they’re looking for, it might even come at a lower price than they initially offered.

THE UFC IMPACT COULD BE SEVERE IN TIME

Dana White’s attitude about Station Casinos falling on hard times was glib at first, and he insisted the casino troubles wouldn’t translate into bad times ahead for the UFC. Yet, there is now talk of consolidating the WEC and UFC operations in what would ultimately be a cost-saving measure. The Fertittas seem to be showing signs of financial stress and things continue to get worse for the casino environment. There seems to be no bottom to the depression the company is experiencing with a reported $65.3 million loss posted by Station Casinos in the second quarter of this year.

Just a little less than a month before Station Casinos went bankrupt, Frank Fertitta III bought a $28 million home in Emerald Bay, which is a prime beachfront community in Orange County, California. The family was at one point ready to put up $244 million of their own family money to save the company from a painful bankruptcy. It seems Frank III decided to spend a considerable percentage of that bid when it seemed most apparent that the company couldn’t be saved for that price. Meanwhile, now Lorenzo Fertitta is selling his Vegas house for 2.95 million bucks, meaning he may not be Dana White’s close neighbor for much longer. Check out this amazing mansion on the market for a bargain:

Now that the company is in bankruptcy, the $244 million pre-packaged bankruptcy solution proposed by the Fertittas is out of the question.The company already reportedly has legal bills in excess of $16.2 million for the months leading up to the actual BK filing. The Fertittas themselves will also have to retain their own lawyers along with the rest of the company’s directors. The road ahead is sure to be filled with turmoil as the finger of blame will likely be pointed squarely at the Fertitta brothers due to their ultimate oversight of the company during its fall from grace. More litigation will compound the bankruptcy as lenders and bondholders will try to exact revenge by trying to bust the big Fertitta piggy bank with the aid of high powered lawyers and law firms.

The Las Vegas Sun reports, “Station has already advanced retainers to Nave’s law firms totaling $750,000 and to the Colony directors’ law firm of $1 million; and has agreed to cover the costs of the attorneys for the Fertitta directors, the filing said. Additional costs for all the directors should be paid by Station as they are incurred, the company argued.” Yet, even if the company does foot the legal bills for the moment, it will be Lorenzo and Frank III paying the price in the long run if litigation can prove they were reckless and irresponsible in their operation and oversight of Station Casinos. Though it’s true that Lorenzo, Frank III, and Delise Sartini only own 24 percent of the company combined, Frank III and Lorenzo had the most principal management roles leading up to the bankruptcy. Lorenzo’s departure for full-time UFC duty in 2008 is not likely to absolve him of culpability and may have been more of a cost-saving measure in hindsight. Of course, many experts would argue that Dana White really needed a babysitter, but it is also a strong possibility that Lorenzo knew the bankruptcy was coming and wanted nothing to do with burdening the company when he could be better used elsewhere.

The uglier the Station Casinos bankruptcy case gets, the more chances that the debacle will impact the UFC’s operations in a negative manner. The so-called “experts” in the fight industry will claim that the two companies are wholly separate and unrelated. As such, they will further try to justify that the UFC is safe and secure no matter what happens to Station Casinos. At the same time these “experts” will harp on the bogus $1 billion price tag bestowed on the UFC by a Forbes magazine writer who seemingly never took into account the fact that there is a heavy debt load associated with the fight league that few talk about when a possible sale is discussed. My Enron of MMA page outlines all the details of the $350 million senior-secured credit facility that will make the UFC difficult to sell for a high profit margin. Even if the UFC’s growth and success is perpetual, that loan will still have to be paid off in full before any sale would be worthwhile for all the players involved.

The vast wealth of the Fertitta family may actually be a barrier to the success of the UFC rather than a benefit considering the fact that the deepest pockets make the best targets when it comes to litigation. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to analyze the moves made by Station Casinos over the years and conclude that while the company itself suffered, the Fertitta family cashed in hand over fist. The litigation buck doesn’t stop with Station Casinos, either. Though it’s been a case that’s been flying under the radar in recent months, the lawyers for the former PRIDE organization are still pursuing legal action against the Fertittas, Dana White, and Zuffa over allegedly false promises made that were supposed to guarantee PRIDE would continue as an active organization as part of the sale agreement. I have spoken personally with some of the lawyers on the case who are leaving no stone unturned and not giving up anytime soon.

While Frank Fertitta Jr.’s recent death may mean the brothers inherit some of their father’s leftover fortune, even that influx of cash may not be enough to weather the storms to come. Of course, there are plenty of scenarios that could play out that might keep the Fertittas in great financial standing through all of this. Yet, to say that they are guaranteed to get through this with no real impact on the UFC is to neglect to consider the true facts at hand. Those facts point to the very real possibility that the Fertittas could exhaust their existing cash reserves while Station Casinos languishes in bankruptcy. If that happens, you might see the Fertittas seek another big loan package for the UFC putting that outfit in further debt. After all, the last UFC loan came only after the Fertittas overextended their credit with similar instruments they secured for Station Casinos. Those huge loans and an overzealous expansion of the company’s gaming interests and land holdings have resulted in the current Station Casinos bankruptcy situation, and if something that big can fail so miserably, so can the UFC.

The bottom line here is that while the UFC brass and the associated spin machine will try to convince the fans that everything is on the up and up, behind the scenes times are very tough. The UFC continues to find success and expand its fan base in a manner that makes it appear ironclad and in no danger, but behind the smoke and mirrors there’s a real possibility that things could soon start to go downhill fast. It all depends on what kind of impact the impending litigation and bankruptcy of Station Casinos has on the Fertitta family war chest. This is a family used to spending money at a rapid rate, and Frank III’s $28 million home purchase during the toughest time Station Casinos has ever faced is a clear indicator of that. Those who might argue that it would be impossible for this family to lose everything over this might be the same folks who once thought Station Casinos would never go bankrupt.

As a huge fan of the UFC myself, I would never want to see the organization as a whole suffer over issues at a company that is supposed to be unrelated. At the same time, I have to wonder why the Fertittas would promise up to $244 million to keep Station Casinos out of a nasty bankruptcy. The only answer to that question is my mind is that they must have known if they couldn’t make that deal things would get very ugly very fast. That’s exactly what’s happening. The only folks who will truly capitalize here are the bankruptcy lawyers, and there are already reports of huge legal fees accruing (as much as $995 per hour for some of these top-tier hot-shot attorneys).

As long as Station Casinos continues to lose revenue due to the poor economy and a prolonged bankruptcy, the Fertitta Brothers will have less money to invest in the UFC. If a complete catastrophe drains the Fertitta family coffers, they may very well try to leverage Zuffa’s assets somehow. If at that point they are shafted by potential creditors and/or lenders, the real troubled waters for the company will start churning. A sale of the company might never take place as some have reported, but the lack of cash reserves could result in the UFC becoming a much more streamlined organization. Whether or not that streamlining negatively impacts the business remains to be seen, but those who tell you there will be no impact whatsoever are wishful thinkers. It all depends on how bad things get in the days to come.

SAINTS OR SINNERS? WILL THE FERTITTA REPUTATION RECOVER?

“A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.” Joseph Hall

The Fertitta family still has a rock-solid reputation in Las Vegas. Numerous reports of Frank Fertitta, Jr.’s death in the Vegas media have made no mention of the family patriarch’s troubles or tribulations. The most familiar refrain in these Vegas reports reflects the fact that Station Casinos has been repeatedly represented as one of the best companies to work for in Las Vegas. These articles also laud Frank Junior for virtually inventing the locals casino market. As far as Station Casinos bankruptcy news, I’ve yet to find an article that even suggests that anyone in the Fertitta family was reckless or irresponsible in the business practices that led to the bankruptcy.

Only a nasty and contentious bankruptcy process, which seems inevitable, will tarnish the Fertitta image in Sin City and beyond. Local reporters will have no choice but to explain what’s happening when things get truly ugly. The cracks in the facade of the once untouchable family reputation will only then become fully visible.

As the truth emerges as to just how irresponsible the Fertittas have been leading up to this bankruptcy, it will become increasingly harder for the Fertitta Brothers to do business elsewhere. The way Fertitta Enterprises handled the Xyience bankruptcy is a perfect example of how powerful people can get away with impropriety with little consequence, but that was really small potatoes compared to the current situation with Station Casinos. I truly believe the Xyience debacle was a practice run for the bigger and bolder Station Bankruptcy. Though the Xyience situation was a much less sordid and scandalous affair than the Station Casinos bankruptcy process promises to be, there are some common threads. Unlike Xyience, though, the Fertittas have much more to lose when it comes to the casino business. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Fertitta brothers completely sell off the business and confine themselves to either just a few properties or the consulting business alone.

Whatever happens, it will expose the true nature of just how ruthless billionaire business tycoons can be and what lengths they will go to in order to keep the money coming in. Those who think the Fertittas are saints and can do no wrong will ultimately have to accept that the sinner label is more appropriate. Just think about how much these guys are worth, what kind of money they’re spending, and then look at what their fighters in the UFC get paid. No matter how successful the UFC becomes, it seems the league’s top fighters will never get the kind of paydays that the best boxers get. This reality seems lost on most fans, and any fighter who speaks up about it knows there’s a strong possibility of being blacklisted at best or thrown out of the league at worst.

For those few folks out there who know the real truth about how the Fertittas operate and the “family” history that put them where they are today, their comeuppance can’t arrive too soon. Karma is a bitch.

SQUARE RING MANAGEMENT COMMENT ON “DANGER BOY” BJ FLORES

Posted on | August 25, 2009 | No Comments

AUGUST 15 STOPPAGE OF EPIFANIO MENDOZA & FUTURE PLANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAS VEGAS (August 26, 2009) – On August 15 in Biloxi, in a bout featured on the “Hook City” Jones vs. Lacy pay-per-view broadcast, undefeated and world-ranked cruiserweight “Danger Boy” BJ Flores stopped former world-title challenger Epifanio Mendoza in four rounds to successfully defend his NABO cruiserweight title.

The win brings Flores ever closer to a coveted world title opportunity and the two men responsible for putting Flores (24-0-1, 15 KOs) in that position are echoing those same sentiments.

“We were extremely pleased with his performance”, said John Wirt, CEO of Square Ring Promotions, promoter of Flores. “He went out there and did what was expected of him and he did it impressively. Now we put him in position for a defining fight that will get him a title shot.”

The praise continued from Roy Jones, Jr., who would eventually thrill the audience in a ten-round beat-down of Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy. Jones, President of Square Ring Promotions, watched the action from his dressing as he warmed up for the main event.

“He showed a huge improvement from his last fight (unanimous decision win over Jose Luis Herrera on March 21 in Pensacola) when he seemed to be a little cautious,” said Jones. “In Biloxi he was very aggressive and now we are looking for big things with BJ. His next fight could be on my card in Australia and it should be against a world-ranked contender.”

Flores is ranked #3 by The WBO, #6 by the WBA, #10 by The IBF and #11 by the WBC

JOIN THE COMBAT SPORTS ALL STARS FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Posted on | August 25, 2009 | No Comments

It’s that time of year again…fantasy football draft time. We will be drafting this season’s teams during our radio show this coming Thursday night. If you want to test your skills against show co-hosts Tony “The Tornado” Penecale and “Rabble Rousin'” Rich Bergeron, click on the picture below to join our league and get ready to draft your players this Thursday night at 9PM:

Cool Combat Sports Links: Boxing, Wrestling, Mixed Martial Arts (8-25-09)

Posted on | August 25, 2009 | No Comments

UFC chairman asking $2.95M for Summerlin abode

DAN SEVERN LOOKING FOR A FIGHT

Mixed Martial Arts show in Youngstown postponed

UFC 102 Couture vs. Nogueira: breakdown and predictions

MMA News: Marcio Cruz defeats Tom Sauer, becomes first WFO champion; Seth Petruzelli defeats Tampa police officer Chris Baten

HV-GB’s Pat Gill makes his mark in MMA

It may look barbaric, but mixed martial arts fans say it’s anything but

Randy Couture: Before he was known as ‘The Natural’

Fight Night!: The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Mixed Martial Arts

Carolina wrestler Brian Linder passes away

Today in Wrestling History, 8/25: Sting vs. Austin, More

Northern Wrestling Federation results from 8/22 in Cincinnati, OH

Wayne Murschell Jr. returns to coaching with Eastern High School wrestling team

A coach remembered

ROH Against the WWE? Don’t Fool Yourselves, Wrestling Fans

Female Wrestler Under Contract To WWE Arrested For DUI, Lilian Garcia, Christian

Rutgers Wrestling Coaches Clinic set for October 18

UFC v. Boxing tit-for-tat: Mayweather fight now in movie theaters

August 22, 2009 TKO Boxing Promotions debut at Pala Casino, the Main Event

Palm Springs Boxing Club announces new leadership

411 Boxing Fact or Fiction 08.25.09: HBO Boxing After Dark Edition

Death sought for 3 suspects in boxer’s slaying

Boxing Perspective: British Fighters Turning Promoter

Boxer Andre Berto says he’s got Chad Ochocinco’s number

Former boxing champ Dave Hilton Jr. arrested again, charged with assault

Bradley-Campbell Ruled a No Contest

Police Seek Boxing Legend Mayweather Jr. Associate in Shooting

Shawn Porter goes Hollywood for “Boxing’s Future Champions II” PPV

Posted on | August 25, 2009 | No Comments

Fernando Guerrero headlines Aug. 29 card in Tunica

SOUTHHAVEN, Miss. (August 25, 2009) – Ohio native and former U.S. amateur boxing star, unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Shawn Porter, headed west a month ago for Hollywood, not for the bright lights or to meet celebrities, but to prepare for his August 29th fight at the famed Wild Card Gym.

Undefeated middleweight Fernando Guerrero (14-0, 12 KOs) headlines the Aug. 29th “Boxing’s Future Champions II” pay-per-view pro card in the 8-round main event against Chris “On Target” Archer (11-7, 7 KOs), live on streaming video from Fitzgerald’s Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi.

“Boxing’s Future Champions II,” presented by Prize Fight Boxing, will air on PPV at www.PrizeFightTV.com, starting at 8 PM/ET, for only $4.99.

Porter (9-0, 7 KOs), 2007 World Golden Gloves champion and 2008 U.S. OIympic Team alternate, meets Lamar Harris (6-2, 4 KOs) in the 6-round co-feature. “I reevaluated and rededicated myself to become the boxer I can be,” Porter explained from camp. “I’ve been able to improve a lot here and prepare for my match. It’s a very, very big fight for me because it’s No. 10. I couldn’t ask for anything better than the training I’ve gotten here. I got excited the first time I walked into Wild Card. It’s big and has everything. Guys are always walking in, so if you want to catch mitts, work on the bags, or spar with a 140 to 175 pounder, it’s not a problem.”

Porter has gained invaluable experience sparring in the past with Kelly Pavlik and Chad Dawson. Now, Freddie Roach has asked him to be a sparring partner for the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, Manny Pacquaio. “It’s bizarre, still surreal, not far from amazing,” Shawn said about being Pacquaio’s sparring partner for his fight against Miguel Cotto. “I’ll get in the ring confident of working hard to help make him better and learning so many things from him. They want me to play the Cotto role. It’s unbelievable. We start in mid-September.”

First, though, Porter has business to take care of in Mississippi against Harris. In his last fight on the inaugural “Boxing’s Future’s Champions” show in June, Porter stopped last-minute replacement Brandon Wood at 2:09 of the opening round. Opponents falling out have been a reoccurring problem for Shawn going back to his amateur days.

“We’ve been dealing with opponents falling out since Shawn was 15 or 16,” his father/head trainer Kenny Porter remarked. “I used to bring in four guys when I promoted shows in Ohio. We’d sell the place out and I couldn’t take a chance that Shawn wouldn’t have an opponent. He was fighting at 165 but we had to take guys 178 pounds, twice, and even a heavyweight once. Shawn knocked them all out. It’s frustrating at times but we’re used to it. We’re looking ahead very soon to fighting opponents who put it all on the line. Fighting on this show means Shawn’s going global and people all over the world will watch him fight, not just his close friends and those at the show. It’s a great opportunity other guys in his class don’t get. It’s an opportunity we have because we’re with Prize Fight Boxing; it’s a blessing.

“Shawn went right into training after his last fight, eight weeks ago now, the last three at Wild Card Gym. We’ve worked on his mental focus. When you win easy, sometimes fights are taken for granted. Right now, Shawn’s working on all cylinders. He’s in the best shape – mentally, physically and spiritually – of his life. Freddie Roach has been impressed working with Shawn the last three weeks. Bringing him into Pacquiao’s camp to play the Cotto role is exciting. I told Shawn I want him to be a consummate professional in his sport, not just a pro boxer, by studying tapes of his fights and his opponents. He’s doing that now. This has been an exceptional camp. Everything is right!”

Also fighting on this exciting card is once-beaten Philadelphia heavyweight “Gentleman” Chazz Witherspoon (25-1, 17 KOs), the 2004 National Golden Gloves champion whose only loss in 26 pro fights was last year to world title challenger Chris Arreola. Chazz, whose cousin Tim was world heavyweight champion, meets heavyweight gatekeeper Stacy “Big Foot” Frazier (14-5, 13 KOs) in an 8-round bout.

In a pair of 4-rounders, exciting middleweight Dominic Wade (3-0, 3 KOs), 4-time Junior Olympic champion, battles 23-fight veteran Tyrone Dowdy, while 2004-2005 U.S Super Heavyweight Champion Mike Wilson makes his much anticipated pro debut against experienced “Marvelous” Marvin Hunt.

For more information go to www.PrizeFightPromoters.com or www.PrizeFightTV.com.

“SCHOOL’S IN” FACT SHEET

Posted on | August 25, 2009 | No Comments

Name: “School’s In” Pro Boxing Card

Date: Friday night, September 4, 2009

Venue: Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, RI

Promoter: Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc.

Matchmaker: Ted Panagiotis

Tickets: Rollback prices for “School’s In” are $30.00 SRO, $35.00, $65.00 ($10.00 redeemable free play at Twin River), $100.00 ($25.00 redeemable free play at Twin River) and limited $150.00 Jimmy’s Platinum Club, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.

Information: Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6:00 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “School’s In.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)

Press Conference Quotes

Demetrius Andrade: “Everything is good. I’ve been training hard. ‘School’s In’ – I’m the cool kid in school everybody wants to be. Bring pencils and paper September 4th. I’m going to teach how to box, jab, go to the body and look good doing it. I’m going to put on a show.”

Joey McCreedy: “What can I say about Eddie? First, I don’t like him. He didn’t show up for the press conference and I hope he shows four the fight. Maybe it’s better if he doesn’t. I’m going to put him in a body-bag. The name of the card is ‘School’s In’ and I’m going to be the principal. First round, I’ll give him a warning; second round, detention; third round, expel him. I’ve been in wars with ‘Bobo’ (Starnino) and every time he’s stepped up he’s been knocked out. I will knock him out…a devastating knockout. I’m taking this fight personally. I will come out with two belts instead of one (he is the EBA champ and their fight will also be for the New England championship).”

Eddie Caminero (message): “I plan to end the fight early. I guarantee a knock out. I’m 10-percent confident because I’m a stronger, better fighter than McCreedy. Prepare for a war.”

Vladine Biosse: “The fan is everything; those supporting us. I’m never out of the gym and I’m always in shape. I’m coming to bring you a great show. We’ve been working hard and I’ll show some different looks. I have a different style of fighting that I’ll show September 4th. It’s going to be a great, exciting show.”

Simeon Dunwell: “I’m coming of a split decision loss in Texas and I’m not going to lose twice in a row. I’m ready to pound-in somebody’s face.”

David Bauza: “I had a short amateur career in Puerto Rico. I’m ready to prove myself in the United States. I’m happy to be here. We are ready and we will have a large fan base coming from Hartford. I know we will be victorious in this fight.”

Diego Pereira: “I’m Mr. Excitement. I throw a lot of punches, hard punches. I apply a lot of pressure, always coming forward. I bring action and, hopefully, my opponent will come and bang with me.”

Omar Pena: “This is a really good card with a lot of good fighters. ‘School’s In,’ that’s the title and we’re going to give it a big bang. Come to the show and get into the spirit. I want to shout out to my family and Dominican people. We’re going to put on a helluva show.”

TEXAS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DAVID RODRIGUEZ JOINS THE FIGHT TO KNOCK OUT KIDNEY DISEASE

Posted on | August 25, 2009 | No Comments

Unbeaten boxer takes time out of training for help raise awareness

What: Appearance by undefeated Texas heavyweight champion

David “Niño” Rodriguez

When: Friday, August 28, 2009

10:30 a.m. Reception and Silent Auction

11:30 a.m. Seating for the Luncheon and Fashion Show

Valet parking

Where: Hyatt Regency Dallas
300 Reunion Boulevard

Dallas, Texas 75207

Undefeated Texas heavyweight champion DAVID “NIÑO” RODRIGUEZ – ranked 29th in the world by the World Boxing Council – will take time out of training for his Sept. 12 showdown with veteran Robert Davis to join the battle to knock out kidney disease this FRIDAY, AUG. 28, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas.

Rodriguez, 31-0 with 29 knockouts – 25 knockouts by sensational first-round knockout – will participate in a Live Auction for the “Knockout! The Fight to Eradicate Kidney Disease” Luncheon and Fashion Show, where 10 lucky fight fans will win the chance to have dinner with the quick-fisted, hard punching native of El Paso, Texas.

KidneyTexas, Inc. hosts this great event every year in an effort to raise awareness for kidney disease. Proceeds will go toward the cure and prevention of a debilitating condition that impacts some 20 million Americans. High-risk groups include Hispanics, African-Americans, senior citizens and those suffering from diabetes.

David is excited to assist fellow Texans and others in this ultimate battle.

“As Texas heavyweight champion, I welcome the opportunity to help those who are suffering from this disease,” Rodriguez said. “We tend to take our health – and especially our healthy kidneys – for granted. It’s not until you meet some of the brave people suffering from this disease that you realize the seriousness of this battle. It’s a fight that we can win, and a fight that we are going to win.”

Others donating include Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, National Kidney Foundation Serving North Texas, the PKD Foundation and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Rodriguez will fight his toughest opponent to date, veteran Robert Davis, 32-10 (20 knockouts), Sept. 12 in Monterrey, Mexico. With the Texas, NABF, New Mexico and WBC Mexico heavyweight title belts already wrapped around his waist, Rodriguez is hoping to become the first boxing champion from El Paso.

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