Godfrey relinquishes SNBC title
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | No Comments
PROVIDENCE (July 22, 2009) World rated cruiserweight contender Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey has relinquished his Sovereign Nations Boxing Council (SNBC) belt so that worthy contenders may fight for it as he prepares for a major world title shot.
SNBC links federally recognized tribes throughout the United States and Canada. Its mission is to develop, promote and help regulate professional boxing and mixed martial arts in a fair and professional manner by federally recognized tribes that are sovereign nations.
Godfrey (19-1, 10 KOs), a full-blooded Wampanoag, became the first SNBC champion last November, winning a unanimous 10-round decision against Edward Gutierrez at 4 Bears Casino in New Town, North Dakota.
Godfrey successfully defended his SNBC belt, as well as his NABF title, with a unanimous 10-round decision (99-91, 98-92, 97-93) against previously unbeaten Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk in the main event on a recent ESPN2 Friday Night Fights show in Philadelphia.
After their fight, Godfrey handed his SNBC title belt to Hawk, who grew-up on the Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota. “I was honored to be the first SNBC champion and I am proud of my Native American heritage,” Matt explained. “I’ve relinquished the SNBC belt only because I am concentrating on a major world title fight and it’s only fair that others have the same opportunity to fight for the SNBC belt that I had. It’s very special to me because it’s the only Native American title in boxing. I handed it to Shawn as a goodwill gesture because he probably should have fought Gutierrez when I did. Hawk and I are both Native Americans, but he grew up on one of the toughest reservations, and I’m from the city. I meant no disrespect at all. Shawn has a lot of potential and he will win the SNBC belt soon.”
SNBC President Pat Packineau understood Godfrey’s gesture. “Matt Godfrey was a great first SNBC champion and we wish him luck when he fights for a world title. All Native Americans will be in his corner. We were honored to have him as our cruiserweight champion. We appreciate him giving other contenders an opportunity. Shawn Hawk is scheduled to fight for the now vacant SNBC cruiserweight title on October 24 at 4 Bears Casino.”
The 28-year-old Godfrey, rated No. 10-ranked by The Ring magazine, as well a No. 3 by the IBF and No. 6 by the WBC, took a different approach to his fight against Hawk, effectively boxing as a southpaw, opposed to his three previous ESPN FNF knockout performances against Emmanuel Nwodo, Felix Cora, Jr. and Shaun George.
Godfrey is primarily an orthodox fighter who often turns around and fights left-handed. Against Hawk, though, Matt fought exclusively as a southpaw. “I outclassed Hawk,” Godfrey said. “I kept him off-balance with my jab. We knew going in he had no experience fighting southpaws. If I kept circling, we knew he’d follow; my jab out of the southpaw stance kept him confused. It’s always good to have two weapons.
“I picked it up in the third round and hit him with some good shots. But he’s a tough, dangerous kid and there was no reason to change our plan when it was working so well. I always listen to my corner and I was told not to go crazy. I won nine rounds against a previously unbeaten fighter.”
Go on line to www.mattgodfreyboxing.com for more information.
SNBC and SNMMA is committed to serving the communities and advancing the lives and economic situation of all Native people, as well as all professional boxers and MMA fighters, in a positive and professional manner. For more information about Sovereign Nations Mixed Martial Arts call 701.6277539, go online at www.snbcmma.com, or write to SNMMA, P.O. Box 5, Parshall, ND 58770.
-MG-
“Hook City” goes Green
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | No Comments
Jones-Lacy headline Aug. 15 PPV in Biloxi
BILOXI, Miss. (July 23, 2009) — “Hook City” has gone green, using Australian import and 2-time world champion Danny “Green Machine” Green, that is, and environmental issues aside, rest assured, Al Gore will not be working his corner August 15th in Biloxi.
Green fights South American champion Julio Cesar “La Furia” Dominguez in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant IBO cruiserweight championship. The “Hook City” pay-per-view show, headlined by two of the best left-hook punchers in boxing, 8-time world boxing champion Roy “Captain Hook” Jones, Jr. (53-5, 39 KOs) and former 2-time super middleweight title-holder Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy (25-2, 17 KOs, will air live from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.
The “Hook City” pay-per-view show, presented by Square Ring Promotions in association with Left Hook Promotions and Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, is being distributed by Square Ring Promotions, Inc. at 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT in North America on cable and satellite via iNDemand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network for a suggested retail price of $34.95.
Jones, who has been world champion in four divisions (middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight), has spoken about possibly fighting Green for the one weight-class title RJJ hasn’t captured between 160 and 201+ – cruiserweight — provided he gets past Lacy and Green defeats Dominguez.
WBA rated No. 4 Green (26-3, 23 KOs) has fought only once as a pro in the United States, seven years ago, when he stopped Rhon Roberts in the third round of their fight on the Kostya Tszyu-Ben Tackie undercard in Las Vegas. A 2000 Australian Olympian, the rugged “Down Under” fighter captured the IBF Interim super middleweight belt in 2003, registering a sixth-round TKO against Eric Lucas in Canada. Four years later, Danny won the WBA light heavyweight crown at home in Perth by 12-round decision versus Stipe Drews.
“I’m very, very excited about fighting in the United States again,” Green said. “I can’t wait. I’ve trained in America, LA and Miami, about 10 times. I have fond memories of fighting in America. The day after my fight, I married my girlfriend in Las Vegas at the Elvis Presley Chapel and Elvis Presley (impersonator) married us.”
Green retired after the Drews fight and he then demonstrated his fancy footwork on the Australian version of “Dancing With The Stars,” eventually finishing as the runner-up. “It was extremely close and I nearly took it all,” he noted. “I had a lot of fun doing it. I was a token celebrity. I laughed my way all the way through it. I must have gotten five or six standing ovations. I’m laid back and can laugh at myself. I think Australians related to me. If you dance around in tights with an exposed shaven chest and don’t find it humorous…there has to be something wrong with you.”
Last April, Green made a successful comeback, knocking out Anthony van Niekerk in the second round. “I’m a fighter, mate,” Danny explained his reason to comeback. “I still can’t put a finger on why I retired. I woke-up one morning and just had it in my head. My dad always said to follow through with what you were feeling. I nearly came back 2-3 months earlier than I did, but I was worried about what people would think. I finally decided that I didn’t care what anybody thought. I had unfinished business and a lot to offer to the sport. I live clean, take good care of myself, and love the sport. Now, everything is fantastic. I’m fighting August 15th in America, where the pulse of the sport is, and if I defeat my opponent, I’ll have an opportunity to fight the great Roy Jones, Jr. in Australia, if he defeats Lacy.”
Dominquez (20-4-1) will be fighting in the U.S. for the first time, having worked outside of his native Argentina only twice, in the Ukraine and Germany. He won the vacant South American light heavyweight title last November, knocking out Martin Abel Bruer in the fifth round, followed by a fourth-round TKO victory against Claudio Sergio Palacio this past May in his last action.
“People don’t know what it’s like to fight the first time for a world title,” Green continued. “I can’t put a statistic on how much hunger improves a fighter. I remember my first title fight against (2003) against (WBC super middleweight champion) Markus Beyer in Germany. I dropped him twice. I was beating him from pillar to post until they disqualified me. It was ridiculous. In the next fight, though, I went to Montreal and beat Eric Lucas in front of thousands of screaming French-Canadians for the (Interim) WBC belt.
“Dominguez is going to be very hungry. I have to concentrate on him 100-percent and defeat him in a good showing. If I don’t do that there will be no fight against Roy Jones, Jr. That’s my dream fight. If I don’t beat him, no Roy Jones, Jr. and my career will probably be over. Dominguez can punch. He’s the South American light heavyweight champ fighting for the IBO cruiserweight title. Hey, I don’t have to starve myself anymore to get down to light heavyweight. He can punch and bang. He’s got skills and sets everything up with his jab. But he has to set his feet before he throws and, when that happens, I’ve got to bang him. I have power, too, with 23 knockouts in my 26 wins. Even though he doesn’t have world title experience, he has balls and so do I. We’re both putting them on the line for the American people. The style we employ won’t be pitter-patter; one of us is getting knocked out and I’m preparing so it won’t be me. Tell American fights fans that Danny Green is coming!”
Lightweight contender Verquan “The Show” Kimbrough (21-1-2, 7 KOs), former NABA and USBA champion, is also scheduled to fight on the PPV card in a 10-round bout.
All bouts are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $150.00, $125.00, $100.00, $75.00, $50.00 & $25.00 are on sale and available at all Ticketmaster locations by calling 800.745.3000, on line at Ticketmaster.com and at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office.
-30-
Tags: Biloxi > Boxing > Jeff Lacy > Jr. > Left Hook Promotions > MS > NABO Light Heavyweight Title > Roy Jones > Square Ring Promotions
Team Ruiz: Valuev-Haye Wishful Arrogance
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | No Comments
LAS VEGAS (July 23, 2009) – Team Ruiz believes a potential World Boxing Association title fight title between champion Nicolai Valuev and David Haye is nothing more than a matter of wishful arrogance.
Team Ruiz has already contacted the WBA inform the WBA Championship Committee that WBA mandatory challenger, 2-time WBA heavyweight John “The Quietman” Ruiz (43-8-1, 29 KOs), will not stand by and allow the reported Valuev-Haye title fight in November.
Despite reports from both camps, Valuev-Haye has not been sanctioned as a WBA title fight, and cannot be without a special permit being requested, filed and passed. Ruiz is the mandatory challenger, Valuev’s deadline for his yearly mandatory defense is August 30, and Haye isn’t rated by the WBA.
Ruiz’ advisor and attorney, Anthony Cardinale, and prominent boxing lawyer, Judd Burstein, emailed all concerned parties the following:
“There has been a recent press release quoting David Haye as claiming that he has come to an agreement to fight Nicolai Valuev for the WBA title this coming November. I am writing to inform the WBA Championship Committee that John Ruiz, the WBA Heavyweight Official Challenger, will not stand by and allow such a bout to take place.
“First, Valuev must honor his mandatory obligation to John Ruiz.
“Valuev won the title on August 30th, 2008 and had an interim title fight against Evander Holyfield last December, when the WBA ranked Holyfield out of nowhere to accommodate Valuev and his promoter. Following that Holyfield bout, Valuev was scheduled to fight (Ruslan) Chagaev last April to clear up the heavyweight title situation. On behalf of Mr. Valuev, Mr. (Pat) English claimed that the Chagaev fight was the equivalent of a mandatory bout, requiring Mr. Ruiz to wait a year for a chance. Chagaev was, however, medically declared unfit. Since, he then fought, in violation of specific WBA rules, for the IBF and WBO championships, and lost. Therefore, he no longer may be considered the WBA champion.
“Accordingly, with a year since his last championship victory about to pass, Valuev must fight his next bout as his mandatory against Mr. Ruiz. John Ruiz will not sit by and permit another delay so that Valuev can have another interim fight, especially against another opponent who is not even rated by the WBA. If the WBA Regulations are to have any meaning, there can be no other result. Put simply, John Ruiz has not agreed to permit any bout for the WBA Heavyweight Championship unless he is one of the participants, and he will take any and all legal action necessary to protect his interests.”
-JR-
Tags: Anthony Cardinale > Boxing > David Haye > heavyweight > John RUiz > Nicolai Valuev > WBA
Background on Cancellation of World Heavyweight fight: Vitali Klitschko against David Haye
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | No Comments
The fight between WBC World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko and Briton David Haye has been canceled. It was scheduled for September, 12th, in the Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany.
“First of all, I feel sorry for the team of the Commerzbank-Arena and for the boxing fans in the Frankfurt region. We will try to set up another Klitschko fight in this wonderful arena as soon as possible. Also for us, the cancellation was very surprising as we got informed about it through the media. Haye’s manager, Adam Booth, did not even have the courage to give me a call personally and tell me about their decision – for me a sign of his inexistent class. Background of the pull-out are definitely the bad pay-per-view-TV figures of BSkyB in England”, said Bernd Böente, Managing Director of the Klitschko Management Group.
The last fights of Ricky Hatton and new English shooting star Amir Khan (last weekend against Andreas Kotelnik) both had very poor sales on TV (Khan vs. Kotelnik less than 30,000 viewers). It was Haye’s desire to base his purse on the British TV earnings.
“Haye and his manager, whose home base is in the Turkish part of Cyprus for fiscal reasons, seem to have realized all of a sudden, that we have a global economic depression and English boxing fans are not that easily willing to pay 15 pounds for a bout. All the excuses of adhesion contracts are complete rubbish as Haye had already signed the same contract for the fight against Wladimir in June, which also contained a usual rematch clause and a pure Klitschko option. And for that fight he also pulled out. By the way, Vitali and myself attended Haye’s last fight against Monte Barrett at the O2 Arena in London. There were possibly 6.000 fans in a 20.000 seat arena. The guy is not a big draw in England at all. We were always surprised that he expected to get 2.7 million pounds out of the English pay-per-view sales for a fight against Vitali or Wladimir,” Böente added.
Wladimir Klitschko: “During the negotiations for my June fight, we realized quickly that Haye and Booth are very unprofessional. Booth might be a good trainer but as a manager he is simply incompetent. David always had a big mouth and tried to offend us with ridiculous self-made t-shirts. But when it comes up to step into the ring and show what he’s got, he runs away. He even admits that fighting Valuev is the easier way. For me Haye is a little, inexperienced kid who is afraid of his own courage. Doubtless, my brother would have knocked him out within the first four rounds.”
Klitschko Management Group has already started negotiating with potential opponents for Vitali’s next title defense.
Cool Combat Sports Links (7-23-09)
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | No Comments
PG South: Ringgold wrestler makes Jr. nationals
Rauser wins national wrestling title
Former wrestler ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper charged with DUI
JEREMY PIVEN TO MAKE PRO WRESTLING DEBUT
Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrestling featured at Scott County Fair
WRESTLING CONFIDENTIAL: *Spoilers Alert* Smackdown Taping for July 24, 2009
Haye runs his mouth, then just runs
Australian Boxing: Channel 31’s KO Boxing Reaches 300 Shows
ARTURO GATTI PUBLIC MEMORIAL MASS NEXT THURSDAY
Report: Pacquiao-Cotto a non-title affair
VITOR BELFORT MAKES COMMITMENT TO FIGHT FEDOR
VIDEO: Affliction Day of Reckoning – Jay Hieron vs. Jason High in HD
Tags: Boxing > combat sports > links > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA > wrestling
BULLY BEATDOWN: PUNKED MMA STYLE
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | No Comments
EYEWITNESS REPORTS…MARQUEZ IS READY!
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | 1 Comment
“I KNOW WHERE HE’S BEEN HURT AND I’M GOING FOR IT!”
MARQUEZ TRAINING PHOTOS FROM ROMANZA BOXING GYM IN MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (PHOTO CREDIT: Golden Boy Promotions. Please note: All photos are for one time editorial use only!)
Mexico City, Mex. (July 23) -Reports out of Mexico City, where five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez is back in training for his scheduled September 19 bout (at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View®) against Floyd Mayweather (Mayweather vs. Marquez “Number One/Numero Uno”), confirm that Marquez is bigger, stronger and punching “to the body” harder than ever as he pushes his training regime to new heights in preparation for his ultimate challenge against Mayweather.
Eyewitnesses say it is evident that not only is Marquez bigger, but his training includes a special focus on body work and technique as he looks to defeat the undefeated Mayweather, a six-time World Champion in five weight divisions.
“I know where he’s been hurt and I’m going for it,” said Marquez. “He is vulnerable now and I will take advantage of his weakness with a body attack that emphasizes two things-the right and the left.”
Another testament to this new resolve are his grueling two-hour runs in the mountains of Nevado de Toluca at a staggering elevation of 13,500 feet.
“The mountain is a magic place and gives me the freedom to visualize the night of the fight and how I am going to beat him,” said Marquez. “It is also building my endurance, making my legs stronger and building muscle across my whole body.”
Marquez has also been adding weight as he works through technique in training.
Marquez finished, “I’ve been working gradually with the extra weight, which is going to be pure muscle and make me stronger than ever by the time I step in the ring September 19. Mayweather is going to be the first one to feel the difference.”
Mayweather vs. Marquez: “Number One/Numero Uno,” is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Promotions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, Quaker State, Dewalt Tools, Affliction Clothing and Southwest Airlines. The 12-round bout will take place Saturday, September 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.
The Mayweather vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.
HBO’s Emmy®-Award-winning all-access reality series “24/7” returns to HBO® with an all new edition as “Mayweather/Marquez 24/7” premieres Saturday, August 29 at 10:15 pm ET/PT. The four-episode series will chronicle the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their September 19 pay-per-view showdown.
Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $150 are limited to two (2) per person with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets previously purchased for the July 18 date will be honored.
Tags: Boxing > comeback > Floyd Mayweather > Golden Boy Promotions > Jr. > Juan Manuel Marquez > Leonard Ellerbe > Oscar De La Hoya > Richard Schaefer
BRUCE “THE ATLANTIC CITY EXPRESS” SELDON READY FOR FRES OQUENDO THIS FRIDAY NIGHT IN CHICAGO
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | No Comments
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (July 22, 2009)-This Friday night, former WBA Heavyweight champion of the world Bruce “The Atlantic City Express” Seldon will take on former two-time world-title challenger Fres Oquendo ,in Chicago, and Seldon just wrapped up what he calls the most complete camp he has ever had.
Seldon has been training relentlessly for a fight that he is touting as “My heavyweight championship fight.”
“This fight means everything to me”, said Seldon.
“This is a tremendous opportunity, to fight for the NABA title, and this win will get me ranked by the WBA. A victory will put me right in the thick of things in the heavyweight division. This is the first step for me to get the title back.”
“I’ve been through alot. I have faced adversity, I have kept on working, hoping, for one more opportunity. I realize I am running out of chances, I have worked as hard as possible, pushed myself to the limits, day and night, for this fight and everyone will see the results of my work on Friday night. Fres is a highly respected and formidable opponent, he has been in with top guys and performed very well, but I am up for the challenge. The calendar may say I am 42 years old but I feel like I am 30 again. Friday night cannot get here soon enough.”
Seldon, 40-7 with thirty-six big knockouts, is 5-1 in his last six bouts with all of his wins coming by stoppage. He is co-managed by Jim Kurtz and Joe Thompson. Kurtz has seen the same things out of the former WBA champ in the gym.
“Bruce is incredibly focused. I haven’t seen the fire in him like this in such a long time, if ever. It’s remarkable for a man at Bruce’s age (forty-two) to be able to be competitive at this level and he really seems to have found the fountain of youth. There may be alot of 40+ heavyweights still actively fighting, but there is one thing different about Bruce. He took almost eight years off after he lost his title. That is eight years that his body and mind weren’t subjected to the daily rigors of the sport. Bruce is 100% mentally and physically ready for this challenge and we fully expect Bruce to be victorious on Friday evening” said Kurtz.
Oquendo of Chicago has a record 30-5 with nineteen knockouts will be getting into the ring just four weeks after taking out Mark Brown in three rounds in the same UIC Pavilion ring.
The Oquendo/Seldon scheduled ten round bout for the NABA Heavyweight Title headlines “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 4”, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productiions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.
Advance tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 4”, starting at $31, can be purchased through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine , just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at www.uicpavilion.com
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