“Irish Lightning” Byrne is Dean of Las Vegas with Professor Freddie Roach teaching
Posted on | April 21, 2009 | No Comments
LOS ANGELES (April 21, 2009) – Unbeaten Irish light welterweight sensation Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne fights for the first time in 2009 when he battles Mexican southpaw Jose Reynoso (10-2, 1 KO) in a scheduled 8-round bout May 1 at South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Not only will Byrne be making his debut in the glitz and glitter of Las Vegas, the 24-year-old Irishman will be fighting the night before the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown in the same city with Manny’s trainer, Freddie Roach, also in his corner.
Working out at Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, where he has sparred with Pacquiao, Amir Khan and Juan Marquez, Byrne has found a home. After having more than 200 amateur fights, including an Irish National title, Dean turned pro in Australia, where he captured the New South Wales State belt in only his fourth pro fight, and one fighter later added the Australian crown in a 10-rounder. On his way from Australia to relocate in Boston, Dean stopped in Los Angeles and trained at Wild Card, where Roach took an instant liking to him.
“I couldn’t have a better trainer,” Byrne said. “I’m so proud he’s my trainer. He says I got it and I’m going to prove that to him and me. I really can’t wait until this fight in Las Vegas and I’m trained by Manny’s trainer. It’s going to be a weekend of celebration. I’m not going to go out and jump on this guy (Reynoso). I want to show everybody what I can do – box! I’m starting to bring it on hard. On fight night I won’t be wearing headgear and big gloves. It’s a different feeling with the 8-ounze gloves and no headgear. I can’t wait to feel the power.”
Byrne (10-0, 4 KOs), fighting out of Los Angeles by way of Dublin, was supposed to fight in an 8-round bout March 16 in New York City that was canceled. The former Australian and New Wales champion hasn’t fought since defeating Francisco Rios Gil
last December.
“Dean’s been doing great,” Roach remarked. “He’s learning to sit on his punches. For this fight he’s mostly been sparring with Dennis Laurente (30-3-5, 16 KOs), who is fighting in a 10-rounder in Las Vegas on the same weekend. Dean’s a good prospect and working together with Dennis, a lefty, has been great for both of them. Dean’s going to get great exposure fighting in Las Vegas the night before Manny’s fight with everybody in boxing in town. Dean told me he’s going to shine and I know we’re ready to go.”
Byrne’s manager, Steven Feder (Standing Eight Management) values Roach handling his prize prospect, Byrne. “I can’t believe a year in this business and I’m working with the best trainer in the world, Freddie Roach,” Feder commented. “He’s as excited about working with a prospect like Dean as he is with the best fighter in the world, Manny. Freddie loves boxing and is still a student of the game. I handle the business side and let Freddie do his thing – nobody does it better. Having Freddie in our corner is like being handed the Triple Crown winner, or like a 4-round handicap before the first rounds starts. We’re light years ahead of where we’d be right now without him.
“He really cares about his fighters. It’s like a tough father-son relationship; he may kiss them on one cheek, slap them on the other, but I don’t have to strategize with Freddie in our corner. The key is having a game plan because you don’t want the fighter thinking too much in the ring. There are no guarantees, of course, but Dean is a great kid and a talented, promising prospect. As a manager, I don’t want to be asking where my fighter is or if he’s trained today. Dean’s only concern in life is boxing and he’s always working hard in the gym. We expect big things from him.”
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Tags: Boxing > Dean Byrne > Freddie Roach > Jose Reynoso > Las Vegas > Los Angeles > Manny Pacquiao > Nevada > South Point Hotel
American Idol meets MMA
Posted on | April 21, 2009 | No Comments
American Idol meets MMA
LAS VEGAS (April 21, 2009) – The revolutionary www.fightengine.com is like American Idol meeting Mixed Martial Arts.
The newly launched state-of-the-art website is changing the way MMA fighters market themselves, much like singers auditioning for American Idol, and participating Fight Engine fans can act like Simon and Paula, criticizing video-posted fighters as well as arguing with other fans regarding which fighters they want matched against each other.
Promoters and managers, through Fight Engine, now have a brand new way to scout talent as fans develop into real matchmakers.
Future plans include a “KO the Pro” section where a top level fighter will be posted as other fighters vie for selection in a “KO the Pro” match-up. The first “KO The Pro” is living legend Bob “The Beast” Sapp, one of the key advisors for www.fightengine.com.
“I’m really excited to be involved with this venture and I’m looking forward to being the first ‘KO The Pro,’” Sapp said. “I’m going to be getting more and more involved in Fight Engine because I believe that it’s the future right now. I’m not done fighting, either. Wherever I go and whatever I’m involved in, I will be bringing Fight Engine all over the world with me. If I’m fighting for a particular company, you can bet they’ll know all about Fight Engine.
“Right now, my focus is on introducing FightEngine.com to promotional companies all over the world, explaining how they can use it as a state-of-the-art tool to scout talent from anywhere on the planet without leaving their laptops. There are so many great fighters out there that haven’t been discovered, yet. With Fight Engine, though, no more excuses about not knowing for fighters, promoters, managers or fans.”
FightEngine.com works with any and all MMA promoters and fighters to gain International notoriety. Registered fighters from around the world, whether a veteran or novice, may post his or her video and challenge other registered fighters, allowing each participant to accept or deny challenges, as well as express their semi-uncensored opinions about any posted challenges.
A non-discriminatory source providing male and female fighters, as well as ring girls, FightEngine.com offers opportunities to gain invaluable exposure on its popular website. Promoters and managers have already started closely monitoring fightengine.com to scout for their next street fighting prospects.
Fightengine.com also offers a unique opportunity for some selected MMA fighters to earn a guaranteed five-figure purse, sign a potential six-figure promotional contract, paid travel expenses and, in the not too distant future, hopefully, other life-changing benefits through membership.
Fans can get in on the action simply by registering on the website to become quasi-matchmakers, picking fighters they’d like to watch in matches, in addition to commenting about fights other spectators propose.
A thermometer can be found on the right-hand side of the website, which will illuminate on a rising basis, according to the amount of registered fighters, and subsequently fights will be arranged when the thermometer reaches its apex.
Once there are enough fighters and fans registered on the website, FightEngine.com will serve as a tool to arrange fights on a super card, guaranteeing purses of $10,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000.
Go to www.fightengine.com or www.myspace.com/fightengine for additional information.
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LionHeart Professional Management Announces New Sponsors
Posted on | April 21, 2009 | 1 Comment
State College, PA – LionHeart Professional Management and Promotions is proud to announce two new sponsors: Dirty Dog Hauling and Reid Fight Wear.
Dirty Dog
www.dirtydoghauling.com
Based out of Harrisburg, PA, Dirty Dog Hauling ™ Junk Removal Services is a professional company that specializes in removal of junk from homes, apartments, businesses, and construction sites. The company has acquired the rights to use LionHeart Fighter and Harrisburg native Phil Davis as their official spokesperson for the company’s print and TV advertising. “Don’t wrestle with your Trash, Call the Experts at Dirty Dog Hauling”.
“This is a true win/ win relationship. Phil Davis gets to help a company from his hometown and we get financial support for one of our athletes to continue training. It will also be great for Phil to work with Leland Nelson, the owner of Dirty Dog Hauling because he is such a unique and innovative businessman.” – Chad Dubin, owner LionHeart Management
Reid Fight Wear
www.reidfightwear.com
Based out of Sunbury, PA, Reid Fight Wear is an urban clothing label that combines stylish clothing with the honor, respect and true warrior spirit of combatants of past eras as well as representing what the Mixed Martial Arts Lifestyle is all about. The clothing company has signed a sponsorship deal with LionHeart Fighter’s Paul Bradley and Phil Davis.
“Tony Reid, the owner of Reid Fight Wear is someone we are proud to align ourselves and our fighters with. He is a perfectionist and a professional and takes pride in the quality of his products. He is building a different brand outside of your traditional MMA apparel companies and is passionate about the sport.” – Chad Dubin, owner LionHeart Management
Tags: Lionheart Gym > LionHeart Professional Management & Promotions > LLC > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA
“THE GHOST” JOINS ELITE IN EA SPORTS “FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 4”
Posted on | April 21, 2009 | No Comments
Casey and RobertGilroy, California (April 21, 2009) – Two-time world champion, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, has inked a deal with EA Sports. Guerrero, who hails from Gilroy CA, will be one of the select few to be featured in the upcoming EA Sports “Fight Night Round 4” video game. Guerrero joins an elite list of boxers, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and many other current and past champions that are slated to appear in the game.
“Everyone knows EA Sports is the top video game company in the world,” said Guerrero. “To be featured in “Fight Night Round 4″ with the top fighters in the sport, past and present, is dream come true. I’m very thankful and appreciative to EA Sports for giving me the opportunity to be part of something special. This deal puts my name on a global stage with gamers around the world.”
Electronic Arts, the leader in sports video games, has been developing its dynamic product since 1993 and distributes on a global scale. “Fight Night Round 4” is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2009. For more information on “Fight Night Round 4” please visit www.fightnight.easports.com.
Thursday Night Fights @ City Boxing
Posted on | April 21, 2009 | No Comments
2009 Connecticut Junior Olympic Championships This Saturday in Middletown
Posted on | April 20, 2009 | No Comments
This Saturday, APRIL 25th, 2009 @ The Lions Den Training Center in Middletown, Connecticut
(www.lionsdenct.com)
PLUS…
Special Attraction
MAIN EVENT
2009 Western New England Golden Gloves Champion, EAST HARTFORD’S Joey “Chip” Perez (my guy) vs. Springfield’s Emmanuel “The Surgeon” Ortiz
Connecticut’s best Junior Olympic boxers -from Norwalk, Waterbury, Hartford and everywhere in between- will compete against each other on Saturday. All Senior Division Winners advance to the Region 1 J.O. Tournament at Lake Placid, N.Y. in May
Tickets: Between 8 and 20 dollars, depending on where you want to sit. Every seat in the house is fine, though.
Doors Open at 6 p.m.
First bout at 7 p.m.
Tags: Boxing > Connecticut > CT > Emmanuel Ortiz > Golden Gloves > Joey Perez > Middletown > New England
KIM COUTURE TO TACKLE MIESHA TATE AT SHO MMA: STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS MAY 15
Posted on | April 20, 2009 | No Comments
Plus Aaron Rosa Faces Anthony Ruiz at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.
Live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT
NEW YORK (April 20, 2009)—Mixed martial arts (MMA) upstart Kim “Sugar Free” Couture (1-1), wife of MMA legend Randy Couture, will take a major step up in competition when she squares off with fearsome submission expert Miesha Tate (5-1) in a live SHOWTIME-televised 135-pound limit contest at the inaugural SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers event at Fresno, California’s Save Mart Center on Friday, May 15.
SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers is a proving ground for up-and-coming MMA fighters. SHO MMA provides today’s top prospects with the opportunity to step-up their level of competition and demonstrate their ability in a nationally televised event.
In addition, Aaron Rosa (11-2) will face Anthony “A Train” Ruiz (21-12) in a light heavyweight (205-pound limit) fight on a fight card headlined by undefeated lightweight (155-pound limit) Billy Evangelista (9-0) versus BJ Penn protégé “Iron” Mike Aina (11-6-1).
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The SHOWTIME telecast will air live beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and feature up to five live fights.
“I think she’s definitely in for a surprise and this is going to be a little bit over her head,” said the 22-year-old Tate, who has been on a tear of late, stopping each of her last three opponents in the first round.
“I do respect the fact that she chose to fight me,” said Tate, who is considered a veteran over the inexperienced Couture. “I think she’s really tough and, at heart, she’s a fighter. She wants to fight people who are going to push her.”
A native of Olympia, Wash., Tate was introduced to wrestling during her teen years when a girlfriend convinced her to join their all-boys high school wrestling team. Tate’s passion for the sport developed as she learned. Eventually, wrestling led Tate to join the MMA club at Central Washington University.
Last year, Tate enlisted with Victory Athletics, the elite fight squad headed by MMA star and two-time Matt Hughes conqueror Dennis “Superman” Hallman.
“He’s got so much to offer technically,” she said about her mentor. “He comes from a wrestling background so his fighting style is very similar to the one I want to develop.”
The 33-year-old Couture said, “(Tate)’s been wrestling for a long time and I’ve only been wrestling for four years, but I’ve been learning from Randy Couture.
“My training partners are Xtreme Couture fighters so I feel like I have the Cliff Notes I need to be successful in this fight. I’ve been pushed and supported by the best guys in the business.”
Couture earned her first professional victory by pummeling an overmatched Lina Kvokov in the first round of their Strikeforce meeting at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 21, 2008. The victory came shortly after she had adopted K-1 superstar Ray Sefo as her new kickboxing trainer.
It is in the area of punching and kicking that Couture feels she will have the upper hand against Tate.
”Her stand up is not strong. Before she gets to the clinch or a takedown, she’s going to have to get past my hands,” said Couture. “My Muay Thai is really good right now and I’m very confident that, if we get to the clinch, she’s gonna have a hard time taking me down.”
Rosa, of San Antonio, Tex., was victorious in his first 10 starts as a professional. Following two straight defeats, he stopped Ron “Killing” Fields in the second round in Chicago, Ill., on June 14, 2008.
The 31-year-old Ruiz, a former Strikeforce light heavyweight championship challenger, last saw action at Strikeforce’s second event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he lost a unanimous decision to former South African national wrestling champion Trevor Prangley.
Tickets for the first SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers event are on sale at the Save Mart Center box office and select Save Mart Supermarkets as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and Strikeforce’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).
About Strikeforce
Strikeforce is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, Strikeforce has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of Strikeforce, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
Tags: Aaron Rosa > ANthony Ruiz > Billy Evangelista > California > Fresno > Kim Couture > Miesha Tate > Mika Aina > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA > Save Mart Center > Strikeforce
Saturday night’s alright for fighting for Framingham, MA Boxing prospect Danny O’Connor
Posted on | April 20, 2009 | No Comments
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (April 20, 2009) – Hot New England prospect Danny O’Connor is ready for Saturday night’s throw-down with 21-fight veteran Travis Hartman on the Carl Froch-Jermain Taylor undercard at MGM Grand Foxwoods in Ledyard, Connecticut.
2004 U.S. Olympic Team alternate O’Connor (5-0, 2 KOs) will be fighting not too far from His Framingham (MA) home for the second time in a row. Missouri-native Hartman (9-11-1, 7 KOs) will serve as a solid test, as well as a measuring stick for O’Connor, having fought other promising prospects such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., Jorge Perez, Jr., Shamone Alvarez, Damain Frias and Ray Sanchez.
“I’m excited about fight Saturday night,” the Seminole Warriors Boxing-promoted O’Connor said. “It’s a good opportunity for me to showcase my talents on a big fight card, the Taylor-Froch undercard, which will give me good exposure. I’m eager to display all we’ve been working on since my last fight. I feel very strong for this fight.”
The 23-year-old O’Connor, who defeated 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Felix Diaz a year ago in a USA-Dominican Republic dual meet, is fighting again as a light welterweight (140) but gradually moving down to lightweight (135).
For more information about Danny O’Connor go online to www.dannyoconnorboxing.com.
-DO-
Tags: Boxing > Carl Froch > Connecticut > Damain Frias > Danny O'Connor > ESPN > Florida > Foxwoods > Framingham > Friday Night Fights > Greg Jimenez > Jamar Saunders > Jermain Taylor > Jorge Perez > Jr. > Julio Cesar Chavez > Ledyard > MA > MGM Grand > Ray Sanchez > Shamone Alvarez > Travis Hartman














