GEORGES ST-PIERRE TO APPEAR AS A PANELIST ON HDNET’S “INSIDE MMA”

Posted on | April 9, 2009 | 1 Comment

GSP joins UFC fighters Pat Barry and Eric Schafer on INSIDE MMA Friday, April 10 at 9:00 p.m. ET

DALLAS (April 9, 2009) This week’s INSIDE MMA will feature Canadian Mixed Martial Arts star Georges St-Pierre as a guest panelist on the program.

St-Pierre, the current UFC Welterweight Champion is ranked as one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters by many in the MMA world and is also ranked as the number one welterweight in the world by multiple MMA publications.

In his appearance this week, St-Pierre talks about his upcoming fight with Thiago Alves at UFC 100, the “Greasegate” controversy surrounding his fight with B.J. Penn and also his recent commercial shoot for Gatorade – GSP is the first Mixed Martial Artist to be sponsored by the product.

This Friday also features Part Two of Ron Kruck’s interview with Brock Lesnar. This week Lesnar talks to Kruck about his time in the WWE, the movie “The Wrestler” and what he really thinks about Fedor Emelianenko.

HDNet’s INSIDE MMA is the first and only one of its kind – an original, weekly television program devoted completely to news and highlights from the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined by the sport’s top fighters and news-makers every week to discuss and analyze the latest in MMA. The program also includes event highlights, viewer mail, and Ron Kruck providing up-to-the-minute news and features with Kruck’s Korner. INSIDE MMA has become the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix of everything MMA.

Since the program’s inception in September of 2007, INSIDE MMA has covered some of the biggest stories in the business, presenting interviews with the biggest names involved. From Randy Couture’s legal battles with the UFC to Seth Petruzelli’s upset win over Kimbo – and the Florida State Athletic Commission’s investigation of that fight, to the fall of EliteXC, INSIDE MMA has covered it all.

INSIDE MMA, HDNet’s weekly series covering the latest news, rankings, stats and highlights from the world of Mixed Martial Arts airs every Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET.

About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is a network that is original, thinks independently and delivers
unique content and provocative, authentic programming that appeals to men of all ages, delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report,” and the Emmy Award winning “Dan Rather Reports,” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant – telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts through HDNet Fights. HDNet Fights partners with leading MMA promoters including Affliction, DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and more. HDNet produces more live mixed martial arts events than any other network and HDNet’s “Inside MMA” is the hottest mixed martial arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA.

HDNet also delivers the world’s largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring “Art Mann Presents,” “Vegas Confessions,” “Deadline” and “Get Out!” HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. “NASA on HDNet” presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.

Only HDNet Movies delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, and Emily Blunt.

Upcoming Sneak Previews include “The Girlfriend Experience” directed by Steven Soderbergh.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies presents viewers with over one hundred films and an average of twenty-five “HD Premieres” each month. HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.

GUILTY BOXING IN ASSOCIATION WITH RATTLESNAKE EVENTS, LLC PRESENTS PUNCH-OUT AT THE PLAZA

Posted on | April 9, 2009 | No Comments

Las Vegas’s New Premier fight series!

@

The Plaza Hotel & Casino

Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, NV April 3, 2009 – Guilty Boxing in association with Rattlesnake Events, LLC have formed a strategic alliance with the Plaza Hotel & Casino in beautiful downtown Las Vegas to promote a new monthly fight series dubbed “Punch-Out.”

“We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with Guilty Boxing and Rattlesnake Events and are looking to build a recognizable and respectable boxing franchise here at the Plaza”, Said vice president of the plaza marketing, Tony Bender.

The Punch-Out Series is scheduled to begin May 8th and continue on a Monthly basis. Our Plans include making the most competitive fights out there using local fighters and national prospects alike. We are prepared to provide to the fans what they deserve, intriguing match-ups that are unpredictable and enjoyable using highly skilled, exciting professional fighters, that are ready to make a splash on the fight scene.

“On behalf of Guilty Boxing, we are very pleased to return to promoting fights in Las Vegas. Likewise we are excited to make this return in association with Rattlesnake Events and the great new series at the Plaza Hotel & Casino. As always we will continue to strive to put forth the most exciting cards possible for our local fans and tourists,” Said Guilty Boxing’s, Jeff Grmoja.

Tickets to “Punch-Out,” will begin at the very affordable rate of just $20.00 for this great night of entertainment and are available now by visiting the Plaza box office or by phone at (702)386-2575 or to purchase online check us out at. www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/boxing.php

RODRIGO DAMM TO FACE GILBERT MELENDEZ IN INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT

Posted on | April 9, 2009 | No Comments

STRIKEFORCE: “SHAMROCK VS. DIAZ” This Saturday

Live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT)

From the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

New York (April 9, 2009)–Sengoku star Rodrigo Damm (8-2) has made his way from his native Brazil to California to replace injured Strikeforce World Lightweight (155 lb. limit) Champion Josh Thomson in the matchup with Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (14-2) this Saturday on the live SHOWTIME televised portion of Strikeforce: “Shamrock vs. Diaz” mega-fight card at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. (Pending California State Athletic Commission approval)

The winner of the five-round bout between Melendez and Damm will be crowned the Interim Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and be granted a shot at Thomson when the injured fighter is ready to return to action.

Damm captured the attention of MMA fans worldwide on June 8, 2008, when he scored a second round TKO on rising American Top Team star Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal at Saitama, Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.

The victory over Masvidal capped off an eight-fight win streak for Damm, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist who has produced submissions in five of his eight career wins. Damm has been fighting professionally for five years.

Thomson sustained a broken leg last week while sparring and was forced to withdraw from his rematch with Melendez. Thomson won the title in his initial encounter with Melendez, a five-round, non-stop-action battle via unanimous decision at the HP Pavilion on June 27, 2008. Thomson underwent surgery shortly after the break occurred. His estimated recovery time has not been determined.

The 26-year-old Melendez, an expert in both Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is looking to return to the win column after his last start, the loss to Thomson. A resident of San Francisco, Melendez went unbeaten in his first 13 professional appearances, a run that catapulted him into the world top 10 rankings.

The “Shamrock vs. Diaz” event represents the dawn of a new age for Strikeforce as it will be the first one under the world championship MMA promotion’s new television agreement with SHOWTIME. The live telecast will feature five fights including a thrilling main event between four-time world champion and MMA legend Frank Shamrock (24-9-1) and fellow knockout artist Nick Diaz (18-7, 1 NC), contested at a catch weight of 179 pounds.

Middleweight (185-pound limit) sluggers Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (16-5, 1 NC) and Benji “Razor” Radach (19-4) will also meet in a featured contest.

Heavyweight mixed martial arts (MMA) forces, Brett “The Grim” Rogers (8-0) and “Abongo” Humphrey (12-0) will put their unbeaten records on the line when they face off.

Women’s MMA power houses, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (6-1) and Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano (14-5) will slug it out in a 145-pound showdown.

Strikeforce “Shamrock vs. Diaz” will air live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) on Saturday, April 11.

Tickets for “Shamrock vs. Diaz,” priced from $30, are available for purchase at the HP Pavilion box office (408-287-7070) as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (408-998-TIXS), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com), and Strikeforce’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).

HP Pavilion doors open at 4:30 p.m. for “Shamrock vs. Diaz” on Saturday. The first preliminary bout will begin at 5 p.m.

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.

ROF 34 REPORT

Posted on | April 9, 2009 | No Comments

**BREAKING NEWS** Robinson-Morrison fight scrapped…

Alvin KID Robinson is out of the Main event match with Anthony Morrison due to a broken arm.

Robinson suffered a broken arm training with former ROF Champion Christian Allen. Allen kicked Robinson in the arm during a recent sparring session. Robinson blocked the kick with his forearm. Robinson felt immediate pain but thought it was just a “good shot”.

The pain increased over the weekend, and prompted Robinson to go see his Doctor this week. The Doctor confirmed his worst fears, that he had broken his arm.

“First off I want to say sorry to Anthony because I know he had trained his butt off for this fight. I had the best training camp of my life for this fight. Training with Trevor Wittman and the team out of T’sko has turned me into a different fighter. I have never had this kind of training or a team of guys that have helped me like this before. Royce Gracie even flew in for a couple of days to help me. Ultimately I am very disappointed and heartbroken that I am unable to fight April 11th in my hometown. Colorado has some of the best and most loyal fans I have ever fought in front of. I want to thank everyone has continued to support me through all the good and bad times I have gone through in my career. All I can say is this journey isn’t over, its only beginning. I will be back and better then ever. I also want to thank Sven Bean, Trevor Wittman, Leister Bowling, Griff, Amal Easton and everyone who helped me train for this fight.”

The promotion could not secure a qualified opponent for Morrison, so the bout was scratched.

The Mike Nickels – James Funny fight at Light Heavy Weight will now be the main event.

James Funny is no joke….

James Funny is the top up and coming light heavyweight in the region. Funny has a very impressive 11-2 MMA record.

He is known for both his KO power as well as brute strength on the mat. Funny is lookin for a win over the UFC vet to launch his career.

“This is a good fight for me style wise, and a good fight for me career wise.”

“I want to show the fans in Colorado what I can do, on the biggest stage and that is Ring Of Fire. I want to fight the top guys out there and Mike is right up there at the top. He is a great fighter, I respect him a lot. I want to test myself against the best and prove to myself and everyone else I do belong at this level. It’s going to be a great fight I guarantee it.”

Fuentes is excited for ROF debut…

David DEE JAY Fuentes is striker with a 4-2 MMA record. His father was a golden gloves boxer who taught DJ how to fight an early age.

He then found Karate which he excelled at, and led him to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in which he is currently a blue belt. He has been living and training at Mat Hughes HIT Squad training center for the last year. His training partners and coaches include Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawlor and Hector Pena.

“I know that Tyler Toner is a long time Ring Of Fire vet. I know that I am going into his home crowd, and I expect to hear a lot of boos when they call my name. But I also know I am an exciting fighter and I hope they’ll be some cheering at the end of the fight too! My camp was great, everyone was getting ready for fights so the training was as good as it gets. I am 100% ready to go, and I am anxious to see what Tyler Toner and the Ring Of Fire are all about.

ALFONSO S. GOMEZ RETURNS TO THE RING MAY 1

Posted on | April 9, 2009 | No Comments

Vows to Stop Buendia and Make a Statement to the Boxing World

Los Angeles, Cal., April 9, 2009 — Alfonso S. Gomez returns to the ring May 1, aiming to impress the worldwide boxing audience that will be focused on Las Vegas the first weekend of May with a convincing win against Juan Manuel Buendia.

Gomez (18-4-2) will face fellow Mexican native Buendia (14-2-1) in a 10-round welterweight bout at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, to be featured on TV Azteca. One year after his world title fight against Miguel Cotto, Gomez is more ready than ever to be back in action.

“I took time off after my first title fight, but now I’m eager to get back on a winning track with an exciting performance for the boxing fans in Las Vegas on this huge fight weekend,” Gomez says. “I’m also happy to be appearing on TV Azteca in front of the Latin audience that has been so supportive of me.”

Of his opponent, known as “The Butcher,” Gomez says, “We’re both known as pressure fighters who throw lots of punches, but I can also box and counterpunch, so he has the perfect style to showcase my skills.”

Gomez is fully recovered from the health issues and broken hand which plagued him before the Cotto fight, and has been training hard for the past several months.

Says a confident and determined Gomez, “My goal is to stop Buendia and make a statement to the boxing world that I am back.”

For the latest news, video blogs and more, visit www.AlfonsoSGomez.com.

– end –

Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston

Posted on | April 9, 2009 | No Comments

Team ‘USS’ Cunningham

For Immediate Release

London, UK/Philadelphia PA, USA – 9th April 2009

Britain’s Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston Knocked Out…By The American
Embassy In London!

English Super Bantamweight boxer, Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston, who is due to be on the under card of Brian Cohen’s WBC Americas Title Fight in South Philadelphia on 9th May, suffered a further setback in her professional boxing career when the American Embassy in London refused her visa application.

After regularly traveling back and forth to America to train for over two years, on the visa waiver system, with no problems as well as having contacted the London Consular by e.mail to verify which visa she should apply for, Marianne had expected her visa application to be a formality.

Marianne is expecting further repercussions from her failure to secure a visa, as her contract with sports clothing and equipment manufacturer, Pugilist Urban Garments, is reliant on her being in America as part of the promotion of their P.U.G. Athletic brand into the $50 Billion American Sporting goods market in 2009.

Both Marianne’s contracts with Team ‘USS’Cunningham, who represent and train her in America, and the May 9th event promoters, ABBCorp, Inc. and Bionic Bull Enterprises, are also on the basis of her securing the visa. Her not being able to make the 9th May fight is particularly worrying for Marianne as Donna Cohen, of ABBCorp, Inc. and Bionic Bull Enterprises, had
made an offer of a twelve fight contract between May 2009 and Dec 2010.

Marianne, a protégé of legendary Heavyweight boxing champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier and former IBF Cruiserweight World Champion, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, spoke of her feelings during her daily training session at Gleason’s Gym near Tower Bridge in London. “I can’t believe that they refused my visa again. I originally applied in March so I could return to
Philadelphia to resume training with Steve (‘USS’ Cunningham) and Shar’ron (Baker) in preparation for my anticipated pro-debut.

The guy that interviewed me at the Embassy in March said he was refusing my application because I don’t have adequate socioeconomic ties with the UK, not much family here or a job, and as such doesn’t feel I would return here. He also said my boxing is just a “hobby”. I found that unbelievably insulting. I’m English born and bred, London is my home and always will
be. It’s not my fault I only have two close family members still living and Boxing is my job, I can get plenty of fights in America. I am aware that the chances of getting many fights here in the UK is very slim as there just aren’t many female pro-fighters here.

As for my not returning to the UK, I have been going to America for the past couple of years to train, firstly at Joe’s (Smokin’ Joe Frazier) and then at Shuler’s (The James Shuler Memorial Gym) on the visa waiver system, I’ve never abused it, I always returned within the 90 days. If I was going to stay illegally surely I would have done it then, not after going to the trouble of applying for a visa.

Yes, I accept I’m an amateur by definition as I have yet to have my pro-debut fight, but I am a professional in reality. Boxing is my life and now it is the way I make a living. They don’t realise how hard I train. It’s not a hobby, I run between 3 and 17 miles in the morning, then spend between 4 and 5 hours in the afternoon training at the gym.

I reapplied for my visa after P.U.G. renewed my sponsorship and I had been e.mailed the contract to fight on May 9th. These were already being discussed, but had not been sorted, before my first application so I didn’t mention them. I supplied the contracts from P.U.G. and the promoter but the guy who interviewed me the second time said I have just changed my
story and the refusal still stands. It makes me wonder if they don’t believe that a woman could make a career of being a professional boxer.

I’m flabbergasted, I have been waiting so long for my professional debut, I was supposed to debut last May but Frazier’s closed down and I was left without a gym, trainers or management. Then in August, as I was preparing for a fight in New Jersey, I burst my Achilles tendon. I was on the Casino Battle Royale card for January this year, I’d even made my appointment for
a visa interview back then, but as the whole event got canceled I put the interview back to March so I could get back in time for Steve’s fight (Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham – Tomasz Adamek’s IBF Cruiserweight World Championship bout on December 11th ‘08), now this happens. It feels like I’ll never actually get to fight.

I’m not going to give up though, I’m still training hard just in case we can get this sorted and I can get to fight. ”

Marianne’s professional debut was due to be on the under card of Philadelphia’s Brian Cohen WBC Americas Light Heavyweight title fight on May 9th 2009 at the South Philadelphia High School. Marianne’s bout would have been one of three female bouts on the ten fight card. Promoter Donna Cohen is a big supporter of Women’s boxing and every event she promotes includes at least one female match-up.

www.mariannemarston.com

For tickets and further details for the event at South Philadelphia High School please contact:

Donna Cohen
ABBCorp, Inc. & Bionic Bull Enterprise
Tel: 215 755 8155

– END –

EDITORS NOTES:

Marianne “Golden Girl” Marston

Marianne came into boxing a lot later in life than most fighters tend to, but in other ways she has been a competitive athlete and a fighter all her life.

At a young age Marianne trained at fencing (foil) by age fifteen she was seeded sixth in England (Under 16’s) and had already beaten the number one seed in competition. Marianne was selected to represent her country, but her mother decided that Marianne could not participate due to the length of time she would need to take off school.

Marianne also competed for the Norwich Penguins swimming squad.

At the age of 24, Marianne was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer, after two years of treatment her consultant advised operating to prevent the cancer spreading. The operation was unsuccessful so one year later she underwent surgery for a second time. This time it was successful.

Marianne, who worked as a researcher for a television production company, became ill again a few years later whilst in America, at first this was thought to be food poisoning, but as the extreme pain and her drastic weight loss continued it was clear it was something more serious. After six months of tests at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, Marianne’s weight had dropped to less than 80lbs. Eventually the consultant diagnosed Marianne as suffering from a particularly severe form of Coeliacs Disease, an autoimmune disease where the body is incapable of digesting gluten – a protein found in cereals.

It was while recovering from the serious effects of this illness that Marianne went to her local LA Fitness to get fit again. Whilst there she spoke with personal trainer, Choleton Senior, who it turned out was a former boxer until he lost a leg in a motorcycle accident. Choleton started teaching Marianne basic boxing and was impressed at her natural ability. He stepped the training up and Marianne stepped up accordingly, Choleton advised Marianne that she should find a boxing gym as he believed she had what it takes to progress in the sport.

Following his advice Marianne joined Gleason’s gym near Tower Bridge in London. She was assigned a trainer, Joe Kenwright – one of the England Amateur Boxing Team coaches. Joe was so pleased with the ability of his charge that after one of her sparring sessions, in which Marianne sent her professional opponent (a lightweight with a 13-0 record) to the canvas
twice with her lightning fast combinations, he suggested to Marianne she should look towards professional boxing in America as there were so few British female professional fighters in any class that she would not be guaranteed to obtain fights in the UK.

Whilst training at Gleason’s, John Rooney, who not only owned the gym but also P.U.G. Athletic a boxing equipment was impressed by Marianne so much that he decided to sponsor her training and equipment.

In 2007, Marianne who was already visiting America on business, New York, Boston, LA and Philadelphia, had already been training at Freddie Roach’s gym in LA and Francisco Mendez’s gym in New York when she was in those cities decided to try and find a gym in Philadelphia as she spent more time there than any other city in America. She had made an appointment to
visit Joe Hand’s gym when by accident she met legendary heavyweight world champion Smokin’ Joe Frazier who on discovering she boxed invited her to try out for him at his North Philadelphia gym.

Joe Frazier was so impressed that he asked her to be part of Team Frazier as he wanted to train her. In October Joe told Marianne that her only being able to train with his team for 4-6 weeks every couple of months was not helping her and suggested she committed herself to spending 6 months in Philadelphia so he could get her ready to turn professional.

In February 2008 Marianne made the decision to spend six months in Philadelphia, split into two three month visits, and took a lease on an apartment. Just over one month after she had done this Smokin’ Joe Frazier’s was forced to close. Marianne’s dreams were shattered as she now not only didn’t have a gym but also no management or trainers.

Eventually Marianne was advised to try out at James Shuler Memorial Gym in West Philadelphia. Marianne had found a new ‘home’ and got straight back to training for her professional debut. A date was set for August 2009 but shortly after she sustained a burst Achilles tendon and had to return to London for treatment.

On her return Marianne was invited to be part of Team ‘USS’ Cunningham by then IBF cruiserweight champion Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham and his wife/manager, Livvy and was also offered to be on the card of the January 24th 2009 Casino Battle Royale event in Atlantic City. In December this event was canceled.

BERNARD HOPKINS HELPS START NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR TROUBLED TEENS IN MIAMI, FLORIDA

Posted on | April 9, 2009 | 1 Comment

Hopkins visits future site of Florida’s revolutionary new residential public high school
for at-risk teenage boys facing troubled futures

April 8, 2009

Miami, Florida

Middleweight great BERNARD “The Executioner” HOPKINS will visit the future campus site of Florida’s first public residential boarding school on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 2:00 pm. The location is 22025 SW 87th Ave, Miami, Florida, 33190.The press is invited for private tours, one-one-one interviews, and photo opportunities. This groundbreaking NEW high school will provide boys facing troubled lives with an option of either a rigorous college-bound academic track or a job-ready track. Students will gain admissions to the revolutionary school phenomenon based on criteria targeting them at the highest risk for dropping out or engaging in criminal behaviors. Hopkins will speak to a group of young men currently in trouble, headed to a life of crime. He will become this breakthrough school’s celebrity spokesperson and mentor – and rightfully so.

Hopkins turned to crime early in his life. By the age of thirteen he was mugging people and had been stabbed three times. At seventeen, Hopkins was sentenced to 18 years in Graterford Prison for nine felonies. While in prison he witnessed rapes and the murder of another inmate in an argument over a pack of cigarettes. It was in prison that he discovered his passion for boxing. After serving almost five years, Hopkins was released from prison and decided to use boxing as an escape from his previous life. While leaving the prison for the final time, the warden told Hopkins that he’ll “see [Hopkins] again when you wind up back here,” to which Hopkins replied “I ain’t ever coming back here.”

The story of Bernard Hopkins is a great one that he loves retelling – the street hood hooked on a life of crime, sent to prison aged 17, emerged a changed man, who became one of the greatest boxers of his era. Today, Hopkins is best known for his ten year reign as Middleweight World Champion. His support of this new school stems from the consensus that too many troubled teens become the product of a failing juvenile justice system, which is forced to treat youth offenders more like criminals, rather than students with potential who simply need help. Too many kids who go through the juvenile justice system later end up in prison repeatedly.

Bernard Hopkins took responsibility for his life but suffered serious CONSEQUENCES. He wants to help make sure others don’tmake the same mistakes by offering them a chance to succeed, despite the disadvantages they face.

To lend further support, Bernard will walk the red carpet and be a celebrity guest at Lea and Roy Blacks’ Annual Gala on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Eden Rock Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida starting at 7 pm. Miami’s most famous gala supports operations for both Bay Point Schools and a brand new foundation formed by Engin Yesil and Lea Black called The Consequences Foundation. The foundation is developing The Consequences Program – a proactive intervention curriculum designed to redirect troubled teens before they find themselves in trouble. Consequences will become an integral and important part of the new prep school’s curriculum. Hopkins will become the Consequences Program’s first celebrity spokesperson andwill be active in the programming development of the new high school.

Statistically, juveniles commit one in eight crimes. By removing youth from their crime-ridden environments and helping them focus on academics, sports and achievable goals, this program will aim to decrease the present dropout rate of 34.2% in Miami-Dade County alone. This new concept high school is designed to become a model across the country and the first of its kind. “We have a vision of bringing the federal and state government, public school systems, foundations and adolescent psychology and education experts in harmony to create a school on par with some of the nations finest,” says Gio Greeley, the school’s director of development and programming. Focusing on education, sports, student government and therapy will become the alternative to entering a corrections system infested with career criminal and prisoner training.

For more information contact Gio Greeley, Director of Development of Bay Point Schools and The Consequences Foundation at (646) 554-8583 or email ggreeley@baypointschools.com. For more information about the school visit www.baypointschools.com and our Annual Gala website at www.theblacksannualgala.org. For inquiries about Bernard Hopkins, contact Kelly Swanson at 202-783-5500 or email kswanson@swansonpr.com

LionHeart Announces Affiliation with Robert Drysdale Jiu-Jitsu

Posted on | April 8, 2009 | 1 Comment

New BJJ & MMA Instructor Black Belt Diego Coloma Joins LionHeart Staff

We are proud to announce Diego Coloma as our new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts instructor at LionHeart. Born and raised in Brazil, Diego is a BJJ Black Belt under legendary instructor Leo Vieira and brings over 20 years of BJJ experience with him. He holds a professional MMA record of 6-1 with 3 KO’s and 2 submission victories.

“We are thrilled to be aligned with Robert Drysdale and his BJJ organization which is one of the best BJJ schools in the world. Through this relationship we were able to land Black Belt Diego Coloma as our head BJJ and MMA instructor. Diego is a perfect fit at LionHeart. In addition to his BJJ and MMA experience that will help elevate our fighters to the next level, he is a passionate teacher who will continue to help grow our MMA and BJJ school. I am grateful to the guys at Drysdale that worked with us over the last few months to find the right fit.” -Chad Dubin, owner of LionHeart.

Phil and PaulFor details regarding class schedule, private lessons, or special programs please contact Chad Dubin at (814) 280-1982 or chad@lionheartfighters.com

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