Untelevised Jay Hieron Affliction fight to Appear on Inside MMA

Posted on | January 28, 2009 | No Comments

1/28/2009
Huntington Beach, CA – MMAagents.com is proud to announce that Jay Hieron will be in studio with Tank Abbott and Steve Cantwell for the lastest taping of Inside MMA. Jay will help recap Afflictions “Day of Reckoning” card, including his untelevised highlight reel knockout win over Jason High in its entirety.

Tune in to HDnet and log onto www.MMAagents.com news section for entry in a Jay Hieron trivia contest. The first six contestants to e-mail the correct answers to info@MMAagents.com will receive a prize package, including products from Bulletproof Athletics (www.bulletproofathletics.com), Hoodlum Fight Gear (www.hoodlumfightgear.com), Evo Energy Drink (www.drinkevo.com) as well as Gammo-O (www.gammao.com)

All participants must provide a valid mailing address. Please stay tuned to the News section at MMAagents.com for a chance to win and be sure to watch Inside MMA! Jay will inform the viewing audience when the contest will begin so stay tuned. Best of luck to everyone.

About MMAagents: Established in 2005 by long time baseball and hockey agent Ken Pavia, MMAagents is an industry leader in mixed martial arts sports management. MMAagents is a full service sports management agency, providing its clients with fighting opportunities, sponsorships, appearances, legal assistance, commission compliance, media relations, fighter branding, career guidance, and much more. MMAagents philosophy is that fighters should worry about training and fighting while their agent handles everything else. MMAagents boasts a roster of over fifty world class mixed martial arts fighters, forty of which are current or former Zuffa fighters. Each client has fought in an elite organization such as the UFC, WEC, Pride, Strikeforce, Pro Elite, Affliction, or the PFC. In 2008 MMAagents clients competed in thirty five different promotional organizations in eight different countries. MMAagents has a staff of nine including a licensed attorney. The MMAagents team works hard twenty five hours a day, eight days a week, to make dreams come true

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PACQUIAO and HATTON SET A DATE!

Posted on | January 28, 2009 | No Comments

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT

TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, MAY 2 AT

MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS

TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, JANUARY 30

LAS VEGAS, (January 28, 2009) – Two of boxing’s biggest stars will meet in the ring in what could be the year’s biggest pay-per-view event. Five-division world champion MANNY “Pac Man” PACQUIAO and Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight champion RICKY “The Hitman” HATTON will rumble for Hatton’s World Junior Welterweight Championships Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. These two boxing artists will have a 20 x 20 foot canvas to paint a black and blue masterpiece that the world has been waiting to see. Pacquiao and Hatton boast a combined record of 93-4-2 (68 KOs), a winning percentage of 94% and a victory by knockout ratio of 73%.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton, a 12-round bout for Hatton’s Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight titles, is promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions.

Tickets priced at $1000, $750, $500, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, go on sale Friday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“When Manny Pacquiao goes into the ring he fights for his country, the Philippines, and tens of thousands of Filipinos worldwide. He is a tremendous athlete and unlike any other champion we have ever promoted. When Manny walks to the ring he carries the weight of his country on his shoulders and he fights with all of his heart, every second of every round.”

“We are very excited that this fight has been made, as it is the fight fans wanted and the one I look forward to seeing myself,” said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. “This fight has all the makings of a “Fight of the Year” candidate and I think Hatton will de-throne Pacquiao and become boxing’s pound-for-pound king.”

“MGM Grand is thrilled to be hosting what we anticipate will be one of the biggest fights of 2009,” said Richard Sturm, president of Sports and Entertainment for MGM MIRAGE. “As we continue our tradition of hosting the top names in sports and entertainment, this spectacular boxing match will not only be a battle between two great champions but will offeran electric and international atmosphere for the fans.”

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) secured his claim as the 2008 Fighter of the Year, a year reminiscent of what Hall of Fame fighter Henry Armstrong did in 1937-1938, winning three fights in three different weight divisions, two of which were world titles. Armstrong is the only man to hold three world championships simultaneously, capturing world titles at featherweight, welterweight and lightweight (in that order) during a nine-month span between November 1937 and August 1938. Pacquiao, officially proclaimed a National Treasure by the Philippines, captured the WBC World Super Featherweight title last March by defeating Juan Manuel Marquez and the WBC World Lightweight title in June by knocking out defending champion David Diaz. He completed his personal trifecta by stopping Oscar de la Hoya in a welterweight battle on December 6. Pacquiao’s last two victories were in his debut fight in each weight division with the latter fight being two full divisions above his previous fight. Pacquiao, 30, has won 24 of his last 25 bouts, blitzing through boxing’s best fighters since 2003 including Erik Morales (TKO 10, KO 3,), Marco Antonio Barrera (TKO 11, W 12), Marquez (D 12, W 12,), Diaz (TKO 9) and De La Hoya (KO 8). Pacquiao was previously named the 2006 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine.

“I always like new challenges which is the reason I am anxious to fight Ricky Hatton. My trainer Freddie Roach will put together a new game plan which will be much different than the one we used against Oscar (de la Hoya). There are concerns because Hatton is a very strong puncher so I must deal with that in the ring. I promise I will be completely prepared and will do my best for all of my fans in The Philippines.”

The storied career of Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), an international superstar hailing from Manchester, England, began in 1997 and for the last 12 years he has been thrilling fight fans around the world with his aggressive style in the ring and down to earth attitude outside of the ring. Owner of victories over world champions Kostya Tszyu, Vince Phillips, Paulie Malignaggi, Luis Collazo, Jose Luis Castillo, Juan Urango and Carlos Maussa, Hatton is a two division world champion. He fell short of the pound-for-pound best fighter title and world welterweight championships in his 2007 super-fight against Floyd Mayweather. However, the 30-year-old bounced back impressively at his natural weight of 140 pounds last May when he scored a near shutout 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Lazcano. His most recent fight was a scintillating shutout performance against world champion Malignaggi last November, ending with an 11th round TKO for “The Hitman”. Hatton was honored as the 2005 Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

“I’m really excited to get back in the ring in Vegas after beating Malignaggi in November,” said Hatton. “I am confident that I am the fighter to take down the pound-for-pound champion and I believe I will be victorious on May 2.”

Please visit www.toprank.com or www.goldenboypromotions.com for upcoming announcements.

2nd Annual John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic!

Posted on | January 28, 2009 | No Comments

San Fernando, CA-The John Bray Boxing Foundation is holding the 2nd Annual John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic in an effort to continue to help the community in preventing and combating violence while promoting discipline and academic success among school-age students by interfacing with local community leaders as well as professional boxers. After holding his inaugural boxing clinic last year, John Bray was so impressed by its success that he vowed to make it an annual event. Although it is considered a boxing clinic, these young kids will also listen to inspirational speakers; learn about nutrition, life skills and attitude development!

This year, the John Bray Boxing Foundation has teamed up with the LAPD Foothill Jeopardy Program, which is a program within the LAPD’s juvenile division that targets children “at risk” of becoming involved in gang activity and offers them a variety of educational and physical projects; from tutoring to boxing. Both non-profits have arranged this Free Youth Boxing Clinic because of the issues with kids that are of crucial importance to the community. Children and young adults face many temptations everyday, whether it be drugs, gangs or peer pressure. The John Bray Boxing Foundation and Foothill Jeopardy Program want to provide these promising young men and women with an alternative where they can feel at home and escape the pressures they have to deal with on a daily basis.
Every one of all ages are welcome. We have arranged special guest appearances by Former World Champions Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas, Former Contender TV Series Star and current WBC CABOFE Middleweight Champion Miguel Espino, Female Bantamweight Sensation Kaliesha “Wild Wild” West and trainer Juan West, Flyweight Contender and 2000 Olympian Jose Navarro, Heavyweight Contender Juan Carlos Gomez, Super Middleweight Contender Fernando Zuniga, Light Middleweight Contender Jose Celaya, Former Middleweight Contender Alex “the Bronx Bomber” Ramos, Former Heavyweight Contender and Trainer Justin Fortune, Former Welterweight Contender Randy Shields, Former Heavyweight Contender Macka Foley, Former Heavyweight Contender Jeremy Williams and Carlos “The Cutman” Vargas from the Reality TV Series Contender.

The 2nd Annual John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2009 from 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event will take place at the LAPD Foothill Jeopardy Facility located at 11844 Glenoaks Boulevard in San Fernando, California.

We would like to graciously thank the following sponsors for making this event a reality: Everlast Worldwide Inc., Glaceau Vitamin Water, Convicted Artists.com, Visual Impact Stunt Equipment Company and the International Stunt Association.

For additional information regarding this event and/or on the John Bray Boxing Foundation, please visit www.johnbrayboxingfoundation.org or contact Jerry Gonzalez at (559) 643-9313.

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Spina rededicates himself for loyal fans

Posted on | January 28, 2009 | No Comments

“February Frenzy,” Feb. 6 at Twin River Event Center, RI

PROVIDENCE (January 28, 2009) – World rated light heavyweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina, former USNBC and IBF Intercontinental champion, has rededicated himself for his loyal fans as he prepares for his next fight February 6 at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Spina (23-1-1, 16 KOs), rated No. 14 by the WBO and No. 15 by the WBC, takes on Kansas veteran Matt Gockel (12-9, 7 KOs) in the 8-round main event. Spina, who holds victories against former world champion Carl Daniels and super middleweight contender Jesse Brinkley, has had a somewhat sputtering pro career that he’s vowed to turn around starting Feb. 6.

“I’ve been like the weather – sometimes hot, sometimes cold, dedicated and not so focused at times,” he explained. “I’m 31 with a 23-1-1 record and I don’t plan on fighting until I’m 40. I’m ready to do what I’m capable of doing in the ring. I’m going to bust my butt this year, fighting better and better fighters, and then get in position to fight for a title next year. I want a chance to fight for a world title and be considered a real contender. That’s my goal. Fans either love or hate Joey Spina, either way they love to watch me fight. I want to thank my loyal fans for supporting the ‘KO Kid’ for the past 10 years. Hearing their yells is inspiring.

“I’m sharper than I’ve ever been. I’ve been working on my balance, shifting my hips, and pressing forward with my hands up. I’m going to wear down opponents. I already have seen a difference. Throw in a slip, force my opponent to go backwards, and then put them to sleep. Gockel is coming down from cruiserweight to fight at light heavyweight; I’m going back up because I can fluctuate between 168 and 175. I’m strong at either weight. He’s not going to be able to stand in front of me. The “KO Kid” is back!”

Providence favorite Bobo “The Bull” Starnino (9-4-2, 2 KOs) faces “Irish” Joey McCreedy (9-2-1, 5 KOs), of Lowell (MA), again in a rematch of a draw they fought to last year, for the vacant Eastern Boxing Association (EBA) super middleweight title in the 8-round co-feature.

Former 4-time U.S. national amateur champion Bobby Harris will be inducted into the prestigious CES Ring of Honor during a special “February Frenzy” card ceremony. Burchfield established the CES Ring of Honor in 2005 in order to pay respect to inductees for their special achievements and contributions to New England boxing. CES Ring of Honor inductees include Rocky Marciano, Vinny Paz, Micky Ward, Marlon Starling, Jose Antonio Rivera, John Scully Ray Oliveira, Gary Balletto and Demetrius Andrade. Harris reached the 1992 U.S. Olympic Box-Offs and captured a gold medal at the 1993 National Golden Gloves Tournament. The Worcester (MA) resident went on to a 20-2-1 (13) pro record as a heavyweight and last fought in 1999.

Harris will be in the corner of his younger brother, unbeaten Worcester cruiserweight Adam “The Hitman” Harris (10-0, 7 KOs), who will fight Philadelphia boxer David Williams (5-2-1, 2 KOs) in a 6-round bout.

Undefeated Pawtucket fighter Eddie “The Puerto Rican Sensation” Soto (10-0, 4 KOs) meets another Lowell native, Sean Eklund (6-2, 1 KO), who will have his uncle and head trainer, “Irish” Micky Ward, in his corner for their 6-round bout for the EBA New England lightweight belt.

Also on the undercard in 4-round bouts are U. of Connecticut graduate Brian Macy (5-0, 2 KOs) vs. Anthony Pietrantonio (4-2, 3 KOs); Providence junior welterweight Jesus Caro (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Olade “One Shot” Thomas (1-3, 0 KOs); W. Warwick (RI) super middleweight Keith Kozlin (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Daren Graham (1-4, 1 KO); Worcester heavyweight Rashad Minor (1-0, 1 KO) in his CES debut vs. Shawn McLean (2-4, 1 KO); Providence cruiserweight Jay Holland making his pro debut vs. Kevin Varnadore (0-4); Providence junior welterweight “Steamin’” Josh Beeman (4-2-2, 2 KOs) vs. Jamar Saunders (2-1, 1 KO).

Tickets for “February Frenzy” are priced at limited $25.00 SRO, $35.00, $45.00 (Bronze), $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and limited $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.

Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 5::30 PM/ET, first bout at 6:30 PM/ET.

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

-CES-