PAULIE MALIGNAGGI VS. ORLANDO LORA TO OPEN HOPKINS VS. DAWSON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW® TELECAST FROM STAPLES CENTER IN LOS ANGELES ON OCTOBER 15

Posted on | September 29, 2011 | No Comments

 

 

OCTOBER 15 EVENT ALSO FEATURES

ANTONIO DEMARCO VS. JORGE LINARES

AND KENDALL HOLT VS. DANNY GARCIA

 

LOS ANGELES, September 29 – The pay-per-view undercard for the Oct. 15 Believe It Or Not! event headlined by the Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson world title fight at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles is complete with the addition of Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi facing Mexican contender and former Olympian Orlando Lora in a 10-round showdown. The welterweight bout will open the HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast, making Oct. 15one of the most competitive fight nights of the year from top to bottom.

“I’m excited to be fighting in Los Angeles for the first time in my career,” said Malignaggi.  “I have been training for the past year in Los Angeles so I’m really looking forward to performing in front of my new friends out west as well as my support system I have coming from the East Coast.  New York meets Los Angeles, I can’t wait to shine!”

 

“I’m ready for anything Malignaggi will bring to Los Angeles for this fight: his speed, his experience and his talk,” said Lora. “I expect to walk through his punches, punish him and finish him.”

 

“Malignaggi vs. Lora is a great way for us to begin the ‘Believe It or Not!: Hopkins vs. Dawson’ event,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “This fight is an intriguing clash of styles and with the welterweight division more competitive than it’s been in years, there could be big things in store for the winner.”

 

“This fight could be the fight of the night,” said Gary Shaw, President and CEO of Gary Shaw Productions. “Orlando Lora is a true Mexican warrior. I can’t wait to see what he does on October 15. I have a feeling it will be the start of a very good night for Gary Shaw Productions.”

 

“Believe It Or Not!: Hopkins vs. Dawson” is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles taking place on Saturday, Oct. 15 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.  The event is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.  In addition to this championship main event showdown, the televised pay-per-view undercard will also feature Antonio DeMarco vs. Jorge Linares in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Title, Kendall Holt vs. Danny Garcia in 12-round bout for the vacant NABO Junior Welterweight Title and Paulie Malignaggi vs. Orlando Lora in a 10-round welterweight bout.  DeMarco vs. Linares is presented in association with Teiken Promotions.

 

Tickets for Hopkins vs. Dawson, priced at $300, $150, $75 and $25, are available for purchase online at www.staplescenter.com and www.ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800) 745-3000 and at the STAPLES Center Box Office.

 

A polarizing figure who probably has just as many fans cheering for him to win as there are people hoping to see him get beat on fight night, Brooklyn’s Paulie Malignaggi (29-4, 6 KO’s) has done one thing that is undeniable and that’s to stake his claim as one of the best boxers in the world today. Malignaggi is a former IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion who has faced the likes of Miguel Cotto, Amir “King” Khan, Ricky “Hitman” Hatton, Lovemore “Black Panther” N’Dou and Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz. The “Magic Man” is now making his mark at 147 pounds and, with wins over Michael Lozada and Jose Miguel Cotto, he’s closing in on a welterweight title shot, a dream that could come closer to becoming a reality if he defeats Lora on Oct. 15.

 

2000 Mexican Olympian Orlando Lora (28-1-1, 19 KO’s) knows what’s on the line when he faces former World Champion Paulie Malignaggi at STAPLES Center, and he refuses to let this moment slip away. A professional since 2003, Lora is an unrelenting puncher who keeps the pressure on from the opening bell until the sooner of the closing bell or his opponent getting stopped. With 28 wins in 30 fights, his style almost always results in a win. A former WBC Continental Americas and IBA champion, the 30-year-old from Culiacan wants a world championship and, after scoring two wins in 2011 over Joel Juarez and Daniel Eduardo Yocupicio, he plans on hitting the trifecta by stopping Malignaggi’s winning streak this October.

 

The Hopkins vs. Dawson pay-per-view telecast, which begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 92 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 Hopkins vs. Dawson fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

Boxing Links (9-29-11)

Posted on | September 29, 2011 | No Comments

Pac, May must settle No. 1 in ring, of course ESPN (blog) Given the way Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic has gone, with numerous delays, injuries and fighters dropping out, was anyone really that surprised when Andre Ward suffered a cut and had to postpone the final against Carl Froch for seven weeks … See all stories on this topic »

Boxer Tipon makes it 3-0 Manila Bulletin BAKU, Azerbaijan — Comebacking Joan Tipon of Bacolod used veteran smarts to repel a hard-hitting, counter-punching Alberto Melian of Argentina, 13-12, and complete a hat trick for the PLDT-ABAP National Boxing team in the AIBA World Boxing … See all stories on this topic »

Martinez vs. Barker on HBO BlackAthlete.net Martinez-Barker is the featured attraction of a special HBO World ChampionshipBoxing telecast beginning at 10 PM/ET. The co-featured bout is a highly anticipated rematch between middleweights Andy Lee vs. Brian Vera. What makes this HBO telecast … See all stories on this topic »     BlackAthlete.net

Robots in the ring: Shawn Levy and Anthony Mackie bet on ‘Real Steel’ Film Journal In the sci-fi family film Real Steel, based in part on the much grittier short story author Richard Matheson self-adapted for a 1963 episode of “The Twilight Zone,” Hugh Jackman plays the down-and-out owner of a boxing robot in 2020, a world just eight … See all stories on this topic »      Film Journal

Why Boxing Needs to Bring Back 15-Round Title Fights Bleacher Report Boxing has a lot of well-documented problems that ail the sport, but most people see changing championship fights from 12 rounds to 15 rounds as a positive thing. Boxerswho fight at the highest level will take less damage with 12 rounds, … See all stories on this topic »     Bleacher Report

Rampage declares: ‘I’m gonna go to boxing‘ ESPN.co.uk Rampage Jackson has revealed he is planning a switch to boxing at the end of his UFC contract, following his humbling loss to Jon Jones at UFC 135. Jackson, the former light-heavyweight champion, is nearing the end of his MMA career at 33 years of age. … See all stories on this topic »

Boxing: Buying or Selling the Top Ten Middleweights as Future Champs. Bleacher Report Ever since his highlight reel, second-round, one-punch knock out of Paul Williams, the popular consensus among boxing people has been that Martinez stands alone at the top of the mountain at 160, with not a single other soul in sight. … See all stories on this topic »     Bleacher Report

BOXING: Daily Media Weigh In ROUND1 Martinez Has Goals In Sight » “Maravilla,” the nickname of middleweight boxer Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs), is perhaps the most appropriate in all of boxing. The Spanish word for “wonder,” it fits Martinez perfectly… ALLEN TRIEU,msn.foxsports.com … See all stories on this topic »     ROUND1

Dawson vows to dethrone age-defying Hopkins AFP LOS ANGELES — Chad Dawson plans to dethrone Bernard Hopkins, the oldest world champion in boxing history, and reclaim his World Boxing Council light-heavyweight title when the US fighters meet next month. “There’s no way Bernard Hopkins will beat me. … See all stories on this topic »     AFP

Report: Hari to become pro boxer FOXSports.com With Alistair Overeem leaving K-1 for a full time stint in the UFC, and Kimbo Slice leaving MMA to pursue a career in boxing gloves, kickboxing great Badr Hari is changing sports in similar fashion. Hari has announced his retirement from that sport to … See all stories on this topic »

 

Blogs

WSB in force at the AIBA World Boxing Championships By admin Baku, Azerbaijan, 29 September 2011 – A little more than a month before the beginning of the 2011-2012 WSB season, some of the best World Series of Boxing. Boxing News

Hugh Jackman Goes Toe-To-Toe With Sugar Ray Leonard To train For Movie “Real Steel” At Gleason’s Gym

Posted on | September 29, 2011 | No Comments

Hugh Jackman: Hollywood’s Baddest Good Guy Wolverine goes toe-to-toe with Sugar Ray Leonard to train for Real Steel.   Click Here To See Video Of Hugh Jackman & Sugar Ray Leonard Here At Gleason’s Gym   By Tim Struby, Photographs by James Fisher Sugar Ray Leonard works the pads with Hugh Jackman.   It’s mid-morning in a Brooklyn restaurant overlooking the East River, and I’m waiting for Hugh Jackman. Leading up to our interview, I had read articles, watched interviews, and spoken with former co-stars about the actor-singer-dancer-do-it-all and learned that, in an industry replete with jerks, Jackman gives Tom Hanks a run for his money as Hollywood’s most likable leading man. He’s never chased starlets or stormed off a set because there were red M&Ms in his trailer’s candy bowl. Instead, he’s known for breaking into song and dance on movie sets and planning his workday around his kids.   Although Jackman earned a reported $20 million for his next turn as Wolverine, the 43-year-old still drives his son to school every morning. “He’s easily the nicest guy in Hollywood,” says Shawn Levy, who directed Jackman in DreamWorks’ new robo-boxing movie, Real Steel. “And it’s not an act. There’s no on-off switch. He is an open, gracious, generous human being all the time.”   And yet I’m still wary of Mr. Nice Guy. As a cynical native New Yorker, I am convinced that an A-lister like Jackman doesn’t ascend to Überfame by being completely and utterly kind. Since we’re about to spend the day together, perhaps I’ll catch a few seconds of celebrity ego. Jackman shows up to breakfast sporting a fitted gray T-shirt and a two-day beard. He immediately displays non-superstar characteristics. He is prompt, arrives alone, and, perhaps most surprising, does not wield any sort of phone/handheld device. He melts the waitress with his supernova smile. Then, after ordering hot water with lemon, grapefruit juice, and an omelet with “loads of veggies,” he starts chatting as if we were old frat brothers.   Since Real Steel centers on boxing- Jackman plays Charlie Kenton, a down on- his-luck former boxer and deadbeat dad who trains robots to fight-the first topic is sports. Jackman grew up in Sydney, a city of sportsmen. He was swimming before he could walk and banging bodies on the rugby pitch till he bled. “I’ve always loved to play,” he says. “It’s the lifestyle I’ve always known.” While he still maintains a variety of outdoor pursuits-kayaking with former Australian Ironman surf champion Guy Leech, swimming with a triathlon group, body surfing, and golfing-a superstar can do only so much. “[Actor and director] Ed Burns told me how he plays tennis all the time,” says Jackman.   Jackman puts his machine through its paces in a scene from Real Steel.   “I’d love to do my cardio on the court instead of on the treadmill, but it’s not easy to arrange these days.” What does come easily for Jackman, however, is his ability to converse about all kinds of topics. Concerned with today’s sedentary habits of American children, he explains that his two kids, Oscar, 11, and Ava, 6, are “not allowed to watch any screens” during the week. A typical “good day” is lunch with Deborra-Lee Furness, his wife of 15 years, a walk, an hour of singing, and a visit with friends.   A mention of his 2008 People magazine “Sexiest Man Alive” crown elicits self-deprecation. “An old friend of mine e-mailed me and said he had cowboy boots sexier than me,” he says. He discusses his extensive charitable projects, inquires sincerely about my career and life and, perhaps most surprisingly, he’s not on his iPhone when I return from the bathroom. Instead he’s by the front door waiting for me. “Ready, mate?” he asks. “Honestly,” I say, careful not to fall for that g’day chumminess. “When was the last time someone called you an asshole?” He bellows a deep and genuine laugh. “I don’t really know,” he says. “I’m a bit of a people pleaser, unfortunately. My wife says it’s hard to be married to me. She wishes I were more of an asshole.”   A short walk later we arrive for the cover shoot at Brooklyn’s legendary Gleason’s boxing gym. Old fight posters cover the walls. The air is sharp with sweat. Bells ring, ropes snap, mitts crack, trainers bark. I picture the faces of some former Gleason’s greats-Jake LaMotta, Benny “Kid” Paret, Floyd Patterson. Two dozen of the gym’s current fighters, entrenched in their daily regimen, barely bat an eye. Jackman needs no sycophants, however. He immediately introduces himself to the gym owner, a few trainers, and the photo crew. Smiles and handshakes. A pat on the back here and there. Nothing phony, nothing forced. A small truth about photo shoots: They are boring. Usually long. Tedious. So I know this is my opportunity. After half a day of standing, posing, and smiling, Jackman will inevitably reveal a bit of Tinseltown ‘tude. Sure, he’s won an Emmy and a Tony, but no one’s that good an actor. Yet what do I discover? Nothing. Every few minutes Jackman pauses and checks the images as they roll up on the computer monitor-not because he’s controlling, but simply because he’s a consummate professional and wants to get it right.   Between shots Jackman changes shirts and reveals what Piper Perabo, his co-star in The Prestige, refers to as “that Wolverine body.” It’s obvious that he applies the same professionalism in the gym as he does at photo shoots. “I’ve been working with Hugh for three years,” says Don Scott, a fitness trainer with Jim Karas Personal Training in New York. “He’s one of the most focused clients I’ve ever known. People might think commitment is a given for a guy like him. I’ve trained other celebs. It isn’t.”   Since he first flashed his adamantium claws in 2000, stories have abounded about Jackman’s intensity. Squatting vomit-inducing loads of iron. Waking up in the middle of the night to down protein shakes. Working out for hours at the gym before a 14-hour day on the set. Practicing a year of daily yoga for his role in 2006’s The Fountain. “My latest trick is wearing a heart monitor when I’m lifting,” explains Jackman. “I never let the rate dip below 140. It’s full-on.”   Even more impressive? Jackman’s ability to radically alter his body for different roles. “He’s constantly bulking up, then stripping down,” says Scott. “It’s not easy to do in a quick time frame, but Hugh’s highly responsive to exercise.” That means packing on 20 pounds of muscle for X- Men Origins: Wolverine , then shedding it with speed and agility drills to host the 2009 Oscars, then adding 30 pounds for Real Steel reshoots. In his latest role as a former fighter, Jackman had to find a happy medium: bulky and strong, yet not as shredded as his action hero alter ego.   “Over the past three or four years it’s gotten a lot tougher,” he says. “I have to eat a stricter diet. I have to train even harder. I can’t get away with what I used to.” Yet as he details his training practices, he never sounds pompous or self-aggrandizing. Instead he has the photo shoot stylists in stitches doing his dead-on Ah-nuld impression (“No, no, Hugh, you’re supposed to lift until you feel like puking and then start your 10 reps,” he says in his best Austrian accent).   But maybe the biggest shocker about Jackman’s ripped 6’3″, 195-pound physique? “I don’t really enjoy training,” he admits. “People say it’s addictive, but I’m like, ‘not so much.’ ” Far more a “wake up-and-swim-in-the-ocean guy” than a gym rat, Jackman says that his roles are the only impetus keeping him pumping iron. “If I weren’t getting paid or didn’t have a character like Wolverine to maintain, I would just be a tall, lean, fit guy.” For someone who does not enjoy training, Hugh Jackman sures knows how to get results!     At 2 p.m. sharp, while Jackman grins for his thousandth photo, boxing icon Sugar Ray Leonard strolls into Gleason’s. Bags no longer crack. Trainers no longer bark. Fighters freeze in their tracks. Everyone immediately recognizes the legendary fighter because Leonard, at 160 pounds, weighs the exact same amount he did in 1987 when he defeated Marvin Hagler for the WBC middleweight title. “Yo!” says a boxer from one of the rings. “He’s going over there with Wolverine!”   Jackman and Leonard greet each other warmly. Although Jackman has tried a plethora of sports, he never boxed. Growing up, the closest he’d come to slipping between the ropes was via his father, a British Armyboxing champion. “When he went to the Golden Gloves, he got KO’d in his first fight,” says Jackman. “After that he was smart enough to find a new profession.”   The Aussie star spent a year prepping for his Real Steel role. In addition to skipping rope and hitting the pads with former middleweight contender Michael Olajide Jr., the studio hired Leonard to ensure that Jackman’s character looked and moved more like a veteran of the ring. “I had to make certain he executed punches properly,” says Leonard. “Because fans would know right away if it didn’t look right.”   Leonard’s most valuable insight, however, had more to do with Jackman’s head than his hands. Leonard spoke to Jackman about the loneliness of the sport. How obsessive fighters can become. Leonard talked about his trainer, Angelo Dundee, stressing the importance of the trainer-fighter relationship. “Ray also explained that it’s all about the eyes,” says Jackman. “The intensity that a fighter possesses. He taught me how to express that without words.”   The photo shoot continues. Leonard joins Jackman for some takes. Then the two get physical. Jackman pounds the heavy bag while Leonard holds it. Jackman throws combinations as the boxing legend wields the mitts. Instruction has clearly paid off . For a big man, the Aussie’s feet glide gracefully across the canvas. Jackman fires off a four-punch combo-sharp, accurate, powerful. “Got it,” says the photographer. Jackman laughs as sweat drips down his forehead.   The shoot’s heading into its fifth hour, and Jackman’s still smiling. At 5 p.m., the shoot wraps. While Leonard doles out pointers to awestruck fighters, Jackman changes into street clothes. Then he eats a small portion of grilled chicken and veggies, his third such plate of the afternoon. When he finishes, he does not, as I expect, bolt for the exit. Instead, he makes his way around the gym thanking all of the folks for their efforts. It’s at this moment that my New York cynicism disappears. When he sidles up to me, flashes that megawatt smile, and asks, “That wasn’t so bad, eh?” a truth hits me like a right cross. Tom Hanks, you’re toast. Hugh Jackman really is the nicest guy in Hollywood.

Wrestling Links (9-29-11)

Posted on | September 29, 2011 | No Comments

Hulk Hogan, Unplugged: Wrestling Superstar Opens Up About Family, Rebuilding … ABC News (Jerod Harris/WireImag/Getty Images) Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan had it all, a successful career in the ring, a hit reality-TV show and a family that seemed close. But behind the scenes, Hogan’s life was crumbling. After a nasty split from wife Linda, … See all stories on this topic »     ABC News

WWE professional wrestler Jimmy Uso accused of drunken driving in South Tampa Tampabay.com By Marissa Lang, Times Staff Writer TAMPA — Professional wrestler Jimmy Uso went from body slams in the ring to being thrown in the slammer Thursday when he was accused of drunken driving. Uso, whose real name is Jonathan Fatu, was arrested just after … See all stories on this topic »

Osei a handful on gridiron or wrestling mat Philadelphia Inquirer The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is also a quality wrestler. Last year, at 215 pounds, he went 39-6, won the PIAA District 1 Class AAA Section 3 title, and placed fifth in the Southeast Region championships. Over the summer, the 17-year-old lifted weights … See all stories on this topic »

Mom thanks son for killing former Winnipeg wrestler Radocaj CANOE Radocaj, 43, a former wrestler once known as the Croatian Giant, was found beaten to death in his Interlake, Man.-area home on Sept. 14, 2007. Sanford, 47, Donald Richard, 34, and Cushnie, 56, are on trial for first-degree murder and conspiracy to … See all stories on this topic » CANOE

Wrestling: Former Mishawaka star Dolly chasing greatness South Bend Tribune Alex went on to become quite a wrestler. Narrowly missed a high school state championship, losing in double overtime while a senior at Mishawaka in 2003. In 2009, his sixth year at Northern Iowa (a serious neck injury and spinal fusion surgery got him… See all stories on this topic » South Bend Tribune

So You’ve Decided to Run for Senate Against a Pro Wrestling Mogul Religion Dispatches He has authored papers and one book that explore such topics as biblical texts, trauma theory, American Evangelicalism, science and religion, and professional wrestling. His real vocational goal is to play in the NHL. Fourteen months until the general … See all stories on this topic »

Other View: Officials have failed in Rapids wrestling case Wisconsin Rapids Tribune Share your response using the letter guidelines listed at the bottom of this page. indication that they care more about having a winning wrestling team than they do about justice. On March 18, a team member’s parent became aware of the bullying … See all stories on this topic »

Arm-Wrestling Champ Detained at Sheremetyevo The Moscow Times Police have detained an international arm-wrestling champion who managed to evade murder charges for more than 20 years, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday. Dzhambul Vibliani was detained on arrival at Sheremetyevo Airport earlier this month after … See all stories on this topic »

Wrestling Adds Former All-American Adam Hall To Coaching Staff Columbia University Athletics NEW YORK — Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Carl Fronhofer has added former NCAA All-American and Pac-10 champion Adam Hall an assistant wrestling coach. “We are excited to have Adam join the Columbia coaching staff,” said Fronhofer, … See all stories on this topic »

Kimbo-Angle fight almost took place FOXSports.com UK Publication “The Void” has an interesting interview with former Olympic Gold Medalist, and current pro wrestling star Kurt Angle. On the heels of his involvement in the MMA film Warrior, Angle discussed his potential involvement in a UFC fight. … See all stories on this topic »

 

Blogs

Updated wrestling qualifiers for the … – TheMat.com – USA Wrestling There were 108 spots in the London Olympics set at the 2011 World Championships. Team USA has already qualified at nine of the 18 Olympic weights. TheMat.com News

TOM’s 2011-12 Big 12 Wrestling Preview | The Open Mat By viratas The Open Mat is your source for College wrestling, High School wrestling, MMA News and more.Wrestling Forums, College and High School Wrestling Rankings, results and wrestling recruiting information. The Open Mat

3d model wrestling shoe asics cael By webmaster@turbosquid.com 3d Models, Plugins, software, Textures, Training DVDs at Turbo Squid for purchase and free. Discreet 3ds max, 3d studio, Alias Maya, XSI, Lightwave, etc. TurboSquid — A New Dimension in 3D

Xyience Bankruptcy Trustee Finds Damning Evidence Against Fertittas, Pushes For Sanctions This Friday

Posted on | September 29, 2011 | No Comments

By: Rich Bergeron

Forbes dropped a gem of a story on their Web-site on September 13th about new claims leveled at the men who bankrupted Xyience. Allegations brought by the company’s bankruptcy trustee, represented by Attorney Jon Backman, point to an effort to hinder the trustee in acquiring evidence in a case against Fertitta Enterprises, Zyen, and Zyen’s General Manager William Bullard. What’s worse, recent documents in the case reveal that company officials at Xyience and Fertitta Attorney Greg Garman hatched and executed a deceptive plot to hide or deny access to the most incriminating material.

Unfortunately, despite all this dedicated trust lawyer’s hard work, the Forbes piece didn’t even spell his name right. BACKMAN will ask the court for sanctions this Friday in what could be one of the most important hearings in the case so far.

One man mentioned repeatedly in the documents filed by the trustee recently is Michael Levy. Levy still works as a general manager of sorts at Xyience these days and goes by the title of Chief Financial Officer. Page 6 of a September 1, 2011 sanctions motion describes how Levy reacted to an inquiry about electronic data:

 

 

If it were a criminal case, Backman’s claims could be considered obstruction of justice. Much of the controversy behind his bold claims is a direct result of the refusal of key parties to turn over critical evidence.  A big issue arose when the company servers came into play. Suddenly these crucial servers containing countless emails were damaged after a system crash and would have to be repaired for 10-12,000 dollars. Constant delays seemed to plague the process by which Backman sought to seize and examine these servers and comb them for information pertinent to his case.

Despite the roadblocks thrown up by his adversaries, Backman did manage to find a few nuggets of gold while panning for truth. A company called PC911 handles much of Xyience’s computer issues. A technician from PC911 named Chad Stone (and he’s not smooth like Keith Stone) admitted to lying to support the case in a signed declaration. The admissions came during a subsequent deposition on May 4, 2011. The Trustee’s Counsel called Stone’s written declaration “Pure Fiction.” Backman went as far as to suggest that if the legal system’s design didn’t protect Stone, Xyience computer specialist Devin Keays would have a case for defamation against Stone based on his false testimony about Keays. Keays was forced out of the company during Xyience’s push to bankruptcy in early November of 2007. Stone falsely suggested Keays was the one to blame for the server issues.

According to the Trustee’s September 1, 2011 motion:

 

During a Times Square meeting on November 15, 2007, within two weeks of Keays leaving the company, Adam Frank and Kirk Sanford told me personally that bankruptcy was the only solution for Xyience. Emails and other electronically stored information from this time frame is crucial to the trustee’s case. If there are full backups of the servers available, they may contain some huge bits of communication between company officials like: Former Co-CEOs Adam Frank and Kirk Sanford; Zyen General Manager William Bullard; Fertitta Enterprises Owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III; Fertitta Enterprises Lawyer Greg Garman; and CFO Michael Levy.

Eventually, the company that reportedly had possession of the drives and servers in question analyzed them, and another contracted company provided a detailed report of what they found. Upon looking at the resulting report, Devin Keays informed Backman that the company that checked the drives analyzed the wrong ones and did the work on drives the trustee already had all the information from. Apparently there was some kind of bait and switch game going on. Another Las Vegas based firm examined all the drives and found none of them had any signs of containing email server information. So the electronic information Backman initiated a campaign to discover was never even on the target drives company officials led him to. Was it a simple mistake or a bold-faced lie that led to these developments? The trustee’s counsel asserts that it doesn’t matter how the mishap occurred, because the evidence shows the company, their attorneys, Bullard and Levy all had a duty to preserve evidence pertaining to the bankruptcy and failed to do so. Backman calls his adversaries’ behavior in the situation “by no means innocent or excusable.”

Another snippet from the September 1, 2011 sanctions motion filed by Backman in the case explains further:

 The motion further alleges that the principals involved in obscuring, eliminating, or inadvertently misplacing evidence in this scenario should essentially know better. At worst, they possibly engaged in this scheme intentionally, with the specific purpose of confusing and confounding the trustee’s campaign to discover the truth behind the forced bankruptcy plot. Whatever the case, Backman requests compensation for being sent on the wild goose chase due to the responsibility of the named parties to protect and preserve the electronically storied information that is now unaccounted for. Backman asserts, “…defendants and their counsel repeatedly, routinely, unabashedly, and unapologetically have violated the discovery rules relating to electronically stored information as such rules are set forth in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the controlling case law, and have been for many years.”

The trustee’s argument makes sense, especially considering the thorough support cases he cites. Whether or not his adversaries physically destroyed or “lost” the information by accident or on purpose, they had a defined duty to make sure the information could be made available for inspection.  So, whatever happened to it and wherever it is isn’t the point. The fact is the company and their attorneys had an obligation to retain it and provide it when requested to do so. Even if there’s no smoking gun to show the disappearance of the information was willfully orchestrated by certain parties, it is incredibly suspicious that this block of communications conveniently vanished.

The primary perpetrators of the questionable conduct associated with the entire evidence debacle, according to Backman, were CFO Michael Levy, Attorney Greg Garman, and Zyen General Manager William Bullard. These individuals acted in a manner that made the server requests and other inquiries harder to fulfill, Backman reports in the September 1, 2011 sanctions motion:

 

 

An August 8, 2011 email from Attorney Garman attempts to justify the back story behind the missing evidence. He further explains that he personally participated in fruitless searches for pertinent records that Backman requested. The Garman letter is included as Exhibit 6 to Backman’s September 1, 2011 sanctions motion. The final paragraph contains language that indicates how frustrated Garman is regarding the approach of the trustee’s counsel. Garman appears to have let his emotions get the better of him when he concluded the letter with the following words:

      Backman includes multiple lengthy exhibits with his motion, including snippets of deposition transcripts and other documents that lay a foundation for his claims. Part of one of the later exhibits is a peculiar letter from one of the only Xyience executives I invested any good faith in at the time just before the company changed hands and entered into the foreclosure and forced bankruptcy. William Underhill had a background in restaurant management and actually helped prosecute fraud in his former work experience. Xyience tapped him to take over the company just before the final collapse. He later resigned from the board with a shot across the bow at the tactics used to cause him to walk away so suddenly, and he sent the resignation email on Halloween, 2007. His “reluctant” formal resignation letter speaks volumes with hindsight being 20/20.

Backman’s own communication to multiple Fertitta Enterprises lawyers–directed primarily at Joel Z. Schwarz (left)–stood out among the rest as the last exhibit to his motion. The date of the email is October 20, 2010. The tone of Backman’s message is one of clear frustration with the way Schwarz and other members of his firm are actively trying to deceive him. Click here to view the most scathing paragraph of Backman’s email.

It is clear the email is a result of pent up feelings of mistrust between the tireless underdog Illinois attorney and the big city Las Vegas law dogs at Gordon Silver who are playing on a home court. These same lawyers are likely hoping the judge won’t throw the book at them this Friday. That’s when he will likely hear more about allegations that these well trained legal eagles avoided their responsibilities to the rule of law and obstructed the trustee’s formal inquiries at every turn. A hearing in Las Vegas at the bankruptcy court will allow both sides to present their arguments for or against sanctions to apply here.

Even my name made a cameo appearance in a list of emails said to be “not relevant” to the liquidation trustee’s cases. Some of the documents leading up to this last sanctions request lay out the path of evidence perfectly.  A previous sanctions motion filed by Backman on August 20, 2011 featured some potent charges and even more nuggets of gold. Exhibits G (an email from William Bullard to Lorenzo Fertitta) and H (an email between Bullard and both Fertitta brothers: Frank III and Lorenzo, Click Here For Part Two) were bombshell findings, and these are the emails that were actually discovered. One can only imagine what hasn’t been found yet. Where there is smoke there is fire, and it certainly appears that these guys were ready to barbecue Xyience as soon as the coals were hot enough. The conditions were ripe. There was a way to “muzzle” Xyience Founder Russell Pike according to Bullard in that Exhibit H email message chain from August of 2007. If that’s not convincing enough evidence that something’s rotten in Denmark, consider the relevant portions of Former Co-CEO Adam Frank’s deposition transcript Backman included in Exhibit S.

Friday will be an intriguing day for the trustee if the judge on the case can see the clear pattern of deception involved here. It should be a slam dunk motion, barring any hometown cooking affecting the outcome.

TRAD To Sponsor Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham For Oct 1st Title Defense

Posted on | September 29, 2011 | No Comments

 

Two time IBF Cruiserweight Champion of The World Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham and TRAD Group Chairman Hayden Smith jointly announced today that the London headquartered TRAD Group were sponsoring his title defense at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany on Saturday 1st October, which will be broadcast live in the UK on BoxNation (Sky Channel 456).

The sponsorship arrangement came about as Steve, who will be making the second defense of his second reign as IBF Champ against the WBA Interim Champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez on Saturday, has strong links with London and more specifically the TRAD sponsored TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town.

On making the announcement Steve said, “I’m real excited that my fight will be shown live in the UK on BoxNation and more so to be working with TRAD.

The UK has great boxing fans and I hope to one day fight there.”

Speaking from the TRAD headquarters in Bow, East London, Hayden Smith then added, “Steve is a great Champion, we are proud to be associated with him and his upcoming fight.

We’re really pleased that the fight is to be broadcast in the UK, on BoxNation. British fans will get to watch one of the World’s best boxers in action, live, for the first time. I know that they will become fans just as we all are.”

Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham versus Yoan Pablo Hernandez for the IBF World Cruiserweight title takes place at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany on Saturday 1st October 2011 and will be broadcast live in the UK on BoxNation (Sky Channel 456).

London boxing fans will also be able to watch the event live at the Boxers Bar, 9 Christopher Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 2BS

About TRAD Group

TRAD Scaffolding, established 40 years ago, is the market leading British scaffolding company.

TRAD Hire & Sales is one of the UK’s market leaders for the supply of scaffold tube, fittings, boards, system scaffolding, stair towers, temporary roofing systems and associated equipment.

TRAD Safety Systems was founded in 2003, and is an integral part of the
TRAD Group of Companies.

All the products TRAD stock are of the highest quality and comply fully with all relevant British or European Standards. In addition, with their commitment to exceeding all safety standards, all their products, whether sourced internationally or within the UK, are subject to thorough testing by qualified external UK testing bodies.

The quality of TRAD’s After-Sales service is also renowned, providing customer support throughout the life of their project. At TRAD Hire & Sales they only have one standard – the highest.

TRAD are one the first, along with only 19 other companies from across the UK to achieve FORS Silver accreditation.

In June 2011 Hayden Smith’s TRAD Group became title sponsor of the TKO Gym in Canning Town, London.

For further information on TRAD Hire & Sales and other companies with the TRAD Group – TRAD Scaffolding, TRAD Hire & Sales and TRAD Safety Systems – see the TRAD Group website: www.trad.co.uk

Mixed Martial Arts Links (9-29-11)

Posted on | September 29, 2011 | No Comments

Brendan Schaub: UFC heavyweight from Denver talks MMA super fights Denver Post Brendan Schaub: I think the numbers showed, like I’ve always said, Denver is a hotbed for MMA. I think it was their third-biggest gate. It was a great turnout, as I expected. The heavyweight fights were not good, though. I liked Nate Diaz. … See all stories on this topic »

UBC MMA class redefining cross-training Ubyssey Online Such an open celebration of violence has attracted a stream of criticism towards mixed martial arts(MMA) and its viewers. In addition to the violent display of kicks, punches and submission holds, theMMA scene in Vancouver has been an ongoing … See all stories on this topic »

Is Patrick Barry the UFC’s funniest fighter? Washington Times This philosophy has produced some of the most comical psychological warfare in recent mixed martial arts (MMA) contests. Barry drew first blood with an Aug. 8 “training video” on YouTube that showed him preparing for Struve by mounting a mannequin on a … See all stories on this topic »                                 Washington Times

MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: Jon Jones Continues Division Dominance MMAFighting.com So as we list the top light heavyweights in mixed martial arts, we’re looking at an extremely talented division. But a division with one unique talent that stands far above the rest. 1. Jon Jones (1): There was never a moment during Jones’ victory over … See all stories on this topic »

MMA fighter puts together special event for dad Sun-Sentinel Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Aaron Rajman invests his time aggressively and positively within the sport because he knows that’s what his father would want for him. When Gabriel Eric Rajman passed of lymphoma cancer recently at age 46, … See all stories on this topic » Sun-Sentinel

Takedown Entertainment Signs Agreement With CageSport MMA MarketWatch (press release) Brian Halquist and his company Brian Halquist Productions added mixed martial arts to their distinction and have since showcased former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters such as Cody McKenzie, Bellator Fighting Championships fighter Mike … See all stories on this topic »

MMA Adventure offers fight fans the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime adventure … Pro MMA Now This month fans can win a trip to Las Vegas with MMA Legend Mark Coleman! Las Vegas, NV – September 28, 2011 – MMA Adventure Co., a company that offers mixed martial arts fans the chance to embark on one-on-one adventures with today’s most respected … See all stories on this topic »

XYIENCE Signs Endorsement Deal with Mixed Martial Arts Athlete Frank Mir The Beverage Network 26, 2011)— XYIENCE, maker of Xenergy, the official energy drink of the UFC, has finalized an endorsement deal with mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. In his role as a brand ambassador with XYIENCE that runs … See all stories on this topic »                         The Beverage Network

Yahoo! Contributor Network Yahoo! Sports Brits have gone mad because the event took place in a cage usually reserved for mixed martial arts(MMA) fights. Adult MMA matches followed the ground fight between the two boys. “Scantily clad” ring girls were also noted as being present between bouts … See all stories on this topic »

 

Blogs

How’s Taste My Tweet Tweet? Mixed Martial Arts on Twitter for the … By Anton Tabuena Anton Tabuena of BloodyElbow.com compiles the week’s most interesting bits from the MMA and UFC twitter world. Bloody Elbow

 

Web

Jones kept Seagal out of his dressing room – MMA News Jon Jones is well on the road to establishing himself as the greatest fighter in the sport, or perhaps any fight sport. He is also one of the smartest, as indicated by … www.mixedmartialarts.com/…/Jones-kept-Seagal-out-of-his-dr…

FIGHT NOW TV Serves-Up Cage Warriors 44 live to US fans Saturday afternoon from the UK

Posted on | September 29, 2011 | No Comments

HOBOKEN, New Jersey (September 28, 2011) – Keeping in tune as America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel, FIGHT NOW TV ^TM has expanded its base and will air this Saturday’s Cage Warriors 44 in the United States, live (4 PM/ET) from HMV Forum in Kentish Town, North London, England. A replay will air that same night, starting at 10 PM/ET, on FIGHT NOW TV.

 

“We’re excited to be bringing Cage Warriors to America,” said Mike Garrow GM and co-founder of FIGHT NOW TV.“There’s a lot of tremendous talent from over there that has already made its mark in America. Now, American MMA fans will be able to scout UK fighters from across the Atlantic.

 

“FIGHT NOW TV is the source in the United States for combat sports from around the world. Cage Warriors is recognized as a world-class MMA promotion, showcasing great fights and fighters. It is a great promotion that consistently puts on exciting, competitive fights. This outstanding MMA event continues the ongoing commitment by FIGHT NOW TV to deliver quality combat fights from around the world to US fans on a 24/7 basis.”

 

In order to get U.S. MMA fans pumped-up for Cage Warriors 44, FIGHT NOW TV will air tapings of Cage Warriors 42 & 43, respectfully, tomorrow night (Thur., Sept. 29) and Friday evening as part of the channel’s Every Night a Different FIGHT slot, starting at 10 PM/ET.

 

FIGHT NOW TV is available on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the iO Sports & Entertainment Pak!

 

About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.

 

Founded by Channel Zero, Inc and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow and launched earlier this year, FIGHT NOW TV is the first 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week combat sports channel, bringing the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups from around the globe.

 

FIGHT NOW TV has also enlisted one of the fight game’s biggest names to join its camp, former UFC champion and MMA legend Randy Couture, who serves as both spokesperson and analyst for the channel.

 

FIGHT NOW TV, It’s ON! Call Your Television Provider To Order!

 

For more information about FIGHT NOW TV go on line at www.fightnow.com, or follow on Twitter@fightnowtv and Facebook.com/fightnowtv.

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