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Posted on | July 28, 2011 | No Comments

Wrestling

Tom Little – “I’m Looking Forward To Setting The Heavyweight Division Alight”

Posted on | July 28, 2011 | No Comments

Hatfield Heavyweight Tom Little is set to debut, against Lithuanian Rolandas Cesna, at the Graham Earl Promotions ‘Renaissance’ event at the Liquid Nightclub in Luton on Sunday, 31st July.

Former World Champ Graham Earl knows a good prospect when he sees one, so when he recently said, “I’ll be debuting an exciting new Heavyweight on the 31st“ and “he’s one of the best Heavyweights I’ve ever seen”, you know that Tom has to be special.

As an amateur young Tom, who stands at a whooping 6’6” in his socks, won sixteen of his twenty two contests. Besides his height, Tom’s main advantage is his exceptional speed, making him somewhat unique in a division renowned for big lumbering punchers.

Speaking earlier today Tom expanded on this as well as spoke about his upcoming debut, “I’m really looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to setting the Heavyweight division alight

I always knew my style was more suited to the pros than the amateurs, especially for the Heavyweight scene, because I’ve got a lot of speed which I believe the current crop aren’t going to be able to live with, which I’m going to prove on the 31st when I showcase myself to everybody.

I’ve got a good tall range, stunning stiff jab. There’s some fighters out there that are bigger than me but that don’t mean much in the Heavyweights because you can’t hurt something you can’t hit.

Basically I can’t wait to get out there, start winning and get myself noticed so people start talking about me.”

Tom Little versus Rolandas Cesna will be supporting the highly anticipated rematch between Manny Oshunrinde and Jahmaine Smyle that headlines ‘Renaissance

Graham Earl has put together an exciting undercard to support Oshunrinde-Smyle II that features, besides Tom Little, Belfast’s big banging Joe Hillerby as well as the debuts of James Smith and Danny Mulhern.

Tickets, priced £30, for the Graham Earl Promoted ‘Renaissance’ event at Liquid Nightclub, Gordon Street, Luton on Sunday July 31st 2011 are available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person at Graham Earl’s House of Champions Gym, Unit 11 Hitchin Road Industrial Estate, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 0DZ

Mixed Martial Arts Links (7-28-11)

Posted on | July 28, 2011 | No Comments

MMA legends Emelianenko, Henderson top Strikeforce card Chicago Tribune Fedor Emelianenko celebrates with fans after knocking out Brett Rogers in the second round of the StrikeForce Mixed Martial Arts match in 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) By Matt Erickson, Special to the Tribune The last time Strikeforce rolled through … See all stories on this topic »

Tate talks Coenen, Team Alpha Male and the future for women’s MMAYahoo! Sports (blog) To build on that wrestling background, Tate worked with a camp full of wrestlers who have made a successful transition to mixed martial arts. Her training with Urijah Faber’s camp, Team Alpha Male, has prepared her mentally and physically. … See all stories on this topic »                                                                                                   Yahoo! Sports (blog)

Strikeforce Fedor vs. Henderson: Robbie Lawler Could Have Been Great Bloody Elbow Lawler would win by TKO in the second round and the fight would become the first Mixed Martial Arts fight ever to air on cable television in the United States. He would follow this win up by knocking out perennial MMA punchline Tiki Ghosen in the first … See all stories on this topic »

Time Magazine Profiles UFC And Strikeforce Veteran Eugene Jackson’s Efforts To … SB Nation Now he’s a respected mentor helping young gang members escape violent street life through participation in mixed martial arts. Jul 27, 2011 – There’s an excellent article in Time magazine today profiling former UFC and Strikeforce contender Eugene … See all stories on this topic »                                                                                              SB Nation

2005 MMA year in review: Top five fights Yahoo! Sports Contributor Network 12 hours, 21 minutes ago 2005 was a great year for the sport of mixed martial arts. It was the year that saw the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Without the revolutionary show, who knows where the sport would be today? … See all stories on this topic »

MMA’s Gina Carano Goes Hollywood in Steven Soderbergh’s “Haywire” (VIDEO) Hispanically Speaking News The MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) eye-catcher Gina Carano is taking the leap to the big screen in her Hollywood debut, Steven Soderbergh’s Haywire. And for a first movie, she’s under some pretty crazy pressure to deliver an amazing performance against some … See all stories on this topic »

Andre Arlovski Vs. Ray Lopez On ProElite Fight Card SB Nation By Luke Thomas – MMA Senior Editor The ‘Pitbull’ makes his return to mixed martial arts prize fighting when he takes on Ray Lopez in a heavyweight bout as part of the new ProElite fight card taking place in Blaisdell Arena in Hawaii. … See all stories on this topic »                                                                                               SB Nation

UFC Champ Rich Franklin’s Story Headed to the Big Screen (Exclusive) Hollywood Reporter A family man and high school math teacher, Franklin taught himself mixed martial arts, and quickly emerged as one of the most dominant figures in the sport. American Fighter also will chronicle the transformation of mixed martial arts into a … See all stories on this topic » Hollywood Reporter

 

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

CELEBRITY GUESTS AND NEAR FISTICUFFS MAKE FOR LIVELY PRESS CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS

Posted on | July 27, 2011 | No Comments

Though the press conference held today at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas was principally to discuss the high-stakes super lightweight showdown between IBF #3-rated Victor “Mermelada” Cayo (20-1, 18 KOs) IBF #4-ranked Lamont Peterson for the right to challenge Amir Khan, it was the celebrity guests present and the antics of the always-colorful Edison “Pantera” Miranda that stole the show.   Cayo and Peterson, who were respectful and succinct in their remarks at the podium, will meet in a 12-Round IBF Elimination bout that will serve as the main event on Friday, July 29, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.   Miranda (34-5, 29 KOs) and Cuba’s Yordanis Despaigne (8-1, 4 KOs) will meet in a sensational 10-round light heavyweight firefight to open the telecast.   With all-time-great champions “Iron” Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad in the audience, Colombia’s Miranda used his turn at the podium to launch into a hilarious tirade against the fighting abilities of opponent Despaigne, his promoters and trainers for thinking Despaigne is talented and against Despaigne himself for daring to get in the ring.   To his credit, Despaigne seemed unfazed and even got quite a chuckle out of Miranda’s words.   Things got tense when Miranda and Despaigne were asked to face off for a photo opportunity and had to be separated quickly.   “The boxing greats in the audience and the tension between the two light heavyweights made for an old-time boxing atmosphere today,” said even co-promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing. “I think what we all learned today is that not only will Cayo vs. Peterson be a fantastic battle fought at a very high level of skill, but Miranda against Despaigne is going to be explosive because of how much these two genuinely dislike each other.”   Topping the all-action undercard will be Miami, Florida, via Cuba’s undefeated knockout artist Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy 12-0 (10 KO’s) in an eight-round super featherweight matchup against Kansas City’s Gerardo Robles (14-9, 6 KOs).   In a 10-round battle with a touch of international flavor, Chelyabwsk, Russia’s undefeated Sergey Kovalev (15-0, 13 KOs) will face Nairobi, Kenya’s Douglas Otieno (23-6, 12 KOs) for the NABA Light Heavyweight Championship.   Also featured is a six-round light heavyweight scrap between Las Vegas’ (via Sweden) Badou Jack “The Ripper” (6-0, 5 KOs) and Athens, Georgia’s Timothy Hall Jr. (6-11, 4 KOs); and in a four-round lightweight attraction, popular Las Vegas fighter Cameron Kreal will make his highly anticipated pro debut against fellow Las Vegas resident Franky Martinez (0-3).   In conjunction with Warriors Boxing Promotions and Blue Wave Group, “FIGHT NIGHTS” at The Cosmopolitan combines the mystique and excitement of legendary Las Vegas boxing matches with a new and socially dynamic experience. Tickets are on sale now and priced at $250 for VIP tables, $150 for ringside seats, $100 for floor seats, $50 for grandstand seating and $20 for general admission tickets and are available for purchase by calling 877-551-7778 or atwww.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.

KELLY PAVLIK SHOWTIME® CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS

Posted on | July 27, 2011 | No Comments

Saturday, Aug. 6, on ShoBox: The New Generation,

LIVE on SHOWTIME at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed On The West Coast)

Former World Middleweight Champion KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK, his trainer JACK LOEW and Top Rank president TODD DUBOEF participated in an international media conference call to discuss Pavlik’s upcoming homecoming fight on ShoBox: The New Generation on Saturday, Aug. 6, LIVE on SHOWTIME^®.

 

Pavlik (37-2, 32 KOs), of Youngstown, OH, will headline a hometown fight card for the first time in nearly two years when he takes on DARRYL CUNNINGHAM (23-2, 10 KOs), of Detroit, at the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio, in a 10-round super middleweight bout.  Cunningham is riding a three-year, 16-bout winning streak.

The special Saturday edition of ShoBox: The New Generation is promoted by Top Rank and will begin at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

 

Remaining tickets to Pavlik vs. Cunningham, priced at $150 (ringside), $100 (VIP), $50 (Gold), and $25 (Silver), plus $2 facility fee, can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com, and by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the Covelli Centre box office, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

 

For Pavlik vs. Cunningham fight week updates, log on to sports.SHO.com or www.toprank.com.

 

What the participants had to say on Wednesday:

 

KELLY PAVLIK: “Training is going very good right now. I’ve been hitting it hard; this is probably the last hard week.  We’re going to finish up sparring and next week will be cruise-mode.  It couldn’t be better than the way it’s going right now.  I’m feeling good.”

 

Have you adjusted to super middleweight?  Do you feel stronger at this weight?

PAVLIK: “I really do.  Making 160 was just impossible anymore.  I’m never going to be able to see 160 again. In this new class we’re not killing ourselves to make weight.  Now, as we’re getting ready, we can prepare more on boxing and more on the opponent and worry about that stuff rather than how we’re going to lose weight.  I’m really happy with this weight class.”

 

Kelly, can you talk a little bit about your last fight. Did you feel the difference in the weight class?

PAVLIK: “You know, I really didn’t notice the weight.  That wasn’t a factor in the fight.  Timing was.  I knew when he was going to punch before he did and I just had a hard time with the timing of that.  That’s why we wanted to come back right after that fight just to make sure the timing was sharp.  As far as the weight, no, I don’t think that played a big factor at all.  You got to remember I was coming down from 195 walking into camp so I was probably walking around heavier than Lopez was.”

 

In that fight you got hit more than you did in a lot of your fights. Was that because of your timing?

PAVLIK: “I think so.  It was hard to pick up on the punches. I went back and watched the film and I looked a little jittery in there.  I was punching a little bit too much, even more than I had against a power puncher like (Edison) Miranda.  There were a lot of things that we’ve been studying.  But we got through it after a 13-month layoff.”

 

Is it common for you to watch tape of yourself?

PAVLIK: You know, I never really did do that.  But at this stage in my career I think it’s important that we did start doing it.  You can learn a lot more that way, too.”

 

Jack, how important was it for you to look at the tape from the Lopez fight to point out to Kelly the things he did right and the things he did wrong?

LOEW: “I think it’s very important. I’ve done it all the way through.  Kelly wasn’t a big film watcher but I’ve always watched our previous fights and then come back to Kelly and tell him what I thought he did wrong and what he should correct.  It was very important – we got to move forward, we can’t move back.”

 

Can you talk about Cunningham’s strengths and weaknesses?

PAVLIK: “If you give him momentum or you let him come forward, he likes to throw a lot of punches, big shots. If you put pressure on him, he likes to go backwards – he goes straight backwards.  We’ve seen a lot of that. I think our game plan for this fight is to fight like we always had earlier on.  Put the pressure on him and not come straight, not head first but side to side angles, keep the punches moving and land some of the big shots.”

 

Is this a dangerous fight for you and how do you expect it to go?

PAVLIK: “You know what? Any fight is a dangerous fight, especially if you don’t take it seriously.  If you’re looking past him that can be a dangerous fight. At this point in his career this could be his last big name.  He is 36 years old so I think he’s going to come in hungry and wanting to win more than anything.  So any fight like that is a dangerous fight.  I think I’ve faced a lot more dangerous fighters in my career though.”

 

Jack, do you have any problems or worries about it?

LOEW:  “I have all the confidence in the world in Kelly. But like Kelly said, anytime you go in there with another professional fighter there’s always danger.  He has everything to gain and nothing to lose so he’s going to go all out.  This is an opportunity for him to make a name for himself.  We picked a left hander because we’re looking at things past this and what people have been mentioning but we’re not looking past Darryl Cunningham.”

 

Is the upcoming potential fight against southpaw Lucian Bute the reason you guys decided to face a southpaw in this fight?

LOEW: “Absolutely.  It wasn’t so much a southpaw that looked like Bute, we just needed a southpaw.  Being off 13 months if we hadn’t taken a fight like this it would be almost another six months before we took a fight like Bute. I didn’t think that was good.  We’re looking at the big picture down the road but we’ve done nothing but concentrate on Darryl Cunningham.”

 

What is your opinion of Lucian Bute?  Have you watched much of him?

LOEW: “Absolutely. I already have film on him. I’ve been watching it.  He’s the whole package – he goes upstairs, he goes downstairs.  He can move from side to side. But his chin is questionable.  Obviously Librado Andrade should have won that first fight.  How is he going to react when a big super middleweight like Kelly hits him on his chin?  We’ll see what happens and we’re going to have to be 110 percent prepared for a guy like that.”

 

Is that (Bute) the fight you’re looking at in the fall if you get pact Cunningham on Aug. 6?

PAVLIK:  That’s the big name and we want to fight big names.  Whether it’s Bute, Froch, whatever the big name is.  Big fights are key for me. I don’t want to finish my career off fighting meaningless fights. I want to go in there and get a chance to get the title back and defend it a couple of times.”

 

Do you have any thoughts on Bute?

PAVLK: “I think he’s a very good fighter.  Obviously he is.  There are some things questionable about him. I think he’s probably one of the best body punchers in the sport today by far, but I think he has pretty good boxing ability too. I don’t think he’s as talented overall as (Sergio) Martinez as far as movement and slickness. He’s got the whole package but I think everyone will see when I go into that fight that it’s going to be a different Kelly Pavlik.  I’m hungry. I want the title back.”

 

How do you expect the hometown fans to support you this time?

PAVLIK: “You know what, I’m not sure.  I’m hoping they are.  Word is it’s going pretty good right now. There’s a lot of people still saying they’re going to get their tickets. Mainly, you expect a walkup crowd in Youngstown, that’s one of the big things, too.  I’m going to do my thing, I’m going to put on a great show, I’m going to fight as hard as I can.  Whatever happens as far as that part comes, my true fans, and I’m sure there’s a lot, they’ll be in for a real treat.”

 

Kelly, are you excited about coming back home and fighting?

PAVLIK: “Actually, I am. It’s always good to fight back home. Who knows when the next time will be so you make the best out if it when you get the chance.”

 

Kelly, a lot of fighters mention how much pressure there is to fight at home.  Can you talk about the plusses and minuses about that?

PAVLIK: “Earlier in my career, there was a lot of pressure.   I think with all the experiences I’ve had and all the stadiums I’ve fought in against the opponents I’ve fought, I have the experience now. I’ve been there and done that so the pressure doesn’t really get to me.  The fans can sometimes act as your second wind and give you more motivation to go out and put on a better show.  Not to try and go out for a kill, but you fight a smart game plan and you just have a little more drive in you.”

 

How are you recapturing the old Kelly Pavlik?

LOEW: “I think the training regimen, the brutal training regimen where you go in there to get that natural strength and cardio and everything else, that’s something that we’re going to get back to and that’s going to be a key.”

 

How much of the old Kelly Pavlik are you seeing in training and can he bring that same ferocity at that level as a super middleweight?

LOEW: “He’s going to have to. It’s not a matter of can he do it; he’s going to have to.  That’s what got him the middleweight championship of the world – his relentless worth ethic, he’s relentless in the ring, coming forward, throwing punches.  He has to come forward and he has to come forward with angles and he has the throw punches.  He has to get that hunger back. I’ve seen a lot of it so far.  We’ve put this together in kind of a short amount of time so I’m expecting a very good Kelly Pavlik on the 6^th and I expect him to knock this kid down and if not knock this kid down I expect him to back him up and I expect him to stop him.  That’s what I’m looking for. I want to take a week or so off after this fight and I want get right back into it and get ready for what’s next. I think it’s very important for us to get back to the way we used to do things for the Taylors, the Mirandas.  I think it’s very important for the type of fighters he wants to fight in the super middleweight division.”

 

Is Kelly punching harder than he was?

LOEW: “I don’t think that’s possible, but he’s punching hard.”

 

Kelly had a nice left hook in the Lopez fight.  Was that something you worked on or added?

LOEW: “He’s lefthanded so he’s always had a great left hand. But everybody that he touched with his right hand he knocked out so we never really had to come back with the left hook too much. But I think that’s a very important part of it.  Instead of just worrying about that big one-two bomb we can always come back with something or even lead off with it.  I think it’s always been there, it’s just a matter of finally putting it all together.”

 

Are you guys going to have to box more now that you’re moving up in weight?

PAVLK: “I don’t think so.  With my size and my height I’d be a good size light heavyweight.  As far as super middleweights, there’s not too many big powerful punchers at super middleweight.  You have some guys that are strong and have some pop in their punch but not any that are knocking guys out a lot.”

 

What about Bute saying, “I can beat this guy”?

PAVLIK: “He’s a slick fighter, first of all.  That gives me more of a motivation because people always pounded it and they still do, ‘Oh, he can’t fight a guy side-to-side.’  I want to prove them wrong. Second of all, he’s a great fighter.  I want the big names.  I want to win the world title.  I want to fight the best and be the best.”

 

 

QUOTES & PHOTOS FROM CANELO ALVAREZ VS. ALFONSO GOMEZ TWO-CITY PRESS TOUR

Posted on | July 27, 2011 | No Comments

Tuesday, July 26 – Los Angeles Wednesday, July 27 – Houston Click HERE For Full Photo Gallery From The Alvarez vs. Gomez Press Tour Click HERE For Bonus Video: Exclusive Just Released Behind The Scenes Mayweather vs. Ortiz Press Tour Footage   Photo Credit (for all photos): Hoganphotos/ Golden Boy Promotions   WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (Left) and super welterweight contender Alfonso Gomez (Right) pose on July 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, California at the press conference to officially announce their September 17, 2011 world title fight.   CANELO ALVAREZ, WBC Super Welterweight World Champion (37-0-1, 27 KO’s)   “The only thing I want to say is I will prepare 100 percent for this fight and not take him [Gomez] lightly.   “I don’t like to talk too much, so I’ll keep it short. Everyone here knows the Mexican saying ‘a dog that barks, does not bite.’ On September 17, Alfonso Gomez will know who Canelo is.”   “I do my talking with my fists in the ring because I am a man, not a clown. I’m going to show this kid who Canelo is.     ALFONSO GOMEZ, WBC #6 Rated Super Welterweight Contender (23-4-2, 12 KO’s) “I am going to ruin all of their [Golden Boy Promotions’ and Canelo’s] plans. I am going to unleash this beast that is within me.   “From the first second I heard about this fight, I have been in the gym. This road I have been on has been too hard to take anything for granted at this point.   “I plan to go in and die in the ring to win this fight. I’m ready to become world champion. This is my time. This opportunity is mine and I’m going to take it.   “Houston, he [Canelo] has a problem and his name is Alfonso Gomez.   “On September 17, everyone will know Alfonso Gomez as the world champion.   “I know Canelo trains hard and he is not a champion for nothing, but I have experience and I will be the champion of the world.   “Canelo, I know what I said yesterday [in Los Angeles] hurt you, but my punches will hurt more.”     RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions   “The Canelo-Gomez fight will be in Los Angeles at STAPLES Center the same night Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.   “The pay-per-view will start with Jessie Vargas and then we will have Erik Morales, both in Las Vegas will then go to Los Angeles where we will see Alvarez vs. Gomez, and then back to Las Vegas for Mayweather vs. Ortiz.   “This is the first time there has ever been a split-site event on HBO Pay-Per-View® and it is the biggest pay-per-view Golden Boy Promotions has done. To be able to see stars like Morales, Canelo, Ortiz and Mayweather all on same card is unheard of.   “After the fights at STAPLES Center, Tecate will have a two-hour concert. Tecate will have a presence in 10,000 retail stores and will be offering a $20 refund off the price of tickets to STAPLES Center with the purchase of Tecate.   “This is a first in boxing. Boxing’s stars will be on one card, for one night and one night only.”     ERIC GOMEZ, Vice President & Matchmaker, Golden Boy Promotions   “Canelo is a champion, but Alfonso Gomez is a great fighter. He is a Mexican fighter and it will be a big test for Canelo.   “It is incredible what Canelo has done in Mexico and all around the world.   “Canelo has seen incredible television ratings [for his fights] on Televisa in Mexico and also in the United States. He is a champion, but he still has many more goals for the future.   “Alfonso Gomez has had a great tough career and he is hungry for a win.”     CHEPO REYNOSO, Alvarez’s Manager “We’re very excited. Canelo Alvarez vs. Alfonso Gomez, you might not know the names now, but you will. We will win this fight. “We want to make Canelo Alvarez a star. From now on when people write his name, it’s going to be in capital letters. “I get goose bumps seeing so many people in attendance today. Canelo represents all of the people and he will fight for the people.   “Canelo makes art of boxing.”   ALFONSO GOMEZ SR., Gomez’s Father/Trainer “This is a great fight and Canelo is a great opponent, but if he wants to win he’s going to have to sweat blood.   “Alfonso Gomez is a fighter who fights with honor, who accepts all fights and we guarantee a good fight. I promise you Canelo has never fought a fighter like Alfonso Gomez.   “They both are Mexican, they are both from Guadalajara. Regardless of who wins, the title will stay in Guadalajara.” GARY GITTLESOHN, Gomez’s Manager   “There must me something in the water in Guadalajara as both guys are from there.   “What Golden Boy Promotions has done with the split-site pay-per-view, is the single most creative thing I’ve seen in boxing in 20 years.   “Mexican Independence Day Weekend is the biggest weekend in boxing of the year with so much excitement surrounding it.   “There is no other sport where two guys put everything on the line for the excitement of fans.”     ###   “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz,” is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, Dewalt Tools and AT&T. The 12-round mega-fight, which will be contested for Ortiz’s WBC Welterweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.   “STAR POWER LOS ANGELES: Alvarez vs. Gomez” is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools and AT&T. The 12-round fight, which will be contested for Alvarez’s WBC Super Welterweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.   Tickets for Mayweather vs. Ortiz are priced at $1,250, $1,000, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, with a total ticket limit of twelve (12) per person. Ticket sales are limited to ten (10) per person at the $1,250, $1,000, $600 and $300 price levels with a ticket limit of two (2) per person at the $150 price level.To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.co. m   Tickets for Alvarez vs. Gomez are priced at $300, $150, $75 and $50, are on sale now and available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000. Tickets are also available at STAPLES Center box office.   HBO®’s Emmy® Award-winning all-access series “24/7” premieres an all-new edition when “24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz” debuts Saturday, Aug. 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.  The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the welterweight championship showdown in Las Vegas.

 

Beibut Shumenov & Don Chargin: Boxing’s newest one-two combination

Posted on | July 27, 2011 | No Comments

Headlines TeleFutura’s ‘Sólo Boxeo Tecate’ telecast Friday live from South Point Hotel Casino

LAS VEGAS (July 27, 2011) – World Boxing Association (“WBA”) and International Boxing Association (“IBA”) light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov and Hall of Fame promoter Don Chargin have joined forces to promote Friday night’s “Fire& Fury” championship boxing card South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

The 12-round main event features Shumenov defending both belts against challenger Danny “The Bronx Bomber”Santiago (31-4-1, 19 KOs), who was featured on the third season of The Contender reality television series,  live on TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate.”

 

“Fire& Fury” is promoted by KZ Event Productions (Shumenov and his brother, Chingis, own and operate the Las Vegas-based KZ Event Productions) in association with Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions, Guilty Boxing and South Point Hotel Casino and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and AT&T. Doors open at 5:30 PM PT, the first bout at 6:00 PM PT and the TeleFutura broadcast begins at 11:30 PM ET / PT (10:30 PM CT).

 

Tickets, starting at $25, are available for purchase at South Point’s box office, online atwww.SouthPointEventsCenter.com/tickets.php, or by calling 1.702.797.8055.

 

Fans at home can also be part of the action by participating in Cinturón Tecate and voting for the fighter in the main event who displays the most character in the ring by sending a text message to 55333. Voting will be open through the end of the weekend.

 

2004 Kazakhstan Olympian Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), who lives and fights out of Las Vegas, set a light heavyweight record for capturing a world title in the fewest career fights, 10, when (Jan. 10, 2010) he won a 12-round decision against Gabriel Campillo in Las Vegas. He has successfully defended his belts versus No. 1 mandatory challenger and previously undefeated Viacheslav Uzelkov (UDEC12), and three-time world champion William Joppy (KO6).

 

In only 11 pro fights, Beibut has defeated four world champions (Campillo, Joppy, Byron Mitchell and Montell Griffin), as well as two world title challengers (Uzelkov and Epifanio Mendoza). Because being a promoter and fighter can potentially distract from training, Beibut is teaming with living legend Chargin, who is 56 years older than the 27-year-old Shumenov.

 

“Don is an honest, trustworthy person who just happens to be a Hall of Fame promoter,” Shumenov said. “He has years of invaluable experience and an abundance of boxing knowledge. He really knows the ins and outs of the boxing business, in addition to having a keen eye for talented boxers, as well as knowing how to make interesting, competitive and entertaining match-ups. On top of all that, Don is an honorable man who works very hard. I’ve already learned a lot from working with him but more importantly, I feel privileged to call him my friend.

“I have a good team of people around me and now, thanks to Don’s involvement, I’m stress free. I know Don really has my back. I haven’t had to be part of any games that could be distractions, so I’ve been able to stay 100-percent focused on my training.”

Working with Shumenov has given Chargin a boost. “Beibut is one of the most intriguing people I’ve ever met,” Don remarked. “To accomplish what he has in only 12 fights and winning a world title is almost unheard of. I talk to him all of the time about doing a major title defense, something special, in Kazakhstan. It’s something I really want to do and I know the people over there want to, too.

 

“The dedication I’ve seen from him has given me new life. I really enjoy being around him. When his fighting days are over, I won’t be surprised if he’s as good a promoter as he is a fighter, or even better. One reason I came onboard was to take some of the things off his shoulders. He has a great team and we try and keep him out of the promotional part when he’s getting ready to fight. It’s hard to do because he cares so much about his fighters and promotional company.”

 

An exciting co-feature pits popular Las Vegas super featherweight “Lightning” Lonnie Smith (13-2-2, 9 KOs) versusEduardo “ Lalo” Arcos (16-4-1, 13 KOs), is also scheduled to air on TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” broadcast.

 

Two other champion KZ Event Productions fighters, unbeatens WBA FEDALATIN Welterweight Champion Ravshan Hudaynazarov and WBA International Light Heavyweight titlistGayrat Ahmedov, will also be in action.

 

WBA # 9 rated Hudaynazarov (14-0, 12 KOs) defends his title against former USNBC titlist Hector “The Hurricane”Munoz (19-5-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round belt, while WBA #2 Ahmedov (16-0-1, 12 KOs) takes on veteran Billy Bailey(11-11, 4 KOs) in an eight-round match.

 

Las Vegas fan favorite Ramon Montano(17-9-2, 2 KOs) faces lightweight Juan Suazo (7-4-3, 5 KOs) in a six-round match. Also on the card is Freddie Roach-trained, unbeaten super featherweight prospect Joel Diaz (4-0, 3 KOs) against Esteban“Junglehead” Nichol (3-1, 3 KOs), as well as undefeated Russian cruiserweight Medzhid Bektemirov (5-0, 5 KOs) versus Chad Davis (3-8), in four-round bouts. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

For additional information about “Fire & Fury,”Shumenov or any of KZ Event Productions’ fighters, visitwww.KZEventProductions.com.For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, visitwww.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxingor visit us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing.

 

About KZ Event Productions, Inc.

KZ Event Productions is a full service, international boxing promotional company in Las Vegas, Nevada. Owned and operated by Beibut and Chingis Shumenov, its growing stable of champions include WBA/IBA light heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov, WBA FEDALATIN welterweight champion Ravshan Hudaynazarov, WBA International light heavyweight champion Gayrat Ahmedov and WBA International light welterweight champion Alexandr Zhuravskiy.

 

About Golden Boy Promotions

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. In 2007, in its fifth year of promoting, Golden Boy Promotions set a record by selling over 2.5 million in pay-per-view homes in a single night. Also in 2007, Golden Boy Promotions established the record for highest grossing pay-per-view homes in a single year with more than 4 million total. In 2009, the company broke records again by breaking the million mark in pay-per-view homes again with the return of Floyd Mayweather.Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing’s most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the United States and the world on networks such as HBO, HBO Latino, HBO Plus, SHOWTIME, TeleFutura, Televisa, ESPN2 and Fox Sports Net.

Golden Boy Promotions currently has over 70 fighters under contract, from future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins to current world champions and superstars Saul Alvarez, Robert Guerrero, David Haye, Chris John, Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana and Victor Ortiz. Also included on the company’s roster are top contenders Librado Andrade, Abner Mares and Daniel Ponce De Leon as well as highly regarded prospects Adrien Broner, Danny Garcia, Frankie Gomez, Erislandy Lara, Seth Mitchell, Carlos Velasquez and Deontay Wilder.

 

About Cerveza Tecate

Tecate, cerveza con carácter, is the largest beer brand to sponsor boxing matches in the U.S. Part of its commitment to make boxing accessible to consumers is the title sponsorship of “Sólo Boxeo Tecate,” which creates an opportunity for local fans to witness some of the most exhilarating fights by today’s up-and-coming prospects. Additionally, Tecate has been a primary supporter of Golden Boy Promotions’ marquee events since 2007, and has launched a variety of initiatives to ensure consumers are part of the boxing experience, including boxer autograph signing sessions, commemorative cans, PPV mail-in rebate offers, and most recently the launch of a mobile museum “Tecate Museo de Boxeo,” which showcases decades of the most memorable moments in the sport.

 

Fadai’s fighting spirit: MFC signs hot lightweight prospect to new multi-bout deal

Posted on | July 27, 2011 | No Comments

By MFC Staff

On the surface, Sabah Fadai doesn’t need any extra incentive to fight. He just loves doing it.

But deep down, hidden away in his sub-conscious, there’s a burning fire to compete for a very good reason. Tucked away is the desire to fight with a message, basically a tribute to the struggles his family endured to get him to where he’s at today.

The newest member of the MFC’s stacked lightweight division, “The Persian Warrior” will launch a new multi-fight contract at MFC 31 with an eye toward future goals and a memory of past trials. Fadai (7-1) will have his opponent named when the formal announcement of the venue and main event for MFC 31 is revealed in the near future.

Born in Iran, Fadai’s family opted for a treacherous escape from the country through Turkey, spending more than a year on the run before finally moving to Canada in 1996.

“I remember the mountains in Turkey like the back of my head,” Fadai recollected. “My family had everything at stake. Those are times you have to remember. As many times as I’ll get punched in the head in my career, I’ll never forget that.

“The Muslims there don’t like anyone from any other religion (Fadai’s family is of the Bahai faith). Anyone from another religion was jailed and tortured. My parents wanted to come to Canada where my uncle’s family was. They decided to risk all they had.”

Though not religious himself, Fadai figured that everything he and his family have been through in some small part has had an impact on his decision to fight professionally. It’s not something he outwardly projects, but there’s a sense of accomplishment and duty that lingers.

“I think that in some way it’s a reason why I fight,” he said. “None of my family was ever into fight sports, but somehow I just want to fight. There’s just a feeling I get, a way for my own feelings to come out, a way to express myself. I have a great family and a great life, and this is my way of paying it back.”

While Fadai’s pro career began in British Columbia, the Chilliwack, B.C., product has actually enjoyed the bulk of his success in Asia as he has come away victorious from two bouts in Singapore and two in the Philippines. A dentistry student in the Philippines, Fadai has built a fine life and solid reputation overseas but back in his adopted homeland is where he intends to make a defining mark.

“There’s a lot of pressure on me to be the first doctor in my entire family, and I like that, but my passion is fighting and coming into the MFC is a huge step up for me,” said the 25-year-old.

“I’ve been on ESPN in Singapore before but the chance to be on HDNet, to be the first fight on TV at MFC 31, is so great. I really can’t believe I’m getting this spot.

“I’m a pretty complete, all-around fighter and feel I’m dangerous in the stand-up or on the ground. I teach Muay Thai in the Philippines, but being in MMA, I feel good about submissions and pounding guys out. Wherever it goes I’m comfortable.”

 

 

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