Tag Archives: WBO

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Team Dulorme is heading to Texas

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Today at the Luis Munoz Marin Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican world title contender, Thomas Dulorme ( 22-1, 14 KOs ) alongside with his team, are heading to Arlington, Texas for the biggest fight of Dulorme’s career schedule for this Saturday, April 18 against Terence Crawford ( 25-0, 17 KOs ) of Nebraska, for the vacant WBO World super lightweight title.
The fight will air live on HBO as part of its series ‘HBO Boxing After Dark’, which starts from 9:45 pm (EST) at the College Park Center, located in University of Texas at Arlington.
“I’m just two pounds over the weight limit. It is a matter of reaching Texas and continue the work plan for the fight,” said Thomas Dulorme who continued, “I will not let my people of Puerto Rico and the Latinos down”.
“This fight is dedicated to all the Latinos and Caribbean people that day after day, and night after night, work very hard in the United States, especially those who work hard in the state of Texas,”, Dulorme concluded.
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Boxing’s most avoided world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux heading to UK next month To publically confront Scott Quigg

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CORK, Ireland (April 12, 2015) – Unified super bantamweight world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), arguably the most avoided reigning world title holder in modern boxing history, will travel to London next month in order to publicly confront his mandatory challenger, Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KOs), the World Boxing Association (WBA) “regular” 122-pound division titlist.

 

A month ago in an unusual move, Rigondeaux’ manager Gary Hyde formally petitioned the WBA to enforce a mandatory title fight between his WBA Super champion and Quigg. Hyde is awaiting the WBA’s decision. Rigondeaux is also the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and The Ring magazine’s super bantamweight champion.

 

A reigning world champion hasn’t been avoided by other world champions and top contenders like Rigondeux has for the past two years since, perhaps, junior middleweight Sergio Martinez, or possibly all the way back to middleweight Mike McCallum.

 

The top three super bantamweights in the world outside of Rigondeaux – International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) champions, Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz, respectively, plus Quigg – have avoided the Cuban great like the plaque. Once Santa Cruz’ promoter at the time, Oscar de la Hoya, announced that a Rigondeaux-Santa Cruz had to happen, Santa Cruz’ powerful adviser, Al Haymon, exercised a contract option and bought him out to avoid a fight with ‘Rigo.’ Frampton’s promoter, Barry McGuigan, has proclaimed his fighter, not Rigondeaux, as the No. 1 super featherweight in the world. McGuigan, though, is interested in Frampton fighting Quigg in a U.K. showdown, rather than a world mega-fight for three of the four major sanctioning world titles. As the “regular” WBA champion, Quigg is Rigondeaux’ mandatory challenger, yet, he apparently wants no part of the two-time Olympic gold medalist because his promoter, Barry Hearn, not only hasn’t pushed the issue, he’s in negotiations with McGuigan for Frampton to fight Quigg.

 

Former world super bantamweight champions Nonito Doniare, after he lost a unification fight to Rigondeaux two years ago, and Abner Mares chose to move up one division to fight as featherweights. And now Donaire reports that his manager was contacted by a Quigg representative to discuss a Donaire-Quigg fight in England.

 

Another two-time Olympic gold medalist, WBO 126-pound champion Vasyl Lomachenko, continually insists that “Rigo” has to move up in weight for a fight to happen despite him having no problems making 126.

 

“Quigg, Santa Cruz and Frampton have showed no desire to challenge Rigondeaux,” Hyde said. “These three fighters are trying to fool the public into believing that fight the No. 1 guy in the world is not important. While they are lining their pockets with ridiculous amounts of cash for fighting below par opponents, Rigondeaux is forced to wait around until some Asian opponent steps up. This is a sport in which we are accustomed to seeing the best fighting the best but, in the super bantamweight division, it’s the best versus the rest.

 

“Rigondeaux will travel to Manchester to fight Quigg, Belfast to fight Frampton, or Las Vegas to fight Santa Cruz. None of these so-called world champions, though, will consider fighting the acknowledged world super bantamweight champion. They’re all much more content to hold onto their belts than beating The Man in their weight class.”

 

Next month, Hyde reports, Rigondeaux will travel to the United Kingdom in a bold attempt to embarrass Quigg into fighting him. “I don’t like traveling overseas unless I have a fight lined up,” Rigondeaux explained, “but I will travel to England in May to publicly call out Scott Quigg. If he turns down the chance to fight our WBA mandatory, he will be remembered for that instead of being known as a great fighter. While I’m in the UK, I will also go to Belfast to checkout Carl Frampton to ask if he wants to prove himself against the best in his division.”

 

Understanding that the top super bantamweight action is currently in Europe, noting a record purse ($2.2 million USD) offered for a Frampton vs. Quigg fight, Rigondeaux is considering a major change in the not too distant future, moving his base from Miami to the UK, if that’s what it takes for him to get in on the action.

 

Hyde also manages former WBO middleweight champion and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 1 mandatory contender Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-1, 18 KOs), former WBA Interim cruiserweight champion Youri “El Toro” Kalenga (21-2, 14 KOs) and Georgian super lightweight Levan “The Wolf” Ghvamichava (14-1-1, 11 KOs) , as well as top prospects such as Cuban super bantamweight Marcos Forestal (2-0, 2 KOs), Irish heavyweight Con Sheehan and Bulgarian light heavyweight Blagoy Naydenov.

 

 

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him atwww.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.
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THOMAS DULORME ON WEIGHT FOR TERRENCE CRAWFORD SHOWDOWN ADDS NEW MEMBER TO TEAM

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Photo credit – David Infante @787Films / Team Dulorme

 

PUERTO RICO (April 8, 2015) – Gary Shaw Productions top contender, Puerto Rican sensationThomas Dulorme (22-1, 14 KO’s), is just 9 pounds over the weight limit of 140 lbs. for his Saturday, April 18th showdown against “2014 Fighter of the Year” and former lightweight world champion, Terence Crawford (25-0, 17 KOs).

“I’m very happy with everything that is happening in the training camp,” said an excited Thomas Dulorme.  Chef Tom Gonzalez has done a great job with my nutrition. I’m eating good, healthy food and we can see the results in comparison to my recent fights. Since campaigning at 140 pounds, I’ve never been so close to making weight as I am now with less than two weeks to go.  I’m feeling incredibly strong and the food I’m eating has made a tremendous difference in a positive way”.

 

“Dulorme is very focused for this fight and it’s evident with his weight being right where it’s supposed to be at this stage in camp.” said Promoter Gary Shaw. “I’ve been assured from his team that he’s going to be peaking on fight night. I can’t wait to see him shine against Crawford.”

Dulorme Team is composed of Puerto Rican trainers, Anthony Otero, Felix Pagan Pintor and Oscar Seary, better known as Don Khan. The team newest addition is Jose ‘Kike’ Rosa, a former Olympian boxer (Montreal 1976) that as a boxing trainer has worked with former world champion Nelson Dieppa, former world title contender, Wilfredo Rivera, and Esteban Pizarro, among others.

“The addition of ‘Kike’ has been very good for the team because it throws more experience and motivation to all group members,” said Dulorme’s advisor Richy Miranda, president of ADM (Artists Designs Management). “His knowledge have been tested in training, and we guarantee that the group is doing really good. Puerto Rico will have a new world champion who will be representing all the Latinos for long time”.

 

The Crawford vs Dulorme bout will be for the vacant WBO junior welterweight world title on  Saturday, April 18th, at theCollege Park Center located at the  University of Texas, Arlington. The bout will be televised live as part of a split-site doubleheader on  HBO beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Promoted By Top Rank®, in association with Gary Shaw Productions, Foreman Boys Promotions and Tecate, tickets to the Crawford-Dulorme are on sale now.  Priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, plus applicable fees, tickets can be purchased at College Park Center box office, online atwww.utatickets.com or www.utacollegpark.com or by phone at (817) 272-9595.

 

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook atfacebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/GaryShawProductions orfacebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo,twitter.com/GaryShawBoxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.  Use the Hashtag #CrawfordDulorme to join the conversation on Twitter.

boxing, HBO Boxing

THOMAS DULORME LOOKING PHENOMENAL IN TRAINING CAMP

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Photo credit – David Infante @787Films / Team Dulorme

 

PUERTO RICO (April 2, 2015) – Top junior welterweight contender Thomas Dulorme (22-1, 14 KO’s) from Puerto Rico, along with his team led by Puerto Rican trainers, Anthony ‘Gallero’ Otero and Félix Pagan Pintor, are feeling highly confident about their world title bout against Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (25-0, 17 KOs), who was the 2014 ‘Boxer of the Year’ and former WBO Lightweight world champion. The Crawford vs Dulorme bout will be for the vacant WBO junior welterweight world title on Saturday, April 18th, at the College Park Center located at the University of Texas, Arlington. The bout will be televised live as part of a split-site doubleheader on HBObeginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Dulorme on fighting for the people of Puerto Rico…

“There is no better feeling than to train in my country.  It gives me so much confidence and being at home motivates me even more because I get to see the people which I represent with pride and honor.  We want to show the world that Puerto Rico will continue to produce more world champions”.

 

Dulorme on working with his new team of trainers…

“I have complete trust in my team’s game plan to defeat Crawford.  I like the mix of dynamics between my trainers which combine the new and old school styles of boxing. Pintor is old school and Otero brings a fresh mind in to game. They are both contributing to what has turned out to be a great training camp”.
Dulorme on Terrance Crawford as a fighter and the matchup…

“Crawford is one of the best fighters in the world.  He’s been awarded “Fighter of the Year” by many media outlets because he had a tremendous year in 2014.  He’s moving up in weight where he’s entering into uncharted territory though.  I feel I have the advantage being that I’ve fought at this weight several times.  I’m the bigger man and I plan to impose my will on him.”

 

“I’m very pleased with Dulorme and his new team of trainers,” said Gary Shaw. “The fact that he’s training at home in Puerto Rico makes me feel good because I know his countrymen are there supporting his every move.  We are only a few weeks away from fight night and I’m confident I’m going to be the promoter of a new world champion.  The people of Puerto Rico will have a huge star they can call their own.”
“It’s a dream come true for us to come together and help prepare Dulorme for the biggest fight of his career.” said Dulorme’s co-trainer Anthony Otero. “From the first day I worked with Dulorme, I knew that the preparation for the fight was destined to be on a great path and has proven to be so to this day”.

“Dulorme is in excellent condition,” stated Felix Pagan Pintor, who has worked over 60 world championship bouts with legendary fighters such as Wilfredo Gomez, Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho, Edwin ‘Chapo’ Rosario, Ivan Calderon, Paul Williams, Carlos Santos, among others.  “From the way he has performed in training and sparring, I foresee that on April 18th, Puerto Rico will have a new world champion.”

Richy Miranda, Dulorme’s advisor and president of the ADM (Artists Designs Management) company commented, “We were very selective in choosing an experienced and highly committed quality team. Every day during training camp, the atmosphere is very positive and the work being done is exceeding all expectations. There is no doubt that Dulorme will defeat Crawford and join the ranks of all the Puerto Rican champions before him.”

 

Promoted By Top Rank®, in association with Gary Shaw Productions, Foreman Boys Promotions and Tecate, tickets to the Crawford-Dulorme are on sale now.  Priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, plus applicable fees, tickets can be purchased at College Park Center box office, online at www.utatickets.com orwww.utacollegpark.com or by phone at (817) 272-9595.

 

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing,facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/GaryShawProductions or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter attwitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, twitter.com/GaryShawBoxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.  Use the Hashtag #CrawfordDulorme to join the conversation on Twitter.

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WBC PURSE BID FOR STEVENSON/KOVALEV  APRIL 17th IN MEXICO CITY

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MONTREAL (March 27, 2015) – The concretization of the The Ring, WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight unification fight between Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev has taken another important step. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has ordered a purse bid to take place April 17 in order to determine the promoter of this major event.

 

Initially requested by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) to insure the required time to prepare for a major event like this super fight, the WBC agreed to host the purse bid on Apr. 17 in Mexico.

 

The winner of this purse bid will have an advantage over the other promoter in terms of determining the date, place and television network for the light heavyweight showdown. Each group will split the bid equally on a 50-50 basis.

 

Before the Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) vs. Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) rumble can happen, though, both fighters must win their next bout. Stevenson, the Haitian-born Quebecer, has to successfully defend his WBC and The Ring crowns April 4 in Quebec City against Cameroon native Sakio Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs), while Kovalev has 90 days to execute a mandatory defense of his IBF belt against Frenchman Nadjib Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) at a place to be determined.

 

Stevenson’s promoter, GYM president Yvon Michel, is excited by the possibility of promoting what could be the biggest light heavyweight brawl of all-time. “We went ahead because Adonis and his team (adviser Al Haymon and head trainer Jevan Sugar Hill) wanted this awesome fight to happen,” Michel explained. “My boxer (Stevenson) wants to give his fans, not only from Quebec but from around the entire world, the fight they really want.

 

“Adonis was unfairly accused of ducking Kovalev last summer but his ultimate goal has always been to prove he is the King of the Light Heavyweights.”

“Everybody talks to me about Sergey Kovalev,” WBC, The Ring and lineal world light heavyweight champion Stevenson added. “I am fully focussed on Sakio Bika right now, but I really want to unify the titles. I am the king of my division and ready to prove it.”

The 37-year-old southpaw, fully confident of winning all the major world title belts, also noted, “In fact, the two titles (WBA and IBF) that Bernard Hopkins lost to Kovalev were supposed to be mine, but Hopkins ran away to HBO rather than fight me.”  

 

With the help of the WBC

 

Sanctioning bodies rarely allow champions of other organizations to be part in its rankings. In this case, however, the WBC made an exception and stated that, at its 52th annual convention last December in Las Vegas, the Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal bout winner would be the mandatory challenger for Stevenson’s title.

 

The importance and magnitude of a fight with all the titles of a single division at stake influenced the WBC Board of Governors to make that decision.

 

“That was an excellent strategy by Kathy Duva (president of Main Events and Kovalev’s promoter),” Michel commented. “Adonis is now obligated to face Kovalev in a unification bout, guaranteeing a simple process without long, unnecessary bargaining. Our champion won’t back down, the countdown has just started.”
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Félix Pagán Pintor added to Team Dulorme

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The legendary trainer, Félix Pagán Pintor, has been confirmed to join the group of elite Puerto Rican trainers that will be supporting Thomas Dulorme ( 22-1, 14 KO’s ) in his corner. On Saturday, April 18th, Dulorme will be facing the biggest challenge of his young career as he faces the “2014 Boxer of the year” and lightweight world champion Terence Crawford ( 25-0,17 KO’s ) in a World Championship fight scheduled for 12 rounds for vacant WBO World Junior Welterweight title. The fight will be held at College Park Center located on the campus of the University of Texas, Arlington. The Fight will be televised live on ‘HBO Boxing After Dark’, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
“In a remote part of the mountains of the eastern region of the island of Puerto Rico, a group of elite experienced trainers are working hard with Dulorme in preparation for the fight. One of these trainers is Felix Pagan Pintor, who has a wealth of experience, having been in the corner of many of the biggest puertorrican fighters. His presence in the corner will be a significant factor in the fight. We have a group of trainers that have a great combination of experience and youth. Soon we will reveal the names of the other members of Team Dulorme which make for a well rounded team.” said Dulorme’s advisor, Richy Miranda.

 

Félix Pagán Pintor has over 40 years of boxing experience. In 1977 he had his pro-debut as a fighter while at the same time being a trainer. He has worked over 60 world championship bouts with legendary fighters such as Wilfredo Gomez, Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho, Ivan Calderon, Paul Williams, Carlos Santos, among others.

Fighter facts:
Crawford was recognized as the ‘2014 Boxer of the year’, an award given by the Boxing Writers Association of America ( BWAA ) for his noted victories over Ricky Burns, from whom he took the WBO world title. He then succesfully defended his title on two occasions against Yuriorkis Gamboa and Ray Beltrán.

On the other hand Dulorme is fresh off a victory against world contender Hank Lundy and before that, Dulorme ended Karim Mayfield’s undefeated record in a bout which he won by unanimous decision.

Dulorme is currently ranked #2 by the World Boxing Association ( WBA ), #3 by the World Boxing Council (WBC ) and the International Boxing Federation ( IBF ), while #5 by the World Boxing Organization ( WBO )

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Manager Gary Hyde petitions WBA To enforce mandatory title fight Between Rigondeaux and Quigg

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CORK, Ireland (March 12, 2015) – International boxing manager Gary Hyde, president of Nowhere2Hyde Management, has formally petitioned the World Boxing Association (WBA) to enforce a mandatory title fight between Hyde’s fighter, WBA Super & World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), and WBA “regular” 122-pound division titlist Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KOs).

 

Below find a copy of Hyde’s letter to the WBA:

 

 

Dear Chairman Mendoza:

 

I write as the manager of Guillermo Rigondeaux, the Unified WBA/WBO Champion.

 

I write to request enforcement of the mandatory.  Uniquely in the Super Bantamweight Division Guillermo Rigondeaux is the “Unified Champion” and Scott Quigg is the “Regular Champion.”

Clearly as the Regular Champion Quigg is the highest ranked contender in the division.  While he was injured he is now back in training and there is no reason why Mr. Rigondeaux cannot or should not fulfill his mandatory obligations against Mr. Quigg.

 

We are aware that there are some discussions about a bout between Quigg and Frampton.  However, we have been in touch with the IBF and they will not sanction the unification fight with anyone other than the highest level champion which in this case is Guillermo Rigondeaux.

 

We respectfully suggest that it is best to deal with the mandatory issue now and request that Quigg and Guillermo be directed to begin negotiations.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Gary Hyde

 

 

Hyde also manages WBA Interim cruiserweight champion Youri “El Toro” Kalenga(21-1, 14 KOs), former WBO middleweight champion and current International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 1 mandatory contender Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-1, 18 KOs), and top super bantamweight prospect Marcos Forestal (1-0, 1 KO).

 

Follow Hyde on Twitter at @NoWhere2Hyde and friend him atwww.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.
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Thomas Dulorme responds to comments made by Terence Crawford’s co-manager/trainer Brian McIntyre at last Thursday’s press conference

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PUERTO RICO (March 10, 2015) – Last Thursday in Arlington, Texas a press conference was held to announce the world title bout between junior welterweight top contender, Thomas ‘French Boy’ Dulorme (22-1, 14 KOs), and 2014 ‘Boxer of the Year’ and former lightweight WBO world champion, Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (25-0 , 17 KOs) for their upcoming clash on Saturday, April 18 at the College Park Center, located at the University of Texas, Arlington. Crawford-Dulorme will be for the vacant WBO junior welterweight world title. The world championship fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

During the press conference, Dulorme was emphatic in his fight dedication to the Latino community by mentioning, “On April 18, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Colombia and all the Latinos around the world will have a new champion”, stated a confident Dulorme.

In response, Terence Crawford’s co-manager and trainer, Brian McIntyre commented, “The Mexicans, the Puerto Ricans, the Colombians, the Dominicans, they can’t help you fight, bro. I am not trying to be disrespectful, but this is between you and Terence. Terence is a throwback fighter. He has hands of stone, can fight on the inside and outbox you. He is a winner in everything he does in life. May the best man win.”

“I consider the comments of this gentleman Brian McIntyre very disrespectful toward the Latinos and to myself. I dedicate this fight to all the Latinos, because I’m Latino, and I’m proud of it. In the ring, it’s only Crawford, the referee and I, but the support of the Latinos will be there as well and cannot be ignored”, said Thomas Dulorme, who is stationed at an undisclosed location in Puerto Rico for the biggest fight of his career.

“Day in and day out I represent Latinos around the world. In the great nation of the United States, you must take advantage of every opportunity. On April 18, I will work hard to become a world champion in Texas, and bring glory to my people”, concluded Thomas Dulorme.

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Terence Crawford vs. Thomas Dulorme Tickets Now on Sale

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Terence Crawford vs. Thomas Dulorme

Battle for Vacant WBO Jr. Welterweight Championship

Saturday, April 18

At College Park Center at University of Texas Arlington

Televised Live on HBO®

 

Tickets Go On Sale Today at 10:00 AM CT

 

ARLINGTON, TX (March 5, 2015) – Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight champion and the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Fighter of the Year TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD is movin’ on up — to the junior welterweight division — where he will take on THOMAS “Thunder” DULORME, the No. 2-world-rated contender, for the vacant WBO junior welterweight world title.  Crawford vs. Dulorme will take place Saturday, April 18,  at College Park Center located on the campus of the University of Texas Arlington in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  The world championship fight will be televised as part of a split site doubleheader live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Promoted By Top Rank®, in association with Gary Shaw Productions, Foreman Boys Promotions and Tecate, tickets to the Crawford-Dulorme world championship event will go On Sale This Friday, March 6 at 10:00 am CT.  Priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, plus applicable fees, tickets can be purchased at College Park Center box office, online at www.utatickets.com or www.utacollegpark.com or by phone at (817) 272-9595.

 

“I am ready to do bigger and better things at 140,” said Crawford.

 

“I’m here to prove to the world that I am the best fighter in the junior welterweight division,” said Dulorme. “Crawford has an undefeated record but he’s never won a fight at 140 lbs. I’m envisioning a hard-fought victory, one that I will bring back home to my people of Puerto Rico.”

 

“Dulorme is a good, well-rounded boxer. We are excited because the 140 pound division will bring the best out of Terence,” said Brian McIntyre, Crawford’s co-trainer and co-manager.  “The 140 division is loaded with top fighters. This is great for Terence as everyone will soon see.”

 

“Terence had a breakout year in 2014 capturing the world’s attention with three career-best world championship victories en route to earning Fighter of the Year accolades,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.  “He will be looking continue that momentum on April 18 when he returns to HBO, on the hunt for another world title against Thomas Dulorme of Puerto Rico.”

 

“I’m very pleased that I was able to get this fight done with Top Rank,” said Gary Shaw. “Terence Crawford is considered one of the best Lightweights in boxing, but he is moving up to junior welterweight where he will face a very determined and talented Thomas Dulorme, who’s undefeated at 140 pounds. I want to thank HBO for showcasing what I perceive is another great fight for the fans.  I smell an upset in the making.  This will be the start of a great run of fantastic fights for HBO.”

 

“With Terence Crawford’s star having emerged in 2014, the question now is how high that star ascends or if his opponent Thomas Dulorme will invert the trajectory,” said Peter Nelson, vice president of programming, HBO Sports. “As lightweight champion last year, Crawford earned his BWAA Fighter of the Year honors with bold, stylish victories against top competitors, a streak which continues in stride up the scale against the hungry Dulorme, who is undefeated at 140-lbs. It will be a split-site doubleheader not to be missed on our late night Boxing After Dark franchise.”

 

Crawford (25-0, 17 KOs), of Omaha, NE, makes his 2015 ring debut looking to build on his star-making 2014 which featured three world championship victories as well as Fighter of the Year honors from the BWAA and major media alike.  He began his career-best year last March 1, just 13 days short of the sixth anniversary of his professional debut.  Crawford captured the WBO lightweight title, dethroning defending champion Ricky Burns on Burns’ home turf of Glasgow, Scotland. Scoring a powerful and unanimous decision, Crawford put the boxing world on notice with his virtuoso performance as he pulled out all stops in dismantling Burns, rocking the defending champion throughout the fight, while switching back and forth between orthodox and southpaw stances.  He followed that with a dramatic and critically-acclaimed knockout victory of undefeated former world champion and Cuban Olympic gold medalist Yuriorkis Gamboa on June 28 in a Fight of the Year nominee.  It was one of the most-watched fights of the year with over 1.2 million viewers catching the live, first-time airing of the fight, according to Nielsen Media Research.  He concluded 2014 on November 29 with a thorough shellacking of one-time world title challenger and No. 1 contender Ray Beltran, winning 11 of the 12 rounds.   Crawford is only the second Nebraska native to be recognized as a boxing world champion.  Perry “Kid” Graves, from Rock Bluff, captured the welterweight crown, knocking out Johnny Alberts in Brooklyn, in 1914, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

 

Dulorme (22-1, 14 KOs), of Carolina, Puerto Rico, graduated to the professional ranks in 2008 after a stellar amateur career which included a sterling 140-2 record.  He has long been a fan-favorite of Puerto Ricans for his slick all-action fighting style.  Dulorme enters this fight riding a two-year six-bout winning streak, with his career-best victories coming in back-to-back fights in 2014 and both televised on HBO.  He opened up 2014 with a 10-round unanimous decision victory over undefeated contender Karim Mayfield to capture the NABF super lightweight title and ended the year unifying his NABF title with the NABO junior welterweight title via an exciting 10-round decision over Hank Lundy.  A consensus Top-Five contender, Dulorme is world-rated No. 2 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), No. 3 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and No. 4 by the WBO and the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

 

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook atfacebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/GaryShawProductions orfacebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo,twitter.com/GaryShawBoxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.  Use the Hashtag #CrawfordDulorme to join the conversation on Twitter.

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Guillermo Rigondeaux encouraged by Oscar de la Hoya comment about Leo Santa Cruz unification fight

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MIAMI (Jan. 28, 2015) – World Boxing Association (WBA) Super, World Boxing Organization (WBO) and The Ring Magazine super bantamweight champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs) is encouraged by reports that World Boxing Council (WBC) title-holder Leo Santa Cruz‘ promoter, Oscar de la Hoya, believes a Rigondeaux-Santa Cruz unification fight has to happen.

 

The 34-year-old Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been restricted to Asia for his last two fights, subsequently in low-profile matches, due to the lack of desire by any world-class super bantamweight to challenge the Cuban star.

 

Rigondeaux stopped WBO No. 6 rated challenger Hisashi Amagasa (28-4-2, 19 KOs) after 11 rounds in Osaka, Japan this past New Year’s Eve. Last July, “Rigo” knocked out Sod Kokietgym (62-2-1) in the opening round of their fight in Macao, China.

 

“It’s good to know that Santa Cruz’ promoter has stated that our unification fight has to happen,” an ecstatic Rigondeaux said. “I want to add his (WBC) green belt to my WBA and WBO championship collection. I’ve wanted this fight for some time. Let’s hope this is not just idle talk. Let’s do it!”

 

Rigondeaux vs. Santa Cruz (29-0-1, 17 KOs) would be a classic showdown between ethnic boxing arch-rivals, respectively, Cuban and Mexican fighters who now live in Miami and southern California.

 

“I have contacted Golden Boy Promotions many times to ask about making a fight between ‘Rigo’ and Santa Cruz,” Rigondeaux’ manager Gary Hyde added. “They always answered by saying they were interested in making this fight but not at that time. Yesterday, after learning Oscar said this fight has to happen, I reached out to Golden Boy and can confirm that negotiations have commenced. Myself and Caribe Promotions, ‘Rigo’s’ promoter, will endeavor to make this fight happen as soon as possible.

 

“Once ‘Rigo’ beats Santa Cruz for his third world title belt – fourth if you count The Ring Magazine – a fight against International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Carl Frampton (19-0, 13 KOs) would have to happen in order to determine the undisputed super bantamweight champion of the world.”

 

Follow Rigondeaux and Hyde on Twitter at @RigoElChacal305 and @NoWhere2Hyde, friend them at www.facebook.com/GuillermoRigondeaux andwww.facebook.com/gary.hyde.50?fref=ts.