kickboxing

Unified Kick Boxing World Champion Sam Allan Set For Pro Boxing Debut This Saturday

Leave a comment

Sam Allan, one of the UK’s most successful professional Kick Boxers, is set to make the transition to the pro boxing ranks this coming Saturday, when he takes on Middlesbrough’s unbeaten Chris Wood on the Rivals Promotions event in Wishaw, Scotland on April 25th.

 

Sam, who first began Kick Boxing when he was just five years of age, secured his first World title as an amateur at the tender age of thirteen and successfully defended the crown on numerous occasions before turning pro in 2011.

 

Since turning pro as a Kick Boxer Sam has had fifteen bouts, winning them all, including a World title unification bout against America’s then WKA World Champ Bobby Campbell in August 2013.

 

Sam, who was just twenty two years of age at the time, showed a maturity that belied his tender age, the youngster knew exactly what he had to do and with his brother Scott in his corner, executed his game plan perfectly, so much so that after twelve sensational rounds he became the first person to unify the ISKA and WKA championships and what’s more it was via a unanimous points decision.

 

Sam’s opponent, Chris Wood, who only recently turned pro himself, comes into the bout with a first round stoppage win over Latvia’s Edgars Milevics.

 

Facing an unbeaten opponent on his pro boxing debut clearly doesn’t faze Sam at all, as he made abundantly clear when he spoke earlier about Saturday’s upcoming fight.

 

“This just kinda happened, my brother Scott turned professional last year, so when my dad wanted to do a pro boxing show here with Scott it seemed a good time as any for me to turn pro.

 

We’ve got the same friends and they were having to go to different shows, because when I was fighting, he’s not and the other way around. This time they will be able to watch us both fight on the same show.

 

The different style of fighting isn’t a problem, a punch is a punch and since my last fight I have been preparing for this, I’ve been working a lot on the bags and pads and had good sparring, I’m a fighter and do what I need to do.

 

I don’t know much about Chris Wood, I’ve heard he likes to fight, that’s good, I like to fight as well.

 

The fans are going to love it, it’ll be a real fight not a stand-off, the fans want to see real fights, a bit of a tear up, yeah they’ll love it.

 

The fans deserve good fights, without them we wouldn’t get to fight as often, on Saturday they’ll get a good fight that’s for sure.

 

They pay their hard earned money coming and supporting us, I can’t thank them enough for that and the best way I can do that is to have a cracking fight, that’s the best way to thank them for coming and supporting us.”

 

Sam Allan versus Chris Wood features on the Stewart Allan (Rivals Promotions) event at the Rivals Gym in Wishaw, Scotland on Saturday 25th April 2015.

Sanctioning for this event will be provided courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) –www.maltaboxingcommission.com

Tickets priced £30 and £40 are available direct from any of the boxers taking part, or call Stewart on 07711 725257.

 

boxing, HBO Boxing

Bryant Jennings Arrives in NYC for Klitschko Clash

Leave a comment

Photo by Edward Jackson / Gary Shaw Productions

 

NEW YORK (April 20, 2015) – Gary Shaw Productions undefeated heavyweight contender, Bryant “By-By” Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) has arrived in New York City for his upcoming championship bout against Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs).

 

KLITSCHKO vs. JENNINGS is presented by K2 Promotions and the Klitschko Management Group in association with Gary Shaw Productions and will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing®beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT in the United States and RTL in Germany.

 

ALI vs. SANTANA is presented by K2 Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Golden Boy Promotions.

 

Tickets priced at $1000, $600, $300, $200 and $100 may be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office, www.TheGarden.com andwww.Ticketmaster.com.

boxing, HBO Boxing, Roc Nation

WBC MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION MIGUEL COTTO TO FIGHT DANIEL GEALE ON JUNE 6, 2015 AT BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN TELEVISED LIVE ON HBO®

Leave a comment

PRESENTED BY ROC NATION SPORTS + MIGUEL COTTO PROMOTIONS

 

PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES, PHOTOS & VIDEO

 

On Thursday, April 16, Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions hosted a press conference at The 40/40 Club in Manhattan to announce the next highly anticipated battle for Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KO’s), the reigning WBC Middleweight and Ring Magazine World Champion and the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes. On June 6, 2015, Cotto will defend his titles against former Two-Time World Champion Daniel Geale (31-3, 16 KO’s) of Australia in a fight that will be televised live on HBO from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

 

Here’s what the participants had to say…

 

Miguel Cotto: “All I have to say is I’ve been here for the past two days and I’m eager to get back to Los Angeles and get into another training session and get back to New York on June 6.  All I have to worry about is my mindset during the fight. I know Daniel is a great fighter and I’m going to do my best as always to bring a good and exciting fight to all the fans. See you all on June 6.”

 

Daniel Geale: “I’m as excited as you can ever imagine. This is a great moment for me. And come June 6, it’s going to be a hell of a fight and I can’t wait to walk away with the titles.”

 

Michael Yormark, President & Chief of Branding and Strategy of Roc Nation: “Today is a historic day for Roc Nation and our boxing division. Muhammed Ali once said ‘he who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.’ At Roc Nation, we decided to launch our boxing division in August of 2014. We knew we were taking a risk. We knew that we were entering a sport that was established with a long history in a deep-rooted culture. It took courage, but frankly Roc Nation is nothing if not courageous…we’re committed to promoting the biggest fights and the biggest fighters. Now just a few short months later, we stand here with one of the best fighters in the world, announcing a world championship bout inside the new mecca of boxing, Barclays Center, and broadcast on the standard bearer for live boxing telecasts, HBO. It took courage and risk to get here but this is a proud moment for all of us.”

 

Hector Soto, Miguel Cotto Promotions: “Miguel Cotto is back and he’s in his second home in New York. As everyone knows, it’s been a tradition for the past couple of years that Miguel fights on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, so it’s an honor to fight during that time again. On June 6, Miguel Cotto will defend his Middleweight WBC Championship against a tough opponent, Daniel Geale. Have no doubt, it will be a great fight at Barclays Center and everyone will enjoy the fight especially the Puerto Ricans. Miguel Cotto will be ready, will train as hard as always and be ready for the challenge Daniel Geale brings.”

 

Gary Shaw, Gary Shaw Productions: “If you look at Daniel’s fight against Sturm, when we went to Germany and lifted the belt and became the world champion, that’s the Daniel Geale you’re going to see on June 6. You’re going to see a great fight. Miguel Cotto is a great fighter. Daniel understands that and we have a great deal of respect for him, but on June 6on HBO at Barclays Center, it will be a whole new night. It will be a night when Daniel Geale takes the belt back to Australia.”

 

Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets: “Boxing is a big part of what we do at Barclays Center. We’re very passionate about it and very deeply committed. This will be our 13th big night of Brooklyn Boxing in just two and a half years and I am proud to say that Barclays Center is the new mecca of boxing in this country. Miguel Cotto has a storied history in New York, so we are delighted that he is calling Barclays Center his new home in this city.”

 

Photos: http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr273638002

 

Video courtesy of TIDAL.com: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bap2lc8m6o73ki8/RNS-PressEvent%20H264.mp4?dl=0

 

Tickets, priced at $500, $350, $250, $200, $150, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Wednesday, April 22 at 10:00 AM ET. Tickets will be available at www.barclayscenter.com,www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Thursday, April 23 at 12:00 PM ET. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

 

Cotto vs. Geale, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, June 6 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be televised live on HBO.  The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association Gary Shaw Productions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate.

 

For more information please visit www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter and Instagram @rocnation and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/RocNation.

 

For more information, visit www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter and Instagram at @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

 

Media Credential Requests: http://berkcommunications.com/request.php    

Fight Network, kickboxing, mixed martial arts

FIGHT NETWORK MMA & KICKBOXING PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (Apr. 20-26, 2015)

Leave a comment

Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, boxing, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.

 

Below find highlights of this week’s programming:

Monday, Apr. 20

 

6:00 – p.m. ET – USA Wrestling Weekly – Host Scott Casber gives weekly news and analysis centering around USA Wrestling, the sport’s national governing body, including interviews, features and a look back at the past.

 

6:30 p.m. ET – Judo Tyumen Grand Slam 2014 – Highlights the Judo Tyumen Grand Slam from July 12-14 in Russia.

 

7:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Hosts John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to break down the weekend of MMA action.


7:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

8:00 p.m. ET – Enfusion Live #27: Souwer vs. Risco – Featuring Andy Souwer vs. Jonay Risco and Mohamed Boubkari vs. Moises Baute for the -95kg world title from Apr., 18, 2015 in Tenerife, Spain.

 

10:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Spirit MMA Season 4 – Compilation of international fights from SFL, Legend, FFC, M-1 and more.

 

Tuesday, Apr. 21

 

1:00 a.m. ET – Toe 2 Toe with Luke Rockhold – Sit-down interview with current UFC star and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

 

1:30 a.m. ET – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.

 

2:30 am. ET – XPTV – Coverage of regional U.S pro and amateur MMA.

 

7:00 & 7:30 p.m. ET – Xtreme Fighting Championship – Florida-based professional MMA featuring top American prospects, international stars and UFC veterans.

 

8:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Hosts John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to break down the weekend of MMA action.

 

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

9:00 p.m. ET – GFC 5: Saki vs. Clobanu – Pro kickboxing from Dubai, featuring Gokham Saki vs. Sebastian Ciobanu, plus Steve McKinnon vs. Zabit Samedov and Jafar Ahmadi vs. Dayno Ilunga from Apr. 17, 2015.

 

Wednesday, Apr. 22

 

12:00 a.m. ET – BAMMA USA: Badbeat 11 – Featuring Mehdi Baghdad vs. Dionisio Ramierez and Jack May vs. Paul Karsky from Oct. 25, 2013 in Commerce, Calif.

 

3:00 a.m. ET – Texas Fight Night – MMA action from Texas featuring the Lone Star State’s top prospects in the cage.

 

6:00 p.m. ET – Best of Cage Rage – Featuring classic fights from the UK-based Cage Rage organization with Anderson Silva, Antonio Silva, Victor Belfort, Paul Daley and others.

 

7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

 

7:30 p.m. ET – Fighting Spirit MMA – Compilations of international MMA fights from ONE FC, UCMMA, KSW, WFC, FFC, BAMMA, EFC Africa and others.

 

8:30 p.m. ET – Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 72 – Featuring Nicholas Dalby vs. Gael Grimaud for the Cage Warriors welterweight title from Sept. 23, 2014 in Newport, Wales.

 

11:00 p.m. ET – MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency – Gabriel Morency breaks down all the happenings in MMA, discussing odds, predictions, plus special weekly guests and exclusive interviews.

 

11:30 p.m. ET – TakeDown Wrestling – Extensive coverage of amateur wrestling events, including the latest news, behind-the-scenes coverage from events and exclusive interviews.

 

Thursday, Apr. 23

 

12:30 a.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

1:30 a.m. ET – Ultimate Challenge MMA 4: Relentless – Featuring Jimi Manuwa vs. Ryan Robinson from May 9, 2009 in London.

 

6:00 p.m. ET – Championship Fightling Alliance – Pro MMA from Florida featuring the likes of Josh Sampo, Mike Kyle, John Howard, Sean McCorkie, Luis Palomino and others.

 

7:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Rookies – Aspiring kickboxers climb the ladder of success in the sport as rookies compete for a chance to become professionals and get experience needed to succeed at a higher level.

 

8:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

 

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

9:00 p.m. ET – Super Fight League 1 – Featuring James Thompson vs. Bob Saap from Mar. 11, 2012 in Mumbai, India.

 

Friday, Apr. 24

 

12:00 a.m. ET – It’s Showtime Special – The world’s premier kickboxing organization featuring Badr Hari, Melvin Manhoef and Giorgio Petrosyan.

 

1:30 a.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

2:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Nate Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.

 

4:00 a.m. ET – Best of DEEP – Featuring class fights from the historic Japanese DEEP promotion including Shinya Aoki, Hayato Sakurai and Gegard Mousasi.

 

5:00 a.m. ET – Best of Jewels – Classic fights from the all-female Japanese MMA league, Jewels.

 

4:00 p.m. ET – UFC 186 Weigh-In LIVE – Live coverage of the official weigh-ins for UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi from Montreal, Canada.

 

6:00 – p.m. ET – M-1 Challenge – Professional MMA from Europe featuring top rising prospects and international stars.

 

7:00 p.m. ET — Fight News Now. MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

 

7:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

8:00 p.m. ET – Toe 2 Toe with Mike Bisping – Sit-down interview with UFC middleweight star Michael Bisping.

 

8:30 p.m. ET – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.

 

9:00 p.m. ET — KSW 14 – Featuring Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Eric “Butterbean” Esch and Jan Blachowicz vs. Daniel Tabera from Sept. 18, 2010 in Warsaw, Poland.

 

Saturday, Apr. 25

 

1:00 a.m. ET – SuperKombat: New Heroes Romania 2014 – Featuring Cedric Manhoef vs. Amansio Paraschiv and Jorge Loren vs. Bogdan Stoica from Mar. 30, 2014 in Ploiesti, Romania..

 

6:00 a.m. ET – Best of TKO – Featuring Sean Sherk vs. Claudinor Fontinele from UCC 6.

 

7:00 a.m. ET – Best of Gladiator Challenge – Featuring Tyson Griffin vs. Chuck Kim from  Gladiator Challenge 49.

 

10:00 a.m. ET – Best of SportFight – Top quality MMA from the Pacific Northwest, hosted by UFC veterans Matt LIndland and Chael Sonnen. This episode features Dave Jenson and Cam Ward.

 

3:00 p.m. ET – Enfusion LIVE #28: Cingel vs. El Boustati – Live pro kickboxing from Zilina, Slovakia, featuring Mirko Cingel vs. Ibrahim El Boustati for the -85kg world title.

 

7:00 p.m. ET – UFC 186 Pre-Show LIVE – Live pre-fight coverage for UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi in Montreal, Canada.

 

8:00 p.m. ET — Fight News Now. MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.

 

8:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.

 

Sunday, Apr. 26

 

1:00 a.m. ET – UFC 186 Post-Show LIVE – Live post-fight coverage for UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi from Montreal, Canada, including highlights, reaction and the live post-fight press conference.

 

6:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Name Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.

 

10:00 a.m. ET – Best of ADCC – Featuring compilations of the greatest grappling matches ever held, featuring Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Eddie Bravo, Fabricio Werdum, Marcelo Garcia, Ronaldo Souza and Royler Gracie.

 

11:00 a.m. ET – Elite Muay Thai: Thailand vs. Challenger – The biggest Muay Thai series in the world featuring premium international stand-up fighters taking on the renowned Thai National team.

 

7:30 p.m. ET – Judo World Championship 2014 – Highlights from the 2014 Judo World Championships from Aug. 25-31 ion Chelyabinsk, Russia.

 

11:00 p.m. ET – King of Kings: Heros’s Bushido Vilnius 2014 – Featuring Pavel Voronin vs. Sergei Maslobojev and Jordann Pikeur vs. Tadas Jonkus from Nov. 15, 2014 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

BROOKLYN’S OWN PAULIE MALIGNAGGI TO TAKE ON BOSTON’S DANNY O’CONNOR IN TELEVISED OPENER OF PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON SPIKE TV FRIDAY, MAY 29 AT BARCLAYS CENTER

Leave a comment

 BROOKLYN (April 20, 2015) – Former two-division champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KOs) returns to the ring in his hometown to face the skilled Danny O’Connor (25-2, 9 KOs) as the televised co-feature for Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike TV on Friday, May 29 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT live from Barclays Center.

This fight will be part of an explosive evening headlined by boxing superstar Amir Khan who faces tough New Yorker Chris Algieri.  Doors at Barclays Center open at 6 p.m. ET.

“After some much needed time away from the ring, it feels great to once again be fighting at Barclays Center,” said Malignaggi. “I now look forward to being a participant in the PBC events as a fighter just as I am part of the PBC family of broadcasters.”

“My supporters and I have been waiting a long time for an opportunity like this on the big stage,” said O’Connor. “It’s a throwback matchup…Irish vs. Italian, Boston vs. New York. I’ll be bringing down busloads of people and I’m sure he’s going to have a big hometown crowd. I’ve never been more ready for the challenge that lies ahead of me.”

A former world champion at 140 and 147-pounds, the 34-year-old Malignaggi will return to the ring to fight at Barclays Center for the fourth time as a professional. He has faced a slew of big names throughout his career and has taken home victories over the likes of Zab Judah, Vyacheslav Senchenko and Pablo Cesar Cano. Born in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, “The Magic Man” will look to put on a show for his hometown fans on May 29.

A former National Golden Gloves champion who has fought as a pro since 2008,O’Connor faces the toughest opponent of his career when he steps in the ring against Malignaggi on May 29. The 30-year-old is coming off of back-to-back knockout victories over Michael Clark and Andrew Farmer. Fighting out of Framingham, Massachusetts, O’Connor will be making his first professional start in the state of New York.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Star Boxing, are priced at $250, $150, $75 and $45, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.barclayscenter.com,www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

 
boxing, HBO Boxing

Provodnikov puts on heroic effort in Matthysse bout; “The Siberian Rocky” once again shows why he is boxing’s most exciting fighter

Leave a comment

 Photo Credit: Emily Harney-HoganPhotos/GoldenBoyPromotions/BannerPromotions
 

Philadelphia (April 20, 2015)— This past Saturday night, boxing fans witnessed a classic bout that saw Lucas Matthysse eek out a close majority decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in a 12 round -junior welterweight clash in front of a sold out crowd at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
The bout, which was televised by HBO Boxing After Dark, has already jumped to the head of the list for 2015 Fight of the Year.
Much of the post fight talk has centered around the courage of Provodnikov, as he fought eleven of the twelve rounds with a severely cut left eye that was due to an accidental headbutt.  With blood streaming down the left side of his face, and his eye closing, Provodnikov fought heroically to come back and hurt Matthysse several times during the bout, and in round eleven he landed a left hook that nearly sent Matthysse to the canvas.
Many at ringside, including The Bleacher Report, HBO’s Harold Lederman, Steve Kim of UCNlive.com, & Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, scored the bout even at 114-114.
“I could not be any more proud of Ruslan,  said Banner Promotions Promotions Artie Pelullo.
“Saturday night showed that he is the toughest and most compelling fighter in boxing.  Saturday’s fight also solidified that Ruslan is the most television friendly fighter in the sport hands down, and there will be many more big fights for Ruslan in the near future.”

 
boxing, HBO Boxing, Showtime Boxing

147-POUND WEIGHT CLASS TAKES CENTER STAGE AGAIN ON SATURDAY, MAY 2 AT THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA

Leave a comment

Floyd Mayweather & Manny Pacquiao Square Off
In Another Classic Showdown

 In The Welterweight Division

 

LAS VEGAS (April 20, 2015) — It has often been said that “as the heavyweight division goes, so goes boxing,” but that has not always been the case and, in fact, might not even be valid when viewed from a comprehensive perspective dating back to the late 19th century. In Boxing, German author Bertram Job’s epic, 420-page coffee-table dissertation on all aspects of the sweet science, he writes that, “Elegance is the trademark of the slim and nimble stars in the under 147-pound weight class that has attracted insiders and admirers of beauty like no other.”

 

And so it is with what will be another benchmark entry in the rich history of the division when, onMay 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on pay-per-view, welterweight champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) takes on fellow titlist Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao(57-5-2, 38 KOs) in a long-anticipated unification showdown that will be the richest prizefight in the sport’s history, and which has drawn comparisons to some of the premier matchups in a weight class imprinted with that elegant trademark to which Job referred.

 

Although Pacquiao, the only fighter ever to win world championships in eight weight classes, and Mayweather, who has reigned in five weight classes, have not campaigned solely or even mostly as welterweights, it is hardly a surprise that the most important intersection of their remarkable careers comes in the same division for which so many of boxing’s greatest legends are primarily known.

 

The “gold standard” to which all welterweights aspire remains the late, great Sugar Ray Robinson. Born Walker Smith Jr., the skinny kid who had never fought in a sanctioned bout at any level was a tag-along with coach George Gainford to an amateur tournament in Kingston, N.Y. Asked if he had a flyweight he wished to enter, Gainford was about to say no when Smith tugged on his sleeve and said, “I’ll fight.” As it turned out, Gainford had an AAU card – you needed one to be certified as a non-professional – in the name of Ray Robinson, one of his boxers who had given up the sport. Smith/Robinson won a four-round decision, and, although no one knew it then, thus was a legend born.

 

Robinson was 85-0 as an amateur before turning pro at 19 in 1940. By 1951, he was 128-1-2 with 84 knockout victories. Although he is also remembered for winning the middleweight title five times, Robinson never lost as a welterweight, winning so often and so emphatically that the legendary trainer, Eddie Futch, was moved to observe that, “He had everything. Boxing skills, punching power, a great chin, mental strength. There was nothing he couldn’t do.”

 

Robinson also had an outsized ego, which perhaps is a necessary component to any great fighter’s mental makeup. Even a trace of doubt in one’s own ability is not conducive to success in the ring. Once, when asked about his “golf game,” Muhammad Ali, who didn’t play golf, responded, “I’m the best, greatest of ’em all. I just haven’t played yet.”

 

Mayweather certainly brings that aura of invincibility to his work, and maybe not just because he has yet to lose as a professional. In 2013, he said, “Of course I feel unbeatable. I’m the best. I’m not going into any fight figuring that I’m beatable. I want to make a legacy for myself as the greatest fighter who ever entered the ring.”

 

Pacquiao, while perhaps not as verbose, is no less secure in his own belief system. It is those heaping measures of talent and swagger that make Mayweather vs. Pacquiao a must-see event. Which of these outstanding fighters can make the other bend to his will? Who will have his name written in larger print in the big book of welterweights?

 

The International Boxing Hall of Fame has inducted 23 fighters who were, at one time or another, welterweight champions. In addition to Robinson, those whose plaques grace the hallowed hall include Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Carmen Basilio, Henry Armstrong, Emile Griffith, Pipino Cuevas, Jose Napoles, Curtis Cokes, Barney Ross, Kid Gavilan, Wilfred Benitez, Luis Rodriguez, Mickey Walker, Fritzie Zivic, Jack Britton, Jackie Fields, Ted “Kid” Lewis and “Mysterious” Billy Smith. Mayweather and Pacquiao are of course assured of joining their ranks as soon as they become eligible to go onto the ballot.

 

The lead-up to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao has generated no shortage of comparisons to past welterweight clashes that are notable for the classic nature of those bouts, the widespread public interest attendant to them, or both.

 

Is Mayweather vs. Pacquiao more likely to be a repeat of, say, Leonard-Duran I, which Duran won on a rousing unanimous decision on June 25, 1980, in Montreal? The epic Leonard-Hearns I, on Sept. 16, 1981, which saw Leonard, trailing on the scorecards, rally for a dramatic, 14th-round TKO at Caesars Palace? Trinidad’s controversial majority decision over De La Hoya in their Sept. 18, 1999, unification showdown at the Mandalay Bay? Or will it make its own mark in such a distinctive way that no comparisons can or should be drawn?

 

When it comes to unforgettable welterweight bouts, by now it should be obvious that anything and everything is possible. Mayweather and Pacquiao will make history, and add to it, by attempting to bend destiny each to their own purpose.

 

# # #

 

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is a 12-round welterweight world championship unification bout promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., and is sponsored by Tecate. The pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.

 

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com,www.SHO.com/Sports, www.hbo.com/boxingand www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @SHOSports, @HBOboxing and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/SHOsports andwww.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

Bellator MMA Welterweight World Champion Douglas Lima meets Russian knockout artist Andrey Koreshkov on July 17 at Mohegan Sun Arena

Leave a comment

B140_PR_banner

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 20, 2015) – Bellator MMA Welterweight World Champion Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (26-5), one of the most talented and well-rounded 170-pound fighters on the planet today, puts his title on the line against Russian knockout artist Andrey “Spartan” Koreshkov (17-1) on Friday, July 16, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

 

“Douglas Lima is an incredible champion who is in for one of the toughest fights of his life against Koreshkov,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “When the rest of this card is announced, we’ll have put together one of the greatest showcases of welterweight talent ever assembled on one night.”

 

The two elite combatants headline the newly announced “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” event, which airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT.

 

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, April 24th at 10 a.m. ET, and are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office or Ticketmaster.com. Bellator Nation presale begins this Tuesday.  Join the Bellator Newsletter list or follow us on social media (Twitter / Facebook) to gain access to the presale code and details.

 

Additional information, including ticketing details and the night’s full lineup of world-class MMA action, will be announced shortly.

 

The 27-year-old Lima is a Brazilian-born athlete who now makes his home in Atlanta. Fighting under the Bellator MMA banner since 2011, Lima is an impressive 8-1 in the promotion and an incredible 14-1 in his past 15 overall appearances. Lima earned his way to the Bellator MMA Welterweight World Title with an eight-man tournament victory that included knockout wins over Ben Saunders, Bryan Baker and Michail Tsarev. Lima then claimed the title with an April 2014 knockout win over Rick Hawn. Overall, Lima boasts five consecutive knockout victories and now looks to defend his belt for the first time.

 

Koreshkov is also fresh off an eight-man tournament win, claiming a decision victory over Adam McDonough after previously registering knockouts of Justin Baesman and Nah-Shon Burrell. The 24-year-old Koreshkov is a Russian national medalist in both pankration and hand-to-hand combat and has lost just once in 18 professional MMA appearances.  He owns 10 wins by knockouts and three by submission and also owns a 2012 victory over former Bellator MMA Welterweight World Champion Lyman Good.

 

Expect fireworks when Lima and Koreshkov collide.

 

Additional contests for “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” will be announced shortly.

boxing, Ring 8

Jimmy Slattery book author Rick Blake to be Ring 8 Guest Speaker Tuesday night in New York

Leave a comment

NEW YORK (Apr. 20, 2015) – Author Rich Blake will be tomorrow night’s (Tuesday, April 21) special Ring 8 guest speaker at O’Neill’s Restaurant, located at 64-21 53rd Drive in Maspeth, New York.

Blake is a veteran New York City-based author who has written, Slats: The Legend & Life of Jimmy Slattery, to be released next month by publisher No Frills Buffalo. Blake is best known for covering the financial world for numerous publications, including Institutional Investor, ABCNews.com and Reuters HedgeWorld. He was a co-founder and executive editor of Trader Monthly magazine. The 46-year-old Buffalo native is the author of two non-fiction books, The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up and Talking Proud: Rediscovering the Magical Season of the 1980 Buffalo Bills. He also is co-author of a third work of non-fiction, Diary of a Hedge Fund Manager.

Slattery personified the Golden Era of sports during the boom/bust 1920s and ’30s.

The sleek, handsome, lightning-fast Slattery was a phantom in the ring, soaring across the national stage like a comet before crashing into oblivion. Discarded by the ages, Blake’s book is the incredible true story of the Irish boy-wonder who captivated the boxing world at its peak.

 

At Ring 8’s monthly meeting tomorrow evening, Blake will recount his research into Slattery’s early burst to fame in the metropolitan area during the spring of 1924, sharing some highlights of what he uncovered like tying in Queens fight promoter Simon “Si” Flaherty, the Queensboro A.C. in Long Island City and the Queensboro Bowl, which was expanded in the spring of 1924 as part of efforts by Flaherty and Paddy Mullins to land a Jack Dempsey-Harry Wills fight that, unfortunately, never came materialized. Blake will also speak about how the New York City fire department condemned the club’s stadium built at the base of the Queensboro Bridge and how Flaherty managed to get around that.
ABOUT RING 8: Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto still remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.

RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.

Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, with a current boxing license or book are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.
boxing, CBS Boxing

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and Greg Cohen Promotions Proudly Announce ‘Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network’

Leave a comment

 

Tony “Lightning” Luis to fight for regional championship in June 26 main event of the Sully Huff Invitational at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino

 

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The thrill of championship professional boxing is returning to Niagara Falls, NY. Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and Greg Cohen Promotions (produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions), in compliance with the Seneca Nation of Indians Athletic Commission, announced today that an installment of the popular “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” series will be presented in the Seneca Niagara Event Center on Friday, June 26.

The night’s card is being dubbed the Sully Huff Invitational, in memory of Stanley “Sully” Huff, a successful boxer from the Seneca Nation of Indians, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 84. Huff was a Courier-Express Golden Gloves champion in 1950 and later founded the Iroquois Boxing Club. He also served in the United States Army during the Korean War, earning the rank of Sergeant, and later was elected to serve on the Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Council.

In the night’s televised 10-round main event, Canada’s popular, world-rated and fast-rising lightweight star Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-3, 7 KOs) will fight for a regional championship against an opponent TBA. This past weekend, Luis dropped a controversial decision to Derry Mathews in Liverpool, England (38-9-2, 20KOs), where the two battled for the interim WBA Lightweight title.

In the televised co-feature, brand-new NABA-US Super Welterweight Champion and WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan (21-0-1, 7 KOs), of Australia, via Kildare, Ireland, will take on comebacking Kenny Abril (14-7-1, 7 KOs) of Rochester, New York.

The televised opener will feature up-and-coming American heavyweight KO artist Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (12-0-1, 10 KOs) of Brooklyn taking on an opponent that will be announced at a future date.

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and go on sale on Wednesday, April 22 at Noon. Tickets are available at select Seneca Resorts & Casinos retail outlets, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at800-745-3000.

“Speed, energy, action, excitement, and entertainment are the hallmarks of any visit to Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and exactly what our guests will enjoy with this world-class professional boxing card,” said Audrey Oswell, chief operating officer, Seneca Gaming Corporation. “We are happy to once again bring an incredible display of athletic competition to Western New York.”

Before the highly debatable decision loss for the world championship in mid-April, the 27-year-old Tony Luis, from Cornwall, Ontario, pulled off a dominant 10-round unanimous-decision upset victory over then IBF #15 rated Karl “Dynamite” Dargan in January. Then on February 20, he and fiancé Manon Latulippe welcomed the birth of their first child, a son named Miguel. Luis is rated #11 in the world by the WBA and #14 by the IBF.

30-year-old Dennis Hogan was a four-time national amateur champion with over 150 fights in his native Kildare, Ireland. He now lives and trains in Queensland, Australia. Hogan is the current NABA-US Super Welterweight Champion. In his four-year pro career, Hogan has also won the WBA Oceania Light Middleweight, Queensland State Super Middleweight, Queensland State Middleweight and Australian Middleweight Championships.

Kenny Abril, a 30-year-old southpaw, started boxing at age seven and had 120 amateur bouts before turning professional in 2003. He has faced several undefeated and top contenders, scoring a late-2012 victory over heavily decorated veteran Dennis Laurente, which is still Laurente’s only loss in the last nine years.

Prior to boxing professionally, 26-year-old Jarrell Miller had a three-year, undefeated (18-0) kickboxing and MMA career. As a boxer, he was a New York Golden Gloves finalist and has worked as chief sparring partner for both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.

“I’m excited to be helping bring nationally televised championship boxing to a world-class venue such as the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino,” said promoter Greg Cohen. “Tony Luis has a huge fan following in his nearby native Canada. His supporters will be out in force to watch. Kenny Abril is from nearby Rochester, New York and he’ll have a giant following in attendance as well. On the undercard will be several local favorites in exciting match-ups. I’m proud to be part of this great event and the resurgence of televised professional boxing.”

Several other exciting match-ups will be announced soon.

The event is being conducted under the rules and regulations of the Seneca Nation of Indians Athletic Commission, whose members are Scott Snyder, Sean Crane, and Justin Schapp.

“We look forward to welcoming the boxers and their teams to Seneca territory,” Commissioner Snyder said. “As a Commission, our primary focus is to ensure the safety and well-being of the fighters who will be competing at Seneca Niagara. We will be working with the fighters, promoters and everyone involved to ensure that we have a safe and enjoyable evening of sports entertainment.”

###
 

About Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is located just minutes from the world-famous Niagara Falls in Western New York, near the Canadian border. The property is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Guests can enjoy 147,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 3,600 slot machines and 90 table games, 10 restaurants, live entertainment and a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning, 26-story hotel with 604 deluxe rooms and suites, a spa and salon, fitness center, indoor pool and STIR – the new high-energy feature bar with a 43-foot high-definition video wall.

 

More information is available by calling 1-877-8-SENECA (1-877-873-6322) or visiting
SenecaCasinos.comConnect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter andInstagram, download our mobile app and view us on YouTube.

 

About Greg Cohen Promotions 

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

 

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

 

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

 

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

 

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

 

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GCPBoxing.

The Best Fight News on the Net!

Newsletter Powered By : XYZScripts.com