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Tag Archives: HBO Boxing After Dark
Two-Time World Champion Demetrius Andrade Battles Undefeated Alantez Fox
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‘GODZILLA KILLER’ ANTONIO NIEVES IS NOT AFRAID OF THE MONSTER FROM JAPAN
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Cleveland’s Antonio “Carita” Nieves is going into his first world title fight having grown up watching the kind of damage a movie monster from Japan can inflict.
But he’s not scared.
On Saturday, September 9, Nieves (17-1-2, 9 KOs) will challenge two-time world championo Naoya “Monster” Inoue (13-0, 11 KOs) as the chief supporting televised bout of an HBO Boxing After Dark tripleheader (10:15 p.m. ET/PT), live from the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Entitled “SUPERFLY,” the event will be headlined by the rematch between current WBC World Super Flyweight Champion Wisaksil Wangek of Thailand and Nicaraguan superstar Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.
Opening the telecast will be a battle of Mexican former world champions, as former WBC Super Flyweight World Champion Carlos “Principe” Cuadras (36-1-1, 27 KO’s) will take on rival countrymen and former flyweight world champion Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada (35-2-0, 25 KO’s) of Sonora, Mexico.
The fight against Inoue is a dream come true for 30-year-old Nieves, a quick-fisted and determined fighter, who has spent his entire boxing career waiting for this, his first chance at a world championship.
Nieves, who has campaigned until now as a world-class bantamweight, will have the size advantage in Saturday’s fight, as well as the edge in experience.
That said, it will be no easy task. Yokohama’s 24-year-old Inoue is known for his devastating punching power, especially to the body. The Japanese slugger won the WBC Light Flyweight World Championship in his sixth fight and is already making the seventh defense of his WBO World Super Flyweight Title he won the title in his eighth pro fight.
“Training went great,” said Nieves, who prepared for battle with career-long trainer Joseph Delguyd at the Old School Boxing Club in Cleveland. “Making this lower weight was no problem at all. I’m about one or two pounds over with a week to go and I haven’t missed a meal yet. I always knew it wouldn’t be hard to make this weight. I make 118 easily, so a couple pounds more wasn’t going to be that difficult.”
Nieves says unlike Godzilla movies, he will be bigger than his Japanese opponent.
“We have been watching tapes on him. He’s a two-time world champions, quick and strong at the weight. They say he’s a monster from Japan like Godzilla, but we will see. I believe I’ll be stronger bigger guy at this weight. A lot of his fights were at 108 lbs and then he jumped up in weight. The fact that I’m coming down in weight will help me a lot. I am going to be able to push him around like people haven’t done to him before.”
Nieves says he knows what a victory would mean over the streaking Inoue, in a division packed with talent.
“I’m taking this fight as my entrance into this division that is loaded with big fights. After this fight I’ll be in a position for more big fights. To win the world championship means everything to me. That’s why I did all this: to fight the best and now we have that opportunity and that’s what we’re going to do. We have a game plan and Saturday, we’re going to execute it.”
“I am very excited for Antonio to get an opportunity to showcase his skills in a world title on HBO,” said his promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “Antonio is one of the better-known and most accomplished contenders in the division and I expect a spectacular performance on September 9.”
Tim VanNewhouse, Nieves’ co-manager, says he and his partner couldn’t be happier with their fighter’s achievement. “It’s very rewarding to David McWater and I to see Antonio get to this level. He will be the first under the Split-T family of fighters to fight for a world title.” |
Thomas Dulorme responds to comments made by Terence Crawford’s co-manager/trainer Brian McIntyre at last Thursday’s press conference
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.
Terence Crawford vs. Thomas Dulorme Tickets Now on Sale
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).
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