|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
World amateur champion Mohammad Rabii
To make pro debut at home in main event
|
Feb. 18 in Casablanca, Morocco
|
CASABLANCA, Morocco (February 2, 2017) – Former Interim cruiserweight world champion Youri “El Toro” Kalenga will provide chief support February 18 for pro-debuting Moroccan amateur boxing sensation Mohammad Rabii on the “Battle of Casablanca” card, presented by Nowhere2Hyde, at Complexe de Sportif Mohammed V Arena in Casablanca, Morocco.
Kalenga (22-3, 15 KOs), fighting out of France by way of The Congo, is currently rated No. 12 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 16 by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The knockout artist takes on Garrett “The Ultimate Warrior” Wilson (17-11-1, 9 KOs), of Philadelphia, who is a former United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) champion.
In 2014, Kalenga captured the WBA Interim title with a 12-round split decision over 32-1 Mateusz Masternak in Monaco, followed with a successful title defense in Canada against 12-0 Denton Daley by way of a 12th round technical knockout.
Kalenga has never been in a dull fight. Two of his three career losses have been to current WBA Super cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (26-2), who Kalenga dropped in the fourth round, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision in Russia, and last June he was stopped for the first time in his seven-year pro career by 20-0 Yunier Dorticos in Paris for the Interim WBA strap.
The 23-year-old Rabii defeated 2016 Olympic gold medalist Daniyar Yeleussinov in the welterweight division championship finale of the 2015 AIBA World Amateur Championships to capture a gold for his native Morocco. Rabii won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, dropping a highly-disputed decision (0-3) in the semifinals to Uzebek boxer Shakhram Giyasov, the eventual silver medalist.
The ultra-charismatic Rabii has reached “rock star” status in Morocco, testament by an average of 6-million Moroccans viewing each of Rabbi’s Olympic matches on Arryadia Television. “We are very excited to work with our television partners, Arryadia, on our February 18th show as the first of five shows in 2017 featuring Mohammed Rabii,” promoter Gary Hyde said. “Rabii has the entire nation of Morocco behind him and he will be challenging for top welterweight honors in no time at all.”
Rabii will take on veteran Hungarian boxer Adam “Bad Boy” Mate (24-10, 17 KOs) in the six-round main event.
Also in action on “Battle of Casablanca” will be former World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) world featherweight champion, Simpiwe Vetyeka (29-3, 17 KOs), who is world ranked No. 4 by the WBA, No. 6 by The Ring magazine, and No. 7 by the WBC. The gifted South African faces undefeated Hungarian prospect David Nerna (8-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Netherlands light middleweight Gevorg Khatchikian (24-2, 12 KOs) will also be in action against Ugandan Med “Kabona” Sebyala (16-8-1. 13 KOs) in another 10-rounder. Khatchikian, who will be fighting as a 154-pounder for the first time as a professional, has only lost twice as a pro, both to present super middleweight world champions, James Degale (IBF) and Gilberto Ramirez (WBO).
Hyde manages Rabii, Kalanga and Vetyeka.
Tickets are now on sale for the Feb. 18 show in Casablanca.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @nowhere2hyde,
|
FINAL PRESSER QUOTES FROM POLAND
|
KRAKOW, Poland (March 31, 2016) — The final press conference for this Saturday’s “The Final Call” pay-per-view event, starting at 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT, was held today. Below are fighters’ quotes.
Integrated Sports Media will distribute the card in North America for live viewing on cable, satellite andInternet pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network, and Vubiquity in the United States, as well as Rogers TV, Bell TV, Shaw PPV and SaskTel in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. Please contact your local cable or satellite provider for more information. In addition, the fight is available in North America for purchase on-line at www.GFL.tv and www.Eversport.TV (Polish commentary only), and via the FITE.TV app (or go to http://www.fite.tv/v/
Four are scheduled to air live on PPV from Tauron Arena in Krakow, Poland. Two other fights may be shown, time permitting.
“The Final Call” is promoted in Poland by Polsat, as part of the Polsat Boxing Night series, in addition to Main Events and Don King Productions.
TOMASZ “Goral” ADAMEK: “I’ve had a great camp, great sparring partners and a great team around me. Kuba (Chycki – Adamek’s physical coach), trainer Roger Bloodworth – these guys did a great job in the last two months. As Eric said, ‘We are not about talking what we will do, we are ready to actually do it.’ Molina likes to mix it up, likes to throw punches, and is not afraid. This has to be a great fight just because of that. There’s no what’s after the Molina fight for me. This is the fight which will decide my future. A win means I’m on track for big fights, losing means I cannot do it anymore. What I know is that for this fight I’m much better prepared than I was for both the Glazkov and Szpilka bouts. But, of course, what happens in ring will verify our words.”
ERIC “Drummer Boy” MOLINA: “For the first time in my career I got 70 days to prepare; unprecedented in the heavyweight division. What do I know about Adamek? He’s a warrior and people in Poland expect great things from him because he’s a Polish boxing legend. In me, he will have a chance to fight one of the best heavyweights in the division and we all will know where we stand. I’m very confident, not only that I will win this war on Saturday, but also of being the first Mexican-American heavyweight in the future. People will get their money worth on Saturday. I can guarantee that. Adamek is highly rated by WBC and IBF, the two most active organizations in boxing. Saturday’s winner will be in the driver’s seat for great fights in the future.”
MICHAL CIESLAK: “I also thought that you’re bigger. And I also hope that everything what you’re saying about how good your training camp was is the truth. I can promise you that I will be ready for everything. I’m in the best shape of my life and I will prove that on Saturday. Palacios, be ready to fight! I cannot wait anymore to put on a big show.”
FRANCISCO “The Wizard” PALACIOS: “He wants to treat me like a stepping stone but the problem with that is I’m not a stepping stone for anyone. I’m a rock! You want to beat me, you have to kill me. And by the way, I thought that Cieślak is bigger. You cannot judge what I can or cannot do just because I’ve got knocked out by Kudryashov in my last fight. It means nothing. First of all, it happens in boxing and the more importantly, it has nothing to do with what I’m ready to do now with my new team and “Chill” Wilson on my side. Just watch: The Wizard Time is coming again.”
Main Event — Vacant IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight Championship (12)
TOMASZ “Goral” ADAMEK (50-4, 30 KOs), Former 2-Division World Champion, Jersey City, NJ, USA
vs.
ERIC “Drummer Boy” MOLINA (24-3, 18 KOs), World Title Challenger, Raymondville, Texas, USA
Co-Feature — Cruiserweights (10)
MICHAL CIESLAK (11-0, 7 KOs), Radom, Poland
vs.
FRANCISCO “The Wizard” PALACIOS (23-3, 14 KOs), 2-Time World Title Challenger, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Heavyweights (10)
ANDRZEJ WAWRZYK (31-1, 17 KOs), World Title Challenger, Krakow, Poland
vs.
MARCIN REKOWSKI (17-2, 14 KOs), Former Poland Heavyweight Champion, Kaliska Koscierskie, Poland
Cruiserweights (10)
MATEUSZ “Master” MASTERNAK (36-4, 26 KOs), Former European Champion, Wroclaw, Poland
vs.
ERIC “Danger” FIELDS (24-3, 16 KOs), Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA
Welterweights (10)
RAFAEL “Braveheart” JACKIEWICZ (48-14-2, 22 KOs), World Title Challenger, Minsk Mazowiecki, Poland
vs.
MICHAL SYROWATKA (13-1, 4 KOs), Elk, Poland
Female European Boxing Union Lightweight Championship (8)
EWA BRODNICKA (10-0. 2 KOs), Champion, Warsaw, Poland
vs.
ANITA TORTI (9-5, 3 KOs), Challenger, Milan, Italy
PPV ANNOUNCERS: English – Bob Alexander and Glen Johnson, Polish – Andrzej Kostyra/Albert Sosnowski, Mateusz Borek (host & interviews), Przemek Saleta (on-air judge)
|
|
|||||||
|
Kraków, Poland (April 2, 2016) — The upcoming heavyweight showdown between former light heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion Tomasz “Goral” Adamek (50-4, 30 KOs) of Poland and Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina (24-3, 18 KOs) Raymondville, Texas in Kraków on Apr. 2 at the Kraków Arena for the IBF Intercontinental Heavyweight Title will be distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 2 pm ET/11 am PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view.
In addition to the live pay-per-view telecast in Poland as part of Polsat’s Boxing Night series, North American residents will be able to purchase the fight for pay-per-view on via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network, and Vubiquity in the United States, as well as Rogers TV and SaskTel in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Please contact your local cable or satellite provider for more information. This event is presented by Polsat, Main Events and Don King Productions.
The pay-per-view telecast will also include several key undercard bouts: a 10-round cruiserweight fight between Mateusz Masternak vs. Eric Fields, a 10-round cruiserweight fight between Michael Cieslak vs. Francisco Palacios and additional bouts still to be determined.
Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, Adamek’s promoter said, “Every time Tomasz fights back home in Poland we get numerous requests from his American fans who wish to watch the fight here. We are so excited to be able to provide them with an opportunity to watch this exciting fight here in the US.”
All bouts are subject to change.
FOLLOW US:
Instagram: @Main_Events
|