Eddie Mustafa Muhammad has started the Joint Association of Boxers (JAB) to help all fighters.
For info on JAB click here

 

WRITERS

BUTCH GOTTLIEB
PUBLISHER/EDITOR

KIERAN MULVANEY

BERNIE McCOY

TOM DONELSON

FRANK GONZALEZ JR.

JIM AMATO

MIKE INDRI

GARY TODD

"JAZZI" JEFF

RUSTY RUBIN

JEANETTE K.

 

PHOTOGRAPHERS

MARY ANN OWEN

 

EN ESPANOL

JAIME ESTRADA

 

ATHLETIC COMMISSION

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FOR ALL YOUR TICKET NEEDS, CLICK ON BANNER


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CALZAGHE-HOPKINS
4/19/08
 
TOP RANK@HARD ROCK
12/20/07
MARQUEZ-PACQUIAO
3/15/08
MAYWEATHER-HATTON
12/8/07
WEC
12/12/07
PACQUIAO-BARRERA
10/6/07
CHAVEZ-SANCHEZ
12/1/07
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9/27/07
MONTIEL-MELENDEZ
10/4/07
TOP RANK @HARD ROCK
9/16/07
UFC-SPIKE TV
9/19/07
K-1
8/11/07
WEC
9/5/07
WEC
8/5/07
TOP RANK-VERSUS
8/9/07


 

 

May 16, 2008

GEORGE DOMINATES BYRD

 


©2008 by Mary Ann Owen

 

Former 2 time heavyweight champion Chris Byrd (40-5-1, 21 KOs) looked drained and slow as he was brutally stopped in round nine by Shaun George (17-2-2, 8 KOs) in a light heavyweight bout tonight at the Cox Pavilion, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Byrd was dropped by George in round one and rocked again in round two. It was a sign of things to come as George hammered Byrd with his right hand at will, finally flooring Byrd twice in the ninth. Byrd beat the count after the first knockdown, but was then battered down again and the bout was waved off by referee Jay Nady at 2:45. At the time of the stoppage, George was ahead 79-72 on all cards. The result was a bitter disappointment for Byrd, who had hoped to make some noise in the 175lb division. The 37-year-old has now lost three of his last four. Byrd was transported to the hospital with a dislocated shoulder, which happened when he was knocked down for the second time in the ninth round. A CT scan was also performed for safety reasons and everything was clear.

 

Photo Gallery coming

 

GONZALEZ STOPS PASTRANA

 


photo courtesy Tom Hogan/Golden Boy

 

Former world bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez (38-6, 32 KOs), scored an explosive fourth round TKO of former world champion Mauricio Pastrana (34-9-2, 22 KOs) on Friday night at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California. Now fighting as a junior featherweight, Gonzalez floored Pastrana with an uppercut and got the stoppage moments later with his follow up barrage. Time of the stop was 2:32.
 

MIJARES-MUNOZ BOTH 114.7

Both WBC super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares and WBA super flyweight champion Alexander Munoz scaled in at 114.7 pounds for their super flyweight unification clash on Saturday's "Noche de Campeones" pay-per-view event live from the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. Flyweights Omar Salado and Julio Cesar Miranda both weighed 111.8 lbs. for their WBC flyweight eliminator.
*****
Cristian Mijares 114.7 vs Alexander Munoz 114.7
(WBC/WBA unification super flyweight championship)
Omar Salado 111.8 vs Julio Cesar Miranda 111.8
(WBC Flyweight Eliminator)
Martin Avila 155.1 vs Alberto Hernandez 155.1
Marvin Rodriguez 129.8 vs Tomas Sierra 129.8
Ricardo Mijares 135.7 vs Arnoldo Pacheco 129.8
Enrique Lopez 130.9 vs Vicente Hernandez 128.5

 

LATIN FURY FOUR SOLD OUT

 

 

It's the first-ever sellout in Aguascalientes -- all 18,000 seats - as the wildly charismatic Jorge Arce of Los Mochis takes on tough Devid Lookmahanek of Thailand in a bullring on Top Rank's Latin Fury 4 PPV on Saturday, May 17. Mexican state official Luis Armando Reynosa said he is 'absolutely thrilled.' "This is a wonderful event and I am thrilled we are sold out. This is the first time there ever has been a boxing sellout in Aguascalientes," Reynosa said. "We are now making plans to bring Latin Fury back again real soon." Bob Arum of Top Rank said he and promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions will likely bring Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. to Aguascalientes for a mega event in the fall. Julio's younger brother Omar, who is boxing on the Saturday night show, was mobbed by fans of all ages at the weigh in today. There are super-sized posters of Omar on the streets of Aguascalientes. "Latin Fury fights are hot, hot as it can get," Arum said. "Fans want to see stars throughout Mexico and I am very proud to be a part of these events."
*****
Jorge “Travieso” Arce 114.5 vs Devid Lookmahanak 114
(WBC super flyweight eliminator)
Jorge Solís 129 vs Miguel Román 129
Humberto Gutiérrez 135 vs Guadalupe Rosales 135
Jackie Nava 122 vs Yazmin Rivas 122
Brandon Ríos 129 vs Ricardo Domínguez 129
Omar Chávez 139 vs Juan de Dios Castillo 139.2
Brian Viloria 110 vs Freddy Valdez 111 (second try)
Francisco Arce 116 vs Oswaldo Rodríguez 116
Michael Farenas 129.5 vs Fermín de Los Santos 129
José Vargas 115 vs César Morales 115
 

HATTON SHOWS HE IS FIT

 


photo ©Jane Warburton/MMG

 

In stark contrast to the circulating stories of an illness during training camp, which turned out to be nothing more than a fleeting minor virus, IBO/Ring Light Welterweight World Champion Ricky Hatton extended an open invitation to the British press yesterday to witness a rigorous display of his healthful condition.
There has been no denial from Team Hatton that Ricky picked up a virus for a short period, but he was so far advanced in his training that he was already preparing to cut back.
Boxing and sports aficionados will know that super-fit athletes can easily pick up viruses and Ricky has simply followed medical advice and briefly cut back, but we can confirm that all is well and Ricky is back on course and cleared by his doctor.
This was readily apparent yesterday when Hatton held a open media training session at Billy Graham's Phoenix Camp Gym in Manchester, England.
"The Hitman" put on a spectacular display of his legendary fitness as he pummeled the body bag wearing Graham around the ring with tremendous aggression, pressure and endurance.
There is no problem with Ricky as was seen by members of the British press, who witnessed this final media training session.
The 55,000 ticket holders for Hatton's showdown with Mexican hard man Juan Lazcano, as well as the legion of Sky Box Office viewers, can expect a vintage Hitman performance at City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday, May 24.

 

WEIGH IN OPEN TO PUBLIC

 


 

The Official Weigh-In, which is open to the public, for tomorrow night's stellar card on HBO Boxing After Dark, takes place Today! in the Star of the Desert Arena at Terrible's Primm Valley Casino Resorts, in Primm, Nev., beginning at 4:30 P.M. PT
YURIOKIS GAMBOA, ALFREDO ANGULO, JAMES KIRKLAND, the undefeated trio of young boxing phenoms, with a combined record of 42-0 (35 KOs), headline “Night of the Rising Stars,” Saturday, May 17, at Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resorts. HBO Boxing After Dark will broadcast all three 10-round bouts live, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast.)
Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC and Arena Box-Promotion, remaining tickets for “Night of the Rising Stars” priced at $84.45. $56.95, and $40.45, including tax and $2 facility fee, can be purchased at Buffalo Bill’s Resort box office, by calling 1-800-386-7867, at any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at www.ticketmaster.com  Additional service fees will be incurred when purchasing through Ticketmaster.

 

FLYWEIGHT UNIFICATION

 

WBC champion Cristian Mijares fights WBA title-holder Alexander “El Explosivio” Munoz on Saturday night (May 17) in the first super flyweight unification title bout in more than 10 years, headlining the “Noche de Campeones” pay-per-view event live from the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.
The 12-round Mijares-Munoz main event is a classic boxer-puncher match-up between hometown hero and rising star, Mijares (34-3-2, 14 KOs), and feared Venezuelan knockout artist, Munoz (32-2, 27 KOs). The exciting 12-round co-feature pits Mexican warriors Omar Salado (19-0-2, 11 KOs) and Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda (25-3-1, 18 KOs) in a WBC flyweight elimination bout.
“This is the first show of this type ever from this region,” Knockout Entertainment president Ignacio “Nacho” Huizar said. “It’s impossible to calculate the international television coverage but it’s going to be a fantastic success.'
“Noche de Campeones,” promoted by KO Entertainment in association with DiBella Entertainment, will be produced and distributed by Integrated Sports for live viewing in the United States (9 PM/ET, 6 PM/ET) on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and DISH Network, as well as on The Fight Network in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Hall of Fame announcer Col. Bob Sheridan, who has called more world championship fights than anybody, will handle the blow-by-blow duties in English with his color commentator partner, former NFL place kicker Benny Ricardo.

 

LATIN FURY 4 UPDATE

 

Over 17,000 tickets have been sold for Latin Fury 4 which features the wildly charismatic Jorge Arce in a very tough eliminator bout against Devid Lookmahanak of Thailand. Arce is WBC #1 rated, Lookmahanak WBC #2 at 115 pounds. There is a week-long festival in Aguascalientes with bands playing music in the streets throughout the night.
*****
Welterweight mega power Antonio Margarito hit Aguascalientes, Mexico this evening and will be at ringside for Top Rank's Latin Fury 4 PPV card on Saturday night. Margarito and his wife, Michelle, will be rooting for 'The Aztec Princess,' Jackie Nava of Tijuana. She is fighting on the undercard.
On Sunday, Margarito will take a flight to Mexico City to be at Top Rank's "The Battle - La Battalla!" press conference at the Camino Real Hotel. Welterweight super powers Miguel Cotto and Margarito will talk about their upcoming showdown July 26 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Top Rank's tour starts in Mexico City on Monday, goes to Los Angeles Tuesday, then to New York on Thursday and in Puerto Rico on Friday. Cotto vs. Margarito will be available on HBO Pay Per View. Tickets at $700, $500, $300, $200 and $100 go on sale May 22.

 

CAMPBELL-CASAMAYOR PURSE BID ORDERED

 

The WBO has scheduled a purse bid for the mandatory bout between champion Nate Campbell and interim titleholder Joel Casamayor "due to the inability of the boxers’ promoters of reaching an agreement." The purse bid is scheduled for 9AM ET on May 23 at WBO Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The minimum acceptable bid is $150,000.
 

THE "KIDD" RETURNS JUNE 25th

 

Former two-time lightweight champion Julio "The Kidd" Diaz (34-4, 25 KOs) has replaced long time trainer Lee Espinoza with his oldest brother Joel Diaz. "My brother Joel proved last weekend in guiding Timothy Bradley to the WBC super lightweight title what I've known for years: that he is a world class trainer. We have excellent chemistry together, he works me really hard in training, and he has outstanding game plans." Diaz is scheduled to return to the ring June 25th in the main event at the Playboy Mansion. The bout will be nationally televised on ESPN2. Tentatively his opponent is unbeaten David Torres (20-0, 13 KOs). Diaz has also recently signed a management contract with Lee Bates and will continue to fight under the Sycuan Ringside Promotions banner. I'm very grateful to my promoter Sycuan for getting me a fight on national TV June 25th and I look forward to delivering an impressive victory for all of us. I'm not one to make excuses but I will show that I'm much better than what you saw in my last performance. The Kidd is back."
 

ELITEXC FIGHTERS SPEAK OUT

 

Crowd-pleasing EliteXC Middleweight Champion Robbie Lawler of St. Louis will defend his title against exciting, hard-hitting Scott Smith of Sacramento, Calif., while fast-talking, colorful, controversial Phil “NYBA” Baroni of Long Island, N.Y., will meet determined, dedicated, world-class Joey Villaseńor of Albuquerque, N.M., in a 185-pound scrap in two of the five fights on the inaugural “CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” on Saturday, May 31 (9-11 p.m. ET/PT), on CBS.
The first mixed martial event in primetime on network television will be presented by Los Angeles-based Pro Elite, Inc.’s live fight division, EliteXC, led by Gary Shaw, and emanate from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Kimbo Slice, of Perrine, Fla., will face England’s James “Colossus’’ Thompson in the main event on CBS. Other televised fights will be Brett Rogers of Minneapolis taking on Jon Murphy of Philadelphia in a heavyweight match and Gina Carano of Las Vegas facing Kaitlin Young of Circle Pines, Minn., in a women’s bout at 140 pounds.
Tickets for the live event start at $25 and are available at TicketMaster locations, by phone (201) 507-8900, online at www.ticketmaster.com  and at the Prudential Center box office (973) 757-6625.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET. The first live fight is at 6:30.


Read what the fighters had to say

 

May 15, 2008

GUZMAN WANTS CAMPBELL

Now that Joan Guzman has vacated his WBO 130 pound title, the undefeated Dominican-born speedster is looking for a challenge at the lightweight level.
“I think Nate Campbell would be a perfect opponent for me,” said Guzman, who is a two-division champion with a record of 28-0 with 17 knockouts.  “Nobody wants to fight Nate at 135 pounds and no one wants to fight me at 130 pounds.  So let’s just fight each other.”
Guzman, who is promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego, Calif., might not have to wait long to get his shot at Campbell.
“The WBO has assured Sycuan that Guzman will in fact become the number one contender at 135 pounds,” said Sean Gibbons, matchmaker for Sycuan Ringside Promotions. 
“Nate doesn’t have a bunch of options right now.  He thinks he’s going to get a shot at Joel Casamayor, but that fight will never happen.  Plain and simple, Nate’s best fight is against Guzman.”  “I’ve always been about fighting the best,” Guzman continued.  “If Nate is truly a world champion he will accept the challenge that I have laid out for him. 
“Twenty-eight boxers have tired to beat me and they all failed miserably.  Nate will be number twenty-nine if he has the guts and courage to fight me.
“I’m ready to fight Nate anytime, any place, anywhere.  A lot of boxers are afraid of me, but I sure hope Nate isn’t one of them.”
Guzman, who has won titles at the super bantamweight and super featherweight divisions, made the choice to move up in weight after he grew irritated with Alex Arthur and his promoter, Frank Warren of Sports Network.
Guzman was scheduled to defend his WBO 130 pound title on Saturday, May 3, in Edinburgh, Scotland but the fight was postponed.  Although he has been ready to travel to Scotland at a moment’s notice, Warren has not scheduled a new date for the bout.
“My team and I have tried with every good intention to honor our agreement to fight Arthur in Scotland on May 3,” Guzman said.  “Frank Warren and his team made every excuse possible to cancel the fight.  My team and I decided that it is time for me to make my mark at the 135 pound division and I’m going to start with Nate Campbell.”

BYRD-GEORGE WEIGH IN OPEN TO PUBLIC


WEIGH-IN (Open to the Pubic):

Today!  Thursday, May 15 – 5:00 P.M. PT

Mezzanine level at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Promoted by Art Pelullo's Banner Promotions, in association with Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino,  the 10-round Byrd vs. George light heavyweight bout (175 lbs., no catchweight) will be televised live on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights from the PH Ring at the Cox Pavilion at the Thomas & Mack Center.  Remaining tickets, priced at $28, $48 and $78, can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, all UNLV ticket outlets, and at www.unlvtickets.com. To charge by phone, call (702) 739-FANS.  Doors open at 4 p.m. with the card's first bout scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

AFFLICTION PRESSER OPEN TO PUBLIC

 

 

'Affliction Banned' press conferences in Los Angeles and New York City.

 

The press conferences are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The first 500 fans will receive a free Affliction T-shirt and fans will be able to meet the fighters and get their autographs after the pressers.
 

Tuesday, May 20 – 12:30PM/PT        

Westfield Mall in Century City (Food Court)                  

10250 Santa Monica Blvd.                      

Los Angeles, CA 90067             

*****
Thursday, May 22 – 10:30 AM/ET
Trump Tower
725 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10022

 

BYRD READY TO FEAST

 

Slimmer Byrd ready to feast on light heavyweights


For more than a decade, Chris Byrd, who won a silver medal at 165 pounds in the 1992 Olympic Games, masqueraded as a heavyweight. It was a pretty good ruse, as Byrd became a two-time heavyweight champion.
No more. After 14 years of playing with the big boys, Byrd is doing the unheard of. He is dropping down two weight classes to compete as a light heavyweight.
Only two men have ever won a middleweight and heavyweight world title -- Bob Fitzsimmons and Roy Jones. Byrd wants to do things in reverse.

 

Full Story

 

COTTO-MARGARITO ON JULY 26 IN LAS VEGAS

 

Welterweight champions MIGUEL COTTO of Puerto Rico and ANTONIO MARGARITO of Mexico, announce,
 “The Battle!” / “La Batalla!” their world welterweight title fight.  Promoted by Top Rank, Cotto vs. Margarito will take place Saturday, July 26, at the MGM Grand Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.   The 12-round welterweight championship bout will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 P.M. ET /6 P.M. PT.

 

MACK TO MEET DANIEL JUDAH

 

Light heavyweight Yusaf Mack (24-2-2) continues his comeback continues on June 4th at the Aviator Sport Arena, Brooklyn, New York taking on Daniel Judah (20-2-3) in a 10 round contest for the NABA title. Daniel, the brother of Zab Judah, is moving down to light heavy from cruiserweight for this fight. Mack is gunning for the best in the 175lb ranks after moving up a division due to problems making the super middleweight limit. “He called me out earlier in my career and it’s great that we have finally managed to get it on," said Mack. "I am so much stronger at the new weight and my new trainer John Tandy has whipped me into the best shape of my career. I have never felt this good and people are going to see the new me. I am very confident of getting the win and putting on a good show for the fans out there.” The event will be televised on ESPN2.

 

CELEYA-CORTES CANCELLED

 

The crossroads showdown between Jose "Cuate" Celaya (31-4, 16 KOs) of Salinas and Ricardo "El Güero" Cortes (22-2-1, 15 KOs) of San Jose, CA, on June 5th at the HP Pavilion in San Jose has been called off do to Celaya pulling out. The Cortes camp has speculated that the reason is Celaya might not be fully recovered from the knockout he suffered at the hands of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. back in February of 2008. A new rival is being looked for to battle with Cortes

 

ABRAHAM NEW WBO CHAMP

 

It's official. Alex Arthur has been declared the full WBO world super featherweight champion after Joan Guzman vacated the belt and moved up to the lightweight division. The Scotsman was due to face Guzman on May 3 in Edinburgh, but the fight was delayed when Guzman applied too late for a visa. Arthur, 29, was waiting for the fight to be rescheduled - but had his "interim" world champion status upgraded by the WBO when Guzman decided to campaign at 135 pounds. "I'm delighted with the decision by the WBO to give me full world champion status but I felt that I won the title when I beat Koba Gogoladze last July," said Arthur. "I'm confident that I would have beaten Guzman had the fight been rescheduled but I believe that I am among the elite super featherweights and want to prove myself as the best out there, but I'm proud to be Edinburgh's first world champion for 30 years, and am looking forward to making the first defence of my title. My reign now begins!" Promoter Frank Warren added: "Britain has lost a few of its world champions over the last few months but we have got one back with Alex now declared as world champion. I believe he will be a long-term world champion. I'm working hard at the moment to deliver a new date and challenger for Alex."
 

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