Bethlehem, PA—Powerful junior middleweight contender King Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia, PA, says he should be the one to fight Saul Canelo Alvarez in September.

“Let Canelo step up to the plate and fight a real man,” Rosado (left) said after his impressive ninth-round knockout over world-ranked Sechew Powell, of Brooklyn, NY, on Friday night at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem (below right).

“They keep going over the same old names. Carlos Quintana? Please, give me a break. Carlos Molina? Get real! Those guys can’t hurt my sister. Maybe Canelo wants to play it safe for awhile.

Rosado’s win over Powell, which was televised as part of the NBC Sports Network Fight Series, should push Rosado to the top of the class at 154 pounds.

It was Rosado’s sixth straight win, fourth by knockout, and improved his record to 20-5, 12 K0s.

Going into the fight, Rosado was ranked No. 5 by the IBF, No. 9 by the WBC. He should also pick up a WBO ranking now that he has won the vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior middleweight belt.

“A lot of guys talk tough, but don’t back it up,” Rosado added. “I’ve fought tough guys every step of the way. My record may not be all that glittering to look at, but check out the guys I’ve fought. Name me another junior middleweight who came up the old-fashioned way like the old-timers did.

“Why should Canelo be afraid? He’s got one of those pretty records (40-0, 29 K0s). I should look like a piece of cake to him.

“If TV wants action, I’m their man. If they’re just looking for a pretty face with a pretty record, then they can choose one of those phony contenders. My day will come!”

Alvarez, the WBC champ at 154 pounds, was signed to defend against Paul Williams on Sept. 15 in Las Vegas before Williams was severely injured in a motorcycle accident last weekend in Georgia.

James Kirkland was the first choice to replace Williams, but that matchup fell apart.

“Stop playing around!” Rosado added. “I’m ready and I’m willing. Too many promoters play it safe with their fighters and want to keep everything in-house. That way they keep control, regardless of who wins. Let’s break that mold and make a real fight fans’ fight!”

BROOKLYN, NY (June 2, 2012)—TONIGHT!! From the Aviator Sports Complex, Sadam Ali’s Worldkid Promotions makes its promotional debut that will feature Ali fighting Franklin Gonzalez for the WBU Americas Welterweight Title.

The eight round main event plus a four fight undercard can be seen LIVE all over the world at 7pm eastern for just $9.99 on www.gfl.tv

The card can be ordered by clicking: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Worldkid_Promotions_Presents_Brooklyn_Boxing_Live/1556

Ali of Brooklyn is a 2008 U.S. Olympian is looking to win his first title when he takes on the battle tested Gonzalez who has been in the ring with some of the best fighters in the world such as Luis Collazo, Dmitry Salita and Antwone Smith.

Gonzalez is coming off a decision win over 16-1 Eddie Hyland.

FULLCARD:

Sadam Ali (14-0, 8 KO’s) vs. Franklin Gonzalez (15-9, 10 KO’s)
Jennifer Santiago (PD) vs Mikayla Nebal (0-1)
Steven Gamache (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Willie Bryant (0-3-1)
Armin Mrkanovic (2-1, 1KO) vs Daniel Pietch (PD)
Akil Frederick-Auguste (PD) vs. Jamil Gadsen (PD)

UPCOMING BOXING EVENTS ON GFL

WEDNESDAY 6/6—THE BWAA AWARDS DINNER WITH APPEARANCES BY ANDRE WARD, VITALI KLITSCHKO AND BERNARD HOPKINS AMONG OTHERS

GFL now offers full access to over 6,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 subscribe now at www.GFL.tv

***GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 1300 live events with over 6000 combat sports videos in 196 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 5 million public viewers over the years with more than 250 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL is also available on Roku, Android, IPhone, IPad, as well as other internet ready devices. Check the event page for details.

If Combat Sports is your game…Go Fight-Every Night with GFL Combat Sports Network

Join us at: www.GFL.tv or twitter.com/GFL or youtube.com/Gofightlive or inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

Sadam Ali 147lbs vs Franklin Gonzalez 146lbs

Jennifer Santiago 119lbs vs Mikayla Nebal 120lbs

Steven Gamache 151lbs vs Willie Bryant 152lbs

Armin Mrkanovic 189lbs vs Daniel Pietch 180lbs

Akil Frederick-Auguste 159lbs vs Jamil Gadsden 156lbs

PROMOTER: Worldkid Promotions
Venue: Aviator Sports Complex
1st bell: 7pm
broadcast: gfl.tv

Just a day after agreeing to a September 15th world title bout with Saul Alvarez, James Kirkland has bowed According to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“It was uncomfortable and he was concerned,” said Kirkland’s manager Cameron Dunkin said. he called me and said he wasn’t going to fight. The doctor said his shoulder was healing fine but James was afraid he was going to tear it again. He felt tightness and felt he shouldn’t fight. He said it feels bad, that he couldn’t use it properly. He said, ‘I can’t train right, so I won’t be ready by Sept. 15.’

“He is sick about it. He needs the money. He’s been doing rehab on the shoulder and the doctor said he was ahead of schedule, but the doctor also said you can’t tell how fast you’re going to heal. But he was ahead of schedule and his mobility was ahead of schedule. James told me how much he wanted the fight, the opportunity and the money.

“He’s been stretching it and doing his therapy, but when he began snapping punches, he said he felt a twinge and that it didn’t feel right and that he could tell it wasn’t right. That’s not going to change in a week or two. He said, ‘I can’t train 100 percent, and for a guy like this, I have to be 100 percent.’ He knew he was rushing it.”

“You have to trust the managers and doctors when they say he is OK to go,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said. “So now, he’s not going to be ready and the last thing we want is to start a promotion if the guy is not going to be 100 percent.”

Later on Thursday, however, Kirkland’s story began to change, according to Dunkin. Dunkin said he and co-manager Michael Miller were sent an email by Austin’s Curtis Meeks, a former professional fighter and friend of Kirkland’s who was 9-1-2 with three knockouts in his 2001 to 2008 career. Dunkin said Meeks recently began serving as an adviser to Kirkland and that in the email he told them that Kirkland “would sign the contract today for $2.5 million and that he is ready to go for the right money.”

“Our answer was that James is injured,” Dunkin said. “We won’t fight him if he’s injured, and said he’s obviously not going to be ready to fight Sept. 15. His answer was that James could fight later in the year, but that it would have to be for $2.5 million. This guy is obviously telling him he is getting screwed on the money, which is not the case.

“So James is out of the fight. I can’t get him $2.5 million. That’s ridiculous. I’d love to get him that much because I get a percentage, but it’s not reality. James is a great kid but he’s getting really bad advice. And if he can’t fight, he shouldn’t fight at any price. So it’s just crazy. It’s totally insane. We told James, ‘If you’re healthy, fight. If you’re not healthy, don’t fight.’ But don’t make it about the money because the money he was getting for the fight was very, very good money.”

“So Kirkland has a new adviser who told him not to take the fight unless he gets $2.5 million. That is what I was told. It is unbelievable,” Schaefer said. “I don’t get it. That’s not how we do business. We agreed to a deal with him and he was being paid very, very well.”

“Canelo is the big Mexican superstar and he will be fighting at the MGM Grand on pay-per-view and we will be looking at other names for him to fight,” Schaefer said. “The good news is there are other names out there. It’s a deep division.”

Gabriel Rosado continued his hot streak as he scored an impressive ninth round stoppage over Sechew Powell in a Jr. Middleweight bout at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Rosado landed some solid shots early but Powell matched him by using his experience and used an educated left hand to keep him virtually even on the scorecards.

The fight changed in round eight as Rosado came out in relentless fashion as he tried to jump all over Powell and landed some hard flurries. Rosado may have briefly punched himself and let Powell get in some offense with the left hand.

That would be Powell’s last stand as Rosado came out guns a blazing in the ninth and attacked Powell with some hard shots and was awarded a knockdown. Rosado closed the show in an action packed fashion as he continued to pummel Powell on the ropes which prompted referee Steve Smoger to stop the fight at 2:43 of the ninth frame.

Rosado, 154 lbs of Philadelphia will now look for a title opportunity with a record of 20-5 with twelve knockouts. Powell, 150 3/4 lbs is now 26-5.

Ronald Cruz remained perfect by scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over Prenice Brewer.

Cruz was active and landed thudding body shots throughout the fight in an effort to slow down Brewer, who was using his legs in order to create angles. Cruz trapped Brewer several times on the ropes. In round nine,Cruz landed some hard shots and Brewer, who felt the affects of the body work was moving less. Brewer had a solid round eleven as he landed some quick combinations. Both guys fought hard down the stretch with Cruz being egged on by his raucous supporters as Cruz lives just blocks from the Sans Casino in Bethlehem.

Cruz, 147 lbs of Bethlehem won by scores of 118-110 on all cards and is now 17-0. Brewer,147 lbs of Cleveland, OH is now 16-2-1.

NEW YORK / ATLANTIC CITY (June 1, 2012)—TONIGHT!!! at the Tropicana Casino & Resort, undefeated Light Heavyweight Dennis “The Assassin” Hasson will take on his toughest for to date when he battles George Armenta in an eight round bout.

That bout plus a five fight undercard will be broadcasted LIVE all over the world at 7:30pm est on www.gfl.tv

The show can be seen for just $9.99 by clicking: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/DEE_LEE_Promotions_Presents_Super_Summer_Brawl/1490

Hasson of Philadelphia was a decorated amateur and has a record of 13-0 with five knockouts. Hasson turned pro in 2008 with a four round unanimous decision over John Michael Terry and has subsequently racked up wins over the likes of Currant USBA & NABF Cruiserweight champion Garrett Wilson and Philly tough guy Tommie Speller. In his last bout, Hasson, twenty-eight years-old he scored a second round knockout over Eddie Caminero.

Hasson trained by former Middleweight world title challenger Dave Tiberi.

Armenta has a record of 14-8 with eleven knockouts and has faced top competition such as former world champion Yuri Foreman; Sechew Powell; Mark Tucker Edwin Rodriguez; and Former world title challenger Elvin Ayala.

Armenta scored fourth round stoppage over former U.S. Olympian Dante Craig.

In a six round co-feature, former world amateur champion Joey Dawejko (6-0-1, 2 KO’s) takes on Edwin Ranquillo (2-1, 1 KO) in a Heavyweight bout.

In a six round Middleweight bout, KeAndre Leatherwood (9-1, 6 KO’s) battles Frankie Fillipone (9-2, 2 KO’s)

Saud Clark of Philadelphia will make his pro debut against fellow debuter Flavio Augusto Reyes.

Local favorite Antowyan Aikens (4-0, 1 KO) of Atlantic City will battle Kenneth Taylor Schmitz (2-1, 1 KO) in a four round Middleweight bout

Rounding out the card will be Super Bantamweight Joshua Reyes (2-0) of Vineland, NJ facing off with Miguel Antonio Rodriguez (0-2)

The fights will be called by Marc Abrams and he will be joined by a plethora of Hall of Fame fighters who are in Atlantic City for an all-star Gala that will take place on Saturday

UPCOMING BOXING EVENTS ON GFL
SATURDAY 6/2 – WORLDKID PROMOTIONS FEATURING SADAM ALI

WEDNESDAY 6/6—THE BWAA AWARDS DINNER WITH APPEARANCES BY ANDRE WARD, VITALI KLITSCHKO AND BERNARD HOPKINS AMONG OTHERS

GFL now offers full access to over 6,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 subscribe now at www.GFL.tv

***GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 1300 live events with over 6000 combat sports videos in 196 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 5 million public viewers over the years with more than 250 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL is also available on Roku, Android, IPhone, IPad, as well as other internet ready devices. Check the event page for details.

If Combat Sports is your game…Go Fight-Every Night with GFL Combat Sports Network

Join us at: www.GFL.tv or twitter.com/GFL or youtube.com/Gofightlive or inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
Dennis Hasson 175 – George Armenta 173
Saud Clark 148 – Flavio Reyes 147
Joey Dawejko 239- Edwin Ranquillo 229
KeAndre Leatherwood 162 – Frankie Fillipone 160
Antowyan Aikens 166 – Kenneth Taylor Schmitz 166
Joshua Reyes 123 – Miguel Antonio Rodriguez 119

Promoter: Dee Lee Promotions (Diane Fischer)
Venue: Tropicana
Broadcast : www.gfl.tv

According to Dan Rafael rising heavyweight contender Seth Mitchell will not be able to compete against Jonathon Banks on July 14th due to an injured hand.

“He injured his right hand in his last fight, which was five weeks ago, but he thought the (injury) would go away,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. “He went to see the doctor and the doctor said that nothing is broken but he recommended that Seth not do any sparring or have any contact for the next 6 to 8 weeks. He is scheduled to see a hand specialist next week and he will be evaluated to see if anything additional needs to be done.”

“If the doctor says the hand needs to be in splint, obviously there is not going to be a fight,” Schaefer said. “You want to make sure he takes care of the injuries and comes back when he’s ready. So I informed HBO about what is going on and we will see what the best way is to replace the fight and take it from there. We have a very good stable of fighters and we will come up with a fight worthy of an HBO ‘World Championship Boxing’ opening bout for July 14.”

“This fight was a great opportunity for Seth in his progress, but our plan remains to get him, within the next 12 months or so, a heavyweight title shot. This is a setback, but it happened. It’s disappointing for the fans, for us and certainly for Seth Mitchell. But I think it is a momentary setback and as soon as he’s cleared to fight he’ll be back on TV.”

Earlier Thursday, Sharif Salim, Mitchell’s manager, denied there was any serious issue with Mitchell’s hand when asked about it by ESPN.com.

“We’re in camp and we’re moving forward,” he said. “Seth fights through a lot of things. There are always bumps and bruises from the last fight, but we are preparing for the fight on July 14. We’re not here to talk about injuries or make excuses.”

After the unfortunate accident to former two division champion Paul Williams, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will now take on James Kirkland on September 15th in Las Vegas for the WBC Super Welterweight champions that will be the headline bout of an HBO PPV card according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“That’s not the way you want to get the fight, but it wasn’t like James wasn’t in the running in the first place,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. “You have to deal with injuries and setbacks even as severe and tragic as this one is for Paul.

“James Kirkland was always on the short list of potential opponents for Canelo Alvarez and it came down to two names, guys which are exciting and are known, and that was Paul Williams and James Kirkland,” Schaefer said. “When we were told James couldn’t fight until the end of September, that eliminated him as a potential opponent because it was important for Canelo and for us for the fight to be on Sept. 15, the Mexican Independence Day weekend, which is traditionally reserved for the biggest Mexican stars to fight on.”

“About a week ago, I was informed by (Kirkland co-manager) Michael Miller that James had made tremendous progress and that he could fight sooner than we originally thought,” Schaefer said. “But there was nothing I could do because we had already agreed to a Williams fight.

“When the tragedy happened with Paul Williams, I called Michael to see if James had been medically cleared and he was and he very much wanted the fight. It was a matter of working out the numbers, which we did in the last few days. I’m excited because it is one of those fights where you can leave the judges at home. I would bet anyone this will end in a knockout, one way or the other. This is not going to the scorecards, and that’s what fight fans like.”

Schaefer said the card will be called “Knockout Kings” — which he said he got clearance to use even though that it is the name of a popular boxing video game series — figuring that Alvarez-Kirkland and the potentially explosive co-feature — a featherweight title bout between Mexican countrymen Jhonny Gonzalez (52-7, 45 KOs) and former junior featherweight titleholder Daniel Ponce De Leon (43-4, 35 KOs) — would end in stoppages.

“Gonzalez-Ponce De Leon is another barnburner where you can leave the judges at home because you know it will end up in a knockout,” Schaefer said. “We will look to add other fights to the card that we think will end in knockouts.”

“Canelo was very saddened,” Schaefer said. “He couldn’t believe it and was in shock. God-permitting and health-permitting Canelo told me he would like to invite Paul to be ringside but we don’t know if it is going to be feasible. But Canelo was really shaken up. He was speechless. We had to explain what happened a couple of times. It was a nice gesture for him to offer to fly Paul and his family out for the fight. Canelo believes Paul will always be fighter and a champion and he told me he is going to dedicate the fight to Paul Williams.”

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
WHEN: Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 at 7pm

WHERE Aviator Sports Complex
(Brooklyn, New York)

PRICIPLES: MAIN EVENT—8 ROUNDS WELTERWEIGHTS
Sadam “Worldkid”Ali (14-0, 8 KO’s) vs. Franklin Gonzlaez (15-9, 10 KO’s)

Plus 5 undercard bouts Featuring Bantamweight Juan Dominguez (10-0, 7 KO’s)
Armin Markanovic (2-1, 1KO) –Cruiserweight
Steven Gamache (2-0, 1 KO)—Jr.Middleweight
Jennifer Santiago—2 time Golden Glove Champion—Pro Debut
Akil Frederick –Pro Debut

Promoter: Worldkid Promotions

TICKETS: $150. $100, $75 & $50

BROADCAST: LIVE on www.gfl.tv for $9.99 by clicking:
http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Worldkid_Promotions_Presents_Brooklyn_Boxing_Live/1556

NEWARK , NJ (May 31, 2012)–—On Wednesday night June 13th, The Robert Treat Hotel in Newark will play host to a night of championship boxing which will feature Richard Pierson boxing Gary “Fast Hands “Jones for the WBC Fecarbox Super Middleweight Title

That fight will be the main event of a boxing night of boxing promoted by Gabe LaConte’s First Round Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions.

An outstanding undercard has been assembled that will feature some of the best talent in The New York/New Jersey area.

Taking part in a six round Bantamweight bout will be Qa’id “Kid Dynamite” Muhammad.

Muhammad of Atlantic City has a perfect mark of 7-0 with six knockouts and is coming off a third round stoppage over Steven Johnson on April 18th at The Robert Treat Hotel. Muhammad’s opponent will be named shortly.

In a six round Jr. Middleweight bout, Tommy Rainone (17-4, 4 KO’s) of New York takes on Keenan Collins (14-7-3, 9 KO’s) of York, PA

John Lennox (10-1, 5 KO’s) of Carteret, NJ will take on Rodricka Ray (3-5-1, 1 KO) of Jackson, TN in a six round Heavyweight bout

Anthony “Juice” Young (4-0, 2 KO) of Atlantic City battles Christian Steele (2-3, 1 KO) of Staunton, VA in a four round Welterweight bout.

Aaron Kinch (3-0-1, 1 KO) of Newark, NJ will get it on with Khuzaymah Al Nubu (0-2) Fostoria, OH in a four round Heavyweight bout

Thomas Baldwin (2-0-2, 1 KO) of Newark will fight Fotzgerald Johnson (2-6,1 KO) Asheboro, NC in a four round Jr. Middleweight bout

Heavyweight Dan Mayfield of Dover, NJ will make his pro debut against an opponent to be named.

Tickets for this outstanding night of boxing are $1500 for Tables; $100 (Front Row); $75 VIP
and $50 for General Admission and can be purchased at:

Boardwalk Saloon
206 Bloomfield Ave
Newark, NJ
973-483-8766

Elite Heat Gym
130 Mt. Pleasant Ave
Newark, NJ
862-772-2532

Final Round Boxing
156 Algonquin PKWY
Whippany, NJ
973-515-0704

Greg Cohen Promotions
(212) 851-6425

May 31, 2012 – Gary Shaw Productions, Sturm Box Promotion, Grange Old School Boxing and UFA Sports are happy to announce a world title unification bout featuring IBF middleweight champion Daniel “The Real Deal” Geale (27-1, 15 KOs) and WBA Super World champ, Felix Sturm (37-2-2, 16 KOs). The 12-round 160-pound main event will take place in Germany on Sept. 1, 2012, at a location to be announced, with television network SAT1 broadcasting the event to millions around the world.

Said Promoter Gary Shaw, “This event is what boxing is all about. When you get two world champions agreeing to fight each other with no hesitation, you know the fans are going to be witnessing an unbelievable bout. Both guys are hungry to keep their titles and they’re going to leave everything in the ring. Words can’t describe how excited I am about this event. Geale and Sturm are true warriors who are going to “Bring It” come fight night. It’s going to be an incredible night of boxing. The true winners will be the fans.

“In Daniel’s last fight a new Australian superstar emerged,” Shaw continued. “Daniel’s superiority is confirmation that he is on the verge of pound-for-pound status. With the expert guidance of Garrie Fransisco and Bill Treacy managing Daniel’s career, along with Graham Shaw steering his corner, Geale has the right team to take him to middleweight supremacy. It’s an honor to be promoting such a great fighter with a great team.”

After a dominating performance against mandatory challenger, Osumanu Adama (20-3, 15 KOs), Geale will look to extend on a six-fight winning streak. He has fought all but one of his bouts in his native Australia. In his lone start outside his homeland, Geale traveled to Germany and captured the IBF middleweight title against Sebastian Sylvester (34-5-1, 16 KOs). Geale wants to make a statement in this bout as he fights in Germany for a second time.

“I’m truly thankful to be fighting in this unification bout with Felix Sturm,” Geale said. “My promoter Gary Shaw has promised me the biggest fights and he’s kept his word. Fighting in Germany is a very difficult task, but I was successful there once before when I captured my first world title against Sebastian Sylvester. My goal will be to beat Sturm in his homeland, and bring his title back to Australia once again. I’m fighting for my country and all the kids I train at the Grange Old School Boxing gym.

“I also want to thank my managers Garrie Fransisco and Billy Treacy who, in conjunction with my trainer Graham Shaw, have all worked hard to get me to the top. Right now I’m in the best shape of my life and Graham has seen the improvements in my ability to make adjustments in the ring. I’m fully prepared to give the fans an exciting fight when I step in the ring with Sturm.”

Sturm, who is coming off an impressive ninth-round knockout victory against then-once- beaten challenger Sebastian Zbik (30-2, 10 KOs), is undefeated in his last 14 bouts. He’s best known in America for his fight with Oscar De La Hoya, in which many fans believe he won clearly, but instead lost on a close unanimous decision. With 14 title defenses, Sturm is considered one of the best pure boxers in the sport, and will seek to add another world title belt to his collection.

“Fighting in my native land of Germany is incredible and I can’t wait to show the German fans, once again, what I’m made of,” stated Sturm. “Daniel Geale is a worthy opponent, but he’s never been in the ring with a fighter like me. I fight for the people of Germany and I’m not going to let them down! I will be victorious on Sept. 1.”

Philadelphia, PA – As training camps for Philadelphians Mike Jones, Teon Kennedy and Jesse Hart are winding down for their fights on June 9 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, as part of the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley championship card, all three are confident in bringing glory back home.

In perhaps the biggest night-ever for Philly fighters, Jones (26-0, 19 KOs) will battle Randall Bailey (42-7,36 KOs) of Miami, FL for the vacant IBF world welterweight title, Kennedy (17-1-2, 7 KOs) will challenge WBA world super bantamweight titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux (9-0, 7 KOs), of Cuba, while amateur star Hart, son of former middleweight contender Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, will make his pro debut.

Here are some of their comments from training camp:

MIKE JONES, #1 Rated Welterweight

“It is a lifelong dream to fight for the title. All I know is I’m 100% confident in myself and my abilities. I come to win and I will not lose.”

“I never get too high or too low. I never need acceptance from anybody, whether I score a knockout or get a decision win. I stay true to myself. I believe in God and I believe in myself. That’s what matters to me.”

“He’s (Randall Bailey) a banger, definitely likes to bang. I can do more than just slug. I’ll do whatever it takes to win, even if I have to pound him out, but I want to be moving to set everything up. I don’t know if he can take my power. My plan is not to give him anything and not to give him any advantage.”

“It’s like game planning for a tough defense in basketball. You have to take Bailey’s best attribute – his banging – away from him. Once you do that, things become a lot easier.”

“He’s a strong guy. He hits hard with that right hand and that left hook is not too weak, either. I’m looking for the best Randall Bailey and I want him to bring his best because I know that will bring out the best in me.”

“He has to watch out for my big shots, too. He’s shown he can be knocked out as well. He has his weak points; he doesn’t have a real good jab and he doesn’t put combinations together well. His thing is just trying to bomb you out with one punch. I just want to use my speed and show that I’m the better fighter all around.”

“Making a statement in this fight is showing my best, winning the fight and looking fantastic. The plan always is for me to show the world something better each and every time out.”

“I don’t have a prediction, but I’m just going to beat him down.”

“I always dream about them holding my hand up and I’m the new world champion. There’s no doubt that I’ll be the new IBF world welterweight champion.”

TEON KENNEDY, In His First World Title Fight

“I’m excited about the fight. Whenever I go to bed all I do is dream about it.”

“I feel great. I’m in shape. I’m ready to go right now. Rigondeaux has quick feet, quick hands. My heart and determination will bring the title home.”

“I can’t let him fight his fight and let him get comfortable. I have to force him to make mistakes and take it to him in the first few rounds to show him that I’m there to fight. I believe that I can win a decision. I’m ready mentally and I’m in shape physically. I can’t wait for the fight. It’s a special night to have all of us Philly fighters on the same show.”

“I’m still going to use an aggressive style because he likes to be comfortable. I’m going to put different angles in, not going to go straight to him.”

“Anything can happen, so don’t blink.”

JESSE HART, Amateur Star In His Pro Debut

“Its big, real big, to be fighting my pro debut on the Manny Pacquiao show in Las Vegas. For all the years my dad (Cyclone Hart) fought, he never fought in Las Vegas, so it’s a big thrill for both of us to be in Vegas. This is dad’s dream. It will make for a great show to have us Philly fighters out there. You can’t go wrong.”

“Bernard Hopkins came to me and told me, ‘You’re going to be the next one up, you’re going to be the next great middleweight of Philadelphia,’ and that meant a lot to me.”

“Philadelphia embraced me as a fighter because of my dad. I had to display skill and show that I could stand on my own two (feet). If my dad wasn’t Cyclone Hart, I would still be able to have a name and solidify my boxing credentials. I plan on becoming another great Philadelphia middleweight.”

“My dad is a big, big part of the reason why I was so successful in the amateurs and why I will be successful as a professional. When I was an amateur, my dad surrounded me with great amateur coaches, but he was my head trainer and we were successful.”

“I’d like to think that I was made for a reason. That’s to be a champion. I wasn’t born to do nothing else, but box

Russell Peltz of Peltz Boxing hosted the final press conference for the June 1 NBC Sports Network Fight Night card. Peltz verified that the tickets were sold out for the event being held at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. The NBCSN broadcast will begin at 9PM ET.

Fans can expect to tune in Friday to see two REAL fights. It’s rare in boxing these days for the main event and co-feature to be pick ’em fights. Gabriel Rosado, 19-5, 11 KO’s, gets kudos for taking a southpaw when training for a rightie in this war for the WBO Inter-Continental Junior Middleweight title. Sechew Powell, 26-4, 15 KO’s, is coming to Rosado’s backyard after Rosado came off of his recent NBCSN victory prepared to do battle.

Ronald Cruz, 16-0, 12 KO’s, is facing a lot of pressure by fighting in front of what is sure to be an exhuberant home town crowd against a road warrior, Prenice Brewer, 16-1-1, 6 KO’s, who is one win away from the top 15. This is the only televised boxing card scheduled on Friday night. Every boxing/sports fan should tune in!

Words were exchanged as Powell volunteered to hold the WBO belt for the photo opp (photo below). Rosado assured the crowd that he would be the one holding the campionship belt come Friday night. A verbal scuffle ensued. Co-promoter, Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, expressed gratutude that the fighters waited until Friday night to exchange blows.

Cruz, Brewer, Rosado, Powell

ABOUT JUNE 1

The Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. First fight is 7PM. Tickets are priced at $50, $75 and $175.00 for seats in the luxury suite boxes, which comes with food. Ticket can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790). NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights, beginning at 9PM ET. The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and www.goDaddy.com.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK FIGHT NIGHT SCHEDULE (All Times ET)

Friday, June 1, 9-11 pm – Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, PA
Saturday, June 16, 9-11 pm – Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Friday, September 21, 9-11pm – Site TBA
Saturday, December 8, 9-11 pm – Site TBA
To find the location of the NBC Sports Network on your local cable, satellite or IPTV provider, click here:http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30092015/ns/sports/

Tweet the link to NBC Sports Network Fight Night channel finder: bit.ly/175UuU
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– Friday, June 1, 2012 7:30pm ET featuring Xtreme Fight Events Cage Wars 15 at Harrah’s Casino in Chester Pennsylvania. “Cage Wars” has quickly solidified itself in Pennsylvania as a top-tier MMA event, and the fighters on June 1 will be ready to throw down in the cage. In the main event, Dan Cion (3-1) battles Casey Milliken (3-3) for the vacant Cage Wars Lightweight Title. Cion is a CFFC vet and battle-tested as he has fought a top caliber of East Coast MMAers. Traveling from New York, Cion is looking to grind Milliken down and break his will during the fight. Milliken is also a CFFC vet and has traveled as far as Arizona to ply his trade. Milliken is coming off a spectacular win at “Cage Wars 13” and looks to build on that success as he will look to try and submit Cion if it goes to the mat. In the co-main event, Ryan Cafaro (3-3) defends his Cage Wars title as he takes on Matthew Ibbotson (3-4). Cafaro is coming off a hard earned decision victory that where he won the title back in March. Cafaro likes to go to the ground and exhibits a high risk-high reward fighting style that is always a crowd pleaser. For the challenger Ibbotson, he is riding a 2-fight win streak and looks to make the most of his opportunity by winning his first title. Ibbotson also is strong on the ground so this could be a matchup of grapplers or the ground fighting could be nullified and it could be a slugfest. The third title fight of the evening will be for the Flyweight Championship as former challenger Andrew Aguilar (4-2) battles Brian Gil (3-1) for the vacant 125 lb title. Aguilar likes to break his opponents will inside the cage and win by decision while Gil has wins by KO and submission. This clash of styles always makes for interesting fights and the fact that this is for a Flyweight Championship means this should be fight of the night as that division has the wildest fights.

– Friday, June 1, 2012 8:00pm ET featuring Combat at the Capitale, at the Capitale, New York, NY. Lou Neglia and Ray Longo present World Championship Kickboxing with presenting 12-bout Muay Thai card is anchored by several title fights that are sure to make new stars in the sport and cement legacies. In the main event, Brandon Mickens will take on Julio Arce for the World Championship. Other matches will include: Nicko Tsigaras vs Felipe Carlos, Laurel Holloway vs Andrea Deangelo and Alex Melts vs Stephen Regman plus more.

– Saturday, June 2, 2012 9:00pm ET featuring North American Allied Fight Series (NAAFS) Fight Night in the Flats VIII at the Jacobs Pavilion in Nautica in Cleveland, Ohio. In the main event, Kyle Baker (11-3) fights Chris Lozano (9-3) for Baker’s NAAFS Pro Series Welterweight Championship. For Baker, this is his first title defense and it comes against his toughest opponent to date as Lozano is a Bellator veteran and also a former NAAFS Champion. Baker holds a win over UFC vet Drew Fickett and a win over Lozano would add to his credentials even more and make people around the country take notice of the budding star. Lozano is looking to regroup back in his old stomping grounds and a victory over Baker would get him moving in the right direction and would also see him reclaim NAAFS gold. Lozano packs a heavy punch and will be looking to land it with bad intentions so this main event should be action packed from the get go. In the co-main event, Frank Caraballo (9-4) defends his NAAFS Pro Series Featherweight Championship against Antonio Castillo Jr. (4-3). Caraballo is on a 4-fight win streak including the last two with Bellator and looks to keep his momentum going as he defends his belt against a gritty challenger in Castillo Jr. Caraballo is a fan favorite because of his aggressive fighting style which usually ends with him winning by knockout or submission. Fans will be in for a treat as the challenger Castillo Jr. loves to grind out his opponents and take their will to fight away, so this bout will be a contrast in styles which means anything is possible. This bout will be a barnburner as the 145 lb weight division is one of the most exciting in all of MMA and if Castillo Jr. can pull off the upset not only will he be the new champion, but he will turn a lot of heads in the MMA industry. But Caraballo will do his best to shut down Castillo Jr. right from the beginning.

Other events this week:

Pro-Wrestling: Chikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur: June 2, 7:00pm ET.

Pro-Wrestling: Impact Zone Wrestling (Weekly Free show): June 2, 8:00pm ET.

Boxing: DEE LEE Promotions Presents Super Summer Brawl : June 1, 8:00pm ET.

Boxing: Worldkid Promotions Presents Brooklyn Boxing: June 2, 7:00pm ET.

Racing: Speedway Motorcycle Races – Industry Racing, Every Wednesday Night: Starting May 30, 9:30pm ET.

Soccer: Futbol Internacional – El Salvador vs Honduras: June 2, 4:00pm ET

GFL now offers full access to over 6,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 subscribe now at www.GFL.tv

***GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 1300 live events with over 6000 combat sports videos in 196 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 5 million public viewers over the years with more than 250 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL is also available on Roku, Android, IPhone, IPad, as well as other internet ready devices. Check the event page for details.

If Combat Sports is your game…Go Fight-Every Night with GFL Combat Sports Network

Join us at: www.GFL.tv or twitter.com/GFL or youtube.com/Gofightlive or inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

NEW YORK (May 29, 2012) – A light heavyweight world championship showdown—potentially the division’s best matchup in years between two young fighters in their prime—has been confirmed for Saturday, Aug. 11, at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, when undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs), of Tallahassee, Fla., defends his title against popular hometown favorite and former World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight titleholder Jean Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live on SHOWTIME®.

The co-feature will match budding Canadian knockout artist Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, (18-1, 15 KOs) of Montreal (Canada), against an opponent to be announced in a super middleweight bout.

Cloud is known as a no-nonsense power puncher, who comes right at his opponents with few frills. Pascal may not equal Cloud in work rate, but his footwork and explosive combinations make for a compelling matchup between ferocious punchers. Both men will be coming in to not only win, but to make a statement as the best puncher in one of boxing’s glamor divisions.

The 5-foot-10, 30-year-old Cloud will be making the fifth defense of the then-vacant 175-pound title he won via 12-round unanimous decision over Clinton Woods on Aug. 28, 2009. The hard-hitting, 29-year-old successfully defended against Glen Johnson (unanimous decision, June 7, 2010), Fulgencio Zuniga (unanimous decision, Dec. 17, 2010) and Yusaf Mack (TKO 8, June 28, 2011) before winning a controversial split decision over Gabriel Campillo in February.

“This fight with Jean Pascal is a bout I’m looking forward to,” said Cloud. “It’s going to be what I call a ‘Release the Kraken’ match. Everybody knows I come to fight. What I like about Pascal is that he doesn’t fool around either. When I look for him, he will be there, and the same goes for me.

“Fans like to see leather thrown with bad intentions, and that’s what they are going to get in Montreal on August 11.”

The 5-foot-10 ½-inch, 29-year-old Pascal is currently ranked No. 2 by” The Ring” and in the top 10 in three of the four major organizations. Since his first world title fight in 2009, Pascal has defeated Chad Dawson (via 11th-round technical decision in 2010), Adrian Diaconu twice and fought the legendary Bernard Hopkins to a thrilling draw in December 2010. In the second of back-to-back meetings with Hopkins last May, Pascal lost his title by a very close decision.

“First, I want to thank Tavoris Cloud for giving me the opportunity to fight for his IBF light heavyweight belt and to prove who I really am in the ring,” said Pascal. “He has shown true class seeking out the best challenger in the division and for this he has my full respect. Our styles make for the best, most explosive and spectacular fight possible in boxing. Having been away from the ring for more than a year, I am hungrier and more determined than ever to get back on top. Don’t miss it August 11 in Montreal. I am going to get back on the throne for good.”

Throughout a career that began in August 2004, Cloud has been a road warrior. He’s fought only three times in his native Florida. Pascal, conversely, has had all but two of his fights in Canada.

Stevenson has notched 15 knockouts in 19 professional fights in his climb up the rankings. The Canadian southpaw super middleweight is currently No. 2 in IBF, No. 3 in WBC and No. 7 in the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).

“I am so proud to be making my SHOWTIME debut fighting in this major event in Montreal,” said Stevenson. “I am on a mission to destroy anybody that has the courage to get in the ring with me. I am not looking for any favors or compassion. My goal is to show the world that I truly deserve to be on a major network fighting Carl Froch for his IBF belt. Watch me make a major statement August 11 on SHOWTIME.”

Trained by the renowned Emmanuel Steward, Stevenson got a late start in the professional ranks with a 2006 debut at the age of 29. Now a six year pro, Stevenson has maintained his penchant for knockouts as he’s stepped up the class of competition. In his last five starts, against opponents with a combined record of 107-8, he has overwhelmed them all, winning four of five inside three rounds. The lone exception is a ninth-round KO of Aaron Pryor Jr.

In all, 12 of his 15 knockouts have come inside three rounds.

The 5-foot-11, 34-year-old Stevenson won a WBC Silver belt with a second-round TKO over Noe Gonzalez (27-1 going in) in his most recent outing last April 20 at Bell Centre.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Bethlehem, PA-It’s the hottest ticket in town!

With a start-studded lineup scheduled for June, the Event Center at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem looks like the place to be in the Lehigh Valley.

But the one evening the local sports fans are talking about is Friday, June 1, when the NBC Sports Network Fight Night cameras invade the 1,832-seat Event Center for an evening of world-class professional boxing.

The double-header main event features Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia, PA, vs. Sechew Powell, of Brooklyn, in a 12-round contest for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior middleweight title, and Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, vs. Prenice Brewer, of Cleveland, OH, for the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight crown.

Cruz

The ticket demand has been so overwhelming that the Event Center this week added additional seats to accommodate those fans who still have not been able to purchase tickets to the first boxing card in the new building, which opened May 16 with Incubus and followed with the Beach Boys, Glen Frey and Alan Jackson to strong sales, but nothing like the demand for tickets for June 1

“This is what boxing should be about,” said J Russell Peltz, whose company, Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., is staging the seven-bout card with Main Events, of Totowa, NJ. “We may be next to a casino, but we are in a brand new state-of-the-art arena where fans buy tickets. It’s a beautiful building with seven luxury suite boxes and there’s not a bad seat in the house.

“Real boxing fans are coming to this show and they are buying tickets wherever they can find them. It’s just like the old days when the corner store put up posters and sold tickets from behind the cash register. That’s what we’ve done in Bethlehem. We have ticket outlets all over town. About a dozen businesses have purchased ads in the souvenir program.

“The NBC Sports Network series is about good fights in lively settings and that is what we have been doing this year-bringing boxing back to the real fans.

“We’ve got a hometown hero in Ronald Cruz and he comes from a very tight-knit community of adoring fans. They follow him to Philadelphia when he fights there and they gobble up hotel rooms and loads of tickets when he fights in Atlantic City.”

Last summer, on four weeks’ notice, Cruz vs. cross-state rival Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA, sold out the 1,300-seat temporary tent erected on the grounds of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem on the Friday evening of July 4 weekend. At that time, youngsters under 21 were not permitted to attend the fight since they would have had to go through the casino to get to the tent. With the Event Center standing alone, people of all ages can attend.

It does not figure to be an easy night for Cruz (16-0, 12 K0s) on June 1 when he takes on the slick-boxing Brewer, whose 16-1-1 record includes six knockouts and he has a history of winning away from home.

Brewer

In the TV main event, it should be another struggle for both Rosado and Powell, a pair of world-ranked contenders looking for a world title fight down the road.

The start time of the seven-fight card has been moved up to 7pm due to a taping for overseas television of an important light-heavyweight rematch between Russian puncher Sergey Kovalev and Darnell Boone, of Atlanta, GA.

Kovalev is 17-0-1, 15 K0s, but had his toughest fight 20 months ago when he eked out an eight-round split decision over Boone in Atlanta, GA.

Four additional bouts complete the card.

ABOUT JUNE 1

The Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. First fight is 7PM. Tickets are priced at $50, $75 and $175.00 for seats in the luxury suite boxes, which comes with food. Ticket can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790). NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights, beginning at 9PM ET. The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and www.goDaddy.com.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK FIGHT NIGHT SCHEDULE (All Times ET)

Friday, June 1, 9-11 pm – Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, PA
Saturday, June 16, 9-11 pm – Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Friday, September 21, 9-11pm – Site TBA
Saturday, December 8, 9-11 pm – Site TBA
To find the location of the NBC Sports Network on your local cable, satellite or IPTV provider, click here:http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30092015/ns/sports/

Tweet the link to NBC Sports Network Fight Night channel finder: bit.ly/175UuU
Twitter: #FightNight
Twitter: @main_events @NBCSN
Facebook: facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing facebook.com/NBCSports

Former world champion Paul Williams was Paralyzed from the waist down due to a motorcycle accident that happened near his Atlanta home on Sunday.

In a statement to espn.com, George Peterson who is a Williams Manager/Trainer/Father Figure said “”They’re saying he won’t walk again or box again,” said Peterson, who flew to Atlanta from Washington, D.C., where they were training for Williams’ next fight, on Sunday. “Paul is in denial right now. It’s been that way with him. You tell him he can’t or won’t do something, and he wants to prove you different. So whatever the doctors say, he’s not listening. But they say that (walking and boxing) is not going to happen.”

Peterson said Williams, who lives about an hour outside of Atlanta, had ridden his motorcycle from his home to Atlanta to attend the Sunday wedding of one of his brothers.

Peterson said Williams, 30, is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday to stabilize the portion of his spinal cord that is intact and allows him to move his hands, arms, torso and head.

“The other part of his spinal chord is damaged and has eliminated his lower body movement,” Peterson said.

Peterson continued by saying that Williams is coherent and even joking while in his hospital bed.

Williams, who just signed for a major Pay Per View bout against WBC Super Welterweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 15th.

Former five-time world champion Johnny Tapia was found dead in his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Sunday.

Tapia who was one of the most charismatic fighters for much of the 1990’s and 2000’s was forty-five years old.

Besides his ring excellence, Tapia had a myriad of problems outside the ring which included many bouts with drugs.

Tapia won his first title in 1994 when he won the WBO Super Flyweight title with an eleventh round stoppage of Henry Martinez. He defended the title times for capturing the IBF belt when he defeated his cross town rival Danny Romero in 1997. Tapia defended those two belts two more times before moving up to Bantamweight and winning the WBA belt in 1998.

Tapia fought memorable fights with Paulie Ayala and Marco Antonio Barrera before retiring in 2011.

15rounds.com spoke to Tapia in November where he told us that he was training fighters and working for Showtime.

Former multiple time world champion Johnny Tapia breaks down Ward – Froch

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

– Friday, May 25, 2012 9:00pm ET featuring School of Hard Knocks 23 Calgary at the Subway Soccer Center, Calgary, Canada. In the main event, Paapa Inkumsah (4-4) of Gracie Barra in Calgary, Alberta fights Jarod Milko (4-1) from Progressive Fighting Academy out of Lethbridge, Alberta in a welterweight pro fight. Inkumsah has 3 victories by submission and has only gone to a decision twice, so his fights are usually action filled bouts where someone is getting submitted or knocked out as Inkumsah uses a high risk-high reward fighting style. Milko has never gone to a decision and holds a title with another organization so his big fight experience will come in handy as he main events “HKFC 23” against Inkumsah. Milko also has 3 wins via submission so this could turn into a grappling chess match, or they fighters could decide to handle their business on their feet, not wanting to risk being submitted by another proficient grappler. In the co-main event, Dia Grant (3-6) from Dynamic MMA in Calgary, Alberta faces Julius Huhs (2-0) from AJJA Canada in Kamloops, BC in a lightweight pro fight. Grant is coming off a first round submission win and looks to add to his momentum against the upstart Huhs. Grant will bring a vast experience edge into the cage as well as a “fight anyone” mentality. Grant will be ready for whatever the newcomer Huhs throws at him. For the undefeated Huhs, this is a great test for him in his early pro career as he has never even fought in the second round with both of his victories coming in the first. Grant will be Huhs’ toughest test to date and a good measuring stick for the 155 lb fighter. If Huhs walks through Grant then he might be in line for a title shot with HKFC.

– Saturday, May 26, 2012 7:00pm ET featuring Dead Serious Four at the Rahway Rec Center in Rahway, New Jersey. In the main event, it is a rematch from a fight at “Dead Serious Three” as undefeated Shane Burgos (4-0-0-1) battles RJ Starace (3-4-0-1) in a featherweight showdown. Their first meeting ended in a no contest after Starace was unable to continue after an accidental foul in round one. It was a disappointing ending to what otherwise started out as a barnburner. The foul occurred when Burgos and Starace where doing some clinch work and working for position and Burgos landed a knee that was low on Starace. Starace was in immediate pain and unable to re-start the fight. In the past, Burgos has shown that he has the cardio conditioning to win a fight on decision, and he also has a deadly submission game to go along with strong stamina. Starace has fought for the Dead Serious Featherweight Title previously, suffering a tough loss in round three. He will look back to get on his winning ways and set the story straight in this rematch with Burgos. The winner of this bout will be at the front of the line for a future 145 lb title shot with Dead Serious, so there is a lot riding on this defacto #1 Contender match. In other action, Jimmy Starr (0-2) fights Guido Valdner (0-0) in a featherweight tussle. Both fighters are looking for their first wins in the sport and this bout will be a great litmus test for both athletes. Starr has already fought twice so he will have the experience advantage, but Valdner is an unknown so it will be hard to game plan for his strengths so he has an advantage in the styles matchup as he will know a little bit more about what Starr’s strengths are while Starr will have to plan for everything against Valdner. This bout should be a barnburner as one of these 145 lb fighters will get their first victory of their career.

– Saturday, May 26, 2012 8:00pm ET featuring Ultimate Warrior Fighting (UWF) “Tournament of Champions” at the Laredo Energy Arena. The event will feature the final four of both the 155 lb and 170 lb tournaments where the eventual winners will win $25,000. Tune into this 9-bout card and watch Texas’ best MMA fighters as they go for gold and honor. In the 170 lb tournament, Lucas Pimenta (6-0) battles Chuck Parmelee (38-11-1) and John Malbrough (3-3) fights Justin Guthrie (15-4). Parmelee looks to be the favorite to win the whole thing as he is very experienced and battle tested. He squares off against Pimenta who is undefeated and coming off a quick victory earlier this month in the first round of the tournament. That could be a huge factor as there is a quick turnaround for this event, with the fighters in the tournaments fighting twice in one month. For Pimenta, he will have to attack Parmelee right from the get-go and test his endurance as Parmelee won his fight via decision after a grueling three round contest. In the other side of the bracket, Malbrough got a well-earned submission victory in his first bout while the more experienced Guthrie went the distance and won via decision. Guthrie holds titles with other federations already so he is used to being in a championship atmosphere. It will be interesting to see if either fighter has any nagging injuries from their first round battles. Look for Guthrie to try and grind Malbrough down, while Malbrough goes for the homerun KO or a devastating submission. In the 155 lb tournament, Rey Trujillo (11-7) fights Gilbert Jimenez (6-5-1) and Christ Quitquit (4-0) takes on Flavio Alvaro (23-7). Trujillo got his first win earlier in the month via decision while Jimenez won via choke in round three. Trujillo is a heavy puncher while Jimenez attacks from all angles. If Trujillo can land early it could be a quick night, but if Jimenez can get the bout to the ground, it could be to his advantage. In the other half of the bracket, the undefeated Quitquit is coming off a spectacular first round submission and came out of his first tourney fight relatively unscathed. He will need to be 100% as Alvaro is a replacement and did not fight in round one and also holds a distinct experience advantage over Quitquit. Alvaro is also on a 4-fight win streak and looks to continue his dominance inside of the cage and with UWF.

– Saturday, May 26, 2012 8:00pm ET featuring Absolute Action MMA XXVI from Florence, Kentucky. In the main event, Phillip Perkins (2-1) fights Donnie Ballou (5-3) for the AAMMA Flyweight Title. Both of these 125 lb fighters have a lot at stake as the winner will be the first ever AAMMA Flyweight Champion. Perkins fights a high risk-high reward style as he has never been out of the first round, winning two of his fights via stoppage (TKO and triangle submission). Perkins is like a Tasmanian Devil in the cage and always looks to apply pressure to his opponent from the opening bell. Ballou is the more experienced fighter, and is also a verteran of Absolute Action MMA. He won his last fight via submission in round one and carries heavy hands into the cage as 3 of his wins have come via KO or TKO. Ballou can make quick work out of opponents when he lands his punches flush. This bout has all the makings of fight of the night as Perkins and Ballou will stop at nothing to win the first ever Flyweight Championship in AAMMA. In the co-main event, Robert Cooper (3-0) battles James Benton (4-3) for the vacant AAMMA Light Heavyweight Championship. The undefeated Cooper has been on a tear getting finishes in all of his fights. Benton will prove to be Cooper’s toughest test to date as he is battle-tested and has never backed down especially during his 4-fight winning streak midway through his career. The leather will be flying as these two gladiators do for gold in this 205 lb championship match.

Other events this week:

Pro-Wrestling: Impact Zone Wrestling (Weekly Free show): May 26, 8:00pm ET.

GFL now offers full access to over 6,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 subscribe now at www.GFL.tv

***GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 1300 live events with over 6000 combat sports videos in 196 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 5 million public viewers over the years with more than 250 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL is also available on Roku, Android, IPhone, IPad, as well as other internet ready devices. Check the event page for details.

If Combat Sports is your game…Go Fight-Every Night with GFL Combat Sports Network

Join us at: www.GFL.tv or twitter.com/GFL or youtube.com/Gofightlive or inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT CARD
Atlantic City, NJ (May 23, 2012)– Dee Lee Promotions, LLC. in association with the Tropicana Casino and Resort presents hard hitting Dennis “The Assassin” Hasson (13-0-0/5 ko’s) vs George “The Rooster” Armenta (14-8-0/11 ko’s) in a 10 round super middleweight “Summer Super Brawl” on Friday, June 1, 2012. This 10 Round main event is part of Atlantic City’s first ever Multi-Cultural Heritage Festival which includes an All Star Boxing Legends Gala the following night. With legendary names like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and “Joltin” Jeff Chandler floating around town, Mr. Hasson will have the perfect setting to show case his crowd pleasing brawling boxing skills. Mr. Hasson better not underestimate the hard hitting Mr. Armenta or he could find himself on the wrong end of a big right hand. Mr. Armenta has 11 ko’s in his 14 victories so anything can happen!!

The 8 round co-main event on this “Summer Super Brawl” fight card features Philadelphia’s super bantamweight “Pretty Boy” Coy Evans (10-1-1/2 ko’s). Mr. Evans has shown a lot of early promise and his skills have been steadily sharpened but finding quality opponents in that weight class will be a real challenge for matchmaker Nick Tiberi. There will also be an all time show stopping WIBC 3 minute -10 round Title Fight featuring Lisa Noel Garland (9-6-0/5 ko’s) of York, SC vs Kita Watkins (7-8-0/1 ko’s) of Camden, AR . This will surely be an amazing fight, so do not miss it!!

The exciting undercard will be filled with action packed fighters led by heavyweight Joey “The Polish Thunder” Dawejko (6-0-1/2 ko’s) vs. Edwin Ranquillo (2-1/1 ko’s). At 5’10 – 235 pounds, the 21 year old Mr. Dawejko presents big problems for any opponent and any ring looks small when he steps through the ropes, however do not be so quick to judge this fight. Even though it appears Mr. Ranquillo does not have the ring experience, he does have the experience of serving our country. This card also sees the return of light heavyweight Frankie “The Freight Train” Filippone (9-2-0/2 ko’s) vs Keandre Leatherwood (9-1-0/6 ko’s). With such close records, both men are hungry to pick up another “W” at the Trop no matter what it takes!!!

The remainder of this very promising undercard features Isiah Seldon (6-0-0/3 ko’s) vs Lekan Byfield (2-1), with Big Dog Mr. Seldon in town Isiah will be sure to put on a good show! Saud “Kid Grady” Clark vs Flavio Augusto Reyes both making their Pro-Debut’s, Anthony “The Bull” Smith (13-0/10 ko’s), Delaware’s Mike Tiberi (19-1-0/7 ko’s), Two young local fighters, Atlantic City Native super middleweight Antwyan Aikens (4-0-0/1 ko’s) vs Kenneth Schmitz (2-1/1 ko’s) and Millville featherweight Joshua Reyes (1-0-0) vs David Rogriquez (0-1) round out this entertaining fight card.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m., with the first bout slated for 8:00 p.m. Tickets are priced at $40, $55, $65 and $100 and can be purchased at the Tropicana Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000 or Dee Lee Promotions, LLC. at 856.692.1206.

About Dee Lee Promotions, LLC.
Dee Lee Promotions, LLC. is owned and operated by New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Diane Fischer of Vineland, NJ. Fischer has earned a reputation not only as a premier matchmaker who has presented some of the most memorable and entertaining boxing contests in the country, but as woman who has been innovative and overcome gender barriers in an industry dominated by men. Her industry awards and distinctions include:??New Jersey Promoter of The Year; Undercard Fight of the Year; Best Girl Fight of The Year; The First Time Six World Title Belts [Pay Per View] appeared on one card (Atlantic City); The First All Girl Fight on the East Coast; The first woman ever to promote an all girl fight card in Baton Rouge Louisiana; The first woman promoter ever to promote a World Title Fight in Panama City; The first male or female promoter to present a title fight in Delaware; The first woman promoter to promote/co-promote a Heavyweight Championship Fight on HBO, Ray Mercer, and Wladimir Klitschko on June 29, 2002; the fight also was aired on PPV in Germany and was the first Heavyweight Championship promoted by a female in that country.?To contact?Dee Lee Promotions LLC., call 856.692.1206.

About Tropicana Casino and Resort
Tropicana Entertainment Inc. (“Tropicana Entertainment”) owns and operates 8 casinos and resorts in Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and New Jersey. In addition, the Company owns a development property in Aruba. Tropicana Entertainment properties collectively have 5,750 rooms, 8,300 slot positions and 240 table games

NEW YORK (May 23, 2012)-On Thursday night June 14th at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, Floriano “L’Italiano” Pagliara will return to the squared circle when he takes part on the Lou DiBella’s Popular Broadway Boxing Television Series

Pagliara who has a record of 12-4-1 with seven knockouts will be continuing on his quest to live the American dream as the import from Cecine, Italy will be making his second New York City appearance over the past three months

For this bout, the popular IBF Mediterranean Super Featherweight Champion has set up training in the Aqua Villiage Water Park in his hometown of Cecine Italy near the Livornese coast.

Pagliara has become a major draw in the New York area as he quickly made an impression on the many Italian fans in the “Little Italy” sections of the city including the Williamsburgh Brooklyn neighborhood and on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx

L”Italiano as he is referred to in America could have stayed in Italy and been very successful as he is a very popular attraction in the Tuscan resort coastal town where he routinely draws 3,000 plus fans for his bouts.

“People are just drawn to Floriano, he is very approachable and a pleasure to work with said Rich Komissar, Pagliara’s American sponsor and matchmaker at RKO Boxing. “He works hard and promotes himself well. We had an overflow of people outside BB Kings looking for tickets to his fight on March 7th. The place was sold out more than a week in advance. Even Floriano was surprised” added Komissar. We are getting hit every day by more and more people looking to know when his next fight is”

Another reason for Floriano’s popularity is that he gets involved in community issues. He is a member of the Ring 8 NY Veteran Boxers Association which provides help to retired boxers. Floriano is hoping to become the official liaison to the retired Italian American fighters in the New York area. “Floriano cares as much as he works” said Tommy Gallagher, the veteran boxing trainer from New York who also is one of the directors on the board for Ring8 NY

Additionally Pagliara has recently become involved with the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation. Cooley’s Anemia is a blood disorder that mostly affects children with Mediterranean heritage. Children afflicted with Cooley’s Anemia or Thalassemia are not expected to live much past their teen years. The mission of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation is to help in advancing the treatment and cure for this fatal blood disease. Floriano, with the help of local businessman and organization member Paul Tucci is hoping to become more involved with the Long Island Fund Raising Chapter. (www.thalassemia.com)

“The DiBella goup has seen the potential and the fan base that Floriano brings and as he continues to appear on Broadway Boxing, there are discussions for Floriano’s fights to be syndicated back in Italy.”

Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45, with a limited number of VIP tables available for purchase as well. VIP Tickets are priced at $150, and there are four seats to a table. Tickets can be purchased by calling RKO Boxing at 908-240-2097 or DiBella Entertainment at 212-947-2577. Call soon as tickets are already going fast and a third consecutive sellout for the Broadway Boxing series is expected

Follow Floriano on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/floriano.pagliara

Former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr. will take on Dawid Kostecki in Poland on June 30th according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“Roy has set his goal to win the cruiserweight title. That is his new thing,” said Square Ring CEO John Wirt . “He wants to win the cruiserweight title, and with Wlodarczyk not available right now because he has to fight Palacios again, he wanted to stay active. And now Poland has pay-per-view and Roy is a huge star here. His fights were all shown here for many, many years, so he is one of the few big American stars here. There’s a market here and Kostecki is a pretty big fighter here too. So this fight, knock on wood, should do very well on pay-per-view here. So that’s what we’re doing.”

“If this fight does well on pay-per-view in Poland and Roy wins, and if Wlodarczyk beats Palacios again, there is a possibility we could come back here and Roy could challenge him for the title. His goal is to win the cruiserweight title. It’s the only belt he hasn’t won (from middleweight to heavyweight).”

Bethlehem, PA-When Gabriel Rosado learned he was fighting Sechew Powell instead of Joel Julio on June 1, he and trainer Billy Briscoe booked themselves a trip to California for three weeks of training at Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

“It’s just what I needed,” said Rosado (left), who meets Powell for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Junior Middleweight Title at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem over 12 rounds, or less.

“At first I wasn’t crazy about fighting a lefty, but the junior middleweight division is full of them so it all turned out for the better. I’m talking about Paul Williams, James Kirkland, Erislandy Lara. These are guys I need to get in there with so fighting Sechew Powell is another step down that road. I’m getting plenty of good work at the Wild Card and I feel good and I’m looking forward to proving myself again. I know a lot of people are skeptical, saying that the last guy I beat (Jesus Soto-Karass) was made to order for me. We’ll see if they right or wrong after June 1.”

The 26-year-old Philadelphian made a career statement Jan. 21 when he tore though Soto-Karass en route to a fifth-round knockout victory at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia.

Rosado, who turned pro in 2006 after only 17 amateur fights, has a 19-5 record as a pro with 11 knockouts. He has won his last five fights and he is ranked No. 5 in the world by the IBF, No. 9 by the WBC.

The 32-year-old Powell (right), of Brooklyn, NY, turned pro in 2002 and is 26-4, 15 K0s. He is ranked No. 9 by the IBF, and comes into this fight off a 12-round points defeat Jan. 28 to former world champion Cory Spinks in a elimination bout in Springfield, MO, for the No. 1 slot in the IBF world rankings.

Prior that that, Powell had challenged one-time knockout victim Cornelius Bundrage, of Detroit, MI, for the IBF world title, losing that one also by 12-round decision June 25, 2010, in St. Charles, MO.

Powell has beaten Ishe Smith, of Las Vegas, NV, and Terrance Cauthen, of Trenton, NJ, and he split in two fights with Deandre Latimore, of St. Louis, MO. Latimore is the only man to have stopped Powell, but Powell avenged himself in the rematch, winning on points.

The co-feature, also scheduled for 12 rounds, features Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, against Prenice Brewer, of Cleveland, OH, for the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title. Cruz is 16-0, 12 K0s; Brewer is 16-1-1, 6 K0s.

Five additional bouts complete the card.

JUNE 1

The Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. First fight is 7:00 pm. Tickets are priced at $50 and $75 as well as luxury suite seats for $125.00. Tickets can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or online at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790).

NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights, beginning at 9 pm on the Fight Night show. The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and www.goDaddy.com.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank