CHESTER, PA (August 10, 2011)—TOMORROW night at the Endzone Sports Bar at Harrahs in Chester, PA the weigh-I will take place for ROUND 4 that will take place the following night at Harrahs in Chester.
The weigh in will start at 6pm.

The show is promoted by Joey Eye Boxing and David Feldman

In the main event, Victor Vasquez will take on Angel Rios in an eight round Lightweight bout.
In the six round co-feature, Tony Ferrante will take on William Prieto in a Light Heavyweight bout
WHO: Victor Vasquez – Angel Rios
Tony Ferrante- William Prieto
Angel Ocasio – Rasool Shakoor
Joey Dawejko – Keon Graham
Joey Tiberi – TBA
WHAT: Final Weigh in for ROUND 4 that will take place on Friday night at Harrahs in Chester, PA
WHEN: Thursday August 11th at 6pm
WHERE: Endzone Sports Bar at Harrahs in Chester, PA

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Marc Abrams at 856 287 7611 or mabrams@15rounds.com; phillyboxing@gmail.com

– Saturday, August 13, 2011 8:00pm ET featuring Fight Force International presents Blood and Sand X from the beautiful Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. In one of the featured bouts, Drew Wallace (5-1) fights undefeated Jason Knight (3-0) in a lightweight contest. Both fighters have quite a following in the Mississippi area and you can bet this contest will be full throttle from the opening bell. The more seasoned Wallace will look to set the pace early in the fight and use his ring experience to wear down the fast-starting Knight, a grappling prodigy, who has defeated all of his opponents in the first round by submission. Wallace’s only defeat came by decision and the veteran looks to be the first to put a check in the loss column for Knight. Both fighters are established stars prepared to take the next step in their careers and they will leave everything in the cage to prove it. In other action, Zebulon “The Prophet” Stroud (2-0) faces Austin Parker (3-3) in a welterweight battle of up and coming prospects. The undefeated Stroud is quite a talent in the sport while Parker is on a 3-fight win streak, with all of his wins coming in the first round. These two very explosive 170 lb fighters will lock horns in the center of the cage and the result could be fight of the night. In more action, Harris “The Sandman” Stephenson (2-0) battles Blake Miles (0-2) and James “Razor” Sharp (5-6) takes on Jason Goodin (3-5) in matches that promise to be barnburners. These two matchups are full of risk takers who have wild fighting styles and always give the fans a great show.

– Saturday, August 13, 2011 10:00pm ET featuring Fight Night Entertainment presents Combat at the Cabaret – Fight Night Round XVI at the Swinomish Casino located on the beautiful Fidalgo Island in Anacortes, Washington. The event features a bevy of top matches, in both the professional and amateur ranks, highlighted by a UFC veteran fighting at the top of the card. In the main event, 4X UFC veteran Mario “Super Mario” Miranda (10-3) fights undefeated Jason Zentgraf (5-0) in a high-octane middleweight bout. For Miranda, this fight is a chance to get a “W” against a tough up and coming opponent. Miranda has refocused and rededicated himself to his craft and looks to be the first fighter to put a blemish on Zentgraf’s perfect record. For Zentgraf, this is a wonderful opportunity to fight against a UFC caliber opponent and if he is able to pick up the victory, then he is very likely to gain the attention of the national promotions. Zentgraf’s task is no easy achievement as Miranda went the distance against Aaron Simpson and Demian Maia in his last two UFC appearances inside the Octagon. This fight couldn’t have bigger stakes for both and the winner will climb the ladder and inch one step closer to realizing his dream. In the co-main event, Craig “The Bullet” Jackson (3-1) battles Dustin Praxedes (1-3). This fight will resemble two Tasmanian devils fighting in the middle of the cage. For Jackson, who is riding a 3-fight win streak, he will look to keep the momentum going with his high risk/high reward fighting style. “The Bullet” always starts fast and will look to push the pace on Praxedes. For Praxedes, a victory over Jackson would show how deceiving his record is. All 4 of Praxedes fights have ended in the first round, so don’t blink. This fight is sure to be a fan-favorite because with these two athletes fighting, it is impossible for this to be a boring match. Look for fireworks early.

– Sunday, August 14, 2011 8:00pm ET featuring M1 Grand Muay Thai Championship at the Commerce Casino, Commerce, California. Internationally recognized professional fighters from all over the world will gather in Southern California on August 14, 2011 for a chance to fight for one of several world titles up for grabs. This event is traditionally held in Thailand in honor of the Queen’s birthday celebration, but due to the immense popularity of the sport internationally special permission was granted to bring this celebration stateside. Stand Up Promotions along with Muay Thai Associations of America (MTAA) and WBC Muay Thai received the Queen’s blessing along with complete endorsement from the Thai government. “We are honored to have for the Queen’s birthday acclaimed fighters from all over the world compete in the most prestigious Muay Thai fight to take place in the United States,” said Robin Hart, Promoter of Stand up Promotions. “Fans continue to gravitate towards Muay Thai due to the exciting bouts, technique and rich tradition of the sport.” Fighters from Thailand, America, and Japan will showcase their skills and their love of the sport in the ring with heart-pounding action as they compete for two world titles in the same fight. To add to the significance of the event, for the first time ever in Muay Thai history, the Diamond Championship Belt will be awarded to one fighter who will own it for their lifetime; it never has to be defended. The WBC (boxing division) created the Diamond Championship Belt in September of 2009 as an honorary championship exclusively to award the winner of a historic fight between two high-profile boxers. World class fighters expected to fight on August 14 include Saenchai Sinibi and Rungravee Sasiprapa from Thailand, Kevin Ross, Coke Chunhawat, Malaipet Sasiprapa and Chike Lindsay from the U.S., Tetsuya Yamato and Kunitaka Fujiwara from Japan. M1 Grand Muay Thai Championship fight will be presented by Stand Up Promotions. Tickets can be purchased online at www.standuppromotions.com.

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Former Cuban amateur standout Odlanier Solis (17-1) is set to return to action on October 14th in Germany. On March 19th „La Sombra“ slipped at the end of a competitive first round against WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and suffered various knee injuries forcing him to undergo three surgeries in March and April. Now the 31-year-old Olympic gold medalist and four-time world amateur champion is scheduled to fight for the vacant IBF intercontinental championship against Varol Vekiloglu from Berlin. Vekiloglu (18-2-1) had won the IBF East/West European title in the light heavyweight division and moved up to heavyweight in June.

„Solis proved against Vitali that he is one of very few fighters in the world who can actually beat him“, states promoter Ahmet Oner. „If his knee hadn’t given in he would have won that fight. But anyways, we are happy that everything looks as if he will be fine and able to return in October. After I heard the diagnosis I thought this injury might end his career but his knee is developing very well and – most importantly – Odlanier wants to come back as soon as possible. He is working very hard for his second chance. This fight can hopefully get him back on track and in line for another title shot.“

Adds Odlanier Solis, „I can’t wait to get back into the ring. Until I fought Vitali I was merely a mercenary soldier. Now that I know how easy it is to become champion of the world this is what I want and what I’m working and living for.“

The deal for the fight was made between Oner and Vekiloglu’s trainer and manager Robert Rolle who had secured the challenger status for the IBF intercontinental title at the IBF Convention back in May before even thinking about a possible opponent. „Varol wanted the big fights so now he has to prove himself in a very big fight“, said Rolle. „Actually it doesn’t get much bigger than this. Solis looked very well against Vitali. He is one of the best heavyweight contenders out there. His amateur merits speak for themself. But then again it is always hard to come back after an injury layoff. We are definitely up for the challenge and looking forward to the fight.“

Bantamweight title holder Nonito Doanire will make his ring return on November 5th in a bout to be televised by HBO according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We are looking to secure an opponent and a site for Nonito’s return on Nov. 5 and we’re very excited,” said Todd duBoef, President of Top Rank.

The names presented to HBO as possible opponents, according to Moretti, are Argentina’s Omar Narvaez (35-0, 23 KOs), a reigning junior bantamweight titleholder and former longtime flyweight titlist; former two-time title challenger Silence Mabuza (23-3, 19 KOs) of South Africa; Mexico’s Christian Esquivel (23-2, 17 KOs); Sebastian Gauthier (21-2, 13 KOs) of Canada; former junior bantamweight titlist Alexander Munoz (35-4, 27 KOs); and Juan Mercedes (26-3, 17 KOs) of the Dominican Republic.

“Narvaez’s people have interest in the fight and there’s a hefty offer out to them right now,” said Top Rank’s Carl Moretti.

“We have absolutely zero interest in pursuing a Darchinyan rematch,” Moretti said. “We’ve been down that road before. We’ve tried to make it and it didn’t get done. I don’t think there’s anything for Nonito to gain by fighting him again.”

In the first sanctioned bareknuckle boxing match since 1889, Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn defeated boxer Rich Stewart via KO in round 3. With the win Gunn claimed the vacant bareknuckle boxing title that was last held by John L. Sullivan.

“It’s mean a great deal to me to have won the way I did,” said Gunn. “Early on I was able to go out there and establish my pace to the fight, and executed the way I planned.”

Leading up to this fight Gunn was adamant about bringing back bareknuckle boxing on a competitive level. Many critics claimed the sport was barbaric and questioned the safety of the fighters.

“A big misconception was that the fight was going to be a street fight or bar fight,” said Gunn. “That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Fighters only have a 3 ½” gap to strike, from the eyes to the nose, around the side of the temple. When you throw a shot to the jaw you have to be careful to hit the side of the jaw. The teeth can split your hands wide open, and if you hit too high above the eyebrows you can shatter your hand on the forehand. Bareknuckle boxing is not about wasting shots throwing wild punches; it’s about precise, accurate shots that are effective.”

Gunn displayed the sweet science as he carefully moved around the ring through the first and second rounds, keeping Stewart at bay and avoiding getting hit.

In the third round Gunn launched a devastating assault on Stewart’s body, followed up with a crisp left hook to the jaw, brining Stewart to the canvas. Upon getting up, Stewart was grazed with a right cross on the top of his head, dropping him again. The referee called the fight in the best interest of Stewart’s health.

“Waking up the next day my hands were a bit sore, but that was the extent of the damage,” said Gunn. “Neither of us fighters suffered any real damage, due to the safety precautions that were put into place.”

Making history with the first bareknuckle boxing match since 1889, Gunn is confident that the sport will take off.

“The public enjoys watching fights because they want to see two professionals who know what they’re doing stand there and throw hands,” said Gunn. “I believe that following this first match the sport is going to take off and become huge.”

And the numbers don’t lie. Over 800,000 tuned in to Ustream.tv to watch the bout.

“I am hoping we can line up a big name for our next fight,” said Gunn. “I will fight anybody they put in front of me, and I promise we’ll put on a show for the fans.”

“Lastly, I want to thank everybody on my team for all their support, and a very special thanks to McDuffy’s Sports Grill in Chandler, Arizona, for sponsoring the fight and being a part of bareknuckle boxing history.

Stay current with all of Gunn’s latest news by visiting www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Bobby-The-Celtic-Warrior-Gunn/229151550460878.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that that Manny Pacquiao’s November 12th Welterweight title defense against Juan Manuel Marquez will be distributed bu HBO Pay Per View.

Pacquiao who had been a staple of HBO Boxing, had his May 7 showdown with Shane Mosley carried by Showtime after his promoter Top Rank got a better deal.

Just a few weeks after HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg resigned, HBO came to Top Rank with a better offer to reacquire the right to televise the world’s best Pound for Pound fighter.

“In boxing we talk about great fighters coming back after a loss. Well, HBO came back just like a great fighter,” said Top Rank President Todd duBoef, a key architect of the deal, told ESPN.com. “They came back from being on the canvas. They made their adjustments and came back and won the fight. You have to give them a lot of credit.”

“The Pacquiao-Mosley fight re-established Showtime as a major player in the pay-per-view arena and we look forward to future opportunities with Top Rank and the other promoters in boxing,” Showtime spokesman Chris DeBlasio told ESPN.com. “Right now we remain focused on a huge slate of sports programming we have lined for the fall.”

“I’m absolutely sick. This has been a physically and mentally very grueling process,” duBoef said. “But it’s invigorating to see how two major media companies have used incredible resources and assets to show how much they want to be involved in a boxing match.

“Showtime was disappointed and I’m disappointed. You’re disappointed when someone puts in a terrific proposal and then you have to tell them they’re not good enough because someone came across with a better one, a more appealing map for this fight. It was a tough call to make, especially when you’ve built relationships. I felt it was appropriate to be truthful and up front with Ken. I couldn’t sleep last night. I’m disappointed I had to leave somebody that I have a lot of respect for. The proposals (both networks) put together were fantastic. They were unprecedented. I’ve never seen anything like it. When you have that it is very difficult to make your decision. I wish both could have distributed the fight.”

“One of the things that motivated me personally (to make the HBO deal) is the attitude of Plepler and Lombardo,” Arum told ESPN.com. “I think they are extremely bright guys and have the same vision that we have to make boxing big-time again and a desire to elevate it on a world stage. With this deal, they brought to bear all the resources of the Time Warner empire.

“HBO can do only so much because of the limited audience it has. I can tell when people are extremely motivated and will put the time and effort in and to have them behind it and working with us on a day-to-day basis, along with the HBO staff, like (HBO PPV chief) Mark Taffet, it will be a home run.”

“We’re not tying ourselves to anyone,” he said. “Let’s see how this goes. But I have very high hopes that it will be a blockbuster.”

Arum said the goal is not only to do big pay-per-view numbers, but to bring boxing more into the mainstream. With Showtime and CBS marketing Pacquiao-Mosley, it generated about 1.3 million buys, according to Arum — the most ever for a Pacquiao fight.

Besides the usual promotional tools HBO would typically use for a fight — including the “24/7? reality series following the buildup, “Face Off With Max Kellerman” and replays of classic Pacquiao and Marquez fights — Arum said the fight would be promoted across Time Warner’s numerous platforms, which includes television networks (such as HBO, TNT, TBS and CNN), magazines (Sports Illustrated and People) and the websites for those outlets. They will be heavily utilized, Arum said. Among the plans, according to Arum and duBoef:

• CNN will show replays of “24/7? episodes.
• Arum and Pacquiao will appear for a joint interview on Piers Morgan’s primetime CNN show as well as be interviewed on CNN international programming.
• The fight will be promoted during TBS’ coverage of the Major League Baseball playoffs.
• If the NBA lockout is lifted, the fight would also be promoted during TNT’s basketball coverage.
• There will be daily coverage of fight-week activities on HBO, including the final news conference and weigh-in.

“Being on shows on CNN, to me, is elevating the sport to new levels,” Arum said. “To have the fight discussed on programs that intellectual elites watch is good for the brand. Time Warner is also going to pull out all the stops on their sports programs on TNT and TBS.”

Said duBoef: “The currency of these deals isn’t about the dollars. It was the currency of who could get my product out to the most eyeballs. It was an analysis. I didn’t just do it on a gut feeling. I went through this very strategically and we had it analyzed. At the end of the day, it was HBO, Time Warner who had a better deal across the board.”

Initially, Arum said whichever company got the rights to Pacquiao-Marquez III would also get the Dec. 3 Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito rematch, another major fight. HBO PPV did their initial fight in 2008 while Showtime PPV did Cotto’s win against Ricardo Mayorga in March.

Arum said he eventually changed his mind about making the two fights a package deal.

“Showtime still has a position on the Cotto fight because they did the last one, so Monday we’ll start talking to them,” Arum said. “When Todd and I had further discussions and we realized that it wasn’t the most advantageous thing to do, to make a package deal. Showtime did such a great job for us on the last Pacquiao fight and it would be important and good for the sport for Showtime to stay involved in these major pay-per-view fights. So if Showtime meets certain proposals that we’re going to make, and we get the support we need from them, then it behooves everybody to go with them. That way we keep more people and entities involved and it’s great for the sport.

“I don’t want to go back to the situation where there is one entity doing all the major pay-per-views and that entity does the same thing over and over and gets into this narrow box, which I felt the pay-per-views were in because they had been successful and we kept repeating the same thing over and over again. That is not a way to grow a sport. You grow it by being innovative and having competition and new ideas.”

As the countdown begins for The Bantamweight Tournament Final, meet the two boxers who fought their way to the top of the class: Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares. Saturday August 13th at 10pm ET/PT on SHOWTIME

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that Jr. Welterweights Kendall Hilt and Danny Garcia will fight eachother on October 15th as part of the Bernard Hopkins – Chad Dawson world Light Heavyweight title fight undercard in Los Angeles.

“It’s done, 100 percent done and I’m very excited about this fight,” said Holt’s promoter Gary Shaw. “I think it’s a great fight and the right fight for both fighters.”

“It wasn’t hard at all,” he said. “Golden Boy and myself both wanted to make the fight and both fighters wanted the fight. That makes the perfect marriage.”

“I don’t think Garcia has ever felt the kind of power Kendall has and Kendall may not have been in with anyone recently with the kind of speed that Garcia has,” Shaw said. “It’s the old cliche — this is the young fighter versus the veteran, which is the theme of Hopkins and Dawson as well.”

junior lightweight titleholder Jorge Linares (31-1, 20 KOs) for the lightweight belt recently vacated by Humberto Soto (DeMarco’s cousin).

Shaw said he and Golden Boy are still working to finalize a fourth televised bout, but that it could include heavyweight Franklin Lawrence, whom Shaw recently signed, or blue chip featherweight prospect Gary Russell Jr., a 2008 U.S. Olympian.

“We’ll lock in the last fight probably by Wednesday,” Shaw said.

LOS ANGELES, August 3 – With seven title defenses during his nearly three year reign as WBA Bantamweight Super World Champion, Panama’s Anselmo Moreno is unquestionably one of boxing’s premier fighters. Now, as “Chemito” looks to propel himself into the biggest fights possible at 118 pounds, he has signed an exclusive, multi-fight promotional agreement with Golden Boy Promotions.

“Anselmo Moreno is one of the most underrated boxers out there today and we’re going to make sure he gets the fights and the recognition he deserves in the coming years,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “To remain a champion as long as he has is an amazing feat these days. Now we’re to get him into the mega-fights that will let him show his talent in front of fight fans around the world.”

“I’m honored to be part of the Golden Boy Promotions team, with so many great fighters and champions,” said Moreno. “I’m going to fight my heart out every time I’m in the ring and I’m going to give the fans the fights they want to see.”

Rouss Laguna, Moreno’s publicist added, “I’m very happy that ‘Chemito’ is part of the Golden Boy family and going to be promoted by one of the greatest in boxing, Oscar de la Hoya.”

A native of Miguelito, Panama, 26-year-old Moreno (30-1-1, 10 KO’s) is unbeaten since a split decision loss in his first year as a professional in 2002. Since then, he has defeated everyone in his path and in May of 2008, he won the WBA Bantamweight World Championship with a 12 round decision win over then-unbeaten Wladimir Sidorenko. Since then, the southpaw has defended his title seven times, including a rematch win over Sidorenko and a victory over Mahyar Monshipour in 2009. In his three most recent bouts, Moreno scored back-to-back wins over Nehomar Cermeno, and on June 16, he successfully defended his crown for the eighth time when he scored an eighth round knockout win over former World Champion Lorenzo Parra.

A date and opponent for Moreno’s Golden Boy Promotions debut will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or visit us on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page.

About Golden Boy Promotions:

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. In 2007, in its fifth year of promoting, Golden Boy Promotions set a record by selling over 2.5 million in pay-per-view homes in a single night. Also in 2007, Golden Boy Promotions established the record for highest grossing pay-per-view homes in a single year with more than 4 million total. In 2009, the company broke records again by breaking the million mark in pay-per-view homes again with the return of Floyd Mayweather. Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing’s most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the United States and the world on networks such as HBO, HBO Latino, HBO Plus, SHOWTIME, TeleFutura, Televisa, ESPN2 and Fox Sports Net.

Golden Boy Promotions currently has over 70 fighters under contract, from future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins to current world champions and superstars Saul Alvarez, Robert Guerrero, David Haye, Chris John, Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana, Anselmo Moreno and Victor Ortiz. Also included on the company’s roster are top contenders Librado Andrade, Erislandy Lara, Abner Mares, Daniel Ponce De Leon and Peter Quillin as well as highly regarded prospects Adrien Broner, Danny Garcia, Frankie Gomez, Seth Mitchell, Carlos Velasquez and Deontay Wilder.

UFC President Dana White talks UFC 133 & More

15rounds.com and gfl.tv was on hand for the UFC 133 Press conference that features Rashad Evans- Tito Ortiz; Vitor Belfort – Yoshihiro Akiyama and Rory McDonald – Mike Pyle

PART 2

Vowing that he would never lose another MMA bout to a stronger, more muscular fighter, Fabricio Werdum has turned to MHP to help him build a more powerful body. “I have to get stronger and more muscular to win the Strikeforce and UFC Heavyweight Championships,” he said after signing a sponsorship contract with nutritional supplement powerhouse MHP. “I’m excited to join forces with Team MHP!”

Fabricio became connected to MHP through his strength coach and grappling partner Jarrod Bunch, a former NY Giants fullback. When Bunch was playing in the NFL, he used MHP products religiously to maintain muscle mass and explosive power to block for Giants running backs and run over linebackers. So when his friend Fabricio lost to a more muscular Alistair Overeem, Bunch turned to MHP to remedy the 6’4”, 250 pounder’s lack of strength and muscle mass.

“MHP products helped me tremendously when I played for the Giants,” says Bunch, “and I’ve been using them regularly since 1998. So I knew they could play a huge part in getting Fabricio stronger and helping him fight better. We now have Fabricio on an intense strength training program and he’s taking ISOFAST 50 protein, Dark Matter post recovery and a host of other MHP products. He won’t lose another bout because he’s not strong enough!”

“When I fought against Overeem, I felt he was much stronger than me,” adds Werdum. “I know that I have to get stronger to keep fighting at the highest level of the MMA heavyweight ranks.”

For more than a decade, MHP has enhanced the strength and muscle mass of athletes in many sports, including football, strongman, powerlifting and boxing. “Based on our experience and proven track record in working with world class athletes, I am confident that MHP supplements will help Fabricio build the muscular power he needs to regain his world title,” says MHP President Gerard Dente. “We are happy to have him join Team MHP!”

Watch for more news and other information about MMA star Fabricio Werdum on the MHPSTRONG.com website and MHP’s Facebook page.

NEW YORK, NY (August 3, 2011) – DiBella Entertainment has added Irish middleweight contender Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin to its ever-growing stable of fighters. Macklin, 29, is an intelligent boxer-puncher, who has shown that he is not afraid to engage or press the action when necessary. He is currently ranked #4 by the WBA, #7 by the WBO, and #12 by the IBO, and has nothing but big fights on his mind as he joins the same promotional roster as middleweight champion Sergio Martinez and middleweight contenders Andy Lee, Brian Vera, Ronald Hearns, Peter Manfredo, Jr., and Ishe Smith.

There are times when a loss brings more positive attention to a fighter’s career than any of his previous victories. Coming off his most recent fight, a controversial loss to “Super” WBA middleweight titlist Felix Sturm, that statement could not be truer of Macklin, 28-3 (19 KOs). But now, Macklin is looking for redemption under a new promotional banner, a deal to bring him to the United States that was facilitated by Brian Peters, his manager since 2005.

“I am really happy to be signing with DiBella Entertainment,” said Macklin. “I’ve known Lou DiBella for many years. I met him in Manchester when Paulie Malignaggi fought Lovemore Ndou in 2008. We spoke about doing something together last year, but the timing wasn’t right. I feel that we’re now on the same wavelength. I’m excited about the future and I feel that I am in very good hands with Lou.”

Born in Birmingham, England, to Irish parents, Macklin was studying law at Coventry University while simultaneously competing as an amateur boxer. After winning the national senior Amateur Boxing Association of England welterweight title in 2001, Macklin made the decision to put his studies on hold, to the ire of his parents, in order to pursue a professional boxing career.

In Glasgow, Scotland, on the undercard of future featherweight champion Scott Harrison, Macklin stopped Ram Singh in just 112 second, on November 17, 2001. Going on to win his first nine bouts, six by knockout, Macklin built up enough of a reputation to challenge for the British junior middleweight title. Fighting Andrew Facey on November 6, 2003, Macklin lost a razor-thin 10-round decision by one point, with a score of 96-95.

Macklin bounced back from that defeat winning three straight before fighting professionally in Ireland for the first time against Michael Monaghan for the Irish middleweight title, on May 14, 2005, his 23rd birthday, at National Stadium in Dublin. Macklin won the belt with a fifth-round knockout, at 1:28 of the frame.

Three months after winning the Irish middleweight title, Macklin traveled across the pond to get his first taste of fighting in the United States, winning two bouts by knockout, stopping Leo Laudat in three in Atlantic City, and Anthony Little in two in Philadelphia.

Three fights later, Macklin would engage Jamie Moore in one of the best fights of 2006, in his second attempt to win the British junior middleweight crown. Fighting Moore at George Carnall Leisure Centre in Manchester on September 26, Macklin was quickly drawn into a brawl and the two continued to fight in the trenches for over nine brutal rounds, before the Irishman would succumb to a knockout halfway through the 10th frame.

“I fought Jamie Moore at the wrong weight,” said Macklin. “Although I shouldn’t have fought Moore’s fight, making weight was the problem in that bout. I felt weak, I had no stamina and no reflexes. I stayed at welterweight and junior middleweight for far too long. I am a middleweight.”

Maintaining a busy schedule over the next two years, Macklin would win his next six fights, three by knockout, including a 10-round decision over veteran Yori Boy Campas. Macklin then returned to his hometown of Birmingham to challenge Wayne Elcock for the British middleweight title on March 14, 2009, winning by TKO in the third. Macklin followed that up with a fight against Finnish Amin Asikainen six months later and destroyed him inside one round to add the European title to his collection.

After defending the European title in two of his next three victories, Macklin was poised to make a big slash on the world-boxing scene with a bout against former junior middleweight champion Winky Wright set for Las Vegas. However, that bout did not come to fruition when Wright pulled out after suffering an injury in training. A WBA eliminator against Khoren Gevor next presented itself with the winner to face Felix Sturm. Contractual issues led to Macklin pulling out of that contest, but he was rewarded with a direct shot at Sturm and, despite losing a highly controversial split decision on the champion’s home turf, made a statement with his dynamic performance.

“I went over to Germany and I proved myself. I felt that I won,” said Macklin, who lost the split decision by two votes of 116-112 for Sturm and a 115-113 tally in his favor. “I feel that if we fought 100 times, I would beat him every time. If it were up to me, I’d fight him next, although I don’t think he has any intention of pursuing a rematch with me. If he wants to fight me again, it’s an easy fight to make, as he is his own promoter. I think he knows that he cannot beat me. He’s not going to come to Ireland or England. Fighting Sturm in New York would be great, but I would go back to Germany if I had to. I’d expect a fairer crack at the fight. I think the German officials would be under a lot more pressure to make sure things were on the level, given the controversy of our first fight.

“I think the Sturm fight was an eye-opener for the boxing public at large. Sturm is a leading man in the middleweight division and I think I proved that I am among the top three middleweights of the world.”

DiBella Entertainment President Lou DiBella is excited about his new recruit.

“I viewed signing Macklin as a no-brainer,” said DiBella. “I have Sergio Martinez, the real middleweight champ, the best in the world. But clearly Matthew handled Sturm with ease and he has a claim at being the second-best middleweight in the world. He’s going to want a shot at Sergio and eventually that will make sense.

“I’m very, very happy with the deal,” he continued. “I happen to like the kid very much and that is part of it. There are certain guys who have very pleasing styles for TV. This guy rumbles but he also has skills. He’s fun to watch and made a case that he stands near the top of the middleweight division with the way he fought Sturm.”

LOS ANGELES (August 3)…The “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” pay-per-view telecast is now complete with four star-studded fights from two sites all taking place Saturday, September 17 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions announced today that Erik Morales vs. Lucas Matthysse and Jessie Vargas vs. Josesito Lopez have been added to the mega-event, which is being produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

The out-of-this-world night of boxing will kick-off with a super lightweight bout featuring undefeated rising star Vargas in his HBO Pay-Per-View debut against hard-hitting Lopez, followed by the first of the night’s three world title fights as Mexican boxing legend Morales will face power punching Argentine Matthysse for the WBC Super Lightweight World Championship. The pay-per-view telecast will then go live to STAPLES Center in Los Angeles with Mexican boxing phenom Canelo Alvarez taking on Alfonso Gomez for the WBC Super Welterweight World Championship, followed by the main event welterweight championship mega-fight, Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz, live from Las Vegas.

Fans in attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas will be able to see the Alvarez vs. Gomez fight live, while those in attendance at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles will see Mayweather vs. Ortiz and Morales vs. Matthysse live. Following the showing of Mayweather vs. Ortiz at STAPLES Center, fans in attendance will see two special post-fight concerts performed by Los Tucanes de Tijuana and El Gran Silencio.

“The addition of Morales vs. Matthysse and Vargas vs. Lopez to the September 17 fight card makes ‘STAR POWER’ without a doubt the biggest night of boxing in 2011,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Mayweather Promotions is very excited about Jessie Vargas’ pay-per-view debut on such a huge event to really get his name out there and show the world what he can do.”

“Now that we have a complete pay-per-view card, the stage is set for the world to witness a real supernova of boxing,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Three title fights in one night is something that we are very proud to bring to boxing fans around the world. Each of these championship fights could stand alone as their own main event and fans will be able to experience them all in one night. Adding undefeated Jessie Vargas in his pay-per-view debut and the legendary Erik Morales, who is fighting to make history as the first Mexican boxing warrior to win world titles in four weight classes, really strengthens the entire ‘STAR POWER’ event.”

Tickets for Mayweather vs. Ortiz, Morales vs. Matthysse and Vargas vs. Lopez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena are priced at $1,250, $1,000, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges. Ticket sales are limited to twelve (12) per person at the $1,250, $1,000, $600 and $300 price levels with a ticket limit of two (2) per person at the $150 price level. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

STAPLES Center tickets for Alvarez vs. Gomez are priced at $300, $150, $75, and $50, are on sale now and available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000. Tickets are also available at STAPLES Center box office.

A three-division world champion and future Hall of Famer, Erik “El Terrible” Morales (51-7, 35 KO’s) ruled the boxing landscape for years, thrilling fans with his classic battles against Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Paulie Ayala, Wayne McCullough and In-Jin Chi. But when he returned from a nearly three year layoff in 2010, many wondered if the Tijuana native still had what it took to compete with the elite. Those questions were answered loud and clear with a three fight winning streak in 2010 and a Fight of the Year candidate in April of 2011, when he went to war for 12 rounds with Marcos Maidana before losing a razor-thin majority decision. Now, the 34-year old warrior is back in the ring and back in Las Vegas to face the concussive punching Matthysse as he vies to become the only Mexican fighter in history to win world titles in four weight divisions.

“This fight is the chance of a lifetime,” said Morales. “I have waited for this moment my entire career. To have the opportunity to win world titles in four weight divisions on Mexican Independence Day and on a night like this is a dream come true. I am going to train harder than ever to make the Mexican people proud and to be victorious on September 17.”

One of boxing’s hardest punchers, Lucas Matthysse (28-2, 26 KO’s) of Trelew, Argentina has made former World Champions Zab “Super” Judah and Devon Alexander see stars in his last two fights, knocking each of them down, only to lose both fights by controversial split decisions. The 28-year-old’s new role as the people’s champion is a good one for the crowd-pleasing standout, who has been delivering stellar performances from the time he turned professional in 2004. A former WBO Latino and WBO Intercontinental champion who counts “Vicious” Vivian Harris, DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley and Rogelio Castaneda Jr. among his vanquished foes, Matthysse, who has won 93 percent of his fights by way of knockout, is amped up and ready to trade blows with one of the sport’s modern greats, Erik Morales, on September 17.

“I cannot wait to get in the ring and fight Erik Morales,” said Matthysse. “I will do anything and everything I can to walk away from this fight as a world champion. I will work harder because I don’t want to pass up this magnificent opportunity.”

Jessie Vargas (16-0, 9 KO’s), who grew up in Los Angeles, now resides in Las Vegas and trains at the Mayweather Boxing Club with recently hired trainer Robert Alcazar, is coming off of an impressive second-round knockout win over veteran Walter Estrada on July 8. His extraordinary performance set off a national buzz among boxing writers and fans that the young prospect is on the fast track to boxing greatness. Appearing in the opening bout in his pay-per-view debut, Vargas has the chance of a lifetime to make his name and talent known around the world against a stiff test in Josesito Lopez.

“Floyd Mayweather and Mayweather Promotions have given me an amazing opportunity to fight on the biggest night in boxing this year,” said Vargas. “On September 17, I know I will be ready to show the world that all of my hard work and preparation has led to this opportunity. I am so excited to be a part of this event and I look forward to beating Lopez and keeping my undefeated record.”

Riverside, California’s Josesito Lopez (29-3, 17 KO’s) may only be 27-years-old, but he’s old school when it comes to his approach to the sport of boxing. This attitude has led him to nearly 30 pro wins, with his only losses coming via narrow decisions. Currently riding a seven-fight winning streak, Lopez showed off his veteran savvy in his most recent victory in January, when he tarnished hot prospect Mike Dallas Jr.’s perfect record by scoring a seventh round knockout.

“I am very excited to be a part of this event and to show the world that I am a force to be reckoned with in the ring,” said Lopez. “I haven’t lost a fight in over three years and I don’t plan on losing this one. Jessie Vargas might be undefeated now, but he won’t be after September 17.”

“STAR POWER” is a mega-event taking place on Saturday, Sept. 17 from two world-class cities with three world titles at stake. Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz will face off in a 12-round fight for Ortiz’s WBC Welterweight World Title from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Canelo Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez will do battle in a 12-round fight for Alvarez’s WBC Super Welterweight World Title from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Also live in Las Vegas, will be Erik Morales vs. Lucas Matthysse in a 12 round fight for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Title and an opening fight featuring undefeated rising star Jessie Vargas against top contender Josesito Lopez. The mega event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools and AT&T. Alvarez vs. Gomez is presented in association with Canelo Promotions and Morales vs. Matthysse is presented in association with Box Latino Promotions and Arano Box Promotions.”STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

For more information, visit www.floydmayweather.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mgmgrand.com and www.staplescenter.com; follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @mayweatherpromo, @goldenboyboxing, @VICIOUSOrtiz, @terrible100, @Jessie_Vargas, @JosesitoLopez, @mgmgrand; or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/Mayweatherpromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow HBO Boxing newsat www.hbo.com/boxing,Facebook at www.facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter @hboboxing. Follow STAPLES Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/staplescenter and on Twitter @STAPLESCenterLA.

The “STAR POWER” pay-per-view telecast, which begins at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 92 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Ortiz fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

HBO®’s Emmy® Award-winning all-access series “24/7” premieres an all-new edition when “24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz” debuts Saturday, Aug. 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the welterweight championship showdown in Las Vegas.

Fast-rising super bantamweight prospect Roman Morales makes a quick return to the ring Friday night at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Morales, who fought just two weeks ago, will take on Rodrigo Aranda in a bout that will air on the nationally broadcast ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.

Morales (5-0, 4 KOs) of San Ardo, California is coming in off of a devastating first-round knockout of normally durable Juan Tepoz (4-6-1) on July 22nd. Morales, a highly touted amateur before turning pro this past February, ran through Tepoz, scoring two knockdowns in the opening round. Morales had got off to a slow start in his bout prior, something his team had worked to improve upon.

“I told him to start fast, and to start fast we have warm up more in the dressing room,” says his trainer Rodolfo Tapia. “Work a little more, like we do in the gym. Then when the bell rings, show the people what you have. That was the plan, and it worked real good.”

Morales’ manager Repo Ric had some advice for his young upstart going into the bout as well. “I saw Roman eat before the last fight, and he had a turkey sandwich and some french fries,” recalls Repo. “I told him, ‘I want those fries slid off your plate and I want them slid off your plate now. For one thing, people are watching you and another it is three hours before the fight and you have french fries in your stomach with grease and everything.’ So he threw the french fries out right away. The other was that he wasn’t warming up enough, so I told his trainer to warm him up a little more. So I don’t know which one it was, but he did start off a lot faster than he had normally, so hopefully this next fight he will start off fast.”

With really only one full week to train and prepare for his next assignment, Morales quickly got back into the gym, getting sparring with both world ranked Eloy Perez and solid pro Rufino Serrano, who also fights this Friday. Some may be hesitant to schedule two fights so close together for their fighter, but Morales wiped a lot of any worries there could have been away by ending his last fight so quickly.

“He had a sparring partner for one round,” says Repo of the Tepoz victory. “He went home and got right back in that gym, since he just went down the street to do a sparring session, and he got some more sparring that week and is ready to fight again. If he had a hard fight with some bumps bruises then that would be different. But other than that no, keep him moving. If every fight was like the last fight, we would like to go two weeks after this fight.”

Shortly after the victory over Tepoz, Morales’ and his trainer learned that their fight this Friday would make television, and received some other encouraging words from their promoter. “After the fight, Gary Shaw called us over to ringside and was very happy,” recalls Tapia. “He told Roman to keep doing what he is doing, and he promised him a title shot next year. He told Roman that he has been doing good things and to listen to his coach, stay busy and stay focused. That made Roman very happy, and that is a big thing for the main guy to say that.”

Shaw’s words not only encouraged Morales, but also pleased his manager. “My dream was to get with Gary Shaw,” says Repo. “I like the man and I like his company. For me to get with him and with everything progressing the way it is, and for Gary Shaw to say what he’s saying, and for me to be able to do what I do, I love it. I really feel good that Gary talked to them and said he may have a title belt for them next year.”

Five fights in, Team Morales seems to be clicking on cylinders. “People have said some bad things about Repo, but now I tell them that they have to realize Repo is doing a pretty good job,” says Tapia, who is also Morales’ uncle. “I know a lot of people are jealous of Repo in Fresno and always talk bad things about him, but he has been really good for us. He’s been keeping Roman busy and taking him on his way to the top.”

It has been so far so good, but Repo Ric knows there is still plenty of work ahead. “I have been around plenty of promoters, and I have worked for plenty of promoters, and I have learned,” says Repo. “I get in there and learn, and the way I have been moving Roman Morales is showing me that I have learned. From some of the things I have picked up, and I am able to achieve on my own. All I do is boxing. My whole life is boxing, boxing, boxing. I think I am a skillful manager and I learned from the best and I am going to keep learning. I am never going to get too old to learn, and I am never going to learn everything, but I am going to keep learning.”

Next up is an opponent that could provide a stern test, despite his less than threatening record. Rodrigo Aranda (8-14-2, 2 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada is a veteran that has been in with a who’s who of prospects. “This kid we are going to fight is really durable,” says Repo of Aranda, who has only been stopped once in his career. “The purpose is to get some experience because it is hard to find him fights, everyone keeps pulling out. If everyone is going to keep pulling out, then we are going to have to go the distance with some of these fighters. That way he will have some ring experience. If he takes him out, he takes him out, but he doesn’t have to. Break him down and he’ll be 6-0, with four knockouts.”

Knockout or not, Team Morales plans to leave Santa Ynez with the victory and get right back to work on Monday.

Tickets for Friday’s event, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, are available online at StarTickets.com.

Photos by Stephanie Trapp/trappfotos@gmail.com

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT CARD
Fight Night Entertainment presents Round XVI – Combat at the Cabaret August 13 at the Swinomish Casino in Anacortes, Washington. Featuring a major main event bout that has been currently recognized as the independent fight promotion of the year, LIVE on GFL.

Fight Night Entertainment (FNE) is featuring former UFC Middleweight fighter and Seattle’s own Mario “Super Mario” Miranda versus undefeated Montana’s own Jason Zentgraf.

Mario Miranda has a current professional record of 10-3-0, with 4 of those bouts being in the largest promotion in the world, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Mario has considerable wins over Rick Story, Jose Diaz, Mike “300” Hayes, and David Loiseau. Mario currently is signed to BlackHouse MMA with Ed Soares, which holds some of the toughest fighters in the industry such as Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, Junior Dos Santos, and many more. Mario Miranda also fights out of Kirkland, WA’s AMC Kickboxing, ran by the recognized and notable Matt “the Wizard” Hume.

Jason Zentgraf has a current professional record of 5-0-0, with an amazing undefeated line up, and is currently training with Rough House MMA. Jason has considerable wins over Mike Crismon and Roderick Richter in which he holds a ROTR championship belt. Jason is looking to take his career further by signing the deal with FNE and taking on the former UFC fighter, Mario Miranda.

Don’t miss this exciting card that includes UFC vets plus Dustin Praxedes, Craig Jackson, Sam Sicilia, Domenic Rivera, Sabah Fadai an Angel Diaz! Watch the future world champions of MMA compete on this stacked card as Fight Night Entertainment on August 13, streaming live on pay-per-view exclusively at www.GFL.tv! For Ticket info go to: http://www.fightnightentertainment.com/

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YOUNGSTOWN (August 2, 2011) – Former World Middleweight Champion and current World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 1-rated super middleweight contender KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK’s professional boxing comeback took a wrong turn inasmuch as Pavlik withdrew from his upcoming 10-round bout against Darryl Cunningham today. The Pavlik-Cunningham bout was scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, OH, and was to be televised live on SHOWTIME® as the main event of a special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation. Both the broadcast and the live event have been canceled. Ticketholders can get a refund by returning their tickets to the place of purchase.

“Top Rank is very disappointed at Kelly’s sudden decision to discontinue the rebuilding of his boxing career,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, Pavlik’s promoter. “Kelly’s team specifically outlined a strategy for Kelly to return to the ring in an effective fashion. Kelly’s team gave us their objectives and we set them on a course, which began last May with Kelly’s fight against Alfonso Lopez and was to continue on Saturday against Darryl Cunningham. It seems Kelly has derailed this plan.”

EXCERPTS FROM DAN RAFAEL OF ESPN.COM STORY BELOW

Apparently, Pavlik was upset over the offer he had received from Top Rank to fight Bute, telling Youngstown television station WFMJ-TV that “the fight is off and the Bute fight is not going to happen. I’m not going to fight a southpaw for peanuts.” He also told the station that his reason for pulling out of the fight was a “business decision.”

Top Rank was working on a deal with Bute’s promoter, InterBox, that would have given the Top Rank/Pavlik side 40 percent of the revenue from the fight. Top Rank had offered Pavlik a minimum purse of $1.35 million (plus an additional $25,000 for training expenses), which could have increased depending on how much money the fight generated.

A source close to Pavlik said that Pavlik was unhappy with the offer because InterBox had originally tried to sign former titlist Mikkel Kessler to fight Bute in November with a substantially bigger offer, which Kessler’s team rejected.

DuBoef said that the cancellation of Saturday’s fight should not have had anything to do with a proposed fight against Bute in the fall.

“Let me make it crystal clear — Saturday’s fight was not part of a two-fight deal,” duBoef said. “There was a plan that we had talked with Team Pavlik about to rebuild his career. We all agreed. It started in May. Then there was supposed to be the fight with Cunningham and then a big fight in the fall. We said we would do our best to plan it. I guess that wasn’t acceptable to Kelly in the last week.

“We had discussed the terms of a Bute fight, but that had no bearing on this. Is it a matter of is Kelly going to fight regularly? Does he want to get back on track and knock that rust off? Apparently not.”

DuBoef said he got a call from Cameron Dunkin, Pavlik’s co-manager, on Monday night telling him that Pavlik was withdrawing from the fight.

“Cameron said that Kelly was not interested in pursuing Saturday’s fight and that he was pulling out,” duBoef said. “I said, ‘That’s his decision. We’re disappointed.’ It’s very unprofessional and it’s his decision. Cameron told me, ‘I hate to tell you this, but he’s not on board for the plan.’ Cameron was very upset because the plan was to get him back in the ring. That is the road to recovery and to rebuilding. We were not going to give him this fight in August and they called us wanting it, so we arranged it.”

DuBoef said his first thought when he heard Pavlik had withdrawn was that maybe he was drinking again, although there is no evidence of that.

“It wasn’t mentioned but it’s the first thing I speculated,” duBoef said. “My first thought was I hope his health is not at risk. We operate gingerly with Kelly as it relates to his demons from the past. We take direction from his team.

“But the behavior here is somewhat erratic and unprofessional. I’m very sympathetic to (Showtime), the fans, my staff, the (Covelli Centre) and the people in Youngstown who were looking forward to this and working on the event. Unfortunately, it did not come about. There is some soul searching to do for Kelly and his team. The answers more lie with him than anyone else.”

Philadelphia, PA—Junior middleweights King Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia, PA, and Keenan Collins, of Reading, PA, meet for the vacant Pennsylvania State Junior Middleweight Title on Friday evening, Sept. 9, at the Asylum Arena, 7 West Ritner Street.

The Rosado-Collins championship bout, which tops a seven-fight card, will be televised live by Telefutura/Univision beginning at 9 p.m. First of six preliminary bouts begins at 7.30 p.m.

Rosado, 25, is riding the most impressive streak of his career, having won his last three fights, seven of his last nine, 11 of his last 14. Included in those streaks are victories over former IBF world junior middleweight champ Kassim Ouma, of Uganda, and top contender Saul Roman, of Mexico.

In his last fight July 15 at Bally’s Atlantic City, Rosado (right) knocked out Ayi Bruce, of Ghana, in five rounds.

A pro since 2006, Rosado is 17-5 overall with 10 knockouts. Never one to turn down a tough assignment, Rosado has beaten Latif Mundy, Jamaal Davis, Jose Stinger Medina and James Moore. He has lost to Alfredo Angulo, Derek Ennis (majority decision) and Fernando Guerrero (who was on the floor).

Collins, 34, is coming off a tough 12-round decision loss on June 11 to Charles Whittaker for the vacant USBA junior middleweight title in the Cayman Islands, Whittaker’s backyard.

A pro since 2004, Collins (left) is 13-6-2 overall with nine knockouts. In his only other fight this year, Collins K0d Jorge Delgado, of Allentown, PA, in the first round at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA.

Unbeaten welterweight prospect Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, will box in the scheduled eight-round semifinal.

Five additional fights complete the card, which is being promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and Don Chargin Productions.

Tickets are priced at $45 and $65. They are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com.

DOVER, Del. — Tickets are selling fast for the Aug. 19 multiple championship night of boxing in the Rollins Center arena at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. Amir “Hard Core” Mansour, 14(11)-0 will face Dominick “The Southern Disaster” Guinn, 33(22)-7-1 for the WBO NABO Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, interim title. The NABO title will place the winner among the Top 15 heavyweights in the world.

Going for his first title shot is Edgar “The Kid” Santana, 25(16)-3(1) of Spanish Harlem, N.Y., who will fight for the interim WBA NABA Light Welterweight title. His opponent has not yet been signed.

Former top-ranked Golden Gloves champion “Queen” Ronica Jeffrey, 7(1)-0 will challenge fellow New Yorker Ela “Bam Bam” Nunez, 9(2)-9(1)-1, for the vacant NABF Female Super Featherweight Title. This is Jeffrey’s first professional title opportunity.

The undercard includes newcomers, cruiserweight Lamont “The Problem Solver” Singletary, 1-0 of Dover, who will face William Clint Green, 1(1)-2(1) of Hannibal, Mo. Super featherweight Omar Douglas, who won his debut fight last May at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, will take on Corey White, 1(1)-2 of Ohio.

Rounding out the undercard are light heavyweight Anthony “Caputo” Smith, 10(8)-0 of Kennett Square, Pa., against Steve “The Spoiler” Walker, 25(17)-27(23) of Hannibal, Mo., and light welterweight “Rockin” Ryan Belasco, 14(3)-5-3 of Wilmington against Fernando “The Whip” Basora, 8(7)-6(6)-1, of Bronx, N.Y. Cruiserweight Dan “Bada Bing” Biddle, 7(5)-1 of Hockessin is also on the card; his opponent has yet to named.

Tickets range from $40 to $200 and may be purchased through VIP Services at 800-711-5882 or online at doverdowns.com. Anyone over 21 with a ticket will receive a complimentary casino table games match play coupon for $10-$50, valid for 30 days at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. The first bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Will call will be open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.

# # #

About Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

Owned by Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: DDE), Dover Downs Hotel & Casino® is a premier gaming and entertainment resort destination in the Mid-Atlantic region. Gaming operations consist of approximately 2,600 slots and a full complement of table games including poker. The AAA-rated Four Diamond hotel is Delaware’s largest with 500 luxurious rooms/suites and amenities including a full-service spa/salon, concert hall and 35,000 sq. ft. of multi-use event space. Live, world-class harness racing is featured November through April, and horse racing is simulcast year-round. Professional football parlay betting is accepted during the season. Additional property amenities include multiple restaurants from fine dining to casual fare, bars/lounges and retail shops. For more information, please visit www.doverdowns.com.

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Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Vestibulum tortor quam, feugiat vitae, ultricies eget, tempor sit amet, ante. Donec eu libero sit amet quam egestas semper. Aenean ultricies mi vitae est. Mauris placerat eleifend leo. Quisque sit amet est et sapien ullamcorper pharetra. Vestibulum erat wisi, condimentum sed, commodo vitae, ornare sit amet, wisi. Aenean fermentum, elit eget tincidunt condimentum, eros ipsum rutrum orci, sagittis tempus lacus enim ac dui. Donec non enim in turpis pulvinar facilisis. Ut felis. Praesent dapibus, neque id cursus faucibus, tortor neque egestas augue, eu vulputate magna eros eu erat. Aliquam erat volutpat. Nam dui mi, tincidunt quis, accumsan porttitor, facilisis luctus, metus

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Once thought to be staged at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson HBO Pay Per View fight will now land at The Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 15th accroding to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“It does look like it will be at the Staples Center,” said Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions. “It’s probably 95 percent it will be there. I am just working with them to finalize our deal.”

Talks with The Prudential Center hit a snag after The building insisted that Main Events, which has staged all of the boxing events at the Prudential Center be involved with the fight card by having signage in the building and a spot on the undercard for Kathy Duva’s promotion.

This will be Hopkins second fight at The Staples Center and first since his February, 2005 Middleweight title defense against Howard Eastman.

“We had a great crowd when Bernard did his historic 20th title defense and now he will do his first defense of the historic title he won against (Jean) Pascal,” Schaefer said. “I think Los Angeles boxing fans, Los Angeles sports fans, the celebrities — I think they like these kind of meaningful events. Staples Center is very excited about it.”

The fight will headline an HBO PPV card. Schaefer and Gary Shaw, Dawson’s promoter, have been working on the undercard.

One of the supporting bouts has been agreed to, Schaefer said. Golden Boy fighter Jorge Linares will face Antonio DeMarco, who is promoted by Shaw, for the lightweight title recently vacated by Humberto Soto (DeMarco’s cousin).

“Gary confirmed to me that his side is in and our side is in, so it looks like that will be one of the fights,” Schaefer said.

SPRINGFIELD, MO (July 28, 2011)—once-beaten Cruiserweight contender, BJ Flores came home to score an emphatic fifth round stoppage over tough Nick Iannuzzi in front of over 2,000 fans at the O’Reilly Center that highlighted the first ever Danger Boy Promotions card in Springfield, Missouri.

The show was a hybrid event that featured four boxing and six MMA bouts which had a capacity crowd entertained throughout the evening.

The show will be available all over the world on Thursday July 28th on www.gfl.tv for just $9.99 by clicking: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Summer_Fight_Night_at_the_OReilly_Center/1122

Flores got off to a quick start by dropping Iannuzzi in round one from a big overhand right. Iannuzzi barely beat the referee’s count.

Over the next three rounds, Flores focused on the body which had Iannuzzi backing away and not trying to engage much with the hard punches of Flores.

In the fifth round, Flores came out aggressive by landing two hard rights and body work. He repeated that same combination and backed Iannuzzi up in the corner. Flores finished land five with another hard right.

Iannuzzi’s corner stopped the fight after round five with Flores ahead 50-44 on all cards.

“I felt very good and very strong. Coming in at 200 pounds instead of 195 like for my last fight was a huge difference! This was the type of fight I needed. Nick Ianuzzi showed he is a top level North American cruiserweight fighting Lateef Kayode and I went out there and dominated him and on to the next one”, Said Flores

“I will be fighting again in Springfield, MO. in the end of October. I will fight another tough top rated North American opponent and I expect the same type of result. This is a new chapter in my career where I will be active and exciting!””

With the win, Flores showed power that he has been working on and improves his mark to 25-1-1 with sixteen knockouts

Fallon, NV — The City of Fallon, NV and Let’s Get It On Promotions are pleased to announce the fourth annual “Rural Rumble” Fallon Fights 2011, Saturday August 27th at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. “Rural Rumble 2011” will feature world class professional boxing.

“We are thrilled to be presenting the fourth annual “Rural Rumble” once again in Fallon.” Says Fallon, NV Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. “Boxing has played an important role in this area for over a century, and we are proud to continue the tradition.”

Headlining the card is Northern Nevada favorite Derek Hinkey (8-2, 7 KOs) of McDermitt, NV. Hinkey will be making his highly anticipated return to the ring on August 27th after a prolonged layoff due to a hand injury from his fight against Ariel Espinal in 2009.

“It just never really healed correctly and caused me discomfort in my past two fights.” Says Hinkey. “But I’m 100% now and chomping at the bit to get back in there.”

Hinkey, who lives and trains in Las Vegas, stayed in shape and in the gym while allowing his hand to heal. He has trained with several high-profile boxers and MMA fighters in the recent past which kept his game sharp. He will need his best as he takes on the experienced and tough Anthony “Powerhouse” Bartinelli (20-14-2,13 KOs) of Phoenix, AZ in a six round middleweight bout. Bartinelli is no stranger to fighting top names in the middleweight division, and will prove to be a test for Hinkey.

In a light-heavyweight match-up, Reno’s Carlos Gaytan (2-0-1, 2 KOs) will be facing San Jose’s Anthony Johnson (4-0, 1 KO). Both fighters come into this fight undefeated.

Returning to the ring on August 27th is jr. middleweight Jose “Chuy” Elizondo (1-0) of Carson City, NV. Elizondo, who was a stand out amateur, scored a spectacular shut-out decision over Rodrigo Espinoza on April 29th.

In a separate bout, highly regarded amateur Carlos Vasquez of Reno, NV will be making his pro debut against Vincente Medellin (1-0) of Los Angeles. Vasquez, who’s brother is highly ranked amateur Santos Vasquez, decided that his aggressive boxing style was better suited for the professional side of boxing. Vasquez vs. Medellin will take place at 112 lbs.

In a local boxing match-up, cruiserweights Bubba Dupree (0-1) of Reno, NV will be facing Jack “The Motor” Montgomery (0-1) of Winnemucca, NV.

More details will be released soon.

Tickets are available by calling 775 423 4556. Advance tickets are $10 children (ages 6-17) $12 adults; at gate $12 children $15 adults; $50 ringside, $500 for VIP tables. All bouts subject to change.

LAS VEGAS — Super-featherweight “El Negro Mexicano”, “Lightning” Lonnie Smith (13-2-2, 9 KOs) is back in action Friday, July 29th at the South Point Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas.

Coming off an impressive unanimous decision win over Oxnard’s “Dangerous” David Rodella in April, Smith looks to advance his career by facing California’s Robert Vargas (5-1). This will be “Lightning” Lonnie’s second televised fight in a row.

“The ultimate goal is to be champion,” says Smith. “And I train like one, so that is the next step.”

After appearing on several of their shows, Let’s Get It On Promotions inked a long-term promotional agreement with Smith this year.

“The win over Rodella on television was huge,” says Let’s Get It On Promotions’ Tommy Lane. “It gave fight fans the opportunity to see what we’ve seen all along. The response we received after that fight about Lonnie was incredible.”

Smith vs. Vargas is scheduled for 6-rounds and will be televised on Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo” series. Check local listings. Tickets are available by calling 702-797-8055.

Photo by Stephanie Trapp

LAS VEGAS, NEV (July 25, 2011) – World Bantamweight Champion and consensus Top-Three pound-for-pound fighter, NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE, and TODD DUBOEF, President of Top Rank, Inc., announced today that they will move forward together in promoting Donaire’s stellar professional boxing career.

“I am very happy and pleased to announce a recent reconciliation between Top Rank, and myself, and I am also extremely excited to announce that I will be back in the ring this coming October,” said Donaire. “There were some details that required attention, and I feel confident now that my professional goals are being understood and respected by Top Rank. And we have likewise come to a mutual understanding and agreement as far as our common objectives in boxing and how we can work better together as a team. I was able to sit down and figure out the fight map, which both Top Rank and I could agree with. Having a shared goal now, and working together, I’m certain will only make for better fights, and better boxing, now and in the future.

“I am really happy with and proud of my team, especially my manager Cameron Dunkin, and my wife, Rachel, for helping us come to the best solution to recent issues we addressed together. To my fans who have always supported me, thank you for continued support and well wishes. You help keep me motivated, and I will only become a better and better fighter with time. Thank you.”

Added duBoef, “We are thrilled to move forward with Nonito, his team and
capitalize on what we have built together. Nonito has unlimited ability and charisma which was on display in his last thrilling performance against Fernando Montiel. A bright future lies ahead for Nonito and Top Rank.”

Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, who now resides in San Leandro, Calif., has won world titles in three different weight divisions. He is riding an 10-year, 25-bout winning streak. Donaire captured his first world title when he knocked out undefeated defending IBF/IBO flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan in 2007, a title Donaire successfully defended three times – all by knockout – during his two-year reign. He vacated the flyweight championship to move up and win the WBA interim super flyweight title by defeating Rafael Concepcion in 2009. Donaire’s reign lasted one year before moving up in weight again and smashing defending WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel via a second-round knockout to claim his third world title in as many different weight divisions. Donaire has won nine of his last 10 fights by knockout.