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Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing, has added yet another unbeaten prospect to his growing stable of fighters, the latest being former NY Golden Gloves Champion, and hot Puerto Rican prospect, Emanuel Gonzalez (7-0, 6KO’s). Gonzalez will make his Star Boxing debut on the first show (May 5th) of the 2011 “Punchin at the Paradise” fight series at the historic Paradise Theater located on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Gonzalez will take on Jacob Thorton in a six round super featherweight match-up.

“Emanuel Gonzalez seems to have everything you look for in a fighter, he has the potential to be the complete package,” stated DeGuardia. “He can box, he can bang, he has very fast hands and he can knock you out with either one of them. We are excited to feature him on our May 5th Bronx show, and believe he will quickly become a fan-favorite as well as an integal part of our series at the Paradise Theater.”

Gonzalez a former NY Golden Gloves Champion, turned pro in December of 2008 scoring the first of his seven career knockouts when he stopped Jean Ramos in the third round of their scheduled four rounder. In his last bout, Gonzalez picked up a win in his native Puerto Rico over Pedro Salcedo.

Gonzalez is lucky number seven on the list of undefeated prospects DeGuardia has added within in the last year, as he joins Chris Algieri (11-0, 6KO’s, jr. welterweight), Brandon Gonzales (14-0, 10KO’s, middleweight), Jason Escalera (10-0, 9KO’s, super middleweight), Jean Paul Mendy (29-0-1, 16KO’s, super middleweight), Sakhib Usarov (15-0, 6KO’s) and Joe Hanks (16-0, 11KO’s, heavyweight).

Tickets are priced at $30, $50 and $100 and can be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office at 718 823-2000, visiting www.starboxing.com or simply by CLICKING HERE: Tickets can also be purchased by visiting the Paradise Theater box office, located at 2417 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com

– Friday, April 29, 2011 9:00pm ET featuring Crowbar MMA – Spring Brawl 2011 at the Scheels Arena in Fargo, ND. Along with a great night of fights featuring a 10-fight card, Crowbar MMA has added another attraction for the evening’s festivities. The award winning band Firehouse will be playing directly after the event for the in-house audience. The main event features a heavyweight throw down between UFC veterans James “The Hammer” McSweeney (4-6) VS. Francisco “Kiko” France (6-1). Both McSweeney and France are looking to launch powerful bombs in each other’s direction so this night will be full of fireworks. In the co-main event Tat “Mean Bean” Romero (16-3) fights Bellator vet Chris Page (2-4) in what is sure to be a barnburner as these two fighters always compete in overdrive. The card also has a pair of women’s fights with world-ranking implications. #3 Shana “Rock Solid” Olsen (3-1) battles Elaina “Beef” Maxwell (4-4) in one fight while #9 Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak (3-1) squares off against Nina Ansaroff (1-1).

– Friday, April 29, 2011 6:00pm ET featuring Semi Finals – 3FC/Sportfight X Tournament at The Grand Hotel & Convention Center, Pigeon Forge, TN. The tournament features some outstanding fights and fighters from Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Alabama. In the 155 Grand Prix Semi Finals, we have Itai Tirado fighting out of Nemesis MMA and Scott Holtzman fighting out of Shield Systems. Both fighters are undefeated and highly touted prospects in the division. Also fighting is two of the South East’s very best in Team Bushido’s super striker Tyler Wilson and number one ranked and undefeated stud Jesse Grissom out of Team Truth! This bout will also be for the ISKA Tennessee State Title! Billy Mullins fighting out of Fit Factory will look to avenge an early loss from James Foy, of Team ROC. Both guys are ranked in the ATO.COM’s top ten list and have come along tremendously since locking horns early in their careers. Look for a WAR in this one! On the other side of the bracket we have Alex Anderson from Nemesis MMA looking to continue his winning streak by taking out former number one ranked Chris Hall, fighting out of IMA. Hall is coming off an upset loss and has promised the best performance of his career! Fighting for the 125 3FC title will be the two hottest prospects in the South East. D’Angelo Bynum out of Cook’s Impact will face Cody Chessor out of Team Bushido.

– Saturday, April 30, 2011 3:45pm ET featuring ECWA 15th Anniversary Super 8 at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ. WWE Hall of Fame Diva, Sunny, hosts the event which consist of TWA and ECWA wrestlers. Many of wrestling’s biggest stars gained their first fame at the Super 8 including Fallen Angel, Christopher Daniels (1999 finalist, 2000 & 2004 champion), Low-Ki aka Kaval & Senshi (2001 Champion), AJ Styles (2002 Finalist), Matt Hardy (1999 Semi-Finalist), Jeff Hardy (1999 Quarter-Finalist), America Dragon, Bryan Danielson aka Daniel Bryan (2001 Finalist), Jerry Lynn (2007 Champion), Davey Richards (2006 Champion) and many more. And this year’s field of 8 competitors is arguably the best yet: Tommaso Ciampa; Sami Callihan; Adam Cole; SHOCKWAVE the Robot; Rich Swann; Bobby Shields; Shiima Xion; Austin Aries.

GFL now offers full access to over 5,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 at www.GFL.tv

***GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 950 live events with over 5,000 combat sports videos in 196 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 1.8 million public viewers last year with now over 150 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL combat sports genres currently include Boxing, MMA and Professional Wrestling with plans to add more fight categories in 2011. GFL offers expanded programming to include: Daily News & Radio Shows with feature interviews and industry updates along with great Fight Photos, Fighter Videos and a robust Calendar of Upcoming Fight Events.

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

Join us at: www.facebook.com/gofightlive or for press inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that the May 14 Super Six Super Middleweight semi-final between WBA Champion Andre Ward and Arthur Abraham is now up in the air due to Abraham’s camp being upset with the appointment of officials.

“Contrary to what has been previously agreed on, the California commission all of a sudden insists on installing a Californian judge as well as a Californian referee,” said Abraham’s promoter Wilfried Sauerland. “That is totally unacceptable. This turnaround comes as a huge and unpleasant surprise.

“Two months ago, everybody involved agreed that this tremendous fight would be served by neutral officials. We agreed to have one judge from California, one from Europe and one from neither Europe nor the U.S. The referee is supposed to be neither American nor European either. Unless this issue is sorted, King Arthur will not leave the country. We have put his flights on hold.”

“King Arthur is more than happy to challenge Ward in his backyard, but we demand neutral officials as agreed on,” Sauerland said. “We have learned our lesson from the Kessler-Ward fight. Back then the California commission insisted on having a Californian referee. His performance was, to put it mildly, a joke.

“This is not some beach bar brawl but the semifinal of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, a sensational tournament that has captured global attention. It’s a shame that the clash is jeopardized just because a local commission refuses to honor existing agreements and basic rules of fair play.”

“Their accusation that California insisted on a California referee [for Ward-Abraham] is 100 percent inaccurate and, as far as I know, we have agreed to have one California official of the four officials, which is unusual to do. I don’t know how much more neutral the commission can be.”, said Dan Goossen, who promoted Ward.

“I felt the California commission bent over backward to accommodate the parties,” Goossen said. “It is out of my hands. It’s going to be up to them.”

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On Thursday May 5th, Popular welterweight prospect, Edgar Santana (24-3, 15KO’s), returns to the ring, and will do it in front of his hometown fans in the Bronx, when he fights in the main event of the first of Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing’s, five scheduled shows in 2011, at the beautiful and historic Paradise Theater on Grand Concourse. Star Boxing, which began the “Punchin at the Paradise” series in 2006, has locked in five dates at the Theater for the remainder of 2011, starting with the first show on May 5th.

“So many boxing fans here in the Bronx and New York, are excited for Edgar’s return to the ring on May 5th,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing. Edgar actually made his pro-debut on one of our shows, and now he is making his much anticipated return to the ring, in some ways his second debut, on yet another Star Boxing card. So not only is it fitting for him, but also fitting for us that we are getting our Bronx series back underway and featuring it with one of the most popular fighters from the Bronx in the main event.”

Santana was riding a three-fight win streak, including his most impressive as a pro, when he won a ten round decision, in a war against current NABF Light Welterweight Champ, Joselito Lopez on Showtime’s Showbox: The New Generation back in April of 2008. While Lopez would go on to win seven fights in a row, including picking up the NABF title in his last fight against unbeaten Mike Dallas Jr., Santana was forced to wait on the sidelines, after running into some legal problems outside of the ring. With those problems behind him now, Santana has re-dedicated his life to the sport and looks to pick up right where he left off and continue on his quest to becoming world champion. Santana is set to square off against Robert “Wolf” Jones, a veteran of seveteen professional fights, in a scheduled eight rounder.

Tickets are priced at $30, $50 and $100 and can be purchased by calling the Star Boxing office at 718 823-2000, visiting www.starboxing.com or simply by CLICKING HERE: Tickets can also be purchased by visiting the Paradise Theater box office, located at 2417 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, NY.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao could be fighting his arch rival Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time in October.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said Monday that Top Rank has made a formal, written offer for Marquez, the lightweight champ, to challenge Pacquiao for his welterweight title on a date to be determined in October if he defeats Mosley.

“Last Friday, April 22, Top Rank made a firm offer to Juan Manuel Marquez to fight Manny Pacquiao in October for his WBO 147-pound belt,” Schaefer said. “Part of the deal includes a rematch provision in case Marquez would win. So Pacquiao could potentially be tied up for quite awhile.”

“I have no comment on anything regarding Marquez,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. “We have said that Marquez would be one of the possible opponents for Pacquiao after the fight with Mosley if he is successful against Mosley on May 7. But I have no comment. I am concentrating on promoting a fight on May 7.”

“Based on this offer, it seems like Pacquiao and Top Rank have no interest in fighting Mayweather, at least this year,” Schaefer said. “If they did, I am sure Top Rank would have had language in the offer saying this was the deal unless a Mayweather fight could be secured, but it doesn’t say that.”

“Obviously, Top Rank will have to live by these deal points they offered Marquez, so if any of these things would change — the date, the guaranteed money, the [pay-per-view] upside — they would have to come back to us, because Golden Boy continues to hold the right of last refusal for Marquez’s next fight until the end of February 2012,” Schaefer said.

“I think [Top Rank] sent us the offer because they know that we have these rights, these last negotiation rights. So they informed us that they had submitted that offer to Marquez. It’s the right thing to do. I don’t have a beef here with Top Rank whatsoever. ”

“I am a firm believer that when a fighter becomes a free agent and has certain rights or options that they explore those options. Top Rank did the right thing here. Assuming Top Rank lives by those deal points, so be it. But I don’t really understand it as it relates to the timing,” he said.

“What’s the urgency of locking in Pacquiao’s October fight before he has fought Mosley? I just find the timing strange that you would do that before a big promotion. Maybe Top Rank discounts Shane’s chances. Maybe they just feel it’s important to have that opponent lined up for Manny now.”

“Top Rank gave us their offer, but we have not heard from Marquez,” Schaefer said.

Schaefer said he met with Marquez in Mexico City about three weeks ago and presented him with a new promotional offer. Had he accepted, Marquez’s first bout of the deal could have been a July 30 pay-per-view headliner against junior welterweight titlist Zab Judah. Schaefer has been talking to Judah promoter Main Events about the fight, which Judah wants.

The fight would have given Marquez the opportunity that he has wanted — a chance, with a win, to become the first Mexican to claim a world title in four divisions.

“Maybe that was why [Top Rank] made the offer — because they knew we were trying to make a deal with Marquez and they wanted to make sure they have an opponent for Pacquiao in October,” Schaefer said.

Photo by Gene Blevins/Hogan Photos

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Edgardo Torres 138 Korey Sloane 138
Antowyan Aikens 163 Willie Mack 161
Keane Davis 146 Dontre King 146
Jose Medina 175 1/2 Derrick Webster 169
Bryant Jennings 224 David Williams 227
Ronald Cruz 146 Manuel Guzman 144 1/2
Garrett Wilson 184 Omar Sheika 185

Tickets $75 & $50
Palladium Ballroom
First fight 7.30pm
Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (April 19, 2011) – Eight-division world champion Congressman Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao hosted what many in attendance described as boxing’s No. 1 pound for pound media day workout.

A standing room only crowd of national and international media packed the Wild Card Boxing Club on Wednesday to interview Pacquiao, five-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum about Pacquiao’s May 7 World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title defense, at the sold-out MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev., against three-division world champion Sugar Shane Mosley.

The Pacquiao vs. Mosley world title fight is the main event of a four-fight telecast that will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The mega-event will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. For Pacquiao vs. Mosley fight week updates, log on to www.sports.SHO.com or www.toprank.com .

Closed circuit tickets, priced at $50, are on sale and available at all Las Vegas MGM Resorts properties.

The energetic Pacquiao trained for more than two hours immediately following an equally long interview session.

What Pacman, Arum and Roach said Wednesday:

PROMOTER BOB ARUM

“Nobody can count Shane Mosley out. He is a good, good fighter, especially when he fights an aggressive opponent like Manny Pacquiao.

“Shane Mosley is a dangerous fighter. He is bigger than Manny, strong and he still has his speed. He has never been stopped. He can take anyone’s best punch and come back as strong as ever. He’s so resilient. You can’t hurt him.

“Manny has trained harder than I have ever seen. He’s in the same condition as he was before he fought Miguel Cotto.

“My matchmakers said Shane would make the most entertaining fight for the fans. For pure name recognition Shane Mosley is the best fighter for marketability.’’

MANNY PACQUIAO

“I’m in top condition for the fight. I’m just excited to fight and beat people up.

“I never compare myself to anybody. I don’t look at my accomplishments compared to anyone. I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished in boxing.

“Shane can still fight. He’s fast and he’s training hard. It’s hard to rate him against the other (opponents). This time he’s determined to shock the world. It’s going to be a good fight.

“My concern is what fight we can give to the fans. My first concern as a boxer is to try hard and give a good fight for the fans.

“Mosley is bigger than me. He’s fast and his hand speed is still there. He’s faster than most of my opponents. He’s also preparing hard and he’s also good, so we never underestimate our opponent.

“I’m just going to punch him and do my best. If the knockout comes, it comes.

“In the ring I can tell right away what his style is and I can adapt to it. I’m adjusting to life as a politician. It’s different in training but I can stay focused on both.

“I never distract myself. I’m always in full force in the fight, full force in training. “I’m ready for the fight. I don’t want to predict. I just do my best and give a good fight. The way I’m training now I’m only 144 pounds.

“For me, boxing isn’t about hurting each other. Boxing is entertainment and making people happy.

“I don’t know who I’ll fight next. No idea. (Juan Manuel) Marquez is good for me – he’s not too big.

(On fighting Floyd Mayweather)

“For me, there’s a chance. It’s up to him if he wants to fight. He’s trying to wait for me to get

older.”

TRAINER FREDDIE ROACH

“I’m excited about this fight because we know that Shane is going to bring it.

“Manny has had maybe his best camp ever and is in tip-top shape. He’s still hungry, and is training harder now than when he first started. There is no way he is taking this fight lightly and he is definitely ready for Sugar Shane.

“His motivation is his concentration. For this fight, he’s been able to stay totally focused. Before his last fight he had to worry about campaigning, Congress, music and making movies.

“Since we can’t wait for the No. 1 guy – you know who I mean — to stop running away from us, we have to fight who’s available. We got this offer to fight Shane and it made sense.

“Mayweather likes to say he is better than Sugar Ray Robinson, but I think it is more important for him to keep the zero on his record than it is to fight Manny. We hope the opportunity comes for a fight with Mayweather, but Manny is going to continue to fight, even if it means moving up in weight to go after nine titles.

“The fight with Sugar Shane will not be easy. But my prediction is that Manny will win by knockout and become the first boxer to stop Mosley.

“I know when I first started working with Manny that he was something special. But eight world titles? No one could have expected that.’’

FORMER NBA AND COLLEGE STAR JALEN ROSE

“I’m a big Manny Pacquiao fan. It’s a tough call to pick between him and Shane. Sugar Shane is a vet. He asked for this fight and he got this fight, but I think Pacquiao has too much speed and too much power. I’m a big fan of both fighters though. It’s going to be a great fight.”

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko collapsed earlier this week and is not cleared to fight this Saturday against Abner Mares in the finals of the Showtime Bantamweight tournament scheduled for Los Angeles.

Showtime boxing chief Ken Hershman was on a family vacation in Italy and had not yet made a decision on what would happen with Saturday’s card.

“Ken is aware of the situation and will come to a decision soon,” Showtime spokesman Chris DeBlasio told ESPN.com.

“I was picking him up at baggage claim and we walked outside to the car and he literally collapsed in the roadway right next to the car,” said Don King’s PR maven Alan Hopper. “He could barely move. He literally was face down on the pavement until the police and ambulance arrived.”

“He’s very disappointed. Despondent would be the word,” Hopper said. “He said when he was laying on the pavement and when I was checking on him, all he was saying was, ‘This can’t be happening, I have to fight on Saturday night. This can’t be happening.’ This is the biggest fight of his life and he is very, very upset and disappointed. He has worked really hard for this fight.”

Gary Shaw, who promotes Perez and Darchinyan, said he was hopeful Showtime would still go through with the card by bumping the consolation fight up to the main event. Both fighters have been on Showtime several times and usually have produced action-packed fights.

“Here is my guess — the fact that Showtime has everything in place and has their crew here, I think they will go through with it,” Shaw said.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Mares, also said he hoped the card would go on. Schaefer said although he had not yet heard from Hershman, he had his matchmakers looking for a substitute opponent for Mares to fight.

“Gary feels, and I agree with him, that the show should go on and we are currently trying to secure a replacement for Agbeko, but I don’t know how Showtime is going to react to that,” Schaefer said. “I think it’s unfair to the other fights to call of the show just because Agbeko is out. We’ll see.”

PHOTOS BY CHRIS FARINA / TOP RANK

– Friday, April 22, 2011 9:00pm ET featuring Combat USA Fighting Championship – “State Finals” at the Oneida Casino, Green Bay, Wisconsin. The card features a four fight co-main event featuring the finale of the four-man tournaments to crown champions in multiple weight divisions. Combatants bring a wealth of experience into the fights. Josh “Manic Maker” Kasee (7-5) challenges veteran Nick Agallar (24-6) for the 145lb championship, while Sherron Leggett (7-1) battles James “The Unbreakable Heavy Hitter” Warfield (19-7) for the 155lb title. In the 170lb finals, undefeated Tim Hallock (3-0) competes against Lenny Nelson (5-1) while the 185lb title will match Gerald “The Machine” Meerschaert (11-3) against Herbert “Whisper” Goodman (10-7). Eleven Total Fights.

– Friday, April 2, 2011 11:00pm ET featuring Ultimate Reno Combat 24 – “Throw Down” at The Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada. The 12-fight event is headlined by FOUR title fights. In the main event Oscar Ramirez (5-0) faces Shaun Nance (3-1) for the Flyweight Championship. The undefeated Ramirez is a veteran of Ultimate Reno Combat and an extremely quick starter who has only had one fight advance out of the first round and that ended in the second. Ramirez looks to keep his title and streak alive against the Oregon import Shaun Nance. Nance is on a three-fight winning streak stopping his last two opponents by TKO and is looking to make Ramirez number three. The co-main event features Brandon Frunk (8-2) battling Marcus Ocegueda (3-4), for the Bantamweight Championship.

– Saturday, April 23, 2011 8:00pm ET featuring “Knock Out Night One” at the Williamson County Pavilion in Marion, Illinois. UFC veteran Hermes Franca (21-10) battles top prospect and M1 Global phenom Josh Thorpe (11-3). Franca has faced a “who’s who” in the lightweight division including holding wins over Nate Diaz and Spencer Fisher and losing a narrow decision to current UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Hot on a winning streak, Franca is looking to make Thorpe his next victim either by KO or submission as he has already done with 19 of his 21 wins. Thorpe will look to use his wrestling to nullify Franca’s game plan and cage-savvy by controlling where the fight goes. The co-main event pits another UFC veteran Matt Veach (12-3) against contender Eric Wisely (14-5) in a lightweight battle featuring two of the game’s most intense workers.

– Saturday, April 23, 2011 8:00pm ET featuring Saturday Sheika vs. Wilson – “USBA Cruiserweight Title” at the Palladium Ballroom at Caesars Atlantic City. Sheika, 34, scored a fourth-round knockout over Wilson on Mar. 26, 2010, in Hamilton Township, NJ. Wilson, unknown at the time, started fast, won the first round, but played to the crowd, stood and danced between rounds in his corner, then slowly ran out of gas and ideas. The fight turned late in the second round when Sheika found his range and Wilson’s body. By the fourth, it was over. After that, Skeika (30-10, 21 K0s) knocked out Jim Strohl, of Las Vegas, NV, again in Hamilton Township, then lost a 10-round decision to world-rated Romanian light-heavyweight Adrian Diaconu, in Montreal, Canada.

– Saturday, April 23, 2011 9:00pm ET featuring Trilogy Championship Fighting – “Rumble At The Ranch” at the Camelback Ranch-Glendale in Phoenix, Arizona. UFC veteran Edwin “Babyface” Dewees (35-12) squares off against tough challenger “Pick Em Up” Chuck Huus (6-2) in the night’s main event. Dewees has had a storied career and been in epic battles with some of the legends of the sport including Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Rich Franklin. One of the grizzled veterans of Arizona MMA, Dewees looks to show why he still deserves to be considered one of the sport’s best. Huus is looking for a popular fighter to make his name off of and elevate his career and get to places Dewees has already been. Both men are looking to use the other as a stepping stone which suggests this fight is going to be a high-octane, fast-paced match from start to finish. The co-main event features IFL and BodogFight contender Ray “Bam Bam” Steinbeiss (12-7) against upstart Ryan Kelly (3-1). Steinbeiss.

– Saturday, April 23, 2011 9:00pm ET will be Video on Demand on Sunday April 24 by Noon ET, featuring Rocktagon – Elite Series 5 at the Midway Mall in Elyria, Ohio. American Hardcore MMA’s Garret ‘The Sickness’ Sahene will face Rocktagon MMA’s Marcus Washington. Sahene and Washington have endured many hard fought wars in the cage, but both must put their titles on the line on April 23. Who will emerge as the Rocktagon MMA Amateur Lightweight Champion Fans will find out next Saturday night! World Class MMA’s top prospect, Garret ‘The Sickness’ Sahene, is an American Hardcore MMA veteran and the organizations current lightweight champion. Sahene (7-2) is highly regarded as one of Ohio’s premiere mixed martial arts competitors. He recently claimed the American Hardcore MMA title in a hard fought decision win over Personal Training Tactics fighter Khama Worthy. Sahene is determined to prove that he is the organizations true amateur lightweight champion and plans to keep the belt where it belongs, in his possession. Standing in his way is Samuel L. Felton Jr. Athletic Club fighter Marcus Washington (5-0-1), a hard charging, explosive knockout artist that has quickly become a Rocktagon MMA fan favorite.

GFL now offers full access to over 5,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 at www.GFL.tv

***GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 950 live events with over 5,000 combat sports videos in 190 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 1.8 million public viewers last year with now over 150 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL combat sports genres currently include Boxing, MMA and Professional Wrestling with plans to add more fight categories in 2011. GFL offers expanded programming to include: Daily News & Radio Shows with feature interviews and industry updates along with great Fight Photos, Fighter Videos and a robust Calendar of Upcoming Fight Events.

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

Join us at: www.facebook.com/gofightlive or for press inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF/WBO Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBA Champion David Haye will finally meet on July 2nd in Hamburg, Germany.

“We are very glad that this mega-fight will finally come true,” Bernd Boente, Klitschko’s manager, said Wednesday. “We expect more than 150 TV stations worldwide to show the fight live or on a delay. Klitschko vs. Haye is definitely one of the top highlights in sport.”

“Also, Hamburg is the second-biggest city in Germany after Berlin, so you have a huge potential fan base and the stadium is one a new stadium built just a few years ago,” Boente said. “We are sure that because of the city and the stadium that we will have a sellout crowd.”

“I am very happy that Haye finally dares to step into the ring with me,” Klitschko, 35, said. “He already ducked out of two fights with me and Vitali and is only trash-talking and producing stupid shirts. Now he has to prove in the ring what he has got. I have been waiting for this fight for over two years.”

Said the 30-year-old Haye: “I always said I would knock out Wladimir, get his belts and will then finish up his brother Vitali to end my career on the peak. Wladimir has only fought wimps and cowards so far. I will show him his limitations and what it is like to fight a real champion. That is a promise.”

“I’m very excited about it because it’s eventually time to make it happen. Finally. But it’s not matter of fact that David Haye will show up on July 2,” Klitschko said. “But I hope he will. We will face each other a couple of times at press conferences and I am a little bit worried about it because he is putting so much pressure on himself. He’s consistently putting himself in a corner and now the action has to follow. Now he has to follow through with all the promises.”

“I am completely recovered and I have been cleared by the doctor, so I am ready to go,” Klitschko said. “I can train now, but it’s early. I do will do the same preparation I always do. I’m, of course, taking this fight like any other fight –seriously. I know exactly what to expect from him and what to do with him. My game plan has not changed since I was preparing to fight him in June 2009. To me nothing has changed.”

Then Klitschko unveiled his dry wit: “To make it more clear, I am going to fight David Haye. After the clearance from the doctor, David Haye will get his wish to fight the younger, weaker Klitschko, as he says. It is his dream come true.”

“This will be the second heavyweight unification fight that we have promoted. The first was between Wladimir and Ibragimov at a sold out Madison Square Garden, but this fight between Wladimir and Haye is on a totally different level,” said Tom Loeffler, the managing director of Klitschko’s K2 Promotions. “It has been talked about for the last two years and now is the premiere event in boxing. The Klitschkos are the only boxers that can regularly fill the large soccer stadiums in Europe and the Imtech Arena in Hamburg is a great venue

Los Angeles, CA (April 19, 2011) – Reno, Nevada may be known as ‘The Biggest Little
City in the World,” but on Friday night, May 27, that mini-metropolis will receive
national exposure and then some when Goossen Tutor Promotions presents a televised
doubleheader of championship boxing billed as “Blame It On Reno, ESPN Style.” The
world-class event will be at the classic 6,000-seat Reno Events Center operated
by the Reno-Sparks Convention Visitors Authority and televised on ESPN2 at 9 p.m.
ET.

Reno has a long and illustrious boxing history dating back to July 4, 1910 with
the Jeffries-Johnson World Championship bout and many great champions such as Sugar
Ray Leonard, Hector Camacho, Alexis Arguello and James Toney all having displayed
their talents in front of the knowledgeable and exuberant Reno fight fans.
It’s this rich history that ESPN and Goossen Tutor wanted to capture for their upcoming
May 27 championship event, “Blame it on Reno, ESPN Style,” spearheaded and sponsored
by the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, Circus Circus Reno, Harrah’s Hotel Casino and
the world-famous Eldorado Hotel Casino, long the fighting home of Ray “Boom Boom”
Mancini.
“We are happy to be back in Reno with the FNF series, it is a city that consistently
draws energetic and enthusiastic fans,” said Doug Loughrey, Programming Director
for ESPN.
The main event of the ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” telecast – presented in association
with Thompson Boxing Promotions – hard-hitting Josesito Lopez (29-3, 17 KOs) will
make the first championship defense of his NABF Light Welterweight Title against
highly-skilled boxer-puncher “Showtime” Steve Upsher Chambers (23-1-1, 6 KOs) in
a scheduled 10-round bout where the winner will look to follow in the footsteps
of the greats that made or continued their reputation in Reno.
The co-feature – in association with Boxing 360 – is a scheduled 12-round IBF Heavyweight
Championship Elimination bout matching former Heavyweight World Title challenger
Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (35-2, 23 KOs) against newly crowned USBA Heavyweight
Champion Maurice “Sugar Mo” Harris (24-14-2, 10 KOs).
The 26-year old Lopez will be making his second straight ESPN2 appearance as the
Riverside, CA native displayed his talents in the January 28, 2011 co-feature on
ESPN. In that bout, Lopez stopped then undefeated, and favored, Michael Dallas,
Jr. in the seventh round to capture the NABF 140-pound belt.
“Becoming the champion is one thing, but staying the champion is another story,”
Lopez said. “Chambers has an opportunity to come and make a name for himself but
it’s up to me to beat him. I’m going to fight my heart out and, if the knockout
presents itself; I’m going to take it.”
Coming off the biggest win of his career to date – a hard-fought split-decision
win over highly regarded and previously unbeaten Bayan Jargal last November in Atlantic
City, NJ – Chambers openly acknowledges the significance of his fight with Lopez.
“This is a dream come true for me; I have never had a belt in my life,” the Philadelphia
southpaw revealed. And to win this one on national TV with ESPN will give me exposure
and put me closer to becoming a world champion.”
Being a principal in his first televised main event and fighting west of Philadelphia
for just the second time in his career doesn’t faze Chambers a bit.
“Really, it doesn’t matter where I fight,” insists the confident Chambers. “I like
to perform for the fans, so being in Reno I’m going to make them proud to cheer
for me. They can’t fight for us but they can cheer for us. We’re the ones in the
ring and the only ones who can determine the winner – which will be me!”
Chambers got his nickname from a former NFL great and 2011 Pro Football Hall of
Fame Finalist. “Curtis Martin is my cousin and he got me my first boxing outfit
when I was 15 years old and he put ‘Showtime’ on it. This fight against Josesito
Lopez on ESPN2 is my shot, and I won’t blow it. You best believe that!”
Glenn Carano, former Dallas Cowboy quarterback and an executive at the Silver Legacy,
succinctly said, “We wanted this event in Reno and made sure we got it for our great
fans. If the other cities are disappointed, I say ‘Blame it on Reno, ESPN style!'”
As for the co-feature, which catapults the winner into the IBF Heavyweight Title
picture against #1 World contender Eddie Chambers, brother of Steve, it is a clash
of veteran combatants who have a history – albeit from their early days as professionals.
“I actually fought Maurice Harris some years ago in the “Thunderbox Heavyweight
Tournament,” Thompson, who hails from Washington, DC, recalls. “He beat me in a
three-rounder that did not go against our record. Now it’s an opportunity for me
to get revenge. And I can guarantee he won’t beat me this time. I’ll stop him in
six rounds or under.”
Thompson has four straight TKO wins since his 11-round loss to IBF/WBO Heavyweight
Champion Wladimir Klitschko in his world title challenge nearly three years ago
in Germany. Included among those were stoppages of hot 26-1 prospect Chazz Witherspoon
and former world title challenger Owen Beck. Thompson – now 39 – seems to get better
with age.
Harris, a 35-year old native out of East Orange, NJ, who turned pro as a 16-year
old back in 1992, has a four-fight winning streak of his own – most recently capturing
the USBA Heavyweight crown last August. He also owns a significant win over Siarhei
Liakhovich, who was 16-0 at the time. Liakhovich rebounded from that setback and
eventually became WBO World Heavyweight Champion.
“I’ve believed all of the years that I would someday be fighting for the world heavyweight
title,” Harris said. “It feels good to finally have my chance. It’s been a long
road and I plan on reaching my dream with a victory. I’m more focused today. Age
brings wisdom.”
“May 27 will be a night of competitive championship bouts with no clear cut winner
in any of the bouts. This is sure to be a night of exciting and entertaining fights
for our sport and the fans in Reno,” stated promoter Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor
Promotions.

Doors open at 4 pm. First Bout at 5 pm. First ESPN televised bout at 6:00 pm PT/9
pm ET.

Tickets for the May 27, 2011 boxing card at the Reno Events Center are priced at
$100, $59.50 and $29.50 (General Admission). Tickets may be purchased at Reno Events
Center, Eldorado and Silver Legacy’s Ticket Offices, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000
and on line at www.ticketmaster.com.

Before his technical decision victory over Paul McCloskey this past Saturday, WBA Super Lightweight champion Amir Khan re-signed with promoters Golden Boy Promotions and television network HBO to four year extensions according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We’ve been negotiating the extension and last week we signed it,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “We agreed awhile ago that we would want to continue to work together. It took time while we were negotiating the best possible deal for everyone.”

“Amir’s future is so bright,” said Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya, who was ringside for the fight against McCloskey. “Amir wants to unify titles. He would also want to move up to 147 pounds eventually. There are many possibilities. He wants to fight the best and we want to make those fights for him. It’s very exciting for us. We will have a great champion for many years to come.”

Said HBO’s Kery Davis, “We believe Amir has a bright future in the sport and is an emerging star. We look forward to his next fight on HBO.”

Khan’s next fight is tentatively supposed to be a July 23 unification bout with American Timothy Bradley Jr. (27-0, 11 KOs), who owns two 140-pound belts. He unified two titles with a 10th-round technical decision victory against Devon Alexander on Jan. 29.

“We are trying to finalize that fight,” Schaefer said. “[Bradley promoter] Gary Shaw is going to be in Los Angeles this week, so we can talk about it some more. There’s been some talk that maybe the Bradley side isn’t going to take the fight or this and that, so I talked to Gary on Monday and wanted to know if we have a fight. He confirmed we have a fight, so we are working on the paperwork.”

“We are excited to continue to work with Amir,” Schaefer said. “He and his team see we have done a good job for Amir, taking his fights to New York and then to Las Vegas, and we know there are huge opportunities for Amir. I can see huge paydays for him. We want to start in July with Amir’s run with the fight against Bradley to get him in position where he can eventually fight for that No. 1 position on the pound-for-pound list.”

DOVER, Del. — Dover Downs Hotel & Casino will present two heavyweight championship bouts on Friday, May 27 in the Rollins Center arena. For the IBF Intercontinental World Heavyweight Title Franklin “Yah-Yah” Lawrence, 14(9)-2-2, of Indianapolis, Ind. vs. Jason “The Sensation” Gavern, 20(9)-7-4 of Kissimmee, Fla.

The star of the evening is Amir “Hardcore” Mansour with 13 wins (ten KOs) and zero losses, of Wilmington, Del., for the IBF North American Heavyweight Title. This will be Mansour’s first title shot.

The undercard features super middleweight “Mighty” Mike Tiberi, 16(7)-1 of Smyrna, Del., and featherweight “Queen” Ronica Jeffrey, 5(1)-0 of Brooklyn, N.Y. More bouts will be announced soon. Nick Tiberi is the matchmaker.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon, ranging from $40 to $200 and may be purchased at 800-711-5882 or www.doverdowns.com. 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 8:30 p.m.

# # #

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. The casino consists of table games and more than 2,600 video lottery terminals controlled by Delaware Lottery. The Crown Royal® Poker Room offers Texas Hold ‘Em with a Bad Beat Jackpot and daily poker tournaments. Live, world-class harness racing is featured November through April. The Colonnade features a Race & Sports Book with professional football parlay betting and horse racing simulcasts, a casino lounge called Fire & Ice at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, and shops and restaurants consisting of The Marketplace, Swarovski, Godiva, Fashions of The Colonnade, Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, Frankie’s Italian Restaurant and Sweet Perks Too. The AAA-rated Four Diamond hotel is Delaware’s largest with 500 luxurious rooms/suites, indoor pool, sauna, exercise room, gift shop, Toppers Spa/Salon, 1600-seat Rollins Center® and 35,000 sq. ft. of multi-use event space. Property amenities include additional restaurants/bars. For more information, please visit www.doverdowns.com.

Northern California, April 19, 2011 – It’s the type of quest for greatness that has the masses in a frenzy.

Strikeforce welterweight champion, Nick Diaz is making an open challenge to the boxing world as he pursues the impossible attempting to become a recognized world champion in two dominant fighting sports.

Currently riding a 10-fight win streak, Diaz is ready to make the cross-over into boxing as he feels as though there aren’t enough significant challenges for him within the MMA world left to conquer.

Regardless of being a controversial figure with his outspoken personality and vicious fighting demeanor, knowledgeable MMA pundits have tabbed Nick Diaz as having by far the best pure boxing ability that the MMA world has to offer.

The current champions and former champions that have verbally considered obliging Diaz in a boxing match have ranged from former super middleweight champion Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy to former two-time junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas.

Lou Dibella, the promoter of current undisputed middleweight champion, Sergio Martinez has showed significant interest in making a Martinez-Diaz super-fight a possibility.

Trainer and manager of Nick Diaz, Cesar Gracie states, “Nick Diaz will be boxing in 2011 and we want the biggest names the boxing world has to offer. Nick is more than ready for the challenge and it’s the type of fight that will really garner some huge interest amongst the public. For the boxing guys who say that Nick has no shot against any of their guys… I say don’t be surprised when Nick pulls off the impossible.”

The possibilities seem endless as this is a historically significant challenge being made by a fearless fighter in his absolute prime.

This will undoubtedly be the only moment in the history of both sports in which a legitimate pound-for-pound MMA champion has the contractual ability to transition into professional boxing without hindrance from their MMA contract.

The only question left is… Who will step up and accept Nick Diaz’s challenge to lace up the boxing gloves against one of MMA’s best?

Boxing promoter of Nick Diaz, Don Chargin will be actively pursuing a fight for Diaz for a super-fight that will take place in the Fall of 2011.

Chargin went on to say. “It’s the type of match-up that will undoubtedly shake-up both the MMA and boxing world for years to come when Nick Diaz steps into the ring. Nick is the first MMA fighter that I’ve seen throw punches like a boxer. That’s what got my attention when I decided to sign him. Diaz can make the cross-over to boxing.”

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
GREENSBORO / NEW YORK (April 18, 2011)—This past Saturday night, it was a night of knockouts as popular Scott Sigmon scored a fifth round stoppage over Tiwon Taylor that highlighted a night of boxing that highlighted a “Night of Future World Champions” that was streamed LIVE all over the world on www.gfl.tv.

The on-demand replay can viewed for just $9.99 by simply clicking: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Saturday_Night_KO_Fights_3_Future_World_Champions/1013

Sigmon of Virginia is one of the top prospects in the Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions on the East Coast upped his record to 16-2 with eight knockouts and will look to fight for a regional title in his next few bouts.

Local Lightweight Jesse Carradine got back in the win column and is now 7-1-1 with a six round unanimous decision over John Willoughby.

Super Middleweight knockout artist Jonathan Cepeda is now 10-0 with nine knockouts as he scored his seventh consecutive stoppage by blasting out nineteen fight veteran Brad Austin in one round.

The son of the Former heavyweight champion of the world, Elijah McCall blasted out Matt Green in round two of their Heavyweight bout.

In a Ladies Welterweight bout, Lisa Garland scored a second round stoppage over Natoya Ervin

Boxing returns to gfl.tv this Saturday night when Omar Sheika and Garrett Wilson get it on in a rematch for the USBA Cruiserweight title. Also on the card is rising and undefeated Welterweight Ronald Cruz plus undefeated Heavyweight Bryant Jennings. 1st bell is at 7:30 pm est and is just $9.99

GFL now offers full access to over 5,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99

***GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 850 live events with over 5,000 combat sports videos in 190 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 1.8 million public viewers last year with now over 150 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL combat sports genres currently include Boxing, MMA and Professional Wrestling with plans to add more fight categories in 2011. GFL has expanded its programming to include: Daily News & Radio Shows with feature interviews and industry updates along with great Fight Photos, Fighter Videos and a robust Calendar of Upcoming Fight Events.

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

Join us at: www.facebook.com/gofightliveor for press inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

www.GFL.tv

GFL Combat Sports Network is proud to announce its latest expansion in the emerging amateur MMA fight category by signing a video distribution agreement with the rising popular Rocktagon MMA. Rocktagon MMA will start by airing its first VOD event in the “Amateur Elite Series 5” on www.gfl.tv on April 24, 2011. The series will begin its journey in Elyria, Ohio and begin moving the series to California, Texas and points beyond.

Keith Evans, VP of Operations at GFL, says, “We at GFL are excited about Rocktagon. We believe Rocktagon has their finger on the pulse of “Raw and Uninhibited” MMA. They approach the amateur game in a music underground way with big emphasis on fighters putting their future and their hearts on the line. These fight cards are not Tenderfoot Try Outs…They’re fully fledged Rock-On Battles. Another thing that really works for them is the way they promote events more like a Warped Rock Concert versus a regional High School wrestling tournament. Fans at the amateur level don’t generally see poor competitions; they mostly see poor fight presentations. There are number of amazing amateur fighters springing up and it’s promoters like Rocktagon that is helping to elevate the amateur MMA platform to another level.”

“Amateur Elite Series 5” will feature one of the most highly anticipated lightweight title unification matches in amateur MMA history. Reigning lightweight champions Garret “The Sickness” Sahene and Marcus Washington will go head to head in the Rocktagon arena to determine who will reign as the “Rocktagon Unified Lightweight Champion.”

First event will take place on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at Midway Mall in Elyria, Ohio and not available on live iPPV, however available on April 24, 2011 on GFL VOD. To experience the Rocktagon excitement in person on at Midway Mall in Elyria, Ohio, go to www.rocktagonmma.com. Doors open at 5:00 pm ET. Fights begin at 7:00 pm ET. Tickets range from $25.00 to $35.00 at the door. Save $5.00 now by purchasing your tickets in advance! Limited VIP Tables are also available. Call 440.731.1321 for more information.

GFL now offers full access to over 5,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99

***GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 850 live events with over 5,000 combat sports videos in 190 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 1.8 million public viewers last year with now over 150 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL combat sports genres currently include Boxing, MMA and Professional Wrestling with plans to add more fight categories in 2011. GFL has expanded its programming to include: Daily News & Radio Shows with feature interviews and industry updates along with great Fight Photos, Fighter Videos and a robust Calendar of Upcoming Fight Events.

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

Super bantamweight prospect Bruno Escalante Jr. returns to the Bay Area for the third straight time in his professional career as he takes on crafty Shaun Solomon in a four-round swing bout on tonight’s Telefutura Solo Boxeo undercard, emanating from the Longshoremen’s Hall in San Francisco, California.

The Filipino-born former National PAL Champion dominated Martin “Tarzan” Sandoval en route to a second-round knockout February 25th at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California. In addition to notching the impressive victory, Escalante signed a managerial contract with boxing hype man Repo Ric, who gets him right back in the ring tonight.

Escalante (2-0-1, 1 KO) of San Carlos, California by way of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines was one of the country’s top amateurs at 112-pounds before turning pro a little over a year ago will again be fighting a naturally larger opponent. It is a scenario the tenacious Escalante come to accept, considering the lack of viable opponents at his natural weight class. “Repo Ric helps me a lot,” said Escalante of his manager, who matched his fight tonight. “I know he has worked his ass off to get me fights and I know it is hard to get me fights because I am so small.”

While Escalante grew up in Hawaii, he has made San Carlos his home away from home, while training under Brian Schwartz at the Undisputed Boxing Gym. Fighting before the Bay Area fight fans, especially considering the large population of Filipinos within that group, is something that excites Escalante. “It is really nice fighting here. I am really excited to give the local fans the opportunity to see my fighting style and how I work.”

Solomon (1-2-1) of Moreno Valley, California may not have the most intimidating record, but he has been matched incredibly tough in his brief pro career. Solomon ran into the buzzsaw known as Roman Morales his last time out, which accounts for his only stoppage defeat. Escalante knows very little about his opponent, but is confident nonetheless. “I am fighting a left-hander,” states Escalante. “I don’t really know about him, but I will stick to my game plan and it will work, you will see.”

While Escalante may not know much about Solomon, his manager Repo Ric is quite familiar with the crafty southpaw. Ric also manages Roman Morales, and saw first hand what Solomon brings to the ring. “He’s fighting a left handed opponent that is very aggressive,” says Repo. “His record is not what he is all about. You can’t go by his record. The kid is aggressive. If he catches [Solomon] out of shape, then he’s got him. But if he’s caught the kid in shape, we are going the full four rounds. Other than that, we should go a round-and-a-half and we should be done.”

Escalante’s growing local fan base appears to be coming out in full force tonight in San Francisco. “He’s sold 80 something tickets as of [Thursday night] and hopefully by tomorrow we should hit 100, and that’s not counting the walk-ups,” says Repo Ric.

All that is left to do is to send them home happy.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions, Jorge Marron Productions and Paco Presents, are available online at http://theboxingtruth.vbotickets.com/events

Once again 15rounds.com was prominent in the annual and prestigious Barney Awards for 2010 as staff writers took home three awards as Bart Barry took home an honorable mention for best News Story and Norm Frauenheim once again took home multiple awards as he took second place for feature under 1750 words and also was an honorable mention for Investigative Reporting for a piece that ran in Ring Magazine.

Barry and Frauenheim will get their awards on May 6th at the annual BWAA Awards banquet which will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

This was the 10th annual Boxing Writers Association of America writing contest, known as the “Barneys” in honor of Barney Nagler, the late former president of the BWAA.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that the much anticipated rematch between WBC Lightweight champion Humberto Soto and Urbano Antillon scheduled for the May 7 Pacquiao – Mosley undercard will not happen sue to Soto’s unhappiness and impending exit from Top Rank

“We are no longer with Top Rank and he is not fighting Antillon for sure,” said Fight attorney Michael Miller. “We’ll go out and find out if any other promoter is interested in signing him. We’ll start on that next week and see if Gary [Shaw], Lou [DiBella], Golden Boy, and anyone else, might be interested in making a bid for the guy. And then we have to see if we will seek legal action against Top Rank for the lost purses, which we certainly will. I don’t know why we wouldn’t.”

Miller said Soto and co-manager Antonio Lozada have been unhappy with his promotional agreement for some time and hired him last week as a co-manager and as an attorney to look at his contract.

Miller said there were several issues, including that Soto had been told the contract expired in October, even though Miller said he believed the deal had expired in 2009.

Miller said another serious issue was that even though the promotional contract was with Bob Arum’s Top Rank, he was being paid — and shorted — by Zanfer Promotions’ Fernando Beltran, who works closely with Top Rank on numerous fighters.

“Soto’s contract was with Top Rank and he was getting checks from Beltran and they were 40, 50, 60 percent of what they should be,” Miller said.

Miller said Soto was due a minimum purse of $200,000 to fight for a world title and $300,000 to defend the title.

“He was never paid $300,000 and Top Rank rarely even showed up at his fights,” Miller said. “[Soto and Lozada] would complain to Beltran about the money and he would promise to make it up. He never did. Our quick and dirty numbers are that they are $1.285 million short to Humberto compared to the minimums they owed him for something like 10 or 11 fights. He would complain. He was pissed. He was told they would make it up. And because he was shorted, that means Lozada is owed about $425,000.”

Miller said Soto continued to fight because he needed the money he was getting and because he was hopeful that he would receive what he was owed.

“I wrote Top Rank a letter [Wednesday] advising that he has been grossly underpaid and we need some answers,” Miller said. “Why was Beltran involved since Soto never signed a contract with Beltran?”

Miller said besides being underpaid on his minimum purses, Beltran sometimes paid him in installments — sometimes using cash — on the money he did receive, and another time his check bounced.

“I’m trying to get as much information as possible,” said Top Rank President Todd DeBeouf. “I’m reaching out to them. All I hear is stuff from other people. Right now, our primary issue is is the Soto-Antillon rematch happening? There is a high probability that it is not. If that’s the case, we will make adjustments.”

“Obviously, the supporting cast is fantastic with the return of [former middleweight champ] Kelly Pavlik and with the Wilfredo Vazquez-[Jorge] Arce [junior featherweight] title fight. We’d like to add something sensational.”

DuBoef said that without a rematch against Soto, Antillon likely would challenge Brandon Rios, another of the lightweight titleholders whom Top Rank promotes, on July 9 on Showtime.

“I’d like to do that fight,” duBoef said.

CLICK TO ORDER CHAMPIONSHIP CARD
Atlantic City, NJ—Unbeaten heavyweight Bryant “Bye Bye” Jennings (pictured to the left) faces another stiff test when he boxes fellow-Philadelphian David Williams in a scheduled six-round heavyweight contest evening, April 23, in the Palladium Ballroom at Caesars Atlantic City.

Topping the seven-bout card is a scheduled 12-round contest between Omar Sheika, of Paterson, NJ, and Garrett Wilson, of Philadelphia, PA, for the vacant united States Boxing Association (USBA) cruiserweight title. The first of seven fights begins at 7.30 p.m. in the 1,450-seat ballroom, the first time it has been used for boxing.

Jennings, 26, earned a six-round decision over Theron Johnson, of Chicago, IL, in his last fight Feb. 26 at Bally’s Atlantic City. He is 6-0, 3 K0s.

As an amateur, Jennings made it to the finals of the National Golden Gloves and the National PAL, losing each time by decision to veteran lefty Lenroy Thompson.

Williams, 33. is making his first start in two years after compiling a 6-3-1 record with two knockouts. He was scheduled to fight March 8 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL, but his fight, scheduled as a walkout bout, was canceled due to time constraints.

A pro since 2003, Williams has not had many problems with unbeaten opposition. He was the only man to defeat Michael Carr, of Pittsburgh, PA, who was 10-0 when Williams outpointed him in 2003. Williams also was the first boxer to defeat Adam Harris, of Worcester, MA, when he met in 2009.

In his most ambitious start, Williams was stopped in seven rounds by Aaron Williams, of Las Vegas, when they fought in 2009. Williams was 18-1-1 at the time.

Five additional fights complete the card.

Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and all Ticketmaster outlets (800-736-1420). They also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.Ticketmaster.com .

# # #

For press credentials, contact Maureen (215-765-0922)
Press request deadline: Friday, April 16, 2011.

ABOUT PELTZ BOXING PROMOTIONS

Peltz Boxing Promotions Inc., has been staging fights in and around the Philadelphia area since 1969, beginning at the Legendary Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia, expanding to The Arena in West Philadelphia and on to The Spectrum in South Philadelphia. Numerous other smaller venues also have hosted Peltz shows as well as nearly all of the Atlantic City casinos. Many of the sport’s best have boxed for J Russell Peltz over the last four decades, including Hall-of-Famers Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Michael Spinks, Roberto Duran, Aaron Pryor, Jeff Chandler, Emile Griffith, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Bobby Chacon and Pernell Whittaker. Peltz was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, class of 2004. Visit the website at www.peltzboxing.com