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Bethlehem, PA—When intra-state welterweight rivals Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, and Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA, square off July 1 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, they will be helping other local fighters display their skills as well.

A host of Eastern Pennsylvania-based fighters representing nearby towns will fill out the undercard, which begins at 7.30 pm in the 1,500-seat tent on the grounds of the Sands Casino.

Eliud Torres of Allentown, PA, takes on Bryne Green, of Vineland, NJ, in the six-round lightweight semifinal.
Torres, a 28-year-old southpaw, scored a solid win in his last fight May 21 in Reading, PA, when he earned a six-round decision over Travis Thompson, of Pottstown, PA. A pro since 2006, Torres is 5-2-2, 2 K0s.

Green, 27, comes into the fight off the biggest victory of his career, an eight-round decision over Ryan Belasco, of Wilmington, DE, on March 18 at Harrah’s Casino, Chester, PA. Green is 6-4, 3 K0s, in three years as a pro.

The other scheduled six-rounder features middleweights Rashad Brown, of Upper Darby, PA, against Todd Eriksson, of Dover, NJ.

Brown, 22, knocked out Philip Burnette, of Myrtle Beach, SC, in the first round June 3 at Harrah’s Casino, Chester, PA. Brown, former batboy for the Philadelphia Phillies, is 4-0, 2 K0s.

Eriksson, 25, fought the same night as Brown and lost a disputed four-round decision to Fred Jenkins, Jr. Eriksson is 3-6-2, 1 K0.

Popular heavyweight William Miranda (pictured right), of Allentown, PA, meets Zeferino Albino, of Philadelphia, PA, in a rematch of their four-round draw on the May 21 card in Reading.

Miranda, 33, is 2-3-1; Albino, 33, is 4-12-3, 2 K0s.

Albino scored a major win earlier this year when he knocked out Big John Poore, of Upper Darby, PA, in two rounds on Jan. 22 at Harrah’s Chester. Poore was 21-4, 18 K0s, prior to losing to Albino.

Another heavyweight, Eric Newell, who played football at Bethlehem Catholic High School and Kutztown University, makes his local debut in a four-round fight against unbeaten John Mercurio, of Philadelphia, PA.

Newell, 28, is 1-1, 1 K0. In his last fight March 4 in Atlantic City, he lost a four-round decision to Ali Santos, of Camden, NJ. In his pro debut last year, Newell knocked out Octavius Davis, of Wilson, NC, in two rounds.

Mercurio, 32, is 4-0, 3 K0s, and he defeated Miranda via four-round decision in his last fight April 1 at the South Philly Arena.

Grayson Blake, of State College, PA, and Anthony Abrams, of Philadelphia, PA, collide in a four-round junior middleweight contest.

Blake, 29, is 2-0, 1 K0. Abrams, 34, is 1-6, but has never been stopped and three of his losses were to Pawel Wolak, Gabriel Rosado and Jose Angel Rodriguez, all current world-rated junior middleweights.

Cesar Gonzales, of Reading, PA, and Joshua Arocho, of Vineland, NJ, meet in a four-round junior lightweight contest.

Gonzalez, 35, boxed a draw in his only pro fight May 21 in Reading, while Arocho, 22, is 1-4, 1 K0.

Welterweights Chris Plebani, of Bristol, PA, and David Navarro, of Philadelphia, PA, meet in a four-round contest with each man looking for his first win as a pro. Plebani, 24, is 0-2; Navarro, 33, is 0-3.

Tickets for the July 1 card are priced at $51 and $78. They can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or from the gift shop at the Sands Casino Resorts Bethlehem. They also are available online at www.ArtsQuest.org and www.peltzboxing.com.

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NORTH BERGEN (June 17, 2011) – Undefeated lightweight prospect Reynaldo Ojeda of North Bergen, NJ by way of Canovana, Puerto Rico is set to make his American debut next Wednesday, June 22 at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ when he faces Edgardo Torres of Vineland, NJ.

Ojeda, 22, has an unblemished record of 4-0 (2 KO) and was a two-time National champion during his 60-fight amateur career in his native Puerto Rico. Torres has a record of 1-1. Ojeda turned pro in 2009 and signed with Miguel Cotto Promotions, but took time off to study to become a math teacher at The University of Turabo.

The college senior Ojeda has now turned his attention back to boxing, relocating to North Bergen, NJ to train with former world cruiserweight champion Carlos “Sugar” De Leon at Global Boxing Gym. De Leon, also from Puerto Rico, is one of the greatest cruiserweight world champions of all-time, having won the world title four times in that division en route to a 53-8 (33 KO) record.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to advance my career in America,” said Ojeda. “My dream is to win a world title and bring it back home to my people and make them proud.”

In the main event, Ossie Duran (25-8-2, 9 KO’s) of Paterson, NJ via Accra, Ghana will do battle with Latif Mundy (10-2, 4 KO’s) for the USBA Regional Middleweight Championship that is scheduled for ten rounds.

Tickets priced $100 (Limited VIP), $50, & $30 (Very Limited) and are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 973-350-9993 or 1-866-263-STAR.

The Grand Ballroom at the Robert Treat Hotel is located at 50 Park Place, Newark NJ. Doors open at 6:30 PM, first bout 7:30

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SECAUCAS, NEW JERSEY (June 16, 2011)—Wednesday night at the 3 East Bar and Grill, Vincent Ponte along with Gabe LaConte hosted a press conference in advance of a championship night of boxing that will be headlined by Ossie Duran taking on Latif Mundy for the USBA Regional Middleweight title that will take place at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ

The undercard will feature no less than five undefeated fighters

PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Ossie Duran (25-8-2, 9 KO’s)—“I want to Thank Vince Ponte, Gabe LaConte and Vinny LaManna for this opportunity”
“I think its disrespectful that Latif Mundy could not make it to this wonderful event”
“The USBA Regional title will be mine on June 22”
“After this win, I am looking for a good ranking from the IBF, which is the most illustrious of all the sanctioning bodies and will be in line for a world title shot”

Thomas LaManna (2-0, 2 KO’s)—“I want to thanks to the promoters for making me the co-feature”
“Only great things can happen for me in the future”
“I am looking forward to fighting for youth title or a regional championship very soon”

Tyabb Beale (3-3, 1 KO)—“I am not much for talking but I am excited to fight in my hometown of Newark. I promise I wont disappoint”

John Thompson (Pro Debut)—“I want to thank my manager and the promoter to have me make my debut in my hometown”

John Lennox (3-0, 3 KO’s)—“I am here to do business and I am looking forward to doing big things in the Heavyweight division”

Vinny LaManna—“I see nothing but great things from the Gulfstream Group. I support them 100%. It will be a lot sooner than later that these promoters (The Gulfstream Group) will catch the attention of the networks”

VIDEO INTERVIEW OF LATIF MUNDY

EMBED CODE—MAY BE USED ON WESBITES

Tickets priced $100 (Limited VIP), $50, & $30 (Very Limited) and are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 973-350-9993 or 1-866-263-STAR

The Grand Ballroom at the Robert Treat Hotel is located at 50 Park Place, Newark NJ. Doors open at 6:30 PM, first bout 7:30 sharp.

Fight Night Entertainment presents Round XV – Armed Forces July 9 at the Meydenbauer Convention Center in beautiful Bellevue, Washington. The event is a mixture of MMA fights and live music that will have the MMA fans in the Northwest rocking and rolling with the action in the cage and on the stage. The festivities start with the fighter weigh-ins at SKY Ultra Lounge on July 8 at 7pm local time followed by the fights a day later on July 9 at 10:30pm ET. Doing live commentary cage-side will be former UFC Lightweight Champion, and Washington native, Jens “Lil Evil” Pulver.

In the main event, UFC, TUF alum and Strikeforce vet Len “The Liger” Bentley (9-4) fighting out of Victory Athletics battles UFC veteran Rob Yundt (8-4) who last competed with the Alaska Fighting Championships. The main event is a pay-per-view worthy matchup that showcases two of the best middleweight fighters in the North Pacific region. Bentley will have the hometown crowd at his back and will send the fans home happy if he can dispatch Yundt. Yundt, who is coming down from Alaska, has already picked up one victory in 2011 and looks to make Bentley number two in as many fights. Both fighters have a full arsenal in their tool box but look for this fight to be a slugfest with fireworks going off from the opening bell.

In the co-main event, Chanti Johnson (7-2) from White Buffalo Warriors fights Tyson Nam (8-4) of Team Quest in a fight that would headline most cards. Johnson is on a 3-fight win streak, all wins coming via stoppage, and will look to push the pace and use his cardio to gain the advantage over Nam. Nam is coming off of a tough decision and has his back against the wall and will be ready to pour it on Johnson if he sees an opening. This fight could be the springboard for either man to jump to the national level and both athletes will be looking to win in decisive fashion.

Along with the MMA fights, there will also be a live music performance by Seattle Group, Island Trybe. Make sure to get to the convention center early and stay late to see both attractions. After the show wraps up there will also be a post-fight party at The Parlor in Bellevue.

Don’t miss this exciting card that includes UFC vets and a live performance by the band Island Trybe! Watch the future world champions of MMA compete today on this stacked card as Fight Night Entertainment presents Round XV – Armed Forces on July 9, streaming live on pay-per-view exclusively at GFL.tv! For Ticket info go to: http://www.fightnightentertainment.com/

– GFL is a pioneer in Internet Sports Broadcasting. Over the years GFL has broadcast more than 1000 live events with over 5000 combat sports videos in 196 countries. GFL is especially proud to have served greater than 3.3 million public viewers over the years with more than 150 combat sports related website affiliates in its network. GFL is now available on Roku, Android, IPhone, IPad, as well as other internet ready devices.

Atlantic City, NJ—Hard-hitting Allen Conyers, of the Bronx, NY, steps in for the injured Harry Joe Yorgey when he takes on Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia, PA, in the scheduled 10-round junior middleweight main event Friday evening, July 15, at Bally’s Atlantic City.

Yorgey, of Bridgeport, PA, sustained a shoulder injury in training Monday evening and will be out of action for three months.

Conyers, 35, is known as the Dream Shatterer for his record of derailing the careers of several promising fighters.

Earlier this year, he shattered the 20-0 record of James De La Rosa when he scored three knockdowns and a unanimous 10-round decision over the Texas prospect at the Silverdome in Pontiac, MI, on the Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander card.

In one three-fight stretch, Conyers scored knockouts over Jonathan Tubbs (7-1-1 at the time), of Rochester, NY, Russell Jordan (12-3), also of Rochester, NY, and Derek Ennis (10-0-1), of Philadelphia, PA.

Conyers is dangerous early, having K0d Tubbs and Jordan each in the first round and Ennis in the second.

By comparison, Rosado lost a 12-round decision to Ennis last summer for the USBA junior middleweight title.

A pro since 2002, Conyers temporarily left boxing after losing to world-rated Said Ouali, of Morocco, in 2008, then returned this year, beating De La Rosa and losing to world-rated Carlos Molina, of Chicago, IL.

Overall, Conyers is 12-5, 9 K0s, fighting world-rated men like James Kirkland, of Austin, TX, and Delvin Rodriguez, of Danbury, CT.

“I know Conyers is dangerous, especially early in the fight,” said Rosado. “I can’t stick my chin out there and let him test it. I’m disappointed Yorgey won’t be in the opposite corner July 15, but I look forward to fighting him when he gets healthy. In the meantime, I cannot afford to get careless with Conyers.”

Six additional fights complete the July 15 card, which begins at 7.30 pm.

Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at Ticketmaster (800-745-3000). They also are available online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.ticketmaster.com.

Just as mixed martial arts has pulled some of the young fight fan demographic away from boxing in recent years, the sweet science lost out on a promising young fighter a couple years back when former amateur standout Mike Ortega decided to make the move to caged combat. However, throughout that time the Sacramento, California native never closed the door completely on the sport he grew up loving and has decided to make up for lost time beginning next Friday at the Fairfield Sports Center in Fairfield, California.

After struggling to move his boxing career, Ortega (1-0) took advantage of an opportunity to train alongside MMA superstar Urijah Faber as part of his Team Alpha Male camp and devoted himself to his new craft. “My focus just went from boxing to MMA,” says Ortega. “I wanted to pursue it. At the time, MMA was rising in popularity and I thought I could do it due to my athleticism and everything. The opportunity was there, so I just focused on MMA for about two years now.”

Though he still plans on pursuing mixed martial arts, Ortega’s affection for the sport of boxing brought him back to the ring. “I have been doing it since I can remember doing anything,” says Ortega. “I have the passion, the itch [to comeback.] It’s my first love and I could not forget about it.”

Though others have tried and failed at maintaining a high level while competing in both sports, Ortega has not had too much trouble adjusting back to his boxer roots. “I won’t say it’s been hard, but it’s a lot of detailed work,” admits Ortega. “I have to get the finesse back and the timing back, which is completely different. Not having to worry about someone taking me down. I wouldn’t say it’s too difficult, but it is different.”

One might think the time Ortega has concentrated on mixed martial arts may detract from his boxing, but the young fighter believes what he has learned as actually complemented his ability. “I have gained a lot of strength and things from MMA, but the muscle memory is in there, explains Ortega. “I run, I do my road work and I work hard in the gym, so I don’t think it will be a problem at all. I think it is the best of both worlds.”

Aiding Ortega’s return is a reunion with the amateur boxing coach that helped guide him to much success before turning pro, respected trainer Mateen Saifudeen. “There’s a comfort level and I trust what he has to say,” explains Ortega. “He knows his stuff when it comes to training. No doubt one of the better mitt men I have ever done mitts with. So it’s just a great fight and I am happy to be there.”

Ortega’s return to boxing has created buzz among his fans, family and friends, as well as throughout the Sacramento boxing and mixed martial arts communities. “Everyone I have talked to is excited,” says Ortega. “I am really seasoned in boxing, everyone knows that. And it is my boxing which made my MMA good and continue to get better. So everybody is just real excited to see me do my boxing again, because that is my truest art form. That’s what I am best at. And it just creates more spark. Everyone is more excited to see me box now, even more so because of the MMA I believe.”

Ortega’s fellow mixed martial artists are especially interested to see him back in the squared circle, wearing ten ounce gloves. “They are all super excited,” says Ortega of his MMA teammates. “A lot of them do homework on boxing. I actually help out Mateen with boxing classes as well, and they know I know my stuff and when they watch other guys fight, whether it be on ESPN or it’s a pay-per-view card, they are always telling me that I need to get back into boxing just to show that I am the real deal. So they are super excited for me and if anything they help me and motivate me to do it more.”

After several potential opponents either opted to take other fights or simply opted out of a fight against Ortega altogether, matchmaker Edward Rodriguez was able to secure Michael Alexander (1-4-3) of Antioch, California for their four-round light middleweight bout. “First I am appreciative of him for taking the fight,” says Ortega of his opponent. “I believe he is a little taller than me. I have a fight plan and I will take advantage of his height. Anything he brings to the table, I will counter or I will do better. I am sure he is a great fighter. He steps up. He says ‘yes’ to whoever they get him and I respect him for that.”

One of the fighters Alexander said ‘yes’ to early in his career was another Sacramento-based prospect Brandon Gonzales. Though their May 2008 bout resulted in Alexander’s only career defeat via stoppage, the Antioch resident managed to drop Gonzales in the first-round. Fighting Alexander gives Ortega a chance to overcome the same hurdle a fighter he respects and knows personally did just a few years ago.

“I never thought I would be fighting one of Brandon’s opponents, since he was at 160 and I always considered myself a 147,” admits Ortega. “But over the years I have put on some weight, so its good to fight this guy. It is kind of tough for him to lose to two Sacramento guys, but we are the best of the best. Sacramento creates great fighters.”

In a twist of irony, the main event on June 24th is a pairing of Fairfield’s Alan Sanchez against Clint Coronel of San Jose, California. Sanchez had been scheduled to fight Ortega in Sacramento in 2008. After some solid showings and a couple upsets against top prospects in their hometowns, Sanchez has emerged as a local gate attraction while fighting in main and co-main events at the Fairfield Sports Center and now has a record of 7-2-1, 2 KOs.

It would not be out of the question for a fighter in Ortega’s position, having left boxing for MMA, to wonder about what might have been had he stuck to bigger gloves. “I don’t look at it as what would have, but what will soon be,” explains Ortega. “Everything that I have learned over the last two years in MMA will help me in my boxing. I don’t really look at it as that’s where I would have been, but I look at it as that’s where I will be and that’s for sure.”

The journey ‘there’ begins again June 24th.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Don Chargin Productions, Jorge Marron Productions and Paco Presents, are available online at 15rounds.com or at any of the following locations: Paco’s Mexican Restaurant in Woodland (530-669-7946), the J.L Tepito Boxing Club in Fairfield (707-384-8420), Allstate Insurance in Fairfield (707-425-1045) and Vacaville (707-448-8330), Courtyard by Marriott Fairfield Napa Valley Area in Fairfield (707-422-4111), Solano Coin, Gold & Silver in Vacaville (707-447-4708) and Mexifoods Inc. (916-373-1400) in West Sacramento.

Photo by Kurt Garcia/Garcia Images

Pico Rivera–It is only fitting that one of the great Los Angeles boxing champions will receive the very first Salute To Great Champions award, and that champion will be Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez. On Saturday, June 25th in the boxing ring at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena as part of Opening Night of the Inaugural Boxeo en El Pico Rivera boxing and MMA series presented by Roy Englebrecht Promotions; Leonardo Lopez Sr. and Fernando Lopez, the operators of the arena will present the Hernandez family with a specially designed sculpture to signify the Salute To Great Champions award.

Genaro is the first recipient of this award not because he was a eight time world boxing champion….not because he just recently lost his life with a rare form of brain cancer….he is receiving this honor because he is one of the classiest, most decent champions Los Angeles has ever produced!

With a sterling 38-2 pro record with his only losses coming from Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, and super featherweight world titles in the WBC and WBA, Hernandez has been a true Los Angeles warrior. Genaro was born in South Central Los Angeles, trained in South Central, sparred in South Central, and has kept himself grounded over the years by his ties to South Central LA.

The opening night action will feature a hybrid fight show promoted by Roy Englebrecht Promotions that will feature three pro boxing bouts and three pro mixed martial arts bouts, and will have a real local flavor. Headlining the six bout card will be two local fighters in separate bouts. Whittier prospect Humberto Zatarain who is trained by Oscar Muniz will look to stay undefeated and move to 2-0 and will face Martin Delgado out of Ontario in a lightweight matchup. In a junior lightweight female bout, Maywood’s Lissette Medel at 2-1 will face Coachella’s tough Adriana Leal.

MMA action will feature Pico Rivera’s own Matt Ruiz (1-1) facing Duarte’s Brandon Michael (2-2) in a heavyweight three rounder, and Long Beach’s Sebastian Lopez (1-1) meets North Hollywood’s Carlos Urquilla (1-1) at middleweight.

Other local fighters on the Saturday, June 25th show include Maywood’s Rigoberto Flores in his pro debut, and South Gate heavyweight Martin Santizo also in his pro debut.

Tickets priced at only $35 for floor seats and only $10 for Grandstand general admission. Tickets are on sale by calling 562-695-0747. Pico Rivera Sports Arena is centrally located off the 605 Freeway at the 60 freeway between Los Angeles and Orange Counties

On Thursday, July 7th, Star Boxing returns to the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, with the latest installment of its “Punchin at the Paradise” fight series. The upcoming show on July 7th, will feature popular Yonkers middleweight/policeman/all-around good guy, Bryant Pappas (12-0, 12KO’s) and exciting Bronx super featherweight prospect Danny Valle (4-0, 3KO’s). The entire show will be broadcast live on GFL.TV

BRYANT PAPPAS

Pappas, a Yonkers Housing Police Sergeant., is a 12-year veteran on the Yonkers Police force. Pappas, who turned pro in 2005, not only fights because he loves the sport, but also for a special cause. Each fight, Pappas donates his entire purse, including his ticket commission to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. Fighting in Bronx, Pappas will certainly have large contingent of fans and supporters on hand as he looks to keep his undefeated record and knockout streak alive when he takes on Colorado’s Allen Medina in a six round middleweight match-up.

Valle, a NY Golden Gloves Champion as an amateur, was born into the sport of boxing. His grandfather was world renowned boxing trainer, Victor Valle Sr., and his father Victor Valle Jr. has trained some of New York’s most notable fighters, including former WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev.

The 25-year-old Bronx native Valle turned pro in October of 2009, scoring a 2nd round knockout. In his last bout in March, Valle won a four round unanimous decision on Star Boxing’s “March Mayhem” card. Valle is scheduled to meet former amateur rival, and fellow NY Golden Gloves Champion, Angel Torres, in a six round super featherweight showdown. There is bad blood between Valle and Torres that stems from their amateur days. They have talked about fighting one another for years, and now they will finally get a chance to settle the score once and for all on July 7th.

In addition to Pappas’s and Valle’s bouts, the card will also feature two separate exciting professional boxing matches for Bronx bragging rights, as well as four amateur bouts to start the show. The amateur bouts will feature a number of very exciting prospects out of the New York City area.

A complete list of the undercard will be announced shortly. Doors open at 6:30PM, with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. 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 2403 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, June 17, 2011 8:30pm ET featuring Ring of Combat XXXVI at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ. Will feature the return of Peter ‘Drago’ Sell and two Bantamweight Title Fights. Drago fought for ROC in the debut show at the Tropicana defeating Landon Showalter. He has since made a name for himself in the UFC and The Ultimate Fighter. He has been involved in some of the most memorable fights in that organization and now he is making his comeback in the promotion where it all began. One thing is for sure this will be a fight that ROC fans will be talking about for your years as he squares off against former Ultimate Fighter Kris McCray. Kris has also made a name for himself as a Season 11 TUF Finalist. This card also includes 2 ROC Bantamweight title fights. After Nick Pace became the 1st ROC Bantamweight Champion and moved on to the UFC, this weight class has become very competitive in ROC. Dustin Pague earned this title in February defeating Steve Deangelis. Now Dustin takes on a rising ROC star in Claudio Ledesma. Claudio has back to back wins for ROC since joining the promotion and now is taking a step up in competition against the reigning champ. Whoever wins the title will not have a long rest because Sean Santella, the current ROC Featherweight Champion goes for his 2nd ROC title stepping up to Bantamweight. Sean brings a 7-2-1 record into the match where he faces Florida native Tito Jones. This contest will be for the Northeastern ROC Bantamweight Championship and will put the winner in contention for the ROC Bantweight Title. Other featured fighters on the card are wrestling standout, Jared Platt making his debut, Ed Gordon making his pro debut and WCL fan favorite Munah Holland. Al Iaquinta from Team Serra Longo who is undefeated in his pro and amateur career will be making his long awaited return to the cage after suffering some injuries. Now healthy and strong he comes back against world renowned fighter Mikhail Malyutin from Russia. Mikhail comes off a recent upset win against UFC veteran Chris Liguori.

– Friday, June 17, 2011 9:30pm ET featuring Quest for Glory FC at the Croatian Cultural Center in Vancouver, Canada. The card will feature 15 action packed bouts with 3 MMA titles and 1 Muay Thai title on the line, as featured below. The amateur MMA show will be head-lined by one of the city’s most anticipated re-matches; Oliver Vajda (4-0 Carlson Gracie Jiu Jitsu) will defend his title against former opponent Ronald Diaz. Diaz has accepted the match after the wrist injury to Walter Barrios. The previous match between Vajda and Diaz in 2010 was a grueling affair that left many fans on the edge of their seats with a close split decision. The rematch promises to a thrilling and heavy hitting contest. Another excellent match is scheduled between Shawn Pallan (Dragon’s Den Elite 2-0 in MMA and 3-1 Muay Thai) versus Chris Anderson (Vancouver Island 3-0 ) for the welterweight title. The third MMA title contest of the evening will be in the 155 lbs. lightweight division. It will feature Coast BJJ’s undefeated Ryan Christopher (BC’s P4P #10) vs Brandon Shorter. It promises to be a very exciting contest. Joe Halfar (Posner’s Pankration 5-1) and Josh Wright 3-1 (Dragon’s Den Elite) will square off for the 160lbs. Muay Thai title bout. This is the fourth title bout planned for the evening and is expected to be an exciting and thrilling match. An interesting non-title match has former Western Canadian Muay Thai champion and two time former BC Muay Thai Victor “The Dragon” Wang (8-1 Muay Thai, 2-1 MMA) squaring off against undefeated Jake Lindell (4-0 Spokane CanUSA Fight Team) in a Canada versus USA MMA bout.

– Friday, June 17, 2011 10:00pm ET featuring Hard Knocks Fighting Championship at the Century Casino in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The action packed 15-bout card is a combo event with both professional and amateur MMA fighters stepping in to the cage to do battle. In the main event, Josh Griffin makes his professional debut against undefeated Sam Osman (1-0-1) in a tough middleweight battle. Both fighters have extensive experience at the amateur level and are using it as a springboard to elevate their careers by turning professional. Griffin might have to calm his butterflies in the early going as not only is this his professional debut, but he is also in the main event. Osman’s last fight was an overwhelming success as he won via TKO in Round 1 at School of Hard Knocks 9 back in November. Griffin fights out of PMA Karate while Osman trains out of Scott Schilling MMA. Their different approaches to the fight game will make for an interesting matchup and have the sparks flying from the opening bell. In the co-main event Charmaine “Not So Sweet” Tweet (0-0) battles Rhonda Rousey (1-0) in a bout at the 150 lb weight limit. Although sporting tons of amateur experience, the kickboxing Tweet will be fighting in the co-main event spot on her MMA debut as a professional. That is a lot to ask of anybody, but Tweet will be up to the challenge. For the Californian, Rousey, she is coming off of a spectacular submission victory (armbar) in her debut that took only 25 seconds. Rousey will look to take the kickboxing Tweet down to the ground quickly and look to catch a submission. This could be the classic matchup of a striker versus grappler with both women looking to get the fight in their comfort zone and then executing a series of strikes or submission attempts in hopes of making it a quick night at the expense of their opponent. Along with 6 pro bouts, HKFC is also a proving ground for amateur fighters ready to earn their stripes. The 9-bout amateur series will separate the contenders from the pretenders and build to the future for HKFC and Canadian MMA.

– Friday, June 17, 2011 8:00pm ET featuring Howard Davis Jr.’s Fight Time Promotions presents Fight Time 5 – Total Destruction at the War Memorial Auditorium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This Event will be a Delayed Video on Demand viewing at GFL available on June 22. The event features 12 fights with a main event rematch that the fans demanded. Headlining the card are bantamweights Caleb Archer (5-1) and Aaron Cerda (2-2) who will fight each other for the second time this year. Archer won a unanimous decision in February at Fight Time 3 – It’s War! and will be looking to do the same on June 17. Cerda comes into the rematch trying to prove he should have gotten the nod in the first go around. Both Archer and Cerda will leave everything in the cage as they try to make a decisive statement and end this fight before it goes to the judges’ scorecards. This evenly matched main event is sure to be a barnburner! In other action, Bruce Bellochi (2-0) fights Matthew Sposato (3-0) in a heavyweight contest. The steel hinges and pipes will need to be reinforced for this matchup as there will be close to 600 lb of energy and aggression coexisting in the cage from the start of the bell to the end of the match. Don’t blink for this fight as neither undefeated fighter has ever gone to the second round. Also competing on the card will be rising prospects Mike Bruno (8-4) from American Top Team, Vagner Rocha (5-1) from Team Popovitch, Sam “The Rebel” Jones (3-0) representing the Tallahassee Combat Center, and Marcio Armeli (3-0) from Punch Fitness MMA.

– Saturday, June 18, 2011 6:00pm ET featuring Ultimate Cage Fighting presents Caged Hope IV at the Wayside West in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This is a special night of action as UCF has teamed up with Relay for Life to raise awareness and fight against cancer. Featured fights of the night include Brett Smith (1-1) versus Pat Reck (4-5). Smith won his last fight and his only loss was because of an injury suffered in the fight resulting in a stoppage by the referee. Smith is very new to MMA as both of his previous fights have been in 2011 and this will be his third in a little over six months. It shows that Smith is a quick learner and a resilient athlete to be this active in such a demanding sport. Smith will look to make it 2 in a row against his opponent Reck. For Reck, all 4 or his wins have come via KO or submission. Reck’s wild style always creates for interesting and exciting matches as only 2 of his 9 total fights have ever made it out of the first round. Expect fireworks from these two gladiators. Another bout that is sure to gain attention is a matchup of debuting fighters Shane Henney and Alex Bonwick. Both men come into the cage with an air of mystery surrounding them and the fight will probably come down to whoever can improvise on the spot the best.

– Saturday, June 18, 2011 7:00pm ET featuring Absolute Action MMA 15 at the Midwest Sports Complex in Florence, Kentucky. This is a super-card with 19 bouts scheduled for the night. Both professional and amateur MMA will be on display as the Bluegrass State’s leading MMA organization presents another stacked event. In the main event, heavyweights Joshua “Tank” Franklin (5-10-1) and Aaron Webb (6-2) will battle for the AAMMA Amateur Heavyweight Championship. It is a rematch from AAMMA 13 where Webb won by rear naked choke in Round 1. Franklin is looking to avenge that loss and there’s no better time to do that than on June 18, with the heavyweight title on the line. All 6 of Webb’s victories have come via submission or KO, so Franklin will have his hands full once again. But the “Tank” is ready to break through a wall if he has to. Franklin can quiet all of his critics with a win here over Webb and climb to the top of the Absolute Action MMA Mountain all in one night. For Webb, it is an opportunity to cement himself as “The Man” in the heavyweight division. In other pro action, veteran Mojo Horne (5-2) faces Amaechi Oselukwue (2-1) in a middleweight battle. Oselukwue is coming off of a big win at Bellator 38 and looks to continue his hot streak against Horne. For Mojo, he is looking to turn heads himself and show that he is ready for the national scene. A win over Oselukwue will do that. In other action, Bill Underwood (1-1) fights Justin Higdon (2-0) in another middleweight barnburner. Underwood picked up his first professional win at AAMMA 13 in under 30 seconds with a guillotine choke. The undefeated Higdon is a punching machine on the ground, winning both of his fights due to tapout from strikes. Both men are comfortable fighting on the ground, but one is a grappler while the other prefers ground and pound. Tune in to find out who will set the pace and push the action in this evenly matched contest.

– Saturday, June 18, 2011 10:00pm ET featuring AFC 6: Conviction to be held at the Bear Mountain Arena, Colwood, BC, Canada. In the main event of the evening, AFC middleweight champion Kalib Starnes (10-6-1) will face-off for the 185 lb belt against UFC and Strikeforce veteran John Salter (6-2). Along with the title defense AFC 6: Conviction will feature the return of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu phenom Robert Drysdale, the 2007 ADCC Open Weight Champion and three time world Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champion. Robert is the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach of many of the world’s top MMA athletes including Forrest Griffin and Frank Mir. He will face a stiff test against 3X Pan American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gold medalist, former UFC vet and Ultimate Fighter cast member Mike Nickels (9-4). Derek Medler (5-0) puts his undefeated record on the line against Jaret Evens (7-3) in this highly anticipated match up. This event will also feature a heavyweight tilt between 2 former CFL players and BC Lion draft picks. Victoria’s own Justin Shaw (2-0) drafted 18th overall in 2007 against Vancouver’s Paul Cheng (4-1 pro boxer) drafted 6th overall in 2002. Plus Andrew Buckland (13-8) vs. Chase Deganhardt (7-2), and local standouts Corey Gower (3-0), Ryan Janes (2-1), Karel Bergen (3-0), Nathan Swayze (1-1), Chris Jones (3-1), and Tristan Connelly (1-2).

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 1000 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. 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.

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On Friday, June 24th, Don Chargin Productions in association with Jorge Marron Productions and Paco Presents will bring live professional boxing back to the Fairfield Sports Center in Fairfield, California with an action-packed six-bout card. In the main event, Fairfield’s own Alan Sanchez will defend his home turf against Clint Coronel of San Jose, California.

Fans wishing to purchase tickets, please call 925-286-0195

Card Details:

Alan Sanchez (7-2-1, 2 KOs) of Fairfield has quickly turned into a fan favorite and drawing card in his hometown and looks to impress his local following for the third straight time this year in the night’s eight-round welterweight main event. Sanchez has no easy task ahead of him, as he takes on the relentless Clint Coronel (4-2-2, 1 KO) of San Jose. Coronel took to the ring in Fairfield back in March, besting Carlos Musquez in a six-round free-swinging affair.

In the four-round co-main event, former amateur star and budding professional prospect Manuel “Tino” Avila (4-0, 2 KOs of Fairfield makes his third appearance at the Sports Center this year in taking on pugnacious Salvador Cifuentes (1-1) of Chula Vista, California. This will be the first time in his pro career that 122-pound rising star Avila fights off of television.

Quickly becoming a venue favorite, super featherweight prospect Guy Robb (4-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California returns to Fairfield for the third time this year against debuting Tyshawn Sherman of Bakersfield, California in a four-round bout. Local fight aficionados are still buzzing over his exciting four-round decision over Manuel Morales in March and have beaten down the doors of local ticket outlets to see him in action again next week. Sherman has a limited amateur background, but has gained experience in the gym as Shane Mosley Jr.’s main sparring partner.

Former amateur standout and professional mixed martial arts prospect Mike Ortega (1-0) of Sacramento will make his long awaited return to boxing in a four-round light middleweight bout against Michael Alexander (1-4-3) of Antioch, California. Ortega turned pro back in 2008 before turning his attention MMA. Despite his record, Alexander poses a tough challenge for Ortega’s squared circle return. Local fight fans may remember Alexander scoring a knockdown over still undefeated prospect Brandon Gonzales in Sacramento in 2008.

In a four-round light welterweight bout, Fairfield’s Omar Sanchez (0-2) will look to get into the win column against Jhonnathan Zamudio of San Francisco, California by way of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, who will be making his professional debut. Sanchez, a J.L. Tepito Boxing Club stablemate of Alan Sanchez, has been matched incredibly tough in his young career, but always given his opponent as well as the fans ringside an exciting fight.

Also on the card, Jonathan Chicas (1-0, 1 KO) of San Francisco will take on well regarded Michael Islas of Madera, California, who will be making his professional debut, in a four-round light welterweight bout. Chicas thrilled his fans in San Francisco back in April when he demolished Maja Khali in one round. Islas comes to the fight with an extensive amateur pedigree, so their clash of styles figures to make for an intriguing bout.

Doors are at 6 PM, with first bell at 7.

NEW YORK, NY (June 14, 2011) – On Tuesday afternoon in New York City, WBC Middleweight Diamond Champion and universally recognized top-3 pound for pound fighter, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs) signed a new multiyear, multimillion dollar deal that will keep his promotional interest with DiBella Entertainment (“DBE”) for the foreseeable future.

“This is an important day for DiBella Entertainment,” said DiBella. “Sergio Martinez has proved in his recent run of fights that is no challenge he fears and that there is no challenge he cannot conquer. Together, we will look to make the biggest fights against the biggest names in boxing and we won’t stop until ‘Maravilla’ is universally recognized as, pound for pound, the best in boxing.”

Martinez, 36, originally linked up with DBE in 2007 and has gone 7-1-1 over the span. The only blemishes on his record during that time were a close decision loss to Paul Williams in a fight widely heralded as the 2009 Fight of the Yea and a universally criticized draw versus former champion Kermit Cintron in 2009 in a bout where most people thought Martinez should’ve been awarded a knockout in round seven and then had done more than enough to win after 12 rounds.

After a victory over Kelly Pavlik in win the middleweight crowd in April, 2010 and a stirring second round knockout to avenge his loss to Williams in November, Martinez was named the 2010 Fighter of the Year.

Martinez began 2011 in a big way in March, stopping previously unbeaten Sergiy Dzinziruk in eight rounds.

“I’ve never had any doubt that DiBella Entertainment is the best promoter in boxing,” said Martinez. “I have no doubt that we will continue to do great things together. This is exactly what I wanted.”

Also in attendance at the signing, which took place at a local stationary store just a few blocks from DBE’s midtown headquarters, was Martinez’s longtime adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz.

“This is about finishing what we started,” said Lewkowicz. “I believe that in Sergio Martinez t we have a grand champion who is the best fighter in the world.’’

Martinez is scheduled to return to the ring October 1 on HBO against European middleweight champion Darren Barker (23-0, 14 KOs).

Philadelphia, PA—If early ticket sales are an indication, a big crowd is expected for the Mike Jones vs. Raul Munoz fight Saturday, June 25, at the South Philly Arena, 7 West Ritner St.

“Mike Jones is a hot attraction on the East Coast,” said Hall-of-Fame promoter J Russell Peltz. “We are confident of having a full house. When Mike Jones fights, people expect fireworks, even if it’s one week before July 4.”

The 28-year-old Jones (24-0, 18 KOs), of North Philadelphia, is coming off a big win Feb. 19 in Las Vegas (on HBO) where he out-pointed Jesus Soto-Karass, of Mexico, for the second time. Jones is rated No.1 in the world at 147 pounds behind WBO champion Manny Pacquiao, as well as No. 2 by the WBA, No. 3 by the IBF, No. 5 by the WBC.

“It’s good to be back fighting in Philly,” said Jones, who will be making his first hometown appearance in more than two years. “The fans are great and I’m looking to putting on a good show for them.”

The Jones-Munoz fight is part of the Top Rank Live! series which is being promoted by Top Rank, Inc., Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and Joe Hand Promotions. It will be televised live by Fox Sports Net beginning at 10 pm EST. The first of six additional bouts begins at 8 pm.

Tickets priced at $75 and $50 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and online at www.peltzboxing.com.

# # #

Mike Jones vs. Raul Munoz, co-promoted by Top Rank, Inc. Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and Joe Hand Promotions, takes place Saturday, June 25, at the South Philly Arena, 7 West Ritner Street. The scheduled 10-round contest will be televised live by Fox Sports Net at 10 pm EST as part of the Top Rank Live! Series.

In a bout that featured four knockdowns, Jose Pinzon scored a ten round unanimous decision over Edvan Barros in a Super Welterweight bout in Mexico.

Pinzon dropped Barros twice in round one from left hands. Barros scored a knockdown of his own in round three with a left. Upon Pinzon getting to his feet, Barros swung wildly in an attempt to end the fight. Pinzon got his legs and applied pressure throughout and dropped Barros in round six after the fighters feet got tangled and sent Barros to the ground with a grazing right hand.

The two exchanged some good shots down the stretch but Pinzon was never in trouble as Barros tried to land the equalizing blow.

Pinzon, 156 lbs of Mexico won by scores of 98-88; 97-89 and 97-89 to raise his record to 20-2-1. Barros of Salvador, Brazil is now 11-11-1.

Aaron Herrera remained undefeated by scoring a sixth round stoppage over Alirio Rivero in a scheduled ten round Lightweight bout.

Herrera dominated and dropped Rivero in rouns two from a barrage of punches that was culminated by a left to the body.

Herrera finished things when he landed a crunching left hook to the jaw that sent Rivero to the canvas and fight was waved off immediately at 1:09 of round six.

Herrera, 135 lbs is 19-0 with fifteen knockouts. Rivero, 135 lbs of Tijuana, Mexico is now 21-9-1.

Albert Pacheco scored a second round knockdown en route to a four round unanimous decision over Moises Fino Zavala in a four round Flyweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on two cards and 39-37 for Pacheco who is now 2-0. Zavala is 2-2-1.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that world Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez will defend his title against Darren Barker of England on October 1st in either Atlantic City or Dallas.

The report indicated how social media played a big role in making this fight as Martinez’ promoter Lou DiBella and Barker’s promoter Eddie Hearn began fight conversations via Twitter.

“I’ve known Eddie since he was 11. Easy to make the deal,” DiBella said. “They’ve been wanting the fight and Sergio is willing to fight anyone. Barker has been calling out Sergio and he’s a pleasing TV fighter. He’ll come at Sergio and I think it will be an exciting fight, and there will be a lot of international interest, especially in the U.K. Barker’s never been beaten and he’s popular in England. He’ll have more people travel to the U.S. for this fight than travel here for (British world titleholders) Carl Froch or Amir Khan fights.”

“This is the fight we are doing,” DiBella said. “We met with HBO, they know our intention and our meetings have been positive. They know the situation. They are well aware that the fight has been offered to many top opponents. I believe we will have a deal with HBO completed this week.

“Out of the guys who are available, this is a guy who wants to fight Sergio,” DiBella said.

“Sergio would have fought any of them, but people are turning him down left and right, but Barker is a guy who wanted this fight,” DiBella said.

“One thing you can’t take away from Barker is he has the courage to face the best,” Martinez said. “He has the courage to face the best more than Cotto or Chavez. He has more courage than them. I am fighting an undefeated fighter. As I have always said, I am ready for anyone. Nobody else took a step forward to make this fight, but Barker did. I am very disappointed in Cotto. He has no balls to face me.”

“I believe that he was the best available contender,” Sampson Lewkowicz, Martinez’s adviser, told ESPN.com while at dinner with DiBella and Martinez on Monday night. “Cotto refuses to fight, Chavez Jr. is missing in action. Cotto doesn’t want any part of Martinez. Barker is qualified. He is the European champion, he is undefeated and hungry for the glory. There is nothing better than that — to be so hungry for the glory.”

“I don’t believe we’re getting the winner of Chavez versus whoever, but Sampson exacted a promise from the WBC and we’ll find out if they will honor the promise,” DiBella said. “I don’t think they will.”

DiBella said he is close to finalizing the HBO co-feature, which would pit Fort Worth middleweight Brian Vera (18-5, 11 KOs), a former participant on “The Contender,” against Ireland’s Lee in a rematch.

Martinez is the number one rated Middleweight and Barker is ranked sixth by the 15rounds.com rankings

HARTFORD (June 13, 2011) – Undefeated, highly-regarded junior featherweight Luis Rosa, Jr. (6-0, 5 KOs) lead the New Haven Six into the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford this Saturday night, launching “The New Generation Boxing Series,” presented by Bulldog Cartel Promotions, Saturday night, June 18 at.

“This new series is all about Connecticut boxers fighting at home,” said former pro boxer and new Bulldog Cartel promoter Craig Salamone. “There are a lot of talented, young boxers in this state and our goal is to get them fighting at home on a regular basis in order for them to build fan-bases. We have six New Haven-based fighters on this show and our plans call for us to promote our next show in New Haven later this summer.”

The eight-round main event features two veteran cruiserweights sporting deceiving records, Joshua “Juice” Harris (7-4-1, 5 KOs), of Providence, and Harvey “Candy Man” Jolly (11-17-1, 6 KOs).

Undefeated Puerto Rican welterweight prospect Javier “El Chino” Flores (5-0, 5 KOs), now fighting out of Hartford, takes on veteran Shaka Moore (11-15-3, 2 KOs), of Norwalk, in the eight-round co-feature.

Rosa, Jr. (6-0, 5 KOs), who recently signed a promotional contract DiBella Entertainment, takes on dangerous Shawn “Bones” Nichol (5-4, 5 KOs) in a six-round bout. As a heralded amateur boxer, Rosa was a two-time New England Golden Gloves champion and 2009 USA Boxing National Championship silver medalist, which earned him a spot on the US National Boxing Team.

New Haven favorites such as lightweight Oscar Bonilla, junior featherweight Josh Crespo and super middleweight Charles Foster will all be making their pro debuts in four-round matches, respectively, versus Corey White (1-1, 1 KO) and a pro debuting pair of opponents, Frankie Garriga and Lee Snow.

Two other New Haven boxers are slated to be in action June 18: junior welterweight Carlos Hernandez (0-2) and undefeated super lightweight Christian Lao (2-0, 1 KOs), who will square-off, respectively, against Barrington Douse (0-1) and Javier Calderon (1-0, 1 KO).

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Former world light middleweight champion Vincent “The Ambassador” Pettway will be working the corners of Jolley and Snow.

Tickets are priced at $80.00 (ringside) and $40.00 (general admission) and available to purchase by going on line to www.WorldClassTickets.com, at the Connecticut Convention Center box office, and calling 860.759.8898 or 203.889.1222.

Tonight at 9pm EST marks the Debut of GFL.TV Radio on the GFL iRadio and ATG Radio Network! This show is designed to focus on the BIG 3 of Combat Sports & Entertainment. Tonight we debut in a big way!

First to join the team will be “The Ghanaian Gladiator” Ossie Duran(25-8-2) to discuss his upcoming fight against Latif Mundy(10-2) in the Main Event of Wednesday Night Brawl. Ossie will be looking to stay in the win column after back to back wins against Jamaal Davis and Matt Vanda. If you can’t catch this card live on June 22nd in Newark, NJ you

can view it ON Demand on GFL.TV on June 24th!

**Side note: ATG iRadio Network family Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna will be having his 3rd pro fight in the Co-Nain Event**

You can order the card by clicking the link below: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Wednesday_Night_Brawl/1071

Our second guest joining the show will be Elijah Harshbarger(6-2). He will be facing UFC Veteran Pete “Drago” Sell(8-5) in the Co-Main Event of the Ring of Combat XXXVI card on June 17th LIVE on GFL.TV. Coming off of a big win against George Sullivan, Elijah will be looking for the biggest win of his career against Pete Sell. We will be talking to Elijah about his career and his upcoming fight this Friday.

You can click the link below to order ROC XXXVI: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/MMA/Ring_of_Combat_XXXVI/1025

Finally joining the team will be former Ring of Honor owner Cary Silkin. We will be discussing everything ROH with Mr. Silkin especially the “Best in the World 2011” iPPV on June 26th LIVE on GFL.TV.

To order “Best in the World 2011” iPPV click the link below: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Wrestling/ROH__Best_in_the_World_2011/1052

This show will not disappoint Combat Sports & Entertainment fans! Also listeners are welcomed to call with question by dialing 347-934-0137!

You can listen live by going to the following: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Newscast/MMA/GFL_Radio/1097 or www.ATGRadio.com

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

Join us at: www.gfl.tv or for press inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

Former international amateur champion Roman Morales successfully moved past the toughest challenge of his young pro career, stopping veteran Jaime Villa in the fourth round at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California this Friday night.

Morales (4-0, 3 KOs) of San Ardo, California was tested in the early rounds as Villa (8-9-2, 3 KOs) of Midland, Texas fought in the same aggressive style that made his brother Tomas a fan favorite in their home state for many years. Aiding the journeyman’s early success was Morales’ trademark slow start.

“The only problem I have with Roman, is that he starts off slow,” admits his manager Repo Ric. “But that’s what Floyd Mayweather does. He starts off slow, but gets settled and goes out and does his thing. So Roman started off slow and this kid [he’s fighting] has twenty fights, so he is very experienced and he is very aggressive.”

Just as he did in France to win the gold medal at the Four Nations Tournament in his last competition as an amateur, Morales recovered from his slow start and turned the fight in his favor. “I talked to him before the fourth round, and went through the ropes, and Roman became a whole different person,” says Repo. “I guess he had warmed up.”

Warmed up, Morales implemented his trainer Rodolfo Tapia’s instructions and began to wear down the gritty Texan. “I just told him to keep working,” says Tapia. “Combinations and more jabs. But he started to land stomach punches. In the third round [Villa] got wobbled a little bit, and I told Roman, ‘Don’t stop, keep working.’ And what happened was a good, good body shot to the liver and he didn’t get up. He stayed down there.”

Though it did not make it out of four frames, the bout with Villa was Morales’ first scheduled six-rounder. By design his team has moved him to the six-round distance due to his proneness at getting behind early in fights. Some young fighters may have trouble adjusting to the longer distance, but Morales’ manager does not see that being a problem for his young charge.

“This why he’s fighting six rounds instead of four rounds already, because he is a slow starter,” says Repo. “That and the fact he should be able to go six. He spars Eloy Perez and Rico Ramos. So he should be able to go six. This one didn’t go six, he was very successful and the butterflies are out of my stomach.”

The win puts Morales in pretty good company. Most of Villa’s losses have come to solid prospects and eventual contenders. Only three of Villa’s eight kayo defeats came earlier than Morales’ stoppage Friday. Former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. stopped him in three and world ranked super featherweight contender Luis Cruz got to him in the first round three years ago.

Morales will take a break from the ring as a cut he suffered, which required two-and-a-half stitches, will need roughly 35 days to heal before he can begin sparring again. Morales however did not get much of a break over the weekend, as he arrived home around 1 a.m. Saturday morning and was a guest of honor at an amateur boxing show hosted by the Rock Boxing Gym in Salinas, California that afternoon.

Morales is expected to go for win number five at the beginning of August.

Photo by Miguel Salazar

Fresh after winning the WBC Middleweight title last week, Julio Cesar Chavez will make his first defense in September according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“It’s very important that he go right back into action because he’s the kind of kid that doesn’t understand discipline when he’s not training,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com.
.

“When he’s training he’s all right. We’ve got to get him back in the gym as soon as possible.

“We talked to Freddie (Roach) and went over everything and the date that works for us is Sept. 24, and that’s what we’ve asked HBO for,” said Arum, adding that the fall bout likely would take place in Houston or San Antonio. “That’s right before Freddie leaves for the Philippines to train Manny. He doesn’t think the kid would go to train with them in the Philippines. It’s tough enough to get him to train at the Wild Card (in Hollywood, Calif.). I’ve talked to HBO and they are considering it.”

“If they have a good rating, you have to keep the momentum going,” Arum said.

Arum said there are three opponents under consideration for Chavez’s next fight: European champion Darren Barker of England, former “Contender” participant Peter Manfredo Jr. of Providence, R.I., and Marco Antonio Rubio, Chavez’s Mexican countryman.

“I think we’ll try to do Chavez against (junior middleweight titlist) Miguel Cotto next spring in a big pay-per-view, but in the meantime we’re looking at those guys for Chavez in the fall,” Arum said.

“He’s a guy who should be fighting four or five times a year,” Arum said. “Because of Freddie’s situation, Chavez will fight in September. If not on that date, Sept. 24, around that date. HBO is not the only game on the block. Given his ratings, if HBO didn’t want it, or couldn’t do it, we could go to Showtime or do it ourselves.”

Gary Shaw Productions’ rising prospect Roman Morales moves into the next stage of his budding professional career tonight as he takes on Jaime Villa in his first career scheduled six-round bout at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Their bout takes place on the untelevised portion of Showtime’s Shobox: The New Generation tripleheader.

Morales (3-0, 2 KOs) of San Ardo, California notched his third pro victory just three weeks ago with a first-round knockout over Santiago Alonso at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California.

Morales took the fight with Alonso on very short notice after his fight scheduled for the week before was canceled at the last minute. The canceled fight was to have taken place at the same Chumash Casino where Morales will fight tonight, which is a little over a two hour drive from Morales’ home in San Ardo. Many of Morales’ family and friends who had hoped to see him fight in Santa Ynez could not make the trip down to Cabazon in May, and the whole situation was very disappointing for the young prospect, which affected his showing.

“He had sold 200 tickets, he had his daddy fly in from Texas and he had people from the Colorado amateur camp flying in to see him,” explains Morales’ manager Repo Ric. “They were all at the hotel by the time the fight was officially canceled. So he went into the ring [in May] very depressed and it was a mental situation he went into the ring with and he carried it all the way with him. But every time he swung, he took the kid out. The kid went down twice.”

While it was not his best showing, Morales still did what he was supposed to against Alonso, and that was win. “He worked the body well, exactly like I told him,” recalls his trainer Rodolfo Tapia. “He knocked him out at the end of the first round, so that was good. He was not the type of opponent where we need to be very careful, because he had only one fight and I don’t think he was in his weight class. He was too short, but I told Roman, ‘Think he is a champion and just be careful, because an easy fight can become difficult.’”

Tonight Morales will have some of his supportive fan base on hand as he takes on a veteran from a fighting family in Jaime Villa (8-8-2, 3 KOs) of Midland, Texas, whose most notable fighting brother is former contender Tomas Villa. Though Villa sports a less than threatening record, the vast majority of his losses came against prospects that eventually turned into contenders, and in one case, a world champion, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. Should Morales outdo his prospect predecessors, it would make the statement that the San Ardo native is on his way to achieving the same success.

Morales weighed in at 125 Thursday, while Villa scaled 126-pounds.

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

Photo by Miguel Salazar

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that a high stakes Jr. Welterweight bout between former two division champion Robert Guerrero and Marcos Maidana is in the works for San Jose, California on August 27.

“I have a very good feeling, but it’s not done yet,” said Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer. “I don’t have it signed yet, but if I can get it done it is absolutely as good of a fight as you can make. It’s good to be a boxing fan.

“It’s a big opportunity for Robert and another big fight for Maidana. A win here can really establish Robert in the 140-pound division. He’s a big guy and can definitely move up to 147 as well. A win over Maidana makes him a factor in that 140-pound division, which we all know is one of the best in boxing. The winner could potentially fight the winner of Amir Khan and Zab Judah.”

LOS ANGELES, June 8 – Already home to a roster of the best boxers in the world, Golden Boy Promotions is proud to announce the latest addition to its team, former Welterweight World Champion Luis Collazo, who today signed an exclusive promotional agreement with the Los Angeles based boxing promoter.

“Luis Collazo has been a well-kept secret for too long,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. “He’s a talented former world champion who has fought some of boxing’s best and is eager to regain his crown. We will make sure he gets every opportunity to shine in the coming years.”

“I’m honored to be a part of the best team in boxing and now I finally have a chance to show the world what I can do in the ring,” said Collazo. “I’m hungrier and better than ever and I’m not gonna stop until I’m back on top of the welterweight division.”

A proud native of Brooklyn, New York, Collazo (31-4, 16 KO’s) is a talented southpaw who, at 30, is reaching his prime as a boxer. A longtime amateur standout, Collazo turned professional in 2000, and by 2005, he was a World Champion after defeating Jose Antonio Rivera for the WBA Welterweight World Title. Since that bout, Collazo has won five of eight bouts, with close decision losses to former World Champions Ricky Hatton and Andre Berto during that span being among the most controversial in recent years, as many observers believe that Collazo had done more than enough to win both. Following nearly two years off from the ring, Collazo returned in April of 2011 with a third round technical knockout over Franklin Gonzalez and now he’s ready for bigger and better things with the Golden Boy Promotions team behind him.

A date and opponent for Collazo’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, www.twitter.com/imLuisCollazo or visit us on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the May 7 bout that saw Manny Pacquiao score a lackluster unanimous decision over Shane Mosley was a box office success as the bout drew an estimated 1.3 million Pay Per View buys.

This was Pacquiao’s best showing on Pay Per View

“We know we have a little over 1.3 million,” said promoter Bob Arum said. “What we don’t have are some of the smaller cable systems. What I’m saying is I know we go to the bank counting a little over a 1.3 million. I know we’ll go up from there. How much up, I have no experience in this. This was all done for us in the past by HBO, which had experience, charts and all kinds of data from past fights to compare the fight to. Showtime can’t do it because they haven’t done this in so long. They don’t have the database that you need, but I’m feeling very, very happy because I know I’ve done at least 1.3 million.

“How far over we are remains to be seen, and I have no way to make a prediction. Obviously, on the outstanding systems we did something. So that will determine how much above 1.3 million. But I don’t think we have enough outstanding numbers to say we will be over 1.4 million, so I think we will wind up somewhere between 1.3 and 1.4 million.”

Which network will be awarded the rights to Pacquiao-Marquez III has not been determined, Arum said.

“We’re on the clock and we’re discussing it with of them now, how we’re going to do it and which network we’re going to do it with,” he said.

“We worked out how we would do that first negotiation and everybody is happy with the procedure,” Arum said. “But we are also discussing it with HBO.”

“I’ve got more than a whole month to get that done, so we’re not going to agonize,” Arum said.

– Friday, June 10, 2011 8:00pm ET featuring Cage Fury Fighting Championships – Beach Brawl at the Resorts Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, NJ. Headlining the event will be Renzo Gracie prospect, John Cholish taking on a battle-tested veteran in Mikhail Malyutin for the CFFC lightweight title. Cholish, who currently holds two other titles, is currently riding a six fight win streak which includes a submission victory over Ultimate Fighter veteran Marc Stevens in Strikeforce last year. Malyutin also holds a title and is coming off of two impressive wins over UFC and Pride veterans, Chris Liguori and Luiz Azeredo respectively. The co-main event will feature Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Igor Gracie taking on Quinton McCottrell in a welterweight showdown. From the famed Gracie family, Igor comes into this bout with a record of 3-2, but has two submission victories in a row. His last victory came on the undercard of Strikeforce’s Fedor vs. Silva where he submitted John Salgado with an arm triangle choke. McCottrell, a veteran of ten MMA contests has won all but one of his fights by KO or submission. Set to return to the cage are CFFC veterans Nah-Shon Burrell, Kyle Cerminara, Stephen Perez, Trevor Suter, and Ariel Sepulveda

– Friday, June 10, 2011 11:00pm ET featuring Ultimate Reno Combat 25 presents Undisputed at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The 13-fight attraction is headlined by a bantamweight title fight in the women’s division. In the main event, Tay Stratford (8-1) of Reno Academy of Combat battles Autumn Richardson (3-2) from Team Quest. Stratford has torn through Nevada’s fight scene and it’s fitting that with so much on the line, a tough, game competitor like Richardson, who comes from one of the greatest camps in the world, steps into the cage to fight for the belt in this evenly matched championship bout. Stratford, who also holds a championship with the Las Vegas-based Tuff-N-Uff fight promotion, has had finishes in 6 of her 8 wins and looks to add another title to her collection. Richardson also has experience in championship fights, but came up a little short in her last bout. Nothing can erase that loss faster than a victory against Stratford with an Ultimate Reno Combat title belt at stake. Both women will look to push the pace and impose their will in what should be a fun, exciting fight for the fans. The co-main event features Sasha Montgomery (3-0) versus Brandon Morris (3-2) in a welterweight contest. The undefeated Montgomery has fought all three times for Ultimate Reno Combat so his familiarity with the organization will be key when he steps into the cage and looks to utilize his Gracie-learned submission game to get Morris to tapout. Morris is coming off of a two-fight win streak of his own and is the more battle tested of the two competitors and will look to rough up Montgomery and use his cage experience to take Montgomery into deep water and eventually overwhelm him and finish the fight.

– Saturday, June 11, 2011 7:30pm ET featuring Gruesome MMA presents Gruesome MMA 4 at Belfry High School in Pikeville, Kentucky. This 17-bout mega card features a main event with UFC veteran and former WEC World Lightweight Champion, Jamie Varner (17-6-1). Varner faces contender Jeremy Carper (3-3) in a headline bout that is sure to gain national attention. Once regarded as one of the best 155 lb fighters in the world, Varner is coming off of a first round victory at XFO 39 in May and looks to keep his momentum moving forward. For Varner, he only has one thing in mind and that’s getting back to the UFC. Standing in his way is Jeremy Carper. For Carper, this fight could be a career changing event if he is able to pull off the huge upset. Carper’s 3 wins have all been stoppages, either submission or TKO so he has the skill set to pull off the surprise victory. For Carper he is going to have to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at the former world champion and maybe, just maybe, shock the world. No matter how this fight ends, one thing is for certain; get your popcorn and your drinks before the fight starts, because this will be a barnburner! In the co-main event, Cornelius Godfrey (1-0) takes on the debuting Kevin Miles (0-0). Both fighters have extensive amateur records, Godfrey (12-2) and Miles (4-1) so don’t let the records fool you. This professional bout will be hotly contested and anything can and probably will happen. Godfrey is coming off of a first round submission win in his first pro fight and, as an amateur fighter, held championships with two organizations. Miles, known for his slick submissions, steps up his game and will go hold for hold with Godfrey on the mat. Expect a grappling clinic from these two. The undercard is highlighted by a title fight in the heavyweight amateur division as undefeated Matt Baccus (7-0) fights Josh Walker (4-2). Baccus, already a champion in another organization, looks to add to his collection of belts with a win over Walker. Walker is coming off of a first round victory at Gruesome MMA 3 and will look to pick up where he left off. Both heavyweights are agile big men and this is sure to be one of the fights of the night.

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 1000 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. 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.GFL.tv or for press inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

This show will be on Sunday afternoon and not Saturday evening!

The show is open to any registered amateur boxer. This includes Juniors, Seniors and Master boxers.

If you wish to compete, please contact New York’s number one matchmaker Angela Querol at 718 797 2872 or gleasons75@aol.com.

The weigh in will begin at 2:00PM and the first bout will begin at 4:00PM.

All our bouts are pre-matched. They are sanctioned by USABoxingMetro. All boxers must have their boxing book with them in order to participate.

The ticket price is $20 per person. Children 6 and under are not charged. All gym members and registered amateurs with their books in hand pay $15 per person.

This show will be shown live and free of cost on: www.gofightlive.tv . The blow by blow for these fights will be done by our very own Champion Sonya Lamonakis.

NEWARK, New Jersey (June 8, 2011) On June 10 the Roseland Ballroom will be the headquarters for Boricua boxing pride as Gary Shaw Productions (“GSP”) and DiBella Entertainment (“DBE”) proudly present Boricua Invasion I. Boricua Invasion I will air live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. In a featured bout, undefeated, Newark New Jersey welterweight southpaw Alex “The Brick City Bullet” Perez, 13-0, 7 KOs will take on durable veteran, Manuel Guzman, 7-11-2, 3 KO’s.

Perez trains full time, both himself and the youth of Newark, New Jersey at the Aspira gym. He works hard day in and out and is motivated by his family, but he also takes pride in setting an example for the kids who come from the same streets he came from. “I am a big example to them because I came off the streets myself, I have come a long way and I am focused.”

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“The kids I train look up to me, so I always make sure I set the right example. I always tell them not to listen to anybody about what they can or can not be. Everyone told me I wouldn’t amount to anything and I am proving them wrong every day.”

Perez has been working in the gyms for many years and has worked with many outreach programs in Newark. “I have been visiting the schools in Newark for career days and talking to the kids every chance I get. People in Newark know me from before and they see how hard I have worked to get to where I am now. They know I am a warrior and I am determined to reach the top.”

“I know I still have a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I am determined to keep outworking everyone until I get where I want to be. I am always telling the kids to follow their dreams and keep moving forward. I have met a lot of obstacles in my life and some have delayed my career, but none could stop me… I have stayed focused and kept my fail in God and in myself.”

“I am glad I have had the opportunity to stay active in 2010 and plan to stay very busy in 2011. I want to thank my manager/trainer, Jose Rosario, lawyer/trainer, Danny Serratelli and my promoter Lou DiBella. I also want to thank my family and team the rest of my team. I am ready to rumble on friday and can’t wait for the fight.”

Tickets for Boricua Invasion I on Friday, June 10 are priced at $175, $125, $75, $45 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet.

In what was one of the more inevitable things that was to happen in boxing happened on Tuesday as former Lightweight champion Juan Diaz retired from boxing to pursue a law degree according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

Two weeks after signing a contract to fight David Torres and announcing that he would end a one-year layoff, the former unified lightweight titlist withdrew from the fight Tuesday, telling promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.

Diaz, a graduate of the University of Houston Downtown, had recently been accepted to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Law School. He has talked for years about someday going to law school, but the lure of the ring seemed like it was too much.

“I have the acceptance letter from law school and I look at it every day and question myself every day if I am making the right decision,” Diaz told ESPN.com two weeks ago when he announced his comeback fight. “I put it to the side and say law school can wait. What I really want is to become champion again, so I’ve been emailing back and forth with the university to see if I can work something out where they will let me defer for a year because I don’t think I want to go yet.”

Willie Savannah, Diaz’s manager, faxed a hand-written letter to Margules telling him of Diaz’s decision.

“He had trained 4-5 days per week for months in anticipation of once again becoming a world champion,” Savannah wrote. “He made this decision last Friday and I support it 100 percent. I hope that Warriors and ESPN will understand.

“Diaz does not have a history of pulling out of fights like a lot of boxers do. I apologize for the inconvenience this will cause all parties.”

“It’s been awhile and I am very excited and very pumped about being back in the ring,” Diaz said. “Last time I fought was July 31 last year, so it’s going to be a year. So I’m looking forward to fighting again and showing people what I still have.”

Former world champion Genaro Hernandez passed away today in California at the age of forty-five after a battle of cancer in Mission Veijo, California according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I think that the best fight he had was when he went to France and won the world title,” Rudy Hernandez, Genaro’s brother, said a few hours after Hernandez’s death. “He was looking to land and it was just a matter of time until he would catch him and knock him out. I was his brother, his trainer, his adviser, his manager, his friend.”

Hernandez (38-2-1, 17 KOs) defended the title eight times — including five times at the Great Western Forum — but then got the shot he had always wanted, a showdown against East Los Angeles rival Oscar De La Hoya. Hernandez moved up in weight and challenged De La Hoya for his lightweight belt outdoors at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 1995.

“He was a lovely man, and he was really a credit to the sport of boxing,” said Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who promoted the Nelson fight and many of Hernandez’s late-career bouts, and also quietly covered many of Hernandez’s medical expenses during his battle against cancer.

“I remember one instance (the Nelson fight) where he was fouled, and he knew he could win if he stayed down,” Arum said. “He insisted on continuing. He didn’t want to win the fight that way. He was a brave guy, a great guy.”

“As a commentator, he was everything you could ask for,” Arum said. “He had such a good understanding of what was going on inside the ring. He was just a great person. Eventually the cancer got him, but he did really well in his fight against cancer. He lasted for a long time and did everything he could to beat cancer. He showed a lot of heart.”

“We last worked together last December doing (Soto-Antillon), and he was still exhilarated by what he was watching,” said broadcaster Rich Marotta, who called many of Hernandez’s fights before partnering with him when he became a television analyst after he retired from the ring. “We will all miss him very much.”

“I had the good fortune to call many of Genaro’s fights, from early in his career when he was appearing in prelims at the Irvine Ballroom to his days as a world champion at the Forum to his biggest fight against Oscar De La Hoya at Caesars,” Marotta said. “He was the same guy through all of that, friendly, accessible to all and simply one of the finest athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of dealing with. He was still the same guy, with the same accommodating demeanor, in the years following his boxing career as a ringside commentator.”

“He pretty much ended up playing it safe sometimes. He wanted to demonstrate his skills,” Rudy Hernandez said. “He fought as hard as he had to. He made things look a lot easier than they were. But he was a very, very dedicated fighter. Never once did he ever go into a fight not being 100 percent in shape. He was so dedicated, even when he wasn’t fighting or scheduled to fight, he remained in the gym. He fought Azumah Nelson on a Saturday, and on Tuesday he was back in the gym working out.”

Hernandez is survived by his wife, Liliana; their two children, 19-year-old Amanda and 11-year-old Steven; three brothers; two sisters; and his father, Joe Rudy Hernandez. His mother died in 2004. Rudy Hernandez said funeral arrangements were pending.