PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 5) – When 49-year old WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KOs) faces 31-year old WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs) in a unification battle on Saturday, November 8 in Atlantic City, he will bring more than a pair of gloved fists. Hopkins brings almost 30 years of history with him.
The continuing success of “The Alien” can make it easy to forget just how long Hopkins has been a part of the professional boxing landscape.
Hopkins was born in 1965 and has seen:
Nine U.S. Presidents (Johnson, Nixon. Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama)
The world’s population more than double, from 3.3 billion to over 7 billion
The average price of gas rise from 31 cents a gallon all the way up to three dollars and thirty-five cents
A 23-year-old Hopkins turned professional in October 1988. How long ago was that?
Sergey Kovalev was only five years old
Mike Tyson was Ring Magazine’s top fighter in the world pound-for-pound
Ronald Regan was President of the United States
“Rain Man” was the top film of the year
Hopkins earned his first world title shot, a loss to Roy Jones Jr. in May 1993. At that same time:
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. was boxing’s pound-for-pound king
Mike Tyson was a prisoner in Indiana
The USSR had collapsed
“The Bridges of Madison County” topped the New York Times bestseller list
Hopkins began his historic reign as middleweight champion with a seventh-round stoppage of Segundo Mercado for the IBF crown in May, 1995, the same time that:
Pernell Whitaker followed Chavez Sr. as the pound-for-pound king while Hopkins quietly built his case
Whitney Houston graced the cover of Ebony magazine
Montell Jordan’s “This is How We Do It” sat atop the music charts
Today’s pop sensations Justin Bieber and Harry Styles were only one-year-old and Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez were just two
2001 was a banner year for Hopkins as he earned a place in the middleweight unification tournament. He defeated Keith Holmes for the WBC crown in April and set his sights on WBA Champion Felix Trinidad in September at Madison Square Garden. Their classic encounter was delayed two weeks by the events of 9/11, the then-36 year old Hopkins memorably stopped “Tito” in 12 rounds and tied Carlos Monzon’s record for consecutive title defenses at 14. Hopkins did this while:
A 17-year old Sergey Kovalev won the Russian Junior Championships Silver Medal at middleweight
Hasim Rahman was the heavyweight champion of the world after knocking out Lennox Lewis
The second George Bush had been president for less than a year
“The West Wing” won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series
The year 2004 would be memorable for Hopkins as he rose to the top of the pound-for-pound ranks following Antonio Tarver’s defeat of Jones and in September knocked out Oscar De La Hoya in the ninth round to become the first person to unify four titles in any weight class while at the same time:
Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez had just fought to a draw in their first of four fights
An electric young speaker at the year’s Democratic National Convention named Barack Obama would be elected to the U.S. Senate just months later
LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade had all just finished their rookie seasons in the NBA
Michael Phelps won six gold medals in swimming while competing in his first Olympic games
Hopkins finally lost the middleweight crown in 2005 and, at age 41, decided to jump two weight classes to start the next phase of his career. In June 2006, he defeated Antonio Tarver for the Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight title.
In 2009, Sergey Kovalev would turn professional with a first round knockout. By this time, Hopkins had already fought 56 times professionally.
In May 2011, Hopkins defeated Jean Pascal for the Ring Magazine and WBC Light Heavyweight titles. At age 46, Hopkins broke George Foreman’s record and became the oldest world champion in boxing history.
Throughout the Philadelphia-native and five-time world champion’s illustrious career, only one major sports team from Philadelphia has won a championship, the 2008 Phillies.
In the summer on 2014, Hopkins watched former foes De La Hoya, Trinidad, and Calzaghe go into the International Boxing Hall of Fame together.
Then, he signed to fight Kovalev.
Bernard Hopkins belongs to history even as he keeps making it.
# # #
“Alien vs. Krusher: Hopkins vs. Kovalev” is a 12-round unification bout for the IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight World titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona Extra, AT&T, Hortitsia Vodka and Mexico, Live it To Believe It!. Ali vs. Abregu is a 10-round welterweight bout for the WBO Intercontinental title and is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank.
The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50, plus applicable fees and service charges, are on sale now and available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing or http://www.boardwalkhall.com/.
Follow on Twitterat www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/main_events, www.twitter.com/hboboxing, www.twitter.com/THEREALBHOP,
www.twitter.com/krusherkovalev and www.twitter.com/BoardwalkHall and #alienvskrusher.
Become a fan on Facebookat www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/maineventsboxing, www.facebook.com/therealbhop, www.facebook.com/hboboxing and www.facebook.com/BoardwalkHall.
ADONIS STEVENSON-DMITRY SUKHOTSKIY MONTREAL KICKOFF PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
MONTREAL (Nov. 5, 2014) – Popular, hard-hitting WBC and The Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs), of Montreal, will defend against top-10 contender Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy (22-2, 16 KOs) of Russia, in the main event of a SHOWTIME BOXING: Special Edition® quadrupleheader Friday, Dec. 19, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, it was formally announced Wednesday at a jam-packed press conference at NRJ Bell Media building in Montreal.
The final SHOWTIME boxing telecast of the year, presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron, will include three other fights: former world title challenger and super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell (23-1, 16 KOs), of Flint, Mich., will box an opponent to be announced in the co-feature, Kevin Bizier (23-1, 16 KOs), of Quebec, will rematch Canadian-based Romanian Jo Jo Dan (33-2, 18 KOs), in an IBF welterweight elimination fight and undefeated contender and two-time Russian Olympian Artur Beterbiev (6-0, 6 KOs) will face fellow unbeaten Jeff Page Jr. (15-0, 10 KOs) of Andover, Kan., in a 10-round light heavyweight match.
Tickets, ranging from $25 to $250 will go on sale next tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. ET, in the branches of the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec (418) 691-7211 or 1 (800) 900-7469, online at www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980.
Here’s what Stevenson, Bizier, Dan, Beterbiev and Page had to say on Wednesday:
ADONIS STEVENSON, WBC and The Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion
“My hand has healed from the injury when I fought Fonfara. I’m healthy and I’m ready to go.
“Going 12 rounds was a good experience for me. I train for 12 rounds in the gym. Sometimes it’s good to go the distance and get the experience.
“Everybody brings their A-game because I’m the champ.
“I know I’m the king of the light heavyweight division and I know that everyone wants to take my belt. I’m going to train very hard.
“Sukhotskiy is a tough guy and he’s hoping to surprise me. I’ll prepare, my hands will be perfect and it will be a short night on SHOWTIME.”
JO JO DAN, Once-Beaten Welterweight Contender
“I’m hoping to fight with Kell Brook, but I’m concentrating 100 percent on the fight with Kevin Bizier. I’ve been waiting for this fight since I started boxing.
“I know he’s learned some things and has more experience since our first fight. But I also know him better now than when we first fought, so I think it’s going to be an exciting fight.
“If the knockout comes, it’s comes, but I always prepare for 12 rounds. If the chance is there, I won’t miss it. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t preparing for 12 rounds.
“I train 100 percent and I’m sure he’ll be in the best shape of his life. We’re looking to make the fight of the year in Quebec.”
KEVIN BIZIER, Once-Beaten Welterweight Contender
“If I want to win the world championship then I need to prepare for the best and the toughest fight of my life against [Jo Jo] Dan.
“It puts a little more pressure knowing that I could fight for a title if I win in December. But I’m focused on Dan and no one else. I’m just focusing on boxing. I’m not worried about stopping him.
“I learned to be more relaxed after our first fight. In the first fight I was going for the KO. I’m going to try to be more relaxed and use my jab this time around.”
ARTUR BETERBIEV, Former Amateur Standout And Undefeated Light Heavyweight
“I’m not worried about getting another knockout. It all depends on the strategy of the fight. I’m going to fight until the last round.
“With [Tavoris] Cloud I was preparing for 12 rounds and I could never have predicted that I would only box for four minutes. I was just doing my job and that’s what happened.
“I’m going to be more motivated for this fight because he’s undefeated. Every fight I go in the ring thinking that I’ve already lost to my opponent before. That way I won’t take my opponent lightly.
“The amateur career helped and I hope it will help me for the rest of my life. But at the same time I need to progress. I have a lot to learn in professional boxing and I’m looking forward to it.”
JEFF PAGE JR., Undefeated Light heavyweight
“No, I don’t think he’s overrated. He had a great amateur background and he went to the Olympics twice. He has beaten a lot of good fighters and he just beat Tavoris Cloud, so I think he’s a tough opponent.
“I have great hand speed and great footwork, but I know I can’t run from him like everyone else has. I’m ready to exchange – I have great power myself.
“I think him and his team are underestimating me, but I’m going to use that to my advantage. I’m going to come in and show him right away that I’m there to win, that I’m not an opponent.
“Being an underdog is absolutely a motivator for me. Everybody back home is going to be watching. If I win this fight big things are going to start happening for me and my team. Everyone will know who I am.
“I think my experience helps. He’s had a lot of amateur fights, but amateur and pro fights are a lot different. I’ve trained with a lot guys – I’ve been to Vegas, I’ve been to Chicago – and I’m getting ready to go to Big Bear. I have a lot of experience and I plan to use it.
“I train for knockouts but I’m ready to 10 rounds.”
Undefeated Derrick Webster headlines Parx Casino Tuesday Night Fights on November 25 at 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia
Philadelphia (November 5, 2014)-On Tuesday night, November 25 at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia, Joe Hand Promotions and D & D Management will present the 3rd installment of Parx Casino Tuesday Night Fights.
In the professional main event, undefeated Super Middleweight, Derrick “Take it to the Bank” Webster will see action in a six-round bout.
Webster of Glassboro, New Jersey has a record of 17-0 with 8 knockouts.
The 32-year old Webster has been upping his competition and has had several high profile fights fall through due to opponent fall outs.
He will be making his 4th start of 2014. In his most recent outing, Webster scored a 6-round unanimous decision over Michael Gbenga on May 30 in Philadelphia.
Webster recently signed a promotional contract with GH3 Promotions. His opponent will be named shortly.
In 4-round Bouts:
Frank Trader (10-2-1, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will fight against on opponent to be named.
Jerome Conquest (1-0) of Philadelphia will fight Maurice Williams (1-6, 1 KO) of Camden, NJ in a Welterweight bout.
Avery Sparrow (2-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will fight Luis Esquilin (2-6-1) of Philadelphia in a Jr. Lightweight bout.
Blair Cobbs (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on an opponent to be named in a Welterweight tussle.
There will be seven amateur bouts that will feature some of the best young fighters in the area.
Khalid Miller will fight Tom Hogan in a Heavyweight fight
In a battle of national champions, exciting Christian Carto will fight Jordan White in a 114 lb. fight
Jerrod Ennis will fight Mark Dawson in a battle of 145 lb Nationa Champions.
Nick Chandler will box Devin Haney in a 132 lb. fight
Brandon Pizzaro will square off with Rasshad Adams in a 128 lb. fight
Michael Rauchet will fight Justin Bell in a 168 lb fight.
Sharif Owens will take on Vito Mielnicki Jr. in a 95 lb fight.
Tickets for this great evening of boxing are $50 for reserved and $30 for general admission. This event will also be student night with $20 tickets being sold to students with proper ID at the door. and can be purchased online at www.2300arena.com or Wanamaker Entertainment by calling 215 364 9000.
HBO SPORTS® DOCUMENTARY TAPIA, EXAMINING THE TUMULTUOUS LIFE OF PRIZEFIGHTER JOHNNY TAPIA, DEBUTS DEC. 16, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2014 – HBO Sports, the leading television platform for boxing in the U.S., will present a compelling documentary about the talented but tormented world champion boxer Johnny Tapia, it was announced today by Rick Bernstein, executive producer, HBO Sports. Debuting TUESDAY, DEC. 16 (11:00 p.m.-midnight ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, TAPIA uses first-person narration and archival footage to explore the achievements, personal demons and ultimate redemption of the popular fighter, who died in 2012 at age 45. The film is executive produced by multiplatinum award-winning musician, entrepreneur and actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and sports promoter, producer and entertainment executive Lou DiBella.
“Johnny Tapia’s life story was an incredible journey, and we are eager to celebrate his biggest accomplishments and chronicle the toughest and most difficult moments of his turbulent life,” said Bernstein. “Tapia was so much more than just a world champion, and we want to share this gripping account with our subscribers, many of whom may have seen Johnny in his five fights on HBO, but may not know the amazing story behind the fighter.”
“This is not a boxing film, but a film about tragedy, triumph, demons and redemption,” says DiBella. “Johnny gives us an honest assessment of his strengths and frailties; he reminds us of the power and resiliency of the human spirit.”
“Johnny’s is a story that needed to be told,” says Jackson. “Everyone can relate to some aspect of it, which makes it that much more powerful. Personally, his journey is one that has touched me greatly.”
Born Feb. 13, 1967, Johnny Tapia used boxing as way out of his impoverished life in Albuquerque, NM, becoming a five-time world champion in three different weight classes. Tormented as an adult by the brutal kidnapping and murder of his mother, which occurred when he was eight years old, Tapia suffered repeated episodes of drug addiction and mental illness. His nickname, Mi Vida Loca (“My Crazy Life”), reflected not only Tapia’s intensity in the ring, but also a tumultuous personal life, which involved jail time and several drug overdoses. In 1994, he married his wife, Teresa, who helped Tapia regain control of his life in retirement before he succumbed to a heart attack in 2012.
HBO has a rich and distinguished history of developing and presenting boxing documentaries, among them: “Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward”; “Klitschko”; the Emmy®-winning “Assault in the Ring”; the Peabody Award-winning “Thrilla in Manila”; “Joe Louis: America’s Hero…Betrayed”; the Peabody Award-winning “Ali-Frazier: One Nation Divisible”; and the Emmy®-winning “Sugar Ray Robinson: The Bright Lights and Dark Shadows of a Champion.”
TAPIA is a G Unit Film and Television and BK Blu Productions Presentation in association with Live Star Entertainment; executive producers, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Lou DiBella; directed by Eddie Alcazar. For HBO: executive producer, Rick Bernstein; director, Bentley Weiner. Liev Schreiber narrates.
Undefeated Marcelino Pineda Signs with Halquist Productions
Tacoma, WA (November 5, 2014) Brian Halquist Productions is proud to announce the signing of the fast rising welterweight knockout artist, Marcelino Pineda (4-0, 4 KOs). Northwest boxing fans are in for a treat as the heavy handed Pineda is expected to be a regular showcase at upcoming Battle at the Boat events at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA to continue his very promising professional boxing career.
Local fight fans have already gotten a glimpse of Pineda’s exciting fighting style, appearing at the Emerald Queen Casino for all four of his professional fights and walking away with early knockouts in everyone. Pineda is already scheduled to make his first appearance since signing with Halquist Productions, fighting on the upcoming Battle at the Boat 98 card on November 15th. He will be taking on four time Tacoma Golden Gloves champion, Will Hughes.
Pineda was born in Michoacan, Mexico and came to the United States when he was just eight months old. With his father pursing the sport since he was a kid, boxing has always been in Pineda’s background and now he looks forward to taking his skill to the next level.
“I’m extremely happy to sign with Halquist Productions,” said Marcelino. “My family and I are very excited to take my boxing career to the next level. I don’t underestimate anybody. I take every opponent who steps in front of me very seriously.”
As a devout Christian, Pineda is highly motivated by his Christian faith and his family. A loyal husband and father of three young kids, Pineda works full time during the day at the Les Schwab Tire Center in Toppenish, WA, and heads straight to the Round 3 Boxing Club where he is trained by Hiram Cantu.
“When I first met Marcelino, he was a dedicated bodybuilder,” stated Cantu. “He had to drop a lot of that muscle just to get into good fighting shape. He’s also a hardcore Christian. When he walks into the gym we immediately switch to Christian music. That’s his motivation. He’s a very hungry fighter and he hopes to be able to retire everybody around him at the end of his boxing career.”
Promoter, Brian Halquist, couldn’t be happier to be adding another Northwest talent to his roster of signed boxers. “It’s great to have Marcelino on the BHP team,” said Halquist. “He is one of the most special fighters to come out of the Northwest in a long while. He has heavy hands and all the tools to go a long way in this sport. The Northwest boxing fans will get to see lots of Marcelino in the coming year. His fan base grows leaps and bounds with every fight and will continue to do so.”
Along with Pineda, Halquist Productions also currently has signed Zahir Raheem (35-3-0, 21 KOs) and Jeremy McCleary (5-0) who all are looking to make a big splash in 2015.
Tickets for Battle at the Boat 98, scheduled for Saturday, November 15th at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA, can be purchased at the EQC box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Prices start at $25. Doors for Battle at the Boat 98 open at 6 PM with the first fight schedule for 7 PM. For more information about Battle at the Boat 98 and all other Halquist Productions events, please visit www.halquistproductions.com (currently under construction) and the official Facebook and Twitter pages of Battle at the Boat and CageSport MMA.
About Halquist Productions
Promoter, Brian Halquist started Halquist Productions in 1989 when he promoted up and coming heavyweight boxing contender, Joe “The Boss” Hipp. In 1997, the Emerald Queen Casino and Brian Halquist Productions started the popular northwest boxing series, “The Battle at the Boat,” bringing boxing back to the Pacific Northwest. Halquist Productions is the Northwest’s premier fight promotional company and has promoted events on Showtime, HBO and ESPN and also a co-produced Showtime’s historic boxing event in St. Lucia, West Indies. The Battle at the Boat continues to be the longest running boxing series out of any casino in the United States.
AMIR KHAN AND DEVON ALEXANDER PRIMED AND READY FOR THEIR PIVOTAL WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN SATURDAY, DEC. 13 AT MGM GRAND LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 5, 2014) – Accomplished and widely recognizable former world champions still in the prime of their careers — Amir Khan and Devon Alexander — participated in a Golden Boy Promotions press conference on Tuesday at The Conga Room at L.A. Live to formally announce “ROYAL BATTLE” on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas; live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). Former world champion Victor Ortiz was also in attendance as he prepares for his undercard bout against an opponent to be named.
An important welterweight battle for both fighters, British superstar and former unified super lightweight world champion “King” Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) of Bolton, England will take on former two-division world champion Alexander “The Great” (26-2, 14 KOs) of St. Louis, Mo., in the 12-round main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.
Four more talented boxers, all unbeaten, will compete in two world title fights on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast: undefeated interim WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (23-0, 21 KOs) of Clearwater, Fla., will defend against a consensus top-five ranked welterweight Leonard “The Lion” Bundu (31-0-2, 11 KOs) of Lazio, Italy, and WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) of Providence, R.I., will risk his 154-pound belt against tough undefeated up-and-coming star Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (24-0, 11 KOs) of Houston, Texas, who’ll be getting his first crack at a world title.
Ortiz (29-5, 22 KOs), of Ventura, Calif., and former three-time, three-division world champion Abner Mares (27-1-1, 14 KOs) of Downey, Calif., by way of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, will fight on the undercard in separate bouts against opponents to be announced.
Tickets for the event are on sale and are priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person with a limit of four (4) at the $50 price range. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Here’s what the boxers as well as trainers Virgil Hunter (Khan) and Kevin Cunningham (Alexander), and Senior Vice President of Golden Boy Promotions, Eric Gomez, had to say on Tuesday:
AMIR KHAN, Former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion
“This fight means a lot to me. At the end of the day it’s going to be a tough fight against an A-class opponent who I really believe I can shine against. This is a big fight for me. I’m one of those fighters that loves a battle and that’s exactly what this fight will be. I really want people to tune in and enjoy the show.
“I look at this as a make or break fight for me. I am focused 100 percent on this fight. [Floyd] Mayweather is motivation for me, makes me work harder, but my main goal is to get past this fight. If I win this fight it will take me onto bigger and better things. This is a statement fight for me and if I beat [Devon] Alexander, then I believe I have secured my position in a super fight, but it’s all about winning this fight and looking good.
“My last fight [against Luis Collazo] helped me because he was a southpaw and Devon Alexander is also a southpaw. I can take the experience I had in the last fight into this fight and hopefully we will get the job done. Devon [Alexander] is a very good and skilled fighter like myself. It’s going to be a game of chess to find out who is the bigger and more skillful fighter.
“This fight’s been brewing for a long time, a lot of people want to see this fight. We’ve had this fight in the works for a couple years now, but now it’s time. It’s a fight that the fans are going to love. You’ve got two fighting styles, two young fighters that are hungry and also two fighters that are at the peak of their career.
“Virgil [Hunter, trainer] has taught me to spend more time in the gym, which I’ve been doing the last two the last two years to become a better fighter. Going into this fight I’m going to be a different fighter.
“I feel like my style, with speed, power, hand and foot movement, would give someone like Floyd Mayweather problems. Floyd’s a great fighter, but first we have to look good and shine against Alexander and then I think the fight with Floyd will be secured.
“I’ve noticed with Alexander that when he wants to fight he can fight and when he wants to box he can box. The thing about Alexander is he’s quick and has good movement, but he needs to develop his power and sit down on his shots a little more. He is getting better as a fighter and I know that he’s going to be ready for this fight.
“Alexander is fighting a big name and is also fighting in Las Vegas for the first time, so it’s only going to motivate him to train harder. When it comes down to the fight he knows that if he wins there will be a bigger prize at the end of this.
“I like fighting in Las Vegas in front of an entire crowd. We are looking at having a lot of Brits turn up from the UK to Las Vegas. It’s going to be one hell of a show and I want the fans to know that. It’s going to be an exciting and explosive fight.”
DEVON ALEXANDER, Former Two-Division World Champion
“It’s going to be a huge fight, everyone’s talking about it and everyone knows what it means. This fight can catapult me to the top level. I’m ready to fight; it’s going to be awesome. Two guys with speed that are both determined not to lose. We have both tasted defeat and don’t want to taste it any longer, so that makes for a great fight.
“We’ve been working exclusively on speed and movement during this training camp. I’m making sure my reflexes are there so I can come off how I want to. It’s all going to come together and it’s going to be an awesome night for me.
“As far as me being underrated, I do believe that I am. I’ve been in with top-notch guys and people are quiet about those things. But it’s OK because I’m going to continue to prove myself and earn my respect.
“I don’t believe his hand speed is going to give me problems. I’ve fought them all, I’ve been fighting since I was seven-years-old, so I’ve seen it all. I am going to utilize whatever he does to my advantage and that’s how I’m going to get the victory.
“It’s a dream come true for me to fight in Las Vegas. Every time that I was supposed to fight there during my professional career it always fell off. I said to myself that whenever I do fight in Las Vegas it’s going to be the right time, and there’s no better time for me then on Dec. 13.
“All Khan does is hit, hit, hit and move out in every fight. I’m a versatile boxer who can stand in the pocket but also be a smart fighter. I fight differently in each fight.
“I’ve come from some very rough times. When I was seven I never thought that I would become champion, but here I am under the big lights of MGM Grand. You just have to stay true and believe in yourself.
“Ever since I was seven I believed that I could be a champion and Kevin [Cunningham, trainer] instilled that in me. He stuck with me and I needed that. He started the gym and I never looked back because that was the opportunity for me to get out.
“This is definitely the biggest fight of my career because this fight determines who goes to the elite level and who has to start back over again. This fight determines who the cream of the crop is and I plan on showing people that I belong at the top.”
VICTOR ORTIZ, Former Welterweight World Champion
“I’ve fallen a few times in my career, it happens. I don’t care what career you choose to do, you’re going to fall. You get up and shake it off and move forward.
“Two years ago I broke my jaw in a fight, but I didn’t sit around feeling sorry for myself. I immediately took on Dancing with the Stars and six weeks in I was eliminated. From there I get a call from Sylvester Stallone to do Expendables 3. Why not? I can’t fight and my jaw is still shattered, so I went to Eastern Europe for three months.
“I had the opportunity to fight on the Mayweather-Maidana undercard in May but I didn’t want to risk my boxing career because I was still injured.
“No one is forcing me to keep boxing, but I’m only 27 and I have a lot left in me. I’m in my prime and at the end of the day I’m back in the ring. It’s in me to fight and I have a lot of unfinished business in the ring. I will, mark my words, be one of the greatest.
“This is a fight that I’m taking very seriously. I can’t afford to fall. I’m fortunate to have options, but right now my option is to be world champion.
“I’ve put two films aside to fight on Dec. 13. I could’ve trained and acted at the same time but I knew that I had to focus completely on this fight.
“Not having an opponent doesn’t affect my current training. I’m finally with a team that I feel confident with and at home with.”
VIRGIL HUNTER, Khan’s Trainer
“The training is going quite well. Where we are six weeks out, we feel real good about that. The stakes in this fight are enormous. A lot of people are talking about this fight being an elimination fight to fighting Mayweather. I’m not sure how true that is, but we’re not paying attention to it because we’ve been down that road before.
“The focus is on fighting Devon [Alexander]. It’s mixed emotions for me because I’ve known Devon since he was 10-years-old. But I knew inevitably that a day like this would probably come so I’ve put that aside to go about the business.
“Amir [Khan] is going to have to be completely focused to beat a two-time world champion. Both of these guys have been to the top of the mountain and have proved that they know how to get back there.
“Whoever has the most focus and implements their game plan consistently is the one who will emerge victorious.”
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, Alexander’s Trainer
“Training is going well so far, everything is going as planned. It’s a great fight for both fighters, both fighters need this fight. It’s a huge opportunity for both guys, two of the best welterweights in the division. Both have good accomplishments and have fought all the top guys.
“As far as my guy, I think that this is the perfect fight for him. Devon has the skill set, ability and timing that you need when you fight a guy like Amir Khan with his style.
“Timing is the key. Amir is fast, but he’s not quick. Devon’s going to expose a lot of the mistakes that Amir makes, like coming in and pulling out with his chin up.
“Devon has had opportunities to prove to people that he was everything they thought he was, but he has come up short in the past. We accept that, but this opportunity here will propel him right back into that situation and the scenario he was once in going into the Tim Bradley fight.
“Right now, this is the biggest fight of Devon’s career. If he gets past [Amir] Khan, he puts himself right back in the mix with Mayweather. Anything else than a Mayweather fight for us after beating Amir Khan would be a major disappointment.”
ERIC GOMEZ, Senior Vice President of Golden Boy Promotions
“We’re excited about this fight card. The main event really is a toss-up. It is two guys going at it in their prime. It’s a 50-50 fight where the winner is going to be in a great place. This is the type of fight that fans want to see, where they see that guys are risking something. You can’t clearly see who is going to win this fight, and that’s exactly how this entire card is.
“The winner of this fight is going to earn a shot at fighting Floyd [Mayweather]. They aren’t necessarily going to get Floyd because he decides who he wants to fight, but they would have earned it.
“You’ve got four fighters who are undefeated fighting in the two world title fights so it’s going to be a great night of boxing.”
# # #
“Royal Battle: Khan vs. Alexander,” a 12-round welterweight bout for the WBC Silver Welterweight Title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and The Great Promotions and is sponsored by Corona Extra, AT&T and Mexico – Live It To Believe It! The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will air on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). In the co-main event, Keith Thurman defends his WBA Interim Welterweight World Title against Leonard Bundu, and in the televised opener, Demetrius Andrade defends his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against Jermell Charlo in a bout promoted in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Banner Promotions. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SHOSports, @AmirKingKhan, @TheRealDevonA, @KeithfThurmanJr, @LeonardBundu, @boobooboxing, @TwinCharlo, @abnermares00, @viciousortiz, @MGMGrand and @Swanson_Comm follow the conversation using #KhanAlexander, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing, or visit SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com/.
Hopkins vs. Kovalev happens Saturday Night on HBO
HBO Sports presents the fall’s most-anticipated boxing event when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: BERNARD HOPKINS VS. SERGEY KOVALEV AND SADAM ALI VS. LUIS CARLOS ABREGU is seen SATURDAY, NOV. 8 at 10:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.
Other HBO playdates: Nov. 9 (8:45 a.m.) and 10 (12:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdate: Nov. 11 (10:30 p.m.)
The most accomplished light heavyweights in boxing take the spotlight when Bernard Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KOs) meets Sergey Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs) in a red-hot title unification fight scheduled for 12 rounds. The bout marks Hopkins’ 22nd appearance on HBO and Kovalev’s fifth appearance on the network in a 15-month span.
Philadelphia native Hopkins, who continues to defy the odds and the critics, enters the ring two months shy of his 50th birthday as the oldest champion in history. Widely considered one of the greatest middleweights ever, with victories over Oscar de la Hoya, Roy Jones, Jr., Antonio Tarver and Felix Trinidad, he unified middleweight titles when he defeated Beibut Shumenov by split decision in April. As the more traditional boxer, Hopkins will seek to use ring generalship and veteran savvy to again unify titles.
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, 31, is one of the most feared light heavyweights today. During his five years as a pro, only one opponent has lasted more than seven rounds against the heavy-handed Russian, who currently owns a nine-fight knockout streak. He will look to extend that run in Atlantic City, which has hosted his last two title defenses.
In the opening bout, Brooklyn’s Sadam Ali (20-0, 12 KOs) squares off against Argentina’s Luis Carlos Abregu (36-1, 29 KOs) in a ten-round welterweight fight. The undefeated Ali, 26, is a rising prospect making his third ring appearance of 2014. Abregu, 30, knocked out the undefeated Thomas Dulorme in his last appearance on HBO in 2012. He holds an impressive seven-fight winning streak since his only loss, against former welterweight champion Timothy Bradley. The winner will likely enter the discussion of world title contenders in this competitive division.
The special “24/7 Hopkins/Kovalev” replays Saturday at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.
‘OLD SCHOOL’ HOPKINS INSISTS HE ONLY WANTS TO FIGHT THE BEST AS HE TAKES ON THE FORMIDABLE KOVALEV IN HISTORIC WORLD TITLE UNIFICATION CLASH LIVE ON BOXNATION
LONDON (5 Nov) – Boxing legend Bernard Hopkins insists the reason he chose to fight feared knockout artist Sergey Kovalev is because he only wants to take on the very best.
The reigning WBA and IBF light-heavyweight world champion faces the Russian ace and current WBO champion Kovalev in a mouth-watering unification clash this weekend, live and exclusive on BoxNation.
Taking place at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the Philadelphian veteran, who is remarkably just two months shy of his 50th birthday, says he is from an era where the best fight the best.
“I want the best. Hagler fought the best. Ray Leonard fought the best. The Alis of the world, they fought the best. I’m from the era where I fought the best and that’s important to me,” said Hopkins.
“I’ve been in the game for almost three decades. I look for more of what a guy brings to a gunfight other than bullets. The sweet science is not based on only one thing you can do particularly well.
“There’s no fighter I wouldn’t put my record up against in this era, in any class. I put the work in to have the track record and be taken seriously. Come November 8 you get to watch artwork. You’re watching Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong with gloves on,” he said.
But the unbeaten Kovalev has been dubbed ‘Krusher’ for a reason having amassed a formidable 23 knockouts from his 25 wins.
The future Hall of Fame fighter Hopkins, however, is well aware of the threat that Kovalev possesses and has called on observers, who are tipping Kovalev to win, to not go back on their words after the fight.
“I have the same thoughts on Kovalev that most people do. He’s a dangerous puncher, he has an over 90 percent knockout rate and anyone who fights this guy has the opportunity to not be the same,” Hopkins said.
“Kovalev is a threat to anybody. It won’t be an easy fight, even if it looks easy to you. I don’t just have to beat the man, but I have to beat a lot of people. They’re either going to watch me win or watch me lose, and I don’t mind playing that game.
“I don’t believe in luck, I believe in whoever brings the best of themselves and whoever sacrifices will win. We won’t take anything away from this guy because he’s real, but on Nov. 9 we don’t want anyone saying what they aren’t saying now,” he said.
The oldest world champion in boxing history at 49-years-old also believes that there will unlikely be another fighter who is able to defy Father Time as he has, and has urged fans to enjoy him while they can.
“This is nothing to sneeze at, that’s the main thing, but just being able to be around as long as I’ve been and still fresh as a daisy, I believe, and I’ll prove it November 8th, there’s no definition really behind it.
“Just enjoy it, understand it, and realise that you might not be alive to see it again,” Hopkins said.
The 31-year-old Kovalev, who won his first world title by devastating Nathan Cleverly when the clashed last year, is adamant that he is going to do the same demolition job on Hopkins when they get into the ring this Saturday night.
“Bernard talks and fights. I just fight,” said Kovalev “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I go into the ring and I get my victory at any cost. If I need to fight, I will fight. If I need to box, I’m going to box. I don’t have any strategy for the fight, just to go into the ring and fight like a street fight. I’m going to kick his ass because he’s my opponent.
“I always have bullets in my arsenal. My hands are my weapons. It’s my weapon in the ring. Hopkins thinks that I only have two bullets but I will bring some more,” he said.
Hopkins vs. Kovalev is live on BoxNation (Sky437/490HD, Virgin 546 & TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.
-Ends-
About BoxNation
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NBCSN Fight Night November 8 Triple-Header Scouting Report
Bethlehem, PA: The Nov. 8 special triple-header edition of NBCSN Fight Night at Sands has the ingredients to be one of the most entertaining and action-packed fight cards of 2014. The event will feature a pair of the heavyweight division’s heaviest hitters, as well as rising prospects from both the light heavyweight and welterweight divisions.
The main event for 2014’s final edition of NBCSN Fight Night will feature two heavyweights with plenty to prove in a suddenly wide-open division. Amir “Hardcore” Mansour and Fred “Big Fred” Kassi will collide in the scheduled 10-round main event.
Mansour (20-1-0, 15 KOs), 42, is an aggressive, hard-hitting heavyweight with knockout power in both hands. Every punch thrown by Mansour has bad intentions and he will look to put them on full display when he battles the tough Fred Kassi. Twelve of Mansour’s 15 knockouts came in the 1st or 2nd round. In his most recent bout, the Philadelphia native came up short against former cruiserweight titleholder and current heavyweight contender Steve Cunningham – despite knocking Cunningham down twice – in a Fight of the Year candidate.
Kassi (18-2-0, 10 KOs), 35, is a New Orleans, LA native who is looking to make a name for himself. A professional since 2003, Kassi has ten career knockout victories, with none of those opponents making it past the third round. He has a puncher’s style, with power in both hands, and aims to deliver a knockout blow to the equally heavy-hitting Mansour. “Big Fred” is coming off of two consecutive knockout wins, with one of those wins coming against former super middleweight title contender Rubin Williams.
The middle bout of the triple-header will feature a 10-round welterweight contest between Dmitry Mikhaylenko out of Gelendzhik, Russia, and Bethlehem, PA’s Ronald Cruz. This bout might steal the show, as both of these fighters like to come forward in hopes of breaking down their opponents physically.
Undefeated Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko, (17-0-0, 6 KOs), 28, is an overwhelming puncher who has the ability to tire out his opponents with his limitless punch count. He likes to smother his opponents with non-stop bodywork in a vigorous, in-your-face attack.
Ronald Cruz, (20-4-0, 15 KOs), 28, has been in the ring with much tougher opposition than his opponent Mikhaylenko. Cruz is an offensive fighter, similar to his opponent, who likes to throw a lot of punches and will not hesitate to engage with anybody. Cruz will be competing in front of his hometown in Bethlehem, PA for the 9th time in his career, where he has posted a record of 5-3.
The Nov. 8 telecast will kick-off with a 10-round light heavyweight contest between the undefeated WBO #10 ranked contender Vasiliy Lepikhin and knockout-artist Jackson Junior.
Vasiliy “The Professor” Lepikhin (16-0-0, 9 KOs), 29, made his professional debut in 2005 and has steamrolled his opposition since, utilizing his 74″ reach and powerful combinations to earn himself a spot in the WBO and WBA rankings. His previous four bouts all ended in knockouts for “The Professor”, including his last fight when he burst onto the US boxing scene by easily dismantling knockout artist Robert “The Butcher” Berridge in five rounds.
Jackson “Demolidor” Junior, (15-0-1, 13 KOs), 28, is a Brazilian boxer who is no stranger to finishing fights. He has 13 career knockouts wins, with 10 of those knockouts occurring between the 1st and 3rd rounds. Junior has a powerful right hand and likes to walk his opponents down, in hopes of forcing them to engage with him.
“Demolidor” narrowly avoided his first defeat in early 2013 when he was stopped by WBC #2 light heavyweight contender Umberto Savigne, but the bout was later ruled a no contest because of a post-fight drug test that was failed by Savigne.
Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva had this to say about the triple-header, “The Mansour-Kassi fight is a throwback to the heavyweights of the past. Mansour fights every fight like his life depends on it and I have no doubt that Kassi will be ready for a dogfight. Mikhaylenko-Cruz is a dream fight for fans. These two guys have similar styles – their defense is their offense. Lepikhin is a fighter to watch after coming to the US and dominating a highly-regarded and ranked contender in Robert Berridge. He could be something special, but he has to get by a very hard-hitting Jackson Junior first.”
About Nov. 8 at Sands:
The November 8 special triple header edition of NBCSN Fight Night will take place at Sands Resort Casino in Bethlehem, PA and will feature a ten-round heavyweight match-up between Amir “Hardcore” Mansour and Frederic “Big Fred” Kassi, a ten-round welterweight match-up between Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko and Ronald Cruz and a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin and Jackson “Demolidor” Junior. Tickets are $75 and $50 and available through ticketmaster.com, peltzbxing.com and the Sands box office. The card is presented by Main Events, Peltz Boxing, German Titov Boxing Promotions, in association with Joe Hand Promotions and BAM Boxing. The special triple header telecast of NBCSN Fight Night will begin at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT.
NBC Sports Live Extra:
NBC Sports Live Extra: NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will live stream Fight Night at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT on November 8. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.
BERNARD HOPKINS AND SERGEY KOVALEV HAVE STATED THEIR INTENTIONS AND ARE READY FOR BATTLE AS “ALIEN VS. KRUSHER” FIGHT WEEK ARRIVES
ATLANTIC CITY (November 5, 2014) – Months of grueling training and countless hours of preparation have led to arguably the most anticipated fight of 2014 featuring Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins taking on Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev. This Saturday, Nov. 8 fight fans will finally get a chance to see what all the talk is about when the light heavyweight champions meet at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.
However, before fight night arrives, please take a look back at some of the noteworthy words exchanged between the Hopkins and Kovalev camps.
Bernard Hopkins, IBF and WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion
“I’ve been in the game for almost three decades. I look for more of what a guy brings to a gunfight other than bullets…The sweet science is not based on only one thing you can do particularly well.
“I’ve been watching this guy, I dug up amateur fights of this guy, and I know how he breathes, I know how he sits down, I know where he sits down, what he thinks, I know everything about him.
“There’s no fighter I wouldn’t put my record up against. In this era, in any class. I put the work in to have the track record and be taken seriously.”
“Come November 8 on HBO you get to watch artwork. You’re watching Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong with gloves on.
“I want the best. Hagler fought the best. Ray Leonard fought the best. The Alis of the world, they fought the best. I’m from the era where I fought the best and that’s important to me.
“I have the same thoughts on Kovalev that most people here do. He’s a dangerous puncher, he has an over 90 percent knockout rate and anyone who fights this guy has the opportunity to not be the same. We won’t take anything away from this guy because he’s real, but on Nov. 9 we don’t want anyone saying what they aren’t saying now.
“Kovalev is a threat to anybody. It won’t be an easy fight, even if it looks easy to you. I don’t just have to beat the man, but I have to beat a lot of people. They’re either going to watch me win or watch me lose, and I don’t mind playing that game. I don’t believe in luck, I believe in whoever brings the best of themselves and whoever sacrifices to be victorious will win.
This is nothing to sneeze at, that’s the main thing, but just being able to be around as long as I’ve been and still fresh as a daisy, I believe, and I’ll prove it November 8th, there’s no definition really behind it. Just enjoy it, understand it, and realize that you might not be alive to see it again.”
Sergey Kovalev, WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion
“Bernard talks and fights. I just fight.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I go into the ring and I get my victory at any cost. If I need to fight, I will fight. If I need to box, I’m going to box… I don’t have any strategy for the fight, just to go into the ring and fight like a street fight. I’m going to kick his ass because he’s my opponent.
“I always have bullets in my arsenal. My hands are my weapons. It’s my weapon in the ring. Hopkins thinks that I only have two bullets but I will bring some more.”
“It is not easy to overlook Hopkins. I think when he’s 60 years old he’ll be in the same condition. He’s an alien, but I have to send him to the moon and maybe from there he’ll go by himself to Mars.
“I don’t really understand what Bernard is saying. It doesn’t matter what he says. Even if I understood, I wouldn’t care. I don’t worry about him. I’ll go into the ring and do my job.
“He has pushed me little bit. I want to do everything a little bit faster and a little bit rushed. I already can’t wait for this day to come. I have patience and there is nothing I can do but wait for November 8 to get two more titles and go back and give this victory to my wife and my son.”
“Any way I need to get a victory, dirty fight or clean fight, for me it doesn’t matter. I will fight dirty, if Hopkins will fight dirty.”
Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions
“Being the best middleweight in the history of this sport, with 20 defenses and now to be 49 at light heavyweight, he’s still going strong. I’m now convinced he is an Alien.
“Bernard Hopkins, not only are we talking about the fighter who is the best in this era, but can possibly be the best in any era. When you talk about comparing the ’80s and the ’70s and the ’60s and 1990 and the 2000s, well Hopkins is a fighter you can say would have competed, if not would have been the best, in any era. That’s what we’re talking about right here.
“People respect the fact that at 49-years-old, he’s still going strong. There’s no sign of him slowing down. He’s getting faster, he’s getting stronger and he has more energy. He’s toying with young fighters, half his age. For Hopkins it’s starts outside the ring, he breaks you.
“At 49-years-old, being the oldest champion in any sport, he deserves tons of respect. The fact that he’s facing the ‘Krusher,’ is just another of the many dangerous fighters that Bernard has faced.
“At this point. Hopkins is already in the Hall of Fame, he’s already going to be talked about as one of the greats. So he doesn’t have that added pressure of trying to prove himself. I think people already have the utmost respect for him.
“I believe that Hopkins focuses not on what he’s going to do physically, but on what he can do to get his opponent out of their comfort zone and what combinations does he not expect from me. I wouldn’t say he’s awkward, but he knows how to offset you.”
Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events
“This fight is going to be the most anticipated fight of 2014. It’s so much fun putting together a fight like this that everyone wants to see. It’s great to see the excitement level and the anticipation. You can feel it in the air.
“Bernard’s never been stopped. Sergey has knocked out just about everyone he’s fought. It is a tremendous, compelling fight.
“This is going to be a tremendous event. It’s one of those fights that when the bell rings you really won’t know what is going to happen. It’s not about finding out who’s best, its about who is going to win the fight, because both are great.
“This is what boxing is supposed to be and we look forward to November 8.
“The first person I thought of when I saw Sergey Kovalev in the ring was Ray Leonard. I saw the look in his eye and I could tell he was different. I believe he is the most electrifying boxer in the world of boxing and he will prove it on November 8.”
###
ABOUT ALIEN VS. KRUSHER:
“Alien vs. Krusher: Hopkins vs. Kovalev” is a 12-round unification bout for the IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight World titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona Extra, AT&T, Hortitsia Vodka and Mexico, Live it To Believe It!. Ali vs. Abregu is a 10-round welterweight bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50, plus applicable fees and service charges, are on sale now and available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing
or http://www.boardwalkhall.com/.
Follow on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/main_events,
www.twitter.com/hboboxing,www.twitter.com/THEREALBHOP
www.twitter.com/krusherkovalev, www.twitter.com/realworldkidali,
www.twitter.com/potroabregu, www.twitter.com/BoardwalkHall and follow the conversation using #alienvskrusher.
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Dickinson wants a battle, Ajisafe believes in the sweet science
LONDON (5 NOV) In what is a fascinating blend of styles, light-heavyweights Bob Ajisafe and Travis Dickinson meet for a second time on Saturday (November 8) at Glow, Bluewater in the final of the MaxiNutrition Knockout tournament, live on Channel 5.
Ajisafe, the reigning British champion, is a product of Brendan Ingle’s Wincobank stable and a staunch advocate of his hit-and-move tactics, while Dickinson, the current English champion, is from the rougher side of town and has fight-ending power in both hands.
Last time out in May, Dickinson waged one of the fights of the year with Matty Clarkson. Both men were decked three times in less than six rounds. Ajisafe, watching on, questioned whether Dickinson would ever be the same again.
“It was a back-and-forth fight and both took a lot of punishment,” he said. “It took a lot out of Travis. He went down a few times and looked a bit weak in there. He looked like he was wincing in pain. But he showed a big heart and a lot of courage to come back.
“It will be interesting to see how they both respond from it. When you take that sort of punishment in a fight, it can be wear and tear on your body. It can take years off you. I’m not sure if Travis had any injuries after that fight, but it looked like he could have broken a few ribs. That’s not ideal. That takes a while to heal. Once those ribs have been damaged, I’m sure they can be damaged again.”
Dickinson, of course, has a different take on the most exciting fight of his 18-bout professional career.
“It was a good fight,” he said. “I like a good battle. To watch it back and see that everyone had been talking about it was great, but it wasn’t fun to experience at the time. It was one of the toughest fights of my life. Even watching it back was painful.
“I had to stay positive and confident when I was hurt and on the floor. I had to drag myself up. My punch power turned the fight around, but so did my determination and will to win. It all came into play. I just wanted to win so badly. There was a point when I didn’t think I was going to be able to get up – I was winded for a whole round – but I knew I had to get up if I wanted to win and that’s what I did.”
Dickinson, 17-1 (7 KOs), eventually stopped Clarkson in the sixth round to set up a meeting with Ajisafe in the final of the MaxiNutrition Knockout tournament. And, having lost a 10-round decision to the British champion before, back in December 2012, the hard-hitting Geordie knows exactly what he’s up against on November 8.
“It will be a different type of fight to the Clarkson one, but I still think it will be exciting and fast-paced,” he said. “We won’t be standing toe-to-toe and having a war, though. That’s very unlikely.”
Ajisafe, 13-2 (4 KOs), agrees. Not only does he believe he has the blueprint to beat Dickinson, he also feels he possesses the skills and slickness to repeat the job a second time.
“Some people don’t appreciate the skills of a boxer as much as they appreciate the heart of a brawler,” he said. “But, for me, boxing’s all about the sweet science and hitting and not getting hit.
“I’m not a brawler. That’s not my style, as Travis knows. He knows I won’t be there to be hit. I won’t engage in a brawl with him. I’m going to implement my tactics and my game plan to control the fight.”
Tickets to see who will lift the MAXINUTRITITON TROPHY are available to purchase from Ticketline.co.uk or by calling the Ticketline box office on
0844 888 9991
Tickets are priced at £25 for General Admission, £50 for Outer Ringside Reserved Seating, £100 for Inner Ringside Reserved and £120 for Inner Ringside Reserved (Please note that the £120 ringside tickets will secure you a seat in the first 3 rows)
Lewkowicz: Escandon vs. Cave is a WBA Super Bantamweight Elimination Bout
Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, promoter of Colombian slugger Oscar Escandon and Canadian southpaw Tyson “Prince of Hali” Cave, wishes to correct erroneous reports about the pair’s upcoming showdown.
Escandon (23-1, 16 KOs) and Cave (22-2, 6 KOs) will meet on Thursday, December 11, in one of the featured bouts when Goossen Promotions returns to the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, for “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” a three-hour ESPN Boxing Special, televised LIVE on ESPN 2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
“The fight between Oscar Escandon and Tyson Cave is not for the Interim title, it is a 12-round World Boxing Association Super Bantamweight Eliminator,” said Lewkowicz. “The WBA has already approved that the winner of this fight will then face the champion, Scott Quigg, next year.”
Advance tickets starting at $55.00 can be purchased through the Pechanga Resort and Casino website (www.Pechanga.com) or by calling 1-877-711-2946. Doors on the night of the event will open at 4:00 p.m. with the first bell at 5:00 p.m.
Headlining the event will be the return to Pechanga and ESPN of former junior middleweight world champion Austin “No Doubt Trout (27-2, 14 KOs) of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 10-round clash against tough Mexican veteran Luis “Slayer” Grajeda (17-3-2, 13 KOs).
In the televised co-main event will be a 10-round heavyweight clash featuring two-time former heavyweight world title challenger and longtime Southern California fan favorite Cris “The Nightmare” Arreola (35-4, 31 KOs) against an opponent to be announced.
Also appearing at “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” in a 10-round heavyweight battle will be former light heavyweight world champion Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver (30-6-1, 21 KOs) of Tampa, Florida against an opponent that is also to be announced.
Among the world class fighters rounding out the card in separate bouts are: former world champion and winner of The Contender Season One, Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (26-3-2, 9 KOs) of Los Angeles; former world title challenger Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (25-1, 16 KOs) of Worcester, MA; former super bantamweight world champion Rico “Suavecito” Ramos (23-4, 12 KOs) of Los Angeles; 2012 U.S. Olympian and hot light heavyweight prospects “Sir’ Marcus Browne (12-0, 9 KOs) of New York City and Ahmed Elbiali (8-1, 7 KOs) of Cairo, Egypt.
Additional information on the undercard bouts will be announced shortly.
For more information on Goossen Promotions follow them on Twitter and Facebook @GoossenBoxing and view their new website at www.GoossenPromotions.com which will be launched in the near future.
About Pechanga Resort & Casino
Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the western United States. Rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering more than 3,000 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @PechangaCasino. The Pechanga Resort & Casino is located at 45000 Pechanga Pkwy in Temecula, California.
ABOUT SAMPSON BOXING
After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008.
Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world’s most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world’s best fighters and most promising young contenders.
Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.
SHAWN ESTRADA RETURNS AT GOOSSEN PROMOTIONS’ “LIVE AT THE LODGE” NOVEMBER 20TH
Sherman Oaks, CA (November 4, 2014) Undefeated light heavyweight prospect SHAWN “Manos de Oro” ESTRADA will return to the ring on Friday, November 20th in an eight round clash against battle tested Mexican veteran ALFREDO “Galan” CONTRERAS at Goossen Promotions’ “LIVE AT THE LODGE” at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, California.
Photo/Goossen Promotions
Sporting a record of 15-0-0 with thirteen knockouts, the hard hitting, 2008 U.S. Olympian Estrada of East Los Angeles, will be looking to kick-start his career seeing his first action since 2012.
Fighting out of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, the 29-year-old Contreras is a veteran of 32 fights and well known as a gatekeeper in the division. Among the world ranked contenders and highly regarded prospects on his ledger are, George Groves, Sakio Bika, David Lemiuex, Anthony Dirrell, Cedric Agnew, Marco Antonio Periban and Enrique Ornelas.
“Shawn’s been off for a while but this fight with Contreras will give us and him a gauge of where he’s at,” said TOM BROWN of Goossen Promotions. “We had very high hopes for Shawn when we signed him out of the Olympics and we look forward to bigger and better opportunities in the New Year for him.”
Also featured at “LIVE AT THE LODGE” in separate bouts are junior welterweight contender LYDELL “Hackman” RHODES, 22-0-0 (11KO’s) of Las Vegas, Nevada, world ranked welterweight WALE “Lucky Boy” OMOTOSO, 24-1-0 (20KO’s) fighting out of Oxnard, California and Haitian born middleweight prospect WILKY “Silky” CAMPFORT, 18-1-0 (10KO’s).
Presented by Goossen Promotions in association with the world famous Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, California, advance tickets for “LIVE AT THE LODGE” priced at $104 (VIP), $53 (Ringside) and $33 (General Admission) are now on sale through the Goossen Promotions’ Office at (818) 817-8001.
The Sportsmen’s Lodge is located at 12825 Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, California. For further details visit their website at www.SportsMensLodge.com
BERNARD HOPKINS, SERGEY KOVALEV & SADAM ALI BROOKLYN MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTE
BERNARD HOPKINS, IBF & WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion
“There are so many things I’ve done that the world of boxing has witnessed. It’s going to be difficult for the boxing people to pick one of my performances as the best.
“I’ve done so many unpredictable things and so profoundly. Even the people who want to go against me, are afraid to go against me. They’ve been wrong so many times. A lot of them are just being mum right now. They must feel I can still do things.
“This is a great position to be in. I don’t really believe there is any fighter, in any decade that can be in my position of luxury that I’ve been in for many years.
“Early on in my career I had the kind of anxious where you couldn’t sleep at night. That anxiousness is like a virus we all have in us. Some you can deal with but some will wipe you out.
“The Pavlik fight was the first time I heard the masses put the word knockout attached to my opponent. I’m real keen on what people say. Ninety percent of it might be garbage, but something in there might be the plan. That woke me up and I knew I wanted to destroy.
“The only thing I can do is be right about what I say. Because I know I’m being watched. I understand what I’m facing. All I can do is put the work behind it.
“I didn’t need to take any fight for the last 10 years. But I’ve always fought the best and I’ve always wanted to prove myself to the best.
“I always not only want push the envelope in my career but I also have an itch for going against the grain.
“Enjoy that you can see me now. I would love to see the great Michael Jordan and Julius Erving in their younger days, but they’re gone. Look at me at 50, I’m going to eat right and live right so I can take less punches and look normal.
“This fight isn’t about boxing, it’s something deeper than that.
“I was made to be where I’m at. I just had to go through some challenges, so that I can educate others later.”
SERGEY KOVALEV, WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion
“Fifty is just a number. I think nothing of his age. If he was old he would be retired, but he’s still in there. He’s not an old man, he’s a young alien.
“I’m really excited for this fight. I will do my job and anything I need to do to win.
“Bernard likes to push everybody, inside the ring or outside. We’re ready to begin. We’re ready to fight. I feel like I’ve been fighting him for two months going to the gym every day.
“I don’t know what will happen November 8 because this is sports, this is boxing. But I will be ready. I will get a chance to be undisputed and I’m ready to do it. That is my goal.
“I need to do what I do and do it very well.
“I can think back and remember everything from early in my career, but I don’t want to do that. It was often very terrible and it was hard to get to this stage and this place.
“I was searching around for any promoter but no one would sign me. I fought for three years for free. In 2013, Kathy Duva signed me and my career has gotten much better. Being on a big fight on TV is what I’ve always wanted.
“Egis Klimas paid for everything when I was starting out, my opponents, my clothes and my food. He invested a lot into me.
“This fight is a great opportunity for me to create my history for me and my family. I will do that. When my son grows up he will be able to look at this and say, ‘that is my father.’ He can see that I did it for him.
“I can’t make any predictions. We will see everything on November 8. It’s boxing, it’s a fight. For me, any fight like this is a street fight, anything can happen.
“I’m going to go in to fight. I’m going to box, I’m going to show that I can fight with the best light heavyweight right now.
“From my side everything will be clean and fair. I don’t know what he will be doing.
“My life has already changed but this fight means everything.”
NAAZIM RICHARDSON, Hopkins’ Trainer
“Sergey Kovalev is an exceptional puncher. We haven’t seen him hurt guys of extreme quality yet, but we can’t take for granted what we’ve seen against the opposition he’s faced. He’s annihilated these dudes, that’s how he wins fights.
“Kovalev is a monster. He’s a beast. He punches harder than Hercules. But I don’t want people to defang him on Sunday. If Kovalev is all of these things that people say he is and Bernard beats him, you better start that car and drive him straight to Canastota and induct him into the Hall of Fame right now.
“We’re too late in the game to overhaul from training camp to training camp. We train Bernard Hopkins. The rest of the world adjusts to Bernard Hopkins. Each camp we strive to get the best Bernard Hopkins we can.
“We don’t even call it training camp. It’s a lifestyle for Bernard. They’re just dates we all get together.
“It’s genetics. It’s lifestyle. There are many variables that mesh together to make Bernard who he is. We just have to appreciate him while he’s here.
“With a win over Kovalev it separates so that now he should go to the Hall of Fame as ‘The Executioner’ and ‘The Alien.’ A win over Kovalev only adds to ‘The Executioner’ but it would also solidify a Hall of Fame career for the ‘The Alien.'”
JOHN DAVID JACKSON, Kovalev’s Trainer
“Sergey’s talent is still untapped. He could be a really special fighter. He needs to get past this fight here first and then the sky is the limit for him.
“His punching power is so unreal it makes him hard to deal with.
“I warned Bernard’s camp a few years ago, don’t fight this Kovalev kid. I don’t know what they told Bernard. But I told them please don’t fight this kid.
“This is business at the end of the day. Bernard can talk about me all night long but I don’t have to get in the ring with him.
“Sergey doesn’t understand English that well so it doesn’t matter what Bernard says. There’s mutual respect, but fight week is here so we’ll see what happens.
“Sergey is ready. Bernard is all he talks about. Beating Bernard is the next phase of the plan. If you beat a fighter of that magnitude it takes you to the next level.”
SADAM ALI, Undefeated Welterweight Contender
“Luis Carlos Abregu is not someone you should overlook or underestimate. He has power in both hands. He gives you a lot to worry about in the ring because of his tremendous power.
“There is no limit for me. I just want to keep going and going. This is the biggest fight of my career and I just have to be on my A-game.
“I worked on defense a little more than usual in training camp, I think anyone who fights Abregu should. I’ve been training hard and I’m mentally and physically prepared. No weight lifting, but a lot of calisthenics.
“It’s been a long journey to get here. It hasn’t been going as fast as I expected it to but there’s a plan for all of us. This is the biggest fight of my career, I hope there are bigger fights coming but so far it’s the biggest.
“I have a tough opponent and I think a lot of people are underestimating me. I’m the underdog now, which I’m not used to being. I’m putting in the time and the work in the gym and I’m ready.
“Everybody is entitled to their opinion and I honestly like being looked at as the underdog. I want to be underestimated, that way you’re going to be surprised by what I bring to you.
“I’ve put in the time at the gym so I’m not worried about getting tired at all. I have to be heads up in the ring.
“This fight is definitely a bigger step up than people thought I was going to take but after I win this I will prove a lot of people wrong.
“Everybody needs to take this kind of step if they want to be special and I want to be special. I know I am special. Training camp was great and I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
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“Alien vs. Krusher: Hopkins vs. Kovalev” is a 12-round unification bout for the IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight World titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona Extra, AT&T, Hortitsia Vodka and Mexico, Live it To Believe It!. Ali vs. Abregu is a 10-round welterweight bout for the WBO Intercontinental title and is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank.
The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50, plus applicable fees and service charges, are on sale now and available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing or http://www.boardwalkhall.com/.
Follow on Twitterat www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/main_events, www.twitter.com/hboboxing, www.twitter.com/THEREALBHOP,
www.twitter.com/krusherkovalev and www.twitter.com/BoardwalkHall and #alienvskrusher.
Become a fan on Facebookat www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/maineventsboxing, www.facebook.com/therealbhop, www.facebook.com/hboboxing and www.facebook.com/BoardwalkHall.
FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO TO HOST VICTORY PARTY FOR NEWLY CROWNED IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION RANDY “EL MATADOR” CABALLERO ON EVE OF GOLDEN BOY LIVE! FIGHT CARD
INDIO, CALIF. (November 4, 2014) – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is set to host a pair of special events surrounding the November 13 edition of Golden Boy Live! The first will be a Victory Party Celebration for Randy “El Matador” Caballero on November 12, the night before the fight card being hosted at the casino’s Special Event Center. Fans are welcome to join in the festivities by attending the complimentary Victory Party Celebration at LIT Lounge from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. PT on the evening of the 12th.
The second special event planned for fight weekend will be a fan meet and greet with special VIP guest, former IBF Junior Middleweight World Champion Fernando “Ferocious” Vargas from Oxnard, Calif. Fans who have a ticket to the Golden Boy Live! fight night November 13 will be able to enter the Special Events Center to meet and greet Vargas from 6:00 – 7:00 pm PT.
“On November 12th and 13th, fans will get to witness the bright future of boxing up close and personal at Fantasy Springs,” said Golden Boy Founder and President Oscar De La Hoya. “Whether it’s celebrating Randy Caballero’s homecoming in the wake of his title victory or watching four young, hungry and undefeated fighters looking to take their next step towards a title shot, fans will come away knowing that the sport of boxing is in very good hands for years to come.”
On October 25 the Coachella, Calif. native Caballero won the IBF Bantamweight World Title by defeating Stuart Hall by unanimous decision. Caballero impressed fans in attendance at Salle Des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco with a brilliantly entertaining 12-round performance to take the vacant IBF Bantamweight title.
“Fantasy Springs Resort Casino has long supported Randy Caballero’s career and we couldn’t be more proud of all he has accomplished. We are honored to have him share this victory with us on November 12th,” stated Paul Ryan, Fantasy Springs General Manager. “Randy has become an inspiration for all of us in the East Valley and we encourage all his fans to come congratulate and celebrate his world title.”
Caballero will also be in attendance on November 13 to see his fans and cheer on the Golden Boy Live! fighters.
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Tickets for November 13, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are on sale now at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
“Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Roberto Castaneda,” a 10-round featherweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Golden Ram Group and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bell rings at 5:15 p.m. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. In the co-main event, Julian Ramirez will face Pedro Melo in an eight-round featherweight bout. Also featured on the telecast, will be Diego De La Hoya vs. Ali Gonzalez in a six-round featherweight contest. In the opening televised fight, seven-foot heavyweight sensation Taishan will face an opponent to be determined in a four-round bout.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1, www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @FOXSports1, @FOXDeportes and follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing. For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit www.FOXSports.com/watch/FOXSports1 and become a follower on @FOXSports.
Local Promotor looks forward to going “Into the Furnace”
Matching and promoting a card of 9 fights, is not everyone’s idea of fun, but to Bellshill based Paul Graham it is all in a days work “Well we have run a few shows in this format of having Eight plus fights, so I am used to frantic last few weeks as the show comes closer. I am convinced that with each show we do, Prospect Boxing is getting a becoming well know in the local circles and this is evident in our attendances .
With a nine fight card planned for November 15th at the Ravenscraig Sports Facility, once again Prospect Boxing are offering boxing fans a mix of established fighters, and new fighters in what promises to be an explosive evening.
Making his debut, Glasgow based Mohammed Babazudah makes pro debut at Super Middleweight against west Midlands Jamie Gelder, while Kelty based Connor Law, the former Scottish Elite Boxing Champion 2013, also makes his debut at the Welterweight division. Completing the line up of debutants is Keith Dunbar, who competes in the Featherweight. All three fights are scheduled for 4 rounds.
Looking forward to his third fight this year, Glasgow based Shaun McShane (1-1-1) returns after a brief spell out with an injury, but promoter Paul Graham thinks it will have made him more determined “Shaun is a fit guy, he’s ran marathons in the past and doesn’t skip the roadwork. We have him pencilled in to fight Radoslav Mitev, who we had at our show earlier in the year were he picked up a big win over Eddie Doyle, so he will be fancying to upset the odds again, but im sure Shaun will feel differently about that.
Continuing his education in the professional ranks, Wishaw based Lee Gallacher (3-0) is looking for his fourth straight win, and his form has impressed “Lee has been flawless in first couple of fights. He has been in with experienced fighters who have different styles, and I thought he done well against Max Maxwell, who is a tough come forward fighter. In this fight we have in against Alistair Warren who is again another experienced operator and has draws with both Craig McEwan and Luke Blackledge. So this fight will give him a good push, and keep him on his tows.
After making the headlines early this year with a knockout of Matt Seawright at the St Andrews Sporting club’s Annual Burns night show, Uddingston’s Michael McGurk (2-0) looks to make it a third straight win of the year as he returns on November 15th. Without a fight since February, the time out will see the 20 year old hungry to return and make up for lost time.
With a win over Kristain Laight at the Cleland Miners Club, Edinburgh based Lee Redpath (1-0) returns against Sid Razack. An Experienced amateur, the Welterweight showed his promoter a lot of promise “Lee was a bit nervous coming into his fight, but he took the fight to Laight, and really stepped it up towards the end of the fight. He kept the pressure up, and was entertaining to watch. I know he has been training hard for November 15th, so it will be good to keep him busy and learning.
With a loss to Shaun McShane on his debut earlier this year, Coatbridge based Ryan Love (1-1)swiftly picked up his first win with a win over Ryan McNicol in June this year. Returning to the venue where he made his debut, Love returns in a six round attraction
With two wins in his first two fight, Coatbridge Welterweight Gary Murray (2-0) returns in a six rounder against Luke Keleher as he looks to pick up his first win by KO
Prospect Boxing presents ‘Into the Furnace’ an Evening of Championship Boxing at the Ravenscraig Sports Centre, Motherwell on Saturday November 15th and is sponsored by Advance Construction.
The packed card sees Michael McGurk, Lee Gallacher, Shaun McShane return to the Motherwell venue.
Tickets are priced at £30/ £50 and £75 ringside and available from the fighters direct or by calling 01698 338 888. For more information on Prospect Boxing follow us on Twitter @ProspectBoxing or on facebook www.facebook.com/ProspectBoxing
Chambers backs Tyson Fury to dominate Derek Chisora on November 29
LONDON (4 NOV) American heavyweight ‘Fast’ Eddie Chambers believes gym mate Tyson Fury will score a repeat victory over bitter rival Derek Chisora on November 29 and put himself right in the mix for a shot at the world heavyweight championship in 2015.
Chambers, of course, boxed for the world heavyweight title in 2010. And now, as a fully-fledged member of Team Fury, the Philadelphia slickster couldn’t be better positioned to analyse the form of Fury ahead of his British and European title fight.
“Chisora is not going to do anything differently to what he’s been doing his whole career,” said Chambers, who fights this Saturday (November 8) at Glow, Bluewater. “He’s a tough, durable, come-forward, swing-big-shots-at-you kind of guy. He’ll try putting the pressure on again and he’ll want to be a little more mobile than he was first time around so that he can try and cut Tyson off.
“The problem for him is that Tyson has no shutdown. This dude works like a maniac. Even though he’s one of the biggest heavyweights in the world, he has an engine like a four-year-old. He doesn’t stop. He’s always running around. He’s always active. Sometimes you look at him and think, ‘Man, just take a nap. Slow down. Stop it. Get tired.’
“Also, his length and boxing ability will always cause Chisora problems. It would be different if Chisora didn’t throw a lot of punches and was careful and calculated. But that’s not the case. He pressures you and he attacks and leaves gaps. It’s going to be very difficult for him to get close to Tyson without eating shots on the way in.
“And you’re not taking two or three shots from a guy the same size as you. You’re taking two or three shots from a much bigger man. Tyson is naturally a much, much bigger man.”
Chisora’s toughness and grit often neutralises the advantages of his taller opponents, but Chambers doubts that will be the case on November 29. He fully expects Fury to dominate. He’s almost tempted to predict a stoppage.
“David Haye is the only guy to stop Chisora and he can really crack,” said Chambers. “He hits extremely hard for a man of his size.
“But Chisora is going to feel that same sharpness and snap on November 29. And, rather than taking punches from a 15-stone dude, he will be taking punches from a man weighing 18 or 19 stone. That’s a big difference. You can’t keep taking that kind of punishment and expect to last too long.
“I’m not saying Chisora’s going to get stopped. I’m not 100% sure yet and you never can be certain. But, let me tell you, taking punishment from a big, athletic dude over any amount of time is not fun. It makes you think, ‘Damn, I’m not going in there. I’m staying out here where it’s safe.’ And when that happens, it starts to become a fun fight for Tyson Fury.”
*** The MaxiNutrition Knockout tournament final between Bob Ajisafe and Travis Dickinson takes place Saturday, November 8, live on Channel 5 (10pm-12pm) ***
Tickets to see who will lift the MAXINUTRITITON TROPHY are available to purchase from Ticketline.co.uk or by calling the Ticketline box office on
0844 888 9991
Tickets are priced at £25 for General Admission, £50 for Outer Ringside Reserved Seating, £100 for Inner Ringside Reserved and £120 for Inner Ringside Reserved (Please note that the £120 ringside tickets will secure you a seat in the first 3 rows)
BERNARD HOPKINS AND SERGEY KOVALEV HAVE STATED THEIR INTENTIONS AND ARE READY FOR BATTLE AS “ALIEN VS. KRUSHER” FIGHT WEEK ARRIVES
ATLANTIC CITY (November 3, 2014) – Months of grueling training and countless hours of preparation have led to arguably the most anticipated fight of 2014 featuring Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins taking on Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev. This Saturday, Nov. 8 fight fans will finally get a chance to see what all the talk is about when the light heavyweight champions meet at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.
However, before fight night arrives, please take a look back at some of the noteworthy words exchanged between the Hopkins and Kovalev camps.
Bernard Hopkins, IBF and WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion
“I’ve been in the game for almost three decades. I look for more of what a guy brings to a gunfight other than bullets…The sweet science is not based on only one thing you can do particularly well.
“I’ve been watching this guy, I dug up amateur fights of this guy, and I know how he breathes, I know how he sits down, I know where he sits down, what he thinks, I know everything about him.
“There’s no fighter I wouldn’t put my record up against. In this era, in any class. I put the work in to have the track record and be taken seriously.
“Come November 8 on HBO you get to watch artwork. You’re watching Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong with gloves on.
“I want the best. Hagler fought the best. Ray Leonard fought the best. The Alis of the world, they fought the best. I’m from the era where I fought the best and that’s important to me.
“I have the same thoughts on Kovalev that most people here do. He’s a dangerous puncher, he has an over 90 percent knockout rate and anyone who fights this guy has the opportunity to not be the same. We won’t take anything away from this guy because he’s real, but on Nov. 9 we don’t want anyone saying what they aren’t saying now.
“Kovalev is a threat to anybody. It won’t be an easy fight, even if it looks easy to you. I don’t just have to beat the man, but I have to beat a lot of people. They’re either going to watch me win or watch me lose, and I don’t mind playing that game. I don’t believe in luck, I believe in whoever brings the best of themselves and whoever sacrifices to be victorious will win.
“This is nothing to sneeze at, that’s the main thing, but just being able to be around as long as I’ve been and still fresh as a daisy, I believe, and I’ll prove it November 8th, there’s no definition really behind it. Just enjoy it, understand it, and realize that you might not be alive to see it again.”
Sergey Kovalev, WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion
“Bernard talks and fights. I just fight.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I go into the ring and I get my victory at any cost. If I need to fight, I will fight. If I need to box, I’m going to box… I don’t have any strategy for the fight, just to go into the ring and fight like a street fight. I’m going to kick his ass because he’s my opponent.
“I always have bullets in my arsenal. My hands are my weapons. It’s my weapon in the ring. Hopkins thinks that I only have two bullets but I will bring some more.
“It is not easy to overlook Hopkins. I think when he’s 60 years old he’ll be in the same condition. He’s an alien, but I have to send him to the moon and maybe from there he’ll go by himself to Mars.
“I don’t really understand what Bernard is saying. It doesn’t matter what he says. Even if I understood, I wouldn’t care. I don’t worry about him. I’ll go into the ring and do my job.
“He has pushed me little bit. I want to do everything a little bit faster and a little bit rushed. I already can’t wait for this day to come. I have patience and there is nothing I can do but wait for November 8 to get two more titles and go back and give this victory to my wife and my son.
“Any way I need to get a victory, dirty fight or clean fight, for me it doesn’t matter. I will fight dirty, if Hopkins will fight dirty.”
Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions
“Being the best middleweight in the history of this sport, with 20 defenses and now to be 49 at light heavyweight, he’s still going strong. I’m now convinced he is an Alien.
“Bernard Hopkins, not only are we talking about the fighter who is the best in this era, but can possibly be the best in any era. When you talk about comparing the ’80s and the ’70s and the ’60s and 1990 and the 2000s, well Hopkins is a fighter you can say would have competed, if not would have been the best, in any era. That’s what we’re talking about right here.
“People respect the fact that at 49-years-old, he’s still going strong. There’s no sign of him slowing down. He’s getting faster, he’s getting stronger and he has more energy. He’s toying with young fighters, half his age. For Hopkins it’s starts outside the ring, he breaks you.
“At 49-years-old, being the oldest champion in any sport, he deserves tons of respect. The fact that he’s facing the ‘Krusher,’ is just another of the many dangerous fighters that Bernard has faced.
“At this point. Hopkins is already in the Hall of Fame, he’s already going to be talked about as one of the greats. So he doesn’t have that added pressure of trying to prove himself. I think people already have the utmost respect for him.
“I believe that Hopkins focuses not on what he’s going to do physically, but on what he can do to get his opponent out of their comfort zone and what combinations does he not expect from me. I wouldn’t say he’s awkward, but he knows how to offset you.”
Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events
“This fight is going to be the most anticipated fight of 2014. It’s so much fun putting together a fight like this that everyone wants to see. It’s great to see the excitement level and the anticipation. You can feel it in the air.
“Bernard’s never been stopped. Sergey has knocked out just about everyone he’s fought. It is a tremendous, compelling fight.
“This is going to be a tremendous event. It’s one of those fights that when the bell rings you really won’t know what is going to happen. It’s not about finding out who’s best, its about who is going to win the fight, because both are great.
“This is what boxing is supposed to be and we look forward to November 8.
“The first person I thought of when I saw Sergey Kovalev in the ring was Ray Leonard. I saw the look in his eye and I could tell he was different. I believe he is the most electrifying boxer in the world of boxing and he will prove it on November 8.”
# # #
“Alien vs. Krusher: Hopkins vs. Kovalev” is a 12-round unification bout for the IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight World titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona Extra, AT&T, Hortitsia Vodka and Mexico, Live it To Believe It!. Ali vs. Abregu is a 10-round welterweight bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50, plus applicable fees and service charges, are on sale now and available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mainevents.com, www.hbo.com/boxing or http://www.boardwalkhall.com/.
Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/main_events, www.twitter.com/hboboxing, www.twitter.com/THEREALBHOP,
www.twitter.com/krusherkovalev, www.twitter.com/realworldkidali, www.twitter.com/potroabregu, www.twitter.com/BoardwalkHall and follow the conversation using #alienvskrusher.
Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/maineventsboxing, www.facebook.com/therealbhop, www.facebook.com/hboboxing and www.facebook.com/BoardwalkHall.
Conn. Boxing HOF announces 2014 award winners Louis Rosa Jr. named 2014 Conn. Boxer of the Year
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (Nov. 3, 2014) – Undefeated New Haven super bantamweight prospect Luis “The KO King” Rosa, Jr. (17-0, 7 KOs) has been named by the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame as the 2014 Connecticut Professional Boxer of the Year.
Rosa and the other 2014 award winners – Hartford Izaih Melendez, Conn. Amateur Boxer of the Year; Hartford referee Danny Schiavone, William Hutt Professional Official of the Year; ringside physician Samantha Dare, Amateur Official of the Year – will be honored this Saturday night at the 10th annual Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) Gala Induction Dinner in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun.
The Class of 2014 being inducted into the CBHOF are former two-time World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz, two-time world title challenger and star of The Contender, Season reality television show, Peter “The Pride of Providence” Manfredo, Jr., referee Michael Ortega, International Boxing Federation president Daryl Peoples, trainer Paul Cichon and the late boxing judge William Hutt.
The 23-year-old Rosa, promoted by DiBella Entrertainment, is a native of Puerto Rico. He had an outstanding 95-10 amateur record and turned professional in 2010. This past June in Las Vegas, Rosa recorded his signature victory to date, winning a unanimous 10-round decision over Luis Orlando Del Valle (18-1) this past June in Las Vegas, after taking an eight-round decision from Jorge Diaz (17-2) last January.
Melendez, 21, is a local Golden Gloves champion who trains at The Sweet Science Boxing Club/Bare Bones Boxing in East Hartford.
Dr. Dane first came to USA Boxing in 2002, after her boxing coach, John Spehar, had mentioned to her that Larry Pelletier (Meriden Boxing Club) was in need of a ringside physician. Ever since then she has been working with USA Boxing. Currently working in the emergency department of Griffin Hospital in Derby, Dane has traveled to pre-Olympic trials in New Jersey and the Poconos, in addition to serving as the local physician for the US, Brazilian, and Chinese teams when they competed prior to the Olympics in Bejing.
Schiavone is no stranger to the squared circle having refereed more than 1,000 amateur bouts with USA Boxing during a six-year span. He started officiating pro fights in 2002 and he has been affiliated with the IBF, WBC and the NABF throughout his pro career. Schiavone has been the third man in the ring for such notable champions and world class fighters as Hasim Rahman, Adrien Broner, David Tua, Sergio Martinez, Chad Dawson, John Duddy and Peter Quillin.
Limited tickets for the CBHOF 10th annual Gala Induction Dinner, reasonably priced at $90.00, are still on sale and available to purchase by calling Kim Baker at Mohegan Sun (1.860.862.7377) or Sherman Cain at the Manchester Journal Inquirer (1.800.237.3606 X321). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. ET, cocktails at 6 p.m. ET, followed by dinner.
Go online to www.ctboxinghof.org for additional information about the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, its 10th annual Gala Inductee Dinner, or past CBHOF inductees. Like CBHOF on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CTBHOF.
ABOUT CBHOF: The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 to honor and celebrate the careers of outstanding individuals involved in the sport of boxing. Its inaugural Induction Ceremony & Dinner was held in 2005. Connecticut’s rich boxing history could never have flourished if it weren’t for the achievements of those enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
As a non-profit organization, the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame is deeply committed to keeping the fighting spirit of Connecticut thriving through various charitable contributions.
IRON BOY 17 TO STREAM LIVE AND FREE, WITH VICTOR CASTRO VS ROBERT RODRIGUEZ IN MAIN EVENT
PHOENIX — November 3, 2014 — In less than two weeks, Iron Boy Promotions returns to Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix to deliver to Arizona boxing fans another quality boxing event packed with local talent. Once again, Iron Boy Promotions will be streaming the event live and free, so boxing fans worldwide can enjoy the best that Arizona boxing has to offer. “With boxing becoming less and less accessible to fans, due to being broadcasted on premium and paid channels, we’re pleased to offer an alternative,” said Iron Boy Promotions President & Promoter, Roberto Vargas. “We want our shows to be accessible to everyone, even people that don’t live in Arizona.” The November 15th card will be streamed on Iron Boy Promotions’ website at www.iron-boy.com.
In the main event bout, Victor “El Nino” Castro (12-0, 6KO) returns to the ring after his thrilling third round knockout at Iron Boy 15 in September. Victor is currently in camp, training at Israel Vasquez’s Magnifico Boxing Gym, under the tutelage of the former Champion. Vasquez made history at Iron Boy 15, commentating the Unimas broadcast as he worked Castro’s corner. Castro faces Robert Rodriguez, (7-4-0-1, 3KO) of Greely, Colorado.
Cameron Dunkin managed prospect Brian Mendoza (2-0, 2KO) enters the ring for the third time on fight night. Mendoza hails from Albuqurque, New Mexico, and is trained by Fidel Maldonado Sr. Mendoza, who is known for his devastating punching power, last appeared in the ring at Iron Boy 14, where he knocked out his opponent in the first round. “Mendoza is top-level talent,” said Iron Boy Promotions matchmaker Mike Sanchez. “He’s a very good prospect in the welterweight division. I wouldn’t want to get hit by him, that’s for sure.”
Alexis Zazueta (3-0, 3KO) will also make his long-awaited ring return. After his opponent was unable to make weight at Iron Boy 15, Zazueta returned to camp and will be competing at 115 lbs on November 15th. Zazueta trains with Armando Lopez at Sonny’s Boxing Gym in Avondale, and is also managed by Cameron Dunkin. “My last fight was called off due to my opponent not making weight,” said Zazueta. “I never stopped working and I am more than ready to defeat my next opponent.”
Rounding out the card, valley favorites Carlos Castro (6-0, 3KO) and Emilio Garcia (7-1, 1KO), who are both trained by Jose Benavidez, Sr., will return in separate bouts. Local fighters Brandon Riddell (1-1, 1KO) and Aron Moreno (debut) face each other at 130 lbs. Julio Sarinana 3-0-1, 0KO) and Edgar Brito (3-0-1, 2KO) also return in separate bouts. Brito faces fellow undefeated fighter Manuel Lopez (3-0-1), who is also trained by Benavidez. Chandler fighters Keith Busch (1-2, 1KO) and David Demore (0-0-1, 0KO) meet in a four round Cruiserweight bout.
The evening will begin with amateur bouts featuring Luis Espinoza, Juan Garcia, Alfredo Escarcega, Breenan Macias and others.
“Our last two events have been co-promoted with Top Rank Boxing and have been televised on Unimas,” said Promoter Roberto Vargas. “That has been a blessing that we’ve worked very hard for, but we also want to continue to provide opportunities to as many local fighters as possible to fight at home here in Phoenix. We hope to continue to do a mix of these types of shows, and the co-promoted shows with Top Rank Boxing.” The promotion has announced that its next show with Top Rank Boxing will be a December 20th card, which will be televised on Unimas.
The official weigh-in for Iron Boy 17 will be at Crescent Crown Distributing in Mesa at 5 p.m. on November 14th.
Tickets for Iron Boy 17 are priced at $10, 25, 40 and $60, and are available at www.iron-boy.com or at the Celebrity Theatre Box Office. Doors on fight night open at 5 pm, first bell is at 6pm.
Dennis Hasson to headline on Saturday November 22 at Valley Forge Casino Resort
VALLEY FORGE, PA (November 3, 2014)–On Saturday night, November 22 Dennis Hasson will take part in an 8-round Light heavyweight bout that will headline at the Valley Forge Casino Resort.
Hasson of Philadelphia has a record of 16-1 with 6 knockouts.
The 30 year-old Hasson is settled in a Light Heavyweight and has a solid win over Daniel Judah to his credit. He is coming off a 4th round stoppage defeat to Tyrell Hendrix on June 27 in Las Vegas.
Hasson’s opponent will be named shortly.
In Four Round Bouts:
Sulhtan Staton (3-0, 2 KO’s) takes on Ramon Ellis (4-13-2, 2 KO’s) in a Lightweight bout.
Shawn Sutton (0-3) of Norristown, PA will fight Eric Spring (4-0, 1 KO) of Reading, PA. in a Welterweight tussle.
In a Jr.Welterweight bout, Christian Molina (3-0, 2 KO’s) will take on an opponent to be named.
Carlos Rosario (0-1) of Pennsauken, NJ will battle Eliezar Mendez (1-0) of Reading, PA in a Jr. Lightweight fight.
Samuel Berman of Collegeville, PA will make his pro debut against Jamikey Woods (0-1) of Satesville, NC in a Welterweight tilt.
Martin Lagunas Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) of Ruskin, FL take on an opponent to be named in a Welterweight fight.
Johnnie Rolon of Florida will make his pro debut against an opponent to be named in a Featherweight bout.
Tickets for this great night of boxing are priced at $125, $75 and $45 and can be purchased by calling Kings Boxing at 610 587-5950
ROCKHOLD vs BISPING media call quote + Rockhold goes FULL BLAST on Bisping’s recent win
Las Vegas – UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: ROCKHOLD vs BISPING takes place this weekend in Sydney, Australia and is headlined by the culmination of a bitter, two-year feud between top 10 ranked middleweight contenders Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping. The entire card is available live and on-demand on UFCFIGHTPASS.com, the UFC’s digital streaming service.
Please note: the event takes place on Saturday, November 8, local time in Sydney but due to timezones will be LIVE primetime Friday evening, November 7, and exclusively live on UFCFIGHTPASS.com in North America.
Feel free to link to this special edition of UFC FULL BLAST where Rockhold offers a running commentary on Bisping’s most recent win, a fourth round stoppage of Cung Le in Macau on August 23.
And here in the transcription of the recent Rockhold vs Bisping media conference call.
Operator: Please stand-by. Good day and welcome to the UFCFIGHPASS.com Rockhold vs Bisping conference call. Today’s conference is being recorded. At this time I would like to turn the conference over to Tom Wright, Managing Director UFC Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Please go ahead, Sir.
Tom Wright: Thank you to everyone who’s joined us today ahead of our big UFC Fight Night, Fight Pass Event in Sydney, Australia next week, actually on November 8.
We’re really, really excited about this card at the Allphones Arena. We’ve got some great fights lined up between a great mix of local talent, UFC veterans and of course the hotly anticipated main event five rounds between the bitter rivals and middleweight contenders, Number 5, Luke Rockhold and Number 9, Michael Bisping.
Both Mike and Luke are on the line and will be taking your questions shortly but before we do that, let me just take care of a couple of housekeeping issues, please and thanks.
First of all, we have a limited amount of tickets still available for this event and those tickets are available at ticketek.com.au. This event is going to be streamlined exclusively live in most parts of the world on UFCFIGHTPASS.com, the UFC’s digital streaming service.
I’d also like to remind everyone on the call that while the event takes place on Saturday, November 8 in Sydney, time zones being what they are, the event will be live prime time in North America Friday night for UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers in North America.
The main card will actually start in Sydney at 2 pm on Saturday afternoon the 8th, but it will be live on 10 pm eastern on Friday night, 7 pm Pacific on Friday night November 7 on UFC FIGHT PASS.
I’d also like to remind everyone before we start the call, we’ve got a great night of exclusive live fights on UFCfightpass.com this Saturday, November 1 with the entire FC 9 card headlined by Barb Honchak and Takayo Hashi.
So with that said, I’m going to open up to the media for questions and I’ll turn it back to you (Vicky) to moderate please.
Operator: Thank you. If you would like to ask a question, please signal by pressing star 1 on your telephone keypad. If you’re using a speakerphone, please make sure your mute function is turned off to allow our signal to reach your equipment. Again, press star 1 to ask a question.
We will pause just a moment to allow everyone the opportunity to signal for questions. We’ll go first to Jeffrey Harris with 411 Mania MMA
Jeffrey Harris: Hello. Thank you all for joining us all today. This question is for Michael. Michael, throughout your career, you’ve had numerous opponents who’ve had performance enhancing drug test issues who have failed tests and this includes guys who have wins over you, guys you’ve beaten and now Cung Le who recently had his drug test suspended because of the manner, the way the drug tests were held.
Do you believe that exonerates him or do believe he’s still guilty?
Michael Bisping: I mean to be honest, I don’t get involved in the processes, my job it to fight. I believe there’s no smoke without fire, though, and because of certain technicalities or loopholes, he was exonerated, or the suspension was rescinded.
But as I said, I don’t get involved in these matters. My job, what I’m paid to do, is to step into the Octagon and fight. I’ll let the UFC take care of the bureaucracy.
Jeffrey Harris: Now for Luke, you’re currently ranked Number 5 in the Middleweight Division. A guy ranked ahead of you Jacare Souza is a guy you have a win over. Do you believe you’re taking a big risk here for fighting Bisping instead of going for like, for a rematch against Jacare?
Luke Rockhold: You know, I don’t believe I’m taking a risk. It’s not a good fight for me, not a, you know, chance to showcase my skillset and where I’ve improved and what I’ve done. I already have a win over Jacare. I beat him so I don’t understand exactly how the rankings work but, you know, I’m just going to look to, you know, showcase my skills in this fight.
You know, I’m very happy about fighting Michael. You know, I’m going to go in and perform.
Jeffrey Harris: You’ve been challenging Michael to a fight for quite some time. Is the reason you’re going after him, is it because of that remark he made about, “I beat you in training camp so I have an unofficial win over the Strikeforce middle weight champion making me the linear champion”?
Luke Rockhold: It definitely is a bonus to shut his mouth and set the record straight on that note. He’s just a guy I really haven’t respected along the way. He carries himself around the sport and, you know, I’ve been around for a while and I just, I hear a lot of things and I see a lot of things, And, you know, I really, I really don’t care for the guy and I’m looking forward to setting him up, myself among other people.
Operator: We’ll go next to Heidi Fang with MMA Fight Corner.
Heidi Fang: Hello. My first question is just a follow-up on that. What is it about Michael Bisping that you don’t respect?
Luke Rockhold: He just seems to not be a nice genuine guy to most people. I mean he only like carries himself to, you know, is nice to people, seems to further himself and people are going to help him. I,really heard a lot of things about him, not being nice to the average Joe, really.
I mean, you know, you’ve got to treat people the way you want to be treated and, you know, it seems like he’s a prick everywhere in life so I want to know what he’s not happy about. But, you know, I’m looking forward to making everybody else happy.
Heidi Fang: It seems that you’re going…
Michael Bisping: Well allow me to shed some light on that situation because, Luke, I’m not sure if he’s aware of this; this is a f**king conference call so you’re supposed to talk and be a little bit eloquent and get your side of the story over.
Luke, I don’t know you. I don’t care for you. We haven’t shared a single proper conversation so you’re basing your facts or what you presume is facts on absolutely nothing, on fresh air.
We have had one conversation, after the sparring matching question everybody talks about. You don’t know me. You don’t know me as a person. So kiss my f**king ass, you lanky piece of shit. I’ll see you in Australia, you asshole. We’ll put it all to bed then.
Luke Rockhold: Great professionalism…
Heidi Fang: To both of you to follow up on that, you seem to both be going in with high emotions into this fight. Do you feel that’s risky to go into a fight with these types of emotions, I suppose. Rockhold first.
Luke Rockhold: As you can see, the way I’ve carried myself in our conversation and, you know, face-to-face, I’m not really too emotional. If you want to see emotional go back and watch my Belfort lead-up. In the fight I was pissed. I was emotional. You could see it in my eyes and, you know, I’m very comfortable and relaxed.
And that’s never going to happen again. I’m never going to let emotions get the better of me. I’ve done my work. I’ve worked my ass off in training camp. Worked with some of the best guys in the world and I’ve prepared, I’m better than I’ve ever been. I’m going to go out there and do my job.
Heidi Fang: And for Michael, you seemed very upset there with Luke, had some choice words for him there.
Michael Bisping: No, no, I’m not upset for him. I’m not upset by any of his remarks. Anything that Luke Rockhold said doesn’t really register with me, to be honest. You know, the guy’s just trying to jump on a bandwagon. (does impression of Rockhold) “I’m doing this for the sake of everybody. He’s such an asshole. No one likes him.”
Nobody has any right to pass an opinion on anything because when I’m outside of the office and I’m home with my wife and kids I’m a different guy. So don’t know where he’s basing this whole bad guy image on.
Regarding emotions; not at all. I’m going down there to take care of business. Luke Rockhold is not somebody that I obsess about. He’s not somebody that I care about. He’s not somebody that I wake up in the morning and think about.
I’m here to do my job, to put on an outstanding fight for the fans and I’ve done that throughout my entire career and this will be another occasion where I will do that. I’m going down to Sydney to take care of business. Yes, of course I get to shut this guy up in the process, so that’s obviously is a bonus but, you know, as I say, I’m all business. I’m going to go down there, put on a great fight, give everybody what they want to see and, you know, I’ll get to show him up in the process so that’s a plus.
Operator: We’ll go next to Dave Melzer with Wrestling Observer.
Dave Melzer: Yes, this is, I guess, mainly for Luke because actually I’ve talked to Michael about this before. Which, what is your side or recollection about what happened in China, I think it was the night after the Cung fight with Michael and I guess you were, I don’t know if it was the coffee shop or it was at breakfast or something.
Luke Rockhold: Yes.
Dave Melzer: I mean how do you remember that incident?
Luke Rockhold: Well, the morning after the fight everyone’s packing up, getting ready to go. I had my bags and there’s a little coffee shop on the way out from the elevators. I walked down to get some coffee and it’s kind of an isolated little zone and I was trying to get a cup of coffee and I look over and of course Michael’s sitting right there with his dad and his little friend.
So I’m trying to get this coffee and the little guy (Mick) is just staring at me and just like blabbing, like just running his mouth, just, you know, just trying to egg me on. And I’m just sitting there. I’m like trying to ignore the little guy and it’s completely unavoidable.
I had to get my coffee, walk right by them as this little guy’s just staring at me and like trying to talk to me and like I had no choice but to butt in. So I basically, just like I said, I don’t lie. I don’t embellish how I do things. I turned. I put my hand in him, straight. I stood right in the middle of their conversation and said gentlemen, bet, you know, I was like I said if I don’t finish in the first round, you get half my purse.
And then he was like, and then he immediately went on the backtrack saying, well, well, well, well, look here. I make this much and I was trying to throw off and I was like I don’t care, you want $100,000 on top of your paycheck, all you have to do is get out of the first round?
From then on he blew it all out of proportion, jumped up in my face and say oh, I’m disrespectful. Tried to turn it into a very disrespectful thing and then I, of course, stood my ground and sat back at him but, you know, it was very, you know, I put my hand out, gentlemen’s bet, that’s how I offered it. I didn’t get crazy. The little guy was on my case and it was an unavoidable situation.
Michael Bisping: All right and allow me to clarify through all that the bullshit. So he does admit that he walked off and challenged me to a bet when I was with my father. The guy that he’s talking about in question – Mick – doesn’t say two words to anyone. He’s one of the quietest human beings you will ever see. So he was – that you were going to ever meet and he said that this guy was staring at him, talking shit.
Luke, you’re an absolute liar. You’re an absolute liar. Nobody was looking at you. You came over. You interrupted. You showed a lack of class and I’ll punish you for it next week.
Luke Rockhold: No, you won’t and the fact of the matter is I’m sitting there, if they can release my commentary on the fight, I’m sitting there commentating on his fight with Cung Le, on the fight past commentary that they haven’t released yet but the little guy, he’s constantly running over to me and slapping on my back saying “You’re next. You’re next.”
And his dad even gets on the cat walk around the Octagon and points to me and says you’re next. And they’re just like he’s going to beat your ass and like, I’m not joking when I say this. This was a couple of days prior to the event.
Dave Melzer:: So, no, did you have like incidents? Was it with them or with Michael before the event in China as well?
Luke Rockhold: No I didn’t see Michael before. It was just, I was in passing with those guys and, you know, I was – they were bringing me in the back (at a pre-fight PR event) and I had to wait, I think I had to wait for this guy to pass. That’s like how it kind of began and I was waiting for Michael and Cung to walk by the red carpet and I was like, they were like – they were trying to get me behind the fence and I was like wait, wait for this asshole to pass.
And then his dad and the little guy overheard me say it and then from then on they were like his little fucking spokespeople, saying “Mike is going to beat your ass.” And then they just kept egging it on and coming after me because they overheard me say that.
Dave Melzer: You mentioned earlier in the call something about like you kind of think that you made some mistakes as far as it’s mental before the Belfort fight. Is there anything that, exactly what that means? I mean as far as did you just get too hung up on certain things or what’s kind of like when you look back at that in hindsight?
Luke Rockland: It was fighting Belfort in Brazil, my debut and there were a lot of things, you know, I just took personally. I took a lot on my shoulders. You know, I wanted to beat him for myself and for a lot of reasons that are obvious.
You know, definitely it was an emotional time and then, you know, the Brazilian crowd is very passionate and everyone gets on their back in between and, you know, and the whole build-up. So it’s, you know, I – just the whole circumstance, fighting Belfort too. His history with everything and who he was, you know, he’s one of the best fighters so there was a lot on the line there. And, you know, it’s helped me release. You know, I wasn’t – the funny thing is I wasn’t really sure of how good I was as a striker. You know, I knew I was good but how was I going to combat with one of the best strikers of all time in there?
Michael Bisping: Well you didn’t combat very well because you got knocked out in the first round.
Luke Rockhold: Yes, you got knocked out, too, so…
Michael Bisping: It wasn’t the first round though, was it? You shot straightaway and then got knocked out, great fight, good job. And the whole year you’re blaming it on the pressure. All right.
Luke Rockhold: You got your ass kicked the whole time.
Michael Bisping: All right buddy.
Michael Bisping: (Pretends to cry) Boo hoo my little friend was picking on you. God bless.
Luke Rockhold: This is Michael Bisping at his finest. If you are going to build up a fight, build up a fight but your true colors show after the fight. And we all know you like to spit on people after a fight so I mean…
Michael Bisping: Oh great. Yes, all right, anything else you want to drag up from history?
Luke Rockhold: That is what you are, your true colors show after the fight and that’s you.
Michael Bisping: All right. Okay.
Operator: Well go next to Brett Okamoto with ESPN.
Brett Okamoto: Hey thanks guys. Dave kind of stole my thunder there. He basically asked Luke the same question I was going to ask him but I guess, Luke, you know, sort of talking about things you’ve talked about before. You said that this fight is very different than Vitor. Do you think that that’s just because you’ve learned how to deal with it better or is it just because there’s rivalry. It’s just so different than the one, than the one you had with Vitor, your first fight.
Luke Rockhold: It’s different, you know, in a lot of ways. I’ve gained a lot more confident for myself as a striker and just letting, letting things be, letting it go, just letting me fight my fight. Like taking a loss like that (vs Belfort) is a humbling experience and there’s really not much further down to go than that. So I learned to just go in there and let it all hang out. Whatever happens, happens.
I learned to relax and to realize “I am better than you guys.” Just fight, enjoy the process and fight.
You know, I just don’t think Vitor was that good. I got caught with a wild kick and now everyone is starting to see things and I know that I’m one of the best strikers in the world now and you’re going to see that in this fight. I’m going to completely outclass Michael in the feet and everywhere.
Brett Okamoto: When you talk about that pressure, how do you think it translated to the fight though? I mean did you just freeze up? Were you like just in a range that you never meant to be in? I mean how did it actually affect what you did in the cage?
Luke Rockhold: If you’ve seen me in the cage I was nervous, you know, about his speed and his striking and then just emotionally invested. I was staring at him across the cage, mean mugging him the whole time.
And just like, you know, it’s a crazy experience being out there in Brazil and, you know, fighting him and I was just psyching myself up in the wrong way rather than being, than just relaxing and seeing things. I was just, you know, my eyes were just pure red and, you know, I was just coming after him. I like went crazy man when I should have just relaxed and saw everything coming and you know.
It kind of just clouds your vision when you act like that and you know, the realization that I really gained, you know, in sparring too when I would get ticked and aggressive brought out the worst in me. You know, and then I started to relax. I had some crazy guys in sparring that now I learned how when I relax and I wait, I wait, you know, I’m a lot more dangerous and a lot more precise.
You know, I’m between that training after the fight and that fight is a lot of, you know, it’s a lot to look back on and think about, reflect.
Brett Okamoto: So during this whole build-up with Mike have you, have you felt yourself get angry at all or is that something that just doesn’t happen anymore? Is it still something that you have to work on when you’ve got a guy who’s talking to you during the build-up to the fight?
Luke Rockhold: No, I, you know, I’ve been through that before and I’ve balanced myself. It’s not going to get to me and, you know, I know how to carry myself. And, yes, it’s completely different. I don’t feel, you know, like I did with Vitor. I was actually a little emotionally pissed and now I’m just, you know, it’s confidence. It has a lot to do with relaxation and I’m very confident. I’m going to go up there and do my job.
Brett Okamoto: Okay, thanks. Good luck to both of you.
Operator: We’ll go next to Steven Morocco with USA Today.
Steven Morocco: Kind of a follow-up question for Luke. I mean has it been worth all the added questions and added attention and all this bickering back and forth? Has it been worth it to call out Mike and get this fight?
Luck Rockland: Has it been worth to call him out?
Steven Morocco: To call him out, all the added questions, the added attention, having to be in the same room with him, all these things that, you know, I understand when you have a different relationship to them now but, you know, I was wondering if it, if any of this has been burdensome at all? You know, all this added attention and has it been worth it?
Luke Rockland: Yes, it’s a fight. It’s a fight. People love, you know, all the talk. People love a feud, a genuine feud and just this is what they’re getting. You know, I don’t like the guy and, you know, I’m the worst in my opinion and I’m going to, I’m going to settle the fight.
And I’m a competitive person, whether we’re talking, whether we’re fighting and I’m not going to, I’m not going to lose it all to this guy, you now. I’m excited. I’m selling the fight. He’s selling the fight and it’s going to be even more – I mean the pre-fight hype is nothing compared to what you’re going to see from November 8, or November 7 here in the USA
Steven Morocco: And you think you’ve got the better of him?
Luke Rockhold: I don’t like to say that because it ((inaudible)) in the (seventh tier). It’s like going back to ((inaudible)) on that one and ((inaudible)).
Steven Morocco: Yes. Well the next question’s for both of you. Do you think you guys have done a good job selling the fight relative to some other first matches? We’ve seen you know, upcoming (Jones vs DC). Also Mendez, these guys just keep going.
Luke Rockhold: I mean no one can compare to a Jones and DC but I think we’re doing all right.
Steven Morocco: Mike?
Michael Bisping: You know, for me it’s not a case of trying to outdo the Jones vs DC thing, or this and that. Obviously this is an intriguing middleweight match-up. And it kind of sells itself. I mean, as Luke has told everybody, he doesn’t like me so of course he’s not at the top of my Christmas card list. So there’s certainly no love lost between us and we’re both too highly skilled individuals that bring it. Luke, for all the disdain that he feels towards me, is a good fighter and he does fight well. But so do I.
So where that has all the ingredients for, highly watchable fight. So that kind of sells itself and of course, there’s all the bad blood going into it as well. I’ve just been myself as usual. I wouldn’t compare anything this year to Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, I mean that’s the best pre-fight hype ever. That said, me and Rockhold have a week left and you never know what will happen at the press conference.
Steven Morocco: And just one more. I’m wondering what you’re respective understandings are of the middleweight pecking order right now. Like where do you guys see yourself in the division? What’s this fight for? Go first, Mike.
Michael Bisping: Well obviously you’ve got Belfort vs Weidman settling things in February I believe. Luke, since coming to the UFC, or in his last two fights, has people talking about him possibly being the next contender.
For myself, it’s just one fight at a time. If I beat Luke, when I beat Luke, I think that puts me in a very, very good position. Of course there is some of the good talent out there that’s making a case for it.
Machida’s always a perennial contender but he just had his shot so you can kind of take him out of it for the immediate future, I think. There’s Jacare but I’m not sure if the UFC is too excited about that.
So who knows? Of course, I’ll give a good performance against Rockland. I believe it puts me right in the mix. Does it guarantee a title shot? No, not necessarily but as I said, I believe it puts me right in the mix.
Luke Rockhold: Yes, he said it pretty well. For me, on my end,, I got to go out there and win. I’ve got to win impressively to really step my game up and separate me as the number one contender and that’s what I plan on doing.
I can’t just squeeze a win out. I’ve got to go perform and that’s what I do. It’s about being the best fighter in the world to me and I train every day to be that guy. And that’s what I’m going to do, perform and show I am No.1.
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Operator: Once again, that is star 1 on your telephone keypad to ask a question or a follow-up question. We’ll go next to Damon Martin with Fox Sports.
Damon Martin: Yes, my first question is to Mike. Mike I talked to you a couple of days ago and I know you said openly about the whole comment you made back in the day that started this whole thing, that unofficial Strikeforce Champion .
You know, you were kind of making a joke and you apologized to Luke but looking back on the whole thing, do you regret, you know, actually saying that comment or seeing where you’re at now with this big fight main event, you know, one of the biggest fights of the middleweight division.
I mean do you really regret actually making that comment?
Michael Bisping: You can’t go around your life, living your life regretting everything, every comment that you make. I made a light-hearted remark and it was a joke and I’d say if you have a sense of humor you maybe would have gotten that joke because I thought it was a pretty good line “I’m the unofficial Strikeforce champion.”
Listen, a sparring match has no bearing on what’s going to happen in a fight. Of course we’ve all heard Luke’s multitude of reasons why he didn’t perform that day and he’s probably right. Listen, sparring has no reflection on a fight. It was just a light-hearted remark. Was it a little bit vicious? Well I suppose it was, you know, and that’s why I instantly apologized.
You know, I’ve been known throughout my tenure as a fighter to say things sometimes and, you know, it certainly wasn’t designed to be disrespectful or harmful.
But I guess, you know, it kind of came off that way. So as I said, that’s why I did apologize. Do I regret it? No, I don’t regret it. I certainly got a good laugh out of it at the time and here we are, you know, we’re both going to get paid well out of it next week.
And we probably would have been matched regardless of whether or not I said that but it certainly helped throw some fuel on the fire for this fight, definitely.
Steven Morocco: And Luke had said earlier today and I’ll follow-up with Luke in a second. But he has said earlier today in an interview that he doesn’t believe that you’re a real fighter, that you actually enjoy fighting. Now I don’t know if you heard that comment or I’ll just kind of tell you right there, you know, the he doesn’t believe that you enjoy fighting and you’re not a real fighter. Your response>
Luke Rockhold: Let’s retract that. I didn’t say he wasn’t a real, I didn’t say he wasn’t a real fighter. I said he doesn’t enjoy fighting.
Steve Morocco: Enjoy fighting, excuse me.
Luke Rockhold: I enjoy the process. I have a good time in there. He just seems like he’s building himself up. He’s very good at psyching himself up. He slaps himself and he doesn’t really seem like he relaxes and he keeps it, you know, a little tense in the fight and he never, really likes it.
Like I’m smiling and I really enjoy fighting when I’m actually in the cage. I don’t necessarily like the build-up but when I’m in the cage and they shut that door that’s fun tomes, I mean that’s good times.
So I just don’t, I don’ see it any way. I analyze fighters from every bit of them, from how they fight. I do my homework and I just haven’t seen any bitterness. It seems like he’ll fight to the bitter end but I just don’t think he really enjoys fighting.
Michael Bisping: Okay, well it’s clearly obvious that if you’ve been analyzing me, you clearly don’t have a psychology degree so quit that amateur philosophy there because listen, I love (talking) with you. I’m (talking) with you right now.
I love fighting. I truly love it. That’s why I do it. Nobody puts a gun to my head and makes me fight. I don’t do it out of necessity. I don’t do it because I have to do it for the money or anything like that. I truly love doing it.
I’ve done it since I was 8 years old. Eight years-old I first walked into a gym and at the end of it we put the gloves on and we started boxing and that’s what really set my imagination on fire and kept me walking into the gym every single time.
And that’s why I always turn up in great shape for my fights, because I love to spar. Sparring is my favorite part of it. You now, and I never shy away from any challenges. I love fighting. I feel alive when I do it. It puts a smile on my face and I was put on this planet to be a fighter.
So, you know, the guys grabbing at straws at best at that comment.
Steven Morocco: Thank you very much guys.
Operator: We’ll go next to Adam Ireland with MMA Canvass.
Adam Ireland: Hi guys. Adam Ireland. Mike a quick question for you top start. Will you be training with Jamie Ta Huna. I know you’ve trained with him in the past.
Michael Bisping: Yes, no that’s right. I have a trainer out there in Penrith those guys before but no on this occasion I won’t be. I’m coming in a little bit late than what happened in the past and the last two times I fought in Australia, I was living in the UK so as you guys know, there’s a massive time difference and a full 24 hours of travelling so where we typically came out a few weeks before.
This time I’m coming out eight days before, you know, so and the time difference, while there is a pretty different time difference it’s not as extreme as it is between the UK and Australia.
So yes, all the training will be done and when I get out there it will just be staying sharp, staying fresh, shadow-boxing, things like that. So I won’t be heading out to (Penrith) working out with those guys.
Adam Ireland: Right Mike, cool and a question for both of you. The main event is roughly, it’s the USA versus UK battle and in Australia, I’m interested to know from both of your perspectives who had the home field advantage do you think?
Michael Bisping: Okay, it is kind of a difficult one, you know, because you guys, you’re a member of the Commonwealth but you don’t like to like it. (The English and Australians) we’re such great sporting rivals.
The first time I fought down there I was expecting a cheer but I got booed quite heavily. On my return in the next one you guys kind of came on board a little bit and I kind of got cheered.
On this one I kind of get the feeling I’m going to get cheered. Hopefully I’m going to have the home field advantage but ultimately when you’re fighting, when you’re in the octagon, you know, it’s just you and your opponent and once that door is shut and the referee says fight, it doesn’t really matter.
Of course, it’s nice to always get the adulation of the crowd but it’s not essential in winning or losing a fight. Regarding the co-main event, again that’s a fantastic match-up, two great strikers of course. I’m a big fan of Ross Pierson. I love the way he fights. He always brings it every time so whilst me and look are going to deliver it in the main event, the co-main event is not to be slapped on either.
That’s a fantastic match-up for Ross Pearson to bring out the best in both fighters. You’re going to see a lot of boxing, a lot of body shots from both of those guys so yes, and he’s a great fighter from top to bottom as well.
But home field advantage, I’m going to go out on limb here and say I’ll probably got that. Is it important, no it’s not.
Adam Ireland: And Luke, what are your thoughts?
Luke Rockhold: I’m going to bring everyone to my side after the fight and that’s all that really matters. You know, I’m sure I’ll have some good support out there and probably have some haters as far as that goes but, you know, I’m going to make a lot of fans out there after this fight and that’s all that matters.
Adam Ireland: Okay and my final question is I’m just not sure if you guys are aware that recently there’s been a lot of media attention and strategy on martial arts specifically. Now we’ve got an election coming out and it’s actually dominated a lot of headlines. You know, we’re about 10 years behind say, in terms of the perception of the sport. So this fight comes at a really important time.
Luke you first. I’m just interested to know if you know what’s happening in regards to the sport in Australia?
Luke Rockhold: Yes, it’s a very unfortunate situation. I mean it’s going to be a lot more dangerous fighting inside a ring. You know a lot of bad things can happen. And the perception of the cage being what they believe it is, is definitely far from true.
It’s very false and, you know, it’s a hard job to go out there and carry yourself, carry ourselves like professionals inside the cage and, you know, show them that, you know, that this is a sport and you need to be treated, you know, and carry ourselves like professionals. You know, it’s going to be a very professional, clean fight and, you know, hopefully we can help build MA and get it legalized and have an event there.
Adam Ireland: Then what do you think Michael?
Michael Bisping: Yes, yes, it’s all about education. It’s all about educating those people that have a negative view about it. Of course, you know, from the outside, if you don’t know the fights and you’re a little bit ignorant about the sport, then certainly there’s always going to be negative connotations that you could attach to it.
You could say, you know, this is, you know, a fight with small gloves and you’re laughing and you hit them when they’re on the floor, the fight’s in a cage. And when you look at these things, you know, it’s easy to build a negative, a negative image surround the sport.
But it’s, you expose these people to it. They learn a little bit about it. They learn the safety records. They understand why we implement an octagon as opposed to a boxing ring. Then , you know, you look at it much more favorable.
And I think that it’s these people that are game for it. They come out to the fight next week and, you know, they’ll see highly trained individuals. They will see a highly well run, the best sporting organization in the world running the best sporting event and the level of professionalism is absolutely through the roof. And as we said, it has a fantastic safety record.
So it’s all about education and exposing these people to it. I mean, invite them to come out and watch the fight, see what they do and I’m sure they’ll have a great evening and they will forget all the, you know, the judgments that they had before.
Tom Wright: Just to echo what Michael and Luke have said, I think they both expressed themselves extremely well. The truth of the matter is that we do have an opportunity, literally three weeks before the election in Victoria, you know, to demonstrate in the state right next door to Victoria, obviously in New South Wales where Sydney is too, to be able to demonstrate the professionalism, the focus on fighter safety and the fact that there isn’t a better organization in the world to put on our event than the UFC.
And that we take our sport very, very seriously. We also want to make sure it’s a fair fight which, of course, the octagon is a level playing field as you well know as opposed to a boxing ring which is not neutral. And I think this is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate that and to have an opportunity to speak to the educational points that Michael mentioned and to demonstrate the professionalism that Luke speaks to.
So we’re very much looking forward to, there’s a whole fight week of events that are scheduled for Sydney when we are there next week and that provides us with many opportunities to demonstrate just how short-sighted and the positions that have been taken by those uneducated individuals in Victoria.
Adam Ireland: Thanks Tom. Thanks all. I’ll catch up with you next week.
Operator: We’ll go next to Alex Schlinsky with MMA Mania.
Alex Schlinsky: Hey guys, how are you doing? Thank you very much. I just wanted to know, Michael Bisping, you’ve been so close to the top multiple time and yet you’ve never reached that apex, you’ve never gotten to that title fight. Do you think that maybe the psychology going in and maybe getting him, you know riled up beforehand is going to help you to get to a title fight by making this a bigger fight than it is?
Michael Bisping: That’s a good question., I mean only Luke can really answer that. You know, I’m focusing on what I do and perhaps in the past that’s been my downfall, focusing on my opponent too much, thinking too much about them, obsessing over them, thinking about how they’re going to approach the fight.
I’m too long in the tooth to do that these days. I’m too experienced. I just focus on what I need to do. Certainly one area that I’ve made leaps and bounds in is the mental preparation. You know, obviously this is a very physical sport but it’s hugely, there’s a huge psychological and mental aspect to it and I’ve really made gains with that over the last couple of years.
Certainly the last 12 months, I’m understanding a lot of things, but I am a lot better at them now. So, yes, you know, I’ve got to the top of the sport and then I fell short but I think the fact that I’ve been there so many times is a testament to my fighting ability and my character, my will to win which says a lot for a guy that apparently doesn’t like to fight.
I’ve been there several times. Most people only get there once. I’ve dusted myself off. I’ve come back a better fighter. I’ve truly learned from all my losses and I’m still as hungry as the first day that I ever put a pair of gloves on. I still want to be World Champion. I know I can do it. I’m physically in my prime and I’m mentally better than ever.
It’s all to play for and I still dream of being world champion and that will start next weekend, you know. I’m one of the top guys. I’ve been here for a long time but I’m not going anywhere yet.
Alex Schlinsky: Awesome. I wanted to know both your reactions to when you heard (Chris Wright) was injured and the middleweight title fight was once again postponed because we know ((inaudible)) said he wanted an interim title fight. You know that we got Jacare and (Merrill) potentially fighting. You too are fighting net week.
You know, there’s kind of a log at the middleweight division. When you see that, you know, the champion’s injured, is that frustrating to you guys?
Luke Rockhold: I mean it is what it is. Weidman’s spot, you know, he’s had a couple of fights in pretty close proximity, not too bad but it’s a small delay in the big scheme of things and, you know, a lot of champions have been out a lot longer
So, you know, just, you know, someone needs to separate themselves, the lead contender, you know, number one contender and that’s all that’s all he’s doing, giving more time to one of us to separate themselves and that’s what I want to do, that’s what I’m here to do.
Michael Bisping: You know ultimately that’s the way the sport goes. You know, it’s an unforgiving sport inside the octagon on our side of the octagon and injuries are common. You know, at Luke said it was a minor setback. It’s going to delay it by a few months, yes, but in the overall scheme of things, it isn’t really going to matter.
Vitor is the number one contender. You know, what were my feelings when he got put back? My feelings were this. My feelings were that that is a huge, it’s a huge benefit for (Chris Weidman) simply because Vitor was on extra testosterone therapy for a long time and that take an impact on your body and the amount of muscle mass that you carry.
And the longer you are off the extra testosterone that you were prescribed to take by a doctor, we shall say, of course the longer you’re off it , the more physical changes your body will make.
So I’m sure there’s going to be, I’m not sure when Vitor’s last fight was but we could be talking over a year where he hasn’t been on, you know, the prescriptions that he was on before. So I think the longer it goes until that fire happens, the more benefit (Chris Weidman) has because he’s going to be weaker, stronger, not as strong, things like that.
So that was my initial thought.
Alex Schlinsly: Luke, we spoke earlier that you said that you’ve beaten Jacare before and yet he’s still ranked higher than you because you haven’t had the shot from UFC yet. Do you think with the dominant win over Jacare this week you are able to, you know, leap frog him through all the ranks. If you do get a finish you can get past him?
Luke Rockhold: I don’t know man. I have no idea how they make ranking guidelines are, if there are other guidelines. Jacare jumped me beating, I believe Chris Comozi and I lost to Vito Belfort so I mean that should give you some perspective on how they work things, you know. That’s when he jumped me in the rankings, I believe.
So I’m just going to fight my fight and I’m going to show, you know, what I do and, you know, hopefully it gets respected and acknowledged.
Alex Schlinsky: Thank you guys for your time.
Operator: Well go next to (Casper Rosolowsky) with Submission Radio.
Casper Rosolowsky: Hi guys. My question’s for Michael. Michael in respect to Sydney last, you told us you believe that Luke will probably take the fight to the ground. I’m just wondering, coming into the fight being about a week away, is that something you still believe?
Michael Bisping: Yes, 100%.. I think that once he steps in there with me he’ll realize that it’s now as easy as what he’s forecasting it to be. You know, and this is mixed martial arts. It’s not a kick boxing or a boxing match so there’s other facets to the game of course and I think you will, I think he’ll shoot, I think he’s looking at the fight with Tim Kennedy I lost and how he was able to tear me town, hold me down.
I think he’s underestimating my wrestling and my takedown defense and he thinks he can expose in the coming week. Of course, I will prove otherwise on the night. You know, as I said, when the fight starts he’ll realize that he’s in, that, you know, that this isn’t the walk in the park that he thinks it’s going to be and then when it doesn’t go his way in defeat, I think he’ll shoot for a takedown
Casper Rosolowsky: Fantastic and I have a follow-up for Luke Rockhold. Look, you know, you discussed some areas of the fight there you’re very confident in. I’m just wondering what do you think your greatest strength or advantage over Michael will be, you know, come November 8 here in Sydney when you guys match up together?
Luke Rockhold: The difference between me and Michael, our fighting skills, is the same difference between our beards… I’m just more of a man than him.
Casper Rosolowsky: Great. Well thanks for that Luke.
(Crosstalk)
Michael Bisping: Today you go, what a great insight there. He can grow slightly better facial hair so therefore he’s a better man and he’s going to win the fight. Good on you Luke. Well done. You’ve got more pubes on your face.
Luke Rockhold: I’m going to out strike him.
Michael Bisping: Oh here we go. An actual intelligent answer. Go ahead. The floor is yours.
Luke Rockhold: The thing is, when we were sparring, Michael was the one shooting. He wanted to wrestle. He couldn’t even spar me when I switched from southpaw…
Michael Bisping: Here comes the excuses again…
Luke Rockhold: I switched my stance but I am not taking anything away from him, he’s very good. He’s a good striker, he knows what he’s doing, he throws a lot of people off. He circles away well, he throws everyone off with movement. But he will know next week I am in a different level. I will lay some heavy kicks on him and, when he wakes up, he will have a rude awakening and realize there’s a big difference between him and me.
Operator: Your conference is ending now. As requested by the host, please hang up.
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For more information or current fight news, visit ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.
About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC®) is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS™, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.
“MACACO” PATINO VS. ERIC REYNOLDS LIGHTWEIGHT MATCHUP ADDED TO WSOF 15 MMA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLEHEADER IN TAMPA, FLA. ON NOV. 15
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 3, 2014) — A lightweight (155 pounds) contest between legendary MMA pioneer and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo black belt Jorge “Macaco” Patino (35-15-2) of Houston, Texas and battle-tested finisher Eric “It’s a Wrap” Reynolds (18-8) of Bradenton, Fla. has been added to the live NBCSN televised portion of the highly-anticipated World Series of Fighting (www.wsof.com) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world championship tripleheader event at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla. on Saturday, Nov. 15.
“With the addition of this fourth televised bout between Macaco Patino and Eric Reynolds, I think it is safe to say that World Series of Fighting has put together, hands down, not only the most relevant, but also the most entertaining fight card on paper, from top to bottom, on Nov. 15,” said World Series of Fighting President, six-time world champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.
Patino, whose storied career dates back to 1995 during the no holds barred, bareknuckle fighting days of the sport, exploded onto the scene, reeling off 16 consecutive victories, half of which came in under a minute. He is, perhaps, best remembered for his epic battles with fellow pioneers Jose “Pele” Landi-Jons and Pat Miletich, whom Patino battled for 14 and 21 consecutive minutes in 1996 and 1999, respectively.
Patino also boasts a first round (3:13) KO (punch) win over superstar Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and, more recently, held dual world titles before signing with WSOF.
The 28-year-old Reynolds, whose appearance in the cage will also be his second of 2014 and his debut under the WSOF banner, has scrapped with some of the toughest competitors in the 155 pound division, including Eddie Alvarez and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal, during his seven-year professional career that began with nine straight wins.
Of Reynolds’ 18 career victories, 16 came by way of (T)KO or submission. Fourteen of those finishes occurred in the first round of action.
In the WSOF 15 main event, middleweight (185 pounds) world champion and Renzo Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt David Branch (14-3) of Brooklyn, N.Y. will put his title on the line against top-10 ranked contender Yushin “Thunder” Okami (30-8) of Kawaski, Kanagawa Japan.
The co-main event will see undefeated, reigning, 25-year-old lightweight champion and Justin Gaethje (12-0) of Safford, Ariz. defend his crown against fellow superstar KO artist Melvin Guillard (32-13-2, 2 NC) of New Orleans, La.
In a third world championship showdown, women’s strawweight (115 pounds) champion and submission expert Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (18-4) of Houston will risk her title against fast-paced finisher Kalindra Faria (15-3) of Taubate, Sao Paulo Brazil.
The live, four-bout NBCSN telecast of WSOF 15 begins at 9:00 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST.
Tickets for the WSOF 15 event, priced from $20 (Additional fees may apply), are on sale at Ticketmaster.com, the USF Sun Dome box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
The first preliminary bout will begin at 6:00 p.m. EST. The card is subject to change.
About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.
ABOUT NBCSN
NBCSN, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 85 million homes, the Emmy Award-winning network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL) – including two games of the Stanley Cup Final — Premier League, Formula One, IndyCar, Tour de France, the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR. In addition, NBCSN features college football, college basketball, college hockey, cycling, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk, The Dan Patrick Show, and NASCAR America. NBCSN is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.
About Global Spectrum
Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the USF Sun Dome, as well as more than 120 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 24-million people attended more than 15,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor, which operates in 48 of the 50 United States, also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.
MONTY MEZA CLAY “MORE THAN READY” FOR ROD SALKA FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH AT CONSOL ENERGY CENTER
Pittsburgh, PA (November 3, 2014) “I was in the ‘Fight of the Year’ in August, he was in ‘America’s Funniest Videos.” said lightweight contender MONTY MEZA CLAY when speaking about his upcoming 10-round clash with Pittsburgh cross-town rival, “Lightning” ROD SALKA.
“We’ve known each other for ever and frankly we just don’t like each other, not outside the ring and certainly not inside.”
Sporting a record of 36-3-0 (22KO’s), Clay is returning to action in a 10-round clash with Salka, 19-4-0 (3KO’s), for the World Boxing Council FECARBOX Lightweight Title at “The Pride of Pittsburgh II” on Friday, November 20th at CONSOL Energy Center, presented by Boxing Legend MIKE TYSON and Iron Mike Productions.
This past August 8th in Pittsburgh, Clay battled Alan Herrera in an epic “Fight of the Year” candidate, finally stopping the Mexican warrior in the final round of their nationally televised ten rounder.
“That was my kind of fight. With the huge crowd and boxing fans across the country watching the fight, I’m glad that we were able to put on such a terrific show,” said Clay.
“I knew right away when he was in his corner that he had the face of a warrior, just the way he was looking at me from across the ring. But it brought out the best in me and proved to boxing fans across the country how tough I am.”
“With Salka this is a big rivalry, it’s personal for both of us. We’ve sparred together and I know what will work for me. It’s funny the same weekend I beat Herrera he was getting bounced around the ring by Danny Garcia.”
Recently signed to Iron Mike Productions, the 33-year-old Clay looks upon the move as a new lease on his career.
“The end-game is to become a world champion and to have Mike Tyson and his team working on my career is a blessing. It’s never been easy for me since I turned pro but I’m ready for my shot at the top.”
Also featured at “The Pride of Pittsburgh II” is a 10-round welterweight bout between undefeated top prospect SAMMY “The Who Can Mexican” VASQUEZ JR., 16-0-0 (12KO’s) and ALBERTO “Matraletta” MOSQUERA, 21-1-2 (14KO’s) for the World Boxing Council Welterweight FECARBOX Title.
In a special attraction 10-round junior middleweight clash, hot 19-year-old prospect ERICKSON “The Hammer” Lubin, 7-0-0 (6KO’s), clashes with battle tested Mexican veteran NORBERTO “Demonio” GONZALEZ, 20-5-0 (13KO’s).
An exciting undercard with additional bouts will be announced shortly.
Advance tickets for “The Pride of Pittsburgh II”, starting at $42 are
now available through the Dick’s Sporting Goods Box Office at CONSOL Energy Center, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:00 p.m. with the first bell at 7:00 p.m.
CONSOL Energy Center is located at 1001 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219. Further information can be located at their website, www.consolenerycenter.com
For additional information on Iron Mike Productions visit www.IronMikeProductions, follow on Twitter at @IronMikeProd and on Facebook at IronMikeProductionsOfficial.
Gonsalves replaces injured Burris and faces Camacho Jr. Friday night in co-feature
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Nov. 3rd, 2014) — With its 2014 season finale less than a week away, CES Boxing has secured a dynamic co-feature for “Winner Take All,” scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7th, 2014 at Twin River Casino.
Super middleweight Angel Camacho Jr. (12-0, 4 KOs) of Providence, R.I., will now face Hyannis, Mass., vet Paul Gonsalves (7-4-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout. Camacho Jr. was originally scheduled to face Tylon Burris of Hartford, but Burris withdrew this weekend due to a back injury.
This will be Camacho Jr.’s first fight since 2011 and just his second in the last six years while Gonsalves is fighting for the fifth time in 2014, among them an impressive majority decision loss to unbeaten Mike Lee in July on the undercard of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights telecast.
Friday’s event features eight bouts, headlined by the 10-round main event between Providence’s Shelito Vincent (12-0, 1 KO) and Jackie Trivilino (9-8-3, 1 KO) for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) female super bantamweight title.
“Winner Take All” is an all-ages show. Tickets for the event are on sale now for $40, $100 and $126 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Box Office or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. Doors open at 6 and the first bout begins at 7 p.m. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Unbeaten Brockton, Mass., heavyweight Julian Pollard (4-0, 4 KOs) makes his Twin River debut in a special four-round attraction against Providence veteran Arthur Saribekian (23-5-1, 18 KOs) while Cranston, R.I., welterweight Nick DeLomba (5-0) will battle Miami’s Lazar Stojadinovic (1-1-1) in a six-round bout.
“Winner Take All” also features New Bedford, Mass., prospects Ray Oliveira Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) and Scott Sullivan (1-0, 1 KO), who both won their pro debuts Sept. 12th. Sullivan faces unbeaten lightweight Oscar Bonilla (2-0-1) of New Haven, Conn., while Oliveira Jr. takes on 6-foot-3 super middleweight Mike Rodriguez (0-1) of Springfield, Mass.
Unbeaten Worcester, Mass., middleweight prospect Khiary Gray-Pitts (2-0, 1 KO) faces Greg Thomas (0-4) of Philadelphia. Warwick, R.I., super middleweight and Air Force vet Zack Christy (1-0), who also debuted in September, returns in a separate four-round bout.
Visit www.cesboxing.com for more information, follow CES Boxing on Twitter at @CESBOXING and Instagram at CESBOXING, or “like” CES Boxing on Facebook.
Joey Dawejko to battle Rayford Johnson on Friday, November 14 at Harrahs Philadelphia
CHESTER, PA (November 3, 2014)- On Friday night, November 14, rising Heavyweight Joey Dawejko will look for his fifth consecutive win when he takes on Rayford Johnson in the 8-round main event at Harrahs Philadelphia in Chester, PA.
The show is promoted by Joey Eye Boxing and XFE.
Dawejko of Philadelphia has a record of 12-3-2 with 5 knockouts and in his four bout winning streak, the last two have ended in explosive first round stoppages.
The 24 year-old Dawejko was a former world junior amateur champion which was part of a 56-12 record in the non-paid ranks.
He turned professional in 2009 with a 6-round unanimous decision over Royphy Solieau. He won his first six bouts (and was 7-0-1 in his first eight) which included knockout wins over undefeated fighters Ricardo Johnson and John Lennox.
In his last four bouts, Dawejko has been coming into his own with his two biggest wins when he scored a unanimous decision over former top-ten heavyweight contender Derric Rossy as well as an impressive unanimous decision over undefeated Philadelphian Mark Rideout (4-0-2) on May 16. He followed those two fights up with an explosive 1st round stoppage over David Williams on August 2 in Atlantic City. In that bout, Dawejko scored three vicious knockdowns in the bout that lasted just 108 seconds. In his last bout, Dawejko dtopped Yohan Banks three times in the first round en route to the opening round win on September 19 at Harrahs Philadelphia.
Johnson of Longview, Texas has a record of 10-15 with six knockouts.
He is a good foe for Dawejko as despite his record, he is very capable with quality wins over Terrrence Woods (7-0), Arman Mrkanovic (4-1), former world title challenger Will Mcintyre (40-5-1). In his last two bouts, Johnson has two great wins over Ernesy Reyma (4-0) and his last bout which was a 6th round stoppage over Vincent Miranda (16-1) on August 15 in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Some of the best talent in the area will be on display on the undercard Raymond “Tito” Serrano will return in a six round Jr. Welterweight bout.
Serrano of Philadelphia has a record of 18-2 with 8 knockouts.
The 25 year-old Serrano won his first 18 bouts and became a household name as he appeared regularly on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights as he scored wins over Ashantie Hendrickson (1-0), Jay Krupp (12-1), Ronnie Warrior Jr. (13-2-1) & Ayi Bruce (15-2). He is looking to get back into the win column as he has dropped two in a row to Karim Mayfield and Emanuel Taylor.
Serrano is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.
Serrano’s opponent will be named shortly.
In four round bouts:
Alex Barbosa (4-1-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will take on Benjamin Burgos (1-9-1) of Mount Pocono, PA in a Super Bantamweight bout.
Nathaniel Rivas (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Berlin, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a Welterweight bout.
Antonio DuBose (6-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will battle Josh Crespo (3-1-2, 1 KO) of New Haven, CT.
Randy Easton (2-4-1, 2 KO’s) of Williamsport, PA will fight Alex Rozman (2-7, 1 KO) of Davenport, PA in a Heavyweight bout.
Tickets are now on sale for $100 (VIP); $75 (Ringside) and $50 (General Admission) and can be purchased at the Harrahs Philadelphia Gift Shop; By calling Joey Eye (267-304-9399); David Feldman (610-291-0806); Peltz Boxing (215) 765 0922; 800-480-8020 or on www.webtix.net
Undefeated lightweight prospect Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin Fighting Saturday night under brighter lights
NEW YORK (Nov. 3, 2014) – Undefeated lightweight prospect Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin (8-0, 4 KOs) will be fighting under much brighter lights this Saturday night in a non-televised fight on HBO World Championship Boxing, featuring the world light heavyweight unification headliner between living legend Bernard Hopkins and Russian knockout special, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Martin, a 12-time national amateur champion from Chattanooga who now fights out of Cleveland, faces a much more experienced opponent and toughest test of his young professional career, Mexican invader Martin “Marciano” Cardona (17-3, 12 KOs), in a scheduled six-round bout.
“I’m excited because I feel like I’ve earned my way to be on these events,” 21-year-old Martin spoke about fighting on such a high-profile card. “I’ve been working extremely hard since I was a young boy. HBO is considered the leader in sports and I consider myself a soon-to-be leader in the division. I’ve competed and have been among the best in the nation since I was a kid. I’m eager to showcase my skills in front of (HBO boxing executive) Peter Nelson again. Hopefully, we create more opportunities like this. (Note: Nelson sat ringside next to Martin’s promoter, 50 Cent, on Dec. 20 in New York City and watched Martin knockout Eric Goodall in the first round.)
“I don’t have a relationship with Hopkins, however, I became a big fan of his after he lost a disputed decision to Jermain Taylor when they fought for the undisputed world middleweight championship. Taylor was one of my favorite fighters. He used to give me words of advice when I was an amateur. It’s cool to see Hopkins still beating up people at 49 and Taylor looks like he recovered from his injuries and is healthier. I wish the best for both of these guys.”
Martin followed his older brother, Courtney, to a gym for the first time at the age of eight and he instantly fell in love with boxing. A self-described boxer-puncher with speed clearly his greatest attribute, Martin is also surprisingly composed beyond his years in the ring, where he often explodes like his idol, Sugar Ray Leonard.
His gold-medal performance at the prestigious U.S. Under-19 Tournament marked the highlight of his outstanding amateur career, which included action in several European cities including Berlin, Paris and London.
Martin was immediately placed on a fast track by his promoter, 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson). Saturday night will mark Ryan’s ninth professional fight in only 14 months, since his much-anticipated professional debut, September 16, 2014 in New York City, in which he stopped Darus Somieari in the second round at Resorts World Casino NYC.
“Staying active has always been stressed to me by 50 Cent and my management team,” Martin explained. “They want me comfortable under the sports brightest lights, so, that’s what we are doing, remaining consistent by competing and training as hard as possible. We plan to close out the year with at least one more fight in December.
Martin steps up in terms of the level of his opponent against 23-year-old Cardona, who won his first 17 pro fights before losing last year in France to 18-0 Roman Jacob for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight title.
MaxiNutrition Knockout Final, Saturday November 8th, Glow, Bluewater
LONDON (3 NOV) Former two-time British light-welterweight champion Lenny Daws moves back into title contention on November 8 at Glow, Bluewater, when he meets Frenchman Chaquib Fadli for the vacant EU title on Channel 5.
Had it not been for the judges’ scorecards, however, Daws could well have been crowned European (EBU) champion last June. Unfortunately, though, the Morden man’s trip to Italy to fight Michele Di Rocco ended with him losing a contention points decision after twelve rounds.
“It’s been very hard to get over that,” he said. “I’ve had a little look at Di Rocco again, and seen what he’s been up to since we fought, and he’s high up there in the rankings now. He’s on the cusp of a world title shot. That’s where I should be really. I should be European champion now.
“But that’s all in the past and I’ve moved on. The European title is still very much in my sights and I can still pull it off. It’s a belt I’d love to have.
“Di Rocco doesn’t want a rematch, so I’ll have to win this title and then try and force him into fighting me. Either that or he’ll get a world title shot and vacate his European title. Then I can fight for it.”
First, Daws must overcome the threat of Fadli this Saturday. It’s a task that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The Frenchman is unbeaten in his last ten fights and has never been stopped in a six-year professional career.
“We haven’t seen a lot of him in action – just bits and pieces,” said Daws, 28-3 (10 KOs). “We know he’s tall and a back-foot boxer. Also, I think he’s an inch taller than me, which is unusual. I usually fight much smaller people. Saying that, though, my last opponent (Sylwester Walczak) was six-foot, so that’s put me in good stead for this one.
“His height shouldn’t be a problem. Obviously, he’ll go on the back-foot, keep it long and try to counter-punch me. We’ll suss him out round by round.
“He’s only gone ten rounds once. He’s never done twelve. So, as the fight goes into the later stages and I keep a busy work-rate, I might be able to break him down and get him out of there.
“Whatever happens, I’ve trained for twelve, hard rounds. If it has to go twelve rounds, so be it. I’ll be ready. I’ve got to be busy, I’ve got to be switched on and I’ll capitalise on his weaknesses.”
Should Daws have his way with Fadli and bag yet another light-welterweight title, there’s every chance he will get his wish and move on to bigger and better honours in 2015.
“I’ve been forced into eliminators for the British title and it’s not something I really want to be doing,” said the 35-year-old. “I want to push beyond that now. I know I’m capable of winning other titles.
“If you get the European title, you’re not far off a shot at the world title. That’s the plan. I haven’t got long left in the game and I just want the opportunity. At least then I’ll know whether I could or couldn’t become world champion.
“People say I’m getting on a bit, but it doesn’t affect me. I’m still super fit and I’m still training with youngsters who can’t keep up with my pace.”
*** The MaxiNutrition Knockout tournament final between Bob Ajisafe and Travis Dickinson takes place Saturday, November 8, live on Channel 5 (10pm-12pm) ***
Tickets to see who will lift the MAXINUTRITITON TROPHY are available to purchase from Ticketline.co.uk or by calling the Ticketline box office on
0844 888 9991
Tickets are priced at £25 for General Admission, £50 for Outer Ringside Reserved Seating, £100 for Inner Ringside Reserved and £120 for Inner Ringside Reserved (Please note that the £120 ringside tickets will secure you a seat in the first 3 rows)
Hernandez-Harrison Remains Undefeated with Sensational First Round Knockout Before Hometown Fans
Washington, D.C. (November 2, 2014)- Southeast Washington, D.C., welterweight prospect Dusty Hernandez-Harrison capped off a great night of boxing at the historic DAR Constitution Hall with a devastating knockout of former world title challenger, Michael Clark (44-12-1, 18KOs), at 1:42 of the first round. With this win on the All In Entertainment promoted card, the 20 year-old fighter improves to an impressive 24-0, with 13 wins coming by way of knockout.
“I was prepared to go rounds but if the opportunity presented itself I was going to try and take him out,” Hernandez-Harrison said. “I have been waiting a long time to fight at home again and I am happy I was able to give my fans a great knockout.”
Dusty’s trainer and father, Buddy Harrison, was very pleased with his son’s performance. “Dusty worked hard preparing and it showed tonight. He had the patience when needed and also the confidence to go after that opening with the big right hand,” said Buddy. “It felt good for all of us to be back home.”
It looks like Dusty will be back home fighting again very soon. “There is a plan in place for Dusty to fight on National television in his next bout as the main event and then to come right back home to Washington, D.C. before his loyal fans,” said Jeff Fried of All In Entertainment. “While the fights are getting bigger, we also expect to fight in DC at least three times in 2015,” added Fried.
In the co-feature, junior middleweight prospect, Jarrett Hurd (13-0, 8KOs) made “swift” work of his opponent scoring a knockout over Terry Cade (4-7-1, 2KOs) at 2:39 of round one.
Brandon Quarles (14-3-1, 6KOs) bounced back from a loss in August to stop veteran Dennis Sharpe (17-14-4, 4KOs) in the fourth round.
Heavyweight Dwayne McRae (15-3-1, 8KOs) won a hard fought six-round majority decision over Grover Young (8-14-1, 5KOs). Scores were 57-57, 59-55 and 58-56.
6’4” junior welterweight Mykal Fox (4-0, 1KO) remained undefeated winning a four round unanimous decision over Sean Lockhart; Lightweight Joshua Davis improved to 8-1, with 4KOs by stopping John Wampash; and Emanuel Johnson (3-0, 1KO) opened the evening with a first round stoppage of the debuting Patrick Chaffin.
The star studded boxing event included appearances by Mayor Vince Gray, Democratic Mayoral Candidate Muriel Bowser, and Ward Council members Vincent Orange, Yvette Alexander and Kenyan McDuffie. Also in attendance, legendary boxing manager, Rock Newman, two-time heavyweight title challenger, Tony Thompson, top rated heavyweight, Bryant Jennings and other popular boxers from the D.C. Metropolitan area.. R&B artist, Ginuwine made a special appearance, along with D.C. based rapper, Lightshow and independent artist from the district, Alison Carney, who brought down the house with her rendition of the National Anthem.
Weigh In Results of November 1 “Hometown Takeover” Boxing Event
The highly anticipated boxing event of the fall comes to Washington, D.C. tomorrow night at the historic DAR Constitution Hall. Southeast D.C.’s WBC Youth Welterweight Champion, Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (23-0, 12 KOs), will take on veteran, Michael Clark (44-11-1, 19KOs), of Columbus, OH in the main event.
The semi-main event features Jarrett Hurd against Terry Cade of Aiken, SC, and other up and coming stars from the Washington D.C. region.
The Weigh In results are below for each of the bouts:
WELTERWEIGHT – 10 ROUNDS
Dusty Hernandez-Harrison 146lbs vs Michael Clark 149lbs
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS
Jarrett Hurd 154lbs vs Terry Cade 155lbs
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT
Larry Recio 150lbs
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
Mykal Fox 136lbs vs Sean Lockhart 136lbs
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
Emanuel Johnson 135lbs vs Patrick Chaffin 127lbs
HEAVYWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS
Dwayne McRae 239lbs vs Grover Young 259lbs
MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS
Brandon Quarles 162lbs vs Dennis Sharpe 163lbs
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS
Joshua Davis 131lbs vs John Wampash 131lbs
TICKETS
Tickets to Hometown Takeover are available at the DAR Constitution Hall Box Office on C Street starting at noon, or by visiting http://www.ticketmaster.com/hometown-takeover-washington-district-of-columbia-11-01-2014/event/15004D47C69D3970?artistid=838100&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=33
ENTRY
Guests are invited to enter at the main entrance on 18th Street or at the Box Office and Will Call on C Street. Doors open at 5:30pm and the first bout is at 6:30pm.
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Photos Courtesy: Emanuel Canjura and Brian McGhee
