MONTREAL (October 10, 2012) – The main players in the opening act of the “Fast & Furious 3.0” series for the 2012-2013 season are in town for this Friday night’s (Oct. 12) event at the Bell Centre, as slugger Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (18-1, 15 KOs), of Longueuil, takes on brawler Donovan “Da Bomb” George (23-2-1, 20 KOs), of Chicago, Illinois, in the main event.

The winner will become the mandatory challenger to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion, Englishman Carl Froch. Stevenson returned to Montreal this past Sunday from his Detroit training camp with his cornermen, Dereck Colemon and Jayvan Hill.

“It is unfortunate for George because I’m hungry and I’m getting my rage on him,” Stevenson said. “It will hurt Friday when I am victorious. I want to dedicate this fight to my trainer, Emanuel Steward, who is still hospitalized. I know what a triumph means for my career, so my mind is totally focused on my opponent.”

George, a 27-year-old American, held his training camp in Florida. He respects his opponent but he is unabashed, “Stevenson is dangerous at the start of fights but he is not invincible. When we find ourselves fighting past the eighth round, I’ll be in my comfort zone. I put everything I have on the line for this fight, I will fight with all my energy and I’ll win decisively. I will be the next No. 1 contender.”

George has been in Montreal since Monday, along with her father and coach, Peter George, and his promoter, Leon Margules, of Warriors Promotions, who has no doubt about the outcome of this battle: “We are very excited about this opportunity for Don. It’s been a fight he wants and he is confident of victory by knockout. I want to thank Yvon Michel and everyone at GYM for their hospitality.”

The “Fast & Furious Series 3.0” at the Bell Centre is a co-presentation of Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron. In addition to Friday night’s show, the other reserved series dates are December 14, February 8 and May 3.

Stevenson won his last five fights by knockout against opponents with an impressive, combined record of 107-8. In his most recent appearance in the ring, last April at the Bell Centre, he stopped Noah Gonzalez (28-1, 20 KOs) in the second round to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Championship. Stevenson is world ranked No. 2 by the IBF.

George, who has never been knockout, surprised the world-class boxer Cornelius White (16-0, 15 KOs) with a stunning first-round knockout in February of 2011. On March 17 of this year, George made his debut on HBO and despite his defeat by 10-round decision, he imposed his rhythm to fight, while Edwin Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) avoided combat to save himself with a victory by points (96-94, 97-93 and 99-91).

Powerful 23-year-old Laval boxer David Lemieux (26-2, 25 KOs) returns in the 10-round co-feature against tough Mexican fighter Alvaro “The Cobra” Gaona (15-1, 12 KOs), the WBC Fecombox champion since 2010 and professional since 2005. He is reputed to be hard hitting, aggressive and courageous as indicated by his 12 knockouts in 15 wins.

In addition, aspiring world light heavyweight title challenger Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (9-0, 5 KOs) and welterweight Kevin Bizier (17-0, 12 KOs) have very important battles on the horizon next year. First, though, NABO champion Alvarez faces Hungarian Daniel Regi (15-6, 7 KOs) in an eight-round match on the undercard, while NABA title-holder Bizier confronts Polish Litkiewicz Patrick (6-0, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout.

Undefeated GYM heavyweight prospects Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (11-0, 6 KOs) and Didier “Big Daddy” Bence (5-0-0, 2KO), respectively, face Joey Dawejko (7-1-1, 3 KOs),of Philadelphia, and Harold Sconiers (18-24-2, 11 KOs), of Florida, in eight and six round fights. Last but not least, London, England-based John O’Donnell (25-2, 11 KOs), a protégé of Adam Harris of Hennessy Sports Canada, will battle Dominican Thomas Mendez (16-2, 9 KOs) in an eight rounder.

The Fighting charities:

As announced at the launch of the series last month, GYM presents a fight for a charitable cause between two people uninitiated to the sport of boxing in a clash of three, two-minute rounds, under the supervision of Boxing Quebec. The challenge is for a $2,000 donation presented to a charitable organization chosen by the winner. The purpose of the exercise, in addition to serving as a good cause, is to give two people an opportunity they could never imagine a day fighting in the ring and preparing to live the same emotions as real boxers. The first charity fight matches Pullman, 3424avenue Park vs. Filet 219 rue Mont-Royal O as Gabriel Jauvin, sommelier at Pullman, crosses gloves with Denis Lessard, the butler of Filet in the light heavyweight division. The two boxers have chosen as their respective charities the foundation of Père Sablon and foundation Ali and Princes Street.

GYM President Yvon Michel expects a record crowd for the gala Fast & Furious weekend: “We’re presenting the most significant battle in Canada of 2012, headlined by two brawlers, Stevenson and George, who are both powerful hitters, in addition to the explosive Lemieux and Gaona co-feature. We’ll also have some of the best prospects in boxing in the country fighting with Alvarez, Bizier, Rivas and Bence. It all adds up to a spectacular evening, rich in emotions and all this at a price to suit any budget.”

This popular series is available everyone in the comfort of their homes via television through Canal Indigo, Bell TV, and Shaw TV, as well as on Wealth TV in the United States.

GYM wishes to thank its key sponsorship partners, including Pierre Bibeau, Loto Quebec; Robert Dépatie, Videotron; Pierre Dion, TVA Sports; Jacques Aubé, Evenko; Charles Benoit and Martin Spalding, Astral Radio; Marc Roberge, Coors Light; Martin Trudel and Guy St-Pierre, Tonikgroupimage; Marcel Savard, BLlitho: Houston restaurants, Adidas and Rival. Almost all of the aforementioned sponsors have been with GYM since the beginning of its adventure and their participation is as important as much as it is appreciated.

The public is invited on Oct. 12th to Bell Centre for the innovative and popular GYM Boxing Series, “Fast and Furious.” Tickets are on sale now at the Bell Centre, on evenko.ca, and by calling GYM at (514) 383.0666 at the following prices:

One Event Season

$ 40.50 $144 ($36 per ticket)

$ 70.50 $246 ($61.50 per ticket)

$110.50 $382 ($95.50 per a ticket)

Ringside $160.50 $552 ($138 per ticket)

Tables (8) $226.08 $774.96 ($193.74 per ticket)

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc.:

Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers by a support coaching and management, especially in competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM is active in recruiting talent and organization of events. Since its inception eight years ago GYM presented 105 events and some made history in ticket sales and PPV buys, like Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced over 300 hours of TV Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the US. A total of six different GYM boxers participated in 16 world championship fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007, and Jean Pascal the WBC Light Heavyweight championship in 2009.

MONTREAL (September 19, 2012) – In a few more weeks, Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) will begin its ninth year of operation. As previously announced, the GYM Boxing Series “Fast & Furious” is back with an improved version 3.0 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, presented by Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron, supported by the Bell Centre and Evenko.

Stevenson vs. George

The main event of the evening is the long awaited International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight title eliminator showdown between Quebec favorite Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (18-1-0, 15 KO) and American invader Donovan “Da Bomb” George (23-2-1 , 20 KO). The winner between these two powerful hitters will become the mandatory challenger to IBF champion Carl Froch, from England. George is currently at training camp in Florida and Stevenson is in his Detroit hideout under the supervision of Derreck Colemon. Unfortunately, Stevenson’s trainer and manager Emanuel Steward is not involved in his preparation having recently been hospitalized. He will undergo surgery at a hospital in Chicago this week.

“Despite the problems that afflict my coach,” Stevenson said, “I have prepared with professionalism and conviction. I will win this fight on October 12th! Meanwhile, we are all behind Emanuel with all our heart and wish him well to overcome his disease.”

David Lemieux in the co-feature

The spectacular and powerful Laval boxer, 23-year-old middleweight David Lemieux (26-2, 25 KOs), will be showcased in the 10-round co-feature. His takes on Mexican slugger Alvaro “The Cobra” Gaona (15-1-0, 12 KO), the World Boxing Council Fecombox champion since 2010, who turned professional in 2005. Gaona is a hard-hitting, aggressive and courageous fighter, evident by his 12 knockouts in 15 victories. His only loss as a pro was to Esau Errera (17-5-1, 8 KOs) in 2011, which Gaona avenged last June by a 10th round technical knockout.

After a difficult, injury-plagued 2011 and early 2012, Lemieux intends to finish this year strong. “Last weekend I was excited watching boxers in my division like (Sergio) Martinez, (Julio) Chavez Jr. and (Mathew) Macklin,” Lemieux commented. “I thought that is the level I want to be fighting at and as soon as possible. I know I’m not there, yet, but I am neglecting nothing, personally or professionally to get there. I assure you that I am not so too far away.”

Alvarez Rivas, Bizier Bence and John O’Donnell

World contenders, light heavyweight Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (9-0-0, 5 KOs) and welterweight Kevin Bizier (17-0-0, 12 KOs), both return to the ring Oct. 12 in stay busy fights with very important battles on the horizon. NABO champion Alvarez will face Hungarian Daniel Regi (15-6, 7 KOs) in an eight-round bout, while NABA champion Bizier will confront Polish Patrick Litkiewicz (6-0-0, 3KO) in a six-round match. Also fighting on the undercard are promising GYM heavyweights Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas 11-0, 6 KOs), who faces Joey Dawejko (7-1-1, 3 KOs), of Philadelphia, in an eight-round fight, and Didier “Big Daddy” Bence (5-0, 2 KOs) meets Joseph Harris (11-12, 9 KOs), of Tennessee, in a six rounder.

Former British junior middleweight champion John O’Donnell (25-2, 11 KOs) fighting out of a London and a British protégé of Hennessy Sports Canada’s Adam Harris, is in Montreal helping Antonin Decarie (26-1, 7 KOs) prepare for his extremely important fight September 29 against lefty Alex Perez (16-0, 9 KOs) on HBO. O’Donnell will battle Dominican Thomas Mendez (16-2, 9 KOs) on the Oct. 12 show in an eight-round contest.

Fighting charities

As announced at the launch of the series last month, GYM will be presenting a fight for a charitable cause between two people uninitiated to the sport of boxing in a clash of three, two-minute rounds, under the supervision of Boxing Quebec. At stake in this challenge is a $ 2,000 purse that will be given to the charitable organization chosen by the winner. In addition to serving a good cause, the purpose of this exercise is to the give an opportunity to two people who could never imagine a day of climbing in the ring and living the same emotions as real boxers. The inaugural “charity” fight will pit Gabriel Jauvin, sommelier from the Pullman, 3424Park Avenue, vs. Denis Lessard, a butler from Le Filet 219 rue Mont-Royal O, in the cruiserweight division. These two boxers for a day have chosen to award their winning purse, respectively, to the foundation of Père Sablon or foundation Ali and Princes Street.

President Yvon Michel of GYM is delighted to back the aforementioned action, saying, “This is our first event since June, after an absence of four months, which is very rare for our organization. We all know why! But that is now history and we are all very excited about getting back in action with our best boxers, especially in the main event that features our new national hero, the dynamic Adonis ‘Superman’ Stevenson. While the sports scene is quieter than usual, we will be presenting a spectacular evening full of emotions. It is a night not to be missed!”

The “Fast & Furious” 3.0 version series is also accessible to all in the comfort of their homes, airing on television through Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV and in the US on WealthTV.

GYM wishes to thank its key partners, including Pierre Bibeau Loto Quebec, Robert Dépatie Videotron, Pierre Dion and Serge Fortin TVA Sports, Jacques Aubé of Evenko, Charles Benoit and Martin Spalding Astral Radio, Coors Light, Marc Roberge, Martin Trudel and Guy St-Pierre Tonikgroupimage, Marcel Savard BLlitho, Houston restaurants, Adidas and Rival. Almost all have been with GYM since the beginning of our adventure. Their participation and support is very important and greatly appreciated.

The public is invited on Oct. 12th to Bell Centre for the innovative and popular GYM Boxing Series, “Fast and Furious.” Tickets are on sale now at the Bell Centre, on evenko.ca, and by calling GYM at (514) 383.0666 at the following prices:

One Event Season

$40.50 $144 ($36 per ticket)

$70.50 $246 ($61.50 per ticket)

$110.50 $382 ($95.50 per a ticket)

Ringside $160.50 $552 ($138 per ticket)

Tables (8) $226.08 $774.96 ($193.74 per ticket)

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About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc:

Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers, supported by coaching and management for competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events. Since its inception eight years ago, GYM has produced 105 events, including historical ticket sales and PPV viewership for Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced more than 300 hours of television with Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the United States. A total of 6 different GYM’s boxers participated in 16 world championship fights in the world. Under the tutelage of GYM Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007 and Jean Pascal 2009 the WBC Light heavyweight crown in 2009.

According to Dan Rafael the twice postponed Super Middleweight eliminator between Adonis Stevenson and Donovan George will now take place on October 12th and will be shown Live in America on Wealth TV.

“He was in the airport all day on Monday, but he’ll show up at the fight,” Warriors Boxing promoter Leon Margules said. “He couldn’t make it from Chicago but I was able to make it from South Florida out of a tropical storm (Isaac). Go figure.

“I saw Adonis at the press conference and he looks like he’s in good shape and he said that his hand is better. Don is excited about the fight. It’s a fight he’s wanted for a long time and it’s a fight that we believe he will win. After the Miranda fight, Don was back in the gym Monday morning.”

“We are very excited about this fight between Adonis and Don George. I believe that outside of a world championship fight that it is the best fight that can be made at 168 pounds,” Said Stevenson’s promoter Yvon Michel said. “Everybody (ahead of George in the IBF’s rankings) turned down the opportunity to fight Adonis Stevenson but Don took the fight. So we know he is confident. These guys are both bangers. They are both very confident. Adonis knows there is no tomorrow. It has been so difficult to get him a title fight and hard to get him an opponent for this fight, but the winner gets to fight for a world championship.

“I’m expecting Adonis to be at his best and that is not good news for Donovan George.”

As for Stevenson’s hand, Michel said he continued to train after the fight was postponed but did not use his left hand. He will begin to use it with authority this week.

“He was very determined and he worked every day at his physical therapy,” Michel said. “He did everything he had to do and now, starting at the end of this week, he will start using his left hand in training.”

Colombian Dionisio Miranda (21-7-2, 18 K0s) will step in to face Chicago’s Don “Da Bomb” George (22-2-1, 19 KOs) in the 10-round super middleweight co-main event of the ESPN Friday Night Fights 2012 series finale (10 PM Eastern on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN3) presented by Warriors Boxing and Tony Holden Productions, scheduled for Friday, August 17, at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.

George’s original opponent, Adonis Stevenson, has been forced to pull out of their 12-round elimination bout with a hand injury.

The other 10-round co-main event battle between top junior middleweight contender “King” Carlos Molina (19-5-2, 6 KOs) and Miami’s Damian “Devo” Frias (19-4-1, 10 KOs) will go on as scheduled.

Miranda, a veteran who has notable wins over Lujuan Simon and Sebastian Demers, has been on the short end of competitive big fights with Peter Quillen, Roman Karmazin and Renan St Juste. A big puncher who comes to fight, he could create problems for George.

“Adonis Stevenson injured his left hand in sparring last Friday,” said a disappointed Yvon Michel, President of Groupe Yvon Michel, Stevenson’s promoters. “The next day he went to see a doctor who diagnosed a severe bruise and major swelling. Adonis was not able to close his hand and make a fist. Treatments were done in hopes of improvement but there was not enough progress and under the doctor’s advice it was decided to pull Adonis out of his fight.”

According to Michel, Stevenson is now in Montreal receiving treatment. The IBF super middleweight title eliminator will be rescheduled for early this fall.

“Team Stevenson and GYM are very disappointed for all the inconvenience this situation has created for ESPN and their programming director, Doug Loughrey, to Warriors Boxing and their president, Leon Margules, and to Tony Holden and the Buffalo Run Casino and Resort. Everyone was so cooperative to make this fight happen. And to all our partners in Canada who were diligently working to program and sell this fight on PPV on short notice, and also to Team George who has carefully prepared for this important encounter. We wish him good luck on Friday.”

Warriors Boxing President, Leon Margules, says he’s disappointed by this turn of events, but is confident the event will still generate action worthy of the finale of the outstanding 2012 season of Friday Night Fights.

“Donovan is obviously disappointed by this, but we all know these things happen in boxing. We wish Adonis Stevenson a speedy recovery. But what we still have in this event is a compelling junior middleweight fight between two top-tier guys with reputations for pulling off upsets and we’ve got Donovan George against a Columbian slugger with a difficult style to figure out. So, as sad as we all are about what happened, we still have a good challenge in front of us this Friday and we’ll be ready.”

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Tickets are priced from $35.00 to $65.00 and are available at the Buffalo Run Casino Box Office or online at stubwire.com.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that the IBF Super Middleweight elimination bout between Adonis Stevenson and Donovan George will headline the ESPN Friday Night Fights season Finale on August 17th most likely in Miami, Oklahoma.

The bout was ticketed to be the co-feature to the August 11th INF Light Heavyweight title bout between champion Tavoris Clous and Jean Pascal until Pascal last week pulled out with a hand injury.

There where rumors that the fight would stay in Showtime as part of a special edition of Sho Box but after some fallouts for the ESPN Finale, the date became available.

Opening the card will be junior middleweight contender Carlos Molina (19-5-2, 6 KOs) against Damian Frias (19-4-1, 10 KOs) in a scheduled 10-rounder.

“We’ve been trying to get Carlos a premium cable fight, but he has to do this to keep busy because none of the top guys are looking to fight him,” said George’s promoter Leon Margules.

“Chicago has a 20-day rule where you can’t file for a permit to put on a boxing show inside 20 days of the event,” Margules said. “I didn’t even know the rule existed until I was filling out the permit form. So it looks like we’re going to Buffalo Run, which is a nice site where they have had a lot of boxing shows.”

“It was able to happen because Yvon is my dear friend and he was very reasonable and fair in terms of negotiations to move this fight,” Margules said.

After the hand injury suffered by former Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal that forced the postponed the fight with IBF champion Tavoris Cloud, the potentially explosive co-feature pitting Adonis Stevenson and Donovan George will be rescheduled quickly as per Dan Rafael of espn.com

The fight was to take place on August 11th in Montreal could land in late August or Early September and the winner will be in line to face IBF champion Carl Froch

New York, NY – (1/6/2012) – At the press conference last week in New York City to announce DiBella Entertainment’s HBO Championship Boxing St. Patrick’s Day card at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Andy Lee, who was slated to fight in the televised co-feature bout of the evening, stated, “I want to thank Lou (DiBella – Lee’s promoter) for letting me showcase myself on this show. There is nothing more I can wish for then to have this opportunity to fight at MSG on St Patrick’s Day.”

After seeking an opponent for the past two months and not being able to come up with anything suitable, Team Lee has announced that they will be coming off the card, and now it is rumored he could be the next opponent for WBA Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm.

“It is with great regret that I have to withdraw from the March 17, St Patrick’s Day Promotion at MSG Theater,” stated Lee. “Unfortunately due to the unavailability of a suitable world ranked opponent Team Lee have collectively decided it is in my best career interest to pass on a fight on this occasion. I would like to thank my promoter, Lou DiBella and HBO for planning to have me on the card and for their efforts to secure a suitable opponent for me from the limited boxers available.”

While it would have been a special treat for the and Irish community to see Lee showcase his skills on the 17th, Lee feels that his time for a world title opportunity is now, and while he wanted to be part of what is expected to be a spectacular event at The Garden when Sergio Martinez defends his Middleweight Championship Crown against Ireland’s top-rated middleweight contender Matthew Macklin, he now has his sights set on pursuing the fight with Sturm. Sturm has a tentative date schedule in Germany for April 13th.

New York, NY – (1/6/2012) – At the press conference last week in New York City to announce DiBella Entertainment’s HBO Championship Boxing St. Patrick’s Day card at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Andy Lee, who was slated to fight in the televised co-feature bout of the evening, stated, “I want to thank Lou (DiBella – Lee’s promoter) for letting me showcase myself on this show. There is nothing more I can wish for then to have this opportunity to fight at MSG on St Patrick’s Day.”

After seeking an opponent for the past two months and not being able to come up with anything suitable, Team Lee has announced that they will be coming off the card, and now it is rumored he could be the next opponent for WBA Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm.

“It is with great regret that I have to withdraw from the March 17, St Patrick’s Day Promotion at MSG Theater,” stated Lee. “Unfortunately due to the unavailability of a suitable world ranked opponent Team Lee have collectively decided it is in my best career interest to pass on a fight on this occasion. I would like to thank my promoter, Lou DiBella and HBO for planning to have me on the card and for their efforts to secure a suitable opponent for me from the limited boxers available.”

While it would have been a special treat for the and Irish community to see Lee showcase his skills on the 17th, Lee feels that his time for a world title opportunity is now, and while he wanted to be part of what is expected to be a spectacular event at The Garden when Sergio Martinez defends his Middleweight Championship Crown against Ireland’s top-rated middleweight contender Matthew Macklin, he now has his sights set on pursuing the fight with Sturm. Sturm has a tentative date schedule in Germany for April 13th.

Fighters discussed included Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin; former title challenger Martin Murray; and George, who would have met Lee at a catch weight of 164 pounds.

“Due to the unavailability of a suitable world-ranked opponent, Team Lee have collectively decided it is in my best career interest to pass on a fight on this occasion,” Lee said. “I would like to thank my promoter, Lou DiBella, and HBO for planning to have me on the card and for their efforts to secure a suitable opponent for me from the limited boxers available.”

DiBella told ESPN.com that another reason Lee (27-1, 19 KOs) is off the show is because there is a possibility he could challenge 160-pound titlist Felix Sturm (36-2-2, 15 KOs) in Germany on April 13, although Sturm may wind up facing mandatory challenger and interim titlist Gennady Golovkin.

“Andy wanted a bigger fight,” DiBella said. “He didn’t want to put all his high rankings in the organizations at risk for a fight that wasn’t a big fight and, simultaneously, the possibility of Sturm also arose. He wants to pursue a bigger fight instead of a low-budget risk fight.”