Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

Bronx, NY – Jan 31, 2008 Webcast Live From The Paradise Theatre – Bronx, NY www.GoFightLive.TV

The fists will be flying once again in New York, and GoFightLive’s “World Fight Night” will be there to cover all the action, as Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing kicks off the New Year with “Punchin’ at the Paradise 8″.

The phenomenal event, which will be webcast in its entirety, will feature 7 action-packed professional bouts! The event will represent GoFightLive’s first installment of their new “World Fight Night” series, and will be the 8th such installment of Star Boxing’s “Punchin’ at the Paradise 8″ series!

Tonight’s “World Fight Night Live” webcast will begin at 7 PM with pre-fight footage, to include coverage of yesterday’s weigh-ins, and pre- fight interviews. GoFightLive’s live coverage of “Punchin’ at the Paradise 8″ will commence at 7:30 PM.

For those fight fans who are unable to catch GoFightLive’s live webcast, the entire “Punchin’ at the Paradise” event will remain available on www.gofightlive.tv, to view at their convenience.

FINAL QUOTES AND WEIGHTS

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008,

Grand Casino Hinckley, Hinckley, Minn.

“SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION’’

Friday, Feb. 1, 2008; Telecast Begins at 11 p.m. ET/PT

NOTE: WEIGHTS – Alfredo Angulo weighed 152 pounds and Ricardo Cortes tipped the scales at 153 pounds during Thursday’s weigh-in. Mickey Bey., Jr. and Roberto Acevedo, who will be fighting in the co-feature Friday night, will weigh-in tomorrow morning. The Minnesota State Athletic Commission will let the two boxers weigh-in tomorrow because Acevedo was a late replacement and had last minute travel arrangements.

Angulo (11-0, eight KOs), a hard-hitting, undefeated prospect, looks to continue making a name for himself in the junior middleweight division when he battles the dangerous Cortes (22-1, 150 KOs) in a 10-round junior middleweight battle Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, on ShoBox: The New Generation (live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).

In the co-feature, former amateur champion and 2004 United States Olympian Mickey Bey, Jr. (9-0, six KOs) will face Roberto Acevedo (5-3-3, one KO) who was a late replacement for the eight-round super featherweight special attraction. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will present the doubleheader from Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minn.

ALFREDO ANGULO

“I don’t think it will go more than five rounds, and I will walk out of the ring undefeated once again.

“You saw my last fight, it ended in the first round. My style is attack, attack, attack. So you can expect that tomorrow night.

“I have been training with (former world champion) Roman Karmazin, so I am ready for this fight.

“I feel good about my conditioning. Training has been going great and I am at the top of my game.

“I have power in both my right and left hand. I can take care of him with body shots or blows to the head. We’ll see how it goes in there, but I will be aggressive.

“I want to thank SHOWTIME for this opportunity to fight in the main event. In the future, I want to fight on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. That is my goal right now, 100 percent.�

RICARDO CORTES

“I’m not at all worried about Angulo’s undefeated record. That isn’t something that I even think about. I am just focused on getting in their and coming out with a win.

“My training has been great. This is the best shape I’ve been in my whole career.

“We’re both hard hitters, so you never know how long it will go.

“I’m going to be boxing him from the outset, I will definitely be aggressive.

“I feel good right now, I am ready to go.�

MICKEY BEY, JR.

“My training has been going great for this fight. I am ready for anyone that comes to fight me.

“I’m not anxious for a KO, but it will definitely be a devastating win either way, KO or victory. I will win easily, that is for sure.

“My little brother beat him in his last fight, but I look for my opponent to be better than he was that day. I am expecting the best out of him, so I will definitely be my best.

“I have not been affected by the numerous changes in opponents. I just train hard and make sure that I am ready for anyone that steps in the ring. This new opponent will not change how I perform.�

New York (January 30, 2008)—DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing returns to New York City on Wednesday night March 5 at the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center. Staten Island featherweight Gary “Kid� Stark (20-2, 8 KO’s) and Spanish Harlem welterweight Edgar “El Chamaco� Santana (22-3, 14 KO’s) will headline the night of exciting boxing action in the heart of Manhattan.

Tickets for Broadway Boxing are priced at $150, $100, $80, $60, and $40 and will go on sale in early February. They will be available through DiBella Entertainment by calling (212) 947-2577. For more information on Broadway Boxing, please visit DiBella entertainment on the web at www.dbe1.com.

With less than a month to go to the heavyweight unification showdown on February 23rd between WBO Champion Sultan Ibragimov and IBF Champion Wladimir Klitschko at Madison Square Garden in New York City, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch and tickets are rapidly being snatched up by fans eager to watch boxing history in the making.

“We couldn’t be happier with the response this fight has been getting and the way tickets have been selling for this event,� said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing. “The $1,000 tickets are sold out already and the rest of the tickets are moving very well. I would advise any fight fans that want to see this historic fight live to get to the box office as soon as possible because we expect to announce a sellout.�

Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions added, “This is Wladimir’s second time headlining the Garden and now that he is fighting another Champion in Ibrigamov, the fans are responding to see this great heavyweight match.”

Klitschko vs Ibragimov, a 12 round heavyweight title unification bout, headlines a historic night of boxing presented by K2 Promotions and Seminole Warriors Boxing and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Also on the card, will be John Duddy in the co-feature of the night, topping an action packed undercard of Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillen, Joe Greene, and Johnathon Banks.

Tickets are on sale now: $1,000 | $600 | $300 | $200 | $100

Visit The Garden Box Office or www.thegarden.com | Ticketmaster: 212-307-7171

International Boxing Federation junior welterweight champion Paulie “The Magic Man� Malignaggi has started off the new year in grand fashion, appropriate for one befitting a young world champion with his flamboyant personality and crossover appeal.

First, The Ring magazine selected Malignaggi (24-1, 5 KOs) as its 2007 Comeback of the Year fighter, and then the movie premiere of his life story, “Magic Man: The Paulie Malignaggi Story,� that drew rave reviews on SHOWTIME. Paulie followed that with his first title defense, winning a 12-round unanimous decision January 5 against mandatory challenger Herman “The Black Panther� Ngoudjo on Showtime Championship Boxing at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City.

The outspoken Brooklyn boxer, rated No. 2 by The Ring, was then the subject of a full page spread (Jan. 10 issue) in the trendy Time Out New York magazine
(http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/shopping/25510/rummaging-with). Columnist Kristina Dechter’s “Rummaging with:� column included sidebar pieces on Paulie’s gloves (Everlast), his flex terry headband and Smooth ‘n Shine hair gel, Gleason’s Gym where he trains, his L-R-G Manimal hoodie and favorite pizza (Portobello’s).

The column’s sub-title read: We go to the ropes with a Brooklyn-bred boxer on how to dress, eat and train like a champ. “Known for his smack-spouting mouth and his dramatic entrances, Paulie “Magic Man� Malignaggi brings panache along with jaw-crunching punches in the ring……The photogenic brawler (Malignaggi modeled streetwear for a Playboy fashion shoot last summer) has earned a reputation for his flashy ensembles.�

Then, “The Magic Man� joined New Jersey Governor John S. Corzine for the official ribbon-cutting festivities reopening the Union City Boxing Club.

Malignaggi, an avid soccer fan whose father Nello played pro soccer in Sicily, was honorary captain for the New Jersey Ironmen professional indoor soccer team, participating in the opening kick-off ceremony on Jan. 25.

“It’s been exciting so far,� Malignaggi said. “I’ve started the year off with a bang. We’re on our way to a big year in 2008. We’re going to continue this momentum and have a very successful year. Paulie Malignaggi is on the right path to becoming a household name – always the intent right from the start – in and out of boxing in 2008.�

VERO BEACH, Florida (January 29, 2008) – Unbeaten super middleweight prospect James McGirt, Jr. (18-0, 9 KOs) and his father/trainer, James “Buddy� McGirt (73-6-1, 48 KOs), former two-time world champion and 2002 Trainer of the Year, are on a special mission together.

The McGirts, born and raised in Brentwood (NY) but now living and training in Vero Beach (FL), are trying to become what is believed to be the first family in boxing to feature father-son world champions with the former working his “blood� son’s corner as head trainer when the latter captures a major world title.

Two-time world heavyweight title-holder (1956-59, 1960-62) Floyd Patterson was the head trainer of his adopted son, Tracy Harris Patterson, who won the world super bantamweight (1992-94) and super featherweight champ (1995).

“That’s our mission,� James explained. “Even though we train everyday for my next fight, becoming world champion has never left my side. We’re working hard to make history. Without a doubt I’m preparing to be world champion. My father was a world champion and I’ve sparred with many world champions. Those experiences have helped me so much; I feed off of it. I haven’t won a world title but being around the sport for so long, I’ve been surrounded by world champions and top contenders. I’ve loved boxing since I was a little kid.�
McGirt has gradually moved up in the ratings, currently No. 26 in the WBC, as well as No. 8 by the USBA, No. 9 by the NABF, No. 14 by the NABO and No. 15 by the NABA.

“I’m in the gym sparring with world champions and, even though I know sparring isn’t like fighting, I hold my own,� James added. “I’m strong, calm and relaxed. Making 168 (pounds) is so much easier than fighting as a middleweight. The extra 5-8 pounds makes it so much easier on my body. I’ll be fighting 10-rounders this year and I should get a title shot next year. My father and I are going to make history.�

McGirt’s manager, Dennis Witherow, believes James will make history. “If you watch these two (James and Buddy) in the training and spend time with them in the gym,� Witherow remarked,� you can feel something special. “We have put together Team McGirt like a
business plan. We’ve found the best chemistry for all facets of this business. It started with us find the right promoter, Lou DiBella, who has been great helping us guide us to where we need to be. We have the right chemistry in our corner for each and every fight. As part of our plan, we now have James working with a strength-and-conditioning coach.

“Then, of course, you have Buddy as James’ head trainer. I want to repeat that – Buddy is James’ trainer. Yes, he is his father, but in the gym and in this sport, Buddy knows his job is to train his fighters to the best of their ability. That is exactly what he does with James. In this sport there is a tremendous value when a trainer can identify the natural talents of his fighter and then expand as well as build those talents. Buddy has done that with James, who is a very talented boxer. He has great boxing skills and also the ability to identify the weaknesses of his opponents. James didn’t enter this sport with those abilities; he learned them from his trainer, Buddy McGirt. Our team realizes what each of our jobs is and the rest is up to James. Do I believe James and Buddy will make boxing history? Yes, without a doubt.�

McGirt, who feels that his next fight will be in mid-March on national television, plans on making boxing history with his dad, Buddy.

Los Angeles, January 29, 2008 – Ultimate Fighting Championship founder Bob Meyrowitz
and his company Rope Partners today announced the formation of a brand new mixed
martial arts (MMA) league, YAMMA Pit Fighting (YPF). Continuing in his role as a
trailblazer in MMA, Meyrowitz and YPF will take a unique approach to the sport by
reviving the Tournament fighting format and unveiling a new fighting surface that
promises to revolutionize the traditional MMA approach.

YAMMA Pit Fighting will host a series of pay-per-view television events, the first
of which will air live from the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City on April 11, 2008.

YAMMA Pit Fighting will return to the popular origins of MMA by reviving the
Tournament format, in which fighters will participate in multiple fights on their
way to claiming the ultimate YAMMA victory, the title of YAMMA Heavyweight Champion.
In addition to the exciting Tournament, YPF will also host two “Masters
Superfights,� one-on-one matches between some of MMA’s most illustrious and
legendary fighters.

Bob Meyrowitz is a veteran in the MMA industry, and it was through his guidance and
vision that the Ultimate Fighting Championship was created. Now Meyrowitz is at it
again with his company Rope Partners – creating a new league to once again keep
Martial Arts and the sport of MMA moving forward.

“It’s with great excitement that we launch YAMMA Pit Fighting,� said Bob Meyrowitz.
“Our deep and proven knowledge of the entertainment and MMA spheres put us in a
great position to add a new dimension to the presentation of MMA as it moves into
the future.�

The YPF surface, known as “The YAMMA� is an evolution of the traditional fighting
ring that will greatly alter the current basis of MMA by changing how the fight is
fought and the strategy the fighters must use to win. This new surface has been
specifically designed to keep the fighting more explosive and continuous. The YAMMA
will change the face of the sport and will challenge the relevance of the fighters’
trademark tactics, as methods that were previously successful may be rendered
useless with the new ring. This twist on an already successful sport will prove
hugely popular with fighters and MMA audiences alike.

The fighting line up, commentators, rules and regulations, ticketing information and
more event details will be announced on an ongoing basis beginning in February.

Rich Cappiello’s Cappiello Promotions, and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, have officially announced a tremendous night of professional boxing, to be held Friday, February 8 at The Castle at Park Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts. “It’s going to be a privilege to co-promote such a tremendous night of boxing, in Boston, with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions,” Cappiello stated. “Golden Boy Promotions is one of the sport’s elite promotional organizations, and I hope that this is just the first of many future events in which we work together!”
The event, which will be televised live on the Telefutura Network beginning at 8 PM EST, is to be headlined by former WBC Continental America’s super-flyweight champion, Jose Angel Beranza (30-11-2, 25 KO’s) and former NABO super-bantamweight champion, Antonio Escalante (16-2, 10 KO’s).
The evening’s co-main-event will feature action-packed 2004 U.S. Olympian, Rock Allen (12-0, 7 KO’s), against an opponent to be named soon. While only 5 feet 6 inches tall, Allen, who campaigns in the welterweight division, has already proven that big things can come in small packages! Your prototypical tough Philadelphia fighter, who fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner, Allen has quickly become one of the sport’s most talked about prospects.
In a special undercard cruiserweight attraction, Stoughton, Massachusetts’ Chris McInerney (9-1-1, 6 KO’s) takes on intra-state rival, and full-time Boston Police Officer, Tyrone Smith (5-5-1, 2 KO’s).
Also slated to appear in separate undercard bouts are; undefeated Boston junior welterweight prospect, and fellow Boston Police Officer, Tony “Tiger” Lamonica (4-0, 3 KO’s), Micky Ward trained – Lowell, Massachusetts junior welterweight prospect Sean Eklund (4-2, 1 KO’s), undefeated Providence, RI heavyweight Phillip “Killa” Miller (2-0, 1 KO), and undefeated Lawrence, Massachusetts middleweight prospect Eddie “Thunder” Caminero (2-0, 2 KO’s).

Two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman� Ruiz (42-7-1, 29 KOs), rated No. 3 by the WBA and No. 6 by the WBC, returns to the ring March 8 against Jameel “Big Time� McCline on the Oleg Maskaev-Samuel Peter card in Cancun, Mexico.

“I’m getting ready to clean-up the heavyweight division, starting March 8 with McCline, and then I want the Maskaev-Peter winner,� Ruiz said from his Las Vegas training camp with head trainer Manny Siaca, Sr. “McCline almost beat Peter in his last fight and he’s a lot better than some people give him credit for. He floored Peter three times but we’ll see how tough he is on March 8.

In his last fight, Ruiz stopped Otis Tisdale in the second round of their October 13 bout in Chicago, which marked the first time since 1999 that “The Quietman� fought an opponent who wasn’t a world champion, former title-holder, or rated in the top 10.

“I’ve always wanted to fight in Puerto Rico,� the first and only Hispanic heavyweight champion remarked. “We just haven’t had the right opportunity, yet. But I’m looking forward to fighting in front of all the Latinos at this fight in Cancun.�

Ruiz, who has fought in 11 world championship fights (including one interim and one eliminator), has beaten three world heavyweight champions — Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker – as well as top contenders Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo and Kirk Johnson during his 15-year pro career.

McCline (38-8-3, 23 KOs) is a three-time world title challenger, currently rated No. 9 by the WBC and No. 14 by the WBO, who has defeated former world champion Shannon Briggs.

RESULTS FROM MANSFIELD
(Mansfield, MA)

January 26, 2008 – “The Ultimate Showdown II�

WOMEN’S SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS
Missy Fiorentino (17-1, 6 KOs), Cranston, RI WDEC6 (60-54, 59-55, 57-57) Ela Nunez (5-3, 1 KO), Jamestown, NY
(Fiorentino wins vacant IWBF Super Featherweight Championship)
-Fight stopped by doctor after six rounds due to accidental headbutt that caused a severe cut on Fiorentino’s forehead-

CRUISERWEIGHTS
Rich Gingras (8-0, 4 KOs), Claremont, NH WDEC4 (59-54, 59-54, 59-54) William Bailey (7-13-2, 4 KOs), Chesapeake, MD

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Mark DeLuca (4-0, 3 KOs), Whitman, MA WKO4 (1:17) Charles Kirby (1-3, 0 KOs), Philadelphia, PA

MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Edwin Rodriquez (1-0, 1 KOs), Worcester, MA WTKO1 (1:33) Samuel Ortiz Gomez (0-4), Orlando, FL

AMATEURS
Masters:
Steve Gentile (Howard Beach, NY WRSC3 Ed Nelson (Petronelli’s Gym)
Eric Flaherty (Bishop’s Boxing) WDEC3 David Fascaldo (Petronelli’s Gym)
J.R. Moore, Monroe, LA WDEC3 Frank Azevedo (Petronelli’s Gym)

Open:
Calvin Marte (Worcester Boys & Girls Club) WDEC3 Mike Tremblay (Manfredo’s Gym)
Jesus Caro (Manfredo’s Gym) WDEC4 Norfolk Francis (Cappiello’s Gym)

Promoter: Peter Manfredo, Sr.