Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

TOTOWA, NJ (February 15, 2008) — It looks like the scales of justice may balance out for the upcoming World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title elimination bout between undefeated No. 1 contender TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY and No. 2 rated JOSE LUIS CASTILLO, the former two-time WBC lightweight champion. Bradley (21-0, 11 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., weighed 148 lbs and Castillo (56-8-1, 48 KOs), from Mexicali, Mexico, weighed 151 lbs. The weight limit for their March 8 fight in Cancun, Mexico is 140 lbs.

“I’m glad to see that Jose, who has had problems making weight lately, is within the range of our weight limit for this fight. I just hope he laid off the Valentine candy this week,” said Bradley, who is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions. “He’s going to get his share of love taps from me on March 8 and then it’s on to [WBC super lightweight champion] Junior Witter, who’s going to find out what “Made in America” is all about. The sands in Witter’s world title reign hourglass are running out.”

Put the house on it – the next Ladbrokes.com Fight Night looks set to be a sure fire candidate for the 2008 “Fight of the Year� with Irish middleweight champ Matthew Macklin set to do battle with former World Champion Yori Boy Campas at the National Stadium, Dublin on March 22nd.

In 2006 both men were involved in two of the best, if not the best fights of that year – and on the same night. The 29th of September, 2006 is a date neither Macklin or Campas (or indeed any boxing fan) will forget in a hurry.

In Manchester Macklin lost a brave bid for the British light middleweight title against Jamie Moore after 10 torrid rounds of phone booth warfare while just a few hours later on the other side of the Atlantic Campas gave John Duddy the fright of his life losing on a close decision after 12 back and forth rounds of action.

For Macklin this fight represents a major step up in class having moved up a weight in 2007 and successfully recovered from the Moore loss with 3 straight stoppage victories. Campas has shared the ring with some of the modern greats including Oscar De La Hoya and Felix “Tito� Trinidad.

Incredibly his fight with Macklin will be his 103rd outing as a professional with the Mexican warrior having turned pro at the age of 15. In his 20 year pro career he’s compiled an amazing record of 91 wins (73 of them by KO) and just 11 defeats and picked up the World light middleweight title along the way.

Now 36 Campas is determined to prove that he still belongs at the highest level but Macklin who will have new trainer and former two weight world champ Buddy McGirt in his corner in Dublin believes that an impressive win will bring his title ambitions into sharper focus.

“It’s a real step up in class for me and just what I need,� said the Birmingham based Irishman. “Campas is a very seasoned pro, you only need to look at the names on his record to see that.�

It will be the Arizona based Mexican’s second successive trip to Europe and having been beaten by former European champion and world rated Amin Asikainen in Helsinki he’ll be hoping for better luck in Dublin. Macklin has already studied that bout and believes that the seventh round defeat for Campas was not a true reflection of the fight.

“I thought the stoppage was very premature. Campas was still on his feet and firing back and he looked disgusted that it had been stopped. Up until then the last guy to legitimately stop him was Oscar De La Hoya and there was certainly no disgrace in that.

“I won’t really be looking to stop him because when you look for the stoppage it never comes. You have to be patient and anyway I want to get back to boxing a bit more as that side of things was neglected a bit when I was with Billy Graham. People forget that I was a very good amateur boxer and I need to get back to using those boxing skills.

“To be honest it will be difficult to do that with this fight because with the style Campas fights there’s nearly always fireworks and if it does become that kind of fight I won’t be found wanting.�

Macklin flies out to McGirt’s gym in Vero Beach, Florida this weekend to begin a month long training camp in the Sunshine State. “Part of the reasoning behind linking up with Buddy was to get me boxing more again,� explained Macklin.

“Obviously Buddy was a tremendous fighter himself and I’ve been really impressed with him as a trainer. You only have to look at how he turned Arturo Gatti from a brawler to a boxer to see the kind of influence he can have on a fighter so I’ll be hoping for a similar transformation.�

McGirt says he’s excited about working with Macklin. “I’m really looking forward to working with Matthew. I’m currently working with Paul Smith who I took on after working with him on the Contender T.V. series. He trained and sparred with Matthew when they were both in Billy Graham’s gym and Paul highly recommended Matthew to me so I’m excited about it.

“I know all about Campas, he’s a tough, tough veteran who’s been in with everybody and he is still a dangerous guy so it’s a good challenge for Matthew.�

Campas says he won’t be drawn into any trash talking or bold predictions ahead of the fight but promised, “I can only tell the people that they will see a real fight, I can guarantee that.�

His manager Joe Diaz added, “Yori is an incredible guy. He turned pro when he was just 15 and 20 years later he’s still competing at the highest level. He’s ageless and if people think he’s slipping because he got stopped by Asikainen they’re very much mistaken. The fight’s available to watch on YouTube for all to see and anyone can see that It should never have been stopped.

“Yori Boy wasn’t hurt, what happened was that the sponsors logo on the ring came loose and Yori’s feet got caught up in it. He got tagged with a few shots as he was trying to untangle himself and then the referee jumped in and stopped it. It was a crazy decision.

“I don’t make any excuses but in this case people can make their own minds up. After the fight Yori Boy didn’t even have a bruise but the other guy had 28 stitches over his eye and a broken hand. Anyway that’s behind us now. You have to move on and we plan on doing that in Dublin.�

The undercard for the Ladbrokes.com Fight Night is headed by an eagerly anticipated Irish Light Welterweight title rematch between Cavan’s Andrew Murray and Belfast’s James Gorman. The two first met last December at the Kings Hall in Belfast with Murray winning on a technical decision after an accidental clash of heads in the fourth round left Murray unable to continue.

Under Boxing Union of Ireland rules the fight went to the referee’s scorecard and Murray kept his unbeaten record intact courtesy of the early lead he had taken. However even the new champion admitted that the outcome was unsatisfactory and both men are keen to do it all over again and settle affairs more conclusively.

The card will also feature Cuban heavyweight sensation Mike “The Rebel� Perez. Despite only having arrived in his adopted hometown of Cork in mid January the 22-year-old former world Amateur Champion has already racked up two quick fire wins in the pro ranks.

Perez’s manager Gary Hyde believes that with his amateur pedigree the power punching Cuban will bring the world heavyweight title back to Cork.

Another unbeaten heavyweight on the card is unbeaten Belfast banger Martin Rogan. The former Irish Amateur Champion is closing in on a shot at the Irish Professional heavyweight title and will have his first scheduled 8 round contest on next months card.

Irish professional’s Aidan Mooney and Leon Senior will also be in action.

Tickets for the Ladrokes.com Fight Night priced from €60 go on sale from 9am tomorrow morning (Friday, February 15th) from Ticketmaster.ie and all usual outlets.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC®) organization today announced the remaining fights on the main card for the upcoming UFC 82: PRIDE OF A CHAMPION which features the long-awaited super-fight to determine the undisputed king of the middleweight division. Anderson “The Spider” Silva, UFC Middleweight Champion, will take on PRIDE 183-lb. Champion Dan Henderson when the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) makes its third trip to the state of Ohio on Saturday, March 1, 2008, live from Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Also on the main card are exciting match-ups between Cheick Kongo vs Heath Herring.; Chris Leben vs.Alessio Sakara; Evan Tanner vs. Yushin Okami; Jon Fitch vs Chris Wilson.; Andrei Arlovski vs Jake O’Brien; Luke Cummo vs. Luigi Fioravanti; Josh Koscheck vs. Dustin Hazelett; Diego Sanchez vs. David Bielkheden vs.; and John Halverson vs. Jorge Gurgel.

Tickets for UFC 82: PRIDE OF A CHAMPION are on sale now and are priced at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50 and are available at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers, online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.ufc.com and by phone at (614) 431-3600. Tickets may also be purchased at the FSN Ohio Blue Line locations at the Chiller Ice Rinks and The Mall at Tuttle Crossing. All tickets are subject to facility fee and service charges.

UFC 82: PRIDE OF A CHAMPION is available live on pay-per-view at 10pm EST/7pm PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

Cheick Kongo (21-3-1) 6’4�/240 lbs., fighting out of Paris, France, was a fairly unkown Frenchman until he made his UFC debut in July of 2006 against Gilbert Aldana. The Paris native had an impressive record and a stellar reputation as a fearsome kickboxer, but could he compete successfully in the UFC? He answered that question quickly and emphatically as he halted the rugged Aldana in a little over four minutes of the first round. Not everyone was sold though, so Kongo jumped back in the Octagon™ a month later to face Christian Wellisch. Kongo survived an early submission attempt to knock out his foe with a knee at 2:51 of the opening round, and a star was born in the heavyweight division. In this game, nothing can be taken for granted, and at UFC 64 Kongo was upset by Carmelo Marrero. At UFC 70 he came back with an impressive win over Brazil’s Assuerio Silva and then a dominating three round unanimous decision win over feared striker Mirko Cro Cop. As 2008 begins he finds himself up against Heath Herring, knowing that he may be just one win away from challenging for the title he has longed for since he began training. Herring (27-13-1) 6’4�/250 lbs., fighting out of Las Vegas, is really a true Texan from the top of his ten-gallon hat to the bottom of his cowboy boots. The Waco-born “Texas Crazy Horse� loves to make the Lone Star State proud with his aggressive style and world-class MMA game. Herring is the owner of standout wins over Mark Kerr, Igor Vovchanchyn, and Gary Goodridge, but he also knows that his ascension up the UFC ranks is riding on his fight against fellow contender Cheick Kongo. Despite having ten years under his belt as a professional fighter and a well-deserved status as one of the best heavyweights of this era, Herring, having seen it all in the fight game, still feels he’s got a lot of accomplish.

Chris “The Crippler� Leben (17-4-0) 5’11�/185 lbs., fighting out of Oahu, HA is a season one sparkplug from The Ultimate Fighter® series who used his aggressive style and brash personality to gain a legion of fans. While building an unbeaten 5-0 Octagon record that included wins over Patrick Cote, Edwin Dewees, Jorge Rivera, and Luigi Fioravanti, Chris Leben hit hard times over a 12 month period in 2006-2007 as he was beaten by current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Jason MacDonald, and Kalib Starnes, while only managing one knockout win over Jorge Santiago. “The Crippler� is not one to give up on his dream of a world championship though, and he got back to business last September with a spectacular knockout of Terry Martin, and now he will face another hard-hitting foe in Alessio Sakara. After the “Legionarius� (16-6-1) 6’0�/ 185 lbs. fighting out of Miami, Fla., built a reputation as a fighter to watch in the UFC with his fights against Ron Faircloth and Elvis Sinosic, Sakara hit a wall in his MMA career with losses to Dean Lister, Drew McFedries, and Houston Alexander. Sometimes a defeat can teach you more about character than a victory, and Sakara believed this to be true in his case. At UFC 70 in April, this former pro boxer showed his resilience in style as he stopped Victor Valimaki in the first round, and he began a new winning streak in January by stopping James Lee. Sakara returns to the Octagon to face veteran Leben.

Evan Tanner (34-6-0) 6’0�/185 lbs., fighting out of Las Vegas is a former UFC Middleweight Champion. Name a top fighter at 185-pounds, and Tanner has probably fought him. Rich Franklin, David Loiseau, Phil Baroni, David Terrell, and Robbie Lawler; a who’s who of middleweight mixed martial artists, all dot the resume of the Amarillo, Texas native. A veteran of 40 MMA bouts, the 37-year-old Tanner has seen it all in the fight game, and after an almost two-year hiatus from the sport, he’s ready to begin another chapter of his career with his bout against Yushin Okami. Kanagawa, Japan’s Okami (22-4-0) 6’2�/185 lbs., has torn through the middleweight ranks since arriving in the UFC in 2006, defeating Mike Swick, Alan Belcher, Kalib Starnes, and Rory Singer along the way. It was in a close decision loss to Rich Franklin last June that Okami truly showed that he belongs among the elite at 185 pounds as he pushed the former UFC champion to the limit and almost submitted him in the final round of a closely contested bout. Now, the powerful Okami, who got back in the win column last October against highly-regarded Canadian contender Jason MacDonald, will look to move closer to a rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva by beating former 185-pound champ Tanner.

Jon Fitch (20-2-1) 6’0�/170 lbs., fighting out of San Jose, Calif., by his own account, was “a mediocre college wrestler.� This, despite being a four year letter winner at Purdue, the 2002 team captain and winner of the Most Dedicated Big Ten Conference Scholar-Athlete Award. For the Fort Wayne native though, this just wasn’t enough, and looking back now he chalks it up not to his talent, but to his attitude. It wasn’t until graduate school that everything clicked. After he packed his bags to move to California and pursue a career in mixed martial arts, the lessons he learned not only became applicable, they became essential, especially as he rose up the welterweight ranks. Now unbeaten in seven Octagon battles, Fitch has arrived on the world stage, but you won’t hear him referring to himself in the third person or calling out everyone at 170 pounds. He’s going to stay the same fighter and man he’s always been as he takes on newcomer Chris “The Professor� Wilson. A well rounded battler from Portland, Ore., “The Professor� (11-3-1) 6’1�/170 lbs., makes his UFC debut after four years of building a reputation as one of the most talented welterweights in the game today. Owner of victories over UFC veterans Brandon Melendez, Jay Hieron, and Derrick Noble, the 30-year old is eager to add Fitch to that list.

Andrei “Pit Bull� Arlovski 6’4�/240 lbs., (13-5-0) fighting out of Chicago, is a former UFC heavyweight champion. With a UFC resume boasting nine wins in 13 fights the feared “Pit Bull� is one of the most well-known fighters in the entire organization. Arlovksi has established himself as a dangerous striker and efficient grappler, but after a devastating two-time defeat to Tim “The Maine-iac� Sylvia, Arlovski went back to the drawing board. The 29-year old heavyweight begins his comeback journey after two straight wins over Marcio Cruz at UFC 66 and Fabrico Werdum at UFC 70. This third fight on his path back to victory will either make or break him when he meets the wild O’Brien. Jake “Irish� O’Brien 6’3�/230 lbs., (10-0-0) is an aggressive wrestler with a flawless record in the UFC. The heavy-handed ground and pound specialist took on Heath the “Texas Crazy Horse� Herring in his last fight over a year ago only to demolish him and put a unanimous decision win under his belt. After being sided to injuries, the undefeated O’Brien will dual UFC legend Arlovksi for another win or his first loss.

Luke “The Silent Assassin� Cummo 6’0�/170 lbs., (9-4-0) fighting out of Long Island, NY has knock-out power most fighters dream of having. Cummo is a serious striker with BJJ skills as well as talents in the martial art known as Jeet Kune Do founded by the legendary Bruce Lee. The New Yorker has a quirky reputation outside the Octagon, but it is mostly his exciting fights inside the eight-sided cage which keep his name in the mouths of UFC fans. This fight will undoubtedly go to blows when he takes on another striking specialist, Fioravanti. Luigi Fioravanti 5’8�/170 lbs., (12-3-0) fighting out of St. Petersburg, Fla. is a former United States Marine who fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a military man trained in MMA, Fioravanti has good takedown defense and excellent striking ability. Having a rollercoaster career in the UFC hasn’t stopped Fioravanti from still fighting his heart out. It is this determination and intense training that could make his match-up against Cummo the fight of the night at UFC 82: Pride of a Champion.

Josh “Kos� Koscheck 5’10�/170 lbs., (11-2-0) fighting out of Fresno, Calif can boast being part of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. With a wrestling background and noteworthy athleticism Koscheck is considered a young seasoned fighter with an exciting career. “Kos� only has two losses in the UFC including his last fight against interim UFC Welterweight World Champion Georges St-Pierre. The 30-year old Pennsylvania native takes this fight against the nine years younger, Hazelett to prove he has no plans on staying in the losers circle. Dustin Hazelett 6’1�/170 lbs., (12-3-0) fighting out of Cincinnati, fights in his home territory on March 1. This young fighter is a force in his division riding high on three consecutive wins two of which were submissions over Jonathan Goulet and Stevie Lynch. With the heart of a gladiator and the skills of a BJJ specialist Hazelett’s abilities will be put to the test when he dukes it out with the experienced Josh Koscheck.

Diego “Nightmare� Sanchez 5’11�/170 lbs., (19-2-0) fighting out of San Diego, Calif, is a well-known fighter in the welterweight division. With noteworthy wins including a knockout of Joe Riggs, and unanimous decision defeat over welterweight force Karo Parisyan, Sanchez still has much to prove after two consecutive losses. As an excellent grappler, this young fighter will take his skills and experience to the Octagon when he shows Bielkheden why he’s named the “Nightmare�. David Bielkheden 5’10�/170 lbs., (12-5-0) fighting out of Stockholm, Sweden is a member of the world-renowned Brazilian Top Team. Making his UFC debut in Columbus, Bielkheden is a seven year pro in mixed martial arts who has scored 12 wins in 17 fights. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, the 28-year old has five submission wins, including one over UFC veteran Chalres McCarthy in 2004. When these two warriors go to battle it will be a true test of skill, but only one can walk away a winner.

Jorge Gurgel 5’9�/155 lbs., (14-3-0) fighting out of Cincinnati, will attempt to redeem himself in Columbus after a loss to Alvin Robinson in his hometown. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt with an aggressive attitude, Gurgel is more than a submission specialist. As a pro kick boxer and a skilled muay thai artist and wrestler, Gurgel has demonstrated his well rounded abilities when he defeated Diego Saraiva in July 2007 after 15 minutes of left and right strikes. It will surely be a test of his determination when he takes on Halverson in a lightweight battle. John “The Hurricane� Halverson 5’9�/155 lbs. (16-5-0) fighting out of Des Moines, IA also comes off a loss to lightweight superstar Roger Huerta. The heavy-handed “Hurricane� who is best known for his boxing background had a chance meeting with the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy� of the UFC, Tito Ortiz, and quickly switched over to MMA. The 35-year old Iowa native can take a hit as well as give one, and plans on landing the winning punch when he meets Gurgel on Saturday, March 1.

TOTOWA, NJ (February 12, 2008) – Two of the world’s top cruiserweights will vie for the IBF’s #1 mandatory position on April 19, 2008, when Tomasz Adamek (IBF #3) and O’ Neil Bell (IBF #7) battle in a 12 round IBF eliminator, it was jointly announced today by Main Events, Ziggy Promotions, Warriors Boxing, and KnockOut Promotion.

Adamek (33-1, 22 KO’s) has stopped 15 opponents within the first three rounds. The 31-year-old Zywiec, Poland native captured the vacant WBC light heavyweight championship on May 21, 2005, when he decisioned Paul Briggs (W 12). He defended the title twice before losing to Chad Dawson on Feb 3, 2007 (L 12). Since moving to cruiserweight he is 2-0, 1 KO. Adamek is also recognized as the IBO Cruiserweight Champion.

Bell (26-2, 24 KO’s) is the former undisputed cruiserweight champion. The 33-year-old Atlanta, Georgian by way of Jamaica captured the undisputed crown on January 7, 2006, when he stopped defending champion Jean-Marc Mormeck (KO 10). Bell surrendered the undisputed title in his last bout on March 17, 2007, when he lost a decision in the rematch against Mormeck (L 12). Prior to the loss Bell had won 25 consecutive bouts.

“I am very excited about returning to my Polish homeland for this fight against Bell,� said Adamek. “Bell is a very good fighter, but I need to win this bout to get another title shot. I won’t let anyone stand in my way.�

““I look forward to this fight being the first step for me in recapturing the belts that rightfully are mine,� said Bell.

SHOWTIME recently unveiled two unique short-form series in support of its live sports telecasts. Entitled Goldberg Toe-to-Toe (EliteXC/MMA) and All Access (boxing), the five-minute documentary-style episodes are available to viewers via a variety of media outlets, such as news, sports, entertainment and pop-culture websites, www.SHO.com, user generated websites such as YouTube, and interstitially on SHOWTIME and its multiplexes.

“We want to reach fans in a unique and compelling way,� said Ken Hershman, senior vice president and general manager, SHOWTIME Sports and Event Programming. “By creating these short-form programs and making them available across multiple media platforms, we are making it easier for fans to go where they have never been able to go before. Our viewers can now become the proverbial ‘fly on the wall’ as the athletes attend press conferences, go through training camp and participate in many other activities in the build-up to their events.�

Internet phenomenon Kimbo Slice is preparing to take on MMA legend and feared knockout artist Tank Abbott this Saturday, Feb. 16, on SHOWTIME (live at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). The first installment of Goldberg Toe-to-Toe follows Bill Goldberg, a former NFL football player and wrestling superstar, as he joins Kimbo for a full-day workout at Bas Rutten’s gym in Los Angeles. Tune in to see if Goldberg, now a SHOWTIME and EliteXC analyst, can keep up.

Goldberg Toe-To-Toe with Kimbo Slice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1C39PCW1Ls

All Access: Vazquez vs. Marquez III takes a behind-the-scenes look at Israel Vazquez’ and Rafael Marquez’ preparations for their third and deciding fight. From the kick-off press conference in Los Angeles to the fighters training camps and the gates of The Home Depot Center, All Access: Vazquez vs. Marquez III brings viewers into the gyms, homes and the hearts and minds of champions.

The first of the four-part short-form series debuted last week and is currently available at a variety of outlets. The remaining three episodes will debut on consecutive Thursdays leading up to the fight, with the final installment premiering on Tuesday, Feb. 26, online and on SHOWTIME.

All Access: Vazquez vs. Marquez III: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_9LDqK1jhw
The first two fights were heralded as old school, classic give-and-take slugfests, with the second scrap capturing Fight of the Year honors from the most respected media outlets in boxing. Now, Vazquez and Marquez are set to battle for the World Boxing Council (WBC) 122-pound title, The Ring Magazine belt and super bantamweight supremacy in the third and final chapter of boxing’s best rivalry in years. Vazquez vs. Marquez III will air live on SHOWTIME, Saturday, March 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The best in amateur boxing comes to Staten Island when The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation sponsors a Daily News Golden Gloves boxing competition on Wednesday, February 13 at the Petrides School (715 Ocean Terrace). Atlas Foundation creator and ESPN2 Friday Night Fights analyst Teddy Atlas will be joined by former world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer and members of the New York Jets.

Tickets are limited for this event and are priced at $50 and $20. For tickets and more information call 973-733-1585 or visit www.dratlasfoundation.com. All ticket proceeds go to charity. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first bell at 7:30 PM.

The mission of the Atlas Foundation is the awarding of scholarships and grants to worthy individuals and organizations based upon scholastic potential, community service, athletic achievement and economic need. Since it’s inception in 1997, the Foundation, thanks to the generosity of its supporters, has been able to give in excess of $1,000,000.00 to worthy causes.

CANCUN, Mexico—The first world heavyweight championship ever staged in Mexico will take place in Cancun’s Plaza de Torros on Saturday, March 8 when World Boxing Council heavyweight champion

Oleg Maskaev makes the second defense of his title against WBC interim heavyweight champion

Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare� Peter to determine the sole WBC heavyweight champion.

The two had been scheduled to meet in New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 6, but a back injury forced Maskaev to pull out of the fight on Sept. 21.

The WBC Board of Governors convened on Sept. 24 and voted Peter its interim heavyweight champion. Peter chose to make a title defense on Oct. 6, winning a unanimous decision over Jameel “Big Time� McCline.

A tremendous co-featured main event will showcase a second world championship when undefeated World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull� Diaz (33-0, 17 KOs), from Houston, Tex., takes on IBF No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Nate “Galaxxy Warrior� Campbell (31-5-1, 25 KOs), from Jacksonville, Fla.

Tickets priced at $1,000, 500, $300, $150, $100, $70, $50 and $10 are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets including www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster in Mexico at +5255 5325 9000.

Both fights will be televised live in America on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET

/6:30 p.m. PT. “History in Cancun� is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with Duva Boxing and Pepe Gomez Promotions.

Two domestically non-televised matches have been added to the card including former two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman� Ruiz (42-7-1, 29 KOs), from Chelsea, Mass., squaring off against New York native Jameel “Big Time� McCline (38-8-3, 23 KOs), and former two-time WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo (56-8-1, 48 KOs), from Mexicali, Mexico will meet undefeated Timothy “Desert Storm� Bradley (21-0, 11 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif.

Maskaev (34-5, 26 KOs), from Kazakhstan and a U.S. citizen since 2004 with homes in Staten Island, N.Y., and West Sacramento, Calif., is riding a 12-fight winning streak that includes a 12th-round technical knockout over Hasim “The Rock� Rahman to win the WBC heavyweight crown in Las Vegas on Aug. 12, 2006.

The Russian-American won many fans that night with a dramatic and gritty final-round stoppage in a fight that was up for grabs. It has been said it takes heart to win the big ones, and Maskaev proved he had the heart of a champion. He landed a devastating left hook that sent Rahman down midway through the final stanza and shortly thereafter finished him off with an unanswered barrage that caused the referee to step in and halt the action during the last minute of the contest.

Perseverance has been a model for Maskaev in his career. A Russian amateur star who stopped Vitali Klitschko in the first round, Maskaev turned pro in 1993 but was matched too soon with the likes of Oliver “The Atomic Bull� McCall and David Tua.

He ran his record to a respectable 20-2 before stumbling against Kirk Johnson in 2000, Lance “Mount� Whitaker in 2001 and Corey Sanders in 2002. Many thought it was time for Maskaev to throw in the towel, but he took a year off and came back with a new team and vision, and he hasn’t lost a match in over five years.

Maskaev will again face the type of young lion in Peter (29-1, 22 KOs) that has caused him so much trouble in the past. The 26-year-old from Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, now living in Las Vegas, is on the precipice of achieving the success many boxing experts and fans have predicted would come for this heavy-handed knockout artist.

Promoter Don King has been telling everyone within earshot that Peter could be the next Tyson (King co-promotes Peter with Duva Boxing), and the Nigerian’s 75-percent knockout percentage backs the claim. His lone loss came by decision in 2005 against Wladimir Klitschko after Peter had knocked him down three times.

Peter has now honed his boxing skills to the extent he beat Old School boxing master James “Lights Out� Toney in back-to-back appearances on Sept. 2, 2006, and Jan. 6, 2007—both on 12-round decisions. Those victories made Peter the WBC No. 1-ranked heavyweight and the mandatory challenger to Maskaev.

Peter survived a scare from McCline, who agreed to face the Nigerian just two weeks prior to their Oct. 6 meeting. McCline has a history of being dangerous early, having knocked out heavyweight contender Michael Grant in just 43 seconds and dropped then International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd early in the second round when they met in 2004.

Juan Diaz became the second-youngest fighter to win a world title in the history of the sport in 2004 when, at just age 20, he won the WBA lightweight championship. In the last year, he stopped both Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz to gain the WBO and IBF belts.

A relentless, punishing boxer that burrows forward throwing punches in bunches at all times, Diaz has become one of the most exciting boxers in the sport. When not in the ring, Diaz is a senior at the University of Houston-Downtown who would like to go on to law school someday.

In contrast, Nate Campbell didn’t participate in his first professional fight until he was almost 28 years old. A gifted athlete, Campbell learned the tricks of the trade inside the ring. His efforts have resulted in him being named IBF mandatory challenger to Diaz.

Campbell has unusually long arms, and it will be interesting to see if his reach advantage can help him find a way to do what nobody has been able to do before him: slow down and defeat the ever-charging Baby Bull. A true working man-boxer, this high-profile fight has afforded Campbell the opportunity to have a sequestered training camp in Miami. At age 35, he wants to make the most of his second world-title appearance.

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