Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

COUNTDOWN TO DE LA HOYA-FORBES

PREMIERES SATURDAY, APR. 19 ON HBO

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING

HBO Sports is presenting a thirty-minute special analyzing the upcoming HBO World Championship Boxing matchup between superstar Oscar De La Hoya and savy veteran Steve Forbes. Their showdown is set for Saturday, May 3 in the outdoor soccer stadium at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Calif.

The special “COUNTDOWN TO DE LA HOYA-FORBES,� which will feature fighter profiles, expert analysis and forecasts for the matchup, will premiere on the main service on Saturday, Apr. 19 immediately after the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast from Las Vegas, which begins at 9:45 p.m. ET/ 6:45 p.m. PT .

Los Angeles native De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs) looks to re-establish his dominance in his first fight of 2008. Forbes (33-5, 9 KOs), who hails from Las Vegas, is coming off a split-decision victory over Francisco Bojado and hopes to spring a sensational upset on a huge national stage. He has never been knocked to the canvas in his 11-year career.

The countdown special will also be available to HBO ON DEMAND subscribers 24 hours a day from Monday, April 21 thru Monday, May 5.

Additional HBO replay dates:

Sunday, Apr. 20 at 10:30 a.m.

Monday, Apr. 21 at 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Apr. 23 at 2:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Apr. 25 at 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, Apr. 27 at 1:40 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Apr. 29 at 12:15 a.m. & 2:15 a.m.

Thursday, May 1 at 6:45 p.m.

Friday, May 2 at 1:30 p.m. & 11:55 p.m.

*Saturday, May 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET/ 6:30 p.m. PT

Additional HBO2 replay dates:

Sunday, Apr. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 12:30 p.m. & 12:45 a.m.

Thursday, Apr. 24 at 9:45 p.m.

Wednesday, Apr. 30 a 11:30 p.m.

Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Championship

Webcast Exclusively on DonKingTV.com on Saturday

Live From Bucharest, Romania

Adrian Diaconu (Romania/Canada) vs. Chris Henry (U.S.A.) in Main Event;

Plus Three More Bouts: Ion Ionut ‘Jo Jo’ Dan (Romania) vs. Raul Balbi (Argentina),

Viorel Simion (Romania) vs. Rudy Encarnacion (Spain),

And Bogdan Dinu (Romania) vs. Stephane Tessier (Canada);

Webcast Begins at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT (GMT 5:30 p.m.)

Visitors to DonKingTV.com Can Also See Three Fights Never-Before-Shown in America:

Nikolai Valuev vs. John Ruiz & Andrew Golota Battles Both Kevin McBride & Mike Mollo

BUCHAREST, Romania—Don King will continue his march into Internet webcasting on Saturday with a battle of undefeated boxers vying for the interim World Boxing Council light heavyweight championship that pits Adrian Diaconu against Chris Henry that can be seen live exclusively on DonKingTV.com for free beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT (GMT 5:30 p.m.) from the Sala Polivalenta in Bucharest, Romania.

Three additional bouts will be shown live from Romania. Undefeated Ion Ionut “Jo Jo� Dan (20-0, 11 KOs), from Romania will take on Argentinean veteran Raul Balbi (55-8-1, 38 KOs) in a North American Boxing Association 140-pound championship; undefeated Romanian prospect Viorel Simion (7-0, 3 KOs) tangles with Spanish battler Rudy Encarnacion (18-11-2, 8 KOs); and 2003 world junior champion Bogdan Dinu, from Romania, will make his professional debut against Stephane Tessier, from Canada.

To celebrate his second webcast, King has broken into his vast vault of previous fights to allow DonKingTV.com visitors to see three big fights for free that have never been shown in America. Beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday through the weekend, fans can see the bout where Nikolai “Giant Russian� Valuev won his first world title in a controversial decision over two-time World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman� Ruiz at Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 17, 2005.

“I have been overwhelmed by the people’s blessings of success to our pioneer effort in launching DonKingTV.com,� King said. “DonKingTV.com is the people’s global network. I want to thank all the people who have logged on and will long on and to the bloggers who are the modern-day apostles of the media.�

Beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Friday through the weekend, two more fan-favorite fights will be added to the DonKingTV.com schedule: Andrew Golota’s memorable Madison Square Garden brawls with Mike Tyson conqueror Kevin “The Clones Colossus� McBride that took place on Oct. 6, 2007, and the slugfest against Chicago heavyweight contender “Merciless� Mike Mollo from Jan. 19.

Diaconu (24-0, 15 KO), born in Romania and now fighting out of Montreal, is the WBC No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger at the 175-pound weight limit and was to have faced WBC champion Chad Dawson during a Don King-promoted fight card on Sept. 29 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. Diaconu was forced to bow out two weeks prior to that contest after suffering a hand injury that included bone contusions and soft tissue damage.

Diaconu’s perfect record, and ability to re-schedule the postponed match with Dawson, will be challenged by the similarly perfect Henry (21-0, 17 KOs), from Houston, Texas.

“I’m going to win this fight,� Henry said. “He [Diaconu] has no idea what he signed up for and is up against in Chris Henry.�

Henry has shown great power with an 86-percent knockout percentage in 21 fights after being a professional prizefighter for just over three years. Henry’s style is to come straight to his opponents, which should cause fireworks with Diaconu, who possesses power in both hands as well.

“Henry is talking a good game,� Diaconu said. “Let’s hope he brings that spirit to the ring on Saturday.�

Henry has recently teamed with Ronnie Shields, one of boxing’s greatest trainers.

“I needed Ronnie Shields to add just a little polish and experience,� Henry said. “Bobby Benton has always been my trainer and he’ll still be in my corner as a second along with Mike Roberts. Ronnie’s been working with me for about six months now and he has me ready.�

Col. Bob Sheridan will provide blow-by-blow ringside descriptions from Romania and is being joined by special guest analyst Glen Johnson, a former light heavyweight champion. Promoter of the Romanian event is Gankor Promotions. DonKingTV.com is the exclusive webcaster of this event. It’s not TV. It’s DonKingTV.com.

CHRIS BYRD VS. SHAUN GEORGE HEADLINES

FIGHT CARD AT COX PAVILION IN LAS VEGAS ON MAY 16,

TELEVISED LIVE ON ESPN’S “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS�

Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and UNLVtickets.com will present a sensational fight card on Friday, May 16, in the PH ring at the Cox Pavilion, which is connected to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event and co-featured bouts will be televised live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.�

In the light heavyweight main event scheduled for 10 rounds, former two-time heavyweight world champion Chris Byrd, 40-4-1 with 21 knockouts, of Las Vegas, will fight Shaun George, 16-2-2 with 7 knockouts, of Brooklyn, New York.

Now 37 years old, Chris won the WBO heavyweight world title in April, 2000, with a TKO against defending champion Vitali Klitschko. He fought at the Cox Pavilion in August, 2001, and beat David Tua in an IBF heavyweight elimination bout. He went on to win the vacant IBF heavyweight world title in December, 2002, with a 12 round decision against Evander Holyfield, and made four successful title defenses. A native of Flint, Michigan, Chris represented the United States in the 1992 Olympics and won the silver medal at 165 pounds.

This will be his first fight at 175 pounds since his second pro fight in 1993, and the first time he hasn’t been at a weight disadvantage in the ring since January, 2000.

George, 29 years old, is a seven-year pro. He has won three fights in a row, which includes a decision win against former light heavyweight contender Richard Hall in May, 2007.

Koba Gogoladze, 20-2 with 8 knockouts, will battle Ji-hoon Kim, 13-5 with 10 knockouts, of Goyang, Korea, in the co-featured featherweight bout scheduled for eight rounds.

Planned televised bouts currently include a six-rounder featuring talented Russian jr. welterweight prospect Ruslan Provodnikov, 7-0 with 6 knockouts, against an opponent to be announced.

Three more bouts are planned to complete the card. All bouts are subject to change without notice.

Doors open: 4:00 P.M. (all times PT)

Fight fight: 5:00 P.M.

Ticket prices: $28, $48, $78.

Tickets are available at: www.unlvtickets.com, all UNLVtickets outlets, and by phone at 702-739-FANS.

HBO Sports presents a light heavyweight fight six years in the making when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: BERNARD HOPKINS VS. JOE CALZAGHE is seen live SATURDAY, APRIL 19 (9:45 p.m. ET/6:45 p.m. PT) from The Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, exclusively on HBO. The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Emanuel Steward will be ringside for the event, which will be presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Over the course of his 20-year career, Philadelphia’s Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) has established himself as one of the premier fighters of his era and one of the greatest middleweight champions of all time. After building a reputation on stellar performances against premium competition like Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya, Hopkins cemented his legacy with a stunning victory over reigning champion Antonio Tarver in June 2006 in his first fight at light heavyweight. Following a short retirement, Hopkins returned to the ring last July, scoring a convincing victory over former 154-pound champion Ronald “Winky� Wright in his second light heavyweight bout. This bout marks the 43-year-old Hopkins’ 16th appearance on HBO.

Six years after unsuccessfully seeking a matchup with Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs), from Newbridge, Wales, finally gets his wish. Known as “The Pride of Wales,� the 36-year-old will be fighting at light heavyweight for the first time following a record-tying 21 consecutive world title defenses at super middleweight. In his most recent bout on Nov. 4, Calzaghe unified a host of world titles by taking the belts from Mikkel Kessler in front of a raucous home crowd at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The Hopkins fight will be Calzaghe’s first in the United States and only his third outside the United Kingdom, as well as his third HBO appearance.

New York-Monday, April 14th, 2008. Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing has outdone itself as they present a terrific twin bill of matches on May 9, 2008 emanating from Ballys in Atlantic City, NJ. In the first co-main event recently crowned USBA, Jr. Welterweight champ “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (18-2-2, 9 KO’s) making his first title defense against the undefeated Lanardo Tyner (19-0, 11 KO’s) in a 12 round bout.

“Mighty Mike” looked very impressive in his last bout, March 6, 2008, winning the vacant USBA, JR. Welterweight tile in dominating fashion from tough guy Harrison Cuello. A huge throng of fellow compatriots were there waving the flag of Greece, banging their war drums and cheering on Mike and the same is expected on May 9th.

Lanardo Tyner is very excited to get this opportunity and says he will be Mighty Mike’s Achilles’ heel. Since Lanardo turned pro, he has laced a path of destruction on the way to an undefeated record. Tyner is a very outgoing personality and said, “The world has been asking who Lanardo Tyner is and on May 9th they will find out along with Mike Arnaoutis”.

The second co-main features a highly entertaining fight, as two popular battle tested veteran’s battle in a 10 round Light Heavyweight fight. Two of the most action-oriented fighters will compete for survival as, #15 WBA Elvir Muriqi (35-4-1, 22 KO’s) takes on Omar Shieka (27-8, 13 KO’s) in what promises to be an explosive match-up.

Muriqi bounced back from his controversial majority decision loss to Antonio Tarver with an impressive fourth round TKO of Jameel Wilson on January 31, 2008. Elvir has made a commitment to himself to challenge for the Light Heavyweight title by years end but has a tall task in front of him in the ever-so-tough Shieka.

Omar Sheika returned to the ring September 29, 2007, with a TKO victory over Tiwon Taylor. Shieka had been out of action for 2 years before that, taking time out to refresh his body and reenergize his career. Omar has been in many memorable battles including two savage fights with Scott Pemberton. Omar has challenged for the world title on three separate occasions during his career but believes a win over Muriqi will put him back into title contention. Both Muriqi and Sheika have previously been in ESPN ‘fights of the year’, so this promises to be a very exciting match up.

“Once again I am happy to be able to give our loyal fans what they want, we have a spectacular line up with something for everyone to enjoy, ” said Star Boxing head honcho Joe DeGuardia. “Both of these fights are main events, so fans will be able to see two main events in one night, and I know we will see plenty of fireworks on May 9th.”

Ken Condon, Sports and Entertainment Consultant for Harrah’s Entertainment, echoes those sentiments stating, “Bally’s Atlantic City has always been a terrific venue for championship boxing and has hosted some tremendous bouts throughout the years. This is certainly no exception. With the exciting fighters on this card we are sure to see some tremendous action that will not disappoint.â€?

The bouts will be telecast on the popular “Friday Night Fights” series on ESPN2 in association with Ballys in Atlantic City, NJ.

Doors: 7pm
First Fight: 7:30pm

Tickets are priced at $90-$60 and are available at all ticketmaster outlets and online at http://www.ticketmaster.com

Results From Boston, Massachusetts
“Ethnic Invasion”
April 12, 2008
Featherweights
Dat Nguyen (12-1, 6 KO’s) MD 8 Robert DaLuz (10-11-2, 9 KO’s)
(76-76, 78-74, 78-74)
Middleweights
Donald Orr (12-0, 5 KO’s) UD 8 Clarence Taylor (12-15-2, 6 KO’s)
(79-73, 80-72, 80-72)
Junior Welterweights
Simeon Dunwell (6-0, 2 KO’s) UD 6 Damon Antoine (7-23-1, 3 KO’s)
(59-56, 58-57, 58-56)
Middleweights
Edwin Rodriguez (4-0, 3 KO’s) TKO 4 Jeffrey Osborne (4-11-2, 1 KO)
Time of stoppage – 2:55
Venue: The Roxy
Promoter: Cappiello Promotions

BOUT SHEET
“SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING�
GARY SHAW PRODUCTIONS, LLC and AT ENTERTAINMENT,
IN ASSOCIATION WITH FIGHT ACADEMY
APRIL 12, 2008
ST. PETE TIMES FORUM
TAMPA, FLORIDA

(12 Rds. IBO/IBF Light Heavyweight Championship)

ANTONIO TARVER VS. CLINTON WOODS
Tampa, FL Sheffield, England
(26-4, 19 KOs) / 173.75 lbs (41-3-1, 25 KOs) / 175 lbs
IBO Champion IBF Champion

(12 Rds. WBC Light Heavyweight Championship)

CHAD DAWSON VS. GLEN JOHNSON
Hartford, Conn Miami, FL
(25-0, 17 KOs) / 173.50 lbs (47-11-2, 32 KOs) / 172.50 lbs
WBC Champion Former World Champion

(6 Rds. Cruiserweight Bout)

WILLIE CHISOLM VS. AKINYEMI LALEYE
Gainesville, FL St. Petersburg, FL
(6-2, 3 KOs) / 193.50 lbs (8-1, 4 KOs) / 182.50 lbs

(6 Rds. Jr. Middleweight Bout)

BRIAN MIHTAR VS. CHRIS GRAY
Detroit, MI Baton Rouge, LA
(9-0, 8 KOs) / 152.25 lbs (7-7, 1 KO) / 151.75 lbs

(4 Rds. Middleweight Bout)

BRIAN MEADOWS VS. BENJAMIN JORDAN
Owensboro, KY St. Petersburg, FL
(0-0-1, 0 KOs) / 151 lbs Pro Debut / 154.50 lbs

(6 Rds. Women’s Super Middleweight Bout)

LAURA RAMSEY VS. ALEXANDRA MALOY
Lake Wales, FL Hamburg, Germany
(8-3, 4 KOs) / 168.75 lbs (2-3-2, 0 KOs) / 163.25 lbs.

(6 Rds. Bantamweight Bout)
YAN BARTHELEMY VS. JOSE GARCIA BERNAL
Arroyo Naranjo, Cuba Barranquilla, Colombia
(5-0, 0 KOs) / 117.5 lbs (26-11-1, 17 KOs) / 117.80 lbs

(6 Rds. Heavyweight Bout)

BOWIE TUPOU VS. RAMON HAYES
Nuki’alofa, Tonga Athens, GA
(13-0, 11 KOs) / 260.25 lbs (15-25-1, 10 KOs) / 261 lbs

(6 Rds. Jr. Middleweight Bout)

RAYMOND BIGGS, Jr. VS. JEAN BAPTISTE
Jersey City, NJ Orlando, FL
(8-0, 6 KOs) / 146.75 lbs (7-2-5, 0 KOs) / 150.50 lbs

(4 Rds. Super Middleweight Bout)

JONATHAN NELSON VS. DEVIN LANEY
Little Rock, AK Miami, FL
Pro Debut / 167.50 lbs (0-2, 0 KOs) / 168.50 lbs

(6 Rds. Heavyweight Bout)

DANNY WILLIAMS VS. MARCUS McGHEE
London, England Little Rock, AK
(37-6, 30 KOs) / 258.75 lbs (20-15, 10 KOs) / 233.75 lbs

(Card Subject To Change)

Updated TIME \@ “M/d/yy” 4/11/08
TIME \@ “h:mm AM/PM” 4:04 PM MDT

First it was on NBC, then ESPN.

Now “Contender” is searching for a new home.

Producer Jeff Wald is confident he’ll hook on with another net after he and ESPN could not come to terms for season four.

TOTOWA, NJ (April 10, 2008) – On Saturday, April 19, 2008, ESPN Classic will broadcast live the 12 round IBF Cruiserweight Eliminator between Tomasz Adamek (IBF #3) and O’ Neil Bell (IBF #7), it was jointly announced today by Main Events, Ziggy Promotions, Seminole Warriors Boxing, and KnockOut Promotion. The winner of this highly-anticipated cruiserweight showdown at the Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland will earn the IBF’s #1 mandatory position. ESPN Classic’s broadcast of the bout will begin at 6:00 pm ET.

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.

As an added bonus for fight fans, on April 19 at 12:00 am ET, ESPN Classic will air the May 20, 2005, vacant IBF Cruiserweight Championship bout between O’ Neil Bell and Dale Brown. Bell won the bout, and the title, by unanimous decision (W 12).

GOMEZ PALACIO, DURANGO, Mexico (April 10, 2008) – WBC champion Cristian Mijares and WBA title-holder Alexander “El Explosivio� Munoz will fight May 17 in the first super flyweight unification title bout in more than 10 years, headlining the “Noche de Campeons� pay-per-view event live from the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.

“Noche de Campeones,� promoted by KO Entertainment in association with DiBella Entertainment, will be produced and distributed by Integrated Sports for live viewing in the United States (9 PM/ET) on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and DISH Network, as well as on The Fight Network in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

The 12-round co-feature pits Mexican warriors Omar Salado and Julio Cesar “Pingo� Miranda in a WBC flyweight elimination bout.

“A worldwide show like this has never happened in Mexican boxing history,� promoter Nacho Huizar said. “The main event is going to be a war. Mijares is a great fighter; a technician who is very dangerous, too. Munoz is a big puncher. It’s going to be a classic fight.�

Mijares (34-3-2, 14 KOs), who has been boxing professionally since 1997, captured the WBC Interim title on September 18, 2006 by 12-round split decision (114-113, 114-113, 113-114) against Katsushige Kawashima (30-4) in Japan. The crafty Mexican southpaw successfully defended his WBC Interim belt the following November in Mexico, winning a 12-round unanimous decision (118-109, 117-110, 116-111) versus Reynaldo Lopez (28-3-2), and won his rematch for the WBC outright championship on January 3, 2007, stopping Kawashima (30-5) in the 10th round.

Mijares burst upon the global scene a year ago with an impressive, one-sided victory by unanimous 12-round decision (119-109, 118-110, 117-11) on PPV against popular, colorful Jorge “Travieso� Arce (46-4-1, 35 KOs) in San Antonio. “I didn’t doubt that I’d beat Arce,� Cristian noted, “but I didn’t think it would be that easy. I’d like to unify the super flyweight titles and then look to the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions, maybe against Wladimir Sidorenko or Jhonny Gonzalez.�

Currently riding a 24-fight unbeaten streak with 23 wins and one draw, Mijares attributes his success to a combination of a winning attitude, preparation and maximum sacrifice. Now one of the most popular and exciting all-around boxers in the world, Mijares has made four successful title defenses since defeating Arce against, in order, Terrei Kikui (215) by 10th round TKO, Frank Gorrjux (16-7) in the opening round, and Jose Navarro (26-3) via a 12-round decision on February 16 in Las Vegas.

Venezuela-native Munoz (32-2, 27 KOs) is a 2-time WBA super flyweight champion, first winning the coveted belt in 2002 with an eighth-round stoppage of Celes Kobayasho. Munoz made three winning title defenses against Eiji Kojima twice (KO2 and TKO10), sandwiched around a 12-round decision versus Hidenobu Honda (26-2), before losing a 12-round decision and his title belt to Martin Castillo (26-1) in 2004. Munoz won the WBA Fedelatin super flyweight crown in a WBA title eliminator, but Castillo won their 2006 rematch by 12-round split decision.

Munoz regained his WBA super flyweight title on May 3, 2007, taking a dominating 12-round decision from Nabuo Mashiro (9-0) in Japan. In a pair of title defenses, “El Explosivo� retained hos belt with 12-round decisions against, respectively, Kuniyuki Aizawa (13-1-1) and Katsushige Kawasjima (32-6) this past January in Japan.

Unbeaten former WBA Fedelatin super fIyweight champion Salado (19-0-2, 11 KOs) fought a 12-round draw with Ulises Solis (22-1-1) for the IBF light flyweight title in 2006. Salado is rated No. 6 by the WBC and The Ring, as well as No. 11 by the WBA. Miranda (25-3-1, 18 KOs) is ranked No. 3 by the WBC.

Mexican middleweight champion Ruben “Cloroformo� Padilla (15-2-1, 14 KOs) is scheduled to fight in one of two other 10-round PPV bouts against an opponent to be determined.

Slated to fight on the live undercard are other Mexican boxers such as undefeated super lightweight Antonio “Canitas� Lozado, Jr. (14-0, 14 KOs), lightweight Ricardo “Camaleon� Mijares (9-0, 8 KOs) and welterweight Ivan “El Ruso� Pereyra (1-0, 1 KO). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.