Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

Flores rejects CES offer to fight Godfrey on ESPN show

PROVIDENCE (June 25, 2008) – Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES) president Jimmy Burchfield has expressed his disappointed that USBA cruiserweight champion BJ Flores (21-0-1, 12 KOs) has rejected an offer to fight NABF cruiserweight title-holder Matt “Too Smooth� Godfrey (16-1, 9 KOs) in an ESPN2 main event next month.

Flores is rated No. 2 by the IBF, as well as No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, by the WBO and WBA. Godfrey, ranked No. 5 by the WBC, was dropped from the WBA and IBF rankings when he fought Rudy Kraj (LDEC12) this past February in an WBC title eliminator.

The cruiserweight division has been left wide open with David Haye’s recent move up to the heavyweight ranks. Flores and Godfrey are two of the top American cruiserweights in a division now primarily ruled by Europeans, excluding IBF title-holder Steve Cunningham.

“Flores and his people refused the challenge to fight Godfrey on ESPN2,� Burchfield said. “They’ve been shooting their mouths off in the media about wanting to fight a top cruiserweight, but they claim that there isn’t enough money in a fight against Godfrey, that it belongs on HBO or Showtime. Well, HBO and Showtime aren’t interested in that fight. Flores hasn’t had a fight since he beat Darnell Wilson (WDEC12) last December on ESPN2. I think they’re being shortsighted. The winner of a fight between BJ and Matt would be the top American challenger at 200-pounds and then HBO and Showtime would have to be interested. Both BJ and Matt need a big win to get to that level.

“Look, BJ, I can have a contract to you within 24 hours. You’ve talked a lot, now it’s time to put your name on the dotted line. It was time to put up or shut up and I guess BJ shut up. Reconsider and take the fight. This is the second time I’ve offered you a fight against Godfrey.

The last time you were promoted by Silverhawk and I don’t know if you ever knew about it. You do now. We believe Matt Godfrey is the top American cruiserweight contender. Here’s you’re opportunity to prove you’re the real No. 1.�

For information about CES, its shows or fighters, call 401.724.2253/2254 or go on line and visit www.cesboxing.com.

NEW YORK (June 25, 2008) – The return of unbeaten world middleweight title contender “Ireland’s� John Duddy to Boston highlights Saturday night’s (June 28) “Hassle In The Castle,� presented by Irish Ropes Promotions, at The Castle.

Duddy (24-0, 17 KOs), rated No. 2 by the WBC and WBO, faces Charles Howe (17-4-2, 9 KOs), in the 10-round main event. The popular Irishman has a growing fan base in Boston, where he has fought and served as a television color analyst in the past.

The 8-round co-feature pits a pair of middleweights, 2000 Canadian Olympian Donald Orr (12-0, 5 KOs), now fighting out of South Boston, against former Mexican Pacific Coast champion Roberto “El Viejo� Valenzuela (44-37-2, 37 KOs)

Two-time U.S. National amateur champion Edwin Rodriguez (6-0, 5 KOs), of Worcester (MA), takes on dangerous Hector Hernandez (10-2-2, 4 KOs) in a 6-round bout.

Also on the undercard in a pair of 6-rounders, Boston by way of Ireland cruiserweight Mark Clancy (7-0-1, 1 KO), 4-time Irish National amateur finalist, meets Salah Zabian (6-10, 4 KOs), of Lee (MA), while Lynn (MA) junior welterweight Simeon Dunwell (7-0, 2 KOs) squares off against Aaron Drake (13-6, 9 KOs). Anthony Accardo (1-0, 1 KO) fights Broderick Antoine (2-5-1, 1 KO) in a 4-round match. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.

Limited tickets are priced at $50.00 $75.00 and $100.00 and are available up until Friday, 4 PM at The Kells (Jerry Quinn – 617.733.4535) in Allston, Porter Belly’s (Sean McCormack and Pat O’Sullivan – 617.254.3300) in Brighton, Shenanigans Bar & Grill (Shay Harris – 617.269.9509) in South Boston, and The Banshee Pub (617.436.9747). Tickets will also be on sale until midnight Friday through www.irishropes and at the door Saturday night at the fights. Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 7:30 PM/ET.

Bay Area Ca. June 23, 2008
Two-time world champion, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (22-1-1, 15 KO’s) has made the decision to vacate his IBF Featherweight title and move up to Jr. Lightweight. The decision came about as Guerrero, who stands at 5′8 ½, struggled to make weight in his last two championship bouts.

Since he was eighteen years old, Guerrero has been fighting in the Featherweight (126 lbs) division. Now twenty five, “The Ghost” feels he’ll be physically more powerful at Jr. Lightweight (130 lbs) as he stated, “It’s been my childhood dream to become a world champion and I’ve accomplished that goal at Featherweight. I’m truly appreciative to the IBF for giving me the opportunity to fight for their title. I’ve been at this weight since the amateurs. I’ve come to realize that I can no longer make Featherweight and feel strong. I’m older now, my body has matured, so its time for me to move up in weight. The extra four pounds will only make me stronger. At Jr. Lightweight I believe I’ll be more effective.”

Guerrero won his first world title on November 9, 2006 when he stopped Eric Aiken at the Staples Center due to a vicious body attack. Aiken could no longer continue after the eighth round, giving The Ghost a TKO vicory.

On February 23, 2007, “The Ghost” became two-time world champion when he traveled overseas and defeated home town hero, Spend Abazi, via ninth round TKO. Robert was put in the difficult situation to cross continents, when Orlando Salido, who out pointed him on November 4, 2006, tested positive with the powerful steroid nandrolone. Salido was stripped of the title giving Guerrero the opportunity to regain his championship belt. The bout was later ruled a no decision.

In his first title defense Guerrero knocked out Martin Honorio in the first 56 seconds of the opening round. The fight took place at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson AZ, on November 3, 2007.

February 29, 2008 at the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore CA, Robert knocked out Jason Litzau in the eighth round. A perfectly timed uppercut sent Litzu to the canvas, ending the contest at the 2:25 mark, as Guerrero defended his title for the second time.

“My goal now is to become a world champion at the Jr. Lightweight and Lightweight divisions.” said Guerrero, “I want to challenge all the big names, guys like Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. I feel confident in my ability to accomplish my new goals.”

Day three, Cayman diary. Toonoy version. I have to say I’m eating humble pie right
now, I thought the promotion would be a flop, ticket sales were not good, and I had
a few of the fights down as being potential mismatches. How wrong I was. In true
Caymanian tradition everyone left it until they arrived at the gate to buy their
tickets, and it was a virtual sellout of around 2,500, though as you could wander
and stand where you liked, that may have gave the impression of 5000 – plus we were
bloody noisy (I gave a few ‘big up’s to Radam, Smiley and the don, don’t know if you
heard me fellas?). The promotion was hyper professional, with no more than ten mins
between each bout, and one of our local steel pan bands playing not just between
bouts, but between rounds. Clifford had funded a great firework display over the
caribbean sea to start the televised part of the evening off, I was surprised
Showtime didn’t use it. Every fight was explosive, it was just a shame that Charles
Whittaker didn’t get a little air time. I woke my son Joe up to see Tommy Hearns, he
may only be six, but he’ll appreciate it when he’s sixteen. I may be rambling here
to you city boys, but to be at an event like this in our little island, is quite
something. Would you be standing in the bogs in some big Vegas casino, peeing next
to, and talking to Dan Goosen about what a great show he put on? By the way, he said
it was Wayne, not Cheryl, that called it quits. And Mr.Avila. Pleasure to meet you
sir, sorry I couldn’t make it to the Weston before your flight, but you’ll be
pleased to hear Joe’s hockey team won their game. I hope you enjoyed your stay and
will join us again if and when they run Cayman Knockout II. Pathetic fanboy that I
may be (and I’m sure I’ll get some stick for it), it made my day that you seemed to
know who I was, and sod Facebook, TSS is my second home. Fo’sure, holla back ladies,
pinoy power, and Toonoy to you all my brothers. Andy from Newcastle, and Wee Joe.

Unbeaten IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham weighed 166 pounds and Edison Miranda weighed 165 at Friday’s weigh-in at Hollywood, Fla.

In Saturday’s main event on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast), Abraham (26-0, 21 KOs) and Miranda (30-2, 26 KOs) will clash in an eagerly awaited rematch of a controversial fight Abraham won 21 months ago in Germany. The 12-round scrap will be contested at a catch weight of 166 pounds.

Undefeated middleweight Giovanni Lorenzo and Raul Marquez, who square off in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING co-feature, weighed 160 pounds Friday. Lorenzo has a record of 26-0 with 19 knockouts, while Marquez is 41-3 with 29 KOs.

HBO BOXING AFTER DARK

“BLACK AND BLUES�

ANDRE BERTO vs. MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ

CHAZZ WITHERSPOON vs. CHRIS ARREOLA

SATURDAY JUNE 21, 2008

FedExForum Memphis, TN

WEIGHTS FROM MEMPHIS

12 ROUNDS – WBC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

ANDRE BERTO vs. MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ

Winter Haven, FL Mexico City, Mexico

146 lbs. 145 lbs.

12 ROUNDS – WBC CONTINENTAL AMERICAS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

CHAZZ WITHERSPOON vs. CHRIS ARREOLA

Philadelphia, PA Riverside, CA

220 lbs. 239 lbs.

Tickets on Sale – Saturday, 11 AM!
ZAB ‘SUPER’ JUDAH TO BATTLE JOSHUA CLOTTEY
FOR WORLD TITLE AUGUST 2 AT THE PEARL

Las Vegas — Powerful, all-action Zab ‘Super’ Judah of Brooklyn, N.Y. will battle #1-rated welterweight Joshua Clottey of Ghana on a Top Rank championship boxing card at The Pearl inside the Palms Casino Resort on Saturday, August 2, 2008. The announcement was made today by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

Judah, 36-5 with 25 knockouts, will face Clottey, 34-2 with 21 knockouts in a International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title fight, topping off a night of seven bouts.

Rated IBF #1, Clottey, 30, earned the #1 ranking and status as a mandatory world challenger when he won a 12-round decision over Shamone Alvarez in an eliminator bout last December in Las Vegas. Born and raised in Accra, Ghana, Clottey moved to the Bronx, N.Y. several years ago. He is managed by Vincent Scolpino and trained by Kwame Asante.

Judah, who is ranked IBF #3, is the former undisputed welterweight champion of the world. He has fought 15 times in world title fights with a record of 10-5-0. Keeping it in the family, Judah is trained by his father Yoel.

Judah vs. Clottey will be broadcast on HBO After Dark. In its 13th year on the air, HBO BOXING AFTER DARK will telecast the event with announcing duties held by blow-by-blow announcer Bob Papa, commentator Max Kellerman and expert analyst Lennox Lewis.

Tickets for Judah vs. Clottey are $88.00, $178.00 and $253.00, plus any additional service fees and go on-sale Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Please visit any Ticketmaster location, call 702-474-4000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets. The Pearl Box Office is open from noon – 7 p.m. daily. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and first bell is 5:00 p.m. HBO telecast begins at 7:30 p.m. The Pearl is home to Miller Lite Live, presented by Cricket Wireless; for more information on upcoming concerts, please call 702-942-6888.

About The Pearl:
The Pearl is Las Vegas’ premier concert theater boasting accommodations for up to 2,500 ticket holders. Featuring a stage just four feet from the floor and the farthest seating area being a mere 120 feet from the stage, The Pearl offers the utmost in intimate viewing of your favorite acts. Private and semi-private skyboxes are located on each side of the venue offering private bars, lounges and restrooms. The Pearl is a marvel of modern technology using only top quality sound and video equipment throughout. Hard wired to The Studio at The Palms, The Pearl allows artists to create a cost-effective live album with efficiency and without additional venue set-up. For more information, please visit www.palms.com.

June 20, 2008 – Leading up to the lightweight championship bout between David Diaz and Manny Pacquiao — set for Saturday, June 28 in Las Vegas and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View– HBO Sports will present the exclusive replay of two action-packed fights.

On Friday, June 27 at 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT) and Saturday, June 28 at 10:00 a.m. (ET/PT), HBO2 will replay Pacquiao vs. Barrera II 2007 and Morales vs. Pacquiao II 2006. Pacquiao’s second encounter with Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6, 2007 was a rematch of the super featherweight division’s two most exciting stars with Pacquiao winning a unanimous decision over one of the division’s elite fighters. On January 21, 2006, Manny Pacquiao delivered a spectacular performance against Erik Morales, winning the rematch by TKO in the 10th round.

The fights will also be available to HBO On Demand subscribers and can be seen 24 hours a day, from Monday, June 23 thru Monday, July 7.

On Saturday, June 28 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT, HBO Pay-Per-View will present Diaz vs. Pacquiao live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.