Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

LAS VEGAS – July 23, 2008 – For the third year in a row, ESPN Radio 1100 AM will host “The Longest Radio Show Ever” to benefit The Caring Place, a charitable organization which provides services, free of charge, for the mind, body and soul of those touched by cancer. The radio show, to be held This Friday! July 25, 2008, is currently accepting bids at www.espn1100.com for co-hosts for the 24-hour radio show. The bidding closes one week prior to event.

The radio show will begin at 6 a.m. on Friday, July 25 and conclude at 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 26. Celebrity hosts are recognized both locally and nationally and include, Boxing analyst Emanuel Steward, Actor/ Comedian Carrot Top, Clint Holmes, voted “The Best of Las Vegas” singer entertainer, Master Magician Lance Burton and, Showtime boxing analyst and former ESPN Radio host Al Bernstein among others. Listeners have the opportunity to bid on the hour that they would like to co-host with the celebrity. Currently, bidding is almost $4,000 and is quickly rising, with all proceeds raised benefiting The Caring Place, “for those touched by cancer”.

On Friday evening, July 25 while the radio show is taking place, a reception will be held at “The Lounge” at the Palms Hotel and Casino honoring World Champion boxing promoter Bob Arum as ESPN Radio 1100 AM “Sportsman of the Year”. Guests will have the opportunity to meet with Bob Arum and the top sports and entertainment celebrities participating in the radio marathon. Tickets to the reception are $150. For more information, please call The Caring Place at 702.871.7333.

The Caring Place is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization created to provide free services for the mind, body and soul of those touched by cancer. It was founded by Connie Bernstein, cancer survivor and wife of Al Bernstein, and Mary Ann Allison, M.D. Bruce Rowe is Chair-elect of the 10 member board of directors of The Caring Place. The free services that are offered at The Caring Place are geared to support conventional cancer treatments. These include yoga, meditation, emotional support, nutritional counseling, an informational library and much more. For more information on The Caring Place, please go to www.thecaringplacenv.org.

TOTOWA, NJ (July 22, 2008) – WBC/IBF #4 ranked jr. middleweight contender Joel Julio will headline an August 13, 2008, fight card from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. Julio will battle Nicaraguan veteran Jose Varela in a 10 round jr. middleweight contest. Both the Julio-Varela bout and the co-feature contest between “Mean” Joe Greene and Jose Miguel Torres will be broadcast live on ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights,” beginning at 9:00 pm ET.

Julio (33-1, 30 KO’s) is ranked #4 by the WBC and the IBF, #2 by the WBO, and #6 by the WBA. The 23-year-old Monteria, Colombia native has stopped 21 opponents within the first three rounds. He has won his last six bouts, three by knockout. In his last bout on April 30, 2008, Julio defeated Ishe Smith (W 10).

Varela (23-3, 16 KO’s) has won five of his last six bouts. The 31-year-old Chinandega, Nicaragua native has stopped 11 opponents within the first three rounds. On October 13, 2006, Varela captured the WBC Continental Americas Jr. Middleweight Championship by defeating Manuel Gomez (W 12).

ERIE,PA — (July 22, 2008) — Unbeaten former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora (41-0-1) has cleared another hurdle in his comeback bid. Spadafora who underwent knee surgery June 3rd at Sharon Regional Health Systems Hospital in Sharon, PA, returned to the gym yesterday, Monday, July 21. The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Lustig a renown specialist in knee surgeries to remove a floating cartilage.

“The surgery was a success and Paul’s knee has responded very well to the surgery and rehabilitation,” Dr. Lustig.

Spadafora injured his knee January 17th and went through strength conditioning and rehabilitation in February and March in hopes of getting his knee better.

Spadafora stated ” I thought that the conditioning and rehab would work but it was temporary, in my last fight (April 26th) I experienced too much pain and inability to move my knee and just couldn’t perform the way I can.”

Michael Acri, Spadafora’s promoter, hopes to have a fight scheduled for him at the end of August or the beginning of September.

Spadafora captured the IBF world lightweight title in 1999, upsetting the heavily-favored Israel Cardona via a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision. After successfully defending his world championship crown eight times during his four-year reign, he vacated the title to move up in weight.

Joe Calzaghe injured his right wrist while training, forcing postponement of his Sept. 20 defense against Roy Jones Jr. at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Joe C hurt his right wrist punching the heavy bag.

The bout may go on in November instead.

Jones (52-4, 38 KOs) should not be too surprised by this development; Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KOs) has a history of injuries to his hands and arms.

LAS VEGAS (July 22, 2008) – Two-time World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (43-7-1, 29 KOs), rated No. 2 by the WBA, travels to Germany once again to fight the 7-0, 320-pound giant who took his title belt 2 ½ years ago, No. 1 contender Nikolai Valuev (48-1, 34 KOs), on August 30 in Berlin.

The WBA vacated the title due to an injury to Ruslan Chagaev, declared him “champion in recess” and ruled that the top two rated contenders had to fight for the title. Valuev’s co-promoter, Sauerland Event, won the Valuev-Ruiz II purse bid ($2,006,500 – 50/50 split between the two fighters; beating rival Universum by a mere $94,000) and the title fight will take place in the same arena they originally fought, Max Schmeling Halle, where Valuev won a controversial 12-round majority decision (116-114, 116-114, 114-114). The Valuev-Ruiz II winner will be obliged to fight Chagaev, if available, by June 26, 2009.

“It was more like a robbery than hometown decision,” Ruiz remembered the night Valuev defeated him. “Boxing is the only sport you can get robbed without a gun. I really enjoy the German people. They’ve been very hospitable to me. I love going back, just not for a fight, but I’m happy to have an opportunity to fight for my third world title.

“I’m going over there to slay the giant, really re-slay him because I definitely won the first fight. They just gave him the decision. After that fight I realized I needed a real trainer and I’ve learned so much working with Manny Siaca, Sr. in my last three fights. He’s taught me a lot and we’ve continued working on the fundamentals.”

Ruiz spots Valuev 10-inches in height and around 100 pounds. “It seemed like I went over there the first time as the opponent instead of the 2-time champion,” Ruiz noted. “I beat Valuev to the punch all night. There’s no way he won a decision. I just have to do the same thing only this time make a statement each round, not let there be any close rounds. I outworked him the last time and will do that again. Only no close rounds that they can give him, just clear rounds scored for me. But I’m not sure if I knock him down 10 times that I’ll get a decision. You know that old saying, if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there, does it make a sound? Well, we’re going to put that saying to a test. The fight won’t be televised in the United States but, when I knockout Valuev, he’ll be heard crashing to the canvas all over the United States and Puerto Rico. Timber!”

“Valuev’s people are talking about him fighting at home,” Ruiz’ attorney and legal advisor Tony Cardinale said. “They must have forgotten how there was a near riot when they announced the scores at their first fight. The booing and whistling was beyond belief. Max Schmeling Halle became John’s house. We can’t wait to fight there again.”

The Puerto Rican-American Ruiz, living in Las Vegas, is the first and only Latino heavyweight champion of the world. He has fought in 10 world championship fights, defeating three world heavyweight champions — Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker – in addition to beating top contenders such as Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo, Kirk Johnson and Jameel McCline during his 15-year pro career.

Junior middleweight James Moore ready for return to the ring against Lloyd Christian Joseph at B.B. Kings on Wednesday, August 6.

The popular junior middleweight James Moore, 15-1 (10 KOS), a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, who fights of Queens, New York, will face the battle-tested veteran Lloyd Christian Joseph, 12-6-3 (5 KOS), in an 8 round bout on Wednesday, August 6, at B.B. King Blues Club in the heart of New York City’s Times Square.

This will be Moore’s first fight since losing a disputed decision to Gabriel Rosado on June 4.

The show, which is being called “Hot Fights…Summer in the City,” is being co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. It will be televised as part of DiBella’s popular Broadway Boxing series.

A lot of eyes will be on Moore, who has been sparring with such rugged fighters as George Walton. “We’ve had some real ding-dongs in the gym,” said the relaxed Moore at the July 21 press conference at Hurley’s Saloon in midtown Manhattan. “Everything is back to normal. I’m feeling really good, and I can’t wait to get back on the winning track.”

Moore says Joseph’s record and level of opposition indicates that he is a “tough and durable opponent, which is exactly what I need right now.”

Promoter DiBella is thrilled to have Moore on the show and looks forward to working with him in the future.

“It’s hard not to love the way James fights,” said DiBella. “His loss to Rosado was just a bump in the road. I admire the fact that he took a comeback fight against Joseph, who is not a pitty-pat opponent. James is very exciting to watch. I love his body punching and his attitude.”

Should Moore beat Joseph, there is talk of him fighting on the undercard of the Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. title bout at Madison Square Garden on September 20. Names being mentioned as possible opponents are Troy Browning and Willie Lee.

As excited as Moore is about the future, he is not looking beyond Joseph right now.

“I’m not thinking about September when it’s not even August 6 yet,” said Moore. “Once this fight is behind me, I’ll think about the next one.”

Headlining the August 6 show is former world lightweight champion Randall Bailey, 36-3 (33 KOS), of Miami vs. Dairo Esalas, 31-13 (25 KOS), of Colombia. Popular New York heavyweight Vinny Maddalone, 29-4 (20 KOS), will be appearing in the co-feature.

Also scheduled to appear is featherweight Dat Nguyen, 12-1 (6 KOS), an exciting Vietnamese-American who fights out of Vero Beach, Florida.

Making their pro debuts will be lightweight Ryan Kielczewski of Lowell, Massachusetts, and two sensational New York amateurs: light heavyweight Will Rosinsky of Queens and Philip Jackson-Benson of Brooklyn. Rosinsky is a four-time New York City Golden Gloves champion, while Jackson-Benson is a two-time titlist.

B.B. Kings is located at 237 West 42 Street in Manhattan. Tickets are priced at $160 (VIP seats and VIP tables); $100 (ringside seats and ringside tables); and $60 for standing room only. Due to the intimate size of the venue, only 550 seats are available. To purchase tickets, call DBE at 212-947-2577.

JOEL CASAMAYOR DEFENDS WORLD LIGHTWEIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST FORMER TWO-DIVISION

WORLD CHAMPION JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ

ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 AT THE MGM GRAND

LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW

Los Angeles, July 15, 2008 – Mexico celebrated its independence from Spain on the historic date of September 16, 1810 and over the years, this day has grown to become a special day of celebration, especially in the world of sports and entertainment. This year, the boxing world will celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day when reigning Ring Magazine World Lightweight Champion Joel “El Cepillo�? Casamayor meets former two-division World Champion Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday, Sept. 13 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. in a 12-round championship bout that celebrates the best of the sweet science and two of its greatest practitioners.

In professional boxing, this day or the celebrated weekend has always been home to the largest boxing events in the history of the sport. Some of the most memorable Mexican Independence Day fights were: Sept. 18, 1998 when the “Golden Boy�? Oscar de la Hoya faced Mexican icon, Julio Caesar Chavez; Sept. 18, 1999 when the “Golden Boy�? faced Puerto Rico’s Felix “Tito�? Trinidad; and Sept. 14, 2002 when De La Hoya faced Fernando “Ferocious�? Vargas.

Casamayor vs. Marquez, a 12-round bout for Casamayor’s Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship, will headline a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Romanza Boxing and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Cazadores Tequila. The world title bout will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $300, $200, $125 and $75 are on sale and may be purchased at any MGM Grand box office outlet and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“I’m very excited for this great fight and I’m happy that Golden Boy gave me this opportunity,�? said Casamayor. “It is going to be a war between two legends but one of us will be finished after this and I know I’m going to retire Juan Manuel Marquez on September 13.�?

Marquez commented, “This is the most important fight of my life because I’m putting my career on the line to go up in weight to fight Joel. He is the best at 135 and a very dangerous fighter. It’s a huge fight for me and I’m very excited to fight in front of all of my loyal fans in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend.�?

De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, said, “This match-up continues the great tradition in boxing to hold championship bouts on Mexican Independence Day weekend. When Joel Casamayor, a legendary Cuban fighter and an Olympic Gold Medalist, meets a very dangerous two-division World Champion and future hall of famer in Juan Manuel Marquez, the fans will get their money’s worth of skill, heart and action. This fight is an exciting way to kick off the Fall boxing season and there is no doubt that this will be one of the best fights of 2008 as both fighters are looking to win after coming off dramatic battles.�?

Richard Sturm, president of Sports and Entertainment of MGM MIRAGE, said, “The fans in the Grand Garden Arena will be treated to a sensational event. We look forward to celebrating Mexican Independence Day weekend with Golden Boy Promotions and HBO Pay-Per-View.�?

HBO PPV’s Mark Taffet said, “Casamayor-Marquez is a marquee matchup in a division that continues to turn out one great fight after another. It’s the kind of ‘best vs. best’ battle that boxing fans love.�?

The greatest Cuban fighter of the last 30 years, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist and current Ring Magazine Lightweight World Champion Casamayor (36-3-1, 22 KOs) has unquestionably stamped himself as a future Hall of Famer with world titles in two weight classes, along with a resume that many experts believe should contain no losses. Owner of wins over Nate Campbell, Diego Corrales (twice) and Roberto Garcia, Casamayor’s only defeats have come via highly disputed decisions against Acelino Freitas, Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, fights most believe “El Cepillo�? deserved to win. In his last fight in March though, Casamayor refused to leave things in the hands of the judges and knocked out the previously unbeaten Australian warrior Michael Katsidis in the 10th round.

A wizard of the ring who mixes technical prowess with a warrior’s heart and a willingness to go to war, Marquez (48-4-1, 35 KOs) already has secured his legacy as one of the greatest Mexican fighters of all-time. However, he is not satisfied – thus his pursuit of a world title in a third weight class. A former Featherweight and Super Featherweight World Champion, Marquez has fought the best of this era including Manny Pacquiao (twice), Marco Antonio Barrera, Rocky Juarez and Manuel Medina. With his only loss in the last two years being a controversial split decision at the hands of Pacquiao in their classic rematch in March, it is clear that like a fine wine, the 34-year-old Marquez is getting better with age.

The Casamayor vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $44.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to 71 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Casamayor vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

Andy Lee has been handed an acid test as he looks to bounce back from the first defeat of his career when he headlines the next Ladbrokes.com Fight Night in his native Limerick on July 19th.

Lee will face Philadelphia puncher Willie “The Gladiator�? Gibbs and the American is predicting a nightmare return to the University Sports Arena in Limerick for the hometown hero next weekend.

“I’m still scratching my head about this fight,�? said a bemused Gibbs. “I mean the guy just suffered his first defeat and now they want him to suffer a second one straight away. It doesn’t make sense to me but I’ll do what I have to do and that’s come to Ireland to destroy Andy Lee.�?

Gibbs will touch down in Shannon with the credentials to back up his impressive talk. The former USBA middleweight champion has a record of 20 wins and just 3 defeat’s with 16 of those wins coming via knockout.

A cousin of pound for pound great Bernard Hopkins Gibbs believes he shares more than a family tree with his fellow Philadelphia native. “Bernard came through the hard way and ended up right at the top of the game I’m going to do the same. I’ve had setbacks in my career with managerial and trainer problems but this is a great opportunity for me to beat an up and coming kid and make the world sit up and take notice of Willie Gibbs again. Beating Andy Lee will put me back in the boxing atmosphere and can take me to a world title fight and that’s my goal.�?

Gibbs had been in training for a July 12th date in Dublin against Matthew Macklin but when that fight fell through he was only too happy to switch his focus to Lee.

“I don’t know what his team are thinking of with this fight. Do they honestly believe I’m going to come all the way to Ireland to lie down for him? I saw Lee’s last fight and he’s a good young fighter who’s shooting for his dream like the rest of us but he ain’t ready for me. The fact that they even think they can take me shows they’re underestimating me. That’s a slap in the face for me and it’s all the motivation I need.

“Rest assured I’m going to be packing my A game into my suitcase. People are saying that Lee can’t afford to lose this one well neither can I so I’m going to be a dangerous man in that ring. If it’s God’s grace for me to land that right hand then I know I’ll take him out. I broke my right hand early on in the fight when I won the USBA title but still knocked the guy out in the last round with a double right hook.

“I’m an old school fighter and I go in there and give blood, sweat and tears because that’s what the fans pay to see. The only problem is that the tears will be from Lee’s people.�?

Despite his bold prediction Gibbs believes Lee to be a good fighter. “I haven’t seen that much of him yet but from what I have seen he seems to be a good kid. I’m certainly not going to question his heart because any man that gets into that four cornered ring has heart.�?

Gibbs has been to Europe before having competed in Russia, Germany and Poland during his amateur days but he says there will be a new addition to his luggage this time around. “I’m definitely bringing the mask to Ireland,�? said Gibbs referring to the Gladiator style mask that always identifies him as he makes his ringwalk. Ireland hasn’t seen the mask and they haven’t seen Willie Gibbs either. Everyone there is in for a big surprise.�?

Lee however will he hoping that vociferous home support can see him record the 16th win of his pro career and get him back to winning ways. The Shannonsider made an emotional homecoming to his native city in February headlining the first ever professional boxing event in the city with a demolition of Argentina’s Alejandro Gustavo Falliga.

However in his next outing Lee suffered the first setback of his career with a shock defeat at the hands of Brian Vera in Connecticut in a fight that was televised live coast to coast in the U.S.

Now Lee has the opportunity to get back to winning ways in front of his home town support but with Gibbs in the opposite corner it promises to be a huge test for the Athens Olympian.

Lee ready to bounce back

Andy Leee will look to return to winning ways on July 19th in his native Limerick but he realises he won’t have it easy when he faces Willie “The Gladiator�? Gibbs on the next Ladbrokes.com Fight Night.

The fight will mark Lee’s return to the ring following his shock defeat at the hands of Brian Vera in March. It was huge upset for the highly touted Irish southpaw who was rated one of the 5 best prospects in world boxing.

“There’s no real point dressing it up and put a positive spin on the Vera fight,�? admitted Lee. “It was very disappointing but I’m ready to move on now and can’t wait to get back in the ring. People have said that the defeat might lower expectations and take some weight off my shoulders but I didn’t have a problem with that weigh because nobody’s expectations were any higher than my own.

“I’ve taken some positives from it though, I definitely learned a few things from that fight so I’m keen to move on now and put it behind me. I’m really looking forward to the Gibbs fight because he’s very highly regarded. He’s only lost to the best so he has to be respected and a good win over him will get me right back on track again.�?

Lee’s first preference was for a rematch with Vera but with the Texas man showing little interest in a return for the moment it’s something he’s willing to remain patient for.

“We spoke to his people about a rematch but they weren’t interested. Maybe it’s something that can happen later on because that’s something I really want to put right but for now I’m just focusing on Willie Gibbs and getting a big win in Limerick.�?

Lee admits that it will be great to have the backing of a hometown crowd as he looks to get back to winning ways. “It’s great that my first fight back after the defeat is in Limerick. The support last time was amazing. It was an experience to remember so hopefully July 19th will be the same.�?