Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

Since his release on bail several weeks ago, Edgar Santana has been diligently training as he works on his imminent return to the ring. In good spirits and eager to fight, Santana is spending a lot of time with family and working on his plans to open up his barber shop in Spanish Harlem.
On Monday 8/11 he makes a scheduled court appearance with attorney Dan Ollen. Santana, his team and family feel optimistic about having a favorable outcome regarding the allegations against him.
While the team is not allowed to speak about the details of the case they feel that the evidence used to indict him does not come even remotely close to the outlandish way the charges were presented to the public. We will however say that no drugs or cash were confiscated from Santana and the possession of drugs or cash are not part of the evidence against him.
The sideshow fashion with which Santana, who does not have a criminal record, was paraded for the benefit of the press and the language used to describe his involvement were completely over the top. Santana’s arrest has received media coverage that not even boxers who win World Championships receive.
Sadly, that same media coverage was not there when Santana donated money and equipment to unfunded boxing gyms, visited sick children at hospitals, spoke to elementary school children or participated in many community events throughout New York. Santana has been a preeminent role model for his community in Spanish Harlem and will continue to do those things have made the community proud of him. The stereotypical way he has been presented will be countered aggressively and proven to have no merit.
We want to continue to thank all those who have sent us wishes of continued support. The outpouring has been overwhelming and rest assured that Santana’s campaign toward a World Title continues and more importantly, the fine reputation he has earned as an individual will be restored.

Best Regards,

Team Santana

NEW YORK (August 8, 2008) – DiBella Entertainment has signed former welterweight champion Kermit “The Killer” Cintron (29-2, 27 KO’s) to a promotional agreement. “I am happy to work with Kermit,” said DBE head Lou DiBella. “He is a tough, quick, aggressive fighter in the ring and a class act out of it. It’s a wide open welterweight division. Kermit is a devastating puncher and certainly has the ability to win another world title.”

“I’m definitely happy,” Cintron said. “I think that Lou DiBella has the right people around him. He’s a very good promoter who can take me back to the top.”

Cintron captured the IBF Welterweight title in 2006, knocking out Mark Suarez (25-3, 13 KO’s) in the sixth round. Cintron then made two successful defenses in 2007, the first in July with a second round knockout of highly touted Argentinean Walter Dario Matthysse (26-4, 25 KO’s) in Atlantic City. Cintron followed that impressive win when he pulled off a tenth round knockout of an extremely game Jesse Feliciano.

Cintron is looking to get back into the thick of the division after dropping his title to Antonio Margarito (37-5, 27 KO’s). “Kermit is still a young man in the prime of his career, and losing to a fighter the caliber of Margarito is certainly no disgrace,” said DiBella. “Kermit is an intelligent athlete who knows exactly what he has to do to get to the top of the most talented division in boxing. We will help him get there.”

HOLLYWOOD, FL, August 8 – With a combined knockout percentage of 85% in their 53 pro bouts, it is easy to see why Joel Julio and ‘Mean’ Joe Greene are considered two of the most powerful punchers in boxing today. On Wednesday, August 13, at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, these “Heavy Hitters” will look to add two more names to their victims list as they co-headline ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights.

Julio will compete in a ten round bout and Greene will fight in a 12 round NABA title fight. “Heavy Hitters” is presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing and Main Events. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first bell rings at 7:30pm. ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights broadcast begins at 9pm ET / 6pm PT. Tickets for “Heavy Hitters”, priced at $152, $102, $52 and $27, are on sale now, and may be purchased at Hard Rock Live Box Office or TicketMaster.com.

Ruiz challenges media critics to wager

LAS VEGAS (August 7, 2008) – Two-time World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (43-7-1, 29 KOs) has issued a challenge to his media critics regarding his style.

Over the years, Ruiz often has been criticized for his unpopular “clutch-and-grab” style, but in his last three fights with head trainer Manny Siaca, Sr. in his corner, “The Quietman” has returned to the aggressive fighter he was when he first won the heavyweight title in 2001. The problem is Ruiz’ last four fights, including his first against Valuev, have not been televised in the United States, although that hasn’t prevented critics from continuing to unfairly bash him.

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. Ruiz, rated No. 2 by the WBA, leaves August 22nd for 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 for the WBA title.

“It’s sad to say but right after my last fight against (Jameel) McCline,” Ruiz said, “a reporter asked me about me going back to holding my opponent. It’s easy for them to say that because they think that’s my style. There are two fighters in the ring and I wasn’t the one holding. Reporters are just used it, I guess, but I’m challenging them to a bet. They can watch my last fight against McCline, as well as my first against Valuev, and then we can make a bet about who will hold more, me or Valuev. It can be by the round, or the entire fight; so much money per hold (differential), or a flat rate. If I hold more, I’ll make a donation to the charity of the reporter’s choice; if Valuev holds more, the reporter has to make a donation to my charity. They can have as many reporters as they want betting for what ever amount they can choose. I’m giving them a chance to put their money where their mouths are. Then, finally, they will realize that I don’t fight like I used to; no more clutching and grabbing for me.”

Ruiz has been sparring with a pair of 7-footers the past two weeks in Las Vegas, where John lives and trains, to prepare to fight Valuev on the road in The Giant’s backyard. “It’s been a great camp,” Ruiz remarked. “We’ve been working hard to make sure that I stay focused. There’s a lot less stress with Manny than at my old training camps. My sparring partners are working out good.

“I hope I don’t have to knockdown Valuev every round to get a split decision,” Ruiz joked. “I have to stay inside and busy, like in our last fight, but this time I need to throw better combinations and give him different angles. We don’t want to let him just stand still and throw punches. I’m going to make him move. I’ll be taking the fight to him, but more around him, to see what he can do when he has to move.”

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 McCline during his 15-year pro career.

LOS ANGELES (August 7) – Tickets officially go on sale tomorrow, Friday Aug. 8, at 10:00am PT for the Junior Welterweight World Championship unification bout between England’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and New York’s Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 and sales are limited to four (4) per person at the $1,000 price level and a total of two (2) tickets either at $750, $500, $300 or $150. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com .

An international superstar hailing from Manchester, England, the storied career of Hatton (44-1, 31 KOs) began in 1997 and for the last 11 years, he has been thrilling fight fans around the world with his aggressive style in the ring and down to earth attitude outside of it. Owner of wins over Kostya Tszyu, Vince Phillips, Luis Collazo, Jose Luis Castillo and Juan Urango, Hatton – a two division world champion – fell short of the pound-for-pound and world welterweight championships in his 2007 super fight against Floyd Mayweather. However, the 29-year-old bounced back impressively at his natural weight of 140 pounds in May as he scored a near shutout 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Lazcano.

Known for his flashy style and pound for pound ability to out-talk any fighter in the world, Brooklyn’s Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) has also developed a positive reputation for his heart and determination to overcome adversity throughout his seven-year pro career. A dazzling boxer with a stiff jab, lightning speed and quick combinations, the 27-year-old gained a legion of fans for his gutsy effort in a 12-round defeat at the hands of Miguel Cotto in 2006, and even more followers jumped on his bandwagon when he nearly shut out Lovemore N’dou in 2007 to win the IBF Junior Welterweight World crown. Malignaggi has since defended his title against Herman Ngoudjo and in a rematch against N’dou, but a victory over Hatton is what this New Yorker is truly seeking.

New York (August 7, 2008) — “Super” Joe Calzaghe vs. “Superman” Roy Jones has been officially rescheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden in New York City. The superfight, originally scheduled for September 20, was postponed due to an injury suffered by Calzaghe during training. Calzaghe vs. Jones, presented by Square Ring, Inc. and Calzaghe Promotions in association with Madison Square Garden, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.

The undefeated Calzaghe, boxing’s longest reigning world champion, will put his perfect record on the line against Roy Jones Jr, eight-time world champion in four weight classes. With the light heavyweight battle the most anticipated among the fall boxing schedule, Calzaghe and Jones are ready for the challenge.

“I can’t wait to get back to America and triumph over another boxing legend,” said Calzaghe.

“I am just glad to be blessed with the opportunity to be God’s instrument that he plays his beautiful music thru and I just can’t wait for the 8th,” said Jones.

Hailing from Newbridge, Wales, Joe Calzaghe’s (45-0, 32 KOs) biggest victory of his career was his most recent, a win over multi-divisional world champion and future Hall-of-Famer Bernard Hopkins on April 19 in Las Vegas. The win, Calzaghe’s first fight on US soil, elevated “Super” Joe to the top of most boxing experts’ pound-for-pound lists. Preceding the Hopkins bout, on November 3, 2007 Calzaghe won a super middleweight unification bout against WBA & WBC undefeated champion Mikkel Kessler with over 50,000 strong at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The win was Calzaghe’s 21st successful defense, surpassing Bernard Hopkins and Larry Holmes for most consecutive successful title defenses, in any weight class.

“Superman” Roy Jones (52-4, 38 KOs) from Pensacola, FL has been world champion at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. On March 1, 2003, Jones defeated then-champion John Ruiz to become the first former middleweight champion to win a world heavyweight crown in over 100 years. Jones was virtually unstoppable for over a decade, and from 1993 to 2004 he was regarded by most as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. No less than fifteen opponents on the losing end against Jones have worn a world championship belt around their waste.

The Calzaghe vs. Jones pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Calzaghe vs. Jones fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com .

IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) is significantly ahead of schedule in terms of full recovery from his May 28th surgery to repair a fractured metacarpal bone of the middle finger on his right hand.

Malignaggi already is preparing for his November 22nd mega-showdown against Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas, lightly working out in Brooklyn’s famed Gleason’s Gym as well as running three days a week.

“I can start punching in a few weeks,” an ecstatic Malignaggi said after last week’s evaluation by renowned boxing hand specialist, Dr. Steven Margles, at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts. “I’m building a base now and excited about soon starting training camp (with head trainer Buddy McGirt in Vero Beach, Florida). After I beat Hatton I will be universally recognized as the top junior welterweight in the world.”

Dr. Margles reported, “I’m impressed with how the bone has healed. It looks great and is way ahead of normal healing schedules. Paulie will be able to punch the light bag (probably by the end of next week) and two weeks later punch with more resistance.”

New York (August 5, 2008)… When a powerful young champion and devastating knock-out artist meets a future Hall of Fame boxing legend and two-division world champion who has never been knocked out, there will be plenty of debate and speculation as to who will win. That will definitely be the case when Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik faces Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins in a light heavyweight battle at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday October 18 in a bout presented by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City. The fight will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at $700, $500, $350, $200, $100 and $75, go on sale Friday, August 8 at 12 Noon ET and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster (800) 736-1420 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com.

Pavlik, the current undefeated middleweight world champion, who is moving up in weight to face Hopkins at 170 pounds, has been compared to an express train as he continues to thrill boxing fans with his aggressive ring style, devastating power and 90% knock-out ratio. Will the Pavlik Express Train be derailed when he faces the formidable Hopkins, already comfortable at light heavyweight and whose gritty, defensive brilliance usually frustrates opponents? Ranked number five and six consecutively on ESPN.com’s boxing pound-for-pound list, this intriguing match-up pits a young lion against a polished veteran, a devastating offense against an impenetrable defense and current world champion against a legendary former world champion in what looks to be an epic battle of grit and determination.

“I am preparing to fight a legend and take him down in his own backyard,” said Pavlik. “Even though I am younger, I know Hopkins is a slick veteran with a bunch of boxing tricks in his bag. I refuse to underestimate him and I know on October 18, he will be ready to fight. I am treating this as if it were a championship match with my plan being to remain undefeated and show the world that I am able to take on any fighter regardless of age, weight or record.”

“Kelly Pavlik has a heart of a lion but he has no idea what he is in for on October 18,” said Hopkins. “Pavlik might be the latest thing on a fast track to fame, but I am a sure thing and will take this kid to school that night and teach him a lesson he will never forget.”

Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank said: “There is no doubt that Bernard Hopkins is a great fighter and was virtually unstoppable in his prime, but Kelly Pavlik is recognizably one of the best fighters in boxing today and he will continue to prove his himself against a legendary fighter like Bernard. This is a tremendous challenge for Kelly on October 18”

“The match-up between Kelly Pavlik and Bernard Hopkins will be one for the record books,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Hopkins has the experience and Pavlik has the desire to prove himself. I am looking forward to seeing Pavlik defend his undefeated record but I know Bernard can rise to the occasion and take down one of boxing’s brightest stars.”

“It doesn’t get any better than this”, said Ken Condon, Atlantic City boxing expert for Caesars Atlantic City. “Kelly Pavlik, Atlantic City’s most recent boxing hero and world champion takes on the cagey veteran Bernard Hopkins from Philadelphia in his own back yard. Caesars Atlantic City is proud to continue its tradition of bringing World Class events to Atlantic City.”

“Fight fans know that Kelly and Bernard will bring everything in their arsenals when they enter the ring on October 18,” said Mark Taffet Senior Vice President of HBO PPV. “This battle of wills between two such accomplished fighters makes Pavlik-Hopkins a very intriguing match-up.”

The undefeated star from Youngstown, Ohio, Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs), the reigning WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine middleweight world champion, has already proved to the boxing world why he is one of the most popular stars in the sport today. Pavlik had a stellar year in 2007 when he truly arrived on the championship scene, scoring devastating wins over Edison Miranda in a title eliminator and Jermain Taylor, in which he was stunned badly before coming back and annihilating Taylor in the seventh round, to capture the first middleweight title of his career. He’s been unstoppable since with a dominating performance over Taylor in their rematch and most recently, a third round knock-out over the then undefeated Gary Lockett. Those performances, along with a 90% knock-out ratio, have cemented his place among the middleweight championship division. He will now move up 10 pounds to make his light heavyweight debut in what will be a meaningful and career-defining fight against the much heralded Hopkins.

Known as one of the greatest middleweights of all time, future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (48-5-1, 32 KOs) held a world title as a middleweight or light heavyweight every year since 1995. In 2006, Philadelphia’s Hopkins moved up to light heavyweight for the first time in his career to defeat Antonio Tarver winning The Ring Magazine World Championship and then dominated Winky Wright at 170 pounds to continue to prove his ring supremacy. This year, on April 19, Hopkins fought the undefeated Welshman Joe Calzaghe, knocking him down in the first round before losing his light heavyweight title by a narrow split decision that left many boxing fans dissatisfied with the verdict. Never shunning stiff opposition, Hopkins now prepares to meet Pavlik and prove to boxing fans around the world that it is not over yet for one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the history of sport.

The historic Boardwalk Hall, which first opened in 1929, underwent a three year, $90 million renovation to transform the building into a modern special events arena capable of variable seating for up to 14,500 people. Upon it’s reopening in 2001, it has been recognized as the destination’s premier entertainment venue, known for high profile concerts, family shows, and sporting events. Leading trade publications Billboard and Venues Today ranked Boardwalk Hall as the highest grossing mid-sized arena in North America in 2003, 2004, and 2007. The Hall was ranked the highest grossing mid-sized arena in the world in 2005 and 2006. Boardwalk Hall is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and managed by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. SMG operates the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall on behalf of its clients, the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority and the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.

The Pavlik vs. Hopkins pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pavlik vs. Hopkins fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

PROVIDENCE (August 5, 2008) – NABF cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (16-1, 9 KOs) had his nose bent out of shape, so to speak, by recent comments attributed to Rob “All American Prize Fighter” Calloway.

Calloway (70-7-2, 56 KOs) was quoted as saying, “I’ve never turned down any fight!” He went on to proclaim that he deserved a title fight because he’s the WBC Americas champion and proceeded to call out Rudolf Kraj, Firat Arslan and Enzo Maccaranelli. Godfrey took offense on two counts: Team Calloway passed on an opportunity to fight Godfrey for his NABF belt on August 29 in an ESPN main event; Calloway is rated No. 11, behind No. 5 Godfrey.

“I know Rob and he’s a great guy,” Godfrey said, “but my speed and movement would be too much for him to handle. If he wants to fight the elite guys in the cruiserweight division, he should have taken the fight against me to prove himself. I am an elite cruiserweight – No. 5 — but he didn’t take the fight.”

Despite Rob proclaiming he’d fight anyone in the world given three weeks notice, Team Calloway reportedly passed on Godfrey because Rob had a fight July 19 against Max Alexander (14-2-1), which ended in a 12-round draw. Godfrey’s only loss as a pro was a close 12-round decision in a WBC title eliminator to Kraj in Germany this past March.

Matt, second heavyweight alternate on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, had a 194-23 amateur record, capturing six national championships — four open tournaments including the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships, plus two in the Junior Olympics – as well as a Bronze medal at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver in all four of that year’s national major tournaments (National Golden Gloves, PAL (Police Athletic League), U.S. Championships and U.S. Challenge) and six-time New England Golden Gloves champion.

Godfrey was a highly decorated U.S. amateur who defeated many of today’s contemporary pro boxers in the amateurs such as former WBA middleweight title challenger Randy “The Gentleman Griffin (24-2-3, 12 KOs), unbeaten heavyweight prospect Chazz “Mensa With Muscles” Witherspoon (23-1, 15 KOs), Devin Vargas (16-0, 7 KOs), Corey “Black Ice” Cummings (16-3, 12 KOs), Leonard “Haitian Sensation” Pierre (18-3, 13 KOs) and John Johnson (12-2, 10 KOs).

TEXAS COURT GRANTS ZUFFA, LLC MOTION

TO COMPEL RANDY COUTURE TO ARBITRATE IN NEVADA

Las Vegas, NV — Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®), has been informed by the Texas Court of Appeals that it has granted Zuffa’s Motion to Compel Randy Couture to arbitrate in the District of Nevada, thereby staying all further action by HDNet against Zuffa in the state of Texas.

Specifically, the Court of Appeals found that the lower court had engaged in “a clear abuse of discretion” by permitting HDNet to litigate claims relating to Mr. Couture’s contract in Texas, rather than in Nevada, where Zuffa is presently pressing a breach of contract action against Mr. Couture.

Upon learning of the court’s decision, Zuffa’s Las Vegas counsel, Donald J. Campbell, Esq., explained the significance of the ruling:

“The practical effect of the Court’s decision is to allow Zuffa to continue its prosecution of claims against Mr. Couture in the Arbitration presently underway here in Nevada without any regard to the flaccid claims of HDNet and its management. Based upon evidence uncovered during the interrogation of Mr. Couture during his deposition, we have every confidence that Mr. Couture will be held accountable for the serious and ongoing breaches of his contractual obligations to Zuffa.”

The successful appeal to the Texas Court of Appeals was achieved by Mr. Barry F. McNeil, Esq. and his partners at the Texas law firm Haynes Boone, LLP.