Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

Los Angeles, CA (September 30, 2008) — 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and top-10 world rated, Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (16-0, 11 KOs) received clearance from Doctor Warren King to resume his regular training schedule.

Ward, who had suffered an injury to his right knee, underwent arthroscopic surgery early last month.

Said Ward, “I met with Dr. King yesterday at the Oakland Raider facility and he determined that I could immediately begin training. The original target date to resume training was mid-October; but my rehabilitation and recovery went so well I was given the green light sooner.”

“I am excited to get back on track and begin training again at my full potential. I look forward to my next challenge in the ring. I always step into the ring motivated but this time around it will have an extra special meaning because I feel so grateful to God to have had the ability to strengthen my body.”

GFL WEEKLY BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Live Boxing and Weekly/Daily Shows
(All Times Eastern Standard Time)

New York, NY Week of 9-30-08 – Here is our schedule for the upcoming week:

MONDAY (6AM) – GFL Morning Show (on demand after)

TUESDAY (9PM) – Tuesday Night Fights
*Yusaf Mack v. Omar Pittman (NABA Heavyweight Title)
*Derrick Ennis v. Troy Browning (USBA Middleweight Title)

WEDNESDAY (6-8PM) – Talkin’ Boxing w/Billy C
*Dino Duva – talks about Sam Peter’s Heavyweight Title Defense
*Antonio Tarver – Lt. Heavyweight Champion
*Emily Harney – monthly boxing report

**FRIDAY (7:30 PM)** – “LIVE” from The Legendary Blue Horizon – #4 World ranked “FAST” EDDIE CHAMBERS headlines a great night of boxing. BROADCAST STARTS PROMPTLY AT 7:30PM

SATURDAY (9AM) – Ballroom Boxing Report
* Andre Berto 23-0 (19KO’s) #5 World ranked Middleweight
* Chris Arreola 25-0 (22KO’s) #24 ranked Heavyweight

Abraham-Marquez PPV Fact Sheet

WHO: “King” ARTHUR ABRAHAM RAUL “El Diamente” MARQUEZ

IBF Middleweight Champion Former IBF Light Middleweight Champion

The Ring Rated No. 2 The Ring Rated No. 9

Berlin, Germany by way of Armenia Houston, Texas, United States by way of Mexico

(IBF Middleweight Championship – 12 Rounds)

ENAD LICINA OTIS “Triple OG” GRIFFIN

Rated No. 13 European Boxing Union Winner of The Next Great Champion reality TV series

Rated No. 13 European Boxing Association Former NABO Light Heavyweight Champion

Frankfort, Germany by way of Yugoslavia Sacramento, California, United States

(IBF Intercontinental Cruiserweight Championship – 12 Rounds)

PLUS UNDERCARD FIGHTS

WHEN: Live: Saturday, October 4, 2008 – 3 PM/ET 12 PM/PT

Tape: Saturday, October 4, 2008 – 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT

WHERE: Jako Arena, Bamberg, Germany

PROMOTER: Wilfried Sauerland, presented by Sauerland Event and its Managing Director, Christian Meyer, in association with Seminole Warriors Boxing

PAY-PER-VIEW: Distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice Canada, and Bell ExpressVue, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

ANNOUNCERS: Al Bernstein and Nick Charles

Former World Champion Vivian Harris Headlines “Knockout Knights” at Medieval Times

For Immediate Release~ Lyndhurst, New Jersey (September 22, 2008) – Boxing is back at Medieval Times! Former world champion Vivian Harris will headline “Knockout Knights” when big-time boxing returns to the beautiful Medieval Times Castle in Lyndhurst, NJ on Wednesday, October 29th.

The hard-hitting Harris, a Guyanese native who resides in Brooklyn, New York, has long been on the list of boxing’s most avoided fighters. A pro since 1997, Harris finally made a splash in 2002 when he fought and knocked out Diosbelys Hurtado to win the WBA junior welterweight championship. Harris (28-3-1, 18 KOs), who has always been at the top of the junior welterweight rankings, will look to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Junior Witter in a title bout. The man they call “Vicious” is looking to make a statement in his first fight back in over a year. He will meet 13-4 Octavio Narvaez (age 27, from Nicaragua) in the feature bout.

“I am forgetting about the past. I am rededicated to making it back to the top. My first step will be to make a big statement on October 29.”

The co-main event will feature hometown hero Wayne “Lights Out” Johnsen (17-3, 9 KOs). Johnsen is also on the comeback trail after falling short in his last two bouts, both of which came during last season’s “The Contender” boxing reality television series. The extremely popular Johnsen will now be fighting in his own backyard for the first time.

“It’s great to have my comeback fight right here! I have fought in other parts of New Jersey before, but it will be extra special and especially motivating to perform for my fans right here in Lyndhurst.”

Also featured will be unbeaten prospects Alex Perez (9-0, 6 KOs) and Patrick Majewski (8-0, 5 KOs). Alex “The Brick City Bullet” Perez, fighting out of Newark, is a former highly rated amateur star and has served as a sparring partner for Joel Julio as well as Miguel Cotto.
The Polish-born Majewski is a hard-hitting up-and-coming prospect out of Atlantic City.

Mike Indri, President and CEO of Dignity Promotions, is proud to be putting together such an exciting night of boxing action.

“I am proud to deliver such a quality card for our great fans. Our premier event will feature big names and exciting young prospects. Dignity Promotions is committed to bringing a competitive, action-filled night of boxing on October 29th. Our goal is to put the “DIGNITY” back into boxing…by respecting the fighters and, most importantly, respecting the fans.”

“Knockout Knights” is expected to have eight exciting bouts. The Medieval Times Castle is located at 149 Polito Avenue in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.

Tickets are priced at $50.00 (Ringside), $40.00 (Reserved), and $30.00 (General Admission).
Corporate VIP tables are also available and include a “Meet & Greet” with many former boxing greats, including: Chuck Wepner, Alex Ramos, Renaldo Snipes, Lou Savarese, Micky Ward, and others!
To purchase tickets, call (201) 741-4994, go to www.dignityboxing.com, or call the Medieval Times Box Office at (201) 933-2220. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., first bout begins at 7:30 p.m.

VERSUS PARTNERS WITH MARK BURNETT PRODUCTIONS
& DREAMWORKS TELEVISION TO BRING HARD-HITTING
REALITY SERIES THE CONTENDER TO THE NETWORK:
TONY DANZA TO HOST

THE CONTENDER Will Premiere in December 2008

New York, N.Y. (September 30, 2008)—VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition, today announced a deal to bring the fourth season of THE CONTENDER to the network and that they have signed television icon Tony Danza to host. THE CONTENDER, which includes 11 one-hour episodes and a two-hour season finale, is currently slated to premiere in December 2008. THE CONTENDER is produced by Mark Burnett Productions and DreamWorks Television and the series will be produced in Singapore in cooperation with Mark Burnett Productions Asia who is providing production and logistical support.

“We are thrilled to announce our alliance with Mark Burnett, DreamWorks Television and THE CONTENDER brand. As VERSUS continues to build upon its ratings momentum, THE CONTENDER is a perfect complement to our ever-growing portfolio of programming in the genre such as WEC, TapouT and Fight Night,” said Marc Fein, Executive Vice President of Programming, Production and Business Operations for VERSUS. “When you have the opportunity to bring a top brand with an established following to the network, and the ability to work with someone with a proven track record such as Mark Burnett and DreamWorks, you jump at it.”

The fourth season of THE CONTENDER features 16 Cruiserweights from around the world who will face each other in a 12-episode competition. With former boxer and television star Tony Danza serving as host and mentor and veteran Tommy Brooks & John Bray serving as trainers, these fighters will go through the most intense training of their lives and battle in the most challenging fights of their careers. In the end, the two left standing will get into the ring to fight for the coveted title of Contender Champion. The 16 fighter’s biographies and two trainers biographies are attached with this release.

“The gang at DreamWorks and I are really excited to be partnering with VERSUS on the fourth season of THE CONTENDER,” said Mark Burnett. “If the work they’ve done with the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and Tour de France is any indication, we are confident that THE CONTENDER will be a successful franchise for the channel.”

The series is executive produced by Mark Burnett and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Tony Danza was discovered at a boxing gym in his native New York and was cast in the critically acclaimed “Taxi” which earned him a place in television history. He then went on to star in the long-running popular television series “Who’s The Boss?” cementing his status as a television icon. In addition, Tony hosted his own daytime series “The Tony Danza Show” as well as numerous other television series and specials.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be hosting “The Contender” this season,” said Tony Danza. “Not only is it one of the best shows on television but one of the wildest shows ever dreamed up. I feel right back at home in this great boxing environment and I am looking forward to seeing this great group of fighters contend for the title.”
The Contender fighters, represented by Tournament of Contenders, have gone on to fight Joe Calzaghe, Arturo Gatti, Miguel Cotto, and Oscar de La Hoya. In June 2008 Sergio Mora, the contender season 1 champion went on to become the first Contender World Champion by winning the WBC title.

IT’S A NIGHT OF RISING STARS WHEN

HBO BOXING AFTER DARK®: YURIORKIS GAMBOA VS. MARCOS RAMIREZ,

ALFREDO ANGULO VS. ANDREY TSURKAN AND

SERGIO MARTINEZ VS. ALEX BUNEMA

IS PRESENTED SATURDAY, OCT. 4, ON HBO

HBO’s late-night boxing series presents a tripleheader of rising stars when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: YURIORKIS GAMBOA VS. MARCOS RAMIREZ, ALFREDO ANGULO VS. ANDREY TSURKAN AND SERGIO MARTINEZ VS ALEX BUNEMA is seen SATURDAY, OCT. 4 (10:05 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of blow-by-blow announcer Bob Papa, commentator Max Kellerman and expert analyst Lennox Lewis will cover the action at ringside, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdate: Oct. 5 (10:00 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Oct. 5 (4:00 p.m.) and 7 (11:25 p.m.)

The main event features undefeated featherweight standouts Yuriokis Gamboa (11-0, 9 KOs), formerly from Cuba and now living in Miami, and Marcos Ramirez (25-0, 16 KOs), from Kansas City, Kans., in a scheduled ten-round contest. Gamboa earned a gold medal for Cuba at the 2004 Olympics and is making his second appearance on the late-night HBO series this year.

The middle bout pits undefeated top prospect Alfredo Angulo (13-0, 10 KOs) from Mexicali, Mexico, against Ukraine’s Andrey Tsurkan (26-3, 17 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round junior middleweight showdown.

The tripleheader kicks off with Sergio Martinez (43-1, 23 KOs) from Buenos Aires, Argentina, taking on Alex Bunema (30-5-2, 16 KOs), a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a scheduled 12-round junior middleweight contest.

Four time female world champion, Carina “La Reina” Moreno, returns to the Tachi Palace Casino on October 23, 2008 where she will defend her WBC and WIBA minimumweight titles against Jodie Esquibel of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Moreno (19-1, 5 KO’s), who is considered by many boxing enthusiast as one of the best pound for pound fighters in women’s boxing, will look to extend on her eleven fight winning streak.

“This is another big fight for me,” said a confident Moreno, “My experience in title fights will be my advantage. At this level, everyone is tough. I’m expecting Esquibel to be in great shape. The fans can expect a great night of boxing. I’ll be ready for what ever she brings into the ring”

This fight is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions in association with the Tachi Palace Casino. For ticket information call the Tachi Palace Box Office at (559) 924-7751 or Tickets.com call Center at (800) 225-2277.

BLUE CORNER RED CORNER
The headliners and the co-featured fighters all made weight for Saturday’s HBO card. Yay!

MAIN EVENT – JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 12 ROUNDS
Shane MOSLEY vs. Ricardo MAYORGA
Pomona, CA Managua, NIC
44-5 (37 KO’s) 28-6-1 (22 KO’s)
Weight: 153.5 lbs. Weight: 153.5 lbs.

TV CO-FEATURE – WBC WELTERWEIGHT TITLE – 12 ROUNDS
Andre BERTO vs. Steve FORBES
Winter Haven, FL Las Vegas, NV
22-0 (19 KO’s) 33-6 (9 KO’s)
Weight: 145.5 lbs. Weight: 147 lbs.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (September 26, 2008) – Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall is four weeks away from “Unstoppable” — the light heavyweight rumble between undefeated world middleweight champion KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK and legendary two-division world champion BERNARD “The Executioner” HOPKINS. The televised undercard features three compelling match-ups featuring fighters with a combined record of 168-12-2 (111 KOs) and a combined winning percentage exceeding 92%. WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano defends his title against top contender Billy Dib, undefeated bantamweight champion Abner Mares battles Luis Melendez and in a WBC middleweight title elimination bout, Marco Antonio Rubio takes on Enrique Ornelas.

Presented by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Caesars Atlantic City, “Unstoppable” takes place Saturday, October 18 at Boardwalk Hall and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

STEVEN LUEVANO (35-1-1, 15 KOs), from La Puente, California, has reigned as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion for 14 months. He captured the vacant world title July 14, 2007, knocking the previously undefeated and current WBO junior lightweight champion Nicky Cook in the 11th round. Since winning the title he has successfully defended it twice, including a 12-round decision victory over mandatory challenger Terdsak Jandaeng and a draw against Top-10 contender Mario Santiago in March and July, respectively. Luevano’s third title defense of 2008 will be against another Top-10 contender in BILLY DIB (21-0, 11 KOs). Dib, an undefeated southpaw from Hurtsville, Australia, has knocked out over half the opponents he has faced in his four-year professional career. The former Australian champion returns to the ring fresh from his biggest victory on July 30, a 12-round unanimous decision for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) super featherweight title, over Zolani Marali, ending the South African’s four-year winning streak.

North American Boxing Organization (NABO) bantamweight champion ABNER MARES (17-0, 10 KOs), from Montebello, California, by way of Guadalajara, Mexico, will be risking his undefeated record and WBO No. 1 world rating when he defends his title against LUIS MELENDEZ. Mares has successfully defended his title twice since winning it last year when he defeated former world champion Isidro Garcia, who retired on his stool after the seventh round. This year he knocked out former world title challenger Diosdado Gabi in the second round and scored a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Arias. Gabi and Arias had a combined record of 43-3-1 when they faced Mares. Melendez (25-3-1, 20 KOs), returns to the ring on the heels of one of his most exciting fights. The Colombian buzz-saw went toe-to-toe for 12 rounds with WBO junior bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel, coming up short in his first world title fight. Now fighting as a bantamweight, Melendez, who has won 13 of his last 15 bouts, is looking to return to the world championship picture by challenging the No. 1 contender.

The pay-per-view telecast will open with the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight title elimination bout the winner of which will be declared the WBC’s mandatory middleweight challenger to Pavlik. MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO (42-4-1, 38 KOs), from Georgetown, Texas, by way of Torreon, Mexico, enters this fight riding an eight-bout winning streak with seven of those win coming by way of knockout. Since moving up to middleweight at the end of 2006, Rubio has collected the Mexican, the World Boxing Association’s FEDECENT and the WBC’s FECOMBOX titles en route to becoming the WBC’s No. 1 contender middleweight contender. Rubio will be going mano-a-mano against ENRIQUE ORNELAS (28-4, 18 KOs), from La Habra, California, by way of Guanajuato, Mexico. Ornelas, the WBC’s No. 2-rated middleweight contender, has won eight of his 10 last fights, including NABF middleweight title fights against former world champion Bronco McKart and Norberto Bravo, stopping both in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively. In his last fight, on July 4, he provided his own fireworks display, knocking out Daryl Salmon in the second round.

Remaining tickets,” priced at $700, $500, $350, $200, $100 and $75, can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com

HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 26, 2008) – Unbeaten International Boxing Federation middleweight champion “King” Arthur Abraham insists that he isn’t looking past his October 4th title challenger, former world champion Raul “El Diamente” Marquez, as he prepares for their 12-round main event showdown, headlining a pay-per-view card airing in the United States and Canada live from Bamberg, Germany.

Abraham-Marquez is promoted by Wilfried Sauerland, presented by Sauerland Event and its Managing Director, Christian Meyer, in association with Seminole Warriors Boxing. The broadcast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice Canada, and Bell ExpressVue, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. A replay will be shown that same night starting at 9 PM/ET. Al Bernstein and Nick Charles will call the action.

Abraham (27-0, 22 KOs), rated No. 2 by The Ring and ESPN, captured the IBF middleweight title early three years ago by way of a fifth-round knockout of Kingsley Ikeke (23-1). Seven successful title defenses have followed against Edison Miranda, Shannon Taylor, Kofi Jantuah, Sebastian Demers, Khoren Gevor, Wayne Elcock and Elvin Ayala.

The 1992 U.S. Olympian Marquez (41-3-1, 29 KOs), rated No. 2 by the IBF as well as No. 8 by The Ring and ESPN, earned his title shot against Abraham by defeating previously undefeated No. 1 contender Giovanni Lorenzo (26-0) in their June 21st IBF title eliminator.

“King” Arthur assures Marquez that he is not ignoring him at all. Earlier this week, the 37-year-old mandatory challenger complained about being overlooked by the undefeated IBF middleweight champion, who will make his eighth title defense in Bamberg. “Abraham´s people are looking beyond me,” Marquez claimed. “I want to spoil all that talk about him fighting Pavlik or Wright in his next fight.”

Even though there might be a potential mega-fight on the horizon, “King” Arthur vowed to take one step at a time. “I am not ignoring Marquez at all,” the 28-year-old stated. “Two exhausting training sessions a day, an exhausting training camp, as well as a tough eight-week preparation
period tells a different story. If I was ignoring him, I would be lying on the beach in Florida to enjoy the sun. I would not even be responding to his provocative statement!”

“King” Arthur admitted he fully respects Marquez. “He is an accomplished fighter with a great deal of experience,” Abraham said. “But this would not be my eighth title defense if I had underestimated any of my opponents. He is not the mandatory challenger for nothing. Still there is no chance he can beat me.”

Abraham will make his first fight since celebrating a successful U.S. debut in June, when he knocked out Edison Miranda in the fourth round of their rematch. “I am keen to return to the U.S. as soon as possible – not just for vacation but for business,” Abraham added. “After stopping Marquez, I will make big fights in the U.S.”

The 10-round co-feature on the PPV show from Germany has former NABO champion Otis “Triple OG” Griffin (19-3-2, 7 KOs), of Sacramento, taking on Yugoslavian-born Enad Licina (14-1, 8 KOs), now living in Germany, for the vacant IBF Intercontinental cruiserweight belt. Details are coming soon regarding undercard bouts on Abraham-Marquez PPV card.

For more information about the Abraham-Marguez PPV go to www.integratedsportsnet.com or www.warriorsboxing.com