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Thursday, February 15, 2007
Holyfield Continues Quest Against Maddalone on March 17
Four-Time World Heavyweight Champion, Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield’s quest for a fifth heavyweight title continues on Saturday, March 17th when he takes on Vinny Maddalone (27-3, Flushing, NY) at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The Holyfield vs Maddalone non-title featured bout will be one of seven fights, beginning at 7:30 pm. The event is being promoted by Main Events, in association with Star Boxing.
Slated to headline an exciting undercard is 2000 U.S. Olympian and #6 World ranked heavyweight, Calvin Brock (29-1, Charlotte, NC) and undefeated bantamweight prospect, Raul Martinez (17-0, San Antonio). Brock’s last fight was a loss to Wladimir Klitschko for the World Heavyweight Championship on HBO. Opponents for Brock and Martinez are to be announced, as is the remainder of the card.
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Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Vazquez-Marquez Quotes
IBF Bantamweight Champion Rafael Marquez (left) and WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Israel Vazquez display their powerful right and left hands, respectively, as promoter Gary Shaw looks on during a news conference Wednesday at the Liberty Grill in Los Angeles. Photo: Joe Miranda/Showtime
Showtime continues to live up to its billing as America’s No. 1 Boxing Network as it delivers yet another compelling match-up on Saturday, March, 3, 2007. In one of the most highly anticipated fights in years, Israel Vazquez will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight title against International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight Champion Rafael Marquez in the main event on Showtime Championship Boxing (9 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).
The showdown between two of boxing’s most exceptionally talented and exciting warriors will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.
Both Vazquez and Marquez, who are fixtures on many experts’ pound-for-pound lists, hail from Mexico City and are legitimate, hard-punching world champions who make for crowd-pleasing, exhilarating scraps. Since they burst on to the world scene, each capturing world titles, fans have been clamoring for this match-up. Now, fight fans around the world have the dream match-up they have been waiting for.
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Israel Vazquez to Defend Against Rafael Marquez
NEW YORK – Showtime continues to live up to its billing as America’s No. 1 Boxing Network as it delivers yet another compelling match-up on Saturday, March, 3, 2007. In one of the most highly anticipated fights in years, Israel Vazquez will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight title against International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez in the main event on Showtime Championship Boxing (9 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).
The showdown between two of boxing’s most exceptionally talented and exciting warriors will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. A venue for the bout is yet to be determined.
Both Vazquez and Marquez, who are fixtures on many experts’ pound-for-pound lists, hail from Mexico City and are legitimate, hard-punching, world champions who make for crowd-pleasing, exhilarating scraps. Since they burst onto the world scene, each capturing world titles, fans have been clamoring for this match-up. Now, fight fans around the world have the dream match-up they’ve been waiting for.
Continue reading "Israel Vazquez to Defend Against Rafael Marquez"
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Lopez Wins, Ortiz-Cordova Draw
Talented, undefeated 122-pound southpaw Juan Manuel Lopez registered an impressive sixth-round TKO over game but outclassed Cuauhtemoc Vargas. Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime
PHOENIX – Looking more and more like a genuine contender than a prospect, undefeated southpaw Juan Manuel Lopez scored an impressive, one-sided sixth-round TKO over Cuauhtemoc Vargas in Friday’s main event on “ShoBox: The New Generation.”
The co-feature between Victor Ortiz and Manuel Cordova ended in a bizarre first-round technical draw. A match that appeared to have the makings of a terrific shootout was stopped due to a severe cut suffered by Ortiz from an inadvertent elbow by Cordova during the final 10 seconds of the session.
Cordova, who was headed to the mat after a slip, caught Ortiz on the way down with an accidental elbow high on the forehead near his scalp above his right eye. It was not clear to the naked eye what had caused the severe laceration, but television replays confirmed it was an elbow.
Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc., promoted the doubleheader from the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Ariz. It aired on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
Lopez (15-0, 13 KOs), who was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, and resides in Caguas, P.R., was making his first start in three and a half months. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 6 and World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 9 super bantamweight contender showed no signs of ring rust, however, following the longest layoff of his career.
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Sunday, November 12, 2006
Rafael Herrera, a Fine Champion
He was born to humble beginnings on January 7, 1945 in Jalisco, Mexico. He would become a professional boxer at the age of eighteen. For years he fought fellow novices, losing some, but winning more. He was making a name for himself though. In 1966 he climbed up the ladder with a win over rugged Memin Vega. Two fights later he drew with Geraldo Luna. From the Luna bout Rafael’s career took off. He reeled off sixteen straight wins. Herrera was then matched with future world champion Jesus “Chucho” Castillo. Herrera was overwhelmed by Castillo and lost in round three.
Rafael was no quitter He drew with Canada’s Billy McGrandle.but two fights later he lost to the highly regarded Raul Cruz. As 1970 rolled around Herrera was considered a top notch boxer, but not championship material. That all changed when he decided that he was good enough to make it to the top. This time Herrera won a decision over Octavio Gomez. This led to a shot against undefeated Rodolfo Martinez for NABF bantamweight title. In a very close and exciting fight, Herrera got the verdict and the title.
That was the spring board for Rafael’s career. Next he would halt the highly regarded Cesar Deciga. Two fights later he avenged an earlier loss by outscoring the talented Chucho Castillo. In March of 1972 Rafael challenged the legendary Ruben Olivares for the world’s championship. The proud champion fought his heart out, but Herrera was not to be denied and he won in round eight winning the WBA + WBC titles.
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Alphonse Halimi Passes Away
Former Bantamweight Champion Alphonse Halimi passed away on Sunday at the age of 74 according to French boxing officials.
Halimi became champion in 1957 and held onto the belt until he lost to Jose Becerra in 1959.
He was also a two-time European Bantamweight Champion as well…
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Fernando Montiel Fires Manager, Refuses to Fight Gorres in December
WBO Junior Bantamweight Champion Fernando Montiel has fired his manager, Gary Gittelsohn, and has decided to pull out of his scheduled December title defense against Z Gorres.
Gorres is currently the mandatory challenger to Montiel’s title…
Both Montiel and Golden Boy Promotions, the promotional company for Gorres have stated that they will pursue a purse bid for the fight.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Caballero Challenges Marquez
HOLLYWOOD, FL - The cheers had barely died down from WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Celestino Caballero’s spectacular third round stoppage of 46-1-1 Somsak Sithchatchawal on October 4th when bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez started making noise about moving up to 122 pounds to fight ‘Pelenchin’ for his title.
Caballero (25-2, 18 KOs), unbeaten in his last six fights (four by knockout) and the holder of the only win over fellow titleholder Daniel Ponce De Leon, has some choice words for the brash Marquez.
“I’ve heard what Marquez has said about me, and I just want to make one thing clear – he is not the hunter, I am the hunter,” said Caballero, the pride of Colon, Panama. “If Marquez’ fists are able to back up his mouth, I will be more than willing to send him back to 118 pounds with his tail between his legs. My promoters, Seminole Warriors Boxing Promotions and Sycuan Ringside Promotions have already approached Marquez’ promoter Gary Shaw, and he knows where to reach my people. I respect Marquez’ accomplishments as a bantamweight, but at 122 pounds, he will merely be a boy playing with men.”
The ball is now in the court of Rafael Marquez and Gary Shaw.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Perez Fails to Make Weight; Stripped of Title
Luis Perez was stripped of his IBF Junior Bantamweight title on Friday after failing to make weight for his scheduled bout against Ricardo Vargas on Saturday night.
Perez was required to get down to 115 lbs for the fight and was at 120 lbs during the official weigh-ins. Perez was given two hours to lose the rest of the weight and make the limit but he was only able to shed two more pounds.
The Arizona State Athletic Commission decided that the difference in weight was too great for the bout to be held and the fight was cancelled. Perez was also stripped of his belt - I believe it is now a vacant title…
I haven’t heard of this many fighters failing to make weight in the last few months then I have with Perez, Corrales, Barrios, and Castillo recently.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Weekend Fights - October 20, 2006
Here are this weekend’s notable fights…
Friday 10/20
Jason Litzau vs Sammy Ventura - Cicero, Illinois - Featherweight Divsion
Mike Tyson vs Corey Sanders - Youngstown, Ohio - Heavyweight Exhibition
Saturday 10/21
Daniel Ponce De Leon vs Al Seeger - El Paso, Texas - WBO Junior Featherweight Title
Ivan Calderon vs Jose Luis Varela - Baranquilla, Colombia - WBO Strawweight Title
Irene Pacheco vs Leon Moore - Baranquilla, Colombia - Interim WBO Bantamweight Title
Sergei Dzindziruk vs Akisultan Nadirbegov - Saale, Germany - WBO Junior Middleweight Title