Antonio DeMarco (left) weighed in at 136 pounds, while Nick Casal tipped the scales at 135 1/2 pounds Thursday. Hard-hitting lightweights DeMarco (15-1-1, 12 KOs) and Casal (16-1-1, 1 NC, 12 KOs) will clash in the 10-round main event of “ShoBox: The New Generation’’ Friday on Showtime (11 p.m. ET/PT)

NEW YORK – Showtime once again will bring the action to fight fans as America’s No. 1 boxing network pits two can’t-miss lightweight prospects, Antonio DeMarco and Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal, in a 10-round lightweight battle Friday, Sept. 7, on “ShoBox: The New Generation” (Showtime, 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Opening the telecast are the flashy and undefeated junior middleweights, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (9-0, six KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, and Emmanuel Gonzalez (9-0, four KOs) of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.  Both fighters will put their unblemished records on the line in an eight-round scrap that will be a rematch of a 2002 amateur match-up. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will present the doubleheader from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.

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Thursday, September 06, 2007

Robert Guerrero Training Camp Notes

Heading into the final week of camp, two-time world featherweight champion, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero is prime and ready for battle.  Training in the high altitude mountains of Big Bear, California, for the first time, “The Ghost” is physically in the best shape of his life.  Team Guerrero is appreciative toward future Hall of Famer Sugar Shane Mosley as he’s opened up his doors to his training facility in Big Bear while they prepare for Martin Honorio. Guerrero has been sparring with Mosley and good friend Jose Celaya, along with some others that the team has assembled in preparation for this bout.

Robert is excited about defending his title and fighting on HBO PPV as he stated, “When I went to Denmark with my back against the wall, I really had to dig deep inside my soul and prove to myself that I belong with the best fighters in the world.  It wasn’t easy traveling overseas with the time change and long travel, but I was determined in bringing my title back home.  Now that I’m champion again my focus is on Honorio.  Training with Sugar Shane has been a blessing and I’m thankful to him for letting us train at his facility here in Big Bear.  This is my second time around fighting on HBO and I want to show the world that I’m worthy of big time fights.”

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Maskaev-Peter Workout Quotes

World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev will make the second defense of his title against WBC No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Oct. 6 on Showtime (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) in a highly anticipated championship match scheduled for 12 rounds. The event is being promoted by Don King Productions and Duva Promotion in association with Madison Square Garden.

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De La Hoya, Leonard Make Friendly Bet

LOS ANGELES - Famed pugilists Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard have made a “friendly” bet on two bouts between fighters from their respective camps, making the September 15 “Fireworks” boxing event, featuring Juan Manuel Marquez against Rocky Juarez in the main event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and live on pay-per-view, that much more explosive. 

In the first bout, and opening the pay-per-view telecast that evening, Francisco “Panchito” Bojado will represent De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.  His opponent Steve Forbes, will represent the Leonard-hosted ‘The Contender’ Series, as runner-up from Contender Season Two.  In the other bout, Golden Boy pugilist and former junior middleweight champion Kassim “The Dream” Ouma will battle Contender first season winner Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora.  The winners of the bouts will decide the winner of the bet between De La Hoya and Leonard with both decorated fighters agreeing that the loser will provide ring card girl duties between the first and second round of the main event.  If it’s a draw with one bout a piece for each side, De La Hoya and Leonard will share ring card duties.

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Lightweights DeMarco and Casal Set to Clash on Showtime

NEW YORK – Showtime once again will bring the action to fight fans as America’s No. 1 boxing network pits two can’t-miss lightweight prospects, Antonio DeMarco and Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal, in a 10-round lightweight battle Friday, Sept. 7, on “ShoBox: The New Generation” (Showtime, 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Opening the telecast are the flashy and undefeated junior middleweights, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (9-0, six KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, and Emmanuel Gonzalez (9-0, four KOs) of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.  Both fighters will put their unblemished records on the line in an eight-round scrap that will be a rematch of a 2002 amateur match-up. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will present the doubleheader from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.

Continue reading "Lightweights DeMarco and Casal Set to Clash on Showtime"

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Zuniga Upsets Oganov; Kirkland Stops Said

TACOMA – In exactly the type of well-matched, hotly contested fight that exemplifies what “ShoBox: The New Generation” is all about, Fulgencio Zuniga (20-2-1, 17 KOs) registered a convincing ninth-round TKO over previously undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 8 contender Victor Oganov (26-1, 26 KOs) in a one-sided war for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) super middleweight championship Saturday on Showtime.

In the co-feature of a tremendous “ShoBox” fight card, highly regarded unbeaten WBO No. 10-ranked 154-pound contender James Kirkland (20-0, 17 KOs) demolished Mohammad Said (22-6-1, 14 KOs), dropping him three times en route to a scintillating second-round knockout.

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Saturday, September 01, 2007

Oganov-Zuniga, Kirkland-Said Quotes

Victor Oganov (26-0, 26 KOs), of Syktyvkar, Russia, will look to continue his dominance when he battles former world title challenger Fulgencio Zuniga (19-2-1, 16 KOs), of Padilla, Columbia, for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) super middleweight championship on Saturday, Sept. 1, in a special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In the co-feature, hard-hitting WBO No. 10 junior middleweight contender James Kirkland (19-0, 16 KOs), of Austin, Tex., will continue to make his case for world title contention when he takes on Mohammad Said (22-5-1, 14 KOs), of Secaucus, N.J., by way of Brazil.

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De La Hoya Wants to Return at Welterweight

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Oscar De La Hoya has stated that he plans on returning to the ring next May, at welterweight:

But De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs), who has won 10 world title belts in six divisions, has no immediate plans to stop fighting and is thinking about his ring return, targeted for May 3, 2008.

And when he does return, De La Hoya said that he will be back in the welterweight division he once dominated before moving up to junior middleweight and taking a two-fight stab at middleweight.

“Nothing is set in stone about who I’m going to fight,” De La Hoya told ESPN.com in a recent interview. “Right now, I’m plotting these fights [that Golden Boy is promoting], keeping myself busy and spending time with my family. I won’t decide who I am going to fight until I see how things unfold [in the fall], but I will be back at welterweight, that’s for sure.”

Oscar back at 147 lbs? Just imagine the possible matchups: Mayweather, Mosley, Hatton, Williams, Cintron and Margarito are all potential opponents at this point.

Countdown To Taylor-Pavlik Debuts on Sept 22

HBO Sports is presenting a thirty- minute special analyzing the upcoming middleweight title fight between reigning champion Jermain Taylor and fast-charging challenger Kelly Pavlik. The highly anticipated 160-pound bout is set for Saturday, Sept. 29 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and will be carried live on HBO in one of the network’s signature broadcasts of the year. The fight is an intriguing match-up between the division’s most acclaimed competitors.

The special “Countdown To Taylor-Pavlik, ” which will feature fighter profiles, expert analysis and forecasts for the showdown in Atlantic City, will premiere on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. 

Jermain Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KOs) of Little Rock, Ark., is one the sport’s most accomplished stars.  Two years ago he upset reigning middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins to take his place atop the 160-pound division.  Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs) of Youngstown, Ohio, is a fast-rising power puncher who is hoping to replace Taylor as the division’s top act.

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Friday, August 31, 2007

Leonard, Gomez Visit ESPN’s FNF

Sugar Ray Leonard and Alfonso Gomez visit ESPN’s Friday Night Fights as special guest analysts tonight at 10 PM EST. Shamone Alvarez will take on Germaine Sanders in the night’s main event.