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Friday, August 24, 2007
Rodriguez Returns Tonight on Friday Night Fights
Former USBA Welterweight Champion Delvin Rodriguez returns to the ring for the first time since his March TKO loss to Jesse Feliciano against Keenan Collins tonight on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights at 9 PM EST.
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Klitschko to Face Winner of Tournament
Dan Rafael of ESPN is reporting that Chris Byrd, Alexander Povetkin, Eddie Chambers, and Calvin Brock have all agreed to participate in a “three-fight box-off” to determine who will receive a title shot against Wladimir Klitschko when he recovers from an injured left hand next year:
In the first elimination fight, former titlist Byrd (40-3-1, 21 KOs), who has already lost twice to Klitschko, will face 2004 Russian Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Povetkin (13-0, 9 KOs), one of the hottest prospects in the world. They will meet Oct. 27 in Germany.
In the second eliminator, Chambers (29-0, 16 KOs) will meet Brock (31-1, 23 KOs) on Nov. 2 on Showtime’s “ShoBox: The New Generation” at a site to be determined.
The winners of the two fall fights will meet in early 2008, with that winner earning a shot at Klitschko.
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Thursday, August 16, 2007
Trinidad Signs to Fight Jones Jr
Felix Trinidad officially signs the contract that will match him up against Roy Jones Jr on January 26 of next year.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Rosales, Nunes Collide on August 24
NEW YORK – On August 24th Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing is back with the 5th installment of its popular boxing series “Punchin’ at the Paradise” at the Utopia Paradise Theater in the Bronx. The main event features Dominican Dynamo Delvin Rodriguez (20-2-1, 12KO’s) making his first ring appearance since his March 23 thrill-a-minute slugfest with Jesse Feliciano when he takes on Keenan Collins (12-2-1, 8KO’s) of Reading, PA.
No other fighter in recent memory has produced more KO highlight’s for ESPN2 then the hard-hitting Delvin Rodriguez. From knocking undefeated Allen Conyers through the ropes and onto the floor, to dropping Chris Henry—producing a spectacular KO is an art, Delvin is the DiVinci of the Masterpiece KO .
“You throw your right hand, you punch the guy, and the next thing you know he’s falling down. You feel the impact, but it’s like you just touched him and he’s down,” Delvin said in a recent interview with ESPN’s Joe Tessitore.
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Escalera Turns Down Williams Bout
PROVIDENCE – Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES) president Jimmy Burchfield reports that Team Escalera has turned down an opportunity for undefeated cruiserweight prospect Alfredo Escalera, Jr. (14-0-1, 11KOs) to fight CES’ unbeaten nine-time U.S. amateur champion Aaron Williams (14-0-1, 10 KOs) in the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights opening 8-round bout on August 24 in New York City.
“I got a call over the weekend from Star Boxing asking if Aaron would fight Alfredo Escalera, Jr. on August 24,” Burchfield explained. “We accepted without hesitation. When I didn’t hear back, I called and was told Escalera’s people turned down the fight. Why? I want somebody to give a DNA test to that kid. How can he be the son of the great Alfredo Escalera (world super featherweight champion (1975-78) and not take this fight? It’s what fight fans want to see, two unbeaten cruiserweight prospects, and you know ESPN would like to have Aaron on the show. When he knocked out (DeLeon) Tingsley (June 20) on ESPN, they kept showing his knockout over and over for 24 hours. The problem in boxing today is fighters picking and choosing opponents instead of taking chances. We’re very disappointed.”
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Friday, August 03, 2007
Montreal Gets Ready for Friday Night Fights Again
Summer’s the perfect time to hit hockey-crazed Montreal with back-to-back Friday Night Fights.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Witherspoon Returns to Action on ESPN 2
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon takes to the national stage when he takes on Talmadge Griffis (24-6-3, 16 KOs) next Friday, July 27, on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights at Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga. The DiBella Entertainment heavy hitter hopes to follow the same path as his cousin—former heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon—on a road which leads to a title belt.
Witherspoon was a 2004 Olympic alternate and National Golden Gloves winner. He has also impressed in his pro career, remaining undefeated in 18 fights and stopping his last five opponents. In his well-traveled, 9-year career, Griffis from Colorado Springs, CO has faced heavyweight stars David Tua and Clifford Etienne.
“I’m happy to have the opportunity to be on the national stage again with ESPN2. This will allow me to come out and show the world what I’ve been doing and how I am progressing,” says the Philadelphia native, who will appear in the co-feature of the Andre Berto vs. Cosme Rivera main event presented by Pugnacious Promotions and DBE which will be televised nationally. “I will be able to show people that I am getting better with each fight and I am putting in the time to be a top contender. I appreciate Lou DiBella giving me this opportunity and I thank ESPN2 as well.”
Witherspoon is also thrilled to be in thoroughbred country as the Saratoga Racecourse starts its renowned race meet, as he hopes to enter the equine industry down the line.
“I am very interested in horses and the breeding of horses. I would like to learn more about the thoroughbred racing game and what it takes to own and raise a championship caliber horse,” says Witherspoon. “Getting involved in the racing game is something I might like to do when I am done with boxing.””
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Manfredo Fights Wednesday on ESPN
PROVIDENCE - When the “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr. enters the ring Wednesday night to headline the “Cha-Ching In The Ring” show, it’ll mark his third fight within a 74-day period, an unheard of schedule today for a top 15 contender.
Manfredo (27-4, 13 KOs), rated No. 14 by the IBF, lost by controversial stoppage in the third round to WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe in Wales on April 7. Peter bounced back on May 11, registering a ninth-round TKO against veteran Ted Muller in Rhode Island. The Contender I television reality show star Manfredo headlines “Cha-Ching In The Ring” against upset specialist David Banks (14-1-1, 2 KOs), who is coming off impressive back-to-back wins against previously unbeaten Elvin Ayala.
“I’m back again,” Manfredo said. “These are the steps I have to take to become a world champion. When you don’t get a chance to fight, or lose, you have to start all over again to get back there. We’re fighters; this is what we do. I want to stay busy. The guy I’d love to fight is Jeff Lacy.”
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Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Grant Ends Hiatus on ESPN
NEW YORK – Pro boxing goes upscale when “Black-Tie Boxing” comes to New York City on June 27 as caviar and champagne replace hot dogs and beer, tuxedos and gowns become required attire and fashion models serve as round card girls, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
“Black-Tie Boxing,” presented by Thomas Gallagher Productions, Inc., will be broadcast live on ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights, headlined by a 12-round super middleweight title fight between former USBA champion Yusaf Mack (22-1-2, 14 KOs), rated No. 15 by the IBF, and Puerto Rican power puncher Jose Juan “Zeus” Vasquez (16-1-1, 9 KOs).
In a pair of eight-round co-feature events, former world heavyweight title contender “Big” Michael Grant (41-3, 31 KOs), former IBC and NABF champion, returns to the ring after a two-year absence against tough veteran Billy “The Kid” Zumbrun (21-8-1, 11 KOs); former Intercontinental welterweight champion Nick “Ace” Acevedo (17-2, 9 KOs), star of the The Contender II television reality series, faces dangerous light middleweight Max “Holy Hands” Cuevas (9-5-1, 5 KOs).
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Thursday, April 26, 2007
Litzau Decisions Valtierra
Jason Litzau returned to his winning ways with an unanimous decision victory over Aldo Valtierra on last night’s ESPN Wednesday Night Fights…
Jason Litzau Returns With Decision Win
After suffering a crushing knockout loss to Jose Hernandez in his last outing, Jason “The American Boy” Litzau (21-1, 18 KO’s) made his return to the ring and won a ten-round unanimous decision over Mexican veteran Aldo Valtierra (24-8, 13 KO’s) at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Minnesota. The fight was televised in the main event spot on ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights.
Litzau did not switch up his game, he came out with the same aggressive style that made him a fan favorite to watch. There was no shortage of action as both men exchanged power punches often. Litzau was cut in the fourth round on his right cheek, but continued to come forward with punches.
The younger Litzau began to take over in the late rounds, scoring a knockdown near the end of the ninth. The scores were 98-92, 99-90 and 99-90.