Junior Middleweight

Friday, December 14, 2007

HBO to Replay Best Fights of 2007

It’s a holiday treat for HBO Boxing fans.  For five consecutive nights during the holidays, HBO Sports will replay five of the most memorable, most significant, most compelling bouts of 2007 that were broadcast on the HBO service.

The lineup includes:

Tuesday, Dec. 25 at 11:00 p.m. - Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlik
Wednesday, Dec. 26 at 11:00 p.m. - Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler
Thursday, Dec. 27 at 11:00 p.m. - Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather
Friday,  Dec. 28 at 11:00 p.m. - Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley
Saturday, Dec. 29 at 12 midnight - Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton

All times are ET/PT.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Undefeated James Kirkland on ShoBox Nov 30

NEW YORK – Hard-hitting World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 11 154-pound contender James Kirkland (20-0, 17 KOs) hopes to continue his ascension to the top of the junior middleweight division when he takes on the dangerous Allen Conyers (11-2, nine KOs) Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, on ShoBox: The New Generation (live on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).
In the co-feature, undefeated prospect Alfredo Angulo (10-0, seven KOs) will battle Archak Ter Meliksetian (16-5, 13 KOs). Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will present the doubleheader from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Kirkland, of Austin, Texas, has knocked out 17 of his 20 opponents and is a legitimate contender at 154 pounds. Another convincing win could put him in consideration for a world title shot.
“This is another huge opportunity for me and a tough fight,” said Kirkland, who will make his fourth consecutive ShoBox appearance in 2007. “Conyers is a really dangerous opponent, so it should be an entertaining fight. I am ready to show the country that I am the real deal.”

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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

De La Hoya-Mayweather Numbers Show Boxing is Back

LOS ANGELES — For a sport that has taken more than its share of slings and arrows over the last few years, boxing has proven to be as resilient as its greatest champions, rising from the canvas in 2007 to again take its place among the most popular and relevant sports in the world.

The latest sign that boxing is back came this week, when HBO revealed that the record-shattering May 5th super fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather did even better than initially thought, with final numbers now clocking in at 2.4 million pay-per-view buys and $134.4 million in domestic revenue.

These numbers have established De La Hoya as the all-time leader in pay-per-view sales with 12.8 million buys.  Not only did his fight with Mayweather shatter existing records for most PPV buys for a non-heavyweight fight, it sailed past the previous leader for overall PPV buys (1.9 million, which was set by the rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson in 1997).

“This is amazing news and the strongest possible sign that boxing is not only alive, but that it is thriving,” said De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, the promoters of De La Hoya-Mayweather.  “There is no proof like cold, hard facts, and the response of fight fans to these events has given me hope that this sport will soon be back on the front pages of daily newspapers and in the mainstream’s consciousness like it was in its heyday.”

“I’m happy that my fight with Oscar did so well, but I’m not surprised because this is what happens when you give the people what they want,” said Mayweather, who fights Ricky Hatton on December 8.  “I am going to keep bringing that to the people and that’s what they will see when I fight Hatton.  Plus, being a competitive person, I want to go past 2.4 million buys and show the world what boxing is all about.”

What’s even more impressive is that in this record-breaking overall year for the boxing business, there are still two PPV super fights left – the November 10th battle between Sugar Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto, and the grand pay-per-view finale December 8th between Mayweather and Hatton.

Added Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, “I’ve always said that if you brought great fights and great fighters to the people and promoted it properly that every fight fan would respond, and the success we’ve had this year proves it.  This is the dawning of a new age for boxing, and we are proud to be part of its renaissance.”

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Power, Napa to Rematch in November

Nearly two years to the date after Martin Power claimed a hotly disputed points decision to retain the British title over Ian Napa, he steps back into the fray to try and regain a title he never lost in the square ring on Friday, November 30, at the Newham Leisure Centre in London, England.
This is one of the most eagerly awaited rematches for a British title and continues a line of eagerly contested domestic title fights promoted by Frank Maloney, which has seen fight fans appreciate the return to traditional boxing.
In the last meeting between Power and Napa, held at York Hall in November, 2005, two judges voted 116-113 for Power while one judge saw it 116-113 for Napa.
Since that fight, Napa, 15-6 (1), lost a European title bid on points but then won the British belt in July of this year before claiming his first stoppage win in a 21 fight career against Lee Haskins last month.
Power, 19-2 (8), has had changing fortunes as well, as the previously undefeated Londoner suffered two convincing losses, both stoppages, by the world ranked Commonwealth bantamweight champion Tshifhiwa Munyai, who will also be appearing on the card, looking to push his claim for a world title.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Peltz Signs Teon Kennedy, Latif Mundy

PHILADELPHIA — Hall-of-Fame promoter J Russell Peltz today announced the signing of 2004 National Golden Gloves featherweight champion Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, PA, to an exclusive promotional contract, along with junior middleweight Latif Mundy, former Pennsylvania GG champ.

Both are unbeaten in five pro fights apiece and their careers will be under the guidance of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and Joe Hand of Joe Hand Promotions, Inc.

“Teon Kennedy reminds me of a young Jeff Chandler,” said Peltz, referring to the Hall-of-Fame bantamweight champion he promoted from 1976 to 1984.  “Because of his amateur background, Teon is more advanced at this stage than Jeff, who only had two amateur fights.  We’re banking on Teon moving up the ladder by fighting the best, the same way Jeff did it.”

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Friday, September 07, 2007

DeMarco-Casal, Angulo-Gonzalez Quotes