RSSLou DiBella
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Malignaggi-Ngougjo Quotes
Showtime Championship Boxing will set the stage for another fantastic year of world-class boxing when flashy, charismatic Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welterweight title against mandatory challenger and IBF No. 1 contender, Herman “The Black Panther” Ngoudjo, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008, live on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
The 12-round world title fight is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Groupe Yvon Michel and will take place at Bally’s Main Ballroom at Atlantic City, N.J.
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Thursday, September 13, 2007
Berto-Estrada: Crossroads Battle at Welterweight
NEW YORK - While most fight fans at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall and those viewing live on HBO World Championship Boxing on September 29th are anticipating the World Middleweight Championship bout between champion Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor and #1 challenger Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik, they will also be treated to a co-main event featuring two of the welterweight division’s elite in a crossroads battle. Fast rising Andre Berto will square off against fellow Floridian David Estrada in a 12-round bout for the vacant NABF welterweight title as well as a stronger foothold in the sports most exciting division.
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Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Gonzalez Returns to New York Tonight
Puerto Rican prospect Mike Gonzalez heads to New York City this Wednesday night, September 5th to face unbeaten lightweight Jorge Teron in an eight round featured lightweight bout at a special “Black Tie” edition of Broadway Boxing presented by DiBella Entertainment and Gallagher Productions at Cipriani’s Wall Street in Manhattan. Advance tickets and more information can be obtained by calling 212-624-9363.
The heavy handed Gonzalez brings a record of 10-1-1 (9KO’s) into the fight against the Bronx native Teron who sports a record of 17-0-1 (11KO’s).
Speaking Monday from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport while waiting to board his plane to New York City, Gonzalez said about the matchup, “He’s taller than I am so I’m going to have to get inside to offset his reach advantage. I’ll get to the body then work my way upstairs.”
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007
McGirt Jr. Added To Broadway Boxing Card
James “Buddy” McGirt Jr. (16-0, 9 KO’s) has made a name for himself fighting on DiBella Entertainment cards in New York City over the past year. His next fight will be no different as he will do battle with a true veteran of the fight game in Thomas Reid (35-18-1, 13 KO’s). “I want to put on a show for the New York fans. They always show great support for me and I will show them what I can do again on September 5th,” said the Long Island native. The bout will be apart of Broadway Boxing at Cipriani Downtown next Wednesday night in the heart of Wall Street.
McGirt feels like “this is an important step for me going up against a cagy veteran like Reid who I know will be coming to fight but I will be ready for whatever he has.” McGirt won his last fight on June 20 at the Grand Ballroom in Manhattan with a first round knockout of Delray Raines (8-3, 5 KO’s). Thomas Reid turned pro in 1993 and lost a 6 round hard fought unanimous decision to rising star Jaidon Codrington (16-1, 12 KO’s) in his last fight.
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Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Berto Pays Tribute To Jackie Leonard
Many sports fans say the younger athletes of today don’t remember or think about the legends that came before them This is not the case with DiBella Entertainment power puncher Andre Berto who was saddened to hear about the passing of legendary Promoter/Trainer Jackie Leonard today at the age of 89. “Jack was a great man. He really cared about his fighters and the sport of boxing,” said the 2004 Olympian.
Jackie Leonard promoted many world title fights including those involving Sugar Ray Robinson and Archie Moore. Later in life, Leonard opened up a boxing gym in Winter Haven, Florida. This is where Jackie met a young Berto. “Jack is the man who taught me how to form my foundation of boxing. He taught me how to throw my first correct punch,” said the undefeated welterweight.
Berto (19-9, 16 KO’s) is currently preparing for a clash with David Estrada in the co-feature bout on the September 29th Jermain Taylor-Kelly Pavlik card at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Berto wants to dedicate the bout to Jackie Leonard and will pay tribute to him by wearing a “JL” patch on the trunks he will wear in the ring that night.
There are those who question whether or not Jackie Leonard should be in Boxing’s Hall of Fame. Berto feels “a person like Jack definitely is a Hall of Fame figure in the sport and should have a spot in Canastota. Jack was a great person and a true friend. He gave me a chance and for that I will always love him.”
Friday, August 24, 2007
Berto Meets Estrada in September
NEW YORK - Unbeaten welterweight Andre Berto (19-0, 16 KOs) will get a chance to prove why the critics are raving about him when he faces world title challenger David Estrada on September 29 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Berto has been rated by nearly every major boxing publication and web site as one of the game’s top talents under 25 years old. Berto, 23, is that rare combination of speed and power, of finesse and brute strength. A member of the 2004 Haitian Olympic boxing team, Berto has been so dominant that 12 of his 16 knockouts have been in three rounds or less.
The Florida resident is thrilled to appear in his biggest fight in the co-featured bout to the middleweight championship between Jermain Taylor (27-0-1, 17 KOs) and Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs), which is being promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Top Rank Inc.
“It’s going to be an action packed, throwback night of boxing. I am honored to be the co-feature on the Taylor/Pavlik fight card. As always, I will train my hardest and put on the best possible performance for my fans,” said Andre Berto. Berto is coming off a unanimous 10-round decision over durable veteran Cosme Rivera on July 27. It was the first time he had gone the distance in 15 bouts, since a Feb. 24, 2005 four-round decision over David Neal. He had 14 consecutive knockouts after the Neal bout.
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Monday, July 02, 2007
EEC - July 2, 2007
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- The rumors are true: Felix Trinidad will be coming out of retirement to fight later this year, most likely in December.
- Oleg Maskaev’s showdown against Samuel Peter has been moved from September 29th to October 6th on Showtime and will now take place at Madison Square Garden according to Don King. Showtime is looking to fill the vacant September 29th weekend spot with a possible matchup between Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson, provided they are both victorious in their bouts on June 9th.
- Contract talks between the camps of Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik are almost finished according to Lou DiBella. Taylor would end up defending his middleweight titles on September 29th on HBO. DiBella says that he is currently attempting to hold the event at Boardwalk Hall.
- NetBoxe is reporting that WBC and WBA Cruiserweight Champion Jean-Marc Mormeck is currently in talks with the camp of David Haye for a possible fight on September 28th.
- Nikolai Valuev and Vladimir Virchis look set to fight at some point this fall. The deadline for purse bids for this fight is July 30th according to Per Ake Persson of Boxing Scene.
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Friday, June 08, 2007
Taylor-Pavlik Looks Set for September
Dan Rafael of ESPN is reporting that a bout between Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik is looking very likely for this fall:
Taylor’s promoter, Lou DiBella, and Pavlik’s promoter, Bob Arum, both told ESPN.com that they have hammered out a deal in principle for the fight to take place this fall. HBO’s working date is Sept. 29. Although the promoters are on the same page, DiBella still needs to finalize his own deal with Taylor.
“Bob and I basically have a deal. We have no major terms we are fighting over and I believe it will get done,” DiBella said. “Bob and I have always been able to get things done. But there are discussions I need to have with my side and with HBO, and the HBO things are not related to money. I haven’t fully talked to my fighter or [Taylor adviser] Al Haymon yet, but I know for a fact that Jermain wants the fight and Haymon isn’t opposed to it.”
The promoters were happy that HBO’s offer for the fight of almost $5 million—well above the figure the network is obligated to pay under its exclusive contract with Taylor—was generous enough to keep the fight off pay-per-view. Arum credited HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg with coming up with the money.
Said DiBella: “HBO came with a fair offer and Bob has postured fairly, so the combination of the two things mean there is no reason a deal shouldn’t get done. I just have to talk things through with Jermain, who has been on vacation, and with Al. But we’re looking for a site. I believe it will happen in September and after Jermain wins, he will come back and fight again in December.”
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Tuesday, April 24, 2007
DiBella Entertainment Signs Juliano Ramos
NEW YORK – DiBella Entertainment has signed junior welterweight standout Juliano Ramos (14-1, 11 KO’s) to a promotional agreement, it was announced today by DBE President Lou DiBella.
A native of Sorocaba, Brazil, Ramos is trained by the legendary Buddy McGirt, Jr. Eleven of Ramos’ fourteen career victories have come by way of the knock out.
“We are very pleased to add another top fighter in the 140-pound division to the DBE stable,” said DiBella.
Ramos will make his DiBella Entertainment debut on the May 2 Edition of Broadway Boxing as he faces Los Angeles’ Priest Smalls in a 6 round junior welterweight bout at Manhattan Center in New York City.
“I am so happy and thankful for this opportunity to work with DiBella Entertainment,” said Ramos. “They were at the top of my list from the start, my number one choice. I am very happy to be with them. I have been working very hard in the gym to be ready to fight. Now, I will work even harder to show my appreciation to them for this opportunity. There are a lot of talented, tough fighters in my division, but my goal is to work hard and learn every day from my trainer, and when given the opportunity, I will do everything I can to win a world title.”
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Oliver Returns to Action on May 4
USBA super bantamweight champ Mike “Machine” Oliver (18-0, 7 KO) returns to the ring Friday, May 4, when he headlines Alpha - Omega’s “Battle Zone 3” at the Mohegan Sun Arena, in Uncasville, Connecticut. The bout will be broadcast on the New England Sports Network (NESN), with Oliver’s opponent to be announced in the very near future.
It will be Oliver’s first time climbing back in the ring, since his February 16 unanimous decision victory over then unbeaten Gary Stark Jr.
The bout with Stark, which was a heavily anticipated showdown between two of the super bantamweight division’s most touted prospects, was broadcast live on ShoBox, and ended with an extremely close and controversial decision. Judges at ringside scored the bout 116-112 (twice) and 115-113, all in favor of Oliver.
The decision resulted in Stark’s promoter, Lou Dibella, voicing his disgust, while Rich Cappiello, Oliver’s promoter, boisterously defended the decision. The controversy and attention brought forth by both the fight, and the verbal aftermath, may ultimately result in the two squaring off again in the future.