RSSMiddleweight
Saturday, September 01, 2007
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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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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Sunday, August 26, 2007
Vargas-Mayorga Postponed
LOS ANGELES - Fans that have already purchased nearly $1 million worth of tickets to see a boxing match destined to be sold out featuring “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas vs. Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 8 will have to wait for the bout to be rescheduled after a routine blood test by Vargas on Friday revealed a severe iron deficiency.
Vargas’ doctor ordered him to not participate in the highly anticipated match and to take the necessary weeks of treatment to correct the problem.
Promoters of the event Don King Productions and Main Events in association with Staples Center will notify the public as soon as a rescheduled date can be confirmed.
Vargas (26-4, 22 KOs) is a two-time world champion and Mayorga (27-6-1, 22 KOs) is a three-time world champion. Their upcoming bout had been aptly dubbed “The Brawl” after a highly contentious confrontation between the fighters erupted at the initial press conference announcing the event in Los Angeles and again at a subsequent press conference in New York.
Further information on the rescheduled date and refund policy will be made available in the coming days.
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Friday, August 24, 2007
Vargas vs Mayorga: Countdown To The Brawl Airs Tomorrow Night on Showtime
NEW YORK — Showtime will premiere “Vargas vs. Mayorga: Countdown To The Brawl”—profiling two of boxing’s most colorful and explosive personalities—on Saturday night, Aug. 25, at 1 a.m. ET/PT (immediately following the ShoXC, live MMA event). The 30-minute documentary program will air at various times on the premium network until Sept. 8, when “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas and Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga will meet in the ring to settle a personal score for machismo and pride.
The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for 12 rounds at a catch weight of 162 pounds and will air live on Sept. 8 on pay-per-view (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Staples Center in Los Angeles.
“Countdown To The Brawl” takes viewers inside the training camps and into the homes of both men to reveal their motivation, strategies of intimidation and the root of their volatile and now infamous first fight—at the announcement press conference in Los Angeles on July 11.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Miranda Preparing for October Return
HOLLYWOOD – The call came into the Seminole Warriors Boxing offices this week, and there was no mistaking who was on the other end of the line.
“I’m back,” said Edison “Pantera” Miranda, who has rebounded from his May loss to Kelly Pavlik and is back in the gym in San Juan, Puerto Rico, preparing for a late-October return at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood.
“I’ve been working out for hours every day and I feel great,” said Miranda, who after a successful run at middleweight will now compete in the 168-pound super middleweight division. “At 168 my punches are sharper and harder, my speed is still there, and I feel like I can jump in the ring right now.”
It’s a far cry from Miranda’s May loss to Pavlik, which saw him put his health at risk in order to make weight for the bout. The classy Miranda doesn’t want to put a damper on Pavlik’s win though.
“I have no excuses,” said Miranda. “Pavlik was the better man that night, but that fight is in the past. I don’t think about what happened yesterday, only about what’s happening today and tomorrow, and in 2008, I will be ready to fight for a title once again. Watch out world, “Pantera” is coming - bigger, badder, and harder than ever.”
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Monday, August 20, 2007
Smith to Face Contender Alum Reid
Pennsylvania based veteran Dhafir Smith 17-16-5 {4 KO’s} has stepped in to challenge Contender season 1 star Jonathan “Reid Dawg” Reid 34-6 {19 KO’s}. The fight which will be the co-main event at the New Alhambra in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will be fought at catch weight of 165 lbs.
Smith is stepping in for Rasheem Brown who pulled out for undisclosed reasons and will be looking for his second straight victory after scoring a shocking knockout over Brandon Mitchem on July 27th. Reid will attempt to impress the crowd in his first trip to Philadelphia as well as new promoter Diane Lee Fischer of Dee Lee Promotions.
“I will be prepared to the best of my ability” said the former NABA Middleweight king. “I am not sure why Rasheem Brown pulled out, but I will dedicate this fight to my fellow season 1 Contender stable mate Najai Turpin who committed suicide shortly after the show. It an honor to be able to come into his home turf and compete in the squared circle. My victory will go out to him and his family”.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Greene and Salmon Headline WNF on Aug 8
HOLLYWOOD, FL – Rising middleweight star “Mean” Joe Greene (15-0, 11 KOs), one of the best prospects to come out of New York City in years, will face his biggest test to date on Wednesday, August 8th, when he looks to win his first professional title in a 12 round NABA championship bout against Daryl Salmon (16-1, 4 KOs) in the main event of ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights.
Greene-Salmon, the main event of an exciting night of professional boxing action presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing, will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood, Florida.
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Tuesday, July 10, 2007
James Moore Workout Quotes
Irish Jr. Middleweight James Moore (11-0, 8KO’s) held an open workout at the legendary Gleason’s Gym to talk about his upcoming fight with Chris Overbey. The fight takes place this Thursday, July 12 at the Utopia Paradise Theater, Bronx, NY.
Regarding his workout and previous fight - “I’m winding things down, but I did about five hard rounds with the pads and some calisthenics” says Moore. “For my last fight I was sick with the flu and only had about 3-weeks to prepare. I’m in much better condition now and I’m ready to put on a great show”
Regarding moving down to 154lbs - “I was fighting at a higher weight because that’s what was in the contract. If the contract said 170lbs I come in at 170lbs, I won’t give my opponents an inch. But I think 154lbs is the weight I need to be to compete for a world title. Let’s be honest, I’m not big enough to compete with Pavlik, Miranda, and Taylor. But at 154lbs I feel very strong”
Regarding the Jr. Middleweight Division – “When you think about the Jr. Middleweight division, you gotta think hard to even recall the champions. I’m willing to put my unbeaten record on the line against the best in the division. De La Hoya, Vargas, I’m ready. The better my competition the harder I train, and the better I fight”.
Regarding fighting in the Bronx – “Most of my fights have been in Manhattan so it’s great that I can finally put on a show closer to my fans in Westchester – but still close to NYC. The Utopia Paradise Theater is a great venue. With tickets priced at $35 and $50 it’s not an expensive night out.”
Also featured on the bill is Bronx heavyweight powerhouse Vaughn Parham, “The Fighting Marine” Jon Schneider and Long Island’s own Alicia Ashley. “Punchin’ at the Paradise 4 – Night of Rising Stars” is stacked with 7 action-packed fights that are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Duddy Talks End of Training Camp
NEW YORK CITY – IBA middleweight champion “Ireland’s” John Duddy closes training camp this week in the Pocono Mountains, where he’s been preparing for his first pro fight in Ireland, headlining “The Homecoming” July 14 in Dublin.
Derry City, Northern Ireland-native Duddy (20-0, 15 KO’s), now fighting out of Queens (NY), takes on former IBF Mediterraneo light middleweight title-holder Alessio Furlan (19-8-5, 8 KOs), of Italy, in the 10-round main event.
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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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