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Friday, September 07, 2007
Mares Ready For Veteran Garcia
On Friday, September 7th, Golden Boy Promotions in conjunction with Desert Diamond Casino is giving Southern Arizona boxing fans another taste of elite boxing. The scheduled six bout fight card includes the NABO Bantamweight Championship bout where former Olympian Abner Mares takes on fellow Mexican, Isidro Garcia. As an added bonus, former world champion Roberto Duran will be on hand as a special guest.
The NABO Bantamweight Title fight main event pits Abner Mares (13-0 8 KOs) against Isidro “El Chino” Garcia (24-3-2 8 KOs). Mares, a 2004 Olympian for Team Mexico was quickly signed by Golden Boy Promotions following his international spotlight. With no title bouts to his name, this will be the highly-touted Mares first attempt to rise into the elite class of the bantamweight division. He has chosen a stiff test as he takes on the more experienced Garcia, who to date has already competed in ten title fights, including the infamous 1999 last minute battle against Jose Lopez for the WBO Flyweight belt.
Headlining the co-main event is Mexico’s Antonio Escalante (15-2 9 KOs). A former Golden Gloves Champion as an amateur, Escalante has proven himself as a professional fighter with his multiple title wins and his recent defeat of Paulino Villalobos at the Diamond Center on July 27th. Escalante will go ten rounds in the featherweight division against Colombia’s Feider Viloria (20-1-1 14 KOs). As WBO Latino’s number two rank in the jr. lightweight class, Viloria is making his first showing inside the U.S.
The undercard features Nestor Rocha (17-0 5 KOs) out of California in an 6-round jr. featherweight bout against Puerto Rico’s Jonas Hernandez (6-1 2 KOs). Returning to Desert Diamond Casino is Scotland’s Craig McEwan (6-0 5 KOs), New York’s Darrel Madison (5-1 3 KOs) and Nogales rising star, Adan Leal (6-0 5 KOs). Leal will face Julio Perez (4-6 3 KOs) and Madison will go up against Corey Winfield (2-1 2 KOs). McEwan’s opponent is Maryland native, Nick Collins (4-2 4 KOs).
Monday, May 14, 2007
Hands of Stone: The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran
Roberto Duran is my favorite fighter of all time. Because of this fact I thought I may be a little bias in my opinion of the book “Hands Of Stone”. Would I over rate it because the subject was Duran or would I be too harsh and expect too much? All I know is when it hit the shelf, I had to have it. Although time is not a luxury for me these days I was going to make time to read this book. I’m glad I did.
The author Christian Giudice did a tremendous job in researching this project. I was amazed at the number of people who were a part of Duran’s life and legacy that he was able to talk too. The information he was able to gather molded this into more then just a book. It became a journey through Duran’s life from his humble beginnings to the present. Family members and former opponents along with many others painted a picture of this great fighter and complex man we call Duran. That name alone stirs great memories for boxing fans around the world and the author was able to weave a superb story of one of boxing’s all time greats on to the pages of this book.
This is a must read for all boxing fans and if you are a Duran fan…Well what are you waiting for?
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
EEC - February 20, 2007
Many new things to report this morning…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Raul Frank has appealed to the New York State Athletic Commission to reinstate his victory over Terrance Cauthen. There will be a public hearing held at the officies of the NYSA tomorrow…
- IBF and IBO Flyweight Champion Vic Darchinyan has stated that he wants the winner of Rafael-Marquez-Israel Vazquez as a setup bout that would eventually get him in line for a shot at Manny Pacquiao.
“I will challenge both Marquez and Vazquez,” Darchinyan said. “I am looking forward. I just don’t want to stay in my weight division. I want to unify the flyweight division, but if the other champions won’t fight me, I want to move up and fight for more world titles. I want to become more popular. I want to become pound for pound No.1.”
- The Plain Dealer Reporter is reporting ironically that HBO would like Kelly Pavik to fight on the same card as Jermain Taylor-Sergio Mora on April 14th.
Pavlik told the paper that Top Rank is trying to set up a fight between himself and Edison Miranda in June instead with the winner getting a shot at Taylor in September…
- A biography on Roberto Duran written by Christian Giudice and titled “Hands of Stone, The Life and Legend of Roberto Duran” will start going on sale on Friday, March 2…
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: ‘Koncrete’ meets ‘Ding-A-Ling Man’ on FNF
FOX Sports: Malignaggi earns a win with a measured approach
Boxing Scene: Hopkins thinks Winky is the “Wright” Opponent
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Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Fres Oquendo Signs With DRL Promotions
Puerto Rican heavyweight standout Fres “The Big O” Oquendo has signed a promotional agreement with DRL Promotions. The up-and-coming boxing promotional company, perhaps best known for its connection to legend and former world champion Roberto Duran, announced the newest addition to its fight roster today with great enthusiasm.
Oquendo, who recently lost a controversial and hard-fought twelve-round decision to Evander Holyfield, boasts a successful 26-4 (16 KO) record at the age of 33, including earning the WBO Latino Heavyweight title, WBA Federation Heavyweight title, and NABF Heavyweight title. DRL’s Director of Boxing Luis DeCubas says Oquendo got robbed in the Holyfield decision and has proven himself to be the real McCoy: “We couldn’t be happier to add Fres to our team. He always comes to fight, and I predict he will again be a player to contend with in the wide open heavyweight division.”
Continue reading "Fres Oquendo Signs With DRL Promotions"
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Friday, December 08, 2006
Duran, Whitaker Headed to IHOF
Roberto Duran and Pernell Whitaker were among 13 others who will be enshrined into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 10th of next year.
Here is the complete list of inductees that were announced yesterday:
Roberto Duran
Pernell Whitaker
Ricardo Lopez
Leroy Neiman
Amilcar Brusa
Jose Sulaiman
George Godfrey
Pedro Montanez
Kid Norfolk
Cuco Conde
TAD Dorgan
Barney Aaron
Dick Curtis
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Roberto Duran Inducted into World Boxing Hall of Fame
Roberto Duran was inducted into World Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night, honoring a storied career in which Duran compiled a 103-16 record with 69 knockouts and five world titles.
Other notable inductees included Matthew Saad Muhammad, Julian Jackson, Eddie Perkins, and Barry Tompkins among others.
What was Duran’s favorite career moment?
Duran said his earliest fights in Panama, “a lot of fights you don’t know about,” were his toughest because he was an inexperienced teenage fighter going up against older, veteran fighters Duran feels could have become world champions and were “tougher fighters than when I fought Leonard.”