Share SBS w/Family or Friends

Friday, February 29, 2008

Nabaté Isles perform with the great saxophonist Oliver Lake at the Jazz Gallery Saturday, March 1st, 9 and 10:30 pm sets

Oliver Lake's Organ Quartet

featuring:

Oliver Lake, Alto Saxophone
Nabaté Isles, Trumpet
Jared Gold, Organ
Johnathan Blake, Drums

@

The Jazz Gallery
290 Hudson Street
(between Spring and Dominick Streets)
Cover: $15
Students/Members: $10
(212) 242-1063
www.jazzgallery.org


boxing entertainment fight sports mixed martial arts special events sports worldwide

A Message from Tyler Perry‏


Thank you all for making WHY DID I GET MARRIED? the number one DVD this week as well as buying WHAT'S DONE IN THE DARK.

It's so good to know that I can count on you. (smile) Thank you, again! I want to say a quick congratulations to Lavan Davis, Lance Gross, HOUSE OF PAYNE and Janet Jackson. They all won Image Awards. I am so happy for them, especially Lavan. I'm telling you, nobody would give this man a shot. Now look! I'm just blown away. Another reason that I'm writing is this.
When we won the Image Award for HOUSE OF PAYNE, I said something that I didn't know I had said until I watched the show played back that night. I said that if 1000 people tell you no and you get one yes from God then that's all you need to make it. That thing woke up something in me. I realized at that moment that I had had a lot of NO's in my life. I had a lot of people say, "You can't!" and "You never will!" I had a lot of doubters and hardly anybody ever said that I could. And through the hardest times in my life I had to learn how to encourage myself.
And I want to tell you that if nobody else will encourage you then encourage yourself. If you have a dream, keep working towards it. It's great to have people give you awards and appreciate what you do, but back in the day, it wasn't that way at all. I remember when I was broke and working a dead end job clearing about 300 dollars a week. This wasn't long ago at all, as a matter of fact. What I would do though was on my lunch break I would spend the time writing down play ideas, writing down movie ideas, planning a tour for my play, looking at maps of the country, calling theaters. I knew that I had ideas that would move people--that would help them in one way or another, so I just kept going. I didn't have a dime to my name. I didn't know how I was going to get there, but I knew that I would in some way. And then God made a way. And look, when I would really get down I used to go out to the nicest neighborhoods and go to open houses and just look at them and believe. I would put on my nicest closes and go out and test drive the finest cars. Now I know that these are material things but this is about an exercise in faith. In order to get to your dreams you have to see yourself there. You have to see yourself doing better. Use your mind to see yourself doing better. The Bible says, "As a man thinketh, so is he." Stir up the gift in you. People are waiting for your dream to come to pass. Don't give up. I often think about all the times I wanted to give up. I thought about how hard it was and how much I was going through. I look at my life now and I say to myself, "Boy I'm glad you kept going!" What if I would have stopped, can you imagine? No plays, no movies, no Madea, not even this email. Again, God has given us all gifts and if you give up on your dreams then the world will never know. We're waiting for you! God bless...Live well, Tyler Perry To respond to this message, please go to> http://www.tylerperry.com/messageboard
boxing entertainment fight sports mixed martial arts special events sports worldwide

Black WallStreet

Black WallStreet

Little Africa has provided this reference to provide an historical
example of how African-Americans, working together, can make a
tremendous difference in their lives and community.



Black Wallstreet was physically destroyed by jealous whites, the
message here; however, is not about anger or revenge--It is a simple
plea to recapture that thriving community's pride and spirit.
Moreover, we hope that this example encourages you to replicate its
cultural and economic success.

The highlighted (blue) passages focus attention on the success of our
people and provides additional perspective that you should keep in
mind as you think about the opportunity that the Block IV Corporation
articulates in the Village GoldMine. The Block IV Corporation has
also injected additional comments (red) throughout the text.

Black Wallstreet

The date was June 1, 1921, when "Black Wallstreet," the name
fittingly given to one of the most affluent all-Black communities in
America, (This was not the only thrinving black community.) was
bombed from the air and burned to the ground by mobs of envious
whites. In a period spanning fewer than 12 hours, a once thriving 36-
Block business district in northern Tulsa lay smoldering--A model
community destroyed, and a major African-American economic movement
resoundingly defused.

The nights carnage left some 3,000 African Americans dead, and over
600 successful businesses lost. Among these were 21 churches, 21
restaurants, 30 grocery stores and two movie theaters, plus a
hospital, a bank, a post office, libraries, schools, law offices, a
half dozen private airplanes and even a bus system. As could have
been expected the impetus behind it all was the infamous Ku Klux
Klan, working in consort with ranking city officials, and many other
sympathizers.



In their self-published book, Black Wallstreet: A Lost Dream, and its
companion video documentary, Black Wallstreet: A Black Holocaust in
America!, the authors have chronicled for the very first time in the
words of area historians and elderly survivors what really happened
there on that fateful summer day in 1921 and why it happened. Wallace
similarly explained to BE why this bloody event from the turn of the
century seems to have had a recurring effect that is being felt in
predominately Black neighborhoods even to this day.

The best description of Black Wallstreet, or Little Africa as it was
also known, would be liken it to a mini-Beverly Hills. It was the
golden door of the Black community during the early 1900s, and it
proved that African Americans had successful infrastructure. That's
what Black Wallstreet was all about.

The dollar circulated 36 to 100 times, sometimes taking a year for
currency to leave the community. Now in 1995, a dollar leaves the
Black community in 15-minutes. (Black economic success depends on us
spending our money with us.) As far as resources, there were Ph.D.'s
residing in Little Africa, Black attorneys and doctors. One doctor
was Dr. Berry who owned the bus system. His average income was $500 a
day, a hefty pocket change in 1910. (We provided for ourselves the
same services that we currenly rely on others to provide.)



During that era, physicians owned medical schools. There were also
pawn shops everywhere, brothels, jewelry stores, 21 churches, 21
restaurants and two movie theaters. It was a time when the entire
state of Oklahoma has only two airports, yet six Blacks owned their
own planes. It was a very fascinating community.

The area encompassed over 600 businesses and 36 square blocks with a
population of 15,000 African Americans. And when the lower-economic
Europeans looked over and saw what the Black community created, many
of them were jealous. When the average student went to school on
Black Wallstreet, he wore a suit and tie because of the morals and
respect they were taught at a young age.

The mainstay of the community was to educate every child. Nepotism
was the one word they believed in. And that's what we need to get
back to in 1995. The main thoroughfare was Greenwood Avenue, and it
was intersected by Archer and Pine Streets. From the first letters in
each of those three names, you get G.A.P., and that's where the
renowned R and B music group The Gap Band got its name. They're from
Tulsa.

Black Wallstreet was a prime example of the typical. Black community
in America that did businesses, but it was in an unusual location.
You see, at the time, Oklahoma was set aside to be a Black and Indian
state. There were over 28 Black townships there. One third of the
people who traveled in the terrifying "Trail of Tears" along side the
Indians between 1830 to 1842 were Black people.

The citizens of this proposed Indian and Black state chose a Black
governor, a treasurer from Kansas named McDade. But the Ku Klux Klan
said that if he assumed office that they would kill him within 48
hours. A lot of Blacks owned farmland, and many of them had gone into
the oil business. The community was so tight and wealthy because they
traded dollars hand-to-hand, and because they were dependent upon one
another as a result of the Jim Crow laws.

It was not unusual that if a resident's home accidentally burned
down, it could be rebuilt within a few weeks by neighbors. This was
the type of scenario that was going on day- to-day on Black
Wallstreet. When Blacks intermarried into the Indian culture, some of
them received their promised '40 Acres and A Mule' and with that came
whatever oil was later found on the properties.

Just to show you how wealthy a lot of Black people were, there was a
banker in the neighboring town who had a wife named California
Taylor. Her father owned the largest cotton gin west of the
Mississippi [River]. When California shopped, she would take a cruise
to Paris every three months to have her clothes made.

There was also a man named Mason in nearby Wagner County who had the
largest potato farm west of the Mississippi. When he harvested, he
would fill 100 boxcars a day. Another brother not far away had the
same thing with a spinach farm. The typical family then was five
children or more, though the typical farm family would have 10 kids
or more who made up the nucleus of the labor.

On Black Wallstreet, a lot of global business was conducted. The
community flourished from the early 1900s until June 1, 1921. That's
when the largest massacre of non-military Americans in the history of
this country took place, and it was lead by the Ku Klux Klan. Imagine
walking out of your front door and seeing 1,500 homes being burned.
It must have been amazing.

Survivors we interviewed think that the whole thing was planned
because during the time that all of this was going on, white families
with their children stood around the borders of their community and
watched the massacre, the looting and everything--much in the same
manner they would watch a lynching.



In my lectures I ask people if they understand where the word
"picnic" comes from. It was typical to have a picnic on a Friday
evening in Oklahoma. The word was short for "pick a nigger" to lynch.
They would lynch a Black male and cut off body parts as souvenirs.
This went on every weekend in this country, and it was all across the
county. That's where the term really came from.

The riots weren't caused by anything Black or white. It was caused by
jealousy. A lot of white folks had come back from World War I and
they were poor. When they looked over into the Black communities and
realized that Black men who fought in the war had come home heroes
that helped trigger the destruction.

In 1910, our forefathers and mothers owned 13 million acres of land
at the height of racism in this country, so the Black Wallstreet book
and videotape prove to the naysayers and revisionists that we had our
act together. Our mandate now is to begin to teach our children about
out own, ongoing Black holocaust. They have to know when they look at
our communities today that we don't come from this.

Excerpt from Black Elegance Magazine (issue unknown)
Title: Ron Wallace Co-Author of Black Wallstreet: A Lost Dream
Chronicles a Little Known Chapter of African-American History in
Oklahoma
By line: As Told To Ronald E. Childs

http://www/littleafrica.com


boxing entertainment fight sports mixed martial arts special events sports worldwide

IFL middleweight champion Matt Horwich, will defend his title on Feb. 29 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas



Matt Horwich, the IFL Middleweight champion, who fights out of Team Quest in Portland, Ore., will defend his middleweight crown vs. Ryan McGivern from Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, Iowa. The bout is one of three championship fights on the eight-bout card on Feb. 29 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Horwich defeated Benji Radach on Dec. 29 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. to win the first IFL middleweight title. ---"Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing."- Thomas Jefferson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Catch the IFL on FSN Sundays at 5 p.m. and LIVE on HDNet on Feb. 29, April 4 and May 16

CBS and ProElite Join Forces to Bring Mixed Martial Artsto Primetime Broadcast Television

One of the Fastest-Growing Spectator Sports Comes to CBS; A Los Angeles-based leading entertainment and media company that produces world class mixed martial arts (MMA) events, today jointly announced a multi-year agreement that will bring one of the fastest growing spectator sports to a major broadcast television network for the first time. CBS will broadcast four MMA events per year, produced by ProElite's EliteXC fight division, as two-hour live primetime specials targeted for Saturday nights. The agreement augments an existing relationship between CBS Corporation (NYSE:CBS) (NYSE:CBS.A) and ProElite (Pink Sheets:PELE), which began broadcasting its EliteXC live MMA events on CBS's SHOWTIME premium cable network in 2007. EliteXC events will continue to air on SHOWTIME. Additionally, CBS Interactive and ProElite's new media division, ProElite.com, will collaborate on generating interactive content for both companies' platforms, including CBS Sports.com. The online offerings could include streaming of events, clips syndicated across the CBS Audience Network, and other enhanced content to build an online community around each CBS broadcast and ProElite event. "Mixed martial arts is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and a wildly popular entertainment vehicle for upscale, young adult audiences," said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President,CBS Primetime. "It's original programming for Saturday night; it'slive, creating an event-atmosphere; and it's something that hasn'tbeen seen on network television, until now." "This is a pivotal moment for the sport of mixed martial arts nowthat a major television network plans to broadcast live MMA eventsduring primetime hours," said Douglas DeLuca, Chief Executive Officer of ProElite. "We are delighted to enhance our partnership with CBS tobring American audiences the very best in MMA competition through ourEliteXC brand. "The network television agreement with CBS is an important milestone for ProElite as we continue to implement our growth strategy and develop existing relationships with our international partners." "Our world-class fighters and the high production value of our events continue to drive ProElite as a global MMA organization that is fortified by the bedrock foundation of a partnership with CBS," said Gary Shaw, President of EliteXC. "Broadcasting our events on CBS will instantly engage a new fan base, as well as provide an opportunity for EliteXC to further establish itself as the world's premier MMA organization." The intense nature of the contests and the theatrical elements of its live events have made mixed martial arts one of the fastest growing spectator sports in the United States. Over the last several years, the genre has seen tremendous growth in popularity, especially among the coveted 18-34 demographic. Mixed martial arts is a sport evolved from a number of ancientcombat disciplines including judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, wrestling and kickboxing. World-class athletes engage in hand-to-hand combat in aring--both caged and traditional--and must adapt their fighting style to fit their opponent. The wide variety of styles and techniques makeevery event an unpredictable spectacle. About ProElite (www.proeliteinc.com) ProElite, Inc. delivers the most exciting entertainment experiencein the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on Showtime Networks and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment viathe Internet. The company has established itself as a global leader by acquiring MMA organizations in Asia and Europe, and partnering with broadcasters such as British Sky Broadcasting and CJ Media in Korea. The company has an exclusive distribution agreement for its program library with IMG Media. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem, all the whileremaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools (elitexc.com).ProElite's live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world's top fighters. Complementing ProElite's live events division is the company's social media platform, ProElite.com. Since the beginning of 2007, ProElite.comcontinues to add thousands of subscribers each month due to the large number of live streaming MMA events, social networking tools, and original and partner-driven content. ProElite.com also recently launched the largest online martial arts school locator as a way formartial arts practitioners to find the best locations to train, and for schools and dojos to help market themselves. ProElite.com -Empowering the Fight Community (TM). About CBS Corporation CBS Corporation is a mass media company with constituent partsthat reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations,combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which itserves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW - a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros.Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CBS College SportsNetwork), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster),interactive media (CBS Interactive), music (CBS Records), licensing and merchandising (CBS Consumer Products), video/DVD (CBS Home Entertainment), in-store media (CBS Outernet) and motion pictures (CBS Films). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com. Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, andSection 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These statements, including, but not limited to, broadcasting four MMA events in one year, as well as others discussed in the company'sfilings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. ProElite, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events orotherwise. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. At the time of their issuance, the shares of common stock and the underlying shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are restricted securities, within the meaning of federal securities laws, that have not been registered under the Securities Act, or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

NO HOLDS BARRED: Gary Shaw on Vazquez-Marquez and Elite XC-CBS Deal

NO HOLDS BARRED: Gary Shaw on Vazquez-Marquez and Elite XC-CBS Deal On this special edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Gary Shaw, who serves as a boxing promoter with his Gary Shaw Productions and as a mixed martial arts promoter as president of EliteXC. We spoke Friday afternoon, Feb. 29, just before the weigh-ins for the highly anticipated rubber match between WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez (42-4, 31 KOs) and former world champion Rafael Marquez (37-4, 33 KOs), who, in classic battles last year,split their first two fights. The third fight takes place Saturday, March 1, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Showtime will televise it in the U.S. In a short but explosive interview, we discussed the significance of the deal announced Thursday, Feb. 28, that CBS will televise four live Elite XC shows a year in prime time; that the second Vazquez-Marquez fight narrowly lost in the voting by the Boxing Writers Association of America for 2007 fight of the year; why boxing could not get a network TV deal like Elite XC did; when and where the first CBS-televised Elite XC show might take place; an evaluation of Elite XC star Kimbo Slice as a fighter; and where Elite XC stands in relation to UFC. To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link below and just press the play button on the player: http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-02-29T17_04_28-08_00 You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking onthe download link (right-click to save it). You can also listen to it through the NO HOLDS BARRED blog, athttp://nhbnews.blogspot.com/, and MySpace page, at http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews,also by pressing the play button on the player. Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes athttp://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download. The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter (http://iancarpenter.com/). NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by: YAMMA Pit Fighting (http://yammapitfighting.com/). The producers of the original UFC and Live Nation (http://livenation.com/), worldwide leaders in live entertainment, present YAMMA Pit Fighting mixed martial arts. On the streets, it's against the law. In the pit, it IS the law. IFL, the International Fight League (http://ifl.tv/), the world's first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) (http://msn.foxsports.com/story/1636002) in the U.S., and to check your local listings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site (http://ifl.tv/), for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule, athttp://ifl.tv/TV-Schedule.html. Gladiator Challenge (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/), shaking up the mixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year.For more news and info, check out their web site,GladiatorChallenge.com (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/). BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com/), your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more. Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com(http://bjjmart.com/) or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear (http://jiujitsuprogear.com/). FightBeat.com (http://fightbeat.com/), for news, results, interviews,and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts. Thanks, Eddie Goldman No Holds Barred bloghttp://nhbnews.blogspot.com/ No Holds Barred podcasthttp://nhbnews.podomatic.com/

The Boxing Standardhttp://boxingstandard.com/ No Holds Barred on MySpacehttp://www.myspace.com/nhbnews

GARY SHAW, ISRAEL VAZQUEZ, RAFAEL MARQUEZ FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Los Angeles, Ca- Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez will square off in a highly anticipated rubber match for the WBC/The Ring Magazine super bantamweight title this Saturday, March 1, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Photos: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME

Vazquez (left) and Marquez pose for the cameras.


Vazquez-Marquez I and II produced the most exciting, bloody, give-and-take slugfests of 2007, with the second bout winning Fight of the Year and Round of the Year honors. Now, the Mexican warriors face each other in the final battle for honor, pride and 122-pound supremacy on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

The showdown is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Romanza Boxing Productions.

Tickets, priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, may be purchased at The Home Depot Center Box Office, open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, at all Ticketmaster retail ticket locations, as well as http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and Ticketmaster-Charge-by-Phone, by calling 213-480-3232.

Doors open at 4 p.m. The first fight is at 4:15. Vazquez-Marquez goes live at 6 p.m. PT.

GARY SHAW (promoter)

“The Wladimir Klitschko heavyweight title fight last Saturday was everything that is wrong with boxing. Vazquez-Marquez III is everything that is right about the sport. We need more fights like this one.

“What happened yesterday (a Tuesday press conference to announce another fight in Los Angeles) was also totally wrong.

Vazquez, promoter Gary Shaw and Marquez were all smiles Wednesday but the smiles will vanish on Saturday. Doors open at 4 o'clock. The first live fight is at 4:15 p.m. PT. (Ticket info below)

“This week should belong to two Hall of Fame fighters, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, who have literally left their blood on the canvas in two prior fights, and are about to complete their amazingly exciting trilogy Saturday at the Home Depot Center on SHOWTIME.

“That is what this week is all about and should have been all about. Nothing personal against Golden Boy – we are going to sellout anyway. But for the life of me I will never understand why they did what they did, especially when they (co) promote one of the fighters (Vazquez).

Shaw holds both fighters' hands up triumphantly.


“Why would a promoter try to take the limelight away from one of their own fighters? This should have been Israel’s time, not Oscar’s.

“What they did was just flat-out wrong and makes no sense no matter what they say or how they try and spin it.

“Don’t talk about trying to change boxing and make the sport better and then pull stuff like this. Frankly, it is an insult to promoters, the media and the fans.’’


ISRAEL VAZQUEZ

“Deep down in my heart, I know and believe I am going to win by knockout Saturday night. I have the utmost respect for Marquez – everybody knows that – but in the ring it is a totally different story. I have to win by knockout. There is no other option.

Vazquez, one of boxing’s most gracious and fan-friendly boxers, is interviewed during the presser.

“This is a very important fight for boxing, but it is more important for my career and my legacy. This fight will go down in history. When they mention Marquez’ name, my name will be tied to him because of the legendary trilogy that we fought against each other.

“My only goal is to win. A victory Saturday will set me up for my entire life. The victory will be for my fans and the sport of boxing.

“I am going to be throwing punches with the baddest of intentions. I want to tear Marquez apart in the ring. I am ready to fight right now.

“My main concern for the fight is to impose myself at all times. If Marquez wants to get into a boxing match with me and not trade shots, the fight might go the distance.

“If he trades blows with me, this will end before the 10th round and I will be the winner.”


RAFAEL MARQUEZ

Rafael Marquez speaks at Wednesday's final press conference at El Paseo Inn Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Marquez will challenge defending champion Israel Vazquez for the WBC and The Ring Magazine 122 pound titles this Saturday, March 1, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The scheduled 12-round slugfest will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).

“Please don’t miss this fight. It is going to be a war. The first two fights were wars, and this is going to be a classic battle.

“I think I can control the tempo. I did it in the first fight. I just have to keep my rhythm and throw the right kind of combinations that I have been working on in camp.

“I can fight Vazquez in close situations, but I don’t want to expend too much energy doing that. I will engage him when I set him up for it. He will feel it when I put the pressure on.

“There is no bad blood between Vazquez and myself. We are professionals and we want the same thing, to win fights and world championships.

“I miss that WBC championship belt that he took from me in the last fight. I want it back. It is a terrible feeling to lose your championship belt.

There is only one thing on my mind, and that is regaining that green WBC super bantamweight belt. I will get it back.”

“SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION’’; Robert "The Ghost'' Guerrero vs. Jason "The American Boy" Litzau and T.J Wilson vs. Travis Walker

“SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION’’; Robert "The Ghost'' Guerrero vs Jason "The American Boy" Litzau and T.J Wilson vs Travis Walker, Friday, Feb. 29, 2008; Telecast Begins at 11 p.m. ET/PT

One day before Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez renew their rivalry on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, America’s No. 1 Fight Network will hit you with one of the most anticipated ShoBox: The New Generation fight cards of the year when IBF featherweight champion and ShoBox alum, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (21-1-1, 1 ND, 14 KOs), defends against Jason “The American Boy” Litzau (23-1, 19 KOs) live on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Robert "The Ghost'' Guerrero (left) weighed the division-limit 126 pounds Thursday for his IBF featherweight title defense against Jason "The American Boy" Litzau (125 pounds) in Friday's main event on ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

Photos: Daisy Rosas/For Showtime



The doubleheader, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, LLC, will emanate from Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, Calif. The ShoBox opening bout will feature a 10-round rematch between heavyweights T.J. “Top Dog” Wilson (12-1, eight KOs), and Travis “Freight Train” Walker (26-1-1, 20 KOs).

Travis "Freight Train" Walker (left), who tipped scale at 236 pounds, will try and avenge his lone loss when he faces T.J. Wilson (264 pounds, 18 pounds less than he weighed in the first fight) in a 10-round heavyweight bout.



Wilson dealt Walker his lone defeat on Oct. 19, 2007, on ShoBox when he scored a controversial, dramatic 15-second, first-round knockout. Moments after the opening bell, Wilson backed Walker into a corner and began delivering punches with both hands. At least a couple connected solidly and seemed to stun Walker, who did not attempt to retaliate, or even raise a glove. He didn’t land a punch.

Seconds later, the referee waved off the fight.

NOTE: WEIGHTS – Guerrero weighed 126 pounds, Litzau 125 at Thursday’s weigh-in; Wilson weighed 264, Walker 236.

ROBERT GUERRERO
“Training camp has been great. I made the weight much easier for this fight compared to others in the past. I will remain at 126 pounds for a few more fights.

“I feel really good right now; actually, it’s the best I've ever felt before a fight in a long time.“Litzau is a very tough opponent. Knowing that he's going to be fighting in his first world title bout, I know he's coming to fight.

(But) Whatever style he brings I'll have a game plan to counter it.“Right now my wife is in remission with her cancer. With all the prayers and support from family and friends, I'm extremely grateful for all the love. I'm truly blessed to have such great support. I also want to acknowledge my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without God, I'm nothing.

“With my dad back in the corner I feel really comfortable and confident that together we will be victorious. He was the first person to lace me up with a pair of boxing gloves and he's the right person for me to guide my corner.“I expect Litzau to be real cautious in this fight. He'll probably try to box and use the ring to his advantage. I don’t think he wants to stand in the pocket and exchange with me.“The Tachi Palace is a great, fun place to fight and it's a sold out crowd, who will be live and full of energy. I have a ton of Bay Area fans coming to see me. I love it and can’t wait to get in the ring."It’s exciting to be fighting on SHOWTIME again. No doubt this is the network where I shine best. I'm truly appreciative for the opportunity that SHOWTIME has continued to give me. I want to show all the fans as well as the executives that I'm a TV type of fighter, the kind of fighter everyone can appreciate.’’

JASON LITZAU
“Boxing’s a gamble but I’m ready to ramble.

“This is the dream, to win a world title, and I am as prepared as I can be. I am going to leave it all in the ring Friday night. I am prepared for a war but that doesn’t mean I am going to just come out throwing bombs and fighting stupidly. I have a back-up plan.

“I have overcome a lot in my life, but I have made it this far. It’s been a struggle, but things happen for a reason and now my opportunity is here. This is a chance to make my live and the lives of those closest to me and around me a lot better. The thing is, I am so calm right now.

“I have believed my whole life that things would work out, and this is the chance to make it happen.

“I am ready for anything Guerrero brings. I know he fights dirty, but I have trained with some pretty dirty guys myself. That kind of stuff, though, I leave to the referee to handle. That’s his job.

“I’m just in to do my job, which is to win.

“Working with Buddy (McGirt) has been great. He has taught me a lot. He has made me smarter and more open-minded. I have sacrificed. I am dedicated. Friday is going to be a great night.’’

T.J. WILSON
“Nobody expected me to win the last fight. They thought I was fat and heavy and couldn’t fight. So, when I did win, the way I did, no one believed it. Even after looking at the tapes.

“So, now, I have to do it again so maybe then everyone will believe what they saw the first time.

“I thought I proved myself already but now I have to prove myself again.

“Believe me, if the roles were reversed, there would not be a rematch. But all he did was make excuses after the last fight and make like a crybaby. There are no excuses, however, for the punches he took.

“Everyone will see Friday that our first fight was not a fluke. What a lot of people don’t know about me is that I always was an excellent amateur boxer. I have fought better guys than he has.

“It’s a little aggravating, the lack of respect I’m getting. For this fight, they even made the ring bigger, which I guess they think will him help him. But what’s up with that?

“I’m going to jump on him again. I’m in better shape. Whether it goes 10 seconds, or 10 rounds, I am ready to go.’’

TRAVIS WALKER
“I do not think of that last fight as a loss, but as a lesson learned. I now know never to make it even close to getting myself into a spot that puts a decision in the referee’s hands.

“That last fight, the first round, was going to be a feeling out round for me. I knew he would come out fast because he wasn’t in good shape and would be gassed after a round or two. I allowed what happened to happen. He wasn’t hurting me at all. I’d rather get knocked cold than have a fight stopped like that.

“For the referee to just step in and stop it was wrong and it took me a little time to get over exactly what he did. But when I got home, my family and closest friends really rallied around me. They saw what happened to me. And, that, for me was huge. I found out who my true friends were.

“I don’t know what to expect from him this time, but I guarantee everybody that I will not touch the ropes. I am really excited about this fight and appearing again on SHOWTIME.’’