Felix “Tito” Trinidad, Roman Karmazin, Alex Bunema & Devon Alexander

Felix “Tito” Trinidad, Roman Karmazin, Alex Bunema & Devon Alexander

NEW YORK— A media workout was held today at New York’s Church Street Gym featuring fighters from Saturday’s “Bring on the Titans” boxing event at Madison Square Garden and on HBO Pay-Per-View. Felix “Tito”Trinidad, Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin, Alex “The Technician” Bunema and Devon Alexander “The Great” all performed a light workout and answered questions.

Trinidad will face Roy Jones Jr. in the main event; Karmazin will square off against Bunema for the World Boxing Association Intercontinental super welterweight championship; and the undefeated 140-pound Alexander, 20, will take on the toughest test of his young career taking on former world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley.


FELIX “Tito” TRINIDAD: “I will carry my punch to 170 pounds. I feel strong at this weight. My hands are ready as they have always been. When I catch him, he will feel my power. I have been training for six months to make sure when I step in the ring I will be at my best. I wanted to fight at this weight and I feel stronger today than I have ever felt. I’m ready to go“I have always sparred with bigger guys and we brought in big, strong fighters for sparring. Tonight is my last sparring session and I feel great. I did a lot of sparring for this fight and I’m ready to go 12 rounds but if he goes early I can go home early.

“The last time I was an underdog was against De La Hoya and you see what happened. There is still time for people to change their bets on this fight. Anyone who bets against me is going to lose a lot of money.”

“I want all of my fans here in America, in Puerto Rico and anywhere else in the world to know that I came back to fight for them. I will not let them down. Tito is back.

ROMAN KARMAZIN: “It’s wonderful to be included on the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast on Saturday night. I want all the fans in the Garden and watching on TV to know I will not let them down. They will enjoy watching what I do in the ring.

“I’ve heard Bunema say that he has a plan. I’m curious to see what his plan is. If he thinks I’m one-dimensional, he doesn’t know much about boxing. I’ve seen tapes of Bunema and he is a good boxer. I’m not anticipating an easy victory but I am confident. I’ll knock him out if I get the chance.

“If I can defeat Bunema, I’ll take on any world champion at either 154 pounds or 160 pounds that will agree to fight them. I am a former 154-pound champion and I lost my title to Cory Spinks in a very close decision so I think I deserve another chance at a world title.”

ALEX BUNEMA: “I’ve been waiting for a chance to fight for a title and now I have one. I know Karmazin is a great, pressure fighter but he’s a one dimensional fighter that I will take advantage of. I’ve been fighting bigger fighters so I feel like I can beat him. In fact, I guarantee a win on Saturday night.”

DEVON ALEXANDER: “This is the biggest fight in my life—and it ain’t the last one. I feel the same but in the back of my mind I know I need to step it up for this fight. It’s also a big honor for me to be fighting for the first time at Madison Square Garden, a dream come true for me. This is a big opportunity for me to show the world I can be the best 140-pound fighter in the world.”

MORRISEY’S BOXING & POLITICAL DIVIDE?

CONTACT: Cecelia DaCosta Email: HarlemPIRG@aol.com
HARLEM PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP http://www.harlemweekly.com/ 212.281.8457

MORRISEY’S BOXING & POLITICAL DIVIDE?

Harlem, New York- Keisha Morrisey a candidate for public office in 2002 and 2003 (NYS Assembly in the 70th AD and NYC Council 9th CD respectively), is expanding her professional horizon to include the boxing industry. Ms. Morrisey has engaged the expertise of the renowned boxing reporter Eddie Goldman and is emerging as a boxing correspondent. There is much speculation that Ms. Morrisey is designing a new generation public relations, and marketing career as an advocate for boxing and the fighting arts.


As a Correspondent for No Holds Barred (NHBNews) with Eddie Goldman Keisha has been a guest on the Joey Reynolds Show on AM radio. Touting her Public Relations Company, Ms. Morrisey adds a special quality to the show discussing events and particulars.
Keisha and Eddie Goldman(photo courtesy of Bazooka)

A single mother of a seventeen year old son and member of the controversial “hip-hop” generation Ms. Morrisey’s entry into Harlem electoral politics presented interesting possibilities and challenged pervasive political apathy and the status quo. While this emerging grassroots community leader is currently being touted as a potential candidate for elective office in 2008, Ms. Morrisey may have fortuitously found a worthy market niche to engage her professional talents, skills and interest.


When pressed on the prospect of a run for elective office in November Ms. Morrisey articulates the popular refrain of veteran politicians. “I never say, never.” But the lifelong Harlem resident has been conspicuously absent from the local mix of community based politics. Apparently, Keisha Morrisey has developed a strong affinity to the boxing industry and is exploring the vast knowledge and insight of Eddie Goldman an industry guru. For more than a year she has been on the scene at many boxing events in the capacity of correspondent with her inconspicuous camera.


Ms. Morrisey said, “Eddie Goldman is a boxing institution and I’m gaining a priceless education as a Goldman protégé. Like many of my generation, I am intrigued by professional boxing and Mixed Martial Arts.”

Perhaps Eddie Goldman is passing down his considerable boxing reporting expertise and insights to the emerging generation of industry professionals and fans. Prior to Keisha’s foray into electoral politics, she was a successful event planner, manager and public relations professional in the hip-hop music and entertainment genre. Consequential to the stardom of several artists in the “rap game” the name Keisha Morrisey is a known quantity among many notable personalities in that industry.

Ms. Morrisey said, “I want to parlay the experience and skills that I gained in the music and rap industry into the boxing and entertainment realm. My background in promotions, marketing and public relations is relevant to the growth potential of boxing, and my generation is composed of enthusiastic fans that I am reaching out to. The fan base ranges between the ages of 25 and 45 and they are excited about prospects for the future.”

Keisha Morrisey raises the hope of “Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)” coming to New York as an objective that she is interested in helping to establish in the state. Ms. Morrisey said, “I am exploring the feasibility of developing a campaign to lobby for MMA in New York State. My experience as a candidate for public office may be the kind of exposure that is useful in developing a successful grassroots political campaign to lobby for an expansion of boxing and fighting sports, which will inspire a rebirth of the industry. If my lobbying campaign is successful perhaps that achievement would encourage and inspire me to run for public office again.”


Although some suggest that boxing is currently in its darkest days in terms of general popularity and attendance Ms. Morrisey, who is often referred to as “El Boxing Empress” among people in the game, believes that she brings the necessary ingredients to help the industry’s renaissance.

According to El Boxing Empress, “The advent of a young Black American woman in the reporting, promotion, marketing and public relations aspects of boxing industry may be A-typical, and maybe uncomfortable at times. But trust me, I represent one of the new faces in an emerging boxing and mixed martial arts industry.”

Keisha Morrisey is currently the Director of Events and Publicity for KMPR. Keisha is also a member of USA Boxing Metro, and participates as a volunteer clerk and announcer, while training to be a professional judge. She is developing an Internet presence at http://www.bloodlineboxingentertainment.blogspot.com/ and http://www.keishamorrisey.com/ and www.myspace.com/keishadivine and www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1 and Eddie Goldman; No Holds Barred blog http://nhbnews.blogspot.com/ No Holds Barred pod cast http://nhbnews.podomatic.com/ No Holds Barred on MySpace.com http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews

Andre Berto's Next Plight

***Undefeated Welterweight Star Faces Tough Test In German Michel Trabant***

New York --- Top rated and undefeated welterweight Andre Berto (20-0, 17 KO’s) will face his most experienced opponent to date on February 9 when he takes on German Michel Trabant (43-2-1, 19 KO’s) in a 10-round welterweight contest. The bout will take place at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California and will be televised on HBO’s Boxing After Dark with coverage beginning at 10pm ET.

Andre Berto


Berto last fought on September 29, 2007 when he scored an eleventh round TKO of veteran David Estrada (21-4, 12 KO’s) to capture the NABF Welterweight title and secure the #1 Contender position for the WBC. Berto was relentless throughout throwing ruthless combinations against the courageous Estrada.

Andre Berto


Trabant is a tested veteran of the fight game, with 47 professional bouts and only 2 defeats, and is still only 29 years old. The Berlin native is a former two time European Welterweight champion. Trabant’s career has included signature wins over world class fighters Frederic Klose (41-6, 8 KO’s) and Michele Orlando (35-5-2, 18 KO’s). This will be Trabant’s first fight in America, having been showcased only in Europe throughout his career. The slick boxer looks to take advantage of fighting in front of a worldwide boxing audience on February 9.

February 9th will be Berto’s fourth appearance on HBO. This fight against Trabant is just another step up the ladder to the top of the welterweight division for the 24-year-old Florida native. Berto is looking to show the world why he is regarded as the future of the division.

Andre Berto is promoted by Dash-DiBella Promotions.

Andre Berto and Damon Dash


Contact: Mike Moriarty; DiBella Entertainment

2004 US Olympian Jason 'Big Six' Estrada's 10-round fight Jan. 25 versus former world title challenger Charles Shufford at Foxwoods Resort Casino

U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada plans to retire Charles ShuffordJan. 25 at Foxwoods Resort Casino

PROVIDENCE– Strengthened by his devastating knockout of James Northey last October, 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (10-1, 2 KOs) plans to knock his next opponent, former world heavyweight title contender Charles Shufford, into retirement after their January 25th 10-round, co-main event on “Champions of Tomorrow” at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

The Las Vegas-based Shufford (20-7-1, 9 KOs), who fought Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO in 2001, holds victories against former world champion Lamon Brewster, Elieser Castillo and Jimmy Thunder.

“Shufford’s going to be my biggest test to date and I love fighting at one of the best casino in the world, Foxwoods,” Estrada said. “It’s going to be a great show with a lot of talented fighters in action. Shufford’s very experienced. He’s beaten one world champion and been in with another. I just want to take advantage of this opportunity and make some noise in the heavyweight division. Shufford’s beaten a lot of good fighters but I’m going to retire him like I did to (Robert) Wiggins and (Najee) Shaheed.

“This year I hope to stay injury free and get as many fights as possible. I’m working hard and only took a week off after my last fight. Actually, I was supposed to take a week off, but went back to the gym two days early. I worked through the holidays and started a new tradition, starting training at 11 PM on New Year’s Eve and being in the ring when the clock struck midnight. In 2008, I want to stay busy, win a regional title of some sort, and then take on a top 20 fighter. This is going to be my year.”

Jason, 26, was one of the most highly decorated American amateur boxers ever, compiling an amazing 261-14 record, also becoming the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. Highlights of his amateur career included representing the United States in the 2004 Olympics and capturing a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-American Games.

During his illustrious amateur career, Estrada defeated some of today’s leading professionals including former world title challenger DaVarryl “The Touch of Sleep” Williamson (24-5, 20 KOs), unbeatens Malik Scott (30-0, 10 KOs) and Donnell “The Real Touch of Sleep” Holmes (28-0-2, 24 KOs), Malcolm “The Showstopper” Tann (23-4, 12 KOs), Felix “Bad News” Cora, Jr. (18-2, 9 KOs), and “Famous” Michael Simms (19-7-1, 13 KOs).

Estrada recently opened his gym, “Big Six Boxing Academy” in Providence, and signed a new promotional contract extension with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. “I want to help give kids off the streets with lots of energy like I was a place to go and learn how to box,” Estrada explained. “I hope to have 10-12 kids and eventually I’d like to have amateur fights there every other Friday night to start with like I had at the old Coventry where we had fights every Friday. We took care of some issues and I’m happy to still be fighting for CES.”

“Champions of Tomorrow,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., will be taped live and air on Saturday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. on CN8 and will also stream online at http://www.cn8.tv/. Following the broadcast, the show will be available ON DEMAND to Comcast Digital Cable customers for at least one week. “Champions of Tomorrow” will also air on Cox Sports Television on February 1 at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets for “Champions of Tomorrow” are priced at $40.00, $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club). Two VIP Presidential Suites are also available (call CES for details as well as sponsorship opportunities). To purchase tickets or for additional information contact CES (1.401.724.2253/2254 - http://www.cesboxing.com/) or Foxwoods (1.800.200.2882/www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.

CONTACT: Bob TriegerFull Court Press