KIMBO SLICE; "KIMB0-TANK" HEADLINE STELLAR ELITEXC FIGHT CARD

Fort Lauderdale, Florida- In what will be a thrilling and entertaining heavyweight fight for as long as it lasts, the incredibly popular Pride of Perrine, Fla., Kimbo Slice (1-0), will face hard-hitting Mixed Martial Arts icon, David “Tank’’ Abbott (9-13), of Huntington Beach, Calif., in a must-see showdown this Saturday, Feb. 16, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. SHOWTIME will televise five fights including the long-awaited, eagerly anticipated Kimbo-Tank confrontation live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while six non-televised undercard matches will be streamed live on the leading MMA internet site, ProElite.com

In addition to Kimbo-Tank, the SHOWTIME telecast will include: Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (9-1), a highly touted Brazilian who lives in Coconut Creek, Fla., and is considered one of the world’s top heavyweights, versus former champion Ricco Rodriguez (27-7), of Staten Island, N.Y., England's James “The Colossus” Thompson (16-7) battles unbeaten Brett Rogers (7-0) of St. Paul, Minn., in a heavyweight match, Australian Kyle “The Ozzie” Noke (14-3-1), the bodyguard of the late Steve “Crocodile Hunter’’ Irwin, meets Scott “Hands Of Steel’’ Smith (14-4), of Sacramento, Calif., in a terrific scrap at 185 pounds; and Edson “Little Tiger” Berto (14-4-1), of Tampa, Fla., faces Yves Edwards (32-13-1) of Conroe, Tex., in a fight at 160 pounds.

KIMBO “The only thing I want to do is win, but the main thing is I want to break something along the way – a chin or jaw, rib, arm, some skin, anything.

Photos: Esther Lin/For ProElite, Inc.



“If this turns out to be just a fist-fight, then I am looking forward to it. If it goes on the ground, then I will be definitely looking forward to it.

“I feel great. I haven’t weighed myself in a couple of days but I think I am around 235. I feel calm. I won’t get truly excited until before the fight.

“My beard is not a fashion; it is all about me and what I am. I haven’t trimmed or cut it in six years.

“I feel I have come a long way in a short time in my Street to Elite transition. There is a big difference in just fighting some dude and what goes on in Mixed Martial Arts.



“Like the last time, I look forward to showing more of my overall skills, but we’ll just have to see what happens.

“For sure, though, someone is going down and maybe getting knocked out, and that someone is not going to be me.’’

A non-televised undercard, which will be streamed live at ProElite.com, will include: Rafael Feijao (4-1), of Brazil, vs. John Doyle (6-2), of Allentown, Pa., at 205 pounds; Mike Bernhard (3-0), of Miami, vs. Lorenzo Borgameo (2-0), of Miami, at 170; Eric Bradley (2-1), of Las Vegas, Nev., vs. Mikey Gomez (6-3), of Orlando, Fla., at 170; Mario Rinaldi (6-2), of Miami, vs. Dave Herman (9-0) of Indiana at 265; Jon Kirk (10-2), of Houston, vs. Yosmany Cabezas (4-0), of Tampa, Fla., at 185 pounds, and, in a bout just added, Moyses Gabin (1-0), of Miami, vs. Jirka Hlavaty (1-1), of Miami, at 265 pounds.

In addition to the fights being streamed live, fans can watch pre- and post-fight interviews on ProElite.com. The 11 contests are scheduled for three, 5-minute rounds. Note: Fighter pages for televised and non-televised bouts are below.

Tickets Remain For Mega-Event This Saturday, Feb. 16, The First Of 11 Terrific MMA Matches start at 7:30. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets for a spectacular 11-bout event, presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s EliteXC, start at $35 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and at the BankUnited Box Office at the University of Miami.

Kimbo (http://kimboslice.proelite.com/), Tank (http://tankabbott.proelite.com/),


Silva (http://antoniosilva.proelite.com/), Rodriguez (http://riccorodriguez.proelite.com/), Thompson (http://jamesthompson.proelite.com/), Rogers (http://brettrogers.proelite.com/), Noke (http://kylenoke.proelite.com/), Smith (http://scottsmith.proelite.com/), Berto (http://edsonberto.proelite.com/), Edwards (http://yvesedwards.proelite.com/).

Fighter pages (non-televised bouts): Gabin (http://moysesgabin.proelite.com/), Hlavaty (http://jirkahlavaty.proelite.com/), Borgameo (http://lorenzoborgame.proelite.com/), Bernhard (http://mikebernhard.proelite.com/), Bradley (http://ericbradley.proelite.com/), Gomez (http://mikeygomez.proelite.com/), Rinaldi (http://mariorinaldi.proelite.com/), Herman (http://daveherman.proelite.com/), Kirk (http://jonkirk.proelite.com/), Cabezas (http://yosmanycabezas.proelite.com/), Feijao (http://rafaelfeijao.proelite.com/), Doyle (http://johndoyle.proelite.com/).

Free Film Festival: From Black Liberation to HipHop (2/16)

*From Black Liberation to Hip-Hop: * A Film Festival Celebrating the Past, Moving Forward to the Future You are invited to a free film festival that explores the culture and politics of the Black Liberation Movement and the Hip-Hop Generation. View films and participate in unique inter-generational discussion with panelists from both the Civil Rights and Hip-Hop Generations.

See the long anticipated movie on George Jackson: Black August. Also, View & Discuss Screenings of: Letter to the President, HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes, The Spook Who Sat By the Door, Eyes of the Rainbowand many more. When: Saturday, Feburary 16th - Noon to 10pm Where: COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, 511 DODGE HALL, BET 116TH & B'WAY Directions: Take the 1/9 train to 116th StreetVoicemail & Text: 347.262-6385 & 917.224.3493 eMail: nyhiphop3000@yahoo.com Sponsored by FOCUS-Filmmakers of Color United in Spirit-Columbia University, School ofthe Arts, The Safiya Bukhari- Albert Nuh Washington Foundation & The National Hip-Hop Political Convention (NY)

<http://www.columbia.edu/> For More Info: http://www.safiyanuhfoundation.org/ or http://www.myspace.com/safiyanuh http://www.nhhpc.org/ or http://www.myspace.com/hiphopconvention_nyloc

Schedule noon- Hip Hop Colony (rt 93 min) 2:00 - Eyes of the Rainbow ( 47 min) 4:00- Letter to the President [90 mins] 6:00- The Spook Who Sat By the Door( 90 min) RECEPTION 7:30-Black August (100 min) Some Film Descriptions:

*FEATURE FILMS (Partial Listing)

* * * *The Spook Who Sat By The Door Sam Greenlee <http://movies.nytimes.com/person/183651/Sam-Greenlee>'s cultfavorite novel of political unrest was brought to the screen in this drama,which also earned a small but loyal following. A congressman hoping to attract African-American voters during an election year decides to make political hay by pointing out that the Central Intelligence Agency has no black agents. Bowing to subsequent public pressure, the CIA admits a numberof black applicants to their training program, but they purposefully make the process difficult and unpleasant enough to win now out nearly all the African-American students. Dan Freeman (Lawrence Cook), a strong,intelligent but soft-spoken man, some how makes it through the gauntlet to become the black CIA agent; however, rather than being given important field assignments, Freeman is put in charge of the agency's copying machines andgives tours of their facilities to give the offices a progressive front for visitors. After a few years, Freeman leaves the agency to move back to his hometown of Chicago and do work with the community...at least that's what he tells his superiors. In fact, Freeman has used his time at the CIA collecting information on how to launch a political revolution, and not long after he arrives in the Windy City, he begins recruiting an army of leftist radicals and black nationalists fed up with the system. With their help,Freeman launches the first stage of an armed revolt with the stated goal of bringing the white-dominated power structure to its knees.

* * *Black August The George Jackson story has now been developed into a movie entitled Black August. It depicts the last 14 months of George Jackson's existence under the subjective and objective conditions of captivity. Sentenced to one year-to-life at age 18, for a $70 gas station robbery in 1960, George Jackson would spend the next 11 years in California's industrial prison complex, 7 years of which were in solitary confinement. The movie encompasses the Soledad Brothers case in which George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo, and John Clucheette are accused of murdering a Soledad prison guard,in retaliation for the killing of three Black inmates involved in a fight with White inmates on an exercise yard in Soledad State Prison, Soledad, California. The movie also reflects on the general prison movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the role the Black Panther Party would play in organizing both the outside communities in America as well as their influence on prisoners across the country. George Jackson would be moved and inspired as a result of the Panther Party activities. As a prison organizer, George was recruited by Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton to head the Peoples Army, a euphemism which would become synonymous with the name Black Guerrilla Family. With the history of slavery and repression in this country as a backdrop, every whip lash, every lynching, every humiliation finds its ultimate reaction in the events chronicled in the movie Black August.

*Hip-Hop Colony Kenyan Hip-Hop was initially regarded as a passing fad. Hip-Hop was eagerly dismissed by the media outlets and the general public during it's shallow inception in the early ninety's. Hip-Hop today has firmly gained its roots in Kenya, while fusing its traditional music and drawing major influence from America. This fusion has led to a new entity-the birth of Genge Music. Filming the documentary in Kenya, producer/Director Michael Wanguhu, enjoyed collaborative efforts from top-notch Kenyan producers, and reigning Hip-Hop acts past and present, seeking to expose a culture they have whole-heartedly embraced and it is also punctuated by footage of engaging live concert events.

*HIP HOP COLONY *richly ties key elements of Hip-Hop, flexibility and talent which continue to increase its dominance around the World one colony at a time.

*HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes*, a riveting documentary that tackle sissues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today's hip-hop culture. Sparking dialogue on hip-hop and its declarations on gender, HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes provides thoughtful insight from intelligent, divergent voices including rap artists, industry executives, rap fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation. The film includes interviews with famous rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D and Jadakiss and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; along with commentary from Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Kevin Powell and Sarah Jones and interviews with young women at Spelman College, a historically black school and one of the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. The film also explores such pressing issues as women and violence in rap music, representations of man hood in hip-hop culture, whattoday's rap lyrics reveal to their listeners and homoeroticism in hip-hop. A "loving critique" from a self-proclaimed "hip-hop head," HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes discloses the complex intersection of culture, commerce and gender through on-the-street interviews with aspiring rappers and fans at hip-hop events throughout the country.

* * *Letter To The President: Hip-Hop and Politics* The Streets Get Political While the glamorous 1980's continued for much of America, rappers made it a point to tell the world there was another sectionof the country that wasn't invited to the party. As the urban landscapebecame the point of no return - Hip Hop emerged as a voice for thepeople.... This film takes an unprecedented look at a variety of issuesdirectly affecting the urban community - including the 'crack' conspiracy, censorship, racial profiling, police brutality, poverty, prison for profit,and the NYPD Hip Hop Task Force. If you think politics had nothing to do with Hip Hop, think again! "Letter to the President" explores this rebel music with a cause.... --

Orlando GreenNational Hip Hop Political Convention

Tank Abbott‏

Photos: TOM CASINO/EliteXC


Tank Abbott works out at the Paradise Gym in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday night as he winds down preparation for his gigantic, long-awaited, must-see fight against Kimbo Slice Saturday at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.

Tickets for a spectacular 11-bout event, presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s EliteXC, start at $35 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and at the BankUnited Box Office at the University of Miami. Doors open at 7 p.m. ET; the first fight is 7:30.

SHOWTIME will televise five fights including the eagerly anticipated Kimbo-Tank confrontation live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while six non-televised undercard matches will be streamed live on the leading MMA internet site, ProElite.com

TSS Prediction Potpourri; By Robert Mladinich

TSS Prediction Potpourri
By Robert Mladinich

Does the champion come in with more confidence and the knowledge that he stopped his foe once and can do it again? Or is JT going to come back with fire and fury and finish what he started in the second round of the first fight?

Although there is no title up for grabs in the Saturday rematch between Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor, there is still a lot on the line for both fighters. The last time they met, in Atlantic City on September 29, Pavlik survived a brutal second round knockdown to come back and stop the favored Taylor in the seventh round. In doing so, he won the undisputed middleweight championship. Should Pavlik, 32-0 (29 KOs), Youngstown, Ohio, beat Taylor, 27-1-1 (17 KOs), Little Rock, Arkansas, in the rematch, he will be on the cusp of superstardom. Pavlik is currently a 2-1 favorite to beat Taylor for the second time. Pavlik has already garnered, among other things, a feature story in Sports Illustrated. For that magazine to dedicate so much space to a fighter means the fighter has arrived.


Although the last bout was fought at 160 pounds, this non-title affair will be contested at 166 pounds. Who or how that will benefit either fighter is the subject of much conjecture. One thing that nearly everyone agrees on is that there will once again be a knockout. Here is an objective sampling of what 21 boxing insiders had to say about this eagerly anticipated matchup, which will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and televised on HBO Pay-Per-View:

Tim Smith, New York Daily News: “What Pavlik does, he does very well. He throws a good one-two punch, but Taylor is the better all-around fighter. He can do a lot more things than Pavlik. The only reason Taylor didn’t stop Pavlik the last time was because he was out of shape. The shock of losing should force him to get into good shape this time, and he should stop Pavlik around the fourth round.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Diaz, WBC lightweight champion: “I think Kelly has Jermain’s number। He (Pavlik) got a little careless in the first fight। He tried to show he could take a punch and got caught। He won’t make a mistake like that again। Unless Jermain comes with a completely different style, which I don’t think he can do, Kelly should stop him between the eighth and tenth rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.






Nick Charles, ShoBox: The New Generation commentator: “If Jermain can get past nine rounds, he should win a decision. But that is a big if. Jermain has already out-boxed a great boxer in Bernard Hopkins. On paper out-boxing Kelly should be easier, but styles make fights and Kelly has so much power and confidence. I’m going to go out on a limb and go with an upset.” Taylor by decision.

Steve Farhood: ShoBox: The New Generation commentator: “Given what happened in the first fight, it is very difficult to pick Taylor in the rematch। I expect it to be another great action fight with the likely outcome being Pavlik by TKO in the middle rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.


Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News: “History tells me that when an undefeated fighter loses his first bout the way that Taylor did, the best course of action is to take a tune-up or two before engaging in a rematch. There also seems to be a lot of turmoil in Taylor’s camp, which makes me think he might not be ready for the rematch just yet. I’m picking Pavlik to win by 10th round TKO.” Pavlik by stoppage.


Willie Savannah, manager/trainer of lightweight champion Juan Diaz: “I keep changing my mind on who will win or how they will win. Pavlik won the first one, but you can’t forget that Jermain almost won the first one. I don’t know who the weight increase will favor, if it favors anyone at all. In a fight where everything points to a knockout, I’m going to pick Jermain to win a decision.” Taylor by decision.

Gerry Cooney, former heavyweight title challenger: “The second fight should be a way better fight than the first one, and the first one was a great one. Pavlik banged Taylor up pretty good, and when you win a title you usually improve by about 10 to 15percent. Pavlik will probably out-slug Taylor again and stop him in seven or eight rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Iran Barkley, former multi-division champion: “If Taylor does what he’s supposed to do and takes care of business, he should knock Pavlik out and get his title back. He had Pavlik almost out last time, but he was not prepared mentally or physically to finish him off. The loss should bring Taylor back to earth. He knows he has to win this one, so he will do what it takes to make that happen and probably stop Pavlik in the later rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Sean Sullivan, editor of Boxing Digest magazine: “It’s a close fight to call, but given all of the factors I am leaning toward Pavlik by stoppage in the middle rounds. He seems to have everything in his favor. He took Taylor’s best punch and came back to win the first fight. Plus, I think the extra weight will help him more than it will help Taylor. Pavlik has shown no fear of any of his opponents, and he won’t be afraid of Taylor.” Pavlik by stoppage.

John Scully, trainer and former light heavyweight title challenger: “Taylor proved that he could hurt Pavlik in the first fight, but he didn’t prove that he could finish him. Pavlik proved that he could knock Taylor out, which is much more important than just hurting an opponent. Pavlik isn’t the type of guy to rest on his laurels and slack off. I think he’ll come back even stronger and more determined and score a late round knockout.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Bruce Silverglade, owner of Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York: “Taylor should be a lot hungrier than he was in the first fight, so he will come back and stop Pavlik by the seventh round. With better mental and physical conditioning, Taylor will bring more to this fight than Pavlik.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Selwyn: manager of female boxers Eileen Olszewski, Ronica Jeffrey and Cristy Nickle: “This fight will go longer than the first one, but Pavlik will stop him again. He will be even more confident and strong with the extra weight because he won’t have to dry out. I hear that he is already on or near weight, which is a very good sign of his conditioning and confidence. Pavlik has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight, while everything is on the line for Taylor.” Pavlik by stoppage.

James Moore, unbeaten Irish junior middleweight who is headlining the “Gaelic Storm” show at Madison Square Garden on March 15: “I think Taylor just might pull it off this time around. I don’t think he was in the best of condition last time, and I believe the extra six pounds will help him more than it will help Pavlik. It will be a good, tough fight, but I believe Taylor will probably stop Pavlik.” Taylor by stoppage.

Oisin Fagan: lightweight contender who is fighting on the Gaelic Storm show: “Taylor did very well against Pavlik when he was busy, but he couldn’t close the show. Pavlik is much too strong and much too confident for Taylor, especially after stopping him the first time. Pavlik will catch him with another right hand, and it will be lights out all over again within five rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Mike O’Sullivan: co-owner of Celtic Gloves Promotions, which is promoting the Gaelic Storm show: “I don’t want to take anything away from what The Ghost (Pavlik) accomplished back in September, but Bad Intentions (Taylor) will redeem himself this time, with or without a belt on the line.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Wolf, former manager of world champions Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Donny Lalonde and Lonnie Bradley: “I have seen a marked decrease in Taylor since he let (original pro trainer) Pat Burns go. I think he actually regressed under Emanuel Steward, who is a terrific trainer but just didn’t have any chemistry with Taylor. Ozell Nelson (Taylor’s amateur trainer) has no real professional pedigree, so I think it was a mistake to go back with him. Taylor will do well early, but I expect Pavlik to come from behind and stop him around the eighth round.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Mike Silver, noted boxing historian: “Everyone is asking why Taylor took this fight so soon after being knocked out in devastating fashion. I think it is more unwise for Pavlik to take an immediate rematch. Going into the first fight, Taylor was considered the favorite and almost beat him. Taylor was totally surprised by Pavlik’s ability to take his best punch. Pavlik cannot change his style, while Taylor, who is a much better all-around fighter, can change his. While I never discount a puncher like Pavlik, I pick Taylor to stop him by the middle rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, former light heavyweight champion: “These guys fighting at the higher weight will bring out the best in both of them because they won’t have to starve themselves. This will be a similar fight to the first one, but overall a much better fight. The only who really wants it the most will win, probably by stoppage. That said, I can’t pick a winner. It’s too close to call.” No pick.

Hector Roca, trainer of, among others, Maureen Shea, “The Real Million Dollar Baby”: “Styles make fights and Taylor will go back to his old style and train with his old people. Against Pavlik the first time, he tried to change too much (under new trainer Emanuel Steward) and it failed. He will go back to doing what he does best, and score a knockout within five rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Teddy B. Blackburn, photographer: “Pride is more important to J.T. than any amount of money or belts. Pride will enable him to score a knockout in the eighth round.” Taylor by stoppage.


Bob Mladinich, TSS writer: As sky-high as Pavlik’s confidence must be, it seems to me that Taylor can be a lot better this time out. This fight should be a slugfest that could go either way for as long as it lasts, but I have a feeling that Taylor will prevail by scoring a mid-round stoppage. Taylor by stoppage.


Totals:21

Pavlik: 9
Taylor: 11
No pick: 1
Pavlik by stoppage: 9
Taylor by stoppage: 9
Pavlik by decision: 0
Taylor by decision: 2


Contact Robert Mladinich @ TheSweetScience.com

From WBC President Jose Sulaiman:WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

Mexico City- “I would like to respond to erroneous interpretations and accusations in certain news reports that we at the WBC and boxing commissioners in Mexico ignored a request, reportedly sent by the Association of Boxing Commissions in the United States to the boxing commission in Leon, Guanajuato, to not allow Tommy Morrison to fight on the February 9 event presented by Top Rank, Zanfer, and a local promoter.



“Nobody in Leon received any correspondence from the ABC. Neither had the ABC contacted the mayoral office of the city or the WBC in regards to such a request. The WBC would have forwarded the request ourselves, out of courtesy, if the ABC had contacted us.

“Morrison went through the same thorough medical examinations as all the other boxers, but nobody, in the commission or out of it, had any idea of any boxing suspension.

“Except for the California state commission, the ABC and state commissions in the US never contact Mexican commissions or Mexico ’s National Boxing Federation, and very rarely contact the WBC, regarding boxers’ suspensions.

“Countless boxers from Mexico have gone and still keep going to fight in the United States while they have been medically suspended in Mexico – having been recently knocked out or with other impediments - but none of the suspension notifications sent by Mexican commissions to US commissions have ever been respected, while many Mexican boxers have been hurt and others suffered irreversible damage, and even death.

“This is the reason that the WBC has been wanting to meet with the ABC, so that the US boxing commissions, together with the Mexican commissions, could find mutual agreements for the safety and welfare of boxers and boxing. Mexican state commissions are integrated into the National Boxing Federation, which is the one that could work with ABC, but it seems that ABC only wants to deal with individual state boxing commissions and not the NBF, which will serve no purpose.

“The incident involving Tommy Morrison shows the importance of the meeting between the ABC and the Mexican commissions. A meeting has been agreed to, but not yet scheduled. We hope that it will be scheduled soon. If the ABC is not interested in making agreements with the Mexican commissions, we would like to meet with state commissions in the US individually to address these problems.”

FONFARA VS. RINCON FEATURED IN CHICAGO ON FEBRUARY 15TH‏

Junior middleweights Andrzej Fonfara and Francisco Rincon will battle in a special feature attraction bout on February 15th at CELEBRATION, a terrific evening of world class professional boxing at Cicero Stadium, presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated.

CELEBRATION marks the 10th anniversary of Chicago’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

Tickets for CELEBRATION are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

A native of Warsaw, Poland, now living in Chicago, Fonfara, 8-1 (3KO’s) has built a huge following in Chicago since making his pro debut in June of 2006. The 20 year old former amateur standout is coming off a crowd pleasing first round knockout of Dave Saunders on November 16, 2007 at Cicero Stadium.

With four straight wins in 2007, Fonfara is looking to start 2008 in similar fashion and continue his rise amongst the hottest young prospects in boxing.

Rincon, born in Coahuila, Mexico, currently residing in Dallas, Texas

has fought three times in Chicago including wins over tough veterans Gilbert Venegas and Fabian Luque. He also holds a decision win over rising Bronx, New York, prospect Frankie Figueroa.

In his most recent bout in Chicago, the 24 year old Rincon and Chicago fan favorite Luciano Perez thrilled the packed house at the Aragon Ballroom on August 25, 2006 with a memorable “blood and guts” battle that left both warriors widely respected in the Chicago boxing community in their off-TV war.

Said Pesoli about the Fonfara/Rincon bout, ‘This is a real solid test for Fonfara, he gets better each time out. However, Rincon is a true Mexican warrior who will battle every second of every round. Our fans are in for a terrific fight as both guys have much to gain with a victory.”

The full fight card for CELEBRATION is;

Mike Alvarado vs. Jesus Rodriguez, ten rounds, junior welterweights

Alejandro Perez vs. Jorge Cardenas, eight rounds, super bantamweights

Francisco Rodriguez vs. Andre Wilson, eight rounds, bantamweights

Andrzej Fonfara vs. Francisco Rincon, six rounds, junior middleweights

Freddie Cuevas vs. Victor Villareal, six rounds, middleweights

Ivan Popoca vs. Guadalupe Diaz, four rounds, junior welterweights

The open to the public weigh-in will be held at 7pm on Thursday, February 14th at Club Aquarius, 2459 N. Pulaski on the Northwest side of Chicago.

Along with Chicago’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, CELEBRATION is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.

The Master of Ceremonies for CELEBRATION will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com

For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit.

www.toprank.com

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998

Bernie Bahrmasel

Publicist/8 Count Productions

www.8countproductions.com

Iran “The Blade” Barkley Uncensored Interview --Part 1 By David Selwyn

Iran “The Blade “ Barkley; Uncensored Interview Part 1
By David Selwyn



Iran “The Blade” Barkley is a five-time world champion who made his name with a third round knockout win over Thomas Hearns in Las Vegas in 1988. Before he fought Hearns, the champion’s trainer Emanuel Steward knew Barkley had the attitude to be dangerous. “He’s not that skillful, but he just don’t give a damn”. Sure enough, battered and on the brink of defeat, Barkley found the right hand to drop Hearns on his back.



Seconds after regaining his feet, Hearns was rescued by the referee. Four years later, Barkley became the only man to defeat Hearns twice, when he out pointed him over 12 rounds to win the WBA Light heavyweight title. This victory also made Barkley a member of an elite group of fighters who have won world titles in three separate weights.

D.S.: How did you get involved with the sport of boxing?
I.B.: I first got involved with my sister. In the Bronx at St. Marys Gym. She was a street fighter. The whole family knew how to fight.

D.S.: I know the South Bronx produced some pro boxers. Who was around with you back in the days?
I.B.: Well you know we had a lot of guys. Gods bless the dead, Davey Moore. This other Spanish fighter I forgot his name. He died in the ring. Alex Ramos was here.

D.S.: What about Mitch “Blood” Green? I heard that you hung around with him. Tell me about what you guys did back in your youth.
I.B.: Back in the days we hung back in the days. We were in Gangs together. The gang stuff lead us into boxing.

D.S.: What was the toughest thing about boxing? Was it the training, the actual fighting or the business? What did you dislike the most?
I.B.: I disliked the business of boxing. Business was like you do what you had to do. You train hard and do what you got to do and everybody is lying and cheating and telling you YO there is not enough money for this there is not any money for that. So you know you learn as you go on.



D.S.: Your promoter for most of your career was Bob Arum of Top Rank Boxing. What could you tell me about him?
I.B.: While in my dealings with him, certain things he did and certain things he didn’t do. I don’t want to make this a racial thing, but I think he is a racist.

D.S.: So you think he is a racist?
I.B.: Yeah I think he is a racist, I mean 10 years ago he had black and white fighters and Hispanic fighters. Now he claims he just cornered the Hispanic market. You know what I’m saying. How can you say you cornered the Hispanic market when you made all your money off black fighters? The only black fighter he had lately was Floyd Mayweather and he don’t even have him now

D.S.: So you think he does not like black people and purposely does not promote black fighters.
I.B.: Yeah he don’t like black fighters you know all the chances he had to help me, I was one of his prime fighters. You know he brought George Foreman back after 15 years. Why couldn’t he bring me back after 15 years? He needed me when I had to do what I had to do when he didn’t think it was sensible to have me. It didn’t want me no more.

D.S.: Don’t you think it was a matter of money? When you were in you prime he felt he could make money with you and when you were not in your prime he felt you could not make money. I think it’s a money issue.
I.B.: That’s bullshit. You know what I’m saying, at the time the only one who was getting payed was Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler and Hagler did not get payed until he fought Leonard. So me and Hagler were the only ones being abused. We were the two hard fighters in his stable. If Hagler did not fight John “The Beast” Mugabi I would have been the one to fight Mugabi, but Hagler took care of Mugabi and I took care of Tommy Hearns.



D.S.: Would you have liked to fight Marvin Hagler?
I.B.: If I had to fight Hagler I would have fought him. At that time Hagler was a little bit ahead of me.

D.S.: What do you think about the state of boxing today?
I.B.: The state of boxing today is that I’m the reason why these guys are getting payed today. Me and Hagler opened the doors for these guys getting payed the way they are getting payed. These ain’t no fights today. Everybodys just getting payed. The fans are not getting what they want to see. These guys are not fighting. They are just getting payed and pampered. They want a lot of money and get a lot of money. There is only a handful that are earning their money but the rest of these guys are just getting payed.

D.S.: Whom would you pay to see, who would you buy a ticket to see?
I.B.: I would pay to see Bernard Hopkins. I would buy a ticket to see Floyd Mayweather and also to see Roy Jones Jr. Those are the guys I would pay to see.
Writers Note: Part II with my conversation with Iran will follow. Iran will talk about the myth of Sex and Boxing

The ROOTS: Live at the Apollo February 22

Senator Serrano To Honor Iran Barkley on 2/18; Celebrating Black History Month and Congressman José E. Serrano, will honor the Bronx boxing legend

New York, NY- State Senator José M. Serrano, as part of an annual event celebrating Black History Month with his father, Congressman José E. Serrano, will honor Bronx boxing legend Iran "The Blade" Barkley on Monday, February 18th.



Mr. Barkley was born, raised and continues to live in the South Bronx community. In 1988, against strong odds, he defeated Thomas Hearns by TKO to become the Middleweight Champion of the World.



The day's other honorees include: Dean Meminger, Bronx Reporter for NY1 News; and Dr. Samuel J. Daniel, President and CEO of North General Hospital.