KIMBO SLICE: Among The Standouts Featured On First-Ever MMA Card on Primetime Network Television, TICKETS ON SALE FOR ELITEXC FIGHT CARD MAY 31

LOS ANGELES- Fans seeking to participate in what some regard as the most important fight card in mixed martial arts history, presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite Inc.’s live fight division, EliteXC, have the opportunity to reserve their seats now.

(All photos: Property of CBS)


Tickets, starting at $25, for a history-making event Saturday, May 31, at the Prudential Center at Newark, N.J., are available at Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (201) 507-8900, online at www.ticketmaster.com and at the Prudential Center website at www.prucenter.com. Doors open at 5 p.m. ET. The first live fight is at 6:30.

“I’m obviously very excited to come back to New Jersey, which is my home and a place where I served as a member of the board of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board,’’ said EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw. “Newark is a great city and the Prudential Center is one of the newest, most modern facilities in the United States.

“No one is better at running an event center than AEG. I’m very pleased to be working with them again. From start to finish, it is going to be a spectacular, memorable night of exciting fights and entertainment for fans in the tri-state area. Top to bottom, everybody’s matched tough.

“Kimbo is really excited about returning to New Jersey to fight on May 31. I know he wants to put on a show and continue his magical trip from the street to Elite.’’

The card will be the first-ever MMA event shown live in primetime on network television. “CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” will air on the CBS Television Network at 9-11 p.m. ET/PT.

The incredibly popular Kimbo Slice (2-0) of Perrine, Fla., will face England’s James “Colossus’’ Thompson (14-8) in what will be a thrilling main event of an outstanding show.

In other televised fights, EliteXC middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (15-4) of St. Louis, by way of Davenport, Iowa, will defend against Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (13-4) of Sacramento, Calif.; Gina Carano (5-0) of Las Vegas, Nev., faces Kaitlin Young (4-1) of Circle Pines, Minn., in an excellent women’s fight at 140 pounds; Phil Baroni (10-9) of Long Island, N.Y., faces Joey Villasenor (25-6) in a 185-pound scrap and unbeaten Brett Rogers (6-0) of Minneapolis throws down with Jon Murphy (4-2) of Minersville, Pa., in a heavyweight match.

The Lawler-Smith dispute, scheduled for five, 5-minute rounds, figures to be a slugfest. The other fights are slated for three, 5-minute sessions with the exception of Carano-Young, which is set for three, 3-minute rounds (see Fighter Pages below).

Matchups for non-televised, undercard bouts that will be streamed live at ProElite.com will be announced soon. Fans can watch pre- and post-fight interviews only at ProElite.com.

Kimbo Slice and Vernon Forrest


Kimbo, who’s trained by the respected legendary fighter and trainer, the no-nonsense Bas Rutten, has required all of 62 seconds to dispatch of his initial two MMA opponents. Kimbo, aka Kevin Ferguson, has shown ferocious striking skills but has yet to be taken to the ground.

“We’re continuing to work on polishing his striking and we’ve changed his stance, which has made him an even better striker,’’ Rutten said. “He is more explosive now and fit. But for a guy who has had only two MMA fights, Kimbo continues to do everything right.

“He is going to surprise everybody with his ground game, especially those who believe he doesn’t have one. After about 200 street fights, he is putting it all on the line and taking a big risk. James Thompson is going to be a great opponent.’’

Already a major MMA attraction, Kimbo made a name for himself on the Internet where videos of the bald, bearded, menacing-looking former underground bare-knuckle street fighter have been downloaded literally millions of times on YouTube.

Kimbo registered a 43-second, first-round knockout (punches) over Tank Abbott in his last start Feb. 16, 2008, in Miami, Fla. Dangerously explosive and always one punch away from ending a fight, Kimbo won his MMA debut Nov. 10, 2007, stopping Bo Cantrell in 19 seconds.

“I’m looking forward to fighting Thompson in Newark on CBS,’’ said Kimbo, who recently re-signed with EliteXC. “But I love to fight and always look forward to fighting. It really doesn’t matter where or against whom. Everybody knows that.

“To all the MMA fighters who continue to disrespect me, to all those who say I don’t have a ground game, I lack this, I lack that, I say, ‘stop talking and bring it on. I’m ready.

"

Thompson, who trains with Randy Couture at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, could be Kimbo’s toughest test. Since going pro in January 2003, the former Pride and Cage Rage fighter has defeated the likes of Dan Severn, Japanese judo legend Hidehiko Yoshida and Don Frye.

The 29-year-old, six-foot-five Thompson possesses significant advantages in age (three years), height (three inches) and experience. The Brit has fought all over the world.

But the key may be whether a veteran known for heavy hands will come out and look for takedowns and try to use his size to wear down Kimbo from the top position on the ground.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me and I will have a solid game plan for it,’’ said Thompson, who has won four times by submission. “The world will be watching. I’ll be ready.’’



Long regarded as one of the world’s most gifted middleweights, Lawler will be making the first defense of the EliteXC belt he won in dramatic, convincing fashion with a third-round TKO (strikes) over defending champion Murilo “Ninja” Rua on Sept. 15, 2007, in Honolulu.

“I fought a smart and controlled fight and kept my distance, but that is how I fight these days,’’ Lawler said. “I told my corner after the second round that I was going to knock him out.’’

Lawler rocked and mocked Rua several times before dropping him with a left hand. After a series of jackhammer right hands and two more lefts, the referee halted matters at 2:04.

While he performed with poise against Rua, the crowd-pleasing Lawler is known for an aggressive, unbashful, at times swing-for-the-fences style, and for putting as much heart and bad intentions behind his punches and lethal flying knee attacks as anyone could expect.

“Every fight’s big, at the time,’’ said Lawler, who recently re-signed with EliteXC. “You live by the moment, fight for today. May 31 is obviously a big fight for me, and more people will be watching. But once I’m in the cage, they’re (his fights are) all equal.”



Smith is a “freestyle” fighter and knockout artist who comes out throwing bombs with an abandon that’s made him a huge fan favorite. Aptly nicknamed “Hands Of Steel’’ -- he’s a union field foreman in his family’s steel business – he’s won 11 of his fights by KO or TKO.

But one of the most dangerous strikers in the business also owns a strong wrestling background and possesses terrific cardio. Smith’s two other triumphs were by submission.

In his EliteXC debut, Smith rallied after losing the first round to knock out Kyle Noke at 0:07 in the second. Two brutal, picture-perfect right hands did all the damage.

“I didn’t fight the first round like I usually do, but I started to get comfortable and find my range toward the end of it,’’ said Smith, who has won nine times in the first round. “I came out pumped for the second and made up for it. Once I got inside – bam -- I knocked him down.”

Until numbing Noke, Smith was best known for his dramatic comeback victory over Pete Sell in perhaps the most totally unexpected, shocking ending to a MMA fight in history.

“Fans know I come to war, that I’m a fighter,’’ said Smith, who rallied from the brink of defeat to score a second-round knockout over Sell Nov. 11, 2006. “I think they love that I engage and I keep punching until I knock you out. They can read that when they watch me in the cage.’’

Since its inception, EliteXC has consistently included women's fighters on its cards. None is more popular than Carano, the most recognizable female MMA fighter in the world.

Carano, aka “Crush” on American Gladiators, will be making her first start since she got up from a hard early takedown to record a 2:53, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Tonya Evinger on Sept. 15, 2007, in Honolulu.

“When she got me down, I knew I couldn't freak and had to keep my composure,’’ said Carano, who celebrated her first submission by running around the cage. “After reversing her, I considered standing up. But I've been practicing working on top, so I just went through with it.''

It’s apparent the moment you meet Carano that she’s the epitome of strength; a strong woman: mentally, spiritually and physically. Yes, she is more than a pretty face. And the Muay Thai specialist also is smart enough to know she had better not underestimate Young.

“I don’t take anyone lightly,’’ said Carano, who trains at Xtreme Couture gym and also recently re-signed with EliteXC. “I’ve got a big target on me.’’

Carano, who’s not afraid to hit or get hit, garnered national notoriety in 2007 for her quote: “We're not hitting tennis balls. We're hitting people. Isn't that more exciting?”

The talented Young, a devastating striker with excellent skills and a solid Muay Thai background, is excited about getting the chance to test her skills against Carano.

“I’m totally pumped,’’ Young said. “Gina always comes to fight and doesn’t seem to have an off day. I think on paper we are probably even. One of my greatest advantages is definitely that I have a very aggressive striking style. I think it’s more aggressive than Gina’s.’’

Young won her pro debut with a second-round TKO on Oct. 4, 2007, and then gained instant notoriety the following Nov. 24 by registering three devastating first-round knockouts to win a HOOKnSHOOT eight-woman, single night tournament in Indiana. Total fight time: 1:53.

Baroni is a flamboyant, trash-talking, KO artist who exploded on the scene in 2001.

MMA fans may love or hate him, but they can’t ignore a true showman and personality who always makes for entertaining, memorable, non-stop slugfests. His entrance alone, some say, is worth the price of admission. He is of the best interviews in all of sports.

With his pulverizing punching power and dynamic energy that triggers an edgy persona, Baroni truly believes -- sometimes until his very last breath -- that he’s going to win every time.

Baroni, who’s fought the best, may not always back up his words but he’s tough and courageous and one would be hard-pressed to find a fan seated during one of his fights.

“I am sick and tired of what’s been going on and someone’s going to pay and that someone is Villasenor,’’ said Baroni, who has lost two in a row (both were world title fights). “I am going to knock the s--- out of Villasenor and then go after one of the champions again.’’

Villasenor is a well-conditioned, determined, battle-tested, well-rounded veteran who’s always been willing to fight anybody, anytime, anywhere.

“I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me,’’ said a native of Albuquerque, N.M., and a protégé of MMA guru, Greg Jackson. “You can bet there will be a lot of fireworks in this one.’’

A former King of the Cage champion, Villasenor enters this one with momentum, having won his last two starts, including an exciting 4:45, first-round knockout over Ryan Jensen in a rousing battle that featured numerous exchanges on March 29, 2008, in San Jose, Calif.

“He caught me with some shots but then I really connected with that right hook, said."

Villasenor, who stopped Jensen with a series of combinations followed by the punishing right.

Rogers, a big, scary, intimidating sort, will be making his third consecutive appearance for EliteXC. “I’m extremely happy working for them,’’ he said. “EliteXC is a great organization and nothing compares to how I’ve been treated by them. They definitely take care of their guys.’’

The hard-hitting six-foot-five, 27-year-old Rogers has ended his last four fights in the first round. Only one of the relative newcomer’s fights has made it to the second.

“When I touch you with my fists, you are going down,’’ said Rogers, a member of Team Bison who has only been training two years.

Rogers got involved in MMA to keep him off the streets. “Life for me has never beeneasy,’’ he said. “I’d always lived in bad areas, terrible environments, first where I grew up on the south side of Chicago, and then in Minnesota where I moved to in 1992.

“You had no choice but to learn to pick things up. I’m a patient man but everyone has a breaking point. But I knew it was better to train and fight pro then fight on the streets. If I am going to fight, it had better be for the right reasons and get me paid.’’

Murphy scored a career-best 0:19, second-round knockout over Dave Huckaba in his last outing on Aug. 25, 2007, in Jackson, Miss. He dropped Huckaba with a series of punches, the most damaging of which were four vicious right hands.

The following December the former middle linebacker at Syracuse University underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Murphy was back in the gym by early January ‘08. Before resuming training, however, he had a complete hair makeover.

On New Year’s Day, Murphy, who hadn’t seen the inside of a barbershop since October ‘05, shaved his shoulder-length hair and donated it to Locks Of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children under 18 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

“I had known about them for about a year,’’ Murphy said. “It took a while for my hair to grow the required 10 inches it took to donate. I wound up donating about 15 inches.’’

For more information on EliteXC and other MMA-related stories, including bios, video-on-demand, photos, stats, Fantasy Fight Game TM and more, please visit ProElite.com and EliteXC.com.

Fighter pages:
Kimbo (http://kimboslice.proelite.com
Thompson (http://jamesthompson.proelite.com
Lawler (http://robbielawler.proelite.com
Smith (http://scottsmith.proelite.com
Carano (http://ginacarano.proelite.com
Young (http://kaitlinyoung.proelite.com
Villasenor (http://joeyvillasenor.com
Baroni (http://philbaroni.proelite.com
Rogers (http://brettrogers.proelite.com
Murphy (http://jonmurphy.proelite.com

About Pro Elite, Inc.
ProElite, Inc. delivers the most exciting entertainment experience in 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. The company has established a partnership with CBS that brings MMA to a major primetime network for the first time. Through acquisitions of MMA organizations in Asia and Europe, ProElite is a global leader with an exclusive distribution agreement for its program library with IMG Media. ProElite’s live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world’s top fighters [elitexc.com]. The company’s social media platform, ProElite.com, continues 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.

About The Prudential Center
Prudential Center is the first new, state-of-the-art facility built in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area in over 25 years. Located within 2 blocks of Newark Penn Station, it is the home of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, NCAA Division I Seton Hall men’s basketball and the New Jersey Ironmen of the MISL. Prudential Center is managed by AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world.

IBF junior welterweight champion 'Paulie 'The Magic Man' Malignaggi training in Sicily for his May 24 rematch against Lovemore N'dou in England

N’dou strictly business for champ Malignaggi



Paul Malignaggi talks about up and coming fight with Lovemore N'Dou May 24th in England
Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

SIRACUSA, Sicily– IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi has shifted training camp from Vero Beach (Florida) to Sicily in preparation for his May 24 rematch with Lovemore N’dou on the Ricky Hatton-Juan Lazcano card in Manchester, England.



Malignaggi (24-1, 5 KOs) captured the IBF title last June by defeating champion N’dou (46-9-1, 31 KOs) by unanimous 12-round decision.



Paulie successfully defended his belt this past January with a 12-round decision against No. 1 contender Herman Ngoudjo (16-1).



Fighting an opponent he thoroughly outclassed (120-106, 120-106, 118-108) less than a year ago, flooring him in the process, has all the makings of a potential trap fight for Malignaggi, especially with a potential mega-deal on the table to fight Ricky Hatton this fall in New York City, pending wins May 24 by both fighters.



“I’m just working on getting the job done May 24th,” Malignaggi explained. “I’m focused on doing my job on this card, not looking any deeper than I have to. I’m training in Sicily to get acclimated to the time change (like England, 6 hours difference from the East Coast of the U.S.). I have connections here and everything was set-up for me, including my sparring partners. I trained two weeks in Vero Beach with Buddy (McGirt, head trainer) and he’ll catch up with us in Sicily.



“N’dou is a pressure fighter who fights at a high pace. I just have to stay consistent and fight like I did our first fight. I’ll force him into making adjustments. He has to try and get to me, come to me, not stay on the outside. He’s been the same fighter for a long time and I don’t expect anything much different this fight.”



Malignaggi was born in Brooklyn but his Italian immigrant parents moved back to Siracuse, Sicily when Paulie was only a few months old. Six years later, the family decided to move back to the United States, but Paulie’s professional soccer playing father, Nello, stayed only a few weeks before returning to live in Siracuse.

McGirt predicts Malignaggi will be ready for N’dou once again. “N’dou brought in Boza Edwards to train him and I know they’ll be concentrating more on a body attack,” Buddy said. “They’ll judge Paulie off of his last fight (against Ngoudjo) and try to do a couple of things differently. Once things don’t go his way, hopefully, N’dou will go back to fighting the way he always does.

Buddy McGirt


“Paulie won’t be looking ahead to Hatton. He never mentioned Hatton’s name in the two weeks he trained here (Vero Beach). Paulie learned a tough lesson against Ngoudjo, looking ahead to talks about fighting Hatton. There’s no Hatton fight unless he wins this fight. Paulie will be ready.”

Hatton


CONTACT:Bob Trieger Full Court Press

©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience all rights reserved

STEVE “USS” CUNNINGHAM TRAINING WITH FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION CHRIS BYRD; TWO WORLD CHAMPIONS HELPING EACH OTHER PREPARE FOR BIG FIGHTS

LAS VEGAS- IBF Cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham isn’t sitting around waiting for his next fight. The champ is currently in Las Vegas helping former IBF Heavyweight champion Chris Byrd prepare for his maiden voyage into the Light-Heavyweight ranks when Byrd takes on Shaun George May 16th in Las Vegas.



Cunningham, 21-1 with eleven knockouts is in camp with Byrd for the fourth time and familiarity seems to bring success for the two fighters.

“It’s a great situation for me to be able to come out here and work with one of the craftiest and best boxers of the past decade.” said the current Cruiserweight champ, “I think because we have similar lifestyle for which we have a strong belief in Jesus and we are devoted family men helped build a great friendship. Because of the friendship, I think we bring the best out of each other and want to push each other to make ourselves the best we can be.“

When asked about working with Cunningham, Byrd, 40-4-1 with twenty-one knockouts, said “Every time we work together, even for me who has been around the block, it’s a learning experience. Even more so now that I am a light-Heavyweight because of his speed and power. I can’t get away with anything with him. It’s very equal competition. He is the best cruiserweight in the world Bar None.”

“Because of out similar mentalities we are on the same page.”

Byrd and George will fight at The Cox Pavilion and the fight will be televised on ESPN-2.

©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience all rights reserved

Has Race Prejudice Become Sophisticated?‏

This presidential election season comes at the closing of the first decade of the twenty-first century and has found American politics and society at an apparent fork in the road. Interestingly enough, American politics and society faced similar challenges moving forward, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The respective role of the Democratic and Republican political parties has reversed between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, in the framework of the reality on the ground in both scenarios of the respective Democratic and Republican Parties. At this early stage of the twenty-first century it is difficult to ascertain the trajectory of America’s critical mass at this dubious fork in the road juncture.

A seminal challenge of the nineteenth century which animated both the Black and White “race” in America was the abolition of slavery. The civil war history speaks volumes relative to the political, economic, and social movement of Black and White Americans working together to insure the founding proclamation that all men are created equal with certain inalienable rights is achieved.

Following the end of the civil war, the civil rights of Black Americans could only be guaranteed by the imposition of federal troops in some southern states. This period is popularly known as Reconstruction and lasted for about a decade. During Reconstruction, Black Americans achieved unprecedented advances in business, politics, and the professions that remain unrivaled by the standards of today.

The story of how and why federal troops were withdrawn from protecting the rights of The fortunes of Black American citizens, as part of the great compromise, is perhaps a metaphor for the events that followed and continue. Intimidation, terrorism, violence, murder, lynching, and odious political machinations ruled the subsequent years. The era of racial segregation ensued punctuated by abject poverty and Jim Crow laws.

The Great War and World War II provided an opportunity for Black Americans to transcend their practical circumstance and serve in the armed forces with valor and distinction. The loyalty of Black Americans was tested and confirmed during World Wars I and II, as well as in the Korean conflict, despite the practical scenario on the ground of their respective neighborhoods. However, because of pervasive poverty and oppression, there was a growing sensibility that enough is enough, which correlated with the murder of young Emit Till, Brown verses the Board of Education, and other developments of the time.

The modern civil rights movement was inspired by a historic pattern of blatant economic, political, and social deprivation as well as violence against Black Americans that reached the boiling point. Ultimately, white Americans engaged the struggle to help Blacks achieve their legitimate aspirations as citizens, and ensure that their civil rights were enforced. This was the second great Black and White political coalition mimicking the first civil rights movement. Desegregation of schools, integration of public accommodations, voting rights legislation, and affirmative action statute are examples of advances and victories of the acclaimed modern civil rights movement.

The assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, the titular leader of the civil rights movement, coupled with the apparent social and political success, marked an unceremonious end to the popular political movement. Nevertheless, the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that we should be judged by the quality of our character not the color of our skin has endured.

Regrettably, the apparent social and political success of the twentieth century’s modern civil rights movement seems to be a metaphor of the auspicious nineteenth century civil rights movement. Its’ promise has eluded the community at large. Hence, the butterfly that emerged from the modern civil rights movement has lost its’ wings and is a caterpillar once again seeking a venue for the hope of political maturation.

Accordingly, the verisimilitude associated with the advent of Senator Barack Obama as a credible and viable candidate for President of the United States, may have unwrapped the American racial pathology. Anecdotal evidence suggests that after Senator Obama demonstrated his capacity to raise millions in campaign funds, in addition to his political rhetorical skills, some among the White American demographic have become malignantly fearful. In this context, the specter of an Obama presidency is a worse-case-scenario political nightmare that must be avoided by any means necessary.

Initially, the Senator very skillfully managed to navigate his campaign beyond the racial divide, despite the assault of negative rumors and innuendoes leveled by his political opponents. Also, the insertion of controversial and incendiary sound-bites associated with his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, coupled with political questions posed by the “forth estate,” required a direct answer from the candidate. Senator Obama responded with a national televised presentation on race that was assessed by many as nothing short of a brilliant, effective way of putting the question to the American people.

As the campaign for the Democratic nomination enters the final stretch, Obama has been able to maintain his lead in the delegate count and the legitimate popular vote. However, the fear-mongering and race-based attacks against Senator Obama and his wife are on a virulent crescendo. Obviously, it remains to be seen who will be the party nominee at the end of the day. Concomitantly, the protracted and racially divisive tactics and subtext of the nomination process is likely to ensure a pyrrhic climax for Democrats moving forward to the November general election.

The Democratic Party is the oldest political party in America and is arguably the most colorful, in the context of its’ transitional political odyssey. In the nineteenth century, the Democratic Party was pro-slavery and facilitated the establishment of the infamous KKK, who terrorized and lynched Black folk as a function of their normal operation. In the twentieth century, the political paradigm changed from conservative Democrat to liberal, and the party merged with the unfolding civil rights movement. As a practical political matter, the Democratic Party is currently positioned as the party of modern civil rights.

In deed there is substantial political irony relative to the evolution of the Democratic Party politics, vis-à-vis, Black Americans. While the jury has not yet returned with a definitive answer to the race issue, we are ever mindful of the current, as well as previous, legacy. On the other hand, the Grand Old Party of President Abraham Lincoln is equally challenged to move beyond its’ propensity toward race-based politics and embrace the rich legacy of its history and bygone age.

There is a groundswell in all quarters regarding this election because of the war, foreign policy, as well as the subliminal racial dimension in the fabric of America’s domestic policy. Many in the Black community suspect that aspects of White America may not be ready for a Black man to be the commander and chief of this great country. Accordingly, the tactics of Senator Obama’s opponents have injected and sustained as race-based political juggernaut, as a last ditch kitchen sink strategy, to awaken the emotions associated with America’s unspoken historical nature.

Both White and Black Americans say that racial prejudice is dormant, strong, and sophisticated in the current domestic and global political vernacular. The political speculation and prognostication about the race dimension has become a feature in the international press. The Times of London published an article on April 24, 2008 under the by line of Anatole Kaletsky, which speaks volumes in itself. The piece was entitled: “Yes it’s politically incorrect but race matters”. Subtitled, “The Democrats must admit it: Obama would lose to McCain.

An interesting quote in the body of the two page single space article reads that: “Mrs. Clinton will now carry on with her campaign is not probable but essential. The voting in Pennsylvania confirms that she has a much better chance than Obama of winning the White House for the Democrats. According to the Associated Press exit polls published yesterday, 16 percent of White Democratic voters considered race an important factor in the Presidential election and 43 percent of these said they would either vote Republican or not at all, if Mr. Obama were the Democratic nominee.”

On the other hand, Obama enjoys overwhelming support from Canadians in his quest to win the White House and believe that he will win the nomination and the Presidency.


Gary James is a freelance writer and political analyst. His second book will be released this summer and his third book will be released in the spring of 2009. For more information contact visit;

Gary James http://www.garyjames.info

Gary James Video Channel http://www.youtube.com/CadreUSA1

Honorable Keisha Morrisey http://www.keishamorrisey.com

Black Political Taskforce http://www.blackpt.org

Voters Anonymous http://www.votersanonymous.com




©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience all rights reserved

FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ RETURNS IN CHICAGO ON FRIDAY, MAY 9TH‏

CHICAGO, IL- Popular bantamweight Francisco “EL NINO AZTECA” Rodriguez will return to action at BATTLE FOR PRIDE on Friday, May 9th at Cicero Stadium, as he takes on Columbian veteran Angel Priolo, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

Tickets for BATTLE FOR PRIDE may be purchased in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions box office 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 7:00pm with the first bell at 8:00pm.

The 23 year old Rodriguez, 11-2 with seven knockouts, is looking to rebound after the second round stoppage loss of his most recent bout with Andre Wilson on February 15th at Cicero Stadium. Prior to that fight the Chicago fan favorite had won four in a row.

Said Pesoli, “Francisco has continued to improve and was on a nice roll leading up to the fight with Wilson. He was winning that fight and boxing great when he got caught towards the end of the second round. To his credit, he was back in the gym right afterwards and is looking to get back in the winner’s column on Friday, May 9th.

Priolo is a very tough experienced veteran from Columbia and has faced many world class fighters which makes this a solid fight for Francisco.”

Priolo, a native of Barranquilla, Columbia, brings a record of 30-6 with twenty knockouts into the bout with Rodriguez, which is his second consecutive Chicago appearance. His last bout at Cicero Stadium was a battle with highly regarded prospect Abner Mares on April 20, 2007, a fight won by Mares with a sixth round stoppage.

His twelve year career also includes battles with former world champions Jorge Arce, Brian Viloria, Irene Pacheco and Francisco Tejador.

The main event at BATTLE FOR PRIDE features Chicago fan favorite and Season 3 contestant on ESPN’s The Contender, “MACHO” Miguel Hernandez, 20-7 (10KO’s) in a cross-town showdown against fellow Chicagoan “SUPERMAN” Derrick Findley, 10-2 (6KO’s) in a middleweight bout.

In a special feature attraction bout, hard hitting, Chicago based Irishman Henry “THE WESTERN WARRIOR” Coyle, 6-1 (6KO’s) will face veteran Ben Aragon, 7-9-2 (5KO’s) of Billings, Montana in an eight round junior middleweight scrap.

The undercard will feature popular Chicago prospects as super bantamweight Eric Estrada, 3-0 (1KO) faces Ronnie Howell, 1-1 of Cincinnati and lightweight Gadiel Andaluz, 2-0 (KO’s) battles fellow undefeated prospect Jose Mandujano 2-0 (1KO) of Detroit, Michigan, each in four round bouts.

The weigh-in for the BATTLE FOR PRIDE event will take place on Thursday, May 8th at 7pm at Team Doctors Chiropractic Treatment and Training Center of Champions located at 6432 S. Pulaski on the South Side of Chicago. Further information can be obtained at www.teamdoctors.org.

BATTLE FOR PRIDE, an outstanding evening of world class boxing is presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING and Octavius James’ One In A Million Incorporated along with Miller Lite, TCF Bank and AeroMexico, the premier travel source to Mexico.

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 for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998
Bernie Bahrmasel, Publicist/8 Count Productions
www.8countproductions.com

Columbia 1968 Rebellion: The Role of the Black Students and Harlem Community‏

Columbia 1968 Rebellion: The Role of the Black Students and Harlem Community
http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-05-01T04_19_46-07_00
This past week, from April 24 to April 27, 2008, many veterans of the spring 1968 strike and protests at Columbia University in New York returned to the campus for a conference to mark the 40th anniversary of that event (http://www.columbia1968.info/). This gathering also served as a sort of reunion for those who were activists at Columbia and Barnard in those days, including, of course, many who remain active today in various political and social movements.
Back in 1968, I was a freshman at Columbia. Those events, which took place in the context of the growing Black liberation movement in the U.S. and the worldwide struggles against the war in Vietnam, among many other international rebellions and revolts, profoundly changed my life and thinking. They opened my eyes quite wide about some of the horrors going on around the world, and drew me into political activism with their irresistible slogan: Join us!
Today, however, many do not understand what took place or why. Numerous attacks on the protesters have been circulated, especially in the mainstream media, as usual a primary source of confusion, distortion, and lies.
Despite the severe shortcomings of some of the political tendencies which played a key role in those events at Columbia, especially among the leaders of SDS (Students for a Democratic Society, which I joined shortly after the strike of spring 1968), it is my belief as it was then that the basic demands of those actions were just. They sought an end to the building of a university gymnasium by the elite, private Columbia University in nearby Morningside Park, which is public land in Harlem, an end to university involvement in war research, and several related issues.
One of the most distorted features of this struggle involves the role of the Black students. Many accounts talk of the uprising by white students on this Ivy League campus, but either omit or downplay the crucial leadership role played by the Black students and their organization, the Students Afro-American Society (SAS). Still less is recorded about the role of activists from the Harlem community in leading the struggle against the gym, and in assisting the students when they struck Columbia and occupied campus buildings.
Now a new documentary film is trying to set the record straight. It is called "!VALA! The Power of Black Students at Columbia University 1968-2008". This film is the brainchild of Sherry A. Suttles, Barnard class of 1969, who is the film's executive producer, and was a student activist and SAS member in those days. The producer and director of the film is Kamau Suttles, her son.
You can watch the trailer here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=X7S4R-KoEFQ.
Right after a screening and discussion of "!VALA!" this past Saturday, April 26, at this Columbia 1968 conference, we spoke about this film and its message with Sherry A. Suttles, Kamau Suttles, and activist Samuel White Jr., Columbia class of 1968.
Thanks, Eddie Goldman

(Note: This show is not part of the NO HOLDS BARRED series, which will return later this week.)
Enjoy!

Three IFL Championship Bouts Featured on FSN's "IFL Fight Night" Saturday May 3‏

NEW YORK– Three International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) individual title bouts from the IFL World Grand Prix finals will be featured in the next edition of “IFL Fight Night” on Fox Sports Net (FSN). The episode, which debuts on Saturday, May 3, at midnight local time in most markets, includes bouts on the historic night which saw a total of five IFL champions crowned. Viewers can confirm the time and replays during the week on their respective regional FSN networks at http://www.ifl.tv/TV-Schedule-FSN.html. Bouts on the one-hour telecast include: • Jay Hieron, a Long Island, N.Y., native and current Las Vegas resident, battling Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Capoeira master Delson Heleno in a highly-anticipated matchup between two well-rounded veteran welterweights (170 lbs.).• Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), putting his unbeaten record on the line for the first-ever IFL featherweight (145 lbs.) belt against L.C. Davis (Kansas City, Mo.), also unbeaten in IFL competition• Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.), one of the league’s most popular figures and best middleweights (185 lbs.), challenging unbeaten Benji Radach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) in a battle of proven knockout artists. Veteran IFL play-by-play man Kenny Rice is joined by MMA legend Bas Rutten at the microphone ringside, with Ron Kruck providing additional commentary. The bouts were contested at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., in December. In addition to the weekly “IFL Fight Night,” seen domestically on FSN as well as in over 70 other countries and five continents around the world, ranging from HBO Latin America to Star TV in Asia and Middle Eastern Broadcasting and the Armed Forces Network, the first three IFL events of the year are being shown live on HDNet. IFL programming is already among the most viewed MMA programming worldwide, despite being in existence only two years. The next live IFL event is set for May 16, also at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., where three Championship belts will be on the line. HDNet will again provide live coverage. About the IFL International Fight League™ (IFL) has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.
"I think it would be fun to run a newspaper."- Charles Foster Kane, Citizen Kane, 1941
Jerry Milani Manager of Public Relations
International Fight League
Catch the IFL on FSN Saturdays at midnight and LIVE on HDNet on May 16

Dr. Joy DeGruy Leary, author of "The Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome" to Speak at Morgan State University on May 7, 2008, ONE NIGHT ONLY!

The Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University, proudly presents Dr. Joy DeGruy Leary author of "The Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome"


Dr. Joy DeGruy Leary author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Enduring Legacy of Injury and Healing, addresses the residual impacts of trauma on African Descendants in the Americas. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome lays the groundwork for understanding how the past has influenced the present, and opens up the discussion of how we can use the strengths we have gained to heal.



The book has been praised by Randall Robinson, Bill Cosby, Al Sharpton, and many more. Susan Taylor, Editorial Director of Essence Magazine says that “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is a master work…Her book is the balm we need to heal ourselves and our relationships. It is the gift of wholeness.” Adelaide Sanford, Vice Chancellor of the Board of Regents for the State of New York states that “Dr. Joy Leary’s mesmerizing, riveting book is vital reading for our time…With Dr. Leary’s potent words we can and will heal.”

WHEN: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
TIME: 7:00 PM
WHERE: Clarence Mitchell School of Engineering Building
Morgan State University
1700 East Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore MD 21251
ADMISSION: FREE and Open to the Public