Feel the burn CES kicks off warm-weather season with hottest show of the year

Summertime boxing is about to hit record-setting temperatures as Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports unleashes its latest major-league fight card in the state of Connecticut.

Red-hot New Haven super middleweight Elvin Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs), a perfect 3-0 in 2011, and undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach (24-0, 12 KOs), now fighting out of Bergen, N.J., return to the ring Friday, July 29, 2011 for “Heat Wave” at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.

Ayala will star in the main event of “Heat Wave” as he searches for his fourth consecutive victory since his loss to David Lemieux in June of 2010. Since signing with CES, Ayala is 3-0 this year with back-to-back knockout victories over Joe Gardner (April 1) and George Armenta (May 6). Ayala’s bout on July 29 will be his first at Mohegan Sun since he defeated Mustafah Johnson by unanimous decision on Feb. 4, the first of Ayala’s three consecutive wins.

The new year has provided a welcomed change for Ayala both in and outside the ring. Upon signing with CES, the former world-title challenger also joined forces with a new management team and has since hired Peter Manfredo Sr. – the father of former International Boxing Organization (IBO) middleweight champion and “The Contender” reality television star Peter Manfredo Jr. – as his head trainer. Manfredo’s tutelage paid dividends on May 6 as a sharper, stronger Ayala stopped Armenta in four rounds.

For Wach, a native of Krakow, Poland, July 29 will be his Mohegan Sun debut and just his seventh fight in the United States. The 6-foot-7 “Polish Giant” recently signed a multi-year promotional agreement with CES in conjunction with New Jersey-based Global Boxing Promotions and will star in the 10-round co-feature of “Heat Wave.”

An alternate on Poland’s 2004 Olympic boxing team, Wach possesses the overwhelming size and knockout power to become a serious contender amongst the Klitschko brothers; current International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko enters his July 2 showdown against David Haye with a 55-3 record and 49 knockouts, while his brother, defending World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Vitali Klitschko is 42-2 with 39 knockouts.

Wach hasn’t fought since Feb. 19 in Newark, N.J., when he knocked out Jonathan Haggler in the third round to capture the WBC Baltic heavyweight title. Among Wach’s other notable wins are a fourth-round knockout win over Galen Brown on Nov. 12, 2010 in Lincoln, R.I., and a seventh-round TKO win over Eric Boose in July of 2008 on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

“Ayala and Wach provide the star power befitting of a summertime show of this caliber,” Burchfield said. “Elvin is as steady as they come. Now that he finally has the right people in his corner, there’s no doubt we will bring him back to the top of his division, and this next fight will be a step in the right direction. This is a fighter who gave Arthur Abraham everything he could handle and has been more than willing to compete with any fighter at any given time. He has a superior management team, a veteran trainer and a world-class promoter on his side. The sky’s the limit.

“We’re equally excited about Mariusz. The heavyweight division has been thirsting for new blood for quite some time, and in order to compete with the big dogs in this elite weight class, you need power. The Klitschko brothers have combined for 88 knockouts. That’s the same kind of power Mariusz has in his arsenal, and I can’t wait to watch him put it to use on July 29.

“With Elvin and Mariusz at the top of what will be another star-studded lineup next month, this is a rare opportunity to catch two future champions on the same night.”

“Heat Wave” will also feature the return of CES’ next generation of rising stars, including recently-signed Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (3-0, 3 KOs), who will put his perfect record on the line. New Haven’s best and brightest are also returning to action, most notably middleweight Ricky Dawson (4-0, 1 KO), super middleweight Greg McCoy (2-3, 1 KO) and welterweight Edwin Soto (6-0-1, 2 KOs) each fighting in separate four-round bouts. More details are soon to follow. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

EL Boxing Empress See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

BRANDON RIOS vs. URBANO ANTILLON, Saturday, July 9, at The Home Depot Center Live on SHOWTIME®

Undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion “Bam Bam” Brandon Rios and two-time world title challenger and Top-Five-rated contender Urbano Antillon spent more time talking to each other than members of the media on Tuesday, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone attending the kickoff press conference for the July 9 showdown at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and televised LIVE on SHOWTIME®, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.)

Just moments after being seated on the dais – and about five feet apart – at the downtown Wilshire Grand Hotel, Rios and Antillon started in on each other, and didn’t stop until Antillon was about to leave the building with Rios shouting at him to, “Get out of my life and get out of this hotel!”

Rios (27-0-1, 19 KOs) said after the contentious and emotionally charged press conference that Antillon (28-2, 20 KOs) got personal and he didn’t like it one bit. “I’m a clown and I joke around a lot but this guy really gets under my skin and it’s not going to affect me in the ring,” he said. “If anything, it’s going to help me. He’s opening his big (expletive) mouth and talking about my wife. You don’t mention my family. I didn’t talk about his family.

“He made it personal. He named my wife and brought my family into it. And now he’s going to pay.”

Both Southern California fighters – Rios is from the north of L.A. in Oxnard and Antillon just a bit to the south in Maywood -- had to be separated at the podium after their faceoff photos, which led Top Rank President and CEO Bob Arum to say, “Remember, you don’t get paid to fight outside of the ring. I’m getting out of here but just remember I only pay for fights inside the ring.”

The co-main event will feature former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Kermit Cintron and Carlos Molina in a 10-round junior middleweight fight.

Rios and Antillon were supposed to have met 13 months ago before a Rios injury halted the fight.

Also introduced at the press conference was three-time University of Notre Dame champion Mike Lee and Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta, an unbeaten lightweight from the Philippines who will make his promotional debut with Top Rank on July 9.

“I don’t Like Anything About You!” – Brandon Rios

“On July 9, Maywood Is Going to Be Champion.” – Urbano Antillon

Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank

Boxing Empress See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNMENT HONORS BERNARD HOPKINS Hopkins "Brings Down The House" With Inspirational Speech On Senate Floor

The Pennsylvania State Government honored Philadelphia native Bernard Hopkins at the State Capital yesterday for his recent WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship victory as the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title. Hopkins was invited by Senator Vincent Hughes, who has represented the state's 7th District (covers parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County) since 1994.

Pictured above from left to right: State Senator Vincent J. Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, State Representative Jewell William, WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins and Deputy Whip of PA House of Representatives, State Representative Tony Payton all of whom hail from Philadelphia

Photo Credit: Office of Senator Hughes


Hopkins made appearances on the House and Senate floors where each chamber presented him with a proclamation honoring his record-breaking victory over Jean Pascal in their championship rematch on May 21 in Montreal.

Following the proclamation on the Senate floor, Hopkins was given the opportunity to speak, and in true Hopkins style, inspired every person in the room as he shared his life story of overcoming obstacles and investing in health in order to reach where he is today.

To watch Hopkins remarks click HERE
http://www.senatorhughes.com/media/video/BernardHopkins_June22_2011.htm

Hopkins ended his speech by saying, "Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, whatever decisions we all make together as one, it affects lives."

EL Boxing Empress See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved