★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience©®™: May 17, 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013

ESQUIVIAS VS. CASTAÑEDA SEEKING THEIR PATH TO GLORY!‏

Few professional fighters bring a crowd like Efrain Esquivias does. Few boxing prospects risk their immediate future after unsuccessful outings. Esquivias and Castañeda, who face each other in an eight-round main event of Friday, May 17, will make their return to the ring with the knowledge that another setback will directly interfere with their championship wishes.

Once again, Thompson Boxing Promotions brings a fully loaded fight card to the Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, where many current boxing stars began their careers. Esquivias and Castañeda lead this newest fight parade.

Efrain Esquivias (16-2, 9 KOs) hails from Carson and has built a reputation as a prizefighter capable of fighting the best. So far he's been at close range of getting a world title shot but fell short and lost. Those losses are nothing to be ashamed of as they came against former or current world champions Rico Ramos on Telefutura and Jhonatan "Momo" Romero in a ShoBox main event.

"I picked myself up and dusted myself off," said Esquivas while training in Carson.Ca. "Those losses made me think and concentrate even more on what is at stake. On May 17, Castañeda will have his hands full and I'm only thinking about the victory."

Roberto "Azabache" Castañeda (20-3, 15 KOs) comes from Mexicali, a border town known for its toughness and for producing some of the best prizefighters in Mexico. It's a big moment for Castañeda, who lost a seesaw battle until he got dropped by successive body shots to Christopher Martin on ESPN Friday Night Fights. He also lost by knockout to Gary Russell, Jr. on Showtime's ShoBox.

"I appreciate the opportunity to return to the ring and show everyone that I'm not finished," said Castañeda from his training camp. "I know Esquivias well and he has the perfect style for me to shine and clean the slate."

As the co-main event, Riverside's Richard "El Terminador" Contreras (10-1-1, 9 KOs)recently fought victoriously on the May 2 undercard of Herrera-Kim, prior to his fight he was out of action for a an extended time due to a jaw injury. He's had time to heal and has made his return to the ring and is ready to keep the momentum of his winning streak going. He fights Houston's Victor Sanchez (4-6-1, 1 KO) in a featherweight match set for eight rounds.

Featured on the undercard, is San Diego's Giovanni "El Gallo de Oro" Santillan (7-0, 5 KOs) who recently fought and won late last month at this same venue. His opponent Jesus Mendez (3-3, 2 KOs) from Houston, TX, will need to come prepared and expect to feel the rising star's wrath in the 6-round junior welterweight showdown.

In a junior middleweight bout former 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Taras Shelestyuk (2-0, 2 KOs) of the Ukraine and Mario Angeles (1-3-1) of Mexico City clash in a four round bout. Fight fans should expect a competitive match up between these two fighters from opposite parts of the hemisphere. A four-round super middleweight fight has Riverside's Rafael Lopez (5-1, 5 KOs) meeting Omar Barefield (0-3) of Los Angeles who is looking for his first win. Lopez is the younger brother of welterweight contender Josesito Lopez. Others on the card include Lancaster's junior featherweights Johnny Reyes (2-0, 1 KO).

"PATH TO GLORY" is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, Tequila Don Cardona in association with Time Warner Cable Deportes.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, 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, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

FIGHT FOR PEACE: …TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE Don King Invites Leaders of Russia, Panama To WBA Cruiserweight Unification Championship; Denis Lebedev and Guillermo Jones Meet On May 17 At Crocus City Hall In Moscow, Russia World Boxing Promoter & World Peace Ambassador Goes to Moscow

World Boxing Association cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (25-1, 19 KOs), from Chekhov, Russia, and WBA cruiserweight champion in recess Guillermo “El  Felino” Jones (38-3-2, 30 KOs), from Colon, Panama, are set to meet on May 17 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia.  Co-promoter Don King has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli to attend the event.

“I have invited the leaders of Russia and Panama to attend our big boxing event in Moscow on May 17 as the world champions in the main event hail from these great countries,” King said.  “Sports can transcend boundaries and bring us together, so what better way to exemplify that than to have these great leaders on the scene supporting their countrymen.”

The event will take place in the beautiful 7,000-seat Crocus City Hall and has been dubbed “Fight For Peace, The One Will Stand.”

“It’s to Russia with love and understanding, a sports extravaganza to bring people together for peace, democracy and freedom.  President Putin said, ‘Nobody and nothing will stop Russia on the road to strengthening democracy and ensuring human rights and freedoms,’ and I support him in his quest to make a better Russia for the Russian people.”

"Knockout Kings II" Featuring Andre Berto vs. Jesus Soto Karass & Undefeated Rising Stars Keith Thurman vs. Diego Chaves Lands At The AT&T Center in San Antonio on July 27 Live on SHOWTIME - Tickets Go On Sale Friday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m. CT‏

"KNOCKOUT KINGS II" FEATURING FORMER TWO-TIME

WORLD CHAMPION ANDRE BERTO FACING

PERENIAL CONTENDER JESUS SOTO KARASS AND UNDEFEATED

RISING STARS KEITH THURMAN AND DIEGO CHAVES SQUARING OFF FOR WBA INTERIM WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LANDS AT THE AT&T CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO ON JULY 27

PLUS, UNBEATEN TEXAS SENSATION OMAR FIGUEROA JR.

FACES JAPAN'S NIHITO ARAKAWA FOR WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SHOWTIME^® TO TELEVISE TRIPLEHEADER LIVE

San Antonio, Texas will once again be the site of a major boxing event when SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® returns to the Lone Star State on Saturday, July 27 with "KNOCKOUT KINGS II," a spectacular night of world-class fights at the AT&T Center featuring a tripleheader starring some of the sport's brightest stars live on SHOWTIME.

In the 12-round main event, former Two-Time Welterweight World Champion Andre Berto is back in the ring to take on tough Mexican contender Jesus Soto Karass. Plus, unbeaten knockout artist Keith Thurman and fellow power-puncher Diego Gabriel Chavesbattle for Chaves' WBA Interim Welterweight World Championship and Weslaco, Texas' undefeated rising star Omar Figueroa Jr. squares off against Tokyo's Nihito Arakawa for the vacant WBC Interim Lightweight World Championship.

The event marks the return of co-promoters Golden Boy Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions to San Antonio where they recently promoted the April 20 blockbuster fight between Canelo Alvarez and Austin Trout which had almost 40,000 fans in attendance.

"Texas is our new home away from home and it's great to be returning so soon after the Alvarez-Trout mega event in April," said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "That event proved that boxing is alive and well and on July 27, we're going to have another stacked card that will pack the AT&T Center."

"Leija-Battah Promotions is thrilled to be co-hosting another SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event in San Antonio in collaboration with Golden Boy Promotions," said Mike Battah, President of Leija & Battah Promotions. "The people of San Antonio and Texas demonstrated their affinity for boxing on April 20 at the Canelo vs. Trout sell-out event and we look forward to hosting multiple mega-fights yearly."

"We have always dedicated ourselves to providing the people of San Antonio and all of South Texas with a broad variety of first-class sports and entertainment events at the AT&T Center," said Rick Pych, Spurs Sports & Entertainment President of Business Operations. "San Antonio is a city that truly appreciates and supports boxing in a big way and this is a terrific opportunity for fight fans to witness three world-class bouts in an arena setting."

A member of the 2004 Haitian Olympic team, Andre Berto (28-2, 22 KO's) turned pro later that year and has never looked back. A throwback fighter willing to go into the trenches to put on exciting bouts for his fans, the 29-year-old from Winter Haven, Florida first struck professional gold in 2008 when he stopped Miguel Rodriguez in the seventh round to win the WBC Welterweight World Championship. Berto successfully defended the crown five times before losing it to Victor Ortiz in The Ring Magazine's 2011 Fight of the Year. He bounced back five months later to defeat Jan Zaveck for the IBF Welterweight World Championship. In his most recent bout, Berto engaged in a fight of the year candidate against Roberto Guerrero, losing a hard fought 12-round decision last November.

"It's been a long time since I've fought in Texas and I'm happy to be back fighting in front of the great fans here," said Berto. "I'm hungrier than ever to get my title back and the first step is taking out Soto Karass on July 27."

One of the fight game's most rugged competitors, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico's Jesus Soto Karass (27-8-3, 17 KO's) always gives a supreme effort in the ring and, win or lose, his opponents never emerge from their fights with him unscathed. Fresh off of a January win overSelcuk Aydin, the 30-year-old Soto Karass hopes to add Berto's name to a list of vanquished foes that includes Euri Gonzalez, Said El Harrak, Vince Phillips, David Estrada and Chris Smith.

"I respect what Andre Berto has done in his career and he's a tough fighter, but a win over him would be the biggest of my career," said Soto Karass. "If I want to get a world title shot, I have to go through him to get it."

A crushing puncher with a 90% knockout rate, Clearwater, Florida's Keith "One Time" Thurman (20-0, 18 KO's) has raised his worldwide profile considerably since returning from a year-long injury induced layoff in 2012. Since then, Thurman has gone 5-0 with four knockouts, with wins over Brandon Hoskins, Orlando Lora and former World Champion Carlos Quintana. In his last fight in March, the 24-year-old scored a shutout win over former World Champion Jan Zaveck and on July 27, he challenges for his first world title.

"I'm looking forward to fighting for an interim title and doing it against someone like Chaves," said Thurman. "I'm not going to have to chase him or get him to fight. We're going to battle and I'm going to be the last man standing."

The latest in the line of hard-hitting standouts from Argentina, Diego Gabriel "La Joya" Chaves (22-0, 18 KO's) shares a similar fighting philosophy with his opponent, Thurman: to end matters as soon as possible. Currently sporting a five-fight knockout streak, the 27-year-old Chaves won the WBA Interim Welterweight World Championship in July of last year with a second round knockout of Ismael El Massoudi and defended it two months later with an identical result against Jose Miranda. Now he's back to fight in the United States for the first time since 2010.

"I appreciate the opportunity to fight in the United States and against someone with a great reputation like Keith Thurman," said Chaves. "We're proud people and proud fighters in Argentina and I'm going to show this to the world on July 27^th."

Adding to the knockout theme on July 27 is Texas' own titan, Weslaco native Omar "Panterita" Figueroa Jr. (21-0-1, 17 KO's), who has ended four of his last five wins with first round knockouts. In April, the 23-year-old thrilled his home state fans with a first round knockout over then unbeaten top prospect Abner Cotto, winning the NABA and WBC Interim Silver Lightweight titles in the process. He will draw on the energy from a San Antonio crowd for his third consecutive fight when he fights for his first world title against Arakawa on July 27.

"For me there's nothing like fighting at home in Texas and the fans of San Antonio have pushed me to new heights in my last two fights," said Figueroa. "I'm looking forward to giving them another big knockout win."

Fighting out of Tokyo, Japan, 31-year-old southpaw Nihito Arakawa (24-2-1, 16 KO's) is a nine-year veteran guaranteed to give Figueroa some looks he has never seen in the ring before. A Japanese and OPBF lightweight champion, Arakawa has won 11 of his last 12 bouts, most recently dispatching Pakphum Tor Pornchai in two rounds on May 4. On July 27, he'll enter hostile territory with the goal of pinning a "1" on Figueroa's loss column.

"I'm looking forward to fighting in the United States for the first time against a tough opponent like Omar Figueroa," said Arakawa. "I'm coming here to put on a great show and take the title back to Japan with me."

"KNOCKOUT KINGS II," featuring Two-Time Welterweight World Champion Andre Berto vs. tough Mexican contender Jesus Soto Karass in a 12-round welterweight main event, takes place Saturday, July 27 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the 12-round co-featured attractions, unbeaten knockout artist Keith Thurman and fellow power-puncher Diego Gabriel Chaves battle for Chaves' WBA Interim Welterweight World Championship in a fight promoted in association with KO International and Weslaco, Texas' undefeated rising star Omar Figueroa Jr. squares off against Tokyo's Nihito Arakawa for the vacant WBC Interim Lightweight World Championship in a fight promoted in association with Teiken Promotions. The tripleheader will be broadcast live on SHOWTIME and will be available in Spanish via second audio programming (SAP).

Haroon Khan Makes United States Debut Saturday On Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse Undercard In Atlantic City

Haroon Khan (1-0) will be starting his American adventure sooner rather than later as he takes on Vicente Medellin (0-5) on the undercard of the Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse clash this weekend in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The younger brother of former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir Khan got off to a winning professional start in his debut fight against Brett Fidoe last month in Sheffield, England where he won a unanimous decision over four rounds.

The 22-year-old will now be showcasing his talents on Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in a four round bantamweight clash against 25-year-old Medellin.

Time permitting, Khan vs. Medellin will be featured on SHOWTIME EXTREME^® in the United States. In the United Kingdom, highlights of the bout or, time permitting, the bout in its entirety, will be shown as part of Sky Sports 1 HD's coverage of the event on Sunday May 19 from 12.30 a.m. BST.

A 2010 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist, Khan is ready for a tough encounter when he takes on the sturdy American and is looking to put on a dazzling performance in his second professional fight.

"I'm really pleased to be fighting on such a big card in the United States so early in my career," said Khan. "Gaining this type of experience is really going to help me in my career and I'm thrilled to be given the chance to take part in this bill. It was great to get the win under my belt in my pro-debut fight last month and I'll be looking to continue by winning in style against Vincente Medellin. He's a tough, durable opponent, so I will need to be on my 'A-game' if I want to get the victory."

Oliver Harrison, Khan's trainer, said, "I'm pleased with how Haroon is progressing. He's a talented fighter and has been putting in the hard work that is required of anyone who wants to make a big splash in the professional game. Each day he's improving and getting better and this type of experience is only going to help him on as a fighter. We're ready to go and can't wait for fight night."

Asif Vali of Khan Promotions, said, "It's fantastic that we've managed to get Haroon on this card. We want Haroon to stay busy and to be fighting regularly on these types of shows. Making his debut on Amir's bill in Sheffield last April and now to be fighting in the United States the month after on a world championship bill helps build a solid foundation to help him grow into the top level fighter we know he will become."

British welterweight ace Lee Purdy will challenge Devon Alexander for Alexander's IBF Welterweight World Title on the card, with London 2012 Bronze Medalist Anthony Ogogo also featured on the card.

No Holds Barred: Malcolm X and the Martial Arts and Combat Sports‏

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses the legacy of Malcolm X and its meaning for the martial arts and combat sports.

On March 29, 1964, at a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York, Malcolm X repeated what he had said many times about the importance of the martial arts: "If you're interested in freedom, you need some judo, you need some karate, you need all the things that will help you fight for freedom."

That building now houses the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, at 3940 Broadway, New York, NY 10032, where one of the many celebrations of the 88th anniversary of Malcolm's birth will take place this Sunday, May 19.

Malcolm X also explained the importance of martial arts training in "The Autobiography of Malcolm X", and how the values they teach are part of the overall training in values which "are vital in a person, a home, a community, a nation, and a civilization," and not only the aspect of training in self-defense. The book also discussed his relations with Muhammad Ali, when he won the heavyweight boxing championship of the world from Sonny Liston in 1964.

But the type of positive values which Malcolm advocated are today often not being promoted, particularly in combat sports like MMA and wrestling. This is discussed, including how this may be affecting the bid by wrestling to be restored to the Olympic program.

So the lessons taught by Malcolm X about the martial arts and combat sports are still valid. It is up to us to learn this legacy, and to apply it to what we do today.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, 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, 2012, 2013 All photos other than those specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Impress Photo-Studios♔ and KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

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