Two worlds collide McBride set to face Polish giant for WBC International heavyweight titleWach, McBride battling for heavyweight supremacy‏

Two former Olympians are prepared to stand toe-to-toe Friday, July 29th, 2011 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in a heavyweight title bout that could move the winner one step closer to boxing’s ultimate prize.

Undefeated Mariusz Wach (24-0, 12 KOs), who competed for his native Poland in the 2004 Olympics, will face former world-rated contender Kevin McBride (35-9-1, 29 KOs), a participant for Ireland in the 2002 Summer Games, in the 12-round main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Heat Wave” show at Uncasville, Conn., with the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International heavyweight championship on the line.

This heavyweight showdown is the first of two title fights July 29th; Elvin Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., will battle former two-time world champion Israel “Pito” Cardona (36-10, 28 KOs) of Hartford in the 10-round co-feature for the vacant WBC U.S. National Boxing Council (USNBC) middleweight title, a belt once held by former world champions Paul Williams and Lamont Peterson. Tickets for “Heat Wave,” which are priced at $40, $65 and $105, are on sale starting today and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000.

The WBC International title is equally prestigious; among the former champions in the heavyweight division are: current World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organization (WBO), International Boxing Organization (IBO), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and The Ring Magazine champion Wladimir Klitschko, a two-time WBC International title-holder who beat David Haye this past Saturday in a heavyweight unification bout; Oliver McCall, who upset Lennox Lewis in 1994 to win the WBC world title; and former WBC world champion John Ruiz, who is famous for his trilogy against Evander Holyfield that included one win, one loss and a draw. David Tua, who beat Tony Tucker in 1997 for the WBO title, also held the WBC International belt early in his career, along with former WBC world champion Oleg Maskaev.

Since the inception of the WBC International title in 1987, nine of its 16 champions have gone on two win a major world title, a success rate of 56 percent.

“This is as good as it gets in heavyweight boxing,” said Burchfield, who recently signed Wach to a multi-year promotional agreement in conjunction with Global Boxing Promotions. “Unlike some of the recent world-title bouts in this division that failed to live up to the hype and ultimately disappointed the sport and its loyal fans, this will be a true heavyweight war.

“Some of the best heavyweights in boxing history have held this prestigious title, and that tradition will continue July 29th at the beautiful Mohegan Sun Arena. Mariusz is looking to carve his niche as the future of the heavyweight division, but Kevin is a cagey veteran with a ton of experience and will not back down without a challenge. This is what boxing needs – two hard-hitting heavyweights willing to take risks and leave it all in the ring. We’re proud to bring this fight to the fans who’ve been craving a real heavyweight showdown, and we’ve got an unbelievable undercard with tremendous national and local talent as well.”

Aside from becoming the youngest super heavyweight to compete in the Olympics, McBride is more famously known for ending Hall of Famer “Iron” Mike Tyson’s career in 2005. The two fought at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., with McBride scoring a sixth-round knockout over the former undisputed heavyweight champion. McBride, who was born in Clones, Ireland, but now lives in Dorchester, Mass., retired after losing to Andrew Golota in 2007 before returning to the ring three years later. He recorded his 35th win by beating Franklin Egobi in 2010 and recently lost a unanimous decision to former cruiserweight world champion Tomasz Adamek, who will face Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title in September.

This will be McBride’s third attempt at beating a Polish fighter – Golota and Adamek were born in Warsaw and Zywiec, respectively – though Wach represents a unique challenge. At 6-foot-7 ½ and 250 pounds, Wach is much bigger than Golota and arguably stronger than Adamek, who only has two knockouts in six fights since making the jump from cruiserweight to heavyweight. For both fighters, this title bout represents a preview of what the winner could see if he eventually steps into the ring with one of the Klitschko brothers; both Vitali and Wladimir are taller than 6-6 and routinely fight between 240 and 250 pounds.

Wach, 31, 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.

With knockout victories in each of his last four fights, Wach represents a serious threat in the heavyweight division. He is currently training in North Bergen, N.J., and working with the well-known duo of Juan and Carlos De Leon. Juan De Leon formerly trained undefeated heavyweight “Baby” Joe Mesi while Carlos De Leon is a former four-time cruiserweight world champion.

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

McBride predicting victory on the 29th; ‘I’m the champ!’ Confident McBride predicting victory against undefeated Wach on the 29th

The man who ended Mike Tyson’s reign atop the heavyweight division six years ago is threatening to put an end to another promising career before it has a chance to blossom.

Clones, Ireland veteran Kevin McBride (35-9-1, 29 KOs) might be considered the heavy underdog on Friday, July 29th, 2011 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., but he’s predicting another major upset against undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach (24-0, 12 KOs) in the main event of “Heat Wave,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports in association with Global Boxing Promotions.

The two are fighting in the 12-round main event for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International heavyweight title, a belt once held by former world champions John Ruiz, David Tua, Oleg Maskaev and Oliver McCall, along with current heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

“I’m here to win,” McBride said Thursday at the Global Boxing Gym during the third leg of CES’ east-coast publicity tour. “God bless him – he’s undefeated and he has 24 wins, but I’m the champ. I’ve got more knockouts than he has wins.

“He better watch out. I know I’m still the underdog like I was against Tyson, but I feel I have the punch that can be the equalizer against anyone in the world.”

McBride is so confident he’ll win the title, he’s even gone as far as to plan his next move.

“I’m saving the fireworks for the 29th,” he said. “After I beat him, I’d like to fight [undefeated prospect] Tyson Fury and then take my shot at a world title.”

Even after beating Tyson in 2005, McBride never got a shot at world title before retiring two years later. Six months after his comeback fight in October of 2010, McBride fought former cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek for the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) International heavyweight titles, but lost a unanimous 12-round decision.

“He got tired of running around the ring because Adamek wouldn’t fight him!” Burchfield said.

A win over Wach on the 29th would bring McBride one step closer to a shot at that elusive world title.

“He’s worked real hard,” said McBride’s manager, Jerry Quint. “He’s putting his heart and soul into this fight.”

For Wach, the stakes are equally high; with a perfect 24-0 record, he’s now ranked 13th in the WBC and is on the cusp of a major title fight if he can get past McBride next Friday.

“This fight means a lot to me. It can open a lot of doors, or those doors could be closed,” Wach said. “I’ve spent the past three months putting in endless hours training. The plan is in place; I just hope he doesn’t break my plans for the future.”

“This is what boxing needs,” Burchfield added. “Someone is going to get knocked out. There is no doubt about that.”

Wach, who last fought on Feb. 19 in a knockout win over Jonathan Haggler, has benefited from the tutelage of trainers Juan and Carlos De Leon, who are known throughout boxing for their work with undefeated heavyweight “Baby” Joe Mesi.

“He’s a lot like Mesi,” Carlos De Leon said. “I feel as though I have a future heavyweight champion on my hands.”

Next week’s WBC International heavyweight title bout between Wach and McBride is one of two title fights at Mohegan Sun; Former world-title challenger Elvin Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., will face Israel “Pito” Cardona (36-10, 28 KOs) of Hartford for the vacant WBC United States National Boxing Council (USNBC) middleweight title, a title once held by former world champions Paul “The Punisher” Williams and Lamont Peterson.

The undercard includes New Haven welterweight Edwin Soto (6-0-1, 2 KOs) battling Michael Denby (3-11-4, 2 KOs) of Felton, Del.; and undefeated heavyweight Artur Spzilka of Poland (5-0, 3 KOs) facing Philadelphia’s David Williams (6-4-1, 2 KOs). Cruiserweight Jose Torres of Springfield, Mass., will make his debut against fellow newcomer Pedro Rivera of Southbridge, Mass.; super middleweight Greg McCoy (2-3-1, 1 KO) of New Haven will fight in a separate four-round bout against Worcester’s Ralph Johnson (0-1); and super middleweight Keith Kozlin (6-2, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Woonsocket’s Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round intrastate showdown. The special attraction on July 29th will be an eight-round light middleweight bout featuring Worcester, Mass., veteran and former three-time world champion Jose Antonio Rivera (40-6-1, 24 KOs) against Paul Mpendo (7-7-4, 3 KOs) of Oregon. Junior welterweight Agustine Mauras (1-0, 1 KO) of Lawrence, Mass., will face rival Johnathan Vazquez (4-0, 3 KOs) of New Bedford, Mass., in a rematch of their amateur bout three years ago. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

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

Ayala, Cardona trade barbs in anticipation of title bout‏

Title town; Vacant belt up for grabs in Ayala-egan SunCardona showdown at Mohegan Sun

Elvin Ayala – known affectionately as “The Pride of New Haven” – plans on beating crosstown rival Israel “Pito” Cardona of Hartford, Conn., so convincingly that Cardona’s fans might reconsider their allegiance.

“People from Hartford are going to want to move to New Haven,” Ayala quipped.

Truth is, there’s more than just hometown pride on the line when Ayala and Cardona lock horns Friday, July 29th, 2011 in the co-main event of “Heat Wave,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville; the two are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Council U.S. National Boxing Council (WBC USNBC) middleweight title, a championship formerly held by some of boxing’s elite fighters in various divisions, most notably former two-time world champion Paul “The Punisher” Williams (39-2, 27 KOs), who won the WBC USNBC welterweight title in 2006 and went on to capture the World Boxing Organization’s welterweight and light middleweight titles in 2007 and 2008, respectively; and former WBO light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KOs), who also won the WBC USNBC light welterweight title in ’06. The list of former and current WBC USNBC champions also includes Worcester, Mass., super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez (18-0, 13 KOs), Providence, R.I., light heavyweight Joey “K.O. Kid” Spina (26-1-2, 18 KOs), and current North American Boxing Organization (NABO) champion and No. 7-ranked lightweight John Molina Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs).

“I’m taking the belt home,” said Cardona, who hasn’t fought since losing to Hector Camacho Jr. in 2009.

“There’s no way he’s beating me. He’s going to have to kill me. I don’t talk [trash]. I don’t even know who he is. He could be a great guy, but when that bell rings it’s a different story.”

Neither fighter in next month’s co-main event is a stranger to boxing’s biggest stage; Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs) fought current World Boxing Association (WBA) super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham for a world title in 2008 while the 36-year-old Cardona (36-10, 28 KOs) is a former two-time world champion in the super featherweight and light welterweight divisions, winning the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super featherweight title in 1995 with a unanimous-decision victory over Jeff Mayweather, and then capturing the organization’s light welterweight belt two years later by knocking out Steve Larrimore in Connecticut.

“I feel like it’s, ‘Here we go again!’” Ayala said. “I’ve been in this position before, but now it’s time for me to prove myself. I know [Cardona] is an older guy, but he’s well experienced. He’s been a world champion, so I know he has a lot of experience. I don’t want to make any mistakes. I’ve been looking better with each fight so far, so I want to do even better this time.”

While Ayala, 30, is in the midst of what could be his final run at another world-title opportunity, Cardona is taking what will surely be his last shot at adding a fifth title to his own resume; in addition to the two world championships he won in the ‘90s, Cardona is also a former United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight champion.

Though the records show Cardona lost a unanimous decision to Paul Spadafora in 1999 for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title, Cardona maintains he’s never lost a world-title bout on a level playing field, pointing to Spadafora’s arrest in 2003 for shooting his pregnant girlfriend as proof that his opponent “was on something” at the time of the fight. Two years later, Spadafora plead guilty to drug use charges and served additional jail time, though no link has ever been made between his drug use outside of the ring and his career inside the squared circle.

“When you mess around with drugs … you do stupid [things],” Cardona said.

Cardona also questioned the integrity of the IBF, which absorbed a serious blow in 1999 when former president Bob Lee resigned in the wake of racketeering and bribery charges, and claims he was “robbed” of a potential third world title.

“That’s another story for another time,” Cardona said. “Right now, I’m getting another title shot and it’s made me 10 times more motivated. I don’t lose title fights. You want me to fight for a title? Hell yeah! I’m soaking wet right now; I just worked out. I’m very excited. This is going to be a war.

“Guess what? My experience is definitely going to be a factor. I’ve been there. I’ve been with the best. I’ve been where he hasn’t gone. Nothing he brings will be a surprise to me. It’s going to be a fight, and it’ll come down to whoever wants it more.”

These days, facing Ayala is no easy task regardless of age. Since signing a promotional contract with CES, Ayala is 3-0 in 2011, including back-to-back knockout wins over Joe Gardner (April 1) and George Armenta (May 6). Working with newly-hired trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. has had a positive impact on Ayala’s preparation for this upcoming bout as he looks to continue his climb to the top of the rankings in the middleweight division.

“Not only is he saying the right thing, but with the way I feel when he speaks to me, I absorb everything a lot better than if it were coming from the average Joe,” Ayala said. “I trust a lot of what he’s saying. I could literally go in there with a blindfold on and have him tell me what to do and I would still win the fight.”

Cardona’s recent record is somewhat deceiving; while he’s lost his last four fights, he’s done so against elite competition, including a knockout loss to red-hot welterweight prospect Mike Jones (25-0, 19 KOs) and a unanimous-decision loss to Camacho Jr. (53-4-1, 28 KOs) for the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation title. Ayala is ignoring the numbers and heeding the advice of his peers.

“I few people I spoke to who have sparred against him say you can hit him with everything and he keeps coming forward,” Ayala said. “I’m not looking for a knockout; I’m just going to finesse it and put my skills on display. I’ve got OK pop, but my main thing is boxing. The goal is to hit him and not get hit.”

The undercard of “Heat Wave” features undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach (24-0, 12 KOs) starring in the second half of the co-main event, along with Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (3-0, 3 KOs) facing Russ Niggemyer (2-2, 2 KOs) of Hilliard, Ohio; New Haven welterweight Edwin Soto (6-0-1, 2 KOs) battling Jose Duran (6-5-2, 3 KOs) of Sarasota, Fla.; undefeated heavyweight Artur Spzilka of Poland (5-0, 3 KOs) facing Tobias Rice (3-3, 2 KOs) of Macon, Ga., and New Bedford, Mass., welterweight Johnathan Vazquez (4-0, 3 KOs) taking on Augustine Maurus of Lawrence, Mass., in Maurus’ debut. Cruiserweight Jose Torres of Worcester, Mass., will also make his debut, and super middleweight Keith Kozlin (6-2, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Woonsocket’s Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round intrastate showdown. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

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