CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS, RICHARD SCHAEFER; POUND-FOR-POUND KING FLOYD MAYWEATHER NAMED

CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS, RICHARD SCHAEFER,

NAMED 2013 PROMOTER OF THE YEAR 
BY SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

 

 

(Photo By; Keisha Morrisey)

POUND-FOR-POUND KING FLOYD MAYWEATHER NAMED

YAHOO SPORTS' 2013 FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

2013 was one of the best years boxing has had in recent memory, and as Sports Illustrated recapped the past 12 months, it honored Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer as the iconic publication's Promoter of the Year.

 

"This is obviously an unexpected award, but I'm very appreciative and honored," said Schaefer. "But I must point out that a single person can't do what Golden Boy Promotions has done in 2013, so I'd like to thank my staff, our fighters, our sponsors and TV partners for their continued support and efforts in 2013.   In the end, this is all about the fans of our great sport and I will continue to deliver the best fights and fighters to them in 2014 and beyond."

But that's not all, as pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather was named 2013's Fighter of the Year by Yahoo Sports.

"I am proud that my friend Floyd Mayweather has been voted as the Fighter of the Year by Yahoo," added Schaefer. "Floyd personifies that with hard work and dedication anything is possible. Together, we will continue to break records and elevate the great sport of boxing."   

Wrote Sports Illustrated boxing writer Chris Mannix of Schaefer,

"Even Schaefer's harshest critics will admit: It's been a good year for Golden Boy Promotions. Banished by HBO -- a decision based on Golden Boy's steering of many of its high profile fighters to Showtime -- Schaefer has been a driving force behind Showtime's transformation into a legitimate competitor to HBO. With a deep stable at his disposal, Schaefer has put together big fight after big fight, from Saul Alvarez-Austin Trout to Danny Garcia-Lucas Matthysse to Adrien Broner-Marcos Maidana. As Floyd Mayweather's co-promoter, Schaefer was instrumental in the biggest promotion of the year, Mayweather-Alvarez, a fight that generated 2.2 million pay per view buys and became the highest grossing ($150 million) pay-per-view fight of all time. With a young roster -- excluding 48-year-old Bernard Hopkins, who will try to become a unified titleholder next year -- Golden Boy has a bright future."

 

Veteran Yahoo Sports boxing scribe Kevin Iole was equally effusive in his praise of Mayweather, writing, "He's one of those guys who will be appreciated much more when he's gone than he is while he's still competing. But he's the best of the best, and he was the best of a very good crop of fighters in 2013. For that, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the 2013 Yahoo Sports Boxing Fighter of the Year."

♔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 Sports and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving World!

Help someone without. Let's always be thankful not just today but always.Stay blissed.

♔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 Sports and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Blog-Online Publication all rights reserved.

ShoBox & Mayweather Promotions: The New Generation tomorrow, Friday, July 19, live on SHOWTIME®

.

Two of Mayweather Promotions’ most talented boxers, lightweight Mickey “The Spirit” Bey Jr. and world-rated super middleweight Badou Jack, will try to keep their unbeaten records intact when they face John “The Gladiator” Molina Jr. and Far...ah “Quiet Storm” Ennis, respectively, in co-featured fights on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® this Friday, July 19 (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Joint At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

♔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

No Holds Barred: Almost Glorious, with Keisha Morrisey and Stephen Quadros

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with our correspondent Keisha Morrisey (http://twitter.com/KCMorrisey) and "The Fight Professor" Stephen Quadros (http://twitter.com/StephenQuadros).

 We were all at the Glory 9 kickboxing card, which took place Saturday, June 22, at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York.

Keisha Morrisey also shuttled between this event and the boxing card at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, headlined by the Adrien Broner-Paulie Malignaggi fight. This provided her an unparalleled opportunity to compare both live shows. Right after the fights, we had a short discussion with Stephen Quadros, who was a TV commentator for Glory 9, about the highs and lows of this card, including the three victories by Tyrone Spong to win the eight-man, light heavyweight tournament. We spoke with Keisha Morrisey Sunday by phone about how she evaluated these two events. "Just in walking into the Glory event, you automatically felt the illumination in the room, the energy of the fans. The music was beautiful, the ambiance, everything about the setting was right on point," she said in this interview. As far as the boxing at the Barclays Center, she added, "It's unreal the energy that you do not have at a boxing event there." We discussed why Glory 9 was by far the better event, the future of boxing and kickboxing in the combat sports world, and much more.

♔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.

Bernard Hopkins vs Karo Murat fight set for July 13 in Brooklyn

(photo of Bernard Hopkins; By Keisha Morrisey)

Light heavyweight titleholder Bernard Hopkins' first defense, which will come against mandatory challenger Karo Murat of Germany, will take place July 13 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com on Monday.

The fight, agreed to three weeks ago, did not have a set date other than being penciled in for sometime in July or August.

"The fight was made and we were looking for a date and we were holding July 13 at the Barclays Center for quite awhile for a fight," Schaefer said. "I talked to Murat's promoter, Chris Myer from Sauerland Event, and they are OK with the date and I talked to Bernard and he was OK with it also, so since everyone was fine with it why not get it done? So I am finalizing everything for that date in that building."

Schaefer said the fight will be televised on Showtime, with whom he said he is wrapping up a deal.

Philadelphia's Hopkins (53-6-2, 32 KOs) outpointed Tavoris Cloud on March 9 at the Barclays Center to claim his 175-pound belt and, at age 48, become the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title breaking his own record, which he set when he was 46 by outpointing Jean Pascal on Pascal's turf in Montreal to win a title.

"The people at the Barclays Center are excited to have Bernard Hopkins back and Bernard is excited to go back to the Barclays Center," Schaefer said. "He told me he is already training for the fight."

Murat (25-1-1, 15 KOs), 29, will be fighting in the United States for the first time.

Schaefer said that featherweight Gary Russell Jr., the 2011 ESPN.com prospect of the year who has been beset by injuries, will likely be on the televised undercard.

"We feel that Gary Russell is ready to take on anyone," Schaefer said. "We want to see who is available and who will take the fight. It's not easy to make a fight for Gary Russell because not too many people want to fight him."

The 24-year-old Russell (22-0, 13 KOs), a 2008 U.S. Olympian from Capitol Heights, Md., has faced very soft opposition throughout his pro career. In a shutout 10-round decision win against Russia's Vyacheslav Gusev in Las Vegas on March 2, Russell fractured his left hand. He missed significant time in 2012 because of an ankle injury.

♔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.

Ruslan Provodnikov is seen as a future rival Floyd Mayweather Jr.

(Photo of Floyd Money Mayweather By: Keisha Morrisey)

As it became known AllBoxing.Ru, the Russian boxer Ruslan Provodnikov is regarded as one of the potential contenders for pound for pound best American Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight, which is scheduled for September of this year and should be shown on Showtime PPV.  According to Ruslan AllBoxing.Ru manager Vadim Kornilov, “If such conversations do take place and, in his opinion, if a fight takes place, it will be just as entertaining and intriguing than the last fight Ruslan against American Timothy Bradley. "Of course we are interested in this fight - said in an interview with Vadim Kornilov on  AllBoxing.Ru. – “”herefore, if Floyd Mayweather will be the winner of a fight with Robert Guerrero, we are open to negotiations. I know very well Ruslan and I can confidently say that we dont avoid fights with the strongest contenders. He does not like to make loud statements and does not promise to beat all, knockout people or something like that. But, nevertheless, I want to remind you that few people gave him a chance to fight with one of the ten best P4P boxers in Timothy Bradley. What happened in the end - we've all seen. "

The manager does not believe that Ruslan will be a clear underdog in a fight with Mayweather, and, according to him, there is a compelling reason. "In the corner by Ruslan will be one of the best coaches and strategists of modern boxing Freddie Roach, and the whole training process is going to work with him one of the best teams in the world boxing - he recalled. - So my word that the fight with Mayweather can not get less entertaining and competitive than the fight with Timothy Bradley, who claimed this year's title of "Fight of the Year" is not mere statements, and knowledge of the situation from the inside. Ruslan is ready to give all of himself in training.  He is ready to show their best qualities in the ring.  He lives in boxing and will be incredibly motivated with the ability to fight the best boxers in the world. Give him the opportunity to fight the best, and he will use it one hundred percent. "

♔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, 2021, 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.

Juan Manuel Marquez to Face Timothy Bradley for Welterweight Title

(Photo (JMM) By; Keisha Morrisey)

Welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. and Mexican star Juan Manuel Marquez, both known for their history with Manny Pacquiao, are going to fight each other for Bradley's 147-pound world title, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com on Tuesday.

They are due to meet Sept. 14 -- Mexican Independence Day weekend, a date that usually is the target for a major fight involving a top Mexican boxer -- at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas in the main event of an HBO PPV card.

♔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, 2021, 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.

Too brutal for NY; Keep ‘ultimate fighting’ ban By MICHAEL E. BONGIORNO

In early March, the state Senate approved the legalization of professional Mixed Martial Arts bouts here, caving to lobbyists for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Let’s hope the Assembly refuses to go along: MMA is a brutal and barbaric pseudo-sport, the modern equivalent of Roman gladiatorial combat, with an audience screaming and howling at every blow and drop of blood.

Channel-surf on any night and you’re likely to come across an MMA fight, with all its kicking, punching and choking associated. I had the misfortune several years ago of briefly viewing a station carrying a match. In the 30 seconds I watched, I saw a fighter’s forehead split open with a gaping, bloody wound that extended from his scalp to his eyebrow. That was enough to convince me that this “sport” has no place in my life, and should have no place in any civilized society.

REUTERS

This doesn’t even show the blood: Daniel Sarafian (r) of Brazil fighting C.B. Dollaway of the United States in a UFC match in Sao Paulo earlier this year.

At least two professional MMA fighters have died as a result of injuries sustained in the ring/cage.

Today’s steroid-driven athletes are bigger, stronger and more dangerous than ever before. The human body can’t absorb the blows delivered by 6-foot-5, 250-pound hockey player or a 6-foot-7, 340-pound defensive tackle without suffering severe trauma. That’s why so much has been written about concussions and head trauma among former NHL and NFL players.

But in MMA, the whole objective is to pound, kick or choke an opponent into unconsciousness.

How can we teach our children that gratuitous violence has no place in society, when every day they are bombarded with violence — with the most brutal contestants lauded as victors and heroes? Evidently, the Republican Conference in the state Senate has the answer: It supports legalization because New York can make money off this misery.

According to a self-serving study cited by the UFC, a MMA event in New York City would employ 300 people and produce $11.5 million in net economic activity. In the view of the Senate Republicans, we should sell our communal soul to the devil and debase our culture for this 30 pieces of silver.

Depictions of violence are commonplace and glorified in America. Yet “experts” and pundits profess it a mystery as to why our children and so many adults resort to violence to solve their everyday grievances, frustrations and problems.

Well, it’s not a mystery to me. From rap music to violent movies to MMA beatings, one message is clear: Brutality is acceptable, especially if it is profitable.

And it has all desensitized many citizens, especially youngsters, to the horror of actual violent crime.

After more than 30 years as a prosecutor, I strive to avoid violence at every turn. I’ve too often seen the horror and damage wrought by guns, knives, bludgeons, fists and feet. It is the “real life” extension of the brutality seen in MMA contests, where fighters risk life and limb with little financial guarantee except for a “per fight” payment.

Although I’m no longer a prosecutor, I still see the faces of victims who were killed or seriously injured by senseless violence. So please forgive me if I’m not entertained by the sight of two human beings battering each other into unconsciousness — all to support a business whose revenues are close to half a billion dollars.

The senators who voted to legalize MMA have voted to degrade our society. Maintaining core cultural values and high moral standards is less important to them than a $5,000 campaign contribution and a few tax dollars.

I pray that the Assembly does the right thing and relegates this legislation to the scrap heap where it belongs. If not, I hope Gov. Cuomo has the moral sense to veto it.

Michael E. Bongiorno was Rockland County district attorney from 1995 to 2007.

♔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.

Senator Lee Zeldin speaks on Mixed Martial Arts Legislation in Senate Session

♔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.

Mike Tyson Has Heavyweight Tax Problems

AccountingWeb |

(Photo By: Keisha Morrisey)

♔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.

TYSON FURY IN HEATED ARGUMENT WITH NAZIM RICHARDSON

During a press conference to officially announce the NBC broadcast of the Tyson Fury vs. Steve Cunningham fight, which is scheduled to take place the afternoon of April 20th at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, a heated exchange ensued between Fury and Cunningham. The photo above clearly captures the continued antagonism that took place during the customary post press conference face off photo session. There is no love lost between the two heavyweight contenders. The unplanned press conference exchange set the stage perfectly for the battle to come.



♔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.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

♔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.

Bernard Hopkins Wins in a Walk

The Boxing Standard‏

Bernard Hopkins Wins in a Walk

By Eddie Goldman

(Photos By; Keisha Morrisey)

It must be strange to be one of Bernard Hopkins's opponents at the end of a twelve round fight. You're not hurt in any way. You've spent forty six minutes in the ring with a guy who's slow, who doesn't hit very hard, who doesn't give you much movement, and who looks to the referee for help even when no infraction against him has been committed. You're bigger and stronger than he is. You punch a lot harder. You look to be in better shape than Bernard, who, although a world class trainer, is beginning to have an old man body. But somehow you didn't do any of the things that you normally do in a fight, any of the things that you know you can do. You realize that you lost the fight; there's no sense of having been robbed by the judges. And so you wonder, “How did this old guy keep me from fighting my fight?”

Bernard Hopkins only needed to do four or five simple (okay, maybe not simple; no one else seems to know how to do them anymore) things to beat the programmed to do two things only robot Tavoris Cloud. It took Bernard exactly zero seconds to figure out what those things were. And since young fighters are brought to titles these days before they actually know how to fight, Hopkins had his new title in the bag the moment the bell rang.Here's what he did:  He kept Cloud off balance by walking to his (Hopkins's) right, while poking out the jab (which he didn't worry about landing). This allowed him a free right hand (which he was careful to land) all night long. He made sure to have the final slow word in every exchange, which made Cloud worry about exchanging, even though he wasn't getting hurt. He inveigled Cloud into a game of quid pro quo, inviting him to see who was the better fighter at the “you hit me, I hit you” game, which, since Hopkins is an accurate puncher, allowed him to barely have to throw any punches in order to win rounds.

Bernard Hopkins was allowed to lounge around in his living room all night. He might just as well have been wearing bedroom slippers. He's now within challenging range to Archie Moore as boxing's greatest ever near fifty year old.

♔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.

Legendary scribe and sportscaster,Dr.M.Lee"Doc"Stanley returns to the airwaves once again with his renowned and legendary radio show,the award winning,''Sports In Depth''.

Doc and his iconic posse,"Cincinnati C-Wings'' Raymond,Mel''Cosell'' Smith Jr., AKA''Lil Coco'', Dusty-H-Rap Brown X-Lois Jr.,Nate"B-Baseball" Berger,''Double Barrel" Harold Weston Jr.,"The Cisco Kid" and the first lady of,''Sports In Depth" the lovely and legendary,"Lady K- Keisha Morrisey,on Blog/Talk radio on the*TRUST*N*GOD* 

And as par for the course we visit the TRUST*IN*GOD*Entertainment-Artifacts Museum.

                      TRUST*IN*GOD*

Listen to internet radio with Sports In Depth on Blog Talk Radio

♔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.

Is This the Year For Mixed Martial Arts in New York?

The annual debate over New York's ban on professional mixed martial arts started anew this week, with a state Senate committee moving a bill to overturn it one step closer to a vote Thursday.

Officials from Ultimate Fighting Championship, the combat sport's largest promoter, are again optimistic that this is their year, buoyed by a number of fresh faces in the state Assembly and the retirement of their fiercest legislative critic, Albany-area Assemblyman Bob Reilly.

Lorenzo Fertitta, CEO and chairman of UFC parent company Zuffa LLC, said he's "optimistic" the ban may be lifted after several years of lobbying New York lawmakers to no avail. The Senate has voted each of the last two years to rescind the ban and allow the state Athletic Commission to regulate the sport, but Assembly Democrats have kept it from a floor vote.

Fertitta is scheduled to travel to Albany next week to make his case in person.

"We've spent the last five years educating legislators," Fertitta said in an interview Wednesday with Gannett's Albany Bureau. "We're hopeful that we have momentum because we put in a lot of time and energy and there's a lot of new, younger members as part of this legislative group."

But opponents of mixed-martial arts appear to be bolstering their efforts, as well. A letter signed by labor-backed organizations and faith groups was sent Wednesday to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, urging him to reject the sport they refer to as "cage fighting."

The letter -- signed by Working Families Party executive director Dan Cantor and Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition executive director Michael Feinberg, among others -- cited the Newtown school shooting as a reason to reject mixed martial arts.

"In the wake of the tragic mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, it is unthinkable that lawmakers in any jurisdiction would risk exposing our children to an activity that involves extreme violence and brutality," the letter reads.

The letter was distributed to the media by a research analyst for the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, a Las Vegas labor group that has unsuccessfully pushed for unionized workers at Station Casinos, a chain of casinos majority-owned by Fertitta and his brother.

UFC officials have suggested the labor dispute has led the union and its umbrella organization -- UNITE HERE -- to lobby against mixed martial arts in New York. UNITE HERE, which also signed onto the letter to Silver, has said their concerns are rooted in how UFC treats its fighters.

"It's frustrating," Fertitta said. "They're taking a Las Vegas issue and they're bringing it into New York state politics, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense."

The Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation voted 11-3 early Thursday to move the bill to the Finance Committee. From there, it would head to the Rules Committee, its final stop before a full Senate vote.

♔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.

Paulie Malignaggi: I WILL Be Fighting In Abu Dhabi, Against Either Chaves or Soto

With the news breaking, that the negotiations between promoter Johnny Eames’ Showtime Sports Events (SSE) promotional outfit and WBA Interim Welterweight Champion Diego Chaves’ camp have been terminated, it seemed inevitable that the proposed title clash between the Argentinian and WBA Welterweight King, Brooklyn, New York’s Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi would no longer take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE in May. (Photo By; Keisha Morrisey)

However, following various transatlantic phone calls over the past thirty six hours, between SSE’s Managing Director, Gianluca Di Caro, and Paulie Malignaggi’s lawyer, Steven Bash, the mouthwatering clash, between the WBA’s top ranked Welterweight pairing remains a possibility for the Gulf state's inaugural World Championship event.

The deal clincher came after Gianluca Di Caro agreed to SSE continuing their pursuit of Chaves, by participating in the March 11^th WBA ordered purse bids.

In return Paulie Malignaggi agreed that should their quest be unsuccessful, that he would be just as happy to fight four weight World Champion, Tijuana, Mexico’s Humberto Soto in an equally mouthwatering WBF/WBA unification battle on May 18th.

On his arrival in Las Vegas, where on Saturday evening he will be color commentating on WBA Lightweight World Champion Richard ‘El Tigre’ Abril’s first defense of his Crown against Sharif ‘The Lion’ Bogere at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Paulie Malignaggi stated.

“The opportunity to fight in Abu Dhabi excites me. 

I am a fighter always searching for new challenges and goals and winning the WBF welterweight title along with defending my WBA welterweight title in a historic place like Abu Dhabi would be a huge feather in my hat. 

I feel like boxing could have a new city to hold mega fights and events and if by me fighting there I could be a part of that, well that is just the kind of situation I look for and it motivates me to strive to continue to be the best. 

Whether the opportunity comes from Showtime Sports Events winning the purse bid or from possibly an opponent change to Humberto Soto it still remains an exciting situation for me as both of those guys are warriors and would be worthy opponents.”

Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi, against either Diego Chaves or Humberto Soto, for the WBF and WBA World Welterweight Championships, will headline a World Class evening of professional boxing at the Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on May 18^th.

Co-headlining sees IBF Flyweight World Champion, South Africa’s Moruti ‘Babyface’ Mthalane competing against Filipino super star Sonny Boy Jaro for the vacant WBF Flyweight title.

Supporting the exciting double header sees at least two further World Championship bouts, including WBF Light Welterweight Champion Zolani Marali defending his coveted Crown against mandatory challenger, WBF Interim title holder, Tijuana, Mexico’s Antonio ‘Cañitas’ Lozada Jr.

At least one further World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Championship bout is expected to announced shortly.

The final Championship bout of the night features former British and IBO World Champion Colin Lynes battling it out with Poland’s EBU-EU Champion Rafal Jackiewicz for the vacant WBF Inter-Continental Welterweight title, as well as earn the right to challenge the winner of Malignaggi – Chaves or Soto for the World title later in the year.

Supporting the sensational feature Championship bouts will see four future World Champions in action - two time Lithuanian National Amateur Heavyweight Champion Paulius Kasiulevicius, exciting Turkish Light Heavyweight Onder Ozgu, Albanian Middleweight Festim Lama and sensational London, UK based Saudi Light Welterweight Zouhair Siddiq, a highly exciting young prospect who was not only selected for the Beijing Olympics (unable to compete due to injury) but also won the prestigious London ABAs.

♔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.

THOMAS DULORME OPPONENT NAMED COMPLETE CARD ANNOUNCED FOR DBE'S UPCOMING BROADWAY BOXING CARD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 - ROSELAND BALLROOM, NYC‏

Next Thursday, February 21, DiBella Entertainment's (DBE) Broadway Boxing series returns to the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, with an action-packed nine-bout card headlined by the return of highly regarded WBA #10 junior welterweight Thomas Dulorme (16-1, 12KO's) taking on Eddie Brooks (9-3, 3KO's) in an eight-round matchup, held at a catch weight of 143lbs.

Also featured on the card in separate eight-round bouts will be red-hot lightweight prospect Ivan Redkach (13-0, 11KO's) and WBA #11-rated welterweight Charlie Ota (21-1-1, 15KO's). Ota will square off against Abel Perry (18-6, 9KO's), while Redkach is set to take on hard-hitting Sergio Rivera (27-10-2, 17KO's).(Photo By; Keisha Morrisey)

Fighting in separate bouts will be DBE's next generation of promising future prospects, NY Golden Gloves champions "The Notorious" Travis Peterkin (6-0, 3KO's), Patrick "All" Day (1-0, 1KO) and Louis Cruz (1-0, 1KO). Peterkin is set to challenge Thomas Turner (3-2, 2KO's) in a six-round light heavyweight matchup, Day will meet Dominique Foster (1-1-1) in a four-round junior middleweight matchup and Cruz will see action in a four-round junior welterweight matchup against Demond Brock (3-1, 2KO's). 

Making his much-anticipated pro debut on the card will be 19-year-old 2012 Ecuadorian Olympian and 2011 Pan-American Heavyweight Champion Ytalo Perea as he squares off against Excell Holmes (2-1-1, 1KO) in a four-round heavyweight special attraction.

Making his second straight appearance on a DBE-promoted card will be Brooklyn's Neuky Santelises (3-0, 2KO's) as he looks to up his record to a perfect 4-0 when he takes on Denis Madriz (0-0-1) in a four-round junior lightweight contest.  Santelises last saw action on the DBE-promoted card at BB King Blues Club in January, where he scored a devastating one-punch highlight-reel knockout over Juan Javier Guerrero.

Rounding out the card is Brooklyn's fan-favorite Keisher McLeod-Wells (5-2, 1KO) facing Canadian National Amateur Champion Jacqueline Hart (1-0) in a six-round female flyweight showdown.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com, and Everlast.  The event will be broadcast live on broadband through GFL.TV.  SNY will broadcast the event tape-delayed.  Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000.  Tickets are priced at $125, $85, $65 and $45 and may also be purchased at the door the night of the event. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. 

 ♔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.

Floyd Mayweather goes on his facebook and twitter pages to say this:

The negotiations for my fight are almost done. The front runner is IBF Champion Devon Alexander. It'd be a unification bout at welterweight. Kell Brook must be worried by this statement!  (Photo by Keisha Morrisey)



♔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.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM BLOODLINE BOXING COMMUNICATIONS & EL Boxing Empress Keisha

♔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.

No Holds Barred: Paul Paone on 2012 MMA World Expo

♔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.