Legendary Internet Street Fighter Kimbo Slice, Exciting, Hard Hitting MMA Bad Boy Tank Abbott and Shaw will discuss “EliteXC Presents STREET CERTIFIED

Legendary Internet Street Fighter Kimbo Slice, Exciting, Hard Hitting MMA Bad Boy Tank Abbott and Shaw will discuss “EliteXC Presents STREET CERTIFIED: Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott’’ -- and the entire EliteXC Mixed Martial Arts mega-event on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast. In what figures to be a slugfest for as long as it lasts, Kimbo, of Perrine, Fla., and Abbott, of Huntington Beach, Calif., will clash in a highly anticipated main event on a card that also will feature one of the world’s top heavyweights, Antonio “Big Foot’’ Silva, of Coconut Grove, Fla.



In other bouts, highly regarded British heavyweight James "The Colossus" Thompson faces unbeaten Brett Rogers of Minneapolis, Edson Berto, of Tampa, Fla., meets Yves Edwards of Conroe, Tex., and Australian Kyle “KO’’ Noke, the bodyguard of the late Steve “Crocodile Hunter’’ Irwin, takes on Scott Smith, of Sacramento, Calif. Charles “Krazy Horse’’ Bennett, of Ocala, Fla., who owns a knockout victory over EliteXC 160-pound world champion KJ Noons, will be opposed by a foe to be announced in a top, non-televised undercard match.

It will be the second professional MMA fight for Kimbo, the legendary Internet street fighter and YouTube sensation who scored a smashing 19-second, first-round knockout in his Street-to-Elite debut. “With these hands I can part the sea. With these hands I feed the family,’’ Kimbo said.

Tank, of Huntington Beach, Calif., is a feared knockout artist and notorious bad boy and trash-talker. A veteran who has never turned down a fight, Tank has called out Kimbo on numerous occasions, including after Kimbo’s EliteXC and MMA debut in November. Tank is supremely confident he will send home Kimbo and his fans unhappy.

Opening Comments:

SHAW: Thank you for being on this conference call with me, with Kimbo and the Huntington Beach (Calif.) Bad Boy, Tank Abbott. We also have Ken Hershman from SHOWTIME with us.

Gary Shaw


This is going to be a great, great event in Florida on Feb. 16.

I want to thank Ken, and I want to thank SHOWTIME for putting this on the air on premium cable. It was originally scheduled to be on pay‑per‑view. But thanks to Kimbo and Tank … it's not all about ripping off fans, it's about giving the fans some great fights on television.

We're really excited about this card. Besides Kimbo and Tank, we have Antonio “Big Foot’’ Silva, who I believe may be the best heavyweight in the world. Kimbo tells me that's not so, but that time will come for him as well. Kimbo’s got a big fight. He's got to get past Tank Abbott with a big reputation and a big punch.

We're really, really excited about this event. It's going to be a great promotion. It's at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. Doors will open at 6 p.m. (ET), fights will go on at 7 p.m.

Tickets are from $35 up to $700. I appreciate everyone being on the call. I'm going to turn it over to Kimbo to say a few words. Then I'm going to turn it over to Tank to say a few words, and we'll get right to your questions.

It is my pleasure at this time to not only bring up the YouTube internet sensation, but the guy that went from the streets to Elite. Two guys that are not only cage tested, but they're street certified, (first) Kimbo Slice.

Photos: Esther Lin/For ProElite, Inc. and TOM CASINO/ELITEXC

KIMBO: What's up?



SHAW: Tell them whatever you want.

KIMBO: That's it.

SHAW: That's it. I hope you heard that, Tank. He said that's it for you and the reporters. So, Tank, take it away.

TANK: I'll tell you what's up. Kimbo's going to be on his back. This fight is going to last about as long as his interview opening did. ‘What's up’ is about how long it's going to take for him to end up on his back knocked out.



KIMBO: Did you have a 6‑pack or 12‑pack before you said something?

TANK: I don't drink beer. I can afford vodka.

KIMBO: OK, even better

SHAW: Tank, do you honestly believe you're going to knock Kimbo out?

TANK: I don't see it going any other way. I can do anything I want to him, but what fun is that? I like to knock people out.

SHAW: Do you think it's a short fight or do you think it's going to take a couple of rounds?

TANK: Doesn't matter. I can go 15 minutes holding my breath standing on my head. So it could be the 14th minute or the first minute, whenever he runs into one.

SHAW: How do you feel about fighting in Kimbo's hometown?

TANK: I kind of like that. I don't like beating up people in my hometown. I like to go to their hometown, so they can see what they're all about.

KIMBO: You better wear a pad with that cup, because I'm going to have you (blanking) blood, homie.

TANK: That sounds good. That's what it's all about.

QUESTION: Kimbo, what's it feel like to be fighting in your hometown in a sanctioned fight in front of what figures to be a sellout crowd on a SHOWTIME telecast that begins at 10 p.m.?

KIMBO: It's going to be different for me. I'm cool with it and I'm comfortable with it. I'm comfortable at the crib, so I'm looking forward to it.

QUESTION: Tank, how did you get your nickname?

TANK: When I was stomping around in the streets, they didn't have anything such as an MMA or cage fighting or anything like that. I showed up at the steps of the Ultimate Fighting and said, ‘Hey, I want to fight.’ And they said you have to be a black belt or something like that.

I said I just got out of jail for beating somebody up, in fact, a cop's son. Isn't this supposed to be about fighting? And they said, yeah, but you've got to have some kind of a black belt or something. And I said that's not what I'm about. I'm about fighting in the streets.

They called me a couple days later and said we came up with this thing called Tank Abbott. It's from the “Every Which Way But Loose’’ movie from Clint Eastwood. There is a guy in there, who’s a street fighting legend by the name of Tank Murdock, and Clint went and fought him.

But that's where the Tank came from. I've been stomping the streets for a long time. I tell you one thing, if Kimbo was back in my era, stomping around Orange County, Calif., he would have been long gone a long time ago.

KIMBO: So you didn't earn your name, your name was given to you out of grace?

TANK: Everybody gets their name given to them. I guess it's earned if you're a street fighting legend and you're a Tank. I guess somebody does give it to you.

QUESTION: Tank, you fought some of the best people in the world in their prime. What level of fighter do you think Kimbo is?

TANK: I will give him his props. Kimbo goes out there, he's tough, he's got (guts) and he's got heart. Those are things you can't teach. But I've been swinging around wrestling rooms for over 30 years and I've been in boxing gyms for over 20, and I've been in the street a lot longer than that. You can never tell. All you can say is that Kimbo is a tough man as far as his heart and his (guts) and his mind, but I don't know how polished he is. So I can't give you an answer on that one.

QUESTION: Kimbo, do you want to comment on that? You're newer to mixed martial arts as an organized sport, even though you have the street fighting background so why do you think you're ready to take on somebody like Tank who has been around and been in with the best for so long?

KIMBO: I'll take on anybody. Everybody says I'm the new kid on the block or whatever. But it's the era. Being street certified mixed with MMA, Tae Kwon Do, Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing and wrestling. You combine that and you're going to have a type of fighter like myself. I'm not one‑dimensional. Whatever anybody wants to do, I'm down to do. You want to take it to the ground, let's take it to the ground. You want to stand up, let's stand up. I'm down for that. That's my thing, that's what I'm about. That's how I live. That's my life. I don't even see Tank. I'm seeing through him.



TANK: See, that's the kind of thing I'm talking about. Those are the kind of things you can't learn. That's not technique, that's why I can't wait to step in the ring with him.

QUESTION: Tank, do you expect this fight to go out of the first round?

TANK: I don't have any expectations; I don't know about Kimbo.

QUESTION: Kimbo, any expectations in how long you think this is going to go?

KIMBO: No, I don't have any either.

QUESTION: Is there any possibility, has it entered your mind, that Abbott has simply too much experience for you?

KIMBO: I kind of look at it like a chick that does porn. Just because she did 100 porn scenes, that doesn't mean I'm going to be afraid to [be with] her. I'm going to still get that [girl]. That's how I look at it.

QUESTION: Tank, you fought twice in 2007, once in 2006 and twice in 2005: When you're not fighting, what do you do?

TANK: My hobby is drinking. I like to have as much fun as I can. When I'm training, I train. But I like to have fun also. I like to hang out at the bars and write the book that I'm doing.

QUESTION: You're doing a book right now?

TANK: I've already got it written. It's about 676 pages. I'm pecking away on it, putting it on a computer. It's got some good stuff in it. It's about my days when I was stomping in the streets about 12, 13, 14 years ago when the whole MMA scene came about.

QUESTION: Tank, was your era on the streets so much tougher than Kimbo’s?

TANK: Because there was no referee and there were no people walking around watching it. When you entered into a fight you assumed the risk to die. You didn't have to worry about somebody as a referee stepping in and saving it. Like I said, I've got well over 200 street fights under my belt.



QUESTION: Your response to that, Kimbo?

KIMBO: I was smelling chicken and looking at the food. I wasn't paying Tank any attention.

QUESTION: Gary, Gina Carano was originally supposed to be on the card. She dropped off. Can you tell us what happened as far as her participation in this show?

SHAW: Sure, we wanted her to be on the show. She was training for American Gladiators, and at this point she wasn't ready to compete on this date.

QUESTION: Is there any concern on your end as far as her other activities interfering with her fight career? Is that something you've talked to her about?

SHAW: No, we have a long‑term contract with Gina. It was a great opportunity for her to be on “American Gladiators’’ and be “Crush,’’ and I think it will help her career. As soon as they're done with all the meetings they have to do, all the PR appearances -- she was just on "The Today Show" two days ago -- she'll be ready to fight.

She wasn't ready in February. Hopefully, she'll be ready for our big March 29 card in San Jose.

QUESTION: Gary, a question (regarding) the back and forth you've had with Dana White, the conversation you had and then he had with Yahoo Sports. Have you had a chance to read that commentary from Dana, and do you have any other reaction to him?

SHAW: Look, no, truthfully I haven't read it. Though a lot of people have called me (about it). All I'm saying is, and I've said it all along, there is a differentiator. If you fight for the UFC, you can't be bigger than Dana White and the UFC. If you fight for EliteXC, as a fighter, you're bigger than Gary Shaw. It's about the fighter. It's not about me. Whether it's Kimbo, who was signed to us, or any other fighter, I believe we represent some of the greatest fighters in the world. I believe that Antonio “Big Foot” Silva could knock out any heavyweight in the UFC.

Now, I'm not disparaging the UFC. They have some great fighters and great fights. They have a good brand. They do a good job marketing their brand, but they don't own MMA. They don't own the space. They have a brand. You know what, if you hold up the belt there, all you are is the club champion. Until Dana White is willing to fight his fighters against other brands, all they are club champions.

I extend the challenge and always have ‑ it's like Kimbo, you want to fight him? Call us up, you can come in the cage and fight him. You want to fight Jake Shields, fight Jake Shields. We're proud of the people we represent. Robbie Lawler, I could go down the whole roster.
But for Dana White to try to convince the fans that he owns all of the best fighters in the world? To say that this is just a starting point for fighters and then they're going to go to UFC? He is full of (poop). Let him fight our fighters.

I’ll tell you what, let's do some fights winner‑take‑all. Let's put up a million dollars purse. Let's pick a weight. Let's really get it on for the fans. When he's ready to do that, then give me a call.

QUESTION: Kimbo, your last fight out you finished it so quickly we didn't get to see a whole lot. Are you looking forward to showing everybody your ground skills and what you've been working on?

KIMBO: Yes, I'm dying for that. I'm dying to get the opportunity to show off a little stuff. I've got a lot of tools in my arsenal now. I'm not afraid to use them. I'm getting to the point where it's second nature. I'm just excited to be where I am, to get to bang‑up Tank and make a good future and a good name for myself.



QUESTION: Kimbo, what does it mean to have your second fight in EliteXC take place in your backyard where the fans are going to be going crazy for you?

KIMBO: It's exciting. But I'm not letting it get to me because I've got a bigger fish to fry.

QUESTION: Kimbo, how has the transition been going from street fighting to MMA, coupled with your rising popularity, gone for you?

KIMBO: It's really hard. It's more skilled fighters and better fighters. I'm proving myself now, because people feel like the guys that I fought were pretty much nobody's. But you never know what another guy has. You never know what type of skill the next man has. If a guy's willing to fight you, that says a lot. He's sure about himself. You can't take that from anybody. Like every fight, the best man's going to win. Whoever trains the hardest and wants it more is going to win. That's what it's about for me.

QUESTION: Kimbo, where did you get your nickname?

KIMBO: Kimbo has been my name since I was a kid. That's my child given name. Slice was an internet given name from my very first fight. And Slice was a given name I earned from the streets.

TANK: So they gave that to you?

KIMBO: It was earned.

QUESTION: Gary, why did EliteXC decide to go to Florida for this event? Was it specifically because of Kimbo being from there? Could Florida be a frequent stop for you guys?

SHAW: Great question. Let me try to tell you why I went to Florida: K-I-M-B-O. I believe that Kimbo's going to be a giant, giant star -- although I know Tank Abbott feels differently and feels that he's going to be the one with the success.

I thought Florida was a natural place. We looked at several different locations in Florida. I wanted to stay near where Kimbo's home and home base is. The University of Miami has a great arena. It's the right size. I think Florida is a hot bed for MMA from Tampa, St. Petersburg all the way down. I just thought it was the right venue at the right time. SHOWTIME agreed it was the right venue at the right time, and that's how we wound up there.

If we draw well enough, we'll be back. We expect a sellout crowd. We're looking at the American Airlines Arena as well for another fight. We've also looked at the Hard Rock and the St. Pete Times Forum. Florida is a place that EliteXC is going to hang their hat, absolutely.

QUESTION: Kimbo, you said that you're looking through Tank. Does that mean you're looking forward to your next match after him?

KIMBO: Yeah, pretty much. I'm preparing for whatever. I've trained for Tank a long time, preparing for his style. I know just the type of fighter he is: aggressive, hitting hard and just coming at you. I've trained well for that. I'm pretty much prepared to take Tank out. I'm going to change my name from Kimbo to Blackhawk because only a Blackhawk chopper can destroy a Tank.

QUESTION: If you're looking past Tank, is Sean Gannon possibly one of the guys you're looking at?

KIMBO: Who? Sean Gannon? Is that even an option?

SHAW: Anything you want to do is an option.

KIMBO: I'm down for that. I want to do that bare knuckle. That fight's owed to me. I want that more than anything.

SHAW: Yes, it is a possibility. One thing that I like about this fight, it went from just an MMA fight to being personal. The reason this fight got made so quickly is Kimbo said that ‘I want Tank. I trained for a pay‑per‑view fight, I want that fight back.’ If Sean is the one that Kimbo wants and there is a score to be settled ‑‑ then we'll go out as a company that represents Kimbo and we'll do everything in our power to make that fight. But you know my career in boxing. I think Kimbo knows this better than anybody, and I'm sure Tank knows this as an ultimate professional. You better take care of business on Feb. 16.

QUESTION: Is Tank signed beyond this fight?

SHAW: Yes, we have options on Tank.

QUESTION: Tank, didn't you call Kimbo out after his fight in Atlantic City?

TANK: I don't know if you'd call that a fight. But, yeah, that's what it's all about. Like I said, he's a street warrior, I'm a street warrior. It's a matter of time before we meet up. I was ready to meet up right then and there. But as it is, we're going to meet up with SHOWTIME and EliteXC in Miami on Feb. 16.

QUESTION: How much had you heard of Kimbo before the fight in Atlantic City with Ray Mercer?

TANK: Not that much. I think his name came up a couple of times. I checked him out on the internet for maybe something that lasted 20 seconds, and then I went to the bar.

QUESTION: Have you been impressed with anything you've seen from Kimbo in either of his two fights?

TANK: I haven't really seen his last fight. The fight with Mercer, I mean, not really.

QUESTION: You’ve both been in lots of street fights, some for money. How did you manage that? Who kept that under control for people to get paid after it was done?

KIMBO: I'll pass on that.

TANK: One time I had this guy who wanted to fight, and he was crying about the money. I said we can fight in a warehouse. He said who is going to hold the money, this is going to turn into a circus. I said, ‘you show me your money, I'll show you mine. You put it in the front pocket, after I knock you out, I'll take it.’ He didn't show up.

QUESTION: Kimbo, you’re in a movie called "Blood and Bone.’’ Can you tell us anything about it?

KIMBO: What do you want to know?

QUESTION: What is your role in it? How was the experience?

KIMBO: It was cool. The experience was OK. I got my SAG card.



QUESTION: Gary, Tank and Kimbo were supposed to happen last year in Atlantic City, and it fell through and disappointed a lot of people. Last weekend, we had Rico Rodriguez versus Mike Howell that was signed and not delivered. Is it an interest of yours, and will you potentially pick up this fight of interest?

SHAW: I don't know if it's a fight that we pick up. But we currently have Rico Rodriguez. He is signed to our brand. He's a fighter that we would definitely use. He's on our radar, for sure. It's unfortunate that card went under. People don't realize how many cards fail in the MMA world due to different things. I'm proud that every EliteXC card that we've ever said we'd put on we do put on. But, yes, there were fighters on that card we'd be very interested in. Maybe some who were in this office yesterday.

QUESTION: Other than the UFC, you're the only other promoter in MMA history to have Tank Abbott and Ken Shamrock under the same promotional banner at the same time. Their rivalry dates back years and it is well publicized. You like to have ‘personal’ fights for your shows. Are you planning a fight between the two of them?

SHAW: If it's personal, it will go. As long as there are real personal rivalries and real fights, and we can give the SHOWTIME audience real fights. You know, Tank, I have a lot of respect for you; taking on Ken and Kimbo in the same call.

TANK: It's safe from a phone distance, right? Sounds like most of the guys in the MMA will. But I'll step up.

SHAW: We know you'll step up and that's why you're going on SHOWTIME against Kimbo. The same reason I put you in against Ken and also put Kimbo in against Ken.

TANK: Sounds good.

SHAW: Maybe eventually you and Kimbo can face Frank and Ken in a tag team match.

TANK: Now you're talking.

SHAW: There you go.

QUESTION: Tank, not to take away from your fight with Kimbo, but you and Ken had a lot of heat in the past. Has it cooled off? Is this guy still your nemesis? Do you still want this one?

TANK: Ken is the antithesis of me. You run around and show your legs and act like you're a superstar, when all you are is a clown. I like to go out and fight and I really don't care. I don't need everything to be right or wrong or just perfect. I don't need to walk around like I'm a superstar. I'm just myself when I cruise around. I don't need to make waves.

He's the kind of guy that would go into a restaurant and say, ‘Do you know who I am? Go tell the person that I'm here.’ I just hide in the back and don't care.

QUESTION: Tank, can you speak about Kimbo’s internet legacy?

TANK: Believe it or not, I don't have a computer. Actually, I got one for my book, but I'm not hooked up to the internet. So I really don't follow that stuff. Most of the people on the internet are a bunch of bozos that want to talk a bunch of smack. Probably if you could reach through the internet lines, you'd find a 16‑year‑old kid that hasn't been able to shave and he's telling you, hey, I can beat you up.

QUESTION: With Tank you're facing a guy, a legendary pioneer in the sport of MMA, original UFC bad boy. What does the fight with him mean to you?

KIMBO: It means a whole lot to me. Unlike him, I've been watching Tank since I was a shorty. It sparked my interest from growing up banging from that time. So to fight a guy like him means a lot to me. That's why I can't lose and I won't lose. Losing is not an option, especially to Tank. Beating Tank means a whole lot to me, and I'm looking forward to this fight.

I just think Feb. 16 is a tad bit too long. But I've got to be patient. I've waited this long, you know, it's all good.

TANK: Sounds like (when) Cabbage (Correira said) I (was going) to pass the torch off to him. Only thing I'm passing off to Kimbo is a knockout.

KIMBO: I ain't Cabbage, I'm Kimbo.

TANK: Who are you?

SHAW: Maybe you guys want to fight tonight?

KIMBO: I'm down for that.

QUESTION: This year, EliteXC has announced three shows so far and a lot more planned. Can you tell us what your philosophy is and your view is in positioning EliteXC?

SHAW: I know we'll be profitable because my mother and father are backing me. But on a serious note, EliteXC is all about the fighter. It's a fighter‑friendly company. We care about the safety and welfare of every fighter that we represent. We have, probably, the biggest mixed martial arts library in the world today. We have several brands around the country. We have a huge internet play that is an important part of the company that works for the fighters and works for the fans.

We have a contract with SHOWTIME where we'll have roughly 14 fights on SHOWTIME, and millions of eyes this year. We have King of the Cage, a brand in the United States, probably doing more fights than any other brand in the United States. We'll do over 40 fights. And Cage Rage in England, and Icon and Rumble World, and Spirit MC, which will allow us, like on our Jan. 25 fight card, to bring Paul Daley from England and put him on SHOWTIME in the U.S.

It will give us an opportunity to bring Kimbo this year over to England to fight in front of all those fans, and for them to get to see, feel, smell and touch him and see how real he is. We have a lot of opportunities. We’re growing every day. We're really excited. We think we bring the best fights. I believe we put on exciting events for the fans. We're event friendly in the arena. We’re on TV and get the eyeballs that watch our fights. A lot of people said a lot of nasty things last year about us and never thought we were going to really get off the ground. But this rocket ship launched.

The one thing we promised was we'd give the fans real fights. One thing I'm really proud of is that I represent real fighters that will fight anybody in the world. It's not ‘well, I don't want to fight him. Give me two fights, three fights before I fight him.’ The fighters we represent just want to fight. For that, I'm proud of the people that we represent.

The eyeballs on SHOWTIME that have watched our fights have seen great fights, exciting fights. Nick Diaz against KJ (Noons), KJ against “Krazy Horse’’ (Charles Bennett), Kimbo's quick demolition in the last show, the coming of age of Gina Carano. We haven't even shown Robbie Lawler that much. There is so much. “Big Foot’’ Silva, I keep saying, I believe he's the single best heavyweight in the world today. The fans are going to get to see all these fighters, not to mention all the other fighters that we have coming. They're beginning to be exposed to new and young fighters. So thank you for your question.

QUESTION: When you raise the issue of being fighter friendly, do you think things like the UFC's lawsuit against Randy Couture is going to hurt them? And do you also see the need to bring MMA contracts in line with what is required in boxing by the Muhammad Ali Act?

SHAW: Let me comment. First of all, I won't comment on other people's lawsuits. So the Randy Couture-UFC lawsuit, that is something they'll have to battle out in the media and in the court room.

When I say we're fighter friendly, you can ask any fighter that's either won or lost in one of our shows, and they'll tell you what it is like to fight for EliteXC. How we take care of them, how we care about them before the fight, during the fight, after the fight. This is a fighter‑friendly company.

As far as contracts go, I don't discuss contracts. But we're basically in line with the Muhammad Ali law. We don't sign anybody for 20‑year contracts. We don't have any slaves, no indentured servitude here. Fighters fight for us because they want to fight for us because we treat them well.

I invite you, and any reporter to certainly go to any fighter that's fought for us and ask how we fight them. We treat them like the world champions that we believe all fighters are.

QUESTION: Tank, what weight are you at now and who are you training with for Kimbo?

TANK: I fluctuate between 261 and 67.

QUESTION: What camp or group are you training with now?

TANK: I just got my old friends that I've known for a long time and bang around with them. It's not really a camp or a team or anything. It's just buddies I've been banging with for a long time.

QUESTION: Gary, is a Ken Shamrock versus Kimbo a match in the future?

SHAW: Kimbo has a fight Feb. 16. Ken Shamrock's got a fight March 8. So why don't you ask me that question on March 9.

QUESTION: What weight is Ken going to be fighting at the Cage Rage event?

SHAW: I don't know. Right now I'm told by one of the fight team members it's unspecified. But if you email it a continuation of what you had been working on? Are you continuing to learn different things? We know you want to showcase all the skills you say you possess. How did it play out right after that last fight as far as training?

KIMBO: We picked up where we left off and added more new stuff into my arsenal.



TANK: I'm looking forward to this Feb. 16 fight. Like I said earlier Kimbo's got (guts), heart and the street mentality. I can't wait to lay my ears back and get down with him. It's going to be fun for me. It's going to be a long night for Kimbo and a short one for me. But I can't wait. I wake up every morning and start laughing because I wish it was already Feb. 16.



It's not often you get to get in the cage and fight a guy that's got the street warrior to him, and I kind of look forward to that.

Tickets for a spectacular 10-bout event start at $35 and are
available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/
and at the BankUnited Box Office at the University of Miami.

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

From: WBC President Jose Sulaiman



Mexico City- “The World Boxing Council is very pleased to celebrate its 45th anniversary with a tremendous boxing event in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 16.


“I am very proud of WBC middleweight world champion Kelly Pavlik and our former world champion Jermain Taylor, as well as Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment, for accepting to abide by the WBC Rules and Regulations with respect to the Pavlik-Taylor rematch, as it is an over-the-weight bout but involves the WBC champion.

“Several rules apply to this very important rematch, including Rule 1.22 which says: ‘The WBC Board of Governors, with a majority voting, may grant special authorization to allow a WBC champion to engage in a non-title 10 or 12-round bout.’

“The WBC will present a medal of honor to the winner of the fight, which will be officially sanctioned by the WBC.

“It gives me great satisfaction to see the loyalty to the WBC of these two boxers, both of whom have had very long relationships with us and built their careers using our affiliated titles as stepping stones to get to the highest levels of their careers today.


“Also on the card is WBC super flyweight world champion Cristian Mijares, one of the most solid champions in the world today, who will defend the title against former Olympian Jose Navarro.

“The Mijares-Navarro fight will be the WBC’s 1647th world title bout, and the 262nd WBC world title bout in the State of Nevada .”

Derrick Simmons Films Presents: This Saturday February 16th, The Official Charlotte "Jump Offs" The Movie Event

INDUSTRY LEADERS LAUD CHICAGO'S 8 COUNT ON 10TH ANNIVERSARY‏

On the day of their tenth anniversary event, CELEBRATION, set for Friday, February 15th at Cicero Stadium, Chicago’s 8 Count Productions is receiving praises from many of professional boxing’s leaders.

Said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, “Golden Boy Promotions congratulates Dominic Pesoli and 8 Count Productions on their 10th anniversary. It’s always a pleasure doing business with them and we look forward to co-promoting outstanding events with them in the future.“



From Kathy Duva, President of Main Events, “It’s always great to watch hard-working dignified people succeed in the boxing business. 8 Count has been a pleasure to deal with and we look forward to another 10 years of working with Dominic Pesoli’s promotional firm.”



Stated Carl Moretti, Vice-President of DiBella Entertainment, “In a business where often times you don’t look forward to working on a show, working with Dominic and the 8 Count staff is always a refreshing and enjoyable experience. He is truly one of the best people on the sport.”

Said Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, “Happy 10th anniversary to Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions. Pesoli doesn’t have the name recognition of Bob Arum or Don King, but he’s done a tremendous job of practically single handedly keeping boxing alive in Chicago with monthly (and sometimes twice-monthly) cards. One of the reasons for Pesoli’s success is a strong working relationship with Top Rank’s Arum and Golden Boy Promotions, with whom he partners on his televised cards.”

About the anniversary, Pesoli said, “It’s always great to hear from people that you respect and enjoy working with in boxing. The fans have been terrific the last couple of weeks with their phone calls for tickets and to offer congratulations.

I’d also like to thank the boxing websites for the terrific job they continue to do along with the local media, both of whom have been very supportive throughout the last ten years. It means a great deal to me to read the high regard that the boxing community holds 8 Count.

It’s been a fantastic run these last ten years and we plan on continuing to promote great events with terrific fights for many years to come.”

CELEBRATION, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing, presented by 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated is headlined by an outstanding battle between junior welterweight prospects Mike Alvarado and Jesus “CHUY” Rodriguez.

As part of the CELEBRATION event, Rocky Martinez and Mike "FLY" Garcia will be inducted into the 8 Count Productions Hall of Fame.

Tickets for CELEBRATION are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices 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 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

The full fight card for CELEBRATION is;

Mike Alvarado vs. Jesus Rodriguez, ten rounds, junior welterweights

Francisco Rodriguez vs. Andre Wilson, eight rounds, bantamweights

Andrzej Fonfara vs. Jorge Gonzalez, six rounds, junior middleweights

Freddie Cuevas vs. Luis Hodge, six rounds, middleweights

Alejandro Lopez vs. Torrence Ray, six rounds, featherweights

Ivan Popoca vs. Guadalupe Diaz, five rounds, junior welterweights

Along with Chicago’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, CELEBRATION is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.

The Master of Ceremonies for CELEBRATION will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.

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

For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit.

www.toprank.com

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998

Bernie Bahrmasel

Publicist/8 Count Productions

SBS PREDICTS; Taylor Will Win. Will Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor's come back to haunt Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik?

SBS, listened to Jermain Taylor's ((27-1-1, 17 KOs) of Little Rock Arkansas), International conference call and has reviewed the undisputed middleweight champion, Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik's ((32-0 29 KOs) of Youngstown Ohio), media materials, press conference footage, and videos, regarding this Saturday' s rematch between Pavlik and Taylor, and with all considered, both fighters are, humbly up for the challenge at 166 lbs, but will Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor's come back to haunt Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik? Or will Pavlik remain the middleweight superstar- undisputed? Tune In.



SBS: Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor, will show that, he-Taylor is dedicated, hungry, loyal and willing to do what it takes to prove that, he-Taylor will pull it off, this out weighs Pavlik's dynamic pound for pound speed. A stoppage would be sweet, and a reborn superstar "Taylor" would be sweeter. Taylor will win.



Keisha and Jermain Taylor




Keisha and Kelly Pavlik

GOLD-SELLING MIAMI RAPPER PITBULL TO PERFORM LIVE DURING ELITEXC’S SPECTACULAR MMA MAIN EVENT OF LOCAL FAVORITE AND YOUTUBE LEGEND KIMBO SLICE

LOS ANGELES– From the stage to the cage, without missing a beat. Local Favorite and YouTube Legend, Kimbo Slice, Faces Tank Abbott. In Main Event of What Will Be an Exciting Evening of Fights and Music.

Photos: Esther Lin/For ProElite, Inc.

Kimbo Slice


Pitbull, a hugely popular, gold-selling Miami-based hip hop superstar, will perform during EliteXC’s highly anticipated Mixed Martial Arts event in Miami, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 16, at BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.

The main event will feature Miami’s YouTube legend, Kimbo Slice, against MMA pioneer and fellow street brawler, Tank Abbott, of Huntington Beach, Calif., but the opportunity for the hometown fans to witness live the extraordinarily talented Pitbull is worth the price of admission.

Tank Abbott


Since he burst on the national scene as a featured performer on Lil Jon’s double platinum selling album Kings of Crunk in 2002, the phenomenal Pitbull has had three smash albums -- his gold-selling debut M.I.A.M.I (2004), El Mariel (2006) and the recently released The Boatlift (2007).

The Boatlift showcases Pitbull’s lyrical prowess as he crusades through 18 tracks penning clever and captivating rhymes on each song. Pitbull has created an incredibly diverse album ranging from R&B-influenced sounds like the first single "Secret Admirer" featuring Lloyd, to hypnotic club banger “Go Girl” teaming with Trina and Young Boss, and current Afro-Cuban melodic single “The Anthem” with a bombastic chant by Lil Jon. "The Anthem" is No. 15 on the Top 40 Rhythm chart and breaking big on Mainstream Top 40 (Pop) radio.

Cuban-American MC Pitbull surpassed gold status for more than 500,000 copies sold of his debut album M.I.A.M.I.: Money Is A Major Issue in the United States. The accomplishment gave Pitbull the biggest-selling bilingual hip-hop debut since Cypress Hill’s 1991 self-titled debut, and put him in the rare category of Latino rappers who have achieved major success in English-language radio. In addition to being the No. 1 Latin artist on MySpace, Pitbull unleashed his sophomore album El Mariel in late 2006 spawning the No. 1 Latin Rap hit, "Dime".

Tickets for a 10-bout event start at $35 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and at the BankUnited Box Office. Doors open at 7 p.m. ET; first fight is at 7:30.

Besides an exciting heavyweight brawl between Kimbo (1-0) and Tank (9-13), a tremendous undercard will include Antonio “Big Foot’’ Silva (9-1), who lives in Coconut Creek, Fla., vs. former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez (27-7), of Staten Island, N.Y., Australian Kyle “The Ozzie’’ Noke (11-2), the bodyguard of the late Steve “Crocodile Hunter’’ Irwin, vs. Scott “Hands Of Stone’’ Smith (12-5), of Sacramento, Calif., Edson Berto (13-4-1), of Tampa, Fla., vs. Yves Edwards (32-13-1) of Conroe, Tex.



About ProElite, Inc.
ProElite Inc. [PELE.PK] 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 via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem all the while remaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools. ProElite’s live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world’s top fighters [elitexc.com]. ProElite’s interactive business, ProElite.com, capitalizes on the growing popularity of the sport of mixed martial arts by building a community of MMA enthusiasts. In addition to streaming the most exciting live fights to the web, ProElite expands the fan base of the sport by providing a comprehensive set of online social networking tools for fans, fighters and organizations. ProElite.com – Empowering the Fight Community TM

For PITBULL interviews, information, and publicity materials please contact:
Joe Wiggins TVT Records Urban Publicity

Pitbull resources
www.myspace.com/pitbull
http://www.pitbullmusic.com/

Contacts: EliteXC (Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc.)
Dan Clavadetscher / John Beyrooty

FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ IN SOLO BOXEO CO-MAIN THIS FRIDAY NIGHT‏

Chicago bantamweight prospect Francisco "EL NINO AZTECA" Rodriguez will battle Andre Wilson this Friday night, February 15th in the SOLO BOXEO TECATE televised co-main event at Cicero Stadium, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

The Rodriguez/Wilson bout, scheduled for eight rounds is one of the feature attractions at CELEBRATION, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing marking the 10th anniversary of 8 Count Productions.

Tickets for CELEBRATION are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices 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 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

Said Pesoli, “Francisco has looked terrific recently and has improved a great deal. We’ve had a very good response from his last SOLO BOXEO TECATE appearance (RTD7 over Ivan Rodriguez) as well as his last fight which is up on Youtube (UD8 over Robert Da Luz). We’re expecting great things from Francisco in 2008 and this fight is hopefully another step in that direction.”

The 23 year old Rodriguez, who had a stellar amateur career, has amassed a huge following in Chicago while running his record to 11-1 with seven knockouts.
Said Rodriguez, " This is a great opportunity for me to fight on SOLO BOXEO TECATE. Not only can fans in Chicago watch me in person but so can fight fans in many countries who get the broadcast. I've prepared well for this fight and I'm looking forward to Friday night."

Wilson, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, brings a record of 9-1 with eight knockouts into battle with Rodriguez. He is coming off a first round knockout of Aaron Sannipoli on May 30, 2007 in Kansas City.

Wilson’s only loss was a much disputed four round majority decision to Shimon Bain on April 14, 2007 in Nassau, Bahamas, which most ringside observers felt was unfairly given to the hometown favorite.

CELEBRATION, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing, presented by 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated is headlined by an outstanding battle between junior welterweight prospects Mike Alvarado and Jesus “CHUY” Rodriguez.

As part of the CELEBRATION event, Rocky Martinez and Mike "FLY" Garcia will be inducted into the 8 Count Productions Hall of Fame.

The full fight card for CELEBRATION is;

Mike Alvarado vs. Jesus Rodriguez, ten rounds, junior welterweights
Francisco Rodriguez vs. Andre Wilson, eight rounds, bantamweights
Andrzej Fonfara vs. Francisco Rincon, six rounds, junior middleweights
Freddie Cuevas vs. Luis Hodge, six rounds, middleweights
Ivan Popoca vs. Guadalupe Diaz, four rounds, junior welterweights

The open to the public weigh-in will be held at 7pm on Thursday, February 14th at Club Aquarius, 2459 N. Pulaski on the Northwest side of Chicago.

Along with Chicago’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, CELEBRATION is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.

The Master of Ceremonies for CELEBRATION will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.

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

For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit.
http://www.toprank.com/

CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998

Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions

Eddie Goldman On Joey Reynolds Show

Eddie Goldman On Joey Reynolds Show
http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-02-14T13_33_40-08_00
Eddie Goldman of No Holds Barred (http://nhbnews.blogspot.com/) and SecondsOut Radio (http://secondsout.com/radio) was on the nationally-syndicated "Joey Reynolds Show" early Thursday morning, Feb. 14. Eddie is the boxing correspondent for this show. Along with guest John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia (http://www.chachajohn.com/), the noted radio host, restaurateur, actor, producer, and former boxing promoter, Joey and Eddie had a spirited and humorous discussion about the woes of boxing, Wladimir Klitschko, and the continuing mess regarding the distribution of media credentials for boxing events. Also announced was the relaunch of The Boxing Standard (http://boxingstandard.blogspot.com/).
The "Joey Reynolds Show" is a national radio broadcast in New York on WOR 710 AM and on 100 other stations via the WOR Network. The show airs live beginning at midnight EST and runs to 5 AM EST.
For more information on the "Joey Reynolds Show," go to http://wor710.com/pages/46370.php?contentType=4&contentId=157588.
For more information on show producer Myra Chanin, go to http://motherwonderful.com/.
No Holds Barred blog http://nhbnews.blogspot.com/
No Holds Barred podcast http://nhbnews.podomatic.com/
No Holds Barred on MySpace.com http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews
Enjoy!

Thanks, Eddie Goldman

KIMBO SLICE; "KIMB0-TANK" HEADLINE STELLAR ELITEXC FIGHT CARD

Fort Lauderdale, Florida- In what will be a thrilling and entertaining heavyweight fight for as long as it lasts, the incredibly popular Pride of Perrine, Fla., Kimbo Slice (1-0), will face hard-hitting Mixed Martial Arts icon, David “Tank’’ Abbott (9-13), of Huntington Beach, Calif., in a must-see showdown this Saturday, Feb. 16, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. SHOWTIME will televise five fights including the long-awaited, eagerly anticipated Kimbo-Tank confrontation live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while six non-televised undercard matches will be streamed live on the leading MMA internet site, ProElite.com

In addition to Kimbo-Tank, the SHOWTIME telecast will include: Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (9-1), a highly touted Brazilian who lives in Coconut Creek, Fla., and is considered one of the world’s top heavyweights, versus former champion Ricco Rodriguez (27-7), of Staten Island, N.Y., England's James “The Colossus” Thompson (16-7) battles unbeaten Brett Rogers (7-0) of St. Paul, Minn., in a heavyweight match, Australian Kyle “The Ozzie” Noke (14-3-1), the bodyguard of the late Steve “Crocodile Hunter’’ Irwin, meets Scott “Hands Of Steel’’ Smith (14-4), of Sacramento, Calif., in a terrific scrap at 185 pounds; and Edson “Little Tiger” Berto (14-4-1), of Tampa, Fla., faces Yves Edwards (32-13-1) of Conroe, Tex., in a fight at 160 pounds.

KIMBO “The only thing I want to do is win, but the main thing is I want to break something along the way – a chin or jaw, rib, arm, some skin, anything.

Photos: Esther Lin/For ProElite, Inc.



“If this turns out to be just a fist-fight, then I am looking forward to it. If it goes on the ground, then I will be definitely looking forward to it.

“I feel great. I haven’t weighed myself in a couple of days but I think I am around 235. I feel calm. I won’t get truly excited until before the fight.

“My beard is not a fashion; it is all about me and what I am. I haven’t trimmed or cut it in six years.

“I feel I have come a long way in a short time in my Street to Elite transition. There is a big difference in just fighting some dude and what goes on in Mixed Martial Arts.



“Like the last time, I look forward to showing more of my overall skills, but we’ll just have to see what happens.

“For sure, though, someone is going down and maybe getting knocked out, and that someone is not going to be me.’’

A non-televised undercard, which will be streamed live at ProElite.com, will include: Rafael Feijao (4-1), of Brazil, vs. John Doyle (6-2), of Allentown, Pa., at 205 pounds; Mike Bernhard (3-0), of Miami, vs. Lorenzo Borgameo (2-0), of Miami, at 170; Eric Bradley (2-1), of Las Vegas, Nev., vs. Mikey Gomez (6-3), of Orlando, Fla., at 170; Mario Rinaldi (6-2), of Miami, vs. Dave Herman (9-0) of Indiana at 265; Jon Kirk (10-2), of Houston, vs. Yosmany Cabezas (4-0), of Tampa, Fla., at 185 pounds, and, in a bout just added, Moyses Gabin (1-0), of Miami, vs. Jirka Hlavaty (1-1), of Miami, at 265 pounds.

In addition to the fights being streamed live, fans can watch pre- and post-fight interviews on ProElite.com. The 11 contests are scheduled for three, 5-minute rounds. Note: Fighter pages for televised and non-televised bouts are below.

Tickets Remain For Mega-Event This Saturday, Feb. 16, The First Of 11 Terrific MMA Matches start at 7:30. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets for a spectacular 11-bout event, presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s EliteXC, start at $35 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and at the BankUnited Box Office at the University of Miami.

Kimbo (http://kimboslice.proelite.com/), Tank (http://tankabbott.proelite.com/),


Silva (http://antoniosilva.proelite.com/), Rodriguez (http://riccorodriguez.proelite.com/), Thompson (http://jamesthompson.proelite.com/), Rogers (http://brettrogers.proelite.com/), Noke (http://kylenoke.proelite.com/), Smith (http://scottsmith.proelite.com/), Berto (http://edsonberto.proelite.com/), Edwards (http://yvesedwards.proelite.com/).

Fighter pages (non-televised bouts): Gabin (http://moysesgabin.proelite.com/), Hlavaty (http://jirkahlavaty.proelite.com/), Borgameo (http://lorenzoborgame.proelite.com/), Bernhard (http://mikebernhard.proelite.com/), Bradley (http://ericbradley.proelite.com/), Gomez (http://mikeygomez.proelite.com/), Rinaldi (http://mariorinaldi.proelite.com/), Herman (http://daveherman.proelite.com/), Kirk (http://jonkirk.proelite.com/), Cabezas (http://yosmanycabezas.proelite.com/), Feijao (http://rafaelfeijao.proelite.com/), Doyle (http://johndoyle.proelite.com/).

Free Film Festival: From Black Liberation to HipHop (2/16)

*From Black Liberation to Hip-Hop: * A Film Festival Celebrating the Past, Moving Forward to the Future You are invited to a free film festival that explores the culture and politics of the Black Liberation Movement and the Hip-Hop Generation. View films and participate in unique inter-generational discussion with panelists from both the Civil Rights and Hip-Hop Generations.

See the long anticipated movie on George Jackson: Black August. Also, View & Discuss Screenings of: Letter to the President, HipHop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes, The Spook Who Sat By the Door, Eyes of the Rainbowand many more. When: Saturday, Feburary 16th - Noon to 10pm Where: COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, 511 DODGE HALL, BET 116TH & B'WAY Directions: Take the 1/9 train to 116th StreetVoicemail & Text: 347.262-6385 & 917.224.3493 eMail: nyhiphop3000@yahoo.com Sponsored by FOCUS-Filmmakers of Color United in Spirit-Columbia University, School ofthe Arts, The Safiya Bukhari- Albert Nuh Washington Foundation & The National Hip-Hop Political Convention (NY)

<http://www.columbia.edu/> For More Info: http://www.safiyanuhfoundation.org/ or http://www.myspace.com/safiyanuh http://www.nhhpc.org/ or http://www.myspace.com/hiphopconvention_nyloc

Schedule noon- Hip Hop Colony (rt 93 min) 2:00 - Eyes of the Rainbow ( 47 min) 4:00- Letter to the President [90 mins] 6:00- The Spook Who Sat By the Door( 90 min) RECEPTION 7:30-Black August (100 min) Some Film Descriptions:

*FEATURE FILMS (Partial Listing)

* * * *The Spook Who Sat By The Door Sam Greenlee <http://movies.nytimes.com/person/183651/Sam-Greenlee>'s cultfavorite novel of political unrest was brought to the screen in this drama,which also earned a small but loyal following. A congressman hoping to attract African-American voters during an election year decides to make political hay by pointing out that the Central Intelligence Agency has no black agents. Bowing to subsequent public pressure, the CIA admits a numberof black applicants to their training program, but they purposefully make the process difficult and unpleasant enough to win now out nearly all the African-American students. Dan Freeman (Lawrence Cook), a strong,intelligent but soft-spoken man, some how makes it through the gauntlet to become the black CIA agent; however, rather than being given important field assignments, Freeman is put in charge of the agency's copying machines andgives tours of their facilities to give the offices a progressive front for visitors. After a few years, Freeman leaves the agency to move back to his hometown of Chicago and do work with the community...at least that's what he tells his superiors. In fact, Freeman has used his time at the CIA collecting information on how to launch a political revolution, and not long after he arrives in the Windy City, he begins recruiting an army of leftist radicals and black nationalists fed up with the system. With their help,Freeman launches the first stage of an armed revolt with the stated goal of bringing the white-dominated power structure to its knees.

* * *Black August The George Jackson story has now been developed into a movie entitled Black August. It depicts the last 14 months of George Jackson's existence under the subjective and objective conditions of captivity. Sentenced to one year-to-life at age 18, for a $70 gas station robbery in 1960, George Jackson would spend the next 11 years in California's industrial prison complex, 7 years of which were in solitary confinement. The movie encompasses the Soledad Brothers case in which George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo, and John Clucheette are accused of murdering a Soledad prison guard,in retaliation for the killing of three Black inmates involved in a fight with White inmates on an exercise yard in Soledad State Prison, Soledad, California. The movie also reflects on the general prison movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the role the Black Panther Party would play in organizing both the outside communities in America as well as their influence on prisoners across the country. George Jackson would be moved and inspired as a result of the Panther Party activities. As a prison organizer, George was recruited by Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton to head the Peoples Army, a euphemism which would become synonymous with the name Black Guerrilla Family. With the history of slavery and repression in this country as a backdrop, every whip lash, every lynching, every humiliation finds its ultimate reaction in the events chronicled in the movie Black August.

*Hip-Hop Colony Kenyan Hip-Hop was initially regarded as a passing fad. Hip-Hop was eagerly dismissed by the media outlets and the general public during it's shallow inception in the early ninety's. Hip-Hop today has firmly gained its roots in Kenya, while fusing its traditional music and drawing major influence from America. This fusion has led to a new entity-the birth of Genge Music. Filming the documentary in Kenya, producer/Director Michael Wanguhu, enjoyed collaborative efforts from top-notch Kenyan producers, and reigning Hip-Hop acts past and present, seeking to expose a culture they have whole-heartedly embraced and it is also punctuated by footage of engaging live concert events.

*HIP HOP COLONY *richly ties key elements of Hip-Hop, flexibility and talent which continue to increase its dominance around the World one colony at a time.

*HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes*, a riveting documentary that tackle sissues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today's hip-hop culture. Sparking dialogue on hip-hop and its declarations on gender, HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes provides thoughtful insight from intelligent, divergent voices including rap artists, industry executives, rap fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation. The film includes interviews with famous rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D and Jadakiss and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; along with commentary from Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Kevin Powell and Sarah Jones and interviews with young women at Spelman College, a historically black school and one of the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. The film also explores such pressing issues as women and violence in rap music, representations of man hood in hip-hop culture, whattoday's rap lyrics reveal to their listeners and homoeroticism in hip-hop. A "loving critique" from a self-proclaimed "hip-hop head," HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes discloses the complex intersection of culture, commerce and gender through on-the-street interviews with aspiring rappers and fans at hip-hop events throughout the country.

* * *Letter To The President: Hip-Hop and Politics* The Streets Get Political While the glamorous 1980's continued for much of America, rappers made it a point to tell the world there was another sectionof the country that wasn't invited to the party. As the urban landscapebecame the point of no return - Hip Hop emerged as a voice for thepeople.... This film takes an unprecedented look at a variety of issuesdirectly affecting the urban community - including the 'crack' conspiracy, censorship, racial profiling, police brutality, poverty, prison for profit,and the NYPD Hip Hop Task Force. If you think politics had nothing to do with Hip Hop, think again! "Letter to the President" explores this rebel music with a cause.... --

Orlando GreenNational Hip Hop Political Convention

Tank Abbott‏

Photos: TOM CASINO/EliteXC


Tank Abbott works out at the Paradise Gym in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday night as he winds down preparation for his gigantic, long-awaited, must-see fight against Kimbo Slice Saturday at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.

Tickets for a spectacular 11-bout event, presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s EliteXC, start at $35 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and at the BankUnited Box Office at the University of Miami. Doors open at 7 p.m. ET; the first fight is 7:30.

SHOWTIME will televise five fights including the eagerly anticipated Kimbo-Tank confrontation live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while six non-televised undercard matches will be streamed live on the leading MMA internet site, ProElite.com

TSS Prediction Potpourri; By Robert Mladinich

TSS Prediction Potpourri
By Robert Mladinich

Does the champion come in with more confidence and the knowledge that he stopped his foe once and can do it again? Or is JT going to come back with fire and fury and finish what he started in the second round of the first fight?

Although there is no title up for grabs in the Saturday rematch between Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor, there is still a lot on the line for both fighters. The last time they met, in Atlantic City on September 29, Pavlik survived a brutal second round knockdown to come back and stop the favored Taylor in the seventh round. In doing so, he won the undisputed middleweight championship. Should Pavlik, 32-0 (29 KOs), Youngstown, Ohio, beat Taylor, 27-1-1 (17 KOs), Little Rock, Arkansas, in the rematch, he will be on the cusp of superstardom. Pavlik is currently a 2-1 favorite to beat Taylor for the second time. Pavlik has already garnered, among other things, a feature story in Sports Illustrated. For that magazine to dedicate so much space to a fighter means the fighter has arrived.


Although the last bout was fought at 160 pounds, this non-title affair will be contested at 166 pounds. Who or how that will benefit either fighter is the subject of much conjecture. One thing that nearly everyone agrees on is that there will once again be a knockout. Here is an objective sampling of what 21 boxing insiders had to say about this eagerly anticipated matchup, which will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and televised on HBO Pay-Per-View:

Tim Smith, New York Daily News: “What Pavlik does, he does very well. He throws a good one-two punch, but Taylor is the better all-around fighter. He can do a lot more things than Pavlik. The only reason Taylor didn’t stop Pavlik the last time was because he was out of shape. The shock of losing should force him to get into good shape this time, and he should stop Pavlik around the fourth round.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Diaz, WBC lightweight champion: “I think Kelly has Jermain’s number। He (Pavlik) got a little careless in the first fight। He tried to show he could take a punch and got caught। He won’t make a mistake like that again। Unless Jermain comes with a completely different style, which I don’t think he can do, Kelly should stop him between the eighth and tenth rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.






Nick Charles, ShoBox: The New Generation commentator: “If Jermain can get past nine rounds, he should win a decision. But that is a big if. Jermain has already out-boxed a great boxer in Bernard Hopkins. On paper out-boxing Kelly should be easier, but styles make fights and Kelly has so much power and confidence. I’m going to go out on a limb and go with an upset.” Taylor by decision.

Steve Farhood: ShoBox: The New Generation commentator: “Given what happened in the first fight, it is very difficult to pick Taylor in the rematch। I expect it to be another great action fight with the likely outcome being Pavlik by TKO in the middle rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.


Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News: “History tells me that when an undefeated fighter loses his first bout the way that Taylor did, the best course of action is to take a tune-up or two before engaging in a rematch. There also seems to be a lot of turmoil in Taylor’s camp, which makes me think he might not be ready for the rematch just yet. I’m picking Pavlik to win by 10th round TKO.” Pavlik by stoppage.


Willie Savannah, manager/trainer of lightweight champion Juan Diaz: “I keep changing my mind on who will win or how they will win. Pavlik won the first one, but you can’t forget that Jermain almost won the first one. I don’t know who the weight increase will favor, if it favors anyone at all. In a fight where everything points to a knockout, I’m going to pick Jermain to win a decision.” Taylor by decision.

Gerry Cooney, former heavyweight title challenger: “The second fight should be a way better fight than the first one, and the first one was a great one. Pavlik banged Taylor up pretty good, and when you win a title you usually improve by about 10 to 15percent. Pavlik will probably out-slug Taylor again and stop him in seven or eight rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Iran Barkley, former multi-division champion: “If Taylor does what he’s supposed to do and takes care of business, he should knock Pavlik out and get his title back. He had Pavlik almost out last time, but he was not prepared mentally or physically to finish him off. The loss should bring Taylor back to earth. He knows he has to win this one, so he will do what it takes to make that happen and probably stop Pavlik in the later rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Sean Sullivan, editor of Boxing Digest magazine: “It’s a close fight to call, but given all of the factors I am leaning toward Pavlik by stoppage in the middle rounds. He seems to have everything in his favor. He took Taylor’s best punch and came back to win the first fight. Plus, I think the extra weight will help him more than it will help Taylor. Pavlik has shown no fear of any of his opponents, and he won’t be afraid of Taylor.” Pavlik by stoppage.

John Scully, trainer and former light heavyweight title challenger: “Taylor proved that he could hurt Pavlik in the first fight, but he didn’t prove that he could finish him. Pavlik proved that he could knock Taylor out, which is much more important than just hurting an opponent. Pavlik isn’t the type of guy to rest on his laurels and slack off. I think he’ll come back even stronger and more determined and score a late round knockout.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Bruce Silverglade, owner of Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York: “Taylor should be a lot hungrier than he was in the first fight, so he will come back and stop Pavlik by the seventh round. With better mental and physical conditioning, Taylor will bring more to this fight than Pavlik.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Selwyn: manager of female boxers Eileen Olszewski, Ronica Jeffrey and Cristy Nickle: “This fight will go longer than the first one, but Pavlik will stop him again. He will be even more confident and strong with the extra weight because he won’t have to dry out. I hear that he is already on or near weight, which is a very good sign of his conditioning and confidence. Pavlik has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight, while everything is on the line for Taylor.” Pavlik by stoppage.

James Moore, unbeaten Irish junior middleweight who is headlining the “Gaelic Storm” show at Madison Square Garden on March 15: “I think Taylor just might pull it off this time around. I don’t think he was in the best of condition last time, and I believe the extra six pounds will help him more than it will help Pavlik. It will be a good, tough fight, but I believe Taylor will probably stop Pavlik.” Taylor by stoppage.

Oisin Fagan: lightweight contender who is fighting on the Gaelic Storm show: “Taylor did very well against Pavlik when he was busy, but he couldn’t close the show. Pavlik is much too strong and much too confident for Taylor, especially after stopping him the first time. Pavlik will catch him with another right hand, and it will be lights out all over again within five rounds.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Mike O’Sullivan: co-owner of Celtic Gloves Promotions, which is promoting the Gaelic Storm show: “I don’t want to take anything away from what The Ghost (Pavlik) accomplished back in September, but Bad Intentions (Taylor) will redeem himself this time, with or without a belt on the line.” Taylor by stoppage.

David Wolf, former manager of world champions Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Donny Lalonde and Lonnie Bradley: “I have seen a marked decrease in Taylor since he let (original pro trainer) Pat Burns go. I think he actually regressed under Emanuel Steward, who is a terrific trainer but just didn’t have any chemistry with Taylor. Ozell Nelson (Taylor’s amateur trainer) has no real professional pedigree, so I think it was a mistake to go back with him. Taylor will do well early, but I expect Pavlik to come from behind and stop him around the eighth round.” Pavlik by stoppage.

Mike Silver, noted boxing historian: “Everyone is asking why Taylor took this fight so soon after being knocked out in devastating fashion. I think it is more unwise for Pavlik to take an immediate rematch. Going into the first fight, Taylor was considered the favorite and almost beat him. Taylor was totally surprised by Pavlik’s ability to take his best punch. Pavlik cannot change his style, while Taylor, who is a much better all-around fighter, can change his. While I never discount a puncher like Pavlik, I pick Taylor to stop him by the middle rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, former light heavyweight champion: “These guys fighting at the higher weight will bring out the best in both of them because they won’t have to starve themselves. This will be a similar fight to the first one, but overall a much better fight. The only who really wants it the most will win, probably by stoppage. That said, I can’t pick a winner. It’s too close to call.” No pick.

Hector Roca, trainer of, among others, Maureen Shea, “The Real Million Dollar Baby”: “Styles make fights and Taylor will go back to his old style and train with his old people. Against Pavlik the first time, he tried to change too much (under new trainer Emanuel Steward) and it failed. He will go back to doing what he does best, and score a knockout within five rounds.” Taylor by stoppage.

Teddy B. Blackburn, photographer: “Pride is more important to J.T. than any amount of money or belts. Pride will enable him to score a knockout in the eighth round.” Taylor by stoppage.


Bob Mladinich, TSS writer: As sky-high as Pavlik’s confidence must be, it seems to me that Taylor can be a lot better this time out. This fight should be a slugfest that could go either way for as long as it lasts, but I have a feeling that Taylor will prevail by scoring a mid-round stoppage. Taylor by stoppage.


Totals:21

Pavlik: 9
Taylor: 11
No pick: 1
Pavlik by stoppage: 9
Taylor by stoppage: 9
Pavlik by decision: 0
Taylor by decision: 2


Contact Robert Mladinich @ TheSweetScience.com