Giovanni Lorenzo - Stop Ducking Me!!‏

TOTOWA, NJ– First it was WBC Middleweight Champion Kelly Pavlik. Now it is IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham. One by one the world’s middleweight champions are avoiding undefeated IBF/WBC mandatory middleweight challenger Giovanni Lorenzo.

Former "The Contenders" series star, Jerson Ravelo and Giovanni Lorenzo


Only weeks after Pavlik selected Gary Lockett as his next opponent rather than risk his crown against Lorenzo, Sauerland Promotions (Abraham’s promoter) has begun discussions with Warriors Boxing about defending the IBF crown against Edison Miranda in June. Not so fast says Lorenzo.

“The IBF has sent a letter to Abraham’s promoter and to my promoter (Main Events) that negotiations must begin immediately for his mandatory defense against me,” said Lorenzo. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this title opportunity and I’m not going to let politics in boxing screw me out of chance. I thank the IBF very much for supporting me.”

Lorenzo (26-0, 18 KO’s) has stopped his last eight opponents. The 27-year-old Washington Heights, NY resident by way of Jerringa San Cristobal, Dominican Republic has knocked out 15 opponents within the first three rounds. In his last bout on Dec 17, 2007, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Lorenzo blasted Ulises Duarte in one round (KO 1).

© 2007, 2008 All photos by "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications and Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience all rights reserved

WORLD 122-POUND CHAMPION ISRAEL VAZQUEZ VICTORY CELEBRATION LUNCHEON

Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Frank Espinoza’s High-Flying Boxing Club honored one of the greatest, most talented pound-for-pound and exciting fighters in the world, Israel Vazquez, at a victory celebration luncheon Wednesday for his legendary, instant-classic victories over arch rival Rafael Marquez.

Photos: Joe Miranda/For Sycuan Ringside Promotions

Manager Frank Espinoza (left) and WBC 122-pound champion Israel Vazquez pose during Wednesday's victory celebration luncheon in Lynwood, Calif.



Vazquez, who is promoted by Sycuan and managed by Espinoza, successfully defended his world 122-crown by rallying dramatically to outpoint Marquez on Saturday, March 1, 2008, in the rubber match of an epic, memorable series.

Vazquez would reign supreme in the exhilarating trilogy, taking two out of three. Each slugfest would top the previous one in energy, excitement and goosebumps, making it one of the most critically acclaimed trilogies of all time.

Sycuan Ringside Promotions will present a similar tribute ceremony for Vazquez next Wednesday night, April 9, at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego.

SCOTT WOODWORTH: “What separates the three incredibly tremendous battles between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez and all the rest is this: All the other trilogies had one, maybe two great fights, but that was it.

Vazquez gets his hands raised by Woodworth (left) and Espinoza with a smiling Tucker at their side.



“The fights that Vazquez and Marquez gave us produced three spectacular fights, with each one being better than the last. I have been involved in boxing a very long time and this is the best trilogy that the sport has ever seen.

“Every night since the third fight ended I go to bed watching a different round. One night it might be round four; another night, he could be round 12 where Israel displayed his true warrior spirit.

“I’ve watched that last fight over 20 times. It was the greatest win that I have ever witnessed. I am so thankful to Israel and his family, who sacrifice so much of their time.

“We can’t honor Israel enough for his performance March 1, or in any of his fights with Marquez. The dedication he put into his training in the months before were on display and undeniable in the third fight. Israel Vazquez is truly a once in a generation type fighter.

“He became a superstar with those fights and we at Sycuan are thrilled to have the privilege to promote him.

“Boxing is a sport not always known for its trust, but Israel’s manager, Frank Espinoza, has been as trust-worthy and as great a friend and business partner as you can have.

“Both Frank and I knew that Marquez was going to be a tough fight. We also knew that sometimes great risk actually does equal great rewards, and in this case it absolutely has. Israel and Frank deserves all the accolades. We, at Sycuan, are just delighted to be part of it.’’

WILLIE TUCKER JR.: “Israel gave such a spectacular performance in such a spectacular fight; we have nothing but admiration and love for him and his wife. The finish of the fight was so exciting, so dramatic, it brought tears to my eyes. It was such a historic moment.

“In 1998, before we knew we wanted to be boxing promoters, we saw Israel fight. To think we are now and have been his promoter makes us so proud.

“It’s an honor to have Israel and Frank and their families as part of the Sycuan family.’’

FRANK ESPINOZA: “I want to thank Scott and Willie and all those at Sycuan for making this victory celebration possible.

“On March 1, 2008, Israel won the last fight of an historic trilogy. He put on an unforgettable performance that will surely land him in the Hall of Fame.

“His display of bravery and relentless passion to win made him countless fans around the one and made him one of boxing’s pound-for-pound greatest.

“On that incredible Saturday night, Israel carved his way into the history books and, in winning, made Team Vazquez and Sycuan Ringside Promotions a part of history.

Vazquez, who's exciting, memorable, epic trilogy with Rafael Marquez struck all the right chords, strikes one of his own as Sycuan's Willie Tucker Jr. (left), Espinoza and Sycuan's Scott Woodworth look on.



“Twenty years from now when they are replayed for future generations, fans will know that Israel Vazquez, Rafael Marquez and their promoters made three spectacular fights a reality.

“They’ll realize just how special a fighter Israel Vazquez was and why he’ll always be known as “El Magnifico.’

“We’re here to pay tribute to a warrior who refuses to take no for an answer, a fighter who truly is an inspiration to those who ever thought about giving up in a tough situation, a fighter who went from a longshot contender to a future legend of the sport.’’

ISRAEL VAZQUEZ: “I’m very touched to be here celebrating the historical trilogy. I feel honored to have been a part of it. It’s just now hitting me I was such a huge part of history. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Rafael Marquez and his team.

Vazquez poses with the mariachi band that performed before, during and after the ceremony..

“The legacy I hope to leave behind is one that will let the fight fans always remember me as a champion. I didn’t back down because I am a true warrior for all time.

“It was both the hard work that we put into our training that made the fights. I am thankful for my family, manager and Sycuan for believing in me.

“When I was knocked down in the fourth round in our last fight, I felt angered because I didn’t see that coming. I was in my own backyard and in front of my hometown fans and so I channeled that anger to take me through to the rest of the fight.’’

© 2007, 2008 "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey all rights reserved

John 'The Qietman' Ruiz fighting his way back into another title shot; 2-time world heavyweight champion player again

LAS VEGAS– Fresh off of his dominating performance against four-time world title challenger Jameel “Big Time” McCline, two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (43-7-1, 29 KOs) has fought himself back into position for another world title shot.

A rejuvenated Ruiz won a lop-sided 12-round decision on March 8 in a near shutout performance (119-109, 118-110, 117-111) against McCline, who is his previous fight had three times floored Samuel Peter, the new WBC heavyweight champion after stopping Oleg Maskaev on the same card in Cancun. (Judge Julie Lederman, who scored 119-109 in favor of Ruiz, also had McCline losing 112-113 to Peter.)

The new Ruiz is similar to the vintage edition of the Puerto Rican/American who first won the world title in 2001 with a 12-round decision against legendary Evander Holyfield.

“I’m excited and looking forward to my next fight,” Ruiz said. “All of my hard training paid off. (Ruiz weighed-in against McCline at his lightest in five years, 233 lbs.) I’m much more confident fighting this time around. I’m more aggressive than I’ve been in years, throwing more punches and combinations. Everybody’s talking about Sam Peter being the best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis. McCline almost finished off Peter and look what I did to McCline. I’m back at the top of my game and I can beat anybody out there. I’m still in the game; I will be a title holder again and try to unify the titles.

“I’m encouraged by a lot of positive feedback I’ve gotten since the McCline fight. I’m motivated more today than I ever was in the past. I changed my whole crew, especially bringing in Manny Siaca, Sr. as head trainer, which has helped me achieve the position I’m in, back on the right track. I’ve been learning some new things with Manny. I feel like I’m almost starting over again. I’m so excited. Manny has trained 28 world champs and I’m going to be his 29th. What I’ve been through makes me want it more today. Working with Manny has been a great opportunity for me to learn and put it into my game. I’m mentally focused and I’ve been doing everything possible to be my best.”

Ruiz, who has fought in 10 world championship fights, has beaten three world heavyweight champions -- Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker – as well as top contenders Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo, Kirk Johnson and McCline during his 15-year pro career.

Ruiz-McCline was a WBC Qualifier with the winner promised the No. 3 spot in the next ratings. Ruiz is ranked No. 2 in the WBA and cracked the WBO ratings at No. 11.

“My fight against McCline showed I’m ready for anybody in the division,” Ruiz added. “If any of the true world champions want to show what they’re worth, let them prove it by fighting me, somebody who has never ducked an opponent and with more world title fight experience than anybody. I’m ready for any of the title-holders – (Wladimir) Klitschko, Peter, or the (Ruslan) Chagaev-(Nikolay) Valuev winner. I’m back in the gym already getting prepared for my next fight. I’m back!”

“REAR NAKED CHOKE” TO PRODUCE LIVE PRE-FIGHT INTERNET RADIO SHOW BEFORE IFL EVENT ON APRIL 4 Two-Hour Ringside Broadcast Highlights

NEW YORK– “The Rear Naked Choke, Featuring Joe & Ted,” an Internet radio program which focuses on the International Fight League (IFL) in delivering a unique perspective and insight into the entertaining culture of the burgeoning world of mixed martial arts (MMA), will broadcast a live two-hour program from ringside at the IFL event at the Izod Center in E. Rutherford, N.J., on April 4, beginning at 5 p.m. Listeners can tune in at www.joeted.com. The program, which will feature a variety of IFL athletes and coaches and other MMA personalities, concludes a week of IFL-themed programs. Hosts Joe Rizzo and Ted Takvorian will also air special Rear Naked Choke episodes on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The Rear Naked Choke broadcasts weekly on Mondays at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT). Focusing on the IFL, Joe & Ted provide the inside scoop for the fans and the pros. The RNC offers fighters, coaches and legends of the sport a break from the rigors of training and a place to kick back for a few laughs, riff about what makes them interesting, and maybe even talk some trash. All shows stream live, feature an interactive chat room, and are available for listening or downloading any time through www.joeted.com. Dozens of IFL coaches and athletes and other MMA personalities have appeared on past programs, including Bas Rutten, Renzo Gracie, Pat Miletich, Randy Couture and Ken Shamrock. The RNC also features special event coverage with shows on location, including the ringside live stream leading up to the opening bell. For more info on how to listen live and participate in the chat, go to http://www.talkshoe.com/blog/index.php/help/. About the IFL International Fight League™ (IFL) has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv. ---
"You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen."- Joe DiMaggio

Catch the IFL on FSN Sundays at 5 p.m. and LIVE on HDNet on April 4 and May 16

CALVIN BROCK TO DELAY RING RETURN UNTIL RETINA HEALS

TOTOWA, NJ – In December 2007 heavyweight contender Calvin Brock underwent surgery to repair retinal damage in his right eye. In response to questions from the media and fans about his return to the ring, Brock has released this statement:



“I have been asked by members of the media and by boxing fans when I will return to the ring,” said Brock. “Recently I underwent surgery to fix damage in the retina of my right eye and I am waiting for the damage to heal. I plan to return to the ring once my eye is 100%. Until then I will rest and do what is necessary to help my eye repair.”

© 2007, 2008 All photos by "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications and Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience all rights reserved

Aussie boxer primed to jump German‏

Inspired by boxing’s ghosts of the past, undefeated Australian world title challenger Jamie “Mr Business” Pittman is primed to cause a boxing boil over and topple German champion Felix Sturm when they face off in Dusseldorf on the 5th April for the WBA World Middleweight Title.

Pittman, a 2004 Athens Olympian with a pro record that now stands at 16 fights for 16 wins with 7 KO’s, has settle comfortably into the German winter despite the sub zero temperatures – the cold European conditions are certainly a change from the sunny Central Coast weather that Pittman has enjoyed of late.

Before leaving Australia, Pittman undertook a pilgrimage of sorts – traveling to Maitland in the NSW Hunter Valley to pay his respects to one of Australia’s greatest sporting icons, the boxing legend Les Darcy.

The 26-year-old Pittman grew up in the Newcastle suburb of Shortland and while his generation has been inspired by the greatness from the likes of Andrew Johns or surfer Mark Richards, for Pittman who has boxed for 16 years, it was the ‘Maitland Wonder’ Les Darcy whose prior world shattering exploits showed him that anything was possible once you laced on a glove and stepped inside a ring.

Tragically Darcy never had the chance to be proclaimed the legitimate “World Middleweight Champion”, dying in 1917, at just 22 years of age.

His passing effected Maitland to such an extent that there has been a bronzed statue of Darcy in his fighting stance erected in the town centre, as well as one of the main roads named in Darcy’s honour. Other ‘sacred’ areas such as where he worked as a blacksmith or the home that Darcy bought for his mother, earned by his ever growing boxing success. All these places are easily found with the map supplied by the local tourist information centre and it was from there that Pittman undertook his pilgrimage to the significant places in Darcy’s all too short life. All in the knowing that he is about to do something his idol never had the opportunity to do.

It’s a well told story that Darcy, entrapped by the wartime politics of the day, fled to America to get his rightfully earned shot at the world middleweight boxing crown – tragically Darcy never got the chance, nor did fellow Newcastle middleweight Dave Sands who died in 1952 in a truck accident while in the prime of his fighting career aged just 26.

To show the class of boxer that Sands was, two international fighters that he defeated quite comfortably later went on to win world titles. For Sands, like Darcy, the opportunity to fight for the world title before they died, sadly never eventuated.

Pittman knows both boxers stories probably better than most and he is determined to make the most of his shot at the world middleweight title – he’s well aware that being the best doesn’t automatically give you a shot at the title and as a young Newcastle-bred middleweight boxer he feels privileged to be fighting in honour of his boxing forebears.

Now based in Gosford, Pittman transcends the “Newcastle vs. Central Coast” friendly rivalry and is a popular sporting figure in both regions. While Pittman is a well known identity in both cities, his profile is not as large in the ‘big smoke’ of major cities such as Sydney – however, come the 5th of April, when he dethrones the German Felix Sturm, the world will know about Jamie “Mr Business” Pittman.

It’s time to take care of Business!!!!

boxing, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events, performing arts, sports, worldwide

Jim and Bill Germanakos, winners of NBC's "The Biggest Loser," will host the IFL Weigh-in on Thursday, April 3, in Secaucus, N.J

WINNERS OF NBC’S “THE BIGGEST LOSER,” JIM AND BILL GERMANAKOS, TO HOST IFL WEIGH-IN AT LA BOXING IN SECAUCUS, N.J., ON THURSDAY, APRIL 3 Weight loss and fitness experts to assist IFL athletes in making weight for April 4 show at Izod Center NEW YORK. The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) today announced that twins Jim and Bill Germanakos, the most recent winners of NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser,” will host the IFL weigh-in next Thursday, April 3, at 3 p.m. at L.A. Boxing in Secaucus, N.J., and give tips to the athletes trying to make weight for the IFL “New Blood, New Battles” show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The fights will take place on Friday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.



“These athletes are in unbelievable shape, but if there are any quick tips that we can help them with to shed a few ounces as they hit their desired weight, it will be our pleasure,” Bill Germanakos said. “The sport of Mixed Martial Arts is a great base for training and weight loss since it involves so many aspects of conditioning, including strength and flexibility and self discipline, so this will be fun for us as we continue to spread our message of healthy lifestyle to a larger audience.” All information for Jim and Bill can be found at WeightLossTwins.com. Among the rising Mixed Martial Arts stars scheduled to compete on the 10-bout April 4 card are:• 20 year old lightweight phenom Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki against newcomer Nate Lamotte• IFL middleweight champ and Long Island native Jay “The Thorobred” Hieron against once beaten “Military” Mark Miller• Undefeated IFL featherweight champion Waggney Fabiano against NYU All-America wrestler and once beaten Shad Lierley• IFL light heavyweight champion and Belarussian Olympian Vladimir “The Janitor”Matyushenko against Jersey City’s (Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Gleason’s Gym boxing trained) Jamal “The Suit” Patterson About the IFLInternational Fight League™ (IFL) has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas.

Jamal “The Suit” Patterson


For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv. ---"If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain.If you're not into yoga, if you have half-a-brain.If you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape.You're the love that I've looked for, come with me, and escape."- Rupert Holmes, "Escape (The Pina Colada Song

Catch the IFL on FSN Sundays at 5 p.m. and LIVE on HDNet on April 4 and May 16 boxing, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events, performing arts, sports, worldwide

© 2007, 2008 Keisha Morrisey all rights reserved

Gleason's Events and Ticket Sales‏; Yuri Foreman vs. Saul Roman, Thursday, April 3, 2008 and Johnny Rodz Professional Wrestling, Golden Gloves Finals

Professional Boxing Yuri Foreman vs. Saul Roman
Aviator Sports, Hanger 5, Floyd Bennet Field, Brooklyn Thursday, April 3, 2008
First bout 7:30PM
Tickets available at Gleason's Gym
General Admission $40
Ringside $100
First three rows $150

Yuri Foreman


Johnny Rodz Professional Wrestling
Gleason's Gym,77 Front St. Brooklyn
Saturday, April 5, 2008
First Bout 8:00PM, General Admission $10


81st Annual Daily News Golden Gloves Finals
Held at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, April 17th and Friday, April 18th.
The Best Possible Seats will be sold through Gleason's Gym as soon as they become available. Reserve your orders today!

Golden Gloves Finals
The Theatre at Madison Square Garden, Thursday, April 17, 2008 and Friday April 18, 2008, First bout 7:00PM, Tickets available at Gleason's Gym, $25, $35, $45

The Battle of Brooklyn VIII
Gleason's Gym, 77 Front St, Brooklyn
Saturday, April 26, 2008
First bout 8:00PM, General admission $35
Ringside $55 V.I.P. tickets $75

A night of kick-boxing, Muay Thai, San Da, No Gi Submission Grappling, and much, much more.

Gleason's Monthly Club Show
Saturday, May 24, 2008

Gleason's Gym will resume the monthly boxing shows now that the Golden Gloves are over. All bouts are pre-matched by New York's finest matchmaker, Angela Querol. If you wish to participate call Angela at (718) 797-2872.

The weigh-in starts at 5:00PM and the first bout will be at 7:00PM.

Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 for gym members and amateur fighters with passbooks in hand.
boxing entertainment fight sports mixed martial arts special events sports worldwide

Adrenaline MMA replaces M-1 Global; Fedor becomes a free agent

NEW YORK -- Executives at M-1 Global announced today they have started anew promotion called Adrenaline MMA and will begin promoting major eventsin the U.S. beginning in June. Adrenaline will replace M-1 Global in the U.S. immediately. The changealso includes the release of Russian fighter Fedor Emilianenko, who isfree to seek fights elsewhere.

Fedor Emilianenko


Monte Cox is the President and CEO of Adrenaline MMA. Bob Clark is theCOO and Brian Patton is VP responsible for sponsorships and endorsements.



boxing, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events, performing arts, sports, worldwide

© 2007, 2008 Keisha Morrisey all rights reserved

Adrenaline MMA‏; Adrenaline signs MMA heavyweight standouts Sylvia and Rothwell

NEW YORK -- Adrenaline MMA announced today that heavyweight stars Tim Sylvia and Ben Rothwell have signed multi-fight contracts with the newly-formed promotion. Sylvia (24-4) is a former 2-time UFC heavyweight champion, while Rothwell(31-5) was undefeated in the IFL for the champion Quad Cities Silverbacks.

Savant and Ben Rothwell


Sylvia, 6-foot-8 and 265 pounds, has fought 13 times in the UFC and defeated top performers like Jeff Monson, Andre Arlovski (twice), Brandon Vera, Ricco Rodriguez and Assuerio Silva. "Adrenaline is a new promotion, but it allows fighters to fight for other organizations... that's huge," Sylvia said. "I've got 3 to 4 years leftand want to fight as much as possible, so this is the perfect choice forme at this time." Rothwell, 6-5 and 265, has won 13 straight bouts, including all 9 of his IFL fights. "Adrenaline will give me the chance to take things to the next level,"Rothwell said. "I'm ready to see how I fare against the best heavyweights in the world." Sylvia and Rothwell both train at Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf,Iowa.

boxing, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events, performing arts, sports, worldwide

© 2007, 2008 Keisha Morrisey all rights reserved

Philly's Tyrone Brunson goes for Knockout record‏

MCKART - MARQUEZ HEADLINE SATURDAY ON GOFIGHTLIVE.TV
WEBCAST TO AIR @ 8:OO P.M.

JOHNSTON - NARH IN CO-FEATURE!
Philly's Tyrone Brunson goes for his the record 19th straight first round Knockout on www.gofightlive.tv

CLIP Boxing and Blue Cap Promotions hosts an exciting seven bout card Saturday, March 29th, at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and GoFightLive.TV will be on hand to webcast all the action live, beginning at 8:00 P.M.! The stacked card will include a total of seven bouts, all of which will be available live at www.GoFightLive.tv!

McKart vs Marquez
In the evening's headlining bout, former WBO Light Middleweight champ Bronco "Superman" McKart (51-8, 31 KO's) will square off against former IBF Light Middleweight champ Raul "El Diamante" Marquez (40-3, 29 KO's).
While McKart has won three of his last four bouts, since his TKO loss to current middleweight kingpin, Kelly Pavlik, Marquez, a 1992 United States Olympian, is also enjoying a resurgence in his career, and is on a five-fight knockout streak.
With a combined total of 32 years of professional ring experience, 103 professional bouts, and 60 wins by way of knockout, the McKart - Marquez match-up is sure to make for an all-action shootout!

Johnston vs Narh

In the co-main event, 35 year-old former WBC Lightweight champion, Stevie "Lil But Bad" Johnston (41-5-1, 18 KO's) takes on once-beaten, and power-punching Ghanaian lightweight, Ray "Emperor" Narh (22-1, 19 KO's).
While Johnston continues his quest toward capturing world title glory one final time, Narh looks to continue on with his winning ways, as he enters the bout with Johnston, riding a twelve-bout winning streak. His last defeat came back in June, 2004, and he has since won ten of his last twelve fights via knockout.
With Johnston's 5'5 southpaw frame necessitating his need to get inside and impose his will upon Narh, and the 5'10 Narh looking to impose his will, and punching power, upon Johnston from the outside, this match-up is sure to present a more than intriguing and action-packed boxing affair!

Also slated for undercard action:
Tyrone Brunson (18-0, 18 KO's) vs Francis McKechnai (3-14, 3 KO's)
Kara Ro (15-0, 7 KO's) vs Kelli Cofer (13-7-4, 3 KO's)
Brandon Little (1-0) vs Jose Mandujano (1-0, 1 KO)
Frederico Flores Jr. (3-2, 2 KO's) vs Eric Hall (7-7-1 NC, 3 KO's)
Luigi Gjokaj (0-1) vs Cory Hall (0-5-1, 1 NC)

*All bouts are subject to change

"GoFightLive is the only website in the world that gives boxing fans everything they are looking for," states Jerry Palmer, CEO of GoFightLive. "Aside from our live event broadcasts, www.GoFightLive.tv also hosts interviews, boxing shows, archived video, photos, boxer data, event information, and all the up to date news fights are looking for."

boxing, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events, performing arts, sports, worldwide

Jaffa Ballogou Set For A Comeback!

Former WBC Super Middleweight International Champion and WBA title challenger Jaffa “The African Assassin” Ballogou 45-6 (39 KO’s) has announced he will to return to the ring in the near future. Ballogou, who had been sidelined by promotional issues since his last fight in June 2006 is close to inking with a new promoter and plans to set his sights on the best Light Heavyweights in the world.

(Photo Courtesy of Knockout Publicity)


“I have been on the shelf for a few years so my comeback will be exciting! I also have a new manager who has opened some doors for me. I need all the boxing fans to have confidence in me because “The African Assassin” can still do this! I have already begun training and my plans are to clean house in the Light Heavyweight division so once the opportunity arrives, I know I can make some serious noise at 175 lbs!”

Team Ballogou plans to make an announcement shortly about specifics of his return but in the meantime, fans can contact Jaffa at Myspace.com/JaffaBallogou

boxing, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events, performing arts, sports, worldwide

Schoenauer vs. Barrett Added, Two Replacements to IFL N.J. Card‏

NEW YORK- Mixed Martial arts veteran Alex Schoenauer (Las Vegas) will take on local standout Brendan Barrett (Tuckerton, N.J.) as the International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) will now hold 10 bouts on its card at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Friday, April 4.
In addition, two replacements have been named: Jason Black (Davenport, Iowa), representing Miletich Fighting Systems, and Jim Miller (Sparta, N.J.), fighting for Renzo Gracie Academy. Schoenauer, who has nine IFL bouts among his 21 career MMA fights, last fought for the IFL title at 205 lbs. in November, losing a decision to Vladimir Matyushenko. Barrett has a 3-2 record, with two of the wins coming by knockout. Black is 23-4-1 and is highly regarded among MMA fans, gaining additional attention by competing in two UFC bouts last year. He will fight in place of Rory Markham, who is recovering from a respiratory illness, against Emyr Bussade (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) of American Top Team at welterweight. Miller, who owns an impressive 10-1 record, will take on Bart Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill.) of Midwest Combat in a lightweight matchup, in place of Deividas Taurosevicius, who has a hand injury. As previously announced, IFL titleholders Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko (Belarus), Jay “The Thorobred” Hieron (Freeport, N.Y./Las Vegas) and Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will defend their belts on April 4. Matyushenko will battle Jamal Patterson (Jersey City, N.J.) for the light heavyweight crown; Hieron will take on Mark Miller (Chicago) at 170 lbs., and Fabiano will accept the challenge of Shad Lierley (Seattle) at 145 lbs. In a non-title bout, Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) will oppose Nate Lamotte (New Hampshire) in a matchup of lightweights. Tickets are available at the IZOD Center Box Office (located at the Meadowlands), www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (201) 507-8900. IFL East Rutherford, N.J.Friday, April 4, 2008 (order TBD) Additional Bouts155 lbs.: Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) (7-1 IFL, 11-1 overall MMA) vs. Nate Lamotte (New Hampshire) (0-0, 6-2)205 lbs.: Alex Schoenauer (Las Vegas) (4-5, 12-9) vs. Brendan Barrett (Tuckerton, N.J.) (0-0, 3-2) American Top Team vs. Miletich Fighting Systems145 lbs.: Rafael Dias (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (1-0, 10-3-1) vs. LC Davis (Kansas City, Mo.) (2-0, 9-1)170 lbs.: Emyr Bussade (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (0-0, 10-5) vs. Jason Black (Davenport, Iowa) (0-0, 23-4-1)205 lbs.: Carmelo Marrero (Douglasville, Pa.) (0-0, 7-2) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz (Williamstown, Pa.) (5-3, 13-3) Midwest Combat vs. Renzo Gracie Academy155 lbs.: Bart Palaszewski (Wonder Lake, Ill.) (8-3, 29-10) vs. Jim Miller (Sparta, N.J.) (0-0, 10-1)170 lbs.: Brad Blackburn (Olympia, Wash.) (3-2, 11-9-1) vs. Delson Heleno (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (6-3, 13-4)*205 lbs.: **Vladimir Matyushenko (Belarus) (5-0, 20-3) vs. Jamal Patterson (Jersey City, N.J.) (4-1, 4-1) Additional Championship Bouts*170 lbs.: **Jay Hieron (Freeport, N.Y.) (6-2, 14-4) vs. Mark Miller (Chicago) (2-1, 8-2)*145 lbs.: **Wagnney Fabiano (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (5-0, 9-1) vs. Shad Lierley (Seattle) (2-1, 2-1) *Championship Bout**Current Titleholder About the IFL International Fight League™ (IFL) has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv. ---"Ratatouille. It's like a stew, right? Why do they call it that? If you're gonna name a food, you should give it a name that sounds delicious. Ratatouille doesn't sound delicious. It sounds like "rat" and "patootie." Rat-patootie, which does not sound delicious."- Linguini, Ratatouille, 2007 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Catch the IFL on FSN Sundays at 5 p.m. and LIVE on HDNet on April 4 and May 16 boxing, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events, performing arts, sports, worldwide

NO HOLDS BARRED: Renzo Gracie, Matt Serra, Wagnney Fabiano, Shamrock-Le Review, IFL Preview‏

NO HOLDS BARRED: Renzo Gracie, Matt Serra, Wagnney Fabiano, Shamrock-Le Review, IFL Preview

http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-03-30T20_42_42-07_00

On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman begins by reviewing the mixed martial arts fight between Cung Le and Frank Shamrock held this past Saturday night, March 29, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Cung Le won that fight by TKO at the end of the third round after one of his kicks broke Frank Shamrock's right arm. The relation between striking and grappling in mixed martial arts is particularly analyzed.

We next preview the upcoming mixed martial arts show of the International Fight League (IFL), which will be held this coming Friday, April 4, at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, popularly known as the Meadowlands. This card will be televised live on HDNet.

On that card, in camp vs. camp competition, the Renzo Gracie Academy takes on Midwest Combat, and the American Top Team faces the Miletich Fighting Systems camp. There will be three individual IFL championship bouts as well. Vladimir Matyushenko of Midwest Combat defends his light heavyweight title against Jamal Patterson of the Renzo Gracie Academy in a fight which will also be part of the camp competition. Wagnney Fabiano, the 145-pound champion, fights Shad Lierley, and 170-pound champion Jay Hieron fights Mark Miller.

We spoke with Wagnney Fabiano about what to expect from this fight and also his career in general.

We spoke with the master and legend, Renzo Gracie, about this card as well as his own plans and views.

We also spoke with one of Renzo's prize students, UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, about his title defense April 19 against Georges St-Pierre in Montreal.

To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link at the start of this message, scroll down that page, and just press the play button on the player.

You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking on the download link (right-click to save it).

Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes at http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441.

The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

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Make sure to check out my regular weekly boxing show SecondsOut Radio, at http://www.secondsout.com/radio/. On this week's edition, we speak with Joseph Agbeko, the IBF bantamweight champion, and Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko (25-1, 22 KOs) was not widely known to the boxing world before his title fight Sept. 29, 2007, with then-IBF bantamweight champion Luis Perez. Most of his fights had been in Africa against opponents who were nowhere near being world-ranked. But that did not stop Agbeko from pulling the upset and dethroning the veteran Perez with a seventh-round TKO. We discussed with Joseph Agbeko his background as a fighter and his plans for his next fight. We also recently spoke with Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, at the kickoff news conference to announce the April 19 fight between two champions, light heavyweight king Bernard Hopkins and super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe. We spoke with him about this fight, and also about the plans of Golden Boy Promotions to enter the worlds of soccer (football) and mixed martial arts. Also, we discuss the narrow view of much of the boxing media towards combat sports, their failure to understand other real combat sports such as mixed martial arts and wrestling, and their fawning over the staged pro "wrestling" spectacle, which has left so many of its participants prematurely dead. It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, http://www.secondsout.com/radio/, and listen, learn, and enjoy.

Make sure to check out my regular articles on the ADCC News at http://www.adcombat.com and on FightBeat.com at http://fightbeat.com.

NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

YAMMA Pit Fighting (http://yammapitfighting.com). The producers of the original UFC and Live Nation (http://livenation.com/), worldwide leaders in live entertainment, present YAMMA Pit Fighting mixed martial arts. On the streets, it's against the law. In the pit, it IS the law.

IFL, the International Fight League (http://ifl.tv/), the world's first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) (http://msn.foxsports.com/story/1636002) in the U.S., and to check your local listings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site (http://ifl.tv/), for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule, at http://ifl.tv/TV-Schedule.html.

Gladiator Challenge (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/), shaking up the mixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year. For more news and info, check out their web site, GladiatorChallenge.com (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/).

BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com), your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com) or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear (http://jiujitsuprogear.com/).

FightBeat.com (http://fightbeat.com/), for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.

Thanks, Eddie Goldman

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Enjoy!


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Saturday's EliteXC/Showtime Results; CUNG LE REGISTERS EXCITING THIRD-ROUND TKO OVER FRANK SHAMROCK TO CAPTURE STRIKEFORCE TITLE

SAN JOSE– In a bruising battle of Bay Area rivals, undefeated Cung Le broke the right arm of defending champion Frank Shamrock en route to capturing the Strikeforce middleweight title with a thrilling, give-and-take, crowd-pleasing third-round TKO Saturday on SHOWTIME.

The long-awaited, eagerly anticipated mixed martial arts event, presented by EliteXC and Strikeforce, attracted an enthusiastic, well-behaved crowd of 16,326 at the HP Pavilion that produced a gate of more than $1 million. Those in attendance included EliteXC standouts Kimbo Slice, Jake Shields, Nick Diaz and Phil Baroni.

The fight card aired on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Gilbert Melendez (14-1) of San Francisco successfully defended his Strikeforce lightweight belt with a second-round knockout over hard-trying but outclassed Gabe Lemley (11-7) of New London, Iowa, in a second world title match on a five-bout telecast.

All Photos: TOM CASINO/EliteXC



In a fantastic third round to an exceptionally exciting, give-and-take slugfest Saturday on SHOWTIME, Cung Le delivers the kick that may have broken Frank Shamrock's arm, gets rocked by a Shamrock punch and delivers the finishing kick.



Le captured the Strikeforce middleweight title when defending champion Shamrock could not continue after the third round. The EliteXC-Strikeforce event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd of 16,326, that produced a gate of more than $1 million.



In a rousing slugffest, Joey Villasenor knocked out Ryan Jensen in the opening bout on SHOWTIME.



The Le-Shamrock, Melendez-Lemley fights were scheduled for five, 5-minute rounds. The others were slated for three, 5-minute rounds.

Gilbert Melendez retained his Strikeforce lightweight title with a second-round knockout over Gabe Lemley.



In other televised scraps, Drew Fickett (32-5) of Tucson, Ariz., earned a shot at the vacant EliteXC welterweight crown against Jake Shields by submitting Korea’s Jae Suk Lim (9-4) in the first round; super heavyweight Wayne Cole (11-6) of Oklahoma City, Okla., submitted (armbar) Mike Kyle (9-6-1) of San Jose in the first round and EliteXC standout Joey Villasenor (25-6) of Albuquerque, N.M., knocked out Ryan Jensen (11-4) of Omaha, Neb., in the first round.

Drew Fickett submitted Jae Suk Lim in the first to earn a shot at the vacant EliteXC welterweight title against Jake Shields June 14 on SHOWTIME.



Wayne Cole submitted Mike Kyle in the first round.


In the top non-televised fight, Tiki Ghosn (10-7) of Huntington Beach, Calif., registered an upset three-round decision over previously undefeated welter Luke Stewart (5-1) of San Francisco by the scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice. In other non-televised action, Jesse Jones (2-0) of Redwood City, Calif., scored a 0:35, first-round TKO (strikes) over Jesse Gillespie (1-1) of San Jose; Darren Uyenoyama (4-1) of San Francisco submitted Anthony Figueroa (4-2) of Gilroy, Calif., at 1:27 of the first round; and Billy Evangelista (6-0) of Fresno knocked out Marlon Sims (3-2) of San Jose at 3:39 of the third round.

“This was a great night for MMA and everybody involved with MMA,’’ EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw said. “Cung Le beat The Man. The respect he and Frank showed for each other was most impressive. Both athletes showed they not only are tremendous athletes but exceptional sportsmen.

“Drew Fickett was very impressive and I can’t wait to see his fight against Jake Shields June 14 on SHOWTIME. Wayne Cole won’t be training out of his garage in Oklahoma anymore. Joey Villasenor always puts on a great show. Gilbert Melendez did what he had to do.

“There are a lot of great fighters in a lot of MMA organizations, and we saw a lot of them tonight. These are the kinds of shows I am very proud to be a part of.

Le (6-0) was ahead by the scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice after three completed rounds.

“This was my toughest fight,’’ said Le, who was born in Vietnam, but fled the war-torn country as a baby in his mother’s arms in 1975 and immigrated to the United States where his family settled in San Jose. “I am proud to be Strikeforce champion. Tonight was a great night for MMA in general.’’

Both fighters were bleeding by the end of the first round, with blood coming from the lip of Le and a cut under Shamrock’s left eye. A taunting Shamrock ended the stanza by putting his hands to the side of his head as if to say “it is time for you to go to sleep.’’

Le wasn’t distracted by Shamrock’s antics, however, and knocked out his mouthpiece after an exchange of punches at the beginning of the second round. Later in the session, Shamrock made one of his few attempts to take Le to the ground, but Le always managed to escape.

Early in the third, after landing two powerful kicks to Shamrock’s head, Le connected with a sweeping leg kick that sent Shamrock to the canvas. Shamrock recovered and landed a huge right hand that hurt and dazed Le and followed with an onslaught of punches.

But Le retaliated with a barrage of kicks and licks of his own. Both fighters were bloodied and bruised after the three rounds.

“Frank is a legend, but I had a better night tonight,’’ Le said. ‘This was not easy. Frank surprised me by keeping his word to fight standing up and he kept coming at me. He hit me with some good punches and rocked me a few times. I saw some stars, but this was my chance to become a world champion and I pushed through it.

“I kept aiming for his wrist with my kicks because I knew I could hurt him there. I knew he was hurt when he started blocking my kicks with just one hand. But he has so much heart, I expected him to fight with a broken arm.

“I want to thank my fans for supporting and for accepting me. I did my best and brought my heart to the cage tonight. This is an unbelievable feeling.

“I have come a long way from Vietnam to become a world champion.’’

Before he was taken to a nearby hospital for surgery for what the California State Athletic Commission described as a fracture of the distal ulna (wrist fracture), Shamrock (24-9-1) said, “Cung Le broke my right arm with a kick.

“I kept trying to fight through it, but it was tough. He fought really hard tonight. He is a true champion.’’

Fickett, who has recorded submission victories in 21 of his 32 wins, required all of 1:14 to take Lim to the ground and tap him out.

“I came out here to fight and I stepped up,” Fickett said. “I wanted to fight (the injured) Jake (Shields), but I will get my chance to do that. I was just trying to choke Lim out on the ground, but he lifted me up and I was able to get a better hold around his neck.

"Once he fell back to the ground it was over. He had to tap out.”

Melendez dominated Lemley before the referee halted the one-sided proceedings at 2:18 of the second.

“I thought I had him at the end of the first round, but he was saved by the bell,’’ Melendez said. “Another five seconds and it would have been over.

“He was definitely a tough guy but these are the kinds of wins you need to get to prove to people you are among the very best in your weight class. I would love to unify the titles.

“I’d be glad to fight the winner of the KJ Noons-Yves Edwards fight (Noons defends his EliteXC lightweight belt against Edwards June 14 in Honolulu on SHOWTIME).’’

In the quickest fight of an action-packed night, Cole submitted Kyle (armbar) at 0:42 of the first.

“This was by far the biggest victory of my career, but no way I expected it to end that quickly. To win this kind of fight that quickly on SHOWTIME is a tremendous boost to me and my career.

“I was told that my weakness was I didn’t use my wrestling skills, so I wanted to take him down and show everyone what I have. I love to fight, but I try to get out of there as quickly as I can.’’

If the swift victory came as a surprise to Cole, it is going to be a total shock to his mother.

“My mom doesn’t even know I am doing MMA and I have been doing it three years,’’ said Cole moments before calling her. “She thought I was boxing. My seven sisters all knew what I was up to, but they didn’t tell her either.

“I am sure my mom will be proud of me, but she won’t be too happy with any of us that no one told her what was going on.’’

In perhaps the best knockout of the evening, Villasenor stopped Jensen with a series of powerful combinations followed by a punishing right hook.

“I was trying to find my range with him and the jabs were just trying to set something up,’’ said Villasenor after a short but rousing slugfest that featured numerous exchanges ended. “He caught me with some shots, but then I really connected with that right hook.

“I worked hard for this fight. He is a great competitor, but I really came out swinging. I want to thank EliteXC for giving me this opportunity and everyone back home who helps me train.

“I am willing to fight whoever they put in front of me.’’

Renowned play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo called the shots on Saturday's telecast with former wrestling superstar, Bill Goldberg, and "The Fight Professor," Stephen Quadros, serving as color analysts. The executive producer was David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.

Saturday’s card will re-air as follows:

DAY CHANNEL

Monday, March 31, 8 p.m. ET/PT SHO EXTREME

Tuesday, April 1, 10 p.m. ET/PT SHO TOO

Wednesday, April 2, 10:45 p.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME

Fighter pages for televised bouts: Shamrock (http://frankshamrock.proelite.com), Le (http:/cungle.proelite.com), Melendez (http:/gilbertmelendez.proelite.com), Fickett (http:/drewfickett.proelite.com), Lim (http://jaesuklim.proelite.com), Kyle (http://mikekyle.proelite.com), Cole (http://waynecole.proelite.com), Villasenor (http://joeyvillasenor.proelite.com), Jensen (http://ryanjensen.proelite.com)

Fighter pages for non-televised bouts: Jones (http://jessejones.proelite.com), Gillespie (http://jessegillespie.proelite.com), Uyenoyama (http://darrenuyenoyama.proelite.com), Ghosn (http://tikighosn.proelite.com), Stewart (http://lukestewart.proelite.com).

MMA returns to SHOWTIME next Saturday, April 5, when promising light heavyweights, undefeated Jared Hamman (9-0) of San Bernardino, Calif., and once-beaten Poia Suganuma (8-1) of Hilo, Hawaii, collide in the main event of a six-bout telecast on ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series.

The card, which will also feature the return of Fabricio Camoes and two women’s fights, will air at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast) from Table Mountain Casino at Friant, Calif.

Tickets, priced at $50, $60, $70 and $80, are available at the Main Casino Cage at Table Mountain Casino and online at www.tmcasino.com/tickets.html. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. First live fight is at 5:30 p.m. PT.

EliteXC and CBS will make history when they bring MMA to network television in primetime on Saturday, May 31.

Incredibly popular Kimbo Slice will face an opponent to be announced in the main event. “Ruthless’’ Robbie Lawler will defend his EliteXC middleweight belt against Scott “Hands Of Steel” Smith in the co-feature. The remainder of the card will be announced in the near future.

The June 14 EliteXC card on SHOWTIME will be highlighted by two world title fights: Noons defends against Edwards and Shields and Fickett will square off for the vacant EliteXC welterweight title. An outstanding fight card also will include a fight between talented, world-class Nick Diaz and Mushin Corbbrey.

For more information on EliteXC and other MMA-related stories, including bios, video-on-demand, photos, stats, Fantasy Fight Game TM and more, please visit ProElite.com and EliteXC.com. For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video, photo galleries and complete telecast information, please visit http://www.SHO.com/Sports.

About ProElite:
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

About Strikeforce:
Strikeforce is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, Strikeforce has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Since then, it has co-produced the first SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event in history with its world championship “Shamrock vs. Baroni” card on June 22nd of this year followed by the first-ever mixed martial arts event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion on September 29th.

About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® ON DEMAND. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

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EliteXC/Strikeforce; mixed martial arts spectacular at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., made weight

The 18 fighters who will compete on tomorrow's/Saturday's huge EliteXC-Strikeforce mixed martial arts spectacular at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., made weight Friday at the HP Pavilion. Doors open Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT. First fight is at 5 o'clock. Tickets are available.

All Photos: TOM CASINO/EliteXC

Frank Shamrock (left) defends his Strikeforce middleweight title against Cung Le in a highly-anticipated matchup of Bay Area rivals in the main event of a five-fight telecast on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).


Gilbert Melendez (left) risks his Strikeforce lightweight belt against Gabe Lemley.

Drew Fickett (left) faces Jae Suk Lim in a compelling matchup at 172 pounds.

Wayne Cole (left) and Mike Kyle collide in an important fight for both athletes.

EliteXC standout Joey Villasenor meets Ryan Jensen in the SHOWTIME telecast's opening bout.
boxing, elite xc, tv, showtime championship boxing, sports, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events, performing arts, sports, worldwide

Cung Le: I Am A Fighter‏

Check out the latest video from SHOWTIME - Cung Le: I Am a Fighter - on the premium network's website. (Direct link to the Shamrock vs. Le event page below.) Along with Goldberg Toe-To-Toe and SHO Shorts, I Am a Fighter is yet another viral video series created to bring MMA fans closer to their favorite fighters than ever before.

And don't forget SHOWTIME Cage Cam goes live on Saturday night during the main event (approximately 10:15 pm ET). Visit www.SHO.com during the telecast to go inside the cage with two of the world's most explosive and talented fighters.

http://www.sho.com/site/sports/ShamrockVSLe.do
Showtime Networks Inc.

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SecondsOut Radio: Joseph Agbeko, Richard Schaefer‏

SecondsOut Radio: Joseph Agbeko, Richard Schaefer On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman speakswith Joseph Agbeko, the IBF bantamweight champion, and Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko (25-1, 22 KOs) was not widely known to the boxing world before his title fight Sept. 29, 2007, with then-IBF bantamweight champion Luis Perez. Most of his fights had been in Africa against opponents who were now here near being world-ranked. But that did not stop Agbeko from pulling the upset and dethroning the veteran Perez with a seventh-round TKO. We discussed with Joseph Agbeko his background as a fighter and his plans for his next fight. We also recently spoke with Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, at the kick off news conference to announce the April 19 fight between two champions, light heavyweight king Bernard Hopkins and super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe. We spoke with him about this fight, and also about the plans of Golden Boy Promotions to enter the worlds of soccer (football) and mixed martial arts. Also, we discuss the narrow view of much of the boxing media towards combat sports, their failure to understand other real combat sports such as mixed martial arts and wrestling, and their fawning over the staged pro "wrestling" spectacle, which has left so many of its participants prematurely dead. It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register togain access to it. Just click here, http://www.secondsout.com/radio/,and listen, learn, and enjoy. Thanks, Eddie Goldman No Holds Barred bloghttp://nhbnews.blogspot.com/ No Holds Barred podcasthttp://nhbnews.podomatic.com/ The Boxing Standardhttp://boxingstandard.com/ No Holds Barred on MySpacehttp://www.myspace.com/nhbnewsboxing, entertainment, fight sports, film, literary arts, mixed martial arts, nightlife, politics, special events,

"Pride of St. Louis"; RESULTS + QUOTES -

IBF JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

CORY SPINKS


“I felt good, just a little rusty that’s all. Verno fought a good fight. He came in to do a job, but I feel I did what I came to do. I am upset with myself. I let myself down.”

VERNO PHILLIPS

“I hit more with my left. They told me not to reach in. He is hard to adapt to. He is sneaky. You lean in, he will hit you with a one-two. I just relied on my experience. I did my best and I am still in the top 10. I had harder shots. I felt like his people were booing him because they felt he didn’t bring it.”

WBC CONTINENTAL AMERCIAS & WBA FEDELATIN SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

DEVON ALEXANDER


“I felt great tonight but I always feel I could have done better. I was happy with the knockdown in the last round, but I would have liked to have had a knockout. St. Louis has a new champion and I am going to stay around. I want to fight for a world championship by the end of the year.

KEVIN CUNNINGHAM (Alexander’s trainer/manager)


“Devon did what he had to do. There is not much you can do when a guy brings his track shoes instead of his boxing shoes. When Callist sat down in the sixth round and fought, Devon shut him out. Then he [Callist] got on his bike.”

MIGUEL CALLIST

“He was a strong man. Besides strong, he was a little younger. I did my best, but he had the home crowd on his side. Yes, I think I did enough to win.”

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