STEVE CHAMBERS TO TAKE ON ANKRAH; DEVICTORIA REMATCHES MEDINA ON A PACKED CARD AT THE LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 5TH

PHILADELPHIA— On Friday night, December 5th, a huge night is planned with many great fights and ceremonies are on tap for the annual Children’s Holiday show at The Legendary Blue Horizon.

Before the action gets underway, Fans are encouraged to bring a safe toy or gifts to help the less fortunate during the upcoming holiday season.

The co-feature just announced will pit Steve Upsher Chambers taking on the tough & durable Ben Ankrah of Ghana in a eight round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Boxing brothers Eddie Chambers (l) and Steve Upsher Chambers


Chambers, 18-1-1 with five knockouts is coming off a hard fought eight round unanimous decision over Kevin Carmody on September 12th at The Legendary Blue Horizon. This will be Chambers 20th appearance at The Legendary Blue Horizon.

Ankrah, 11-8 from Ghana was the Ghana and West African Lightweight champion. He made his American debut and took former world title challenger and highly regarded Mike Arnaoutis ten hard round before dropping a unanimous decision on October 29th in New York City.
Ben Ankrah



One of the fights just added to an already packed card, will pit Blue Horizon favorite, Lenny DeVictoria taking on Ricardo Medina in a six round Jr. Welterweight rematch.

DeVictoria has a deceiving record of 11-12 with three knockouts.

December 5th will mark an anniversary of sorts for DeVictoria.

It was December 7, 2007 when DeVictoria and Elad Shmouel hooked up in a classic Blue Horizon battle that fans are still talking about.

On December 5th, DeVictoria will also receive an award from John Disanto of www.phillyboxinghistory.com citing DeVictoria’s participation in the “2007 Fight of The Year” with Shmouel

This will be DeVictoria’s eleventh appearance at The Legendary Blue Horizon (6-4) which includes his February, 2007 split decision loss to Medina.

Like DeVictoria, Medina is better then his record which stands at 31-32-4 with seventeen knockouts. The twenty-one year vet has faced a litany of top fighters & world champions throughout the years such as Paulie Ayala, Guty Espadas, Zahir Raheem, and Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson to name a few.

Medina is coming off a very impressive six round unanimous decision over the dangerous Kevin Carmody seventeen months ago.

Those two fights are added to a card that is promoted by Vernoca L. Michael and Blue Horizon Boxing Promotions that is stacked with fan favorites from top to the bottom

The card reads as Follows:

8 Rounds Cruiserweights-Ran Nakash (15-0, 11 KO’s) of Haifa, Israel vs. Harvey Jolly (8-9-1, 4 KO’s) of Adrian Michigan

8 Rounds Jr. Welterweights—Steve Upsher Chambers (18-1-1, 5 KO’s) of Philadelphia vs. Ben Ankrah (11-8, 3 KO's) of Ghana

6 Rounds Jr. Welterweights—Lenny Devictoria (11-12, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia vs. Ricardo Medina (31-32-4, 17 KO’s) of Philadelphia

6 rounds Featherweights—Jules Blackwell (8-1-1, 2 KO’s) of Phoenixville, Pa vs. Darrell Martin (3-6) of Baltimore, Md.

6 Rounds Light Heavyweights—Ben Foust (11-0, 10 KO’s) of Jacksboro, Tn. vs. TBA

6 rounds Jr. Middleweights—Darren Fallen (11-4-1, 6 KO’s) vs. TBA

4 rounds Welterweights—John Goldwire (1-0) of Philadelphia vs. John Pawlowski (1-1-1, 1 KO) of Hollywood, Fla.

4 Rounds Jr. Welterweights—Julius Edmonds (2-3) of Philadelphia vs. Michael Weaver (2-2-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia


4 Rounds Middleweights—John Turner (PD) of Philadelphia vs. Joey Aquaru (PD) of Philadelphia

4 Rounds Lightweights—Luis Castro (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia vs. TBA

This card will be broadcasted all over the world LIVE!!! on www.gofightlive.tv

Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $200 for Queen Seating, $125 for Presidential seats, $65 for VIP, $55 for Ringside, and $45 for General Admission and can be purchased by calling The Legendary Blue Horizon at 1-215-763-0500 or by logging on to comcasttix.com. Doors open at 6:30 PM / 1st bout begins at 7:30 PM

The Legendary Blue Horizon is located at 1314 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA

For more information, log on to www.legendarybluehorizon.com

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CUNNINGHAM vs. ADAMEK - CAMP NOTES‏

Cunningham-Adamek Newsletter

Issue #1 – Nov 4, 2008

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE . . . According to the New York Post, the world middleweight championship belt Rocky Graziano lifted from Tony Zale on July 17, 1947, will be auctioned off on Nov 15 at a Louisville, KY sports memorabilia show. It is expected to sell for as much as $75,000. Just 11 months after winning the belt, Graziano would return it to Tony Zale in the rubber match of their epic trilogy. Ironically, that June 10, 1948, bout at Ruppert Stadium was the last world championship fight in Newark, NJ—that is until Dec 11, 2008, when Philadelphia, PA native Steve “USS” Cunningham defends his IBF Cruiserweight Championship against Jersey City’s “Polish Warrior” Tomasz Adamek at the Prudential Center. VERSUS will broadcast the Cunningham-Adamek bout and a co-feature contest beginning at 8:00 pm ET . . . The NY Post article can be found at http://www.nypost.com/seven/10272008/news/nationalnews/rocky_bidders_belt_it_out_135433.htm
STEVE CUNNINGHAM

On training camp:

· The Philadelphia Phillies fan is a constant fixture at the James Shuler Memorial Gym in West Philly and the Rock Ministries Gym in Kensington. But despite his intensity he and his team keep the atmosphere relaxed with practical jokes: “We like to have fun in camp. Last week when my trainer [Anthony Chase] landed in Philly we told him we rented a nice apartment for him. We took him to the ghetto to a house where the grass was over-grown and the windows were boarded. I walked over to the car with a straight face and gave him the keys and his jaw dropped. I couldn’t stop laughing.”

· Chase has trained Cunningham since the amateurs; although the two did separate for a few years before reuniting. Chase has also trained Cedric Boswell, Sam Reese, Dorin Spivey, Owen Beck, and Dave Hadden

· Chazz Witherspoon and Eddie Chambers are two of the fighters Cunningham is using for sparring because he wants “bigger, stronger guys”. . .

On Adamek:

· “From what it seems I think I’ve fought tougher guys [than Adamek], like Guillermo Jones, Kelvin Davis, and Sebastian Rothmann. But I see a decent fighter in Adamek—solid, pretty strong. I’m expecting a tough fight “

· “I think he’s been in there with good opposition. He fought Chad Dawson. But I’m different than Chad. I’m bigger. That’s what makes this fight so good. Both of us have been there, done that“

· “Adamek was bigger than I thought. We were about the same size. But size doesn’t mean much. Some of my toughest fights were against smaller guys.”

On His Naval Career

· Cunningham served four years in the U.S. Navy and finished as an E-3.

· For the first 2 ½ years of his service he was an aircraft re-fueler for the U.S.S. Enterprise and the U.S.S. America. “I re-fueled everything from F-18s, F-14s, helicopters, you name it.” He visited many places such as the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, Greece, Italy, and Malta

· The last 1 ½ years of his tour were spent boxing for the Navy.

· Cunningham is proud of his service and would like to serve as a spokesman for the Navy


TOMASZ ADAMEK

On Training

· Adamek’s co-trainer Mike Skowronski is stunned at how good Adamek looks at this stage of training camp: “He looks awesome and he keeps getting better each day. It’s our inside joke that after every workout he tells me, ‘Wait till next week” . . . Fighting at cruiserweight has made all the difference according to Adamek: “I feel better than I did at light heavyweight. I’m not tired. I feel stronger” . . . Among his training rituals is 45 minutes of road work, four times per week . . .

· Skowronski is particularly impressed by Adamek’s speed and with “the way he’s putting together his combinations and working off his jab. His balance is great. I wish the fight was in two weeks to be honest with you. He is as steady as a rock.”

· Adamek is using top-10 contender Shaun George, former champion Al Cole, and three-time Golden Gloves champion Patrick Farell for sparring. So far he has already logged over 40 rounds of sparring, predominantly with George. Skowronski expects Adamek to spar a total of 60 rounds before they break their Passaic PAL training camp in Passaic, NJ.

On Cunningham

·“Cunningham is a good boxer. He’s a champion. But I think I will win this fight because I feel so much stronger at cruiserweight.” Skowronski adds: “Tomasz knows it’s going to be a tough fight,” says Skowronski. “He expects to catch up with Cunningham and wear him down. He’s looking at this as a 12 round war.”

Miscellaneous

·Adamek has been living in Jersey City, NJ for about two years. In August his wife and children joined him in America.

·Adamek says he might consider moving to heavyweight in the future, but “not to fight the real big guys.” For now all he is concentrating on is Cunningham: “This belt is very important to me. I would like to win this and then unify the titles.”

Tickets

Tickets, priced at $303, $153, $78, $53, $38, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 201-507-8900
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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

CALZAGHE VS. JONES: Saturday Night At 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT

Before the main event this Saturday night on Pay-Per-View watch all three episodes of 24/7, back to back on HBO. Tonight from 8:30-9:30PM and tomorrow morning from 8:30-9:30AM.

Watch the first episode, get expert predictions, fight week footage and more at HBO.com.

And don't forget to order Calzaghe vs. Jones this Saturday night on HBO Pay-Per-View!
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"The Grande Event" cancelled‏

NEW YORK– Cedric Kushner, President of Gotham Boxing, announced in New York today that he has been informed by Irish Ropes that they cannot deliver the services of John Duddy, the headliner on the November 21st New York City show. As such, the show has been cancelled.

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No Holds Barred: Chica Loca of WFTDA on Roller Derby National Championship, The Northwest Knockdown

No Holds Barred: Chica Loca of WFTDA on Roller Derby National Championship, The Northwest Knockdown

http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/2008-11-09T23_53_13-08_00

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Chica Loca, the marketing chair for the WFTDA, the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (http://www.wftda.com/). She is also a skater with the Sacred City Derby Girls of Sacramento, California (http://www.sacredcityderbygirls.com/). This show is part of our continuing coverage of the exciting sport of roller derby, the fastest-growing sport in America.

Our main topic is the Northwest Knockdown, which is the 2008 WFTDA National Championship (http://www.northwestknockdown.com/). This three-day tournament will be held Friday, November 14, though Sunday, November 16, at the Portland Expo Center in Portland, Oregon.

The eight teams competing in the Northwest Knockdown, which include the four top teams from both east and west regions, are: the Texas Rollergirls (Austin, TX), the Gotham Girls Roller Derby (New York, NY), the Duke City Derby (Albuquerque, NM), the Philly Roller Girls (Philadelphia, PA), the Rat City Rollergirls (Seattle, WA), the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls (San Francisco, CA), the Carolina Rollergirls, (Raleigh, NC), and the Windy City Rollers (Chicago, IL).

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.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter (http://iancarpenter.com/).

Make sure to check out my regular weekly boxing show SecondsOut Radio, at http://www.secondsout.com/radio/. On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, we discuss how the November 8 card at Madison Square Garden in New York, headlined by the one-sided drubbing by Joe Calzaghe of Roy Jones Jr., was yet another sign of the long decline of American boxing. We also discuss this theme with Keisha Morrisey (http://keishamorrisey.com), who was there covering the fight. We discuss the fight itself, the future of Roy Jones Jr. after this loss, why fighters need to learn the boxing business, the poor marketing done to get the fans to know who these fighters are, the failure to reach the urban market, and more. 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.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

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/).

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

Wrestling 411 (http://wrestling411.tv), providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions (http://www.mediasportsproductions.com/), whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.

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
http://eddiegoldman.com

Enjoy!
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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

IBF Cruiserweight Champion Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham Is Special Guest at New York City Veterans Day Parade

PHOTO CREDIT;Gianluca Di Caro

PHILADELPHIA—International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham will honor fellow servicemen past and present by taking part in the annual New York City Veterans Day Parade on Tuesday.

Cunningham will defend his crown against former World Boxing council light heavyweight champion Tomasz “Goral” Adamek at Prudential Center in nearby Newark, N.J., on Thursday, December, 11.

He started his boxing career while in the Navy, and he firmly believes that the discipline he gained serving as an aircraft re-fueler aboard the USS America and the USS Enterprise in the mid-1990s, was the springboard to his success as a professional prizefighter.

A rightly proud Cunningham said, “Being in the parade is a true honor. I served four years in the Navy. I know what it means—the recognition given to people who, like me, served their country. I feel privileged to be taking part and while doing so will be remembering those heroic men and women that will not be there, those who were killed fighting in the wars, as well as honoring those that are still with us. I’m going to march with dignity and pride.”

The IBF cruiserweight championship fight between Champion, Steve “USS” Cunningham and challenger Tomasz “Goral” Adamek is co-promoted by Main Events and Don King Productions.

Tickets priced at $303, $153, $78, $53, $38 are on sale now and can be purchased at The Prudential Center box office or by calling TicketMaster on 201-507-8900.

About the New York City Veterans Day Parade
New York City Veterans Day Parade
5th Ave. from 26th St. to 56th St.
11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008.

This parade is the largest of its kind in the nation, providing an opportunity for New Yorkers and visitors from across America and around the world to honor those who have preserved our freedoms.

The theme for 2008, "Legacy of Honor," pays tribute to veterans of all eras, and also serves to welcome home the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

The New York City Veterans Day Parade features over 20,000 participants, including veterans of all eras, active duty military, ROTC and JrROTC units, civic and youth groups, all accompanied by music performed by a dozen of our nation’s best high school marching bands.

Floats, military and vintage vehicles and other special contingents add to the spectacle and excitement of the parade, which is viewed by over 400,000 spectators. The parade route is approximately 1.5 miles, and takes 30-40 minutes to complete.


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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Manfredo & Bika media workout pictures‏

"The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo, Jr. (with his father/head trainer Peter Manfredo, Sr.) and Sakio "The Scorpion" Bika at today's open media workout at Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. (Pictures by Emily Harney)


Manfredo (31-5, 16 KOs), runner-up in The Contender I, fights The Contender III winner Bika (26-3-2. 16 KOs) in "Tough & Tested," Thursday night in the 12-round main event for the vacant IBO super middleweight title on Versus television live from the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence (RI).

Tickets, ranging from $18.00 to $222.00, are on sale at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Box Office (401.331.6700) or through CES Boxing at 401.724.2253/2254 or www.cesboxing.com.

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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

SecondsOut Radio: Calzaghe-Jones and the Decline of American Boxing,with Keisha Morrisey

On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, host Eddie Goldman discusses how the November 8 card at Madison Square Garden in New York, headlined by the one-sided drubbing by Joe Calzaghe of Roy Jones Jr., was yet another sign of the long decline of American boxing. We also discuss this theme with Keisha Morrisey (http://keishamorrisey.com), who was there covering the fight.

We discuss the fight itself, the future of Roy Jones Jr. after this loss, why fighters need to learn the boxing business, the poor marketing done to get the fans to know who these fighters are, the failure to reach the urban market, and more. 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.
See the video at youtube.com/elempress1 or just click the link below

Thanks, Eddie Goldman
http://eddiegoldman.com

Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel Online http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

EL Boxing Empress Keisha Morrisey's Myspace http://www.myspace.com/Keishadivine

Honorable Keisha Morrisey http://www.keishamorrisey.com/

©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Television analyst Nick Charles on James Moore's December 13 bout on ShoBox: The New Generation‏

Television analyst Nick Charles comments on New York-based Irishman James Moore’s December 13 challenge of NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman on ShoBox: The New Generation.

Nick Charles, the longtime co-host of ShoBox: The New Generation, is excited over the December 13 fight between NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, 26-0 (8 KOS), and challenger James Moore, 16-1 (10 KOS).

The Top Rank-promoted show, which will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, is being headlined by the rubber match between WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt, 24-2 (13 KOS), of Paterson, New Jersey, and former titlist Ricardo Torres, 32-2 (28 KOS), of Colombia.

Although Foreman and Moore are both based in New York, the 28-year-old Foreman, who is ranked in the top-ten by all the major sanctioning bodies, was born in Belarus but lived for several years in Israel. The 30-year-old Moore is a native of County Wicklow, Ireland.

“Foreman has proven that you don’t have to have a knockout punch to be effective,” said Charles. “He knows how to turn a guy and control the distance in the ring. This fight will be all about distance; whether Foreman can maintain it or if Moore can close it. If Moore can close it, he can win.”

Charles says that Moore’s key to victory is to do what he does best; continually move forward and never stop throwing punches. “Moore can’t be stuck at the end of Foreman’s jabs,” he explained. “He’s got to get close enough to unload with his left hook and then follow up with his right hand. Against a guy like Foreman, it’s all about positioning.

“Moore can’t worry about getting hit,” he adds. “He’s got to make this into a brawl, a firefight. Andrey Tsurkan did that against Foreman, but he didn’t have the power to take him out and lost a close decision. If Tsurkan could have his moments against Foreman, Moore should be able to do the same.”

Charles believes that beating Foreman will be “a tall order,” but says it is “a wonderful opportunity” for the popular Irishman.

“You can make a case for either guy to win,” said Charles. “There are a lot of stakes involved. This is as dangerous of a fight for Foreman as it is for Moore. The style contrasts will make it interesting. It’s not a slam-dunk or a showcase for either guy. It’s a very good ShoBox matchup.”

Tickets, which range from $200 to $50, are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-736-1420. They can also be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

JOAN GUZMAN PUTS NATE CAMPBELL FIGHT BEHIND HIM RETURNS TO ACTION DEC. 20 AGAINST AMETH DIAZ

Boxing brothers (l) Joan Guzman and Jose Guzman

NEW YORK– Former World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight champion Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) will be back in the ring before the year ends.

Guzman will travel to his native Dominican Republic to take on World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin lightweight champion Ameth Diaz (25-7, 19 KOs) on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008, from El Palacio de los Deportes in Guzman’s hometown of Santo Domingo.

The 12-round fight is promoted by Jay Boxing Promotions. The bout also serves as a WBA lightweight title eliminator.

“I’m anxious to fight again,” said Guzman, who most likely will train in Oxnard, Calif. with new trainer Robert Garcia leading the charge. “I let a lot of people down with the Campbell fight that never materialized. That won’t ever happen again and I’m here to prove that. It will take some time to earn back the trust of the boxing community, but I’m prepared for that.”

Guzman was scheduled to challenge Nate Campbell for his WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight titles in September, but Guzman was declared unfit to fight by the Mississippi State Athletic Commission doctors who diagnosed him as severely dehydrated the day of the fight.

“There will be someone present at camp who's sole responsibility will be to supervise Guzman’s weight as we do not want the same mishap as last time,” said Jose Nunez, Guzman’s long time manager. “Also, the WBA will supervise Guzman’s weight since the fight will be for the Fedelatin title.”

Guzman, who has won titles in the super bantamweight and junior lightweight divisions, is gunning to become the Dominican Republic’s first three-division world champion.

“It’s been a goal of mine to win world titles in at least three divisions,” Guzman said. “I have to get past Diaz to get myself back on that track. I just have to take it one fight at a time.”

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MARTINEZ, PROA READY FOR NOV. 14 SHOWDOWN AT PHILLY’S NEW ALHAMBRA

Philadelphia, PA—Super flyweight Raul “The Cobra” Martinez, of San Antonio, TX, who did everything as an amateur except make the 2004 United States Olympic Team, goes against amateur standout, hard-hitting Victor Proa, of Monterrey, Mexico, over 10 rounds Friday evening, Nov. 14, at the New Alhambra, Swanson & Ritner Streets. First fight is 7.15 p.m.
Telefutura/Univision will telecast the fight on its popular Solo Boxeo series, beginning at 8 p.m (EST).
Martinez, 25, is ranked among the Top 10 super flyweights in the world by every alphabet group on the planet. He is 23-0, 13 K0s.
“In the amateurs, Raul made a believer out of everybody,” said manager Lou Mesorana. “Out of the whole American team that was preparing to go to the (2004) Olympics, he was, without a doubt, one of the best pro prospects.”
Unfortunately, Martinez lost two hairline decisions in three bouts at the US Olympic Trials and that cost him a spot on the team.
“My dad, Ramiro, used to box in his day,” said Martinez, “but his main sport was soccer—he played for the Monterrey Rayodos, a professional team. He boxed as a professional, but he didn’t have too many fights, close to 10.
“Ever since I was about 5 years old, my dad always had a punching bag hanging outside in the yard. I remember as a kid I would put on the gloves and just hit it, saying, ‘I’m going to be a boxer one day.’ But I was always into other sports until I was 15. My first sport was baseball, and then I played soccer. Then I played basketball, football. I played golf in high school. I was on the swim team.
“When I was 15, I told my dad I wanted to become a boxer. My dad didn’t believe me because I would always say it. He would say, ‘Go outside and hit the bag.’ I would do it every day and he started to realize that maybe I would stick to it for a little while. So he started training me, teaching me my jab and the basic punches. After six months, he took me to a gym and my career went on from there.”
After a 70-20-1 amateur career, which included two US National Titles at 112 pounds, Martinez turned pro in 2004 and he has kept the winning tradition.
In his last fight July 25 in Friant, CA, Martinez earned a unanimous 12-round decision over former World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight champion Isidro Garcia, of Los Angeles, CA.
“The main change I made as a pro is sitting down on my punches,” Martinez said. “I remember when I first came to (trainer) Fernando Castrejon. He would put me to spar with these guys. They were pros—they were more patient, picking their shots. I was just throwing so many punches on these guys, moving around on them, they can’t touch me. But by the fifth or sixth round, I’m tired and then they start hitting me.”
“So he (Castrejon) started working on me sitting down on my punches and my power and being more patient. So I mixed my speed with my power and that’s where I improved. I’ve gotten a lot more experience now after four years as a pro, going 10 rounds, 12 rounds. It’s pretty much changed my whole style—more patience, more power.”
Martinez will need his entire arsenal against Proa, who is 26-0-2, 19 K0s.
Proa, 23, has been a pro less than three years.
In his last fight Sept. 25 in Monterrey, Mexico, Proa scored a 10-round decision over Arturo Estrada, of Tampico, Mexico. Proa had K0d Estrada in seven rounds seven months earlier.
“Victor (Proa) was born in Monterrey,” said manager Fernando Dominguez. “He comes from a poor family. He worked hard to support his family. He used to wash windows and things like that. His father passed away about a year ago. He had maybe 100 amateur fights
“Proa’s style is real aggressive. He’s got a lot of power and he’s smart. He’s been training for almost four months, including the second fight with Estrada.
“I’ve been working with Victor for almost three years. He trains in Monterrey at the Los Panchos Gym. They got a lot of boxers in the gym, good fighters, and he gets a lot of good sparring. I think it’s going to be a good fight. Victor is in great shape. He’s ready.”
The winner figures to be in line for a shot at a world title in 2009.
Seven additional fights complete the card, which is being promoted by Top Rank, Inc., Peltz Boxing and Joe Hand Promotions.
Tickets priced at $65, $55, $40 are on sale at Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com

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Affliction Bombs On Broadway, Part Two; By Eddie Goldman, for ADCC News

Affliction Bombs On Broadway, Part Two
(photos attached)
By Eddie Goldman, for ADCC News

Back in September, I ventured out to Times Square to see the giant billboard the Affliction mixed martial arts promotion had put up for their October 11 show. That show, which was eventually postponed, had as its main event a heavyweight fight between Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett.

At that time, as I wrote on this site (http://www.adcombat.com/Article.asp?Article_ID=16404), I conducted an impromptu and unscientific survey to find out what male passersby thought this huge billboard, totally in sight and easy to read, was trying to promote. I then asked three men chosen at random, and this was the response: "Each politely stopped, gazed above at it, and gave the same response: Even after looking at it in person, they had absolutely no idea."

Now Affliction is back in the same place on this same corner on Broadway, with a similar looking billboard hyping their January 24 pay-per-view show featuring Fedor Emelianenko facing Andrei Arlovski. And I, too, went back to this same corner on Broadway Friday night to gauge the reaction of male passersby to this new billboard.

This time I was joined by my colleague Keisha Morrisey

(http://www.bloodlineboxing.blogspot.com/), who is also a correspondent on No Holds Barred. We were coming from the weigh-ins at Madison Square Garden for Saturday's Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. fight, and a party celebrating the 50th anniversary of Boxing Digest held nearby. While we were walking to the subway, I asked her to accompany me to this latest marketing test. While primarily working in boxing, she has also covered numerous mixed martial arts events and news conferences, including those of Affliction in New York, so she agreed.

This time we stopped four males (again, since these shows are not mainly aimed at women, it would prove little if they failed to react to the billboard). All four seemed to fall in that 18-34 demographic group, which marketing and advertising types believe should determine the fate of the world.

We asked them all, very politely, the same thing, if they knew what this billboard was about. Unlike September, we actually got four different responses from these four men.

The first, when asked if he knew what it was for, simply replied, "No."

The second replied, "Wrestling," meaning, of course, the fake
professional "wrestling".

The third man, who seemed the surest of the lot, replied, "Boxing." After answering, he actually came back to us and repeated his answer, again quite politely.

The fourth man replied, "A TV show." Technically he was the closest, although Arlovski's bared fangs and Fedor's glaring head hardly brought to mind a mixed martial arts pay-per-view.

The tally: While standing in clear sight of this Affliction billboard, none of these four men could even identify what sport it was for, let alone what specific event it was hyping and how to watch it.

Such is the genius of the product of all the high-priced marketing, advertising, and public relations people Affliction has hired. Great job, folks. We are certain that this will all make this January 24 pay-per-view just as successful as their first financial bloodbath was.

But who are we to speak when all these fancy "experts" are blowing more bundles on billboards such as this one? Indeed, what do we at the ADCC News know about mixed martial arts compared to them?
--
Eddie Goldman -- No Holds Barred
http://eddiegoldman.com
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KEVIN "KINGPIN" JOHNSON NOT GIVING HEAVYWEIGHTS A CHANCE TO DUCK HIM ANY LONGER, FIGHTS HIS WAY UP THE RANKS‏

This Friday November 7th the WBA #5 rated heavyweight in the world, Star Boxing's Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson (20-0-1, 7KO) looks to stay undefeated and continue to climb the heavyweight ranks when he takes on Matthew Greer (12-3,11KO) in a ten round heavyweight contest being broadcast live on GoFightLive.tv from Bally's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Johnson, considered by many to be the top American heavyweight prospect, and whose hand speed has been compared to heavyweight greats, hall of famers Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes, has had a busy schedule as of late, especially for a fighter of his magnitude. The fight with Greer will be his third fight in less then seven months and the first thing the Kingpin will tell you is that he has no intentions of slowing down. Johnson who continues to be ducked by many of the top heavyweights in the world recently sat down for an exclusive one on one interview before his upcoming bout on Friday. The self- proclaimed greatest heavyweight in the world took time to talk about his busy schedule, his last fight with former heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, and what he will have to do to get a title shot.

KEVIN "KINGPIN" JOHNSON

Q: Kingpin, how are you doing?
KJ: I am doing good, real good. I had a great training camp, and everything is absolutely beautiful.

Q: You just fought two months ago, do you like this busy schedule you are on right now?
KJ: Oh yeah, I love it. I love staying busy. I am a fighter, this is what I do. I just want to keep getting fights and keep showing the boxing world my abilities and keep racking up these wins.

Q: I am going to throw a name out at you, without thinking what's the first word that comes to mind, David Haye?
KJ: B*tch, with an English accent. The guy is a joke. He calls me out, I answered his call and then he punks out. His people tried to say I asked for too much money. That is an out and out lie. I told them I would fight for less then what they offered me. Money was not an issue, because I know once I knocked him out I would walk out of there a very rich man. My fights after destroying him would have brought me tons of money. I would have fought him for free, that's how confident I was I would have knocked him out cold. He is susceptible to left hooks, and I have a great left hook and the minute I hit him he would have went. The real story of what happened was after he called me out and I accepted, he watched some video footage of me and then said no way will I fight that guy. I can't be too mad at him though because he is just like the rest of the heavyweights out there, none of them want to fight me. I wouldn't want to have to fight me either

Q: In your last fight, you knocked out former heavyweight champion of the world Bruce Seldon. Prior to that fight you adamantly stated you would knock him out and silence your critics that you are more then just a gifted boxer with a terrific jab. Which is the Kevin Johnson we will see from here on out, the gifted boxer, or the come straight forward banger?
KJ: From here on out you are going to see the new and improved Kevin Johnson. You are going to see a boxer who has the total package. Boxer, banger, it doesn't matter. Every fight, it doesn't matter who it is, I am going to put on an exciting show, and look spectacular doing it. Truthfully I still have not shown the boxing world the best Kevin Johnson yet, but I promise you, he is coming.

Q: You recently were moved up to number 5 in the WBA. What's your take on all of the top guys and champions out there? Do you think anyone is going to step up and give you a shot, or are you just going to have to keep winning until they can not avoid you any longer?
KJ: Yeah basically that's it. I know none of these guys want to face me, and it's no secret. On my worst day they don't want to see me in the ring. But as long as I keep fighting and keep winning there is going to come a time when they are either going to have to fight me or they will have to just hand their belts over to me. I just try to not let it bother me or effect me. I know my time is coming. I have a great promoter in Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing and he promises me the time is coming very soon. That's what I love about Joe, when he tells me something he delivers. My man is on point.

Q: Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko , Nikolay Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev. Give me your hit list in order of champions.
KJ: First I will take out Valuev. He is the easiest and I am ranked highest in the WBA so he has to go first. Then after him I will want to take a step up so Wladimir will have to be next. Then after I destroy his younger brother Vitali will have no choice but to fight me so I will fight him and gladly take his belt too. Vitali will be my hardest task, but that's all it is, a task. Not one of those guys stands a chance with me. Oh yeah I almost forgot Chagaev. Sorry I have to leave him off my list I don't consider him a world class fighter. I didn't even know he was still boxing until you just mentioned his name.

Q: Kevin thank you for taking time out and sitting down with us. Anything you want to say in closing?
KJ: To all my beautiful ladies out there, I am still single, I am still tall, dark and handsome, sweet and sexy come out to the fight and see me in action I look good (laughs Johnson). On a more serious note, I want to thank my promoter Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing for putting this fight together. I also want to thank Bally's for bringing me back to this great venue. Lastly, to all those so-called heavyweight contenders and champions out there, I am coming for you, for all of you.
Tickets are priced at $90 and $60 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1(800) 736-1420 or going online to ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 or by going online to www.starboxing.com.

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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

JOHNSON-GREER; CAUTHEN-ALAVREAZ HEADLINE A BIG NIGHT OF BOXING ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV TONIGHT!!!!! AT 7:30 PM EASTERN TIME

ATLANTIC C ITY, NJ- WBA number-five ranked heavyweight in the world, Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson will look to climb further up the Heavyweight ladder when he takes on the tough Matthew Greer as the main event of a big seven bout card that will originate from Bally’s Hotel & Casino is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and will be seen exclusively on www.gofightlive.tv beginning at 7:30 pm eastern/4:30 Pacific time.

Johnson, of Atlanta, Georgia, has a record of 20-0-1 with seven knockouts, scored his most impressive win when he took out former WBA Heavyweight champ Bruce Seldon in the same ring on www.gofightlive.tv

Greer of St. Louis is looking to upset the apple cart as he is on a five fight knockout streak and hopes to improve on his record which currently stands at 12-3 with eleven wins coming early.

The co-feature is an evenly matched crossroads welterweight local turf war between Atlantic City’s Shamone Alvarez and former Olympic bronze medalist, Terrence Cauthen of nearby Trenton, New Jersey.

Alvarez is 19-1 with eleven knockouts, itching to get back in the win column after suffering his first pro loss to eventual IBF Welterweight champion Joshua Clottey last December in Las Vegas

Cauthen resurrected career this past July when he scored an emphatic unanimous decision over then undefeated (16-0) Alexis Camacho in San Antonio, Texas. Cauthen has a very impressive record of 33-4 with nine knockouts.

With a lot at stake, expect both combatants to leave everything in the ring.

Despite his recent loss to Johnson, Seldon will be in the ring tonight to once again hoping to thrill his hometown fans when the former WBA heavyweight champion takes on upset-minded Brad Gregory of Wichita, Kansas.

This is a must win fight for Seldon who boasts a respective record of 38-7 with thirty-four knockouts, considering a victory could very well lead to a significant match against former champion Lamon Brewster later in the month.

Another featured participant is New York’s KO artist, Curtis “Showtime” Stevens looking to check the chin of Ray Smith of Arkansas.


Also on the card is one of the most exciting prospects in the world, the nineteen year-old prodigy, Ramond “Tito” Serrano.

“This will be a terrific night of boxing” said www.gofightlive.tv vice-president, David Klarman.

“To have the number-five heavyweight, a true do or die welterweight, former heavyweight champion of the world and some of the biggest prospects in the game on world card is unprecedented and it shows the type of shows that gofightlive.tv is interested in bringing to the boxing fans all over the world.”

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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

CALZAGHE VS. JONES: Saturday Night At 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT

Before the main event this Saturday night on Pay-Per-View watch all three episodes of 24/7, back to back on HBO. Tonight from 8:30-9:30PM and tomorrow morning from 8:30-9:30AM.

Watch the first episode, get expert predictions, fight week footage and more at HBO.com.

And don't forget to order Calzaghe vs. Jones this Saturday night on HBO Pay-Per-View!
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RODRIGUEZ EYEING CHAMPIONSHIP, HEADS TO SOUTH AFRICA IBF #1 SPOT AT STAKE

On Monday November 17th Star Boxing's Delvin Rodriguez (23-2-1, 14KO) of Danbury, CT, looks to take one step closer to achieving every boxers ultimate goal of becoming a world champion, when he battles Isaac "Angel" Hlatshwayo (28-1, 10KO) of Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa, at the Emperors Palace in South Africa in a twelve round welterweight eliminator for the IBF number one ranking. The card will be promoted by Rodney Berman-Golden Gloves in association with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing.

DELVIN RODRIGUEZ

It will be Rodriguez first fight since winning the vacant USBA welterweight championship against Oscar Diaz on ESPN2's "Wednesday Night Fights" back on July 16th in San Antonio, TX.
With the fight exactly two weeks away Rodriguez and his camp left for South Africa on Monday November 3rd, making sure to give Rodriguez ample time to adjust to the high altitude in Johannesburg. Before leaving for South Africa Rodriguez took time out of his schedule to sit down and talk about his training camp and upcoming fight with Hlatshwayo.

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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Special Manfredo picture; "The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo, Jr. and his No. 1 fan, Cameron Wheeler‏

(Photo by Emily Harney)

Peter Manfredo, Jr.(L) helps 12-year-old Cameron Wheeler, of Johnston, RI, put on boxing gloves for the first time this afternoon at Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket, RI. Wheeler, the cousin of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Dan Wheeler, suffers from a rare brain tumor that doctors have tried to remove three times.


Cameron will be attending his first boxing show on Thurday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, "Tough & Tested," featuring Manfredo, runner-up in The Contender I, versus The Contender III winner Sakio Bika for the vacant IBO super middleweight championship. Cameronr was very confident about the outcome of the fight saying, "I KNOW Peter will win this one." Go to www.cesboxing.com for more about "Tough & Tested."

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Boxing Digest invites you to join in the celebration of its 50th Anniversary, this Friday, Nov. 7

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No trash-talk between friends and Nov. 13 foes Brewer & Bundrage Manfredo-Bika headline “Tough & Tested” in Providence, live on Versus

PROVIDENCE– The Contender, Season Two winner, “Bad Boy” Grady Brewer, and third-place finisher, Cornelius “K9” Bundrage, developed a strong friendship when they were teammates on the 2006 television reality series. The bond remains but has been temporarily put aside because Brewer and Bundrage will battle November 13 in a 10-round IBO light middleweight eliminator on the “Tough & Tested” card at the newly renovated Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

The 12-round main event for the vacant IBO super middleweight title pits two-time world title challenger “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr., runner-up in Season One of The Contender, against Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika, winner of The Contender, Season Three.

“Tough & Tested,” promoted by the Tournament of Contenders in association with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), will air nationally live on Versus television. The co-promoters have called for a ‘Pink Out’ (everybody wearing something colored pink) to show support for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from ticket and T-shirt sales will benefit the Gloria Gemma Foundation for research into early breast cancer detection.

Brewer (23-11, 13 KOs), fighting out of Lawton, Oklahoma, sports a misleading pro record because he took numerous short-notice fights in the backyards of his opponents prior to joining The Contender. Never-the-less, “Bad Boy” has registered impressive victories against former world champion Steve Forbes in The Contender II finale, as well as Anthony Thompson and Michael Stewart.

“We became good friends on The Contender and still are today,” Brewer spoke about his relationship with Brundage, “but we’re not talking until after this fight. I’ll wish him luck when I see him at the weigh-in and I’m sure that he’ll wish me good luck, too. But our friendship can’t interact with boxing until after this fight.

“I plan to use angles against him to stay away from his big right hand. That’s his favorite punch. I’m sure he knows we’ve watched a lot of types and he’s going to come out trying to prove that he’s more than a one-handed fighter. But I think he’ll resort to his big right hand after four or five rounds. We both were on The Contender and people are intrigued by this match-up because we didn’t fight each other on the show. We both have something to prove and fans are going to have a lot of fun watching us fight. This is a great opportunity for both of us and a big stepping-stone for the winner’s career. People don’t know who is going to win but he will go on to the next level and fight for the IBO title.”

Detroit native Bundrage (28-3, 16 KOs), rated No. 14 by the IBF, is coming off of a win by 10-round decision last March against former IBF title-holder Kassim Ouma. “K9” has also defeated Chris Smith and Michael Clark, among the more notables.

“This was a tough fight to take because we’re such good friends,” Bundrage commented. “We talked a little before The Contender, but then we became friends. Grady took it first (the fight against Bundrage), so I took it, too. He’s a proven veteran and good fighter. Grady’s a much better fighter than his record may indicate. I’m always the underdog; I’m motivated to prove that I’m one of the best fighters out there.

“This is definitely the biggest fight of my life, especially following my win against Ouma. This fight is business and afterwards we’ll still be good friends. I’ve prepared very hard for him. This is an IBO title eliminator and we’ll let the chips fall where they may. The winner is going to go on to even bigger things. Hey, I’m hungry and he already won $500,000 (the winner’s purse for The Contender II). Now it’s my time.”

Manfredo (31-5, 16 KOs), the reigning NABF Interim champion, is the WBC No. 13 rated super middleweight. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, “The Pride of Providence” sports a perfect 16-0 (10 KOs) record in Rhode Island, including 3-0 (3 KOs) in the same Providence building as his Nov. 13th showdown against Bika. Manfredo’s five pro career losses have all come at the hands of world champions.

IBF Pan Pacific super middleweight title-holder Bika (26-3-2. 16 KOs), a 2000 Cameroon Olympian now fighting out of Australia, won The Contender III with a dramatic eighth round stoppage of Bridgeport, Connecticut native Jaidon Codrington in the finale a year ago in Boston. Bika, rated No. 4 by the IBF and No. 8 by The Ring magazine, hasn’t been stopped in 31 pro fights.

Codrington (18-2, 14 KOs), runner-up in Season Three of The Contender, also is fighting on the card in a super middleweight Special Attraction.

Some of New England’s most talented and popular fighters are scheduled to fight on the undercard including WBC World Youth and USNBC featherweight champion Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (15-0, 8 KOs), super flyweight Isander “Peachy” Beauchamp (5-0, 2 KOs), Providence light welterweight Jesus Caro (2-0, 2 KOs), and Pawtucket light welterweight Diego Periera (1-0, 1 KO). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $18.00, $23.00, $58.00, $79.00, $107.00 and $222.00, are on sale at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Box Office (401.331.6700) or through CES Boxing at 401.724.2253/2254 or www.cesboxing.com. Tickets will also be on sale through www.Ticketmaster.com, at all local Ticketmaster outlets by calling Ticketmaster direct at 401.331.2211 or 617.931.2000, as well as Manfredo’s Gym in Pawtucket (401.723.1359), 401

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©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved