★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience©®™

Monday, March 19, 2012

Kopylenko, Akhundov Lifts Intercontinental Titles

On Saturday night at the Club Sportlife in Kiev, Ukrainians Vitaliy Kopylenko and Timur Akhundov captured World Boxing Federation Intercontinental titles with stoppage victories over Vasyl Tarabarov, also
from Ukraine, and Hungarian Arpad Vass.

Kopylenko, based in Switzerland and fighting in his native country for the first time since his professional debut four years ago, won the vacant
Middleweight version when he outworked Tarabarov for four rounds, taking
the initiative and landing the heavier shots. Before the fifth,
Tarabarov´s corner stopped the fight when their fighter claimed to be
unable to continue due to the affects of a liver-punch landed in the final
stages of the fourth round, making the official result a TKO in round
five.

With the victory Kopylenko won his first professional championship, and
improved his unbeaten record to 17-0 (8). Tarabarov, a former IBF and WBC
regional belt-holder and Ukrainian national champion, lost for the first
time and dropped to 22-1-1 (8).

In the second WBF title fight of the show promoted by Oleg Bruskov, Timur
Akhundov also won his first title in the pros as he stopped Budapest’s
Arpad Vass in three rounds for the vacant Featherweight strap. Both boxers
were active in the first two rounds, but Akhundov had the most success and
the visitor looked tired already at the end of the second.

After three knockdowns in the third round, referee Victor Panin from
Russia decided enough was enough and declared Akhundov, now 13-2-1 (5),

the winner by technical knockout. Arpad Vass fell to 8-4 (6).

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

It’s about Zab Judah being the best Zab Judah he can be. vs. Vernon Paris

Zab Judah, a three-time Junior Welterweight titlist and former undisputed Welterweight world champion, is ecstatic to fight in his hometown for the first time as a professional. “This is a great opportunity, because this is the first time that I will be fighting in Brooklyn as a professional. It’s a great feeling, and I think the last time I fought in Brooklyn, New York, was in the Golden Gloves.”

Brooklyn, the “thoroughest borough” which was once home to great fighters such as Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, and Eddie Mustapha Muhammad as well as to a plethora of legendary rappers like the Big Daddy Kane, Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z, is the perfect place for Judah to fight in, as the popular fighter has always connected with the hip-hop generation.

One gets the sense that the Brooklynite feels that he has to return home to reclaim some of the magic that made him a “super” prospect in the eyes of all who witnessed his amazing skills since his amateur days.

“I feel like superman, like how he came out of the booth and he became superman again,” explains Judah. “So this is the old Zab Judah all over again, I’m going back to my roots, Brooklyn New York, and when I come out of the booth it will be flying colors again.”

However, many are questioning just how much Judah has left at 34-years-old with so many grueling fights behind him. In his 16-year career, the fighter has shared the ring with the likes of Kostya Tszyu, Cory Spinks, Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, and most recently, Amir Khan.

His performance against Khan last July has been cited as evidence that the veteran is not the same fighter that, win or lose, thrilled fans with his blazing speed, thunderous power and an attitude to match in his prime years in the sport.

Judah did not let his hands go enough against Khan to be competitive against the young and hungry champion. The Brit dominated the fight for the first 4 rounds until a body shot dropped Judah for the count in round 5.

“People are questioning me,” admits Judah, clearly aware of the criticism and the calls to perhaps call it a career. “I understand that everybody was a little upset at the last outing, but there are some things that are out of your control. It kind of hurts your feelings, because people are saying ‘that wasn’t a low blow, you got hit with a body shot.’ A body shot? Me? Come on, my body was tremendous. It was as hard as a brick. Amir Khan is no knockout puncher that can stop someone with a body shot. It was a low shot that jammed the cup right into my testicles.”

That loss aside, the Pernell Whitaker-trained Judah insists that the fire to succeed still burns in his belly and that it is fueled by his new found spirituality.

“Oh yeah, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has re-lit my fire, my fire is back, my hunger is there,” exclaims Judah. “I feel like Jesus when he was at the mountaintop 40 days and 40 nights with no food or water and this is how I am going into this fight. I hate going backwards and trying to explain, but everybody that knows me knows I have a heart like a lion. They used to say ‘he has too much heart, he’s too wild,’ and now they’re saying ‘he’s soft.’ You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t, but come March 24th you’re going to see Zab Judah and I’ll do what I do best. I think the respect that I deserve as a fighter will be given back at this fight to come.”

In Vernon Paris (26-0, 15 KOs), Judah is facing another undefeated fighter who is a decade younger. In fact, the 24-year-old from Detroit is as brash and cocky as a young Zab Judah was in his prime.

“I remember being in that kind of a position before. I was what Paris is trying to be,” reminisces Judah, now wise enough to know that talking tough does not mean a thing if one cannot back it up in the ring. “I was that kid once, the trash talker, the loud mouth, but it don’t pay the bills. March 24th is a boxing match, and that’s the only thing that should count for anything.”

Judah cites a lack of mental and sometimes physical preparation as the main reasons why he ended up on the losing end of big fights where he started fast and strong. Zab believes that the tricks he learned in 48 professional fights will be too much for a young, inexperienced fighter.

“It’s a 12 round fight, and I’m fighting a fighter that’s never been passed 8 rounds ever in his career. I’ve been 12 rounds numerous times with some of the top fighters in the world today,” explains Judah. “Vernon Paris is going into a depth of water he’s never ever swam and he’s going to find out there is no bottom.”

The fighter clearly counts on experience to be the deciding factor in this fight, but he takes exception to those who call him “old” at 34 years of age.

“It’s funny how they call you old at 34. I don’t understand what’s old. Old is experience and experience is great. I think that everybody that’s old in the game of boxing is great. If you watch the great Bernard Hopkins, he’s done it time after time. George Foreman has shown the world he can do it. I’m not comparing myself to these guys age-wise, but those guys are another decade older than myself. If you look at the whole [Olympic] team of ’96, myself, Antonio Tarver and Floyd Mayweather, we are probably the only three that are still rolling strong. People have to remember just last July I was a champion of the world. Now I’m coming back to rightfully get back what’s mine.”

So is there anything in particular about Vernon Paris that concerns Judah?

“Hopefully he shows up!” quips Judah. “It’s not just Vernon Paris, you gotta understand, he’s just the fighter at hand. It could be any fighter. It’s about Zab Judah being the best Zab Judah he can be.”

The fighter does have a message for his young opponent, however.

“You have to respect everywhere that you go. You can’t disrespect or bad mouth anywhere that you go and just expect to walk out there plain and calm. Vernon Paris is coming to Brooklyn City, New York. I don’t want anyone to say that this is a Detroit vs. Brooklyn fight, because it’s totally not. I love Detroit, I represented Detroit, I defended my world title on the Tyson-Golota undercard in Detroit, I have a lot of friends in Detroit and I love Detroit. The only one that is thinking something like this is Vernon Paris and his weak minded crew. At the same time, all that I ask the young man is to come in here and prepare for a boxing match. Come here and give respect and respect will be given back. Understand that you are going through Brooklyn, NY. You can’t come here with disrespect.”

Other than demanding respect, the Brooklyn native claims that he is rejuvenated and blessed that he has one more opportunity to turn back the clock.

“Anybody that knows me knows winning means more to me than anything. I could care less who it is, just that Zab Judah steps in there and be the best Zab Judah that Zab can be. It’s a blessing to be in the situation where I’m at. I was stopped on a low blow, and I’m back fighting for the number one spot for the IBF belt again. I’m excited again. I’m feeling like I’m 22 years old again. The fire is lit, my airline tickets are ready, my hotel is booked. Brooklyn is ready. That’s all I can say, this is going to be great.”

Friday, March 16, 2012

Kendall Holt vs. Tim Coleman March 16th, on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights

On March 16th, 2012 at Morongo Casino & Resorts in Cabazon, CA, Kendall Rated “R” Holt vs. Tim “Pit-bull” Coleman will collide at welterweight. This bout will be televised on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. It is a do or die match up for each of the two combatants involved, because both Holt and Coleman lost their last outings, respectively. They each lost to top upcoming young prospects. In many aspects, it’s a fight that could’ve happened at 140 a year or so ago on different circumstances. However, it will be going down this Friday, the 16^th, for a bit more than bragging rights. (Photo of Kendall Holt by Keisha Morrisey)

The Sweet Life; World middleweight contender Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin

World middleweight contender Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin(26-0, 20 KOs), rated No. 6 by the World Boxing Association ("WBA"), has been enjoying the sweet life since his last fight, in which the undefeated, rising star's HBO debut last November in Cancun resulted in a sixth round stoppage of Craig McEwan.

The 28-year-old bi-coastal resident of Los Angeles and New York City has been busy continuing to hone his skills, pushing his conditioning to the maximum, and marketing himself from coast to coast.

"Kid Chocolate" recently sat on the hot seat to talk about his sweet life:

Quillin's new advisor Al Hayman

"Al Hayman can bring me to another level. Look at the interest in his fighters. My co-managers, John Seip and Jimmy McDevitt, have been doing a good job and they'll continue to do so. They think adding Al as an advisor is a good idea, which proves to me how much they really care about me. Al's the right guy to market my story: I moved from the mean streets Grand Rapids to New York City, into a similar environment, just fighting and sleeping on floors to survive. I've learned a lot the hard way."

What Quillin's been up to

"I went back to New York City after my last fight. I sparred with Carl Froch when he was getting ready to fight Andre Ward. I went home to Grand Rapids where I started boxing. I was invited there to go to a boxing program as a role model for young kids at a boxing camp/clinics. In walked Jonathan Banks and Andre Dirrell, who I sparred with he's very talented. I was blessed to be in that situation. I went back to New York City and connected with Austin Trout, who is a world champion and real cool guy.

"In New York, I went to Gleason's Gym to support an amateur show and was a guest on a Sirius boxing show with Randy Gordon and Gerry Cooney. I also appeared on two HBO shows: On Freddie Roach and How To Make It In America."

Why Andy Lee fight fell apart

"I agreed to fight Andy Lee. There may be a lot of reasons why it didn't happen, but I guess it couldn't happen because of boxing politics."

Winky Wright Fight

"We both agreed by the Nevada Athletic Commission won't approve his license because of his age and inactivity. It's a risky fight I'm still willing to take. I weighed the risks and rewards. It's a risk because I could lose but it's the reward is beating a big name on my record. It can also get me closer to my world title shot that I've worked so hard for.

"Not fighting on the May 5th Mayweather-Cotto card in Las Vegas had nothing to do with me and Winky. We both signed and everything was in place. You can't stop haters, though. They're trying to bring me down. They don't understand the boxing business."

What's Next for "Kid Chocolate"

"They're still working on a date. It still could be May 5. There will be a May fight for me, maybe against Winky."

Team Chocolate

"I have a hard working promoter, Golden Boy, and a strong team with my co-managers John and Jimmy, Al Hayman as my new advisor, trainers Freddie Roach and Eric Brown, publicist Bob Trieger and Pablo Hernandez, who created my website and manages my social networking."

Boxing as his chosen occupation

"Boxing has been the reason I went from Grand Rapids to New York City and Los Angeles. After sleeping on floors and my other struggles, I've been a pro boxer for almost seven years. I have a nice car, apartment and been able to travel back and forth - Grand Rapids, New York City and LA -- and to other nice places like Miami. Boxing has provided me with the lifestyle I lead today and the best is yet to come."

FIGHTVILLE: MMA fighter Dustin "The Diamond" Poirer

Opens 4/20 in New York and Los Angeles, with nationwide dates to follow. Also available the same day via on demand and digital download.

Directed by Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker (“Gunner Palace,” “The Prisoner: Or How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair”)

Over the last decade, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has grown from a controversial no-holds-barred gladiatorial sideshow into a billion dollar phenomenon. MMA has eclipsed boxing as the dominant combat sport in the world, and is so popular that MMA fights regularly appear on U.S. network television – even as a longstanding ban remains in force in New York State. But far from Las Vegas, in sweat-soaked gyms and low-rent arenas across America, the big lights are but a dream.
Here, men fight to test their mettle, fortified with the mythic promise that an ordinary man can transform into a champion.

Directed by the accomplished filmmaking duo of Petra Epperlein and
Michael Tucker (GUNNER PALACE), FIGHTVILLE takes us to Southern
Louisiana, where a group of young athletes, including future MMA powerhouse Dustin Poirier, strive towards personal and professional greatness. The reward? A triumph that could ultimately yield an opportunity to compete professionally in the sport’s upper echelons.

FIGHTVILLE is a microcosm of life, a physical manifestation of the
American Dream and the relentless dedication required of all who hope to attain it. Here, men are not born, but are instead built through self-determination, hard work and faith. In FIGHTVILLE, that’s what champions are made of.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

New York Senate Includes MMA Bill in Budget Report

Monday, March 12 was an overall strong day for mixed martial arts fans, capping off with the news that the New York State Senate has included the bill to lift the ban on professional mixed martial arts as part of its 2012-2013 budget report. The 39 page report ended with a section called “New Jobs New York,” which included all of the Senate’s recommendations for increasing financial activity within the state. Among the items was a note in favor of legislation sanctioning the sport.

“PART II: The Senate proposes regulating the sport of Mixed Martial Arts and allowing such bouts to be held within the state,” the report reads.

While the bill to sanction MMA has passed freely through the Senate, it has thus far been stalled in the Parks, Tourism, and Sports Development Committee of the State Assembly. The chair of the committee, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, has yet to place the MMA bill on her committee agenda to be voted on. The Senate including MMA in its budget proposal goes a long way to remind the Assembly that the sport is not something that can be swept under the rug.

In other parts of the country the administrative front has reported back with victory for MMA. On Monday morning it was announced that Wyoming has officially become the 45th state in the union to sanction MMA under its State Athletic Commission. Of the remaining five states in the US, Alaska lacks a governing body to cover combat sports, Connecticut and Vermont have sanctioned events on their reservations under Tribal authorities, and Montana allows for MMA but does not regulate it under its athletic commission. New York remains the only state in the union and one of the only places in the modern world where professional mixed martial arts competition is expressly banned under the law.

The Dewey Bozella story will air on ESPN

Dewey Bozella’s life changed forever when he was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for a murder he did not commit. Throughout his 26 years behind bars, Bozella found strength and purpose through boxing, becoming the light heavyweight champion of Sing Sing Prison, and made it a goal to be proven innocent and box professionally once he was released. ESPN Films chronicles Bozella’s journey from prison cell to professional boxer in 26 Years: The Dewey Bozella Story premiering on Thursday, March 16, at 8:30pm ET on ESPN.

Unyielding in his innocence, Bozella never gave up fighting - both in and out of the ring. He was offered more than four separate chances for an early release if he would only admit guilt and show remorse, but Bozella consistently refused to accept freedom under such conditions.

After a law firm took on his case and uncovered new evidence that exonerated him, Bozella was released and returned to boxing as a volunteer trainer to kids and aspiring fighters. When Bozella was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at The 2011 ESPYs in July, he caught the attention of light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins and boxing great Oscar De La Hoya who then helped make his dream to fight one professional fight as a free man come true.

Directed by award winning producer/director Jose Morales, 26 Years: The Dewey Bozella Story follows Bozella on his quest to earn a professional boxing license at age 52, and sheds light on a man who never gave up fighting for his freedom. The film is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Laurence Fishburne and includes interviews from Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, and Bozella’s wife Trena and attorneys.

Key Quotes
Dewey on why he continued to box after being released from prison: "I didn’t want to fight amateur. What I really liked to know was what it feels like to be a pro. And I believed that it was something that I needed to find out for myself."

Oscar De La Hoya before Dewey’s second attempt at passing his boxing license: "I don’t wish for the commission to look at his speed and his punching power. I want them to focus directly on his heart and think about what he has accomplished, what he has gone through to be right here today. Doesn’t get any tougher than that."

Dewey on how he felt going into his first professional fight: "Bring it. You can’t hurt me no more than I’ve already been hurt. Black eye, busted lip, busted nose, broken rib… you can’t hurt me no more. You can’t. I’ve been knocked down so many times I had no choice but to get back up or lay down and die.

"And I ain’t ready for that yet, so I’m going to fight."

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Alicia “Slick” Ashley Defending WBC Super Bantamweight Title against Maria Elena “The Rush” Villalobos on March 17, 2012‏

Alicia “Slick” Ashley Defending WBC Super Bantamweight Title against Maria Elena “The Rush” Villalobos on March 17, 2012. Brooklyn's own Alicia "Slick" Ashley (17-9-1, 1-KO) and currently the oldest female world champion in boxing will be defending her WBC Super Bantamweight championship against challenger Maria Elena "The Rush" Villalobos (12-4-1, 5-KO) on March 17, 2012 in Mexico City, Mexico. Maria Elena "The Rush" Villalobos, 39, is also no stranger to the ring having successfully defended her WBC Silver Female Super Bantamweight Title since last July 2011.

Macklin - Martinez: Final Quotes

Matthew Macklin:
“It's been a long road to get here, I've won everything along the way, the Irish middleweight title, the British middleweight title, the European Championship twice and should have added the WBA World Championship to that only to get stiffed out in Germany to Felix Sturm on a horrible decision. However I'm here now and sometimes things happen for a reason. Sergio's the lineal middleweight champion and the real world champion, he's universally regarded as the number one in the division and if you want to be the best you have to beat the best.

“I'm very honored to be fighting at Madison Square Garden, such an iconic venue and I'll be even prouder to win my first world title here. Bringing in World class sparring and setting up training camp in downtown Manhattan for 10 weeks doesn't come cheap so I'm very appreciate and grateful to my sponsors Goodfellas Pizza, Green Isle, Martin Donnelly and Sierra Communications for their kind and generous support.

Since I started boxing on St. Patrick's Day in 1994 at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham I always believed that I could go all the way in this sport. On Saturday it will be 18 years to that day when I step into the ring against Sergio Martinez who is not only the best middleweight in the world but one of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport. With regard to Sergio there really is nothing bad to say and it's not my style to trash talk anyway but every dog has his day and he is 37 years old now and on Saturday night he's going to feel every single day of those 37 years and there will be a new middleweight champion.

Sergio Martinez:
"I dedicate this fight to my family and victims of domestic violence. It's a great, great honor to fight at Madison Square Garden and a life time dream. It makes me quite emotional.“

The card, which will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® in the U.S. and on Sky Sports 1 in Ireland and the UK, is entitled, "THE REAL Middleweight Championship - Get Your Irish Up", and features Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez (48-2-2, 27KO's) defending his middleweight crown against Ireland's Matthew "Mack the Knife" Macklin (28-3, 19KO's). The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and will be televised live on HBO beginning 10PM ET/7PM PT and starting from midnight on Sky Sports 1.

Award winning artist Slone puts Macklin and Martinez on the canvas‏

Multi-award winning artist Richard Slone has revealed his latest work, a pre-fight canvas of Matthew Macklin and Sergio Martinez ahead of their eagerly anticipated clash in Madison Square Garden on Saturday. The piece depicting the St. Patrick's Day clash was commissioned by Macklin's manager Brian Peters and Slone relished the opportunity to depict the fight on canvas.

“It was an honor to paint these two gladiators in action. I wanted to capture the ferocity that a championship fight is all about. It’s going to be a great fight that continues the rich history of championship fights at Madison Square Garden.

“I’m thrilled to have been selected to paint the Martinez-Macklin showdown. Fights like this are fun to paint, because both boxers fight with such passion and heart. I try to portray that on canvas and give each viewer a chance to be close to the action and interpret the painting as they see it.”

Speaking on the painting, Brian Peters said, “Richard has painted some of the great fights and fighters in recent years sand I think this canvas is a fitting tribute to a fight of this magnitude. For an Irish fighter to headline a major, world title fight at Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick's Day is something very special and I wanted to mark the occasion.”

Slone is the official artist of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the official cover artist of the RING Magazine. Over the years his art has featured boxings biggest names including Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather amongst other while collectors of his works include Muhammad Ali, Hugh Hefner, Donald Trump and Nelson Mandela

Keisher McLeod- Wells aka "Fire", The Boxing Diva in the April 2012 issue of Marie Claire magazine

Keisher McLeod- Wells aka "Fire", The Boxing Diva

See who is the fittest. A Boxer (me), Ballerina, Yogi, Biker, or Runner.

FX’s Premiere of The Ultimate Fighter® Live Gets Off to a Strong Start

This Week the Series Moves to its Regularly Scheduled Time Period

Fridays Live at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT (Tape Delay at 10 p.m. PT/11 p.m. MT)

Coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber Pick Their Teams Friday

With the First Live Fight Between Team Cruz and Team Faber

The series debut of The Ultimate Fighter^®Live on FX got off to a strong start Friday night (3/9/12, 9:00-11:38 PM) delivering 1.28 Million Total Viewers, 953,000 Adults 18-49 and 538,000 Adults 18-34, and ranking among the top five cable programs on Friday in Men 18-34 (#2), Adults 18-34 (#3), Men 18-49 (#4), and Adults 18-49 (#5).

The combination of The Ultimate Fighter^® Live and its lead-in movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, propelled FX to cable’s #1 rank in primetime Friday (8-11PM) in delivery of Adults 18-49 (933,000), Adults 18-34 (532,000), and Men 18-34 (352,000). In addition, The Ultimate Fighter^® Live (9-11:38 PM ET) was up +58% in Adults 18-49, +96% in Men 18-49 and +124% in Men 18-34 vs. year ago time period.

“We’ve been anticipating this day since FOX acquired the rights to UFC last summer and we knew it would be a special night for our network,” said Chuck Saftler, Executive Vice President of FX Networks. “The Ultimate Fighter^® Live makes Friday nights on FX the ultimate destination for MMA fans. We’re thrilled with the performance of the premiere telecast and we look forward to an exciting season ahead.”

Compared to other MMA telecasts on Friday evening, The Ultimate Fighter^® Live Season 1 debut significantly outperformed Spike’s repeat counter-programming of The Ultimate Fighter^® Season 10 by +189% in delivery of Adults 18-34, +162% among Adults 18-49, +208% with Men 18-34, and +167% in Men 18-49, and it also battered live MMA bouts on MTV2 by +703% in delivery of Adults 18-34, +947% among Adults 18-49, +568% with Men 18-34, and +842% in Men 18-49.

In the premiere telecast, which was televised live, 16 of the best unsigned fighters in the world took their first step towards glory as they won their first round tournament fights. The result was some of the most intense, emotional and action-packed bouts in TUF history, including a startling eight-second KO. In addition, fighters were offered a bonus of $5,000 if they succeeded in scoring a submission or knockout in their fight. A total of $40,000 was handed out. With the win, the victors now move into The Ultimate Fighter^® Live House for the next 12 weeks as they continue to compete for a lucrative six-figure contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship^®(UFC^®).

The UFC has transformed The Ultimate Fighter^® Live and it no longer is just a competition reality series; it is a LIVE sporting event.

The first season of The Ultimate Fighter^® Live on FX features fighters from the lightweight division (155 pounds). The fighters will train together under the supervision of their team’s respective coach. One fighter from each team will be selected by their coach to fight at the end of each episode and the right to advance in the competition. At the end of the season, one man will be crowned The Ultimate Fighter^® LiveChampion.

The coaches selected for the two teams this season are current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and former champion and current top contender Urijah Faber. In addition to their coaching duties, Cruz and Faber will be training for their rubber match this summer. The first time they met, Faber successfully defended his title against the rising contender, but Cruz was able to unseat Faber in their second match to capture the title.

FX’s coverage of the UFC this year includes two seasons (26 weeks) of The Ultimate Fighter^® Live, six major two-hour fight cards televised live nationally, and 14 live telecasts of preliminary fights preceding UFC pay-per-view telecasts

Ratings Source: The Nielsen Company (Live+Same Day)

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series including Sons of Anarchy,Justified and American Horror Story, and acclaimed hit comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer andWilfred. Its library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. The network's other offerings include the acquired hit series Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother, and live sports with college football and the UFC. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.

SIX QUESTIONS WITH RANDY ‘EL MATADOR’ CABALLERO

Coachella Valley Fighter Steps Into SHOWTIME Co-Feature
In Front of Hometown Crowd On ShoBox: The New Generation
At Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

Omar Figueroa vs. Ramon Ayala

Randy Caballero vs. Jose Luis Araiza

Friday, March 16, LIVE on SHOWTIME^® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast)

Randy “El Matador” Caballero’s manager Cameron Dunkin feels his fighter is at the top of a long list of hugely talented Coachella Valley boxers who are ready to bust out and contend for multiple world championships.

“He’s a terrific talent and had a fantastic amateur career,” said Dunkin, who also manages Two-Division World Champion Nonito Donaire, former Middleweight World Champion Kelly Pavlik and former Lightweight World Champion Brandon Rios. “He’s just part of this really good group of fighters from that Indio area that is really hot. Randy sells tickets and the crowd loves him. He’s an exciting, energetic fighter who I think will be a world champion someday.”

Caballero (13-0, 7 KO’s) will make his ShoBox debut in what will be the toughest test of his career against Tecate, Mexico’s Jose Luis “Tapitas” Araiza (29-5-1, 20 KO’s) in a 10-round bantamweight co-featured bout. In the main event, undefeated prospect Omar Figueroa Jr. (14-0-1, 11 KO’s), of Weslaco, Texas, will take on Morelos, Mexico’s Ramon “Nino De Oro” Ayala (23-2-1, 11 KO’s) in a 10-round lightweight fight.

The ShoBox doubleheader, which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T, will be televised live at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on SHOWTIME®.

Trained by his father Marcos and brother Robert, Caballero has won his last seven consecutive bouts – and eight overall – at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. The 21-year-old prospect answered six questions just days before the fight.

QUESTION: More than half of your pro fights have been in Indio. Are you on a first-name basis with most of the employees at Fantasy Springs?

Caballero: “Oh, yeah. They’re all like family to me. I see them and they say good luck and they wish me well. The boxing fans in Indio are very knowledgeable and have been so great to me and I thank them for that. When I start my ring walk and I hear the crowd I get so pumped because I know they are all rooting for me. It’s a real advantage and something I’m thankful for.”

QUESTION: What does it mean for you get the call from SHOWTIME and to appear on ShoBox?

Caballero: “When I got the call from SHOWTIME I just couldn’t believe it. I know it’s the next step for me and that my career is on the right path. This SHOWTIME fight will just get my name out there even more and show that I’m capable of being one of the greatest boxers out there. We do have a good crop of fighters from this area and we want to showcase that. There’s no better place to do that than on SHOWTIME.”

QUESTION: You’ve been boxing for more than half your life. Did you ever have dreams of doing anything else?

Caballero: “No, not really. I just love the feeling that I get when I step into the ring. I’ve been fighting since I was eight years old. It’s what I know and what I love.”

QUESTION: Do you follow the sport and consider yourself a fan of the game?

Caballero: “No, I wouldn’t call myself a huge boxing fan. I mean, I watch all the big fights on SHOWTIME and follow the guys I’ve come up with, but that’s about it.”

QUESTION: You have fought some tough fighters in your first 13 pro fights. Do you think you’ve matched up well against each of them?

Caballero: “I’m happy with the opponents I’ve faced and beaten. Regardless of who they put in front of me, everyone is dangerous. You get caught with a left hook and it can end your career so I don’t take anyone lightly. Everybody who steps into that ring is going to get hit and I believe this guy I’m fighting on Friday (Araiza) is a big step up for me. He’s a veteran and he knows all the tricks inside the ring.”

QUESTION: Can you describe your personality?

Caballero: “I’m a real family guy. I like to hang with family, that’s about it. I’m pretty low-key. I like to go out with friends here and there but I’m kind of a reserved guy. I’m a quiet guy but very respectful and very friendly. I don’t like to talk too much smack. I would say I’m a fun guy to be around.”

Photo Credit: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

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