Sunday, July 15, 2012

“Built To Last”; Rich Gingras added to July 19th show‏

Rich Gingras certainly wasn’t expecting the phone call earlier this week, but he was more than ready to accept the challenge. Such is the unpredictable nature of professional boxing.

Working full-time as the owner and head trainer at the Fight 2 Fitness gym in Pawtucket, R.I., the former “The Contender” reality television star hasn’t slowed down since his last fight on May 24th, which is why he willingly answered the bell when promoterJimmy Burchfield Sr. offered to add him to the “Built To Last” card Thursday, July 19th, 2012at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.

“That’s the way boxing is,” said Gingras, who lost to Terrance Smith in May when the ringside doctor stopped the fight after the second round due to a cut over Gingras’ eye. “The last thing I wanted to do was wait another two months before my next fight.”

Four days after the fight, Gingras (11-3, 7 KOs) moved his gym from the second floor to the bottom level, expanding from just under 5,000 square feet to 8,500, a space that now includes 33 heavy bags, six speed bags, seven spin bikes, full locker rooms and showers, and a regulation-sized boxing ring.

Needless to say, Gingras has kept in shape since the end of May; he weighed 183 pounds the night of his fight and has been walking around comfortably at 178 for the past six weeks, so he’ll be ready to fight at the light heavyweight limit of 175 when he returns to the ring next Thursday in a six-round special attraction.

“The longer you’re away from the gym, the harder it is to get back in shape,” he said, “so that’s why I went back in right after the last fight. I’m constantly working out, running everyday, and when I’m not working out myself, I’m training someone else, so I’m still burning calories.

“Eating food has become a whole other job just so I can keep up on my calories.”

Gingras recently signed a promotional agreement with Classic Entertainment & Sports, which will promote the July 19th show, and debuted with the company in May. His goal at the time was to stay as busy as possible, and that hasn’t changed despite his recent setback. The fight on the 19th will be his third since March, and he’s already looking forward to stepping back into the ring in October when CES’ Thursday Night Fight Series continues at Twin River.

“I want to get right back on that horse,” Gingras said. “When you live healthy, you heal fast, and I’m a fast healer. I take pride in staying in shape.”

♔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.

Judah Brothers Boxing Club Fighting to Stay Open‏

The Judah Brothers Boxing Club, a safe haven for people of all ages living in New York City’s roughest areas, is desperately trying fighting off a serious economic onslaught.

The Judah Brothers Boxing Club is under the banner of the Thornhill Community Supportive Services Incorporated, a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization based in Brooklyn. Currently, Judah is in the process of making his gym an independent non-profit so he can continue aiding struggling New Yorkers on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, he is behind on the monthly bills and worries that if the gym is forced to close his members would be in serious trouble. To make matters worse, the landlord is planning to raise rent by $2,000 per month in the near future.

“I want to continue providing a positive place for people in bad situations to go but I need all the help I can get,” said Judah, who regularly bought food and drinks for members who couldn’t afford it. My goal is to run a free summer program for underprivileged kids and they’d spend a whole day at the gym instead of the streets. This is very important because kids are out of school now and can get into all kinds of trouble.”

The gym opened in August 2011 and was fully funded by legendary kickboxer and boxing trainer Yoel Judah. Many of the members laced up a pair of gloves for the first time and were educated about the discipline that the sport provides. In addition to a boxing program that’s attracted children as young as five, the gym has martial arts training, a wrestling program, a basketball court and ping pong tables.

All members receive hands-on training from Judah, former two division world champion Junior “Poison” Jones, famed Butterbean conqueror Mitch Rose and Yoel’s son Daniel.

“We have a lot of kids here that are coming for free,” said Judah. “A lot of these kids have (no family life) and no money. The gym keeps them off the streets and out of trouble, which is extremely important.”

With the assistance and dedication of his hard-working trainers, Judah is organizing a series of fundraisers for the gym.

Donations can be made via check to the Thornhill Community Supportive Services Incorporated in association with Judah Brothers Boxing Club, located at 1467 Bedford Ave Brooklyn, NY 11216. The Judah Brothers Boxing Club is located at 400 Liberty Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11207. For more information, please email judahbrothers@gmail.com.

Biosse preps for Canadien slugger‏; All in a day’s work, Biosse continues preparation for July 19th return despite last-minute opponent swap

The opponent has changed, but Vladine Biosse’s preparation for his highly-anticipated return to the ring next Thursday remains as diligent as ever.

Fresh off his dominant win over Joey Spina in May, Biosse (13-1-1, 6 KOs) will face Saskatchewan, Canada super middleweight Mike Walchuk (9-5, 2 KOs) on Thursday, July 19^th, 2012 in the eight-round main event of “Built To Last,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.

“To me, being in the gym is like breathing, so if I’m not in the gym, I’m not breathing,” Biosse said. “I never stop training, whether I have a fight coming up or I’m just looking to get in the gym. That’s what I do. That’s what I love doing.

“I don’t believe in not training. Some guys take two or three weeks off after a fight. I don’t believe in that at all. I took a week off [after the win over Spina] to enjoy myself and my family, and then I got right back in the gym.”

After winning just one of his previous three fights, Biosse burst back onto the scene with a dynamic performance against Spina six weeks ago at Twin River. Now he’s looking to take another step forward against Walchuk, who has fought at various weights his entire career, ranging from middleweight (160 pounds) to as high as light heavyweight (175). Next Thursday’s clash against Biosse will be Walchuck’s first fight since October.

“Obviously, you want to have the right opponent at the right time, so the more time you have the more you learn about how to break him down so you can plan your strategy,” Biosse said, “but I’m a fighter, and that’s the name of the game.

“Sometimes, these things happen, and that’s what we’re dealing with right now. It is what it is. I’ll take this next step forward and do what I have to do. I’m a fighter; it’s my job to be prepared.”

Though he hasn’t had the luxury of preparing for the same opponent throughout the duration of his training camp as he did prior to the Spina fight, Biosse is treating next week’s fight the same way he treats all the rest. The goal, regardless of the opponent, is to win in dominant fashion and prepare for the next step.

“Every fight is a big fight. I don’t take any opponent lightly,” he said. “I made that mistake in the past and it cost me. Whether you’re losing a lot or you’re winning, you go to camp with the same mentality as if you were fighting for a world title.

“In my camp, I’m glad I have the right guys around me who really push me to be on that level, even on days when I just don’t feel right. From my manager, Quint Dow, to coach [Orlondo] Valles and Ray Oliveira, and all my teammates, they help me keep that edge. We don’t train as if we’re going into an easy fight. Every fight is a hard fight. That’s the way we train.”

Find A Dream’s Stars Invited As VIP Guests To ESPN’s Friday Night Fights

Find A Dream’s Stars Invited As VIP Guests To ESPN’s Friday Night Fights

It was announced today that former boxing champions Ray Mercer and Bobby Czyz—Board Members of Find A Dream—have been invited as VIP guests to ESPN’s Friday Night Fights at Resorts Hotel Casino on July 27.

The renowned Resorts will be hosting ESPN’s acclaimed boxing series featuring the NABF Lightweight Title fight between Hank Lundy and Raymundo Beltran. Last month Resorts was all over the boxing map as they held the All Star Boxing Legends Gala Tribute Dinner, and continue to be recognized as the premier venue for fight sports in the Northeast.

Mercer and Czyz represented Find A Dream at the gala, and continue to remain active with their efforts of promoting awareness about the organization. Find A Dream is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that reaches out to community children and provides them a healthy channel to find and work towards fulfilling a dream.

“Resorts is a beautiful hotel and casino and is quickly establishing themselves as one of the most prevalent locations for boxing and MMA in Atlantic City,” said Rod Ricciardi, Founder of Find A Dream. “They go out of their way to help support Find A Dream and working towards achieving our mission, and we are honored to have our Board Members invited as VIP guests to ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.”

The full fight card is as follows:

· NABF Lightweight Title Fight- Henry Lundy vs. Raymundo Beltran (10)

· Super Middleweight- Richard Pierson vs. Farah Ennis (10)

· Bantamweight- Miguel Cartagena vs. Jose Rivera (6)

· Light Heavyweight- Frankie Filippone vs. TBA (6)

· Light Middleweight- Decarlo Perez vs. TBA (6)

· Super Middleweight- Derrick Webster vs. TBA (6)

· Light Middleweight- Thomas Lamann vs. TBA (6)

· Welterweight- Juan Rodriguez Jr. vs. TBA (4)

· Light Welterweight- Josh Mercado vs. Korey Sloane (4)

· Super Middleweight- Antowyan Aikens vs. TBA (4)

· Light Heavyweight- Joe Smith Jr. vs. TBA (4)

· Welterweight- Anthony Young vs. TBA (4)

Derrick Webster Returns to Action on July 27th‏

DERRICK WEBSTER RETURNING TO RING ON JULY 27TH
Undefeated Super Middleweight to Fight at Resorts in Atlantic City   Undefeated super middleweight Derrick "Take it to the Bank" Webster (13-0, 7 KOs) will look for his 14th professional victory later this month, returning to the ring on July 27th at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City as part of an ESPN Friday Night Fights card. Fresh off a trip to Las Vegas where he joined trainer Freddie Roach and the camp of WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., Webster reflected on the past few months of his life as he waits to hear who he will face in his next bout.

Webster is the current BAM Middleweight Champion "The past few months have been interesting and educational," Webster remarked. "I wouldn't change any of it for the world. It has given me a lot more fire and has made me want to train a whole lot harder. I'm a person who has always had a lot of will, but this has given me even more will to want to win more excitingly."

Something that has been a regular occurrence throughout the career of Webster is not getting much time to train for specific opponents. Dates are booked weeks and often months before he knows who he will be fighting, and various challengers are brought to the table before someone signs the deal to scrap.

"My trainer, Denny Brown, tells me that if I just am who I am supposed to be in that ring, it doesn't matter who I'm fighting," Webster stated. "We train for the pressure, we train for the boxers, we train for awkwardness, and we train for the long haul.

Godfrey set for long-awaited return‏; Gettin’ back to basics, Cruiserweight Godfrey starting from scratch as he aims for another shot at a title

Matt Godfrey’s body might not heal as quickly as it used to after 23 professional fights, and certain injuries might linger longer than normal, but there’s no reason why the Providence, R.I., cruiserweight can’t contend for another shot at a world title.

“I’m 31 years young,” said Godfrey, who’ll fight in front of his hometown fans for the first time in five years on Thursday, July 19th, 2012 at Twin River Casino. “I still feel like a kid in this game even though I’ve been around for a while.”

Godfrey’s journey back to the top of the cruiserweight division begins next Thursday when he faces sturdy veteran Jesse Oltmans (10-3, 7 KOs) of Bartonsville, Pa., in the six-round co-feature of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Built To Last” show at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.

Not only has Godfrey (20-3, 10 KOs) not fought in Rhode Island since 2007, he hasn’t fought at all in 13 months since losing to Lateef Kayode in California for the North American Boxing Association (NABA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) cruiserweight titles – the second of back-to-back losses for Godfrey, who also suffered a brutal, knockout loss to World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Marco Huck 10 months prior to the fight against Kayode.

As Godfrey climbed higher and higher in the cruiserweight rankings, the layoff between fights became much longer as he and his camp plotted each step carefully in hopes of bringing the cruiserweight world title to Providence. Now it’s back to the drawing board, which means Godfrey simply wants to stay active before he makes his next run at championship glory.

“I got myself to the highest point where I fought for a world title, but I came up short,” Godfrey said. “Now I’m at a point where it’s do-or-die. I have to rebuild again and almost start from scratch. Over the past five years, I’ve been fighting nothing but iron once or twice a year, training for the best fighters in the world.

“To be honest, it’s a little humbling to be at a point where I have to start over again.”

Being back home might help ease the sting; it’s been five years since Godfrey last fought in Providence, defending his NABF cruiserweight title in a 10-round unanimous-decision win over Derrick Brown. At the time, he was undefeated at 16-0 and ranked No. 2 among cruiserweights by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Over the next five years, Godfrey fought everywhere from North Dakota to Germany, successfully defending the title two more times before losing to Huck in 2010. The goal now is to get back to where he was that night in August of 2007, and the good news is he has time to make the right choices along the way considering his age and his health are still on his side.

“I can’t wait to feel the energy from the hometown fans,” he said. “I’m so used to being here as a spectator. I always hoped it would be me in that ring, and now it finally will be.

“I’m real happy. I can still run with the young guys and bang a few of them out in sparring. I work harder than all of them, so I don’t think it’s the last run for me. Boxing is in my blood. I’ve been doing this my whole life.

“I’ve been in situations recently where I’ve turned down fights because they weren’t right for me. Coming off back-to-back losses, I could’ve taken fights where one win would’ve put me right back in the hunt, but I’m a realist. I need to get back to basics.”

Perhaps the most pressing need is for Godfrey is to stick to the game plan once the bell rings. The Providence native admits he’s guilty of overthinking at times, particularly in his fights in Germany against Rudolf Kraj (2008) and Huck.

“All you have to do is be who you are and get in there and punch,” he said. “In some of these fights, I think too much. I wasn’t doing what I did to get to that point. I’d get to the big fight and be thinking things like, ‘Did that punch land? Did the judge see it?’ Guys would be throwing bombs and missing them, but the crowd is going wild, so I’m wondering if the judges thought it landed, so now I’m thinking, ‘Oh, man, I have to get that one back!’

“I was just overthinking.”

Fighting at Twin River, Godfrey should be more relaxed on July 19th, which will allow him to focus squarely on his step-by-step journey back to the top of the cruiserweight division. No timetable has been set – he’s playing it by ear, which helps alleviate some of the pressure.

“I don’t want to just win – I want to be dominant and look great,” Godfrey said. “In my eyes, I haven’t looked very, very good in a fight in almost two years.

“The lack of fights hasn’t helped, either. I haven’t had enough fights to work on some of the things I need to work on. It’s difficult to get better when you have such a long layoff. I’ve been knocked down so many notches that I don’t look at other fighters and say, ‘This is the guy I’m going to fight next.’ I know I’m a few fights away from even sniffing the Top 5 or Top 10 right now, so I’m just taking it one step at a time, one fight at a time.”

The road back to the top begins next Thursday in a familiar setting at Twin River, one Godfrey hopes will provide a much-needed boost against a dangerous puncher.

“You can always feed off that hometown crowd,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

♔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.

In search of a winner; Kozlin, Rodriguez clash again‏; Kozlin, Rodriguez lace ‘em up again in hopes of settling the score from previous fight

Keith Kozlin says there’s no way he didn’t beat Reynaldo Rodriguez the first time they fought last summer. His opponent disagrees.

The only logical solution is to fight again, which these two super middleweights will do Thursday, July 19^th, 2012 when they face off in a six-round intrastate showdown on the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Built To Last” professional boxing event at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.

Their first fight in July of 2011 – a four-rounder – ended in a draw with both fighters trading knockdowns in the final round. Two of the judges scored it even at 38-38 while the other judge favored Kozlin by a score of 40-36. Now they’ll square off again, this time in a six-rounder, which could be the deciding factor.

“With two extra rounds the first time around, I would’ve at least won or knocked him out. I need those rounds,” said Rodriguez (6-4-1, 3 KOs), a Woonsocket, R.I., native. “I’m definitely in way better shape this time. I’m going to win. With the way I’m training, I don’t think it’ll even go six rounds.”

“[Six rounds] favors me in the long run,” countered Kozlin. “I wouldn’t say I’m a slow starter, but I pick up the pace as I go along. I have a work rate and love to stay busy. I throw a lot of punches. Whatever he brings, I’ll be ready for.”

Both fighters could use a win. After knocking out local favorite Richard “Bobo” Starnino in October, Rodriguez stepped outside of New England and lost back-to-back fights in Washington and California, while Kozlin (6-3-1, 4 KOs), a West Warwick native, hasn’t won since July of 2010 and is 0-2-1 in his last three fights, which includes a loss to Woonsocket’s Joe Gardner in November of 2010, a loss he had hoped to avenge on next week’s card.

“That’s the fight I wanted,” Kozlin said, “but I’ve kind of come to terms with the fact it won’t happen. He’s scared. I know that now. I just need a win. It would do a lot for me. Nobody wants to keep seeing me fight if I lose or get draws. They want to see wins, and they want to see knockouts.”

Kozlin’s confident he’ll come out on top based primarily on his workload over the past 11 weeks, which he admits was a problem prior to his first fight against Rodriguez.

“I saw he had gotten knocked out [against Greg McCoy] before he fought me, so I thought, ‘I can do that! I don’t have to train hard,’” Kozlin said. “I didn’t think it’d be a hard fight.

“I learned my lesson. I learned not to take anyone lightly. I wasn’t anywhere near my peak conditioning for that fight, but I am now and it’ll show.”

Yet regardless of his lack of training, Kozlin still thinks he won the first fight, especially since one of the three judges had him winning all four rounds despite the knockdown.

“He definitely did not win that fight. No way,” Kozlin said. “I got robbed real bad. The one upside he had was a flash knockdown, and then I knocked him down. I outworked him. He was running a lot, so I cut the ring off. I was the aggressor. All in all, it was a good fight, but I overlooked him. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“I thought I slipped, but they called it a knockdown,” Rodriguez said. “It was a good fight, and he’s a good fighter. I have nothing bad to say about him. Hopefully, this fight will be better and I’ll win this time, but, yeah, I think I won the first one. I put more pressure on him in the last 10 to 20 seconds of each round. I basically out-boxed him. I thought I won, but they called it a draw.”

Like Kozlin, Rodriguez is hoping a victory can launch the next stage of his career. The only catch is someone must win, otherwise we could be talking trilogy in the near future.

“This can open a lot of doors. That’s the way I look at it,” he said. “We’ll see on the 19^th.”

Reigning WBC USNBC middleweight champion Elvin Ayala will face John Mackey in the 10-round main event next Saturday at Mohegan Sun

‶The Lycan″ returns July 21st. Reigning WBC USNBC middleweight champion Elvin Ayala will face John Mackey in the 10-round main event next Saturday at Mohegan Sun.

Lettin’ it all out!; Vincent breaking out of her shell‏; With three fights under her belt, Vincent looking to take her career to the next level

Believe it or not, the Shelito Vincent who won each of her first three professional fights in dominant fashion was actually a toned-down version of the one we might see Saturday night.

“I’m starting to feel more comfortable in the ring,” said Vincent (3-0), who will put her undefeated record on the line Saturday, July 21st, 2012 against Ivana Coleman of Slidell, La., in a four-round bantamweight bout on the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield’s “The Fire Within” professional boxing show, presented by Classic Entertainment & Sports at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

“Everything is starting to come together. Expect to see a lot of great things coming.”

For Vincent – raised in New London, Conn., and now training in Providence, R.I. – one of the biggest hurdles was adjusting to her new life as a professional boxer, which began in October with a win over Karen Dulin.

Now she’s in search of her fourth consecutive victory under the promotional guidance of Burchfield, who is no stranger to the intricacies of women’s boxing; he helped guide Jaime Clampitt to two world titles during her 10-year career.

“[Signing a long-term contract] is something all of us girls want,” Vincent said. “I’ve always wanted Jimmy to support me. This is the team I’m going to be with for my whole career.”

Burchfield and the rest of the viewing audience next Saturday might witness Vincent’s best performance to date. Her comfort level has increased dramatically within the past nine months, and she’s finally broken out of her shell both in and outside of the ring, which could be bad news for Coleman.

“My last fight was my best fight,” said Vincent, who beat Carmen Cruz unanimously in March to improve to 3-0. “I just felt as though I was in a certain rhythm and everything came together. My combinations were good, I was coming up underneath – all the training and work I put into that fight brought out the best in me.

“Boxing is like anything else; the more you do it, the more comfortable you get. It was like that in the amateurs, too, and now I’m starting to get that same feeling as a pro.”

Coleman has never boxed professionally, but she has a 1-2 record in professional mixed martial arts, so Vincent is expecting the unexpected next weekend, something she’s prepared for in camp by sparring other mixed martial arts fighters.

“The thing I’ve noticed about them is everything they do is wide, whether it’s the way they punch, or their footwork – everything is wide, more so than boxers,” Vincent said. “I’ll try to use my jab and work off that, and just move around more.

“She has a good right hand and hits hard. A lot of times when I spar other MMA girls their feet are all over the place. They’re actually harder to spar with than someone who has boxing skills. They’re more awkward. That’s what I’m expecting.”

Vincent is also expecting tremendous fan support, which has become a theme at each of her professional fights. With a captivating background stemming from her rough childhood, she’s become an ally for troubled youth both in Connecticut and Rhode Island. After this fight, she’ll continue her tour of Connecticut schools, relaying her story to children to help make sure they don’t go through the same thing she went through growing up. She’s also participating in the World Boxing Council’s WBC Cares anti-bullying campaign.

“I love doing this in my spare time. I think it’s my calling,” she said. “I just love working with kids. I think it would’ve been such a big difference in my life I had someone to talk to growing up.”

Part of Vincent’s message is the need for discipline and structure, which she developed later in life through boxing. She turned the corner for good in 2008 and won a national Golden Gloves title before making her pro debut at the age of 32.

“The boxing kept me on track. It made me not afraid. It made me feel strong,” Vincent said. “It brings a lot of stuff out of me. Hitting the bag is like running. If you’re having a bad day, go to the gym, hit the bag and let it all out.

“It’s definitely been the most positive thing for me in my life. Like I always tell people, boxing saved my life.”

Vincent’s new life inside the ring is off to a tremendous start, and with Burchfield in her corner, the sky’s the limit. The female bantamweight division is wide open, and Vincent’s rise to the top could continue Saturday with another impressive performance.

“The ultimate goal is to get some belts and bring them back to CES and New London,” she said. “I want to make everyone in my city proud. To be the best, who doesn’t want that? That’ll be the best feeling in my life. I think I’ll get it – I know I will. I’ll make sure no one else works harder than I do.”

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Preview of Amir Khan vs Danny Garcia: Tonight at 11PM on HBO

AMIR KHAN VS. DANNY GARCIA live on HBO World Championship Boxing

Khan vs. Garcia, a 12-round unification fight for Khan's WBA Super Lightweight Super World Championship, Garcia's WBC Super Lightweight World Championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. Doors open on fight night at 3:00 p.m. PT and the first bell rings at 3:30 p.m. Khan vs. Garcia will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT in the United States and live on Sky Sports 1HD in the United Kingdom at 2:00 a.m. BST Sunday, July 15.

David Haye vs. Dereck Chisora Saturday July 14 2012 @ Upton Park, West Ham, London, UK TV: EPIXHD.com Time: 6pm ET

Mike Tyson in Mexico, By Gabriel F. Cordero

Mike Tyson in Mexico

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson has arrived Mexico City as a guest of the Mexico Tourism Board and the WBC. Iron Mike will attend a gala dinner and be an honorary tourism ambassador as part of a campaign to promote tourism to Mexico. His Broadway debut in MIKE TYSON: UNDISPUTED TRUTH, directed by Academy Award nominee Spike Lee, starts July 31 at the Longacre Theatre.

CageSport XX: Loaded from end to end‏

When Brian Halquist put together “CageSport XX,” he followed the same plan that’s helped him earn the notation as one of the west coast’s top promoters; putting the fans first.

Halquist, along with his reliable staff, worked tirelessly on an exciting fight card slated for Saturday evening at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA.

A limited number of tickets are still available and can be purchased by going to ticketmaster.com or at the Emerald Queen box office.

Headlining the ten-bout event is a three round lightweight battle between Spokane, WA’s Sterling Ford, 15-4, and interstate rival James Marohl, 6-1, of Longview. Both fighters are on the cusp of landing a big fight and have been on a hot streak during the last few years, winning 11 of their last 12 fights combined.

Female standouts “Slick” Sally Krumdiak of Bellingham, WA and “Little” Patricia Vidonic will go toe to toe in the highly anticipated three round co-feature. Krumdiak and Medford, OR’s Vidonic fought most of the top fighters in and around the strawweight division. Both are regarded as upper echelon fighters and believe a victory will earn them a title shot.

Much like the main bouts, the supporting contests features talented combatants looking to move up the ladder. Unbeaten rising stars Cory Vombaur, Justin Harrington Gustavo Lopez and Shaine Jamie will all look to make waves in separate bouts. Additional matches include Jerome Jones, 4-3, against Byron Sutton, 5-3, along with a battle of unbeaten middleweights when Brent Knopp challenges Darrio Mobley.

“We’re putting our best foot forward with this card,” said Halquist. “The CageSport staff did a great job of making this exciting event a reality and I consider it extremely important for every fight to be one that the fans want to see. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, I’d definitely come out for fight night because you’re in for a real treat of incredible MMA fights!”

Former world champion, Female Fighter of the Year and CageSport veteran Miesha Tate is going to be at the fights as the evening’s special guest. A Tacoma native, Tate will be available for a meet and greet, photo ops and autographs throughout the evening for all ticketholders.

Former CageSport standout and Female Fighter of the Year Miesha “Takedown” Tate will appear at “CageSport XX” as a special cageside guest Saturday, July 14 at the Emerald Queen Casino in her hometown of Tacoma, WA.

A universally recognized top ten pound-for-pound fighter, Tate won both of her bouts under the CageSport banner by knockout and is amongst the most famous female martial artists in the world. In her most recent match Tate, 12-3, battled Rhonda Rousey in the main event of a Showtime card. Although she came up short against the unbeaten submission master, Tate earned worldwide recognition as the bout was one of the most viewed in Strikeforce history.

“Miesha is one of the most popular athletes in the area and an inspiration to many male and female MMA fighters,” said Brian Halquist, CEO of Halquist Productions and the creator of CageSport MMA. “I’m glad to have her back and she’s somebody I consider a dear friend.”

Tate will be available to all ticketholders for a meet and greet, photo ops and autographs throughout the evening.

The card is topped by a bout between Sterling Ford and James Marohl as well as a matchup between female superstars “Slick” Sally Krumdiak and “Little” Patricia Vidonic.

STRIKEFORCE®: ROCKHOLD vs. KENNEDY, World Championship Doubleheader tomorrow/Saturday, July 14, live on SHOWTIME®

All the fighters who will compete on a STRIKEFORCE^® World Championship Doubleheader tomorrow/Saturday, July 14, live onSHOWTIME^® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore., made weight Friday.

Luke Rockhold, who will defend his STRIKEFORCE middleweight title against Tim Kennedy in the main event, and Lorenz Larkin, who meets Robbie Lawler in a featured non-title televised fight, required two attempts at the scale. The live undercard fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME® begin at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The matchups and weights: Jorge Masvidal (156 pounds) vs. Justin Wilcox (155 1/2 pounds), Pat Healy (156 pounds) vs. Mizuto Hirota (156 pounds), Ryan Couture (155 1/2 pounds) vs. Joe Duarte (155 1/2 pounds), Jordan Mein (170 pounds) vs. Tyler Stinson (170 1/2 pounds) and Jason High (171 pounds) vs. Nate Moore (171 pounds).

Luke Rockhold will defend his STRIKEFORCE® middleweight title against Tim Kennedy in the main event of a World Championship Doubleheader this Saturday, July 14, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Rose Garden.
In the co-feature scheduled for five rounds, Tyron Woodley and Nate Marquardt will clash for the vacant STRIKEFORCE Welterweight crown. Other matches on the SHOWTIME telecast: Lorenz Larkin vs. Robbie Lawler (middleweights) and Roger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine (middleweights).
The live undercard fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME® begin at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The fights: Jorge Masvidal vs. Justin Wilcox (lightweights), Pat Healy vs. Mizuto Hirota (lightweights), Ryan Couture vs. Joe Duarte (lightweights), Jordan Mein vs. Tyler Stinson (welterweights) and Jason High vs. Nate Moore (welterweights).

What STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker and the world championship competitors said Thursday:

SCOTT COKER

“When I look at this fight card from top to bottom this is an amazing card. Like I’ve said, look at the fights that are on SHOWTIME EXTREME; those fights could really be on the championship part of the card. So from top to bottom STRIKEFORCE is going to deliver another world class match up.’’

(Regarding the vacant welterweight title) “Nate Marquardt is an amazing fighter. If you’ve never seen him fight, he is a dangerous fighter. T-Wood (Woodley) is somebody who came up through the STRIKEFORCE organization on SHOWTIME. This is going to be his toughest test to date.”

LUKE ROCKHOLD

(On being a fighter in STRIKEFORCE and the fan’s reaction) “I’m fighting to legitimize myself and keep bettering myself and to prove to everyone that I am one of the best in the world. They need to realize how good we (STRIKEFORCE fighters) are and if they haven’t seen that then they don’t know what they are missing. STRIKEFORCE guys are going over to the UFC and they are killing guys over there.’’

TIM KENNEDY

“We both want to demonstrate that we are the best fighter in our division. We are going to step in there and go 25 minutes to prove that. What we say before we step in there is irrelevant.

“I think the best way for me to represent the military community is for me to win this fight.”

TYRON WOODLEY

“I think Nate has been around the block for a while. I think he brings a lot to the table. I think he is a well-rounded fighter. I think in this weight class he brings the most name recognition and more skills than the other guys. Most of the guys in the division I’ve already beat or I’ve beat someone who has beat them. I have no issue with him coming over and getting the title shot. ’’

NATE MARQUARDT

(About Tyron’s style) “As a fighter I respect his skills. He is a great wrestler and that’s what he does and that’s what he should be using in his fights. The thing is, we’re there to fight. So when you’re a wrestler your job is to fight. And if you are going to use wrestling that’s great and can be super exciting for the fans. If you can get that guy down and ground and pound that’s great, but if you are going take that guy down and hold him and wait for the decision, that’s a different thing.”

(Regarding what kind of a fight he is expecting on Saturday) “I am expecting to knock him out. This layoff has rejuvenated me and I’m ready to go. ’’

♔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.

QUOTES FROM TODAY'S AMIR KHAN VS. DANNY GARCIA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE

QUOTES FROM AMIR KHAN VS. DANNY GARCIA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
AMIR KHAN, WBA Super Lightweight Super World Champion

"Training camp has been brilliant. It was a long camp, but we paced it well. We were very professional and smart with the way we did things. It was a 15-week camp and I enjoyed every second of it.

"I did make a lot of mistakes in my last fight [against Lamont Peterson], but it was a wakeup call. I learned a lot from that fight.

"We will win the title. We will take the WBC belt home to the U.K. It is a title I have always wanted.

"I have fans all over who have traveled to Las Vegas for this fight. A lot of them came over for my fight against Peterson too and it means a lot to me. The U.K. press shows me so much support as well and I am grateful.

"I will knock Danny Garcia out. I will take the world titles home. I know Danny didn't train as hard as me. I promise I will knock him out. That is the only way.

"[To Angel Garcia] I cannot wait until after the fight when we stand here and I have knocked your son out. He is going to see what a Pakistani British fighter can do. I cannot wait to get in there."

DANNY GARCIA, WBC Super Lightweight World Champion

"We had a great camp and great sparring partners. I am just ready to showcase my skills on July 14.

"My dad talked sh*t 23 times, and I backed it up 23 times. I am 23 and 0. Come Saturday, he will have talked sh* 24 times and I am going to back it up for the twenty-fourth time.

"It means the most when your team always supports you."

FREDDIE ROACH, Khan's Trainer

"We have had a great training camp. We are ready for this fight. We had to switch gears in opponents a little bit, but there were no major setbacks. Amir is in the best shape of his life.

"[To Garcia] Danny, I wish you luck, but I am not so sure about your dad!"

ASIF VALI, Khan Promotions

"Amir has worked hard, the team has been fantastic. He is ready to go. I have never ever seen Amir in this kind of shape.

"Whatever happened with Peterson is behind us. Now we have an opportunity to unify those belts.

"Amir Khan won a medal in the 2004 Olympics and in order to do something like that you have to go out and earn it. You have to make sacrifices, which is what Amir has done his whole career.

"We are very proud to say that the U.S.A. Boxing Team will be training in our gym in Bolton. As soon as Amir gets back from this fight he will be hosting them. Boxing in the Olympics is a big thing.

"It's going to be a fantastic fight. Tune in and watch because we are going to have the belts on the line and Amir is going to win.

"We wish the very best to team Garcia."

ANGEL GARCIA, Danny Garcia's Father/ Trainer

"This fight right here is going to be a spiritual fight. Spiritually, mentally and physically; it is going to come down to who is a greater spirit.

"Danny is on weight right now without struggling.

"Everybody on this team has been here from the beginning. We don't have changes. There's no place like home. When you move to another state you are doing yourself a disservice. If you are disciplined and you give your soul to this sport anything is possible.

"Khan is a superstar, but that's all he has. If he were American, nobody would care.

"This fight is going to show the world who is the boss. Danny is the boss.

"Khan has never faced a Latino like Danny. This is Latino blood. A nation. We are going to show the world who is the boss."

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

"This matchup [between Amir Khan and Danny Garcia] is a matchup that we don't see every day. We have two young champions who are at their peak. This is what really drives me, when you have two young fighters who are willing to fight anybody, when you are willing to fight the best, which is what boxing is all about.

"The fact that this is a unification is great, but these two fighters that we have here are fighting because they want to be great. They want to leave a legacy.

"Personally I am very proud and thrilled that Amir Khan is willing and able to go up against Danny and that Danny Garcia is willing and able to go up against Amir Khan. It has been a while since we have seen two young, strong fighters [fight each other] at their peak and I want to say thank you to them.

"I believe this fight is going to bring out the very best of Danny Garcia and the same goes for Amir Khan."

RICHARD STURM, President of Entertainment, MGM Resorts

"Mandalay Bay would like to welcome our partners at Golden Boy Promotions, HBO and the media and of course the fighters.

"Khan, who's known for his exceptional speed and skills showcased that talent perhaps his most accomplished victory - a knockout over Zab Judah nearly one year ago to date here at Mandalay Bay.

"Danny Garcia returns to Mandalay Bay for the first time in almost three years. With a win over Khan, he will extend his undefeated record to 24-0 in what will be an exciting bout Saturday night."

AMIR KHAN vs. DANNY GARCIA UNDERCARD FIGHTERS

FERNANDO GUERRERO, Rising Super Middleweight Star

"I think boxing is one of the hardest sports. Before we even get in the ring, I want to say to Amir, Danny and everyone else, good luck because I know how hard it is.

"It has been a long journey for me and I am loving it. I used to just work hard, but now I am learning how to work hard and love life.

"I want to prove to the world that there is no difference between me and the other talent on HBO and I am going to show it. I want everyone to be there to witness an electrifying card because I know it is going to be an electrifying show."

PHIL LO GRECO, Undefeated Welterweight Contender

"It is an honor and a thrill for me to be here.

"I am an Italian guy from Canada. Ever since I was a kid, it was my dream to fight in Las Vegas. It's a big responsibility to fight in Las Vegas.

"I fight for the Italian people, the Canadian people and now I am fighting for all of the hard core American boxing fans. I want to give them a good show and prove myself Saturday night."

J LEON LOVE, Undefeated Middleweight Prospect

"It is a pleasure to be on this card. We worked hard and this is going to be a great night of boxing."

JAMIE KAVANAUGH, Undefeated Lightweight Prospect

"This Saturday is going to be a great night of boxing.

"I have been sparring with Amir Khan and training with Freddie. I can't wait for Saturday night."

ABNER COTTO, Undefeated Lightweight Prospect

"I want you to know that I am a strong prospect. It is a pleasure to be on this card and pretty soon Puerto Rico will have another world champion."

♔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.

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STRIKEFORCE®: ROCKHOLD vs. KENNEDY, World Championship Doubleheader tomorrow/Saturday, July 14, live on SHOWTIME®

QUOTES FROM TODAY'S AMIR KHAN VS. DANNY GARCIA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE