Savarese Joins Ring Promotions

NEW YORK– Former world heavyweight contender Lou Savarese has become a partner in New York City-based Ring Promotions, joining former New York boxing commissioners, Bob Duffy and Tony Mazzarella.

Lou Savarese (l) and Mitchell Rose, a former sparring partner of Lou Savarese.


Savarese was a two-time New York State Golden Gloves super heavyweight champion, winning the novice division in 1985 and defeating Alex Stewart the following year in the finals. In 1987, Lou was scheduled to fight future world champion Riddick Bowe in the finals, but Savarese was injured and unable to box.

As a pro, Savarese won his first 36 fights, 46 of 53 (38 KOs) during his 18-year career, which ended this past June with a 10-round loss by decision to Evander Holyfield. Lou’s 36th straight win was a seventh-round TKO of highly-touted Buster Mathis, Jr. (21-1) for the USBA heavyweight title in 1996. “Big Lou” then dropped a 12-round decision to George Foreman for the WBU crown, bounced back with a sensational fist-round knockout of Buster Douglas for the IBA belt, and rose from the canvas to knockoff previously unbeaten Lance "Mount" Whitaker.

“Lou Savarese is one of he most honest, respected boxers to ever come out of New York City,” Duffy said. “He’s a former world-class fighter with integrity who has always been good for boxing. We’re very happy that Lou’s now part of Ring Promotions. Boxing has been good to Lou and he wants to see the sport grow and make things better for everybody.”

Ring Promotions and Gotham Boxing, co-promoted “Holiday Hits” on December 13 at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, showcasing some of the Big Apple’s best young fighters including 3-time New York Golden Gloves champion and WBC rated No. 18 Bronx lightweight Jorge “The Truth” Teron now (19-0-1, 11 KOs), in his first scheduled 10-round fight; Brooklyn middleweight Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin now (16-0, 12 KOs), and Newburgh heavyweight Nagy Aguilera now (5-0, 2 KOs), 2-time New York Golden Gloves champion.

***Malignaggi and Ngoudjo Prepare for January 5 Showdown***

FIGHTERS WORKING HARD THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS


New York- There won’t be any holiday cheer for Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (23-1, 5 KO’s) or Herman Ngoudjo (16-1, 9 KO’s) this year. Malignaggi will defend his IBF Junior Welterweight title against Ngoudjo on Saturday January 5th at Bally’s Main Ballroom in Atlantic City LIVE on Showtime Championship Boxing with coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT.


Malignaggi is back at home in Brooklyn after a month and a half of training in Vero Beach, Florida with his renowned trainer Buddy McGirt. “Everything is in tip top form,” said the Brooklyn native. “I have the best training tandem in boxing with Buddy McGirt and Orlando Carrasquillo. They have prepared me well for my previous fights and this fight will be no different. The sparring I faced was outstanding and Ngoudjo better know he will be facing the best in the world on January 5th. Ngoudjo said last week that everyone will know who he is after the fight. I say come January 6th, no one will be even thinking about Ngoudjo. They will be talking and buzzing about the best in the world, Paulie Malignaggi.”



Ngoudjo, the Cameroon native who now lives in Montreal stayed home for his training camp as he prepared both physically and mentally for the lightning fast Malignaggi. “Training camp was perfect. I was able to focus completely on Paulie. The sparring I got was terrific and it will show in the ring in Atlantic City,” said Ngoudjo. The skilled boxer was “happy to be able to train at home in Montreal. The fans are all behind me, just as ready to go as I am. Many will travel with me down to Atlantic City. Training camp is a lot of hard work but these fans have made all of it worthwhile. I am ready to go for 2008 and will get the year started off right by beating Paulie. Malignaggi won’t know what hit him on January 5th.”

Malignaggi last fought at Mohegan Sun on June 16 where he scored a 12-round unanimous decision over Lovemore Ndou (45-9-1, 30 KO’s) to win the IBF Junior Welterweight Title. Ngoudjo most recently defeated Randall Bailey (35-6, 32 KO’s) to earn the mandatory shot against Malignaggi. The Montreal resident lost an extremely controversial split decision to Jose Luis Castillo in January 2007.


Tickets priced at $250 and $125 are now on sale and can be purchased at the Bally’s Box Office, by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577, Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

OUTSIDE THE RING – TRINIDAD VS. JONES DOCUMENTARY TO AIR ON COX CABLE

OUTSIDE THE RING – TRINIDAD VS. JONES DOCUMENTARY TO AIR ON COX CABLE SUNDAY, DEC. 23, AT 11 P.M. ET/8 P.M. PT (Check local listings for other air dates and part series)

NEW YORK— Boxing fans searching for an inside look at the non-stop Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. media tour will get a treat when Cox Cable airs the first in a three-part series documentary showcasing the legendary fighters on Sunday, Dec. 23, at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

The documentary highlights press stops in major United States cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Miami and ESPN studios, among others. Both fighters offer predictions and are candid about their strategies for their upcoming, highly anticipated fight.

Two of the greatest boxers in history who are both destined for the Hall of Fame, Trinidad and Jones, will square off at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. The match will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.


Tickets for the premier boxing event are now on sale. Prices range from $15,000 to $100 and can be purchased via www.Ticketmaster.com.

Trinidad (42-2, 35 KOs), of Monte Hiedra, Puerto Rico, and Jones (51-4, 38 KOs) of Pensacola, Fla., have built a staggering list of accomplishments and will enter the ring at or below the catch weight of 170 pounds.


Jones is an eight-time world champion who has captured belts in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Additionally, he became the first former middleweight champion to win a world heavyweight crown in more than 100 years.


Trinidad is a five-time world champion with a stunning career knockout ratio of 80 percent who has won titles in the welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight classes. He also holds the distinction of having defeated three Olympic Games gold medalists: Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya and David Reid.

The event, which is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with Madison Square Garden, will be distributed internationally by KingVision, available through DK International Sales, a division of Don King Productions, Inc.

MSG Sports Properties is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P., owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation, which includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.