LOS ANGELES– One of the toughest-talking, hardest-fighting, most colorful competitors in Mixed Martial Arts, Phil “The New York Bad Ass’’ Baroni, has signed a multi-year contract with Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s Live Fight Division, EliteXC.
“You know any Jersey boy like me likes a ‘New York Bad Ass’ and Phil’s definitely as bad as they come,’’ said EliteXC Live Events President, Gary Shaw, who made the announcement Saturday. “Phil is a promoter’s dream. He’s a character but also as courageous a fighter as I’ve been around.
“But what I truly love about him is he always comes not only to fight but to win and put on a show. He’s a crowd-pleaser extraordinaire. This is a great addition to the EliteXC family and we are thrilled to sign him. Fans can expect to see Phil back in the cage and fighting his heart out very soon.’’
Baroni’s next fight is March 15 on the EliteXC Hawaii-based Icon Sport promotion. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“This is a great deal and opportunity. I appreciate EliteXC sticking with me and believing in me enough to sign me,’’ said Baroni (http://philbaroni.proelite.com/), whose last fight came against Frank Shamrock (http://frankshamrock.proelite.com/) on June 22, 2007.
A native of Long Island, N.Y., Baroni didn’t win an incredibly exciting slugfest that lived up to its hype and anticipation, but he showed as much grit and determination as anyone could expect.
“I’m looking forward to returning to the cage and kicking (butt),’’ said Baroni, whose EliteXC contract will allow him to continue to perform for Strikeforce. “Everybody knows I got hurt early and couldn’t do everything I wanted to do against Shamrock. But I’m 100 percent now, ready for anybody. I pity the guy I fight next, or the one after that. Trust me, everybody is going to pay from here on out.’’
For more information on EliteXC and other MMA-related stories, including bios, video-on-demand, photos, stats, Fantasy Fight Game TM and more, please visit ProElite.com and EliteXC.com.
ProElite, Inc.
ProElite Inc. [PELE.PK] delivers the most exciting entertainment experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on Showtime Networks and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem all the while remaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools. ProElite’s live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world’s top fighters [elitexc.com]. ProElite’s interactive business, ProElite.com, capitalizes on the growing popularity of the sport of mixed martial arts by building a community of MMA enthusiasts. In addition to streaming the most exciting live fights to the web, ProElite expands the fan base of the sport by providing a comprehensive set of online social networking tools for fans, fighters and organizations. ProElite.com – Empowering the Fight Community TM
Contacts:EliteXC (Brener Zwikel & Associates, Inc.), Dan Clavadetscher / John Beyrooty
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
FREDDIE CUEVAS RETURNS TO THE RING THIS FRIDAY NIGHT IN CHICAGO
Middleweight veteran “CLASSY” Freddie Cuevas will return to the ring this Friday night, February 15th to take on Dominican Luis Hodge at CELEBRATION, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing marking the 10 year anniversary of Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.
Tickets for CELEBRATION are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.
Cuevas’ return marks his first fight in Chicago in almost three years. Long a favorite amongst Chicago fight fans, Cuevas, 25-9-1 (17KO’s) had previously announced his retirement after his battle with middleweight contender John Duddy at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2006.
The 28 year old Hodge, 5-5 (3KO’s) is making his second appearance in Chicago, previously battling highly regarded Polish prospect Andrzej Fonfara on September 17, 2007 at the Congress Theatre.
Speaking after a sparring session at JABB Boxing Gym, the 38 year old Chicago based Cuevas spoke about his comeback,
“The time off has been great for my body. After the Duddy fight I needed a rest. I’ve been a pro since 1995 and had always been either fighting or training to fight without giving my body a break.”
“Now, things that bothered me like my shoulder, my elbow and my back all feel fine. I’ve changed my workout schedule and regimen and feel better than I’ve felt in years.”
“I really had no intention of coming back except that in the last six months while I’ve been training just to keep in shape, my body has responded well and I want to give it one more shot.”
Speaking about fighting back in his hometown of Chicago for the first time in almost three years, Cuevas said, “I’ve fought all over the country and in Europe and often times people have traveled to see me fight in Vegas, New York or Atlantic City. However, I’ve always felt great fighting here, the fans have been very supportive since I turned pro in 1995.
Chicago was the site of Cuevas’ biggest wins of his career, seventh rounds knockouts of former world champions Wilfredo Rivera and Charles Murray in 2002.
CELEBRATION, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing, presented by 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated is headlined by an outstanding battle between junior welterweight prospects Mike Alvarado and Jesus “CHUY” Rodriguez.
As part of the CELEBRATION event, Rocky Martinez and Mike "FLY" Garcia
will be inducted into the 8 Count Productions Hall of Fame.
The full fight card for CELEBRATION is;
Mike Alvarado vs. Jesus Rodriguez, ten rounds, junior welterweights
Alejandro Perez vs. Torrence Daniels, eight rounds, super bantamweights
Francisco Rodriguez vs. Andre Wilson, eight rounds, bantamweights
Andrzej Fonfara vs. Francisco Rincon, six rounds, junior middleweights
Freddie Cuevas vs. Luis Hodge, six rounds, middleweights
Ivan Popoca vs. Guadalupe Diaz, four rounds, junior welterweights
The open to the public weigh-in will be held at 7pm on Thursday, February 14th at Club Aquarius, 2459 N. Pulaski on the Northwest side of Chicago.
Along with Chicago’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, CELEBRATION is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.
The Master of Ceremonies for CELEBRATION will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.
8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxinggym.com/
For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit.
http://www.toprank.com/
CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998
Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
Tickets for CELEBRATION are available in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie, just minutes from the Eisenhower and Stevenson Expressways. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.
Cuevas’ return marks his first fight in Chicago in almost three years. Long a favorite amongst Chicago fight fans, Cuevas, 25-9-1 (17KO’s) had previously announced his retirement after his battle with middleweight contender John Duddy at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2006.
The 28 year old Hodge, 5-5 (3KO’s) is making his second appearance in Chicago, previously battling highly regarded Polish prospect Andrzej Fonfara on September 17, 2007 at the Congress Theatre.
Speaking after a sparring session at JABB Boxing Gym, the 38 year old Chicago based Cuevas spoke about his comeback,
“The time off has been great for my body. After the Duddy fight I needed a rest. I’ve been a pro since 1995 and had always been either fighting or training to fight without giving my body a break.”
“Now, things that bothered me like my shoulder, my elbow and my back all feel fine. I’ve changed my workout schedule and regimen and feel better than I’ve felt in years.”
“I really had no intention of coming back except that in the last six months while I’ve been training just to keep in shape, my body has responded well and I want to give it one more shot.”
Speaking about fighting back in his hometown of Chicago for the first time in almost three years, Cuevas said, “I’ve fought all over the country and in Europe and often times people have traveled to see me fight in Vegas, New York or Atlantic City. However, I’ve always felt great fighting here, the fans have been very supportive since I turned pro in 1995.
Chicago was the site of Cuevas’ biggest wins of his career, seventh rounds knockouts of former world champions Wilfredo Rivera and Charles Murray in 2002.
CELEBRATION, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing, presented by 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated is headlined by an outstanding battle between junior welterweight prospects Mike Alvarado and Jesus “CHUY” Rodriguez.
As part of the CELEBRATION event, Rocky Martinez and Mike "FLY" Garcia
will be inducted into the 8 Count Productions Hall of Fame.
The full fight card for CELEBRATION is;
Mike Alvarado vs. Jesus Rodriguez, ten rounds, junior welterweights
Alejandro Perez vs. Torrence Daniels, eight rounds, super bantamweights
Francisco Rodriguez vs. Andre Wilson, eight rounds, bantamweights
Andrzej Fonfara vs. Francisco Rincon, six rounds, junior middleweights
Freddie Cuevas vs. Luis Hodge, six rounds, middleweights
Ivan Popoca vs. Guadalupe Diaz, four rounds, junior welterweights
The open to the public weigh-in will be held at 7pm on Thursday, February 14th at Club Aquarius, 2459 N. Pulaski on the Northwest side of Chicago.
Along with Chicago’s 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, CELEBRATION is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.
The Master of Ceremonies for CELEBRATION will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.
8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxinggym.com/
For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit.
http://www.toprank.com/
CREATING CONTENDERS SINCE 1998
Bernie Bahrmasel
Publicist/8 Count Productions
SecondsOut Radio: Kelly Pavlik, Jermain Taylor, Ozell Nelson, More on Women's Boxing
SecondsOut Radio: Kelly Pavlik, Jermain Taylor, Ozell Nelson, More onWomen's Boxing On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, at http://www.secondsout.com/radio/,host Eddie Goldman begins by reviewing some important fights of the past week.
Discussed are the successful defense by Holly Holm of her IFBA welterweight title over Belinda Laracuente, the entertaining draw between Chevelle Hallback and Melissa Hernandez for the still-vacantIFBA lightweight title, and the surprising upset by Carlos Quintana over the previously-unbeaten Paul Williams by unanimous decision to capture his WBO welterweight title.
We next focus on a highly-anticipated rematch coming up this Saturday,February 16, Las Vegas. When Jermain Taylor, then undefeated and themiddleweight champion of the world, first fought Kelly Pavlik last Sept. 29 in Atlantic City, he was a clear favorite going into that bout. Taylor hurt and dropped Pavlik in the second round of that fight, but could not finish him. Pavlik regrouped and went on to drop,and stop, Taylor in the seventh round, winning the fight and the title with a thunderous TKO.
Now the rematch is at hand, although it will be at a catch weight of166 pounds and not for the middleweight title. Still, the legacy ofboth men is on the line, and the future of their careers will be in large part determined by the outcome of this fight, as they each vowto be the decisive winner this time out.
At a prefight news conference in New York, we spoke with the middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (32-0, 29 KOs) about this rematch. We spoke with Jermain Taylor (27-1-1, 17 KOs) on a media tele conference call about his approach to this fight.
And we spoke with Taylor's trainer, Ozell Nelson, about what changes their team plans to make in this rematch with Pavlik, and about Taylor's engaging manner. This fight will be telecast in the U.S. on HBO Pay-Per-View. It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register togain access to it. Just click here, http://www.secondsout.com/radio/,and listen, learn, and enjoy. Thanks, Eddie Goldman No Holds Barred bloghttp://nhbnews.blogspot.com/ No Holds Barred podcasthttp://nhbnews.podomatic.com/ No Holds Barred on MySpacehttp://www.myspace.com/nhbnews
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