Three unbeaten boxers headline FedExForum card DiBella's HBO event built to be affordable

Three unbeaten boxers headline FedExForum card DiBella's HBO event built to be affordable
By Ron Higgins

Boxing promoter Lou DiBella's head and stomach have driven him to Memphis again.

Unbeaten boxers Andre Berto, Chazz Witherspoon and Rayonta Whitfield headline an HBO "Boxing After Dark" tripleheader on June 21 in FedExForum. The eight-bout card is presented by New York-based DiBella Entertainment in association with Memphis-based Prize Fight Boxing.

Berto, the unbeaten NABF welterweight champion at 21-0 with 18 knockouts, faces Miguel Angel Rodriguez (29-2, 23 KOs) in a 12-round WBC title elimination bout between that organizations' No. 1 and No. 2 ranked contenders. In the next few weeks, it's likely the WBC will revise the fight to being an interim world title bout.



Witherspoon, an unbeaten heavyweight (23-0, 15 KO's) who's ranked third nationally by the USBA, will slug it out with Chris Areola, who's also unbeaten (23-0, 21 KOs) and ranked No. 6 in the world by the IBF. The opponent for Whitfield, 21-0 with 10 KOs as the NABO flyweight champion and ranked No. 1 in the world by the WBO, hasn't been finalized.



The complete card will be announced later this week at a press conference in
FedExForum.

DiBella originally had the fight set in New York, but staging it there was cost prohibitive. So he turned to Memphis, where he has teamed once more with tireless promoter Brian Young of Prize Fight Boxing. DiBella and Young staged FedExForum cards the last two years with former middleweight world champ Jermain Taylor of Little Rock as the main attraction.

"Memphis is a great place to do an event, and I do need my barbecue fix," DiBella said. "The Rendezvous already has my name on it for one night, and I'll be doing my circle of barbecue for a week."

The one thing DiBella learned from his previous experiences in Memphis -- besides the difference between wet and dry ribs -- is the ticket price ceiling of the Memphis sports fan.

That's why DiBella and Young have priced tickets from a mere $25 to $100 (for a ringside seat). All seats will be on the floor and the lower bowl of the arena, and Young said 70 percent of the tickets will be $50 or less. Tickets will likely go on sale Friday or Saturday.

"The economy is terrible right now," DiBella said. "But we've gotten a good deal with the FedExForum, and they've allowed us to make this a very affordable fight. I know Memphis isn't Las Vegas and isn't a casino town, but Memphis is a great place to do an event. This (fight) is a way for me to come back to Memphis and price a fight to where even the ringside seats are affordable for regular folk to see some of the best in boxing."

Four years ago, Berto, Witherspoon and Whitfield were chasing Olympic dreams at the U.S. Olympic boxing trials in Tunica. That's why it will be unique to have them on the same card in the three featured fights.

Berto last fought in September, scoring an 11th-round knockout of David Estrada in Atlantic City. The victory gave Berto the NABF welterweight championship and made him the No. 1 contender in the WBC and IBF, just ahead of Rodriguez.



June's fight against Rodriguez will be Berto's third in FedExForum. His last appearance in May 2006, on the Jermain Taylor-Cory Spinks undercard, ended with his seventh-round TKO of Martinus Clay.

"Rodriguez is a real knockout puncher, so Berto has to be careful," DiBella said.

The Areola-Witherspoon fight is scheduled for 12 rounds, but Young said it won't last that long.

"They are both headhunters, and they are the two best American heavyweights out there, America's best hopes to get the title back," Young said. "Right now, the Russians are dominating."

Young said Whitfield's bout is a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

"He's very close to fighting for a world title," said Young, who's Whitfield's promoter. "He has this one more test to pass in June, then he could get the world title fight, possibly in the fall. This is the biggest fight of his life so far."

Young is excited about the diversity of talent on the card and the ticket prices.

"We've made the tickets very affordable, so there's no excuse why people can't come out and watch world class fighters on an HBO-televised card," said Young, who is bringing a televised world title fight to Memphis for the seventh straight year.


For a live interview with Chazz Witherspoon go to Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel Online http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

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

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

Instant Classic? Mijares-Munoz Unification on PPV Salado-Miranda co-feature May 17 in Mexico

GOMEZ PALACIO, DURANGO, Mexico – Styles make fights and the May 17 unification title bout between WBC champion Cristian Mijares and WBA title-holder Alexander “El Explosivio” Munoz has all the makings of an instant classic.

The 12-round Mijares-Munoz main event, marking the first super flyweight unification title bout in more than 10 years, headlines the “Noche de Campeones” pay-per-view event live from the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.

“Noche de Campeones,” promoted by KO Entertainment in association with DiBella Entertainment, will be produced and distributed by Integrated Sports for live viewing in the United States (9 PM/ET) on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and DISH Network, as well as on The Fight Network in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

The 12-round co-feature matches Mexican warriors Omar Salado and Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda in a WBC flyweight elimination bout.

“Unifying the super flyweight title is one of my first goals to be recognized as the best in my weight class,” Mijares said. “I’ve always desired to fight on a pay-per-view show and now it’s real. At the same time it is a big responsibility because so many boxing fans are going to be watching my performance. It’s an honor to fight before my people and I know millions of Mexicans will be watching me live on television.”

Mijares (34-3-2, 14 KOs) is a pure boxer with tremendous defensive boxing skills, while Munoz (32-2, 27 KOs) rates as a feared knockout specialist. Mijares captured the WBC Interim title on September 18, 2006 by 12-round split decision (114-113, 114-113, 113-114) against Katsushige Kawashima (30-4) in Japan. The slick Mexican southpaw successfully defended his WBC Interim belt the following November in Mexico, winning a 12-round unanimous decision (118-109, 117-110, 116-111) versus Reynaldo Lopez (28-3-2), and won his rematch for the WBC outright championship on January 3, 2007, stopping Kawashima (30-5) in the 10th round.

Mijares burst upon the global scene a year ago with an impressive, one-sided victory by unanimous 12-round decision (119-109, 118-110, 117-11) on PPV versus colorful Jorge “Travieso” Arce (46-4-1, 35 KOs) in San Antonio. Currently riding a 24-fight unbeaten streak with 23 wins and one draw, Mijares has made four successful title defenses since defeating Arce against, in order, Terrei Kikui (21-5) by 10th round TKO, Frank Gorrjux (16-7) in the opening round, and Jose Navarro (26-3) via a 12-round decision on February 16 in Las Vegas.

Venezuela-native Munoz is a 2-time WBA super flyweight champion, originally winning his title belt in 2002 with an eighth-round stoppage of Celes Kobayasho. Munoz made three winning title defenses against Eiji Kojima twice (KO2 and TKO10), sandwiched around a 12-round decision versus Hidenobu Honda (26-2), before losing a 12-round decision and his title belt to Martin Castillo (26-1) in 2004. Munoz won the WBA Fedelatin super flyweight crown in a WBA title eliminator, but Castillo won their 2006 rematch by 12-round split decision.

Munoz regained his WBA super flyweight title on May 3, 2007, taking a dominating 12-round decision from Nabuo Mashiro (9-0) in Japan. In a pair of title defenses, “El Explosivo” retained his belt with 12-round decisions against, respectively, Kuniyuki Aizawa (13-1-1) and Katsushige Kawasjima (32-6) this past January in Japan.


“Munoz is a dreaded knockout fighter and that’s why he’s a 2-time world champion,” Mijares noted. “All fights are different and I prepare myself 100-percent. I believe in my ability and also put myself in the hands of God. I believe it’s going to be a classic fight between a fighter and a puncher; a very tough, hard fight. I’m not looking ahead of this fight, but I’d like two or three more fights at this weight and then look at fighting for another world title at a higher weight.”


Undefeated former WBA Fedelatin super fIyweight champion Salado (19-0-2, 11 KOs) fought a 12-round draw with Ulises Solis (22-1-1) for the IBF light flyweight title in 2006. Salado is rated No. 4 by the WBC, No. 6 by The Ring, and No. 8 by the WBA. Miranda (25-3-1, 18 KOs) is ranked No. 3 by the WBC.

Unbeaten Japanese Koki Kameda (17-0, 11 KOs), former WBA light flyweight title-holder and current WBA No. 1 flyweight contender, is scheduled to fight in a 10-round PPV bout against an opponent to be determined. Kameda is also ranked No. 2 by the WBC, No. 9 by the WBO and The Ring.

Also scheduled to fight on the live undercard are other tough Mexican boxers such as middleweight Martin “Azteca” Avila against Alberto Hernandez in a 10-round match-up, as well as lightweights Ricardo “Camaleon” Mijares (9-0, 8 KOs) and Arturo Mijares (5-1, 4 KOs), and welterweight Ivan “El Ruso” Pereyra (1-0, 1 KO). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.

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

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

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

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

Hallback-Garside potential female Gatti-Ward fight‏; Holm-Sanders headlines June 13 at Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque

Holm-Sanders headlines June 13 at Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE- Four time world champion Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback (26-5-2, 11 KOs) is one of the most recognizable, experienced and respected woman boxer in the world.

Her June 13 showdown against WIBA featherweight champion Jeannine “G9” Garside (7-0-1, 3 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature feature for the vacant International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) lightweight championship on the “Finally” pay-per-view event, airing live (10 PM/ET-8 PM/MT) from Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque, not only figures to be a candidate for Fight of the Night, it also has all the makings of a female version of Gatti-Ward.

“Finally,” promoted by Fresquez Productions, Inc., will be produced and distributed by Integrated Sports for live viewing in the United States and Canada (10 PM/ET) on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, Shaw Communications, DirecTV, Bell Expressvue and StarChoice for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

The greatest collection of women boxers on one show with all eight independently rated among the world’s top 3 by divisions, including five No. 1 rated fighters, will battle in four world title bouts on “Finally.” The main event features the top two women boxers in the world today, Albuquerque favorite Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm (21-1-2, 6 KOs), recognized as the No. 1 welterweight in the world, versus the world’s No. 1 middleweight, Detroit icon Mary Jo Sanders (25-0, 8 KOs), fighting in the 10-round main event for the vacant IFBA junior middleweight crown and pound-for-pound supremacy.

The No. 1 ranked lightweight, WIBA and IBA title-holder Hallback, of Tampa, and WIBA champion Garside, the world’s No. 1 rated featherweight from Ontario, agree that their fight will steal the “Finally” thunder and the PPV event will take women’s boxing to another level.

“We fought on the same card once but I didn’t see her fight,” Hallback said of Garside. “I know she has a big heart and can really fight. I may have more pro fights, but she had a lot of amateur fights, and I didn’t have one. Experience-wise, we’re even or she may even have a little more experience. She’s coming to fight and I am, too. Our styles help us put on a show for fans. We’re both very exciting fighters. It’s going to be like the 4th of July in June. We’re going to be a tough act to follow for the main event. Jeannine’s coming prepared to win and prove that she’s one of the best. So am I. This fight will go down in the history books. In 10 years, boxing fans will be talking about Hallback-Garside.

“There are a lot of good, quality fighters – some of the best females in the world – on this pay-per-view card. I’m excited to be fighting on it. It’s important that mainstream watches so women’s boxing gets to the next level. We belong on prime time TV. I’m excited to be part of it.”

Hallback is one of only five boxers to fight Holm and Sanders, dropping 10-round decisions to both. “Holm-Sanders isn’t going to be like my fight with Garside,” Chevelle noted. “Their fight is between good boxers with some power. It’s going to be a chess match. Holly moves a lot, Mary Jo doesn’t move as much. I pushed both fights, pressuring them throughout. I think it’s going to be a close match between two good fighters.

Also on PPV, IBA junior featherweight champion Wendy Rodriguez (18-4, 3 KOs), of Los Angeles, faces WIBF-GBU/WIBC minimumweight title-holder Hollie “Hot Stuff” Dunaway (21-6, 10 KOs), fighting out of Las Vegas by way of (Van Buren) Arkansas, in a 10-round bout for vacant IBA strawweight title; WBC 2007 Fighter of the Year, WBC mininumweight champ Carina “La Reina” Moreno (11-1, 5 KOs), of Watsonville (CA), meets WIBA flyweight title-holder Eileen “The Hawaiian Mongoose” Olszewski (5-0-1), fighting out of New York City by way of Honolulu, in a 10-round fight for the IFBA junior flyweight crown. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $50.00, $100.00, $150.00, $200.00, $350.00 and $500.00, go on sale March 18 at the Isleta Casino and Resort box office, www.tickets.com or at Fresquez Productions, Inc. (508.884.7484). For more information go to www.fresquezproductions.com or www.holmvssanders.com. Doors open at 5:30 PM/MT, first bout 7:00 PM/MT, first televised bout 8:00 PM/MT.