The incredibly popular YouTube fighting legend and Mixed Martial Arts superstar, Kimbo Slice, appears on the nationally televised Jimmy Kimmel Live

The incredibly popular YouTube fighting legend and Mixed Martial Arts superstar, Kimbo Slice, will be a special guest on the nationally televised Jimmy Kimmel Live show Thursday Feb. 7 at 12:05 a.m. ET/PT on ABC.


The always entertaining Kimbo (kimboslice.proelite.com), who scored a 19-second, first-round knockout in his EliteXC and MMA debut in November, will discuss, among other things, his eagerly anticipated, long-awaited grudge fight with David "Tank'' Abbott (tankabbott.proelite.com) set for Saturday, Feb. 16, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami on SHOWTIME.

Besides Kimbo, who is on the cover of the current edition of "Fighters Only,'' a top British magazine, Jimmy's guests Thursday/tonight will include TV personality "Dr. Phil" McGraw.

GAELIC STORM; Undefeated junior middleweight James Moore will headline a pre-St. Patrick’s boxing extravaganza called “Gaelic Storm” on Sat. March 15

Undefeated junior middleweight James Moore, 14-0 (10 KOS), a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, who fights out of Queens, New York, will headline a pre-St. Patrick’s boxing extravaganza called “Gaelic Storm” on Saturday, March 15th, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. His likely opponent is Freddy Curiel, 18-6-2 (8 KOS), of Vernon, New Jersey. Curiel was a popular participant on season two of “The Contender” television series.

James Moore and Keisha


Also scheduled to appear is another undefeated junior middleweight, Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak, 19-0 (13 KOS), a native of Poland who fights out of Brooklyn and lightweight Oisin Fagan, 20-5 (12 KOS), a native of Dublin who fights out of Oklahoma City.

Pawel Wolak, Keisha, and Wolak's trainer


“Pre-St. Patrick’s Day boxing shows have become an institution in New York,” said Mike O’Sullivan, the co-owner of Celtic Gloves Promotions, a newly formed company that promotes Moore and will be promoting the bout. “The ink is barely dry on our contract with MSG and we are getting calls for tickets. We expect the night to be a sellout, and for this to be a breakout fight for James Moore.”

The 29-year-old Moore, a former captain of the Irish national amateur team that included John Duddy, is a veteran of over 300 amateur fights. As a professional, his superb boxing ability and two-fisted body attack has made him a New York fan favorite. Other good things lie ahead for the amiable Irishman.

On February 19th he will be honored as a “Future Champion” by Ring 8 of the Veteran Boxers Association in New York. On February 24th he will be feted by the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing (AAIB) at their annual luncheon in White Plains, New York. By fight night, he will have appeared on numerous radio programs, including the nationally syndicated Joey Reynolds Show and Talkin’ Boxing with Billy Calogero.

“I’m thrilled to be headlining at Madison Square Garden, especially two days before St. Patrick’s Day,” said Moore. “This is what I’ve dreamed of all my life. This is going to be a great night for me and a great night for Irish boxing. March 15th can’t come soon enough.”

James Moore and Kristal Hart


To purchase tickets call Celtic Gloves Promotions at 917-559-8467, Gleason’s Gym at 718-797-2872 or through Ticketmaster.

James Moore, Keisha Morrisey and Kevin McBride

Israel 'Pito' Cardona, the new welterweight gatekeeper's fights unbeaten Decarie Saturday night in Montreal

HARTFORD- Former world lightweight title challenger Israel 'Pito' Cardona has become a gatekeeper of the welterweight division since returning to the ring nearly two years ago after being retired 3 1/2-years.

Hartford-native Cardona (36-8, 28 KOs), now 33, heads north of the border for a 10-round test in the main event Saturday night at the Montreal Casino against unbeaten prospect Antonio Decarie (17-0, 5 KOs), the 25-year-old former Canadian light welterweight champion.

'Pito' won his first 24 pro fights, 18 by knockout, including an IBO super featherweight winning performance against Jeff Mayweather and Cardona later defeated Steve Larrimore for the IBO light welterweight crown.

In 1997, 'Pito' stopped 'Mighty' Ivan Robinson (23-1) in the third round of their USBA lightweight title bout and three fights later, Robinson beat Arturo Gatti for the first of two times in their 1998 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.

After his win against Robinson, Cardona extended his win streak to six, including four USBA title defenses against Sam Girard, Richard Kiley, Golden Johnson, which was also fought for the NABF belt, and Joel Perez. In his only major world title fight, though, Cardona lost a 12-round decision to undefeated Paul Spadafora (26-0) for the vacant IBF lightweight championship in 1999.

Cardona retired in mid-2002 at the age of 27, sporting a 34-6 record, due to his frustrations with boxing politics. He returned to the ring two years ago with a new manager, Bret Hallenbeck, and new trainer, John Scully. Cardona's first two comeback fights resulted in a pair of TKO victories before he became a gauge for young, talented welterweights to measure themselves. 'Pito' lost an eight-round decision to 13-1-1 Juan Maniel Buendia and was stopped in the third round of his last fight to 11-0 Mike Jones last November.

'I understand if people think of me as a gatekeeper,' Cardona said, 'but that's not what I am. I'm at the end of my career with maybe a couple of years left. Each fight is a must win for me; I can't afford to lose. I'm shooting for gold and I can't waste my time waiting around for a big fight to happen. I need to win a few in a row to get a big fight and that's why I'm willing to go
into this guy's backyard in order to get back to where I was.

'The stoppage in my last fight was ridiculous. I fought an undefeated kid (Jones) who was nothing. The ref didn't know me and stopped the fight before I ever got started. I was on my way to knocking him out. It was only a matter of time. I was sitting on the ropes like I usually do. I even threw a nasty hook but the ref stopped it and damaged my career. Now, I have this opportunity, and I have to go in and be an animal. I have to destroy him to make some noise in this division. This fight I will be the judge and referee. I want to shut a few mouths, too. It's all about getting bigger and better fights. I'm a veteran, so I don't mind going into his backyard. All of the pressure is on him. He's undefeated and fighting at home. I'm focused on him and have trained hard.'

Cardona works nights as a lieutenant for a Hartford-based security company, as well as a boxing trainer at LA Boxing in Hartford.

CONTACT:Bob Trieger, Full Court Press

Bid on the ultimate VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT! WBC World Title Heavyweight Fight between Oleg Maskaev and Samuel Peters

From February 8th to 13th, you can bid on a fabulous Cancun getaway as well as ringside tickets to the WBC World Title Heavyweight Fight between Oleg Maskaev and Samuel Peters, all to support Susan G। Komen for the cure. Be your own Champ! Fight breast cancer... and have a ball!

1. 2 ringside tickets to the fights
2. 2 nights in the Presidential Suite of a luxurious Cancun Hotel
3. 2 RT coach tickets from anywhere in North America to Cancun
4. Limousine to and from the airports
5. A pair of Gloves signed by Oleg, Sam & the King!

www. ebay.com/donking
_____________________________________
Also for Valentine's Day:
Run (don't walk) to any book store in your area and get (or order)
"Sonnets" by Robert Witkow
Robert is our 'double lung transplant' survivor who came with World Boxing Cares to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital's children ward. He's not only a well know artist, the dad of the Caliope (child genius), but his book "Sonnets" was recently published and is now available.
I vote Robert as fighter of the year!


Jill Diamond
WBC Championship Committee
NABF Women's Division, Chair
World Boxing Cares, Chair
And now for the news:

http://www.wbcboxing.com

HIP HOP Conference in New York City

Hip Hop conference 2/9 and 2/10 in New York City also added to the the conference roster of speakers are Bro Mutwase from St. Louis, Bro Ampu from Philadelphia, Bro Chief liberation from Oakland, and Starwalker from New Jersey. If you have teenagers, this is a must see event.

Nabaté's TV/Webcast show 'So Much to Talk About' will interview one of the most prolific writers of the 20th Century, Mr. Budd Schulberg

For the next two Wednesdays (two-part interview February 6 and 13 ), Nabaté's TV/Webcast show will air an interview with one of the most prolific writers of the 20th Century, Mr. Budd Schulberg. Mr. Schulberg has written great novels like 'What Makes Sammy Run' and 'The Harder They Fall', penned the Oscar-Winning screenplay for 'On the Waterfront', and is a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame. His son, Benn, who is an accomplished writer himself, is producing a documentary on his father's life and he's part of the interview as well.

Nabaté Isles

'So Much to Talk About' Every Wednesday @ 9pm (Eastern Time)
Channel 57 (Time Warner-Manhattan Cable)
Channel 84 (RCN-Manhattan Cable)
Streams LIVE: www.mnn.org, click 57/84 link

McGIVERN TO REPLACE KENNEDY IN IFL MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE BOUT AT ORLEANS ARENA IN LAS VEGAS

NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS– Miletich Fighting Academy middleweight standout Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa), recognized as one of the most improved, up-and-coming athletes in the International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), will fight for the 185-lb. title against current champion Matt “Suave” Horwich (Portland, Ore.), one of three championship matchups at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, February 29. McGivern replaces Tim Kennedy (Fayetteville, N.C.), an active U.S. Military member who has been called into duty. Four other bouts have also now been finalized on the eight-bout card, including three featuring Xtreme Couture vs. Mario Sperry’s World Class Fight Center camps. Benji Radach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) will compete for Xtreme Couture in a middleweight bout against Leopoldo Serao (Brazil), Lew Polley (Coconut Creek, Fla.) will battle Alexandre Ferreira at 205 lbs., and Santino Defranco will take on Rafael Dias in a featherweight contest. The Lions Den’s Pat Healy (St. Louis) will take on Team Quest’s Jake Ellenberger (Omaha, Neb.) in a matchup that may determine a future title bout at 170 lbs. (Team Xtreme Couture’s Jay Hieron of Las Vegas holds the belt at present). “While it is disappointing to us and to Tim that he will be unable to compete due to his military obligations, we are excited and fortunate that a fighter of Ryan McGivern’s caliber is available to step in,” said Bas Rutten, IFL Vice President, Fighter Operations. “Ryan has been a great success story and his all-around style should make for an entertaining matchup with Matt Horwich.” As previously announced, two other IFL titleholders will place their belts on the line as Roy Nelson (Las Vegas), who knocked out Antoine Jaoude (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) to win the heavyweight crown, will take on IFL newcomer Fabiano Scherner (Portland, Ore./Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), who trains with Lindland at Team Quest. Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.), whose lightweight victory over Chris Horodecki (London, Ontario) raised eyebrows in the entire MMA community, makes the first defense of his lightweight belt against John Gunderson (Medford, Ore.), who competes for Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den. Matt Lindland’s Team Quest will take on Lion’s Den in three bouts in the other camp matchup. Tickets are available at www.orleansarena.com, all Coast Casino box offices, The Galleria at Sunset, by calling 702-284-7777 or by visiting www.ifl.tv. IFL Las VegasFriday, February 29, 2008 Preliminary Bout145 lbs.: Ian Loveland (Portland, Ore.) (0-2 IFL, 8-7 overall MMA) vs. Dennis Davis (Las Vegas) (0-0, 13-6) Team Xtreme Couture vs. MMA Top Team (Mario Sperry)145 lbs.: Santino Defranco (0-0, 10-3) vs. Rafael Dias (0-0, 8-3-1)185 lbs.: Benji Radach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) (5-1, 17-4) vs. Leopoldo Serao (0-0, 11-6)205 lbs.: Lew Polley (Coconut Creek, Fla.) (0-0, 6-0) vs. Alexandre Ferreira (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (0-0, 15-5) Team Quest (Matt Lindland) vs. Lions Den (Ken Shamrock)170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger (2-2, 16-3) vs. Pat Healy (St. Louis) (2-1, 18-12)*155 lbs.: **Ryan Schultz (North Platte, Neb.) (5-2, 18-9-1) vs. John Gunderson (Medford, Ore.) (2-2, 15-5)*265 lbs.: **Roy Nelson (Las Vegas) (4-1, 11-2) vs. Fabiano Scherner (Portland, Ore.) (0-0, 7-5) Championship Bout*185 lbs.: Ryan McGivern (Bettendorf, Iowa) (5-4, 11-5) vs. **Matt Horwich (Portland, Ore.) (6-3, 21-9-1) *Championship Bout**Current Titleholder About the IFL International Fight League™ (IFL) has its headquarters in New York and offices in Las Vegas. For more information about IFL, please see: www.ifl.tv.

WBC No. 1 cruisweight contender Matt 'Too Smooth' Godfrey's WBC title elimination fight against Rudy Kraj on March 8 in Germany

Godfrey punches way to Germany for WBC Title Eliminator versus Kraj on March 8
(Photo; Courtsey of Bob Trieger)

PROVIDENCE– Unbeaten NABF cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (16-0, 9 KOs), rated No. 1 by the World Boxing Council, travels to Germany to battle undefeated, No. 2 ranked Rudy Kraj (13-0, 10 KOs) on March 8 in a WBC title elimination bout determining champion David Haye’s mandatory challenger.

“Kraj won a Silver Medal in the 2000 Olympics and going overseas to fight him will be a big test,” the 27-year-old Godfrey said. “He’s very good. Kraj is a typical Eastern European fighter who does some things very well. The winner of this fight is going to be set-up nice in the WBC. I’m looking at it as a title fight.”

The WBC title eliminator potentially has additional implications because Haye, who also holds the WBA title belt, fights the same night as Godfrey-Kraj in a unification bout versus WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli. A win by Haye reportedly will send him up to heavyweight, leaving the cruiserweight division wide open, and the Godfrey-Kraj winner possibly the new WBC champion or Interim title-holder.


“I’ve fought in Europe as an amateur but never in Germany,” Godfrey noted. “I’ve watched the surge of boxing in Europe and always knew that my title run would go through Europe, especially with cruiserweights like Haye, Enzo and Jean-Marc Mormeck. I’ve prepared mentally and I believe that I’m a world class fighter who is ready for this.”

Godfrey has been training almost non-stop since the middle of August. First, his bout against Jeremy Williams in November was cancelled when the show fell apart, and the Kraj fight was originally slated for February. He will head to Germany with his head trainer, former world light heavyweight title challenger “Iceman” John Scully, 10-14 days in advance of the show in order to get acclimated and arrange sparring.

Matt, second heavyweight alternate on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, had a 194-23 amateur record, capturing six national championships -- four open tournaments including the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships, plus two in the Junior Olympics – as well as a Bronze medal at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver in all four of that year’s national major tournaments (National Golden Gloves, PAL (Police Athletic League), U.S. Championships and U.S. Challenge) and six-time New England Golden Gloves champion.

The highly decorated U.S. amateur defeated many boxers who today are outstanding professionals such as WBA middleweight title challenger Randy “The Gentleman Griffin (24-1-3, 12 KOs), unbeaten heavyweight prospect Chazz “Mensa With Muscles” Witherspoon (21-0, 14 KOs), Devin Vargas (14-0, 6 KOs), Corey “Black Ice” Cummings (15-2, 12 KOs), Leonard “Haitian Sensation” Pierre (18-3, 13 KOs) and John Johnson (12-1, 10 KOs).


CONTACT:
Bob Trieger
Full Court Press

Chicago based World Boxing Council (WBC) Lightweight Champion David Diaz is preparing to face off against Ramon Montano

CHICAGO- World Boxing Council (WBC) Lightweight Champion David Diaz is preparing to face off against Ramon Montano on Saturday, March 15th at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The ten round non-title bout against Montano will be Diaz’s first return to the ring following his outstanding win over three division world champion Erik Morales on August 4, 2007 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. The win over Morales was Diaz’s first defense of his WBC title and was noted on many boxing writers' 2007 “Fight of the Year” lists.

Diaz, under the tutelage of head trainer Mike Garcia, has been in camp at Chicago’s JABB Boxing Gym in preparation for his fight with Montano on the undercard of “UNFINISHED BUSINESS, the long-awaited rematch between Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao.

Speaking after an extensive workout, Diaz, 33-1-1 (17KO's) touched on a number of topics;

“I get approached in Chicago a little more since beating Morales. There were over 10,000 people at the fight and many of them have been very gracious to me over the last few months. It feels great, but there is still much to prove so I’m continuing to work hard.”

About facing the Las Vegas native Montano who brings a record of 14-3-2 into the fight on March 15th, “I’ve watched a few of his fights, he’s got a nice jab and comes forward ready to fight. I’m sure he’s training diligently for this opportunity and I’m preparing to be at my best on March 15th. I’m very excited to get back in the ring and fight at the highest level.”

In regards to his training, Diaz, a member of the 1996 US Olympic Team said, “Mike has set up a great camp, training and sparring has been terrific so far.”

The fight against Montano marks Diaz’s third fight in Las Vegas but Diaz is unfazed by the bright lights, “I’m fully aware of fighting on such a big stage but to me it’s a business trip. I’m going there to take care of business and that’s the only thing on my mind. Doesn’t matter to me how big the crowd is or anything like that. The bell rings and I have to be ready to fight.” Diaz won the WBC interim title with a devastating 10th round knockout of Jose Armando Santa Cruz on August 12, 2006 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

About the much rumored bout with Pacquiao for later this year, Diaz said “I’ve heard the talk but I’m so focused on March 15th that I’m not really paying attention to anything else. It’s not my style to look ahead, it’s all about Ramon Montano right now.”

Diaz wanted to pass along a final message to his fans, “I’ve always had terrific support in Chicago and I’ve also gotten great support from new fans after the Morales fight. I’m very thankful and I’m looking forward to putting on a great show on March 15th.”

The fistic debate about which fighter is the best finally will be settled when World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ defends his title against three-division world champion MANNY PACQUIAO in a 12-round battle for pound-for-pound supremacy. Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, in association with Romanza Boxing Productions and MP Promotions, Marquez-Pacquiao II will take place Saturday, March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for Marquez-Pacquiao II,priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100, are on sale at the Mandalay Bay box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall, and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000 or Mandalay Bay (702) 632-7580. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.