FIGHTING IRISHMEN: CELEBRATING CELTIC PRIZEFIGHTERS 1820-PRESENT HOSTS PUGILISTS AND POPCORN FORUM ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 FEATURING BOXING LEGEND

FIGHTING IRISHMEN: CELEBRATING CELTIC PRIZEFIGHTERS 1820-PRESENT HOSTS PUGILISTS AND POPCORN FORUM ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, FEATURING ON THE WATERFRONT AUTHOR BUDD SCHULBERG; BOXING LEGEND “IRISH” MICKY WARD; BOXING PROMOTER LOU DIBELLA; ACTOR TONY LOBIANCO; AND FEMALE FIGHTER MAUREEN SHEA



What: Pugilists and Popcorn Forum on boxing cinema presented by Fighting
Irishmen: Celebrating Celtic Prizefighters 1820-Present in association with the South Street Seaport; film clips and lively discussion on Hollywood ’s fascination with the sweet science.

Who: On the Waterfront author Budd Schulberg; legendary boxer “Irish” Micky
Ward; boxing promoter Lou DiBella, actor Tony LoBianco, female boxer
Maureen Shea; moderator Jim Houlihan, curator of exhibit (speakers subject
to change).




When: Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Where: Tour
South Street Seaport Museum
12 Fulton Street

Panel Discussion
Downtown Association
60 Pine Street

Subways: 2,3,4,5,J,Z or M to Fulton Street ; A or C to Broadway-Nassau.

Time: 6:00 PM tour, 7:30 PM Panel discussion

Tickets: $35 and $50 VIP (vip ticket also includes private tour or exhibit;
refreshments included in price of admission)

Contact: Carol Rauscher, 212-748-8776, crauscher@southstseaport.org

“Bad” Chad Dawson takes on WBC No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 6, 2007 Don King Brings World Championship Boxing to ARCO Arena Undefeated WBC Light Heavyweight Champion ‘Bad’ Chad Dawson Takes on Undefeated No. 1-Ranked Mandatory Challenger Adrian Diaconu on Sept. 29; TICKETS TO BATTLE OF ‘THE UNDEFEATED’ GO ON SALE SATURDAY SACRAMENTO, Calif.

Promoter Don King, in association with Maloof Sports and Entertainment, will present a highly anticipated world championship battle of the undefeated at ARCO Arena on Saturday, Sept. 29, when World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson takes on WBC No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu, from Romania now fighting out of Montreal, Canada. Tickets priced at $30, $50, $75, $100 and $250 will go on sale Saturday (Sept. 8) at 10 a.m. PT. The quickest and most convenient way to purchase tickets is by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at (916) 649-TIXS or by visiting their Web site at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available for sale at the ARCO Arena Box Office and at all Sacramento-area Ticketmaster outlets. The main event will be televised on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).



“I couldn’t be more excited to be promoting this light heavyweight championship with the Maloofs at ARCO Arena on Sept. 29,” an ebullient Don King said. “We are looking forward to bringing World Championship Boxing to a region with such rich boxing heritage.” “The Maloof family loves the sport of boxing going all the way back to my father,” Gavin Maloof said. “We are proud to be bringing Don King to Sacramento to promote this world championship card at ARCO Arena. It will be a great event for boxing fans in Sacramento.” Dawson (24-0, 16 KOs), from New Haven, Conn., possesses the WBC 175-pound title Roy Jones Jr. held from 1997 to 2004. Dawson won the title in a magnificent display of boxing, pounding on then-previously undefeated champion Tomasz Adamek (31-0). Both fighters tasted the canvas on Feb. 3 in Kissimmee, Fla., but Dawson built a strong scorecard lead, survived his knockdown and won a 12-round decision. Diaconu (24-0, 15 KOs) earned the WBC No. 1 ranking and became mandatory challenger to Dawson by scoring a third round technical knockout over Rico Hoye in an elimination bout staged in Montreal on May 9. Possessing knockout power in both hands, Diaconu will certainly be looking to test Dawson’s chin in the hope of gaining his title.

Press Conference Quotes

Quotes taken at ARCO Arena Press Conference in Sacramento in the morningAnd at AT&T Park Press Conference in San Francisco in the afternoon Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007 “Bad” Chad Dawson: “The ring is my home. It’s where I’m most comfortable. This is going to be my coming out party. They said Tomasz Adamek was tough and look what I did to him. I’m going to do what I did to Adamek to Diaconu on Sept. 29. “I’ve seen Diaconu’s last few fights. He’s tailor-made for me. He can try to come inside on me or work from the outside. I’ve got a plan to cover whatever he tries to do. I put in the work in training camp. I’ve got a couple more weeks to go. I’ve learned so much from my new trainer Eddie Mustafa in the first five weeks of training for this fight. I will have a tough fighter in front of me [on Sept. 29] but I will do what I have to do to win. Eddie Mustafa (Dawson’s trainer): “I’ve seen that Diaconu has said he’s coming to kick Chad’s ass. I want to remind him that you’ve got to bring your ass to the fight to do that. Talk’s cheap. You’ve got to bring it.” Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu: “I have had good training, sparring and diet leading up to this fight. I’m not so good with English so you’ll have to let my actions speak for me in the ring. “On September 29 I’m going to put everything in my two hands, all of my experience and preparation, to win the fight.” Pierre Bouchard (Diaconu’s trainer) “We respect Chad Dawson. He had a great fight with Tomasz Adamek to become WBC light heavyweight champion but on September 29 there will be blood in the water and the shark will attack.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 12, 2007 Two Boxing World Championships at ARCO Arena on Sept. 29 Battle of ‘The Undefeated’ in World Boxing Council Light Heavyweight Championship:Champion ‘Bad’ Chad Dawson Takes on No.-1 Ranked Adrian ‘The Shark’ Diaconu International Boxing Federation Bantamweight Championship:Champion Luis ‘El Demoledor’ Perez Squares Off Against Joseph ‘King Kong’ Agbeko SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Promoter Don King, in association with Maloof Sports & Entertainment, will present two world championship boxing matches at ARCO Arena on Saturday, Sept. 29 where the main event will feature a battle of “The Undefeated” with World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson opposing WBC No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu. The second world championship features two once-beaten fighters with Luis “El Demoledor” Perez (25-1, 21 KOs), from Nicaragua, making the first defense of his International Boxing Federation bantamweight title opposing British Commonwealth champion Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko (24-1, 21 KOs), from Ghana. Tickets priced at $30, $50, $75, $100 and $250 are on sale now and can be purchased most easily by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at (916) 649-TIXS or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the ARCO Arena Box Office and at all Sacramento-area Ticketmaster outlets. Both world championships will be televised on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). A full, domestically non-televised undercard will be announced soon. Dawson (24-0, 16 KOs), a 25-year-old southpaw from New Haven, Conn., possesses the WBC 175-pound title Roy Jones Jr. held from 1997 to 2004. He will have a fresh face in his corner when he makes his second title defense as previous trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. has been replaced by veteran Eddie Mustafa. “I felt like I had to make a change,” said Dawson, who is training in Las Vegas. “Floyd is a great trainer, but our personalities just weren’t clicking. “Eddie Mustafa understands what I need to do to get better,” said Dawson, who has been described by Mustafa as an exceptional athlete. “I am still young and learning every day. Eddie is great at identifying weaknesses and making them disappear.” Mayweather took over from two-time Trainer of the Year award-winner Dan Birmingham, who had been with Dawson since 2005. Mayweather was in Dawson’s corner on Feb. 3 in Kissimmee, Fla., when Dawson upset previously unbeaten Tomasz Adamek (31-0) to win the WBC light heavyweight crown and during his first successful title defense against Jesus “Chuy” Ruiz on June 9. Dawson’s longtime friend and manager, Mike Criscio, does not see any problems with the change in trainers. “I have known Chad since he was 11 years old,” Criscio said. “I have seen him go from a boy, to a teenager, and now to a man. Simply put, Dawson is a phenomenal athlete. Just about any trainer can be with him at this point in his career and win with him.” Dawson has a tough test in front of him as Diaconu, aptly nicknamed “The Shark” for his ferocious attacks to the body, will attempt to pressure the champion into making mistakes. “Since Diaconu has an aggressive style, my game plan is to keep the jab in his face and work off of that,” Dawson said. “I know I am quicker and more agile than him, so I know I can outbox him.” Diaconu is in a similar position that Dawson faced when he fought Adamek. Dawson was undefeated, but nothing in his record stood out as a harbinger of his subsequent domination of the seemingly invincible Pole. Adamek admitted after the fight that Dawson was by far the fasted opponent he had ever faced. “Diaconu has a great record, but I don’t think he has been tested by someone of the likes of Chad,” Criscio said. “Chad had not been greatly challenged before he won his title earlier this year because he was so young. Diaconu is almost in the same position as Dawson was with Adamek. Chad has to be very careful because we know this guy is tough.” Dawson said he will not be overlooking Diaconu. “I respect all of my opponents,” Dawson said. “I know Diaconu is solid, but when I bring my “A” game to him, it is going to be tough for him to hang with me.” Diaconu (24-0, 15 KOs), 29, born in Romania and now fighting out of Montreal, won the British Commonwealth light heavyweight championship by scoring a unanimous decision over Andre Thysse in Montreal on May 16, 2006. He earned the WBC No. 1 ranking and became mandatory challenger to Dawson with a third-round technical knockout over Rico Hoye in an elimination bout staged in Montreal on May 9. Possessing knockout power in both hands, Diaconu will certainly be looking to test Dawson’s chin in the hope of gaining his title. “Chad has been saying that I have never fought anyone important and there is some truth in what he says.” Diaconu said. “The reason for that is because the last two years nobody wanted to fight me. I was too much of a risk for the bigger names. “Dawson better be 100-percent ready and not underestimate me like Rico Hoye did or he is going to get the same surprise. This is my time. It is my turn to shine. I waited very patiently for this opportunity and I am ready for anything Chad brings. I will step into the ring on fight night a very confident man with one goal in mind, to break Dawson down and bring the WBC light heavyweight championship home to Montreal.” “I am ready and very well prepared to deliver the goods in the biggest fight of my life. All my years of training since I was a small boy in Romania, my more than 250 amateur fights, my amateur gold medals and my undefeated pro record will serve me well on September 29. Diaconu is trained by Pierre Bouchard.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside for the domestic television audience with Jim Gray and Karyn Bryant serving as roving reporters. The executive producer and director of the telecast will be David Dinkins Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing. SHOWTIME’s telecast of both world championship matches will take place during the premium network’s free preview weekend and will be available in approximately 54 million homes, a record for SHOWTIME previews.

About Don King Productions

Don King Productions has promoted over 500 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including three of the top five: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995. DKP has promoted or co-promoted 11 of the top 15 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including four of the top five: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995. About Maloof Sports & EntertainmentMaloof Sports & Entertainment includes the Sacramento Kings (NBA), Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA) and ARCO Arena. Led by Joe and Gavin Maloof and owned by the Maloof family with a group of long-term partners, the organization is committed to the community in Sacramento and to making a positive, meaningful difference in the lives of families in need and at risk in the Sacramento region. For more information about Maloof Sports & Entertainment, please visit kings.com, sacramentomonarchs.com and arcoarena.com or call 916-928-0000. About Showtime Championship BoxingSHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING just celebrated 20 years of hard-hitting, explosive programming last year. In March 1986, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING was born when “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler defeated John “The Beast” Mugabi in a spectacular and unforgettable 11th-round knockout in Las Vegas. Since that time, the network has aired some of the most historic and significant events in the sport including both Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson bouts. Always at the forefront of boxing, SHOWTIME has set itself apart by telecasting “great fights, no rights” on the first Saturday of every month. SHOWTIME is the first network to regularly deliver live boxing in High Definition. In addition, SHOWTIME continues to be a pioneer in sports television with a number of interactive features across multiple platforms making SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts the most enjoyable, immersive viewing experience for the boxing audience. For information on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.

“Iceman” Scully & Ross Training in Godfrey’s Corner

“Iceman” Scully & Ross Training in Godfrey’s Corner
PROVIDENCE (September 8, 2007) – Unbeaten NABF cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey, rated No. 2 by the World Boxing Council, has been joined in his corner by new head trainer “Iceman” John Scully and strength-and-conditioning coach Ross Enamait, Godfrey’s manager Bret Hallenbeck announced today.

(Scully and Jose Rivera)


Godfrey (16-0, 9 KOs) recently relinquished his NABA, WBC Continental Americas and USNBC titles to concentrate on a major world title shot. He also is rated No. 4 by the International Boxing Federation and No. 6 by the World Boxing Association.
Scully is a former world title challenger who trains former 2-time world champion Jose Antonio Rivera, bantamweight title contender Mike Oliver and former world lightweight title challenger Israel “Pito” Cardona, who also is managed by Hallenbeck.

Ross Training (www.rosstraining.com) is owned and operated by Enamait, an innovative athlete and trainer who has designed programs specifically for boxers.

“Scully is one of the hottest young trainers in boxing,” Hallenbeck said. “Not only was he a fighter, he fought for the world title, and has trained a world champion (Rivera). He’s known Matt for years. To become a world champion, Matt needs any edge he can get and there’s no replacement for being in the best physical condition as possible. We believe Ross can get Matt into great shape and together with John, Matt can reach ta the next level, which is a world championship. We’re delighted that they’re on Team Godfrey.”

Godfrey is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc.

(Keisha and Matt Godfrey)

“The Brawl” Vargas vs Mayorga has been, rescheduled for Friday November 23rd in Los Angeles California

"Ferocious" Fernando Vargas vs. Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga “The Brawl” Rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 23 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles California, all tickets previously purchased will be honored.

The Problem

Routine Blood Test by Vargas Reveals Severe Anemia;
Sept. 8 Boxing Event at STAPLES Center Will Be Rescheduled

Vargas’s doctor ordered him on Aug. 25 to not participate in the highly anticipated match’s original date to take the necessary weeks of treatment to correct an iron deficiency. Vargas health has already improved to the point he is “chomping at the bit” to get back to full training, which will occur in about three weeks.

Promoters of the event, Don King Productions and Main Events in association with STAPLES Center, worked diligently to find an available date in the crowded STAPLES Center schedule before deciding on the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend. The event will also be televised live domestically beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT at a suggested retail price of $44.95 and is being distributed by SHOWTIME® PPV.

Tickets remained on sale during the five days it took to reschedule the match. Astonishingly, undaunted boxing fans purchased over $16,000 worth of tickets during this time period—an incredible testament to the public’s desire to see Vargas vs. Mayorga.

Vargas (26-4, 22 KOs) is a two-time world champion and Mayorga (27-6-1, 22 KOs) is a three-time world champion. Their upcoming bout had been aptly dubbed “The Brawl” after a highly contentious confrontation between the fighters erupted at the initial press conference announcing the event in Los Angeles and again at a subsequent press conference in New York.





The Sports & Entertainment Center of the World, STAPLES Center is the downtown Los Angeles home of the most popular concerts, special events and five professional sports franchises: The NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers; the NHL's Los Angeles Kings; the AFL's Los Angeles Avengers; and the WNBA's Los Angeles Clippers as well as championship boxing, tennis, family shows and special events. Since its October 17, 1999, grand opening, STAPLES Center, twice named Arena of the Year, has welcomed over 25 million guests.

Main Events was founded in 1978 by Kathy Duva's late husband Dan Duva. In addition to the hundreds of world title bouts it has promoted, Main Events has promoted some of the biggest PPV events in history like "Showdown" the 1981 undisputed welterweight unification bout between "Sugar" Ray Leonard and Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns; "The Battle of the Ages" 1991 undisputed heavyweight championship between Evander Holyfield and George Foreman; the "Miss Howard Stern New Year's Eve" pageant, and the 2002 Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson heavyweight showdown which at the time set the record for the highest grossing PPV event of all-time.

Don King Productions has promoted over 500 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including three of the top five: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.

DKP has promoted or co-promoted 11 of the top 15 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including four of the top five: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in history.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995.

Andre Berto to pay tribute to Legendary Promoter Jackie Leonard at September 29 bout in a co feature on the Jermain Taylor vs Kelly Pavlik Undercard

RISING STAR REMEMBERS A LEGEND
***Hard Hitting DBE Welterweight Andre Berto to pay tribute to
Legendary Promoter Jackie Leonard at September 29 bout***



Winter Haven, FL August 28 ---Many sports fans say the younger athletes of today don’t remember or think about the legends that came before them. This is not the case with DiBella Entertainment power puncher Andre Berto who was saddened to hear about the passing of legendary Promoter/Trainer Jackie Leonard today at the age of 89. “Jack was a great man. He really cared about his fighters and the sport of boxing,” said the 2004 Olympian.

Jackie Leonard promoted many world title fights including those involving Sugar Ray Robinson and Archie Moore. Later in life, Leonard opened up a boxing gym in Winter Haven, Florida. This is where Jackie met a young Berto. “Jack is the man who taught me how to form my foundation of boxing. He taught me how to throw my first correct punch,” said the undefeated welterweight.

Berto (19-0, 16 KO’s) is currently preparing for a clash with David Estrada in the co-feature bout on the September 29th Jermain Taylor-Kelly Pavlik card at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Berto wants to dedicate the bout to Jackie Leonard and will pay tribute to him by wearing a “JL” patch on the trunks he will wear in the ring that night.



There are those who question whether or not Jackie Leonard should be in Boxing’s Hall of Fame. Berto feels “a person like Jack definitely is a Hall of Fame figure in the sport and should have a spot in Canastota. Jack was a great person and a true friend. He gave me a chance and for that I will always love him.”

Andre Berto thorough defeat

Andre Berto is coming off of a win of Cosme Rivera Friday July 27 at the Saratoga Springs City Center in conjunction with the horse raceway series.

Francisco “El Gato” Figueroa’s Looks To Rumble With Brooklyn’s Star

Bronx King Looks To Rumble With Brooklyn’s Star

At the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach Florida (on July 28th), Francisco “El Gato” Figueroa’s round 12 KO that sent Mexican fighter Ubaldo Hernandez (22 wins, 18 losses, 10kos) through the ropes made Figueroa the winner of the vacant NABF title. Figueroa’s highly intense bout (the first 12 round fight of his career), which showcased as a main event on Seeno Group’s “Saturday Night Showdown,” now ranks him number 12 in his weight class by The World Boxing Council. Although Hernandez’s record might be looked at as not so great, he is credited with going toe-to-toe against fighters such as Miguel Cotto, Vivian Harris, Jose Cotto, Demetrius Hopkins and Juan Urango.

Figueroa literally went to war with the extremely aggressive Hernandez. However, in round 12 as Hernandez stood blocking a barrage of body shots, Figueroa saw a clear opening. A straight left to the head meant no chance of recovery for. Hernandez. His head went through the bottom rope and legs flew in the air. When officials pulled Hernandez from the ropes to the canvas, he just laid there, unconscious, for nearly five minutes, as Figueroa celebrated coming one step closer to a world title.

Following Figueroa’s November 2006 defeat over fellow Bronx-native Joey Rios (in a bout now popularly known as “The Battle For The Bronx”) Figueroa was looking forward to a match-up that would be credited as the biggest fight of his career.







“Those things made me who I am now,” says Figueroa who, while homeless in 2002, spent a year sleeping in the basement at the Morris Park Boxing Gym in the Bronx. “I’ve come too far to turn back now. I’m very confident that I will be seeing a world title in the very near future.” Figueroa is now managed by Sal Lonano, who once managed the careers of Pauly Malignaggi and Mickey Ward. Veteran trainer Buddy McGirt Sr. is now in Figueroa’s corner as well.

During Miguel Cotto’s Madison Square Garden mega-bout against Brooklyn Southpaw Zab Judah on June 9th those in the know undoubtedly agree that Figueroa’s impact on unbeaten WBA welterweight Champion, Cotto, was evident. As one of Cotto’s chief sparring partner, Figueroa, who once shared the same trainer (Chelo Bentacourt) with Judah, spent a month in Puerto Rico assisting Cotto prior to his HBO pay-per-view ko victory versus Judah.

“When Cotto was fighting Judah everybody was calling my phone and text messaging me telling me how they saw Cotto using my flowboating technique, something he’s never done before,” says Figueroa explaining the components of the flowboating method he innovated. “Flowboating is a bobbing and weaving technique consisting of spinning on the heels and balls of the feet with a movement at the waist.”

Also the chief sparring partner to unbeaten light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, “Vicious” Vivian Harris, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti and others, Figueroa boasts about all of the fighters respective 2006 wins, subsequent to his intense involvement with them. “I’m boxing’s best kept secret,” says Figueroa. “And I’m ready to prove it!”

For all interview and media requests please email: Truinkmedia@gmail.com

Tito Trinidad and Roy Jones Square off

Tito Trinidad and Roy Jones Square off

Tito Trinidad: "I always want to fight great fighters and I am coming back to fight Roy Jones Jr. because he is one of the greatest in the sport."



Don King: "The fight will take place at 170 pounds. We are leaning toward Madison Square Garden but nothing is set at this time."

Tito: "I am going to feel very good at that weight and I feel that I will feel great at that fight."

Don King: "Tito Trinidad and Roy Jones will be doing color [on the pay-per-view telecast] for Vargas vs. Mayorga on September 8 and Chad Dawson on September 29 and Maskaev vs. Sam Peter on Oct. 6. Roy Jones will be his inimitable self as only he knows how to do it. And Tito will do the Spanish version. And they will be on Juan Diaz vs. Julio Diaz, the double D. Roy Jones will be doing rap music and Tito will be doing Reggaetón. Then they will go in the ring and fight. It is taking my breath away. This is a fight made in heaven... quality and competitiveness."

Tito Trinidad: "One month ago, I was not clear whether I would come back to boxing. But right now I have made up my mind. I have conversations with my manager and Don and finally everything has come together. Everything has been agreed... that I am ready to fight Roy Jones and Roy Jones is ready to fight me."

Don King: "Papa Trinidad didn't want his son coming back into boxing if he was going to fight anybody less than a Roy Jones Jr. So he raised the bar real high in honor of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican people. He told me Roy Jones. So my job was to go get Roy Jones. Roy Jones agreed to do business and be involved in history in the making."

Tito Trinidad: "It is true that I said in the past that I would not come out of retirement. But I have been a great fighter throughout my career and I am still healthy and I know that I have too much boxing inside of me and I want to show the world that I am still one of the best boxers. This is a great challenge to fight Roy Jones who is one of the greatest of the era and I never turned down a great fight and I am coming out of retirement for a great fight, with a great fighter like Roy Jones.

It is a huge purse, but at this time that is confidential."

Don King [injects]: "Mucho Grande, muchas gracias."

Tito Trinidad: "There is no next fight. Right now I am focused on fighting Roy Jones, one of the greatest fighters I will ever face. He is a great fighter. After I fight Jones, then I may think of another fight."

What do you think about Mayweather?

Tito Trinidad: "There was talk about fighting Mayweather but because of the difference in weight that fight really could not happen. It will never happen. This fight is at 170 and I will feel great at that weight and it will be a great fight.

I had always said that I will be in boxing as long as my father is. It is 100-percent true that I would only come back if my father did. The only reason I came back is because my trainer, my manager and my friend is back. He is supporting me and we are back together."

Don King: "It is a great day. Papa gave me a hard task to get Roy Jones. Papa said, 'Don’t bring me a mortal man, bring me Roy Jones.'"

Tito Trinidad: "It is just my comeback. I am going to fight Roy Jones."

What about Bernard Hopkins?

Tito Trinidad: "I fought Bernard Hopkins the first time and we won the jackpot. He has been running around ever since. I have been trying to get a rematch with him but it never happened. So right now I am focused on Roy."

What TV will this be on?

Don King: "This fight just came about. So we haven’t gotten that far yet. Papa knows, Roy Jones knows, I know and Tito knows, so it is not an original deal. This is creative, this is history. We have to discuss where the fight will be shown. We have to talk to HBO and we have to talk to SHOWTIME and we have to talk to ESPN and Rupert Murdoch, who is taking over everything. This is the first time since Rumble in the Jungle, where you make the fight, and we didn’t even have television. But right now we have both combatants just sitting here looking at each other and it is just remarkable. Shades of yesterday, fights like that were made 35 years ago."

Roy Jones Jr: "Tito is a great champion and I know that and he has left behind a great legacy. If someone like that comes to challenge you, how can you turn that down? I’d be stupid to turn that down, I fight for a living, that’s what I do. Great fights are made just like what we did here. You make a big fight to give the fans something to come watch. It’s not like the Floyd Mayweather-De La Hoya fight where they gave the fans a dance."

What about fighting at 170?

Roy Jones Jr: "I don’t like it, but for a big fight you have to do those things. It is a wonderful fight and I’m not going to let a few pounds ruin it. Of course it is going to be very difficult. Of course I’m not going to like it. But this is a big fight and the people want it. So we have to make it happen."

Are you too big or fast for Trinidad?

Roy Jones Jr: "Too fast, I may agree with. Too big? He is bigger than me right now. But [me being] too fast [for him], I am going to agree with. We are both powerful punchers, and when you have two powerful punchers it all depends on who is going to get there first. But there is one thing I will guarantee, it will not be like Winky Wright and Bernard Hopkins, two guys that are superior boxer but have no bombs in their tank. We both have bombs in our tank. Plus, we are phenomenal boxers on top of that. So you have everything it takes to make a great fight here. You’ve got two beautiful punchers. You’ve got two beautiful boxers. I am probably the quicker of the two, but pound-for-pound, he is probably the more powerful of the two. So it makes for a great fight."

How much convincing from Don did it take for you to do this?

Roy Jones Jr. "It takes a lot of convincing for me to do anything. It’s how you convince me to do it. He [Don King] just called me and said, 'Hey, Trinidad wants you.' If he wants me then do what you’ve got to do and make it happen. So I came in and we made it happen."

Have you looked at the contract?

Roy Jones Jr.: "I just got here for the press conference and I will look at it now. And I will sign it shortly.

I take my hat off to him for respecting me that much. And now we have two guys who stood up and said they want to fight each other. It didn’t take much to make the fight happen. I don’t change for pretty much anybody. Don King is going to treat me right so I am along for the ride."

Are you going to be OK doing all of that TV stuff?

Roy Jones Jr: "It is OK if I am working for myself. It’s another thing when you’ve got to work for somebody. I’m not going to do what they want me to do all the time, because that’s not how it works. But I’ll do what you want me to do if we do it right. But if you go crazy and do things that I don’t want to do, I am not going to do that."

How hard will it be to get to 170?

Roy Jones Jr: "God works in mysterious ways. After my last fight, I stayed slim because I thought something crazy may come my way. So I am slim. And this fight is worth getting there for."

Roy, you told Don not to put Trinidad in with Hopkins…

Roy Jones Jr: "What I told Don was that Hopkins had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Hopkins is really nothing without a guy like Tito. Now Tito have everything to lose and nothing to gain. Hopkins was going for broke, he was going to do everything he had to do to win the fight. I knew he was a hungry fighter, but I could have been able to deal with him a little better."

Don King: "I want to work with Jim Dolan and Madison Square Garden। Jim Dolan is trying to bring boxing back to America when everyone else is running away from it."

http://www.donking.com/tito_jones_sign.html