2008 Playahata Awards
http://playahata.com/hatablog/?page_id=3177
We normally begin our awards with a song that in some way represents us but is also pretty popular. Unfortunately this year we didn’t quite find that tune, and we just picked a verse of a song as our anthem, so without further delay let’s get into this year’s anthem and the 2008 Playahata.com awards. Please rise for the playing of “Can’t Win For Losing” by Little Brother. http://playahata.com/hatablog/?page_id=3177
Rap Album of the Year: Talib Kweli – Eardrum
We must admit some of the Playahata family has gone through it’s ups and downs with Talib Kweli. Some have always liked him others have gone from liking him to not being much of a fan, but still supporting his music out of our love for so-called “conscious rap, though most artist who would fall under that label hate such a classification. But whether you’ve soured or become less enamored with Kweli over time one has to admit that he hit the mark again with his latest album Eardrum. It has all the components of a dope album, tight lyricism, thought provoking content, dope beats but this time he even has solid hooks. Though Kweli may have already experienced his peak of commercial penetration, the albums when his profile has been the highest don’t seem to contain his best work. Regardless of BET/MTV spins, it seems that now Kweli is back to making dope music and to us that’s most important.
R&B Album of the Year: Alicia Keys - As I Am
We admit by the end of the year we usually have done a few more rap album reviews than R & B so maybe you heard a great R&B album we didn’t know about, but of all the R&B LPs we heard that dropped this year, Ms. Keys came the strongest. This may come as a surprise to some considering some soul or “Neo-soul” heavyweights dropped this year, such as Jill Scott and Angie Stone, but Keys has come a long way as an artist and she seems to just get better with age. What’s most impressive and promising about her growth is that despite her commercial success she does not continue to go directly to the well, and seems unafraid to take chances musically. She has great handlers and as she is, it seems the sky is the limit. We might be anti-pop at times but Keys is one of the few artist we feel no shame in saying we actually like.
Movie of the Year: The Great Debaters
When some of Playahatas read the email regarding this movie coming out it seemed like a hoax or possibly an exaggeration to some. It’s not that such a movie couldn’t come out but it seemed to have come out of nowhere, not to mention Denzel was still sucking in all the attention from his role in American Gangster. Now a few million dollars and a whole lot of inspiration later here The Great Debaters stands as our movie of the year. A product of Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films production company it’s a testament to what can happen when well heeled Black entertainers start pooling their dollars or at least using them for some good. Not to mention Debaters dug up a somewhat buried bit of history as it’s based on a true story. We admit the movie had some minor flaws, mainly the fact that is seemed to be trying too hard to be tear-jerker but overall it was a great film and a very important one to be made and seen particularly by Black and Brown children.
Runner Up: Sicko
Perhaps we should just reserve a movie of the year or runner up slot for Moore, each year he comes out with a movie. This year Michael Moore did it again with arguably his best documentary, Sicko, which put the American health care system on full blast. Sicko came as a bit of a surprise in that the movie wasn’t about what many presumed it would be, namely the millions of American without health insurance. In fact the movie was actually about the millions of Americans who DO have health insurance and the vile tactics insurance companies employ against their customers and against the creation of a health care system that truly works for everybody. Though the powers that be threw all kinds of roadblocks in his way the movie came out and did quite well at the box office. It’s a shame it couldn’t have come out closer to the election, Hillary Clinton must be breathing a sigh of relief.
Honorable Mention:
No Country for Old Men - I know Chigurh is a fictional character but he still scares me.
Knocked Up - Similar Cast, different storyline, same result - hilarious.
The Namesake - Indian themed, but by no means Bollywood.
Guilty Before Proven Innocent Award: Remi Martin
“Ok so first you said you were not in the car, then you said you were in the car but the gun went off by accident. Yeah, …..you know you phucked up right? Yeah you know it you know you phucked up” … or so goes Playahata’s cleaned up version of the Remi Martin interrogation. Sometimes I don’t know if rappers really start believing their songs or are so many of them this dumb. Worse than that is it seems the female rappers are as bad as the men as this now makes at least 3 prominent female rappers in recent memory that have either done, are doing, or it seems will be doing jail bids – and there aren’t very many prominent female rappers. She can get a good attorney but it seems Remi Ma better hope her trial gets postponed for eternity as we don’t see how she can beat this case when the victim is alive to testify against her. Add to that charges of witness tampering and the manure Remi is standing in just seems to get deeper. All this misfortune allegedly over about 2-3 thousand dollars, damn Remi we thought you rappers were all baaaallllllling (well actually we kind of knew better).
Runner up (Tie): Chris Stokes (B2K’s former manager)
Raz-B may have recanted but his older brother didn’t and we still “think his ass hurt” thanks to Mr. Stokes. It seems the long-standing suspicion of Mr. Stokes being a “short eyes” finally bubbled to the surface when former B2K member, “Raz-B’s”, taped phone confrontation with Stokes, the group’s former manager, over allegations Stokes molested group members and placed them in inappropriate sexual situations, was released into the land of Youtube. Stokes denied the allegations and tried to make the situation out as an extortion plot, but Raz-B’s recant seemed a lot less convincing than his initial accusations, and men, especially men claiming to be heterosexual admitting to being molested, much less falsely claiming they were, just isn’t very common. Besides we’ve always thought acts like B2K, IMX, Immature, etc were more than a little oversexed and homoerotic for child groups, and we have yet to figure out what Stokes was referring to when he said he didn’t “do that” anymore and had changed his life during the taped phone conversation.
Runner Up (Tie): T.I.
“No Bang, No Flash”. That might just be a recap of the execution of the rest of T.I.’s career if charges he tried to purchase numerous assault weapons, and even more damning, silencers, stick. It’s illegal for T.I. as a convicted felon to own such weapons but throw in the numbers, types, and the silencers and T.I.P. may be about to be sent up river for a really long time. With the movies, and other opportunities, seemingly coming left and right T.I. seemed to have the entertainment world in the palm of his hand, now he has to keep it there because he can’t leave his house.
Chevron Award (Most Overrated and/or Gassed up Artist): T-Pain
We almost don’t want to give this award to T-Pain. I mean if you will openly discuss the size of another man’s cock, and said man is not a porn star, but just another entertainer then clearly you don’t have much of an ego. So T-Pain is getting this award not as an artist that is gassed up but more as an artist who is completely overrated. T-Pain is to Roger Troutman what R.Kelly is to Aaron Hall, well maybe not quite but he is certainly guilty of taking another entertainer’s style or signature affect and running with it. I mean it doesn’t take much to have your vocals altered with a synthesizer so there doesn’t appear to be much at the core of T-Pain the artist talent-wise, but he sure has capitalized of his gimmick like few others. What can we say, the music business is a dirty game, you have to get it while you can and while it’s still warm.
Allen Iverson Award (Artist Trying the Hardest to Crossover): Jason Whitlock
You know him as Jason Whitlock, but some of us know him as the Boondock’s Uncle Ruckus. We’re not sure who he Is trying to please with his articles but his budding prowess at blaming the victim is almost certain to land him a regular spot on FOX news some time in the near future. If we have to sit through another 30 paragraphs of Whitlock’s misguided attempts to place “Hip-hop” at the core of all things evil we are going to puke right in the doorway of ESPN’s downtown office. It seems no matter what happens bad weather it be Michael Vick’s conviction, Sean Taylor’s murder, shoplifting at a 7-11, a Tsunami is Southeast Asia Whitlock is right there to blame “Hip-hop”. It’s a really tired play at this point made worse by the fact that you can see it a mile away and we already know what he is going to argue before he writes an article nowadays. Hey Jason, we have some VERY serious issues with rap music and it’s content but we know a stretch when we see one – as Dead Prez might say, “It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop!”
Runner Up: Kim Kardashian
It seems she’s had more brothers inside of her than the Federal penitentiary. We haven’t fully figured out why socialite Kim Kardashian is famous or where she is trying to cross over too but she is clearly into Black men and lots of them, though if one had to ethnically classify her she would probably be considered Persian, (like Iranian or Afghani) although she could pass for White. She’s been linked to numerous Black celebrities, even the “B or C listers” like Ray-J with whom she shot a sex tape in 2007. She was last seen with Reggie Bush with her skirt hiked up, she’s considered horny and possibly dangerous, do not attempt to apprehend unless you’re a male Black entertainer, in which case it’s all good.
Most Likely to Succeed: Glen Ford of BlackAgendaReport.com
Its hard to believe that he was once a speech writer on the Republican side (Newt Gingrich). Now he and Bruce Dixon have built one of the most truthful, no holds barred websites for African American editorials and opinions. Updated weekly www.Blackagendareport.com simply tells the truth how they see it and are not in the business of sparing feelings. Facts, analysis and history have found a consistent home. Any time you tell the truth in spite of popular opinion you are going to be successful. Just remember the African Proverb “truth crushed to the earth rises up twice a strong as before”.
Least Likely to Succeed: Andrew Young, Charles Rangel and their ilk.
Andrew Young “may have” done good in the past but his human rights/civil rights legacy is questionable. He can say what he likes but it’s obvious nowadays that he is playing for media attention and future relevancy. His internal white-liberal-fascination meter leads him to say “Africans must accept neo-colonialism” in 2007! His desire to control a subjugated populace for a colonial leadership wont allow him any more success in a new day and era even among his comrades. Career politicians like Rangel and Young have tried to train others to do things their way and be lead by them. Rangel chastising Chavez in late 2006 for comments, was just the beginning of his attempt to be viewed as HNC. A title that actually does not exist and thus individuals clamoring for it are all less likely to succeed with the targeted audiences. Even with a guaranteed Senior Cabinet position on the horizon should Hilary win the Presidency. Old Guard Representative, Rangel will be just a meaningless name with a huge title serving as a pitbull for those that get out of line. He’s not fading fast, we will see him often but success for him is not possible.
Mantan Award (Community Disservice Award): Cam’ron
The Sultan of Stupidity, the Emperor of Idiocy, the Tycoon of high Cooning, it’s none other than the one and only Cam’ron. Cam’ron doesn’t just do a disservice to the community in general but even in the much smaller community of “ignant” rappers Cam’ron is the high-priest of ignorant shit. Who else could take a very simple phone conversation with 50-Cent into a war of diss records, and 15-minute microwaveable youtube videos. Even 50-Cent remarked that he had to stop going back and forth with Cam’ron because Cam was so ignorant Cam’ron wouldn’t be able to tell whether he was winning or losing. His tour-de-force of stupidity was ultimately his interview on 60-minutes when he took his defense of the “stop-snitching” movement to new lows of absurdity, telling his interviewer that he wouldn’t talk to the police if he new a serial killer was living next door to him. This was at the high points of the corporate media’s very insincere attack on rap music over content and lyrics. Even last year’s co-winner of the Mantan, Russell Simmons, had to give Cam’ron a phone call over his ridiculous “60-Minute” interview. The questioning on “60 Minutes” was a set up that most halfway intelligent people would have seen coming several miles away – but Cam’ron is not most people nor is he halfway intelligent from what we can tell.
Eat and Sleep Award: Lil Wayne
We’re usually on Lil Wayne for being unabashedly conceited and overrated but this year he had to be acknowledged for being something far worse. If Cam’ron could earn himself a Mantan for his 60 minutes interview then certainly Lil Wayne can earn himself a “Eat and Sleep” for the following quote in a rap rag regarding his street authenticity: “If you are talking about rap and beef, I’m the wrong person to talk to. I am from New Orleans. Cut your televisions on. You know where I’m from. I’m from the murder capital, ma. Beef is a different thing there. I have four teardrops on my face and I have to look my mom in her eye every day. I can’t lie to her. phuck what they think and phuck what the world thinks, we real. My mom is real. The first day I got a teardrop I lied. I called her and asked her can I get a teardrop tattoo, but I had already got it.” She said, “When you get it, come by me so I can see how you look with it, cause I was thinking about getting one my phuckin’ self.” “We don’t play. No, I’m not gonna rap about you man, I will murder you, your family, your child, a newborn, I don’t give a phuck. I could never go to hell cause I’ma take over, bytch.”
The Antonio Fargas Award (Pimp Player of the Year): Viacom (VH1, BET, MTV, et al).
Yup, Viacom are the pimps and guess who are the hoes. I mean we expect foolish entertainment fair from BET, VH1, and MTV but the looking for love on national TV shows have to go. Ultimately it’s our fault for continuing to watch this crap but after 2-4 seasons of Flava Flav’s blackface act on “Strange Love” and “Flavor of Love” it’s hard to believe that Ms. New York a.k.a. “The Muppet Lady” is possibly going to be re-upping for a 3RD season of “I Love New York”!! Worse than that many adults believe the show is “real” and that these aren’t a bunch of wanna-be actors and actresses looking for their 7 ½ minutes of fame. People please turn the channel these courting on cable shows like “I Love New York”, “Flava of Love”, etc are about as real as WWE wrestling and less entertaining.
Runner Up: Anucha Browne-Sanders
We know they settled out of court but we’re having a hard time believing Isaiah Thomas was actually trying to have sex with Mrs. Browne-Saunders, not because we think Thomas is some great upstanding guy but because the harassment didn’t seem very sexual and the level of animosity seemed way too high. We do however believe that the Knick’s front office was disrespectful and harassing to Ms. Browne-Saunders and Thomas was verbally abusive on multiple occasions but 11 million dollars worth? For 11 million I think I can do some verbal abuse. In any case though the New York Knick’s management wanted to appeal the court’s 11 million dollar judgment it seems the league commissioner just wanted it to go away so it seems Anucha Browne-Saunders just came up – but hey the Knicks front office is so inept they deserved to be fined 11 million dollars for something.
The Ozzy Osbourne Award (Most Deluded or Strung Out Personality): Britney Spears
We hate to be accused of enjoying someone else’s misfortune. In fact the way Britney Spears life is falling apart is downright sad. But there is something sickly satisfying about knowing “Hollywood” doesn’t just turn famous Black people out, .i.e. Michael Jackson, O.J., etc. It seems Spears has been fighting a very public losing battle with her fame and all that comes with it, over more than the last year. Sure some will say you can’t give “Trailer trash” money but whatever the reason behind it Spears seems like she is living one long nervous breakdown. She shaved her head on the fly, showed some other shaved parts of her body, then got dragged over the coals in the tabloids for appearing and performing on national television relatively out of shape. More important than all the tabloid hate though, is that she is losing custody of her children to a loser like Kevin “K-Fed” Federline. I mean things must really be bad if K-Fed is looking like the perfect embodiment of fatherhood.
Runner Up: Foxy Brown
Despite Foxy Brown’s trashy musical content over the years, we don’t’ think her current predicament is a product of buying into her own hype. We sincerely believe there is something wrong with this girl. Despite repeated warnings and opportunities it seemed ol’ girl was determined to land herself in jail. She almost ran someone over, violated her probation, was late to court hearings due to wardrobe and other cosmetic issues, and lied about being pregnant when it was time to pay the piper. Since then she’s been trying to convince anyone who will listen that she’s learned her lesson and to let her out of jail early. Her anger management issues and erratic behavior are approaching the level of Naomi Campbell but Naomi at least had enough sense to do what she had to do so she only found herself picking up trash on the street not being treated like trash in the pen.
Brotha’/Sista with The High Score: Barrack Obama
We admit we are even a bit stunned at Obama’s viability as a Black candidate for president. It’s a long way from a reality, and even if nominated to represent the Democratic Party in the general election, his taking the White House is hardly a sure thing. However in an America as clearly prejudiced as the one we live in today, we didn’t think he would get this far. This is not like Alan Keyes, Al Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson’s running for president, at this point you have to think that Obama winning is a real possibility. He has galvanized many hopeful and younger voters with his “change” agenda though it’s a little unclear what those “changes” entail. I guess after 8 years of Bush any change would be positive (can you get any worse than the Bush administration?). I guess there is something to be said for Blacks who are not seen as threatening to Whites, i.e. Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, etc. It is a bit constricting though because the minute you do anything or raise any concerns that are ethnically identifiable, most of those same people who you thought had overcome their prejudice will turn on their back on you.
Runner up: Floyd Mayweather
Pound for Pound the best in the world. One can hardly dispute that Mayweather is the best in the game. He started the year off whipping up Zab Judah then knocked off Oscar De La Hoya in a bit of a Yawner. He capped off a great 2007 with a KO of the previously undefeated brawler Ricky Hatton in front of a stadium seemingly full of European hooligans. Better than the boxing though is that Mayweather has stepped up his game outside the ring in terms of promotion and putting fights together. He doesn’t have to worry about Don King or the other crooks of the boxing world ripping him off because guys like him and De La Hoya are starting to cut out the middle men in many case. Mayweather has been on top of the game in boxing for some time, now he is beginning to be at the top of the game in business. That’s one hell of a combination.
Evolution Award: Kimbo Slice
This dude started out as a backyard buckfighter. When you saw him beating on other brothers with his bare hands and knuckles you immediately envisioned slave plantations and the idea that a slave master had put them out there to fight to the death. Now Kimbo Slice is fighting on Pay Per View and choking out former Professional Heavyweight champions like Ray Mercer. He is making 3 times more than what he was making and taking less chances fighting in a controlled environment.
Runner Up: Oprah Winfrey
There was once a time when she was as apolitical as Michael Jordan. She was too “friendly” to have an opinion on anything and pretending that there are no racial differences between her viewers. With wealth approximating 1 Billion dollars she is stepping out of her shell some, openly stumping for Barack Obama over her buddy Hillary Clinton, and even financing a film with a historical Black socialist as the hero. Wow, Oprah done stepped her game up.
Fading Fast Award: 50 Cent
Playahata warned you about this some time ago so 50-Cent can throw all the tantrums he wants but he will never again sell 8 million copies of one album, probably not even 5 million unless he gets Tupac’d. We would be lying if we said we didn’t enjoy seeing him latest album take an ‘L’ to Kanye West’s latest album in their sales war, though that whole situation was trumped up to boost both their album sales. 50-Cent still knows how to make dollars but he will not sell records like he did when he first came out ever again. With all the money and promotion put into his LP failing to go double platinum in a year is a major disappointment. Now if only he would make good on that little retirement promise we would be in business.
Runner Up:Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods may be the best Golf Player in the world, in fact he may be “GOLF” to Madison Avenue but he is increasingly becoming irrelevant to non-Golf fans whose hearts and souls he initially captured. Woods is the most voiceless and invisible celebrity in the history of sports and his successes are becoming increasingly irrelevant to non-golf fans and those who once had an borderline interest in the sport with his arrival. Chalk this up to many different opinions but there is no doubt he lacks charisma and allure. There is only a very small segment of people that follow and celebrate him now. He is young and thus not going anywhere, anytime soon but African Americans no longer even care about his self-proclaimed Caublanasian designation, most now feel “yall can have him”.
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Friday, January 25, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
IFL has named MMA World Champion "Bas" Rutten to the newly-created post of Vice President
INTERNATIONAL FIGHT LEAGUE NAMES MMA WORLD CHAMPION SEBASTIAN “BAS” RUTTEN VICE PRESIDENT, FIGHTER OPERATIONS NEW YORK,– The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) today announced the latest step in its reorganization heading into the 2008 season, naming Mixed Martial Arts legend Sebastian “Bas” Rutten to the newly-created position of Vice President, Fighter Operations.
Keisha and Sebastian “Bas” Rutten
Rutten, who has been with the IFL since its inception as a coach and commentator, will oversee the contact between the IFL, its current athletes and other athletes in the sport, as well as working to create potential future matchups and cards both internally and with other organizations. He will report directly to IFL CEO Jay Larkin. The 42 year old Dutchman competed professionally for over 20 years in various MMA disciplines, and was a three time champion in Pancrase (the Japanese precursor to what is now MMA) as well as holding the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title. He became interested in martial arts when he was 14 after seeing the Bruce Lee classic film “Enter the Dragon,” and began taking up Tae Kwon Do and other forms of karate. He had had skin problems and asthma as a youngster in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and martial arts became an excellent outlet for his growing athletic ability. His professional career began with Pancrase, the upstart Japanese fighting organization in 1993 and he rose through the ranks to take his first “King of Pancrase” title in 1995, defeating Minoru Suzuki. He defended the title twice and ended his Pancrase career with 19 straight wins. In 1998, Rutten signed with the UFC, taking the heavyweight title from Kevin Randleman in just his second bout. He vacated the title later in the year in order to drop down to his natural middleweight category, but a series of serious injuries forced him to retire. In July 2006 he made one more come back, he defeated his opponent Ruben Villareal by way of leg kicks in the first round and finished his career with 22 straight wins. Following his retirement, Rutten moved on to coaching, acting and broadcasting, landing roles on TV shows like “Martial Law,” and “The King of Queens,” as well as three movies, “The Eliminator,” “The Vault” and “The Kingdom of Ultimate Power.” He was also the color commentator on PRIDE’s Fighting Championship events, where his sense of humor and intimate knowledge of the sport immediately made him a fan favorite. He has also produced four DVD’s on workouts and techniques and written two books, Bas Rutten’s Big Books of Combat. Bas, who uses the nickname “El Guapo” (named after the villain in the comedy The Three Amigos) has been with the IFL as one of its founding coaches, most recently training and coaching IFL standouts like current welterweight champion Jay Hieron, Chris Horodecki, Benji Radach and Alex Schoenauer, and rising MMA legend Kimbo Slice, among others. He has also been the face of the IFL on television, teaming with Kenny Rice on IFL broadcasts on FSN, MyNetworkTV and HDNet that have been seen in over 200 countries worldwide in 2007. He is also the co-host of “Inside MMA” with Rice, a role which he will continue. Rutten also owns two gyms in the Los Angeles area and is one of the top trainers for many of Hollywood’s elite. Rutten lives and trains in Los Angeles with his wife and has three daughters. 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.
If you have not seen the new IFL logo, you can view it at www.ifl.tv. For a downloadable high-resolution version, go to www.image.net. Photos of Bas Rutten are also available at image.net.
Keisha and Sebastian “Bas” Rutten
Rutten, who has been with the IFL since its inception as a coach and commentator, will oversee the contact between the IFL, its current athletes and other athletes in the sport, as well as working to create potential future matchups and cards both internally and with other organizations. He will report directly to IFL CEO Jay Larkin. The 42 year old Dutchman competed professionally for over 20 years in various MMA disciplines, and was a three time champion in Pancrase (the Japanese precursor to what is now MMA) as well as holding the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title. He became interested in martial arts when he was 14 after seeing the Bruce Lee classic film “Enter the Dragon,” and began taking up Tae Kwon Do and other forms of karate. He had had skin problems and asthma as a youngster in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and martial arts became an excellent outlet for his growing athletic ability. His professional career began with Pancrase, the upstart Japanese fighting organization in 1993 and he rose through the ranks to take his first “King of Pancrase” title in 1995, defeating Minoru Suzuki. He defended the title twice and ended his Pancrase career with 19 straight wins. In 1998, Rutten signed with the UFC, taking the heavyweight title from Kevin Randleman in just his second bout. He vacated the title later in the year in order to drop down to his natural middleweight category, but a series of serious injuries forced him to retire. In July 2006 he made one more come back, he defeated his opponent Ruben Villareal by way of leg kicks in the first round and finished his career with 22 straight wins. Following his retirement, Rutten moved on to coaching, acting and broadcasting, landing roles on TV shows like “Martial Law,” and “The King of Queens,” as well as three movies, “The Eliminator,” “The Vault” and “The Kingdom of Ultimate Power.” He was also the color commentator on PRIDE’s Fighting Championship events, where his sense of humor and intimate knowledge of the sport immediately made him a fan favorite. He has also produced four DVD’s on workouts and techniques and written two books, Bas Rutten’s Big Books of Combat. Bas, who uses the nickname “El Guapo” (named after the villain in the comedy The Three Amigos) has been with the IFL as one of its founding coaches, most recently training and coaching IFL standouts like current welterweight champion Jay Hieron, Chris Horodecki, Benji Radach and Alex Schoenauer, and rising MMA legend Kimbo Slice, among others. He has also been the face of the IFL on television, teaming with Kenny Rice on IFL broadcasts on FSN, MyNetworkTV and HDNet that have been seen in over 200 countries worldwide in 2007. He is also the co-host of “Inside MMA” with Rice, a role which he will continue. Rutten also owns two gyms in the Los Angeles area and is one of the top trainers for many of Hollywood’s elite. Rutten lives and trains in Los Angeles with his wife and has three daughters. 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.
If you have not seen the new IFL logo, you can view it at www.ifl.tv. For a downloadable high-resolution version, go to www.image.net. Photos of Bas Rutten are also available at image.net.
Roy Jones Jr.: ‘Line Them Up, and I’ll Knock Them Down’
‘Superman’ Calls Out Winner of Pavlik vs. Taylor or Calzaghe vs. Hopkins;
He’s Even Willing to Go Down to 156 Pounds to Face Oscar De La Hoya in May
PENSACOLA, Fla.—An ebullient Roy Jones Jr., energized by his dominating, unanimous-decision win over Felix “Tito” Trinidad at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, says he is ready to take on all comers in the light heavyweight or super middleweight divisions and beyond.
“I told you Roy Jones Jr. is back,” Jones said after his triumph over Trinidad where he twice sent the Puerto Rican legend to the canvas. “I’ll take the winner of either the re-match between Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor or Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernard Hopkins. I’m even willing to go down to 156 pounds to face Oscar De La Hoy in May. Line them up and I’ll knock them down.”
Jones (52-4, 38 KOs) surprised some longtime boxing scribes who didn’t believe he could still muster the skills that made him one of the best and most feared boxers in the history of the sport. Jones showed flashes against Trinidad on Saturday of his rare combination of speed and power that put him atop the lists of pound-for-pound best fighter in the world for a decade.
“I always said that with the right motivation and focus I can still be Superman. I saw it in the gym leading up to the fight and Tito Trinidad and everybody else saw it on Saturday night at the Garden. Like I said, line ‘em up and I’ll knock them down.”
For more information contact:
Alan Hopper or Bob Goodman
Don King Productions
He’s Even Willing to Go Down to 156 Pounds to Face Oscar De La Hoya in May
PENSACOLA, Fla.—An ebullient Roy Jones Jr., energized by his dominating, unanimous-decision win over Felix “Tito” Trinidad at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, says he is ready to take on all comers in the light heavyweight or super middleweight divisions and beyond.
“I told you Roy Jones Jr. is back,” Jones said after his triumph over Trinidad where he twice sent the Puerto Rican legend to the canvas. “I’ll take the winner of either the re-match between Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor or Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernard Hopkins. I’m even willing to go down to 156 pounds to face Oscar De La Hoy in May. Line them up and I’ll knock them down.”
Jones (52-4, 38 KOs) surprised some longtime boxing scribes who didn’t believe he could still muster the skills that made him one of the best and most feared boxers in the history of the sport. Jones showed flashes against Trinidad on Saturday of his rare combination of speed and power that put him atop the lists of pound-for-pound best fighter in the world for a decade.
“I always said that with the right motivation and focus I can still be Superman. I saw it in the gym leading up to the fight and Tito Trinidad and everybody else saw it on Saturday night at the Garden. Like I said, line ‘em up and I’ll knock them down.”
For more information contact:
Alan Hopper or Bob Goodman
Don King Productions
Saving Hip Hop's First House; U.S Senator Chuck Shumer and DJ Kool Herc announce www.save 1520.org
The Bronx the birthplace of hip hop is launching www.save1520.org and reaching out to the hip hop community and leaders, to help the tenants of 1520 Sedwick Ave., in Morris Heights to preserve the piece of history and their homes. Chuck Shumer, hip hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc and Coke Larock announced at a press conference.
Sporting "Sedwick and Cedar" wears, Clive Campbell aka DJ Kool Herc said, "This is where it all started," "But it all turned into a sad story. People are about to get put out of their houses."
Shumer said, "No one is saying the landlord should not profit। All we're saying is that he does not have to maximize on profit and throw people out."
U.S Senator Chuck Shumer and Keisha C. Morrisey
The building owners announced plans last February to remove the complex from the affordable housing program and to sell the property. The tenants successfully rallied to get the building designated eligble for listing on the State and National Register of Historical Places, but it was not enough to stop the sale. The real estate developer has offered to let the residents buy the building for $14 million, the tenants with private lenders, funding and city subsidies, have managed to raise an estimated $11 million, but it still falls short, said a spokesperson for a non profit group working with the tenants.
The West Bronx housing complex 1520 Sedwick Ave., made history in August 1973 after DJ Kool Herc aka Clive Campbell, and his sister threw a house party that gave rise to the now popular music genre and culture.
Sporting "Sedwick and Cedar" wears, Clive Campbell aka DJ Kool Herc said, "This is where it all started," "But it all turned into a sad story. People are about to get put out of their houses."
Shumer said, "No one is saying the landlord should not profit। All we're saying is that he does not have to maximize on profit and throw people out."
U.S Senator Chuck Shumer and Keisha C. Morrisey
The building owners announced plans last February to remove the complex from the affordable housing program and to sell the property. The tenants successfully rallied to get the building designated eligble for listing on the State and National Register of Historical Places, but it was not enough to stop the sale. The real estate developer has offered to let the residents buy the building for $14 million, the tenants with private lenders, funding and city subsidies, have managed to raise an estimated $11 million, but it still falls short, said a spokesperson for a non profit group working with the tenants.
The West Bronx housing complex 1520 Sedwick Ave., made history in August 1973 after DJ Kool Herc aka Clive Campbell, and his sister threw a house party that gave rise to the now popular music genre and culture.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE An American Life: A Biography
Consent and Advise
By JACOB HEILBRUNN
CONDOLEEZZA RICE An American Life: A Biography.
By Elisabeth Bumiller
Illustrated. 400 pp. Random House. $27.95.
Condoleezza Rice is a survivor. Of the foreign policy members of the original Bush cabinet, Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld are gone. Vice President Dick Cheney is on the defensive. It’s Rice, shunted to the sidelines during President Bush’s first term, who is now in the ascendant. The signs of her new influence as secretary of state are everywhere.
Rice’s former deputy Stephen Hadley succeeded her as national security adviser. She helped ensure that her old boss Robert Gates would become defense secretary. The United States is actively pushing for a Middle East peace settlement, negotiating with North Korea and reaching out to Western Europe. And the most that hard-liners like the former United Nations ambassador John Bolton can do is complain that Rice lacks the gumption to stand up for America’s true interests and that Bush “does not supervise her enough.”
The volte-face Rice has presided over is also a very personal one. During Bush’s first term, few officials publicly championed the Iraq war more fervently than did Rice, who dressed down skeptics as though they were errant schoolchildren in need of a starchy governess. She turned on old mentors like the former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft, who in August 2002 had the temerity to cast doubt on the wisdom of attacking Baghdad. So is she simply an opportunist who subordinates herself to her superiors? Or does Rice actually stand for something beyond smoothing her own political ascent?
In “Condoleezza Rice: An American Life,” Elisabeth Bumiller offers a fine opportunity to assess her. Bumiller is well prepared for the task: a Washington reporter for The New York Times, she covered the White House from Sept. 10, 2001, to 2006. She brings a keen eye to Rice, probing not only her tenure as a policy maker and her close ties to George W. Bush, but also her personal and professional past. Bumiller has conducted many interviews, including 10 with Rice herself. Several books about Rice have already appeared, but this one is probably the most measured, insightful and comprehensive.
As Bumiller astutely notes, both Bush and Rice are the products of American elites: Bush is the descendant of Northeastern WASPs, and Rice comes from the Southern black patriciate. While both are outwardly supremely self-confident, they share lingering resentments about being underestimated and taken for granted. But there is one important difference: while Bush spent many years indulging himself before he found his vocation, Rice had a steely drive for success from the beginning, imparted by her parents, John and Angelena Rice, during her childhood in Birmingham, Ala., in the early 1960s. The pressure was intense; according to Bumiller, “John and Angelena poured their hearts into the project of their lives: the teaching, molding and polishing of Condoleezza.”
Whether it was at piano, ballet, etiquette or French, Rice was expected to excel. Her parents piled so many books by her bedside table, Bumiller writes, that “she stopped reading for pleasure, and does not to this day.” The family’s self-help philosophy extended to the civil rights movement: Rice still resents the notion that Northerners traveled to the South and “saved” the helpless locals. Though her parents tried to shield their daughter, as far as possible, from racial tensions, she could hardly avoid having had an acute sense of who really wielded power in the South, given the turmoil in what was known as “Bombingham.”
Until she went to the University of Denver, however, Rice had only a passing interest in politics. That changed in 1973 when she took an introductory course in international politics taught by Josef Korbel, a Czech refugee and the father of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Rice was spellbound by Korbel’s depiction of the scheming and betrayals that made Stalin dictator. She became a staunch realist, shunning sentiment in foreign policy, and grew fascinated by the Communist Party’s ruthless exercise of power, immune to the normal restraints that operate in a democratic society.
Rice, you might say, pursued a very realistic policy to advance her own career. At the heart of her seamless rise has been her ability to attach herself to mentors, whom she has discarded once they outlived their usefulness. It was Scowcroft who provided her entree into the traditionally clubby oak-and-port world of the Council on Foreign Relations. He had been impressed by Rice’s tenacity at a Stanford University dinner with arms control specialists in 1985, and three years later offered her a job in George H. W. Bush’s administration, as a Soviet analyst for the National Security Council. There she would watch the country she had become an expert on disappear. In 1993, Stanford’s new president, Gerhard Casper, tapped her to become provost; Rice slashed the budget and challenged proponents of affirmative action (from which she herself had benefited), earning the enmity of many students and much of the faculty for her blunt style. Rice’s credo, as she told one protégée, was that “people may oppose you, but when they realize you can hurt them, they’ll join your side.”
Rice’s biggest coup, of course, was befriending George W. Bush. She wooed him. According to Bumiller, “Bush did not know many black people well, and it made him feel good about himself that he got along so easily with Rice.” Rice, in turn, “could see that he needed her far more than his father had, and that made her feel important and vital.” One big plus in her favor was that she was an exercise maniac; her friendship with Bush was forged on the elliptical trainer.
Despite their close relationship, Bush had only a hazy notion of what role a national security adviser should play. Bumiller chides Rice for catering to him: “As had been the case with the other important men in her life — Casper, Korbel, Scowcroft, her father — Rice would do what the president wanted.” There can be little doubt that Rice was badly out of her depth. Bumiller reports that Vice President Cheney, in the first days of the administration, tried to usurp her authority to run National Security Council meetings in Bush’s absence. Rice was stunned. “Mr. President,” she said, “this is what national security advisers do.” She won this battle, but lost the war. Cheney and Rumsfeld simply performed an end run, meeting with Bush in the Oval Office to oversee foreign policy and turning Rice’s position into a ceremonial one in which she obediently parroted the administration line on spreading freedom and democracy around the globe.
With another year to go before Bush leaves office, Bumiller’s final remarks are necessarily inconclusive, but she observes: “It was obvious from Rice’s many metamorphoses that her real ideology was not idealism or realism or defending the citadels of freedom, although she displayed elements of all of them. Her real ideology was succeeding.” Rice’s shortcoming has been, more often than not, to define success in narrowly personal terms, which is why she prostrated herself before Bush. Still, her flurry of diplomatic moves indicates that she’s aware she must tote up some actual accomplishments or risk complete irrelevance. For Rice, survival is no longer enough.
Jacob Heilbrunn, a regular contributor to the Book Review, is the author of “They Knew They Were Right: The Rise of the Neocons.”
By JACOB HEILBRUNN
CONDOLEEZZA RICE An American Life: A Biography.
By Elisabeth Bumiller
Illustrated. 400 pp. Random House. $27.95.
Condoleezza Rice is a survivor. Of the foreign policy members of the original Bush cabinet, Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld are gone. Vice President Dick Cheney is on the defensive. It’s Rice, shunted to the sidelines during President Bush’s first term, who is now in the ascendant. The signs of her new influence as secretary of state are everywhere.
Rice’s former deputy Stephen Hadley succeeded her as national security adviser. She helped ensure that her old boss Robert Gates would become defense secretary. The United States is actively pushing for a Middle East peace settlement, negotiating with North Korea and reaching out to Western Europe. And the most that hard-liners like the former United Nations ambassador John Bolton can do is complain that Rice lacks the gumption to stand up for America’s true interests and that Bush “does not supervise her enough.”
The volte-face Rice has presided over is also a very personal one. During Bush’s first term, few officials publicly championed the Iraq war more fervently than did Rice, who dressed down skeptics as though they were errant schoolchildren in need of a starchy governess. She turned on old mentors like the former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft, who in August 2002 had the temerity to cast doubt on the wisdom of attacking Baghdad. So is she simply an opportunist who subordinates herself to her superiors? Or does Rice actually stand for something beyond smoothing her own political ascent?
In “Condoleezza Rice: An American Life,” Elisabeth Bumiller offers a fine opportunity to assess her. Bumiller is well prepared for the task: a Washington reporter for The New York Times, she covered the White House from Sept. 10, 2001, to 2006. She brings a keen eye to Rice, probing not only her tenure as a policy maker and her close ties to George W. Bush, but also her personal and professional past. Bumiller has conducted many interviews, including 10 with Rice herself. Several books about Rice have already appeared, but this one is probably the most measured, insightful and comprehensive.
As Bumiller astutely notes, both Bush and Rice are the products of American elites: Bush is the descendant of Northeastern WASPs, and Rice comes from the Southern black patriciate. While both are outwardly supremely self-confident, they share lingering resentments about being underestimated and taken for granted. But there is one important difference: while Bush spent many years indulging himself before he found his vocation, Rice had a steely drive for success from the beginning, imparted by her parents, John and Angelena Rice, during her childhood in Birmingham, Ala., in the early 1960s. The pressure was intense; according to Bumiller, “John and Angelena poured their hearts into the project of their lives: the teaching, molding and polishing of Condoleezza.”
Whether it was at piano, ballet, etiquette or French, Rice was expected to excel. Her parents piled so many books by her bedside table, Bumiller writes, that “she stopped reading for pleasure, and does not to this day.” The family’s self-help philosophy extended to the civil rights movement: Rice still resents the notion that Northerners traveled to the South and “saved” the helpless locals. Though her parents tried to shield their daughter, as far as possible, from racial tensions, she could hardly avoid having had an acute sense of who really wielded power in the South, given the turmoil in what was known as “Bombingham.”
Until she went to the University of Denver, however, Rice had only a passing interest in politics. That changed in 1973 when she took an introductory course in international politics taught by Josef Korbel, a Czech refugee and the father of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Rice was spellbound by Korbel’s depiction of the scheming and betrayals that made Stalin dictator. She became a staunch realist, shunning sentiment in foreign policy, and grew fascinated by the Communist Party’s ruthless exercise of power, immune to the normal restraints that operate in a democratic society.
Rice, you might say, pursued a very realistic policy to advance her own career. At the heart of her seamless rise has been her ability to attach herself to mentors, whom she has discarded once they outlived their usefulness. It was Scowcroft who provided her entree into the traditionally clubby oak-and-port world of the Council on Foreign Relations. He had been impressed by Rice’s tenacity at a Stanford University dinner with arms control specialists in 1985, and three years later offered her a job in George H. W. Bush’s administration, as a Soviet analyst for the National Security Council. There she would watch the country she had become an expert on disappear. In 1993, Stanford’s new president, Gerhard Casper, tapped her to become provost; Rice slashed the budget and challenged proponents of affirmative action (from which she herself had benefited), earning the enmity of many students and much of the faculty for her blunt style. Rice’s credo, as she told one protégée, was that “people may oppose you, but when they realize you can hurt them, they’ll join your side.”
Rice’s biggest coup, of course, was befriending George W. Bush. She wooed him. According to Bumiller, “Bush did not know many black people well, and it made him feel good about himself that he got along so easily with Rice.” Rice, in turn, “could see that he needed her far more than his father had, and that made her feel important and vital.” One big plus in her favor was that she was an exercise maniac; her friendship with Bush was forged on the elliptical trainer.
Despite their close relationship, Bush had only a hazy notion of what role a national security adviser should play. Bumiller chides Rice for catering to him: “As had been the case with the other important men in her life — Casper, Korbel, Scowcroft, her father — Rice would do what the president wanted.” There can be little doubt that Rice was badly out of her depth. Bumiller reports that Vice President Cheney, in the first days of the administration, tried to usurp her authority to run National Security Council meetings in Bush’s absence. Rice was stunned. “Mr. President,” she said, “this is what national security advisers do.” She won this battle, but lost the war. Cheney and Rumsfeld simply performed an end run, meeting with Bush in the Oval Office to oversee foreign policy and turning Rice’s position into a ceremonial one in which she obediently parroted the administration line on spreading freedom and democracy around the globe.
With another year to go before Bush leaves office, Bumiller’s final remarks are necessarily inconclusive, but she observes: “It was obvious from Rice’s many metamorphoses that her real ideology was not idealism or realism or defending the citadels of freedom, although she displayed elements of all of them. Her real ideology was succeeding.” Rice’s shortcoming has been, more often than not, to define success in narrowly personal terms, which is why she prostrated herself before Bush. Still, her flurry of diplomatic moves indicates that she’s aware she must tote up some actual accomplishments or risk complete irrelevance. For Rice, survival is no longer enough.
Jacob Heilbrunn, a regular contributor to the Book Review, is the author of “They Knew They Were Right: The Rise of the Neocons.”
GOTHAM BOXING AND BASH BOXING PRESENT DIMITRI KIRILOV VS. CECILIO SANTOS IN AN IBF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MAIN EVENT; DMITRIY "STAR OF DAVID" SALITA
It's A Double Dose of Dimitri/Dmitriy!!! THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!
Cedric Kushner's Gotham Boxing and Bash Boxing will present it's first promotion of 2008, a star-studded world championship fight card on Thursday night, February 28, at historic Roseland Ballroom in New York City featuring the IBF Junior Bantamweight championship fight headlined by IBF champion Dimitri "The Baby" Kirilov of St. Petersburg, Russia, making his first title defense against Cecilio Santos of Mexico; the return to the ring of ever popular Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita, Odessa, Ukraine, fighting out of Brooklyn, will appear in the junior welterweight co-featured attraction.
Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita
Contacts: John Cirillo, Matt McCullough, 212 972-5337, johnnycigarpr@aol.com
Cedric Kushner's Gotham Boxing and Bash Boxing will present it's first promotion of 2008, a star-studded world championship fight card on Thursday night, February 28, at historic Roseland Ballroom in New York City featuring the IBF Junior Bantamweight championship fight headlined by IBF champion Dimitri "The Baby" Kirilov of St. Petersburg, Russia, making his first title defense against Cecilio Santos of Mexico; the return to the ring of ever popular Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita, Odessa, Ukraine, fighting out of Brooklyn, will appear in the junior welterweight co-featured attraction.
Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita
Contacts: John Cirillo, Matt McCullough, 212 972-5337, johnnycigarpr@aol.com
SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT presents NEVER BACK DOWN; Sean Faris will be appearing at MMA fight night at the Trump Taj Mahal Fri. Jan 25
SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT presents NEVER BACK DOWN OPENS March 14, 2008
TO VIEW THE TRAILER PLEASE VISIT:
www.neverbackdownthemovie.com
Set against the action-packed world of Mixed Martial Arts, NEVER BACK DOWN is the story of Jake Tyler, a tough kid who leads with his fists, and, often, with his heart. Jake Tyler, played by Sean Faris (Yours, Mine and Ours), is the new kid in town with a troubled past. He has recently moved to Orlando, Florida with his family who has relocated to support his younger brother’s shot at a professional tennis career. Jake was a star athlete on the football team at home, but in this new city he is an outsider with a reputation for being a quick tempered brawler.
Making an attempt to fit in and at the invitation of a flirtatious classmate, Baja, played by Amber Heard (Hidden Palms, Alpha Dog), Jake goes to a party where he is unwittingly pulled into a fight with a bully named Ryan McDonald, played by Cam Gigandet (The O.C., Who’s Your Caddy). While he is defeated and humiliated in the fight, a classmate introduces himself to Jake and tells him about the sport known as Mixed Marshall Arts (MMA). He sees a star in Jake and asks that he meet with his mentor, Jean Roqua, played by Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond, In America).
It is immediately apparent to Jake that MMA is not street fighting, but rather an art form he wants to master. Roqua will take Jake under his wing, but it is up to Jake to find the patience, discipline, willingness and reason within him to succeed. For Jake, there is much more at stake than mere victory. His decision will not just settle a score; it will define who he is.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 106 minutes
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Sara Groves212.774.3685
Sara.Groves@42West.net
TO VIEW THE TRAILER PLEASE VISIT:
www.neverbackdownthemovie.com
Set against the action-packed world of Mixed Martial Arts, NEVER BACK DOWN is the story of Jake Tyler, a tough kid who leads with his fists, and, often, with his heart. Jake Tyler, played by Sean Faris (Yours, Mine and Ours), is the new kid in town with a troubled past. He has recently moved to Orlando, Florida with his family who has relocated to support his younger brother’s shot at a professional tennis career. Jake was a star athlete on the football team at home, but in this new city he is an outsider with a reputation for being a quick tempered brawler.
Making an attempt to fit in and at the invitation of a flirtatious classmate, Baja, played by Amber Heard (Hidden Palms, Alpha Dog), Jake goes to a party where he is unwittingly pulled into a fight with a bully named Ryan McDonald, played by Cam Gigandet (The O.C., Who’s Your Caddy). While he is defeated and humiliated in the fight, a classmate introduces himself to Jake and tells him about the sport known as Mixed Marshall Arts (MMA). He sees a star in Jake and asks that he meet with his mentor, Jean Roqua, played by Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond, In America).
It is immediately apparent to Jake that MMA is not street fighting, but rather an art form he wants to master. Roqua will take Jake under his wing, but it is up to Jake to find the patience, discipline, willingness and reason within him to succeed. For Jake, there is much more at stake than mere victory. His decision will not just settle a score; it will define who he is.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 106 minutes
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Sara Groves212.774.3685
Sara.Groves@42West.net
ProElite.com
ProElite.com Launches Largest Online Martial Arts School Locator and School Certification Program Online Directory Network Boasts More Than 50,000 Unique Searches Per Month
LOS ANGELES- ProElite.com, the social networking community for combat sports enthusiasts, announced it has launched theInternet's largest network of directories for martial arts schools. Designed to enhance the online experience for those who seek a traditional or mixed martial arts school (MMA), ProElite.com will provide an exclusive, pre screening process to offer ProElite-certified schools across all martial arts disciplines to prospective students. "We are proud to sponsor a directory that helps families and individuals pursue their dreams, instills positive values, and provides an outlet for anyone aspiring to learn martial arts," said Kelly Perdew, president of ProElite.com. "The top MMA fighters from around the world wouldn't be where they are today if it wasn't for the discipline and training they learned at martial arts schools. We also provide a suite of tools that help the school owners grow their businesses." This revolutionary school locator, http://proelite.com/locator,and its network of participating online yellow page directories boastmore than 50,000 unique searches per month, ranging from Jiu-Jitsu schools to Tae Kwon Do dojos. The database is comprised of schools certified by ProElite, a designation that requires schools to meet stringent criteria. Through keyword campaigns, email marketing, online Yellow Page directories and ProElite's martial arts community, participating schools are able to receive numerous inquiries from students interested in signing up for classes. "We are fortunate to have some of the best MMA instructors in the world, and the ProElite.com directory is helping students locate our school," said Jeremy Lappen, co-owner of Legends MMA Training Center in Hollywood, Calif. "Our certification through ProElite ensures that students will receive top-notch training in a safe environment." ProElite is currently interviewing schools for participation in the directory. To receive ProElite Certified School status, schools must be able to provide references, quality instruction and facilities, as well as demonstrate an organized and professional approach to teaching and student interaction. Albert Rosales, an instructor at Joker's Wild Jiu-Jitsu in LakeForest, Calif., said, "We are in the process of growing our school,and ProElite has provided a cost effective way to help us generate new students. I recommend applying for participation in ProElite's program." For more information about ProElite certification and listing in the ProElite Directory, please visit http://proelite.com/locator, orcall 1.866.520.7344. About ProElite, Inc. (www.proeliteinc.com) ProElite, Inc. (Pink Sheets:PELE) 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 broad band 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 mixed martial arts 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 - Empoweringthe Fight Community(TM). CONTACT: for ProElite Inc. Pondel Wilkinson Inc. Evan Pondel/David Stankunas, 310-279-5980
LOS ANGELES- ProElite.com, the social networking community for combat sports enthusiasts, announced it has launched theInternet's largest network of directories for martial arts schools. Designed to enhance the online experience for those who seek a traditional or mixed martial arts school (MMA), ProElite.com will provide an exclusive, pre screening process to offer ProElite-certified schools across all martial arts disciplines to prospective students. "We are proud to sponsor a directory that helps families and individuals pursue their dreams, instills positive values, and provides an outlet for anyone aspiring to learn martial arts," said Kelly Perdew, president of ProElite.com. "The top MMA fighters from around the world wouldn't be where they are today if it wasn't for the discipline and training they learned at martial arts schools. We also provide a suite of tools that help the school owners grow their businesses." This revolutionary school locator, http://proelite.com/locator,and its network of participating online yellow page directories boastmore than 50,000 unique searches per month, ranging from Jiu-Jitsu schools to Tae Kwon Do dojos. The database is comprised of schools certified by ProElite, a designation that requires schools to meet stringent criteria. Through keyword campaigns, email marketing, online Yellow Page directories and ProElite's martial arts community, participating schools are able to receive numerous inquiries from students interested in signing up for classes. "We are fortunate to have some of the best MMA instructors in the world, and the ProElite.com directory is helping students locate our school," said Jeremy Lappen, co-owner of Legends MMA Training Center in Hollywood, Calif. "Our certification through ProElite ensures that students will receive top-notch training in a safe environment." ProElite is currently interviewing schools for participation in the directory. To receive ProElite Certified School status, schools must be able to provide references, quality instruction and facilities, as well as demonstrate an organized and professional approach to teaching and student interaction. Albert Rosales, an instructor at Joker's Wild Jiu-Jitsu in LakeForest, Calif., said, "We are in the process of growing our school,and ProElite has provided a cost effective way to help us generate new students. I recommend applying for participation in ProElite's program." For more information about ProElite certification and listing in the ProElite Directory, please visit http://proelite.com/locator, orcall 1.866.520.7344. About ProElite, Inc. (www.proeliteinc.com) ProElite, Inc. (Pink Sheets:PELE) 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 broad band 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 mixed martial arts 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 - Empoweringthe Fight Community(TM). CONTACT: for ProElite Inc. Pondel Wilkinson Inc. Evan Pondel/David Stankunas, 310-279-5980
NO HOLDS BARRED: Fedor Emelianenko
NO HOLDS BARRED: Fedor Emelianenko
http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-01-21T07_47_14-08_00
On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman plays an exclusive interview conducted Saturday, Jan. 19, in Los Angeles by Todd Hester, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), and our correspondent on this show, with Fedor Emelianenko, the top pound-for-pound mixed martial arts fighter in the world.
Fedor discussed his background, how and why he started training in the combat sports, the advantages of his sombo background for MMA, his thoughts on some of his past fights, the fighters he admires, his thoughts on Pride, why he didn't sign with UFC, why he did sign with M-1, and more.
To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link at the start of this message, scroll down that page, and just press the play button on the player.
You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking on the download link (right-click to save it).
Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes at http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441.
The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter (http://iancarpenter.com/).
http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-01-21T07_47_14-08_00
On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman plays an exclusive interview conducted Saturday, Jan. 19, in Los Angeles by Todd Hester, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), and our correspondent on this show, with Fedor Emelianenko, the top pound-for-pound mixed martial arts fighter in the world.
Fedor discussed his background, how and why he started training in the combat sports, the advantages of his sombo background for MMA, his thoughts on some of his past fights, the fighters he admires, his thoughts on Pride, why he didn't sign with UFC, why he did sign with M-1, and more.
To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link at the start of this message, scroll down that page, and just press the play button on the player.
You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking on the download link (right-click to save it).
Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes at http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441.
The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter (http://iancarpenter.com/).
Duddy taking another bite out of Big Apple Duddy-Smichet on Feb. 23 Klitschko-Ibragimov card at MSG
NEW YORK – World middleweight title contender “Ireland’s” John Duddy is looking forward to fighting again in his adopted New York City home for the first time since last May, when he battles tough Tunisian brawler Walid “Tempete de Sable” Smichet (17-3-1, 13 KOs) in the 10-round, off-TV co-feature on the February 23rd heavyweight championship unification show headlined by IBF king Wladimir Klitschko and WBO title-holder Sultan Ibragimov at Madison Square Garden.
Presently rated No. 3 by the WBO and WBC, as well as No. 6 and No. 11 by the WBA and IBF, respectively, Duddy (23-0, 17 KOs) also is ranked No. 10 in The Ring magazine.
Duddy, who has fought 11 times in the Big Apple, including five in Madison Square Garden, is training in North Carolina with his head trainer, Don Turner. The unbeaten, charismatic Irishman is coming off of three consecutive fights in Ireland, including his most notable victory to date in December, winning a 10-round decision against former 2-time world title challenger Howard Eastman.
“It’s my homecoming,” an excited Duddy said from training camp about his NYC fight versus Smichet. “It was great fighting in Ireland the past year, but I’m really looking forward to being back where I started my pro career with all those great fans. There’s a lot of interest in my career back home now and a lot of people are flying in to watch this fight. Most importantly, though, I think I’ve shown improvement in my last three fights, although a lot was just simple things we worked on. Don has me boxing like I did before (as an amateur).
“After the Howard Eastman fight, I’m confident about getting in the ring with any middleweight in the world. It wasn’t perfect, but I showed I had a good chin – I always knew that – used my head more and never took a step backwards. I’m much more comfortable. It was a step closer to me getting to the top and I’m happy with my progress.”
Smichet, fighting out of Montreal, has a portfolio that features a win by 10th round knockout of previously unbeaten (17-0) Matt O’Brien for the Canadian Middleweight Interim Title, as well as an eight-round draw against Donny McCrary of The Contender III fame
.
Undefeated New York City middleweights “Mean” Joe Greene (17-0) and Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (15-0) are on the Klitschko-Ibragimov card. The main event is the only bout to air on HBO.
Tickets, priced at $1,000.00, $600.00, $300.00, $200.00 and $100.00, are on sale at the following locations: Manhattan: Demsey’s, 36th W. 33rd (212.629.9899); Queens: Elaine’s Deli, 65 Pl. Maspeth, Fiddlers Irish Pub, 65 Pl. Maspeth, Connelly’s Corner, Grand Ave. Maspeth, Hill Tap Bar, Grand Ave. Maspeth, Doyle’s Corner, Broadway Astoria; Woodside: Starting Gate, Sean Og’s, Saints & Sinners, Gaslight; Sunnyside: McGuinnesses, Maggie Mays; Yonkers: Bronx Heritage, McLean Ave. (914.766.7532); Brooklyn: Gleason’s Gym, 75 Front St. (718.797.2872); Pearl River: Gildea’s Bar & Restaurant (845.735.2564), South Bound Café (845.735.2903); Long Island: Poor House, Hemstead Turnpike (516.859.8780).
For more information go to http://www.irishropes.com/ or call Mark Cahoun (917.939.5199), Pat Nee (917.279.7796), Paul McLoughlin (347.219.1530), Jimmy Kaneary (718.594.0861), Paddy Phealon (516.859.8780) and Jerry Quinn (in Boston – 617.733.4535).
Presently rated No. 3 by the WBO and WBC, as well as No. 6 and No. 11 by the WBA and IBF, respectively, Duddy (23-0, 17 KOs) also is ranked No. 10 in The Ring magazine.
Duddy, who has fought 11 times in the Big Apple, including five in Madison Square Garden, is training in North Carolina with his head trainer, Don Turner. The unbeaten, charismatic Irishman is coming off of three consecutive fights in Ireland, including his most notable victory to date in December, winning a 10-round decision against former 2-time world title challenger Howard Eastman.
“It’s my homecoming,” an excited Duddy said from training camp about his NYC fight versus Smichet. “It was great fighting in Ireland the past year, but I’m really looking forward to being back where I started my pro career with all those great fans. There’s a lot of interest in my career back home now and a lot of people are flying in to watch this fight. Most importantly, though, I think I’ve shown improvement in my last three fights, although a lot was just simple things we worked on. Don has me boxing like I did before (as an amateur).
“After the Howard Eastman fight, I’m confident about getting in the ring with any middleweight in the world. It wasn’t perfect, but I showed I had a good chin – I always knew that – used my head more and never took a step backwards. I’m much more comfortable. It was a step closer to me getting to the top and I’m happy with my progress.”
Smichet, fighting out of Montreal, has a portfolio that features a win by 10th round knockout of previously unbeaten (17-0) Matt O’Brien for the Canadian Middleweight Interim Title, as well as an eight-round draw against Donny McCrary of The Contender III fame
.
Undefeated New York City middleweights “Mean” Joe Greene (17-0) and Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (15-0) are on the Klitschko-Ibragimov card. The main event is the only bout to air on HBO.
Tickets, priced at $1,000.00, $600.00, $300.00, $200.00 and $100.00, are on sale at the following locations: Manhattan: Demsey’s, 36th W. 33rd (212.629.9899); Queens: Elaine’s Deli, 65 Pl. Maspeth, Fiddlers Irish Pub, 65 Pl. Maspeth, Connelly’s Corner, Grand Ave. Maspeth, Hill Tap Bar, Grand Ave. Maspeth, Doyle’s Corner, Broadway Astoria; Woodside: Starting Gate, Sean Og’s, Saints & Sinners, Gaslight; Sunnyside: McGuinnesses, Maggie Mays; Yonkers: Bronx Heritage, McLean Ave. (914.766.7532); Brooklyn: Gleason’s Gym, 75 Front St. (718.797.2872); Pearl River: Gildea’s Bar & Restaurant (845.735.2564), South Bound Café (845.735.2903); Long Island: Poor House, Hemstead Turnpike (516.859.8780).
For more information go to http://www.irishropes.com/ or call Mark Cahoun (917.939.5199), Pat Nee (917.279.7796), Paul McLoughlin (347.219.1530), Jimmy Kaneary (718.594.0861), Paddy Phealon (516.859.8780) and Jerry Quinn (in Boston – 617.733.4535).
360 Media in association with Four Builders Foundation will be hosting the movie screening of "365 Days of Marching"
In celebration of Black History Month, 360 Media in association with Four Builders Foundation will be hosting the movie screening of "365 Days of Marching— The Amadou Diallo Story", Written, Produced and Directed, by Veronica Keitt Monday February 4, 2008 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 515 Malcolm X Boulevard (corner of 135th street) Reception 6pm – Movie Screening 7pm Join us for a Memorial March in remembrance of Amadou Diallo and all the Victims of Police Brutality. All participants are asked to gather at 5:30PM sharp on the corner of 125 Street & Malcolm X Boulevard to proceed to the Schomburg Center at 135th Street & Malcolm X Boulevard. 365 Days of Marching tells the story of how the death of a young African man—shot down by NYC Police Officers, sparked a movement which ultimately changed the shape of New York City and America's history. "No Justice, No Peace" for Amadou Diallo became the battle cry for all of the social ills that plagued New York City during that time—i.e. affordable housing, education, jobs etc. To support this documentary, we are offering Advertising &Sponsorship Opportunities to commemorate this event. • Commemorative Journal - Advertisements (Back cover-inside & out,full, 1/2,1/4,business card & booster)• 30 second Movie Ad/Trailer and/or Slide on Movie Screen prior to film• Donations For advertising information & rates, please email us @ads@365daysofmarchi ngmovie.com Deadlines for All Ads must be submitted no later thenJanuary 7, 2008 TICKETS: ON SALE NOW CALL(212) 410-1460 OR info@365daysofmarch inmovie.com MOVIE SITE:http://www.365dayso/ fmarchingmovie. comBLOG:http://365daysofmar ching.wordpress. comOFFICIAL TRAILER:http://www.youtube/. com/watch? v=FU184BYpijETRAJECTORIES CLIP 1:http://www.youtube/. com/watch? v=Drt23EJxPAoWE OWN THE NIGHT CLIP 3:http://www.youtube/. com/watch? v=xfVlOUPh- RoFILM DONATIONS:http://www.paypal/. com - info@365daysofmarch ingmovie.com
Shufford plans to get untracked against Olympian Estrada“Champions of Tomorrow” Jan. 25 at Foxwoods Resort Casino
PROVIDENCE– Former world heavyweight title challenger Charles Shufford plans to get his career untracked and him back into the heavyweight mix with an upset of 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada in their 10-round, co-main event headlining the “Champions of Tomorrow” pro boxing show, January 25 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
WBC Youth featherweight champion Manuel Perez defends his title against Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard in the other 10-round, co-feature on “Champions of Tomorrow,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. it will be taped live and air on Saturday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. on CN8 and will also stream online at http://www.cn8.tv/. Following the broadcast, the show will be available ON DEMAND to Comcast Digital Cable customers for at least one week. “Champions of Tomorrow” will also air on Cox Sports Television on February 1 at 8:30 p.m.
Las Vegas-based Shufford (20-7-1, 9 KOs) is a man of many diverse talents. He fought Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO title in 2001, extended present WBC Interim heavyweight champ Samuel Peter the full distance in 2004, holds a victory against former world champion Lamon Brewster, and fought a draw with another ex-world title holder, Kelvin Davis. Shufford has acting experience having portrayed George Foreman in the movie, “Ali,” and he’s been the bodyguard of the stars for the past four years at The Palms in Las Vegas.
“I had a lot of fun doing the movie with Will Smith,” Charles said. “I got to travel to Africa, too. I work in security at The Palms. I’ve guarded Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Koby Bryant and so many other stars. I love working for the Maloof brothers (owners of The Palms as well as the Sacramento Kings). They’re cool. They walk the floor every night. They’ve been very good to me, working around my schedule so I have time to train when I have a fight.”
Estrada (10-1, 2 KOs), the Providence native now rated No. 10 in the NABO, has vowed to knock Shufford into retirement. “The kid is quick and fast,” Shufford noted, “but I am, too. I’m taller, stronger and have a longer reach than him. I’ve learned from my recent losses that I can’t lay back. If I don’t work, he’s going to beat me, but I’ve been in with everybody and he doesn’t worry me. I need to be myself and put it all on the line. I’m looking for a big win in January and then line-up some fights to show everybody what I can really do.
“I have to stay busy so I’ll have my timing and sharpness. I had long layoffs because I’m too risky (of an opponent) in some ways. I’m not fighting for titles and I’m too good to be an opponent. I know I can fight but I’ve been rusty my last few fights. I have to put it all together because I feel I’m a good enough fighter to beat anybody on any given day.”
Manchester (CT) favorite Remillard (11-0, 7 KOs) has been inactive since suffering a wrist injury that required surgery after he won the WBC Youth super featherweight on September 23, 2006. He’s aching to fight Perez (11-3, 2 KOs), who captured the WBC Youth title in his last fight on November 10 via a unanimous 10-round decision against Victor Barela.
Unbeaten cruiserweight prodigy and 9-time U.S. amateur champion, Aaron Williams (15-0-1, 11 KOs), takes on former world kick boxing champ Manu Ntoh (17-13-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round battle of cruiserweights.
New England fans have waited a few years for the light heavyweight showdown between Iraqi War-veteran Chris Traietti (7-0, 4 KOs) and “Irish” Joey McCreedy (5-1, 4 KOs) and it’ll finally happen Jan. 25 in a scheduled six-round bout. Throwback middleweights Richard “Bobo” Starnino (8-2-1, 1 KO), of Providence, and New Bedford’s Eric Pinarreta (1-1, 1 KO) bring an old-fashioned border war brawl into the ring.
Also on the undercard in four-round bouts are unbeaten Rhode Island super middleweight Angel Camacho, Jr. (8-0, 4 KOs) against Terrance “TJ” Jones (10-10, 6 KOs), vastly improved Hartford light welterweight Addy Irizarry (3-1, 2 KOs) meets Tonya Gallegos (4-6, 2 KOs), undefeated Brockton super middleweight Manuel Antonio Lopes (4-0, 1 KO) faces John “The Baptist” Michael Terry, and recent University of Connecticut graduate Brian Macy, a poker card dealer at Foxwoods, makes his pro debut versus Pete Guthy (1-1-1, 1 KO) in a match-up of young super middleweights. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Former world title contender “Sucra” Ray Oliveira will be inducted into the CES Ring of Honor in a ceremony during the “Champions of Tomorrow.” Unbeaten heavyweight contender “Baby” Joe Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs), promoted by CES, will make a special presentation to Oliveira.
Tickets for “Champions of Tomorrow” are priced at $40.00, $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club). Two VIP Presidential Suites are also available (call CES for details as well as sponsorship opportunities). To purchase tickets or for additional information contact CES (1.401.724.2253/2254 - http://www.cesboxing.com/) or Foxwoods (1.800.200.2882/www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at
7 PM/ET.
NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman speaks with designer, cartoonist, and entertainer Ivy Supersonic
NO HOLDS BARRED: Ivy Supersonic On this special edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman speaks with designer, cartoonist, and entertainer Ivy Supersonic (http://ivysupersonic.com/). After trying to arrange a fight between Tommy Lee and Kid Rock, Ivy is now trying to set up a bout between Chuck Zito and Benjy Bronk, the head writer for Howard Stern's show.
Chuck Zito (r)
Ivy fills us in on all the lateston the progress (or lack thereof) towards staging this important sporting spectacle. To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link below and just press theplay button on the player: http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-01-23T11_07_38-08_00 You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking onthe download link (right-click to save it). You can also listen to it through the NO HOLDS BARRED blog, athttp://nhbnews.blogspot.com/, and MySpace page, at http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews,also by pressing the play button on the player. Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes athttp://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download. The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter (http://iancarpenter.com/). NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by: Art of War (http://www.artofwarlive.com/), the undisputed arena fighting championship, promoted by SUN Sports and Entertainment,producing world class mixed martial arts events. For more information,check out their web site, ArtOfWarLive.com (http://www.artofwarlive.com). IFL, the International Fight League (http://ifl.tv/), the world'sfirst professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) (http://msn.foxsports.com/story/1636002) in the U.S., and to check your locallistings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site (http://ifl.tv/), for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule, athttp://ifl.tv/TV-Schedule.html. Gladiator Challenge (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/), shaking up themixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year. For more news and info, check out their web site,GladiatorChallenge.com (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/). BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com/), your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more. Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com(http://bjjmart.com/) or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear (http://jiujitsuprogear.com/). FightBeat.com (http://fightbeat.com/), for news, results, interviews,and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts. 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
Chuck Zito (r)
Ivy fills us in on all the lateston the progress (or lack thereof) towards staging this important sporting spectacle. To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click the link below and just press theplay button on the player: http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-01-23T11_07_38-08_00 You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking onthe download link (right-click to save it). You can also listen to it through the NO HOLDS BARRED blog, athttp://nhbnews.blogspot.com/, and MySpace page, at http://www.myspace.com/nhbnews,also by pressing the play button on the player. Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes athttp://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=150801513&s=143441. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download. The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter (http://iancarpenter.com/). NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by: Art of War (http://www.artofwarlive.com/), the undisputed arena fighting championship, promoted by SUN Sports and Entertainment,producing world class mixed martial arts events. For more information,check out their web site, ArtOfWarLive.com (http://www.artofwarlive.com). IFL, the International Fight League (http://ifl.tv/), the world'sfirst professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) (http://msn.foxsports.com/story/1636002) in the U.S., and to check your locallistings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site (http://ifl.tv/), for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule, athttp://ifl.tv/TV-Schedule.html. Gladiator Challenge (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/), shaking up themixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year. For more news and info, check out their web site,GladiatorChallenge.com (http://gladiatorchallenge.com/). BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com/), your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more. Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com(http://bjjmart.com/) or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear (http://jiujitsuprogear.com/). FightBeat.com (http://fightbeat.com/), for news, results, interviews,and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts. 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
FRANK SHAMROCK TO GUEST COMMENTATE ON FRIDAY’S SHOXC TELECAST ON SHOWTIME
NEW YORK – Legendary mixed martial arts pioneer Frank Shamrock will serve as guest commentator during Friday’s 2008 premiere of ShoXC: EliteXC Challenger Series on SHOWTIME (Jan. 25 at 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Shamrock, who is training for his much anticipated EliteXC fight with Cung Le (Saturday, March 29, on SHOWTIME) will take time away from training to join renowned play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo and “Fight Professor” Stephen Quadros for the five-fight ShoXC telecast from Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City Hotel & Casino.
“Frank Shamrock is one of the most colorful and dynamic personalities in the sport,” said Ken Hershman, senior vice president and general manager, Sports & Event Programming, SHOWTIME. “He will add his special blend of experience and charisma to the fight call on Friday and provide his unique brand of insight to his impending match-up with Cung Le, which will be another incredible night for MMA.”
Friday’s ShoXC telecast will be highlighted by a terrific match up featuring popular Philadelphia phenom Eddie Alvarez and tough, determined Hawaiian Ross Ebanez.
“This is an exciting card and I’m glad to be part of it working with Mauro and Stephen,” Shamrock said. “I’d rather be fighting, but I also love to talk and call fights so this is one of the next best things. I can talk the talk, and I’ll definitely be walking the walk March 29.
“Cung Le is a good fighter, but he’s not good enough (to defeat me.).’’
Besides the Alvarez-Ebanez fight at 165 pounds on Friday, other televised bouts at include: Paul "Semtex'' Daley, of England, vs. Sam Morgan, of St. Paul, Minn., in a 170-pound scrap; Bobby McMaster, of Boston, Mass., vs. Bao Quach, of Huntington Beach, Calif., at 150; Kala Kolohe Hose, of Waiane, Hawaii, vs. Fred Belleton, of Stoughton, Mass., at 185; and Julie Kedzie, of Albuquerque, N.M., by way of Greenwood, Ind., vs. Tonya Evinger, of Reno, Nev., by way of Oak Grove, Mo., at 140.
The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins, Jr. Richard Gaughan is the producer of ShoXC with Rick Phillips directing.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® ON DEMAND. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
Shamrock, who is training for his much anticipated EliteXC fight with Cung Le (Saturday, March 29, on SHOWTIME) will take time away from training to join renowned play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo and “Fight Professor” Stephen Quadros for the five-fight ShoXC telecast from Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City Hotel & Casino.
“Frank Shamrock is one of the most colorful and dynamic personalities in the sport,” said Ken Hershman, senior vice president and general manager, Sports & Event Programming, SHOWTIME. “He will add his special blend of experience and charisma to the fight call on Friday and provide his unique brand of insight to his impending match-up with Cung Le, which will be another incredible night for MMA.”
Friday’s ShoXC telecast will be highlighted by a terrific match up featuring popular Philadelphia phenom Eddie Alvarez and tough, determined Hawaiian Ross Ebanez.
“This is an exciting card and I’m glad to be part of it working with Mauro and Stephen,” Shamrock said. “I’d rather be fighting, but I also love to talk and call fights so this is one of the next best things. I can talk the talk, and I’ll definitely be walking the walk March 29.
“Cung Le is a good fighter, but he’s not good enough (to defeat me.).’’
Besides the Alvarez-Ebanez fight at 165 pounds on Friday, other televised bouts at include: Paul "Semtex'' Daley, of England, vs. Sam Morgan, of St. Paul, Minn., in a 170-pound scrap; Bobby McMaster, of Boston, Mass., vs. Bao Quach, of Huntington Beach, Calif., at 150; Kala Kolohe Hose, of Waiane, Hawaii, vs. Fred Belleton, of Stoughton, Mass., at 185; and Julie Kedzie, of Albuquerque, N.M., by way of Greenwood, Ind., vs. Tonya Evinger, of Reno, Nev., by way of Oak Grove, Mo., at 140.
The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins, Jr. Richard Gaughan is the producer of ShoXC with Rick Phillips directing.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® ON DEMAND. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
ELITEXC SMASHES INTO 2008, BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER Friday, Jan. 25 at Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City
Alvarez-Ebanez, Daley-Morgan, McMaster-Quach, Kedzie-Evinger, Kolohe Hose-Belleton Featured As ShoXC Returns to SHOWTIME
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 22, 2008) – During its initial year, Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s live fight division, EliteXC, made an instant impact in Mixed Martial Arts while gaining a reputation for consistently delivering competitive, thrilling and memorable events that featured the world's top fighters.
Under the expert direction of the respected Live Events President, Gary Shaw, EliteXC had a banner 2007. Among its numerous noteworthy accomplishments, EliteXC became the first and remains the only MMA organization whose fights are shown on premium television.
EliteXC’s historic premiere on SHOWTIME on Feb. 10, 2007, included a Shamrock (Frank), a Gracie (Renzo), a “Krazy Horse” (Charles Bennett) and the first women’s fight on premium television. Since an emotional, hard-fought victory over Julie Kedzie on “DESTINY,” Gina Carano has become a superstar while Kedzie now is one of the most recognizable female fighters in the world.
Stressing inclusion, not exclusion, the ensuing six SHOWTIME telecasts featured many exciting battles that included MMA standouts such as Robbie Lawler, KJ Noons, Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, Antonio Silva, Malaipet, Phil Baroni, “Ninja” Rua and Kimbo Slice, the legendary, incredibly popular backyard brawler and YouTube sensation who was smashing in his Street-To-Elite MMA debut.
There was seldom a dull moment in ’07 and fans can expect the same as EliteXC kicks off another tremendous year of live MMA events. First up, ShoXC: EliteXC Challenger Series returns to SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) on Friday, Jan. 25, at Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City Hotel & Casino.
Tickets, starting at $40, are available at the Trump Taj Mahal box office and online at www.ticketmaster.com. The live card begins at 9 p.m.; doors open at 8p.m.
“My job as a promoter is to make the best fights with the best fighters and to leave the fans in attendance or those watching on SHOWTIME with a good taste and feeling that they got their money’s worth, and I feel good about the fact we did that every show,” said Shaw, who made his mark in MMA while remaining one of the leading boxing promoters in the world.
“We’ve earned the respect of fans and media and got the attention of everybody. Fighters know now there’s more than one organization. Our track record with fighters we signed has been tremendous. Almost all the fighters we signed have re-signed with us. EliteXC is family and the fighters know that.
“With the acquisitions (ProElite obtained Hawaii-based ICON Sport, United States-based King Of The Cage, England-based Cage Rage and Korea-based Spirit MC), our talent pool is definitely as good and varied as anybody’s, and it is getting stronger all the time.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
“Much of the credit goes to Ken Hershman and SHOWTIME. Thanks to them, EliteXC is growing and will continue to grow. I’m really looking forward to a very exciting 2008 and doing a show in Atlantic City for the first time. I expect the place to be packed.
“The incredibly popular and talented Eddie Alvarez will headline a great event against a strong, hard-hitting Hawaiian like Ross ‘Da Boss’ Ebanez on Jan. 25 and then we come right back with Kimbo-Tank (Abbott) on Feb. 16 in Miami. We are off to a tremendous start. But it’s just the beginning.’’
Friday’s ShoXC will showcase Philadelphia’s Alvarez (11-1), who is perhaps the most popular East Coast MMA fighter ever, against Ebanez (16-5), of Hilo, Hawaii, in a fight at 160 pounds.
The co-feature will match England's Paul "Semtex'' Daley (16-6-2) with Sam “The Squeeze’’ Morgan (19-9), of St. Paul, Minn., in a 170-pound scrap.
Other televised fights: Bobby McMaster (8-2), of Boston, Mass., will try to regain his winning ways against the dangerous Bao Quach (11-8-1), of Huntington Beach, Calif., at 150 pounds; “The Hawaiian Rocky Balboa,” Kala Kolohe Hose (4-1), of Honolulu, faces Fred Belleton (5-1), of Stoughton, Mass., at 185 pounds; and in a bout that further illustrates EliteXC’s unyielding commitment to women’s fighters, Kedzie (9-6), of Albuquerque, N.M., by way of Greenwood, Ind., will attempt to win her fourth straight when she battles Tonya Evinger (5-3), of Reno, Nev., by way of Oak Grove, Mo., at 140 pounds.
Scheduled non-televised undercard bouts include: Zach Makovsky (3-0), of Philadelphia, vs. Wilson Reis (2-0), of Philadelphia at 140; James “Binky’’ Jones (4-5), of Baltimore, Md., vs. Mark Getto (1-3-1), of Philadelphia, at 160; Sergio Vinagre (2-1), of New Jersey, vs. Brett Linebarger (2-1), of New Jersey, at 185; Joe Shilling (pro debut), of Los Angeles, vs. Matt Makowski (1-0), of Philadelphia, at 170; and Drew Puzon (1-1), New Jersey, vs. Charlie Brennemen (5-0), of Philadelphia, at 170 pounds.
The fights are scheduled for three, 5-minute rounds with the exception of Kedzie-Evinger, which is slated for three, 3-minute rounds.
“The timing and situation of this fight couldn’t be better,’’ said the flamboyant, charismatic Alvarez (eddiealvarez.proelite.com), who will be making his EliteXC debut. “I am super excited about putting on a great show. That it is in my backyard and on SHOWTIME is as good as it gets.
“The ball is in my court. It’s my job to blow the roof off the place. Ebanez is a slugger. He brings it every time. With our styles, it is a really good main event. It can’t be anything but a tremendous fight.’’
A two-time high school All-American wrestler, Alvarez, 23, is an explosive striker who battled his way into MMA from the mean streets of Kensington, Pa., a blue-collar neighborhood near Philadelphia.
“Trouble seemed to find me and I wound up getting into fights on the street so I decided to take it a little more seriously and really learn how to fight,’’ said the former Bodog star, who signed with EliteXC a couple weeks ago.
“Like I said, the timing of signing for this fight with EliteXC couldn’t be better,’’ Alvarez said. “I was wishing an opportunity like this would come along, and it did.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
“I’ve been looking for a fight for a couple of months. But instead of sitting around the house, I kept in the gym. I train three times a day. My weight is always good. I never have to cut a ton of weight at the end. So I can focus on becoming a better fighter and not have to worry about anything else."
Almost from the beginning, it has been a lovefest between East Coast fans and Alvarez, who not only is a top-notch wrestler who can move fast, sprawl and shoot, but a non-stop puncher with quick hands – he delivers uppercuts from every possible direction -- quick feet and excellent head movement.
“Philly is a hard town, but they like their fighters,’’ Alvarez said. “I’m a normal dude and very approachable, so that, coupled with fact I have a lot of friends make for a great support system for me.’’
It doesn’t hurt that the crowd-pleasing kid makes for extremely exciting fights. Ten of his 11 victories have ended inside the distance; the one that didn’t came in his last start when he easily outpointed Matt Lee on July 14, 2007.
Ebanez, a true ambassador to Hawaii MMA and an affable young man outside the cage, has a purple belt in Jiu Jitsu and has mixed in many other forms of martial arts.
Nicknamed “Da Boss’’ for an intimidating, aggressive style, a heavy-handed, experienced, fan-friendly fighter with solid overall skills on his feet or on the ground, Ebanez is unbeaten in his last three outings (2-0 with one no-contest) and 6-1 in his last seven (with the NC).
Ebanez, a three-round decision winner over Michael Brightman in his last fight on Sept. 28, 2007, has seldom been given any “gimmes’’ since turning pro; in fact, he seemingly always is matched tough.
“I like challenges,’’ said the BJ Penn-trained fighter, whose lone defeat since March ’06 came to Mike Pyle on the historic EliteXC “DESTINY’’ fight card on Feb. 10, 2007, on SHOWTIME. “If there's someone for me to fight, I'll fight them.’’
Growing up, Ebanez loved sports. “Two of my favorites were playing football and boxing. I did a lot of boxing when I was young,’’ he said. “I did it through high school. That's why I'm not too nervous going into fights. I don't get butterflies at all. It's from the competitions I was part of when I was young.’’
On Aug. 4, 2007, a rematch against Mark Moreno was ruled a second-round NC after Ebanez got hit during a break while he was down and could not continue.
Daley (pauldaley.proelite.com) is one of the fastest-rising stars in MMA. Nicknamed “Semtex” after an explosive that British armed forces use to demolish large structures, the exciting, sensational scrapper has won four straight – all inside two rounds -- and five of his last six.
In his most recent outing, the promising 24-year-old registered a second-round TKO over Mark Weir on Sept. 22, 2007. In his United States debut the previous June 22, Daley scored an impressive second-round TKO (strikes) over Duane Ludwig on the EliteXC-StrikeForce “Shamrock Vs. Baroni’’ undercard. Daley has also defeated notable MMA campaigners Jess Liaudin and Dave Strasser
While his style has been described as an aggressive mix of striking, striking and more striking, with the occasional bit of extra striking thrown in for good measure, the Cage Rage champion has made a conscious effort to be a well-rounded fighter.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
“I am a striker – there is no secret about that,’’ said Daley, who rejected overtures from other organizations, including the UFC, to sign with EliteXC. “I like to knock people out aggressively and quickly. That's my game and no opponent's going to change that.
“But my wrestling is underrated because it’s something people have not seen a lot of. I constantly work to learn different things. It’s not just about stardom and fame. I want to be the best fighter in the world at all ranges. It is hard to achieve, but that’s my ultimate goal, no matter what ups and downs, wins or losses I may have. With this I will be undisputed as the greatest MMA fighter ever.’’
When he’s not fighting, Daley is involved in a project with Mothers Against Guns in London. “As well as trying to fulfill my goals, I want to set an example for the younger generation that there are other things that you can do rather than get into guns, crime, drugs, etc.,’’ he said.
Morgan (sammorgan.proelite.com) had made a career of re-inventing himself. Fans’ jaws dropped when he stopped Duane “The Bang’’ Ludwig in the first round on April 9, 2005, and now he will try and manufacture another upset one fight after losing by third-round KO to unbeaten Cung Le Nov. 16, 2007.
A competitor on “The Ultimate Fighter 2,” Morgan showed great heart against Le and caught and rocked Le a few times.
“I’ll be ready to fight,’’ said Morgan, a former welterweight. “I hope for his sake, Daley is, too. This is a great fight and an even greater opportunity for me. I am very confident. Every fight for me from now on is all or nothing.
“This should be a very good and interesting fight.’’
In his start before last, Morgan conquered Sam Jackson with ease, winning by submission (rear naked choke) in the first round on Aug. 2, 2007.
“I want to fight all the top name guys in this sport. I'm not scared of any of them. I want to take them all on,’’ said Morgan, who got into MMA “to help vent some off my life issues and I just kept doing it. Although I lost to Le, I feel I'm getting better all the time.’’
McMaster (bobbymcmaster.proelite.com) might have extended his winning streak to nine in his last start if not for a questionable (some say premature) move by a referee to stand the fighters up that led to a first-round submission (guillotine) loss at 4:59 to Mushin Corbbrey Oct. 26, 2007, on SHOWTIME.
A tough kid from South Boston, McMaster mostly dominated Corbbrey, who had created some buzz with an impressive win in his previous ShoXC fight. But McMaster took down Corbbrey almost immediately and unleashed a relentless assault of ground and pound assault. He appeared to be in total control, working a lot, throwing a lot and landing punches in bunches from the top.
But as he continued to connect with solid shots, the referee stood the fighters up with 44 seconds remaining. Once on their feet, McMaster looked to clinch, but Corbbrey did an outstanding job of getting a hip toss takedown. Moments later, McMaster found himself caught in a guillotine. A scramble ensued. McMaster picked up and slammed Corbbrey, but all that did was cinch the guillotine in tighter.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
“I wasn’t disappointed with my last fight,’’ said McMaster, a self-described ‘’hood rat" and street fighter who spent four years in the Marine Corps, that included an eight-month tour of duty in Iraq. “It was my first fight at the master level, and I thought I beat him pretty good for the whole round. I will know next time what not to do. I’m not happy because I lost but these are the rules of the game.’’
Quach (baoquach.proelite.com), a winner of six in a row, has become an all around fighter with a strong background that includes five years of wrestling, six years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and two years of Muay Thai.
Until his career took a dramatic turn, the member of Team Oyama was lightly regarded and known as a one dimensional fighter. He was losing more than he was winning.
But since returning to action after a near 18-month layoff in February 2006 – in his comeback effort, he fought a surprising draw with one of the top featherweights in the world, Hatsu Hioki -- Bao has won five of six while significantly improving his ground and pound and striking.
The Vietnamese fighter’s biggest victory during the streak came on a three-round decision over top 10 featherweight Tenkei Fujimiya Aug. 18, 2007. In his last start, Bao registered an exciting, crowd-pleasing unanimous three-round decision over Chris David in the fight of the night on Oct. 27, 2007.
Kedzie gained instant fame after a gutsy performance against Carano in a thrilling fight that won over a live crowd (that gave them a standing ovation) and the millions more watching on SHOWTIME. That fight stole the show, and this one might too.
“It was an amazing opportunity to be part of a history-making, first women’s fight on television,’’ said Kedzie, who lost a close decision but showed incredible resiliency and took the final round.
“Going in I had hoped that the fact we were women would diminish from the minds of the fans once they saw us going at it, and it did. I think we showed that women fighters are here to stay and that we're going to be around for a long time. People really do love to see the girls fight.’’
Shortly after the memorable clash with Carano, Kedzie (juliekedzie.proelite.com) relocated to New Mexico to join a team headed by Greg Jackson and Joey Villasenor. “As difficult as it was for me to leave, I felt like I needed to go to a place that would push me to the next level,’’ she said.
The decision paid off. Kedzie, a former Hook N Shoot 135-pound champ, closed out 2007 with three victories in a row – a second-round TKO (strikes) over Julie Berezikova in Russia on April 14, a three-round decision over Kelly Kobald on Aug. 24 and a second-round TKO over Jan Finney on Sept. 29.
A victory over Evinger would give Kedzie a career-best four-fight winning streak. “It’s a pretty bold statement but I really don’t think I’m going to be losing any more fights,’’ Kedzie said. “Everybody says that before they fight, but it’s how I feel with the confidence I have now.’’
A third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do who specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kedzie has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Indiana University. When she is not competing, “I’m the girl that sits in the corner with a book, when the rest of the party is going strong,’’ she said.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
If Kedzie is the girl next door, Evinger is the neighborhood bully.
A slammer and banger in the truest sense, Evinger doesn’t come to merely win, but to dominate and destroy. A nationally recognized former grappling champion who participated in the Pan American Games, she has been wrestling 13 years, training in jiu-jitsu for four years and kick-boxing for three.
The free-wheeling, tough-talking Evinger has a ton of potential because she’s rough and tough, has an amazing wrestling background and can box a little. But she knows she needs a win against Kedzie.
“I can fight better than I did the last time on SHOWTIME,’’ Evinger (tonyaevinger.proelite.com) said. “This is a big fight, an important one for both of us. I am looking forward to a great fight.’’
Evinger is coming off a submission (armbar) victory over Katrine Alendal on Dec. 9, 2007. It was her first fight since losing to Carano on EliteXC’s “Uprising” in Honolulu on Sept. 15, 2007, on SHOWTIME.
Before the Carano clash, Evinger got national notoriety for her quote, “I’d like to make out with Gina, but I’m here to knock her out.’’ Evinger didn’t come close to a KO, but she did take Carano down. But once on the ground she got reversed and lost by submission (choke-out) at 2:53 of the first.
“I made a lot of mistakes and wrestled terribly,’’ Evinger said. “Gina doesn’t hit or kick as hard as they say. I try to work on limiting my mistakes, but I just made too many.’’
Hose (kalakolohehose.proelite.com) is a Hawaii native who has won four straight inside the distance since losing his debut. His last three outings have ended by KO or TKO in the first round.
A talented, hard-fighting warrior who embodies the Hawaiian spirit, Hose has improved dramatically since trimming down to 185 pounds after debuting as a 250-pound heavyweight.
Hose, whose fights are always worth watching, is coming off a 20-second TKO (strikes) over Jeff Cox on EliteXC’s “Uprising” Sept. 15, 2007, in Honolulu, on SHOWTIME. On March 31, 2007, he recorded a 38-second KO over Ron Verdadero.
Hose was scheduled to face EliteXC/ICON Sport middleweight champion Robbie Lawler in Hawaii in December ’07, but the match was postponed after Lawler suffered a torn bicep in training. They also were supposed to fight in June ’07, but an injury to Lawler's shoulder postponed the event.
“I still want to fight Lawler,’’ Hose said. “I was heartbroken after I heard the fight was postponed again, but I have had time to regroup. Fighting on SHOWTIME is a great opportunity for me to get world-wide exposure and I hope to make the best of it, but I still look forward to the day I fight Lawler."
Belleton (fredbelleton.proelite.com) is seeking his fifth victory in a row inside the distance since losing his debut. In his last start, a kickboxing specialist produced the knockout of the night when he scored a second-round stoppage over Jerry Spiegel on Sept. 21, 2007, in Wilmington, Mass.
Although he got caught a few times on his feet in the first, Belleton, whose specialty is the “axe kick,’’ stuffed all of Spiegel’s takedown attempts and fairly dominated. A flush kick to the head of Spiegel ended matters 24 seconds into the round.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
Belleton has an extensive background in traditional standup martial arts styles. He's decorated in traditional styles, holding black belts in Shotokan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, ISKA kickboxing, and a unique form of Kung Fu along with a silver glove in Savate, the national martial art of his native France.
While he's relatively new to competitive mixed martial arts, Belleton spent several years competing in traditional martial arts styles in Europe. He won the San Da world championship in 1992 and is also a two-time European champion in the sport.
While living in France, Belleton was a national police officer, which is the equivalent to a state police officer in the U.S., and was involved in drug raids and other high-risk assignments. While serving as a national officer, Belleton was also a member of the French National Police Force Savate team that competed around Europe.
Renowned play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo will call the action on the ShoXC telecast with the “Fight Professor” Stephen Quadros serving as color analyst. The executive producer of ShoXC is David Dinkins, Jr. with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
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.
About Pro Elite, 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
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® ON DEMAND. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 22, 2008) – During its initial year, Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s live fight division, EliteXC, made an instant impact in Mixed Martial Arts while gaining a reputation for consistently delivering competitive, thrilling and memorable events that featured the world's top fighters.
Under the expert direction of the respected Live Events President, Gary Shaw, EliteXC had a banner 2007. Among its numerous noteworthy accomplishments, EliteXC became the first and remains the only MMA organization whose fights are shown on premium television.
EliteXC’s historic premiere on SHOWTIME on Feb. 10, 2007, included a Shamrock (Frank), a Gracie (Renzo), a “Krazy Horse” (Charles Bennett) and the first women’s fight on premium television. Since an emotional, hard-fought victory over Julie Kedzie on “DESTINY,” Gina Carano has become a superstar while Kedzie now is one of the most recognizable female fighters in the world.
Stressing inclusion, not exclusion, the ensuing six SHOWTIME telecasts featured many exciting battles that included MMA standouts such as Robbie Lawler, KJ Noons, Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, Antonio Silva, Malaipet, Phil Baroni, “Ninja” Rua and Kimbo Slice, the legendary, incredibly popular backyard brawler and YouTube sensation who was smashing in his Street-To-Elite MMA debut.
There was seldom a dull moment in ’07 and fans can expect the same as EliteXC kicks off another tremendous year of live MMA events. First up, ShoXC: EliteXC Challenger Series returns to SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) on Friday, Jan. 25, at Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City Hotel & Casino.
Tickets, starting at $40, are available at the Trump Taj Mahal box office and online at www.ticketmaster.com. The live card begins at 9 p.m.; doors open at 8p.m.
“My job as a promoter is to make the best fights with the best fighters and to leave the fans in attendance or those watching on SHOWTIME with a good taste and feeling that they got their money’s worth, and I feel good about the fact we did that every show,” said Shaw, who made his mark in MMA while remaining one of the leading boxing promoters in the world.
“We’ve earned the respect of fans and media and got the attention of everybody. Fighters know now there’s more than one organization. Our track record with fighters we signed has been tremendous. Almost all the fighters we signed have re-signed with us. EliteXC is family and the fighters know that.
“With the acquisitions (ProElite obtained Hawaii-based ICON Sport, United States-based King Of The Cage, England-based Cage Rage and Korea-based Spirit MC), our talent pool is definitely as good and varied as anybody’s, and it is getting stronger all the time.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
“Much of the credit goes to Ken Hershman and SHOWTIME. Thanks to them, EliteXC is growing and will continue to grow. I’m really looking forward to a very exciting 2008 and doing a show in Atlantic City for the first time. I expect the place to be packed.
“The incredibly popular and talented Eddie Alvarez will headline a great event against a strong, hard-hitting Hawaiian like Ross ‘Da Boss’ Ebanez on Jan. 25 and then we come right back with Kimbo-Tank (Abbott) on Feb. 16 in Miami. We are off to a tremendous start. But it’s just the beginning.’’
Friday’s ShoXC will showcase Philadelphia’s Alvarez (11-1), who is perhaps the most popular East Coast MMA fighter ever, against Ebanez (16-5), of Hilo, Hawaii, in a fight at 160 pounds.
The co-feature will match England's Paul "Semtex'' Daley (16-6-2) with Sam “The Squeeze’’ Morgan (19-9), of St. Paul, Minn., in a 170-pound scrap.
Other televised fights: Bobby McMaster (8-2), of Boston, Mass., will try to regain his winning ways against the dangerous Bao Quach (11-8-1), of Huntington Beach, Calif., at 150 pounds; “The Hawaiian Rocky Balboa,” Kala Kolohe Hose (4-1), of Honolulu, faces Fred Belleton (5-1), of Stoughton, Mass., at 185 pounds; and in a bout that further illustrates EliteXC’s unyielding commitment to women’s fighters, Kedzie (9-6), of Albuquerque, N.M., by way of Greenwood, Ind., will attempt to win her fourth straight when she battles Tonya Evinger (5-3), of Reno, Nev., by way of Oak Grove, Mo., at 140 pounds.
Scheduled non-televised undercard bouts include: Zach Makovsky (3-0), of Philadelphia, vs. Wilson Reis (2-0), of Philadelphia at 140; James “Binky’’ Jones (4-5), of Baltimore, Md., vs. Mark Getto (1-3-1), of Philadelphia, at 160; Sergio Vinagre (2-1), of New Jersey, vs. Brett Linebarger (2-1), of New Jersey, at 185; Joe Shilling (pro debut), of Los Angeles, vs. Matt Makowski (1-0), of Philadelphia, at 170; and Drew Puzon (1-1), New Jersey, vs. Charlie Brennemen (5-0), of Philadelphia, at 170 pounds.
The fights are scheduled for three, 5-minute rounds with the exception of Kedzie-Evinger, which is slated for three, 3-minute rounds.
“The timing and situation of this fight couldn’t be better,’’ said the flamboyant, charismatic Alvarez (eddiealvarez.proelite.com), who will be making his EliteXC debut. “I am super excited about putting on a great show. That it is in my backyard and on SHOWTIME is as good as it gets.
“The ball is in my court. It’s my job to blow the roof off the place. Ebanez is a slugger. He brings it every time. With our styles, it is a really good main event. It can’t be anything but a tremendous fight.’’
A two-time high school All-American wrestler, Alvarez, 23, is an explosive striker who battled his way into MMA from the mean streets of Kensington, Pa., a blue-collar neighborhood near Philadelphia.
“Trouble seemed to find me and I wound up getting into fights on the street so I decided to take it a little more seriously and really learn how to fight,’’ said the former Bodog star, who signed with EliteXC a couple weeks ago.
“Like I said, the timing of signing for this fight with EliteXC couldn’t be better,’’ Alvarez said. “I was wishing an opportunity like this would come along, and it did.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
“I’ve been looking for a fight for a couple of months. But instead of sitting around the house, I kept in the gym. I train three times a day. My weight is always good. I never have to cut a ton of weight at the end. So I can focus on becoming a better fighter and not have to worry about anything else."
Almost from the beginning, it has been a lovefest between East Coast fans and Alvarez, who not only is a top-notch wrestler who can move fast, sprawl and shoot, but a non-stop puncher with quick hands – he delivers uppercuts from every possible direction -- quick feet and excellent head movement.
“Philly is a hard town, but they like their fighters,’’ Alvarez said. “I’m a normal dude and very approachable, so that, coupled with fact I have a lot of friends make for a great support system for me.’’
It doesn’t hurt that the crowd-pleasing kid makes for extremely exciting fights. Ten of his 11 victories have ended inside the distance; the one that didn’t came in his last start when he easily outpointed Matt Lee on July 14, 2007.
Ebanez, a true ambassador to Hawaii MMA and an affable young man outside the cage, has a purple belt in Jiu Jitsu and has mixed in many other forms of martial arts.
Nicknamed “Da Boss’’ for an intimidating, aggressive style, a heavy-handed, experienced, fan-friendly fighter with solid overall skills on his feet or on the ground, Ebanez is unbeaten in his last three outings (2-0 with one no-contest) and 6-1 in his last seven (with the NC).
Ebanez, a three-round decision winner over Michael Brightman in his last fight on Sept. 28, 2007, has seldom been given any “gimmes’’ since turning pro; in fact, he seemingly always is matched tough.
“I like challenges,’’ said the BJ Penn-trained fighter, whose lone defeat since March ’06 came to Mike Pyle on the historic EliteXC “DESTINY’’ fight card on Feb. 10, 2007, on SHOWTIME. “If there's someone for me to fight, I'll fight them.’’
Growing up, Ebanez loved sports. “Two of my favorites were playing football and boxing. I did a lot of boxing when I was young,’’ he said. “I did it through high school. That's why I'm not too nervous going into fights. I don't get butterflies at all. It's from the competitions I was part of when I was young.’’
On Aug. 4, 2007, a rematch against Mark Moreno was ruled a second-round NC after Ebanez got hit during a break while he was down and could not continue.
Daley (pauldaley.proelite.com) is one of the fastest-rising stars in MMA. Nicknamed “Semtex” after an explosive that British armed forces use to demolish large structures, the exciting, sensational scrapper has won four straight – all inside two rounds -- and five of his last six.
In his most recent outing, the promising 24-year-old registered a second-round TKO over Mark Weir on Sept. 22, 2007. In his United States debut the previous June 22, Daley scored an impressive second-round TKO (strikes) over Duane Ludwig on the EliteXC-StrikeForce “Shamrock Vs. Baroni’’ undercard. Daley has also defeated notable MMA campaigners Jess Liaudin and Dave Strasser
While his style has been described as an aggressive mix of striking, striking and more striking, with the occasional bit of extra striking thrown in for good measure, the Cage Rage champion has made a conscious effort to be a well-rounded fighter.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
“I am a striker – there is no secret about that,’’ said Daley, who rejected overtures from other organizations, including the UFC, to sign with EliteXC. “I like to knock people out aggressively and quickly. That's my game and no opponent's going to change that.
“But my wrestling is underrated because it’s something people have not seen a lot of. I constantly work to learn different things. It’s not just about stardom and fame. I want to be the best fighter in the world at all ranges. It is hard to achieve, but that’s my ultimate goal, no matter what ups and downs, wins or losses I may have. With this I will be undisputed as the greatest MMA fighter ever.’’
When he’s not fighting, Daley is involved in a project with Mothers Against Guns in London. “As well as trying to fulfill my goals, I want to set an example for the younger generation that there are other things that you can do rather than get into guns, crime, drugs, etc.,’’ he said.
Morgan (sammorgan.proelite.com) had made a career of re-inventing himself. Fans’ jaws dropped when he stopped Duane “The Bang’’ Ludwig in the first round on April 9, 2005, and now he will try and manufacture another upset one fight after losing by third-round KO to unbeaten Cung Le Nov. 16, 2007.
A competitor on “The Ultimate Fighter 2,” Morgan showed great heart against Le and caught and rocked Le a few times.
“I’ll be ready to fight,’’ said Morgan, a former welterweight. “I hope for his sake, Daley is, too. This is a great fight and an even greater opportunity for me. I am very confident. Every fight for me from now on is all or nothing.
“This should be a very good and interesting fight.’’
In his start before last, Morgan conquered Sam Jackson with ease, winning by submission (rear naked choke) in the first round on Aug. 2, 2007.
“I want to fight all the top name guys in this sport. I'm not scared of any of them. I want to take them all on,’’ said Morgan, who got into MMA “to help vent some off my life issues and I just kept doing it. Although I lost to Le, I feel I'm getting better all the time.’’
McMaster (bobbymcmaster.proelite.com) might have extended his winning streak to nine in his last start if not for a questionable (some say premature) move by a referee to stand the fighters up that led to a first-round submission (guillotine) loss at 4:59 to Mushin Corbbrey Oct. 26, 2007, on SHOWTIME.
A tough kid from South Boston, McMaster mostly dominated Corbbrey, who had created some buzz with an impressive win in his previous ShoXC fight. But McMaster took down Corbbrey almost immediately and unleashed a relentless assault of ground and pound assault. He appeared to be in total control, working a lot, throwing a lot and landing punches in bunches from the top.
But as he continued to connect with solid shots, the referee stood the fighters up with 44 seconds remaining. Once on their feet, McMaster looked to clinch, but Corbbrey did an outstanding job of getting a hip toss takedown. Moments later, McMaster found himself caught in a guillotine. A scramble ensued. McMaster picked up and slammed Corbbrey, but all that did was cinch the guillotine in tighter.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
“I wasn’t disappointed with my last fight,’’ said McMaster, a self-described ‘’hood rat" and street fighter who spent four years in the Marine Corps, that included an eight-month tour of duty in Iraq. “It was my first fight at the master level, and I thought I beat him pretty good for the whole round. I will know next time what not to do. I’m not happy because I lost but these are the rules of the game.’’
Quach (baoquach.proelite.com), a winner of six in a row, has become an all around fighter with a strong background that includes five years of wrestling, six years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and two years of Muay Thai.
Until his career took a dramatic turn, the member of Team Oyama was lightly regarded and known as a one dimensional fighter. He was losing more than he was winning.
But since returning to action after a near 18-month layoff in February 2006 – in his comeback effort, he fought a surprising draw with one of the top featherweights in the world, Hatsu Hioki -- Bao has won five of six while significantly improving his ground and pound and striking.
The Vietnamese fighter’s biggest victory during the streak came on a three-round decision over top 10 featherweight Tenkei Fujimiya Aug. 18, 2007. In his last start, Bao registered an exciting, crowd-pleasing unanimous three-round decision over Chris David in the fight of the night on Oct. 27, 2007.
Kedzie gained instant fame after a gutsy performance against Carano in a thrilling fight that won over a live crowd (that gave them a standing ovation) and the millions more watching on SHOWTIME. That fight stole the show, and this one might too.
“It was an amazing opportunity to be part of a history-making, first women’s fight on television,’’ said Kedzie, who lost a close decision but showed incredible resiliency and took the final round.
“Going in I had hoped that the fact we were women would diminish from the minds of the fans once they saw us going at it, and it did. I think we showed that women fighters are here to stay and that we're going to be around for a long time. People really do love to see the girls fight.’’
Shortly after the memorable clash with Carano, Kedzie (juliekedzie.proelite.com) relocated to New Mexico to join a team headed by Greg Jackson and Joey Villasenor. “As difficult as it was for me to leave, I felt like I needed to go to a place that would push me to the next level,’’ she said.
The decision paid off. Kedzie, a former Hook N Shoot 135-pound champ, closed out 2007 with three victories in a row – a second-round TKO (strikes) over Julie Berezikova in Russia on April 14, a three-round decision over Kelly Kobald on Aug. 24 and a second-round TKO over Jan Finney on Sept. 29.
A victory over Evinger would give Kedzie a career-best four-fight winning streak. “It’s a pretty bold statement but I really don’t think I’m going to be losing any more fights,’’ Kedzie said. “Everybody says that before they fight, but it’s how I feel with the confidence I have now.’’
A third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do who specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kedzie has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Indiana University. When she is not competing, “I’m the girl that sits in the corner with a book, when the rest of the party is going strong,’’ she said.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
If Kedzie is the girl next door, Evinger is the neighborhood bully.
A slammer and banger in the truest sense, Evinger doesn’t come to merely win, but to dominate and destroy. A nationally recognized former grappling champion who participated in the Pan American Games, she has been wrestling 13 years, training in jiu-jitsu for four years and kick-boxing for three.
The free-wheeling, tough-talking Evinger has a ton of potential because she’s rough and tough, has an amazing wrestling background and can box a little. But she knows she needs a win against Kedzie.
“I can fight better than I did the last time on SHOWTIME,’’ Evinger (tonyaevinger.proelite.com) said. “This is a big fight, an important one for both of us. I am looking forward to a great fight.’’
Evinger is coming off a submission (armbar) victory over Katrine Alendal on Dec. 9, 2007. It was her first fight since losing to Carano on EliteXC’s “Uprising” in Honolulu on Sept. 15, 2007, on SHOWTIME.
Before the Carano clash, Evinger got national notoriety for her quote, “I’d like to make out with Gina, but I’m here to knock her out.’’ Evinger didn’t come close to a KO, but she did take Carano down. But once on the ground she got reversed and lost by submission (choke-out) at 2:53 of the first.
“I made a lot of mistakes and wrestled terribly,’’ Evinger said. “Gina doesn’t hit or kick as hard as they say. I try to work on limiting my mistakes, but I just made too many.’’
Hose (kalakolohehose.proelite.com) is a Hawaii native who has won four straight inside the distance since losing his debut. His last three outings have ended by KO or TKO in the first round.
A talented, hard-fighting warrior who embodies the Hawaiian spirit, Hose has improved dramatically since trimming down to 185 pounds after debuting as a 250-pound heavyweight.
Hose, whose fights are always worth watching, is coming off a 20-second TKO (strikes) over Jeff Cox on EliteXC’s “Uprising” Sept. 15, 2007, in Honolulu, on SHOWTIME. On March 31, 2007, he recorded a 38-second KO over Ron Verdadero.
Hose was scheduled to face EliteXC/ICON Sport middleweight champion Robbie Lawler in Hawaii in December ’07, but the match was postponed after Lawler suffered a torn bicep in training. They also were supposed to fight in June ’07, but an injury to Lawler's shoulder postponed the event.
“I still want to fight Lawler,’’ Hose said. “I was heartbroken after I heard the fight was postponed again, but I have had time to regroup. Fighting on SHOWTIME is a great opportunity for me to get world-wide exposure and I hope to make the best of it, but I still look forward to the day I fight Lawler."
Belleton (fredbelleton.proelite.com) is seeking his fifth victory in a row inside the distance since losing his debut. In his last start, a kickboxing specialist produced the knockout of the night when he scored a second-round stoppage over Jerry Spiegel on Sept. 21, 2007, in Wilmington, Mass.
Although he got caught a few times on his feet in the first, Belleton, whose specialty is the “axe kick,’’ stuffed all of Spiegel’s takedown attempts and fairly dominated. A flush kick to the head of Spiegel ended matters 24 seconds into the round.
EXCELLENT MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT 2008 PREMIERE OF SHOXC: ELITE CHALLENGER SERIES – JAN. 25
Belleton has an extensive background in traditional standup martial arts styles. He's decorated in traditional styles, holding black belts in Shotokan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, ISKA kickboxing, and a unique form of Kung Fu along with a silver glove in Savate, the national martial art of his native France.
While he's relatively new to competitive mixed martial arts, Belleton spent several years competing in traditional martial arts styles in Europe. He won the San Da world championship in 1992 and is also a two-time European champion in the sport.
While living in France, Belleton was a national police officer, which is the equivalent to a state police officer in the U.S., and was involved in drug raids and other high-risk assignments. While serving as a national officer, Belleton was also a member of the French National Police Force Savate team that competed around Europe.
Renowned play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo will call the action on the ShoXC telecast with the “Fight Professor” Stephen Quadros serving as color analyst. The executive producer of ShoXC is David Dinkins, Jr. with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
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.
About Pro Elite, 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
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL® ON DEMAND. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
Sharp Shooter” Remillard now a moving target“Champions of Tomorrow” Friday night at Foxwoods Resort Casino
“PROVIDENCE – One sure sign of respect in boxing is when a fighter calls out a potential opponent in the media. It’s rare for a boxer with only 11 pro fights to be such a target, especially one coming off of a 15-month inactive stretch due to an injury, but that’s exactly where Manchester favorite Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (11-0, 7 KOs) finds himself.
Remillard is preparing for Friday night’s (Jan. 25) 10-round title bout against WBC Youth featherweight champion Manuel Perez (11-3, 2 KOs) in the co-main event on “Champions of Tomorrow,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Remillard has been out of the ring since suffering a wrist injury, twice requiring surgery, after he won the WBC Youth super featherweight (September 23, 2006) that Matt was unable to defend and relinquished because of his aforementioned injury.
Perez’ first lost was in 2006 to Rashiem Jefferson, who is now 15-0-1 (6 KOs) and reportedly has been in Denver sparring with Perez, who surprisingly chose to defend his title belt on the road. According to an Internet report, Jefferson claims that he has been trying to fight Remillard for quite some time but Matt hadn’t accepted, and that Rashiem was familiar with Remillard and would give Perez a great look at Matt’s style.
“If he (Jefferson) has been calling me out,” Remillard responded, “I don’t know who he was supposedly contacting. I’ve been out of action for 15 months. If he had called my promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, we’d probably be fighting him for his title (USNBC) this Friday night. I saw Jefferson around in the amateurs. He’s a respectable fighter, but for him to call me out and talk like I’m nobody, well, that’s a slap in my face.
“He’s helping Perez but I couldn’t care less. Jefferson doesn’t fight anything like me and if they think he can imitate me, they’re both in for a big surprise. I’m just focused on Perez right now. I’ve had the best training camp of my career preparing to fight him. Jefferson sounds like a clown.”
Jefferson and his manager plan on accompanying Team Perez to Foxwoods. “I hope they have tickets,” Remillard’s promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, remarked. “They’ve never contacted me about fighting Matt or for anything else. After Matt beats Perez we can talk about Jefferson possibly being next on Matt’s dance card.”
2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (10-1, 2 KOs) squares-off against former world heavyweight title challenger Charles Shufford (20-7, 9 KOs) in the other 10-round, co-main event on “Champions of Tomorrow.”
Two other Connecticut fighters will be in action. Hartford light welterweight Addy Irizarry (3-1, 2 KOs), a corrections officer at a Connecticut prison, faces Tonya Gallegos (4-6, 2 KOs), while recent University of Connecticut graduate Brian Macy, a poker card dealer at Foxwoods who is from Ledyard, makes his pro debut versus super middleweight Pete Guthy (1-1-1, 1 KO).
Addy Irizarry
Unbeaten cruiserweight prodigy and 9-time U.S. amateur champion, Aaron Williams (15-0-1, 11 KOs), battles former world kickboxing champ Manu Ntoh (17-13-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round match.
New England fans have waited quite a few years for Friday’s light heavyweight showdown between Iraqi War-veteran Chris Traietti (7-0, 4 KOs) and “Irish” Joey McCreedy (5-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round bout. Throwback middleweights Richard “Bobo” Starnino (8-2-1, 1 KO), of Providence, and New Bedford’s Eric Pinarreta (1-1, 1 KO) bring an old-fashioned border war brawl into the ring for their four-rounder.
Also on the undercard in four-round bouts are undefeated Rhode Island super middleweight Angel Camacho, Jr. (8-0, 4 KOs) versus Terrence “TJ” Jones (10-10, 6 KOs) and unbeaten Brockton super middleweight Manuel Antonio Lopes (4-0, 1 KO) meets John “The Baptist” Michael Terry. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Former world title contender “Sucra” Ray Oliveira will be inducted into the CES Ring of Honor in a ceremony during the “Champions of Tomorrow.” Unbeaten heavyweight contender “Baby” Joe Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs), promoted by CES, will make a special presentation to Oliveira.
“Champions of Tomorrow” will be taped live and air on Saturday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. on CN8 and will also stream online at http://www.cn8.tv/. Following the broadcast, the show will be available ON DEMAND to Comcast Digital Cable customers for at least one week. “Champions of Tomorrow” will also air on Cox Sports Television on February 1 at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets for “Champions of Tomorrow” are priced at $40.00, $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club). Two VIP Presidential Suites are also available (call CES for details as well as sponsorship opportunities). To purchase tickets or for additional information contact CES (1.401.724.2253/2254 - http://www.cesboxing.com/) or Foxwoods (1.800.200.2882/www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.
CONTACT: Bob Trieger, Full Court Press,
Remillard is preparing for Friday night’s (Jan. 25) 10-round title bout against WBC Youth featherweight champion Manuel Perez (11-3, 2 KOs) in the co-main event on “Champions of Tomorrow,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Remillard has been out of the ring since suffering a wrist injury, twice requiring surgery, after he won the WBC Youth super featherweight (September 23, 2006) that Matt was unable to defend and relinquished because of his aforementioned injury.
Perez’ first lost was in 2006 to Rashiem Jefferson, who is now 15-0-1 (6 KOs) and reportedly has been in Denver sparring with Perez, who surprisingly chose to defend his title belt on the road. According to an Internet report, Jefferson claims that he has been trying to fight Remillard for quite some time but Matt hadn’t accepted, and that Rashiem was familiar with Remillard and would give Perez a great look at Matt’s style.
“If he (Jefferson) has been calling me out,” Remillard responded, “I don’t know who he was supposedly contacting. I’ve been out of action for 15 months. If he had called my promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, we’d probably be fighting him for his title (USNBC) this Friday night. I saw Jefferson around in the amateurs. He’s a respectable fighter, but for him to call me out and talk like I’m nobody, well, that’s a slap in my face.
“He’s helping Perez but I couldn’t care less. Jefferson doesn’t fight anything like me and if they think he can imitate me, they’re both in for a big surprise. I’m just focused on Perez right now. I’ve had the best training camp of my career preparing to fight him. Jefferson sounds like a clown.”
Jefferson and his manager plan on accompanying Team Perez to Foxwoods. “I hope they have tickets,” Remillard’s promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, remarked. “They’ve never contacted me about fighting Matt or for anything else. After Matt beats Perez we can talk about Jefferson possibly being next on Matt’s dance card.”
2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (10-1, 2 KOs) squares-off against former world heavyweight title challenger Charles Shufford (20-7, 9 KOs) in the other 10-round, co-main event on “Champions of Tomorrow.”
Two other Connecticut fighters will be in action. Hartford light welterweight Addy Irizarry (3-1, 2 KOs), a corrections officer at a Connecticut prison, faces Tonya Gallegos (4-6, 2 KOs), while recent University of Connecticut graduate Brian Macy, a poker card dealer at Foxwoods who is from Ledyard, makes his pro debut versus super middleweight Pete Guthy (1-1-1, 1 KO).
Addy Irizarry
Unbeaten cruiserweight prodigy and 9-time U.S. amateur champion, Aaron Williams (15-0-1, 11 KOs), battles former world kickboxing champ Manu Ntoh (17-13-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round match.
New England fans have waited quite a few years for Friday’s light heavyweight showdown between Iraqi War-veteran Chris Traietti (7-0, 4 KOs) and “Irish” Joey McCreedy (5-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round bout. Throwback middleweights Richard “Bobo” Starnino (8-2-1, 1 KO), of Providence, and New Bedford’s Eric Pinarreta (1-1, 1 KO) bring an old-fashioned border war brawl into the ring for their four-rounder.
Also on the undercard in four-round bouts are undefeated Rhode Island super middleweight Angel Camacho, Jr. (8-0, 4 KOs) versus Terrence “TJ” Jones (10-10, 6 KOs) and unbeaten Brockton super middleweight Manuel Antonio Lopes (4-0, 1 KO) meets John “The Baptist” Michael Terry. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Former world title contender “Sucra” Ray Oliveira will be inducted into the CES Ring of Honor in a ceremony during the “Champions of Tomorrow.” Unbeaten heavyweight contender “Baby” Joe Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs), promoted by CES, will make a special presentation to Oliveira.
“Champions of Tomorrow” will be taped live and air on Saturday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. on CN8 and will also stream online at http://www.cn8.tv/. Following the broadcast, the show will be available ON DEMAND to Comcast Digital Cable customers for at least one week. “Champions of Tomorrow” will also air on Cox Sports Television on February 1 at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets for “Champions of Tomorrow” are priced at $40.00, $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club). Two VIP Presidential Suites are also available (call CES for details as well as sponsorship opportunities). To purchase tickets or for additional information contact CES (1.401.724.2253/2254 - http://www.cesboxing.com/) or Foxwoods (1.800.200.2882/www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.
CONTACT: Bob Trieger, Full Court Press,
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