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Saturday, November 8, 2008

Affliction Bombs On Broadway, Part Two; By Eddie Goldman, for ADCC News


Affliction Bombs On Broadway, Part Two
(photos attached)
By Eddie Goldman, for ADCC News

Back in September, I ventured out to Times Square to see the giant billboard the Affliction mixed martial arts promotion had put up for their October 11 show. That show, which was eventually postponed, had as its main event a heavyweight fight between Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett.

At that time, as I wrote on this site (http://www.adcombat.com/Article.asp?Article_ID=16404), I conducted an impromptu and unscientific survey to find out what male passersby thought this huge billboard, totally in sight and easy to read, was trying to promote. I then asked three men chosen at random, and this was the response: "Each politely stopped, gazed above at it, and gave the same response: Even after looking at it in person, they had absolutely no idea."

Now Affliction is back in the same place on this same corner on Broadway, with a similar looking billboard hyping their January 24 pay-per-view show featuring Fedor Emelianenko facing Andrei Arlovski. And I, too, went back to this same corner on Broadway Friday night to gauge the reaction of male passersby to this new billboard.

This time I was joined by my colleague Keisha Morrisey

(http://www.bloodlineboxing.blogspot.com/), who is also a correspondent on No Holds Barred. We were coming from the weigh-ins at Madison Square Garden for Saturday's Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. fight, and a party celebrating the 50th anniversary of Boxing Digest held nearby. While we were walking to the subway, I asked her to accompany me to this latest marketing test. While primarily working in boxing, she has also covered numerous mixed martial arts events and news conferences, including those of Affliction in New York, so she agreed.

This time we stopped four males (again, since these shows are not mainly aimed at women, it would prove little if they failed to react to the billboard). All four seemed to fall in that 18-34 demographic group, which marketing and advertising types believe should determine the fate of the world.

We asked them all, very politely, the same thing, if they knew what this billboard was about. Unlike September, we actually got four different responses from these four men.

The first, when asked if he knew what it was for, simply replied, "No."

The second replied, "Wrestling," meaning, of course, the fake
professional "wrestling".

The third man, who seemed the surest of the lot, replied, "Boxing." After answering, he actually came back to us and repeated his answer, again quite politely.

The fourth man replied, "A TV show." Technically he was the closest, although Arlovski's bared fangs and Fedor's glaring head hardly brought to mind a mixed martial arts pay-per-view.

The tally: While standing in clear sight of this Affliction billboard, none of these four men could even identify what sport it was for, let alone what specific event it was hyping and how to watch it.

Such is the genius of the product of all the high-priced marketing, advertising, and public relations people Affliction has hired. Great job, folks. We are certain that this will all make this January 24 pay-per-view just as successful as their first financial bloodbath was.

But who are we to speak when all these fancy "experts" are blowing more bundles on billboards such as this one? Indeed, what do we at the ADCC News know about mixed martial arts compared to them?
--
Eddie Goldman -- No Holds Barred
http://eddiegoldman.com
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Honorable Keisha Morrisey http://www.keishamorrisey.com

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

Friday, November 7, 2008

KEVIN "KINGPIN" JOHNSON NOT GIVING HEAVYWEIGHTS A CHANCE TO DUCK HIM ANY LONGER, FIGHTS HIS WAY UP THE RANKS‏


This Friday November 7th the WBA #5 rated heavyweight in the world, Star Boxing's Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson (20-0-1, 7KO) looks to stay undefeated and continue to climb the heavyweight ranks when he takes on Matthew Greer (12-3,11KO) in a ten round heavyweight contest being broadcast live on GoFightLive.tv from Bally's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Johnson, considered by many to be the top American heavyweight prospect, and whose hand speed has been compared to heavyweight greats, hall of famers Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes, has had a busy schedule as of late, especially for a fighter of his magnitude. The fight with Greer will be his third fight in less then seven months and the first thing the Kingpin will tell you is that he has no intentions of slowing down. Johnson who continues to be ducked by many of the top heavyweights in the world recently sat down for an exclusive one on one interview before his upcoming bout on Friday. The self- proclaimed greatest heavyweight in the world took time to talk about his busy schedule, his last fight with former heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, and what he will have to do to get a title shot.

KEVIN "KINGPIN" JOHNSON

Q: Kingpin, how are you doing?
KJ: I am doing good, real good. I had a great training camp, and everything is absolutely beautiful.

Q: You just fought two months ago, do you like this busy schedule you are on right now?
KJ: Oh yeah, I love it. I love staying busy. I am a fighter, this is what I do. I just want to keep getting fights and keep showing the boxing world my abilities and keep racking up these wins.

Q: I am going to throw a name out at you, without thinking what's the first word that comes to mind, David Haye?
KJ: B*tch, with an English accent. The guy is a joke. He calls me out, I answered his call and then he punks out. His people tried to say I asked for too much money. That is an out and out lie. I told them I would fight for less then what they offered me. Money was not an issue, because I know once I knocked him out I would walk out of there a very rich man. My fights after destroying him would have brought me tons of money. I would have fought him for free, that's how confident I was I would have knocked him out cold. He is susceptible to left hooks, and I have a great left hook and the minute I hit him he would have went. The real story of what happened was after he called me out and I accepted, he watched some video footage of me and then said no way will I fight that guy. I can't be too mad at him though because he is just like the rest of the heavyweights out there, none of them want to fight me. I wouldn't want to have to fight me either

Q: In your last fight, you knocked out former heavyweight champion of the world Bruce Seldon. Prior to that fight you adamantly stated you would knock him out and silence your critics that you are more then just a gifted boxer with a terrific jab. Which is the Kevin Johnson we will see from here on out, the gifted boxer, or the come straight forward banger?
KJ: From here on out you are going to see the new and improved Kevin Johnson. You are going to see a boxer who has the total package. Boxer, banger, it doesn't matter. Every fight, it doesn't matter who it is, I am going to put on an exciting show, and look spectacular doing it. Truthfully I still have not shown the boxing world the best Kevin Johnson yet, but I promise you, he is coming.

Q: You recently were moved up to number 5 in the WBA. What's your take on all of the top guys and champions out there? Do you think anyone is going to step up and give you a shot, or are you just going to have to keep winning until they can not avoid you any longer?
KJ: Yeah basically that's it. I know none of these guys want to face me, and it's no secret. On my worst day they don't want to see me in the ring. But as long as I keep fighting and keep winning there is going to come a time when they are either going to have to fight me or they will have to just hand their belts over to me. I just try to not let it bother me or effect me. I know my time is coming. I have a great promoter in Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing and he promises me the time is coming very soon. That's what I love about Joe, when he tells me something he delivers. My man is on point.

Q: Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko , Nikolay Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev. Give me your hit list in order of champions.
KJ: First I will take out Valuev. He is the easiest and I am ranked highest in the WBA so he has to go first. Then after him I will want to take a step up so Wladimir will have to be next. Then after I destroy his younger brother Vitali will have no choice but to fight me so I will fight him and gladly take his belt too. Vitali will be my hardest task, but that's all it is, a task. Not one of those guys stands a chance with me. Oh yeah I almost forgot Chagaev. Sorry I have to leave him off my list I don't consider him a world class fighter. I didn't even know he was still boxing until you just mentioned his name.

Q: Kevin thank you for taking time out and sitting down with us. Anything you want to say in closing?
KJ: To all my beautiful ladies out there, I am still single, I am still tall, dark and handsome, sweet and sexy come out to the fight and see me in action I look good (laughs Johnson). On a more serious note, I want to thank my promoter Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing for putting this fight together. I also want to thank Bally's for bringing me back to this great venue. Lastly, to all those so-called heavyweight contenders and champions out there, I am coming for you, for all of you.
Tickets are priced at $90 and $60 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1(800) 736-1420 or going online to ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 or by going online to www.starboxing.com.

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

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

JOHNSON-GREER; CAUTHEN-ALAVREAZ HEADLINE A BIG NIGHT OF BOXING ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV TONIGHT!!!!! AT 7:30 PM EASTERN TIME

ATLANTIC C ITY, NJ- WBA number-five ranked heavyweight in the world, Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson will look to climb further up the Heavyweight ladder when he takes on the tough Matthew Greer as the main event of a big seven bout card that will originate from Bally’s Hotel & Casino is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and will be seen exclusively on www.gofightlive.tv beginning at 7:30 pm eastern/4:30 Pacific time.

Johnson, of Atlanta, Georgia, has a record of 20-0-1 with seven knockouts, scored his most impressive win when he took out former WBA Heavyweight champ Bruce Seldon in the same ring on www.gofightlive.tv

Greer of St. Louis is looking to upset the apple cart as he is on a five fight knockout streak and hopes to improve on his record which currently stands at 12-3 with eleven wins coming early.

The co-feature is an evenly matched crossroads welterweight local turf war between Atlantic City’s Shamone Alvarez and former Olympic bronze medalist, Terrence Cauthen of nearby Trenton, New Jersey.

Alvarez is 19-1 with eleven knockouts, itching to get back in the win column after suffering his first pro loss to eventual IBF Welterweight champion Joshua Clottey last December in Las Vegas

Cauthen resurrected career this past July when he scored an emphatic unanimous decision over then undefeated (16-0) Alexis Camacho in San Antonio, Texas. Cauthen has a very impressive record of 33-4 with nine knockouts.

With a lot at stake, expect both combatants to leave everything in the ring.

Despite his recent loss to Johnson, Seldon will be in the ring tonight to once again hoping to thrill his hometown fans when the former WBA heavyweight champion takes on upset-minded Brad Gregory of Wichita, Kansas.

This is a must win fight for Seldon who boasts a respective record of 38-7 with thirty-four knockouts, considering a victory could very well lead to a significant match against former champion Lamon Brewster later in the month.

Another featured participant is New York’s KO artist, Curtis “Showtime” Stevens looking to check the chin of Ray Smith of Arkansas.


Also on the card is one of the most exciting prospects in the world, the nineteen year-old prodigy, Ramond “Tito” Serrano.

“This will be a terrific night of boxing” said www.gofightlive.tv vice-president, David Klarman.

“To have the number-five heavyweight, a true do or die welterweight, former heavyweight champion of the world and some of the biggest prospects in the game on world card is unprecedented and it shows the type of shows that gofightlive.tv is interested in bringing to the boxing fans all over the world.”

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

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

CALZAGHE VS. JONES: Saturday Night At 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT



Before the main event this Saturday night on Pay-Per-View watch all three episodes of 24/7, back to back on HBO. Tonight from 8:30-9:30PM and tomorrow morning from 8:30-9:30AM.

Watch the first episode, get expert predictions, fight week footage and more at HBO.com.

And don't forget to order Calzaghe vs. Jones this Saturday night on HBO Pay-Per-View!
Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel Online http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

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

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

RODRIGUEZ EYEING CHAMPIONSHIP, HEADS TO SOUTH AFRICA IBF #1 SPOT AT STAKE

On Monday November 17th Star Boxing's Delvin Rodriguez (23-2-1, 14KO) of Danbury, CT, looks to take one step closer to achieving every boxers ultimate goal of becoming a world champion, when he battles Isaac "Angel" Hlatshwayo (28-1, 10KO) of Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa, at the Emperors Palace in South Africa in a twelve round welterweight eliminator for the IBF number one ranking. The card will be promoted by Rodney Berman-Golden Gloves in association with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing.

DELVIN RODRIGUEZ

It will be Rodriguez first fight since winning the vacant USBA welterweight championship against Oscar Diaz on ESPN2's "Wednesday Night Fights" back on July 16th in San Antonio, TX.
With the fight exactly two weeks away Rodriguez and his camp left for South Africa on Monday November 3rd, making sure to give Rodriguez ample time to adjust to the high altitude in Johannesburg. Before leaving for South Africa Rodriguez took time out of his schedule to sit down and talk about his training camp and upcoming fight with Hlatshwayo.

Visit Our Website: www.starboxing.com

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

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

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

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

Special Manfredo picture; "The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo, Jr. and his No. 1 fan, Cameron Wheeler‏


(Photo by Emily Harney)

Peter Manfredo, Jr.(L) helps 12-year-old Cameron Wheeler, of Johnston, RI, put on boxing gloves for the first time this afternoon at Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket, RI. Wheeler, the cousin of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Dan Wheeler, suffers from a rare brain tumor that doctors have tried to remove three times.


Cameron will be attending his first boxing show on Thurday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, "Tough & Tested," featuring Manfredo, runner-up in The Contender I, versus The Contender III winner Sakio Bika for the vacant IBO super middleweight championship. Cameronr was very confident about the outcome of the fight saying, "I KNOW Peter will win this one." Go to www.cesboxing.com for more about "Tough & Tested."

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

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

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

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Boxing Digest invites you to join in the celebration of its 50th Anniversary, this Friday, Nov. 7


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

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

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

No trash-talk between friends and Nov. 13 foes Brewer & Bundrage Manfredo-Bika headline “Tough & Tested” in Providence, live on Versus


PROVIDENCE– The Contender, Season Two winner, “Bad Boy” Grady Brewer, and third-place finisher, Cornelius “K9” Bundrage, developed a strong friendship when they were teammates on the 2006 television reality series. The bond remains but has been temporarily put aside because Brewer and Bundrage will battle November 13 in a 10-round IBO light middleweight eliminator on the “Tough & Tested” card at the newly renovated Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

The 12-round main event for the vacant IBO super middleweight title pits two-time world title challenger “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr., runner-up in Season One of The Contender, against Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika, winner of The Contender, Season Three.

“Tough & Tested,” promoted by the Tournament of Contenders in association with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), will air nationally live on Versus television. The co-promoters have called for a ‘Pink Out’ (everybody wearing something colored pink) to show support for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from ticket and T-shirt sales will benefit the Gloria Gemma Foundation for research into early breast cancer detection.

Brewer (23-11, 13 KOs), fighting out of Lawton, Oklahoma, sports a misleading pro record because he took numerous short-notice fights in the backyards of his opponents prior to joining The Contender. Never-the-less, “Bad Boy” has registered impressive victories against former world champion Steve Forbes in The Contender II finale, as well as Anthony Thompson and Michael Stewart.

“We became good friends on The Contender and still are today,” Brewer spoke about his relationship with Brundage, “but we’re not talking until after this fight. I’ll wish him luck when I see him at the weigh-in and I’m sure that he’ll wish me good luck, too. But our friendship can’t interact with boxing until after this fight.

“I plan to use angles against him to stay away from his big right hand. That’s his favorite punch. I’m sure he knows we’ve watched a lot of types and he’s going to come out trying to prove that he’s more than a one-handed fighter. But I think he’ll resort to his big right hand after four or five rounds. We both were on The Contender and people are intrigued by this match-up because we didn’t fight each other on the show. We both have something to prove and fans are going to have a lot of fun watching us fight. This is a great opportunity for both of us and a big stepping-stone for the winner’s career. People don’t know who is going to win but he will go on to the next level and fight for the IBO title.”

Detroit native Bundrage (28-3, 16 KOs), rated No. 14 by the IBF, is coming off of a win by 10-round decision last March against former IBF title-holder Kassim Ouma. “K9” has also defeated Chris Smith and Michael Clark, among the more notables.

“This was a tough fight to take because we’re such good friends,” Bundrage commented. “We talked a little before The Contender, but then we became friends. Grady took it first (the fight against Bundrage), so I took it, too. He’s a proven veteran and good fighter. Grady’s a much better fighter than his record may indicate. I’m always the underdog; I’m motivated to prove that I’m one of the best fighters out there.

“This is definitely the biggest fight of my life, especially following my win against Ouma. This fight is business and afterwards we’ll still be good friends. I’ve prepared very hard for him. This is an IBO title eliminator and we’ll let the chips fall where they may. The winner is going to go on to even bigger things. Hey, I’m hungry and he already won $500,000 (the winner’s purse for The Contender II). Now it’s my time.”

Manfredo (31-5, 16 KOs), the reigning NABF Interim champion, is the WBC No. 13 rated super middleweight. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, “The Pride of Providence” sports a perfect 16-0 (10 KOs) record in Rhode Island, including 3-0 (3 KOs) in the same Providence building as his Nov. 13th showdown against Bika. Manfredo’s five pro career losses have all come at the hands of world champions.

IBF Pan Pacific super middleweight title-holder Bika (26-3-2. 16 KOs), a 2000 Cameroon Olympian now fighting out of Australia, won The Contender III with a dramatic eighth round stoppage of Bridgeport, Connecticut native Jaidon Codrington in the finale a year ago in Boston. Bika, rated No. 4 by the IBF and No. 8 by The Ring magazine, hasn’t been stopped in 31 pro fights.

Codrington (18-2, 14 KOs), runner-up in Season Three of The Contender, also is fighting on the card in a super middleweight Special Attraction.

Some of New England’s most talented and popular fighters are scheduled to fight on the undercard including WBC World Youth and USNBC featherweight champion Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (15-0, 8 KOs), super flyweight Isander “Peachy” Beauchamp (5-0, 2 KOs), Providence light welterweight Jesus Caro (2-0, 2 KOs), and Pawtucket light welterweight Diego Periera (1-0, 1 KO). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $18.00, $23.00, $58.00, $79.00, $107.00 and $222.00, are on sale at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Box Office (401.331.6700) or through CES Boxing at 401.724.2253/2254 or www.cesboxing.com. Tickets will also be on sale through www.Ticketmaster.com, at all local Ticketmaster outlets by calling Ticketmaster direct at 401.331.2211 or 617.931.2000, as well as Manfredo’s Gym in Pawtucket (401.723.1359), 401

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

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

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

ShoBox Analyst Steve Farhood on James Moore's December 13 Bout‏

(Photo of James Moore)
Television analyst Steve Farhood weighs in on New York-based Irishman James Moore’s December 13 challenge of NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman on ShoBox: The New Generation.

Steve Farhood, the longtime analyst on ShoBox: The New Generation, is excited over the December 13 fight between NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, 26-0 (8 KOS), and challenger James Moore, 16-1 (10 KOS). The Top Rank-promoted show, which will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, is being headlined by the rubber match between WBO lightweight champion Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres.

Although both fighters are based in New York, the 28-year-old Foreman was born in Belarus but lived for several years in Israel. The 30-year-old Moore is a native of County Wicklow, Ireland.

“The strength of this fight is the contrasting styles,” said Farhood. “Yuri is an extremely fast boxer with excellent movement. James is a classic pressure fighter who relies on body punching to weaken his foe. He is going to have to really apply pressure to limit Foreman’s movement. It’s a lot easier to hit a stationary target than a moving one.”

Farhood asserts that both fighters deserve much credit for taking this fight at such formative stages of their careers. “They each have a lot to protect, so I laud them for accepting such a tough challenge,” he said. “This is the kind of bout that we have come to expect on ShoBox: two fighters on the way up with a lot to gain and a lot to lose. That is what the ShoBox concept is all about.”

Tickets, which range from $200 to $50, are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-736-1420. They can also be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Jermain Taylor...Peaking At The Right Time For His Upcoming Fight Against Jeff Lacy‏


MIAMI- With less than two weeks to go before the fight that could determine the entire direction of his boxing future, Jermain Taylor is both calm, cool, confident and anxious to get in the ring. Taylor has less than one week left in his Miami-based training camp before shifting to Nashville, Tennessee, site of his 12-round Super Middleweight Eliminator fight with Jeff Lacy on November 15th "All Or Nothing".

HBO World Championship Boxing will televise the bout from Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee (10:15pm ET / 9:15pm CT / 7:15pm PT).

DiBella Entertainment is presenting the 12-round super middleweight title eliminator in association with Prize Fight Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. Tickets are on sale now at $275, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25, and available through all Ticketmaster locations at 615-255-9600 or www.ticketmaster.com .

.
"Everything is peaking at the right time,” Taylor said. “I’m ready. I feel great, and we have a good game plan for Jeff. I have the skills to go in there and win, and look good doing it. I’m hungry, and I’m ready to fight.”

Taylor’s hunger has been building all throughout training camp. He and lead trainer Ozell Nelson have watched plenty of film of Taylor’s two losses to Kelly Pavlik — the only two of the Little Rock, Ark.-natives professional career — and Taylor said he has worked all camp long on correcting any mistakes that Lacy may feel he can take advantage of. Nelson said all the hard work has paid off. Taylor has been well within his target weight for several weeks, and Nelson said training has gone better than planned.

"Things have really come together perfectly,” Nelson said. “Jermain has been sharp and focused since the beginning of camp, and I can really tell he is as determined as he ever has been. I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from Jermain at this training camp.”

Coming off two losses has a way of sharpening a fighter’s focus. Taylor said his bouts with Pavlik have motivated him in a way no opponent has before.

“It pushes me like nothing else,” Taylor said. “This is a fight both of us need to win, especially me, coming off two losses.”

The hype surrounding this fight is growing, in large part because this is a fight that is so crucial to the careers of both Taylor and Lacy. Both fighters know a loss will be very difficult to come back from.

“Jermain knows how big this is,” Taylor’s promoter, Lou DiBella, said. “He’s very aware. This is the kind of fight that will escalate him back to the top. He has to win the fight. I do think he’s hungry again. He wants this fight.”

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

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

Abraham-Marquez Press Conference IBF super middleweight world title fight Saturday on PPV live from Germany


BAMBERG, Germany– Challenger Raul “El Diamente” Marquez vowed once again at today’s press conference in Germany to shock the boxing world when he fights unbeaten International Boxing Federation middleweight champion “King” Arthur Abraham on Saturday at Jako Arena in Bamberg, Germany.

Abraham-Marquez is promoted by Wilfried Sauerland, presented by Sauerland Event and its Managing Director, Christian Meyer, in association with Seminole Warriors Boxing. The broadcast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing in English and Spanish at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice Canada, and Bell ExpressVue, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. iN Demand will show a replay the following day (Sunday, Nov. 9) at 2 PM/ET. Al Bernstein and Nick Charles will call the action.

Abraham-Marquez, originally scheduled October 4, was postponed due to Abraham’s sudden illness on the day of the fight.

“I’m confident and feel better than I did the last time,” Marquez said. “I’m going to shock the boxing world on Saturday. His trainer (Ulli Wegner) said that they have a lot of respect for me and that Abraham was sick. They’re looking forward to a tough fight against a veteran with a lot of experience. As a fighter, I respect Abraham but, sick or not, I still would have gone along with the fight. We’re good sportsmen and after the fight we’ll be friends."

Abraham (27-0, 22 KOs), rated No. 2 by The Ring and ESPN, captured the IBF middleweight title nearly three years ago by way of a fifth-round knockout of Kingsley Ikeke (23-1). Seven successful title defenses have followed against Miranda, Shannon Taylor, Kofi Jantuah, Sebastian Demers, Khoren Gevor, Wayne Elcock and Elvin Ayala.

The 37-year-old Marquez (41-3-1, 29 KOs), rated No. 2 (No. 1 unrated) by the IBF as well as No. 8 by The Ring and No. 9 by ESPN, earned his title shot against Abraham by defeating previously unbeaten No. 1 contender Giovanni Lorenzo (26-0) in their June 21st IBF title eliminator. Marquez, fighting out of Houston, was a 1992 U.S. Olympian who was the IBF junior middleweight title-holder in 1997.

The 10-round co-feature on the PPV show from Germany finds former NABO champion and “The Next Great Champ” reality television winner, Otis “Triple OG” Griffin (19-3-2, 7 KOs), of Sacramento, fighting Yugoslavian-born Enad Licina (14-1, 8 KOs), now living in Germany, for the vacant IBF Intercontinental cruiserweight belt.

For more information about the Abraham-Marguez PPV go to www.integratedsportsnet.com or www.warriorsboxing.com

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

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

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

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

No Holds Barred: Obama and King Mo Win

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman begins by commenting on the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president of the United States. Discussed are both the significance of this for the combat sports of boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts, and, of course more importantly, the people. On Election Day in the U.S., November 4, we conducted an interviewwith three-time U.S. national freestyle wrestling champion and mixedmartial arts fighter, King Mo Lawal (http://www.myspace.com/molawal).Mo just had his second TKO victory in as many fights in his new MMAcareer, stopping Chute Boxe fighter Fabio Silva in the third round atthe Sengoku 6 card in Japan on Saturday, November 1. Our lengthy discussion with Mo Lawal focused on his latest victory inthe ring, his training in technique, his plans, his views on theworsening problems facing USA Wrestling, and much more. His latest victory can be seen here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k7a0SrwC1uI7OjPfZf. You can play or download No Holds Barred athttp://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/2008-11-05T01_19_08-08_00 orhttp://nhbnews.dojoradio.com. You can also download No Holds Barred at http://www.mediafire.com/?zjjwufpmymu. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3format, so may take some time to download. The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by musician IanCarpenter (http://iancarpenter.com/). No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by: Gladiator Magazine (http://gladmag.com/), for in-depth coverage ofBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well aslifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. GladiatorMagazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com(http://bjjmart.com) or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear (http://jiujitsuprogear.com/). BJJMart.com (http://bjjmart.com), your premier source for allBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more. Wrestling 411 (http://wrestling411.tv), providing coverage of thesport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 isproduced by Media Sports Productions (http://www.mediasportsproductions.com/), whose sole mission is the marketingand promotion of the sport of wrestling. FightBeat.com (http://fightbeat.com/), for news, results, interviews,and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martialarts. Thanks, Eddie Goldmanhttp://eddiegoldman.comStarlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel Online http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

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

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

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

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

UNDFEATED ISRAEL SENSATION, RAN NAKASH TO TAKE ON HARVEY JOLLY ON DECEMBER 5TH AT THE LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON ; ALSO THE RETURN OF STEVE CHAMBERS

PHILADELPHIA- On Friday Night December 5th undefeated Cruiserweight Ran Nakash will return to The Legendary Blue Horizon to look for his seventh consecutive knockout when he takes on the dangerous Harvey Jolly in an eight round bout that will headline a big eight bout card promoted by Vernoca L. Michael & Blue Horizon Boxing Promotions Inc.

December 5th marks The Legendary Blue Horizon's "Annual Holiday Show”.

Fans are encouraged to bring a safe toy or gifts to help the less fortunate

Nakash of Haifa, Israel has an undefeated record of 15-0 with eleven big knockouts and his become a favorite at The Legendary Blue Horizon. Nakash will be making seveth appearance at The Legendary Blue Horizon as he amassed six straight wins with the last three coming in the form of a vicious knockout.

In his last bout, Nakash scored his the most impressive win of his career when he took care of the highly regarded Larry Robinson in just fifty seconds on September 12th .

Jolly of Adrian, Michigan has a record of 8-9-1 with four knockouts has been in with some of the best Heavyweights & Cruiserweights and his beaten his share of undefeated fighters, so he won't be an awe of the undefeated slugger from Israel.

Jolly has scored wins over three undefeated fighters and held the highly regarded (and undefeated at the time) Aaron Williams to a draw.

Jolly will have a six inch height advantage over Nakash. Jolly has been in the ring with notables such as Joey Abell, Zuri Lawrence, Alfredo Escalera Jr.and is coming off a Unanimous decision over William Bailey on September 25th.

In the co-feature, rising Jr. Welterweight Steve Upsher Chambers will look for his fifteenth consecutive victory when he takes on an opponent to be named.

Chambers, 23 has a record of 18-1-1 with five knockouts.

Undefeated Light heavyweight Ben Foust will make his Legendary Blue Horizon debut in a six round bout. Foust of Jacksboro, Tennessee has racked up a record of 11-0 with ten knockouts. Foust will fight an opponent to be named.

December 5th also marls The Legendary Blue Horizon return of Jules Blackwell. Blackwell, of Phoenixville, Pa has a record of 8-1-2 with three knockouts and he will be making his ninth appearance at The Legendary Blue Horizon.

Blackwell is coming off a first round knockout over Javier Dennis on September 26th at The Legendary Blue Horizon.

Blackwell will be taking on durable Dareell Martin of Baltiomore. Martin has a record of 3-6 and will be making his fourth appearance at The Legendary Blue Horizon. Martin will be looking to build on his unanimous decision victory over Andre Nichold this past October 18th in Springfield, Va.

John Goldwire of Philadelphia will try to improve on his winning debut at The Legendary Blue Horizon last April when he battles John Pawlowski (1-1-1, 1 KO) in a four round Welterweight bout.

The exciting style of Julius Edmonds of Philadelphia will look to even up his record (2-3) when he takes on Michael Weaver (2-2-1). Weaver of Philadelphis is the only man to defeat Steve Chambers.

In a battle of debuting Middleweights, John Turner of Philadelphia will take on Joey Aquaru.

Rounding out the card will be the return of Lightweight prospect, Luis Castro (3-0, 1 KO) in a four round fight. Castro won his first two fights at The Legendary Blue Horizon

This card will be broadcasted all over the world LIVE!!! on www.gofightlive.tv

Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $200 for Queen Seating, $125 for Presidential seats, $65 for VIP, $55 for Ringside, and $45 for General Admission and can be purchased by calling The Legendary Blue Horizon at 1-215-763-0500 or by logging on to comcasttix.com. Doors open at 6:30 PM / 1st bout begins at 7:30 PM

The Legendary Blue Horizon is located at 1314 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA

For more information, log on to www.legendarybluehorizon.com

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

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

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

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

No Holds Barred: John Perretti on Sumo, Striking, Matchmaking, and More

No Holds Barred: John Perretti on Sumo, Striking, Matchmaking, and More

http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/entry/2008-11-03T03_45_04-08_00

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with the legendary mixed martial arts matchmaker John Perretti.

In a lengthy interview, we discuss his recent trip to Japan where he watched a sumo tournament, wrestling and grappling and mixed martial arts, the art of matchmaking, boxing commentators, UFC commentators, the decline of technique and striking in mixed martial arts today, the sport of roller derby, the prospects for his new sport based on Florentine football, and more.

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/).

Make sure to check out my regular weekly boxing show SecondsOut Radio, at http://www.secondsout.com/radio/. On this week's edition of SecondsOut Radio, we begin with a review of the knockout victory by Vic Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs), now the IBF, WBA, and WBC super flyweight champion, over Cristian Mijares (35-4-2, 13 KOs), in a one-sided fight this past Saturday, November 1, in Carson, Calif. This coming Saturday, November 8, two future Hall of Famers, light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe and former champion Roy Jones Jr., will meet at Madison Square Garden in New York. This fight will be telecast live in the U.S. on HBO Pay-Per-View. We comment on some of the problems in the marketing of this fight, as well as hear some prefight comments by both Calzaghe and Jones. We also hear from junior welterweight Dmitriy Salita, who fights on the undercard. It was also announced this past week that legendary trainer Angelo Dundee will be assisting the Oscar De La Hoya camp for the December 6 fight against Manny Pacquiao. We hear some comments from Angelo Dundee himself from a media conference call. It is free to listen to SecondsOut Radio, but you must register to gain access to it. Just click here, http://www.secondsout.com/radio/, and listen, learn, and enjoy.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

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/).

Wrestling 411 (http://wrestling411.tv), providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions (http://www.mediasportsproductions.com/), whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.

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
http://eddiegoldman.com

Enjoy!
http://nhbnews.podOmatic.com/badge.gif

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

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

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

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

WATCH RAYMOND "TITO" SERRANO TAKE ON ABE BRUNO ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV TUESDAY NIGHT FIGHT

NEW YORK- This Friday night in Atlantic City, one of the best prospects will be on display when nineteen year-old, Raymond "Tito" Serrano will step it up when he takes on twenty-five five fight veteran Shakha Moore on www.gofightlive.tv

To get fans ready for this exciting prospect's fight, www.gofightlive.tv will present one of the earlier bouts of the young prodigy's career.

In just his fourth fight, Serrano took on then twenty fight veteran Abraham Bruno of Jersey City, NJ

This fight was Serrano's coming out party as he showed the explosive skills that made some in the know, annoit him Philadelphia's next big star in boxing.

The Serrano-Bruno bout is the www.gofightlive.tv Tuesday Night Fight of the week.

"Serrano has been on our air a few times" said gofightlive.tv vice-president, David Klarman. "He is one of the most exciting fighters out there and his fights have become can't miss fight's."

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

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

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

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

Monday, November 3, 2008

Hope or hype: Harlem prepares for Decision ’08; How a historic election resonates in America’s first capital of black culture


By Vidya Rao

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27477898/

“We’ll see how much our country has grown up on Tuesday night,” said acclaimed poet and longtime Harlem resident Maya Angelou. “In Harlem, to have a black president I would expect the same sort of hallelujah good times celebration as occurred in the ’30s and ’40s when boxer Joe Louis fought and won the title."

It’s one evening late last week, and four men are sitting at the corner of the bar at Londel’s Supper Club in central Harlem, transfixed on its flat-screen TV. The bartender has stopped mixing drinks, her eyes glued to the tube.

As patrons watch a recap of campaign events on the evening news, the bar is quiet but for plates rattling in the kitchen and jazz playing in the background.

Then someone shouts, “There’s no way McCain will win,” and the patrons — who are all black, as is the bartender — are off, onto a raucous discussion of all things political, from Joe Biden to Joe the Plumber. On some issues they disagree, but one thing is clear: They are all Barack Obama supporters.

From Harlem’s bars to its barbershops, its churches to its community centers, America's first black cultural capital is electrified with anticipation of the election, and the possibility of a person of color’s becoming president. Many Harlemites are quick to say that Democratic candidate Barack Obama has changed the face of politics, encouraging people in the community who were apathetic to become part of the process.

Others say this election is something they’ve waited for their whole lives. “I’m on cloud nine,” said 86-year-old Lettice Graham, a Harlem resident since 1947 who has voted in 17 presidential elections. “I’m just glad it happened in my lifetime, that I can have the experience to vote for a black president. I will be at the poll at 6 a.m. to beat the rush!"

Nationally, nearly 90 percent of the black vote went to Democratic presidential candidates in the past two elections. In a poll conducted by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies last month, 90 percent of blacks have a favorable opinion of Barack Obama, while 22.8 percent have a favorable opinion of John McCain. Eighty-four percent said they want Obama to win the presidency.

In Harlem, where the population is 67 percent black, hopes for this historic election are high.

‘Obama, Obama, Obama!’
State Sen. Bill Perkins, who represents Harlem, was New York’s first elected official to endorse Obama for president (in May 2007). He says he’s never seen the kind of political passion among his constituents that he has in this election.

“This election is transformative,” he said. “Those who were turned off by the process are enthusiastically turned on. We just have to keep reminding them, though, that this momentum is not the victory — it’s the vote that is the victory.”

Chet Whye, director of Harlem for Obama, works out of an office at 133rd Street and 8th Avenue, his desk invisible under a mass of paper and files. He says his office has registered more than 3,000 people to vote since September 13.

“This election means something big for this community,” he said. Pointing to a life-size cardboard cutout of Obama in the window, Whye added, “We’ve had a lot grown men come by and they look at that image of Sen. Obama. If they stand there and look at it for more than a minute, we’ll see tears come down.”

Throughout Harlem, residents agree that community morale is up and the level of political engagement has no precedent in decades. Neighborhood vendors sell merchandise emblazoned with images of Barack and Michelle Obama: buttons, hats, T-shirts, umbrellas, shoes. Some see Obama as the personification of the American dream.

“Everywhere, every corner store, deli, barbershop, all you hear is, ‘Obama, Obama, Obama!’ ” said construction worker Karim Solomon, 30, adding that he will also vote for the Democrat.

“He isn’t Martin Luther King Jr., but he has the ability to uplift the community, and that is how many of our members feel,” said Reverend Dino Woodard of the Abyssinian Baptist Church. The first black Baptist church in New York played a vital role during the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights era. “Our church has fought to end discrimination, and for those of us who were around during the Civil Rights movement, this is the ultimate milestone,” the Rev. Woodard said.

Still, some caution against characterizing the excitement about Obama as being race-based, saying that would imply he’s ahead in the polls because of his color, not his qualifications. “I have voted for many white candidates and never had a problem with it,” said John Phillips, 72, who works in pharmaceuticals and is black. “I’m voting for Obama because he’s the right man for the job; he’s a Democrat who will steer this country in the right direction.

“Nobody asks white people if they are voting for a candidate because he’s white, so why should I be asked if I’m voting for a candidate because he’s black?”

The significance of Harlem

The neighborhood of Harlem extends from 110th Street to 158th Street, at the top of the island of Manhattan. To its north are Washington Heights and the Bronx; to the south, Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Central Park. Between 1920 and 1930, black Americans migrated here from the South, searching for jobs and opportunity, until more than 70 percent of the population was black.

Those demographics helped usher in the Harlem Renaissance, when poets like Langston Hughes and Claude McKay and novelists like Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright made the community the nexus of African-American culture. The Apollo Theater on 125th Street, one of few New York venues that allowed African-American performers and patrons, launched the careers of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn and many others, still remains a Harlem landmark.

“Harlem created a vibrant culture that it shared with the world, not just New Yorkers,” said Keith Mayes, associate professor of African American Studies at the University of Minnesota. “People still see it as having the roots of the first black mecca, being the home of black arts and culture.”

By 1950, 98 percent of Harlemites were black. Through the next three decades, New York City suffered an economic decline, and the black community struggled. Infested with drugs and violence, Harlem became a symbol of urban decay.

Today the community is changing; though blacks are still in the majority, whites, Asians and Latinos are moving in. Gentrification has improved many blocks, but housing costs are rising, pushing out many black residents whose families have lived here for decades. Columbia University plans to expand through 17 acres of the area, leading many residents to feel they are losing their neighborhood.

“Harlem is in recovery,” said acclaimed poet Maya Angelou, who first visited Harlem in 1952 and has owned a house here for the past 10 years. “It is still the political hubbub and hub — whatever happens in Harlem is going to be repeated in Los Angeles and Seattle, in the black areas around the country.”

Angelou says that Harlem and other communities are desperate for change — and says Obama can make that happen.

“We’ll see how much our country has grown up on Tuesday night,” she said. “In Harlem, to have a black president, I would expect the same sort of hallelujah good times celebration as occurred in the ’30s and ’40s when boxer Joe Louis fought and won the title.”

Still, some are skeptical about Obama’s message of change. “I believe Mr. Obama has the intention of making things better, but he’s not the messiah,” said rapper Immortal Technique, né Felipe Coronel, 30, a Latino of Afro-Peruvian descent. “He can’t undo Bush’s policies over the past eight years.”

The political rapper, who was raised in Harlem and currently lives here, also questions how much direct effect a President Obama would have on the community. “Will Obama stop the expansion of Columbia University? Will he stop luxury buildings from taking over the area?”



Black doesn’t mean backing Obama



In fact, not all African-Americans or Harlemites support Obama, though they are by far the minority. Keisha Morrisey, 38, who has been in Harlem her whole life, says she doesn't leave her house without wearing her campaign hat and buttons — her McCain-Palin hat and buttons.

“I’ve always been going for McCain, and I’m loyal to my party,” said the lifelong Republican. “People say to me, ‘Why not Obama?’ So because I’m black I’m supposed to vote for Obama? I say, ‘If a black man comes to my door, I’m not going to just let him in because he’s black, then ask him who he is afterwards.’ The bottom line is, I don't know Obama.”

Morrisey, who is in the process of developing a Harlem Women Republican Club, has harsh words for her fellow Harlemites. “This Obama thing is clearly a lot of hype,” she said. “I don’t think a lot of people know why they are voting for him. It’s just because he’s black.”

The event planner and publicist blasts people for voting for Obama based on race, but also says that her support for McCain grew stronger when he chose Sarah Palin for vice president — because she’s a woman.

“Young black women should think twice — the Democrats didn’t choose a woman, and Palin and McCain balance each other out well.”


Khalil Figueroa, 38, a Latino and co-owner of Fig’s Barber Shop, gets heckled by patrons and barbers when he says that he will vote for McCain, and proudly asserts that he voted for George W. Bush in the last election.

“It’s a national security issue, and McCain is going to protect the country,” he said. “I’m not leaving my kids on a train, and have the train blow up because Obama wants to run around shaking hands.”

But acupuncturist Andre C. Jones, who is black, was a lifelong Republican and a McCain supporter, yet says he will be voting for Obama.

“I don’t agree with Sarah Palin as a choice for vice president; she certainly doesn’t have the qualifications,” Jones said, adding that Obama’s oratorical charisma, intelligence and message of hope helped sway him.

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

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

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

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

DON KING MAKES PLEA FOR OBAMA‏


Don "Only in America" King took time out from promoting the first world-championship boxing card in Chengdu, China (on Friday) to write down his thoughts on Barack Obama and George W. Bush on the eve of America's Presidential General Election (which we will watch from China).

He asked me to transcribe his handwritten pages and send them to you. The first attachment is his tribute to George W. Bush's accomplishments, and the second attachment is an endorsement of Barack Obama.

Alan Hopper
DKP
China Boxing Event Page:http://www.donking.com/events/chengdu_11708/index.php

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

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

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

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

New York-based Irishman James Moore heads to Los Angeles to train for December 13 challenge of NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman

New York-based Irishman James Moore heads to Los Angeles to train for December 13 challenge of NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman on Showtime.

The extremely popular James Moore, 16-1 (10 KOS), a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, who fights out of Queens, New York, will depart for Los Angeles on November 5 to train for his December 13 challenge of NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

The 10 round-bout will open the ShoBox: The New Generation broadcast that that will be headlined by the rubber match between WBO lightweight champion Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres. Top Rank, Inc. is promoting the show.

The 30-year-old Moore is looking forward to this tremendous crossroads bout between two foreign-born, New York-based fighters. The 28-year-old Foreman, 26-0 (8 KOS), was born in Belarus but began boxing in Israel.

Moore will train at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, where plenty of sparring is available. Moore is also looking forward to reuniting with professional middleweight Craig McEwan, 13-0 (7 KOS), a native of Scotland who now lives and trains in Los Angeles. He and Moore were amateur rivals who have become good friends. The southpaw McEwan is scheduled to fight unbeaten sensation Alfredo Angulo on November 22 in Las Vegas.

“I should be able to get a lot of work with Craig, as well as all of the other speedy fighters in L.A.,” said Moore. “In order to beat Yuri, you have to chase him down and take away his legs. There are lots of fighters at the Wild Card who can emulate his style.”

Since an injured hand has completely healed, Moore says that he is physically, mentally and emotionally ready for the tough challenge ahead.

“Fighting an unbeaten boxer on ShoBox is just what I need for my career right now,” said Moore. “Somebody has to be the first man to beat Yuri, so it might as well be me. I’ve been looking to move my career to the next level for quite some time now. This is a very big step in the right direction, and I aim to fully take advantage of it.”

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

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

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

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

Anxious Harlem Braces For Election; On Brink Of Potentially Historic Vote, Nation's Symbolic Capital Of Black Culture Remains Tense

Chet Whye has reason to be confident.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/03/national/main4565819.shtml

Harlem4Obama, the grassroots organization he directs, has recruited more than 1,000 volunteers and registered 3,000 voters. It has opened field offices in Pennsylvania and Virginia. And, perhaps most promising, Barack Obama maintains a lead over John McCain in the majority of national polls.


Despite all the favorable signs - and the cake on his desk for his 53rd birthday - Whye is hardly celebrating.

"We’re scared," he says. "It’s really more intense right now."

Traditionally the backyard of Hillary and Bill Clinton, Harlem is now abuzz with Obama fever - and Obama himself has singled out community efforts here as a source for his policy positions. Still, even as the United States may be poised to elect its first African American president, the nation’s epicenter of black culture remains anxious about Obama’s prospects.

The tense mood is palpable in Harlem4Obama’s donated office on Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 133rd Street. Whye takes a flurry of calls on his cell phone while coordinating campaign strategy from his laptop. Volunteers phone voters to urge patience at the polling sites. And a hand-written sign hangs in the corner serving as the ultimate cautionary tale: "I Was In New Hampshire."

The sign refers to Obama’s primary defeat to Hillary Clinton. Back in January, the Illinois senator enjoyed a double-digit lead in the polls before losing a narrow vote to the New York senator. Whye and volunteer Alima Berkoun recalled a long and dismal drive from New Hampshire back to Harlem.

"That was a wake-up call," said Berkoun, who has lived in Harlem for 13 years. "The next day I was out on 125th Street working even though I was sick."

Perhaps one reason Obama has inspired volunteers in the community is that the Illinois senator has credited Harlem for inspiring one of his presidential platforms. Last year, he singled out the Harlem’s Children Zone, an ambitious and successful anti-poverty effort, as a model for his policy to address the plight of urban America.

"There's no reason this program should stop at the end of those blocks in Harlem. It's time to change the odds for neighborhoods all across America," Obama declared last July. "When I'm President, the first part of my plan to combat urban poverty will be to replicate the Harlem Children's Zone in 20 cities across the country."

Harlem was not always safe ground for Obama. Once Hillary Clinton’s turf and the home of her husband’s office, the community's support was fractured between the senators from New York and Illinois. Indeed, Hillary Clinton received twice as many votes as Obama in Harlem’s district during the New York Democratic primary in February.

But ten months later, after a lengthy and bitter Democratic race, Harlem’s political leaders and Clinton backers have slowly gotten on board with the Illinois senator. Obama signs now adorn nearly every street corner and many Harlem businesses, including Karrot, an organic health food store on 117th Street.

The store is a hub of passionate political discussion among locals and its owner, Carlos Aguila, is not afraid to display his views. Outside his shop is a chalkboard sign that reads: "The coming retirement of the GOP brand." Inside his store, you can buy his top-selling drink "The Obama" - a concoction of almond milk, peanut butter, chocolate and bananas.

Aguila, 49, says he is emotionally invested in this election for the first time in his life and he believes 99 percent of Harlem will vote for Obama. He cites the nation’s evolving racial makeup (what he calls "the browning of America") as the main reason to be hopeful. Still, Aguila concedes that anxiety and uncertainty hang over Harlem.

"The whole neighborhood feels it. We’re talking about a black man," Aguila says. "If he’s so good, why is [the race] so close?"

Although Harlem has produced iconic black political figures (Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell, to name two), many residents say they do not dwell on race in politics. Whye says that a recent survey mailed out to voters revealed the number one issue among Harlemites is not housing or education or health care - it is political conduct. Accordingly, says Whye, the community's residents not only praise Obama's demeanor and intellect but they also have an emotional attachment to his family.

Even one of the rarest of sights in Harlem - a McCain supporter - agrees. Keisha Morrisey, who unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for New York City Council in 2002, acknowledges she's a fan of the Obama clan. "I love the family. I love Michelle and the daughters."


In the final hours before the election, Whye is trying to translate that love into logistics. His office is focused on stationing volunteers at the nearly 200 polling sites in Harlem's 15th district. Meanwhile, volunteers are calling on-the-fence voters in battleground states right up until Tuesday. His biggest priority is preaching patience to the overwhelming number of first-time voters - the ones "Barack pushed through the door," as Whye puts it. He worries some will get intimidated by polling red tape and frustrated by long lines. But Whye is blunt when it comes to local residents waiting to cast a vote for Obama.

"Most people from Harlem - their ancestors made it through slavery," he says. "So you can wait."

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