★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience©®™

Saturday, April 28, 2012

CUNNINGHAM – TARVER: A Social Media Experiment

After many months of disregarding and downplaying a potential bout with former two-time IBF Cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, former Light Heavyweight world champion Antonio Tarver has finally stepped up to the plate, well sort of.

For the past several months, Cunningham & Tarver have been going back in forth on twitter but whenever the prospect of a fight gets brought up, Tarver has had one excuse after another and then Tarver took a June 2^nd fight with little known Lateef Kayode.

Well finally Tarver, has acknowledged that a fight with Cunningham would be a meaningful one and has said a fight with Cunningham could happen if Cunningham could get support of the fans to tune in by garnering 20,000 twitter followers.

Team Cunningham decided to step up to the challenge and has launched a twitter campaign titled, "Can Twitter Make A Fight?- @USSvsMagicMan". This social media experiment will see if twitter is a powerful enough tool to get this fight made with the support of 20,000 boxing fans. The team acknowledges that this is a tall order given the lack of attention the cruiserweight division gets in the states, but they feel that if fans want to see a good fight, this should not matter.

When asked about the prospect of this fight happening, Cunningham said, "This is a fight I have wanted for the longest and Tarver has made up many excuses to not make it happen. I was honestly ready to move on from the idea, but he made the challenge and me and my team are crazy enough to call him on it. Following @USSvsMagicMan is not about being a fan of mine or Tarver's it's about being a fan of boxing and wanting to see a good fight and taking action to get it made".

Boxing fans are now asked to simply follow @USSvsMagicMan and when the number soars to the magic number of 20,000 then this important fight can and will happen.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Friday, April 20, 2012

SHOWTIME EXTREME To Air Live April 21 Preliminary Bouts - Librado Andra...‏

SHOWTIME EXTREME TO AIR LIVE PRELIMINARY BOUTS FROM APRIL 21 ABNER MARES VS. ERIC MOREL EVENT FROM

UTEP'S DON HASKINS CENTER IN EL PASO, TEXAS

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER

LIBRADO ANDRADE VS. ROWLAND BRYANT,

2008 MEXICAN OLYMPIAN FRANCISCO VARGAS VS. RAFAEL LORA AND UNDEFEATED PROSPECT CHRIS PEARSON

TO BE FEATURE FEATURED

HOT PROSPECT LUIS RAMOS JR. AND EL PASO FAVORITE

ANTONIO ESCALANTE ROUND OUT THE UNDERCARD

On Saturday, April 21, fight fans around the country will get the chance to see more of boxing's stars as Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME are excited to announce that additional bouts from the undercard of the highly anticipated world championship showdown between former World Champs Abner Mares and Eric Morel, will be televised. SHOWTIME EXTREME will televise preliminary fights live from UTEP's Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas featuring longtime super middleweight contender Librado Andrade against once-beaten Floridian Rowland Bryant in a 10 round battle and 2008 Mexican Olympian Francisco Vargas introduces himself to SHOWTIME viewers with an eight round junior lightweight contest against New Jersey's Rafael Lora. Also featured (time permitting) will be unbeaten junior middleweight phenom Chris Pearson.

Barry Tompkins will call the action on SHOWTIME EXTREME from ringside with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst.

Also, highly-regarded lightweight prospect Luis Ramos Jr. and local El Paso favorite Antonio Escalante are slated for non-televised action on the undercard.

"Mares vs. Morel: Battle on the Border" is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship set for Saturday, April 21 at UTEP's Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. The co-featured fights will see Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno vs. David de la Mora in a 12-round fight for Moreno's WBA Bantamweight Super Championship. The event is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The SHOWTIME Championship Boxing doubleheader airs live at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Just prior to the action on SHOWTIME, preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Ultra-popular around the world for his fierce fighting style in the ring and his gentlemanly nature outside of it, Librado Andrade (30-4, 23 KO's) has long been a top super middleweight contender, with exciting fights against Lucian Bute, Robert Stieglitz, Mikkel Kessler, Yusaf Mack and Eric Lucas to prove it. In search of his first world title, the 33-year-old from La Habra, California by way of Jesus del Monte, Guanajuato, Mexico is coming off of a third round technical knockout over Matt O'Brien for the WBC Continental Americas belt in August of 2011.

Looking to derail Andrade's march towards a world championship is 32-year-old Florida native Rowland Bryant (15-1, 10 KO's). A nine-year professional who knows the time is now to make his move, the hard-hitting Bryant has everything to gain with a win over the well-respected Andrade on April 21.

One of the newest additions to the Golden Boy Promotions roster, Mexico City's Francisco Vargas (9-0-1, 7 KO's) will battle Irvington, New Jersey's Rafael Lora (11-7, 5 KO's) in an eight-round junior lightweight fight. A 2008 Olympian for Mexico, the 27-year-old Vargas has knocked out his last six opponents, making him a tough hill to climb for any opponent.

Nicknamed "The Dominican Man," 26-year-old Lora proudly represents his native Dominican Republic and with four first round knockouts on his record, one punch from him can change the direction of a fight immediately. A fearless battler who will take on all comers, Lora's last six opponents, including World Champion Adrien Broner, had a combined 85-2 record.

A highly accomplished amateur with multiple titles and nearly 100 wins to his name, Chris "Sweet" Pearson (6-0, 3 KO's) has started to take the professional game by storm with his incredible talent and exciting style. Just 21 years old, Pearson has scored two first round knockouts thus far in his young career and will jump right back into the ring for his third fight of 2012 in a four/six round junior middleweight fight against Phoenix's Jose Martell (2-1-1, 2 KO's).

23-year-old Luis Ramos Jr. (21-0, 9 KO's) is well on his way to big things in the lightweight division as proven by his recent three-fight string of wins over Francisco Lorenzo (W8), David Rodela (KO5) and Raymundo Beltran (W10). Ramos will face an opponent to be named in a 10-round fight.

El Paso's favorite fighting son Antonio Escalante (25-4, 17 KO's) is 8-0 in his adopted hometown and the Juarez native has no intentions of seeing that run end on April 21. Escalante scored knockouts over Pipino Cuevas Jr. and Rynell Griffin in 2011 and the former NABO super bantamweight champion will be looking to make a statement at 130 pounds when he takes on Matamoros, Mexico's Francisco Camacho (10-1, 3 KO's) in an eight-round matchup.

Taylor, Truax, Lara and Hearns ShoBox: The New Generation Weights and Quotes‏

JERMAIN TAYLOR & CALEB TRUAX

ERISLANDY LARA & RONALD HEARNS

FINAL WEIGHTS & QUOTES

ShoBox: The New Generation Doubleheader Tomorrow/Friday, April 20

LIVE on SHOWTIME^®At 11 p.m. ET/PT

All four fighters participating in Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation doubleheader made weight at the Coast Nightclub at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss., on Thursday, just one day before the exciting night of fights on SHOWTIME^® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In the main event former undisputed 160-pound World Champion Jermain Taylor (29-4-1, 18 KO’s) weighed in at 160.5 pounds, while his undefeated opponent Caleb "Golden" Truax (18-0-1, 10 KO’s) tipped the scales at 160.75 pounds for their 10-round middleweight bout. In the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature, former Cuban amateur standout Erislandy Lara (15-1-1, 10 KO’s) weighed 156.5 pounds and former world title challengerRonald Hearns (26-2, 20 KO’s) 156.25 pounds for the fight contracted at 157 pounds.

The special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Golden Boy Promotions.

What the fighters had to say on Thursday:

JERMAIN TAYLOR:

“I just want to say thank you to my team. I'm back in love with boxing. I can't say it any other way. After losing in Berlin, I took two years off. They were the best two years of my life, because I’m hungry again.

“I've been boxing since I was 11 and I never took a break. Never. When I lost those fights, it was time for me to take a break. I spent time with my family and for the first time in a long time, I missed boxing. Now, I'm back. I feel strong. I took care of business in December and I'm going take care of business tomorrow.

“I love this sport because I'm a fighter. And this is the only sport where you can lose, get knocked out, look bad and then fight your way back to the top. You can get down real low and you can still come back and be on top. I'm on my way back.”

CALEB TRUAX:

“I've prepared for the man that beat Bernard Hopkins but we'll see where Jermain's at tomorrow. I think he might be on the decline but that's not who I prepared for so I'm ready.

“This is where I wanted to be with my career, in a big fight. Being from Minnesota, I don't get all the opportunities to fight in California and New York or other big places. This is the biggest opportunity of my life and I plan to take advantage of it. Everything went well in my preparations. All I have to do is go in there tomorrow and get the job done.”

ERISLANDY LARA:

“I'm part of the A class of my division. A lot of guys don't want to fight me so I have to thank Ronald Hearns for taking this fight.

“I'm going by the name of "The Punisher" for this fight because people saw that I punished Paul Williams. I'm ready to fight another great fight.”

RONALD HEARNS:

“I'm grateful for my fight tomorrow. Thanks to my team, Lou DiBella and SHOWTIME. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I can't wait for the world to see me perform. It's time to get to work.”

LOU DiBELLA, Promoter:

“The Beau Rivage is our southern home away from home. It's truly the jewel casino of the South. Thanks to SHOWTIME and Stephen Espinoza for putting on this great card. It should be a tremendous night of boxing.

“Jermain is not an ordinary fighter. This is a man who was a pound-for-pounder, one of the few men to hold all four middleweight belts at one time and the only man to beat Bernard Hopkins twice. And this is a new beginning. It's not usual for you to see a guy like him fight in a 1,400-seat venue. But this is a comeback done the right way. It's not a cash out. He is looking to the future by looking into the past and remembering what got him to the top.”

PAT BURNS, Taylor's trainer:

“Jermain has made a new commitment to boxing and life. We're fighting a heck of a tough kid because that's how you pave a comeback. You can't fight guys from the graveyard. Caleb knows his life will change if he wins. It will change his financial situation so he's hungry.”

Thursday, April 19, 2012

FERNANDO GUERRERO INJURED; SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION TO MOVE AHEAD AS A DOUBLEHEADER THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 20

FERNANDO GUERRERO INJURED;

SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION TO MOVE AHEAD

AS A DOUBLEHEADER THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 20

Jermain Taylor Meets Caleb Truax in Main Event;

Erislandy Lara vs. Ronald Hearns in Co-Feature

From Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss.

Dominican southpaw Fernando Guerrero (23-1, 18 KO’s) of Salisbury, Md., suffered a partially torn left biceps in training camp, forcing him to withdraw from his upcoming fight against Chris “The Irish Ghost’’ Fitzpatrick. The previously announced 10-round super middleweight fight between Guerrero and Fitzpatrick was tabbed to open a three-fight edition of ShoBox: The New Generation this Friday, April 20. SHOWTIME^® will move ahead with a live doubleheader (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Beau Rivage Resort & Casino inBiloxi, Miss.

The main event will feature former undisputed 160-pound World Champion Jermain Taylor (29-4-1, 18 KO’s) facing undefeated Caleb "Golden" Truax (18-0-1, 10 KO’s) in a 10-round middleweight bout. In the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature, former Cuban amateur standout Erislandy Lara (15-1-1, 10 KO’s) takes on former world title challenger Ronald Hearns (26-2, 20 KO’s).

The special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Golden Boy Promotions. The main event features former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor (29-4-1, 18 KO’s) taking on the undefeated Caleb “Golden” Truax (18-0-1, 10 KO’s) in a 10-round middleweight matchup. In the co-featured bout of the evening, former Cuban amateur star Erislandy Lara (15-1-1, 10 KO’s) takes on Ronald Hearns (26-2, 20 KO’s) in a fight originally scheduled for February 11 as the co-feature to Victor Ortiz vs. Andre Berto II, but that was rescheduled after a Berto injury caused a postponement of the event. SHOWTIME^® will begin live coverage starting at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Abner Mares: Life Outside The Ring

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

VICTOR ORTIZ vs. ANDRE BERTO II PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Former World Champions Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto held a press conference on Monday in Los Angeles to formally announce their upcoming rematch of the 2011 “Fight of the Year” on Saturday, June 23, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s), of Ventura, Calif., and Berto (28-1, 22 KO’s), of Winter Haven, Fla., will square off more than one year after their classic slugfest was named 2011 “Fight of the Year” (USA Today, Ring Magazine) for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship. The eagerly awaited 12-round fight, which was originally scheduled for February but was postponed when Berto suffered an arm injury in late January, is a rematch of a fiercely contested, multiple-knockdown affair on April 16, 2011 that Ortiz won by a unanimous decision while capturing Berto’s WBC 147-pound title.

Ortiz went on to lose the WBC title in his next fight to pound-for-pound champ Floyd Mayweather via a controversial knockout while Berto won the IBF Welterweight title in his next fight, but then relinquished it with hopes of avenging the only loss of his career against Ortiz.

In the June 23 co-feature, Mexican legend and former Three Division World Champion Humberto Soto (54-7-1, 24 KOs), of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, will face Argentinean knockout artist Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KOs) in a 12-round super lightweight bout.

"Ortiz vs. Berto II: The Rematch," is the highly anticipated 12-round welterweight rematch of USA Today and Ring Magazine's 2011 Fight of the Year between former World Champions "Vicious" Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship which will take place Saturday, June 23 at at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. The co-feature will see former Three-Division World Champion Humberto "Zorrita" Sotobattle Argentinean knockout artist Lucas Matthysse in a 12-round super lightweight fight presented in association with Baja Boxing Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. The double-header will be telecast live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Here’s what the participants had to say on Monday.

VICTOR ORTIZ

“I’m counted out 100 percent of the time, but that’s my comfort zone.

“He’s a great fighter, but I’m here to win. It doesn’t matter that this is in my backyard. As long as there is a ring and gloves, I’m comfortable.

“I always fight with my back against the wall. I like being counted out. It makes me hungry.

“I told him I’m going to beat you again and he told me I got lucky. He tried to bring Floyd in, but I told him to keep this between me and him. Floyd doesn’t have anything to do with us. I beat him (Berto) last time and I’ll beat him again.

“The slugfests keep boxing alive. It keeps fans coming back and I expect another one in June.

“I didn’t want to wait, but the postponement gave me time to prepare a little bit more.”

ANDRE BERTO

“I didn’t have to take this fight. I vacated the title to make this happen again.

“This fight is for the fans. The last one was tremendous and this one is going to be even better.

“We’re doing it in Kobe’s (Bryant) house, so come out for a great fight. I know all the stars will come out for it

“I was disappointed with the injury. It was unfortunate, but I’m glad we made the fight happen. Now I’m back to avenge that loss.

“I just need to be smarter and there are a few things I’ll do differently this time.

“I came back from the Ortiz fight hungry, got a world title and gave it up to beat Ortiz. This is the most important fight of my career.

“I feel a lot better. We’re healed and ready to roll.”

HUMBERTO SOTO

“I’m happy to be fighting in Los Angeles. It feels like I’m fighting at home. I expect a very difficult fight. I want to fight like a true Mexican warrior.

“I’m hoping it can be for a world title. I’m going to be in top shape and ready for a war.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions:

“We expect a sellout on June 23. The first fight was a tremendous success and we expect the same for the rematch. The last one was the “Fight of the Year” and I don’t think this one will be any different. It will be an explosive fight once again. Will it be repeat or revenge?

“The co-main event will also be great. It has all the ingredients to be a classic. The co-main event could be a main event anywhere.

“We’re also excited that SHOWTIME will also showcase the fighters in FIGHT CAMP 360 with three episodes leading up to the fight.”

RON RIZZO, VP of Operations of DiBella Entertainment

“These guys belong in a venue like this and it’s going to be an amazing event.

“Andre is one of the most dedicated guys I’ve seen in any sport. He’s looking to correct a wrong from last April and I believe he’s going to do it.”

OMAR SHEIKA vs YUSAF MACK April 27th at Resorts in Atlantic City

Omar Sheika (32-11, 21 KO’s)—former 4-time world title challenger—Paterson, NJ

Yusaf Mack (29-4-2, 17 KO’s)—Former World Title Challenger—Philadelphia, PA

Derrick Webster (12-0, 7 KO’s)—Undefeated Super Middleweight Prospect from NJ

Przemyslaw Opalach (9-1, 8 KO’s)—Exciting Polish Middleweight

Juan Rodriguez Jr. (8-0, 3 KO’s)—undefeated Welterweight from Union City, NJ

Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (7-0, 5 KO’s)—Undefeated Jr. Middleweight-Millville, NJ

The USBA Light Heavyweight championship fight that will take place between Omar Sheika and Yusaf Mack. The fight will take place on Friday night April 27^th at Resorts in Atlantic City.

Cleveland’s I-X Center plays host to loaded undercard for Bellator 66

When Bellator Fighting Championships makes its first trip to Cleveland this month, it will bring with it a fight card for the ages. Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez will get his chance at revenge when he takes on top-ranked and world renowned grappler Shinya Aoki in a highly-anticipated rematch more than three years in the making. Additionally, the semifinals of the Season 6 Middleweight and Lightweight Tournaments will take place as Bruno Satnos takes on Ohio native Brian Rogers while Vyacheslav Vasilevsky faces Maiquel Falcao to determine the Bellator Middleweight Finals.

Plus, Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard takes on former Judo Olympian Rick Hawn and Brent Weedman collides with explosive Brazilian Thiago Michel for spots in the Season 6 Lightweight Finals. Rounding out this ultra-stacked lineup is a loaded preliminary card featuring some of the best talent from the Ohio area. Tickets for the event are on sale and are available through Bellator.com or at the I-X Center Box Office. Tickets are priced from $30-$125.

The card will be highlighted by the return of local fan favorite Jessica Eye as she takes on Anita Rodriguez in a fight that is sure to get the Cleveland crowd pumped. Riding a three-fight win streak, the 25-year-old Eye is determined to prove that she should be considered as one of the top female athletes when she battles Rodriguez in a featured women’s fight.

The night will feature the much anticipated Bellator debut of top light heavyweight Attila Vegh as he battles the once defeated Dan Spohn. An Ohio native, Spohn will look to score the biggest win of his young career when he meets one of the most well-rounded mixed martial artists to step in the Bellator cage at light heavyweight. Vegh, a veteran of over 28 contests, will look to use his experience when the two collide in this light heavyweight showdown.

Another light heavyweight matchup will take place as Finland’s Marcus Vanttinen squares off against fellow Bellator veteran and Independence, Ohio native John Hawk. Vanttinen, who owns a decision victory over Bellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament competitor Victor O’Donnell, will look to prove why he is talked about as one of the top light heavyweight prospects in the sport when he makes his way to Cleveland.

Bellator 66 will also feature a bout between Cleveland’s Frank Caraballo and Donny “Eagle Eye” Walker. Caraballo fights for the first time since a TKO victory over Dustin Kempf at Bellator 51 last year. He will carry a three-fight winning streak into his meeting with Walker, who enjoyed an undefeated streak for more than two years from 2009 to 2011.

A pair of Ohio fighters will face off in a lightweight clash as Tyler Combs challenges established veteran Jason Dent in front of family and friends at the I-X Center. Dent, who has over 30 fights on his resume, will look to get back on the winning track.

In a local feature bout, Mansfeld, Ohio natives Julian Lane and Joe Heiland will collide in a lightweight fight with bragging rights on the line. Lane, who is undefeated in his young MMA career, has finished all three of his opponents while Heiland, a veteran of seven professional fights, hasn’t tasted defeat since a 2009 loss to Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament participant, Daniel Straus.

Dailydaite-Krausova and Mohammedi-Belkacem Battle For WBF Titles On April 20th‏

On Friday April 20 in Dortmund, Germanys undefeated Goda Dailydaite, 6-0
(2), takes on Arleta Krausova, 6-1 (2), from the Czech Republic for the
vacant World Boxing Federation Women’s World Featherweight title on a show
promoted by Khalil Boxpromotion.

Born in Lithuania in 1985, Goda Dailydaite is now residing in Essen, not
far from Dortmund. She turned pro in June 2010, and already in her third
fight, in April 2011, she won an Intercontinental title by defeating
Austria’s Doris Koehler by ten round unanimous decision.

Dailydaite has since scored additionally three victories, and is aiming to
take her career to the next level against Krausova. The 31 year old from
Usti will enter her second world title fight, having lost a spirited
challenge of WBF Super Featherweight Champion Ramona Kuehne on points last
year.

In her last outing Krausova won a minor championship by defeating another
German, Pia Mazelanik, this past November. That bout, like the
Kuehne-challenge, also took place in Germany, so fighting for titles
against Germans in Germany is nothing new to Arleta Krausova.

On the same night in Les Pennes-Mirabeau, France, WBF Intercontinental
Light Heavyweight Champion Nadjib Mohammedi will put his title on the line
against Algerian-born Swiss Mohamed Belkacem at the Salle Jean Roure. This
will be the first defense for Mohammedi, who won the title last year at
the same venue against Georgian George Tevdorashvili.

Being a former French and European Union Champion, as well as a former WBO
World title-challenger, Mohammedi, 25-3 (13), is the more accomplished of
the two. But former Swiss Champion Belkacem, 20-4-1 (9), is no stranger to
competing at championship level himself, and a year ago he proved his grit
by losing a competitive decision to current WBF World Champion Doudou
Ngumbu for the African Boxing Union crown.

The winner of the Mohammedi vs. Belkacem WBF Intercontinental Light
Heavyweight title fight, promoted by Robert Safrani and B C Center, could
be in line to challenge the aforementioned Ngumbu for the World
Championship, so a lot is on the line this coming Friday. The loser will
have to get back in line.

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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Friday, April 20, 2012

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Wednesday, April 18, 2012