Don’t expect to see middleweight prospect James McGirt, Jr, 18-1 (9), betting horses at The Spa, the beautiful Saratoga Race Track, at least not until Saturday despite his spending several days this week in Saratoga Springs.
McGirt, coming off his first pro loss in April to Carlos DeLeon, Jr., broke camp Wednesday in Vero Beach, FL and headed north to upstate New York strictly on a business trip to get his career back on the right track. More...
Promoter Art Pelullo of Banner Promotions and Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves will present a sensational world championship fight card on Friday, August 22, 2008, at the Sommet Center, located at 501 Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee. The main event and co-featured bout will be televised live on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights."
In the 12 round main event for the vacant IBO Featherweight world title, Fernando Beltran Jr., 30-3-1 (18), of Culiacan, Mexico, will fight Takalani Ndlovu, 28-4 (18), of Johannesburg, South Africa. More...
Coming off of his first pro loss, James McGirt, Jr., 18-1 (9), very well could have settled on his next opponent being a confidence builder. However, instead of fighting somebody brought in to lose and make James look good, Team McGirt jumped at the opportunity to fight former IBO and WBU Middleweight Champion Raymond “Hallelujah” Joval, 37-4 (16), in the 10 round main event on the July 25 ESPN Friday Night Fights show at Saratoga Springs, New York. More...
Harry Joe Yorgey was declared the winner on Friday, June 13, 2008, in an arbitration case over his manager James E. Deoria. Both parties were in a dispute over the boxer-manager contract that was signed between them on February 9, 2006.
At the age of 30, Harry is a five-year pro. A veteran boxer at 154 pounds, he is a very popular performer in his home area in Pennsylvania. He has an impressive ring record of 20 wins, no loses and 1 draw, with 10 wins coming by knockout. More...
In a blistering display of skill and power, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao won a world title in his fourth weight class by belting out WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz in the ninth round of a one-sided mismatch last night at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
It was clear from the start that Pacquiao was by far the better equipped fighter as the 29 year old living legend bombarded his fellow southpaw Diaz with a two handed assault that hardly wavered during the course of the bout.
Diaz began the contest by backing up Pacquiao, targeting the body of "Pac Man" but as the challenger began to find range with right hook and straight left counters, the WBC champion's resolve began to crumble.
When Diaz stopped moving forward, it became target practice for Paquiao, who landed at will against his much slower rival, zapping in a variety of shots and scoring with crushing uppercuts, hooks and crosses.
As the rounds wore on, numerous cuts developed on the face of Diaz including a nasty laceration over the right eye from an unintentional clash of heads. The cause looked lost for the champion as early as the fourth round but Diaz simply would not quit. More...
After a long media buildup, the eagerly anticipated lightweight debut of Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao finally takes place tonight at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, as the hard punching dynamo challenges reigning WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz in a battle of southpaws, topping a quality Top Rank promoted card.
Diaz, 34-1-1 (17), will have a size advantage against Pacquiao as the Chicago native is a natural light welter who won the WBC crown with a close unanimous decision win against Erik Morales last August that sent the Mexican legend into retirement.
But size has never meant much to Pacquiao, 46-3-2 (35), who turned pro at 106 pounds in 1995 before winning world titles at flyweight, super bantam and most recently, the WBC Super Feather belt against Juan Manuel Marquez by split decision in March. More...
During Monday's press conference in Los Angeles, a goat, an alleged descendent of Murphy, the goat owned by William Sianis, was presented to Diaz and Pacquiao.
Cubs fans are well aware of the "Curse of the Billy Goat" from 1945 when Sianis, the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, and Murphy, were thrown out of Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the World Series. Sianis put a hex on the Cubs, claiming they would never again win a pennant or play in the World Series. The Cubs lost the '45 World Series to the Detroit Tigers and they have never again won the pennant, much less appeared in another World Series.
"Listen, man, when I saw that goat, that scared me," Diaz said. "I started shaking. Imagine if the Cubs start losing. I'm not having that on my ticket. No way am I going to be responsible for the Cubs losing." More...
Hall of Fame Top Rank promoter Bob Arum spoke during a press conference above the Pacific Ocean at the west end of the historic Santa Monica Pier yesterday as "Billy the Goat" looked on. More...
WBC Super Featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao, boxingʼs No. 1 pound for pound fighter, and WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz, the pride of Chicago, will make their grand arrivals today followed by media workouts as they kickoff fight week in Las Vegas for their world title fight.
Pacquiao, 46-3-2 (35), is riding a seven bout win streak that has seen him vanquish such top names as Juan Manuel Marquez, Eric Morales (twice), Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar Larios, Jorge Solis and Hector Velazquez over the last three years. More...
Lee Samuels: The three-division world champion is here -Manny Pacquiao - he’s been training weeks at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. He looks tremendous; he’s in top condition. And he’s all set for Lethal Combination. Manny Pacquiao challenges WBC lightweight champion David Diaz - Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Saturday, June 28 live on HBO pay per view; one of the most exiting events we’ve had in a long, long time at Top Rank. More...
Lee Samuels: This is a very, very exciting day for Top Rank. The champion is here with us, David Diaz, WBC Lightweight Champion, and he’s getting ready and set for “Lethal Combination,” Saturday June 28 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. He’s going to defend his title against Manny Pacquiao, the three-division World Champion, in an explosive match-up.
David’s been training very, very hard in Chicago and he’s going to be taking all your questions today. At this time I’m going to turn it over to my boss, the Hall of Fame Promoter and CEO of Top Rank, Bob Arum - Bob.
Bob Arum: Thank you Lee. We’re down to the stretch in this promotion. The card that we’re presenting on HBO Pay-Per-View on June 28 is an outstanding one. In addition to the WBC Lightweight Championship between Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz; Steven Luevano is defending his Featherweight championship against Mario Santiago. Humberto Soto faces Francisco Lorenzo in the WBC Interim 130 pound title fight, and there’s a 10 round heavyweight attraction; Tye Fields of Las Vegas faces Monte Barrett. More...
WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz will hit the airwaves this weekend to discuss his upcoming showdown with "The Mexicutioner", Manny Pacquiao set for Saturday, June 28 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. More...
It was a momentous day for Timothy Bradley (22-0, 11 KOs) - as he completed his hometown victory press tour, he received more good news. Bradley, who seized his first opportunity at a world title shot on May 10 at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, England against highly regarded Junior Witter, was informed by his co-promoter Ken Thompson of Thompson Boxing Promotions that The California Boxing Hall of Fame had chosen to nominate the pugilist as fighter of the year. More...
Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina, was the host for ESPN’s “Wednesday Night Fights” weekly card and on top of the bill lightweight action ensued as Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry 24-5-2 (12) faced off against former lightweight champion Stevie “Lil but Bad” Johnston 42-6-1 (18) for the WBC USNBC Lightweight Title.
Cherry stepping into the ring for the first time in 2008 after having a shaky 2007 where he went 2-1 with one of those losses being to current IBF 140 lbs titlist Paul Malignaggi, was hoping to redeem himself a bit in front of a national television audience and show he is still a threat in the division. While his opponent former WBC Lightweight Champion Stevie Johnston who also entered this bout with a 2-1 record over his last three bouts had a similar plan in mind by wanting to prove he should not be written off at 35 years old as a fighter who still carries a threat to the current title holders, making this bout an important win for either man.
When the bout began it was apparent from almost the start whose night this was going to be. Johnston who built his career being an excellent boxer and counter puncher was put on the defensive from the opening bell. The younger Cherry pressured Stevie throughout the night giving him little chance to mount any offense of his own. In rounds three and nine Edner sent Johnston to the canvas for eight counts. While Johnston rose up off the floor both times to continue it was to no avail because in the tenth round Cherry let loose a right hand that sent the former champion packing for the night. It is the second time in seven months Johnston has been stopped.
On the undercard Johnnie Edwards 14-2-1 (8) faced another former champion Freddie Norwood 42-3-1 (23) in a rematch of their September 2007 bout where Norwood was disqualified for low blows. This bout Norwood fared no better as he was put on the canvas in the third and then stopped cold in the seventh. This will be the second loss in a row for the former WBA Featherweight Champion.
Also on the undercard former cruiserweight title holder Arthur Williams 44-15-1 scored a six round unanimous decision over Clarence Moore 5-3-1.
Have you ever heard the saying that things happen in threes? The rule of three is a principle that suggests that events happen or repeat themselves three times which is exactly what Stevie Johnston is hoping will be a reality tomorrow night when he faces Edner Cherry on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Fights in Jacksonville, NC.
Former lightweight champion “Lil, But Bad” Johnston is a 35 year-old veteran of the fight game looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow veteran lightweights Nate Campbell and Joel Casamayor.
The 36 year-old Campbell defeated the formerly undefeated 24 year old Juan Diaz to claim the IBF, WBA and WBO Lightweight Titles at the beginning of March. Two weeks later a 36 year-old Casamayor showed he still had what it takes to be on top by defeating another formerly unbeaten fighter 27 year-old Michael Katsidis, claiming the Interim WBO Lightweight Title and retaining the Ring Lightweight Championship.
In the former two cases each veteran was in their mid-thirties while their opponents were undefeated and in their mid-twenties. Although Cherry is not undefeated he is 25 years-old and will be the biggest challenge Johnston has faced since his KO loss to Vivian Harris in 2006.
Last year Cherry had his most high profile fight when he moved up to light welterweight to face Paulie Malignaggi who outboxed him over ten rounds loosing by scores of 100-90 and 98-92 twice. More...
ESPNʼs Spanish-language multimedia brand, ESPN Deportes, hosted their Upfront ʽ08 presentation to the advertising community to announce new programming initiatives and a multiplatform approach to the fall season.
Boxing took center stage at the event held at New York Cityʼs Gotham Hall, where the guests watched an onsite production of ESPNʼs Wednesday Night Fights to mark the return of the sport to ESPN Deportes.
The new programming initiatives include, Miercoles y Viernes de Combate which will begin to air twice a week starting in February 2009, anchored by a new studio show that will broadcast boxing matches from the preceding weekly telecasts. More...
The ninth installment of Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing series “Punchin’ at the Paradise” could have been renamed “Knockouts at the Paradise” as Andrey Tsurkan stopped Jesse Feliciano inside the distance, a trend all the fighters on the ESPN Friday Night Fights telecast followed in the Bronx , NY on Friday night.
Tsurkan, 26-3 (17), put on a strong performance against Feliciano, 15-7-3 (9), dropping him in the first round and landing heavy blows through the rest of the fight. Tsurkan dominated every round utilizing his jab and landing accurate power punches at will.
The tough Feliciano absorbed the blows in stride but was never able to get the better of the exchanges. He seemed unable to get out the way of the crisp head shots being delivered at will by Tsurkan.
Although the fight was one-sided in the favor of Tsurkan, Feliciano was also able to land some good shots through the fight. More...
Jed Weinstein Presents hosted the fourth annual Box-NYC charity event at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. The star studded night was highlighted with live boxing televised on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Fights, fine-dining, a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament, model and celebrity appearances as well as live and silent auctions. Over the past three years Jed Weinstein has donated $100,000 to The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation through Box-NYC.
Local favorite Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin improved to 18-0 (14) by getting the best of veteran Antwun Echols 31-8-4 (27) over ten rounds. Quillin dropped Echols in the first round and dominated the fight which could have been stopped at anytime during the last three or four rounds.
The domination of Echols and the fact that he is 0-3-3 in his last six fights not winning since 2004 will hopefully indicate to him that it may be time to retire. During the last few rounds of the fight Echols bravely showed his fighter’s spirit by refusing to go down after being on the receiving end of many unnecessary blows, but it was clear that he was out on his feet. More...
