Broadway Boxing Press Conference

This past Tuesday, Lou DiBella, of DiBella Entertainment, was at Gallagher’s Steak House in New York to announce another fantastic card of the monthly Broadway Boxing series to showcase the boxing superstars of tomorrow. The show will be held tonight in the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center

The main event will feature Silence Mabuza, 18-1 (15), who will look to end his silence and make a big statement against three time world title challenger Ricardo Vargas, 39-11-3 (13) of Tijuana, Mexico in a twelve round bantamweight bout. This fight, an IBF Bantamweight eliminator, is to determine who will get a shot at that organization’s champion, Rafael Marquez.

In his last bout, Mabuza claims he lost a controversial fourth round TKO to Marquez from a cut due to a clash of heads, not a punch. Therefore, Mabuza contends, the fight should have gone to the scorecards. Team Mabuza had petitioned for an immediate rematch but met with little success.

Despite that disappointment, Mabuza is focused for tonight’s card and is also ready for another opportunity at Marquez. He told SaddoBoxing, “My main concern is to defeat Vargas. By defeating Vargas I will get another opportunity at Marquez. I showed him too much respect the last time. I will not make the same mistake the next time”.

In what will likely be the most exciting fight of DiBella show, the co-feature will have Curtis “Showtime” Stevens, 11-0 (10), of Brooklyn taking on former WBA Light Middleweight Champion Carl Daniels, 49-7-1 (31), in an eight round super middleweight bout. Daniels has more knockouts than Stevens has fights and this will prove to be a good test for the hard punching hot prospect.

Stevens is eager to prove that he belongs in the elite class of boxing. “I’m ready for anything or anybody they put in front of me,” he said. “I’ve been fighting since I was five years old. They feel Carl Daniels is gonna be a test for me, there’s no test, I’m the test. I boxed in World Championships, Olympic Trials, World Games. I fought the best in the world. It doesn’t really matter how slick and crafty he is. I hit him with a good shot, that’s it. I’m ready to fight on HBO, Show-Box, ESPN. It’s not up to me; it’s up to my promoter.” When asked about some of the challenges he has faced in his career thus far, Stevens replied, “Nothing.”

Jerson Ravelo, 15-1 (10), takes on Donnell Wiggins, 24-7-2 (14), in another eight round super middleweight bout. Jerson has been inactive since January 10, 2004, which he attributes to managerial and promotional problems.

The Newark, NJ native expects a tough challenge from Wiggins. “I expect him to try and beat me,” said Ravelo. “That would be good for his career because I’m a good fighter. After this fight I’m ready to step it up. I had a long lay off, not because I was injured like some people have been saying. The problem is I haven’t had a promoter or a manager. It’s hard for a fighter to get fights without having a promoter or a manager. I thank Lou for putting me on the card. We don’t have a contract, but its something we’re looking at for the future. Anyone who gives me a chance I’m willing to fight on their cards. I do think DiBella is one of the better promoters out there. Lou can take me to title fights on HBO. I want to fight anyone who has a title. I’m ready for anybody to tell you the truth. Anyone who has a belt. Calzaghe, Kessler, anybody. I’m not a prospect anymore. I’m a contender.”

Other bouts featured on the card will be Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, 3-0 (3), taking on Thomas Padron in a four round middleweight contest, James Moore, 5-0 (4), of Ireland fighting in a junior middleweight six rounder, Juan Cabrera, 3-0 (2), of Manhattan fighting Frank Armstrong, and cruiserweight “Irish” Mark Clancy, 4-0-1, of Boston against Andrew Hutchinson in a six rounder.