TalkingBoxing News
Cuevas Headlines, Gill Makes Debut June 25th
TUE June 14 - Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions, home of THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING and Miller Lite present
another action packed evening of professional boxing with a special Saturday evening show at the Aragon Ballroom on Saturday, June 25, 2005. Tickets, starting at $25 are on sale now by calling 312-226-5800.
The huge card is headlined by the return of Chicago favorite, "CLASSY" Freddie Cuevas, 24-7-1 (16KO's) as he makes his return to the 8 Count ring. With knockout wins over former world champions Wilfredo Rivera and Charles Murray, Cuevas is looking to make a run into the world rankings leading to a title shot.
A special attraction bout has NBA Star, Kendall GIll appearing in his professional boxing debut on the FISTS OF FREEDOM card. The fourteen year professional hoops veteran and former University of Illinois standout has been training diligently at JABB Boxing Gym for the last 18 months.
The outstanding undercard features separate bouts including local favorites featherweight Frankie Tafoya, 4-0 (3KO's) bantamweight Francisco Rodriguez, 3-0 (3KO's), middleweight Ottu Holifield, 4-0 and super middleweight Donovan "DA BOMB" George, 4-0-1 (3KO's).
Further information on this terrific evening of will be announced shortly.
The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Avenue and 4800 North (near the corner of Lawrence Ave. and Broadway), 5 miles north of Downtown Chicago and 4 blocks west of Lake Shore Drive. For further directions, please visit their website listed below.
Jones-Moore USBA title fight July 1st
TUE June 14 - A USBA light heavyweight title fight between George Khalid Jones (22-2-1, 13 KOs) and “Fabulous” Freddy Moore (30-3, 27 KOs) headlines “Plymouth Rocks,” presented by NER Promotions, July 1 on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights from Memorial Hall in historic Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Jones, the reigning NABA light heavyweight champion, is rated #5 by the NABA, #10 by the IBF and WBC, and #14 by the WBO. He fights former NBA light heavyweight title-holder Moore in the 12-round main event.
In the 10-round co-feature, Courage “No Limit” Tshabalala (26-3, 22 KOs) takes on Providence heavyweight Robert Wiggins (19-44, 11 KOs). Undefeated Irish prospect John Duddy (10-0, 9 KOs), fighting out of Queens via Derry, Ireland, fights TBA In a special six-round middleweight attraction.
All-African junior welterweight Bethuel “Tyson” Usona (11-0, 4 KOs), the Namibia native now fighting out of Worcester (MA), makes his U.S. debut in a six-round match against veteran Hartford (CT) junior welterweight Luis Maysonet.
“It’s only our third pro show and we’re already on ESPN2,” NER Promotions president Rick Brutti said. “We’re thrilled. It’s a great card. NER plans on promoting shows all over New England. We started in Lowell, did our last show in Boston, and July 1 we’ll be heading south to Plymouth.”
In four-round bouts are Whitman (MA) junior welterweight “Nasty” Nicky Morganelli (4-0, 3 KOs), 2004 New England Rookie of the Year; Irish middleweight J.P. Keane (2-0, 1 KO), fighting out of Dorchester; hometown hero Benny “The Hornet” Lescarbeau (1-0, 1 KO), of Plymouth versus Tito Berrocales (0-1), Laconia (NH).
Also on the show in four-round matches are 2004 Namibian Olympian, featherweight Joe “Smoke” Germini (1-0, 1 KO), now living in Worcester and Harwich (MA) welterweight Jeff Tavano (1-0, 1 KO). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets are priced at $60,00 (ringside), $50.00 (reserved) and $25.00 (general admission). Tickets may be ordered by going to www.ticketweb.com and will be on sale at the doors the night of the show. Doors open at 6 pm., first bout at 7:30 pm.
NER Promotions is a division of New England Ringside whose boxing interests also include a monthly magazine, weekly radio show (Thursday, 6-8 pm ET on WWZN 1510AM The Zone), and popular web site (www.newenglandringside.com).
For more information about NER Promotions, New England Ringside or advertising/sponsorship inquires visit its web site or call 781.932.1190.
Dimitrenko takes on German champ Sidon
TUE June 14 - Undefeated heavyweight prospect Alexander Dimitrenko, 18-0 (11), takes on German champion Andreas Sidon, 26-5 (20), on July 2nd at Color Line Arena of Hamburg. The vacant WBO intercontinental title will be on the line in this contest on the undercard of Zsolt Erdei’s WBO light heavyweight world title defense against Mehdi Sahnoune.
It will be a contest between two real giants as Dimitrenko towers 6-foot-7 and weighs 250 lb. whereas Sidon is getting close with 6-foot-5 and 240 lb.
The 22-year-old Dimitrenko of the Universum boxing stable captured the IBF Youth world title with a victory over American Chris Koval on March 5 and defeated Julius Francis and Ross Puritty last year.
“I’m glad I can fight in Hamburg at the huge Color Line Arena”, Dimitrenko said. “I’m looking forward to a large croud. I haven’t seen any fights of Sidon yet. But as my coach Fritz Sdunek returned from the US we will study some videos. I still have two weeks with sparring in front and I will enter the fight in top shape. It will be my first contest over twelve rounds. Sidon already fought twelve rounds several times. This will be an interesting experience for me.”
Andreas Sidon, at age 42 twenty years Dimitrenko’s senior, has an experience advantage as he fought for different international titles ten times. On October 9, 2004, he captured the German heavyweight championship with a victory over former title holder Willy Fischer.
But the fight that catapulted him into the memory of boxing experts was his only second professional contest where he faced 2,13m giant Nicolai Valuev on May 7, 1999, in Prague. In a highly confused event Sidon gave Valuev a competitive fight when suddenly the referee stopped the contest for no apparent reason in round three. Sidon opposed against this stoppage and urged Valuev to carry on the fight. While a riot broke out in the crowd Sidon and Valuev kept on fighting with bottles being thrown into the ring and with other people trying to clean the canvas. After six chaotic rounds the fight was declared a non-contest.
Not only Sidon but also Dimitrenko already gained the experience of how things can be getting tough in the ring. When he fought Koval on March 5th Alexander Dimitrenko was caught by a right hand in an unattentive moment and suffered his first career knockdown. However, he came back to outscore his opponent convincingly. Dimitrenko’s lesson: “Never sleep in the ring.”
Gardner back on ESPN July 5th against Primera
TUE June 14 - Ian "The Cobra" Gardner, 18-2, will make his return to the ring on July 5th against battle tested veteran Marcos "The Terminator" Primera, 19-10-2. The card will be televised on ESPN2 and is promoted by Cappiello Promotions. Gardner is coming off of a 12-round close unanimous decision loss at the hands of the unbeaten Armenian star Arthur Abraham.
"I gave that fight away," Gardner said from his training camp in Brockton,MA. "I wasn't hurt but I got caught off balance a couple of times and went down. That proved to be the difference in the scoring"
Primera is coming off of a decision win over Julio Garcia and since the beginning of 2003 his opponents have a combined record of 302-42-14. He has fought nothing but top contender's in Jermain Taylor, Robert Frazier, Joachime Alcine, Kofi Jantuah, Danny Perez, Aslanbek Kodzoev, Quentin Smith, and Kingsley Ikeke.
Gardner's most noteworthy wins have come against Tukunbo Olajide and Kuvanych Toyganbayev. The co-feature bout has Rasheem 'The Untouchable One" Brown, 15-2, fighting against an opponent soon to be named.
"This is going to be a dynamite card with plenty of fireworks," remarked the events promoter Richie Cappiello. "We have local prospects Chris McInerny, Tyrone Smith, and Mark Clancy also on the card."
Tickets can be purchased by calling Cappiello Promotions at 888-491-2900 or 508-587-3370 and are priced at $75 Ringside and $35 General Admission. Credit and debit card accepted by phone.
Navarro Confident of Win vs. Pacquiao
TUE June 14 - Carlos Navarro (26-3-1, 21 KOs) will defend his WBC Continental America's 130-pound title against Philippine junior lightweight titleholder Bobby Pacquiao, the younger brother of superstar Manny Pacquiao, in the main event Friday on ESPN2 at the Table Mountain Casino in Friant, Calif. The casino is located approximately 15 minutes north of Fresno. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. PT. The first bell is 6:15.
The ESPN2 Friday Night Fights telecast begins live at 7. Tickets are priced at $75, $45, $25 and $15 are available at Table Mountain Casino box office, online at http://www.tmcasino.com or by calling the casino (559) 822-7777. The event is presented by K2 in association with Table Mountain Casino.
CARLOS NAVARRO
"Confidence-wise, I am always the same, so it wasn't like I got sky high after beating Agapito Sanchez. What that victory did for me which was more important than anything was remind fans and media that I am back in the game and serious about fighting for and winning a world title. I was happy with the way I beat Agapito, but I wish I could have knocked him out earlier.
"There is no way I am going to take any opponent lightly and that includes Bobby Pacquiao. He didn't come here all the way from the Philippines to lose. I never watch tapes or study future opponents so I don't know what to except, but this is going to be a great fight.
"I am in tremendous shape and have trained for anything he brings to the table. I can adapt so if he wants to box, I will box. If he attacks, I will slug. Whatever he does, I will do better. I haven't fought since December, but ring rust will not be a factor. I know I cannot just merely win, but must win impressively.
"Winning the WBC Continental title was big, but it is just the start. I know my time is coming if I can win a few more fights. K2 Promotions and Tom Loeffler have done a great job moving me so I know if I do my job they will do theirs.
"I don't care what I have to do; I am going to win this fight. If it means kicking or biting, I will do it. There is no way I am going to let this guy take away my title."
BOBBY PAUQUIAO
"This is only my second fight in America, so this is a great opportunity for me to show the world that there is another boxer named Pacquiao who can fight and is worth watching.
"There is a friendly competition between me and Manny, just like other brothers have. But I am very happy for him and hope I get the same kind of attention he has some day.
"A win over Navarro would be a great beginning. I am very well prepared for this fight and am very hungry for a victory. I appreciate the fact I am getting the opportunity and thank all involved for making this fight happen.
"I have been here since Monday, so by Friday I will be acclimated and ready to perform my best. I will give it my all. This is the biggest fight of my career.''
Peter Reaches Out To 'Iron Mike'
TUE June 14 - Undefeated Nigerian heavyweight Samuel Peter, who defends his NABF and USBA titles against once-beaten NABA titleholder Taurus Sykes on Saturday, July 2, on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) in Reno, Nev., would like to extend an invitation to recently retired Mike Tyson to accompany him on a humanitarian mission to Africa.
"It would be an honor for me to bring one of the greatest champions in history to Africa where I know we could raise people's awareness of the many problems of the area," Peter said.
Peter, who says he has always had tremendous respect for "Iron" Mike, was impressed to hear the former champion reveal his goal of doing missionary work in his post-boxing life. "Mike Tyson is like a God to people in my country and all over the continent. For him to go there and meet the people would be a dream for everyone."
"People all over the world still love Mike Tyson," added Peter's promoter, Dino Duva. "For the hardest-punching heavyweight of the past 20 years to accompany boxing's new knockout king to a region so desperately in need of assistance would be a tremendous help. Just having them there would lift a lot of spirits and bring much-needed attention to a continent that has been devastated by war, famine, and aids."
Duva says that Peter is serious about the idea and is hoping Tyson will agree. "Sam has always been a huge fan of Mike's and when he announced he was retiring to do humanitarian work, Sam called me right away to see what I thought of the trip. I think it's a great idea and I think they could do a lot of good. We're hoping Mike will call us and make it happen. This is not about fighting in the ring; its about fighting together for good things outside the ring."
» Sykes prepares for 'Nightmare' Defense
