TalkingBoxing News
John Ruiz' Return to Ring, Targets Valuev
TUE March 7 - Former two-time world heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (41-6-1, 28 KOs) plans on returning soon to the ring, hopefully, against World Boxing Association champion Nicolay Valuev.
Ruiz lost a controversial decision to Valuev in Berlin last December and he petitioned the WBA for an immediate rematch based on the WBA’s rule 7.3 that allows for a rematch based on a controversial decision in a championship match. Valuev won by 12-round decision by scores of 114-114, 116-114, 116-113.
“I will return,” Ruiz vowed. “I’ll definitely keep fighting. I expect to hear this month that the WBA has ordered an immediate rematch and I look forward to fighting Valuev again for my title belt.”
The WBA’s current ratings have Ruiz rated third. The No. 1 position, however, is not rated and the No. 2 challenger, Wladimir Klitschko, will be removed because he’s scheduled to challenge IBF champ Chris Byrd on April 22 in Germany.
Meanwhile, Ruiz has narrowed his search for a new head trainer to Manny Siaca, Sr., of Puerto Rico. Siaca has trained 23 world champions including his son, Manny Siaca, Jr., Edwin Rosario, Sammy Serrano, Leo Gamez and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. “I’m very comfortable with Manny,” Ruiz remarked, “He has a lot of valuable experience.
“I’m rededicating myself to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. Since losing my title belt in Germany, I’ve found a new love for the sport, something I hadn’t felt for many years. Fans are going to see a new and improved John Ruiz. Team Ruiz is going to have a few new faces and these additions are going to help me reach a new level. They’re going to bring the best out of me so I can become the heavyweight champion of the world again and finally reach the goal I’ve always had of being the undisputed heavyweight champion.”
Ruiz is the first and only world heavyweight champion of Hispanic heritage. He has beaten world champions Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Tony Tucker, as well as top 10 contenders Andrew Golota, Fres Oquendo and Kirk Johnson.
Foxwoods Hosts Pierre-Gibbs, March 10th
TUE March 7 - Northeast Promotions presents Friday night fights live from Foxwoods Resort & Casino, Friday March 10, 2006. In the main event Lenord Pierre (18-1 13KOs) Catskill, NY will take on Willie Gibbs (19-1 17KOs) Philadelphia, PA for the vacant USBA Middleweight title.
Pierre looked very good in his last fight when he scored a TKO in the seventh round over Tony Marshall on October 28, 2005 at the Washington Ave. Armory in Albany, NY. Pierre is a very talented young fighter who has a lot of punching power and crowd pleasing style.
Gibbs who has won two of his last three fights is looking to make it three in row. In Gibbs most recent bout he won a unanimous decision over Marcos Primera on October 28, 2005. Gibbs who previously fought for the vacated USBA Middleweight title on August 8, 2004 was knocked down twice by Daniel Edouard in the fourth round which ended in a TKO.
The co-main event will pit Shamone The Truth Alvarez (13 -0 9KOs) Atlantic City, New Jersey vs. Virgil McCelndon (22-6 8KOs) Columbus, OH. Alvarez who was named on ESPN.com list of top prospects for the upcoming year is looking to live up to his potential. McClendon lost his last fight by TKO in the sixth round to a very tough Delvin Rodriguez on November 23, 2005 and wants to return to his winning ways.
4 other big bouts complete the 6 bout card.
Tickets are on sale now at the Fowoods Resort & Casino box office. Ticket prices are $65, $50, $35.
ESPN to Televise Lightweight Eliminator: Campbell Vs Hlatshwayo
TUE March 7 -
For Nate Campbell, there's only one reason to fight - to become a world champion. On Friday, April 7th, in a bout to be held at the Florida State Farigrounds Entertainment Hall in Tampa, Florida, "The Galaxxy Warrior" moves one step closer to fulfilling that dream when he faces unbeaten and highly regarded Isaac Hlatshwayo in a 12 round IBF lightweight title elimination bout. This exciting matchup, part of a night of world-class boxing action presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and One Punch Productions, will be televised live by ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.
Doors open at 6:00pm, and the first bell sounds at 6:45pm.
A native of Talahassee, Florida, number six ranked contender Nate ‘The Galaxxy Warrior’ Campbell (28-4-1, 24 KOs) is one of the sport’s most exciting fighters as well as an electrifying personality outside the ring. Fresh off back-to-back PPV stoppages of Francisco Olvera and top prospect Kid Diamond, Campbell has shown the boxing world that the 135-pound weight class is his true home and the division where he will make his mark as one of the sport’s best.
Isaac ‘The Angel’ Hlatshwayo (23-0, 9 KOs) may not be a household name to United States fight fans, as all but two of his 23 bouts were held in his native South Africa, but boxing insiders are well aware of the Shisasi warrior, who holds wins over world-class foes such as Cassius Baloyi and Phillip N’Dou. Ranked fourth in the world in the lightweight division, Hlatshwayo scored a dominating 12 round decision win over former world title challenger Aldo Rios in his last bout.
The nine-bout undercard, which features national and top local talent, will be announced at a later date. Tickets for Campbell vs. Hlatshwayo, which go on sale on Wednesday, March 8th, are priced at $20, $40, $75, and $125, and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations www.ticketmaster.com , and the Florida State Fairgrounds Box Office at 813-621-7821.
Qunitana Vs Julio, June 24th on HBO
TUE March 7 - Carlos Quintana (22-0 18KO's)will face Joel Julio (27-0 24KO's)in an official eliminator for the WBA #1 position, live on HBO from Cesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 24, 2006
Quintana recently captured the WBO Latino Welterweight title by stopping Raul Bejerano in the 10th round at the Juan Pachin Vicens Auditorium in Ponce, Puerto Rico on Feburary 24, 2006
Julio ranked #5 in the WBA, WBC, WBO is a fierce competitor and in order to move closer to a world title shot he must face Quintana.
"Lil But Bad" Returns March 31st
TUE March 7 - Former two-time world lightweight champion Stevie “Lil But Bad” Johnson (38-3-1, 17 kos) headlines the Ringsports/Silverhawk co-promotion as he fights Gavin “The Dominator” Down (29-7, 14 kos) for the NBA World Super Lightweight Championship in Ybor City on Mar. 31st at 8pm.
Heavyweight Sherman Williams (28-10-2, 15 kos) takes on Adenilson Rodrigues (18-3-0, 14 kos) for the NBA Continental Americas Heavyweight Championship in the nights co-feature.
This card celebrates the new co-venture between Tampa’s Ringsports Boxing and Las Vegas based Silverhawk World Championship Boxing with their stable of nine champions all trained by world class trainer James Buddy McGirt. Additional events will be scheduled as co-promotions both in Ybor City and Las Vegas.
Darchinyan KO's Gabi, Retains IBF Crown
TUE March 7 - IBF/IBO flyweight world boxing champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan continued his unbeaten run with an impressive 8th round knockout of Diosdado Gabi on Friday night March 3, 2006 local time at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California in the USA.
Darchinyan used the lethal power of his left hand to knockout the durable and hard-working Gabi, who proved to be an excellent boxer in the early rounds.
“He was a very strong opponent and I was surprised at how many good punches he took from me,” said Darchinyan. “That being said, he never hit me with anything that hurt me and I knew it was only a matter of time until I nailed him with something big. When I did land the knockout blow I thought that I was getting stronger and stronger which confirms for me that my preparation was excellent.”
30 year-old Darchinyan, the Armenia born Australian citizen, now has an undefeated record of 25 wins, 0 losses and 20 knockouts.
26 year-old Gabi from the Philippines’ new record is 26 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw and 18 knockouts.
This was the first time in his professional boxing career that Gabi had been knocked out.
Darchinyan, Australia’s only current male professional boxing world champion, was making the 3rd successful defence of his IBF flyweight world title and the 2nd defence of his IBO flyweight world title.
American television network SHOWTIME televised the fight across the USA as the main event of their “SHOBOX: The New Generation” series to an audience in the multi-millions, while the bout was televised LIVE into Australia on MAIN EVENT TELEVISION on FOXTEL, OPTUS and AUSTAR.
Vic Darchinyan, trainer Jeff Fenech, manager Robert Joske and the remainder of the “Raging Bull” team will be returning to Sydney on QANTAS Flight 108 (QF108) arriving on Monday morning 6th March 2006 at 9:15am. Once Darchinyan has cleared customs, he will be available for interviews and photographs with the media in the International arrivals area.
Hopkins Vs Tarver Press Tour
TUE March 7 - Joe De Guardia’s Star Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions announced today that they have finalized terms under which middleweight legend Bernard Hopkins will challenge light heavyweight king Antonio Tarver in a 12-round light heavyweight championship bout to take place on Saturday, June 10th from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live on HBO Pay-Per-View. The fight will be formally announced at a 4-city press tour to be kicked off Tuesday, March 21 in New York City followed by stops on Wednesday, March 22 in Philadelphia and Tampa/St. Petersburg and concluding on Thursday, March 24 in Los Angeles.
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