TalkingBoxing News
Soliman, Jirov Headline August 18th on ESPN
MON July 24 - While his promoter Dan Goossen continues to try and secure his well-deserved shot at a world middleweight title against Jermain Taylor, Sam "King" Soliman is not one to simply sit back and wait. He is willing to put such an opportunity at risk to remain active and stay in front of his U.S. based fans - even against a talented and hungry fighter.
Soliman (32-8, 13 KOs) will be doing just that on Friday night, August 18 when he takes on the determined and hungry Enrique Ornelas (24-2, 14 KOs) in the 10-round headliner of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights." The event will be hosted by the beautiful Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California and is being presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions and Ringside Ticket.
A 32-year old southpaw from Australia, Soliman wowed boxing fans worldwide last December when he battled heavily-favored Winky Wright toe-to-toe for 12 grueling rounds in coming up just short in the eyes of the ringside judges in an IBF/WBC Middleweight Elimination bout televised on HBO. Many believed, including Soliman, that the verdict should have gone his way. In his most recent outing back in March, Soliman, filling in for an injured Vernon Forrest on five days notice, flew in from the "Land Down Under" and stopped Raul Munoz in the sixth round at Pechanga in a performance fit for a "King."
Speaking from his training camp in Australia, Soliman boldly predicted a sensational victory over Ornelas. "I captured the fans attention against Wright in December and certainly softened Wright up for (Jermain) Taylor. Now Taylor is looking to downgrade his championship status to that of contender, with a possible bout later this year against a 5-round fighter." "Well, the best way to counteract foolish moves is to put myself in front of the fans, media and the networks, against a risky opponent and earn my way to the Taylor bout. There will be absolutely no excuses for Taylor not to fight me mate, unless of course he ‘doesn't want to put another shrimp on the Barbie.'"
Soliman, who is ranked #3 in both the IBF and WBC, will be giving away seven years of age and nearly five inches in height to the rising 25-year old Ornelas, who hails from nearby La Habra, California. Ornelas has won both his bouts by decision in 2006 against tough veteran competition, defeating Darnell Boone at Pechanga back in March and Sergio Rios in May.
"This is a great battle of two hungry fighters; one who has established himself as a championship caliber fighter and a fan favorite in Sam versus another (Enrique) who is younger and looking to advance his own career by knocking off a championship caliber boxer," Goossen explained.
"Sam will be looking to solidify his status as a top world contender and a Jermain Taylor title shot with an impressive win, while a victory by Enrique in front of a worldwide television audience would propel his career and earning potential. This should be a very entertaining fight for the fans."
Former World Cruiserweight Champion and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Vassiliy "Tiger" Jirov (36-3-1, 30 KOs), of Kazakhstan, will appear in the televised 10-round co-feature bout. Since making his move back down to Cruiserweight, Jirov feels revitalized and, more importantly, stronger.
"Although I feel I was able to go toe-to-toe with the heavyweights, my natural weight has always been below 200 lbs.," said Jirov. "Now I feel I'm the bigger man against my opponent. The fans will see the same aggressive style that they became accustomed to seeing on ESPN next month and then I'll look for that big fight at the end of the year."
The card will also showcase the talents of the exciting and unbeaten junior middleweight Francisco Santana (4-0, 3 KOs), of Santa Barbara, California in a scheduled four-round contest.
Doors to the arena at Pechanga Resort & Casino, located at 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula, CA, open at 5:00 pm with the first ESPN2 TV bout starting at 6:00 pm (Pacific Time). For ticket information, call 877-711-2WIN or go on the web to www.pechanga.com.
Marquez Brothers Featured on Showtime Championship Boxing Twin Bill, August 5th
MON July 24 - There have been several successful and famous brother tandems in boxing over the years, including Leon and Michael Spinks, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas, Jerry and Mike Quarry, Gaby and Orlando Canizales, and Terry and Orlin Norris.
For all of their achievements, few had anything on Mexico City’s Juan Manuel and Rafael Marquez, the most successful brothers in boxing today. No other current brother duo is close.
A combined 79-6-1 with 64 knockouts, the exciting Marquez brothers are universally recognized as two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Long regarded as perhaps the world’s premier featherweight, Juan, 32, is 44-3-1 with 33 KOs. Younger brother, Rafael, 31, is 35-3 with 31 knockouts. Many regard him as the finest bantamweight in boxing.
One of only four sets of Mexican brothers in history to win a world title, the Marquez brothers will be featured when the 20th anniversary celebration of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING continues Saturday, Aug. 5, on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). In the main event, Juan will face World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 1 contender Terdsak Jandaeng (24-1, 15 KOs) for the WBO Interim 126-pound belt. In a rematch, Rafael will put his International Boxing Federation (IBF)/International Boxing Organization (IBO) bantamweight belts on the line against No. 1-ranked Silence Mabuza (19-1, 15 KOs).
Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, will promote the world championship doubleheader from MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa at Stateline, Nev.
The Marquez brothers have appeared on the same fight card on 10 occasions, but this will be their first time together since April 1, 2001.
A former IBF and World Boxing Association (WBA) 126-pound champion, Juan Marquez always will be remembered for his spectacular performance against Manny Pacquiao when he rallied from three first-round knockdowns to earn a draw on May 8, 2004, in Las Vegas. Marquez, to some extent, also will be remembered for unifying the IBF and WBA titles in 2003.
For years, Rafael Marquez lived in the long shadow of his older, bigger brother, but his stock has risen dramatically. He not only is recognized as the world's best bantamweight, but he has become a mainstay in pound-for-pound and top-10 lists. Perhaps the purest puncher in any weight class, Marquez has won 14 consecutive bouts, 11 by knockout, including several against some of the 118-pound division's best fighters. In his last outing on Nov. 5, 2005, Marquez put on a masterful performance to earn a fourth-round TKO over Mabuza on SHOWTIME.
Rafael may not be as polished as Juan, but some have said that he has become the better of the pair. Rafael, of course, wants no part of that type of chatter.
“We are brothers. This is not a race to see who is best,’’ he said. “Both of us want the other to win all their fights. There is no jealousy.’’ The close-knit Marquez brothers made history in early 2003. Two weeks after Juan won the IBF featherweight title, Rafael captured the IBF bantamweight crown on Feb. 15 with a devastating eighth-round TKO over defending champion, Tim Austin, in Las Vegas.
The victories made Rafael and Juan the fourth set of Mexican brothers to win world titles. The others were Rene and Ricardo Arredondo of Michoacan, Mexico, Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas of Jalisco, Mexico, and Erik and Diego Morales of Tijuana, Mexico.
“That was a big night for my family, and a big night for all of Mexico,’’ Rafael said. “I knew I would beat Austin if I kept the pressure on. I was stronger and more focused, but when I knocked him out and he went through the ropes, I couldn’t believe it. I am happy that both my brother and I are champions. Our dreams have come true.’’
The Marquez brothers are classy, soft-spoken and in their primes. Yet, the fame and respect of a champion continues to elude them.
Juan, who is 14-1-1 in his last 16 starts, appeared to reach stardom when he rallied against Pacquiao in a sensational action fight. However, he has been a victim of poor business decisions since, and has second-guessed himself for refusing lucrative paydays in high-profile fights. In two instances, Juan turned down a reported $750,000 for a rematch with Pacquaio and perhaps double that amount for a fight against Erik Morales.
To make matters worse, Marquez lost his titles without throwing a punch. He was stripped by the IBF because no promoter was willing to spend the minimum $50,000 on a purse bid for a mandatory title defense. Marquez was notified of the IBF’s action via fax. The WBA withdrew its recognition of Marquez as a “super champion’’ after he was stripped by the IBF. Boxers who unify world titles are afforded “super’’ status by the WBA.
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