TalkingBoxing News
Valuev Invades America, to Attend Peter-Toney
THU August 31 - Don King, Wilfried Sauerland and Nikolai "Giant Russian" Valuev will be at
the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday to host a press
conference
prior to attending the heavyweight showdown between James "Lights Out"
Toney
and Samuel "Nigerian Nightmare" Peter at the Staples Center.
Don King introduced The Giant to the Big Apple as only he can on Wednesday. After a quick visit to the Fox and Friends morning show, King and Valuev were joined for breakfast by Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin. King then whisked The Giant to Trump Tower to introduce him to his old friend Donald Trump inside his penthouse office.
King then took the Russian for a tour of the United Nations before whisking him to the top of the Empire State building for a photo opportunity that would make King Kong proud. The day finished with a press conference where Valuev was joined by his Oct. 7 challenger Monte "Two Gunz" Barrett.
Barrett took the podium first and said, "I want to address what happened to me in my fight with Hasim Rahman last summer. I was 100-percent prepared. The day of the fight I had some personal problems. I learned my sister got stabbed and I had problems with my wife.
"After the Rahman fight I went around the world. I visited Africa and China (a trip he won as a contestant on the Price is Right game show). I am hungry and focused. I have already been in camp for five weeks. I'm 225 pounds right now and my heart is 224 of it."
Valuev was gracious when he stood at the podium.
"I want to thank America and Don King for bringing me here today. Thanks to Wilfried Sauerland for all he has done for me as well.
I want to invite you to my fight in Chicago on October 7 because it's going to be something special. This is probably the last time you will see Monte Barrett and me smiling at the same time as our fight is five weeks away. I respect Monte Barrett and his camp.
"I have fought 44 times and have always gone back to my motherland in St. Petersburg a winner.
"I was walking around New York today and it was nice to see so many people smiling. But we can never forget what happened here in New York on September 11, 2001. I had profound sorrow when I learned of this event. Know that we will all get over this tragedy together."
Fighting Irishmen: New Painting Celebrates History of Irish
THU August 31 - To coincide with the upcoming "Fighting Irishmen" - A Celebration of The Celtic Warrior 19th, 20th & 21st Centuries? exhibit at the Irish Arts Center, New York, in late August, a 5ft x 3.5ft oil painting has been commissioned by Jim Houlihan the exhibit curator of Houlihan - Parnes based in New York.
The painting has been produced by Sport & Celebrity Artist Patrick Killian who was a former international amateur boxing champion himself. The Original oil painting took around 4 months to complete and will be part of the exhibit and Limited Edition Gicle Fine Art Prints and Canvases will be available for purchase during the exhibit. More of Patrick's Gicle collector Prints can be viewed at www.killianart.com
"Fighting Irishmen: A Celebration of Celtic Warriors" is an eclectic collection of boxing photography and artifacts exhibit, and will be launched in mid-August at the Irish Arts Center, located at 553 West 51st Street. The Irish Arts Center has promoted Irish culture since its inception in 1972.
The exhibit, which will be open to the public, is a stroll down memory lane for fight fans and historians alike. Among the artifacts and pictures on display will be the legendary John L. Sullivan's fur coat; a blazer specially made for Jack Demsey; photographs from the archives of Sports Illustrated; Charlie Nash's Olympic Jersey when he was fighting for Ireland; photographs of the classic Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti trilogy; and historic photos of such memorable Irish fighters as John L. Sullivan, Jerry Quarry, Gerry Cooney, Barry McGuigan and Bobby Cassidy, just to name a few.
In addition, there will be a series of special events commemorating the Celtic warrior. The four nights scheduled are as follows: October 19 at the Arts Center, Writers and Fighters panel discussion; October 26 at Fordham University Lincoln Center, An Evening with Barry McGuigan and Friends; November 7 at the Arts Center, Irish Kings of the Ring on Film; and November 15 at Fordham Lincoln Center, Irish Champs and Contenders. View the full oil painting here...
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