TalkingBoxing News
Unbeaten Shane Benfield & prospect Jaime Sandoval join Team Silverhawk
Tues November 7 - LAS VEGAS (November 7, 2006) - Undefeated cruiserweight Shane "The Hitman" Benfield and super featherweight prospect Jaime "Superfly" Sandoval have signed promotional contracts with Silverhawk Boxing.
Benfield, 31, is from York, South Carolina, where he owns a construction company and boxing gym used by local youths for the past eight years. He was 25-5 as an amateur, rated among the top 10 light heavyweights in the country, six-time South Carolina Golden Gloves champion and Southeast Coast title-holder. He lost a close quarterfinals decision in the 1999 U.S. National Championships.
Shane turned pro in 2001 and his last outing was a year ago, a sixth-round unanimous decision against Eric Starr.
"I'm glad I finally signed with a major promoter," Benfield said. "Coming out of the South has been difficult getting recognized. I feel like now I'm in the big leagues with Silverhawk Boxing. I'm an old school, entertaining fighter like my friend, Vinny Paz. I talk smack and put people on their backs. I have world class potential and heart. Silverhawk is going to try and help me get the most out of my talent and ability. I leave it all in the ring, not in the locker room; not much dancing, lots of punching."
Sandoval, 25, is the younger brother of reigning IBF lightweight champion Jesus "El Matador" Chavez (43-3, 30 KOs), who first introduced Jaime to boxing. Fighting out of Chicago, where he was a 2002 Golden Gloves champion, Sandoval initially got into boxing to stay in shape and hang with his brother Jesus.
"I grew up in a boxing atmosphere because of my brother," Jaime explained. "I went into boxing because of him and trained never expecting to get into it on a fulltime basis like I am. I always liked boxing, liked it even more as I got older, and decided to make it my profession. I'm happy to be with Silverhawk because they'll get me on track where I should be. I'll be fighting more often than I was on my own. Eventually I hope to build myself up into being a contender."
Silverhawk Boxing's growing stable of world-caliber fighters also includes two-time world lightweight champion Stevie "Lil' But Bad" Johnston, WBC Americas & CABOFE cruiserweight champ Prince Badi "The Boxing Prince" Ajamu, IBF International cruiserweight champ William "KO King" Guthrie, NBA World & CABOFE heavyweight champion Sherman "The Caribbean Tank" Williams, USBO heavyweight title-holder Leo "Paco" Nolan, NBA super middleweight champ Rubin "Hollywood" Williams, IBO International middleweight champion Aaron "Homicide" Mitchell, NBA Intercontinental junior middleweight title-holder Eric "Murder" Mitchell, WBF All-American cruiserweight champion BJ "El Peligroso" Flores, former world title challenger Corey "Primetime" Johnson, former WBO junior welterweight title challenger Manual "Shotgun" Gomez, ex-NABF super featherweight title-holder Fernando "El Pillo" Trejo, heavyweights Gerald "The Jedi" Nobles and Robert "The Saint" Davis, as well as top prospects such as cruiserweight Brandon "The Havoc" Harris, welterweight Alexis Camacho, and light middleweight "Classy" Chris Gray.
For more information about Benfield, Sandoval or Silverhawk Boxing go to www.silverhawkboxing.com.
Tues November 7 -
NUMBER ONE WBO CONTENDER MUST RECEIVE HIS TITLE SHOT WITHIN 90 DAYS
LOS ANGELES, November 7 – LOS ANGELES, November 6 – The most interested observer of Saturday night’s WBO heavyweight title match between Shannon Briggs and Sergei Liakhovich was the man who will next challenge for the crown – mandatory challenger Sultan Ibragimov, who is ready to put his unbeaten record up for grabs against the WBO title belt now held by Briggs.
“I congratulate Shannon Briggs on winning the WBO title last weekend, though I wasn’t terribly impressed by his performance,” said Ibragimov, 19-0-1 with 16 KOs. “I hope he enjoys his time with the belt now because he won’t have a long reign.”
The WBO confirmed at their recent convention that Briggs must face Ibragimov within 90 days or be stripped of his title. Ibragimov’s promoters - Golden Boy Promotions, Seminole Warriors Boxing, and Golden Grain Promotions - have left messages with Briggs’ promoter, Don King, and are ready to begin negotiations for this explosive championship bout immediately.
“We’re looking forward to speaking with Don and getting this bout done as quickly as possible,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. “We’re confident that Sultan Ibragimov is the next heavyweight champion of the world, and we’re eager to see him beat Shannon Briggs and put that championship belt around his waist.”
Tues November 7 -
THAI STAR AWAITS TITLE SHOT AGAINST WBA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMP JUAN DIAZ
LOS ANGELES, November 7 – He is a diamond in the rough, a fighter so good he has trouble finding opponents willing to step into the ring with him. But now, through the efforts of its international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, Golden Boy Promotions will see to it that number one lightweight contender Prawet Singwangcha gets his just due and his shot at WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz, as it was announced today that the Los Angeles-based promotional firm has secured the promotional rights to the Thai battler.
“We’re pleased to be working with Prawet Singwangcha and I’m grateful to Sampson Lewkowicz for bringing yet another talented fighter to our team,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Singwangcha has been unbeatable over the last six years and has truly earned his shot at the title. We are eager to begin negotiations with Team Diaz so we can bring the WBA lightweight title back to where it belongs.”
One of the most underrated fighters in boxing today, Thailand’s Prawet Singwangcha has compiled an impressive 30-2-1 (18 KOs) record over the course of a nine year pro career. Even more astounding is the fact that after some rough early days in the prize ring, where he started out with a 5-2-1 record, Singwancha has since gone 25-0 with 16 knockouts. He is also defended the PABA lightweight championship 13 times after winning it in 1999. In his last fight, on March 20, 2006, Singwangcha stayed busy with an eight round decision over Teofilo Tunacao.
Irish Ropes Promotions Makes Changes in Big Apple
Tues November 7 - NEW YORK (November 7, 2006) - Irish Ropes Promotions has closed its boxing gym in Far Rockaway and opened a new office directly across the street from Madison Square Garden at 1 Ten Plaza on the 36th floor.
LOS ANGELES, November 6 – The most interested observer of Saturday night’s WBO heavyweight title match between Shannon Briggs and Sergei Liakhovich was the man who will next challenge for the crown – mandatory challenger Sultan Ibragimov, who is ready to put his unbeaten record up for grabs against the WBO title belt now held by Briggs.
“I congratulate Shannon Briggs on winning the WBO title last weekend, though I wasn’t terribly impressed by his performance,” said Ibragimov, 19-0-1 with 16 KOs. “I hope he enjoys his time with the belt now because he won’t have a long reign.”
The WBO confirmed at their recent convention that Briggs must face Ibragimov within 90 days or be stripped of his title. Ibragimov’s promoters - Golden Boy Promotions, Seminole Warriors Boxing, and Golden Grain Promotions - have left messages with Briggs’ promoter, Don King, and are ready to begin negotiations for this explosive championship bout immediately.
“We’re looking forward to speaking with Don and getting this bout done as quickly as possible,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. “We’re confident that Sultan Ibragimov is the next heavyweight champion of the world, and we’re eager to see him beat Shannon Briggs and put that championship belt around his waist.”
Irish Ropes promotes one of the hottest fighters in the world, newly crowned IBA World middleweight title-holder "Ireland's" John Duddy, rated No. 6 by the WBO and No. 10 by the WBA.
Irish Ropes Gym opened in 1998 to provide youths in the Far Rockaway community with more positive choices in life, as well as give members an opportunity to follow their dreams. The gym, however, recently was closed due to permit problems with the town.
Due to the closing of its gym as well as decisions to promote a maximum of two boxing shows a year and not sign additional fighters in the immediate future, Irish Ropes has decided to concentrate 100-percent on Duddy's career and amicably part ways with its boxing director, Jim Borzell.
"Jim Borzell is one of the best matchmakers in boxing," Irish Ropes Promotions president Eddie McLoughlin explained. "He's a dear friend who I'll still call upon for advice about John's opponents, but there's no longer enough of a workload to justify having a director of boxing. We aren't going to be signing other fighters for a while and Irish Ropes will promote one, maybe two shows a year at the most. The gym's closing changed everything.
"There's no animosity between Jim and I. There just isn't enough work left. I couldn't recommend anybody better than Jim to any promoter or manager with a prospect to move. He did a great job with John. This separation doesn't reflect any dissatisfaction with Jim's work; it's strictly a business decision by Irish Ropes Promotions. We appreciate all that he's done for us."
McLoughlin says that Duddy should be back in action at the beginning of 2007. Contact Eddie McLoughlin at 212.835.1582 or irishropes@email.com for information about Irish Ropes or Duddy.
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