TalkingBoxing News
Pacquiao Defends Title vs. Solis, April 14th on PPV
THU, February 22 - The Manila Iceman cometh! Boxing’s pound-for-pound most exciting fighter MANNY “PAC-MAN” PACQUIAO returns to the international spotlight when he makes his 2007 debut, defending his WBC International super featherweight title against undefeated Mexican dynamo JORGE “COLORADITO” SOLIS.
The 12-round rumble will headline an all-action card, broadcast live on pay-per-view (9 P.M. ET / 6 P.M. PT) from The Alamodome, in San Antonio, TX, Saturday, April 14. Between them, they boast a combined professional record of 75 wins – 3 losses – 4 draws, and 57 KOs – a winning percentage exceeding 91%! This will be Pacquiao's first fight in Texas since knocking out Marco Antonio Barrera at The Alamodome in 2003.
Promoted by Top Rank, this pay-per-view extravaganza will also feature a Mexican civil war between WBC super flyweight champion CRISTIAN MIJARES (30-3-2, 11 KOs), from Gomez Palacio, Mexico, defending his title against two-time world champion and current No. 1 contender JORGE "EL TRAVIESO" ARCE (46-3-1, 35 KOs), from Los Mochis, Mexico; former world champion and current No. 1 contender BRIAN VILORIA (19-1-1, 12 KOs), from Waipahu, Hawaii, taking on No. 2 contender EDGAR SOSA (26-5, 14 KOs), from Mexico City, Mexico, for the vacant WBC light flyweight title; and undefeated contender, JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ, Jr. (29-0-1, 22 KOs), from Culiacan, Mexico, son of Mexican icon Julio Cesar Chavez, in a 10-round welterweight bout.
Tickets for Pacquiao vs. Solis, which go on sale This Saturday! February 24, at 10 AM, are priced at $300, $200, $100, $75, $50, $35 and are available at the Alamodome Box Office (210) 207-3663 and at Ticketmaster.com
Dubbed "Republica Enemy No. 1," Pacquiao, a three-division world champion, has blitzed through the best fighters Mexico had to offer since 2003, including Morales (KO 3, TKO 10), Barrera (TKO 11), Oscar Larios (W 12), Emanuel Lucero (TKO 3), and Hector Velazquez (TKO 6). The only “blemish” was a disputed Draw that many thought he won against Juan Manuel Marquez in 2004, where Pacquiao sent Marquez to the canvas three times in the first round.
"Manny Pacquiao is exciting, charismatic and everyone worldwide wants to see him in the ring," said Bob Arum, Chairman of Top Rank. "He literally is boxing’s superhero. You say ‘Pac-Man’ and it’s like saying ‘Superman’ or ‘Batman.’ Everyone knows him, loves to see him in action and he strikes fear in the hearts of his opponents. From top to bottom, this is one of the best cards Top Rank has ever promoted. Talk about pound-for-pound excitement. Boxing fans attending the event or watching it on pay-per-view will most certainly be saying "Remember the Alamodome!" at the end of the evening."
Pacquiao, (43-3-2, 33 KOs), from General Santos City, The Philippines, was named “2006 Fighter of the Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring magazine for his two spectacular knockout victories of Mexican icon and three-division champion Erik Morales and his dominating 12-round unanimous 12-round decision over former world champion and current No. 1 contender Oscar Larios. Since The Ring originated the award in 1928, only six fighters below the lightweight division - Henry Armstrong (1937), Willie Pep ('45), Carlos Zarate ('77), Salvador Sanchez ('81), Michael Carbajal ('93), Paulie Ayala ('99) - have been previously selected for the magazine's top honor. Pacquiao is number seven. The hard-hitting southpaw has only lost once in his last 20 bouts, a close decision in 2005 to Morales in their first encounter.
A proven pay-per-view star, the Pacquiao-Morales trilogy produced over one million pay-per-view sales, a record for the lower weight divisions. The live attendance for their rubber match rumble last November produced a live gate of 18,276, fifth-best on Las Vegas’ all-time list.
Solis (32-0-2, 1 ND, 23 KOs), from Guadalajara, Mexico, is the older brother of Ulises “Archie” Solis, the reigning International Boxing Federation junior flyweight champion. A former Mexican super bantamweight champion who vacated the title after three successful title defenses to move up a weight division, Solis has reigned as the Mexican featherweight champion since 2003. He was also the World Boxing Association Fedecentro featherweight champion from 2003-2004. World-rated No. 2 by the WBC and No. 4 by the WBO, Solis has vowed to end Pacquiao’s dominance over Mexican fighters.
Boxing columnist Graham Houston reported from ringside, "Marvin Hagler against Thomas Hearns remains the greatest three-round fight in boxing history, but Manny Pacquiao's third round destruction of Erik Morales can surely be mentioned in the same breath. The rubber match between the 130-pound rivals was fast and furious while it lasted... This was, quite simply, the best Pacquiao we have yet seen: a two-handed punching machine who displayed greater ring generalship and more upper body movement than I think he has ever shown before."
Ibragimov Disgusted with Briggs, Hopes someone will fin in on March 10th
THU, February 22 - Number one WBO heavyweight contender Sultan Ibragimov, disappointed at seeing his long-awaited title shot against Shannon Briggs postponed due to the champion’s illness, minced no words when it came to the topic of the Brooklyn-born Briggs and the rest of the heavyweight division.
“It seems that everything having to do with Briggs is attached to an excuse,” said Ibragimov. “I don’t understand why he just can’t get in the ring and fight. We all get aches and pains and little sicknesses when we’re preparing for a fight, but the real fighters fight through them. Unfortunately, it seems there aren’t any real fighters left.”
High-profile heavyweights Ray Mercer, Dominick Guinn, Taurus Sykes, and Lou Savarese, among others, were all offered substantial paydays to battle the unbeaten Ibragimov on March 10th, but they refuse to get in the ring with the top contender in the game today.
“I’m disgusted, but at the same time I’m not surprised that these so-called fighters won’t fight me,” said Ibragimov. “They’re all like Briggs – no heart.”
The bout between Briggs and Ibragimov will be rescheduled.
“The weather will be nicer so Briggs may show up to defend his title,” said Ibragimov. “Unless he gets a sunstroke and has to pull out again.”
Rojas, Alexander Featured in Separate Bouts on Showtime
THU, February 22 - Two of the hottest young prospects in Don King’s stable of fighters will make their television debut on SHOWTIME’s “ShoBox: The New
Generation” boxing series on Friday, March 2 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed
on
the West Coast) from the Belterra Casino Resort & Spa in Belterra,
Indiana.
Undefeated featherweight Elio “The Kid” Rojas, born in the Dominican Republic and now fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y., and undefeated World Boxing Council Youth Welterweight champion (23 and under) Devon Alexander “The Great,” from St. Louis, will make appearances in separate bouts.
Tickets can be purchased at Belterra Casino Resort & Spa, 777 Belterra Drive, Belterra, Indiana, 1-888-BELTERRA, and on line at www.belterracasino.com. Tickets are $25.00, $35.00 and $75.00.
Not only will this be the television debut for both of these emerging young lions, but this will mark the first time Don King Productions has showcased its top young talent on ShoBox, which is dedicated to introducing SHOWTIME subscribers to the top young prospects in boxing.
Many experts believe Rojas (18-0, 13 KOs), 24, is Don King’s finest young fighter. He has disposed of most of his opponents quickly and has shown tremendous hand speed, causing much anticipation while edging closer to his first world title match.
His most notable win came in his last appearance where he scored a unanimous eight-round decision over Luis Bolano at Chase Field in Phoenix on Nov. 4. Bolano had twice challenged for world titles, once against World Boxing Organization 115-pound champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson in 2004 and in 2005 against International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight champion Luis “El Demoledor” Perez.
Rojas will be matched against fellow unbeaten Johnnie Edwards, who won the North American Boxing Association featherweight championship after scoring a first-round knockout over Elvis Martinez on Aug. 26 in Greensboro, N.C.
In his last appearance Edwards (11-0, 7 KOs), from Jacksonville, N.C., successfully defended his title by winning a unanimous 12-round decision over Angel Chacon on Jan. 25 in Charlotte, N.C.
Edwards scored his most impressive win against future world champion Eric “Mighty Mouse” Aiken in Columbus, Ohio, on March 18, 2006. Two weeks after losing to Edwards, Aiken upset former longtime world champion “Cincinnati Kid” Tim Austin before winning the International Boxing Federation featherweight title against Valdemir Pereira on May 13.
Alexander (10-0, 5 KOs), 20, boxes out of the Cory Spinks camp under the guidance of notable manager and trainer Kevin Cunningham. Alexander was one of the most celebrated amateurs in America before turning professional while still just a junior at Vashon High School in St. Louis.
He has recently developed stronger power after moving to welterweight and won the World Boxing Council Youth welterweight championship by vanquishing Tyler Ziolkowski by scoring a technical knockout at 2:40 of the opening stanza on July 8 at Savvis Center in St. Louis.
In his most recent appearance, he defeated Maximino Cuevas by fourth-round technical knockout on Jan. 6 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Alexander will be challenged by Scott Ball from Rochester, Minn. He has compiled a respectable 8-2 record, with six knockouts, and will look to spoil Alexander’s perfect record. His losses have come against once-beaten Jesse Lara and undefeated Marvin Cordova Jr.
Fans attending the fight live will also be treated to two non-televised heavyweight attractions featuring “Magnificent” Mike Mollo (17-1, 11 KOs), from Oak Lawn, Ill., who scored a second-round knockout over Mike Tyson-conqueror Kevin McBride at Allstate Arena in Chicago on Aug. 25 and undefeated up-and-coming powerhouse Bermane “B-Ware” Stiverne (10-0, 10 KOs), from Las Vegas, who has gained attention for eight first-round knockouts.
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