Month: May 2012

TAMPA, Fla. – On Friday, June 1, 2012 Fight Night Productions and Ker’s WingHouse Bar & Grill are poised to take over the A La Carte Event Pavilion for Tampa’s longest-running boxing series, “WingHouse Fight Night.” In the night’s main event, the vacant USA Florida State Light Middleweight Title will be on the line, as two of St. Petersburg’s brightest prospects square-off, as Manny “Shake ‘Em Up” Woods (8-1-1, 3 KOs) takes on “The Mighty” Inka Laleye (4-1-3, 1 KO).

Woods and Laleye thrilled Tampa boxing fans at the “WingHouse Fight Night” event on September 9, 2011. Both fighters laid it on the line, neither giving an inch in six rounds of non-stop action. When the final bell rang, the judges at ringside scored the fight a majority draw. On June 1, it will be Round 7 in what has turned into the area’s hottest boxing rivalry.

“WingHouse Fight Night” will also showcase some of the area’s most talented and promising professional fighters including Tampa-native and heavyweight sensation, Kenny “Right Hook” Lacy (1-0-0, 1 KO), St. Petersburg prospects, Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (5-0-0, 4 KOs) Alphonso Black (2-0-1, 2 KOs), as well as Ft.Myers’ own highly decorated amateur, Bryant Perrella.

Lacy, the brother of former United States Boxing Association (USBA), North American Boxing Association (NABA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion, Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy, had an impressive-professional debut at February’s “WingHouse Fight Night,” scoring a devastating, third-round knockout. He will look to continue his climb in the heavyweight division on June 1st.

The undefeated Kalajdzic has become one of the most popular fighters to appear on the “WingHouse Fight Night” series because of his tremendous skill and devastating power. Each time “Hot Rod” has appeared at the A La Carte Event Pavilion, he has brought the fans to their feet, and his “Team Rod” supporters grow.

Rising middleweight prospect Alphonso Black (2-0-1, 2 KOs) will be looking to get back on the winning track after his toe-to-toe war with Victor Pacheco (1-0-1), that ended in a draw at February’s “WingHouse Fight Night.” Black is building quite the fan base at the A La Carte Pavilion by delivering two-sensational knockouts, and an all-action style of fighting.

Also in a feature bout, will be Ft. Myers-welterweight, Bryant Perrella (2-0-0, 2 KOs), who in his last fight, traveled to San Antonio, Texas to score an impressive fourth-round technical knockout of Nick Gonzalez (3-3-1, 1 KO).

Perrella, who announced that he had signed a co-promotional deal with Top Rank Boxing in January of 2012, made his professional debut on February’s “WingHouse Fight Night.” The former Olympic hopeful and three-time Sunshine State Game gold-medalist displayed lightning-quick hands and sensational power, dropping his opponent three times in the first-round, en route to a technical knockout victory and first professional win.

Also, featured on the card are a couple first time participants at “WingHouse Fight Night.” Welterweight, Clarence Booth (2-1-0, 1 KO), is a very popular boxer in Central Florida, and will be looking to make an impressive debut at the A La Carte. Undefeated Justin Jones (4-0-0, 2 KOs) has created quite a buzz for himself, and is known for his all-action style, which has resulted in a number of entertaining fights.

In the coming weeks, more fights will be announced via our Twitter feed, @FightNight_FL. Tickets for this night of non-stop action start at only $25 and are currently on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets and http://www.Ticketmaster.com. For inquires on VIP table availability, please contact Aaron Jacobs (FightNightFL@Gmail.com) and for the most up-to-the-date information on additional fights,
opponents and match-ups, please go to http://www.FightNightProductions.com, or our Facebook® page (search: Fight Night Productions, LLC).

Doors for this event will be open at 7:00 PM, with a bell-time of 8:00 PM.
“WingHouse Fight Night” Card*
8-Rounds For The USA Florida State Light Middleweight Title Fight

Don King-Promoted Event
Features Heavyweights
& Local Cuban Favorites
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.—Don King returns to Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., with a “Viva Don King II” boxing event on Saturday, June 23 that will feature three heavyweight fights and local Cuban favorites Joey “Twinkle Fingers” Hernandez and undefeated Angelo “La Cobra” Santana.

North American Boxing Federation No. 1-ranked heavyweight, and former U.S. amateur champion, Tony “TNT” Grano (19-2-2, 15 KOs), from Hartford, Conn., and former No. 1-ranked heavyweight and current NABF No. 11-ranked contender DaVarryl “Touch of Sleep” Williamson (27-6, 23 KOs) will vie for the vacant NABF crown in the main event scheduled for 12 rounds. Both are known for their punching prowess, so fireworks will be on display in this match up between big men.

Two returnees from last year’s first “Viva Don King” card are back by popular demand. Undefeated and emerging lightweight contender Angelo “La Cobra” Santana (12-0, 9 KOs), a Cuban fighting out of Miami, will face the toughest test of his career against former WBC Silver featherweight champion Justin “Le Voodoo” Savi (26-1, 18 KOs), from Cotonou, Benin. Santana, a two-time Cuban national champion as an amateur, is now ranked No. 15 by the World Boxing Association and should have his hands full against the experienced Savi.

American-born Cuban Joey Hernandez (21-1-1, 12 KOs) will defend his WBC U.S. super welterweight title against Brandon “The Business” Baue (12-6, 10 KOs), from Troy, Mo. In his last outing, Hernandez took less than a round before scoring a technical knockout over the normally durable Shakir Ashanti.

Additional heavyweight attractions include the return to Hard Rock Live of former World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter (34-5, 27 KOs), who won a unanimous decision over James “Lights Out” Toney at the venue in 2007, and highly touted WBA No. 14-ranked contender Oleg Platov (29-1, 23 KOs). Both will face opponents to be named.

King, 80, is delighted to be returning to the premier casino-resort in South Florida.

A Red Carpet event will take place on Friday, June 22 at Hard Rock Live in celebration of Don King’s 80th year. Lead singer Eddie Levert, of the legendary singing group The O’Jays, will be amongst the featured celebrities performing and paying tribute to King.

“November’s card at the Seminole Hard Rock was a sold-out success,” King said of Viva Don King I. “Now my friends at the Hard Rock say they want to pay tribute to my 80th year with another card, and I can’t think of a better venue than Hard Rock Live to do it in.”

Tickets priced at $54, $79, $104, and $154 are on sale now and are available for purchase at Hard Rock Live Box Office (open daily from noon until 7 p.m. ET), all Ticketmaster outlets, http://www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: Miami-Dade (305) 358-5885, Broward (954) 523-3309 and Palm Beach (561) 966-3309. *Additional fees and/or service charges may apply.

About Hard Rock Live
Hard Rock Live, a spectacular state-of-the-art facility, further expands the ultimate entertainment experience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This 5,500-seat indoor arena regularly hosts South Florida’s greatest variety of musical acts and top comedians and is home to major sporting events. For more information, please visit http://www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com or http://www.myhrl.com.

PABLO CESAR CANO VS. FIDEL MONTERROSA AND
SERGIO THOMPSON VS. JUAN RAMON SOLIS
FEATURED IN CO-HEADLINING FIGHTS
ON SATURDAY, MAY 26 FROM CANCUN

TELEVISA TO TELEVISE IN MEXICO & FOX DEPORTES
TO TELEVISE IN THE UNITED STATES

HUGE UNDERCARD TO FEATURE TOP GOLDEN BOY PROSPECTS
DEONTAY WILDER, FRANCISCO VARGAS & JAMIE KAVANAGH
LOS ANGELES, May 21 – Two of Mexico’s rising stars will be in the spotlight at The Grand Oasis Cancun in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico on Saturday, May 26 when Tlanepantla’s Pablo Cesar Cano faces Colombia’s Fidel Monterrosa and Cancun’s Sergio Thompson squares off against Argentina’s Juan Ramon Solis in co-headlining bouts to be broadcast on Televisa’s “Sabados De Corona” in Mexico and on FOX Deportes in the United States.

Also in action for fans on site in Cancun will be some of Golden Boy Promotions’ top prospects, as Deontay Wilder, Francisco Vargas and Jamie Kavanagh put their unbeaten records on the line in Mexico.

Cano vs. Monterrosa, a 10-round lightweight fight, and Thompson vs. Solis, a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC International Silver Lightweight title, are presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Pepe Gomez Promotor Deportivo and sponsored by Corona, Periodico QueQui, The Grand Oasis Cancun, Quintana Roo Tourism and Cancun Tourism. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. CT and the first fight begins at 7:00 p.m. CT. The Televisa broadcast will air on Canal 5 and begins at 10:30 p.m. CT and the FOX Deportes broadcasts will air at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at 100 pesos, 500 pesos, 1000 pesos, 1500 pesos, are available for purchase at Hooters Z.H., Farmacia Paris Centro de Cancun and The Grand Oasis Cancun.

Known as “El Demoledor,” Pablo Cesar Cano (23-1-1, 18 KO’s) has marched through all comers since turning professional in 2006, winning the NABF super lightweight and NABA Mexico lightweight titles along the way. In September of 2011, Cano made international headlines when he stepped in on short notice to face the legendary Erik Morales for the WBC Super Lightweight World title. While he wasn’t able to secure a victory, his courageous effort has him marked as a sure-fire future world champion. In his last bout in February, he defeated Francisco Contreras via a sixth round technical knockout and now the 22-year old is ready for what should be an all-out battle with Monterrosa.

Already 34 fights into his career despite being only 23 years old, Galapa, Colombia’s Fidel Monterrosa (29-5, 23 KO’s) has knockout power, a warrior’s heart and he’s eager to take his career to the next level. A former world title challenger who extended World Champion Humberto Soto the 12-round distance in 2010, Monterrosa has won three of his last four, all by knockout, proving beyond a doubt that he can compete with anyone in the world at lightweight.

Sergio Thompson (22-2, 20 KO’s) is a two-fisted terror in the ring, with all but two of his professional wins coming by knockout, with 15 coming in three rounds or less. The winner of the WBC Mundo Hispano and the WBC FECARBOX titles, his only losses have come via razor close decisions. Thompson is currently riding an eight fight winning streak, including a stirring second round technical knockout victory over former World Champion Jorge Linares in his last fight in March.

Buenos Aires’ Juan Ramon Solis (17-5, 6 KO’s) began his professional career with a rough start, going 5-5 in his first 10 fights, but he has since won 12 in a row, capturing the interim WBC Latino lightweight title during this hot streak. Following a second round technical knockout win over Mario Cesar Correa on May 5, Solis is ready for the quick call back to the ring against Thompson.

In featured non-televised fights on the stacked 13-fight card, 2008 United States Olympic Bronze medalist Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (21-0, 21 KO’s) looks to keep his amazing knockout streak intact in an eight round fight against Bartonsville, Pennsylvania’s Jess Oltmanns (10-2, 7 KO’s). The 26-years old Wilder has ended

“I’d love to fight Seth Mitchell, Chris Arreola or Bryant Jennings, but they don’t want any part of me. Those guys will never step up to the plate.” Fres Oquendo

Chicago-based heavyweight veteran Fast Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) will take on Coon Rapids, Minnesota, southpaw Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell (28-5, 27 KOs) for the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Championship in the 10-round main event of Hitz Boxing’s “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” event at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, this Friday, May 25.

The 39-year-old two-time heavyweight title challenger and former NABF, NABA and USBA champion says his comeback is all about leaving boxing on a high note after suffering so many disappointing and highly controversial setbacks. In two of his last three fights, Oquendo lost decisions of the very debatable sort to former champion Oliver McCall and Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck, who went on to face Wladimir Klitschko in a big-money match-up Oquendo says he dreams of.

“That’s the politics of boxing,” said Oquendo during a break in training. “If I don’t get the knockout, I can’t win. Every time they rob me, it’s a black eye to boxing and it takes away my earnings.”

Of all his questionable losses, the two that bother Oquendo most are his December 2008 split decision to James Toney and the horrific unanimous decision then-IBF champion Chris Byrd was given over him in 2003. “James Toney, that fight bothers me a lot. I out-hustled him out-punched him and they robbed me. That fight and the Chris Byrd fiasco. Those two are neck and neck. What Don King did to me was an injustice for boxing period. Not just me, all of boxing. That’s why I love fighting in my backyard. That’s where all my people come out for me. I thank Bobby Hitz for putting me on this show against a decent opponent.”

Oquendo says he’s quite familiar with Abell. “I know him pretty well. He’s a pretty strong puncher. I sparred with him before and he presents a challenge, but I’m very experienced and have the will to win. Being a hard puncher is not going to be enough to beat the great Fres. I live a good life and I still feel like I’m in my early 20s. I’m very strong and fast and I’m coming there to put on a spectacular performance. He’ll be trying to come in with nothing to lose, but I love chopping down the bigger guys. I’m smarter and faster. That’s the difference.”

Oquendo says his post-boxing life will be all about helping area youth stay off the streets. “This is my last hurrah. I’m taking one more try to get that elusive championship I deserve and then I’ll call it a day after that and transition to my new passion: giving back to the youth. I’m starting the not-for-profit Fres Oquendo Boxing Academy in the Humble Park Field House on Chicago’s West Side. 26th Ward Alderman, Roberto Maldonado, is partnering with me and supporting this great cause of mine. I’m going to use boxing to teach young people to say no to gangs and drugs.”

Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions is proud to announce the signing of cruiserweight prospect Eric “Danger” Fields (20-1, 15 KOs) to a promotional agreement.

29-year-old Fields is a native of Ardmore, Oklahoma, rated #15 by the World Boxing Association. Fields was the 2005 and 2006 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight champion and holds a victory in the amateurs over Tony Grano, the U.S. Amateur Heavyweight Champion.

As a pro, Fields already holds victories over former world champion Kelvin Davis (KO 1), former world title challenger Rubin Williams (TKO 2) and 2004 Mexican Olympian Ramiro Reducindo (KO 1). His only loss came against former world champion Ola Afolabi in 2008.

Tall, with fast, powerful hands, Fields is a natural athlete who is able to finish a fight with any of the punches in his powerful two-fisted combinations. He decided to start boxing after an episode of Friday Night Fights in which he felt he could easily beat a fighter who was 22-0 at the time.

“Eric has all the potential in the world and we’re going to t help him reach it,” said Greg Cohen. “Because of his power, he may have had stamina issues earlier in his career, but they’re all ironed out now through experience and dedication. Eric Fields is on his way up the cruiserweight division. He’s tall and strong and extremely dangerous. That’s why they call him Danger. Within the next 12 months I expect Eric to win his first world title.”

May 11, 2012 – NEW YORK — HBO Sports® reported today that 1.5 million pay-per-view buys were generated from the May 5 super welterweight title fight between Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions.

The 1.5 million buy total generated $94 million in pay-per-view revenue.

The performance of Mayweather-Cotto ranks as the second highest grossing non-heavyweight pay-per-view event in boxing history. No. 1 all-time is Mayweather’s record-setting showdown with Oscar de la Hoya ($137 million) in 2007.

Mayweather owns a perfect 43-0 record as a professional prizefighter.

Mayweather vs. Cotto along with the co-feature of Alvarez vs. Mosley will replay exclusively on HBO Saturday, May 12 at 10:15 p.m. ET/ PT.

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