Judah Mabuza Tix Now On Sale

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the March 5th, Zab Judah vs. Kaizer Mabuza IBF Jr Welterweight title fight.

Zab Judah, from Brooklyn, NY, has a record of 40-6, 27 KO’s. Kaizer Mabuza of Johannesburg, South Africa has a record of 23-6-3, 14 KO’s.

The fight promoted by Main Events and Super Judah Promotions will take place at Prudential Center’s AmeriHealth Pavilion, Newark, NJ. Doors open at 7:30pm; first fight 8:00pm.

Tickets priced at $253 Ringside, $103 Reserved seating on floor, $88 General Admission in Bleachers and $53 General Admission Standing Room on floor.

Tickets on sale 2/5, available at Prudential Center Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000 or www.Prucenter.com

Top prospects showcased on Martinez-Dzinziruk undercard Lee vs. McEwan, Fortuna plus Olympians Andrade & Gonzalez March 12 at MGM Grand at Foxwoods

NEW YORK, NY (Feb. 2, 2011) – Some of the top prospects in boxing will be showcased March 12 on the hottest New England pro boxing show of the 21st century, “Diamond Elite,” live on HBO World Championship Boxing from MGM Grand Arena at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Emeritus and The Ring Magazine middleweight champion, 2010 Fighter of the Year Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KOs), takes on World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) junior middleweight champion, Sergiy “Razor” Dzinziruk (37-0, 34 KOs), in the 12-round main event for the vacant World Boxing Council Diamond middleweight title.

The chief supporting fight is “Celtic War,” pitting exciting middleweights Andy Lee of Ireland and Scotland’s Craig McEwan, in the 10-round co-feature of ethnic rivalry, potentially offering world title shot implications for the winner.

Lee (24-1, 18 KOs) will enter the ring riding a nine-fight win streak since his lone career setback to Bryan Vera in 2008. Since then, though, the Emmanuel Steward-trained Irish banger has defeated James Cook, Willie Gibbs, Michael Walker, and former world title challenger Mamadou Thiam. Lee, a 2004 Irish Olympian now living in New York City, is ranked #5 by the WBA and #14 by the WBC.

McEwan (19-0, 10 KOs) was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, but he now lives in Hollywood, California where he trains with world renowned trainer Freddie Roach, who is a native New Englander. McEwan is coming off the most significant victory of his career on July 23, 2010, when he took a decision from former world title challenger Danny Perez. McEwan also holds a victory over Vera, the only man to defeat Lee as a professional.

An array of undefeated, promising prospects round-out a loaded top-to-bottom card against opponents to soon be determined. Leading the way is explosive Dominican featherweight Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (13-0, 10 KOs), who has the same head trainer as Martinez, Gabriel Sarmiento, in an 8-round bout. Fortuna had many people tabbing his as the next “Marvilla” after his last performance when he knocked out the previously undefeated Victor Valenzuela in a matter of minutes.

A pair of unbeaten junior middleweights with 2008 Olympian pedigrees will be in action, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (12-0, 8 KOs), of Providence, and Puerto Rican knockout specialist Jonathan “Montequilla” Gonzalez (11-0, 11 KOs), in separate matches.

Local favorite Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (8-0, 2 KOs), a lightweight from Quincy, Massachusetts, fights February 9 in New York City but he is scheduled to come right back Mar. 12 for a scheduled 6-rounder at MGM Grand at Foxwoods. The 2008 National Golden Gloves Tournament runner-up has a growing legion of passionate fans in New England.

Greek heavyweight Soyna Lamonakis (3-0, 1 KO), a 4-time New York Golden Gloves champion now living in Turner Falls, Massachusetts, brings her crowd-pleasing style into the squared-circle in a 6-round match. Preparing for St. Patrick’s Day, Irish-American light heavyweight Seannie Monaghan (4-0, 3 KOs), fighting out of Long Island, puts his undefeated pro record on the line in a 4-round bout. Also fighting on the undercard in a 4-rounder is California welterweight Abraham Lopez (1-1).

“Diamond Elite: Martinez vs. Dzinziruk” will be presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Banner Promotions. Lee vs. McEwan will be presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Golden Boy Promotions. Both bouts will be broadcast live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:30pm ET / 7:30pm PT.

Tickets for “Diamond Elite: Martinez vs. Dzinziruk,” are priced at $450, $250, $125, $75, and $50 and on sale through the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mgmatfoxwood.com, by calling the MGM Grand at Foxwoods at 1-866-646-0609, or in person at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office.

PRO BOXING RETURNS TO WARNER CENTER MARRIOTT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2011

MAIN EVENT
REY BELTRAN JR. vs. CARLOS VINAN FOR USBA LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Woodland Hills, California (February 1, 26, 2011) – Art of Boxing Promotions in association with Bash Boxing return to the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, California for the 3rd installment of WARNER CENTER WAR on Friday, March 4, 2011. Known for some of the best and most even matched shows in Southern California, WARNER CENTER WAR III should not disappoint with a 12 Round Main Event for the vacant USBA Lightweight Championship between Ray Beltran Jr. (23-4, 15 KOs) and Carlos Vinan (10-8-2, 2 KOs).

Both main event participants are coming off huge upset knockouts of favored opponents in 2010. Vinan, from Newark, New Jersey by way of Ecuador, shocked the 2nd ranked lightweight in the world, Anthony Mezaache with an 8th round knockout last July in Atlantic City. Mezaache was undefeated in his previous 11 fights and held the European Lightweight Title prior to meeting Vinan in what was thought to be a showcase bout for the Frenchman. But as he has done many times in a career that has become one of the most underrated and underappreciated in boxing, Vinan pulled the upset of the clearly favored ranked fighter. Vinan comes into the bout as the IBF’s #15 ranked fighter in the world.

Beltran, from Los Angeles, California by way of Mexico, went up north to Seattle in his last bout and shocked heralded David Torres (21-1) in front of his hometown fans. The upset victory earned Beltran a Top 15 ranking in the NABO and USBA. After world ranked fighters, Vicente Escobedo and John Molina pulled out of scheduled title bouts with the dangerous Beltran, an exciting bout was made to fight Vinan for the vacant USBA Lightweight title. Beltran trains out of Wildcard Boxing Club under the tutelage of Freddie Roach and former Olympian Pepe Reilly, and is a regular sparring partner for Manny Pacquaio and Amir Khan.

WCW III at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills will also feature a stacked undercard of highly regarded and ranked local fighters including Buena Park’s Javier Gallo (16-3), Van Nuys’ Deon Elam (12-1), Oxnard’s Hugo Centeno (5-0), and West Hollywood’s Anatoliy Dudchenko (10-2). Foreign fighters Andrey Fedosov (21-2) and Manuel Leyva (18-1) will round out one of best boxing cards to ever come to the San Fernando Valley.

Tickets to WARNER CENTER WAR 3 can be purchased online by going to www.warnercenterwar.com or by calling (626) 388-8888. WARNER CENTER WAR 3 takes place on Friday, March 4, 2011 at the Grand Ballroom of the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, California. Doors Open at 7:00 pm, First Bout is at 7:30 pm.

Toks Owoh vs. JJ Ojuederie
UNLEASH THE FURY
5th March 2011 @ York Hall, London

Toks Owoh – Journey Back To The Top Flight Begins On March 5th

Former IBF Inter-Continental Super Middleweight title challenger Toks Owoh is set to begin his second campaign for championship glory in earnest, albeit this time in the Cruiserweight division. His opponent, at the Steve Goodwin promoted ‘Unleash The Fury’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Saturday 5th March 2011, will be former Southern Area Light Heavyweight Champion JJ Ojuederie.

It was in 2000, after amassing a 16-1 record littered with TKO stoppages, that Toks earned the right to challenge American Glen ‘Road Warrior’ Johnson for the IBF Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Crown. Toks’ dream of a World title shot came to an abrupt end when he was stopped in the sixth round.

Johnson’s unexpected victory catapulted him to World fame and embarked him on a journey that see him move to Light Heavyweight and capture the WBO Inter-Continental light heavyweight title, before securing IBA, IBO and IBF Light Heavyweight World crowns.

Johnson became a super star and battled, and beat, such notables as Clinton Woods Antonio Tarver, Roy Jones, Daniel Judah and Yusaf Mack, whilst Toks on the other hand was left in the wilderness. No fights materialised for almost two years and when they did he had more or less been consigned to ‘journeyman’ status.

Toks did win the first of these bouts, against Mondli Mbonambi in January 2002, but then followed three bad point losses, against Valery Odin, Eric Teymour and Ryan Walls. In the final fight of his first campaign, a four rounder against Paul Bonson at the Equinox Nightclub in London, Toks secured the win and then called it a day.

In October ‘10, following a five year sabbatical, Toks made his long overdue return to the ring with a warm-up four rounder against Hastings Rasani. A tidy 39-37 points victory convinced Toks that he still had what it takes and the search for a promoter began.

His search didn’t take that long and in December 2010 promoter Steve Goodwin signed Toks. The bout against JJ Ojuederie on March 5th will be Toks’ debut under the Goodwin Promotions banner and his first step back towards the top flight.

Earlier today Toks spoke briefly on his upcoming fight. “There’s not much for me to say. It’s Leon Williams I really want but he don’t want to fight me. He knows what I am capable of, so he don’t want to fight me. JJ’s been calling me out for a long time so why not fight him.

This is my second fight back since 2005, I was # 3 in the world at one time in my career and I think I can get myself back there. I know what I can do.

I’ve been in there with some of the best fighters in the world, I’ve learned from being in with the best. JJ’s not in my league, just look at my record JJ’s never fight anyone like I fight.

It’s gonna be a good fight, with me and JJ Ojuederie it’s gonna be a good fight.”

Toks Owoh versus JJ Ojuederie is supported by a huge fourteen bout undercard featuring some of London’s best upcoming talents and includes Ultrachem TKO’s ‘Dynamo’ Daryl Setterfield against Birmingham’s Andrew ‘Paddy’ Patterson.

Three Ultrachem TKO gym mates of Daryl Setterfield are also on the show, Light Heavyweight Joel ‘El Toro’ McIntyre, Light Middleweights Nathan Weise and Brett O’Callaghan, all against yet to be named opponents.

Also appearing on the show are Rainham Super Featherweight Richard Hines, Luton Lightweight Michael ‘Chunky’ Devine, unbeaten Biggleswade Light Middleweight Jamie Boness, Minster. Kent Light Heavyweight Dan ‘Woody’ Woodgate, Woolwich Super Middleweight Eder Kurti, Waltham Abbey Light Welterweight Phil Gill and unbeaten in twelve Hackney Middleweight Wayne Alwan-Arab.

Making his first outing as a professional is Highbury Super Featherweight Charlie Kelly who is set to face the highly experienced Birmingham battler Anthony ‘Spanner’ Hanna.

Also making their pro debuts at ‘Unleash The Fury’ are Harlesden Lightweight Met Sekiraqa and former World Kick Boxing Champion, Llir Canolli from Cosavo.

Tickets for Unleash The Fury at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 5th March 2011 are on sale now – priced £35 (Unreserved) or £60 (Ringside).

For tickets call: 07960 850645, book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person at The Ultrachem TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA.

Casey completes media campaign

Press Conference Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU221vXHKo8

With just five weeks remaining until the WBA Super-Bantamweight title fight in Dublin, Willie Casey has completed his three day media exercise around the country publicising the eagerly anticipated super-fight in Citywest March 19.

The Montonette Hotel was the stage for their first encounter and what a reception both men received. Rigondeaux wowed the 500 strong crowd with some breath-taking pad-work with legendary trainer Tony Dunlop. The roar of the evening was without a doubt Casey’s to claim when he arrived to rapturous cheers, much to the dismay of the world champion’s Cork based manager Gary Hyde. The two Champions faced-off inside the ring catapulting the crowd into further hysteria.

From the Rebel County both camps arrived in Dublin for the Dolphil promoted box-fest last Sunday. Just before the main event of Anthony Fitzgerald and Lee Murtagh, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Willie Casey were called into the ring for another face-off much to the delight of Casey’s Dublin based fans.

At Mondays press conference in Thomond Park it was down to business and Willie described what exactly this fight means to him. “I am honoured to be challenging for this title and to be following in the footsteps of Bernard Dunne and all the other Irish world title challengers. Rigondeaux is a great fighter a brilliant amateur and he has done well to win the world title in just seven fights. But as they say you can take the fighter out of the amateurs but you can’t take the amateur out of the boxer,”

“I will train as hard as I can to keep this belt in Ireland. We have to be wary of Rigo, he is a class operator and a very skilful boxer. But this isn’t the amateurs skill isn’t everything here. I will show him what its like to be in a fight and I will never give up. Fight and determination count for a lot in boxing and I have lots of that. I will keeping coming and after the sixth round hopefully we can do some damage.”

World Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux came across relaxed and confident, later he privately revealed that he has not seen any of Casey’s fights .

“I have over 400 fights and I have won ever and medal available at amateur level. There is nothing Willie can bring that I haven’t seen. I am a road warrior. I have been to every country and won. I can adapt my style to beat anyone and I will do that against Willie Casey.”

“You think boxing is about strength and that it is brutal, but it is a thinking mans game. The fighter who uses his head wins. I am never nervous getting into the ring. Before all my bouts including this one my opponent has been shouting about what they are going to do to me. But I just wait for the bell and get to work then. I am confident, calm and collective in the ring. Fighting is as natural as drinking a glass of water for me. Ricardo Cordoba told me before I won the belt to get ready for action after the sixth round, but I didn’t see him from the first to till the last bell and I took the belt.”

With RTE announcing their decision not to air the fight live an interesting question from popular boxing pundit and journalist Stephen Sharpe arrived towards the end asking “If RTE do not come onboard for this fight will we be watching fights on RTE from other promoters?”

The one-line answer from Gary Hyde was “RTE would have a lot to answer for if that were to be the case, this is one of the biggest fights in Irish boxing history and it‘s been handed to them on a plate“. Indeed both Dolphil Promotions and Nowhere2Hyde decided to host the fight March 19 to coincide with the Ireland v England rugby match which will be Live on RTE 2 that day.

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