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By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of April 22nd to April 29th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Mayweather vs. Maidana Fight Week Schedule
As most fans know, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Marcos Maidana are set to meet this Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fighter grand arrivals will occur on April 29th beginning at 1:00pm with Anthony Ogogo and concluding at 3:00pm with the arrival of Floyd Mayweather. Marcos Maidana is scheduled to arrive at 2:45, Amir Khan at 2:30, and Adrien Broner at 2:00.
On Wednesday April 30th undercard fighter workouts and Autograph Signings will occur at the MGM Grand Hotel Lobby beginning at 3:00pm and concluding at 4:30pm with the workout of Adrien Broner. The weigh ins will occur at 2:30pm at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday May 2nd and will be open to the public.
IBF Orders Hopkins to Fight Winner of Dudchenko-Mohammedi
IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard Hopkins must face the winner of the Dudchenko-Mohammedi fight as his next mandatory opponent. Dudchenko-Mohammedi meet on June 21st at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. They will be the main event of the June 21st edition of NBCSN Fight Night.
A letter was sent to Hopkins by IBF Championship Chairman, Lindsey E. Tucker, on April 21, 2014. The winner between Anatoliy Dudchenko (19-2) and Nadjib Mohammedi (34-3) will be considered the mandatory challenger for Hopkins’ IBF belt.
Karim Mayfield Now a Free Agent
Karim Mayfield’s promotional agreement with Top Rank has ended. Mayfield, with a record of 18-1-1, suffered his first professional loss to Thomas Dulorme (21-1) in his last bout. He currently plans to fight in San Francisco in mid June.
“Now that I’m a free agent, I feel I have more options to compete against other fighters in the top ten of my division,” said Mayfield. “One more loss is not going to stop me from trying to accomplish my goal of becoming a world champion. If all goes well, I’ll be fighting in San Francisco at Kezar Pavilion in June. I still have a lot of fight left in me and I’m open to working with other promoters in the future.”
Victor Cayo to Meet Roberto Garcia on ESPN Friday Night Fights
On Thursday May 1st a special edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights will take place. It will feature a lightweight bout between Victor Manuel Cayo (32-4) and Roberto Garcia (34-3) in a 10 round main event.
Thursday’s show will take place at the historic Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida and will air live on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET.
DiBella Entertainment and Jean Pascal Promotions Sign Joel Diaz
DiBella Entertainment and Jean Pascal Promotions have joined forces to sign highly regard undefeated prospect Joel Diaz Jr. (15-0) to an exclusive co-promotional agreement. Diaz is set to make his promotional debut on May 16th at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino on Shobox.
“I am thrilled to be signing with DBE and Jean Pascal Promotions. This is where I belong and this is the promotional team that will get me the opportunities that I want and need in my career. I couldn’t be happier by joining their stables and I’m looking forward to becoming the next world champion,” said Diaz Jr.
Provodnikov vs. Algieri Tickets on Sale
WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Ruslan Provodnikov is set to make his first world title defense against New York’s undefeated Chris Algieri on Saturday, June 14th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This bout will be televised live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark. The co-main event will feature undefeated WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and Brian Rose.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Ryan Davis Steps in to Face Ishe Smith
Ishe Smith will face Ryan Davis on Friday, May 2nd at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. He will replace WBA Super Welterweight Champion Erislandy Lara after he pulled out of the fight to face Canelo Alvarez on July 12th. Mickey Bey will meet Alan Herrera in the co-main event for the Golden Boy Live! Card on May 2nd.
Steve Smoger to Hold Referee Clinic in Panama
Steve Smoger’s popular and informational Referee Clinic, recently conducted in St. Maarten, Delaware and Toronto, Ontario, Canada, will next be held May 26 at the historic Colonial Hotel and Casino in the heart of Panama City, Panama.
Smoger said, “”I look forward to returning to the beautiful country of Panama, where people have exhibited such warmth and hospitality to me in the past, and a country that is truly, in a boxing historical context, the Cradle of Champions.”
Recognized as one of boxing’s most prolific referees, Smoger’s 30-year career includes refereeing more than 850 bouts, averaging 27+ boxing matches refereed per year, and highlighted by more than 165 world title fights.
A New Jersey and Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, Smoger is also this year’s Ring 10 Arthur Mercante Award winner as the referee who exemplifies honesty and integrity in the sport of boxing and who attempts to do the best of their ability to keep the sport safe and at the same time entertaining.
Imam vs. Ugas Added to May 10th Card
An eight round junior welterweight bout has been added to the May 10th card that is scheduled to air live on ESPN. Amir “Young Master” Imam (13-0) will take on Yordenis Ugas (15-2) in the co-main event. Imam is currently promoted by Don King and Ugas is promoted by Goosen Tutor. The main event of the May 10th ESPN card is the WBC Heavyweight Title bout between Bermane “B.Ware” Stiverne and Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola.
Randall Bailey to Return on June 7th
Three time, two division world Champion Randall “KO King” Bailey (44-8) plans on making his final title run. On June 7th he will take on undefeated Ghanaian welterweight Frederick Lawson (22-0) for the USBA Title. This bout will take place at the Myth Event Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“I’m happy to have this fight,” Bailey said. “I’m looking forward to fighting in Minnesota again. I fought there in 1998 (WTKO3 vs. Rodney Wilson in Minneapolis). Now, each fight is my most important for me, and it’s also very important for me to look good winning. This is my last real run and it would be great to get another world title shot. I still feel young. I’ve never had any real injuries or damage to my body. And power never goes away!
Esquivias Upset by Tamayo
Ruben Tamayo (23-5-3) upset Efrain Esquivias (17-3-1) in Thompson Boxing Promotions “Locked n Loaded” main event on Friday, April 25th from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California. Tamayo scored the majority decision win with scores of 78-74, 76-76, and 77-75.
Giovani Santillan (12-0) remained undefeated in the co-feature by defeating Daniyar Ganyk (10-1) with scores of 78-74 on all three cards.
Rodriguez vs. Alcine Set for May 16th on ESPN Friday Night Fights
Delvin Rodriguez (28-7-3) and Joachim “Ti-Joa” Alcine (35-7-1) will meet on ESPN Friday Night Fights on May 16th. This bout will be presented live from Montreal. Joe DiGuardia of Star Boxing and Alexandre Choko of Choko Boxing will be the promoters for this fight.
