Listen Now:
Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Championship
Webcast Exclusively on DonKingTV.com on Saturday
Live From Bucharest, Romania
Adrian Diaconu (Romania/Canada) vs. Chris Henry (U.S.A.) in Main Event;
Plus Three More Bouts: Ion Ionut ‘Jo Jo’ Dan (Romania) vs. Raul Balbi (Argentina),
Viorel Simion (Romania) vs. Rudy Encarnacion (Spain),
And Bogdan Dinu (Romania) vs. Stephane Tessier (Canada);
Webcast Begins at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT (GMT 5:30 p.m.)
Visitors to DonKingTV.com Can Also See Three Fights Never-Before-Shown in America:
Nikolai Valuev vs. John Ruiz & Andrew Golota Battles Both Kevin McBride & Mike Mollo
BUCHAREST, Romania—Don King will continue his march into Internet webcasting on Saturday with a battle of undefeated boxers vying for the interim World Boxing Council light heavyweight championship that pits Adrian Diaconu against Chris Henry that can be seen live exclusively on DonKingTV.com for free beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT (GMT 5:30 p.m.) from the Sala Polivalenta in Bucharest, Romania.
Three additional bouts will be shown live from Romania. Undefeated Ion Ionut “Jo Jo” Dan (20-0, 11 KOs), from Romania will take on Argentinean veteran Raul Balbi (55-8-1, 38 KOs) in a North American Boxing Association 140-pound championship; undefeated Romanian prospect Viorel Simion (7-0, 3 KOs) tangles with Spanish battler Rudy Encarnacion (18-11-2, 8 KOs); and 2003 world junior champion Bogdan Dinu, from Romania, will make his professional debut against Stephane Tessier, from Canada.
To celebrate his second webcast, King has broken into his vast vault of previous fights to allow DonKingTV.com visitors to see three big fights for free that have never been shown in America. Beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday through the weekend, fans can see the bout where Nikolai “Giant Russian” Valuev won his first world title in a controversial decision over two-time World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz at Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 17, 2005.
“I have been overwhelmed by the people’s blessings of success to our pioneer effort in launching DonKingTV.com,” King said. “DonKingTV.com is the people’s global network. I want to thank all the people who have logged on and will long on and to the bloggers who are the modern-day apostles of the media.”
Beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Friday through the weekend, two more fan-favorite fights will be added to the DonKingTV.com schedule: Andrew Golota’s memorable Madison Square Garden brawls with Mike Tyson conqueror Kevin “The Clones Colossus” McBride that took place on Oct. 6, 2007, and the slugfest against Chicago heavyweight contender “Merciless” Mike Mollo from Jan. 19.
Diaconu (24-0, 15 KO), born in Romania and now fighting out of Montreal, is the WBC No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger at the 175-pound weight limit and was to have faced WBC champion Chad Dawson during a Don King-promoted fight card on Sept. 29 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. Diaconu was forced to bow out two weeks prior to that contest after suffering a hand injury that included bone contusions and soft tissue damage.
Diaconu’s perfect record, and ability to re-schedule the postponed match with Dawson, will be challenged by the similarly perfect Henry (21-0, 17 KOs), from Houston, Texas.
“I’m going to win this fight,” Henry said. “He [Diaconu] has no idea what he signed up for and is up against in Chris Henry.”
Henry has shown great power with an 86-percent knockout percentage in 21 fights after being a professional prizefighter for just over three years. Henry’s style is to come straight to his opponents, which should cause fireworks with Diaconu, who possesses power in both hands as well.
“Henry is talking a good game,” Diaconu said. “Let’s hope he brings that spirit to the ring on Saturday.”
Henry has recently teamed with Ronnie Shields, one of boxing’s greatest trainers.
“I needed Ronnie Shields to add just a little polish and experience,” Henry said. “Bobby Benton has always been my trainer and he’ll still be in my corner as a second along with Mike Roberts. Ronnie’s been working with me for about six months now and he has me ready.”
Col. Bob Sheridan will provide blow-by-blow ringside descriptions from Romania and is being joined by special guest analyst Glen Johnson, a former light heavyweight champion. Promoter of the Romanian event is Gankor Promotions. DonKingTV.com is the exclusive webcaster of this event. It’s not TV. It’s DonKingTV.com.
Worcester (MA) middleweight prospect Edwin Rodriguez (4-0, 3 KOs) and super middleweight Derek Hinkey (4-1, 4 KOs) are in separate 6-round co-main events. The Dominican Republic-born Rodriguez, winner of the 2006 National Golden Gloves Championships and 2005 United States Championships, is a potential rising star. Hinkey, fighting out of McDermitt, Nevada, is a Native American fighter with a rich amateur career.
“We’re doing this to promote some young talent,” Manfredo said. “Rodriguez and Hinkey were top amateurs and they have good shots of going places in pro boxing. They’re a little rough around the edges – that’s why we named the show ‘Diamonds in the Rough” – and they’re learning as pros to get to the next level.”
Also scheduled to fight on the May 17 card are Whitman (MA) super middleweight Mark “The Italian Bazooka” DeLuca (3-0, 2 KOs), 2004 National Silver Gloves champion; Hinkey’s younger brother, heavyweight Tyler Hinkey (2-0-1, 2 KOs); Providence junior welterweight Jesus Caro, New England Golden Gloves champion; Brockton (MA) welterweight Alexandria Madgziak. Caro and Madgziak will be making their pro debuts. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $40.00 (general admission), $55.00 (reserved), $75.00 (ringside) and $100.00 (Golden Ringside), are on sale at Freeport Hall and Manfredo’s Gym. Call 401.723.1359 for additional information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.
PRESENTS FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
MAY 9th, 2008
Mardi Gras Ballroom, Doors open 6pm / First bout 7pm.
FEATURING
IBA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
CONTINENTAL BELT
Carlos “BOOM” Barnett 11-1-0 vs Franklin “YAH-YAH” Lawrence 9-1-2
HEAVYWEIGHT
Kaspars Kambala 1-0-1 vs Emile Whiterocks 0-0-0
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Rodrigo Aguiar 4-3-0 vs Simon Ruvalcaba 4-9-2
CRUISERWEIGHT
DeMark Scott 1-1-1 vs Rudy Pierre Louis 3-2-0
BANTAMWEIGHT
David Springer 0-0-1 vs Jose Pacheco 0-1-3
FEATHERWEIGHT
Brian Battease 2-0-0 vs Tomas Bernal 3-6-2
(Card subject to Change)
Tickets on sale now at The Orleans Box office at 702-365-7075
Ticket can be purchased for $50 Ringside and $25 Reserved
Please secure limited press credentials for May 9th fight in advance by contacting
For more information visit www.Crown-Boxing-inc.com
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