Golovkin to face Ishe

Universum Box-Promotion

Another major fight has been added to Universum Box-Promotion’s November 21 world title tripleheader at the Sparkassen Arena in Kiel, Germany. Spotlight Boxing’s unbeaten middleweight shooting star Gennady Golovkin (17-0, 14 KOs), rated #1 in the WBC and WBO and #2 by the WBA, will defend his WBO Intercontinental belt against veteran Ishe Smith (21-4, 9 KOs). Also on the undercard will be 2008 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist Rachim Chachkiev in his second pro fight against 30-fight veteran Denis Solomko, spectacular flyweight Pal “Pimpa” Bedak (5-0, 3 KOs) against Lahcene Zemmouri (17-12-1, 10 KOs), plus popular heavyweight Christian Hammer.

The three world title fights feature the huge cruiserweight showdown between unbeaten WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (30-0, 17 KOs) and WBC cruiserweight champion Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-1-1, 10 KOs), plus WBC interim super featherweight Humberto Gutierrez (26-1-1, 19 KOs) defending against Vitali Tajbert (17-1), and super middleweight contenders Dimitri Sartison (25-1, 16 KOs) and Stjepan Bozic (23-3, 14 KOs) colliding for the WBA 168lb championship that was vacated when Mikkel Kessler was named WBA super champion.

Andre Ward: I am a fighter

Under his family’s guidance, Andre Ward trained for years with a sustained focus on the 2004 Olympics. His discipline paid off with a gold medal.

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TONIGHT: Through the Ropes!

Boxing fans, get ready to climb “Through the Ropes” with the #1 boxing news radio show hosted by award winning boxing writer Marc Lichtenfeld! This week’s guests are HBO’s Harold Lederman, Angelo Dundee and Florida Boxing Hall of Fame President Butch Flansberg. Call or email your questions to ttropes@earthlink.net. Through The Ropes airs live coast to coast on Thursday nights from 9:00 – 10:00 ET on 75 affiliates of the Sports Byline USA Broadcast Network, including great radio stations like KSHP 1400 AM in Las Vegas and WNSR 560 AM in Nashville. The one-hour show will also be heard on American Forces Network, Sportsbyline.com and Fightnews.com. Fightnews readers can listen live by clicking here tonight at 9PM ET.

Friday the 13th boxing

By Jesse Kelley

Justin Seurer of the Midwest Sports Council, RDS Company and the Grand Casino Hinckley are proud to bring boxing back Hinckley Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota on Friday the 13th! In the main event, Matt “The Predator” Vanda (41-9, 22 KOs) is stepping into the ring against Phil “The Drill” Williams (11-1, 10 KOs) in a ten round super middleweight bout. Vanda – who has gone the distant in toe-to-toe with contenders Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (twice), John Duddy and Sebastien Demers – is ready drill “The Drill!” Williams is coming off of a huge win stopping former three-time world title challenger Antwun Echols in June. Vanda is one of the most popular fighters in the State of Minnesota but Williams is a fan favorite at the Hinckley Casino having 4 of his last 5 fights at venue. (more…)

Something in the air

Report by Andreas Hale
Photos by Chris Cozzone

There’s something in the air about November 14th’s showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto that says fight fans are in for a historic fight with tremendous implications. The signs were all apparent as the final press conference took place at the Hollywood Theater inside the MGM Grand Garden on Wednesday . . . Click here for more

Chargin inks Franco

Legendary promoter Don Chargin has signed hot unbeaten featherweight prospect Michael ‘Lil Warrior’ Franco (15-0, 10 KOs). Franco, who has been sought out by multiple promoters over the past year will take on veteran Nicky Bentz (32-7-2, 29 KOs) November 28th at the Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, California. The bout is scheduled for eight rounds.

Tyson arrested in LA

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has reportedly been arrested at LAX for allegedly roughing up a paparazzi. Iron Mike has been detained by airport police on suspicion of battery. The paparazzi was also arrested before being taken to the hospital.

Cotto-Pacman for super champ belt

The World Boxing Organization President, Francisco Valcárcel has stated that the WBO Executive Committee has resolved to bestow on the winner of the Miguel Cotto–Manny Pacquiao bout to be held on Saturday at the MGM Grand the WBO Super Champion belt, together with all the privileges and rights that accompany such a title; such as extension of mandatory title defense; eligibility to be considered for designation as the mandatory challenger in higher or lower division; eligibility to be considered for designation as the mandatory challenger in the same division; and, an honorary member of the WBO for life. For more information regarding the Super Champion designation, Section 14 of the WBO Regulations of World Championship Title is the place to go.

Pacquiao, Cotto set for showdown

Photo by Chris Cozzone

Photo: Six-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and three-time world champion Miguel Cotto posed off today at the Hollywood Theatre in the MGM Grand Casino, Las Vegas, during the final press conference for Saturday’s “Firepower” showdown.

Preview: Kessler vs Ward

Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward train for their November 21st Super Six World Boxing Classic match.

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TKO inks Blankenship!

During the biggest boxing week of the year in Las Vegas, TKO Boxing Promotions has announced the signing of Las Vegas based amateur star Bradley Blankenship to an exclusive promotional contract. The 20 year old Blankenship is a former standout running back for Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas. After graduating in 2007, he enrolled at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas where he joined the boxing team and quickly lost forty pounds of his ready made football build of 5’11”, 200 pounds. . . . Click here for more

Pacquiao, Cotto get keys to city

Photo by Chris Cozzone

Photo: At the start of the final presser, held today at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, both, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, received official keys to the City of Las Vegas by Mayor Oscar B. Goodman.

Diaz-Malignaggi presser

Photo: John Booz

After controversy, heated conversations and negotiations were settled, former three-time lightweight world champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz and former junior welterweight world champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi met face-to-face yesterday to announce the December 12 rematch of their exciting August 22 bout. Diaz and Malignaggi will square off on neutral ground at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois in 12 round junior welterweight bout that will be televised live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark. (more…)

Universum signs Jack Culcay-Keth

Photo: Universum Box-Promotion

By Wolfgang Schiffbauer

German amateur standout, Jack Culcay-Keth, signed a professional contract with Germany’s Universum Box-Promotion today. Keth and his manager Moritz Klatten alongside Universum president Klaus-Peter Kohl and Dietmar Poszwa announced the deal earlier today at Hamburg’s famous East Hotel. Culcay-Keth is well known for winning a gold medal at the 2009 amateur world championships in Milano, Italy, being the first German boxer to capture a world title since 14 years. The 24-year-old will be trained by Michael Timm and former lightweight world champion Artur Grigorian. His father, Roberto, will be in his corner, too. As an amateur, he won 95 out of 126 fights, with three bouts even. For more details and photos click here…

Cotto, Pacquiao video

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Marquez: I’m ready to fight

Here’s the latest in the ongoing Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez IV saga. “I’m a fighter, not a negotiator,” said two-time world champion Rafael Marquez. “I read all this talk about money and promoters and networks, but none of that concerns me. I’m ready to fight, and my promoter Gary Shaw is ready to begin negotiations with Israel’s people. Gary has been my promoter for a long time, and he has full authority from me to make an offer to the Vazquez people. Bottom line, and Israel knows this as well, we can make more money fighting each other than anyone else. I called Top Rank last month to see about fighting Juanma Lopez, and they said his schedule is filled for 2010. Enough talk. I’m ready to fight, and Gary is ready to make a deal. Israel needs to know the truth, which is that he and I are made for each other. We’re going down in history together.”

Feast of boxing for SA fight fans

By Ron Jackson

South African boxing fans are in for a feast of boxing in the next two weeks with three tournaments coming up. Branco Milenkovic of Branco Productions puts on a bumper bill on November 20 and Andre Kerr of Seconds Out Promotions presents a nine-bout bill on November 27 and then on November 30 Jeff Ellis of African Ring in conjunction with Golden Gloves Promotions presents his “Christmas Cracker” Box and Dine tournament. (more…)

“The Defense” in San Diego!

By Felipe Leon

Boxing returns to San Diego, California this Thursday as Bobby D. Presents in association with Jorge Marron Productions promote a well-matched card titled “The Defense” at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. In the scheduled eight round super bantamweight bout, Chula Vista’s own Christopher Martin (15-0-2, 3 KOs) takes on the tough Eduardo “Lalo” Arcos (15-0, 12 KOs) of Tijuana, MX. The slick boxing Martin is coming off a rare KO of the durable Torrence Daniels last May in Sacramento while the brawling Arcos is on a six fight win streak with four of them coming in within the distance. (more…)

Eat at Julio’s

Photo: Miguel Sanchez

After months of anticipation, six-time world boxing champion and Mexican icon Julio César Chávez has opened “Julio César Chávez Campeones,” a boxing-themed restaurant and entertainment venue in Mesa, Arizona. Campeones (Champions) is a 30,000-square-foot venue featuring authentic Mexican food, a full sports bar, arcade games and a WBC Legends of Boxing Museum. In addition, the venue features an 1,700-seat event center for concerts, boxing matches, quinceañeras and community events. “The grand opening of Julio César Chávez Campeones is a special moment for me,” said Chávez. “It’s very gratifying to have the opportunity to open a place that the Hispanic community can be proud of.” The $4.5 million facility will employ 80 and is projecting revenues of $7-$10 million for the first year of business. Click here for more photos…

Pavlik to return December 19

WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik will defend his belts on December 19 against WBC #3 rated Miguel Espino (20-2-1, 9 KOs) at Youngstown State University’s Beeghly Center in Youngstown, Ohio. Pavlik was forced to pull out of a bout two weeks earlier because of a staph infection in his left hand. Espino is best known as a participant on season one of “The Contender.” The Pavlik camp took the fight on short notice, rather than be stripped of the belts. “I talked with my dad, Jack (Loew) and my manager (Cameron Dunkin) and we decided it’s not worth losing the title,” Pavlik told the Youngstown Vindicator. “If I lose, I want to lose fighting.” The bout will be televised on Top Rank’s December 19 “Latin Fury” card.

Ward, Kessler: respectful & ready

By Robert Hough

Their fight is 11 days away, but super middleweights Andre Ward and Mikkel Kessler are ready to get after it in 11 hours. Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) and Ward (20-0, 13 KOs), the last pairing in the first round of Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic, were polite, respectful and full-go serious Tuesday in a teleconference to discuss their November 21 fight in Oakland, Calif., for Kessler’s WBA title. Kessler, who left his native Denmark for California in late October, told his challenger that he’s accustomed to the time difference, training goes well and he’s dialed in. “I’m enjoying myself over here,” said Kessler, who’s in Sacramento, about 80 miles from Oakland. “I’m having a good time and I feel comfortable. I’m ready to fight you, Ward, and I hope you’re ready.” Ward, who lives in the Oakland area, spoke with an edge in his voice throughout the teleconference. “I’m not having a good time and I’m not comfortable,” he responded. “I’m ready to fight.”

Foreman headed to Cut Off, LA

The son of a legend will be in action for “November 2 Remember” a boxing and MMA event set to take place November 14, 2009 at the Youth Center in Cut Off, Louisiana. Heavyweight George “Monk” Foreman (3-0, 3 KOs) will be in a featured 4 round boxing match. The main event will feature local light heavyweight Justin “Ironman” Verdin (8-0, 6 KOs), the current Louisiana State Champion, taking on a stiff challenge in Gulfport, Mississippi native Gevonte Davis (4-4). Both boxers are coming off of career best wins, Verdin against Larry Pryor and Davis against unbeaten Anthony Doughty. (more…)

Fight Camp 360° Episode 2

The critically acclaimed reality series from SHOWTIME Sports®—FIGHT CAMP 360°: Inside The Super Six World Boxing Classic—returns to SHOWTIME with Episode #2, premiering Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10:40 p.m. ET/PT. The six-episode reality series takes viewers behind the scenes of the groundbreaking Super Six World Boxing Classic. From the conception of the tournament to the crowning of a new champion in the super middleweight division, FIGHT CAMP 360°: Inside The Super Six World Boxing Classic will profile the colorful and charismatic personalities of the fighters, their families and promoters. (more…)

Pacquiao, Cotto arrive

Report and photos by Chris Cozzone

A mob scene-and-a-half greeted two world champions today at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Manny Pacquiao got the mob scene, Miguel Cotto got the half, when the two made their grand arrivals at the venue where they will face one another Saturday night on HBO-PPV . . . Click here for more

Cotto hits the MGM

Photo by Chris Cozzone

Photo:  Puerto Rican pride Miguel Cotto made his arrival today at the MGM, shortly after Pacquiao, at 12:45.  Though the crowd that greeted Cotto lacked the numbers, it was no less enthusiastic. Stay tuned for more.