Pavlik-Martinez April 17

Looks like WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelley Pavlik will defend against WBC junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Martinez on April 17. “The wheels are in motion,” Pavlik’s trainer Loew confirmed to the Youngstown Vindicator, “but we haven’t got any contracts.” The bout would be Martinez’ second straight at middleweight.

ARD, Sauerland extend contract

German public TV giant ARD and Team Sauerland have agreed to an early contract extension through 2015. The Berlin-based boxing stable will continue to deliver between 10 and 12 shows each year. “We are pleased to further extend our successful cooperation with ARD,” said manager Wilfried Sauerland, whose boxers are promoted by Team Sauerland. “Together we have delivered high-class boxing on a regular basis to the German and the international audience. We have a very successful line-up not only of superstars such as Arthur Abraham or world champions like Marco Huck and Sebastian Sylvester, but we also pride ourselves on our up-and-coming talents such as Dominik Britsch, Karo Murat and Alexander Frenkel. Internationally, we also have a strong roster, featuring the likes of Mikkel Kessler, Nikolai Valuev and Alexander Povetkin. We very much look forward to six more years of fantastic boxing on ARD. This is a great reward for the hard work we have put in.” (more…)

Q&A: Eric Morel

Photo: José Pérez/PR Best Boxing

Former world champion Eric Morel (41-2, 21 KOs) of San Juan Puerto Rico is primed and focused for his upcoming bout with former two-divisional world champion Gerry Peñalosa (54-7-2, 34 KOs) of Cebu, Philippines. The two will square of this Saturday at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada for the WBO interim bantamweight title. The PR Best Boxing-promoted Morel spoke with Fightnews prior to his Tuesday departure for Las Vegas from Puerto Rico. (more…)

Final bell for Neutral Corner

By Rich Marotta

It is with mixed feelings that I bring the curtain down on “Rich Marotta’s Neutral Corner” after more than 11 years on the air. The show airs on AM570, KLAC in Los Angeles on Sunday mornings from 8-9AM. The final edition of “Neutral Corner” will air this Sunday, February 14. Recently, I became color commentator on the “Top Rank Live” boxing series on FOX Sports Net. It is a tremendously exciting opportunity for me to be part of a regular boxing series once again, and to be re-united with my longtime broadcast partner Barry Tompkins. We are doing three shows a month, 36 a year, all over the United States and Mexico. Due to the travel load, I would not be able to properly conduct the radio show each Sunday, that is, on a LIVE basis. I have too much respect for the show and the sport of boxing, than to just tape the broadcast early 36 times a year, and not be able to talk live on Sunday mornings about the big fights that occurred the night before. So I have decided to call an end to “Rich Marotta’s Neutral Corner.” (more…)

Valero now champion ‘in recess’

The WBC lightweight championship is now vacant. Reigning world champion Edwin Valero (27-0, 27 KOs) has been designated as a “champion in recess,” due to a severe cut on his forehead which will keep him out of the ring for some time, as well as Valero’s desire to test the waters in the super lightweight division. WBC President Jose Sulaiman said today, “The WBC is hereby naming Edwin Valero champion in recess for him to be allowed the necessary time to recover from the injury, and to make his decision regarding the division where he will continue his career.”

In the meantime, to not freeze the title, the WBC will determine an opponent for Humberto Soto, who will fight for the 135lb green belt after a vote by the WBC Board of Governors is held.

Hopkins, Jones quotes

Photo: Jeff Fusco - Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. showed why they’re both world class trash-talkers during a NYC presser for their April 3 PPV rematch at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

BERNARD HOPKINS: “Roy Jones Jr. had nothing to do with my legacy and career up until now, but I will be the final chapter [of his]….everyone has it in their spirit to get somebody back. Whether it is justified or unjustified. This fight is redemption in a lot of ways – to finish him once and for all. I can’t speak for Roy, but my name is ‘The Executioner.’ I execute. I am going for his head. He (Jones) won that fight. I have watched that tape a million times. What Roy has to understand is that I got better. I have a resume to show that I have gotten better. That is the difference between then and now. Come April 3, Roy Jones Jr is going to realize that his worst nightmare has come true. It is important to get the knockout. There is a financial incentive. I want to finally close a chapter personally. This is a 17 year rivalry. I am going to kick his ass.”

ROY JONES: “Now, ‘Big Head’ (Hopkins) has got to get it in his mind. We both went on to do good things in this sport. Mine was great early. His was great late. The facts wont change I am still going to beat him. I only hit with one hand last time. I’ve got two hands now. With two hands, I’m going to beat the hell out of this old man. I never have dodged ‘Big Head’, and I never will….I have been trying to fight the bastard for five years. I know Bernard Hopkins. I know him very well. I have never taken anything lightly [and given him reason] to say he hopes I am ready. I don’t duck and dodge anyone. I was the test he had to pass to get out of high school. He didn’t pass that test. Now he wants to retake the test! Like I said I am still me. I can care less about how much better he has gotten. My job is to knock him out on April 3 and that is what I am going to do.” Click here for more photos…

Boxing Buzz

IBF jr lightweight champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (25-1-1, 17 KOs) will not defend his belt on March 27. “I’m going through a difficult time dealing with my wife Casey’s illness with Leukemia,” said Guerrero in a statement. “Fortunately we found a bone marrow match, but there are some complications that are making things difficult. I’m asking everyone in the boxing community along with family, friends and the general public to keep Casey in their prayers.”
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George “Monk” Foreman has been added to Hitz Boxing’s February 20th card, at the Horseshoe Casino Chicago. Details to follow shortly.
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Only 125 tickets remain for opening night of the 26th consecutive season of Battle In The Ballroom shows at the Irvine Marriott, the longest running boxing series in the history of the sport. Promoter Roy Englebrecht says season seats in 2010 are at an all time high, with 809 season seats sold for the six show season in the 1,412 Grand Ballroom, nearly 60% of capacity. Tickets priced at $32 and $40 are available at www.battleintheballroom.com.

Maidana coming back to the US

Craig Bennett

Only a few days ago the future of WBA Interim Super Lightweight champion Marcos Maidana remianed a little uncertain, even though the WBA had ordered a mandatory fight against regular king Amir Khan. However, last Tuesday Maidana’s manager Mario Margossian reached an agreement with Khan’s new promoter Golden Boy Promotions in order to allow some time to build up that fight while the two boxers will keep active by walking separate paths, at least until the end of this year. Therefore, Maidana will put his portion of the title in the line next March 27 against WBA #2 Víctor Cayó from Dominican Republic while Khan will most likely make a defense against Juan Manuel Marquez in May. (more…)

Kessler Video Blog

Photo Wende

Mikkel Kessler and Jimmy Montoya held a public training session at Berlin´s Max-Schmeling-Gym on Tuesday afternoon. The Viking Warrior is shaping up in the German capital ahead of his Super Six second-round clash with WBC Champion Carl Froch. “Things have been going fine in Berlin,” Kessler stated. “Froch said he wants to decapitate me but I think it will be the other way round.” For more quotes from Kessler, Jimmy Montoya and Team Sauerland General Manager Chris Meyer, check out the video blog from the training session.

Grigorian comeback is off

Universum Box-Promotion

Former WBO lightweight champion “King” Arthur Grigorian (33-1, 22 KOs) will not be fighting Matt Zegan (40-5-1, 21 KOs) on March 6 in Katowice, Poland. The 43-year-old former champion, who held the world title for eight years, has decided to pass on an offer for a rematch against the 33-year-old Zegan, whom he defeated on points in January 2003. “I would have gladly boxed against Matt,” said Grigorian. “I’ve already prepared myself for four weeks. But now my body is giving me a red card. I no longer can get back to my former level of performance. The mind is willing, but the body is not.” (more…)

Valero eyes fight at 140

Hilmar Rojas Erazo

By Hilmar Rojas Erazo

Once again WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero won by knockout. This time, in the second defense of his green and gold belt, he dispatched interim champion Antonio DeMarco in the ninth round on Saturday night at the Arena Monterrey. Billed as “La Gran Batalla” or “The Great Battle,” the fight was seen by U.S. fight fans on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, as well as Televisa in Mexico, and Golden Cable System and Meridian TV in Venezuela. In the ring, Valero carried out what he had planned to do in the gym during months of preparation: overcome his opponent’s height, not let him fight from long range, wear him out and break his spirit. Except for suffering a large gash on his right temple and a cut on his right eyelid, everything went pretty much perfectly as a badly beaten DeMarco did not come out for round ten and Valero cutman Mario Morales did a good job stopping the bleeding. (more…)

CES lands three Foxwoods dates

Jimmy Burchfield, president of Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), has announced that CES will promote three professional boxing cards at Foxwoods Resort Casino in 2010. The first show is scheduled for March 12 with the rematch between heavyweights Tony “TNT” Grano (16-1-1, 13 KOs) and Mark “Oak Tree” Brown (15-2, 7 KOs) headlining “Brace For Impact” in Fox Theater at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn. The undercard will be announced shortly. The other CES dates at Foxwoods are Sept. 24 and Oct. 22. (more…)

Gesta ready for Orrantia

Photo: Team Gesta

Filipino lightweight sensation Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (16-0-1, 7 KOs) returns to the ring after a short hiatus as he faces tough journeyman Jaime Orrantia (12-26-5, 4 KOs) of Lakeside, CA, on Thursday, February 25th at the Four Points Sheraton in San Diego,CA. “I’m excited. It’s been a long time since I fought,” the 22-year-old said. “I am ready to do what I have been doing before, get in and get out, but without under estimating my opponent.” (more…)

Darius Watson services

Fightnews.com has received information on funeral services for Darius Watson, who passed away last Monday due to an apparent heart attack. Watson’s funeral services will take place on Tuesday at 11:15 AM at Amos Memorial Christian Church, located at 2445 West Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles. Cards could be sent to the Watson family at 922 Diamond Dale Drive in Carson, CA 90746. (more…)

‘King of the Border’ line-up set

Unbeaten Philadelphia phenom Danny “Swift” Garcia will begin 2010 with his toughest fight to date on Friday, February 26 when he squares off against British veteran Ashley Theopane in the 10-round junior welterweight co-main event of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

Also on the February 26 card – which is headlined by the 10-round featherweight battle between El Paso favorite Antonio Escalante and Juarez’s Mickey Roman – will be bouts featuring top Texas prospects Jermell Charlo and Omar Figueroa, Mexico’s Luis Enrique Grajeda and Uganda’s Sharif Bogere. (more…)

Jones Jr. inspired NFL champs

Photo: Tom Casino/Square Ring

One day after the New Orleans Saints historic Super Bowl victory over the heavily favored Indianapolis Colts, Roy Jones Jr. reflected back to that August day he was invited to the Saints’ training camp by Head Coach Sean Payton and delivered a speech to the team, which turned into a pep talk for the upcoming season. The theme of Roy’s speech was teamwork, “Each individual effort is wonderful, but the sum of all playing together as a team is greater. The Saints began the season by winning their first thirteen games and, it seemed against all odds, became Super Bowl Champions. It means that God is still using me to deliver positive messages to people,” said Jones. For more details and photos click here…

Full Report: Adamek-Estrada

By Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside; photos by Ed Mulholland

A sellout crowd of 10,223 at the Prudential Center in Newark this past Saturday, with thousands of fans wearing the Polish national colors of red and white, cheered wildly for their boxing hero Tomasz “Goral” Adamek (40-1, 28 KOs) as he retained his IBF International heavyweight championship with a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision victory over Jason “Big Six” Estrada (16-3, 4 KOs). (More)

DeMarco: No excuses

Former interim WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco (23-2-1, 17KO) offered no excuses once he touched down in his hometown of Tijuana, MX, Sunday afternoon, after his loss against the now full-fledged WBC king Edwin Valero (27-0, 27KO) last Saturday night in Monterrey, MX. “I don’t have an exact response to what happened because I don’t know. I can’t explain why my body didn’t respond,” DeMarco said. “I do admit that in front of me I had a great champion, there is nothing to discuss. At one point of the fight, I couldn’t execute our game plan,” the 24-year-old DeMarco added. “I tried to go toe-to-toe but Valero was intelligent. He deserved to win.” (more…)

Margarito decision coming soon

The California State Athletic Commission’s one year suspension of former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito is due to expire later this week and Margarito is looking to get back into the ring on the March 13 Pacquiao-Clottey card in Dallas. Team Margarito has already submitted an application for a boxing license to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which is currently being reviewed. Reciprocal enforcement of suspended boxing licenses are not mandatory beyond the term of the license itself, so despite the recent recommendation of the Association of Boxing Commissions to not license Margarito at this time, Texas boxing authorities are within their legal rights if they choose to do so. Stay tuned.

A new boxing Empire?

Although he has previously kept a lower public profile, Greg Cohen, Founder and CEO of The Empire Sports and Entertainment Inc., has long been a major player in boxing. The former majority owner of Cedric Kushner Promotions (CKP) and partner in Duva Boxing has been promotionally involved with a number of heavyweight champions and top contenders, including former WBO Champion Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs from the very first day of his pro career. (more…)

Boxing back at Miccosukee

The popular boxing series “Boxeo TELEMUNDO” will return to the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming in Miami, Florida on February 19. In the main event, former world title challenger William “Chirizo” Gonzalez (23-3, 20 KOs) will face Jesus “Taquero” Vazquez (19-3-1, 17 KOs) in a bout scheduled for twelve rounds with the vacant WBO Latin bantamweight title at stake. The 28-year-old Gonzalez is ranked WBA #9, WBO #12 and IBF #13. Vazquez is a former WBC Continental Americas beltholder. Also, former WBA world champion Clarence “Bones” Adams (44-6-4, 20 KOs) takes on veteran Edel “Cuate” Ruiz (33-22-4, 24 KOs) with the vacant WBA NABA featherweight title on the line. (more…)

Abraham headed to Palm Springs

Photo Wende

Super Six tournament point leader King Arthur Abraham (31-0, 25 KOs) is on his way to America. The undefeated 29-year-old has boarded a plane to Los Angeles this morning. Coach Ulli Wegner is moving training camp to Palm Springs where Abraham will clash with Andre Dirrell in the second round of the Super Six World Boxing Classic on March 6. The fight takes place at the Agua Caliente Casino, Resort, Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif., in greater Palm Springs, and is broadcast live on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). “I am thrilled to return to America,” King Arthur said. “If you want to become a true superstar, you have to impress on both sides of the ocean. My KO victory over Edison Miranda in July 2008 was a good start. The Super Six tournament will give me maximum exposure in the US and I will continue where I left it when I take on Dirrell in four weeks.” (more…)

Brown-Cuello added in Verona

By Rick Scharmberg

Former four-time world title challenger John “The Eastern Beast” Brown (24-17-2, 11 KOs), of Atlantic City, NJ will face Harrison Cuello (18-12-3, 14 KOs), of The Bronx, New York at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York on Friday, February 26. Headlining the big seven-bout show will be hard-hitting Brazilian Isaac Rodriguez (16-0, 13 KOs) taking on former Contender Brian Vera (16-3, 10 KOs) in a ten round middleweight bout. The promoter is Stars-R-Out Promotions. (more…)

Yordan training in the US

By Jeff Pamungkas

Featherweight world rated Daud Yordan (25-0, 19 KOs) has decided to join Nonito Donairre Sr’s Kennel Boxing Gym in San Leandro, California within this month. “We think he needs to boost his boxing ability and physical condition in the US,” Pino Bahari, Yordan’s manager said. Yordan has fought twice in the US, outpointing Antonio Meza in September 2008, and a no contest with Robert Guerrero in March last year. After the Guerrero fight, Yordan has fought twice in Indonesia.

Branco, Spada win

Last Friday in Fuscaldo, Italy OPI 2000 (Salvatore and Christian Cherchi) staged a show with five fights. In the main event former WBA light heavyweight champion Silvio Branco (60-10-2, 37 KOs) won the vacant WBC International cruiserweight title against Laszlo Hubert (24-6, 15 KOs) by TKO in round 4. It was the debut for Silvio Branco in the cruiserweight division.

Also, WBC #2 middleweight Domenico Spada (30-2, 15 KOs) won by TKO in round one against Norbert Nagy (7-3, 5 KOs). Next for Spada is a rematch for the WBC interim middleweight title against Sebastian Zbik. (more…)