Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


Ronald Hearns is in line to become the middleweight champion of the world, over twenty years since his father Thomas “Hitman” Hearns last held a version of the 160lb title, as he takes on WBA champion Felix Sturm (34-2-1), on February 19th.

The 32 year-old from Southfield, Michigan is on the back of five straight wins since his solitary career loss against Harry Joe Yorgey in March last year and boasts twenty knockout wins on his impressive 27 fight record.

He now faces a daunting trip to the Porsche Arena in the German’s own backyard. The three-time world middleweight champion has never lost a points decision in eleven title contests in his native Germany and Hearns will know that he may have to go for the knockout.

In his only fight outside Europe, Sturm, 31, went the distance with an aging Oscar De La Hoya in 2004 in a fight that many people believe the German champion won on points, with De La Hoya earning a generous decision at the MGM Grand.

The task now falls to Hearns, who will have the added pressure of being the son of a six-time world champion, but promoter Lou DiBella believes his father’s achievements will only spur the gangly middleweight on to pick up the title.

"It's a tremendous career opportunity for Ronald," DiBella told ESPN. "It's a shot at a title his father once held so proudly.

I think that Sturm is extremely talented. We all know that, but he's been
around for a long time, he's not a huge puncher and Ronald can really punch, so it's a great opportunity for him. It's an opportunity he won't get here [in the United States].

If Ronald can go to Germany and do well, even if he loses, he can come back here bigger than when he left. He'll go there and give it everything he has against one of the best middleweights in the world,” he added.

 Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


The much anticipated heavyweight match-up between WBA champion David Haye and IBF and WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko is almost finalised according to an inside source with the Klitschko camp.

David Williams, who is Wladimir’s personal chef and camp manager let slip in an online post that all the two fighters need to thrash out is a date and venue for the bout, with financial terms agreed and both fighters on board.

It’s now down to Haye and Klitschko’s respective promotional companies to work out the best date, which is projected to be April or May next year and a venue, which will be London or Germany, after Las Vegas was all but ruled out by K2.

The only stumbling block to negotiations had been the Klitschko brothers’ deal with RTL and that seems to have been worked out and it is now down to Sky Sports to work with their German counterparts to work out the best way forward.

Its well documented that both fighters want this fight more than any other and it now seems that the wishes of the boxing fans are going to be granted, after the disappointment of the Manny Pacquaio v Floyd Mayweather bout never making it to the advanced talks stage.

David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko is now set to big one of the highest grossing fights in history and according to estimations, could out-sell the Mike Tyson v Lennox Lewis fight in 2002, which up to now, is the highest heavyweight earner of all time.

Bob Trieger
Full Court Press

Battle-tested Sherman “Tank” Williams plans to give living legend Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield a beating January 22 when they headline “Redemption In America: The Journey Begins Now” Pay-Per-View Event, live from America’s resort, The Greenbrier’s Colonial Hall, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs), who is at training camp in Ft. Lauderdale (FL) with his head trainer, John David Jackson, feels disrespected by Holyfield (43-10-2, 218 KOs) heading into their 12-round main event for Holyfield’s World Boxing Federation title.

“I’m motivated to whip Holyfield and he has a well deserved proper beating coming,” Williams said. “January 22nd is going to be great with me beating Holyfield and taking the WBF title.”

“Redemption In American,” presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North American by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.


“Redemption” will fuse world class boxing and entertainment; showcasing a production that includes high-energy music presented by Broadway performers, along with dancers and aerial artists. Competitive supporting fights, soon to be announced, will set the stage for the main event featuring Holyfield on his journey to become the first heavyweight champion to regain the coveted world title four different times.

Williams, a native of Freeport, Bahamas, has defeated former world champion Al “Ice” Cole, fought multiple world title challenger Jameel McCline to a draw, and extended former world heavyweight titlist Ruslan Chagaev the full distance in their 2005 fight.

“Tank” realizes that an opportunity be beat a future Hall of Famer like Holyfield can pump life back into his career. I’m excited about this fight, not just because I’m fighting Holyfield, but what beating him impressively, or knocking him out, can do for me. It can better position me for a fight against Vitaly Klitschko or David Haye. They’ve been fighting hand-picked looney tunes. Even though I’m a Bahamian, I’ve lived here (Vero Beach, FL) a long time and I represent the United States, Western Hemisphere and the Great Atlantic. I want to bring one of their title belts back to this side of the Atlantic.

“Just because he’s a few years older, Holyfield still is the same into the ring. Age is wisdom. His age means nothing to me. I plan on going to war with him. Styles make fights and I’ve been overlooked in the past because of my style. Some don’t like my pressure. I’m expecting to fight the greatest Holyfield, which will bring out the best in me.”

Packages include event tickets, hotel accommodations plus tickets to the Greenbrier Classic PGA Golf Tournament in July and tickets to two concerts starring Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. Ticket/hotel packages can be purchased at www.greenbrier.com or by calling 1.800.453.4858. Deadline to book reservations is Jan. 21.

Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET, and first PPV fight at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.

For more information about the Holyfield-Williams PPV event go to www.greenbrier.com, www.NCMusicFactory.com or www.integratedsportsnet.com.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


Emanuel Steward has spoken of the potential his new charge Chad Dawson has after taking over as head trainer from Eddie Mustafa Muhammed and believes the former light-heavyweight champion has something special.

Steward, 66, is in the twilight of his glittering career, where he has trained or advised such greats as Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis and Oscar De La Hoya. The Hall of fame trainer believes that Dawson has the potential to be one of the 175lb greats.

“I have always been a big fan of Chad’s and I think he will bring excitement back to the light heavyweight division and to boxing,” said Steward. “I am not interested in winning decisions. I’m concussion crazy. I only want Chad to win by knockouts and I know that’s what he wants to do too.

Steward takes over the reigns for Dawson’s upcoming rematch with WBC title holder Jean Pascal and the two-time BWAA trainer of the year believes a new strategy will help Dawson overturn his solitary loss and get back the title he once possessed.

“It was very frustrating watching Chad, who I think has an enormous amount of talent, fighting the wrong type of fight against Pascal,” explained Steward.

“At this stage of my career, I’m only going to work with fighters who can achieve greatness and I see greatness in Chad Dawson,” he added.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


American Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell has been speaking to World Boxing News about his vision for 2011, after a successful 2010, when the Maryland boxer fought five times, winning all five by stoppage.

6’ 2” Mitchell, has always kept busy in his three-year career, cramming twenty one fights in since turning professional in January 2008 and believes 2011 will entail more of the same as he aims to climb the heavyweight rankings in the next 12 months.

“2011 is a very big year for me and I expect big things to happen for me this year,” Mitchell told WBN.

“I would like to fight 5 to 6 times this year if possible and I am very happy with the way my career has gone thus far, 21 fights in a little less than 3 years is a great achievement for me.

I believe that my team and promotional company, Golden Boy Promotions, have done a great job in getting me the right fights at the right time and hopefully, I will continue to mature and learn in the ring under the watchfull eye of my trainer Andre Hunter.”

Mitchell has fourteen knockouts in his twenty wins, with ten coming in the first two rounds and hopes that his power, along with his skills, will be enough to propel him to a heavyweight title of some sort next year.

“I believe that managment and (GBP) will put me in the right fights to hopefully fight for one of the smaller titles in 2011, as I believe that I am ready for that level of competiton.

By the end of next year, I fully expect to still be undefeated and have performed well enough to be considered a legitimate contender in 2012.”

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


With a distinct lack of world-class middleweight fighters around at the moment, WBC titleholder Sergio Martinez is hoping to lure a top opponent for a big money showdown on March 12th at Madison Square Garden.

After apparently calling out Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in the past, the Argentinean has limited options at the 160lb limit after already facing Paul Williams (twice), he may have to look at the weights either side of his, for the headline name he needs to generate the big bucks.

He has a mandatory challenger in Sebastian Zbik, who has already been rejected out of hand and could cost the champion his title, but its not something that would worry the 35 year-old as he wants to make the most out the limited time he has at the top.

WBA “Super” champion Felix Sturm is already under contract to defend his title in Germany on Februay 19th, whilst IBF holder Sebastian Sylvester defends in January. Which leaves Russian WBO champion Dmitry Pirog, who, without being a huge name, would still generate interest because of the unification aspect and could be another way of Martinez avoiding the rejected Zbik.

With no real big-names at 160lb, a possiblilty could be a third bout with Paul Williams, to give the American the chance to avenge his stone-cold knockout defeat in November and finally close the door on the Martinez v Williams chapter.

My previous article out the champion “not being P4P class” has caused quite a stir and the champion still may find it hard to prove that fact, unless he can find a credible opponent, which other than Williams, he may find hard at 160lb.

Related article: http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2010/12/sergio-martinez-is-not-p4p-class.html?utm_source=BP_recent

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


After his gallant performance in Las Vegas against unified lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in November, Michael Katsidis is back home in Australia, considering his options for a possible move up to light-welterweight.

One of those such options, according to manager Brendon Smith, is a showdown in England against WBA champion Amir Khan, who himself is on the back of a lifetime best performance in the big fight capital of the world.

Katsidis, 30, is now a huge name in the US, despite never holding a world title of any sort, but his manager told The Sydney Morning Herald that his charge is more than capable of taking Khan’s title and thinks any potential fight would be big business, not only in the UK, but around the world.

''I believe that (Katsidis v Khan) is a fight that would absolutely fill anywhere in England, and that's a fight that would be watched all over the world, it makes a great fight and Michael is two out of two in England.”

24 year-old Khan is expected to defend his title in April at the MEN Arena in Manchester or in his hometown of Bolton, England, with Lamont Peterson already being mentioned as a possible challenger. Aussie Katsidis’ willingness to travel to England, may give him a slight chance of turning the champions head towards a fight that would have the American audiences licking their lips.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


Former WBC light-middleweight champion Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora will square up against Bryan Vera in Texas early next year as he tries to get back to winning ways after his disappointing draw with surprise Manny Pacquiao foe Shane Mosley.

Many people in the boxing world thought that Mora did enough to take victory from the former three-weight world champion in September and that it should be Mora, if either of the two, who faces Manny Pacquiao and not Mosley.

It’s now down to the 30 year-old to get himself back into the world title picture, after he surprisingly defeated Vernon Forrest in June 2008, to hold the WBC 154lb title for three months, before Forrest reversed the result at the MGM Grand.

Its not that unexpected that he would choose an opponent like Vera, who has just one victory in his last five bouts and seems to be on the down slope in his career since his career-best TKO win over possible Sergio Martinez opponent Andy Lee in 2007.

Both men also appeared on “The Contender” boxing TV series, Mora in 2004 and Vera in 2007, with differing fortunes as Mora was crowned the first ever champion in the popular series and Texan Vera was knocked out in the first round of his respective competition.

Mora (22-1-2), will have to step up in class though if he wants to entice the likes of Martinez and Pacquiao to set up a clash with him in 2011 and will also have to stay a lot busier, with just three fights in over two years since losing his world title.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


Ashley “Treasure” Theophane finally gets his long-overdue British light-welterweight title shot next year, after winning a final eliminator in 2007. The bout will form part of a British title double header at Wembley Arena on the 5th of February along with Craig Watson’s bout with John O’Donnell for the vacant welterweight title.

Paddington-born Theophane, 30, has been based in the US for the last five years, gaining valuable experience sparring, training and fighting some of the worlds best 140lbs fighters and believes this will be the difference when he and Daws (21-1-2) meet in the ring.

“I've been mixing with world class fighters for a while now and I don't rate Lenny as a world level fighter, so I expect to outclass him,” Theophane explained to WBN.

“He has fought no one on the level of Danny Garcia, Demarcus Corley or Delvin Rodriguez, our records tell the story and I will win come 5th February,” added Theophane.

After fighting in Britain in his last victory against Willie Thompson, Theophane (28-4-1) would have like to have liked to have continued persuing his American dream, but his promoters want him to raise his profile in his home country as he is relatively unkown in the UK.

“My management wanted this fight more than me as I prefer to focus on fighting in America. It was either fighting the British champion or defending my IBO International title in Holland and fighting Lenny Daws was the prefered choice of my management.

It will be a very good fight and I find it laughable that he even thinks he has a chance of stopping me. After beating Lenny Daws a fight with Randel Bailey or Andre Berto are the logical fights for me.”

Lenny Daws v Ashley Theophane and John O’Donnell v Craig Watson are live from Wembley Arena on Saturday 5th February 2010.

Tickets are available from Henneseysports.com and priced £30, £40, £75 and £100.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


It seems the fight will happen in 2011, given that both men keep their unbeaten records in tact and has all the makings of a featherweight classic, with the winner almost nailed on to break the pound for pound top ten with victory.

Bob Trieger
Full Court Press

Picture by KZ Event Productions

WBA and IBA Light Heavyweight World Champion Beibut Shumenov (10-1, 6 KOs) has been preparing for the biggest fight in his very short, but storied career, training for "The Unification," his Jan. 8, 2011 blockbuster boxing event first at Team Barry Boxing in Henderson, Nevada with his head trainer and 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist Kevin Barry, and now in Shymkent.

"The Unification," presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions and KZ Event Productions in association with Universum Box-Promotions, will feature Shumenov and WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Juergen Braehmer (36-2, 29 KOs) putting their respective titles on the line kicking-off the 2011 boxing year in exciting fashion, in a 12-round WBA-WBO Light Heavyweight Unification World Championship on January 8, 2011 at the Ice Mansion in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

Shymkent-native Shumenov, now fighting out of Las Vegas, owns and operates KZ Event Productions along with his brother Chingis is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions.

The Machine

Shumenov is a workout "animal," unlike anybody Barry has been associated with in the past."I'm constantly putting the brakes on and the only time we butt heads is when I try to slowdown his training," Barry noted. "Training camp has been outstanding. I've never worked with or been around anybody like Beibut, who is very mentally strong, focused and disciplined. He is 100-percent, totally committed to each and every fight, unlike anybody I've ever seen. He blocks everything out and has no outside life. His whole purpose -- from the time he gets up in the morning to going back to bed at night -- is to do as much as possible to be the best boxer that he can possibly be. As a trainer, he is a Godsend to be around. Beibut is a machine - nothing less!

"We've had a very productive, yet relaxed training camp. We start every day with a hug. Our conversations at the gym always incorporate a joke from somebody. Ravshan (Hudaynazarov, 13-0, 11 KOs) has become quite a jokester; the more English he learns, the funnier he gets."

Food

Unlike many fighters, Beibut doesn't blow-up between fights, "He eats very clean," Barry added. "He eats a very disciplined diet allowing his body to perform at maximum level for training."

Kazakhstan

"I am very excited about being in Beibut's hometown and him returning home as the WBA champion," Barry remarked. "He is a much different fighter than the last time he fought there."

"The weather is better than I expected here in Shymkent and Beibut has his mind in complete fight mode. He's ready for everything."

Fight Plan

Braehmer is also a world champion and Team Shumenov has been preparing and working on a game plan to fight the southpaw. "Every minute of training in the gym has been geared around our fight plan," Barry explained. "Beibut is now able to do things he couldn't do before and the exciting thing is that he is still improving. I'm asking more of him and he's taken every step in stride.

"Braehmer is an experienced 11-year pro and WBO champion who must be respected. Experience is big in this business. On paper, if the fight was judged on experience, we'd come in second. But Beibut sets high goals for himself; the bigger the challenge, the higher his motivation. We respect Braehmer and he has a solid team around him. But I could not be more confident than I am. Beibut is doing terrific things in training and I believe he is on track to win both belts.

"We've studied Braehmer and put a strategy in place like we did for the Uzelkov defense. It's different, of course, but everything planned and worked on is conducive for resulting in Beibut winning the fight."

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


After suffering the first loss of his career against Zab Judah in November, Lucas Martin Matthysse is taking a tentative step back into the ring by taking on fallen champion DeMarcus Corley in Mendoza, Argentina on the 21st of January.

Matthysse, 28, had an awe-inspiring record prior to his defeat by Judah and was expected to be challenging for a world title rather than rebuilding his career. New Yorker Judah, upset the apple cart with a surprising split decision victory in New Jersey, inflicting his first defeat in 29 contests.

Of his 27 wins, Matthysse boasts 25 knockouts of his record, with 21 of them coming within three rounds and showed his devastating power when stopping former light-welterweight champion Vivian Harris in four rounds last February.

He now takes on 36 year-old former world champion DeMarcus Corley, who it must be said, has looked way past his best since turning 30 and boasts only nine wins on his record in the past seven years, the latest was a one-sided loss to Sergey Fedchenko in Ukraine two months ago.

It’s a fight I fully expect Matthysse to come through on a wide points margin, but if he can knock out “Chop Chop” in fine style, something only three men have done in his 15 defeats, then it will put him right back in the world title picture.

Related Article: http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2010/11/demarcus-corley-should-retire-after.html

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


A March 19th date has been pencilled in for 35 year-old Brian Magee’s toughest test to date against Canada’s unbeaten IBF super-middleweight champion Lucien Bute at the Bell Centre in Monteal.

Magee (34-3-1) is the current European champion, a title which he is likely to vacate as he steps up in class to face one of the top boxers in the division and the Irishman is confident he can handle the pressure as he takes on the champion on his home patch.

“I am really looking forward to the fight,” Magee told WBN. “I have been to Canada many times as an amateur and I love the place, especially Montreal. The people are great and it’s a great city.”

The challenger held the IBO title from 2001 to 2004 and has travelled abroad before when controversially unsuccessful in a European title challenge in Germany in 2005, but he believes the experience he has gained since then will help him in his quest for recognised world title.

“I’m excited about taking on Bute, I know I am up against the best in the division. I have worked hard for five years to get here and deserve the chance to fight for this title,” added Magee.

The southpaw’s other two defeats came against world class opponents and both were gruelling affairs, with Magee giving as good as he got against both current and former WBC champions Carl Froch and Robin Reid in epic battles, four and six years ago respectively.

WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez is back in the ring on April 16th, but the chances of him gaining a much anticipated unification bout are fading as champions Chris John, Hozumi Hasegawa and Yuriorkis Gamboa are unlikely to travel to Puerto Rico.

The likeliest outcome will be a routine defence of his title, before a possible unification with Gamboa or John in August, as the two-weight world champion is looking to unify the division before moving up to super-featherweight.

Lopez, 27, broke into the WBN pound for pound top 10 this year, with his stoppage victory over Rafael Marquez and boasts an awesome knockout record of 27 in his 30 victories, without a solitary loss to his name.

“Juanma” is being touted as a possible challenger to British WBO 130lb champion Ricky Burns, but that fight would have to wait till the end of 2011 and no disrespect to Scotland’s Burns, but he may not be champion for that long.

Whispers coming from the South American boxing community are that Daniel Ponce De Leon will get the shot he earned when defeating Antonio Escalante in September and has since dispatched Sergio Medina in similar style to remain number one contender.

The former WBO super-bantamweight champion would have no problem travelling to Puerto Rico for the challenge and would be looking to avenge the devastating first round TKO defeat he suffered at the hands of Lopez in 2008.

Bob Trieger
Full Court Press

Undisputed Champion of PVC Distribution in boxing, MMA & soccer

Integrated Sports Media, North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sporting events, delivered 14 power-packed events this year from around the globe to sports fans in the United States and Canada.

“I am proud that we were able to provide consumers with the opportunity to watch major boxing events, especially one of the Fights of the Year in Giovanni Segura versus Ivan Calderon, that they otherwise would not have been able to view in North America,” Integrated Sports Media President Doug Jacobs said. “We also brought fight fans the comeback of the great Erik Morales, world heavyweight champion Vitaly Klitschko, three fights featuring rising star Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., living legend Evander Holyfield, popular Tomasz Adamek, and a unique fight production – two major events from two different countries, Germany and Puerto Rico, in the same day.

“Integrated Sports Media also distributed two major MMA events headlined by former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and soccer fans were treated to the Real Madrid-Club America match featuring several World Cup stars. Overall, it was a great year for us and we plan an even bigger 2011 for North American boxing, MMA and soccer fans. I want to thank all of the great promoters we worked in partnership with this year.”

Vazquez, the WBO Junior Featherweight Champion, took on Filipino sensation Marvin Sonsona, whom Vazquez knocked out in the first of three 2010 title defenses this year that were distributed by Integrated Sports.

Future Hall of Fame boxer Morales started his comeback March 27 with a win by decision versus Jose Alfaro, while living legend Holyfield continued his quest back to the top of the heavyweight division April 10 by way of an eighth-round stoppage of Frans Botha.

Morales’ victory shared the spotlight on “Double Assault” with Chris Henry’s electrifying first-round knockout of former world champion Hugo Hernan Garay that propelled Henry towards the top of the light heavyweight division.

If that double-barreled action wasn’t enough for North American boxing fans, Integrated Sports distributed two major events featuring three world title fights from venues halfway around the world. Klitschko successful defended his WBC Heavyweight Championship against a game Albert Sosnowski by 10th round knockout in Germany and later that night in Puerto Rico, Vasquez knocked out No. 1 contender Zsolt Bedak and WBO Super Featherweight Champion Roman Martinez erased Gonzolo Munguia.

The highlight of Integrated Sports Media’s 2010 schedule was the WBA Fight of the Year, in which, Giovanni Segura upset Ivan Calderon for the WBA/WBO Light Flyweight Unification title fight by eighth-round technical knockout, in Puerto Rico.

Integrated Sports’ final boxing match of 2010 featured former world light heavyweight and cruiserweight titlist, Polish heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek, who dismantled popular Vinny Maddalone in five rounds.

Integrated Sports brought a super match to North American soccer fans between Real Madrid and Club America, which showcased stars such as Portuguese National Team Captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain and Dutch midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart for Real Madrid; Mexican National Team goaltender Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa and midfield veteran Pavel Pardo for Club America.

Among the top MMA shows distributed by Integrated Sports Media in 2010 were “Moosin: God of Martial Arts” and “War on the Mainland,” both headlined by former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, live from Worcester (MA) and Irvine (CA), respectively.

Here is a list of 2010 major sporting events distributed by Integrated Sports Media in North American:

2/27/10 – Double Assault with Vazquez, Jr v Sonsoma & Mayol v Romero
3/27/10 – Morales v Alfaro, Henry v Garay
4/10/10 – Holyfield v Botha
5/21/10 – Sylvia v Pudzianowski
5/29/10 – Klitschko v Sosnowski & Vazquez, Jr v Mungia, Bedak v Martinez
7/17/10 – Tua v Barrett
8/4/10 - Real Madrid v Club America
8/14/10 – Sylvia v Buentello
8/21/10 – Adamek v Grant
8/28/10 – Calderon v Segura
9/11/10 – Morales v Limond
10/16/10 – Vazquez Jr v Hernandez
12/9/10 – Adamek v Maddalone

Integrated Sports Media kicks-off its 2011 PPV boxing schedule January 22 with “Redemption In America,” featuring living legend Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield versus Sherman “Tank” Williams.

“Redemption In American,” presented by ARK Promotions in association with The Greenbrier, will be distributed in North American by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


Former world heavyweight champion Samuel Peter, who was recently released from his contract with Top Rank, has turned down an offer from Tomasz Adamek’s promoter Ziggy Rozalski to square off against the Pole in his home country in April.

Peter, 30, was totally out-classed by WBO and IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko in September and Rozalski believes that Peter should not be calling the shots on the back of his performance in Frankfurt, where he lost via tenth round KO.

“Peter wants too much,” explained Rozalski. “We offered him $150,000 dollars and he wants to get half of all income, including income from all of the television broadcasts around the world.“Peter believes he has a lot of fans around the world, mainly in South Africa, Nigeria and Bulgaria, where his manager Ivaylo Gotsev comes from.”

34 year-old Adamek has an imposing record of 43 wins in 44 contests, with 28 knockouts, with his only defeat coming at light-heavyweight in a point loss to former world champion “Bad” Chad Dawson and will now look at other options.

The Polish former two-weight world champion is making great strides in the heavyweight division and finds himself on the brink of world title challenge, with one more good display in April, probably being enough to give him the opportunity take on David Haye or the Klitschko brothers.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


After a long drawn out process of negotiations, Manny Pacquiao decided on fighting Shane Mosley rather than Andre Berto or Juan Manuel Marquez after giving his first choice opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr every chance to agree to a welterweight super-fight.

Money and contracts did not seem to be an issue with the unbeaten four-weight world champion as his outside troubles have kept him out of the ring since he out-pointed Mosley himself, in a one-sided bout in May of 2010.

Bob Arum had given a deadline, announced alternative opponents and even expressed his personal desire to get the fight made, but all appeared to be in vain as Mayweather never really got deep enough into any sort of talks to make a concrete case to challenge Pacquaio.

That task now falls to “Sugar”, who gets his chance after indifferent form over the last three years. Wins over Miguel Cotto challenger Ricardo Mayorga and Pacquiao’s last opponent Antonio Margarito in late 2008 and early 2009, have kept Mosley's credibility to a level where it outweighs the bad defeat to Floyd and the draw with Sergio Mora in September.

But at 39, the questions remain as to whether he can cope with a Manny Pacquiao at the peak of his physical powers, who will be looking for a stunning knockout to out-do Mayweather’s almost perfect boxing performance against Mosley at the MGM Grand.

Mosley was a top draw boxer in his day, but like so many before, fights on looking for more titles and more glory, when he should be enjoying the fruits of his labours. For me, It’s a stunning Pacquiao performance once again, after which, we all start shouting for Pacquiao v Mayweather again, before its too late.

 

Bob Trieger
Full Court Press

The all-time record for most consecutive first-round knockouts, Philadelphia junior middleweight Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson (21-1-1, 20 KOs), has signed an exclusive promotional contract with Boxing 360.

“We’re thrilled to add a talented knockout artist such as Tyrone to our growing stable of future champions,” Boxing 360 Founder and CEO Mario Yagobi said. “We plan on getting him back in the ring in the early part of 2011 and to keep him busy.”

A Philadelphia native who has been living in Las Vegas, the 25-year-old Brunson will soon be joined in his adopted Nevada home by his new trainer, former world champion Livingstone Bramble.

“I moved to Las Vegas to better my career and now I’m adding Livingstone Bramble to my corner,” Brunson said. “I guess it’s the politics of the game but, after my only loss (Dev. 4, 2009), I didn’t fight. I was still under contract with Gary Shaw and six months ago he was good enough to grant my release. Mario had been at a few of my most recent fights. I signed with Boxing 360 because Mario gave me a chance when nobody believed in me.

“I’m real patient but it’s been hard, not being part of the boxing scene, when my friends and other junior middleweights were fighting. After a year off, I’m hungry for this sport. I was 21-0 and a ‘hood celebrity, but my loss humbled me. I’m back with Boxing 360. I have all of the tools and I’m going to be knocking out contenders to get to any of the champions in my division.”

Brunson made his pro debut April 22, 2006, knocking out Kevin Casey in the first round, and Tyrone broke the record for opening-round stoppages -- 18 held by the late Edwin Valero -- March 29, 2008 versus Francis McKechnai.

His 19 in a row record streak was snapped in his next fight when Antonio Soriano took him six rounds for a majority draw. Bounce back victories against always tough Marcos Primera (DEC8) and game Jose Medina (KO3) set the stage of Brunson’s last fight, in which Carson Jones knocked out Tyrone in the third round a little more than a year ago.

“The record was good and bad,” Brunson explained. “It helped me get notoriety but it also hurt my chances to grow as a pro. I learned that it’s just a record and I want to be known as world champion. I’m starting fresh with Boxing 360 and I’m going to prove to the world that I can fight. People are going to see my punching power and speed, but I have better ring generalship and I learned the hard way that I have to keep my left hand up at all times.

“I’m a Philly fighter. There’s no added pressure being a fighter from Philly but coming from there you learn quickly how to be a tough fighter. Hey, there’s nothing else to do growing up there but box or play basketball, or you get caught-up in poverty and drugs. I’ve got all the tools and I’m coming back with a vengeance.”

Other members of Boxing 360’s stable include USBA heavyweight champion Maurice “Sugar Moe” Harris, 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada, Mike Mollo, world super bantamweight contender Leon “Hurry Up” Moore, Joshua “The Juice” Harris, Emad Ali, former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, NY State super middleweight title-holder Lennox “2 Sharpe” Allen, Angel “Toro” Hernandez and “King” David Estrada.

Go to www.Boxing360.com for more information about Brunson, Boxing 360 or any of its other fighters.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


WBC Silver light-middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has been pencilled in for a March 5th date in the US, with a possible challenge against WBA welterweight champion Viacheslav Senchenko open to negotiation for his promoters Golden Boy.

It’s no secret that the 20 year-old Mexican has struggled to make 147lbs for the majority of 2010, but if the title chance can be made for his next bout, then the unbeaten star could drop back down the weights to challenge a welterweight champion.

Alvarez (35-0-1), would then move up to 154 permanently to focus on becoming a two-weight champion, but Senchenko may have something to say about that before Alvarez gets too far ahead of himself, as long as Golden Boy come up with the right deal for both fighters.

The 33 year-old Ukrainian champion is yet to fight in the United States, where a possible fight with Alvarez would take place and that could be a major factor in whether the fight can be made against the 31 fight unbeaten champion.

Another fighter being constantly linked with Alvarez is Britain’s Matthew Hatton, who is currently the European title holder and has been trying to negotiate a challenge with Senchenko himself, with limited success so far.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


Wladimir Klitschko’s trainer Emanuel Steward has urged David Haye to agree to the heavyweight showdown that the boxing world is craving for, as both fighters seem to be stalling on getting a potential three-belt world title fight signed.

Speaking on the “Main Event” boxing radio show with Bakery Jammeh and Manchester-based trainer Joe Gallagher, Steward told of his desire to have things sorted out for the reputation of the sport and integrity of the heavyweight division.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


With Miguel Cotto confirmed to fight veteran two-weight world champion Ricardo Mayorga in March, Pawel Wolak is now confirmed as chief support to the WBA light-middleweight title fight and has one eye firmly fixed on facing the winner.

An opponent for New Jersey-based Pole is yet to be announced, but the 29 year-old knows that he needs to put on a dazzling display at the MGM Grand in order to secure his shot at Cotto’s 154lb title in what would be his first world title shot.

The former New York state middleweight champion has knocked out over 60% on his 28 opponents, with just one blemish on his record against former Contender Series star Ishe Smith in August 2008, but has since come back strong, with four stoppage wins in his last seven bouts.

Headliner Cotto, 30, has been out of the ring since his destruction of Yuri Foreman in June and could have accepted a challenge from Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in December, but instead wanted to step away from the ring and bide his time till the spring.

He now faces 37 year-old Nicaraguan challenger Mayorga, who is has won four of his last eight, with the four losses coming in world pound for pound class. “El Matador” now hopes to pick up his third world title after testing the waters at middleweight in his last victory over Michael Walker earlier this month.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


Robin “The Grim Reaper” Reid looks all set for a sensational return to boxing after a three-year absence to participate in the next instalment of the Prizefighter series, which takes place at the Olympia in London on January 29th.

Reid was WBC super-middleweight champion in the mid-nineties and mixed in world class for a full ten years after travelling to Italy in 1996 to dethrone home town champion Vincenzo Nardiello in shock result at the time to claim the WBC belt.

The former IBO champion has fought some of the biggest names of the past ten years including, Carl Froch, Joe Calzaghe, Jeff Lacy and IBF world title challenger Brian Magee at the super-middleweight limit and now moves up to light heavyweight.

The Runcorn-based scouser, now looks set to compete against the likes of Tony Dodson (24-6-1), Travis Dickinson (7-0) and the man who halted Olympian Tony Jeffries’ unbeaten record, Michael Banbula (11-25-4) up at the higher weight of 175lbs for the £32,000 prize.

The other fighter’s chasing the hefty cheque are unbeaten fighters Llewellyn Davies (5-0), Menay Edwards (4-0) and Billy Slate (2-0), along with St Albans’ Joe Smyth (7-1-0) with the draw to be held in the coming days.

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor


Speaking on the “Main Event” boxing radio show in the UK on allfm.org, WBO light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley has revealed that he never wanted the unification fight with WBC champion Devon Alexander to go ahead on January 29th.

Instead, the undefeated 27 year-old would have liked to wait for the interest in the fight to grow, before locking horns with the fellow unbeaten American, in order to seal mega-money deal for the fight at the Pontiac Sivlerdome.

“I was kinda like force into this fight,” he told host Bakery Jammeh.

“I didn’t realty want this fight. My promoters were like, “You wanna fight Devon?” And I was like “It’s still too soon, its still too soon.

Let’s fight other fighters and let the fight build, then we can make even more money,” he explained.

He went on to talk about the possibility of fighting WBA champion Amir Khan as well as his hopes to give the fans the fights they want and deserve. He also expressed his desire not to be sold short ahead of a possible super-fight in the future.

“You gotta think business-like. I have to fight the Alexander fight because it’s the fight the fans want and I have to prove I am the best 140lb fighter in the world. Now I have to fight him.

But once I get through Devon, then I will think about Khan, but I think he may have other fighters in mind for his next fight.

I don’t mind travelling to the UK, I have done it before against Junior Witter and I am used to it,” he added.

Bradley, 27, is hoping to extend his 26 fight winning record, but is still yet to sort out the wrangle with the WBC over a sanctioning fee, which means if he wins against Alexander, then the WBC belt will become vacant as a fee has not been agreed.

23 year-old southpaw Alexander, is himself on a 21 fight winning run and will be hoping to be propelled into the big money bouts against some of the pound for pound world’s best, if he can become unified champion in Michigan next month.

To listen to the whole show including Chris Maylett of britishboxers.co.uk and Manny Steward visit http://www.maineventboxingshow.co.uk/

Boxing 360 has announced the signing of WBC No. 3 rated super bantamweight Leon “Hurry Up” Moore to an exclusive promotional contract.

The 31-year-old southpaw Moore (27-2, 22 KOs), from Guyana, is the reigning PABA and WBC CABOFE super bantamweight champion, as well as the former NABA, Guyanese and CABOFE bantamweight titlist.

Another Boxing 360 fighter is Guyana super middleweight champion Lennox “2 Sharpe” Allen (12-0-1, 7 KOs) who recently defeated Nick Brinson for the vacant New York State title.

“We’re excited to sign a talented fighter like Moore,” Boxing 360 Director of Boxing Bob Duffy said. “He’s a world-class contender at super bantamweight and bantamweight. We can’t wait to bring him to fight in the United States and position him for a world title fight next year against (WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki) Nishioka or any of the world champions at 122 or 118 pounds.”

Moore captured the WBC CABOFE and NABA bantamweight belts in September 2009, when he won a unanimous 12-round decision against former 2-time world champion Maurico Pastrana. Last January, Leon won a unanimous 12-round decision versus Indonesia Boxing Association champion Marangin Marbun for the vacant PABA crown. In his last fight (Nov. 16), Moore won a 10-round decision against Breilor Teran in Guyana.

Other Boxing 360 fighters include USBA heavyweight champion and IBF #15 rated Maurice “Sugar Moe” Harris, 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada, Mike Mollo, Joshua “Juice” Harris, Emad Ali, former world champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, Angel “Toro” Hernandez, and “King” David Estrada.

Go on line to www.boxing360.com for more information about Moore, Allen, or any of the Boxing 360 fighters.

Bob Trieger
Full Court Press

As he prepares to go from promising prospect to legitimate contender, undefeated Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez’ recent magical mystery tour as a sparring partner in major training camps Australia, England and Miami provided him with invaluable post graduate boxing courses.

Dominican Republic-native Rodriguez (17-0, 13 KOs), arguably the world’s premier super middleweight prospect, is coming off of a sensational performance November 5 in the main event on ShoBox: The New Generation, stopping James McGirt in the ninth round for the vacant WBC USNBC super middleweight title.

Rodriguez tuned-up for his fight against McGirt as a sparring partner for Daniel Geale (24-1, 15 KOs) during a 10-day working stretch in Australia. Geale later knocked out Roman Karmazin in the 12th round of their IBF middleweight title eliminator.

Rodriguez parlayed the Geale training camp lessons into even more career-enhancing experiences for 10 days in England with Carl “The Cobra” Froch (27-1, 20 KOs), who went on to defeat Arthur Abraham by way of a dominant 12-round unanimous decision for the WBA super middleweight crown in the Super Six Tournament. Edwin followed that by working two weeks in Miami with WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, who fought a 12-round draw with Bernard Hopkins this past weekend.

“It’s been a great experience,” Rodriguez spoke about his sparring ‘journey’ that’s brought him around the world. “I’m at the point now where I want to get where they are. I’ve learned from working with all of them but the most important lesson is that elite athletes do not put on more than 10 pounds walking around weight between fights.

“All of these training camps haven’t been too much different – they were all intense. Geale is hungry to get there (world title) and he really worked hard. All three are very good athletes. I wasn’t surprised that Carl won so convincingly because I know how powerful Carl Froch is with his style, Abraham wasn’t able to run through Carl like he had against most opponents. His training was about using his long jab to keep Abraham outside. Everything worked off the jab and Carl perfectly executed his game plan. Every time we sparred, he worked on that plan but a few times we ended-up banging. He just caught himself and went back to using his jab, not letting me – acting like Abraham – walk through like Abraham likes to do.”

Froch, after defeating Abraham, publicly acknowledged Rodriguez’ work, saying, “Sparring with Edwin was brilliant. He is very fast, can punch with both hands, and stays in there. I feel he has far more natural ability and speed than Abraham; big respect for Edwin Rodriguez because he got me ready for this.”

Next stop for “La Bomba” was Miami at Pascal’s (26-1-1, 16 KOs) training camp with Edwin playing the role of Jean’s opponent last Saturday night, living legend Bernard Hopkins, in preparation for their Showtime showdown in Quebec City.

“Training with Pascal was different than for Froch,” Rodriguez remarked. “They didn’t do nearly as much sparring, it was more tactical. Froch may have had more tactical days at his training camp but I wasn’t there until 10 days at the end. Pascal has a good trainer from Cuba, Pedro Diaz, who has had 20 Olympic gold medalists. I spent Thanksgiving with him and his family. To an extent I did what they expected Hopkins to bring to the table. What they were really looking for was competitiveness from me to help him.

“They had everything there: cooks, strength coaches, nutritionists, sports physiologists…you name it. And I got to take advantages of all these people. I can tell you that everybody there worked like animals. It was a very good training camp; well organized with everybody working hard.”

Rodriguez’ next fight is set for January 14 in Key West, Florida on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights in the 10-round co-feature against Aaron Pryor, Jr., son of former world champion Aaron Pryor.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Edwin started boxing in 2001 and he developed into one of the top amateurs in the United States, compiling a solid 84-9 record, including gold-medal performances in the 2005 USA Boxing National Championships and 2006 U.S. National Golden Gloves Tournament. Rodriguez, who has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Dominican Republic, became the first Massachusetts boxer to win the middleweight title at The Nationals since “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler in 1973.

Rodriquez is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, managed by Larry Army, and trained by Peter Manfredo, Sr.