Boxing News

Posts Tagged ‘Fight Night’

A REAL AFTERNOON DELIGHT FOR BOXING FANS

NEW YORK -There was a time when boxing on Saturday afternoon TV was the norm. The old timers will tell you that those were the good old days, when the top fighters and the biggest fights happened during the afternoon, just about every weekend of the year. Back then, boxing fans had to hustle to get their regular Saturday chores and errands finished early, but then it was fight time!

On Saturday AFTERNOON, April 20th, boxing fans will once again be transported back to those good old days, when heavyweights Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham square off in a 12-rounder at The Theater at Madison Square Garden  in a throwback daytime fight to determine the #2 heavyweight contender in the world. Doors open at 1:15PM. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast on NBC, as an afternoon presentation of their Fight Night boxing series at 4:00PM ET.

Die hard and casual boxing fans alike tuned in to see the first afternoon presentation of Fight Night on NBC, which featured Steve Cunningham vs. Tomasz Adamek on Saturday, December 22nd, 2012. With almost 4 million viewers catching  piece of the action, it was the highest-rated boxing program to grace American televison in 2012.

Fury, 20-0, 14 KOs, is the latest European hopeful, a popular puncher who measures a staggering 6′ 9″ in height. He’s made waves abroad since turning pro in 2008, and will make his American debut at the Garden on the afternoon of April 20th. Fury has KO’d most of his foes, but in Cunningham, he’ll be up against his first former champ and most accomplished opponent to date. Does Fury have the power to topple a fighter of Cunningham’s ability?

Now a heavyweight, Cunningham, 25-5, 12 KOs, of Philadelphia, has two world cruiserweight championship belts in his trophy case, and is coming off a frustrating “loss” to Tomasz Adamek in his most recent bout. Although the official verdict somehow went the other way, Cunningham proved just how skilled a heavyweight boxer he really is. But is he skilled enough to hold off Fury, a genuine giant of the ring?

A loaded undercard filled with rising boxing stars, looking to steal the show, is scheduled to get underway shortly after doors open at 1:15 PM.

Topping the set of preliminary bouts is middleweight bomber Curtis “Showtime” Stevens, 23-3, 17 KOs, in an 8-round fight against Derrick “Superman” Findley, 20-3, 13 KOs, that is sure to end in fireworks. Also featured on the card will be undefeated Philly lightweight Karl “Dynamite” Dargan, 12-0, 6 KOs, in a 6-rounder against Sergi Ganjelashvili, plus a potential 6-round sock-fest between cruiserweights Sevdail Sherifi and Josh Harris that may be a real war. Rounding out the undercard is a pair of heavyweight 4-rounders. In the first, Hughie Fury, Tyson’s cousin, makes his American debut, while undefeated Adam Kownacki battles Calbert Lewis in the second scheduled 4-rounder.

The show will be the Garden’s first daytime professional boxing event in many years. You will have time to take in a great day of boxing and still enjoy the NYC nightlife. Don’t miss it!

APRIL 20TH FIGHT INFO

April 20th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York features a 12-round heavyweight battle between Tyson Fury and Steve Cunningham in the main event. Curtis Stevens will take on Derrick Findley in the 8-round middleweight co-feature. Six additional bouts are planned for the undercard. Doors open at The Theater at Madison Square Garden doors open at 1:15PM ET. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast 4PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC Fight Night. The card is presented by Hennessy Sports and Main Events.

The main event is an official IBF Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #2 position. The winner must meet #1 or the leading available contender to establish the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko.

Tickets are priced at $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500. Tickets are available at the Madison Square Garden box office, through Ticketmaster 866-858-0008 and at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices include a $5 Facility Surcharge. Ticketmaster purchases are subject to a Ticketmaster Surcharge. Wheelchairs, companion seats, aisle seats and Assistive Listening Devices are available 212-465-6035.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

GABRIEL CAMPILLO READY FOR RING RETURN AGAINST SERGEY “KRUSHER” KOVALEV

Former WBA light heavyweight champion Gabriel Campillo, 21-4-1, 7 KOs, is ready for his return to the ring after a layoff of almost one year. He fights undefeated power puncher Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, 18-0-1, 15 KOs, in an anticipated 10-rounder at the Mohegan Sun Casino on Saturday, January 19th. The fight is the feature bout in the season opener of NBC Sports Network’s popularFIGHT NIGHT boxing series. The telecast will begin at 9PM ET with the Elvin Ayala vs. Curtis Stevens co-feature.

The last time Campillo fought, February 18, 2012, he thought that he had once again become a world champion. However, after 12 rounds with IBF champ Tavoris Cloud, Campillo found himself on the short end of a controversial split decision. Cloud retained his title and sent Campillo back to the drawing board. However, the fans remained on Campillo’s side.

“Ever since February 12th, I hear a couple of times each day from the people that I deserved that decision,” Campillo said.

A win against the rapidly rising Kovalev might be exactly what Campillo needs to receive another crack at the championship, against Cloud or anyone else holding a belt.

“I want to fight every big name in the division until I am considered the number one boxer in the 175-pound weight class,” Campillo said.

The first step is beating “Krusher” Kovalev.

“He’s a dangerous boxer with a very good right cross,” Campillo said. “But he has never fought a world class boxer like me. I am great at bobbing and weaving and counter punching. If we go to the scorecards, I have no doubt I’ll win by a huge margin. But just maybe one of my counter punches will end the fight.”

The pair was originally scheduled to face off in September, but a Campillo back injury forced a postponement of the fight.

“My back is completely recovered,” Campillo said. “Even though I only fought one time last year, I kept training and had sparring sessions throughout the whole year. So I am in great shape.”

The fight in Uncasville, CT, will only be the third time Campillo has boxed in the United States, but he welcomes his return to the USA.

“I love fighting in America,” Campillo said. “The people always treat me like I am American. I love that. Boxing in Spain doesn’t have the same prestige that it does in the States. Here every sportsman is respected.”

Perhaps that lack of prestige is due to the fact that boxing champions from Spain are a fairly rare breed. Campillo is one them, but feels he needs more victories and more titles before he’s considered the best ever to come from his country.

“I think Javier Castillejo has won more titles than me, but I can beat him yet,” Campillo joked.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

NBC SPORTS NETWORK FIGHT NIGHT

CAMPILLO vs. KOVALEV and AYALA vs. STEVENS

FIGHT NIGHT: SATURDAY, JANUARY 19TH

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

GABRIEL ROSADO AND TRAINER BILLY BRISCOE WATCHING CANELO FIGHT CLOSELY

PHOENIX, AZ – Rising Philadelphia junior middleweight contender Gabriel Rosado and his trainer Billy Briscoe will be intently watching WBC 154-pound champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defend his title against Josesito Lopez from their Phoenix, AZ training camp on Saturday night. Of course they are generally interested in the two big Vegas cards happening this weekend, but Rosado & Briscoe have a vested interest in the Canelo bout.

Next week at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, on the NBC Sports Network ‘Fight Night’ broadcast, Rosado, 20-5, 12 KOs, fights an IBF title elimination fight against Charles Whittaker, 38-12-2, 23 KOs, for the #1 spot in the IBF junior middleweight rankings. Although Team Rosado has its sights firmly set on Whittaker, they can’t help but keep an eye on Canelo, knowing that one day their paths may cross.

“We’ll be watching the Canelo fight,” said Briscoe. “He’s a perceived superstar in this game, but I think we can stop Canelo. You beat a perceived superstar, and suddenly you’re a superstar. The way I look at it is that we’ll just keep beating whoever they put in front of us and eventually we’ll have to fight him.”

Canelo faces Lopez after a round-robin of other foes fell out of the high-profile bout, and although Lopez beat Victor Ortiz to earn his shot at the title, many feel that his size disadvantage may make the fight a mismatch.

“I think Canelo is just going to be too big for him,” Briscoe said. “Josesito is a real 140-pounder. He moved up to 147 for the Victor Ortiz fight, and he won. He found a way to win. But I think that Canelo, a true junior middleweight, is just too big. Later on in the fight, the size and the pressure of the bigger man will break him (Lopez) down. Yeah, break him down in the later rounds, maybe the 10th or the 11th round. ”

But Rosado would not have such a size disadvantage if he ever got the chance to face Alvarez.

“No! Gaby is too big for Canelo,” Briscoe said.

Rosado, a big junior middleweight, is three inches taller than Alvarez, and has 7 inches more reach than the budding superstar. And given that star status, there is probably no one that Rosado would like to fight more. However, he does have other options.

“Canelo really doesn’t make Gaby or he doesn’t break Gaby,” Briscoe said. “At the end of the day, Gaby’s going to make a name for himself – with or without Canelo. But if the time comes, we’ll fight him. Maybe we’ll fight him in the next fight. Hell, if Josesito falls out, we’ll fight him on Saturday.”

ABOUT SEPTEMBER 21

The Smith-Cruz, Kovalev-Thompson and Whittaker-Rosado fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.   First fight is 7.15 pm (ET). Tickets priced at $80 and $55 can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing(  215-765-0922 ), all Ticketmaster outlets( 800-745-3000 ) or at the box office at the Sands Event Center(610-297-7414 ).

Tickets at www.peltzboxing.com,  www.SandsEventCenter.com andwww.Ticketmaster.com. Luxury suite tickets at $130 apiece also are available.

In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4^th Street(610-865-2739 ) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3^rd Street( 610-419-6790 ).

NBC Sports Network will televise the Cruz-Smith, Kovalev-Thompson and Rosado-Whittaker fights, beginning at 9 pm (ET).

The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

BETHLEHEM, PA – Main Events brings NBC Sports Network’s “Fight Night” series back to Bethlehem, PA for the 5th edition of the popular nationally televised boxing program. TV broadcast begins at 9PM ET. Once again, the fights will be held at the beautiful new Sands Bethlehem Events Center. The place is the perfect setting for a fight. Last time, June1st, the Center was packed with real boxing fans. September 21st should be no different.

The trio of televised bouts that top the show all look like winners, but the four additional supporting fights, loaded with local talent, are nothing to sneeze at either.

In the main event, junior middleweight contenders Gabriel Rosado, Philadelphia, 20-5, 12 KOs, and Miami-based Charles Whittaker, 38-12-2, 23 KOs, lock horns in a 12-round, IBF title elimination bout. The winner of the fight, becomes the mandatory challenger for IBF world champion Cornelius “K9″ Bundrage. Both fighters are raring to earn their shot, so it figures they will wage war in Bethlehem.

In the 12-round championship co-feature, Bethlehem’s Ronald Cruz, 17-0, 12 KOs, defends his WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title against Antwone Smith, 21-4-1, 12 KOs, of Miami. Cruz is the undefeated climber, but Smith is easily the best fighter he’s ever faced. The experience Smith brings will clearly put Cruz’ undefeated streak to the test before his hometown crowd.

The third featured bout is a 10-round light heavyweight contest that pits unbeaten Russian, Sergey Kovalev, 18-0-1, 16 KOs, against Buffalo, NY’s Lionell Thompson, 12-1, 8 KOs. Thompson was a lauded amateur who looks to get back to his winning ways after losing a narrow and somewhat controversial decision in his last start. Kovalev has kayoed all but three of his foes, and will look to add Thompson to his body count.

A pair of 6-rounders and a pair of 4-rounders fill out the rest of the night’s action. In a heavyweight match scheduled for six, Allentown, PA’s William Miranda, 5-5-1, faces Philadelphian Pedro Martinez, 6-6, 3 KOs, in what will likely be a rough and tumble battle of big men in need of a win. Both boxers are noted rumblers with a penchant for pleasing crowds. They figure to go right at each other on Friday.

Lightweight Jason Sosa, Camden, NJ, 4-1-3, 1 KO, meets Esteban Rodriguez, Lebanon, PA, 6-2-1, 1 KO in the other 6-rounder. Neither guy is a big puncher, but both are volume brawlers that bring the excitement. Sosa is coming off a pair of thrilling out-of-town draws, that he felt should have gone his way, while Rodriguez continues to build his record. Both are coming to Bethlehem to win.

Alex Sanchez of Camden, NJ, 0-1, will seek his first professional win against Dominique Foster of Hilliard, OH, 1-1-1. Both fighters are in the early stages of their respective careers and will try to make their bones in this Bethlehem four round junior middleweight bout.

Finally, Allentown, PA junior welterweight, Jerome Rodriguez, 0-0-1, squares off with Philly journeyman Kywayne Hill, 1-9, 1 KO, over four rounds. Rodriguez came up even in his pro debut, June 1 in Bethlehem, so he is returning to the Sands to capture that important first win. Hill is a true test for every newcomer he faces and will try to spoil things for Rodriguez on September 21.

ABOUT SEPTEMBER 21

The Smith-Cruz, Kovalev-Thompson and Whittaker-Rosado fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.   First fight is 7.15 pm (ET). Tickets priced at $80 and $55 can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (            215-765-0922 ), all Ticketmaster outlets (            800-745-3000 ) or at the box office at the Sands Event Center(            610-297-7414 ). Tickets at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com and www.Ticketmaster.com.   Luxury suite tickets at $130 apiece also are available. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4^th Street (            610-865-2739 ) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3^rd Street(            610-419-6790 ).

NBC Sports Network will televise the Cruz-Smith, Kovalev-Thompson and Rosado-Whittaker fights, beginning at 9 pm (ET).

The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites