Boxing News

Posts Tagged ‘Promoter’

The organisers and promoters of ‘Rumble On The Rock’ have decided to postpone the show from the 17 August to the 28^th of September, 2012.

Promoter Justin Attard said that he would like to apologise to local boxing fans but due to difficulties beyond his control the show would have to be postponed to a later date.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

History will be made at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on July 15 with promoter Phil Jeffries’ ‘Summer Rumble 2’ show breaking the record for the most amount of fights ever on a single bill of professional boxing in the North East.

“We’ve got 18 bouts confirmed so far, and there’s possibly one or two more in the pipeline,” revealed Jeffries. “There’s never been a show as big as this in the region. I believe Frank Warren’s card at the Metro Arena, when Amir Khan beat Dmitry Salita, was previously the biggest with15 fights, so we’ve topped that already. It’s going to be a fantastic event.”

Headlining the marathon afternoon of boxing will be County Durham stylist Martin Ward against Liverpool’s Mike Robinson for the English bantamweight title. Southpaw Ward, beaten just once in 16 outings, fights for his first belt against Robinson, who has won five and drawn three of his 12 career bouts. The other scheduled title fight on the card is of the International Masters variety with Hartlepool prospect Peter Cope, currently undefeated in five, in an early career test against Redcar’s experienced Gavin Reid.

The rest of the undercard is absolutely stacked full of fighting talent from every corner of the North East including – Gateshead’s Rob Ismay and Craig Dixon; Newcastle’s Mark Clauzel; South Shields’ David Lake and Anthony Nelson; Sunderland’s Lee Mould; Middlesbrough’s Shafiq Asif and Mohammed Waqas; Easington’s Paul Archer; Horden’s Greg O’Neill; Hartlepool’s Callum Winton; and North Shields’ Davey Ferguson Jnr. Also appearing on the show will be debutant Tommy Ward, brother of bill topper Martin, who enters the pro game on the back of a stellar amateur career that includes Junior ABA title wins and international successes with England.

“I’m working with Neil Fannan on this show and we know times are tight at the moment so we’re really trying to give the fans value for money,” explained Jeffries. “We’ve got some great talent on the bill, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from in the North East, there’s a boxer on this show for you to come along and support. To match such a big event we’ve also got a really big sponsor on board too, with ACT Construction from Sunderland backing the show. They are one of the region’s leading building company’s and to have them involved in helping to promote the sport and the local area, is absolutely brilliant. We are all pulling together to really put boxing, and the North East, right back on the map.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

RICKY HATTON has fired back at Dave Coldwell, trainer of Hatton Promotions light-middleweight star Ryan Rhodes.
Coldwell claims that Hatton Promotions are not acting in the boxer’s best interests after ‘The Hitman’ started training his big fight rival Sergey Rabchenko.

Sheffield’s Rhodes attempts to regain the European crown when he meets Hatton Promotions stable mate Rabchenko for the vacant title on the ‘Road To Glory’ bill at Manchester Velodrome on Saturday 16th June.

Ricky finds himself in the position where two of his world class fighters being matched by the European Boxing Union, and Coldwell is upset that the former two-weight world champion is training the Belarussian puncher.

Hatton explained: “I am in an awkward and horrible position now as I’m a trainer and promoter.

“I think the world of Ryan and all my boxers.

“Ryan and his trainer Dave Coldwell have known me long enough to know I have all my boxers’ best interests at heart.

“It is a strange situation but I’d have thought of all people that Coldwell who is also a promoter and a trainer would have understood the predicament I now face.

“Since Hatton Promotions started promoting Ryan we have secured him a world title challenge, and this will be the second time we have made a European title shot for Ryan.

“For Coldwell to insinuate that we would possibly be stitching Ryan up and not acting in his best interests has hurt me personally.

“These are unfair comments from Coldwell and shows what a fickle sport boxing is. He seems to forget what I have done for Ryan since we signed him.”

Hatton agreed to train unbeaten Rabchenko before the vacant championship contest against Rhodes was mandated by the EBU.

They were due to meet in March, and then Hatton told Rabchenko to stay with his current trainer until he’d boxed Rhodes.

When Rhodes pulled out of that date, Hatton worked Rabchenko’s corner when the Belarusian fought replacement Ronny Gabel in a non-title fight.

Hatton added: “I did the honourable thing and spoke to Ryan explaining that I was now working with Sergey after he pulled out.

“I tweeted just over a week ago that Sergey had landed in Manchester and was in the gym training.

“Coldwell tweeted back that Ryan didn’t know I was training him said that as Ryan’s promoter I was trying to get him beat.

“It goes without saying I’m training Sergey to win but as a promoter it doesn’t change anything.

“As the promoter of the winner I will bend over backwards for them to secure a world title and it goes without saying that I will be there to help the loser re-build their career.”

The ‘Road To Glory’ bill also features a vacant WBA interim super-bantamweight title fight between Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe, Martin Murray in championship action and Rhodes’ fellow steel city fighter Richard Towers facing Michael Wallisch for the vacant EU heavyweight crown.

There will be a talent stacked undercard that will include former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Craig Watson (20-5), unbeaten hopefuls Adam Etches (7-0), Scott Jenkins (4-0), Ryan Doyle (1-0), Jimmy Kelly (1-0).

Ticket prices are now on sale priced £125 (VIP Inner Ringside + exclusive cash bar), £100 Ringside, £55, £35 and £30. You can purchase tickets by calling Hatton Promotions hotline 01925 755 222/www.ticketmaster.co.uk/0844 847 2500/www.ticketline.co.uk/0844 888 4402/www.hmv.com

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

By Michael J. Jones

Scheduled for his third bout since losing his British title to Lee Selby, Stephen Smith is a man on a mission. The 14-1 (8) former amateur star has had plenty of drama crammed into his short career.

The 26-year-old, nicknamed “Swifty”, was considered one of the best young fighters in the sport when he dethroned teak-tough Scot John Simpson in only his eleventh pro fight. In lifting the Commonwealth featherweight title, Smith boxed with a maturity that belied his modest ring experience.

Unfortunately for the scouse slickster, a damaged hand kept him out of the ring for seven long months before he came back to edge dangerous Simpson in a bravely taken rematch.

Alas, as good as Stephen looked winning that gruelling contest, his progress was brought to a shuddering halt by Welshman Lee Selby just five months later. The bout was in the balance when a big left from Selby brought a sudden, dramatic end to the bout.

Since that bout though Stephen, trained by Joe Gallagher, has looked better than ever scoring two first round knockouts in his two subsequent comeback fights.

Stephen is scheduled to box a TBA opponent at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom on the 1st June, 2012.

Part of the famed Smith fighting brothers, I caught up with Stephen as he was putting the final touches to his fight preparation -

MJ) So Stephen, you obviously come from a boxing family, when did you first start boxing and who first taught you the basics?

SS)  I first started boxing aged nine and Jimmy Albertina taught me everything at the Rotunda ABC.

MJ) You were a brilliant amateur, a two-time ABA champion and 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist among your many other achievements over 150 or so bouts. Which tournament was your own personal favourite to compete in and why ?

SS) My favourite tournament was definitely the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. They really love their sport in Australia so we were all treated like kings there. They were really lovely people and it was a great place. Happy memories.

MJ) You turned pro in June 2008 with high expectations of you. You built a ten-fight unbeaten record before challenging tough Scot John Simpson for the Commonwealth title. For a first serious test they don’t come much tougher than Simpson but you pulled it off via split decision. It was especially impressive considering you damaged your left hand in the fourth round?

SS) Yes, I indicated to Frank Warren that I didn’t want to spend too much time fighting journeymen. I was a level above them and wanted to be tested at title level quickly, which I was. John Simpson is a great lad and a great fighter. It was definitely a very impressive result under the circumstances

MJ) Your hand injury kept you out of the ring for seven months; how frustrating was that period not being able to get back to action straight after your biggest win to date?

SS) Very frustrating. I was now a champion so I wanted to defend my title but couldn’t. I always prefer to fight regularly so it was even more frustrating for me personally.

MJ) Your first fight back was a rematch in Liverpool to Simpson who had defeated Martin Lindsey for the British belt in your absence. You seemed to hurt Simpson badly in the first but the rest of the contest was closely contested; you edged it on a majority decision. How sure were you at the final bell you had done enough ?

SS) To be honest, I thought I beat him better the second time round than the first, so I was very confident I had won. I probably should have got rid of him early after landing a great shot but rushed things and to be fair, all credit to him how he came back at me. He is as tough as they come.

MJ) In your next bout you lost your unbeaten record to Welshman Lee Selby. Most people say you just had your tactics wrong for that bout; would you agree with that statement and did you maybe underestimate Selby before the bout ?

SS) Not really, I was just flat. I was tired after a couple of rounds and had no legs so could only do what I did really; try to walk forward and grind out a result. Lee beat what was in front of him on the night and, fair play to him, but he knows as much as me that he didn’t see the real me and he certainly hasn’t seen the last of me either. I’m sure that fight will happen again down the line and I’ll put it right !

MJ) How much do you want a rematch; will it happen and how would you box him a second time? Also, would you be happy to return to the featherweight division again for the rematch ?

SS) As I said before, I definitely want the rematch, I will return to featherweight anyway and I do believe it will happen. I will have tactic’s prepared for the fight and believe I have more than enough to beat Lee Selby.

MJ) Lee went on to stop Simpson, the only man ever to do so, did you watch that fight and did you think it was a good performance or a case of the wars catching up with the Scot ?

SS) Yes I watched the fight and didn’t see anything to change my opinion of either. It was close, Simpson edging it if anything, then a body shot landed. It can happen to anyone, that’s boxing.

MJ) Since your only reverse you’ve won two bouts by first-round stoppage; do you feel you’re hitting harder than ever ?

SS) I have confidence in my punch power and believe, yes, I’m hitting harder now than I ever have.

MJ) Can you talk for a moment about the relationship you have with your brothers; you all seem very close. How does having brothers who also box help your own career ?

SS) I love all my brothers very much, we are a really close family. They are my best mates as well as brothers. I’m very lucky as they have all been through what I go through in the build up to fights, so are always there to talk to etc.

MJ) I noticed you have ‘Autism’ written on your shorts; do you support a charity that deals with Autism?

SS) Yes, we all back Autism and wear it on the shorts to raise awareness really. We have an Autistic little sister, Hollie, she’s amazing.

MJ) Boxing is a full-time, demanding job; what do you do to relax between training Stephen?

SS) To chill out between training I play a lot of snooker with my brothers and my dad.

MJ) Ideally, how would you like the remainder of the year to go in your boxing career ?

SS) For the rest of the year I’m hoping to get my British title back and move onto European level.

MJ) I know you have a lot of fans here in the WWBPL, what message would you like to give the ones who will be reading?

SS) A message to the WWBPL fans, thanks very much for all the support and I will keep giving it 100% to reach the top !

MJ) Many thanks for your time Stephen.

SS) Thank you mate

Michael J. Jones wrtes for The Worldwide Weekly Boxing Predictions League

Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith with Andrew of WWPBL

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

CARL GREAVES PROMOTIONS

Presents

AN EVENING WITH MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA

Monday, 6th February 2012

Marco Antonio Barrera Returns To British Shores On 9th March

Promoter, and former World Champion, Carl Greaves recently announced  that  three weight World Champion Marco Antonio Barrera is to make a return visit to the UK next month. Now before you go getting too excited, or maybe you should, because it’s not for yet another super fight, oh no this time it’s for a much more up close and personal event with British boxing fans.

Yep you’ve got it Carl is putting together another of his highly successful  ‘Evening With’ events and this time it’s the legendary Mexican star that will be the centre of attraction at the Newark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire, on Friday, 9th March 2012.

Barrera, a former two-time WBO super bantamweight, WBC, Lineal, The Ring & IBO Featherweight and WBC & IBF super featherweight champion, earned his legendary status following a trilogy of battles with another Mexican legend Erik Morales as well as his being the first to defeat Prince Naseem Hamed.

Barrera began his career as a Super Flyweight and won his first professional title at this weight, defeating Justino Suárez by a decision to win the Mexican national super flyweight title in 1992. A title he successfully defended five times as well as adding the division’s NABF crown to his collection.

In 1994, even though he beat Carlos Salazar, Barrera failed to secure a WBC Super Flyweight World Title eliminator as he had come in over the weight limit.  Barrera then stepped up to the Super Bantamweight division and  challenged for and won the WBA Penta-Continental Super Bantamweight title, which he successfully defended on a single occasion.

Barrera began 1995 with his first World title shot. On the 31st March of that year, he became the WBO super bantamweight champion after defeating Puerto Rican boxer Daniel Cobrita Jiménez.

Barrera defended the WBO crown seven times before on the 22nd November 1996, he suffered his first career loss, as well as losing the WBO title, after a crazy faux pas by his coach.

Barrera was knocked down in round five by American Junior Jones, Barrera got to his feet but just after the fight resumed Barrera’s corner man climbed onto the ring apron, leaving the referee no option but to stop the fight and disqualify Barrera.

On the 18th April 1997, Barrera was presented the chance to regain his title, by facing Jones in a rematch in Las Vegas. Unfortunately after twelve hard fought close rounds Barrera was once again thwarted, this time by a unanimous decision, after which he announced his retirement from boxing.

One year later Barrera announced his comeback, shortly after he defeated Angel Rosario with a fifth round knockout. After two more wins, he was given another opportunity to fight for the WBO World title.

Barrera became a two-time World Super Bantamweight Champion, on the 31st October, when he defeated Richie Wenton by a third round knockout to secure the vacant WBO title.

In February 2000, Barrera was defeated by the WBC super bantamweight title holder Erik Morales by a controversial split decision. It was an intense battle in which both fighters were cut and battered. At the 2000 year end awards this thrilling bout was declared the new Millenniums first ‘Fight of the Year’ by Ring Magazine.

Shortly after the bout, the WBO reinstated Barrera as their champion, which he defended three times in 2000

In 2001, Barrera moved up a weight division. On the 7th April, he handed legendary British boxer Prince Naseem Hamed his first and only loss to secure the lineal Featherweight title by a twelve-round decision.

Before the fight, Hamed was the clear bookies favorite, however Hamed could not hit Barrera with his trademark left, as Barrera circled to his left and worked both head and body.

Barrera was not a fan of Hamed’s antics and responded to Hamed’s punches during clinches. On one occasion early in the fight, Hamed grabbed Barrera and they both fell to the ground, whilst down on the canvas Barrera threw a right jab which lead to a warning from referee Joe Cortez. In the twelfth and final round Barrera trapped Hamed in a full nelson, and forced his head into the turnbuckle, resulting in a point deduction from Cortez.

Throughout the bout Barrera threw far more and harder punches as well as more impressive combinations than Hamed to rightfully be awarded the victory via a unanimous decision.

On the 8th September  2001, Barrera added the IBO Featherweight title to his collection after stopping former champion Enrique Sánchez in the sixth round.

Nine months later, on the 22 June 2002, Barrera successfully defended his lineal title by out pointing Erik Morales in a rematch, in doing so added Morales’ WBC title and the vacant Ring Magazine title to his ever expanding trophy case, albeit for only a short while in the case of the WBC belt as shortly after he relinquished the title.

On the 7th November, Barrera defeated former five-time world champion Johnny Tapia by a 12-round unanimous decision.

Barrera’s 60th career fight, on the 12th April 2003,  see him finish off former WBC title holder Kevin Kelley in style, with a spectacular fourth round knockout.

On the 16th November 2003, Barrera faced Manny Pacquiao. After eleven bruising hard fought  rounds Barerra’s corner threw in the towel. In doing so  handed Pacquiao his third world championship, all in different weight divisions, and as Barrera was the recognized Lineal champion his coveted Ring Magazine title also went to the Pac Man.

On November 27, 2004, Barrera joined Pacquiao as a three weight division World Champion, after defeating Morales to secure the WBC super featherweight title, a title which he successfully defended four times as well as adding the IBF version to his impressive collection.

Barrera lost his WBC Super Featherweight title, On the 17th March 2007,  to fellow Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Márquez by a unanimous points decision.

Barrera was furious and demanded a rematch, claiming that the judges and referee were wrong, because he knocked down Márquez in the seventh round and the referee ruled it a slip.

Just under seven months later, on the 6th October, Barrera fought Pacquiao for a second time, for the WBC International Super Featherweight title. Again Barrera’s efforts was thwarted by the Filipino. After the bout a distraught Barrera expressed his desire to retire from boxing a second time.

On the 26th August 2008 Barrera, at 35, ended his brief retirement, and signed a five year contract with promoter Don King and  moved to the Lightweight division, his goal to become the first Mexican ever, to win a World Championship at four different weights.

The 7th December 2008, marked Barrera’s return to the ring, in Chengdu, China, where he secured his first win, as a Lightweight, by knocking out Sammy Ventura.

It was announced on the 15th January 2009 that Barrera’s next fight would see him travel to the UK to  face the highly rated Amir Khan, at the MEN Arena on the 14th March. Even with Barrera being in the twilight years of his career this was still viewed as the toughest test of young Khan’s career to date.

Barrera lost the bout by a dubious fifth-round technical decision – the two fighters clashed heads in the first round, resulting in a deep gash above Barrera’s forehead. Throughout the bout blood flowed from the cut and even though the referee could have called a halt to the proceedings anytime he left it until the beginning of the fifth to summon the ringside doctor. Immediately the doctor stopped the fight due to the severity of the cut, The judges scored the fight 50-45, 50-45, and 50-44 for Khan at the point of stoppage and he was declared the winner by technical decision.

It would not be until the 26th June  2010 that Barrera would fight again, where he faced Brazil’s Adailton de Jesus in a non-Championship ten rounder at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas. Barrera dominated De Jesus for every single round to secure victory.

In his last bout, on 12th February 2011, Barrera beat Jose Arias, of the Dominican Republic by a second round TKO.

Whilst it’s not clear whether that fight brings to a close Barrera’s magnificent career, one thing is clear that Marco Antonio Barrera has earned the right to be known as one of the greatest boxers of his generation, something that makes this opportunity presented by Carl Greaves, a can’t miss one, especially as those attending will not only get the to meet and chat with Barrera but will also have the opportunity to be photographed with him.

Not just that though, those attending will also get to sit down at the dinner table with the great man himself, and other star guests, for a two course meal as well as further evening entertainment, in the form of a comedian.

Carl Greaves is really doing the fans proud yet again, especially as the cost of attending ‘An Evening With Marco Antonio Barrera’ is just £75 per person – Tickets available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com

FURTHER INFORMATION/INTERVIEW REQUESTS

For further information or interviews with promoter Carl Greaves please contact:

Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

JustListen2This Publicity & Promotion

London, UK, Gzira, Malta & Philadelphia, USA

Tel: (UK)  +44( 0)208 166 5694  - (UK)+44 (0)7960 850645 - (UK)+44 (0) 7557 641597

Skype: GianlucaDiCaro - Viber: +44 (0) 7557 641597

E.Mail: rio@justlisten2this.com - http://twitter.com/LucaDiCaro - www.justlisten2this.com

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Hide Sites