Month: May 2005

2005: Two-time WBA heavyweight champ John Ruiz is back

  LAS VEGAS (May 10, 2005) - Former two-time World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John "The Quietman" Ruiz announced today that, after speaking with his family and management team, he has reconsidered his decision to retire and will continue fighting. Ruiz retired April 30 immediately after losing a 12-round decision to James "Lights Out" Toney at Madison Square Garden. "My emotional decision, coming  right after losing a fight I felt I won, was premature," Ruiz explained. "I was tired of all the criticism and felt everybody was against me. After reviewing the tape and talking it over with my advisors, I decided that I don't want to go out that way. If they want me out of the sport, they're going to have to knock me out. I'm back. "I want my WBA belt back. I still feel Read more [...]

Your Half Pictures Signs Their Own “Million Dollar Baby” Photo/Story By Doug Ward May 9, 2005

(MAY 9) Hollywood, CA.- Your Half Pictures, A California based movie production company, has signed World Champion fighter, Melinda Cooper to a lucrative multi-year sponsorship deal. We are honored to be sponsoring Melinda in her quest to being recognized as this finest female fighter in the world," says Your Half Producer, Eric Arlt. "She is without question the most exciting young fighter coming out of Las Vegas today. With the recent success of such films, Girlfight, and Million Dollar Baby, we are excited about female boxing becoming more mainstream. Melinda, in the coming years, will be at the forefront of its emergence." Your Half Pictures has recently produced the feature film "30 Miles". In 2005 they will release Steel City starring John Heard, America Ferrara, Tom Guiry, and Raymond Read more [...]

Jose Celaya At The Riot at the Hyatt! May 9, 2005

(MAY 9) ESPN2 will televise it's Friday Night May 13th boxing show from the San Jose Civic Auditorium, with every featured fighter on the card having fought in Monterey. The Main Event showcases 26-2 Jose Celaya from Salinas, who fought on five RIOT cards. The Co-feature to be televised is focused on Nonito Donaire, 11-1, who has Monterey RIOT experience. Jose Perez Jr. and Alejandro Perez on the off-television bouts also cut their boxing teeth fighting in Monterey. THE RIOT pro boxing series is moving from the Hyatt to the Conference Center in Downtown Monterey on July 2nd, and will feature many other top prospects. 7-0 Heavyweight George Garcia, a member of the Mexican Olympic Team will make his first Monterey appearance. A spectacular battle of the unbeaten matches local Read more [...]

2005: ESPN-Jose Celaya At The Riot at the Hyatt

(MAY 9, 2005) ESPN2 will televise it's Friday Night May 13th boxing show from the San Jose Civic Auditorium, with every featured fighter on the card having fought in Monterey. The Main Event showcases 26-2 Jose Celaya from Salinas, who fought on five RIOT cards. The Co-feature to be televised is focused on Nonito Donaire, 11-1, who has Monterey RIOT experience. Jose Perez Jr. and Alejandro Perez on the off-television bouts also cut their boxing teeth fighting in Monterey. THE RIOT pro boxing series is moving from the Hyatt to the Conference Center in Downtown Monterey on July 2nd, and will feature many other top prospects. 7-0 Heavyweight George Garcia, a member of the Mexican Olympic Team will make his first Monterey appearance. A spectacular battle of the unbeaten matches local favorite Read more [...]

2005: Golden Boy Promotions Officially Welcomes Jorge Rodrigo Barrios

LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2005 – He is one of boxing’s newest world champions and also one of its most exciting, and on Friday, May 6, Golden Boy Promotions will formally welcome the pride of Argentina, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, to Los Angeles for a special presentation of his WBO world championship belt, as well as a roundtable discussion with the media. This event will begin at 10:00am, and will be held at the offices of Golden Boy Promotions. Barrios, who will be joined by Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, will be presented with his super featherweight world championship belt by WBO representative Mark Rios, and will also meet with the California State Athletic Commission before sitting down with the media to discuss his dominating victory over Mike Anchondo on April 8, Read more [...]

2005: David Tua in June Main Event at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino

(MAY 3, 2005) Heavyweight contender David Tua headlines a night of rld class boxing at the Event Center at Turning Stone Resort and Casino on Friday, June 10. Six bouts are on the card, being held in conjunction with Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, with the action beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tua (43-3-1, 38 KOs) is scheduled for the ten-round Main Event against a yet-to-be-named opponent. Born in Western Somoa and now residing in Aukland, New Zealand, Tua’s globe-trotting fight resume includes victories over current WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz and former WBC and IBF belt-holder Hasim Rahman. Tua also went toe-to-toe with Lennox Lewis in a world heavyweight title match in November 2000, losing by decision. He is set on regaining a title bid, and is coming off an impressive tenth Read more [...]

2005: Warrior’s Boxing Promotions Throws a 1-2 Combination For Tsunami Relief

 (MAY 3, 2005) HOLLYWOOD, FL – In addition to its commitment to bringing the best in world-class boxing to fight fans, Warriors Boxing Promotions is firmly vested in the community. With this in mind, on April 26, 2005, the Hollywood-based promotional company donated the purses and sanctioning fees for the IBF United States Atlantic Coast Regional Heavyweight Championship bout between Kendrick Releford and Najee Shaheed in an event to raise funds for tsunami relief, hosted by Richard Dobal Productions, Inc. . “The scope of devastation caused by the Asian tsunami last year hit home for all of us. Because boxing is truly a global sport, and Indonesia hosts many great events, several people in our boxing community had family members directly touched by this tragedy,” said Warriors Read more [...]