Category: Boxing News

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 [...]

The Talk of a Mixed Match Rears it’s ugly head..again By Sue TL Fox

(APR 28) Yes, folks...you will need to endure again.  According to Team Wolfe, Ann "Brown Sugar" Wolfe will be taking on a male in the boxing ring.   Just this week Team Wolfe has sent WBAN two press releases about updates on Ann that include details of Ann getting ready to step into the ring with a male boxer.  [update: this fight never took place 2013] Team Wolfe said in their first release earlier this week, and sent to WBAN on about April 23, 2005, said the following: "In the meantime, many boxing fans are probably wondering if Wolfe is still planning to fight a man. The answer is "Yes". The fight will be moved to either late Summer or early Fall. According to the promoter PPV has already been locked in, so now it is just a matter of finding the right venue. The Wolfe camp continues Read more [...]

2005: Sold out in Five Minutes! Tickets to NBC’s Finale of “The Contender”

LOS ANGELES, April 27, 2005 – Five minutes. That’s all it took for every ticket to the May 24 live finale of NBC’s realty-tv series "The Contender" to be sold out at Caesars Palace in  Las Vegas, making a huge statement that declares ‘boxing is back’. "Our fans love the show and are excited to see the final fight of the tournament,” said executive producer Mark Burnett. “The finale promises to be an incredible night of boxing and entertainment. I can't wait to see who wins the million!" This final match will determine which middleweight will walk away with one-million dollars and the chance to change their lives and the lives of the people they love forever, while also earning recognition as one of boxing’s new superstars. “The Contender is bringing boxing back to the Read more [...]

“A Ring of Their Own” Deserves Better By Bernie McCoy

(APR 26) I finally found "A Ring of Their Own". It took me almost as long as it took the sport of Women's boxing to get it's own TV show. The problem of female boxers getting TV exposure has been well documented, but in my case the problem of finding "A Ring of Their Own" was directly related to the fact that it is being broadcast in near obscurity on the Metro Channel in New York. The Metro Channel is a low tier cable channel, positioned slightly above public access outlets and substantially below the major sports channels such as ESPN and Fox Sports. "A Ring of Their Own" deserves much better. In addition to being the first TV show dedicated, exclusively, to the female boxing, the show manages to pack more boxing action into two hours than any existing show on the air. Additionally, the Read more [...]

2005: Cosme Rivera vows to upset Zab Judah  

 LAS VEGAS (April 19, 2005) – IBF mandatory challenger Cosme “Chino” Rivera (28-7-2, 20 KOs) plans on shocking the boxing world May 14 when he fights defending champion Zab “Super” Judah (33-2, 24 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature, headlined by Tito Trinidad-Winky Wright, for the undisputed (IBF, WBC & WBA) welterweight titles on HBO PPV from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. “All of those boxing insiders who think this is going to be a one-sided fight haven’t followed my career,” Rivera said. “I can’t wait. Judah is wearing my belts. He’s never fought anybody with my heart and determination. I’m a Mexican and we’re all about heart. Nobody’s every knocked me down. I’ve been waiting my whole career for this opportunity. I’m going to bring the fight to him.” The Read more [...]

2005: 8 Count Productions Launches KO Chicago Boxing Radio Hour

 (APR 18, 2005) Dominic Pesoli and 8 Count Productions, home of THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING is proud to announce details of the KO Chicago Boxing Radio Hour, Chicagoland's only radio show dedicated to The Sweet Science and it's loyal fans broadcast every Wednesday night at 6pm on WJJG 1530 AM. Said Pesoli of the new venture, "It's a great opportunity for Chicagoland fights fans to hear not only about  8 Count Productions events, like our Night of Honor this Friday night, but we'll also focus on recent fights that have taken place along with upcoming national shows like the Main Events/ESPN Pay-Per-View this coming Saturday night. Our plan is to have local fighters and all the movers and shakers in the industry along with champions and future champions on with us each week." Continued Read more [...]

2005: NER Promotions signs 2-time Olympian Patriz Lopez

(APR 16, 2005) BOSTON – NER Promotions has signed two-time Venezuelan Olympian Patriz (El Elegante) Lopez to a promotional contract, NER president Rick Brutti announced on April 15. “Patriz Lopez is the first of many prospects we intend to sign this year,” Brutti said. “He was considered the best and most complete amateur boxer in Latin America for the past three years. With his success and international experience, we believe Patriz has all the makings of a future world champion. We plan to have him fight on our next pro card. NER Promotions is very excited about signing our first pro boxer and we look forward to building our stable exciting fighters.” Lopez, 27, turned pro last December. He is 2-0 with two knockouts, fighting as a lightweight, and both bouts were held in Read more [...]

2005: O’Neil Bell Battles Dale Brown for the IBF World Championship

 HOLLYWOOD, FL, April 14, 2005 – For seven years, O’Neil Bell has waited for one moment in his boxing career - a chance to shine on the world stage and fulfill a dream. For Dale Brown, the wait to put a world championship belt around his waist has been even longer – ten years. On Friday, May 20, from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, both top contenders will get their opportunity to put it all on the line for the IBF World Cruiserweight Championship. Finally. Bell-Brown, a 12 round championship contest, headlines an exciting night of world-class professional boxing presented by Warrior’s Boxing Promotions, Inc. in association with The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first bell rings at 7:30pm. O’Neil “Give Read more [...]

2005: National Conference Call Transcript  John Ruiz – James Toney

 (APR 14, 2005) World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (41-51, 28 KOs) will put his title on the line against three-time world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (68-4-2, 43 KOs) at Madison Square Garden on April 30 in a match promoted by Don King Productions and Goossen Tutor Promotions in association with Madison Square Garden. Tickets priced at $350, $250, $175, $100 and $50 are on sale now at the Garden box office and all Ticketmaster locations. Ruiz: It is going to be a great fight. He is coming to fight, but I still feel that I am the best in the world and I am just coming out to prove it. Toney: I am excited and ready to go. I have been training for a long time and actually preparing for this fight for the last two and a half months. It is Read more [...]

2005: Marco Antonio Barrera Defends Title and more

LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2005 – It was a weekend to remember for Golden Boy Promotions, as not only did boxing superstar Marco Antonio Barrera defend his WBC super featherweight crown with a devastating second round knockout of number one contender Mzonke Fana, but two new world champions were crowned for the Golden Boy team. Last Friday night, at the Miccosukee Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida, Argentina’s Jorge Rodrigo Barrios stopped previously unbeaten Mike Anchondo in four one-sided rounds to win the WBO super featherweight crown. The very next night, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, Fernando Montiel was just as devastating, delighting boxing fans with a seventh round knockout of another previously unbeaten foe, Ivan “Choko” Hernandez, to earn the WBO super flyweight Read more [...]

2005: Kenny Ellis Set For Ring return

(APR 13, 2005) Kenny Ellis (33-6-2, 22ko’s) had to dig deep to find out if he would continue his boxing career after losing to Troy Rowland in June of 2004. Ellis took the fight on short notice knowing that he would need to win by knockout because of the ridiculous judging in Michigan. “We watched tape of Troy and felt like this was a great fight for Kenny” said Ellis’s promoter Brian Halquist. “Unfortunately, we found out two things: 1) Troy was a good fighter with a heart of gold and 2) Kenny can’t perform when he has to cut twelve pounds in twenty-four hours” Halquist said. Ellis lost fair and square to Rowland and Kenny would take this defeat harder than any of his career. For the next four months, Ellis stayed out of the gym, contemplating retirement. “I was kind Read more [...]

Night of Honor Boxing Card – April 10, 2005

"Night of Honor" will be headlined by a lightweight ten rounder between Mexican contenders Jose Armando Santa Cruz, 18-0 (9KO's) of Lincoln Heights, CA and Omar Bernal, 25-6-3 (19KO's) of Mazatlan, Mexico. The co-main event features an eight round battle between welterweight prospects, Francisco Rincon, 9-1 (4KO's) of Coahuila, Mexico and Floyd Trumpet, 12-5-2 (6KO's) of Port of Spain, Trinidad. Also on the action packed card is a special feature attraction as hot prospect Jimmy Gonzalez, 1-0 (1KO) battles hard swinging Michael "The Midnight Stalker" Walker, 6-0 (4KO's) in a Chicagoland crosstown showdown. Additionally appearing on the card is local fan favorite Francisco Rodriguez, 2-0 (2KO's) in a scheduled four round bout. Fast rising super middleweight Ottu Holifield, 3-0 will Read more [...]

2005: “Night of Honor” will be headlined by Jose Armando Santa Cruz vs. Omar Bernal

 (APRIL 10, 2005) "Night of Honor" will be headlined by a lightweight ten rounder between Mexican contenders Jose Armando Santa Cruz, 18-0 (9KO's) of Lincoln Heights, CA and Omar Bernal, 25-6-3 (19KO's) of Mazatlan, Mexico. The co-main event features an eight round battle between welterweight prospects, Francisco Rincon, 9-1 (4KO's) of Coahuila, Mexico and Floyd Trumpet, 12-5-2 (6KO's) of Port of Spain, Trinidad. Also on the action packed card is a special feature attraction as hot prospect Jimmy Gonzalez, 1-0 (1KO) battles hard swinging Michael "The Midnight Stalker" Walker, 6-0 (4KO's) in a Chicagoland crosstown showdown. Additionally appearing on the card is local fan favorite Francisco Rodriguez, 2-0 (2KO's) in a scheduled four round bout. Fast rising super middleweight Ottu Holifield, Read more [...]