Category: Press Release

Sold out in Five Minutes! Tickets to NBC’s Finale of “The Contender” April 27, 2005

LOS ANGELES, April 27th – 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 people, Read more [...]

NER Promotions signs four S. American fighters

BOSTON (April 27, 2005) – First-year boxing promoter NER Promotions has strengthened its growing stable of fighters by signing four veteran South American boxers – WBO No. 5 rated welterweight Newton Villareal (23-3, 19 KOs), super flyweight Ilido Julio (32-6-1, 29 KOs), Ecuadorian Olympian junior middleweight Luis Hernandez (12-2, 6 KOs) and lightweight Jefferson Rodriguez (19-6, 18 KOs). The aforementioned signings come on the heels of NER announcements regarding promotional deals for a pair of lightweights, two-time Venezuelan Olympian Patriz “El Elegante” Lopez (2-0, 2 KOs) and Juan “Golo” Gomez-Trinidad (23-4, 16 KOs), the cousin of Felix “Tito” Trinidad. “We wanted to start with a stable combining proven pro fighters and promising prospects,” NER president Rick 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 [...]

2005: Desert Diamond Casino and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions are going to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

(APR 19, 2005) TUCSON --- Desert Diamond Casino and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions are going to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style as they present another elite boxing card live from the Diamond Center.  The Thursday, May 5, 2005 “Boxeo de Oro” show will be shown to a worldwide audience on HBO Latino. Tickets range from $25-$100 and are available now at the Desert Diamond Casino box office, Radio XENY in Nogales, MX or by calling (520) 393-2799 or 866-DDC-WINS. Nogales, Mexico native and former IBA World Middleweight Champion, David “Destroyer” Lopez,  23-13 (14KOs), returns to the Diamond Center ring after suffering a setback there on January 6, 2005 losing to Fulgencio Zuniga on HBO Latino. Lopez, who before the loss had firmly established himself as one of the world’s 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 [...]

Montiel and Barrios Earn World Titles

LOS ANGELES, April 14 – 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 title. 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 [...]

Golden Boy Promotions salutes Jorge Rodrigo Barrios – Out Newest World Champ

LOS ANGELES,  Posted APR 13 – With a capacity crowd of his fellow Argentinean cheering him on at the Miccosukee Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios became the newest world champion on the Golden Boy Promotions roster Friday night, stopping Mike Anchondo in four rounds to win the WBO super featherweight crown. “Jorge Barrios is a true warrior and his performance against Mike Anchondo was explosive and exciting,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “This victory put the 130-pound division on notice that Jorge is here to stay, and we’re looking forward to more great things from him in the future.” Barrios, who was on the attack from the opening bell, sent the previously unbeaten champion to the canvas three times before Anchondo’s Read more [...]

Kenny Ellis Set For Ring return

(APR 13) Kenny Ellis (33-6-2, 22 KO) 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 of lost” 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 [...]

Winky Wright on N.E. Ringside Radio Show Plus Hauser & DeMarco Thursday night, April 7

(April 7, 2005)   World champion Ronald “Winky” Wright, along with award-winning author Thomas Hauser and former world welterweight champion Tony DeMarco, are this week’s special guests on New England Ringside Radio Show, Thursday night (6-8 PM) on WWZN 1510 The Zone. The two-hour New England Ringside Boxing Radio Show – hosted by Ted Bodenrader, Anthony Pepe, Rick Brutti and Joe Bills -- airs every Thursday night between 6-8 pm (ET) on Boston’s Boxing Station, The Zone (1510 AM), and also may be heard live on the Internet by going to newenglandringside.com. Wright (48-3, 25 KOs) will talk about his May 14 super fight versus Felix “Tito” Trinidad, as well as his career-changing victories against Shane Mosley. The shifty southpaw may also reminisce about, before defeating Mosley, Read more [...]

John Duddy rapidly climbing middleweight ladder

QUEENS, N.Y. (April 7, 2005) – Unbeaten Irish middleweight prospect John Duddy (9-0, 9 KOs) is on the fast track in the 160-pound division, especially after his electrifying, high-profile first-round knockout of previously undefeated Lenord Pierre (16-0, 11 KOs), rated No. 19 by the World Boxing Council, March 18 on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. ESPN in-studio analyst for the March 18 show from Foxwoods, “Irish” Micky Ward, among many others, is sold on Duddy. “He’s the real deal,” Ward said. “John can do it all – speed, power and a good chin. Now it’s all up to his management team as far as how fast they move him. He looked tremendous fighting an undefeated kid (Pierre). If they move him right, Duddy has a great future because this kid can really fight.” Duddy’s level Read more [...]

Mike Anchondo Loses Title on Scales!

LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2005 – Mike Anchondo became the former WBO super featherweight champion Thursday afternoon at the Miccosukee Gaming Resort in Miami, Florida, after weighing in 4 ½ pounds over the division limit of 130 pounds for his Friday night showdown with Argentina’s Jorge Rodrigo Barrios. Barrios, who weighed in at a lean and ready 128 pounds, has decided he will fight his larger opponent in the main event of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, and despite the title now being declared vacant, if “La Hiena” defeats Anchondo, he will be crowned the WBO super featherweight champion of the world. “I trained hard for this opportunity and I am going to win,” said Barrios. “I will not be denied.” Barrios will receive $30,000 from Anchondo’s purse in addition to his Read more [...]