Ricardo Cortes isn’t worried about fighting James Kirkland in his hometown of Austin, Texas. Kirkland’s reputation as a ferocious puncher and tenacious boxer doesn’t faze Cortes in the slightest. Even the Kirkland’s gaudy record and high knockout percentage means little to “El Guero,” one of the best boxing prospects to come out of California in a long time. Don’t think that Cortes is taking his fight with Kirkland on September, 5th in Austin, Texas, at the Austin Music Hall on ESPN’S Friday Night Fights lightly. Cortes just knows that everything that can be said about Kirkland, can be said about him..
Ferocious puncher? The first time Cortes stepped in the ring he knocked his opponent out in 26 seconds, and hasn’t slowed since.Tenacious boxer? Cortes takes pride in being the aggressor in every
fight, and always presses the action. Gaudy ring record, complete with high knockout percentage? Cortes has 22 victories (same as Kirkland) to only 2 defeats, and has 15 knockouts. Cortes understands why Kirkland, as the hometown fighter, is the favorite for this main-event fight. Cortes also plans on sending home a lot of Austin boxing fans unhappy.
“I feel very good about fighting Kirkland in his backyard,” Cortes said. “I don’t think that is going to make much difference, it does not bother me at all. “He’s a very strong fighter and I don’t see a lot of
weakness in him, his record speaks for itself. But I’m going to win this fight.”
The 10-round junior middleweight fight between James Kirkland (22-0, 19 KOs) and Ricardo Cortes (22-2-1, 15 KOs), on the 10th Anniversary show of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, is being presented by TKO Boxing Promotions. Ticket prices for the show are $100, $75, $50, $40 and $25; prices $5 more day of the show For tickets call (866) 443-8849 or go to www.gettix.net . Doors open at 6:30pm, and first bout starts at 7:30pm.
Cortes, 28, is originally from Michoacán, Mexico, but now makes his home in San Jose, California.Cortes was a three-time Northern California Golden Glove Champion and also won the Northern California Silver Gloves, Diamond Belt and Junior Olympics.He began fighting professionally in 2000, and quickly won his first 10 bouts before taking a draw (he later avenged this decision by stopping Sheldon Callum).
Cortes trip up the rankings lists continued with a 9th-round TKO against Christian Cruz to win the California State Super Middleweight title. Cortes fought and won four more times before taking on Cruz in a rematch — this time for the IBA America’s Super Middleweight title — on June 14, 2006. Cortes was well ahead on all scorecards when the bout had to be stopped after the seventh round due to an accidental headbutt, earning him the title.
Cortes has only been slightly slowed by his last outing, a shocking knockout loss to Alfredo Angulo, but Cortes has vowed to prove that was an aberration with his performance against Kirkland.
“I have had a very good training camp and I’m in good shape,” Cortes said. “My trainer (Tony Lucio) has prepared me very well for this fight. I do a lot of training with MMA fighters. My conditioning coach is Josh Thompson, who is the current MMA Strike Force Champion.”
“We are very excited about fighting James Kirkland,” Lucio said. “Ricardo is going to put on a very good performance and we are confident about victory.”
Kirkland has become a contender in the junior middleweight division as much for his fierce punching power as his style, which pushes the action and constantly has Kirkland moving forward. Cortes said the only way to counter that is to move forward first, and that’s exactly what he’s going to do.
It’s going to make for one tremendous fight.
“Kirkland comes forward and he’s a strong fighter,” Cortes said. “I feel very confident matching my skills against his skills. I’m going to bring the fight to him and I’m going to box him. And I’m going to beat him.”
The September 5 show will feature Brian Kenny working ringside with Teddy Atlas. The viewing audience will be treated to a feature on Ann Wolfe as well as the results of ESPN’s 10th-anniversary fan voting, which include results for the KO of the decade / Fight of the decade / Most Memorable Fighter of the decade on Friday Night Fights.
Euro Boxing Roundup By Per Ake Persson
It´s official: WBA lightheavy champ Hugo Hernan Garay defends the title against # 1 challenger Jurgen Brahmer October 18 in Dresden. However, German media writes today that Brahmer is in the middle of another investigation for assault. This time a man in Schwerin claims that Brahmer – on parole until September 15 from another sentence – punched him following a argument in a pub. Universum spokesman Christof Hawerkamp is quoted by newsagency dpa as saying that the Garay fight shouldn´t be in any danger. Brahemer himself denies all wrongdoings. Co-headlining in Dresden is WBO jr middle titleholder Sergey Dzinziruk defending against Colombian Joel Julio.
The comeback of German heavy Timo Hoffmann set for October 4 after eleven months out since losing to Aleksander Dimitrenko and getting a year long suspension after a positive dopingtest appears to be off for now – reportedly due to financial reasons. Hoffmann was to fight for promoter Peter Pelk who is licensed with the GBA.
WBA I/C jr welter titlist Brunet Zamora defends against Brazilian Sydney Siqueira September 18 in Adria, Italy. On the undercard middleweight Simone Rotolo face Czech journeyman Patrick Hruska.
Michel Trabant, the veteran German welter, is out of the contract with Sauerland Event after back to back losses but will continue boxing. Word is that the former EBU champ and WBA title challenger is still in deep financial difficulties. Trabant have a comeback fight set for November 29 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
WBO I/C welter champ Christian Bladt might defend against Italian Michele Di Rocco in Italy later this fall.
WBC Youth champ at welter, Oliver Guettel, will make the first defence of his title October 10 in Barleben (just outside of Magdeburg) October 10 with SES promoting.
No sign of former heavyweight champion of the World, Riddick Bowe, in Hungary yet. He is scheduled to fight Zoltan Petranyi September 12 in Gyor. Petranyi, also a promoter, manager and agent, is not in Hungary either – he is at the moment in South Africa where his boxer Joszef Nagy goes for the vacant WBF cruiser title September 5 in Secunda.
Danny Garcia returns to the ring Sept 13 in Las Vegas
September 3, 2008 Making his way back to the ring is Golden Boy Promotions highly publicized undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect Danny Garcia (6-0, 5 KO’s). Garcia, whose opponent is yet to be announced, will showcase his skills in a six round bout on the undercard of Joel Casamayor vs Juan Manuel Marquez set to take place September 13, 2008 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I’m very focused for this fight.” said Garcia, “My dad and I have been working real hard in the gym. I’m prepared to go the distance or end it early if opportunity presents itself. This fight will be another step toward my goal of becoming a world champion. Fans will get their money’s worth when they see me fight as I’m ready to let my hands go. I’m extremely excited to showcase my skills come fight night. Thank you.”
Tickets priced at $300, $200, $125 and $75 are on sale and may be purchased at any MGM Grand box office outlet and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The Casamayor vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $44.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to 71 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Casamayor vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com