(LOS ANGELES, CALIF.) – Reigning world champion Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Fla.) made the cross-country trek to Southern California on Tuesday, arriving in Los Angeles for his September 27 welterweight clash with former World Champion Steve “Two Pounds” Forbes (Las Vegas, Nev.) at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif..
The 25-year-old Berto completed a five-week training camp in his hometown of Winter Haven, Fla., in preparation for his first title defense against the veteran Forbes. He believes the hard work will pay off as the takes the ring for the first time as a World Champion. Although he has never fought in the Los Angeles area, he has spent a great deal of time in Southern California and looks forward to building his fan base.
“I am very excited about touching down here in Los Angeles,” Berto said. “We had a tremendous camp and L.A. is almost like a second home so I am looking forward to performing and giving the people a great show.”
Berto opened training camp on August 19 in central Florida for his first title defense. He claimed the WBC Welterweight title vacated by Floyd Mayweather, Jr., with a seventh round knockout of Miguel Angel Rodriguez on June 21. His match-up with Forbes will provide a new and unique challenge for the rising star as he looks to make an imprint on the boxing world.
“He’s a former world champion and just came off a good fight with Oscar de la Hoya so it’s going to be a good test for me. I have something to prove,” Berto said.
In preparation for Forbes, Berto brought in smaller sparring partners and he and trainer Tony Morgan chose to focus on speed and boxing. He made a return to his roots for his recent camp, training in the same Winter Haven PAL gym that he worked out in as an amateur.
A 2004 Haitian Olympian, Berto has quickly risen to the top of the boxing ranks, building a 22-0 record with an astonishing 19 knockouts. He has developed a reputation for knocking out boxers previously known as unstoppable, and hopes to continue the trend in his contest with Forbes.
The Berto vs. Forbes match-up will be the co-feature on the September 27 card with Shane Mosley and Ricardo Mayorga’s contest serving as the main event. Both fights will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing.
Tickets for the event priced at $350, $150, $75 and $50 are on sale now and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, on the Web at www.Ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone at (213) 480-3232. Tickets are also available for sale at The Home Depot Center Box Office, open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT, and on event days. Event suites, group packages and VIP packages are available by calling 1-877-AEG-TICKETS (1-877-234-8425) or by visiting www.aegtickets.com.
Albert & Duran battle to draw
Ballagou wins IBF Continental title in Big Apple
NEW YORK CITY (September 23, 2008) – Two-time Nigerian Olympian Eromosele “Bad Boy” Albert and Ghana-native Ossie Duran (23-6-1, 9 KOs) fought to a 12-round draw in their IBF Continental Africa light middleweight title bout last night (Tuesday, September 23), headlining an abbreviated “KnockOut Poverty” pro boxing card, presented by Bob Duffy’s Ring Promotions, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan.
In the co-feature, former world title challenger “King” Jaffa Ballagou (46-6, 40 KOs), from Togo, won the vacant IBF Continental Africa cruiserweight championship by stopping Manu Ntoh (17-15-1, 10 KOs) in the 11th round.
“KnockOut Poverty” was a landmark event to help fight poverty in Africa. Grammy Award winning, UN Goodwill Ambassador Youssou N’Dour and friends were among the many stars appearing for the historic evening of entertainment, music and boxing. N’Dour and other African musical legends performed between fights with proceeds from the event going to the All For Africa charitable organization.
Albert (21-2-1, 10 KOs) and Duran (23-6-2, 9 KOs), former Commonwealth light middleweight and welterweight champion, fought toe-to-toe for 12 rounds, in which, the judges scored 117-111 for Albert, 116-112 for Duran, and 114-114. The IBF Continental Africa light middleweight title remains vacant.
“We are warriors,” Duran commented after the fight. “You don’t usually see that type of fight. But that was a robbery. I won the fight. He wasn’t scoring; I was all night with my jab.”
Before storming out of the ring Albert rhetorically asked, “How was that fight a draw?”
Ballagou (46-6, 40 KOs) got off the mat in the mat in the opening round to knockdown Ntoh (17-15-1, 10 KOs), from Cameroon, twice in the fourth and 11th rounds before referee Eddie Claudio halted the match at 2:47 of the 11th.
“I felt rusty at first – two years off will do that – but I knew that I’d get him,” Ballagou said after the fight. “I’m looking to fight the best light heavyweights in the world – Antonio Tarver, Roy Jones, Glen Johnson. I need them right now. I’m ready for them and I’ve waited so long.”
The scheduled 12-round IBF Intercontinental Africa light heavyweight title bout between former world title challenger Kingsley Ikeke (24-3, 13 KOs) and Sudan-native Abdullah Ramadan (15-8, 9 KOs) was cancelled because Ramadan was unable to gain entry (visa problems) into the United States from Canada. A four-round bout between pro-debuting light welterweight Issouf Kinda, of Bukini Faso, and Jose Guzman (3-3-1) was cancelled by the ring doctor because Guzman was running a high fever.
Among the dignitaries attending the show were former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson and IBF bantamweight title-holder Joseph Agbeko.
“Superman” Returns For “Radisson Rumble” October 3rd
Coming off two tremendous summertime victories Derrick “Superman” Findley (12-2, 7 KO’s) is well prepared to step in the ring again as Co-Main Event October 3rd for “Radisson Rumble” and keep up the momentum he has built this year. After dominating Miguel “Macho” Hernandez (20-8, 10 KO’s) a contestant on ESPN’s “The Contender” to a unanimous decision and completely annihilating the highly touted Andrzej Fonfara (10-1, 3 KO’s) by a 2nd round knockout Findley has catapulted himself into being a threat in the highly talented middleweight division.
“I can’t wait to get back in the ring.” Said an eager Findley. “This sport is so exciting to me. Getting to step in the ring is the moment that makes all the hard work in the gym worthwhile. On October 3rd it doesn’t matter who steps in the ring with me. It’s time to show the fans that I have what it takes to be a Champion.”
“Derrick is a unique individual.” Said One In A Million, Inc. C.E.O. Octavius James. “He truly is passionate about his craft and his work ethic shows it. He is always in the gym preparing him self to rise to the next level of competition and it has shown as he has upset some very notable fighters as of late. “We are working rigorously on finding an opponent for the October 3rd “Radisson Rumble” to better display the improved Derrick “Superman” Findley to our fans who are excited to see him return home to fight.”
In the Main Event Chicago’s Own Michael “Midnight Stalker” Walker (18-1, 12 KO’s) looks to return to the win column in his rematch from the Main Event of ESPN 2 facing Antwun Echols (31-8, 27 KO’s). Plus in a special attraction bout Juan “Mexican Connection” Aguilar (6-1, 3 KO’s) takes on Orphuis Waite (2-0, 2 KO’s). Rounding out this exciting card will be Heavyweight Michael “Quiet Assassin” Parker (6-0, 5 KO’s), Welterweight sensation Ed Ochoa (5-0, 5 KO’s), and the newest member of Team One In A Million middleweight Josh Crouch (1-0, 1 KO), and the return of Chicago’s Boxing Promoter Sam Merza (14-1, 11 KO’s).
Radisson Hotel @ Star Plaza is conveniently located at I-65 & US 30 in Merrillville, IN.
Ticket prices are $100 VIP $75 VIP ringside $50 ringside $30 general admission.
Tickets for the “Radisson Rumble” can be purchased online at www.Ticketmaster.com any Ticket Master location or by calling 219-791-1234, 312-559-1212, or 866-438-7372