LOS ANGELES, October 15 — Golden Boy Promotions is proud to announce that rising junior middleweight star James Kirkland has been added to its roster of fighters. Kirkland signed with Golden Boy Promotions today and is slated to make his Golden Boy Promotions debut in the near future..
“James Kirkland is one of boxing’s hottest young stars and we are very excited to work with him,” said President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya. “I am confident that he will contend for a world title in the very near future.”
Michael Miller, Kirkland’s manager commented, “James Kirkland and our team is excited to work with Golden Boy Promotions because we believe that this company offers James the best opportunities for the future. He wants to face the best fighters in the junior middleweight division and we know we can accomplish that with Golden Boy.”
“I’m ready to fight the best fighters at 154 pounds, said James Kirkland. “I know that Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar de la Hoya will get me these great fights. I want to showcase my talent to the boxing world on all the big television networks. I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for giving me the opportunity to work with a boxing promoter that has the best fighters in the world like Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton and many others.”
Kirkland (23-0, 20 KO’s), a 24-year-old southpaw from Austin, Texas made his professional debut in 2001 and has since soared through the professional rankings to become one of the sport’s rising sensations. On May 17, 2008 he won the NABO Light Middleweight Title by defeating Eromosele Albert by TKO in the first round and in his last bout on September 5, he defeated Ricardo Cortes by TKO in the second round. Kirkland is ranked WBC #13, WBA #3, IBF #4, WBO #4 and is trained by Ann Wolfe, a former eight-time world champion in four divisions. He is co-managed by Michael Miller and Cameron Dunkin.
A date and opponent for Kirkland’s debut under the Golden Boy Promotions banner will be announced shortly.
Manchester Welter Mark Thompson Eyes Title Shot
Big-hearted welterweight Mark Thompson continues his march towards a domestic title shot with an appearance on the October 17 York Hall fight card this weekend, supporting the main event of Ian Napa vs. Carmelo Ballone for the European bantamweight championship.
The sturdy 27 year old is coming off three consecutive stoppage victories already this year but the Manchester area slugger could have a difficult time improving upon that mark as Latvian hard man Gatis Skuja is a proven, durable light middleweight who will test Thompson’s resolve during their six rounder on Friday night.
Thompson won the British Boxing Board of Control Sportsman of the Year Award in 2007 for stepping up in weight on short notice to face WBC International light middleweight titlist Vincent Vuma and mounting a highly competitive challenge before suffering an eighth round stoppage.
The Heywood resident won the vacant International Masters welterweight title in May with a first round knockout of Polish southpaw Maurycy Gojko, who had only had previously only been stopped by future European light welter champion Ted Bami fighting as a welterweight.
A title bout could be just around the corner for the popular Thompson, but “The Heywood Hammer” must first defeat the iron-willed Skuja and pull off a sharp performance in the process if he is to get the chance to trade punches with the best in the UK.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Dapa Napa”, Ian Napa vs. Carmelo Ballone for the Bantamweight Championship of Europe, supported by full undercard, at York Hall, London, England on Friday, October 17, 2008.
Tickets are priced at £75 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 9:30pm.
“Bazooka” Joe At Palace Friday
Scott Leber WTVO/Fox39
Rockford boxer “Bazooka” Joe Linenfelser is finally going to get the exposure he’s been looking for. It will come this Friday night.
That’s when he’ll step into the boxing ring at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan near Detroit. He’ll have a rematch with former world champion Fernando Hernandez. Linenfelser defeated Hernandez in a kickboxing match this summer. This event will be straight boxing.
Linenfelser is 20 years old. He is undefeated as a professional boxer. A sellout crowd of 16,000 will be watching the fight Friday. Plus the event will be televised nationally by FoxSportsNet. On top of that, world-famous trainer Emanuel Stewart will be in Linenfelser’s corner assisting Linenfelsers’ personal trainer Pat “Cat” Coleman.
If Linenfelser wins this fight, it will open up a whole lot of doors for him.
“It’ll mean more televised fights, higher paydays, more sponsors and a promoter,” said Linenfelser to WTVO. “It’s going to open up a lot of gates.”
“This is a big fight,” said Joe’s father and manager Jeff Linenfelser. “We’ve got big promoters who are going to be there. Every famous person from the Detroit area will be there. The venue holds 16,000 people. It’s almost sold out. This is just the beginning.