New York, October 18—Two Olympic Gold Medalists will square off for the heavyweight championship! Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF, WBO and IBO world heavyweight champion, will defend his titles against IBF. no. 1 ranked Alexander Povetkin on December 13 in the SAP ARENA in Mannheim, Germany.
Pove tkin, the 29-year-old Russian known as the “White Lion,“ captured Olympic Gold at the 2004 Games in Athens, while Klitschko copped the Gold Medal in 1996 in Atlanta.
Povetkin is unbeaten in his 16 professional fights (12 by KO) and the IBF top ranked challenger. “I will get that belt,” said Povetkin. “It is my turn, I am the future.”
The 32-year-old Klitschko is facing his 15th world championship fight. Klitschko, who held the WBO championship from 2000 – 2003, returns to the scene where he captured the IBF and IBO titles in 2006, scoring a technical knockout over Chris Byrd. In February 2008, he regained the WBO world championship when he beat Sultan Ibragimov at Madison Square Garden in New York. His record is 51 wins (45 KOs) and three losses.
Said Klitschko: “Alexander Povetkin is a very strong opponent. Both of us are Olympic champions. The fans can expect a great fight. I have good memories at SAP Arena where I became world champion for the second time. The fa ns in the Mannheim area are great.”
In Germany, the fight will be shown live and exclusively on RTL. HBO will broadcast the championship in the U.S.
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Tickets for the Klitschko – Povetkin fight on December, 13, will be available beginning Monday, October, 20, 2008. Box office will be opened from 8 a.m. at the SAP Arena, entrance A and B. On the internet you can purchase tickets at www.saparena.de, via the ticket hotline +49 621 – 1819 0 333, at the ticketshop at the SAP ARENA, at Engelhorn Sport in Mannheim and at all local ticket agencies
Carlos Molina Scores First Round KO Friday Night, Moves To 5-0
LOS ANGELES, CA (October 18, 2008) Undefeated lightweight prospect Carlos Molina continued to impress the Southern California boxing fans as he brutally stopped Mexican veteran Eligio Valenzuela in the first round Friday night at the Quiet Cannon Country Club in Montebello.
The 22 year Molina dropped the aggressive and game Valenzuela twice in the opening stanza with the fight being stopped after the third knockdown at the 1:14 mark.
With the win, the Commerce, California resident improved to 5-0 with two knockouts.
“Valenzuela came to fight and they were trading bombs right from the opening bell, but Carlos has a terrific beard and punches much harder and that’s why he came out ahead in the one round slugfest” said manager Frank Espinoza.
“This was the best that Carlos has looked since turning pro. He’s worked hard in the gym on using leverage on his punches and it really showed tonight.”
About his upcoming plans, Espinoza said “We’d like to have him back in November. He’s ready to step up to six rounders and we want to keep him busy.”
The ESPINOZA BOXING CLUB was started in 1991 by Los Angeles area businessman Frank Espinoza. Espinoza has earned numerous accolades for his management skills from many boxing newspaper and internet writers.
In 2006, Espinoza was awarded the Manager of the Year award from the World Boxing Hall of Fame and inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame.
In the September 2008 issue of Ring Magazine, Espinoza was praised for his outstanding handling of the career of junior featherweight world champion and “Pound for Pound” superstar Israel “EL MAGNIFICO” Vazquez.
Vazquez is currently ranked on numerous Pound for Pound lists including # 4 by Yahoo Sports, # 5 by Ring Magazine and # 7 by ESPN.
Espinoza also has managed retired former world champion Martin “EL GALLITO” Castillo and currently manages world ranked Alex Valdez and Miguel “EL ANESTESISTA” Huerta in addition to undefeated prospects Manuel “SUAVECITO” Roman, Jesus “POLLO” Hernandez, Luis Ramos, Carlos Molina, Abraham Lopez and Ronny Rios.
For more information on The Espinoza Boxing Club, please visit their newly remodeled website at www.espinozaboxingclub.com
Ian Napa Wins European Crown In London
In a startling reversal of fortune, British bantamweight champion Ian Napa turned the tables on bigger, stronger foe Carmelo Ballone and ripped away the Belgian’s coveted European title after twelve rounds of rib-breaking combat last night at London’s York Hall on a Frank Maloney promotion.
In the early rounds it was Ballone who imposed his will upon the diminutive Englishman, punishing Napa for the insult of staying close and playing to the European champion’s strengths. But by standing the fire that had knocked out Ballone’s last five opponents, Napa was in position to mount a withering body assault that ultimately proved to be the difference in the bout.
Spurred on by a cut Ballone suffered above his right eye during an accidental head clash and a venue full of fanatical fans, Napa showed tremendous grit and determination to absorb the best that the power punching southpaw champion had to offer and by the second half of the bout, Ballone’s spirt was broken by the 5 foot 1 inch Hackney sprite, who hammered the retreating continental with both hands.
The crushing body blows nearly produced an early finish in the tenth when Napa speared the Belgian with a piercing shot to the midsection that forced Ballone to a knee but the big hearted champion beat the count and battle resumed through the twelfth and final round.
When the verdict was read, Napa took the majority decision and the European title on scores of 114-113, 114-113 and 114-114. The 30 year old from London’s Hackney section improves to 18-6 (1) while 32 year old Ballone falls to 21-3-1 (10), suffering his first loss in nearly three years.
On the undercard, lightweight Henry Castle, 19-4 (11), short circuited what was expected to be a highly contentious contest by making short work of former British and Commonwealth champion Graham Earl, 25-4 (12), who was dropped in the opening seconds of the bout and finished off at 1:09 of the first of eight scheduled rounds.
In another eight rounder, light middleweight Sam Webb, 12-1 (4), stopped opponent Gilbert Eastman, 20-7 (13), in the last second of their contest. Eastman was rushed to hospital after collapsing in his changing room and Frank Maloney Promotions is asking everyone to keep brave Gilbert in their prayers and wish for his speedy and full recovery on this serious occasion.
Manchester welterweight Mark Thompson, 17-1 (10), won his hard-nosed six rounder with seasoned Latvian brawler Gatis Skuja, 4-12-4 (2), via a score of 60-54 after cutting and canvassing Skuja in the third. Thompson now racked up six consecutive victories since dropping a last minute challenge of WBC International light middleweight champion Vincent Vuma last year.
Commonwealth light welterweight champion Ajose Olusegun, 25-0 (12), stayed on track for a WBC title shot by keeping busy against former amateur standout Michael Frontin, 1-4-1 (0), picking up the 60-55 verdict after six frames against the Mauritius native.
Super flyweight prospect Ashley Sexton, 2-0 (0), posted a four round 40-36 points win over Wolverhampton warhorse Delroy Spencer, 10-74-3 (1
Heavyweight hopeful Tom Dallas, 2-0 (0), won all four rounds against durable Latvian import Aleksanders Selezens, 2-5 (0), but towering Sheffield heavy Dave Howe, 1-1 (1), was knocked out at 1:02 of the first round by spoiler David Ingleby, 6-22-1 (4), who previously stopped two undefeated prospects over the last year.
Heavyweight Larry Olubamiwo, 1-0 (1), made his pro debut a good one by stopping Slovakian tourist Vlado Szabo, 2-34 (0), at 1:39 of the first frame.
Frank Maloney’s new signing, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medallist Darren “The Dazzler” Sutherland of Ireland, made an appearance in the ring to greet fans in attendance.