Alexander Povetkin will remain in the top mandatory spot of the IBF rankings after an ankle injury forced him to postpone the December 13 showdown with reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko. IBF president Marian W. Muhammad confirmed in an official letter to Sauerland Event managing director Chris Meyer that the 29-year-old will face the winner of Klitschko´s fight with Hasim Rahman next year. She wrote: “Mr. Povetkin will remain in the No. 1 position in the heavyweight rankings. As Wladimir Klitschko has elected to fight the next leading available contender to complete his mandatory, Mr. Povetkin will be designated the next mandatory for the winner of the bout between Wladimir Klitschko vs. Hasim Rahman. If Klitschko retains the title on December 13, Povetkin should fight in a mandatory within the next nine months.” If Rahman wins, he would have one year to make his mandatory defence against the White Lion, the IBF president added..
Vlad Hrunov, Povetkin´s co-manager, was pleased about the decision. “We are happy that Alexander will be given the chance to fight the winner next year,” Hrunov said. “Alexander will take his time to recover from the injury and then get back in shape. I have no doubts he will be the new heavyweight champion in 2009.”
Povetkin had defeated Chris Byrd and Eddie Chambers in a four-way elimination tournament to become Klitschko´s mandatory challenger before suffering a training injury which left him with no other choice but to postpone the eagerly-anticipated meeting. “We are delighted that the IBF appreciates Alexander´s talents and keeps him in the top mandatory spot. That is where he belongs,” Meyer stated. “After consultation with his doctors Alexander will return to the ring in February or March 2009. If K2 prefer to do the mandatory early, we will be happy to oblige.”
SOLO BOXEO TECATE BRINGS TO PHILADELPHIA A TOP RANKED FIGHT FOR THE SUPER FLYWEIGHT TITLE
Cerveza Tecate showcases and amazing Friday boxing night from Philadelphia, PA as part of its efforts to bring the fervor of boxing to fans across the nation. “Solo Boxeo Tecate” will be broadcasted LIVE as part of Telefutura’s programming.
Spotlighting two of the best Super Flyweight fighters, “Solo Boxeo Tecate” brings the face-to-face between Raul “La Cobra” Martinez (23-0, 13 KO’s) and Victor Proa (26-0-2, 19 KO’s) in 10 rounds of Super Flyweight action. Ranked No. 3 by IBF and No. 4 by WBO, “La Cobra” offered a great victory to “Solo Boxeo Tecate” fans last January after defeating Alex “Ali” Baba. Coming from Mexico for his third fight in the U.S., Proa is looking for a victory that takes him closer to the World Title.
“Our consumers feel passionate about boxing” said Carlos Boughton, brand director for Tecate brand equity. “Through our sponsorship of ‘Solo Boxeo Tecate’ we have an opportunity to visit key markets and interact with adults con carácter on a more personal level.”
Additionally, Alexis Camacho (16-1, 15 KO’s) from San Antonio, TX will face Edvan Dos Barros (9-5-1, 7 KO’s) from Bahia, Brazil in 10 rounds of Welterweight action.
USA Boxing Retains Octagon to Serve as its Sponsorship Agency and Strategic Consultant
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – USA Boxing has retained the services of Octagon, one of the world’s premier sports agencies, to operate as the organization’s official sponsorship agency and strategic consultant. Octagon will assist USA Boxing in obtaining valuable sponsorship opportunities as well as providing critical consulting advice.
“Octagon gives us the scope of services and brain-power we need to navigate a difficult and complicated market,” commented Jim Millman, USA Boxing CEO. “We have exciting new properties that they can help us develop, and they have a great pulse on market, business, and brand considerations.”
Octagon will assist USA Boxing in numerous areas, including: sponsorship sales planning and marketing strategy. Octagon, through its Multicultural Marketing Group, will further assist USA Boxing fulfill its mission to serve as a catalyst for positive social development and character-building among inner city youth through focused sponsorship and grassroots initiatives. .
“Olympic-style boxing is part of the fabric of American sport tapping into powerful fan passions and national pride,” said Rick Dudley, President and CEO of Octagon Worldwide. “USA Boxing provides sponsors a variety of opportunities to engage fans at the international, national and grassroots levels. USA Boxing CEO, Jim Millman and his staff understand the importance of forging mutually beneficial marketing and sponsorship partnerships, and we’re looking forward to working with them to help the sport grow and succeed.”
With roots in athlete representation dating to the 1960s, Octagon (www.Octagon.com) works on behalf of blue-chip clients, including market leading brands, world-class athletes and rights-holders across the complete sports spectrum. Named “Agency of the Year” by Sports Business Journal, Octagon utilizes target-driven research to identify the optimum partnerships for rights-holders and sponsors based on membership/key audiences and insights into fan passion. Octagon creates and manages a wide range of multi-faceted, top-tier sponsorship programs that are positioned as a focal point of their clients’ marketing mix.