Newly crowned WBC USNBC light welterweight champion, Don Juan Futrell (22-3-2, 10 KO’s) is issuing a challenge to former two-time world champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz. Futrell, who’s unbeaten in his last nine fights, is coming off an impressive win against Hector Alatorre..
“I feel I’m ready to challenge the best fighters at the lightweight and Jr. welterweight divisions,” stated Futrell, “I’ve learned a lot about myself in these last few fights and believe now is my time to shine. The lightweight division is my target. If Julio Diaz is willing, I’ll fight him anywhere. “
In Diaz and Futrell you have two of the most talented fighters in their respected divisions. Both are promoted by Native American promotional companies in Sycuan Ringside Promotions and the TachiPalace. Christian Printup, promoter at the Tachi Palace Casino mentioned, “We’d love to get Diaz in the ring with Don Juan. Everyone in the Las Vegas boxing scene knows about Don Juan’s ability. He’s known as the silent assassin that’s helped so many world champions get better as they prepare for title fights. Now it’s his time to step into the spotlight and I believe Julio Diaz would be a great fight for Don Juan. It wouldn’t be pretty for Julio, but…well, that’s boxing.”
The Tachi Palace Casino and Sycuan Ringside Promotions have showcased some great fights over the past years and this bout is no exception. Printup is ecstatic about the possibility of this bout affirming, “This is a fight of the year candidate on paper, but unless Diaz has the balls and Woodworth, Quiroga and Gibbons have the confidence to make it happen, we’ll keep moving on up the rankings. Don Juan cannot, I repeat cannot be out boxed by anyone at 135, period.”
DE LA HOYA/PACQUIAO 24/7
NOV. 16 EPISODE
Episode #1
Debut date: SUNDAY, NOV. 16 (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Nov. 16 (12:30 a.m.), 17 (10:00 a.m., 11:30 p.m.), 18 (7:30 p.m.), 19 (8:30 p.m.), 20 (5:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 22 (8:00 a.m., 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT), 23 (noon) and 29 (9:00 a.m.), and Dec. 5 (9:00 p.m.) and 6 (10:00 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Nov. 18 (1:45 a.m.) and 21 (2:15 a.m.), and Dec. 12 (8:30 p.m.) and 13 (9:30 a.m.)
HBO On Demand availability begins: Nov. 18
Cameras from the Emmy®-winning series follow both camps as superstars Oscar De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs) and Manny Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) travel from the opening press conference at the Statute of Liberty to downtown Los Angeles on a six-city tour to publicize their Dec. 6 pay-per-view welterweight showdown in Las Vegas.
The executive producers of DE LA HOYA/PACQUIAO 24/7 are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; coordinating producer, Dave Harmon: producers, Scott Boggins and Johnson McKelvy; narrator, Liev Schreiber.
RON ROSS TO SIGN COPIES OF “NINE…TEN…AND OUT!” FOR FANS AT “BAD BOYS OF BOXING” SHOW ON NOV.11
CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED BOOK EXAMINES THE LIFE OF BOXING LEGEND EMILE GRIFFITH
HOLLYWOOD, FL, November 10 – As a special treat for boxing fans attending Tuesday, November 11th’s “Bad Boys of Boxing” event at the Hard Rock Live, author Ron Ross will be on hand to sign copies of his critically acclaimed new book “Nine…Ten…And Out! The Two Worlds of Emile Griffith.”
Mr. Ross will have copies of the book available for sale.
ABOUT THE BOOK
“NINE…TEN…AND OUT!” explores more than just the ring battles of a legendary champion. It takes us from a roped-off arena to a far larger battleground, that of life itself.
Having fought 112 fights on five continents, the holder of six championship belts and appreciated as a warrior who took on all comers, Emile Griffith captivated the boxing world with his exciting style and a disarming personality. Enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a charter inductee, Emile Griffith’s place in boxing history as one of the greatest prizefighters ever to climb into a ring is assured.
However, Emile Griffith’s toughest battle was waged without gloves and it was fought outside the ring. He battled ethereal demons and devils, and, at times, himself. It was an inner conflict, but a battle that he had to wage – a struggle to bring together two lives – both his
Emile Griffith did not choose his career as a prizefighter. It just happened and it all came so naturally that he accepted that this was his world. Nor did he choose his lifestyle, how he lived it or who he lived it with. It, too, came so naturally that he never questioned that this, also, was his world. However, there was always the apprehension that his two worlds were incompatible.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ron Ross is a native New Yorker and was himself a professional boxer, a fight promoter, and a manager. He remains active in the boxing world as a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and writes numerous boxing articles as well as covering major fights around the country.
Ron earned his B.A. at Brooklyn College where he majored in English and then studied for his Masters Degree at New York University after a two year hitch in the army. His desire to become a writer was side-tracked for thirty-five years while he carved out a career in real estate, not by choice, but rather as a fortunate pawn of fate. His first book, “The Tomato Can”, a novel, received excellent reviews and when this was followed by his widely acclaimed “Bummy Davis vs Murder, Inc.”, Ron was convinced that a career change was in order. Now, besides playing softball, his favorite pastime is to vividly recreate a world familiar to so few.
Ron’s current work is a biography of Emile Griffith, the great middle and welterweight champion from the 1960s and early 1970s. He was also the consultant on the documentary, Ring of Fire; the Story of Emile Griffith, about Griffith’s legendary fights with Benny “Kid” Paret.
Ron divides his time between Oceanside, New York and Boca Raton, Florida. Ron Ross was inducted into the Long Island Jewish Hall of Fame on May 21,2006.
“THE BAD BOYS OF BOXING” is a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing & DiBella Entertainment. Tickets for this event, priced at $152, $102, $52, and $22. They are on sale now and may be purchased at Hard Rock Live Box Office or TicketMaster.com.