Photos: Durell Wambolt (For SHOWTIME) – In the first 12-round world title unification fight in the eight-year history of ShoBox: The New Generation and the first to take place in Canada, undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Steve “The Canadian Kid” Molitor (28-0, 11 KOs) and World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight champion Celestino Caballero (30-2, 21 KOs) will collide this Friday, Nov. 21, from Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada, live on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast)..
Both the Canadian, Molitor, and the Panamanian, Caballero, have made five successful defenses of their respective 122-pound titles.
The event will be promoted by Orion Sports Management. What the fighters and their camps had to say at Wednesday’s final press conference:
STEVE MOLITOR
“I’ve been reading in the media that he thinks I’m a pretty boy. We’ll, we know his eyesight is just fine.
“I’m not worried about anything else other than sticking to my game plan Friday night. He can say what he wants, it doesn’t matter.
“This is a great event and he’s a great champion, but I came prepared and on Friday night I’ll be the unified champion.’’
CELESTINO CABALLERO
“I want to thank God for the opportunity to find out who is the best 122-pound fighter in the world.
“This is a great fight for the sport. Molitor is a great world champion, but he has to prove it. And I’m a great world champion, but I have to prove it as well.
“Molitor has never fought a real man before. All these guys that he’s fought … 3K Battery, (Takalani) N’Dlovu, (Ricardo) Castillo, (Fernando) Beltran, are not in my league. I’m a real man.’’
STEPHANE LAROUCHE (Molitor’s Trainer)
“I can tell you Steve is 100 percent ready, and prepared, but that’s normal for him. He’s constantly ready.
“With Steve on Friday night, you’ll see the difference between a runner and a slick boxer.
“Caballero is strong, big, awkward and has a lot of tools, but Steve will be on both of Caballero’s arms, showing him different angles with his slick style.
“It’s going to be a great fight.’’
ALLAN TREMBLAY (Molitor’s promoter)
“This fight is a culmination of 1 1/2 years of hard work to bring big-time boxing to Ontario. It’s been one hell of a journey. And Friday night should be one hell of a fight.’’
LEON MARGULES (President, Seminole Warriors Boxing, Caballero’s promoter)
“We’ve got two great champions putting their belts up against each other, trying to settle who the best fighter at 122 pounds in the world is, and make no mistake about it, the winner will be the best there is, bar none.’’
UNDEFEATED WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMP TIMOTHY BRADLEY RECEIVES OVERSEAS FIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARD
LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION EAGER TO FIGHT HOLT-TORRES III WINNER
London, United Kingdom, November 19 – It’s been a whirlwind 2008 for Timothy Bradley, but the WBC junior welterweight champion isn’t done yet.
After accomplishing what only a handful of other fighters have been able to do by winning the world championship on English soil in May with a victory over Junior Witter, Bradley defended his crown with an exciting victory over Edner Cherry in September, and then traveled to the 46th Annual WBC convention in Chengdu, China, earlier this month.
While in Asia, Bradley made a personal request for a voluntary defense of his crown in late February or March against the winner of the WBO title bout between Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres, and more importantly, the classy champion visited a school located near the area of last year’s devastating Chengdu earthquake. Bradley was a big hit with the children, who ranged from ages six to 12, and though he was mobbed for autographs and pictures, he made time for everyone on hand.
Next on the ‘Desert Storm’s world tour was a visit to London, England on November 18th, where he received the prestigious “Overseas Fighter of the Year” award from the British Board of Boxing Control which was held at The posh Connaught Rooms. Also in attendance were future Hall of Famer Joe Calzaghe and heavyweight contender David Haye, as Bradley was honored for his win over Witter.
“This is like dream I don’t want to wake up from and it shows how honorable the Board is to name me fighter of the year after I beat one of the toughest English champions ever,” said Bradley. The other nominees where Andreas Kotelnik (Ukraine), Anyetei Laryea (Ghana), and Yuri Roma nov (Belarus).
And though Bradley is back on home soil after his mini world-tour, he will get back on a plane in December to take in the December 13th rubber match between Holt and Torres and scout what may be his next opponent.
“I can’t wait to see Holt and Torres’ third fight, and I’m even more excited about fighting the winner,” said Bradley. “This is a fight boxing needs, and the champions have to unify so the fans can know once and for all who the real champion is. I’m confident that I’m that man, and I’m ready to prove it against all comers.”
“Talkin Boxing With Billy C” Added To WebTalkRadio.us Line-up
Lake George, NY – The “Talkin Boxing With Billy C” Radio Program has been added to WebTalkRadio.us beginning with this week’s show.
“Billy C has become the go-to source for the sport of boxing. Billy’s insight and access to the ring will provide WebTalkRadio.us listeners a unique peak into this popular sport. We’re happy to have Billy C join the line-up at WebTalkRadio.us”, stated the Director Of Programming, Paula Barche.
For all information on WebTalkRadio, please visit www.WebTalkRadio.us.
All three of the Billy C Radio Programs, “Talkin Boxing With Billy C”, “The Billy C Morning Show” and “Billy C’s Two-Minute Boxing Report” are available via Terrestrial Radio Stations Coast To Coast and World Wide through the Internet. They are Broadcast Live from the Billy C Studios located in Lake George, New York. The Billy C Studios are now capable of producing other boxing and sports related audio and video programs and look to bring on other talent in the upcoming weeks.
“Billy C’s Two-Minute Boxing Report” is now available to all AM, FM & Satellite radio stations and networks. There is Daily and Weekly versions and both come in either Audio or Video Formats. It gives all media outlets including ALL types of Internet Sites the option of including boxing news with their Sports News. For Information on obtaining this report contact Report@TalkinBoxing.com.
The “Talkin Boxing With Billy C” Radio program is broadcast live on Wednesday’s from 6:00 – 8:00 pm EST on GoFightLive.TV, Ubroadcast.com and Justin.TV.
Boston (WBIX) and Rochester, NY (WHTK) headline the two biggest Terrestrial Radio markets currently hearing the “Talkin Boxing With Billy C” Radio Program in syndication on Saturday’s. (WBIX airs from 5:00 – 7:00 pm EST and WHTK airs 6:00- 7:00 am EST).
The audio stream for BOTH SHOWS is available on the best boxing websites including TalkinBoxing.com, EastSideBoxing.com, TheDailySports.com and LetsTalkBoxing.com.
“The Billy C Morning Show” has weekly contributors including The Ring Magazine’s Joe Santoliquito, 15Rounds.com’s Marc Abrams, Boxing Photographer Emily Harney, Ballroom Boxing Report’s Scott Crouse, U.K. Correspondent Thomas Newman and with her inside look at the New York boxing scene, Elke Vivona. Tune in EVERY DAY on GoFightLive.tv, Ubroadcast.com and Justin.tv from 6-7 am EST to listen live or download the podcast from PodBean.com or any of the other PodCast Networks.
Scheduled to appear on this week’s “Talkin Boxing With Billy C” Radio Program is Top-Five Ranked Jr. Welterweight Contender Gato Figueroa, WBC Youth & USNBC Featherweight Champion, Matt Remillard and Prospect Don Juan Futrell. The extremely popular “Blast from the Past” segment will feature Former World Champion and Hall Of Famer, Abe Attell. For all up to date information go to www.TalkinBoxing.com.
“Talkin Boxing With Billy C” Explores the World of Pro Boxing with all the latest news, opinions, inside scoops and top notch guests presented in an entertaining way. Daily & Weekly Segments include “Blast From The Past”, Weekly & Daily “Trivia Questions”, “This Day In Boxing History”, “Head To Head”, “Billy C’s Two Minute Boxing Round-Up”, “The NFL, NBA, MLB & NHL Scoreboards”, Weekly “Crystal Ball Diamond Sports Pick” and much more all added with lots of laughs.
Get involved with the trivia questions on both shows and win a “Talkin Boxing With Billy C” T-Shirt or a Primer Round Magazine. Billy C gives out something EVERY day!
For ALL information on both shows, please visit www.TalkinBoxing.com.