HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 15, 2009) – WBA No. 10 rated and undefeated heavyweight contender, Carl Davis Drumond, plans to shock the boxing world February 7th when he fights WBA “Champion in Recess” Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev, live on pay-per-view in the United States from Rostock, Germany..
“The Champion Returns” card, presented by Universum Boxing-Promotion, will also feature on PPV the WBA light welterweight title fight between title holder Andreas Kotelnik and undefeated No. 1 contender Marcos Rene “El Chino” Maidana, as well as hot Russian prospect Denis Boytsov against a challenger to be determined for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship.
The broadcast of the three 12-round bouts is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 2 PM/ET – 11 AM/PT on cable pay-per-view via iN Demand and TVN for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. A same day replay will be shown at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/ET. The event will also be available in Canada on TSN. Hall of Fame announcer Col. Bob Sheridan will handle blow-by-blow duties and Benny Ricardo, former NFL placekicker, will serve once again as the color commentator.
Drumond (26-0, 20 KOs), promoted by Warriors Seminole Boxing, fights out of Costa Rica and remains a relative mystery to boxing fans outside of Central America. His most notable win to date was in 2007, when he won a 10-round decision against former world champion Kelvin Davis. Drumond is the former IBF and WBO Latino champion, as well as the ex-WBC FECARBOX title holder.
“This is a big opportunity for me and I’m happy to have this chance,” Drumond said from his Florida training camp. I want to dictate the fight and want to move around. People who haven’t watched me fight will be surprised that I box and move so well. I want to fight in three steps – close, mid-range, and from a distance. I am a complete fighter.”
“We are very excited that Carl is getting this opportunity,” Seminole Warriors Boxing executive director Leon Margules added. “He has been getting great sparring at Lion’s Den Gym in Hollywood, Florida. Drumond’s new trainer, John David Jackson, is fine tuning his technique and the world will see a great fighter against a champion. Carl is very confident that he will win.”
Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs), the 2000 Uzbekistan Olympian and The Ring’s No. 3 rated heavyweight, captured the WBA crown on April 14, 2007 via a 12-round decision against Nikolai Valuev (46-0). However, due to injuries, Ruslan has fought only once since then, winning a 12-round decision against Matt Skelton (21-1) a year ago. An Achilles tendon injury prevented Chagaev from defending his title last year against Valuev and the WBA regulated him to its “champion in recess.”
“Soccer is No. 1 in my country but I will bring great pride back home when I beat Chagaev,” Drumond remarked. “I’m not concerned about fighting him in Germany. I’ve trained hard and know what I have to do. It’s just going to be me and him in the ring. I could knock him out in the first round or go the full distance. If the fight goes 12 rounds, though, I promise that he will be punished. I will shock the boxing world.”
Ukrainian-born Kotelnik, rated No. 4 by The Ring magazine, won the WBA light welterweight title last March with a 12th round TKO of previously unbeaten Gavin Rees (27-0). Kotelnik, now living in Hamburg (Germany), had previously fought Souleymane M’baye to a draw in their 2007 WBA light welterweight title fight.
Power-punching Argentinean Maidana (25-0, 24 KOs), the WBA No. 1 contender, has stopped 24 of his 25 pro victims. The former WBA Fedelatin light welterweight champion is rated No. 9 by The Ring.
Unbeaten 22-year-old Boytsov (23-0, 18 KOs), a native of Russia now living in Germany, is the latest in a long line of Russian heavyweight contenders. The 2004 Junior World Championships super heavyweight winner is rated No. 11 by the WBA.
For more information about the “The Champion Returns” PPV show, go on line to www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Prescott, Gutierrez, Lara back in action on February 20th
“ESPN Friday Night Fights” live from Fort LauderdaleA has started off this year’s ESPN “Friday Night Fights” series last week with Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis and Erislandy Lara scoring impressive wins in Primm, Nevada. On February 20th, promoter Ahmet Öner will present his next FNF show live from the University Center Arena at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The show labelled as “The Gunslingers” will feature rising Colombian lightweight star Breidis Prescott (20-0, 18 kos), fellow Colombian jr. middleweight contender Richard Gutierrez (24-2-1, 13 kos) and hot Cuban jr. middleweight prospect Erislandy Lara (3-0, 2 kos).
While Lara is seeking to back up the hype he started with his 1st round tko-win last week in Nevada, Gutierrez tries to find back to the winning ways after an upset draw against Jerome Ellis last July and his loss to hard hitting Alfredo Angulo last May.
25-year-old Prescott shocked the world in September when he knocked out uo-and-coming British star Amir Khan in his backyard in Manchester. ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael mentioned the Colombian in his list of “2008 prospects of the year” (along with stablemates Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis).
“I think we had a great start into the new year with Gamboa, Solis and Lara”, states Ahmet Öner. “And we will be happy to continue promoting great shows with exciting fighters. Thanks to ESPN we can present our young, wild and hungry guys to the world.”
WIBF/WBC world champion and local favorite Ina Menzer faces Esther Schouten
A fascinating female clash will take place on January 17th at the Burg-Wächter Castello in Düsseldorf when local favorite and WIBF/WBC featherweight champion Ina Menzer (22-0, 9 KOs) defends against former champion Esther Schouten (22-4-1, 11 KOs). For Schouten, it will be her fifth fight back since having her career derailed for cancer treatment.
In her last fight in Rostock on November 22, the Universum championess Ina Menzer defeated her Brazilian opponent Adriana Salles by unanimous decision.
Ina Menzer and Esther Schouten met for the first time at the press conference at the Brauerei „Uerige“ in Düsseldorf in front of many journalists.
Universum fighter Ina Menzer: “It’s always special to box in my hometown. The year 2008 couldn’t have gone better for me, nice victories in live ZDF fights, another championship belt, and it should continue in 2009 also. With Esther Schouten I expect an opponent who can box at a very technically high level. I will not overestimate or underestimate her. Everyone who understands boxing will be able to enjoy a great fight. I have prepared myself very carefully and I’m trying to avoid any coughs and sneezes by making use of a special recipe. I’m eating two garlic cloves a day and also eating a few onions. During the week ahead of the fight I’m wearing gloves to prevent myself to get ill.”
Esther Schouten on that statement: „So I have to keep the distance form you but my recipe is: sex !”
The 31 year old Esther Schouten, who has been work with new trainer Dirk Dzemski in Magdeburg, has won four straight since returning to the ring in March after a long break. Esther Schouten: “With Ina Menzer, I have a technically good and especially tough boxer to challenge. This will be a huge fight with a great atmosphere. In my comeback I have four victories since March of this year and am once again at my old performance level following my treatment for lymph gland cancer which included chemo- and radiological therapy. During my illness my big dream was to get back into the ring and now I can even return to box for a world championship. I am very happy, highly motivated and have nothing to lose – I have already fought for my life and won. The main thing is I have fun. With my sports successes, I want to give others who have similar diseases courage and motivate them. I am a positive person and believe that I’ll win this fight. Sure I’m nervous but that is a part of it. My chances in this fight are 50:50!”
Another high calibre fight is featured on the January 17th “Universum Champions Night” in Düsseldorf. The highly talented cruiserweight rated WBO #2 Alexander Alekseev will have his first world title bout for the WBO interim cruiserweight title. He will fight for the Interim crown as the original scheduled world title fight of Johnathon Banks against Enzo Maccarinelli has been postponed twice due to injuries. The WBO title was relinquished by David Haye.
He will take on the Argentinean Victor Emilio Ramirez (13-1, 11 KOs) who has the fight name „El Tyson del Abasto“ because of his punching power. Ramirez is currently rated WBO #9 and will certainly be one of the toughest test for Alekseev so far. Unbeaten Alekseev (16-0, 15 KOs) made an impression in 2008 when he dominated his fights against experienced fighters such as Talmadge Griffis, Louis Azille and Rob Calloway: he has won all of this fights by knockout.
Alexander Alekseev on the Press Conference: „South American fighters are always difficult and sometimes they have quite a wild and awkward style. Ramirez has a hard punch which is good as I like attacking boxers! We can expect a good and interesting fight. Just like the motto “take less give more” I will have my fun in the ring with him. I have prepared myself for 12 rounds. My advice against the cold in Germany is always the same as the much colder Russia: always wear a hat and strengthen your immune system!“
His coach Fritz Sdunek: „These Argentinean fighters are really tough. We have analysed videos of Ramirez’ fights und he is always attacking like a bull but we will be stronger and punish him!“
Middleweight Gennady Golovkin and local favorite heavyweight Markus Tomala featured in the programme
Additional fights at the „Universum Champions Night“ are headlined by the highly regarded middleweight Gennady Golovkin (14-0-0 (11)), who will be challenged by the experienced Argentinean Javier Alberto Mamani (35-7-1 (19)). Golovkin, who is trained by Magomed Schaburow will demonstrate his great boxing skills and will prove his ability for an upcoming title fight. With the Düsseldorfer Markus Tomala the crowd will have their local hero. Tomala will certainly make use of his home advantage to remain unbeaten in his 6th pro fights.
Two young and talented fighters will also be in action in Düsseldorf. Lightweight Magomed Jangubaev (2-0-0 (0)) faces Sento Martinez (4-7-3 (3)) while super welterweight Arthur Matern challenges the Romanian Alexandru Stangaciu in his second pro bout.
The ZDF will broadcast the fight Menzer against Schouten on January 17th from10:00 pm live. The Highlights can be seen on Sunday on www.boxing.de
Tickets for the „Universum Champions Night“ are still available at
Universum Ticket Hotline: +49 – 40- 696 559 59
D-Ticket: +49 – 1805-644332
CTS-Eventim Hotline: +49 – 1805-5 70 000 and all know Ticket Shops