LAS VEGAS, NV (March 16, 2009) Las Vegas based TKO BOXING Promotions have signed former amateur standouts Cortez and Mickey Bey Jr.; it was announced today by their President, Chet Koerner. “We’re thrilled to welcome these two world class prospects onto our team. Both of them have terrific skills and we have huge expectations for them” said Koerner. “With our growing roster of outstanding prospects and future world champions, they both fit in perfectly for us..”
Fighting out of their hometown of Cleveland , Ohio , both brothers are undefeated, the 25 year Mickey Jr. owning a record of 12-0-0 (7KO’s) with the 24 year old Cortez at 8-0-0 (5KO’s).
Both brothers are guided by award winning manager Cameron Dunkin, who also currently handles world champions Kelly Pavlik, Steven Luevano and Nonito Donaire amongst many other world class contenders and prospects.
Said Dunkin, “Mickey and Cortez both have great potential. Mickey at junior lightweight and Cortez at lightweight. With TKO BOXING promoting them, which means they will be very, very busy and with the excellent Jeff Mayweather training them, the Bey brothers will both be world champions in the next couple of years.”
Details of their first bouts under the TKO BOXING promotional banner will be announced very shortly.
Formed in early 2008, Chet Koerner’s Las Vegas based TKO BOXING Promotions, originator of “HOMETOWN HEROES TO WORLD CHAMPIONS” stable includes; heavyweight Lenroy Thomas, super middleweight Joey Gilbert, middleweights Elvin Ayala, Albert Onolunose and James Countryman, junior middleweights Bastie Samir and Anthony Thompson, welterweights Juan Buendia, Ramon Gatica and Raul Tovar, junior welterweights Jonathan Gover, Francisco Contreras and Hastings Bwayla, lightweights Cortez Bey, Rolando Reyes and Terrance Crawford, junior lightweight Mickey Bey Jr., featherweights Matt Remillard, Carney Bowman, Delvin Plascencia, Rafael Lora and Maxwell Awaku, super bantamweights Rafael Valenzuela and Carlos Reyes and bantamweight Leo Santa Cruz.
Further information on TKO Boxing Promotions can be viewed at their newly remodeled website, www.tkoboxingpromotions.com
NOT A FAMILY AFFAIR – Crossroads Battle for Lopez vs. Lopez set for April 17
ORANGE, CA (March 15, 2009) – The collision course for two bright young stars is set for what could be an explosive Fight of the Year candidate, a bout that might decide the future of these two heavy punchers.
On Friday, April 17, Thompson Boxing Promotions in association with Fox Sports Español, will feature the clash between Riverside’s, Jose Lopez against Venezuelan Patrick “El Elegante” Lopez in an eight round battle at the Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California.
Jose Lopez (23-3, 14 KOs) is the former WBC Continental Americas and WBC Youth Lightweight champion. His most notable fights have rendered mixed results. He proved to be too tough for Tyrone Harris on “SHOBOX: The New Generation” on November 2007 as he won an eight round unanimous decision. He then moved to the jr. welterweight division and fought Edgar Santana on the main event of SHOBOX on April 2008. Jose Lopez was able knock Santana down twice in the eight round but felt the rigorous weight difference and lost a razor sharp majority decision.
“I felt fine until the later rounds, I had some trouble with blurred vision during the fight but I lost it fair and square,” said Lopez of his fight against Santana. “Now I am more confident at that division and I am more than ready for Patrick Lopez, he has no clue how tough this fight will be,” concluded Jose Lopez.
A different path marked the career of Patrick Lopez (15-1, 10 KOs) who participated in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and was the captain of the always-competitive Venezuelan team. Jose Lopez could be his toughest test to date. He has progressively improved his trade and his most notable fight was a unanimous decision victory over rugged Joaquin Gallardo on June 2008 on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights.”
“I am a natural jr. welterweight. I have power, speed and I love to mix it up with brave Mexican fighters,” said Lopez from his training camp in Londonderry, New Hampshire. “Jose Lopez is a good fighter, but I don’t think he can be such a huge threat to me. We’ll see who is the last man standing,” concluded Patrick Lopez.
Promoter Ken Thompson, who expects another sell out crowd on April 17, stated: “Styles make fights, and Jose and Patrick should be a toe to toe, don’t blink, barnburner main event. We are committed to present great match ups and this fight will bring the best and worst of these two warriors.”
April 17 will also mark the return of talented Riato’s super featherweight Dominic Salcido (17-1, 9 KOs) when he faces St. Louis’ southpaw Leon Bobo (18-2, 2 KOs) in the co-main event of this momentous evening.
Salcido is coming off a fifth round technical knock out victory over trial horse Celestino Rodriguez last November, in what was his return to the ring after suffering a KO loss to Vicente Escobedo (Sept. 2008) on the main event of Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo.”
“I am back. The Escobedo fight is in the past, is now time to make my move on the division and show everybody I can be a top contender,” said Salcido who recently became a father. “I am inspired and ready to go,” concluded Salcido.
His opponent, Leon Bobo, had two straight victories and a draw in his last three fights. The crafty southpaw raked up a 16-0 tally before facing more experienced Antonio Davis and Jorge Lacierva, his only two losses to date.
Also featured on the show will be two other Thompson Boxing bright stars. Undefeated jr. welterweight Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera (9-0, 5 KOs) and blazing fast featherweight Abraham Lopez (6-0, 5 KOs) will face opponents to be named shortly. Both prospects deposed of their opponents on their last outing back in February.
Tickets for LOPEZ vs. LOPEZ are available for purchase at a price of $75, $45 and $30 and can be obtained by calling Thompson Boxing Promotions at 714-935-0900 or by visiting http://www.thompsonboxing.com
This unforgettable night of boxing action will begin at 7:45 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM. The Doubletree Hotel is located on 222 N. Vineyard Avenue, Ontario, CA.
‘ROCK THIS BOX’ BOXING AND MUSIC CARD AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD POSTPONED
“Rock This Box,” an exciting and innovative mix of world championship boxing and world renown musical entertainment at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, has been postponed for tentatively two months, it was announced today.
“With all the parts that need to be in place to make ‘Rock This Box’ the unique, trendsetting event that I envision, that of combining a top musical artist with top boxers, our original date of March 21 simply did not give all involved enough time to assemble the elements we want,” said Roy Englebrecht of Roy Engelbrecht Events Presents.
Englebrecht has requested the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the date of May 16 at Planet Hollywood for the rescheduled “Rock This Box.” It’s expected the NSAC will act upon this request during its April meeting.
The 12-round main event March 21 was to feature Ron Johnson of Las Vegas facing John Johnson of Batesville, Miss., for the World Boxing Foundation vacant light heavyweight championship. The 10-round semi-main event was to match undefeated Melinda Cooper of Las Vegas against Monica Lovato of Albuquerque, N.M., for the International Female Boxing Association vacant bantamweight championship.
“I will immediately get to our boxers in the two title bouts and resign them,” said Engelbrecht.
The award-winning musical artist had not been announced.
“This additional time will assure we present the best of both worlds in terms of championship-level boxing and an award-winning musical artist for a complete night of entertainment,” said Englebrecht.