Marco “Captain” Huck will make the third defence of his European Cruiserweight Title in Bamberg on May 9 when he takes on former world champion Firat Arslan. “I have great memories of Bamberg,” Huck said. “In May 2007, I defeated Vadim Tokarev in a title eliminator. It was a great fight – the crowd support really was superb. I look forward to returning..”
Huck´s meeting with Arslan will certainly be a special one, and it is sure to draw a lot of interest in Germany. “It is about the honour,” Huck said. “It will be the fight of two boxers who are under contract with German promoters. Such meetings are special. I will definitely not disappoint my manager and my coach. I am very confident of winning.”
Captain Huck clinched the European title last September when he stopped Jean Marc Monrose in the 12th round. The explosive 24-year-old has knocked out Fabio Tuiach and Geoffrey Batello since then.
More Celebrities Sign Up For Kronk’s Knockout Fundraiser
Where will Aretha Franklin be celebrating her birthday this coming Wednesday? Where will Philip Anselmo of the platinum-selling world renowned, Pantera and Down, be partying loud and proud? Where will Jim Lampley of HBO fame be the master emcee?
Answer: The Kronk Foundation’s mega fundraiser. It will be Metro Detroit’s biggest bash, and it will pack quite a punch.
It will be a great, fun-filled event – loaded with celebrities, good food, even better wine and all sorts of goodies at a live and silent auction. But act quickly: The tickets are going fast.
If you want to assuage your guilt, remember this – it’s for fabulous cause: The Kronk Gym and the good work it does.
The Kronk Gym is internationally known for turning out champion boxers. Its founder, Emanuel Steward, has become a legend of the ring.
But fewer people know all the good work Kronk does for the youth of Metro Detroit, helping to instill in them a sense of pride and respect for their community.
To celebrate its storied history and to raise money so it can help even more kids, The Kronk Gym Foundation is holding its first annual fundraiser on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at the Townsend Hotel, in Birmingham, MI.
The proceeds from this event will help expand youth activities, which will be housed in the new Kronk Gym.
Since its founding in 1969, the Kronk Gym has provided a recreational outlet for many youngsters in the metropolitan Detroit area. Through the coaching and guidance they received, some of these youths went on to become world-class athletes. More of them became world-class citizens.
To perpetuate this legacy, Emanuel Steward created the Kronk Gym Foundation this year, a nonprofit organization committed to making a difference in the well-being of youth through character-building, education and recreation. The program’s goal is to provide recreational facilities, in addition to mentoring and tutoring, for the overall development of youth in Metro Detroit.
Emanuel Steward says, “For many youngsters who have unfortunate home lives, the Kronk Gym and its programs are crucial.
“They are the difference between a life on the streets and a life of accomplishment.”
Special awards will be given to people who have shown the caring side of the boxing and sporting worlds. Among the recipients will be Sugar Ray Leonard, Detroit’s own Thomas Hearns, Don Barden, former Michigan Boxing Commissioner and boxing humanitarian Dr. Stuart Kirschenbaum, long-time Kronk supporter Sam Lafata, among others.
The live auction will feature items sure to turn the head of boxing fans: Many one of a kind items and several pairs of autographed boxing gloves signed by Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquaio, Wladimir Klitschko and other world class champions. There will also be priceless experiences to bid upon.
Honorary chairs for the event are the current Heavyweight Champion of the World Wladimir Klitschko and former Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis.
Sponsors include former Detroit Red Wing Igor Larionov, whose private label wines will be featured at the reception, and Italmoda, the Eurostyle furniture store in Royal Oak; and Bentley of Troy, where you don’t have to sacrifice quality, luxury or reliability.
The VIP Reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. The general reception and silent auction will start at 6:30 p.m.
Ticket are $500 for the VIP reception ($5,000 for VIP tables) and $200 for individual tickets. They can be purchased at www.KronkGymFoundation.com or by calling (248) 917-1793.
To make a Donation log onto www.KronkGymFoundation.com and choose from Limited Edition Kronk Merchandise. It’s a good way to support the Kronk Gym Foundation, while doing a good deed for the community. For information about the Foundation, call (248) 917-1793.
CES Signs James McGirt, Jr.
PROVIDENCE (March 19, 2009) – Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES) announced today that it has signed super middleweight prospect James McGirt, Jr. to an exclusive, multi-year promotional contract.
The 26-year-old McGirt (19-2-1, 9 KOs), born in Brentwood, New York and now fighting out of Vero Beach (FL), is scheduled to make his CES debut on “River Rage” on May 22 at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. James is trained by his father, James “Buddy” McGirt, 2-time world champion and former Trainer of the Year
“CES doesn’t give-up on fighters after a loss as long as he has learned from a set-back and shown me he still has fire burning in his stomach to be a world champion,” Burchfield said. “We build champions and give personalized care to all of our fighters. I remember Scotty Pemberton getting knocked out by Hector Sanjurjo. We didn’t give up on Pemberton and he came back to be the No. 1 contender in the world and fought for the world title. It’s not always about the money; it’s about getting the job done.
“My reputation and word is my bond. James’ father Buddy was a champion – he’ll always be a champion – and he’s trained a lot of world champions. We are going to work together as a team to make James a world champion. He’s a very gifted boxer with a great pedigree. CES is a supportive team and everyone is delighted to add a talent like James to our growing stable that includes world-class fighters like Matt Godfrey, Jason Estrada and Joey Spina.”
Growing up, James used his natural athletic ability to play basketball, a sport he believes he’d be playing professionally somewhere today if he hadn’t given it up to box. McGirt’s tremendous quickness and athleticism was good enough for James, Jr. to earn a basketball scholarship to St. Petersburg Junior College, but boxing flowed through his veins and he decided to pursue boxing on a fulltime basis.
Off the hardcourt and into the four-cornered ring, James had a solid 44-4 amateur record, including gold medal performances in the Sunshine State Games and Southeast Regional, in addition to reaching the quarterfinals of the U.S. Championships twice and semifinals of the National PALs.
“My last name is a big part of me and my career,” James remarked. “I’m Buddy’s son. It’s in the genes. He was a great fighter and he’s one of the hottest trainers in boxing today. I’ve gained a lot of experience just being his son. The pressure is always going to be there because of who I am. I’ve been around this sport a long time and I know expectations are high.
“I’m very excited to get back in the ring. It’s been too long. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Mr. Burchfield and I’m grateful to him for giving me this great opportunity. I’m going back up to super middleweight. I had nothing left, no life after three rounds, at 160. I’m in the process of moving back up to 168, but we’re not jumping right up. This fight will be at around 164-165. I want to be a world champion.”
McGirt’s opponents always bring their A game, trying to defeat James and his famous father, which has often proven to be dangerous for James. “Yeah,” Buddy agreed, “but we have to let James’ action do the talking. The rest will take care of itself. Jimmy Burchfield is a great guy and I’m thankful for this opportunity he’s giving to my son.”
So, in many respects, it is last call for James McGirt. “It’s a new beginning,” his manager Dennis Witherow commented. “Jimmy is a straight forward guy who has been in this industry for a long time. He understands the job a promoter needs to do to take his fighter to the next level. We are all very happy that James has signed with CES.”