HOLLYWOOD, FL, September 15 – Two of Puerto Rico’s rising stars return to the ring on Friday, September 18th, and the fans at the Coliseo Dolores “Toyita” Martínez in Juana Diaz are sure to be on their feet when hometown hero Kenny Galarza and former Olympian Jonathan Gonzalez enter the ring for their latest bouts. In a ten round bout for the NABO junior welterweight championship, Galarza will face Ghana’s Joshua Allotey. Gonzalez will compete in a four round welterweight bout against an opponent to be announced..
Both bouts, which are part of the “Noche de Campeones” event presented by Universal Promotion Inc. & Seminole Warriors Boxing, in association and Municipio de Juana Diaz.
In the main event, Juana Diaz’ Cesar Seda Jr. (16-0, 12 KOs) battles Mexico’s Omar Soto (20-4-1, 14 KOs) for the IBO flyweight championship.
“Galarza and Gonzalez have built their reputations in the fight game faster than anyone I’ve seen in the last ten years, but to be honest, I’m not surprised,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing. “Both are talented and exciting fighters, and I believe both of them will be wearing championship belts sooner rather than later.
A pro since 2007, 23-year old phenom Kenny Galarza (10-0, 10 KOs) has been wrecking every opponent put in his way, with only one of his ten victims making it past the third round. In his last fight, on July 17th, Galarza stopped Roberto Acevedo in seven rounds.
2008 Puerto Rican Olympian Jonathan Gonzalez (5-0, 5 KOs) has fight game insiders raving over his potential to someday wear a world championship belt. A Silver medalist at the Pan American Games and a Gold Medal winner in the Jose “Cheo” Aponte Tournament (both in 2007) who finished his amateur career with a stellar 132-18 record, the 20-year old Caguas native has stopped three of his five pro victims in the first round.
Chop Chop” Corley to Face New Opponent, Harrison Cuello, on September 26 Patriot Center Card
Tough Dominican Veteran Replaces Injured Damian Fuller
Fairfax, VA (September 16, 2009) – Ice Promotions officials announced today that DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (35-11-1, 21 KOs) will meet Harrison Cuello (18-11-3, 14 KOs) in the eight-round co-Main Event at the live boxing card featuring Jimmy Lange scheduled for September 26, 2009 at the Patriot Center. The hard-hitting Dominican-born Cuello now fighting out of Albany, NY is stepping in as a solid replacement for Detroit southpaw Damian Fuller who suffered a broken rib in training camp last week and had to pull out of the anticipated fight.
A Washington, D.C. native and former WBO world champion, Corley is making his first area appearance since 2004. Looking to get back onto the national scene, he has recorded four wins in his last five fights, earning an eight-round TKO victory over Kenyan James Kimori in Astana, Kazakhstan on August 15, 2009.
An active fighter, Cuello lost to undefeated Ray Robinson in his last fight this past July, his sixth fight of 2009. He fought Mike Arnaoutis for the vacant USBA light welterweight title, dropping a 12-round decision back in 2008. Cuello and Corley share a common opponent in Randall Bailey. Cuello lost to Bailey last year for the IBA Intercontinental light welterweight title, while Corley split his two fights with the heavy puncher including winning the WBO belt in front of a hometown crowd at the DC Armory.
Presented by Valcourt Building Services, “Saturday Night Fights” features WBC USNBC champion and Northern Virginia fan favorite Jimmy Lange defending his title against former “Contender” teammate Jonathan Reid in the 12-round Main Event. Other beltway boxers slated to compete on the card include Bayan Jargal, Jennifer Salinas, Tony Jeter, Tracy Brewer, Barry Trotter, Keith Gross, Kendrick Walker and Alexander Johnson.
Doors open at 6:30pm with the first fight set for 7:30pm. Tickets, priced at $30, $60, $85, $100, $125, $200, $300 and $500 (plus applicable service charges), can be purchased through Ticketmaster by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com, calling 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, including the Patriot Center box office. Discount tickets are available at LA Boxing gyms in Chantilly, Herndon/Reston and Woodbridge; call 703-263-7629 for details. Visit www.ipboxing.com for event updates and news.
AL BERNSTEIN COMMENTARY CHALLENGES U.S. MEDIA
In a Special Commentary now running on the Al Bernstein Boxing Channel (ABBC), Hall of Fame Boxing Broadcaster Al Bernstein said the United States media’s lack of coverage of boxing is “appalling, because 2009 is boxing’s best year in two decades.” The commentary can be seen on the ABBC at www.ibnsports.com .
In the commentary he says that boxing has been providing a superior product for at least the last four years, but much of the mainstream U.S. sports media continues to ignore the sport. “I will debate anyone on the fact that boxing is giving its fans the best product possible—with talented fighters and great match-ups in virtually all weight divisions,” he said, and added, “it’s a debate I would not lose.” He says that he is often asked by reporters or talk show hosts in the United States how can boxing be “saved.” His reply is, “boxing doesn’t need to be saved, and it needs to be covered.”
Bernstein, who celebrates his 30th year as a sportscaster in 2010, cites not only the great matches that have already been held in 2009, but also the terrific slate of fights still to come including this week’s Floyd Mayweather Jr-Juan Manuel Marquez fight. Others include Mannny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto, Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson, Paul Williams vs. Kelly Pavlik, Tim Bradley vs. Lamont Peterson and Shane Mosley vs. Joshua Clottey. And, there are also three great fights in the Super Six world Boxing classic tournament—Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell, Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor and Andre Ward vs. Mikkel Kessler. “Boxing is not only providing compelling and exciting matches, it has a genuine international superstar in Manny Pacquiao. Internationally, where the sport is covered appropriately by the media it is flourishing,” Al said.
He added, “I am not a confrontational or provocative sportscaster, but I stepped out of character to do a confrontational and challenging commentary because someone needs to hold the U.S. media accountable for its failure to give the sport its due. They (ill-informed media members) cling to outdated and false criticisms of the boxing product as reason to not cover the sport—that does not serve sports fans well.”
In other ABBC news:
· Bernstein and the IBN Sports team will provide full post fight coverage of the Mayweather-Marquez fight on the ABBC at www.ibnsports.com .
· Two long form boxing specials will debut on the channel in October. One is a special preview of he Super Six World Boxing Classic and the other is a preview of the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto match.”