At its 47th Annual World Convention in Jeju (Korea) this week the WBC announced the new world ratings. After his impressive 2nd round tko victory over former world title challenger Monte Barrett on October 10th in New York heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis advances to rank #3 after only 15 pro-fights (15 wins, 11 kos). “I am very grateful that my merits are appreciated the way they are”, states Solis. “Still being recognized as the #3 heavyweight in the world is not what I turned pro for. I will continue to work hard to prove that I am the no. 1. Actually I am convinced that I could beat the two guys ahead of me (Ray Austin and Oleg Maskaev) on one night. I will be heavyweight champion of the world – no matter who I have to fight and beat to get there!.”
At the moment most boxing fans and experts consider WBC champion Vitali Klitschko to be the best heavyweight in the world…
“I don’t care what people think“, adds Solis. “Everybody who sees Klitschko as the best should just wait until I’m done with him. I will let everybody know that he is only human, too, and can be knocked down like every other fighter in the world. I will continue going after him until I am the no. 1 contender and he cannot avoid fighting me.”
Another result of the 47th WBC Convention especially delighted Solis’ promoter Ahmet Öner. The Board of Governors decided that the 49th Convention in 2011 will be held in Öner’s home country Turkey.
“This is a very big thing for Turkey and it shows that we have done a good job so far in establishing professional boxing in Turkey”, says Öner. “We will help the Turkish Federation wherever we can to make sure that the 49th Annual World Convention will be one to remember for all delegates coming to the Bosporus.”
In June 2007, Öner became the first promoter to host professional boxing in Turkey after it had been banned for almost 40 years. With WBC #3 rated welterweight Selcuk Aydin and former EBU and WBC international heavyweight champion Sinan Samil Sam Öner also has the best Turkish fighters under contract.
Next year the WBC will be in Cancun, Mexico, for its 48th Convention before coming to Turkey in 2011.
Saez To Face Molitor At Rumble At Rama X
New Foe for “Canadian Kid” in “Must-Win” Test
Former IBF Junior Featherweight world champion “The Canadian Kid” Steve Molitor (30-1, 12 KO’s) will have a new challenge staring at him on Saturday, November 21st, when battle-tested Argentine Jose Saez (17-8-4, 8 KO’s) steps in for compatriot Sergio Javier Escobar in the co-main event at Rumble at Rama X, in Rama, Ontario.
The eight round showdown will be the evening’s co-feature, just prior to nineteen year-old Filipino phenom “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona (14-0, 12 KO’s) defending his WBO Junior Bantamweight world title for the first time, against Mexico City’s Alejandro Hernandez (22-7-1, 11 KO’s).
Molitor rebounded from his devastating loss last November to unified 122 lb. world champion Celestino Caballero with a hard-fought split decision win this past June over Heriberto Ruiz to capture the IBF’s number two ranking, guaranteeing himself a spot in an IBF world title eliminator.
Molitor followed up the win over Ruiz with a convincing 5th round KO over Dario Azuaga at Rumble at Rama IX, and is looking for another impressive outing to further serve notice that he’s ready to reclaim his world crown.
“I hate changing opponents like this, but these things can’t be avoided. That’s boxing,” said Allan Tremblay, President of Orion Sports Management.
“Steve has enough pressure trying to maintain his number-two ranking with the IBF, and a last -minute replacement doesn’t make his job any easier, especially when it’s a quality fighter like Saez.”
“This is a must win fight for Steve, and his job just got a little more difficult. But nothing in this sport is easy when everybody is gunning for you.”
Held in Casino Rama’s state-of-the-art 5,200 seat Entertainment Centre, the Rumble at Rama series has firmly established the Casino as the premier venue in which to see the Big Time Excitement of a world-class fight in Ontario.
Both the Sonsona-Hernandez and Molitor-Saez fights will be broadcast in Canada on TSN on Saturday, November 21st, beginning at 10:30 PM, as well as on Solar Sports in the Philippines, and on a national carrier in Mexico.
Tickets for Rumble at Rama X are $125, $75, $50 and $25 and are available in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office, and at all TicketMaster locations, by calling (416) 870-8000 and online at www.casinorama.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable taxes or service charges.
BRIAN COHEN’S BIONIC BULL MANAGEMENT SIGNS THREE TOP FIGHTERS
Light Heavyweight contender branches off to management with signing of Eric “Outlaw” Hunter, Ed Perry, and woman’s boxing number-one fighter, Melissa “Hurracan” Hernandez
PHILADELPHIA (NOVEMBER 6, 2009)—from the ring to the bargaining table is how he describes it.
Light Heavyweight contender, Brian “Bionic Bull” Cohen is proud to announce the signing of his first three fighters in top Featherweight prospect, Eric “The Outlaw” Hunter, cruiserweight Ed Perry and the woman regarded as one of the top and most exciting female fighters in the world, Melissa “Hurracan” Hernandez.
“I have been around boxing my whole life” said the Light Heavyweight contender who has a record of 12-2 with eleven knockouts.
“My father has been managing fighters for thirty years, my mother promotes and I have been fighting. I feel with all that experience, I can help a lot of fighters achieve great success and with my company I hope to help these fighters win many world championships for years to come”
Hunter of Philadelphia has a record of 11-1 with four knockouts and has won six in a row since suffering his first pro defeat in 2007.
Hunter was one of the most decorated amateurs in Philadelphia boxing history as he amassed a un heard of 276-4 mark and was an Olympic Alternate 2004.
After battling an eye injury that kept him out much of 2009, Hunter exploded back on the scene with very impressive six round unanimous decision over Wilshaun Boxley on September 26th in South Philadelphia.
“Eric Hunter is a guy that everyone wanted coming out of the amateurs. He has been one of the top fighters in Philadelphia, pro or amateurs for a long time and what people seem to forget is that he is just twenty-three years old”, said Cohen.
“His talent is unquestioned and anyone who sees him fight can see that he will be a world champion very quickly and we are positioning him for that opportunity. I think within a year he could be doing just that.”
Hernandez of the Bronx, New York is known for her all-out action style and has taking on the best female fighters in the world.
She is the former two-time WIBA Super Featherweight champion, and GBU Lightweight champion.
She fought for the IFBA Featherweight title in her fourth fight and she held forty-two fight veteran Kelsey Jeffries to a draw.
On December 4th, Hernandez will go to Albuquerque, New Mexico and move up three weight classes to take on Holly Holm at Holm’s natural weight in her hometown.
“Melissa will be the face of woman’s boxing after she slays Holly”, said Cohen.
“She signed a bad contract for this fight and its my job going forward to make sure she gets the respect that she deserves as being one of the best female fighters in the world.”
“The fact she has and will fight anyone, anywhere at any weight shows that she has more heart than any female plus she is very exciting and combine that with her skill level, I defiantly believe that she has what it takes to be that cross over star that female boxing has been lacking.”
Last but not least, Cohen feels Perry can be a real sleeper in the cruiserweight division.
The native of Lafayette has a record of 15-4-2 with nine knockouts. The record does not indicate everything as he has only lost one time fighting as a cruiserweight.
Perry is 5-0-1 in his last six with that one draw being to then undefeated and highly regarded Shawn Hawk.
Since that draw Perry has won five straight and with his new management team Perry will look to carry on that momentum into a top fifteen ranking.
“Ed is a guy who has been under the radar but I have seen him first hand and I know he can fight.” said Cohen.
“I would like to get him some fights on a higher platform so the fans can see what I see in Ed and that’s a real tough fighter who I know can compete at the highest level of the cruiserweight division”