Three-time world champion and current World Boxing Association super welterweight champion Daniel Santos (32-3-1, 23 KOs) will defend his title against undefeated, WBA No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Yuri Foreman (27-0, 8 KOs) as the featured PPV match on the Pacquiao-Cotto “Firepower” card on Saturday from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas telecast live on HBO PPV at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT..
Blessed with natural skills and abilities that most top-flight boxers can only dream about, Santos has achieved a staggering list of ring accomplishments including an amateur record of 117-3 that culminated with an Olympic bronze medal in the Atlanta games of 1996 and being a three-time world champion as a professional, once at welterweight and twice at the 154-pound limit.
“I want to shine on the big stage,” Santos said. “Saturday night is my chance to fulfill the truly great promise of my boxing career.”
Santos, 34, a Puerto Rican native who just completed his training camp in Bayamon, will be showcased in a blockbuster pay-per-view card. He believes that facing the undefeated Foreman, from Belarus, provides him a tremendous opportunity to send a message to all the champions at and around the 154-pound weight limit that his combination of skill and style are what boxing fans want to see in the ring.
“With a great performance on Saturday, I will show that I belong in the biggest and best matches that can be made,” Santos said. “I truly feel that my time has come to move into the spotlight.”
His promoter, Don King, would like nothing more than to see Santos fulfill his dreams.
“Daniel will be the first to tell you that God has blessed him with the ability to box,” King said. “Danny just needs to put it all together right here, right now. Opportunities await him if he can answer the call of greatness, and he has an appointment on Saturday in Las Vegas.”
Santos first became world champion in 2000 by defeating then-World Boxing Organization welterweight titlist Akmed Kotiev. He successfully defended that crown three times before moving to the 154-pound limit in 2002 where he defeated the legendary former world champion Luis “Yori Boy” Campas to capture the vacant WBO super welterweight championship.
Santos successfully defended that title four times, including a technical decision over Antonio Margarito in 2004, before surrendering the belt in 2005 in a very close decision loss to Sergiy Dzinziruk.
Santos became a three-time world champion by knocking out Joachim Alcine in Montreal, Canada, on July 11 to take his WBA super welterweight crown.
Yanjing Fight Night: Lee V Belghecham
Middleweight rivals Andy Lee and Affif Belghecham will come face to face for the first time tomorrow (Thursday, November 12th) at a press conference at The Jasmine Palace on O’Connell Street in Limerick ahead of this Saturday’s Yanjing Fight Night at The University Sports Arena.
Belghecham, the reigning French and European Union Middleweight Champion believes that along with the French football team he can break Irish hearts on Saturday night.
Limerick duo looking to shine on Lee undercard
While Andy Lee’s bout with reigning French and European Union Middleweight Champ Affif Belghecham will be the main focus of attention on this Saturday’s Yanjing Fight Night at the University Sports Arena two other Limerick boxers will be looking to make it a memorable occasion for the cities fight fans.
The World rated Lee headlines as he bids to take another step to World and European titles by leapfrogging Belghecham who is rated above him in both the World and European ratings. Meanwhile on the undercard fellow Limerick men Jamie Power and Willie Casey will look to progress their own pro careers in front of a hometown audience.
Power will be looking to bounce back from the first defeat of his career which he suffered in an all Irish battle with Michael Sweeney on the undercard of Bernard Dunne’s World title defeat at The O2 in September. The Limerick light heavyweight is eyeing another all Irish showdown with John Waldron (who also features on the Limerick card) and will be looking to banish the memory of the Sweeney defeat on Saturday night.
“It was hugely disappointing to suffer my first defeat on such a big stage and the fact that it was shown on RTÉ as well meant an awful lot of people got to see it,” said Power. “Since the fight I’ve had concerned old ladies crossing the street in Limerick asking me if I’m ok so it seems like everyone in Limerick saw the fight which was a good and a bad thing I suppose.
“I’d had 6 good wins as a pro going into that fight and I was confident but I got caught with a good shot early on and the game plan went out the window then. I actually felt like I was coming back into it but then I suffered a cut over my left eye and to be fair the doctor had no choice but to stop it.
“I would have loved if the fight had gone on another couple of rounds because I truly believe I would have come on really strong in the second half of the fight and it could have been a different story but I suppose ifs, buts and maybes are no good at this point.
“It’s great to be able to get back into the ring so soon and in Limerick again. To fight in your hometown is something special. In fact it was being at Andy’s first fight in Limerick last year that convinced me that I had to give the pro game a try and aside from my last fight it’s gone well. I want to prove to the Limerick people that I’m better than the guy they watched on the telly recently. I’ve my sights set on winning the Irish title next year and this is the first step in that plan.
“I’m fighting a guy called Aleksandrs Dunecs, he’s only lost 4 of his 11 pro fights and he’s coming off a stoppage win last weekend. He has an all action style like me so I think it should be an exciting scrap for as long as it lasts. Hopefully I can get back to winning ways and get people to forget about my last fight.”
While Lee and Power both have a single blemish on their pro records fellow Shannonsider Willie “Big Bang” Casey remains unbeaten as a professional having scored his second pro win at the National Stadium in Dublin last month.
The 27-year-old featherweight will look to make it a hat trick of wins on Saturday night when he faces English opposition in the shape of Middlesbrough’s Michael O’Gara.
The scheduled 6 rounder will be Casey’s first professional outing in Limerick and he says he’s looking forward to putting on a show for his hometown fans. “My first two fights were in Killarney and Dublin and I had great support there so I can’t wait now to fight at home in Limerick,” revealed Casey.
“I don’t know too much about O’Gara but he has a reputation for being tough and he’s not afraid to take a few punches to get in a few of his own so it should make for an exciting fight. He might try to claim he’s related to Ronan O’Gara to get the Limerick crowd on his side but I don’t think he’ll fool people that easily!”
Although still in the embryonic stages of his pro career Casey is focused on making a “Big Bang” in the sport. “For now I just want to get as many fights as possible and work my way up the ladder. I think my style is far more suited to the professionals than the computer scoring system in the amateurs and I can feel myself improving all the time. The real learning is done in the gym and I’ve had some good spars with the likes of the Cuban Alexei Acosta who won a World Junior Gold medal and the Hyland brothers from Dublin.”
As for his nickname of the “Big Bang” Casey is happy to explain it’s origin. “I suppose I’ve always had a good dig on me and one particular coach from the amateur days christened me the “Big Bang” after I stopped a couple of his guys inside the distance so hopefully I can live up to that name in the pro’s now as well.”
The undercard for the Yanjing Fight Night at the University Arena also features Mayo light heavyweight John Waldron. The last time the Ballyhaunis native stepped in to a ring in Limerick was actually against Andy Lee in the Limerick man’s last ever amateur fight prior to his pro debut in 2005.
Waldron could soon find himself back in against Limerick opposition with a clash against Jamie Power on the cards for 2010. The card also features Leeds based Lee Murtagh who will have to get past Germany’s Marcen Gierke as he bids to secure an Irish Super Middleweight title fight against Anthony Fitzgerald next month.
Another man with Irish title aspirations is Irish – Canadian middleweight Matt O’Brien. O’Brien boasts an impressive record of 17 wins from his 18 pro outings and will look to impress in Limerick as he eyes showdowns with the likes of Jim Rock, John Duddy, Matthew Macklin and even home town favourite Andy Lee.
Doors open at the University Arena from 6pm with the first bout at 7:20. Fans wishing to catch all the action from the crucial World Cup play off from Croke Park between Ireland and France will also be catered for with the game shown live on the big screens at the arena in what promises to be a massive night of sport in Limerick.
Tickets for the Yanjing Fight Night priced from €40 are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie), The George Boutique Hotel in Limerick and all usual outlets.
POUND FOR POUND PROMOTIONS SIGNS MONDRE POPE
UNION CITY, NEW JERSEY (November 10, 2009) Former amateur standout Mondre “The General” Pope has signed an exclusive promotional contract with New Jersey based Pound For Pound Promotions, it was announced today by its President, John Lynch.
The 20 year old junior lightweight prospect, a native of Norfolk , Virginia , is coming off a six round decision win over Gerardo Robles on October 2nd at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia . The win raised his record to 3-0-1.
Said Lynch, “We’re very pleased to have Mondre join our group of exciting young fighters. He had an outstanding amateur career and we’ve been impressed with his performances as a professional. He’s a great fit for our team and we anticipate big things from him.”
Said Pope about the signing, “I have dedicated the majority of my life to boxing, first as an amateur and now on a professional level. I have worked hard, and turned down two other promotional offers waiting for an opportunity to become part of the Pound For Pound team. Without the support of my family, my manager, Rodney and my advisor, Kariann I would not be where I am now.”
“Without Pound For Pound Promotions, I know I would not end up where I am meant to be – winning championships. I know that there are tremendous challenges that come with this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to each and every one of them.”
Pope is trained by Rodney Hanks and managed by Hanks and Kariann Taylor. Said Hanks about the signing, “As Mondre’s trainer and manager I see the dedication, the talent and the work ethic he maintains. I believe this is a perfect fit with Pound For Pound Promotions who holds true to the qualities it takes to bring great talent to the top. I look forward to working hard for Mondre and Pound For Pound Promotions.”
Continued Taylor “Mondre is an extremely determined and talented athlete who has overcome many obstacles in order to reach a singular goal: to become a world champion. We are confident in the decision to join the Pound For Pound team because they bring to the table what Mondre brings to the ring: unwavering dedication, extensive expertise, and a proven track record of success.”
Pope finished his illustrious amateur career with a stellar record of 134-8-0, including a staggering eight time Champion at the National Golden Gloves. He took second place in 2004 and 2005 at the National Junior Olympics. Additionally, he was a first place finisher in the Silver Gloves; The Mayor’s Cup, The PAL Tournament and is an eight time National Golden Gloves champion.
Details of Pope’s first bout under the Pound For Pound banner will be announced shortly.