LOS ANGELES, March 9 – Top bantamweight contender Abner Mares is closing in on a world title shot in 2010, but before he can challenge for a championship belt, he will have to get through another tough battle, this time against Colombian veteran Felipe Almanza in the ten-round main event of the March 25 edition of the hit series “Fight Night Club” at L.A. LIVE’s Club Nokia.
Also in action will be junior featherweight prospect Derrick Wilson facing undefeated Khabir Suleymanov in the televised co-featured bout as well as undefeated featherweight prospect Ronny Rios.
“Fight Night Club” is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and AEG and is sponsored by DeWalt Tools, Budweiser and Vitamin Water. The series will return to L.A. LIVE’s Club Nokia on April 22, May 27, June 24, July 29, August 26, September 30, October 28 and November 18. The fights will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates (check local listings) and streamed live online at www.RingTV.com. Doors open at 6:00pm PT and the first bell rings at 7:00pm PT
Tickets, priced at $250 (VIP On-Stage Seats, which are limited to only twenty per show and allow purchasers to sit ringside on Club Nokia’s stage near VIP’s attending the fight [De La Hoya, Mosley, etc.], receive an autographed boxing glove by Oscar de la Hoya and provide buyers access to the Club Nokia VIP Room [must be 21 years of age and over]), $100 (VIP Front Row Balcony Seats which grant buyers access to the Club Nokia VIP Room [must be 21 years of age and over]), $60 (VIP Balcony Seats which grant buyers access to the Club Nokia VIP Room [must be 21 years of age and over]) and $19.75 (General Admission: Floor Standing Room & Balcony Seats), are on sale now and may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 online at http://www.ticketmaster.comor thru any Ticketmaster outlet or the STAPLES Center box office. Group tickets and full series tickets at a discounted rate are also available by calling 1-877-AEG TICKETS (1-877-234-8425).
Ranked in the top five by the WBO, WBA and IBF, Abner Mares (19-0, 12 KO’s) of Montebello, California is on a collision course with the world champions at 118 pounds. A 2004 Olympian for Mexico, the 24-year-old Guadalajara native has won three of his last four fights by knockout, showing that he can box or bang when the bell rings. Fresh off of a sixth round knockout over Carlos Fulgencio on the August 2009 edition of “Fight Night Club,” Mares is back at Club Nokia on March 25 and ready to shine once again and should he emerge victorious, Mares will challenge for a world title this spring. Looking to halt Mares’ meteoric rise is Lorica, Colombia’s Felipe Almanza (17-15-4, 8 KO’s), a hard-nosed competitor who is on a hot streak that has seen him go unbeaten in his last seven fights.
A native of Fort Myers, Florida, junior featherweight Derrick Wilson (5-1-1, 2 KO’s) returns to action on March 25 and the 21-year old is eager to repeat the success of his last “Fight Night Club” appearance in July of 2009, when he knocked out previously unbeaten Charles Huerta in just 59 seconds. Wilson faces undefeated Khabir Suleymanov (9-0, 4 KO’s) of Los Angeles who returns to Club Nokia with ambitions of keeping his flawless record intact. In October of 2009, in his last appearance at “Fight Night Club”, Suleymanov faced Hugo Ramos and proved that he is a fierce competitor adding a fourth knockout to his record in an all-action fight.
Santa Ana, California’s Ronny Rios (9-0, 4 KO’s) is a two-fight veteran of the “Fight Night Club” series and he brings a growing fan-base to each bout in his backyard of Los Angeles. That’s no surprise given the talent that has earned him a perfect professional record. Rios kicked off 2010 with his first Las Vegas appearance in January, when he outpointed Willshaun Boxley in his toughest test to date. He’s looking to make it two wins in a row this year on March 25.
An opponent for Rios, as well as a full undercard will be announced at a later date.
“Fight Night Club,” is Golden Boy Promotions’ and AEG’s critically acclaimed live monthly boxing series, that presents boxing in a night club atmosphere, with a DJ, music, great food and a VIP room, as well as a unique setup where the ring is on Club Nokia’s stage with standing room for fans in front of the ring, as well as reserved seating in the balcony. After the boxing action ends, fans are invited to stay to hear great music played by LA’s hottest DJ’s, dance and mingle with the fighters as the venue converts back into a night club.
Oak Tree” Brown ready to chop down Grano again “Brace For Impact” Friday night at Foxwoods
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 8, 2010) – New Jersey heavyweight Mark “Oak Tree” Brown plans on proving to Tony “TNT” Grano that lightning can indeed strike twice when the two battle Friday night in the 10-round main event on the “Brace For Impact” pro boxing card, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES), in Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.
Brown-Grano is a rematch of their WBF All-Americas title bout Sept. 27, 2008, in which Brown (15-2, 7 KOs) overcame two knockdowns to stop Grano (16-1-1, 13 KOs) in the eighth round. A 2005 U.S. National Championships winner and National Golden Gloves Tournament runner-up, the Hartford-based Grano is coming off of a career-changing, nationally-televised knockout of previously-undefeated prospect Travis Kauffman (18-0) last September.
Due to what Brown describes as being a “problem child” growing up, the 41-year-old “Oak Tree” didn’t start boxing until he was 35, winning six of seven amateur bouts before turning pro at 37. “There were no jobs and I was fighting underground in the streets,” Brown explained. “I was always athletic – a good wrestler who can dance. There was only two ways out – dying or jail – so I tried boxing. I won the Diamond Belt and came within one fight of qualifying for The Regionals.
“He’s a boxer; I’m a hardcore street fighter trying to bring (Mike) Tyson’s style back. Strength is the last thing to go in older fighters, so I’ve been working on my stamina so I don’t tire after 3 or 4 rounds. Grano has some good pop and he’s a good counter-puncher. He knocked me down twice in he second round, but I came back to be the only fighter to beat him. They had hand-picked fighters, but they didn’t know who I was and just went by my age. I don’t have a regular gym or travel around for sparring. They picked the wrong guy. He had never fought anybody who put pressure on him.
“Grano’s saying our first fight was a fluke. How can that be a fluke? I’m the only one to knock him out. It wasn’t like I caught him with a lucky punch. The ref stopped the fight. He’s a better boxer, but I got up off the canvas, and he didn’t. They pulled the wrong rabbit out of the hat. I’ve been in training for four months because I usually get last-minute calls, like I did against Fres (Oquendo). I’m going to keep my hands up, fire some jabs, and work the body. If this fight goes into the fifth or sixth round, I’m guaranteeing a knockout. I’m going to show Grano that lightning can strike twice. I’m fighting him hard. Hey, I’m living a dream. I’m still like an amateur because of my background, but I’m fighting world-class fighters, and still learning to box. Give me two more years to learn and tell the world that ‘Oak Tree’ is coming.”
The 8-round co-feature pits Hartford super bantamweight Mike “Machine Gun” Oliver (22-2, 7 KOs), the reigning New England and EBA champion, against former 2-time world champion Kermin Guardia (37-11, 21 KOs) of Miami, Fla., in a non-title fight.
Also slated to fight in 4-round bouts are Long Island (NY) light heavyweight Joe “The Irish Bomber” Smith Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs), a 2008 New York Golden Gloves champion, vs. Dameon Marshall (1-2); Brooklyn (NY) welterweight Sadam “World Kid” Ali (5-0, 2 KOs), a 2008 U.S. Olympian, vs. Jose “Hands of Stone” Duran (6-4-2, 3 KOs); Marshfield (MA) super middleweight Manuel Antonio Lopes (5-0-1, 1 KO) vs. Greg McCoy (0-1); Hartford middleweight David Bauza (3-0, 3 KOs), who trains in New Haven, vs. Erix Quinteros (2-3, 1 KO), and New Haven super lightweight Edwin Soto (2-0, 1 KO) vs. 19-fight veteran Joey Ortega of Lowell (MA). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Living legend, Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee will be a special guest at the “Brace For Impact” pro boxing show. Dundee, 88, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994, and he is best known as head trainer for Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Tickets for “Brace For Impact,” priced at $40.00 (SOLD OUT), $60.00 and $100.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254) or Foxwoods (800-200-2882), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com, or in person at Foxwood’s box office.
For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Foxwoods Resort Casino (www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6:00 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.
“Brace For Impact” will air live and then On Demand via www.GoFightLive.tv for $9.99. Pat Sullivan and Michael Parente will be ringside announcers.
KARIM MAYFIELD ANNOUNCES HIS RELEASE FROM MANAGERIAL CONTRACT
San Francisco, CA – Boxing’s undefeated welterweight sensation, Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield (11-0-1, 7 KO’s), is now a free agent after his managerial contract with Jackie Kallen has concluded.
Mayfield, a rising star from San Francisco, is looking to explore his options with other managers.
“I want to thank Jackie Kallen for her guidance and insight while she was managing my career these past three years,” said Mayfield. “I’ve honored my obligations as a fighter and now I feel its time to look at other opportunities. Everyone knows I’ve been tested against several undefeated fighters in their own backyards and came out victorious. I’m a hard worker who’s hungry to get to the top. I’m excited about my next fight scheduled for March 19, 2010 in Reno NV, under the “Let’s Get It On” promotional banner. If given the chance, I feel I have the talent to become a world champion.”
Karim is currently training in Houston, TX with Virgil Hunter, who guides the corner of super middleweight champion, Andre Ward. Managers interested in signing Karim Mayfield can contact him via email at reemy2g@yahoo.com or by phone at (415) 756-0650.