LAS VEGAS, NV (March 20, 2010) World class professional boxing hits the RIO CASINO in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, April 2nd as Guilty Boxing in association with TKO Boxing Promotions presents HOMETOWN HEROES featuring some of the finest prospects in the sport. Advance tickets, priced at $100, $50 and $30, can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com., 1-800-745-3000) and the RIO CASINO box office (www.riolasvegas.com., 1-888-746-7784)..
The RIO CASINO is located at 3700 W. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas . Doors on the night of the event will open at 6pm with the first bell scheduled for 6:30pm.
“This exciting boxing showdown will perfectly complement the nightlife and resort entertainment we offer at the Rio,” said Jeff Solomon, General Manager “Guests who regularly plan travel holidays during the Easter weekend will especially enjoy this addition to the city’s calendar of must-see weekend events.”
Headlining the HOMETOWN HEROES event is a sensational eight round lightweight matchup between Las Vegas native, Sharif “THE LION WARRIOR” Bogere and Puerto Rico ’s Carlos “SPECIAL EDITION” Claudio.
The 21 year old Bogere, sporting an undefeated record of 14-0-0 (8KO’s), is amongst the most exciting prospects in boxing. From his colorful ring walk in full lion’s headdress to his electrifying fighting skills, Bogere is excitement personified for fight fans in Las Vegas .
Bogere fought nine times in 2009, winning five by knockout in the first two rounds. The former captain of the Ugandan National Boxing Team, Bogere stopped fellow prospect Jose Hernandez in the third round on February 26, 2010 in El Paso , Texas , his first bout of the new year.
Now based in Kissimmee , Florida , the 22 year old Claudio, 10-4-2 (3KO’s), is coming off his finest win of his four year professional career. On July 17, 2009, he won a ten round decision over undefeated Fernando Torres in Coamo, Puerto Rico , earning the WBA Fedecentro Lightweight Title. The southpaw is currently riding a three bout unbeaten streak.
The eight round co-main event will feature junior featherweight prospects as undefeated Leo “EL TEREMOTO” Santa Cruz of Lincoln Heights , California battles Johnathan Arias of the Dominican Republic .
Also just 21 years old, Santa Cruz , 12-0-1 (4KO’s) has become among the finest prospects in boxing with his excellent boxing technique coupled with his ability to adapt to a multitude of his opponents styles leading to victory. This will be Santa Cruz ’s first bout of 2010, his last two wins in 2009 coming by first and third round knockouts.
With a record of 9-6-0 (8KO’s), the heavy handed Arias will be making his debut in the United States . He is currently riding a five bout winning streak, all by early stoppage.
The undercard features the highly anticipated pro debut of UNLV standout Bradley Blankenship. The 20 year Blankenship is a former standout running back for Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas .
After graduating high school in 2007, Blankenship enrolled at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas where he joined the boxing team and quickly lost forty pounds of his ready made football build of 5’11”, 200 pounds. In 2009, he won the Nevada State Golden Gloves and was ranked #3 in the country by USA Boxing.
Two other popular Las Vegas fighters featured on the HOMETOWN HEROES card include junior lightweight Lonnie Smith and super middleweight Eddie Salas.
The 23 year old Smith, with a record of 9-2-2 (6KO’s), is currently riding a four bout winning streak dating back to January 2009, all of the victories coming in Las Vegas .
Veteran Salas returns to action following a seven year absence from the ring. With a record of 7-3-0 (5KO’s), the Las Vegas native is looking towards a hometown victory in his scheduled four rounder.
The action packed undercard is rounded out by four world class prospects; lightweight Terence Crawford, 10-0-0 (7KO’s), bantamweight Robert Rodriguez, 2-0-0, lightweight Fidel Maldanado, 1-0-0 (1KO) and welterweight Michael Finney, 1-0-0 (1KO).
Parting Shots from Chevelle Hallback…..
With her March 26 rematch against Holly Holm just days away, Chevelle Hallback is prepared mentally and physically for the bout and gives some insight on her preparation for the battle ahead, her career and her thoughts on Holly Holm.
Ever the gracious champion, Chevelle acknowledged Holly Holm. “I want to thank Holly for the opportunity to fight her again,” she said, and is pleased to return to Albuquerque where she captured the IFBA title on June 13, 2008 in a thrilling toe to toe victory over Jeannine Garside. “Albuquerque is a wonderful place. I love the weather and the people are very nice, and treat me as their own.”
All pleasantries aside, a tough training camp with trainers Sherman Henson and Torsten Kanzmeier sharpened Chevelle’s skill, increased her power, maintained her focus, and given her little time to dwell on Holly Holm’s preparations. Her sights are firmly set on victory. “I have not even thought about what Holly might be doing,” Chevelle stated. “My training has been very tough, but it will pay off. I am going to do this time around what I did NOT do last time, and that is to actually fight.”
Having her hand raised in victory against Holly Holm will give Chevelle’s career a tremendous boost and she makes her goal known once she secures that win. “A victory over Holly will get me one step closer to fighting on HBO and do volumes for my career,” she said. And March 26, Chevelle intends to do just that.. She will enter the ring to avenge a loss, make a definite career statement, then prepare a huge victory for herself for herself and women’s boxing, by crashing the all men’s barrier and stepping into the HBO spotlight.
Chevelle Hallback and Holly Holm headline “Warrior Vengeance” on Friday, March 26 at the Isleta Resort Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact Fresquez Promotions, 505-884-7484.
3rd Annual´John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic
John Bray Boxing Foundation Teams Up with LAPD Foothill Jeopardy Program
San Fernando, California (March 19, 2010)
The John Bray Boxing Foundation is holding the 3rd Annual John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic in an effort to continue to help the community in preventing and combating gang violence while promoting discipline and academic success among school-age students. For the second consecutive year, the John Bray Boxing Foundation has teamed up with the LAPD Foothill Jeopardy Program, which is a program within the LAPD’s juvenile division that targets children “at risk” of becoming involved in gang activity and offers them a variety of educational and physical projects from tutoring to boxing.
Both non-profits have arranged this Free Youth Boxing Clinic because of the issues with kids that are of crucial importance to the community. Children and young adults face many temptations everyday, whether it is drugs, gangs or peer pressure. The John Bray Boxing Foundation and Foothill Jeopardy Program want to provide these promising young men and women with an alternative where they can feel at home and escape the pressures they have to deal with on a daily basis. Although it is considered a boxing clinic, these young kids will also listen to inspirational speakers, and learn about nutrition, life skills and attitude development!
Every one of all ages is welcome. We have arranged special guest appearances by former world champions Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas, former Contender TV Series Star and current WBC CABOFE middleweight champion Miguel Espino, former IBF world junior middleweight champion Paul Vaden, former middleweight contender Alex “the Bronx Bomber” Ramos, former welterweight contender Randy Shields, former heavyweight contender Alex Garcia, referee Jack Reiss, former heavyweight contender and trainer Justin Fortune, former heavyweight contender Macka Foley, 1984 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist Henry Tillman, 1984 Olympic flyweight gold medalist Paul Gonzales, former heavyweight contender Jeremy Williams, and top trainer and cut man David Martinez.
The 3rd Annual John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event will take place at the LAPD Foothill Jeopardy Facility located at 11844 Glenoaks Boulevard in San Fernando, California.
We would like to graciously thank the following sponsors for making this event a reality: Everlast Worldwide Inc., Glaceau Vitamin Water, Powerade, Convicted Artists, Visual Impact Stunt Equipment Company and the International Stunt Association.
For additional information regarding this event and/or on the John Bray Boxing Foundation, please visit www.johnbrayboxingfoundation.org or contact Jerry Gonzalez at (559) 643-9313.