NEW YORK (April 8, 2010) – Chicago welterweight “King” David Estrada believes a win this Saturday, in the 12-round main event for the vacant WBC FECOMBOX title against unbeaten Orlando “Olympico” Lora, could resuscitate his career. Estrada (23-6, 14 KOs) vs. Lora (26-0-1, 18 KOs) headlines a special Saturday show on ESPN2, live from Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California..
“With this fight on national television,” 1996 PAL amateur champion Estrada explained, “I have to win it. It could put me in the top 10. I don’t know too much about Lora other than he’s taller than me and hasn’t fought anybody. He has a padded record. The only good fighter he’s faced is Hicklet Lau (DEC8), a crafty lefthander and a good friend of mine from when I lived in Miami. I’m sure Hicklet took that fight on late notice.”
Estrada recently signed a promotional contract with Boxing 360. “I feel good,” Estrada said about signing his new deal. “They’re going to do the right thing. We had a relationship that was built before I signed.”
If Estrada upsets Lora, he has his sights set on WBC champion Andre Berto, who stopped “King” David in the 11th round of their 2007 fight. “First, though, I want to fight (Luis Carlos) Abregu again. (Abregu won by a 10-round split decision.) Everybody knows I really won that fight. I know they’d be a different outcome in both of those fights. I’m feeling as good as I’ve ever been.”
Estrada has been in a similar situation as he faces Saturday night against Lora. In 2005, Estrada stopped previously undefeated Chris Smith (19-0-1) in the 11th round. “King” is hoping for a boxing déjà-vu!
JI-HOON KIM VS. AMETH DIAZ HEADLINES CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT CARD AT LAREDO ENERGY ARENA ON MAY 21; RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV VS. FRANKIE FIGUEROA IN CO-FEATURED BOUT, TELEVISED ON ESPN
Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions and Rodney Berman/Golden Gloves will present a sensational championship fight card on Friday, May 21, 2010, at the Laredo Energy Arena, located at 6700 Arena Boulevard in Laredo, Texas. The main event and co-featured fights will be televised live on ESPN2, ESPN Desportes, their Spanish-Language Network, and ESPN 360.com.
In the main event scheduled for 12 rounds – an elimination bout for the No. 1 spot in the IBF lightweight ratings – IBF No. 8-ranked Ji-Hoon “Volcano” Kim, 20-5 with 17 knockouts, of Goyang City, Korea, will face IBF No. 6-ranked Ameth “Cloroformo” Diaz, 27-9 with 10 knockouts, of Panama City, Panama.
Kim, just 23 years old, is fighting in the United States for the fourth time. With his high-pressure, hard-hitting style, he always makes exciting fights and has made quite an impression on American audiences. In his last fight in February, he TKO’d veteran Tyrone Harris in the fifth round. Fightnews.com’s Francisco Salazar reported from ringside: “Kim has started to turn heads in the boxing world with his hard-hitting and explosive power in his more recent fights.” Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com: “Kim…is one relentless dude.”
Diaz, 26 years old, is coming off a decision win against former WBC featherweight world champion Cesar Soto in his last fight in January, 2010. He is nicknamed Cloroformo – “chloroform” – for his habit of putting his opponents to sleep.
In the co-featured bout, also scheduled for 10 rounds, rising 140-pound prospect Ruslan Provodnikov, 15-0 with 10 knockouts, of Berezovo, Russia, will challenge Frankie “Gato” Figueroa, 20-3-1 with 13 knockouts, of New York, N.Y. for the WBO Intercontinental junior welterweight and NABA super lightweight titles.
Provodnikov, 26 years old, has also been very impressive in recent fights. Doug Fischer wrote on The Ring blog [excerpts]: “Siberian amateur standout Ruslan Prodnikov…had the look of a future titleholder….”
18 year-old heavyweight prospect Garret “Good Night” Simon, 3-0 with 2 knockouts, of Puyallup, Washington, will be featured in a four-round fight against an opponent to be announced. Simon, who made his pro debut in January, was the gold medalist at the 2008 National Junior Olympic Championships at 201 pounds.
Two Laredo boxers will also appear in separate bouts: Rodolfo Gomez Jr., 6-0 with 5 knockouts, will face an opponent to be announced, and Rene Javier Luna, who is managed by Hall of Famer Orlando Canizalez, will make his pro debut.
More exciting bouts will be featured on the card. All bouts subject to change without notice.
Doors open at: 6:00 P.M. (Central Time)
First fight at: 8:00 P.M. (Central Time)
Tickets prices: $7, $17, $27, $47 (facility fee not included).
Tables of 10 are available for: $300, $500, $700.
Tickets available at: Laredo Energy Arena Box Office; all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, and TicketMaster.com.
“Big” Ty Ortiz Returns To The Ring Friday May 7th
April 7 (Merrillville, In) – In business you find owners knowing and filling in every aspect of their company. For One In A Million Boxing, Inc. President/CEO Tyree Ortiz, he looks to do the same in a very brutal business. On May 7th the soft spoken and friendly Ortiz will change hats once again and step back in the ring where it all started for him just a year ago at the Hammond Civic Center.
After the untimely passing of One In A Million, Inc. President/CEO Octavius C. James, Ortiz decided to hang up his gloves and continue the legacy of boxing that James had brought back to Northwest Indiana. When asked about his decision to the ring and run One In A Million Boxing, Inc. Ortiz said, “It was a very difficult, but at the same time a very easy decision for me. Boxing has been a passion of mine since a young age. I have trained and studied the sport for the last 15 years, but only because of Octavius was I able to fulfill my real dream and compete in the sport. Octavius was my mentor, my big brother, and my best friend. He selflessly gave me and so many others a chance to reach our dreams, so though leaving the actual fighting was the hardest thing I had to do, to keep his dream and vision alive was and always will be well worth it to me.”
Ortiz putting together a good starting record at (3-0, 3KO’s) all of which have been first round knockouts is looking to get back in the ring after nearly a ten month layoff from the ring. For most fighters 10 months is a long layoff, but a fighter who has only had less than 3 rounds boxing experience in his professional career it could seem like an eternity. “After fans saw our February 26th card, they know we mean business when it comes to competitive fights and this card and myself will be no different. I let our Chief Matchmaker John Winfred know I want to be in a highly competitive fight and be held to a higher standard than we expect from our fighters,” said Ortiz.
In the Main Event we have Middleweight Champion Derrick “Superman” Findley facing ESPN2 The Contender’s Miguel “Macho” Hernandez for the Middleweight Crown. Also set for the card is Middleweight Josh Crouch looking to return after his non-stop action fight with Foster Nkodo. Veteran Darnell Wilson will return after his highly heated draw with Orphius Waite. Rounding out the card are welterweight Marcus Thompkins getting ready for his long awaited return and a special Cruiserweight matchup featuring #1 Indiana Cruiserweight Ed Perry vs. #2 Indiana Cruiserweight Jeff Yeoman.
V.I.P. hot seat events will also being taking place weeks prior to the event at five designated bars and restaurants with opportunity to win two tickets for this extravagant night of fighting with the Miller Lite girls as the hosts with these locations and dates soon to be named.
Tickets for “Fight Night 2010: The Reckoning” are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased at VIP Table Seat – $100, Ringside Table Seat $50, and General Admission $30. Tickets can be purchased at www.oneinamillionboxing.com,
The Hammond Civic Center Box Office, or by calling (866) 438-7372. The Hammond Civic Center is located at 5825 Sohl Ave., Hammond, IN. Doors open at 7 p.m. The first bout is scheduled at 8 p.m. and for more ticket information or fight night events please visit us at our new knockout website and leave us some feedback: www.oneinamillionboxing.com. Or by calling (866) 438-7372. Tickets for this phenomenal night of boxing are guaranteed to go fast so make sure to get yours now.
JOE HAND BOXING GYM’S OWN ANTHONY BURGIN SET TO COMPETE THIS SATURDAY AT THE EASTERN REIGIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES AT THE LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON
PHILADELPHIA (April 7, 2010)—This Saturday night, Anthony Burgin will be looking to give himself a belated birthday present.
Burgin, who turned eighteen today (April 7) will be competing in the finals of the Eastern regional’s of the 2010 Golden Gloves that will be held at The Legendary Blue Horizon.
Burgin came to the Joe Hand Gym six months ago with his trainer Orlando Perez.
Burgin started boxing at age fourteen when his step mother encouraged him to take up the sport.
Burgin was a quick study as he was recognized as one of the top amateurs in the talent rich city. He has amassed an impressive record of 24-3 and was a 2008 National Jr. Olympic champion at 106 lbs. Later in the year he claimed a Mid-Atlantic championship. In 2009 he made it to the semi-finals of the National Golden Gloves at 119 lbs.
Burgin, from the Kensington section of Philadelphia attends Philadelphia Military Academy where he has learned discipline that he has instilled in his boxing career.
Burgin has aspirations of becoming a professional boxer and lists Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Bernard Hopkins as his favorite fighters.
While at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym, Burgin trains with his younger brothers Nicholas and Nathan.
There also will be a special celebrity boxing exhibition that will feature Mike Fera, who is the president of Local 592 and head of the Cement Masons taking on Liam Mulvy, who is a currant boxing documentary producer as well as a former amateur boxing champion in the United Kingdom.
The competition is sponsored by Joe Hand Promotions with all proceeds going to the Joe Hand Boxing Gym and Computer Lab.
This is the fifteenth year that Joe Hand Promotions has been involved with this great event.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling Joe Hand Promotions at 1-215-364-9000.
The doors open at 6pm with the first fight beginning promptly at 6:30
The Legendary Blue Horizon is located at 1314 North Broad Street.