MANCHESTER, April 13 – Home to some of boxing’s biggest events since its launch in 2009, Primetime (Channel 480) is proud to be the pay-per-view home for an explosive championship tripleheader on Saturday, April 16, featuring the WBA Light Welterweight World Championship bout between World Champion Amir “King” Khan and unbeaten European Champion Paul “Dudey” McCloskey. The broadcast will see additional championship action when Rendall Munroe faces Andrei Isaeu for the WBA International Super Bantamweight Title and Craig Watson and Lee Purdy square off for the British Welterweight Title.
In the 12 round main event, WBA Light Welterweight World Champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) returns to fight on British soil for the first time since 2009. Khan looks to follow up his spectacular 2010 wins over Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and Marcos “Chino” Maidana with another big victory over Derry, Northern Ireland’s Paul McCloskey (22-0, 12 KO’s). McCloskey, the European and British champion, brings a five fight knockout streak into Saturday’s bout and he is ready for his long-awaited shot at a world title.
In the evening’s chief support bout, the WBA International Super Bantamweight Championship will be on the line when Leicester’s Rendall Munroe (21-2, 9 KO’s), a longtime European champion, faces Minsk’s Andrei Isaeu (23-2, 7 KO’s) in a 12 round contest.
Known as “The Boxing Binman,” Rendall Munroe (21-2, 9 KO’s) is one of the U.K.’s most popular fighters and for good reason, as he’s won 21 of his 23 professional fights, and collected European, Commonwealth and English super bantamweight titles along the way. In October of 2010, the southpaw from Leicester got his first shot at a world championship, but lost a hard-fought 12 round decision to Toshiaki Nishioka in the WBC champion’s backyard in Tokyo. On April 16, the 30-year-old will look to get back on a winning track closer to home in Manchester.
A decorated professional from Minsk, Belarus who has earned four regional title belts, Andrei Isaeu (23-2, 7 KO’s) is finally on track to capture the biggest title of all when he takes on Munroe for the WBA International Super Bantamweight title. The winner of 11 of his last 12 bouts, the 30-year-old veteran returns to fight in the U.K. for the first time since 2006, and he’s well-prepared to spoil Munroe’s homecoming.
The championship action doesn’t stop there, as Manchester’s own Craig Watson (20-3, 8 KO’s) defends his British Welterweight title in a 12 round showdown against 23-year old Colchester prospect Lee “Lights Out” Purdy (14-2-1, 7 KO’s).
Winner of Commonwealth titles at light middleweight welterweight, the versatile Craig Watson (20-3, 8 KO’s) has shown career-best form over the last two years in putting together a seven-fight winning streak that includes a 12-round win over 24-1 John O’Donnell this February which earned him the vacant British Welterweight title. Now, he’ll look to parlay that form into abig win in front of his hometown fans in Manchester this weekend.
Colchester’s Lee “Lights Out” Purdy (14-2-1, 7 KO’s) has been battling it out as a professional in British rings since 2006 and, after winning the British Southern Area Welterweight title in 2009, he has made his case for a shot at the British welterweight title. On Saturday, fresh off of an eight-round decision win over Theophilus Tetteh last September, the 23-year-old will get his shot at Watson and the title.
“King Khan Returns,” the WBA Light Welterweight Championship fight featuring Amir “King” Khan defending his title against undefeated European Champion Paul McCloskey on April 16 at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, is a 12 round bout presented by in association with Khan Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. The event will be broadcast live on Primetime Pay-Per-View in the U.K. at 8:00 PM BST, with the main event being aired on a delayed basis in United States on HBO at 9:45 PM ET/6:45 PM PT.
To watch Amir Kahn vs. Paul McCloskey live on Primetime, channel 480 on Sky, viewers must register beforehand online at www.primetimelive.co.uk or call 0871 200 4444* or using the ‘On Demand’ menu. Customers on Sky must register the first time they use Primetime and once registered can purchase using the ‘box office’ menu. The fight will cost £14.95 and a small one off registration fee will apply for customers new to Primetime. Those without Sky can watch the fight streamed live on www.primetimelive.co.uk for £14.95.
Tickets for Khan vs. McCloskey, priced at £300, £200, £125, £75, £50 and £40, are on sale now and may be purchased at the M.E.N. Arena Box Office, by calling +44(0)8448478000, or online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.men-arena.com.
Provodnikov-Popoca on Friday, 4/15
ESPN’s Friday Night Fights will originate from Temecula, Calif. featuring junior welterweight’s Ruslan Provodnikov (18-1, 12 KO’s, WBO #14) and undefeated Ivan “El Marro” Popoca (15-0-1, 10 KO’s) in the 10-round main event April 15, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside at the Pechanga Resort Casino, describing the action. ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael will join studio host Brian Kenny throughout Friday’s telecast to discuss all the latest boxing news and highlights.
After his 1st loss against Mauricio Herrera on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights in January, Provodnikov rebounded with a third-round TKO in February.
After the fight on ESPN2, ESPN.com’s Rafael wrote, “We had our first upset of the year as Herrera took the competitive decision against Provodnikov, who was widely considered a top prospect. This is, by far, the biggest win of Herrera’s career and he earned it in a tough, grinding battle in which both men went past the 10th round for the first time and showed a lot of heart. Provodnikov did what he always does, which is to bull forward, be aggressive and work the body. He also landed lots of right hands. They both showed they wanted it badly with the way they were fighting and the outcome looked like it was in doubt. Provodnikov turned Herrera’s left eye black and blue in the third round and seemed to be inching ahead, but Herrera never gave in. When the fight was over, both of their faces were a mess – even though Herrera was smiling because of the victory. This was a really good fight and a nice way to kick off the FNF season.”
Mexico native and Chicago resident Popoca, coming off a November 8-round unanimous decision against Martin Tucker, is taking a step up in class against Provodnikov. Popoca said of Friday’s fight, “I’m an aggressive fighter, always coming forward. It’s going to be a real interesting fight with this guy, because we got the same style – going forward, always punching, and always slugging it out. I’ve seen him fight. He’s a real impressive fighter, a real aggressive fighter. I can’t wait for the fight. I think it’s going to be a great show.”
Sostre extends unbeaten streak to 10
NEW YORK (April 13, 2011) – New York State welterweight champion Daniel “The Hudson Valley Kid” Sostre extended his unbeaten streak to 10 after fighting to an eight-round draw last Thursday with hometown favorite Damian “Divo” Frias in Miami.
Sostre (11-3-1, 4 KOs), the newest member of Boxing 360’s growing stable of fighters, took the fight on late notice and fought WBC FECARBOX light welterweight champion Frias (16-4-1, 7 KOs) in his backyard. It marked Sostre’s first fight in 12 months and the Puerto Rico native, now living in Manhattan, hasn’t lost in four years.
“I’ve known him for a long time,” Boxing 360 Director of Boxing Bob Duffy talked about Sostre. “He spoke to us about promoting him and we worked out a deal. Fighting a draw on last minute notice against a hometown fighter, considering he hadn’t fought in a year, was a big positive. He always gives his best and never says no to a challenge. He’s defended his NY State title three times. He wants to prove that, with time to train properly, he belongs with anybody in his division.”
Sostre captured the NY State title in 2009 via a majority eight-round decision against Mike Ruiz, followed by successful title defenses against Tommy Rainone (DEC8), Frank Houghtaling (TKO6) and Jay Krupp (DEC8).
Other members of Boxing 360’s stable include USBA heavyweight champion Maurice
“Sugar Moe” Harris, former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio,
WBC No. 3 super bantamweight Leon “Hurry Up” Moore, NY State super middleweight title-holder Lennox “2 Sharpe” Allen, KO king Tyrone Brunson, Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, middleweight prospect DonYil Livingston, Joshua “The Juice” Harris, Emad Ali, Angel “Toro” Hernandez and “King” David Estrada.
Go on line to www.boxing360.com for more information about Sostre, or any of Boxing 360 fighters, as well as upcoming events.