What do Marvin Hagler, Frank Tate, Michael Nunn, James Toney, Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor and Arthur Abraham share in common? They were all IBF Middleweight Champions. Sebastian Sylvester (34-3-1, 16 KOs) is the current holder of the belt. On Saturday, he wants to successfully defend his title for the fourth time. He will meet IBF World Rankings number one Daniel Geale (24-1, 15 KOs) at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg. “Hagler, Jones, Hopkins, Taylor, Abraham etc. – they are all illustrious names. And I am proud to be one of them. I think that a triumph on Saturday would take me another step further forwards. I want to show that I deserve to be among this group of names, and leave the ring victorious as the IBF Champion against Daniel Geale,” said the confident title holder on Wednesday at a press conference in Neubrandenburg’s town hall. “Geale is strong, but he is not going to win in my living room, the Jahnsportforum,” added Sylvester.
The challenger from Australia has other ideas, though. “My preparation went according to plan,” he said. “Of course I know that Sylvester is very accomplished, but I want to make my dream of being champion become reality.” Coach Graham Shaw devised a special ‘noise therapy’ training precisely for this fight. “We know what to expect in the Jahnsportforum,” the challenger said. “We know how noisily Sebastian Sylvester’s fans will support him. Therefore, I trained in Australia with a great deal of noise in the background to prepare me for the atmosphere.”
Promoter Garry Shaw also believes there will be an Australian World Champion. “Sebastian is going to get some real big problems to deal with,” he said. “Daniel was already great as an amateur boxer, and as a professional, he has developed exceptionally and recently even knocked out Roman Karmazin. Sebastian Sylvester had his own problems with him. Daniel Geale will bring the IBF belt to Australia, and then his name will stand on the list of great names that Sebastian Sylvester just mentioned.”
Alongside the IBF Middleweight Title fight, the fans can look forward to two more title fights. In a clash for the European Light Heavyweight Title, Britain’s Danny McIntosh and Eduard Gutknecht meet. Karo Murat and Otis Griffin also clash for the vacant IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title.
ESPN Provides Extensive Coverage of Pacquiao-Mosley Fight; Teddy Atlas Analyzes Fighters in “Virtual” Fight Plan
On the eve of the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley welterweight title bout, ESPN’s Friday Night Fights will originate from Las Vegas, Nev., May 6 at 10 p.m. on ESPN2 when undefeated lightweight Diego Magdaleno (18-0, 6 KO’s, WBA #7, WBC #22) and Ring Magazine’s No. 8- ranked featherweight Bernabe “The Real Deal” Concepcion (30-3-1, 17 KO’s) are featured in co-main events. Brian Kenny and Teddy Atlas will be ringside at Mandalay Bay describing the action.
ESPN and ESPN Deportes will provide extensive coverage of events leading up to the Pacquiao-Mosley fight including:
· Wednesday: live SportsCenter press conference reports by ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael and ESPN Deportes’ Jaime Motta;
· Thursday: live satellite interviews of each fighter on SportsCenter;
· Friday: Rafael will analyze the fight during ESPN2’s First Take and SportsCenter. Kenny and Atlas will cover the weigh-in live during the 6 p.m. SportsCenter. Golpe a Golpe, ESPN Deportes’ boxing news and information show, hosted by world champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Jorge Eduardo Sanchez with special reports from Jaime Motta, will broadcast live for the weigh-in at 6 p.m.
ESPN’s Friday Night Fights and SportsCenter will feature Teddy Atlas analyzing the fight using virtual technology. Visit http://es.pn/iZ1BNa to watch a clip of the segment.
Undefeated Lightweight and Former Featherweight Challenger Featured on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights
Hometown favorite Magdaleno, who is coming off a fifth-round TKO over Marcos Leonardo Jiminez, will meet Gilberto “El Latigo” Sanchez-Leon (29-9-2, 11 KO’s).
After his last fight, Rafael wrote, “Magdaleno drew an enthusiastic crowd to watch him dismantle Jimenez, of the Dominican Republic. Magdaleno was in control. He was aggressive, worked Jimenez over to the body and landed hard shots with both hands throughout the fight. By the fifth round, Jimenez looked spent, but Magdaleno was still fresh. With about 30 seconds left in the round, Magdaleno cracked him with a flush left hand while Jimenez was in a corner. It was just the start of a sustained flurry of blows that Magdaleno rained down on Jimenez for the rest of the round. He threw dozens of punches as Jimenez could do little more than try to cover up. Good performance for the developing Magdaleno.”
Magdaleno said of Friday’s fight “I saw Gilberto Sanchez-Leon fight at the Palms when my younger brother fought there in February. I remember watching a couple of rounds of his fight. I noticed he’s a tall fighter, but he doesn’t fight using that length and reach. He’s a tough guy, very durable. It looks like he likes to conserve himself and box on the inside. I’ve got something for him.”
Former two-time featherweight world title challenger Concepcion, will meet Juan Carlos “El Pez” Martinez (16-12-1, 5 KO’s). Concepcion, who is managed by Pacquiao, will look to rebound after being TKO’d in the second round against WBO featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Lopez.
After the fight Rafael wrote on ESPN.com, “Lopez was hammering Concepcion and had sent him staggering into the ropes courtesy of a big straight left hand about a minute into the fight. Thirty seconds later, Lopez knocked him down to all fours with a right hook as the crowd went absolutely wild. Concepcion was able to continue and Lopez kept on blistering him with straight left hands. He was firing punches in bunches and seemingly on the verge of a stoppage when Concepcion threw a hail Mary overhand left and dropped Lopez to his backside with 13 seconds left in a shocking turn of events
“Late in the round, Lopez sent Concepcion reeling with a right hook and followed up with a left hand to the head that knocked him down for the second time. As Concepcion struggled to his feet, the referee called off the exciting shootout at 2 minutes, 37 seconds.”
Professional Boxing returns to Houston – June 25th
Knockout Promotions is proud to announce its “Bad Blood” professional boxing event being held Saturday, June 25th, at Emilianos Sports Bar on I10 n N. Wayside in Houston, TX. The card features rising prospect Jose “La Polvora” Mendoza 15-1 from Guadalajara, Jalisco and local up and coming favorite’s Rogelio De La Torre 4-0, Nelson Ramos 5-1,Eric “Babyface Assassin” Manriquez 4-0, Uko Isidien 2-1, Angel “El Picodito” Rodriguez 6-4, pro debut Sergio Perez and showcases female sensation Ashley Alvarado 3-0.
Tickets – $75 VIP ringside, $45 reserved seating, $25 general admission and can be purchased at any of these locations: Emilianos Sports Bar, Memo’s Record Shop’s, Puro Azteca & Elite& Ringster’s & Ray’s Boxing Gym’s or by calling 281-690-1293,832-206-4984 or 936-697-6012.