HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (July 7, 2011) – Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (32-3-1, 28 KOs), of Carolina, Puerto Rico, will mark his return to the SHOWITME airwaves while Carlos Molina of Chicago will make his network debut when they meet this Saturday, July 9, in the co-feature on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.,
Just one week before the 10th anniversary of ShoBox: The New Generation, Cintron, who fought three times on ShoBox from 2001 to 2002 including the series’ third telecast, will take on Molina in a 10-round junior middleweight tilt. Following that, Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (27-0-1, 19 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., and two-time world title challenger Urbano Antillon (28-2, 20 KOs), of Maywood, Calif., tangle for the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight championship in the Top Rank-promoted main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
Cintron, Molina and two up-and-coming Top Rank fighters worked out for the media on Thursday at Fortune Gym in Hollywood.
The telecast also will include highlights from overseas as IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (28-0, 23 KOs) defends his title for an eighth time – but first in his home country of Romania – against mandatory challenger Jean-Paul Mendy (29-0-1, 16 KOs) of France.
Tickets, priced at $125, $75, $50 and $25, are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.Ticketmaster.com as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Suites are available by calling (877) 604-8777.
What they said Thursday:
KERMIT CINTRON:
“I’m feeling really light right now which is different than I have for my last couple of fights. It’s been great to have Mike Lee down in Houston with us fulltime and training with Ronnie (Shields).
“I sparred with Carlos five years ago but none of that matters now. I know he’s gotten better but I just look at him like just another opponent. When you’re a boxer you have to be ready to go in there with anyone and that’s what I’m going to do.
“I know I will be victorious come Saturday night. I’ve never had more confidence than I do now. It does feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve been in the ring but I’m ready.”
CARLOS MOLINA:
“Everything is good and everything is in order. Now it’s just time to weigh in and then it’s fight time. This is the biggest fight of my career and my first time on SHOWTIME. I mean, you always want to do good but this is SHOWTIME so you want to perform and put on a good show even more.
On Cintron returning to the Home Depot Center where he fell out of the ring a year ago:
“As boxers we put everything out of our minds. If it does bother him, I’ll take advantage of it. But I really don’t think it will and shouldn’t be an issue.
“I know Kermit and the way he likes to fight. It has been a long time since we sparred but we know each others’ styles and what we both want to do in there. It should be very interesting to see how it plays out.”
MIKE LEE:
Lee (5-0, 3 KOs) is the Notre Dame champion who faces Michael Birthmark (2-5, 0 KOs) in a four-round light heavyweight matchup on the undercard Saturday:
“I just can’t wait to get in there and show people how much better I’ve gotten since my last fight. For my last fight I just felt heavier. Now, I’ve built more muscle and just feel so much stronger.
“It’s really been like a big family joining (trainer) Ronnie (Shields) and the guys in Houston. I used to just bully guys. Now, I feel like a boxer. I’ve been working on my defense and watching tape of some of Ronnie’s older fighters and it’s really helped me.”
MATT KOROBOV:
Korobov (15-0, 9 KOs) from Orotukan, Russia, will take on Lester Gonzalez (12-3-2, 6 KOs) from San Diego in a middleweight undercard fight on Saturday:
“This is my third fight this year and we’re right on schedule. We’re ready to go. The middleweights need an exciting fighter like me. I don’t even know where I’m ranked. I’m just so focused on Saturday night.”
After McBride, Mariusz Wach Sets Targets On Klitschko Brothers and Heavyweight Gold
NORTH BERGEN (July 8, 2011) – Undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach has a lot more riding on his July 29 matchup with Irish toughman Kevin McBride than adding another win. Wach has his dreams of becoming heavyweight champion of the world hanging in the balance.
Wach, 24-0 (12 KO), of North Bergen, NJ by way of Krakow, Poland has long dreamed of becoming his country’s first heavyweight champion, and if he gets through “The Clones Collosus” McBride (35-9-1, 29 KO) in the ten-round main event of “Heat Wave” at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., an opportunity to face one of the heavyweight champion Klitschko brothers Wladimir and Vitali may be in store.
“I’ve spoken with the Klitschko brothers promotional team in Germany, and they told me that they are very interested in facing Wach,” said Mariusz Kolodziej, who co-promotes Wach through his company Global Boxing with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports.
“Wach presents them the opportunity to show that they are not just bullies picking on smaller opponents, and the Klitschkos present Wach the chance to show the world the true warrior that he is.”
Speaking from his training camp at Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen, Wach said he was very excited for the opportunity to face one – or both – of the Klitschko brothers.
“I am very focused on my next fight with McBride, but it gives me greater motivation knowing that I may face one of the Klitschkos in the following fight,” said Wach, who is trained by the De Leon brothers Juan and Carlos. “I must first get through McBride, but after that, I’m ready for either brother.”
Wach, who stands an imposing 6’8″ and weighs around 250 pounds, may be just the answer for the super heavyweight giants who have controlled the division for nearly a decade. WBO/WBA/IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko, age 35 with a record of 56-3 (49 KO), stands at 6’6″ and 240 pounds, while the 39-year-old WBC champion Vitali Klitschko is 6’7″ and 250 pounds with a 42-2 (39 KO) record.
The 2004 Polish Olympian Wach is just 31 years old, younger than the Klitschkos and smack dead in his prime.
“I left my home country of Poland to train in America so that I can focus on my main goal in life, which is to become the heavyweight champion. I fight for my country’s honor, my son Oliver who is about to have his first birthday and my fiancee. I have made the sacrifices to be away from them so that I can have my best opportunity to achieve my dreams.”
Tickets priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased at Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen or by calling CES at 401-724-2253/2254 or Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000.
Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. For more information on “Heat Wave,” visit www.cesboxing.comor www.mohegansun.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
For more information on Mariusz Wach, visit www.globalboxing.com.
The Finalists Are Set in Seven Weight Classes at the Last Chance Qualifier Tournament in Cincinnati
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Last Chance Qualifier action moved into day four on Thursday at the Taft Masonic Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Twenty-six bouts of quarterfinal and semifinal round boxing were on tap for the lone session of the day with boxers in seven weight divisions advancing to the final round and the light welterweight, welterweight and middleweight competitors earning semifinal berths.
Light flyweights Stephen Fulton, Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Erros Correa (San Jose, Calif.) claimed the first final round berths in their semifinal contests. Both enjoyed convincing victories with Fulton defeating Daniel Ybarra, 24-9 and Correa taking a 28-12 decision over Lawrence Singh (Riverdale, Md.).
In flyweight action, Shawn Simpson (Chicago, Ill.) moved on to the championship bout with a 24-18 victory over Rogelio Garcia III (Edinburgh, Texas) in their semifinal match-up. He will face another Texan in the finals following Ernesto Degadillo’s (Dallas, Texas) win in the semifinal round. Degadillo recorded a close 15-12 decision over Carlos Suarez (Lima, Ohio).
Featherweights Joe Perez (Fountain, Colo.) and Isaac Torres (Mission, Texas) will face off in championship bout on Friday night. The duo both pulled out close decisions in their semifinal bouts with Perez winning a 26-24 victory over Carlos Chavez (Hollywood, Calif.) and Torres claiming a 22-21 win over Edwin Sandoval (Bakersfield, Calif.).
Two top lightweights will battle in a highly anticipated championship bout on Friday. 2008 Olympian Raynell Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) and 2009 National Champion Kevin Rivers, Jr. (Landover, Md.) both continued their runs through the tournament on Thursday in semifinal round action. Williams claimed his spot first, taking a 37-14 decision over Glen Dezurn (Baltimore, Md.) to advance on to the final round. Rivers joined him a few minutes later with a disqualification victory in his contest with Lavias Williams (Rochester, N.Y.).
Another former national champion advanced in the tournament in the light welterweight division. 2009 Lightweight National Champion Duran Caferro (Helena, Mont.) will battle Ryan Karl (Milano, Texas) in the first light welterweight championship bout. Both won double-digit victories on Thursday in their quarterfinal contests. Caferro defeated Domonique James (Brooklyn, N.Y.) by a 29-9 margin while Karl took a 46-33 decision over Manuel Lopez (Aurora, Colo.). Javonn Barnes (Muskegon, Mich.) and Robert Easter, Jr. (Toledo, Ohio) will face off in the second semifinal bout.
Two semifinal bouts were contested in welterweight action on Thursday night as well. Patrick Day (Freeport, N.Y.) advanced on to Friday’s action with a 20-11 victory over 2010 National Golden Gloves champion David Grayton (Washington DC) despite a furious comeback attempt by Grayton in the third round. Day will face Tony Losey (Wichita, Kansas) in Friday’s semifinals. On the opposite side of the bracket, Amir Imam (Albany, N.Y.) clinched his spot in the semifinals with a 22-14 win over William Williams (Conyers, Ga.). Imam battles Anthony Gangemi (Minehill, N.J.) in the second semifinal contest.
2010 National Champion Luis Arias (Milwaukee, Wis.) put the judges to work in his semifinal bout, scoring nearly 50 points in his 48-18 win over I.V. Anderson (Dallas, Texas). Arias’ efforts earn him a spot in the medal round where he will take on Akil Frederick-Auguste (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Kenton Sippio-Cook (Round Rock, Texas) and Demond Nicholson (Laurel, Md.) will face off in the second middleweight final.
The light heavyweight division featured a showcase bout between 2009 National Champion Robert Brant (Oakdale, Minn.) and former National Golden Gloves titlist DeRae Crane (Oakdale, Minn.). The bout was close throughout but Brant pulled out a slim 15-13 decision despite being dropped in the final round. Brant advances to the championship bout where he will take on Shaborn Ryals (Capitol Heights, Md.) in the light heavyweight final.
Robert Jekabson (Chicago, Ill.) and Bryan Daniels (Boylston, Mass.) will battle it out for the heavyweight berth in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Both took semifinal wins on Thursday to earn their berths with Jekabson taking a 25-17 decision over Joshua Temple (St. Louis, Mo.) and Daniels winning a disqualification over Christopher Campa (Ypsilanti, Mich.).
Trevor Bryan (Albany, N.Y.) won the first super heavyweight semifinal bout on a disqualification win over Javonta Charles (Memphis, Tenn.). Bryan will face Brett Rather (Las Vegas, Nev.) in Friday’s super heavyweight final.
Friday’s action will begin at 6 p.m. with the six semifinal bouts and the seven championship contests will kick off at 8 p.m. at the Taft Masonic Center. All of the champions from the Last Chance Qualifier tournament will earn the final berths in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing.
Thursday’s Results
108 lbs: Stephen Fulton, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., dec. Daniel Ybarra, Texas, 24-9
108 lbs: Erros Correa, San Jose, Calif., dec. Lawrence Singh, Riverdale, Md., 28-12
114 lbs: Shawn Simpson, Chicago, Ill., dec. Rogelio Garcia III, Edinburg, Texas, 24-18
114 lbs: Ernesto Degadillo, Dallas, Texas dec. Carlos Suarez, Lima, Ohio, 15-12
123 lbs: Isaac Torres, Mission, Texas dec. Edwin Sandoval, Bakersfield, Calif., 22-21
123 lbs: Joe Perez, Fountain, Colo., dec. Carlos Chavez, Hollywood, Calif., 26-24
132 lbs: Raynell Williams, Cleveland, Ohio dec. Glen Dezurn, Baltimore, Md., 37-14
132 lbs: Kevin Rivers, Jr., Landover, Md., won on disqualification over Lavias Williams, Rochester, N.Y. DQ-3 (2:50)
141 lbs: Ryan Karl, Milano, Texas dec. Manuel Lopez, Aurora, Colo., 46-33
141 lbs: Duran Caferro, Helena, Mont., dec. Domonique James, Brooklyn, N.Y., 28-9
141 lbs: Javon Barnes, Muskegon, Mich., dec. Donald Griffin, Pine Bluffs, Ark., 20-16
141 lbs: Robert Easter, Jr., Toledo, Ohio dec. Aceson Leseure, Corpus Christi, Texas, 29-9
152 lbs: Tony Losey, Wichita, Kansas dec. David Thomas, Houston, Texas, 29-20
152 lbs: Patrick Day, Freeport, N.Y., dec. David Grayton, Washington DC, 20-11
152 lbs: Amir Imam, Albany, N.Y., dec. William Williams, Conyers, Ga., 22-14
152 lbs: Anthony Gangemi, Minehill, N.J., dec. Moshea Aleem, Richmond, Va., 24-17
165 lbs: Kenton Sippio-Cook, Round Rock, Texas dec. Immanuwel Aleem, Richmond, Va., 23-17
165 lbs: Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis., dec. I.V. Anderson, Jr., Dallas, Texas, 48-18
165 lbs: Demond Nicholson, Laurel, Md., dec. Kenneth McNeil, Birmingham, Ala., 13-11
165 lbs: Akil Frederick-Auguste, Brooklyn, N.Y., dec. Jeff Camp, Dayton, Ohio, 13-11
178 lbs: Shaborn Ryals, Capitol Heights, Md., dec. Malcolm Jones, Indianapolis, Indiana, 22-14
178 lbs: Robert Brant, Oakdale, Minn., dec. DeRae Crane, Fort Carson, 15-13
201 lbs: Bryan Daniels, Boylston, Mass., won on disqualification over Christopher Campa, Ypsilanti, Mich., DQ-3
201 lbs: Robert Jekabson, Chicago, Ill., dec. Joshua Temple, St. Louis, Mo., 25-17
201+ lbs: Trevor Bryan, Albany, N.Y., won on disqualification over Javonta Charles, Memphis, Tenn., DQ
201+ lbs: Brett Rather, Las Vegas, Nev., dec. Shawn Seymore, Cincinnati, Ohio, 25-17
Friday’s Bout Sheets
Semifinals
141 lbs: Ryan Karl, Milano, Texas vs. Duran Caferro, Helena, Mont.
141 lbs: Javonn Barnes, Muskegon, Mich., vs. Robert Easter, Jr., Toledo, Ohio
152 lbs: Tony Losey, Wichita, Kansas vs. Patrick Day, Freeport, N.Y.
152 lbs: Amir Imam, Albany, N.Y., vs. Anthony Gangemi, Minehill, N.J.
165 lbs: Kenton Sippio-Cook, Round Rock, Texas vs. Demond Nicholson, Laurel, Md.
165 lbs: Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis., vs. Akil Frederick-Auguste, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Championship Bouts
108 lbs: Stephen Fulton, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., vs. Erros Correa, San Jose, Calif.
114 lbs: Shawn Simpson, Chicago, Ill., vs. Ernesto Degadillo, Dallas, Texas
123 lbs: Edwin Sandoval, Bakersfield, Calif. vs. Isaac Torres, Mission, Texas
132 lbs: Raynell Williams, Cleveland, Ohio vs. Kevin Rivers, Jr., Landover, Md.
178 lbs: Shaborn Ryals, Capitol Heights, Md., vs. Robert Brant, Oakdale, Minn.
201 lbs: Bryan Daniels, Boylston, Mass., vs. Robert Jekabson, Chicago, Ill.
201+ lbs: Trevor Bryan, Albany, N.Y. vs. Brett Rather, Las Vegas, Nev.
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).