ATLANTIC CITY (July 21, 2011) — Undefeated former World Boxing Association (WBA) Featherweight World Champion YURIORKIS GAMBOA and former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Featherweight World Champion DANIEL PONCE DE LEON will collide in one of the season’s hottest fight, Saturday, September 10, in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. The 12-round featherweight rumble will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.) The two gladiators boast a combined record of 61-3 (50 KOs) – which translates to a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 82%.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Arena Box U.S., Golden Boy Promotions, Caesars Atlantic City and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, tickets to Gamboa vs. De Leon, priced at $250, $100 and $50, go on sale this Friday, July 22, and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com.
“I look forward to meeting Ponce de Leon. This will be the third straight world champion, or former world champion I have faced from México,” said Yuriorkis Gamboa.
“I know that México has a great history of world champions, but so does Cuba. I welcome this chance I am getting to continue to prove I am one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. I will not disappoint my fans.”
“Gamboa is a good fighter and I know this is going to be a difficult fight,” said Daniel Ponce De Leon. “But I know this is a fight that I can win and I’m going to train hard in Los Angeles to leave the ring with my hand raised in victory. I will not leave any excuses for after the fight.”
“Yuriorkis Gamboa is one of the all-time great amateur fighters. As a professional fighter he has been phenomenal. I cannot wait to see him against Daniel Ponce De Leon on September 10,” said Bob Arum, Chairman of Top Rank.
“Gamboa is one of the biggest and fastest rising stars in boxing today,” said Ahmet Öner, president of Arena Box U.S. “Ponce de Leon is certainly a very tough opponent. He’s a former world champion who wants to show that he still has what it takes to win the big fights. He’s also a hard puncher which means that Yuri has to be careful. Still I know that Yuri wants to show the world that he is made for the big fights. For Yuri this fight is only one step further on his way to stardom. I am absolutely convinced that he will pass this test as he has passed all the tests he has taken so far. Yuri is special and he will show that again on September 10th. All fans are in for a real treat. This is a fight where you cannot afford to even blink because both fighters will give it their all. I am looking forward to a spectacular show and I hope that Yuri can show his best performance again. He will need it against Ponce de Leon. If Yuri wins this fight he will be ready for even bigger things to come.”
“This is a great opportunity for Daniel Ponce De Leon to prove what we all know to be true…that he belongs on the short list of the sport’s elite fighters,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Gamboa will be a tough challenge for him, but Ponce has the heart and determination of a true Mexican warrior which will help carry him to victory. All of us at Golden Boy are looking forward to working with Top Rank on this great fight that no boxing fan should miss.”
“Caesars Atlantic City hails the return of Yuriorkis Gamboa, one of boxing’s most exciting fighters,” said Caesars Atlantic City Entertainment Sports & Entertainment Consultant Ken Condon. “On the heels of Yuri’s fourth-round knockout victory of Jorge Solis in March, we expect just as many thrills when he clashes with knockout artist Daniel Ponce De Leon. Atlantic City is once again the destination for championship boxing.”
Gamboa (20-0, 16 KOs), of Miami, Fla., captured Olympic gold for the Cuban team in 2004. He defected to freedom in 2007 the same year he made his professional debut. Two years and 14 bouts later in 2009 he won the WBA’s Interim Featherweight Championshop via a 10th-round stoppage of Jose Rojas. Soon elevated to full world champion status, Gamboa successfully defended the WBA title five times during his two-year reign, which included unifying the title with a 12-round decision victory over International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Champion Orlando Solis.
De Leon (41-3, 34 KOs), of Huntington Park, Calif., represented his native México in the 2000 Olympics. He made his professional debut the following year winning 26 of his first 27 bouts, with only one victory going the distance. He captured the vacant World Boxing Organization ()Junior Featherweight world title on October 29, 2005, winning a 12-round unanimous decision over then-undefeated Sod Looknongyantoy. De Leon successfully defended the title six times – four by knockout – during his three-year reign. Since losing the title to Juanma Lopez in 2008, De Leon has won seven of his last eight bouts campaigning at featherweight, including WBA and WBO title elimination bouts against Roynet Caballero in 2009 and Antonio Escalante in 2010, respectively.
For more information on Top Rank and Yuriorkis Gamboa, please visit www.toprank.com, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/TRBoxing, or visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/trboxing.
Chisora vs. Fury weigh-in will have extra security present to keep fighters in check
London (21st July 2011) Promoter Mick Hennessy has revealed that he has had a request to draft in extra security for tomorrow’s weigh-in for Saturday night’s British and Commonwealth heavyweight title clash between champion Dereck Chisora and challenger Tyson Fury.
Hennessy, who is staging the grudge clash at Wembley Arena, says the bad blood between the two fighters runs deep, to the point that the British Boxing Board of Control have banned the traditional head to head at the weigh-in, which takes place tomorrow at the Crown Moran Hotel in Cricklewood, London.
Hennessy said: “The war of words between Tyson and Chisora has had a real edge to it and we have a genuine grudge clash on our hands and the British Boxing Board of Control have put in place a number of restrictions for the weigh-in.
“It just shows you how much this fight means to both fighters. We know that Tyson has had some tough words for Chisora and Chisora has no time for Tyson so it should make for a great fight.
“We just don’t want the fight starting at the weigh-in so there will be a lot of security to make sure the two fighters stay apart. But come fight time I’m convinced that there will only be one winner and that’s Tyson.
“Chisora backed away from the press conference this week, he and his team refused to attend the press conference on Monday but come this Saturday there will be no hiding place in the ring.”
Kid Blast Back in Action July 29
Cuban power-punching sensation Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (12-0, 10 KOs) will be looking to stretch his knockout streak to eight when he appears in one of the main supporting bouts of the “FIGHT NIGHTS” at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on July 29.
It’s not hard to figure why they call 24-year-old Barthelemy “Kid Blast” once the leather starts flying.
Barthelemy is a monster puncher with both hands. Standing an amazing 5′ 11″ for his 130-lb weight class, he towers over his opponents and then puts them to sleep with his twin blasters.
The younger brother of 2004 Olympic Gold medalist and current pro prospect Yan Barthelemy – Rances had an impressive amateur career, competing in 200 fights and earning the Cuban junior national championship before defecting to the United States a couple years ago.
Since turning pro, he has made believers out of fans around the United States by battering every opponent put in front of him in convincing fashion.
Part of the credit for Barthelemy’s impressive progress must be given to his formidable support team including trainer Orlando Cuellar (known for the miracles he has worked with multiple world champion Glen Johnson), well-respected super manager Henry Foster and co-promoters Richard Dobral of Bad Dog Promotions and Leon Margules of Warrior’s Boxing.
Barthelemy will be taking a considerable jump forward in experience when he faces Kansas City’s Gerardo Robles (14-9, 6 KO`s) over eight rounds. Robles has lost just twice in his last 13 fights, dating back to 2008 and scored victories over some very respectable opponents.
“This will be a good test for Rances,” said Margules. “Rances has been bowling over his opponents with such ease that it’s time to step him up and see how he handles it.”
“FIGHT NIGHTS” at The Cosmopolitan will be headlined by the 12-round International Boxing Federation (IBF) Super Lightweight elimination bout between the Dominican Republic’s once-beaten IBF #3-rated Victor “Mermelada” Cayo (20-1, 18 KOs) and Washington DC’s IBF #4-ranked Lamont Peterson (24-1-1, 14 KOs) and the sensational 10-round light heavyweight showdown between Edison “Pantera” Miranda (34-5, 29 KOs) and Yordanis Despaigne (8-1, 4 KOs). The two main bouts will televised live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.
In a 10-round battle with a touch of international flavor, Chelyabwsk, Russia’s undefeated Sergey Kovalev (15-0, 13 KO`s) will face Nairobi, Kenya’s Douglas Otieno (23-6, 12 KO`s) for the NABA Light Heavyweight Championship.
Also featured is a six-round light heavyweight scrap between Las Vegas’ (via Sweden) Badou Jack “The Ripper” (6-0, 5 KOs) and Athens, Georgia’s Timothy Hall Jr. (6-11, 4 KOs); and in a four-round lightweight attraction, popular Las Vegas fighter Cameron Kreal will make his highly anticipated pro debut against fellow Las Vegas resident Franky Martinez (0-3).
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In conjunction with Warriors Boxing Promotions and Blue Wave Group, “Fight Nights at The Cosmopolitan” combines the mystique and excitement of legendary Las Vegas boxing matches with a new and socially dynamic experience. Tickets are on sale now and priced at $250 for VIP tables, $150 for ringside seats, $100 for floor seats, $50 for grandstand seating and $20 for general admission tickets and are available for purchase by calling 877-551-7778 or at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.