He was International German light middleweight and light heavyweight champion, long-time manager and close friend of the “Bull from Bosporus” Sinan Samil Sam and has become one of the most successful (and most controversial) boxing promoters in the world. Ahmet Oner has without a doubt had a colourful life so far – and today, on his 40th birthday – the “enfant terrible” says he is far from done.
“Bob Arum, Don King and Jose Sulaiman prove that this is not even halftime for me” says Oner referring to this years 80th birthdays of the two promoter legends and the WBC president. “I am looking forward to another 40 years!”
Oner is promoting Cuban superstar Yuriorkis Gamboa, former world heavyweight title challenger Odlanier Solis, welterweight contender Selcuk Aydin and many more. This Friday he will present his “birthday show” live on Eurosport when German heavyweight contender Konstantin Airich and Varol Vekiloglu square off for the vacant IBF intercontinental championship and Alexander Petkovic is trying to win the WBA international heavyweight title against veteran Cisse Salif.
In November, Oner will present the welterweight rematch between WBC Silver champion and Selcuk Aydin and Canada based Romanian Jo Jo Dan. So he won’t have time to celebrate today but will go on working instead.
Young Prospect to fight with pink gloves to honor family member
Miami, Fla: Three years ago when most 15 year olds were thinking of acquiring their drivers permit for the first time or applying for a part time job, 18 year old phenom Hairon “El Maja” Socarras (4-0-4 KO’s) was climbing the highest mountain and swimming the longest sea. His young mother had just passed away a couple of years prior, when his young cousin of 23 years old Soneluis Tapia was diagnosed with breast cancer, Ms. Tapia was brought from Cuba to help Javier Socarras, the father, care for Hairon and his younger brother at the time, although the core of the family had been rocked once again, they kept their faith.
Today, after rigorous sessions of chemotherapy and several surgeries, Ms. Soneluis Tapia is cancer free and is Hairon’s number one fan. “I will honor my cousin and all the women in the world that have faced or that are facing this horrible disease, I will wear pink gloves, my team will wear pink shirts and wrap my buses in pink, I will dedicate my fight to all cancer survivors” says Socarras. Hairon’s fans shuttle buses to assist his fights in Kissimmee, Florida which is 3 hours away from Miami. There are four buses scheduled to depart from Miami on October 14th to support their rising son. Hairon Socarras is part of the Boxeo Telemundo fight card being held in Kissimmee, Florida, the action packed fight card will be led by former Olympian Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz (16-2-1-7 KO’s) versus rising star Michael “Lil warrior” Franco 19-0-12 KO’s, both will battle twelve rounds for the featherweight WBO Latino title, you may watch it LIVE on Telemundo HD network 11:35pm ET, check your local listings.
URBAN WAR! …One Show, SIX WBF Title Fights!
No less than six World Boxing Federation titles will be on the line when Damian Michael of ShowPony in association with the Souther Suns Group promotes at the Monet Casino in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 19.
While the headliner has Francois Botha fighting Michael Grant for the vacant WBF World Heavyweight title, the show is completed by top-class matchups featuring…
– Malcolm Klassen vs. Rafael Guzman (WBF World Super Featherweight title)
– Ilunga Makabu vs. Pedro Otas (WBF World Cruiserweight title)
– Lubabalo Msuthu vs. Dennis Tubieron (WBF World Bantamweight title)
– Ali Funeka vs. Zolani Marali (WBF World Light Welterweight title)
…and Mthobisi Buthelezi vs. Gerry Nekhubvi (WBF All-African Welterweight title).
Attached is a video abd photos from the press conference announcing this massive event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1_WpaLlnZc
Photos: Francois Botha with promoter Damian Michael, Francois Botha withy WBF President Howard Goldberg.
www.worldboxingfederation.net
Boxing’s New Odd Couple Edwin Rodriguez & Danny O’Connor
RODRIGUEZ-ROSINSKY HEADLINE LIVE ON SHOWTIME® OCT. 21 FROM MGM GRAND AT FOXWOODS
Mashantucket, CT/New York, NY – (Oct. 12, 2011) – Boxing’s new odd couple is a Massachusetts pair training together thousands of miles away from home in Houston, undefeated super middleweight Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez and light welterweight prospect Danny O’Connor, who will be fighting on October 21 in separate bouts at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods.
Rodriguez (19-0, 14 KOs) headlines “Octoberfist: Fight Night Done Right,” presented by DiBella Entertainment, against another undefeated fighter and friend, New York City brawler Will “Power” Rosinky (14-0, 8 KOs), on ShoBox: The New Generation LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Also being broadcast live on SHOWTIME® is a junior welterweight co-feature, matching rising contender Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (17-0, 3KOs) and always tough Daniel Sostre (11-4-1, 4KOs) for the vacant NABF title. Both bouts are scheduled for 10 rounds.
The 26-year-old Rodriguez (19-0, 14 KOs), a native of the Dominican Republic fighting out of Worcester (MA), is already considered a legitimate world title contender, presently rated among the top 12 in all four major governing bodies (IBF #5, WBC #6, WBA #8 and WBO # 12). “La Bomba” and O’Connor (15-1, 4 KOs), the popular Irish-American boxer from Framingham (MA), met in 2005 as New England teammates. A friendship soon blossomed and O’Connor soon started training at Rodriguez’ gym, the Worcester Boys & Girls Club.
They eventually went their separate ways. Rodriguez turned pro and O’Connor went to China as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team as an alternate. Now, they’re back together in Houston, sharing an apartment and being trained by the highly-regarded Ronnie Shields.
“We’re on a mission to accomplish something special together,” Rodriguez explained, “and become world champions from Massachusetts. We both left our family back home (Edwin has a wife and five-year-old twins) to train here with Ronnie Shields. In many ways having Danny here makes it a little better because we know what each other is going through.”
Rodriguez and Rosinsky also have a history together, dating back to the amateur ranks, where they were members of the 2006 USA Boxing Team that traveled to China. They were also 2005 USA National Champions; Rodriguez at middleweight and Rosinsky at light heavyweight.
“He (Rosinky) is a tough but nice kid,” Edwin noted. “He’s a real fighter, too. I know him and he knows me, but I’m not the same fighter he knew. It’s great being trained by Ronnie Shields, and I’m not the same fighter.”
O’Connor (15-1, 4 KOs) readily admits that he and his Houston roommate, Edwin, are complete opposites. “We are like the odd couple: I’m always on time, he’s not; I don’t like playing video games, he does. I love Edwin because he’s such a genuine person and a great guy. Being here with him makes it bearable. I have a seven-month old son, Liam, who I’ve barely seen because I’ve been here the last three months. I really miss him and my wife. It’s tough, but it’s also funny. I’m very relaxed before my fight but, watching Edwin fight, I’m a nervous wreck.”
O’Connor’s first loss as a pro came earlier this year, ironically, on ShoBox to Bracero. He followed Rodriguez to Houston and rebounded nicely last month with a first-round knockout victory.
“I always try to do better than Edwin,” said O’Connor who will be in a six-round, off-TV bout vs. TBA on Oct. 21. “We push each other all the time in training. If I get a little uptight, Edwin will be the first to tell me and, when I get cranky making weight, he’ll tell me I’m being a bitch. We’re totally opposite, except in the boxing world.”
Shields, a former two-time world title challenger and “Trainer of the Year,” has embraced his New England fighters and made them part of his family. “Edwin has been with me about four months now,” Shields commented. “This is a kid who wants to learn in order to be the best. He will be world champion. He’s done everything I’ve asked. He’s had a great training camp and this is his time to shine. His opponent (Rosinsky) is good, maybe a little heavier – a light heavyweight — than Edwin, but they’re fighting at a catch weight of 172 pounds. He comes forward and Edwin won’t go toe-to-toe with him. This guy is coming forward to knock out Edwin, who needs to show his boxing skills in this fight.
“We’re working with Danny to sit down on his punches. He’s a good boxer but he didn’t know how to fight on the inside. He’s learning how to turn into his punch and I think it surprised him to know he has more power than he thought. He can box but fighting inside can’t be foreign to him.
“I love these two guys. They’re two of the best I’ve ever met in this business. Edwin’s a blessing. How can you not love Edwin? Danny’s a great guy, too. They fuel each other in the gym and are good for each other being so far away from home. They share an apartment and do everything together – train, eat, movies, run, etc. It’s like a family affair with them and the other fighters at my gym. They come over to my house for dinner once in a while. Hey, they’re family now.”
Two other talented New England boxers will be in action on Oct. 21. Exciting Quincy (MA) junior lightweight Ryan “Polish Prince” Kielczewski (11-0, 2 KOs) is always a crowd pleaser, while New Haven super bantamweight Luis “KO King” Rosa (8-0, 5 KOs) is a sound, overall prospect.
The complete undercard will be announced shortly.