Philadelphia heavyweight contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers takes on former World Heavyweight Champion Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich on Saturday, January 21st when the NBC Sports Network (currently named VERSUS) brings its inaugural NBC Sports Network Fight Night broadcast to the City of Brotherly Love.
Making his first hometown appearance since 2008, Chambers, (36-2, 18 KO’s), who learned to fight in Philly’s legendary gyms, will have his hands full when he faces “The White Wolf” of Scottsdale, AZ (25-4, 16 KO’s) at Philadelphia’s Asylum Arena. A former Russian Olympian, Liakhovich is an aggressive, heavy-handed competitor who rarely takes a step backwards and always makes great fights. His epic 2006 brawl with Lamon Brewster, when the native of Vitebsk, Belarus won the WBO Heavyweight Championship, is still characterized by many boxing pundits as the best heavyweight fight of the past ten years.
Opening the television broadcast at 9 p.m. will be a blistering junior middleweight battle between “King” Gabriel Rosado of Philadelphia (18-5, 10 KO’s) and Jesus Soto-Karass of Tijuana, Mexico (24-6, 16 KO’s). “Soto-Karass made his reputation in two wars with Mike Jones,” NBCSN Fight Night’s Hall of Fame matchmaker Russell Peltz said, referring to a recent pair of thrilling bouts involving Soto-Karass and Jones, the world’s number one welterweight contender. “Rosado vs. Soto-Karass is a huge fight in Philly,” he commented. “It’s the kind of bout where records don’t matter. It’s all about the fight in the ring and there will be action from the first bell.”
“Our ambition with this series is to make interesting, competitive fights that are relevant to the markets where they take place,” said promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events. “In short, fights that people would pay to see. I think that this card delivers on all of those counts and I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere at the Asylum when the fighters touch gloves.”
Promoted by Main Events, Peltz Productions and Goossen Tutor, the non-televised undercard fights will begin at 7 p.m. The remainder of the card will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets priced at $45 and $65 can be reserved by calling Peltz Boxing, (215) 765-0922.
Pier-Olivier Cote set to make SHOWTIME® return on February 3rd in Quebec.
Montreal, Thursday December 8th 2011 – InterBox is proud to announce that undefeated IBF Intercontinental Light Welterweight champion Pier-Olivier Cote (18-0-0, 12 KO) will put his belt and perfect record on the line against IBF #6 World rated contender Mauricio Herrera (18-1-0, 7 KO’s) on Friday, February 3rd 2012 on the popular SHOWTIME series, ShoBox: The New Generation. This Gala will be promoted by InterBox in association with Top Rank and Thompson Boxing Promotions at the newly renovated Pavillon de la Jeunesse Arena in beautiful Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
The ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will air live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The SHOWTIME televised co-feature bout(s) will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Main Supporting Bout from Pavillon de la Jeunesse Arena will feature undefeated welterweight blue chip prospect Mikael Zewski (12-0-0, 8 KO’s) from Trois Rivieres, Quebec. Zewski is promoted by Top Rank and managed by Cameron Dunkin, both of whom are already studying offers for opponents.
Cote, from Quebec, made quite an impression across the World last November 5th at the Pepsi Colisee in Quebec City where he fought in the main supporting bout on the Lucian Bute vs. Glen Johnson undercard. With SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING cameras rolling, Cote annihilated Jorge Luis Teron (25-3-1, 17 KO) in under 2 rounds, scoring a spectacular knockout in front of 16,000 delirious fans chanting his nickname “Apou, Apou” at the top of their lungs. Teron, a bloody mess, was barely able to get up after the KO. The performance helped Cote earn another opportunity on SHOWTIME, but this time in the Main Event.
“Teron was supposed to be Cote’s big test last November 5th. We chose him to get a better idea of where Cote stands in terms of progression. Let’s just say Cote passed with flying colors” states InterBox President Mr. Jean Bedard. “We were presented with 4 or 5 names from Gordon Hall that met the ShoBox standard and we pretty much picked the first one” continued Jean Bedard. “From what I am told Mauricio Herrera is a very well rounded boxer and will test Cote over the course of the bout. He’s ranked #6 in the World by the IBF so this is another big step up for Cote. We are looking forward to returning to Quebec City, where we are always so warmly received by the City, the people and the fans. We are also excited and proud that Showtime accepted our invitation to follow Apou” concludes Jean Bedard.
Fresh off his November 5th fight, Pier-Olivier Cote is already looking forward to training for the February 3rd fight. “This is fantastic news. I always keep myself in great shape so 8 weeks is a perfect camp. My coaches and I are already studying Herrera. My promoter InterBox wants me to fight more often and SHOWTIME is giving me another great opportunity. What more can an athlete ask for? This is a great early Christmas gift for me. No parties for me until after February 3rd. I will be celebrating the Holidays in the gym. I want to return better and stronger than ever before”.
Cote’s head trainer Francois Duguay is equally excited with the news. “Not only do we get to fight on SHOWTIME again, but this time as the Main Event on ShoBox. It doesn’t get any better than this. I am looking forward to making sure Cote is in tip top shape for February 3rd as Mauricio Herrera is a very dangerous boxer with good speed and above average skill”.
MAURICIO HERRERA:
“I am thrilled to be back in a big fight and as the main event of ShoBox. I had a great 2011 beating tough challengers like Ruslan Provodnikov and Mike Dallas, more importantly I have shown that I can adjust to any style and make it hard for anybody inside the ring. My main goal in this fight against Cote is not only to make it rough, but also make him realize this is a real fight. I am not Jorge Luis Teron (Cote’s last opponent) or Aris Ambriz; I am the fighter that will give him the first loss of his career.”
ALEX CAMPONOVO, Matchmaker/General Manager for Thompson Boxing Promotions:
“This is the right fight for both guys. Cote is a terrific prospect and Herrera has matured and assimilated the role of a seasoned boxer. Their only difference lays in their experience inside the ring and that is where Mauricio has the upper hand. We are thrilled that a national audience and Quebec City will get to see a great match. They won’t be disappointed.”
Premiering on July 21, 2001, the ShoBox series has showcased a staggering number of eventual world champions and world title challengers. Approximately 90 plus fighters who appeared on ShoBox went on to fight for a world title, including Leonard Doroftei (Dorin), an InterBox promoted fighter, who fought in the series debut. Over 40 of them actually won a belt, including Dorin.
InterBox will unveil Zewski’s opponent as well as the undercard participants in the coming weeks. InterBox plans to offer its fans a Pro/Am card, with Amateur fights followed by two off-TV fights and finally, two or three SHOWTIME bouts. Tickets are anticipated to go on sale as of December 19th.
BIG SIX ENTERTAINMENT SET FOR THEIR DEBUT BOXING PROMOTION!
WEST WARWICK, RI – 2004 United States Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada tipped the scales at 245 lbs. for his comeback fight tomorrow night at the West Warwick Civic Center against spoiler Joseph Rabotte, who checked in at 246 lbs.
The Estrada-Rabotte eight round heavyweight fight is the main event of a seven bout card. The event is the first promotion by the newly formed, Rhode Island-based promotional company, Big Six Entertainment.
Estrada, Providence, R.I. brings a professional record of 16-4, 4 KO’s into the bout against Rabotte, Atlanta, Ga., 11-18-1, 3 KO’s.
In the a six round co-feature, comebacking former USBA & NABO middleweight champion Brian Barbosa, 29-6, 21 KO’s, weighed 171 lbs. for his battle with New England Light Heavyweight champion Joe Gardner, 171 lbs., 7-3-1, 1 KO.
Former New England title challenger Keith Kozlin, 175 lbs., 6-2-1, 4 KO’s, looks to get back in the win column against comebacking undefeated prospect Angel Camacho, 173 lbs., 11-0, 4 KO’s.
Hartford, Conn. lightweight prospect Joseph “Chip” Perez, 5-1, 2 KO’s, weighed 133 lbs. while his opponent, from Sarasota, Fl., Adrian Perez, 7-3-1, 1 KO, weighed 133 lbs.
Providence female prospect Kali Reis, 2-1-1, 1 KO, weighed 148 lbs. for her battle against Framingham’s Kate Aversa, 146 lbs., 0-1.
Dustin Reinhold, 4-1, 2 KO’s, weighed 150 ½ lbs. for his fight against undefeated prospect Chris Gilbert, Windsor, Vt., 151 lbs., 2-0, 2 KO’s.
Rounding out the card is a four round junior welterweight battle between two fighters making their professional debuts, Jair Ramos, 141 lbs., Hartford, Conn. and Robert Brando-Hunt, 142 ½ lbs., Hyannis, Mass.
The event is being present by Big Six Entertainment in association with Narragansett Beer. Tickets priced at $25, $35, $45, $55 and $75 are available by calling (401) 241-3490. Tickets will also be available at the door.