(Photo credit: Star Boxing) U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade headlines
Feb. 10 ESPN FNF show vs. Derek Ennis
NABO Junior Middleweight Title Fight at Mohegan Sun
BRONX, NY (January 5, 2012) — Star Boxing will once again showcase one of the most promising boxers in the world, undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, February 10 against rugged Philadelphian Derek “Pooh” Ennis in a 10-round bout for the vacant North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) junior middleweight title, headlining an ESPN Friday Night Fights show at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
“We’re excited to be going back to beautiful Mohegan Sun for another ESPN Friday Night Fights show with Demetrius Andrade, one of the top young boxers in the world, headlining what will be a very entertaining and competitive card,” Star Boxing president Joe DeGuardia said. “This is going to be a breakout year for Demetrius, who will be fighting close to his family, friends and fans in Providence. Ennis is a tough Philadelphia fighter who figures to give Demetrius the toughest test of his young pro career.”
“We love fight night at Mohegan Sun Arena and it’s a perfect fit when there is an exciting card like this one in our building,” added Thomas L. Cantone, Mohegan Sun, Vice President Sports and Entertainment.
One of the most gifted all-around boxers, Andrade (15-0, 10 KOs) has been favorably compared to a younger, heavier Floyd Mayweather, Jr. because of their similar styles, featuring lightning-quick feet and hands, superior defensive acumen and dominant victories. In Demetrius’ five fights that have gone the distance, for example, he has won 30 of 34 rounds on the scorecards.
The 23-year-old Andrade, fighting only a short drive from his Providence home, was a 2007 World amateur champion who will be fighting for the seventh time on ESPN. In his last two fights, the slick southpaw pitched a near shutout in August en route to a 10-round unanimous decision against veteran Grady Brewer, winner of The Contender II television reality series, and stopped former world title challenger Saul Duran after three rounds last September in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Andrade is rapidly climbing the ratings ladder, ranked in the top 15 of all four major governing bodies: No. 9 by the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”), No. 11 by the International Boxing Federation (“IBF”), No. 13 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) and No. 15 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”).
The Cape Verdean descent star-in-the-making faces his stiffest test to date as a professional in Ennis (23-3-1, 13 KOs), a former USBA title-holder who is rated No. 9 by the IBF. Ennis’ most notable wins were by 12-round decisions in 2009 against world title challenger Ermosele Albert (22-3-1) for the vacant USBA belt and a year later versus Gabriel Rosada (14-4) in a USBA title defense.
Andrade is co-promoted by Star Boxing and Banner Promotions.
The winner of the Andrade-Ennis fight will better position himself for a world title shot against WBO titlist Zaurbek Baysangurov (26-1, 20 KOs), of Russia.
Tickets are $75.00, $40.00 and $30.00 (plus $5.00 facility fee for all tickets) and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office, subject to availability, or by calling Star Boxing at 1.718.823.2000 and online via www.StarBoxing.com.
The Feb. 10 co-feature and undercard bouts will soon be announced.
For more information go online to www.starboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com.
Brook’s opponent vows to crash Kell’s Sheffield party
Rival plans to down Kell at March 17 Steel City showdown
Kell Brook’s opponent for their huge Sheffield showdown on March 17 has warned Brook that he is coming to spoil the party.
Brook is riding the crest of a wave after extending his winning record to 26-0 with a fifth round stoppage win over Luis Galarza on his American debut on December 17 in Atlantic City.
The 26 year-old headlines the biggest show of his career to date on March 17 live on Sky Sports at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, but his opponent – who will be unveiled at a press conference at the venue tomorrow (January 11) – has warned Brook that he is travelling to the Steel City confident of victory.
“It’s a massive fight. Kell has been getting a lot of exposure from Sky and a lot of boxing experts rate him highly,” said the mystery man. “He is a big hit in Sheffield but going and fighting someone on away turf doesn’t bother me, I feel very confident that I can travel to Sheffield and beat him on his home patch.
“This is a massive night and a massive fight but it’s nothing new to me. I’ve boxed class opposition in big arenas all over the world so experience will play a part in this fight. Fighting Kell in Sheffield isn’t something that’s going to keep me awake at night, in fact, I’m just full of energy and excitement at the thought of that first bell on March 17.”
Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn is delighted to be bringing such a massive occasion to Sheffield and is urging fans to snap up the hottest ticket in town when they go on sale at 2pm on Wednesday.
“This fight has taken it’s time to arrive but I couldn’t be happier that we have finally got it on,” said Hearn. “When I first sat down with Kell, I told him that I saw him headlining a sell-out night at the Motorpoint Sheffield Arena and now we’re here. This is just the start of what we want to do in 2012 and we’re going to get Sheffield jumping on March 17.
“The phones have been going crazy with people asking for ticket details – the information will be released tomorrow when the press conference begins and ticket sales will commence at 2pm.”
World Series of Boxing PPV (Beijing)
Integrated Sports Media, the pound-for-pound king of sports distribution in North America, will broadcast a World Series of Boxing (“WSB”) event Friday night, February 3 between the host team, talent rich Mexico City Guerreros, and the dangerous Beijing Dragons in what most likely will be sneak peek at possible 2012 Olympic Match-ups.
Mexico City vs. Beijing will being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 10:00 PM/ET – 7:00 PM/PT on satellite pay-per-view via DirecTV, DISH Network, iN DEMAND and Avail-TVN, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. It will also be available via on-line PPV on Ustream.tv.
Outstanding boxers being featured on the Feb. 3 two pay-per-view special include: Mexico City – 2011 Mexican National Olympiad gold medalist Elias Emigdio (bantamweight), 2011 Mexican National champions (heavyweight) Horacheta Matinez, (middleweight) Juan Antonio Mercado and (bantamweight) Almeda Lopez, 2010 European middleweight champion Mladen Manev (Bulgaria), 2007 Asian Youth Championships gold medalist Hurshid Tojibaev (Uzebekistan) and Croatian National light heavyweight champion Bojan Miskovic; Beijing – 2011 WSB World lightweight champion Zhimin Wang, 2008 CISM World Championships gold medalist Sardor Abdullaev (Uzebekistan heavyweight), 2011 China National Boxing Classic winner Tian Huang (heavyweight.
Integrated Sports Media will also broadcast the Feb. 17 PPV event between host Mexico City and Baku.
For more information about the World Series of Boxing PPV events go to www.integratedsportsnet.com. Follow Integrated Sports Media on Twitter @IntegratedPPV.
Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr. and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA, as well as For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.