On February 4th, BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546), the UK’s only dedicated boxing channel, continues its commitment to bring subscribers the very best in Championship boxing from all around the world, by showcasing Yoan Pablo Hernandez’s first defence of his newly won International Boxing Federation (IBF) Cruiserweight championship against Steve Cunningham, live and exclusive from the Fraport Arena in Germany.
Former Cuban amateur star Hernandez (25-1) captured his title by defeating former champion Cunningham (24-3) back in September with a 6th round technical decision. The decision came in controversial fashion, with Hernandez being given the nod after he could not continue because of a cut he received from a Cunningham head-butt. Many observers felt that the cut was not serious enough to warrant a stoppage, and that it came just as the American was begging to gain the ascendancy after suffering a first round knockdown.
Needless to say the controversial nature of the result has left a huge amount of unfinished business that needs to be resolved when the two meet again on February 4th.
BoxNation will also be showing the action packed undercard live from the Fraport Arena. Chief support sees Sebian, Enad Licina (21-3) meet Russian Alexander Alexeev (22-2) for the vacant European Cruiserweight Title, whilst up and coming German Light Heavyweight, Eduard Gutnecht (22-1) defends his European Title against Vyacheslav Uzelkov (25-1).
The action just keeps coming on BoxNation in 2012. This will be the SIXTH world title fight added to in the first quarter schedule for the UK’s new home of televised boxing. The 2012 world championship action begins this Saturday, 14th January, when Russian born German, Robert Stieglitz defends his WBO World Super-Middleweight title against unbeaten German Henry Weber in Germany. Then on the 20th January, Derry Mathews takes on Emiliano Marsili for the vacant IBO Lightweight Championship live from Liverpool. Then on the 18th February, it’s the big one, as heavyweight king, Vitali Klitchsko takes on Londoner Dereck Chisora for the World Boxing Council (WBC) World Heavyweight Title live from Munich.
The following weekend BoxNation goes live from Cardiff for the homecoming of their WBO World Light Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly, who takes on American Tommy Karpency. Then for 10th March BoxNation is up to Glasgow, as Ricky Burns defends his Interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Lightweight title.
With more action to be added, it’s sure to be a huge couple of months for the UK’s only dedicated boxing channel.
For just £10 per month BoxNation offers unbeatable value for money for all fight fans. To subscribe to BoxNation simply go to www.boxnation.tv and hit the “Subscribe Now” button and choose your subscription package. Simple!
NBC SPORTS NETWORK ANNOUNCES BROADCAST TALENT FOR INAUGURAL “FIGHT NIGHT” SHOW ON JANUARY 21
New York – January 12, 2012 – The NBC Sports Network today announced that Hall-of-Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach and cruiserweight contender B.J. Flores team up with NBC’s veteran broadcaster Kenny Rice to provide commentary for the network’s new NBC Sports Network Fight Night Series.
The first Fight Night broadcast will be on the new NBC Sports Network on Saturday, January 21st beginning at 9 p.m. ET when heavyweight contenders Eddie Chambers and Sergei Liakhovich face off live from Philadelphia’s historic Asylum Arena.
Roach, the five time BWAA Trainer-of-the-Year, currently trains eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, among many others, at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. A protégé of the late, great Eddie Futch, Roach is regarded as one of professional boxing’s best and most popular trainer. In addition to his work as a trainer, Roach owns the Wild Card Club/Gym in Los Angeles where, alongside his brother Pepper, he fosters the development of young boxers. On January 20, HBO will premiere a six-episode series on Roach that takes an intensely personal look at the world-famous boxing trainer. The series chronicles his life and career against the backdrop of his daily battle with Parkinson’s disease.
A former U.S. amateur heavyweight champion, the articulate Flores will interrupt his own boxing training – he is headlining an event on January 28th, in Springfield, Missouri – to make his NBC announcing debut. Flores has carved out an alternate career in broadcasting, while continuing to pursue his dream of adding a professional world title to his many accomplishments. A frequent guest analyst on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, Flores fought his first two professional fights on NBC Sports broadcasts in May of 2003. His professional record stands at 24 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw.
Rice, who has served as NBC’s Olympic boxing reporter, has called boxing matches on HD Net since 2005 and has hosted a weekly Inside MMA series on HD Net since 2007. Rice has covered horse racing for NBC since 1999, reporting on the network’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup, and, in 2008, he hosted NBC’s Olympic equestrian competition. In addition, Rice covered the U.S. Olympic Trials in both triathlon and equestrian and has reported on the NFL for NBC’s Football Night in America. Rice has also done play-by-play for track and field, rugby, and basketball, as well as the Pro Bull Riders World Finals.
Additionally, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated will serve as reporter and researcher for the NBC Sports Network Fight Night Series.
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–
To find NBC Sports Network on your TV, visit http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/ and use the NBC Sports Network Channel Finder on the right-hand side of the webpage.
Promoted by Main Events, Peltz Boxing Promotions and Goossen Tutor, the non-televised undercard fights will begin at 7 p.m. on January 21st. Tickets are priced at $45 and $65 can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing, (215) 765-0922, or online at www.peltzboxing.com
Clash of styles a learning experience for Dyah Davis
BOCA RATON, Florida (January 12, 2012) – A clash of styles, resulting in a nationally televised win albeit in non-entertaining fashion, was another learning experience for world-rated super middleweight contender “Dangerous” Dyah Ali Davis (21-2-1, 9 KOs) last week against Alfonso “The Tiger” Lopez (22-2, 17 KOs) in their 2012 season-opening ESPN Friday Night Fights show in Key West, Florida.
Davis, rated No. 9 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) and No. 10 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”), won a lackluster fight by unanimous 10-round decision (100-90, 100-90, 99-91) in a near shutout performance.
“I’m happy I won the fight but not with my performance,” Davis said. “I was most definitely frustrated. I came to fight. He did a lot of holding and running. I didn’t want to rush in recklessly to force the action and get caught by a shot. It is what it is. I tried to be aggressive and, most importantly I got a victory.
“I think it was a style clash between fighters with some similarities – two counter-punchers, although he never really tried to counter. I watched old tapes of him again and I don’t know what caused him to fight like that. It certainly wasn’t the same case when he (LSDEC10) fought Kelly Pavlik.”
The son of 1976 Olympic gold medalist and Most Outstanding Boxer, Howard Davis, Jr., 30-year-old Dyah never had a single amateur bout.
“He never saw that style before,” Davis’ advisor Elvis Crespo (EDB Sports) noted. “Dyah likes fighting opponents that come toward him so he can counter. Styles make fights, but these two boxers were almost the same, which caused an ugly fight. Dyah didn’t back off but he needed to let his hands go more. When he did, his opponent felt it. Dyah got frustrated. It ended up an easy fight for him because he didn’t get hit. We’re speaking with his promoter, Lou DiBella, about what’s next.”
Davis’ head trainer, two-time world champion John David Jackson, made the point that a win’s a win. “He got a good win, maybe not the kind we wanted, hoping for a knockout,” Jackson remarked. “His opponent wasn’t cooperative. By nature, Dyah’s not aggressive, and we worked on him being more aggressive for this fight. He’s much better off with his opponent coming forward so he can counter. It takes two to tango; Dyah tried to fight but his opponent didn’t. He won going away; I had him winning, 9-1. It just didn’t make for a good TV fight
“Dyah hit Lopez early with a good shot and the kid didn’t want any part of it after that. The kid started retreating. Sometimes you have a game plan but during the fight, after getting hit by a good shot or two, the game plan goes out the window. Anytime he got hit with a good left hook, he went back into his shell, making it difficult for Dyah to do what he wanted.”
(Fans can follow Dyah on Twitter @dyahalidavis)