New York, New York, (January 13, 2012) Middleweight contender and New York City native Giovanni “EL Chico Malo” Lorenzo has heard the rumors about a proposed Andy Lee/Peter Quillin bout for St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The proposed bout would take place on the HBO televised undercard of the Middleweight World Championship bout between Sergio Martinez and Matthew Macklin.
“It’s quite a shock to hear that HBO would prefer Peter Quillin over me,” said Lorenzo. “Our resumes don’t even compare. I’ve fought three fights in Europe, challenging true champions such as Felix Sturm and Sebastian Sylvester in very close bouts. For the last six years I’ve fought the best competition, while Quillin has AVOIDED the best competition,” said Lorenzo, who sports a record of 31-4-0 with 23 knockouts.
“In the last eighteen months, I’ve fought Felix Sturm and Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, each in literally their own backyards. The WBA judge and a hometown photographer had to help N’Dam N’Jikam back into the ring after I blasted him through the ropes in order to keep him from losing,” said the heavy-handed Dominican.
Continued Lorenzo, “Quillin just beat Craig McEwan, who was knocked out by Andy Lee in his previous fight. Other than that, there are no quality wins on his record over more than six years, or any fights against any contenders, let alone titleholders. To say he hasn’t earned a shot against Andy Lee would be a gross understatement. “
“We have two common opponents. The first one, Dionisio Miranda, I starched in the second round. Quillin was life and death with him over ten rounds. Quillin was almost knocked out in the seventh.”
“We also both fought Dennis Sharpe who I stopped in the first round when he was an undefeated prospect. Meanwhile, Quillin fights Sharpe during a five bout losing streak and it still took him four rounds to get Sharpe out.”
At a New York City press conference on Wednesday, promoter Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment, was prepared to announce Lorenzo as the opponent for Lee, with full knowledge of the action packed fight he would have for his sold-out event on St. Patrick’s Day. Lee also was adamant that he wanted to face Lorenzo for a much more fan-friendly fight than a challenge from Quillin would be.
“It comes down to HBO and what they want for their subscribers. A real fight between two battle-tested contenders like Lee and myself or allow an undeserving Quillin the opportunity to hit the canvas early at the hands of Lee,” stated Lorenzo.
About fighting in New York City, Lorenzo said, “I live in the Bronx, my promoter Lou DiBella lives here too, as does most of my team. Quillin lived here for a short time than moved to Los Angeles where he trains. Good for him, when there’s a big show at The Staples Center, he should be on it. But at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, the fans want to see a true local contender in the ring, not a pretender from Hollywood.”
Dennis Ennis says he will beat Demetrius Andrade
Derek Ennis says using 2008 U.S. Olympian
Demetrius Andrade as springboard
NABO Junior Middleweight Title Fight Feb. 10 on ESPN FNF live from Mohegan Sun
BRONX, NY (January 17, 2012) – Philadelphia junior middleweight Derek “Pooh” Ennis plans to use unbeaten 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade as a springboard February 10 in their main event fight for the vacant North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) title.
Andrade-Ennis headlines the Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing show on ESPN Friday Night Fights show at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The 10-round bout has future world title belt implications for the winner.
Andrade (15-0, 10 KOs), fighting out of nearby Providence, in addition to being an Olympians also was the 2007 World Amateur Championships gold-medal winner, the first American to do so since 1999. Fighting Feb. 10 on ESPN for the ninth time in his three-year professional career, the 23-year-old Andrade has been so dominating he has won 55 of 59 rounds on the judges’ scorecards
Andrade is rapidly climbing the ratings ladder, currently ranked in the top 15 of all four major governing bodies: No. 9 by the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”), No. 13 by the International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) and World Boxing Council (“WBC”) and No. 15 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”). He is co-promoted by Star Boxing and Banner Promotions.
The confident 5′ 8″ Ennis (23-3-1, 13 KOs), a former USBA title-holder who is rated No. 9 by the IBF, believes a victory against Andrade will put him right back into the junior middleweight picture. “I’m just looking at this as another fight,” Ennis said. “But, as soon as I beat him, I’m right back on top. I really don’t know too much about him other than he’s tall (6′ 1”) and a southpaw.
“Coming from Philly, I have a good name or persona, so everybody knows I’m coming to fight. People are going to see a lot of speed and pressure put on by me in a world-class fight.”
Ennis’ most significant victory to date was against another relatively tall Olympian, 6′ 1″ world title challenger Ermosele Albert (22-3-1), of Nigeria, by way of a12-round decisions in 2009 for the vacant USBA championship.
“This fight is a great opportunity for us,” Ennis’ co-manager Moe Gonzalez (E & M Management) noted. “We know he’s in tough against this kid, but Derek is tough, too. They better not think they have a cakewalk, Derek is coming to fight. He doesn’t have problems with southpaws or taller guys. Derek really gets up for fights like this and he’ll be ready.”
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 are being finalized and will soon be announced.
‘Superman’ Returns Stevenson vs. Gonzales
VOLUNTARY IBF ELIMINATOR FOR POSITION # 2
MONTREAL (January 17, 2012) – Many of Canada’s best boxers will be in action February 18, highlighted by the return of world super middleweight contender Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, on the stacked “Fast & Furious Boxing Series” event, presented by Mise-O-Jeux and Videotron, at Bell Centre in Montreal.
The power puncher Stevenson (16-1, 13 KOs), fighting out of Longueuil, Quebec, is more powerful than a locomotive. He is coming off of a sensational ninth-round technical knockout victory over Aaron Pryor Jr. last month for the North American Boxing Association (“NABA”), North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) and International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) Inter-Continental super middleweight titles.
A great puncher and entertaining fighter, Stevenson is rated No. 8 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”), as well as No. 15 by the World Boxing Council “WBC”) and IBF. Adonis will defend his IBF Inter-Continental belt against former NABF champion Jesus “El Martillo” Gonzales (27-1, 14 KOs) in the 12-round main event.
More important, Stevenson-Gonzales will also be an IBF super middleweight voluntary eliminator fight for the No. 2 rating. The victor of this fight will be very close of a world title opportunity by earning the # 2 position in the IBF world ranking of the division ruled by Lucian Bute.
A slick southpaw out of Phoenix (AZ), Gonzales was a great amateur boxer. His style has been compared to the legendary Marvelous Marvin Hagler. He is rated No. 12 by the IBF and No. 14 by the WBC. He is riding a 10-fight win streak into the Feb. 18th fight that clearly has future world title fight implications and at 27 years old, he is at the top of his game!
“The winner of the Stevenson-Gonzalez voluntary eliminator fight will better position himself for a world title fight in 2012,” promoter Yvon Michel said. “Stevenson is targeting the IBF belt. To succeed he has no intention of hoping for a favor, he will do it the old fashion way, he will earn it! This is the reason why a win against Gonzales is a must at this point of his career.”
This highly-competitive card is absolutely loaded from top to bottom with champions, contenders and some of Canada’s best boxing prospects in action.
One prospect on the fast track in the light heavyweight division is unbeaten Montreal favorite Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (7-0, 5 KOs), the reigning NABO title-holder from Colombia and 2008 Olympian. Alvarez faces former USBA champion Otis “Triple OG” Griffin (23-9-2, 9 KOs), winner of Oscar de la Hoya’s The Next Great Champ television reality show, in the eight-round co-feature.
Another undefeated Montreal fighter is light welterweight Dierry “Douggy” Jean (20-0, 13 KOs), a red-hot prospect who is matched against former English champion, southpaw Ryan Barrett (25-9-3, 5 KOs), in an eight-round bout.
Former NABA super featherweight titlist Arash Usmanee (16-0, 8 KOs), also fighting out of Montreal, by way of Afghanistan, squares-off against inappropriately named Danish invader Innocent Anyanwu (21-3-2, 12 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
In another intriguing eight-round match, unbeaten 2008 Colombian Olympian Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (8-0, 5 KOs) takes on former Croatian kick-boxer Ivica Perkovic (15-12, 11 KOs).
Popular featherweight Tyler Asselstine (8-0, 5 KOs), a decorated amateur boxer who was a member of the 2009 Canadian National Team, has been billed by some as a younger, smaller version of fellow southpaw, Lucian Bute, or “Bute-light.” From Ontario but a fixture fighting in Montreal, where six of his pro fights have been held, the 25-year-old battles Andras Varga (5-1-2, 0 KOs) in an eight round bout.
Also scheduled to fight on the undercard is Quebec heavyweight Didier Bence (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. Stephane “Brutus” Tessier and light welterweight Ghislain Maduma (5-0, 2 KOs) vs. Jeremy Abbott (3-2, 2 KOs) in a pair of six-round bouts; as well as super featherweight Baha Laham (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Csaba “Little Tyson” Toth in a four-round match. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, starting at $60.00, are available to purchase at the Bell Center, at www.evenko.ca, or GYM’s office (514-383-0666). Go on line www.groupeyvonmichel.ca for more information about the Feb. 18 show.