Hobart, Tasmania – Australia (January 23, 2012) – Grange Global Promotions in conjunction with Main Event Television and Gary Shaw Productions present a night of world class boxing Wednesday, March 7th 2012 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart, Tasmania.
This will be last bout on home soil before heading abroad, International Boxing Federation world Middleweight champion Daniel “The Real Deal” Geale faces his toughest test to date when he defends his crown against the number one contender Osumanu Adama of the United States.
The champion wants another taste of hometown support after the roaring atmosphere generated by the D.E.C.s capacity crowd during his 1st defense was compared by legendary U.S. promoter, Gary Shaw, to that of a Las Vegas super fight.
This is Daniel’s mandatory defense of the much coveted IBF 160lb title captured in Germany last May, Geale’s record currently stands at 26-1 (15 KO) and victory imperative in order to set up a unification bout abroad in the middle of the year. Whilst his team negotiates with Sergio Martinez, Dmitry Pirog and Felix Sturm, Daniel never looks past the fight ahead and remains totally focused on his next challenger.
Number one contender for the Middleweight crown and the man looking to derail “The Real Deal’s” plan is Osumanu Adama. The former Ghanaian Middleweight champion now lives and fights out of Joliet, Illinois and boasts a record of 20-2 (15 KO). His path to a shot at the title has seen him in his last 3 outings defeat tough Mexican, Angel Hernandez for the vacant I.B.O. world title in a shutout, defend successfully against Marcus Upshaw with a devastating 4th round knockout, followed by the systematic dismantling of Roman Karmazin over 9 rounds.
In typical African fashion, Adama is fit, confident and an aggressive come forward fighter guaranteed to apply extreme pressure from the opening bell, the big question is “does he have what it takes” to step up in class and on to the world stage, to face the champion Daniel Geale.
In the main support, Sydney’s Billy “The Kid” Dib in mandatory defense of his 126lb IBF Featherweight world title will face the rugged and well schooled Mexican Eduardo “Canilla” Escobedo, in a fight that promises fireworks. Dib will look to continue on with his impressive form, after his last outing on November19th 2011 saw him stop the previously undefeated Italian challenger Alberto Servidei, in just 2 minutes and 38 seconds of the opening stanza.
Both fighters have the potential to render the judges unnecessary in this bout with Dib possessing a 33-1 (20 KO) record, Escobedo 32-3 (23 KO) and coming off a second round demolition of Joksan Hernandez for the IBF Latino regional title after visiting the canvas 5 times in 6 minutes, courtesy of the heavy handed native of Mexico City. A convincing win by “The Kid” at this level will firm his aspirations and desire to headline events in the U.S. of A.
Leading in to the main support bout, Australia’s primo heavyweight Kali “Mean Hands” Meehan defends his IBF Pan-Pacific Heavyweight title over 12 rounds against a much improved Travis Walker of the U.S.A. Fox sports fans will remember Walker troubling Samoan/Australian big banger Alex Leapai back in 2010. Since taking the Leapai fight on short notice, Walker is 4 wins from 6 outings, winning the NABA USA Heavyweight title along the way with his 2 defeats being point’s decision losses to former WBA World champion, Ruslan Chagaev and undefeated prospect Kubrat Pulaev in an I.B.F. International title bout.
Kali Meehan will look to solidify his IBF #8 and WBA #11 world ranking when he meets Walker on this occasion, with a combined force of 500lb, 350 rounds professional experience and knockout records of near 70% the only advice promoters can give is “Hang on to your seats and don’t blink”.
A quality undercard featuring Steve Lovett, Steve Heremaia, Aaron Lai and Corey McConnell commences at 6.00pm, get in early for your tickets to this must-see world title showdown, on sale as of 9.00 am Monday 23st January 2012 starting at $45 through Ticketmaster.com, by calling 136 100 or attending the D.E.C. in person. MAIN EVENT will also broadcast every minute of the entire card live and exclusive to FOXTEL, Austar and Optus terrestrial subscribers as well as to selected FOX SPORTS pubs and clubs.
Make sure you are ringside for one of the most Dynamic cards in Australian history.
Hearn: D-Day looms for Barker’s next move
Middleweight weighing up options for next fight
‘Dazzling’ Darren Barker has plenty of exciting options in front of him for his next fight but his promoter Eddie Hearn says they are ready to strike this week.
Barker announced himself on the World stage with a gutsy challenge against pound-for-pound star Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City in October, and his performance should lead to a second World title shot this year.
Hearn had earmarked the 29 year-old for the chief support slot when Kell Brook faces Matthew Hatton in Sheffield on March 17, but news of that clash prompted talks of World title challenges against Russian Word Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Dmitry Pirog, Mexican WBC king Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Australian IBF belt holder Daniel Geale. Hearn also revealed he could set up another mouth-watering Brit clash with Barker tackling Martin Murray.
“I have had positive talks with Pirog and Geale’s promoters and I am in constant communication with Top Rank over a Chavez fight in May,” said Hearn. “We have also made an offer to Martin Murray and are waiting to hear back from his team.
“It’s a very exciting time for Darren and he needs to have a date in his head to focus on now that he is back in the gym, so a decision will be made soon.”
Super Middleweight Prospect Added to Already Stacked Texas Station ‘Superbrawls’!
Future super middleweight world champion Roberto Jose Acevedo has been added to the undercard of the already stacked “Superbrawls” boxing event on Friday, February 3, at the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas and televised live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Acevedo (2-0, 1 KO) will appear on the undercard in support of the 10-round light heavyweight main event between Colombian powerhouse Edison “Pantera” Miranda and South Africa’s WBC #6, WBA #13, and WBO #14-rated Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba.
Tickets for “Super Brawls” are priced at $25 and $50 and are available at Ticketmaster, any Texas Station rewards center or at Stationcasinos.com/concerts. A few VIP seats are available at a price of $100. Please call (954) 985-1155.
Also slated for that night is a rare battle of up-and-coming undefeated prospects between Hylon Williams Jr. (15-0, 3 KOs) of Las Vegas and Cuban power-punching sensation Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (14-0, 11 KOs) in the eight-round lightweight co-main event, and a heavyweight showdown between 2005 and 2006 Russian super heavyweight amateur champion Magomed Abdusalamov (12-0, 12 KOs) and Cuba’s Pedro Rodriguez (8-0, 6 KOs).
Before getting off to his undefeated start as a professional, Acevedo was a superb amateur boxer, who went 50-1, 20 KOs in the unpaid ranks and was a three-time Puerto Rican Regional and two-time Puerto Rican National champion. In addition to his impressive power and wealth of technical skill, 24-year-old Acevedo also stands an impressive 6′ 2″ and has an almost 80-inch reach.
“Roberto is extremely crowd-pleasing and talented, so the more chance people have to see him, the more fans he will collect,” said event promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing. “He may not make the televised portion of the show that night, but the fans in attendance at the Texas Station are in for a treat. Someday they’ll be able to say they saw him in action before he won the title.”
Acevedo’s is scheduled to face Las Vegas resident Velvet Malone over four rounds.
Tickets for “Super Brawls” are priced at $25 and $50 and are available at Ticketmaster, any Texas Station rewards center or at Stationcasinos.com/concerts. A few VIP seats are available at a price of $100. Please call (954) 985-1155.
On fight night, doors open at 5:30 and the action starts at 6:00 pm.
Station Bucks may be used to purchase tickets. All ages welcome. Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or over. Show subject to change without notice. Management reserves all rights. Digital Photography and video prohibited. Tickets can be purchased at any Station Casinos Boarding Pass Rewards Center, The Fiesta’s, by logging onto stationcasinos.com/concerts or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel is located at 2101 Texas Star Ln in North Las Vegas. Telephone: (702) 631-1000 or (800)654-8888.