MONTREAL (February 16, 2012) – Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward predicts a world title for his newest Kronk Gym-boxer, super middleweight sensation Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, who defends his International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) Inter-Continental belt Saturday night in Montreal, in the 12-round main event that is also an IBF voluntary eliminator for the No. 2 position, against former NABF champion Jesus “El Martillo” Gonzales (27-1, 14 KOs).
Rated in the top 15 of the four major governing bodies, as high as No. 7 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”), the dangerous Stevenson (16-1, 13 KOs) is also the reigning North American Boxing Association (“NABA”) and North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) and International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) Inter-Continental super middleweight champion. After this week’s action, “Superman” will quickly switch his sights to become the No. 1 rated and mandatory challenger to IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute.
Stevenson vs. Gonzalez headlines a Quebec star-studded “Fast & Furious Boxing Series” event, presented by Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron, at the famed Bell Centre.
Steward is in Austria training WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko for his March 3 title defense against Jean Marc Mormeck in Germany. However, Emanuel will be working Stevenson’s corner this Saturday evening, passing up an opportunity to watch WBC heavyweight titlist Vitali Klitschko fight Dereck Chisora, also in Germany, on the same night.
“Adonis’ training camp (in Detroit) has been phenomenal,” reported Steward, who trained Stevenson at the Kronk Gym until recently leaving for Austria. “Of all the great world champions who’ve trained over the years at Kronk, including Sugar Ray Leonard before and after the 1976 Olympics, Adonis has created the most excitement. Chad Dawson trained there for one fight and he had some tough workouts with (world middleweight contender) Andy Lee. Adonis and Andy have had electric workouts, like Ali-Frazier fights.
“Adonis Stevenson has unbelievable punching power, focus and intensity. His intensity is the same in the first and last round, which is unusual, and he runs every morning and evening. One night I looked out my window and saw somebody running in a blizzard. It was Adonis. He lived 2-3 miles away and it was a Sunday. He said he was bored and came over to watch boxing tapes. I’ve had many world champions but his punching power and intensity is not normal. I’m very excited about Adonis and I can’t see any 168-pounder not having a very tough time against him. He will definitely be world champion the first opportunity he gets.
“I also believe he has one of the best boxing promoters in the world. I know how Yvon Michel moves his fighters and how well he treats them.”
Saturday night’s exciting eight-round co-feature will showcase undefeated North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) light heavyweight title-holder, Colombian native and Montreal favorite Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (7-0, 5 KOs), defending his belt against 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.
The undercard is stacked from top to bottom, featuring four entertaining eight-round bouts: Montreal light welterweight Dierry “Douggy” Jean (20-0, 13 KOs) vs. former English champion Ryan Barrett (25-9-3, 5 KOs), former NABA super featherweight titlist Arash Usmanee (16-0, 8 KOs) vs. Danish invader Innocent Anyanwu (21-3-2, 12 KOs), unbeaten 2008 Colombian Olympian Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (8-0, 5 KOs) vs. Croatian kick-boxer Ivica Perkovic (15-12, 11 KOs), and 2009 Canadian National Team member, popular featherweight Tyler Asseltine (8-0, 5 KOs), vs. undefeated Italian boxer Nicola Cipolletta (8-0, 2 KOs).
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 KPs) 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.
The Officials for the Stevenson/Gonzales IBF title eliminator are:
Supervisor: Vaughan LaPrade, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Referee: Marlon Wright, Saint Laurent, Quebec, Canada
Judges: Herb Santos, Reno, Nevada, USA
Sylvan LeBlanc, Blainville, Quebec, Canada
John Parish, Oak Par, Michigan, USA
Tickets, starting at $60.00, are available to purchase at the Bell Center, at www.evenko.ca, or GYM’s office (514-383-0666).
The entire card will air live in Canada on CANAL INDIGO, BELL TV and SHAW TV. In the United States it will be on FIGHT NOW TV – America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel.
Go on line www.groupeyvonmichel.ca for more information about the Feb. 18 show.
DONOVAN “DA BOMB” GEORGE VISITS NEW YORK TO PROMOTE UPCOMING BOUT AGAINST EDWIN “LA BOMBA” RODRIGUEZ LIVE ON HBO
AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN MARCH 17 – ST. PATRICK’S DAY
New York, NY (2/16/12) – On Wednesday, February 15, Donovan “Da Bomb” George (22-1-1, 19KO’s) took a break from training camp and visited New York to promote his upcoming 10-round super middleweight showdown against fellow top-rated contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (20-0, 14KO’s). Rodriguez-George, being billed as “Bombs Away”, will be shown live on HBO on the upcoming March 17, St. Patrick’s Day card taking place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden featuring Middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez defending his crown against Ireland’s top-rated contender Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin live on HBO. The card entitled, “THE REAL Middleweight Championship – Get Your Irish Up”, ispromoted by DiBella Entertainment, and will be aired live on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” beginning at 10PM ET/7PM PT.
George’s first stop was a press conference hosted by Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment, at the popular Irish pub Jack Demsey’s in midtown Manhattan. In addition to George, Irish-American undercard fighters such as Seanie Monaghan (12-0, 8KO’s), Thomas Hardwick (4-0, 2KO’s), Kevin Rooney Jr. (3-1, 1KO) and Danny McDermott (9-3-2, 4KO’s) were also in attendance.
After the initial presser, the Chicago-native George, who is half Greek and half Irish, headed to the heavily Greek-populated area of Astoria, Queens, where he participated in another press conference/meet-and-greet at the Grand Café where a large number of Greek media outlets and high profile politicians, including the Republic of Cyprus Consulate General Koula Sophianou, were in attendance encouraging the Greek community to come out and support George on March17.
Below are quotes and photos from the presser.
LOU DIBELLA (DiBella Entertainment)
I want to thank everyone for coming out and for everyone who is involved in what is going to be a terrific event from top to bottom on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day at Madison Square Garden. This is going to be a tremendous undercard highlighted by the co-feature bout of the evening, televised live on HBO, matching two very exciting super middleweight contenders Edwin Rodriguez and Donovan George.
As a promoter, my main objective is to avoid “stinkability” match-ups and put on exciting and compelling fights for the fans and that is exactly what you have in both the co-feature and main event on March 17. You have never seen Sergio Martinez, Matthew Macklin, Edwin Rodriguez or Donovan George in a bad fight, and as a true boxing fan, these are the types of cards you want to see. The atmosphere at the Garden, on St. Patrick’s Day, is going to be electric, and we are just very excited to be able to bring this great event here to New York City.
Some fighters’ styles just mesh, and that is exactly what you have with Edwin vs. Donovan. Knowing both of these guys, I am predicting that someone is going to get knocked out in this fight. I am expecting these guys to walk across the ring and start throwing bombs from the opening bell. This is going to be a good old-fashioned barnburner.
There is a lot of talent and lot of good fights to be made right now at 168. The winner of this fight moves right into the mix and is legitimate challenger for any of the world champions out there right now.
In addition to the great co-feature and main event on HBO, the untelevised undercard is featuring a number of exciting fighters including Seanie Monaghan, Tommy Hardwick, the “O’ Danny Boy” match-up with Danny O’Connor taking on Danny McDermott and, of course, my assistant Kevin Rooney Jr., who will have his famous father Kevin Sr. working his corner.
Seanie is one of the most exciting fighters to watch in New York right now. He has an army of fans that keeps growing, and while he might not ever pop up on anyone’s pound-for-pound list, neither did the late great Arturo Gatti. Seanie and all of these guys give it their all each time out, and we couldn’t be happier to have them on this card.
DONOVAN GEORGE
I’m happy to be here in New York. I hear that the fight fans here are awesome so I am really looking forward to the fight. I was supposed to fight here three years ago but, unfortunately, it fell through. I am so excited, this is a huge opportunity. Blood and guts, I am going to lay it all on the line. I am here to fight. People are saying that I am a long shot in this fight and that I am not as polished. I am not going to be disrespectful or talk negatively about Edwin since he is not here. He is a great fighter, I am going to come in tiptop shape for this fight. This is my opportunity, this is my shot I have been waiting for. I am either going to come out victorious or you are going to have to carry me out on my shield. I am fighting for a reason, I have a lot to prove. I am going to be a machine on March 17 and put on a great show for everyone.
LEON MARGULES (Warriors Boxing – George’s Promoter)
I have been working with Don for almost three years now, and he has been so much fun to work with. He is a hellacious puncher who gets better every fight. He is still young and coming into his own and we expect a great performance out of him on March 17.
Edwin and Don will fight anyone, they are fighters. They know each other, they respect and like each other, but neither guy likes to go to the scorecard so we are expecting a great fight. It is great to be here in New York working with Lou and great to be back on HBO.
MIKE MICHAEL (Cestus Management – George’s Manager)
Donovan is a great fighter and also a great guy. I fell in love with him the first day I saw him. It has been a long road, but we have finally got to the point where we are going to do what we are supposed to do. We are going to win this fight and move on with our career. It is a dream come true for us to have this fight and join the long list of great fighters who have fought at the Garden.
For those who consider Donovan an underdog, I am telling you that he is live, he is real, and on March 17, there will only be one bomb left standing and that is Don “Da Bomb” George.
The card entitled, “THE REAL Middleweight Championship – Get Your Irish Up”, ispromoted by DiBella Entertainment, and will be aired live on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing beginning at 10PM ET/7PM PT.
Tickets are priced at $505, $355, $205, $125 and $65, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office or through Ticketmaster, at Ticketmaster.com, or by calling (866) 858-0008. Call DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577, or visit www.dbe1.com and @loudibella on Twitter for more information.
Mantequilla Gonzalez Looks to Make Statement Against Lyell
Junior middleweight knockout artist Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (14-0, 13 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be looking to make a statement to the boxing world when he appears live on ShoBox: The New Generation (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) against former world title challenger Billy Lyell (24-10-2, 5 KOs) of Warren, Ohio, in the 10-round televised co-feature from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, this Friday, February 17.
Gonzalez vs. Lyell will serve as the chief supporting bout to the night’s main event, featuring fellow Puerto Rican Thomas Dulorme (13-0, 10 KOs) taking on Aris Ambriz (16-2-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) welterweight title.
“I am no longer a prospect,” maintains the 22-year old Gonzalez, “I am a contender for a world title and I will prove it with my performance.”
Despite being rated WBC and WBO #7 in the world and #12 WBA, Gonzalez was recently named to ESPN Columnist Dan Rafael’s Super 25 list of the best prospects of 2011.
“Although I was very happy to be considered one of the best young fighters of last year, it will be with this knockout of a tough opponent, who has done well against many world-class fighters, that I will step out of that role and into being considered a legitimate threat to beat any 154-lb champion.”
27-year-old Lyell is not only the first fighter to beat once-promising “Irish” John Duddy, but also gave a very strong performance against current world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
This will be Gonzalez’ second consecutive appearance on ShoBox. In his last fight in June, he scored a lopsided unanimous 10-round decision over durable trialhorse Richard Gutierrez. It was the first time he had gone the distance in his entire pro career.
“Lyell will not be so lucky to hear the final bell,” sneered Gonzalez.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.