Vyacheslav Senchenko arriving in Ukraine
World Boxing Association (WBA) WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS
VYACHESLAV SENCHENKO PAULIE “Magic Man” MALIGNAGGI
Champion Challenger / WBA #2
The Ring Magazine #5 Former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion
Donetsk, Ukraine Brooklyn, New York, USA
32-0 (21 KOs) 30-4 (6 KOs)
WBC INTER-CONTINENTAL CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP — 12 ROUNDS
IAGO KILADZE JULIEN PERRIAUX
Champion / WBA #9 Challenger
Former WBC Youth Intercontinental Champion WBC Mediterranean Champion
Donetsk, Ukraine by way of Georgia Saint-Dizier, Haute-Marne, France
18-0 (12 KOs) 15-8 (8 KOs)
WBA INTER-CONTINENTAL FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP — 12 ROUNDS
OLEH “Doctor” YEFIMOVYCH SERGIO CARLOS “El Tigre” SANTILLAN
Champion / WBA #12 & EBU #1 Challenger
Former European Featherweight Champion WBC FECARBOX/S. Amer. Super Bantam. Champion
Donetsk, Ukraine Buenos Aires, Distro Federal, Argentina
21-2 (11 KOs) 29-11-3 (14 KOs)
IBC LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 12 ROUNDS
VOLODYMYR KRAVETS ABDOULAYE SOUKOUNA
Champion Challenger
2004 Ukrainian Olympian France Light Welterweight Champion
Donetsk, Ukraine Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, France
25-1 (15 KOs) 14-10-6 (1 KO)
(ALL FIGHTS & FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
WHEN: Sunday, April 29, 2012 – 1:00 PM/ET 10:00 AM/PT
WHERE: Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine
PROMOTER: Union Boxing Promotion
SPECIAL GUEST: Evander Holyfield
RING ANNOUNCER: Michael Buffer
PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 1:00 PM/ET – 10:00 AM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVNfor a suggested retail price of only $29.95. also available via on-line PPV at www.gofightlive.tv.
PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCERS: Former NFL player and veteran boxing announcer Benny Ricardo (blow-by-blow) and The Ring Magazine and The Score contributor Corey Erdman (color analyst).
INFORMATION: www.integratedsportsnet.com
Giant day for the all-Irish Betfair Prizefighters
Foes face up at the Giant’s Causeway – Healy in the line-up
The eight fighters in the all-Irish Betfair Prizefighter Middleweights came face-to-face at the stunning surroundings of the world famous Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland for the Sky Sports promotional shoot today (April 24).
In under two weeks time the King’s Hall in Belfast will be packed to the rafters as they fight for the title and £32,000 winner’s cheque in the 24th edition of Matchroom Sport’s eight man, one night event – and they were joined by Dungiven’s light welterweight star Paul McCloskey on a sunny day at the iconic rocks looking out on the Atlantic Ocean.
There was a new face in the line-up as former two-weight Irish champion Ciaran Healy stepped up from being a reserve to take Mark Heffron’s spot after he withdrew through injury. Healy admits this is a final shot at glory as he winds down his career, and will give everything he has get his hands on the trophy.
“This is my last year in boxing so I’m giving it one million per cent,” said Healy. “I’m just going to go in there and fight like mad. This is the last chance saloon for me, I’m definitely finishing this year.
“To go on and fight for British or Commonwealth titles would be the main incentive – everyone who has come out of Prizefighter as winners have gone on to have fights like that, and I would say it’s probably the most open Prizefighter because there’s a lot of quality and big-hitters in it, so I have a great chance to cause an upset.”
The 37 year old joins a great mix of fighters on the night as Commonwealth gold medallist Eamonn O’Kane, Irish super middleweight champion JJ McDonagh, former champ Anthony Fitzgerald, former Prizefighter entrant Joe Rea, unbeaten Lurgan man Ryan Greene, ‘Slick Fightin’ Irish’ Simon O’Donnell and Roscommon’s Darren Cruise.
It’s a huge night in the career of McCloskey too as he faces former World champion ‘Chop Chop’ DeMarcus Corley, with Dudey looking to build on his gutsy win over Breidis Prescott and land a World title shot later in 2012.
The night begins with exciting young flyweight Jamie Conlan becomes the latest Prizefighter Prospect before the ever-popular former British featherweight champion Martin Lindsay continues his journey back to title contention.
Tickets priced at £30 (unreserved), £40 (reserved balcony or unreserved floor), £60 (outer-ringside) and £100 (ringside) are available from Ticketmaster on 0844 277 4455 – UK/Northern Ireland customers, 0818 719 300 – Republic of Ireland customers and at www.ticketmaster.ie
VIP packages priced £150 are available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com
Paul McCloskey’s fans can also buy their tickets at the prices above from Eurospar Dungiven and any EuroXchange outlet.
Gabor Veto retains GBU title
Hungarian prospect Gabor Veto (28-0-0, 22 KOs) knocked out the former WBA/WBC World title contender Justin Juuko (45-11-1, 28 KOs) from Uganda with a two-punch combination at 2:14 of the second round to retain his GBU light-welterweight GBU title for the second time on Saturday night April 21st, 2012 at the Hotel Marsoel in Chur, Switzerland.
“That’s a good victory but only a step on the way to the top, I want to fight against the best in the future. I’ve been moving and I’m training hard for that night. I’m pushing my limits with my effort and desire,” said Veto. The fight was supervised by the European Boxing Union (EBU) member Baltic League of Pro Boxing and Global Boxing Union (GBU).
Mathis-Holm II June 15 in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, NM (April 24, 2012) – Fresquez Productions held a press conference today to announce the much-anticipated June 15 rematch between French knockout-artist Anne Sophie Mathis and Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm, universally considered the two best female boxers in the world, at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque.
“The Reckoning,” presented by Fresquez Productions in association with Route 66 Casino Hotel, will showcase a stylistic match-up between invading knockout specialist Mathis and the consummate boxer, southpaw Holm. Mathis will defend her International Boxing Association (IBA) and WBAN welterweight title belts, as well as the mythical pound-for-pound crown, for the first time against the same opponent she upset to capture the straps from last December.
In her United States debut, at the same venue on top the “World Dominance” card, seven-time world champion Mathis scored a shocking seventh-round knockout of Holly, the local favorite who had been undefeated for more than seven years and her previous 24 consecutive fights.
“Anne Sophie Mathis and Holly Holm are the two best women fighters in the world,” promoter Lenny Fresquez said. “Mathis proved herself but Holly is seeking retribution on June 15. Take nothing away from Anne Sophie, but Holly got out her game plan to box and got caught by some big punches. She plans to fight her fight, not Mathis’ this time. Women boxing fans all over the world have been clamoring for the rematch and we’re excited to be presenting it at the beautiful Route 66 Casino Hotel.”
Mathis (26-1, 22 KOs) is riding a 25-fight win streak, dating back to 1995 when she lost her second pro fight. In addition to Holm, she’s beaten other world champions such as Myriam Lamare (twice), Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich, Ana Pascal and Nathalie Toro.
Holm (30-2-3, 9 KOs) is a nine-time, three-division world champion who will be out to avenge her humbling loss last December at home to Mathis. Holly has defeated a Who’s Who list of woman boxers from the 140 through 154-pound weight classes, including Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Couch, Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice).
For more information about “The Reckoning” go on line to www.FresquezProductions.com or www.rt66casino.com.
Press Conference Quotes
Anne Sophie Mathis (via Skype): “Holly knows what to expect from me, obviously, since we’ve already fought. I don’t expect anything but the best from Holly. She’s a professional and I am not underestimating her in this fight.”
” I will stay focused on the job at hand and i expect that I will have to continue to train hard. If she comes to me, I’ll be defensive; if she backs up, I will be the aggressor.”
“I think Holly is a great athlete, a great fighter, but I am working on the knockout.”
“Since you didn’t get to fight Cecilia Braekhus, how do you feel about being inactive since December.”
“It was a disappointment not being able to fight Braekhus. I’ve been taking this time to work on techniques.”
Holly Holm: “We’re sticking to the plan, make no mistake about it. I had a bad day at the office. That will not happen this next fight.”
“Retirement? Not in the very near future.”
Promoter Lenny Fresquez: “I always knew Braekhus would back out of her fight with Mathis. Not once, but twice, and that’s why I gave them (Mathis) permission to fight her (Braekhus). Shame on her (Braekus). I’ve never seen a fighter sick or injured has much as her. We tried for two years to make a fight (Braekus vs. Holm)but she is protected by a sharp promotional outfit that do not want to lose their investment. Fans know Sophie is The Champ but Holly is going get her belts back!”