NEW YORK ’S FINEST HEADLINE HISTORIC EVENT

HARD ROCK CAFE NEW YORK IN TIMES SQUARE
TO HOST WEDNESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS ON JUNE 11TH

HOLLYWOOD, FL, May 13 – Times Square in New York City. To many, it’s the center of the universe. That may be open to debate, but what isn’t is that on Wednesday, June 11th, Hard Rock Cafe New York in the heart of Times Square will be the center of the boxing universe when Seminole Warriors Boxing and Gotham Boxing present the first boxing show ever in this renowned venue.

Headlining the card, which will be aired live on ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights beginning at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT, will be separate bouts featuring two of New York’s hottest products, junior middleweight contender Sechew Powell as he faces Deandre Latimore who is 18-1 (15 KO’s), and rising middleweight star Peter ‘Kid Chocolate’ Quillin.

Tickets for this once in a lifetime event are limited to just 500, and will include food and soft drinks. To purchase these limited tickets, priced at $300, please call Seminole Warriors Boxing at (954) 985-1155 or Gotham Boxing at (212) 755-1944.

A National Golden Gloves Champion in 2000 and a United States Amateur Champion in 2001, Brooklyn’s Sechew ‘The Iron Horse’ Powell (23-1, 14 KOs ) has been (more)

CLEVELAND'S CECIL SHORTS

I learn more about the history of boxing in the great city of Cleveland everyday. Talking to knowledgeable people in the area like Jerry Fitch, Gene Glen, Tom Huff, Jim Borgen and Sal Marino, well...I just learn something new all the time.

Cecil Shorts was a wonderful welterweight who fought out of Cleveland in the 1950's and 60's. Born in 1938, Cecil turned pro in 1956 and won his first ten bouts. Among those wins were decisions over Larry Boardman and soon to be Hall Of Famer Eddie Perkins. Cecil lost his first bout in 1958 dropping a decision to Rudy Sawyer. He was then stopped in two rounds by Perkins in a rematch. Cecil bounced back to win three straight including a split decision victory over Benny " Kid " Paret. He was then halted by another Hall Of Famer, the crafty Luis Rodriguez.

Cecil had an up and down career against some of the best welterweights in the world. In 1960 he lost to Phil Moyer but defeated tough Vince Martinez. In 1961 Cecil suffered a KO loss to Gomeo Brennan and a decision defeat to Mick Leahy. He came back to beat the capable Isaac Logart but was then taken out in eight by Virgil Akins. Shorts lost a decision to rugged Jorge Fernandez but then got a points verdict over Billy Collins.

Shorts did not fight in 1962 and when he returned in 1963 he was stopped by Chuck McCreary. Next came a ninth round disqualification loss to Akron's Fate Davis. A 1964 return match with Davis saw Cecil on the short end of the decision. Cecil had one more fight winning a six rounder over Doug McLeod and then retired.

In all Cecil had 33 fights posting 21 wins and a draw. He lost eleven fights. He registered nine knockouts while he was stopped six times. He met four men who held world titles. Eddie Perkins, Benny Paret, Luis Rodriguez and Virgil Akins as well as several contenders. The city of Cleveland should be proud of the accomplishments of Cecil Shorts. DISCUSS

Paul Malignaggi Looking To Shine On Hatton vs. Lazcano Bill

On May 24, at City of Manchester Stadium, British fight fans will be treated to a boxing feast. Leading the top of the card will be Britain's favorite son and most popular sportsman this decade, Ricky Hatton.

In addition, a great deal of interest will be focused on the first appearance in Britain of IBF light welterweight champion Paul Malignaggi who defends his title against hardened former beltholder Lovemore Ndou.

This past Saturday night, Junior Witter lost his chance and WBC title when defeated by American Timothy Bradley, who has now thrown his own name into the ring to challenge Hatton but Malignaggi is looking to convince the British public that he alone is the man to face the number one superstar in the division in the Autumn.

Malignaggi will arrive in London early next week with his entourage and will be looking to impress the British public the same way Timothy Bradley did as he is intent upon stealing the spotlight from Hatton on May 24.

The brash Italian-American boxer is not frightened to say what he thinks and his mouth is as quick as his fists, so fans in the UK can expect to be treated to a week of wisecracks (more)

JUNIOR WITTER SURRENDERS WORLD TITLE TO
NEW CHAMPION TIMOTHY "DESERT STORM" BRADLEY!

SHOWTIME to Replay the Fight on Monday and Tuesday!

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND (May 10, 2008) -- There's a new sheriff in Nottingham and his name is TIMOTHY "DESERT STORM" BRADLEY! The undefeated Bradley from Palm Springs, California, entered the ring at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, England tonight as the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger and exited it as the new World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight champion. Bradley (22-0, 11 KOs), promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions, won a superb 12-round split decision on scores of 115-113, 114-113, 112-115. He turned the tide near the end of the sixth round, smashing an overhand right to the jaw of defending champion Junior Witter (36-2-1, 21 KOs), en route to dethroning Witter in his third defense of the crown he has held since 2006.

“I knew this fight was mine,” the newly crowned 24-year-old champion told SHOWTIME, which broadcast the fight to the U.S. on its popular program ShoBox: The New Generation. “I’ve seen the tapes [of Witter’s past fights], and he fades in the sixth and seventh. And I know that’s when I come on. I get stronger in the later rounds.

“I have been working on that punch,” said Bradley of the overhand right that dropped Witter. “He tends to pull back with his chin up in the air and I just caught him. But I couldn’t finish him. I had to be careful in there. He’s got power in both hands.”

“This can be considered an early candidate for upset of the year,” said renowned ShoBox analyst Steve Farhood. “It is so difficult to win a world title on the road. And to do it with as little experience as Bradley has, this was something special. That one-punch (more)

 JUDAH INJURED, BOUT WITH MOSLEY OFF;

MAY 31 PAY-PER-VIEW SHOW CANCELED

LOS ANGELES (May 8) – The scheduled May 31 fight between Shane Mosley and Zab Judah has been canceled due to an arm injury suffered by Judah during his Las Vegas training camp it was announced by Golden Boy Promotions today.  The HBO Pay-Per-View event was scheduled to take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

 Judah suffered multiple severe lacerations on his right forearm and received 50 stitches to close the wounds suffered in an accidental fall.  As a result, Judah will be unable to train for four weeks and was forced to withdraw from the bout.

 "It is very unfortunate that Zab suffered this injury and that this great event had to be canceled," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.  "We are already in discussions with all parties involved to attempt to reschedule the fight for the near future."

Instant Classic? Mijares-Munoz Unification on PPV
Salado-Miranda co-feature May 17 in Mexico
 

GOMEZ PALACIO, DURANGO, Mexico (May 7, 2008) – Styles make fights and the May 17 unification title bout between WBC champion Cristian Mijares and WBA title-holder Alexander “El Explosivio” Munoz has all the makings of an instant classic.

The 12-round Mijares-Munoz main event, marking the first super flyweight unification title bout in more than 10 years, headlines the “Noche de Campeones” pay-per-view event live from the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.

“Noche de Campeones,” promoted by KO Entertainment in association with DiBella Entertainment, will be produced and distributed by Integrated Sports for live viewing in the United States (9 PM/ET) on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and DISH Network, as well as on The Fight Network in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

The 12-round co-feature matches Mexican warriors Omar Salado and Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda in a WBC flyweight elimination bout.

“Unifying the super flyweight title is one of my first goals to be recognized as the best in my weight class,” Mijares said. “I’ve always desired to fight on a pay-per-view show and now it’s real. At the same time it is a big responsibility because so many boxing fans are going to be watching my performance. It’s an honor to fight before my people and I know more

DIAZ PREDICTS SANTA ANNA WINDS FROM THE ALAMO
WILL BLOW AWAY PACQUIAO'S DREAM FOR A FIFTH TITLE!

SAN ANTONIO, TX (May 7, 2008) -- World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion DAVID DIAZ (34-1-1, 17 KOs), from Chicago, paid a media day visit to San Antonio yesterday, May 6, to talk up his title defense against WBC super featherweight champion and Filipino national treasure MANNY PACQUIAO (46-3-2, 34 KOs).

After visiting The Alamo, the birthplace of Texas independence from Mexico, Diaz, whose family hails from Mexico, said: "Yesterday may have been Cinco de Mayo, but June 28 will be the sinking of Manny. His drive for five world titles will stall out when we meet in the ring in Las Vegas. I didn't work this hard to win the title just to become another notch on Pacquiao's belt. The Mexicutioner is about to become the Mexicutionee." (Note: Photo Credit for attached photos of Diaz at The Alamo: Bernie Bahrmasel/Top Rank)

The Pacquiao vs. Diaz world lightweight championship fight headlines "Lethal Combination," the pay-per-view extravaganza which takes place Saturday, June 28 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, the Pacquiao vs. Diaz pay-per-view telecast will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets for Pacquiao vs.Diaz, priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall, and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000 or Mandalay Bay (702) 632-7580. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Shaun George: "I Feel like a New Fighter

May 7, 2008: For Shaun George, his May 16 showdown with Chris Byrd is about more than a fight - it represents the struggle to fulfill the lofty potential held in his fists.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, George has had to overcome the odds more than once to reach his goals. Yet even in New York City's deep and competitive amateur boxing program, George was able to make a name for himself, earning two NY Golden Gloves titles and a US National Amateur championship. His amateur accolades have yet to translate into the professional acclaim that once seemed inevitable, a fact that George fully recognizes.

"Up until this point, I feel my career has been a disappointment to myself. I have all of this telent and I haven't shown it. I