By: William Holmes
The following is the boxinginsider.com notebook for the week of November 12th to November 20th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Abner Cotto Victorious in Puerto Rico
Abner Cotto (15-0) cruised to a decision victory over Alejandro Rodriguez (15-8) at Caguas, Puerto Rico on Saturday night. Cotto, the cousin of Miguel Cotto, was dropped in the first round. Abner Cotto was able to recover from the knockdown and dominate the rest of the fight.
Golden Boy Promotions and Sunrise Sports Announce New Boxing Series
Sunrise Sports & Entertainment and Golden Boy Promotions announced that they have partnered on a new boxing series which will feature at least four annual live boxing events at the BB&T Center.
“We are thrilled and honored to partner with an incredible athlete and entrepreneur such as Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions,” said SSE President Michael R. Yormark. “We believe that together we can take live professional boxing to the next level in South Florida.”
“At Golden Boy Promotions we are committed to bringing boxing to fight fans across the country and this new partnership is further proof of this,” said President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “South Florida has traditionally been a hotbed for boxing and we are excited to have a new home with Michael Yormark and the BB&T Center.”
Kovalev and Campillo Headline NBC Sports Network on January 19th
NBC Sports Network’s popular Fight Night TV boxing series starts 2013 off with a quality light heavyweight matchup between Sergey Kovalev (19-0-1) and Gabriel Campillo (21-4-1) on January 19th at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Only three of Kovalev’s opponents have gone the distance during his career and his last fight ended in a three round blowout. Campillo is coming off a highly controversial split decision loss to Tavoris Cloud. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com.
Biosse and Manfredo Jr. Anticipate November 29th Return
Vladine Biosse (14-0-1) is itching to show his fans what he learned during his vacation when he returns Thursday, November 29th, 2012 at the Twin River Casino.
“You’re going to see a different Vladine Biosse,” promised the super middleweight prospect from Providence, R.I., appropriately nicknamed “Mr. Providence,” who will star in the six-round co-feature of the finale of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ Thursday Night Fight Series next week.
Peter Manfredo Jr. will face Rayco Saunders in the main event next Thursday. Tickets are available at www.cesboxing.com.
Main Events Promotions Presents Black Eye Friday
Main Events Promotions will be presenting its own version of the annual pre-holiday sales extravaganza called “Black Eye Friday”.
Fans who purchase ringside or box seat tickets to any of Main Events next three upcoming NBC Fight Night events during this coming weekend will save 20% off the face value of the ticket. This includes the Jennings-Tupou event on December 8th, Adamek-Cunningham 2 event on December 22nd, and the Campillo-Kovalev fight on January 19th. Discount code is BLACKEYE through www.ticketmaster.com.
“The Hyena” is “No Laughing Matter”
Inverness Heavyweight Gary “The Highlander” Cornish will box experienced Bulgarian Yavor Marchinchev on the Norscot sponsored Chris Gilmour promotion at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness, on Friday 7th December 2012.
The skilled Bulgarian is coming to the Highlands having won his last 3 contests. Gary’s manager, Tommy Gilmour, says:
“Marinchev boxes under the nickname “The Hyena” but this is no laughing matter. The Bulgarian lost a points decision against David Price, the Current British & Commonwealth Champion so we cannot underestimate him. Gary has shown great progress during 2012 and hopes to finish the year on a high.”
Dominic Breazeale Is Back in Action
Only fifteen days after scoring a first round knockout, Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (1-0) is returning to the ring. He will be fighting this Saturday on the undercard of the Robert Guerrero vs. Andre Berto world title bout on HBO.
Breazeale stated the following, “I want to thank Al Haymon and Golden Boy Promotions for allowing me the opportunity to fight again so quickly. I’m excited to get in the ring and stay on pace with ending fights early. Hopefully, I keep getting the early knockouts and am able to fight every 15 to 20 days. Being as active as possible is my goal.”
Eric Hunter to Step In Against Jerry Belmontes on December 8th
Teon Kennedy was forced to pull out of the December 8th nationally televised NBC Sports Network Fight Night co feature bout with undefeated Jerry Belmontes. Another hungry Philly fighter jumped at the chance to take his place. West Philly’s Eric “Outlaw” Hunter (16-2) has signed to face the rising Belmontes (17-0) in a matchup of young promising prospects.
Evander Holyfield Auctions Property Belonging to Evander Holyfield
Julien’s Auctions has announced the auction of exclusive property from the Collection of Evander Holyfield, an unprecedented array of boxing memorabilia, household items, vehicles, jewelry, and personal property being offered on Friday, November 30th, 2012. More information can be found here.
Boom Boom Mancini Movie, The Good Son, Screens at Shadow Box Festival
St. Sophia Productions announces that The Good Son, The Story of Ray “Boom Boom Mancini is to have a screening at the Shadow Box Film Festival on November 30th. It tells the story of Ray’s rise from the steel city of Youngstown, Ohio to the lights of Las Vegas. It is a tale of fathers and sons, struggle and triumph, heartache and love, compassion and forgiveness.
The documentary is an emotional compilation of interviews with Ray Mancini and individuals who have influenced his life, including Ed O’Neill, Mickey Rourke, Sugar Ray Leonard and Jiwan Kim, whose father, Duk Koo Kim tragically lost his life in the ring with Ray Mancini.
The showing is at the Silas Theatre, 333 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011 at 8pm. Tickets are available here, for $15.00.
Injured Walsh Out of Burns World Title Fight
Liam Walsh has been forced to withdraw from his WBO World Lightweight Title Bout against champion Ricky Burns after suffering a back injury in a car accident this week. The bout was to take place on December 15th, but Walsh received expert medical advice to rest and not resume training for four weeks. A new challenger will be announced shortly.
Golden Boy Promotions and Caesars Atlantic City Donate to the Boys & Girls Club
Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, and Caesars Atlantic City provide relief to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City with a $44,292 donation from ticket sales and knockouts scored during the Adrien Broner vs. Antonio DeMarco WBC Lightweight World Championship Event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. They pledged $2 per ticket sold and $1,000 per knockout scored during the event.
Andy Lee Calls Out Matthew Macklin
Irish middleweight boxer Andy Lee, speaking on Newstalk Sport Saturday, has called out compatriot Matthew Macklin for what could prove to be one of the biggest fights in recent Irish boxing history, and a make or break bout for both fighters.
Lee views the fight as a critical moment in both fighters’ careers, telling host Ger Gilroy- “A win for either of us would propel us to a world title fight again” and predicted “whoever wins the fight will go on and whoever loses the fight will have to either pack it in or start again.”
Lee is confident Macklin is the best fight for his career, saying, “that’s the fight I’d like, maybe in Ireland or in New York, either place, but that’s definitely the fight I want … It’s been on the cards for a long time and why not? We’re fighters, why not fight each other?”
The interview can be heard at http://newstalk.ie/sport.
Pacquiao Gave Out Free Turkeys and Pies
On Sunday November 18th at 1 P.M. at Westside Shepherd of the Hills Church congressman Manny Pacquiao gave out a truckload of turkeys and pumpkin pies to help fans prepare for Thanksgiving.
“Thanksgiving is a wonderful American holiday for families to get together and celebrate God’s blessings. I chose Westside Shepherd of the Hills to do this because a house of God, where I attend services, seemed an appropriate place to share my blessings,” said Pacquiao. “I am very thankful for the many friends I have made here in this great country. “I can’t think of a better way to express my appreciation to my American-based fans, who have embraced me, than by sharing my good fortune with them.”
Pacquiao to Appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday November 21st
Manny Pacquiao will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live for the seventh time on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at midnight on ABC.
Kimmel, the self-proclaimed “lucky rabbit’s foot” of Pacman, has had the Filipino icon on his show before every fight for the past three years, with the first appearance taking place just one week before Pacquiao’s successful challenge of then-WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. It also marked Pacquiao’s late night network television debut. It was on that night that Pacquiao unveiled his singing chops, belting out a rendition of the Dan Hill-penned hit ballad “Sometimes When We Touch,” a song Hill and Pacquiao later remade.
The single rose to No. 7 on the Secondary Adult Contemporary Chart as measured by the Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report (FMQB), where it spent four weeks in the Top-10 during the summer of 2011.
