Assorted: Hall, Esquivias, Seda, Liakhovich, Calderon, DeSanto, Barthelemy, More

HALL WANTS A BIG PIECE OF McDONNELL

BRITISH bantamweight champion Stuey Hall is chasing a summer showdown against Sheffield’s European king Jamie McDonnell.

Promoter Frank Maloney believes he can make the match provided Hall (10-0-1) comes through his domestic defence against John Donnelly (12-1) at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring on Saturday April 9.

Hall, 31, is currently ranked fifth by the EBU and hopes his Yorkshire rival will make a voluntary defence.

The Darlington boxer, 31, said: “Jamie has done so well upsetting top fighters, but he still has to prove he is the best in Britain.”

Maloney promotes both fighters and is keen on the fight that will capture public imagination, but is yet to approach McDonnell’s manager Dennis Hobson.

Maloney said: “I don’t want to take Stuey’s focus off Donnelly who has improved greatly in his last few fights.

“Provided he comes through and looks good doing so I will see if Sky Sports are interested and hopefully make the fight which would be a big bout for northern England.

“When Stuey was living a wildly in Ibiza a few years ago, this sort of success is the last thing anybody would expect, but he is proof that if you knuckle down great things can happen.”

Hall won the British crown against Ian Napa and will win a Lonsdale belt outright if he makes a successful third defence against scouser Donnelly.

In the chief supporting bout Rendall Munroe returns to action in a non-title eight rounder. It is the Leicester binman’s first fight since he lost on points to WBC super-bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka last October

Tickets priced £30 and £65 are available 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com.

DOSTIEV PULLS OUT OF FIGHT!

EFRAIN ESQUIVIAS TO FACE NEW ADVERSARY THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 25!

ORANGE, CA (March 21) – Efrain Esquivias (12-0, 8 KOs) will make his return to the ring this Friday, March 25 at Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California with a new adversary.

Veteran fighter Jhon Albert Molina is now scheduled to be Esquivias’ opponent, replacing Sherali Dostiev, who was pulled from the fight by manager Craig Engler for unknown reasons.

Molina, 33, a native of Colombia, is known for his ability to KO his opponents during the early rounds of his fights.

“Molina represents a different type of obstacle for Esquivias than Dostiev would have had he fought. Although this is a change in fight style and Esquivias has little time to prepare for a veteran like Molina, I believe he will do well because he is dedicated to his craft and always expecting the unexpected.” said matchmaker Alex Camponovo.

Late replacement Jhon Albert Molina (27-15-3, 18 KOs) will take the challenge against the young Southern Californian. A veteran of many wars, Molina has fought for a world title in 2002 and raked up a string of knock out victories early in his career.

He has traded leather with the likes of Nelso Dieppa, Kermin Guardia, Cesar Seda, and Raul Martinez to name a few and is ready to challenge the fast-ascending Esquivias in the hopes to derail his career and blemish his perfect undefeated record.

Tickets for “PATH TO GLORY”, priced at $75, $45, and $30, are available now and may be purchased by calling 714-935-0900.

Bouts subject to change. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the first bell rings at 7:30pm. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 North Vineyard Avenue in Ontario. The hotel phone number is 909-937-0900.

Seda Near 115-pound Limit

SALINAS, PUERTO RICO – WBO NABO Super Flyweight Champion César “Junito” Seda (20-0, 15 KOs) looked comfortable this morning at the Olympic Village in Salinas Puerto Rico, coming in at 128 1/4 pounds for his first pre-fight weigh-in for his world title fight against Omar Narvaez (33-0-2, 19 KOs) on April 15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Seda had been required to weigh no more than 132.5 pounds (15% above 115).

“I feel fine and comfortable making weight,” said Seda, Jr., “We are focused on this fight with Narvaez and ready for whatever he brings. We know that Omar is a first-class fighter and for that reason we will be very well prepared”.

Seda will have in his hands full in this fight. Narvaez was an outstanding amateur boxer and boasts a record 16 successful title defenses, surpassing the record of the great Argentine middleweight champion Carlos Monzon.

“This is the second week of training at the Olympic Village and we are seeing results. ‘Junito’ is in tremendous condition and losing weight and eating well,” said trainer and manager Cesar Seda Sr.

The NABO champion also took the opportunity to delight the audience with his boxing ability and do two rounds of sparring.

This fight is presented by Universal Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions and will be broadcast on pay per view system at a price of $29.95.

Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion & 1996 Olympian Unfinished Business for Heavyweight Sergei “The White Wolf” Liakhovich

LOS ANGELES (March 21, 2011) – Former world heavyweight champion and 1996 Bellarusian Olympian, Sergei “The White Wolf” Liakhovich, has some unfinished boxing business to take care of starting April 9, when the consummate boxer-puncher returns to the ring for the first time in nearly a year.

The 34-year-old Liakhovich (25-3, 16 KOs), rated No. 13 by the WBC, takes on Johnnie White (22-4, 18 KOs) in the 10 round co-feature on Main Events’ pay-per-view-card, headlined by Tomas Adamek versus Kevin McBride, at Prudential Center in Neward, New Jersey. Integrated Sports Media will distribute the fight action in North America on both cable and satellite PPV via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network, and Avail-TVN in the United States, as well as Bell TV and Viewers Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

Liakhovich had been on his former promoter’s shelf for the past 3 ½ years, fighting only three times during that period, including the last on May 22, 2010. “It was very frustrating,” Sergei explained his inactivity. “I tried everything but my promoter didn’t get me fights. My new advisor, Tony Cardinale, did an awesome job getting me out of that contract. I then signed a promotional contract with Main Events because I saw what they’ve done with Adamek and other fighters.”

Back in 2006, Liahkovich was on top of the boxing world having won a unanimous decision (117-110, 115-113, 115-112) against Lamont Brewster for the WBO crown and sporting a 23-1(13 KOs) pro record, including notable wins against world title contender Dominick Guinn and previously undefeated Friday Ahunanya.

In his first world title defense, however, Liakhvich lost his belt to Shannon Briggs by way of a 12th round technical knockout with only one second remaining in the fight, in which Sergei led in scoring 106-103, 106-103 and 105-104.

“After that fight he was put on a deep freeze shelf by his promoter,” noted Cardinale, a Boston-based attorney who guided 2-time WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz to 12 world title fights. “He may as well have been sent to Siberia because he’s had only three fights since his Briggs defense in 2006. One was a tough fight against former world champion Nicolai Valuev (in a WBA title eliminator), in which Sergei fought hurt, but he’s had two stunning knockouts since that bout (Evans Quinn and Jeremy Bates). Main Events has a current specialty in resurrecting careers of former champions. We saw what Kathy (Duva) did with Adamek and Zab (Judah).I believe that they’re about to have another champion in Sergei. What I like most about Main Events is how fair and capable they are. I can truly say that they under-sell and over-produce, something extremely rare in this business.”

“We need to keep Sergei active. He’ll fight April 9th and again in July and September, after which we hope to get him in a world title shot. Sergei is 6-4, 240 pounds and he can box and bang, too. He has great boxing skills he learned from his Russian background when they started teaching fundamentals to kids. He’s tall, smart and has fast hands. His fight against Brewster was incredible. He had to get up off the mat to win and he was doing that to Briggs when he got caught at the end. Sergei Liakhovich has everything it takes to challenge and beat the Klitschkos.”

The new and improved Liakhovich has top-notch training under the combined auspices of Tommy Brooks and Kenny Weldon, who have handled countless world champions between them. “I’m very comfortable with my new team, especially Main Events for what it does with its fighters,” Sergei commented. “Tony’s already proven to be a great advisor and he’s a great man, too. Tommy and Kenny are two of the best trainers in the world and they’re both working together with me. I’ve been with Tommy and Kenny worked with me five years, including when I won the world title.

“I took my next fight against White because everybody knows I don’t want easy fights. He has good power. He’s a tough guy who is capable of taking you out in a second. This is the opponent I want in the ring to prove to myself and everybody else that Sergei is here and will win the world title again. That’s what this is all about – fighting again for the world title!”

Two other important reasons Sergei has a new attitude in the ring is his wife, Irina, and their first child, 3-month old son Nazar. “I’m the happiest dad in the world,” Liakhovich concluded. “Right now, I have so much to fight for.

“I will show people by best. I don’t want them to judge me on my fights against Briggs and Valuev. I’m happy to know that fight fans in North America will finally get an opportunity to watch me fight again. My last two fights were great wins by stoppage, but both were overseas and nobody saw it. People haven’t seen the best of me but they’ll see the best and what I’m capable to do when I return April 9th. I’ve very excited about getting back in the ring. I’ve been in Los Angeles at training camp with Tommy and Kenny. Everything has gone very well and I’ve had some good sparring. I’m very happy.”

Sergei Liakhovich is ready to take care of his unfinished business in the ring.

Hungry Ivan Calderon seeking revenge vs. Segura ‘La Revancha’ PPV Apr. 2

HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 21, 2011) – Former WBO and The Ring light flyweight champion Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon will be seeking revenge April 2 against the only man to defeat him, current 108-pound king Giovani “El Guerrero Azteca” Segura, in their highly-anticipated rematch headlining the “La Revancha” Pay-Per-View event, live from Auditorio del Estado in Mexicali, Mexico.

“La Revancha: Segura-Calderon 2,” presented by Zanfer Promotions and PR Best Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN, for a suggested retail price of only $39.95.

Prior to fighting Segura, Calderon appeared to be invincible having ruled the 108-pound division as WBO light flyweight champion for more than three years (six successful title defences), as well as the 105-pound WBO minimum-weight division (11 successful title defences) from 2003 until he moved up in weight in 2007. Ivan is currently rated No. 1 by The Ring and No. 3 by the WBO.

He had taken on and defeated the best light flyweight and minimum-weight world champions and challengers, including Rodel Mayol, Reyes, Higo Fidel Cazares (twice), Nelson Dieppa, Issac Bustos, Roberto Carlos Leyva, Ednar Cardenas, Alex Sanchez and Eduardo Ray Marquez.

“Everything has been real good and I’m already at 110 pounds,” Calderon said from his Puerto Rico-based training camp. “I’m working hard in training to make sure that I do better than I did in the first fight against Segura. My fans will be in Mexico with me in spirit. I know a lot of people will be booing me there, but I know how to control that and remain focused in the ring.

“My first loss has me hungrier and I’m training differently. For the first time in 10 years I’m not living at home with my family. I stay at camp and live in my trainer’s house; it’s just me and him, none of my family around. I’ve also been doing more work with weights to strengthen my arms and legs.”

The 28-year-old Segura (26-1-1, 22 KOs), fighting out of Bell, California by way of Mexico, captured the WBO, The Ring and WBA Super light flyweight titles last October, when he knocked-out the previously unbeaten champion Calderon (34-1-1, 6 KOs) in the eighth round in Puerto Rico. Segura was leading (69-64, 68-65, 67-66) on all three judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

“I didn’t train right for our first fight,” Calderon added. “My leg muscles were injured. I couldn’t run and training days were suspended in the gym. I usually spar 100 rounds but all I had was 45 for the last fight. No excuses, he did the job, but that wasn’t the Ivan everybody knows. I need to be able to move my legs to control the fight. I couldn’t move because of my legs and he worked my body good. I had to go toe-to-toe with him. He controlled the fight.

“He’s not a good technical fighter, but he’s strong and keeps pressure on his opponent. He did hurt me with body shots. He’s not a real 105-pound fighter; he’s a natural 112-115 pounder. He was real hungry to knock me out and he did the job.

“I believe this fight will be different because I will box more. I will leave Mexico with my belt. Mexicans don’t like to watch my style of boxing but I don’t care if they yell or boo. I will fight my fight and make the judges love my style, so I get the decision.”

The co-feature matches Mexican featherweight champion and three-time world title challenger, Ricardo “Piola” Castillo (39-9-2, 26 KOs), against former WBC Continental Americas super featherweight titlist Joksan “El Torito” Hernandez (21-3, 14 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Castillo is the younger brother of 2-time world lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

For more information about the Segura-Calderon 2 PPV event go to www.integratedsportsnet.com. Follow Integrated Sports Media on Twitter @IntegratedPPV.

Integrated Sports Media (ISM): North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sporting events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Vitali Klitschko, David Haye, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Amir Khan,Tomasz Adamek, Ricky Hatton, Giovani Segura, Cristian Mijares, Zab Judah, Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Arthur Abraham, John Ruiz, Nicolai Valuev, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr. and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, ISM distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Real Madrid, Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports Media events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

BARTHELEMY PICKS UP WIN ON FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

Tonight at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, Yan Barthelemy improved to 12-2, 4KO’s and a perfect 4-0 since teaming up with trainer Orlando Cuellar and signing with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, winning a ten round unanimous decision over Francis Ruiz (9-4, 4 KOs) in the opening bout on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”. The bout, scheduled for ten rounds in the super bantamweight division, was promoted by The Heavyweight Factory in association with Star Boxing.

Barthelemy used acurate punching and a high work rate to dominate Ruiz dropping him once in the third. Ruiz hung tough but was simply over-matched against the highly skilled Cuban Barthelemy. In the end Barthelemy won by scores of 100-89, 98-91 and 97-92.

‘I can do it all!’Confident DeSanto inks deal with Classic Entertainment & Sports

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (March 16, 2011) – Years ago, it was five-time world champion Vinny Paz. Then he passed the torch to Peter Manfredo Jr.

Now meet Dominic DeSanto, a witty, undefeated prospect from New Haven, Conn. – and the newest member of promoter Jimmy Burchfield’s talented roster at Classic Entertainment & Sports – who’s looking to become boxing’s next Italian-American superstar with a fan base far beyond the local landscape.

“Why isolate ourselves to one area?” asked Dominic DeSanto’s father and trainer, Dave DeSanto. “The world is what we’re looking for. Dominic is going to turn into a franchise fighter. The world titles will come, but we’re not going to be satisfied until the day he’s inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.”

All fighters promise the world upon signing with new promoters, but few have DeSanto’s impressive resume, which includes 11 state, four regional and two national titles stretching over 100 amateur bouts. The 21-year-old southpaw welterweight made his professional debut in July of 2008 with a first-round knockout win and is now 5-0-1 with five knockouts. He’ll make his CES debut Friday, April 1st, 2011 in a four-round bout against Kenny Gerald (1-1, 1 KO) of Marion, S.C., on the undercard of the nationally-televised ESPN2 “Coming Attractions” show at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Fox Theater.

“Nothing but the top from here,” Dominic DeSanto said. “I’m ready for April 1st. I’m looking for another knockout. I’m quick, strong, good-looking and I can talk – I can do it all!”

As evident by his upbringing, DeSanto was truly “born to box.” His father used to take him to the gym with him when he was a child – “while other kids were playing in the sandbox, he was learning to fight,” Dave DeSanto said – and he stepped in the ring for the first time when he was only 10 years old. At 17, he won his first Golden Gloves title in North Carolina and then served as a sparring partner for WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo a year later.

The decision to turn pro at 18 was a no-brainer for DeSanto following 100 amateur fights, much like the decision to sign with CES, which Dave DeSanto said had to do with Burchfield’s honesty and integrity more so than any other factor.

“Jimmy gets it,” Dave DeSanto said. “I really feel a personal connection with him, and when he tells me what he wants to do with Dominic’s career, it’s on par with what we want, too. Jimmy wants to do it the right way. He basically echoed my sentiments. I want Dominic to have 25 or 30 fights before he fights for a world title. I sense real honesty with Jimmy. I get a good, comfortable feeling with him.”

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Dominic on board with us,” Burchfield added. “This is the future of the welterweight division. Dominic’s speed and power is unmatched. He has tremendous strength, strong family values and has been dedicated to this sport from the moment he stepped inside the ring. This is a boxing family, and the DeSantos represent the sport the way it should be represented – with class, professionalism and a true passion for boxing. We can’t wait for Dominic to become our next world champion.”

Pick an attribute – DeSanto has them all. His dangerous combination of speed and power, along with his strong build and southpaw style, could make him a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division. He’s sparred with the best, including Collazo and former light heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson, and is now looking to bring home a world title of his own.

He and his father are confident that day will come sooner rather than later, especially with Burchfield in their corner. So far, he’s on the right path. The first step under the CES umbrella is to continue building a local fan base and perhaps one day have that torch – an honor many fighters have coveted – passed down to him.

“This is a hell of an opportunity,” Dominic DeSanto said. “I will prove that what I do is knock people out. This is our ride to the top, and there’s no falling off. I’m going all the way. I’ve been doing this too long. Nothing will stand in my way.”

Tickets for “Coming Attractions” are priced at $40, $65 and $105 (ringside) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or the Foxwoods box office at 800.200.2882, or online at www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com. For more information, visit www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

Manny Lucero (25-6, 14 KOs) will join all the local favorites and headline the ARES Fight Night IV card against Carlos Rivera (16-8-1, 5 KOs) in an 8-round bout for the NYS Super Lightweight Title. Although he is relatively new to the Capital Region, Lucero has been seen on HBO in the IBF title fight vs. the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter Manny Pacquiao.

UNBEATEN SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHALLENGES FOR WBA FEDELATIN CROWN ON MARCH 25TH

ORANGE,CA (March 17) – It’s one of the best matchups of 2011 thus far, as Thompson Boxing Promotions presents an eight round super bantamweight bout between hot prospects Efrain Esquivias and Sherali Dostiev for the WBA Fedelatin title. This highly-anticipated showdown headlines the Friday, March 25th edition of “Path to Glory” at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California.

Also entering the ring for some hard-hitting action will be local standouts Artemio “The King” Reyes of Colton and unbeaten Richard Contreras of Ontario.

Tickets for “PATH TO GLORY”, priced at $75, $45, and $30, are available now and may be purchased by calling 714-935-0900.

12-0 with eight knockouts as a professional, Carson’s Efrain Esquivias has been tearing it up since turning pro in 2007 after a stellar amateur career that included a 2006 National Golden Gloves title. In his last three fights, he has upped the ante with consecutive knockout victories over Ephraim Martinez, Vicente Alfaro, and Shawn Nichol, and on March 25th he will attempt to win his first pro title.

A two-time Olympian who represented Tajikstan in the 2004 and 2008 games, Sherali Dostiev (8-0-1, 2 KOs) has continued his success in the pro game, where he has yet to taste defeat. Now based in Florida, the crafty southpaw has earned all of his victories Stateside, so he will be primed and ready to hand Esquivias his first loss later this month.

Currently riding a nine fight winning streak, Colton welterweight Artemio Reyes (10-1, 9 KOs) has ended three of his last four bouts in the first round. On March 25, the 24-year old will look for another early night in his home away from home, as he makes his fifth appearance at the Doubletree against Michigan City, Indiana’s Marcus Thompkins (5-2-1, 1 NC, 2 KOs).

21-year old bantamweight phenom Richard Contreras (4-0, 3 KOs) will step into the ring for the second time this year against an opponent to be named. In January, the Ontario native knocked out Juan Tepoz in just 43 seconds.

Allentown, Pennsylvania’s Miguel Diaz (3-0, 2 KOs) will also represent boxing’s next generation of stars, this time in a four round junior bantamweight contest against Tijuana’s Daniel Modad.

In another four rounder, unbeaten Coachella welterweight Jose Antonio Vargas (5-0-1) will look to keep his “0” intact when he faces Riverside’s Ignacio Garcia (4-3-2).

Opening up the event in a four rounder will be junior lightweights Sergio Nuñez (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Simi Valley and Gerald Fischer (0-1) of Atlanta, Georgia.

Bouts subject to change. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the first bell rings at 7:30pm. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 North Vineyard Avenue in Ontario. The hotel phone number is 909-937-0900.