Assorted: Hall of Fame, Fri Night Fights, WBC/Japan, Fury, Judah, McBride, Lundy, Arroyo, GFL, more

INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME PREPARES TO WELCOME FANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

“Boxing’s Hometown” putting all the right combinations together for a knockout celebration

CANASTOTA, NY –MARCH 23, 2011 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame will host the 22nd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Canastota, New York on June 9-12th. With many exciting events planned, there will be something for everyone in “Boxing’s Hometown.”

With less than 80 days remaining before the bell rings to kick off Hall of Fame Weekend festivities, the Hall’s staff and team of volunteers in Canastota are busy planning details for the celebration. According to Hall officials, nearly 300 volunteers and many community organizations will contribute their time and effort to make the annual Induction Weekend a success.

“The Hall of Fame Weekend is an opportunity for everyone who loves boxing to celebrate the spirit of the sport in ‘Boxing’s Hometown,’” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “Canastota looks forward to again hosting boxing’s highlight weekend of the year.”

Events planned for the weekend include a banquet, Mexican Fiesta Night, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2011. Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 12th are three-division champion Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico), junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu (Russia / Australia), heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (USA), trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain (Mexico), referee Joe Cortez (USA) and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone (USA). Posthumous inductees will also be honored.

Tickets for all events are moving quickly and capacity crowds are again anticipated for June.

“Boxing fans from throughout the United States and Canada and as far away as Australia, England, Ireland, Mexico and Scotland have already reserved tickets and made hotel accommodations for the weekend,” said Brophy.

An impressive list of over 40 boxing greats from the United States and abroad will participate in weekend festivities.

For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 22nd Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.

ESPN’s Friday Night Fights: Undefeated Junior Middleweights and a New Look

ESPN’s Friday Night Fights will originate from Las Vegas, Nev. on March 25 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2 where undefeated, junior middleweights Erislandy “El Oro del Guantanamo” Lara (15-0, 10 KO’s WBA #5, WBC #11) and Yudel Jhonson (9-0, 6 KO’s) are featured in 10-round co-main events. Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside at the Cosmopolitan Ballroom, describing the action.

Miami resident and Cuban native Lara, will face his toughest opponent yet, meeting Chicago’s “King,” Carlos Molina (17-4-1, 5 KO’s). Lara is coming off a January first-round knockout win against Delray Raines. After the fight, ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael wrote, “Lara is a gifted fighter who is ready to face top competition at 154 pounds. The 27-year-old southpaw was a star amateur for the powerhouse Cuban national team. Raines was actually a step down in competition for Lara, who already owns wins against Grady Brewer (a former winner of “The Contender”) and former world title challenger Danny Perez. It came as no surprise that Lara crushed Raines. Lara spent the early part of the round feeling Raines out and not getting overly aggressive. When Raines threw punches, Lara covered up well with a high guard. Ultimately, Lara ended the fight with a combination, hitting Raines with a right hook followed by a flush straight left hand to the face. Raines went down, his nose bloody, but eventually got to his knees before being counted out by the referee at 2 minutes, 59 seconds. Lara, who scored his fourth consecutive first-round knockout, is ready to face a serious contender or even to fight for a title.”

Miami resident and Cuban native Jhonson, will also take a step up in competition, meeting Colombia’s Richard “El Toro” Gutierrez (26-5-1, 16 KO’s). Jhonson is coming off wins in two “stay busy” matchups in his last two fights, including an eight-round TKO win against Juliano Ramos last June on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. After the fight ESPN.com’s Rafael wrote, “Jhonson won a 2004 Olympic silver medal for Cuba before defecting in February 2009 and turning pro three months later. Already 29 and on the fast track after an extensive amateur career, Jhonson looked very good breaking down Ramos in a lopsided destruction in the ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” main event. Jhonson, a southpaw fighting his first scheduled 10-rounder, came out fast and battered Ramos throughout the fight. He’s a fluid puncher who throws crisp combinations, which he abused Ramos with. He opened a cut over Ramos’ left eye in the seventh round and in the eighth round, although there was no specific big punch that landed, referee Tellis Assimenios stepped in to stop it after yet another left hand landed flush with 20 seconds left in the round. Jhonson has a ton of talent and could rise through the ranks quickly.”

Friday’s show will include new animation and music. Click here to view a clip from ESPN’s Friday Night Fights new opening theme.

Studio host Brian Kenny will present all the latest boxing news and highlights.

WBO CHAMP DONNIE NIETES IN ABS-CBN CHANNEL 2’S SHOWTIME

World Boxing Organization Minimum Weight World Champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes of the Philippines is scheduled to do an appearance in ABS-CBN’s mid day program Showtime.

The Filipino world champion and the second longest reigning Filipino world champion in history is in the Philippines capital Manila for the 11th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Banquet of Champions where he will be presented with the Boxer of the Year award.

Nietes has been in Manila since the 21st of March of this month and have guested in various television and radio shows at network partner ABS-CBN as well as sports forums in the city.

The “Ahas”, with the help of ABS-CBN is busy promoting his upcoming and homecoming fight in Bacolod City on April 9, 2011 at the St. La Salle Coliseum. The event dubbed as PINOY PRIDE 5: BATTLE OF CHAMPIONS will feature Donnie Nietes against Mexico’s Armando Vasquez. This will be the first fight Nietes will be doing in his new Junior Flyweight division and a win over Vasquez will seal a deal for a crack at his second division world championship at the said weight class.

Kevin McBride Media Workout

Kevin McBride held a media workout today in preparation for his April 9th fight against Tomasz Adamek. This is what he had to say:

“I’ve been doing what I have to do to get fit for 12 rds. I have a good team behind me. I want to show the world that I’m a contender. When I hit him on the chin he’ll think the whole of Ireland was doing it. The best thing about it is the Polish People will be there to witness it!”

“I’m expecting a good fight. It’s going to be exciting; the Polish and the Irish is a great combination. I’d love to see a few Irish there too, but a hostile crowd won’t affect me at all. It was a hostile crowd when I fought Mike Tyson. With Tyson nobody gave me a chance, but I proved different. That’s what I plan to do on the 9th of April.”

“This is my last chance to show the world that I am a contender and I’ll follow my dream to be the first Irish born Heavyweight Champion. I have a good team with manager Jerry Quinn & trainers Goody Petronella who will be in my corner with Nirmal Lorick.”

“Adamek was a great champion in light heavyweight and cruiserweight, but this is the heavyweight division. I know that one punch can do the job.”

“There’s only two ways that I could go out of the ring: the winner; or on a stretcher. There is only one man who could win that night and that is Kevin McBride.”

The Adamek – McBride fight will be the main event on the April 9th card at Newark’s Prudential Center. The card is presented by Main Events & Ziggy Promotions. Doors open at 6:45pm, first fight 7:00pm.

Tickets are priced at $253, $103, $78, and $53. Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, Charge-by-phone: 1-800-745-3000, Ticketmaster Express 866-448-7849 and Ticketmaster ticket centers. Tickets are also available at Prudential Center’s Box Office.

Adamek vs. McBride will be distributed in the United States and Canada 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 and Canada via Viewer’s Choice, Bell TV and Shaw Cable PPV for a suggested retail price of only $29.95

Available as an Ustream online PPV exclusive, the live video broadcast of the fight will be offered for $29.95 in U.S. / Canada at http://www.ustream.tv/brickcityboxingUSA and $4.95 Worldwide at http://www.ustream.tv/brickcityboxinginternational.

‘Hammer’ time meets primetime Lundy predicts knockout on ESPN; eyes world-title bout

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 23, 2011) – For those who missed “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy’s first and only professional loss to John Molina eight months ago, don’t plan on catching a repeat performance anytime soon.

“That’s my last loss. I’ll put my life on it,” Lundy said. “‘Hammerin’’ Hank is never losing again.”

Lundy’s bold prediction should come as no surprise to anyone who’s followed his career, which began nearly a decade ago in the streets of Philadelphia and has now taken him to the precipice of a world-title bout in the lightweight division.

The hard-hitting, 135-pounder will look to inch closer to a shot at a major title on Friday, April 1, 2011, when he faces Patrick Lopez (20-3, 12 KOs) for the vacant NABF lightweight championship in the 10-round main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Coming Attractions” show at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Fox Theater in Mashantucket, Conn.

Lundy’s showdown against Lopez – a product of Londonderry, N.H., by way of Venezuela – will be the prime showcase on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” broadcast, marking Lundy’s fourth consecutive bout on national television. Vladine Biosse (10-0, 5 KOs) of Providence, R.I., will battle Tim Connors (10-2, 7 KOs) of St. Louis in ESPN2’s 10-round super middleweight co-feature.

After losing his NABO title to Molina last July (also on ESPN2), Lundy returned to network television a month later with a convincing win over Omri Lowther, making good – for now – on his promise to never lose again. The fight in August showcased Lundy’s ring savvy as he outworked Lowther over 10 rounds to earn a 100-90, 98-92, 100-90 unanimous decision victory. He’s predicting a much quicker ending next month against Lopez.

“He comes forward and throws reckless punches. That should make it an easy night for me,” Lundy said. “I’ve matured as a fighter. I say with his kind of recklessness, I should be able to get him out of there. I won’t say what round, but I know I can get him out of there.”

The maturation Lundy refers to these days is the result of his loss to Molina in July. Lundy dominated from the opening bell and led on all three scorecards, but he hit the canvas hard in the eighth round courtesy of a big right hook and ultimately got stopped in the 11th after getting caught against the ropes by a flurry of punches. The knockdown could be attributed to carelessness; Lundy had his hands down and never saw the punch coming. The controversial stoppage had more to do with Lundy’s inability to keep the fight in the center of the ring, a strategy he knew he had to stick to in order to win.

To this day, Lundy disputes the stoppage, but has ultimately used the loss as a lesson for future fights.

“You have to realize this is a business and that it’s your life you’re playing with,” Lundy said. “I had the fight won – hands down. He caught me; I admit that. At the end of the day, Molina is supposed to be this hard puncher, but when he caught me with that shot I got right back up and continued to beat him.

“The ref took that fight from me. To this day, people still ask me, ‘When’s he going to fight you again?’ Right after the fight, [Molina’s promoter] Dan Goossen came into my locker room and said, ‘They shouldn’t have stopped it.’ I asked him about a rematch and he said, ‘Are you crazy?’ That’s the best fight I ever fought, but it was a lesson learned. ‘Hammerin’’ Hank beat himself. Molina didn’t beat me.”

With Molina scheduled to fight up-and-comer Sharif Bogere on Showtime, a rematch against Lundy doesn’t appear to be in the cards, so Lundy is ready to move on to the next challenge, which could include a showdown against one of the titlists in the 135-pound weight class, all of whom Lundy is willing to face.

“‘Hammerin’’ Hank doesn’t need John Molina,” Lundy said. “I’d love to fight him. That day [in July], I was sick as a dog. I know John Molina can’t beat no Hank Lundy, but he has a mental block in the back of his mind. He knows he’s not the real champion. He hasn’t fought since then and still has the belt. I thought you had to defend the belt.

“I’ll fight anybody. This is in my blood,” he continued. “I see these guys at 135 and they can’t touch a hungry ‘Hammerin’’ Hank. Brad Solomon just fought on ESPN. We were supposed to fight [in January of 2010], but he couldn’t get down to 135. From what I saw, I’m not impressed. He’s not busy enough for ‘Hammerin’’ Hank. I heard [undefeated WBA world champion] Brandon Rios is calling me out. They were asking, ‘Who is this kid Hank Lundy? We’ll take him as a tune-up fight.’ ‘Hammerin’’ Hank is no one’s tune-up fight. You can make the fight if you want, but I’ll take that belt.”

Until then, the next belt Lundy is concentrating on is the NABF title, which is up for grabs April 1 at Foxwoods. From there, it’s anybody’s guess as to who he’ll fight next, but the self-proclaimed “Mr. Excitement” could be coming to another major network real soon.

“I don’t fight unless there’s TV!” Lundy said. “I want all the networks and all the fans to know that you need a fighter who’s willing to fight everybody and anybody. Most of these fake champions don’t want to fight anybody. That’s not boxing. You’re not supposed to hide. That’s why most of these guys get exposed when they get to the top. They don’t fight anybody. After my first loss, I knew how it felt, and I don’t ever want to have that feeling again.”

The undercard of “Coming Attractions” features middleweight Thomas Falowo (2-0, 2 KOs) of Pawtucket, R.I.; and super middleweight Greg McCoy (2-2-1, 1 KO), lightweight Christian Lao (0-0), middleweight Elvin Ayala (21-5-1, 9 KOs), welterweight Dominic DeSanto (5-0, 5 KOs) and middleweight Rick Dawson (2-0, 1 KO) of New Haven in separate bouts.

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.

WBC Helping Japan Relief

The Japan Boxing Commission has established a specific bank account for donations to the Japan Relief Fund, which will be open until April 30, 2011.

The World Boxing Council has also created a bank account in the United States, and all donations received will be sent to the Japan Boxing Commission account.

Once again we invite all the boxing community to participate in this task to help our brother nation of Japan.

All the money will be delivered to the Red Cross in Japan by the Japan Boxing Commission on behalf of the world community of boxing.

How can you help the Japan Relief fund?

Money donation to the WBC account, Japan Boxing Commission account, or to the Consulate or Embassy of Japan in your country.

World Boxing Council – Japan Relief Fund
Account number: 23909506
ABA: 06009155
Bank: Total Bank
2720 Coral Way
Miami, Florida 33145-3271 U.S.A.

Japan Boxing Commission account
Paying Bank: Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
Branch: Iidabashi Branch No. 61
Swift Code: MHBKJPJT
Account No. 061 2541469
Beneficiary: Japan Boxing Commission
Address: Tokyo Dome
1-3-61, Koraku, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan

Fury sparring old foe McDermott ahead of Chisora fight.

London (23, March 2011) With just three weeks to go until we find out who will promote the British Heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora, the Manchester based heavyweight has headed to London to spar old foe and good friend John McDermott.

These two big rivals have already met twice in the last two years for the English title but now they are helping each other in preparation for their next fights.

Tyson said “I’ve become good mates with John, he is not only a great fighter but he is also a great man.”

“I’ve travelled down to London this week and it has been worth it, the sparring has been great, we are both helping each other out for our upcoming fights, mine against Chisora and his against David Price, which will be a British title eliminator.”

“I’m training hard and in great shape and feel really focused and looking forward to getting it on with Del Boy.” Added Fury

Purse bids for Fury vs. Chisora are to be submitted to the British Boxing Board’s Head Office by 12.00noon on Wednesday, 13 April 2011, the contest is to take place by the end of July 2011.

Arroyo Ready to Unleash “Vinsanity” on Nelson!

“I have never trained harder than I have for this fight. It’s going to be an exciting fight. That’s what I want.”

23-year-old Buffalo welterweight Vincent Arroyo (10-1, 7 KOs) is practically chomping at the bit to get at his next opponent.

The power-punching Arroyo will face 6′ 3″ welterweight up-and-comer Willie Nelson (16-0-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round televised bout on Showtime’s fantastic ShoBox “The New Generation” Triple Header entitled “Rumble on the Rio” from the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas.

“Training is going very well for me and I’m excited about this fight coming up because it’s a chance for me to show people what I’ve got,” says Arroyo in a tone of voice reflecting intensely focused determination. “I want to test my will and my boxing skills and this is a good fight to do it in. I want to see what he’s got. He better have a lot. They call me “Vinsanity” for a reason.”

Arroyo had been cruising up the welterweight ranks and scoring some impressive victories along the way before running into fellow prospect Michael Dallas Jr in September 2009. Claiming he wasn’t fully prepared for the fight, Arroyo put in a listless performance while losing a unanimous decision.

But then in his next fight, Arroyo brutalized a very promising fighter named Jeremy Bryan, stopping him in eight painful rounds. For the pre-Michael Dallas Arroyo, it was business as usual, but to those who had seen him in that fight, beating Bryan was a tremendous upset.

“I took what he threw at me and I just realized if this is the best he could do he was in trouble,” recounts Arroyo. “It was just a matter of time and me doing what I’m supposed to do. I learned how to dig deep in that fight and from now on, I’m not going to stop pushing.”

Arroyo says Nelson’s tremendous height isn’t going to matter when the two fight.

“Height doesn’t do anything. I’m a warrior. If I come to get you, height won’t save you. I know they say he’s the best young 147 pounder and stuff like that and I know he can switch stances. I heard he can crack a bit too. He’s very good fighting from the outside, but it doesn’t matter. He’s going to be in with Vincent Arroyo and that’s a big mistake.”

Arroyo says aside from his vaunted punching power, he has many other assets he can employ in the ring. “People have considered me a puncher since I was 12 and knocking kids out in the amateurs. I’m aggressive. I have many skills I can bring out. I can do anything.

Manager Steve Nelson says he has tremendous confidence in his fighter heading into the April 9 showdown. “Vincent has been sensational except for the aberration of the Michael Dallas fight. And in that fight, the only one who got hurt was Michael Dallas – just a little too late. If you look at the two fighters’ records, Vincent has fought against much tougher competition and he has completed many of his fights with pretty sensational knockouts. Nelson Romine was considered a pretty good prospect: Vincent retired him. Jeremy Bryan had one more fight after Vincent and he’s now retired. He was a shell of himself after facing Vincent. Vincent scores the kinds of knockouts you see in movies.”

Tickets for Rumble on the Rio are priced at $25, $35, $45, & $75 (facility fees not included) and are available at the LEA box office, various H.E.B. locations, charge by phone 1-800-745-3000, or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Doors at 7pm first bout at 8pm. All bouts subject to change.

For more information, visit learena.com, keeppunching.com or call the LEA at 956-791-9192.

New trainer Mike ‘Red’ Skownowski On Target working with Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard

MANCHESTER, Conn. (March 22, 2011) – New Jersey-based trainer Mike “Red” Skownowski reports that training unbeaten NABF and NABO featherweight champion Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard for his March 26 showdown against unbeaten IBF No. 1 contender “Mikey” Garcia, despite being together a little more than month, seems like they’ve been working together for a year.

Remillard-Garcia is the 12-round co-feature on Top Rank’s “Featherweight Fury,” airing live on HBO After Dark from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The 24-year-old Remillard (23-0, 14 KOs) has been at training camp with his new trainer, “Mike Red,” Skownowski, in Passaic, New Jersey. The WBA #3, WBO #4 and WBC #5 rated Remillard puts his NABF and NABO title belts on the line against USBA titlist Garcia (24-0, 20 KOs).

The newly Top Ranked-signed boxer is in the fight of his young life, one that offers title implications for the Remillard-Garcia winner against IBF Featherweight Champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, or his challenger Jorge Solis if he registers an upset in the 12-round main event “Featherweight Fury.”

“Everybody in the gym immediately liked Matt,” Skownowski said. “We have a lot of young kids who have gravitated towards him. Right now, four of them are sitting around between workouts talking boxing with Matt. It seems like we’ve been working together for a year, not 4-5 weeks. In 3 ½ weeks he had already sparred 84 rounds, working double sessions, and he’s a real gym rat. He came to me in shape but not in good boxing shape. Every day he was sparring 10 rounds. I don’t want to leave it in the gym, so the other day I gave him light stuff. He got upset because he’s use to going 100 miles an hour.”

Skownowski also works with former world champion Kendall Holt, as well as prospects such as Glen Tapia, Jorge Diaz, Victor Valenzuela, Jeremy Byrant, Jose Perrault, and Wanzell Ellison. In the past he worked with the late Arturo Gatti and Tomas Adamek.

“Matt has a very tough fight against Garcia but I think he’s going to shock a lot of people,” ‘Mike Red’ noted. “I didn’t think Matt was a big a puncher as he is. His strength and power are much better. I thought he was more of a finesse fighter but he can bang, too. We’ve worked hard on his footwork and his jab has improved.”

Remillard has developed into a dangerous body puncher, stopping several opponents with an attack similar to that of another New Englander, “Irish” Micky Ward, who has often talked to Matt about his left hook to the liver. “Yeah,” Skownowski added, “when I tell Matt I want a Micky Ward, he knows what I mean – tap to the head and then drill the left hook to the body.”

Tickets, priced at $200, $100 and $50 plus applicable fees, are available to purchase at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster at (800).736.1420 or online at ticketmaster.com.

JOSEPH JUDAH BACK IN THE RING APRIL 15, IN TROY, NEW YORK

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – (March 22, 2011) Welterweight prospect Joseph Judah (6-1, 1 KOs) get’s back in the ring against Marcus Hall (4-3, 2 KOs) in a six round welterweight fight promoted by Ares Promotions, on Friday, April 15th at the McDonough Field House at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY.

Joseph Judah said “In my last fight a few weeks ago I was able to get back in the ring after a long layoff. “In 2011 I want to stay busy and continue to get more experience so I can take my boxing career to the next level.”

In his last fight on March 5, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey, Judah won by four round decision victory over Greg Hackett.

Joseph Judah said “I will continue to stay focused and train hard so I can put on a good fight for all of my fans. I want to thank Ares Promotions and my entire team for this opportunity.”

In the main event, Emmanuel Lucero (25-6, 14 KOs) will face Carlos Rivera (16-8, 5 KOs), for the vacant New York State featherweight championship.

CHICAGO FIGHT NIGHT THIS FRIDAY ON GFL

Three title fights highlight thrilling night of action

CHICAGO / NEW YORK (March 23, 2011)—This Friday night from Hanging Gardens in River Grove, Illinois just outside Chicago, Cynthia Tolaymat’s CFC Promotions presents a boxing card that will feature three title fights and all the action can be seen LIVE on GFL.tv Friday, March 25 at 5:30PM EST.

The fight card can be ordered for just $9.99 by clicking: http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Chicago_Fight_Night__3_World_Titles_One_Night/991

Osumanu Adama will take on Marcus Upshaw in a twelve round bout for the IBO Intercontinental Middleweight title.

Perennial Welterweight contender David Estrada will take on Lanardo Tyner for the IBO Intercontinental Welterweight title.

Joey Hernandez will battle Angel Hernandez for the USBO Jr. Middleweight title.

Adama of Miami, Florida via Accra, Ghana has a record of 18-2 with thirteen knockouts. He won his first thirteen bouts and only has lost to Dyah Davis and Donovan George. He is coming off a twelve round unanimous decision over Angel Hernandez.

Upshaw of Jacksonville, Florida has a record of 13-4-1 with six knockouts.

He has been matched very tough as he has lost to undefeated prospects Phil Williams and Edwin Rodriguez as well as then undefeated contender Tarvis Simms.

Upshaw has pulled many surprises in his career, just ask heralded James McGirt Jr. who Upshaw held to a draw. Upshaw has wins over undefeated Ashandi Gibbs (10-0) and his last bout when he went up to the hometown of Renan St, Juste (21-1-1) and won a split decision.

Estrada of Chicago has been in with just about every major name around the Welterweight division and has been in many fight of the year candidates.

The thirty-two year old has a record of 25-6 with sixteen knockouts. Estrada won his first fifteen bouts which included victories over undefeated fighters such as Matias Rios (7-0); Eric Pinero (1-0) and once beaten Armando Velardez (14-1).

After a loss to undefeated top Prospect Ishe Smith (12-0), Estrada won three in a row against Nurhan Suleyman (14-0) and a big upset over Chris Smith (19-0-1) on SHO BOX.

That win set up a fight against the legendary “Sugar” Shane Mosley as part of a major Pay Per View. Estrada came up a little short but fought well enough to stay at the top of the rankings and compete in an IBF Elimination bout against Kermit Cintron.

Once again, Estrada showed his mettle before being stopped in ten rounds in a what was a back and forth war.

Estrada’s only losses since have come to currant WBC Welterweight champion Andre Berto (19-0); Jesus Soto Karass and undefeated power puncher Luis Abregu (24-0) via split decision in a bout that many who watched the bout thought Estrada should have won.

Estrada has since pulled off a big upset when he stopped undefeated Orlando Lora (26-0-1) and in his last bout he scored a fifth round stoppage over Franklin Gonzalez.

Tyner is in the same boat as Estrada as he has fought many big names and pulling off some big upsets.

Tyner of Houston has a record of 24-4-1 with fifteen knockouts. He won his first nineteen bouts before dropping bouts to former world title challengers Lamont Peterson and Mike Arnaoutis. After losing to future Super Welterweight champion Saul Alvarez, Tyner came back to upset rising prospect Antwone Smith (18-1-1)

Joey Hernandez of Miami has a record of 17-1-1 with ten knockouts.

He won his first fifteen bouts which included a decision win over undefeated Alpachino Allen.

He is coming off a second round stoppage over fifty-five fight veteran Saul Duran

Angel Hernandez of Chicago has a record of 30-9 with seventeen knockouts.

Much like the rest of the card, Hernandez has fought top competition such as former world title challenger Wilfredo Rivera ( L UD); a sixth round knockout over Leonard Townsend (35-1); a decision win over former world title challenger Larry Marks (22-5) a decision loss to former world title challenger JC Candelo (24-4-3) a split decision loss to future IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Kassim Ouma (16-1-1);

He then challenged IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Winky Wright before dropping a unanimous decision as part of the Roy Jones – Antonio Tarver Pay per View undercard.

Hernandez has gone on to defeat McGirt Jr. (19-1-1) and former world title challenger Antwun Echols before dropping his two fights to Peter Manfredo and Adama