By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of March 25th to April 1st covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
DirectTV Bets on a Knockout from Boxing
Direct TV is venturing into the world of boxing with a brand new sport. The State of Nevada has recently sanctioned Big Knockout Boxing. Big Knockout Boxing is the newest combat sport, which serves as an entry into a competitive field that includes boxing, WWE, and the UFC.
The new combat sport will take place in an area called “The Pit”. The big differences for the sport are shorter rounds, which last two minutes, and a more intense offensive fighting style that rewards aggressive boxers.
More information can be found at http://www.thestreet.com/story/12559774/1/directv-bets-on-a-knockout-from-boxing.html
Pacquiao and Clinton to Appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Manny Pacquiao and President Bill Clinton will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday, Paril 2nd beginning at 11:35 P.M. ET. This will mark the eight time Pacquiao has appeared on Kimmel’s late night talk show.
Closed Circuit Tickets for “The Moment: Mayweather vs. Maidana”
Mayweather and Maidana will fight on May 3rd in Las Vegas. However, for those who can’t make it to the MGM Grand Garden Arena and still want to experience this event live, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions are pleased to announce that several Las Vegas locations will be offering closed-circuit telecasts of “THE MOMENT: Mayweather vs. Maidana.”
Tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $75, not including handling fees. All seats are general admission and go on sale today, Friday, March 28 at Noon PT at each individual property’s box office outlets, by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711 or at www.mgmgrand.com. Some properties tickets also are available by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or by purchasing online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Properties hosting these telecasts are Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, Excalibur and Circus Circus.
Joshua Clottey to Fight Anthony Mundine
Joshua Clottey has arrived in Australia for his upcoming fight on April 9th with Anthony Mundine. Both fighters are looking for a big win to advance their careers, and there appears to be no love lost for either side.
First off Clotteys promoter Joe DeGuardia had the following to say, “it looks like Mundine and BOXA Promotions are looking past Joshua onto bigger things but I can tell everybody here. Joshua has not stopped training for 6 months since this fight was first mentioned” and is very confident of victory.
BOXA promotions agent Brendan Bourke fired back stating,”we never overlook any opponent but it’s true we think Anthony is on another level.”
Joshua replied with, ” Mundine is in for a rude shock when I retire him April 9 in Australia, he has no idea who he’s fighting.”
Of course Anthony Mundine is never shy of a reply states, “I want Cotto, Alvarez then Mayweather, Joshua is a good fighter but he’s not on my level, I can’t lose.”
Tickets for Marquez vs. Alvarado on Sale
Juan Manuel Marquez and Mike Alvarado will do battle on Saturday, May 17th live on HBO. Tickets went on sale on April 1st with a special offer of a free complimentary companion ticket to celebrate boxing’s return to the Forum in Los Angeles. The winner of this bout will face the winner of Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, Jr. Tickets can be purchased online at the Ticketmaster website.
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero to Host Fundraiser
This Sunday April 6, 2014, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will host a fundraiser titled “Breath for Caley” and event to help raise money for Caley Camarillo a 12-year old girl who is suffering from a rare and terminal lung disease called cystic fibrosis (commonly referred to as CF).
The event will take place at the Morgan Hill Cellars, located at 1645 San Pedro Ave in Morgan Hill CA from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Tickets priced $25 per person and can be purchased by calling 408-500-9426. There will be a Raffle, Silent Auction of Sports Memorabilia & More. Appetizers and Live Entertainment by Isaiah Picket to be expected.
Curtis Stevens is Rested and Ready to Take on Johnson
Curtis Stevens took a vacation after his first round knockout over Patrick Majewski and is ready to take on Tureano Johnson on Friday, April 4th at the Liacourcas Center in Philadelphia, PA. He said, “I feel good. I have been training very hard. We wanted to make my legs stronger so I can get lower and weave his shots.” However, Curtis does not think Tureano Johnson is going to be a problem for him. When asked about Johnson he said, “This guy likes to fight. He slaps a lot. He’s got looping shots. But don’t leave your seat when the TV lights come on because you might miss it. Don’t blink. Have your popcorn and your soda ready beforehand because I am about to put on a spectacular showcase come April 4.”
Nelson vs. Rodriguez on May 16th Tops Re-Opening of 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia
Undefeated junior welterweight prospects, Naim Nelson and Jerome Rodriguez fight over eight rounds on Friday, May 16th at the newly re-named 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. This will be the first bout in the arena since January 21, 2012 when Bryant Jennings defeated Maurice Byarm.
This arena was formerly known as the ECW arena, the New Alhambra, and later the Asylum Arena. The 2300 Arena has undergone renovations and will seat close to 2300 spectators.
New York State Boxing HOF Induction Ceremony a KO
A sold-out crowd turned out this past Sunday night to honor 20 members of the Class of 2014 inducted into the third-year New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF), sponsored by Ring 8, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.
“This was our largest crowd we’ve ever had with more than 500 people,” Ring 8 & NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy said. “Everyone was so receptive, commenting about how much they enjoyed the ceremony, and there was a lot of emotion displayed. The whole point of starting the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame was to recognize New Yorkers in boxing and to honor them for their contributions. New York has been the centerpiece of boxing for the past 50 years. Some of our inductees may not have been international stars, but they helped make boxing what it is in New York. We wanted to do the right things and recognize the New York guys who made boxing was it is today.”
Living boxers inducted into the NYSBHOF were Tracy Harris (63-8-2, 43 KOs), the former WBC/IBF Super Featherweight Champion from New Paltz; former WBC/WBA Welterweight Champion Billy Backus (49-20-5, 23 KOs), of Canastota; former WBC Featherweight Champion Kevin Kelley, of Flushing, Queens; former WBC Featherweight Champion Juan LaPorte (40-17, 22 KOs), of Brooklyn; Huntington’s World Heavyweight title challenger Gerry Cooney (28-3, 24 KOs), Brooklyn’s two-time World Middleweight title challenger Mustafa Hamsho (44-5-2, 28 KOs) and Glen Cove’s Howard Davis, Jr. (36-6-1, 14 KOs), a 1976 Olympic gold medalist as well as Outstanding Boxer, and a three-time World Lightweight title challenger.
Posthumous participants inducted were two-time World Heavyweight Champion Patterson (55-8-1, 40 KOs), of Brooklyn, World Lightweight Champion Lou Ambers (91-8-7, 28 KOs), of Herkimer; three-time World Welterweight Champion Jack Britton (239-57-44), of Clinton; and World Featherweight Champion Terry McGovern (55-8-1, 40 KOs), of Brooklyn.
Living non-boxers inducted were ESPN boxing commentator and trainer Teddy Atlas, of Staten Island; promoter Lou DiBella (DiBella Entertainment), of Brooklyn; boxing historian and Showtime analyst Steve Farhood, of Brooklyn; trainer and Sunnyside Gardens matchmaker Gene Moore, of Queens; and boxing writer/historian Angelo Prospero, of Rochester.
Deceased non-boxers in the Class of 2014 are trainer/cutman Whitey Bimstein, of Manhattan’s Lower East Side; legendary trainer Cus D’Amato (Bronx and Catskill), who launched the career of “Iron” Mike Tyson as well as Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres; trainer William Muldoon (Belfast/Caneadea and Westchester County), who was also the first Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission; and manager Tom O’Rourke, of New York City.
Cunningham-Mansour Live on NBCSN on Fight Night Friday at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia
NBCSN presents Fight Night this Friday at 10:00 p.m. ET and features a heavyweight fight between Steve “USS” Cunningham (26-6) and Amir Mansour (20-0) for the USBA Heavyweight Title and Philadelphia bragging rights. Cunningham is a Philadelphia native and has not fought in front of his hometown crowd in eleven years and Mansour was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware and trains at the Joe Hand Gym in Philadelphia.
Cunningham said, “The last time I fought in Philadelphia, Philly didn’t know me. I learned to fight in the Navy so I didn’t have a following at home. I am grateful to NBC for putting me on with the Adamek fight and the Fury fight and allowing me to do the ‘In the Ring’ with B.J. [Flores]. They really helped me develop a fan base.”
“I won this title with the flu, dehydrated and sick,” Mansour said. “I really hurt myself winning this title and I am prepared to defend it. I am not willing to let anyone take it from me. This is my time. I am prepared to die before I lose in this ring. That is my mentality. Before I lose take me out on a stretcher.”
