By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of July 22nd to July 29th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Former three-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner will return to his hometown arena following a two-year absence to headline a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® event on Saturday, Sept. 6 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Broner will face talented young prospect Emmanuel “Tranzformer” Taylor in a 12-round super lightweight bout. In the co-main event, scheduled for 10 rounds in the same weight class, Argentine powerhouse Lucas “La Máquina” Matthysse will attempt to continue his road back to the top of the 140-pound division when he meets unbeaten Mexican slugger Roberto Ortiz.
In the opening bout of the live SHOWTIME telecast (9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT) former two-time world welterweight champion Andre Berto (28-3, 22 KO’s) will return to the ring after a one-year layoff and shoulder surgery against an opponent to be determined.
“It’s always good to fight at home,” said Broner, who, in his last bout at U.S. Bank Arena in July 2012 stopped Vicente Escobedo in five rounds. “It’s overdue. I will not disappoint my Cincinnati fans. I’ll make sure to put up a good show for them. Taylor is a young, talented fighter, but he’s not ready to solve this ‘Problem.'”
“This is the biggest fight of my career, and I won’t let it get away from me,” said Taylor, who has raised his profile this year with a marquee win over Karim Mayfield just two weeks ago, and a close decision loss to Chris Algieri in February. “All of those hours in the gym were for a moment like this, and I can’t wait to show the world what I can do in the ring.”
Jesse Hart Resigns with D&D Management
D&D Management has announced the re-signing of undefeated super middleweight Jesse “Hard Work” Hart to an exclusive managerial contract. Jesse Hart is a Philadelphia native with a record of 14-0 and 11 knockouts. He is currently signed with Top Rank Promotions.
“The first two years have been wonderful. There has been nothing bad,” said Hart. “I need to be around people who care about me. D&D has done business very well. I got an endorsement deal with Nike and they made it happen for me.” He continued, “I know I will be world champion. I keep hearing the name of Arthur Abraham who is the WBO champion. D&D and Top Rank has groomed me the right way and I keep getting better.”
“We are very happy to re-sign Jesse,” said D&D Management co-manager David Price. “It means a lot that we signed him out of the amateurs and in the next year or so we will see this through to winning a world title.”
U.S. Launch Party in Big Apple KO Win for Fight Network
The Fight Network recently held a private party at the Ainsworth for media, sponsors and television executives to celebrate its recent launch in the United States on Cablevision’s Optimum TV (channel 464) in the Greater New York area. The Fight Network is now available in more than 30 countries and is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports.
“This is the culmination of a long process for Fight Network,” Fight Network CEO Leonard Asper said. “We wanted to build a group of sports channels because the fans of those sports were underserved. If golf had its own station, we thought, why not a fight network? Fight Network has been successful in other parts of the world, but we had to be in the U.S. to really make it. Today, we end one chapter and start another, growing from adolescence to adulthood, by launching in New York and being on Broadway where it always belonged. The most important thing to building any successful company is getting the right people. It’s about building a family and today I’d like to introduce the newest member of the Fight Network family, as an adviser/fight analyst, Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini.”
Special guests Ray Mancini, Frankie Edgar, Peter Quillin, and Charles Martin were in attendance for the Fight Network launch party.
More information on the fight network can be found at tv.fightnetwork.com
Challengers to Garcia, Peterson, and Jacobs are Prepared for Huge Upsets
Less than two weeks remain until the August 9th Showtime event at the Barclays Center between Danny Garcia and Rod Salka, Lamont Peterson and Edgar Santana, and Daniel Jacobs and Jarrod Fletcher. Salka, Santana, and Fletcher are preparing to shock the world and give fight fans a show.
“The fans can’t lose on August 9th,” said De La Hoya at the July 2nd press conference at the Barclays Center. “You want to be able to say ‘I was there when history was made in Brooklyn’. So get your tickets now.”
The video linked below shows Garcia, Peterson, and Jacobs give their thoughts on the August 9th fight.
Andre Dirrell vs. Vladine Biosse Added to ESPN Friday Night Fights
Former world title challenger and Super Six Participant Andre Dirrell will battle Vladine Biosse on Friday, August 1st in a ten round super middleweight co-feature bout on ESPN Friday Night Fights. This bout will be held at the Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, Washington and is promoted by Goossen Promotions.
“Andre was an outstanding amateur and one of the top super middleweights in the world picked to be part of Showtime’s innovative Super Six Tournament. His win over former world champion Arthur Abraham and highly controversial loss to Carl Froch during the tournament opened a lot of eyes on his tremendous athletic abilities and talent,” said Dan Goossen, promoter of the eventual Super Six Champion Andre Ward and USA teammate of Dirrell in the 2004 Olympics.
Dirrell couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm when asked about his upcoming bout. “I’m too excited on my return to the ring to make any predictions on the fight. I just want to hear the bell ring and get back to what I do best against a very tough Biosse.”
Dirrell, 21-1-0 (14KO’s), will be making his return to action following an eighteen-month layoff. He last fought on February 2, 2013.
Robert Guerrero to be Special Guest at 2014 Ringside World Championships
Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will be a special guest at this year’s 2014 Ringside World Championships, the largest amateur boxing tournament in the world.
This year’s event will take place from July 28th to August 2nd at the Independence Events Center in Independence, MO. This arena seats nearly 6,000 people.
This unique spectacle draws athletes from around the globe and provides a competitive opportunity second to none. With six rings, seven sessions, 1,000 bouts and 1,500 athlete entries, it’s a boxing extravaganza that can’t be missed. “The Ghost” will sign autographs and great fans on Wednesday and Thursday of the tournament.
“Everyone fighting in this tournament has dreams of turning pro and becoming a world champion one day,” said Robert Guerrero. “The Ringside World Championships is the type of tournament that sets the stage for big events that every fighter will eventually have to deal with in the pros. The amateur’s is where it all begins and I can’t wait to see these boxers compete.”