Former two-time IBF and WBO jr. middleweight world champion Verno Phillips is confident of a win in his upcoming fight against former two-time WBO welterweight world champion Paul Williams. The scheduled 12-round bout for the WBO interim jr. middleweight world title will take place Saturday, November 29, at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, and be televised live on HBO beginning at 10 P.M. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Phillips, now 42-11-1 with 21 knockouts, of Denver, Colorado, will celebrate his 39th birthday on November 29, as well. Williams, of Aiken, South Carolina, is in his prime at 27 and has a professional record of 35-1 with 26 knockouts.
Boxing fans will be hard-pressed to find a better Northwest fight of the year than the one staged at Northern Quest Casino, in Airway Heights, Washington on Thursday, Oct. 23, when Cristobal Cruz (36-11-1) squared off against Orlando Salido (31-9-2) for the vacant IBF featherweight championship in a fight televised on the Versus Network. Promoters Arthur Pelullo and Rodney Berman had planed for a fantastic fight and no plan ever went better.
Although Salido came in as the favorite, Cruz, who had just come off a fantastic upset win over Thomas Mashaba at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut by throwing 1,580 punches, carried that enthusiasm into this bout. He was all fists as he went after Salido who gave almost as good as he got. The umber of punches thrown by Cruz was not unusual for a man holding the record of most punches in a bout by Compubox. Salido exchanged throughout and never let but started to fade the final rounds.
2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade of Providence, Rhode Island, will make his pro debut on a sensational world championship fight card on Thursday, October 23, 2008, in the Pend O’reille Pavillion at Northern Quest Casino, located at North 100 Hayford Road in Airway Heights, Washington. The main event and co-featured fights will be televised live on the Versus network, and Demetrius’ fight will open the telecast.
The fight was announced today at a news conference at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
Only 20 years old, Demetrius is a top professional prospect at 154 pounds and a former international amateur standout.
Joe DeGuardia CEO of Star Boxing and Art Pelullo's Banner Promotions have signed U.S. Olympic team member and reigning World Amateur Champion Demetrius Andrade to an exclusive multi year fight contract. The 20- year-old Andrade from Providence, RI is the boxer widely regarded as the number one pro prospect from this year's Olympic Team. Andrade was chosen by many to be team USA's best shot at winning a gold medal going into the games but questionable scoring, and a highly controversial decision in the quarterfinals at the games ended the well decorated amateur's dreams of capturing gold. Even though Andrade didn't get the decision, anyone who saw him fight could see that he has all the goods to become a professional world champion. NBC's Teddy Atlas, who was providing television commentary for the games, repeatedly spoke very highly of the young Andrade, saying over and over again that his style will fit even better in the pros.
As an amateur Andrade was a two-time Golden Gloves Champion, and two-time National Champion, he won the silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games and he won the 2007 World Championship, the first American boxer to do so since 1999.
South Africa’s Cassius Baloyi who has won a South African record six world organization belts makes the first defense of his IBF junior lightweight belt against Javier Osvaldo Alvarez from Argentina at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on September 17, on promoter Rodney Berman’s Golden Gloves Promotions tournament.
A bid by Banner Promotions/Golden Gloves Promotions has won the IBF purse auction for the vacant IBF featherweight world championship fight between Cristobal Cruz (36-11-1, 23 KOs) and Orlando Salido (31-9-2, 20 KOs). No date or site announced.
Harry Joe Yorgey was declared the winner on Friday the 13th, 2008 in his arbitration case over his manager James E. Deoria. Both parties were in a dispute over the boxer-manager contract that was signed between them on February 9th, 2006. At the age of 30, Harry is a five-year pro. A veteran boxer at 154 pounds, he is a very popular performer in his home area in Pennsylvania. He has an impressive ring record of 20 wins, no loses and 1 draw, with 9 wins coming by knockout. Make that 10 knockouts with his latest victory.
You may review the entire Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission report here: Click Here to Download PDF
CAPACITY CROWD EXPECTED FOR “FREE FOR ALL, A NIGHT OF COMBAT” LAS VEGAS’ FIRST COMBINED BOXING AND MMA SHOW ON JUNE 20 AT THOMAS & MACK; ONLY A FEW TICKETS LEFT
A capacity crowd of 18,000 is expected to attend promoter Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions’ sensational event – “Free for All, A Night of Combat” - Las Vegas’ first combined professional boxing and mixed martial arts show on Friday, June 20, 2008, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The boxing main event and co-featured bout will be televised live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.”
Art said today, “All of the sponsors involved in this promotion – Planet Hollywood, the Thomas & Mack Center, and Major League Sports Entertainment – have done a great job and been a pleasure to work with. This event is the hottest ticket in town.”
Daren Libonati of the Thomas & Mack Center said, “MLSE Major League Sports Entertainment company is excited to partner up with the Thomas and Mack Center on this exciting event.”
Only a few tickets – which are free to the public - remain, and are available through local contests with Lotus Broadcasting, KTNV Action News, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. For a direct link to contest info, log onto UNLVtickets.com.
Continue for more information on schedule and bouts.
Light heavyweight Shaun George (16-2-2, 7 KOs) is set to face former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd (40-4-1, 21 KOs) in a light heavyweight clash on May 16 in Las Vegas. "This opportunity means everything to me," says George, "I'm ready for this step up on May 16. I've been waiting for this kind of fight my whole life. I believe I'm a better fighter and I'm ready to prove it. I know I'm the underdog, but I also know I will come out on top. I know he's fast and that he fights intelligently. That doesn't concern me. It won't be about what Chris Byrd can do, but what I can do. This is my time to shine, Chris Byrd just happens to be the opponent set before me. Shaun George's manager, Hall of Fame inductee Lou Duva, is confident with his fighter's prospects. "I've never seen him this excited about a fight before. He wants this win, he's training to win and he's going to win!"
Cassius Baloyi won his sixth world championship when he beat Mzonke Fana on points to take over the IBF junior lightweight title at Mafikeng on Saturday night.
The challenger regained the belt in a classic scrap at the University Sports Complex when he won 117-111 and 116-112 on two of the cards, with the third judge making it a 114-114 draw.
Fana seemed to be turning the tables from the sixth round but he split one of his gloves in the eighth round just as Baloyi seemed to start fading.
The gloves change certainly gave Baloyi a much needed breather and Fana had to start all over again when the action resumed.
Banner Promotions’ president Art Pelullo has signed former IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion Chris Byrd to a promotional contract.
Art said today, “I’m very pleased to announce this major signing. I’ve been a fan and friend of Chris’ for a long time, and I’m looking forward very much to working with him.
“I think it’s going to surprise a lot of people, but Chris - the former two-time heavyweight champ - is going to be fighting at 175 pounds. I think he’s going to make some great fights in the division, and I think he’s going to win the world championship.
“We’re going to take the first step towards that goal on May 16 when Chris fights on ESPN’s ‘Friday Night Fights’ at the Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, in the PH ring sponsored by Planet Hollywood.”
Chris previously fought at the Cox Pavillion in 2001 and beat David Tua in an IBF heavyweight elimination bout.
American promoter Art Pellula will be in Mafikeng on Saturday night to see former five-time world champion Cassius Baloyi challenge Mzonke Fana for the IBF junior lightweight title. His presence could result in a unification fight later this year, particularly if Baloyi wins.
Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman and Pellula, his American associate, of Banner Promotions, will be at ringside for what could be a memorable fight. Berman says the bout could be a stepping stone for the 33-year-old Baloyi to set up a unification fight. "Art will offer Cassius terms for his first defence of the title if he beats Fana, which we regard as a certainty," Berman said this week.
38-year-old Verno Phillips (42-10-1, 21 KOs) is a world champion for the third time after a split decision win over reigning IBF junior middleweight champion Cory Spinks (36-5, 11 KOs) on Thursday night before 8,874 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. After a close and technical fight, two judges favored Phillips' power shots (116-112, 115-113) while one preferred the movement and handspeed of Spinks (115-113).
Phillips, who entered the bout as a 6:1 underdog, stated afterward, "I hit more with my left. They told me not to reach in. He is hard to adapt to. He is sneaky. You lean in, he will hit you with a one-two. I just relied on my experience. I did my best and I am still in the top 10. I had harder shots. I felt like his people were booing him because they felt he didn’t bring it." A disappointed Spinks stated, "I felt good, just a little rusty that’s all. Verno fought a good fight. He came in to do a job, but I feel I did what I came to do. I am upset with myself. I let myself down."
Ricky Hatton talks to Gareth A Davies. ; http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1529569285/bctid2764345001 http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1139053637 Key assessment in Hatton versus...
Ricky Hatton talks to Gareth A Davies. ; http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1529569285/bctid2764345001 http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1139053637 Key assessment in Hatton versus...
German boxer Juergen Braehmer is seen during the official weigh-in, in Warnemuende, northern Germany, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. Braehmer is to challenge WBA light heavyweight world champion Argentinean Hugo Hernan Garay on Saturday in Rostock.
Brazilian Adriana Salles is seen during the official weigh-in in Warnemuende, northern Germany, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. Salles will challenge featherweight world champion Ina Menzer on Saturday in Rostock.
German boxer Juergen Braehmer, left, and Argentinean Hugo Hernan Garay are seen after the official weigh-In in Warnemuende, northern Germany, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. Braehmer will challenge WBA light heavyweight world champion Garay on Saturday in Rostock.
German Ina Menzer, left, and Brazilian Adriana Salles pose after the official Weigh-In in Warnemuende, northern Germany, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. Salles will challenge featherweight world champion Menzer on Saturday in Rostock.
Argentinean Hugo Hernan Garay is seen during the official weigh-in in Warnemuende, northern Germany, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. German Juergen Braehmer is set to challenge WBA light heavyweight world champion Garay on Saturday in Rostock.
Former two-time IBF and WBO jr. middleweight world champion Verno Phillips is confident of a win in his upcoming fight against former two-time WBO welterweight world champion Paul Williams. The scheduled 12-round bout for the WBO interim jr. middleweight world title will take place Saturday, November 29, at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, and be televised live on HBO beginning at 10 P.M. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Cassius Baloyi won his sixth world championship when he beat Mzonke Fana on points to take over the IBF junior lightweight title at Mafikeng on Saturday night.
Banner Promotions’ president Art Pelullo has signed former IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion Chris Byrd to a promotional contract.
American promoter Art Pellula will be in Mafikeng on Saturday night to see former five-time world champion Cassius Baloyi challenge Mzonke Fana for the IBF junior lightweight title. His presence could result in a unification fight later this year, particularly if Baloyi wins.
38-year-old Verno Phillips (42-10-1, 21 KOs) is a world champion for the third time after a split decision win over reigning IBF junior middleweight champion Cory Spinks (36-5, 11 KOs) on Thursday night before 8,874 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. After a close and technical fight, two judges favored Phillips' power shots (116-112, 115-113) while one preferred the movement and handspeed of Spinks (115-113).
