10.01.07 – Ricardo Lois, Boxingconfidential.com: Building a world class boxing promotion is a tough row to hoe, but Seminole Warriors Boxing left a serious mark on the fistic landscape in 2006 and will to continue to present world class fights in 2007. Last year Warriors promoted fights on networks such as ESPN, HBO, Showtime, and even went as far as presenting their own pay per view events. Leon Margules Executive Director of Warriors, said that it was not difficult breaking in with boxing’s premiere networks once a key component was in place…talent..
“If you have talent,” said Margules, “the major networks will take care of you. We have some great talent with cruiserweight champion O’Neil Bell, middleweight contender Edison Miranda, and super bantamweight champion Celestino Caballero.”
Miranda caught the eyes of fight fans in 2006 with a highly and controversial loss to Arthur Abraham, a knockout victory over veteran Howard Eastman, and the recent destruction of Willie Gibbs.
La Pantera Miranda can be expected to return to HBO in the coming months, but do not expect a rematch with Abraham, according to Margules.
“We welcome a rematch, but Arthur will not be ready for a long, long time. Edison hurt him badly and I just do not see the rematch happening. If Arthur wants it, HBO can make it happen. We will not travel to Germany again and it must be in America.”
If Top Rank’s Kelly Pavlik can get past Jose Zertuche on HBO’s Boxing After Dark on January 27, we might be seeing Pavlik against Miranda next.
“Allan Green is being discussed, or Pavlik. A fight with Pavlik would be a WBC eliminator, if Top Rank is interested in making the fight happen.”
The drums of war have started calling for Miranda to receive an opportunity against middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.
Margules become animated when I mentioned the possibility.
“We want Taylor, but Lou Dibella (Taylor’s promoter) does not have the balls to fight Miranda. DiBella is going to run from this fight,” said Margules.
I am sure Lou will be responding to this statement shortly.
One of my favorite fighters is super bantamweight Caballero, who will be returning to action on March 16 against Julio Zarate on Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo. Being an unrecognized, but dangerous fighter, it has been a struggle for Margules to land a marquee fight against Rafael Marquez or Israel Vazquez, yet Margules has faith good things will come.
“Celestino is a great talent, but people are avoiding him. We will continue to do the best we can for him. Other fighters cannot avoid him forever.”
Let us not forget, Warriors promotes Juan Urango, who will get a go against British sensation Ricky Hatton January 20, Bell defends his cruiserweight championship against Jean Marc Mormeck on March 17 in France, and Sultan Ibragimov, also a Warriors fighter, will try to acquire a share of the heavyweight championship against Shannon Briggs on March 10.
Margules and Warriors have worked hard and with a little bit of luck, by mid-year, they can find themselves with a super bantamweight champion, light welterweight champion, crusierweight champion, and heavyweight champion.
“We are in the business of building champs,” said Margules.
Warrios is doing an excellent job of it, at that.