Golden Boy Promotions hard hitting undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect, Danny “Swift” Garcia (11-0, 7 KO’s), was scheduled to fight Puerto Rico’s Edwin Algarin, but will now face Humbero Tapia who hails from Tijuana Mexico. Both fighters made weight today as Garcia tipped the scales at 143lbs while Tapia weighed in at 143.5lbs. Garcia vs Tapia will take place at the Mandaly Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas NV, on the Winky Wright vs Paul Williams card set to take place this Saturday, televised live on HBO..
Tickets for the explosive matchup, priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50 are now on sale and available for purchase at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Wright vs. Williams, a 12 round middleweight bout which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Goossen Tutor Promotions and Winky Promotions and sponsored by Southwest Airlines. The bout will air live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT.
“Kassim The Dream” Ouma Documentary Receives Rave Reviews
On April 24 at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, Junior Middleweight, Kassim Ouma of Kampala, Uganda (26-5-1, 16 KO’s) will take on Troy Browning, of Philadelphia, PA (20-3-1, 8 KO’s) in what promises to be an exciting 10 round boxing match. The fight is the co-feature on a Main Event Boxing Series card that also features a 10 round battle between middleweights, John Duddy, of Derry, Ireland (26-0, 17 KO’s) and Billy Lyell from Warren, OH (18-7, 3 KO’s).
Ouma is no stranger to fighting both in and out of the ring. The engaging Uganda native’s life story was recently portrayed in a documentary which was produced in part by Forest Whitaker. In the film Kassim goes from Ugandan child soldier to world champion boxer. His tale of survival proves that against all odds, one can turn tragedy into inspiration. “Boxing is my therapy”, says Kassim.
Since its initial release the documentary has garnered rave reviews and has received numerous industry awards, including nomination by International Documentary Assoc. for Best Documentary Feature. Recently at the March 29th Ann Arbor Film Festival, “Kassim The Dream” received the Life Force Award, awarded to films of distinction and artistic accomplishment. A trailer of the film can be viewed at the “Kassim The Dream” film website. http://www.kassimthedream.com/ The film is due to open in theaters in late May.
When Kassim steps into the ring on April 24th to take on Troy Browning he intends to prove that his “therapy” is working to his advantage. He promises an action packed match, one he intends to win. “I’m excited to get back in the ring. I’ve been gone a long minute, working on the film. That’s been exciting, but now it’s time to get back to what I do best. I want the championship belt again. I have something to prove with this fight”, says Kassim.
Fight/Venue Info: Newark’s Prudential Center Friday, April 24th. A Fan Festival will be held at Entry Plaza on Edison and Mulberry Streets from 6-8pm, with food, beverages and live entertainment. Doors open for fight at 8pm. Tickets, priced at $38, $53, $78, $103 and $253, can be purchased at Prudential center Box Office or by calling TicketMaster at 201-507-8900.
K “Wild Wild” West To Make Special Guest Appearance for Charity Event
April 10, 2009-In an effort to benefit the Kinship Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the creation, preservation and support of foster, adoptive and relative families for children who need them, female bantamweight contender Kaliesha “Wild Wild” West will be making a special guest appearance for a fundraiser for Kinship Center’s “Family Ties” relative caregiver program.
Kay alongside other notable fighters such as former two-time world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe as well as two-time featherweight champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will be on hand to support this important charity event. The event will be held tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, and will raise funds to provide critical assistance for relatives unexpectedly caring for children with backgrounds of abuse, neglect or abandonment.
WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS
April 10, 2009 – Mexico City. From WBC President José Sulaimán: On behalf of all the members of the World Boxing Council, I would like to thank God on this Good Friday for helping Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez in his battle against cancer. Last week, the doctors’ report showed that his treatment has been a complete success and that he is now cancer free, but must finish the process of chemotherapy.
Thank you to all those who have been helpful to our dear champion, especially Akihiko Honda and Bob Arum, and the thousands of friends who have joined Genaro and now can celebrate with him.
Also, I would like to remember those dear friends in the boxing community that have gone through the path of no return in recent weeks.
Happy Easter to all.