photo by J.A. Treptow – Turkish investor wants to bring the WBC world heavyweight championship to the Bosporus – ARENA-CEO Ahmet Öner announced today that he received offers from a big Turkish investor and one of the biggest Turkish TV stations to host the WBC heavyweight championship between Vitali Klitschko and no. 1 contender Juan Carlos Gomez in Istanbul, Turkey! “Since we brought boxing back to Turkey in June 2007 the interest in the sport is huge” states Öner. “Now one of the best known experts for sports marketing in Turkey contacted me regarding this fight knowing that a WBC world heavyweight championship is the most prestigious event possible..
“This could become the most important step for the growing boxing market in Turkey and also a huge chance for Istanbul to present itself as host city of such a great show. Of course, it would be great for us as well because we could feature some of our big local heroes like rising welterweight star “Mini-Tyson” Selcuk Aydin on the undercard..”
ARENA and K2 promotions have three more weeks to come to a gentleman’s agreement regarding the fight between Klitschko and Gomez. If they don’t find a solution the purse bid will be held in Mexico City on December 19th.
Four U.S. Boxers Advance to the Medal Round at the 2008 Women’s World Championships
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – Four United States boxers have earned berths in the medal round at the 2008 Women’s World Championships in Ningbo City, China. Bantamweight Cynthia Moreno (Guadalupe, Ariz.) and light heavyweight Mioshia Wagoner (Lawrence, Kansas) both advanced to the semifinals with victories in Wednesday’s quarterfinal action. They are joined in the medal round by welterweight Vanessa Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) and heavyweight Tiffanie Hearn (Louisville, Ky.).
Moreno earned her third victory of the tournament on Wednesday with a 5-3 win over India’s Yadav Sushma Kumari in quarterfinal action. Wagoner claimed a quarterfinal victory as well, defeating Egypt’s Nadia Mohamed by a 10-4 margin.
Lightweight Carrie Barry (Colorado Springs, Colo.) dropped a 3-0 decision to France’s Orain Cindy on Wednesday, eliminating her from competition.
Thursday will be an off day for all of the competitors with all four remaining United States boxers returning to the ring on Friday for semifinal competition. Moreno will face England’s Nicola Adams, Jackson will take on China’s Qian Wang, Wagoner will challenge Romania’s Fetti Paraschiva, and Hearn will box Turkey’s Semsi Yarali.
The four medals won by the United States’ team are the most for the country since the inception of the Women’s World Championships in 2001 in Scranton, Pa.
The team is being led by coaches Ted Palac (Hamtramck, Mich.), Harry Thomas (Stafford, Texas), and Bonnie Canino (Dania Beach, Fla.) The most up-to-date results for the 2008 AIBA Women’s World championships can be found on AIBA’s website at www.aiba.org. The AIBA site will be showing live scoring for all of the bouts throughout the tournament as well.
U.S. Results
Wednesday, November 26
Preliminary Bouts
119 lbs: Cynthia Moreno, Guadalupe, Ariz./USA dec. Yadav Sushma Kumari, IND, 5-3
132 lbs: Orain Cindy, FRA, dec. Carrie Barry, Colorado Springs, Colo./USA, 3-0
176 lbs: Mioshia Wagoner, Lawrence, Kansas dec. Nadia Mohamed, EGY, 10-4
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
SUTHERLAND’S PHONE PEST
DARREN SUTHERLAND’S trainer Brian Lawrence has become a phone pest bombarding Frank Maloney with non-stop calls.
Lawrence has been so impressed with the gym form of Ireland’s Olympic bronze medallist he is can’t stop running up a huge phone bill telling the world about his stable star.
Sutherland makes his eagerly awaited professional debut at Dublin City University on Thursday December 18 when he boxes a six round super-middleweight fight.
Darren’s promoter Frank Maloney said: “Brian calls me all the time telling me how good Darren is – even late at night.
“The calls would drive most people mad but at least I can sleep because I know I’ve invested wisely.
“Most of the British Olympic team will be revealing their futures in next week, but I am not interested in any of them.
“I am not a betting man, but I am convinced that Darren will go further than any of them.”
Lawrence added: “I have worked with a lot of fighters and Darren has the potential to be the best of the lot.
“When spars things in the gym stop. Darren can fight, has amazing balance and can punch very, very hard.
“Frank has unearthed a special talent without and Darren will become my masterpiece.”
Dazzling Darren’s debut will be televised live by Sky Sports who will follow his route to the top.
Top of the bill in Dublin is Rendall Munroe’s (16-1) European super-bantamweight title defence against Italy’s Fabricio Trotta (13-4-2) in a quality 12 rounder.
Irish light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore (30-3) boxes a six rounder ahead of his crack at the vacant European light-middleweight early next year.
London based Irishman Martin Power (19-3), the former British bantamweight champion faces a tough test against Gary Davies (7-2-1).
In a special attraction Craig Watson (13-2) defends his Commonwealth welterweight title against Adnan Amar (22-1), a protégé of Dubliner Brendan Ingle.
A third title bout on the bill sees Jason Booth (30-5) risks his Commonwealth bantamweight crown against Sean Hughes (15-7-1).