NEW YORK (Dec. 2, 2008) – The initial two action-packed encounters between Kendall Holt and Ricardo Torres were rife with controversy, questionable officiating, punches after the bell and head butts. They resolved little and spawned a nasty rivalry. SHOWTIME will present “Holt Torres – Unpredictable,” a 90-minute telecast that will replay in their entirety the two hotly contested fights and preview their impending third..
The first two fights ended in knockouts—Torres took the first inside 11, Holt won the second in round 1, the leading candidate for Round of the Year—but left many unanswered questions. The most obvious of which: Who is the better 140-pound world champion, Holt (24-2, 13 KOs), the current holder of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight title, or Torres (32-2, 28 KOs), the former WBO champ?
To settle matters once and for all, Holt, of Paterson, N.J., will defend against Colombia’s Torres in a must-see rubber match in the main event of a special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation on Saturday, Dec. 13, live on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
“Holt-Torres – Unpredictable” will premiere on SHOWTIME 2 on Monday, Dec. 8, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It will re-air at the same time on SHO2 on Tuesday, Dec. 9 and Thursday, Dec. 11, before airing on Dec. 13 at 5:15 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. ShoBox announcers Nick Charles and Steve Farhood will host the program.
“Holt-Torres – Unpredictable” is a perfect precursor to what analysts are predicting will be a superb third meeting between the two proud fighters. Fans will not want to miss it.
For more information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://sports.sho.com.
DANNY WILLIAMS RETURNS TO CICERO STADIUM ON DECEMBER 12TH FORMER AMATEUR STANDOUT FACES “SPOILER” BARBARO ZEPEDA ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE
CHICAGO, IL (December 2, 2008) St. Louis based lightweight prospect Danny Williams will battle Barbaro “THE SPOILER” Zepeda on Friday, December 12th, at Cicero Stadium, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.
The Williams/Zepeda six round bout is part “YOUNG GUNS”, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing celebrating the culmination of another excellent year of local boxing presented by 8 Count Productions.
The 24 year old Williams brings a record of 6-0 with five knockouts, with wins in each of the last three months. His last two wins have been against fellow undefeated prospects. On September 19th, he knocked out Mike Maley in the first round at Cicero Stadium.
Said Pesoli, “This bout really exemplifies what 8 Count has always been about, putting on great matchups for our loyal fans. We’re finishing up our 11th year and what has always been true is that fans want to see action, they want to see boxers giving 100% at all times. Williams is a highly regarded prospect who’s looking to build his record but Zepeda is a very tough fighter who’s coming off a great win over Juan Bailon who was also undefeated.”
Zepeda won a four round unanimous decision over Bailon on November 14th at Cicero Stadium, pressuring the undefeated Bailon from the outset.
“This is the 15th time that Barbaro has fought for us and win, lose or draw; the fans love him because he always makes great fights. Before the Bailon fight he lost to Ivan Rodriguez in a very close fight that was an old fashioned “blood and guts” war, continued Pesoli.
“Williams looked great last time here with a first round knockout, but Zepeda is going to fight like a Mexican warrior and battle him every second. That was how Barbaro beat Bailon, by being aggressive the whole fight.”
“YOUNG GUNS” also features Chicagoland favorites Francisco “EL NINO AZTECA” Rodriguez, “KING” Carlos Molina, Andrzej “THE POLISH PRINCE” Fonfara, and undefeated Chicago middleweight Orphius White.
Also appearing on the card in separate bouts are local newcomers Adrian “EL TIGRE” Granados, Noe Perez and Sergio Montes De Oca. More information on these bouts will be announced shortly.
Advance tickets for “YOUNG GUNS” can be obtained by calling the
8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie in Cicero . Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be noted boxing ring announcer Thomas Treiber.
“YOUNG GUNS” is presented along with Miller Beer, TCF Bank, Jack Daniels and EL Jimador Tequila..
TCF is a Wayzata, Minnesota-based national financial holding company with $16.4 billion in total assets. The company has 453 banking offices in Minnesota , Illinois , Michigan , Colorado , Wisconsin , Indiana and Arizona , providing retail and commercial banking services, and investments and insurance products. TCF also conducts leasing and equipment finance business in all 50 states.
8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxing.com
Top prospect Remillard moving up featherweight ranks
MANCHESTER, Conn. (December 2, 2008) – What a difference a year makes, especially for 22-year-old Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard, the reigning WBC Youth and USNBC featherweight champion.
A year ago, Remillard (16-0, 8 KOs) was in the midst of a 1 1/2 -year stretch of inactivity due to wrist injury requiring surgery for torn ligaments that separated bones in his hand. Noted hand surgeon Dr. Steven Margles (LaheyClinic in Burlington, MA) operated, using artificial bone and pins to hold everything together. The artificial bone, however, never healed properly and Dr. Margles performed additional surgery, where he took bone from Matt’s hip to his wrist, and held it together with a screw.
Remillard suffered the aforementioned injury in 2006, winning a 10-round decision against Jose Hernandez (6-0) for the WBC super featherweight title, which he was forced to relinquish due to his injury sidelining him for 16 months. During his long layoff, Matt worked with his longtime trainer, Paul Cichon, at the Manchester (CT) PAL gym, just daily stretching, running, walking and calisthenics as he rehabilitated his left hand. Unable to use his left hand, he strengthened his right, and eventually learned how to fight comfortably as a southpaw.
In 2008, however, he returned to the ring with a vengeance, winning all five of his fights and capturing the WBC Youth and USNBC featherweight title belts, as well as being named the NABF and Connecticut Fighter of the Year.
“This year was huge for me after having to take off 1 ½ years to recuperate,” Remillard said. “I felt like I had to step up in order to catch up to where I was. I had time off to mature, in and out of the ring, and work on different skills. I thought that it was reality because everything had been taken away. I came back fully focused and worked with Paul in the gym to become more than a one-handed fighter.
“There are days my hand lets me know it was injured. It’s never going to be 100-percent, but these tools aren’t meant to hit people or take punishment. The most important thing is that it doesn’t hurt to fight.”
The multi-tattooed Remillard realizes he’s in a very competitive division, one dominated by Latinos. “I’m in one of the toughest decisions,” Remillard commented. “There are a lot of tough Mexicans and Olympians. My last fight was against the toughest guy I’ve fought (3-time world champion, 34-9-2 Maurico Pastrana). He’s a world-class veteran who came to fight and was in good shape. I used my boxing skills more and I think that win (6-round decision) has to help move me up the ladder.
“Next year, I hope to have five or six more fight for a regional title like the NABF or USBA, and move up in the rankings. If I can beat a couple of big names in 2009 to use as a stepping stone, I feel that I’ll be able to make some noise in 2010 and possibly fight for a world title. I’m 16-0 now and hopefully I’ll have somewhere in the mid-twenties for wins next year, which will position me to knock on the door for a world title shot in 2010. I leave all of that up to my team – promoter Jimmy Burchfield, manager Bret Hallenbeck and trainer Paul Cichon. I’ll be ready. I’ve never turned down a fight.”
Remillard, rated No. 23 by the WBC, also is ranked No. 5 by the USBA and NABF.
Two years ago, Remillard was wearing a cast and training with one hand; today, he’s one of the brightest American prospects among smaller weight fighters. Oh, what a difference a year has made for “Sharp Shooter.