It’s a holiday treat for HBO Boxing fans. Over four consecutive nights, HBO Sports will present five of the year’s standout fights, showcasing the biggest names in the sport. Starting with a riveting doubleheader on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT that revisits Cotto vs. Margarito and Marquez vs. Pacquiao II, HBO Sports will replay five of the most memorable, most significant, most compelling bouts of 2008 that were broadcast on the HBO service..
The lineup includes:
Saturday, Dec. 27 at 11:00 p.m. — Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito &
— Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao II
Sunday, Dec. 28 at 11:00 p.m. — Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins
Monday, Dec. 29 at 11:00 p.m. — Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr.
Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 11:00 p.m. — Oscar de la Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao
All times are ET/PT.
This series of “Boxing’s Best” will be available on the HBO ON DEMAND service
Fighting Talk From Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham In First Radio Interview Since Loss Off Crown
Former IBF cruiserweight world champion, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, gave his first radio interview since losing his crown by split decision after this year’s most exciting and action packed fight, one that most are calling The Fight Of The Year, on December 11th to Tomasz ‘Goral’ Adamek. Steve returned as a guest of boxing expert Michael Cassell on his popular AFB radio show – Philadelphia Boxing Report.
Steve was particularly thrilled that his first radio interview was on the show as the audience is mainly American military personnel based around the world. Being a former Navy Aircraft Re-fueler on both the USS America and the USS Enterprise he understands the importance of this particular radio network, as to many of those based overseas it is their only link to home news.
From the start of the show Michael made the point of how spectacular the fight, broadcast live on Versus, was and how everybody had been talking about it. He went on to inform Steve that ESPN, amongst many broadcasters to do so, made the fight the lead item on Friday morning and that even on ‘Football Friday’ it stayed high on the discussion list throughout the afternoon and evening, something, that as far as he is aware, that had never been achieved before, even with boxing matches featuring ‘household’ names.
He then went on to ask Steve why, as he was the IBF champion, the fight was in Adamek’s ‘backyard’ in Newark, New Jersey and not his home town of Philadelphia, to which Steve answered. “This wasn’t really an issue, but the powers to be thought it would be a better spot, for reasons I don’t know why, I live in Philly. You know, Adamek came from Poland and moved to Jersey City and there’s a huge Polish Community in New Jersey.”
Michael then went on to say how that was so obvious on the night as the arena was a sea of red and white and the crowd cheered anything that Adamek did. Steve agreed. “Tomasz could have done a handstand and the crowd would have cheered. Everything he did they were screaming and clapping.”
Moving on to the subject of the scoring, Michael said that he felt Steve had won virtually every round as well as leading in round two, four and eight until the knockdowns. Steve responded “Exactly, round four I was going for the knockdown, I could smell it so I just kept going but he wouldn’t go down so I backed off, I was jabbing and he countered and I
went down. I jumped back up, right away, I wasn’t hurt. You know, that should have been scored a 10-9 round as It was clearly being a 10-8 round to me until then. That one point could have made so much difference.
One of the knockdowns was a slip. I was wobbling from a good hit but it was a slip. The ring was still a little wet from the previous fight as I stepped back I slipped, it’s a shame as I jumped straight up but my glove touched the canvas.
When we went into this fight we had our friends and family praying with us, we had our church praying for us to be victorious in Jesus’ name, that’s why I was able to get up from the knockdowns, they were totally flash knockdowns, they didn’t hurt me. I put on a great performance, one that I believe should have been enough to get me a close decision or at least a draw.”
Michael agreed, he then went on to criticize judge John Stewart from New Jersey who he said had given a outrageous score of 116-110 in favor of Adamek. He then asked Steve why there were two judges from New Jersey, the other, Shafeeq Rashada, also scored the bout in favor of Adamek, to which Steve replied. “Originally, the excellent Julie Lederman was supposed to be one of the judges but for some reason she was replaced.” Michael pointed out that Ms Lederman was officiating on the Holt vs Hopkins fight in Atlantic City only two days later, and questioned the reason for the switch before going on to state “In my humble opinion that judge (John Stewart) should never be allowed to judge a fight again, That was a disgrace for a better word. He should be ashamed of himself. Every week we have a segment on the Philadelphia Boxing Report called the ‘Moron Report’ and he definitely makes the ‘Moron Report’ this week.”
Throughout the interview Michael stated that the fight was not only “Fight Of The Year” but that he had been getting inundated with calls and e.mails from friends and his listeners asking when will there be a rematch. When Michael asked Steve this as a direct question, Steve answered. “We hurried up to the press conference after the fight and the first thing I asked was if they wanted a rematch, everyone demanded a rematch.
The fight was a mandatory and as such Adamek doesn’t have to accept a rematch, it’s his prerogative. But a fight like that demands a rematch. Tomasz made it clear he’d talk rematch if there was big money and television. He made it clear, hey, I don’t blame him, he gets the bigger share, he’s the champion now. I know I want one, I want my belt back.
If anyone that’s listening wants a rematch write or call Showtime and HBO and tell them you want one as it’s up to them and the promoters working together.”
Michael reiterated what is needed to make a rematch happen and urged listeners to write and call HBO, Showtime, Don King and Kathy Duva at Main Events and start demanding a rematch before thanking Steve for taking part in the show.
The full interview is available at:
www.philaboxingreport.com/AFBARCHIVES.html
Slew Of Prospects Added To 12/20 “Season’s Beatings” Undercard at Hollywood Park Last Big Boxing Show of 2008 To Feature Former and Future Champions
Art of Boxing Promotions in association with Bash Boxing is proud to announce the special addition of new undercard bouts for the December 20th “Season’s Beatings” show at Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California.
Joining the main event between former World Champions Roman Karmazin and Bronco McKart will be undefeated boxing prospects from around the world including #8 WBO and #9 WBA ranked welterweight Vitaliy Demyanenko (15-0), amateur standout Willie Nelson (10-0), Ivalyo Gotsev managed Ismayl Sillahk (5-0), New York Golden Glove winner Khabir Suleymanov (5-0), and Freddie Roach trained Australian Light Welterweight Champion Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne (9-0).
Welterweight Vitality Demyanenko, the son of 1980 Olympics Silver Medalist Viktor Demyanenko, will be making his United States debut after amassing a perfect 15-0 record and WBC and WBO regional title along with the PABA welterweight titles. Demyanenko will be taking on 62 fight professional veteran Marteze Logan (26-34-2) in a six round showcase.
Two unbeaten welterweights with 11 National Championships between them square of for one of the most intriguing fights of the evening when Cleveland, Ohio’s Willie Nelson (10-0) battles Antonio Johnson (7-0) from Oakland. The 6’3” Nelson, managed by Jack Loew and promoted by Rumble Time Promotions was the #1 ranked amateur in the world in 2007 and looks to be the next Paul Williams in the welterweight division. Johnson, who has been away from the ring for 20 months, looks to improve his undefeated record with the biggest victory of his professional career.
Light welterweight Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne won the Australian Light Welterweight title in just his 5th fight, beating undefeated Australian prospect Chriss McCullen. The 9-0 Byrne is trained by Freddie Roach and was a sparring partner for Manny Pacquaio before his recent victory against Oscar De La Hoya. Byrne takes on 21 fight veteran Francisco Rios Gil (13-8) in a 6 round affair at 140 pounds.
Joining these undefeated prospects and their opponents on this jam-packed card will be WBC USNBC Middleweight Champion David Medina (19-2), Armenian National Team and amateur standouts Vardan Gasparyan (10-1-4) in separate bouts. Gasparyan returns to the ring after his first round destruction of durable and hard punching Anthony Charnell last September. Gasparyan will face another tough veteran from Los Angeles, Octavio Narvaez 7(4)-5 who in his last outing knocked down Vivian Harris twice in the first round before losing to the former world champion.
Bantamweight Khabir Suleymanov (5-0) is a former New York Golden Gloves Champion and recently beat undefeated prospect Hector Mercado (5-0) in Las Vegas. Suleymanov makes his California debut against former WBO Inter-continental Bantamweight Champion, Lante Addy (6-2).
Light Heavyweight Ismayl Sillakh (5-0) is a former Olympian and Amateur standout from the Ukraine who is currently living in Simi Valley, California. Sillakh takes on his toughest challenge to date against Mexican Jose Humberto Carral (10-6) in a 4 round fight at 177 pounds.
Anthony Mosquera (3-0) is the latest pride and joy prospect from East Los Angeles. The welterweight Mosquera will take on durable Michaelangelo Lynks (6-8) in a four rounder at 147 pounds.
Lateef Kayode (4-0), a big Nigerian Heavyweight currently living in Hollywood, CA, is coming off 3 straight knockouts. He will take on Ethan Fox (2-3) in a four rounder.
The second Armenian on the card is the always flashy Gabriel Tolmajyan (4-1). Like his friend and teammate Gasparyan, Tolmajyan has represented Armenian in many international tournaments before establishing permanent residence in Glendale, CA. While training at Glendale Fighting Club, Gasparyan and Tolmajyan can often be seen sparring at the world famous Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Also on the debuting Muay Thai standout turned boxer Joe Shilling, who was most recently seen in the EliteXC Octagon.
The “Season’s Beatings” Championship Boxing Show is presented by former NABO Champion Kahren Harutyunyan’s Art of Boxing Promotions in association with Bash Boxing and is sponsored by Affliction Clothing, Platinum Motor Sports, The Long Beach Press Telegram, and www.1800thelaw2.com. Doors Open at 6pm at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California.
Tickets for the event start at $50. To order tickets online, log on to www.artofboxingpromotions.com or www.bashboxing.com. Or call Art of Boxing Promotions at (818) 749-1571 or Bash Boxing at (213) 700-BASH (2274). Doors open 5:30PM, first bell rings 6:00PM.