News: Frank Warren; Jason Estrada; Ivan Popoca vs Daniel Garcia

Top promoter Frank Warren is lining up an action packed 2009 with Britain’s best young boxers out in recession-busting force. Despite the tough economic times, Warren will be showcasing exciting young talent like Kell Brook, Amir Khan and The Olympians: James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, in what could be the sports best year yet. Sheffield hot shot Brook kick starts the new year when he makes the second defence of his British Welterweight title against Stuart Elwell at London’s York Hall on Friday 30 January..

The 22-year-old shot captured the attention of the public and media last month with a sizzling first round stoppage of former champion Kevin McIntyre.

This will be a big year for Brook, who hails from the same Sheffield gym as Naseem Hamed, as he aims to win the Lonsdale belt outright and become a star attraction now that Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe are heading towards the end of their careers.

Bolton star Khan, who holds the Commonwealth and WBA International lightweight titles, will return to action in February against a top name.

Khan made an explosive return to the ring earlier this month when he stopped Oisin Fagan inside two round, dropping the Irishman three times with his lighting fast combinations.

Now trained by Freddie Roach at his gym in Hollywood, Khan is looking at rebuilding his career next year towards a world title opportunity.

On the same show dynamite punching Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli takes on Johnathon Banks for the Vacant WBO World Cruiserweight title.

The fight was scheduled to take place earlier this month in London, but the American withdrew only a few days before leaving Maccarinelli to face heavyweight Mathew Ellis instead – who he blasted out in two rounds.

Olympians DeGale (Gold Medallist), Gavin (2007 World Amateur Champion) and Saunders (GB Olympic representative) make their highly anticipated professional debuts also in February but on a separate show.

The trio will then tour the country, fighting on the same show as the public watch their careers develop towards championship honours.

DeGale will shortly be announcing who his professional trainer will be, while Gavin is working hard under Anthony Farnell in Manchester, and Saunders has made it into celebrity listings The Red Pages as their Hot 100 for 2009.

Warren, who enters his 29th year as a promoter, said, “Although 2009 is going to be a tough economic year, It’s going to be full steam ahead for me with developing the future champions of the sport,”

“In all my time in boxing I can’t think of a period when there has been so many talented and potential champions in the sport like Kell, Amir, James, Frankie, Billy plus lads like Nathan Cleverly, Don Broadhurst, Tony Bellew, Kenny Anderson, Anthony Crolla, Thomas Costello, Denton Vassell, Jamie Cox, The Smith brothers (Paul, Stephen and Liam) and Derek Chisora.”

“Like Arsenal and Manchester United who invest heavily into their youth policy, boxing is very much the same and it’s about bringing through the young kids year-after-year and developing their careers,”

“I’ve spent a lot of time, effort and money into developing these youngsters and I hope to see the rewards when they become world champions and big attractions like we did with Ricky Hatton, Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe and countless others,”

He added, “Hatton and Calzaghe are at the end of their careers now and the aim is to get these youngsters into that position so that they are the new stars and the ones that the public and media are talking about.”

ESTRADA TOP U.S. HEAVYWEIGHT

PROVIDENCE (December 29, 2008) – 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada, arguably one of the most decorated amateur boxers of the 21st century, is in many ways the United States’ top heavyweight hope to bring home a world title belt.

Estrada possesses the quickest hands and feet in the heavyweight division, along with solid “whiskers,” and he has also shown steady improvement in the power game. All told, though, he’s perceived by many promoters, managers and fighters as too risky to fight, largely because he can box the ears off of anybody in the world who weighs 200 pounds or more.

Estrada (15-1, 3 KOs, 1 NC) won all five of his 2008 fights against opponents with a combined record of 109-24-4 (67 KOs), including former world title challenger Charles Shufford (20-7-1) and multi-regional title-holder Lance “Mount” Whitaker (32-4-1) by 10-round decisions, as well as Derek “The One Man Riot” Bryant (20-4-1, 17 KOs) and Texas State champ Domonic Jenkins (13-8-1) by 8-round decisions, and Carolina champion Moultrie Witherspoon (14-1) by seventh-round technical knockout.

However, finding competitive fights for Jason, who has lost very few rounds during his 4-year pro career, has become a growing problem for his promoter, Jimmy Burchfield. Despite his constant efforts to lure “rated” heavyweights to fight Estrada, Burchfield has been turned down more often than a nerd at the Playboy mansion. A perfect example recently happened when Burchfield’s company, Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., and the Estrada Unit (Jason’s managerial company that includes his father/head trainer Dr. Roland Estrada) agreed to all terms for a WBF heavyweight title fight against Frans Botha in South Africa. While awaiting a signed contract, Burchfield surprisingly discovered that Botha would instead be defending his title against a challenger who sports a 20-15-3 record, Ron Guerrero, who has lost three of his last five, including a first-round knockout loss to Jenkins (aforementioned loser to Estrada by 8-round decision by scores of 79-73 three times) .

“Sooner or later, though, the top heavyweights will to have to fight Jason,” Burchfield commented. ”Like in the days of Vinny Paz, Jason never refuses to fight anybody. He was experienced when he turned pro four years ago because of his vast amateur experience. Heavyweights mature later than other fighters and even though Jason has matured as he’s gotten older, he isn’t anywhere near his potential peak, and will be a dominating heavyweight for years to come.

“Jason has completely dedicated himself to bringing the world title back to the United States. He even opened his own gym (“Big Six Academy”) in Providence to train and teach youngsters. Part of his problem, though, is he makes everything in the ring look so easy. He’s a pure boxer who is learning how to sit on his punches more. The skeptics should be silenced by now, especially those questioning his ability to fight tall heavyweights like the present world champions (7-0 Nicolai Valuev, 6-7 ½ Vitaly Klitschko and 6-6 ½ Wladimir Klitschko). Jason fights his best against taller opponents and everybody saw what he did against (6-8) Lance Whitaker, who came into that fight in the best shape he’s been in for years. Jason Estrada is going to be world champion.”

The 28-year-old Estrada, who is gradually moving up in ratings (WBC #32, NABF #7) has indeed fought anybody and everybody put in the ring with him and none of his opponents had a losing record (260-86-11 combined record of his opponents) when they fought Jason. His only loss was to Travis Walker, who Jason had beaten three times without a loss in the amateurs, by an 8-round majority decision a year ago when Estrada was hampered by a sore shoulder preventing him from effectively throwing his vaunted jab.

Providence-native Estrada compiled an incredible 261-14 record in U.S. competition. He was the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. Highlights of his amateur career included representing the United States in the 2004 Olympics and capturing a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-American Games.

During his extraordinary amateur career, Estrada defeated some of today’s leading professionals including former world title challenger DaVarryl “The Touch of Sleep” Williamson (25-5, 21 KOs), unbeatens Malik Scott (32-0, 11 KOs) and Donnell “The Real Touch of Sleep” Holmes (29-0-2, 25 KOs), Malcolm “The Showstopper” Tann (23-4, 12 KOs), and Felix “Bad News” Cora, Jr. (19-2-2, 9 KOs).

Fore more information about CES and Estrada call CES (401.724.2253/2254) or go on line to www.cesboxing.com.

IVAN POPOCA VS. DANIEL GARCIA SET FOR JANUARY 23RD IN CICERO

UNDEFEATED PROSPECT HAS BIG PLANS FOR 2009 ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE

CHICAGO, IL (December 29, 2008) Forget the cold weather and the snow in Chicago. Skip the holidays. Junior welterweight prospect Ivan Popoca is too focused on the task at hand to pay much attention to either.

Preparing for his next fight on Friday, January 23rd, the undefeated junior welterweight hasn’t stopped training through the holidays. Fighting five times in 2008, Popoca’s last two bouts have ended in crushing first round knockouts, further cementing his status for Chicago fight fans as must-see events.

“For me, 2009 is going to be a huge year, I want to set the tone on January 23rd and move forward quickly from there. Six to eight fights in 2009 and a move up to the world rankings” said the confident 26 year old.

Training at Chicago ’s JABB Boxing Gym for the last few years, Popoca’s name has become synonymous with its growing clientele of pros and amateurs.

“In the last six months, he’s really become the boss here. He’s here to train everyday without fail and he’ll spar anyone. We had some tough Russian professionals here last month and Ivan was the first one to challenge them. Same with many other pros who are more experienced, he’s fearless and will challenge anyone” said gym owner Dominic Pesoli, also President of 8 Count Productions, which handles Popoca.

Known for his all out wars in the gym, Popoca typically stops traffic in the gym as other fighters halt their workouts to catch a glimpse of the most talked about prospect in the Chicagoland area.

Continued Pesoli, “He sets the tone here, other fighters, amateur and pro know this is serious business when they see how hard he works. He loves to spar and he’s got a bit of a street fighter mentality which works to his advantage in the ring.”

Said trainer Mike Garcia, “Ivan’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever been around. He’s really come around and turned the corner in the last year and he’s become much smarter to go along with his aggressiveness. 2009 could be a terrific year for him. Boxing fans in Chicago want to see action packed fights and that’s what Ivan gives them, every time out.”

Popoca, 8-0-1 (7KO’s), will face Houston ’s Daniel Garcia at Cicero Stadium as part of “NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION”, an evening of world class professional boxing presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions. The equally heavy handed Garcia brings a record of 9-5-1 (7KO’s), into the scheduled six rounder against Popoca.

Advance tickets, starting at $30, can be obtained in advance 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.

“NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION” is presented along with Miller Lite, 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