Corpus Christi Promotions will present an historic world heavyweight championship fight card on February 6, 2009, in Secunda, South Africa, outside Johannesburg. The main event and co-featured bout will be televised in South Africa on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Network.. For the first time in history, a Mexican-American will fight for the opportunity to become a world boxing heavyweight champion, as the vacant WBF crown is up for grabs. John Ruiz, the former WBA heavyweight champion, is of Puerto Rican descent.
In the main event scheduled for 12 rounds, former IBF World Heavyweight Champion Francois Botha , 45-4-2 with 28 knockouts, of Witbank, South Africa , will square off against Ron “Rocky” Guerrero, 20-15-3 with 14 knockouts, of Corpus Christi, Texas.
The 40 year-old Botha won his last fight with a 12-round unanimous decision against Bob Mirovic in July, 2008. Botha, who is known as “The White Buffalo”, has fought against the likes of former world champions Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Alex Schultz and Michael Moorer, and brings a wealth of heavyweight experience to the table. Botha has returned to the ring, after a brief stint at kickboxing. Of this upcoming matchup against “Rocky” Guerrero, Botha says “I can call it a rude awakening. All I can say is, he’s got to be ready. I know that Ron is coming out here and has got a shot now, and is coming to take advantage of that. I’m not going to underestimate anybody and I’m preparing for a victory.
Guerrero, 34 years old and an 10-year professional veteran, is a living version of the Hollywood character “Rocky”. BoxRec ranks Guerrero as the 34th best heavyweight in the USA, and the 82nd best in the world. His last fight, in May of 2008, was a TKO of Roderick Willis, 14-3-1, in Robstown, Texas. But “Rocky” has some heavyweight power of his own in his corner. Future Boxing Hall of Fame trainer Tony Ayala, Sr. has taken over the reins for this fight. Guerrero also has sparring experience against the Klitschko brothers. In answering Botha’s bold claim, Guerrero would say only “He’s the one to be in for a rude awakening”
WBF executive Howard Goldberg: “It’s a big chance for Ron Guerrero. We speak of the movie “Rocky”. This is the real “Rocky”. For Ron to win, he’s going to have to produce something exceptional.”
More exciting fights are planned to complete the card, matches TBA.
“The Havoc Continues!” on Long Island
January 23 at the Huntington Hilton Hotel
NEW YORK CITY (January 16, 2009) – Pro boxing returns Friday night, January 23 to Long Island with “Havoc at the Hilton II: The Havoc Continues!,” co-promoted by Bob Duffy’s Ring Promotions and Frankie G Productions, at the Huntington Hilton Hotel in Melville, New York.
“Havoc at the Hilton II: The Havoc Continues!” features some of New York’s finest, most entertaining pro boxers, headlined by an 8-round New York State welterweight title fight between Long Island favorite Mike Ruiz (8-2, 5 KOs) and Daniel “The Hudson Valley Kid” Sostre (7-3, 3 KOs), who is fighting out of Highland (NY) by way of Puerto Rico.
Harlem middleweight George “Blaze” Walton (19-3, 12 KOs) meets unbeaten Jose Angel “Silver Boy” Rodriquez (12-0-1, 2 KOs) for the New York State middleweight crown in the 8-round co-feature.
“I’m excited to promote another card at the Huntington Hilton Hotel and back working with my friend and fellow promoter, Frankie G,” Bob Duffy said. “We have some of the hottest, young prospects on the East Coast in action on this show. We have several national amateur champions fighting on this card and fans should closely watch some of the kids making their pro debuts, especially Adam Willet.”
In a scheduled 6-round bout popular Plainview (NY) light middleweight Tommy “The Razor” Rainone (12-2, 4 KOs) faces an opponent to be determined.
Also on the undercard in 4-round matches: Brooklyn light heavyweight and 3-time National Golden Gloves champion Will “Will Power” Rosinsky vs. TBA; Manhattan by way of Faso Isouf Kinda (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Brooklyn welterweight Pablo Tejada (2-8-1, 0 KOs); Bay Shore welterweight Joseph Llovett (2-1, 1 KO) vs. Westbury’s pro debuting Laquan Lewis;
Bronx super middleweight Mike O’Conner (1-0, 1 KO) vs. fellow fighter Juan Zapata (0-2); Bellport cruiserweight Adam “The Bellport Kid” Willet vs. Andrew “Come To Fight” Hutchinson (2-10-2, 0 KOs); Westbury heavyweight Jaquis Louis vs.Bay Shore’s Mark Jackson in pro debuts for both; Brooklyn super middleweight Philip Jackson Benson (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Rafael Jastrewski (0-6-1). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets are priced at $100.00 (Limited Ringside), $75.00 (Reserved – rows 3-7) and $40.00 (General Admission). VIP tables of 10 are $1,500.00 (includes 1 ½ hour cocktail party staring at 6 PM, 7-course dinner and dessert, and unlimited drinks). To purchase tickets go on line to www.ringpromotions.com or call 516.313.2304. Tickets are also available at The Academy of Boxing (631.673.3520), Winters Boxing Club (516.992.0177) and West Babylon Lions Club (631.321.2999). Doors open at 7:00 PM, first bout at 7:30 PM
Harding Not Fighting, Still Appearing
Figure-skating star turned professional boxer Tonya Harding has had her scheduled boxing exhibition at Donofrio Entertainment’s “TURF WARS” cage fight event (on Saturday, January 24, 2009, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan) cancelled, due to Michigan Commission regulations concerning combining professional boxing and full-contact cage fighting.
Harding, who will still be appearing at the event to sign autographs and meet fans, says she is disappointed she won’t be able to put her rapidly improving boxing skills on display, but is still looking forward to returning to Detroit.
“The Michigan Commission has a minimum number of rounds they require for any professional boxing show,” explains promoter Joseph Donofrio. “And because this cage-fighting event is already packed with 15 scheduled bouts, there really is no feasible way to add in three or four professional boxing matches as well.”
For more information, visit Donofrio Entertainment’s online HQ atwww.donofriomma.com.
Tickets for TURF WARS are available at the Palace Box Office, Palacenet.com, Ticketmaster online here, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 248.645.6666. A limited amount of VIP Reserved Cage Side Tables are available by calling 248.770.6000.