News: Eubank on DeGale; Burgos vs Lizarraga; John Bray

Former WBO middleweight and super middleweight Chris Eubank has predicted that Olympic boxer James DeGale will fail as a professional boxer. Eubank said that DeGale would struggle to fend off the outside pressures that continue to accompany his career. Speaking during Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour on Setanta Sports News Eubank said: “Stay away from sin, stay away from guests. You have to fight, you have to spar. Gifts kill your hunger. Fame kills your hunger. Girls will destroy you..

“Fighters who have their own way all the time, they become white elephants. The best example of this is Audley Harrison.

“I hear James DeGale is getting a £1 million. I guarantee you he will fail. It robs your hunger. I fought Michael Watson. I wanted respect. I got up to carry on because I didn’t have respect.”

Eubank also had his say on the ‘will they, won’t they’ bout between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao

“A fight it will be, it will not be a boxing match,” he added. “Suddenly I look to the after effects because he’s been using this style all his career.

“It will be exciting for the fans. I hope he’s taking the skills on board from Floyd Mayweather Sr. I’m not saying he can’t win the fight just bringing the fight to him.”

NEW BLOOD III ON FEBRUARY 27TH – BURGOS VS LIZARRAGA TO HEADLINE

ORANGE, CA, January 28 – They come to the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California, with a combined record of 50-1 with 30 knockouts, so it’s safe to say that when the “New Blood” of boxing – Juan Carlos Burgos, Patrick Lopez, Mauricio Herrera, and Hector Serrano – lace up their gloves on Friday, February 27th, the future of the sport is in fine hands.

“New Blood III”, a six-bout card of hard-hitting professional boxing action presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions, will take place at the Doubletree Hotel – Ontario, which is located at 222 N. Vineyard Avenue. For tickets, priced at $75, $45, and $30, please call 714-935-0900.

In the main event, rising featherweight star Juan Carlos “Mini” Burgos (20-0, 14 KOs) takes a step up when he battles Omar “Calilla” Lizarraga (16-6-1, 12 KOs) in a ten round battle for the vacant IBA featherweight crown. Tijuana’s Burgos, just 21 years old, has been drawing rave reviews for his exciting style and ring savvy. The 33-year old Lizarraga, a 13-year veteran who wants to make a statement against the youngster from his Tijuana hometown, will push him to the limit.

An intriguing junior welterweight co-feature pits once-beaten Patrick “El Elegante” Lopez (14-1, 10 KOs), of Venezuela, against Palm Springs veteran Steve “The Mongoose” Quinonez (29-13-1, 9 KOs). Lopez brings a three fight-winning streak into the bout against Quinonez, who is trying to recapture the form that made him one of the most respected contenders in the sport.

The eight round junior welterweight special attraction of the evening will see highly touted Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera, of Riverside, put his 8-0 (3 KOs) record on the line against Bakersfield knockout artist Brian Gordon (4-2, 4 KOs). Herrera is fresh from a big eighth round TKO win over fellow prospect Pavel Miranda last November, and he’s eager to build on that momentum in “New Blood III.”

Also in action will be Riverside lightweight prospect Hector “Teco” Serrano (8-0, 3 KOs) who will take on David Luna (2-5, 2 KOs) of Durango, Mexico, in a four round contest,

and Monterrey Park’s Walter “Schoolboy” Sarnoi, who challenges Moreno Valley’s Alvaro “Cañas” Muro in junior featherweight bout scheduled for four rounds. In the opener, 2-0 (1 KO) junior featherweight Ronny Rios competes in a four rounder against Gilbert Amaro (0-1), both combatants are from Santa Ana, CA.

Doors open at 6:30pm, the first bell is at 7:45pm.

2nd Annual John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic!

San Fernando, CA-The John Bray Boxing Foundation is holding the 2nd Annual John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic in an effort to continue to help the community in preventing and combating violence while promoting discipline and academic success among school-age students by interfacing with local community leaders as well as professional boxers. After holding his inaugural boxing clinic last year, John Bray was so impressed by its success that he vowed to make it an annual event. Although it is considered a boxing clinic, these young kids will also listen to inspirational speakers; learn about nutrition, life skills and attitude development!

This year, the John Bray Boxing Foundation has teamed up with the LAPD Foothill Jeopardy Program, which is a program within the LAPD’s juvenile division that targets children “at risk” of becoming involved in gang activity and offers them a variety of educational and physical projects; from tutoring to boxing. Both non-profits have arranged this Free Youth Boxing Clinic because of the issues with kids that are of crucial importance to the community. Children and young adults face many temptations everyday, whether it be drugs, gangs or peer pressure. The John Bray Boxing Foundation and Foothill Jeopardy Program want to provide these promising young men and women with an alternative where they can feel at home and escape the pressures they have to deal with on a daily basis.

Every one of all ages are welcome. We have arranged special guest appearances by Former World Champions Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas, Former Contender TV Series Star and current WBC CABOFE Middleweight Champion Miguel Espino, Female Bantamweight Sensation Kaliesha “Wild Wild” West and trainer Juan West, Flyweight Contender and 2000 Olympian Jose Navarro, Heavyweight Contender Juan Carlos Gomez, Super Middleweight Contender Fernando Zuniga, Light Middleweight Contender Jose Celaya, Former Middleweight Contender Alex “the Bronx Bomber” Ramos, Former Heavyweight Contender and Trainer Justin Fortune, Former Welterweight Contender Randy Shields, Former Heavyweight Contender Macka Foley, Former Heavyweight Contender Jeremy Williams and Carlos “The Cutman” Vargas from the Reality TV Series Contender.

The 2nd Annual John Bray Free Youth Boxing Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2009 from 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event will take place at the LAPD Foothill Jeopardy Facility located at 11844 Glenoaks Boulevard in San Fernando, California.

We would like to graciously thank the following sponsors for making this event a reality: Everlast Worldwide Inc., Glaceau Vitamin Water, Convicted Artists.com, Visual Impact Stunt Equipment Company and the International Stunt Association.

For additional information regarding this event and/or on the John Bray Boxing Foundation, please visit www.johnbrayboxingfoundation.org or contact Jerry Gonzalez at (559) 643-9313.