(February 11, 2009 Detroit, MI) Undefeated Johnathon Banks (20-0, 14 KO’s) goes up against Tomasz “Goral” Adamek at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Friday, February 27, 2009. Banks is vying for the IBF Cruiserweight Championship Title. The fight will be aired on Showtime as part of its ShoBox boxing series, in conjunction with Main Events and Ziggy Promotions, in association with K2 Promotions..
“I am looking forward to this great opportunity” said Banks in a statement and is excited about an impressive victory. When asked what’s going to be impressive he simply said “people just have to watch and see.”
Banks is rated 8 in the world by the IBF and number 1 by WBO. He is managed by Motor City boxing legend, Emmanuel Steward and is trained out of Detroit’s famed Kronk Gym. Banks has had the benefit of training side by side with Lennox Lewis and current World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko throughout his career and is associated with the Klitschko brothers’ promotional arm, K2. It has been reported that Banks hits a lot harder than Adamek and Banks will be victorious in this match. This defeat would earn Banks his 2nd World Title in which he would join Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko as Champions for K2 Promotions.
The first bout starts at 8:30 p.m. and doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $38, $53, $78, $103, and $253, and can be purchased at the arena box office or by calling Ticketmaster at 201-507-8900.
Buckland Gears Up For Difficult Docherty Clash
Welsh lightweight Gary Buckland is in the middle of the training camp of his life as he hopes to regain the Celtic title but the Cardiff native must overcome his most experienced opponent to date, Scotland’s Craig Docherty, if he is to realize this ambition.
The pair clash on the undercard of the European super bantam title rematch between champion Rendall Munroe and challenger Kiko Martinez at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England on Friday, February 27, 2009.
Buckland, 14-1 (5), added the Celtic belt to his pre-existing Welsh Area title with a dominant ten round points victory over seasoned campaigner Martin Watson in October, 2007 but the 22 year old saw his 14 bout unbeaten streak come grinding to a halt last June as he suffered a shock one point loss to light welter Ben Murphy.
For Buckland to regain the Celtic crown, he’ll have to stifle the comeback hopes of Docherty, 22-4-1 (9), a battle hardened veteran who has tangled with the best of Britain since turning pro over ten years ago.
The 29 year old from Glasgow bashed his way to an unsuccessful British super featherweight title shot as an undefeated challenger to Michael Gomez in 2001 but regrouped to win the Commonwealth crown in 2003 by knocking out Dean Pithie.
Two title defenses later, Docherty narrowly missed knocking off European champion Boris Sinitsin, losing a majority decision before suffering a KO loss to future WBO champion Alex Arthur in 2005 for the British and Commonwealth belts in a massive Scotland showdown in Edinburgh.
Since then, Docherty has gone 4-1 after moving up to lightweight and will test Buckland like no one the Welshman has faced to date. “The Glasgow Grinder” has promised to produce impressive results behind a withering body assault, generating openings for his sharp right hand.
It’s the type of pairing that has made the British boxing scene the most competitive in the world and this crossroads clash should make for an impressive display of fireworks.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents Rendall Munroe vs. Kiko Martinez for the Super Bantamweight Championship of Europe with full supporting undercard at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England on Friday, February 27, 2009.
Tickets are priced at £75 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 10PM.
COSME RIVERA TO FACE ALFREDO ANGULO ON SATURDAY
SUNRISE, Fla.—Former International Boxing Federation No. 1-ranked welterweight Cosme “Chino” Rivera (31-11-2, 23 KOs) has agreed to step in on five days notice to face undefeated World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization No. 1-ranked super welterweight Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (14-0, 11 KOs) on Don King’s “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” boxing card on Saturday at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.
Mercurial former three-time world champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga, from Nicaragua, was to have faced Angulo, but pulled out 10 days before the match.
Rivera, 32, from Huatabampo, Mexico, is a dangerous veteran who has been in 45 prizefights and fought in nearly 350 rounds. By contrast, the 26-year-old Angulo, from Mexicali, Mexico, will be entering just his 15th professional match and has participated in less than 50 rounds.
Angulo brings the customary Mexican all-out approach to his opponents, and boxing insiders have been impressed by his power and burgeoning boxing skills. A win over the experienced contender Rivera would bolster his resume.
Rivera would like nothing more than to play the role of spoiler in his first appearance at 154 pounds. He went the 10-round distance against future world champion Andre Berto—flooring Berto in round 6 before losing by decision on July 7, 2007.
Rivera also met then-unified welterweight world champion Zab “Super” Judah in 2005 when he was the IBF No. 1-ranked welterweight. Rivera fought bravely but Judah was able to stop him in the third round.
The main event showcases unified (IBF/WBO/WBA) lightweight world champion—and Jacksonville native—Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) opposing International Boxing Federation mandatory challenger Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka, from East London, South Africa.
Another match of great importance at 154 pounds pits interim World Boxing Council super welterweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (44-1-1, 24 KOs), from Buenos Aires, Argentina, against IBF welterweight champion Kermit “The Killer” Cintron (30-2, 27 KOs), from Reading, Pa.
Tickets priced at $200, $75, $40 and $25 (with all seats 2-for-1 excepting a limited number of golden circle seats) are on sale now and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or at the BankAtlantic Center box office.
The event is promoted by Don King Productions in association with Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler Attorneys at Law, V Georgio Vodka, The BOVA Restaurant Group, Renato Watches and QTask. Campbell vs. Funeka is presented in association with One Punch Productions. Martinez vs. Cintron is presented by DiBella Entertainment. Angulo vs. Rivera is a co-promotion with Gary Shaw Productions. Campbell vs. Funeka, Martinez vs. Cintron and Angulo vs. Rivera will also be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT. A full, domestically non-televised, undercard will begin at 5:30 p.m. with 12 bouts in total scheduled for the event.