NEW YORK- As training camp winds down for Shaun George, he prepares for what he says will be “the performance of a lifetime” on February 25 against Jaffa Ballogou at BB King Blues Club & Grill, located in New York City’s Times Square. The fight is scheduled for 10 rounds and will headline Dibella Entertainment’s next installment of “Broadway Boxing”. “Everything is going great,” George, 17-2-2 (8 KO) of Brooklyn, NY says. “I’m just staying sharp and keeping my timing right. I can’t wait to get out there and fight already. Jaffa doesn’t stand a chance against me..”
Ballogou, 46-7 (40 KO), has fought a who’s-who of top contenders during his career. At 6’0″ with a southpaw stance to boot, he presents a stern test for George’s divisional reign of terror.
“The guy he is fighting is a very experienced fighter who has fought just about everybody,” George’s advisor Donna Duva-Brooks says. “He’s a southpaw but Shaun has no problems with southpaws. I’m looking for him to score an impressive win.”
George knows that to stand out in the crowded division he must make a statement with each fight. George’s first major statement came in May when he destroyed two-time heavyweight champion Chris Byrd in 9 rounds in his hometown of Las Vegas. He plans to pick up where he left off against “The African Assassin”.
“The boxing fans are the most important people in my world. I have to impress them every time out. I want everyone to know that I’m still here and a top-ranked contender. I keep hearing about HBO promoting Chad Dawson as the premier light-heavyweight in the world but I’m right on his heels. I have my eyes on the prize.”
Adds Duva-Brooks, “I believe this fight will catapault Shaun into a world title fight in 2009.”
George is rated #6 by the WBC, #10 by the IBF and #11 by the WBA.
Tickets for the event, priced at $150, $100, and $55 can be purchased by calling 212-947-2577. BB King Blues Club & Grill is located at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42 Street in New York City.
Sweeney not too disappointed with Valentines night at home
The fact Michael Sweeney was pulled out of his Banner Promotions Tommy Egan Promotions debut clash with Tony Averlant deprived the Mayo punchers wife a dream Valentines night in the country of love, France.
But Mrs Sweeney shouldn’t be the only person disappointed the Storm didn’t step into the ring last weekend.
Sweeney’s next bout will be on a St Patrick weekend Illinois hosted ESPN Friday Fight Night, and the teak tough Mayo man believes his opponent that night will rue the fact he didn’t appear on the Cristobal Cruz Cyrill Thomas under card on Saturday night.
Sweeney is now chomping a the bit, keen to get a new and exciting leg of his pro punching career underway, and will use his Valentines weekend disappointment to his advantage come St Patrick’s weekend .
The fighter, who knocked Andy Lee out when they were both amateurs, claims he can now train harder and is in the best shape of his career. He is also eager to put on a real show when he steps in the square circle in the States in March.
“I am really looking forward to March and fighting. I am disappointed I didn’t fight the weekend but I was pulled out for the right reasons and I can have no arguments about that.” The Storm explained.
“Valentines night in France though would have been nice. I have to look at the positives now have more time to train and prepare and am more motivated than ever. I really want to get into the ring and put on a show. My opponent will be facing a different Michael Sweeney, unfortunately for him.”
With his Banner Promotions Tommy Egan Promotions debut delayed by a month Sweeney has had more time to train and he believes he has never been in better condition.
The former light heavy weight has dropped to cruiser weight and admits he feels much better since dropping down the scales. He is benefiting from one on one coaching with Irish boxing legend and fellow Westerner Sean Manion.
The Mayo pugilist is also working with the man who has helped to shape impressive man mountain Paul O’Connell and his Munster team mate’s, strength and conditioning coach, Blue Shinners.
“I have done a lot of training and although I intend to get even fitter I am in the best shape I have ever been. Working with Sean is great there isn’t anything he doesn’t know about boxing. Also we have joined teams with Blue Shinners and Jason Kennedy, who are strength and conditioning coaches that have worked with the Munster Rugby team and Bernard Dunne. I have a great training team and I have to thank Tommy Egan for that he has really gave me the best chance to progress,” he added before explaining how eager he is to get into the ring in March for a fight he believes is a stepping stone to bigger things.
“I have boxed in Boston before and there was great atmosphere. I think this time out it will be much better though to be honest. I have a perfect team behind me with experienced coaches and obviously Banner Promotions and Tommy Egan. I really want to impress on my first fight with them. I want to prove I am a hidden Irish talent and I see this as a step to something bigger. My long term goal is to win world titles and this is the first step I am going to give it 100 percent and put on a show.
Unbeatens Clash In “Next Boxing Generation” Main Event
Gonzalez To Defend WBO Latino Crown Against
Alvarez February 21 In Guadalahara
HBO Plus’ hit boxing series “Next Boxing Generation” will ramp up it’s explosive fistic action even higher on Saturday, February 21st, when it touches down at Palenque Benito Juarez in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico with another stellar doubleheader.
In the 12 round main event, Guadalajara’s own Saul Alvarez will challenge for the WBO Latino Welterweight Championship against fellow unbeaten Euri Gonzalez.
Santo Domingo’s Euri “Millon” Gonzalez (17-0-1, 12 KOs) is an exciting young fighter who is speeding up the welterweight ranks. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (24-0-1, 17 KOs), who is fresh off a first round TKO of prospect Antonio Fitch on January 17th and is just 18 years old, is earning just as much praise from boxing insiders for his talent, making this meeting of two undefeated rising stars a must see for fight fans.
The co-feature will see Mexico City’s Eduardo “Canilla” Escobedo (21-3, 15 KOs) in a ten round featherweight bout against Daniel Lomeli (16-0, 9 KOs) of Tepatitlan, Mexico. Escobedo, winner of 22 of his 25 pro bouts is a former NABO Featherweight Champ and world title challenger who hopes to extend his current two-fight winning streak with another victory as he pursues a world championship in 2009. Last Novemeber, Lomeliwon a majority decision over Edgar Puerta in Chihuahua and is looking to shock the fans with a win over Escobedo, a strong and experienced fighter.
This night of world-class professional boxing, which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Boxing Promotions and Producciones Deportivas de Ricardo Maldonado Jr., will be presented live on the HBO Plus service in Latin America beginning at 8 pm CT. The doors open at 7:00pm CT and the first bout begins at 7:30 pm CT.
Tickets priced at 300, 200, 130 and 80 pesos are on sale and available for parchase at Transmatic en la Calzada del Ejército #695 Sector Reforma, Guadalajara, Jalisco México, by phone 52 33-35621899 and 52 33-36190865.
A pro since the age of 15, Saul Alvarez (24-0-1, 17 KOs) has been learning on the job for the last three years and the results have been impressive, as he has shown maturity beyond his years en route to 24 wins and just one draw. The current NABF and WBA Fedecentro Welterweight Champion, this hard-hitting youngster is on the fast track to a world title before he even turns 21.
Unbeaten in 18 fights dating back to 2004, 30-year-old Euri Gonzalez (17-0-1, 12 KOs) will be looking to show young Alvarez some new tricks on February 21st. Owner of three regional welterweight belts already (WBO Latino, Dominican Republic, WBO Intercontinental), Gonzalez has paid his dues and he’s ready to add one more belt to his collection, one signifying him as a world champion. He will move closer to that goal if he can defeat Saul Alvarez.
In undercard action, three of Mexico’s finest prospects will thrill the crowd as they put their unbeaten records on the line as junior welterweight Pablo Cesar Cano (14-0-1, 12 KOs) faces Ernesto Gonzalez (16-8, 8 KOs) in an eight rounder, while junior welterweight Luis Enriquez Grajeda (4-0, 3 KOs) and super middleweight Marco Antonio Periban (3-0, 2 KOs) face opponents to be determined.
In a 10 round super bantamweight bout, Mexico City’s Víctor Terrazas (20-1, 10 KOs) battles La Paz, Baja California México’s Andres Romero (12-1, 7 KOs); local Guadalajara native Luis Pelayo (4-1, 3 KOs) takes on Abraham Gomez (4-7, 2 KOs) in a featherweight six rounder; Jesus Ceja (3-1, 3 KOs) from Jalisco, Mexico faces Jesus Navarro (13-1, 10 KOs) of Mexicali, Baja California Mexico in a six round bantamweight bout. Opening up the show will be local talents Ricardo Alvarez (4-0) and Enrique Esquivel (2-1) battling in a four round junior welterweight bout and another pair of locals, Horacio Garcia (1-0, 1 KO) and Moises Flores (1-0, 1 KO) meet in a super bantamweight four rounder.