WBC CABOFE Middleweight Champion and former Contender alum Miguel Espino (19-2-1, 8 KO’s) is eager to get back in the ring after almost a year off since his last fight and is ready to show the Middleweight division that he is no longer a prospect and should be considered a legitimate contender. Ranked #6 by the WBC, Espino has won his last ten fights dating back to 2004 when he lost a decision to Peter Manfredo Jr. in the semi-finals on the initial Contender TV Series..
This Saturday, March 21st at the infamous Playboy Mansion, Espino is scheduled to square off against Tijuana’s Alejandro “Terra” Garcia (26-4-1, 24 KO’s) in a 10 round title bout for the WBC CABOFE Championship which will be nationally televised live on TV Azteca America. Garcia is a former WBA Light Middleweight titlist who is moving up to the Middleweight division and is by no means a walk over.
Espino has continued to work hard with long-time trainer John Bray out of Fortune Gym in Hollywood. When asked about Espino’s camp and future, Bray stated “that Miguel has been looking very impressive handling all sparring partners and is on the verge of the Middleweight Championship if he continues to work hard.” Additionally, veteran Joe Chavez recently joined Team Espino and had the following to say “John Bray is a very good friend of mine and I was happy that he asked me to join Team Espino. I look forward to contributing however I can.” With over 60 years of boxing experience in his corner and the boxing skills that he has, Miguel has all the tools necessary for a world title shot.
Akaash Bhatia Heads Up Undercard At Newham
Fresh off a riveting destruction of former English super bantamweight titlist Marc Callaghan, undefeated prospect Akaash Bhatia returns to the ring in support of Ian Napa’s European bantamweight title defense against Malik Bouziane this Friday, March 20 at Newham Leisure Centre in London, England.
Red hot Bhatia stepped up against veteran Callaghan and gunned down the former British and Commonwealth title challenger in just two rounds last November, joining Michael Hunter and Jackson Asiku as the only opponents to send Callaghan home early over the last seven years.
Bhatia, 13-0 (4), got to try out every tool in the arsenal but it was the left hook that shattered the seasoned man from Barking, earning “Kash The Bash” his first title belt, the southern area featherweight crown.
The 25 year old Harrow sharpshooter is fast becoming the young gun to beat in the UK at 126 pounds and his appearance at Newham Leisure Centre this Friday brings blazing speed to a packed undercard.
In a pair of eight round bouts, rugged lightweight Henry Castle, 19-4 (11), faces the comeback of former British super feather champion Carl Johanneson, 27-4 (19), who has vowed to regain his elevated stature by any means necessary while light middle prospect Sam Webb, 12-1 (4), tangles with cagey “Mad” Max Maxwell, 9-4-1 (2), and must win the difficult clash in order to see a possible upcoming British title challenge.
In a six rounder, promising flyweight Ashley Sexton, 4-0 (2), takes on a more experienced foe in Robert Nelson, 6-1-2 (0), who is coming off a failed bid to unseat English super fly titlist Andy Bell, and welterweights Tomas Grublys, 2-0 (1), and Paul Dyer, 18-10 (1), go at it over a scheduled four frames.
Two of Maloney’s promising young heavyweights are also on the bill as Tom Dallas, 3-0 (1), trades leather with Ben Harding, 2-1-1 (0), and Larry “The War Machine” Olubamiwo, 3-0 (3), gets to grips with former amateur star Mick O’Connell making his long awaited pro debut while super feather prospect Liam Shinkwin, 1-0 (0), meets journeyman Johnny Greaves, 1-25 (1), all in four round contests.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents the Bantamweight Championship of Europe as reigning titlist Ian Napa defends against Malik Bouziane along with full undercard support at Newham Leisure Centre in London, England on Friday, March 20, 2009.
Tickets, priced at £80 for Ringside and £35 General Admission, are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
RASHAD HOLLOWAY: FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT LOOKS TO HUGE 2009 FEATURED ON TKO BOXING CARD IN CINCY ON SATURDAY NIGHT
ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE
CINCINNATI, OH , (March 17, 2009) Sensational junior middleweight prospect Rashad Holloway has arrived in his native Cincinnati , Ohio for his feature bout this Saturday night at the U.S. Bank Arena as part of “3 THE HARD WAY”, an outstanding evening of world class boxing presented by TKO BOXING Promotions and TMAX EVENTS.
Holloway, 9-1-0 with five knockouts will face heavy handed Puerto Rican Doel Carrasquillo, 12-10-1 (10KO’s) in his return home from his training headquarters at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood , California .
“This is an important year for me, the last two years I’ve only fought twice, but I want to be much more active in 2009. Eight fights this year would be perfect for me” said Holloway.
For the last two years Holloway has trained under the watchful eye of Eric Brown at the Wild Card Gym.
Continued Holloway “Moving out to there was the best thing for me. It’s just easier to get things done for me professionally in Los Angeles . Being able to work with guys like Pacquaio and seeing what it takes to be a world champion has had a terrific effect on me.”
Long known in the gym circles of Southern California as a great sparring partner, Holloway feels his time is now.
“I’ve sparred with numerous world champions from 140 up to 168. Now it’s time to apply what I’ve learned into my performance in the ring and I’m very confident that I’ll be successful. By the end of the year, I’d like to face a top ten fighter at 154.”
In his last bout Holloway knocked out Junior Ramos in the fourth round on August 30, 2008 in Cincinnati .
“I feel great right now, hopefully there will be no more long layoffs. It’s terrific to be fighting at home, these people have known me since I was a little kid.”
Also featured at “3 THE HARD WAY” is 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Williams Jr., two time Olympian and current amateur phenom Rau’Shee Warren, highly regarded lightweight prospect Terrance Crawford, former amateur standout and pro debuting Ron Siler, Detroit middleweight James Countryman and Cincinnati favorites David Long and Jessie Carradine.
Advance tickets, priced at $82.75, $43.75 and $26.75, for “3 THE HARD WAY” can be purchased online through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 513-562-4949.
The U.S. Bank Arena is located at 100 Broadway St. in Cincinnati , adjacent to the Great American Ball Park . Doors will open on the evening of the event at 6:30pm with the first bell at 7:30pm. Further information on the U.S. Bank Arena can be found on their website at www.usbankarena.com.
Formed in early 2008, Chet Koerner’s Las Vegas based TKO BOXING Promotions, originator of the “HOMETOWN HEROES TO WORLD CHAMPIONS” national boxing series, stable includes; heavyweight Lenroy Thomas, super middleweight Joey Gilbert, middleweights Elvin Ayala, Albert Onolunose and James Countryman, junior middleweights Bastie Samir and Anthony Thompson, welterweight Juan Buendia and Raul Tovar, junior welterweights Jonathan Gover, Francisco Contreras and Hastings Bwayla, lightweights Rolando Reyes and Terrance Crawford, featherweights Matt Remillard, Carney Bowman, Delvin Plascencia, Rafael Lora and Maxwell Awaku, super bantamweights Rafael Valenzuela and Carlos Reyes.