PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. (March 19, 2009) – Undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY is all business as he prepares for his world title unification rumble with World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight champion KENDALL “Rated R” HOLT. The winner will surely see his stock rise and emerge as the 140-pound division’s only unified champion..
Promoted by Top Rank and Gary Shaw Productions, the Bradley-Holt world championship fight will be televised live from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, Saturday, April 4, beginning at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.)
“I hope Holt has invested his time wisely, training hard in the gym, because I’m preparing a two-fisted stimulus package that will knock him into a deep depression,” said Bradley. “Holt may think he’s “Rated R” but he’s going to be rated less than a junk bond when I’ve finished trading with him. Holt is about to become a de-listed commodity on the boxing stock exchange.”
Bradley (23-0, 11 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., captured the WBC title on May 10, 2008, knocking defending champion Junior Witter down en route to a split decision victory. Bradley successfully defended the title on September 13, winning a unanimous decision over Edner Cherry. Holt (25-2, 13 KOs), captured the WBO title July 5, 2008, knocking out defending champion Ricardo Torres in the first round in one of the year’s most explosive and exciting fights. He successfully defended his title on December 13, winning a split decision over Demetrius Hopkins.
MTAGWA BOXES MEDINA IN MINI-WORLD WAR MAY 1 AT BLUE HORIZON
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Crowd-pleasers Rogers Mtagwa, of South Philadelphia, and Ricardo Medina, of Mazatlan, Mexico, will go at it for 10 rounds or less in their featherweight main event Friday evening, May 1, at the Legendary Blue Horizon, 1314 North Broad Street. First fight 7.30 p.m.
Throw out the records in this one!
If you thought Mtagwa’s Nov. 7 fight with Tomas Villa was a Fight-of-the-Year candidate for 2008, wait until you see this one!
Mtagwa, 29, is rated No. 9 in the world as a super bantamweight (122 pounds) by the International Boxing Feederation (IBF), No. 14 by the World Boxing Council (WBC). This fight will be contested at 130 pounds.
In his fight Nov. 7 in Tucson, AZ, Mtagwa got off the floor in the ninth round and knocked Villa down three times in the 10th in a sensational turnaround. The win improved Mtagwa’s record to 25-12-2, 18 K0s..
Prior to that, Mtagwa had earned a 10-round decision over Aldo Valtierra, of Mexico City, on March 7, 2008, at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia.
Mtagwa, former United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) featherweight champ, has beaten contenders Fernando Trejo, Joe Morales and Art Simonyon and has been in there with world champions Agapito Sanchez and Valdemir Pereira as well as top contenders Orlando Salido, Martin Honorio and Billy Dib.
Medina, 38, is 31-33-5, 17 K0s, and like Mtagwa, he rarely gets an easy assignment. Medina’s six-round draw last year with Lenny DeVictoria at the Blue Horizon was voted Philadelphia’s Fight of the Year for 2008. Previously, he had out-pointed DeVictoria in 2007.
A pro since 1988, Medina has fought them all and his list of opponents reads like a Who’s Who of big little men around the world: champs Paulie Ayala, Guty Espadas, Jr., Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, Enrique Sanchez; contenders Gerardo Martinez, Cuauhtemoc Gomez, Hugo Dianza, Zahir Raheem, Marcos Licona.
Matgwa is 5-foot-5, Medina 5-foot-6.. Neither man knows how to fight backing up. Neither man will have to look hard to find the action.
This will be the second fight card back—after an eight-year hiatus–at the Blue Horizon for Hall-of-Fame promoter J Russell Peltz, who began his career there as a 22-year-old in 1969. On March 6, welterweight Mike Jones, of North Philadelphia, knocked out Dairo Esalas, of Miami, FL, in front of a packed house of 1,327. Peltz is promoting this card, the second of six within a 12-month period at the Blue Horizon, with Joe Hand Promotions, Inc.
Tickets for the May 1 are priced at $45 and $60. They are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc. (215-765-0922) and at the offices of Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. (215-364-9000). They also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com.
Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham’s English ‘Golden Girl’ On May 9th Philly Title Card
In February ’08 legendary Heavyweight boxing champion of the world Smokin’ Joe Frazier simply said “She’s going to be the Champ.” and his son former Heavyweight contender Marvis said “Marianne is the hardest working (training), committed fighters I have seen in a long time. She’s very hard for any fighter to deal with. She’s strong, fast and accurate, has lots of combinations and punches hard, so hard it’s like being hit by a Heavyweight.”
In April ’08 Jnr. Middleweight world champion Robert ‘Bam Bam’ Hines said “Marianne’s an exciting fighter who’s got it all. One thing for sure she’s going to be the Champ…soon.”
Then in November ’08 IBF Cruiserweight Champion Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham was so impressed with her that he invited her to be part of his team.
Now after various well publicised false starts Philadelphia based English Bantamweight Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston, who was originally brought to America by the legendary Heavyweight Champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier in a blaze of publicity, will finally have her long awaited debut, virtually one whole year later than planned, on the undercard of Brian Cohen’s WBO Light Heavyweight title fight in South Philadelphia on the 9th May 2009.
In February ’08 Marianne took the huge step of traveling thousands of miles from her home in London, England to Philadelphia to train full time under the personal tutelage of Smokin’ Joe Frazier and his son Marvis at their North Philadelphia landmark gym after Frazier had advised her to spend six months training with him so he could get her fully prepared for her debut.
Just 58 days after making the commitment Smokin’ Joe Frazier’s gym closed. Shortly after Marianne moved her “home” gym to Percy ‘Buster’ Custus’ James Shuler Memorial Gym and continued to train for her professional debut which was to be the ill fated Casino Battle Royale event in Atlantic City.
Smokin’ Joe is not the only World Champion to be impressed by Marianne’s natural talent as not long after she moved gym Cruiserweight King Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham and his wife and manager Livvy, who are also based at the West Philadelphia gym, invited her to be part of their team.
After promoter Ivan Cohen confirmed on Wednesday that Marianne is to be on the card a very pleased Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham said of his protégé “What a great opportunity for Marianne. She has the heart, work ethic and determination of a true champion. This May she’ll be on her way, watch out for ‘Golden Girl’!”
Marianne, who is currently in London, will be returning to Philadelphia shortly to go into training camp with Team ‘USS’ Cunningham’s head coach Anthony Chase, spoke briefly on the news. “I’m so honoured that Ivan is to have me on the card of this important fight. I also must thank him as he has offered me sparring with two of his female fighters to help in my preparations. I can’t wait to get back to Philly to prepare with Chase, Steve and Shar’ron. They are great trainers, Shar’ron has been awesome, her techniques really suit my style and in the short amount of time I have had to work with Chase he took me to another level altogether. As for Steve, what can I say he is a great fighter and his advice has been unbelievable. My fighting style has changed thanks to them, I feel that I am a total fighter now. I’m ready to fight now and can’t wait until May.”
Marianne’s fight will be part of the Ivan Cohen promoted WBO Light Heavyweight title fight featuring Philadelphia’s Brian Cohen on May 9th 2009 at the South Philadelphia High School. The co-feature will headed by Gabrielle Rosadl. Also on the card will be Marianne’s regular sparring partner Christina Leadbeater from New Jersey. The full card is expected to be announced shortly.