PROVIDENCE (April 31, 2009) – Legendary boxers James “Buddy” McGirt, Sr. and “Irish” Micky Ward began a friendship in 1986 that continues today. They will reunite May 22nd at “Rage At The River,” promoted Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment, Inc. (CES), as head trainers of fighters on that show. McGirt, 2-time world champion in two different weight classes and former Trainer of the Year, will be training his son, middleweight James McGirt, Jr. (19-2-1, 9 KOs), who’ll be making his CES debut in a 6-round bout versus an opponent to be named. Ward, a participant in three Fights of the Year, will handle his nephew, lightweight Sean Eklund (6-3, 1 KO), against Jose Guzman (3-4-1) in a 4-round match..
“I think it’s great and I’m excited to be working the same show as Micky,” Buddy said. “He fought on my undercard in 1986, 16 years later were in opposite corners — I had (Arturo) Gatti – and now we’re together again. Micky Ward was one fighter I didn’t want to fight. I always felt that, if he wanted to, he’d be a trainer. They don’t make fighters like Micky Ward anymore. We’re good friends.”
Ward remembers beating Jesus Carlos Velez (KO6) on Buddy’s undercard (Feb. 21, 1986) in Atlantic City. “Two years later I stopped Joey Ferrell in the first round,” Micky laughed and jokingly added, “the same fighter Buddy beat by (10-round) decision on that same 1986 card. I broke his rib. I was amazed by Buddy. I was in my fifth fight and he was close to fighting for a world title. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I want to be like him.’ I never wanted to fight him, though. Until the end of his career, he only lost to world champions, twice to the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Pernell Whitaker. Buddy’s a good guy, great fighter and trainer, and we’re friends. I’m enjoying the challenge of being a trainer but, I’m not on the same level as Buddy, who has trained a lot of world champions.”
World-rated light heavyweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina (24-1-1, 17 KOs), fighting out of Providence, headlines in an 8-round fight versus veteran Tiwon Taylor (26-14-1, 19 KOs), former Carolina Boxing Association title-holder, who has been in against world champions Adrian Diaconu, Fabrice Tiozzo and Lou Del Valle. Power-punching Spina is rated No. 12 in the WBA, as well as No. 13 by the WBC and WBO
The Legends Meet & Greet
James “Buddy” McGirt (73-6-1, 48 KOs), former IBF light welterweight and WBC welterweight champion, past Boxing Writers of America Association’s Trainer of the Year, as well as “Irish” Micky Ward (38-13,27 KOs), EBU light weight champion and 3-time participant in Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year, will be joined by Gary “Tiger” Balletto (31-3-2, 26 KOs), former IBU lightweight champion and star of The Contender III, for a very special meet-and-greet May 22nd with “Rage At The River” show ticket holders. They will be available in the entrance area of the Twin River Event Center between 6-7 PM/ET to sign autographs, pose for pictures and talk to fans. They had a combined 142-22-3 (101 KOs) pro record.
Also on the card in separate 6-round bouts are EBA super middleweight champion “Irish” Joe McCreedy (10-2-1, 5 KOs) against Victor Paz (9-7-1, 1 KO) and world featherweight title challenger Sandy “Lil’ Tyson” Tsagouris (9-1, 4 KOs) versus TBA.
Supporting the show in 4-round matches are cruiserweight Jay Holland (1-0, 1 KO) vs. TBA, light welterweight Diego Periera (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Pablo Tejada (2-9-1, 0 KOs) and Omar Pena (1-0-1, 0 KOs) vs. Ramon Santos (0-1). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Rage At the River” are priced at limited $25.00 SRO, $35.00, $45.00 (Bronze), $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and limited $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6::00 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Rage At The River.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)
Carlos Rivera Ready To Take Out Ali Baba on “Fight Night” at the A La Carte May 8 in Tampa!
Tampa, FL – With plans to catapult himself into title contention, Featherweight Carlos Rivera 15-3-2 (5 KO’s) has been training vigorously for his showdown next Friday with former title challenger Alex “Ali” Baba 26-14-1 (19 KO’s). Unbeaten in his last seven contests, Rivera defeated the well respected Johnnie Edwards via unanimous decision in February. Although he is riding his recent success with confidence, Rivera knows his fight with Doraville, GA’s Baba will be far from a cakewalk.
“I am in the best shape of my life”, said Rivera, who fights out of Port Richey, FL. “Baba is a tough guy with a good record and has fought for a world title. He has fought ten or twelve rounds 13 times and I’ve never gone past eight. While this is a tough task, I am confident of victory.”
The Rivera-Baba will be the main event and is scheduled for eight rounds.
The recently revamped undercard will be headed by intriguing eight round match up between unbeaten prospect Ahsandi “Mr. Brixx” Gibbs 10-0 (4 KO’s) and brawny veteran Marcus Upshaw 9-3-1 (3 KO’s). Upshaw will mark Gibbs’ toughest challenge to date and has built a reputation for always coming to fight. Gibbs of St. Petersburg and Upshaw of Jacksonville will battle it out for the vacant Florida State Middleweight Crown.
Local superstar Nicholas Iannuzzi 10-0 (7 KO’s) of Tampa will hope to keep his undefeated record intact against the tough and durable Hilario Guzman 8-23-6 (1 KO) of Orlando by way of the Dominican Republic. The all-action Iannuzzi won the NBA Jr. Intercontinental Cruiserweight crown in his last bout with a sixth round TKO over Theo Kruger. Guzman is unbeaten in his last four bouts and has only been stopped five times, making him far from a pushover. Iannuzzi and Guzman are set to duke it out over six rounds.
Ladies star Jenna “Cowgirl Shiver 8-4-1 (2 KO’s), of Tampa will look to make it back to back solid performances as she will battle Lucia Larcinese 1-3 of Montreal, Canada. In March, Shiver defeated Christina Leadbeater via unanimous decision in a crowd pleasing war. The Shiver-Larcinese matchup will take place over six rounds at Featherweight.
2004 Venezuelan Olympic Heavyweight Wilmer Vazquez 7-0-1 (4 KO’s) will put his unbeaten record on the line against Allen Prescott 2-3 (1 KO), of North Carolina. Vazquez, who now fights out of Florida, has displayed heavy hands and is promoted by Warriors Boxing.
Heavyweights Robert Burgees 0-1 of Altamonte Springs, FL and Lamar Davis 1-1 (1 KO) of Tampa will scrap it out over four rounds. Rounding out the card will be a four rounder between debuting Junior Lightweights Roger Rosa of Orlando, FL and Carlos Cisneros of Sarasota, FL.
The card is taking place at the luxurious A La Carte Event Pavilion. The A La Carte Event Pavilion is located at 4050 Dana Shores Drive in Tampa, Florida. Tickets can be ordered by going to Ticketmaster.com. “Fight Night” at the A La Carte is being promoted by Starfight Productions. The matchmaking was done by the legendary and charismatic Johnny Bos.
Starfight Productions is based out of Tampa, Florida and is operated by Aaron Jacobs, Shea Bailey, Pete Fernandez, Mike Asmer, and Randy Feldman. Their stable of fighters includes Welterweight contender, Irving Garcia, world title challenger/ESPN Fighter of the Year, Edner Cherry and rising star Derrick Samuels among others.
Nettey Comes To UK For Commonwealth Title Belt
Isaac “Kalusha” Nettey came up fighting his way through the severe poverty of his hometown of Accra to become the top super bantamweight in Ghana and now faces European champ Rendall Munroe for the vacant Commonwealth crown.
And Nettey, 18-4 (6), who names Accra’s most famous champion, Azumah Nelson, as his personal hero, has vowed to return to his native country with the Commonwealth belt around his waist.
The pair meet on the undercard of Jamie Moore’s European light middleweight title defense against Roman Dzuman this Saturday, May 2 at Crow Tree Leisure Centre in Sunderland, England.
The 24 year old product of the world famous Bukom Gym has climbed to the top of Ghana’s super bantam rankings through a mix of blinding speed, a lethal body attack and a granite jaw, and he promises Munroe won’t know what hit him when the two clash.
Munroe is among the top five rankings in the WBC, WBA and IBF and Nettey is convinced that the Englishman is overlooking this challenge on Saturday.
After arriving in Manchester on a late night flight the previous week, Nettey has been training in an undisclosed location in the North East and so far, not one of the seasoned sparring partners supplied to him has been able to nick a round from the former Ghanaian and current IBF Continental African champion.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents Jamie Moore vs. Roman Dzuman for Light Middleweight Championship of Europe with full undercard at Crowtree Leisure Centre in Sunderland, England on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
Tickets for this event are sold out.
Sky Sports will broadcast as part of their Sky Box Office presentation of Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao starting at 10PM.