Boxing News: Zaurebek Baysangurov; Joe McCreedy; Gabor Veto

PALA, CALIF (May 17, 2009) — World-class championship boxing returns to North San Diego County as TKO BOXING Promotions and Pala Casino Spa and Resort present “TKO World Championship Boxing at Pala Casino” Sat., Aug 22, in the Events Center. Tickets start at $25 and will be available starting Sat., May 22 at 10:00 AM through Star Tickets at www.startickets.com or charge by phone by calling 1-800-585-3737 Monday – Saturday between 5:00 AM and 9:00 PM PST and Sunday between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM PST. Tickets are also available at the Pala Privileges Booth with no service charges. Call 1-877-WIN-PALA for more information..

“The Southern California region has long been a hotbed of world class professional boxing and we’re thrilled to partner with Pala Casino Spa and Resort to present a great evening of entertainment,” said Chet Koerner, President of TKO BOXING Promotions, “Promoting at Pala Casino truly builds into our national ‘HOMETOWN HEROES TO WORLD CHAMPIONS’ series — along with the world title main event, we will have numerous talented local prospects on the card, many of whom we believe can become world champions.”

Headlining the inaugural “TKO World Championship Boxing at Pala Casino” event will be an I.B.O. Junior Middleweight World Title bout between world ranked contenders Zaurebek Baysangurov of Chechnya and Grady Brewer, winner of ESPN’s The Contender, Season Two.

Twenty-four-year-old Baysangurov, 20-1-0 with fifteen knockouts, is a former European Junior Middleweight Champion. Now based in Los Angeles, the heavy handed Baysangurov is looking to kick off his U.S. debut with a stellar performance.

Since defeating former world champion Stevie Forbes in 2006 for The Contender, Season Two championship, Brewer, 24-11-0 (13 KO’s), has fought twice since fully recovering from knee surgery. Amongst the most popular boxers in the sport, Brewer is coming off a 10-round decision win over Cornelius Bundrage in Providence, Rhode Island this past November.

Representing San Diego is MMA-champion KJ Noons – a 26 –year-old who has taken the professional boxing ranks by storm with his Jake Lamotta-style, tough guy reputation, movie star good looks and action-packed style. Noons, 8-2-0 with five knockouts, is looking to impress the hometown crowd in his first local appearance in more than two years.

Originally from Mongolia , now fighting out of Arlington, Va. , Bayan “THE MONGOLIAN MONGOOSE” Jargal has become boxing’s most talked about lightweight prospect. Since turning professional about two years ago, the heavy-handed Jargal has built a record of 12-0-1, with eight knockouts. His all-action, aggressive style has made Jargal a fan favorite across the country. The 27 year old has knocked out all three opponents this year, two in the first round.

Also featured on the undercard is sensational super bantamweight prospect, Rafael Valenzuela. After an outstanding amateur career in which he was ranked number one in the United States in his weight division, the 23-year-old native of Phoenix , Ariz. has earned a professional record of 12-1-0 with six knockouts. In March 2008, Valenzuela took a fight on very short notice at the featherweight limit and shocked the boxing world with a second round knockout of Robbie Cannon for the WBO/NABO title.

Leo “TERREMOTO” Santa Cruz has burst into the professional ranks from the vibrant Los Angeles boxing scene as an outstanding young prospect in the super flyweight division. Also ranked number one in the nation as an amateur, the 20 year old, 8-0-1 (2KO’s) has easily beaten more experienced veterans in his eight of his nine professional bouts. He is trained by former junior lightweight world champion, Robert Garcia.

McCreedy’s bandwagon filling up fast

Joey “KO Kid” Spina vs. Tiwon Taylor headlines Friday night’s show at Twin River Event Center, RI

PROVIDENCE (May 18, 2009) – Super middleweight “Irish” Joe McCreedy has developed into one of New England’s favorite fighters, based on support he’s received from his growing legion of passionate fans from Lowell, the same Massachusetts city that produced one of boxing’s all-time most popular ring warriors, “Irish” Micky Ward.

EBA super middleweight champion McCreedy (10-2-1, 5 KOs) is matched against veteran Willis “The Prophet” Lockett (11-7-5, 5 KOs) on Friday night’s (May 22) “Rage At The River” show, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

McCreedy is as tough as any fighter, evident by his performances since his first loss. After starting out his career with victories in his first five pro bouts, Joe suffered his first lost in October of 2006 to Andre Hemphill. McCreedy’s jaw was broken early but he kept fighting until it was fractured in the second place, which resulted in the ending of the fight in the third round. Joe’s boxing career was in jeopardy but the former high school running back came back strong one a year and a half later to beat previously unbeaten Bay State rival Chris Traietti (7-0) by 6-round decision.

Two fights later, the now 24-year-old McCreedy lost a 6-round decision to Henry Mayes but Joe avenged that loss in his next fight, defeating Mayes by 6-round decision. A natural Irish-Italian, Massachusetts-Rhode Island throw-down was arranged between two CES boxers, McCreedy and Richard “Bobo the Bull” Starnino, last August in which the two fought non-stop, toe-to-toe to a 6-round draw. McCreedy then outclassed veteran Joe Johnson to set-up a rematch against Starnino this past February. In another fan-friendly brawl an even better conditioned McCreedy won an 8-round decision for the vacant Eastern Boxing Association title, much to the joy and delight of his many vociferous backers in the stands.

“Joe McCreedy is a brawler who fights like Vinny Paz and Micky Ward,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “He gives fans their money’s worth every fight. He just keeps coming straight ahead and Joe’s very dangerous. I think he’s at the top of his game right now. His fan base is growing fast because he gives them what they enjoy. He’s fun to watch. There’s no such thing as a boring fight with Joe McCreedy.”

The 8-round main event puts world-rated light heavyweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina (24-1-1, 17 KOs), fighting out of Providence, against 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 and WBC, No. 13 by the WBO and No. 15 by the IBF.

Middleweight James McGirt, Jr. (19-2-1, 9 KOs) makes his CES debut in a 6-round bout versus Patrtick “La Sasa” Perez (25-4, 14 KOs), while Ward works the corner for his nephew and another Lowell fighter, lightweight Sean Eklund (6-3, 1 KO), against Jose Guzman (3-4-1) in a 4-round match.

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 world featherweight title challenger Sandy “Lil’ Tyson” Tsagouris (9-1, 4 KOs) versus TBA in a 6-round bout, as well as supporting 4-round matches are Providence cruiserweight Jay Holland (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Chris “The Archbishop” Boykins (0-3), Pawtucket light welterweight Diego Periera (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Melchor Guillen, Jr. (1-0) and Providence light welterweight Omar Pena (1-0-1, 0 KOs) vs. Omar Brito (1-1, 1 KO). 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 – includes a free $15.00 play that night at Twin River) and limited $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club – includes a free $25.00 play that night at Twin River) 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, 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.)

Veto stops Dimitrov!

Hungarian lightweight Gabor Veto (6-0, 5 KOs) remained undefeated by scoring an impressive third round TKO over Trajan Dimitrov (0-2) of Bulgaria on Saturday night at ArteCad Arena in Tramelan, Switzerland.

Dimitrov, a former silver medalist at the Bulgarian Amateur National Championships, pressed the action early on but Veto responded by landing some strong punches to the head and body of his opponent . After a hard body-shot Dimitrov went down in round three. Veto, a former member of Hungarian amateur national team, continued to drop Dimitrov with a barrage of punches and towards the end of round three, referee Fabian Guggenheim stopped the fight to save the Bulgarian prospect. Time was 2:30.

Gabor Veto said: “It was wonderful to fight in front of so many spectators in such a beautiful town like Tramelan. I want to thank the organizer AC Tramelan and BC Biel-Bienne for this excellent evening.“

Optimum Sports Agency’s Hungarian prospect Gabor Veto looks forward to fight in his hometown of Varpalota, Hungary on July 25th in a WBC Eliminator bout for the Youth Lightweight Title. The fight will be over 10 rounds.