News: Witter vs Alexander; Bert Sugar; Ed Ochoa

22.05.09 – Don King Productions, Inc. and Hennessy Sports informed the WBC that they have reached an agreement to stage the Devon Alexander vs. Junior Witter fight for the vacant WBC super lightweight world championship on July 11, 2009. The WBC wishes the best of luck to both fighters and are very proud that the promoters reached an amicable agreement..

HALL OF FAME WRITER / HISTORIAN BERT SUGAR TO ATTEND HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

Hall of Fame Weekend June 11-14th

CANASTOTA, NY –MAY 22, 2009 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today Hall of Fame writer / historian Bert Sugar will attend festivities planned for the 20th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 11-14th.

“Bert Sugar is a fantastic writer and possesses a vast knowledge of the history of boxing,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “We’re excited about welcoming him back to Canastota.”

One of the most recognizable figures in boxing, with his trademark fedora and cigar, Sugar has been a fixture at ringside for over three decades. He has been editor of The Ring and Boxing Illustrated and authored over 50 books, including The Great Fights and The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time. He has also appeared in several motion pictures including Rocky Balboa, Play it to the Bone, Night and the City and The Great White Hype. In 2005, Sugar was elected into the Hall of Fame.

Events planned for the weekend include a banquet, night of rising stars, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2009. In addition, other special activities will be implemented for the celebration, including a fireworks display.

New inductees to be honored are bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales, heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell, matchmaker / publicist / promoter Bob Goodman, promoter Akihiko Honda, journalist Hugh McIlvaney and broadcaster Larry Merchant. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.

An impressive lineup of boxing legends of yesterday and today are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.

For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 20th Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.

Ochoa Takes Next Step At “Tinley Park Rumble” Towards Reaching Goal

May 22 (Merrillville, In) – On Friday, June 12th at the fight card dubbed “Tinley Park Rumble,” welterweight Ed “2 Fast 2 Furious” Ochoa (8-0, 8 KOs) will square off against a rugged ring Jesse Davis (11-12, 8 KOs).

Ochoa vs. Davis is one of the electric fights scheduled for the “Tinley Park Rumble” with Michael “Midnight Stalker” Walker (19-2-2, 12 KOs) vs. “Iron” Orphius Waite (5-0, 3 KOs) as the main event, but it has been Ochoa stealing the shows with his devastating knockouts lately.

“This is definitely an incredible card to follow up the instant classic that was ‘Date With Destiny’ card,” said Octavius James, C.E.O. of One In A Million Inc. “(Ed) Ochoa is definitely going to be in for a war with Savannah, Tennessee’s Davis, but this is just one of those steps he has to take to become the next world champion.”

The 27 year-old Hobart resident is coming off a destructive 1st round knockout (2:10) of Chris Hill at “Date With Destiny” that rattled the Hammond Civic Center, but Ochoa looks to bring down Davis and the Tinley Park Convention Center to their foundations.

“We want to step it up every time and Davis has been in there with some really good fighters including Derrick Findley,” said Ochoa. “I just know what I possess and what I’m capable of, if fighters want to go through six rounds and they want a beating that long- fine. It takes a lot more to take my zero (in the loss column) away.”

Ochoa’s dream of eventually becoming a world champion got a shot in the arm when fellow O.I.A.M. stable mate “Merciless” Mary McGee staked claim to her second world title at “Date With Destiny.” “It gives me a little more motivation and inspiration and puts a boot under your butt, I just thank Octavius for the opportunity” added Ochoa of seeing McGee win another title.

Also scheduled as part of another sensational undercard are Chicago’s Bobby Jaskierny (3-1, 2 KOs), the unbeaten Josh Crouch (4-0, 4 KOs), Female Sensation Evette Collazo (4-0, 2 KOs), the always exciting Angel Hernandez (12-3, 10 KOs), and middleweight Meegal Harper (1-0, 1 KO).

Tickets “Tinley Park Rumble” are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at VIP $100, VIP ringside $75, ringside $50 and general admission $30 and they are available from any Ticket Master location at (800)745-3000, (866) 438-7372 or www.TicketMaster.com.

The Tinley Park Convention Center, which is just 25 minutes from Northwest Indiana, doors will open at 7 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m.