Approaching his July 10 showdown with top contender Chris Henry, New York City’s Shaun George has a single-minded agenda: Seek and Destroy. George vs. Henry is scheduled for ten rounds and will be televised as part of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights in the co-featured bout. The fight will take place in Henry’s hometown of Houston, TX at the West Side Tennis Club which is located at 1200 Wilcrest Drive and will be contested for the vacant North American Boxing Organization light-heavyweight title. The show will be promoted by CES Promotions..
“I’m excited to be back in the ring doing what I love,” George, 18-2-2 (9 KO), says. “Good old-fashioned boxing without the politics. I’m fighting in his hometown; a lot of people wouldn’t want to do that.”
The 30-year-old George exploded onto the scene last year with a dominant nine-round blowout of two-time heavyweight champion Chris Byrd on ESPN2. Since then he has only fought once, knocking out former world title challenger Jaffa Ballogou in 86 seconds this past February. George is promoted by Dibella Entertainment.
“I feel like every fight is life or death for me. I’m not getting the opportunities other fighters are getting so I have to treat this fight like it’s all or nothing. Chris Henry is a dangerous fighter and I respect him. It’s going to be on ESPN2 so I want to show the world what I’m capable of doing with a top ten contender.”
Henry, 28, brings a record of 23-2 (18 KO) and has the experience of having fought for a world title. Last year Henry went to Romania to give unbeaten Adrian Diaconu a serious run for his money, losing a bid for the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight championship. Henry also took Yusaf Mack to the wire, winning the fight on one judge’s card but losing a close decision.
“I’m not coming to show mercy to any of these guys,” says George. “I’m on a mission to prove to myself that I’m the best fighter in the world. Chris Henry is a world class contender, but I believe I’m the best in the world. I don’t think this fight will be easy, but I will win. Our styles make for very fan-friendly fight. So everybody go and get your tickets.”
Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard targets veteran Edel Ruiz in journey towards top tier of featherweights
MANCHESTER, Conn. (June 15, 2009) – WBC Youth and USNBC featherweight champion Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard faces veteran Edel “Cuate” Ruiz on Thursday night at Michael’s Eight Avenue in Glen Burnie,
The 23-year-old Remillard (17-0, 9 KOs), fighting out of Manchester, Connecticut, stopped 52-fight veteran and former world title challenger Jesus Perez in three rounds this past April in his first Maryland fight.
“I’m happy to be back in action,” Remillard said. “After my last fight in Maryland, people were asking when I’d be fighting there again, and now it’s becoming like a second home for me. There was an instant connection. I must have signed 60 pictures. They are real boxing fans and I’m thankful for their support. I was moved by a few injured soldiers there who had come back from the war. I’d never felt anything like that when we spoke and they told me how much they had enjoyed watching me fight. That was special.”
Remillard went into the Perez fight after registering his most impressive win, by 6-round decision against 3-time world champion (34-9-2) Maurico Pastrana, last November. Ruiz (32-22-4, 23 KOs) represents another test for Remillard, who appreciates the boxing maturation process he has undertaken.
Ruiz is a former WBO Latino, WBC CABOFE and WBC Continental Americas champion who has been in the ring against one present champion, Juan Manuel Lopes, as well as four former title holders (Paulie Ayala, Robert Guerrero, Jhonny Gonzalez and Joan Guzman, and two world title challengers (Jason Litzau and Fernando Beltran, Jr.).
“Look at who Ruiz has fought,” Remillard noted. “He’s had more than 50 fights, many against top fighters, and he’s still only 31. The experience I’ll gain fighting him is exactly what I need at this stage of my career. I need to fight and beat a veteran like him to get to the next level. Our weight class has so much talent. Ruiz is another step up the ladder. I’m looking for bigger fights but take ‘em one at a time. Right now, this guy is in my way.”
Remillard is gradually rising in the ratings, moving up to No. 4 in the NABF and No. 6 in the USBA.
“This is a good fight for Matt,” Remillard’s manager Bret Hallenbeck added. “It’s much more than a stay busy fight against a seasoned opponent like Ruiz, who has fought some of the top guys in the division. He’s tougher than anybody Matt has fought to date. Every fight is a step forward for Matt and he’s learned something new each time out. He’s only 23 but getting closer and closer to a really big fight.”
RAMOS AND MORALES SET TO BATTLE
The WBO Latino junior lightweight title will be on the line on Saturday, June 20th, when hometown hero Likar Ramos squares off against Mexico’s Ernesto Morales in the main event of HBO Plus’ “Next Boxing Generation” which will make it’s debut in Colombia at the Coliseo De La Universidad Del Norte in Barranquilla.
In the co-main event, unbeaten Mexican banger Pablo Cesar Cano risks his perfect record against fellow unbeaten Fabian Marimon of Cartagena, Colombia in a lightweight eight rounder.
This hard-hitting nine bout card, which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Producciones Deportivas de Ricardo Maldonado Jr. and Probox Del Caribe and will air live on the HBO Plus service in Latin America beginning at 10pm ET. The doors open at 6:30pm and the first bout begins at 7:00pm.
Tickets, priced at 90,000, 50,000, 30,000 and 10,000 pesos, are on sale now and are available by calling 575-300-2765 or visiting Tower Records at Carrera 52, Calle 80. Ticket may also be obtained online at www.tuboleta.com.
Barranquilla’s Likar Ramos (19-2, 14 KO’s) takes no prisoners in the ring and that aggressive style has rapidly made him a fan favorite. A 2004 Olympian for Colombia, the 23-year old made his pro debut in July of 2005 and has made an impressive mark thus far, winning 19 of 21 bouts, with only a close decision loss and a disqualification defeat marring his record. Winner of nine in a row, including seven by knockout, Ramos won the WBO Latino crown with an eighth round knockout of Orlen Padilla in February and he’s ready to defend it on June 20th.
Southpaw Ernesto “Pantera” Morales (18-3, 10 KO’s) can give anyone a run for their money in the ring as evidenced by his 18 wins and 10 knockouts. In his last bout, Morales scored a second round knockout victory over Fernando Torres. The Guadalupe, Nuevo León Mexico native is currently sporting a four fight winning streak, is closing in on a title shot and hopes to secure one by taking out Ramos later this weekend.
One of Mexico’s top up and coming talents, Pablo Cesar Cano (16-0-1, 13 KO’s) has made a lot of noise on the Mexican fight scene in a very short time and on June 20th the 19-year-old will fight outside of his home country to fight for the first time. Standing across the ring from him will be Fabian Marimon (9-0-1, 6 KO’s), a ferocious puncher who has dispatched six of his opponents in two rounds or less. When these two young prospects meet in the center of the ring, fireworks are expected.
“Next Boxing Generation”, which was launched in August of 2008 by Golden Boy Promotions in association with HBO Latin America Group, features the top up and coming Latin American fighters in boxing today in exciting bouts that will appeal to fans across all demographics. In less than a year, the series has seen fights take place throughout Mexico as well as made stops in Puerto Rico, Argentina and Uruguay.
An exciting undercard is also on tap for fans in Barranquilla. Fellow Barranquilla pro debut fighters Carlos Padilla and Miguel Angel Monzon will meet in a four round featherweight fight; Cartagena’s Miguel Angel Marriaga will make his pro debut against Cesar Rodriguez of Barranquilla (0-1) in a four round featherweight bout; Barranquilla featherweights Jose Palma (9-1-1, 6 KO’s) and Jean Sotelo (20-6-2, 12 KO’s) will see action in a ten round battle; Barranquilla bragging rights will be on the line when Darly Perez (5-0, 5 KO’s) and Dunis Linan (10-13-2, 5 KO’s) tangle in a six round lightweight bout; in another all-Barranquilla affair, lightweights Isais Cabarcas (3-0, 3 KO’s) and Fernando Contreras (1-3, 1 KO) will do battle in a four rounder; national pride will be on the line when Sao Paolo’s Erisvan Coniecao (12-0, 10 KO’s) takes on Barranquilla’s Jason Palomeque (11-3-1, 6 KO’s) in an eight round middleweight fight and Barranquilla junior featherweights Jhonatan Romero (2-0, 2 KO’s) will face Jeiler Pacheco (6-1, 4 KO’s) in four round bout.