News: Sergey Gulyakevich; Manny Quezada; Cecilia Braekhus

Los Angeles, CA (August 18, 2009) – In the days when American television allowed cigarette commercials on its airwaves, there was one whose slogan was: “I’d walk a mile for a Camel.” That trek pales in comparison to the air miles that #1-rated WBC super featherweight contender Sergey Gulyakevich traveled to take on #3-ranked Humberto Mauro Gutierrez for the interim WBC Super Featherweight Title this Saturday night, August 22nd at the Auditorio Unidad Deportiva in Los Cabos, California Big Sur, Mexico..

The 28-year old Gulyakevich (26-1, 12 KOs) arrived in Cabo after an 8,000 mile flight from his home in Minsk, Belarus to battle the 20-year old Gutierrez (25-1-1, 19 KOs), fighting in his home country of Mexico.

“It was a long flight but I’m ready to fight now,” Gulyakevich, interpreted by co-manager Philippe Fondu, said. “Fighting for the world championship has been my dream and what I’ve worked so hard for. I’m fighting for my country and plan on bringing the WBC belt home with me.”

With an extensive background consisting of over 100 amateur fights and a multi-national champion in his native country, Gulyakevich has been a pro for over six years. At 5-10, he is tall for the 130-pound weight class and uses his height and reach exceptionally well. Described at times as somewhat awkward, he throws punches from unusual angles, which have helped him secure the top rating in the WBC.

“One thing I can tell you said Fondu, “Sergey is tough and determined with excellent stamina, which has allowed him to be effective late in several of his fights and I know he’s going to be the new champion.”

Gulyakevich was 16-0 when he stopped Dmitry Tarenko in the 10th round to claim the Belarus Super Featherweight Title in November, 2005. Two fights later in April, 2006, he challenged Alex Arthur in Scotland for the European (EBU) title, but sustained a cut over his left eye in the seventh round from an accidental head butt and the referee stopped the bout. Behind on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage, Gulyakevich absorbed the only loss of his career.

Since then he has won eight straight bouts, including a 12-round unanimous decision over Leva Kirakosyan to capture the EBU Super Featherweight Title in his second try in December, 2007 in Italy. Following a non-title win, he made his one and only successful defense of his crown in December, 2008 in Germany with a 12-round unanimous decision win over Vitali Tajbert, before relinquishing the title to secure his upcoming WBC title shot.

In Gutierrez, Gulyakevich will be taking on a southpaw opponent eight years his junior, with a high knockout ratio in his home country. His only loss came via eight-round, split decision to Guadalupe Rosales in May, 2008. Two fights later, Gutierrez avenged that setback with a 10-round unanimous decision to win a WBC Super featherweight Title Eliminator last October. He won a hard-fought, eight-round majority decision over Carlos Parra in his last outing back in April of this year.

Now co-promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and World Sport Promotions, Gulyakevich is managed by the duo of Philippe Fondu and Valery Kaplia and trained by Piotr Bikhtanovich.

“We appreciate the confidence World Sport Promotions provided us with our association with them in helping to guide the career of Sergey Gulyakevich,” said Goossen Tutor Promotions President Dan Goossen. “Sergey has established himself as the number one contender in the WBC and we believe he has a bright future as a formidable world champion in the 130-pound division.”

17 Straight Wins Vaults Manny Quezada Into Top World Title Contention

Los Angeles, CA (August 17, 2009) – Fresh off a stunning first-round knockout of highly-regarded heavyweight Travis Walker, Manuel “El Toro” Quezada (28-4-1, 18 KOs) has climbed the ladder in the World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings from last months #9 position to the #4 WBC heavyweight contender.

Quezada’s latest victory was the 17th straight for the 31-year-old, native of Wasco, CA, who was making the third defense of his WBC CABOFE title. In 2009 Quezada, who has displayed increased punching power since Joe Goossen took over as his trainer, has won all three of these fights by knockout – the last two coming in the opening round.

As the #4 contender in the WBC — whose champion is Vitali Klitschko — only former world champ Oleg Maskaev, Ray Austin and Goossen-Tutor stablemate and top-ranked Cristobal Arreola, are rated ahead of him.

“We are very pleased of the tremendous progress Manny Quezada has made,” Goossen Tutor Promotions President Dan Goossen observed.

“I had called before to get some fights (with top 10 boxers) and they didn’t answer,” Queada said. “Those phones will be ringing now.”

Braekhus to defend WBA/WBC Titles against Morelli in Herning

Cecilia Braekhus is looking forward to her first professional fight in Denmark as she prepares for her September 12 clash with Lucia Morelli. The First Lady, unbeaten in 12 bouts (2 KOs), is thrilled to be a part of Team Sauerland´s fight night in Herning. “I cannot box in Norway, so this is probably about as close as I will get to home,” she said with her trademark smile. “I am really excited to fight in Herning. I have a lot of friends in Denmark and I really want to put on a good show.”

The 27-year-old will make the second defence of her WBA/WBC Female Welterweight Titles since edging Danish star Vinni Skovgaard in a tough fight in March. In May, she clinched an uncontested points victory over Amy Yuratovac in Helsinki. “I finally got a one-week vacation afterwards which I spent on the beach in Tunisia. I then returned to Norway to work out and do some TV and media shootings. I have been training in Berlin since July. Even though the work-outs are very hard, I still enjoy them. I want to get better every day.”

Braekhus believes that the fight against Morelli will be “one of the toughest of my career”. The Italian is unbeaten in 13 fights and boasts a KO quota of almost 50 percent. “She will be tough to beat, but as the world champion, I have to defend my titles against the best opponents out there,” added the First Lady. “It will be a hard fight but I am sure I will win.”

Braekhus needs to overcome another challenge. “I have yet to find hotel rooms for my friends and my family – everything seems to be sold out in Herning. But that is no surprise since Mikkel Kessler really is a Danish national hero. Everybody is excited to see him in action. I am really happy to fight in front of such an enthusiastic audience with so much love for the sport of boxing. It will be a great night in Herning.”

In the main fight, Mikkel Kessler will defend his WBA Super-Middleweight Title against mandatory challenger Gusmyl Perdomo.