NEW YORK (Dec. 17, 2009) – Promoter Cedric Kushner, president of Gotham Boxing, Inc., announced today with deep regret that WBO #3 rated heavyweight contender David Tua had advised him that, due to family matters, he had to withdraw from his proposed February 6th fight in Atlantic City. “I was really looking forward to coming to America after the holidays but, due to this significant family matter,” Tua explained, “I simply have to remain in New Zealand and continue my preparation for my March 27th event here..”
Tua (50-3-1, 43 KOs) has defeated four world champions – Michael Moorer, Hasim Rahman, John Ruiz and Oleg Maskaev — during his illustrious and often entertaining 17-year pro career.
“I really feel sorry for Dave,” Kushner said. “I know how much he was looking forward to the first defense of his WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental titles, but Dave has always considered his family above and beyond everything else.”
SUCCESSFUL SURGERY FOR SHAWN ESTRADA
RETURN TO RING EXPECTED IN 3 MONTHS
Los Angeles, CA (December 15, 2009) – On Tuesday of last week, US Olympian and current undefeated super middleweight boxer Shawn Estrada underwent surgery at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The surgery, headed up by Dr. Roy Meals at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, involved repairing a ruptured extensor tendon in the sagittal band of Estrada’s right ring finger which was injured in sparring while the hot East L.A. prospect was preparing for a scheduled November 28 bout.
“The doctors basically told us by doing surgery the injury should never re-occur or be a problem again. He should be ready to return to the ring in three months,” Estrada’s co-manager Eric Scholnick said.
Since signing with Goossen Tutor in October 2008 and turning pro a month later with a one-minute demolition of Lawrence Jones in Ontario, CA, the 24-year old Estrada has knocked out all six of his opponents – five in the first round. In his most recent bout back in May, he registered a first-round stoppage of Cory Jones in Oakland, CA.
“I had some bad luck with injuries this year,” said Estrada, who, in addition to missing a fight due to his recent surgery, had to pull out of a scheduled bout on the Chris Arreola-Vitali Klitschko undercard at LA’s Staples Center in September. “I am confident that I will remain healthy in 2010 and continue to fulfill my goal as a world class professional.”
Promoter Dan Goossen added: “the key is having Shawn healthy and fit going into 2010, and he’ll take care of the rest.”
American Boxing Fans Being Cheated…
by Final Forum, Inc.
While the best American heavyweight who lives in Long Island, New York is training everyday for his opportunity, the fans are being cheated out of great boxing. The network which was once known for broadcasting the best boxing available has been giving their subscribers subpar boxing in the heavyweight division. Earlier this year they put an out-of-shape, beyond-his-prime Jameel McCline to fight Chris Arreola. Recently they again cheated the paid subscribers of a competitive fight by putting a much smaller, much lighter (and by his own admission should be a cruiserweight) Brian Minto in with Arreola. Minto did his best against the behemoth Arreola, but was stopped in short order. Not to take anything away from Minto, who displayed great courage in taking on such an oversized opponent, but why did HBO select this disadvantaged Minto when equally large and powerful Derric Rossy waited in the wings to challenge Arreola.
Sal Musumeci, promoter of Derric Rossy, had contacted HBO offices leaving messages for Kerry Davis (Vice President/HBO) and Ross Greenburg (President/HBO Sports) to offer Rossy as opponent for Arreola. Neither man had the courtesy to even return these phone calls. The only response received was from a representative of Goosen-Tutor Promotions who claimed the company wanted Arreola to fight Rossy but HBO declined him as an opponent.
Now, not taking anything away from the two other heavyweights mentioned because they have had great success in the squared ring, but don’t you think the paying subscribers and boxing fans would like to see a 29 year old, 6 ft 3 in, 235 lb. true heavyweight ranked #11 in the WBC world ratings (and who recently beat WBA #10 Carl Drumond 9 out of 10 rounds) in with Arreola? Is it that HBO has so much hype (not to mention money and time) into Arreola that they will keep feeding him these type of fights when they have a contender like Rossy ready to give the fans what they want? Now let’s face it: the guys that run HBO are intelligent men and they have that piece of paper on the wall that says so. Not only is Arreola-Rossy a great fight, but when was the last time you saw a world-ranked Mexican-American Heavyweight vs. a world-ranked Puerto Rican-American Heavyweight?
HEY- You guys at HBO, lets wake up and give the subscribers what they are paying for!