HOLLYWOOD, FL, December 17– When Cuban featherweight sensation Luis Franco improved to 3-0 last Saturday night in Atlanta with a first round stoppage of Shante Fleming (Franco’s third consecutive opening round knockout), it kicked off a December / January campaign that has the top guns of the Warriors Boxing roster ready to take the boxing world by storm. “When most promotional companies are taking off for the holidays and easing into the New Year, our fighters are going to be coming out with guns blazing,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Warriors Boxing..
“We’re closing out 2009 with a bang, and I have no question that 2010 will be our biggest year yet. I can’t wait to hear the bell ring.”
The action begins on Monday, December 21st at the Coliseo Carlos ‘Teo’ Cruz in Santo Domingo when top lightweight contender Victor Manuel Cayo (23-0, 15 KOs) returns to fight in his home country to battle hot prospect Julio Reyes (14-0, 8 KOs). It’s the 25-year old Cayo’s first bout since his impressive win over former world champion Julio Diaz in July, and he’s looking to close out the biggest year of his pro career with a fifth victory.
Kicking off the New Year on January 9th will be the hardest-hitting super middleweight in the world – Edison Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs) – who will return to Germany for the first time since his memorable battle against Arthur Abraham in 2006 to take on WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (36-2, 22 KOs) at the Bordelandhalle in Magdeburg. Since the bout with Abraham, Miranda has compiled seven victories, six by knockout, and ‘Pantera’ is ready to take home his first world championship belt.
Fresh off a 2009 campaign that saw him go ‘old school’ in fighting and winning eight times, rising junior welterweight star Danny O’Connor kicks off 2010 on January 22nd with a headlining gig at the Roxy in Boston against an opponent to be announced. This is the year the 24-year old from Framingham, Massachusetts, 10-0 as a pro, makes his move up the 140-pound ladder.
Speaking of rising stars making their moves on the elite, super middleweight Donovan George (18-0-1, 16 KOs) and junior welterweight Kenny Galarza (11-0, 11 KOs) will team up as co-headliners of a big show at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on January 29th. “Don Da Bomb” has finished off his last eight opponents in four rounds or less, and none of Galarza’s 11 opponents have heard the final bell, making this one of January’s most explosive cards.
But that’s not all, as Warriors’ big opening month ends in spectacular fashion on January 30th in Las Vegas when former world champion Glen Johnson (49-13-2, 33 KOs) begins his quest for another title when he battles Yusaf Mack (28-2-2, 17 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for the IBF’s number one contender spot.
Now that’s a Winter season to remember.
MADDALONE AND MORMECK AT THE SCALES
Vinny Maddalone (32-5, 23KO) and former two-time cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck (33-4, 22KO) weighed-in yesterday in anticipation of tonight’s heavyweight match-up, scheduled for eight rounds at the Halle Carpentier in Mormeck’s native Paris, France.
MADDALONE – 232 LBS., MORMECK – 216 LBS.
Palacios & Velez Spread Winter Wishes & Holiday Cheer in Sunny Central Florida
by Christopher Rivera
With the holidays here, everyone is doing their part in hopes of spreading the holiday spirit. In Orlando, Florida, world cruiserweight contender Francisco “The Wizard” Palacios and new professional welterweight Christopher Velez have taken it upon themselves to spread that goodness this time of year to those less fortunate. This shows the true selfless nature of these two warriors. As boxing has become increasingly based on material values, these two gentlemen decided to bring cheer through making others smile free of charge.
On Friday, December 11th, 2009. Palacios and Velez made a visit to the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Orlando Florida. They interacted and entertained those who have made major sacrifices for us for the freedom of our country. Palacios, who first visited in the beginning of the year, couldn’t wait to return. “I have a whole set of friends here who I really care about. Some were telling me how excited they were to see family and friends during the holidays. Some do not have family to visit them, so it an indescribable experience to make someone so happy just by hanging out and shooting the breeze.”
Velez, a rookie to the sport professionally as well as the VA visit, was taken away by the impact he could have. “I can’t believe how many people you can touch just by spending time with them. It really put life in perspective for me. You could tell how much they appreciated us stopping by. Now my appreciation for them outweighs theirs for me by a hundred thousand times.”
Christopher Velez (1-0, 1 KO) has recently become an apprentice to Palacios. Both have lost close family members that drive their careers. Palacios lost a close brother while Velez lost his mother. “I took Chris in. He was really down in every respect and I knew he needed that support to get him back to his best. Now I got him training with me, running with me and even living with me, so he knows I got his back. We all need that friend and that push to get to the next level. I know I did. He is a great kid with unlimited potential.” Velez is the first to be a part Palacios’ PrimoWizardTime management team. Palacios wouldn’t want anyone else under his wing to initiate his managerial endeavors. “Chris (Velez) is a person of real character before anything. Those are the boxers and people I want to be associated with. I’ve seen too many egos in this business and it is time for not only boxers, but all athletes to let their actions speak for them and not their words.” Currently, negotiations are in the works for a Velez fight on January 22nd, 2010 in Tampa, Florida.
Francisco “The Wizard” Palacios (19-0, 12 KO’s) is currently in world contention in the cruiserweight division. The undefeated W.B.A. Fedelatin cruiser champ is signed to DKP and is waiting for the cards to fall into the right place. Sooner than later, he will make his championship mark in boxing. “All I can do is train, pray and hope I get the opportunity I have worked so hard for, not only physically but personally and emotionally. My goal in life is not only to be a world champion boxer but a world champion human being. That is why it is so important to me, and the people around me, to give back to those who deserve and need it most.”
Palacios and Velez have both been through tough times. They have both overcome major adversity to get them where they are today, professionally and personally. They both let me know that giving back to the less fortunate keeps them driven to be successful in all facets of their lives. Winning fights are great, but handing out smiles was one of their many methods of brightening people’s lives that they enjoyed most. It is great to see great people doing unbelievable things. Their selfless acknowledgment of our nation’s forgotten warriors is a true testament to the character of these two athletes and should serve as an example to all athletes in every sport.