LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (January 4, 2010) – Fox Sports en Español and Top Rank announced today the launch of an exciting new boxing series – “Top Rank Live.” The two-hour broadcast will air live on Fox Sports en Español on Saturdays, three times per month, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. The series will debut on Saturday, January 16, 2010, from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. At least one show per month will originate directly from Mexico..
“Top Rank is thrilled to bring world-class boxing on a regular basis to cable and satellite TV viewers across the country,” said Todd duBoef, President of Top Rank. “We have found wonderful partners in the Fox Network Family. This new series will not only offer all-action cards but will allow fans to follow these fighters as they return from victories marching up the ratings toward world title shots. It’s a project Top Rank has been developing for years and Fox Sports Español is the perfect vehicle.”
Former world champions, world-class contenders, and up-and-coming prospects are scheduled to appear in future shows.
“In keeping with a longstanding tradition of bringing our loyal viewers the most in-demand programming, we’re thrilled to confirm this deal with Top Rank and provide exciting matches from some of the country’s most respected fighters,” said Joshua Glassel, Director of Programming Acquisitions for Fox Sports en Español.
Under this new partnership, Top Rank fights will also be distributed on FOX Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates beginning with the first event on January 16, 2010. FSN will continue to distribute Top Rank events once a month thereafter through 2011.
Tentative First Quarter 2010 Schedule
1. January 16, 2010
2. January 30, 2010
3. February 6, 2010
4. February 20, 2010
5. February 27, 2010
6. March 6, 2010
7. March 20, 2010
8. March 27, 2010
About Fox Sports en Español
Reaching more than 14 million cable and satellite households in the country, of which over 5 million are U.S. Hispanic Households, Fox Sports en Español is the leader in Spanish-language sports media. We feature premier soccer programming with exclusive coverage of the top leagues and tournaments in Latin America and Europe; coverage of the Major League Baseball regular season, All-Star Game, American League Championship Series and World Series; championship boxing and UFC® and mixed-martial arts across four compelling media platforms. With more than 1,600 hours of live and exclusive programming, a robust web site brimming with streaming video and portable content from FSE Móvil, we are and will continue to be the first name in the U.S. Hispanic sports space.
Fox Sports en Español is distributed by Fox Cable Networks Group and operated by Fox Pan American Sports LLC, an international sports programming and production entity jointly owned by HM Capital Partners, LLC and News Corporation’s (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) Fox Sports International. For more information, visit Fox Sports en Español online at foxsportsla.msn.com.
Battle of Unbeatens Lundy & Solomon Headline Jan. 22 ‘Boston Pop’ card
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 4, 2010) – Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., kicks off the new year in classic style, headlining the January 22nd “Boston Pop” pro boxing card with unbeaten junior welterweights “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy and Brad Solomon battling in the 10-round main event, at The Roxy in Boston’s famed Theater District.
The 6-round co-feature pits intra-state rivals Chris Traietti (8-1, 5 KOs), an Iraq War veteran from Quincy, and dangerous Lawrence super middleweight Eddie Caminero (5-3, 5 KOs). Undefeated junior welterweight and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, nearby Framingham’s Danny O’Connor (10-0, 3 KOs), meets former Canadian welterweight title challenger Darelle “Red” Sukerow (14-15-1, 5 KOs) in a 6-rounder.
“We’re kicking off the New Year hard and fast with this very exciting, competitive card,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “It’s been a while since CES has promoted a card in Boston and we’re very happy to be going back there. We have a great main event between two unbeaten prospects, Hank Lundy and Brad Solomon. Fight fans don’t get an opportunity to see two undefeated guys fighting each other at this stage of their careers. Solomon is coming off of a big win against the ‘New’ Sugar Ray Robinson. Fight fans are probably asking themselves why Lundy would take such a risk. Well, he’s from Philly and Hank will fight anybody, anytime.
“Traietti-Caminero is an interesting local fight between evenly-matched super middleweights. Another undefeated prospect, junior welterweight Danny O’Connor, is a popular fighter who is gaining more and more fans every time he fights because of his action-packed style. The undercard features some of the best young fighters in New England.”
Lundy is being touted nationally as one of the top prospects to watch in 2010. In his last fight, the charismatic fighter demolished Mexican warrior Aldo Valtierra (25-11), who holds a win against world-rated Jorge Teron, via a stunning opening-round stoppage on Halloween. Last April, Lundy knocked out previously-unbeaten Jason Cintron (10-0) in the fifth round.
Solomon, a 3-time National Golden Gloves champion fighting out of Louisiana, upset hometown favorite Robinson (11-0) this past December in New York City by an 8-round decision.
Two highly-decorated New England amateurs from the past, Peabody (MA) welterweight Simeon Dunwell (10-1, 3 KOs) and Josh “Bam Bam” Beeman (4-5-3, 2 KOs), of Providence, go at it in a 6-round match.
Boston light heavyweight Maceo Crowder (1-0, 1 KO), whose brother is 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade, faces New Haven’s pro-debuting Greg McCoy. Two undefeated prospects, Quincy junior lightweight Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (6-0, 2 KOs) and Hartford middleweight David Bauza (3-0, 3 KOs), are scheduled to fight in separate 4-round bouts.
Ticket prices for “Boston Pop” are $40.00, $50.00 and $75.00 and available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254) or going online at www.cesboxing.com.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) for more information. Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 8 PM/ET.
TYRONE HARRIS vs. JI-HOON KIM HEADLINE EXCITING PECHANGA BOXING CARD
Special Guest and Hall of Fame boxer, Smokin’ Joe Frazier to meet fans and sign autographs
Friday, February 12, Live on ESPN
Pechanga Grand Ballroom
Doors at 5 p.m., bouts at 6 p.m.
Tickets – Ringside $85; VIP $70; General Admission $45
(877) 211-2946 and www.pechanga.com
TEMECULA, CALIF. (January 5, 2010) – ESPN Friday Night Fights invades Pechanga Resort Casino on Friday, February 12, 2010 featuring the dangerous Tyrone Harris 25-5-0, 16 KO against the highly touted Korean Puncher Ji-Hoon Kim 19-5-0, 16 KO in a 10 round Jr. Lightweight Bout.
Harris is a very exciting fighter with great boxing skills and one punch knockout power. Harris is a former National Amateur Star who is coming off one of his biggest wins of his career with an eighth round KO of the highly rated Marvin Quintero on ShoBox on July 31, 2009 at Pechanga Resort Casino. Up until his big win over Quintero, Harris had not fared well in most of his biggest fights on television. But with his career on the line, he out boxed and out punched the favored Quintero before knocking him out with a barrage of punches in the 8th round. That was not the first time Harris had his career on the line. After losing to Josisito Lopez, Harris needed a big win and he delivered it with a 9th round knockout over Damian Fuller to not only resuscitate his career, but win the USBA Lightweight Title in the process.
Ji-Hoon Kim was only 17 years of age when he turned to the pro ranks in South Korea in October 2004. Unlike Harris, who stormed out 14 wins in his first 14 fights, Kim lost in his pro debut and, after his first 14 fights, had a record of 9-5-0. However, since that time, he has won 10 straight fights and all but one of them by knock out. Still very young at 22 years of age, Kim is just now starting to become a skilled fighter who should only get better with each and every fight. Kim is a very strong, heavy-handed puncher who has posted some impressive wins as of late. In his last fight on September 12, he knocked out the very tough Zolani Marali (20-2-0) in nine rounds. Kim then destroyed the highly touted Goba Gogalodze (20-2-0) in one action-filled round, even though Gogalodze had won an earlier decision over Harris.
As the old adage goes, styles make fights and Harris is counting on his speed, boxing skills and power to nullify the granite chin and heavy hands of Ji-Hoon Kim. On the other hand, Kim is a rising young star, who has not lost a fight in almost 4 years, and looks to knock out Harris and continue his rise to the top.
The undercard will feature some great young talent including Russian prospect Ruslan Provodnick in a 10 round co-feature. Provodnick is a very strong fighter with great all-around skills and is coming off of a spectacular second round KO over Victor Hugo Castro on November 28, in Russia.
Also on the undercard will be a local favorite from Temecula, Welterweight Dashon Johnson 8-2-2, 4 KO in a 6 round bout. One of the United States’ top young amateurs, Garret Simon, will make his California debut in the Heavyweight division in a four round bout. Garret is a National Amateur Champion and at only 18 years old, has blazing hand speed and quick feet as well. Garret is big at 6’3 and still growing. This athletic prospect should have a very bright future in a division that lacks fighters of his athletic prowess.
This will be another special evening of boxing at Pechanga Resort & Casino, with the legendary Smokin’ Joe Frazier on hand to sign autographs and meet the fans. The Hall of Fame fighter who beat “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali in the fight of the century will make his first visit to Pechanga Resort & Casino.
The show will feature a total of 6 bouts and be broadcast live on ESPN 2, beginning at 6:00 p.m.