ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (January 6, 2010) — Unbeaten North American Boxing Association (NABA) welterweight champion and Top-10 contender MIKE JONES, of Philadelphia, PA, makes the fourth defense of his title when he faces HENRY BRUSELES, of Gurabo, Puerto Rico, in the main event of an all-action card, Saturday evening, February 27, at Bally’s Atlantic City. The first bout will begin 8.30 p.m. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., the Jones-Bruseles title tilt will headline Top Rank Live, the exciting new boxing series, televised live on Fox Sports en Español and FOX Sports Net, beginning at 10 p.m. ET..
Jones, 26, is considered one of the hottest prospects in boxing. His 19-0 record, including 16 knockouts, has elevated his world ratings to a career high — No. 8 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), No. 11 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and No. 16 by the World Boxing Council (WBC). He won the vacant NABA title on August 29, 2008 at the New Alhambra in Philadelphia, knocking out Brazilian strongman Juliano Ramos (15-1, 12 KOs), in the sixth round. Jones successfully defended his title three times last year, knocking out Dairo Esalas at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia, outpointing Lenin Arroyo at Bally’s and knocking out Raul Pinzon, also at Bally’s. Other victims include Germaine Sanders, Gilbert Venegas and Luciano Perez.
Bruseles, 28, a three-time North American Boxing Organization (NABO) champion represents Jones’ toughest opposition so far. A pro since 1999, Bruseles has a 28-3-1 record, with 15 of those victories coming by stoppage. He enters this fight riding a five-year winning streak, including victories over Wilfredo Negron, Ener Julio, Arturo Urena, Cesar Bazan, Robert Frankel, Ben Tackie and Mario Ramos. Bruseles has not lost since January 22, 2005, against pound for pound icon Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Remaining tickets for the seven-bout card, priced at $75 and $50, can be purchased at the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922), all Ticketmaster outlets (1-800-745-3000), or online at www.Ticketmaster.com and www.peltzboxing.com.
ESPN Friday Night Fights Returns for 12th Season
ESPN Friday Night Fights will kick off the first of 29 boxing cards in 2010 on Friday, Jan. 8. In its 12th season, Friday Night Fights will feature a consistent high-definition telecast on ESPN2 in addition to complimentary coverage on ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com. As in 2009, this year’s studio portion of the telecast will feature a rotating quartet of analysts. The four are Bernard Hopkins, ESPN.com columnist Dan Rafael, Bernardo Osuna and BJ Flores. Brian Kenny will primarily serve as host from the studio.
In the booth ringside, Joe Tessitore will host while Teddy Atlas will continue to offer his unique insight and perspective.
“We look forward to showcasing some entertaining matches in the 2010 season and are pleased to offer fans a number of ways to be able to enjoy Friday Night Fights content,” said Doug Loughrey, ESPN’s boxing programming director.
The ESPN2 studio portion will focus on hot topics in the industry with the guest analysts offering their opinions. Hopkins added an entertaining element to FNF telecasts in 2009. The future Hall of Fame middleweight is best known for his 10-year reign as Middleweight World Champion, during which time he defended his title a record 20 times. He is the oldest man to have held the Middleweight Championship in professional boxing.
Rafael began writing for ESPN.com in March 2005 after working for five years as the boxing writer for USA Today. Rafael will continue to cover boxing for ESPN.com in addition to his television role.
In line with Friday Night Fights’ continued focus on the U.S. Hispanic sports fan, the panel will include two accomplished Hispanic personalities: Former WBF Cruiserweight champion Flores, who is undefeated, will add cache as an active boxer.
Additionally, Osuna is one of the most respected boxing journalists to appear on Spanish-language television. His professional achievements include the prestigious Sam Taub Award for excellence in broadcast journalism presented by the Boxing Writer’s Association of America and three Emmy awards.
Friday Night Fights will air throughout the year on select Fridays, showcasing some of the best bouts in the industry, beginning at times ranging from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. ET.
The Jan. 8 season-opening fight, which will begin at 10 p.m. ET, will feature former junior middleweight titlist Roman Karmazin (39-3-1, 25 KOs) of Russia squaring off against Colombia’s Dionisio Miranda (20-4-2, 18 KOs) in Glendale, Calif., in a middleweight title elimination bout. The winner will receive a mandatory title shot against Sebastian Sylvester of Germany.
Other fighters featured in the opening weeks of FNF include Jesse Brinkley (34-5, 22 KOs), formerly of “The Contender,” on Jan. 29 and Guillermo Rigondeaux (3-0, 3 KOs), a two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist and top-notch prospect, on Feb. 5.
Poulsen Returns To Old Hunting Grounds!
5.1.2010: After cancelations of his last two scheduled fights, Kim Poulsen (12-1, 3 KOs) is now set to return on January 28 at the Millennium Hotel in London, England. Promoter Mickey Helliet is working on securing an opponent for Poulsen, who has fought in London on five previous occasions.
Following the biggest night of his career, June 19 in hometown Horsens where Poulsen stopped Tanzanian Obote Ameme for a regional title, the Dane was supposed to return to the ring in October. Unfortunately the German promoter postponed the show to a date where it was not possible for Poulsen to be ready, and when a promoter in Denmark cancelled a December show that Poulsen were headlining, the 22-year-old suddenly found himself inactive for six months.
“2009 was a very strange year”, says manager Henrik Risum. “We got an excellent start with two impressive knockout victories, Kim won his first professional title and progressed in various rankings, and we were looking forward to the remainder of the year being a period where Kim made real progress with his record, rankings and career in general. Instead we were left with only two fights in 2009, and Kim’s big test against Athanas Nzau didn’t happen, which is obviously very disappointing. But we have to look ahead now, and hope that 2010 can make up for it”.
Risum is hoping to keep Poulsen very active in 2010, with fights also in the pipeline for February and March. The London fight is planned as a “shake of the rust” – kind of fight, before the quality of opposition is upgraded in the following months.
“Not only has Kim been out for more than six months come the 28th, but he also knocked out his last two opponents in one and two rounds respectively, so the main thing is that he gets some rounds under his belt. It will either be a six or an eight rounder, and I hope Mickey (Helliet, promoter) is able to secure a British opponent who is durable. I don’t care what kind of record he brings, as long as he comes to fight and go the rounds”, says Risum.