News: Vazquez Jr vs Sonsona; Molitor vs Ndlovu; Al Bernstein

HOBOKEN, N.J. (Feb. 22, 2010) – Filipino sensation “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona is hungry to capture another world title, as well as overcoming the aftereffect of losing his WBO super flyweight belt on the scales in his last fight, this coming Saturday night in the highly-anticipated showdown against hometown hero Wilfredo “WV2” Vazquez, Jr. for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight championship..

Vazquez, Jr.-Sonsona is one of two world title fights featured on the split-site “The Double Assault” pay-per-view broadcast, commencing at 9 PM/ET live from Reben Rodriquez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, the hometown Vazquez, Jr., who plans to make Puerto Rican history by defeating 19-year-old Sonsona.

The unique, double-barrelled broadcast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, TVN, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.

PR Best Boxing Promotions, in association with All Star Boxing and Sampson Boxing LLC., is presenting the Puerto Rican segment of “The Double Assault” pay-per-view.

WBO No. 2 rated Vazquez, Jr. (17-0-1, 14 KOs), the WBO Latino super bantamweight champion, would become the first Puerto Rican son of a world champion (Wilfredo Vazquez, Sr.) to capture a world title by defeating former WBO super flyweight titlist Sonsona (14-0-1, 12 KOs), ranked No. 3 by the WBO.

Sonsona, billed in the Philippines as that country’s next Manny Pacquiao, fought Alejandro Hernandez to a draw last November in Canada. Marvin, however, lost the WBO super flyweight title that he had won in his previous fight against Jose Lopez, due to weighing-in 2 ½ pounds over the 115-pound contractual weight. Sonsona is fighting two full weight classes above super flyweight against Vasquez, instead of taking a “tune-up” fight before fighting in this world title bout.

“My promoter (Sampson Lewkowicz) wanted me to take this fight because I have a big chance to win the title,” Sonsona explained. “It’s a good opportunity for me to get a championship belt back. I’ve trained hard for this fight and we’ve worked on his (Vazquez) weaknesses. He makes a lot of mistakes. This fight is very important for me, especially being on pay-per-view in North America. I want to make up for what happened in Canada and win another world title. I’m hungry and focused on this fight; I’m hungry like a tiger.

“Manny is Manny. It’s hard following in his footsteps but all I can be is my best and, hopefully, bring another world title home. Fighting in his (Vasquez) hometown doesn’t bother me. The officials will be fair and I have a lot of Puerto Rican fans, too. I’m not sure if it’ll end in a knockout, but it’s going to be a very good fight.”

Unbeaten cruiserweight prospect Carlos Negron (7-0, 6 KOs), 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian, provides chief support in a 6-round bout against Rudy Ashworth. Also fighting on the card in their pro debuts are the Arroyo twins, flyweight McWilliams and bantamweight McJoe, also members of the 2008 Puerto Rican Olympic Boxing Team.

The PPV action continues later Saturday night, live from Guadalajara, as WBC light flyweight champion Rodel “Bantang Mandaue” Mayol (26-4-1, 20 KOs), rated No. 2 by The Ring, defends his belt in the 12-round main event versus the WBC No. 1 contender, former WBC light flyweight titlist Omar “Giant Killer” Nino (28-3-1, 20 KOs). Also airing on the Guadalajara card, presented by Boxeo De Gala, is a 10-round WBC Youth lightweight championship match between defending champ Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada (21-1, 17 KOs) and veteran Angel Alirio “El Morocho” Rivero (21-7-1, 14 KOs).

Molitor, Ndovu Predict Victory at Rumble at Rama XI Rematch

RAMA, ON (Friday, February 19, 2010) – With time ticking away prior to Rumble at Rama XI and the rematch between Steve Molitor (30-1, 12 KO’s) and Takalani Ndlovu (30-5, 18 KO’s, IBF #1) for the vacant IBF Junior Featherweight championship, the South African is trying to come to grips with his first fight with “The Canadian Kid.”

In July of 2007, Molitor made the first of five successful title defenses by battering Ndlovu from pillar-to-post in the very same Casino Rama ring that they’ll step into in a little over a month, en route to a one-sided ninth round TKO beating.

Recently, Ndlovu told The Sowetan, a South African daily, that this poor performance had nothing to do with Molitor being in peak form, but rather what he calls “shoddy treatment” he received in Canada.

In a transparent attempt to make lemonade out of a decidedly sour performance, Ndlovu claimed erroneously that the weigh-in for the first fight was abruptly moved back, when, in fact, Ontario has a long standing policy of weighing fighters in the morning of a fight, as opposed to the day before.

“The change of the date for the weigh-in at the 11th hour affected me badly,” Ndlovu told the paper. “I was ordered to go for the weigh-in on the same day of the fight. This forced me to starve myself to make the weight.”

“I’m going back there with a new promoter with renewed vigor to win it. I’m going to win this title, no doubt about it.”

When told of Ndlovu’s skewed recollection of events, Allan Tremblay, President of Orion Sports Management, and Molitor’s promoter, was quick to set the record straight.

“I’m not sure what “shoddy treatment” the young man is referring to,” Tremblay said. “He was put up in a luxury hotel as per his request for the entire time he was here, and the weigh-in timings were clearly stated in his contract from day-one.”

“But, all this talk is great stuff,” Tremblay enthused.

“There’s nothing like a little controversy to stir things up.”

Molitor, however was less thrilled with Ndlovu’s recollection of events.

“Excuses are for losers. He knew the routine coming in.” Molitor said, while noticing the similarities between the original bout, and the March 27th rematch.

“Nothing has changed at all, and nothing will change. He got his head handed to him the first time, and he’ll get his head handed to him again.”

And while emotions are beginning to run high between Molitor and Ndlovu, there’s more to Rumble at Rama XI than just the mouthwatering main event.

In the evening’s co-feature, Canadian Heavyweight champion, Greg “The Steel Pole” Kielsa (11-0, 5 KO’s), of Brampton, Ontario, defends his title against Toronto’s Neven Pajkic (11-0, 5 KO’s), over 10 rounds.

And in a special added 10 round attraction, burgeoning female superstar, Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton, of the Philippines, via San Francisco, California, faces Toronto’s Lisa “Bad News” Brown for the vacant WBA Super Bantamweight world championship.

“Orion Sports Management is thrilled to be able to put on a card like this. We’ve got two world title fights, and a rare showdown between undefeated Canadian Heavyweights fighting for the national title,” Tremblay said proudly. “We just signed Ana Julaton to a two-year Canadian promotional contract, and we’re sure she’s going to turn some heads both inside and outside the ropes.”

“But we put her in tough. Lisa Brown has a track record of winning, and comes to fight every time out.”

“In addition, we are staging three scintillating undercard fights, featuring Felix Mercedes, Justin Fountain, Jason Douglas, and Stephan Boyd in top-to-bottom the best fight card we have ever put on at Casino Rama.”

Rumble at Rama XI will be promoted by Orion Sports Management, in association with Casino Rama.

Tickets for Rumble at Rama XI are $125, $75, $50 and $25 and are available in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office, and at all TicketMaster locations, by calling (416) 870-8000 and online at www.casinorama.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable taxes or service charges.

AL BERNSTEIN EMCEE FOR JOE GANS EVENT

Hall of Fame broadcaster Al Bernstein, will serve as master of ceremonies Friday, February 26th at an event celebrating the life and legacy of Joe Gans, the first African American world boxing champion.

Al will join other athletes and sports celebrities at the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards in Baltimore to raise money to erect a statue of Gans at the Great Blacks Museum. Ticket information can be obtained at www.JoeGans.com or by calling 410-727-1539.

This appearance is one of the activities this year marking Bernstein’s 30th anniversary as a national boxing broadcaster. “I want this year of commemoration for me to be focused on events honoring the people who are most important in the sport—the boxers. They are the ones who sacrifice so much and work so hard to provide excitement in the ring,” Al said. “No one deserves to be recognized more than Joe Gans who battled racial bias and other great fighters to become the first African American champion. It’s a joy to participate in this event,” Al added.