World Boxing Council featherweight champion Elio “The Kid” Rojas (22-1, 13 KOs) has called out his World Boxing Association counterpart, undefeated Yuriorkis Gamboa (18-0, 15 KOs), demanding a world championship unification match. “I see where people have said Gamboa may face Celestino Caballero, but Gamboa himself said he wasn’t impressed with Gamboa’s last fight,” Rojas said. “My response to that is I am a world champion and so is Gamboa. Why don’t we fight in a world title unification?” “I am ready to make this fight happen if Gamboa is ready. It has always been one of my goals to become a unified champion..”
Rojas’s promoter Don King thinks this is a fight that people would like to see.
“It would be a Caribbean world championship slugfest with Rojas, the pride of the Dominican Republic, against Cuba’s own Gamboa,” King said. “It’s a natural. Anticipation would emanate from the two fighters’ home islands and would spread around the world.”
King added, “I think Elio Rojas is the best featherweight boxer in the world. I’m ready to put everything we have worked for on the line to back up that statement. I’d be happy to work with Bob Arum, one of the best promoters in the world, to bring this fight to the ring. He’s somebody that knows how to get a deal done. We’re ready to make it happen.”
JOHN BENINATI JOINS TKO BOXING PROMOTIONS
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 22, 2010) Veteran matchmaker John Beninati has joined TKO Boxing Promotions, it was announced today by Chris Middendorf, it’s Director of Boxing Operations. Beninati, most recently with Gary Shaw Productions, will assume matchmaking duties for the fast rising Las Vegas based promotional outfit.
Said Middendorf about the addition of Beninati to the TKO Boxing team, “There are promoters who sign fighters like Dan Snyder and the Redskins sign football players; they want the great record, maybe the high ranking, so that they can plug them into a fight and get lucky. What we are doing is signing the best talent in the US and the world and as they develop, building our company around them. In order to do that right, you have to have the best matchmaking.”
“The fact is that there are only a handful of top quality matchmakers in the country, and we are excited to add one of the best of those in John Beninati to our company. I have known John for almost twenty years and it is terrific to have him at TKO. With five cards in May, four in June, and five in July, John is joining us at a very exciting time. And if he does a very good job, we might give him a day or two off in August!”
Said Beninati, “I’m very happy to be joining TKO Boxing Promotions. The fights that I’ve done for Gary, that’s the level of excitement that I plan to bring to TKO Boxing Promotions.”
“TKO has a great roster of terrific prospects; particularly Francisco Contreras who I think could be a future star in boxing. He’s already looked great in his first win on ShoBox and I’m sure he’ll be back on soon” continued Beninati. “There’s a real bright future at TKO with all their amateur stars.”
While at GSP, Beninati was critical in the ascent of the careers of world champions Timothy Bradley and Vic Darchinyan along with contenders Alfredo Angulo, Yonnhy Perez, Chris Avalos and Carlos Abregu.
Said Beninati, “I’m excited to be working with Chet and Chris and look forward to great success at TKO Boxing Promotions.
LYELL RETURNS AS SUPER WELTERWEIGHT
Former IBF Middleweight Title Challenger Billy Lyell (21-8) returns to the ring on Friday May 7 at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown, West Virginia. Since losing to IBF champ Sebastian Sylvester (33-3) on Jan. 30th, Lyell has shed pounds and will campaign at super welterweight. He will face veteran super welter Martinus Clay (13-24) in the eight round main event. The six bout card is being promoted by Simons’ Promotions, and tickets can be obtained by calling Steve Simons at (304)290-0291.
KARPENCY SET FOR MURAT
WBA#12, WBC#15 light heavy Tommy Karpency (19-1-1 11kos) is set to face WBO#2, WBC#3 Karo Murat (21-0 13kos) for Murat’s WBO Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Title on May 1st at EWE-Arena in Oldenburg, Germany. The clash will serve as the televised co-feature under the much anticipated WBO Cruiserweight Title between champion Marco ‘Kapt’n’ Huck (28-1) and American challenger WBO#5 Brian ‘The Beast’ Minto (34-3). A winner of eight straight, Karpency, just 23 years old, aims to upset the undefeated Murat in the scheduled 12 rounder promoted by Sauerland Event.