News: Huck vs Godfrey; Rahman vs Miller; Victor Ortiz

WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco “Captain” Huck (29-1, 22 KOs) will take on Matt Godfrey (20-1, 10 KOs) in Erfurt on August 21. It will already be his fourth title defence. “Godfrey is a tough fighter, but he will not get my title,” Huck said. “I want to keep impressing the fans all over the world and I am determined to put on a spectacular performance against Godfrey.”

Huck has just returned to Germany today after joining 2010 International Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Wilfried Sauerland for a special weekend in Canastota, where he also met new stablemate Steve Cunningham.. The IBF Cruiserweight Champion handed him the sole loss of his career back in December 2007. “I hope we will meet again at some point down the road,” Huck said. “There is still something that needs to be settled between the two of us.”

Huck enjoyed the Hall of Fame Weekend. “It was great to meet all the boxing legends and visit the Hall of Fame,” he said. “I am still impressed. One day I want to be among the biggest champions, too. I will start with a victory over Godfrey on August 21. That is all I am thinking about right now.”

The Rock Returns” Final Press Conference and Official Weigh-In

On Friday, June 18 at 3:00 pm, at the Niagara Falls Conference Center, promoter Nick Garone of X-Cel Worldwide, Emcee “Baby” Joe Mesi, two-time World Heavyweight Champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman, Shannon Miller, Canadian Olympian Donnie Orr and other local fighters will be available for questions and one-on-one interviews at the final press conference for Saturday’s “The Return of the Rock” boxing event.

At the conclusion, all fighters will have their official weigh-in for the next night’s event.

“The Rock Returns” Boxing event will be held the following night, Saturday, June 19, at the Niagara Falls Conference Center.

In just the second fight of his comeback that began in March, Rahman (46-7-2, 37 KOs) will face Troy, New York’s capable Shannon Miller (16-4, 9 KOs) in a fight scheduled for 10 rounds.

Also slated for action are undefeated former Canadian Olympian and recent X-Cel promotional signee Donald “Donnie Boy” Orr (15-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round tilt, as well as sensational Zambian future star Hastings “Sting” Bwalya (2-0, 2 KOs); and Buffalo, New York’s superb, undefeated light heavyweight Lionel Thompson (2-0, 1 KO) in separate four-round bouts.

“We’ve teamed up with Greg Cohen and The Empire to put on this terrific night of boxing,” revealed X-Cel Worldwide CEO and Founder Nick Garone. “The name Hasim Rahman speaks for itself. He scored the knockout of the decade over Lennox Lewis. We’ve got him taking on a tough guy from New York in the main and then some undefeated kids from nearby and all over the world on the undercard.”

Single-handedly resurrecting a once-flagging local boxing scene, Garone has done five shows in the Buffalo/Niagara area in the last 18 months. “I love doing shows in this area because this area loves boxing!”

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH BOXING SENSATION

“VICIOUS” VICTOR ORTIZ TO FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR LOCAL YOUTH

LOS ANGELES, CA-Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles is pleased to announce that top junior welterweight prospect, “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, has agreed to join forces with the agency to fight for the future of our local youth, by serving as a spokesperson for the agency and encouraging more responsible adults to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters, especially those in our Latino and African American communities.

Ortíz was born and raised in Garden City, Kansas, the second of three children of Mexican immigrant parents. When he was seven years old, Ortíz’s mother abandoned the family. Shortly thereafter, Ortíz began boxing at the Garden City Boxing Club at the insistence of his father, an alcoholic who often beat his children following his wife’s departure. When Ortíz was 13 years old, his father also abandoned the family, and Ortíz and his two siblings were turned over to the Kansas foster care system, two years later he was reunited with his older sister, who took custody of him. He continued to box and won a Kansas Golden Gloves championship. Victor Ortiz has risen above a difficult upbringing to become a fighter many see as a future world champion.

“Victor Ortiz’s childhood represents the experience of so many of the Littles we serve at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles,” said Hector LaFarga, Jr., Vice President of Mentoring Programs. “Victor overcame the odds, and by encouraging more adults to become Bigs, we will make a positive impact on hundreds of children in our city, provide inspiration and direction so that they can become the secure and accomplished young men and women that define our future and improve our communities.”

“I faced a lot adversity as a child, and I only got through it because I was lucky enough to have people in my life who cared about me,” said Victor Ortiz. “I’m a fighter, but we all need to fight for the future of our youth, especially those that need it the most.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles is dedicated to empowering children who face economic, emotional and social challenges through a variety of programs, which provide a professionally-supported, one-to-one mentoring relationship with a positive role model.

For 55 years, the agency has assisted boys and girls in achieving their highest potential as they grow to become confident, competent and caring individuals through professionally supported one-to-one relationships with caring men and women. Their work is as elementary as putting an adult friend in a child’s life, and as essential as putting hope into a child’s future. Big Brothers Big Sisters have proven successful in creating and nurturing relationships between adults and children. Mentoring works-one young person at a time. For more information, please visit www.BBBSLA.org.