LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2010 – Unbeaten in 18 pro bouts, Scottish southpaw Craig McEwan has been taking out every middleweight in his path over the last four years. Now veteran Danny Perez wants to stop the rise of this up and comer and on Friday, July 23, he’ll get his chance when he takes on McEwan in the main event of TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California..
This is a ten round middleweight bout, which headlines a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Ringside Ticket Inc. and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate. TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” will be broadcast at 11:30pm ET / PT (10:30pm CT).
McEwan vs. Perez replaces the original scheduled main event of Sergio Mora vs. Juan Carlos Candelo, which was scrapped due to Mora’s September meeting with Sugar Shane Mosley. Golden Boy Promotions is giving Temecula fight fans an equally intriguing main event with McEwan and Perez meet at boxing’s crossroads.
In the co-main event, scheduled for six rounds in the featherweight division, Southern California prospect Charles Huerta battles Mexico’s Jonathan Arias. Also in action will be Florida knockout artist Keith Thurman, who puts his perfect record on the line against fellow unbeaten Stalinn Lopez.
Tickets, priced at $75, $65, $50 and $35, are on sale now by calling (877) 711-2946 or visiting www.pechanga.com. Doors open at 6:00pm PT and the first fight begins at 7:00pm PT.
A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, 28-year-old Craig McEwan (18-0, 10 KO’s) has established himself as one of the best prospects to emerge from the United Kingdom in years and now he’s looking forward to the next step in his career. Owner of wins over Brian Vera, Darnell Boone and James Parison, the Freddie Roach trained McEwan plans on making Danny Perez the next name on his resume of vanquished foes on July 23.
In his 14-year career, Carlsbad, California’s Danny Perez (34-7, 17 KO’s) has been in with some of the best fighters in the game including highly touted Cuban prospect Erislandy Lara and former World Champion Antonio Margarito (twice) who he sent to the canvas in a razor thin split decision loss in their first fight. Winner of three of his last five bouts, Perez is eager to introduce McEwan to the next level of middleweight boxing.
Paramount’s 23-year old featherweight prospect Charles Huerta (13-1, 7 KO’s) has bounced back nicely since losing his first pro bout last July, and with back-to-back wins over Rodrigo Aranda and Guadalupe DeLeon, he’s back on his way to the top. Mexicali’s Jonathan Arias (15-5, 8 KOs’) is looking to right his own ship later this month, and he’s got his sights set on making Huerta the first win on his comeback.
21-year-old power puncher Keith Thurman (12-0, 11 KO’s) has finished off 11 of his 12 pro opponents, with eight of those knockouts coming in the first round. Cuba’s Stalinn Lopez (7-0, 3 KOs’) is perfect in seven bouts. On July 23, these two unbeatens will clash in Temecula in an eight round bout, and when it’s over, only one welterweight will still keep his “0”.
Tecate, cerveza con carácter, is the largest beer brand to sponsor boxing matches in the U.S. Part of its commitment to make boxing accessible to consumers is the title sponsorship of “Sólo Boxeo Tecate,” which creates an opportunity for local fans to witness some of the most exhilarating fights by today’s up-and-coming prospects. Additionally, Tecate has been a primary supporter of Golden Boy Promotions’ marquee events since 2007, and has launched a variety of initiatives to ensure consumers are part of the boxing experience, including boxer autograph signing sessions, commemorative cans, PPV mail-in rebate offers, and most recently the launch of a mobile museum “Tecate Museo de Boxeo”, which showcases decades of the most memorable moments in the sport.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing.
Hardcore boxer fights to overcome hard-knock life outside the ring
DOVER, Del. — Friday Night Fights at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, featuring the battle for the IBF Junior Welterweight Title, will re-introduce heavyweight Amir Mansour to the boxing realm on August 27 in the Rollins Center. Amir “Hardcore” Mansour has not officially raised a gloved fist in the ring since he disappeared from the bout sheets in 2001 – with a perfect 9-0 record.
“Nobody can match my speed, my size,” said Mansour. “No one is faster, stronger, hits harder than me.” Two months after his last fight in June 2001, Mansour was incarcerated on a drug possession charge, where he will remain until officially released from his sentence at 6 a.m. on Friday, August 27th.
His first stop will be Dover Downs Hotel & Casino where he will weigh in. That evening, Mansour will re-enter the ring, far from the man he was in 2001, he says, ready to do what it will take to reclaim respect in the ring. “I was busted for possession of drugs and the experience was humiliating. There is no glory in this,” said Mansour. “I want to school the kids who think that cars, money is all that. I’ve been there, had it all. I will tell them straight up that drugs will certainly lead to either death or prison.”
Amir Mansour’s three sons, ages 12, 11 and 8, have held him accountable. “I live for my kids, and I do what I do strictly for them now, and for the rest of my life. Things have changed for me. This incarceration has proven to be a real blessing – a wake up call.”
Mansour also credits his family and members of the boxing community for supporting him through the past nine years of incarceration. “My mom helped take care of kids. My boys’ mothers made sure nothing was taken away from my sons. Every day I think about getting home and boxing. Mike Stewart has been a great friend to me and to my family. Nick Tiberi, Keith Stoffer, Don Elbaum, they all stuck by me. Led me in the right direction. And I’m ready to pay it forward.”
Mansour is eager to resume his life and put to use the college degree he earned in prison. “I am checking now into becoming certified as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor for youth; to help steer them away from the wrong path I chose. God is on my side.” Mansour, raised in Pennsgrove, N.J, will reside with his family in Newark, Del., following his release from a halfway house on August 27th.
Gayrat Ahmedov to be showcased on July 23rd Shumenov-Uzelkov card
LAS VEGAS (July 14, 2010) – World Boxing Association No. 9 rated light heavyweight Gayrat Ahmedov, the reigning WBC Asian Boxing Council and Interim PABA champion, faces his stiffest test as a pro July 23 against Dallas “Deaf Pride” Vargas (22-4, 16 KOs) in a 10-round, non-title fight at Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California.
Ahmedov (14-0-1, 9 KOs), a four-time Uzbekistan National Amateur Champion, comes from the same city (Andijan) as former WBA Heavyweight Champion Ruslan Chagaev, Gayrat, who now lives and trains in Las Vegas, will be fighting on the July 23rd undercard of an ESPN2 Friday Night Fights show, presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions, in association with KZ Event Productions.
Promoted by KZ Event Productions, owned and operated by the Shumenov brothers, WBA and IBA light heavyweight champion Beibut and Chingis, Ahmedov takes on experienced Dallas Vargas (22-4, 16 KOs).
Shumenov, who makes his debut fighting for Goossen Tutor, headlines the July 23rd card, defending his WBA light heavyweight title for the first time against mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Uzelkov (22-0, 14 KOs) in the 12-round main event. Gayrat’s KZ Event stable-mate, unbeaten welterweight Ravshan Hudaynazarov (12-0, 10 KOs), is also scheduled to fight against an opponent to be determined in an 8-round bout.
“We brought Gayrat to Las Vegas because he has so much potential,” Chingis Shumenov said. “He’s being trained by Kevin Barry and Dewey Cooper, from Elite Boxing Gym in nearby Henderson, for this fight. Gayrat is now world rated and moving up the ratings ladder. He also gives my brother, Beibut, good sparring. We’re excited about the direction Gayrat is going.”
Since capturing his two title belts via a second-round knockout of Douglas Otieno last August in Kazakhstan, Ahmedov has registered a pair of victories in the United States against veteran Demetrius Davis and Harley Kilfian.
“It feels good to be world rated,” Ahmedov remarked. “The more a fighter moves up in the rankings, the more responsibility. It is fantastic living and training in Las Vegas. I think every fighter growing up dreams of training and fighting in the United States. Sparring here with Beibut has helped him get ready for his big fight and me for my fight.”
Vargas, the older brother of 2004 US Olympian Devan Vargas, fights out of Toledo, Ohio. Dallas has been in against world title challenger Jesse Brinkley and former French champion Jean Paul Mendy.
“I know my opponent has only lost four times in 26 fights and that he keeps coming forward,” Gayrat noted. “I never underestimate an opponent and I’ll be ready for him July 23rd. Everything has been very good at training camp. I’m grateful for this opportunity and very happy to be promoted by KZ Event Productions and the Shumenov brothers.”
Tickets for this exciting event are priced at: $20, $50, $60 and $250 and can be purchased by calling the Tachi Palace box office at: 559-924-7751 or by visiting www.tickets.com.
Fitzy Ready for August 7
Anthony Fitzgerald has rubbished Ciaran Healy’s challenge by claiming that he’ll beat him again if it happens.
Anthony ‘The Pride’ Fitzgerald, who is matched with Phil Townley for the August 7th show in Citywest Hotel has been putting in the hours since he claimed the Irish Title. “Training is going well; I’m feeling sharp and I’m ready for this next test. If Dolphil want to put on the fight, grand I’ll blow him away”.
Head Coach Phil Sutcliffe believes Fitzy is now ready to make big moves in the middleweight division. “Fitzy is such a talent, we’re very happy with the way he’s sparring and it won’t be long before a big fight shoots him onto the European ranks.
Dolphil Promotions have put an action packed card for August 7 with no less then 10 fights on the night. With tickets starting at €40 that’s only €4 per fight. www.ticketgroup.ie