Philadelphia, PA (June 1)…Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter honored newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins today for his championship win over Jean Pascal which took place May 21. The mayor presented Hopkins with a Liberty Bell replica and made a proclamation saluting Hopkins and acknowledging his history making accomplishment of becoming the oldest world champion in the history of boxing.
Mayor Michael Nutter (left) and Bernard Hopkins (right) face off in front of the Rocky Statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Bernard Hopkins poses in front of the Rocky Statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art following a proclamation made by Mayor Michael Nutter honoring Hopkins.
Bernard Hopkins, WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion
“The ‘Rocky’ movies are an inspiration to the blue collar workers of this city. Rocky used what he had to make the best of it, which is what I had to do. I played jacks like they were aces and I made something out of nothing.
“Where we are standing right now, is where I train. It is where I started.
“I have run those steps [of the Philadelphia Museum of Art] for many years, even last month [in preparation for the Pascal fight].
“It means a great deal to me to be honored where I train. This is where I have come all of my life.
“I lost my first fight at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia. I lost a four round fight and I didn’t let that stop me from continuing on in my career.
“I invested in my life…people ask, ‘What is your secret?’ They are waiting for me to say ‘I am that good,’ but I am here because I invested in myself and made a determination not to get caught up in the high life of being a celebrity.
“You have to have good health to have a fighting chance. You have to treat yourself like a temple.”
“Let’s give it up for Bernard Hopkins, the new Light Heavyweight World Champion. He had some challenges as a teenager. He found himself on the wrong side of the law, but in prison, he found faith in himself and in boxing. This is the real reason why Bernard Hopkins is a champion.
“The heritage of great boxing in Philadelphia is proudly being carried on by Bernard Hopkins.
“Even more than these accomplishments, his life is a lesson to all of us. It is never too late to do something great. It is never too late to change your life.
“Philadelphia is a city of second chances, and we are proud to honor Bernard Hopkins.”
Shumenov interested in facing Erdei
LAS VEGAS (June 1, 2011) – WBA/IBA Light Heavyweight Champion Beibut Shumenov (11-1, 7 KOs), preparing for his third title defense this summer, has a special interest in Saturday night’s fight in Atlantic City between past world champions Zsolt “Firebird” Erdei and Byron “Slama from ‘Bama” Mitchell.
While history-making Shumenov dreams of unifying the light heavyweight division, he’s been unable to get any other world champions to put their title belt on the line. If none of the other world light heavyweight champions will get in the ring with Shumenov in 2011, Beibut will strongly consider a potential match-up later this year against the leading recognized non-world champion, Erdei (32-0, 17 KOs), a former two-time, two-division world titlist.
Shumenov, the 2004 Kazakhstan Olympian, has been on an unprecedented, accelerated pace since his pro debut only 3 ½ years ago. He has defeated four world champions in only 11 pro fights, including Mitchell, as well as Montell Griffin, William Joppy, and Gabriel Campillo. The 27-year-old Shumenov, fighting out of Las Vegas, captured the WBA crown January 9, 2010 in his 10th pro bout via a 12-round decision against Campillo, breaking the world light heavyweight record of 15 set by Jeff “Hit Man” Harding in 1989.
“Erdei is an undefeated, two-time world champion who I’ve been trying to fight through promoters for the past two years,” Shumenov said. “But, so far, we’ve been unable to make the fight happen. Mitchell is a two-time world champion, too. I fought (WTKO4) Byron in 2009 and since then we’ve become friends and helped each other during a couple of training camps. If Erdei should defeat Mitchell, I would love to fight Erdei on Showtime or HBO, and Mr. DiBella can contact me directly to make it happen.”
Shumenov owns and operates the Las Vegas-based, full service boxing promotional company, KZ Event Productions, along with his brother, Chingis. In addition to promoting Beibut, Team KZ also includes three undefeated, world-rated boxers: WBA International Light Heavyweight champion Gayrat Ahemedov (16-0-1, 10 KOs), WBA rated No. 2 contender; WBA FEDALATIN Welterweight king Ravshan Hudaynazarov (14-0, 12 KOs), rated No. 8 by the WBA; WBA International Super Lightweight titlist Alexandr Zhuravskiy (11-0, 8 KOs), who is ranked No. 15 by the WBA.
Go online to www.KZEventProductions.com for additional information about Shumenov, KZ Event Productions, or any of its fighters.
Mike Jones vs. Raul Munoz on 6/25
Philadelphia, PA— If Bernard Hopkins set the standard, Mike Jones would like to carry on the tradition.
Jones, the undefeated and top-ranked welterweight who boxes Raul Munoz, of Mexico, on June 25 at the South Philly Arena, has followed the same strict regimen of ring preparation as fellow-Philadelphian Hopkins, the multi-division world champion who recently became, at age 46, the oldest man to win a major boxing title.
‘I talk to Bernard when he comes to the (Joe Hand) gym,” said Jones. “He always gives me something (advice) I can use inside the ring and outside the ring. He’s a real wise dude.”
Like Hopkins, Jones is known for always being in top shape. Nutrition, along with exercise and a healthy mental outlook, forms the core of that foundation.
“Eating properly is about your well-being,” Jones said, who will be fighting in Philadelphia for the 13th time, but for the first time in more than two years. “It’s all about a better lifestyle. It’s just like repetition in the gym. You keep practicing something; it becomes second-nature to you; it becomes easy.”
“The same thing with eating habits. My dad has diabetes and lost his mobility and he can’t walk around. My dad’s situation has put my diet FINALJONESMUNOZPOSTER (1).jpginto perspective. It’s good for my profession and my life.”
Jones has two young daughters and he teaches them to eat properly and to drink water—no sodas, no sugary juices.
The 28-year-old Jones is coming off a big win Feb. 19 in Las Vegas where he out-pointed Jesus Soto-Karass, of Mexico, for the second time. He is currently rated No. 1 in the world at 147 pounds behind WBO champion Manny Pacquiao, as well as No. 2 by the WBA, No. 3 by the IBF, No. 5 by the WBC.
The Jones-Munoz fight is part of the Top Rank Live! series which will be promoted by Top Rank, Inc., and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc. It will be televised live by Fox Sports Net beginning at 10 pm EST. The first of six additional bouts begins at 8pm.
Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and through Ticketmaster (800-745-3000). They also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.ticketmaster.com.