On 23rd July 2011, Amir ‘King’ Khan returns to Primetime in a head-tohead fight against Zab ‘Super’ Judah for the WBA and IBF world lightwelterweight unification title. The fight takes place live from Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay and will be screened exclusively on pay-per-view channel Primetime (Channel 480 on Sky). Amir Khan has beaten some of the biggest names in the division with victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Andreas Kotelnik, Paulie Malignaggi and Marcos Maidana before his last victory over Paul McCloskey. He is now seeking to unify the division before he possibly moves up to the Welterweight division. But before he can think about that he faces a five time world champion with unification ambitions of his own..
Zab Judah has often been controversial but never dull and promises to give Khan a true test of his development. Judah has won titles across the Light Welterweight and Welterweight divisions and is a former undisputed Welterweight champion. His record of 41(28)-6-0-2NC speaks for itself with his losses only coming against top level competition.
Primetime has featured heavily in the news over the past few weeks with boxing and sports commentators speculating as to whether Team Khan would return to the independent broadcaster. But since securing over 60,000 buys for the world championship bout between Khan and Paul McCloskey back in April, Primetime proved that they can reach a large audience and support British boxing talent. Following on from this last huge success, on July 23rd, Primetime estimate over 100,000 people will register to watch the unification fight between Amir ‘King’ Khan and Zab ‘Super’ Judah.
Pre-Fight Talk Heated Between Gonzalez and Gutierrez
Tensions rose today at the Parlour Restaurant in midtown Manhattan during a press conference to discuss the back-to-back Team Puerto Rico boxing events this weekend, when hard-punching prospect Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (13-0, 13 KOs) and his opponent, tough veteran Richard Gutierrez, quickly figured out they dislike each other.
“You haven’t fought anybody,” asserted Gutierrez with a growl.
“I’ve fought 13 guys and knocked them all out. You’re going to be #14,” Gonzalez shot back.
Things degenerated back and forth from there until they culminated with:
“He’s a clown. I’m going to destroy him,” from Gonzalez.
“We’ll see in the ring,” came the quick reply from Gutierrez.
Gonzalez and Gutierrez will meet in a 10-round battle for the NABA and WBO Latino Youth Junior Middleweight Championships at Boricua Invasion II, on June 11, at Roseland Ballroom in New York City and televised live on ShoBox: The New Generation at 10:35 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.
In the featured attraction, Team Puerto Rico’s Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (12-0, 10 KOs), of Bayamon, P.R., will meet his toughest foe to date, Dat “Be Dat” Nguyen (17-1, 6 KOs) of Vietnam, in a 10-round featherweight matchup.
Luis Del Valle and Jonathan Gonzalez are members of Team Puerto Rico, the boxing team developed by promoters Gary Shaw, Lou DiBella, Javier Bustillo and Leon Margules in order to group the best young talent on the island on one team.
Team Puerto Rico’s Next Appearance:
Back-to-back, on June 10 and 11 (Friday and Saturday before the 2011 National Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday) at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, Gary Shaw Productions and DiBella Entertainment will present Boricua Invasion I and II, featuring members of Team Puerto Rico Boxing, the eight-man team of Puerto Rico’s future ring stars.
Friday’s Boricua Invasion I will feature the unstoppable welterweight on everybody’s “one to watch” list, Thomas Dulorme (11-0, 10 KOs) vs. former world champion DeMarcus Corley; Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico’s highlight-reel welterweight KO specialist Kenny “Battlestar” Galarza (14-1, 14 KOs) vs. Puerto Rican compatriot Irving Garcia and the future superstar already fighting in main events after just two bouts, Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (2-0, 2 KOs). The main bouts of Boricua Invasion I will be televised on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Saturday’s Boricua Invasion II will feature four more members of Team Puerto Rico: featherweight Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (12-0, 10 KOs) vs. Dat Nguyen; junior middleweight Jonathan “Mantequilla Gonzalez (12-0, 12 KOs) vs. Richard Gutierrez for the NABA and WBO Latino Youth Middleweight Championships; and light welterweight Hector Sanchez vs. Vincent Arroyo. Also scheduled for action are Team Puerto Rico light welterweight Jorge “Machito” Maysonet Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs); plus a special off-TV appearance by Puerto Rico-born light welterweight Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (15-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn. The main bouts of Boricua Invasion II will be broadcast live on Showtime: The New Generation.
Tickets for Boricua Invasion I on Friday, June 10 are priced at $175, $125, $75, $45 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. On Friday, doors will open at 6:00 pm and the action starts at 6:30.
Tickets for Boricua Invasion II on Saturday, June 11 are priced at $200, $150, $85, and $55 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. On Saturday, doors will open at 7:00 pm and the action starts at 7:30.
For VIP Package tickets to both nights, please call DiBella Entertainment at 212-947-2577.
The Roseland Ballroom is located at 239 West 52nd Street in New York City.
All bouts are subject to change.
For more information, visit www.teampuertoricoboxing.com or www.latinoboxing.com. For more information on the Roseland Ballroom, visit www.roselandballroom.com.
Blackwell has puncher’s chance against Murray
NICK BLACKWELL insists he was right to accept an opportunity to win a Lonsdale belt in his NINTH professional fight.
Blackwell, 20, will challenge Martin Murray for the vacant British middleweight title in front of the Sky TV cameras on Hatton Promotions bill at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena on Saturday June 18.
Murray ranked number four in the WBA world rankings will also be risking his Commonwealth crown and his WBA inter-continental belt.
The undefeated Trowbridge challenger said: “I am ready to fight him and not fazed at all.
“This is an amazing opportunity and I thought I would have 15 or 16 fights before this type of chance came my way, but when the opportunity came I took it.
“It was a big enough shock when I won the English title in only my seventh fight, but this is something you only dream about.”
Blackwell will be 20 years and 234 days old when he challenges Murray and bidding to become the youngest British champion since current record holder Ryan Rhodes won the light-middleweight title in 1996.
He has spent hours watching videos of his unbeaten St Helens rival in action with trainer Mark Kent and promoter PJ Rowson.
Nick added: “Murray is a come forward fighter, strong and big. He is not that quick and I think my speed will be an advantage,
“Murray has a lot more experience and is the best I have fought but I am not worried about anything he has.”
The bill also includes Olympic star Joe Murray and British lightweight champion Anthony Crolla also boxes when he faces a selected opponent with the vacant WBA inter-continental lightweight title.
Prospects on the undercard include Adam Little, Dale Miles and Chris Male.
Tickets for this big night of title action are available £35, £55 (Ringside) and £75 VIP Ringside, www.brandhatton.com /0844 847 2500/ 01925 755222