On July 15th, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing presents a highly anticipated ESPN “Friday Night Fights” card at New York City’s famed Roseland Ballroom with a sensational main event, featuring exciting former welterweight world title challenger, Delvin Rodriguez (25-5-2, 14KO’s) looking to throw himself into the mix of top jr. middleweight contenders when he takes on top rated, Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak (29-1, 19KO’s) in a can’t miss, all-action showdown.
“This fight has all the makings to be a fight of the year candidate,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing, Rodriguez’s promoter. “You have two guys who continuously produce fireworks each and every time they step into the ring, going up against one another in what is arguably the most important fight of their respective careers. These are the type of fights that as a true fight fan you just know you can’t miss.”
“I’m excited to get back into the ring and show that I am a force to be reckoned with in the jr. middleweight division,” said Rodriguez. “I have a new team behind me and I feel better than I ever have before. On July 15th, Pawel Wolak and the entire world will see a stronger, faster, and more exciting Delvin Rodriguez.”
“I want to thank Delvin Rodriquez for taking the fight,” stated Wolak. “It is going to be a hard fight with lots of action. I expect Delvin will give me everything he’s got and I will be prepared. The fans will get their money worth like they do with every fight of mine. I am looking forward to continuing towards my goal of winning a world title by end of 2011.”
The bout between Rodriguez and Wolak, who is rated as the WBO #3, WBA #6, IBF #8, WBC #11 jr. middleweight in the world, has huge implications for both fighters. Wolak, who is currently riding an eight fight win streak, including his most impressive victory to date in his last bout, when he dominated and made former World Boxing Association (WBA) jr. middleweight champion Yuri Foreman retire on his stool after six rounds, is looking to cash in on his recent success, and earn his shot at a world title. While Rodriguez on the other hand, who has become a fan-favorite, drawing some of the highest ratings on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” over the years, knows a win over the red-hot Wolak will throw him right into the mix with the top jr. middleweights in the world, and put him back on the path to challenging for another world title.
The Rodriguez-Wolak bout is scheduled for ten rounds and is promoted by Star Boxing in association with Top Rank.
TICKETS ON SALE TODAY!!!
Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $100 and $200 and can be purchased by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000, or visiting www.starboxing.com. Tickets may also be purchased through any Ticketmaster outlet, calling Ticketmaster 1 (800) 745-3000, or simply by Clicking Here. Doors open at 6:30PM, with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. ESPN will begin live coverage at 9PM ET.
Blackwell vs. Murray on Saturday
Martin Murray this weekend faces a triple title tear up against a mystery man who has NEVER lost a fight. Murray meets baby-faced punching machine Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell for the British, Commonwealth and World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental middleweight belts in Wigan on Saturday night in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Blackwell is the English champion, unbeaten in eight pro fights and at the age of 20 years and 234 days will be aiming to become the youngest British champion since Ryan Rhodes back in 1996.
Blackwell is a massive underdog, but has proved he’s a fearless scrapper who will go toe to toe with anyone.
He had 18 unlicensed fights with the European Boxing Federation – and won the lot with 15 knock outs.
Blackwell said: “We would just get in there, have a tear up and see who the last man standing was. I’ve been fighting physically strong men in their twenties without head guards and with 10 ounce since I was 16 years old. It was good experience for me.”
Blackwell started boxing when he was 16 years old and after four months was ready to make his ring debut.
A couple of hours later, he had his second fight !
Blackwell posted a stoppage on his debut and after a fighter pulled out of another fight on the bill, was asked if he would step in to face an opponent two stones heavier. Never one to turn down a fight, Blackwell said yes – then regretted it.
“He was smacking me about and I remember thinking: ‘What am I doing in here ?’” laughed Blackwell.
“But I started hitting him back and ended up stopping him. I felt the business after that. People I had never met were coming up to me saying: ‘Well done’ and that had never happened to me before. I got so much respect from people.”
Blackwell also fought abroad in his unlicensed career.
Aged 16, he headed to Malta to face local champion Steve Aquilina, who had previously boxed Chris Eubank, and ‘Bang Bang’ smashed him through the ropes !
On the same bill British lightweight champion Anthony Crolla challenges Ghanaian southpaw Osumanu Akaba for the vacant WBA inter-continental lightweight title.
British Olympian Joe Murray boxes for his first professional title in his 11th fight meeting Georgian George Gachechiladze for the IBF international featherweight title.
Prospects on the undercard include Adam Little who faces Junior Thompson and Chris Male who will be tested by Dai Davies.
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
World Cruiserweight Contender Troy Ross added to June 24 show in Canada
TORONTO (June 13, 2011) – World cruiserweight contender Troy Ross has been added to the “Friday Night At The Fights” professional boxing card, June 24 at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
“Friday Night At The Fights” is being presented by United Boxing Promotions in association with Hennessy Sports and Groupe Yvon Michel.
Ross is the top-rated International Boxing Federation (IBF) contender at No. 3 (#1 and #2 are not rated), as well as ranked No. 5 by The Ring magazine, No. 14 by the WBA, and No. 15 by the WBC. The two-time Canadian Olympian will face an opponent to be determined June 24 in a eight-round bout. Troy wants a rematch with IBF champion Steve Cunningham and he also has issued a challenge to unbeaten Lateef Kayode for a major showdown later this summer.
“I can’t wait to get back in action,” Ross said. “I’m trying to force (IBF champion Steve) Cunningham into a rematch. I dropped him and should have won that fight by technical decision because he thumbed me in the eye and the fight was stopped (cut eyelid) because of that. I’m fighting June 24th to get sharp for Cunningham, Kayode or any of the top 10 fighters I may fight this year on my way to winning a world title.”
A native of Guyana who lives in Toronto, Ross (24-2, 16 KOs) was a member of the 1996 and 2000 Canadian Olympic Teams, and winner of The Contender, Season Four reality television series.
Ross’ most notable wins to date have been against former NABF/USBA champion Felix Cora, Jr. (TKO1), Ehino Ehikamenor (TKO4), David Haye-conquerer (as an amateur) Michael Simms (DEC10), Akinyemi Laleye (DEC5), and Brazilian Olympian Daniel Bispo (KO1). Troy’s last fight was a win by unanimous 10-round decision over Carl Handy (24-7-2) this past October.
Tickets to “Friday Night at the Fights,” starting at $30.00, may be purchased at the Hershey Centre box office, through Ticket Master by dialing 416-872-5000, or by going on line to ticketmaster.ca.