David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko
9.45pm, Saturday 2nd July 2011, Hamburg
BBC Radio 5 live will have uninterrupted commentary on the long-awaited world heavyweight unification fight on Saturday between Britain’s World Boxing Association (WBA) champion David Haye and the Ukrainian, Wladimir Klitschko, who holds the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) belts.
Mike Costello will be joined by Steve Bunce and summariser, Richie Woodhall, at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg to present live coverage of the fight, which is expected to begin at 10.00pm (GMT).
Haye who has insisted he will retire this year, has ramped-up the hype in the run-up to the fight, calling this his career-defining fight and the biggest challenge he’s ever faced, while Klitschko goes into the match as favourite, having won 55 of his previous 58 fights and his last loss falling seven years ago.
In the build-up to the fight Steve Bunce previewed the match in detail last night on 5 live Boxing. You can listen again to this programme here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0124q3g.
You can listen to BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra via digital radio, online at bbc.co.uk/5live, Digital Freeview, Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media and 909 & 693 AM.
Magdaleno vs. Perez, Ramos vs. Collado on July 15
NEW YORK (July 1, 2011) – ShoBox: The New Generation celebrates its 10th anniversary on Friday, July 15, live on SHOWTIME® at 11:05 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with exactly the type of doubleheader that has typified the popular, well-respected boxing series since its inception on July 21, 2001: Young, promising boxers in their toughest fights.
In the Top Rank-promoted main event at Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas, local favorite and world-ranked southpaw, Diego Magdaleno (19-0, 7 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Beverly Hills, Calif., and Los Angeles, will become the 84th boxer in ShoBox history to enter the ring undefeated when he defends his North American Boxing Federation (NABF) junior lightweight title against Alejandro “Alacran’’ Perez (15-2-1, 10 KOs), of Salinas, Calif.
The co-feature will match 130-pounders Casey “The Wizard” Ramos (13-0), of Austin, Tex., against Joselito Collado (12-0, 3 KOs), a Dominican fighting out of Queens, N.Y. The eight-round match will mark the 52nd time unbeaten boxers have been matched against each on ShoBox.
After winning only three of his first 15 fights inside the distance, which included nine consecutive victories by decision from October 2008-April 2009, southpaw Magdaleno has stepped up the pressure in recent starts and won his last four by (T)KO within five rounds, registering knockdowns in each.
During the power surge, Magdaleno has steadily advanced in the world rankings and is now No. 6 in the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 11 in the World Boxing Council (WBC). He’s coming off a third-round TKO over Gilberto Sanchez Leon in a bout last May 6 in Las Vegas in which Leon went down three times before the bout was stopped at 0:49 in the third. The impressive victory came in the first defense of the NABF belt that the 5-foot-6, 24-year-old Magdaleno won with a convincing fifth-round TKO over Marcos Leonardo Jimenez last Jan. 22 at Texas Station.
“Everything’s just coming together,’’ said Magdaleno, a dedicated practioner who maintains peak condition. “It’s just sitting down more on our punches. I’m feeling more comfortable in the ring and that’s a big factor, too. It’s a learning thing. Each fight, I learn. I’ve worked very hard to get to this point, but I’m not going to stop here.’’
Magdaleno, who was introduced to boxing at the age of eight and named after a soccer superstar – Diego Maradona – has been dropped one time and that came in the first round against Juan Sanitago on March 1, 2009. Magdaleno bounced back to score a unanimous four-round decision.
A natural right-hander, Magdaleno was an outstanding amateur before turning pro in December 2007, winning a gold medal at the 2007 U.S. National Championships (132 pounds) and the 2004 Western Olympic Trials (125 pounds). Eighteen of his pro starts have emanated from Nevada – 16 in Las Vegas and two in Primm (the other fight was in Maywood, Calif.).
Perez, who was born in Michoacán, Mexico, is a sharp, accurate puncher who works the body very well. Tough and durable, he is coming off a 2:57 first-round knockout over Antonio Escalante last March 25 in Fairfield, Calif. The blowout came in the aggressive-minded Perez’ initial go at 130 pounds and his first start in 16 months.
The 5-foot-6 1/2, 25-year-old Perez won his pro debut in August 2004, boxed a draw in his second outing, and then won 11 in a row before suffering his first defeat in an upset, eight-round split decision to underdog Adolfo Landeros in June 2008. Perez avenged the loss in devastating fashion, dropping Landeros four times en route to a convincing ninth-round TKO in May 2009 in Las Vegas.
In Perez’ final start before the layoff, he dropped an eight-round decision in a fast-paced, exciting scrap to highly regarded Rico Ramos, an impressive winner this past Feb. 11 on ShoBox.
“I don’t like making excuses but I had a lot of trouble making weight in the lower divisions and I just had to learn from that,’’ Perez said. “I feel much more comfortable now and continue to train very hard. I’m hungry, I can tell you that. I live off this sport. It’s my life. Whatever I have to do to be on top, I’ll do that.
“Whenever somebody expects to see Alejandro Perez fight, then that’s what they will see – a fight. I get paid to fight, and that’s what we do.’’
Ramos is an excellent technician who’s making his third start in 2011. In his most recent effort last April 23, he decked John Jackson one time en route to taking a lopsided eight-round decision in Thackerville, Okla. “I consider myself a master of the game,’’ Ramos said. “ I study, work hard and I’m ready to fight.”
A well-conditioned youngster who was born, raised and still resides in Austin, the 21-year-old, 5-foot-6 Ramos has been boxing since he was six-years-old. He went 95-15 during a top-notch amateur career before he went pro at age 17 in June 2007. He got his nickname two years after he began to box.
“We were going to the silver gloves state tournament,’’ Ramos recalled, “and my whole team had lost. I was up, and my coach told me, ‘Alright Casey, you’ve got to pull a hat trick out. You need to work some magic.’ I won the state title. I was 8-years-old, and ever since then they’ve been calling me ‘The Wizard.’’
Ramos’ first 10 outings took place in Texas; the last two in Oklahoma. A kid that has seldom lost a round and makes for exciting fights, he has triumphed via points in his last six outings. In perhaps his toughest fight, Ramos won a close decision over Guadalupe De Leon to capture the Texas state featherweight title in February 2009.
Collado, who also rarely loses a round, won his toughest fight in his last start when he overcame a point deduction in the fourth to record a six-round split decision over Rafael Lora on April 9 in Newark, N.J.
“I would like to be a world champion one day,’’ said the 5-foot-5, 28-year-old Collado, a solid amateur who turned pro in the Dominican Republic in November 2006, but has campaigned exclusively in the States (mostly on the East Coast) since. “At the Olympic Trials, I fought Juan Manuel Lopez and I gave him two standing 8-counts. I thought I won. But they gave it to him by one point.’’
Collado was born in the Dominican Republic, but his family moved to New York City (first Brooklyn, then Queens) when he was one-month old. He turned to boxing at the insistence of his mother. “I used to get in trouble for fighting at school,’’ he said. “Finally, one day, my mom said, ‘you keep on fighting, I’m going to put you in the gym,’ and that’s how I got my start.’’
Tickets for July 15 are $50 and $35 plus applicable taxes and fees and may be purchased at all Stations Casinos Rewards Centers, online at stationcasinos.com or by telephone (702) 547-5300.
Curt Menefee will call the blow by blow action alongside expert analyst Steve Farhood. Gordon Hall is the executive producer of ShoBox with Richard Gaughan producing the Rick Phillips directing.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http:// sho.com/sports.
Serrano vs. Sostre on July 15th
On July 15th, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing presents the much anticipated jr. middleweight showdown between, long-time welterweight contender, and former world title challenger, Delvin Rodriguez (25-5-2, 14KO’s) and red-hot contender Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak (29-1, 19KO’s) at the Roseland Ballroom, in New York City. The show, being shown live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”, will open with Philadelphia’s undefeated welterweight prospect, Raymond “Tito” Serrano (15-0, 8KO’s) taking on NY State Welterweight Champion, Daniel “The Hudson Valley Kid” Sostre (11-3-1, 4KO’s) in a ten round match-up.
“From top to bottom this is going to be a great card,” stated Joe DeGuardia, President and CEO of Star Boxing. “In the main event we have two exciting contenders going toe-to-toe in what promises to be an all-out war, with the winner emerging as a serious title contender to any of the champions in the jr. middleweight division. In the co-feature we are showcasing one of our brightest up and coming stars in Raymond. We have promoted Raymond since almost day one of his career, and have seen him grown and mature not only inside, but outside of the ring. He is very focused and determined, and if he continues on this path, we foresee him becoming the next Puerto Rican star in the near future.”
Serrano, who turned pro at just 18-years of age, gained national attention when he traveled to LA in 2009 to serve as a lead sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao, before Pacquiao’s 2nd round annihilation of Ricky Hatton.
Serrano, who is two fights removed from his career best victory; an impressive decision over Ghana’s reigning International Boxing Association Intercontinental welterweight titleist, Ayi Bruce (19-3, 12KO’s); Serrano last appeared on ESPN in January of 2010, when he scored a dominating eight round decision over Ronald Warrior (13-2-1 at the time). It was the second appearance for the Philadelphian on ESPN, as he had previously won a six round decision over 12-1 Jay Krupp in March of 2009.
Serrano, who has lived in Philadelphia his entire life, moved his training camp a few months ago to his family’s native country of Puerto Rico. For the past two months Serrano has been training at the Wilfredo Gomez Boxing gym, under the watchful eye of new trainer, Felix Pagan Pintor. Pintor is the trainer of former long-time world champion, Ivan Calderon. The move in training camps is something that has Serrano extremely focused, and pleased.
“This was a great opportunity for me to be able to train with a world-class trainer like Felix,” stated Serrano. “Not only was it a great opportunity for me, but coming here to Puerto Rico was also very special to me, as both my father and mother came from here-it’s my heritage.”
Regarding the fight on July 15th, Serrano is eager to get back into the ring and continue on his quest towards boxing stardom.
“I’m really excited to get back into the ring and showcase my skills once again in the national spotlight on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”. The fight on July 15th is actually contracted at 142 lbs. It is the lightest I will have fought as a professional, and I feel great at this weight. I plan on putting on great performance, and encourage everyone to come out and show their support and watch me get my 16th victory on July 15th.”
Sostre should present a bit of test for the young Serrano. Sostre hasn’t lost since 2007, going 9-0-1, over that span, including four of those wins coming by knockout. Sostre, just like Serrano, is of Puerto Rican decent, but calls Highland in upstate New York home. Sostre won the NY State Welterweight Title in 2009, and has successfully defended the title three times since.
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 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.