Rudy Markussen (35-2, 22 KOs) will take on Michael Recloux (19-11-2, 8 KOs) at the next TV2 Fight Night in Herning on September 3. It will be the Hardhitter´s first fight since November 2010 when he destroyed Dejan Ribic in the first round. “We are glad that Rudy has overcome his neck problems,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said. “The injury break was very frustrating for him because he was so close to getting a major title shot. His strong performances have been acknowledged by the WBC where he is already ranked in the seventh spot. A victory over Recloux will put him in a perfect position. But he needs to win in style.”
Markussen is eager to get in the ring again. “I had to wait three-and-a-half years to make my comeback so the neck injury could not have happened at a worse time,” he said. “I was just getting back to old strength when the neck slowed me down. I showed that I can still do it, and I´m not the WBC´s number seven for no reason. I know I hit harder than anybody else at super middleweight and Michael Recloux will be in for a painful night on September 3.”
Fighting out of Liege, Belgium, 27-year-old Recloux boasts a record of 19 victories, 11 defeats and two draws along with eight KOs. In October 2009, he challenged German jewel Dominik Britsch (24-0, 9 KOs) for the IBF Youth Middleweight Title but lost on points. Recloux is convinced he will put Markussen into retirement: “I am looking forward to coming to Herning to end Markussen´s career,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for him and his past achievements, but to be honest, he is finished and I will expose him.”
USA Boxing’s World Championships Team to Travel to Colorado Springs Today for the Pre-event Training Camp
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – All 10 winners from the recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing enjoyed nearly two weeks of celebratory events with the friends, family and fans for their tremendous accomplishment in Mobile. Yet the time for fun is over, the boxers will travel to Colorado Springs and the U.S. Olympic Training Center today for a preparatory training camp before they go to Baku, Azerbaijan for the 2011 AIBA Men’s World Championships, September 22-October 10.
The squad will take the next step in the vaunted Olympic qualifying process in Baku, where the light flyweight through light heavyweight athletes must place in the top 10 to earn a berth in London and the heavyweight and super heavyweight athletes will need a top six finish. The 10-man team boasts an interesting mix of international veterans and newcomers to the global boxing scene.
The 2011 event will be the first AIBA Men’s World Championships for seven of the 10 athletes on the U.S. squad. Yet, the two team captains, two-time Olympian and 2007 World Champion Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) and two-time U.S. Olympic Team Trials Champion Michael Hunter (Las Vegas, Nev.), will attempt to share their valuable experience with their less internationally seasoned teammates. Welterweight Errol Spence (Desoto, Texas) will be competing in his second World Championships following his appearance in the 2009 event.
A trio of two-time national champions will look to officially announce their arrival on the international scene in Baku. Bantamweight Joseph Diaz, Jr. (S. El Monte, Calif.), lightweight Jose Ramirez (Avenal, Calif.), and super heavyweight Lenroy Thompson (Lenexa, Kansas) all took part in the European Challenge in 2010 following their USA Boxing National Championships victories. They plan to use the valuable competition and training experience they gained in the month-long trip to Europe in their World Championships debut.
Middleweight Jesse Hart (Philadelphia, Pa.), a staple on USA Boxing’s National Team over the last three years, will compete in his first major international tournament in Baku. Yet, he is coming off an outstanding performance at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Hart outscored his opponents by a dominating 44 points over his four bouts in Mobile and he hopes to ride his impressive run to a spot in London by qualifying in Azerbaijan.
Marcus Browne (Staten Island, N.Y.) has enjoyed quite two-week period since winning the light heavyweight title in Mobile with his hometown and New York supporters throwing numerous events during his brief break from boxing. Yet Browne knows there is still work to be done and he will aim to punch his ticket for London in the light heavyweight spot that the United States was unable to contest in Beijing after failing to qualify the weight class internationally.
The AIBA Men’s World Championships won’t be the first major international tournament for light welterweight and United States Marine Jamel Herring (Coram, N.Y.) following his silver medal at the 2010 World Military Championships. Yet the surprise of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials didn’t face the high level of competition he will battle in in Baku in his previous international tournament. Herring didn’t allow the talented light welterweight roster to deter him from his goal in Mobile and believes that he will be able to accomplish his goals in Baku as well.
Light flyweight Eros Correa (San Jose, Calif.) has been on quite a run over the last two months, winning the final Olympic Trials qualifier to take the last spot in his weight class in Mobile before winning the Olympic Team Trials crown in Mobile. While Correa will enter the World Championships without international experience, his determination and desire can’t be questioned and he will need it as he faces the best light flyweights in the world.
Team USA will travel to the Pikes Peak region today to begin their preparatory training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The squad will depart for Baku on September 17 to complete preparations before the event begins on September 22. All of the action from the 2011 AIBA Men’s World Championships will be webcast at http://www.youtube.com/AIBABoxing.
2011 AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships United States Roster
108 lbs: Eros Correa, San Jose, Calif.
114 lbs: Rau’shee Warren, Cincinnati, Ohio
123 lbs: Joseph Diaz, Jr., S. El Monte, Calif.
132 lbs: Jose Ramirez, Avenal, Calif.
141 lbs: Jamel Herring, Coram, N.Y.
152 lbs: Errol Spence, Desoto, Texas
165 lbs: Jesse Hart, Philadelphia, Pa.
178 lbs: Marcus Browne, Staten Island, N.Y.
201 lbs: Michael Hunter, Las Vegas, Nev.
201+ lbs: Lenroy “Cam” Thompson, Lenexa, Kansas
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
“IRISH” MICKY WARD AND FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION “MERCILESS” RAY MERCER TO APPEAR AS SPECIAL GUESTS ON SEPTEMBER 14TH AT ROBERT TREAT HOTEL FIGHT CARD
NEWARK, NJ (August 22, 2011)—On Wednesday night September 14th at the Beautiful Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, Gulfstream Boxing and Gabe LaConte will present a night of world class boxing that has just been enhanced by the announcement that “Irish” Micky Ward and former Heavyweight champion “Merciless” Ray Mercer will be special guests in attendance.
In the main event, Michael Torres (13-2, 7 KO’s) of Newark, NJ will take on Mark Alexander in a ten round Jr. Welterweight fight for the New Jersey title.
Ward was regarded as one of the mist action filled fighters of the last quarter century as he consistently was in fight of the year candidates and fought everybody and anybody.
He finished his career with a record of 38-13 with twenty-seven knockouts and is most remembered for his trilogy with Arturo Gatti and a classic war with Emanuel Augustsus.
Ward has one of the most fascinating stories of any boxers. The story of Ward was made into an Academy Award nominated film: THE FIGHTER
Mercer was a 1988 Olympic Gold Medal winner who compiled a record of 36-7-1 with twenty-six knockouts, won the WBO Heavyweight title with a ninth round stoppage over Francesco Damiani. He defended the title with a five round destruction over Tommy Morrison.
Mercer also challenged former world champions Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitshcko and Shannon Briggs.
Mercer also holds a win over former world champion Tim Witherspoon.
Aside from Torres and Alexander, the rest of the card is as follows:
Carlos Vinan (10-9-4, 2 KO’s) of Newark, NJ will take on Wanzell Ellison (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Newark, NJ in a sox round Lightweight bout.
In a six round Cruiserweight bout, Max Alexander (14-5-2, 2 KO’s) of Camden, NJ will take on William Bailey (10-20-2, 5 KO’s) of Chesapeake, VA
Thomas LaManna (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Millville, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a four round bout for the BAM Youth Jr. Middleweight title.
Popular Welterweight, Vinny O’Brien (2-1, 2 KO’s) of East Hanover, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a four round bout.
In a found battle of Newark based Middleweights, Eddie Edmonds (2-1-2, 1 KO) takes on Thomas Baldwin (2-0-1, 1 KO)
In a four round Lightweight fight, Tyrone Luckey (4-1, 4 KO’s) of Marlboro, NJ will take part in a four round bout against an opponent to be named.
In a four round Heavyweight bout, Tyabb Beale (4-3, 1 KO) of Newark, NJ will battle Taffo Asongwed (2-8-7) of Montreal, Canada
Two separate Heavyweight bouts scheduled for four rounds will round out the show that will feature John Lennox (6-0, 3 KO’s) of Carteret, NJ and Jon Bolden (2-1, 2 KO’s)
Tickets priced $100 (Limited VIP), $50, & $30 (Very Limited) and are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 973-350-9993 or 1-866-263-STAR
The Grand Ballroom at the Robert Treat Hotel is located at 50 Park Place, Newark NJ. Doors open at 6:30 PM, first bout 7:30 sharp.