HBO Sports highlights a former world champion’s shot at redemption against a current world titleholder when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: JAN ZAVECK VS. ANDRE BERTO AND GARY RUSSELL, JR. VS. LEONILO MIRANDA is seen SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 (10:30 p.m. ET/PT) from the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss. The HBO Sports team of Bob Papa, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. will be ringside for the Labor Day weekend event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 4 (9:00 a.m.) and 5 (11:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Sept. 4 (5:45 p.m.) and 6 (11:15 p.m.)
Former welterweight titleholder Andre Berto (27-1, 21 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since his tough unanimous decision loss to Victor Ortiz on April 16. Known for his lightning-fast hand speed and quick-burst explosiveness, the 27-year-old Berto, of Winter Haven, Fla., is looking to silence the doubters and take away Jan Zaveck’s hard-earned 147-pound title in this 12-round contest.
Making his American debut, 25-year-old Jan Zaveck (31-1-1, 18 KOs), of Ptuj, Slovenia is the only Slovenian boxer ever to hold a world championship boxing title, and is the reigning Slovenian Sportsman of the Year. Following the first loss of his career in Nov. 2008, the hard-hitting Zaveck has knocked out four of his last five opponents.
Starting the night off, undefeated rising featherweight sensation Gary Russell, Jr. (17-0, 10 KOs), from Capitol Heights, Maryland makes his HBO debut against the hard-hitting Mexican southpaw Leonilo Miranda (32-3, 30 KOs) in a scheduled 126-pound featherweight contest.
The night of boxing action on HBO begins at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) with the premiere of episode two of the four-part all-access reality series “24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz.”
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Mike Sheehan.
® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.
IABA UPDATE (NATIONAL STADIUM BOX-OFF)
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION
Ray Moylette, the current European Elite champion, and Ross Hickey, the current Irish Elite champion, will meet in a box-off at the National Stadium in Dublin tonight.
The 64kg bout is to decide the light-welterweight position on the ten-man Irish squad for the upcoming AIBA World Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan.
A number of additional bouts will be confirmed for Friday’s programme shortly.
Boxing begins at 7.30pm at the National Stadium.
The 2011 AIBA World Championships glove off on Monday, September 26th at the Sport Exhibition Centre in Baku.
Visit www.iaba.ie
BROOKS SLAMS JEFFRIES KNOCKERS
TOMMY BROOKS insists he wouldn’t waste his time with Tony Jeffries if he didn’t believe the Mighty Mackem had world title potential. Sunderland’s Olympic bronze medallist (8-0-1) has his second fight under the American trainer when he meets Paul Morby (6-6-1) on Saturday night (Sept 3).
Their Doncaster Dome fight is the chief support when Commonwealth and European bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell (17-2-1) collides with British king Stuey Hall (11-0-1) in a triple title battle.
Jeffries moved his base to California to join Brooks who was almost KO’d from getting to Britain because of Hurricane Irene.
He arrived two days late on Tuesday and expects his prospect to blow away Portsmouth’s Morby in their light-heavyweight eight rounder.
Brooks said: “I don’t jerk around with people who don’t have a chance. I’m not going to waste my time or their time if they haven’t got it.
“I’m not about doing something just for the money. If I do, I’m doing myself a disservice as well as them. It’s not just about the money.
“I’m looking at another year and a half for Tony to be at the very top. Right at the top – I’m talking right there.
“He has the potential and the will and ability. He has made all kind of sacrifices – this kid left Sunderland to come to Los Angeles just to learn. It’s not all about money, it’s about getting to where you need to be.”
Other bouts: Carl Johanneson v Marcus McCrae, Takaloo v Chris Brophy, Joe Hughes v Tony Pace, Liam Cameron v Kostas Osben, Robert Dixon v Johnny Greaves, Glenn Foot v William Warburton, Scott Gladwin v Andy Roberts and JJ Bird v Steve Spence.
There will be some tickets on the door, but you can guarantee yours by buying in advance, prices are £35 and £70 (Ringside) from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508.