New York, NY – (9/12/2011) – On Saturday, October 1st, Brian Vera will look to shock the boxing world, once again, when he squares off against top-rated middleweight contender, “Irish” Andy Lee (26-1, 19KO’s) in the much anticipated rematch between the two DiBella Entertainment stable-mates. Lee-Vera II is scheduled for 10 rounds, and will be co-feature bout to Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez’ (47-2-2, 26KO’s) middleweight title defense against undefeated European champion, “Dazzling” Darren Barker (23-0, 14KO’s). The fights are being presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Matchroom Sport, and Caesars Atlantic City, and is sponsored by Corona. The telecast will be aired live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT.
Vera’s career has seen its fair share of ups and downs. After starting out at 14-0, Vera earned himself a spot on the second season of “The Contender”. In his first bout on the show, Vera was knocked out in two rounds by eventual season finalist, Jaidon Codrington. Vera bounced back two months later with a decision win over 14-1-1 Max Alexander and followed by the fight against Lee on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” in March 2008.
Lee came out fast, dropping Vera in the first, and it looked like the Irishman was going to walk right through the Vera. Not only was Vera able to survive, he began to slowly turn the tide. By the middle rounds, Vera had lured Lee into a war. In the seventh frame, with the two exchanging heavy blows, Vera caught Lee with a big punch and the referee jumped in, calling a halt to the contest,giving Vera the upset TKO victory.
Since that fight, the two middleweight contenders’ careers have gone in divergent paths. Lee has won 11 fights in a row, working his way into the top of the middleweight ratings (WBA #2, WBO #2, WBC #6). Vera, on the other hand, failed to capitalize on the Lee victory, losing his next three fights and had many boxing insiders saying that his career was coming to an end. Looking to prove he still had a lot left, Vera refocused himself, winning three of his last four, including a third-round TKO over former super middleweight world title challenger, Sebastien Demers (31-2) and a 10-round decision victory over former junior middleweight world champion, Sergio Mora.
Now with the much anticipated rematch right around the corner, Vera is as confident as ever that the outcome will be the same.
“I am feeling great going into this fight. After the first win with Andy Lee, I had some management problems that were distracting. I have a good team around me now and I am very motivated to get this job done and look good doing it,” said Vera.
Vera continued, “The fight is going to play out the same way, the only difference is that I am going to look better and more skilled doing it. I am tougher and stronger than him. I proved that in our first fight, have proved it since, and, because of that, I will knock him out and derail his plans for the second time in his career.”
While just winning the fight, which will be Vera’s first ever on the HBO network, might be good enough for some fighters, it isn’t for Vera.
“Winning is a paramount in this game, but not only do I want to win in this fight, I want to win it in spectacular fashion, and stopping him is a way to accomplish that. This is going to be an exciting fight. Fights like these are good for boxing and good for the fans.”
Lee-Vera II is being presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Caesars Atlantic City, and is sponsored by Corona. The fight will be aired live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT.
Tickets are priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, at any Ticketmaster retail outlet, or in person at the Boardwalk Hall box office.
Tonight! Mayweather To Appear on “Conan” Tonight 11:00PM ET/PT
LOS ANGELES (September 12) – Floyd “Money” Mayweather is set to take a seat on the couch of funnyman Conan O’Brien as the Six-Time World Champion appears on “CONAN” in advance of his mega-fight Saturday, Sept. 17 against “Vicious” Victor Ortiz at MGM Grand in Las Vegas which will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®. The program airs exclusively on TBS, tonight, Monday, Sept. 12 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.
“I am excited to go on ‘CONAN’ and show all my fans my funny side,” said Mayweather. “I hope everyone tunes in and continues to show me love heading into my fight against Ortiz on Saturday.”
# # #
“STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” is a mega-event taking place Saturday, Sept. 17 from two world-class cities with three world titles at stake. Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz will face off in a 12-round fight for Ortiz’s WBC Welterweight World Title from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Canelo Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez will do battle in a 12-round fight for Alvarez’s WBC Super Welterweight World Title from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Also live in Las Vegas will be Erik Morales vs. Pablo Cesar Cano in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Title and an opening fight featuring undefeated rising star Jessie Vargas against top contender Josesito Lopez. The mega event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools, AT&T and Southwest Airlines. Alvarez vs. Gomez is presented in association with Canelo Promotions and Morales vs. Cano is presented in association with Box Latino Promotions. “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Area Police Officers and Fire Fighters Box for Charity at Guns N’ Hoses boxing event
TACOMA, Wash. – Guns N’ Hoses returns to the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma on Saturday as Brian Halquist Productions presents the annual charity boxing event featuring area police officers and fire fighters.
Even though these real-life heroes will be squaring off against each other inside the ring, the ultimate goal for both will be the same – helping at-risk children.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Pacific Northwest Amateur Boxing Association which works with local gyms by funding programs for at-risk youth in an effort to keep them off the streets.
“It is just a great event that benefits a great cause,” said promoter Brian Halquist. “The fire fighters and police officers who step into that ring always put on a fantastic show and no matter who wins, ultimately, its children who benefit from it.”
The card features a total of 15 bouts with participants hailing from Seattle Fire Department, Pierce County Fire Department, Vancouver Police Department, Everett Police Department, Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriffs Office, Lakewood Police Department, among other fire and police agencies from around the state.
Each bout will feature three-round boxing matches with all bouts being supervised by USA Boxing, which is the national governing body of amateur boxing in the United States
First fight on the card will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25, $40 and $75 and are available at the Emerald Queen Casino box office 1-888-831-7655 and at all Ticketmaster outlets.
For more information please visit www.Halquistproductions.com.
TICKETS
Tickets are available at the Emerald Queen Casino box office 1-888-831-7655 and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Or online at www.ticketmaster.com
Ticket Prices: $75 – $40 – $25
Get up to date information at: www.halquistproductions.com
For more information or fighter interviews contact event coordinator Marin McCauley at (253) 486-2141
ABOUT GUNS N’ HOSES EVENT
What: Guns N’ Hoses Charity Boxing
Where: Emerald Queen Casino’s I-5 Showroom
When: September 17, 2011
Time: Event starts at 7:00 P.M. Doors open at 6:00 P.M.