HOBOKEN, New Jersey (September 14, 2011) — FIGHT NOW TV TM — America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel – today announced its wall-to-wall news coverage of “Star Power: Mayweather vs. Ortiz,” with the live airing of today’s final press conference live on the channel at 4 PM/ET, building-up for Saturday night’s (Sept. 17) mega-event on Pay Per View.
FIGHT NOW TV will also offer complete live coverage of tomorrow’s (Thursday) “Star Power” media tour finale, 2 PM/ET-6 PM/ET, followed by a special edition of the popular Talkin Boxing with Billy C show. Billy C’s guests and viewers alike will be able to discuss all of the hype leading-up to the exciting triple title belt showdown on Saturday night’s “Star Power” PPV event.
The coverage continues Friday as FIGHT NOW TV serves-up the official “Star Power” weigh-in live on its channel, beginning at 5:30 PM/ET, followed by another live special of Talkin Boxing with Billy C, offering viewers a final look at all the combatants taking part in the “Star Power” event.
FIGHT NOW TV will air Saturday night’s “Star Power” undercard, starting at 7 PM/ET and showcasing welterweight Said Ouali (28-3, 20 KOs) vs. Carson Jones (31-8-2, 21 KOs) and middleweight Dion Savage (10-1, 6 KOs) vs. Adonis Stevenson (14-1, 11 KOs).
Be sure to the catch “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz,” promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, live Saturday night on Pay-Per-View (9:00 PM/ET),
Be sure to tune back to FIGHT NOW TV after the final bell rings for LIVE post fight special on the channel as Billy C and his special guests break down all the action from that night’s event.
“This is what FIGHT NOW TV is all about,” said Mike Garrow, GM and co- founder of the channel. “We have created a destination for fight fans to come to — 24/7 — in order to watch all of the build-up from the press conference through weigh-in, plus breaking down match-ups and providing post fight analysis.It’s made for a great week of unique programming on our channel.
“We would equally like to thank HBO sports, Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Swanson Communications for their amazing cooperation in order for us to deliver this unique coverage on our channel.”
FIGHT NOW TV is available on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the iO Sports & Entertainment Pak!
About FIGHT NOW TV:With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.
Founded by Channel Zero, Inc and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow and launched earlier this year, FIGHT NOW TV is the first 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week combat sports channel, bringing the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups from around the globe.
FIGHT NOW TV has also enlisted one of the fight game’s biggest names to join its camp, former UFC champion and MMA legendRandy Couture, who serves as both spokesperson and analyst for the channel.
FIGHT NOW TV, It’s ON! Call Your Television Provider To Order!
About “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 Mayweatherand 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 Gomezwill 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 starJessie 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 PM/PT.
For more information about FIGHT NOW TV go on line at www.fightnow.com, or follow on Twitter@fightnowtv and Facebook.com/fightnowtv.
“HOMEBOY” MCEWAN: I DON’T BLAME FREDDIE ROACH FOR FAVOURING PACQUIAO AND KHAN
It is over 6 months since Hollywood-based Scottish middleweight Craig McEwan lost by TKO to Andy Lee in the final round of an action-packed battle in Connecticut.
In the aftermath of that bout, where he had out-thought and out-fought the highly-touted Lee for the first seven rounds, the world of professional boxing was singing the Edinburgh fighter’s praises.
In spite of the loss, Oscar dela Hoya’s Goldenboy Promotions had extended his contract and HBO were telling him that he was the explosive type of fighter they wanted for their pay-per-view fight nights.
So why did McEwan decide that night to pack his bags and return with his family to continue his career in Scotland?
“I had been boxing out of Freddy Roach’s Wildcard gym in Hollywood for 5 years but I was making no progress. Freddy was heavily involved with the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan who could pay him megabucks and I don’t blame him for following the money. But I had to think of my wife and kids. It was clear to me that I was not well enough prepared, physically, to go ten hard rounds with boxers of the quality of Andy Lee. Freddie took me to nineteen fights undefeated and I’m grateful to him for that but he was doing almost nothing with me latterly.”
McEwan is now training at Billy Nelson’s Fighting Scots gym in Stepps and believes that he is in the best shape of his life.
“Billy believes in high-tempo, one-on-one training with an emphasis on stamina and strength and that’s what I’ve been needing” says McEwan.
“Now all I need is a fight!” he jokes, and there lies his next problem because while Goldenboy have been tantalising him with promises of big fights in glittering venues against top opponents none have yet been forthcoming.
Craig explains “I had been promised a bout on the undercard of Mayweather v Ortiz in Vegas on September 17th and I got into hard training with Billy but, after hearing nothing from them for weeks, I was told I was off that card and that they were trying to set me up on an HBO show in Mexico. Big names like Kassim Ouma, Sergio Mora and Alfredo Angulo were touted but they have come to nothing. As it stands I’m still pencilled in for a show in Mexico on 5th of November. I know it is hard for Goldenboy and HBO to set these things up but it is worse for us boxers, working our socks off and sweating blood in the gym, just to see “pay day” being moved further and further away!”
So has he any regrets about walking away from Hollywood?
“None at all though I miss the friends I made there. But one of the problems with boxing abroad is that you have no domestic fan base to come and watch your fights and although I collected a lot of support in the States I would have had a much greater following if I’d been working out off Scotland. The support which Ricky Hatton took to America to fight Mayweather should have been a wake-up call to American promoters and TV companies but they still don’t seem to realise the potential there is in British professional boxing. I am trying to persuade Goldenboy that getting me fights over here will benefit everyone and, to be fair, they are making positive noises.”
McEwan also admits that the long gaps between fights are taking their toll financially. “In LA the terms of my visa meant that my wife Sally and I couldn’t work so money was always tight and that situation has continued now we’re back in Scotland. Fortunately, I’ve been getting some local sponsorship to help with travelling and training expenses from companies like Apex Roofing and Stenhouse Motors. They are keen to support local athletes and they have been a big help.” And he adds with a smile “Hopefully they’ll get their reward when the world sees their names on my shorts winning that WBC title next year!”
Don’t rule him out! Today Craig McEwan is a wiser man, he’s on a mission and he has world titles in his sights!
Demetrius Andrade vs. Saul Duran on September 21
“FIGHT TO EDUCATE”
WHAT: “Fight To Educate” professional boxing show
BOUTS: MAIN EVENT
10 ROUNDS – LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHTS
DEMETRIUS “Boo Boo” ANDRADE SAUL “Baby” DURAN
2008 U.S. Olympian/WBC #14 Former Two-Time World Title Challenger
Providence, RI Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
14-0 (9 KOs) 38-18-2 (31 KOs)
6 ROUNDS – LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHTS
JOSE “Stinger” MEDINA ANIBEL ACEVEDO
Upset Specialist Olympic Bronze Medalist
Tilton, NH San Juan, Puerto Rico
14-9-1 (6 KOs) 13-7-1 (11 KOs
6 ROUNDS – LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS
DANNY O’CONNOR JAMAL DEL CID
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Alternate Dangerous Puncher
Framingham, MA Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
14-1 (3 KOs) 7-5 (3 KOs)
4 ROUNDS – LIGHTWEIGHTS
DAN POWERS LUIS ROSARIO
Claremont, NH Springfield, MA by way of Puerto Rico
3-0 (2 KOs) 4-15 (2 KOs)
4 ROUNDS – WELTERWEIGHTS
CHRIS GILBERT JOEY “Mundo” ORTEGA
Windsor, VT Springfield, MA by way of Puerto Rico
1-0 (1 KO) 3-21-1 (1 KO)
(ALL FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
WHEN: Wednesday, September 21, 2011
WHERE: Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH
TICKETS: $50.00 and $25.00 (general admission) and available to purchase by going online at www.ticketmaster.com, calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, or at the Verizon Wireless Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster location.