Barker predicts knockout win over Martinez; Team USA Goes 2-0

New York, NY – (9/26/2011) – Undefeated European Champion, “Dazzling” Darren Barker is as confident as ever ahead of his Middleweight Championship bout next Saturday, October 1st, at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, N.J., against Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (47-2-2, 26KO’s). Barker will be making the trip across the pond looking to collect both Martinez’ World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond belt and Ring Championship.

Barker, who made the trip state-side Sunday spoke about how he believes Martinez is making a big mistake in underestimating him, and plans to make the champ pay on fight night.

“When you look Sergio’s last three performances against Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and Sergiy Dzinziruk, they are the fights of a true great of boxing and he looked great doing it. But I believe that I’m the proper Middleweight of the two of us. I’m bigger than him and I’m stronger than him and I think that I can make that count on the night. There’s nothing more dangerous than a hungry fighter, and I am exactly that. I’m 29 and he’s 36, I’ve got the ambition and desire behind me to become a world champion and everything is ahead of me just waiting there for the taking, which is what I plan to do in Atlantic City. Martinez is talking about the other fights that he wants to have – well, he is in for a big shock on October 1st. He is underestimating me and if he wants to do that, fine – I will make him pay for taking me lightly and looking past what is right in front of him – a fighter who has the hunger, the spirit and the skill to beat him.”

Barker continued, “I’m more of an underdog in America rather than back home because people here don’t know what I’ve done. I’m the unbeaten European Champion – maybe Stateside that isn’t as big a deal but I deserve this shot, and it’s not a shot to nothing. American fight fans haven’t seen me fight and British fight fans haven’t seen the best of me as it’s still to come – I’m ready to peak and there’s no better time to hit my best than in beating Sergio.

I’ve always liked America, it’s a great place to travel around and fighting over here is a massive thing because it’s really the Mecca of boxing. After 17 years of hard work in boxing, it’s great to have reached this point where I’m in a marquee fight in the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City – there’s a great history there and I’m ready to leave my mark there on October 1.”

Tickets for “Noche de ‘Maravilla'” 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.

“Noche de ‘Maravilla’: Martinez vs. Barker” is being presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Matchroom Sport, and Caesars Atlantic City, and is sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 6PM ET, with the first bout scheduled for 6:30PM ET. The show will be aired live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT

Team USA Goes 2-0 on the Opening Day of Action at the 2011 AIBA Men’s World Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The United States enjoyed a successful start to the 2011 AIBA Men’s World Championships on Monday with both light flyweight Eros Correa (San Jose, Calif.) and heavyweight Joseph Williams (Queens, N.Y.) claiming opening round victories in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Correa was the first U.S. boxer to take the ring in Azerbaijan and he ensured that Team USA enjoyed a victorious start on Monday at the Sport and Exhibition Centre. Correa recorded a 14-11 decision over Jason Lavigilante of Mauritius in their light flyweight opener to advance on to second round action. A few hours later, Williams continued the U.S. winning streak in his bout with Slovakia’s Sandro Dirnfeld, taking a 19-13 decision in their heavyweight contest to join Correa in the second round.

Despite being the youngest member of the team at only 18, Correa set the tone for his United States squad. Correa maintained his composure in his World Championships debut despite falling behind by a 5-4 margin after the first round. He came out charging in the second, giving Lavigilante two standing eight counts in the round to claim an 11-9 lead with three minutes of boxing remaining. Correa refused to relinquish his lead in the final stanza and won a 14-11 decision to move on to second round action. He will face off with 2009 World Championships silver medalist David Ayrapetyan of Russia in his second bout on Monday, October 3.

Williams announced his arrival on the international scene very early in his bout with Slovakia’s Sandro Dirnfeld, flooring his opponent with a thundering right hand in the first minute of the opening round. He kept the pressure on in the first and held a 7-3 lead after the opening three minutes. Williams extended his advantage to a 13-8 margin after the second round and went on to win his international debut by a 19-13 final decision. He will return to the ring in second round action on Monday, October 3 when he takes on Vassiliy Levit of Kazakhstan.

As U.S. flyweight representative, Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) received a first round bye, no U.S. boxers will compete on Tuesday. Team USA will take the ring once again on Wednesday as bantamweight Joseph Diaz, Jr. (S. El Monte, Calif.) faces Myanmar’s Kyaw Latt and light heavyweight Marcus Browne (Staten Island, N.Y.) battles Yoshitsuna Okada of Japan.

Following the general weigh in, 570 athletes from 113 countries were entered into the official event draw in Baku. Ninety-two Olympic berths are up for grabs at the World Championships with 10 boxers in the light flyweight through light heavyweight classes and six athletes in the heavyweight and super heavyweight divisions all earning spots in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

For the full brackets for all 10 weight classes and the most up-to-date results, go to http://www.aiba.org/en-US/2011/2011WorldBoxingChampionships.aspx. AIBA will show live scoring on its website, www.aiba.org throughout the tournament and will be webcasting all the bouts beginning October 4 at www.aibaboxing.tv. For more information on Team USA, go to www.usaboxing.org. USA Boxing will tweet all the American results as they happen @usaboxing.

The first AIBA Men’s World Championships were held in 1974 in Havana, Cuba. The event, which consistently showcases the best boxers in the world, is held every two years.

U.S. Results
Monday, September 26 – Preliminary Bouts
108 lbs: Erros Correa, San Jose, Calif./USA dec. Jason Lavigilante, MRI, 14-11
201 lbs: Joseph Williams, Queens, N.Y./USA dec. Sandro Dirnfeld, SVK, 19-13

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 Committe

SEVERAL BOXING PERSONALITIES AT THE WBO 24TH ANNUAL CONVENTION IN PUERTO RICO ON OCTOBER 29

World Boxing Organization (WBO) President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, announced some boxing people who will attend the 24th WBO Annual Convention to be held in Puerto Rico on October 24-29 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Isla Verde, Carolina.

“We will have several boxing personalities as former world champion and promoter Oscar de la Hoya, who will play in the Golf Tournament among other boxing promoters, managers, champions and former champions”, Valcarcel said. “Also at the Convention, renowned trainer Emmanuel Steward will be one of the speakers at the trainers seminars, as well as veteran referee Joe Cortez at the referees and judges seminars”.

Valcarcel reported also, that the WBO Annual Convention will be transmitted on the Boxing Channel (www.boxingchannel.tv).

Soon, more details of the 24th WBO Annual Convention in Puerto Rico, that will have on October 29 at the Coliseo Mario “Quijote” Morales in Guaynabo, former world champions Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon and Raul “Rayito” Garcia facing for the 105lb interim WBO title, and also former world champions Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. and Carlos “El Indio” Quintana in action.

Remember the 24th WBO Convention in Puerto Rico, October 24-29. For reservations at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, can call 1 787 253-1700 Ext. 4161, 1 800 241-3333