New York, NY – (9/27/2011) – Earlier today, World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond belt and The Ring Middleweight Champion, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (47-2-2, 26KO’s), held an open media workout DBEat the Modell’s Sporting Goods store in Times Square, New York City. The Champion, Martinez, who will be defending against England’s undefeated European Champion, “Dazzling” Darren Barker (23-0, 14KO’s), this Saturday at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, NJ, looked to be in tremendous shape, as he worked out before a packed house of fans and media who turned out for the workout.
Martinez jumped rope, shadow boxed, and worked the pads with trainer Pablo Sarmiento. After the workout, Martinez spoke with reporters and then took photos and signed autographs for hundreds of fans. Initially, fans were turned away as the store had become too crowded, but Martinez insisted to keep the line open and that he would sign autographs for every fan that wanted one.
“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. HBO will begin live coverage at 10:00PM ET.
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.
Cunningham-Hernandez media work-out / Sylvester ready for Proksa
Sebastian Sylvester, Steve Cunningham and Yoan Pablo Hernandez today gave the fans in Neubrandenburg, Germany a first-hand look at their skills during the public work-out ahead of Team Sauerland´s big show on Saturday night. Hometown hero Sylvester (34-4-1, 16 KOs) will make his first fight since losing the IBF Middleweight Title against Daniel Geale on May 7.
Just like his Polish opponent Grzegorz Proksa (25-0, 18 KOs), he is eager to win the vacant European Middleweight Title. “I need that title to get back in line for a world title shot,” Sylvester said. “I know Proksa is a tough opponent. He has done a lot of talking in the last weeks. So I am happy for him to be the favorite going into the battle. But we will see what happens inside the ring. I am sure the fans´ support will be gigantic again, and I am very confident of success.”
In the co-featured main event, International Boxing Federation (IBF) Cruiserweight Champion Steve Cunningham (24-2, 12 KOs) will take on Yoan Pablo Hernandez (24-1, 13 KOs) in his second title defence. “I am looking forward to Saturday,” Hernandez said after working the pads with coach Ulli Wegner today. “It will be a tough and a very interesting fight. I really fancy my chances.”
Cunningham once again looked in fantastic shape during today´s work-out. “Hernandez is a very good opponent, but I have defeated all reigning cruiserweight champions,” he said. “Hernandez is a top challenger but I am the champ and I will prove it again.”
In the third title fight of the night, Karo Murat (24-1, 14 KOs) will defend his IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title against Gabriel Campillo (21-3, 8 KOs).
MSG NETWORK TO RE-TELECAST HEAVYWEIGHT DOUBLEHEADER
New York, NY – September 27, 2011 – MSG Network, which continues its commitment to the sport of boxing, announced today that it will re-telecast the heavyweight doubleheader of Alexander Povetkin versus Ruslan Chagaev and Robert Helenius versus Sergei Liakhovich. The fights, which originally aired on EPIX, will debut on MSG Network on Wednesday, September 28 at 8:00 p.m.
Russian heavyweight Alexander Povetkin, the 2004 Olympic heavyweight champion, scored a twelve round unanimous decision over former WBA titleholder Ruslan Chagaev to claim the vacant WBA heavyweight title on August 27 at the Messehall in Erfurt, Germany.
Povetkin, with the help of legendary New York trainer Teddy Atlas who called on his fighter to fight for the honor of his late father, took total command of the contest late in the fight.
Two ringside judges scored the fight 117-113 with the third judge scoring it 116-112. Povetkin improved to 22-0 with 15 knockouts and Chagaev dropped to 27-2-1 with 17 knockouts.
The co-feature included a battle between Robert Helenius and Sergei Liakhovich. Helenius, who scored a ninth round technical knockout, improved his unbeaten streak to 16-0 with 11 knockouts. Liakhovich dropped to 25-4 with 16 knockouts. With the win, Helenius won the WBA and WBO intercontinental titles.
The broadcast team consists of former heavyweight champion of the world Lennox Lewis, MSG Network’s Mike Crispino, and boxing scribe Chris Mannix, who called the original EPIX broadcast from the MSG Network studios.