International Boxing Federation (IBF) Super Middleweight Champion Lucian Bute and ageless former light heavyweight champion Glen “The Road Warrior’’ Johnson held media workouts in South Florida this week as they prepare for their Nov. 5 showdown, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada.
The largest box office draw in Canadian boxing, the undefeated, Romanian-born Bute (29-0, 24 KOs) will make the ninth defense of his IBF title.
Johnson (51-15-2, 35 KOs), a legend for his bouts against Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver, will make his 10th appearance in a world title fight. The 42-year-old Jamaican-born Johnson has fought out of Miami for almost two decades.
The winner of Bute-Johnson could likely meet the winner of the Super Six World Boxing Classic in the biggest fight in super middleweight history. The Super Six World Boxing Classic concludes on Saturday, Dec. 17 on SHOWTIME when world champions Andre Ward (World Boxing Association) and Carl Froch (World Boxing Council) clash in the Final in a showdown that will determine the world’s best 168-pound fighter.
What the fighters had to say at their respective workouts:
LUCIAN BUTE:
“Fighting in Quebec City is special for me. I have very fond memories of my fight and big win in 2009 at the Pepsi Coliseum and I’m very happy to be fighting there again in front of my fans. Quebec City is a fight town, so I expect a great atmosphere come Nov. 5.”
On switching training camp locations from Miami to West Palm Beach:
“There are not so many differences in this training camp than others. We may have changed gyms and the city but the rest of my preparation is the same.
“I have good sparring partners with Alejandro Berrio and Randy Griffin. I’m halfway through my training camp and I feel very good. I’m in good shape. I expect a tough battle from Johnson so I have to be well prepared.
“People will judge after the Johnson fight if I’m a top super middleweight or not. I faced my obligations as an IBF champion and fought top-rated opponents. Kessler and Pavlik refused to fight me. So now, I’m in front of the biggest challenge in my career and I want to win and make a statement. After this fight, I want to fight the Super Six winner.
“I’m training for a 12-round fight. My objective is to win the fight and stay world champion. I don’t depend on the KO but if it comes that would be a terrific ending to my fight.”
GLEN JOHNSON :
“I’m ready for all the surprises Bute wants to show me on Nov. 5. I know how good he is but I’m going to have some surprises for him, too.”
On his next fight if he beats Bute:
“You never know, it depends on what TV and my fans want to see. But I am not going to talk about others fighters other than Lucian right now. I’m concentrated on him, I’m preparing for him, I’m focused on him, and I`m getting ready to beat him. We`ll talk about other fighters after.
“I am aware it’s a huge challenge to fight Bute in Quebec City, but I’m looking forward to the fight. I can`t wait.
“I don’t need to spar with a fighter to know that I can beat him. Yes, I trained with Bute in the past. Yes, we had good sparring together and yes I’m very confident I can beat this guy. That`s all that needs to be said.
“I can’t lose my next fight with Bute. I’m the one who needs the victory the most. It’s a do or die situation for me.”
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Biosse aims for retribution Friday
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 6, 2011) – The surroundings will look familiar Friday night once Vladine Biosse steps inside Twin River, the backdrop for some of his most impressive victories.
The only difference will be the circumstances. For the first time in his career, Biosse will enter the ring coming off a loss when he faces John Mackey (13-6, 6 KOs) of Montgomery, Ala., in the eight-round super middleweight main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Rhode Warriors” professional boxing event at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
Biosse (11-1, 6 KOs) has waited five months to avenge his knockout loss to Denis Grachev in May, and he promises to bring a new look – and a new attitude – to the ring Friday, October 7th, 2011 despite all the familiarities of fighting in his own backyard.
“Tomorrow night, you will see a different me,” Biosse said. “I had to tighten my team up and get a new and better team – the best team I can get. I feel I’ve done that. I had to be smart in my training, and I feel I’ve done that, too.
“Tomorrow night will be all me. No excuses. No blaming the next guy, or the next guy after him. All the tools have been given to me. Now I have to perform. I’m hungry. I’m ready. Where I’m from, we use the phrase, ‘Top of the game.’ That’s where I want to be. I will give you my all. I will be victorious.”
Mackey has won two of his last three fights with his only loss coming via unanimous decision to Tarvis Simms (26-1-1) at the Prudential Center in March.
“I’ve learned you never do anything unless you’re going to put your best foot forward,” Mackey said. “You’ll see that tomorrow night.”
Biosse will headline a dynamic card featuring the long-awaited returns of Benny Costantino (6-0, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., and Providence native Richard “Bobo” Starnino (9-5-2, 2 KOs), along with the CES debuts of Providence’s Alex Amparo (1-0, 1 KO) and Kevin Cobbs (1-0, 1 KO) of Burlington, Vt.
The 39-year-old Starnino, a longtime fan favorite at Twin River, will return for the first time since February of 2009 when he faces Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-2-1, 2 KOs) of Woonsocket, R.I., in a six-round super middleweight bout.
“I give you credit for taking the fight,” Starnino said at Thursday’s weigh-in as he stared at Rodriguez from across the room. “I don’t know what you were thinking, but I give you credit.”
Rodriguez’s last bout ended in a four-round majority draw to Keith Kozlin on July 29th.
“You ain’t getting no draw this time,” Starnino said. “You’ve caught me in a bad spot.”
“I don’t really have a lot to say,” countered Rodriguez. “I’m in great shape and I’m ready to fight. We’ll see what happens.”
Amparo will face light heavyweight Nicholas Lavin (2-1, 2 KOs) of Shelton, Conn., in a four-round bout while Cobbs will battle Steven Chadwick (0-1) of Jacksonville, Fla., in a four-round light heavyweight bout. Fighting for the first time since 2001, Costantino will face super middleweight Odias Dumezil (3-6, 1 KO) of Winter Haven, Fla., who now trains in Cranston, R.I., in a six-round bout.
Thomas Falowo (4-0, 4 KOs) of nearby Pawtucket will face Borngod Washington (2-8) of Queens, N.Y., in a four-round super middleweight bout, and Johnathan Vazquez (4-0-1, 3 KOs) of New Bedford, Mass., will put his unbeaten record on the line against welterweight Bryan Abraham (4-7, 4 KOs) of Schenectady, N.Y., in a six-round bout. Red-hot prospect Chris Chatman (9-1-1, 4 KOs) of San Diego, Calif., who battled former U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade of Providence at Twin River in October of 2009 in a controversial loss, will take part in a special six-round light middleweight attraction against Rahman Yusubov (11-4, 9 KOs) of Dallas, while bantamweight Shelito Vincent of Providence will make her debut against veteran Karen Dulin (2-9, 1 KO) of Mystic, Conn., in a four-round bout.
Lightweight Agustine Maurus (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Lawrence, Mass., who fought Vazquez to a draw in July, will battle newcomer Christian Rivera of Gloucester in a four-round intrastate bout.
Tickets for “Rhode Warriors” are $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Rhode Warriors.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance.)
Bogere-Contreras, Charlos-Santana Weigh-In Quotes
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 6, 2011) – In a battle of unbeatens, popular Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (20-0, 12 KOs) will defend his NABO lightweight title against hard-hitting Francisco Contreras (16-0, 13 KOs) in the 10-round main event tomorrow/Friday, Oct. 7, on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME ® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
In the co-feature at Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., undefeated Jermell Charlo (15-7, 7 KOs) takes on Francisco Santana (12-2-1, 6 KOs) in a eight-round junior middleweight match.
Tickets, priced at $25 and $50, are on sale at the Texas Station Rewards Center or through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
WEIGHTS: Bogere and Contreras weighed the division-limit 135 pounds. Charlo tipped scale at 153½ pounds, Santana 154.
REMINDER: The exciting ShoBox fight last May 13 between Bogere and Raymundo Beltran can be viewed in its entirety at sports.sho.com. Bogere survived a cut over the left eye and an inspired performance by the upset-minded underdog to capture a bloody, close, crowd-pleasing 10-round decision at Primm, Nev. Bogere won a hard-fought, unanimous nod over Beltran by the scores of 96-94 twice and 97-93, but some felt it could have gone either way. SHOWTIME announcers Curt Menefee and Steve Farhood both scored it a draw.
What Friday’s fighters said at Thursday’s weigh-in at Texas Station:
SHARIF BOGERE:
“Against (Raymundo) Beltran (last May 13 on ShoBox), I got cuts above both eyes. That took me off my game plan. So, in this training camp we straightened some things out. And I added a strength coach (Darrell Hudson of Las Vegas).
“Coming out of that fight (Beltran), I boosted my confidence. I had to dig deep and I feel stronger now because of that. I feel that I can take on anybody in the lightweight division.
“My last opponent was tougher than Contreras. He thinks he has power but I am not concerned. I am ready for the next level.’’
FRANCISCO CONTRERAS
“I am always prepared to go the distance but if the KO is there, I have the power to take it. On Friday, I’m going to surprise everyone and demonstrate who the real Francisco Contreras is.
“I don’t watch tapes of my opponents. I never do and Bogere is no different. I’ve seen his ring walk, though, and I’m not distracted by it. I don’t have a lion or anything like that to help me in a fight. I am focused.
“This is the most important fight of my career. He carries an impressive record. I haven’t fought anyone with his record. People say he’s the man because of that record so this is the win I need to move to the next level.’’
JERMELL CHARLO
“In four years as a pro, I have grown steadily. I’m more relaxed in the ring now. And have better skills, movement and combinations.
“This is a step up for me mentally. I know I’ll grow from this experience, fighting on national TV. I’m getting the exposure I need to prove myself to the boxing world. But physically it’s no different. This guy cannot threaten me. I have pressure on me but I have a great team and I’m ready. ‘’
FRANCISCO SANTANA
“This is a great opportunity for me to fight on ShoBox. When we got the call for this fight at 154, we had no problem taking it.
“We’ve assembled a professional team now and I am in a very positive place, so much more so than I’ve ever been.
“I have to thank Victor Ortiz. He and his team took me in and gave me a renewed spirit and love for the sport. I’ve come here with a new level of maturity and an appreciation for moments like this. I don’t plan to waste it.’’