James DeGale is refreshed and ready to go this Saturday night at the Liverpool Echo Arena in his European Super-Middleweight title challenge.
The former British Champion takes on the tough title-holder from Poland Piotr Wilczewski who’s only lost once in 30 fights and is ranked number two by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
He features as chief support to the big showdown between WBO World Light-Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew, LIVE on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456)
DeGale put on a blistering display in his media work-out today at his Loughton gym with trainer Jim McDonnell.
He said, “I’ve had a good rest and returned back stronger than ever and I’m just looking forward to getting in the ring again and winning the European title,”
“I’m still on track to fight for a world title next year which was always the plan when I turned professional after winning gold at the Beijing Olympics,”
“Wilczewski is a good strong fighter and he’s ranked number two in the world, I’d be a stupid to just look past him so everything is about Saturday night and making sure I win,”
“It could be explosive and I’m sure the crowd and viewers on BoxNation are going to be in for special night with my fight plus a potential thriller between Cleverly and Bellew.”
This will be his first fight since his close and controversial fight with George Groves in May that he lost on points to his rival.
He added, “One loss isn’t going to break me, if fact, this is going to be the making of me and I’ll go on to bigger and better things,”
“Groves is defending the British and Commonwealth titles against Paul Smith next, who I’ve already beat, but I’m going for the European title which is a bigger fight and a win will get me back in the rankings,”
“There’s a great world title fight next month between Mikkel Kessler and Robert Stieglitz and I’d fancy the winner of that.”
See James DeGale v Piotr Wilczewski for the European Super-Middleweight title and the WBO World Light-Heavyweight Championship between Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew on October 15th live from the Liverpool Echo Arena; then live from the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, the WBC World Light-Heavyweight title between the legendary Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky platform Channel 456).
Tickets for the Liverpool Echo Arena, priced at £50, £100, £150 and £250, are available from:
Liverpool Echo Arena
Box Office: 0844 8000 400
www.echoarena.com
Frank Warren Promotions
www.frankwarren.tv
Welterweight prospect Willie Nelson ready to rebound
ST. LOUIS (October 10, 2011) – The welterweight prospect with a strange name for a boxer and freakish size for a welterweight, Willie “Quiet Storm” Nelson, has made career-defining changes, including an attitude adjustment, and now he’s fully prepared to rebound from his first pro loss.
Since losing to Vincent Arroyo by eight-round majority decision last April, Nelson (16-1-1, 10 KOs) has moved across Ohio, from Cleveland to Youngstown, where he’s now trained by his former manager, Jack Loew, who also trains Kelly Pavlik and Willie’s stable-mate, Dannie Williams.
Nelson was a highly-decorate U.S. amateur boxer who had nearly 250 matches, winning numerous titles (PAL Nationals twice and Under-19 Tournament), and suffering only 22 losses,
“Jack’s known Willie for years and he’s a proven pro-style trainer,” Smith said. “Jack and Remond Safo (Nelson’s former trainer) are both great trainers. Willie is fine tuning his skills in order to take better advantage of his tremendous height and reach, in addition to working on sitting down on his punches more often. He’s surprisingly strong for a thin, 147-pound kid and the sky’s the limited for Willie. “
Presently rated No. 7 by the United States Boxing Association, Nelson made his pro debut on May 19, 2006, stopping Diego Villalba in the third round. As his famous namesake’s famous song says, ever since Willie pro debut in New York City he’s has been ‘On The Road Again,” fighting all across the country in Connecticut, Michigan, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, California, New Jersey and finally Texas against Arroyo.
The gifted welterweight whose physical make-up reminds fans of Tommy Hearns — despite Willie being 2 ½ inches taller — won his first 10 pro fights until hitting a small bump in the road, a six-round draw in 2008 versus fellow undefeated welterweight Antonio Johnson. Six straight victories followed until that fateful day last April when he dropped a close majority-decision to Arroyo.
Boxers often react to their first losses in extreme fashion, one way or the other, learning from their experience and progressing, or becoming an opponent after being exposed. Nelson can’t wait to get back into the ring in order to show everybody what he’s learned from his first taste of adversity as a professional.
“I learned that I needed to pick myself up and become more focused in training and coaching,” Willie commented. “I had been with the same coach for 14 years and, I think, over the years he probably let me get away with some mistakes. After my last fight, I realized that he wasn’t telling me in the corner what I needed to hear. I’m more comfortable with Jack, who I’ve known 14 years, and he’s been to the top with Kelly Pavlik.
“I think I’d become a little cocky, maybe arrogant, and losing may have helped me. I was used to doing what I was supposed to do, but each fight isn’t a walk in the park. I had an I-can’t-be-beat attitude. Now, though, I appreciate winning even more. I went right back in the gym and didn’t need to discuss losing because it wasn’t the first time I’d lost in boxing. I’d lost as an amateur. I’m still confident and still make mistakes, everybody makes mistakes, but I’m training hard to make fewer mistakes.
“I’m learning how to use my size, firing stiff jabs instead of staying inside where I can get hit with big punches. I’m starting to use my power, too. I need more rounds and can’t wait to get back in the ring.”
Loew believes Nelson hasn’t come close to realizing his vast potential. “As tall and thin as Willie is,” Jack explained,” he’s very strong and can bench press 280 pounds. That’s very strong for a welterweight and he’s learning how to use his power. No 5′ 8″ fighter like Arroyo should beat a guy almost 6′ 4″ like Willie. He had some bad habits, kept lunging in, and got caught. Everybody told him he had to make changes and he did.
“Willie made some big changes, leaving his four kids in Cleveland when he moved to Youngstown, right next door to Dannie Williams in Youngstown, and he goes home on weekends. I’ve been telling him he needed help since he was 14-0. Everybody close to him was telling him that because he was winning but not getting better. He’s so freakishly tall with a lot of amateur experience, but he lost when he fought his first real fighter. He was making amateur mistakes and it caught up with him in his last fight. He’s learning how to use his height and working on snapping punches.”
With his natural skills and body, combined with learning from his past mistakes, Willie Nelson will undoubtedly be a champion one day.
Go online to www.RumbleTimePromotions.com for more information about Nelson or any of his Rumble Time Promotions stable-mates.
Chevelle Hallback to Battle Myriam LeMare for IBF Title!
Once again, Chevelle Hallback (28-7-2) will travel outside the United States to challenge another elite female fighter, Myriam LeMare (19-3) for her IBF 140 pound title on November 5 at the Palais des Sports de Toulon, in Toulon, France. Chevelle has traveled this road before, and accepts it as the reality of her career. “I’ve got to go far and wide to fight the best,” she said. “I am so excited about getting back into the ring and fighting in France is a plus! I’ve fought in Canada, Japan, Denmark, and now France. I am on my way to being internationally known with fans all over the world……..LET’S GET IT. I need to bring this title home, and when I do, create some more opportunities.”
Bill Calogero, Chevelle’s advisor is in agreement. “Chevelle fighting in France is a means to an end,” he said. “In the long run, we’d like a rematch with Cecilia Braehkus and so we have to go to France and win, to make that happen. After that, I’m not ruling out another fight, a third trip New Mexico. It’s too bad we have to globetrot for the great fights, but Chevy is a warrior and never has or never will dodge her opposition.”
Chevelle arrives in Marseille, France October 29, and is in the midst of training at her gym, Fists of Steel Boxing Academy, In Tampa, Fl. “I’m doing the work, and am ready to go and get the reward,” she said.
“Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History”
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