Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. – 10/10/2011 – Undefeated Featherweight Michael “Lil Warrior” Franco 19W-0L (12 KO’s) returns to the ring in a 12 round Main Event for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latin Featherweight title against 2000 Olympian Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz 16W-2L (KO’s) of San Juan Puerto Rico.
All Star Boxing, Inc, Promoter Tuto Zabala, Jr. and Telemundo Network will celebrate the 10th Anniversary in Kissimmee, FL of the successful series “Boxeo TELEMUNDO” at the Kissimmee Civic Center on October 14.
Also in action, unbeaten hot jr. featherweight prospect Hairon “El Maja” Socarras (4-0, 4 KOs), world ranked bantamweight William “Chirizo” Gonzalez (25-4-21 KOs) and upcoming local talent will finish off the 9-bout card.
Franco last saw action in May of this year as the semi event from the Morongo Casino when he defeated Rafael Lara of the Dominican Republic over 8 rounds. “I’m ready for this fight, I am 100% healthy and ready to put on an exciting show, my last outing was tough, I had some physical issues but I am ready to go and prove that I belong at the top in my division.
Cruz last outing was a defeat against Mexican Champion Ponce de Leon for the vacant WBC Latino Title.
First bell at 8:30 PM, Telemundo Network available in HD will televise the main event at 11:35 PM EST live in the US and Televisa Deportes Network will televise at 11:00 PM CST in Mexico and Central America. Tickets are already on sale at Kissimmee Civic Center 201 E. Dakin Ave, Downtown Kissimmee, FL or by calling 407-935-1412. More info on the Michael Franco can be found by visiting www.lilwarrior.com
Former World Welterweight Champion Tony DeMarco Statue Plans Unveiled
BOSTON (October 10, 2011) – The National Italian American Sports Hall (“NIASHF”) has announced its plans to erect a statue honoring Tony DeMarco, former Welterweight Boxing Champion of the World, to be located at DeMarco’s birthplace, neighborhood and longtime home in Boston’s historic North End.
NIASHF is hosting a fundraiser November 3 at Anthony’s of Malden in order to help defray the cost of the statue. The event will commence at 6 PM/ET with a cocktail hour, followed by a sit-down dinner as well as entertainment by Frank Sinatra-style singer George Lyons, comedian David Russo and celebrity impersonator Joey Voices.
Tickets for the event, priced at $100.00 (tables of 10 available for $1000.00), by calling Bill Spadafora at 781.858.8998 or Pamela Modugno at 781.956.7441. Donations towards the DeMarco statue may be sent to (checks payable to “NIASHF”) the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, New England Chapter, P.O. Box 130134, Boston, MA 02113.
The 79-year-old DeMarco (58-12-1, 32 KOs), born Leonardo Liotta, defeated the top welterweights of his era (1948-1962), including Kid Gavilan, Paddy DeMarco (no relations), Teddy Davis, Larry Boardman, Bud Smith, George Araujo, Chico Vejar and Don Jordan. Only a short walk from his North End home, DeMarco captured the World Welterweight title on April 1, 1955 at the Boston Garden, stopping Johnny Saxton (46-3-2) in the 14th round. DeMarco is best remembered for his two 1955 classic, world championship showdowns with Carmen Basilio in toe-to-toe, fan-friendly slugfests. Basilio won both title fights by identical 12th round technical knockouts, but the November 30 fight was named the 1955 Fight of the Year by Ring Magazine, and to this day is considered by many as the best welterweight title fight of all-time.
DeMarco’s legacy remains an undying part of Boston’s sports history. Tony sold-out the old Boston Garden on many occasions, breaking attendance records, and the City of Boston named a street after him in the North End. He is a National Italian American Hall of Fame inductee.
The life-sized statue of DeMarco will depict an action pose from one of his many memorable fights, exhibiting his fury and popular “ready-to-knock-you-out” punching pose.
The statue is being created by Harry Weber, of Missouri, whose works include statues of two other legendary Boston athletes, Bobby Orr and Doug Flutie.
Go on line at www.niashfne.org for additional information.
OXNARD PROSPECTS ALFONSO BLANCO AND ERNESTO OCON HEADLINE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL EDITION OF “FRIGHT NIGHT CLUB” ON OCTOBER 27 AT CLUB NOKIA AT LA LIVE
LOS ANGELES, October 10 – Known by Los Angeles-area boxing experts as one of the launching pads for some of boxing’s top young stars, Golden Boy Promotions and AEG are proud to present a special Halloween edition of “Fright Night Club” at L.A. LIVE’s Club Nokia on Thursday, October 27, with a five-fight card featuring unbeaten prospects Alfonso Blanco and Ernesto Ocon.
“Fright Night Club” is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and AEG and sponsored by DeWalt Tools, Budweiser, MetroPCS and Super A Foods. The fights will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates (check local listings) and streamed live online at www.RingTV.com at 8:00 p.m. PT/11:00 p.m. ET. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. PT and the first bell rings at 8:00 p.m. PT. The event will be hosted by HOT 92.3’s Jimmy Reyes.
Tickets, priced at $150 (VIP On-Stage Seats, which allow purchasers to sit ringside on Club Nokia’s stage near VIP’s attending the fight [De La Hoya, etc.] and grant buyers access to the Club Nokia VIP Room during the event), $100 (VIP Balcony Seats in the first two rows which grant buyers access to the Club Nokia VIP Room during the event), $60 (VIP Balcony Seats which grant buyers access to the Club Nokia VIP Room during the event), $25 (General Admission Upper Balcony Seats) and $15 (General Admission Floor Standing Room) and may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 online at www.ticketmaster.com or through any Ticketmaster outlet or the STAPLES Center box office. Group tickets are also available by calling 1-877-AEG TICKETS (1-877-234-8425).
2008 Venezuelan Olympian Alfonso Blanco (6-0, 2 KO’s) has gotten his professional career off to an impressive start, winning each of his six bouts more impressively than the last. Now making his home in Oxnard, Calif., the skilled 25-year-old has gone four for four in 2011, most recently defeating 3-0 Cleven Ishe via six-round unanimous decision on July 8. On October 27, Blanco makes his second appearance at Club Nokia in a six round junior middleweight bout against an opponent to be determined.
Also hailing from Venezuela is welterweight southpaw Ernesto Ocon (4-0, 2 KO’s) and, like his countryman Blanco, the 23-year-old has impressed all who have seen him fight since he relocated to Los Angeles and began his professional career in 2010. Already a “Fight Night Club” favorite after scoring his last two wins at Club Nokia, Ocon hopes to make it three in a row against an opponent to be determined in a six round junior middleweight fight at his home away from home.
Opponents for Blanco, Ocon and a full undercard will be announced shortly.
Now in its third season, “Fight Night Club” is Golden Boy Promotions’ and AEG’s critically acclaimed live monthly boxing series, that presents boxing in a night club atmosphere, with a DJ, music, great food and a VIP room, as well as a unique setup where the ring is on Club Nokia’s stage with standing room for fans in front of the ring, as well as reserved seating in the balcony. After the boxing action ends, fans are invited to stay to hear great music played by LA’s hottest DJ’s, dance and mingle with the fighters as the venue converts back into a night club. Athletes and celebrities have flocked to Club Nokia to take in the “Fight Night Club” action including, future Hall of Famer and GBP President Oscar de la Hoya, future Hall of Famer and GBP Partner Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard, current and former World Champions Amir “King” Khan, Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora, Daniel Ponce De Leon and Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, plus sports and entertainment stars Will i Am, Ron Artest, Taboo, Mario Lopez, Audrina Patridge, Baby Bash, Aubrey O’Day, Tattoo and many more.