GROVES FULLY FOCUSED ON SMITH
***LIVE ON BOXNATION (SKY PLATFORM CH. 456)***
GEORGE GROVES 13-0 (10 KO’s) is fully focused on his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight title match-up with rival Paul Smith 31-2 (17). Groves did not rule out a rematch to his bitter rival James DeGale in the future but his attentions were firmly on his November 5 clash against former British champion Smith at the Wembley Arena LIVE and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch.456).
The British and Commonwealth champion will return to the ring for the first time after that impressive-narrow victory over DeGale in May. His opponent ‘Smigga’ lost to DeGale last December and will be aiming to take back his British title.
After DeGale’s European title victory on Saturday the question on everyone’s lips were whether it would tempt Groves into a rematch, but the 23-year-old revealed, “I am fully focussed on Smith and DeGale is not in my plans just yet.”
“After my signing (to Frank Warren) and the nature of the outcome of our fight I think it is inevitable for rematch calls to be made. But he would be running the risk if he faces me again and gets beaten. A narrow loss favours him he can hold his head high and still claim he beat me.”
Though, Groves is fully focused on the task at hand when he meets Smith in Wembley on the billing of Ricky Burns and Michael Katsidis and is preparing for a physical test, “He will try and rush me. He will think he can come into the ring and try to boss it and out muscle me. He will try to get me to walk onto a big shot. He will be shocked, I have the greater strength.”
Groves had wanted to meet Smith last year but the British champion opted to face DeGale instead, the ‘Saint’ believes Smith is taking this fight in a bid to make people forget about his British title loss last December, “He obviously wants the fight to try and make people forget about his loss to DeGale. He is a good fighter and will ask questions. I wanted to defend this title (his new British title) and Smith was the right move.”
“In his last few fights he has just had to face what has been put in front of him but I don’t think a couple of first round knockouts would have served him too well going into this. I don’t think I will have too much to worry about.”
When questioned whether he will be going into the fight with knowledge of DeGale having defeated the Liverpool fighter in nine rounds, Groves told how he will remain professional and box his own fight, “It would obviously be nice to get an early knockout and especially before the ninth but I won’t go into this fight thinking that way. I won’t go into it trying to get it finished early, I will just fight my own fight. I am not one to pick a round or anything like that.”
Groves has often spoke of his ambition to be a world champion and thinks a victory at Wembley at the start of next month will be another stepping stone, “A victory against Smith would be another step in the right direction in my career. He has been around a long time and is an established pro. It will be another scalp to add to my C.V. Whether a world title opportunity will come after this is uncertain but I would like that and I believe I will be ready for that next year.”
MICHAEL PEREZ EARNS 89% OF FANS’ VOTES ON OCTOBER 14 EDITION OF “SÓLO BOXEO TECATE”
New York (October 21, 2011) – Michael “The Artist” Perez is one step closer to becoming the first and only boxer to win two “Cinturón Tecate” belts in the same year. During his “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” appearance on October 14, Perez not only stopped Tyrone Harris via second round technical knockout, but he also earned 89% of text and online votes cast by his fans across the country who recognized him as the fighter with the most carácter.
“Cinturón Tecate” is an award created to celebrate the boxers who display the most carácter in the ring during the “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” broadcast each Friday night on TeleFutura. Tecate recognizes that viewers at home are the best judges and allows them to vote for their favorite fighter of the night by sending a text message or visiting www.Univision.com. To thank participating fans, each text submitted gives them the opportunity to win boxing memorabilia, such as T-shirts, autographed pictures and even tickets to future “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” fights.
As a contender in the competition, the boxer who receives the highest percentage of votes from October through December will win the fourth “Cinturón Tecate” belt of the year and appear on Univision’s premier sports show “República Deportiva.” Past winners of this honor include Vicente Escobedo (January – March, 2011), Michael Perez (April – June, 2011) and Jessie Vargas (July – September, 2011).
During the “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” broadcast this Friday, October 21, adult boxing fans will have the opportunity to help choose the next and final “Cinturón Tecate” winner of 2011. Fans will vote for either San Antonio’s Jorge Suarez (4-0, 3 KO’s) or Dallas’ Larry Smith (10-6, 6KO’s) to decide who showed the most character in their six round welterweight co-featured fight at the Pharr Convention Center in Pharr, Texas. To participate fans can send a text message with B1 to 55333 to vote for Suarez, or with B2 to support Smith. Additional votes can be cast via www.Univision.com, Uniclave: Solo Boxeo Tecate.
For additional details on the next “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” event visit www.Facebook.com/TecateBoxing and www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, or follow us on twitter at www.Twitter.com/TecateBoxing and www.Twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing .
For more information on “Cinturón Tecate,” results or to speak with a brand executive about Tecate’s continuous support of boxing, please contact FORMULATIN at (212) 219-0321.
Thompson Boxing Promotions closes the year with “New Blood”
Orange, CA (October 21, 2011) – The new installment of the popular boxing series “New Blood” could easily be named “The Unbeaten” as five undefeated prizefighters will enter the boxing ring at put their perfect records on the line at the Doubletree Hotel Ontario on Friday Nov. 4.
Leading the cast of impressive boxers is Efrain Esquivias (14-0, 9 KOs) of Carson, CA, who is one of the fastest rising super bantamweights in the world. Mentored by world-class trainer Freddie Roach, the slick counter-puncher who trains out of the Wild Card Boxing gym and has beaten back every opponent so far in his young career will lock horns with Mexico’s Leopoldo Gonzales.
The rough and tough Leopoldo “Feroz” Gonzales (11-3, 7 KOs) of Ensenada, Mexico will go toe-to-toe with Esquivias who has proven adept at changing fight plans midway through each fight if necessary.
Tickets for “New Blood” are priced at $75, $45, and $30. They are available now and may be purchased by calling 714-935-0900.
Ontario’s Jonathan “Lil Thund’r” Arellano (10-0-1, 2 KOs) returns to the ring after a very brief time and finds hard-nosed youngster Jonathan Alcantara (4-5-2) of Novato, CA, ready to rumble in an eight round super bantamweight bout.
Arellano recently captured the vacant interim WBC Youth title with a riveting win over Michael Ruiz, Jr. this past September. He’s ready to go again. Just weeks ago Arellano was recognized by the city of Ontario where he resides.
Alcantara is a solid boxer who has fought some very gifted rising stars such as Efrain Esquivias and Michael Ruiz Jr. Having engaged in combat against opponents such as Esquivias and Ruiz, Jr. are the tell tale signs that show he can compete and be a dangerous foe.
Miguel Diaz (6-0, 3 KOs) returns once again from Allentown, PA to show off his skills in another six round super flyweight clash. This time it’s Felipe Castañeda (6-2-1, 3 KOs) of El Paso, TX that takes a shot at the young titan from back East.
Castañeda hails from the Texas border town of El Paso and is coming off a big win over formerly undefeated Calvin Shepard of Dallas. Castañeda hopes a win over another undefeated boxer can catapult him to another level.
Female junior flyweight Sindy Amador (5-0) has blazed her way to five consecutive victories and looks for a sixth against Blanca Raymundo (0-4). It’s the second time they meet and though Raymundo has come up short in her past fights, all of her losses have been by narrow margins. Riverside’s Amador is looking to repeat her win against San Bernardino’s Raymundo but it won’t be easy in this four round competition.
In other bouts Sergio Nunez (3-0-1) battles veteran Robert “Scrappy” Ortiz (7-3-1) in a four round lightweight match; Middleweights Brandon Adams (3-0, 1KO) of Los Angeles and Jose Alvarez (1-0) of Fresno take to the canvas in a four round match up and Riverside’s Joshua Conley makes his pro debut against L.A. boxer Javier Albonica (1-1) in a four round welterweight showdown.
Bouts subject to change. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the first bell rings at 7:45 pm. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 North Vineyard Avenue in Ontario. The hotel phone number is 909-937-0900.