LOS ANGELES (Oct. 21, 2011) – Unbeaten through his first 15 bouts, highly touted middleweight prospect Brandon “Flawless” Gonzales is expecting next Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation telecast to be nothing short of exciting and eye-opening. Gonzales, who goes toe-to-toe with the very tough Ossie Duran next Friday, Oct. 28 at Bally’s Atlantic City (live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) last made headlines when he opened a cut above the right eye of sparring partner and World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward earlier this month. The accidental cut resulted in the postponement of the SHOWTIME Super Six World Boxing Classic Final between Ward and his World Boxing Council (WBC) counterpart Carl Froch. This time Gonzales wants to make headlines by stopping the durable Duran.
“I told Andre he prepared me for this opportunity,” Gonzales said, “and it’s my chance to make the best of it on SHOWTIME.”
The ShoBox telecast will feature Gonzales vs. Duran in the main event and an opening televised match between former 2008 Olympian, Javier Molina (9-0, 4 KO’s) and knockout artist Artemio “King” Reyes (13-1, 11 KO’s). The unbeaten 21-year old Molina will be making his fifth start in 2011 and first in a match slated for eight rounds. Seemingly recovered from a hand injury that sidelined him between November 2009 and October 2010, the impressive Olympian will face his most formidable and experienced challenger to date in Reyes.
The personable, soft-spoken Molina went 153-13 during an extensive, outstanding amateur career. At age 18, he was the youngest member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team that competed in Beijing. He turned pro with a second-round knockout over Jamie Cabrera on March 27, 2009.
Both Goossen Tutor Promotions prospects are in a position to go to that next level with victories next week. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about Duran, but these are the fights that will show fans what type of fighter I am,” Gonzales reiterated.
Molina said, “It’s showtime with this fight.” The Norwalk, Calif., resident went on to say, “I know Reyes well and it’ll be a fight, but that’s nothing new. That’s what fans want to see and I’m ready to put on a show.”
The Molina-Reyes super welterweight bout is scheduled for 8 rounds.
Tickets, priced at $75 and $50, can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster retail outlets, Ticketmaster Call Center 800-745-3000 or Bally’s Atlantic City (day of the event). The first undercard non-televised fight will begin at 9 p.m. ET.
Tropicana Atlantic City Weigh -In
Atlantic City (October 21, 2011) All participants for Star Boxing’s “Azteca America” show at the Tropicana in the Atlantic City will weigh in today in the Carousel Room in Tropicana 5:00 pm.
Weigh -in will be followed by the 1st annual Ring Card Girl Contest at 8:00pm
Saturday’s show is the first of a series of Star Boxing/Azteca events, and will be broadcast Live on Azteca America.
Jr. Middleweights
10 Rounds
Ray Tito Serrano –
Vs.
Angel Rios –
____________________________
Heavyweights
10 Rounds
Vinny Maddalone
Vs.
Mike Sheppard
_____________________________
Welterweights
8 Rounds
Shamone Alvarez
Vs.
Doel Carrasquillo
__________________________
Heavyweights
8 Rounds
Chazz Witherspoon
Vs.
Tyson Cobb
___________________________
Super Middleweights
6 Rounds
Jason Escalera
Vs.
Mickey Scarborough
__________________________
*** ALL BOUTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
Tickets for October 22nd are available by calling the Star Boxing office at (718) 823-2000 or by visiting
www.starboxing.com. Tickets are priced at $30, $50, $100 and $200.
Tickets may also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, or by going directly online to Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Tropicana North Tower Box Office or by phone at (609) 340-4000. Doors for the event will open at 7:00PM with the first bout scheduled for 7:30PM. All action will take place in the Tropicana Showroom. The Tropicana Casino and Resort is located at 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ.
Star Boxing
Wach set to face former world champ McCall with potential title shot looming on the horizon
Wach set to face former world champ McCall with potential title shot looming on the horizon
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 21st, 2011) – As if being 6-foot-7 weren’t noticeable enough, Mariusz Wach has even more difficulty maintaining a low profile within the Polish community these days after knocking out Kevin McBride to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) International heavyweight title in July.
“People recognize me now when they see me outside of the ring,” Wach said. “The fans have been great. That fight gave me a lot of media publicity.
“That being said,” he added, “I have now become very busy, and I’m trying my hardest to keep control of my training as a fighter and maintain my relationship with my fans.”
Even with his new found celebrity status, the undefeated heavyweight from Krakow (now fighting out of North Bergen, N.J.) remains as humble and focused as ever as he prepares for his latest challenge, a 12-round title defense Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 against former world champion Oliver McCall in the main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “November Reign” professional boxing show at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., presented in association with Global Boxing Promotions.
The 46-year-old McCall (56-11, 37 KOs) is known primarily for his signature win over world champion Lennox Lewis in 1994, but he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division with two notable wins in his last three fights, including a unanimous-decision victory over Damian Wills in August.
“With age comes experience,” Wach said. “Strength is something that cannot be taken lightly. Sometimes, older fighters may lose speed, but strength is always there.
“I’ve been studying McCall’s fights with my trainer, Juan DeLeon. After each fight, we study and work on new techniques that will help me prepare for the upcoming fight.”
After beating McBride, Wach (25-0, 13 KOs) is now one step closer to a potential showdown with either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschsko, the Ukrainian brothers who currently own all five recognized world titles in the heavyweight division.
“I knew going into that fight that it was going to be a big step in my career,” Wach said of his win over McBride. “I knew that it would be something to either make or break me as a fighter. I felt the pressure, but I was prepared for it.”
Considering his No. 9 ranking in the WBC, Wach could be on the cusp of a title fight against the 40-year-old Vitali, who has held the WBC belt since 2008 and recently defended his title against Wach’s countryman, Tomasz Adamek, in September. First, Wach must deal with McCall, a Chicago native who fought during the height of the Don King era when Americans ruled the heavyweight division and has never been knocked down as an amateur or professional.
McCall is chasing a similar dream, making one last run at reclaiming the world title he won in ’94 against Lewis. A win by McCall would make him the first two-time WBC International heavyweight champion since Sinan Simal Sam (2004 and 2006); ironically, McCall was the one who ended Sam’s second stint as international champion via unanimous decision in 2007.
“A victory would mean everything to me and my career,” Wach said. “A victory is exactly what I’m aiming for and I won’t settle for anything less. I am going into this fight confident that a win would bring me closer to my dream of facing Klitschko.”
“November Reign” will also feature a 10-round North American Boxing Federation (NABF) middleweight title bout between undefeated Patrick Majewski (17-0, 11 KOs) of Atlantic City, N.J., and Dionisio Miranda (21-7-2, 18 KOs) of Barranquilla, Colombia. Reigning WBC U.S. National Boxing Council (USNBC) middleweight champion Elvin Ayala (24-5-1, 11 KOs) of New Haven will face Miguel Hernandez (20-11, 10 KOs), a former contestant on Season 3 of “The Contender,” in a 10-round non-title bout.
The undercard also features a four-round super middleweight bout between New Haven’s Rick Dawson (4-0, 1 KO) and Borngod Washington (2-9) of Queens, N.Y., and a battle of unbeatens between New Haven’s Edwin Soto (7-0-1, 3 KOs) and Diego Pereira (6-0, 2 KOs) of Pawtucket, R.I., in a six-round bout. Junior featherweight Josh Crespo (0-0-1) will battle newcomer Nate Green of New Haven in a four-round bout.
Cruiserweight Jose Torres (0-1) of Springfield, Mass., will face Francwa Russell of Chicago in a four-round bout in Russell’s pro debut; junior welterweight Christian Lao (2-1, 1 KO) of New Haven will face Angel Chaves Fernandez (0-5) of Brockton, Mass., in a four-round bout; Artur Szpilka (7-0, 5 KOs) of Wieliczka, Poland, will battle heavyweight Arron Lyons (12-11, 9 KOs) in a four-round bout; and Hartford welterweight Javier Flores (5-0, 5 KOs) will face Willie Walton (4-4, 4 KOs) of Salt Lake City, Utah in a six-round bout. Super featherweight Kamil Laszczyk (4-0, 3 KOs) of North Bergen will also be featured in a separate four-round bout.
Tickets for “November Reign” are on sale now at $40, $65 and $105 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.
For more information on “November Reign,” visit www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.