Cincinnati, Ohio (October 25) – Boxing fans will be giving thanks for an explosive night of boxing on Thanksgiving weekend this year when Adrien “The Problem” Broner battles Argentina’s Vicente Rodriguez for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Lightweight World Title on Saturday, November 26 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio in a fight that will be televised on HBO Boxing After Dark. For Broner, it will be the young undefeated hometown hero’s first shot at a world title, and where better to have it take place than in his backyard with family, friends and hometown fans supporting him. For Rodriguez, it’s the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of countrymen Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez and Marcos “Chino” Maidana and burst onto the world boxing stage by capturing his first world title under the bright HBO lights in his United States debut.
“I’m ready to put on a good performance for my city,” said Broner. “I’m treating this like it’s just another day in the ring. I’m not going to let the world title affect me. Vicente has a tremendous record, but once I get in the ring, I’m going to do what I got to do to get the job done. It’s time to put it on for my city…hook, right, good night!”
“Broner is a talented boxer with good speed and power,” said Rodriguez. “But I have the experience and determination to beat him and I can’t wait to bring the title home to Argentina.”
“We are very excited to bring this special night of boxing to Cincinnati on Thanksgiving weekend,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “We know Broner has the talent and determination to reach his goal of winning a world championship and will not let his fans down on November 26. While he faces a tough customer in Rodriguez, I believe he will become a world champion that will reign over the junior lightweight division for many years to come.”
“We’re excited to have Golden Boy Promotions and HBO come to Cincinnati for this great boxing event,” said Andrew Williams, CEO of R&R Promotions. “We look forward to Adrien winning his first world title at home on November 26.”
“Home for the Holidays: Broner vs. Rodriguez” is a 12-round bout for the vacant WBO Junior Lightweight World Title which will take place Saturday, November 26 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The evening of boxing is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and R&R Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and AT&T. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast will air at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets, priced at $128, $78, $53 and $28, go on sale Tuesday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m. ET and may be purchased at the U.S. Bank Arena Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Nicknamed “The Problem,” Cincinnati’s Adrien Broner (21-0, 17 KO’s) has proven to be an impossible puzzle for opponents to figure out. The former amateur standout racked up numerous accolades before turning professional in 2008, including winning the prestigious Silver Gloves tournament in 2002 and 2003 and competing in the semifinals of the 2005 Junior Olympics. 22-year-old Broner is the owner of 10 first-round professional knockouts coming as a result of his mix of blazing speed and thudding power. In 2011, he has taken his career to the next level with a decision win over former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in March and a first round stoppage over the always-tough Jason Litzau in June in a pair of HBO televised fights. Now it’s time for the #1 rated WBO junior lightweight contender to attempt to cap off the year by winning his first world championship.
The WBO’s #6 rated junior light weight contender, Vicente Martin Rodriguez (34-2-1, 18 KO’s) of La Salada, Argentina has the power and durability to knock off any opponent who steps in the ring with him. A professional since 2005, the 26-year-old captured the WBO Latino Junior Lightweight belt with a win over Gaston Sellan in May of 2007. He successfully defended his title in December of 2007 against Diego Mora before losing the belt via a 10-round decision loss against unbeaten William Kickett in 2008. Since then, he is unbeaten in 14 fights, going 13-0-1 with nine knockouts. He now sets his sights on making a name for himself in the United States by capturing his first world title at the expense of hometown favorite Broner.
One of boxing’s most revered fight towns, Cincinnati is the home of boxing Hall of Famers such as Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor and Ezzard “The Cincinnati Cobra” Charles as well as former world champions Tony “TNT” Tubbs and Tim “Cincinnati Kid” Austin. The city that was home to the first gloved boxing match in the United States may be best known for its robust amateur scene, one that has produced nine Olympians, including 2000 Silver Medalist Ricardo Williams Jr., 1992 Bronze Medalist Tim Austin and Raushee Warren, a current member of the 2012 United States Olympic squad who made history by also representing his country in the 2004 and 2008 Games. Adrien Broner will now look to add his name to the distinguished list of Queen City natives who have worn a world championship belt on his November 26 which marks Cincinnati’s first world title fight since Tim Austin beat Steve Dotse on June 16, 2001.
Prospect to put Wishaw on Boxing Map!
On Friday night Prospect-Boxing sees its latest card go ahead in its regular venue of Wishaw Sports Centre. Having recently had to cancel a show at Ayr town hall Prospect are pleased to back with a strong card which will see a mix of debutants and fan favourite.
Making his début is former Scottish amateur Ian Butcher. Making his début in the flyweight division Butcher is looking to show a mixture of power and power. Over 4×3’s he takes on the experienced Anwar Alfadli and looks to start his career with a bang!
Making his Prospect Promotions début, current Scottish Featherweight champion Kris Hughes is looking to re-establish his British title credentials . The experienced southpaw, also known as “Badger” takes on Youssef Al Hamidi in 4 x3’s.
From slightly further afield, Belfast based Georgian Levan Ghvamichava makes a welcome return to the wishaw sports centre. After a successful ko victory over Laszlo Komjathi ,he takes of former European title contender and former Italian light welterweight champion Giuseppe Lauri .Looking to extend his current undefeated record, we can guarantee there will be fireworks!
Also in action on the night is lightweight Barry Craig ,and making his Scottish début is Daniel Micallef who takes on Steven Banks in a light middleweight contest.
Ticket details for prospect Boxing next show at Wishaw Sports Centre are available from www.prospectboxing.co.uk or calling 01698 338 888. Also you can follow Prospect on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ProspectBoxing
‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson leads New York State Boxing Hall of Fame Inaugural Class of Inductees
NEW YORK (October 25, 2011) – The newly-founded New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (“NYSBHOF”), sponsored by Ring 8, held a press conference today at famed Gallagher’s Steakhouse in Manhattan to announce its inaugural class of inductees.
The late, great “Sugar” Ray Robinson, arguably the greatest boxer of all-time, leads a star-studded list of 12 boxers and eight non-participants who will be inducted into the NYSBHOF at its inaugural induction dinner, which is tentatively scheduled for next March in New York City.
Boxers joining Robinson are “Iron” Mike Tyson, Jake “Bronx Bull” LaMotta, Carmen “Upstate Onion Farmer” Basilio, Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Mike “Bodysnatcher” McCallum and the late Gene “The Fighting Marine” Tunney, Benny “The Ghetto Wizard” Leonard and Tony Canzoneri.
Non-participant inductees include judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman, coach/instructor Steve Acunto, trainer/cut-man Jimmy Glenn and, posthumously, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer, New York Daily News boxing reporter/cartoonist Bill Gallo, and referee Arthur Mercante, Sr.
“The concept for the New York State Hall of Fame was the idea of one man who had the insight to contact the state, Tony Mazzarella,” Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. “The idea was around for a while and a group of us got together about 14 months and got this going.
“We plan to do this every year. Our first introduction dinner will be at Russo’s On The Bay in March of 2012. We have a wall at Waterfront Crabhouse which will list our Class of 2012 and another at the New York State Athletic Commission. We started this to honor New York fight people.”
The inductees were selected by a six-member NYSBHOF nominating committee comprised of Jack Hirsch, Steve Farhood, Henry Hascup, Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Ron McNair and Neil Terens.
All boxers had to be inactive for at least three years and all inductees had to have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their careers.
POST CONFERENCE QUOTES
Tony Mazzarella (NYSBHOF President): “A dream is happening and with your help together we the dream is becoming reality. We are recognizing all who put on the gloves in the state.”
Bob Duffy (Ring 8 President): “We’re all volunteers and moving forward. It all starts with the Nominating Committee. Jack Hirsch stepped forward to lead it. This is a dream for New York fighters and that dream has become a reality. Because of the number of boxing people in New York, we can’t make everybody happy. It would be easier if this was a smaller state. It’s not about being friends of a friend. If you belong, you will be in.”
Jack Hirsch (NYSBHOF Nominating Committee): “It’s good to see so many good people in this business here and I see some future Hall of Famers. This is a celebration more than a press conference. The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame is only for New York people. Selecting was a difficult task and it will be even more difficult in years to come.”
Steve Farhood (NYSBHOF Nominating Committee): I want to thank Ring 8 because without Ring 8 we wouldn’t be here. I have tremendous respect for this organization. It really does take care of its own. This is an extension of that love. When we think of New York State, in terms of boxing, we think of a little place up the street, Madison Square Garden because it’s played such a huge part of boxing. Gleason’s Gym is another shrine. And New York is the media capital of the world. Now, New York hasaa Boxing Hall of Fame and I’m happy to be part of it.”
Henry Haschup (NYSBHOF Nominating Committee): “This is a great honor to be here to announce the first class of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.”
Harold Lederman (Class of 2012 inductee): “This is such an honor for me to be here, an unbelievable honor. What a fabulous idea to form the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. New York has more fighters, better fighters, and is still the Mecca of boxing. It’s such an honor to be in the same class as Sugar Ray Robinson, Tony Canzoneri and Benny Leonard. It’ll get better and better each coming year, bringing people to the forefront for what they did in New York and Madison Square Garden. I’m so honored to be in this first class. I’ve asked myself how did I get in the same class as Sugar Ray Robinson.”
Vito Antuofermo (Class of 2012 inductee): “I’m so glad to be in the first induction class. Me and Jack (Hirsch) go back to the first day I stepped in the ring.”
Jimmy Glynn (Class of 2012 inductee): “I want to thank everybody for being here. God bless and thanks. I had Vito when he first came here (Bronx). I sent him to a gym in Brooklyn where he lived.”