Tensions rose and a scuffle broke out between heavyweight prospects Magomed “Mago” Abdusalamov (12-0, 12 KOs) and Pedro Rodriguez (8-0, 6 KOs) at todays’ Superbrawls weigh-in for tomorrow’s (Friday, February 3) ESPN Friday Night Fights broadcast from the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas.
The two undefeated big men will meet in a potentially explosive eight-round televised feature attraction tomorrow night.
“This is typical Russian/Cuban rivalry that goes back to amateur boxing for many, many years,” said Superbrawls co-promoter Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing.
Abdusalamov was the 2005 and 2006 Russian amateur champion at super heavyweight and Rodriguez is a former member of the Cuban national team. “These two countries are always at the top and they’ve learned to despise each other and yet respect each other. You won’t see a Russian give any ground to a Cuban and vice versa. It’s a matter of national pride.”
Lewkowicz was forced to step in and separate the two giants when the publicity staredown led to forehead contact and then pushing.
“Magomed is extremely confident in himself and his power and Rodriguez made it clear he plans on exposing him tomorrow night,” continued Lewkowicz. “I think they both want to let the other one know they’re in for a surprise tomorrow. Only one of them is right!”
Thankfully for Lewkowicz, cooler heads prevailed and no punches were exchanged. He wasn’t so lucky in 2005 during the buildup to his former fighter Sultan Ibragimov’s fight against Lance “Mount” Whitaker.
Lewkowicz stepped in to stop a pushing match between Ibragimov and Whitaker during a press conference at Gallagher’s and when the punches started flying, he took most of them on his chin and was knocked out cold in such spectacular fashion he made the front page of the New York Daily News and was splashed all over television.
“You’d think I would have learned my lesson,” laughed Lewkowicz after the conference.
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Superbrawls will be topped by a 10-round light heavyweight main event between Colombian powerhouse Edison “Pantera” Miranda and South Africa’s WBC #6, WBA #13, and WBO #14-rated Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba, and also feature two up-and-coming warriors in the eight-round co-main event: Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (14-0, 11 KOs) against fellow undefeated Hylon Williams Jr. (15-0, 3 KOs).
Topping the all-action undercard will be “can’t miss” Puerto Rican super middleweight prospect Roberto Jose Acevedo (2-0, 1 KO) in a four-round showcase fight against Las Vegas resident Velvet Malone (0-3).
Other bouts scheduled include a noteworthy six-round super featherweight tussle between Igrim, Russia’s undefeated Eveny Gradovich (11-0, 6 KOs) and Las Vegas’ Robert Osiobe (11-3-4, 6 KOs); a four-round junior welterweight match-up between Vegas residents Cameron Kreal (0-0-2) and Jesus Gutierrez (1-0, 1 KO); and Puerto Rico’s Juan Carlos Velasquez (10-1, 5 KOs) in a six-round super featherweight bout against TBA.
Tickets for “Super Brawls” are priced at $25 and $50 and are available at Ticketmaster, any Texas Station rewards center or at Stationcasinos.com/concerts. A few VIP seats are available at a price of $100. Please call (954) 985-1155.
On fight night, doors open at 5:30 and the action starts at 6:00 pm.
Station Bucks may be used to purchase tickets. All ages welcome. Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or over. Show subject to change without notice. Management reserves all rights. Digital Photography and video prohibited. Tickets can be purchased at any Station Casinos Boarding Pass Rewards Center, The Fiesta’s, by logging onto stationcasinos.com/concerts or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel is located at 2101 Texas Star Ln in North Las Vegas. Telephone: (702) 631-1000 or (800)654-8888.
JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR. / MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO -NONITO DONAIRE / WILFREDO VAZQUEZ, JR. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN
Today! Friday, February 3, at 2 P.M. CT
The Alamodome in San Antonio
* OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! *
SAN ANTONIO (February 3, 2012) – Undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) Middleweight Champion and the Son of the Legend, JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR. (44-0-1, 31 KOs), of Culiacan, México, Top-Five pound-for-pound superstar and three-division world champion NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE (27-1, 18 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in the Bay Area of San Leandro, Calif., No. 1 middleweight contender MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO (53-5-1, 47 KOs), of Torreon, México, and former junior featherweight champion WILFREDO VAZQUEZ JR. (21-1-1, 18 KOs), of Bayamon, Puerto Rico , will step on the scale for their Official Weigh-In, Today! Friday, February 3, on the Stadium Field Level of the Alamodome. The main event fighters will step on the scale, beginning at 2:00 p.m. CT.
The Chávez Jr. vs. Rubio middleweight title fight and the Donaire vs. Vazquez Jr. World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior featherweight championship, which will take place Tomorrow! Saturday, February 4, at the Alamodome. Both fights will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, All Star Boxing and Tecate, remaining tickets to the Chávez Jr. / Donaire world championship doubleheader, priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, can be purchased at the Alamodome box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800) 745-3000.
These four warriors boast a combined record of 145-7-3 (114 KOs) – a winning percentage of 94% and a victory by knockout ratio of 79%.