HBO Sports unleashes an explosive middleweight twin bill on St. Patrick’s Day when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGIO MARTINEZ VS. MATTHEW MACKLIN AND EDWIN RODRIGUEZ VS. DONOVAN GEORGE is seen live SATURDAY, MARCH 17 (10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT) from the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Emanuel Steward will be ringside for all the action, presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino.
Other HBO playdates: March 18 (10:00 a.m.) and 19 (11:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: March 18 (4:30 p.m.) and 20 (11:00 p.m.)
The consensus 2010 Fighter of the Year, Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KOs), originally from Buenos Aires and now living in Oxnard, Cal., comes into this 12-round, 160-pound showdown as one the sport’s top performers, having displayed a willingness to fight any challenger and the ability to dominate the competition. The 37-year-old slugger will face talented 29-year-old Birmingham, England native Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KOs), who is fighting on American soil for the first time since 2005.
Martinez’s profile has soared significantly since his stunning KO victory over Paul Williams in round two of their 2010 rematch. Outside the ring, Martinez has advocated civic responsibility in the community and spoken out against bullying among children and teens.
In the ten-round, 168-pound opening bout, Edwin Rodriguez of Worcester, Mass. (20-0, 14 KOs) seeks to extend his undefeated streak against Chicago’s Donovan George (22-1-1 19 KOs). The engaging Rodriguez, 26, has scored victories over James McGirt, Aaron Pryor Jr. and Will Rosinsky. George, 27, is a crowd-pleasing knockout artist who has had tremendous success in the division.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Marc Payton.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.
IT’S HAWK TIME! AARON PRYOR TO ATTEND 2012 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
Hall of Fame Weekend June 7-10th
CANASTOTA, NY – MARCH 14, 2012 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today legendary junior welterweight champion Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor will be among returning Hall of Famers attending the 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 7-10th in Canastota, NY.
“Hands down, Aaron Pryor was one of the most exciting fighters to watch,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “His aggressive, take no prisoners style endeared him to fans the world over. It will definitely be ‘Hawk Time’ in Canastota!”
Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor
On August 2, 1980 Pryor brought his undefeated record (24-0, 22 KOs) into the ring against WBA junior welterweight king Antonio “Kid Pambele” Cervantes. “The Hawk” scored a 4th round knockout over the future Hall of Famer to begin an impressive title reign that saw him defend the strap eight times before adding the IBF title to his collection in 1984. The fighting pride of Cincinnati, OH, during his career Pryor compiled a 39-1 (35 KOs) record with wins over Gaetan Hart, Alfonso Frazer and Lennox Blackmoore. In 1982 and 1983, he engaged in two legendary wars with fellow Hall of Famer Alexis Arguello (TKO 14, KO 10). In 1996 he was elected into the Hall of Fame.
Events planned for the weekend include a banquet, a heavyweight bash, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2012. Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 10th are multi-division champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, two-division champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” ring announcer Michael Buffer, trainer Freddie Roach, broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Michael Katz. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.
An impressive list of over 40 boxing greats from the United States and abroad are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.
For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 23rd Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095, visit online at www.ibhof.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.
Glenn Donaire arrives in Mexico ready for this Friday’s bout against Omar Salado
Mexico DF, Mexico: Everything is set and ready for All Star Boxing’s and Telemundo Network show of this Friday, March 16 at the recently renovated Auditorio Plaza Condesa In Mexico City.
WBO #11 & WBC Latin Flyweight Champion Glenn “Boyet” Donaire of General Santos City, Philippines (18-4-1-10 KO’s) arrived confident and ready in Mexico with his Father/trainer Nonito Donaire, his Manager Vinny Scolpino and his Promoter Tuto Zabala, Jr. He will face two times world title challenger Omar Salado (24-4-2-15 KO’s) of Mexico City, Mexico in a clash schedule for 12 Rounds with the vacant WBC Latin Superflyweight Title at stake.
“Donaire is in great shape, hungry, he trained with his Father in the high altitude and I feel very confident, with a win over Salado to get him his world title shot in the near future” said Zabala.
First bell at 8:00 PM, 6 mores fights round up the card. The main event will be televised live by Telemundo Network at 11:35 PM and by Televisa Deportes Network in Mexico and Central America . Tickets are already on sale at Auditorio Plaza Condesa (Juan Escutia #4, Esq. Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, Colonia Condesa) and also at ticketmaster.com.mx, prices are: $200 and $100 (MP). The show is being presented by Tuto Zabala’s Jr. All Star Boxing, Inc. in association with Ricardo Maldonado, Jr., Producciones Deportivas and RB Producciones.