News: Charr vs Bidenko, Katsidis vs Mensah; Mitchell vs Ayala; Craig McEwan

The unbeaten Manuel „Diamond Boy“ Charr (20-0-0 (11)) presently holder of the WBC-International-Silver title is defending his title for the first time. Charr will compete against a very experienced man from EC Boxing / Hamburg, Taras Bidenko (28-4-0 (12)) from Ukraine. The bout will take place during the “Gala-Dinner-Boxing” at the Hotel “Maritim” in Cologne, Germany. Check out FIGOsport for this event and follow the live stream starting at 9pm GMT today!

Katsidis vs Mensah

On April 13, 2012 from the Hard Rock Casino, “The Joint” will play host to, “Duel in the dessert. This will be a boxing event which will feature one of the all time most exciting boxers of the era, Michael “The Great” Katsidis in the featured bout. He will be taking on Albert “The Tornado” Mensah for the International Boxing Federation International Junior Welterweight Title. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds in the Junior Welterweight Division. Katsidis with a record of 28 wins 5 loses hails from Queensland, Australia and has been an HBO boxing favorite over recent years. Michael has fought for the world title and interim title a number of times. He displays a boxing style similar to Arturo Gaetti. A fan favorite fighter who shows both guts and determination will certainly entertain the live and ESPN 2 Television audience. Michael is a fighter who goes back to old school boxing, giving and taking punches in bunches.

Mr. Katsidis’ opponent will be Ghanna born Albert Mensah, 24-3-1, the current IBF Junior Welterweight Champion. Albert is currently living outside Chicago, Illinois is known as both a boxer and puncher. He displays good punching power and is looking to make a positive statement on April 13th. This will be his first television appearance and he wishes to be impressive. The fight should be very interesting with both fighters looking to be aggressive and make statements. The winner of the bout will move on to possibly a challenge for a world title.

The co-featured bout will showcase two exciting boxers from the west coast in a 10 round rematch. The bout will feature Artemio Reyes, 15-1-0 from Colton, California. The two warriors fought to a split decision win by Reyes in their first encounter. Both fighters were not satisfied with their first fight. Sanchez is looking to even the score and Reyes is determined to take out Sanchez this time. Their last bout was one of the most exciting bouts of the recent past. This time the fans will be treated to another toe to toe affair.

The undercard bouts will feature a host of local home grown Las Vegas Boxers. Many of the boxers train at the legendary Johnny Tocco’s Gym. There will be several Pro-Debut boxers who wish to demonstrate their skills to a national audience.

The event is being promoted by Mr. Vlad Warton, President of Millennium Events, Inc. He has represented some of the most prestigious boxers in the world. Vlad is excited about his return to big time boxing after a brief vacation from the sport.

Tickets for the event can be purchased from Ticketmaster or charge by phone at (800)745-3000. Johnny Tacco’s Gym will also have a limited number of tickets available for purchase. Doors will open at 5:45p.m. With the first bout starting at 6:45p.m., the event will go live on ESPN 2 at 8:00p.m. Pacific Time. The weigh-in will take place at the Hard Rock Casino on April 12, 2012. The Press, Photographers, and Journalist are invited to come at 3:30p.m. for a casual press conference, question and answer, interviews, and pictures. At 5:00p.m. the weigh-in will take place. Refreshments will be available for all Press, Photographers, and Journalist. Press credentials will be available during this time.

Craig McEwan is organising a free, open, public training session

Top Scottish middleweight boxer Craig McEwan is organising a free, open, public training session at the Wester Hailes Shopping Centre, Edinburgh this Saturday, 31st March at 12.30pm. A ring will be set up in the Shopping Centre and he will work for about two hours.

The former Clovenstone ABC star and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist is preparing for his first ever professional bout in Scotland, having previously fought 21, all in the US, Canada and Mexico while boxing out of Freddie Roach’s Wildcard gym in Holywood, California. The Homecoming Show at Meadowbank Stadium on April 14th will be packed with Scottish talent, including Alex Arthur, Kenny Anderson, John MacCallum, Jason Hastie and Gary MacMillan. McEwan’s opponent will be former Southern Area super middleweight champion Paul Morby. Craig has agreed to fight up at 163lbs to accommodate his heavier opponent
Craig says “I have always had my best support from Scotland, and especially from Wester Hailes. Before every fight I get hundreds of messages from people from Wester Hailes who me. Since I’ve come home from Los Angeles, people from the area have been telling me that I am an inspiration to them and especially to their kids. It has been really touching and I’ve realised how much of a debt I owe to Wester Hailes and its people. I want the young people here to understand that if you work at pursuing your dreams you can fulfil them and that the hard work is worthwhile. I hope that the kids from Wester Hailes will come to watch my work-out and realise that developing yourself in your chosen field is the only way to improve, not just in sport but in all walks of life, music, art, academic studies, its all the same. I mucked about at school and came away with nothing. Outside boxing I had nothing and thought I was a loser. Doing well at boxing made me understand that I could have done well at other things too but only if I’d worked at it. That is my message to the kids on Saturday.”

Puting Craig through his paces will be former Edinburgh star and Manny Pacquiao sparring partner Gary Young who has been coaching McEwan lately. Craig said “As a professional boxer himself Gary is really knowledgable about the modern game. I have persuaded top coach Stevie Williams who runs a boxing gym in Alicante, Spain to work my corner and give advice and I have been getting wonderful strength and conditioning work from specialist trainer Andy MacIntyre from the [EN]GAGE gym at Napier University. I’m in great shape as people will see on Saturday.”

Mitchell Replaces Camacho Jr. in Co-Feature on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights

Middleweight Eric Mitchell (23-8-1, 11 KOs) and former middleweight title challenger Elvin “The Lycan” Ayala (24-5-1, 11 KOs) will meet in the 8-round co-feature on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra March 30. Mitchell replaces Hector Camacho Jr. who pulled out with a hand injury. Friday’s show will air at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN3 from Mashantucket, Conn. Lightweights “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy (21-1-1, 11 KOs) and “Dangerous” Dannie Williams (21-1, 17 KOs) will meet in the 10-round main event.