HOBOKEN, NJ (April 10, 2012) – FIGHT NOW TV TM – America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel – will deliver exciting boxing from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean this Saturday (Apr. 14) starting at 5 PM/ET.
“FIGHT NOW TV continues to strive to deliver compelling boxing for viewers all across America on our 24/7 channel,” commented FIGHT NOW TV co-founder & manager Mike Garrow. “This Saturday, of course, is no exception. We’ll be taking our viewers around the world, thanks in part to HBO PPV and Hennessy Sports, to watch world-class boxing from Belfast, Ireland and North America. With major events happening each and every week from around the world, FIGHT NOW TV is a unique, innovative channel offering an opportunity for fight fans in America to keep up with all the action, no matter where fights are taking place. ‘Super Saturday’ is another example of why FIGHT NOW TV is a must for boxing, as well as MMA, fans in the United States.”
“Super Saturday” kicks-off from Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland as undefeated sensation Tyson Fury battles Martin Rogan for the Irish Heavyweight Championship, headlining the “Unfinished Business” card, presented by Hennessy Sports.
The 6′ 9″, 260-plus pound Fury (17-0, 12 KOs), rated No. 8 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) and No. 14 by the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”), is one of the top heavyweight prospects in the world. A native of Manchester who lives in Cheshire, England, Tyson, as an amateur boxer, represented both England and Ireland because his father is from Galway and grandmother (on his mother’s side) hails from Belfast. Named by his father after Mike Tyson, the 23-year-old Fury comes from an Irish Traveller family with a long history in boxing, going back to bare-knuckles days that Tyson proudly carries on. He is considered by many as the heir apparent to Wladimir and/or Vitaly Klitschko as a future world champion.
“It hurt me deeply not being able to fight for Ireland at the Olympics (200*) and to win this Irish title will be just fantastic,” Fury said. “I don’t care about Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko. Those guys can wait because winning the Irish Heavyweight Championship in Belfast means everything to me.”
A typical Irish brawler from Belfast, Rogan (14-2, & KOs) is a former Gaelic football player who won the “Prizefighter Heavyweight Tournament.”
Also fighting in separate bouts on Saturday’s “Unfinished Business” card are two fighters at opposite ends of their boxing careers, veteran Irish welterweight John O’Donnell (24-2, 11 KOs) and 22-year-old middleweight prospect Chris Eubank, Jr. (2-0, 1 KO), the son of two-division world champion Chris “Simply The Best” Eubank.
The action then shifts at 7 PM/ET to North America for the live broadcast of several fights from a split HBO pay-per-view broadcast – “Too Big for One Country” — featuring, from Las Vegas, popular Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (29-0-1, 22 KOs) vs. Richard Abril (17-2-1, 8 KOs) for the World Boxing Association (“WBA”) lightweight title; and for the Interim WBO light welterweight crown, from Mexico City, future Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KOs) vs. Sergey Fedchenko (30-1, 13 KOs).
Expected to be showcased on Top Rank’s undercard segment from “Too Big for One Country” of FIGHT NOW TV’s “Super Saturday” is a 10-round lightweight match between Undefeated Filipino southpaw Mercito Gesta (24-0, 12 KOs) and dangerous Colombian boxer Oscar Cuero (15-7-1, 12 KOs). Gesta is rated as high as No. 7 by the WBA, as well as No. 8 by the WBO and No. 15 by the International Boxing Federation (“IBF”). Unbeaten IBF Latino Light Welterweight Champion Mike Alvarado (32-0, 23 KOs) takes on dangerous Mauricio Herrera (18-1, 7 KOs) in another intriguing match-up on FIGHT NOW TV.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.
Founded by Channel Zero, Inc. and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow, FIGHT NOW TV is the only 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week combat sports channel in the nation. The network’s mandate is to bring the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW TV is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups from around the globe.
FIGHT NOW TV has also enlisted one of the fight game’s biggest names to join its camp, 5-time UFC champion and MMA legend Randy Couture, who serves as both spokesperson and analyst for the channel.
FIGHT NOW TV, It’s ON! Call Your Television Provider To Order
For more information about FIGHT NOW TV go on line at www.fightnow.com, or follow on Twitter @fightnowtv and Facebook.com/fightnowtv.
IABA UPDATE (BOY 1,2 & 3 NATIONAL 2012 CHAMPIONSHIPS)
April 10th
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION
Lorcan Hurley and James Crean produced the bout of the opening session of the Boy 1, 2 & 3 Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium this morning.
The see-saw three-rounder rumbled all the way down to the wire before Hurley had his hand raised in victory on a 10-9 decision.
Antrim’s Barry Reynolds also impressed this morn, the Ulster dynamo posting a 13-5 verdict over Francie McDonagh.
Cork’s Patrick Dunne kept the flag flying for the Riverstown BC with a fine win over the brave Oisin O’Dowd and Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) stand out Eddie Donovan showcased his skills in a solid
victory over Davey McDonagh.
The lead changed hands twice between Francie Stokes and John Sweeney, Stokes earning a 6-5 decision from a very tight three-rounder.
Cork’s Michael Keating denied the St George’s ABC their second win in-a-row in the Boy 2 deciders. Sean Corr claimed the first win of the afternoon session for the Belfast club, but his team-mate Conor McMullan – despite claiming the last round – lost out 8-5 to Keating.
Killian McDaid also had his hand raised in triumph today, the Mulhuddart BC ace registering a 10-3 win over Cork’s Timmy McDonagh. Meanwhile, Pat Donovan made it two wins on-the-trot for the Our Lady of Lourdes BC following his 9-4 verdict over Padraig Loughlin.
Young Aaron McKenna was another that impressed. The Smithboro BC clubman registered a 14-8 decision over Pierce Nash from an exciting 42kg duel.
MJ Mongan, meanwhile, ensured that the OLOL BC celebrated a hat-trick with a 13-4 win over Thomas Gallagher, while Darren Ward came from behind to edge out Ryan Lennon in a very close 52kg three-rounder.
Bartlomiez Zalewski and Conoir Gleeson traded some big shots in the last round of their 70kg clash, Zalewski taking a 12-8 verdict from a grandstand final round.
The Championships resume tomorrow morning at 10am followed by two sessions beginning at 3pm and 7pm.
Visit the new www.iaba.ie
2012 National Boy 1, 2 & 3 Championships National Stadium Dublin
April 10th Boy 1 Prelims (10am)
27kg: Sean Mari (Whitechurch) beat Jordan Ryan (St Francis) 10-7
29kg: Martin McDonagh (Ballina) beat Jamie Dalton (Westside) 9-6
31kg: Reece Parchment (Tramore) beat Kieran Bittle (St Pauls) 13-6
31kg: CJ Houlihan (Callan) beat Emmett Diver (St Bridgets) RSC3
33kg: Barry Reynolds (St Pauls) beat Francie McDonagh (3 Bridges) 13-5
33kg: John Nevin (St Brigids, Kildare) beat Ciaran Brogan (Knockmore) 9-5
36kg: Eddie Donovan (OLOL) beat Davy McDonnagh (West Finglas) 14-5
36kg: Tylar McMullan (Braid) beat Derek Ward (St Michaels) 12-5
39kg: Lorcan Hurley (Tramore) beat James Crean (Wexford CBS) 10-9
39kg: Luke Carroll (Westside) beat Conal Ross (Dockers) 13-3
42kg: Lee Harkin (Illies GG) beat Anthony Barrett (Olympic) 11-8
44kg: Dylan Joyce (Avona) beat Owen J McDonagh (St Annes) 7-4
44kg: Patrick Dunne (Riverstown) beat Oisin O’Dowd (Gilford) RSC 2
46kg: John Sweeney (Buncrana) beat Francie Stokes (3 Bridges) 6-5
48kg: Brian Stokes St Seachnalls) beat Jishua McGough (Bracken) 9-4
50kg: Paddy Donoghue (Ballinasloe) beat Daniel Burke (Clonmel) 13-1
52kg: Peter Byrne (Arklow) beat John Collins (Darndale) 6-2
April 10th Boy 2 Prelims (2pm)
31kg; Sean Corr (St Georges) beat Edward Barrett (Olympic) 9-5
31kg: Tyrone McCann (Tyholland) beat Patrick Farrelly (Clann Naofa) RSC2
33kg; William Cawley (Baldoyle) beat Patrick Cullen (Ballagh) 12-6
33kg: Michael Keating (Watergrasshill) beat Conor McMullan (St Georges) 8-5
36kg; Nathan May (Crumlin) beat Peter Tierney (Oughterard) 12-6
36kg: Edward O’Neill (Paulstown) beat Tom Stokes (Oakleaf) 10-4
39kg: Eamon Sweeney (Illies GG) beat Adam Kavanagh (Westside) 5-4
39kg: Pat Donovan (OLOL) beat Padraig Loughlin (Emerald) 9-4
42kg: Aaron McKenna (Smithboro) beat Pierce Nash (Sacred Heart) 14-8
42kg: Killian McDaid (Mulhuddart) beat Timmy McDonagh (St Johns) 10-3
44kg: Peter McCartan (Bishop Kelly) W/O
48kg: Tommy Hyde (Setanta) beat Patrick Donovan (Tobar Pheadair) 14-3
48kg: Niall Carroll (Ryston) beat Paul Ryan (Bay City) 12-5
48kg: Conor Long (Oakleaf) beat Adam Majury (Newington) RSC3
50kg: Bryan McNamee (Convoy) beat Aaron Aspel (St Michaels) RSC2
50kg: Joseph McDonagh (Connamara) beat Adam Higginbottom (St Brigids) 11-8
50kg: MJ Mongan (OLOL) beat Tom Gallagher (Townland) 13-4
52kg: Darren Ward (St Ailbhes) beat Ryan Lennon (Saints) 4-3
52kg: Eoghan Dowdall (South Meath) beat Ronan O’Donnell (Convoy) 5-2
54kg: Kieran Nolan/Kenny (Bunclody) beat Leon Gallagher (Finn Valley) 7-4
54kg: Anthony McDonagh (Olympic) beat Byron Dunne (Crumlin) 15-7
60kg: Andrew Johnston (Gleann) beat Thomas Maughan (Cavan) 6-0
70kg: Bartlomiez Zalewski (St Annes) beat Conor Gleeson (Smithboro) 12-8