LAS VEGAS (July 12, 2012) – Three-time world champion Anthony “The Man” Mundine (43-4, 25 KOs) makes his United States debut Saturday night (July 14), headlining the “When Worlds Collide” pay-per-view event, live from Pearl Theater at Palms Resort Casino in Las Vegas.
Mundine takes on tough veteran Bronco “Superman” McKart (54-9-1, 32 KOs), a two-time world champion, in the 10-round main event for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) North American Middleweight Championship.
The WealthTV PPV co-feature matches a pair of world-rated light heavyweights, Russian invader Dmitry Surkhotsky (18-1, 13 KOs) and Cornelius “Da Beast” White (19-1, 16 KOs), in a entertaining 12-round bout for the vacant IBF International title.
The “When Worlds Collide” PPV, presented by Millennium Events, Inc. in association with WealthTV, for live viewing at 9:00 PM/ET – 6:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via Comcast, Time Warner Cable, AT&T U-Verse, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS TV, Charter Communications, DirecTV, and many other carriers for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
The Mundine vs. McKart fight started from a simple question asked earlier this year, in-house by WealthTV’s boxing staff, regarding a viable opponent who could defeat Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
“After much debate with boxing experts and insiders,” explained Charles Herring, president of WealthTV, “Mundine’s name kept coming up. In late March, we aggressively pursued the WBA purse bid for the Mundine vs. Trout fight. Our representative went to Panama City with a substantial check in hand but the bid never went through. Our second attempt, however, was successful and we’re pleased to be the network that is bringing this three-time world champion to the boxing capital of the world, Las Vegas, for his United States boxing debut.
“Mundine has to get past a highly-skilled boxer and proven veteran, Bronco McKart, before he starts thinking about a fight with Mayweather. McKart’s in the best shape of his life and ready to take on Mundine. McKart’s skills and legendary work ethic are quite impressive and we believe this has all the makings to be a Fight of the Year candidate. It’s going to be war in the ring Saturday night as both fighters try to make strong statements.”
Demonstrating its commitment to becoming a powerhouse in world-class, live professional boxing, the Mundine vs. McKart card represents WealthTV’s fifth major live boxing event in the last nine months and its first pay-per-view event in the U.S.
“We’re committed to providing top quality championship boxing to our viewers,” WealthTV CEO Robert Herring commented. “We’ll air exciting cards live on the network for free, yet when the purses get too large, we’ll feature pay-per-view events. Our staff is quickly gaining boxing expertise and is focused on showcasing a major boxing event about once a month.”
Mundine vs. McKart on WealthTV PPV
Fighting out of his native Australia, Mundine first captured the World Boxing Association 168-pound title in 2003, taking a unanimous 12-round decision from Antwun Echols. The dangerous Australian recaptured the WBA super middleweight title in 2007, stopping in-country rival Sam Soliman in the ninth round. In his last fight on October 19, 2011, Mundine became the Interim WBA light middleweight champion by way of a 12-round unanimous decision over Rigoberto Alvarez.
Mundine’s impressive resume includes victories against other even more notable opponents such as bitter arch-rival Danny Green, a former WBA light heavyweight champion, and current IBF middleweight world title-holder Daniel Geale. Three of Mundine’s four career losses have been to world champions Mikkel Kessler, Manny Siaca and Sven Ottke.
McKart, fighting out of Munroe, Illinois, won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight crown in 1996, registering a ninth-round technical knockout of Santos Cardona. McKart added the International Boxing Association (IBA) title belt to his collection in 1997. The battle-tested McKart has defeated world champions Raul Marquez and Aaron Davis, as well as world title challengers Enrique Ornelas and Alex Bunema during the course of his 20-year professional career.
McKart
Bronco “Superman” McKart
Sukhotsky lost his only world title shot to WBO champion Juergen Braehmer by decision in 2009. The rugged Russian and former European 175-pound champion has battled his way back to the top of the world ratings at No. 3 in the WBO, No. 5 in the WBA and No. 12 in the IBF.
White, rated No. 11 by the World Boxing Council (WBC), has relocated in Houston from Chicago to work with his highly-respected head trainer, Ronnie Shields. White’s most impressive win to date was a 2011 decision over 2004 Cuban Olympian Yordanis Despaigne.
All fights and fighters are subject to change. Go online to www.wealthtv.com for additional information or follow on Twitter @wealthtv.
CHRISTY MARTIN vs. MIA ST. JOHN II TWO CHAMPIONS IN THEIR FINAL
FRESNO, CA – Ever since it gained worldwide notice in 1996, women’s boxing has produced a series of great fighters, but two iconic names stand above the rest – Christy Martin and Mia St. John, and today they were in Fresno for a major Press Conference prior to their epic battle in just four weeks. Before a large crowd at the Downtown Club, Martin and St. John, along with local dignitaries, spoke of the importance of their upcoming fight, as well as the state of female boxing.
Today’s Press Conference was the beginning of the four week countdown, when nearly a decade after their first bout in 2002, fight fans in the Central Valley will finally have the chance to see Martin and St. John meet again, in FINAL VICTORY. But this time the stakes will be even higher, as these two champions will fight for the final time and it will be for the WBC World Super Welterweight Belt in a big night of championship boxing on Tuesday evening, August 14th that will be presented by Table Mountain Casino, in association with Roy Englebrecht Promotions.
For Martin, this is her opportunity to reach the 50-win milestone against a heated rival looking to keep her from that mark. More importantly, it will be a fitting celebration of a career and life thought to be over when “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” was shot and stabbed by her ex-husband Jim in 2010. Yet despite the odds, Martin not only survived, but she returned to the ring in 2011. Now she wants to finish the most memorable career in women’s boxing history by defeating St. John. “I am excited about this opportunity to get my 50th win against Mia St John to finish my career,” said Martin. “I am honored to fight for the WBC World Title at Table Mountain Casino and look forward to becoming a World Champion once again. This time I will KO Mia, that’s as good a guarantee as you get.”
St. John has her own reasons for wanting this fight, and the way she sees it, this matchup is all about respect and redemption. In 2002, despite her stellar 26-1-1 record, it took an exciting 10 round war with Martin to earn the acclaim from the boxing world that she deserved. Since then, “The Knockout” has continued to be one of the sport’s great ambassadors, in and out of the ring, and all that’s left for her is to even the score with her greatest rival in Christy Martin. “I’ve waited nearly 10 years for this rematch,” stated St John. “I know I out-boxed Christy in the last fight, but this time I am going to BEAT her. Now we’ll see who the real WBC Champion is, La Gallina or La Guerrera.”
“Since I promoted my first female pro boxing bout in December of 1995 on a Battle In The Ballroom show at the Irvine Marriott, I am proud to say that Roy Englebrecht Promotions has promoted more female boxing bouts than any other fight promoter in history,” stated Englebrecht. “To now have the opportunity along with Table Mountain Casino who stepped up to make this tremendous FINAL VICTORY event happen, and work with two boxing as well as sports icons in Christy and Mia, is an honor and privilege, and believe me fight fans in the Central Valley will be in for a special evening when these two ladies meet in the ring with a legitimate world championship on the line.”
The Final Victory show which will also include four undercard bouts featuring some local Fresno area boxers, will be held in the Events Center at Table Mountain Casino in Friant, California, which is located just 15 miles outside Fresno. Tickets for this night of championship boxing will be priced at $70 VIP, $65 Gold, $60 Reserved, and $55 General Admission, and can be purchased at www.tmcasino.com or at Table Mountain Casino. Doors will open at 6pm with the first bout scheduled to begin at 6:30pm, and you must be 18 years or older to attend the show.
Needless to say, this event is as historic as it is compelling, making it the must see fight of the Summer of 2012.
Christy Martin
“The Coal Miner’s Daughter”
49-6, 31 KOs
5-4, 147 pounds
Orlando, Florida
36-1-2 in first 39 pro fights
Has only been stopped twice (once due to injury, once by Laila Ali)
Unbeaten in four of her last five bouts
Former WBC junior middleweight champion
Holds 2002 decision win over St. John
Featured on several Don King Productions Pay-Per-View cards
Has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine
Survived harrowing shooting by her husband in November 2010; came back to fight in June of 2011 and was defeating Dakota Stone before the fight was stopped due to her broken hand.
Mia Rosales St. John
“The Knockout”
46-11, 18 KOs
5-6, 147 pounds
Oxnard, California
15 wins in three rounds or less
Former WBC international lightweight champion
Former WBC international welterweight champion
Former IBA lightweight champion
Unbeaten in first 23 pro fights
Featured on several Top Rank Pay-Per-View cards
Has appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine
Has won three of her last five bouts