Latest Boxing News: Bradley Wants Hatton; Estrada-Castillo, Arreola-Walker, More

WBC light welterweight champion Tim Bradley would love to fight Ricky Hatton here in the UK. The 25 year-old Californian defeated Junior Witter for the WBC title back in May.

Bradley told Setanta Sports News that Witter wanted a rematch but, ultimately, Hatton was the fight he was after.

“Witter is definitely calling my number. He wants something that I took from him. He’s definitely looking for revenge. He’s working his way up through the rankings and I’m sure he’ll be back as mandatory challenger pretty soon.

“But Ricky is the dream fight. I don’t know if he wants to fight against a young hungry fighter like myself. But, if he does, I would love to get it on with him here in England.”

INSIDE THE MIND: TRAVIS WALKER

In less than two weeks, Saturday, November 29, two of Americas most prominent heavyweight future starts will face each other with bragging rights as the #1 young heavyweight in the World. The bout will be broadcast on HBO, at the Inland Empire’s newest state-of-the-art building, Citizens Business Bank Arena located in Ontario, California. Presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions, the main event features 2-time WBO Welterweight World Champion and “the most feared fighter in boxing” Paul “The Punisher” Williams taking on 3-time World Champion, Verno Phillips, in an interim 12 round WBO Super Welterweight World Championship bout.

The following is a question and answer with the #5 World rated, NABF Heavyweight Champion, Travis “Freight Train” Walker as he prepares for his showdown with Riverside’s and Inland Empire’s Cristobal “The Nightmare”Arreola, the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion.

QUESTION: How has training camp been?

ANSWER: Training camp has been great. I have great sparring sessions, I’m healthy and in great shape.

QUESTION: Who have you sparred against?

ANSWER: I’ve sparred with Raphael Butler and David Rodriguez, both big heavyweights. They’ve been throwing a lot of punches and keeping the pressure on to get me prepared for Arreola.

QUESTION: What weaknesses do you feel Arreola has?

ANSWER: Arreola has a lot of weaknesses but I can’t divulge them right now but he can be sure of this… come fight night – I will target his weaknesses.

QUESTION: What makes you think you can beat Arreola?

ANSWER: Because I can and I will. Styles make fights and my style can beat Arreola. Also, I’ve got the determination. I work hard for what I want and I want to walk out of the ring as Champion that night. It’s just a matter of time.

QUESTION: Do you feel he can take your punch?

ANSWER: He can’t take my punch it’s too powerful for him. He has never been in the ring with a real puncher or heavyweight. Arreola is used to small heavyweights – more like light heavyweights.

QUESTION: Do you feel you can take his punch?

ANSWER: Yeah… I can take his punch. I know his punches aren’t hard. He is more about throwing a lot of combinations.

QUESTION: How many rounds will the fight go?

ANSWER: It’s not going to go so long. It’s going to go 5 rounds at the most before I take him… and make no mistake, I will take him.

QUESTION: If you had to pick which hand you will beat him with all night – which hand would it be?

ANSWER: I’m going to beat him down all night with my left and finish him up with my right.

FINAL COMMENT: Because of my determination and hard work, finishing off “The Nightmare” will come easy… then eventually it’s on to my “dream match” against Vitali Klitschko.

At stake for the winner of the Arreola-Walker bout will be the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title, the NABF Heavyweight title and the IBF Heavyweight Elimination ranking.

Boxing in North Olmsted, OH: Nov. 21 Card Complete – Ryan Thompson, Elecia “Mega” Battle, Andres Taylor, Miguel Gonzalez and more.

Cleveland, OH – November 19, 2008 – The St. Clarence Hall in North Olmsted, Ohio will be buzzing with excitement on Friday, November 21st, as Kincaid Godhard Promotions present live professional boxing. Not only is this the first professional boxing show to be held in the City of North Olmsted, it also marks the return of professional boxing to the Cleveland area in 2008.

One of the feature fights of the evening pits heavyweight, knockout artist, Ryan “The Tank” Thompson (7-6, 6KO) from East Cleveland vs. Ryan St Germain (2-3, 2KO) from Indiana. Thompson, who is a member of the Cement Mason Local 404 Union, will be fighting for the first time in front of his hometown crowd.

Cleveland’s own Elecia “Mega” Battle (3-1, 3KO) who is ranked #4 in the world will fight 2-time toughwoman champion Tanya “The Red Neck Mama” Colvin (1-0, 1KO) from Pennsboro, WV. This light heavyweight women’s bout will be sure to shake up the rankings.

Johnstown, PA heavyweight sensation Andres “Taylor Made” Taylor (3-0-1, 1KO) will take on Mike “The Hammer” Jones (5-14, 2KO) from Jackson, MI. Taylor, the 2006 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves State Champion, was ranked 3rd in the Nation by USA Boxing as an amateur. Taylor will have nearly 100 “Taylor Made” fans in the audience making the 3 hour trip from Johnstown, PA.

In addition, Miguel Gonzalez (1-0, 1KO) from Cleveland takes on Dammeon Glover (0-2) from Pittsburgh. Gonzalez, the 2008 US Olympic alternate at lightweight, will also be making his hometown debut as a professional.

Other bouts include: Jason Massie (1-0) from Cleveland vs. Richard Greene (1-0, 1KO) at heavyweight, Brian Cook (1-1, 1KO) from Nordonia vs. Justin Riegle (debut) from Orrville at heavyweight, and Rayshawn Myers (1-2, 1KO) from Cleveland vs. Jason Williams (1-0, 1KO) at cruiserweight.

Preliminary amateur bouts will start the evening off and include the boxing debut of NAAFS #1 MMA Amateur Stipe Miocic, Dan Jones, Derrick Moss, Brian Park, and Lorain’s Wilkins Santiago.

A limited number of tickets, priced at $45 VIP front row, $35 ringside table seats, and $25 general admission, remain on sale to the public. Tickets will be $5 more at the door, if available.

The St. Clarence Hall is located at 30106 Lorain Road in North Olmsted, Ohio. Doors open at 7:00PM with the first bout scheduled to start at 8:00PM sharp.

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets, while they last, by calling Todd Kincaid: (440) 223-7409, Bill Godhard: (440) 785-4900, or email: Westside.Boxing@hotmail.com.

US Olympians Estrada & Andrade fight Nov. 29 show

PROVIDENCE (November 18, 2008) – Rhode Island’s only representatives ever on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, Jason “Big Six” Estrada (2004) and Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (2008), will be showcased November 29 on “Holiday Havoc” at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

“Holiday Havoc” is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with Twin River and CN8, The Comcast Network as well as (for Andrade’s fight) Banner Promotions and Star Boxing.

The show will be taped live and air Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 PM/ET on CN8, The Comcast Network in New England and the Baltimore/Washington D.C. market, as well as on Cox Sports Television at a date and time to be determined.

“I’m inviting all of our fans, friends and family to celebrate our big pre-holiday show, the last CES card of 2008, at Twin River on November 29th,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “What better way of ending the year than by watching our two Olympians in action? Rhode Island didn’t have an U.S. Olympic boxer until Jason in 2004 and now he and this year’s Olympian, ‘Boo Boo,’ are fighting on this great card. We have a lot of other talented fighters in five entertaining bouts on the undercard. In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, we’re working with the U.S. Marines ‘Toys For Tots’ program, and are encouraging everyone to bring a toy to the show for less fortunate children.”

Estrada and Andrade are two of the most decorated U.S. amateur boxers of all-time. Estrada was 261-14 in U.S. competition and the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row, in addition to a gold medal in the 2003 Pan-Am Games.

Andrade, who was a 2-time U.S. Nationals and National Golden Gloves champion, captured a gold medal in the 2008 AIBA World Championships.

Ever-improving heavyweight prospect Estrada (14-1, 3 KOs), now rated No. 7 in the NABF, takes on Cuban warrior Elieser Castillo (30-6-2, 17 KOs) in the 8-round main event. Castillo has already beaten one U.S. Olympian, 1996 captain Lawrence Clay Bey (KO9), for the NABF Interim title that Elieser was later awarded outright.

Andrade (1-0, 1 KO) made his pro debut this past October, stopping Patrick Cape (4-2) in the second round of their fight in the state of Washington. “Boo Boo” will make his hometown pro debut Nov. 29 in a Special Super Welterweight Attraction on “Holiday Havoc.”

Former USBA champion Jason Pires, now a police officer in his hometown of New Bedford (MA), makes a comeback after being out of the ring for more than five years in a 6-round welterweight bout versus Joshua Onyango (14-16-1, 11 KOs), former Commonwealth title holder.

Providence super middleweight Bobo “The Bull” Starnino and “Irish” Joey McCreedy (8-2-1, 5 KOs), of Lowell (MA), square-off in a 6-round rematch of a draw the two fought last August.

Also on the undercard in 4-round bouts is unbeaten Pawtucket (RI) lightweight Eddie “The Puerto Rican Sensation” Soto (9-0, 4 KOs) against 37-fight veteran Jose Angel “Lucky” Roman; Warwick (RI) super middleweight Keith Kozlin (1-0) fights Eric Clinton (0-4-1), Providence junior lightweight Omar Pena (0-0-1) meets Lindberg Freeman (0-1); Lowell junior welterweight Sean Eklund (6-2, 1 KO) makes his CES debut with his uncle in his corner as head trainer, “Irish” Micky Ward.

Tickets for “Holiday Havoc” are priced at $19.00, $40.00, $55.00 (Bronze), $75.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and limited $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Event Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI), at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.

Tickets are also on sale at Big Six Academy in Providence (401.241.3490), 401 Gym in Cranston, RI (401.261.9800), Ultimate Fitness in Bristol, RI (401.253.3539), Rivera Brother’s Gym in Lynn, MA (617.594.1166) and GQ Barbersalon in N. Providence (401.228.3380), Warwick, RI (401.823.0060) and Coventry, RI (401.615.5455).

Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Events Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Holiday Havoc.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)

Press Conference Quotes

Jason Estrada: “This is my fifth fight at Twin River. I was on the first show there and I’ve fought there more than anybody. It’s becoming a nice trend. On the 29th, I was supposed to fight Derek Bryant, a slick southpaw, but he got cold feet and pulled out for the second time. I don’t understand it…..no pride. I’ve never turned down an opponent because I don’t think anybody can beat me. I’m flashy and confident. I retire them (opponents). After they fight me there’s nothing more. I’m going to show everybody what I can do on the 29th. Afterwards we’re going to announce a nice surprise that will shock everybody.”

Demetrius Andrade: “I really didn’t want to go to California; I want to whip some ass here. I’m glad my promoters worked it out with Jimmy (Burchfield). I’m glad about fighting at home. It’s a good card.”

Jason Pires: “I’m very excited to be coming back November 29th and doing it again. I took time off to get on the police force and I love protecting people. There’s a lot of talent on this card and I’m thankful to be on it. Training has been good. Twin River is a great place to fight.”

Joey McCreedy: “This fight speaks for itself. I fought Bobo – it was the Fight of the Night – and I have a lot of respect for him. I’m going to leave everything in the ring November 29th.”

Keith Kozlin: “I’m real excited to fight at Twin River on this card. It’s going to be a great night of fighting. I feel real strong. I want to get into the ring and start fighting.”

Omar Pena: “There are a lot of good fighters on this card. I had a rough start in my first fight, some little changes from coming up from the amateurs. I definitely going to make my Rhode Island fans happy and I want my fellow Dominicans waving flags.”

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