News: Chagaev vs. Drummond, Marsh vs. Moran
January 14th, 2009
WBA No. 10 rated and undefeated heavyweight contender, Carl Davis Drumond, plans to shock the boxing world February 7th when he fights WBA “Champion in Recess” Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev, live on pay-per-view in the United States from Rostock, Germany.
“The Champion Returns” card, presented by Universum Boxing-Promotion, will also feature on PPV the WBA light welterweight title fight between title holder Andreas Kotelnik and undefeated No. 1 contender Marcos Rene “El Chino” Maidana, as well as hot Russian prospect Denis Boytsov against a challenger to be determined for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship.
Drumond (26-0, 20 KOs), promoted by Warriors Seminole Boxing, fights out of Costa Rica and remains a relative mystery to boxing fans outside of Central America. His most notable win to date was in 2007, when he won a 10-round decision against former world champion Kelvin Davis. Drumond is the former IBF and WBO Latino champion, as well as the ex-WBC FECARBOX title holder.
“This is a big opportunity for me and I’m happy to have this chance,” Drumond said from his Florida training camp. I want to dictate the fight and want to move around. People who haven’t watched me fight will be surprised that I box and move so well. I want to fight in three steps – close, mid-range, and from a distance. I am a complete fighter.”
“We are very excited that Carl is getting this opportunity,” Seminole Warriors Boxing executive director Leon Margules added. “He has been getting great sparring at Lion’s Den Gym in Hollywood, Florida. Drumond’s new trainer, John David Jackson, is fine tuning his technique and the world will see a great fighter against a champion. Carl is very confident that he will win.”
Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs), the 2000 Uzbekistan Olympian and The Ring’s No. 3 rated heavyweight, captured the WBA crown on April 14, 2007 via a 12-round decision against Nikolai Valuev (46-0). However, due to injuries, Ruslan has fought only once since then, winning a 12-round decision against Matt Skelton (21-1) a year ago. An Achilles tendon injury prevented Chagaev from defending his title last year against Valuev and the WBA regulated him to its “champion in recess.”
“Soccer is No. 1 in my country but I will bring great pride back home when I beat Chagaev,” Drumond remarked. “I’m not concerned about fighting him in Germany. I’ve trained hard and know what I have to do. It’s just going to be me and him in the ring. I could knock him out in the first round or go the full distance. If the fight goes 12 rounds, though, I promise that he will be punished. I will shock the boxing world.”
Ukrainian-born Kotelnik, rated No. 4 by The Ring magazine, won the WBA light welterweight title last March with a 12th round TKO of previously unbeaten Gavin Rees (27-0). Kotelnik, now living in Hamburg (Germany), had previously fought Souleymane M’baye to a draw in their 2007 WBA light welterweight title fight.
Power-punching Argentinean Maidana (25-0, 24 KOs), the WBA No. 1 contender, has stopped 24 of his 25 pro victims. The former WBA Fedelatin light welterweight champion is rated No. 9 by The Ring.
Unbeaten 22-year-old Boytsov (23-0, 18 KOs), a native of Russia now living in Germany, is the latest in a long line of Russian heavyweight contenders. The 2004 Junior World Championships super heavyweight winner is rated No. 11 by the WBA.
Ghost Sighting in Los Angeles
January 24th, former two-time Featherweight World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will travel south from his hometown of Gilroy, California to make his junior lightweight debut at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles against seasoned veteran Edel Ruiz. Guerrero’s return to the ring against Ruiz is the featured undercard attraction on the first major boxing event of 2009, the World Welterweight Championship showdown between Antonio Margarito and Sugar Shane Mosley.
Guerrero, a recent signee of Golden Boy Promotions, is eager to get back into the ring after nearly a year layoff.
“It’s good to be back and I can’t wait to get back into the ring, especially in California at STAPLES Center where I won my first world title,” said Guerrero. “It’s an honor to be fighting on the same card as Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley, but I can’t lie – I’m looking to steal the show on January 24th.”
An exciting southpaw with two-fisted power, 25-year-old Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (22-1-1, 15 KOs) has enjoyed a meteoric rise that has seen him win the IBF featherweight title twice while beating the likes of Eric Aiken, Spend Abazi, Martin Honorio and Jason Litzau. Going undefeated in world title fights and more impressively winning them all by knockout, Guerrero has proven to be a dynamic puncher and now plans on conquering new territory in the 130-pound weight division.
A native of Los Mochis, Mexico, 31-year-old Edel Ruiz (31-21-4, 22 KOs) is best known for his toughness and the fact that he guns for anyone he steps into the ring with. For 14 years, Ruiz has excited fight fans with his determination and willingness to take on anyone, anywhere, any time, and following two straight knockout wins late in 2008, he’s got the momentum necessary to lead him into battle against “The Ghost” on January 24th.
Margarito vs. Mosley, which is promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate,will be televised live on HBO’sWorld Championship Boxing beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT. Remaining tickets, priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, are available at the STAPLES Center Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 213-480-3232 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information about the “The Champion Returns” PPV show, go on line to www.integratedsportsnet.com.
“Merciless” Mary McGee Rings In The New Year Against Mohs
“SLUGFEST 2009″ is set and ready to bring the New Year in with a bang and the powerful hands of Gary’s own “Merciless” Mary McGee (15-0, 9 KOs) will help provide the punch as she makes her long awaited return to action against a very talented veteran Jessica Mohs on Friday, January 23rd, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel @ Star Plaza in Merrillville, In.
McGee’s last fight was on August 3, 2008, while Mohs last fought on September 11th, 2008, but both feel that this fight is shaping up to be a card-stealer. “If she comes in shape, it’s going to be a long night,” said McGee of Mohs.
“(Mohs) has been in the ring with some of the best and I’m expecting this to be a great fight,” McGee added. Mohs has fought the best woman in the world, including Mia St. John, Jessica Rakoczy and Terri Lynn Cruz in her last fights.
Mohs is a 5’3″ Oklahoma City, OK resident, that has a 7-19-2 (2 KOs) record, but she has made it clear that the record better not fool the 22 year-old McGee. “Well I’m a hard hitter,” said Mohs of what McGee can expect. “I feel I’m in great shape and I’m looking to go out there and have some fun.”
This fight is one of seven action-packed bouts scheduled for “SLUGFEST 2009,” but One In A Million, Inc. CEO Octavius James is ready to call this one an instant barn burner.
“This is going to be one of those fights that people will remember for a very long time,” said James. “Mary and Jessica are ready to start the New Year with an all out Slug Fest.”
McGee enters her bout with Mohs as the unblemished NABC Lightweight World Champion, but the Gary native is also carrying a heavy heart following the recent passing of another World Champion Giselle Salandy 17-0 (6 KOs). “I have the ultimate respect for her and I looked up to her,” said McGee of Salandy.
McGee will be paying tribute to Salandy in her fight against Mohs. “This fight is for her and her family, this is one fighter that I had really respected and there are not many female fighters that I do respect the way I do Jisselle.”
Jimmy “The Fighting School Teacher” Holmes will also be making his return to the ring following a minor surgery, along with some of the brightest and talented fighters in the world. Doors open at 7 p.m., while the first fight is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel @ Star Plaza I-65 & HWY US 30 in Merrillville, IN.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at $100 for VIP, $75 VIP ringside, $50 ringside, and $30 general admission. They are available from any Ticket Master location at (219) 791-1234, (312) 559-1212, (866) 438-7372 or www.TicketMaster.com.
The Radisson is located at I-65 & US 30 in Merrillville, IN.
Doors open at 7 p.m. The first bout is at 8 p.m.
Visit Us at: www.oneinamillionboxing.com
MORAN WILL MAKE HIS MARK AT HOME
FRANK MALONEY has won the purse bids for Matthew Marsh’s British super-bantamweight title defence against Liverpool’s Mark Moran.
His bid in excess of £31,600 means Moran (11-0-1) who Maloney co-promotes with VIP Promotions will have crucial home advantage.
The eagerly awaited clash between Britain’s top 8st 10lb fighters will take place at Leigh Indoor Sports Centre on Friday April 17.
Maloney said: “This is what is known in the trade as a pick ‘em fight and home advantage could be crucial so it is a big bonus to win the purse bids.
“Both fighters sell a lot of tickets but Mark’s fans could swing the fight in his favour.
“I think Moran will win, but the only guarantee I can make is that it’ll be a candidate for domestic Fight of the Year.”
Southpaw Moran turned professional in October 2003 and his finest win came last May when he stopped Danny Wallace to become English champion in front of 58,000 fans at City of Manchester Stadium.
Moran, 26, was a team-mate of Marsh (11-1) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and won a bantamweight bronze medal.
Marsh, also 26, captured the British title last June outpointing Esham Pickering and in his only defence won a majority decision over Rocky Dean.
The cockney boxer’s only professional loss came when stepped up to featherweight in October 2007 and was stopped in 11 rounds by Derry Matthews in a WBU title challenge.
Marsh didn’t fare as well as Moran when then Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester getting knocked out by South African flyweight Nzimeni Msutu when he was clearly weight drained.
An action packed undercard will be revealed shortly, but will feature the best young talent from Liverpool and Manchester.
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