Rivera-Edwards, Galarza-Rojas, O’Connor – News

By Boxing News - 01/27/2009 - Comments

When 140-pound star Juan Urango travels to Montreal, Canada’s Bell Centre to face Herman Ngoudjo for the vacant IBF world junior welterweight championship on Friday night, he won’t be alone, as two of his Seminole Warriors Boxing stablemates will be joining him in an attempt to make it a 3-0 night for the Florida-based promotional company.

In an eight round junior welterweight contest, unbeaten Puerto Rican prospect Kenny Galarza will make his Canadian debut against Leonardo Rojas, and 2008 United States Olympic team alternate Danny O’Connor will also look to keep his unblemished record intact in a four rounder against an opponent to be determined.

Both bouts support Friday’s main event, the 12 round championship battle between former champion Urango (20-1-1, 16 KOs) and rugged number one contender Ngoudjo (17-2, 9 KOs).

The pride of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Kenny Galarza (8-0, 8 KOs) is rapidly on his way to joining the likes of Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Lopez, and Ivan Calderon at the top of the boxing world. A pro since 2007, the 23-year old phenom has been wrecking every opponent put in his way, with only two of his foes daring to make it into the third round. Will Galarza’s devastating streak continue on Friday?

23-year old southpaw Danny O’Connor ended a stellar 95-8 amateur career with an alternate spot on the 2008 US Olympic team, and he has carried that success into the pro game, where he is 2-0 (1 KO) since turning pro last September. On Friday, he hopes to score win number three.

Tickets are priced at $40, $75, $125 and $200 and can be purchased at the Bell Centre Box Office: 1-877-668-8269 or online at
www.geg.ca

For more information regarding this and other events, log on to: www.warriorsboxing.com

FORMER GREAT ATHLETES TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Eight former great athletes and Olympians will be inducted into The African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame (“AAESHOF”), on Saturday, March 7, 2009 in Riverside, Calif.

The AAESHOF is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring black and other ethnic sports legends. The organization further supports the development of opportunities for at-risk youth enabling them to gain exposure to positive aspects of life. Funds from the Annual Riverside Induction Ceremony will benefit Riverside County’s The Eight Foundation which provides programs for families that emphasize life-management skills.

This year’s inductees include former US 80-meter hurdle champion Rosie Bonds who hails from a family of Olympians and champions. Other inductees include ’68 Olympians Reynaldo Brown and Armando Muniz; Baseball’s Jim “Mudcat” Grant; former Globetrotter, J. C. Gipson; former NFL standout, Kermit Alexander; former champion golfer Bill Wright; and football/baseball player, Norm Bass.

Community leaders also will be honored at the AAESHOF event. Lois Carson will receive the Lifetime Leadership Award.Under Carson’s leadership, three community childcare centers have been developed in Riverside County, 700 units of farm worker housing and an Urban Indian Center.

Carson also has been active in the Community Action initiative at the state and national levels, serving as board president of the National Community Action Partnership and the California/Nevada Community Action Partnership. Carson also assisted with the design of the Community Action Partnership Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) programs, a professional executive development strategy for community leaders.

The Annual Riverside Induction Ceremony will feature a “VIP Reception with the Stars” at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the ceremony at 8 p.m. at the Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Ave.

The event is sponsored in part by The Mission Inn, City of Riverside, Kid Kesty Productions, ConnectWelch, Retired Boxing Foundation and Outback Steakhouse.

Tickets are $75.00 and $100.00 and can be purchased at www.afrosportshall.com. For more information, contact Wendy Welch at 404-312-2100 or wendy@connectwelch.com or Alicia Hollins at 760-898-9535 arhollins@theeight.org.

Carlos Rivera Vs Johnnie Edwards; Undefeated Knockout Artist Keith Thurman Headline “Fight Night” at A La Carte Event Pavilion February 13!

On February 13, Featherweight prospect Carlos Rivera 14-3-2 (5 KO’s) will take a step up in competition as he will battle Johnnie “Lumberjack” Edwards 14-3-1 (8 KO’s) in the main event of Star Fight Productions’ “Fight Night” at the A La Carte Event Pavilion. Edwards, who has two wins over former world champion Freddie Norwood, is coming off a disputed majority decision loss to hot prospect Ty Barnett in November. Rivera is riding a wave of momentum as he is unbeaten in his last six trips to the squared circle. The Rivera-Edwards contest is scheduled for eight rounds.

Topping the undercard is 2008 Olympic Trials Silver Medalist Keith Thurman 8-0 (8 KO’s). Thurman will take on battle tested veteran Thomas Davis 12-9-2 (8 KO’s) in a six round Welterweight affair. Davis, who stopped WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Kendall Holt in 2004, will attempt to push Thurman into the second round for the first time in his professional career.

Also on the card will be undefeated Middleweight prospect Ahsandi Gibbs 9-0 (3 KO’s) vs Omar Bell 6-1 (4 KO’s) over six rounds. Bell is the brother of former undisputed Cruiserweight kingpin O’Neil Bell. Heavyweight Jason Barnett 10-8 (4 KO’s) will battle Moises Droz 13-6 (10 KO’s) in a six round rematch of their 2007 contest, which Barnett won by majority decision.

Light Heavyweight Adam Hubinger 11-0 (10 KO’s) will return to the ring following a 3 ½ year layoff to challenge Terrance Smith 5-9-2 (3 KO’s) in a 6 rounder. Smith’s record serves him no justice as he has tangled with many prospects and contenders. Dillet Frederick 5-2-3 (2 KO’s) will take on Laquel Fleming 1-1-2 over four at Welterweight. Rounding out the card is a four round featherweight contest between Charlie Serrano 6-2 (2 KO’s) and Adrian Perez 4-1-1 (1 KO).

Tickets can be ordered by going to Ticketmaster.com. To order a VIP table, please call 813-928-4704. The A La Carte Pavilion is located at 4050 Dana Shores Drive in Tampa, Florida

Star Fight Productions is based out of Tampa, Florida and is operated by Aaron Jacobs, Shea Bailey, Pete Fernandez, Mike Asmer, and Randy Feldman.