HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 27, 2008) – International Boxing Federation top contender and mandatory challenger, former U.S. Olympian and IBF light middleweight title-holder Raul “El Diamente” Marquez, says he will shock the boxing world November 8 when he fights unbeaten IBF middleweight champion “King” Arthur Abraham at Jako Arena in Bamberg, Germany.
Abraham-Marquez is promoted by Wilfried Sauerland, presented by Sauerland Event and its Managing Director, Christian Meyer, in association with Seminole Warriors Boxing. The broadcast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing in English and Spanish at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice Canada, and Bell ExpressVue, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. iN Demand will show a replay the following day (Sunday, Nov. 9) at 2 PM/ET. Al Bernstein and Nick Charles will call the action.
Abraham-Marquez, originally scheduled October 4, was postponed due to Abraham’s sudden illness on the day of the fight, which Marquez still questions yet firmly believes will work to his advantage. Raul explained that both fighters made weight the night before and day of the fight, selected gloves, and passed examinations by the commission doctors.
“Everything was good after the weigh in,” southpaw Marquez explained. “After the morning weigh in (the day of the fight) I ate breakfast and went back to my room to rest. Around 11 there was banging on my door – everybody knows not to bother a fighter resting for his fight – and it was my promoter, Leon (Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing), who told me the fight was postponed. I was shocked; I couldn’t believe it. Something wasn’t right all along. I knew he (Abraham) was having trouble making weight. Before the first weigh in, we both checked out our weight – I was on but he was over a half-pound. I was called for the official weigh in and made it; he was called but was 10 minutes late. He came in wearing a robe because he had to go in the sauna. Maybe he was sick but, if he really was, it was because of what he had to do to make weight.
“It’s all positive for me. I’m looking at it as they stopped it for a reason. If he really was sick it would have taken him two weeks to get back to where he was. Four weeks isn’t going to help him if he’s having trouble making 160 pounds. I’ve heard that he’s had trouble making weight for his last few fights and his last was fought at a catch weight of 166. He’s very muscular and and it’s not easy staying in the same weight class. After my fight with (Giovanni) Lorenzo, we wanted this fight (against Abraham) to be in November so I’d have more time for my cut (over eye) to heal. Now it’s in November. I’ve already been to Germany and know what to expect. Germany’s going to be like my second home for the past month-and-a-half. It’s a beautiful country with great people and I made some fans over there. I’ll leave here next Wednesday and have the same 10 days to acclimate myself to the time and weather. The second time around I’m even more confident of winning. I’m not going over there just for a payday. When I beat him the big paydays will come. I’m going to Germany to shock the boxing world.”
Marquez still believes that Abraham is looking past him to a unification fight against Kelly Pavlik, despite Abraham’s claims that he isn’t looking ahead to bigger fights. “I’m an old pro, a crafty veteran who is even more motivated after seeing (Bernard) Hopkins beat Pavlik, old beating young, and I have a lot of experience over Abraham,” Raul continued. “I don’t know why Abraham just doesn’t say he’s focused on me like I would, but he keeps mentioning Pavlik or (Felix) Sturm and you can’t tell me he isn’t looking ahead, no matter what he says. I read a lot about boxing and he still has to beat me in a very tough fight to get Pavlik, unless, of course, he plans to pull out of our fight again. And I know he has had trouble fighting southpaws, like (Khoren) Gevor and (Ian) Gardiner, and I’m a top world-rated fighter.
“I got a lot of respect over there from him and his trainer. They said I’m better than Miranda or anybody else he’s fought. Abraham is powerful and strong with obvious power, but he leaves himself open and fights in spurts. He has flaws. Miranda won the first three rounds (in their last fight) but you saw what happens to a fighter who needed to lose too much weight. I won’t know how hard he hits until we get into the ring, but I’ve been hit by guys like (Jermain) Taylor and (Fernando) Vargas, and those two can really crack. If I didn’t think I could beat him, I wouldn’t be going to Germany. I’m in the best shape of my life, ready to go 12, 15 if they still had that many rounds. All of the pressure is on him. I expect to win and that will open the doors to bigger and better things for me.”
Abraham (27-0, 22 KOs), rated No. 2 by The Ring and ESPN, captured the IBF middleweight title nearly three years ago by way of a fifth-round knockout of Kingsley Ikeke (23-1). Seven successful title defenses have followed against Miranda, Shannon Taylor, Kofi Jantuah, Sebastian Demers, Khoren Gevor, Wayne Elcock and Elvin Ayala.
The 37-year-old Marquez (41-3-1, 29 KOs), rated No. 2 (No. 1 unrated) by the IBF as well as No. 8 by The Ring and No. 9 by ESPN, earned his title shot against Abraham by defeating previously unbeaten No. 1 contender Giovanni Lorenzo (26-0) in their June 21st IBF title eliminator. Marquez, fighting out of Houston, was a 1992 U.S. Olympian who was the IBF junior middleweight title-holder in 1997.
The 10-round co-feature on the PPV show from Germany finds former NABO champion and “The Next Great Champ” reality television winner, Otis “Triple OG” Griffin (19-3-2, 7 KOs), of Sacramento, fighting Yugoslavian-born Enad Licina (14-1, 8 KOs), now living in Germany, for the
vacant IBF Intercontinental cruiserweight belt.
For more information about the Abraham-Marguez PPV go to www.integratedsportsnet.com or www.warriorsboxing.com
Oliveira Disposes of Former Cruiserweight Champion in Three
The Underground Boxing Company’s rising Light Heavyweight prospect, Marcus Oliveira (15-0-1 with 12 KOs) cemented his position in the division with an exciting third round TKO stoppage over former IBF and USBA Cruiserweight Champion, Kelvin “Concrete” Davis (24-9-2).
Although the opening three minutes was more of a feeling-out round for the two fighters, things began to heat up in the second. Oliveira began to break down “Concrete” Davis with a powerful, sledgehammer jab that chipped away at the former champion, while Davis looked to unleash the type of knockout blows he had gained a reputation for. Oliveira proved to be too agile and countered well, often leaving Davis swinging at air. Oliveira soon found a home for his uppercut and shortly into the third round, split Davis’ nose open wide open. As blood poured, Oliveira began opening up on the former champion and landed a series of uppercuts and solid head shots. Oliveira’s punches gained steam, snapping his opponents head back and buckling his legs. Just as it looked like Davis was on his way down, his corner mercifully jumped in the ring to stop the fight and end the onslaught at 53 seconds of the third round.
The scheduled 8 round light heavyweight bout was Davis’ first fight after dropping down to the 175lb weight class…a move that proved to be a costly one.
The fight was held at the Township Auditorium in Columbia, South Carolina and is scheduled to air on FOX Sports where most fans will get their first glance of this up-and-coming fighter. Oliveira continues to rise up to meet each mounting challenge that is put in front of him…the sign of a warrior spirit and will of a future champion.
October 29 “Knockout Knights” Undercard Announced!
For Immediate Release~ (Lyndhurst, NJ) October 27, 2008—This Wednesday, October 29, boxing makes its long overdue return to the beautiful Medieval Times Castle in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Mike Indri’s Dignity Promotions presents “Knockout Knights”. The exciting boxing card will be the first professional boxing event held at Medieval Times since 1997. Headlining the card will be former Junior Welterweight Champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris (23-3-1, 18 KOs) taking on tough Nicaraguan, Octavio Narvaez (7-4-1, 4 KOs) in a 10-round 140lbs showdown.
Says Harris, “I think I just need this one fight to put me back in there, I don’t think that I need a bunch of fights. I am ready. I am ready to take on the champions right now. I have been there before, I have been off for one year but it was not because of me. I have been training for fights that did not come through, whatever they offer me I am ready for it.”
The exciting card also features USBA welterweight champion Luajan Simon (19-0 10 KOs) taking on Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Gonzalez (9-3, 4 KOs). Simon is looking to stay busy while waiting for bigger opportunities to come to the forefront. Too dangerous and risky for a higher ranked contenders to challenge, the affable 29 year-old Simon simply uses his current dilemma as motivation.
“I’m willing to take on whoever is in front of me, to get to Kelly Pavlik. My goal is to be world champion!” says Simon. “I see this guy Lorenzo, and John Duddy ranked ahead of me, I’ll fight them.”
Amateur national champion Micheal Perez makes his professional debut in a 4 round lightweight bout against Leon Williams.
Rounding out the card is heavyweight Alex Mejias (7-1) battling Bernard Brown (6-4-2, 3 KOs), featherweight Carlos Zambrano (3-0) takes on Soumana Abdoulaye (0-2), and light heavyweight Antonio Toribio (0-2) faces Andre Espeut (1-0).
Tickets are limited but still available. Tickets are priced at $50.00 (Ringside), $40.00 (Reserved), and $30.00 (General Admission).
Corporate VIP tables are also available and include a “Meet & Greet” with many former boxing greats. Scheduled to appear: Chuck Wepner, Alex Ramos, Renaldo Snipes, Bobby Czyz, Micky Ward, and others!
The Medieval Times Castle is located at 149 Polito Avenue in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
To purchase tickets, call (201) 741-4994, go to www.dignityboxing.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., first bout begins at 7:30 p.m.
“WINKY” WRIGHT, CHRISTINA MILIAN, TERRELL SUGGS & MORE FIGHT SICKLE CELL DISEASE
Washington, DC native, and former World Champion Boxer/Philanthropist/Entrepreneur “Winky” Wright took time out of training to attended the Terrell Suggs Team Sizzle Celebrity Weekend in Baltimore, MD to help fight sickle cell disease.
Wright along with Terrell Suggs, Christina Milian, Jill Marie Jones, Hosea Sanchez and many others came out to spread the word about the cause and show support to the families dealing with sickle cell. Wright is currently gearing up for a December 11th match in Seattle on the Versus network. A pending title bout for Wright and opponent (TBD) is in the works for February 2009.
CRISTOBAL “THE NIGHTMARE” ARREOLA JOINS THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS DEBUT AT CITIZENS BUSINESS BANK ARENA
LOS ANGELES, CA (October 27) — Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola visited the newly built, state-of-the-art Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California this past Friday to support the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team in a pre-season game against Oklahoma City Thunder.
Arreola is set to take on Travis “The Freight Train” Walker as the co-featured bout at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday, November 29 preceding Paul “The Punisher” Williams in his 12-round battle against 3-time World Champion, Verno Phillips for the interim WBO Super Welterweight World Championship. Both bouts will be televised on HBO’s Boxing After Dark.
Arreola (25-0, 22 KOs), who hails from nearby Riverside is bidding to become the first Heavyweight World Champion of Mexican descent. Coming off a dominant third-round TKO performance against Israel “King Kong” Garcia, Arreola was planning on fighting the likes of former world heavyweight titleholders Hasim Rahman and Sultan Ibragimov or former World title challenger David Tua, but once all three declined the opportunity, he turned his attention to Walker.
Stated Walker (28-1-1, 22 KOs) the pride of Tallahassee, Florida “He’s never fought anybody as good or as strong as me.” “I know that everyone wants a Mexican to win the heavyweight world title but I want to win the world title too,” said Walker, who trains out of Houston. “I’m going to have to prove to everyone that I am the best young heavyweight today and have his fans become my fans.”
Arreola has other plans. “I’m motivated for this fight. He thinks knocking out bums is going to impress me? I ain’t no bum! I promise, you won’t see me in the type of shape I was in my last fight ever again and I’m coming to put on a show. And my performance on November 29 will prove it.”
Tickets are priced at: $200, $100, $50 and $25 and may be purchased at Citizens Business Bank Arena box office, Monday-Friday 10:00am-6:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am-4:00 pm or at www.ticketmaster.com. Built and owned by the City of Ontario, the Citizens Business Bank Arena opened October 18, 2008.