ruslan2 Light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton will confirm his next fight by the end of the year according to his lawyer Gareth Williams. The comments come after Manny Pacquiao’s manager Bob Arum revealed talks with Hatton were already underway.

Speaking to Setanta Sports News Williams insisted that Hatton had become a box office gold in America.

“We’re hoping that something can be agreed in principle before the end of the year. What we want to agree in principle is the percentage split of any fight money, be it with [Floyd] Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.

“The overriding factor will be American TV money. There’s never been a big pay-per-view event outside of America.

“I would stress that Ricky brings as much to the table either of those two.”

Hatton was in Las Vegas to watch Pacquiao destroy Oscar De La Hoya over eight rounds two weeks ago. And Williams revealed that Pacquiao was the fight Hatton wanted next.

“Ricky’s made no secret of the fact that he wants to fight the best. Manny Pacquiao is the man he wants to fight but nothing’s been agreed at all.”

SAUNDERS: I’LL BE THE FIRST ROMANY WORLD CHAMPION

Olympian Billy Joe Saunders is aiming to become the first Romany to become a world champion.

Saunders, who lives on a travelers camp in Hatfield, Herts, made history when he went to the 2008 Beijing Games in the summer.

Although he didn’t get among the medals, he became the first Romany to represent team GB at an Olympics.

And now he has his sights set on similar history making in the professional ranks, with his long awaited debut planned for early next year along with team mates James DeGale and Frankie Gavin.

There have been successful Romany fighters in the UK before – including a number of British champions – but Billy Joe, 19, is aiming to top them all and lift a world title.

“It would make me so proud to do it, and I’ve got the ability to do it if I keep my focus and train hard,” said Saunders, who plans to box between welterweight and light-middleweight for his first few fights.

“But I’m not just fighting for my people, I’m fighting for all British boxing fans and everyone who supported us at the Olympics. Winning a world title would be my way of saying thank you.”

Saunders, who is sticking with amateur coach Danny Hoy, says he can’t wait to get his career underway in February having signed professional terms with leading promoter Frank Warren.

“I’m counting every day,” said Billy Joe. “It’s been a while since the Olympics and I can’t wait to get back into the ring.

“It will be better for me being a professional because I think my style is more suited that way of boxing.

“I’ll get a chance to plant my feet and let my shots go, and that’s perfect for the way that I fight.”

“You can just stand there and get on with it and throw more combinations, and that’s going to play right into my hands.”

Euro Champ Munroe Faces Trotta In Dublin

World ranked super bantamweight Rendall Munroe continues his busy reign as European champion when he meets rugged Italian challenger Fabrizio Trotta on a big boxing show at City University’s The Helix in Dublin, Ireland tomorrow, Thursday, December 18.

Supporting the main event is a the much anticipated debut of Olympic Bronze Medallist Darren Sutherland at super middleweight as well as a Commonwealth welterweight showdown between champion Craig Watson, 13-2 (4), and challenger Adnan Amar, 22-1 (6), and a Commonwealth bantamweight clash between champion Jason Booth, 30-5 (11), and challenger Sean Hughes, 15-7-1 (1).

Munroe, 16-1 (7), puts the European belt at risk for the third time since lifting the crown from dangerous Spaniard Kiko Martinez in March of this year and will look to improve upon his top ten position in the WBA, IBF and WBC rankings.

But the lightning quick southpaw will first have to sweep away the challenge of iron-chinned pressure artist Trotta, 13-4-2 (4), who won the Italian title in April before losing a close contest to burgeoning star Jeremy Parodi in the Frenchman’s hometown of Toulon for the vacant European Union title.

Trotta has never been stopped and has stated that he will stop at nothing to derail the world title aspirations of the Englishman and bring the European title back home to the Italian city of Vasto on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.

The bill also sees Irish super bantamweight champion Paul Hyland, 12-1 (4), facing off against top domestic rival Eugene Heagney, 7-1 (0), and former British bantamweight champion Martin Power, 19-3 (8), launch his comeback against hard-punching ex-Central Area and British Masters super bantam titlist Gary Davies, 7-2-1 (5).

Rounding out the card is bantamweight Kiko “La Sensacion” Martinez, 19-1 (15), who knocked out local hero Bernard Dunne in stunning fashion to win the European title last year, scheduled to meet super bantamweight Gavin Reid, 5-2 (3).

Frank Maloney Promotions presents “Out To Conquer The World” headlined by the debut of Irish Olympic Bronze Medallist Darren Sutherland and European Super Bantamweight Champion Rendall Munroe’s title defense against Italian Champion Fabrizio Trotta along with full undercard support, on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at The Helix in Dublin, Ireland.

Tickets, priced at €50, €60 and €100, are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office on 0871 226 1508.

Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 8PM.

For further information or press credential requests contact ftm.press@gmail.com.

WARRIORS READY FOR “HARD KNOCKS AT THE HARD ROCK”

There will be no easing into the New Year for super middleweight star Edison “Pantera” Miranda, junior middleweight contender Sechew “The Iron Horse” Powell, and former undisputed cruiserweight champion O’Neil Bell, as all three will kick off their 2009 campaigns on Wednesday, January 14th for the year’s first installment of “Hard Knocks at The Hard Rock.”

In the main event, Powell takes on Panama’s Jose Arosemena. Miranda battles Manuel Esparza in the co-feature, and Bell makes his heavyweight debut against Domonic Jenkins. Tickets are on sale now, priced at $152, $102, $52, and $22, please visit the Hard Rock Live Box Office or TicketMaster.com.

HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA TO BE RENAMED “TITLE TOWN” IN 2009
With 2008 coming to a close, thoughts have turned to 2009, and as far as Seminole Warriors Boxing is concerned, the company is expecting its biggest year ever since five of the company’s standouts will be fighting for world titles in the coming months. First off, on January 17th, unbeaten “Mean” Joe Greene will square off against Argentina’s Sergio Martinez in what should be an epic war for the interim WBC junior middleweight title.

Next up on January 30th, Juan Urango will look to regain his IBF junior welterweight title when he takes on Herman Ngoudjo for the vacant belt. A week later, it will be 26-0 Carl Drumond’s turn at the plate as he challenges Ruslan Chagaev in Germany for the WBA heavyweight crown.

Also on tap for 2009 will be title shots for cruiserweight Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (against Giacobbe Fragomeni – a bout that goes to purse bid on December 19th) and former light heavyweight king and current mandatory challenger Glen Johnson against the winner of the Silvio Branco vs Adrian Diaconu bout, which goes to purse bids on December 15th)

O’CONNOR KEEPING BUSY

2008 United States Olympic team alternate Danny O’Connor has drawn rave reviews for his first two pro wins over Jose Guerrido (TKO2) and Anthony Woods (W4). But the Framingham, Massachusetts southpaw isn’t taking any breaks, and he will be back in action in January with a bout against a to be determined opponent in either New York or somewhere in his native New England.

“Universum Champions Night” On February 7th 2009 at the StadtHalle Rostock “The champion returns”

WBA world heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev is back in action Ahead of his next title defence: “My misfortune was Valuev’s luck – I hope that he wins so I can beat him again and show who the champion is.”
It was officially announced at a press conference that WBA world champion Ruslan Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs) will face unbeaten Carl Davis Drumond on February 7th at the Stadthalle in Rostock, Germany. Chagaev will return from an Achilles tendon injury and he has proved his good fitness in order to challenge Carl Davis Drumond (26-0, 20 KOs) in a fight for the WBA heavyweight title.

At the “Yachthafenresidenz Hohe Düne“ in Rostock-Warnemünde the world champion answered the question of the press. Ruslan Chagaev: “My injury was a big mishap for me and very lucky for Valuev,” stated Chagaev. “But now I’m fit again now and look forward to the fight against Drumond. This is a good test. Now on Saturday Valuev boxes against Holyfield, and Nikolai claims to be the world champion.

But, he is just a substitute champion. He beat Ruiz, whom I also clearly defeated. I will prove to Valuev and all the ‘experts’ in the next fight that I am the true champion.“ A short recap of what happened previously: Ten days before his highly anticipated second fight against the seven-foot Valuev in early July, Chagaev had to pull out due to a Achilles tendon tear in the left foot.

The WBA has stipulated that Chagaev must face Valuev no later than June 26th. Chagaev says after his fight against the “interim champion” Valuev (Valuev is actually the WBA champion, while Chagaev is champion is recess), he will continue his goal to capture all four championship belts to become the undisputed champion. Ruslan Chagaev:

“Hopefully Holyfield doesn’t creates a surprise. For me to drive all the way over there to Zurich (Switzerland) isn’t worth it. I watch the fight on television and I hope that Valuev wins because he must fight me again. In 2009 I will show that there are better fighters than have been seen in the last few months. My respects to Vitali Klitschko, who after a long break regained the title against Peter. But at the last fight of his brother
Wladimir, he selected an opponent because of a picture.

My dream remains to be world champion of all associations and to unify all the belts. For this dream, I will also propose a fight with the Klitschko brothers, whether it’s Vitali or Wladimir!“ Trainer Michael Timm stated: “Because of his strong will, Ruslan is fit again. We must thank the doctors and physiotherapists, to whom we owe this incredibly fast and complete healing process.

Ruslan is the WBA champion and he wants to once again beat Valuev. But the undefeated Carl Davis Drumond is a good and ambitious opponent. He is quick, athletic and well-built, so this first test is certainly no walk in the park!”

With this fight of February 7th Chagaev is testing his fitness ahead of his planned rematch with the “Russian Giant” Nikolai Valuev. WBA #9 Carl Davis Drumond (33) of Costa Rica is certainly a tough and difficult challenger with a KO ratio of 76,92 %. World champion trainer Michael Timm: “Until now, the plan has been for Ruslan to train in the athletic area.

Then in January we’ll begin with the sparring. 2009 will be the year of Ruslan Chagaev – of that I am sure. First he’ll beat Drumond in Rostock, then show Valuev who the true world champion is. Then bring on the Klitschkos. My vote: A clear ‘Yes,’ Ruslan can defeat both!” Universum-Promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl: “Ruslan Chagaev is the man in the heavyweight for the year 2009.

After the last year when he had such bad luck with his health, in the next year he will defeat Valuev for the second time and again show boxing fans what a great fighter he is. Ruslan is the future because he is a world champion, just 30 years old, and the most complete heavyweight — plus as a southpaw he’s very awkward to box.“ The ZDF will broadcast the fight of Ruslan Chagaev world title fight live from the Hanseatic city of Rostock. Furthur fights on the February 7th “Universum Champions Night” card will be announced within the next weeks.

Tickets for the “Universum Champions Night“ are available at: Universum Ticket Hotline: + 49 40-696 559 59
CTS-Eventim Hotline: + 49 1805-57 00 00 or www.boxing.de Hamburg, 16. Dezember 2008 Universum Box-Promotion -Press Department-
Tel.: +49 (0) 40 69 65 59-13
Fax: +49 (0) 40 69 65 59-50
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