Early indications are that fans around the world are eager to get their hands on tickets for THE boxing event of 2009, which pits five-division world champion MANNY “Pac Man” PACQUIAO against Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight champion RICKY “The Hitman” HATTON in a world title battle that will go down in boxing history. The outpouring of global interest is tremendous, so get your tickets before they are sold out!
Tickets priced at $1000, $750, $500, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, go on sale Tomorrow! Friday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. PT. Ticket sales are limited to 10 per person at the $1,000, $750, $500 or $300 price levels and a total of two (2) tickets at $150. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. There will be no sales at MGM Grand or any Ticketmaster outlets.
Pacquiao vs. Hatton, a 12-round bout for Hatton’s Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight titles, is promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions. The world title bout will take place Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Please visit www.toprank.com or www.goldenboypromotions.com for upcoming announcements.
Shaun George Ready to Impress Against Jaffa Ballogou on 2/25
Light-Heavyweight contender Shaun George is eager to impress his hometown fans when he returns on February 25 against Jaffa Ballogou at BB King Blues Club & Grill in New York City. This will be George’s first appearance since knocking out two-time heavyweight champion Chris Byrd in May. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds and will headline Dibella Entertainment’s latest installment of “Broadway Boxing”.
George, rated #6 by the WBC, #10 by the IBF and #11 by the WBA, is ready to take on the division’s best but understands that he must first handle what is in front of him.
“I’m staying focused and not looking past Jaffa,” says George, 17-2-2 (8 KO). “I’m training hard and staying dedicated because I want to fight the big fights and that can’t happen if I don’t beat Jaffa. I want to fight on the top networks, I don’t care who I fight. I just want to fight the best out there.”
Ballogou remains a dangerous road block that George must hurdle, however. The 6’0″ southpaw known as “The African Assasin” has 46 wins in his 54 professional fights, including 40 knockouts. The former world title challenger has faced tough opposition throughout his career, including Ike Quartey and Frankie Liles.
“I have to be on top of my game because this guy is looking at me as a high-profile target. He knows that if he beats me, he’s right back in the world title picture. It’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Tickets for the event, priced at $150, $100, and $55 can be purchased by calling 212-947-2577. BB King Blues Club & Grill is located at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42 Street in New York City.
White Wolf on the Hunt in 2009! Sergei Liakhovich injury and promoter free and looking to get back in the heavyweight championship mix.
With his promotional ties to Don King Productions severed and his shoulder injury now fully healed, former WBO Champion Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich says he is ready to return to heavyweight glory in 2009.
“I want to make a statement in the heavyweight division this year and have some great fights. I’m a free man and I’m 100% healthy. I did my shoulder rehab with one of the best in the States and now everything is great,” asserts the eager Belarusian slugger.
The return to top form comes as welcome news, as Liakhovich hadn’t had much luck on his side since winning the WBO title against Lamon Brewster in impressive fashion in 2006. First he suffered a highly debatable stoppage to Shannon Briggs at 2:59 of the 12th and final round to lose his title. And then, in a WBA Title Eliminator in February of last year, he suffered a rotator cuff injury against Nikolay Valuev and was shut out over 12 uneventful rounds.
Manager Ivaylo Gotzev maintains that several lucrative opportunities were lost due to the boxing business world claiming to be reluctant to deal with Don King. “There is no Don King excuse anymore for not fighting. Whoever avoids Sergei cannot use that excuse anymore. Being a free agent is definitely going to open doors.”
Gotzev points out, correctly, that Liakhovich is still a relatively young heavyweight with plenty of good performances left in him. “Sergei is 32 years old in a division without many young fighters. There is plenty of time left for Sergei to prove his greatness. He is very excited to be back to complete health. The best of Sergei will be on display in 2009.”
Some of the names Liakhovich says he’d love to face are British bomber David Haye, either Klitschko brother or especially up-and-coming Chris Arreola. “I’ve been in touch with Dan Goossen, telling him Sergei is available,” asserts Gotzev. “Nobody can stop us. Anyone who wants a piece of the White Wolf is welcome.”
“I would love to fight any of these guys,” adds Liakhovich. “I want the best in the world, no matter who it is. I want tough opponents to make great fights. Every promoter, manager and fighter in boxing should want to do the same. Putting on great fights is the only way for boxing to make a comeback. Tell any of them to call me and I’m there.”
HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ tickets now on sale
Tickets for HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ are now available to buy from the Echo Arena box office, either by calling 0844 8000 400 or visiting www.accliverpool.com.
Tickets for the March 28 show at the Echo Arena are available at prices of £28, £48, £75 and £125 (ringside).
In order to help beat the crippling credit crunch, Hayemaker Boxing are offering fight fans a four tickets for the price of three deal on all £75 tickets purchased from the box office in one single transaction.
HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ is already shaping up to be one of the domestic fight cards of 2009.
Headlining the show is the intriguing British super-middleweight title clash between current champion Brian Magee and former champion and Liverpool hero Tony ‘The Warrior’ Dodson.
The co-main event also sees the prestigious British title on the line as exciting light-middleweights Ryan Rhodes and Anthony Small do battle to decide who truly is the best in Britain.
March 28 also marks the date when Liverpool’s Olympic hero David Price will make his eagerly awaited professional debut. Bronze medallist Price looks to kick off his heavyweight pro career in style at HAYEMAKER 6.
As well as two pivotal British title clashes and a debuting Olympian, HAYEMAKER 6 features an English title bout between Liverpool’s Tony Quigley and Paul David, plus a British title eliminator between home favourite John Watson and Martin Gethin.
Fight fans will also get to witness the super-featherweight debut of Merseysider Derry Mathews, a former featherweight titleholder.
All in all, HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ is a domestic fight card not to be missed. On March 28 at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, Hayemaker Boxing will turn the 2008 Capital of Culture into the 2009 Capital of Boxing.