Undefeated Argentinean knockout artist Marcos Rene “El Chino” Maidana, the WBA No. 1 contender, challenges WBA light welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik for the title belt and worldwide respect February 7 on “The Champion Returns” card, featuring WBA heavyweight “Champion in Recess” Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev versus unbeaten challenger Carl David Drumond, live on pay-per-view in the United States from Rostock, Germany.
Styles make fights and Kotelnik-Maidana shapes-up as a potential classic featuring a pure boxer, Kotelnik (30-2-1, 13 Kos), against a dangerous power puncher, Maidana (25-0, 24 KOs), in the 12 round co-feature
“The Champion Returns” card, presented by Universum Boxing-Promotion, will broadcast three 12-round bouts. Integrated Sports is distributing it in the United States for live viewing at 2 PM/ET – 11 AM/PT on cable pay-per-view via iN Demand and TVN for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. A same day replay will be shown at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/ET. The event will also be available in Canada on TSN. Hall of Fame announcer Col. Bob Sheridan will handle blow-by-blow duties and Benny Ricardo, former NFL placekicker, will serve as color commentator.
Maidana, the former WBA Fedelatin light welterweight champion, puts opponents to sleep. Twenty-four of his 25 victims to date never went the distance against The Ring’s No. 9 rated 140-pounder, who was the 2002 and 2003 Argentine National champion and reached the quarterfinals of the 2003 World Championships. “El Chino” has never fought in the United States but he plans to prove to American fight fans Feb. 7 on PPV that he is a legitimate contender. German fans are much more familiar with Maidana because five of his last seven fights have been held in Germany.
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.
2000 Uzbekistan Olympian Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs), The Ring’s No. 3 rated heavyweight, captured the WBA crown on April 14, 2007 by 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.”
Ruslan has been sparring in Hamburg, Germany with American heavyweights Leo Nolan (27-1, 10 KOs) and Terry “The Troublemaker” Smith (30-6-1, 18 KOs). “The last sparring I had done was in May last year,” Chagaev reported from Hamburg. “Afterwards I had a long rehabilitation period which was quite tiring. But now I am looking to this fight. I can hardly wait to be back in Rostock.”
WBA No. 10 rated 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.
Unbeaten heavyweight Denis Boytsov (23-0, 18 KOs), a native of Russia now living in Germany, faces veteran Israel “King Kong” Garcia (19-2, 11 KOs) in a 12-round bout for the WBA Intercontinental title. The 22-year-old Boytsov, rated No. 11 by the WBA, is the latest hyped prospect in a long line of Russian heavyweight contenders.
Integrated Sports: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events is Integrated Sports. Among the many events brought to North American viewers by Integrated Sports include World Championship boxing matches featuring Ricky Hatton, Christian Mijares, Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones, Jr. In addition, Integrated Sports has distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Team of Argentina. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.
SHAWN ESTRADA UNDERGOES SURGERY
It was recently learned that 2008 US Olympian Shawn Estrada will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder this Wednesday, January 21, 2009 in Los Angeles. Dr. Douglas E. Garland of the Southern California Center for Sports Medicine will perform the surgery for what is described as a decompression of the subacromial space. Dr. Garland expects the operation to be a complete success and that Estrada should be able to resume training within ninety days after the procedure.
Estrada, who was scheduled to fight on January 24 in Minnesota and again on February 6 as the opening bout on Showtime’s ShoBox series at the Tachi Palace, will undergo rehab at Southern California Center for Sports Medicine.
Estrada is scheduled to return to the ring in April 2009. “I’ve been through a lot in my life in a very short period and this is just another one of life’s lessons and obstacles,” stated Shawn. “I know how to deal with it mentally and physically and because of that I will come back stronger than ever. By the time I get back into the ring, I will definitely be ready to wreak havoc again!”
JESUS “POLLO” HERNANDEZ BACK IN ACTION THIS FRIDAY NIGHT
Undefeated lightweight Jesus “POLLO” Hernandez will return to action this Friday night, January 23rd at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California.
Hernandez, born in Los Mochis, Mexico , now fighting out of East Los Angeles, will face Mexican veteran, Manuel “Diablito” Sarabia in a scheduled six round bout at BATTLE OF THE RISING STARS, promoted by Ed Holmes’ All Star Boxing.
“POLLO” is coming off a fifth round stoppage of Noe Inzunza on July 11th at the Quiet Cannon which moved his undefeated record to 7-0-0 (2KO’s).
Said manager Frank Espinoza, “Jesus took a little time off after the Inzunza fight but we’re looking to stay much more active this year, hopefully fighting five or six times.
Sarabia (16-27-9, 10KO’s) is a much more experienced fighter who has gone the distance recently in battles with Yhonny Perez, Carlos Ivan Velasquez and Mikey Garcia. Jesus fully understands this will be a very tough test for him, but I think he’s prepared well.”
The Quiet Cannon is located at 901 N. Via San Clemente in Montebello .. Advance tickets can be obtained by calling 323-816-6200 or 323-781-4871.
The ESPINOZA BOXING CLUB was started in 1991 by Los Angeles area businessman Frank Espinoza. Espinoza has earned numerous accolades for his management skills from many boxing newspaper and internet writers. In the September 2008 issue of Ring Magazine, Espinoza is praised for his outstanding handling of the career of junior featherweight world champion and “Pound for Pound” superstar Israel “EL MAGNIFICO” Vazquez.
In 2006, Espinoza was awarded the Manager of the Year award from the World Boxing Hall of Fame and inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame.
Espinoza also has managed retired former world champion Martin “EL GALLITO” Castillo and currently manages world ranked Alex Valdez and Miguel “EL ANESTESISTA” Huerta in addition to undefeated prospects Luis Ramos, Manuel “SUAVECITO” Roman, Jesus “POLLO” Hernandez, Carlos Molina, Abraham Lopez and Ronny Rios.
For more information on The Espinoza Boxing Club, please visit their newly remodeled website at www.espinozaboxingclub.com