ARENA has started off this year’s ESPN “Friday Night Fights” series last week with Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis and Erislandy Lara scoring impressive wins in Primm, Nevada. On February 20th, promoter Ahmet Öner will present his next FNF show live from the University Center Arena at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The show labelled as “The Gunslingers” will feature rising Colombian lightweight star Breidis Prescott (20-0, 18 kos), fellow Colombian jr. middleweight contender Richard Gutierrez (24-2-1, 13 kos) and hot Cuban jr. middleweight prospect Erislandy Lara (3-0, 2 kos).
While Lara is seeking to back up the hype he started with his 1st round tko-win last week in Nevada, Gutierrez tries to find back to the winning ways after an upset draw against Jerome Ellis last July and his loss to hard hitting Alfredo Angulo last May.
25-year-old Prescott shocked the world in September when he knocked out uo-and-coming British star Amir Khan in his backyard in Manchester. ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael mentioned the Colombian in his list of “2008 prospects of the year” (along with stablemates Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis).
“I think we had a great start into the new year with Gamboa, Solis and Lara”, states Ahmet Öner. “And we will be happy to continue promoting great shows with exciting fighters. Thanks to ESPN we can present our young, wild and hungry guys to the world.”
Manfredo high on prospect Rodriguez
WORCESTER, Mass. (January 15, 2009) – Veteran boxing trainer Peter Manfredo, Sr. has only worked less than a year with unbeaten middleweight prospect Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez, but the experienced cornerman is high on his former 2-time national amateur champion.
Rodriguez faces Brad Austin (8-5, 2 KOs) this Saturday night (January 17) in his first scheduled 8-round bout on the off-televised HBO undercard, headlined by the Andre Berto-Luis Collazo WBC welterweight title fight, at the Beau Rivage Resort Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The Dominican Republic-born Rodriguez (8-0, 5 KOs), who fights out of Worcester (MA), often sparred with world title challengers Peter Manfredo, Jr. and Elvin Ayala, as well as Jessie Brinkley, since his last fight August 20 when he won all six rounds against Marcus Upshaw.
“There’s been a complete turnout,” Manfredo explained what’s been happening with him and Rodriguez the past four months. “I had to put in his mind that he needs to stand strong with his head high and to throw body punches by stepping to the side. He’s not where we want him to be, yet, but he’s improved. I want him thinking that defense is a responsibility in order to last in this game. We’ve worked on him being good defensively and it’s slowly coming around. I became his head trainer eight months ago to get him to the next level. We’ve reached a happy medium. He’s learning to use range with his long arms. Everything works off the jab and Edwin’s technique is improved to where he’s throwing good jabs and hooking off the jab to the body and head.
“The best thing about him is he’s a real good kid. He’s clean; hard worker and very respectful. The road is long and there are no guarantees for anybody in this game but, what I really like is his desire to work. He has that long range. He’s strong and has a good chin, too. Edwin’s a quick learner. Like with the jab, he’s learning why to use it – to set up combinations and use his range to keep his opponent off balance. I want his jab to control his opponent, which will make fights a lot easier for him.”
For more information about the 23-year-old Rodriguez go online to www.edwinrodriguezboxing.com.
McAllister hopes Murray will slip up in title bout
Lee McAllister insists he goes into his bout against British lightweight champion John Murray as “the underdog”. McAllister fights Murray for the title in Wigan this Saturday.
McAllister, branded a ‘cry baby’ by Murray, told Setanta Sports News he thought Murray was full of hot air. He said:
“He wasn’t shouting his mouth off at the press conference. I don’t know what he’s going on about, all these gestures and words.
“I’ve been made mandatory so I’ve no need to shout my mouth off. I’ve been keeping a low profile.
“Let’s hope he can prove himself in the ring on Saturday night.”
McAllister’s manager Dave Coldwell described the bout as “a potential banana skin” for Murray. He added:
“John’s blown hot and cold throughout his career, but we’re expecting him to be up for this fight.
“A lot of his opponents have been kids that have come in to have a go or journeymen trying not to get hurt.”