Integrated Sports will distribute a world-class pay-per-view card, headlined by Amir Khan versus “The Baby Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera, Saturday, March 14 live from The M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round championship bouts featured on the “Khan-Barrera” card, presented by Frank Warren, in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET – 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.
Khan (19-1, 15 KOs), 2004 Olympic silver medallist, defends his WBA International lightweight title against seven-time world champion Barrera (65-6, 42 KOs) in the 12-round main event. The two other PPV fights will be former WBO cruiserweight title-holder Enzo Maccarinelli (29-2, 22 KOs) against NABO champ Ola “Kryptonite” Afolabi (13-1-3, 5 KOs) for the WBO cruiserweight championship, while WBO super middleweight champion Nicky “Cookie” Cook (29-1, 16 KOs) defends his title belt against undefeated No. 1 contender Roman “Rocky” Martinez (21-0-1, 12 KOs).
“We’re thrilled to be distributing this sensational tripleheader to North American boxing fans,” Integrated Sports president Doug Jacobs said. “The main event is a potential classic match-up between a top prospect, Khan, and veteran warrior, Barrera. Fans are very interested to see how Khan has improved since he started working with trainer Freddy Roach as well as what future Hall of Famer Barrera has left. Maccarinelli-Afolabi and Cook-Martinez shape-up as two very fan-friendly bouts, too, and either could be main events.”
The 22-year-old Khan is coming off of a win by second-round TKO of Oisin Fagan for the WBA International title last December, which was three months after Amir suffered his only pro loss to Breidis Prescott. Khan, rated No. 9 by the WBO and No. 13 by the IBF, has been training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, where he’s gained invaluable experience sparring with the likes of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
Barrera, 35, has held world titles in three different weight classes during his 19-year pro career. He recently suffered a scare when he was cut from a head-butt, which temporarily jeopardized his March 21st showdown with Kahn, that lead to a win by third-round disqualification. Barrera holds wins against world champions and/or challengers such as Erik Morales (twice), Paulie Ayala, Prince Naseem Hamed Robbie Peden, Mzonke Fana, Kevin Kelly, Johnny Tapia, and Rocky Juarez (twice).
Maccarinelli, fighting out of his native Wales, has only one blemish on his pro record, losing a year ago to David Haye in their title unification bout. “Macca,” ranked No. 3 by the WBO and No. 6 by The Ring, during his WBO title reign (2006-2008) defeated Mohamed Azzaoui, Wayne Braithwite, Bobby Gunn, Marcelo Fabian Dominguez and Mark Hobson (twice).
The WBO No. 5 rated London-born Afolabi, now living in California, captured the NABO crown last April, stopping previously unbeaten Eric Fields in the 10th round.
Cook won the WBO super featherweight title in his last fight in September, taking a 12-round unanimous decision from Alex Arthur (26-1) in The M.E.N. Arena. The former European champion is rated No. 6 by The Ring.
In addition to being the WBC’s top contender, Puerto Rican boxer Martinez is rated No. 4 by the WBA, No. 6 by the IBF and No., 9 by The Ring. The reigning NABO super featherweight title-holder also held the WBO Inter-Continental and WBO Latino belts.
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, Roy Jones, Jr., Nicolai Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev. 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.
WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS – Feb. 13, 2009
From the office of WBC President Jose Sulaiman:
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Interim Super Welterweight World Championship
February 14, 2009 – BankAtlantic Center – Sunrise, Florida
This will be the 1,709th fight sanctioned by the WBC in its 46-year history.
DON KING PRODUCTIONS AND DiBELLA ENTERTAIMENT PRESENT:
SERGIO MARTINEZ VS. KERMIT CINTRON
SERGIO MARTINEZ (ARGENTINA)
WBC Interim Super Welterweight World Champion
Age: 33
Date of birth: February 21, 1975
Place of birth: Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Residence: Port Hueneme, California
Nickname: “Maravilla” (Marvel)
Record: 44-1-1, 24 KOs
Guard: Lefthanded
Total Rounds: 301
Title Fights: 1-0, 1 KO
Manager: Ricardo Sanchez Atocha
Promoter: DiBella Entertaiment
KERMIT CINTRON (PUERTO RICO)
Age: 29
Date of birth: October 22, 1979
Place of birth: Carolina, Puerto Rico
Residence: Reading, Pennsylvania
Record: 30-2, 27 KOs
Guard: Righthanded
Total rounds: 139
Title fights: 4-2, 4 KOs
Manager: Josh Dubin
Promoter: DiBella Entertaiment
WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS:
1. Denny Moyer (US)
2. Sandro Mazzinghi (Italy)
3. Nino Benvenuti (Italy)
4. Kisoo Kim (Korea)
5. Fred Little (US)
6. Carmelo Bossi (Italy)
7. Koichi Wajima (Japan)
8. Miguel De Oliveira (Brazil)
9. Elisha Obed (Bahamas)
10. Eckhard Dagge (Germany)
11. Rocco Mattioli (Italy)
12. Maurice Hope (GB)
13. Wilfredo Benitez (P. Rico)
14. Thomas Hearns (US)
15. Duane Thomas (US)
16. Lupe Aquino (Mexico)
17. Gianfranco Rosi (Italy)
18. Don Curry (US)
19. Rene Jacquot (France)
20. John Mugabi (Uganda)
21. Terry Norris (US)
22. Simon Brown (Jamaica)
23. Terry Norris (US) *
24. Luis Santana (Dom R.)
25. Terry Norris (US) *
26. Keith Mullings (US)
27. Francisco Javier Castillejo (Spain)
28. Oscar De La Hoya (US)
29. Francisco Javier Castillejo (Spain) Interim *
30. Shane Mosley (US)
31. Ron Wright (US)
32. Ricardo Mayorga (Nicaragua)
33. Oscar De La Hoya (US) *
34. Floyd Mayweather Jr (US)
35. Vernon Forrest (US)
36. Sergio Mora (US)
37. Vernon Forrest (US) *
38. Sergio Martinez (Argentina) Interim
* Regained
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC:
33 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of which only four have regained the title: Terry Norris (US), Francisco Javier Castillejo (Spain), Oscar de la Hoya (US), Vernon Forrest (US).
108 TITLE BOUTS HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE SUPER WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC, 49 OF WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE USA.
WORLD SUPER WELTERWEIGHT TITLE BOUTS BY COUNTRY IN WBC HISTORY:
USA – 49
ITALY – 13
JAPAN – 11
SPAIN – 8
FRANCE – 6
GERMANY – 5
MEXICO – 4
KOREA – 3
ENGLAND – 3
AUSTRALIA – 2
MONACO – 1
IVORY COAST – 1
BAHAMAS ISLANDS – 1
TOTAL: 108
WBC TITLE BOUTS HELD IN FLORIDA: 32 TITLE BOUTS HAVE BEEN HELD IN FLORIDA IN WBC HISTORY.
One title fight in the super welterweight division has been held in Florida in WBC history: Mar. 31, 1990 Terry Norris KO1 John Mugabi in Tampa.
EIGHT WBC TITLE FIGHTS IN THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION HAVE BEEN HELD IN FLORIDA, THE MOST OF ALL.
BREAKDOWN BY DIVISION:
LIGHT HEAVY – 8
BANTAM – 6
SUPER FLY – 3
HEAVY – 2
SUPER WELTER – 2
SUPER LIGHT – 2
LIGHT – 2
SUPER BANTAM – 2
CRUISER – 1
MIDDLE – 1
WELTER – 1
SUPER FEATHER – 1
FEATHER – 1
TOTAL BOUTS: 32
WBC Statistics by Luis Medina.
FIRST ST. THOMAS, NEXT THE WORLD UNBEATEN CAYO READY FOR THE BIG NAMES AT 140 AFTER WIN OVER BOLANOS
Unbeaten junior welterweight contender Victor Manuel Cayo was in top form on January 30th, as he scored a near-shutout nine round decision victory over his toughest foe to date in Noe Bolanos, thrilling a packed house at the UVI Sports & Fitness Center in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
“The fans were great in St. Thomas and they really pushed me to one of my best performances ever,” said Cayo. “Bolanos was tough, but I knew he couldn’t beat me.”
The 90-79, 89-81, and 88-82 victory lifted the 24-year old Cayo’s stellar professional record to 20-0 (14 KOs) and allowed him to retain his WBA Fedecaribe junior welterweight title for the second time. Now the native of Santo Domingo, who is world ranked by the WBA, has his sights on bigger game at 140 pounds.
“I’m ready for a world title shot,” said Cayo. “I’ve paid my dues, I’ve beaten everyone who has been placed in front of me, and now I believe it’s time to fight one of the champions. I know I’m young, but I will prove to all my fans that I have what it takes to become a world champion.”
For more infromation regarding this and other event, lon on to www.warriorsboxing.com