Boxing’s next generation of stars will be present and accounted for on Saturday, March 7, when Golden Boy Promotions presents an explosive triple-header boxing event featuring the top young talent in the sport at HP Pavilion at San Jose located in the heart of Silicon Valley.
The HBO Boxing After Dark show will feature a 10 round junior middleweight showdown between knockout artists James Kirkland and Joel Julio, two of boxing’s hardest punchers. In one of the co-featured bouts, the NABO and USBA junior welterweight crowns will be on the line when “Vicious” Victor Ortiz takes on “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis. Opening the telecast will be two-time featherweight World Champion and Gilroy, California native Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero in a ten round junior lightweight contest against undefeated contender Daud Yordan.
“This is the type of event that fight fans will be talking about for months and years to come,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “To have all this talent on one card is an amazing feat. I think it is safe to say, that for the fighters that emerge victorious March 7, was the night when they truly established themselves as the fighters to carry this sport into the next era.”
Tickets for this hard-hitting event, priced at $200, $100, $60 and $25, go on sale Friday, February 6 at 10:00am PT at the HP Pavilion Ticket Office, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
The explosive triple-header boxing event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines. Doors open at 3:00pm and the first bell rings at 3:30pm. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins at 10:00pm ET/PT.
24-year old power puncher James Kirkland (24-0, 21 KOs) is widely considered to be the best prospect the junior middleweight division has seen in years. An aggressor from the opening bell with concussive power in both hands, the southpaw from Austin, Texas is coming off a 2008 campaign that saw him stop Eromosele Albert, Ricardo Cortes and Brian Vera in successive bouts.
“I’ve been waiting for a fight like this for a long time,” said Kirkland. “There’s going to be no running, no chasing, no holding. Me and Julio are going meet up in the center of that ring and we’re going to see whose chin is better.”
Monteria, Colombia’s Joel Julio (34-2, 31 KOs) knows what it’s like to be a highly touted prospect, as he won his first 27 pro bouts before losing a decision to former world champion Carlos Quintana in 2006. Since then, Julio has gone 7-1 with 6 KOs and the power-punching 24-year-old is ready to return to the top with a victory over Kirkland.
“Kirkland is a very good fighter, but he hasn’t been tested yet,” said Julio. “I’m in the best shape of my life and very happy to be fighting, again on HBO. I am looking forward to March 7 when I plan to knock Kirkland out.”
Hailing from the boxing-rich city of Oxnard, California, 21-year-old “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (23-1-1, 18 KOs) has looked unstoppable in the last two years as he’s racked up wins over Emmanuel Clottey, Carlos Maussa, Dairo Esalas and Jeffrey Resto, all by TKO or KO. In 2009, the NABO junior welterweight champion hopes to make his move on the top guns at 140 pounds, beginning with Mike Arnaoutis.
“I’m excited about coming back to California to fight and I promise the fans that they’re going to see the best of me on March 7,” said Ortiz. “Arnaoutis is a great boxer with fast hands, but he doesn’t have the firepower to keep me off him. I will catch up to him and knock him out.”
A native of Athens, Greece, slick boxing “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (21-2-2, 10 KOs) has represented his home country well throughout his exciting seven-year pro career. Owner of the USBA junior welterweight title, Arnaoutis’ only losses have come via decision to World Champion Kendall Holt and former World Champion Ricardo Torres, and he knows that a win over Ortiz can put him back on the road to another title shot.
“The only thing that matters to me right now is a world championship and Victor Ortiz is going to be my ticket to a rematch with Kendall Holt,” said Arnaoutis. “He’s a good fighter, but he’s too young and inexperienced to deal with me. I will win this fight for myself and for Greece.”
If people were wondering how Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KOs) was going to be affected by an almost year long layoff, they got their answer on January 24 when the Gilroy, California native blasted out veteran Edel Ruiz in just 43 seconds. Looking better than ever at 130 pounds, the former two-time Featherweight World Champion plans on adding another world title to his collection by the end of 2009.
“A big HBO show coming to San Jose for the first time is what Bay Area sports fans have been waiting for,” said Guerrero. “It is going to be a colossal event and I can’t wait to showcase my talents for my hometown fans on March 7.”
The pride of Ketapang, Indonesia, Daud “Cino” Yordan (23-0, 17 KOs) is looking to build on his United States debut win over Antonio Meza last September with a victory against Guerrero. Just 21 years old, Yordan brings not only youth and substantial talent to the ring, but an aggressive, hard punching style that has made him unique among his Indonesian peers. On March 7, the world-ranked banger takes his first step into the big leagues.
“Robert Guerrero is a great fighter and it will be an honor to be able to compete against him on March 7 on HBO,” said Yordan. “This is the kind of fight I’ve wanted for a long time, against a former world champion, and I expect to make a statement to the fans, media and my fellow fighters that I am a legitimate world title contender.”
A talent-rich undercard will be announced at a later date. For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.
RAN NAKASH HEADLINES A BIG NIGHT OF BOXING ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV FROM THE LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 EASTERN
This Friday night one of the hottest prospects in the cruiserweight division, undefeated Ran Nakash headlines a big night of boxing from The Legendary Blue Horizon and the seven bout card can seen exclusively all over the globe on www.gofightlive.tv
Nakash has been featured on www.gofightlive.tv numerous times before as he has scored explosive knockouts over James Porter & Larry Robinson and systematically broke down Harvey Jolly in last bout on December 5th.
Nakash is a member of the Israeli Army that is currently at war in The Gaza Strip. Nakash will be back with his comrades shortly after the fight is complete
Nakash will have to work hard for a victory this Friday night as he takes on the durable Ryan Carrol.
Carrol of Delaware, Ohio has a record of 7-1 with four knockouts. His lone loss was at the hands of highly regarded Aaron Williams.
That bout headlines a big card that will feature the return of Elad Shmouel as battles Khristian Garaci.
This will be Shmouel’s return to the ring after a fourteen month break from his Fight of The Year with Lenny DeVictoria in December of 2007.
A full undercard featuring an intriguing Jr. Welterweight bout between Julius Edmonds & Linwood Hurd plus the return of undefeated middleweight John Turner and undefeated welterweight Ronald Cruz .
The action gets underway on www.gofightlive.tv at 7:30 pm eastern
“Plain & simple, Ran Nakash is a must watch”, said David Klarman, vice-president of www.gofightlive.tv
“He brings an excitement, and a large fan base and a vicious knockout is just one punch away when he fights and when you add that into the atmosphere of The Blue Horizon it provides for great entertainment for the great boxing fans who watch this around the world.”
Ennis, Termeliksetian added to February 25 Card! “Fight Knight” At Medieval Times in Lyndhurst, NJ
The upcoming “Fight Knight” card is quickly taking shape. Dignity Promotions and Felko Promotions have added contender Derek Ennis and local favorite Archak Termeliksetian to the fight card scheduled to take place on February 25 at the Medieval Times Castle in Lyndhurst, NJ.
Philadelphia’s Derek Ennis (17-2-1, 12 KOs), a master boxer with power in both hands was once considered a “can’t miss” prospect. Ennis suffered 2 upset defeats in bouts he was clearly winning. Now re-dedicated, Ennis is finally living up to his true star potential. The 28-year-old junior middleweight has won his last 5 fights, either stopping his opponents with his heavy hands or by putting on a boxing clinic with his impressive hand speed. Ennis will be the co-main event on the card.
“I’m looking forward to this event. On February 25, I plan on putting on a very exciting performance for all the New Jersey fight fans.”
Also added to the card is super middleweight Archak Termeliksetian of Fairview, NJ, (16-7, 13 KO). The man known as “Shark” has become a favorite among fight fans for his all-action style. Archak, who is known to be up for any challenge from any opponent, has had an up and down career. Win or lose, any Archak fight almost always promises to be action packed.
“We are happy to add both Ennis and Termeliksetian to this already exciting card,” said Felko Promotions David Feldman. “Ennis is really coming together as a complete fighter, and with Archak, you know every fight is a war!”
The second half of the co-main event features cruiserweight Bobby Gunn (21-3-1, 17 KOs), defending his WBC-USNBC title against Brad Gregory (11-2, 9 KOs).
Rounding out the card will be undefeated featherweight prospect, Carlos Zambrano (4-0) and lightweight Antonio Esponosa (9-0, 1 KO). Heavyweight Tyyab Beale (1-1, 1 KO) and pro-debuting Kyle White are also scheduled to see action.
Opponents will be announced soon.
Tickets are reasonably priced at $40 Reserved, and $60 for “on the glass”…ringside. VIP Tables (on the floor) are also available for purchase.
For Tickets and information please call (610) 291-0806, (201) 741-4994 or visit www.Dignityboxing.com