World Middleweight Champion KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK (34-1, 30 KOs), from Youngstown, Ohio, is in his last 10 days of training for his rumble with No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Marco Antonio Rubio (43-4-1, 38 KOs), of Torreón, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico. The Pavlik-Rubio world championship fight will headline an exciting card at soldout Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown on Saturday, February 21, and will be broadcast live on pay-per-view, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Top Rank presents a tale of two cities. Two-division world champion MIGUEL COTTO of Caguas, Puerto Rico, and top-rated contender MICHAEL JENNINGS of Chorley, England, will fight for the vacant World Boxing Organization welterweight title at Madison Square Garden. The pay-per-view undercard will feature undefeated Top-Five contenders “Ireland’s” JOHN DUDDY and ANTHONY PETERSON lighting it up in separate bouts, also at Madison Square Garden. Duddy will go mano-a-mano with Matt “The Predator” Vanda and Peterson will battle Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry, in 10-round middleweight and lightweight bouts, respectively. The pay-per-view broadcast will then switch to the Chevrolet Centre for Pavlik vs. Rubio as the finale of this four-bout two-city / two-title pay-per-view extravaganza.
Produced and distributed by Top Rank, the Cotto vs. Jennings / Pavlik vs. Rubio four-bout pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $44.95. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. For Cotto vs. Jennings / Pavlik vs. Rubio fight week updates, log on to www.toprank.com.
Johnathon Banks vs. Adamek ibf world championship fight! #1 wbo champion goes for next titile
Undefeated Johnathon Banks (20-0, 14 KO’s) goes up against Tomasz “Goral” Adamek at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Friday, February 27, 2009. Banks is vying for the IBF Cruiserweight Championship Title. The fight will be aired on Showtime as part of its ShoBox boxing series, in conjunction with Main Events and Ziggy Promotions, in association with K2 Promotions.
“I am looking forward to this great opportunity” said Banks in a statement and is excited about an impressive victory. When asked what’s going to be impressive he simply said “people just have to watch and see.”
Banks is rated 8 in the world by the IBF and number 1 by WBO. He is managed by Motor City boxing legend, Emmanuel Steward and is trained out of Detroit’s famed Kronk Gym. Banks has had the benefit of training side by side with Lennox Lewis and current World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko throughout his career and is associated with the Klitschko brothers’ promotional arm, K2. It has been reported that Banks hits a lot harder than Adamek and Banks will be victorious in this match. This defeat would earn Banks his 2nd World Title in which he would join Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko as Champions for K2 Promotions.
The first bout starts at 8:30 p.m. and doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $38, $53, $78, $103, and $253, and can be purchased at the arena box office or by calling Ticketmaster at 201-507-8900.
Herbie Hide to Darnell Wilson: “How much do you want to pay for a thrashing?
After Matt Godfrey had to pull out of his WBC final elimination bout against Herbie Hide scheduled for March 6th in Cuxhaven, Germany, Darnell “Ding-A-Ling-Man” Wilson started calling out the “Dancing Destroyer” for an eight-rounder.
Herbie’s response: “Darnell Wilson can’t be serious. He must have some ‘Ding-A-Ling’ in his head. Isn’t he the man who just lost in Singapore to Ehinomen Ehikhamenor, a guy I clearly outclassed last year? How dare this kid calling me out? Wilson, listen son, if you want to come and play with the big boys do your homework first. You are coming of two straight losses and got nothing to offer. I am lined up for a final elimination bout. You can come and do sparring with me if you want. If you’re interested in a thorough thrashing from the ‘Dancing Destroyer’ – how much do you want to pay for it? If you bring some money to the table I might give you a good lesson. Otherwise start beating mediocre guys before you try to compete at the top level.”