“First, it would have been one of the highlights of my career to be in the ring with a champion who has proven himself like Joe Calzaghe!

“The best always want to fight the best, and I wanted to fight Joe. As a fellow champion and warrior, I know the price we have to pay in the ring. Joe retired healthy, wealthy and with a Hall of Fame career. Although I am disappointed that we won’t face each other, I applaud his decision to leave on his own terms, and wish Joe the best of luck.

“As for Carl Froch, he is no Ray Leonard, and certainly no Joe Calzaghe, and can’t be mentioned in the same breath as those two great champions.Carl Froch never earned the right to be on the same canvas as Joe Calzaghe! Other than in his hometown, a bare few know the name Carl Froch, and how to spell it or pronounce it.”

Edner Cherry: “Peterson’s 0 has to go!”

Tampa, Florida – Following his tough September loss to unbeaten WBC Junior Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry 24-6-2 (12 KO’s) set his sights on landing a fight with a top Lightweight.

“While most fighters enjoy adding a few extra pounds, I actually had a difficult time keeping the weight on” , said Cherry, whose only other fight at 140 lbs resulted in a decision loss to former IBF champion Paulie Malignaggi. “After my workouts, I’d be right back at 136-137 lbs so I had to eat like crazy. At the 30 day WBC mandatory weigh in, Bradley was 152 lbs and I was 142. He definitely had a significant weight advantage on fight night”.

While Cherry’s two most notable bouts have come at 140 lbs, he was confident of his ability to land another meaningful bout at 135 lbs. In addition, the bulk of Cherry’s success has come in that weight class. Cherry has defeated former two time champion Stevie Johnston as well as title contenders Jaime Rangel, and Antonio Davis among others during his campaign at Lightweight. While some fighters are left waiting an extended period of time for a big fight, one came Cherry’s way fairly quickly.

Cherry’s promoter Starfight Productions was contacted by Top Rank about a fight with undefeated contender Anthony Peterson 28-0 (19 KO’s). Cherry quickly signed the bout agreement as he knew this was the fight he needed to reestablish himself. Aside from another world title bout in sight with a victory, Cherry will have another chance to shine with major television exposure.

The Cherry-Peterson bout will take place at Madison Square Garden February 21 on the same pay per view that will televise fights of elite superstars Miguel Cotto and Kelly Pavlik.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I’ll be taking on an excellent fighter“, said the rugged Floridian who has never been knocked out. “This is a great fight to come back on and I am excited as well as 100% focused on Anthony Peterson”.

The Cherry-Peterson bout will take place at Madison Square Garden February 21 on the same pay per view that will televise fights of elite superstars Miguel Cotto and Kelly Pavlik.

Cherry knows this is an opportunity he must take full advantage of as this may be one of his final chances to shine. In Cherry’s only other pay per view appearance, he knocked out Floyd Mayweather protégé Wes Ferguson on a card that did over 900,000 buys.

“I will show the world that I am back and there is no better way to make a statement then beating an undefeated fighter”, said the phenomenally conditioned Cherry.

Tickets to the Cherry-Peterson contest can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. To order the pay per view, please contact your local cable provider. Fans can get in touch with Edner by going to Myspace.com/EdnerCherry.

Contact Info Knockout Publicity: knockoutpublcity@aol.com

Chagaev-Drumond PPV weights and fact sheet

MAIN EVENT – HEAVYWEIGHTS – 12 ROUNDS

RUSLAN “White Tyson” CHAGAEV CARL DAVIS DRUMOND

WBA Heavyweight “Champion in Recess” Former IBF & WBO Latino, WBC FECARBOX Heavyweight Champion

The Ring Rated No. 3 & 2000 Uzbekistan Olympian WBA Rated No. 10

Hamburg, Germany by way of Uzbekistan Limon, Costa Rica

26-0-1 (20 KOs) 26-0 (20 KOs)

227 LBS. 229 LBS.

WBA LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

CO-FEATURE – 12 ROUNDS

ANDREAS KOTELNIK MARCOS RENE “El Chino” MAIDANA

WBA Light Welterweight Champion WBA No. 1 Contender

The Ring Rated No. 4 The Ring Rated No. 9

Hamburg, Germany by way of Ukraine Buenos Aires, Argentina

30-3-1 (13 KOs) 25-0 (24 KOs)

139 ½ LBS. 140 LBS.

WBA INTERCONTINENTAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

SPECIAL ATTRACTION – 12 ROUNDS

DENIS BOYTSOV ISRAEL “King Kong” GARCIA

WBA Rated No. 11 Dangerous Veteran

Hamburg, Germany by way of Russia New York, NY by way of Puerto Rico

23-0 (18 KOs) 19-2 (11 KOs)

220 ½ LBS. 256 LBS.

(ALL FIGHTS & FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

WHEN: Live: Saturday, February 7, 2009 – 2 PM/ET 11 AM/PT

Tape: Saturday, February 7, 2009 – 9 PM/ET 6 PM/PT

WHERE: Stadhalle, Rostock, Germany

PROMOTER: Universum Box-Promotion

PAY-PER-VIEW: Distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports 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.

ANNOUNCERS: Col. Bob Sheridan and Benny Ricardo

INFORMATION: www.integratedsportsnet.com or www.boxing.de

CHICAGO’S 8 COUNT HEADS TO UIC PAVILION, “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT” PREMIERES MARCH 27TH

Kicking off their 12th year of promoting the finest in local professional boxing, Chicago’s 8 Count Productions launches “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT”, a new monthly series commencing Friday, March 27th at the newly remodeled UIC Pavilion in the downtown west loop area.

“Through the last 11 years we’ve been honored to serve as the premier boxing promoter in Chicago and have always strived to present the finest events for our fans. The UIC Pavilion is a terrific, central location in the heart of Chicago and we’re thrilled to make it our new home” said promoter Dominic Pesoli.

Said Kevin O’Finn, Director of the UIC Pavilion, “We’re thrilled to welcome Dominic and the 8 Count Productions team with this new series and to become the headquarters of Chicago boxing. The 8 Count track record speaks for itself over the last 11 years and we look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

Said Pesoli, “With its downtown location just off the Eisenhower Expressway, the UIC Pavilion provides easy access for fight fans from across the Chicago area. The facilities there are second to none and will definitely provide for a most pleasurable evening watching the fights.”

“Also, the west loop downtown area around the UIC Pavilion has a great deal to offer our fans, whether it’s going out before or after the fights, there’s plenty of options for dining and entertaining.”

The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine , at the Northeast corner of Racine and Harrison and is easily accessible by CTA bus or train. Parking for over 2,000 cars is available at the Southwest corner of Racine and Harrison. Further information can be obtained through their website at www.uicpavilion.com

Details of the first “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT” will be announced shortly. Said Pesoli, “We’re building a great card for opening night and we’re going to keep the same ticket prices, starting at $30. Chicago fight fans that have been with us for many years will still be able to enjoy the events at the same prices in an outstanding arena.”

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxing.com

Irish Ropes presser next week in NYC

WHAT: Irish Ropes Promotion Press Conference

WHO: ANDY LEE

2004 Irish Olympian

Limerick, Ireland residing in Detroit, MI

16-1 (13 KOs)

EMANUEL STEWART

Hall of Fame Trainer (Lee’s Trainer)

Detroit, MI

SADAM ALI

2008 U.S. Olympian

Brooklyn, NY

1-0 (1 KO)

WHEN: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 –12:30 PM/ET

WHERE: Jack Demsey’s Restaurant Bar

36 West 33rd St.

New York, NY

212.629.9899

WHY: Press conference to announce Irish Ropes’ annual St. Patrick’s Day Eve pro boxing show, “Erin Go Brawl 2,” featuring many top Irish pro boxers.