The 12-round main event March 14th between 22-year-old lightweight prospect Amir Khan and Hall of Fame bound multiple world champion, “The Baby Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera, shapes up as a potential classic at The M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Khan (19-1, 15 KOs), 2004 Olympic silver medallist, defends his WBA International lightweight crown against Barrera (65-6, 43 KOs) in a 12-round bout. Barrera, rated No. 1 by the WBO, has already captured the WBO super bantamweight (three times), WBC and IBO featherweight, WBC and IBF super featherweight titles. The Mexican icon has defeated a Who’s Who of contemporary world champions and/or challengers during his sensational 19-year pro career such as Erik Morales (twice), Paulie Ayala, Prince Naseem Hamed, Kevin Kelly, Johnny Tapia, Robbie Peden, Mzonke Fana, and Rocky Juarez (twice).
“The reason I took this fight is because a win here puts me in line to realize my top remaining goal to become the first Mexican-born fighter to win world championships in four separate weight divisions,” Barrera said. “I’ve been world champion in three weight divisions (122, 126 and 130) and my goal is to win a world championship in the lightweight division. I don’t want to wait. I want to get there as fast as I can. A win over Khan puts me right where I want to be.
“I will beat Khan because I have more experience than him and I’m still a much better fighter than he is. Khan is tall and has a good jab and hand speed. He is a good young fighter but there’s nothing he can do between now and March 14 to surpass my skills and experience. Jose Luis Balbuena and Kennedy McKinney are two fighters I successfully defended my WBO super bantamweight titles that I can compare to Khan. They were both good fighters with good hand speed that I was able to defeat. McKinney won an Olympic gold medal. Don’t forget what I did to Prince Naseem Hamed, too, another highly-touted guy with fast hands.”
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round championship bouts featured on the “Khan-Barrera” pay-per-view 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. Veteran blow-by-blow announcer Ian Darke and color analyst, former WBC lightweight champion Jim Watt, will be calling the action from ringside for Sky Box Office and Integrated Sports PPV.
In addition to Khan-Barrera, two other fights will be broadcast on PPV: former WBO cruiserweight title-holder Enzo Maccarinelli (29-2, 22 KOs), the No. 1 contender, battles No. 2 rated and NABO champ Ola “Kryptonite” Afolabi (13-1-3, 5 KOs) for the vacant WBO cruiserweight championship; 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).
The Ring No. 6 rated Maccarinelli beat Mohamed Azzaoui, Wayne Braithwaite, Bobby Gunn, Marcelo Fabian Dominguez and Mark Hobson (twice) during his WBO title reign (2006-2008). London-born Afolabi, now living in California, captured the NABO crown last April with a 10th round TKO of previously unbeaten Eric Fields.
Former European champion Cook, rated No. 6 by The Ring, won the WBO super featherweight title via a 12-round unanimous decision in his last fight against Alex Arthur (26-1). NABO super featherweight title-holder Martinez, fighting out of his native Puerto Rico, is rankd WBA No. 9 by The Ring.
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.
‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley and Naazim Richardson Help Jamaal ‘Da Truth’ Davis Prepare For 6th March Showdown
Popular Philadelphia Middleweight Jamaal ‘Da Truth’ Davis, better known around the boxing scene as ‘Tyson’, spends his final day at ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley’s Big Bear, California; training camp where he has been preparing
for his first fight, at the Legendary Blue Horizon on Friday 6th March 2009, since being signed by promoter Russell Peltz.
‘Tyson’ was signed by Peltz Boxing following his magnificent win, over fellow Philly fighter Chris Hall 3(2KOs)-5-1, at the National Guard Armory, Philadelphia on Saturday 4th October ‘08, and the spontaneous,
emotionally charged, thirty minute plus post victory reception he received from the huge crowd, which included many of Philadelphia’s biggest boxing names including Cruiserweight King, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham, NABA Light
Heavyweight Champ, Yusaf Mack, Former Jnr. Middleweight World Champions Robert ‘Bam Bam’ Hines and Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma, former Heavyweight Champion of the World, ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon and Hall of Famer Jeff Chandler.
Jamaal, who is being prepared for this fight by his long time trainer Shar’ron Baker and esteemed coach Brother Naazim Richardson as well as sparring with Brother Naazim’s Concrete Jungle Boxing Tribe members, spoke
briefly prior to starting his final day at camp. “I’m ready to fight. I couldn’t be better prepared, the facilities and people here are first class. I’ve been to camp before, but that was to help others. It’s awesome
to think that Shar’ron, Naz and all these great fighters are taking the time to help me get ready. You know, Naz’s last two fighters were Bernard (Hopkins) and Shane (Mosley), and he’s helping me. Awesome. I’m hundred
percent ready for anyone.
I can’t thank Shane, Naazim, Shar’ron, Rock, Dynamite, Khalib and Smash enough. These guys are the best. This place is awesome.
I’m so blessed to have them, as well as the support of Rob (Epstein) and Diane (Bennett) of DiamondBoxing, who are sponsoring me and the American Cancer Society again. These are really great people that really believe in me and the campaign. I can’t thank them enough, they gave me a hundred percent and I’m going to give a hundred percent in the fight for them, Patrilla (his young wife who passed away in December 2007) and the American Cancer Society.”
Jamaal’s ever present coach, Shar’ron Baker added. “Tyson has gotten in alot of good sparring with Rock Allen, Karl ‘Dynamite’ Dargan, Khalib ‘Big Foot’ Whitmore and Carl ‘Smash’ Scarborough. He’s looking fit and ready for any test set before him. Even though we have about a few days to go before we return to Philly’ Tyson is ready to go now!!! We’d like to give a shout out to ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley thanking him for allowing us to use his training facilities and an even bigger shout out to Brother Naazim Richardson for making it all possible.”
The ever popular Jamaal 8(6 KOs)-4, will be entering the ring, when he faces Wilmington, Delaware’s Clarence ‘Sonny Bono’ Taylor 13 (6KOs)-20-3 at the Legendary Blue Horizon in his home town of Philadelphia at the
Russell Peltz/Joe Hand promoted March 6th event, wearing the distinctive pink Diamond Boxing/American Cancer Society T-Shirt as he did for his previous fight. All sponsorship monies are to be donated to The American Cancer Society in the name of his young bride, Patrilla, who passed away just one week before Christmas 2007 after battling breast cancer for many years.
Diane Bennett from DiamondBoxing.com said of their support for Jamaal. “Diamond Boxing is once again proud and honored to help Jamaal raise money for The American Cancer Society.
We are so proud of Jamaal who has dedicated his boxing career and more to his beloved wife.
Diamond Boxing ‘Fight For the Cure’ pink t-shirts will be available for sale at the fight, the profits will be donated to the American Cancer Society.”
The 6th March fight is headlined by fellow Philadelphian Mike Jones who defends his NABA welterweight title against Los Angeles, California’s Larry Mosley.
The full undercard includes:
8 Round – Super Bantamweight:
Teon Kennedy, Philadelphia, PA, vs. Andre Wilson, St.Joseph, MO
6 Round – Super Middleweight:
Dennis Hasson, Philadelphia, PA, vs. Garrett Wilson, Philadelphia, PA,
6 Round – Lightweight:
Victor Vasquez, Philadelphia, PA, vs. Rod Salka, Bunola, PA,
6 Round – Middleweight:
Jamaal Davis, Philadelphia, PA, vs. Clarence Taylor, Wilmington, DE,
8 Round – Welterweight:
Kaseem Wilson, Philadelphia, PA, vs. Martinus Clay, Norristown, PA,
4 Round – Junior Middleweight:
Alex Sanchez, Camden, NJ, vs. Tyrone Miles, Camden, NJ,
4 Round – Junior Lightweight:
Derrick Bivins, Philadelphia, PA, vs. Luis Esquilin, Philadelphia, PA,
Date:
Friday, 6th March 2009
Location:
The Legendary Blue Horizon
North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA.
Tickets priced at $60 and $45 are on sale at Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922), Joe Hand Promotions (215-364-9000) or online at www.peltzboxing.com. (Peltz Boxing & Joe Hand Promotions).
U.S. Olympian Javier Molina signs with Goossen Tutor Promotions
Just 19 years old, junior welterweight Javier Molina has already been picked by boxing insiders as a future star. World-renowned promoter Dan Goossen agrees with the experts when it comes to the 2008 United States Olympian, and he has shown his confidence by signing Molina to an exclusive promotional contract with his company, Goossen Tutor Promotions, that begins with the City of Commerce, California native’s professional debut on March 27th at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE.
“One of our main goals in boxing is to build and promote the next generation of boxing stars,” said Goossen. “In Javier Molina, we have a young man who has the talent, style, and charisma to not only win a World Championship, but to become a true crossover star. We’re going to do everything to get him there, and we know Javier will be working tirelessly in the gym and in the ring to do his part.”
“I’m honored to be part of the Goossen Tutor team, and I can’t wait for March 27th so I can get back in the ring and get my professional career started,” said Molina. “My California fans who’ve watched me as an amateur know what I can do, and I’m excited to let the rest of the world know who I am. I like to fight and I promise to do my best not to disappoint anybody who comes to see me.”
Said his manager Arnulfo Bravo, “He’s a great talent, and I’m very excited about his future. I feel we’ve signed the two most prominent and best 2008 Olympians in Molina and Shawn Estrada.”
Molina comes from a fighting family that includes his father, uncle, and older brother, all who have fought professionally, as well as his twin brother Oscar, who was a member of the Mexican Olympic team. Owner of over 110 amateur wins, Molina holds victories over highly regarded professional prospect Danny Garcia, Karl Dargan and Danny O’Connor, and despite his loss to Bulgaria’s Boris Georgiev in the opening round of the 2008 Beijing Games, most observers expect that his greatest accomplishments will come in the professional ranks with his aggressive style of fighting.
A senior at John Glenn High School in Norwalk, CA, Molina’s plans include college after graduating this year.
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