OAKLAND, CALIF. – November 11, 2013 – The long wait for WBA and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward’s (Oakland, Calif.) return to the ring is nearly over. Ward and trainer Virgil Hunter will take part in their final Bay Area training session today at his Hayward boxing gym before traveling south to Ontario, Calif., on Tuesday morning. The consensus number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world will put his belts on the line in a battle with undefeated contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez on Saturday at the Citizens Business Bank Arena and live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.
Saturday’s bout marks Ward’s first fight in 14 months following surgery to repair a right shoulder injury that the 29-year-old boxer recently revealed he’s had for over 15 years. Ward exasperated the rotator cuff tear in preparation for a scheduled bout with Kelly Pavlik late last year, and the injury required major surgery in January. After fighting through the injury for the majority of his amateur and professional career, the Olympic champion is excited to finally compete injury free. “An injury like this isn’t something that you broadcast, but now we can talk about it,” Ward said. “It’s definitely better than what it was. It’s stronger. It’s more powerful, and I know everyone will see that.”
Ward and Hunter have been hard at work at their Oakland area gym for the past two months in preparation for his showdown with Rodriguez, an opponent the duo knows well. “We aren’t taking Edwin lightly. I have followed him for the last two years. I take this game very seriously, not just in camp, but also when I’m away from the ring,” Ward said. “I’ve watched Edwin. I know his strengths and weaknesses. I’ve prepared to win this fight and dominate this fight.”
With less than a week until his first bout of 2013, Ward is primed and ready to step back in to the ring. “I’m just excited, I’m hungry. I’ve prepared my mind and body for battle. We are just days away. Don’t miss it. It will be a great show. I have a hungry challenger, but I’m a hungry champion and those are ingredients for a great fight,” he said.
Ward-Rodriguez fight week will begin with open workouts for all of the fighters on Tuesday afternoon in the Ontario, Calif., area.
About: “Ward vs. Rodriguez – The Return”
2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist and WBA and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight World Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward makes his highly anticipated return to the ring defending his WBA and Ring Magazine Super Middleweight title against Edwin Rodriguez on Saturday, November 16 at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.
Following slightly more than a year’s absence from the ring due to injury, Ward (26-0, 13 KOs) will put his world titles on the line against the undefeated Rodriguez (24-0, 16 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round World Championship main event, which will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Adamek vs. Glazkov undercard for this Saturday
VERONA, NY – A jam-packed undercard is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in support of a nationally televised boxing double-header at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY. In the main event, heavyweights Tomasz Adamek, 48-2, 29 KOs, and Czar Glazkov, 15-0-1, 11 KOs, square off in a 12-round heavyweight eliminator that will determine the #2 IBF contender.
Fight fans can watch that bout, along with an interesting 8-round battle between lightweight prospects Karl “Dynamite” Dargan, 13-0, 7 KOs, and Mike “Lefty” Brooks, 11-0-1, 2 KOs, at home on NBC network TV, beginning at 2:30PM. However, fans who come to the live event at the Turning Stone will be treated to a stacked set of preliminary bouts featuring a sampling of some of today’s top young talent.
South African light heavyweight Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba, 20-2-2, 9 KOs, clashes with “The Amazing” Michael Gbenga, 13-9, 13 KOs, of Ghana in an 8-round bout. Chilemba is the favorite, but he’ll have to be on the lookout for Gbenga’s power shots which have taken out every fighter that he’s beaten.
In a 6-round cruiserweight fight, Albanian puncher, Sevdail Sheriffi, 9-2-2, 8 KOs, faces Houston’s Quantis Graves, 9-0, 4 KOs. The promising Graves is undefeated but “The Sherriff” is a hot, rising hopeful fighting in the US for just the second time. Once the bell rings, questions about each fighter will be answered.
In another 6-rounder, undefeated super middleweight Andy Mejias, 14-0, 6 KOs, Utica, NY, meets tough Philly trial horse, Latin Mundy, 10-8, 4 KOs. All eyes are on Mejias, but Mundy is determined to punch his way back into the picture at 168 pounds, and can’t be counted out.
In a 4-round middleweight fight, Trent Laidler of Palm Beach, FL, makes his professional debut against Philadelphia’s Anthony Watson, 0-1, who will looking to ruin Laidler’s introduction to the sport.
A pair of super middleweights are slated to open the live show in another 4-rounder. Undefeated John Magda, 3-0, 3 KOs, has jumped out to a good start since turning pro in August. He’s knocked out everyone so far, and will look to add Maurice Amaro, 2-5, 1 KO, to his budding resume. However, Philly’s Amaro is tough, and should give the streaking Magda a real test.
The live, ringside action gets underway at the Turning Stone Resort Casino beginning at 12:30PM.
Robert Guerrero honored by Northern California Boxers Association
November 11, 2013 – This past Saturday at the Italian American Social Club the Northern California Boxers Association honored six-time and four division world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero for accomplishments in and out of the ring. NCBA president Joe Amato presented Robert with the award, a beautiful brass bust resembling a boxer from the early 1900’s.
Guerrero, who’s traveled across several weight classes, has won six world titles in four divisions thus far in his career. He’s also traveled overseas to capture a world title.
“I’m honored to have received this award from the Northern California Boxers Association,” said Guerrero. “This trophy is very beautiful and I’m thankful to the people that put on this event and all my family and core team whose been with me from the beginning. The Northern California boxing scene is one of the best in the world and I’m happy to be part of this great era of boxers from this area.”
Margarito Presents Fight Card This Friday
Three time welterweight champion and now burgeoning boxing promoter Antonio Margarito presents his second fight card of his career this Friday night at the legendary Municipal Auditorium of his hometown of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Margarito first captured the WBO welterweight title in 2002 by stopping Antonio Diaz in ten. He went on to defend that title seven times. He then captured the IBF version by stopping Kermit Cintron in the sixth round and the WBA strap with the biggest win of his career, an eleven round demolition of then undefeated Miguel Cotto.
Now Margarito looks to bring that excitement and winning ways outside the ring with his company Tornado Promotions. On Friday night, Margarito will feature a classic match-up of brawler vs. boxer in a welterweight ten round clash which will be broadcast live by the local Tijuana affiliate of the Mexican national network Canal Azteca. Mexicali tough guy Armando “Chato” Robles (23-3-2, 12KOs) will take on local favorite Alvaro Aguilar (23-2-1, 17KOs) in a crossroads bout.
Robles carries an impressive ledger as he has taken on and beaten a number of known prospects since going pro in ’01. The heavily-tattooed Mexicali fighter own wins against the likes a then undefeated Jorge “Pantera” Silva and Javier Arostegui, KO artist Daniel “Galeno” Sandoval and world ranked Humberto “Betillo” Gutierrez among others. Known for non-stop come forward style, Robles will have his hands full with Aguilar who is known for his superb boxing skills.
Aguilar laced up the gloves as a professional one year before Robles and after sixteen pro fights, suffered his first blemish against the much more experienced and difficult Emmanuel Augustus. Seven months later Aguilar faced the then highly-touted Julio Cesar Garcia for the vacant WBA continental Americas light welterweight title but fell via a split decision in a fight many of ringside saw Aguilar win. After a couple of setbacks, Aguilar is back full-force this year and has strung together three wins in a row en route to this important test in which the winner goes on to bigger and better things and the loser might have to reconsider his days left as a professional fighter.
In the special attraction semi-main event, two-time national amateur champion Jorge “Tremendo” DeAlba (10-0-1, 8KOs) faces hard charging Rosalio “Aspid” Rios (7-1, 6KOs), both of Tijuana, in a much anticipated six rounder.
Also featured on the card will be undefeated new comers lightweight Daniel “Huracan” Ramirez (9-0, 4KOs), light flyweight Victor “Chaky” Sandoval (2-0, 1KO) and fellow junior flyweight Abraham “Choko” Rodriguez (3-0, 2KOs) among others.
The Municipal Auditorium is located a five minute cab ride from the San Diego/Tijuana border. Tickets start at $12.00 and are available at the Auditorium ticket office or TicketMovil. The fight card is presented in association with Maya Batel Gym.