NEW YORK (Nov. 20, 2013) – Unbeaten Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell, who is no stranger to overcoming adversity, finally gets his crack at a world title when he challenges defending champion Sakio Bika for the WBC Super Middleweight Championship on Saturday, Dec. 7, live on SHOWTIME (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The quadrupleheader, headlined by an all-Brooklyn bout between former world champions Zab “Super’’ Judah and Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi, is the first of back-to-back blockbuster events promoted by Golden Boy Promotions live on SHOWTIME. On Saturday, Dec. 14, in another four-fight telecast on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, rising superstar Adrien Broner will defend his WBA Welterweight Championship against dangerous, hard-hitting Marcos Maidana in the main event.
For Dirrell (26-0, 22 KO’s), of Flint, Mich., the world title fight caps a remarkable journey for the 29-year-old, whose eight-year-professional career has twice been seriously jeopardized; the first time in December 2006 when he was diagnosed with cancer and sidelined for 20 months. At the time of his diagnosis with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Dirrell was 12-0 and had been boxing professionally for only two years.
After winning his battle with cancer, he rose to No. 1 in the WBC and No. 2 in the WBA in 2011. He had become an established star and was readying himself for a shot at a world title before getting into a motorcycle accident in May 2012 that would keep him out of the ring for 17 months.
Dirrell will be fighting for the third time since the accident when he faces Bika (32-5-2, 21 KO’s), who is making the first defense of the 168-pound crown he captured with a majority 12-round decision over Marco Antonio Periban last June 22 on SHOWTIME. The current WBC No.8-ranked contender, Dirrell triumphed by third-round TKO over Anthony Hanshaw in his most recent outing last July 27.
Here’s what the athletic, switch-hitting Dirrell had to say about his career, personal setbacks and upcoming bout against Bika:
(Did you think your career might be over after the motorcycle mishap?)
“If anything, it made me more focused. But I wasn’t even thinking boxing. I was thinking survival and getting back on my feet. I was thinking what I could do so that I could play with my son again. Boxing was the last thing on my mind.’’
(Thoughts going into the Dec. 7 world title fight that will open the SHOWTIME telecast)
“The key for me is to stick to our game plan and to go in and dominate the guy. I’m really going to try and take him out. I don’t want to leave it in the judges’ hands.
“I definitely think he’s underestimating me, probably because I haven’t had a lot of rounds (Anthony has only gone eight rounds one time, and all of his knockouts have come in five rounds or less). But I’m prepared mentally and physically and come Dec. 7 the world will realize that I’m a champion and not just a contender.’’
(Your road to a world title fight has been anything but easy. What does it mean to finally be fighting for a world title?)
“It’s a great thing, my dream coming true, a dream I’ve had since I was a little kid. But it can’t be complete until I win. I’m finally at the door and I’m going to bust it down. All the hard work I’ve put in, actually there’s no need to bust it down. I’m just going to walk right in and get my championship.”
(What do you think of the vastly more-experienced Bika, who has fought the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Lucian Bute and Andre Ward?)
“He’s a good fighter, a champion. You can’t take anything away from that. But at the end of day I feel I have better skills and boxing ability. All I have to say is he’d better be on his ‘A’ game.’’
(What did you think of the Bika-Periban fight?)
“It was a close fight, one that could have gone either way. Neither guy was impressive. I’m a different kind of fighter than Periban so I expect Bika to be training better and harder for me.’’
(With a victory, do you think you’ll finally get your due and escape your brother Andre’s shadow?)
“People keep talking about me being in Andre’s shadow, but I don’t mind. His casts a big shadow. In my book, he’s a world champion. He beat Carl Froch and he beat Arthur Abraham. If I have to stay in his shadow the next 10 years, I don’t mind. I have to do what I have to do to win this championship. I’m my own person.’’
(How’s training?)
“I’ve been training at the ABC Gym in Boca Raton, Fla. I’ve done a lot of sparring and running. Camp has been wonderful, hard and very intense.
“I’m ready, but I’ll be even more ready on fight night. I can’t wait for Dec. 7.’’
Gabriel Bracero Looking For His Shot “I’d Be Honored To Fight Garcia”
New York, NY (11/20/13) – Fresh off his dominant 10-round unanimous decision victory over once-beaten former world title challenger Dmitriy Salita before a sold-out crowd at the Aviator Sports & Events Center in Brooklyn, on November 9, world-rated contender Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (24-1) is hoping to land a significant fight in 2014. While there are many lucrative fights to be made in the talent-laden 140-147 divisions, Bracero has his sites set on what he believes would be the two best matchups.
“Danny Garcia or the winner of Malignaggi-Judah, those are the two that I am looking at,” said the Puerto-Rican Brooklynite Bracero.
“I have no problem fighting at 140 where I am world-rated or at 147 where my last fight took place and I am also world-rated. I feel great at either weight, I just want my shot. I want the biggest fights out there, and at 140, that is Danny Garcia. He is the best in the division right now in my eyes, and to be the best, you have to beat the best. I have nothing but respect for him and it would be an honor to fight him.”
Bracero continued, “He has been putting on great performances, two of which recently took place in my hometown of Brooklyn. We both have similar aggressive styles. We are both Puerto Rican. We each have a huge fan base. Hands down, this is a great fight. It wasn’t long ago that Danny was in the same position that I am in now, waiting for his big shot. I am hungry and I am ready to go.”
While a match against Garcia is the bout that Bracero is most interested in, taking on the winner of Malignaggi-Judah is also intriguing.
“If the bout with Danny can’t be made, why not fight the winner of Paulie versus Zab? We are all Brooklynites. We all have big fan bases. It would be a perfect fight for Brooklyn and a perfect fight for the Barclays Center. I just want my shot. I want to prove to the world that I am one of the best fighters in my division and if given the opportunity, I know that I will not disappoint.”
One of the most popular boxing figures throughout the entire New York boxing.
Anderson to face Knockout Artist Sosa at “Fighting for Attendance”!
Newark, NJ (November 21, 2013) – Popular Michael “Slick” Anderson will now face dynamite-fisted George “El Terrible” Sosa in the eight round main event of All Out Promotions and Edmond’s Promotions’ “Fighting for Attendance” in an eight round bout this Saturday evening at Weequahic High School in Newark, NJ.
Tickets from $35 are available by going to http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8886354325?ref=ebtnebtckt
Hailing from Reading, PA, Sosa’s 12-4 with all of his wins coming by knockout. In his four defeats, Sosa faced quality fighters in world rated Emmanuel Taylor, who won a debatable majority decision, and unbeaten Wilkins Santiago, Sammy Vasquez and Javonte Starks.
One of the biggest ticket sellers in the Garden State, Anderson has an excellent 12-2-1 professional ledger with 10 of his victories coming by way of knockout. The Newark based southpaw is looking to get back on track after dropping a decision against unbeaten late replacement Emmanuel Lartey in January.
“Outside of the fact that he’s a big puncher, I don’t know much about him to be honest,” stated Anderson. “I expect hell come to fight because I’m coming to fight and I want to put on a great show for my loyal fans.”
In order to accommodate Sosa, Anderson agreed to meet him at a catchweight of 152 lbs.
In addition to training for his bout and dealing with multiple opponents turning the fight down, Anderson’s spearheaded the “Fighting for Attendance” initiative by speaking to students at Weequahic and Newark Vocational High School about the importance of staying in school. He also donated tickets that will be given to the top students from both schools on behalf of All Out and Edmond’s Promotions.
“It’s a good thing for me to be able to speak to the kids and that they’re listening to the importance of being in school and not bullying,” said Anderson. “I hope the message synchs in and they continue to do it. Donating tickets means we didn’t give up on them and we want them to succeed. I’m from Newark and these kids are always in our heart. This was the effort of all out and Edmond’s labeling it fighting for attendance for the kids.”
Rising heavyweight Tyyab Beale will meet Jon Bolden in the six round co-featured bout. The two previously fought in June 201, with Beale winning an action-packed split decision. Beale, who hails from Newark, hasn’t in 3 ½ years and is 8-3-1 with 3 knockouts. Confident that he’ll come out the victor on the 23rd, the hard-hitting New York City resident is 6-6 and has five knockouts.
In undercard action, middleweight Eddie Edmond of Newark meets Paterson native Michael Mitchell in a battle for Garden State bragging rights. Unbeaten Bloomfield police officer Godson Noel risks his 2-0 record against debuting Philadelphian Anthony Slade in four round middleweight bout, while debuting Newark cruiserweight Iban Akbar Richardson challenges experienced Eric George of Niagara Falls, NY. Exciting lightweight Allan Phelan of New York City by way of Ireland challenges New Jersey’s Dwayne Holman Jr and Newark’s Shakir Dunn, 1-1 (1 KO), faces an opponent to be named.
In addition to an excellent evening of boxing, All Out Promotions and Edmonds Promotions will have a 50/50 with the proceeds going to the family of Dwayne “Dutch” Vanderveer, a friend of Anderson’s who tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident on August 31 at age 33. There will also be a special tribute for him.
Doors open at 6:45 and the opening bell is scheduled for 7:30. Weequahic High School is located at 279 Chancellor Ave in Newark.