Pacquiao vs. Rios 24/7 on November 9th

By Boxing News - 10/28/2013 - Comments

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2013 – HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 17 Sports Emmy® Awards, returns in November for its 18th boxing installment with 24/7 PACQUIAO/RIOS, it was announced by Rick Bernstein, executive producer, HBO Sports. Debuting SATURDAY, NOV. 9 (12:15-12:45 a.m. ET/PT), the all-access series follows two elite fighters as they prepare for their intriguing welterweight showdown Nov. 23 from the Venetian Macao’s CotaiArena in Macau, China.

“The intensity and significance of the fight will be a great launching point for this all-new edition of ‘24/7’,” noted Bernstein. “We are eager to follow both teams, since there is so much new ground to cover, especially as both sides prepare for a fight taking place at an exciting international destination.”

Episodes two and three of 24/7 PACQUIAO/RIOS debut Saturday, Nov. 16 (9:30-10:00 p.m.) and Thursday, Nov. 21 (10:00-10:30 p.m.), with the finale premiering two nights before the high-stakes welterweight bout. All episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®.

24/7 PACQUIAO/RIOS will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as the fighters prepare for their highly anticipated meeting.

Born amid poverty in the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs), 34, has conquered every barrier to become a worldwide star, capturing world titles in eight different weight divisions. He is the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani province of his homeland, winning reelection to a second term earlier this year. Now, Pacquiao is determined to overcome the setbacks he experienced in 2012, while rising star Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 22 KOs), 27, is battle-tested and fearless.

Making his eighth “24/7” appearance, Pacquiao is expected to surround himself with a trusted contingent of family and friends as he works primarily in the Philippines with longtime trainer Freddie Roach. In his “24/7” debut, Rios will be trained by longtime trainer Robert Garcia in the burgeoning boxing market of Oxnard, Cal.

24/7 PACQUIAO/RIOS is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007 and is the most-honored sports series on TV over the last six years, earning 17 Sports Emmys®. Last year’s “24/7 Pacquiao/Marquez 4” was recently recognized with the Sports Emmy® Award in the category of Outstanding Editing. The “24/7” franchise has now captured the Emmy® in the Outstanding Editing category five years in a row.

ESPN The Magazine called the series “a masterfully entertaining reality show.”

“Pacquiao vs. Rios” takes place at the Venetian Macao in Macau, China on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

The executive producer of 24/7 PACQUIAO/RIOS is Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producer, Bentley Weiner; producers, Harley Glantz, George Jakovic and Abtin Motia; writer, Aaron Cohen. Liev Schreiber narrates.

The Homecoming: Nielsen to face Jose Pinzon in Albertslund on November 16

WBA & WBO Intercontinental Middleweight Champion Patrick Nielsen (20-0, 9 KOs) will defend his titles against Jose Pinzon (24-5, 15 KOs) from Mexico on November 16. For the first time in his career, Nielsen will fight in Albertslund. Tickets for the Nordic Fight Night at Musikteatret have been selling fast. “To fight in Albertslund will be the biggest moment of my career and I will not allow Pinzon to spoil it,” he stated. “I have a lot of respect for him. Mexicans have a great boxing education and tradition. They are aggressive and tough, but so am I. There is no way he can beat me in front of my home fans. I´m in great shape already, I´ve trained hard with Joey Gamache, and I´m ready for a big night of boxing in my old hood!”

Pinzon, 26, travels to Copenhagen with a record of 24 victories and five losses, including 15 KOs. He is a former WBC Youth World Champion and WBC Interim Latino Champion. “Pinzon is a typical Mexican-styled ring warrior,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said. “He comes to fight. Patrick will need to be clever and use all of his ring craft to beat him. I expect a tough battle that will fascinate the fans in Albertslund. We expect a sell-out crowd and great atmosphere.”

Micki Nielsen, Rashid “The Dream” Kassem and Simen Smaadal will also be in action on November 16. More fights will be announced shortly. Tickets are available at billetnet.dk.

Steven Pearce Ready To Bounce Back

By Daniel Mole: Former Midlands Area Welterweight Champion, Steven Pearce, insists he has learnt from defeat and is ready to return to winning ways when he faces Rob Hunt for a British Masters Welterweight Strap next month.

The 28-year old will be entering the ring for the first time since losing the Midlands Area title to Sam Eggington in April when he appears at Walsall Town Hall on Saturday, 16th November.

“After the Eggington fight I needed that little bit of a break to find out what I wanted,” Pearce told www.uko-boxing.com. “I’ve learnt a lot from that loss.

“The fights and training camps were too close together and I put my body through an intense regime which took a lot out of me.

“A lot of people don’t think you’ll come back after defeat but I lost to Glenn Foot in January and came back to win the Midlands Title.

“I answered everyone’s questions then and I believe I’m ready to do that again by winning another title. I’m excited to be back and to have my fan base behind me.”

Pearce’s ring return should have taken place last month but a scheduled six-rounder with Andrew Patterson, who has since retired, was postponed. However, the Stourbridge fighter believes that the preparation for that fight, coupled with the intensive training regime he is currently undertaking, will stand him in good stead ahead of his showdown with Hunt.

“A lot of people say I’ve wasted six weeks training for the Patterson fight but I see plenty of positives from it,” he added. “That fight was called off three-days before it was due to take place, so I’m six-round fit anyway.

“All I’m doing now is building on those six-weeks going into this fight. I’m building myself up to be ten or twelve rounds fit. I feel great and I’ve still got a few weeks to go.”

Pearce and Hunt clash on EJKO Promotions’ ‘Double Trouble 2’. Tickets are priced at £30 and £60 Ringside and are available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.

Double Trouble 2 also features Cradley’s Chris Male who takes on Coventry’s Troy James in a British Super Featherweight Title Eliminator.

Walsall’s Chris Keane is chief support whilst West Bromwich welterweight prospect, Tom Stokes, takes on the evergreen Danny Donchev and ‘Tipton Slasher’ Lee Glover steps in with Igor Tsujev at super featherweight.

Stafford’s Grant Cunningham is also in action as he takes on the Pocklington Rocket, Harry Matthews.

Stoke lightweight, Andy Keates, features against the vastly experienced Bheki Moyo whilst Halesowen super middleweight Lennox Clarke debuts against Congo-born Didier Blanch. Tipton flyweight, Ainsley Ratcliffe, completes the line-up against an as yet unnamed opponent.

Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 Ringside, are available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900. The aftershow party will take place at The Pitch Sports Bar and Grill, Bridge Street, Walsall.



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