Tickets On Sale Now For "Tinley Park Rumble"

Loaded "Tinley Park Rumble" Card To Explode With A World Class Main Event And Star-Studded Undercard

May 8 (Merrillville, In) - The one main event that has the star-power capable of following up the "Merciless" Mary McGee vs. Kristy "Rose" Follmar world championship extravaganza is a feud that goes beyond the ring and was originally scheduled for "Date With Destiny" but rescheduled for the "Tinley Park Rumble" on Friday, June 12th at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18501 Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park, IL.

Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker (19-2-2, 12 KOs) vs. "Iron" Orphius Waite (5-0, 3 KOs) is a main event that started inside the Octavius James' One In A Million Inc.'s training facility, as two of the world's best middleweights were once sparring partners.

Walker and Waite will never be seen enjoying dinner together, but boxing fans will have an opportunity to enjoy their world class main event battle that is guaranteed to be a bone crunching crowd pleaser. "Walker and Waite is one of those fights that will have fight fans standing on there feet," said Octavius James, C.E.O. of One In A Million Inc.

"These two guys don't like each other and when they get in that ring it's going to be bruising main event that I'm excited to see," added James. "One In A Million is looking to bring back the Age of the Superfight, with McGee vs. Follmar and Walker vs. Waite, we are definitely putting together some of the best fights the world of boxing has seen in a very long time."

"I could tell (Waite) was trying to size me up during our sparring sessions," said Walker. "Orphius wants to be me and he is trying to fight like I do, I'm ready and he is ready so let's get it on, he is messing with a different level of fighter and I don't feel any respect at all from him, but I will get that respect when I whoop him without the head gear," Said Walker.

"When we would walk into the training facility we both got that weird vibe and when we sparred I left his face battered a few times even with the head gear," said Waite. "It's a very big fight, biggest fight of my career and secondly it's going to be a stepping stone in my career, (Walker) had his chance to shine and he didn't do too well and now it's my turn." Waite said.

Also scheduled as part of another sensational undercard are unbeaten fighters Welterweight Ed "2 Fast 2 Furious" Ochoa (8-0, 8 KOs), middleweight Josh Crouch (4-0, 4 KOs) and super featherweight Evette Collazo (4-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring.

Tickets "Tinley Park Rumble" are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at VIP $100, VIP ringside $75, ringside $50, and general admission $30 and they are available from any Ticket Master location at (800)745-3000, (866) 438-7372 or www.TicketMaster.com.

The Tinley Park Convention Center, which is just 25 minutes from Northwest Indiana, doors will open at 7 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m.

Visit us at our new knockout website and leave us some feedback: www.oneinamillionboxing.com

Contact:
Aaron Pineda
Publicist/Media & Public Relations
One In A Million Inc.
apineda@oneinamillionboxing.com

QUEZADA EYEING CHALLENGES WITH BRIAN MINTO AND TRAVIS WALKER

Lemoore California (May 8, 2009)
Photo by Laura De La Torre

Riding a 16-fight winning streak, WBC CABOFE Heavyweight champion, Manuel "El Toro" Quezada, is eyeing challenges with heavyweight contenders Brian Minto (33-2, 21 KO's) and Travis Walker (30-2-1, 24 KO's).

Quezada, who's ranked # 15 by the WBC, feels a win against Minto or Walker will get him closer to title contention as he stated, "A fight with a durable guy like Brian Minto is exactly what I want right now. It's my understanding that he's mentioned my name as someone he would like to fight too. As far as Travis Walker, he's a highly ranked contender that doesn't duck anyone. I'm sure he'll be willing to step in the ring with me, but we'll see. He might be gun shy after getting knocked out by Chris Arreola. We have a date open on July 16th at the Tachi Palace Casino. If any one of these fight gets finalized, I'll be happy to give Minto or Walker a shot at my title."

Quezada has made it clear that he is willing to get in the ring with any of the top ranked heavyweights and will travel to their own backyard to make it happen. For further inquires contact Quezada's co-promoter Christian Printup (cprintup@hotmail.com) or matchmaker Tom Brown (818) 817-8004.

Mario Serrano
Publicist ~ Tachi Palce Casino
boxingpublicist@aol.com

Velasquez vs Ledesma
May 8, 2009 ESPN 2 Friday Night Fights

Q and A Carlos Ivan Velasquez
By Anson Wainwright ~ 15rounds.com

Photos by Tom Hogan ~ hoganphotos.com

Puerto Rican puncher Carlos Ivan Velasquez 9-0(8) returns from an 8 month hiatus when he resumes his career on ESPN in an 8 rounder against Andres Ledesma 15-13-1(10). Velasquez 24, represented his country at the 2004 Olympics but waited until early 2007 to make the transition to the pro's.

Hello Carlos Ivan, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright - I believe you will be fighting this weekend in Fort Worth, do you have an opponent? Will it be at Featherweight?

Carlos Ivan Velasquez - I think it will be Andres Ledesma, but it looks like I'll be fighting in an eight round bout. I'm campaigning at featherweight and want to challenge for the world title at 126 lbs. Continue Reading...

Mario Serrano
Publicist ~ Shelly Finkel Management
boxingpublicist@aol.com

American Metal & Iron Present
"THE NEXT CHAPTER"
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

May 6, 2009 (San Jose California) - This Thursday May 7, 2009 four-time world champion, Carina "La Reina" Moreno, has been invited by Roy Englebrecht Promotions to make an appearance at American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank set to take place at the HP Pavilion at San Jose Ca. Moreno will sign autographs and meet and greet the fans in attendance.

American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank Unveils New Format for May 7 Bouts


The best boxing in the Bay Area has a new name: 'American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank: The Next Chapter and returns on Thursday, May 7 for its eighth season at HP Pavilion at San Jose.

"The Next Chapter" has been added to American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank to reflect the new team concept.

AM&I Fight Night at the Tank will now consist of seven four-round bouts with at least one women's bout. All fighters will be included in the 'You Be The Judge' contest; a way for fans to show their support of their favorite fighter of the night. The crowd will judge the bouts and choose their favorite boxer by round of applause. The winning fighter will receive the AMI Cup with an extra $1,000 bonus. The crowd will have a chance to win money of their own as $100 cash will be given away between every bout.


Members of each team will have opportunities to add to their pocketbooks with team bonuses. Both teams will be competing for bonuses of $2,100 ($300 per fighter). The teams will be scored on a point system with one point awarded per bout ending with the best of seven. If there is a knockout, "The Quickest Knockout Award" will garner that special fighter another $500.

AM&I Fight Night at the Tank will bring back a familiar face as Roy Englebrecht returns to AM&I Fight Night at the Tank as the event matchmaker. Roy Englebrecht is owner and founder of Roy Englebrecht Promotions, California's third largest Boxing Promotions Company. In December of 2001 Oscar De La Hoya purchased Roy Englebrecht Promotions creating Golden Boy Promotions, with Roy serving as COO for the first three years. At the end of 2004 Roy Englebrecht Promotions was again reestablished, with Oscar De La Hoya as a minority partner.

Individual tickets can be purchased at the HP Pavilion ticket office, at Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout the Bay Area, online at ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. For more information about season tickets or group discounts call (408) 999-6808 or go by clicking here..

KO Artist Brunson Signs
with Triple-Mac Promotions

Virginia-based Triple-Mac Promotions is proud to announce the signing of powerhouse Philadelphia middleweight Tyrone "Young Gun" Brunson to a promotional agreement.

The sharpshooting Brunson (19-0-1, 19 KOs) set a boxing record with 19 consecutive first-round knockouts to begin his career before fighting to a draw in his last outing.

"Tyrone was beginning to go stale by chasing that record and not facing the kind of opposition he should have been to develop properly," said Triple-Mac President Freddie Mac of his new client. "We believe in Tyrone and we intend to bring him to the top levels of the sport properly. He has the talent and the natural punching power to become a world champion."

24-year-old Brunson surpassed the North American record with his 15th first-round stoppage (vs. David Johnson, March 9, 2007) and tied the world record of 18 set by current WBC Lightweight Champion Edwin Valero of Venezuela - in June of last year against Jamie Waru in Auckland, New Zealand. He then broke the all-time record in 72 seconds against Francis McKechnai on March 29, 2008.

Brunson is the first big signing for Triple-Mac who have established a respected reputation doing shows in the Norfolk area. "We are ready to make a dent in boxing by treating our fighters right and giving our fans the quality of fights they don't mind paying to see. Tyrone will be our first world champion and will clear the way at the top for a long line of Triple-Mac fighters.

CARLOS IVAN VELASQUEZ RETURNS TO THE RING THIS FRIDAY ON ESPN 2 FNF

By Ryan Burton ~ BoxingTalk.com

Super feather says Andres Ledezma is his next foe

Puerto Rican super featherweight prospect: Carlos Ivan Velasquez speaks to BoxingTalk's Ryan Burton. Vasquez fights May 8th on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights.

Boxingtalk: What is new with you?

Carlos Velasquez: I am just relaxing. I have been out for a while but I feel that I have progressed a lot as a professional these last couple months. I am going to show that on Friday. I feel that I have really progressed.

BT: When did you get hurt?

CV: I got hurt sparring and that is why I haven't fought since September (Marquez-Casamayor undercard).

BT: Has your opponent been named yet for Friday?

CV: I think its Andres Ledezma.

BT: What are the keys to victory?

CV: The keys are I will study my opponent and see his errors. When I see him make a mistake I am going to make him pay for it. I having been training hard and I will be ready for the fight. I am a very technical boxer. I like to out scheme my opponent. When I step into the ring I always have bad intentions. Continue Reading..

Mario Serrano
Publicist ~ Shelly Finkel Management
boxingpublicist@aol.com
(408) 607-5756

Seminole Warriors Boxing's Latest Signing, Don "Da bomb" George; Scores Knockout in Detroit !
By: Cestus Press
Seminole Warriors Boxing latest signing; Cestus Management's Super-Middleweight, Don "DA BOMB" George, sensationally returned to the ring by blasting out Mike Walthier in one minute and forty-five seconds of the first round. As soon as the bell rang George, got down to business peppering Walthier with hard jabs and a fast combination to the head and body. As the round went on, George followed up a stiff jab with a thudding right-hand shot that sent Walthier reeling into the ropes. Donovan immediately opened up on Walthier with precision and landed another combination finishing with a crushing right-hand to the side of the head, which sent Walthier crashing to the canvas and drove the sold-out live crowd into a frenzy. George then did his trademark back flip which sent the screaming fans into orbit. The rest of the fight card was very competative and entertaining and produced a fabulous night of boxing for the loyal Detroit fight fans. The event was held at the Majestic Theater in Detroit , Michigan and was promoted by one of Detroit’s premier promoters Carlos Llinas of Clip International Promotions; and The Donovan George vs Mike Walthier fight was brought to everyone by Seminole Warriors Boxing. At ringside in attendance were Detroit boxing legend Thomas Hearns and his son Ronald Hearns.

Leon Margules, Seminole Warriors Boxing Executive Director; said we are proud and excited to promote such a talented fighter as Donovan and to have the opportunity to make him one of our next world champions”

Gina Iacavou, Cestus CEO said; fight fans love knockouts and thats exactly what you get when Donovan fights“, his aggressive style and true punching power make him a fighter that's great for boxing. Our promoter Seminole Warriors Boxing have big plans for Donovan and his climb to the top of the Super-Middleweight division is now just a matter of time.

Mike Michael, the company founder said; “The fans in Detroit (Michigan) really loved the display of technique, power and showmanship that Donovan displayed; and the crawd went crazy when he knocked out his opponent and then did his trademark back flip. I beleive that all of the Detroit fight fans at the arena would agree with me; that Donovan looked sensational in the way he took care of business and they saw a future star.” Michael added, “I would like to personally thank our promoter, and good friend Leon Margules of the Seminole Warriors Boxing for making this fight happen and Carlos Llinas of Clip Internaional Promotions for featuring our fighter on his boxing event. For further information about Don "DA BOMB" George please visit www.warriorsboxing.com or www.cestusmanagement.com

Dawson aims to do it again in title rematch with Tarver

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Unbeaten Chad Dawson is ready for a repeat Saturday when he takes on Antonio Tarver in a rematch of their October bout that saw Dawson take the International Boxing Federation light heavyweight crown.

"I can't stand him," said Dawson, who notched a lopsided unanimous decision over Tarver in October but was irked by Tarver's pre-fight comments as well as his post-fight lack of respect.

"Antonio Tarver is a very ignorant person," Dawson said. "I want to punish him."

Dawson improved to 27-0 with the victory with 17 knockouts.

His victories in the class, in which he is also a former World Boxing Council champion, include the only defeat of reigning cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek.

The 40-year-0ld Tarver, whose resume includes a 2004 knockout of Roy Jones, says his October loss to Dawson was a matter of style.

"I just stayed in a defensive fashion too long. When the guy threw punches, I blocked them," said Tarver who is 3-0 in rematches. "Anybody that has a keen eye can see that most of those punches were blocked. But to his credit, he just looked a lot busier."

This time, Tarver said. "When he throws, I'm going to throw."

"When I look back at the fight, I feel I beat myself, it was nothing that Chad did," Tarver said. "We corrected our wrongs and you?ll see the difference Saturday night. When I?m determined, I?m a hard guy to beat. History proves that."

Tarver, who brings a record 27-5 with 19 knockouts to the bout, acknowledged this week that he has "something to prove" on Saturday.

"I'm a realist of where I'm at in the game, I'm a realist about my position," he said. "I know what a win will do for me and I know what a loss will do for me. I know what I have to do Saturday night. I don't have much to say, I'm ready

De La Hoya to feature boxing prospects in LA

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Oscar De La Hoya is keeping busy in retirement with the upcoming launch of a monthly boxing TV series featuring his top prospects.

“Fight Night Club” begins June 11 with bouts televised from the new Club Nokia across the street from Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. There will be a DJ, music and VIP room, with the boxing ring set up on the nightclub’s stage.

The four-part series is a joint venture by De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and AEG.

The fights will be televised nationally on cable channel Versus and streamed live on RingTV.com and Yahoo! Boxing.

The series will feature how champions are developed, De La Hoya said.

“Some of the best fights I’ve ever seen have taken place at small club shows and now we have the opportunity to bring those fights to the world,” he said.

Bouts for the first show will be announced later.

Colorado teens aiming for Junior National titles

DENVER (AP)—When Hilario Ramirez-Medina was 6 years old, he used to follow his brother, Jose Figueroa, into the Longmont Boxing Club to watch him train.

Ramirez-Medina would do a little boxing, too, before getting kicked out for goofing off.

“I used to get thrown out because little kids don’t take training seriously,” Ramirez-Medina said. “I’d hit the bag and then play around and mess up other kids’ training. Then I’d come back the next day and try to find anyone to spar with. I didn’t care who it was.”

Nearly a decade later, the 15-year-old is taking the sweet science seriously — and he’s on a fast track to success. Ramirez-Medina didn’t start boxing competitively until this year, but in a few months he’s won the Colorado State Golden Gloves and the Colorado State Junior Olympics for his age group and weight class.

On May 15-16, he’ll compete in the Four Corners Combined Regional Tournament in Pueblo, and a victory there will qualify him for the USA Boxing National Championships at the Denver Coliseum June 8-13.

Moving the nationals from Colorado Springs to Denver will help increase the profile of the event, USA Boxing CEO Jim Millman said.

“They’ve been a well-kept secret in Colorado Springs,” he said. “With the help of the Daniels Fund we’ve been able to move our event to a city that deserves an event of this attention and puts us on a platform with what we’re trying to do.”

For Ramirez-Medina and Ricky Rodriguez, the Junior Olympic champion in the bantamweight class of the 15-16 age division, having the nationals in Denver means a chance at competing close to home.

“It’s kind of nerve-racking, but it’s challenging,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez has been to the national championships before, earning a silver medal in the 15-16 age division in 2008. This is all new to Ramirez-Medina.

“I started up this year and started accelerating,” he said. “I got my first fight on Jan. 1 and I just picked up fights from there.”

In that first fight, he quickly learned to be aggressive.

“The voice of my mom came into my head that if you’re getting hit then you’ve got to hit back. Don’t just stand there and be a dummy,” Ramirez-Medina said. “So I started swinging back and won my first fight.”

He lost his next two before competing in the state Golden Gloves. On March 27, Ramirez-Medina beat Carlos Santos in the featherweight title match of the 15-16 age division.

Now he’s ready for a chance to compete on the national stage.

“I don’t expect to win a championship my first year, but I didn’t expect to win Golden Gloves my first year,” he said.

Ramirez-Medina feels confident and comfortable in the ring.

“My older brother and my mom are my idols. Going against them my whole life, looking at the other person in the ring, I know there’s nothing to be afraid of it,” he said. “I decided my older brother did it so I could do it, too. I love the conditioning. I feel more at home in boxing than I do anywhere else.”

Rodriguez, like Ramirez-Medina, won the Colorado Junior Olympics title in Pueblo. A win at the Four Corners Combined Regional Tournament next weekend would give him a chance to win the bantamweight crown a year after falling one bout short.

The 16-year-old is using last year’s experience at nationals to get him ready for 2009.

“It really motivated me,” Rodriguez said. “I’m working harder, I’m running more and doing more of everything. I’m looking forward to facing the guy who beat me last year.”

Pacquiao basks in popularity, ponders politics

By PAUL ALEXANDER, Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines (AP)—Nothing seems capable of stopping Manny Pacquiao these days, not even the threat of a typhoon or swine flu, as he rides a wave of popularity that swells with each dominating victory.

Bigger fighters? No problem—a few more pounds of muscle have added even more power to the quickest hands in boxing. Just ask Britain’s Ricky Hatton, who was knocked down twice before being knocked out just before the end of the second round of their junior welterweight title fight last weekend.

Nearly a week later, Pacquiao still dominates the headlines and airwaves in his native Philippines, where he’s an instantly recognizable icon, one of those stars who transcends sport.

In a country that has grappled with deep financial problems and political divisions for years, Pacquiao has created a fanatical following that bridges the divide between rich and poor.

The sprawling archipelago of more than 7,100 islands grinds to a halt when he fights. Crime drops, and traffic slows to a trickle. Even communist and Muslim insurgencies take a break.

Spokesman Eid Kabalu said many members of the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim guerrilla group in the volatile south, trooped back to their communities to watch the Hatton bout. While ecstatic over the result, the rebels had one complaint: Pacquiao ended the fun too quickly.

Theatres showing the fight live were packed, and the delayed broadcast on national TV drew two-thirds of the viewership in Manila, a sprawling city of 12 million.

Pacquiao’s popularity is spreading overseas, too. Early estimates suggest the Hatton bout exceeded expectations and drew the fourth-largest pay-per-view audience ever.

The story of his rise from a poverty-wracked childhood as a street vendor to the man widely regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer is serving as inspiration to every down-on-their-luck Filipino, not to mention fostering dreams among a whole new generation.

Now the question is where his next fight will take place—another huge payday in the boxing ring, where a possible matchup with recently unretired Floyd Mayweather Jr. is being touted; or in the political arena, where Pacquiao is eying another candidacy for Congress with suggestions he could run for president.

He already ranks as perhaps the most popular Philippine athlete ever, swarmed everywhere he goes. Local radio has been playing a patriotic Pacquiao song entitled “Filipino Race,” in which he professes his deep love and pride for his country and people. An MTV version has been posted on YouTube, showing the boxing star strumming a guitar and singing with his countrymen in front of a huge Philippine flag along with a montage of him demolishing opponents.

His singing isn’t likely to result in a music career, but the song could easily be turned into a political battlecry.

Pacquiao returned from the U.S. early Friday, brushing off the approach of a typhoon and suggestions from the Philippine health minister that his entourage should self-quarantine themselves a few days to make sure none of them was carrying swine flu from Los Angeles.

Authorities at Manila’s international airport tried to set up a cordon to keep Pacquiao and his entourage at a distance, but well-wishers and reporters broke through to get close to him.

After breakfast, Pacquiao and friends repeated their tradition of going to Manila’s Quiapo church, where hundreds of fans jostled each other to try to get a glimpse of him. He shook hands with the crowd inside the church.

His victory parade was postponed to next week, although the typhoon arrived early and largely missed the capital. But Pacquiao also got a taste of his own medicine—and what lies ahead in politics.

Pacquiao has been borrowing a line from the Spiderman movies that “With great power comes great responsibility,” and some radio commentators took swipes at him for ignoring the swine flu advice. One said he missed the rare chance to show responsibility and likened him to other powerful people who only want to get their way.

“The situation would be worse if I stayed longer in the U.S., because there are a lot of fans visiting my place, taking pictures and asking for autographs,” Pacquiao said. “My team and I would be more vulnerable to catching the flu.”

Pacquiao has petitioned for accreditation of his People’s Champ Movement as a political party in what’s expected to be another run for Congress in 2010; he fell short the first time, but that was before high-profile victories over Oscar De La Hoya and Hatton.

Some suggest a political career could harm the boxer’s legacy. Photos of him dancing with two young women have been circulating and could be used to undercut his relatively wholesome image. Then there are the accusations that only come with being in office.

“Today he is admired,” commentator Neal H. Cruz wrote in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “But when he becomes a congressman, people will curse him and call him ‘thief,’ ‘liar’ and ‘corrupt.”’