RAMIRO CARRILLO RETURNS TO ACTION IN CHICAGO ON MAY 29TH

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT PROSPECT FACES STIFF TEST IN SECOND BOUT

ADVANCE TICKETS NOW ON SALE


CHICAGO, IL (May 18, 2009) Sensational junior welterweight prospect Ramiro “EL LOBITO” Carrillo will quickly return to action on Friday, May 29th at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” at the UIC Pavilion, it was announced today by Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

The 18 year old former amateur standout made his pro debut on April 24th with a stunning first round knockout of Steve Hall at the UIC Pavilion. He will battle the much more experienced Oscar De La Cruz at the upcoming May 29th event in a scheduled four rounder. The 32 year old De La Cruz brings a record of 5-6-0 (2KO’s) into the battle with Carrillo.

“We see a lot of young kids make their pro debuts with a splash but Ramiro’s was truly special. It was obvious that his skill level and poise belied his age. He was all business as soon as made his walk to the ring. Once the fight started he was patient, saw the opening and ended it quickly” said Pesoli.

“The fans loved him and wanted to see more of him right away so he’s back very quickly.”

Carrillo’s amateur career included two Chicago Golden Gloves Championships along with three Junior National Golden Gloves titles in addition to winning the National Blue and Gold Tournament. His overall record was 207-13.

Born in Mexico , Carrillo, the youngest of three boys now calls Chicago his home. He is managed by longtime Chicago businessman and boxing manager, Ernesto Pedroza.

Said Pedroza, “I followed Ramiro for a number of years as an amateur. I was always impressed by his skills but also his approach to boxing. He’s very serious and very dedicated to the sport and these attributes are really what a young boxer needs to be successful.”

De La Cruz is much more experienced but we feel confident that Ramiro will be able to take care of business on the 29th.”

Headlining “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2” is an excellent rematch between Chicago’s Jaime “SUPERFLY” Sandoval and Juan Carlos “EL PEZ” Martinez of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for the World Boxing Foundation Americas Lightweight Championship, which will be contested over ten scheduled rounds.

On October 19, 2007, Sandoval and Martinez battled over eight epic, bruising rounds, with Martinez winning a unanimous decision at Cicero Stadium.

Advance tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 2”, starting at $31, are on sale now through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine , just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at http://www.uicpavilion.com/

8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia, opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

For more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit http://www.8countproductions.com/ and http://www.jabbboxing.com/

Telemundo to Showcase Feature Story on the Life of Carina Moreno

Watsonville California (May 18, 2009) - Telemundo's Ramon Diaz showcases the talents of four-time world champion, Carina "La Reina" Moreno, in a story called "La Reina De Los Punos" set to be televised on Wednesday May 20, 2009.

As Diaz talks about Moreno's accomplishments in boxing, he also touches on her personal life outside the ring. The story will air in the San Francisco, Fresno and Las Vegas during Telemundo's (Channel 48) "Conteo De Noticias" at 6:00 PM and again at 11:00 PM. In other cities such as, Tucson, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antionio and Houston, the story will appear at 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

Mario Serrano
Publicist
boxingpublicist@aol.com
(408) 607-5756

Undefeated Heavyweight Prospect Ashanti Jordan Back in Action May 21

Sacramento California (May 18, 2009) - Golden Boy Promotions hard-hitting undefeated heavyweight prospect, Ashanti "The Boss" Jordan (8-0, 7 KO's), returns to the ring Thursday May 21, 2009 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento when he faces journeyman David Johnson in a scheduled six round bout.

Jordan, who trains and resides in nearby Fairfield CA, is happy to be fighting close to home as he stated, "I've been training hard and I want to put on a great show because I have a lot of family and friends that are coming to see me fight. This fight is another step towards my goal of becoming a world champion. I'm excited and I can't wait to showcase my skills to the fans in attendance."

This fabulous fight card is headlined by Woodland California's Vicente Escobedo (20-1-0, 12 KOs) vs. Kevin Kelley (60-9-2, 39 KOs) and is promoted by Don Chargin Productions in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Maloof Sports and Entertainment.

Tickets priced $102.50, $77.50, $52.50 and $22.50 are available at Tickemaster.com or the Arco Arena Box Office hotline's at (916) 649-TIXS, (530) 528-TIXS, (209) 551-TIXS. $12 Toll plazas open at 5:30 PM. Doors open 6:30 PM. First fight at 7:30 PM

Mario Serrano
Publicist ~ Team Jordan
boxingpublicist@aol.com
(408) 607-5756

Major to Face Clark for NABA Belt WBA NABA Lightweight Championship on the line in Buffalo, June 19

Promoter Nick Garone and X-Cel Worldwide have put together an enticing championship bout for their "Buffalo Beatdown" show on June 19 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in Buffalo, New York.

All-action lightweight Meacher Major "Pain" of the Bahamas will face Columbus, Ohio's Michael "Cold Blood" Clark (38-5-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the vacant NABA Lightweight Championship.

Major turned himself into an instant fan favorite in Buffalo last February by becoming the first man to stop super-durable veteran Kevin Carmody in an exciting shootout. The skilful Clark has been on the cusp of a world title fight in the past and already fought to a draw for the same NABA belt in 2008.

Garone says although Clark is a dangerous opponent, he believes 27-year-old Major has the tools to become a world champion. "I don't feel like Meacher was brought along properly in the past. He's got a ton of potential. His losses are to Edner Cherry (via split decision), Lamont Peterson and Edgar Santana and they're all good fighters. And now that he's got proper training facilities and sparring, he's going to make a real dent in this division. I have enough confidence in Meacher to be putting him in with a world-class guy like Clark, so what's that tell you?"

At stake for both fighters will be the WBA's North American Championship and a bump up to the top-10 of their world rankings.

Also featured at the "Buffalo Beatdown" will be popular Niagara Falls, New York, super lightweight Nick "Hands of Gold" Casal (18-4-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round match-up. On the undercard, Rochester super lightweight Kenny Abril, Buffalo light heavyweight Lionel Thompson and Buffalo heavyweight Excell Holmes (pro debut) will see action.

Garone brought professional boxing back to Downtown Buffalo for the first time in six years last February with a show that was surprisingly well attended and very well received by fans. The "Buffalo Beatdown" will be his third professional boxing show in Western New York in less than a year. "I know Buffalo loves boxing, so we're going to give them the world-class shows they deserve."

Tickets for the "Buffalo Beatdown" can be purchased starting Monday, May 18 and are priced at $30, $45 and $75 for ringside. They can be purchased online at www.championsofboxing.com or by calling 877.77CLICK. A small amount of VIP seating is available by calling 631.878.1676.

Boxer being investigated for suspicious substance

By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—The California State Athletic Commission confiscated a suspicious substance from the corner of Colombian boxer Edison Miranda during his loss to Andre Ward on Saturday, Ward’s trainer and the fight’s promoter told The Associated Press.

Trainer Virgil Hunter said the substance was in a brown bottle resembling a Vaseline tub apparently hidden in a bag in Miranda’s corner. When Miranda’s cornermen were spotted taking the substance out of the bag around the fourth or fifth rounds of the fight at Oakland’s Oracle Arena, it was seized before officials actually saw it given to Miranda, according to promoter Dan Goossen.

“We’re not sure if anything was going on, but it’s good they caught it,” Hunter said.

Goossen said the athletic commission will test the substance and could have results by Monday.

The commission’s offices were closed Sunday, but spokesman Luis Farias confirmed officials seized something from Miranda’s corner during the bout. The commission will determine its next step Monday, Farias said.

Ward (19-0) won the 168-pound fight in his hometown with a comfortable unanimous decision over Miranda (32-4), a former top middleweight prospect who has lost to champions Arthur Abraham and Kelly Pavlik in the past two years.

“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions right now,” Goossen said. “That’s why I didn’t say anything (Saturday). There’s nothing worse than taking away from a good victory by putting the focus on something else.”

Miranda’s managers, Steve Benbasat and Greg Wantman, didn’t immediately respond to e-mails.

Hunter and Goossen don’t assume anything illegal occurred, and most of the substances applied to boxers’ heads and bodies during fights are legal petroleum jelly mixes or coagulants to stop bleeding.

But boxing lore also is filled with stories of substances surreptitiously applied to a fighter’s head or arms that could irritate an opponent’s eyes or open cuts. Ward had a cut above his eye from early in the first round after a head-butt from Miranda.

Petroleum jelly is routinely applied to fighters’ faces to stop cuts and to lessen the impact of punches to the face, although it’s not allowed on the body and can’t be used excessively, according to California’s boxing code of regulation.

The California commission suspended former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito for at least one year in February after illegal wraps containing a substance resembling plaster of Paris was discovered on his hands before his fight against Shane Mosley in Los Angeles.

Ward stated his case for a title shot with his decisive victory over Miranda, although the 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist might not get it immediately. Ward has called out WBC champion Carl Froch of Britain, and Goossen also would like to match Ward against IBF 168-pound champ Lucian Bute, who hasn’t fought outside of Montreal in four years.

“I want any champion with a belt,” Ward said. “My respect is here now, and it’s going to continue to grow. That’s the story of my career. … I don’t know what it is about my style, but they get in there and then they see something different. By the time they figure it out, it’s too late.”