LOS ANGELES (Dec. 17, 2019): In order to comply with the World Boxing Organization’s (“WBO”) prohibition against its champions holding titles from other sanctioning organizations in multiple weight classes, four-division world champion Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) and the WBO have reached an agreement for Canelo to vacate the WBO’s Light Heavyweight World Title. Canelo won the WBO title by defeating Sergey Kovalev via 11th-round knockout on Nov. 2, 2019. Canelo will maintain his status and privileges as a WBO Super Champion, including the privilege to be designated mandatory challenger to the WBO titleholder in any division.

Canelo said, “I know that my accomplishments in the ring have brought pride to my fans and my country. I have long enjoyed my relationship with the WBO and appreciate all they do to preserve and enhance the sport of boxing. This agreement allows the WBO to have its light heavyweight title contested regularly and allows me to pursue bouts against the best opponents, regardless of weight class.”

Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, president of the WBO, said, “Canelo has already accomplished much in boxing, and is still a young man. When his career is done, he will be regarded as one of the greatest boxers to ever step into the ring, and one of Mexico’s best fighters ever. We look forward to his future fights against rivals at the top of the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and other divisions.”

“We completely support the decision made by Canelo Alvarez and the WBO,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Canelo made history by stopping Sergey Kovalev in impressive fashion to become a four-division world champion. Not only did he show that he is a real threat at 175 pounds, but he also demonstrated that he is fully capable of moving across several divisions to look for the most exciting fights for the fans. At the same time, we look forward to continue promoting our other WBO champions such as Patrick Teixeira and Franchon Crews-Dezurn.”

WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion Jaime Munguia (32-0, 26 KOs) and mandatory 154-pound challenger Dennis Hurricane” Hogan (28-1-1, 7 KOs) hosted their final press conference today ahead of their 12-round fight for Munguia’s title. They were joined by Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy, along with Fernando Beltran, CEO of Zanfer Promotions, among others.The event will take place Saturday, April 13, 2019 at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Below is what today’s participants had to say at the press conference:

JAIME MUNGUIA, WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion:

“I feel very happy and proud to be here. We have been advancing, little by little. had four very tough world title fights. We’ve been learning a lot, and we’ve been gaining a lot of experience during the past year. I also want to say that I will leave everything in the ring this Saturday. I want you all to see a different Jaime Munguia, a better version with better abilities. I want to tell Dennis Hogan that this world title will stay in Mexico. He is not a better fighter than me. This fight is dedicated to all of Mexico!”

DENNIS HOGAN, WBO Number 1 Contender:

“I’m happy to be now as my chance to become world champion gets closer. I want to say that as an Irish man living in Australia who is fighting a Mexican in his own land, I am honored. I know that Ireland, Australia and Mexico are great boxing nations with people who always fight with determination and will. So, I know this will be an excellent fight for everyone in the world. I’m happy and proud to be part of it. To put the icing on the cake, I will be going out there to take that world championship. I’m winning on April 13.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy:

“Golden Boy has been here before in this great city of Monterrey back in September 2008 when Antonio Pitalua and Jose Armando Santa Cruz fought in the main event. Monterrey, the land of great fighters such as Lauro “El Tigre” Salas and Clemente Sánchez, will be in for a show on Saturday when knockout artist Jaime Munguia faces the tough Australian contender, Dennis Hogan.”

“Munguia became known to the world by beating Sadam Ali by knockout in May 2018 when he was crowned WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion. Since then, this powerful Mexican warrior has defended his crown three times. Now, he has a very difficult test against Dennis Hogan, WBO No. 1 contender. We know it will be a great battle between two of the best 154-pound fighters in the world.”

“Also, the co-main event will feature Diego de la Hoya against Enrique Bernache in his featherweight debut. We are also going to present to the local fans the strong Brazilian contender Patrick Teixeira, who will face Mario Lozano in a match for the WBO Latino Junior Middleweight Title. At Golden Boy, we are committed to offering the best fights in boxing.”

Photos by Tom Hogan/Hoganphotos, Stacey Verbeek.

Via boxingscene.com

LA EXITOSA SERIE DE BOXEO POR ESPN REGRESA A PUERTO RICO

CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO –  Alberto “El Explosivo” Machado (17-0, 15 nocáuts) campeón superpluma de la NABO versión OMB, yCarlos “The Solution” Morales (16-1-3, 6 nocáuts) monarca superpluma de la NABA versión AMB, enfrentarán sus retos más difíciles hasta la fecha cuando unifiquen sus coronas en el evento estelar a 10 asaltos de la edición del 18 de agosto de Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN desde el Complejo Ferial de Puerto Rico en Ponce.

Machado, de 26 años y de San Juan Puerto Rico, así como Morales, de 27 años y originario de Hidalgo, México, revivirán la famosa rivalidad deportiva entre Puerto Rico contra México que siempre produce fuegos artificiales en el cuadrilátero.

Machado, un devastador noqueador quien nunca ha probado la derrota, llegará a esta cita con una impresionante racha de 12 nocáuts.

“Me siento honrado y extra motivado por esta gran oportunidad que Miguel Cotto Promotions y Golden Promotions me están dando para tener acción en ESPN”, dijo Alberto Machado. “Carlos Morales es un duro peleador mexicano joven y con hambre como yo. Voy a entrenar tan duro como sea posible para darle a los aficionados una gran pelea y otro clásico de Puerto Rico contra México. Esta será otra prueba para mí en mi viaje para convertirme en el próximo campeón mundial de Puerto Rico”, manifestó.

Morales ya ha tenido una carrera notable, habiendo logrado 16 victorias consecutivas y el título superpluma de la NABA versión de la AMB, después de comenzar su carrera con una marca de 0-1-3.

“Entiendo que ingresaré en la guarida del león en Puerto Rico y frente a un peleador muy bueno, pero he trabajado demasiado para dar un paso atrás”, dijo Carlos Morales. “Voy a entrenar más fuerte de lo que he hecho antes, y sé que al final de la pelea saldré victorioso”, agregó.

“Todo el mundo en Golden Boy Promotions está emocionado de ir a Puerto Rico y montar una gran función con nuestros maravillosos socios de Miguel Cotto Promotions y ESPN”, dijo Óscar de la Hoya, Presidente y Jefe Ejecutivo de Golden Boy Promotions. “Esto va a ser el comienzo de una grandiosa relación que ayudará a revitalizar la gran tradición histórica del boxeo en Puerto Rico y dará a los residentes una increíble opción deportiva”, enfatizó.

El resto de la cartelera contará con prospectos de Golden Boy Promotions y Miguel Cotto Promotions y será anunciado en las próximas semanas.

“Estamos muy contentos y emocionados de trabajar juntos con Óscar De la Hoya y Golden Boy Promotions para traer de vuelta ESPN a Puerto Rico. Este es un espectáculo especial para mí, porque tuve acción en ESPN hace muchos años y trae la plataforma perfecta para los próximos talentos de mostrar sus habilidades”, dijo Miguel Cotto.

 “Qué manera de iniciar nuestra sociedad con Golden Boy Promotions, trayendo de regreso ESPN a Puerto Rico y presentar otra batalla clásica de Puerto Rico contra México. Esto es el próximo 18 de agosto y será enorme para el boxeo en Puerto Rico. Realmente creemos que una nueva estrella va a nacer ese día”, dijo Héctor Soto, vicepresidente de Miguel Cotto Promotions.

 Machado vs. Morales es un combate a 10 asaltos por los cetros superpluma NABO/NABA y es promovido por Golden Boy Promotions yMiguel Cotto Promotions. El evento es patrocinado por Tecate “Born BOLD” y Hennessy, never stop, never settle. El evento se efectuará el viernes 18 de agosto desde el Complejo Ferial De Puerto Rico en Ponce. La transmisión en diferido de ESPN2 y ESPN Deportes iniciará a las 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. La transmisión en vivo de ESPN3 comenzará aproximadamente a las 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT

Los boletos para Alberto Machado vs. Carlos Morales tienen un precio de $20 dólares para admisión general y $50 dólares para las mesas VIP más impuestos, y cargos de servicio aplicables y saldrán al (787) 808-5000, y en la taquilla del Complejo Ferial de Puerto Rico en www.complejoferialpr.com o por teléfono al (787) 567-4181.

 Para más información visite: www.goldenboypromotions.com, y síganos en Twitter: @GoldenBoyBoxing,@OscarDeLaHoya,  @RealMiguelCotto,@ESPNBoxingy @ESPNBoxeo, .

Conviértase en un fanático de Facebook en www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxingwww.facebook.com/espn.fnf, ywww.facebook.com/ESPNBoxeo;

 visítenos en Instagram:@GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya , @RealMiguelCotto y@ESPNBoxeo. Siga la conversación utilizando #GBPonESPN.   

CONTACTOS:

Ramiro González, Golden Boy Promotions: (213) 489-5631

Stefan Friedman/Kristen Rockwell Caloca, Mercury: (424) 202-1671

Ardi Dwornik, ESPN, ardi.r.dwornik@espn.com, 646-547-5612, @ESPN_Ardi

Jennifer Torres (787) 567-4181, info@complejoferialpr.com

Miguel Cotto Promotions (787)744-9696

Credenciales: Janet González , janet@cottoprom  

Alberto Machado-Piquet Martinez -Photo By Juan Luis Valentin

golovkin-canelo (3)

By Miguel Rivera

Francisco Valcarcel, president of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), believes Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya picked the perfect moment to finalize the showdown between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) and Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs).

Canelo will challenge Golovkin for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight titles on September 16th, during Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Fans have been asking for this fight for at least two years and the anticipation is sky high. The event is expected by everyone to be the biggest in boxing for 2017 – and the biggest since Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fought in May 2015.

Canelo is technically still the WBO junior middleweight champion – although the boxer has made it clear that he’s never coming back to 154. His most recent fight, on May 6th, took place at a catch-weight of 164.5-pounds against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

“I think Oscar played it masterfully. He waited for the moment when Golovkin looks like he’s starting to get hit. Canelo is on the way up and was crowned the Mexican star with the victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.,” said Valcarcel to Jose Sanchez.

“It’s the ideal moment for boxing and the ideal economic moment for the fight. I think De La Hoya learned a lot from [his former promoter Bob] Arum and Arum is the master in that, combining the economic aspect and boxing.”

Veteran trainer and cutman Miguel Diaz, however, partially differed from Valcárcel’s opinion. He picks Golovkin to win the contest, but not with a knockout. Diaz expects a twelve round decision win.

“Between Canelo and Golovkin, I favor Golovkin even though he did not look very well in finishing his last fight with Daniel Jacobs,” Diaz said. “Gennady is a complete fighter and very strong. But I do not see a knockout. I see him winning by decision. ”

golovkin-canelo (3)

http://www.boxingscene.com/wbo-prez-de-la-hoya-picked-perfect-moment-canelo-golovkin–116628?print_friendly=1

i-1 Canelo Alvarez podría enfrentar a Billy Joe Saunders en diciembre en México, de vencer a Liam Smith Christian Petersen/Getty Images –

MÉXICO — Aunque parezca difícil, existe una posibilidad de que el mexicano Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez pueda cerrar el 2016 con una pelea en territorio mexicano, lo cual apunta para el 10 de diciembre ante Billy Joe Saunders, si todo sale bien este 17 de septiembre ante el campeón súper welter de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo, Liam Smith.

Canelo estelarizará ante Smith el pago por evento de Golden Boy Promotions y HBO desde el AT&T Stadium de Arlington, Texas, y de ganar entonces verán la posibilidad de que pueda pelear en suelo azteca, donde con la ayuda de patrocinadores esperan lograr su vuelta por primera vez desde noviembre de 2011.

“Todo es posible, en México hay arenas y estadios muy bonitos, hay apoyo y patrocinios que nos hacen pensar que no es algo descabellado. No sabemos si pueda ser en este mismo 2016, todo depende del resultado de la pelea ante Smith, creo que una vez pasado eso será cosa de hablar con Óscar de la Hoya y ver si lo podemos arreglar”, aseguró Eddy Reynoso, entrenador de Alvarez.

La Ciudad de México con la Arena Ciudad de México, Nuevo León con el estadio BBVA Bancomer y Jalisco con el Estadio Chivas serían posibilidades para que pudiera pelear Canelo en suelo mexicano. El Estadio Azteca es otra opción pero parece que no se ha marinado aún esa posibilidad.

“Sinceramente no hemos hablado aún del Estadio Azteca, no se ha analizado, muchas cosas se han dicho de los récords que puede romper Saúl, la verdad es que nosotros no nos comparamos con nadie, queremos romper nuestros propios récords, nosotros nos preparamos concientemente para las peleas y la gente es la que nos ayuda a imponer marcas. No queremos perseguir a nadie en ese aspecto, hubo peleadores que hicieron cosas muy grandes, pero que a la edad de Saúl no habían logrado tantas cosas. Vamos a dejar que los resultados hablen”, compartió el entrenador jalisciense.

Una pelea en México ante Billy Joe Saunders o cualquier otro rival, pensando en el duelo entre Canelo y Gennady Golovkin como una posibilidad para el Estadio Azteca, serviría a Golden Boy Promotions y HBO para conocer el terreno y darse cuenta de las condiciones en que se podría dar el combate.

www.espndeportes.espn.com/boxeo/nota/_/id/2746360/team-canelo-no-descarta-pelear-en-mexico-en-diciembre

 

Date: Saturday – April 11, 2015

WBO MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Promoter:  DiBella Enterprises / Lou DiBella – Golden Boy Promotions / Oscar De La Hoya

Supervisor:  John Duggan, Esq.

Referee:  Steve Willis

Judges:  Guido Cavalleri (113-112); Glenn Feldman (113-113); Erick Marlinski (112-113)

Results:   The WBO Middleweight Champion Andy Lee retains the title by split-decision draw and non-title bout due to Quillin not making weight.

TV:  USA NBC   Panama RPC Channel 4   Latin America: Canal Space   Australia Main Event

Date:  Saturday, November 8, 2014

WBO/WBA/IBF  LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:  Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Promoter:  Golden Boy Promotions (Oscar De La Hoya) / Main Events (Kathy Duva)

Supervisor:   Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

Referee:  David Fields

Judges:   Larry Layton (120-106);  Carlos Ortiz Jr. (120-107); Clark Sammartino (120-107) 

Results:   WBO Champion Sergey Kovalev retains the WBO Light Heavyweight Title and obtained the IBF/WBA belts against Bernard Hopkins by Unanimous Decision.   The WBA Champion Hopkins down in round 1.

TV:  USA HBO

sadam-ali-abregunycworkout_hoganphotos1

Credit:  Photos by Rich Kane Hogan –

ATLANTIC CITY (Oct. 31) – As we inch closer to the epic “Alien vs. Krusher: Hopkins vs. Kovalev” fight night in Atlantic City, welterweight contenders Sadam “World Kid” Ali and Luis Carlos “Potro” Abregu are preparing hard for their co-featured fight on Saturday, November 8 live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Both Ali and Abregu offered insight into how their training camps are going and what the fans can expect on November 8.

Q: Where did you train and whom did you train with?
Sadam Ali: I’ve been training at World Kid Sports for eight months, before this training camp started, it’s my little boxing cave. I’m here with my trainers Willie Vargas and Andre Rozier. My team has a close bond. We’re like family and we work together as a
team. It’s all about building and building.

Luis Carlos Abregu:  I have been training in Los Angeles for about a month – I train in the Rock Gym in Carson, Calif. and CMC Pro boxing gym in Marina del Rey with my trainer Hector Roca. My trainer when I was in Argentina was Nestor Jaime.

Q: What is your main motivation in training for this fight?
SA: Being on HBO. I’ve been growing up watching HBO and watching the most famous guys shine and I’ve always envisioned myself in that position. I want to be in everybody’s eyes and I want to be known as something special, that’s very important to me.

LCA: My motivation is to get this win, so that I will have a chance to fight for a world title again. This dream was put on hold after I hurt my hand in my fight with Tim Bradley, but I’m ready to go now.

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not training?
SA: I like to shoot pool, go bowling and maybe play some ping-pong. I like competition and I love winning.

LCA: I like to be with my family and make my parents proud with everything I do. I also like to spend time with my friends and have a good time hanging out with them.

Q: Have you been able to spend time with your family during training?
SA: I spend a lot of time with my family. My only job is boxing, so other than that I have lots of time with my family. Their support is really important and it’s always been there. Not everybody has that support, not everybody has a father that can be there for you 24/7 while you’re growing up. My family has helped put me in the position I’m in and I’m thankful for it.

LCA: My family is in Argentina, so here in the United States, I have only my team with me. But I will bring the victory home for them.

Q: What do you know about your opponent and what do you expect from him on November 8?
SA: I’m expecting a hungry fighter, a strong fighter. Somebody who sees nothing but winning, he wants to win and he wants to take me out of his way. He’s a great fighter and I have respect for him, but I’m ready to go out there and perform.

LCA: I know he is a boxer who had a very good amateur career. I hope that he engages with me so that it will be a good fight. I plan to give the fans their money’s worth and I will fight very hard. I hope that he will do the same so that everyone enjoys the fight.

Q: Do you feel any extra pressure fighting as the co-feature before arguably the biggest fight of the year?
SA: I’m used to the pressure because I’ve always seen myself in this position so it’s not really anything to get me nervous. I’m definitely ready and excited. To be on the Hopkins card is exciting, he’s such a great speaker and he says things that just inspire you.

LCA: I feel no pressure at all. I have been the main event in many important boxing shows. To the contrary, I love to be part of important cards that people want to see.

Q: With this being one of the first fights in a while between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank fighters, do you feel any pressure company?
SA: In addition to representing myself, I always feel like I’m representing Golden Boy too. It’s great to bring everyone together, I think we should all work together. It’s for the boxing fans and everybody that’s watching.

LCA: I think it’s definitely a good thing when two important boxing companies work together. This opens more doors for boxers and it gives all of us better and bigger opportunities.

Q: What is something about you that fight fans don’t know?
SA: I’m going to win November 8.

LCA: I feel that many people don’t know about my power and what I am capable of doing in the ring and that I can beat the best boxers in the world.

Q: What is your prediction for you fight?

SA: I think it’s going to be a great performance. I’m going to fight a smart fight. It’s definitely going to be exciting, that’s just the way I am. I want to excite the fans and I want them to want to see me again. I know Abregu is coming to fight too so it’s going to be beautiful.

LCA: I predict that I will win the fight and that it will be a great fight, if we both come ready to do our jobs. I’m hoping that after the fight the real winner will be the fans.

Question for Ali: What does it mean to you to be a fighter from Brooklyn?
SA: Being a Brooklyn fighter means a lot to me, I was born and raised here. Everybody is hungry here and there have been so many great fighters from here. Even though it’s not like how it used to be, I’m trying to bring it back as well. There’s a lot of those guys I look up to, Mike Tyson obviously, I’m close with Paulie Malignaggi and Luis Collazo. Can’t forget about Riddick Bowe and Mark Breland, there are so many great ones I can’t remember them all.

Question for Abregu: What does it mean to you to represent Argentina?
LCA: I am very proud to represent my country and I also know that is a great responsibility. That is why I will do my best to take a win back to Argentina for all of the people there.

Alien vs. Krusher: Hopkins vs. Kovalev” is a 12-round unification bout for the IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight World titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona Extra, AT&T, Hortitsia Vodka and Mexico, Live it To Believe It!. Ali vs. Abregu is a 10-round welterweight bout for the WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title and is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank.

The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT.

http://fightnetwork.com/news/51677:sadam-ali-vs-luis-carlos-abregu-training-camp-update/

17227ca2f097d4e1c87181a85ccb715e_M
28th October 2014 Photo  by Huck Sports –

Marco Huck (38-2-1, 26 Kos) has arrived at the Mecca of boxing. The reigning WBO-Cruiserweight World Champion has touched down in Las Vegas, Nevada after a 14 hours flight.

But the 29-year-old didn’t travel to Sin City to try his luck at the slot machines. Instead he will attend the 27th annual Convention of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) which this year is being held at Caesars Palace until October 31st.

Other guests of course include the president of the organization, Paco Valcarcel, as well as boxing greats and former champions Joe Calzaghe and Oscar De La Hoya. Huck is especially looking forward to meet the latter of the two. Back in 2002, De La Hoya founded his own promotional company, Golden Boy Promotions, which has become one of the biggest players in the boxing industry.

“Oscar has already done, what my brother Kenan and I are intending to do now”, said Huck. “In order for him to take control of his own future he parted ways with his former promoter as a reigning champion, and has since turned into one of the most powerful people in the sport. Therefore I am sure that he can give me some great input.”

And this advice could immediately prove to come in handy when the “Käpt´n” and his brother discuss future challenges with other attendees at the Convention.

http://www.worldboxingnews.net/news/wbn/2014/10/28/marco-huck-to-seek-business-advice-from-oscar-de-la-hoya-in-las-vegas.html

 

140913 NABO  Soto vs Molina

Por Juan E. Brignone y Ludo Saenz en Las Vegas

El mexicano Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto superó por puntos en fallo unánime al californiano John Molina Jr en uno de los combates preliminares del desquite entre Floyd “Money” Mayweather y Marcos “Chino” Maidana en el MGM Grand Garden Arena de Las Vegas, Nevada.

Los jueces Tim Cheatman (95-92), Ricardo Ocasio (96-91) y Jerry Roth (95-92) coincidieron en premiar la mayor efecitividad de Soto. Para NotiFight.com la pelea fue 96-91 para el mexicano.

Con dos boxeadores de sangre caliente, el espectáculo estaba garantizado y ambos se encargaron de no decepcionar.

Soto fue quien presionó en los primeros minutos iniciales, aunque Molina se las ingeniaba para contragolpear, incluso recostado sobre las cuerdas.

La pelea comenzó a ensuciarse a finales del tercer round, con ambos pugilistas pegando después de la campana y en el cuarto con un fuerte golpe bajo por parte de Molina.

Tras otro golpe por debajo del cinturón en el sexto capítulo, el californiano recibió un punto de penalidad de parte del árbitro Jay Nady.

Otra infracción puso en el piso a Soto en el séptimo episodio, lo que motivó otro descuento por parte de Nady a Molina.

La pelea fue entretenida, pero las constantes infracciones interrumpieron demasiado el trámite intenso del combate.

En el último round, donde ambos se brindaron por completo, “Zorrita” fue sancionado con el descuento de un punto, tras haber recibido dos advertencias previamente.

Con esta victoria Soto mejora su increíble historial a 65-8-2, 35 KOs, mientras que Molina Jr cae a 27-5, 22 KOs.

http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Resultado_2/Primeros_resultados_desde_el_MGM_LV04.php

Peter Quillin

“Kid Chocolate” Peter Quillin vacated his middleweight world title and kissed a career-high $1.4 million purse goodbye on Thursday.

He was faced with a WBO-imposed deadline of 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to sign a contract for his mandatory defense against Matt Korobov. Quillin, who had already been given two extensions to the signing deadline, would have been stripped of his title had he not vacated.

It still comes as a surprise to many that Quillin, whose wife gave birth to their first child, a boy, about a week ago, would turn down a purse that is more than three times his biggest payday and give up his title without having another fight signed.

Peter Quillin
Peter Quillin vacated his middleweight world title on Thursday, and in turn, lost out on a career-high $1.4 million purse.

“I’d like to thank WBO president Paco Valcarcel and his organization for their support throughout the years,” Quillin said in a statement. “Winning the WBO world championship was a highlight in my career and something I’ll never forget. This is a difficult decision, but in order to make the fights the fans and I want against my fellow middleweights at the top of the division, I needed to relinquish the title.

“This is an exciting new chapter in my life, and I’m looking forward to cementing my spot as the best middleweight in the world.”

Quillin’s statement rings a bit hollow because there is no obvious major middleweight fight on the horizon for him.

Fights with champion Miguel Cotto and titlist Gennady Golovkin were not possible. Only a match with fellow New Yorker Daniel Jacobs, who owns a lightly regarded secondary title and, like Quillin, is advised by the powerful Al Haymon, would be close.

About a half hour before the deadline, Arnold Joseph, the attorney for Golden Boy Promotions, Quillin’s promoter, sent a letter to the WBO informing it of the decision.

“Mr. Quillin has reviewed the middleweight landscape and is of the belief that there are other more compelling opponents for him to fight which will afford the boxing fans with excitement and which will afford him and his family more opportunities,” Joseph wrote. “Please be assured that Mr. Quillin is by no means minimizing Mr. Korobov’s talents or accomplishments. Mr. Quillin simply seeks to pursue bigger fights. Let me conclude by expressing Mr. Quillin and Golden Boy’s appreciation for your organization’s patience while Mr. Quillin worked through this decision and we look forward to our continued relationship with the WBO.”

Quillin’s decision means that the first boxing event to be promoted by Roc Nation Sports, the sports agency founded by music mogul Jay Z, will be delayed. Roc Nation Sports announced its intentions to promote boxing two weeks ago and the next day won a purse bid for the right to promote Quillin-Korobov, even though it doesn’t have promotional contracts with either fighter.

It bid $1,904,840, a dramatic overbid that easily beat Golden Boy ($1,207,000) and Korobov promoter Top Rank ($515,000). Quillin would have earned a career-best $1,428,630 to Korobov’s career-best $476,210. Korobov signed almost immediately while Quillin asked for extensions.

Roc Nation Sports planned to put the fight on Nov. 1 at the Barclays Center in Quillin’s hometown of Brooklyn, but had since notified Golden Boy and Top Rank that it would instead have been at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C., because Korobov is not licensed in New York due to a medical issue no other state has a problem with.

Michael Yormark, president and chief of branding and strategy for parent company Roc Nation, was disappointed Quillin turned down the fight.

“I’ve got $1.4 million sitting next to me,” Yormark told ESPN.com. “Do you want it? It’s puzzling that he turned down $1.4 million and gave up his belt. In order to turn down that money and give up his belt he has to be looking at a bigger opportunity. Who turns $1.4 million and gives up his belt for nothing?

“We wish him the best of luck. We like Peter a lot. We hope he’s made the right decision here, but it’s puzzling. I’m sure (Haymon) sat down and discussed this with him in detail. Peter has a team around him he listens to and we can only assume the direction he received was to pass. We wish him the best of luck and we hope he has an incredible payday in front of him because that’s the only justification for turning down $1.4 million and giving up his belt.”

Said Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti, “I’m sorry that Roc Nation Sports had to be put through this process. It’s disappointing for all of us, especially when a new player such as Jay Z wants to get involved in our sport. I hope this has no bearing on their future plans. As far as Top Rank goes, we look forward to working with them in any future endeavors.”

Yormark said Roc Nation Sports’ interest in boxing isn’t going anywhere.

“We will continue to look at all opportunities,” he said. “We continue to march forward. We’re in this for the long term. We’re disappointed but it’s not the end. We’re just getting started.

“This just motivates us even more. We knew we were getting into an industry we’d have to navigate through carefully. We hoped to have this first fight in November and it didn’t happen. But we’ll continue to be aggressive and move forward. We’re not going away.”

Korobov’s side was also disappointed.

“We’re disappointed that Peter Quillin didn’t respect the rules,” Moretti said. “Matt will still get his opportunity to fight for the title thanks to the WBO. We’re just really disappointed in Peter Quillin as a fighter. If he thinks that fighting Danny Jacobs for a secondary title is better than this opportunity than so be it. Why he couldn’t he have done both? If he’s that good he could have fought Matt and then Danny Jacobs. He must not have the confidence in himself, or his team doesn’t have confidence in him, that he would relinquish the title that he worked hard to earn.”

Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs), 31, defended the title three times, most recently by near-shutout decision against Lukas Konecny in Washington, D.C., on April 19.

Korobov (24-0, 14 KOs), a 31-year-old Russian southpaw and a 2008 Olympian, scored a pair of seventh-round knockdowns against Jose Uzcategui en route to a 10-round decision victory in his last fight on June 28 in Omaha, Nebraska in his HBO debut.

Korobov will get a shot at the vacant title next, possibly against Billy Joe Saunders, a 2008 Olympian from England. The 25-year-old Saunders (20-0, 11 KOs) is the WBO’s next ranked contender.

http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=11466721&type=story

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By:  Lem Satterfield –

A light heavyweight title clash between IBF and WBA beltholder Bernard Hopkins and WBO counterpart Sergey Kovalev is set for Nov. 8 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City to be televised on HBO.

Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya informed RingTV.com of the news on Friday.

“The fight’s happening on Nov. 8 in Atlantic City,” said De La Hoya. “Nov. 8 is the date that Bernard Hopkins wanted and that’s what we’ve got.”

The IBF has received signed contracts and a request from Golden Boy for the bout, according to IBF president Daryl Peoples, who said Championships Chairman Lindsey Tucker has the contracts. Kovalev is promoted by Main Events.

“We got an email from [Vice President and matchmaker] Eric Gomez from Golden Boy saying that its on Nov. 8 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,” said Peoples.

In his last fight in April, Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 knockouts) scored a unanimous decision that dethroned Beibut Shumenov for the WBA belt. Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs) was last in action for a second round stoppage of Blake Caparello on August 2.

Originally from Chelyabinsk, Russia, Kovalev, 31, is 13-0-1 with 13 knockouts in his past 14 fights, including a fourth round stoppage that dethroned previously unbeaten WBO beltholder Nathan Cleverly in August 2013.

Before facing Caparello, Kovalev dropped previously undefeated southpaw Cedric Agnew once each in the second and sixth rounds of a seventh round knockout in March.

A future Hall-of-Famer, Hopkins, 49, won a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Tavoris Cloud in March 2013 to extend his own record as the oldest man to win a significant crown.

Hopkins first set the record at the age of 46 by outpointing Jean Pascal for the WBC’s title in May 2011 before being dethroned following a majority decision loss to Chad Dawson in May of 2012.

After winning the IBF middleweight title from Segundo Mercado on April 29, 1995, Hopkins went on to defend it a record 20 times before losing to Jermain Taylor by a split decision on July 16, 2005.

After he lost to Taylor and then endured an immediate rematch loss, Hopkins rose into the light heavyweight division for triumphs over Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright, Kelly Pavlik, Enrique Ornelas and Roy Jones, his lone defeat in the division prior to Dawson coming by way of split decision against Joe Calzaghe.

Two of Hopkins’ biggest wins were over Tarver and Pavlik in June 2006 and October 2008, respectively, with both fights taking place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

“One fight that comes to mind for everyone was Tarver-Hopkins, during which Hopkins demonstrated his amazing boxing ability. Another one is Kelly Pavlik, so Hopkins has some great history with Atlantic City,” said De La Hoya.

“So Atlantic City is a great venue for Bernard Hopkins and we want to show the world what Atlantic City is all about, bringing the big events to Atlantic City we hope will inject some positive energy. I have no doubt in my mind that it will be a sellout with Bernard Hopkins and Sergey Kovalev.”

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/353331-oscar-de-la-hoya-hopkins-kovalev-on-nov-8-in-atlantic-city

Jay-Z

The boxing world needs a change and Jay Z is ready to make it happen.  There’s finally going to be a little shakeup as Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions will have to welcome Roc Nation Sports into the business.

Roc Nation Sports founded by Jay Z in April 2013, has already made a big splash as sports agents now they’re taking on a new venture.

“There’s no question the sport of boxing needs a new player, someone who can do something different,” Michael Yormark, the president and chief of branding and strategy for parent company Roc Nation, told ESPN.com on Sunday night. “We’re energized and we’re going to make a difference. This is a huge priority to us. This is a highly serious business to us.”

Roc Nation Sports is also prepared for the challenge and made a big move as they’ve hired David Itskowitch to serve as the chief operating officer of its boxing division.

Itskowitch, who said Roc Nation Sports has already secured a promoters license in New York and Washington, D.C., is a highly respected and experienced executive with 18 years in the boxing business.

“This is a serious business for us moving forward and Dave has one of the great reputations in the boxing industry,” Yormark said, adding that Jay Z and Roc Nation Sports president Juan Perez are big boxing fans. “Hiring him should be a loud and clear statement this is serious for us and that we will do this the right way. We have one of the most respected individuals in the sport leading the charge for us.

“We’re going to promote our first event by the end of the year and we’re currently strategizing on which fighters we will seek to sign,” Itskowitch told ESPN.com.

Itskowitch said Roc Nation Sports is willing to work with any promoter, manager or television network, something uncommon in boxing.

Said Itskowitch, “We will be a promoter, but our job won’t end once a guy fights on a particular Saturday night. We will promote him 365 days a year.”

Jay isn’t the first rapper to enter the biz as 50 Cent stepped away from Mayweather’s TMT and formed SMS Promotions.  I wonder how he feels about this.

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http://thesource.com/2014/08/18/jay-z-roc-nation-sports-obtain-license-to-become-boxing-promoters/

 

 

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Credit:  Photo by Steven Counts.com / Article by Lenn Satterfield –

WBO middleweight titleholder Peter Quillin may have landed his biggest pay day and a fight before fans familiar to him against Matt Korobov on Nov. 8 either in Washington, D.C., or New York City, thanks to a purse bid won by Roc Nation Sports on Monday.

The winning bid for Roc Nation Sports, the company founded by rapper Jay-Z, was made by newly-hired former Golden Boy Promotions COO David Itskowitch.

Itskowitch bid $1,904,840 compared to $1,207,000 by Golden Boy Promotions representative Ramiro Gonzalez and $515,000 by Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti, according to Jose Izquierdo, general secretary of the WBO.

Izquierdo and WBO President Paco Valcarcel said that Quillin (31-0, 22 knockouts) is entitled to 75 percent ($1,428, 630) of the bid to 25 percent ( $476,210) for Korobov (24-0, 14 KOs).

“I’m already making enough money where I’m able to take care of my family and to own a couple of things and to live a good life, but that’s damn near $2 million on the table that they’ve bid on this fight,” said Quillin, who is promoted by Golden Boy and advised by Al Haymon.

“I don’t think or believe that [WBA 160-pound titleholder] Gennady Golovkin has come close to being offered nothing like that. Of course, my other pay days are very good pay days, and I’m looking to put away as much as I can for life after boxing. Some of these other guys around me may be making more money, but I just hope they’re making the right decisions with their money.”

Izquierdo said Itskowitch proposed the date of Nov. 8 either in Washington, D.C. or New York City, where Roc Nation has been licensed.

Michael Yorkmark, president and chief of branding and strategy for Roc Nation, is the twin brother of Brett Yormark, the CEO of Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where Quillin has competed in two of his past four fights contested under the banner of Golden Boy.

Quillin debuted at Barclays Center in October 2012 when he scored a unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Hassan N’Dam, whom he dropped six times to earn the WBO’s vacant belt.

In Quillin’s next fight in April 2013 at Barclays Center, he scored two second-round knockdowns 30 seconds apart and dropped his man twice more in the seventh and final round of a technical knockout victory over Fernando Guerrero.

In his last fight in April at The D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C., Quillin dominated Lukas Konecny, winning a unanimous decision by the scores of 119-109, 119-109 and 120-108.

“Both of those areas are places that have the demographics where I have been able to relate to people and to get my story out there. I feel as though I have a big following in Brooklyn, as well as in D.C.,” said Quillin.

“I just want to be able to deliver my story in a positive way to people, regardless of whether it’s in Brooklyn or in D.C. or against Korobov or any of those other guys.”

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/352919-peter-quillin-poised-for-lucrative-defense-vs-matt-korobov

Bienvenida a Roc Nation

El presidente de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) dio la bienvenida a Roc Nation Sports, empresa que ganó hoy la subasta de la OMB para la pelea entre el campeón peso mediano Peter Quillin y el primer clasificado Matt Korobov.

“Definitivamente estoy sorprendido por su participación”, dijo Valcarcel de la primera incursión de Roc Nation Sports en el mundo del boxeo. “En nombre de la OMB le doy la bienvenida a Jay Z y su compañía Roc Nation Sports y les deseo éxito en su empeño por traer eventos de boxeo de calidad y representar bien a los boxeadores que adquieran”.

“Nos sentimos honrados de que ellos (Roc Nation Sports) hayan optado por un combate de campeonato mundial de la OMB para hacer su entrada al deporte como promotor de boxeo y esperamos trabajar con ellos”, dijo Valcárcel sobre la pelea, cuya fecha propuesta es el 8 de noviembre 2014, posiblemente en  Washington DC o Nueva York.

Con una oferta de $1,904,840 Roc Nation Sports, la compañía fundada por el rapero y estrella de la música Jay Z, ganó la subasta, que se llevó a cabo en las oficinas de la OMB en San Juan, Puerto Rico, para promover la pelea de Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs), campeón mediano de la OMB, contra Korobov (24-0, 14 KOs).

Roc Nation, representado por David Itskowitch, superó la oferta del promotor de Quillin, Golden Boy Promotions ($1,207,000) y el promotor de Korobov, Top Rank, ($515.000).

 

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World Boxing Organization (WBO) President, Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel welcomed Roc Nation Sports, company that won today’s WBO purse bid for the fight between the middleweight champion Peter Quillin and the #1 ranked Matt Korobov.

“I’m definitely surprised by their participation,” said WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel of Roc Nation’s first foray into the world of boxing. “On behalf of the WBO I welcome Jay Z and his company Roc Nation and wish them nothing but success in their quest to put on quality boxing events and represent well the fighters they eventually sign.”

“We are honored that they (Roc Nation Sports) have chosen a WBO World Championship contest to mark their entrance to the sport as boxing promoter and look forward to working with them,” said Valcarcel of the fight proposed for November 8, 2014 at an undetermined venue in either Washington, DC or New York City.

With a bid of $1,904,840 Roc Nation Sports, the company founded by rapper and music superstar Jay Z, won Monday’s purse bid at the WBO Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to promote Quillin’s (31-0, 22 KOs) mandatory WBO Middleweight title defense against Korobov (24-0, 14 KOs).

Roc Nation Sports, represented by David Itskowitch, outbid both Quillin’s promoter Golden Boy Promotions ($1,207,000) and Korobov’s promotor Top Rank ($515,000).

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Credit: Photo by Alfredo Lopez / Assoc. Press /

Article by:  Robert Aaron Contreras –

Saturday night, boxing’s smallest carried the entire sport.

Fight fans tuning into the Danny Garcia-headlined event on Showtime were left wanting. As Boxing.com editor-in-chief Robert Ecksel put it: “Golden Boy Promotions, and Al Haymon presented a trio of mismatches that were as painful to watch as they are to write about.”

But 2,000 miles south at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon in Mexico, the best fight of 2014 took place.

In the Fight of the Year, 21-year-old Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (15-2, 10 KOs) unified the WBO and IBF minimumweight world titles with a unanimous-decision victory over Katsunari Takayama (27-7, 10 KOs) to become the No. 1 strawweight in the world.

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Anyone familiar with these two knew there would be excitement. But no one saw this coming.

The bout opened, both fighters were wound up and let loose. They clashed in the center of the ring, and punches bounced off the faces of both men.

Takayama, nicknamed “Lightning,” bounced on his toes. He moved his feet, the most active in the sport, hastily. He advanced in, left his mark and then relocated back out of reach without notice.

“El Chihuas” was ready for this. Takayama’s punches were nothing he couldn’t handle. He’s taken worse, courtesy of Roman “El Chocolatito” Gonzalez, the best combination puncher in the sport. But this isn’t the same wild, two-fisted berserker who was picked apart by Gonzalez 11 months ago. This was a world-class operator, cut with a penchant for violence.

He targeted the body often. Most from Mexico do. But his lead left was something divine this night, especially in the first three rounds where he countered Takayama across the face repeatedly with a splendid left hook.

Rounds 1 and 2 could be argued either way. Takayama’s high output was frantic. His feet were even faster. But Rodriguez’s pace wasn’t too far behind. And his punches were doing more damage.

In the first minute of the third stanza, Rodriguez uncorked a left uppercut that sent Takayama to the mat. The Japanese champion quickly rose, but Chihuas earned a 10-8 score.

Takayama, 31, has been fighting the very best the 105-pound weight class has to offer for nearly a decade now, dating back to 2005 when he beat Isaac Bustos. When Rodriguez slowed down to start Round 4, Lightning struck.

Most of the middle rounds saw Takayama suffocate his young foe with fists, drilling punches into him from every conceivable angle. Action was still high from both sides, but the Japanese veteran got the edge in Rounds 4 through 7, even bullying Chihuas into the ropes.

The fight was beginning to slip away from the hometown Rodriguez. Just 21, he could’ve retired on the stool and still been applauded for his effort at such a high level of the sport. But the roar of 9,000 Mexican fans surely fueled an appetite for glory. He wouldn’t let them down.

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Rodriguez strutted to the center of the ring to begin Round 8. He extended his right fist to his opponent for a customary slap of gloves. Takayama, ever the savvy veteran, accepted his opponent’s gesture while simultaneously cocking back a right hand that crashed into the back of the Mexican’s ear, forcing Rodriguez to give ground.

Cheap-shotted, Chihuas’ punches suddenly looked crisper than ever. He felt disrespected, and violence was on deck.

In the eighth round, this fight went from great to legendary. The final minute in particular is when the ring was engulfed in flames. The exchange of punches by these two men is unparalleled in ferocity and quantity so far this year.

The final four rounds were no different. Forehead to forehead and not a clinch to be had. The fighters traded the center of the ring almost as often as punches thrown. Slinging demonic left hands Takayama’s way, Rodriguez’s punchers were heavier.

To begin Round 12, referee Samuel Viruet brought the two combatants together to touch gloves. This is usually the part where both men, exhausted, coast to the final bell.

But not these two.

Of all the action and terrible warfare through the first incredible 11 rounds, the 12th was unbelievably the best of them all.

Both men planted their feet and lost themselves in a punch-drunk daze like the boxing gods button-mashing their wireless controllers from above. The perfect conclusion to an epic test of will and courage.

The scorecards were read and Rodriguez Jr. was announced the winner by a tally of 115-112, 116-111 and an awry 119-108.

A celebratory corner for Rodriguez lifted their champion above their shoulders and above the entire division. Chihuas has won nine of his past 10 fights, highlighted by a trouncing of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board’s No. 10 rated Merlito Sabillo and a scintillating victory over No. 2 Takayama. The young Mexican’s resume now includes two wins of more relevance and higher quality than any other active strawweight in the world, including Hekkie Budler (whose best win is over a declining Nkosinathi Joyi).

But Takayama is no loser. Losers don’t fight like he just did. His time at 105 pounds seems over. But for one night and 12 glorious rounds, he paired up with Rodriguez Jr. to lift an entire sport and punch their tickets into boxing lore.

The sport needed a savior Saturday night.

It got two of them.

Link for full fight video:  http://youtu.be/y-vV0iqOtRk

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2158464-2014-fight-of-the-year-francisco-rodriguez-jr-decisions-katsunari-takayama

Date:  Saturday, July 12, 2014

WBO Bantamweight Championship Bout

Location:  MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Promoter:  Golden Boy Promotions

Supervisor:   Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

Referee:  Russell Mora

Judges:  Patricia Morse Jarman, Richard Houck, Cathy Leonard

Results:  Champion Tomoki Kameda retains WBO Bantamweight Title against  Pungluang Sor Singyu by KO in the 7th. round.

TV:  USA Showtime

Date:  Saturday, June 21, 2014

Vacant WBO Featherweight Championship Title

Location:  StubHub Center, Carson, California, USA

Promoter:  Golden Boy Promotions

Supervisor:   Richard De Cuir

Referee:   Jack Reiss

Judges:   Patt Russell (116-112),  Lisa Giampa (114-114), Max DeLuca (116-112)

Results:   Vasyl Lomachenko won the WBO Featherweight Title on majority decision over Gary Russell Jr.

TV:  USA Showtime

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By Rick Reeno –

BoxingScene.com reported earlier that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer had a meeting with former three division world champion Miguel Cotto (38-4, 21KOs) on Tuesday afternoon at the Golden Offices in Los Angeles. During the meeting, Schaefer offered Cotto more than $10 million dollars to face former champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-1-1, 30KOs) in the headline bout of a March 8th Showtime Pay-Per-View event.

Another option for Cotto, although far less lucrative, would be a middleweight fight with WBC champion Sergio Martinez. But there are questions marks on when Martinez would be injury-free, and whether the World Boxing Council will sanction the fight when a mandatory is due to Marco Antonio Rubio.

For Cotto, the main selling point in facing Martinez is the scenario of becoming the first Puerto Rican boxer to win four world titles in four weight divisions.

If Cotto’s heart is set on capturing a fourth divisional title, Schaefer says there is also the option of facing undefeated WBO champion Peter Quillin (30-0, 22KOs). The Golden CEO is confident he can put together a package that would give Cotto a better monetary deal than the boxer would receive in facing Martinez.

“If Miguel wants to fight for a middleweight title, and he wants to fight in New York, he can go and fight Peter Quillin……no problem. And by the way, he won’t have to go and split 50-50 with Sergio Martinez. That’s another possibility,” Schaefer told BoxingScene.com.

http://www.boxingscene.com/schaefer-cotto-also-option-facing-quillin–71394

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NEW YORK CITY – Held prisoner because of the boxing network war,  undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (30-0, 22 KOs) is still searching for his career defining fight.

The 30-year-old Quillin, fighting out of Brooklyn, is the only top-rated 160-pounder aligned with Showtime.  The marquee-name middleweights, Sergio Martinez (WBC/Ring Magazine champion) and Gennady Golovkin (WBA), fight exclusively on rival HBO.

Quillin relishes the opportunity to fight any of the top rated middleweights, but he also understands the politics of boxing and the situation it has presently placed him in.  “It’s not up to me who I fight,” Quillin said.  “If the money is right, I’m up for fighting any of the top names, especially Martinez and Golovkin, but everybody’s aware of what’s going on behind the scenes (Showtime vs. HBO).  My job is to work hard and be ready.  I have the most powerful team in boxing (Golden Boy Promotions, adviser Al Haymon, co-managers John Seip and Jim McDevitt) and they get me the best available deals.  I’m not worried about who I’m fighting.  They come to me with my fights.”

Here’s how Quillin breaks down the top middleweights in the world, not listed in any particular order:

Sergio Martinez:  “He is the one everybody has as No. 1 in the middleweight division.  Martinez has fought some very exciting fights.  He’s a showman in the ring.”

Gennady Golovkin:  “A power puncher.  Golovkin brings power into the ring and gets a lot of knockouts.”

Darren Barker (IBF champion):  “He always puts his best foot forward and always tries as hard as possible.  Barker and I would bring a lot of fireworks into the ring.”

Daniel Geale:  “Another exciting fighter who bangs with the best.  It worked for a while against Barker.”

Felix Sturm:  “I haven’t seen too much of him.  I hope Sturm pursues more fights to make the middleweight division even tougher than it is right now.”

Martin Murray:  “He is determined and exciting.  I can’t take anything away from Murray.”

Peter Quillin:  “A very exciting guy always looking for new ways to win.  He has power, showmanship and a lot of smarts in the ring.”

Quillin recently overcame personal heartache in his second title defense victory, by 10th round technical knockout over a game Gabriel Rosado, who suffered a serious cut over his eye that resulted in the fight being halted on the advice of the ring doctor.  While he was in the middle of training camp in Los Angeles, Quillin’s wife, Allison, suffered a miscarriage five months into her pregnancy.  She was home in New York City.

“I struggled with it,” Quillin admitted.  “I was obligated to camp, 3000 miles away, and she had to go through it without me being there to comfort her.  We’re praying together and I’m working on being more compassionate.”

Quillin is already back in the gym, going through light workouts and yoga.  “I took a week off and bought my dream car (red Corvette Stingray),” he added.  “I get depressed when I’m not working out.  My wife goes to work and I’m all alone.  I need to be active to be productive, so I went right back into the gym.  My dad taught me how to clear my head. I’m staying ready and in shape, just in case the opportunity for my career defining fight comes along.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/quillin-on-martinez-golovkin-barker-geale-sturm–71390

Date:  Saturday, October 26, 2013

Title:  WBO Middleweight Championship

Location: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Promoter:  Golden Boy Promotions

Supervisor:    Istvan Kovacs

Referee:   Allan Huggins

Judges:    Kason Cheeks (90-80); Ron McNair (87-83); Waleska Roldan (89-81)

Result:   The Champion Peter Quillin retains the WBO Middleweight Title by TKO against Gabriel Rosado.  Rosado down in 2nd. round; cut onleft eyelind in 9th. round.  Ringside Doctor stopped the fight in the 10th. round because the cut.  Scores were at the time of the stoppage.

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By Francisco Salazar –

Looks like middleweight world title holder Peter Quillin will return to the ring sometime in October, Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Eric Gomez told BoxingScene.com on Saturday evening.

Quillin will appear on a card that Golden Boy Promotions is looking to schedule at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The venue has been the site of his last two fights.

No word yet on whom Quillin would face, but Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer recently mentioned to BoxingScene that Danny Jacobs is a possible opponent for Quillin in the near future.

In his last bout on April 27th, Quillin stopped Fernando Guerrero in the seventh round in the first defense of his world title belt. Quillin dropped Guerrero twice in the second and twice in the seventh rounds before the fight was stopped.

Quillin (29-0, 21 KOs) won the title belt on October 20th, dropping Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam five times in route to an action-filled 12 round unanimous decision victory.

Quillin who turned 30 years of age this past Saturday, resides in Brooklyn and has trained at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, CA.

http://www.boxingscene.com/peter-quillins-next-return-being-eyed-october-date–67025

banksGolden Boy has announced that a new date for the heavyweight clash between Johnathon Banks and Seth Mitchell is currently being rescheduled and the new date will be announced shortly. The February 16 event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City will still take place as scheduled with WBC lightweight world champion Adrien Broner vs. Gavin Rees. No mention of whether or not HBO will pick up the super middleweight clash between Sakio Bika and Nikola Sjekloca as a replacement for Banks-Mitchell.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/banks-mitchell-update-168595