WBC Says Pacman Boxer of the Decade; Plus, Rigo, The Magdos, And Floyd Video

THE BEST OF 2010 – WORLD BOXING COUNCIL

Fighter of the Year: Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez
He won the WBC middleweight world title by defeating Kelly Pavlik and dramatically knocked out Paul Williams in his first title defense. Two great fights in the year.

Fight of the Year: Jean Pascal vs. Bernard Hopkins
This bout was held on December 18 in Quebec (the first city founded in Canada) and was a total sellout. It was one of the greatest fights of recent years.

Knockout of the Year: Sergio Martinez vs. Paul Williams
This bout that was held on November 20 in Atlantic City. A knockout that will go down in history.

Exemplary World Champion of the Year: Vitali Klitschko
In addition to being WBC heavyweight world champion whom no one can defeat, he has shown exemplary behavior and is a model for the young people of the world.

Most Dramatic Fight of the Year: Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel vs. Hozumi Hasegawa
A great bout held in Tokyo, Japan. Montiel landed a punch that broke Hasegawa’s jaw and won the WBC Bantamweight world title.

Hope and Revelation of the Year: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
The WBC Silver middleweight world champion, he is undefeated and has built a record of 41 wins (30 KOs) and 1 draw.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez
The WBC Silver super welterweight world champion, he is undefeated and has built a record of 35 wins (26 KOs) and 1 draw.

Boxer of the Decade: Manny Pacquiao

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CORK, Ireland (January 2, 2011) – Interim WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux, arguably the greatest amateur boxer of all-time, is preparing to school challenger Willie “Big Bang” Casey when they square-off March 19 in Dublin.

The Guillermo-Casey title fight features a pair of unbeaten boxers headlining a show promoted by Top Rank, Nowhere 2 Hyde Promotions and Dolphil Promotions.

Rigondeaux (7-0, 5 KOs), a southpaw now fighting out of Miami, was a 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist, as well as a 7-time national champion who captured a pair of World Championship titles during his incredible 243-4 amateur career.

“Rigo” defected from Cuba and made his pro debut May 22, 2009, won the NABA super bantamweight title in his third action as a pro and last November in only his seventh fight, he won a unanimous 12-round split decision against Ricardo Cordoba (37-2-2) to become the Interim WBA 122-pound divisional champion.

“Casey doesn’t belong in the same ring as me,” the 30-year-old Rigondeaux said, “but I admire his courage for wanting to fight me. I’m excited about fighting in Ireland again, where I won my first World Championship as an amateur in 2001. My last fight, against Cordoba, was on the Pacquiao-Margarito card. Millions of people watching on pay-per-view, along with 61,000 fans in Dallas, watched me do what I had to do to win the WBA title.

“I am world champion. Casey and all of the fans in attendance will see a true world champion in action March 19. If Casey thinks I’m going to Ireland to lose my world title belt, he’s making a big mistake because I’m going to win, and in sensational fashion. He is tailor-made for me. I watched a couple of rounds of Casey’s previous fights and concluded that he’s a bit of a one-trick pony. We are as far apart in class as in residence, make no mistake about that and when the bell rings March 19th, that will certainly be evident to all.”

Casey (11-0, 7 KOs) stopped Paul Hyland in the fourth-round of their Nov. 6 fight in Willie’s hometown, Limerick (Ireland), to capture the vacant European super bantamweight crown. The 29-year-old Casey, however, must relinquish that belt in order to fight Rigondeaux.

Irishman Gary Hyde has been Rigondeaux’ manager since signing “El Chatel” (The Jackal) to an exclusive management agreement, in Cuba, back in March, 2007. “Willie is a warrior and a manager’s dream,” Hyde noted, “but unfortunately for Team Casey, Rigondeaux is unlike any boxer Casey has ever faced. ‘Rigo’ is a freak of nature! His amateur pedigree is unmatched in boxing history and he has already stamped his unique talent on the professional scene by winning the WBA World Interim Title in just his seventh pro fight.”?
Rigondeaux will be working with Ronnie Shields as his head trainer for his third straight bout. “Casey is very tough and he appears to have a big heart,” Shields added. “Once Rigondeaux catches Casey, though, ‘Rigo’s’ power will shake him down to his boots. ‘Rigo’ hits hard for his weight and Casey will be punching the air most of the night because ‘Rigo’ is also a defensive master. I’ve worked with him for his last two fights and we understand each other very well.”

Rigondeaux reports January 3 to his training camp in Houston, Texas.

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New video, surveillance footage, has shown up on TMZ, featuring the Floyd Mayweather vs Baby Mama drama. Josie Harris, the mother of his children, is seen being wheeled out of her residence on a stretcher by EMTs on Sept. 9, the night of the fracas pitting her against the boxer. Mayweather goes to court on January 24 to face charges which could net him 34 years in the clink.

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Minneapolis, MN (December 29, 2010) – USBA Light Heavyweight titlist Otis “Triple OG” Griffin and Yusaf Mack will battle it out to become IBF champion Tavoris Cloud’s mandatory challenger when they meet Friday, January 7 in the main event of “New Year’s Bash” from the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis.

The card is presented by Seconds Out Promotions in association with Brewer Sports International and tickets start at $30.

Griffin, who won Oscar De La Hoya’s reality show “The Next Great Champ” owns a solid 23-6-2 pro ledger with 9 wins by way of knockout. The Sacramento, CA native has shared the squared circle with the likes of Danny Green, Jeff Lacy, Marcus Oliveira, Enad Licina and Jesse Brinkley. Last May, Griffin won the USBA belt with a shocking eighth round knockout of two time WBA Super Middleweight champion Byron Mitchell.

Mack, 28-3-2 (17 KO’s), is universally recognized as a player in the light heavyweight division that has fought some of the world’s best. Born and bred in the fighting city of Philadelphia, PA, Mack holds impressive victories title challengers Chris Henry and DeAndrey Abron while falling just short against Glen Johnson, Alejandro Berrio and Librado Andrade.

“This is going to be an outstanding fight and the fans are in for a real treat,” said Promoter Tony Grygelko of Seconds Out Promotions. “Both men have been in the ring with top fighters and the winner will be one victory away from becoming an elite light heavyweight.”

Griffin-Mack is scheduled for 12 rounds.

Unbeaten junior lightweight Ismail “Sharp Shooter” Mudendo will look to move to 8-0 with 7 knockouts when he faces an opponent to be named in the six round co-feature. The Minneapolis based Ugandan is regarded as one of the Midwest’s best prospects and at age 22 has plenty of time to develop.

Also appearing on the undercard will be former amateur star Javonte Starks  (4-0, 4 KO’s), Charles Meier (4-1-1, 2 KO’s), the pro debuts of Mellissa Littlejohn and Tristan McNutt in separate bouts and two mixed martial arts bouts featuring local favorites.

Tickets can be ordered by going to soboxing.com or calling 612-807-5547.
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Las Vegas – The popular Magdaleno brothers — Diego and Jesse – of Las Vegas will fight on a Top Rank Live! championship boxing card at the Texas Station Gambling Hall and Casino on Saturday, January 22.

Bob Arum of Top Rank made the announcement today. Tickets at $40 for ringside and $25 for general admission will go on sale Tuesday, January 4, 10 am.   Tickets may be purchased at any Station Casinos Reward Center and the Fiestas, by calling (702) 547-5300 or logging onto www.stationcasinos.com

“Our matchmakers put together a tremendous lineup for this event at Texas Station,” said Arum.

In the main event,  Diego Magdaleno, 17-0, will take on Marcos Leonardo Jimenez, 18-2, of Santo Domingo  in a NABF Super Featherweight Championship.  Diego's  younger brother Jesse – an amateur superstar who just signed with Top Rank – will face Sergio Herrera, 3-1-1, of Oxnard, Ca. in a four-round featherweight bout.  Jesse has a record of 1-0-0.
One of the top young stars, Roberto Marroquin, 17-0, of Dallas, Texas, will face tough Leon Bobo, 18-7-1, of St. Louis in an eight round featherweight fight.  The most exciting fighter from Arizona, unbeaten Jose Benavidez, 9-0, is on the card. The very popular Anthony Lenk, 8-1, of  Las Vegas, will box in a six round bout.? ?Seven bouts will be on the card.  The main bouts will be televised live on FSN. Texas Station is located at 2101 Texas Star Lane near Lake Mead Blvd and North Rancho Drive in North Las Vegas.  Texas Station offers the best in locals entertainment including five restaurants such as the award-winning Austin's Steakhouse, 200 hotel rooms, the Dallas Events Center that hosts a variety of concerts and events, a 60-lane bowling facility, an 18-screen movie theatre, exciting table games and more than 2,300 slot and video poker machines.

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