Joel Diaz Is, or Isn't, Fighting Nov. 17

This release went out Friday afternoon:

LAS VEGAS, NV (October 5, 2012) Sterling Promotions, led by longtime Las Vegas based boxing promoter Sterling McPherson presents “Sterling Night of Fights” on Saturday, NOVEMBER 17 at the world-famous Edgewater Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nevada.

“We’re very excited to work with the Edgewater Casino Resort team on this terrific event and look forward to a long and fortuitous relationship with them by providing the best in world class professional boxing” said McPherson, also announcing that this event will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN International.

Ticket information will be announced shortly.

Headlining the debut “Sterling Night of Fights” is a sensational ten round lightweight clash between highly touted, hard hitting, undefeated prospect Joel Diaz, 11-0-0 (10KO’s) of Palmdale, CA and Nigerian master Robert “Super” Osiobe, 13-5-0 (6KO’s).

Just 20-years-old, Diaz has turned heads across the country with his stunning knockouts over the last two years. Training with the highly regarded Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, CA, the busy Diaz will be fighting for the sixth time in 2012.

A native of Nigeria, now based in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada, Osiobe is coming off his career best victory, winning a hard fought ten round battle over Jose Hernandez on AUGUST 18 in Tacoma, WA.

Said McPherson, “This is just the type of battle that fans should come to expect with this series. Diaz is risking his undefeated record against a very crafty, much more experienced veteran in Osiobe, the clash of styles is a fight fan’s dream.”

Featured in the co-main event is outstanding Youngstown, Ohio lightweight prospect Chris Hazimihalis, hailing from the same city as numerous former world champions including Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik.

With an undefeated record of 9-0-0 with seven stoppages, Hazimihalis will face off against an opponent to be announced in a scheduled eight rounder.

In a special feature attraction women’s bout, Las Vegas’ attractive newcomer Marcela Cornejo, 1-0-0 (1KO), will enter the ring in a scheduled four rounder with an opponent to be announced shortly.

Four other excellent bouts have also been announced for “Sterling Night of Fights.”

Junior welterweights will clash in a scheduled six rounder as undefeated southpaw, knockout artist, Luis “EL Animal” Cerda, 6-0-0 (6KO’s) of Santiago de Chile, Chile battles Cameron Krael, 2-3-0 (2KO’s) of Las Vegas.

Just 21 years old, this will be Cerda’s fight bout in the United States while the tough as nails 20-year-old Krael will be fighting for the sixth time in 2012.

Also in the junior welterweight division, tough Mexican prospect Javier Loya, 7-1-0 (6KO’s) battles Edgar Zubia, 3-1-0 (1KO) of Hobbs, New Mexico in a six round bout.

Loya will be looking to starting another winning streak, having won seven in a row before being stopped by uber prospect Jose Benavidez in the fourth round in an outstanding scrap on AUGUST 4 in Las Vegas.

Super middleweights from Arizona will also be represented with Yuma’s Jose Gonzalez, 1-2-1 challenging William Schmidth, 1-2-2 (1KO) of Chandler.

In the heavyweight division, heavy hitting undefeated prospect Duane Mobley, 5-0-0 (4KO’s), of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, will clash with veteran Chad Davis, 4-10-0 (3KO’s) of Phoenix, AZ in a scheduled four round bout.

More details on this action packed evening of world class professional boxing will be announced shortly.

The Edgewater Casino Resort is located at 2020 S. Casino Drive in Laughlin, Nevada. For more information, please visit their website at www.edgewater-casino.com

A bit later, this response release went out:

October 5, 2012 – Boxing 360, has been informed that a press release sent out by promoter Sterling McPherson of Las Vegas, stating that its fighter, Joel Diaz Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs), will be fighting on November 17th at the Edgewater Casino Resort in Laughlin, NV, against Robert Osiobe, 13-5-0 (6 KO's) is false information.

“I have no idea who Sterling McPherson is and the fact that he's putting out a press release regarding my fighter Joel Diaz Jr. is against the law.” said Boxing 360 promoter Mario Yagobi. “I have my legal team ready to move forward if this press release is not rebutted. I've never once spoken to McPherson in my life, let along given him or anyone from his promotional team the right to promote Joel Diaz Jr.”

“I've never been approached by anyone from McPherson's company in regards to them promoting Joel, so I have no knowledge of this fight,” stated Mike Criscio who manages Joel Diaz Jr. “Mario Yagobi and I have talked and we want to put a stop to this false information that has been made public. Joel Diaz is not fighting on November 17.”

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