NEWS ON: E-Rod, Trout, Bute and More

WORCESTER, Mass. (March 24, 2013) – Undefeated super middleweight contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) broke his Houston training camp yesterday and he landed today in Monaco with his team for this Saturday afternoon's “Monte Carlo Million Dollar Super 4” at Casino de Monte-Carlo.

Rodriguez, the reigning United States Boxing Assocaition (USBA) champion, meets unbeaten 2008 Argentina Olympian Ezequiel “El Olimpico” Maderna (19-0, 13 KOs) in the opening round of four-fighter tournament, which also includes a light heavyweight fight between two-time, two division world champion Zsolt Erdei (33-0, 18 KOs) and Denis Grachev (12-1-1, 8 KOs). The two winners will advance to the $1,000,000 (60-40 split) “Super Four,” championship final, to be contested at a catch-weight of 171 ½ lbs., on July 13 in Monaco.

The “Monte Carlo Million Dollar Super 4” is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 p.m. ET – 12:00 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH and Avail-TVN in the United States and in Canada via Bell TV for a suggest retail price of only $24.95. In addition, the event will be available via on-line Pay Per View at http://www.gfl.tv/Events/Fight/Boxing/Gennady_Golovkin_vs_Nobuhiro_Ishida/1896

To order the “Super Four” PPV, headlined by WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin defending against former world champion Nobuhiro Ishida, go to your cable company's PPV listings for Saturday afternoon (starting at 3 p.m. ET; event telecast starting at 3:30 p.m. ET ) and look under boxing for Golovkin vs. Ishida.

“We had a great training camp,” Rodriguez said before he departed. “I got in a lot of great work with (world-rated light heavyweight) Cornelius White, who is 6' 3″ with a long reach. We sparred a lot of rounds. I feel that, since I've been working with (head trainer) Ronnie (Shields), I've become a more complete fighter. I've tightened-up my defense and my offense has been great. There's always room for improvement, though, and the key to getting better is long training camps like this one.”

Rodriguez is the No. 3-rated super middleweight in the world in the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF), as well as ranked No. 12 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and No. 10 by The Ring Magazine.

Fighting outside of his native country for the first time, 2008 Argentina Olympian Maderna is ranked No. 5 by the WBO and No. 13 by the IBF.

“He's a good boxer-puncher,” Rodriguez spoke about his relatively unknown opponent. “He resembles Aaron Pryor, Jr. a little. I'm confident going into this fight. I always am because I believe in my ability and skills. I'll be ready Saturday night.”

Rodriguez must get past Maderna to fight the Erdei-Grachev winner in the most lucrative fight of his career. The 27-year-old Dominican Republic native, who was a two-time U.S. national amateur champion, won't allow the Super Four championship fight to be a distraction, nor the birth of his third child in a few weeks.

“I'm a professional and I will not allow any distractions,” Rodriguez concluded. “I'm a laid back person and 100-percent focused on this fight. I'm fighting a 19-0 former Olympian in the toughest challenge of my life. I can't afford to look past him or I won't be in the championship fight. The big money in the championship motivates me. I honestly feel the same way going into every fight. Boxing is a tough sport. I need to win and do it impressively to get where I want to be – world champion. Everything starts with this fight.”

Follow Edwin Rodriguez on Twitter @labombaboxing.

Las Cruces, NM (March 23, 2013) – Boxing superstar Austin “No Doubt” Trout is the newest member of Team Fight to Walk.

Created in 2011 by boxer and West Point graduate Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson and Christan Zaccagnino, Team Fight to Walk’s goal is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Currently, there are 1.3 million Americans, including more than 40,000 veterans, suffering from spinal cord injuries that can not receive the necessary procedures domestically.

The reigning WBA Junior Middleweight titlist, Trout has an outstanding 26-0 professional record with 14 wins by knockout. On December 1, 2012, the New Mexico native made a major splash in the boxing world when he soundly outpointed future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden. Since winning the world championship in 2011, Trout’s left no doubt about his place as an elite fighter, winning all five of his title bouts by a wide margin.

On April 20, Trout will be in one of the biggest fights of 2013 when he battles WBC champion and international sensation Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a title unification on Showtime. Tickets for Trout-Alvarez, a fight few thought the latter would take, are almost sold out.

Prior to turning pro in 2005, Trout was one of the top amateur boxers in America. He narrowly missed making the 2004 US Olympic Team, dropping a decision to well regarded Vanes Martirosyan. Prior to facing Martirosyan at the Olympic Trials, Trout won a decision against a tough fighter from the Army; his name was Boyd Melson.

Though the two had a friendly relationship, they lost touch until a mutual party reconnected them and notified Trout about Team Fight to Walk. Trout, who remembered meeting Zaccagnino and her importance in Boyd’s life, immediately offered to join.

“Team Fight to Walk is very important to me,” said Trout. “The statistics about number of everyday people and US troops impacted by Spinal Cord Injuries are scary. For this organization to be on the forefront (of helping find a cure) is amazing. Team Fight to Walk is a great thing and I’m happy to help anyway I can. So many troops are suffering from spinal cord injuries. I will do all that I can to spread the word and help the cause.”

“Austin is a world champion in and out the ring,” said Melson. “There are so many people that forget about others once they make it big. Austin is still a humble person and a class act who remembers all about the match we had and the cause I fight for. I’m overjoyed that he’s officially a part of this. It’s going to be huge!”

Trout will support Team Fight to Walk by wearing a patch on his trunks for his April 20 bout against Alvarez.

For more information, please visit Teamfighttowalk.com.

Palm Beach, FL (March 24, 2013) – Boxing star Lucian Bute will host his upcoming training camp at the Palm Beach Boxing Center in Palm Beach, FL.

Bute, 33-1 (24 KO’s), is one of the biggest ticket draws in boxing and held the IBF Super Middleweight crown for more than four years. A Quebec native by way of Romania, Bute defeated unbeaten Denis Grachev for the NABF Light Heavyweight championship in front of a sold out crowd at the Bell Centre last November.

A 12,000 sq ft facility that is quickly becoming one of boxing’s hotspots, the Palm Beach Boxing Center’s held camps for world champions Devon Alexander, Cory Spinks and Nate Campbell as well as 2008 Olympian Matt Korobov. The gym’s also hosted Andre Dirrell, Kassim Ouma, Riddick Bowe, Jameel McCline and Oleg Maskaev amongst others.

Bute, who opens camp Tuesday, March 26 for his mega-fight against fellow Canadian transplant Jean Pascal, is training for the fourth time at the Palm Beach Boxing Center. Prior to his last camp, Bute sent a truck with a ring down from his gym in Canada to Palm Beach, a sign that he plans to continue training in Florida. He’s also received much fanfare in the Sunshine State.

“I’m happy to have him back hosting camp at the gym,” said Palm Beach Boxing Center Owner Lou Martinez. “Lucian is very comfortable here and he’s a great guy. There’s a lot of interest when we host open training sessions. The French-Canadians of Florida love watching him and definitely make him feel like he’s at home.”

Joining Bute and Trainer Stephan Larouche will be the 2012 Canadian Women’s Olympic Boxing Team. Trained by Larouche’s wife, the Olympic Team will train at the Palm Beach Boxing Club and workout with the top female fighters in the area.

“These next few months are going to be exciting,” stated Martinez. “Between Bute and the Olympians, there’s going to be a lot of quality fighters coming in and out of the gym. It will be an excellent experience for everybody involved and it’s my pleasure to host them.”

In addition to boxing, the Palm Beach Boxing Center’s 12,000 sq ft facility serves as a training facility for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. The club also offers personal training sessions, crossfit and weights for general fitness. For more information on the Palm Beach Boxing Club, please visit Palmbeachboxing.com or call 561-833-2131.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (March 25, 2013) – Fresh from crowning its first world champion, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight champion Argenis “The Thunderstorm” Mendez (21-2, 11 KOs), fast rising promotional company Acquinity Sports sends out light heavyweight prospect Umberto “El Don” Savigne (10-1, 7 KOs) to make a major statement on this week's ESPN Friday Night Fights show.

Savigne, now fighting out of Miami, takes on undefeated Brazilian invader Jackson “Demolidor” Junior (14-0, 12 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature on Banner Promotions' card at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York.

The reigning WBA Fedelatin and WBC FECARBOX 175-pound titlist, Savigne is a two-time Cuban National champion, who won a gold medal at the 1998 World Cup.

“A week after my last fight (Nov. 30),” Savigne said, “I was back in the gym working with my team: German Caidedo, Micky Ward and Claudio Lamont. Our goal is to go far beyond Jackson Junior. We know it's in the gym where we can achieve our goals.”

The 27-year-old Junior is the WBO Latino light heavyweight champion, fighting in the United States for only the second time, having defeated former U.S. Olympian Dante Craig by first-round technical knockout this past January at Turning Stone.

“His fights and record definitely don't impress me,” Savigne added, “We're talking about a fighter who has made his career largely in Brazil. The level of his opponents is not something that scares me.

“We want to make it very clear that we respect him as an athlete and boxer. Because of that I will come to New York in the best possible condition for our fight. We believe that is the greatest respect we can show him. I've been training hard the last three months for this fight.”

Savigne is world rated by the World Boxing Association (WBA) as No. 5, as well as No. 10 by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

“Savigne is one of the most loyal, toughest kids around,” commented Henry Rivalta, Acquinity Sports Vice President of Boxing Operations. “His work ethic is unquestionable .He's always coming to win, no matter where he goes to fight. Humberto came here (Miami) in a raft (from his native Cuba) to find freedom. He's dreamed about tough fights like this to motivate himself. I am looking forward to working with Artie Pelullo (Banner Promotions) on this card as well as the future.”

Go online to www.AquinitySports.com for additional information about Mendez, Savigne or any of their stable-mates. Follow Acquinity Sports on Twitter @AcquinitySports, or friend is at Facebook.com/AcquinitySports.

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