NEWS ON: Vadine Biosse, Roberto Acevedo, Anthony Ogogo

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 27^th, 2014) – Fighting on a major network in front of a worldwide audience might be unnerving for someone who doesn’t know any better, or someone who has never faced the music on boxing’s biggest stage.

Vladine Biosse (15-2-2, 7 KOs) actually looks forward to the pressure of the bright lights and adoring eyes. It’s brought out the best in the Providence, R.I., southpaw, whether it’s the two big wins he scored early in his career on ESPN2, or his showcase victory over former world-rated contender and hometown rival Joey Spina, a fight few thought he had a chance to win.

Tomorrow night, Biosse will get another opportunity to shine in front of millions when he faces his toughest test to date against undefeated Michigan super middleweight J’Leon Love (16-0, 9 KOs) in the 10-round main event of Showtime’s ShoBox: The Next Generation telecast at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, N.Y., presented by Mayweather Promotions.

“This is the best,” Biosse said. “This is where I want to be. A fight like this puts you on the pedestal. The network is saying, ‘Look, we think you belong here, so show us you belong here.’

“The chance to do that with millions watching is awesome. This is what I’ve been working for my entire athletic career, whether it’s boxing or football.”

The 31-year-old Biosse, born in Cape Verde, is what the boxing world would consider a late bloomer. He originally played soccer and football as a standout athlete at Hope High School in Providence and went on to play college football at the University of Rhode Island before a knee injury ended his career. He soon took up boxing and began his professional career at the age of 27 following a short run in the amateurs.

He rose through the rankings quickly, winning his first six fights – four by knockout – before showcasing his talents on an ESPN Friday Night Fights undercard in 2010, dazzling the viewing audience with a dominant win over Joey McCreedy. Biosse ran his record to 10-0 before another date on FNF, this time knocking out veteran journeyman Tim Connors in the fifth round.

The pressure doesn’t faze him; facing Spina as the prohibitive underdog in 2012, Biosse pieced together what many still consider his most impressive performance, out-boxing the veteran slugger to win the fight decisively on all three scorecards.

While Love presents a much more formidable challenge, the sheer thrill of fighting in front of a worldwide audience might be enough to push Biosse to new heights.

“Some people get jitters and they’re itching and scratching before a big fight. I get excited,” Biosse said. “It brings out the best in me knowing I’m about to face a test like this.”

The only blemish on Love’s record is a no contest against Gabriel Rosado in May in which his split-decision win was later overturned after Love tested positive for a banned diuretic. He returned in December to face former world-title challenger Lajuan Simon and won by sixth-round knockout.

“He’s a great boxer, and I take nothing away from him, but that’s what I see him as – a boxer,” Biosse said of Love. “If you put pressure on him, he folds. That’s what I’m looking to do.”

Biosse hasn’t fought since July when he and fellow Rhode Islander Rich Gingras battled to a majority draw. His last win was in May by unanimous decision against Philadelphia veteran Latif Mundy. A win Friday against the unbeaten Love would undoubtedly put Biosse in the conversation among the sport’s rising super middleweights.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase my talent and show people who I really am,” Biosse said. “I couldn’t wait. Once the opportunity was presented to me, there were no ifs, ands or butts about it. It wasn’t a question of, ‘Why?’ but ‘When?’ The only thing I wonder is why it didn’t come sooner.”

The payday is certainly as appetizing as the opportunity, but Biosse isn’t making the jump just to cash a lucrative paycheck. He’s coming to win, no matter the odds.

“I could be making money anywhere else. I’m not one of these guys running around the neighborhood broke wondering whether I’m coming or going,” he said. “I’m not doing this because I need a few dollars. I’m alright. My life is good.

“This is a great opportunity for my career and to showcase my talents at the highest level.”

The undercard of Friday’s event features hard-hitting super middleweight prospect Badou Jack (16-0-1, 11 KOs) facing veteran Derek Edwards (26-3-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Biosse is the second fighter promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports to fight the main event on Showtime in as many weeks; last Friday, Philadelphia’s Hank Lundy dominated in a unanimous decision win over Angelo Santana on ShoBox: The Next Generation.

Another Signing for Main Events
Roster Expanded to Include Puerto Rican Super Middleweight Roberto Acevedo

Acevedo vs. Khusnulgatin

Photo Credits to Rich Graessle/Main Events

Totowa, NJ: Main Events has added a Super Middleweight to their already impressive roster with the signing of Puerto Rican sensation Roberto Acevedo (8-1-0, 5 KOs). Acevedo is coming off a huge upset win over Russian Ilshat “The Sheriff” Khusnulgatin (11-1-0, 6 KOs) at Resorts International Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ on January 24th.

Acevedo sees this opportunity with Main Events as an important step to achieving his goals. He said, “My goal is to become a world champion and make my country proud of my accomplishments. I know that Main Events is the right company to take me there, I am really excited and looking forward to this next step in my career.” Main Events' CEO Kathy Duva said, “We have great faith in Roberto's ability to continue to overcome every obstacle that is put in front of him-all the way to the world title!”

Roberto had an impressive amateur career (50-1-0, 20 KOs). His only amateur loss was the result of a fight halted due to a bloody nose that could not be stopped. Roberto started boxing in his early teens after his uncle encouraged him to fight in the ring instead of on the streets of his hometown, Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He won several amateur regional and national titles in Puerto Rico during his six-year amateur career.

Most of those accomplishments came after doctors told Acevedo – on two separate occasions – that he would never fight again. The first occurred shortly after he began boxing when he was shot three times at the local barber shop, the victim of a drive-by shooting. His clavicle was crushed. Roberto ignored the doctors' orders; a year and a half later, he won the Puerto Rican national championship for a second time.

Then, in 2008, he was hit by a drunk driver and hospitalized for over a month. Again the doctors told him his boxing days were over. Despite the grim prognosis, Acevedo defied the odds and returned to the ring. He set aside his Olympic dreams in 2010 when he decided to turn pro instead.

Roberto made his professional debut on July 1, 2011 against Felix Rodriguez. Acevedo knocked Rodriguez down in the fourth round on his way to a unanimous decision win. Since then Roberto has suffered only one career loss: a six round unanimous decision defeat to Paul Littleton at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, IL on March 22, 2013.

Acevedo Signs Main Events Promotional Contract

Jose Acevedo, Roberto's older brother and manager, said, “I am very pleased to have Roberto sign with Main Events, they have a long, strong and outstanding tradition in developing and promoting their fighters and we look forward to a long and successful relationship building the next Puerto Rican to a World Champion.”

UNBEATEN OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST ANTHONY OGOGO FIGHTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2014
THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 1

RISING MIDDLEWEIGHT STAR FACES GREG O'NEIL IN GLASGOW

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 27) – 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist for Great Britain Anthony Ogogo will make his 2014 debut this Saturday, March 1, when he competes against County Durham's Greg O'Neil in a six-round middleweight bout on the Ricky Burns vs. Terence Crawford undercard at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow, Scotland.

For Ogogo's promoter, Richard Schaefer, this is an exciting time to be a fan of the young British star.

“Anthony has been very impressive so far in his career, and it's going to be interesting to see how he's progressed over the last couple months,” said Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Ogogo's exclusive promoter. “Saturday's card is a big one in Scotland, and it's good for Anthony to be around that big fight atmosphere as he develops into a world champion. The way things have looked so far, that day may be coming very soon, as he has all the tools to challenge the best in the world in the near future, and we're excited to be on board with him as he moves to the top of the division.”

The bout will be televised live on Sky Sports.

” I am really excited to be fighting in the March 1 bill and can't wait to get back in the ring for the first time this year,” said Ogogo. “It's a huge year for Glasgow with the Commonwealth Games going there this summer and so it's going to be great to be able to fight there and experience the city, it should be a fantastic atmosphere.”

Lowestoft's Ogogo (4-0, 2 KOs) has been on a tear since turning pro after the 2012 London Games, winning all four of his pro bouts. In his most recent fight, the exciting 25-year-old won a shutout six round decision over 31-fight veteran Dan Blackwell on Dec. 14.

Greg O'Neill (3-1), 22-year-old, won his first three pro bouts before a loss to 7-0 Lewis Taylor in an International Masters (Bronze) Middleweight Title fight last March. On Saturday, he gets the opportunity to get back in the win column and shock the boxing world at the same time.

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV