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COUTURE STOPS GONZAGA:
RETAINS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Saturday night, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, the ageless (44yo) Randy Couture did it again, successfully defending his UFC heavyweight title against a dangerous foe 16 years his junior, Gabriel Gonzaga, and he did it in spectacular fashion, stopping the Brazilian in the third round via strikes. UFC President Dana White stated that "Couture sucked the heart right out of him!"
“Randy went out there and got right in his face,” “He put it to him the whole time. We actually saw him (Couture) suck the heart right of him (Gonzaga) in the first round.
*****
Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (14-2-0) emerged victorious from his battle against Josh Koscheck (11-2-0). White announced that St-Pierre will fight the winner of the UFC welterweight bout between champion Matt Serra and challenger Matt Hughes. Serra upset St-Pierre at UFC 69 to capture the welterweight title in April of this year. Serra is scheduled to defend his belt against Hughes at UFC 79 in December.
*****
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir Won by Submission at 1:17 in the 1st round by kimura over Antoni Hardonk. Mir stated after the bout that this is the first time since his motorcycle accident that he has really felt healthy and that he "IS BACK" and will be a force to reckon with once again.
*****

*****
Roger Huerta Wins by Technical Knock Out at 1:50 in the 3rd round over Alberto Crane .
*****
Joe Stevenson Wins by Unanimous Decision over Kurt Pellegrino
*****
Patrick Cote Wins by Technical Knock Out at 4:45 in the 1st round over Kendall Grove
*****
Thales Leites Wins by Submission at 3:47 in the 1st round by arm bar over Ryan Jensen
*****
Clay Guida Wins by Split Decision over Marcus Aurelio

WBO strawweight champion Ivan Calderon (29-0, 6 KOs) moved up to the 108lb division to dethrone WBO mini-flyweight champion Hugo Cazares (25-4-1, 19 KOs) via twelve round split decision on Saturday night at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. For the first seven rounds hometown favorite Calderon put on a boxing clinic, landing clean shots while avoiding Cazares' punches. Cazares finally got to Calderon and dropped him in round eight. Calderon spent round nine holding and running, but frustrated the attacks of Cazares over the last few rounds to win by scores of 115-112, 115-112 on two cards. Cazares was ahead 116-111 on the third card.
 

It took Kiko Martinez (17-0, 14 KOs) just 86 seconds to destroy previously unbeaten European super bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne (24-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday at the Point Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The new champion Martinez, who formerly held the EBU-EU (European Union) 122lb belt, dropped Dunne twice before the bout was waved off.

Andy Lee, Irish middleweight prospect boxing out of the Detroit Kronk Boxing Gym, USA chalked up his 11th straight victory of his 18 month career as a professional last night at the Point Depot, Dublin, Ireland.
Lee also making his Irish professional debut received a rapturous welcome from 7,000 Irish boxing fans as he entered the ring to trade punches with the strong and durable Ciaran Healy from Belfast.
Andy commented ' I'm delighted to be home on Irish soil again and fighting as a professional this time, the crowd gave me a terrific reception which I appreciate and it made me feel very good. I put in a measured performance and was patient during the fight with my punches to importantly get the result I wanted and win the fight. I will now be spending some quality time with my family in Limerick before returning to America next week.'
Emanuel Steward commented ' I was delighted with Andy's performance, he is a true professional athlete and takes the job at hand very seriously. To be in Ireland with Andy gave me a real buzz, he is a rising star in America but I feel that it is important his Irish fan base get to see him as well.'
Scheduled fights in October for Andy Lee in Chicago and Detroit are presently being arranged.
 

It's official. Los Angeles fight fans who had already purchased nearly $1 million worth of tickets to see "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas vs. Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 8 will have to wait for the bout to be rescheduled after a routine blood test by Vargas on Friday revealed a severe iron deficiency. Vargas' doctor ordered him to not participate in the highly anticipated match and to take the necessary weeks of treatment to correct the problem. Promoters of the event Don King Productions and Main Events in association with STAPLES Center will notify the public as soon as a rescheduled date can be confirmed.
 

Former IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan (28-1, 22 KOs) will step up to the super flyweight division and challenge Federico Catubay (11-13-3) for the vacant IBO title on October 20 at the Auburn RSL club in Sydney, NSW Australia. Darchinyan stated, " I will win the world super flyweight championship and then go after a rematch with Nonito Donaire. I trained hard for our fight but did not focus 100% and lost the title. I am very confident I will win the rematch." Darchinyan won the IBF flyweight title in 2004 when he stopped Irene Pacheco in round eleven. He lost the title to Nonito Donaire (18-1, 11 KOs) by fifth round stoppage in July.

Former world IBF lightweight champion Lovemore Ndou will work as a sparring partner to Floyd Mayweather for his December 8th showdown against Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Casino, Hotel in Las Vegas. "I am looking forward to working with Floyd." stated Ndou. "He is a great boxer but I am sure I will help him get in the best shape possible to defeat Ricky Hatton." Ndou is chasing a rematch against Paul Malignaggi who outscored him to win the IBF 135 pound championship in Connecticut recently.

UFC 74: RESPECT is LIVE on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada. Tickets are $800, $500, $300, $200, $100 or $50 and available at any Mandalay Bay box office (702.632.7580) and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (702.474.4000). Tickets also are available at www.ufc.com, www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Check out 74.UFC.com for more info.
WEIGHTS FOR TONIGHT
Randy Couture 228.5 vs. Gabriel Gonzaga 252
UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Georges St. Pierre 170 vs. Josh Koscheck 170
Roger Huerta 155 vs. Alberto Crane 155
Kendall Grove 184 vs. Patrick Cote 184.5
Joe Stevenson 155 vs. Kurt Pellegrino 155
Frank Mir 255 vs. Antoni Hardonk 244
Clay Guido 155 vs. Marcus Aurelio 155
Thales Leites 188 vs. Ryan Jensen 185
Renato Sobral 204 vs. David Heath 205
 

WBO mini-flyweight Hugo Cazares (25-3-1, 19 KOs), who weighed 121 pounds (13 lbs. above the divisions 108lb limit) last week managed to get down to 107.7 at yesterday's weigh-in in Puerto Rico. WBO 105lb champion Ivan Calderón (28-0, 6 KOs) had no problems weighing 107.

Veteran Joaquin "Killer" Gallardo (18-6-1, 5 KOs) was brought in as an opponent, but Gallardo turned the tables on local favorite Lenin "El Volcano" Arroyo (17-7-1, 3 KOs) by winning a clear twelve round unanimous decision and claiming Arroyo's WBC Latin jr. welterweight title in the process on Friday night at Miccosukee Resort & Gaming in Miami, Florida. Arroyo got off to a good start, but the aggressive Gallardo stepped up his attack and swept to a deserved victory by scores of 117-111, 118-110, 116-112.
 

NO WIND, NO RAIN, NO HURRICAINE!
ALFREDO “ SALSERO” ESCALERA
BATTLES HURRICANE DEAN TO REACH THE STATES FOR ONE SPECIAL REASON!

Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing is pleased to announce a very special ringside guest at The Utopia Paradise Theater, for August 24, Friday Night Fights live on ESPN2.
Former World Super Featherweight Champion Alfredo “Salsero” Escalera 53-14-3 31 KO’s, returns to New York this week to root for his young son Alfredo Escalera, Jr., as he makes his New York debut fighting on the popular “Punchin at the Paradise” series.
Many remember the warrior “Salsero” for his relentless bloody battles in the ring, notably the January 28, 1978, fight against Alexis Arguello. “The Bloody Battle of Bayamon” left him with a broken nose, tooth, a cut on his tongue and above his left eye and his right eye closed shut, before he finally submitted to his opponent and lost his WBC title. He went on to become a household name in Puerto Rico starring in television commercials and becoming a popular public figure.
Now it is his son’s turn to shine and show that the “Escalera” legacy lives on. The younger Escalera 14-0-1 11KO’s will face Harvey Jolly 6-4 1 3KO’s in the co-main event on Friday and couldn’t be happier about his father coming all this way to support him.
“Having my father ringside makes all my hard work and training worth it, I have a legacy to carry on, the torch has been passed onto me, I will not let my fans or family down” an excited Escalera, Jr. proclaimed.
Tickets are reasonably priced $100, $50 and $30 and can be purchased at Utopia’s Paradise Theater box office (718) 220-6143, and all Ticketmaster outlets www.ticketmaster.com  or by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 www.starboxing.com
Doors Open: 6:30PM, First Bout: 7:30PM

by Rob Scott

In the recent hip hop tune titled ‘Classic – I’m better than I’ve ever been’, legendary emcee Rakim said, “Classic – it’s when age don’t count in the booth – it’s when your flow stay submerged in the fountain of youth”. When it comes to boxing, there are many who seek out kudos for something they might do as opposed to something that they have done. They seek out kudos for victories that many would love to forget, while there are others who put on shows that will stay in boxing’s fountain of youth, because we just can’t forget.

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Prize Fight Promotions is happy to announce the signing of amateur standout, Mark Davis from Cleveland OH. Promoter Russ Young is ecstatic saying, "We are very excited about Mark Davis who was the 2005 and 2006 National Champion at 125. Trainer Mark Davis Sr. and adviser Joe Delguyd were very easy to deal with as we structured the deal with them. We've had Davis on our radar screen for about 3 years now since the 2004 Olympic Trials, when he made it all the way to the finals at the age of 18. The recommendation from Barry Hunter and Anthony Peterson helped make our decision. Anthony is very close with Mark and has been very high on him since the amateur days. With Mark's punching power we know he will be a force to be dealt with. We are elated to have him as part of our stable." Davis, who will turn professional as a featherweight, will make his pro debut September 1st at Fitzgerald's Casino in Tunica MS. Young went on to say" "Being that Mark is a world-class fighter, we will bring him up at the same pace that we fought Anthony and Lamont Peterson. The short-term plan is to build him up quickly. As long as he's healthy, we will get him on ESPN and hopefully, Showtime and HBO in the future."
 

BLISS Lounge is located at 955 Allwood Road in Clifton, New Jersey, (973) 773-2110. For more information, contact Emily Tan by phone (917) 318-3758, e-fax (646) 619-4907, email EmilyEmilyTan@aol.com, or visit www.blisslounge.net.
 

©2007 by Mary Ann Owen

Friday night at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, Olivia Gerula (L) will be fighting Sosadea Razo (R). Olivia will also be fighting on October 13th in Toronto, Canada for the CBF featherweight title. For this fight Gerula weighed 128.5 and Razo weighed 130.

The main event will feature Donnie "Boy" Orr at 162 vs Jamal Davis 161.5

SHOWTIME will premiere “Vargas vs. Mayorga: Countdown To The Brawl”—profiling two of boxing’s most colorful and explosive personalities—on Saturday night, Aug. 25, at 1 a.m. ET/PT (immediately following the ShoXC, live MMA event). The 30-minute documentary program will air at various times on the premium network until Sept. 8, when “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas and Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga will meet in the ring to settle a personal score for machismo and pride.
The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for 12 rounds at a catch weight of 162 pounds and will air live on Sept. 8 on pay-per-view (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100 and $50 are on sale now online at ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (213) 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers including Wherehouse Music, Robinsons-May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations. Tickets are also available at the STAPLES Center box office and the box office at TEAM LA at Universal CityWalk.

Full Story and TV schedule

Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, and Bernard Hopkins already have their seats. Now fight fans around the world can buy their tickets for the biggest heavyweight event of 2007, as unbeaten WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov defends his crown for the first time against the legendary "Real Deal", Evander Holyfield, on Saturday, October 13th, at the beautiful brand new Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia.
Tickets, priced from just over $10.00 (300 rubles) to $3,000.00 (75,000 rubles). There are also a limited number of VIP tickets available. Tickets may be ordered by calling +7 (495) 228-0418 or +7 (495) 643-1825, or by visiting www.ring-side.ru or www.hockey-palace.ru.
Fans outside of Russia can also purchase tickets to this historic event, which will see Holyfield attempt to win a record fifth world heavyweight title by beating undefeated Russian hero, Ibragimov, by calling Seminole Warriors Boxing at 954-985-1155 or visiting www.warriorsboxing.com.
 

Tito Trinidad vs Roy Jones Jr -
Can they live up to their names?

by Rob Scott

For the past few weeks we have heard of the proposed match-up between boxing greats Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. After Monday’s press conference announcing the fight, we find ourselves that much closer to the fight becoming a reality, but will the fight be one that knocks us out?
 

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In one of the most highly anticipated grudge battles of the year, two-time world champion Fernando Vargas faces three-time world champion Ricardo Mayorga at a catch weight of 162 pounds on Saturday, Sept. 8, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on SHOWTIME PPV.
Kermit Cintron will defend his IBF welterweight title against Jesse Feliciano, and Roman Karmazin faces Luca Messi for the WBA super welterweight Intercontinental crown in other 12-round bouts.
Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100 and $50 are on sale online at Ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (213) 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers including Wherehouse Music, Robinsons-May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations. Tickets are also available at the STAPLES Center box office and the box office at TEAM LA at Universal CityWalk.
Leaders from two of the most successful boxing promotional firms in history—Don King from Don King Productions and Kathy Duva from Main Events—have joined to promote the event in association with AEG & STAPLES Center & VEP. The event will also be televised live beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT domestically at a suggested retail price of $44.95, which is being distributed by SHOWTIME® PPV.

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Due to a knee injury suffered while training in Iowa last Friday, Jens “Lil’ Evil” Pulver has been forced to withdraw from his World Extreme Cagefighting debut fight on September 5^th against Cub Swanson.
“The biggest thing is that I’m disappointed,” said Pulver, the international mixed martial arts star who was preparing for the launch of the latest chapter of his storied career in the WEC. “And this is just an opportunity that will have to be sidelined a bit.  But I thank the fans for all their support, I thank the WEC and hopefully they can get me back in there as soon as I’m ready.  I also wish the Cub the best, and hopefully down the road I can fight him as soon as possible.” Swanson, a rising featherweight contender, will face an opponent to be determined in a scheduled three round bout. 
Pulver, the former UFC lightweight champion, was winding down his training camp in Iowa last week when he was injured while grappling. “I was doing a guard pass and my foot got caught up in my partner’s shorts,” recalled Pulver.  “He was pitching his legs down, and I made one move and he rolled the other way. My whole body went one direction, but my knee down to my foot went the other, it shot straight out to the side, and I heard an explosion.  Right then I knew, and I was lying on the floor going ‘no way this just happened.’”
A visit to a local Orthopedist confirmed a MCL tear in Pulver’s left knee and no broken bones, but an upcoming MRI will determine whether the injury will require surgery or not. Regardless of the final diagnosis, Pulver expects to be back and better than ever as soon as he is cleared to compete. 
“It’s been a rollercoaster life, and now I’m going down, but I’ll be heading back uphill in a minute,” said Pulver.

UFC® MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ANDERSON “THE SPIDER” SILVA vs.
RICH “ACE” FRANKLIN

HEAVYWEIGHT FEATURE
TIM “THE MAINE-IAC” SYLVIA vs.
BRANDON “THE TRUTH” VERA

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 LIVE FROM
U.S. BANK ARENA

Tickets Go on Sale Sunday, Aug. 26 at 10am ET

The Ultimate Fighting Championship^® (UFC^®) organization today announced that UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva will travel to the hometown of the man he took the title from, Rich “Ace” Franklin, to defend his crown against the popular former titlist in a highly anticipated rematch entitled UFC 77: HOSTILE TERRITORY.  This event will take place at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Saturday, October 20.  UFC 77 marks the UFC’s second fight in Ohio this year, and its first fight ever in Cincinnati.

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The press tour for the big Miguel Cotto vs Shane Mosley welterweight world title showdown on November 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York City is taking shape. Plans are to hit San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 5, then New York City on Thursday, September 6 and Los Angeles on Monday, September 10.
 

David Tua, after his spectacular first round KO win last weekend, has been added to the Soaring Eagle Casino show to replace Joe Mesi who backed out with a bad back. Tua will join Hasim Rahman and Vernon Paris on September 7 in Mt. Pleasant Michigan, on a card being promoted by Carlos Llinas of CLIP boxing and Bluecap Promotions. "This is the biggest card with huge names to land in Michigan for a long time. I'm excited that Bluecap, CLIP Boxing and Soaring Eagle Casino were able to bring it to Michigan," stated Llinas. Opponents for all three will be announced soon
 

Friday night's fight card at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamption, NY, headlined by former middleweight champion William Joppy has been postponed. According to promoter Cedric Kushner, visa problems involving Joppy's Dominican opponent Emilio Cayetano and the cancellation of a bout between super middleweights Stephan Pryor and Jeffrey Osborne forced the card to be postponed until September 7. "I promised that I would deliver a quality show to Binghamton on the same level that I produce in New York City, Las Vegas and Atlantic City," said Kushner. "And when these complications presented themselves, I felt the need to postpone the show as opposed to bringing in a sub-par show."

UFC 74: RESPECT! LIVE on PPV August 25th!

April was a big month for Josh Koscheck. Not only had he become one of the UFC’s brightest young hopefuls, he also scored the biggest win of his career over fellow welterweight contender Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez. On Saturday, August 25th the former NCAA wrestling champion will now look to continue his meteoric rise to the top, when he takes on former champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre at UFC 74: Respect live from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino . . .
Click here for more by Brady Crytzer
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UFC 74: RESPECT is LIVE on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada. Tickets are $800, $500, $300, $200, $100 or $50 and available at any Mandalay Bay box office (702.632.7580) and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (702.474.4000). Tickets also are available at www.ufc.com,  www.mandalaybay.com  or www.ticketmaster.com. Check out 74.UFC.com for more info.
 

Fresquez Productions and Santa Ana Star Casino today announced the next fight for New Mexico's No. 1 box-office draw, Holly Holm (18-1-2, 5 KOs) today at the casino in Bernalillo, NM. On Friday, Sept. 21, Holm will defend her IFBA welter belt in a rematch with highly-rated Angelica Martinez (6-3-1, 1 KO), of Dallas, Texas. In three previous bouts with Martinez, Holm holds two close wins and a draw. In the co-main, former contender Frankie Archuleta (24-5-1, 13 KOs), of Las Vegas, NM, will end a two-year layoff, attempting a comeback in an eight-rounder at 130 agaisnt Mexican veteran Sammy Ventura (25-18, 20 KOs). In an eight-round special, Albuquerque's David "Finito" Martinez (17-3-1, 3 KOs) bounces off his loss to former champ Bones Adams in a featherweight match against Carlos Diaz (9-10-4, 7 KOs), of Puerto Rico. On the undercard: Albuquerque super featherweight Willie Villanueva (6-0, 1 KO) in a sixer, former IFBA champ Jackie Chavez (9-3, 3 KOs), of Los Lunas, in a sixer; Albuquerque super bantam James "Got the Fire" Piar (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-rounder; and, in a super-welter four-rounder, Rio Rancho's Lucas Galle (0-1) vs. Cornelius Shuler (1-0), of El Paso. Tickets are now on sale, call 505-867-0000.

By Jose Reyes
fightnews.com

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The call came into the Seminole Warriors Boxing offices this week, and there was no mistaking who was on the other end of the line.

“I’m back,” said Edison “Pantera” Miranda, who has rebounded from his May loss to Kelly Pavlik and is back in the gym in San Juan, Puerto Rico, preparing for a late-October return at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood.

“I’ve been working out for hours every day and I feel great,” said Miranda, who after a successful run at middleweight will now compete in the 168-pound super middleweight division.  “At 168 my punches are sharper and harder, my speed is still there, and I feel like I can jump in the ring right now.”

It’s a far cry from Miranda’s May loss to Pavlik, which saw him put his health at risk in order to make weight for the bout. The classy Miranda doesn’t want to put a damper on Pavlik’s win though.
“I have no excuses,” said Miranda. “Pavlik was the better man that night, but that fight is in the past. I don’t think about what happened yesterday, only about what’s happening today and tomorrow, and in 2008, I will be ready to fight for a title once again. Watch out world, “Pantera” is coming - bigger, badder, and harder than ever.”
 

Who do you have at the top of your pound for pound list? For many, ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather sits atop their current best of the lot list; while an ever increasing thought pattern of sluggers like Manny Pacquiao, not only approaching, but in some cases passing Mayweather as the very best, are surfacing everyday.
Boxing beauty is indeed in the eye of every viewer that beholds, but the eye just may not be the part of one’s person that some use to see with. Far too often people use their hearts to guide them in picking who’s who, and what’s what when it comes to the fight game. Who are the best and why seem to be determined because of personal preference, not because of true thought.
 

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Historia Completa

Pennsylvania based veteran Dhafir Smith 17-16-5 {4 KO’s} has stepped in to challenge Contender season 1 star Jonathan “Reid Dawg” Reid 34-6 {19 KO’s}. The fight which will be the co-main event at the New Alhambra in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will be fought at catch weight of 165 lbs. Smith is stepping in for Rasheem Brown who pulled out for undisclosed reasons and will be looking for his second straight victory after scoring a shocking knockout over Brandon Mitchem on July 27th. Reid will attempt to impress the crowd in his first trip to Philadelphia as well as new promoter Diane Lee Fischer of Dee Lee Promotions.
“I will be prepared to the best of my ability” said Reid, the former NABA Middleweight king. “I am not sure why Rasheem Brown pulled out, but I will dedicate this fight to my fellow season 1 Contender stable mate Najai Turpin who committed suicide shortly after the show. It an honor to be able to come into his home turf and compete in the squared circle. My victory will go out to him and his family”.
 

Ryan Wissow president and co-founder of the WIBA, has announced that Laila Ali will be honored as their first ever "Champion Emeritus of the World".  Laila is taking a sabbatical from the sport to start a family after recently marrying former NFL star, Curtis Conway.  Since capturing the WIBA Super Middleweight Title in 2002, Ali has remained undefeated with a perfect record of (26-0, 23 KO's) and deserves the distinction of "Champion Emeritus", which by definition means, "Retired but retaining an honorary title corresponding to that held immediately before retirement."  The "Champion Emeritus" status is not only to guarantee Laila an immediate title shot upon her return to the sport but to honor the WIBA's greatest champion ever, who defended the title with courage, pride, honor and dignity from 2202-2007.  Wissow also announces that Russian brawler, Natasha Ragosina, will fight an opponent to be determined on September 8, 2007 in Berlin Germany for the now vacant Super Middleweight belt. 
 

Juan Manuel Marquez, the WBC Super Featherweight World Champion, and challenger, Ricardo Rocky Juarez, both weighted in under the WBC 30 day pre-fight weight limit in Mexico City and Houston, from their respective training camps.
Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KO’s) weighed in at 132.1 pounds and Juarez (27-3, 19 KO’s) was 139 pounds. The maximum weight each fighter could weigh 30 days prior to the fight was 143 pounds.
Marquez will defend his title against Juarez on “Fireworks”, a night of world-class professional boxing, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Romanza Productions and Tournament of Contenders.
Tickets for this unforgettable night of boxing, priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale now at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office.  Tickets are sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s stores and Ritmo Latino).  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000.  Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The “Fireworks” pay-per-view telecast featuring Marquez vs. Juarez, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $44.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View

Featherweight contender Jason Litzau (22-1, 19 KOs) scored an impressive second round knockout of former world title challenger Emmanuel Lucero (23-5-1, 14 KOs) on Friday night at Harrah’s Rincon Casino in Valley Center, California. Litzau dropped Lucero at the end of round one and floored him again in round two. After getting back up after the second knockdown, Lucero sank back to his knees and referee Jose Cobian waved it off at 2:48. After the bout, Lucero announced his retirement.
*****

Governor Erico Aumentado promised a paved road going into super bantamweight Rey Bautista's neighborhood in the town of Candijay if Bautista beat world champion Daniel Ponce De Leon last Saturday. But with Bautista's loss (he got stopped in the first round), Aumentado says the project is now a "no go." However, if Bautista ever becomes a world champion, the governor said he will again back the project.