CHARLOTTE — Commissioner Jacqie Carpenter said she hopes to have a decision on the future site of the CIAA basketball tournaments by late March.
The weeklong men's and women's basketball tournaments is being played this week in Charlotte, where it has been held since 2006.
However, the contract between the 12-team conference and the city of Charlotte expires after this year's tournaments.
Carpenter said the conference will be gathering bids from cities that have expressed interest in hosting the tournaments beginning in 2015 in the coming weeks.
Among the cities interested in hosting the tournament aree Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Hampton, Va. and Washington, D.C.
"We are focused on having the best tournament we can then after that, review the bids from the cities and work with our board and hopefully have a decision by late March," Carpenter said. "(The timetable) will depend on how many bids we receive."
The Division II CIAA combined tournaments, the third-largest NCAA basketball tournaments in the country in terms of attendance and economic impact, moved from Raleigh to Charlotte in 2006.
Charlotte City officials have twice since renewed with the CIAA on separate three-year contracts.
Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority executive director Mike Butts said the city plans to make an aggressive bid to keep the tournament.
"Our interest is very high," Butts said. "We have been very pleased to have the privilege of hosting the event. Charlotte is a walkable city with hotels, restaurants and entertainment nearby. And it's a safe environment."
Carpenter said Charlotte has been a "great host" over the past nine years and is hoping they will submit a competitive bid.
"Our goal is to make sure whatever city we go to, whether it is Charlotte or another city, is that it's an open process and one that fits our bid specifications and that we have the best experience for our student-athletes and our fans and a plan that it financially makes sense for us to be in that location," Carpenter said.
The CIAA tournament has been a moneymaker for Charlotte.
The CRVA estimated that last year's tournaments generated a $47.17 million economic impact for the city and immediate surrounding area, including $29.86 million in direct spending. That was down slightly from the $50.5 million impact in 2012 when the conference celebrated its 100-year anniversary.
Carpenter, who took over as commissioner in August 2012, said the conference is recovering financially.
She said the CIAA spent five years in a deficit before pulling out last year, in large part due to cutting down costs on what she deemed unnecessary expenditures.
While the CIAA did not release how much money it generated from last year's tournament, Carpenter knows how important the basketball tournament is to the conference's future success.
The week has become much more than just a basketball tournament for fans, who regularly attend parties that include national celebrities during their stay in Charlotte.
"This is the one of the largest events in the country and we depend on this tournament being successful so that we can distribute a significant amount of scholarship dollars to our membership institutions," Carpenter said.
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No stage too big for ‘Mr. Providence’ as southpaw super middleweight preps for Showtime bout
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 27th, 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.
– CES –
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 25th, 2014) – For years, Hank Lundy has been a promoter’s dream, a throwback fighter willing to fight anyone, anywhere at any given time regardless of the risk involved.
In football, he’d be your prototypical gunslinger quarterback, the fearless, yet gifted, pocket-passer unafraid to launch it down the field into triple coverage.
With no risk, there’s no reward, and Lundy (24-3-1, 11 KOs) is living proof. This past weekend, the 30-year-old Philadelphia lightweight took another gamble, dropping back down to 135 pounds and traveling to Don King’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, to face one of King’s young prospects on a card promoted by King himself in front of a worldwide audience on Showtime’s ShoBox: The Next Generation.
Not only did Lundy steal the spotlight, he won convincingly, beating Angelo Santana from start to finish in a decisive, 98-91, victory on all three judges’ scorecards.
As Lundy inches closer to his dream of challenging for, and winning, a world title, he can no longer be the relentless daredevil who long ago earned the reputation as one of boxing’s most prolific road warriors. There’s more at stake now than ever before, and Lundy is plotting his next move carefully, knowing full well his latest opportunity could be the biggest of his career.
Having proved himself time and time again in the face of adversity, it’s world title or bust in 2014, and “Hammerin’” Hank is on the brink of championship glory.
“If it’s not a world title, I’m not trying to hear it,” said Lundy, who entered last weekend’s fight ranked No. 13 in the World Boxing Council (WBC) and 10th in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) at 140 pounds, where he fought his last two fights prior to Friday.
“Before, I took any and every fight, but now I’m trying to be smart. Right now, I want that world title. I’ve paid my dues. I need my shot.”
Though Lundy mentioned the possibility of a keep-busy fight on ESPN in April, it wouldn’t be a surprise if his next fight were for a coveted world championship, most likely back at 135 pounds, where he’s had the majority of his success since bursting onto the scene in 2010. And while he’d still like a shot at former 140-pound world-title holder Lucas Mattyhysse, a fight that fell apart in January due to Lundy’s legal issues with his former manager – “I’ll still beat him badly,” Lundy said – a more realistic option might be World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Richar Abril, whom Lundy beat in 2010 before Abril won the title.
“We should do it again, this time for a world title,” Lundy said.
“At 135, it doesn’t matter who it is. If you’re a champ, whether it’s the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO [World Boxing Organization], I want you. I’m in line. It’s my time.”
Having fought – and won – so many fights in his opponents’ backyards, including nationally-televised wins over Omri Lowther in Montreal and former world champ David Diaz in Chicago, Lundy has become one of the sport’s most avoided fighters in the lightweight division. His bout against Jeremy Bryan scheduled for mid-October fell apart last year when Bryan withdrew due to a back injury less than three weeks before the fight and another proposed showdown on HBO against Karim Mayfield – a bout Lundy claims was a “done deal” on his side – was mysteriously pulled from the table, prompting Lundy to question whether or not Mayfield had the courage to fight him.
“I’m a problem. There’s no answer for the ‘Hammer,’” Lundy said. “To get ready for the ‘Hammer,’ you’ve got to have five or six, maybe seven, guys just to prepare for a fight with me. I’m not one-dimensional, baby. I can do it all!”
For his next trick, Lundy might bring a championship belt back to Philadelphia, a city synonymous with boxing greatness dating all the way back to 1905 when Jack O’Brien defeated Bobby Fitzsimmons for the world light heavyweight championship. The tradition has continued through the years with all-time greats such as Tim Witherspoon, Joe Frazier and current world-title holder Bernard Hopkins, the ageless wonder still dominating the light heavyweight circuit at 49. If all goes well in 2014, Lundy could write his own chapter in the rich history of Philadelphia boxing.
“At the end of the day, I’m searching for a world title, and that should be my next fight,” Lundy said.
“I’ve fought everybody they put in front of me. Santana, he was 14-1 with 11 big knockouts, and he tried to do the same to me, but I had other plans. I showed the world again what ‘Hammerin’ Hank’ is all about. I knew I could outbox this guy and I went out there and dominated.
“I had so much going on in my career before, but now all my focus is on fighting, so that’s what you’re seeing – ‘Hammerin’ Hank fighting and getting the job done. You know me. It doesn’t matter who it is, or where I go. I put my bundle on my stick and I go out there and fight
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After Yesterday's Closing Ceremonies
2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov Reflects On His Own Olympic Experience in Beijing
Heavyweight Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China and despite an injury that prevented him from competing in the finals he won the Bronze medal.
Currently in training camp for his March 15th battle on NBCSN Fight Night against Tomasz Adamek, Czar watched last night's closing ceremonies in Sochi (which is not far from his native Ukraine). He reminisced about his own Olympic experiences in 2008.
Q: How did it feel to proudly represent your country at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China and earn yourself the Bronze medal?
VG: It was a huge win for me and the transition to professional boxing. It was a great motivational moment in my career. It was my dream to represent my country in the Olympics and now I have a dream to take the championship belt.
Q: How does it feel to stand on the podium?
VG: I had a feeling of great happiness but I was also saddened by the injury to my hand that stopped me from going further.
Q: What is it like to represent your country?
VG: I had a deep feeling of patriotism. It was an honor and I feel great pride to wear our nation's colors.
Q: How much pressure did you feel? Did that make it easier or harder for you
VG: I felt a lot of pressure but I learned how to stabilize and balance the pressure to ensure best results.
Q:
What is it like to live in Olympic Village?
VG: It was a great experience. Everything was at the top level. Inside the village everything is set up to provide athletes with the best accommodations for them to succeed. The best thing about the village is that it is an opportunity to meet athletes from all over the world and sports starts such as Kobe Bryant and many others.
Q: Did you meet anyone there with whom you have remained friends?
VG: Yes of course. I met Andrei Kirilenko the basketball player and Elena Esonbayeva. Also Sergey Bubko and other legends of the sport.
Q: How did it feel to participate in the opening and closing ceremonies?
VG: It was over the top emotions a great and amazing feeling. It was the greatest spectacle I have ever seen.
Q: As you know the closing ceremonies for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics was last night, did you follow the Olympics this year and if so, how do you feel about your native country of the Ukraine's performance.
VG: I am very happy for my country especially in such hard times.
Q: You earned a gold medal in 2004 at the first ever World University Boxing Championships, held in Antalya, Turkey. Over 120 boxers from 27 different countries participated in this tournament, how does this accomplishment compare to being awarded the Bronze medal just 4 years later at the 2008 Olympic Games?
VG: In 2004, the win was my first great accomplishment and it was the first step in the final push to the bigger fights, a higher level of competition and a step closer to my 2008 Olympic medal.
Q: At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, you were forced to pull out your semi-finals match-up with Zhang Zhilei due to a shoulder injury. You were awarded the Bronze medal and Zhilei would be awarded the Silver medal, do you ever think about how that match-up would have played out if you were not forced to withdraw from the bout?
VG: I beat him twice already before the Olympics. If not for the injury I strongly believe that I would have beat him again.
Q: What was your favorite thing and least favorite thing about the Olympics?
VG: My most favorite thing about the Olympics was winning my medal and the organization of this mega-sporting event. My least favorite thing about the Olympics was the huge pressure and responsibility and of course the injury to my hand.
Q: Did you have a lot of friends/family that travelled with you to the Games to support you? What was that like for you?
VG: My father came to support me as well as the president of the boxing federation and of course my dear wife. It made me feel good and warm to have someone in the stands to root for me.
Q: How did your Olympic experience prepare you for professional boxing?
VG: At the Olympics I got a lot of experience and knowledge: I learned how to handle pressure and responsibility, how to train tough and boxing skills from other great boxers.
About March 15th: The March 15th edition of NBCSN Fight Night at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem features the twelve-round heavyweight match-up between Tomasz "Goral" Adamek and Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov for the IBF North American Heavyweight Title and IBF #2 Position Eliminator.
The Co-Feature is a ten round light heavyweight match-up between Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilemba and Denis "The Pirate/Drago's Son" Grachev.
Doors open at 6:00 PM ET. The Co-Feature and Main Event will be broadcast live on NBCSN Fight Night at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT.
Tickets start at $55 and are available through TicketMaster.com (key word: Peltz Boxing). The card is presented by Main Events, Peltz Boxing, Ziggy Promotions, and Pushka Promotions in association with BAM Boxing and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. The remaining undercard bouts will be announced shortly.
NBC Sports Live Extra: NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets - will live stream Fight Night at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on March 15th. Coverage will be streamed via "TV Everywhere," the media industry's effort to make quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.
For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.
All NBC Sports Network live events live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via "TV Everywhere," which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs |
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Johnson earns knockout win in Friday’s main event; Kahn-Clary dominates in homecoming victory
LINCOLN, R.I. (Feb. 21st, 2014) – Boxing’s ageless “Road Warrior” added another highlight-reel knockout to his resume Friday night at Twin River Casino.
Fighting for the first time in Rhode Island, no surprise given his penchant for spanning the globe throughout his career, former two-time world champion Glen Johnson (54-18-2, 37 KOs) stopped the game Jaime Velazquez (11-6-2) in the fourth round of their scheduled eight-round main event light heavyweight bout at “Home Sweet Home,” presented by Classic Entertainment & Sports. Providence’s Toka Kahn-Clary also won in impressive fashion by technical knockout in the scheduled six-round co-feature.
Velazquez, the Pawtucket, R.I., native making his first appearance in 15 years, gave Johnson three strong rounds before the “Road Warrior” poured it on the fourth. Johnson hurt Velazquez early with a body shot and began teeing off as the round wore on, at one point nearly sending Velazquez through the ropes. Velazquez did his best to stay on his feet before a huge overhand right by Johnson sent him teetering into the ropes and prompting Velazquez’s trainer, Roland Estrada, to throw in the towel at the 1 minute, 59 second mark.
Johnson, who rose to fame in 2003 and 2004 when he captured the world light heavyweight title and knocked out Roy Jones Jr., now has 37 wins by knockout.
Fighting in his hometown for the first time since 2012, Kahn-Clary (10-0, 7 KOs) gave his loyal fans of glimpse of what they’ve been missing, dominating the overmatched Carlos Fulgencio (19-13-1) of Miami in just under two rounds.
After spending most of the first round picking his spots, Kahn-Clary turned it on in the second round, sending Fulgencio to the canvas three times in a matter of seconds, forcing referee Ricky Gonzalez to stop the bout at the 1:10 mark. Fulgencio got up quickly from the first two knockdowns, but the third one, courtesy of a hard, right hook from Kahn-Clary, nearly sent Fulgencio through the ropes.
Looking to bounce back from just his second career loss in July, exciting middleweight Thomas Falowo (11-2) took out his frustration on Columbian veteran Jaison Palomeque (14-9-1), earning a bizarre win by disqualification at the 1:57 mark of the third round. Falowo unloaded on Palomeque early with his usual barrage of punches. Palomeque tried to stand toe-to-toe with Falowo and eventually paid the price as Falowo caught him with a short right cross that sent him tumbling to the canvas at the end of the second round.
Falowo had Palomeque hurt against the ropes midway through the third when Palomeque threw a quick kick in an apparent attempt to put some distance between he and Falowo. Referee Joey Lupino stepped in and immediately disqualified Palomeque, giving Falowo his first victory since May.
Making his Rhode Island debut, Louisiana cruiserweight Alvin Varmall Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs) put on quite the show against his taller opponent, Andre Ward (1-2-4) of Washington, D.C., stopping Ward in the closing seconds of the third round. As time began to wind down, Varmall Jr. wobbled Ward with a hard, overhand right and then sent Ward crashing to the canvas with a double left hook combination, ending the fight with just one second remaining in the round.
In a regional battle between two tough middleweights,
Providence’s KJ Harrison-Lombardi (5-0-1) remained unbeaten with a 40-36, 40-36, 39-37 win over the gritty Antonio Fernandes (4-15-2) of Brockton, Mass. With most of the action taking place in the center of the ring, Harrison-Lombardi was the aggressor throughout the fight, landing the cleaner, more efficient punches. As always, Fernandes hung in and fought his way off the ropes several times, but Harrison-Lombardi won decisively, his third win since October.
2 *NEW* HOURS OF #BEINGMARYJANE = the end of this season. And it ends with a shocker!! TUES 9P|8c #BMJFinale
Missed any of the fun? #WeGotYou. We are marathoning the movie + all the episodes from Season 1 starting TUESDAY at 1P|12c. So, call in sick to work and spend the day with us! NOTE: #BMJfinale starts at 9P\8c ---------1 hour earlier than normal time
Philadelphia's "Hammerin'" Hank Lundy will face Angelo Santana on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 in the ShoBox main event of Don King's upcoming promotion in Cleveland, one of three big fights for Classic Entertainment & Sports in the next two weeks. The world-rated Lundy is looking for his second consecutive win following a victory over Ajose Olusegun in July.
Lundy, Johnson and Biosse launch huge February triple-header for N.E.-based CES boxing
Former two-time world champion will also fight Feb. 21 as he battles Rhode Island's Jaime Velazquez at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- New England-based promoter Classic Entertainment & Sports is forging ahead with three major events in the next two weeks.
Two of CES' most prolific fighters, world-rated light welterweight "Hammerin'" Hank Lundy and Providence, R.I., super middleweight Vladine Biosse, will headline major cards on ShoBox both Friday, Feb. 21, and Friday, Feb. 28, respectively. Also on the 21st, CES will host its 2014 boxing kickoff with a major event at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., starring former two-time world champion Glen Johnson.
It's an epic month for the hardest-working promotional company in combat sports.
"Not only are we thrilled to bring a world-class fighter like Glen Johnson to our home in Providence, we're excited for the world to catch a view of two our top fighters in Vladine Biosse and Hank Lundy," CES president Jimmy Burchfield Sr. said. "Most boxing fans already know what 'Hammerin'' Hank is all about. He grew up on ESPN, fighting on the road against some of the best in the world, and now he'll bring his talents to ShoBox where he belongs.
"This is an equally big fight for Biosse. He's got a tremendous story. He came to this country not even knowing how to speak English, and now he's an American citizen looking to shock the world on Feb. 28th. If you haven't seen him yet, you're missing the boat. He's already showcased his talents twice on ESPN with two big wins and now he's taking it to the next level. This is what we do at CES; we promised our fans we'd bring them bigger and better events in 2014 and this is a great way to start a new year."
Philadelphia's Lundy (23-3-1, 11 KOs), ranked among the top 15 in the 140-pound division in two major sanctioning bodies, will face Miami's Angelo Santana (14-1, 11 KOs) at 135 pounds in the 10-round main event of Don King's ShoBox card at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland.
The hard-hitting Santana is looking to bounce back from a knockout loss to Bahodir Mamadjonov in April while Lundy is looking to build off a huge win against Ajose Olusegun in July. Lundy took the aforementioned fight against Olusegun on short notice and still won decisively, pitching a shutout on two of three judges' scorecards in their 10-round ESPN headliner. The win snapped Lundy's two-fight losing streak and vaulted him back into the conversation among the top-rated fighters in his weight class.
For Biosse (15-2-2, 7 KOs), next Friday will be his toughest test to date as he faces unbeaten middleweight prospect J'Leon Love(16-0, 9 KOs) in the Feb. 28 Mayweather Promotions ShoBox headliner at Turning Stone Casino in upstate New York.
The Cape Verdean southpaw, now fighting out of Providence, hasn't stepped inside the ring since July when he fought to a controversial draw against fellow Rhode Islander Rich Gingras, but he owns two big wins on ESPN in 2010 and 2011 and has a knack for stepping up on the sport's biggest stage. In addition to his two nationally-televised wins, Biosse also owns a dominant victory over former world-rated light heavyweight Joey Spina in 2012. A former Divison I college football player, Biosse is now trained by Paul Andrade, the father of reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) light middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade.
Love, a Dearborn Heights, Mich., native, is ranked 20th in the World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight rankings. He challenged for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) middleweight title in May and beat Philadelphia slugger Gabriel Rosado by split decision despite hitting the canvas in the sixth round, but the fight was later overturned when Love tested positive for a banned diuretic. Love rebounded with a knockout win over Lajuan Simon in December.
While Lundy is in Cleveland, the former two-time champ Johnson (53-18-2, 36 KOs) will make his Rhode Island debut, living up to his nickname, "The Road Warrior." The Jamaican-born light heavyweight will face Pawtucket, R.I., veteran Jaime Velazquez (11-5-2, 6 KOs) in the eight-round main event of CES' "Home Sweet Home" card at Twin River.
Johnson rose to fame in 2004 when he knocked out Roy Jones Jr. in defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) title and beat Antonio Tarver to earn the Boxing Writers' Association of America Fighter of the Year award. The 45-year-old slugger is coming off back-to-back wins in 2013, including a unanimous decision win over former world-title challenger Bobby Gunn in December. "Home Sweet Home" also features the return of unbeaten Providence super featherweight prospect Toka Kahn (9-0, 6 KOs), who will be fighting in his hometown for the first time in more than a year.
Tickets for "Home Sweet Home" are available at $41, $101 and $126 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. In a special twist, Patrick Sullivan will handle play-by-play duties alongside color commentator Gary "Tiger" Balletto, the former reality television star of The Contender series who is recovering from injuries sustained in a fall at his home in July.
-- CES --
Former two-time world champion Glen "The Road Warrior" Johnson (above right), seen here knocking out Allan Green during their Super Six World Classic super middleweight bout in 2010, will return to the ring Friday, Feb. 21st, 2014 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., in the 8-round main event of CES' "Home Sweet Home" card as he faces fan-favorite Jaime Velazquez.
Former champ Johnson invades Rhode Island Feb. 21st
Providence's Toka Kahn will return to his hometown and put his unbeaten record on the line on the undercard of CES' Feb. 21st event at Twin River Casino. Providence's Toka Kahn
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 11th, 2014) -- The man who once put Roy Jones Jr. to sleep and earned a reputation as boxing's toughest "Road Warrior" will test his luck in another city far from his home in Jamaica.
Glen Johnson, the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) and The Ring world light heavyweight champion, will headline Classic Entertainment & Sports' Feb. 21, 2014 card at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., when he faces veteran Jaime Velazquez of Pawtucket, R.I., in the 8-round main event of "Home Sweet Home."
Velazquez (11-5-2, 6 KOs), 42, a former New England title contender in the mid- to late-1990s, will end a 15-year layoff in his long-awaited return to the ring Feb. 21st, and he'll do it against one of the most prolific light heavyweights of this generation. Johnson (53-18-2, 36 KOs), 45, has been actively fighting for the past 25 years, a late-bloomer who didn't turn pro until he was 20, but during that stretch he's fought 11 world-title bouts and enjoyed an impressive run as the IBF and The Ring title-holder, which included his shocking knockout win over Roy Jones Jr. in 2004. Three months later, Johnson unified the light heavyweight title by beating Antonio Tarver and earned the Boxing Writer's Association of America's Fighter of the Year award.
Tickets for "Home Sweet Home" are available for $40, $100 and $126 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254.
Nicknamed "The Road Warrior" for frequently fighting -- and winning -- in his opponents' hometowns, Johnson's resume also includes a knockout win over the hard-hitting Yusaf Mack of Philadelphia and an inclusion in the Super Six World Boxing Classic in which he dropped to 168 pounds to replace an injured Mikkel Kessler and knocked out Allan Green before losing a close majority decision to World Boxing Council (WBC) champ Carl Froch in the semifinals.
Like the loss to Froch, many of Johnson's setbacks have either been too close to call or have fallen under a cloud of controversy, including a disputed draw against Clinton Woods for the then-vacant IBF title in 2003 in Woods' backyard in the United Kingdom, which Johnson avenged later that year by beating Woods unanimously for the belt. He faced Woods a third time in 2006 in the same country for the same belt and lost a close split decision in which one judge awarded the fight to Johnson by two points.
Following the trilogy with Woods, Johnson went on to beat former world champion Montell Griffin by 11th-round knockout and faced off twice against WBC title-holder Chad Dawson, losing both fights by narrow unanimous decisions. Johnson also challenged for the IBF title a third time against Tavoris Cloud and took a shot at the IBF super middleweight belt against Lucian Bute, going the distance against both fighters. Johnson pushed Cloud to the brink for 12 rounds and lost a unanimous decision despite landing more punches than Cloud, according to the CompuBox numbers.
In addition to knocking out 36 of his 73 opponents, a staggering 49 percent knockout rate, Johnson has only been stopped once in 25 years, proving his chin is as solid as his fists. The lone stoppage occurred in 1997 in the first of his 11 world-title belts against then-IBF middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins, the ageless wonder who, at 49, now holds the same light heavyweight title Johnson defended twice during the peak of his dominance in 2004. Born in Jamaica, Johnson moved to southern Florida at the age of 15.
Velazquez is best known for a series of memorable bouts on the New England circuit in the '90s, including a thriller against former world-title challenger Scott Pemberton and a six-round battle against Richard Grant, who later went on to face former super middleweight world champ Jeff Lacy. Velazquez also went the distance with former IBF contender Gabriel Hernandez and fought two draws against Holyoke, Mass., cruiserweight Darren Whitley.
"Home Sweet Home" also features the homecoming of Providence native Toka Kahn (9-0, 6 KOs), a highly-decorated amateur and now undefeated super featherweight prospect fighting under the promotional guidance of Bob Arum's Top Rank Boxing. Kahn will fight in his hometown for the first time since 2012 in a six-round bout.
"The Vermont Bully" Kevin Cobbs (7-1, 2 KOs), now fighting out of Fall River, Mass., will end his year-long layoff in a four-round light heavyweight bout while Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (10-2, 7 KOs) will return for the first time since his loss to Chris Chatman in July of 2012 in a separate six-round bout. The undercard also features the return of undefeated Providence middleweight K.J. Harrison-Lombardi (4-0-1), who will star in a four-round bout, and the Twin River debut of Louisiana cruiserweight Alvin Varmall (1-0, 1 KO), also fighting in a separate four-round bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
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Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev Defends His Light Heavyweight Title Against Undefeated Cedric Agnew
Saturday, March 29th from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City
Televised Live on HBO Boxing After Dark®
Tickets on Sale Now
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ: Dating back to December 2011,Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (23-0-1, 21 KOs) has demolished all seven opponents that he has faced by knockout in an average of less than four rounds per bout. On Saturday, March 29 he'll be looking to continue the streak and score his 22nd KO when he returns to the ring for his 2014 debut to defend his WBO World Light Heavyweight Title against undefeated challenger Cedric Agnew (26-0-0, 13 KOs) live from the Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.Kovalev vs. Agnew will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Darkbeginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Presented by Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City, tickets for the light heavyweight world title showdown are on sale now through TicketMaster online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or via phone (800) 736-1420. Fans can also contact Main Events for tickets at (973) 200-7050. Ticket prices are $26, $51, $77 and $152. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. ET. Undercard bouts will be announced shortly.
"I am excited to be back on HBO and for my first fight at Boardwalk Hall," said Kovalev. "I promise to put on an exciting show!"
Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev
Photo credits to Scott Heavey
A confident Agnew said, "I think as of now he has not seen a person of my skill level." He added, "At the end of the day you have to fight world champions to be a world champion and be considered the best. He's a world champion. I am looking to be considered one of the best."
Cedric Agnew
Main Events' President and CEO Kathy Duva said, "We're thrilled that we're able to bring Sergey to Atlantic City where we have been so successful in the past. You can't miss a second of a Kovalev fight. There's so much tension in the ring. You're almost guaranteed to see an incredible knock out!"
"In 2013, the Sergey Kovalev secret was unveiled," said Peter Nelson, director of programming, HBO Sports. "Last year, Kovalev had breakout performances in two televised fights on HBO. Kovalev has demonstrated the knockout artistry and ring activity that earn fans' respect. In his March 29 return, Kovalev will face undefeated Cedric Agnew in his HBO debut. The Chicago-native Agnew knows what an upset of Kovalev's momentum could mean to his career. Mark your calendars."
"Caesars Atlantic City's commitment to sponsoring some of the top sporting events on the East Coast is no more evident than with this March 29th HBO bout set for historic Boardwalk Hall," said Kevin Ortzman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Caesars, Bally's, and Showboat Atlantic City. "As a boxing fan, I'm particularly intrigued to watch Kovalev, live in the ring, and see if his winning streak continues."
Kovalev, originally of Chelyabinsk, Russia now residing in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, is notorious for knocking his opponents out early. Of his twenty-one career knockouts, six occurred in the first round, nine occurred in the second round and four occurred in the third round so look for Kovalev to be aggressive early and take out his opponent. Kovalev's knockouts-to-win ratio is an astounding 91%. His meteoric rise through the light heavyweight ranks began just one year ago with his third round TKO defeat over former world champion Gabriel Campillo on January 19, 2013 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. "Krusher" followed that win with his destruction of Cornelius White in another third round TKO win on June 14, 2013 to become the mandatory contender for the IBF title. Kovalev immediately proceeded to challenge for the WBO World Light Heavyweight Championship against Nathan Cleverly in Cleverly's backyard of Cardiff, Wales on August 17, 2013. He made a splash in his HBO debut by winning the title by fourth round TKO. He continued his title reign on HBO when he knocked out slick boxer Ismayl Sillakh in the second round in Quebec City, Quebec on November 30, 2013.
Cedric Agnew, of Chicago, IL, is also undefeated in 26 professional bouts with 13 of those coming by knockout. Agnew has gone the distance in his last four starts so look for him to take the dangerous Kovalev into deep waters. Agnew holds the USBA Light Heavyweight Title which he earned on April 12, 2013 in his twelve round unanimous decision over light heavyweight gatekeeper Yusaf Mack. With all of his fights taking place in Texas and the Midwest, this will be Agnew's first fight on the east coast and his HBO debut. Promoter Kathy Duva said, "I'm thrilled that Cedric Agnew stepped up to fight Sergey. For an undefeated young fighter to take a fight that it seems no one else wants, that really says a lot about him. I'm sure he'll be prepared come fight night and Kovalev will have a tough challenge in front of him."
Historic Boardwalk Hall has been home to many boxing superstars, including the late Arturo Gatti whom Main Events promoted throughout his entire career. The last nine fights of Gatti's illustrious time in the ring all took place at Boardwalk Hall, including the infamous Gatti-Ward II and III fights and Gatti's knockout wins over Jesse James Leija and Leonard Dorin.
For fight updates go to www.mainevents.com, www.CaesarsAC.com, www.BoardwalkHall.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing, www.facebook.com/CaesarsAtlanticCity, www.facebook.com/BoardwalkHall or www.facebook.com/HBOboxing and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Main_Events, https://twitter.com/CaesarsAC, https://twitter.com/BoardwalkHall and https://twitter.com/HBOboxing.
About Caesars Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest casino entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Caesars has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions, and now operates casinos on four continents. The company's resorts operate primarily under the Harrah's®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars also owns the World Series of Poker® and the London Clubs International family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.
Down & Dirty After Dark
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Johnston-Hendricks heavyweight title bout set for next CES MMA next month at Twin River
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 8th, 2013) – AXS TV’s Inside MMA announced Friday that undefeated Melrose, Mass., heavyweight John Johnston will fight for the vacant CES MMA championship March 14th, 2014 at Twin River Casino against former Ultimate Fighting Championships veteran Josh Hendricks.
The 6-foot-4 Johnston (5-0, 5 KOs) is fresh off his fifth knockout win in as many tries after stopping William Baptiste just 1 minute, 49 seconds into the opening round of their scheduled three-round bout Jan. 24th courtesy of a vicious head kick that sent both fighters crashing to the canvas.
Training out of Sityodtong in Boston, Johnston has yet to fight past the second round, winning four of his five professional bouts by first-round knockout. Facing Hendricks (19-9, 5 KOs), a Mansfield, Ohio native, will be a major step up for Johnston. The first and only time he fought at Twin River, Hendricks submitted Josh Diekmann via triangle choke in the opening round of their heavyweight bout, one of Hendricks’ 12 career submission victories.
Between 2005 and 2007, Hendricks amassed an impressive streak in which he won 10 of 11 bouts with one no contest, earning him a spot on the UFC 91 card in November of 2008 in Las Vegas, where he lost to Gabriel Gonzaga.
The March 14th card will also feature the return of Bourne, Mass., welterweight Chuck O’Neil (12-6, 4 KOs); Providence lightweight Luis Felix (10-7, 3 KOs) and Boynton Beach, Fla., welterweight Charles Rosa (6-0, 2 KOs), a graduate of Providence’s Johnson & Wales University. For more information or to pre-order tickets, visit www.cesmma.com.
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New Entertainment Internet Radio with Making History Happen on BlogTalkRadio
Upcoming Replays of Fight Night on NBCSN
In the midst of NBCSN's coverage of the Winter Olympics from Sochi, Russia, NBCSN is airing a full night of boxing replays on February 11th beginning at 7:00 PM ET.
The night will begin with two episodes of Fight Night: Future Stars airing between 7:00 and 8:00 PM: a super featherweight bout between Jason Sosa and Chip Perez (which originally took place on January 19, 2013) and a lightweight match up between Alan Gotay and Michah Branch (which originally took place on February 23, 2013).
After Future Stars, the night of fights will continue with a replay of the exciting knockout of Patrick "The Machine" Majewski by Curtis "Showtime" Stevens and the skillful defeat of former Olympian Olanrewaju Durodola by Thabiso "The Rock" Mchunu at 8:00 PM ET (originally aired January 24, 2014).
Finally, at 10:00 PM ET, NBCSN will re-air the action-packed card from December 14, 2013 featuring heavyweights Amir Mansour vs. Kelvin Price and light heavyweights Lionell Thompson vs. Ryan Coyne.
NBCSN will also re-air the Stevens-Majewski Fight Night card again on Saturday, February 8th at 1:00 AM ET.
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Former three-time world champion Ricardo Mayorga will return to the ring for the first time in more than a year at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., when he faces Raul Munoz in the eight-round main event Feb. 21st, 2014. The Mayorga-Munoz bout will be the headliner of Classic Entertainment & Sports' 2014 season debut
CES MEDIA ALERT Two-time champ Mayorga hopes to tame Munoz in long-awaited return Feb. 21st at Twin River
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Seahawks defense steal the spotlight at supebowl 48 ,number 1 defences in 2014 .
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/video/seahawks-defense-grabs-the-spotlight-on-the-grand-stage-020214
