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New Yorkers' long wait to take a subway under Manhattan's far Upper East Side ended Sunday when three new stations on the Second Avenue line opened to the public.
MIGUEL COTTO AND James Kirkland TO HOST
Dallas press conference
monday, december 19 at 12:00 pm CT
ford center at the star
New York, New York (December 17, 2016): On Monday, December 19, Five-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs), James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs), Roc Nation Sports and the Dallas Cowboys will formally address the media in Frisco, Texas, with details surrounding the upcoming junior middleweight showdown set for Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Ford Center at The Star.
Tickets priced at $304, $204, $154, $104, $79, $54 and $29 not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. local time and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 and the AT&T Stadium box office.
What: Cotto-Kirkland Official Press Conference
Who: Miguel Cotto – Five-Time World Champion
James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland – Former WBC Continental Americas & WBO NABO Champion
Ann Wolfe – Trainer of James Kirkland
Hector Soto – Manager of Miguel Cotto
Jerry Jones – Owner, President & General Manager, Dallas Cowboys
Michael Yormark – Roc Nation President & Chief of Branding and Strategy
Tony Walker – Vice President, HBO Pay-Per-View
Greg Alvarez – Texas Combative Sports Program Manager
Where: Ford Center at The Star
9 Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX 75034
South Concourse by the Main Entrance
Date: Monday, Dec. 19, 2016
Workers are busy constructing the stage where President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office on January 20th. More than a quarter million people are expected to attend the ceremony
Photo courtesy of Will Paul
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLEWEIGHT Kendrick Ball Jr., seen here receiving last-minute instructions from his father, Kendrick Ball, prior to his fight against David Wilson in July, returns to the ring Friday, Oct. 21st, 2016 at Twin River Casino against Oregon's Rafael Valencia. Ball Jr. began his pro career in May under the guidance of his father, who raised him to be a fighter following his own amateur career. Ball Jr. has won three of his first four fights, all by knockout, with the only blemish coming in July in the draw
-- There were times when Kendrick Ball was training his son at the gym during his teenage years and not quite getting the feedback he wanted.
Bystanders wondered aloud whether or not Kendrick Ball Jr. really wanted to box after all.
"Some of the parents thought I was pushing him too much because it was something I wanted him to do," Ball said.
Times have changed in Worcester, Mass. Now 24 years old and four fights into his professional career, Ball Jr. (3-0-1, 3 KOs) is every bit the fighter his father hoped and imagined he'd be, a hard-hitting body puncher who adopted his father's love for boxing as he chases his own championship dreams.
As for the push he gets from his father, that's the one constant that hasn't changed a bit.
"In the amateurs, whenever he wanted to fight, I never really pushed him like that," Ball said, "but now that he's in the pros, oh, man, I don't stop pushing."
Ball Jr. returns Friday, Oct. 16th, 2016 on the undercard of CES Boxing's 2016 Twin River Fight Series season finale at Twin River Casino in a four-round middleweight bout against Oregon's Rafael Valencia (3-4-1, 2 KOs), his fifth fight since turning pro in May.
This was Ball's plan from Day 1, to get his son to become a professional boxer and pick up where he left off in his own amateur career, one in which he captured two Junior Olympic titles as a teenager before devoting his time to training others. The first of Ball's five children, Ball Jr. took an immediate liking to the sport thanks to that initial push from his father.
"His first gift was boxing gloves," Ball recalled.
Ball Jr. had the benefit of being able to train at home; his father set up a makeshift gym in the basement, where the younger Ball remembers doing a lot of mitt work at home as a child. They'd also spend time at various gyms training with former Worcester pro Sean Fitzgerald, who's now a part of Ball's team, or working out at the Boys & Girls Club, run by the legendary Carlos Garcia.
"It was always fun doing it," Ball Jr. said, "and then, I don't know, I guess I just ended up liking it, so I continued to train."
Once his son got older, Ball figured it was time to test his ability against other fighters, but Ball Jr. was hesitant at first, mainly because he didn't quite believe in himself.
"I didn't think I was ready to fight," he said. "I just kind of fought because I didn't want people to think I was scared, so I'd just go do it anyway."
Ball knew he had to pull back the reigns. He had taken his time working his son into the boxing culture and didn't want to push him at the risk of driving him away.
"When he was younger, he wanted to fight all the time, but I wanted to wait until he got a little older," Ball said. "When he got older, he was in the gym every day with me because I opened my own gym, but every time I'd say, 'Let's go! Let's fight!' he was kind of hesitant, but he'd spar with anybody and everybody at the time, bigger guys who were way bigger than him."
Eventually, Ball Jr. began competing in regional tournaments. He lost his first six fights, admittedly because he didn't take it seriously or, perhaps, because he jumped in there just to prove to others he wasn't afraid.
Ultimately, he grew stronger and more confident with each fight. He went on a lengthy winning streak, capturing novice titles at the Rocky Marciano Tournament and the USA Boxing New England Championships, and by the time he reached his senior year of high school, something suddenly clicked.
Around that time, he met Khiary Gray, now his stablemate out of Camp Get Right, who is also trained by his father. By the time they were high school seniors, they were inseparable, and Ball had grown four inches between his freshman and senior years, adding a devastating reach to his attack.
Gray turned pro in 2014 and immediately won his first 13 fights in just under two years, pushing Ball to try to duplicate that success, but his father wasn't convinced his son was ready just yet.
"Once he saw the results Khiary had, he changed his training at the gym and told me wanted to turn pro," Ball said, "so I told him, 'You have to prove a couple of things to me in a couple of fights.' One of the things was he had to drop a kid in an amateur fight. He fought in the Rocky Marciano Tournament against this kid and I was telling him that, so he came out and dropped the kid. I was like, 'Oh, shit!'"
Everyone at Camp Get Right knew Ball Jr. had power, but his father helped turn him into an equally devastating body puncher, one of his trademarks as a trainer. After roughly 30 amateur fights, Ball Jr. turned pro in May with a scintillating knockout win over Tunde Odumosu just 1 minute, 39 seconds into the opening round. Each of his three wins have come by knockout with only Bruno Dias making it out of the first round.
Having sparred so much with fellow pros such as former world-title challenger Edwin Rodriguez and fellow amateur standout Owen Minor, Ball Jr. developed a pro style that limited him in the amateurs, but has helped him enjoy early success as a pro, especially with the attack to the body, which finished Dias in July at the 1:56 mark of the second mark.
"I focus a lot on the body with my fighters," Ball said. "My son goes to the body really, really well. He has a long reach. I'd like him to use his reach more, but he likes to bang. If he gets into a fight where someone hits him hard or whatever, it's going to be a war. He's going to go toe-to-toe with you."
Father-son relationships have been prevalent in boxing for decades. Some work, some don't. Providence's Roland Estrada trained his son, Jason Estrada, throughout his entire career, including his run to the Olympics in 2004 and continuing during the younger Estrada's quest for a heavyweight world title. The late Hector Camacho Sr. enjoyed a prolific career as a three-time world champion, but rarely worked with own son, Hector Camacho Jr., who has fought 66 times as a pro.
Ball's emphasis on commitment and respect has rubbed off on his son, a soft-spoken, 6-foot-3 gentle giant who has already won over his promoter, Jimmy Burchfield Sr., who says Ball Jr. always sends him a text the morning after each fight thanking him for the opportunity. More importantly, Ball Jr. has grown receptive to his father's criticism and praise, which isn't always the case in the father-son dynamic.
"He's at the age now where he's a grown man, so he thinks he knows everything," Ball said. "I'm constantly on him, trying to correct things, and he just thinks I'm on his ass, but like I told him before, 'If you turn pro, it's serious.' There's no half-stepping. You can get hurt in this sport. He knows I'm on him because I want the best out of him like I do with any of my fighters, so he understands.
"It works," Ball Jr. says, "because I trust what he's going to say and he's always the one trying to tell me what to do and how to do things."
They've become a near unstoppable duo; Ball's success with Gray has earned him a reputation as one of the area's up-and-coming trainers, and now he has his son, whose only blemish was a four-round majority draw against previously unbeaten David Wilson, a fight he agreed to on just seven days' notice following his win over Dias.
After recently re-signing with CES Boxing, keeping him a part of the team for the foreseeable future, the sky's the limit for Ball Jr., who's become a rising star in New England on his own terms.
"It's been a long time coming. It was a goal he set as a young kid," Ball said. "He has this book he did when he was in the third or fourth grade and he talked about how he wanted to be a pro fighter.
"It's funny when we go back and read those things. I knew it was going to happen. I just didn't want to push him into it. I wanted him to be able to do it."
Tickets for Oct. 21st are priced at $47.00, $67.00, $102.00 and $152.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com or www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Headlining the Oct. 21st fight card is the eight-round Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) Junior Middleweight International and Northeast title bout between the champion, Gray (13-1, 10 KOs), and the challenger Chris Chatman (14-5-1, 5 KOs) of Chicago, Ill.
Worcester super middleweight Ben Peak makes his professional debut in a four-round bout against Jose Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) of Hartford, Conn., and former amateur standout Anthony Marsella Jr. (1-0) of Providence makes his Rhode Island debut against Philadelphia's Bardraiel Smith (0-1) in a junior welterweight bout, all three in four rounds.
Worcester's Irvin Gonzalez Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) returns to face Providence, R.I., native Cido Hoff (1-0-1) in a four-round featherweight bout and Jamaine Ortiz (2-0, 2 KOs), also of Worcester, puts his unbeaten record on the line against veteran junior welterweight Isaiah Robinson (3-3, 2 KOs) of Durham, N.C.
New London, Conn., junior welterweight Cristobal Marrero (1-0, 1 KO) takes on Woburn, Mass., vet Bruno Dias (0-1) and junior welterweight Jonathan Figueroa (1-0, 1 KO) of Hartford, Conn., faces Philadelphia's Shavonte Dixon (0-1), both in four-round bouts.
Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information, follow CES Boxing on Instagram at @CESBOXING and use the hashtag #ChatmanGray to join the conversation.
-- CES --
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Homicide investigators have concluded that the murder of twenty-one year old Muhanad Jawad on 18 October, 2016 is not related to the four individuals apprehended on Quinnipiac Avenue in the stolen Honda CRV.
Detectives investigating the homicide are examining and enhancing surveillance tapes from several cameras. None of these are being made available to the public. They are evidentiary. If, at some point, investigators determine releasing such images would benefit the investigation, we will do so.
Based on evidence and surveillance, detectives believe Jawad was targeted by his murderer. Robbery was not his motive. At the time of his death, Jawad had several criminal cases pending including firearm theft, assault on a police officer and charges he was dealing drugs.
Anyone who witnessed the crime or who has information valuable to investigators is urged to phone detectives at 203-946-6304. Calls may be made anonymously.
Jaylen Brown shows his highlight ability with two impressive plays in his NBA debut!
Jill Scott, Tyrese, Monica, Anthony Hamilton, And More! Get Tickets To Soul Train Weekend Now
Isaac Chilemba Returns to the Ring
to Face Oleksandr Gvozdyk
on Kovalev vs. Ward "Pound for Pound" Undercard
Saturday, November 19 from the T-Mobile Arena
Presented Live by HBO Pay-Per-View®
Las Vegas, Nevada: Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) will return to the United States on Saturday, Nov. 19 to face dangerous light heavyweight prospect and NABF Light Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr "The Nail" Gvozdyk (11-0, 9 KOs) in a ten round bout as part of the Kovalev vs. Ward "Pound for Pound" pay-per-view telecast live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The bout will be presented by Main Events in association with Top Rank. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Chilemba, 29, a native of Blantyre, Malawi fighting out of Johannesburg, South Africa, is coming off a hard-fought loss against WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev. Isaac holds the impressive distinction as only the second fighter in Kovalev's career to go the full 12 rounds. The only is future Hall-of-Famer Bernard "The Alien" Hopkins. In doing so, Chilemba managed to raise more than a few eyebrows among boxing fans and media.
In this redemption fight, Chilemba will have a tough challenge against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, 29, of Kharkov, Ukraine. Despite having only 11 professional bouts, Gvozdyk is a top-ten ranked light heavyweight in the WBC, WBO and IBF. Since making his professional debut in 2014, Oleksandr has defeated the first 11 opponents he has faced, stopping nine of them for an impressive 82% knockout-to-win ratio. In his last bout Gvozdyk secured his fifth straight stoppage and made his first successful defense of his NABF Light Heavyweight Title against Tommy Karpency in Las Vegas in July.
When asked about this match-up Chilemba responded, "Firstly, I thank Main Events for standing by me and for this opportunity. I thank my manager, Jodi Solomon, for always standing by my side and believing in me. I thank HBO, my fans, and all boxing followers around the globe. Oleksandr Gvozdyk, with a good amateur back ground, who is a highly as a rated and undefeated as a pro. I'm going to work with my idol, the person I look up to most, Roy Jones Jr. This is a huge opportunity for me to train with him, learn from him, and have him in my corner. Not only is he the greatest, but he cares and has love for the game. I'm looking forward to getting back in the ring, and completing what I should have done in my fight against Kovalev, but 10 times better than ever!"
This fight will be the first time Isaac will be working with his new trainer and legendary fighter, Roy Jones, Jr. who said, "Isaac is a very exciting fighter with a lot of upside. I am very excited to be training him and be part of his team now. I look forward to seeing much bigger and better things from him in the future. He is fighting a very good opponent so we look forward to this challenge. I can't wait to start to work with him."
Chilemba's manager, Jodi Solomon, added, "I am very grateful and happy that Main Events gave Isaac the opportunity to be on this card. I have no doubt he will come into the ring with as much determination and heart as he did against Kovalev and prove that he has what it takes. Also having Roy Jones Jr. in his corner I believe will only bring out an even better Isaac."
Gvozdyk said, "I am really happy to have this opportunity to fight on such a big card like Kovalev-Ward. Thanks to Top Rank, Main Events and to my manager Egis Klimas to make my goals come true! Chilemba is a tough opponent and I am expecting a tough fight. It's a good test for me and I will pass it!"
Oleksandr's trainer, Robert Garcia, added, "Oleksandr Gvozdyk is an Olympic medalist with a lot of amateur experience, great skills and tremendous power. Chilemba is a very good fighter who lost a decision to Kovalev. I think Chilemba will bring the best out of Gvozdyk. Gvozdyk is very dedicated and came to the USA to become a world champion and this fight gets him closer to that dream."
Gvozdyk is managed by Egis Klimas who also manages Sergey Kovalev. Klimas said, "I want to thank our promoter and Chilemba's promoter, Main Events, for giving us this great opportunity. A special thanks to Isaac for taking this fight right after his severe fight against 'The Krusher.' Isaac look good in his last fight and we hope he can bring the same kind of performance or even better to the ring on November 19. We are very excited as bouts like this one will make this great show better and better. See you in Las Vegas on November 19 or on HBO Pay-Per-View."
According to Main Events' CEO, Kathy Duva, "Isaac was a warrior against Sergey Kovalev. That was a tough battle for both fighters. Many fighters would have preferred a tune-up fight after facing Sergey Kovalev for 12 rounds but Isaac has the heart of a champion. He wasted no time getting back in the ring and demanded the toughest opposition we could find for him. This should be a great match-up on November 19 in Las Vegas."
"This is a huge opportunity and a step up fight for Oleksandr especially fighting on this card. We believe he's ready but there's only one way to find out and we'll all have the answer on November 19," said Carl Moretti, VP, Top Rank.
Kovalev vs. Ward will take place Saturday, Nov. 19 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. "Pound for Pound" is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions and sponsored by MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.
Follow the conversation using #KovalevWard. FOLLOW US:
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Photo courtesy of Will Paul CALVIN KATTAR OF Methuen, Mass., seen here celebrating his win at "CES MMA 34" at Foxwoods Resort Casino in April, returns to the cage Friday in the co-main event of "CES MMA 38" against Connecticut's Chris Foster, a bout that will be televised live on AXS TV from Foxwoods. Kattar's win in April ended a three-year layoff. The Kattar-Foster bout is one of six on the televised main card, which begins at 9 p.m. ET. The 11-fight card begins at 7 with five preliminary bouts.
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UFC vets Soriano, Makashvili clash in Friday night's CES MMA 38 AXS TV headliner at Foxwoods
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MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (Sept. 20th, 2016) -- CES MMA returns to AXS TV and Foxwoods Resort Casino on Friday, Sept. 23rd, 2016 as Ultimate Fighting Champions (UFC) vets Levan Makashvili and Sean Soriano square off at "CES MMA 38" at The Fox Theater.
Friday's loaded lineup also features a showdown between rival regional featherweights Calvin Kattar and Chris Foster, plus the return of undefeated prospects Rico DiSciullo and Carlos Candelario.
The televised main card begins at 9 p.m. ET on AXS TV Fights. The preliminary card begins at 7 and doors open at 6. Tickets for "CES MMA 38" are priced at $40.00, $60.00, $100.00 and $150.00 and can be purchased at www.cesmma.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.foxwoods.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or 800-200-2882 or at The Fox Theater Box Office. All bouts are subject to change.
Born in Providence, R.I., and now training out of Miami, the three-time UFC vet Soriano (9-4, 4 KOs) ends a six-month drought in Friday's main event and fights under the CES MMA banner for the first time since 2012 when the 5-foot-9 featherweight stopped Lee Metcalf in 34 seconds. Makashvili (8-2-1, 3 KOs), an Oceanside, N.Y., resident, returns following his unanimous decision win over Ryan Sanders at "CES MMA 36" when he filled in for injured CES MMA Lightweight Champion Luis Felix.
Methuen, Mass., featherweight Kattar (15-2, 6 KOs) aims for his eighth consecutive win in the co-feature against Middletown, Conn., vet Foster (9-4, 5 KOs), a former CES MMA title challenger who has won two of his last three suffering a knockout loss to current UFC vet Rob Font in 2013. Kattar recently ended a three-year layoff in April when he beat Kenny Foster by split decision at "CES MMA 34," also at Foxwoods.
The televised main card features six bouts total, including the unbeaten Candelario (4-0, 1 KO), a New Britain, Conn., flyweight making his fourth consecutive CES MMA appearance after defeating Roosevelt Archie in June at "CES MMA 36." On Friday, Candelario puts his perfect record on the line against Ovid, N.Y., vet Brandon Ware (2-1).
Also on the main card, Peabody, Mass., bantamweight DiSciullo (6-0, 3 KOs) aims for his fourth consecutive win under the CES MMA banner and fifth overall when he faces Illinois' David Garcia (3-1-1, 2 KOs), who has won three of his last four, including two by knockout. The popular DiSciullo last fought in April at "CES MMA 35" when he knocked out Jake Constant with a body slam in the opening round.
"CES MMA 38" also features the return of former CES MMA title challenger and submission specialist Kody Nordby (6-4) of Woonsocket, R.I., who hopes to rebound from his loss to Andre Soukhamthath in March when he faces Brandon Seyler (5-3-1, 1 KO) of Frisco, Tex. Rounding out the main card, Peabody, Mass., heavyweight Pat Walsh (7-2, 2 KOs) faces Carlos Zevallos (3-3, 1 KO) of Florida.
The preliminary card features five exciting bouts, starting with Norwich, Conn., featherweight Pete Rogers Jr. (2-3, 2 KOs) battling Maine's Derek Shorey (3-7, 2 KOs) and lightweight Lionel Young (7-15, 1 KO) of Brockton, Mass., facing Meredith, N.H., vet Wayne Alqhuist (1-3, 1 KO). In the bantamweight division, Kris Moutinho of Milford, Mass., and Matthew Maldonado of Brooklyn face one another in their professional debuts and Richie Santiago, also from Milford, debuts against Elmira, N.Y., vet Quentin Gaskins (1-3). Quincy, Mass., middleweight Mike Rodriguez (4-1, 2 KOs) will be featured in a separate three-round bout.
Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/ces.mma for more information and use the hashtag #CES38 to join the conversation.
-- CES --
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On the eve of his Apple Music Festival performance, Elton John talks about the possibility of quitting touring so that he can spend more time with his family.
Full list of all the Emmy's winners 2016
CITY OFFICIALS POST PLANNED ROAD CLOSURES AHEAD OF FRIDAY’S GRAND PRIX BIKE RACES
New Haven – City officials today released the following traffic advisory about planned road closures ahead of Friday’s New Haven Grand Prix bicycle races. City streets will be closed entirely or lanes will be restricted to accommodate a race course that includes Chapel, High, Elm, and Temple streets.
Press outlets are encouraged to help relay this information to readers and viewers to minimize surprises, confusion, and disruption on Friday.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY:
New Haven Grand Prix, Friday 9/16/16.
Several downtown streets will be closed for the event. See times below.
1. Temple Street – Elm to Chapel Street 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
2. Chapel Street – Temple to High Street 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
3. College Street – Elm to Crown Street Noon – Midnight
4. High Street – Chapel to Elm Street 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
In addition, Elm Street will operate with only one travel lane from approximately 3:00 p.m. until the event ends at 11:00 p.m. between York Street and Temple Street.
Motorist are advised to use alternate routes.
The Sun win 89-87 over the Indiana Fever tonight behind 21 points from Jasmine Thomas.
http://www.zimbio.com/The+Most+Promising+New+TV+Shows+of+Fall+2016
The Sun fell to the Chicago Sky 96-86 on Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Maxwell, Mary J. Blige Announce U.S. Dates for King and Queen of Hearts Tour
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1265777500141661.1073741844.179338498785572&type=3
