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http://www.gettyimages.com/search/sets/czRk6tQAuE2x0Ojulk8cug
"The New CT Boxing Chairman"
https://m.facebook.com/mrtroylmarshall/albums/1262072593802952/?refid=13&ref=bookmarks
Johnny Depp to Play Notorious B.I.G. Case Detective Russell Poole in New Movie on the Rapper's Death
http://www.zimbio.com/Movie+News/articles/dfcpIkMFgSP/Johnny+Depp+Play+Notorious+B+G+Case+Detective
STUDY: LATINO POPULATION GROWTH SLIPS BEHIND ASIAN AMERICANS
http://atimes.com/2015/09/what-president-xis-us-visit-accomplished-koo/
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CT NAACP Harmony Classic Weekend!!!
On September 16th-17th, the CT NAACP will host their Harmony Classic Weekend at Central Connecticut State University. On Friday, September 16th, 3 workshops will be held for both adults and youth between 7:00 pm-10 pm in the Torp Theatre ( Davidson Hall) on the CCSU campus. The workshop topics are: Improving Community Relations with Law Enforcement, The Lack of Black and Hispanic Teachers in the Public School System and Get Out to Vote - ...GOTV.
On Saturday, September 17th, the Harmony Classic Football Game, CCSU vs. Bowie State University will begin @ 3:00 pm and the Tailgate Party will begin @ 10:00 am. Please see flyers attached for additional information or call (860) 523-9962.
VERY IMPORTANT*** volunteers will work 2 hour shifts pertaining to tailgate set up, voter registration and NAACP membership drives. For Tix, Vendor, or reserving Tailgate Space please call once again 860-523-9962 - our office hours are Mon - Frii 10am to 4pm!!!!
MAYOR HARP ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF NHPD
CHIEF ESSERMAN, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 2ND;
SAYS IT FOLLOWS SUCCESSFUL, 5-YEAR TENURE
ASSISTANT CHIEF CAMPBELL TO STAY ON AS INTERIM CHIEF
New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp announced today that by mutual agreement, Chief of Police Dean Esserman has resigned his position, effective September 2nd. Mayor Harp and Chief Esserman agree this decision follows a process in which the best interests of New Haven remained first and foremost.
“Crime and violence have steadily and consistently decreased in New Haven throughout the nearly five years of Chief Esserman’s tenure and I’m grateful for the chief’s successful legacy,” Mayor Harp said. “Public safety in New Haven is improved after a return to grass roots community policing, productive partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, and positive interaction with community organizations.”
“Weekly, data-driven review and analysis of police activity is combined with an expanded use of technology to make New Haven a safer community – trust continues to grow between police officers and the communities they serve,” Mayor Harp added. “Residents and visitors feel safer and in fact are safer as a result.”
“It has been a privilege to serve Mayor Harp and work alongside the remarkable men and women of the New Haven Department of Police Service, who no doubt have earned the title, ‘New Haven’s Finest,’” Chief Esserman said. “Last and certainly not least, it has been my privilege to serve the wonderful people of New Haven – I am so very grateful for having had this opportunity to do so.”
“I am confident in the future of the New Haven Police Department because of the excellent leadership, command staff, supervisors, detectives, and patrol officers who serve; day and night they earn the respect and gratitude of those who live in and visit New Haven,” Chief Esserman added.
Mayor Harp said Assistant Chief Anthony Campbell will continue to serve as Interim Chief of Police.
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NHPD Safety Tips for Back to School Safety
Traveling to and from School
¨ Plan a walking route to school or the bus stop. Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings and, if possible, with intersections that have crossing guards.
¨ Walk the route with your child beforehand. Tell him or her to stay away from parks, vacant lots, fields and other places where there aren’t many people around.
¨ Teach your child never to talk to strangers or accept rides or gifts from strangers. Remember, a stranger is anyone you or your children don’t know well or don’t trust.
¨ Make sure your child walks to and from school with a sibling, friend, or neighbor.
¨ Teach your kids — whether walking, biking, or riding the bus to school — to obey all traffic signals, signs and traffic officers. Remind them to be extra careful in bad weather.
¨ If your child bikes to school make sure he wears a helmet that meets one of the safety standards (U.S. CPSC, Snell, ANSI, ASTM, or Canadian). Research indicates that a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent.
¨ Be sure that your child knows his or her home phone number and address, your work number, the number of another trusted adult and how to call 911 for emergencies.
¨ Avoid any drawstrings on the hood or around the neck of jackets and sweatshirts. Drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets should extend no more than three inches long to prevent catching in car and school bus doors or getting caught on playground equipment.
Bullying
¨ Make sure you discuss bullying with your child and that he or she knows to report it to you or a teacher.
¨ Notify Police or school administrators if you suspect your child is being bullied.
Strangers
¨ Avoid talking to strangers. Teach your children to get distance between themselves and anyone who tries to approach or make contact with them.
¨ If a stranger does approach your child, make sure they know to immediately report the incident to you or a teacher.
¨ Teach your children to never get into a vehicle with anyone, even if they know them, without your permission.
School Resource Officers
¨ Have your child introduce themselves to the SRO
Social Media
¨ Monitor your child’s social media or texting interactions so you can identify problems before they get out of hand.
¨ Disable Location-based services. Location-based services can be one of the most dangerous features provided by social networking sites. It exposes the profile user’s location and whereabouts. The service also has a feature that allows users to tag who they are with at any given time. While it can be fun to share your location with friends and family, it can also increase your vulnerability, potentially opening you up to being a crime victim.
Predators can use this tool to track your movements and determine when you are alone or when you are not at home.
Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward "Pound for Pound"
New York Press Conference
Tuesday, September 6 at 12:00 PM
Le Parker Meridien
New York, New York: On Tuesday in New York City, Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) and Andre "S.O.G." Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) will formally address the media with details surrounding their upcoming fight for "Pound for Pound" supremacy and Kovalev's WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championships. The event will also be streamed live via KovalevWard.com.
Tickets start at $55 and are available on axs.com, t-mobilearena.com and at the T-Mobile Arena box office.
What:
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Kovalev-Ward "Pound for Pound" Official Press Conference
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Who:
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Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev - No. 2 Pound-for-Pound* and WBO, WBA & IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
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Andre "S.O.G." Ward - Two-Time World Champion
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John David Jackson - Trainer of Sergey Kovalev
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Virgil Hunter - Trainer of Andre Ward
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Egis Klimas - Manager of Sergey Kovalev
James Prince - Manager of Andre Ward
Kathy Duva - CEO of Main Events
Michael Yormark - Roc Nation President & Chief of Branding and Strategy
Peter Nelson - Executive Vice President, HBO Sports
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Where:
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Le Parker Meridien - The Estrela Room - Penthouse Level
119 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019
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Date:
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Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016
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Time:
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12:00 p.m. ET - Media Arrival and Lunch
12:30 p.m. ET - Press Conference Begins
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Live Stream:
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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.
Kovalev and Ward are currently ranked the No. 2 and No. 4 pound-for-pound boxers in the world, respectively, by The Ring Magazine, making their hotly anticipated fight only the third bout in the history of The Ring Magazine pound-for-pound list to pit two undefeated Top 5-ranked pound-for-pound fighters against each other. Oddsmakers and pundits have this fight evenly matched at 50-50 and it is poised to be a sure-fire 2016 Fight of the Year candidate. History will be made on Nov. 19th!
*According to The Ring Magazine
Attorney General Loretta Lynch says health care fraud sweeps across the country have led to charges against 300 people including doctors, nurses, physical therapists and home health care providers accused of bilking Medicare and Medicaid
Photos courtesy of Jake Aiken
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When "The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo Jr., three-time world title challenger and former reality television star
RHODE ISLAND SUPER middleweight Angel Camacho Jr. (above) addresses the media to discuss his upcoming bout against fellow Rhode Islander Peter Manfredo Jr. (below), scheduled for Friday, May 13th, 2016 presented by CES Boxing at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. The undefeated Camacho puts his 15-0 record on the line against Manfredo, who comes out of retirement following a two and a half year layoff. The 10-round showdown headlines CES Boxing's latest installment of the 2016 Twin River Casino Fight Series, a nine-fight card that also features two title bouts and the debuts of three new dditions to the CES roster
MANFREDO JR. ENDS TWO-YEAR LAYOFF TO FACE UNBEATEN CAMACHO MAY 13TH
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 14th, 2016) -- Certain fights need no formal introduction or any additional explanation as to why they make sense or why you should care. Every so often, the names alone speak volumes.
When "The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo Jr., three-time world title challenger and former reality television star, returns to the ring Friday, May 13th, 2016 at Twin River Casino for the first time in more than two years, he'll do so with the same unrelenting courage and confidence he's carried throughout the course of his career, again answering the bell against a hungry, up-and-comer, fellow Providence native Angel Camacho Jr.
The 10-round Manfredo-Camacho showdown headlines the latest installment of CES Boxing's 2016 Twin River Casino Fight Series, a loaded lineup featuring two title bouts and the Rhode Island debuts of CES' newest additions to the roster.
"These are the kind of fights the fans want to see in this modern-day boxing climate. These are the fights that will keep this sport alive," CES Boxing president Jimmy Burchfield Sr. said. "On May 13th, you have two fighters willing to put everything on the line, one who is a Rhode Island icon and the other who needs to put aside his own admiration and respect for his opponent in order to earn his spot among the elite fighters in his weight class.
"We bring our fans major-league fights with major-league ramifications and that tradition continues May 13th. From top to bottom, you won't see a better fight card in New England or anywhere else in 2016. Every fight is competitive. Every fight is a pick-'em fight."
Tickets for May 13th are priced at $46.00, $66.00, $101.00, $151.00 (VIP) and $201.00 (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.
May 13th is Manfredo's first fight since November of 2013, when he stopped Rhode Island's Rich Gingras in the 8th round of a scheduled 10-round bout. Coincidentally, Camacho's last win was also against Gingras via 8th-round stoppage in September for the then vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) International Light Heavyweight Title.
Citing he feels "great," the 36-year-old Manfredo expresses a desire to make one more run to the top while leaning on his experience and ring generalship to carry him past the younger Camacho, who turns 33 in July.
"I had two and a half years off and when I approached Jimmy and told him I wanted to fight again, I said, 'Whoever you've got,'" Manfredo said at Tuesday's Media Day to officially announce the May 13th bout. "I feel young. I feel good.
"I'm already ready. If the fight were tomorrow, I'd be ready. If you feel good and you look good, then there's really no fear. There's nothing he's going to show me that I haven't seen. I've been in there with the best fighters in the world and have only lost to the best. I don't feel like he's on my level. I'm a better fighter than him. I've got a lot of respect for him, don't get me wrong, but I still feel like I'm on a different level."
Camacho shares in the respect and admiration for his opponent, a Rhode Island icon who he admits he grew up watching on public access and openly rooted for when Manfredo fought Joe Calzaghe for the super middleweight title in 2007. Now the two stand toe-to-toe May 13th and the stakes couldn't be any higher.
A win over Manfredo could propel Camacho's career to new heights. The 32-year-old Providence native is at the top of his game, having won each of his last three fights since ending a three-year layoff in November of 2014 with a win over Paul Gonsalvez. Since then, Camacho has beaten regional favorite Chris Chatman and Gingras, cementing his status as one of the top super middleweights in the northeast.
"I will win this fight and it's going to launch me into the stratosphere," Camacho said. "I'm getting the opportunity to fight someone I looked up to as a young buck before I even started boxing in the amateurs. I get to fight Peter Manfredo, my hometown hero? Absolutely, I'll fight him."
Manfredo's resume is well publicized. The Providence native rose to fame as a finalist on Season 1 of The Contender and became a global star with knockout wins over regional rivals Scott Pemberton and Joey Spina in 2006. Manfredo parlayed his newfound success into a Pay Per View bout in Las Vegas against Jeff Lacy in addition to world-title bouts against Calzaghe, Sakio Bika and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Upon returning to the regional scene in 2012, Manfredo dazzled in wins over Rayco Saunders and Walter Wright before knocking out Gingras a year later.
On May 13th, his latest return to Twin River highlights a tremendous lineup featuring two title bouts. In addition to Manfredo-Camacho, undefeated Worcester, Mass., junior middleweight Khiary Gray (12-0, 9 KOs) defends his UBF Northeast Title against Fort Meyers, Fla., vet Quinton Willis (10-3-2, 5 KOs) in an 8-round bout.
"I'm proud to be on this card," said Gray, who last fought in February in a unanimous decision win over Eduardo Flores. "The dude I'm fighting, I don't know anything about him. This is nothing new to me. I don't take him lightly. He's got 10 wins and five knockouts, but he has nothing to lose. He has three losses. I have everything to lose, but he's not going to take my belt. He's not going to win a round from me.
"This is either going eight rounds or not, because I'm not losing my '0' for anybody."
In a fight that could steal the show, regional standouts Nick DeLomba (8-1, 2 KOs) of Cranston, R.I., and the undefeated Freddy Sanchez (7-0, 5 KOs) of Worcester face off in a 6-round bout for the vacant New England Super Featherweight Title. DeLomba is looking to rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Gledwin Ortiz in September while Sanchez returns to the ring for the first time in two and a half months after suffering a no decision against Antonio Fernandes due to an accidental head-butt and subsequent cut over his right eye.
"There's really not much to say about this fight," Sanchez said at Wednesday's pep rally / press conference in Worcester. "I'm just going to go in there and do what I've got to do. I do my talking in the ring."
Added DeLomba: "I've never worked so hard in my life or been as excited about a fight as I am for this one. You're going to see a whole new fighter on May 13th."
The undercard also features the Rhode Island return of New Haven, Conn., welterweight Jimmy Williams (10-0-1, 5 KOs), who puts his unbeaten record on the line against the hard-hitting Juan Rodriguez Jr. (12-4, 5 KOs) of Union City, N.J., and the northeast debut of CES' latest acquisition, lightweight Divante Jones (7-0, 5 KOs) of Columbia, S.C., in a 4-round bout.
Rivalries will renew May 13th in a highly anticipated rematch between Stoughton, Mass., super featherweight Travis Demko (4-0, 1 KO) and Mohamad Allam (2-1, 1 KO) of Holyoke, Mass. The two faced one another in September with Demko winning by unanimous decision in a 4-round bout. They will now settle the score May 13th in a 6-round bout.
"All the shit-talking is done. I don't have much to say. You all saw the last fight. This is going to be a different fight," Allam said. "I'm in a much better place mentally, physically. I've never trained like this in my life.
"When you see me, you're going to see a different person. I'm going to have everyone there asking, 'Who's that kid?'"
Also returning to Twin River, unbeaten Framingham, Mass., lightweight Julio Perez (4-0) faces Providence's Cido Hoff (0-0-1) in a 4-round bout, while two fighters from Worcester make their professional debuts.
Kendrick Ball Jr., the son of Gray's head trainer, Kendrick Ball, debuts in a 4-round super middleweight bout against Providence's Tunde Odumosu, trained by Rhode Island's Victor Fagnant.
"I'm thankful to Jimmy for allowing me to make my pro debut on this exciting card," Ball Jr. said. "I've been working hard and I'm ready to go in there and get the job done."
Also from Worcester, decorated amateur Jamaine Ortiz, another new member of the CES team, debuts in a 4-round super lightweight bout against Skowhegan, Maine vet Josh Parker (0-2-1). Ortiz signed a long-term promotional agreement with CES during a special announcement at Wednesday's rally. A former New England Golden Gloves champion, Western N.E. Golden Gloves titlist and semifinalist in the 2015 U.S. Olympic Trials, Ortiz turns 20 later this month.
"I'm very excited about being showcased on this card and I'm excited to be with the CES family," Ortiz said. "From here on out, it's going to be fireworks and the whole team is going to blow up. Worcester is going to blow up, and that's what I'm here to do, to showcase Worcester and show we produce great fighters."
Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information and use the hashtag #ManfredoCamacho to join the conversation.
-- CES --
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MAYOR HARP, NHFPL’S BROGAN: ALL BRANCHES NOW BOAST ACCESS TO GIGABIT INTERNET, ‘WI-FI’
New Haven – Mayor Toni N. Harp and New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL) Director Martha Brogan announced today – to coincide with the start of National Library Week – that high-speed broadband internet access and improved Wi-Fi service is now available at the Ives Main Library and at all four of the system’s neighborhood branches. This upgrade is consistent with a Harp administration priority to bring public resources to bear and bridge the existing digital divide in New Haven.
“Today’s announcement signals terrific progress toward our goal of improved access to technology and increased digital literacy across-the-board in New Haven; library patrons citywide will now have at their fingertips gigabit speed in all their computer transactions,” Mayor Harp said. “The ability to use digital technology is now an absolute necessity in our culture – this new feature in all library branches gives all city residents the opportunity to participate fully in the high-speed exchange of ideas and information.”
“We’re excited to lead the way in in the City with gigabit speed service from all of our locations,” City Librarian, Martha Brogan, states, “knowing that many residents rely on the public library’s computers for a diverse set of tasks ranging from job-hunting and filing their income tax to reading online magazines and keeping up with local news.”
There were more than 140,000 log-ins registered from NHFPL’s 180 public workstations last year. Increasingly, library customers also access the internet from their personal e-devices—cell phones or tablets—and now they will have improved, secure wireless connectivity throughout the library system.
Through its state-of-the-art technology infrastructure and tech-savvy staff, who teach digital literacy and offer one-on-one computer consultations, the NHFPL plays a pivotal role in bringing digital access equity across New Haven’s neighborhoods.
The project is made financially feasible thanks to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) e-rate program which provides discounts to assist libraries and schools in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunication and internet access. Under the direction of NHFPL’s IT Manager, John Glendon, Digital BackOffice (Milford, CT) which manages NHFPL’s broadband services, designed and implemented the broadband and Wi-Fi upgrades.
As a partner with NHFPL, DBO Managing Partner, Ron Rich understands that “dependable internet service is critical for business, government, education and libraries” and DBO guarantees that the NHFPL wide area network will have less than 1 hour of unscheduled downtime per month. With support from DBO, NHFPL participates in the Connecticut Education Network (CEN), established in 2000 to integrate high speed fiber optics networks into educational institutions, including public libraries.
This initiative is integral to the CT Gig Project, a coalition of municipalities, where Mayor Toni Harp has taken a leading role, through a commitment to bring high-speed, low-cost internet to all residents and businesses in Connecticut.
According to a recent report on Lifelong Learning and Technology released by the Pew Research Center, “Technology assets are strongly tied to the likelihood that people engage in personal learning online. Those with multiple access options (that is, a smartphone and home broadband connection) are much more likely to use the internet for most or all of their personal learning – by a 37% to 21% margin – relative to people with one or no access options.”
Refer to:
http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/03/22/lifelong-learning-and-technology/
Photo courtesy of Kelly MacDonald
BOSTON FLYWEIGHT JOHNNY Campbell (left), seen here in a 2013 bout against Matt Doherty, returns to CES MMA on Friday, April 1st, 2016 at The Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino when he faces Pennsylvania native Matt Lozano on the main card of "CES MMA 34," airing live on AXS TV. Lozano, an 8-fight vet, is a late replacement for Rodrigo Almeida, who withdrew after suffering an injury in training camp
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 29th, 2016) -- You'd think a last-minute change of opponent would unnerve a fighter, or, at the very least, provide a minor annoyance when it occurs so close to showtime.
Johnny Campbell doesn't seem to mind. Rodrigo Almeida, Matt Lozano -- they're just roadblocks on his path to stardom.
"Opponents are only a minor detail," said the Boston-based flyweight, who stars on the AXS TV main card of "CES MMA 34" Friday night at Foxwoods Resort Casino's Fox Theater.
"The man looking in the mirror is my only real opponent. I'm ready for war of all kinds."
Campbell (11-7, 5 KOs) was originally supposed to face fellow Massachusetts native Almeida, but was forced to switch gears two weeks out when Almeida suffered an ankle injury. Some minor chest-bumping ensued between the two via social media, but Campbell quickly put it behind him and instead began focusing on his new opponent, Lozano (5-3, 1 KO), a 27-year-old Reading, Pa., native with amazing big-fight experience.
Five of Lozano's eight pro fights have occurred with either Bellator, Legacy or the World Series of Fighting, three of the most recognized promotions in mixed martial arts.
Campbell insists there aren't many differences between Rodrigo and his new opponent, therefore consolidating his training leading up to the fight, but that might not even be the biggest hurdle he needs to overcome by Friday. This will be Campbell's first fight on national television. He appeared at WSOF 20, but starred on the prelims, not the main card.
Cambell acknowledges his opponent is "hungry" -- "hungry enough to jump on a tough fight on short notice," he said -- but doesn't expect any of that to be a factor once the bell rings.
"Hunger isn't the key here, necessarily," Campbell said. "I'm going to be cool, calm and calculated. This is my time. I was born for these moments. He will crumble."
The tough-talking Campbell has never been one to back away from a tough fight. After losing to Matt Doherty in his first appearance with CES MMA back in 2013, he won his next six fights, including victories over regional standouts Kody Nordby, who recently challenged for the CES MMA Bantamweight Title, and Billy Giovanella.
Up next was his WSOF debut in April of 2015, which ended in a unanimous decision loss to New Yorker Darren Mima, who recently appeared at "CES MMA XXXI." Campbell jumped right back in later that year against two-time Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) vet Tateki Matsuda. Friday's fight against Lozano is not only a chance to end a minor two-fight skid, but a major opportunity to showcase his ability on a network synonymous with helping fighters get the exposure they need.
"The mindset for this one is 100 percent I'm blessed to be doing what I love in front of a huge audience on the biggest stage of my career," he said. "I'm going in with the focused intention of winning, not because I have to, but because I deserve this.
"I've sacrificed and given back and now I'm taking what's mine. My notoriety. My money. My fame."
Getting to the next level is sometimes all about being in the right place at the right time. Campbell, if need be, could look directly at his most recent opponent, Matsuda, who made the jump to the UFC at a modest 10-5 when Dustin Kimurasuffered an injury in advance of UFC Fight Night 50.
Anyone on Friday's card could be next, including Campbell or Lozano, making this a big, but perhaps short, night, especially with Campbell predicting major fireworks.
"Knockout finish, second round," Campbell said matter-of-factly. "I will land big shots and he will wilt."
Tickets for "CES MMA 34" are priced at $40.00, $60.00 and $100.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com, www.ticketmaster.com orwww.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. Showtime is 7 p.m. ET.
The five-round main event of "CES MMA 34" features the return of reigning CES MMA Welterweight Champion Chris Curtis (13-4, 5 KOs) of Cincinnati, who defends his title for the first time in a rematch against Philadelphia's Nah-Shon Burrell (12-6, 8 KOs), one of five televised bouts on the AXS TV Fights main card.
Curtis and Burrell fought one another in October of 2010 with Curtis winning by unanimous decision, Burrell's first loss in three pro fights. Burrell won his next six, including three in a row with Strikeforce before the promotion was bought out by the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC).
The main card of "CES MMA 34" also features a middleweight bout between Calvin Kattar (14-2, 6 KOs) of Methuen, Mass., and Cortland, N.Y., vet Kenny Foster(11-10, 1 KO), a seven-time Bellator vet. Kattar last fought in 2013, beating Gabriel Baino for his sixth consecutive win, and is also remembered for defeating Saul Almeida at CES MMA's "Real Pain" pay per view event in Providence in 2012. The 5-foot-8 Foster boasts win over Lester Caslow and Eric Larkin and also went the distance against 30-fight vet Anthony Morrison at Bellator 108.
Heavyweight Steve Skrzat (8-7, 7 KOs) of Burrillville, R.I., faces Rollinsford, N.H., vet Kevin Haley (4-3, 1 KO). Also on the main card, Ludlow, Mass., lightweightLeon Davis (7-3, 1 KO) faces Lorawnt-T Nelson (7-4, 5 KOs) of Arvada, Colo.
Skrzat returns to CES MMA for the first time since 2011 having resurrected his career with wins in three of his last four bouts while Davis aims for his fifth win with CES MMA following recent victories over Jimmy Davidson and Andres Jeudi.
The "CES MMA 34" preliminaries feature four exciting bouts, including a middleweight showdown between unbeatens Carlos Candelario (2-0) of New Britain, Conn., and Syracuse's Luay Ashkar (2-0), plus the professional debuts of bantamweight Geoffrey Then and Michael Maldonado, both fighting out of Danbury, Conn. Then battles Merab Dvalishvili (1-2, 1 KO) of Long Island, N.Y., and Maldonado faces Stoughton, Mass., native George Nassar (1-0). The prelims also feature a light heavyweight bout between Cape Cod's Matt Thompson (19-10, 7 KOs) and Anton Berzin (3-1) of Philadelphia. The 29-fight veteran Thompson appeared for CES MMA in 2014 and defeated Eric Bedard via submission.
Visit www.cesmma.com, www.twitter.com/cesmma or www.facebook.com/ces.mmafor more information and use the hashtag #CES34 to join the conversation.
-- CES --
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The Terminator
Photo Credits: David Spagolo/Main Events
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Totowa, NJ: Main Events added another middleweight to their stable, which already includes former WBA World Champion Challenger Curtis "Showtime" Stevens (27-5, 20 KOs) and current top five prospect Arif "The Predator" Magomedov (17-0, 10 KOs), with the signing of "The Terminator" Virgilijus Stapulionis (17-3-1, 13 KOs*).
The 29-year old from Pasvalys, Lithuania started his career in 2005 a perfect 6-0 (3 KOs) before suffering his first defeat against the then-undefeated Thomas Troelenberg, who came into the fight with 17 wins. The Terminator would go on to redeem himself by winning his next four bouts, including a win over former ranked contender Richard Williams.
Shortly after that bout, Virgilijus would experience the first of two controversial losses in his career, against previously unbeaten and current ranked super welterweight Predrag Radosevic. The bout took place in his opponent's backyard of Montenegro and was halted in the ninth round after a cut above the eye of Virgilijus became a factor. The bout went to the scorecards, which awarded Radosevic the win in what many believed to be the wrong decision.
Virgilijus would face controversy again when he traveled to the backyard of Patrick Mendy of the United Kingdom. Stapulionis did what he had to do throughout the fight in order to secure the decision win. However, Mendy, the hometown favorite, would pick up the decision in a bout that many observers believe should have gone the other way.
The Terminator made his US debut in December of last year at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California with a second round stoppage against Cesar Vila. Earlier this year he appeared on the Kovalev-Pascal II undercard in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he earned a second round stoppage against Hungarian Laszlo Fazekas.
Stapulionis said, "I am so excited to be signed with Main Events. I want to be a champion and this is the next step to help me achieve that goal. I want to thank my team and my manager, Egis Klimas."
Virgilijus is managed by Egis Klimas who also manages WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev. Egis said, "I am so happy to bring The Terminator to the United States and to work with Main Events to make him a star. We hope to make him a force in the middleweight division."
Main Events' CEO, Kathy Duva, added, "We are very excited to work with Virgilijus. He is more than willing to fight in his opponents' backyards. He has suffered some controversial losses, but also had his bigger wins in enemy territory. A fighter who has faced that level of adversity and is still willing to be a road warrior is exactly the kind of fighter I want to promote."
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Sullivan Barrera Training Camp Notes:
Ready for Anything
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Big Bear Lake, CA: As IBF number one light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) prepares for the biggest fight of his career against one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters, Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs), at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California which will be televised live on HBO, the 34-year old from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is calm, confident and ready for anything.
Barrera trains in Big Bear Lake, California with legendary trainer Abel Sanchez. Sanchez is best known for working with IBF, WBA and WBC Interim Middleweight World Champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin. Sullivan has taken advantage of working with his prestigious coach and being surrounded by other elite boxers like Golovkin. He said, "Camp has been great. I feel great. I am ready to make history on March 26. The best advice I have received was from Gennady Golovkin who told me to work my speed and to fight intelligently. Abel Sanchez told me not lose my cool and to stay focused at all times."
This advice has given Barrera the confidence he needs to face Ward, the former WBA & WBC Super Middleweight World Champion, as he makes the transition into the light heavyweight division. According to Sullivan, "[Ward] is considered one of the top three or four fighters in the world. I admire him a lot. He is a great challenge. I love what he has done. I also consider myself one of the best talents in the world. This opportunity is something that will prove to the world that I am at the top. I think I am getting him at the right moment because he is moving up. This is the perfect fight for me to prepare for the future 175 pound fighters who are at the elite level."
Sanchez believes Sullivan is ready for this challenge because he has been able to adapt Sullivan's Cuban skills with Abel's approach to create an entirely unique style. Explained Sanchez, "Sullivan has a style that is partly from the Cuban school and partly from my school. The attacking style that he has now is because of some of the things that we practice in the gym. It's just a matter of going at Andre and taking what he gives us. I wasn't trying to change his Cuban style, what I was trying to do is make him a little more aggressive. I wanted to make him stick out his punches a little more and have better balance. I wanted a little better positioning and technique with his legs. By adding the two styles together it gives us more opportunity for him to do what he has to do."
This unique style has given Sullivan the confidence he needs as he prepares to face Ward. He said, "If I have to box, I will box. If I have to attack him, I will attack him but I will be ready for anything as the fight goes on. I, like everyone else, recognize that Andre is a great boxer. I, too, am a great boxer. The only thing that is missing in my resume is that I haven't had the opportunity. I think this is the opportunity for me to prove that I am just as good."
Ward vs. Barrera, a 12-round IBF number one position and mandatory position eliminator which is presented by Roc Nation Sports in association with Main Events, takes place Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The event is sponsored by Corona Extra, Ticketmaster, Corporate Travel Management Solutions (ctms), Glad, Lyft, Zappos, BodyArmor, SAN Nutrition, Shoe Palace, The Waterfront Hotel and Visit Oakland. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. Opening the HBO telecast will be Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jayson Velez in a 10-round fight for the NABF Featherweight title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions.
Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/WardBarreraTix) and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.
For more information, please visit www.rocnation.com, www.mainevents.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.promocionesmiguelcotto.com,
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