Chris John vs Rocky Juarez ends in Draw

HBO Championship BOXING

In a featherweight Championship match Rocky Juarez vs Chris John from Indonesia. This was a great match with both fighters giving their all to the end. Champion Chris John carried the earlier matches while Rocky Juarez seemed to have a late start.
Chants of Rocky from the crowd seemed to bring energy to Juarez as he came alive at the end of eleven. A great Featherweight Championship match as both fighters were slugging till the end. The fight goes to the judges in a unanimous decision and results in a draw. Both fighters believed they won the fight. Chris Juan retains his featherweight championship title and remains undefeated.

Pavlik vs Rubio

Pavlik Defeats Rubio

Kelly (the Ghost) Pavlik (35-1-30 KO’s) gave the ultimate gift to his great Youngstown fan base by defeating Marco Antonio Rubio (43-5-1 38KO’S) and retaining his WBC /WBO Middleweight titles at the Chevrolet Center in Youngstown.
What started out as a decent matchup with both fighters feeling each other out in the first round? Pavlik’s power and precision punches begin to take over throughout the next couple of rounds. The fight looked to be coming to quick end as Pavlik landed some devastating blows to Rubio and tying him up with combinations against the ropes and in the corner. Pavlik looked great in the ring but seemed unable to finish Rubio early. Rubio’s quickness and craftsmanship in the ring was able to bail him out of trouble and keep the fight alive for another few rounds. The end of the ninth round came as the fighters returned to their corners. Before the 10th started the referee waived his arms that it’s over as the surprised fans cheered and Pavlik jumped to his feet raising his glove in victory. Ray Boom Boom m

Pavlik thanked the fans after the match and stated “theres no place like home”.

The Final Press Conference for Pavlik -Rubio

The Chevrolet Center in Youngstown will host the final press conference for the World Middleweight Champion bout of Pavlik-Rubio on Thursday February 19th. The Mandatory Challenger and number 1 contender Marco Antonio Rubio and Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik will come together to answer questions from the press. The conference is open to the public and the doors open at 11:00. When the news conference begins at noon the weather in Youngstown is predicted to be a blistering high for the day of 26 degrees. At the same time the weather in Rubio’s hometown of Torreon Mexico will be a warm 72 degrees. With snow and colder temperatures forecasted for the winner take all on Saturday’s Championship fight, and a whole town behind the Champion, will El Veneno’s winning streak end in Youngstown by the hands of a Ghost?

Fight Week Begins in Youngstown

Youngstown’s own Kelly (the Ghost) Pavlik 34-1-30 KO’s will defend his title in front of his beloved home crowd against No. 1 contender and mandatory Challenger Marco Antonio Rubio 43-4-1 this Saturday. Youngstown is buzzing with activity as the media emerges for fight week on Pavlik’s hometown. Another famous fighter and Youngstown Hero returns home for the event. Former lightweight champion Ray (Boom Boom) Mancini will be providing play by Play coverage on the fight. The Pay Per-View title fight will take place at the Chevrolet Center in Youngstown. Pavlik vs Rubio will be the second title fight of the pay per view following the Cotto- Jennings fight from Madison Square Gardens.Tickets are available through ticket master and at the Chevrolet Center. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness The Ghost in action in Youngstown. I’ll see you there!!!

Bill Stephens

Antonio Margarito Suspended

Former Welterweight Champion Antonio Margarito suspended for one year after a hardening substance was found on his hand wrap. A member of Shane Mosleys team noticed the unusual substance in the wrap and brought it to the commissions attention before the January 24th match. The hands were rewrapped and the title was dropped to Sugar Shane Mosley in the ninth round. The incident was not forgotten as The California Athletic Association handed down the one year suspension to Margarito and his trainer Javier Capetillo. Antonio Margarito has been an impressive fighter to watch with an impressive record of 37-6 - 27 KO’S, sadly this incident may overshadow anything the former champion has accomplished in the ring.

Rage in Anaheim

Vic (the Raging Bull) Darchinyan32-1-1-26 KO’S with three title belts on the line maintained his championship status and still IBF/WBA/WBC Champion defeated the Jorge Arce 51-5-1 -39KO’S in 11 rounds. The Ringside physician put a stop to the abuse at the end of the 11th round. Arce should have showed up at the press conference and skipped the first two rounds of the fight. The love and adoration of the fans couldn’t save the two time former champion against a Bull.

THE CHAMPION

After eighteen years in the ring, the undefeated World Super Middleweight Champion call’s it quits with nothing more to prove. At the age of 36 with 45 wins (32 KO’s)-0 losses and the longest reigning Champion in boxing History, Joe Calzaghe leaves the ring with an undefeated record, and the Champion of the world. How many boxers can accomplish this? Joe Calzaghe is still young enough and has enough money to devote his time to commercial interest and his many charities. Thank you Joe Calzaghe for holding the Championship will class and grace and bringing two decades of your unique style to the boxing fans. There will never be another Italian Dragon. Enjoy your retirement Champ! The Pride of Wales will be missed.

The Reunion

R&R Promotions brings back another night of knockouts on March 14th titled the Reunion. The Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati will host the Massacre as the next generation of fighters brings the hard hitting boxing action.
Dyah Davis (13-1- 7ko’s) faces Anatolly Dudchenko for six rounds of light heavyweight action. Cincinnati middleweight Dante Craig 17(13)-8-7 will be fighting in six rounds of hard hitting boxing. If you missed the pro debuts in 2008 of names such as Brandon Bennett, Adrien Broner, William Action Jackson, Tony Walker, and Haasan Murph, then you missed some awesome first round knockout action. Catch these undefeated fighters on February 14th on their way up the ranks as they continue to dominate their opponents around the ring. If you were lucky enough to be in the audience to witness the aggression from these young fighters than you know that they are destined for greatness.
Don’t miss the chance to see Team USA from the 2008 Olympics. The amateur card features, Featherweight Olympian Raynell Williams, Super Heavyweight Michael Hunter, and two time Olympian Rau’ Shee Warren. Witness the combination of power and speed from Cincinnati Amateur sensation Danny Calhoun.
With a successful Cincinnati businessman turned boxing Promoter Andrew Williams became the new face of Boxing in the City of Cincinnati and brought back Professional boxing to this great city once again. R&R Promotions and Denise Dubose LaGuidice from On the Go International continued to bring Quality talent to the local boxing community. Former Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster fought in Cincinnati in 2008 with Former Cruiserweight Champion Ravea Springs on the undercard. The August 30th fight was a joint promotion between Brewster’s company Relentless Promotions and Andrew Williams R&R Promotions.
A boxer that headlined the boxing cards during 2008 is a name that is no stranger to the City of Cincinnati; Aaron Pryor JR. Pryor JR. made his hometown Pro Debut in front of his large local fan base. Pryor is trained by the legendary Hall of Fame Manager and Trainer Emanuel Steward. Aaron Pryor Jr. is the son of Hall of Fame Boxer and former WBA/IBF Light Welterweight Champion Aaron (The Hawk) Pryor.
Cincinnati has produced some great boxers throughout the years going all the way back to the legendary Heavyweight Champion (The Cincinnati Cobra) Ezzard Charles.
Forget the roses, forget the candy, grab your keys and spend your evening supporting your local professional boxers at the Duke Energy Center for a romantic night of first round knockouts.

A Victorious Homecoming

Ricardo Williams Jr. (14-2-7 KO’S) defeated Doel Carrasquillo (12-10-1-1KO) in a unanimous decision in his first fight in Cincinnati in over four years. Super Middleweight Aaron Pryor Jr. (12-1-0 8KO’s) delivered a second round knockout to Will Prieto (5-4-1 2KO’s). The event titled Homecoming was a joint promotion at the Cincinnati U.S. Bank Arena sponsored by TKO Boxing Promotions and TMAX Events