March 19, 2013 - After weeks of intense training in his hometown of Gilroy, Calif., Six-Time and Four-Division World ChampionRobert "The Ghost" Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KO's) has arrived in Las Vegas to continue training camp as he prepares to dethrone Eight-Time, Four-Division and current WBC Welterweight World Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather (43-0, 26 KO's). The championship showdown will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., live on SHOWTIME PPV® Saturday, May 4, 2013.

"Las Vegas is my home now and these next six weeks of training will be very grueling, but I'm well prepared to make the sufficient sacrifices that will be needed to dethrone Mayweather," said Guerrero. "The first day of camp in Las Vegas is in the books and my body is filling out perfectly. I'm feeling extremely strong right now. I will have all my bases covered for this fight and I'm leaving no stone unturned. Believe me, Floyd is in trouble and there is nothing he can do to escape the punishment I'm going to give him. God has put me in this position for a reason and May 4th can't come soon enough."

"MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero," a 12-round fight for Mayweather's WBC Welterweight World Championship is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O'Reilly Auto Parts and AT&T. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Also featured will be Daniel Ponce de Leon vs. Abner Mares, a 12-round fight for Ponce de Leon's WBC Featherweight World Championship.

Remaining tickets for "MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero" priced at $1,500, $1,250, $800 and $600, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.comwww.ticketmaster.com.

March 19, 2013 - It has been officially announced that undefeated Puerto Rican knockout specialist Jorge Maysonet Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) will take on 26 year old southpaw Gabriel Tolmajyan (13-2-1, 3KOs) in the televised co-feature of ESPN's Friday Night Fights on April 5th, featuring Marvin Quintero (25-4, 21 KOs) vs. Ammeth Diaz (31-11, 22 KOs) in an IBF lightweight title elimination bout scheduled for 12 rounds. The fight will take place at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.

The show will air live at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on ESPN2, and will be available online through WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app. The card will also air live on ESPN Deportes +, the new digital extension of ESPN Deportes, and will air tape delayed on ESPN Deportes Saturday, April 6, at 2 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Both fighters will enter the fight looking to make a statement in front of a national TV audience, but the spotlight shouldn't bother Maysonet Jr. too much due in part to the time he spent on Puerto Rico's National Team. Also, Maysonet Jr. comes from a boxing family and grew up watching his father/trainer Jorge Maysonet Sr., a former Olympian who possessed a perfect knockout rating as a professional with 22KO/TKOs in 22 bouts.

Maysonet Jr. is earning a reputation for being a savage puncher as well, winning 10 of his 11 pro victories by way of KO/TKO. It's unique to see a father and son share such a distinct attribute, but Jr. is out to separate himself and make his own name in boxing.

"I'm my father's son, yes, that's true, but I'm my own man and I want to go even further than my father. I love him being in my corner because it's reassuring, but he is honest with me and I'm able to work off of the blueprint he created. This April 5th fight will be a good opportunity for me to show some distinction and have a new generation of fans get familiar with me," Maysonet Jr. said.

His father has trained him since he was a child and helped Jr. develop a style of his own. Although the power may be genetics, the skill is wisdom handed down from a lifetime served in the ring and Jorge Sr. is adamant his son's talents beyond the power.

"He's a dangerous puncher, but he's more than that. Jorge Jr. has a very fan friendly style and we think it will come across very well on TV. My son can move, box, defend, and sharp shoot; he can fight on the inside and the outside. He's anxious to prove himself," Maysonet Sr. said.

Gary Shaw is also excited about Maysonet Jr. appearing on ESPN and having his fight broadcasted as the co-feature.

"This kid is going to reinstate hope for all the old school guys that think true power is lost; Jorge Jr. is a true powerhouse in the ring. Some guys pack a strong punch, but let Jorge touch you with one of his bombs and you'll be seeing stars for weeks. I know that this performance is all it will take for the US fans to take notice because he is a fun fighter and ESPN will gladly have him back. Once again I want to thank Doug Loughrey of ESPN for giving us the opportunity," Shaw said.

Maysonet Jr. is a member of "Team Puerto Rico", a collaboration between Warriors Boxing, Gary Shaw Productions and Universal Promotions. Their goal is to gather Puerto Rico's best boxing talent.

MIAMI (March 19, 2013) - Underrated spoiler Marcus "Hurelius" Upshaw (15-8-2, 7 KOs) has returned to Mexico, seeking revenge on Saturday night (Mar. 23) for his last fight south of the border, against two-time world title challenger Marcos Antonio "El Veneno" Rubio (56-6-1, 49 KOs) for the vacant World Boxing Council Continental Americas middleweight title.

Upshaw is a true throw-back fighter, who will really fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. The 32-year-old Floridian has done just that throughout most of his seven-year professional career, earning a reputation as a dangerous opponent who has made a reputation for pulling-off major upsets.

"If I'm in the gym and in good shape," Upshaw said, "I will fight anybody, anywhere, even on short notice. My problem was I'm a very late starter. I didn't get going until the fourth, fifth or sixth rounds. It just took me a few rounds to get going. I like to adjust to my opponents' style to decide what style I need to use. Since I've been with my head trainer, (two-time world champion) John David Jackson, I've decided to let it go early. He knows I'm a slow starter but, by the third round, I'm now firing."

In 2001, Upshaw derailed 19-1 James McGirt's ascent to the top with a controversial 10-round majority draw, in which many felt Upshaw should have had his hand raised. Two fights later, Upshaw upset 10-0 prospect Ashandi Gibbs (10-0) by way of a fourth-round technical knockout for the Florida State middleweight championship. Upshaw traveled to Quebec City in 2010 and won his signature fight to date, a stunning 10-round decision over 21-1-1 local hero Renan St. Juste, which catapulted Upshaw into the world ratings (IBF #6, WBO #9, WBC #11).

In his next fight, though, Upshaw was stopped in the fourth round by future world title challenger Osumanu Adama (18-2) for the USBA and IBO Inter-continental middleweight titles. The dream-breaker returned this past January in his last fight, as Upshaw registered am eighth-round technical knockout of local favorite Vladine Biosse (14-1-1).

"I know what they expect," Upshaw spoke about fighting favored opponents in their backyards. "It's not a surprise to me. I don't get upset. They talk tough, right up until the time we step in the ring, but once I touch them, they know. I have had a few fights taken away from me."

Upshaw acknowledges undefeated super middleweight contender Edwin Rodriguez and Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez as the best he's ever fought. Last November, Upshaw lost a 10-round decision in Mexico to Sanchez (23-0) for the WBC Youth World middleweight championship.

"After the fifth round," Upshaw noted, "I thought I had him. He's a helluva fighter, like a southpaw Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. We went 10 hard rounds. I hurt him and should have beaten him. I haven't been the same since that fight. Now, I'm out to destroy. I'm a changed fighter. This time I'm going there (Mexico) to get revenge. After my first experience fighting in Mexico, I'm going for a knockout this time. If we go 10 rounds everybody will know that we duked it out."

Rubio lost world title fights to Chavez (DEC12) and Kelly Pavlik (RTD9). The rugged Mexican has defeated Carlos Manuel Baldomir, David Lemieux, Jose Luis Zertuche twice, Enrique Ornelas, Frankie Randall, Fitz Vanderpool and Saul Roman during the course of his 13-year prizefighting career.

"As you can see by his last fight, you can't go by Marcus' record," explained his manager for the past four years, Si Stern. "Earlier in his career, his management team didn't have a plan in terms of what weight class to fight him. He was fighting light heavyweights and super middleweights, thrown to the wolves as a fill-in fighter. It took us some time to get him on the right track but, today, Marcus is a very good middleweight. There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to win this fight."

The son of a career military man, retired U.S. Navy E6 Harry Upshaw, Jr., Marcus has rich athletic DNA in his system. His uncle, the late Gene Upshaw, was an NFL Hall of Fame offensive guard for the Oakland Raiders; younger sister, Antonette, played professional basketball in the WNBA and Europe; brother Harry III played basketball in Italy, and his 15-year-old cousin, Braden, is a blue-chip Maine running back/defensive end who'll reportedly be playing college football in a few years for the University of Miami.

Tough shoes to fill, for sure, but an upset of Rubio could very well position him for the biggest fight of his life.
Everyone knows that Dancing With the Stars champ and pro dancer, Tony Dovolani has had a major impact in the world of ballroom dance, but Dovolani has another life as a boxing manager. Dovolani, a major fan of boxing his entire life, is very serious about getting more involved in the sport of the Sweet Science.

Dovolani partnered with his uncle Reggie Dovolani, cousin Ajet Dovolani and longtime business associate Louis LaRose to form Dovolani Boxing. The latest edition to the Dovolani Boxing stable is Kosovo's Sevdail Sherifi, 9-1-2, 8 KO's. Sherifi will be fighting at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon, April 20th Tyson Fury - Steve Cunningham undercard in a 6 round cruiserweight match.

Dovolani learned that 6'9" Tyson Fury has incorporated dance into his training and was delighted with the revelation. He immediately issued a challenge to Fury to participate in a Dance Off.

When Fury learned of this challenge at a press conference to announce the April 20th fight, he did not hesitate to accept and asked Dovolani to name the time and place.

Check in every Monday for more of "Tony Dovolani's Weekly Boxing Muse" at www.youtube.com/meboxingseries

Tony Dovolani's "Dancing With The Stars" partner for season 16 is country music legend Wynonna Judd.

Tony and his partner, Melissa Rycroft, were season 15 "Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars'" Mirror Ball champions.

20 NEW Boxing Greats will enter the NYBHOF on Sunday, April 28th

NEW YORK (March 6, 2013) – Golden-era heavyweight champion of the world, Jack Dempsey, and legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum lead a star-studded cast of 20 inductees into the second-year New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF)

The second annual NYSBHOF induction dinner will be held Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.n. ET), April 28, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

“This is an exceptional group of inductees,” NYSBHOF and Ring 8 president Bob Duffy said. “We are inducting legitimate New Yorkers in the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. All of these inductees have a significant impact on New York State boxing during their respective times. There are many other potential inductees but this is only our second year. We’re confident that any deserving people who haven’t been inducted yet will be inducted in due time. There’s a process we’re following. New York State was the driving force in boxing for more than a half-century and remains a major player in the sport, so we’ll have many, many great boxing people to choose from over the years.”

Posthumous participants being inducted along with Dempsey (61-6-9, 50 KOs) are the first great Italian boxer based in America, featherweight Johnny Dundee (83-32-20, 17 KOs); two-time world featherweight champion Sandy Saddler (144-16-2, 103 KOs) Sandy Saddler, who is best known for his epic rivalry with Willie Pep; and world light heavyweight champion Maxie Rosenbloom (207-39-26 (19 KOs).

Living boxers heading into the NYSBHOF are Bronx middleweight Joey Archer (61-6-9, 50 KOs), three-division world champion from the Bronx, Iran Barkley (43-19-1 (27 KOs); Brooklyn’s Mark Breland (35-3-1, 25 KOs),1984 Olympic gold medalist and two-time world welterweight titlist, Levittown light heavyweight Bobby Cassidy (59-16-3, 27 KOs); world heavyweight challenger Doug Jones (30-10-1, 20 KOs), Brooklyn’s world bantamweight and super bantamweight champion Junior Jones (50-6, 28 KOs), Brentwood’s light welterweight and welterweight champion James “Buddy” McGirt (73-6-1, 48 KOs), Brooklyn’s world light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (50-8-1, 39 KOs).

Non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF with Arum (Top Rank) are Shelly Finkel, manager of a NYSBHOF inductee from last year, Mike McCallum, as well as Evander Holyfield and Pernell Whitaker; Tony Graziano, who managed last year’s NYSBHOF inductee, Carmen Basilio, and world welterweight champion Billy Backus; Brooklyn’s Larry Merchant, arguably television’s greatest boxing analyst; posthumously: Teddy Brenner, longtime matchmaker for Madison Square Garden (1959-1973), boxing’s premier blow-by-blow announcer on television and radio, Don Dunphy; powerful promoter Mike Jacobs, and Dempsey’s promoter, Tex Rickard.

Each inductee will receive a custom-designed belt signifying his induction into the NYSBHOF. Plaques are on display at the New York State Athletic Commission and Waterfront Crabhouse. Duffy also has revealed that Ring 8′s plan calls for a monument to be built in Long Island City with every NYSBHOF inductee’s name inscribed.

The inductees were selected by NYSBHOF nominating committee members, including Jack Hirsch, Steve Farhood, Don Majeski, Henry Hascup, Ron McNair and Neil Terens.

“I believe the people on our nominating committee are second to none for any nominating committee in boxing,” Duffy added. “They’re all very knowledgeable and passionate about boxing in New York State.”

All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years, in order to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers.

Last year’s Inaugural Class included Basilio and McCallum, Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, and Emile Griffith, as well as the late “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard and Tony Canzoneri.

Non-participant inductees from the Class of 2012 included judge/HBO analyst Harold Lederman, coach/instructor Steve Acunto, trainer/cut-man Jimmy Glenn and, posthumously, trainers Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer, New York Daily News boxing reporter/cartoonist Bill Gallo, and referee Arthur Mercante, Sr.

Tickets are priced at $150.00 per adult ($125.00 for Ring 8 members in good standing) and $50.00 for children, and includes a complete brunch and cocktail hour upon entry, starting at 12:30 PM/ET, as well as dinner (prime rib, fish or poultry) and open bar throughout the evening. Tickets are available to purchase at the Waterfront Crabhouse (2-03 Borden Ave in Long Island City), or by calling Mazzarella at 718.729.4862 or Ring 8 president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304. Ads for the NYSBHOF program are available, ranging from $50.00 to $250.00, by contacting Mazzarella and Duffy.

Go on line at www.Ring8ny.com for additional information about the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

Brewer on Adama Loss

Grady "Bad Boy" Brewer (30-15) is dissatisfied with the results of his fight with Osumanu Adama (21-3) Saturday night in Lowell, Mass. The two faced off on CFC Fight Night at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, in Lowell, MA. "Adama didn't do enough to win this fight," he said. "I hurt him twice, once in the fifth round that could have been scored a 10-8 round, and another time later in the fight, I landed more punches and was more consistent, and he was wild with his punches when he got confused and couldn't figure out how to fight me." Prior to the fight, Adama failed to make weight and lost his chance for the titles that were at stake, the WBC IC middleweight title and the IBC IC middleweight title. "That's unfinished business," Brewer said. "Those belts are in limbo. I'd rematch Adama for the belts, for sure, or whoever else is in line for those titles."

LOWELL, Mass. (March 16, 2013) - Hometown favorite "Irish" Joey McCreedy celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style, winning an eight-round majority decision over Canadian-invader Michael "Flash" Walchuk in tonight's "CFC Fight Night" main event, presented by Chicago Fight Clubs Promotions, at Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.

McCreedy (14-6-2, 6 KOs), who picked-up the vacant UBF US-Northeast light heavyweight title, hurt Walchuk (9-9, 2 KOs) in the opening round with a powerful overhand right, but McCreedy suffered a cut over his right eye in the second, and worked his way through the remainder of the fight for a hard-earned victory.

McCreedy captured the vacant UBF US-Northeast light heavyweight title.

"This was a 360-degree turn from my last fight in Lowell," McCreedy said after the fight. "I credit my training camp, my head trainer Dicky Eklund, strength coach...my whole team, including my promoter, manager, dad, mom and girlfriend.

"I thought I had him out in the first round. I hurt him but loaded up with right hands after that for a few rounds. Dicky settled me down, though, and I started throwing combinations."

World title challenger Osumanu Adama (21-3, 15 KOs) won a 10-round split decision (97-93, 96-94, 94-96) over veteran Grady "Bad Boy" Brewer (30-15, 16 KOs). Because Adama weighed in one-half pound over the limit, he was ineligible to win the WBC Continental Americas, IBO Intercontinental and UBF Inter-Continental middleweight championships. Adama is rated No. 11 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Former world champion "Vicious" Vivian Harris (30-9-2, 19 KOs) snapped an eight-fight unbeaten streak (0-6-1, 1 NC), dating back to 2008, with an eight-round decision over Shakha Moore (11-19-3, 2 KOs).

A knockdown in the final round was the difference as Maine middleweight Russell Lamour (3-0, 1 KO), who overcame a trip to the canvas in the fourth round, kept his undefeated record intact with a close but unanimous six-round decision over Eddie "Thunder" Caminero (7-8, 7 KOs).

Iraq War veteran, cruiserweight Chris Traietti (11-3, 7 KOs), floored Tyler Seever (13-13-1, 11 KOs) twice in the fifth round, finishing him off in the sixth with two more knockdowns, before the fight was stopped by referee Paul Casey.

Chicago heavyweight Boban Simic (2-0, 2 KOs) dropped Boston's pro-debuting Tyler King twice with powerful left hooks prior to referee Eddie Claudio halting the action with nine-seconds remaining in the second round.

New Haven bantamweight Josh Crespo (1-1-1, 1 KO) won his first professional fight when Lowell's pro-debuting Mike Martin failed to answer the bell for the third round.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 15^th, 2013) – The original Contender turned out to be the last one standing Friday night at Twin River Casino.

In a battle of former reality-television stars, Providence, R.I., super middleweight Peter Manfredo Jr. (39-7) inched closer to his 40^th career victory and won for the second time since returning to professional boxing with a dominant performance against fellow Contender participant Walter Wright (14-4).

Manfredo effectively worked his jab and simply out-boxed Wright over the course of 10 roudns to earn a 98-93, 100-90, 97-93 unanimous decision win against Wright, who took the fight – his first in two years – on just two week’s notice. Toward the middle rounds, Wright could barely see out of his right eye, which had swelled shut due to excessive shots from Manfredo.

“The Pride Of Providence,” a Season 1 finalist on The Contender reality television series, returned in November with a convincing win over Rayco Saunders and is now one win shy of 40 victories following Friday’s dominant performance. Wright, a Seattle, Wash., native, was a quarterfinalist on Season 2 of The Contender.

Facing his former sparring partner and protégé of former world heavyweight champion John Ruiz, Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (9-1, 7 KOs) delivered an impressive over the tough Julio Garcia (6-4) of Boston (Rincon, Puerto Rico), stopping Garcia after five brutal rounds. With his face bloodied, Garcia did not answer the bell for the sixth and final round.

Two intra-city rivals squared off in the co-feature as Joe Gardner (11-5-1) and Reynaldo Rodriguez (6-6-1) battled until the final bell of their six-round super middleweight bout. The crafty Garnder kept his distance despite Rodriguez’s attempts to turn the fight into a brawl. Rodriguez picked up the pace in the later rounds, but Gardner ultimately out-worked and out-boxed his opponent to score a 58-56 unanimous-decision win on all three scorecards.

Looking to bounce back from the first loss of his career, Burlington, Vt., light heavyweight Kevin Cobbs (7-1) came through swimmingly in a 39-36, 37-38, 39-36 split-decision win over hard-hitting Harwich, Mass., native Paul Gonsalves (4-3). Once he found his rhythm, Cobbs maintained a steady pace and scored a knockdown in the third round to help seal the victory.

The night began with a dynamic, back-and-forth bout in the female bantamweight division as Noemi Bosques (1-0-1) of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Brooklyn’s Vanessa Greco (1-2-2) fought to a majority draw over four rounds. Bosques, who now lives and trains in Providence, R.I., won 39-37 on one of the judge’s scorecards, but the other two judges scored it 38-38. In the welterweight division, 19-year-old Patryk Szymanski (6-0) of North Bergen, N.J. (Wroclaw, Poland), kept his perfect record intact with a hard-fought 60-54, 59-57, 58-56 win over Brockton, Mass., veteran Antonio Chaves Fernandes (2-9-2). Warwick, R.I., veteran Benny Costantino (7-3) was forced to quit with 13 seconds remaining in the second round of his scheduled four-round super middleweight bout against Emmanuel Medina (3-3-1) after suffering a knee injury. Medina was credited with a second-round technical knockout, the third knockout victory of his career.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (March 15, 2013) - Newly crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight titlist Argenis "The Thunderstorm" Mendez (21-2, 11 KOs) has given his promoter, Acquinity Sports, its first world champion.

Last Saturday night in Costa Mesa (Calif.), Mendez became an instant star by registering a sensational Knockout of the Year caliber victory over defending IBF champion Juan Carlos Salgado (26-2-1, 16 KOs) on HBO Latino.

Mendez, a 2004 Dominican Republic Olympian now living in Miami, dropped Salgado in the opening round and finished off his Mexican opponent in the fourth. The two had fought eight months ago in Mexico, in which Salgado won a controversial 12-round decision by scores of 114-112, 114-112, and 115-110.

Mendez, who has risen to No. 2 in The Ring Magazine ratings, was the mandatory challenger and the 26-yearold promised that he wasn't going to leave the outcome of this fight in the hands of the judges again.

"We were confident in what he was going to do," Mendez' promoter Henry Rivalta (Acquinity Sports) said. "He knew Salgado's weaknesses going into the fight. He never recovered from the first-round knockdown. Mendez is a great athlete. You should see him play basketball. I think the difference for Argenis this fight was him working so hard and well with trainer, Lee Beard, and the relationship he now has with his promotional team. The kid was on the shelf after losing to Salgado. I saw a lot of talent in this kid and bought his promotional contract."

(L-R) Mendez unloads on Salgado

Acquinity Sports has been in business only a little more than a year. Mendez becoming its first world champion is testament to the hands-on, supportive philosophy it has with all its boxers, as well as a sure sign that Acquinity Sports is a rising player making a name for itself as a full-service boxing operations company. Rivalta is quick to note that Mendez' accomplishment is just the beginning for Acquinity Sports.

"This was very important for Acquinity Sports," Rivalta spoke about the significance of Mendez becoming the company's first world champion. "This is a major step-up for us, legitimacy, and we have a lot of other great kids in our stable like (WBA #2 featherweight) Claudio 'The Matrix" Marrero (14-0, 11 KOs), who fights WBA champion Nicholas Walters on May 11, (WBA #6 bantamweight) Juan Carlos Payno (12-0, 6 KOs), (super bantamweight) Alexei Collado (15-0, 14 KOs), and newly signed Hylon Williams, Jr. (16-1, 3 KOs), who is dropping down to 126 pounds and I predict will be world champion. And the list goes on for us.

"For me, personally, Mendez' win was significant. I've been promoting since 2005 and he is the first world champion I've developed. I'm very happy. He is going to fight two or three more times at 130 before moving up to 135 to take on the likes of (Adrian) Broner or (Ricky) Burns. Mendez and Juan Manual Lopez - Dominican vs. Puerto Rican - would be a big TV fight, and so would a fight against (Yuriorkis) Gamboa. We welcome the best."

And the new world champ....Argenis Mendez

The action has just heated-up for Acquinity Sports. In addition to the aforementioned WBA title fight featuring Marrero, hard-hitting Cuban light heavyweight Umberto "The Don" Savigne (10-1, 7 KOs), rated No. 5 by the WBA, takes on undefeated Brazilian slugger Jackson Junior (14-0, 13 KOs) on the March 19th ESPN Friday Night Fights card at Turning Stone Casino (Verona, NY); WBA #4 Dominque "3D" Dolton (13-0, 7 KOs) faces Roberto Garcia (31-3, 21 KOs) for the Interim WBA junior middleweight championship, and on Mar. 30 two-division world champion, WBA #5 Joan "Little Tyson" Guzman (33-1-1, 20 KOs), meets Vincente "El Loco" Mosquera (32-2-1, 17 KOs) for the Interim WBA super lightweight title.

"We're busy the next few months," Rivalta added. "All of our hard work is paying off. We're not Golden Boy or Top Rank, yet, but we're getting our guys in big fights as we go forward."

Go online to www.AquinitySports.com for additional information about Mendez or his stable-mates. Follow Acquinity Sports on Twitter @AcquinitySports, or friend is at Facebook.com/AcquinitySports.

Cintron Has 147 Good Reasons Not to Give Up

Kermit Cintron won a world title at welterweight. Take away two suspicious losses to the disgraced cheater Antonio Margarito and he's never lost as a welterweight. He has almost insurmountable physical gifts of height and superior strength as a welterweight.

And so, after losing three of four in a disastrous 18-month stretch, what's he going to do to get his career back on track?

He's going back to welterweight.

"I feel that it's always been my weight," explained the former champion. "I took my last couple fights at I54 lbs. because they were good opportunities, but you know I was always a better fighter at 147. I didn't gain the weight of a true 154 pounder. I went up to 153 lbs. on fight night, while the guys I was fighting went up to 170 to 175 lbs. I feel that 147-lbs is where I belong. I'm already on weight and I have a week left. It was never a problem to make welterweight."

"EL Asesino" Cintron (33-5-1, 28 KOs) will face Chicago attraction Adrian "EL Tigre" Granados (11-2-1, 7 KOs) in the ESPN Friday Night Fights televised 10-round co-main event presented by 8 Count Productions, Round 3 Productions and Warriors Boxing on Friday, March 22, 2013 at Chicago's UIC Pavilion.

In the main event, Windy City favorite Donovan "Da Bomb" George will battle former world title challenger David "The Destroyer" Lopez of Nogales, Mexico in a 10-round middleweight bout

Cintron says he did a lot of soul-searching after his last fight, a TKO5 loss to Canelo Alvarez in November 2011.

"I didn't want to think about boxing after the Canelo fight. I just wanted to go home and spend time with my kids. My family is important to me and I think that going away for camps eight or nine weeks at a time was getting to me. I was focusing too much on what my kids were doing, wondering if they were ok. After a while, my kids started asking when I'm fighting again? They said 'we want to see you on TV.' My kids still want me fight, so here I am."

Cintron, from Reading, Pennsylvania, says he decided to go back to what got him to the lofty heights of boxing despite a very minimal amateur career.

"I'm training at home around family and Milton Santiago is my new trainer. I've known him since I was eight years old. If I wanted to come back, the only person I had in mind to train me was Milton. He's the true coach that brought me to the gym when I was in school. So I'm going back to my roots, back to basics, and that's what I did. We've been working together the past six months. I have my own boxing gym called the Kermit Cintron Boxing Gym in Reading, Pennsylvania where Milton trains me. On the days I need to spar, I go to Philly and get some good sparring in."

Cintron says reports of his decline as a fighter and tumble from the ranks of serious contender are irresponsible.

"That's how the media is. All they do is a lot of talking. I really ignore those comments from people. I'm not a shot fighter. I had a rough year, that's it. You'll see. I have lots left. I have dedicated myself to the sport once again. I'm feeling great and I've improved. You guys will see.

Having signed with a new promoter, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, Cintron says he's rejuvenated and eager to get back where he belongs: as a top 147-lb fighter.

"I just want to fight. I'm excited to come back after 16 months off. I'm excited and rejuvenated and ready to go."

            LOS ANGELES (March 15, 2013) -- Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion TIMOTHY BRADLEY, JR.  (29-0, 12 KOs), of Palm Springs, Calif., and his opponent, top-rated contender RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV (22-1, 15 KOs), of Siberia, will hold their Official Weigh-In for their world welterweight title showdown, Today!  Friday, March 15, in the Manhattan Ballroom at the Marriott Manhattan Beach (1400 Parkview Ave., Manhattan Beach, Calif. 90266).  Fighters will report at 2:00 p.m. PT, with the weigh-in beginning at approximately 3:00 p.m. PT.  Bradley and Provodnikov will step on the scale first, followed by undefeated welterweight contenders JESSIE VARGAS (21-0, 9 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nev., and WALE "Lucky Boy" OMOTOSO (23-0, 19 KOs), of Hollywood, Calif.  

            *The public is invited to attend but space will be limited.

            The Bradley-Provodnikov WBO welterweight championship and the Vargas-Omotoso World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas welterweight title fight headline a spectacular world championship event, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., Saturday, March 16.  Both fights will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. Former two-time Méxican Olympian ÓSCAR VALDEZ (3-0, 2 KOs), of Nogales, México, will highlight the undercard in a six-round featherweight bout against Jose Morales (6-4, 1 KO), from Denver.

            Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Banner Promotions and Tecate, remaining tickets, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, can be purchased online at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Suites are available by calling 1-877-604-8777. For information of group discounts, please call 1-877-234-8425.

REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL PROFILES FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP MIKE TYSON; WHEN THE EMMY^®-WINNING SHOW RETURNS MARCH 19, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Now in its 19th season, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, TV’s most honored sports journalism program, presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 192nd edition, available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, MARCH 19 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: March 19 (3:20 a.m.), 22 (2:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m.), 24 (8:30 a.m.), 27 (4:00 p.m., midnight) and 30 (8:30 a.m.), and April 1 (10:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m.), 4 (5:45 p.m.) and 13 (12:15 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: March 20 (11:30 a.m., 9:30 p.m.), 25 (1:30 p.m., 11:15 p.m.), 28 (4:30 p.m.) and 31 (7:40 a.m.), and April 6 (1:00 p.m.)

HBO On Demand^® availability: March 25-April 15. The show will also be available on HBO GO^®.

Segments include:

*The Transformation of Tyson. Once dubbed “the baddest man on the planet,” and a fearsome presence in and out of the ring, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson enjoyed massive success as a knockout artist, reportedly earning more than $300 million in purses, all of which is gone. Following memorable roles in Hollywood films, including the “Hangover” franchise, the 46-year-old has reinvented himself yet again. Tyson has taken his talents to the stage as the star of a one-man show full of anger, humor and tears. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, correspondent Bernard Goldberg goes one-on-one with the pugilist as he sets off on a North American tour and uncovers an introspective side of Mike Tyson few have seen before.

Producer: Nick Dolin.

REAL SPORTS has won the Sports Emmy^® for Outstanding Sports Journalism 15 times and has received 23 Sports Emmy^® Awards overall. It is the only sports program ever honored with the duPont Award for excellence in broadcast journalism, having first been recognized in 2005. In Jan. 2012, REAL SPORTS received its second duPont Award, for a series of investigative reports on concussions, highlighted by the Aug. 2010 story revealing the scientific link between sports concussions and the onset of ALS. In April 2012, the show received the Emmy^® in the category of Outstanding Sports Journalism for Bernard Goldberg’s 2011 report on the college bowl game money trail. In Jan. 2013, REAL SPORTS won the Producers Guild Award for Outstanding Sports Program.