Peter Manfredo, Jr. Returns This Friday vs. Veteran Slugger Daniel Edouard On ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" From Key West, Florida; Hot Prospect Edwin Rodriguez Steps In With Pryor, Jr. In The Co-Feature

(January 11, 2010 – New York, NY)

The middleweight division takes center stage this Friday, January 14, when ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights returns to Mallory Square in Key West, FL for a night of red hot action. In the main event, former star of The Contender and top-ten ranked Peter Manfredo, Jr. (36-6, 2 KOs) looks to position himself for another crack at a world title against the rugged veteran, Daniel Edouard (23-3, 14 KOs).  

In the co-feature contest, one of the hottest prospects in all of boxing, super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez (17-0, 13 KOs) faces the toughest test in his career and the son of a legend, Aaron Pryor, Jr. (15-2, 11 KOs). 

The Key West showdowns will be promoted by DiBella Entertainment and DEJ Promotions. The show will be televised LIVE on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN3.com.

“There is nothing that warms the soul in the dead of winter like great boxing, and there is no better place for it than Key West,” said Lou DiBella, the President of DiBella Entertainment. “Manfredo and Edouard will step into the ring on January 14 knowing only one will leave it as a viable title contender, and Edwin Rodriguez will likely face adversity that he has never faced before. I am excited to be teaming up with DEJ Promotions for this memorable night of action.”

“Peter Manfredo vs. Daniel Edouard top off a very exciting card; Edwin Rodriguez and Aaron Pryor, Jr. should generate a night of great entertainment for the avid boxing fans,” said Dave Johnson, the President of DEJ Promotions. “I am ecstatic to be putting on this show with DiBella Entertainment, and I am confident that we will have fight fans talking.”

Manfredo, 30, is marking a decade as one of boxing’s most exciting attractions. Best known for his stint on season one of the reality show The Contender, Manfredo has stepped in with some of the biggest names in boxing, including Sergio Mora (twice), Alfonso Gomez (twice), Jeff Lacy, and the recently retired, Joe Calzaghe. His tenth round stoppage of Angel Hernandez this past May is considered a Fight of the Year candidate.

Edouard, 30, is well known to fight fans for his showdowns with the likes of Dorian Beaupierre, Willie Gibbs, and Jermain Taylor. His fourth round stoppage over Gibbs in 2004, where both men hit the deck, was named ESPN’s Fight of the Year. Edouard is coming off a split decision loss to Alfonso Mosquera, but had won his previous five fights before that.

Rodriguez, 25, is one of the fastest rising prospects in all of boxing. A former amateur standout, Rodriguez has won eight of his last nine bouts by knockout, including his last fight, a nationally televised destruction of James “Buddy” McGirt, Jr., which netted him the WBC USNBC Super Middleweight title.

Pryor, Jr., 32, has more than just his last name going for him. Despite being the son of Hall of Famer, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor, Junior has begun carving out his own niche in the sweet science. In his last bout on national television, he thoroughly dominated Dyah Davis (son of former world champion Howard Davis) over eight one-sided rounds. Pryor is riding a three fight win streak going into his showdown with Rodriguez.

Balker’s Ready For London Showdown With Okoth On January 22nd

TKO Box Office
Graham Earl Promotions
Presents
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Mitchell Balker vs. Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth
22nd January 2011 @ York Hall, London

 Mitchell Balker  sparring with Leon ‘Solid’ Williams at the Ultrachem TKO Gym in London

 Mitchell Balker

London Tuesday 11th January 2011

Exciting London based Dutch Cruiserweight Mitchell Balker is set for his second British outing, since signing with Johnny Eames’ Ultrachem TKO Boxing Gym team last year, when he comes face to face with Battersea’s super tough ‘Fighting Fireman’ Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth at the Graham Earl promoted ‘CAPITAL PUNISHMENT’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 22nd January 2011.

Balker, who prior to moving to London had an unbeaten three fight record, will be looking to put the disappointment of losing to British championship prospect Matty Askin, when the fight was controversially stopped during a wild exchange that see Balker visibly shake Askin, on his maiden UK outing in November.

However Balker’s opponent on the 22nd January is no walk over, as the ever popular former Commonwealth and IBO Inter-Continental Champion Darren ‘Raging Bull’ Corbett can attest. Back in April last year Okoth shot to fame following his gritty all action performance to overcome Corbett at the Sky televised Prizefighter - Cruiserweights 2 to rightfully earn a showdown with eventual tournament winner Jon Lewis Dickinson in the final.

Following a sparring session with Southern Area Cruiserweight champ Leon ‘Solid’ Williams, at the Ultrachem TKO Gym in Canning Town, Balker spoke briefly about his preparations for his upcoming fight with Okoth. “I don’t know not too much about Nick. He fought Ali (TKO gym mate Ali Adams) not long ago, but other than that not know much about him.

Training going very good. After my first fight in the UK I was straight in the gym so I’m in shape like always.

I’ve been sparring Leon (Williams). Sparring has been going really, really well. I’m in great shape. Tip top condition so sparring going very well.

I feel really strong, very confident. I can’t wait. It’s going to be a great fight”

Mitchell Balker versus Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth will be on the undercard of Paul Morby vs. Daniel ‘The Slick’ Cadman BBBofC Southern Area Super Middleweight title showdown at the Graham Earl promoted ‘Capital Punishment’ event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 22nd January 2011.

Graham Earl has put together a top class support card for the Morby vs Cadman title fight that includes the third outing for Ultrachem TKO’s exciting Welterweight Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor, who is set to face Graham Earl’s nineteen year old protégé Terry Holmes.

Also on the card are British Masters Light Welterweight Champion Jay ‘The Isle Of Wight Assassin’ Morris, Hove’s unbeaten Light Heavyweight Navid Iran, unbeaten Middleweight Joe ‘The Belfast Banger’ Hillerby, Leicester’s Super Middleweight Jahmaine ‘ Smasher’ Smyle, Balker’s Ultrachem TKO gym mate Daryl Setterfield and Miami, Florida exile, now living in Luton, Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Oshinronde all against yet to be named opponents.

Tickets, priced £35 (unreserved) and £50 (ringside) are available on-line now at www.tkoboxoffice.com - or for further information call 07960 850645.

Former World Champ Graham Earl Guests On The Steve Bunce Show This Thursday

TKO Box Office
Graham Earl Promotions
Presents
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

22nd January 2011 @ York Hall, London

 Graham Earl with Terry Holmes and Manny Oshunrinde

London - Tuesday 11th January 2011

Former WBU Lightweight Champion of the World, now turned Boxing promoter, Graham Earl is to be a guest on Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour, on BBC Radio London 94.9 between 8pm and 9pm this coming Thursday, 13th January 2011, to talk about his upcoming show ‘CAPITAL PUNISHMENT’ which takes place at York Hall, in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 22nd January 2011.

During his illustrious career Graham won virtually every domestic title going, including the Southern Area, British, Commonwealth and of course the WBU World title. Whilst the later may have been Graham’s crowning glory it was his next fight, against Michael ‘The Great’ Katsides for the interim WBO belt, that Graham is most fondly remembered for.

Graham, always a crowd favourite due to his ever gutsy performances, showed he had the heart the size of a Lion’s after going to war with Katsides right from the opening bell. Graham was sent to canvas twice in the final 30 seconds of first round but on both occasions was back on his feet to resume the toe-to-toe punch fest.

Round two was more of the same, again Graham was sent to the canvas but as before Graham was back on his feet quickly. Some twenty seconds or so later Graham’s trainer Johnny Eames threw the towel into the ring as Graham, with his back against the ropes, absorbed massive salvo after massive salvo from Katsides.

Referee Mickey Vann picked the towel up and threw it back, just seconds later it was Katsides turn to take the count after Graham lets rip with a massive right hand which turned the Australian’s legs to jelly. Following the count Graham marched forward and pressured Katsides, who was clearly was in trouble, for the rest of the round.

Round three see Graham revert to boxing rather than locking horns with Katsides, following a series of lows blows from Katsides, which eventually cost the Aussie a point deduction, Graham easily secured the round by a clear 10-8 points margin.

Round four was just plain brutal, Katsides stepped up his attack but Graham once again showed his resolve by letting rip with massive rights and combinations of equal venom.

Graham again reverted to his boxing in the fifth round and put on a magnificent performance. In the final twenty seconds of the round Katsides backed Graham into a corner and started to let rip with bomb after bomb, Graham ducked and weaved before letting rip with massive right hands of his own.

Unfortunately for Graham, even after putting on such a solid performance in the fifth, his team felt he was taking far too many shots and retired him in the corner.

Graham may have lost the fight but he won the hearts and minds of boxing fans the world over with his gutsy never say die performance that night. The fight quite rightly was declared the ‘Fight of the Year’.

When Graham fought you were guaranteed value for your money and now he has turned his attention to promoting nothing has changed, his ‘Capital Punishment’ event which is headlined by the much anticipated Southern Area Super Middleweight title fight between Paul Morby and Daniel ‘The Slick’ Cadman and is supported by a top class undercard.

Speaking earlier today Graham Earl said, “It’s always an honour to be on Buncey’s show.

Steve is the voice of British Boxing and his shows are always entertaining. I’m really looking forward to being on his show this Thursday.”

Final word has to go to the show’s host Steve Bunce who said, “In addition to Graham I’ve got Willie Casey on the show, Jimmy Batten from the 70s and 80s and the last interview with Gary Mason.

It's the original and still the best - it covers the lot: Million-pound fights, down and out boxers, new promoters, old promoters, cranks, unknown amateurs, fruitcakes, world champions, legends, lunatics and the best from boxing every single week. It has broadcast every single Thursday since Jan 7th 2010!"

Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour goes out on BBC Radio London every Thursday between 8-9pm on BBC London 94.9, online live on BBC iPlayer.

Tickets for the Graham Earl promoted CAPITAL PUNISHMENT at York Hall, Bethnal Green in London on Saturday 22nd January 2011 are priced £35 (unreserved) and £50 (ringside) and are available on-line now at www.tkoboxoffice.com - or for further information call 07960 850645