MENDY TO CHALLENGE BUTE FOR IBF SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Long-time super middleweight contender, Jean-Paul Mendy will finally get his crack at a world championship when he takes on defending IBF super middleweight champion, Lucian Bute on July 9th at the Romexpo Dome in Bute's home country of Romania. Bute-Mendy is promoted by EuroPlus Computers S.R.L., and Interbox in association with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing.

"I am pleased that Jean-Paul Mendy finally has his world title shot, especially against such a great Champion in Lucian Bute" stated Mendy's promoter, Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing. "The super middleweight division is one of the most exciting divisions in boxing right now, and it will be exciting to be in Romania watching a World Title between two fighters with 57 combined wins, no defeats and 39 KO's among them."

John-Paul Mendy stated: "I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. It will be a very great night in Romania on July 9th and I am very pleased that I will finally be in the ring fighting for the World Championship against Bute. I expect to bring the IBF Title belt home with me"

The southpaw Mendy, a 1996 Olympian for his native France, has compiled a 29-0-1, 16 KO record and has been pro for over 10 years. Mendy won the French super middleweight title in just his 9th fight, defeating 19-1 Rachid Kanfouah. Mendy defended that title four times.

Bute, who sports a perfect 28-0, 23KO record has defended his IBF title successfully seven times since winning the belt in 2007 against Alejandro Berrio. Bute, who was born in Romania and represented his native country in the 2003 Amateur World Championships, moved to Canada to begin his pro career. Bute has a strong following in his adopted home, having fought almost all of his professional fights there. The bout on July 9th will only be Bute's second time fighting in his home country of Romania as a professional, and first time as a World Champion.

Bute-Mendy is presented by EuroPlus Computers S.R.L., and Interbox, in association with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing. The bout is scheduled for twelve rounds and is for the IBF Super Middleweight Championship of the World. The bout will take place Saturday, July 9th at the Romexpo Dome in Bucharest, Romania.

Super Six Semifinalists Carl Froch & Glen Johnson Make Their Prediction For This Saturday’s Semifinal Affair Between Andre Ward & Arthur Abraham; Froch & Johnson Square Off June 4 At Boardwalk Hall In Atlantic City

NEW YORK, NY (May 13, 2011) In 22 days, WBC super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch and Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson will take the ring at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in the semifinals of the SHOWTIME Super Six World Boxing Classic. But, by the time they step in the ring, both combatants will already know who is in store next for the winner, as this Saturday WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward and Arthur Abraham square off in the first semifinal bout.

Froch and Johnson weighed in on this weekend’s battle:

Carl “The Cobra” Froch: “I feel Abraham has got the punching power in both hands to take Ward to places he has never been inside a boxing ring. It’s just a matter of whether or not he can get past Ward’s excellent boxing ability, the kind of ability that earned him an Olympic Gold Medal. Although this is the pros, I still think the smart money is on a points win for Ward. But, don't be surprised if Abraham turns up meaning business and uses his strength to close the ring down. He might just catch Ward unexpectedly for a KO win.”

Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson: “It is going to be a tough, close fight. I like Ward pulling out a close win. If Abraham is going to win, he’s going to have to score a knockout, but I see Ward using his speed and coming away with the decision.”

Carl Froch vs. Glen Johnson is presented by DiBella Entertainment and Warriors Boxing, in association with Matchroom Sports and Caesars Atlantic City. The bout will be televised live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing starting at 9 PM ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Tickets are priced at $300, $150, $100, and $50 and are on sale through the Boardwalk Hall box office and Ticketmaster. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone (800-745-3000), or in person at Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City.

For information about DiBella Entertainment, including a list of all upcoming bouts, please visit www.dbe1.com, or follow Lou DiBella on twitter, @loudibella.

Team Puerto Rico Boxing present back-to-back boxing spectacular, Boricua Invasion I & II on June 10 & 11 at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC

Galarza, Dulorme, Pedraza top Friday night; Del Valle, Gonzalez, Arroyo, Sanchez, and Bracero to see action on Saturday

NEW YORK, NY (May 12, 2011) Two of boxing’s top promoters have put together a tribute to the great Puerto Rican boxers of past and future in the only way they know how: by staging two spectacular boxing shows, back-to-back in the same venue, loaded with the best young talent the island nation has to offer and hosted by one its greatest champions on the precipice of Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend.

On June 10 and 11 the Roseland Ballroom in will be the headquarters for Boricua boxing pride as Gary Shaw Productions (“GSP”) and DiBella Entertainment (“DBE”) proudly present Boricua Invasion I and II. Boricua Boxing I will air live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, while Boricua Boxing II will be televised live on Showtime on ShoBox: The New Generation.

Both events will prominently feature members of Team Puerto Rico Boxing, the eight-man team of Puerto Rico’s future ring stars that GSP, DBE, Javier Bustillo’s Universal Promotions, and Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing have joined forces to assemble.

With hall-of-fame champion, and Puerto Rico’s beloved son, Felix “Tito” Trinidad acting as ambassador and host, Borcua Invasion I will feature highlight-reel welterweight KO specialist Kenny “Battlestar” Galarza (14-1, 14 KOs), of Juana Diaz, PR, in the main event against fellow Puerto Rican contender, Irving Garcia (17-6-3, 8 KOs). Topping undercard are the unstoppable welterweight on everybody’s “one to watch” list, Thomas “Tormenta” Dulorme (11-0, 10 KOs) as he battles former world champion DeMarcus Corley (37-17-1, 22 KOs), and former Puerto Rican Olympian, the 21-year old sensation,, Jose “El Dulce” Pedraza (2-0, 2 KOs) against an opponent to be named.

Special added attractions appearing on the undercard will be San Juan’s own Emanuel Gonzalez (9-7, 4 KOs) in a light heavyweight scrap, Puerto Rico-born women’s former world champion Melissa Hernandez (14-2-3, 5 KOs) of the Bronx, undefeated New Jersey welterweight southpaw Alex Perez (13-0, 7 KOs), Kansas heavyweight Steve Martin (0-1) and Dominican lightweight Jose Guzman (8-1, 5 KO).

Tickets for Boricua Invasion I on Friday, June 10 are priced at $175, $125, $75, $45 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. On Saturday, Doors will open at 6:00 pm and the action starts at 6:30.

The next night, with legendary Trinidad once again acting as host, Boricua Invasion II will feature five more members of Team Puerto Rico Boxing taking their turn in the spotlight, as popular undefeated Puerto Rican featherweight Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (12-0, 10 KOs) faces the stiffest test of his young career against the all-action Vietnamese brawler Dat Nguyen (117-1, 6 KOs). Rounding out the ShoBox broadcast will be Vincent Arroyo, coming off an 8-round decision over previously unbeaten Willie Nelson, against fellow Boricua Hector Sanchez (19-1, 9 KOs) and intimidating middleweight knockout artist Jonathan “Mantequilla Gonzalez (12-0, 12 KOs) against an opponent to be named.

In a special off-TV attraction, unbeaten Gabriel “Tito” Bracero will duke it out with an opponent that will be announced in the coming days.

On the undercard, team member Jorge “Machito” Maysonet Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs), the promising son of former world title challenger Jorge Maysonet Sr., will look to stay unbeaten in a light welterweight four-rounder, Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico’s undefeated junior middleweight Elieser Gonzalez (11-0, 6 KOs), Bronx, New York super bantamweight Raul Lopez (5-1, 3 KOs) and undefeated Puerto Rican women’s sensation Amada Serrano (9-0-1, 5 KOs) will all see action.

Tickets for Boricua Invasion II on Saturday, June 11 are priced at $200, $150, $85, and $55 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. On Saturday, Doors will open at 7:00 pm and the action starts at 7:30.

“These two events are the only right way to celebrate Puerto Rican boxing and its heritage and its future,” said Shaw of the blockbuster shows. “The mood in the Roseland Ballroom will be electric both nights, as New York City’s Puerto Rican citizens and fans of action-packed boxing flock to see their champions of tomorrow.”

“We are rolling out Team Puerto Rico Boxing in style with these two events,” added Lou DiBella. “If you live in the New York area, get a ticket and see what true nationalist passion looks and feels like, as the Puerto Rican fighters and fans join forces to celebrate their great country. Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 will be unforgettable reminders of the glory days of boxing and I’m proud to be doing this.”

For eight decades, the fabulous Roseland Ballroom has been known as "The World's Greatest Ballroom." It has echoed with some of the greatest concerts, entertainers and events of our time. Dancers such as Arthur Murray, Joan Crawford, Ray Bolger and Fred Astaire have graced its stage and entertainers from Ozzie Nelson to The Rolling Stones and Madonna have played there. Roseland continues what it started in the 1920's, which is the tradition of bringing distinguished acts and clients to its venue, but now with an updated style.

For more information on Team Puerto Rico Boxing and Boricua Invasion I & II, visit www.teampuertoricoboxing.com or www.latinoboxing.com. For more information on the Roseland Ballroom, visit www.roselandballroom.com.

Peter ‘Kid Chocolate’ Quillin Now In Sweet Position

LOS ANGELES (May 11, 2011) – Newly-crowned USBO Super Middleweight champion and undefeated prospect, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (24-0, 18 KO’s), finds himself in a sweet position after his electrifying knockout of former world title challenger Jesse Brinkley (35-7, 22 KO’s) on April 30 in Reno, Nevada in a fight televised live on TeleFutura’s “Solo Boxeo Tecate.”

The 27-year-old Quillin rocked Brinkley in the opening round with an overhand right, showed poise during target practice in the following round, and finished-off the then International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) No. 7-rated Brinkley when referee Joe Cortez mercifully halted the action at 2:34 of the third.

“Going into that fight I had a lot more confidence to do in the ring what I had worked so hard on in training camp,” Quillin said. “I orchestrated my camp and was more in rhythm to take care of boxing in order to be an explosive winner. I hurt him in the first round but didn’t go in for the kill. I relaxed and took my shots, realizing I could hit him again at any time. I hit him with a lot of hard, accurate shots. I stayed with our game plan in the second round but my corner (trainer Eric Brown) told me after the second round that Brinkley was ready to go.

“Our game plan was to box him the first five rounds and go from there with a lot of pressure. I hurt him in the first but didn’t pressure him then because I didn’t exactly know how he’d react. I never underestimated him because he’s a serious fighter. I didn’t want to risk trying to finish him off then. I was in the biggest fight of my career and just did what was natural. I knew I had a lot of power and he was right there for me to hit. I wanted to show more boxing, go to the body, but the fight only lasted three rounds.”

Quillin is now in an enviable position, training at Wild Club Boxing Club under Freddie Roach and Brown, promoted by Golden Boy, and even being mentioned as a participant in a high-profile fight, possibly against Sergio Martinez.

“I’ll fight anybody put in front of me as long as everybody – Golden Boy, my manager (John Seip) and corner – all agree that the opponent is the right one at this stage of my career,” Quillin noted.

Seip doesn’t believe there’s a rush for “Kid Chocolate” to be in a mega-fight, or need to fight again above middleweight. He noted that Quillin is a relatively young 27 with only 15 amateur matches and no “wars” as a professional having won 84 of 86 rounds.

“I’ve been with Petey six years and we’re going to stay the course,” Seip explained. “Why deviate? He’s on his way and totally destroyed Brinkley. He’s getting stronger working with his strength-and-conditioning coach, Brad Bose (Anatomi Gym in Santa Monica), who I call ‘The Professor’ because of his cutting edge programs. We’re sold on Golden Boy, Freddie Roach and Eric Brown, and believe with them he’ll become world champion. Petey has youth, athleticism, speed and power but people still haven’t seen his best punch, yet – left hook – because he’s been hurting guys with his right. I’d like to get him one or two more fights against a top 10, top 5 opponent before putting him in a world title fight. Physically, he’s capable right now, but this is the big time and I want to make sure he’s mentally prepared for the pressures of fighting in a major fight.

“He certainly was impressive, looking real strong against Brinkley, but Petey is going back down to 160 for good. We took this one fight against Brinkley because it was a great opportunity, but Petey is a middleweight, and I believe he’s the biggest puncher there. After the fight Brinkley told me Petey hits harder than (Lucian) Bute. We’ve been patient all along and there’s no reason to change now.”

For more information about Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin go online to www.TheKidChocolate.com or follow him on Twitter @/Kid Chocolate.