Amanda Serrano Captures NABF Super Featherweight Title

By: Bob Trieger

NEW YORK (June 14, 2011) – Unbeaten 22-year-old Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano captured the vacant NABF super featherweight title, stopping Jennifer Scott at 1:46 of the opening round, last Saturday night at historic Roseland Ballroom in New York City.

Serrano (10-0-1, 6 KOs), a native of Puerto Rico who lives in Brooklyn, was fighting at home in New York City for the first time as a professional. “It was awesome,” the stylish southpaw spoke about fighting at home and winning her first title belt. “I felt it when my music started playing as I walked to the ring. I heard everybody yelling my name and I could feel the blood go from my toes to my head. It was extra special because I won my first title, in New York City, in front of my father (Ismael) who was watching me fight for the first time as a pro.

“From the first punch I knew I had my opponent, so I kept putting pressure on her. I dropped her and when she got up, I knew she hadn’t recovered, and I jumped on her. I’m not sure what’s next for me. I’ll fight anybody my promoter, Boxing 360, and manager put in front of me. I always train hard and will be ready for my next fight.”

Amanda is presently rated No. 4 by independent source WBAN, as well as No. 6 by the WIBA.

Boxing 360 Founder/CEO Mario Yagobi doesn’t want to rush his budding star. “She’s a young fighter who hasn’t fought eight rounds, yet,” he explained. “She needs ring experience. She’s a great prospect. She was very exciting for the minute or two this fight lasted, but the fans really loved her. I believe she’s going to be a big ticket seller in New York City. Within a year, she will be ready to fight anybody in the world but, for now, she has a belt she can defend and gain valuable experience. Boxing is Amanda’s world. All she does is box and her time is coming.”

“Amanda looked good,” Boxing 360 Director of Boxing Bob Duffy commented. “She was very impressive. Both women came into the fight in great shape. Amanda’s young and talented. She was fired-up for this fight, fighting for national pride on a Puerto Rican celebration card.”

Other members of Boxing 360’s stable include USBA heavyweight champion Maurice “Sugar Moe” Harris, WBC #4 super bantamweight Leon “Hurry Up” Moore, former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, WBC Caribbean & NY State super middleweight champion Lennox “2 Sharpe” Allen Dominican lightweight champion Eudy “AK47” Bernardo, KO king Tyrone Brunson, Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal, middleweight prospect DonYil Livingston, Emad Ali, Mike Mollo, “King” David Estrada and Angel “Toro” Hernandez.

Go to www.Boxing360.com for more information about Serrano, Boxing 360 or any of its other fighters.

Middleweight Champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez Signs New Deal With DiBella Entertainment; Return To The Ring Slated For October 1st

By: Alex Dombroff, Dibella Entertainment

NEW YORK, NY (June 14, 2011) – On Tuesday afternoon in New York City, WBC Middleweight Diamond Champion and universally recognized top-3 pound for pound fighter, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs), signed a new multi-year, multi-million dollar deal that will keep his promotional interest with DiBella Entertainment (“DBE”) for the foreseeable future.

“This is an important day for DiBella Entertainment,” said DiBella. “Sergio Martinez has proved in his recent run of fights that there is no challenge he fears and that there is no challenge he cannot conquer. Together, we will look to make the biggest fights against the biggest names in boxing, and we won’t stop until ‘Maravilla’ is universally recognized as pound-for-pound, the best in boxing.”

Martinez, 36, originally linked up with DBE in 2007, and has gone 7-1-1 over the span. The only blemishes on his record during that time were a close decision loss to Paul Williams in a fight widely heralded as the 2009 Fight of the Year, and a universally criticized draw versus former champion Kermit Cintron in 2009, a bout where most people thought Martinez should’ve been awarded a knockout in round seven, and also did more than enough to win after 12 rounds.

After a victory over Kelly Pavlik to win the middleweight crown in April 2010, and a stirring second round knockout to avenge his loss to Williams in November, Martinez was named the 2010 Fighter of the Year.

Martinez began 2011 in a big way in March, stopping previously unbeaten Sergiy Dzinziruk in eight rounds.

“I’ve never had any doubt that DiBella Entertainment is the best promoter in boxing,” said Martinez. “I have no doubt that we will continue to do great things together. This is exactly what I wanted.”

Also in attendance at the signing, which took place at a local stationary store just a few blocks from DBE’s mid-town headquarters, was Martinez’ longtime adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz.

“This is about finishing what we started,” said Lewkowicz. “I believe that in Sergio Martinez we have a grand champion who is the best fighter in the world."

Martinez is scheduled to return to the ring October 1 on HBO against European middleweight champion Darren Barker (23-0, 14 KOs).

NABA Lightweight Champion Logan Cotton McGuinness Headlines ‘Friday Night At The Fights’

Photo Credit: Hennessy Sports

  

By: Bob Trieger

TORONTO (June 14, 2011) – NABA Lightweight Champion Logan Cotton McGuinness defends his title for the first time June 24th in the 10-round main event against Daniel “Canerito” Ruiz, headlining “Friday Night At The Fights,” at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The “Friday Night At the Fights” show is presented by United Boxing Promotions, in association with McGuiness’ promoter, Hennessy Sports, and Groupe Yvon Michel.

Hot, unbeaten prospect McGuinness (14-0-1, 7 KOs), rated No. 11 by the WBA, will be fighting at home where he won the NABA belt this past February, stopping veteran Hector Julio Avila (47-5) in the fourth round.

The only blemish on Cotton’s otherwise perfect pro record is a six-round draw 13 months ago with dangerous Walter Estrada, who holds victories against former world champion Nate Campbell and Verquan Kimbrough.

Ruiz (22-3-1, 16 KOs) will be fighting outside of his native Mexico for the first time. He is undefeated in his last five fights with four wins and a draw. He is the former Mexican Pacific Coast Featherweight Champion.

Two-time Canadian Olympian and world title cruiserweight challenger, Troy Ross (24-2, 16 KOs), fights an opponent to soon be determined in an eight-round Special Feature. Ross is the top-rated IBF contender at No. 3 (#1 and #2 are not rated), as well as ranked No. 5 by The Ring magazine, No. 14 by the WBA, and No. 15 by the WBC.

Go on line at www.HennessySports.com for more information about McGuinness’ June 24th title defense.

Tickets to “Friday Night at the Fights,” starting at $30.00, may be purchased at the Hershey Centre box office, through Ticket Master by dialing 416-872-5000, or by going on line to ticketmaster.ca.