BY: Diamond Boxing www.diamondboxing.com 

Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik is set to face Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins in a light heavyweight battle at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday October 18. The bout will be shown on HBO PPV starting at 9PM EST. Pavlik is listed as a heavy favorite at 4 to 1 odds and looks to be the first one to knock out the future Hall of Famer Hopkins.

Pavlik who is coming off a 3^rd round knockout victory over Gary Lockett in a bout also held at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, will be stepping up to fight Hopkins at a catch weight of 170 pounds in this non title bout. Pavlik will also be putting his perfect record of 34 -0 on the line against the 43 year old Hopkins. The Ghost as many refer to him as will also carry the boxing torch with him into the ring. If he could defeat Hopkins in a decisive manner the pound for pound champion status could be his. With the likes of De La Hoya, Mosley, Roy Jones Jr. and European greats Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe winding down their careers, Pavlik can become the one boxing looks towards to carry the sport to the next level. This may include a major bout on national television to rival the MMA Events shown on CBS. Pavlik is likable he has that All American image, he is from the working class town of Youngstown, Ohio  and likes the family lifestyle. He trains in his home town at the local gym under the watchful  eye of his trainer Jack Loew  and after his first victory over Jermain Taylor back in September of 1997 Pavlik gained a great deal of fan respect. In that bout Pavlik survived a second round knockdown and came back to over power Taylor, knocking him out in the 7^th round. Pavlik in that second round demonstrated the heart of a champion, not many would have been able to comeback from the Taylor barrage like Pavlik did. The second round recovery sealed the Pavlik name in boxings all heart club. America likes heart, America likes Champions and in Pavlik they have both.

So now the next hurdle for Pavlik is the 43 year old six packer from Philly Bernard Hopkins. The crafty veteran Hopkins will not go lightly into the night. He will use his defensive style to his advantage, looking for the right moments to attack Pavlik and don’t forget the first round of Hopkins last bout with Joe Calzaghe. Hopkins caught Calzaghe in that first round and recorded a flash knockdown, even though Hopkins did not win the Calzaghe bout, he hung in there for all 12 rounds and actually was ahead on one of the judges score cards. So this will not be an easy task for Pavlik, who may just need to settle for a scorecard victory. Pavlik may not get the big knockdown over Hopkins but a workman like victory still will earn Pavlik a big victory over a well known and respected boxer. This will elevate Pavlik to another level and one step closer to the elite boxing status of pound for pound king.

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BY: Diamond Boxing www.diamondboxing.com

He is the former world junior middleweight champion whose life story has been made into a motion picture, premiering throughout the film festival circuit. Ouma is also looking to get back on the winning trail in the square ring and make another championship run. On October 4^th The Dream took on Martinus ‘Magnificent’ Clay 13-19-4 (5KOs) from Wilson, North Carolina in a 10 round junior middleweight battle in Philly. In the bout Ouma overcame a slow start and was able to dismantle the game Clay in the sixth round. Ouma floored Clay twice in the sixth, after the second knockout with the agreement of Clay’s corner the fight was stopped at the 1:38 mark of the round.

This was a key victory for Ouma who was coming off three prior losses over the last three years. Ouma lost a title bout to Jermain Taylor in 2006 followed by losses to Saul Roman in 2007 and Cornelius Bundrage back in March of this year. Look for Ouma who over his career has faced the top competitors in his division to once again work his way up the talent ladder until his title chance is realized.  

Ouma’s life has also been realized through a movie which is produced by Kief Davidson and Legendary Academy Award winning actor Forrest Whitaker who is one of the Executive producers. The movie portraits Ouma’s incredible life journey from his days of being kidnapped from school at the age of six by the rebel army who was seeking to overthrow the Ugandan government, all the way through his championship boxing days. The movie has already been showcased at Tribeca Film Festival, receiving high marks.

You still have a chance to catch the movie Kassim ‘The Dream’ which is scheduled to play at the following locations through the end of the year:

Hamptons Film Festival
October 15 - 19, 2008

Chicago International Film Festival
October 16 - 19, 2008

Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
October 13 - Nov 12th, 2008

San Francisco Documentary Film Festival
October 17th - October 30th, 2008

U.S. Sports Film Festival - Philadelphia
October 23rd-26th, 2008

AFI Los Angeles Film Festival
October 30th - November 9th, 2008

St. Louis International Film Festival
November 13th - 23rd 2008

IDFA Amsterdam - International Premiere
November 20th-30th, 2008

For complete ringside coverage of the October 4th event

http://www.diamondboxing.com/newsstory.php?list=4119

Reporting Ringside: Diane Bennett  October 4, 2008

Boxing fans who attended the Shamrocks and Dreams event promoted by Philadelphia Worldwide at The Northeast National Guard Armory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were treated to a card full of hard punches, knockouts, upsets, first time victories, comebacks and one heart warming story.

You will read about Tim Witherspoon Jr. first professional victory, Paul Hyland’s first career defeat and Kassim Ouma’s first victory in his last four fights.

This night however, belonged to Philly’s own Jamaal Davis a young middleweight who took on another Philly boxer Chris Hall in a 4 round battle. Davis was not fighting for a championship belt, he was fighting with a champion’s heart while supporting cancer awareness month. It was not to long ago, last December that Jamaal’s young bride Patrilla passed away at the age of 25 after battling breast cancer for years. Davis all decked out in Pink entered the ring for the second bout of the night with the thoughts of his wife in his heart. Davis who has dedicated his career to honor his wife was determined to get back on the winning track after suffering three straight defeats. Tonight Jamaal did not let her down he simply out boxed his fellow Philadelphian Chris Hall for four rounds just like his trainer Sharron Baker planned. Davis earned a unanimous decision victory. All three judges scored the fight for Davis who improved his record to 8 -4.

Jamaal Davis works on the inside

After the fight the humble Davis with his whole family in the center of the ring, this included his two children, his mother, his mother in-law and his trainer Sharron Baker. Davis, thanked all his fans for their support, love and most important asked everyone to be aware of Cancer. Davis who plans to fight on not only for the love of boxing but for the determination to do what ever he could to help raise funds for the fight against the deadly cancer disease. Along with Diamond Boxing, Davis has his sights sets on other events to help promote Cancer Awareness. It’s Jamaal Davis on this night that should get the headlines for his courageousness, for the love and devotion he gives to his family, to his sport and his never give up attitude. IBF Cruiserweight champion Steve “USS: Cunningham who was on hand to support Davis also saluted the efforts of Davis.

Jamaal Davis addresses the fans about Cancer Awareness

Davis along with Diamond Boxing will be auctioning off a autographed pink T- shirt which was signed by many of the boxers who participated on the card and by many of the champions in attendance. The auction will take place on E-Bay and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.    

Jamaal Davis

Former world junior middleweight champion Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma, 26-5-1 (16 KOs) was pitted against Martinus ‘Magnificent’ Clay 13-19-4 (5KOs) from Wilson, North Carolina in a 10 round junior middleweight battle. Ouma coming off three straight defeats was looking to get his career back on track. At the early stages of the match Ouma who was sizing up Clay was able to land a few jabs but in most part was not that active. Ouma started to get into a groove in the third round while producing more output. Through the first four rounds the game Clay was able to hold his ground and actually buckled Ouma twice in the forth with powerful combinations that woke Ouma up. From that point forward Ouma dominated Clay, looking very sharp in the fifth round Ouma with the momentum now on his side dropped Clay twice in the sixth. After the second knockout with the agreement of Clay’s corner the fight was stopped at the 1:38 mark of the round.

Ouma works off the ropes

Clay takes a knee and gets counted out

The amazing and challenging life story of Kassim Ouma is being made into a motion picture which will be released this winter. Legendary Academy Award winning actor Forrest Whitaker is one of the Executive producers. The movie portraits Ouma’s incredible life journey from his days of being kidnapped from school at the age of six by the rebel army who was seeking to overthrow the Ugandan government all the way through his championship boxing days.

Kassim Ouma close up

In a four round Featherweight clash Paul Hyland from Dublin, Ireland put his undefeated record on the line against Lucian Gonzales. Both boxers came to battle slugging it out throughout. It was Gonzales who got the better of Hyland in round three landing solid body shots which he followed with a wicked combination knocking Hyland to the canvas. The hurt Hyland was able to finish the round the dazed Hyland after the bell walk to the wrong corner. In the forth round Hyland demonstrated his toughness and was able to gut out the round, while warding off the blows from the tough Gonzalez. In the end the three judges scored the fight for Gonzales 39-36,38-37 and 38-37. With the win Gonzales advances his record to 8-4, while Hyland’s record now stands at 12-1.   

 

Gonzales lands to Hyland’s body

In one of the co-featured fights up and coming star middleweight Simon ‘Slick Fighting Irish’ O’Donnell, 7-1 (4 KOS),a native of County Galway who fights out of Philadelphia. O’Donnell took on Antonio Baker (3-11-1, 4KOs) in a 6 rounder. O’Donnell in workmen like fashion was able to break down Baker and take him out in the fifth round. O’Donnell come away with a TKO victory after the referee stopped the fight at the 58 second mark of the fifth round.   

Team O’Donnell with IBF Champ Steve Cunningham

All the way from Dublin, Ireland, Patrick Hyland 15-0 (8KOs), faced off against Santiago, Dominican Republic native, Elvis Luciano Martinez 11-27-2 (5KOs), in a four round super featherweight battle. Martinez was no match for Hyland who just dismantled him in the second round. Hyland floored Martinez with a beautiful right in the first round and finished his business in the second round, dropping Martinez for a second and third time.      

Elvis Martinez gets counted out after being knockdown by Patrick Hyland

To start the evening off Tim Witherspoon Jr. the son of Former Heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon in his second professional fight took on Julius Edmounds in a four round welterweight clash. Witherspoon Jr. did enough to earn his first professional victory by majority decision, two judges scored the fight 39 -37 for Witherspoon and the third judge had the fight even at 38-38.     

Tim Witherspoon Jr. and Witherspoon Sr. raise fist in victory 

Reporting Ringside: Diane Bennett www.diamondboxing.com

Philly boxing fans were treated tonight when world ranked Heavyweight, “Fast” Eddie Chambers made his hometown return to The Famous Blue Horizon. Chambers took on Livin Castillo (14-6, 9KOs) from Ecuador in the eight round main event promoted by Vernoca L. Michael and Blue Horizon Boxing Promotions. Chambers, 32-1 with 18 knockouts is one of the top heavyweights in the world and returned to the ring at The Legendary Blue Horizon where he racked up seventeen straight wins between 2002 & 2006.With former Heavyweight contender and recent college graduate Randall “Tex’ Cobb looking on from ringside, Chambers did not disappoint his hometown fans, after starting slow Chambers put it into gear in the third round connecting with upper cuts, followed by a set of body punches to slow down the game Castillo. In the fifth Chambers once again attacked Castillo’s body and at the end of round Castillo had enough of Chambers. At the 2:59 mark of the fifth round the referee stopped the bout with Castillo anguishing in pain.Castillo had to be taken to the hospital after the fight to get his jaw checked out.

Chambers lands with an uppercut

Castillo can’t take no more referee stops the fight

“He was a tough guy.  I hit him with some good shots and I know I hurt him a few times” said a victorious Chambers. “I played with him a little too much and I should have had him out there before that.  I am going to get right back in the gym and look for something bigger maybe in December.” 

Chambers gets his hand raised in victory

The women were also in the house tonight featured in a six round Jr. Middleweight bout, Ana Ingham all the way from Karlstad, Sweden put her undefeated record of 6-0-1 against Kimberly Harris (5-13) from Tampa, Florida.Ingham who is trained by former Olympian champion Mark Breland looked solid through out the six rounds and went on to record an unanimous decision victory.  

Ingham connects with a left to the head

Mark Breland with the winner Ingham

Darren Fallen (11-4-1,6KOs) from hometown Philadelphia was pitted against Carlos Pena (5 -16-2, 4KOs) in a Junior Middleweight battle. Fallen who is trained by Buster Custus out of James Shuler Memorial, out scored Pena winning by split decision. Fallen who got into his groove in the latter rounds, softened Pena up with jabs and then opened it up in the sixth round landing a bunch of power shots. The late round rally helped Fallen secure the victory.

Team Fallen in victory 

David Orosco (0-2) from Atlanta, Georgia challenged undefeated Joselito Collado (5-0,2KOs) from Queens, New York in a super feather weight bout. Both fighters in warrior like fashion slugged it out for all four rounds. Throughout the bout Orosco and his corner complained about low blows. In the third round it appeared the referee had stopped the bout when Orosco stopped fighting briefly, with Collado jumping on the ropes in celebration the referee decided to let them continue. In the forth Collado connected with a bunch of combinations sending Orosco to the canvas. Orosco was able to survive the knockdown and finish the round, sending this one to the score cards. All three judges gave the fight to Collado 40-35, 40-35 and 39 -37.

  

Collado works on Orosco on the ropes

Carlos Zambrano (3-0) took on Rasool Shakoor (1-4-1) in a 4 round featherweight battle this one was all Zambrano, who from the opening bell the quicker Zambrano was the first to the punch. Zambrano was able knock down Shakoor in the second round and went on to record a unanimous decision victory.

Carlos Zambrano connects

Donta Woods from Atlanta, Georgia making his pro debut took on Shawn Woods from Orlando, Florida also making his debut in a 4 round Light Heavyweight clash. Woods took care of business flooring Guzman twice in the first round. Guzman was able to make a mild comeback in the second round connecting on Woods with a few shots towards the end of the round. However, it was all Woods in the third round knocking Guzman to the canvas for the third time, this time referee Clark stopped the bout at the 19 second mark of the round. Woods is one to watch, this youngster looks strong and packs solid punches with both hands.  

The winner Donta Woods

Photos of the Stars in Attendance

Former Heavyweight challenger Tex Cobb

 Vernoca Michael making the crowd aware of KnockOut Cancer month

Philly’s own Hines, Hall of Famer Chandler and Mack

Jackie Frazier