HOPKINS, MARQUEZ AND ORTIZ
WIN BIG
IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S
2008 BOXING AWARD
LOS
ANGELES, December 22 - As a spectacular 2008 boxing campaign comes to
an end, Golden Boy
Promotions is pleased to congratulate three of its top fighters on the
awards they received from the world-renowned and respected Sports Illustrated.<<Read More>>
JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ VS. JUAN DIAZ SET FOR FEBRUARY
28TH EDITION OF HBO'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
LOS ANGELES, December 22 - In 2008, Mexican icon Juan Manuel Marquez solidified his place among boxing's elite and became Mexico's number one fighter by knocking out Joel Casamayor and winning a championship in a third weight class. As 2009 opens, Marquez will not be resting on his laurels, as he accepted the challenge to face former three-time lightweight champion Juan "The Baby Bull" Diaz on Saturday, February 28th in what promises to be an early Fight of The Year candidate.
"This fight between Marquez and Diaz will shake the lightweight division to its core and truly determine the best 135-pounder in the world," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "As a fan, I can't wait to see this fight."
Marquez vs. Diaz, a 12 round bout for the Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and will be televised live on HBO's World Championship Boxing beginning at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT.
Mexico's premier fighter and a future Hall of Famer, Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KO's) has signified excellence for over 15 years and in three weight classes. A world champion at featherweight and junior lightweight, the 35-year-old Mexico City native made an immediate impact at 135 pounds when he won the Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship by becoming the first man to stop Cuban great Joel Casamayor on September 13, 2008.
"Juan Diaz is a talented young fighter with a bright future," said Marquez. "But this is still my time and I am not about to let Diaz take my belt away from me."
Just nine years old when Marquez made his pro debut, 25-year old Juan Diaz (34-1, 17 KO's) has roared through the pro ranks during his eight-year career and built a stellar reputation as one of the fight game's most exciting young stars. The Former Three-Time World Lightweight Champion defended his crown seven times, beating the likes of fellow World Champions Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz along the way. In his last bout in September of 2008, "The Baby Bull" thrilled his hometown fans at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with a dominant 12 round decision win over Australian warrior Michael Katsidis.
"Juan Manuel is one of the greats in the game and it's an honor to fight him, but I will be victorious on February 28th," said Diaz.
BATAWANG IN IBF JR. FLYWEIGHT ELIMINATOR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Fri, 19 Dec 2008

Filipino
light flyweight Bert “Ninja” Batawang who is ranked No. 5 by the
International Boxing Federation is scheduled to face Carlos “El
Olimpico”Tamara who is ranked No. 6 with the winner moving up as
mandatory challenger for the title currently held by Ulises Solis of
Mexico .
IBF
Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker Jr in an email to
well-known promoter Sammy Gello-ani who handles Batawang has directed
that negotiations “should commence immediately and be concluded by
January 2, 2009.” <<Read More>>
GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION ROBERT "THE GHOST" GUERRERO

Photo Caption: Former two-time world champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero
(center) poses on December 18 after signing a boxing promotional contract at
the Golden Boy Promotions offices with Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer (left)
and Guerrero's co-managers Shelly Finkel (right) and Bob Santos (back)
LOS ANGELES, December 18- Golden Boy Promotions is proud to announce that former two-time world champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero has been added to its roster of fighters. Guerrero signed
with Golden Boy Promotions today and is slated to make his Golden Boy Promotions debut in early 2009.
"California has been known for its great world champions and Robert Guerrero is no exception to this rule as he is one of the most exciting young fighter in the sport today," said President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya. "We can't wait to get him another title shot and I am confident that he will lead the junior lightweight division in and out of the ring with his skill, power, determination and charisma."
"One of my dreams is to be promoted by the best in the business and I think Golden Boy Promotions is the right company for my career," said the former world champion."De La Hoya has been my idol since I was a kid and I have always dreamed of being like him. I'm ready to get back in the ring and fight for a world title in 2009 and I'm happy to have Golden Boy in my corner."
The Mexican-American 25-year-old Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (22-1-1, 15 KOs) had an impressive amateur career before moving into the pro ranks in 2001. Now, the former two-time world champion has developed into a two-fisted boxer-puncher who is dangerous in all aspects of the sweet science. The Bay Area native won his first world title on September 2, 2006 when he defeated Eric Aikenby eight-round technical knockout. "The Ghost" lost the belt in his first defense against Orlando Salido but after Salido was stripped of the belt for testing positive for steroids, Guerrero got another shot at the vacant belt. On February 23, 2007 he won the vacant IBF featherweight crown with an impressive ninth round TKO of "Denmark's Warrior" Spend Abazi. In his last bout on February 29, Guerrero scored an eighth round knock out against Jason Litzau. Guerrero is ranked #5 by the IBF and #8 by the WBC in the junior lightweight division and is eager to get another world title shot in 2009.
A date and opponent for Guerrero's debut under the Golden Boy Promotions banner will be announced shortly.
CREATES A SIGNATURE EVENT AS A HOLIDAY GIFT Packages Include Collector's Glove Signed by Margarito and Mosley, Tickets and Commemorative T-Shirts LOS ANGELES (December 17, 2008)- The Antonio Margaritovs. Sugar Shane MosleyWorld Welterweight Championship fight is just the ticket for a great holiday gift! There
are TWO great Holiday Gift Packs available. The first package is only
$295 and includes four tickets, regularly priced at $75 each, and four
commemorative Margarito-Mosley fight T-shirts. For
only $585, you can upgrade your Holiday Pack with four tickets,
regularly priced at $150, four fight T-shirts and a boxing glove signed
by both fighters. These packages are a great holiday gift for any boxing fan. There are only 200 Holiday Packs available and they must be purchased through www.aegtickets.com/boxingholidaypack.
MARGARITO - MOSLEY WORLD TITLE RUMBLE
Additionally, fans purchasing over $1000 in tickets online at www.ticketmaster.com(offer not valid through TicketMaster phones, outlets and STAPLES Center box office)
or purchasing a group of 10 or more tickets totaling over $1000 by
calling 877-AEG-TICKETS (234-8425), will receive a boxing glove signed
by both fighters.This autographed glove promotion is also limited to the first 200 people who spend $1,000 or more. Order now!
Remaining tickets, priced at $300, $150, $75 and $50, are on sale at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 213-480-3232, online at www.ticketmaster.comand at STAPLES Center box office.
Promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotionsand sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, the Margarito vs. Mosley World Welterweight Championship fight takes place on Saturday, January 24 at STAPLES Center in Los Angelesand will be televised live on HBO's World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.