Stiverne picks Oregon over Ohio St. In 2015 College Football National Championship Game

LAS VEGAS (January 9, 2014) - If not for a career-changing injury, World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title-holder Bermane "B. Ware" Stiverne (24-1, 21 KOs) may have been a professional football player instead of becoming champion of the world in professional boxing. The 6' 2", 248-pound Stiverne had a Michigan State football scholarship to play linebacker for the Spartans, but he blew-out his knee midway through his freshman year (1997) during a practice session. Stiverne remains an avid football player and he has picked Oregon to defeat Ohio State this Monday night in the College Football National Championship game. "I like Oregon in the championship game," Stiverne said from his Las Vegas home. "They're consistent and have the best offense in the country. Plus, the way they beat Florida State was sweet." Stiverne, who knocked out Chris Arreola (35-4) this past May to claim the coveted WBC title belt vacated by retired Vitali Klitschko, makes his first title defenseSaturday night, Jan. 17, against undefeated mandatory challenger Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs), airing on Showtime Championship Boxing (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) live from MGM Grand in Las Vegas. For further information visit www.eottm.com, or follow on Twitter @eotmvd and @BStiverne.

Bellator Season 9 Schedule Now Complete

Newport Beach, CA. (August 1^st, 2013) – The Season 9 schedule for Bellator MMA is now complete as the promotion will host The Toughest Tournament In Sports beginning on Saturday, September 7^th from Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun. The schedule will then shift to Friday nights live and free on Spike TV. Bellator will also feature its recently announce Pay-Per-View featuring Rampage Jackson vs. Tito Ortiz on Saturday, November 2^nd.  

Tickets for every event are on sale now and can be purchased on Bellator.com.

A full season breakdown can be found below:

Saturday, September 7^th: Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut

Friday, September 13^th: Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California

Friday, September 20^th: Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona

Friday, September 27^th: Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon

Friday, October 4^th: Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California

Friday, October 11^th: Kansas Star Casino in Wichita, Kansas

Friday, October 18^th: US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Friday, October 25^th: Santa Ana Star Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico   

Friday, November 1^st: Road To The Championships

Friday, November 8^th: WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma  

Friday, November 15^th: Revel in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Friday, November 22^nd: Sands Casino Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania   

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA          

WBAN petitioning International Olympic Committee On behalf of elite amateur women boxers

PORTLAND, Ore. (July 29, 2013) - On behalf of elite female amateur boxers, Women Boxing Archive Network (WBAN) has begun a petition addressed to the International Olympic Committee to increase opportunities and prevent discrimination against female boxers, as well as other women athletes.  The WBAN petition is specifically addressed to President Jacques Rogge & Executive Board (EB) International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.), Lausanne, Switzerland; President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu & Executive Committee - International Boxing Association, Lausanne, Switzerland (A.I.B.A). WBAN is petitioning the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) to reconsider its decision to limited women's boxing to only three weight-class divisions at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  By restricting female boxers to participate in only three divisions, female boxers that do not compete in those categories will not be able to compete in The Olympics.  The men's boxing division has 10 weight classes. WBAN believes the discrepancy between the sanctioned divisions for female vs. male boxers in The Olympics as discriminatory. WBAN was informed on July 25, 2013 that the I.O.C. had decided that there would be no increase in weight classes for amateur female boxers in the 2016 Olympics.  In a report WBAN published on the aforementioned date, the statement made by the I.O.C Executive Board HQ in Lausanne, Switzerland offering this explanation: The EB discussed the topic of possible modifications to disciplines, events, quotas and competition formats at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and reiterated that any request from International Federations that would result in a higher number of athletes or increased number of medals, thereby adding to the cost and complexity of the Games, would not be considered. WBAN was also informed that this decision not only applied to female boxing but other sporting organizations including sailing, swimming and cycling. WBAN is asking the public to sign this petition in hopes that the I.O.C. reconsiders its decision regarding the amount of 2013 Olympic weight classes for amateur female boxers. Link to the WBAN Petition   http://www.change.org/petitions/petition-increase-weight-classes-for-female-boxers-in-2016-olympic-games-in-rio-de-janeiro Go to www.wban.com for additional information about the petition and other news in women's boxing, and follow WBAN on Twitter @WBANbuzz and Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/sue.t.fox?v=feed&viewas=703523350.

Serrano believes the second time is a charm!

 

Tacoma, WA (August 9, 2012) – On June 2, welterweights Nate Serrano and Osvaldo Rojas engaged in one of the most exciting bouts in “Battle at the Boat” history.

 

Serrano, a retired marine who has a gargantuan fan base at the Emerald Queen Casino and Rojas, a rugged Oregonian, slugged it out throughout their unforgettable six round contest. Both men had their moments and the crowd remained at the edge of their seats from bell to bell.

 

Upon the bout’s completion, both men were met with a round of applause from the appreciative crowd. A case could’ve been made for either man to emerge as the victor and the pro-Serrano crowd wasn’t sure whose hand would be raised when the scorecards were read.

 

Ultimately, the judges ruled it a split draw, opening the door for a rematch. Just moments after the official decision came, Serrano, 4-1-1 (3 KO’s), and Rojas, 6-2-2 (2 KO’s), agreed they’d meet again August 18 as part of the “Battle at the Boat 88” fight card.

 

“I’ve seen so many proposed rematches of great fights fall apart for one reason or another,” said Brian Halquist, CEO of Halquist Productions. “From the time their first fight ended, I really wanted them to meet again. Thankfully, both fighters were 100 percent behind an immediate rematch and I commend them for giving the fans what they want.”

 

Like his counterpart Serrano wants to provide excitement and turn the draw into a win. The Yakima native, whose fought all of his professional bouts for Halquist at the Emerald Queen Casino, is confident he made the necessary adjustments to do so.  

 

“It was a great fight,” Serrano said of his first fight with Rojas. I thought everybody enjoyed it and that’s why we agreed to do it again. I feel like I edged him out but it was a very close fight. The difference this time is that I’m not going to waste any punches."

 

He also recognizes the importance of keeping his loyal fans happy.

 

“In my eyes, there’s always pressure on me to go out there and put on a good performance for my fans, my team and myself. It means a lot the fans support me so strongly and I’m happy to perform for them. It does help when I get the support and it’s a good feeling to know that they like my fights. To reward them, I expect to be victorious on the 18^th.”

 

The highly anticipated Serrano-Rojas rematch serves as the co-feature to the ten round lightweight battle between hungry veterans Jose Hernandez and Robert Osiobe.

 

Highly touted junior welterweight Ray Lampkin Jr. of Portland fights for the second time in as many fights on a BATB card when he meets Randell Corpuz of Yakima. The son of title contender Ray Lampkin Sr., the younger Lampkin posted a 67-7 amateur record and amongst the Pacific Northwest’s most promising prospects.

 

Also appearing in undercard bouts are four rounders between Jose Leon ofLos Angeles, CA and Lakeside, MT’s Jesse Udhe, along with matchups between Hillsboro, OR resident Gabriel Pineda and Twin Falls, ID native Matthew Flores as well as Andres Ramos of Spokane, WA against Frank Mendez of Longview, WA.

 

Tickets starting at $25 are available at the EQC box office or by going to Ticektmaster.com.

 

Doors open at 6 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7.

 

During the last 23 years, Halquist Productions built a reputation in the boxing world for their loyalty, honesty and integrity. In 1997, Halquist Productions ran their inaugural “Battle at the Boat” series, which remains successful to this day. Halquist Productions promoted many world title bouts and their fight cards have been seen on ESPN, HBO and Showtime.