Harrison-McKart WBU Title Fight Headlines KP Boxing Show At The Cobo Centre In Detroit This Friday

Detroit’s very own Tony Harrison is set for his first taste of Championship boxing this coming Friday, when he takes on the highly experienced, former WBO/UBO/IBA Champion, Bronco McKart for the Interim World Boxing Union Middleweight title, at the Cobo Centre in Downtown Detroit.

Harrison, who is unbeaten in seventeen, earned his shot at the WBU title with a sensational second round stoppage victory, over former Contender star and former NABF, IBA and IBO Light Middleweight Champion Grady Brewer, back in February.

On May 30th the Detroit puncher, with an enviable fourteen of his victories coming by way of stoppage, will be looking to emulate his grandfather Henry Hank, who beat Joey Giardello at the very first boxing event to take place at the Cobo on the 5^th July 1961.

Bronco McKart, Harrison’s opponent this Friday, is by far the more experienced of the pair, having fought sixty seven times, during which time he secured numerous Domestic, International, Inter-Continental and World accolades, including the Michigan State Welterweight, NABF at both Light Middleweight and Middleweight, WBA International, WBF Inter-Continental titles as well as the IBA, WBO and UBO World Crowns in his twenty two year career.

Speaking earlier World Boxing Union President, Don Lewis said of the intriguing match-up,

“It’s an honor that a World Boxing Union Championship fight will headline the first boxing event at the Cobo Center, since it’s multi million dollar refurbishment.

What’s more this is a genuinely interesting Championship bout, I mean it’s not often that you get a 23 year old unbeaten rising star making his Championship debut against a savvy three time World Champion.

The fans are going to love this fight, it will be an action packed affair, although there is a high chance that it may be over inside the distance.

Both Tony and Bronco are big punchers and both have a high percentage of stoppage wins, Tony fourteen out of seventeen and Bronco thirty four out of his fifty six wins to date.

I wish both men the best and look forward to crowning one of them the Interim World Boxing Union Middleweight Champion on Friday.”

COBO CENTER AND GREEKTOWN CASINO SUPPORT KP BOXING IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT

 COBO CENTER

 “New Center Rising” is the motto of the shiny newly refurbished structure on the Detroit River formally known as Cobo Hall/Arena.

The multi million dollar remake has become the jewel of Downtown Detroit, and they’re only three quarters through with the Renaissance.

The Cobo Center’s general manager, Thom Connors, has put together a team of experts that will guarantee success for years to come.

Boxing at Cobo is nothing new according to boxrec.com 45 bouts have been held at Cobo Hall, Cobo Arena in the Riverview ballroom.

Over the years many household names fought at the Cobo, Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns fought at Cobo 4 times, including back to back title fights against Doug DeWitt (NABF) and Dennis Andries (WBC) and Jimmy Paul won the IBF Lightweight title there.

Others who battled at the Cobo include; Roberto Duran, Milton McCrory, Dwight Davison, Bernard "Superbad" Mays, Alvin "Blue" Lewis, Hegemon Lewis and Ruslan Chagaev (2006), who went on to win the WBA Heavyweight Title in 2007, whilst Sugar Ray Robinson, Laila Ali, Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr all fought at the Cobo during their early careers.

GREEKTOWN CASINO-HOTEL


Casinos and boxing have gone hand-in-hand for years. In the 80s and 90s in Las Vegas boxers with names like ”Hitman”, Roberto, Sugar Ray and Marvelous Marvin fought classic duels there.

Here in Detroit the Greektown Casino–Hotel has stepped up to the plate to assist KP Boxing, by hosting their out-of-town boxers, whilst the Shotz Bar and Grille will be the hotspot for the weigh-in Thursday, May 29 at 4 PM.

www.wbuboxing.org

Due To A Serious Breach Of Safety Regulations, MBC Revoke Sanctioning Of 25th April MFCC Event, As Well As Suspend Recognition Of WBUv - World Boxing Union (German Version)

Marc James, the Permanent General Secretary of the Malta Boxing Commission, today announced that the board of the MBC have voted unanimously to revoke the sanctioning of the upcoming event, which is due to take place at MFCC on 25^thApril 2014, as well as, with immediate effect, suspending all sanctioning agreements with the German Championship organisation WBUv - which is currently listed as World Boxing Union (German Version) by industry records website BoxRec.com.

Mr. James revealed that this decision was reached upon due to two factors, the first being that outstanding sanctioning and medical fees for a previous event have yet to be paid by the promoter, Mr Gary Hincks.

The second being due to a serious breach of recognised professional Boxing rules and medical requirements, by Mr Torsten Knille, President of the WBUv - World Boxing Union (German Version).

It had come to the attention that Mr Knille’s has chosen to ignore standardised professional boxing safety regulations, by allowing the holder of one of the WBUv titles to compete without proof of medical examinations, or the required blood and brain screening.

As such the MBC board feel that they had no option but to revoke the sanctioning of both the WBUv - World Boxing Union (German Version) - Super Middleweight World title fight and the undercard bouts on an upcoming event, which is due to take place at MFCC on 25^th April 2014, as well as all future WBUv - World Boxing Union (German Version) - Championship bouts in Malta.

Mr. James, speaking on behalf of the board of the Malta Boxing Commission, said.

“Whilst we could have worked around the outstanding fees situation, there is no way we could possibly consider sanctioning an event where one or more of the boxers competing has no current medical or undertaken the required MRI and blood screening.

We find it unbelievable that WBUv President Torsten Knille is willing to ignore all established professional boxing safety and internationally recognised professional boxing medical regulations, just to sell a title.

This action indicates gross neglect for the welfare of boxers, by Mr Knille, which is an abhorrent act by the President of a so called Professional Boxing Championship organisation.

As such we were left no option but to revoke the sanctioning of the event that takes place this Friday.

We are advising all parties publicly of this decision, because everyone taking part should be aware that as we have revoked the sanctioning that the required insurance of boxers on that event is now null and void.”

It would seem that this is not just a ‘one off’ case of unprofessionalism by Mr. Knille and the WBUv – World Boxing Union (German Version) - as Mr James then spoke of further information that has come to light over the past few days.

“We have recently been made aware that various European Boxing Union member countries, including the German National organisation BDB and the Croatian HSPB, have suspended all dealings with Mr Knille and the WBUv in the past year or so.

The information we are receiving from EBU members is quite alarming, in an e.mail that has been forwarded to me, Mr Harry Gorian, the HSPB Sport Director, stated that following an event held in Croatia in May 2013 the HSPB suspended all dealing with Mr Knille after he and the WBUv acted in an unprofessional manner, by ignoring recognised International boxing rules.

He then went on to say that the WBUv's leadership, and I quote, 'have no professional attitude and respect for others, except greed to get sanctioning fee and exposure at any cost'

In addition we have also been made aware that there are alarming doubts of Mr. Knille’s right to use the long established World Boxing Union name, which brings into further question the legitimacy of his Championships, which in turn brings into question the legitimacy of the titles held by various MBC licensed boxers.

I’m not saying that we will strip the MBC licensed boxers, such as Steve Martin, of the WBUv titles they hold, but in the future we will not recognise or provide sanctioning for any championships of Mr Knille’s and the WBUv.”

www.maltaboxingcommission.com

Five WBU Titles Head Up Mega Event In Poole, UK On April 19th

World Boxing Union President, Mr. Don Lewis, announced earlier today that the WBU will be sanctioning no less than five Championship bouts on a mega event being promoted by Dave Fisher, that takes place at the Lighthouse in Poole, Dorset, UK on Saturday 19^th April 2014.

Heading up the show sees Bournemouth’s multi title winning Steven Bendall back in Championship action, when he challenges for the World Boxing Union Middleweight World Championship against Ghana’s Emmanuel ‘Sleek’ Clottey.

This mouth watering match-up pitches two of the most experienced and exciting Middleweights around against each other.

Bendall, a former English, WBU and IBO Inter-Continental Champion has an extensive Championship pedigree, going right back to 2001 when he won the aforementioned World Boxing Union title and even more recently Bendall beat John Akulugu to secure the WBUv title.

On the other hand Clottey, a former IBA Americas Champion, campaigned Championships on numerous occasions during his stellar career, the first back in 1995 when he secured the Ghanaian Super Featherweight title.

Clottey is no stranger to fighting in the UK, in fact on just his second Championship outing Clottey unsuccessfully challenged Holloway’s Colin Dunne for his World Boxing Union Lightweight crown, which took place at York Hall in London, so Clottey is no stranger to fighting on British soil.

Co-headlining on April 19^th are Kingsteignton, Devon’s Jamie ‘The Genius’ Speight, who challenges Accra, Ghana’s Michael ‘Annor Ray’ Barnor for the WBU Super Bantamweight World crown and Newton Abbot’s Gareth Hogg takes on Accra, Ghana’s Ibrahim Labaran for the vacant World Boxing Union Light Heavyweight title.

Co-main support, for the three World title fights, are two further Championship bouts, the first sees Ireland’s Declan Timlin take on Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Adnan Buharalija for the World Boxing Union European Heavyweight title, whilst exciting former Team GB star Iain ‘The Blessed One’ Weaver makes his first tilt at a title, when he faces Accra, Ghana’s Michael Ansah for the vacant World Boxing union Super Featherweight Youth title.

In addition to the five Championship fights there will also be an undercard crammed with the top young talent, including former England captain Antonio Counihan and top amateur star Ishmael Nettey, who will be making his professional debut.

Tickets, priced £25 (Rear Floor Seating) £35 (Balcony), £45 (Choir Stage), £50 (Outer Ring) and £70 (Ringside) for the Dave Fisher promoted World Boxing Union Championship event, which takes place at The Lighthouse in Poole, Dorset on Saturday 19^th April 2014, are available from www.tkoboxoffice.com -www.tkoboxoffice.co.uk or www.eventbrite.co.uk or call the ticket line on 07960 850645.

Please go online to www.wbuboxing.orgor www.wbueurope.eufor additional information on upcoming WBU and WBU Europe sanctioned title fights.

Follow WBU and WBU Europe on Twitter @WBUEurope & @TheRealWBU - friend us at www.facebook.com/WBUEurope- www.facebook.com/WorldBoxingUnionand on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/wbu-europe

Marston Vs.Gumliiska For Inaugural WBU European Title on March 1st

World Boxing Union President, Mr Don Lewis, today announced that London, England’s Marianne Marston and Sofia, Bulgaria’s Galina Gumliiska, will be the first to compete for the new WBU European Championship crown.

Marston versus Gumliiska, for the vacant WBU Female Super Bantamweight European title, will take place at the York Hall in London on Saturday 1^st March 2014.

Marston, the protégé of the late, great Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, is by far the less experienced of the pair, having only fought professionally twice previously.

However, as both those victories came by way of first round stoppage, Ms. Marston is firmly ranked the British #1 Pound 4 Pound Female Boxer, by BoxRec.com, who also confidently rank her as the #1 Super Bantamweight in the UK, #4 in the Commonwealth, #6 in Europe and #55 in the World.

On the other hand Gumliiska, who is ranked #1 in Bulgaria, #8 in Europe and #31 in the World, at Super Featherweight, by BoxRec.com, is mightily experienced in comparison, having competed some thirty eight times, seven of those being Championship bouts.

Gumliiska’s last title challenge was in June last year, when she unsuccessfully challenged Germany’s Marie Riederer for the WIBF Light Welterweight World title.

Earlier today Mr. Lewis spoke briefly on the upcoming historic bout.

“I’m genuinely pleased that Marianne and Galina are to compete against each other for the inaugural WBU European title.

This is a very good match-up, a genuine 50/50 fight if ever there was one.

I’ve been watching Marianne’s career with interest, in fact since 2008 when I first met her at Joe Frazier’s gym.

Back then Joe said she would be World Champion one day, then it seems everything conspired to stop her fighting, but she’s a fighter through and through and just stuck in there and finally got to compete last year.

I’m genuinely pleased that Marianne is fighting for WBU honors, but have to say it will not be easy for her.

Galina is one seriously tough cookie, over the years she’s fought numerous Championship bouts, always against the top girls.

It’ll be an interesting clash of styles, Marianne’s is pure ‘Smokin’ Joe, she likes to work on the inside, but Galina has experience, she has a lot of ring savvy, I’m sure she’ll work off her jab to keep Marianne on the outside as much as possible.

The winner, well that’s an easy one – Boxing and Boxing fans.”

Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston versus Galina Gumliiska, for the vacant World Boxing Union Super Bantamweight European Championship, co-headlines the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted WARZONE, which takes place at York Hall in London on Saturday 1^st March 2014.

Tickets, priced £35 & £60 are available from www.acourtier.com or call the ticket line on 07960 850645.

Please go online to www.wbuboxing.org or www.wbueurope.eu for additional information on upcoming WBU and WBU Europe sanctioned title fights.

Follow WBU and WBU Europe on Twitter @WBUEurope & @TheRealWBU - friend us at www.facebook.com/WBUEurope - www.facebook.com/WorldBoxingUnion and on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/wbu-europe

Inspirational Words From Mark Prince Ahead Of March 1st Title Fight

Interview and Photos by Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

When I recently interviewed Mark Prince I just wanted to get some good quotes to use in press releases to promote his upcoming fight, however part way through the interview I soon realized there’s no way this man’s inspirational words should be edited into ‘quotes’ to publicize a mere boxing match, albeit an important one for him and his fans, so instead I decided to keep the interview in it’s entirety.

Don’t get me wrong, the interview is about boxing, with Mark talking about his come back fight back in October last year, however the reason behind his return to the ring, after a fourteen year hiatus, as well as what that fight truly meant to him, soon becomes the focal point.

On the 18^th May 2006 Mark’s life changed dramatically, following the senseless murder of his son Kiyan, a prodigious young footballer who played for Queens Park Rangers.

The crazy part of all this is that Kiyan was trying to be the peace maker, by intervening in an altercation between two boys outside the London Academy in Enfield, however this selfless act led to his death, following one of the boys striking out at Kiyan with a knife, killing him with just a single blow through the heart.

Following the initial grieving, Mark focused on the creation of a legacy for his much loved and talented son, the Kiyan Prince Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that is committed to combating knife crime and other forms of youth violence.

Through the Kiyan Prince Foundation, Mark has dedicated his life to educating youngsters and campaigning for legislation on the carrying of knives.

Mark was instrumental, along with then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, in the lobbying for knife crime to be introduced into the Violent Crime Reduction act that went before Parliament and received Royal assent in November 2006.

A former IBF and WBO Champion, it is logical that Boxing would enter into the equation somewhere, at first by taking kids of the streets and into the boxing gyms, where they can learn to control their violent tendencies.

Mark fervently believed a much bigger platform, preferably a National platform, was the only way for the Kiyan Prince Foundation to get the message out and save more young lives being lost, as well as save their parents the anguish and grief that he and his family have endured since that fateful day in 2006.

It was this belief that ultimately led to him returning to the boxing ring, where he felt his successes in the ring would provide that platform, as well as attract the required media exposure.

I really do hope that the passion in his voice, as he spoke of the night he made his long awaited return, comes across in the written word, but in a way you can forget just how great he was in that fight, and he was great, because the real importance of that night wasn’t the actual Boxing.

The reason I say that is because that night and his magnificent achievement, provided the platform that he craved for, in his quest to educate and inspire the young people he and the Kiyan Prince Foundation come into contact with.

Anyway, enough of my waffle, it’s Mark’s words that are the important ones.

“I’m really looking forward to being in Championship action again, it’s been a long while coming but here we are, I’m fighting for the World Boxing Union European title.

My last fight, was the most wonderful thing that has happened to me in the past year.

The fight was about me, for me to recognize that I came back at such a time as this, it’s about me recognizing anything I choose to do, I can do.

I’m a Champion, I’m a winner and I can do great things because I choose to stay focused and use Boxing to profile the Kiyan Prince Foundation (www.kiyan.org) and what I am trying to do for the community and young people.

I knew already I was going to be the victor, I’m a real live fighter and I just needed to make myself current again and enjoy what I was doing.

When I was a fighter coming up I didn’t enjoy it so much, it was so intense, you had to win, you had to win so I probably didn’t relax too much, now I’m sure of myself, I’m more mature, I’ve got through things and what I’ve gone through my life is actually showing in the way I fight.

You can’t separate the guys character from the fighter, so now I’ve got a different personality, in terms of my resilience, understanding.

When I go into a fight now it’s completely different, I totally get the fact I am the man, so all I’ve got to do is go in there and demonstrate that, that’s what I do now.

I went in there and controlled the other fighter, I didn’t allow him to do what he wanted to do, I’ve got a very powerful jab, my jab dictates fights. If you risk going inside the Jab you’ve my left hook, my uppercut, you’ve got all these other punches in my tool box, I’ve simplified my fighting.

I’ve made it as difficult as possible for them, there’s no pressure for me warming up and getting ready for the fight, everything, walking up to the ring I’m loving it, whereas before you know I’d be so nervous, intense, there’s none of that anymore.

I felt the atmosphere myself, it was amazing and everyone said I took a long time to come out, that’s because I was enjoying every moment, I was taking my time, I was waiting for the music to peak at the right time, then as I walked into the open space my whole action changed.

I felt the mad energy and heard the noise, my arms raised, I started to bounce on my toes, it was just beautiful, hard to explain, but it was an awesome feeling, I was home again.

It really was something else, then after the fight I was allowed to let my emotion go, but still stay calm enough to speak to the cameras, speak to those that wanted to put the mike in front of me and just greet people, because everyone wanted to hug me, touch me, it took me a while to get out of the arena.

Man it was so amazing, do you know it took me about three days to soak that all in, seriously I was waking up saying to myself ‘Look what you have done, that you actually done this, you came back after fourteen years and you fought like that, wow!’

I was shocked at myself, even though I was the one telling people I was going to do it.

It was totally amazing and I don’t think I could ever replicate that feeling, why because it was the first time back in fourteen years, so yeah I’m going to get a beautiful response on March 1^st, it’s going to be electrifying when I go out again, I will treasure that time as much as I did when I was coming back, it was amazing.

I feel so privileged to be the one chosen for this, I feel privileged as I go back a year to where I was, I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this for the people that believe in me, to show them they were right about me.

Don (coach Don Charles) said ‘you’re a wonderful fighter and that it’s a privilege to have you coming working here at the gym’, it’s wonderful to reward them with that sort of display, not just a victory, but how I go about it, it’s not about the victory, it’s about how I am victorious, the way I get the victory, I know in the last fight that, that stood out and it will do on March 1^st.

So it’s on to the WBU European title now man, onwards and upwards and every time I get a platform it’s to do what I said I would do, speak about what’s happening next and share it with the individuals that are watching the charity, watching me.

I’m telling you I went to do a talk at a unit in Edmonton and the kids were silent when I was talking, they were engaged and they were inspired by the whole journey and they were inspired by the fact that my son Kiyan and what he was doing as a footballer and him as an individual and they want to come to a place where the Kiyan Prince Foundation are running, they now want to come and be developed and helped by the Kiyan Prince foundation.

So you see it’s so important that before I hang my gloves up again that this is going to be completed, because that is what this is all about, more than the belts, WBU European or anything else, this is about me setting up this charity and allowing loads of kids to come and work through our projects and programmes and be changed, the renewing of their minds into new and different young people, this is going to benefit the community as a whole.”

For further information on the Kiyan Prince Foundation please go to:www.kiyan.org

Mark Prince, against a yet to be announced opponent, for the WBU Europe Cruiserweight Championship co-headlines Dave Murphy’s Acourtier Events promoted WARZONE event, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 1^st March 2014.

For tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside) Please contact Mark direct for tickets on 07446 320593, Champagne Jay on 07427 131850 or event ticket line on 07960 850645 or 07809 499896.

Alternatively tickets are available on-line at www.markthe1prince.com orwww.acourtier.com