JEAN PASCAL WITH GYM AND INTERBOX NEXT FIGHT IN SEPTEMBER

For Immediate Release MONTREAL (April 16, 2014) -- This afternoon at La Cage aux Sports Boucherville, Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and InterBox announced that they had reached an agreement with Jean Pascal Promotions to ensure the services of the NABF Champion and WBC Diamond Belt light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs), who recently defeated Lucian Bute. The multi-fight agreement was signed last Saturday between President Yvon Michel of GYM, InterBox President Jean Bédard and Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of Jean Pascal Promotions, Greg Leon. WBC #1 contender Pascal became a promotional free agent after his fight this past January 18 in Montreal. During the nine years since his first professional fight Feb. 3, 2005, the 31 years old athlete fought all of his 32 fights under the aegis of Groupe Yvon Michel. During this period he won many titles highlighted by his conquest of popular WBC light heavyweight champion Adrian Diaconu at Montreal's Bell Centre in June 2009. The following year, in the same arena against Chad Dawson, he added the prestigious "Ring Magazine" and IBO titles, and was recognized as the lineal 175-pound champion. Last January, he won his clash against Bute in front of more than 20,000 spectators gathered in the castle of the Montreal Canadiens. Greg Leon, CEO of Jean Pascal Promotions, said, ""I want to thank Group Yvon Michel and InterBox for making our negotiation smooth and seamless. Jean Pascal Promotions and I are truly looking forward to promoting with such outstanding organizations. Jean Pascal is already the box office champion of the Canadian market and without question that is a position that he will only have a firmer stronghold of following these next two events. We are looking forward to giving the fans the fights they are craving and I have no doubt that Jean Pascal will be the last man standing when all is said and done." "We will work closely with GYM and InterBox across all platforms to design an integrated strategy that grows Jean Pascal's brand globally. Our entire team is very excited with the deal we have concluded," added Raven Brosier, consultant for Jean Pascal Promotions. "At GYM, we are particularly pleased to continue our association with Jean Pascal, thru his company Jean Pascal Promotions, which began when he was 22, in 2005," GYM president Yvon Michel commented. "Our alliance with InterBox in this project is not the result of a contextual improvisation but a long reflection that began at the end of last summer. Now, GYM and InterBox will join forces to offer the best opportunities for our boxers and to give our fans the best shows."    "For us at InterBox, we are excited to implement our agreement with GYM, to combine the respective talents of both organizations and work to present to boxing fans major fights. It is in this perceptive that fits the agreement with Jean Pascal Promotions. Our first goal was to keep this talented Quebec athlete here in Quebec," InterBox President Jean Bedard stated. "As President of Jean Pascal Promotions," Pascal remarked, "I have many new challenges ahead of me, but like I've done many times before, I plan on making history both inside and outside of the ring. I will be taking on the best challenges and give the fans their monies worth like I always do, but this time I will be doing so as a promoter and a boxer."  "This opportunity is like a dream come true for me. I'm very excited about working with and learning from Groupe Yvon Michel and InterBox to make our events something the fans will never forget. I have to thank Yvon Michel, Jean Bedard, and Jean Pascal Promotions CEO Greg Leon for making this deal possible. The rest of my staff - Antonio Decarie, Feymie Ze Lou and Raven Brosier - deserve great thanks also for being involved on every step of this new journey. The objective is to make two more fights in 2014 for Jean Pascal, the next scheduled for September. Discussions on the potential opponent are already underway  and those for a U.S. broadcast will follow.

BIZIER NOT FIGHTING ALEXANDER ON MAY 18 FOR IBF WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

MONTREAL (April 18, 2013) - Yesterday at noon, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) issued a statement about Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM)-promoted Kevin Bizier  being appointed as the new mandatory challenger to IBF world welterweight champion Devon Alexander. Alexander was scheduled to face his mandatory challenger, Kell Brook, of England, May 18 in Atlantic City on Showtime, but Brook was injured during training and had to withdraw.  To ensure Bizier's presence in Atlantic City to fight Alexander, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaeffer also contacted the president of GYM, Yvon Michel, offering a very attractive proposition.   All members of Team Bizier - Kevin, Michel, Marc Ramsay, and Remi Bizier -- met yesterday to analyze the entire situation.The unanimous conclusion of this meeting was to refuse the IBF and Golden Boy's proposal. The current circumstances do not allow Kevin Bizier sufficient training and preparation required to participate in a fight of this magnitude against the established IBF champion. A letter was also sent this morning to the Chairman of the IBF Championships Committee, Mr. Lindsey Tucker, for this purpose.  "We believe that Kevin Bizier has the talent to become World welterweight champion this year," Michel said. "We thank the IBF and Golden Boy for the opportunity offered but, unfortunately, we had to decline because Kevin would not have been able to offer a performance, given the current context, at the height of his talent. This is only a postponement." Meanwhile, Bizier is currently ranked No. 3 by the IBF and No. 6 by the World Boxing Association (WBA). He is still developing and expected to rise even higher in world rankings. His next fight will take place May 25, as planned, on the Pascal vs. Bute super event in Montreal.

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc.: Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization's mission is the development of high-level boxers through supportive coaching and management, especially in competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events. Since its inception eight years ago, GYM has presented 108 events, including some historic in terms of ticket sales and PPV views, like Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced over 300 hours of TV for Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the US. A total of six different GYM boxers have fought in 16 world championship fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007 and Jean Pascal the WBC Light Heavyweight championship in 2009.

THE ELITE HEAT BOXING TEAM, TO CALL THEM SPECIAL IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

The Elite Heat Boxing Team is made up of an extremely special group of inner city kids who have chosen the sport of boxing as their focus and have obtained monumental success on a national level.  

Based out of the Elite Heat Boxing Gym in Newark NJ, the kids who make up “the team” can be seen on a daily basis honing their craft with the dedication and drive rarely seen in any athletes other than the most successful world champions on the planet.  

Their days start at the crack of dawn where these kids are literally doing road work with the vigor and passion that it takes to be a champion.  We are talking about 8 year olds – 14 year olds that have made the commitment to focus their energy on something positive, stay off the streets & in addition to their intense training regimen they are required to attack their school work with the same dedication and intensity. 

In 2011 The Elite Heat Boxing Team had 5 Team members win National Championships at the Junior Golden Gloves Tournament in Mesquite Nevada at The Casablanca Sports Complex.  This unprecedented level of success was the culmination of all the hard work and sacrifice that these kids put in for a year leading up to the Nationals.  This year “The Team” is looking to improve upon last year’s results and aim to have 17 Team members win National Championships at the Junior Golden Gloves in July 2012. 

Between the 17 Team Member’s, coaches & chaperones, there are many airline tickets, uniforms, equipment, hotel rooms, meals, rental vans and entrance fees that need to be paid for.  I cannot think of a better, more positive cause to donate to.  

I am asking you to look into your hearts and open up your wallets to assist these special kids in their quest to become National Champions.  The truth is whether they win or lose at the Junior Golden Gloves in July, all these kids are already champions.  

The courage, discipline and honor they display on a daily basis to get to this point is truly remarkable.  Please join The Elite Heat Boxing Team as a sponsor/donor, it feels good to be a part of the winning team!

(Please contact Mr. Vito Mielnicki at 973-738-3982 or via email at vmsplash2003@aol.com to make your much appreciated contribution to The Elite Heat Boxing Team)

THANK YOU!!!