Maurice Hooker Set For March 9 Defense vs. Mikkel LesPierre

By Jake Donovan-

Maurice Hooker was invited by promoter Eddie Hearn to attend Friday’s DAZN show at Hulu Theatre in New York City, in part to scout a pair of super lightweight fights for potential future opponents.

Long before the opening bell, the unbeaten super lightweight titlist already has his next challenger lined up.

Hooker (25-0-3, 17KOs) is locked in for the second defense of his 140-pound crown, as he will face unbeaten Mikkel “Slikk Mikk” LesPierre (20-0-1, 9KOs), from Brooklyn by way of Trinidad & Tobabo.

The bout will serve as the chief support to a March 9 DAZN-streamed card, topped by the platform debut of Dmitry Bivol who defends his light heavyweight title versus Joe Smith Jr. at a location to be determined.

LesPierre’s promoter, Lou DiBella confirmed the news to BoxingScene.com.

“Mikkel LesPierre is a slick, talented boxer with a tremendous work ethic,” DiBella told BoxingScene.com of his client, a 33-year old southpaw who cut his boxing teeth on the Broadway Boxing series.

Hooker will still be in attendance on Friday, checking out former three-division titlist Jorge Linares in a crossroads bout with Pablo Cano as well as former 140-pound beltholder Chris Algieri in a 10-round clash with stablemate Danny Gonzalez.

The winner of both bouts were floated as potential future opponents for the reigning champ, but will now have to wait their turn as Hooker opted for a quick ring return.

The defense will mark his first piece of ring action in the new year following a breakout 2018 ring. Hooker scored road wins over Terry Flanagan in England to win the title and a scintillating 7th round knockout of Alex Saucedo last November in Oklahoma City.

All told, the title challenge is a tall order for the relatively unknown LesPierre, who for most of his adult life has been forced to split his time between his full-time job at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City and honing his craft in the boxing gym.

He’s made the most of his time in the ring, only fighting twice in 2018 but in upgraded competition from where he was when the year began. A 10-round win over previously unbeaten Noel Murphy last February boosted LesPierre’s confidence, raising his game in his next—and most recent—fight, stopping Gustavo Vittori in seven rounds last June in the Astoria section of Queens, New York.

The latter win came on the same show that produced arguably 2018’s biggest upset. Former lightweight titlist Dejan Zlaticanin was a 45-1 betting favorite heading into his bout with Mexico’s Roberto Ramirez, against whom he was crushed in two rounds.

LesPierre left nothing to chance in his own appearance on the show, although it was hardly known at the time that it would lead to his first career title fight.

“He earned his world ranking while working full time, for the last ten years, as a data specialist at Mt Sinai Hospital at Manhattan,” DiBella notes. “A Brooklyn resident, he will join many Broadway Boxing veterans in realizing his dream of fighting for a world title.

“As a fighter and a person, he has earned this chance. I expect him to make the most of it.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/maurice-hooker-set-march-9-defense-vs-mikkel-lespierre–135489?print_friendly=1

 Amanda Serrano. (Cortesía Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment y Tom Casino/Showtime)

Luego de empatar la marca de Miguel Cotto, al convertirse en campeona mundial de cuatro categorías de peso por un puertorriqueño(a), Amanda Serrano ( 31-1-1, 23 KO ) de Carolina, buscará reinar en una quinta división, cuando se enfrente a la dos veces campeona mundial, Dahiana Santana ( 35-8, 14 KO ) de la República Dominicana en histórico duelo que será por la correa vacante mundial de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo ( OMB ) de las 118 libras.

Serrano-Santana tomará forma el sábado, 22 de abril desde el Barclay Center en Brooklyn, Nueva York y tendrá transmisión por Showtime Extreme.

El promotor de Serrano, Lou DiBella dijo que “estoy contento porque Amanda estará peleando de nuevo por Showtime. Ella merece todo esto que le está pasando. Ella no es solo una de las mejores boxeadoras del mundo, sino que yo he promovido a grandes peleadores en toda mi carrera y ella está al mismo nivel ó mas arriba que ellos”.

“Estoy lista desde hace tiempo para seguir buscando retos en diferentes pesos”, dijo Amanda Serrano,”Mi objetivo es Dahiana Santana y le doy las gracias a ella por aceptar la pelea. Ella es bien incómoda, viene a pelear y quiere traerle gloria a República Dominicana y la respeto por eso, pero mis ganas de seguir poniendo el nombre de Puerto Rico en alto, son más grandes”.

“Mi intención, al igual que la intención de mi equipo de trabajo era pelear con Sabrina Pérez, pero ella decidió dejar vacante el título para no pelear conmigo. Considero su movida como una muy mala para el boxeo femenino y para los fanáticos que siempre nos piden peleas de unificación”, dijo Amanda Serrano, quien en su última presentación en el mes de enero, derrotó por decisión unánime a las dos veces campeona mundial, Yazmin ‘Rusita’ Rivas de México.

“Yo estoy en este deporte para ganar. Si algún día, le tengo miedo a alguna boxeadora de mi división, creo que lo mejor es dedicarme a otra cosa, retirarme. Sabrina fue campeona mundial de las 122 libras y cuando fui a esa división, ella dejó el título vacante al momento de enterarse que yo venía y me tuve que enfrentar a otra oponente ( Alexandra Lazar ) y ahora que ella estuvo haciendo campaña en las 118 libras, sucede exactamente lo mismo. Esto es como un chiste de mal gusto, pero no nos quita el enfoque para esta pelea”, exclamó Serrano.

De Serrano salir con la victoria, se convertirá en la primera boxeadora profesional en lograr ser campeona mundial de cinco divisiones de peso y tendrá la mayor cantidad de divisiones ganadas en el boxeo profesional de Puerto Rico.

“Solo el hecho de estar en la lista de los campeones mundiales boricuas junto con mi hermana Cindy es algo muy grande. Todos los días, mi hermana y yo entrenamos fuerte porque nos queremos mantener como campeonas por mucho tiempo. Queremos que los boricuas se sientan orgullosos de nosotras”.

Por su parte, Dahiana Santana de Santo Domingo, ha sido campeona mundial de las 126 libras en la Federación Internacional de Boxeo y la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo, esta última como campeona mundial Interina.

NEW YORK — Undefeated World Junior Welterweight Champion and top pound for pound fighter TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD will make his 2017 debut, Saturday, May 20, at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden.  This will also be his debut headlining in the big room — a testament both to his talent and his growing popularity.  Photos by Ed Mulholland.

Crawford will be defending his unified World Boxing Organization (WBO) / World Boxing Council (WBC) / Ring magazine titles against former Olympic gold medalist and top-rated contender FÉLIX DÍAZ in a marquee all-action fight.  It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

“Crawford vs. Díaz was made for The Garden and I anticipate a battle between these two warriors worthy of its moniker as the Mecca of Boxing,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

“Come May 20, I will be ready for whatever Félix Díaz brings to the ring that night,” said Crawford.  “It’s going to be a great experience fighting at Madison Square Garden in the big arena where all the greats have fought.  I’m looking forward to that night.”

“We’ve got our work cut out for us fighting against another Olympic gold medalist,” said Brian McIntyre, Crawford’s trainer and co-manager.  “It’s an honor to fight in the arena at Madison Square Garden.  It’s a step up going from The Theater into the big room.”

“First, I would like to thank the man upstairs for making my dream come true.  I would also like to thank Lou DiBella, Al Haymon, HBO and my manager Jose Nuñez for working around the clock to get me to this point,” said Díaz.  “The time has finally come. I will share a ring with one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and I tip my hat to Crawford for accepting me as an opponent on May 20 because I am no pushover. I’m coming to bring my A-game and I couldn’t be more grateful to be able to showcase my skills on HBO and at Madison Square Garden, which is just 15 minutes from where I live.  I will take full advantage of this opportunity.  I respect Crawford and believe he is a great fighter, but every king can be dethroned.”

“Félix Díaz is an Olympic gold medalist, a seasoned professional and the best fighter Terence Crawford has ever fought.  We have been chasing this fight for a year because Felix and our team believe we can win.  The fans will win when they see a terrific, competitive fight on May 20th,” said Lou DiBella, the promoter of Díaz.

“On May 20, unified champ Terence Crawford faces gold medalist Félix Díaz in a fight to light up Madison Square Garden,” said Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports.  “Holding two belts and a place on any top pound for pound list, Terence Crawford looks to have his 2017 debut make a big statement in the Big Apple.  Fans will see both fighters’ mettle tested at the Mecca of Boxing.”

www.boxingscene.boxingscene.com/photos-terence-crawford-felix-diaz-go-face-face-msg–115285?print_friendly=1

By Keith Idec –

The WBO informed promoters for its middleweight champion, Billy Joe Saunders, and No. 1 contender Avtandil Khurtsidze on Thursday to begin negotiations for a title fight.

If Frank Warren, Saunders’ promoter, and Lou DiBella, Khurtsidze’s promoter, can’t come to an agreement within 10 days a purse bid will be ordered. The minimum bid for the Saunders-Khurtsidze fight would be $200,000, as per WBO rules for the middleweight division.

England’s Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) reportedly is interested in fighting Japan’s Ryota Murata (12-0, 9 KOs), the WBO’s No. 2-ranked contender at 160 pounds. A fight against Murata would be more lucrative for Saunders, particularly in Japan, but Khurtsidze would have to be compensated before agreeing to step aside and allow that fight to happen.

Khurtsidze has been adamant, though, that he wants to be Saunders’ next opponent.

Brooklyn’s Khurtsidze (32-2-2, 21 KOs) has been the No. 1 contender for Saunders’ championship for nearly 11 months, since he stopped previously undefeated Antoine Douglas (19-1-1, 13 KOs), of Burke, Virginia, in the 10th round March 5 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The 37-year-old Khurtsidze’s No. 1 ranking didn’t stop the WBO from skipping him last month and installing its 154-pound champion, Canelo Alvarez, as the mandatory challenger for Saunders.

An Alvarez-Saunders fight would’ve been much more lucrative for Saunders – and the WBO – but Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) ultimately agreed to face fellow Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs, 1 NC) on May 6 at an undetermined site. Khurtsidze’s representatives didn’t file an appeal of Alvarez’s installation as Saunders’ mandatory challenger because they were told the WBO would grant Khurtsidze a shot at Saunders if Alvarez decided to fight Chavez.

The 27-year-old Saunders has fought just once since he won the WBO 160-pound title from Ireland’s Andy Lee (34-3-1, 24 KOs), whom Saunders defeated by majority decision 13 months ago. The British southpaw beat Russia’s Artur Akavov (16-2, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision December 3 in Paisley, Scotland, but admitted after their 12-round fight that he performed poorly during his first fight in nearly a year.

www.boxingscene.com/saunders-khurtsidze-wbo-orders-promoters-start-negotiations–113029?print_friendly=1

WORLD BOXING ORGANIZATION

Luis Batista Salas, Esq.

Chairman WBO Championship Committee

Via Email

January 26, 2017

Re: WBO Middleweight Bout Negotiations Billy Joe Saunders vs. Avtandil Khurtsidze

Gentlemen:

Please be advised the parties have ten (10) days to negotiate an agreement for the WBO Middleweight Championship bout between Billy Joe Saunders vs. Avtandil Khurtsidze. If an accord is not reached within the time frame, a Purse Bid will be ordered.

The minimum acceptable bid for the Middleweight division is $200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars).

Any one of the parties involved may call for a Purse Bid at any time during the negotiation process.

Yours truly,

Luis Batista Salas, Esq.

C/c Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

Billy Joe Saunders vs. Avtandil Khurtsidze (1)

WORLD BOXING ORGANIZATION

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer –

Cruiserweight titleholder Marco Huck has longed to fight in the United States for many years. His opportunity is finally here and he plans on making the most of it, and a bit of history in the process.

“I have been wanting to fight in the U.S. for over 10 years,” said the 30-year-old Huck, who is from Germany. “The problem was that I didn’t really have anyone by my side who could help me to achieve this dream. But now I found (promoter) Lou DiBella, whose experience is great and who can help me over here and help me with something that my former promoters (Sauerland Event) weren’t able to do.

“I said already that I achieved everything in my career so far and now I get to achieve my debut in the U.S., and I’m looking forward to this fight and for a long run over here in the United States.”

Huck’s American debut will come in a mandatory defense against Poland’s Krzyzstof Glowacki on a Premier Boxing Champions card Friday night (Spike TV, 9 ET) at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

A victory, draw or no contest for Huck, an aggressive puncher with an ultra-crowd pleasing style, would be particularly meaningful as it would mark his 14th successful title defense. That would beak the record he shares with England’s Johnny Nelson for most defenses in the history of the 200-pound cruiserweight division, which has existed since 1979.

“When I do something, I want to do it right and with this win I can actually go down in boxing history, which was always my mission,” Huck said. “The record is a very big deal for me. The division is not that known over here in the States, but it is in Germany. It got well-known because of me. That’s what I want to do over here in America.”

In the main event, former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (31-6, 22 KOs), 46, of Tampa, and former two-time cruiserweight titleholder Steve Cunningham (28-7, 13 KOs), 39, of Philadelphia — who handed Huck his first defeat by 12th-round knockout in a 2007 cruiserweight world title fight — meet in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight bout.

Huck won his world title in 2009, a unanimous decision against Argentina’s Victor Emilio Ramirez, and has gone on to defeat many of the division’s best fighters, usually in exciting fights. Among his victims are Ola Afolabi (against whom he is 2-0-1 in a memorable trilogy), Denis Lebedev (who went on to win a version of the world title), former titlist Hugo Hernan Garay and former titleholder Firat Arslan, twice.

But Huck did not want to be just a big name in Germany. He wanted to spread his wings, which is why he parted ways with career-long promoter Sauerland Event in 2014, a separation that has kept him out of the ring for a year. It also forced him to find a new trainer, because longtime trainer Ulli Wegner is under contract to work with Sauerland-promoted fighters and because Huck wanted to train in the United States. Huck (38-2-1, 26 KOs) hooked up with respected Las Vegas trainer Don House, who trained Bermane Stiverne to a heavyweight world title. House said he likes what he has seen from Huck.

“When I do something I want to do it right and with this win I can actually go down in boxing history, which was always my mission. The record is a very big deal for me.”     – Marco Huck

“Marco is tough as nails. Very tough,” House said. “But you don’t have to crush every punch, every round, so I’m just trying to slow him down a little bit. His toughness, his power is there. I love that. I just need to slow him down a little bit.”

Huck said he will always view Wegner, who trained him from his amateur days, as a father figure, but that he has enjoyed working with House. “Don House and I get along great and we work together really well. He trusts me and gives me space to breathe but at the same time he demands a lot during our training sessions,” said Huck, whose English has improved greatly. “My former coach, Ulli Wegner, was very different. I had less freedom. Sometimes I even hid from him. With Don it’s a different story. The space he allows me to have also means that I have more responsibilities.”

Huck’s goals are clear. He has stated them several times. He wants to defeat Glowacki to break the division defense record, then perhaps make one more title defense — possibly against Roy Jones Jr. — and then move up to the heavyweight division for marquee fights.

“I’ve pretty much fought everyone there is in this division, so my mission has always been to go up to the heavyweight, but when I do eventually go up there I want to fight the big names,” Huck said. “I don’t just want to fight bums. I want to fight the really tough guys.”

In February 2012, Huck did step up to heavyweight for a shot at then-titlist Alexander Povetkin. Huck was impressive but lost a highly controversial majority decision in a fight many believed Huck clearly won. After that fight, Huck returned to cruiserweight and continued to defend his title, but always with the plan that he would return to heavyweight.

“When I eventually go back up to heavyweight I want to fight the top guys right away,” he said. “Maybe I’ll go fight (titleholder) Deontay Wilder. That is definitely an interesting option.

“Everybody knows that I actually won the fight against Povetkin. Povetkin himself actually came to me after the fight and told me that he never wants to see me again. My ambition has always been to fight the best and also to fight the best in the heavyweight division. I want to go back to the heavyweight division in the future and take over there as I did in the cruiserweight division.”

DiBella saw the fight with Povetkin, who still a top contender and Wilder’s mandatory challenger, and is one of the many who believes Huck beat him.

Cruiserweight titleholder Marco Huck is making his U.S. debut Friday night in New Jersey.  Credit: Photo by Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

“He knows he has to build an audience in the United States and he wants that (defense) record, but he already thinks he’s a top-10 heavyweight. I think he’s right,” DiBella said. “We all thought he beat Povetkin. I think he has the right attitude — set this record and then there’s big money at heavyweight. He really is relishing the opportunity to be on TV over here. He knows this first fight is part of a process and he has to go out there and perform.”

Glowacki (24-0, 15 KOs), 29, stands in his way and although his resume is extremely thin and he is unknown, he is confident of pulling the upset.

“Huck is, of course, the favorite because he’s a world champion. After I beat him, I will be a favorite too,” he said. “People are afraid of Huck’s power but I’m not. What I want is a hard-fought battle and winning by knockout in final round. This is my dream and I will make it happen.

“I read that Marco Huck said he could bet all his money on defeating me, so I will say the same — I’m betting all my money that I will be a new world champion. I already see me as world champion. Huck is a great fighter, great warrior, so what? I’m ready for a war, from first round to the last.”

DiBella said he has a multi-fight agreement to promote Huck, who intends to fight regularly in the United States. DiBella said he has been a fan of his for several years and believes he can help make him into a popular figure in American boxing.

“I love him,” DiBella said. “He’s got a great deal of charisma and he’s a badass. He’s really personable and smart. He has a natural promotional instinct and he really is excited to be here and be on American TV where a lot of people will get a chance to see him.

“His attitude is, ‘I’m going to come here and do my job, which is to beat the sh– out of this guy. Marco Huck can box but he is a brawler at heart and people are going to see it and they are going to love it.”

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/13430378/marco-huck-looking-make-history-krzyzstof-glowacki-Friday

Lem Satterfield –

Talks are ongoing for a middleweight clash of southpaws in December between Matt Korobov and Andy Lee for the vacant WBO belt, their respective promoters, Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions and Lou DiBella informed RingTV.com on Thursday.

“We’re working on the details right now,” said DiBella. “It would look like we’re aiming for December. The venue would be uncertain but it could be in England.”

The promoters’ request was also tweeted by WBO President Paco Valcarcel on Thursday.

“Their letter has been received by the WBO World Championship Committee,” said Jose Izquierdo, general secretary of the WBO, “so the championship committee will decide whether or not to sanction the fight for the vacant title.”

The negotiations for Korobov-Lee are part of recent developments in the wake of Peter Quillin’s having vacated the title last month rather than face Korobov.

“We’re trying to put it together,” said Arum of Korobov-Lee. “We’re looking at Dec. 13.”

Korobov (24-0, 14 knockouts) was subsequently ordered  to fight WBO junior middleweight beltholder Demetrius Andrade before Andrade chose to remain at 154 pounds and defend his belt in December.

Andrade was given the shot against Korobov over the Puerto Rico-based  WBO’s No. 2-rated 160-pounder Billy Joe Saunders in accordance with a petition from Andrade’s promoters, Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions and and Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing. The WBO, in part, ruled that Andrade was more deserving as an organization titleholder given that Saunders had not fought a top-rated boxer in more than a year.

In his last fight in June, Korobov, 31, scored a unanimous decision over Jose Uzcategui. Lee (33-2, 23 KOs), 30, earned a come-from-behind, fifth round knockout of John Jackson in June.

The win over Jackson represented Lee’s fifth straight victory, third by stoppage, since falling by seventh round knockout to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June 2012.

“Andy Lee had the knockout of the year against John Jackson. I think that Andy Lee’s a very good fighter. I think that he can fight at either 154 or 160,” said DiBella. “I think that he has an excellent chance to beat Korobov and to become the middleweight champion. He’s well-traveled and he’s fought top competition. He’s been through the fire and he’s a guy who has shown that he’s resilient. He’s a very popular fighter and a very deserving fighter.”

Izquierdo said the WBO is also aware that Saunders could now face Chris Eubank Jr. in an all-English clash in November.

“I don’t know that there has been a formal request for that fight but that fight must also be approved. It seems that would be for a WBO International title,” said Izquierdo, “but we are aware that there are ongoing negotiations on that fight. In that case, it would have to be approved by the executive director of the WBO International [committee].”

Saunders, 25, was last in action for an eighth round knockout of Emanuele Blandamura in July and Eubank Jr., 25, for a first round knockout of Ivan Jukic in July, representing his ninth consecutive stoppage win.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/358471-matt-korobov-andy-lee-in-the-works

By Dan Rafael –

When Peter Quillin gave up his middleweight world title in early September at the behest of manager Al Haymon rather than face Matt Korobov for a career-high payday (by far) of $1,428,630 — because Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports swooped in and won a purse bid to grab control of the fight from Haymon — it set things in motion for how the vacancy would be filled.

And what a roller coaster that has been.

Originally, the vacancy was to be filled by Korobov taking on Billy Joe Saunders. Korobov promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and Saunders promoter Frank Warren quickly made a deal for Korobov to travel to England for the fight, which was ticketed for the Tyson Fury-Dereck Chisora undercard on Nov. 29 in London.

But then Banner Promotions’ Artie Pelullo, the co-promoter of junior middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade, petitioned the WBO to give Andrade the shot at Korobov for the vacant title. It is commonplace for the WBO to allow a titleholder from one division to get an immediate shot at the title in the weight class above where they hold the title.

So it came as no surprise when the WBO ruled in Pelullo’s favor, causing Arum to rip Pelullo because Arum claimed they had worked out a deal for Andrade to step aside.

But a funny thing happened on the way to Korobov-Andrade: Andrade’s camp rejected the fight this week, instead electing to remain at junior middleweight to defend his title, even though he has no specific date or opponent lined up just yet while Pelullo battles it out with HBO over his next bout.

So that set things back in motion for a possible Korobov-Saunders fight right? Sort of. Saunders is supposed to meet Chris Eubank Jr. on Dec. 13 in a fight that was agreed to when it looked like Saunders wouldn’t get the world title shot.

Arum said he got a call this week from Warren saying that it looked as though Saunders-Eubank — which has had trouble of its own getting finalized — would indeed take place. If that actually happens, it means that Korobov could instead face perennial contender Andy Lee for the vacant belt on Dec. 13 on the HBO undercard of Timothy Bradley Jr.’s next fight or in the United Kingdom.

“The deal would be the winner of Korobov-Andy Lee could fight Saunders if he beats Eubank,” Arum said.

Arum was still steamed that Pelullo went to so much trouble to get Andrade the shot at the vacant belt only to back out of the position and mess up the plans for Korobov-Saunders.

“I’m pissed off,” Arum said. “I’m not against a promoter doing the best he can for his fighter but to go off on a tangent and disturb everything that was planned and not even have the fighter on board is amateur night. You get your ducks in order before you make that move [with the WBO]. If Andrade really wanted to fight for the middleweight title then I would have understood it. I wouldn’t have liked it but I would have understood it. This I don’t understand. Why make such a production out of getting the kid the fight for the vacant title and then you don’t take the fight?”

Korobov is going to fight for the vacant belt against whomever the WBO approves for the fight. As for Lee, promoter Lou DiBella said, “It’s a possibility. Andy would definitely be interested in fighting Korobov for the title.”

The WBO is considering a request to approve Korobov-Lee for the belt.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/10573/korobov-lee-for-vacant-160-belt

Dan Goossen, President of Goossen Promotions, has succumb to complications stemming from liver cancer and unexpectedly passes away at age 64.

Dan Goossen has been a fixture in the boxing game for more years than most can remember. Boxing has been sort of like the family business, with his brother, Joe Goossen, being a well-respected trainer for a long time as well. Dan unexpectedly passed away at 3am this morning from complications due to liver cancer. Publicist Fred Sternburg offered the following public statement.”It is with overwhelming regret that we announce the passing of Dan Goossen, 64, from complications relating to liver cancer. The sudden news of his diagnosis was very much a private matter and his final days were spent surrounded by his family and closest friends,” read the statement.

“Sadness is difficult to escape as we grieve his passing; however, we are filled with pride by the fact that Dan Goossen battled this aggressive illness with boundless strength and the last days of his life were fought and lived with unflinching bravery, pure love and grace beyond measure.”

Dan Goossen is credited with being a key influential force behind the “Super Six” tournament and the promoter of its eventual winner, Andre Ward. Most will recall the protracted legal battles that has arisen time and time again between Goossen and Ward since then, but that is best served as a discussion for another day. Today, Goossen is remember by his peers as a stand up businessman and a good friend/colleague. HBO Sports President, Ken Hershman, who was the man in charge at Showtime Sports during the Super Six had this to say about the late Goossen.

“Everyone at HBO Sports is saddened by the sudden loss of Dan Goossen. Dan was a dedicated boxing promoter who we worked closely with for many, many years on some of the most important fights in the sport,” said Hershman, in a statement from HBO.

“But what was even more impressive was his total commitment to his family, who were always right by his side during fight week or wherever his business required him to be. Our prayers and thoughts are with his wife, Debbie and the entire Goossen family.”

Lou DiBella, who also worked with Goossen during the Super Six also offered his assessment of Goossen, the man.

“I’ve met his wife and I’ve met his entire family over the years. Through it all, he never lost focus on what’s truly important in life and where your priorities really lie and Dan’s biggest priority, first and foremost, was always with his family. That was just a fact,” said DiBella, who called Goossen, “The Goose.”

“All promoters have run-ins but with Dan and I, even our run-ins were with amusement and humor. Even when we disagreed on things, it was always in a friendly way. He was always the kind of guy that you looked forward to talking to. I enjoyed talking to him. There just aren’t that many guys like him left in the game.”

Our heartfelt condolences reaches out to the entire Goossen family and all the other lives he’s positively impacted.

http://www.badlefthook.com/2014/9/29/6865451/promoter-dan-goossen-passes-away-at-64

Promoter Lou DiBella recently told that Ring Magazine middleweight champion Sergio Martinez will come to Moscow to fight with World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight titleholder Dmitry Pirog only for $5-6 millions. DiBella believes that Pirog doesn’t have a big name and this fight isn’t marketable.

«I think that all this DiBella’s statements are refusal to fight, — said Pirog’s promoter Kirill Pchelnikov. — They don’t want to fight with Pirog at least for now. And money is not the issue. You may give them six millions and they will find another excuses. Instead of fighting Pirog he would better fight with two other fighters he knows he can beat and make the same money. Dibella says that Dmitry is unknown fighter. I wonder with whom Martinez will fight next and how well this boxer will be known. We are ready to fight anyone and even if Martinez will accept the fight we are ready to fight anytime and anywhere. But we have other options for Pirog, not only Martinez. I can’t tell you who will be the next opponent. It will be clear later. The only thing I can tell is that we had negotiations with WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm, but he refused from bout with Pirog and now he has the fight with British fighter Martin Murray».

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2011/10/pirog-ready-to-fight-sergio-martinez-any-time-any-place/