340 Promotions Ready To Go
St.Thomas USVI - At a press conference held at the Holiday Inn St. Thomas, it was announced that renowned International Matchmaker/Agent Sampson Lewkowicz has joined forces with well known USVI figure Mrs.Lesley Comissiong in forming 340 Promotions.
The company has already signed a deal to stage events in St. Thomas on the last Saturday of every month during 2009 with its first show scheduled for the 31st of January marking the return of pro-boxing to the Virgin Islands after a 5 year hiatus. Coors Light has jumped on board as a sponsor with several others to follow.
The inaugural show has been dubbed as "The Class of 2008" will feature the professional debut of USVI Olympic representatives Junior Middleweight John Jackson and middleweight Julius Jackson, the sons of former 3 time world champion Julian "The Hawk" Jackson, as well as 2 other Olympians. Also scheduled will be middleweight Samuel Rogers, nephew of Jackson, who will be making his professional debut as well. Headlining this card will be rising Dominican prospect Victor "Mermelada" Cayo 17-0 12 KO's.
When asked how he feels about his son's accomplishments in boxing and their pro debuts, Julian Jackson, said "I am so proud that words can not express how I feel. To be a part of this and in their corner is a tremendous honor money can not replace the feelings that I have".
Also coming on board to co-promote the event will be Seminole Warriors Boxing, one of the premier names in boxing promotion today and home to such superstars as Glen Johnson, Edison Miranda, Raul Marquez, Joe Greene, and Juan Urango.
Present at this press conference was the President of the USVI Amateur Boxing Federation Mr. Jose "Tony" Rosario whom Lewkowicz credits with the present state of Amateur Boxing in the USVI and has pledged his support in the form of staging Pro-Am shows featuring local amateurs who will gain valuable experience and help in making the USVI a international power as well as establishing "Operation London 2012" with the objective being a first ever Olympic Boxing medal for the USVI.
While details for this show are still being negotiated the full lineup, time and location of the matches will be announced shortly by the promoters. Matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz has promised that this will be a "night to remember" and plans on making St. Thomas "the Las Vegas of the Caribbean" in the boxing world.
"I plan on putting St. Thomas back on the map in the sport of boxing" Lewkowicz said.
Lewkowicz is close to a deal with two more Olympians. The names will be revealed in the coming days when the terms are finalized. In spite of entering the promotional ranks, Lewkowicz says the new company will not interrupt any of his duties as an International Matchmaker and agent.
Thomas Treiber Hits The Road
CHICAGO- Nationally known ring announcer Thomas Treiber hits the road this month calling out introductions to the finest in professional boxing and mixed martial arts.
This past Thursday, Treiber was part of “THE DREAM MATCH” media tour emceeing the Chicago stop for the Oscar De La Hoya/Manny Pacquiao battle taking place on December 6th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas..
“They literally called me the night before and offered me the job. It was a great experience at the Sears Tower Skydeck and a pleasure to work with Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank” said Treiber.
September proved a huge month for Treiber with an ESPN2 stint in Austin, Texas, working with world ranked junior middleweight James Kirkland in his homecoming bout on September 5th.
“Austin was terrific, we we’re at the newly renovated Austin Music Hall and the crowd was outstanding. It was my first chance to see James Kirkland in person and he truly has future world champion written all over him.
Fresh off his first visit to the capital city of Austin, Texas, for the final ESPN2 Friday Night Fights of the 2008 season, Treiber, who also ring announces in Spanish, headed to Arizona on September 12th, for a Fox Sports En Espanol broadcast from the Wild Horse Pass Casino in Chandler, just outside of Phoenix.
It’s always nice to hit new cities and venues. While I’ve been to Phoenix many times, it was great to work in Chandler at their beautiful new venue at the casino.” said Treiber.
This past Saturday night, Treiber held fort at the Genesis Convention Center in Gary, Indiana for “NO MERCY” an outstanding mixed martial arts card presented by Fight Card Entertainment.
Commented Treiber, “The card was outstanding and the fans truly created a terrific atmosphere. The event was presented by Fight Card Entertainment and was outstanding from start to finish.”
On Thursday, October 16th, Treiber will return to the Windy City to host the annual charity boxing event for the Mike Ditka Foundation at the Park West Theater.
Friday, October 17th will see Treiber hosting the action packed 8 Count Productions professional event at Cicero Stadium. “I’ve worked numerous boxing shows with 8 Count Productions, many of which have been at Cicero Stadium. It’s a terrific venue with very knowledgeable fans which makes it a fun place to work. They come to see great fights and have a good time which makes my job that much easier.”
On Saturday, October 25th, Treiber heads to the Columbia, South Carolina Township Auditorium to handle the “play by play” duties of the Fox Sports Net broadcast of an eight bout professional boxing card featuring an outstanding super middleweight bout between Jean Paul Mendy and Jason Naugler.
“Along with ring announcing boxing events around the world, I also have extensive “play by play” broadcast experience which is another part of the boxing business I truly enjoy” said Treiber.
Thomas Treiber has been amongst the most visible and versatile ring announcers in boxing, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling for the last seventeen years. His credits include work on HBO, Showtime, CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports Net, Spike TV and Pay Per View events. He can be contacted through his website at www.thomastreiber.com
The United States Claims Four Gold Medals at the 2008 Women’s Pan American Championships
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The United States closed the 2008 Women’s Pan American Championships with a bang on Tuesday, winning four gold medals at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The United States team led the tournament in the number of finalists with nine boxers competing in championship round action.
Three-time light flyweight champion Marlen Esparza (Houston, Texas) kicked off the action for her United States, winning her tournament opener. Esparza claimed a convincing 14-2 decision over Brazil’s Daniela Suza in the bout to win the light flyweight gold medal.
The United States returned to the winning side in light bantamweight Sacred Downing’s (Trenton, N.J.) bout with Loren Capecce of Brazil. The multi-time national champion extended her success to the international level, winning an 11-3 decision over Capecce.
Bantamweight Cynthia Moreno (Phoenix, Ariz.) claimed the third gold medal for the U.S. team in her championship bout with Elisangela Maartinelli of Brazil. Moreno recorded a convincing 17-4 victory over Maartinelli to win her first international gold medal.
Light middleweight Franchon Crews (Capitol Heights, Md.) closed the event for the United States team and she did so in victorious fashion. The reigning middleweight champion claimed her first international title at her new light middleweight class with an 11-4 victory over Andreia Bandeira of Brazil.
Flyweight Cheryl Houlihan (Santee, Calif.) didn’t enjoy the same success in her championship bout with Mandy Bujold of Canada. Houlihan and Bujold battled to a 2-2 tiebreaker in their three-round contest, but Bujold pulled out the decision on her 4-3 raw punch count edge. Featherweight Jody Ann Weller (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and lightweight Carrie Barry (Colorado Springs, Colo.) settled for silver medals with Weller dropping an 8-0 decision to Brazil’s Tayna Cardoso and Barry losing a close 16-14 bout to Brazils’ Adriana Araujo. Light welterweight Queen Underwood (Seattle, Wash.) claimed a silver medal as well following her 16-5 loss to two-time World Championship medalist Katie Dunn of Canada. Welterweight Vanessa Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) also fell to a Canadian veteran, dropping a 4-0 decision to former World Champion Mary Spencer.
Middleweight Meredith Della Giustina (Versailles, Ky.) joins the finalists in winning a bronze medal to bring the U.S. medal count to 11. Heavyweight Tiffanie Hearn (Louisville, Ky.) was unopposed in the tournament. The 11 medals won by the United States is an all-time high and tops the seven medals won in 2007.
The U.S. team was led by Christy Halbert (Brentwood, Tenn.), Ray Kerwick (Spokane, Wash.) and Daniel Vassar (Spokane, Wash.).
U.S. Results
106 lbs/48 kg: Marlen Esparza, Houston, Texas/USA dec. Daniela Suza, BRA, 14-2
110 lbs/50 kg: Mandy Bujold, CAN, dec. Cheryl Houlihan, Santee, Calif./USA, 2-2 (4-3)
114 lbs/52 kg: Sacred Downing, Trenton, N.J./USA dec. Loren Capecce, BRA, 11-3
119 lbs/54 kg: Cynthia Moreno, Phoenix, Ariz./USA dec. Elisangela Maartinelli, BRA, 17-4
125 lbs/57 kg: Tayna Cardoso, BRA dec. Jody-Ann Weller, Brooklyn, N.Y./USA, 8-0
132 lbs/60 kg: Adriana Araujo, BRA, dec. Carrie Barry, Colorado Springs, Colo./USA, 16-14
138 lbs/63 kg: Katie Dunn, CAN, dec. Queen Underwood, Seattle, Wash./USA, 16-5
145 lbs/66 kg: Mary Spencer, CAN, dec. Vanessa Jackson, Columbus, Ohio/USA, 4-0
154 lbs/70 kg: Franchon Crews, Capitol Heights, Md./USA dec. Andreia Bandeira, BRA, 11-4