MIRANDA GETS 2008 KO OF THE YEAR; LOOKING TO MAKE HIS 2009 CONTRIBUTION ON JANUARY 14TH

HOLLYWOOD, FL – On January 11, 2008, Edison Miranda blasted David Banks out of the ring in the third round, a knockout recently named 2008 Knockout of the Year by ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael.  On January 14th, 2009, “Pantera” hopes to make spectacular January knockouts an annual tradition when he takes on Manuel Esparza on the latest edition of “Hard Knocks at the Hard Rock” at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.

“I’m happy to accept the award for Knockout of the Year from ESPN, and I promise that I will be in the running for the 2009 award every time I step into the ring in the New Year,” said Miranda. “They may have to name the award after me after they see all the spectacular knockout wins I have in 2009.”

Tickets for this event, which is headlined by the return of junior middleweight contender Sechew Powell and the debut of 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian Jonathan Gonzalez, are priced at $152, $102, $52, and $22, and are available now at the Hard Rock Live Box Office or TicketMaster.com.

Also in action on January 14th will be highly touted Cuban defector Stalinn Lopez in his pro debut and Star Boxing standout Yathomas Riley. Former undisputed cruiserweight champion O’Neil Bell, who was scheduled to make his heavyweight debut, has pulled out of the fight for personal reasons.

CINCINNATI, OH - 2000 US Olympian Ricardo Williams will make his first local appearance in five years on Saturday, January 31st in the main event of “HOMECOMING”, an evening of world class professional boxing at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, presented by TMAX Events and TKO Boxing Promotions.

Advance tickets, priced at $79.75, $40.75 and $23.75 for “HOMECOMING” can be purchased online through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 513-462-4949. The U.S. Bank Arena is located at 100 Broadway St. in Cincinnati , adjacent to the Great American Ball Park . Doors will open on the evening of the event at 7:30pm with the first bell at 8pm.

The Cincinnati born and raised Williams, 13-2-0 (7KO’s) has won three fights in 2008 since resuming his career after a three year absence from the ring.

Most recently, the 27 year old Williams won an eight round decision over Columbia ’s Dairo Esalas at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas , NV on October 11th.

The co-main event at “HOMECOMING” features the return of native son, Rashad Holloway in an eight round junior middleweight bout. On August 30th, Holloway, 9-1-0 (5KO’s) thrilled the Cincinnati Gardens crowd with a crushing fourth round knockout of Junior Ramos of the Dominican Republic.

Holloway has spent most of 2008 training in Los Angeles with “Pound for Pound” king Manny Pacquiao and welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.

The undercard features newcomers and pro debuters from the Cincinnati , OH area including junior lightweights Tony Walker, Mel Crossty and Jesse Carridine, Russian heavyweight Nurpais Torobekov, junior welterweight Shannon Hill and super middleweight Antonio Weathers; all of whom will be appearing in separate four rounders.