MACAU, CHINA (July 26, 2013) – Good Morning Mr. and Mrs. Boxing Fan and all the ships at sea, let’s go to
press...
ZOUMANITY. World championship boxing returns to
The Venetian Macao’s® CotaiArena™ This
Saturday!July 27. HBO
2 will be televising the return of flyweight Zou Shiming (1-0), China’s two-time
Olympic gold medalist, making his six-round debut, to the U.S., beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT. Calling the action from ringside will be
broadcasting icons Tim Ryan and Larry Merchant and two-time heavyweight
champion George Foreman. Trained by Hall of Famer World-Famous Freddie Roach, Shiming
will be facing Jesus Ortega (3-1, 2
KOs), of México. The HBO 2-televised card will also
feature two world championship fights
– WBO/WBA flyweight champion JUAN
ESTRADA 22-2, 17 KOs), makes his first defense of the title he won by
dethroning Brian Viloria, against undefeated No. 1 contender MILAN MELINDO (28-0, 11 KOs), of the
Philippines, and undefeated IBF featherweight champion EVEGNY GRADOVICH (16-0, 8 KOs), of
Russia, defends his title against No. 1 contender MAURCIO MUÑOZ (26-3, 12 KOs), of
Argentina...
HEAVY DUTY. Undefeated heavyweight contenders ANDY RUIZ of México and JOE HANKS of Los Angeles, who boast a
combined record of 40-0 (27 KOs), go mano a mano for 10 rounds for the WBO
Inter-Continental heavyweight crown. Their fight will be televised Saturday evening at Midnight ET / 11 p.m. PT as the main
event of Solo Boxeo Tecate on UniMás…
RUSSIAN DRESSING. Known as the “Mexican Russian,”
Evgeny Gradovich, a native of Russia who trains in Oxnard, Calif. with Trainer
of the Year Robert Garcia, is known for wearing a ring uniform that combines the
colors of mother Russia and México, complete with a sombrero.
“I have adopted a Méxican style of fighting –
aggressive. I know what the fans
want to see and I want the fans to like my fights. My favorite fighters are Méxican…Chávez, Márquez, Morales and Barrera. I’ve been taking Spanish lessons so I
can speak to my fans. Winning my
title has been a blessing. It
allowed me to get Green Card and soon I will be able to bring my wife and
daughter to the U.S. to live with me. After all, no money, no honey. Muñoz has good
experience and is a legitimate No. 1 contender. He can fight. I think he’s a dirty fighter. He throws low blows and punches behind
the head. I’ll slip those punches
and move around to counter his tactics.”
JUAN FOR THE MONEY. Unified flyweight champion Juan
Estrada returns to the the CotaiArena where he defeated Brian Viloria to capture
the WBO/WBA titles in April in his first title defense.
“I’ve been sacrificing for my career since I was 15. I come from a small town near
Hermosillo, México called
Puerto Peñasco and I was the
first one from there to win a world title. When I returned after winning the title a lot of my townspeople met me at
the airport and gave me a parade in town. I rode around in a fire
truck. When I landed, one of the
first calls of congratulations came from Juan Manuel Márquez. He told me that his palms were sweating
while watching the fight and he was rooting hard for me.
”I was not surprised I beat Viloria. I trained really hard for that
fight. I think I beat him because I
had better technique and talent, not because of my youth. I’m a proud Méxican fighter. My favorite fighters are Julio César Chávez and Márquez. They inspire me.”
IT’S “CHILD’S PLAY” FOR
MUÑOZ. No. 1 IBF flyweight contender
Mauricio Muñoz earned his
nickname “Chuckie” from his neighborhood pals as a kid. They all thought he had the tenacious
style of the demonic doll “Chuckie” from the cult movie classic “Child’s
Play.”
“This is a huge opportunity for me. I come from a mining town in
Argentina. I used to work in the
gold mines to supplement my boxing income. When I fight on Saturday night my town will show it on a big screen in
the central community center.
“I don’t know what Gradovich is talking about. I am not a dirty fighter and the referee
never admonished me for dirty tactics. I have a lot of respect for Gradovich. He is a good champion. But I am confident in my abilities in
this fight. I will be mining for
gold when the bell rings to start the fight.”
ORTEGA IS WELL-SEASONED. Jesus Ortega, a stablemate of
Estrada’s, is ready for his big test.
“I was selected as Zou’s opponent because everyone thinks I’m going
to lose. I’m going to win this
fight and don’t be surprised if it’s by knockout. I took this fight because it is on
international TV….HBO. I will be
very aggressive against Zou and throw a lot of punches. I’m going to win. I’m going to exploit my size
advantage. I’m so glad to be
here.”
RIVALS. Undefeated No. 1 contender Milan
Melindo is glad to be facing Estrada instead of Viloria.
“México and the
Philippines have a terrific rivalry in boxing. I’d rather be fighting a Méxican rather than a countryman
[Viloria] in my first world title shot. I’m very excited to be fighting in front
of Manny Pacquiao. I’m not worried
about what Estrada has planned, I’m only concerned about executing my game
plan.”
ZOU II. Zou Shiming’s second pro fight is
expected to bring a big improvement over his pro debut.
“In my first fight I was very excited. I wanted to please the fans. This time I want to please my trainer
Freddie Roach. I had reverted to
some bad habits in my April debut but that won’t happen this time. We worked on sitting down more on my
punches. I’m going to be more
aggressive and not revert back to my amateur habits. I’m enjoying fighting in a pro style. Freddie has me working on the left hook
to the body This time I will try to
keep my emotions in check I want to
live up to everyone’s expectations. Freddie has me believing in myself.”
# # #
About
The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel
Opened
in 2007, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao's first integrated
resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons
of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square
feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a
15,000-seat CotaiArena™ designed for world-class sports events and electrifying
entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury
Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment;
more than 30 renowned restaurants; MALO CLINIC Health & Wellness; the
incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 300 retailers at Shoppes
Grand Canal. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a
mini-golf course.
For
more information, please visit www.venetianmacao.com.
About
Cotai Strip Resorts Macao – Macao’s Integrated Resort
City
Sands
China Ltd. is the leading developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts in
Macao. The befittingly named Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, situated on reclaimed
land between the islands of Coloane and Taipa, is the one destination that
provides a stunning array of experiences at the heart of Cotai. Cotai Strip
Resorts Macao has transformed a gaming-centric day-trip market into an
integrated resort city and international hub for business and leisure
travellers.
Pulsating
with life, both night and day, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao features an expansive
offering of affordable luxury available nowhere else in Macao, with
approximately 9,000 hotel rooms and suites, international superstar live
entertainment, duty-free shopping with 600 retailers offering an unparalleled
array of name brands, 1.3 million square feet (120,000 square metres) of meeting
and exhibition space for Asia’s leading conferences and exhibitions, gaming
excitement, transportation offerings and well over 100 dining options, including
international restaurants, bars and lounges. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is a
must-see destination providing every guest with an unforgettable experience and
unparalleled excitement.
Comprised
of the The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel; The Plaza™ Macao, featuring
the Four Seasons Hotel Macao; and Sands® Cotai Central, featuring the
world’s largest Conrad, Sheraton, and Holiday Inn hotels, Cotai Strip Resorts
Macao is where Asia’s ultimate destination is all within
reach.
Cotai
Strip Resorts Macao….truly Macao Starts Here™. For more information, please
visit www.cotaistrip.com.mo/en/.