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To apply for credentials for "KIng Kong vs. The Raging Bull" on Saturday, July 11, 2009, at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL, fill in the boxes below and click submit. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2009
Don King Summer Sizzler Showcases
Hard Punchers at BankAtlantic Center
On Saturday, July 11
IBF Bantamweight World Championship: Joseph Agbeko vs. Vic Darchinyan
Special Lightweight Attraction: Anthony DeMarco vs. Anges Adjaho
IBF Cruiserweight Elimination Bout: Cunningham vs. Braithwaite
TICKETS, AS LOW AS $10, GO ON SALE THURSDAY AT 10 A.M.
SUNRISE, Fla. —Two of the hardest-hitting boxers in the world will meet when International Boxing Federation
bantamweight champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko defends his crown against two-division world champion
Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan at BankAtlantic Center on Saturday, July 11 and on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT
(delayed on the West Coast). The championship is scheduled for 12 rounds.
The televised co-feature will showcase two world-ranked No. 4 contenders when emerging lightweight
Antonio DeMarco (20-1, 14 KOs), from Tijuana , Mexico , meets Anges “Baby Face” Adjaho (25-1, 14 KOs), from
Benin , Africa, now fighting out of Geneva , N.Y.
Tickets priced at $75, $40 and $25 and $10 (with a limited number of golden circle seats available at $200) go on
sale Thursday (June 18) at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800)
745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com or BankAtlantic Center box office.
The event is promoted by Don King Productions in association with BankAtlantic Center . Agbeko vs.
Darchinyan and DeMarco vs. Adjaho are co-promoted with Gary Shaw Productions.
Both main event fighters possess eye-popping knockout percentages. Agbeko (26-1, 22 KOs) from Accra,
Ghana, now fighting out of Bronx, N.Y., has knocked out over 81 percent of his opponents with Darchinyan (32-
1, 26 KOs), from Sydney, Australia, by way of Armenia, right behind him at 76 percent.
The Aussie bomber is a four-time world champion at flyweight and super flyweight. He will leave his IBF, WBC
and WBA titles at 115 pounds behind to move up to the 118-pound limit to face the champion. If victorious,
Darchinyan will become a three-division world champion.
The Ghanaian powerhouse gave a gritty performance to win his world title, scoring a seventh-round technical
knockout over Luis “El Demoledor” Perez—a tough-as-nails Nicaraguan who had been champion since 2003—
at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2007.
“I’ve seen stronger fighters than Darchinyan,”Agbeko said defiantly. “I respect him for what he has
accomplished but I don’t think he has the true heart to beat me and take my punches.
“This fight will be the genesis of King Kong and the defining moment of why my parents named me this at
birth. This is my destiny.”
The brash Darchinyan sees a different outcome.
“Agbeko may have seen stronger fighters than me but I guarantee you he has never fought any of them,”
Darchinyan retorted. “The only thing he and King Kong have in common is they are both works of fiction.
After I’m through with him he’ll have to change his name to King Con.”
Both fighters only have one loss each. Agbeko lost his second professional fight and has not lost since—24
wins in a row—while Darchinyan was shocked by flyweight Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire on July 7, 2007, in
Bridgeport, Conn., who landed a fight-changing left hook in round five that lead to a technical knockout.
The loss came in Darchinyan’s first appearance after a traumatic 12th-round stoppage of Victor Burgos on
March 3, 2007, at Home Depot Center in Carson , Calif. Darchinyan had been dominant in the contest but was
taken by surprise when Burgos was rushed to a nearby hospital after the match suffering from a brain injury.
Heroic efforts by doctors saved Burgos ’s life, but he will never box again.
Darchinyan moved up to super flyweight, winning the IBF title by fifth-round knockout over Dimitri Kirilov on
Aug. 2. He added the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council 115-pound crowns with a thrilling
knockout over favored Cristian Mijares in round nine on Nov. 1 in Carson , Calif.
In his last appearance, Darchinyan was yet again dominant in a highly anticipated match against Mexican
strongman Jorge Arce at the Honda Center in Anaheim , Calif. , on Feb. 7. Clearly the best fighter in the world
at 115 pounds, Darchinyan pounded Arce for 11 rounds until the referee halted the beating.
Although a champion himself, King Kong will be in the toughest challenge of his career against the Raging
Bull, who is currently listed near the top of the top pound-for-pound best boxer lists.
The co-feature is a pivotal matchup for DeMarco, 23, and Adjaho, 32, with ramifications for the entire
lightweight division. Both are near the top of the world rankings with only one career loss each and an
identical number of knockouts at 14.
DeMarco, ranked No. 4 by the WBA, is the younger, more visible contender with multiple television
appearances and hasn’t lost in his last 14 fights. While this will be Adjaho’s first television appearance in the
United States , he grew up in boxing gyms as his father was a national boxing coach in Benin , Africa .
A child prodigy who compiled a stellar amateur record of 164-3, Adjaho, ranked No. 4 by the IBF, claims to have
never been knocked down as an amateur or as a professional. Adjaho disputes his lone loss, a split decision,
which came against Miguel Acosta in 2007 even though Acosta hit the deck twice during the fight.
In domestically non-televised action, fans at BankAtlantic Center will be treated to a full undercard highlighted
by an important IBF elimination bout (for No. 1 and mandatory challenger) between former cruiserweight world
champions Steve “USS” Cunningham (21-2, 11 KOs), from Philadelphia, and Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite (23-
3, 19 KOs), from Guyana now fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Cunningham lost his IBF cruiserweight title at the hands of former light heavyweight world champion Tomasz
Adamek in one of last year’s most memorable fights. In fact, the Boxing Writers Association of America
designated the fight as one of the five nominees for “Fight of the Year” in 2008. The match took place at
Prudential Center in Newark , N.J. , on Dec. 11.
Cunningham suffered three early knockdowns from the heavy-handed Adamek, but many felt he should have
been declared the victor after 12 rounds, but Adamek won the split decision.
Braithwaite won the WBC cruiserweight title in 2002 by defeating Vincenzo Cantatore, and he successfully
defended that title three times before suffering a decision loss to Jean-Marc Mormeck in 2005.
Big Truck has also tangled with the likes of future world champions Guillermo Jones and Enzo Maccaranelli in
2005 and 2007, respectively. Always dangerous, Braithwaite would like nothing more than to earn another shot
at a world title.
Also appearing will be undefeated and rising Cuban prospect Angelo “La Cobra” Santana (5-0, 4 KOs ).
Morty Davis ’ Quick Look at Key Fights
IBF BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 118-POUND LIMIT
SCHEDULED FOR 12 ROUNDS
JOSEPH KING KONG AGBEKO VIC “Raging Bull” DARCHINYAN
IBF Bantamweight Champion Four-Time World Champion in Two Divisions
Accra, Ghana Sydney , Australia ( Armenia )
26-1 (22 KOs) KO %: 81 32-1-1 (26 KOs) KO %: 76
Stance: Orthodox Stance: Southpaw
Born: March 22, 1980 Born: Jan. 7, 1976
Height: 5’ 6” Height: 5’ 6”
Reach: 64 ½” Reach: 64”
LIGHTWEIGHT SPECIAL ATTRATION – 135-POUND LIMIT
SCHEDULED FOR 10 ROUNDS
ANTONIO “Tony” DeMARCO ANGES “Baby Face” ADJAHO
WBA No. 4-Ranked Contender IBF No. 4-Ranked Contender
Tijuana, Mexico Geneva , N.Y. ( Benin , Africa )
20-1-1 (14 KOs) 25-1 (14 KOs )
Stance: Southpaw Stance: Orthodox
Born: Jan. 7, 1986 Born: Jan. 27, 1977
Height: 5’ 10” Height: 5’ 9 ½”
Reach: 72” Reach: 71”
IBF CRUISERWEIGHT ELIMINATION BOUT – 200-POUND LIMIT
SCHEDULED FOR12 ROUNDS FOR #1 RANKING & MANDATORY CHALLENGER
STEVE “USS” CUNNINGHAM WAYNE “Big Truck” BRAITHWAITE
Former IBF Champion Former WBC Champion
Philadelphia, Pa. Brooklyn, N.Y. ( Guyana )
21-2 (11 KOs) 23-3 (19 KOs )
Stance: Orthodox Stance: Southpaw
Born: July 15, 1976 Born: Aug. 9, 1975
Height: 6’ 3” Height: 6’ 1”
Reach: 82” Reach: 79”
Don King Summer Sizzler Showcases
Hard Punchers at BankAtlantic Center
On Saturday, July 11
IBF Bantamweight World Championship: Joseph Agbeko vs. Vic Darchinyan
Special Lightweight Attraction: Anthony DeMarco vs. Anges Adjaho
IBF Cruiserweight Elimination Bout: Cunningham vs. Braithwaite
TICKETS, AS LOW AS $10, GO ON SALE THURSDAY AT 10 A.M.
SUNRISE, Fla. —Two of the hardest-hitting boxers in the world will meet when International Boxing Federation
bantamweight champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko defends his crown against two-division world champion
Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan at BankAtlantic Center on Saturday, July 11 and on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT
(delayed on the West Coast). The championship is scheduled for 12 rounds.
The televised co-feature will showcase two world-ranked No. 4 contenders when emerging lightweight
Antonio DeMarco (20-1, 14 KOs), from Tijuana , Mexico , meets Anges “Baby Face” Adjaho (25-1, 14 KOs), from
Benin , Africa, now fighting out of Geneva , N.Y.
Tickets priced at $75, $40 and $25 and $10 (with a limited number of golden circle seats available at $200) go on
sale Thursday (June 18) at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800)
745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com or BankAtlantic Center box office.
The event is promoted by Don King Productions in association with BankAtlantic Center . Agbeko vs.
Darchinyan and DeMarco vs. Adjaho are co-promoted with Gary Shaw Productions.
Both main event fighters possess eye-popping knockout percentages. Agbeko (26-1, 22 KOs) from Accra,
Ghana, now fighting out of Bronx, N.Y., has knocked out over 81 percent of his opponents with Darchinyan (32-
1, 26 KOs), from Sydney, Australia, by way of Armenia, right behind him at 76 percent.
The Aussie bomber is a four-time world champion at flyweight and super flyweight. He will leave his IBF, WBC
and WBA titles at 115 pounds behind to move up to the 118-pound limit to face the champion. If victorious,
Darchinyan will become a three-division world champion.
The Ghanaian powerhouse gave a gritty performance to win his world title, scoring a seventh-round technical
knockout over Luis “El Demoledor” Perez—a tough-as-nails Nicaraguan who had been champion since 2003—
at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2007.
“I’ve seen stronger fighters than Darchinyan,”Agbeko said defiantly. “I respect him for what he has
accomplished but I don’t think he has the true heart to beat me and take my punches.
“This fight will be the genesis of King Kong and the defining moment of why my parents named me this at
birth. This is my destiny.”
The brash Darchinyan sees a different outcome.
“Agbeko may have seen stronger fighters than me but I guarantee you he has never fought any of them,”
Darchinyan retorted. “The only thing he and King Kong have in common is they are both works of fiction.
After I’m through with him he’ll have to change his name to King Con.”
Both fighters only have one loss each. Agbeko lost his second professional fight and has not lost since—24
wins in a row—while Darchinyan was shocked by flyweight Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire on July 7, 2007, in
Bridgeport, Conn., who landed a fight-changing left hook in round five that lead to a technical knockout.
The loss came in Darchinyan’s first appearance after a traumatic 12th-round stoppage of Victor Burgos on
March 3, 2007, at Home Depot Center in Carson , Calif. Darchinyan had been dominant in the contest but was
taken by surprise when Burgos was rushed to a nearby hospital after the match suffering from a brain injury.
Heroic efforts by doctors saved Burgos ’s life, but he will never box again.
Darchinyan moved up to super flyweight, winning the IBF title by fifth-round knockout over Dimitri Kirilov on
Aug. 2. He added the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council 115-pound crowns with a thrilling
knockout over favored Cristian Mijares in round nine on Nov. 1 in Carson , Calif.
In his last appearance, Darchinyan was yet again dominant in a highly anticipated match against Mexican
strongman Jorge Arce at the Honda Center in Anaheim , Calif. , on Feb. 7. Clearly the best fighter in the world
at 115 pounds, Darchinyan pounded Arce for 11 rounds until the referee halted the beating.
Although a champion himself, King Kong will be in the toughest challenge of his career against the Raging
Bull, who is currently listed near the top of the top pound-for-pound best boxer lists.
The co-feature is a pivotal matchup for DeMarco, 23, and Adjaho, 32, with ramifications for the entire
lightweight division. Both are near the top of the world rankings with only one career loss each and an
identical number of knockouts at 14.
DeMarco, ranked No. 4 by the WBA, is the younger, more visible contender with multiple television
appearances and hasn’t lost in his last 14 fights. While this will be Adjaho’s first television appearance in the
United States , he grew up in boxing gyms as his father was a national boxing coach in Benin , Africa .
A child prodigy who compiled a stellar amateur record of 164-3, Adjaho, ranked No. 4 by the IBF, claims to have
never been knocked down as an amateur or as a professional. Adjaho disputes his lone loss, a split decision,
which came against Miguel Acosta in 2007 even though Acosta hit the deck twice during the fight.
In domestically non-televised action, fans at BankAtlantic Center will be treated to a full undercard highlighted
by an important IBF elimination bout (for No. 1 and mandatory challenger) between former cruiserweight world
champions Steve “USS” Cunningham (21-2, 11 KOs), from Philadelphia, and Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite (23-
3, 19 KOs), from Guyana now fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Cunningham lost his IBF cruiserweight title at the hands of former light heavyweight world champion Tomasz
Adamek in one of last year’s most memorable fights. In fact, the Boxing Writers Association of America
designated the fight as one of the five nominees for “Fight of the Year” in 2008. The match took place at
Prudential Center in Newark , N.J. , on Dec. 11.
Cunningham suffered three early knockdowns from the heavy-handed Adamek, but many felt he should have
been declared the victor after 12 rounds, but Adamek won the split decision.
Braithwaite won the WBC cruiserweight title in 2002 by defeating Vincenzo Cantatore, and he successfully
defended that title three times before suffering a decision loss to Jean-Marc Mormeck in 2005.
Big Truck has also tangled with the likes of future world champions Guillermo Jones and Enzo Maccaranelli in
2005 and 2007, respectively. Always dangerous, Braithwaite would like nothing more than to earn another shot
at a world title.
Also appearing will be undefeated and rising Cuban prospect Angelo “La Cobra” Santana (5-0, 4 KOs ).
Morty Davis ’ Quick Look at Key Fights
IBF BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 118-POUND LIMIT
SCHEDULED FOR 12 ROUNDS
JOSEPH KING KONG AGBEKO VIC “Raging Bull” DARCHINYAN
IBF Bantamweight Champion Four-Time World Champion in Two Divisions
Accra, Ghana Sydney , Australia ( Armenia )
26-1 (22 KOs) KO %: 81 32-1-1 (26 KOs) KO %: 76
Stance: Orthodox Stance: Southpaw
Born: March 22, 1980 Born: Jan. 7, 1976
Height: 5’ 6” Height: 5’ 6”
Reach: 64 ½” Reach: 64”
LIGHTWEIGHT SPECIAL ATTRATION – 135-POUND LIMIT
SCHEDULED FOR 10 ROUNDS
ANTONIO “Tony” DeMARCO ANGES “Baby Face” ADJAHO
WBA No. 4-Ranked Contender IBF No. 4-Ranked Contender
Tijuana, Mexico Geneva , N.Y. ( Benin , Africa )
20-1-1 (14 KOs) 25-1 (14 KOs )
Stance: Southpaw Stance: Orthodox
Born: Jan. 7, 1986 Born: Jan. 27, 1977
Height: 5’ 10” Height: 5’ 9 ½”
Reach: 72” Reach: 71”
IBF CRUISERWEIGHT ELIMINATION BOUT – 200-POUND LIMIT
SCHEDULED FOR12 ROUNDS FOR #1 RANKING & MANDATORY CHALLENGER
STEVE “USS” CUNNINGHAM WAYNE “Big Truck” BRAITHWAITE
Former IBF Champion Former WBC Champion
Philadelphia, Pa. Brooklyn, N.Y. ( Guyana )
21-2 (11 KOs) 23-3 (19 KOs )
Stance: Orthodox Stance: Southpaw
Born: July 15, 1976 Born: Aug. 9, 1975
Height: 6’ 3” Height: 6’ 1”
Reach: 82” Reach: 79”