The CBZ Newswire

Three KOs Highlight Event at Madison Square Garden Saturday, January 23

By Jason Keidel

Photos by Chris Farina - Top Rank

WBO Jr. World Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Lopez (R), Caguas, Puerto Rico, stops WBO World Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano, La Puente, CA, in the seventh round Saturday at Madison Square Garden. --Photo: Chris Farina - Top Rank, copyright 2010

NEW YORK CITY, January 23, 2010 – After six soporific fights, the National Anthem awakened Madison Garden to three stellar bouts, bringing heat to a frigid Manhattan.

John Duddy, New York City, knocks out Juan Astorga in the 1st round Saturday at Madison Square Garden. --Photo: Chris Farina - Top Rank, copyright 2010

Middleweight John Duddy kicked off the authentic boxing action. Wielding a leaden jab and thudding body shots, Duddy forced his opponent, Juan Astorga, to a knee just a minute into the fight. A few seconds and a flurry later, Astorga collapsed once again, clutching his ribs, not to regain his stance, at 1:55 of the first round, to the glee of Duddy’s throng of throaty Irish supporters, the three-colored flag of his homeland waving above the ropes.

Duddy left the ring 28-1 (18 KO). Astorga’s record fell to 14-4-1 (9 KO). (continue reading…)

HBO Will Broadcast Championship Fights this Saturday, January 23,  on ‘Boxing After Dark’

NEW YORK CITY, January 22 2010 – Superstar Felix Trinidad (ctr) poses with (L-R) WBO World Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano, La Puente, California, and WBO Jr. World Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Lopez, Caguas, Puerto Rico after both fighters weighed in (Luevano 126 lb,Lopez 125.5 lb) for their upcoming world championship fight on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Saturday, January 23, 2010 at  Madison Square Garden.  Top Rank promotes this event in association with Arena Box-Promotion and PR Best Boxing.  — Photo: Chris Farina - Top Rank, copyright 2010

NEW YORK CITY, January 22, 2010 – (L-R) WBO World Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano, La Puente, California  and WBO Jr. World Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Lopez, Caguas, Puerto Rico pose after weighing in (Luevano 126 lb,Lopez 125.5 lb) for their upcoming world championship fight on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Saturday, January 23, 2010, at  Madison Square Garden.  Top Rank promotes this event in association with Arena Box-Promotion and PR Best Boxing.  — Photo: Chris Farina - Top Rank, copyright 2010 (continue reading…)

by Jason Keidel

NEW YORK CITY, January 22, 2o1o -- John Duddy, New York City, weighs in at 160 lb for his upcoming feature fight against Juan Astorga, Lee's Summitt, Missouri, on HBO's Boxing After Dark, Saturday, January 23, 2010, at Madison Square Garden. Top Rank promotes this event in association with Arena Box-Promotion and PR Best Boxing. -- Photo: Chris Farina - Top Rank, copyright 2010

Wrapped in a green turtleneck and tweed jacket, Bob Arum kicked off the pre-fight press conference for Saturday’s championship fight between featherweights Juan Manuel Lopez and Steven Luevano at Madison Square Garden.

Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KO) is defending his WBO crown, looking to hand Lopez (27-0, 24 KO) his first professional loss. (continue reading…)

Yuriorkis Gamboa Defends his Title against Rogers Mtagwa on the Same Card

NEW YORK CITY, January 21, 2010 – (L-R)  WBO Jr. World Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Lopez, Caguas, Puerto Rico and WBO World Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano, La Puente, California, pose during a press conference Thursday for their upcoming world championship fight on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at  Madison Square Garden.  Also on this world title doubleheader card, WBA Featherweight Champion Yuriorkis Gamboa of Cuba will defend his title against Rogers Mtagwa, Philadelphia, PA. Top Rank promotes this event in association with Arena Box-Promotion and PR Best Boxing.  — Photo: Chris Farina - Top Rank, copyright 2010

NEW YORK CITY, January 21, 2010 – (L-R)  WBO Jr. World Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Lopez, Caguas, Puerto Rico, and WBO World Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano, La Puente, California, pose during a press conference Thursday for their upcoming world championship fight on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at  Madison Square Garden.  Also on this world title doubleheader card, WBA Featherweight Champion Yuriorkis Gamboa of Cuba will defend his title against Rogers Mtagwa, Philadelphia, PA. Top Rank promotes this event in association with Arena Box-Promotion and PR Best Boxing.  — Photo: Chris Farina - Top Rank, copyright 2010 (continue reading…)

Photo by Chris Farina - Top Rank, Copyright 2009

OXNARD, CA., July 16, 2009 –  WBO Featherweight champion Steven Luevano,La Puente,Ca. hits the speed bag during his Media Day workout Thursday for his upcoming world title fight against No. 1 contender Bernabe Concepcion from the Philippines.  Top Rank promotes  “Pinoy Power 2” on Pay Per View, Saturday, August 15 at the new Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.