HEADLINES -- October 22-24, 2002

October 24, 2002
* SecondsOut: The reason Jones vs. Ruiz will sell
* Paul Upham: Tuaman looking for Rahman rematch
* Kevin Iole: Jones says he's serious about big fight
* Sacramento Bee: Judge is changed for Nov. 1 fight
* Eastside Boxing: Interview with Marco Antonio Barrera
* Eastsdie Boxing interviews Johnny Tapia
* Boxingtalk interviews with Tapia and Barrera
* Paul Upham: Eric Morel keeps getting better and better
* Angel Rodriguez: Showtime favors Brits over Hopkins
* Steve Kim: In the company of fighters
* AP: Hill will take on DeGrandis Nov. 17
* Boxingtalk.net: Marquez wants Mosley at 154
* Keith Idec: Tiger's tale one of emotion
* David Avila: Bojorquez calls out Vargas
* Boxing Talk.net: Markussen gets title shot against Ottke
* Prize Fight News interviews Montell Griffin
* Dodge City Globe: Three boxers win divisions in El Paso
* Norristown Times-Herald (Pa.): Yorgey has a fighting chance
* Philippines: Pacquaio's Thai foe overweight
* Mindanao Times (Phil.): Footprints - Treating the enemies
* Philippines: Rakkiatgym blows into town
* Ewing Grahame: The tale of two Harrisons should be lesson to all
* UK: Wayne - I could topple Scott
* Clive Bernath: African challenge for Eastman
* Mark Staniforth: Eastman back in from the cold
* SecondsOut: British Buzz - Eastman back; Neary challenges Hatton
* Stephen Halliday: Arthur living the legend as king of Britons
* Paul Upham: Lovemore Ndou ready for Quinonez on Fox
* Mississauga News: Irwin proves his mettle against Howard
* Canada: Town forms boxing commission
* Petaling Jaya: Panama's Durans make it a family affair
* South Africa: Botile out to win world title for Eyethu
* Edmonton Journal: Ruined former boxer pleads guilty to rapes
* AirForceSports.com: Boxers to face Army and Navy opponents
* UK: Boxer's parade ring date
* UK: Robert Carlyle will play Scottish boxer in film
* Uganda: Nairobi, KCC share spoils



October 23, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
ROY JONES JR. STATEMENT ON RUIZ FIGHT
October 22, 2002.

In response to the overwhelming interest and speculation regarding the Roy
Jones Jr. - John Ruiz fight, Roy said today, "I signed a preliminary agreement
to show that I was definitely willing and ready to fight John Ruiz. I'm still
willing and ready to fight John Ruiz. It's just a matter of time before I sit
down to finalize the contract.

"As far as any lawyer talking about how I can't get off the contract, I
wouldn't have signed it if I was trying to get out. If I didn't want to do it,
I wouldn't do it. So, I'm not doing this because of lawyers drawing up papers
and saying, 'You're trapped because you signed it.' I'm doing it because this
is what Roy Jones Jr., and only Roy Jones Jr., wants to do."

Jones' advisor Brad Jacobs added, "We expect to finalize the long-form
agreement in the next two weeks."



REAL FIGHTS!
FEATURING PAUL SPADAFORA AND ANGEL MANFREDY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2002
The Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort - Chester, WV
9:00 P.M. ET/6:00 P.M. PT
LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW!


"I AM GOING TO KNOCK MANFREDY
CLEAR OUT OF THE PARK . . . SOSA STYLE!"


CHICAGO, IL -- The big question is, will the referee signal for the bell to start the fight or will he yell "Play Ball!?"

Dominican national lightweight champion VICTORIANO SOSA predicted a "home run-style" knockout against former WBU champion ANGEL MANFREDY when they rumble, Saturday, November 9, on the pay-per-view extravaganza Real Fights! at the beautiful Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Chester, WV.

Sosa, the cousin of Chicago Cub home run king Sammy Sosa, spoke today from his training camp outside Chicago to discuss his IBF lightweight title elimination bout against Manfredy.

"My cousin Sammy told me a true slugger -- a Sosa slugger -- will always swing for the fences," said Sosa. "And that is exactly what I am going to do. I am going to knock Angel out of the ring with my 'home run punch.' My trainer and I have been developing it in camp. I just hope Manfredy's head is screwed on tight or it may end up in the bleachers!"

Babe Ruth used to point to where he would hit his homers. What does Victoriano predict in his fight?

"I will knock Manfredy senseless. He is going down in five. And he is going down HARD!"

Sammy Sosa, who has attended Victoriano's fights in the past, is expected to attend.

Sosa, 34-2-1 (24 KOs), the IBF's No. 5-rated contender, has captured the Dominican Republic's national super featherweight and lightweight titles as well as the FECARBOX (Central America and Caribbean) lightweight title. In his sole world title fight, he floored IBF champion Spadafora twice en route to a decision loss in 2000. Since that fight, Sosa has fashioned a two-year, 10-bout winning streak.

Manfredy, 40-6-1 (29 KOs), from Hobart, IN, captured the WBU super featherweight title in 1995 with a seventh-round knockout of Calvin Grove. He held the title for three years, which included seven defenses. His resume boasts victories over Arturo Gatti, Julio Diaz, Ivan Robinson, Jorge Paez and John Brown. Manfredy is currently world-rated No. 4 by the IBF.

The winner of the Sosa-Manfredy title elimination bout will become the IBF's No. 1 lightweight contender and mandatory challenger to the winner of the Paul Spadafora - Dennis Holbaek IBF-IBC lightweight unification bout, which will also be featured on the Real Fights! card.

Promoted by Michael Acri Boxing Promotions, in association with DiBella Entertainment, the Real Fights! PPV telecast will begin at 9 P.M. EST / 6 P.M. PST. It will be distributed by iN DEMAND with a suggested retail price of $24.95. Call your local cable/satellite provider for details.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Fred Sternburg (Media) 303/740-7746
Tamara Pettit (Mountaineer Race Track) 800/804-0468
David Itskowitch (DBE) 212/332-6950
Michael Acri (MABP) 814/455-8309


* AP: Ruiz fight gets Jones' green light
* Tim Smith: Reeling in Jones one tough task
* Clinton Mollett: Roy Jones Jr. - The art of fighting without fighting
* Thomas Gerbasi: Pittsburgh's skilled craftsman of the squared circle
* USA Today: Scheduling conflict puts HBO in bind
* Patrick Kehoe: Johnny Tapia - Long night's journey into day
* Winnipeg Sun: Golden Boy takes second step on comeback trail
* Milw. Journal-Sentinel: Ex-champ Spinks offers poor a fighting chance
* SecondsOut: The Buzz - No TV dates sees Mitchell over to 2003
* SecondsOut: The Buzz - Roy Jones' big secret
* Thomas Hauser reports on more transition at the NY State Athletic Commission
* Boxing Talk: Leija looks to be stronger for Tszyu
* Paul Upham: "Don't blink", says Lacy
* Press Release: Ward-Gatti II approaching sellout
* PrizeFightNews.com interviews Terron Millett
* PrizeFightNews.com interviews Floyd Mayweather Sr.
* State Hornet (Cal. St.-Sacramento): Who's the baddest man on the planet?
* Eastside Boxing: Hey Roy - if you're the best, start acting like it!
* Salem Statesman-Journal: Boxing match slated for Portland
* Standard-Times (Mass.): Mello documents show wide-ranging ties
* Kankakee Daily Journal: Ex-Golden Glover in political ring
* York Daily Record: Montanez wins elite tournament
* Pascagoula Press (Miss.): Pascagoula boxer has visions of greatness
* Daily Dispatch (South Africa): Countdown begins for Baloyi-Botile title bout
* South Africa: Botile shows Baloyi how to play it cool
* Manila Times: McTavish is third man in Pacquaio title fight
* Belfast Telegraph: Magee to make impact in States
* Belfast Telegraph: "Wee hit" Eamonn making big waves
* Belfast Telegraph: Paul doesn't Waite long for success
* Ireland: Dunne's career thrown into doubt
* Paul Upham: Number 2 Hamdan calls out Vanderpool again
* Toronto Sun: Promoter of Ali event hit with charges
* South Africa: Makeba risks world title chances
* Barbados Daily Nation: Shaka aims to be in top ten
* Barbados Daily Nation: Best wishes to female boxer
* Newcastle Star (Australia): Boxing returns after 40 years
* New Zealand: HB twins tipped to win national titles
* Australia: Boxing coach charged with starting fire
* Malaysia: Sudden death for soldier after boxing bout


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Undisputed” Welterweight Champion Vernon Forrest
Selected Honorary Captain of Special Olympics Team Georgia Heading to 2003 World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland;
Forrest To Appear In Statewide TV Public Service Announcement To Support Athletes


October 22, 2002 – Atlanta, GA –Undisputed Welterweight Champion Vernon Forrest has been selected Honorary Captain for Special Olympics Georgia’s (SOGA) delegation headed to the 2003 World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland it was announced today by Special Olympics Georgia. Also Forrest, President of Destiny's Child Inc. - a group home service for the mentally-challenged - will appear in a public service announcement (PSA) produced by Special Olympics Georgia to promote statewide support for the athletes headed to the Games. The PSA will run throughout the state starting next week and in to next year. “I am an Olympian and some of my clients have competed in past Special Olympics,” said Forrest. “It is a great organization and a wonderful outlet for the mentally-challenged so I am thrilled to be selected as Honorary Team Captain.”

The Special Olympics World Games will take place June 15-30, 2003 in Dublin, Ireland. More than 2,000 athletes, representing 80 countries will compete in the World Games. 39 Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) athletes and coaches have been selected as members of Team USA – one of the largest delegations from the United States! The athletes were chosen based on athletic accomplishments in their sports which include gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, cycling and running.

Aside from his work with Special Olympics Georgia, Forrest and his partners run the day to day operations of Destiny’s Child, Inc., (D.C.I.) a group home that provides housing and assistance to mentally challenged adults.

About Special Olympics Georgia:

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics is an international program that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in 25 Olympic-type sports in over 160 countries around the world. Information regarding the 2003 Special Olympics World Games can be found at www.2003specialolympics.com


Kelly Swanson, Swanson Communications, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: 202-783-5500


October 22, 2002
* AP: Everything in place for Jones-Ruiz - except Jones
* Ron Borges: Error of omission is in Ruiz' favor
* Arizona Republic: Jones-Ruiz fight deal - fact or feint?
* Boxing Talk: Advice to the advisor
* Real Boxing.com: Ruiz considering Florida camp site
* Anthony Evans: Lewis vs. Lesnar - one for the ages
* TJ Madigan: Think outside the box
* Boxing Talk interviews Angel Manfredy
* Cin. Enquirer: Williams ready for return to ring
* Thomas Gerbasi: A rude welcome to the pros, but a bright future awaits Jeff Lacy
* AP: Holyfield punches drug abuse at Pensacola rally
* Boxing Action: A tribute to the "Greatest" - a truly special person
* Paul Upham: Another year, no WBO title shot for Hussein Hussein
* Boxing Talk: Will Vargas get treatment or sanctions for his positive steroid test?
* Rochester Dem & Chron: Mesi vs. Rahman a fantasy on the Frontier
* B.R. Bearden: The bigger they are - super-sized heavyweights then and now
* Jack Welsh: Ayala, Morales want pay like superstars
* Sacramento Bee: Undefeated Simms added to Jorrin card
* Joe Maxse: Sanctioning bodies pay for shady maneuvers
* Tim Dahlberg: WBA finally comes clean, but do boxing organizations matter?
* Kentucky New Era: O'Daniel wins in revenge match
* Boxing Action: Straw-weight ignores heavyweight advice
* BBC Online: Williams just ticking over
* SecondsOut: British Buzz - Culshaw faces South African test
* Ewing Grahame: Warren flies out to state Harrison's case
* Glasgow Daily Herald: Prince of fear
* Stephen Halliday: Harrison eyes Mexican showdown in Glasgow
* UK: Harrison - Fans made me the king of the world
* Philippines: Pacquaio all juiced up for Thai
* Philippines: RP pug guns for Pan Pac crown
* South Africa: Baloyi wasn't KO's in sparring, says Mitchell
* South Africa: Angel must stay away from Lewele
* Australia: Good heart for shot at NSW boxing title
* UK: Boxer threw punch after pub session
* Zambia: TV Africa profiles boxer Kenyanta






Copyright 2002 Total Action Inc.