HEADLINES -- Nov. 4-6, 2002

November 6, 2002

"REAL FIGHTS!"
FEATURING PAUL SPADAFORA vs DENNIS HOLBAEK
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!


JERMAIN TAYLOR MOVES UP TO CO-STARRING
SLOT ON "REAL FIGHTS" PPV
EPIFANIO MENDOZA ADDED TO CARD


CHESTER, WV. (November 5, 2002) -- The 10-round middleweight bout between 2000 U.S. Olympic Bronze medalist and undefeated middleweight JERMAIN TAYLOR, 11-0 (7 KOs), and JOHNNY RIVERA, 12-3-1 (7 KOs), from Puerto Rico, will replace the Raul Balbi-Antonio Ramirez bout as the opening rumble of "Real Fights!" the pay-per-view extravaganza featuring four main event bouts, Saturday, November 9, at the beautiful Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester, WV. The Taylor-Rivera fight will be seen live in its entirety.

"Real Fights!" will feature the IBF-IBC lightweight unification bout between PAUL SPADAFORA and DENNIS HOLBAEK; IBF No. 5-rated lightweight contender and Dominican national champion VICTORIANO SOSA (Sammy Sosa's cousin) in a 10-round lightweight bout against former world title challenger LAMAR MURPHY from Miami, FL; and just added, super hot prospect from Colombia, undefeated EPIFANIO MENDOZA, 16-0 (16 KOs), in a 10-round middleweight fight against FERNANDO HERNANDEZ, 15-6-2 (7 KOs), from Chicago. Mendoza returns fresh from his upset victory -- last month's shocking first-round knockout of Tokunbo Olajide on ESPN.

Balbi's fight was kayoed by government red tape. "Balbi's work visa application has still not been reviewed," said promoter Michael Acri. "We are extremely disappointed not to have Balbi on this card, but now Jermain's fans will be able to see his entire fight live instead of taped highlights. Boxing fans will still see wall-to-wall real fights."

Promoted by Michael Acri Boxing Promotions, in association with DiBella Entertainment, the 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: King presents Holyfield-Byrd, Jones-Ruiz fights
* Atlantic City Press: Holyfield seeks belt in IBF bout
* LVRJ: Tua's manager blames Rahman for delaying deal
* AP: Trump, Kushner present bargain basement boxing
* Doug Fischer: Kushner's eight-man rumble
* LVRJ: UNLV coach (Barrera's promoter) reprimanded for bolting
* AP: Barrera's promoter faces reprimand for leaving game
* Boxing Talk: Arturo Gatti focused for war
* Press Release: Ward stronger than ever for Gatti
* Miami Herald: King goes down for count in boxing trial
* SecondsOut: The Buzz - Featherweight fever!
* Michael Katz: Feathers tickle my fancy
* Washington Times: Bowe ready for 18 months in prison
* Nate Calloway: Doubting Mosley
* Tim Graham: Thompson, Phillips attempt to put careers back on track
* Deseret News: Utah State Fairgrounds to host pro fight card
* Cleveland Plain-Dealer: Now and then - Nate Brooks
* Toledo Blade: Vargas, Garcia eye Olympics
* Anthony Evans: McCullough prefers super batmanweight shot
* The Independent (UK): Smith loses permit to train
* London Daily Telegraph: Ruckus costs Smith license
* UK: Magee to face Spearman
* UK: Boxing Day comes early with Bruno
* Coventry Evening Telegraph (UK): Thai bites on the menu
* Lakeside Leader (Canada): Boxing extravaganza one week away
* Orangeville Banner (Canada): Local boxers shine at Big Tyme
* SecondsOut: Gamez confident of taming Bredahl
* Houma Courier (La.): Houma native excited about win over Butterbean
* Eastside Boxing: Briggs - "The thing in my favor is I will fight anyone"
* Australia: Bib Bob puts heavyweight title on line
* Eastside Boxing: Would the old-timers really stand a chance today?
* South Africa: New fight date for demoralized Dingaan
* Jermaine Craig: Boxers on diet


REAL FIGHTS!
FEATURING PAUL SPADAFORA vs DENNIS HOLBAEK
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!


PHILADELPHIA MAYOR RENDELL
RIDES HOLBAEK'S COATTAILS
TO GOVERNOR'S MANSION


PHILADELPHIA, PA (November 5, 2002) - MAYOR ED RENDELL, became the first Philadelphian to be elected governor of Pennsylvania in nearly 90 years and political pundits are pointing to last week's endorsement by IBC lightweight champion DENNIS "THE MENACE" HOLBAEK as a major reason for the historic victory. Holbaek, a native of Denmark is training in Philadelphia for his world title unification fight agains undefeated IBF champion,Paul Spadafora, "The Pittsburgh Kid" on "REAL FIGHTS!," the pay-per-view extravaganza, Saturday, November 9.

"I have been training in Philadelphia for nearly eight weeks and I have fallen for this city," said Holbaek. "I have become a 'Philly fighter' and I love it! Training at Shuler's gym with guys like Tim Witherspoon and Terrence Cauthen has been incredible. I have immersed myself in the Philly atmosphere. Philadelphia has it all over Pittsburgh."

But what about tonight's election?

"I had no doubt who the better candidate was," said Holbaek. "Like everything else when comparing Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia is always the best. I am glad I had some influence on Mayor Rendell winning the election. Tonight the statehouse, Saturday the IBF and IBC titles!"

Rendell ran against Mike Fisher, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Attorney General.

Holbaek, 43-1 (22 KOs), whose amateur career included four national titles and two Scandinavian championships, turned professional in 1994 and won his first 34 bouts, which included the IBC jr. lightweight and lightweight titles, and the European jr. lightweight title. That streak included a 12-round decision over former world champion Tom "Boom Boom" Johnson. Holbaek avenged his only loss and regained his Eurpoean by defeating Boris Sinitsin. In his last fight, he recaptured the IBC lightweight title, winning a 12-round decision over John Bailey. Contractual problems with his former promoter, Bettina and Mogens Palle, have kept him out of the ring since his last fight, February 9, 2001, but not out of the gym.

The Spadafora - Holbaek IBF-IBC lightweight title unification bout headlines REAL FIGHTS!, the pay-per-view extravaganza, Saturday, November 9, at the beautiful Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort, in Chester, WV. REAL FIGHTS! will also feature undefeated 2000 U.S. Olympian Jermain Taylor vs. Johnny Rivera, in a 10-round middleweight fight; Dominican lightweight champion Victoriano Sosa, the IBF's No. 5-rated lightweight contender, in a 10-round fight against former world title challenger Lamar Murphy; and undefeated middleweight prospect Epifanio Mendoza in a 10-round bout against Fernando Hernandez.

Promoted by Michael Acri Boxing Promotions, in association with DiBella Entertainment, the 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:

Tom Moran (Holbaek Interviews) 215/752-3559
Fred Sternburg (Media) 303/740-7746
Tamara Pettit (Mountaineer Race Track) 800/804-0468
David Itskowitch (DBE) 212/332-6950
Michael Acri (Spadafora Interviews) 814/455-8309



November 5, 2002
* AP: Jury - Arum not liable for Chavez' defection
* BBC Online: Barrera's boxing clinic
* Thomas Hauser: Training Mike Tyson
* Pitt. Post-Gazette: Replacement added to Spadafora card
* Pedro Fernandez: Boxing beat heating up!
* SecondsOut: The Buzz - 12 months on for undisputed Tszyu
* SecondsOut: Pacquaio wants Barrera
* SF Examiner: No wrestling for Lennox
* NZPA: Thunder wants to fight Tyson in Australia
* Boxing Talk: Griffin - "I wouldn't be surprised if the IBF doesn't strip Jones"
* Fresno Bee: Griffin captures another title belt
* Bergen Record: Jones wins new fans, loses fight
* Eastside Boxing: Michael Grant - the long road back
* Louisville C-J: Simms stops Robinson to win crown
* Oakland Press (Mich.): Anani KO wins IBA title
* Del Rio News-Herald (Tex.): Local man has "golden" dreams
* Anthony Evans: One final hurdle before Naz fight
* Belfast Telegraph: World can wait as Wayne has a ball
* Belfast Telegraph: Barry - shoot for Harrison, Wayne
* The Observer (UK): Hatton down to earth - but reaching for the stars
* Leonard Neill: Groenwald vows to win another title
* Belfast Telegraph: O'Hara is an instant hit with fight fans
* Sporting Life: Hunter added to big Newcastle bill
* Belfast Telegraph: Sinclair shows he's world class
* Zimbabwe: Boxing board seeks funds for Hondo's trip
* South Africa: Amateur boxing trainers in hot water
* New Zealand Herald: Injured boxer didn't declare fights abroad
* Ghana: Former boxer calls for establishment of an endowment fund
* Nigeria: Felix seeks African title
* Uganda: Mindra to lobby for Ugandan fighters
* Kenya: Fescaba squad picked
* Marines Online: All-Marine boxing trials



November 4, 2002
* USA Today: Barrera shows why he's king, pounds buddy for 12 rounds
* Michael Katz: Barrera has last laugh
* Carlos Arias: Barrera bests Tapia in battle of buddies
* Steve Kim: Tapia wins over crowd, Barrera wins fight
* Derek Bilton: Age no barrier for Barrera
* Miami Herald: Barrera shows he's the top featherweight
* Pedro Fernandez: Monday Morning Mayhem and Mucho Mas
* Murali Para: Barrera back to his best against Tapia
* Armando Alvarez: Slammin' Sosa, and it ain't Sammy
* Angel Rodriguez: Is Barrera boxing's best?
* Cleveland Plain-Dealer: Holbaek adopts Philly style of fighting
* Robert Cassidy: Jr. welters look ahead
* Houston Chronicle: Aging ex-champs to tangle
* LA Daily News: Positive attitude is Wright on
* AP: USA Boxing on probation
* David Avila: Ali ready for her toughest test
* AirForceSports.com: Boxers split bouts at UNLV
* Ireland: McCullough and Sinclair set for world title show
* Sporting Life: Sinclair - I want belt for keeps
* The Independent (UK): Belfast rejoices as McCullough wins with ease
* Ken Jones: Owen's memory gives Merthyr hope in fight against modern evils
* Kenya: Police retain national boxing crown
* Kenya: Boxing officials blamed for fiasco
* Daily Nation (Kenya): Boxing body bungled badly
* Kenya: Inter-brigades tourney begins






Copyright 2002 Total Action Inc.