MOSCOW, Russia—The long-awaited unification bout between World Boxing Association cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (25-1, 19 KOs), from Chekhov, Russia, and WBA cruiserweight champion in recess Guillermo “El Felino” Jones (38-3-2, 30 KOs), from Colon, Panama, will take place on May 17 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia.
Jones’ promoter Don King is thrilled to have his fighter appearing in Moscow with co-promoters Andrey Ryabinsky and Vlad Hrunov.
“My Russian co-promoters named the fight, ‘The One Will Stand,’ and it will be from Russia with love,” King said. “This is a gigantic promotion between Russia and Panama and I want to thank Andrey Ryabinsky for making this possible.
“The Panamanian people and their President Ricardo Martinelli will be watching with great interest to see Guillermo return home with a unified world title.”
Hrunov presented Lebedev’s two most recent matches in Crocus City Hall and looks forward to hosting the upcoming event there on May 17.
“Crocus City Hall is like the Madison Square Garden of Russia,” Hrunov said. “This is a first class venue that opened just three years ago. It’s beautiful and run professionally. It has 7,000 seats and we expect them all to be filled as demand has been strong since tickets went on sale in late February.”
Lebedev is thrilled to be defending his title in his native country and pointed out he comes from the city named after the writer Anton Chekhov.
“I come from Chekhov and strong people come from my city,” Lebedev said. “I’m glad Don, Andrey and Vlad have named the fight, ‘The One Will Stand,’ as I plan on being the last man standing at the end of the fight.”
Lebedev is trained by fellow Russian and former undisputed junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu.
Jones is anxious to get back into the ring and has predicted that he will dispatch Lebedev in five rounds or less.
“I tell the Russian fans who are ringside to be careful because there will be blood,” Jones said. “I am the tiger but I don’t speak Russian. No translator will be needed as my hands will speak for me.”
FIGHT FOR PEACE:…TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE
Don King Invites Leaders of Russia, Panama To WBA Cruiserweight Unification Championship; Denis Lebedev and Guillermo Jones Meet On May 17 At Crocus City Hall In Moscow, Russia
World Boxing Promoter and World Peace Ambassador Goes to Moscow
MOSCOW, Russia—World Boxing Association cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (25-1, 19 KOs), from Chekhov, Russia, and WBA cruiserweight champion in recess Guillermo “El Felino” Jones (38-3-2, 30 KOs), from Colon, Panama, are set to meet on May 17 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Co-promoter Don King has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli to attend the event.
“I have invited the leaders of Russia and Panama to attend our big boxing event in Moscow on May 17 as the world champions in the main event hail from these great countries,” King said. “Sports can transcend boundaries and bring us together, so what better way to exemplify that than to have these great leaders on the scene supporting their countrymen.”
The event will take place in the beautiful 7,000-seat Crocus City Hall and has been dubbed “Fight For Peace, The One Will Stand.”
“It’s to Russia with love and understanding, a sports extravaganza to bring people together for peace, democracy and freedom. President Putin said, ‘Nobody and nothing will stop Russia on the road to strengthening democracy and ensuring human rights and freedoms,’ and I support him in his quest to make a better Russia for the Russian people.”
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
