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CHAMBERS TOPS BIG PHILLY CARD |
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Main Events Inc. held a press conference Monday at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym in Northern Liberties to announce their big boxing show scheduled for January 21. The card brings a set of important crossroads bouts to the South Philly's Asylum Arena with the two main fights scheduled to be televised nationally by the fledgling NBC Sports Network. No stranger to boxing, NBC plans to re-enter the ring biz with this card as its first live boxing broadcast in years. NBC network exec Gary Quinn said that the goal was to return to the days when fighters like Jeff Chandler, Frank Fletcher and Curtis Parker were NBC staples. "Titles weren't the important thing," Quinn said. "Well matched fights that really matter are our goal." The comment was like music to the ears of boxing fans. Quinn explained that the South Philly show is the first of four scheduled dates in the TV series, and that the goal is to do even more in 2013. Promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events said that what she wanted more than anything else was to stage "competitive fights". "I just want them throw punches at each other," Duva joked. A 10-round heavyweight fight between contender Eddie Chambers (36-2 / 18 KO) and former WBO champ Sergei Liakhovich (25-4 / 16 KO) tops the anticipated bill. Chambers of Philadelphia by way of Pittsburgh, is working his way back to another shot at the world heavyweight title and sees the Liakhovich as the route. "He's a good fighter", Chambers said of his opponent. "But I think I'm a little more advanced than him." The co-feature is an intriguing 10-round junior middleweight clash between North Philly's Gabriel Rosado (18-5 / 10 KO) and veteran Jesus Soto Karass (24-6-3 / 16 KO). Karass is well known to Philly fight fans for his two recent battles with Mike Jones. Rosado, perhaps on the brink of landing an even bigger fight, is looking to use the fight with Karass as his ticket to the next level. "I want to make a statement with this fight", Rosado said. "He's never been stopped and I'm definitely looking for the stoppage. That would really create a buzz around me." Also on the card is rising Philly welterweight "The New" Ray Robinson (12-2 / 5 KO) in an 8-round test against tough vet Doel Carrasquillo (16-18-1 / 14 KO). Robinson is slick and talented but Carrasquillo has surprised many young guns with his power. The fight should be a good one. Either the Rosado-Karass bout or the Robinson-Carrasquillo match could challenge Chambers-Liakhovich for fight of the night. But one thing is for sure, all three fights will have serious impact on the boxers involved. Five additional preliminary bouts round out the card, which on paper, looks like one of the best shows Philly has seen in a while.
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