RINGSIDE NOTES

THEN AND NOW:  Just how great a bargain is the April 23 PPV boxing event being broadcasted by ESPN, hosted by Caesars Palace, and promoted by Main Events?  Compare the following:

SYNCHRONICITY?  There are several ironic similarities between the April 23 ESPN PPV boxing event and the 1981 Leonard-Hearns welterweight unification showdown: 

• Caesars Palace will have hosted both events
• Both events will have taken place in an outdoor arena
• Both events will have been promoted by Main Events
• The featured main event in both cases will have been a welterweight world title bout (in 1981 it was Leonard-Hearns and in 2005 it is Margarito-Cintron)
• Angelo Dundee will have trained welterweights in both events (In 1981 he trained Ray Leonard, while in 2005 he is training David Estrada)
• In both instances Dundee’s fighter will have faced one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport:  in 1981 Leonard faced Hearns; and in 2005 Estrada will face three-time world champion Shane Mosley

CAESARS PALACE:  A HISTORY OF MEXICAN - PUERTO RICAN SHOWDOWNS:  The April 23 main event features a 12 round WBO welterweight championship bout between WBO champion Antonio Margarito (30-4, 21 KO’s) and undefeated WBO-Interim welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (24-0, 22 KO’s).  The highly-anticipated showdown will be the latest Caesars Palace-hosted world championship headlined by a Mexican (Margarito) and a Puerto Rican (Cintron).    Below is a few other Mexican vs. Puerto Rican world title confrontations that were hosted by Caesars Palace:

Sept. 28, 1979:         Wilfredo Gomez defeats Carlos Mendoza (TKO 10)

                                    WBC Super Bantamweight Title    

August 21, 1981:       Salvadore Sanchez defeats Wilfredo Gomez (TKO 8) 

WBC Featherweight Title

June 11, 1982:          Wilfredo Gomez defeats Juan Antonio Lopez (TKO 10)

                                    WBC Super Bantamweight Title

April 22, 1994:           John-John Molina defeats Gregorio Vargas (W 12)

                                    IBF Jr. Lightweight Title

Nov 18, 1989:            Julio Cesar Chavez defeats Sammy Fuentes (TKO 10)

                                    WBC Super Lightweight Title
 

ESTRADA TO PARTICIPATE IN MIAMI’S “CALLE 8 ON MARCH 13”:  Contained within a 53-foot trailer and adjacent tent, ESPN The Truck’s interactive exhibits give sports fans the opportunity to experience ESPN HD; take home their photo on the cover of ESPN The Magazine;  play the latest motor sports video games; download ESPN interactive programs and much more.  ESPN The Truck is wheel-chair accessible.  ESPN Deportes commentators will be onsite meeting fans and signing autographs from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.  ESPN Deportes talents to include Mario Kempes, Argentine soccer legend, along with veteran announcers Ernesto Jerez and Carlos Morales.  In addition, Latin boxer David Estrada (18-1, 9 KO’s), who is facing three-time world champion “Sugar Shane” Mosley (39-4, 35 KO’s) on April 23 as part of the first-ever ESPN Pay-Per-View match, will also be onsite signing autographs from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.

MISCELLANEOUS 

Undefeated San Antonio, TX bantamweight prospect Raul Martinez (6-0, 5 KO’s) will appear on the April 23 undercard in a six round bout.  He will compete in the final bout before the PPV broadcast begins . . .

3-8-20005