Monday, August 20, 2007

Casamayor signs with Oscar de la Hoya


-Courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions

Two-division World Champion Joel Casamayor has fought and beaten the best from his days as one of the greatest amateur boxers to his stellar stay in the professional ranks. Now, the current WBC Lightweight Champion wants the big fights to cement his legacy and has enlisted Golden Boy Promotions to help him reach those heights in the coming years.

“Joel Casamayor is a brilliant boxer and one of the most underrated champions of the last 25 years,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “We are honored to have him on our team and with his talent and our promotional ability, we will get Joel the big fights he deserves and let the world see just how good he is.”

“Oscar and his company know what I can do in the ring and I know what they can do for me outside of it to get me to where I want to be in this sport,” said Casamayor. “I want to fight the best and be in the biggest events possible and I trust Golden Boy to get me there.”

A date and opponent for Casamayor’s return to the ring will be announced shortly. A native of Guantanamo, Cuba and now resides in Miami, Florida, Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor (34-3-1, 21 KO’s) was one of the greatest amateur fighters to ever lace up his gloves, claiming numerous titles and accolades to his name, including a Gold Medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

On the eve of the 1996 Olympic Games, Casamayor defected to the United States and as a professional, continued his commitment to excellence, compiling a record of (34-3-1, 21 KO’s), and winning world titles at 130 and 135 pounds while defeating the likes of the late Diego Corrales, Nate Campbell and Roberto Garcia. Although he has three losses (Jose Luis Castillo, Diego Corrales and Acelino Freitas) and a draw on an otherwise stellar record, ask any true boxing observer about those fights and many will admit that the controversial decisions in each bout should have gone the Cuban’s way.

Now, the 36-year-old Casamayor is not focusing on the past, but instead concerned with his future and putting together the biggest fights possible as he looks to further solidify his Hall of Fame credentials.

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