The IFL will feature some of the MMA
world's most-recognized and revered names as its coaches and fighters, each
competing in live events throughout the year.
"We are convinced there is a great opportunity before us to push the world
of Mixed Martial Arts to an entirely new level," said Otto. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader from the Don
Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, will begin at 9 p .
"Any time you fight a young, hungry opponent, you know it is not going to
be an easy fight ," Castillo said.

column boxing

An excellent counter-puncher with good skills, movement and power, Reyes
(26-3-2, 16 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif. 14 lightweight contender.
Castillo, while disappointed the third fight of his epic series with
Corrales has been postponed, knows he cannot afford to underestimate Reyes.

bouts guru

There is
nothing anybody can do about it.
If triumphant, Castillo will face Corrales in their highly anticipated
rubber match in the near future on SHOWTIME.

bouts rankings

The new league has been created
by Gareb Shamus, founder and chairman of the comics empire Wizard
Entertainment Group , and Kurt Otto, a highly successful New Jersey real estate
investor and a life-long martial arts participant. We
are giving the MMA athlete a level of respect they have earned and, frankly,
they deserve. The IFL will launch with four teams in a single elimination
tournament. ET/PT (delayed on the
west coast).

matches guru

"The IFL's goal, shared by the coaches and fighters, is two-fold: first ,
to elevate the sport to the elite level it deserves and treat mixed martial
arts fighters like professional athletes, and second, to use the team and
season-based approach that works so well in the NFL, NBA and MLB. Investing their
experience, wisdom and personal resources toward the goals of building this
league, recruiting other leaders and developing their own fighters can
ultimately provide the kind of long-term rewards never available before. Castillo will meet
Reyes in a 12-round special attraction at the contracted weight of 137 pounds.
"It is going to be a great fight.

In their initial encounter --
the 2005 Fight of the Year -- Corrales (40-3, 33 KOs) rallied dramatically to
knock out Castillo in the 10th round on May 7.

guru drunken

Showtime Sports + Event Programming General Manager Ken Hershman, and
co-promoters Bob Arum and Gary Shaw made the announcement on Wednesday . It was Reyes' first outing since reuniting with trainer Robert
Garcia, the former world junior lightweight champion and fellow Oxnard alum. 8, 2005.

predictions reporter

"The legendary
team managers have built long and respected careers.

World-Ranked Rolando Reyes to Battle Jose Luis Castillo in Main Event of Feb. 4 Doubleheader on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING

5 and International
Boxing Federation (IBF) No . I am looking forward to fighting Corrales
again.

bouts matchmaking

This hasn't
been done before in MMA. 8, 2005 .

rankings pound

There will be teams of five
-- consisting of lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight
and heavyweight."
Shamus also added that "Such a league of champions will be able to bring the
awareness of this sport to a new level, while also creating the combined power
necessary to negotiate best of breed promotional and media alliances.
Castillo is a great champion, but this is my chance to shine.

coventry boxing

* Day-to-day operations will be determined by the IFL's coaches, who will
serve as managers who hand-pick and assemble their teams.
Teams will represent numerous regions of the world, as well as the various
disciplines currently highlighted in the sport. NEW YORK , Lightweight contender Rolando Reyes has
signed to fight former two-time World Boxing Council (WBC ) lightweight
champion Jose Luis Castillo in the main event Saturday, Feb.

coventry bouts

Among the
unique aspects of the IFL are:

* The events will be held in a ring (not in a cage), believed to be the
most conducive environment for fighters, fans and production.

The first event will be taking place in a major live venue in mid-2006."
Reyes, who has never been knocked out, scored one knockdown en route to
winning a 10-round split decision over Ivan Cabrera in his last start on
Oct. Castillo (53-7-1, 47
knockouts) won the rematch with a fourth-round knockout on Oct.

ABOUT SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING celebrates 20 years of hard-hitting,
explosive programming in 2006.

boxers boxer

World's First-Ever Mixed Martial Arts League International Fight League to Debut in 2006

Top Fighters Will Compete in Innovative and Action-Packed Team - and
Season-Based Concept

NEW YORK, Mixing the rising popularity of mixed
martial arts (MMA) with the established team- and season-based approach found
in America 's most loved sports, today it was announced that the International
Fight League (IFL) has been formed . "He is fighting for everything and has
nothing to lose.
"I know it will happen long before then, but if I have to wait a year to
fight Corrales, I will wait.

odds melanie

Fighters have been treated much like they are in the
boxing world -- scrounging from fight to fight and promotion to promotion.m .

bouts matchmaking

The two winning teams will
meet approximately six weeks later to see who the Championship team will be. 4, on SHOWTIME. I cannot afford to take anyone lightly because my future
fights depend on me winning.
"I was very disappointed when I heard that I would not be able to fight
Corrales on February 4, but I understand that injuries happen.

bouts boxers

Plus, I have to make 137. On March 10, 1986 , SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP
BOXING was born when "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler defeated John "The Beast"
Mugabi in a spectacular and unforgettable 11th-round knockout in Las Vegas.

rankings boxing

"This is a great
opportunity for me, the kind I have been looking for my whole career.

boxing fight

pound reporter

Reyes is a replacement for WBC titleholder Diego Corrales, who suffered a
rib injury during training and withdrew late last week.

column guru

"
The IFL will target the 18-49 male fan base that has increasingly followed
MMA, one of the fastest growing participation sports in the world.
In a second bout added to the telecast, Jose Armando Santa Cruz (21-1,
12 KOs), of Michoacan, Mexico, will defend his North American Boxing
Federation (NABF ) lightweight title against Edner Cherry (19-3-2, eight KOs)
of the Bahamas. Always
at the forefront of boxing, SHOWTIME has set itself apart by telecasting
"great fights, no rights" on the first Saturday of every month.

coventry competitors

At the first event all four teams will compete, one team will vie
against another , with ten fights taking place. The biggest victory of his career came on July 22, 2005, when Reyes
scored two knockdowns en route to registering a devastating eighth-round
knockout over Courtney Burton on the SHOWTIME boxing series, "ShoBox: The New
Generation.
"It was getting too cold in the mountains," Castillo said. SHOWTIME is
the first network to regularly deliver live boxing in High Definition.

competitors pound

"
The fight with Castillo is a definite step up in class, but Reyes is ready
and confident he can pull an upset. I am always in great shape."
Castillo began training Tuesday in Mexicali after spending the last
several weeks training in the mountains near Mexico City .

column boxers

* As part of the new league's innovative premise, each of the original
teams will have a set annual operating budget, which will include
expense guidelines. I am a boxer , and I am just going to outbox
him.

rankings saddo

* They, along with their athletes, will be guaranteed a base income and
health benefits no matter how many times they compete during their
contracted periods, along with a bonus system that will offer
individual and team incentives for performance., has won five in a row and 19 out of his
last 20. Castillo
is a real aggressive fighter.

boxer column

"

ABOUT THE IFL:
Founded in 2005, the International Fight League was created to establish a
centralized and structured organization that brings the power and influence of
the mixed martial arts industry together.

Since that time, the network has aired some of the most historic and
significant events in the sport including both Holyfield-Tyson bouts.

coventry melanie

"This is as big, or bigger, than a world title fight and I am going to win
it," said Reyes, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. For those reasons, I will continue training with
the same intensity . In
addition, SHOWTIME continues to be a pioneer in sports television with a
number of interactive features across multiple platforms making SHOWTIME
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts the most enjoyable , immersive viewing experience
for the boxing audience.

melanie reporter

---

- - kjjkjk

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