Former heavyweight contender David "Nino" Rodriguez, well-known former boxing manager Ivaylo Gotzev and Laredo, Texas-based businessman and boxing historian Arturo Ortiz are proud to announce the formation of Lone Star Boxing Promotions, LLC.

The trio, with Gotzev acting as CEO, Rodriguez as President and Ortiz as Vice-President, say they plan to bring big-time, televised and competitive fights back to the state of Texas, as well as across the country.

Lone Star Boxing Promotions will present its first event on Saturday, April 7, at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, featuring former multiple-time world champion Ricardo Mayorga taking on hometown veteran Rodolfo "Cobrita" Gomez Jr. in a super middleweight 10-rounder.

Lone Star was formed, Rodriguez says, after his retirement from fighting (due to a spinal injury), when he called up his trusted friends Gotzev and Ortiz to talk about stepping into the promotional arena.

"The difference between Lone Star Boxing and other promotional firms is that we will treat the fighters ethically and fairly," said Rodriguez. "I spent 20 years as a boxer and contender and I know the good, the bad and the ugly sides of boxing. I will not treat any fighter that signs with Lone Star any different than I would want to be treated myself. I will be honest and upfront with every fighter, therefore setting a new standard of ethics and honesty in our sport. We hope to make Lone Star the standard of boxing when it comes to our fighters' welfare."

"We won't be afraid to get our hands dirty and will plant ourselves in the location of the fight for a month or more leading up to the shows," added Gotzev, who may be best known for his outstanding work with former WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter. "We want to deliver the best shows by putting together great match-ups and then getting the excitement going straight to the fans from the area. We're not going to be promoters on paper and at the mercy of network executives giving away handouts. We are ready to work the old-fashioned way and make history."

The pair say the addition of Ortiz, heavily connected to the Texas boxing scene, will prove extremely advantageous to their mission.

"Arturo knows the people we need to know to make our first show a smashing success," said Rodriguez. "He is well-respected in Laredo and his name adds a great deal of credibility to our endeavor."

The plan, however, is to branch out to multiple towns around the United States and the world.

"This is only the beginning," said Gotzev. "We are already planning events in other cities and signing fighters to our promotional stable. I'm very happy to be in business with these two friends and looking forward to a bright future for Lone Star Boxing Promotions."

On February 23, at Palazzo dello Sport in Rome (Italy), Emiliano Marsili will fight Victor Betancourt for the WBC Peace lightweight championship. Former undisputed World super welterweight and middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti (from 1965 to 1970 he won and defended simultaneously the WBC and WBA belts, in that era there were only two organizations sanctioning world title fights) was at the press conference held last Wednesday in Rome and has something to say about the fight:

“Emiliano Marsili is a fighter who reminds me of the old timers. He has a modern fighting style, but he doesn’t do only what it takes to win. He always gives 100% like the fighters of my era did. He will have to do that to beat Victor Betancourt. Like all Mexican fighters, Betancourt goes to war each time he steps in the ring. To beat that kind of warrior, Emiliano will have to look inside his soul and give his best. Training the right way is not enough. Every fight is a different story. When the strategy doesn’t work, a fighter must improvise, must adapt, must find the mental strength to win. I’m convinced that Emiliano has the qualities to win on Friday 23.”

The WBC Peace championship  is promoted by Opi 82 company led by Salvatore Cherchi and Federazione Pugilistica Italiana (the national boxing federation) with the support of the Italian Minister of Sports Luca Lotti and Coni (the national Olympic committee). The event will be broadcast live in Italy by Fox Sports. 

The Great British public are backing George Groves to defeat Chris Eubank Jr ahead of their crucial clash tomorrow (February 17) night.

Despite entering the contest as a sizable underdog, Hammersmith-born Groves has attracted the majority of the attention of British boxing punters.

Groves has attracted 67% of all bets ahead of the clash at the Manchester Arena, with punters piling in on “Saint”.

The pair square off with Groves’ WBA super-middleweight title on the line in the semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series.

Eubank Jr accounted for the majority of the action on the fight originally, but as punters mulled over the clash, public opinion seems to have swayed in Groves’ favour.

Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek said: “As we edge closer to a massive British bout between two highly-skilled fighters – punters are favouring underdog Groves.

“The British public love an underdog, and on what’s sure to be a must-watch night of action packed boxing, punters think Groves will be hungrier.