IBF/WBO/WBA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 12 Rds. Nate “Galaxxy Warrior“ Campbell Ali “Rush Hour“ Funeka IBF/WBO/WBA Lightweight Champion IBF No. 1 Ranked Mandatory Challenger SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2009 BANKATLANTIC CENTER Jacksonville, Florida East London, South Africa 32-5-1 (25 KOs) 30-1-2 (25 KOs) WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 12 Rds. Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez Kermit “Killer” Cintron Interim WBC Super Welterweight Champion Former IBF Welterweight Champion Buenos Aires, Argentina Reading, Pa. (Puerto Rico) 44-1-1 (24 KOs) 30-2 (27 KOs) SUPER WELTERWEIGHT ATTRACTION 12 Rds. Alfredo “Perro“ Angulo Cosme Rivera Undefeated WBC No. 3 Ranked Challenger Former No. 1 Ranked Welterweight Mexicali, Mexico Huatabampo, Mexico 14-0 (11 KOs) 31-11-2 (23 KOs) HEAVYWEIGHT ATTRACTION 10 Rds. Ray “The Rainman” Austin Julius “Towering Inferno” Long Former No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight Motor City Giant Cleveland, Ohio Detroit, Mich 26-4-4 (17 KOs) 15-10 (13 KOs) HEAVYWEIGHT ATTRACTION 8 Rds. Bermane “B-Ware” Stiverne Robert “Big Philly” Hawkins Devastating Knockout Artist Rugged Veteran Miami, Florida (Haiti) Philadelphia, Pa. 16-1 (16 KOs) 23-12 (7 KOs) WBA FEDELATIN CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 11 Rds. Francisco “The Wizard” Palacios Lawrence “King” Chapman Undefeated WBA No. 4 Ranked & Hard-Hitting Battler WBA Fedelatin Champion Los Angeles, Calif. (Now living in Atlanta) Orlando, Florida (Puerto Rico) 19-5-2 (13 KOs) 16-0 (9 KOs) WELTERWEIGHT ATTRACTION 8 Rds. Ivan “The Terrible” Kirpa Frankie Santos Former Russian Champion Experienced Contender St. Petersburg, Russia Salinas, Puerto Rico 22-1 (14 KOs) 16-6-4 (8 KOs) LIGHTWEIGHT ATTRACTION 8 Rds. Anges Adjaho Fernando “La Fiera” Angulo African Champion Proven Contender Benin, Africa Secumbios, Ecuador (now living in Caracas) 24-1 (14 KOs) 22-4 (14 KOs) JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT ATTRACTION 8 Rds. John “Action” Jackson Ricardo Medina Young Knockout Artist Mexican Spoiler Miami, Florida Mazatlan, Mexico 13-1 (13 KOs) 30-32-6 (17 KOs) LIGHTWEIGHT ATTRACTION 4 Rds. Angelo “La Cobra” Santana Mario Garcia Freedom Fighting Prospect Battle Tested Veteran San Cristobal, Cuba Charlotte, N.C. (Mexico) (now living in Miami) 7-8 (4 KOs) 4-0 (3 KOs) SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT ATTRACTION 6 Rds. Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell TBA Undefeated Prospect Flint, Mich. 14-0 (12 KOs) FEATHERWEIGHT ATTRACTION 4 Rds. Gary Russell Jr. John Wampash Washington D.C. Quito, Ecuador 1-0 (1 KOs) 1-0-1 (1 KOs) ALL BOUTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE Tonight’s Bout Sheet 2 Welcome Letter - Don King 4 Welcome Letter - Michael Yormark 5 Welcome Letter - George P. Corchis 6 Tale of the Tape - Campbell vs. Funeka 7 Published By: Don King Productions President & CEO Nate Campbell 8-9 Don King Don King Productions, Inc. Ali Funeka 10 Publisher Don King Kermit Cintron 12-13 Editor in Chief Don King Alfredo Angulo 14-15 Editor Kimia Zabihyan Angelo Santana 16-17 Don King Productions, Inc. Alan Hopper Randall Jones Don King Career Facts 18-21 Contributing Writers Ron Borges Teddy Livingston Talkin from the Ropes - Teddy’s Picks 22-23 Contributing Photographer David Martin-Warr Tribute to the Military 24-25 Design & Layout Kevin Calero Tribute to the Peter Fleming 27 © Copyright 2008 Don King Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part, by any method whatsoever, without written permission from Don King Productions, Inc. is prohibited. Please send comments to Don King Productions, Inc., 501 Fairway Drive, Deerfield Beach,Florida,33441 Fax: 954-418-0166, e-mail: [email protected] Advertising Information: 954.418.5845 Feb. 14, 2008 Dear Fight Fans: It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to our “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” boxing event at the beautiful BankAtlantic Center. I moved here 15 years ago, and this world-championship event would not have been possible without the loyal support of some close friends from South Florida. Michael Yormark, President of the Florida Panthers and Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, and Florida Panthers limited partner Jordan Zimmerman were instrumental in bringing boxing to BankAtlantic Center. Their enthusiasm for boxing has inspired me and bodes well for South Florida boxing fans because this will be the first of many big fight cards in Broward County. I am so happy my friend Scott Rothstein of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler Attorneys at Law has come onboard as a sponsor, bringing his prestige and sparkling brands that include V Georgio Vodka, The BOVA Restaurant Group, Renato Watches and QTask. Now that this terrific stage has been set, it’s time for some tremendous athletes to make their way to the ring to display their prowess for your entertainment. A great Florida story has come from Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell. His has been a tale of rags to riches, coming off the Jacksonville streets to become a warehouseman at supermarket giant Winn-Dixie before leaving it all behind to take a shot at boxing. He has made the most of it. Last year in Cancun, Mexico, he shocked the world by defeating the formerly undefeated Juan Diaz to become the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association lightweight champion. He’ll be defending those crowns tonight against his IBF mandatory challenger, and No. 1-ranked contender, Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka from East London, South Africa. Also on tap is World Boxing Council interim champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, defending his belt against former IBF welterweight champion Kermit “The Killer” Cintron. We have an excellent undercard as well, so please enjoy all the action. Also, please take a moment with me tonight to remember all the men and women of the United States Armed Services, at home and abroad, who are working tonight to keep us free. Sincerely, Don King 4 Feb. 14, 2008 Happy Valentine’s Day and welcome to the BankAtlantic Center. We are absolutely thrilled to host this incredible evening of internationally televised HBO boxing action, featuring the highly anticipated lightweight championship bout between Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell and Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka, as well as a full card of hard-hitting boxing action. I want to take a moment to thank Don King and his staff at Don King Productions, Jordan Zimmerman and his staff at Zimmerman Advertising, HBO Sports, and our staff here at Sunrise Sports & Entertainment for making this event a reality. As the premier venue of it’s kind in South Florida, the BankAtlantic Center is proud to combine a packed schedule of diverse programming – including concerts, family shows and Florida Panthers hockey – with first-class customer service and an unparalleled fan experience. Tonight our long list of world- class events includes professional championship boxing for the very first time. So sit back, relax and enjoy this historic St. Valentine’s Day at the ‘Center of it All,’ and know that we hope to see you again soon. Regards, Michael R. Yormark President & COO Sunrise Sports & Entertainment 5 Nate Campbell Ali Funeka HEIGHT: 5’ 7” HEIGHT: 5’ 11 1/2” WEIGHT: 135 WEIGHT: 135 REACH: 72” REACH: 71” NECK:15” NECK: 14.5” CHEST (NORMAL) 38” CHEST (NORMAL) 35.5” CHEST (EXPANDED) 41.5” CHEST (EXPANDED) 37” BICEP: 13.25” BICEP: 12” FOREARM:11.25” FOREARM: 10” WRIST: 7” WRIST: 7” FIST: 13” FIST: 12” WAIST: 28” WAIST: 30” THIGH: 22” THIGH: 18” CALF: 15.5” CALF: 13.5” ANKLE: 8.5” ANKLE: 9.5” 7 ::: :::: by Ron Borges :::: ::: ate Campbell has gone back to the drawing board more – a payday. The frustrations he has had to face, even after finally Ntimes than Picasso but he never thought he’d still be there becoming an unexpected champion at a late age, could have after he painted a brutal picture on Juan Diaz’s face 11 months destroyed his will but instead they have become the driving ago. force behind his preparation for tonight’s Don King promoted St. Valentine’s Day Massacre card at the BankAtlantic Center against The night Campbell dominated the unified lightweight champion, South African challenger Ali Funeka, the IBF’s No. 1 contender. winning a championship that was supposed to change his life. Nearly a year later nothing’s changed but the number of belts Campbell barely knows Funeka (30-1, 25 KO) but he knows he hanging in his closet. So what else is new? is standing in the way of possibly a far bigger fight between the winner of the Amir Khan-Marco Antonio Barrera showdown next On March 8, 2008, the 36-year-old Campbell stunned the boxing month in England before the year is out so he has mustered a world and Diaz as well when he won the WBO, WBA and IBF mighty distaste for Funeka in part because he is a reminder of 135-pound titles in lopsided fashion, giving poor Diaz both a how difficult his own path has been. boxing lesson and a beating. This was the victory that was finally going to open all the doors, earn him the big money, make him “I’m a New Age guy that likes to be on the internet,’’ Campbell what he for so long believed he was despite the skeptics and the said before the fight. “I went on the web and read what Ali setbacks. His time had come. Funeka said he was going to do to me on Valentine’s Day. He said he sees nothing special in me. He said he knows me like the That might have been the case had Joan Guzman not first failed back of his hand. miserably to make the lightweight limit and then pulled out of a non-title bout to be fought at a catchweight he could make “That’s rhetoric but he’s going to pay for it.