Bethlehem, PA-When Gabriel Rosado learned he was fighting Sechew Powell instead of Joel Julio on June 1, he and trainer Billy Briscoe booked themselves a trip to California for three weeks of training at Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

“It’s just what I needed,” said Rosado (left), who meets Powell for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Junior Middleweight Title at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem over 12 rounds, or less.

“At first I wasn’t crazy about fighting a lefty, but the junior middleweight division is full of them so it all turned out for the better. I’m talking about Paul Williams, James Kirkland, Erislandy Lara. These are guys I need to get in there with so fighting Sechew Powell is another step down that road. I’m getting plenty of good work at the Wild Card and I feel good and I’m looking forward to proving myself again. I know a lot of people are skeptical, saying that the last guy I beat (Jesus Soto-Karass) was made to order for me. We’ll see if they right or wrong after June 1.”

The 26-year-old Philadelphian made a career statement Jan. 21 when he tore though Soto-Karass en route to a fifth-round knockout victory at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia.

Rosado, who turned pro in 2006 after only 17 amateur fights, has a 19-5 record as a pro with 11 knockouts. He has won his last five fights and he is ranked No. 5 in the world by the IBF, No. 9 by the WBC.

The 32-year-old Powell (right), of Brooklyn, NY, turned pro in 2002 and is 26-4, 15 K0s. He is ranked No. 9 by the IBF, and comes into this fight off a 12-round points defeat Jan. 28 to former world champion Cory Spinks in a elimination bout in Springfield, MO, for the No. 1 slot in the IBF world rankings.

Prior that that, Powell had challenged one-time knockout victim Cornelius Bundrage, of Detroit, MI, for the IBF world title, losing that one also by 12-round decision June 25, 2010, in St. Charles, MO.

Powell has beaten Ishe Smith, of Las Vegas, NV, and Terrance Cauthen, of Trenton, NJ, and he split in two fights with Deandre Latimore, of St. Louis, MO. Latimore is the only man to have stopped Powell, but Powell avenged himself in the rematch, winning on points.

The co-feature, also scheduled for 12 rounds, features Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, against Prenice Brewer, of Cleveland, OH, for the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title. Cruz is 16-0, 12 K0s; Brewer is 16-1-1, 6 K0s.

Five additional bouts complete the card.

JUNE 1

The Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. First fight is 7:00 pm. Tickets are priced at $50 and $75 as well as luxury suite seats for $125.00. Tickets can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or online at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790).

NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights, beginning at 9 pm on the Fight Night show. The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and www.goDaddy.com.

Number 7 ranked Junior Middleweight Gabriel Rosado of Philadelphia will take on Number 9 contender Sechew Powell of Brooklyn, NY (26-4, 15 KO’s) on Friday, June 1st in the main event on NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night boxing series, live from the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, PA. The 12 round fight will be for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Title. The NBC Sports Network telecast beings at 9PM ET.

The sturdy southpaw will replace ailing Joel Julio, who has withdrawn from the fight.

Currently in camp with slugger Delvin Rodriguez to prepare him for his upcoming Junior Middleweight title challenge of WBA Junior Middleweight king, Austin Trout, the talented Powell, ranked #9 by the IBF, will be well prepared to present a formidable challenge to Rosado, who had not been preparing to face a southpaw.

“I’m happy to get this opportunity. My passion to become champion is stronger than ever and that will show on June 1,” Powell said. Gabriel Rosado and I are both top ten ranked contenders, after this fight one of us will be moving up the rankings and it won’t be him.”

Sechew Powell

Photo Credits:

Ed Mulholland

Powell holds a first round TKO win over current IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Cornelius Bundrage. He also holds a win over Deandre Latimore, the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. protégé who takes on Carlos Quintana on the PPV undercard of the Mayweather-Cotto fight tomorrow night. He has also defeated slick southpaw Ishe Smith, who faces Rosado victim Ayi Bruce tonight at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas. In his most recent bouts, Powell dropped two hotly contested 12-round decisions. The first was a re-match with Brundage for his IBF title and the most recent was versus current #1 Junior Middleweight contender Cory Spinks.

Rosado said, “I was looking forward to fighting Julio because I know he comes to fight. With Powell, it’s a different story. He’s a lefty and he presents other problems for me, he’s tricky, awkward and defensive. He picks his spots and gives you angles.”

Gabriel Rosado

“This is a classic crossroads fight,” said co-promoter, J Russell Peltz. “This is a tougher fight for Rosado than Julio would have been. After all, Rosado has not been sparring with southpaws. Powell is a solid junior middleweight who has far more experience against top ranked contenders in the division and Powell couldn’t find a better sparring partner than Rodriquez to prepare him for a fight with Gabe. A win here, on the other hand, will launch Rosado right to the top of the division.”

The co-feature, also scheduled for 12 rounds, features unbeaten Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, against unbeaten, Prenice Brewer, of Cleveland, OH, for the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title. Cruz is 16-0, 12 K0s; Brewer is 16-1-1, 6 K0s.

Five additional bouts complete the card.

ABOUT JUNE 1

The Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. First fight is 7.15 pm. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4th Street (610-865-2739) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790).

NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Julio and Cruz-Brewer fights, beginning at 9 PM ET. The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and www.goDaddy.com.

Bethlehem, PA—The scheduled junior middleweight clash between Gabriel Rosado and Joel Julio on June 1 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem has been upgraded to 12 rounds for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Title.

The Rosado-Julio fight tops a seven-bout card in the new 1,800-seat Events Center at the Sands Resort Casino Bethlehem.
It also will headline the third installment this year of the NBC Sports Network Fight Night series.
Rosado (left), 26, of Philadelphia, PA, and Julio, (right) 27, of Monteria, Colombia, will be fighting not only for the WBO Inter-Continental belt but also for a spot among the Top 10 contenders in the WBO world rankings.
Julio already has boxed for the WBO world title, losing a 12-round decision to champion Serhiy Dzinzurik in 2008 in Germany.
Rosado comes into this fight off the biggest win of his career, a fifth-round knockout over Jesus Soto-Karass, of Sinaloa, Mexico, on Jan. 21 at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, PA. The fight was part of the first NBC Sports Network Fight Series and Rosado’s shocking win elevated his status world-wide. He is currently ranked No. 6 in the world by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), No. 11 by the WBC.
A pro since 2006, Rosado has a 19-5 record, 11 K0s, and he also has beaten ex-IBF world champion Kassim Ouma, of Uganda, Saul Roman, of Mexico, and fellow-Philadelphian Jamaal Davis.
Julio, now living in Miami, FL, is 37-4, 31 K0s. He has been in the rankings for years and also boxed for a world title, losing a 12-round decision to lefty Serhiy Dzinziruk in 2008 in Germany.
A pro since 2001, Julio has defeated Carlos Vilches, of Argentina; current IBF world champ Cornelius Bundrage, of Detroit, MI; long-time contender Ishe Smith, of Las Vegas, NV.
Against common foes, each man was stopped by Alfredo Angulo and each man defeated Jamaal Davis, Rosado by knockout, Julio by decision.
In the June 1 co-feature, scheduled for 12 rounds, Bethlehem prospect Ronald Cruz takes on Prenice Brewer, of Cleveland, OH, for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas welterweight crown.
Five additional bouts complete the card.

ABOUT JUNE 1

The Rosado-Julio and Cruz-Brewer fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. First fight is 7.30 pm. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4th Street (610-865-2739) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790). NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Julio and Cruz-Brewer fights, beginning at 9 pm. The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and www.goDaddy.com.

Two anticipated undercard bouts that were tabbed for the July 23rd show that will features a 140 lb unification bout between Amir Khan and Zab Judah are off the card according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

The welterweight bout between Joel Julio and Antowne Smith has been called off for a second time due to a family emergency that Julio has to attend to and the Victor Cayo – Lamont Peterson bout has hit major stumbling blocks concerning contractual language.

The Peterson-Cayo fight, which will determine a mandatory challenger for the winner of the Khan-Judah bout, will now head to an IBF purse bid on July 5, Warriors Boxing promoter Leon Margules told ESPN.com on Wednesday.

Margules, who promotes Cayo, and Golden Boy had reached an agreement on the fight to take place July 23 rather than go to a purse bid.

“But Golden Boy came back to me and wanted to be my partner on Cayo if he won and I said OK, for a couple of fights,” Margules said. “We would co-promote him. Then the documents came back giving them control of my fighter and they wouldn’t agree to a full 50-50 promotion. They came to me in the first place, so if they didn’t want to agree to 50-50, no deal. When I told them that, they said they are passing on the fight. So now it goes back to a purse bid.

“We didn’t pull out of the fight, we pulled out of the deal. When I insisted on a 50-50 deal on the options they wanted to control the fighter during the option period and have final say on my fighter. I said no. If it’s a true 50-50 deal we both have to agree, not them having the tie-breaker.”

The Julio -Smith fight was scrapped again after Julio’s mother and sister were injured in an auto accident in their native Colombia over the weekend.

“I guess this fight is not meant to be,” said Jolene Mizzone, matchmaker for Main Events, Julio’s promoter.

Mizzone said Julio’s mother had broken ribs and that his sister also was injured.

“But he had to go down there to take care of them,” Mizzone said. “He flew down there right away to take care of them. I was giving it a couple of days to see if he was coming back up but he’s not coming back yet. He’s the only down there to care of them, so the fight is not happening.”

NEWARK, NJ–Former world title challenger Joel Julio scored methodical ten round unanimous decision over Anges Adjaho in a Welterweight bout the headlined an ESPN 2 televised card at the AmeraHealth Center at the Prudential Center in downtwon Newark.

Julio pressed the action and showed crisp combination’s that had Adjaho backing up against the ropes. Julio boxed as well as he has in a while as he was pretty consistent throughout the affair against the late replacement Adjaho

Julio, 146 lbs of Miami won by scores of 99-91 on all judges cards to raise his ledger to 37-4. Adjaho,145 1/2 lbs of Buffalo, NY, took the bout on a couple weeks notice replacing Antwone Smith is now 17-6.

Sadam Ali remained undefeated but it wasn’t easy as he and John Revis sat through a fourteen minute power delay with Ali in complete control but the former U.S. Olympian held off a late rally to win a eight round unanimous decision in a Welterweight bout.

Ali dominated the early going and sent Revish to the canvas and it looked like it would be an early night. Ali continued to be the boss in round’s three and four before Revish landed a two hard rights in round four to announce his arrival in the contest.

Two seconds into round five, the lights in the arena went out which caused a fourteen minute delay. Not much happened until Revis landed a booming right that rocked Ali and the undefeated fighter seemed like he was in serious trouble. The two had some solid exchanges as the fight came to a close with Ali holding on the early lead.

Ali, 146 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 79-72 on all cards to stay undefeated at 13-0. Revish, 146 lbs of Garden Meadow, LA is now 10-4-2.

Joel Castillo scored a fourth round stoppage over Jesse Orta in a scheduled six round Light Heavyweight bout.

Castillo was dominant as he dropped Orta in round two from a flurry of punches. That woke Orta up as he showed signs of life in the fight after the knockdown.

After that it was all Castillo as he continued to pound the body and head. The fight was stopped after Castillo landed the last of what was many cringing body shots.

The time of the stoppage was 2:33 of round four for Castillo, 172 lbs of Bronx, NY and is now 9-0 with with six knockouts. Orta, 173 1/2 lbs of

Tyone Luckey made it four straight knockouts as he took out Sidell Blocker in round two of a scheduled four round Jr. Lightweight bout.

Luckey dominated the first round and dropped Blocker twice in round two. The first with a left hook and he finished the fight with a combination that sent Blocker to the canvas. The referee stopped the bout at 1:51 of round two.

Luckey, 132 lbs of Middletown, NJ is 4-0 with four knockouts. Luckey, 133 lbs of Pleasantville, NJ is now 1-5-1.

In what was the fight of the night Rafael Montalvo scored an upset stoppage over local favorite Vinny O’Brien in the final round of a scheduled four round Welterweight bout.

O’Brien controlled the first three plus round as he tagged Montalvo with some hard straight hands. he seemed to be on his way to his own stoppage win as he decked Montalvo early in round three from a hard right. Montalvo out of no where landed a hard left that sent O’Brien to the canvas. Luckily for O’Brien the round was over as he staggered to his feet and wobbled to the corner. O’Brien seemed to stead himself as the final round began but started getting tagged with numerous left hooks that opened up a cut out of the corner pf his right eye. O’Brien fough hard but started getting hit with more frequency and was staggered once more before the fight was stopped.

Montalvo, 146 lbs of Allentown, PA is now 1-1. O’Brien, 146 lbs of East Hanover, NJ is now 2-1.

Angel Concepcion fought through a first round knockdown to score a four round unanimous decision over Taneal Goyco in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Goyco dropped Concepcion in the opening moments of the fight with a hard left hook. That would be the high point of the fight for Goyco as he Concepcion started getting into a rhythm and for the next three round boxed well as Goyco was not technically sound by through a lot of punches off balance an effort to counter Concepcion.

Concepcion, 174 1/2 lbs of Newark, NJ won by scores of 39-37; 38-37; and 38-37 to raise his record to 5-0. Goyco, 174 lbs of Philadelphia is now 4-2

Tomasz Adamek once again thrilled his fans as heung on and a twelve round unanimous decision over Michael Grant in front of 10,972 rabid boxing fans at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Adaemk dominated the first five rounds as he was much too quick for Grant, who was pawing with his jab and was looking for only one shot. At the end of round six, Grant fionally got into the fight as he landed a big right hand that not only hurt Adamek but cut him around the right eye.

Adamek recovered and picked up where he started over the first five-plus rounds as he darted in and out and landed some quick two and three punch combinations for which Grant had no answer for. Adamek sufferd a cut around his left eye in round eight from an appear ant clash of heads. Grant began to bleed from the mouth in round nine. The action picked up in round eleven as the two fighters exchanged hard right hand.

Round twelve is where Adamek, turned into his predecessor of the king of New Jersey boxing, Arturo Gatti as it became high stakes drama as Grant landed a big right that rocked Adamek and the Polish star was hurt and had to hold on in the last ninety seconds just to get out of the fight because Grant showed the fire that he did not show for the first thirty-four minutes and jumped on Adamek.

Adamek was able to hold on for the 118-110, 118-110 and 117-111 victory to raise his record to 42-1. Grant is now 46-4.

One time hot prospect Joel Julio scored a ten round unanimous decision over Jamaal Davis in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Julio was very impressive as he battered Davis yet Davis showed an excellent chin as he was never in danger in going down despite taking heavy combinations from the Colombian power puncher.

Julio Cruised down the stretch as Davis had very little offense to hold off the hard charging Julio.

Julio, 152 lbs of Miami won by scores of 97-93; 98-92 and 99-93 and is now 36-4. Davis, 153 lbs of Philadelphia is 12-7

Sadam Ali scored an impressive fifth round stoppage over granite chinned Lenin Arroyo in a scheduled eight round Welterweight bout.

Ali dominated the bout as he boxed well and wobbled Arroyo a few times over the four rounds. Ali landed a perfect left to the head/left to the body combaintion that sent Arroyo down for referee Steve Smoger’s ten count at 2:46 of round five

Ali, 145 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 9-0 with five knockouts. Arroyo, 146 lbs of Miami via Costa Rica is 20-13-1.

Jeremy Bryan scored a stoppage after Daniel Mitchell did not come out for round two of their scheduled six round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Mitchell was unable to continue on the advice of the ringside doctor.

Bryan, 139 lbs of Paterson, NJ is now 14-1 with seven knockouts. Mitchell, 137 lbs of Pittsburgh is now 5-2-1.

Shemuel Pegan made a successful pro debut as he scored two knockdowns en route to a four round unanimous decision over Raul Rivera in a Jr. Lightweight bout.

Pegan, 135 1/2 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 40-35; 40-34 and 40-34 to start 1-0. Rivera, 135 1/2 lbs of Philadelphia is 0-3.

Osnel Charles scored a first round knockdown en route to a four round unanimous decision over Hector Colladoi.

Scores were 39-37; 38-37; 38-37 for Charles, 137 1/2 lbs of Atlantic City and is now 4-2. Collado, 139 1/2 lbs of Union City, NJ is now 0-2-1.

Tyrone Luckey needed just fifty-four seconds to dispose of Larry Yanez in a battle of debuting Lightweights.

Just seconds in, Luckey dropped Yanez with a sharp left hook. Lucky wobbled Yanez several more times before referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout.

Luckey of Middletown, NJ is 1-0 with one stoppage. Yanez, 135 lbs of Miami is 0-1.