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[hirschnathan] 22/9/2004 18:40

manchester sport
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Tuesday, 21st September 2004
Ricky's reward
James Ducker
PUERTO Rico's light-welterweight star Miguel Cotto has his sights set on a showdown with Ricky Hatton in Manchester.

The Hitman is due to fight American Mike Stewart in Manchester on October 1, following the farcical withdrawal of WBA champion Vivian Harris last month.

Should he win as expected, Hatton will be in line to fight either IBF champion and world number one Kosta Tszyu or Sharmba Mitchell, depending on the outcome of their meeting later this year.

Given promoter Frank Warren's failure so far to secure a top fight for Hatton, though, news of Cotto's desire to come to Manchester will be a huge morale booster for the Hyde ace.

Unbeaten WBU champion Hatton has become frustrated in recent months after disappointing outings against also-rans Dennis Pedersen in April, when he was originally scheduled to fight world-rated Brazilian Kelson Pinto, and Carlos Vilches in June, but would love a showdown with Cotto.

Cotto, the rising star of the 10st division, recorded the 21st win of his short career last week with a sixth round stoppage of Pinto to lift the vacant WBO crown and a meeting with Hatton would be a truly mouth-watering prospect.

Bob Arum, Cotto's promoter, said: "We'd love to set up a fight with Hatton.

"We'd love to come to the belly of the beast and take on Hatton in front of his army of fans in Britain."

Warren said: "Whatever the result is between Tszyu and Mitchell, they are considered the best two guys in the world. Cotto is the new kid on the block.

"Ideally, I'd like to see him fight Tszyu because I think Ricky would beat him, then maybe fight Cotto for all the titles in what would be a mega-fight for Manchester or anywhere else.

"Ricky will fight anybody. As we've always said, it's just a question of making the right moves at the right time.

"He's the guy who has got to do the fighting so we'll sit down and talk about where he wants to go. There are two ways for us to go and Ricky will make the decision."

Former USBA light-welterweight champion Stewart took Mitchell the distance on the undercard of Hatton's victory over Pedersen in April despite being dropped three times in the fight. He has promised Hatton "hell" when the two meet.

[hirschnathan] 19/9/2004 14:12

interesting the company is doing their fare share of giving news but it still doesnt seem to interest buyers.

[jumbo66] 13/9/2004 07:08

Embargoed: 0700hrs, 13 September 2004

Sports Network Group plc

(the "Company")

Danny Williams World Heavyweight Championship

Frank Warren, Chief Executive of Sports Network Group plc, has announced that
agreements have been signed for Danny Williams to challenge Vitali Klitschko
for the WBC World Heavyweight Championship. The fight is scheduled to take
place in the USA in December 2004.

Danny Williams, who is managed and promoted by Sports Network, recently
defeated Mike Tyson to set up this opportunity. Sports Network will not promote
this fight but will share in the broadcasting revenues for the UK and USA.

-Ends-

For further information contact:

Ed Simons, Chief Operating Officer

Sports Network Group plc

Tel. [phone]

Adam Reynolds

Hansard Communications

020 7245 1100

[hirschnathan] 30/8/2004 13:45

according to the mail(today) frank has offered £200,000 to turn pro.

[rwcarlos] 30/8/2004 09:40

if you didnt see the khan fight sunday the bbc said frank warren is talking to khan about turning pro, khan did say after the fight however that he would like to be in china in 2008

[hirschnathan] 25/8/2004 14:39

RNS Number:3033C
Sports Network Group PLC
25 August 2004

Sports Network Group plc ("the Company") - formerly Sports & Leisure Group plc



The Company has noted certain reports of proceedings filed against Sports
Network and Sports & Leisure Boxing Ltd in respect of the future promotional
rights to one of its boxers, Danny Williams, following his recent success
against Mike Tyson.



The Company's clear legal position is that no such co-promotion rights to Danny
Williams have been acquired by any third party, and such rights are entirely
owned by Sports Network. The Company has therefore instigated its own
proceedings in the UK to obtain a declaration from the court to this effect.

[hirschnathan] 23/8/2004 18:28

Promoter sues claiming rights to Williams fights
Posted: Friday August 20, 2004 12:27PM; Updated: Friday August 20, 2004 12:27PM


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Danny Williams KO'd Mike Tyson. Now a fight promoter claims to have been wrongly knocked out of the British heavyweight's future bouts.

Louisville-based Straight-Out Promotions is suing for breach of contract. The company wants a judge to rule that it is entitled to half the profits for promoting Williams' next three fights.

Williams was considered a journeyman until he floored Tyson in the fourth round of their fight on July 30 in a nearly sold-out Freedom Hall in Louisville. Williams is scheduled to fight Oct. 9 in London for the vacant World Boxing Union heavyweight title. Uzbekistan's Oleg Maskaev is the likely opponent.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Louisville. Defendants are Williams' British promoter, Frank Warren, and Sports Network, a partnership between Warren and another defendant, Sports & Leisure Boxing Ltd. The suit seeks punitive and economic damages plus court costs.

Warren said Thursday he would fight the suit and predicted he would win. He said it was Chris Webb, chief executive officer of Straight-Out Promotions, who failed to live up to the contract.

"They were standing around the night before (the fight) looking for money to pay Danny Williams' purse," Warren said in a phone interview.

Williams received only $70,000 of his $250,000 purse for the Tyson fight, Warren said. The British promoter said he's paying the balance.

"Chris Webb is blowing a smokescreen up in the air to try and cover up for what he didn't do," Warren said.

Michael Tigue, an attorney for Straight-Out, said Thursday that a U.S. judge could not stop Williams from fighting in London. But Tigue warned that the defendants could face additional damage claims if the fight went ahead with Straight-Out's complaints still unresolved.

"Straight-Out Promotions obviously is not interested in doing anything that would jeopardize Danny Williams' future," Tigue said in a phone interview. "They are just looking for the rights to co-promote him, as they were contracted to have."

According to the suit, Straight-Out agreed in June to pay $125,000 to Sports Network for co-promotional rights to Williams' next three fights. Payment was due after the Tyson fight, the suit said.

Minutes before the bout, the suit says, a Sports Network official demanded that Straight-Out pay everything immediately _ $125,000 for future promotional rights, plus $125,000 owed to Sports Network for Williams' participation in the fight and $100,000 for a brokering fee.

The Sports Network representative threatened that Williams would not enter the ring without the full payment, the suit alleged.

Straight-Out claims that only $50,000 was due before the fight for Williams' participation. The remainder was to be paid by wire transfer on the Monday following the fight, the suit said.

The suit said Straight-Out had "no choice but to immediately capitulate to Sports Network's demands." The suit claims those actions constituted fraudulent inducement and coercion.

However, the Sports Network representative refused to accept a check from Straight-Out to secure co-promotional rights, the suit alleged.

The following Monday, Sports Network informed Straight-Out that it would not honor the co-promotional agreement, the suit said.

The suit claims Sports Networks' actions "constitute transparent efforts to willfully and intentionally defraud Straight-Out of its co-promotional rights to future Danny Williams fights and to pirate away and garner those lucrative rights solely for itself."

Straight-Out claims the company and its reputation have been damaged and its future promotional efforts have been jeopardized. The suit also accuses Sports Network and Warren of business defamation by accusing Straight-Out of failing to meet its obligations.

Meanwhile, Straight-Out filed a second breach-of-contract suit against a media company. It says Brearly (International) Ltd. hasn't live up to its obligations to gain broadcast rights to the Williams-Tyson fight.

Brearly failed to pay Straight-Out $2.7 million before the fight for broadcast rights, the suit said. Brearly agreed instead to make the payment directly to Showtime pay-per-view, which produced the fight, and to Tyson to cover amounts owed by Straight-Out, the suit said.

The lack of payment has exposed Straight-Out to demands for payment that were to be assumed by Brearly, and has jeopardized Straight-Out's future business, the suit said.

The suit seeks a judgment against Brearly for economic damages, plus all of Brearly's revenues from the fight.

[hirschnathan] 19/8/2004 23:20

So the price rose because someone bought 3%, I wander who?

[kantona] 10/8/2004 23:35

some more news ....

British heavyweight Danny Williams will fight Oleg Maskaev on 9 October in his first bout since beating Mike Tyson.

The pair will contest the vacant WBU title in London, with British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Matt Skelton on the undercard.

Uzbekistan boxer Maskaev, who has won 29 of his 34 pro fights, boasts wins over Julius Francis and Hasim Rahman.

"I wanted to keep Danny busy," said promoter Frank Warren, who is chasing a big December payday in America as well.

"After this, we will keep going wherever the money is because when Danny fought Mike I told him it was his ticket to the big American fights.

"I've had talks with Showtime about doing a show involving Danny in December."

Warren added that he would be happy to accommodate any demands Tyson has for a rematch with Williams.

"Danny has got Mike's number," he said.

Skelton is set to defend his belts against Keith Long on the undercard, after talks with Audley Harrison fell through.

[topvest] 10/8/2004 09:45

Surprised this hasn't done a bit better. The company has been transformed by the recent deal and newsflow looks very positive. Also, the deal was nowhere near as dilutive as I feared. Net result...share price goes down! Maybe there is some difficulty in placing the shares at 5p. I would have thought this is a reasonable price though.

[kantona] 09/8/2004 23:37

Williams targets Klitschko

Danny Williams has set his sights on a world title fight with WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.
The 31-year-old arrived back in Britain on Monday after a week of talk-show appearances in America following his stunning knockout of Mike Tyson.

"I want to fight Klitschko and become WBC champion of the world," Williams said. "That has always been my dream since I was eight years old.

"I believe I beat one of the best in the division so I want this one next."

Williams added that after beating Tyson, he believed Klitschko "would be a pushover."

Last week the Englishman was talking about a potential re-match with Tyson, but now appears set on a tilt at a world title.

In a division shorn of star names Williams is now hot property with former champion Evander Holyfield and British rival Audley Harrison both calling for the chance to fight him.

But Williams dismissed the prospect of taking on Harrison, claiming the 2000 Olympic gold medallist is no longer in the same league.
"The Harrison fight is off the agenda," said Williams. "I've been calling him out for years but he refuses to fight me.

"It would have been a great fight for the British public but he refused to get in a ring with me. I've moved on to the world stage now and left him a long way behind."

Williams insists his win over Tyson was no fluke and believes he can go on to dominate the heavyweight division.

"It's one of the biggest shocks in the history of boxing," he declared.

"I was fighting one of the all time greats and I was a massive underdog but I was able to stop him in four rounds.

"I need to keep my feet on the floor and move on to bigger and better things. I'm capable of beating anyone and well.

"This has changed my life big time. This has been unbelievable.

"The American public has warmed to me because they saw me get hurt bad in the first round but come back by showing all my courage and determination to win."

[rcktmn] 03/8/2004 08:25

Yes, it was a surprise but it's recovered this morning on the back of a press release re:Danny Williams... looking good. Expect to see good write up in Shares Mag & possibly IC this week, as well as good weekend press :)(imho)

[simonevans] 02/8/2004 21:35

well a fall was a bit of a surprise!

[kantona] 01/8/2004 01:34

i think the most important point from SOP prospective is the result of the fight ...Danny Williams (promoted by FW and Sports Network)actually won.. one of the biggest boxing upsets for some time.. 9-1 rank outsider ..no -one gave him a chance .. the impressive thing about the win was his performance ..it was no fluke he actually took some big hits and was dazed ..but fought on when others would have gone down and collected their fee ..

As Danny williams won ..he has got into the box seat... all of sudden the world heavyweight divison has been turned on it's head .. Danny Williams is the man ... there is already talk of a possible world title fight in November against Klictcho (excuse the spelling) the russian. Also big posibility of re-match with tyson..but this time it will be on Frank Warrens' and D/W terms ..all in all good news for SOP..

Frank Warren was estatic on his interview on 5live .. apart from Danny Williams ..there is also a possiblity of world title fight for Hatton .. and also said there may be an announcement next week about the big British heavy fight between Audlley Harrison and Skelton ( Warrens British Champ)


So exciting times ahead ..i hold some SOP shares ..bought them around 7p b4 the suspension ...was in two minds to sell them ..but i am now going to hold on as i feel positive .. Danny Williams next fight will be multi-million pound affair and it will give Sports Network a lift..

i expect a mark up on the share price come Monday..

[rcktmn] 31/7/2004 21:23

I think I'd rather start with a low price and watch it grow.. rather than too high and then it bombs out.. wonder how many peeps watched the Tyson v Williams fight and how much money they made.

[simonevans] 31/7/2004 08:40

Deal looks better than might have been expected imo. Less dilution for existing shareholders. Now a real company with potential so I think todays price is a little puzzling.

[rcktmn] 30/7/2004 11:21

Disappointing return share price level but impressive announcement. yes, it's good to be back. Expect to see some good reviews/recommendations etc. Should see good profits and handsome returns for us small investors. :) (imho,dyor,pyo) :)

[kantona] 30/7/2004 09:09

the reason for this is the acqusition has not been effected ..it is conditional upon shareholder approval at agm in August .. i would have thought they wud have done all this this prior to return ..but believe this has been done to stop any possible selling stampede after a reverse take over ..hence believe they return in order to allow the hot money to depart before the real deal in August. imho

[gwagstaffe] 30/7/2004 08:40

Good to be back, but what about the weak return price ?

[teacup] 30/7/2004 07:20

Some very good news in there. SOP are covering Tysons fight for broadcast on Sky this weekend aswell I believe. Could Fly high over the coming months, it's good to be back.

[jumbo66] 30/7/2004 07:01

RNS Number:3847B
AIM
30 July 2004


NOTICE
(279)


30/07/2004 7:00am


RESTORATION OF TRADING ON AIM

SPORTS & LEISURE GROUP PLC

The trading on AIM for the under-mentioned securities was temporarily suspended.
A document having been published the suspension is lifted from 30/07/2004
7:00am.


Ordinary Shares of 5p each (0-601-641)(GB0006016413)
fully paid


If you have any queries relating to the above, please contact AIM Regulation at
the London Stock Exchange on 020 7797 4154

Ref: AIMNOT279




This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

EXCQKCKBPBKDNOB

[miss young] 21/7/2004 22:32

kd - I'm confused?

[kd42] 20/7/2004 23:24

ok guys..i can sense everybody`s frustration at being locked in, but to rubbish someone attemting to give this board a little info regarding timescale is a bit childish.all info was posted in good faith(now removed).

Petty little posts like the above cause these boards to stagnate,instead of being used as a source of information for all....good and bad

[gwagstaffe] 20/7/2004 10:40

kd.

im sorry but your story appears to be bs.

If you carnt give your broker details, theres should be a genuine reason.

and posting his details may earn him/her some business.(Marketing)

Or by broker are you refering to your numpty mate in the pub.

LOL !