DAVID TUA AND WAYNE McCULLOUGH HEADLINE WORLD PREMIERE OF HDNET'S HIGH DEFINITION BOXING SERIES DECEMBER 19 AT FEATHER FALLS CASINOOROVILLE, CA (December 6, 2001) - America Presents and DIRECTV's HDNet, the world's only national television network broadcasting all high-definition content, will debut the world's first high definition boxing series, Wednesday, December 19, at 10 P.M. ET / 7 P.M. PT. The live two-hour broadcast will feature former world heavyweight title challenger DAVID TUA and former WBC bantamweight champion WAYNE McCULLOUGH, as they embark on one last quest for a world title, in the two 10-round main events. The card will take place at Feather Falls Casino in Oroville, CA. HDNet will provide audiences a boxing viewing experience that only the incredible picture quality and widescreen capabilities of HDTV can deliver. It's like being there! Tua, 38-3 (33 KOs), from Auckland, New Zealand, currently world-rated No. 11 by the IBF, boasts knockout victories over WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz, former WBC/IBF heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, and former top-10 contenders Oleg Maskaev, David Izon, and Danell Nicholson. He unsuccessfully challenged Lennox Lewis for the WBC/IBF heavyweight title, November 11, 2000, but lost via a 12-round decision in the year's top-rated heavyweight pay-per-view. He regained the IBF's No. 1 contender position last March with a sixth-round KO over Nicholson, who was then rated No. 5 by the IBF. He lost a 12-round decision to former WBO champion Chris Byrd, in his most recent fight, last August, in an IBF- sanctioned title elimination bout. Tua will be facing Garing Lane, 20-27-2 (11 KOs), from Hillcrest, MD. Lane has never refused a challenge and has faced many of the top names in the heavyweight division. He has gone the distance against former world champions Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick, as well as top contenders, including Jameel McCline, David Izon, and Lance Whitaker. Lane returns to the ring fresh from a fifth-round TKO victory over Tony Halme in October, his third KO victory in his last five fights. McCullough, 23-3 (14 KOs), from Belfast, Northern Ireland, returns to the ring for the first time in over two years. The "Pocket Rocket" captured the WBC bantamweight title in 1995 by winning a 12-round decision over Yashuei Yakushiji in Japan. After two successful title defenses against Johnny Bredhal and Jose Bueno, McCullough vacated the title to challenge Daniel Zaragoza for Zaragoza's WBC super bantamweight title in 1997. It was awarded the "fight of the year" by the WBC, though McCullough was on the wrong end of a controversial decision that gave him his first professional loss. McCullough challenged then-undefeated WBO featherweight champion Naseem Hamed in 1998, losing another controversial decision. In his last fight, in 1999, he unsuccessfully challenged WBC super bantamweight champion Erik Morales, losing a close decision. McCullough is scheduled to rumble with Alvin Brown, 17-4 (6 KOs), from Kansas City, MO. Brown has won two of his last three fights by knockout. The undercard will also feature nine-time U.S. Amateur champion Ray Sanchez, III, 2-0 (2 KOs) from Albuquerque, NM. HDNet, the leader in high definition broadcasting, produces and televises more hours of HDTV programming each week than any other network. Available on DIRECTV channel 199, HDNet's programming lineup includes National Hockey League and Major League Baseball games, as well as a variety of other sporting events, including part of the upcoming Winter Olympics, concerts, movies, documentaries and specials. Co-founded by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, HDNet has produced and broadcast an unprecedented number of live HDTV sports and entertainment events from its special HD mobile production trucks. # # #
Fred Sternburg (America Presents): (303) 584-9889 |
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