MMA-Boxing Hybrid PPV Update

Tom Atencio announced in an interview with FightHype.com that the possibility of a future boxing-MMA hybrid PPV is still a long-term possibility and hinted that if it does take place there is a good chance that MMA faces Andrei Arlovski and Vitor Belfort might be among the ones boxing (in different weight class bouts) on those cards. Also the winner of Josh Barnett vs. Gilbert Yvel will face the winner of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski.

Tito Ortiz announced that he will be commentating for Affliction "Day of Reckoning" on January 24th. Here is the press conference with Tito Ortiz:

Affliction Card Announced

PPV Card:
Fedor Emelianenko vs Andrei Arlovski
Josh Barnett vs Gilbert Yvel
Vitor Belfort vs Matt Lindland
Renato Sobral vs Rameau Sokoudjou
Chris Horodecki vs Dan Lauzon

HDNet Undercard:
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs Vladimir Matyushenko
Kiril Sidelnikov vs. Paul Buentello
Jay Hieron vs Jason High
Mark Hominick vs. LC Davis
Albert Rios vs. Antonio Duarte
Brett Cooper vs. Patrick Speight

Golden Boy vs. Affliction, More ...

On December 6th Manny Pacquiao defeated Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya in a 8 round one-sided destruction that forced the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist to throw in the towel and call it a night. After the horrible performance it is expected for the 35 year old to likewise throw in the towel on his boxing career.

Speaking of Golden Boy, the boxing promotion will be promoting two events on the same night in the same city. A world welterweight boxing title bout between champion Antonio Margarito and Golden Boy boxer Shane Mosley, previously announced for Jan. 24, will now be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Afflicition's second-ever MMA event, "Day of Reckoning," is scheduled for the same night at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Affliction recently announced that they signed controversial Heavyweight Gilbert Yvel and set him up to fight Josh Barnett on the 24th. Additionally according to an interview with DREAMFIGHTERS.com, Affliction COO Michael Cohen confirmed that Aleksander Emelianenko will not be fighting at the event. Aleks was however victorious in November defeating Sang Soo Lee. Also, Affliction fighter Dan Lauzon was successful is defeating Justin Hammertrum at a WCF event, and Renato Babalu Sobral became the Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight champion defeating Bobby Southworth this past month as well.

Speaking of Sobral, while he is still scheduled to be fighting on the 24th for Affliction, he is no longer the opponent for Matt Lindland, instead Vitor Belfort will face Lindland. Belfort vs. Lindland was the original plan when the event was scheduled for October 11th.

Andrei Arlovski is looking to make his boxing debut soon after his fight with Fedor Emelianenko, the headline event for "Day of Reckoning". Arlovski is training with legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach who in a video intervew confirmed that Arlovski was twice supposed make his pro-boxing debut, first on the undercard for Juan Marquez vs. Joel Casamayer in September and then on the undercard for Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao, however due to the rescheduling of Affliction's MMA events, both opportunities were lost. Recently UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva dropped by the Wildcard Boxing Club gym and sparred with Arlovski. Silva still has a dream to box Roy Jones Jr. and Freddie Roach has confirmed that Silva too has been dropping by on occasion for boxing lessons.