I am delighted to start the New Year and the New Millennium with a blockbuster show stateside in Albaquerque, New Mexico on January 8th. The top of the bill features Johnny Tapia (46-1-2, 25 KO's) challenging Jorge Elecier Julio (42-2, 31 KO's) for his WBO World Bantamweight title at the University Arena commonly known as 'The Pit'.

Julio, who fights out of Magdelena Colombia, will be making the fourth defence of his title. The hard-hitting Julio has scored 31 knockouts and has not lost in more than six years. His only loss was to the New Yorker Junior Jones in 1993.

The sensational Tapia recently signed a promotional deal with me and this will be his Sports Network debut. The former three-time world champion has led an incredibly interesting and at times tragic life. His motto for many years has been 'Mi Vida Loca' Spanish for My Crazy life, but now with a new outlook to the future he uses 'Mi Vida Nueva'. My New Life.

Tapia is one the sports most intense characters, in his last fight against Paulie Ayala in June this year, he showed the kind of passion, boxing skill and warriors heart that has made him one off the fight games biggest names. Ayala inflicted the first loss on Tapia's record with a fiercely contested points victory with many ringsiders believing that Tapia had retained his WBA crown. The epic battle has been named 'Fight of the Year '99' by the Bible of Boxing - Ring Magazine and is considered by many boxing experts to be the best of the decade. The eagerly awaited rematch looks set to happen this year and is set to be an explosive encounter.

Chief support will be 'The Great White Buffalo' Frans Botha, against Steve Pannell. Botha (39-3-1, 1 NC, 24 KO's) who fights out of Newport Beach, California, by way of Witbank, South Africa is looking to catapult himself back into the World title scene after his last fight against Shannon Briggs in August resulted in a draw. Pannell (33-6, 27 KO's) from Roanoake, Virginia, has operated at top level previously against Hasim Rahman, John Ruiz and Wladimir Klitschko and is aiming to produce a stunning upset.

Best Wishes and a happy New Year,

Frank Warren