Tito Ortiz to Fight Anderson Silva in Cruiserweight Boxing Match Next Month

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Tito Ortiz is preparing to fight a fellow MMA legend… But it won’t be in a cage.

The 46-year-old half-Mexican American mixed martial artist will fight Anderson Silva in an eight-round cruiserweight boxing match on September 11.

Ortiz and Silva will participate in the co-feature before Oscar De La Hoya faces Vitor Belfort in the pay-per-view main event, Triller co-founder Ryan Kavanaugh tells ESPN.

The Triller PPV will take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will feature two other boxing matches: former heavyweight champion David Haye vs. Joe Fournier and Andy Vences vs. Jono Carroll in a battle of 130-pound fringe contenders.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity, along with my team, to get in the ring against Tito Ortiz on September 11 with Triller Fight Club, who are really shaking things up in the combat sports world,” Silva said.

The Silva-Ortiz and Haye-Fournier fights will be sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission, meaning they will be real bouts, not exhibitions. Silva and Ortiz will fight eight two-minute rounds, and Haye and Fournier will fight eight three-minute rounds.

“Big” John McCarthy, a former longtime UFC referee, will officiate Silva-Ortiz.

Silva scored an upset over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June, just his third pro boxing match, then entered negotiations for a fight with YouTube personality Logan Paul.

Silva is a former UFC middleweight champion and holds the record for longest title reign in promotion history at 2,457 days. He’s one of the most recognizable draws in MMA history, with 18 headline appearances on UFC PPV. He suffered a fourth-round TKO defeat to Uriah Hall in October — his seventh loss in his past nine appearances in the Octagon — and was released by the UFC one month later.

Ortiz was also one of the UFC’s most bankable stars. He’ll make his pro boxing debut at 46, nearly 10 years after his final UFC fight.

“I am excited to be taking on a new challenge and compete against another great fighter in Anderson Silva,” said Ortiz, a long-reigning UFC light heavyweight champion who made his debut at UFC 13 in 1997. “As a patriot, fighting on Sept. 11 means a lot to me.”

Eddy Alvarez Becomes First Latino Athlete to Win a Medal at Summer & Winter Olympics

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eddy Alvarez has earned his place in Olympics history…

The 31-year-old Cuban-American speedskater-turned-baseball-player and his Team USA mates lost to Japan 2-0 in the 2020 Tokyo Games men’s baseball gold medal game at Yokohama Baseball Stadium, having to settle for silver.

But in the process, Alvarez – Team USA’s starting second baseman – has done something six people have ever accomplished – win a medal at the Summer and Winter Olympics. And, he’s the first Latino to accomplish the feat.

“Feels like déjà vu. Just as heavy as the other one. Same color. A little bit of a different design,” Alvarez said. “But it’s still an incredible journey, an incredible experience, a great group of guys I’ve created a bond with for the rest of my life so I can’t wait to enjoy this moment back home.”

Only six others have accomplished the feat. Americans Eddie Egan (1920 – boxing, 1932 – four-man bobsled) and Lauryn Williams (2004 – 100-meter sprint, 2012 – 4×100 relay, 2014 – two-woman bobsled) are two of those on the list.

The others are Norway’s Jacob Tullin Thams (ski jumping in 1924 and yachting in 1936), East Germany/Germany’s Christa Luding-Rothenburger (speedskating in 1984, ’88 and ’92 and sprint cycling in 1988) and Canada’s Clara Hughes (cycling in 1996 and speed skating in 2002, ’06 and ’10).

“It’s hard to describe it, because it’s like bittersweet, but at the same time, it’s an unbelievable feeling,” Alvarez said.

“I had no idea this is where I was going to end up. Once I retired from skating, never in my wildest dreams would I ever think I would have the chance to come back to the Olympics.”

Alvarez won a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Games as a member of the 5,000-meter speed skating short-track squad.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow, when you come so close to winning and you fall short,” Alvarez said of his silver medals. “At the same time, it’s one of those things that I know will hit me eventually, of how incredible and blessed I am to be a part of this.”

But Alvarez isn’t the only Latino to earn a silver as part of the US men’s baseball team…

Triston Casas, the 21-year-old Latino first baseman; 28-year-old Puerto Rican infielder Jack Lopez; and 31-year-old Latino pitcher Nick Martinez are all part of Team USA at this year’s Games.

It’s the first Olympic hardware for the three.

Catarina Macario & Team USA Claim Bronze in the Women’s Soccer Tournament at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Catarina Macario is returning home with some special hardware…

The 21-year-old Brazil-born American soccer player, the first naturalized citizen ever to play for the US senior women’s soccer team, and her Team USA mates claimed the bronze medal in the women’s tournament at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe sealed the Olympic medal for Team USA with two goals each in Kashima, Japan, aided by a late defensive effort to survive a dramatic comeback by Australia, winning by a final score of 4-3.

Team USA’s quest for another gold ended in a 1-0 semifinal loss to Canada.

The Americans previously won gold medals at the 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games, as well as a silver in Australia in 2000.

While this could be the final Olympic run for a number USWNT members, Macario could be the next star.

Macario reached the women’s national team this year at only 21 years old as she has continued her escalation up the list of national teams. She has been on the U.S. U14, U15 and U23 teams. Competing at Stanford, she became only the sixth women’s soccer player to win the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the best collegiate soccer player, twice as she racked up 46 goals in 44 games between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Macario is continuing to gain professional experience playing for Lyon in Division 1 Feminine in France, where she has scored five goals in seven appearances. The midfielder is already a dynamic talent, and could make the step up to become the next big name of U.S. women’s soccer.

Spain’s Rayderley Zapata Claims Silver in Men’s Floor Exercise at Tokyo Games

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rayderley Zapata has ended Spain’s gymnastics medal 13-year drought…

The 28-year-old Dominican-born Spanish gymnast claimed the silver medal in the men’s floor exercise at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Zapata earned a score of 14.933 for his routine, the same score as gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat of Israel. But Dolgopyat benefited from the difficulty rating.

According to the judges, Zapata’s exercise obtained a 6.50 in difficulty, while Dolgopyat’s came in at 6.60. Those tenths prevented Spain from adding its second gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

The podium was completed by the Chinese gymnast Xiao Ruoteng with a score of 14,766.

The last Spanish gymnast to clain a medal in this discipline was Gervasio Deferr, at the 2008 Beijing Games. He won a silver with a 15.775 in the floor final.

Ray Zapata’s medal is the sixth metal for Spain at the Tokyo Games.

Carlos Santana to Perform Alongside Rob Thomas at “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert”

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more than a walk in the (Central) park in Carlos Santana’s future…

Amid concern over the Delta coronavirus variant, a mega-concert in Central Park to celebrate New York City’s reopening will go forward as planned next month, with performers including the 74-year-old Mexican-American guitarist/musician.

Santana, considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, will perform alongside Rob Thomas. The pair teamed up in 1999 for “Smooth“, a dynamic cha-cha stop-start number co-written and sung by Thomas of Matchbox Twenty and laced throughout with Santana’s guitar fills and runs. “Smooth” spent twelve weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming in the process the last No. 1 single of the 1990s.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio joined music industry legend Clive Davis, who is co-producing the concert, for a press conference to unveil the details of what de Blasio promised will be a “historic,” “blockbuster” event. Officially titled “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert,” the event is set for August 21 at 5:00 p.m., it will be broadcast live globally on CNN and 80% of tickets will be free.

While de Blasio initially proposed having vaccinated and unvaccinated sections, he said that attendees will be required to present proof of vaccination.

“New York City is back,” de Blasio said. “You can see it, you can feel it, and it’s time to celebrate on the Great Lawn.”

The lineup, which includes many New York natives, so far spans Jon Batiste, Andrea Bocelli, Kane Brown, LL Cool J, Elvis Costello, Earth, Wind & Fire joined by Lucky Daye and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Cynthia Erivo, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Hudson, Wyclef Jean, Journey, The Killers, Gayle King, Don Lemon, Barry Manilow, The New York Philharmonic, Polo G, Carlos Santana joined by Rob Thomas, Paul Simon and Patti Smith duetting with Bruce Springsteen.

“As a born, bred and true New Yorker, I well know how resilient we are and how New York always comes back,” Davis said. “I cannot think of a more appropriate way to celebrate this than an unforgettable concert in the most special venue in the world: the Great Lawn at Central Park. My team, along with our partners at Live Nation, has been hard at work for weeks curating what I submit to you will be a once-in a lifetime event […] It will celebrate a spectacular range of musical genres, styles and eras while including some of the most iconic artists in the history of modern music.”

Davis, who was raised in Brooklyn, is co-producing alongside Live Nation. Restauranteur Danny Meyer, the recently-appointed chairman of the New York City Economic Development Corporation board of directors, is also involved, as is Universal Hip-Hop Museum executive director Rocky Bucano.

“We’re so honored to be part of this event,” added Live Nation regional president Geoff Gordon. “I too have goosebumps after hearing that, even though we’ve been involved in lining this up. Live music has the unique ability to bring us all together, which is really what we’re doing. There’s nothing like a live music experience.”

Tickets for the concert go on sale on Monday, August 2 at 10:00 a.m. EST on the new NYC Homecoming Week website, and the Great Lawn has a capacity of 60,000. The 20% of tickets not designated as free are VIP tickets available for purchase. De Blasio said that event workers will be checking for proof of vaccination as attendees enter, with more details to come. Asked by a reporter whether the vaccination requirement means the concert is for attendees aged 12 and over only, de Blasio said, “right now, that’s a fair assumption.”

The event will cap off a reopening celebration dubbed NYC Homecoming Week, during which the City of New York will host concerts in each of the five boroughs starting August 14, leading up to the Great Lawn spectacle on the 21st. The lead-up concerts will be held Aug. 16 at Orchard Beach in The Bronx; Aug. 17 at Richmond County Bank Park in Staten Island; Aug. 19 at Brooklyn Army Terminal in Brooklyn; and Aug. 20 at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens.

Rauw Alejandro Earns Sixth No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Todo de Ti”

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Rauw Alejandro is making a serious impact on the Billboard Latin charts…

In just over a year, the 28-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer and composer has notched six No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart.

His most recent chart topper, “Todo de Ti,” reaches the summit on the latest ranking dated July 31, with 11.6 million radio airplay audience impressions, up 19%, according to MRC Data.

Alejandro first topped the list dated July 4, 2020, with “TBT,” alongside Sebastian Yatra and Manuel Turizo. He followed with “Tattoo,” with Camilo, in September; “La Nota,” with Turizo and Myke Towers, in January; “Baila Conmigo,” with Selena Gomez, in March; and “Vacio,” with Luis Fonsi, in May.

“Todo de Ti” holds at its No. 3 high on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, also up 4% to 9.9 million U.S. streams and 18% to 1,200 downloads sold. It becomes Alejandro’s third No. 1 on Latin Digital Song Sales, and his first on his own, following “Baila Conmigo,” with Gomez, in February, and “Cambia El Paso,” with Jennifer Lopez, just last week.

“Todo de Ti” also marks Alejandro’s top Billboard Hot 100 showing, having hit No. 32 earlier in July. The San Juan-born artist also sent the song to No. 3 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts in June.

America Ferrera to Star in AppleTV+’s Limited Series “WeCrashed”

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

America Ferrera is returning to (We)work…

The 37-year-old Honduran American actress/producer and Emmy winner will star in WeCrashed, the AppleTV+ limited series about the greed-filled rise and inevitable fall of WeWork, one of the world’s most valuable startups, and the narcissists whose chaotic love made it all possible.

Ferrera, who starred in Ugly Betty and Gentefied, will portray Elishia Kennedy, a brilliant young entrepreneur seduced into joining WeWork, whose life is turned upside down as a result.

Previously announced cast includes Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway.

The limited series is created and written by showrunners Lee Eisenberg — as part of his overall deal with Apple TV+ — and Drew Crevello, who also serve as EPs along with Requa, Ficarra, Charlie Gogolak and Natalie Sandy. Emma Ludbrook will executive produce alongside Leto through their Paradox production company. Wondery also will executive produce.

Ferrera most recently wrapped on Season 2 of Netflix’s Gentefied, where she returned as executive producer and director. Episodes are set to be released later in 2021. Up next for the Latinx multihyphenate is the big-screen adaptation of Erika Sánchez’s New York Times bestselling novel, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, where she’ll make her feature directorial debut.

Tommy Martinez to Appear on Amazon Prime Conspiracy Thriller Drama “Hunters”

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Tommy Martinez has gone hunting…

The 29-year-old Venezuelan actor and Good Trouble star has landed a recurring role in Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video’s conspiracy thriller drama series Hunters, created by David Weil and executive produced by Jordan Peele.

The plot for Season 2 is being kept under wraps as is Martinez’s character.

The first season of Hunters followed a diverse band of Nazi hunters living in 1977 New York City. The Hunters, as they’re known, have discovered that hundreds of high-ranking Nazi officials are living among us and conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in the United States.

Season 2 of Hunters, produced by Amazon Studios, Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Sonar Entertainment, is executive produced by Weil, who serves as showrunner.

Martinez is a series regular on Freeform’s Good Trouble, which is heading into its third season.

He recently guest-starred in an episode of Tommy Martinez He was also cast opposite Emmy Rossum in the eighth season of Showtime’s Shameless and recurs as Malachai in CW’s Riverdale.

Vicky Losada Joins Manchester City on Two-Year Deal

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Vicky Losada is heading to the City…

The 30-year-old Spanish football midfielder and former Barcelona captain has joined Manchester City on a two-year deal, the club has announced.

Losada announced in June that she’d leave the Catalan club after 16 years, calling it “the most difficult decision” of her life.

She led Barca to a treble-winning season this year after securing the Primera Iberdrola, the Champions League and the Copa de la Reina.

“It was very hard to me because I’ve been playing for Barca since I was 14 years old. Sometimes you feel like you need a change and close a chapter in my life and when the offer came from England it made things easier for me and also winning the Champions League definitely brought me the security to make the decision,” Losada told ESPN about her decision to move to City.

“I want to be very honest to you, new girls from La Masia came up to the team. They were bringing a very good level and I wanted to get more minutes and it wasn’t happening but I was also so happy at the same time that I was always helping the team.

“I just wanted to be more important and basically happier when I wake up and I have to go to the training ground. So that was changing a little bit so I had my thoughts every night with myself and in the end it was the perfect end to a year that was unforgettable to me.”

Losada came through Barca’s academy system La Masia and spent the majority of her playing career at the club.

However, she did spend a year-and-a-half with Arsenal in the Women’s Super League where she won the league cup and the FA Cup.

She said this time with Arsenal made her eager for a return to the WSL, despite her love for her home side in Spain.

“I said all the time I was missing the English league. All these years, I came back to Barcelona because it was home for me but I am so happy to be coming back to England. It’s true that the weather never got used to that but I think I’ll be able to handle it,” she added.

“I think it is a very competitive league and they have very good players. Every year the best players in the world not just English or British players want to go to the WSL and also I think the structure, I can see it from here. We’re missing a lot of things in the Spanish league — visibility, TV, fans. I really think they’re doing a massive job and they’re looking after women’s football.”

Losada leaves Barca with six league titles, one Champions League title, seven Copa de la Reina titles, one Supercopa Femenina title and eight Copa Catalunya titles.

Amazon Releases First Trailer for Camila Cabello’s

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Camilla Cabello’s crowning moment is drawing near.

Amazon has unveiled the first trailer for its reimagining of Cinderella, starring the 24-year-old Cuban & Mexican singer-songwriter and scheduling it for release on September 3.

Written and directed by Kay Cannon, Cinderella is billed as a musically-driven, bold new take on the traditional story you grew up with. Our heroine (Cabello) is an ambitious young woman whose dreams are bigger than the world will allow. With the help of her Fab G (Billy Porter), though, she is able to persevere and make her dreams come true.

The film will feature covers of songs penned by some of the top-selling musical artists of all time. Its starry ensemble also includes Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine and Pierce Brosnan.

The film will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, starting on the 3rd, in 240 countries.

The Cinderella folk tale has been adapted countless times over the last few centuries, for opera, ballet, and the theatre, as well as film and television. One of the most famous takes on the story to date was that of the Disney animated feature, Cinderella, which has endured as a classic, following its release in 1950. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ most recent film adaptation of the story, premiering in 2015, was directed by Kenneth Branagh and starred Lily James as the titular character.

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