Rome, Italy — The eight remaining contenders in the GLORY World Series single-elimination tournament will travel from the four corners of the earth to battle it out on November 3, 2012 at the historical Pala Lottomatica venue, where Muhammad Ali won his Olympic gold medal.

The greatest prize in the sport of kickboxing will be on the line. The overall winner of the GLORY World Series Final 8 will have fought three times that night and earned a grand prize of $300,000 before a capacity crowd.

“GLORY kickboxing is a combination of both Art and War, the pinnacle of stand-up fighting, and Rome with its history and legendary martial tradition is the perfect fit for our Final 8 tournament,” said Marcus Luer, Managing Director of GLORY Sports International.

“Rome provides a beautiful and appropriate backdrop. The battles that took place in the Coliseum have been immortalized in countless movies but I can assure you the bouts that will take place in November will rival anything you have seen on film or in the ring.”

Set for battle in the Final 8 are Giorgio Petrosyan (Italy), Albert Kraus (The Netherlands), Robin van Roosmalen (The Netherlands), Shemsi Beqiri (Switzerland), Ky Hollenbeck (USA), Tim Thomas (England), Davit Kiria (Georgia) and Sanny Dahlbeck (Sweden).

GLORY World Series was established a decade ago, but the company´s heritage stretches back to 1999 with the creation of Golden Glory, one of the most successful martial arts teams in history.

With events staged around the globe and over 30 nationalities represented on its roster, GLORY is truly the World Cup of Kickboxing. Its prestigious 16-man tournaments offer unmatched rewards, including a total of $1,000,000 in prize money to its winners.

Image Courtesy of  Glory World Series

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Surrounded by medical heavyweights, Muhammad Ali continued the fight by honoring 50 top surgeons and physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Barrow at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is home of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.

With approximately 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, there are currently 1 million Americans with Parkinson’s disease.  As of yet, there is no cure. Ali, who is a three-time Heavy Weight Boxing Champion and the most famous athlete in history, attended the ceremony.  He was diagnosed with the disease in 1984.

Ali and his wife, Lonnie, invited Barrow doctors to the special awards event to help commemorate the Institute’s 50th anniversary.  Ali is also celebrating his 70th birthday this year.

“Muhammad and I want to share in the celebration of Barrow’s anniversary by honoring the outstanding group of neurologists and neurosurgeons at St. Joseph’s,” said Lonnie Ali. “Together we are working to bring direct access to the same standard of medical care that Muhammad and I enjoy, to all those who suffer with Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders.”

The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center opened at the hospital in 1997. It has grown into the most comprehensive Parkinson’s treatment center in the nation.  The center’s doctors were among the 50 from Barrow who were honored.

The center is largely funded by the generous donations of Celebrity Fight Night which has donated almost $20 million to the hospital since the star-studded event started 18 years ago. Ali is always the honored guest of the evening.  This year’s Celebrity Fight Night is March 24 and will feature such headliners as Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Miley Cyrus and Lionel Richie.

“Muhammad and everyone associated with Fight Night wanted to salute the extraordinary medical community who are helping to lead the fight against Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions,” said Jimmy Walker, the founder of Celebrity Fight Night. “You are the real stars and the heavyweights of the medical community,” Walker told the Barrow physicians as he, Muhammad and Lonnie handed individual trophies to the 50 physicians.

St. Joseph’s Barrow is ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation for neurological disorders and attracts patients from around the world.  The Institute performs more brain surgeries than any hospital in the United States.  ”Muhammad Ali is a remarkable inspiration to our entire medical community every day,” said Barrow Director Dr. Robert Spetzler. “Over the next 50 years, the progress in the fight against Parkinson’s will see dramatic advances and the physicians at Barrow will continue to play a major role in this battle.”

Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is internationally recognized as a leader in neurological research and patient care.

Established in 1962 Barrow treats patients with a wide range of neurological conditions, including brain and spinal tumors, cerebrovascular conditions, and neuromuscular disorders. The Barrow Neurological Institute is consistently rated among the Top 10 best hospitals in the United States for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News and World Report.

Image Courtesy of  Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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Bill Edwards Presents and  the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) will celebrate the life and legacy of “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali at the 16th annual Power of Love Gala on Saturday, Feb. 18, while raising funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center. ABC will televise the event nationally on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. EST/ 4 p.m. PST.

On Feb. 18, Bill Edwards Presents and Keep Memory Alive, the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, will transform the MGM Grand Garden Arena into a 70th birthday celebration for Ali designed to honor the boxing legend’s contribution to the world and raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s, the disease “The Champ” has been battling since 1984.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s work toward enhanced treatments and research of neurocognitive disorders and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky.

Performers and celebrity supporters slated to appear at the celebration include Lenny Kravitz, Sean Combs, Anthony Hopkins, John Legend, Queen Latifah, Cee Lo Green, David Copperfield, Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Jim Brown, Randy Courture, Brad Garrett, Kelly Rowland, Robin Leach, James Gandolfini, Steve Schirripa, Chazz Palminteri and Sammy Hagar.

Boxing icons scheduled to attend the celebration include Sugar Ray Leonard, Ken Norton, Tommy “Hitman” Hearns, Roberto Duran, Angelo Dundee, and Leon Spinks. Even more big names from the entertainment and sports worlds will be added to the lineup as the event nears.

“This year’s Power of Love Gala will bring attention and funds to the important work being done at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health on a whole new scale,” said Larry Ruvo, Chairman, Keep Memory Alive. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to shed light on the fight to knock out neurocognitive disorders while celebrating the life and ongoing contributions of the legend, Muhammad Ali.”

“Muhammad Ali has been an inspiration to millions of people all over the world including me,” said Bill Edwards. ”My favorite Ali quote, ‘If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it!’ I am honored to be associated with such a great event for a great cause that honors The Greatest of All Time.”

In keeping with its 16-year history, the Power of Love Gala will showcase a celebrity-chef-packed dinner featuring Tom Colicchio, Scott Conant, Michael Mina and Wolfgang Puck, a Dom Perignon reception and one-of-a-kind live and silent auction items. In addition, the evening will also include a birthday celebration for Ali, featuring performances and heartfelt tributes from some of the world’s hottest entertainers and sports icons.

The gala’s celebration for Ali aligns with the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s recent launch of a landmark study examining the long-term brain health of professional fighters.

Aiming to improve the safety and health of fighters, the study will help determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, along with other tests, can detect subtle changes in brain health that correlate with impaired thinking and functioning.  Researchers hope the information uncovered by this research will eventually result in better ways to prevent permanent brain injury in not only fighters, but also in others who may suffer from brain trauma.

“We are thrilled to bring together some of the biggest entertainers, sports figures and celebrities in the world to salute Muhammad on this monumental evening.  Again, the People’s Champion is raising his fists high to support and bring awareness to these important organizations,” said Kraig Fox, Chief Operating Officer of CKx.

Scott Sibella, President and COO of MGM Grand, said, “Hosting this event is an incredible honor for all of us at MGM Grand and our parent company, MGM Resorts International.  The work that these organizations do to combat diseases that impact all of us is tremendously humbling and we’re thrilled to be playing a small role in the fight.”

“Promoting a Muhammad Ali fight sparked my career in 1966 and I’ve had the very fortunate opportunity to be involved in his legendary journey,” said Bob Arum, the founder and CEO of Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company based in Las Vegas. “I’ve seen my career come full-circle by celebrating the remarkable life of a boxing legend and supporting his fight to end brain disorders.”

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In its bid to knock out memory disorders, Keep Memory Alive will turn up the heat at its 16th annual Power of Love Gala on Saturday, Feb. 18, as it celebrates the life and legacy of “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, while raising funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center. Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime celebrity-filled fundraising event are on sale now.

On Feb. 18, Keep Memory Alive, the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, will transform the MGM Grand Garden Arena into a 70th birthday celebration for Ali designed to honor the boxing legend’s contribution to the world and raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s, the disease “The Champ” has been battling since 1984.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s work toward enhanced treatments and research of neurocognitive disorders and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky.

Performers and celebrity supporters slated to appear at the celebration include Lenny Kravitz, Anthony Hopkins, John Legend, Cee Lo Green, Brad Garrett, Kelly Rowland, James Gandolfini, and Sammy Hagar. Boxing icons scheduled to attend the celebration include Sugar Ray Leonard, Ken Norton, Tommy “Hitman” Hearns, Roberto Duran, Angelo Dundee, and Leon Spinks. Even more big names from the entertainment and sports worlds will be added to the lineup as the event nears.

“This year’s Power of Love Gala will bring attention and funds to the important work being done at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health on a whole new scale,” said Larry Ruvo, Chairman, Keep Memory Alive. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to shed light on the fight to knock out neurocognitive disorders while celebrating the life and ongoing contributions of the legend, Muhammad Ali.”

In keeping with its 16-year history, the Power of Love Gala will showcase a celebrity-chef-packed dinner and one-of-a-kind live and silent auction items, but this year, the evening will also include a birthday celebration for Ali, featuring live performances and heartfelt tributes from some of the world’s hottest entertainers and sports icons. ABC will also televise the event nationally on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. EST/ 4 p.m. PST.

The gala’s celebration for Ali aligns with the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s recent launch of a landmark study examining the long-term brain health of professional fighters. Aiming to improve the safety and health of fighters, the study will help determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, along with other tests, can detect subtle changes in brain health that correlate with impaired thinking and functioning.

Researchers hope the information uncovered by this research will eventually result in better ways to prevent permanent brain injury in not only fighters, but also in others who may suffer from brain trauma.

“We are thrilled to bring together some of the biggest entertainers, sports figures and celebrities in the world to salute Muhammad on this monumental evening.  Again, the People’s Champion is raising his fists high to support and bring awareness to these important organizations,” said Kraig Fox, Chief Operating Officer of CKX.

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