The Seminole Nation's association with boxing ended with the recent sale of its Warriors Boxing promotional company.

``The Tribe has decided to concentrate on its core casino business and not the boxing promotion business,'' Seminoles spokesman Gary Bitner said. ``It's a challenging business, and the Tribe understands it takes a specialist in boxing promotion to run the company.''

Although the Seminoles no longer are involved with promotional ownership, the Warriors brand will continue under attorney and new owner Leon Margules. Margules, the Seminoles' executive director of its Warriors Boxing operation, bought the company this month.

``The only thing that changes is the ownership,'' Margules said. ``We will have our same staff, same office, same telephone numbers and website.''

Margules said the new Warriors Boxing also will retain its 20 fighters under contract. Warriors Boxing-promoted fighters include Miami resident Glen Johnson and reigning world champions Celestino Caballero and Juan Urango.

``Fighters have not been released from their contracts,'' Margules said.

According to Margules, ownership-transfer talks began months ago.

``They stressed to me their interests were in the casino operations but were happy with me,'' Margules said. ``What basically changes is that management is now the owner.''

STAYING THE COURSE

The Seminoles have promoted local shows since 2003 -- first at their casino complex in Coconut Creek before the Hard Rock Live Arena opened three years ago near Hollywood.

Despite the Seminoles being out of boxing promotion, Bitner said the tribe will continue to welcome fight shows at the Hard Rock Live Arena. The final local card presented under Seminoles' promotional ownership was headed by the dual world-title fights pitting Urango against Randall Baiey and Tavoris Cloud against Clinton Woods on Aug. 28.

``There will continue to be boxing at Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena,'' Bitner said. ``Casinos and boxing go hand in hand. We will now work with other promoters.''

Bitner did not disclose the promoter but said there are preliminary discussions to present a card at Hard Rock Live in February.

Margules said he would like to continue promoting cards at the 5,000-seat complex. ``I certainly hope we can do shows there, but that is not part of the deal,'' he said.

WARD BEATS KESSLER

Andre Ward scored an 11th-round technical decision over Mikkel Kessler and won the final first stage bout of the Super Six World Boxing Classic late Saturday in Oakland.

``This was a dream come true, and right now I'm dreaming,'' Ward said. ``It may take a while for this to sink in, but I'm enjoying it all. This is a moment I'll never forget.''

Ward, who also captured the World Boxing Association super-middleweight title, is the only American-born fighter to have won a first-stage bout. England's Carl Froch and Armenia's Arthur Abraham were the other first-phase winners, with victories over Andre Dirrell and Jermain Taylor, respectively.

By virtue of their knockout victories, Ward (21-0, 13 KOs) and Abraham are tied for the tournament lead with three points, one ahead of Froch.