Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing proudly announce the signing of Chicago’s Polish Prince, Andrzej Fonfara, to a promotional contract.

Fonfara will continue to be co-promoted by his long-time promoter, Dominic Pesoli of 8 Count Productions.

25-year-old Fonfara (25-2, 14 KOs), currently the IBF #1, WBO #2 and WBC #7-ranked contender, is a native of Warsaw, Poland, and a longtime Chicago fan favorite since turning professional in 2006.

Riding high on a 15-bout unbeaten streak and known for his fight-ending power, Fonfara most recently stopped former world champion Gabriel Campillo on August 16 to reach the mandatory contender position in the IBF.

Fonfara will make his Warriors Boxing debut on Friday, December 6, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, when Ulrich Knockout Promotions, Warriors Boxing and 8 Count Productions once again bring world-class professional boxing back to the Windy City with their latest blockbuster event, this one entitled “World Championship Boxing: Wlodarczyk vs. Fragomeni 3”.

Tickets for “World Championship Boxing: Wlodarczyk vs. Fragomeni 3” featuring the Warriors Boxing debut of Andrzej Fonfara are priced at VIP $201, VIP Ringside $151, Ringside $101, Box Mezzanine $76, Reserved Mezzanine $51, and General Admission $31 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000), the 8 Count Productions Offices: 312-226-5800 or the UIC Pavilion Box Office: 312-413-5740.

Fonfara’s opponent that night will be announced shortly.

In the night’s 12-round main event, WBC Cruiserweight Champion Krzysztof “Diablo” Wlodarczyk (48-2-1, 34 KOs) of Warsaw, Poland, will attempt to make the sixth defense of his title and complete an epic trilogy of fights with Milan, Italy’s former WBC Cruiserweight Champion Giacobbe “Gabibbo” Fragomeni (31-3-2, 12 KOs).

Fonfara has become a staple on ESPN Friday Night Fights and a beloved sports hero in his adopted home of Chicago. His fights are known for the rabid support he attracts from his jubilant army of Polish-American fans.

“Andrzej has come a long way and is in line for a very big fight in the near future, we are very happy to be working with him,” said Leon Margules. “Together, as always, with Dominic Pesoli, we will continue to work to complete his long journey to a world championship. He is as charismatic as he is tough and the day he wins the belt will certainly be declared a great day in the history of Chicago boxing.”

“Bringing Warriors in, in an official capacity completes the team that will bring Andrzej Fonfara to the championship,” said Dominic Pesoli. “I am happy to be part of this fantastic team, both for Andrzej and the future of Chicago boxing.”

ABOUT 8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS

8 Count Productions, Home Of The Best In Chicago Boxing, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.

Fighters currently under the 8 Count Productions banner include; IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Andrzej Fonfara, middleweight contender Donovan George, world-class junior welterweight prospect Adrian Granados, super middleweight prospect Paul Littleton, middleweight prospect Viktor Polyakov and welterweight prospect Jaime Herrera.

For more information on 8 Count Productions/Round 3 Productions please visit their new website, www.8countproductions.com.

ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

Launched in 2003, Warriors Boxing operates under a simple philosophy-bring the best boxers in the world to fight fans, match them in competitive bouts, and in doing so help re-establish the sport of boxing for a new generation.

With a series of successful Pay-Per-View shows and packed houses to it’s credit, the Warriors business model is working wonders in a sport that was sorely in need of the innovation and energy that the company brings to the table.

When it comes down to it though, a promotional company is only as good as the fighters and fights it promotes. Warriors Boxing has delivered on all fronts, with outstanding bouts such as Lara-Molina, Cayo-Peterson, Abraham-Miranda I and II, Miranda-Pavlik, Miranda-Green, Ibragimov-Briggs, Ibragimov-Klitschko, Urango-Hatton, Urango-Bailey, Cayo-Maidana and Ibragimov-Holyfield.

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

ONEIDA NATION HOMELANDS (October 17, 2013) For the fifth time in 2013, Turning Stone Resort Casino will host nationally televised professional boxing, as NBC’s Fight Night will originate, live, in the afternoon, Saturday, November 16 from the Turning Stone Event Center.

Tickets range from $25 to $70 and are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, by calling (315) 361-7469, or Click Here to Purchase Tickets for Nov 16 Adamek vs Glazkov Fight at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, NY.

Presented by Main Events and co-promoted by Ziggy Promotions and Pushka, the feature bout will be a heavyweight matchup, as Tomasz “Goral” Adamek, (49-2, 29 KOs), will take on Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov, (15-0-1, 11 KOs). Doors will open at 11:30 AM ET, First Fight at 12:30 PM ET.

The veteran Adamek, a native of Poland who makes his home in Jersey City, NJ, will put his IBF North American Heavyweight belt on the line in this 12-round battle, against up and coming Ukrainian, Glazkokov. The IBF has designated this bout as a heavyweight voluntary eliminator fight for the #2 position in the rankings.

The event will mark the first time NBC has produced a televised boxing event at Turning Stone. The NBC broadcast will begin at 2:30 PM ET. The undercard will be announced soon, and all bouts are subject to change.
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ABOUT NOVEMBER 16th:
November 16th at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY features a 12-round heavyweight battle between Tomasz “Goral” Adamek and Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov in the main event. Six additional bouts are planned for the undercard. Doors will open at 11:30 AM ET, First Fight at 12:30 PM ET. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast 2:30PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC
Fight Night. The card is presented by Main Events and co-promoted by Ziggy Promotions and Pushka.

The 12-round heavyweight main event is a title defense of Adamek’s IBF North American Heavyweight belt. The IBF has designated this bout as a heavyweight voluntary eliminator fight for the #2 position.

ABOUT TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO:
A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the website at TurningStone.com.

Tickets: Click Here to Purchase Tickets for Nov 16 Adamek vs Glazkov Fight at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, NY.

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live broadcast of ONE FC: Total Domination this Friday, October 18, at 7 a.m. ET from Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

Fight Network’s live broadcast of ONE FC: Total Domination will be aired nationwide in Canada, as well as internationally as part of Fight Network’s expansion on ZON in Portugal, D-Smart in Turkey, and ZAP in Angola and Mozambique.

Headlining the fight card is the most highly-anticipated fight in ONE FC history – the unification bout for the ONE FC bantamweight world championship as top pound-for-pound king Bibiano Fernandes faces the heavy-handed and lightning quick South Korean, Soo Chul Kim.

“We are coming back to Singapore to put on one of the greatest fight cards in Asian MMA history. We will finally settle the question of who deserves to be called the top bantamweight fighter on the planet. Plus, the fierce MMA darling of Singapore, Sherilyn Lim, will make her ONE FC debut in front of thousands of screaming home fans. We always step it up a notch in Singapore and 18 October will be no different. We are putting together a fight card that will blow away the millions of passionate fight fans all around the world. Thousands of fans in attendance and the millions watching live around the world are set for another evening of world-class MMA action featuring the best in Asia,” said Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Fighting Championship.

Bibiano Fernandes is ranked as one of the best bantamweight fighters in the world. He is the former DREAM featherweight champion, DREAM featherweight grand prix winner and current interim ONE FC bantamweight champion. Fernandes has not lost a fight in over two years and he made his ONE FC debut in Manila last August when he defeated CFC bantamweight champion Gustavo Falciroli. Fernandes then followed that up with a first round submission win over DEEP bantamweight champion Yoshiro Maeda. In May 2013, Fernandes captured the interim title, which was up for grabs due to Soo Chul Kim being injured, by winning a unanimous decision over Koetsu Okazaki. He will be looking to cement his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter currently in Asia by taking home the unified ONE FC bantamweight world championship belt.

Reigning ONE FC bantamweight champion Soo Chul Kim is only 21 years of age but he is already a veteran of 11 MMA fights. He brings an unusual combination of both youth and experience into the ONE FC cage. The Korean has consistently tested himself against the best fighters in the division and has already competed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. In his last ONE FC outing, Kim defeated Leandro Issa by TKO en route to winning the first ever ONE FC bantamweight belt. Kim feels that the Bantamweight title is rightfully his and will look to cause a major upset by defeating Fernandes to prove that he is the undisputed champion.

In the co-main event, Japanese MMA superstar Shinya Aoki will make his featherweight debut in a non-title contest against American Cody Stevens. In other action, Eddie Ng from Hong Kong clashes with the face of MMA in Malaysia, Peter Davis, while Tatsuya Mizuno and Rafael Silva will meet in a showdown of middleweight veterans.

Plus, Mitch Chilson and Shannon Wiratchai will face each other again a year after the controversial end to their first bout. Also added to the card is a flyweight contest between Wushu champion Rene Catalan from the Philippines and Cambodian kickboxer Khim Dima.

Shinya Aoki is one of the most decorated mixed martial artists in the world. A former DREAM lightweight champion, he earned his most prestigious title yet with a quick submission victory over the reigning ONE FC lightweight champion Kotetsu Boku earlier this year. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the legendary Yuki Nakai, and boasts 22 wins via submission. Aoki now trains out of Evolve MMA and this bout will be his first since permanently relocating to Singapore. This will also be the first time Aoki competes at featherweight and his performance at this weight class may change the course of MMA history as we know it.

Aoki empathically stated, “I am dropping down to featherweight for the first time in my career in this fight. I feel stronger and faster at this weight and I have my sights set on competing against all the top featherweights and Lightweights that ONE FC puts in front of me. The weight cut will not be a problem for me and I am definitely ready for this challenge!”

Cody Stevens will look to earn the biggest win of his career when he faces Shinya Aoki. Originally from Ohio in the United States of America, Stevens now trains and fights out of Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand. He possesses a relentless grappling-heavy approach designed to break down the will of his opponent. His is confident that his strong wrestling base is more than a match for Aoki’s grappling and he cannot wait to muscle his way into a decisive victory over one of the sport’s most iconic superstars. Out of his 10 victories thus far, six of them have come via submission.

Hong Kong’s Eddie Ng will be making his fourth appearance in the ONE FC cage. He has finished all three of his opponents in ONE FC and will be looking to protect his unblemished ONE FC record when he meets Peter Davis. He combines explosive punching power with an underrated submission arsenal that emerged when he submitted Arnaud Lepont in his last ONE FC bout.

“I am excited to represent Hong Kong and step back into the ONE FC cage to face Peter Davis. He is a tough opponent with a good all round skill set. He has the ability to finish fights standing up and submit people on the ground. I look forward to the challenge on 18 October and I expect nothing less than an all-out war!” Ng proclaimed.

Peter Davis is a Wuji Chuan exponent and the face of mixed martial arts in Malaysia. Along with being a mixed martial arts veteran, he is also a prominent celebrity in showbiz with a long list of modeling and acting roles to his name. Davis has won five of his last six fights in impressive fashion and he will be looking to use his lanky frame and significant reach advantage to propel him to victory against Hong Kong’s Ng.

Davis told the media, “In the upcoming ONE FC fight, I’m going to be pulling out more tricks than “The Magician” can handle and put an end to his winning streak. He’s won fights against a couple of my friends and it’s time for a little revenge.”

Tatsuya Mizuno is a Japanese veteran who has fought all over the world. He holds notable victories over Trevor Prangley, Melvin Manhoef and Ilir Latifi. A 3rd degree Judo black belt, he has transitioned his skills to mixed martial arts by adding solid striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to his Judo trips and throws. He will look to utilize that against Rafael Silva and get his first win inside the ONE FC cage.

Rafael Silva is a Portuguese mixed martial arts veteran with more than 50 fights on his record. He has amassed an impressive seven-fight winning streak competing primarily in Europe. Having conquered the best in Europe, he now looks towards testing himself against the elite in Asia. With 21 of his 39 wins coming via submission, he will be looking to add another submission victory to his record against the gritty Mizuno.

Mitch Chilson is a featherweight fighting out of the famed Evolve MMA in Singapore. Originally from Seattle in the United States, he has a background in professional Muay Thai and wrestling. In his last bout, he demonstrated his wrestling skills by dominating a national Indonesian wrestler. Well-rounded and determined, Chilson will be looking to use all the skills in his arsenal to his advantage against the explosive Shannon Wiratchai as they meet for the second time.

Shannon Wiratchai is the youngest mixed martial artist in ONE FC’s roster to hail from Thailand. Unlike most of his countrymen who are proficient in Muay Thai, Wiratchai is trained in the ancient Chinese martial art of Baguazhang as well as in Judo. Wiratchai possesses explosive speed and he will be looking to use it to devastating effect to get the win he feels he rightly deserves against Chilson.

Rene Catalan is a former SEA Games and Asian Games gold medalist in Wushu. He possesses knockout power in both hands and will be looking to use that to stop Cambodian kickboxer Dima. In his ONE FC debut, he was performing admirably against BJJ black belt Alex Silva before getting caught in a submission. Catalan will enter this bout looking to finally translate his impressive resume into a ONE FC victory on his record.

Khim Dima will be the second Cambodian mixed martial artist to enter the ONE FC cage. A Khmer boxing veteran, who is making the transition in mixed martial arts, he will be looking to notch up the first win for the kingdom using his signature sharp elbows and crushing knees. This will be a clash of two top flyweight strikers and a highlight reel knockout has been predicted by experts.

The full fight card for ONE FC: Total Domination live on Fight Network includes:

-Bibiano Fernandes vs. Soo Chul Kim (undisputed bantamweight title)
-Shinya Aoki vs. Cody Stevens
-Eddie Ng vs. Peter Davis
-Tatsuya Mizuno vs. Rafael Silva
-Sylvain Potard vs. Jake Butler
-Shannon Wiratchai vs. Mitch Chilson
-Khim Dima vs. Rene Catalan
-Ann Osman vs. Sherilyn Lim
-Alex Lim vs. Juan Wen Jie
-Marc Marcellinus vs. Stephen Langdown

ONE FC returns Nov. 15 with a live broadcast on Fight Network from Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ONE FC: Warrior Spirit will feature the inaugural welterweight title fight between Adam Kayoon and Nobutatsu Suzuki.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com.

For More Information Contact:

Fight Network
Chad Midgley
VP Programming & Production
chad@fightnetwork.com
www.fightnetwork.com

About Fight Network:

Fight Network (www.fightnetwork.com) is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available on all major carriers in Canada, select countries in Europe and Africa, on TSN Radio in Canada via its program “Live Audio Wrestling,” and in North America via its programming on Sirius XM Channel 167 and its programming block on Pursuit Channel (www.pursuitchannel.com). Fight Network’s parent company Anthem Media Group also owns a significant interest in the Pursuit Channel and will be launching the Fantasy Sports Network (FNTSY) across North America in 2013.

New York, NY(10/17/2013) – On Wednesday, Middleweight Champion and pound-for-pounder Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez had the opportunity to meet and sit down one-on-one with Pope Francis. The meeting between the two Argentineans took place at the Vatican, and marked the first time a professional fighter has had a one-on-one closed session meeting with the Pope since Muhammad Ali.

Below are some of the news clippings from the meeting as well as link to one of the articles.

http://www.clarin.com/deportes/Sergio-Maravilla-Martinez-reunio-Francisco_0_1012099113.html

MONTREAL(October 17, 2013) — The World Boxing Council (WBC), The Ring Magazine and lineal World light heavyweight champion, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (22-1, 19 KOs), has promised to be a spectacular, popular and active champion. He is keeping his word, fighting more impressively with each other victory, as he now prepares for his fourth fight in 2013.

Stevenson’s third world championship fight in a five month period, to air in the United States on HBO®, will be in the main event against his mandatory challenger and the WBC’s No. 1 contender, England’s Tony ‘Bomber’ Bellew (20-1-1, 12 KOs), on Saturday, November 30 at Colisee Pepsiin Quebec City, Canada. The event will televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:15 p. m. ET/PT.

As a bonus, Quebecers will also have the pleasure of watching a second world light heavyweight title fight in the same ring as undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (22-0-1, 20 KOs), who like Stevenson is one of the most feared hitters in boxing today, defends his crown for the first time against challenger Ismayl “The Black Russian” Sillakh (21-1, 17 KOs) in the co-feature.

“The Quest of the Man of Steel” event, featuring double world light heavyweight championship action — Stevenson vs. Bellew and Kovalev vs. Sillakh — is being co-promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and InterBox, in association with Matchroom Boxing and Main Events, and co-presented by Mise- O -Jeu and Videotron.

According to GYM president Yvon Michel, “This attractive boxing event also helps bring international prestige to the beautiful City of Quebec for the first time since Pascal vs. Hopkins and Bute vs. Johnson. We find ourselves with valuable support, including Mayor Régis Labeaume and his team, whom we thank for their co-operation.”

“We are very happy to be participating in this event as co-promoter in the wonderful city of Quebec,” InterBox President Jean Bédard said. “We will put all our resources and knowledge at the forefront in order to contribute to the success of this event.”

The 36-year-old Stevenson, now living in Blainville (Quebec, Canada), won his world heavyweight title by way of a first-round knockout in 76 seconds over “Bad” Chad Dawson who was considered at that time the undisputed King of the Light Heavyweights. In Stevenson’s first defense (September 28), former world champion Tavoris Cloud (24-1, 19 KOs) was supposed to be a major test for the new world champion. It was quite different as the powerful left-hander pressured Cloud from the start, forcing the challenger to retire at the end of the seventh round. Stevenson gave Cloud a boxing lesson, displaying brilliant skills, finesse, speed and defensive power.

“Stevenson – ‘The Man of Steel’ – is receiving universal recognition as an exceptional boxer, as well as a superior athlete who, through his most recent performances, has risen to the level of his generation’s greatest champions,” Michel declared. “Adonis Stevenson is already considered a major international attraction in professional boxing. Every time he goes into the ring, he has an opportunity to increase its visibility and reputation.”

The powerful southpaw Stevenson is on a nine-fight win streak, all ending on sensational knockouts, over Cloud (TKO7 ), Dawson (KO1), Darnell Boone (KO6), Don George (TKO12), Noe Gonzalez (TKO2), Jesus Gonzales (KO1), Aaron Pryor, Jr. (TKO9), Shujaa El Amin (TKO1) and Derek Edwards (KO3). In fact, the last Stevenson fight that went the distance dates back to 2007.

The 30-year-old Bellew is a native of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. After a great amateur boxing career, he turned professional in 2007 and later won the Commonwealth (2010-2011) title and he still holds the WBC Silver Belt (2012). He has suffered only one loss to then WBO world champion Nathan Cleverly in 2011. He earned his mandatory challenger position by taking the measure of Isaac Chilemba on points in a WBC title eliminator this last May 25 in the co-feature a Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler headlined card in the UK. Among his notable victories was a ninth-round technical knockout of the usually durable Colombian Edison Miranda (35-7, 30 KOs).

The WBO light heavyweight championship bout between champion Kovalev and challenger Sillakh has also raised a lot of interest around the world. Kovalev once terrorized boxing rings around the world representing the Russian National Team. Now a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he continues in the same vein as a professional, stopping 20 of his 22 opponents, including his last six in a row. In his WBO world title fight last August in England, he was so strong that he tore the title belt from defending champion Cleverly (26-0, 12 KOs), by way of a fourth-round knockout, putting an end to his nearly three-year reign, including six consecutive world championship fights. Kovalev has fought only 61 rounds during his pro career in 22 fights. Eighteen of his 22 fights have ended three rounds or less.

Sillakh was one of the most decorated amateurs of his time in international boxing. The former World Cup champion as an amateur turned pro in 2008. In 2012, he was ranked the WBC No. 1 contender, before losing for the first and only time to Denis Grachev (11-0-1, 7 KOs) by eighth-round TKO. Sillakh has his last four fights to reappear in the world rankings.

Undercard fights will soon be announced as InterBox and GYM are working hard to set up another memorable event.

Tickets will go on sale this Saturday (Oct. 19) at 10:00 a.m. ET, at Pepsi Coliseum box office, on www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666, InterBox (Marie-Josée Fontaine) (450) 645-1041 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980. Ticket prices range from $50 in the red up to $300 on the floor.

-30 –

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc.:

Yvon Michel (GYM) Group was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers with a support frame, especially in competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM is actively recruiting talent and organizing events. Since its inception nine years ago, GYM has produced 111 events, some of which like Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II have made history in terms of ticket sales and PPV viewership. GYM has produced more than 300 hours of television for Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX , TVA, CBC , RDS and V , in Canada; as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the USA. A total of eight different GYM boxers have fought in 19 world title fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007, and WBC light heavyweight Jean Pascal the WBC crown in 2009. Since June 2013, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson has held the WBC title, The Ring Magazine and lineal light heavyweight championships.

DOVER, Del. — Friday Night Fights returns Nov. 22 to the Rollins Center® at 7:30 p.m., with a headline bout featuring Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, of Spanish Harlem, N.Y., which is expected to be for a Light Welterweight Championship Title, currently awaiting final sanctioning.

Undefeated Washington, DC, welterweight sensation Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (17-0, 10 KOs) will be the co-feature of the night. Now 19 years of age, Hernandez-Harrison turned pro at 17, and is ranked No. 19 by the NABF and No. 40 by the WBC. His notable success was recently praised in an open letter to USA Boxing by none other than Mike Tyson, the youngest man to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. Tyson stated that Hernandez-Harrison is an “inspiration to young amateurs looking to turn pro.”

Unbeaten cruiserweight Alex Guerrero (9-0-1, 5 KOs) of Salisbury, Md., will make his first appearance at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. Guerrero, the older brother of popular middleweight contender Fernando Guerrero, took an 8-round unanimous decision over Terrance Smith in April, and scored a big win by knockout to Harvey Jolly of Michigan in Atlanta, Ga., last year.

The undercard features undefeated super featherweight Omar “Super O” Douglas (10-0, 8 KOs), Wilmington, Del. Boxing since age 8, the 22-year-old Douglas is a two-time Olympic Junior Champion with a record of 142-21 in the amateurs who now mentors younger, developing fighters. Douglas stopped his last five opponents early with a hard-charging, offensive approach.

Super middleweight “Mighty” Mike Tiberi (20-1, KOs 7) of Smyrna, Del., and Dan “Bada Bing” Biddle (9-2, 5 KOs), Hockessin, Del., are eager to rejoin the card, both following a brief hiatus since summer 2012. Tiberi has not lost a fight in five years.

Lightweight “Jolt’n” Joey Tiberi (11-1, 5 KOs), Newark, Del., and undefeated Dover favorites, super middleweight John “Church Boy” Bowman (7-0-1, 1 KO) and Lamont “Problem Solver” Singletary (6-0, 4 KOs) are also featured.

The evening will be highlighted with a presentation of recognition to New Castle’s own, Mike “No Joke” Stewart by President and CEO of Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Ed Sutor. The light welterweight holds the record for the most fights executed by a Delaware boxer and retired with a record of 59 bouts including 48 wins, 25 by knockout. Stewart will be the honorary presenter of the Fight of the Night trophy.

Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 22, at noon for $35 – $200 and may be purchased by calling VIP Services at 800-711-5882 or visiting doverdowns.com. Event, times and card are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

# # #

About Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

Owned by Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: DDE), Dover Downs Hotel & Casino® is a premier gaming and entertainment resort destination in the Mid-Atlantic region. Gaming operations consist of more than 2,400 slots and a full complement of table games including poker. The AAA-rated Four Diamond hotel is Delaware’s largest with 500 luxurious rooms/suites and amenities including a full-service spa/salon, concert hall and 41,500 sq. ft. of multi-use event space. Live, world-class harness racing is featured November through April, and horse racing is simulcast year-round. Professional football parlay betting is accepted during the season. Additional property amenities include multiple restaurants from fine dining to casual fare, bars/lounges and retail shops. For more information, please visit www.doverdowns.com.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 17, 2013) – The eye-catching and undefeated lightweight “Notorious” Nick Newell (10-0) will participate in World Series of Fighting’s first fight card north of the American border. Newell meets 28-year-old Canadian Sabah “The Persian Warrior” Fadai (7-2) on the NBCSN-televised main card of “World Series of Fighting 7: Johnson vs. Kyle,” which takes place Dec. 7 at PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Tickets for the first World Series of Fighting Canada event start at just $29 and go on sale tomorrow, Friday, October 18 at Ticketleader.ca and charge-by-phone at (604) 757-0345.

Newell last fought at August’s World Series of Fighting 4, where he defeated Georgia’s Keon Caldwell in the first frame with a modified guillotine choke that landed the young star a “Top Play” nod on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

“I’m so honored to be part of WSOF’s first event in Canada,” said Newell. The opportunity to grow with this company on an international level is amazing. I’m expecting Fadai to bring it, and I can’t wait to have my arm raised Dec. 7.”

Meanwhile, Fadai is a member of Canada’s Team Mamba, where he trains under famed striker Kultar “Black Mamba” Gill. Fighting professionally since 2007, Fadai has earned stoppage wins in all seven of his professional victories, including four knockouts and three submissions. Five of those finishes have come in the opening round.

Fadai fought most recently in October, where he needed just 84 seconds to tap out Cody Krahn with a triangle choke.

The live, two-hour NBCSN telecast of the World Series of Fighting 7 main card begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. A full lineup of preliminary bouts will also stream live on World Series of Fighting’s official website, WSOF.com, beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, and venue doors open at 2 p.m. PT local time.

Canadian broadcast plans will be announced shortly.

Previously announced bouts include the night’s main event, which sees hard-hitting light heavyweight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (15-4) take on knockout artist Mike “MAK” Kyle (20-10-1), as well as a rescheduled middleweight tournament semifinal bout between Elvis “The King” Mutapcic (13-2) and Jesse “JT Money” Taylor (26-9).

A fourth main-card matchup will be announced shortly.

Further details about World Series of Fighting Canada are available at WSOFCanada.com.

About WSOF
World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS NETWORK
NBC Sports Network, part of the NBC Sports Group, is dedicated to serving passionate sports fans. Now in more than 80 million homes, the network is the cable television home of the Summer and Winter Olympics, National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), IZOD IndyCar Series, Tour de France and the 34th America’s Cup, and beginning in 2013, the Premier League and Formula One. In addition, NBC Sports Network features college football, college basketball, college hockey, outdoor programming, horse racing surrounding the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup, Fight Night boxing, Ironman, the Dew Action Sports Tour and USA Sevens Rugby. The network is also home to original programs such as Costas Tonight, The Crossover, NFL Turning Point, Pro Football Talk and The Dan Patrick Show. NBC Sports Network is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

PROVIDENCE (October 17, 2013) – Irish-born boxers who have relocated in the Boston area have included Stevie Collins and Kevin McBride. A pair of relatively new Bostonians from Ireland, prospects Michael McLaughlin and John “Bancara Banger” Hutchinson, are following in their footsteps.

Collins, of course, became a world middleweight and super middleweight champion and McBride is best known as the Irishman who knocked out “Iron” Mike Tyson into retirement. McLaughlin and Hutchinson may never match their fellow country-men’s accomplishments, but they will be showcased October 26 on a special Saturday afternoon (2 p.m. / ET start) “Boxing Event Under The Tent” card, presented by Big Six Entertainment in association with Danny Kelly Promotions.

The Irish Cultural Centre of New England, located just outside of Boston in Canton (MA), will be hosting its first professional boxing event, headlined by unbeaten welterweight Diego Periera (8-0-1, 6 KOs), of Providence, and Norwalk (CT) veteran Shaka Moore (11-19-3, 2 KOs) in the eight-round main event.

McLaughlin (4-0-2, 1 KO), a junior middleweight from Donegal, and middleweight Bancara’s Hutchinson (4-0-2, 1 KO) will be fighting in against, respectively, Sergio Carera (0-1), of Somerville (MA), and Hyannis’ (MA) Robert Hunt (0-3).

Also slated to be fighting on the undercard in four-round matches are Pembroke (MA) cruiserweight Vinnie Carita (6-1, 6 KOs) vs. Brockton’s Houston Crayton (1-5), local favorite Gerard Schifone (1-0), of nearby Stoughton, vs. Somerville’s pro-debuting light middleweight Lucas Cruz, Dorchester heavyweight Donnie “The Big Nasty” Palmer (1-0-1, 1 KOs) vs. Lawrence’s (MA) pro-debuting Chyan Vasquez, Providence light middleweight Pubilo Pena (1-1, 1 KO) vs. Worcester’s (MA) pro-debuting Wayne Harnoise, and 2012 National PAL champion “Speedy” Rashidi Ellis (2-0, 1 KO), of Lynn (MA), vs. TBA.

All fighters are subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $100.00 and $40.00 and available to purchase by calling 617.312.5059 or at the Irish Culture Centre.

Doors open at 1:00 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 2:00 p.m. For more information please visit www.irishculture.org.

Arthur Abraham (37-4, 28 KOs) is a man on a mission. On October 26, he defends the WBO Intercontinental Belt against Giovanni De Carolis (20-4, 10 KOs) in Oldenburg, Germany. However primarily, the 33-year-old wants to prove that he still has it in him to become again the WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion. Over a year ago, in August 2012, he won that very belt against Robert Stieglitz. But in March, he had to hand the title back to his fellow countryman due to a freakish eye injury.

Now that the score is even, Abraham is making himself ready for a third meeting with Stieglitz in 2014. He already made the first move in this direction with a victory over Willbeforce Shihepo in August to become the mandatory for Stieglitz. That would have been enough to get another crack at the world championship, but Abraham has other plans.

“I am defending my mandatory spot to stay in shape and prepare myself for a grudge match with Stieglitz,” Abraham explains. “The way I see it is that if I would not take an interim bout before fighting again for the WBO World Championship, I would risk much more.”

His upcoming opponent Giovanni De Carolis thinks he has the tools to serve as Abraham’s roadblock to another world title shot. “I know how to make it a fight,” said the 29-year-old Italian. “If my initial game plan does not work, I will try something else. Abraham on the other hand will try hard to impress. But he may bite more than he can chew.”

Nevertheless, Abraham confirms that he will not underestimate De Carolis. “At the moment I am just thinking about my next fight. I am a professional for more than ten years and know how to handle those kinds of situations.”

Tickets for the big fight night at the EWE ARENA Oldenburg, which also sees Jack Culcay, Robert Woge and Marcos Nader fighting in title bouts, can be purchased at www.eventim.de and www.boxen.com.

BOLTON (17 Oct) – After dazzling in his opening two professional outings Haroon Khan will make his eagerly anticipated ring return on Friday November 15th at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The baby-faced assassin who has already blitzed his way past sturdy challengers in Brett Fidoe and Vicente Medellin will feature on a stacked card put together by VIP Boxing Promotions, with no less than 14 bouts taking place.

Undefeated Jack Arnfield of Blackpool tops the bill when he goes up against veteran Max Maxwell in what is sure to be one of the fights of the night, leading a fantastic card, featuring some of the country’s hottest young prospects.

It is the younger brother of former unified light-welterweight world champion, Amir Khan, though, that is expected to put on a performance following his stunning knockout of Medellin last May in Atlantic City.

The super-flyweight’s opponent will be named in due course.

Haroon Khan, said: “I just can’t wait to get back in the ring. It’s seemed like a while since I was last out, so I’m raring to go. Over the past few months I’ve been training hard with Oliver Harrison and I’ve done some great work and had excellent sparring. This will only be my third fight as a professional but I feel myself growing and getting stronger. There are no shortcuts in this sport so I will be getting in tiptop shape in order to put on a great performance. I would like to thank Steve Woods for putting me on this great show.”

Steve Woods of VIP Boxing Promotions, said: “We’ve put together a great show for November 15 in Blackpool which I’m very proud of. There’s a real mix of fighters amongst the card and everyone who attends or watches will no doubt see some truly excellent match ups. It’s great to have Haroon fighting on the card and we expect there will be a large contingent from Bolton making their way across to Blackpool next month. This card will have it all from top to bottom and it will be a great night of boxing.”

Fight fans can buy tickets starting at just £30 or £60 ringside. If you wish to buy tickets please contact Saj Mohamed on 01204535332 or email saj@premuk.com.

The fight card will also be available online at www.vipboxing.tv.

The scheduled start time of the show is 7pm.

LONDON (17 Oct) – Carl Frampton has admitted that the only footage he has seen of the man who stands in the way of his shot at a world title is from a television game show.

The Belfast super-bantamweight takes on French contender Jeremy Parodi in a world title eliminator, live on BoxNation this weekend, with the winner set to challenge for the IBF crown early next year.

Though Frampton has been hard in training, preparing at the gym of his promoter Barry McGuigan in Battersea Park in London, he admits that most of his inside knowledge of the 26-year-old Parodi, comes from watching him take part in a French television show.

“This fight against Parodi, who’s only one stop behind me in the IBF rankings, is all about getting myself into a mandatory position for a world title shot,” said Frampton.

“I’ve seen very little footage of Parodi but I did see him on a French version of Fort Boyard on YouTube the other day and he failed the task! He had to pull himself along and get the key but ended up falling off.

“I was watching it thinking ‘I would’ve passed that task!’. That’s all I’ve seen. If he can’t pass a task like that on Fort Boyard then I don’t know,” he said.

Frampton is well aware of the importance of the fight knowing that his world title challenge could be against Kiko Martinez, who he beat earlier this year but who subsequently went on to claim the IBF super-bantamweight world title against Columbian Jhonatan Romero in August.

“It was a little frustrating seeing Kiko Martinez go on and win the world title after beating him. I was thinking ‘That could’ve been me’, but you have to take the positives out of everything, and the positives are that I beat a world champion and knocked him out,” said Frampton.

“This fight coming up is an eliminator for the world title and hopefully I will fight the winner of [Jeffrey] Mathebula-Martinez – around February/March time – I think they have to box before Christmas,” he said.

“I’ll be the number 1 in the IBF after this next fight. Things happen for a reason. I always believed I was going to be a world champion. So what if Kiko Martinez is world champion before me? As long as I’m world champion one day,” Frampton said.

Frampton vs. Parodi is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch.437/Virgin Ch.546) from 7pm this Saturday 19th October. Subscribe online at www.boxnation.com.

-Ends-

About BoxNation

BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £10* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Diaz and Mayweather vs Alvarez.

The channel is available on Sky (ch 437), Virgin (ch 546), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £10 one off registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 17) – IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins debuted his newfound ring persona known as “The Alien” at a media workout yesterday at Joe Hand’s Boxing Gym in Philadelphia as he prepares for his Oct. 26 title defense against top rated contender Karo Murat. In true Hopkins fashion, the oldest fighter to win a world title in boxing history showcased his “out of this world” athletic abilities in front of a large amount of media eager to hear what he had to say. The fight will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Below please find quotes from Hopkins, who is also known for his “gift of gab” as well as his in ring talents.

BERNARD HOPKINS, IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“Everyone the age of 40 and over had better be on my side on October 26, or I’ll kick their ass.

“I’m happy to be here, but that’s where the alien comes in. You won’t hear the Executioner. You won’t see me with my hands crossed. The Executioner is retired. I’m an alien because I am of this world, but I’m not from this world.

“I’m now in another era because I’ve outlasted so many others. I outlasted the James Toney era, the Kelly Pavlik era and now I’m in the Adrien Broner and Danny Garcia era.

“There is a negative attributed to being different than everyone else, a negative attributed with being blessed and being able to do what I’m doing. You have to be able to walk the walk and talk the talk or you have haters.

“I am of a new era with an old soul…I represent the old soul of doing things the right way. Living the right way. Thinking the right way. Treating my mind, body and soul the right way.

“I know you all have questions to ask me, but there isn’t really that much you can ask me. Let me do the talking. What can you ask me that you haven’t heard for the last three decades? What are you going to ask me? Are you going to win? Are you ready? If I’m not, I’m going to show up anyway.

“I have been doing this for this long and going through the motions. After a while going through the motions becomes an instinct.

“Yes I’m ready. Yes I’m hyped, but I’m in control.

“I get to show in action how special I am. How many people get a chance to prove how special they are over and over and over again? As far as I’m concerned, it’s not about how much money you make when you’re fighting that makes you special.

“I believe that 10 years from now I am still going to be respected. I don’t like to think about this guy being a star or that guy a star. Look back 15 years from now and we will see then.

“I never put all of my eggs in one basket. I never come into the ring with one style. How do you train to beat Bernard Hopkins?

“Karo Murat says he is coming in with youth.

“Karo Murat is smart enough, but dumb enough to say that he has half of my experience. We’ve heard that before. He has half of the experience. He’s coming with two theories.

“He is coming to fight the guy that is 48. Just because the car is a 1965, doesn’t mean it’s old. Check the mileage, check the engine and then check the wear and tear. The year is old, but if you check the engine is like new.

“I call what I do in the gym, is ‘the car wash.’ I go all over this gym to keep my mind fresh. Some guys do that with women, I don’t. At this age, you want to keep your mind stimulated and not get bored with one thing.

“My weight is good. I’m fine. I have to eat to stay on weight.

“Philly has an old history that isn’t coming alive, but is alive. Danny Garcia, Gabriel Rosado, etc. But Philadelphia right now is in a good position regarding boxing. Better than the last three or four years when you have a city that had the riches of some of the greats. The load on my back that I carried for many years is being lifted with guys like Danny Garcia.

“Boxing in this city has a few people they can root for. One of them is Gabe [Rosado] who is fighting ‘Kid Chocolate’ [on October 26].

If you can’t make it and you have a TV and you pay your cable bill, you can watch it on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.”

# # #

Hopkins vs. Murat is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event WBO Middleweight Champion Peter Quillin puts his title on the line against Gabriel Rosado in a 12-round bout. Plus, opening the tripleheader, WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder will face Nicolai Firtha in a 10-round showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable
service charges, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or atwww.ticketmaster.com.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 16, 2013)—THURSDAY NIGHT!!! WBA Number-two ranked Heavyweight Luis Ortiz will headline a big night of boxing when he takes on Rayford Johnson in an eight round bout that will originate from The Steel Stacks Arts Quest Center in Bethlehem, PA.

The bout can be seen LIVE all over the world (It will be blacked out in the Lehigh Valley) on www.pandafeed.tv for just $9.99 by clicking: http://pandafeed.tv/#!/watch/522653e45ddbb5b54f004fa4

Ortiz, of Miami, Florida via Cuba is 19-0 with sixteen knockouts has risen up the Heavyweight rankings on the strength of wins over Lamar Davis (4-1); Fancisco Alvarez (12-1); former world title challenger Epifanio Mendoza and in his last bout he was involved with a no-contest on Joseph Rabotte.

Johnson of Longview, Texas has a record 8-12 with four knockouts.

Johnson has quality wins over Armin Markanovic (4-1) and former world title challenger Will McIntyre (40-5-1)

Johnson has also faced top fighters such as Alfonso Lopez (7-0); Eric Molina (8-1); Terrance Woods (7-0); Molina (15-1) again; Felix Piedra (7-0-1); Mike Wilson (8-0); Venroy July (13-1-2); Samuel Clarkson (8-2); and in his last bout he dropped a six round split decision to Martin Verdin

In the six round co-feature, Jovan Francois (6-0-1, 6 KO’s) of Trinidad and Tobago takes on Angel Figueroa (3-0-1 of Lorain, OH in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

In four round bouts:

Jeremy Trussell (3-0, 2 KO’s) of Baltimore, MD battles Chorles Parker (1-1,1 KO) of Wilson, NC in a Middleweight bout.

Jerrell Harris (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Washington, DC will fight Nasser Abdul Malik (1-1, 1 KO) of Cary, NC in a Welterweight bout.

In a special Super Featherweight bout, the grandson of Heavyweight Legend Larry Holmes, Jeffrey Dorsey Holmes (0-2) of Easton, PA takes on debuting Robert James of Cincinnati, OH.

Super Bantamweight Marquise Pierce (1-2, 1 KO) of Phillipsburg, NJ will fight Jesus Gonzalez (0-2).

Gervonta Davis (4-0, 4 KO’s) of Baltimore, MD will take on an opponent to be announced in a Featherweight bout.

Rounding out the card will be a Super Middleweight bout featuring undefeated John Magda (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Ruthorford, NJ boxing Terry Van Avery (1-0, 1 KO) of Kalamazoo, MI

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live broadcast of ONE FC: Total Domination this Friday, October 18, at 7 a.m. ET from Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

Fight Network’s live broadcast of ONE FC: Total Domination will be aired nationwide in Canada, as well as internationally as part of Fight Network’s expansion on ZON in Portugal, D-Smart in Turkey, and ZAP in Angola and Mozambique.

Headlining the fight card is the most highly-anticipated fight in ONE FC history – the unification bout for the ONE FC bantamweight world championship as top pound-for-pound king Bibiano Fernandes faces the heavy-handed and lightning quick South Korean, Soo Chul Kim.

“We are coming back to Singapore to put on one of the greatest fight cards in Asian MMA history. We will finally settle the question of who deserves to be called the top bantamweight fighter on the planet. Plus, the fierce MMA darling of Singapore, Sherilyn Lim, will make her ONE FC debut in front of thousands of screaming home fans. We always step it up a notch in Singapore and 18 October will be no different. We are putting together a fight card that will blow away the millions of passionate fight fans all around the world. Thousands of fans in attendance and the millions watching live around the world are set for another evening of world-class MMA action featuring the best in Asia,” said Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Fighting Championship.

Bibiano Fernandes is ranked as one of the best bantamweight fighters in the world. He is the former DREAM featherweight champion, DREAM featherweight grand prix winner and current interim ONE FC bantamweight champion. Fernandes has not lost a fight in over two years and he made his ONE FC debut in Manila last August when he defeated CFC bantamweight champion Gustavo Falciroli. Fernandes then followed that up with a first round submission win over DEEP bantamweight champion Yoshiro Maeda. In May 2013, Fernandes captured the interim title, which was up for grabs due to Soo Chul Kim being injured, by winning a unanimous decision over Koetsu Okazaki. He will be looking to cement his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter currently in Asia by taking home the unified ONE FC bantamweight world championship belt.

Reigning ONE FC bantamweight champion Soo Chul Kim is only 21 years of age but he is already a veteran of 11 MMA fights. He brings an unusual combination of both youth and experience into the ONE FC cage. The Korean has consistently tested himself against the best fighters in the division and has already competed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. In his last ONE FC outing, Kim defeated Leandro Issa by TKO en route to winning the first ever ONE FC bantamweight belt. Kim feels that the Bantamweight title is rightfully his and will look to cause a major upset by defeating Fernandes to prove that he is the undisputed champion.

In the co-main event, Japanese MMA superstar Shinya Aoki will make his featherweight debut in a non-title contest against American Cody Stevens. In other action, Eddie Ng from Hong Kong clashes with the face of MMA in Malaysia, Peter Davis, while Tatsuya Mizuno and Rafael Silva will meet in a showdown of middleweight veterans.

Plus, Mitch Chilson and Shannon Wiratchai will face each other again a year after the controversial end to their first bout. Also added to the card is a flyweight contest between Wushu champion Rene Catalan from the Philippines and Cambodian kickboxer Khim Dima.

Shinya Aoki is one of the most decorated mixed martial artists in the world. A former DREAM lightweight champion, he earned his most prestigious title yet with a quick submission victory over the reigning ONE FC lightweight champion Kotetsu Boku earlier this year. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the legendary Yuki Nakai, and boasts 22 wins via submission. Aoki now trains out of Evolve MMA and this bout will be his first since permanently relocating to Singapore. This will also be the first time Aoki competes at featherweight and his performance at this weight class may change the course of MMA history as we know it.

Aoki empathically stated, “I am dropping down to featherweight for the first time in my career in this fight. I feel stronger and faster at this weight and I have my sights set on competing against all the top featherweights and Lightweights that ONE FC puts in front of me. The weight cut will not be a problem for me and I am definitely ready for this challenge!”

Cody Stevens will look to earn the biggest win of his career when he faces Shinya Aoki. Originally from Ohio in the United States of America, Stevens now trains and fights out of Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand. He possesses a relentless grappling-heavy approach designed to break down the will of his opponent. His is confident that his strong wrestling base is more than a match for Aoki’s grappling and he cannot wait to muscle his way into a decisive victory over one of the sport’s most iconic superstars. Out of his 10 victories thus far, six of them have come via submission.

Hong Kong’s Eddie Ng will be making his fourth appearance in the ONE FC cage. He has finished all three of his opponents in ONE FC and will be looking to protect his unblemished ONE FC record when he meets Peter Davis. He combines explosive punching power with an underrated submission arsenal that emerged when he submitted Arnaud Lepont in his last ONE FC bout.

“I am excited to represent Hong Kong and step back into the ONE FC cage to face Peter Davis. He is a tough opponent with a good all round skill set. He has the ability to finish fights standing up and submit people on the ground. I look forward to the challenge on 18 October and I expect nothing less than an all-out war!” Ng proclaimed.

Peter Davis is a Wuji Chuan exponent and the face of mixed martial arts in Malaysia. Along with being a mixed martial arts veteran, he is also a prominent celebrity in showbiz with a long list of modeling and acting roles to his name. Davis has won five of his last six fights in impressive fashion and he will be looking to use his lanky frame and significant reach advantage to propel him to victory against Hong Kong’s Ng.

Davis told the media, “In the upcoming ONE FC fight, I’m going to be pulling out more tricks than “The Magician” can handle and put an end to his winning streak. He’s won fights against a couple of my friends and it’s time for a little revenge.”

Tatsuya Mizuno is a Japanese veteran who has fought all over the world. He holds notable victories over Trevor Prangley, Melvin Manhoef and Ilir Latifi. A 3rd degree Judo black belt, he has transitioned his skills to mixed martial arts by adding solid striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to his Judo trips and throws. He will look to utilize that against Rafael Silva and get his first win inside the ONE FC cage.

Rafael Silva is a Portuguese mixed martial arts veteran with more than 50 fights on his record. He has amassed an impressive seven-fight winning streak competing primarily in Europe. Having conquered the best in Europe, he now looks towards testing himself against the elite in Asia. With 21 of his 39 wins coming via submission, he will be looking to add another submission victory to his record against the gritty Mizuno.

Mitch Chilson is a featherweight fighting out of the famed Evolve MMA in Singapore. Originally from Seattle in the United States, he has a background in professional Muay Thai and wrestling. In his last bout, he demonstrated his wrestling skills by dominating a national Indonesian wrestler. Well-rounded and determined, Chilson will be looking to use all the skills in his arsenal to his advantage against the explosive Shannon Wiratchai as they meet for the second time.

Shannon Wiratchai is the youngest mixed martial artist in ONE FC’s roster to hail from Thailand. Unlike most of his countrymen who are proficient in Muay Thai, Wiratchai is trained in the ancient Chinese martial art of Baguazhang as well as in Judo. Wiratchai possesses explosive speed and he will be looking to use it to devastating effect to get the win he feels he rightly deserves against Chilson.

Rene Catalan is a former SEA Games and Asian Games gold medalist in Wushu. He possesses knockout power in both hands and will be looking to use that to stop Cambodian kickboxer Dima. In his ONE FC debut, he was performing admirably against BJJ black belt Alex Silva before getting caught in a submission. Catalan will enter this bout looking to finally translate his impressive resume into a ONE FC victory on his record.

Khim Dima will be the second Cambodian mixed martial artist to enter the ONE FC cage. A Khmer boxing veteran, who is making the transition in mixed martial arts, he will be looking to notch up the first win for the kingdom using his signature sharp elbows and crushing knees. This will be a clash of two top flyweight strikers and a highlight reel knockout has been predicted by experts.

The full fight card for ONE FC: Total Domination live on Fight Network includes:

-Bibiano Fernandes vs. Soo Chul Kim (undisputed bantamweight title)
-Shinya Aoki vs. Cody Stevens
-Eddie Ng vs. Peter Davis
-Tatsuya Mizuno vs. Rafael Silva
-Sylvain Potard vs. Jake Butler
-Shannon Wiratchai vs. Mitch Chilson
-Khim Dima vs. Rene Catalan
-Ann Osman vs. Sherilyn Lim
-Alex Lim vs. Juan Wen Jie
-Marc Marcellinus vs. Stephen Langdown

ONE FC returns Nov. 15 with a live broadcast on Fight Network from Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ONE FC: Warrior Spirit will feature the inaugural welterweight title fight between Adam Kayoon and Nobutatsu Suzuki.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com.

For More Information Contact:

Fight Network
Chad Midgley
VP Programming & Production
chad@fightnetwork.com
www.fightnetwork.com

About Fight Network:

Fight Network (www.fightnetwork.com) is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available on all major carriers in Canada, select countries in Europe and Africa, on TSN Radio in Canada via its program “Live Audio Wrestling,” and in North America via its programming on Sirius XM Channel 167 and its programming block on Pursuit Channel (www.pursuitchannel.com). Fight Network’s parent company Anthem Media Group also owns a significant interest in the Pursuit Channel and will be launching the Fan

Tacoma, WA (October 16th, 2013) – Halquist Productions’ Zahir Raheem will return to the Emerald Queen Casino on November 2nd to take on Las Vegas’ Tim Coleman in the main event of Battle at the Boat 93. The bout will be scheduled for ten rounds with a 143 pound limit. Raheem is coming off of two straight knockout victories fighting under the Halquist Productions banner in his return to the ring, pursuing another shot at a world title.

Tickets for Battle at the Boat 93, set for Saturday, November 2nd are available and can be purchased at the Emerald Queen Casino box office or through Ticketmaster. Prices start at $25.
Raheem (33-3-0, 20 KO’s), known for his dominating unanimous decision victory over a prime Erik Morales on an HBO telecast at the Staples Center in 2005, has exceedingly impressed the local fight crowd in the Northwest. He’s knocked the rust off with knockout victories over Santos Pakau (28-8-2, 11 KO’s) in March and Justin Juuko (45-12-1, 30 KO’s) at the latest Battle at the Boat in June. Living in Atlanta and training out of his King Raheem’s boxing and cross training gym, Raheem will be stepping up in challenges when he takes on Tim Coleman (19-3-1, 5 KO’s) in November.
Coleman is the former defending USBA light welterweight champion, defeating Mike Arnaoutis for the title and defending it once against Patrick Lopez in what has remained as his signature victory. Coleman has most recently appeared twice on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, stepping into the ring against the likes of Vernon Paris and Kendall Holt.
“The Raheem vs. Coleman fight is a career fight for both fighters,” said promoter, Brian Halquist. “Whoever comes out on top on November 2nd will definitely have a shot at something much larger.”
On the undercard portion of the show, one of Washington’s premier boxing prospects, Jeremy McCleary, will be making his professional debut. He will be taking on Manuel Ortega in a four round battle with a weight agreement of 132 pounds. Additional bouts will be announced shortly.
Doors for Battle at the Boat 93 will open at 6 PM with the first fight scheduled for 7 PM. Halquist Productions’ Battle at the Boat continues to be the longest running professional boxing series at any Casino in the United States. Events have been televised on major sports networks such as ESPN 2, HBO, and ShowTime. For more information about Battle at the Boat 93 and all other Halquist Production events, please visit www.halquistproductions.com and the official Facebook and Twitter pages of Battle at the Boat and CageSport MMA.

HBO Sports, winner of nine George Foster Peabody Awards and 33 Sports Emmys® for documentaries, presents a new installment of the acclaimed LEGENDARY NIGHTS boxing documentary series this month when THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD looks back at one of boxing’s greatest rivalries, spotlighting the three-fight slugfest between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward. Blending archival footage and new material shot this summer, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts SATURDAY, OCT. 19 (12 midnigh ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, immediately following “World Championship Boxing: Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov,” which begins at 9:45 p.m.

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 21 (9:15 a.m.), 24 (5:10 p.m., 12:05 a.m.), 26 (11:00 a.m., 4:45 a.m.) and 30 (1:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), and Nov. 3 (7:55 a.m.), 7 (9:00 p.m.) and 15 (7:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 23 (6:00 a.m., 10:00 p.m.) and 29 (11:30 p.m., 4:50 a.m.), and Nov. 2 (2:45 p.m.), 10 (8:45 a.m.) and 12 (4:30 p.m.)
The special will also be available on HBO On Demand and HBO GO.
“2013 marks the tenth anniversary of the third fight of the landmark Gatti vs. Ward trilogy, so now is the ideal moment to revisit this classic rivalry,” says Ken Hershman, president, HBO Sports. “This retrospective will offer new perspectives and deliver revealing insights on the two ring warriors who produced this all-time great moment in boxing history. Combined with the ‘World Championship Boxing’ presentation from Denver, this ensures a memorable night of boxing programming on HBO.”
LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD revisits the unforgettable three-fight trilogy authored by junior welterweights Arturo Gatti of Jersey City, NJ and Micky Ward of Lowell, Mass. Over the course of 13 months, these two throwback sluggers engaged in 30 electrifying rounds of action, with Gatti winning both Atlantic City bouts (Nov. 23, 2002 and June 7, 2003), following Ward’s dramatic triumph in the opener (May 18, 2002) in Uncasville, Conn. The film also documents Ward’s journey this past June to Canastota, NY for Gatti’s posthumous induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
The first 2002 battle was named Fight of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, and the three fights have been widely celebrated as one of boxing’s greatest rivalries.
THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD features HBO Sports’ acclaimed blend of new interviews and thrilling fight action, highlighted by previously unseen archival footage and new material shot in summer 2013. All three fights aired live on HBO, featuring the ringside commentary of Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and the late Emanuel Steward on the first and third fights. Lampley, Merchant and George Foreman called the second bout.
In a remarkable twist, Ward wound up being Gatti’s trainer for his final pro fight, against Alfonso Gomez in July 2007. Gatti fought 21 times on HBO in his pro career, while Ward appeared six times on HBO.
Interview subjects include: HBO Boxing host Jim Lampley; boxing commentator Larry Merchant; referee Frank Cappuccino; promoters Lou DiBella and Kathy Duva; Micky Ward and his wife, Charlene; former fighter Dicky Eklund; Gatti manager Pat Lynch; trainer Buddy McGirt; and writer Ron Borges.
Celebrating the most memorable fights in the network’s 40 years of presenting the sweet science, LEGENDARY NIGHTS captured the Sports Emmy® Award for Outstanding Edited Sports Series when it debuted in 2003.
LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD is executive produced by Rick Bernstein; directed by Bentley Weiner and Gabriel Spitzer; senior producer, Dave Harmon; creative director, Bill McCullough; editor, Fernando Villegas; writer, Aaron Cohen; director of photography, Thom Stukas; original score composed by Jose Cancela & Amy Beauchamp; narrator, Mark Wahlberg.

Highlights of LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD:
On the fighters:
Boxing commentator Larry Merchant: “Micky defined the essence of the journeyman fighter. After all, he was still working as a road grader while his career was going on, but he was a serious prizefighter and he raised his game to a place that few fighters of that type or stripe ever do.”
Gatti manager Pat Lynch: “It’s funny, the first time I met [Arturo Gatti] he told me he was going to be a world champion, which I kind of shrugged off. You know, this young, 19-year-old kid coming down from Canada. Not cocky, but confident.”
Gatti promoter Kathy Duva: “At one point, somebody said he was sort of ‘boxing’s answer to the Grateful Dead.’ You had this same group of people that kept coming over and over and over.”
On the first fight:
HBO Broadcaster Jim Lampley: “I was trying to tell all my friends why this was must-see TV. It was truly an insider’s prizefight. I don’t know how many of the fans who came to Mohegan Sun [for the first fight] that night really understood what they were about to see.”
Fighter Micky Ward: “It’s weird, but I was actually proud of [Arturo]…I know how hard it is to go through that and continue…I can actually say I was proud of him for being that tough.”
On their friendship:
Micky Ward: “Arturo will be a part of me forever. The memories will be in my mind forever. Our fights will be in my head forever. We’ll be linked forever throughout boxing history together. So we’ll be together forever.”
Ward promoter Lou DiBella: “I think they both understood in their own ways the historic significance of what they’d just gone through.”
Kathy Duva: “Somehow the whole became much greater than the sum of its parts. The two of them together created history. Neither one could have done it by himself. But together, they became iconic.”

NEW YORK (October 16, 2013) — Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s SMS Promotions officially announced its signing of world light middleweight contender James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (31-1, 27 KOs) to an exclusive promotional contract.

“James concentrates on conditioning and building strength,”50 Cent said. “He brings the fight to you and is aggressive in the ring. The crowd loves the action and I’m excited to make him a part of our team.”

“I had a relationship with 50-Cent before he came into the boxing business,” Kirkland explained. “We already had a friendship when he got this group together. He can do what no other promoters can do. He’s a different type of promoter who can make things happen in and out of the ring for me. It’s clear to me that I made the right decision.”

Due to problems outside of the ring, the 29-year-old southpaw from Austin, Texas has been inactive since stopping Carlos Molina in the 10th round of their March 24, 2012 fight in Houston. Kirkland successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas 154-pound title belt, originally captured November 5, 2011 when the knockout artist registered an impressive sixth-round technical knockout of Alfredo Angulo (20-1) in Mexico.

Molina is now the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) World light middleweight champion, while the WBA No. 5-rated Angulo recently lost a World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim championship fight.

Kirkland returns to the ring December 7 as part of an HBO tripleheader, headlined by Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Joseph Agbeko, also featuring Mathew Macklin vs. Willie Nelson, from Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In the third HBO fight, Kirkland faces undefeated prospect and North American Boxing Organization (NABO) light middleweight champion, Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (23 KOs), from nearby Passaic (NJ). Rated No. 10 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), as well as No. 14 by the IBF, the 23-year-old Tapia is a rising star who had a 130-4 amateur record and gained invaluable experience as Manny Pacquiao’s former sparring partner.

“I had this great opportunity come along with Glen Tapia,” Kirkland spoke about his upcoming fight. “He just doesn’t have what comes with knowledge in boxing, but he will know that December 7th. There are different levels of fighting, as they say in the street, and he hasn’t fought anybody at my level in his 20 fights. I don’t talk too much before a fight but, he doesn’t have to worry about being 21-0, because I’m going to knock his ass out December 7th.

“The proof is in the pudding. All I have to do is put in extra work and that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m not overlooking him. This is his ‘Mayweather’ fight. He wants to win and be an exciting fighter on HBO…..that’s not going to happen! It all comes down to me boxing at my best; I can beat anybody at 154 pounds or 160, name anybody. Who does what I do? There are a couple of cats at 160 who can put on a great performance but, right now, I’m concentrating on Glen Tapia. Congratulations for him getting this fight but we are at different levels.”

In addition to his aforementioned victories over Molina and Angulo, Kirkland’s other notable wins have been against Brian Vera (TKO8), who just lost a controversial decision to Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., Joel Julio (TKO6) and Eromosele Albert (TKO1).

Although Kirkland will have been inactive 20 1/2 months when he fights Tapia, the explosive Texan doesn’t feel ring rust will be a problem at all for him. “A lot of people know that I haven’t been on a long layoff,” Kirkland concluded. “I’ve been working hard since the beginning of my lawsuit. Now that things are in motion, I’m jumping right into the mix. My sparring sessions are like fights for other guys.”

Fans may follow 50-Cent on Twitter @50cent and friend Kirkland at https://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Kirkland/736672159693254.

SMS Promotions’ growing stable of fighters also includes two-time world featherweight and reigning Interim WBA lightweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight titlist Billy Dib, former world super middleweight title challenger Andre Dirrell, undefeated lightweight prospect Mark Davis, light welterweight Luis Olivares and junior welterweight Donte Strayhorn.

MEXICO (October 16, 2013) – Prestigious WBC Silver Championship belts will be on the line this Saturday night at Deportivo Morelos, Delegacion Cuajimalpa in Mexico City as Televisa’s and FOX Deportes latest doubleheader features unbeaten Roberto “Massa” Ortiz vs. Reyes Sanchez for the WBC Silver Super Lightweight Title and 22-year-old phenom Ivan “Nino Maravilla” Morales vs. Cesar “Gandarita” Gandara for the WBC Silver International Super Flyweight Title.

In televised swing bout action, debuting super featherweights Christian Camacho of San Juan and Enrique Angeles of Estado de Mexico meet in a four-round bout, and Cancun’s Joseph Aguirre (2-0, 1 KO) takes on Estado de Mexico’s Uriel Fonseca (1-1, 1 KO).

Ortiz vs. Sanchez, a 12-round bout for Ortiz’ WBC Silver Super Lightweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Cancun Boxing de Pepe Gomez and sponsored by Corona and Periodico QueQui. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. CT and the first fight begins at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Televisa broadcast will air on Canal 5 beginning at 10:30 p.m. CT in Mexico and the FOX Deportes broadcast will air on Monday, October 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT in the United States.

Rapidly rising up the 140-pound ladder, Torreon Coahuila’s Roberto “Massa” Ortiz (29-0-1, 23 KO’s holds the WBC Silver title since 2011 resulting from a technical knockout of Antonio Lozada Jr., winning nine fights with that belt on the line. In his most recent bout, on June 15, 2013, Ortiz delivered a strong statement to the boxing world with his 10th round stoppage of highly-regarded Jorge Romero, and the 27-year-old is eager to repeat his success this weekend in a 12-round bout.

Mexico City’s Reyes Sanchez (25-4-2, 14 KO’s) is an experienced competitor who, like his countryman Ortiz, is on the verge of big things in the ring. A former WBC Youth, Continental Americas, and Silver champion at lightweight, the 28-year-old is now looking to match and even surpass that success at 140 pounds. Unbeaten in five of his last six bouts, Sanchez is well-trained and eager to hear the bell ring on Saturday night.

The brother of the legendary Erik “El Terrible” Morales, 22-year-old Ivan “Nino Maravilla” Morales (22-0, 13 KO’s) from Tijuana, Baja California Mexico, has been improving with every fight since turning pro in 2009, with three 2013 wins over Patricio Camacho (KO 1), Raul Hidalgo (W 8) and Alejandro Morales (W 10) keeping the momentum going. Now defending his WBC International Silver title for the third time in a 12-round bout, this dynamic southpaw from Tijuana aims to remain unbeaten in Mexico City.

Cesar Javier “Gandarita” Gandara (22-3, 9 KO’s) is a five-year pro with tremendous potential that he hopes to begin reaching starting with Saturday’s pivotal matchup against unbeaten Ivan Morales. Winner of four consecutive bouts, including WBC Fecarbox title fights against Elfego Sierra, Irving Requena, and Raul Koh, the 25-year-old Durango native is ready to compete in the biggest bout of his career.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.quequi.com.mx, www.FOXDeportes.com and www.televisadeportes.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/Cancun_Boxing,
www.twitter.com/PeriodicoQuequi, www.twitter.com/TD_Deportes and www.twitter.com/FOXDeportes and visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing , www.facebook.com/CancunBoxingDePepeGomez ,

www.facebook.com/periodicoquequi and www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes.

For the first time in 13 years, and leave it to local world champion “Mile High” Mike Alvarado to do it, the Denver area will host a world championship boxing event. A sellout crowd is expected. It will be broadcast live on HBO beginning 9:45 pm ET and will be book-ended with some incredible programming for boxing fans — the replay of last week’s Timothy Bradley – Juan Manuel Márquez world welterweight title fight before and Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward, following the live fight.

BOB ARUM: There is not much I can say as a promoter. You don’t have to sell this fight. Everyone that knows anything about boxing knows that this fight will be a candidate for ‘Fight of the Year.” Two great warriors – two guys that entertain the public. You don’t need a sales pitch for this one and it’s showing at the box office as there are so few tickets left and by fight time it will be sold out.

ARTIE PELULLO: Bob has said it all about what the fight is going to be. It’s a great television fight, a fan-friendly fight. These guys don’t know any other way other than to come right at you. It will be another “Fight of the Year” candidate. Mike Alvarado is a great champion and Ruslan is hungry and wants to fight. He’s been doing this for 5 ½ years and is no stranger to fighting in others’ hometowns – as he has never fought in his. I have been promoting events for over 30 years and for the first time fifteen family members are coming out to see the fight – a first for me. I would like to introduce Ruslan and his manager Vadim Kornilov, two young kids grateful for the opportunity Mike Alvarado has given them.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: It has been an extraordinary training camp. We have been in camp for eight weeks and it’s almost over. We are adding the final touches this week and it’s never been better. Every muscle and bone in my body is ready to go.

MIKE ALVARADO: This is exciting. It’s a dream come true to defend this title in my hometown and having all of my main supporters here. It’s a blessing. Training camp has been great and I’m ready to get in there and do what I always do – win this fight and retain this title and go on to bigger and better things. I’m excited about it. At the end of this week everyone is going to see a great performance out of me.

HENRY DELGADO: Mike never needs extra motivation to fight but I have seen extra effort in this training camp. We have to tell him to back off a little bit. It’s going to be an exciting fight. The whole city is on fire – everywhere you go people are talking about the fight. This is a great thing for Denver. They have the Broncos, the Rockies and now Mike Alvarado is on the scene. There is great buzz in the city so tune into the fight – there is going to be some fireworks.

How do you feel about the expectations of this fight?

MIKE ALVARADO: All of our fights have been top-caliber fights. The anticipation is from the wars that we have been in tells us that this fight has ‘War’ written all over it and there’s a good chance that this fight will turn into that. I have a good game plan and I know how I’m going to box to win this fight, but you never know, this fight could turn into a crazy war and we could see Rios I all over again.

Do you expect that to happen again after 4 or 5 in a row?

MIKE ALVARADO: I am not expecting a war because of the way I have been training and how I’ve seasoned as a professional. I know I am going to stay strong, boxing and focused on my game plan to make the fight go the way I need it to go and not make it a war. But you never know – that one show could change the fight around.

HBO has positioned this fight to be broadcast the same night as the special Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward, the all-action trilogy. How does that make you feel?

MIKE ALVARADO: When I sit here and think about it, it’s kind of scary, those dudes about killed each other. That’s a big step. Those are some big names to categorize ourselves with. It’s an honor to be in that kind of fight. We’ll see what happens. I am ready to perform and show greatness.

How do you feel about he expectations?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I try not to think about that and not to worry about that. My job is to get ready for the fight and to come in and do what I do best.

How do you expect Alvarado to approach you in the fight?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I’m sure Mike is 100% ready for this fight and is approaching this fight very seriously. He said he is going to try and box me and I am ready for anything. I can also box, I am not only a brawler and we can compete in any style that he chooses. I think if Mike chooses to box it will be better for me because I think that Mike is a better brawler than he is a boxer.

What type of fight do you feel it will evolve into?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I think we are going to have to fight no matter what. Whether it will be one punch, but I think it will turn into a fight no matter what. I don’t think either of us can run for the entire fight and I don’t think he’ll be able to box with me as well as he thinks. This will turn into a fight. If I can make Timothy Bradley fight me I don’t think there is anyone that won’t end up fighting me.

What did he think about Bradley’s fight on Saturday?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I was not surprised at all. I know Timothy Bradley is a great champion. He comes in prepared for all of his fights and he was 100% ready. I saw what I expected to see, Timothy Bradley outbox Marquez. I heard Marquez say that he was going to have to finish him off after Ruslan and knowing the type of fighter that Timothy Bradley is, I didn’t think that would happen. He couldn’t finish him off. Timothy is a warrior and he was going to come in and fight. Bradley fought the way he fought because Marquez let him fight that way. You cannot beat Timothy Bradley by boxing – you need to pressure him and break him down inside and outside and to the body – that’s the only way you can beat that guy. You cannot box him. I think that’s the main mistake Juan Manuel Marquez made, he thought he could beat him by boxing. I was not surprised at how the fight went but surprised that one of the judges gave it to Marquez. I get more and more surprised by the judging in every fight I watch and wonder what fight they are watching.

You are the only one to hurt Bradley. What does that say about you and boxers?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: It’s up to you guys and the fans to summarize the fight. I didn’t come into the ring to move around and box. I came into the ring not to box but to win the fight. I wasn’t looking for the easy way out and to box him. I knew I needed to break him – that’s a risk but I knew I had to take it to win.

Are you worried about not having Freddie Roach at the fight?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: From the beginning we knew there was a chance that Freddie would not be in the corner on the day of the fight. We knew he had obligations to Manny Pacquiao. We trained with Freddie for eight weeks exactly and it has been an awesome training camp. Also we have been working on how we defeat Mike Alvarado. It has all come together. I am going to have Freddie’s assistant Marvin Somodio in my corner. Marvin has been there every day and I know what to do. I know what to do once the fight comes. I am not worried about Freddie not being there. He is obviously the backbone of our team – he is the captain and I had hoped he could be there, there is a chance he could be there on fight night but I am ready if he’s not.

What did you think about Bradley-Marquez?

MIKE ALVARADO: Bradley fought great. He obviously did what he had to do. He had a game plan together to win that fight and he stuck to it. He didn’t let Marquez take him out of his game like Ruslan did and executed to win the fight. I give Tim a lot of credit. He’s a great champion and it was a good fight to watch. He fought the wrong fight against Provodnikov and he recovered well from that. He walked in there thinking he was going to be able to walk thru him and that type of fight happens. Every fight is different and that’s how that fight had to end up. I fought in that same venue, same ring and same referee so I knew what he was going through. My fight (with Rios) turned into the same kind of fight so maybe it’s something about that place. But on Saturday, he fought great and put on a great performance.

But the referee stopped your fight and let Bradley go on…

MIKE ALVARADO: I didn’t get the opportunity to come back and show that I could fight back from what was going on in that moment. I was disappointed, but it is what it is and the referee had to do his job and I’m just glad I redeemed myself to prove what should have happened. So I’m happy where I am now and ready to put on another good performance.

Are you puzzled that you didn’t get a bigger fight since beating Rios?

MIKE ALVARADO: That’s just the way it goes sometimes with the negotiations and the way fights get set up. I am ready for this fight and know that those fights will still be available. It is a dream come true to bring the title home to my hometown – to be able to perform in front of these people. I can’t take away from that and all those other bigger fights are yet to come and I’ll be ready for them.

Do you think your boxing could be the difference in this fight?

MIKE ALVARADO: I think it will be the difference. In my training and I have learned and developed that. Experimenting with it in my last fight with Rios gave me confidence that I can adjust in a fight. Sticking to my game plan, keeping the focus and not letting it break into a fight like that is the plan. Keeping the focus is what I have to do to win this fight.

How have the demands been on your time while training and fighting in hometown?

MIKE ALVARADO: I have been able to keep my focus and my eyes on my game plan. It’s exciting to me and I’m very hyped up for this moment in my life and I am ready for what I need to do. Its here and its coming really soon. I have the support from everyone and it is a dream feeling. I’m ready for it and I can’t wait.

Mauricio Herrera is a common opponent. How are you different now?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I watched the fight between Herrera and Alvarado and you could see that Mike was going toe-to-toe with him. When I fought him there was moving a lot and clinching a lot and didn’t want to fight me. He won the fight by holding me and moving around. Both fights were great fights. For me, it was something I had to go through in my career in order to change and it was a changing point for me. Now I am fighting with the greatest trainer and having a great training camp. I am definitely more experienced and a different fighter now.

ARTIE PELULLO: Marvin Somodio is not a replacement for the corner – he has been training with Ruslan every day.

BOB ARUM: Freddie met Somodio in the Philippines. He is a kid that has worked in the camp with Manny and Freddie and he has come to America and is working out of Freddie’s gym. He speaks perfect English and can understand everything that his being said. Even though Ruslan uses an interpreter on the call he is fluent in English.

ARTIE PELULLO: Vadim would also be there to translate whatever needs to be done. Vadim does the translation when it is not 100% clear in the action of the moment and now he would be doing it for Marvin as he did it for Freddie.

VADIM KORNILOV: Freddie has not yet confirmed that he will no be there on fight night. It is just something that we are expecting because he is training Manny right now. I have been translating in the corner for the past 15 fights.

Are you worried about being in too many wars?

MIKE ALVARADO: It hasn’t caught up to me yet. Being in those kinds of fights has made me that much better as a fighter. Being in fights like that has helped me adjust into being a better boxer. Being in wars can take a toll and can catch up to you. It has helped with my training also. We have brought in Rudy Hernandez who helped with different training methods and the experience he has been through. I am still learning and becoming a better boxer that will help in those kinds of wars.

BOB ARUM: Let me say this. If you are watching fights on HBO, there are no more appearance fights. The fights are competitive. The fights are hard fights. HBO pays the most money and they expect their subscribers to get the most value. It’s not about picking and choosing. We all know that some like picking an easy fight after a tough fight and you can still do that but HBO isn’t going to pay for it.

What is your best chance of winning?

MIKE ALVARADO: Provodnikov is not used to fighting backwards as well. There are a lot of different training methods we have used as well for this fight. Boxing will come in handy and there are other tactics we will use as well. This fight is going to be very interesting. I am going to go in there and use what I worked on for this fight. Boxing is going to definitely be an option, but fighting is a huge option as well. This is a must-see fight and anything can happen.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I think that Timothy Bradley and Mike Alvarado are two different fighters. Bradley is a lot more awkward than Mike is and comparing their boxing styles… I don’t compare them as boxers. I compare them as two different style fighters. I think my fight with Alvarado will be more interesting that the Bradley fight because I think there will be more moments of exchanging in this one so I don’t see the point in comparing the two fighters.

What has to happen for you to win the fight?

MIKE ALVARADO: It’s each fighter and how he adapts to how the other fighter is bringing the fight. Adjustments are huge at this level and that’s where the corner comes in and gives instructions on how to adjust. Whoever adjusts best will overcome.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: Obviously like in any fight, the fighter is going to have to adjust. But like I said before, whoever has the strongest will is going to win this fight. Whoever has the most willpower, whoever is stronger mentally is going to win this fight.

MIKE ALVARADO: I’ve been in these kinds of fights before and I know how they can end up. I am very strong mentally and very strong-willed. I’ve been there before and need to use my will to make the fight go my way. I’m ready to put on a great show and ready to win this fight.

BOB ARUM: We all know it’s going to be a great fight. We don’t have to keep asking the same questions over and over again. These guys are warriors. They are going to come to fight. Yea, there will be some good boxing. What we are going to see is really a knock-down fight. You can ask the questions seventeen different ways and the answers are all the same.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: A lot of different fighters have had a plan when coming into the ring with me but usually in fights with guys like Mike Alvarado and myself the plan changes after the first punch. That is my hope for this fight

MIKE ALVARADO: I am ready to go and perform and put on a good show and I hope that everybody enjoys it.

**************************************

Denver’s very own homegrown world champion “Mile High” MIKE ALVARADO will make the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim junior welterweight title a “home game”, when he battles No. 1 contender the “Siberian Rocky” RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV of Russia, This Saturday! October 19, at 1STBANK Center in nearby Broomfield, Colo. This marks the area’s first world championship fight featuring a local fighter since September 15, 2000 when former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Stevie Johnston unsuccessfully challenged defending WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, via majority draw, at Pepsi Center. Alvarado vs. Provodnikov will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Alvarado (34-1, 23 KOs) and Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KOs) enter this world title tilt fresh from Fight of the Year performances that took place in March, just two weeks apart from each other, and were televised on HBO®. They boast a combined record of 56-3 (38 KOs) — a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 68%.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Banner Promotions, in association with Tecate, remaining tickets to the Alvarado vs. Provodnikov world title fight event, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable fees and taxes, can be purchased online at TicketHorse.com, order by phone at 866-461-6556 and at Tickethorse kiosks located at all Colorado Dick’s Sporting Goods Stores (for credit card purchases only).

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.banner-promotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/banner-promotions or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, twitter.com/bannerboxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Oct. 15, 2013) – Golden Boy Promotions formally announced at a press conference today a major fight card for Saturday, Dec. 7, at Barclays Center live on SHOWTIME® highlighted by a 12-round match between two of the most talented fighters in Brooklyn’s boxing history, Five-Time, Two-Division World Champion Zab “Super” Judah (42-8, 29 KO’s) and Two-Time, Two-Division World Champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KO’s). The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will air live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

In the 12-round co-main event WBA Interim Super Welterweight titleholder Erislandy Lara (18-1-2, 12 KO’s), of Miami by way of Cuba, battles former WBA world champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout (26-1, 14 KO’s), of Las Cruces, N.M,by way of El Paso, Texas for the interim WBA 154-pound world title.

Staten Island’s undefeated “Sir” Marcus Browne (7-0, 6 KO’s), a 2012 U.S. Olympian, will box an opponent to be determined in the opening bout of the telecast that also will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges go on sale this Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000 and at the American Express Box Office. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

Below please find what Judah, Malignaggi and executives Eric Gomez, Brett Yormark and Stephen Espinoza said today at Barclays Center:

ZAB JUDAH, Five-Time, Two-Division World Champion

“Once again we are here. This is truly one fight that I never thought that we [looking at Malignaggi] would be on the other side of the coin. There is so much history here.

“I lost my last fight here at Barclays and Paulie lost his last fight at Barclays Center and it didn’t mean anything. We are still two dynamite fighters. Our skills speak for themselves.

“A lot of people wanted this fight to happen. On Dec. 7, we are coming to bring fireworks.

“I have known Paulie for a long time. I watched him grow throughout the years. I was always very proud of him because he represented the ‘BK’. I always stood by his side. On Dec. 7, you are going to see a great fight. You’re going to see some of the fastest hands in the world.

“We might break a jab count because I throw a lot of jabs and Paulie throws a lot of jabs. I think we are going to give a good, classy act of boxing that night. Get ready.

“My main edge over Paulie will be hand speed and power. Paulie has quick hands too. He throws a lot of punches, but he has nothing to hold me off..

“It’s been proven in the past that you have to know how to hold me back. He can punch; we’re going to see.

“I’ve been waking up and going to the gym, sparring young guys and training. I am already putting in work at the gym.”

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI, Two-Time, Two-Divison World Champion

“I’ve been around Zab a long time and never expected to be across the ring from him, but, you know, we have to give Brooklyn what Brooklyn wants. So, it starts there.

“Zab and I go back a long way. I can remember when Zab worked my corner for a fight [1999 Empire State Games at Hofstra University]. Zab was an honorary coach and working the corner for all the amateurs. He actually trained us that week.

“So we go back even before I was a pro, seeing Zab in the gym, seeing Zab sparring even before I had my first amateur fight.

“I kind of got a late start in boxing. I was 16 when I started and had my first amateur fight when I was 17. So I had always heard about Zab through the years.

“It’s been a long road. It’s had its ups and downs. Speaking of the last fight, some things irk me. That result definitely irked me. I don’t mind losing a decision; it’s close and can go both ways. Things happen. There hasn’t been a day since June 22 that I don’t get at least one or two people, no matter what city I’m in, come up to me and say, ‘Paul, you got screwed in that Broner fight.’

“On Dec. 7, Zab and I are going to put on a great show. It’s going to be the best main event we’ve had yet and that the fans will look forward to because we have the perfect venue for it. When they made Barclays Center, it was made for fights like this.

“This is going to be a civil war. Whenever you have a fight at a high level, you are always representing your city, the city you come from. It’s usually Brooklyn against another city. But being it’s Brooklyn against Brooklyn, it becomes a borough divided and you end up breaking it into neighborhoods and who is going to support what neighborhood. So it’s pretty cool.

“It’s old school. It’s the way old school fighters came up, winning their regions first and then moving on to the world stage. We’ve been on the world stage and now we’re bringing it back to the grassroots again.

“I’ve fought friends in the amateurs, but never in the pros. Once the bell rings, we both have a goal. We’re both competitors and we both want to win. Once somebody lands that first punch, then the other guy hits you a little harder, before you know it you’re mad and in the mood for a fight.

“Zab’s a crafty guy, a veteran, very versatile and still has those fast hands and southpaw stance. He’s been around for a long time because of his ability and craftiness and his ring intelligence. So there’s some stuff to deal with. But that’s why you go to training camp, devise a game plan and then you put it all on the line, you put it all together.

“I expect a tough fight. There’s a lot on the line. I don’t think anybody wants to lose in their home city to another guy from his home city. There’s a lot of bragging rights on the line. I expect both of us to fight hard and to leave nothing in the ring. I expect it to be entertaining for everybody.”

MARCUS BROWNE, 2012 U.S. Olympian and Undefeated Pro

“We’re back again; this is my fifth time [fighting at Barclays Center] and it’s kind of feeling routine now. I’m going to put on a good show and do what I have to do. I hope you all come out on Dec. 7 and enjoy the show.”

ERIC GOMEZ, Vice President and Matchmaker of Golden Boy Promotions

“This is a great fight for Brooklyn. It’s what Barclays Center wants; it’s what Stephen Espinoza wants at SHOWTIME. I’m just so happy that we got it done.

“What can I say about Zab Judah? It seem just like yesterday he was fighting for his first world title. He’s had 50 fights now in his illustrious career and he’s always very, very exciting. You can always say when there’s a Zab Judah fight, there’s going to be excitement, there’s going to be speed, there’s going to be power, something’s going to happen. And that’s what he’s done throughout his career.

“When we first went to Team Malignaggi about this fight, they said the same thing. We know Zab, its an interesting fight, we’ll fight anybody. That is Paulie’s career; he’s fought everyone. That’s all he knows how to do. He’s been doing it since he was a little kid.

“Paulie himself is a former champion, he went all the way to Ukraine, to face Senchenko in a fight that nobody gave him a chance, and he came back with the belt.

“It’s a very important fight for both fighters, a very important fight to Paulie, he recognized that. I’m very happy for him and he’s going to put a show on for everybody.”

BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Barclays Center

“The featured bout, The Battle of Brooklyn, is particularly meaningful to me because both Paulie and Zab are proud Brooklynites and I’m proud to call them friends.

“This is the culmination of our first year of boxing in Brooklyn so it’s fitting to have Paulie and Zab, two of the top fighters to come out of this borough, taking the ring in this building.

“Brooklyn is known for its great champions. Besides the two great boxers here today, this borough is home to legends Tyson, Bowe, and Breland. But you can’t be more Brooklyn than the Paulie and Zab, and we are proud to be hosting their fight.

“Paulie, Zab and the other major fighters who have fought here have made Barclays Center the heart of boxing on the east coast. And I promise you, the best is yet to come.

“I’m also proud to welcome Staten Island’s own Marcus Browne here today. Marcus has fought four times at Barclays Center and he has won them all. He is the perfect example of what Barclays Center is all about, a local place for boxers to be inspired to become future champions. ”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports

“The hallmark of SHOWTIME boxing this year has been exciting, evenly matched, entertaining fights. That’s our calling card. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a superstar or an up-and-comer, everyone knows that if you fight on SHOWTIME you’ve got to fight a real fight, a meaningful fight. If you’re looking for mismatches or appearance fights, you have to look elsewhere because week after week, month after month, SHOWTIME has been bringing you the most exciting, most entertaining, most meaningful fights in boxing.

“That’s the reason why we have such a great working relationship with Barclays Center — because our interests and goals are exactly the same. Brett Yormark and his staff are committed to bringing the most iconic, entertaining high-profile events to this great venue. Really, iconic is the word that first comes to mind when we talk about Barclays Center.

“When you talk boxing and you mention the words iconic and Brooklyn in the same sentence, you have to mention Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi. These two boxers wear Brooklyn as a badge of honor. They have each fought a who’s who list of champions and Hall of Famers; Mayweather, Cotto, Hatton, the list goes on and on. They each held multiple world titles but on Dec. 7 there is something at stake that is actually more important than world titles.

“The co-featued bout features two of the most skilled boxers in the sport today, Erislandy Lara and Austin Trout. As usual when we’re here at Barclays Center, we are featuring several local fighters, including Marcus Browne and Salam Ali who for my money are two of the most exciting young fighters in boxing.”

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com, or www.barclayscenter.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/paulmalignaggi, www.twitter.com/SuperJudah,www.twitter.com/Laraboxing, www.twitter.com/nodoubttrout, www.twitter.com/SirMarcusBrowne, www.twitter.com/barclayscenter and www.twitter.com/SHOSports, follow the conversation using #BrooklynBoxing become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

(San Diego, CA) – With the fall upon us, San Diego’s premier live professional boxing promoter Bobby D Presents will make the jump to a new venue when on Thursday, November 21st; President Bobby DePhilippis presents the latest installment of his popular series “San Diego Fights” at the Crowne Plaza Hanalei Hotel in Mission Valley. The night will mark the second time that Bobby D Presents takes the most action packed fight card in town to the Crowne Plaza since back in 2010 they offered a stellar fight card featuring a way between Chris Chatman and Lester Gonzalez as well as the late Pablo Armenta.

This time, Vista, CA’s Aaron “Gavilan” Garcia (12-3-2, 3KOs) will take his turn up to bat and headline the night against an opponent to be determined. Garcia, one of the most decorated amateur fighters to come out of San Diego County, is on an exciting run after a short hiatus due to injury. Since then, Garcia impressively stopped Ensenada, Mexico, tough guy Cesar Garcia in the first round with a devastating body shot that ended up fracturing his opponent’s rib. In his last fight, Garcia took a shut out unanimous decision over journey man Johnny Frazier back in July.

Featured in the co-main event is the popular local undefeated super welterweight David Barragan (6-0-1, 3KOs) as he continues to build his record in his first scheduled six rounder. Barragan looked impressive in his last fight when he took on Canadian amateur standout Matt Dumais and scored a convincing four round unanimous decision. Barragan sent Dumais to the canvas in the first round but that only seemed to make Dumais stronger as he went after Barragan with everything that he had. The local fighter was able to stay poised and work his counterpunching on the aggressive Dumais. Barragan finished strong as he almost finished off his man in the fourth and final round. Barragan is scheduled against the always dangerous TBA.

In a special attraction, featherweight Prince “Tiger” Smalls (1-0-1) of San Diego will bring his slick boxing style to the Crowne Plaza squared circle in a scheduled four rounder. After a tough pro debut across the border in Tijuana earlier this summer, Smalls came back home in July and easily out-boxed Christian Cartier to earn a landslide unanimous decision. A competitive opponent is being seeked for Smalls’ third pro fight.

Also on the card will be undefeated super bantamweight “Smokin'” Joe Perez (4-0, 3KOs) in a scheduled four rounder. Perez, a Texas native, began his career in Iowa and after three quick knock out wins last year, Perez went the distance for the first time in his career against Alfredo Madrigal last September. Perez displayed a classic boxing style as he dissected Madrigal with strong combinations to the body and head. The twenty-three year old Perez looks to impress his new hometown in his next fight.

One more fight fleshes out the card.

“San Diego Fights” is proudly sponsored by Mossy Automotive Group, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, Car Czar, Everlast, David G. Schmidt General Contractor, House of Boxing Gym and Boxing Fraternity Apparel and features the San Diego Bikini Dolls. Doors open at 6:30pm with the first punch thrown at 7:30pm. The Crowne Plaza Hanalei Hotel is located at 2270 Hotel Circle North, San Diego. For tickets, please call 619.420.8866 or visit SanDiegoFights.com. Food and Drinks will be served.

Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of undefeated puncher Lateef “Power” Kayode (18-0, 14 KOs) to a promotional contract. Cohen also announces that Kayode will now move up in weight and begin campaigning in the heavyweight division.

30-year-old Kayode, from Lagos, Nigeria, originally, is trained by the legendary Freddie Roach and will be looking to make an immediate splash in his new division. He was last seen fighting to a draw with former world champion Antonio Tarver in June of last year.

Cohen, who has a long history of success working with Nigerian heavyweights including Samuel Peter and Ike Ibeabuchi, says there are several exciting match-ups to be made with his new powerhouse slugger.

“Lateef has held the NABA, NABO and NABF titles as a cruiserweight and never been beaten. Now he no longer has to struggle to make weight and will be coming in as a heavyweight at full power. We’re looking forward to putting him into the important fights that will quickly establish him as one of the world’s best big men.”

New York, NY (10/15/13) – This past Saturday, New England fan-favorite Danny O’Connor traveled to Pennsylvania to take on former world champion Vivian Harris in their 10-round main event bout at the sold-out Electric Factory in downtown Philadelphia.

O’Connor pressed the action throughout the entire 10-round contest, continuously walking down the taller Harris round after round. O’Connor was the much busier fighter, landing good combinations to both the body and head as well as displaying beautiful defense skills, slipping and rolling off most of Harris’ shots. After the 10th and final round, it appeared to everyone in attendance, including the sold out audience and the media, as well as the commentators that evening which featured former world champion Steve Cunningham, that O’Connor had done more than enough to pull out the decision. One judge scored the bout a complete shutout for O’Connor, 100-90. However, the other two judges scored the bout in Harris’ favor, turning in scores of 96-94 and a mind-boggling 99-91.

After having a couple of days to think about the fight and watching video footage of it, O’Connor is even more confused with the outcome than immediately after the bout.

“I was impressed with the Philadelphia boxing commission’s organization, so for them to allow judges like that to decide fights is stunning. It’s up to us as fighters and fans to speak up to try to preserve the integrity of the sport because decisions like these are ruining it. With all that being said, Philadelphia is a great city and I was honored to box there. I want to thank everyone who came together to make the Claddagh Fund night at the fights a success. I can only worry about the things that I can control. I will stay focused and stay positive and continue to work hard to achieve the goals that I have in this sport.”

Manager Ken Casey, of the Dropkick Murphys, who also performed at the event Saturday, was equally as disappointed in the outcome as O’Connor. Casey added, “Once again the sport of boxing suffered a black eye by poor judging. Danny O’Connor was outright robbed.”

“Anyone who watched the fight could clearly see that Danny won,” said DiBella Entertainment’s matchmaker Joe Quiambao. “There are fights that are hard to score but this wasn’t one of them. Danny controlled the action, threw more punches, landed more punches, and just flat out beat the guy.”

“Danny won the fight. Hands down, no questions asked,” said Massachusetts’s great Micky Ward, who was also in attendance. “He pressed and controlled the action in every single round, how two of the judges didn’t see that, is beyond me.”

In a classic heavyweight match up, Tomasz “Goral” Adamek, 49-2, 29 KO’s, will take on Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov, 15-0-1, 11 KO’s, on Saturday, November 16th at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY. Doors will open at 12 PM ET, First Fight at 1PM ET.

The fight will be the main event of the afternoon presentation of NBC Fight Night. The two hour broadcast will begin at 3PM ET.

The veteran Adamek will put his IBF North American Heavyweight belt on the line in this 12-round battle, against the up and coming Ukrainian. The IBF has designated this bout as a heavyweight voluntary eliminator fight for the #2 position.

This is a “must-win” fight for both fighters. Their come forward styles promise to deliver an exciting, action-packed night for boxing fans. Glazkov worked in Adamek’s training camp to help the Polish favorite prepare for his last fight against Dominick Guinn. Obviously each fighter has knowledge of the other’s style and technique, as well as confidence that they can beat the other guy.

“This fight cannot help but be a non-stop action brawl,” said promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events. “A classic ‘cross roads’ fight, it is exactly the kind of signature launching pad match-up that we like to present on NBC. The winner of Adamek-Glazkov will put himself in a position for much bigger things in 2014.”

Glazkov is thrilled with the opportunity, “I have already been training hard. I had a very good camp boxing with Klitschko, as I helped him prepare for his fight with Povetkin. Now I will come to the United States to continue my training.” He added, “Adamek is a very good fighter with a big name. He is big and strong and comes forward during the fight, this is good for me. I think I can win this fight. It will help put my name on the list of the best heavyweight fighters.”

Adamek stated,”I know Glazkov is young and hungry to win, but I will be ready for him. I know our styles will make a good fight for all the fans.” He added “I’m excited to be fighting at Turning Stone for the first time. I’ve spent time with friends and family in that area so I know there will be a big Polish crowd to cheer me on.”

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ABOUT NOVEMBER 16:
November 16th at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY features a 12-round heavyweight battle between Tomasz “Goral” Adamek and Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov in the main event. Six additional bouts are planned for the undercard. Doors open at 12 PM ET. First bout will be 1 PM ET. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast 3PM ET on NBC as a special 2 hour afternoon presentation of NBC Fight Night. The card is presented by Main Events and co-promoted by Ziggy Promotions and Pushka.

The 12-round heavyweight main event is a title defense of Adamek’s IBF North American Heavyweight belt. The IBF has designated this bout as a heavyweight voluntary eliminator fight for the #2 position.

Tickets will go on sale shortly.

ABOUT TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO:
A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the website at TurningStone.com.

BROOKLYN, NY (Oct. 15, 2013) – Barclays Center will host two of the borough’s favorite sons, former Five-Time, Two-Division World Champion Zab “Super” Judah and former Two-Time, Two-Division World Champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi, on Saturday, Dec. 7 todecide who is the true King of Brooklyn. The 12-round welterweight bout will be televised live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

“I am happy to be back fighting in front of my hometown crowd,” said Judah, who is from Brownsville. “Paulie and I have known each other for a long time and we have a mutual respect for each other, but with this fight on Dec. 7 it is going to be like the ancient Roman days. There has to be a leader and that position belongs to me.”

“I have always admired Zab’s skills and his resume speaks for itself,” said Malignaggi, a native of Bensonhurst. “But this is the ‘Battle of Brooklyn’ and winning this fight is worth more than any world title.”

“In a year of great fights, I have to say that this one is high on my list of the most anticipated,” said CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer. “Paulie and Zab are two of the slickest, fastest and most charismatic boxers in the world today and when you add in the fact that they’re fighting for Brooklyn bragging rights, it’s going to be an early holiday gift for boxing fans.”

“Judah vs. Malignaggi promises to be a high intensity chess match between two master boxers,” said Vice President of Super Judah Promotions Bill Halkias. “This fight is not only special to Brooklyn boxing fans, but also a highly anticipated fight for boxing fans in general. Who wouldn’t want to see two highly skilled and experienced world champion boxers go at it for the right to be crowned ‘The King of Brooklyn’? I believe Dec. 7 will be a night to remember.”

“We’ve hosted some great fights at Barclays Center in our first year, but this one is different – this fight is about two Brooklyn-born-and-raised fighters proudly representing their respective neighborhoods,” said Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. “Paulie and Zab are pros at captivating audiences with their big personalities and boxing skills. We are delighted that they will once again step into Brooklyn’s most celebrated ring for what is sure to be another memorable night of boxing at Barclays Center.”

“Highly competitive, hard-fought, exciting fights have been the hallmark of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING all year long, and the December 7 card is no different,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “If you want tune-ups, appearance fights or mismatches, then look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for evenly matched, meaningful fights featuring four of the most skilled boxers in any division, then the December 7 edition of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a can’t-miss.”

In the 12-round co-main event, the WBA Super Welterweight Championship is on the line as interim titleholder Erislandy Lara battles former champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout. The Cuban star, Lara, is coming off a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate in his 10th -round title-winning stoppage of Alfredo Angulo in June, but the gifted Trout is hungrier than ever to regain his world title. Additionally, 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne, who will be featured at Barclays Center for the fifth time in his professional career, will face an opponent to be determined.

“This is a great matchup with Austin Trout and I respect his skills in the ring,” said Lara. “He knows the art of boxing like I do, and the fans will see the sport at its highest level when we fight.”

“It’s only been a few months, but I already miss being called ‘champ,'” said Trout. “So I’d like to thank Lara, Golden Boy, and the WBA for this opportunity to get my belt back and I will get it back this December.”

“Barclays Center has truly become my second home,” said Browne. “Having the opportunity to fight there more times than any one else is an honor. I look forward to making another appearance there on Dec. 7.”

Judah vs. Malignaggi is a 12-round welterweight fight taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions’ sponsors Corona and AT&T. The SHOWTIME telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). In the co-featured bout, Erislandy Lara defends his interim WBA Super Welterweight Championship in a 12-round fight against Austin “No Doubt” Trout. Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges go on sale this Friday, Oct. 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET and are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000 and at the American Express Box Office. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

Blessed with the speed, power and ring savvy that long ago earned him the nickname “Super,” Zab Judah (42-8, 29 KO’s) has been dazzling fight fans in New York and beyond since 1996, winning world titles at 140 and 147 pounds along the way. Owner of wins against Micky Ward, Junior Witter, Cory Spinks and Lucas Matthysse, the 35-year-old southpaw has also squared off with the best of this era, including Floyd Mayweather, Kostya Tszyu, Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan and Danny Garcia, who he recently extended the 12-round distance in a memorable championship bout in April. But to get back into a title fight, Judah must first successfully defeat Malignaggi.

A former junior welterweight and welterweight world champion known as “The Magic Man,” Paulie Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KO’s) built an early reputation for talking a good game, but when the bell rang, his skills backed up his boasts. Despite his flashy style in and out of the ring, the 32-year-old has proven himself to be a true warrior, as evidenced by his victories over Juan Diaz, Lovemore Ndou, Vyacheslav Senchenko and Pablo Cesar Cano, and his battles with Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Amir Khan. Coming off of a razor-thin split decision loss to Adrien Broner in June, Malignaggi’s return to the ring has him more amped up than ever.

After graduating from the legendary Cuban amateur boxing program, Guantanamo’s Erislandy Lara (18-1-2, 12 KO’s) began his quest for professional glory in 2008, eventually settling in Miami. By 2011, he was one of the sport’s unsung heroes, with the only blemishes on his record being a controversial draw with Carlos Molina and a majority decision loss to Paul Williams that most consider to be one of the worst decisions in recent history. Since then, Lara has done his best to take matters out of the judges’ hands, going 3-0-1 with technical knockouts of Ronald Hearns and Alfredo Angulo. Lara’s win over Angulo in June of this year earned the 30-year-old southpaw the interim WBA Championship, and he will look to defend his interim title on Dec. 7.

Slick southpaw Austin “No Doubt” Trout (26-1, 14 KO’s) operated under the mainstream radar for many years, but the Las Cruces, New Mexico native never lost sight of his goals, knowing that he would capitalize on his first big opportunity. That opportunity came in February of 2011, when he traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico to take on Rigoberto Alvarez. In that bout, Trout won a 12-round unanimous decision and the vacant WBA Super Welterweight title, a crown he successfully defended four times with victories over David Lopez, Frank LoPorto, Delvin Rodriguez, and Miguel Cotto. In April, Trout lost his title in a hard-fought match with WBC champion Canelo Alvarez, but this December, the 28-year-old gets his chance to take the belt back.

After blasting through his first six opponents as a professional, Staten Island’s “Sir” Marcus Browne (7-0, 6 KO’s) proved that he could go the distance as well in his most recent bout, as he pounded out an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Lamont Williams at Barclays Center. On Dec. 7, the 22-year-old former Olympian seeks his eighth consecutive win.

A full undercard will be announced shortly.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/paulmalignaggi, www.twitter.com/SuperJudah,www.twitter.com/Laraboxing, www.twitter.com/nodoubttrout, www.twitter.com/SirMarcusBrowne, www.twitter.com/barclayscenter and www.twitter.com/SHOSports, follow the conversation using #BrooklynBoxing become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

MONTREAL, Canada (October 15, 2013) – As undefeated light welterweight Dierry “Dougy Style” Jean (25-0, 17 KOs) patiently waits from his world title shot against International Boxing Federation (IBF) Lamont “Havoc” Peterson (31-2-1, 16 KOs), the IBF’s No. 1-ranked, mandatory light welterweight challenger took some time out to sit on the hot seat.

What are your three favorite fights of all-time?

Dierry Jean: “Oh, there are so many. Most recently, I enjoyed watching the fight between Danny Garcia and Lucas Mathysse . Both guys went to war but one was smarter than the other. Garcia got shuffled a bit but after the fourth round he was able to manage the situation and out-box Mathysse. I would also say Floyd Mayweather’s fight with ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Wow! Mayweather simply out-boxed ‘Canelo.’ It was amazing! Otherwise, for the third fight, there are so many that it is too difficult for me to choose another one.”

What fight would you like to see one day?

Dierry Jean: “I ‘d like to see Dierry Jean against Floyd Mayweather (laughs). I have the style to beat Floyd.”

Who has been your model or inspiration in life?

Dierry Jean: “Camille Estephan (his promoter) inspires me a lot. Thanks to him I am here today and still in the boxing world. He truely is a model for me. He exudes positive energy and is very motivating.”

Who would you choose if you could face any boxer of all-time?

Dierry Jean: “Sugar’ Ray Leonard because he had almost the same style as me. He was a good boxer: explosive, skilled, and talented. I think it would be a great match.”

What music do you listen to during training sessions?

Dierry Jean: “I don’t listen to music while I train. If I did it would be hip-hop or any type of music that’s moving. What really motivates me in training is thinking about victory.”

What is your entrance song?

Dierry Jean: “The last song I used was, American Dream, by rapper Le Tito. There is another artist preparing a special song for my next fight. I will keep it to myself so it’ll be a surprise.”

What led you to becoming a boxer?

Dierry Jean: “One day I had a premonition, a dream, in which I was boxing. The next day, I was approached by (former world champion) Joachim Alcine This is what made me go to the gym for the first time.”

How would you describe yourself as a boxer ?

Dierry Jean: “I’m a pretty complete fighter: fast, a brawler but with style.”

Do you have a ritual before your fight?

Dierry Jean: “I relax and I try not to think too much about my fight. I watch movies, I play Playstation, I get massaged. Then, we go eat pasta with the team and begin our fight preparation.”

What is the most significant fight of your career and why?

Dierry Jean: “The last one against Cleotis Pendarvis because it is the one that allowed me to get a world title fight shot. It’s also because it took place in the United States, in front of a crowd of new fans. This was my chance to make my name and get noticed.”

Would you say it was your hardest fight so far?

Dierry Jean: “No. I finished him in the 4th round! (laughs) But, mentally, as I was fighting on the outside – he was left-handed, fast – things became a bit more stressful for me. But I trusted my strike force and our strategy.”

Of all the advice that Mike Moffa gave you, what would be the most important to you?

Dierry Jean: “Shape in or shape out! (laughs). You’re 100-percent commited to achieving your goal, or you do not invest at all.”

What do you want to achieve in your career?

Dierry Jean: “I want to become world champion and successfully defend my title at least four or five times.”

Do you have any personal goals that you wish to accomplish in your life?

Dierry Jean: “I would like my family to be well; my daughter to be happy and for her to lack nothing. I would also like to open a boxing gym and, perhaps, become a coach.”

What advice would you give to anybody just starting out in boxing?

Dierry Jean: “You must follow your dreams and believe in yourself. Do not be discouraged by obstacles and always give 100-percent.”

For further information about Jean or any of his EOTTM stable-mates visit www.eottm.com, or follow EOTTM and Dierry on Twitter @eotmvd and @DierryJean.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (October 15, 2013) – Iron Mike Productions (IMP) is bringing big-time boxing back to Florida, presenting opening-round action in the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) World Cup of Boxing, on Friday night, November 15, 2013 at 7 p.m. at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Former two-divisional world champion Joan “Little Tyson” Guzman (33-1-1, 20 KOs) has moved up to fight as a welterweight in the WBC World Cup of Boxing. The Dominican Republic native, who was world champion as a super featherweight and super bantamweight, takes on undefeated WBC CABOFE champion Simeon “Candyman” Hardy (10-0, 7 KOs) in the 10-round World Cup main event.

In the other World Cup fight, Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero (14-1, 11 KOs) faces WBC Unites States (USNBC) featherweight champion Romulo Koasicha (20-3, 12 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature. Marrero, also from the Dominican Republic, is coming off his lone loss as a professional this past August, by way of a 12-round decision to Jesus Cuellar for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Interim featherweight title.

The two WBC World Cup of Boxing fights will air live on Fox Sports1.

In a 10-round Special Super Bantamweight Attraction, undefeated Alexei “The Mexican-Cuban” Collado (17-0, 16 KOs) puts his perfect record on the line against an opponent to be determined. Collado has stopped 16 of his 17 victims. The powerful Cuban is world rated at No. 14 by the WBA and No. 15 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Also fighting on the undercard are three hot prospects in separate four-round bouts. Multi-talented featherweight Albert “Prince” Bell (2-0, 1 KO), a 2011 National PAL and 2012 National Golden Gloves champion, returns to the ring on the undercard. Newly-signed IMP fighters, 18-year-old welterweight Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and 20-year-old featherweight Dennis Galarza, will make their much-anticipated pro debuts on the November 15th card. Lubin was a 2012 National Golden Gloves champion.

“We’re looking forward to being at the Seminole Hard Rock to promote our second show,” IMP president and Hall of Famer “Iron” Mike Tyson said. “The World Cup of Boxing celebrates the WBC’s 50th anniversary and we’re very proud to be hosting its second event on November 15th. Our two fighters in the World Cup, Joan Guzman and Claudio Marrero, are both forces to be reckoned with throughout the tournament. Another one of our future world champions, undefeated Alexei Collado, will be in action. We’ll also be showcasing three of the top prospects in boxing, Albert Bell, and newly signed former U.S. amateur standouts Erickson Lubin and Dennis Galarza.”

Opponents will soon be announced, in addition to a seventh fight, for Collado, Bell, Lubin and Galarza. All of the aforementioned boxers, in addition to Guzman and Marrero, are fighting out of Miami.

Tickets cost $79, $59 and $39*; all seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.myhrl.com, ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open 30-minutes prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.

For additional information about the November 15th “WBC World Cup of Boxing” event please visit www.IronMikeProductions.comor follow on Twitter @IronMikeProd.

Iron Mike Productions, previously Acquinity Sports, is a boxing promotion company co-founded and led by CEO Garry Jonas. It is a partnership with Hall of Famer Mike Tyson committed to changing traditional boxing promotion by advocating for its fighters’ successes inside the ring and out, throughout their professional careers and into retirement.

London (15 October) James DeGale MBE will put everything on the line when he faces ‘Dangerous’ Dyah Davis on Saturday November 16th at Glow, Bluewater.

The WBC Silver super middleweight champion, DeGale, aims to give “a great performance” and prove he is “ready” for the best when he defends his title against the tough American, Davis, live on Channel 5.

“I see Davis as a really good test and I want to get in there and stick on a great performance for all the fans and do a good job on him,” DeGale said.

“I’m going to go in there full of confidence, I’m going to be super fit and I’m basically going to go in there and try and get him out of there.”

But Davis is the former NABF super middleweight champion and in 2012 faced the current WBC world super middleweight champion Sakio Bika for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental title.

Boasting a professional record that includes 22 wins and having shared the ring with Bika, lasting until the final round of their 10-round contest, Davis is unfazed and ready to give James a firm test.

“I’m very excited to be facing DeGale,” Davis said.

“I know what I’m up against going into his backyard, I’ve been in this position before and I’m going to do everything I can to come out victorious.

“I did it before against Marcus Johnson, where I was the underdog and going into the fight as the sacrificial lamb against an undefeated fighter and I caused the upset.

“I’m looking to do that again this time out and I’m looking at going home with everything that this man contains right now; including his championship belt and all his positions in the world rankings and sanctioning bodies.”

But, the man fondly known as ‘Chunky’, knows he is close to his world title opportunity and isn’t overlooking his latest opponent.

“I know I’m only a couple of fights away from a world title, so I want to go in there and do a good job on him,” the 2008 Olympic gold medalist said.

“But, that said, I’m not looking passed him, I give everyone I face respect and this is no different.

“Let’s be fair, he’s been in with some top fighters, he’s faced Bika, so if I get in there and do it better than him, I think I’m making a statement and it will show that I am world class.”

This will be James’ third fight of 2013 after demolishing Sebastien Demers inside two rounds on his North American debut and confident stoppage win over Stjepan Bozic in his last fight at Glow, Bluewater.

“I think Davis is a quality test for James and this match will show us just how good James DeGale is,” Mick Hennessy said.

“James is a world class fighter and this will be a perfect opportunity to give the fans what they want – excitement, skills and proof that James is ready for anyone in the division.”

Ticket Information

Tickets for November 16th are priced from £40 and are available to purchase from the following box offices:

Hennessy Sports box office on 01925 755 222 and online at: http://hennessy.ticketline.co.uk

Ticketline on 0844 888 4402 and online at: ticketline.co.uk

Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2500 or online at: ticketmaster.co.uk

Accreditation

For fight accreditation for November 16th please email: leeb@hennessysports.com for an application form.

Applications need to be submitted on or before Friday 8th November 2013. You will be notified of your accreditation status by close of business (5.30pm) on Monday 11th November 2013 via Email.

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 14, 2013) – World Series of Fighting officials are happy to announce the addition of perennial top-ranked middleweight Yushin Okami (29-8) to the company’s roster.

The 32-year-old “Thunder” Okami recently signed a multi-fight deal with the Las Vegas-based World Series of Fighting promotion, and he’s expected to make his first appearance for the company in early 2014.

“We’re extremely excited to announced that Yushin Okami as the newest member of our middleweight division,” World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said. “MMA fans around the world know Yushin has long been among the best 185-pound fighters in the sport, and we’re happy to have him as a member of the World Series of Fighting family.”

A judo black belt, Okami has been competing professionally since 2002. After building an impressive 16-3 record competing largely in his native Japan, Okami in 2006 debuted for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He would go on to fight 18 times for the UFC, including an August 2011 bid for the promotion’s middleweight title.

Okami’s career record includes wins over MMA notables Alan Belcher, Dean Lister, Hector Lombard, Nate Marquardt, Mark Munoz, Anderson Silva, Mike Swick and Evan Tanner, among others.

While Okami’s debut date and opponent have not yet been officially determined, he could prove an immediate title contender in World Series of Fighting’s 185-pound division. The company will crown its first middleweight champion in early 2014, as the winner of World Series of Fighting 7’s Elvis Mutapcic vs. Jesse Taylor bout moves on to meet David Branch in the finals of the company’s four-man middleweight tournament.

About WSOF
World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.