CARLOS ADAMES VS. JULIAN WILLIAMS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

MINNEAPOLIS – June 22, 2023 – Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames and former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams traded barbs at Thursday’s final press conference before they trade blows in the SHOWTIME main event this Saturday, June 24 in a Premier Boxing Champions event at The Armory in Minneapolis.

Thursday’s press conference also featured fighters competing on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® undercard including super welterweight contender Luis “Cuba” Arias, who meets Erickson “Hammer” Lubin in the 10-round co-main event, plus super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez and unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea, who battle for Martinez’s IBF world title in the telecast opener.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster. Lubin vs. Arias is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.

Adames was welcomed by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night at Target Field  as he exchanged a glove and jersey with Twins starting pitcher Pablo López before the Twins hosted the Boston Red Sox. Adames also met with fellow Dominican and visiting Red Sox superstar Rafael Devers, gifting him a personalized glove. (Click HERE for Devers and Adames photos from Matt Krohn/Major League Baseball)

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from Minneapolis:

CARLOS ADAMES

“I’ve been in the gym training hard with a spectacular team. Williams is bait on a hook ready to get devoured by the big fish. He should know that he’s in a bad spot right now.

“I can feel him shaking. If you’re hesitant, it’s because you don’t know what you’re getting into. I want him to tell us how he really feels.  

“I’m here to give a great fight to the fans of Minneapolis. I’m very thankful to be fighting here and to be embraced by the city.

“If you’ve seen me hurt, that’s because you have bad eyesight. I’m right here and I’m gonna be at my best on Saturday night

“If you like this back and forth, you’ll love the fight. I’m glad this was fun, but I want everyone to know that I’m bringing my best. Julian has no idea what he’s getting into. I’m gonna overwhelm him.

“I’m going to have to be steady in the ring and work a lot, especially early. I’m going to be patient, follow my game plan and the win is going to come because of how steady I am in the ring.

“Even though the fans in the Dominican Republic are far away, they motivate me to win not just for myself, but for all of them.

“It was great to meet Pablo Lopez at the Twins game. Baseball has always been part of my life, and to be embraced for my accomplishments at the highest level of boxing by a first-class franchise like the Twins meant a lot to me. Minneapolis is a great sports town, and I hope Twins fans come out to enjoy a great fight on Saturday night as well.”

JULIAN WILLIAMS

“I’ve watched tape on him and he’s not unbeatable. He’s a good fighter, but I’ve seen him down, I’ve seen him tired and I’ve seen him hurt. He’s no boogeyman.

“This fight can definitely rejuvenate my career. I don’t think people fear him yet. He only hit the scene last year. All that about him being avoided is just talk.

“I’m not letting Adames know anything and I don’t have to say anything. We’re gonna show up and settle it in the ring like men on Saturday night.

“This dude is a bully. I don’t have to go back and forth with him and argue about what we’re gonna do. I’m gonna show up on Saturday night. Believe it.

“I’m locked in. I know what this is and I know what he is. It’s gonna show up in the fight. I’m a man and you cannot scare me.

“I’m going to deliver a spectacular performance on Saturday night. The fans can definitely expect that. I’m getting my hand raised.”

LUIS ARIAS

“I think for this fight, all the pressure is on Lubin. We have to see what he’s like. He’s got a lot of questions he has to answer.

“I’m the worst type of fight for Lubin. We’re gonna find out immediately how that chin is holding up because I’m in dog shape. So I’m coming to make my statement and put my name in the mix.

“Once I knock Lubin off, that’ll be two top contenders I’ve knocked off. It’s all about timing. My title shot is coming. After Saturday night, you’re gonna see that I’m a top dog. You’re gonna have to mention me among the best in the division.

“Lubin is not Superman. He’s a human and he’s gonna have to figure out if he can bounce back. I know exactly how him and his team train. I sparred two world champions getting ready for this fight. I was sparring Adames. So there’s nothing that Lubin can do that I haven’t seen before.

“Saturday I’m gonna show who the real Luis Arias is. I’ve had a great training camp for this fight and I’ve had my mind set on Lubin for almost a year. I’ve been ready for this fight. You’re gonna see a prime, fresh Luis Arias.”

FERNANDO MARTINEZ

“It’s not gonna be easy for him. He’s going to have to lay It all out in the ring to win that belt. For me, this is the battlefield. The fans are going to be the winner.

“He thinks he’s hungry, but I’m hungrier. I’m going to put on a show and prove to everyone that I’m not only the champion, but I’m the champion who’s going to be here for years to come.

“The fans here are going to see that I’m the ‘mini Mike Tyson’. You’re going to love watching me fight. I’m going to go out there and give the best that I have. You’re not gonna want to miss one second of this fight.

“I’m going to keep fighting until the final bell. I’ve prepared hard and I know that I’m prepared to be at my best on Saturday night.”

JADE BORNEA

“For me this is the most important fight of my career. I’ve sacrificed everything in the last year to earn this chance to take on the reigning champion.

“This  has been my dream. I’ve worked so hard to become world champion. I’m not going to give an inch. I know that I can’t waste this opportunity to become world champion.

“I am ready for anything that Martinez brings to me in the fight. I’ve prepared for this for a long time, so I know exactly what I have to do.”

#         #         #

ABOUT ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS

Adames vs. Williams will see hard-hitting Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in the 12-round main event of action live on SHOWTIME® Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features top super welterweight contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and Luis “Cuba” Arias squaring off in the 10-round co-main event. Super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez will put his IBF title on the line against unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea in the telecast opener.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster. Lubin vs. Arias is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sportswww.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #AdamesWilliams follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.




OTX Announces Dozens of Fighters Participating in August Series

BROOKLYN, NY (June 22, 2023) – OTX (Overtime Boxing) announced today the signings of more than 30 fighters that will be competing in the property’s inaugural summer series in August at OTE Arena in Atlanta. The list includes top next generation fighters in the sport across various weight classes. The remaining fighters and match-ups will be announced in the weeks leading up to the events.

“I was hoping that I’d be a part of it [OTX]. I knew this was a platform that could introduce me to the world and ultimately that’s what I’ve been needing,” said Elijah Pierce, who fights out of Atlanta. “I’ve been patient. I’ve fought my way back. It’s been a long hard journey and now it’s my turn.”

“I watch their videos on Tik Tok of basketball, Rob Dillingham and the twins. I was like, Overtime boxing? That would be fire for me,” said middleweight fighter Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson. “I’m young like those guys.,  exciting. And it’s an amazing opportunity.”

In August, OTX will host a summer series with four Friday night match cards featuring the sport’s next stars at OTE Arena. DAZN will serve as OTX’s exclusive media rights partner in Year 1 and Nutrabolt, owner of the C4 Energy® brand, an industry leader in mental and performance energy, has signed on as an inaugural sponsor.

FIGHT NIGHTS:

Dates                                                      Location                                 Time

Friday, August 4, 2023                        OTE Arena – Atlanta, GA     7:30pm

Friday, August 11, 2023                      OTE Arena – Atlanta, GA     7:30pm

Friday, August 18, 2023                      OTE Arena – Atlanta, GA     7:30pm

Friday, August 25, 2023                      OTE Arena – Atlanta, GA     7:30pm

FIGHTERS:

Name                                                     Residence                                              W/L Record

Elijah Pierce                                          Midwest City, OK                                 17- 2

Mike Plania                                           General Santos City,  Philippines      28 -2

Lorenzo “Truck” Simpson                   Baltimore, MD                                      13-0

Vlad Hernandez                                   Stockton, CA                                         13-5

Narciso Carmona                                 Seville, Spain                                        12-0-1

Sanny Duversonne                               Avon Park, CA                                       12-5-2

Luis Garcia                                             Richmond, CA                                       13-2-1

Haven Brady Jr.                                     Albany, GA                                             9-0

Edwin Rodriguez                                  Juana Diaz, PR                                      11-6-2

Gabriel Muratalla                                Fontana, CA                                          9-0

Xavian Ramirez                                     Morrill, NE                                             4-0

Ricardo Galvan                                     Reno, NV                                               4-0

Raul Salomon                                       Long Beach, CA                                    12-1

Tyler Howard                                        Crossville, TN                                        19-1

David Navarro                                       Hemet, CA                                             5-1

D’Angelo Fuentes                                 Coconut Creek, FL                                8-1

Giovanni Marquez                               Houston, TX                                          5-0

Nicky Vitone                                         Pine Brook, NJ                                      9-2-1

Money Powell                                      Fort Mitchell, AL                                  13-1

Javon Campbell                                    Raleigh, NC                                           12-1

Leanna Cruz                                          Allentown, PA                                       5-0

Javier Zamarron                                   Sheboygan, WI                                     3-0

Andreas Katzourakis                            Los Angeles, CA                                    10-0

Raphael Igbokwe                                 Houston, TX                                          16-4

Luis Acosta                                            Houston, TX                                          13-1

Christian Barreto                                  Arecibo, PR                                           9-0

Abel Gonzalez                                       Hialeah, FL                                            5-0

Robert Magee                                      Saint Louis, MI                                      8-0-2

Paola Torres                                          San Antonio, TX                                    13-8-1

Matches will be held at OTE Arena in Atlanta featuring both male and female pro boxers. All fights will be streamed on DAZN with additional content distributed over Overtime’s social channels. Fans will have access to year-round content of next gen boxers as they prepare and train, as well as out of the ring storytelling fueling fandom and building the boxer’s personal brands. Overtime’s core mission is about empowering young people to chase their dreams and OTX is about providing fighters the platform to do so.

For more information please visit: https://otboxing.com/

About Overtime

Overtime builds disruptive new sports leagues aimed globally at the next generation sports fan and athlete. Overtime owns and operates, OTE in basketball and OT7 in football, and leverages digital-first content across its network of accounts engaging its community of over 90 million fans and followers. Overtime’s business model is driven by sponsorships, brand relationships, e-commerce, licensing and media rights.

Overtime is funded by top VC firms, industry leaders, and athletes, including Liberty Media Corporation, Andreessen Horowitz, Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Sapphire Sport, Winslow Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Spark Capital, Micromanagement Ventures (the family of the late David Stern), Black Capital, Blackstone Strategic Partners, Alexis Ohanian, Drake, Quavo and 40+ NBA and NFL stars including Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Trae Young. Over 6% of active NBA players have invested in Overtime. The company is led by CEO and Co-Founder Dan Porter, an innovative thought leader with 30+ years of experience in mobile gaming, education, media and marketplaces.




FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS AND TOP PROSPECT HIGHLIGHT THREE-FIGHT SHOWTIME BOXING® COUNTDOWN SHOW THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 24 AT 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT

MINNEAPOLIS – June 21, 2023 – Three showdowns featuring the return of two former world champions and an exciting rising prospect will highlight the SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN live streaming presentation this Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

Action live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT and is topped by former world champion Caleb “Golden” Truax taking on Burley Brooks in a 10-round light heavyweight clash. The lineup will also see former world champion Jerwin Ancajas duel Colombia’s Wilner Soto in an eight-round super bantamweight attraction, and all-action super lightweight prospect Mickel Spencer facing Lyle McFarlane in a four-round bout. The live stream is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell.

These fights precede a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader headlined by top middleweight Carlos Adames defending his Interim WBC Middleweight Title against former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in a telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster. Lubin vs. Arias is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.

A native of Osseo, Minn., Truax (31-5-2, 19 KOs) will return to fight at The Armory for the third time on Saturday night, as he looks to thrill his hometown fans in his first action since dropping a January 2021 world title fight to Caleb Plant by decision. Truax captured a 168-pound world title in December 2017, traveling to the U.K. to upset James DeGale and bring the belt back to The Gopher State. He will be opposed by the 27-year-old Brooks (6-2-1, 5 KOs), a Dallas-native who is guided by award-winning trainer Derrick James. Brooks began his career with six victories before losing narrow decisions to Marco Delgado and Cameron Sevilla Rivera. Most recently, Brooks fought Rivera to a split-draw in August 2021.

The 31-year-old Ancajas (33-3-2, 22 KOs) steps back into action after dropping a pair of decisions in world title fights against Fernando Martinez February and October of 2022. Fighting out of Panabo City, Davao Del Norte, Philippines, Ancajas won the 115-pound title in a lopsided unanimous decision victory over McJoe Arroyo in 2016 where he dropped his opponent in the eighth round and cruised to victory. Ancajas would go on to make nine successful defenses of the title before running into Martinez. He will take on the 32-year-old Soto (22-12,12 KOs), who most recently lost a decision to Jonathan Rodriguez in March. A native of Canalete, Colombia, Soto has faced a slew of top fighters throughout his career, including former unified 122-pound champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

Spencer (3-0, 2 KOs) is the younger brother of exciting super welterweight Joey Spencer and turned pro in August 2021 with a unanimous decision victory over Eliseo Villalobos. The 19-year-old from Linden, Mich., most recently wowed the crowd at The Armory in February with a sensational first-round stoppage of Margarito Hernandez. He faces the 26-year-old McFarlane, who fights out of Tulsa, Okla., and enters this fight having won back-to-back contests.

The non-televised undercard will feature super middleweight Shawn McCalman (12-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round fight taking on Bo Gibbs Jr. (23-3, 9 KOs), super featherweight prospect Robert Meriwether III (3-0, 2 KOs) battling Ezra Rabin (1-1, 1 KO) in a four-round attraction, and Cincinnati’s Ray Robinson (1-0) dueling Ryan Raglin (3-9-1, 3 KOs) in a four-round featherweight showdown.

#         #         #

ABOUT ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS

Adames vs. Williams will see hard-hitting Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in the 12-round main event of action live on SHOWTIME® Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features top super welterweight contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and Luis “Cuba” Arias squaring off in the 10-round co-main event. Super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez will put his IBF title on the line against unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea in the telecast opener.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sportswww.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #AdamesWilliams follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.




“THE RECONQUEST” EVELIN BERMUDEZ vs. KIM CLAVEL UNIFIED IBF/WBO JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP October 7 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada

MONTREAL (June 21, 2023) — Groupe Yvon Michel, in association with O.R. Promotions, is happy to confirm that Montreal junior flyweight Kim Clavel (17-0-1, 3 KOs) is finally returning to fight in another world championship.

The former World Boxing Council (WBC) world middleweight champion will try to conquer Argentinian Evelin “The Little Princess” Nazarena Bermudez (18-1-1, 6 KOs), the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Light Flyweight on October 7 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada. This will be the third world title fight for the 32-year-old Clavel (1-1), and the 10th (7-1-1) for Bermudez, 26.

Clavel’s third fight in 2023, coming off her May 12th victory over Naomi Arellano Reyes (9-3, 5 KOs) in another breathtaking performance. Fans remember the incredible confrontation this past January 13th with World Boxing Association (WBA) world junior flyweight champion Yesica Nery Plata (29-2-0, 3 KOs), when Clavel lost a decision as well as her WBC crown.

October 7 is the real RECONQUEST for Clavel, who gets a second chance to be crowned as a world champion by two different sanctioning bodies. She is ranked as the No. 1 contender by both the WBO and the IBF.

“My journey has not been easy, I have never taken detours, but I have shaped myself and now nothing can stop me,” Clavel said. “I want to thank champion Evelin Bermudez for giving me this opportunity to win her titles. I know that she is a great champion and that she is confident in her abilities. I’m going to need all of Quebec behind me, I trust that with my team, my perseverance and all of you, that on October 7th I will be world champion again. Thank you for your eternal support.”

“I am extremely motivated with my team to guide Kim towards the conquest of two world titles,” said Kim’s coach, Danielle Bouchard. “The task will be difficult since Bermudez is an excellent boxer. Kim, however, has the determination, perseverance, and doggedness to win those belts. Her greatest desire: to become world champion again. Together and with everyone’s support, we will succeed! »

Bermudez, fighting out of Santa Fe, Argentina, started her career in 2016 as a 19-year-old. She won her first world title fight in 2018 by dethroning Mexican Maria Guadalupe Bautista (21-11-2, 4 KOs) at her home in Argentina for the IBF light flyweight title. She added the WBO crown in 2022 with a brutal knockout of Debora Rengifo (19-11-1, 11 KOs), of Caracas, Venezuela. After seven successive IBF and one WBO title defenses, she lost by majority decision to Costa Rican Yokasta Valle (28-2, 9KO), who is also IBF / WBO world champion of the minimum division (105 pounds), in Carson, California. The latter immediately abandoned her two new junior flyweight titles (108 pounds) which allows Bermudez to win them back, this past March in Buenos Aires against previously undefeated Mexican Tania Enriquez (20-0, 9 KOs).

Now world champion once again, Bermudez is confident of retaining her crowns: “I have always said that champions must face the best and Kim Clavel is part of this group,” she commented. “She may have the advantage of fighting at home, but I am a proud and racy Argentina. I’ll give you a good show and return home with my belts.”

“To be the best, you have to beat the best,” added O.R. Promotions CEO Georgina Rivero. “Evelin is ripe for proving her eminence and a win over Clavel is the best way to prove it.”

“It is with great enthusiasm and confidence that we offer this challenge to Kim and this gift to her many supporters,” GYM President Yvon Michel remarked. “We remember the great intense and passionate fight between the two champions last January. Moreover, this one is still in the running for the 2023 Fight of the Year. The 4,000 spectators at Place Bell are still shaking. Next October 7th, the task promises to be difficult but, supported by a passionate and noisy crowd, we will have a new champion in Quebec!”

Tickets go on sale in July and will be available to purchase on line at www.ticketmaster.ca  and directly at GYM at info@groupeyvonmichel.ca. Details will be published shortly.

“LA RECONQUÊTE” is presented by Mise-O-Jeu, in collaboration with Bell Media.

Clavel won her WBC crown on July 29, 2022, in Montreal, beating defending champion Yesenia Gomez (19-5-3) by 10-round unanimous decision at the Montreal Casino, in a dazzling performance that unanimously delighted the people of Quebec.

At the height of the COVID19 pandemic, Clavel returned to nursing to help the elderly of Montreal. On the international scene, his courage and generosity have been recognized. She received the prestigious 2020 Pat Tillman Award at that year’s ESPY ceremony on ESPN, Time Magazine recognized her as a “Next Generation Leader” and the WBC presented her with the “Humanitarian Award.”

Other Oct. 7th fights will be announced in the coming days.

Quebec promotional tour: Kim Clavel has expressed an interest in meeting Quebec boxing fans at home during the summer. Groupe Yvon Michel has reserved August 8, 9 and 10 to set up a caravan and travel to Chicoutimi, Quebec, Rimouski, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Saint-Hyacinthe, and Gatineau. Kim Clavel will be accompanied by her coaches Danielle Bouchard and Stéphane Larouche. The president of GYM, Yvon Michel, will be on the tour as well as several boxers concerned in the gala on October 7th. More details will be communicated after the GYM boxing gala on July 27 at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal.

#GroupeYM #LARECONQUÊTE #ClavelBermudez

ABOUT YVON MICHEL GROUP (GYM):  Groupe Yvon Michel is a professional boxing promotion organization, founded in 2004 by Yvon Michel, Alexandra Croft and Bernard Barré, who are still active in the company, the most prolific in the history of professional boxing in Canada. Since its foundation GYM has set up 167 galas in Quebec, all broadcast in Quebec on RDS, TVA Sports or Radio-Canada, and participated in 37 international galas outside Quebec. Eight boxers have become world champions, Joachim Alcine, Jean Pascal, Adonis Stevenson, Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez, Marie-Eve Dicaire (twice), Oscar Rivas and Kim Clavel. 19 boxers from the organization have delivered 56 world championship fights maintaining an excellent record of 30 wins, 24 losses and 2 draws. During this period, the major American television networks were more active than ever in coming to Quebec to broadcast the most important events of the organization.




July 1: Charles Martin to Fight Jared Anderson in High-Octane Heavyweight Main Event at Toledo’s Huntington Center LIVE on ESPN

TOLEDO, Ohio (June 21, 2023) — The homecoming for heavyweight sensation Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson is still on, but the man in the opposing corner has changed. After undefeated Kazakh contender Zhan Kossobutskiy was forced to withdraw due to a delay in obtaining his visa, former world champion “Prince” Charles Martin has stepped up to face Anderson on Saturday, July 1 at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
 
Anderson-Martin and a 10-round heavyweight co-feature between unbeaten punchers Arslanbek Makhmudov and Nigeria’s Raphael Akpejiori will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Warriors Boxing, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
 
“We weren’t going to let anything spoil the Toledo party,” Anderson said. “I have a new opponent, but it will be the same outcome.”
 
Martin said, “I’ve always said I will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. If I have to fight on less than two weeks’ notice to get a big opportunity, so be it. I’m ready. And since I can’t get the best guys from my generation to fight me, I’ll fight the best guy from the new generation. My goal is to become a two-time heavyweight champion. I have to beat Jared Anderson to accomplish my goal.”
 
Anderson (14-0, 14 KOs) has only been extended past three rounds twice in a career that began with a first-round stoppage in October 2019. From April 2021 to December 2022, he notched five consecutive second-round knockouts, including one over the normally durable Jerry Forrest. Anderson began his 2023 campaign in April with a third-round stoppage over the previously undefeated George Arias. Martin (29-3-1, 26 KOs), a 37-year-old St. Louis native, captured the IBF heavyweight world title in January 2016 with a third-round TKO over Vyacheslav Glazkov. Martin lost his title to Anthony Joshua less than three months later, but he has remained a force on the heavyweight scene. He is 62 since the Joshua setback, including a highlight-reel stoppage over Gerald Washington in 2020. Martin is coming off a fourth-round knockout against Devin Vargas last September in Los Angeles.




BERLANGA: EDDIE HEARN HAS A VISION FOR HIS FIGHTERS

Edgar Berlanga is ready to start a new chapter in his career with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom – starting with his clash with Jason Quigley at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.
 TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT TICKETMASTER.COMBerlanga (20-0 16 KOs) tore through his first 16 fights in sensational fashion, ending each one inside the distance in an astonishing from his debut in June 2016 to December 2020.

The 26 year old Brooklyn star has been a huge hit in the Big Apple, packing the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden with his loyal hometown and Puerto Rican support in his most recent battles with Steve Rolls and Alexis Angulo. 

‘The Chosen One’ sits at #4 with the WBO and IBF and at #6 with the WBA, and fights for the first time under the Matchroom banner after signing a long-term multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn in February – and Berlanga feels right at home with his new promoter and is ready to turn on the style on Saturday night.

“I’m excited, the build-up has been great, camp has gone well, I’m in my backyard and I’m main event at the garden – it’s big,” said Berlanga.

“Eddie has a vision for his fighters. A lot of promoters don’t have a good relationship with their fighters; Eddie and I have been working for five months and we have chemistry already with the whole team, Eddie, Frank Smith, Kevin Rooney – the vibe is different, the energy is good, they want to see me win and go to the top.

“It was a crazy time when the news got out that I was a free agent. I got a call from Floyd Mayweather, Oscar flew in from LA, PBC were in touch and so, of course, was Eddie. I was anxious, excited; I had a lot of options, but Matchroom came through with the best deal and I’m excited to get started. 

“Jason is a great fighter. He thinks I’m overlooking him, maybe I am in the sense that I believe I am on a different level to him. The fights that I want to make happen, I must perform this weekend, I need to look spectacular. So, I am not overlooking him, far from it, but I want to prove that I am better than him.

“I’ve looked him in the eyes, we’ll do it again on Thursday, and on Friday, and then fight night, it’s on, time to take off the shackles and unleash the beast. There’s going to be more tension as the week goes on – he’s in my hometown, he’s going to be in the trenches on Saturday.

“I needed the rounds. I am back with Mark Farrait, my coach that created the monster, and that’s amazing. We were separated for three years but now he’s back when the timing is important, and I think you’re going to see something explosive. 

“I have a lot to prove to myself. I have a chip on my shoulder. If the knockout comes that’s great, but I have to go in and handle my business. Look sharp, smart, do my thing.”

Berlanga’s clash with Quigley is part of a stacked night of action in the Big Apple, with New York fan favorites featuring heavily.

Brooklyn Heavyweight Adam Kownacki (20-3 15 KOs) returns after almost a year out of the ring and is aiming to return to winning ways over ten rounds against Virginia’s Joe Cusumano (21-4 19 KOs). 

Staten Island’s Reshat Mati (13-0 7 KOs) remains unbeaten in the paid ranks, and the talented Super-Lightweight fights over ten rounds for the second time against West Virginia’s Dakota Linger (13-5-3 9 KOs).

The DAZN main broadcast commences at 8pm ET with Puerto Rican sensation Yankiel Rivera (3-0 2 KOs) stepping through the ropes for the fourth time and the second over eight rounds, taking on unbeaten Californian Christian Robles (8-0 3 KOs).

The Before the Bell action is headlined by New Jersey’s Light-Heavyweight starlet Khalil Coe (5-0-1 3 KOs) as he meets unbeaten Canadian Buneet Bisla (7-0 3 KOs) over eight rounds. Two more unbeaten New Yorkers feature in six round bouts on Before the Bell, as Welterweight Pablo Valdez (6-0 5 KOs) faces Demian Daniel Fernandez (14-4 5 KOs) and Ofacio Falcon (9-0 6 KOs) kicks the night off against Pedro Vicente (7-5-1 2 KOs) in a Super-Featherweight contest.




IT’S NUMBER 1 vs NUMBER 2 WHEN JOSHUA BUATSI AND DAN AZEEZ BATTLE IN WBA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT FINAL ELIMINATOR

U.K. June 21, 2023. — The World Boxing Association (WBA) has made it official that the WBA No. 1 world ranked light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi will face the WBA No. 2 world ranked light heavyweight Dan “Super” Azeez in the “WBA Light Heavyweight Final Eliminator.”

Buatsi and Azeez have been ranked No. 1 & No. 2 since November 2022.

Boxxer, the promoter of both fighters, will promote the bout set to take place in England, on August 19, 2023.

The winner will become mandatory challenger to the WBA Super Champion Dmitry Bivol.

Buatsi (17-0, 13 KOs), who was born in Accra, Ghana, now resides in Croydon, London. He entered contender status after scoring ten consecutive wins by knockout. Buatsi followed that steak with a big unanimous decision win over former world title challenger and then WBA No. 10 ranked Craig Richards on May 21, 2022. In Buatsi’s most recent bout on May 6, he dominated against former Polish Champion and IBF Inter Continental Champion and undefeated Pawel Stepien, winning by unanimous decision.

Azeez (19-0, 13 KOs) from Lewisham, London made his way up the WBA rankings with big wins in the past year. On March 26, 2022, a knockout win over once beaten Reece Cartwright earned Azeez a top ten ranking at No. 6. By his next fight, September 3, 2022 against Shaken Pitters, Azeez was ranked No. 4. He beat Pitters handily which vaulted him to his current ranking of No. 2.

For more info on BOXXER, click HERE




COMBAT SPORTS VETERANS CHRIS AVILA AND JEREMY STEPHENS TO FACE OFF ON JAKE PAUL VS. NATE DIAZ UNDERCARD ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 5TH AT THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER IN DALLAS, TEXAS

DALLAS – June 21, 2023 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (Real Fight) announced the dynamic matchup between two combat sports mainstays Chris Avila (3-1) vs. Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens (0-0-1). The bout is set to take place on the Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz pay-per-view card live from the American Airlines Center on August 5th in Dallas, TX.

Avila, fresh off a dominating unanimous decision victory over 5-2 professional boxer Paul Bamba will look to keep it going against Stephens, an exciting fighter with knockout power, who is coming off an impressive majority draw against Hall of Famer Jose Aldo in his boxing debut. The seasoned combat sports veterans will take the ring in an eight-round matchup contested at 168 lbs. The Paul vs. Diaz pay-per-view will be distributed globally by DAZN PPV. In the US and Canada in addition to DAZN PPV, Paul vs. Diaz will be available on all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

All tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.com/mvp-jake-paul-v-nate-diaz-dallas-texas-08-05-2023/event/0C005EA581B12549

A veteran of both the UFC and Bellator, Chris Avila (3-1) has made the walk for 18 professional fights and has never been stopped or hurt during his time in the cage and ring. Fighting under the Real Fight, Inc. banner, Avila is a staple at the iconic Nick Diaz Academy in Stockton, CA and a regular training partner of Ready4War headliner, Nate Diaz.   After making the full time transition to boxing, Avila beat Anthony Taylor in a super middleweight boxing match in December 2021 and boasted clean sweeps against “Dr. Mike” Varshavski last October and Paul Bamba this past April. With a reputation as an aggressive fighter, Avila’s calling card is an overhand right, which landed him two first round KOs in 2021 in MMA fights as part of his five fight winning streak in combat sports.

“My last three fights I have settled the score with Taylor, and beat up a doctor and a dork,”  said Avila. “I’m looking for the best fights and the toughest fights. Jeremy has been around a long time and fought everyone in MMA. But he hasn’t fought me so let’s see what’s up over 8 rounds on August 5th in Dallas.”

“Chris is the first fighter signed under the Real Fight, Inc. banner and his career in combat sports speaks to what the brand represents,” said Zach Rosenfield, President of Real Fight, Inc.  “Jeremy has built a career on explosive fights that the fans love and matches up with Chris’s desire to fight an accomplished opponent who is willing to stand in the center of the ring and fight him.”

Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens is an American professional mixed martial artist and boxer who has competed in the UFC and PFL’s lightweight division and recently made his professional boxing debut against UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo. Known as an exciting fighter with an “out of the box” style, Stephens is a 3x UFC Knockout of the Night, 6x Fight of the Night, and 1x Performance of the Night winner and has the second most knockdowns in UFC history.

“I am super excited to be in these times of MMA mixing with boxing – it is a huge opportunity,” said Jeremy Stephens. “And to have all the eyes in the world on this card, I plan on stealing the fucking show and giving the fans the ‘too hot for TV’ type performance that I always bring. I have a game opponent, and I’m going to highlight and leave people in memory of my performance. Knowing the world is watching me being my authentic self gets me pumped and I love it!!! This is life right now, LFG. War!”

Most Valuable Promotions, founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, and Real Fight, Inc., founded by Diaz, are partnering to bring Paul vs. Diaz to global audiences. The strategic partnership will combine the star power and international reach of both fighters to promote the year’s biggest fight. The event will be distributed globally by DAZN PPV. In the US and Canada in addition to DAZN PPV, Paul vs. Diaz will be available on all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

For more information, follow on Twitter via @MostVPromotions, @LilHeathenMMA, @chrisavila209, and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @LilHeathenMMA, @chrisavila209, @MostValuablePromotions, and @DAZNBoxing.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last four global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Fury match, which surpassed 800,000 Pay-per-view buys worldwide. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head-to-head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Real Fight, Inc.

Founded by mixed martial arts legend Nate Diaz, in 2022, Real Fight Inc. promotes exactly what the name suggests — the fights people want to see, featuring the realest fighters from all over the world. Since his departure from the UFC, Diaz is extending his business empire with a true all-around combat experience that will focus on boxing, MMA, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The inaugural event under the Real Fight, Inc. banner is set to take place on August 5, 2023, when Diaz makes his long-awaited professional boxing debut against Jake Paul at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.  The card will also feature RFI fighters, Chris Avila, Alan Sanchez, Jose Aguayo and Luciano Ramos

About DAZN:

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.? Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, La Liga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.?

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.? DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.?

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DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.?

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to a ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.  

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.??

About American Airlines Center:

Designed by architectural wizard David M. Schwarz and Dallas based HKS, Inc., American Airlines Center is considered one of the nation’s top arenas. Since opening its doors in 2001, the Center has been setting the precedent for sporting and live entertainment events. Bringing in a wide variety of big name shows as well as being home of both the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, American Airlines Center consistently displays its unique versatility. Billboard Magazine named American Airlines Center the 6th busiest arena in the world in 2022.




SATURDAY: Slawa Spomer-Felice Moncelli Junior Middleweight Showdown to Stream LIVE and Exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+

(June 21, 2023) — Undefeated German contender Slawa Spomer will defend his WBO Global junior middleweight title against Italy’s Felice Moncelli in the 10-round main event this Saturday, June 24 at the Eisstadion in Spomer’s hometown of Heilbronn, Germany. 

Spomer-Moncelli and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT. 

Spomer (17-0, 8 KOs) started his pro career in 2018 with a first-round knockout win against Robizoni Omsarashvili. In 2020, he dropped down to junior middleweight to defeat Philipp Wiesenhofer for a German title and has since made his mark in the division with wins over then-unbeaten Jose Gregorio Suero in November 2021 and a first-round stoppage against Victor Ionascu in June 2022. Last December, the 30-year-old defeated Egzon Maliqaj via 10-round unanimous decision. Ranked No. 10 by the WBO, Spomer looks to inch closer to a world title opportunity. Moncelli (24-7-1, 6 KOs) is an 11-year veteran who returns after a seventh-round TKO victory in a rematch against previously undefeated contender Ahmad Ali last September. 

In other streaming action from Heilbronn, Germany:

  • Former world title challenger Vincent Feigenbutz (35-3, 31 KOs) makes his 2023 debut in an eight-round middleweight fight against hard-hitting Argentinean Marcos Jesus Cornejo (19-7, 18 KOs). Feigenbutz is 4-0 with three knockouts since challenging Caleb Plant for the IBF super middleweight world title in February 2020. 
     
  • Undefeated Russian-born prospect Hamsat Shadalov (5-0, 1 KO) will face South Africa’s David Rajuili (13-10-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round lightweight tilt. Shadalov, who represented Germany at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, will make his third appearance of 2023 after decision wins over Claudio Lionel Baldomir in March and Khvicha Gigolashvili in May. 
     
  • Junior welterweight phenom Hugo “The Fresh Prince of Monaco” Micallef (6-0) will battle Poland’s Michal Bulik (6-3, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder. Micallef, the only active professional boxer from Monaco, signed with Top Rank in 2021 following an extensive international amateur career. 
     
  • In a clash between two undefeated junior middleweights, Germany’s Paul Wall (4-0, 2 KOs) and Moroccan standout Sifeddine El Moussamih (2-0, 1 KO) will collide in a six-rounder.

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About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  




SAMPSON BOXING AND PROBOXTV JOINING FORCES TO LIVESTREAM MONTHLY ACTION-PACKED BOXING EVENTS FEATURING SOUTH AMERICA’S BEST NEW TALENT

Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, a legend in the sport for his ability to recognize emerging talent, is proud to announce he is joining forces with boxing-media visionary and livestreaming broadcast pioneer Garry Jonas, CEO of ProBoxTV, to present a year-long monthly series of world-class boxing events, emanating from South America and featuring the continent’s brightest young fighting stars. The first event, scheduled for Saturday, July 22 at the majestic Radisson Victoria Plaza Hotel in Montevideo, Uruguay, will feature once-beaten middleweight prospect Amilcar Vidal (16-1, 12 KOs) of Montevideo, taking on Cumana, Venezuela’s Domicio Rondon (17-5, 11 KOs) in the 10 round main event. The 10-round co-featured bout will pit proven power punchers against each other, as undefeated featherweight prospect and former Olympian Mirco Cuello (11-0, 10 KOs) of Santa Fe, Argentina, takes on capable Venezuelan slugger Antonio Guzman (23-3, 19 KOs) for the South American Featherweight Championship. Having recently celebrated their first year in operation, ProBoxTV has become an overnight sensation to fans of the outstanding action and elite-level production quality of their Wednesday Night Fights bi-weekly series and compelling original programming. The addition of the South American shows will give the upstart platform a third monthly outlet to present outstanding live boxing action. “We are pleased and proud to announce this outstanding broadcast partnership,” said Garry Jonas. “Sampson Boxing is a very accomplished brand in the sport and, just like ProBoxTV, Sampson is known for putting many of the world’s best young fighters in their most exciting fights. We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership. This development demonstrates our commitment to growing the channel by offering even more consistent-quality boxing content to our current and future viewers.” “I see a great future for this partnership and for ProBoxTV,” said Sampson Lewkowicz. “Garry Jonas is a true fan of the sport with the vision to set the standard for boxing broadcasting in the new century. Don’t miss any of these shows, as they will feature the top stars of the future from South America.” $1.99 paid monthly subscribers to the ProBoxTV app (no commercial breaks) and viewers on ProBoxTV’s free YouTube channel (with commercials) in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia can catch all the action starting at 8 pm EST on fight nights. UFC legend and “The Golden Voice of Combat Sports” Mike Goldberg will join outspoken former world champions Paulie Malignaggi and Chris Algieri to deliver all the calls in English, while hall-of-fame great Juan Manuel Marquez, women’s boxing legend Claudia Trejos and Emmy-winning broadcaster Ricardo Celes will convey the action to Spanish viewers.   ProBoxTV is available to anyone with internet access at ProBoxTV.com, in all app stores on all devices, and also available on digital TV via Roku, Apple TV, Amazon’s Fire TV and Google TV. Future dates and times of the remaining 11 shows will be announced shortly. #         #         #
About Sampson Boxing Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.



AUDIO: Undefeated Elijah Williams after win over Matt Gaver






VIDEO: Undefeated Elijah Williams after win over Matt Gaver




TARIK ZAINA TRAINING CAMP NOTES

Mexico, is looking forward to his upcoming fight with Jesus Saracho (13-1, 11 KOs) of Guanajuato, Mexico, on Thompson Boxing’s “Locked ‘N Loaded” 

card. The WBO Latino Super Lightweight title will be on the line in 10-round main event bout.

“Locked ‘N Loaded” will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA on Friday, June 23, 2023. Doors open at 6:45 pm PT with the first fight starting at 8:00 pm PT. Tickets priced $50, $75, $100, and $125, are available for purchase by calling 714-935-0900 or online at www.thompsonboxing.com

Fight fans will be able to watch all Thompson Boxing fights, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes content, via their new Mobile App downloadable on Apple and Google.

Here is what Zaina had to say about his upcoming matchup with Saracho, his recent training camp, fighting for his first regional title, and more.

On his recent training camp:

“I’ve been in the gym for the last six months waiting for a fight and now it’s finally here. I know that I’ll be able to go the distance because I’m in great shape. I’ve had the best camp of my life.”

On his matchup with Jesus Saracho:

“This is a big step up in my career. Saracho has been in the ring and has beaten some top fighters. If I get him hurt, I’ll be looking to end the fight early. This will be a classic Mexican war!

On fighting WBO Latino title:

“I can’t express how excited I am to be fighting for the WBO Latino title. As a fighter growing up in Tijuana, I always dreamed of fighting for some kind of title. The time is now for me to bring home that belt.

On fighting in the United States for the first time:

“All my fights have been in Mexico so fighting in the United States for the first time is motivating. I want to give the fans a great fight and show my worth to everyone watching.”

Beto Duran will operate as the blow-by-blow commentator with expert commentary by Doug Fischer and Rich MarottaJessica Rosales will serve as the onsite ringside reporter.

This event is sponsored by HUSTLER Casino, LA’s only luxury casino; Thompson Building Materials, Transforming spaces into beautiful places; Omega Products International, The leading stucco manufacturer in the United States; Belgard, Paves the way; and Makita, Rule the outdoors.

“Locked ‘N Loaded” will stream live for free on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), as well as their 

Facebook and YouTube pages.

For more information, and regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. You can also follow the conversation on social media, please use #ThompsonBoxing.




David Morrell Jr. Says David Benavidez is the Biggest Bitch in Boxing

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (June 21, 2023) — WBA Regular Super Middleweight Champion, David Morrell Jr. (9-0, 8 KOs), has issued another bold statement to undefeated WBC Interim Champ, David Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs). Morrell Jr., brimming with confidence after his recent triumphs in the ring, says Benavidez is a coward and is always looking for a way out when talks to fight him emerge.

“David Benavidez is a big bitch,” said Morrell Jr. “His dad is a big fraud always talking like he’s some tough guy but he’s just a small man with little man complex. His brother wants to be gangster who talks a lot of shit but got knocked out by Crawford and did a horrible job in the move Creed. The Benavidez’ are a bunch of cowards. This is the guy you call The Mexican Monster? He’s a fraud. This is the guy everyone is building up. I see a fat insecure boy…that’s what I see. Benavidez couldn’t walk down any street in Cuba without getting his shoes taken. Funny he calls Canelo a duck, who’s the duck now?

David Morrell Jr.’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of remarkable. With an unblemished record and a reputation for his explosive knockout power, the Cuban-born star has captivated audiences worldwide. Having earned the coveted WBA Regular Super Middleweight title in just his third professional bout, Morrell Jr. has quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with.

Now, setting his sights on David Benavidez, Morrell Jr. seeks to test his skills against one of the division’s most accomplished fighters. With an unbeaten record and a staggering knockout ratio, Benavidez has emerged as one of the sport’s most dangerous fighters. A clash between the two would undoubtedly be a matchup of epic proportions, showcasing the pinnacle of skill, power, and determination in the super middleweight division.

The potential showdown between Morrell Jr. and Benavidez has generated enormous excitement among boxing fans, who are eagerly anticipating a clash of titans. Should the fight materialize, it promises to be a high-stakes battle that will undoubtedly go down in boxing history as a classic showdown.




David Morrell Jr., Delivers a Pitch-Perfect Moment at Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox Game

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (June 20, 2023) – Last night, WBA Super Middleweight Regular Champion, David Morrell Jr. (9-0, 8 KOs), displayed his talent outside the boxing ring as he took center stage at the highly anticipated matchup between the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox. Morrell Jr. captivated the audience at Target Field when he stepped onto the pitcher’s mound to throw out the first pitch.

Fans cheered and applauded the arrival of David Morrell Jr., who has become a rising star in the world of professional boxing. Known for his devastating knockout power and charisma, Morrell Jr. has dominated the super middleweight division since he turned professional in 2019. His presence on the mound was that of a Cuban superstar.  With the spotlight firmly fixed on him, Morrell Jr. flawlessly executed the ceremonial first pitch with accuracy.

“It was an incredible honor to throw out the first pitch at such an iconic sporting event,” said David Morrell Jr. “Boxing has been my passion for as long as I can remember, but it’s always exciting to try something new and showcase my abilities beyond the ring. I want to thank the Minnesota Twins, along with The Armory and Warriors Boxing for this unforgettable opportunity.”

David Morrell Jr.’s appearance at the game also provided an opportunity for fans to interact with the champion and gain insight into his remarkable journey. Following the ceremonial pitch, Morrell Jr. took part in an exclusive meet-and-greet session, signing autographs and engaging with fans who have supported him throughout his boxing career.




UFC® RETURNS TO NASHVILLE WITH EXCITING BANTAMWEIGHT CONTENDERS’ BOUT BETWEEN (#4) CORY SANDHAGEN AND (#11) UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV

Las Vegas – UFC® returns to Nashville with an intriguing bantamweight contenders’ bout that will see No. 4 ranked Cory Sandhagen take on undefeated No. 11 Umar Nurmagomedov. Also, former strawweight champion and No. 5 ranked contender Jessica Andrade plans to take out unbeaten No. 10 Tatiana Suarez.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV will take place at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, Aug. 5. The main card airing on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (English and Spanish) starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The prelims will be available on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV tickets are set to go on sale to the public on Friday, June 23 at 10 a.m. CT and will be available through ticketmaster.com.Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, June 21 at 10 a.m. CT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, June 22 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

Sandhagen (16-4, fighting out of Aurora, Colo.) plans to keep his momentum going by securing his third consecutive victory. A dynamic striker, he has secured highlight-reel KO wins over Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes and Iuri Alcantara. Sandhagen now intends to defend his spot in the rankings by handing Nurmagomedov his first professional loss.

Nurmagomedov (16-0, fighting out of Kizilyurt, Russia) looks to steal the show in his first UFC main event opportunity. A decorated Sambo fighter, he has secured memorable finishes against Raoni Barcelos, Brian Kelleher and Sergey Morozov. Nurmagomedov now has his sights set on cracking the bantamweight Top 5 with a statement performance.

Andrade (24-11, fighting out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) vies to make another run towards UFC gold by stopping Suarez in emphatic fashion. A powerful striker and grappler, Andrade holds notable finishes over Rose Namajunas, Amanda Lemos and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Andrade now plans to become the first fighter to defeat Suarez and remind the world she’s among the strawweight elite.

Suarez (10-0, fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) returns to the strawweight division following a dominant flyweight win against Montana De La Rosa in February. A decorated grappler, she has also delivered spectacular victories over Nina Nunes, Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso. Suarez now looks to continue her ascent up the 115-pound ladder by stopping Andrade in impressive fashion.

Other bouts on the card include:

  • Tanner Boser (20-10-1, fighting out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) locks horns with Aleksa Camur (6-2, fighting out of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) at light heavyweight
  • Ignacio Bahamondes (14-4, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Santiago, Chile) squares off with Ludovit Klein (19-4-1, fighting out of Nove Zamky, Slovakia) at lightweight
  • No. 15 ranked light heavyweight contender Dustin Jacoby (18-7-1, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.) squares off with rising Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-3, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
  • Exciting featherweights collide when Billy Quarantillo (17-5, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.) meets Damon Jackson (22-5-1 1NC, fighting out of Dallas, Texas)
  • Tennessee’s own Ovince Saint Preux (26-17, fighting out of Knoxville, Tenn.) plans to steal the show against hard-hitting Ion Cutelaba (17-9-1 1NC, fighting out of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) at light heavyweight
  • No. 12 ranked flyweight contender Tagir Ulanbekov (14-2, fighting out of Makhachkala, Russia) squares off with surging Jake Hadley (10-1, fighting out of Oldbury, Sandwell, England)
  • Said Nurmagomedov (17-3, fighting out of Dagestan, Russia) faces Kyler Phillips (10-2, fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.) in an intriguing bantamweight tilt
  • Ode’ Osbourne (12-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. by way of Milwaukee, Wisc.) looks to spoil the UFC debut of Assu Almabayev (17-2, fighting out of Almaty, Kazakhstan) in a flyweight bout
  • Jeremiah Wells (12-2-1, fighting out of Philadelphia, Penn.) meets Carlston Harris (18-5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by way of Skeldon, Guyana) in a clash of welterweight prospects
  • Sean Woodson (9-1-1, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) battles Steve Garcia (14-5, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) at featherweight

Media members wishing to apply for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV credentials may sign up here.

For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

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About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 233 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s active fighter roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.

About Bridgestone Arena:

Serving as the home for numerous national and international events, Bridgestone Arena has the distinction of being one of the busiest venues in the United States since the doors first opened in 1996, hosting more than 27 million guests during that time. The NHL’s Nashville Predators have been the primary tenants of Bridgestone Arena since 1998 and boast one of the most unique game atmospheres in the NHL. The list of acts that have called the 2021 Pollstar Arena of the Decade nominee home is lengthy and includes the Country Music Association Awards, the Country Music Television Awards and the SEC Basketball Tournament through 2035. Bridgestone Arena has 15 consecutive and 18 overall nominations for the Pollstar Magazine Arena Year of the Award, winning the award in 2014, 2017 and 2023. To view a full Bridgestone Arena event schedule, visit BridgestoneArena.com.

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.




Bryce Mills Building a Massive Following in his Hometown of Syracuse New York

SYRACUSE, NY (June 20, 2023) – Rising prospect, Bryce Mills (12-1, 4 KOs), managed by Home Team Management, is looking toward a productive rest of 2023 as he continues to make waves in the super lightweight division. He’s secured his sixth consecutive victory in dominating fashion against Jonathan de Pina (12-2, 5 KOs), a 6-round bout that took place at the esteemed Hall of Fame event held at the Turning Stone Casino on June 9, 2023.

Mills’ showed exceptional boxing skills throughout the fight as he displayed excellent agility, precision, and ring intelligence. Despite de Pina’s creditable efforts, Mills demonstrated his dominance, securing a well-deserved unanimous decision victory. The match showcased Mills’ ability to adapt to different fighting styles, leaving both fans and pundits impressed by his versatility. His following in his hometown of Syracuse is rapidly growing.

Looking ahead, Bryce Mills has big plans to finish off the remaining 2023 year with a bang. Mills plans to step into the ring for his first 8-round bout before the year’s end. This crucial step will test his endurance and serve as a significant progression in his journey towards a boxing ranking.

“I am incredibly thankful for all the fans, my team, and my advisor Amer Abdallah, who have believed in me from the start,” said Bryce Mills expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support he has received. “The victory against Jonathan de Pina was a testament to our hard work and dedication. My fanbase is growing in my hometown of Syracuse and I am thrilled to be stepping up to the 8-round bouts. This just the beginning of what I hope will be a legendary career.”

“Bryce Mills continues to surpass our expectations with every fight and I do believe he’s going to be a superstar in the sport,” said his advisor Amer Abdallah, about Bryce Mills’ impressive progress and future plans. “His performance against Jonathan de Pina was nothing short of exceptional. Bryce possesses a rare combination of speed, ring IQ, and determination that truly sets him apart. He has a tremendous number of fans in his hometown that follow him. We have no doubt that he will excel when he moves to 8-round bouts, further establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the super lightweight division.”




The Sicilian Nightmare prepared to fulfill his dream at the Garden

CES Boxing’s Juiseppe “Joe” Cusumano (21-4, 19 KOs) is prepared for the fight of his life on Saturday, June 24th in New York City.  “The Sicilian Nightmare” will fulfill one of his childhood dreams when he faces Brooklyn’s Adam Kownacki (20-3, 15 KOs) at Madison Square Garden and broadcast live on DAZN.

“It’s a dream come true,” says the Italian native about fighting in the ‘Mecca of Boxing’. “The last time I was at Madison Square Garden was in 2007 with my original coach, Robert “Machine” Matney, who passed away a few years ago. I believe Cotto was fighting that night. That was the last time I was there, so I have great memories of MSG and I’ll be fighting in memory of ‘Machine’ that night too.”      

Cusumano and Kownacki are each one impressive win away from a big fight.  With their aggressive, come forward styles, the power punching heavyweights may steal the show as the co-feature to Edgar Berlanga’s super middleweight main event against Jason Quigley.  

“Kownacki kind of fights the same way in all of his fights, especially after he gets hit,” explains Cusumano of his Polish opponent’s style.  “I don’t think he knows how to fight too many different ways, but he’s still a very tough, dangerous fighter.  He comes forward throwing lots of punches.  Any heavyweight that does that, you have to watch out for.”  

In order to prepare for a firefight given Kownacki’s non-stop, high-volume style, the Danville, Virginia resident has gone to hell and back.

“We’ve been training to be ready for anything he brings to the table,” says the 35-year-old, who now trains out of Champs Boxing Gym in Danbury, CT, under the watchful eye of coach David McDonough.  “The losses I have are because I wasn’t ready for my fights.  I’ve made a lot of sacrifices and that’s why I now come up to Connecticut for camp.  We go to New York for good sparring that I wasn’t getting in Virginia.  I made every sacrifice I could possibly make and have never been more prepared.”

Indeed, Cusumano significantly changed his approach to training after a first round KO loss to top contender Daniel Dubois in 2021.  

“I knew that I had to go to a training camp after that fight because I wasn’t in camp when I fought Dubois,” laments Cusumano.  “I just took that fight on a couple of weeks’ notice.  There’s no way you’re going to beat the top fighters preparing like that.”

Cusumano took several months off after that loss, but as demoralizing as the Dubois defeat was for him, the experience marked a turning point in how the Italian slugger prepares for success in his fights.

“One of the things I dreamed about as a kid was showing the skills I have on pay-per-view, but the one time I got that opportunity, I was nowhere near ready and I took it anyway,” reflects Cusumano.  “I let myself down and that hurt the most.  I hit rock bottom and I thought: I’m not going out like this, so I made some moves: I started traveling, making sacrifices, sparring guys like the ‘Big Bang’, Zhilei Zhang, who I’ve been in training camp with a few times.  I started going to Costa Rica for conditioning workouts and it’s been full speed ahead ever since.”

While those training adjustments led to 2 consecutive knockouts in 2022, Cusumano literally flew to the jungle to prepare for Kownacki, who he knows is coming to impress his hometown fans and resurrect his career after 3 consecutive defeats.  

“They were really grueling workouts,” says Cusumano of the 2 weeks he spent doing strength and conditioning work at FARMERSTRENGTH training camp in Costa Rica.  “The jungle is very hot, and you get so high up into the mountains, there isn’t much oxygen there.  It’s like heaven and hell because it’s so beautiful there, but at the same time, it’s very rough, especially with the heat.  It changes your mentality, because if you can train in the jungle for 2 weeks in that kind of heat, running up a mountain for 12 miles straight up without oxygen, nothing else is going to stop you.”

With that level of dedication, Kownacki and his fans may be in for a short night and a rude awakening on Saturday night.  If the ‘Sicilian Nightmare’ was tough to beat before, it’s going to be extremely difficult to turn back the efforts of an inspired and fully prepared Cusumano.    

“I made the sacrifices to perform like I should and I’m excited for this opportunity,” insists Cusumano.  “My trainer, Robert Matney always told me: ‘it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish’, so I’m finishing my career at my best.  I’m going to give this fight everything I’ve got and it’s going to be electric.”

Kownacki v. Cusumano takes place on June 24, 2023 at Madison Square Garden’s The Theater and live on DAZN.    

For more information, follow CES Boxing on FacebookInstagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast.  Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.




CARLOS ADAMES TRAINING CAMP QUOTES

LAS VEGAS – June 20, 2023 – Top middleweight Carlos Adames will aim to make his case as the sport’s best middleweight when he defends his Interim WBC Middleweight Title against former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams this Saturday, June 24 live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from The Armory in Minneapolis headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

“My time will come where I will show the world that I’m the best middleweight,” said Adames. “A dominant victory on Saturday night will ensure me a fight with Jermall Charlo to see who the real WBC middleweight champion is. It’s been very difficult to get the big names in the ring with me, but I just have to keep winning.”

The 29-year-old Adames (22-1,17 KOs) has been on a tear since moving up to middleweight in 2021, including a close but decisive decision over Sergiy Derevyanchenko and most recently a third-round KO of Juan Macias Montiel in October. The Dominican fighter now training in Las Vegas has thrived in another training camp under top trainer Bob Santos.

“I had an incredible training camp in Las Vegas with my coach Bob Santos,” said Adames. “We put in a lot of hard work and got some excellent sparring with some very good fighters. My road work was taken to the next level, with a lot of running in high elevation. I’m eating the best foods and feeling great.”

Saturday night will see Adames battle perhaps his most accomplished opponent to date in the former unified 154-pound Williams, a Philadelphia-native who defeated Jarrett Hurd in one of 2019’s best fights to capture WBA and IBF titles. Although Williams only made his middleweight debut in November with a unanimous decision over Rolando Mansilla, Adames knows the danger that Williams presents.

“I see Williams as a dangerous opponent,” said Adames. “He’s a former world champion who has a lot of experience and he has nothing to lose at this point in his career. I’m expecting a tough fight, but I feel I’m the better fighter in every aspect. I feel I can break him down and end the fight in the middle to late rounds.”

Since losing a 154-pound title fight in 2019, Adames has worked his way up the 160-pound division and will now step into the ring for his first SHOWTIME main event on Saturday night, with the goal of closing the show early and in dominant fashion.

“This is another great opportunity to showcase my talent on the big stage,” said Adames. “SHOWTIME is where the stars are born. I can’t wait to show my people back in the Dominican Republic, and here in the U.S., all the hard work that we put into this camp. This is my first main event on SHOWTIME and I’m going to take full advantage of the situation. My goal is to win by spectacular knockout.”

#         #         #

ABOUT ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS

Adames vs. Williams will see hard-hitting Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in the 12-round main event of action live on SHOWTIME® Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and featured top super welterweight contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and Luis “Cuba” Arias squaring off in the 10-round co-main event. Super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez will put his IBF title on the line against unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea in the telecast opener.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster. Lubin vs. Arias is co-promoted with Mayweather Promotions.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sportswww.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #AdamesWilliams follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.




Former World Champion Tevin Farmer Takes on Avery Sparrow This Saturday Night at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (June 20, 2023- THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, Former IBF Junior Lightweight World Champion Tevin Farmer returns to action when he takes on Avery Sparrow in a mouth watering 10-round lightweight bout at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

The card is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.

Farmer of Philadelphia, 30-5-1 with six knockouts, will be making his first appearance in nearly three and a half years. The 32-y ear-old won the IBF Junior Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Billy Dib on August 3, 2018 in New South Wales, Australia. Farmer made four successful defenses of the crown with wins over James Tennyson (22-2), Francisco Fonesca (22-1-1), Jono Carrol (16-0-1) Guillaume Frenois (46-1-1). Farmer dropped the belt to Joseph Diaz Jr. on January 30, 2020 in Miami. Farmer also has wins over Angelo Ward (1-0), Tim Witherspoon Jr. (6-1-1), Tyrone Luckey (4-1-1), Camilo Perez (9-0), Noel Echevarria (11-1), Emanuel Gonzalez (14-0), Viktor Chernous (15-1-1), Angelo Luna (10-0-1), Daulis Prexott (30-2), former world champion Gamaliel Diaz, Ivan Redkach (19-1), and Darden Zenunaj (12-2).

Sparrow of Philadelphia is 11-4 with four knockouts. The tough 29 year-old who will fight anybody at any time has wins over Anthony Burgin (10-2), Israel Henriquez (6-0), Joey Laviolette (6-0), Jose Lopez (19-1-1), former world title challenger Hank Lundy (29-7-1) and Matt Conway (20-2). Sparrow dropped his last bout to William Foster III on July 23, 2022 in Philadelphia.

On the undercard in six-round bouts, Dezmond Lucas (6-1, 3KOs) of Bronx, NY fights Elijah Vines (5-0, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia in a super welterweight bout.

Romuel Cruz (8-0-1, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia fights Jenn Gonzalez (9-19-1, 5 KOs) of Santa Teraza, Nicaragua in a featherweight contest.

Derrick Webster (29-4, 14 KOs) of Glassboro, NJ fights an opponent to be named in a super middleweight contest.

In four-round bouts:

Gustavo Morales (1-0, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA battles Najee Belcher (0-2) of Las Vegas in a welterweight contest.

Luis Gonzalez Colon (5-1, 4 KOs) of Aibomito, Puerto Rico faces off against Efrain Cruz (4-6-1, 1 KO) of Viequez, Puerto Rico in a super lightweight bout.

Trinidad Vargas (2-0, 1 KO) of Grand Prairie, Texas boxes Artimus Sartor (4-3, 1 KO) of Cincinnati, Ohio in a bantamweight fight.

Ticket prices are. $200 VIP, $100 ringside, $75 preferred and $60 GA and can be purchased at the following Link:

https://2300arena.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=97




MCCANN VS BALUTA SET FOR 18 AUGUST

DENNIS MCCANN WILL bid to add the vacant WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title to his growing collection of belts when he steps up to take on Ionut Baluta at York Hall on Friday August 18, live on TNT Sports.

The gifted and precocious McCann (14-0, 8 KOs), just 22, has in his last three fights won the WBO Youth title (super bantam), the WBC International Silver (featherweight) and the Commonwealth title (super bantam), against Charles Tondo, James Beech Jr and Joe Ham respectively.

Now he goes up against the tough and rugged Baluta (16-4, 3), who clinched his WBC International Silver belt last time out in March following a disputed decision victory over Andrew Cain in a captivating Telford shootout.

Tickets for McCann vs Baluta go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, 21 June from ticketmaster.co.uk.

Also on what should be a thrilling card in Bethnal Green, the British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins (12-0, 6) will defend his titles against Raza Hamza (17-1-1, 7). The Scot from Bearsden won his title double by defeating James Beech Jr in March.

The vacant WBC International super featherweight title will be on the line when Southampton star Ryan Garner (13-0, 7) steps in for his maiden championship challenge following his thrilling second round stoppage of Eduardo Valverde in May.

The Queen of Queensberry, Raven Chapman (6-0, 2) will make a defence of her WBC International featherweight title ahead of a proposed challenge for an interim world title next time out.

Featherweight Umar Khan (6-0), super welterweight Khalid Ali (5-0, 3), welterweight Sonny Liston Ali (6-0) and super welterweight Joel Kodua (2-0) complete the card.

“This has got all the makings of a true York Hall cracker,” said promoter Frank Warren. “For Dennis McCann, this could be a real coming-of-age fight against Ionut Baluta, who has fought and beat numerous top-level opponents.

“It will be a fourth title fight on the bounce for Dennis and, if he overcomes Baluta, he will quickly close in on world title contention.

“I am looking forward to the Queensberry debut of Nathaniel Collins and he is in a tough double title defence against the skilful Raza Hamza with Nathaniel’s British and Commonwealth featherweight belts at stake.

“Raven Chapman is on the cusp of a very big fight, so she will need to be at her best in a defence of her WBC belt and not look too far ahead.

“I am also thrilled to deliver a first major title shot for Ryan Garner, who has been with us right from the start when he was 18 and is now set to fight for the vacant WBC International super featherweight title, where victory will establish him in the world rankings.

“This will be a York Hall night not to be missed and probably the strongest card of 50-50 action staged at the famous old venue for many years.”

Tickets for McCann vs Baluta go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, 21 June from ticketmaster.co.uk.

From 18th July, TNT Sports will be the new name for BT Sport




UNDEFEATED JEFFERS SEIZES CHANCE TO FACE CHELLI FOR A COMMONWEALTH STRAP, WHITTAKER TURNS THE HEAT UP IN MANCHESTER ON SATURDAY, JULY 1st

Manchester, England – (June 20, 2023) – Two guaranteed crowd-pleasers were today confirmed for the BOXXER: Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall card, with highly-rated Manchester area super-middleweight Mark Jeffers seizing a huge opportunity to replace the injured Mark Heffron in a Commonwealth Silver title clash with Zak Chelli and the sensational Ben Whittaker stepping up another level in Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday July 1st, live on Sky Sports.

Heffron had been due to defend his Commonwealth Super-Middleweight Championship against Chelli (13-1-1, 6 KO’s) next weekend but was forced to withdraw last week due to an injury sustained in training. The undefeated and hotly-tipped Jeffers (15-0, 4 KO’s) saw an opportunity to step in and take a big scalp in a clash which now has the vacant Commonwealth Silver Super-Middleweight Championship on the line. 

Fighting out of the Manchester satellite town of Chorley – also home to Jack Catteral – the rising Jeffers is trained by Michael Jennings, whose own standout professional career took him all the way to the USA to lock horns with all-time great Miguel Cotto in New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden. 

Jennings has declared his Jeffers to be “twice as good as I was at the same age” and is confident of his fighter’s ability to step in on short notice and upset the surging Chelli, who carries career-best form into the bout as he comes off his dominant win over former WBA Intercontinental champion Anthony ‘The Magician’ Sims Jr in February.

Whittaker (3-0, 2 KO’s) won a silver medal for Great Britain at the 2020 Olympic Games and has won a legion of fans since entering the professional ranks last year, his supremely confident showboating style harking back to his idol ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed and proving a huge hit with fight fans.

The Wolverhampton wonderkid has made no secret of his ambitions to fast-track himself to the bigtime: he went immediately into six-round fights after turning professional, skipping any four-round experience, and is now stepping up for an eight-round bout in what is only his fourth professional fight.

In Manchester he will take on Ireland-based light-heavyweight Vladimir Belujsky (13-6, 9 KO’s), a durable campaigner who has three times as many KO wins on his record as Whittaker has bouts. 

The heavy-handed Slovakian’s last UK visit saw him take Karol Itauma almost to the final bell of their eight-rounder, having earlier that year taken Jack Cullen eight rounds in the same Manchester arena he will now face Whittaker in. 

“Mark Jeffers is dangerous and talented. He will be stepping up to a huge opportunity to fight Zak Chelli after Mark Heffron pulled out via injury. I’m delighted to turn around such a great fight – possibly fight of the night – in a matter of days. Credit has to go to both guys for taking on such a big challenge,” said Ben Shalom, BOXXER founder and CEO.

“Zak Chelli is on a mission to prove himself the best super-middleweight in the country and he’s fearless in taking on anyone along the way. Chelli is a throwback fighter, he has that ‘anyone, anytime’ mentality and Jeffers is ready to meet him head-on, so I give full credit to both of them. They both know this is going to be a tough fight

“Ben Whittaker’s last performance got him on the radar of every sports fan in the country. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime type of talent and he’s said himself that he wants to be fighting at the top level as soon as possible. This will be his first fight over eight rounds. Vladimir Belujsky is tough, he’s tricky, but I think we’re going to see something special from Ben Whittaker once again in Manchester.”

BOXXER: Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall takes place Saturday, July 1st at the AO Arena Manchester and airs live and exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports. 

The headline bout sees former world middleweight champion Savannah Marshall return to super-middleweight to challenge reigning champion Franchon ‘FCD’ Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed world championship in a clash which will be closely watched by FCD’s friend and Marshall’s bitter rival Claressa Shields.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.




JESUS SARACHO TRAINING CAMP NOTES

ONTARIO, CA (June 19, 2023) – Super lightweight Jesus Saracho (13-1, 11 KOs) of Guanajuato, Mexico, is ready to take the next step in his career as he steps up in competition to fight Tarik Zaina (12-0, 8 KOs) for the WBO Latino Super Lightweight title. The 10-round main event bout will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA on Friday, June 23, 2023, on Thompson Boxing’s “Locked ‘N Loaded” card.

“Locked ‘N Loaded” doors will open at 6:30 pm PT with the first fight starting at 8:00 pm PT. Tickets priced $50, $75, $100, and $125, are available for purchase by calling 714-935-0900 or online at www.thompsonboxing.com. Fight fans will be able to watch all Thompson Boxing fights, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes content, via their Mobile App downloadable on Apple and Google.

Here is what Saracho had to say about his recent training camp, his upcoming matchup with Tarik Zaina, defending his WBO Latino title, and more.

On his recent training camp:

“I’ve been in the gym for the last five months working on all parts of my game. I feel sharp going into this fight. My whole perspective on training has changed for the better since my lone defeat last year. I feel I’m a better fighter now and it showed in this training camp.”

On his matchup with Tarik Zaina:

“That fact that Zaina is unbeaten, I know he’s coming into this fight with a lot of confidence. I too feel great with a lot of confidence since I just beat two undefeated fighters back-to-back. This fight will be explosive. We are going to give the fans a great fight.”

On defending his WBO Latino title:

“I have a strong relationship with the WBO, and I want to keep the momentum going by defending my Latino title. A win against Zaina will sustain my WBO ranking and lead to bigger fights.”

On fighting in main event on Thompson Boxing card:

“Three of my last four fights have been in the States so I feel I’m getting more comfortable fighting outside of Mexico. The competition is far better so the training and preparation has been taken to the next level. Fighting in the main event is special and I’m grateful, especially on a Thompson Boxing card where everyone back home will be to watch on YouTube.”

Beto Duran will operate as the blow-by-blow commentator with expert commentary by Doug Fischer and Rich MarottaJessica Rosales will serve as the onsite ringside reporter.

This event is sponsored by HUSTLER Casino, LA’s only luxury casino; Thompson Building Materials, Transforming spaces into beautiful places; Omega Products International, The leading stucco manufacturer in the United States; Belgard, Paves the way; and Makita, Rule the outdoors.

“Locked ‘N Loaded” will stream live for free on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), as well as their 

Facebook and YouTube pages.

For more information, and regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. You can also follow the conversation on social media, please use #ThompsonBoxing.




GIANT HEAVYWEIGHT MATTY HARRIS ADDED TO LEE MCGREGOR WORLD TITLE UNDERCARD  

The UK’s most fearsome heavyweight prospect Matty Harris has been added to the undercard of Lee McGregor’s huge world title homecoming. 

Harris, the 6’8” destroyer looks to become the first man to stop Kostyantin Dovbyshchenko, when they collide at the Meadowbank Sports CentreEdinburgh on Friday July 21, live and free-to-air on Channel 5

The Wasserman Boxing event, delivered in association with LadbrokesNuman and Infinitum Entertainment, sees McGregor face the dangerous Mexican Erik Robles for the vacant IBO world super bantamweight title

And the first fight confirmed for the undercard next month, is the heavyweight battle between Harris and Dovbyshchenko. 

Harris has halted his last four opponents and the 23-year-old delivered a shuddering statement of intent in front of the Channel 5 cameras in March, when he took less than 30 seconds to wipe the floor with Milos Veletic. 

Many expect Ukraine’s Dovbyshchenko, who took the highly touted Moses Itauma the six round distance earlier this year, to test Harris but the man known as ‘Magic’ has other ideas. 

“I don’t think I will have any trouble getting him out of there,” declared the 5-0 Harris

“I’m 19st and with these 10oz gloves on, I hit people very hard. These gloves are unforgiving, especially when you are as explosive as I am. 

“If he gets past the first round, then I’m getting him in the second.” 
 TICKETS FOR MCGREGOR VS ROBLES ARE ON SALE NOW




NATASHA JONAS TAKES AIM AT BECOMING TWO-WEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION IN MANCHESTER ON SATURDAY JULY 1st

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – (July 19th, 2023) – Natasha Jonas (13-2-1, 8 KO’s) has the chance to become a two-weight world champion on Saturday, July 1st as she faces three-time world title challenger Kandi Wyatt (11-4, 3 KOs) for the IBF World Welterweight Championship on the BOXXER: Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall card taking place at the AO Arena Manchester and airing live and exclusively on Sky Sports.

For Jonas – the first woman to box for Great Britain at an Olympic Games – it’s another chance to make history and follows a blistering 2022 run which saw her capture three world titles in an unprecedented nine months to become unified world super-welterweight champion, a feat which led to her being declared the 2022 Fighter Of The Year by the British Boxing Board of Control.

Wyatt is a three-time welterweight world title challenger and the current WBA Intercontinental champion. She won that title on a visit to the UK in March this year and is confident of carrying that same championship-winning form into her clash with Jonas next month.

The Canadian is no stranger to big challenges: in December 2021 she made a spirited attempt to seize the four world title belts held by undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill, and the drop in weight places Jonas on a potential collision course with the American.

“Every time I think I’ve done enough in the sport, another opportunity presents itself to step things up. If there’s one thing that I always try and impress upon my daughter and on young people in general it’s to keep going, work hard and try your best,” said Jonas.

“Every camp I am improving, I’m evolving, I’m learning new skills and reaching new levels, so to me it would be foolish to stop now. The best-ever version of Natasha Jonas will be stepping into that ring on July 1.”

Ben Shalom, BOXXER’s founder and CEO, said, “I’m very excited to see Natasha Jonas compete at the top of the welterweight division, closer to her natural weight. When you look at what she’s achieved in the last year alone – three world titles and the Fighter Of The Year 2022 award from the British Boxing Board of Control – you know you’re looking at an extra-special fighter. 

“Becoming a two-weight world champion, holding belts in two weight classes at the same time, is an incredibly difficult thing to accomplish, but it’s exactly the kind of challenge which brings out the best in Natasha Jonas. She’s inspired a lot of Britain’s female boxers – not least her fellow Olympian and BOXXER welterweight Lauren Price – and I’m looking forward to watching her write another chapter of her incredible story in Manchester on July 1st.”

BOXXER: Crews-Dezurn vs Marshall takes place Saturday, July 1st at the AO Arena Manchester and airs live and exclusively in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports. 

The headline bout sees former world middleweight champion Savannah Marshall return to super-middleweight to challenge reigning champion Franchon ‘FCD’ Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed world championship in a clash which will be closely watched by FCD’s friend and Marshall’s bitter rival Claressa Shields.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.




“Punch-Out at Polar Park” Showcasing Local Boxing Talent Under the Stars

WORCESTER, Mass. (June 19, 2023) –“Punch-Out at Polar Park”, presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP) in conjunction with Kenrick Ball’s Camp Get Right Boxing, will be the first boxing event held at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The centerpiece of a revitalized City of Worcester, the state-of-the-art Polar Park will host a Pro-Am boxing event on Friday, August 4 (Aug.. 5 rain date), showcasing New England professional and amateur boxers. It is the home of the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Worcester Red Sox (WooSox) and its officials are fully committed to the local community. A share of the proceeds from what is believed to be the first outdoor boxing show in Worcester history will be donated to local charities.

“I am really pleased with this card has come together,” promoter Chuck Shearns said. “We certainly have some fighters stepping up against each other. There is a great mix of competition and varying reasons for cheering on these athletes. No doubt the fighters will feel the energy of the crowd at Polar Park.”

Worcester light heavyweight Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. (20-1-3, 12 KOs), a former New England middleweight and WBC USA Silver super middleweight champion, will headline “Punch-Out at Polar Park” against Mexican southpaw Oscar “Moustro” Riojas (28-16-3, 16 KOs) in the  eight-round main event. Ball is a fixture at Polar Park having worked there during its construction, in addition to throwing out a ceremonial first-pitch at a WooSox game.

“Fans should be incredibly excited about the fighters and fights lined up for our event,” noted Ball’s father/trainer Ken Ball, Sr., “coupled with the amazing atmosphere in Polar Park. The fighters and fights offer the potential for memorable performances and intense rivalries, in addition to the thrill of witnessing skilled athletes pushing their limits in pursuit of victory. From seasoned champions to rising stars, this event will showcase some of the best fighters in New England. out of New England.” 

The eight-round co-featured event promises to provide fireworks as undefeated Sean Bey (7-0, 7 KOs), of Providence, takes on Pittsfield’s (MA) Quintin Sumpter (6-1, 4 KOs) in a battle of heavy-handed heavyweights.

Brockton’s undefeated super featherweight “King” Kevin Walsh (9-0, 4 KOs) is the latest boxer from the City of Champions that was home to Hall of Famers Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Walsh faces Philip Davis (3-5-2), of Worcester, in a six-round bout.

Puerto Rican welterweight prospect Josniel “TG” Castro (9-1, 7 KOs), who has lived in New England, returns to fight an opponent to be determined in an eight-rounder.

In a pair of four-round fights, Worcester police officer Neal Sullivan (0-0-1) faces Brazilian light heavyweight Michael Medeiros (0-1), while Native American Robert Degaetano, of Douglas (MA), makes his pro-debut versus welterweight Michael “Titan” Taylor (1-5).

Another highly decorated amateur boxer, super bantamweight Melanie “Pitbull” Costa (1-0, 1 KO), will be in a four-round bout against Sarah “Switch Kick” Click (1-5-1). A 2017 National Golden Gloves champion, Costa is a police officer in Norton (MA). 

The pro card will commence after amateur boxers from throughout New England compete in the inaugural Carlos Garcia Tournament, named after the National Golden Gloves Hall of Fame trainer who founded and operated the highly successful boxing program at the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester for four decades.

Doors open at 5 p.m. ET with the first amateur match starting then (6 p.m. ET), the pro card starts at 7 p.m. ET.

Tickets will soon be released and available to purchase from competing fighters, Polar Park’s box office, and online at polarpark.com/boxing.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please email all inquiries for details to  ShearnsBoxingPromotions@gmail.com.

INFORMATION:

Website: polarpark.comcgrboxing.com

Facebook: /ShearnsBoxingPromotions, /CampGetRightBoxing, /PolarParkWorcester

Twitter: @ShearnsBoxing, @PolarPark

Instagram: @ShearnsBoxingPromotions, @cgrboxing, @PolarParkWorcester




Dominic Valle Remains Undefeated With Last Second Stoppage over Carlos Rosario

NEW YORK (JUNE 19, 2023) – Last Wednesday night in Plant City, Florida, Split-T Management super featherweight Dominic Valle remained undefeated with a sixth and final round stoppage over tough and upset-minded Carlos Rosario at The Probox Event Center.

It was a close fight early as Rosario was able to get in a few uppercuts in the opening frame. From there on, Valle began to land hard shots and slowly break down Rosario. In round Six, Rosario turned up the heat and landed a big flurry of punches that had Rosario reeling. Valle baked Rosario into the ropes and landed another barrage of punches and the fight was stopped with just one second remaining at 2:59.

Valle of Lutz, Florida is now 6-0 with five knockouts. Rosario of Winter Haven, Florida is 6-2.

Valle is promoted by Probox Promotions.




Card Shaping Up for Ponytail Promotions and CNC Promotions Presents World Class Boxing on Saturday, June 24th at The Patapsco Arena in Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland (June 19th, 2023)–World class boxing returns to Baltimore on Saturday, June 24th as Ponytail Promotions and CNC Entertainment presents a big night at The Patapsco Arena.

In the featured contest, Mack Allison IV takes on an opponent to be named in a eight-round super featherweight bout.

Allison of Baltimore is 16-3-1 with 11 knockouts. The 25 year-old is a seven-year pro who is coming off a fourth round stoppage over Lonnie Jackson Jr. on April 22nd in Baltimore.

An 11-bout card has been assembled and it will include an eight-round super middleweight bout between Tyrell Boyd (8-, 8 KOs) of Baltimore and Derrick Vann (4-7) of Philadelphia.

In a six-round bout, Dravontay Speed Rawls (13-1-1, 8 KOs) of Glenarden, MD fights Jose Rodriguez (6-2, 2 KOs) of Puerto Rico in a super featherweight bout.

In four-round bouts, Deshawn Chase (2-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Maryland takes on debuting Alberto Boites Salazar of Hampton, Virginia in a welterweight bout.

Walter Sanders (2-0, 2 KOs) of Baltimore takes on an opponent to be named in a middleweight bout.

La’Vay Lawrence (2-0, 2 KOs) of Washington, DC fights an opponent to be named in a super featherweight bout.

In a battle of pro debuting welterweights, Anwar Wingate of District Heights, MD fights Shawn Randolph of San Antonio, Texas.

Isiah Branch (1-0, 1 KO) of Baltimore takes on debuting Robert Hough of Houston in a heavyweight contest.

Christopher Glenn (3-0) of Hagerstown, MD takes on an opponent to be named in a featherweight bout.

Ricky Sanabria of Salisbury, MD makes his pro debut against Christopher Dixon of San Antonio, TX in a welterweight bout.

Pro debuters Juan Pablo Guillen Arancibia of Annandale, VA and Jaden Webb will square off in a featherweight bout.

Tickets can be purchased at ponytail-promotions.eventbrite.com or call 410-499-5361




EARLY RESULTS FROM ATLANTIC CITY

Pierre Dibombe stopped Derrick Findley in round four.

Joe Dawejko dropped Dennis Vance Jr. four-times in the opening round en-route to a first round stoppage in a six-round heavyweight bout.

Dawejko sent Vance down each time with wicked lefts to the body and the fight was stopped upon the fourth knockdown at 2:01.

Daeejko of Philadelphia is 25-10-4 with 14 knockouts. Vance is 4-10.

Leandro da Silva and Victor Darocha fought to a six-round majority draw in an entertaining light heavyweight bout.

In round seven, da Silva began to bleed from his nose.

da Silva took a card 59-55, while two others were even at 57-57. da Silva is now 3-7-1. Darocha is 11-6-2.

Edward Donovan remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight bout.

Donovan of Limerick, Ireland won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 7-0. Morales of Scranton, PA is 3-7.




Prograis Decisions Zorrilla To Retain Super-Lightweight Title

Regis Prograis defended the WBC Super Lightweight title with a 12-round split-decision over Danielito Zorrilla at the Smoothie King Center in New Orlenas.

In round one, it looked like Zorrilla scored a knockdown when he landed a left hand that sent Prograis to the canvas, but was ruled a slip. That was the difference in the fight as in round three, Prograis landed a quick left that put Zorrilla down.

Prograis, 139 lbs of New Orleans won by scores of 118-109 and 117-110, while Zorrilla took a 114-113 card.

Prograis is 29-1. Zorrilla, 139 lbs of Toa Boja, PR is 17-2.

Shakhram Giyasov remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Harold Calderon in a welterweight bout.

In round 10, Calderon was cut over his right eye.

Giyasov, 146.1 lbs of Bukhara, KAZ won by scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 116-112 and is now 14-0. Calderon, 146.2 lbs of Miami, FL is 27-1.

Julissa Guzman knocked out previously undefeated Ramla Ali in round eight of their 10-round super bantamweight fight.

In round five, Guzman dropped Ali with a perfect overhand right on the jaw. In round eight, Guzman landed a perfect left hook to the chin that put Ali flat on her back for the 10-count at 42 seconds.

Guzman, 121.1 lbs of Sonora, MEX is 13-2-2 with seven knockouts. Ali, 122 lbs of London, ENG is 7-1.

Jeremy Hill stopped Mark Davis in round four of their eight-round lightweight bout.

In round four, Hill landed a perfect right to the chin that hurt Davis. Hill followed up with three hard shots that blasted Davis into the ropes and down to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 1:29.

Hill, 135.6 lbs of New Orleans is 19-3 with 12 knockouts. Davis, 135.6 lbs of Baton Rouge, LA is 19-2.

Ginny Fuchs remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Indeya Rodriguez in a super flyweight fight.

Fuchs, 113.4 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 3-0. Rodriguez, 113.2 lbs of New Orleans is 6-8-2.

In round three, Fuchs was cut over her left eye from an accidental headbutt.

Xavier Madrid upset previously undefeated Aaron Aponte by winning an eight-round split decision in a super-lightweight fight.

Madrid, 138.5 lbs of Albuquerque, NM won two cards by 76-75 scores. Aponte took a card 78-73.

Madrid is now 5-2. APonte, 140 lbs of Hialeah, FL is 7-1-1.

Criztec Bazaidula won a four-round unanimous decision over Elroy Fruto in a lightweight bout.

Bazaidula, 136.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 2-0. Fruto, 135.6 lbs of British Columbia, Canada is 1-2.