WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before tomorrow (Wednesday, June 10) night’s Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

Cuban boxing sensation Lara (20-2-2, 12 KOs) is making the publicity rounds of the Windy City in advance of his Premier Boxing Champions fight, televised live on Spike TV, this Friday (June 12) against Delvin Rodriguez (28-7-4, 16 KOs).

Wednesday’s Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros game will be broadcast live on WPWR-TV, channel 50 (UHF digital channel 51) and on the radio on WSCR 670 and WRTO 1200 in Spanish.

32-year-old Lara has notched victories over Alfredo Angulo, Austin Trout and Freddy Hernandez throughout his career. As an amateur, Lara won numerous titles including a national championship at welterweight and also participated in the 2007 Pan-Am games. Originally from Guantanamo, Cuba, but fighting out of Houston, Lara most recently defeated former world champion Ishe Smith on his way to his 20th professional victory.

Also scheduled for televised action on Friday night is Russian knockout artist Artur Beterbiev (8-0, 8 KOs), who is set to square off against Maryland’s Alexander Johnson (16-2, 7 KOs).

This edition of PBC on Spike begins at 9 p.m. ET. Doors at UIC Pavilion open at 5 p.m. CT with the first fight set for 5:30 p.m. CT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Group Yvon Michel (GYM), are priced at $151, $101, $51, and $31, not including applicable service charges, and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or UIC Pavilion Box Office at (312) 413-5740. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting the UIC Pavilion Box Office (Thursday or Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).

CONTACTS:
Swanson Communications: (202) 783-5500
Andre Courtemanche, Warriors Boxing: (954) 302-2462
Mario Serrano, Team Lara: 408-607-5756
David Schwarz, Spike TV: (212) 767-8639
UIC Pavilion: (312) 413-5700
Media Credentials: www.magnamedia.com

# # #

About Warriors Boxing

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

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

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

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

On Saturday night, a highly contentious judging decision cost Mateusz Masternak (35-3, 25 KOs) his thirty-sixth professional victory against Johnny Muller (19-4-2, 13 KOs) at the Emperors Palace in Gauteng, South Africa. The result has led to an international outcry and both Masternak’s promoter Team Sauerland and Muller’s promoter Golden Gloves contacting Boxing South Africa to demand the decision is overturned.

Masternak dominated an entertaining ten round contest, flooring the South African in rounds five and seven, and looking well ahead as the final bell rang, Unfortunately, this was not reflected in the result, with the judges scoring the fight 95-93, 95-93 and 93-95 to gift Muller a split decision victory.

Said promoter Kalle Sauerland: ‘’What we saw on Saturday night was one of the worst decisions ever made in a non-title bout in the sport of boxing. As such, both Team Sauerland and Golden Gloves have contacted Boxing South Africa’s president Archie Nyingwa to demand that the decision is reversed.

‘’How two of the judges could honestly believe that the fight should be scored 95-93 in Muller’s favour is beyond me. Not even the most impartial observer could fathom such scoring. We have had the fight analysed and the results are unbelievable. For every one scoring punch landed by Muller, Mateusz connected with four. Not to mention, the two knockdowns in rounds five and seven.

‘’We do not wish to take anything away from Johnny Muller, who more than played his part in an entertaining ten rounds of boxing, although I’m sure even he would admit, as has his promoter Rodney Berman, that the decision was extremely fortuitous.

‘’Boxing as a whole needs to eradicate these types of ‘home town decisions’. After his win over Jean Marc Mormeck in Paris, Mateusz was well on his way to another word title shot. We simply cannot allow two incompetent judges to rob one man of his destiny. We’re thankful that Rodney has stood with us and lodged his own complaint. We trust that Boxing South Africa will make the right choice and immediately reverse the decision.

Masternak has joined his promoter pleas, imploring Boxing South Africa to review the fight. ‘’I would like to ask Boxing South Africa to watch the fight once again,’’ said the 28 year-old. ‘’They should think about the result and the effect it is having on my career, my livelihood and the future of my family.

‘’In the ring I felt that I was the much better boxer and was in complete control of the fight. The result was a huge shock for me. I feel like they have taken away everything that I’ve worked so hard to achieve. Without fair and impartial judging, all the blood, sweat and tears are for nothing.

‘’The decision is not only damaging for me but also for the reputation of boxing in South Africa. These judges are professionals and should adjudicate the bouts objectively. I won this fight and the federation should use this opportunity to reverse the unfair decision and remove this black mark from my record. All I’m asking for is justice.’’

MIAMI BEACH (June 8, 2015) – The new 5th St. Gym is carrying on the rich boxing history established there in 1950 by the famed Dundee brothers, Chris and Angelo.

Known throughout boxing as the world’s most famous gym, 5th St. Gym became a major attraction for boxers, international celebrities and tourists alike, originally due to presence of a rising star training there, Cassius Clay, who, of course, went on to become The Greatest, Muhammad Ali.

Hall of Famers and future inductees have trained at 5th St. Gym over the years, including Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Carmen Basilio, Archie Moore, Willie Pep, Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Jr. and so many other ring greats.

Others who have been part of the 5th St. Gym experience are actor Matt Damon and comedian Dave Chappelle, in addition to elite athletes such as Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Lebron James, Green Bay Packers future Hall-of-Famer Julius Peppers and former UFC great George St. Pierre. 5th St. Gym’s history also includes legendary celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Sean Connery, Jackie Gleason.

5th St. Gym fell on hard times at one point but a revitalization started in 2009, thanks to new owners Tom Tsatas and Dino Spencer, who re-opened the gym at its original location on 5th and Washington in Miami Beach.

In 2013, 5th St. Gym moved from its original location of 63 years, off and on, when CVS took over the property and forced the gym to move to its present location at nearby 1434 Alton Road.

“We’re slowly getting back,” Spencer explained. “We’ve only been reopened since 2010 and in our new location since 2013. We have new people – trainers, manager and fighters – and offer unique opportunities for up-and-coming professional boxers. You can’t catch passes from Tom Brady but boxers can train here every day with champions and contenders. There are also ultra-successful people here who can teach boxers about how to be successful outside the ring. We’re creating an environment at 5th St. Gym to give young boxers every opportunity to succeed.

“Wildcard Gym (Los Angeles) is the No. 1 spot today but, on this side of the country, fighters from all over the world are coming here to train. Brian Jennings trained here for his fight with (Wladimir) Klitschko, Manual Charr trained here for his last fight, Anthony and Andre Dirrell have trained here, (Sergey) Kovalev, too. They get elite sparring here for their training camps. Some come here with their coach, others have me train them.

“A lot of boxing managers are here every day like John Seip and Charr’s manager was hanging out here, too. In fact, he’s interested in signing a fighter he saw at our gym. People from Warriors Gym are here a lot looking for young talent. These people can make a difference in a young fighter’s life. Fighters are getting exposure here before they ever get to fight on TV. We also have great weather and all the amenities of South Beach. It’s only a matter of time before we’re back on top at No. 1.”

Times have changed and today the heart and soul of 5th St. Gym beats strong once again with world-class boxers training alongside supermodels Adriana Lima, Alessandra and Nina Adgal, as well as Grammy winner Cedric Gervais, just to name a few of the more notable non-boxer members working out there on a regular basis.

Once again, 5th St. Gym is the training mecca for world champions, top contenders and promising prospects. In fact, Seip discovered gifted Italian boxer Daniele Marco Scardina at 5th St. Gym and signed him to a professional contract.

Newly-crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion James DeGale, pictured here with 5th St. Gym owner Dino Spencer, trained at 5th St. Gym for his recent title-winning performance against Andre Dirrell, who has also trained at 5th St. Gym in the past, in Boston. DeGale sparred with the gym’s top amateur southpaw, Niko Valdes, to prepare for Dirrell. DeGale won a unanimous 12-round decision over Dirrell to become the first Olympic gold medalist from Great Britain to capture a major world title as a professional boxer.

“Four years ago,” Seip explained, “I moved my managerial company to Miami from New York City. It had become very difficult to find solid sparring in New York City, where boxing gyms were closing due to the demand for high rents. The 5th St Gym has grown back into a big time professional boxing gym. I house all my fighters in Miami and they all train exclusively at 5th St. Gym for boxing and conditioning. There are pros who fly in from other countries to prepare there for fights. The atmosphere is incredible and professional boxers, heavyweights to featherweights, spar there three or four days a week. Let’s face it, sparring is like a classroom and it’s pivotal for pros to prepare and learn. The teachers at 5th St. Gym — Dino Spencer, Guy Laieta and Louis Perez – are all top rated. It’s also a fun place to hang my hat. You cannot beat Miami weather for training, either.”

For more information about 5th St Gym, visit www.5thstgym.com, follow on Twitter @5thstgym, or call 305.763.8110. Operation hours of gym are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am.-9:30 p.m. ET, Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. ET.

Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali

(L-R) 2008 U.S. Olympic Bronze medalist and world super middleweight title challenger Andre Dirrell, 5th St. Gym owner Dino Spencer and former world heavyweight/cruiserweight world champion David Haye

(L-R) – Seated the late HOF trainer Angelo Dundee, Muhammad Ali, the late journalist Bert Sugar and Dino Spencer, behind (L-R)Tom Tsatas, unknown person, and former world heavyweight title challenger Fres Oquendo

(L-R) – Former world heavyweight/cruiserweight champion David Haye & comedian Dave Chappelle

Carl Frampton will defend the IBF Super Bantamweight crown against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. on July 18 in El Paso, Texas according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I am delighted to be defending my title in the USA on July 18th live on CBS against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. I want to become a star in the USA, and this is my first step on that journey,” Frampton said. “Now that my team is working with Al Haymon, I am set to defend my title in front of millions of U.S. fight fans on CBS.

“Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. is a dangerous Mexican challenger, but he has never fought anyone like me and on the 18th of July he is in for a big, big shock. I feel I am the best [junior featherweight] in the world, and I am excited to box in front of a huge television audience in the USA.”

Barry McGuigan, the Hall of Fame former featherweight titleholder and Frampton’s manager, said he believes Frampton’s fan-friendly, action style will resonate with American boxing fans.

“I believe Carl’s all-action style will captivate the U.S. fight fans. Frampton has all the ingredients needed to become a major star in the USA,” McGuigan said. “He is an exceptional fighter with a brilliant personality who has a fanatical fan base in the U.K. Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. is a hungry and dangerous young Mexican boxer who will be travelling to El Paso, Texas, to rip that belt from Frampton. This is going to be a cracking fight.”

Junior middleweight titleholder Cornelius “K9” Bundrage (34-5, 19 KOs), 42, of Detroit, was supposed to make the first defense of his second title reign on the July 18 card against mandatory challenger Jermall Charlo (21-0, 16 KOs), 25, of Houston.

However, Bundrage suffered a bad cut over his left eye during a sparring session on Monday and the fight was postponed.

“They told us K9 will probably be out six to eight weeks so the fight will have to be rescheduled,” Ronnie Shields, Charlo’s trainer, told ESPN.com. “Jermall is a little disappointed but he said there’s nothing he can do about it, so just move on.

“He said, ‘This is nothing compared to the thing I went through with Carlos Molina. At least this guy just got a cut, so we’ll reschedule it,’ ” Shields said.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 8th, 2015) — Greg Rebello knows better than to drown in all the pre-fight hype.

“It’s 15 minutes of your life. That’s it,” he said, casually dismissing the buzzwords typically reserved for fights of this magnitude.

“It’s a 15-minute fistfight. After that, we’ll be drinking beers at the bar.”

The second stint of Rebello’s comeback, which began only six months after the 32-year-old Providence native retired in June of 2013, has finally come to this, another national TV showcase and a heavyweight showdown with Massachusetts vet Tyler King on the main card of “CES MMA XXIX” Friday, June 12th, 2015 at Twin River Casino.

Few heavyweights in this region have been this good for this long. A former college and pro football player, the 35-year-old King is 9-2 after beating Mike Mucitelli on short notice in March, also on AXS TV, while Rebello ran his record to 17-6 following a win over J.A. Dudley in October. With both fighters having trained with one another through the years, developing a friendship while each climbing the ladder at their own pace, they figured this day would come.

“It was only a matter of time,” Rebello said. “Someone will go to the top and someone will go back into the mix. I want to go higher up that ladder, and in order to do so I have to fight guys like this. I’m cool with that.”

“I have tremendous respect for Greg,” added King, “but this is business. It’s a job. It’s what we get paid to do. I’m trying to take his head off and he’s trying to take my head off. It is what it is. We both love to do this.

“If I didn’t come in and try to take his head off, it’d be disrespectful to him.”

Rebello (17-6, 9 KOs) has experience and a killer Muay Thai repertoire on his side. The brutality of the head kick he administered on Cody Lightfoot in 2011 remains entrenched in the memories of New England fans. Some would swear the bloodstains on the canvas haven’t faded either, perhaps a warning for anyone who dares to get within striking distance.

“He’s a junkyard dog, a real tough prick,” King said. “It won’t be easy to put away a guy like that.”

King is more of a wrestler than a striker, a hulking, 6-foot-5, 223-pound former lineman who would stand to benefit from keeping his opponent on the canvas, thereby neutralizing Rebello’s ability to end the fight with one blow.

As he contemplates his strategy, remaining focused on the task at hand rather than what lies ahead, Rebello admits his chief concern Friday is “not getting laid on.” Though not aesthetically pleasing, the “lay and pray” approach worked swimmingly for Mike Stewart and Lewis Rumsey, each of whom mauled Rebello when faced with the task of defending a prestigious Muay Thai striker.

Those fights left Rebello at a crossroads, physically and emotionally drained from raising his infant daughter and not being able to put all his efforts into training. With his daughter approaching her third birthday, Rebello can finally balance fighting and fatherhood. This, he says, is the best he’s felt in years.

“I’ve trained more for this fight than I have for any other camp over the past three years,” he said. “Life’s gotten a lot easier. Now my daughter comes to the gym with me and jumps in the ring. She loves it.

“I’m in unbelievable shape,” he continued. “I don’t get injured. My body doesn’t have the wear and tear of someone in their mid-20s. I’ve never been hurt. I’ve never torn an ACL. I train smart. I’ve cut my sparring days in half. I do a lot more technique work and working on my standup. One day a week, we go at it, then the rest is all technical stuff. I recover a lot faster. I train hard, but I train smart, too.”

This may be “just another fight,” as King put it, but the muddled chain of command in New England’s heavyweight division rests on the outcome of Friday’s long-awaited showdown. Two friends sharing the spotlight, and perhaps a post-fight beverage when all is said and done, makes for must-see TV.

“I’ve never had an easy fight, and this goes along with that theme,” King said. “I feel awesome. I’m coming into this fight feeling amazing.

“Greg has set a standard in New England for a long time. I’m aware of that. But everyone I face is just an opponent in my way. I need to be aware of what he does and what he’s capable of.”

Tickets for “CES MMA XXIX” are priced at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 and available for purchase online at www.cesmma.com or www.twinriver.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

“CES MMA XXIX” features 11 bouts, including the return of reigning CES MMA welterweight champion Chuck O’Neil (15-6, 5 KOs) of Bourne, Mass., who defends his title in the main event against Dominique Steele (12-5, 3 KOs) of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Also on the main card, East Providence, R.I., middleweight Nate Andrews (6-1, 3 KOs) returns to face Jay Bakanowski (3-1, 2 KOs) of Northborough, Mass.; bantamweight Dinis Paiva Jr. (6-5, 4 KOs) of East Providence battles Brazilian Bruno Marques (7-5-1, 5KOs); and unbeaten Providence welterweight Eric Spicely (6-0, 2 KOs) faces New York’s Harley Beekman (7-2, 4 KOs).

The preliminary card includes a three-round welterweight bout Abe Pitrowski (6-2, 1 KO) of Pawtucket, R.I., and Mike Rodriguez (2-0) of Boston and a hard-hitting featherweight battle between Joe Pingitore (4-2, 1 KO) of Johnston, R.I., and James Murrin (3-2, 2 KOs) of Dorchester, Mass. Featherweight Evan Parker (4-3, 1 KO) of Worcester, Mass., faces Pete Rogers Jr. (2-1, 2 KOs) of Norwich, Conn.; welterweight Toby Oden (1-1) of Milford, Mass.; battles Wayne Alhquist (1-1, 1 KO) of Meredith, N.H.; Woonsocket, R.I., bantamweight Kody Nordby (3-3) faces Jesse Gutierrez (1-0) of Norwood; and Andy Aiello (5-1, 3 KOs) of Bridgewater, Mass., battles Devin Pilkington (0-2) of Smithfield, R.I.

For more information on “CES MMA XXIX” visit www.cesmma.com, follow @CESMMA on Twitter and Instagram and “like” the official CES MMA Facebook fan page.

Bethlehem, PA (June 8, 2015)–On Saturday night, June 27 King’s Boxing will present night of boxing at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem..

In the main event, undefeated Welterweight Jamal James will take on Jose Lopez in a bout scheduled for 10-rounds.

James of Minneapolis, Minnesota has a record of 16-0 with 9 knockouts.

The 26 year-old James has some quality wins over Patrick Boozer (5-1), Mohammed Kayongo (17-2-1) to win the Minnesota State Welterweight Title, Colby Courter (4-1) and Wayne Martell (25-4-1).

James is coming off a 2nd round stoppage over Daniel Sostre on April 18 in Valley Forge, PA.

Lopez of Torreon, Mexico has an impressive mark of 25-3-1 with 15 knockouts.

The 24 year-old has wins over Zwan Alberto Ramirez (3-0), former world champion Cesar Soto to win the WBC FECOMBOX Interim Super Lightweight title, future world title challenger Jorge Paez Jr (27-3-1), Eliud Melendez Rocha (3-0-1), Juan Manuel Leal (4-0-1), Jose Emilio Perea (21-1) to win the vacant WBF Welterweight title, Mahonri Montes (27-1-1), Carlos Martinez (10-0) and Ismael Urieta (5-1).

Lopez, who has won 8 in a row is, coming off an 8-round unanimous decision over Jonathan Duran on May 30 in Mexico City.

In 8-round Bouts:

Antonio DuBose (7-0, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on an opponent to be named in a Featherweight bout.

In 6-round Bouts:

Alex Martin (8-0, 5 KO’s) of Harvey, Illinois will take on Pavel Miranda (19-10-1, 9 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico in a Welterweight bout.

Caleb Plant (7-0, 6 KO’s) of Ashland, TN will fight Juan Carlos Rojas (10-10-1, 8 KO’s) of Saltillo, Mexico in a Super Middleweight bout.

Christian Molina (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Allentown, PA will take on Justin Johnson (6-8) of Pittsburgh, PA in a Jr. Welterweight bout.

Kyrone Davis (7-0, 3 KO’s) of Wilmington, DE will take on an opponent to be named in a Middleweight bout..

In 4-round Bouts:

Robert Ramos (1-3-1, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA will fight Ismael Serrano (2-1) of Bethlehem, PA in a Lightweight bout.

Desmond Moore of Bethlehem, PA will fight Mike Heffilfinger of Pennsylvania in a battle of Featherweight pro debuter’s.

Carlos Gongora (1-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY will box Alvaro Enriquez (12-14-2, 4 KO’s) of Tlaxcala, Mexico in a Light Heavyweight affair.

Chris Colbert (1-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn, NY will fight Antwan Robertson (9-14-1, 6 KO’s) of Minneapolis, MN in a Super Bantamweight bout.

Tickets are priced at $100, $75 and $50 and can purchased at ticketmaster and www.ticketmaster.com

The 1st bout will start at 6:45 PM with the doors opening at 6 PM.

Los Angeles, CA (June 8, 2015) Michael King, Founder and CEO of King Sports passed away on Wednesday, May 27 at the age of 67.

A pioneer in syndicated television prior to founding King Sports, the New Jersey native brought a passion and unique perspective that helped make King Sports among the most respected promoters in the world.

“As he did in the entertainment world, Michael elevated and enhanced the sport of boxing with his involvement,” said Paul Cain, Director of Boxing Operations. “He was full of great ideas and always wanted his fighters fully prepared to excel once they stepped in the ring.”

Cain stated, “King Sports will miss the love, joy, values and enthusiasm Michael instilled in each one of us every day. With immeasurable dedication to Michael, we will follow in his footsteps with our work ahead. We have a terrific team and exciting fights ahead of us, including Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam v David Lemieux on June 20th at the Bell Center in Montreal, Canada for the middleweight world title.”

King Sports is proud of its stable of world-class fighters and continues to do business with the same talented staff Michael King put in place. All scheduled events, including all training camps and promotional activities for such events, will take place without interruption or delay.

ABOUT KING SPORTS
King Sports is a company started by entertainment entrepreneur Michael King. King Sports’ first foray into boxing was with All-American Heavyweights, a revolutionary boxing program that boasted a state-of-the-art training facility equipped with the latest technology, premiere coaching and medical staff along with experts in the development of ideal dietary and nutritional progams for its fighters. Since making the decision to enter professional boxing, King Sports has spent time evaluating the entire spectrum of global boxing talent. Through an exhaustive scouting and evaluation process, King Sports has found some of the most exciting young fighters from around the world.

For more information follow King Sports on Twitter @KingSportsWorld, Facebook @KingSportsWorldwide and visit their website at www.KingSportsWorldwide.com.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 8, 2015) – With an unfortunate injury forcing the withdrawal of Goiti Yamauchi, Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (10-1) receives the call to step in against former featherweight champion Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (20-7). With this change of opponent, and four newly announced matchups, “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” on June 26 is now complete with 13 total scraps to sink your teeth into.

The additional fights include heavyweight bouts between Alex Huddleston (5-1) vs. Javy Ayala (8-3) and Derek Bohi (5-4) vs. Frederick Brown (2-1) as well as featherweights Greg Scott (3-3) vs. Gaston Reyno (3-0) and lightweights Marcio Navarro (13-11) vs. Cody Carrillo (8-11).

“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” is headlined by a heavyweight clash between French striking specialist Cheick “The Darkness” Kongo (22-10-2) and former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-5). The event takes place June 26 at Kansas Star Event Center Arena in Mulvane, Kan.

The night’s main card airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT. Tickets for “Bellator: Kongo vs. Volkov” start at just $17 and are currently available at Ticketmaster.com.

Additional announced pairings on the SPIKE-televised card include lightweights Dave “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3) vs. John “The Natural” Alessio (35-17) and a contest between middleweight sluggers with Joe “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling (2-4) vs. Hisaki Kato (4-1).

The 24-year-old Sanchez is an explosive featherweight, fighting with Duke Roufus out of the famed Roufusport gym in Milwaukee. The two-time Bellator veteran has shined throughout his current six-fight winning streak, most recently scoring a first-round rear naked choke over Stephen Banaszak at Bellator 128 followed by a dominant unanimous decision over Costa Rican standout Alejandro Villalobos at Bellator 135 this past March. Sanchez faces stiff competition in former featherweight kingpin Curran, who has been involved in some of the most memorable Bellator fights of all time.

Huddleston, 28, is a key training has won four consecutive tilts since dropping the first fight of his professional career in 2011. Most recently, “The Shaved Gorilla” stopped Derek Bohl at Bellator 130. Standing opposite Huddleston inside the cage will be the 26-year-old Ayala, who is on a three-fight promotional winning streak of his own. The California native has stopped his last three foes before reaching the judges’ discretion.

In the second added heavyweight feature, Bohl will seek his first win for the Southern California-based promotion. “Marshmallow” has won his first two bouts in 2015 on the regional circuit. Brown will have his second opportunity at success for Bellator against Bohl. The hometown fighter was finished by Daniel Gallemore at Bellator 113, which was his last time in action.

Undefeated at 3-0, Reyno will bring the tenacity he has shown on the independent MMA scene to the Bellator cage. “Tonga” has finished every fight he has been involved in and will look to make a mark on the featherweight division with his debut. Scott, a Whichita native, made his Bellator MMA debut in 2011 and has had a mixed bag of success.

Lastly, a pair of experienced lightweights will round out the preliminary portion of the card when Navarro and Carrillo tangle inside the steel mesh. With 43 professional bouts between them, both veterans will attempt to string together some wins under the Bellator banner.

“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” – Friday, June 26, Kanas Star Event Center Arena, Mulvane, Kansas

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (24-5)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Dave Rickels (16-3) vs. John Alessio (35-17)
Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Pat Curran (20-7) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (10-1)
Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Joe Schilling (2-4) vs. Hisaki Kato (4-1)

Preliminary Card

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Bubba Jenkins (8-2) vs. Joe Wilk (18-10)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Jeimeson Saudino (8-4) vs. Aaron Ely (4-2)
Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Bobby Cooper (12-5) vs. Pablo Villaseca (9-0)
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Daniel Gallemore (4-2) vs. Augusto Sakai (7-0)
Bellator Female Featherweight Prelim Fight: Iony Razafiarison (2-0) vs. Bryanna Fissori (1-0)
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Alex Huddleston (5-1) vs. Javy Ayala (8-3)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Greg Scott (3-3) vs. Gaston Reyno (3-0)
Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Derek Bohi (5-4) vs. Frederick Brown (2-1)
Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Marcio Navarro (13-11) vs. Cody Carrillo (8-11)

About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:
Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About Kansas Star Arena
The Kansas Star Arena, a Boyd Gaming facility, is located just off Exit 33 on the Kansas Turnpike and is adjacent to the Kansas Star Casino. The 42,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Kansas Star Arena is south-central Kansas’ home for big-name national acts such as Journey, Pat Benatar, Championship Rodeo, mixed martial arts events and more. The Arena accommodates up to 6,500 guests for headliner events. In 2014, Midwest Gaming and Travel awarded the Kansas Star more than 25 honors in its annual Reader’s Choice Awards, including “Best Concert Venue” in the state of Kansas. For more information, visit kansasstarcasino.com. Connect with Kansas Star Arena at facebook.com/kansasstararena and www.kansasstarcasino.com/entertain/arena. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming is a leading diversified owner and operator of 22 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and New Jersey. Boyd Gaming and Kansas Star Casino press releases are available at boydgaming.mediaroom.com.

Philadelphia (June 8, 2015)–This Saturday, June 13 one of the hottest names in boxing will be back in action as undefeated Jr. Middleweight, Julian “J-Rock” Williams (19-0-1, 11 KO’s) will take on Armen Ovespyan (14-4, 11 KO’s) in a 10-round bout for the WBC Continental America’s Jr. Middleweight title.

The bout will take place in Birmingham, Alabama and be part of the Deontay Wilder – Eric Molina WBC Heavyweight title card that will be televised on Showtime Championship Boxing.

Williams – Ovespyan will be shown live on Showtime Extreme.

“I wanted a bigger fight but if the other top guys are not available,” said Williams.

“I can’t just sit around and be inactive. I’m still improving. I still have to work on my craft. I still have to make money. So sitting around is not an option for me. At one time people had high hopes for Ovespyan. He’s not a bum and I’m definitely not overlooking him.”said the 25 year-old

“At one point during camp I thought I was fighting Frank Galarza in Brooklyn so I was locked in. Then I thought it would be Jan Zaveck. Who is an ex world champion and took Keith Thurman the 12 round distance so I was still super focused. I’ve been told I will get a big fight in September maybe even a title shot, so there is no way I will have a let down against Ovespyan because if I don’t win I won’t get what I have been asking for. I haven’t lost a round in 2 years since the Joachim Alcine fight and I want to continue to build on that and perfect my craft.”

Williams has earned the moniker, “Mr. Do It All” for his versatility in the ring. Williams has proven to be a master boxer and high quality banger when need be.

Williams is currently ranked #8 by the WBC, #10 by the WBA and #10 by ESPN.com

Williams of Philadelphia has been credited for willingness to take step up fights such as wins over former world champion Joachim Alcine (32-4) Orlando Lora (29-4-2), Freddy Hernandez (30-6), Michael Medina (26-4-2), Eliezer Gonzalez (14-0), Jamar Freeman (13-3-2) and Joey Hernandez (24-2-1). Williams was also dominating undefeated Hugo Centeno (19-0) before the fight was stopped due to a cut and ruled a no-contest.

LONDON (8 JUNE) British light-heavyweight champion Bob Ajisafe looks to bag the vacant Commonwealth crown this Saturday night (June 13) in Bristol, when going up against Kenya’s Daniel Wanyonyi, and then intends to gatecrash world-class in the coming months.

The skilful 30-year-old is unbeaten in his last seven fights and last year won the MaxiNutrition Knockout Tournament with a classy fourth-round stoppage win over Matty Clarkson. He also holds victories over domestic rivals Travis Dickinson, Dean Francis and Leon Senior and is considered by most to be the best light-heavyweight in Britain.

“I definitely feel like I’m the best in Britain at the moment,” he said. “I’m the current British champion, so that speaks for itself, but I also genuinely feel I would beat all of the other light-heavyweights in Britain.

“I’m now on the fringes of European and world-class and I want to make that transition as soon as possible. That’s where I’m aiming to progress towards once I’ve captured this Commonwealth title. I’m looking to make a statement on Saturday night and then push on to the world stage. I’ve shown my class at this level and now I want to test myself at the next level.

“I won the MaxiNutrition Knockout Tournament very easily last year and I think that said a lot. I was up against the cream of the crop in this country and none of them got a look in. I felt very comfortable.”

Ajisafe’s next opponent, 26-year-old Wanyonyi, is based in Nairobi, Kenya and boasts a professional record of 21-6-2 (17 KOs). Known for his punch power and exciting style, Wanyonyi recovered from a patchy start to his eight-year professional career to win the Kenyan title and the African Boxing Union title.

In winning the latter, he defeated the unbeaten Matamba Debatch Postolo in Kinshasa, Zaire last June. The fight marked the first time Wanyonyi had gone twelve rounds in his career and he passed the test with flying colours, taking a unanimous decision at the bout’s conclusion.

Despite all this, Ajisafe, 15-2 (6 KOs), has yet to even see a picture of the man he faces this weekend.

“I haven’t seen any footage of him,” said the Leeds man. “I’m not even sure what his style is or whether he’s orthodox or southpaw. I don’t think he’s boxed outside Africa before, so his tapes aren’t exactly readily available.

“I just have faith and belief in my own camp. I know I’ve put in a lot of work for this fight and I’ll put trust in that hard work and also my skills, which I believe will be enough to deal with Wanyonyi. I’ll have a look at him early, work out what he’s about and then outbox him and break him down.

“I’m not going to overlook him or get complacent, though. I know he hasn’t mixed in my class before but that doesn’t mean he’s not capable or dangerous. His record suggests he can punch a bit, albeit at a lower level, and if he’s knocking people over he must have some sort of power. The thing is, you just don’t have a clue what sort of opponents he’s been facing in Kenya. They could be decent, they could be awful.”

Ajisafe continued: “No matter how good he is, it’s all about getting the win and looking good. I can’t afford to just beat this guy on Saturday night. I need to beat him in style and make people sit up and take note. After that, I can move on up the ladder.”

*** Lee Haskins and Ryosuke Iwasa fight for the vacant IBF Interim World Bantamweight Title and Bob Ajisafe and Daniel Wanyonyi fight for the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title on June 13 at Bristol’s Action Indoor Sports Arena. For tickets, please contact the Ticketline Box Office on 0844 888 4402 or Sanigar Events on 0117 949 6699 ***

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INGUSHETIA, Russia (June 7, 2015) – Last night at M-1 Challenge 58: Battle in the Mountains 4, Mural “Hunter” Abdulaev won a unanimous 5-round decision over Marcelo Brito to capture the vacant M-1 Challenge welterweight title, outdoors in Ingushetia, Russia.

Abdulaev (13-10, 6 KO/TKO, 2 SUB), fighting out of Russia, remained unbeaten in M-1 Global competition with his third victory. Brito (13-6-0, 2 KO/TKO, 5 SUB), who replaced his injured Brazilian countryman Igor Fernandes, made his M-1 Global debut.

In main card action, Russian by way of Azerbaijan featherweight Tural Ragimov (10-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) defeated Antun “Killer” Racic (17-6-0, 0 KO/TKO, 13 SUB), of Croatia, by way of a late third-round submission via an arm-bar.

Heavyweight Alexi “Brick” Kudin (20-8-0, 16 KO/TKO, 1 SUB), of Belarus, kicked his way to a second-round knockout of Russian Baga Agaev (27-17-0, 5 KO/TKO, 2 SUB).

American featherweight Lee “American Bulldog” Morrison (13-5-0, 4 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) won a three-round majority decision from Pavel Vitruk (12-2-0, 3 KO/TKO, 2 SUB), a native of Ukraine who fights out of St. Petersburg, Russia.

Brazilian veteran Charles “Gracie” Andrade (28-23-1, 6 KO/TKO, 22 SUB) needed only 34 seconds to force previously undefeated Russian middleweight Abukar Yandiev (4-1-0, 1 KO/TKO, 2 SUB) into submission with a heel hook.

Russian middleweight Magomed Mutaev (6-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 0 SUB) won by technical knockout when Spaniard Enoc Solves Torres’ (16-9-0, 5 KO/TKO, 7 SUB) corner-men halted the fight after the first round.

Fighting on the preliminary card, hometown favorite Adam Tsurov (2-1-0) stopped pro-debuting Tajikistan lightweight Bakhitoyor Ibragimov (0-1-0) on punches in the opening round, Russian lightweight Khamzat Dalziev (3-1-0) won a second round split decision from Russian Akhied Nazarov (0-1-0), Russian featherweight Movsar Evloev (2-0-0) took a two-round decision from Lu Zhenhong (6-3-0), of China, Russian light heavyweight Adam “Beast” Yandiev (8-0-0) remained undefeated with an early first-round submission of Lithuanian Valdas Pocevicius (33-32-0), and Russian lightweight Djambulat Kurbanov (7-1-`) won as previously undefeated Ukrainian Alexander Panasyuk (5-1-0) submitted due to an arm-bar in the first round.

Russian featherweight Kurbanali Abdusalamov (5-2-0) upset previously unbeaten Pierre Sauvage (6-1-0), punching out the Frenchman late in the final round, Ingushetia favorite Khamzat Aushev (6-3-0) needed only 26-seconds to submit Spanish lightweight Javier Fuentas (6-2-0) with a heel lock, Arkamat Evkurov (3-1-0) punched his way to a first-round stoppage of Vladimir Bury (1-2-0) in a battle of Russian heavyweights, and featherweight Ruslan Esmurziev (2-1-0) ruined the pro debut of fellow Russian Marat Kishaev (0-1-0), who was a KO victim of punches.

In M- Medieval knight fights heavyweight Evgeniy Gladkov (3-0-0) remained unbeaten with victory over Maxim Plaksin (0-2-0), while welterweight Rustam Kuhurkhev (1-0-0) won hi pro debut against Boris Dzhelilov (0-2-0).

Complete results and picture gallery below:

M-1 CHALLENGE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Mural Abdulaev (13-1-0)
WDEC5
Marcelo Brito (13-7-0), Brazil
(Abdulaev won vacant M-1 Challenge welterweight title)

MAIN CARD

HEAVYWEIGHTS
Alexi Kudin (20-8-0), Belarus
WKO/TKO2 (Leg Kicks – 1:40)
Baga Agaev (27-17-0), Russia

MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Charles Andrade (28-23-1), Brazil
WSUB1 (Heel Hook – 0:34)
Abukar Yandiev (4-1-0), Russia

Magomed Mutaev (6-2-0), Russia
WTKO1 (Corner Stoppage – 5:00)
Enoc Solves Torres (16-9-0), Spain

FEATHERWEIGHTS
Tural Ragimov (10-2-0), Russia
WSUB3 (Armbar – 4:27)
Antun Racic (17-6-0), Croatia

Lee Morrison (14-5-0), USA
WDEC3
Pavel Vitruk (12-2-0), Russia

PRELIMINARY CARD

HEAVYWEIGHTS
Akramat Evkurov (4-1-0), Russia
WKO/TKO1 (Punches – 1:43)
Vladimir Bury (1-2-0), Russia

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Adam Yandiev (8-0-0), Russia
WSUB1 (RNC — 0:34)
Valdas Pocevisius (33-32-0), Lithuania

LIGHTWEIGHTS
Adam Tsurov (3-1-0), Russia
WKO/TKO1 (Punches – 4:16)
Bakhitier Ibragimov (0-1-0), Tajikistan

Khamzat Dalgiev (3-1-0), Russia
WDEC2
Akhred Nazarov (0-1-0), Russia

Dzambulat Kurbanov (7-1-0), Russia
WSUB1 (Armbar – 3:18)
Alexander Panasyuk (5-1-1), Ukraine

Khamzat Aushev (6-3-0), Russia
WSUB1 (Heel Hook – 0:26)
Javier Fuentas (6-3-0), Spain

FEATHERWEIGHTS
Movsar Evloev (2-0-0), Russia
WDEC2
Lu Zhenhong (6-3-0), China

Kurbanali Abdisalamov (4-2-0), Russia
WKO3 (Punches – 4:25)
Pierre Sauvage (6-0-0), France

Ruslan Esmurziev (2-1-0), Russia
WKO1 (Punches — 4:35)
Marat Kishaev (0-0-0) Russia

MEDIEVAL KNIGHT FIGHTS

HEAVYWEIGHTS
Evgeniy Gladov (3-0-0), Russia
Won
Maxim Plaksin (0-2-0), Russia

WELTERWEIGHTS
Rustam Kuhurkhoev (1-0-0), Russia
Won
Boris Dzhelilov (0-2-0), Russia

Mural Abdulaev has position on Marcelo Brito

New M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Mural Abdulaev

Tural Ragimov strikes Antun Racic

Charles Andrade shows his respect for Abukar Yandiev

Pavel Vitruk & Lee Morrison mix it up in the mountains

Alexi Kudin toses Baga Agaev

Magomd Mutaev & Enoc Solves Torres

Khamzat Dagev& Akhred Nazarov

Rustam Kuhukhoev & Boris Dzhelilov

Djammbulat Kurbanov finishes off Alexander Panasyuk

Khmzat Aushev forces Javier Fuentas into submission

Movsar Eloev nails Lu Zhenhong right on the chin

Evgeniy Glakov attacks Maxim Plaksin

Ruslan Esmurziv & Marat Kishaev

Adam Yandiev defeated Valdas Pocevicius

Pierre Sauvage & Kurbanali Abdusalamov

Vladimir Bury & Akromat Evkurov

Upcoming Event: M-1 Challenge 59: Kharitonov-Garner II in Astana, Kazakhstan

Information

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Facebook:

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ABOUT M-1 GLOBAL: Founded in 1997, M-1 Global has established itself in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the premier entity for discovering and developing the world’s next-generation of superstar fighters. With its office in St Petersburg, Russia, the M-1 brand has staged more than 160 events worldwide, including M-1 Selection, M-1 Challenge, M-1 Global and M-1 Global HWGP events, in addition to co-promoting Strikeforce events and M-1 Global on the U.S. network, Showtime. Captivating live, television and broadband audiences with its superior production values and match-ups, M-1 Global events have featured some of the sport’s top names, including legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Keith Jardine, Ben Rothwell, Melvin Manhoef, Sergei Kharitonov, Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, Yushin Okami, Mike Pyle, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Amar Suloev, Chalid Arrab and Stephan Struve. 2015 promises to be another sensational year of world-class competition with a full calendar of Challenge events fueled by a talent-rich contention system ranking M-1 Global Champions among the greatest fighters in the sport.

ABOUT M-1GLOBAL.TV: Enjoy MMA action now in high definition brought to you by M-1Global.tv, offering only the best fights from M-1 Global and other MMA organizations. M-1Global.tv is a great platform developed specifically to bring together the most exhaustive fight video database. It also provides an easy and intuitive interface, helping everyone to start using the platform in no time while avoiding any spoilers. Besides watching the past fights on demand at any time convenient to the customer, viewers are able to enjoy the action LIVE, all available to M-1Global.tv users through a low-priced month to month digital subscription. Your world of action. Anytime!

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. (June 6, 2015) — Former two-division world champion and highly-rated pound for pound fighter TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY JR., deep in training for his upcoming clash with undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight world champion JESSIE VARGAS (26-0, 9 KOs), from Las Vegas, NV, for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world title, hosted a workout today that was open to hundreds of fans who packed Bradley’s Gym. Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., has held a world title every year since 2008. He will be looking to extend that streak when he tries to regain the title he first won off Manny Pacquiao in 2012. Here is what Bradley and his trainer Joel Diaz had to say:

TIMOTHY BRADLEY

“I want to be strong and get a decisive win over Vargas – like knock him out and put him to sleep. I know he’s going to have a will to win but I am generating more power in camp. I’ve gone back to my roots in training, doing things which got me to this high level.

“I am not on a vegan diet for this training camp. I am eating fish, chicken and once a week, steak, to help build up my strength and power.

“I have more big fight experience than Vargas, more speed, more power and I am the better athlete. Vargas knows in his heart I am going to bring it. In the ring I will tell Vargas, ‘this in my time, not yours.’

“I want my title belt back too. That motivates me. I don’t care if Vargas is training in the mountains with his new trainer Erik Morales. The StubHub Center is my War Ground as Vargas is about to find out.”

JOEL DIAZ

“We went back to old school training — sledgehammers, medicine balls, swimming. This is a hard camp but we are facing a fighter who hungers to win. But Tim has too much power and more experience than Vargas.”

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

The Bradley vs. Vargas world welterweight title fight will take place Saturday, June 27, under the stars at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate, remaining tickets to the Bradley vs. Vargas world welterweight championship event, priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, (plus applicable taxes and fees), can be purchased online at http://www.axs.com, by telephone at (888) 929-7849 or at the StubHub Center box office, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Suites are available by calling (877) 604-8777. For information on group discounts, please call (877) 234-8425.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #BradleyVargas to join the conversation on Twitter.

Follow all the action Live from Barclays Center as Miguel Cotto defends the WBC Middleweight title against former two-time champion Daniel Geale. The action begins at 10:30 PM ET.

12 ROUNDS–WBC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–MIGUEL COTTO (39-4, 32 KO’S) VS DANIEL GEALE (31-3, 16 KO’S)

Round 1 Cotto lands to the body..left to body..jab..jab..Geale lands a right…10-9 Cotto

Round 2 Cotto lands a right..quick jab..body combo…Geale lands a jab…quick combination…20-18 Cotto

Round 3 Jab snaps Geales head back..jab..left to body…Right from geale…Hard right from Cotto drives Geale into the ropes….30-27 Cotto

Round 4 HUGE LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GEALE..Huge FLURRY AND DOWN GOES GEALE AGAIN…FIGHT STOPPED

BROOKLYN–Miguel Cotto made an emphatic statement that was heard from Brooklyn to Guadalajara, Mexico as he defended the WBC Middleweight title with a fourth round stoppage over Daniel Geale at Barclays Center. The win now clears the way for a mega showdown in the fall with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.

Cotto was impressive with his jab early in the fight and started mixing the his vaunted left hook to the body. Cotto clearly won the first three rounds.

In round four, Cotto landed a massive left hook to the head that sent Geale sprawling on his back. Geale was clearly shaken up but tried to fight back. Cotto jumped on his hurt prey and landed a huge flurry of punches. Geale tried to fight back but a straight right to the top of the head put Geale down for a 2nd time. Geale got to his feet but referee Harvey Dock stopped the fight at 1:28 of round four.

Zhang Zhilei scored three knockdowns en route to a 4-round unanimous decision beatdown of Glen Thomas.

Zhilei dominated and scored knockdowns in rounds one, three and four (where Thomas took a knee on his own).

Zhilei, 262.4 lbs of Henan, China is now 4-0 with 3 knockdowns. Thomas, 215 lbs of East Stroudsburg, PA is now 1-4.

Junior Younan scored a 2nd round stoppage over Mike Sawyer in a scheduled 4-round Light Heavyweight bout.

Younan dropped Sawyer in the opening seconds with a big flurry that was finished off with 3 hard lefts. The continued hard hooks caused swelling under his right eye. In round two, Younan scored a 2nd knockdown from a left to the top of the head. Younan was relantless with a follow up barrage and the fight was stopped at 2:29

Younan, 172.4 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is now 7-0 with 6 knockouts. Sawyer, 178 lbs of Orlando, FL is now 6-4.

Dustin Fleischer needed just 66 seconds to take out Kareem Miller in their scheduled 4-round Welterweight bout.

Fleischer landed a huge combination and the fight was stopped.

Fleischer, 142.6 lbs of Monmouth Beach, Nj is now 2-0 with 2 knockouts. Miller, 140.8 lbs of Eden, NC is now 1-2.

Angel Luna scored a mild upset by scoring a 6-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Jose Lopez in a Jr. Lightweight bout.

Luna dropped Lopez in round’s two and five but was deducted a point in round four for hitting behind the head.

Luna. 125.8 lbs of New York, NY won by scores of 57-54 and 58-53 twice and is now 11-1-1. Lopez, 126 lbs of Carolina, PR is now 15-1-1.

Shawn Simpson worked hard to get the stoppage in his pro debut and he did at 2:05 of the 4th and final round of his Jr. Featherweight bout with Damon Simon.

Simpson unloaded some heavy shots that finally put Simon down to the canvas and the fight was stopped.

Simpson, 119.6 lbs of Chicago is 1-0 with 1 knockout. Simon, 119.6 lbs of Beaumont, TX is 0-2.

Springfield, VA (June 6, 2015)–Tonight at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, Virginia, once beaten Light Heavyweight Lavarn “Baby Bowe” Harvell (13-1, 7 KO’s) returns to the ring when he takes on the only man to defeat him, Edgar Perez (6-14, 3 KO’s) in a bout scheduled for 6-rounds.

It was almost a year ago, June 14, 2014 when Perez dropped the then undefeated Harvell twice and scored the upset victory.

After the fight, Harvell took some time off and is s now training with Kay Koroma & Dennis Porter in Virginia. Tonight he will look to get even with native of Chicago.

Harvell, 27 years-old of Atlantic City recently re-signed with GH3 Promotions and with a win tonight, Harvell will make up for lost time as his promoter has set up an ambitious schedule for the Light Heavyweight contender.

“We wanted Lavarn to get right back in it. He knows he is better than Perez and he asked for this fight,” said Vito Mielnicki of GH3 Promotions.

“When he does what he is supposed to do tonight, I want to bring him right back on July 17 as we have a nationally televised event that will be announced shortly and we plan to have Lavarn on that undercard.”

Harvell weighed in at 183 pounds at Friday’s weigh in.

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Jr. Middleweight John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, lightweight Oscar Bonilla, Heavyweight Natu Visinia and Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell to the GH3 Promotions stable.

Former world champion Robert Guerrero had to survive being knocked down to come back to win a 10-round split decision over Aron Martinez at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

In round four, Martinez landed some big shots on Guerrero and after the 10th shot, Guerrero dropped to his knees for a knockdown. Guerrero was able to grind out the majority of the rounds with a solid work rate.

Guerrero, 145.6 lbs of Gilroy, CA won by scores of 95-94 and 97-92 and is now 33-3-1. Martinez, 146.6 lbs of East Los Angeles, CA won a card by a 95-94 tally but is 19-4-1.

Former U.S. Olympian, Dominic Breazeale scored a 3rd round stoppage over Yasmany Casuegra in a scheduled 8-round Heavyweight bout.

In round two, Breazeale landed a right hand that sent Casuegra to the canvas. In the next round, Breazeale dropped Casuegra again with a right. Seconds later he was dropped for a third time with a chopping right. Casuegra wobbled to his feet and the fight was stopped at 1:49 of round three.

Breazeale of Los Angeles is 15-0 with 14 knockouts. Casuegra of Cuba is 17-1.

Jesus Cuellar retained the WBA Featherweight title with an 8th round stoppage of former world champion Vic Darchinyan

In round eight, Cuellar dropped Darchinyan with an over hand right. Darchinyan got to his feet but Cuellar jumped on Darchinyan and Darchinyan’s corner jumped on the apron and the fight was stopped at 1:04 of round eight.

Cuellar, 125.8 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is now 27-1 with 21 knockouts. Darchinyan, 125.4 lbs of Armenia is 40-8-1.

Cuellar landed 103-487 punches. Darchinyan was 73-250.

Alfredo Angulo scored a 5th round stoppage over Delray Raines in a scheduled 10-round Middleweight bout.

Angulo dropped Raines in round four and twice in round five and the bout was stopped at 2:16.

Angulo, 162.2 lbs of Mexicali. MEX is 23-5 with 19 knockouts. Raines, 160 lbs of Paris, ARK is now 22-11-1.

Alejandeo Luna won a 10-round unanimous decision over Cristobal Cruz in a Lightweight bout.

Luna won by scores of 80-72 and 79-72 and is now 18-0. Cruz is 40-17-4.

Tacoma, Washington (June 5, 2015) Brian Halquist Productions and Super Fight League are proud to announce Super Fight League 41, live from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma on Saturday, July 11th at 7:00PM. Since their arrival in the U.S. in October of 2014, Super Fight League has been putting on some of the most talked about shows on the West Coast. July 11th will be no different, as two title fights will headline a stacked card featuring the best up and coming mixed martial artists in the country.

In the main event of the evening, two hometown favorites look to bring home the gold as Harrison Bevens (7-3) faces Justin “Ruckus” Harrington (6-2) for the recently vacated Super Fight League America Lightweight Championship. As two of the most well-known and exciting fighters in the Pacific Northwest today, Bevens and Harrington are known for always bringing their A-game. When asked for his thoughts on his newest opponent, Justin Harrington had this to say:

“It’s going to be a dog fight. Harrison is hungry to get that belt and I’m super hungry to get it back. He’s probably the toughest fighter I’ve faced and that’s what gets me motivated. I have tons of respect for him and his camp, but I need my belt back and I’m training my a** off to make sure that happens. I WILL get my belt back.”

With both men as hungry as ever to capture gold, this Lightweight Championship contest will be nothing short of incredible.

In the evening’s co-main event, Enumclaw’s Tyson Cunningham (3-0-1) will get another shot at the SFLA Welterweight Championship against talented Georgia native Mike “Zombie” Dubois (3-1). Cunningham was last in the cage in December of 2014, fighting the World Series of Fighting’s Ben “Flattop” Fodor a.k.a. Phoenix Jones to a draw in one of the most exciting and controversial fights the I-5 showroom has ever seen. With Fodor moving to the WSOF and vacating his welterweight championship, Cunningham has a second chance to make good on his promise to bring the belt home.

“Obviously, this fight will be tough. Any title fight should be” said Cunningham. “Mike seems like a durable and well-rounded fighter, but so am I. It’s a good matchup and we both have heavy hands. The last one to go to sleep wins!”

Fans packed inside the EQC are in for a treat with so much on the line come July 11th. The evening will be rounded out with many stellar undercard bouts, which will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for Super Fight League 41 are on sale now through the Emerald Queen Casino box office as well as all Ticketmaster locations. Fans are encouraged to reserve their seats early, as this event will sell out. Doors open at 6:00PM with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. Super Fight League 41 is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions and Cagesport MMA. For more information, please visit www.halquistproductions.com as well as the Cagesport MMA Facebook page.

Las Vegas (June 4, 2015) – Four-Time world champion Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor has confirmed that he will appear and have a booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second annual Box Fan Expo that will take place Saturday September 12, 2015. The Box Fan Expo will coincide with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s last fight and Mexican independence weekend.

Casamayor was a great amateur boxer who won the gold medal for Cuba at Bantamweight during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He then turned pro after defecting to the United States on the eve of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He is a former WBC, WBO, WBA and Ring Magazine champion.

Casamayor, will have merchandise to sell to his fans, as well as photos and memorabilia. He joins “Terrible” Terry Norris among early commitments to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

This unique fan experience event, which allowed fans to meet and greet boxing legends, past and current champions and other celebrities of the sport, debuted last September to large, enthusiastic crowds. This year the Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once again, allow fans a chance to collect autographs, take photos and purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, broadcasting media and other brand companies who wish to participate will have a chance to showcase their products to fans and the whole boxing industry.

Last year’s inaugural Box Fan Expo featured some of the most popular fighters and boxing celebrities in recent history. Fans were treated to visits with Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Sergio Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia, James Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Shawn Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija, Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, Mia St-John, Erislandy Lara, Peter Quillin, Jean Pascal and Austin Trout. Also appearing were current WBC Champion Deontay Wilder, the charismatic Vinny Pazienza, Paul Williams, noted commentator Al Bernstein and top trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

The roster of attendees for this year’s Box Fan Expo will be announced throughout the next several months and weeks leading up to the event.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at: http://www.boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

View the official promo video of Box Fan Expo here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/video-2/

View Promo Flyer here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/promo-flyer/

View Photos Gallery 2014 here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/photos/

For anyone in the boxing industry or brand companies who wish to be involved and reserve a booth as an exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

LOS ANGELES (June 5) – Rising Brazilian undefeated fighters, 2012 Brazilian Olympic Bronze Medalist Yamaguchi Falcao (6-0, 2 KOs) and 2008 and 2012 Brazilian Olympic team member Everton Lopes (2-0, 1 KOs), return to their native land to headline an exciting night of boxing this Saturday at the Arena Santos in Santos, Brazil live on Globosat. Co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Arano Box, the fight card is set to keep fight fans on the edge of their seats with a night packed with competitive matches.

Headlining the event, Yamaguchi Falcao will take on the undefeated Jose Carlos “Puro” Paz (17-2, 9 KOs) of Argentina in an eight-round middleweight bout. In the co-main event Everton Lopes of Bahia, Brazil will face off in a six-round lightweight fight against Marcelo “El Mago” Mesa (6-2-1) of Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

On the non-televised card, Sidney Siquiera (26-8-1, 17 KOs) of San Paulo, Brazil will face Victor Jones Freitas (9-0, 5 KOs) of Bahia, Brazil in a six-round lightweight bout, and Maximiliano “Itaka” Sosa (8-1, 4 KOs) of Argentina will fight Carlos Ailton Nacimento (11-1, 8 KOs) of Rio Rea, Brazil in a six-round heavyweight fight. Opening up the night is a trio of four-round bouts: first flyweight Matheus Gil de Olivera (1-0, 1 KO) of San Paulo, Brazil will fight Aurelio Gonzalez de Mezquita (5-0, 4 KOs) of Guaruja, Brazil, next Warnes de Jesus Souza (11-0, 8 KOs) also of San Paulo, will face Pameiras dos Indios, Brazil’s Edison Rios (10-21, 7 KOs) in a lightweight match, and San Paulo’s Natan Santana Coutinho (11-0, 9 KOs) will engage in a super flyweight bout against Felipe Matos dos Reis (2-1, 1 KOs)

Falcao vs. Paz is a 10-round bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Arano Box. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. BRT and the first bell rings at 8:30 p.m. BRT The Globosat broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. BRT.

A 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist and one of the most promising boxers to come from the country of Brazil, Yamaguchi Falcao is now on his quest to become a world champion title holder in the middleweight division. Since his professional debut in January 2014, Falcao has put together three consecutive victories over Fernando Najera, Martin Fidel Rios and Jesus Cruz. In his first fight of 2015, Falcao stopped undefeated newcomer “Sugar” Raymond Terry of Philadelphia in the first round of their scheduled six-round middleweight fight on March 12 and won via unanimous decision when he faced Gerardo Ibarra on April 30. Now Falcao is set to conquer Argentina’s Jose Carlso Paz on June 6.

Hailing from Pozo del Molle, Cordoba, Argentina, Jose Carlos “Puro” Paz will be looking for his second win of 2015. Having fought and defeated Martin Fidel Rios via unanimous decision in May, the 24-year old is ready to put on a fight when he faces Yamaguchi Falcao. A professional boxer since 2012, the relative newcomer has stayed busy, winning and successfully defending the WBC Mundo Hispano Super Welterweight title and the WBC Latino Super Welterweight title.

A two-time Olympian for his home country of Brazil, Everton Lopes won 240 bouts as an amateur and earning gold at the 2013 Pan American Games as well. On Feb. 27, the talented 26-year-old southpaw made his professional debut in a super lightweight bout against Evan Woolsey winning by unanimous decision and continued that trend when he beat Robert Alexander Seyam on April 2 via first round knockout.

Fighting out of Argentina, Marcelo Mesa is a relative new fighter looking to secure a victory in his third fight of 2015. A professional since 2012, the fighter is known for his stamina inside the ring and last fought Diego Martin Aguilera, Jonathan Jose Eniz, and Sergio Manuel Liendo.

For more information, visit www.aranobox.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, and follow on Twitter at @AranoBox and @GoldenBoyBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AranoBox, and Golden Boy Facebook Page, and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing.

LONDON (5 June) – Middleweight world champion Miguel Cotto believes he would have too much for either Canelo Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin if they were to share the ring.

The WBC champion makes the first defence of his title this weekend against Australian Geale from the Barclays Center in New York, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

Much talk prior to the Geale showdown has circled around potential clashes with Mexican idol Canelo and rising pound-for-pound star Golovkin, but four-weight world champion Cotto believes he would be at an advantage if he was to face either man.

“Canelo had his moment to shine against [Floyd] Mayweather and everyone knows what happened there,” he said.

“Golovkin is a guy who never faced in my opinion ‘Class A’ opponents and people are still asking for those kinds of fights. Miguel Cotto has been here for 14 years facing everybody. After Saturday, we’ll see what happens in my career,” Cotto said.

The Puerto Rican star hasn’t fought in a year since capturing the 160-pound title from slick Argentine Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Garden last June.

Cotto, however, says he is refreshed and ready to go following his layoff and is unfazed at the prospect of having to look as spectacular as Kazakh assassin Golovkin who stopped Geale inside three rounds.

“All I did was rest every part of my body. It’s healed. I’m fresh, I’m new, and everybody is going to see it this Saturday. I feel better. I feel rejuvenated. I feel I can beat anyone in boxing,” said Cotto.

“I don’t have any pressure on me. It doesn’t matter to me how Golovkin did with Geale and how I do – it’s two different fights. Golovkin has his own style and I have my own,” he said.

The 34-year-old Geale thinks that Cotto is overlooking him ahead of their 157-pound catchweight bout, with the former champion looking to cause a major upset.

“I definitely believe Miguel and his camp are looking past me. I think they’ve chosen me because they think I’m not one of the super strong middleweights at the moment and by bringing me down a few pounds they think they’re going to weaken me even more,” he said.

“They’re definitely looking past me and looking at big money fights which is exciting for me,” said Geale.

The number four ranked middleweight in the world by Ring Magazine doesn’t think the fact Cotto has been out of action for a year will play any significant role in the fight and will be looking to use his physical advantages to gain a foothold in the clash.

“I’m not taking too much into the fact he’s been out of the ring for a while. Miguel is a seasoned professional and whether he’s been out of the ring 2 months, 12 months or 18 months he’s still going to be in good condition.

“Rather, I’m just going to look to make use of my height and reach advantage and it’s important I use them right,” said Geale.

Cotto vs Geale is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky437/490HD, Virgin 525, TalkTalk 415) this Saturday night. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

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

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

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

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, continues to deliver the best international fights with more live action this Saturday, June 6 at 9 a.m. ET when M-1 Challenge 58: Battle in the Mountains 4 emanates from Ingushetia, Russia.

Fight Network’s live broadcast of M-1 Challenge 58 will air on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

In the main event, Brazil’s Marcelo Brito (13-6) battles Murad Abdulaev (14-3) for the M-1 welterweight title, plus Lee Morrison (12-5) faces Pavel Vitruk (12-1) in featherweight action, heavyweights Alexei Kudin (19-8) and Denis Smoldarev (10-1) will throw down, Brazilian Charles Andrade (28-23) looks to hand Abukar Yandiev (4-0) his first professional loss when they clash at 185 pounds, and Antun Racic (17-5) meets Tural Ragimov (9-2) in a featherweight tussle.

Later, Fight Network will televise the live prelims for UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson exclusively in Canada from 8 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET.

The prelims will feature an explosive heavyweight clash between heavy-handed Texan Shawn Jordan (17-6) and New Orleans’ own knockout artist Derrick Lewis (12-3, 1NC), a welterweight matchup pitting 69-fight veteran Brian Ebersole (51-16-1, 1NC) against Dagestani prospect Omari Akhmedov (14-2), a lightweight bout between New Yorker Chris Wade (9-1) and Californian Christos Giagos (11-3), plus Massachusetts native Joe Proctor (10-3) faces Ohio native Justin Edwards (9-4) in a lightweight showcase of Ultimate Fighter veterans.

Live pre-fight coverage will lead into the prelims on Saturday evening with Fight Network’s UFC Pre-Show Live at 7 p.m. ET, featuring previews, predictions and analysis.

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com, follow us on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

THE FIGHT GAME WITH JIM LAMPLEY returns with a new edition TUESDAY, JUNE 9 (11:00-11:30 pm. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Hosted by the four-time Sports Emmy® winner, who has been the host of HBO Boxing since joining the network in 1988, the show is a provocative, engaging and informative experience that delves into intriguing storylines, newsmakers and issues that are top-of-mind in boxing.

Other HBO playdates: June 11 (12:15 p.m., 5:00 p.m.), 12 (4:00 a.m.), 13 (midnight), 14 (11:45 a.m.), 15 (1:30 a.m.), 17 (4:45 p.m., 10:30 p.m.) 19 (8:30 a.m.) and 20 (10:00 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: June 10 (8:00 p.m.), 13 (2:45 p.m.), 18 (5:00 p.m.), 20 (5:30 p.m.), 24 (9:10 a.m., 11:35 p.m.) and 29 (1:45 p.m., 3:15 a.m.)

HBO On Demand® availability begins June 9.

This edition of THE FIGHT GAME includes: a look at the current landscape of the sport by Lampley and Max Kellerman; a video review of recent high-profile middleweight action, plus a discussion of the division with ring legend Bernard Hopkins; a 15th-anniversary revisit of the showdown between Oscar de la Hoya and Shane Mosley; and an all-new Gatti list, presented by Lampley.

Immediately following the show’s debut on June 9, fight fans can log on to hbo.com for an exclusive overtime segment hosted by Lampley.

Mateusz Masternak (35-2, 25 KOs) and Johnny Muller (18-4-2, 13 KOs) both made weight today ahead of their ten-round cruiserweight clash tomorrow night at the Emperors Palace in Gauteng, South Africa. Masternak tipped the scales at 90.05 kg, while his South African opponent Muller weighed in at 89.1 kg.

‘’I can see in Johnny’s eyes that he is very confident and ready for a fight,’’ said Masternak. ‘’But so am I! I’m confident in my own ability and I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting fight. Now, the time for speaking is over, I will let my fists do the talking in the ring tomorrow night.’’

‘’We’ve acclimatised well and are perfectly prepared for the fight tomorrow,’’ said Masternak’s coach Georg Bramowski. ‘’Now it’s up to Mateusz to put the plan into action and beat Muller. He has all the tools necessary to become a world champion and I believe Mateusz will be champion by the end of the year!’’

Polish fans can watch Masternak vs. Muller on POLSAT Sport from 22.00.

David Price has been forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on June 26 due to an injury sustained in training. The 31 year-old heavyweight suffered a neck muscle injury, which will keep him out of the gym for two weeks and therefore unable to compete. The stacked Matchroom Boxing show featuring Tony Bellew, Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding will continue as planned.

‘’Of course I’m disappointed,’’ said the former British and Commonwealth Champion. ‘’I had been looking forward to returning home at the very top of my game and fighting in front of my home fans once again, but unfortunately that will have to wait. My neck muscle needs resting and that has disrupted my preparations and made it impossible for me to be at full fitness for June 26.’’

Said promoter Kalle Sauerland: ‘’Fortunately the neck injury is nothing too serious but the decision has been made to withdraw David from the June 26 card. David wanted to be at his best for his first fight back in Liverpool for over two years and we would not risk him fighting at anything less than 100%. It’s a shame for the promotion but with Tony Bellew, Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding all in action, it’s still a great card that Eddie Hearn has put together and fans can still look forward to a great night of boxing at the Echo Arena.’’

Fans that require refunds for the show should contact their point of purchase.