LOS ANGELES (April 22) – Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) and Texas knockout artist James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) participated in an international media conference call on Tuesday, April 21 to discuss their upcoming 12-round super welterweight bout set for May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The super welterweight fight will also be televised live on May 9 on HBO World Championship Boxing ® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Canelo and Kirkland were joined by Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions; Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Chairman and CEO of SMS Promotions; Chepo Reynoso, manager and co-trainer for Canelo Alvarez; Eddy Reynoso, head trainer for Canelo Alvarez; Bay Bay McClinton, strength and conditioning trainer for James Kirkland; Mike Battah, President of Leija*Battah Promotions; and Jesse James Leija, Texas boxing legend and Founder of Leija*Battah Promotions on today’s media conference call. Below is what they had to say:

CANELO ALVAREZ, Former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion:

“Returning to Texas has motivated me tremendously. To have the support form the fans and the love, is what gets me to train harder.

“You are always learning in this game. Going back to the gym to correct mistakes. Sometimes opponents are willing to participate. We are going to do our part and hope the fans are very happy.

“I am ready for whatever comes to my career. I fight hard; I train hard. Whatever happens, I am ready for it.

“We know what James brings to table. A very dangerous, strong, come forward fighter. We are sparring and training. We have to be more intelligent and be prepared come fight night.

“I will fight anywhere. As long as the fans go, enjoy the fight, and walk out happy, I will fight anywhere.

“Kirkland is a very dangerous because his punch is very powerful, very extreme. His punches come from all angles. But, mostly his power, he can beat a fighter with one punch. My goal is to fight the best in the world and the fans get what they want. Independent of the styles, I want to fight the best. We are preparing knowing what we have in front of us.

“People are talking and the majority believe that the fight will end in a knock out, that it won’t go the distance. But, I am ready to go 12-hard rounds.

“At this time, my only focus right now is James Kirkland. There have been talks of my next fight but right now my focus is on James Kirkland, there is nothing else.

“I am working hard, training hard, taking the tough fights, the biggest fights. And only time will tell and the people will tell. In the meantime, I will just be doing my job.”

JAMES “MANDINGO WARRIOR” KIRKLAND, Super Welterweight Contender:

“I appreciate Golden Boy Promotions, SMS Promotions, HBO and everyone sponsoring the fight, everyone that is backing this fight up. Thank you to the fans and the support that has been there from day one. It has been the motivation I need for the fight. I am doing everything I need to do for May 9 to get ready and I am ready for the opportunity.

“I have been preparing myself for an opportunity like this and needed to take time to learn more about boxing. I am prepared. One thing I can say is that the course that takes place should be a positive one and I never stop being in the gym, stop working.

“I am definitely encouraged and anxious. It’s not something I am proving to myself and the city, but to my fans. Kirkland is a warrior.

“If the fight was scheduled for 20 rounds, I would prepare to go 30 rounds. I plan on it being an action-packed fight, round after round. Whatever amount of rounds, I am ready to go all the way. I put in the work and in the training.

“I’m a fighter. I definitely feel like I have the power, will, confidence, speed, heart, and determination to beat Canelo. I feel I have the whole package. After my last fight, I have been putting myself in a position with my training so that on May 9, I can let it all show.

“This is one opportunity I have been wanting. This is a must do and a fight that fans want to see. I am prepared to make big things happen and believe this is my opportunity. This opportunity is going to bring the next best thing to my career.

“I definitely feel like I have a lot to lose and a lot is on the table for this fight. This is something that is destined for me-to take care of business on May 9. And, I feel like I have the right team behind me and supporting me.

“I am a force of nature that overrides. With heart, my heart is bigger. When it comes to will, no one has my determination. With speed, no one has my speed. When people ask about it, it is a fight you don’t have to worry about. Canelo and I will meet in the middle of the ring and that is where it will all take place.

“I’m a lot more strategized with defense, at the same time being able to move and adjust. The things you’ve seen me lacking, these are the things you’re going to see Kirkland advance and enhance in his ability.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions:

“May 9 should be an explosive night, one to remember.

“We would like to thank HBO, Minute Maid Park, Leija*Battah Promotions, SMS Promotions and all the sponsors for making this event possible.

“Canelo is a fearless fighter who is ready to take on the best fighters in his division.”

CURTIS “50 CENT” JACKSON, Chairman and CEO of SMS Promotions:

“I am very excited about the event. Mayweather brought me and Kirkland together. Between the Canelo-Kirkland fight and the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, we will see what this sport is all about.

“You will see the best version of James Kirkland on May 9.

“May 9 is going to be exciting, everyone tune in if you can’t be there. Go down to the stadium and get your tickets now before they sell out.”

MIKE BATTAH, President of Leija Battah Promotions:

“We are looking forward to a mega fight, a historical event in Houston. You can’t miss it.

“James Leija Jr. will be doing his pro debut fight and it will be something to see.”

JESSE JAMES LEIJA, Texas Boxing Legend and Founder of Leija Battah Promotions:

“Boxing is a true sport. The best man is going to win on May 9. We have two fighters who can win in one punch. We have one fighter who is super strong, Kirkland, and the other, a technician, Canelo. It is going to be who can overcome the other.

“And, I am excited my son will be making his pro debut as well. It’s a great night for Texas. A great night of boxing.”

Photos and video assets including b-roll from Canelo Alvarez and James Kirkland’s media workouts are available for use for TV broadcast and website embedding. Download instructions are below:

FTP LOGIN:
https://ftp.goldenboyllc.com
Username: workouts
Password: !Olympic777!
Credit: Golden Boy Promotions
Click HERE to Download Photos
Photo Credit: HoganPhotos/Golden Boy Promotion

Tickets for Canelo vs. Kirkland are priced at $350, $150, $100, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable fees and service charges, and are on sale now and available for purchase at Astros.com/boxing, the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.

Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland is a 12-round super welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, SMS Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions. The fight will take place Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico – Live it to Believe it!, Fred Loya Insurance and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. CT and first bout starts at 11:10 a.m. CT, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

An all-new edition of 24/7 Alvarez/Kirkland debuts Tuesday, May 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mx, www.smsboxing.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.astros.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SMS_Boxing, @HBOBoxing, @Canelo, @KOKirkland, @Astros @LeijaBattahPR become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/SMSBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/astros and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @smsboxing and @HBOboxing, @Canelopower, @Kirklandsworld. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKirkland.

Philadelphia, PA (April 22, 2015)–For his fourth consecutive fight on HBO, “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov garnered over 1 million viewers.Ruslan’s fight with Lucas Matthysse averaged 1.243 million viewers and peaked at an outstanding 1.380 million viewers for the clash, which is now a leading candidate for 2015 Fight of the Year.

The bout comes on the heels of Provodnikov’s three previous appearances on the network, where he drew 1.2 million (peaked at 1.4 million) for his 2013 Fight of The Year with Timothy Bradley; his WBO title winning effort against Mike Alvarado that drew 1.232 Million viewers; and his controversial split decision loss to Chris Algieri which drew 1.046 million and peaked 1.1 million viewers.

“Ruslan again showed he is a huge attraction,” said Banner Promotions President Artie Pelullo. “He is without a doubt the most entertaining fighter in boxing today, and it is proven by the ratings for every one of his fights.”

The world’s premier heavyweight returns to New York for a title showdown when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO VS. BRYANT JENNINGS AND SADAM ALI VS. FRANCISCO SANTANA is seen SATURDAY, APRIL 25 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: April 26 (10:00 a.m.) and 28 (11:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: April 26 (3:30 p.m.) and 27 (11:30 p.m.)
Boasting a collection of title belts, Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 54 KOs) from Kiev, Ukraine, and now residing in Miami, takes on Philadelphia’s undefeated Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round championship contest. Long dominating the heavyweight division, three-time champ Klitschko won his first title belt in March 2001. He has a sterling championship bout record of 24-2 and is on a 21-fight victory streak since his loss to Lamon Brewster in April 2004. At one point he and his now-retired brother, Vitali, concurrently held every major heavyweight championship belt between them.
The upcoming bout marks Wladimir’s first fight in the U.S. since 2008 and his 20th HBO bout; he first appeared on the network in July 2000 when he handled Monte Barrett with a seventh-round TKO.
Training in Oakland, Cal., Jennings hopes to use his power and ring agility to spring one of the biggest surprises in recent heavyweight history. His previous two opponents were undefeated prior to facing off against Jennings, while the combined records of his last four opponents was 82-4 before they encountered him.
The opening bout is a scheduled ten-round welterweight contest between Brooklyn’s Sadam Ali (21-0, 13 KOs) and Francisco Santana (22-3-1, 11 KOs) of Santa Barbara, Cal. Ali made his HBO debut last November with a dominating knockout performance against Luis Carlos Abregu. Now he’ll defend his undefeated record against Santana, who’s making his HBO debut.
Immediately following the live boxing, HBO Sports will present the premiere of MAWEATHER/PACQUIAO: THE LEGENDS SPEAK. The half-hour special includes interviews with the five fighters who have faced both Pacquiao and Mayweather in the ring. De La Hoya, Marquez, Cotto, Mosley and Hatton.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 22, 2015) – Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero CONGRESSMAN MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO will make yet another guest shot on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tonight! Wednesday, April 22, on ABC, beginning at 11:35 P.M. ET / 10:35 P.M. CT. This will mark the ninth time Pacquiao has appeared on Kimmel’s popular late-night talk show — more than any other active fighter — in their series of entertaining appearances together dating back to November 3, 2009 (the week before Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto). It was on that night that Pacquiao unveiled his singing chops, belting out a rendition of the Dan Hill-penned hit ballad “Sometimes When We Touch.” Manny and Hill collaborated on a remake which also became a hit. Subsequent appearances featured Pacquiao singing duets with Kimmel and Will Ferrell, and an uproarious send-up of HBO Sports’ “24/7” reality franchise, starring Pacquiao and Kimmel sidekick Guillermo. (This link will take you to Manny’s surprise appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the March 11 Los Angeles press conference that announced the “Fight of the Century” between Manny and Floyd Mayweather Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ft5j-zZzw&feature=youtu.be.)

That 2009 appearance also marked Manny’s U.S. network TV debut, which has since led to a multitude of network television, radio and magazine features for the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world champion, including, CBS’ 60 Minutes, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, ABC’s Nightline, FOX News Channel’s On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, CNN’s America Morning, NPR’s Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, Rollingstone, New York magazine, The New Yorker, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and cover stories in TIME and Newsweek.

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative of the Sarangani province in the Philippines, is in deep training for the eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR. (47-0, 26 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the Mayweather-Pacquiao live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

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For more information visit: www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.SHO.com/Sports, and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao, @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @HBOboxing, @SHOSports, and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

Patrick Nielsen (24-1, 12 KOs) will headline the Nordic Fight Night on May 2 at the Frederiksberg-Hallerne in Copenhagen with a ten-round super middleweight contest against former world title challenger Ruben Eduardo Acosta (30-11-5, 10 KOs).

Nielsen replaces his younger brother Micki who has been forced to withdraw from a scheduled WBC International Cruiserweight title defence with Junior Anthony Wright after contracting pneumonia.

‘’Obviously, it’s disappointing for Micki,’’ said promoter Nisse Sauerland. ‘’He had trained hard and was looking forward to defending his title against Wright, but his health must come first.

‘’However, we’re delighted that Patrick is fit and available to take his place. Now, the Danish fans can look forward to another exciting fight with Patrick testing his skills against a former world title challenger.’’

Nielsen is back in action following a successful super middleweight debut in Copenhagen last month, in which the Danish star claimed the WBA International title with an eighth-round technical knockout victory over George Tahdooahnippah.

‘’I haven’t taken anytime out since my last fight, so I’m more than ready to go,’’ said Nielsen. ‘’I was in the gym sparring when I heard the news about Micki. I feel bad for him as I know how much he wanted this fight, but I’m happy I can take his place and keep it in the family!’’

The Albertslund-boxer will face a tough test in his super middleweight return. The South American Acosta is a serious contender who has challenged for multiple titles including a WBO World title fight with former two-time world champion Robert Stieglitz.

‘’Acosta is an experienced opponent,’’ said Nielsen. ‘’But, I’ll be ready for whatever he has to offer. Against Tahdooahnippah, I showed a glimpse of what I can do at super middleweight, but on May 2, I’m going to show the full package.’’

Team Sauerland in association with Betsafe presents the ‘Nordic Fight Night – Going For Gold’ on May 2 at the Frederiksberg-Hallerne in Copenhagen. The event will be broadcast live in Denmark on TV3/TV3+ and TV3 Sport channels. Tickets are available via billetlugen.dk. Visit betsafe.com for the latest betting odds.

Ermano Fegatilli, the former European champion, is on his way back to the top.

Over the last three years, he has fixed the foundation of his career. He moved abroad, and is now based in the Netherlands. He changed his job, and is now a project manager at Brugmann University Hospital in Brussels. He also got married to a Dutch girl, bought a house and last but not least, joined the renowned team of ABA (Antwerp Boxing Academy) in Antwerp, Belgium.

Ermano Fegatilli: “You don’t start building a house with the roof. I needed to rebuild my foundations to get my boxing career back on track. I’m stronger than ever and ready to reclaim the European title. I’ve been working very efficiently with my coach Renald De Vulder to prepare the upcoming fight.”
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As the official challenger for the EBU title, Ermano faces the challenging task of beating the undefeated Romain Jacob in his own town. Ermano: “He is statistically looking at his first defeat, he came across the wrong guy at the wrong time. That is too bad for him. He is standing in the way of my new European Title, to me he is just a French guy that speaks only French, only does boxing and only fights in his own town. His hometown is his safe haven but I’m going to give him hell. I’ve done this before and I’ll do it again!”

Ermano won the European title in 2011 by beating the British boxer Steven Foster at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, UK. Ermano: “I don’t mind stepping outside my comfort zone. I went to my competitors’ hometowns many times before to beat them in front of their own crowd, that’s when I do my best boxing.”

His trainer, Belgian top coach Renald De Vulder, added that Ermano is fit and ready to reclaim the European Title. With the full support of his coaches, medical staff and sponsors, Ermano’s chances of bringing the EBU belt back home after three years have never been better. The boxer’s main sponsor, Brandhome, is very proud that the European Title will soon belong to Ermano again and assures all necessary backing to reach this goal.

Ermano’s ambition is to bring the title back where it belongs; at the ABA gym in Antwerp.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Kenny Bayless has been assigned to referee the mega showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

The judges, who will be under intense scrutiny as the eyes of the sports world will be on their scorecards should the fight go all 12 rounds, were also unanimously approved: Burt Clements and Dave Moretti, both of Las Vegas, and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.

“We looked at a litany of judges from around the world and we narrowed it down,” Bob Bennett, the NSAC executive director, told the commission when offering his

Canadian lightweight Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-3, 7 KOs) says he’s disappointed with the scoring of his controversial unanimous-decision loss last weekend to Derry Mathews (38-9-2, 20 KOs) for the interim WBA Lightweight title in Matthews’ hometown of Liverpool, England, but won’t let it deter him from his goals.

Despite taking the fight on three days’ notice, Luis seemed to outwork Matthews in most rounds and would probably be wearing a championship belt today, had the fight been contested on neutral ground. Unfortunately, the European judges saw it another way, scoring it 114-112 (Jean Legland, FRA), 115-112 (Dave Parris, UK) and 114-112 (Stefano Carozza, ITA), all for Matthews.

“I can’t say I feel good,” said Luis, home safely in Cornwall, Ontario. “This was my shot and I didn’t get the decision, but I know with my performance, I’ll get another one. Most of the press and the fans, especially in North America, know what’s up and saw the fight for what it really was. Derry did what he had to do to survive but not enough to win. He was cagey and made the fight look more competitive than it was, and that’s what a veteran is supposed to do.”

Despite his disappointment in the scoring, Luis says taking the fight was still a good career choice. “It was absolutely the right decision. You don’t turn down a title shot. But taking it on three days’ notice, we knew we’d have to shake off the jetlag quickly. My game plan was good, but on such short notice, it wasn’t muscle memory. I had to keep thinking about it in the ring. That’s why I think it took me three rounds to get going. Despite all this, I still won the fight. Now I know I belong among the champions in this division and that’s a good feeling.”

Luis’ promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, says he’s pleased with his fighter’s strong performance and will immediately go to work for the 27-year-old.

“Tony looked sensational on Saturday,” said Cohen. “Taking the fight on such short notice, you’d think fatigue would play a role, but he was a machine in there. That shows you how hard he works in the gym. Of course we’re disappointed in the scoring, but looking at the big picture, we now know we have a championship-caliber fighter in Tony. He responded perfectly to the pressure of a world championship fight. I will be petitioning the sanctioning bodies to keep Tony high up in the ratings and give him another title shot very soon. This time on neutral ground.”

Luis will be returning to action quickly, he is set to fight for a regional title against an opponent TBA on June 26 at the Seneca Niagara Event Center in Niagara Falls, New York, and live on CBS Sports Network.

“I’m a bit discouraged from the politics,” continued Luis, “but am I deterred from my goals? Absolutely not. The people have spoken, the fans know who won and that is consolation for me. I will keep moving forward!”

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About Greg Cohen Promotions
One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing.

ORANGE, Calif. (April 21, 2015) – Super bantamweight Danny Roman (12-2-1, 5 KOs) recently took in a world-class boxing lesson, courtesy of three, intense sparring sessions totaling sixteen rounds against none other than two-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz.

“Defensively, Leo was spectacular,” said Roman, who fights the veteran Giovanni Caro in Friday’s 8-round “Locked n’ Loaded” co-main event from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. “Half way through our first sparring session, it finally hit me. I’m going at it with a world champion.

“I was excited, but not anxious. I learned how to keep my distance, but still be active. Leo can pour it on basically whenever he wants. I learned a lot and it definitely was a confidence booster.”

The 24-year-old Roman lives and trains in Los Angeles and has been feverishly preparing for his toughest fight to date. Caro (23-14-4, 19 KOs) is far more experienced than Roman, and has a frustrating style to adjust to.

“Caro likes to charge at you,” said Roman, who signed with Thompson Boxing earlier this year. “We won’t be standing in the same place for very long. The key is to move into areas that we like and go from there. It’s going to be a tough fight, but one that I can win.”

Roman is coming off an 8-round unanimous decision win in March in which he dropped Miguel Tamayo in rounds four and six. He likes to work off his jab and hit the body early and often. Trained and managed by Eddie Gonzalez, Roman is beginning to hit his stride as a professional.

“Roman is starting to learn how to control the pace of a fight,” Gonzalez said. “It’s something that we’ve been working on. He knows how to time opponents now better than before, and he’s starting to change the complexion of a fight by landing more combinations.”

Roman-Caro precedes the “Locked n’ Loaded” main event, which features lightweight standout Jose Roman (19-1-1, 13 KOs) against Martin Cardona (18-4, 13 KOs).

Tickets for “Locked n’ Loaded” are priced at $40, $60, & $100 and can be purchased by calling (714) 935-0900, or online at www.ThompsonBoxing.com.

Save the Date

After “Locked n’ Loaded,” Thompson Boxing celebrates its Fifteenth Year Anniversary with a star-studded event on Friday, May 29, from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Leading the show is the fast-rising, undefeated junior welterweight stud Giovani Santillan. Also, all-action super bantamweights Efrain Esquivias, Juan Reyes, Danny Roman, and Jonathan Arellano, plus the veteran Chris Martin returns. A formal announcement will be released soon.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m, and the first bell rings at 7:45 p.m. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at (909) 937-0900.

“Locked n’ Loaded” is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with LATV Networks.

For additional information please visit ThompsonBoxing.com. For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ThompsonBoxing. To follow the conversation on social media, please use hash tags #ThompsonBoxing & #LockednLoaded.

New York, NY (4/21/15) – In February, for the first time in its 12-year existence, DiBella Entertainment brought its popular Broadway Boxing series north and headed to the suburbs of Westchester County. The result was a sold-out event and a huge hit amongst fans. On Friday, May 8th, the series will once again return to the beautiful Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook, NY, with another exciting nine-bout card. Headlining the card will be the much-anticipated ring return and homecoming of Westchester County-native Boyd Melson (14-1, 4KO’s), as he takes on fellow New Yorker Mike Ruiz (17-8, 9KO’s) in a 10-round super welterweight battle for the WBC USNBC title.

Exciting undefeated local talent also scheduled to appear on the card include Danny Valle (5-0, 3KO’s), Alex Vanasse (1-0, 1KO), Max Tassy (3-0, 1KO) and Maxito Sainvil (1-0, 1KO).

Nicknamed “The Rainmaker”, the West Point Cadet Melson was an accomplished amateur. Competing for the West Point amateur boxing team, Melson won the 48th World Military Boxing Championship gold medal in the 69 kg. weight class and was a four-time United States Army champion, a three-time NCBA All-American boxer, a four-time West Point Brigade Open Boxing Champion, as well as being a recipient of the Colonel Marcus Award.

He also won gold medals at the All Army Boxing Championships twice and at the Armed Forces Boxing Championships twice. He made it to the quarterfinals in the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships at welterweight, and won a bronze medal at the 2005 US Amateur Boxing Championships. Melson turned pro in 2010 and has compiled an impressive 14-1 record along the way, all while making it his life’s goal to raise awareness on stem cell research. Melson created “Team Fight to Walk” and has donated all of the money that he earns in his boxing matches to stem cell research. An in-depth story was done on Melson in 2013 and profiled on the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Real Sports.

Melson last saw action in the ring in February of 2014, winning an eight-round decision over Donald Ward. In the bout, Melson suffered a torn rotator cuff, forcing an extensive rehab and layoff from the ring. Now Melson is fully healed and ready to once again begin his ascent up the ranks of the junior middleweight division. In his way though stands the tough Long Islander Ruiz. Originally hailing from Puerto Rico, but now calling Long Island his home, Ruiz is 2-2 in his last four, but with both losses coming against highly regarded and world-rated contenders.

Tickets are priced at $100, $60 and $40, and are currently on sale through the DiBella Entertainment office by calling (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

The Hilton Westchester is located at 699 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573.

Philadelphia (April 21, 2015)–Former two-time world cruiserweight champion and current Heavyweight contender, Steve “USS” Cunningham has signed with adviser Al Haymon.

Cunningham of Philadelphia is excited about the prospects for his future.

“I’m looking forward to working with Al, he’s a genius at what he does. I’ve been watching him for several years and seeing all that he accomplishes for his fighters but have always been on the outside looking in due to contractual obligations. It finally lined up to where we can work together and it’s going to great. I believe my best fights have yet to be seen,”said Cunningham

Cunningham has a record of 28-7 with 13 knockouts. He won the IBF Cruiserweight championship when he traveled to Poland and defeated Krzysztof Wlodarczyk on May 26, 2007. He defended the title by stopping Marco Huck via 12th round stoppage in Bielfield, Germany on December 29, 2007. Cunningham became a two-time champion on June 5, 2010 when he stopped Troy Ross in five rounds.

Cunningham is coming off a controversial split decision defeat to Vyacheslav Glazkov on March 14 in Montreal.

Steve and his wife/manager Livvy will be honored this Friday night at the 90th annual BWAA Awards dinner as they will receive the Bill Crawford Courage Award for their perseverance while their 9-year old daughter Kennedy went through a life saving heart transplant last December.

The awards dinner will take place at Capitale in New York City.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 21, 2015) – French striking specialist Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) and former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-5) will stand toe-to-toe in the Bellator MMA cage on June 26.

The two sluggers clash in the five-round main event of “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov,” which takes place at Kansas Star Event Center Arena in Mulvane, Kan.

The heavyweight slugfest joins previously announced matchups of lightweights Dave “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3) vs. John “The Natural” Alessio (35-17) and former Bellator MMA featherweight champion Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (20-7) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (18-2) on the event’s featured portion.

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.

Additional bouts will be announced shortly.

Tickets for “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov,” which start at just $17 and include cageside seats for just $97, are currently available at Ticketmaster.com.

Kongo, a 6-foot-4 Frenchman, is a striking ace who boasts black belts in both Karate and Kendo. A multiple-time world champion in kickboxing, Kongo now focuses solely on MMA and has built a 4-2 record under the Bellator MMA banner. One of the most imposing figures in all of MMA, Kongo boasts 12 career knockout victories, including the sport’s 2011 “Knockout of the Year.”

The 26-year-old Volkov is an eight-time Bellator MMA veteran who rose to the promotion’s highest rank in 2012 as the Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion. Though he would eventually cede the belt to current title holder Vitaly Minakov, Volkov bounced right back with three-consecutive stoppage wins. In his 24 career victories, Volkov has scored 17 by knockout.

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

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. Goiti Yamauchi (18-2)

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.

Newark, NJ (April 21, 2015)– John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson has begun preparations for his May 22 Boxcino final bout against Brandon Adams. (17-1, 12 KO’s).

The fight will take place on Friday, May 22 in Corona, California and will live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.

Thompson is in Virginia, training under Kay Koroma and he is looking to win the prestigious tournament against Thompson in the 10-round bout at the Omega Products International Outdoor Arena in Corona, California.

Thompson (16-1, 5 KO’s) is coming off a 8-round split decision over previously undefeated Stanyslav Skorokhod on April 10 in Bethlehem, PA.

“I outboxed the guy,” said Thompson. I focused on what I needed to focus on and that was using my jab. I also focused on not to exchange and bang with him and I did a pretty good job of that.”

“As well as I fought, I do not think that was even my best win.”

Now he looks towards Adams. Adams of Los Angeles has experience in the Boxcino finals as his only loss was to Willie Monroe Jr. in last year’s Middleweight finals.

“I am happy to be in the finals. This is an opportunity that will be the uprising of my career,” continued Thompson.

“Brandon is a brawler. He will have a few weeks to come up with a strategy to beat me.”

Said Thompson’s promoter, Vito Mielnicki of GH3 Promotions, “I believe we are longer, been in tougher and the better boxer. Brandon is a good fighter but I think he is too green. I know he had a brief amateur career and he could be too green for John.”

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, undefeated lightweight Oscar Bonilla and Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell to the GH3 Promotions stable.

Las Vegas ? UFC® has retained Paul Clement, former United States Solicitor General, to spearhead the organization’s appeals process after Judge Kimba Wood of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed a lawsuit challenging the legality of New York’s ban on professional mixed martial arts (MMA) matches and exhibitions.

The judge’s dismissal of the UFC’s case against the State of New York in March was based on a technicality, and the decision confirms the state is misapplying the law. UFC was advised by the judge to “consider filing new vagueness claims.” Wood also stated the New York Attorney General’s “recent statements that the Ban prohibits sanctioned MMA” were made “despite [the law’s] plain language to the contrary.” UFC also believes that Judge Wood erred in failing to recognize the serious First Amendment problems with the New York law.

“We retained Paul Clement, one of the nation’s most highly respected appellate lawyers, to aggressively appeal the lower court’s technical dismissal of this matter,” UFC Chief Legal Officer Kirk Hendrick said. “Clement shares our view that New York’s law is unconstitutional and dangerous, and we will get the decision overturned.”

The State of New York passed legislation in 1997 banning professional MMA events, citing concerns for the lack of safety regulations. Since that time, the UFC has been on the forefront of athlete safety and implemented some of the most effective and strictest safety regulations in sports, resulting in 49 states and numerous countries legalizing MMA. Because New York’s law is vague, misapplied, and both overbroad and underinclusive, unsanctioned amateur MMA events—wholly unregulated and lacking necessary safety standards—have been allowed to take place.

“I am delighted to be representing the UFC in this important challenge to New York’s outdated and unconstitutional law,” Clement stated. “Even New York officials are confused about the scope of this hopelessly unclear law, and by targeting professional MMA matches and exhibitions, the law raises First Amendment problems of the first order,” he added.

Clement is a partner at Bancroft PLLC and represents a diverse range of clients in both federal and state appellate courts. He represented the National Basketball Association during labor negotiations in 2011 and the National Football League during a potential lockout season. Throughout his legal career, Clement has argued more than 75 cases in front of the United States Supreme Court and is regularly regarded as one of the most influential lawyers in the country. Confirmed by the United States Senate, Clement served as Solicitor General from June 2005 to Jun 2008. He also serves as a Distinguished Lecturer in Law at the Georgetown University Law Center and a Senior Fellow of the Law Center’s Supreme Court Institute.

The plaintiffs are also being represented in this action by Barry Friedman, the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, and Jamie A. Levitt of Morrison & Foerster LLP in New York.

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About UFC®

UFC® is the premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Singapore and Sao Paulo, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in 129 countries and territories to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide in 28 different languages. The UFC has a multi-year broadcast agreement with FOX in the U.S., which annually includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network, as well as The Ultimate Fighter® reality television show and thousands of hours of programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. In 2014, UFC launched UFC FIGHT PASS®, a digital subscription service with exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content. The UFC organization also licenses over 100 UFC GYM® locations, and owns UFC.TV® (offering live event broadcasts and video on-demand around the world), UFC FIT® (an in-home fitness and nutrition program), UFC Magazine, and has a videogame franchise with EA SPORTS, UFC Fight Club®, UFC Fan Expo®, UFC branded apparel, DVDs and Blu-rays and Topps Trading Cards. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter and Instagram: @UFC.

Brooklyn, N.Y. (Tuesday, April 21, 2015) – Ronson Frank’s Uprising Promotions will be bringing another loaded fight card to the Brooklyn Masonic Temple on Friday, May 15th, with fan favorite super featherweight Gary “Kid” Stark Jr. (23-3, 8 KOs) slated to end a nearly five-year layoff against Jose Valderama of Puerto Rico. This show, titled Last Man Standing, will continue the initiative of Uprising Promotions to KO Autism, with proceeds from the night getting donated to The School For Language and Communication Development (SLCD) in Glen Cove, New York.

“I’m born and raised in Brooklyn, so I’m glad to have this fight in Brooklyn where so many people can come watch,” Stark said of the May 15th show. “I’m grateful to Ronson for putting me on this show so I can help move some tickets and make it a great night.”

Stark is known for having a large following, and his crowd-pleasing tactical style is the reason behind that. Prior to turning professional, Stark created a huge buzz for himself after becoming a three-time New York City Golden Gloves Champion and reaching the Olympic Trials. However, chronic shoulder problems eventually sidelined him in 2010, and the long road back to the boxing ring will finally end on May 15th.

“After shoulder surgery and the birth of my daughter, it has been so long since I’ve fought,” Stark stated. “There are certain people who have always stood by me. My father, my wife, Dr. Victor Khabie (who performed the shoulder surgery with Dr. Osric King), my rehab guy Tim Stump and definitely my job as a personal trainer at Chelsea Piers. I always wanted to come back to show these guys and so many others how much they helped me.”

Scheduled to return to action on this card is middleweight Delen “Sniper” Parsley (11-1, 3 KOs), facing Bronx native Troy Artis. The bout will end a year layoff for Parsley, who takes a 6-2 frame into the ring. In his last outing, the Brooklyn native handed Marcus Beckford his first career loss. A professional of nearly six years, Parsley has impressive wins over battle-tested Ibahiem King and then-unbeaten Boyd Melson on his resume.

Queens native Devaun Lee (3-1, 1 KO) also returns to action on May 15th, facing Haitian middleweight Deferson LeGrand (3-2, 2 KOs). A super welterweight scrap between Villi Bello (1-1) and Jonathan Jeter is another contest currently on the fight sheet as well.

A couple of intriguing women’s bouts are on the docket to go down on this card as well. Brooklyn featherweight Ronica Jeffrey (13-1, 1 KO) will take on Crystal Hoy (5-7-4, 2 KOs), while a rematch from Uprising Promotions’ last card in February is on tap when Susan Reno meets Paola Ortiz for a second time. When the two fought previously, the fight was declared a majority draw.

Other fighters slated to compete on the May 15th card include two hard-hitting unbeatens in super bantamweight Marcos Forestal (2-0, 2 KOs), who made his pro debut on the last Uprising Promotions show in February, and Neslan Machado (9-0, 7 KOs). Their opponents, as well as additional bouts, will be announced in the very near future.

September 2014 marks the last time that Uprising Promotions held a show at the Masonic Temple, which is located at 317 Clermont Ave #4 in Brooklyn. The intimate setting ensures that there is not a bad seat in the house, and tickets are priced at $60 for general admission and $100 for ringside seating. There is also a table option with dinner, beer/wine and seating with a celebrity fighter. For pricing on those tables, call (516) 451-6773.

This card is being sponsored by Ronson Frank Fitness, Bill4Time, Belaire Rosé Champagne, Alma Restaurant, Resolution Sports and Charlie’s Auto Collision in Long Island City.

On May 2, it will be the ‘Princess’ versus the ‘Panther’ when Klara Svensson (15-0, 5 KOs) challenges Erica Anabella Farias (21-1, 10 KOs) for the WBC Female World Light Welterweight Championship on May 2 at the Frederiksberg-Hallerne in Copenhagen.

Svensson is known as ‘The Swedish Princess’, while the Argentinian champion Farias has earned the nickname ‘La Pantera’ (The Panther) due to her aggressive style.

Although, Svensson may possess the looks and demeanour of royalty outside the ring, once she steps into the squared circle the 27 year-old is promising to take no prisoners.

‘’I’m going to break Farias down, both physically and mentally,’’ declares the Malmo-boxer. ‘’The panther will be running out of the ring with her tail between her legs!’’

‘’I’m not taking anything for granted. I know she is a dangerous opponent. She is experienced and mentally very tough, but I don’t think she is a remarkable boxing technician, and that is where I hold advantage. I will need to be careful, but I know what Farias is bringing to the table and I’m ready for it.’’

Svensson is riding the crest of a wave. Her first world championship challenge comes after her two career-best performances, a shut-out points victory over Marie Riederer to claim the WBC interim strap, followed by a one-sided defence against Lucia Morelli.

Now, the Swedish talent is eager to build on this success and take her place at the top of the female light welterweight division. “In my last fight against Morelli, I felt I was in a tournament qualifying for a final,’’ said Svensson. ‘’Now, I’m in the final and I’m going for gold!”

Team Sauerland in association with Betsafe presents the ‘Nordic Fight Night – Going For Gold’ on May 2 at the Frederiksberg-Hallerne in Copenhagen. The event will be broadcast live in Sweden on TV10 and Viaplay.se. Tickets are available via billetlugen.dk. Visit betsafe.com for the latest betting odds.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 20, 2015) – Bellator MMA Welterweight World Champion Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (26-5), one of the most talented and well-rounded 170-pound fighters on the planet today, puts his title on the line against Russian knockout artist Andrey “Spartan” Koreshkov (17-1) on Friday, July 16, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

“Douglas Lima is an incredible champion who is in for one of the toughest fights of his life against Koreshkov,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “When the rest of this card is announced, we’ll have put together one of the greatest showcases of welterweight talent ever assembled on one night.”

The two elite combatants headline the newly announced “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” event, which airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT.

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, April 24th at 10 a.m. ET, and are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office or Ticketmaster.com. Bellator Nation presale begins this Tuesday. Join the Bellator Newsletter list or follow us on social media (Twitter / Facebook) to gain access to the presale code and details.

Additional information, including ticketing details and the night’s full lineup of world-class MMA action, will be announced shortly.

The 27-year-old Lima is a Brazilian-born athlete who now makes his home in Atlanta. Fighting under the Bellator MMA banner since 2011, Lima is an impressive 8-1 in the promotion and an incredible 14-1 in his past 15 overall appearances. Lima earned his way to the Bellator MMA Welterweight World Title with an eight-man tournament victory that included knockout wins over Ben Saunders, Bryan Baker and Michail Tsarev. Lima then claimed the title with an April 2014 knockout win over Rick Hawn. Overall, Lima boasts five consecutive knockout victories and now looks to defend his belt for the first time.

Koreshkov is also fresh off an eight-man tournament win, claiming a decision victory over Adam McDonough after previously registering knockouts of Justin Baesman and Nah-Shon Burrell. The 24-year-old Koreshkov is a Russian national medalist in both pankration and hand-to-hand combat and has lost just once in 18 professional MMA appearances. He owns 10 wins by knockouts and three by submission and also owns a 2012 victory over former Bellator MMA Welterweight World Champion Lyman Good.

Expect fireworks when Lima and Koreshkov collide.

Additional contests for “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” will be announced shortly.

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.

CHICAGO (April 20, 2015) – A slew of local favorites and exciting fighters come to UIC Pavilion in Chicago on Friday, April 24 as part of a stacked undercard topped by hard-punching Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia (36-3, 23 KOs) battling James Stevenson (22-1, 15 KOs) in the first televised bout and heavyweight bruiser Artur Szpilka (17-1, 12 KOs) taking on Ty Cobb (18-6, 10 KOs).

These exciting undercard bouts will precede the Premier Boxing Champions on Spike doubleheader featuring Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (27-0-1, 22 KOs) battling Badou Jack “The Ripper” (18-1, 12 KOs) and Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs (28-1, 25 KOs) taking on Caleb “Golden” Truax (25-1-2, 15 KOs) The televised action on Spike TV begins at 9 ET/8 CT.

Keith Tapia (13-0) will be showcased in an eight-round cruiserweight bout, Ramiro Carrillo (7-0, 4 KOs) takes on Ramon Guevara (10-23-2, 6 KOs) in four-rounds of welterweight action, Maciej Suiecki (19-0, 4 KOs)faces Daryl Cunningham (30-7, 11 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight fight and Semajay Thomas (5-0, 3 KOs) goes up against Jose Santiago (3-5, 3 KOs).

Remaining undercard fights will pit Alex Martin (7-0, 5 KOs) against Jonathan Garcia (4-12) in an eight-round welterweight bout, Ricky Edwards (5-0, 2 KOs) fighting Javier Garcia (6-8-1, 2 KOs) in six-rounds of junior welterweight action, Joe F. Quezada (5-0, 4 KOs) battling Edgardo Torres (2-3, 2 KOs) in a six-round lightweight attraction and Eddie Ramirez (7-0, 5 KOs) facing Mario Hermosillo (12-19-4, 2 KOs) in a six-round junior welterweight bout.

Tickets for the live event, which is co-promoted by Warriors Boxing and Mayweather Promotions, 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.).

A veteran of the sport for nearly 15 years, Garcia is looking for his ninth consecutive victory when he fights at UIC Pavilion for the third time on April 24. Born in Mexico, but having moved to Weslaco, Texas at a young age, Garcia was able to pile up enough wins to eventually earn himself a shot at former world champion Antonio Margarito. While he lost that decision, Garcia has rebounded nicely on his curreny hot streak, which includes wins over Breidis Prescott and Victor Manuel Cayo. Garcia will take on the 32-year-old Stevenson out of Baltimore.

With only one loss to the undefeated Bryant Jennings on his record, the 26-year-old Szpilka will look to build on his most recent victory, a unanimous decision in Nov. 2014 over heavyweight star Tomas Adamek. Born in Wieliczka, Poland, he has made a name for himself in Chicago having fought there twice before and picking up knockout victories each time. He will be challenged by the 39-year-old Cobb, out of Wichita Falls, Texas.

An undefeated cruiserweight prospect, the 24-year-old Tapia turned pro in 2011 and has not lost since. Fighting out of Santurce, Puerto Rico, he will face the 32-year-old Williams who fights out of Jackson, Michigan.

Having fought four times before at UIC Pavilion, the 24-year-old Carrillo will hope to have the home crowd behind him when he goes for his eighth professional win on April 24. His opponent is the 31-year-old Guevara who was born in the Dominican Republic but fights out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Eager to make his U.S. debut on April 24, the 25-year-old Sulecki has never lost since turning pro in 2010. Fighting out of Warsaw, Poland he faces Daryl Cunningham out of Detroit.

A young undefeated prospect and just 22-years-old, Ramirez makes his fourth straight start at UIC Pavilion on April 24. He was a Chicago Golden Gloves champion and a National Golden Gloves runner-up. Born in Aurora, Illinois, Ramirez will face the 28-year-old Hermosillo out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Another young, undefeated prospect, Edwards fights for the first time outside of his home state of New Jersey for the first time on April 24. The 24-year-old from Paterson will take on the 32-year-old Garcia out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Another staple of UIC Pavilion, all five of Quezada’s pro victories have come at UIC Pavilion. A 25-year-old out of Alsip, Illinois, he will look to remain undefeated when he takes on the 28-year-old Torres from Vineland, New Jersey.

Making his fourth consecutive start at UIC Pavilion in his hometown of Chicago, the highly regarded Thomas will look to start 2015 with his sixth professional win. The 22-year-old was an accomplished amateur who was the 2011 USA Boxing National Champion. His next challenge is Santiago out of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

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For more information, visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions, or www.warriorsboxing.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AnthonyDirrell, @BadouJack, @DanielJacobsTKO, @GoldenCalebT, @WarriorsBoxProm, and @SpikeTV. Or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo and www.Facebook.com/Spike.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – The thrill of championship professional boxing is returning to Niagara Falls, NY. Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and Greg Cohen Promotions (produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions), in compliance with the Seneca Nation of Indians Athletic Commission, announced today that an installment of the popular “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” series will be presented in the Seneca Niagara Event Center on Friday, June 26.

The night’s card is being dubbed the Sully Huff Invitational, in memory of Stanley “Sully” Huff, a successful boxer from the Seneca Nation of Indians, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 84. Huff was a Courier-Express Golden Gloves champion in 1950 and later founded the Iroquois Boxing Club. He also served in the United States Army during the Korean War, earning the rank of Sergeant, and later was elected to serve on the Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Council.

In the night’s televised 10-round main event, Canada’s popular, world-rated and fast-rising lightweight star Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-3, 7 KOs) will fight for a regional championship against an opponent TBA. This past weekend, Luis dropped a controversial decision to Derry Mathews in Liverpool, England (38-9-2, 20KOs), where the two battled for the interim WBA Lightweight title.

In the televised co-feature, brand-new NABA-US Super Welterweight Champion and WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan (21-0-1, 7 KOs), of Australia, via Kildare, Ireland, will take on comebacking Kenny Abril (14-7-1, 7 KOs) of Rochester, New York.

The televised opener will feature up-and-coming American heavyweight KO artist Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (12-0-1, 10 KOs) of Brooklyn taking on an opponent that will be announced at a future date.

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and go on sale on Wednesday, April 22 at Noon. Tickets are available at select Seneca Resorts & Casinos retail outlets, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at 800-745-3000.

“Speed, energy, action, excitement, and entertainment are the hallmarks of any visit to Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and exactly what our guests will enjoy with this world-class professional boxing card,” said Audrey Oswell, chief operating officer, Seneca Gaming Corporation. “We are happy to once again bring an incredible display of athletic competition to Western New York.”

Before the highly debatable decision loss for the world championship in mid-April, the 27-year-old Tony Luis, from Cornwall, Ontario, pulled off a dominant 10-round unanimous-decision upset victory over then IBF #15 rated Karl “Dynamite” Dargan in January. Then on February 20, he and fiancé Manon Latulippe welcomed the birth of their first child, a son named Miguel. Luis is rated #11 in the world by the WBA and #14 by the IBF.

30-year-old Dennis Hogan was a four-time national amateur champion with over 150 fights in his native Kildare, Ireland. He now lives and trains in Queensland, Australia. Hogan is the current NABA-US Super Welterweight Champion. In his four-year pro career, Hogan has also won the WBA Oceania Light Middleweight, Queensland State Super Middleweight, Queensland State Middleweight and Australian Middleweight Championships.

Kenny Abril, a 30-year-old southpaw, started boxing at age seven and had 120 amateur bouts before turning professional in 2003. He has faced several undefeated and top contenders, scoring a late-2012 victory over heavily decorated veteran Dennis Laurente, which is still Laurente’s only loss in the last nine years.

Prior to boxing professionally, 26-year-old Jarrell Miller had a three-year, undefeated (18-0) kickboxing and MMA career. As a boxer, he was a New York Golden Gloves finalist and has worked as chief sparring partner for both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.

“I’m excited to be helping bring nationally televised championship boxing to a world-class venue such as the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino,” said promoter Greg Cohen. “Tony Luis has a huge fan following in his nearby native Canada. His supporters will be out in force to watch. Kenny Abril is from nearby Rochester, New York and he’ll have a giant following in attendance as well. On the undercard will be several local favorites in exciting match-ups. I’m proud to be part of this great event and the resurgence of televised professional boxing.”

Several other exciting match-ups will be announced soon.

The event is being conducted under the rules and regulations of the Seneca Nation of Indians Athletic Commission, whose members are Scott Snyder, Sean Crane, and Justin Schapp.

“We look forward to welcoming the boxers and their teams to Seneca territory,” Commissioner Snyder said. “As a Commission, our primary focus is to ensure the safety and well-being of the fighters who will be competing at Seneca Niagara. We will be working with the fighters, promoters and everyone involved to ensure that we have a safe and enjoyable evening of sports entertainment.”

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About Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is located just minutes from the world-famous Niagara Falls in Western New York, near the Canadian border. The property is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Guests can enjoy 147,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 3,600 slot machines and 90 table games, 10 restaurants, live entertainment and a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning, 26-story hotel with 604 deluxe rooms and suites, a spa and salon, fitness center, indoor pool and STIR – the new high-energy feature bar with a 43-foot high-definition video wall.

More information is available by calling 1-877-8-SENECA (1-877-873-6322) or visiting
SenecaCasinos.comConnect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, download our mobile app and view us on YouTube.

About Greg Cohen Promotions
One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing.

SAN DIEGO (April 20) – San Diego-based fighters, Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (28-1-1, 16 KOs) and Carlos Molina (17-2-1, 7 KOs) held a special workout session today at House of Boxing, ahead of their upcoming anticipated headlining bout on April 30 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. Also, undefeated super lightweight Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (21-0, 15 KOs) attended in advance of his upcoming fight on May 15 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Below are what the fighters had to say about their upcoming bouts:

Mercito Gesta, Super Lightweight Contender (fighting April 30):

“What I am looking forward to most on April 30? Food! I’m hungry! Kidding!

“I am focused. I plan to listen to my trainers in the ring. That is the best way to get the win on April 30.

“I have been training for two months, and I feel comfortable with what we have accomplished. I did some sparring in Los Angeles. I feel very confident.

“After Carlos, I hope to get a title fight. It depends on what happens on April 30 and what my promoter thinks is the best step for me.”

Carlos Molina, Super Lightweight Contender (fighting April 30):

“I have been in San Diego for two and a half months. It’s hard being out here away from my family.

“I have known Carlos Barragan since I was an amateur and his style of boxing fits me. House of Boxing is like my family away from home. You can’t beat family when you go up on that ring together.

“We always work on strength, but I need to be myself in the ring. I am someone who is elusive in the ring, a boxer-puncher. I need to go in and have fun, all my training sessions have been like that.

“Gesta is a fast fighter, a southpaw, but once I let my hands fly he will feel that non-stop pressure, I will overwhelm him.

“After every camp we have our pasta, but I love sweets. I need some chocolate, some chocolate, almond, ice cream.

“I want to fight the best out there, and the best 135 pounder would be Jorge Linares. I want to see him in the ring.”

ANTONIO OROZCO, Undefeated Super Lightweight Contender (fighting May 15):

“Training was extended about a month, which has given us more time to be ready.

“I know my opponent is quick; he is an effective counter puncher. I know that I need to keep up with him and be a smart fighter. I have to make sure to move my feet and have a good defense.

“My after weigh-in tradition is a big plate of chicken alfredo. You can’t say no to Italian food.

“After May 15, I plan to spend time with my family. In regards to boxing, I hope I can put myself in a position to be ranked higher and get a shot a title soon.

# # #

Gesta vs. Molina is a 10-round super lightweight bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the ?rst bell rings at 5:15 p.m. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for Gesta vs. Molina are priced at $25, $35, and $45, are on sale now and available for purchase from the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

More information on Antonio Orozco’s fight will be available soon.

# # #

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

SAN DIEGO (April 20) – Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) today hosted a media workout at the House of Boxing in San Diego in advance of his fight against Texas titan James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) on May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas and telecast live on HBO World Championship Boxing ®.

Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions, Canelo Alvarez’ manager and co-trainer, Chepo Reynoso and head trainer Eddy Reynoso were all on hand for today’s media day. Below is what Team Canelo had to say:

Canelo Alvarez, Former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion:

“I feel very happy. I am ready to fight tomorrow if needed. I feel excited that the fight is around the corner.

“Kirkland’s style will complement mine, he is a fighter that likes to come forward and May 9 will bring a great fight for all the fans.

“We have the right strategy to beat James Kirkland. I have been sparring with southpaws to be prepared. Kirkland is a strong puncher, but I am also a strong fighter. On fight night I plan to hit hard but I also plan to fight an intelligent fight.

“I am very honored to have the first boxing event at Minute Maid Park, and I promise fans will not be disappointed. I train very hard to please all my fans.

“I like to challenge myself, and I am not afraid to fight southpaws. I want to feel satisfied with myself, and I also want to put on fights that the people want to watch.

“House of Boxing has always supported me, and I am grateful to Carlos Barragan (owner of House of Boxing) for supporting my career.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions:

“This is Canelo mania. This is what people are waiting for. Canelo vs. Kirkland is going to be exciting. People are excited to watch him train and take pictures of him.

“This is a sure knockout type of fight. Whether Kirkland knocks out Canelo or Canelo knocks out Kirkland, it’s going to be one of those fights. Styles make fights. We are going to see a good clash. It’s going to be a good fight.

“We are taking boxing to venues that are not the norm. We are going to have a stadium where we can open or close the roof, depending on the weather. It’s going to be awesome. For the millions that will be watching live on HBO, it’s going to be a special treat. HBO is going to give the fans watching live aerial views of the stadium during the fight. It’s going to be pretty cool.”

Chepo Reynoso, Manager and Trainer of Canelo Alvarez:

“Kirkland is a complicated fighter; he is a southpaw, a hard hitter and throws a lot of punches. He is not afraid to brawl and looks to fight. That will help us with Canelo plan and move forward in his training.

“Canelo is a dangerous fighter because he is smart fighter. He is strong and shows great discipline. He learns every day and uses it in the ring.

“On May 9 fans will see a fast, strong, exciting and intelligent fighter in the ring. He will knockout James Kirkland and he will come out with his hand held up high and say: ‘Viva Mexico!’

“We are in the final stages of sparring. To date, he has done 125 rounds of sparring with five different partners, all southpaws with similar fighting styles to James. By Friday we hope to complete a total of 155 rounds of sparring.

“We are all very happy that Canelo’s fight week is on Cinco de May week; the holiday belongs to the Mexicans! Viva Mexico.”

Eddy Reynoso, Head Trainer of Canelo Alvarez:

“He is strong and we are working on his speed these last two weeks to make sure he is ready for James Kirkland.

“We are working like normal, making sure he focuses on his defense. Defense will be very important on May 9, Kirkland is a fighter that is not afraid to come out looking for a knockout and that is something we feel Canelo is prepared for.

“I think Canelo is prepared to James’ style. We have done a great job to prepare him for a left-handed fighter. Come fight night, Canelo will show the world that he is not afraid to fight anyone.”

# # #

Tickets priced at $350, $150, $100, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable fees and service charges, are available for purchase at Astros.com/boxing, the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.

Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland is a 12-round super welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, SMS Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions. The fight will take place Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico – Live it to Believe it!, Fred Loya Insurance and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. CT and first bout starts at 11:10 a.m. CT, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

An all-new edition of 24/7 Alvarez/Kirkland debuts Tuesday, May 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.canelopromotions.com.mx, www.smsboxing.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.astros.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SMS_Boxing, @HBOBoxing, @Canelo, @KOKirkland, @Astros @LeijaBattahPR become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/SMSBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/astros and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @smsboxing and @HBOboxing, @Canelopower, @Kirklandsworld. Follow the conversation using #CaneloKirkland.

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

PHOENIX – April 20, 2015 – It’s fight week in Phoenix, Arizona, as Iron Boy Promotions prepares to showcase its 20th event this Saturday, April 25th. Over the past three years, Iron Boy Promotions has remained steadfast in its commitment to quality boxing events and exciting match-ups. This Saturday’s event is no exception.

In the main event, David Benavidez (7-0, 6KO) will compete for the NABF Youth Light Heavyweight Title versus tough and tested veteran Rollin Williams (23-20-2, 8KO). Benavidez is emerging from the shadow of his older brother, WBA Interim Super Lightweight Champion Jose Benavidez, Jr., his own fighter, and a force to be reckoned with in the ring. David made his professional debut in Mexico at the age of 16, after gaining notoriety among boxing fans and media for sparring such ring talents as Gennady Golovkin, Lateef Kayode, Kelly Pavlik and Peter Quillin at only fifteen years old. Iron Boy 20 attendees and viewers worldwide will have the opportunity to see David showcase his speed and talent on April 25th. Iron Boy Promotions is once again offering boxing fans a free live stream on fight night via its website, www.ironboyboxing.com beginning at 7:30PST.

Arizona favorite Joey “Boxer” Ruelas (8-1-1, 3KO) makes his long-anticipated ring return in Saturday’s co-main event bout, when he faces Texas’ Raheem Gordon (4-4, 2KO). This bout will be Ruelas’ first since he began training under the tutelage of Busted Knuckle Boxing’s Wayne and Alan Viers.

Training alongside the Benavidez brothers is undefeated Carlos “The Chosen One” Castro (7-0, 3KO). Castro faces Los Angeles’ Raymond Chacon (5-15, 0KO). The young fighter has hit his stride in preparing for the bout with trainer Jose Benavidez, Sr., and fans can expect a very good matchup with Castro and Chacon.

Super Flyweight sensation Alexis Zazueta (4-0, 3KO) faces a tough test in Mexico’s Saul Hernandez (6-6, 4KO) in a four round contest. The Cameron Dunkin-managed fighter’s hard-hitting style has become a fan favorite during his previous Phoenix performances.

Undefeated welterweight Saul Bustos (2-0, 1KO) makes his Arizona debut Saturday in a four round contest versus Jesus Lopez. Bustos, who is managed by Elite Pro Management out of California, will be joined on the card by stablemates Julian and Yovani Rodarte (“The Rodarte Twins”), who will make their professional debuts in separate bouts.

Rounding out the card, Junior Rodriguez (1-0, 1KO), who impressed in his Iron Boy 19 debut in February, returns to the ring to face Alex McGee (debut). Arizona fighters Danny Montoya and Anetelea Opetai will both make their debuts in separate bouts.

“This is our 20th show, and a milestone for us,” said Promoter Roberto Vargas. “We have a very full year, and we’re thankful for all the fans’ support of boxing in Arizona and of Iron Boy Promotions. We are also excited to welcome former World Champion Erik Morales to the event, who will be on hand to meet fans and enjoy the show.”

The official Iron Boy 20 weigh-in will take place this Friday, April 24th at 5pm at Dave & Busters at Tempe Marketplace. The weigh-in is open to the public, and fans are encouraged to attend.

Iron Boy 20 takes place this Saturday, April 25th at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. Doors are at 4pm, and first bell is at 5pm. The event streams live and free beginning at 7:30PST at www.ironboyboxing.com.
Tickets are priced $30, 50 and 65, and are available at www.ironboyboxing.com or at the Celebrity Theatre Box Office.

LAS VEGAS (April 20, 2015) — It has often been said that “as the heavyweight division goes, so goes boxing,” but that has not always been the case and, in fact, might not even be valid when viewed from a comprehensive perspective dating back to the late 19th century. In Boxing, German author Bertram Job’s epic, 420-page coffee-table dissertation on all aspects of the sweet science, he writes that, “Elegance is the trademark of the slim and nimble stars in the under 147-pound weight class that has attracted insiders and admirers of beauty like no other.”

And so it is with what will be another benchmark entry in the rich history of the division when, on May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on pay-per-view, welterweight champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) takes on fellow titlist Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) in a long-anticipated unification showdown that will be the richest prizefight in the sport’s history, and which has drawn comparisons to some of the premier matchups in a weight class imprinted with that elegant trademark to which Job referred.

Although Pacquiao, the only fighter ever to win world championships in eight weight classes, and Mayweather, who has reigned in five weight classes, have not campaigned solely or even mostly as welterweights, it is hardly a surprise that the most important intersection of their remarkable careers comes in the same division for which so many of boxing’s greatest legends are primarily known.

The “gold standard” to which all welterweights aspire remains the late, great Sugar Ray Robinson. Born Walker Smith Jr., the skinny kid who had never fought in a sanctioned bout at any level was a tag-along with coach George Gainford to an amateur tournament in Kingston, N.Y. Asked if he had a flyweight he wished to enter, Gainford was about to say no when Smith tugged on his sleeve and said, “I’ll fight.” As it turned out, Gainford had an AAU card – you needed one to be certified as a non-professional – in the name of Ray Robinson, one of his boxers who had given up the sport. Smith/Robinson won a four-round decision, and, although no one knew it then, thus was a legend born.

Robinson was 85-0 as an amateur before turning pro at 19 in 1940. By 1951, he was 128-1-2 with 84 knockout victories. Although he is also remembered for winning the middleweight title five times, Robinson never lost as a welterweight, winning so often and so emphatically that the legendary trainer, Eddie Futch, was moved to observe that, “He had everything. Boxing skills, punching power, a great chin, mental strength. There was nothing he couldn’t do.”

Robinson also had an outsized ego, which perhaps is a necessary component to any great fighter’s mental makeup. Even a trace of doubt in one’s own ability is not conducive to success in the ring. Once, when asked about his “golf game,” Muhammad Ali, who didn’t play golf, responded, “I’m the best, greatest of ’em all. I just haven’t played yet.”

Mayweather certainly brings that aura of invincibility to his work, and maybe not just because he has yet to lose as a professional. In 2013, he said, “Of course I feel unbeatable. I’m the best. I’m not going into any fight figuring that I’m beatable. I want to make a legacy for myself as the greatest fighter who ever entered the ring.”

Pacquiao, while perhaps not as verbose, is no less secure in his own belief system. It is those heaping measures of talent and swagger that make Mayweather vs. Pacquiao a must-see event. Which of these outstanding fighters can make the other bend to his will? Who will have his name written in larger print in the big book of welterweights?

The International Boxing Hall of Fame has inducted 23 fighters who were, at one time or another, welterweight champions. In addition to Robinson, those whose plaques grace the hallowed hall include Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Carmen Basilio, Henry Armstrong, Emile Griffith, Pipino Cuevas, Jose Napoles, Curtis Cokes, Barney Ross, Kid Gavilan, Wilfred Benitez, Luis Rodriguez, Mickey Walker, Fritzie Zivic, Jack Britton, Jackie Fields, Ted “Kid” Lewis and “Mysterious” Billy Smith. Mayweather and Pacquiao are of course assured of joining their ranks as soon as they become eligible to go onto the ballot.

The lead-up to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao has generated no shortage of comparisons to past welterweight clashes that are notable for the classic nature of those bouts, the widespread public interest attendant to them, or both.

Is Mayweather vs. Pacquiao more likely to be a repeat of, say, Leonard-Duran I, which Duran won on a rousing unanimous decision on June 25, 1980, in Montreal? The epic Leonard-Hearns I, on Sept. 16, 1981, which saw Leonard, trailing on the scorecards, rally for a dramatic, 14th-round TKO at Caesars Palace? Trinidad’s controversial majority decision over De La Hoya in their Sept. 18, 1999, unification showdown at the Mandalay Bay? Or will it make its own mark in such a distinctive way that no comparisons can or should be drawn?

When it comes to unforgettable welterweight bouts, by now it should be obvious that anything and everything is possible. Mayweather and Pacquiao will make history, and add to it, by attempting to bend destiny each to their own purpose.

# # #

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is a 12-round welterweight world championship unification bout promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., and is sponsored by Tecate. The pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.SHO.com/Sports, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @SHOSports, @HBOboxing and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/SHOsports and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

On Thursday, April 16, Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions hosted a press conference at The 40/40 Club in Manhattan to announce the next highly anticipated battle for Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KO’s), the reigning WBC Middleweight and Ring Magazine World Champion and the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes. On June 6, 2015, Cotto will defend his titles against former Two-Time World Champion Daniel Geale (31-3, 16 KO’s) of Australia in a fight that will be televised live on HBO from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Here’s what the participants had to say…

Miguel Cotto: “All I have to say is I’ve been here for the past two days and I’m eager to get back to Los Angeles and get into another training session and get back to New York on June 6. All I have to worry about is my mindset during the fight. I know Daniel is a great fighter and I’m going to do my best as always to bring a good and exciting fight to all the fans. See you all on June 6.”

Daniel Geale: “I’m as excited as you can ever imagine. This is a great moment for me. And come June 6, it’s going to be a hell of a fight and I can’t wait to walk away with the titles.”

Michael Yormark, President & Chief of Branding and Strategy of Roc Nation: “Today is a historic day for Roc Nation and our boxing division. Muhammed Ali once said ‘he who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.’ At Roc Nation, we decided to launch our boxing division in August of 2014. We knew we were taking a risk. We knew that we were entering a sport that was established with a long history in a deep-rooted culture. It took courage, but frankly Roc Nation is nothing if not courageous…we’re committed to promoting the biggest fights and the biggest fighters. Now just a few short months later, we stand here with one of the best fighters in the world, announcing a world championship bout inside the new mecca of boxing, Barclays Center, and broadcast on the standard bearer for live boxing telecasts, HBO. It took courage and risk to get here but this is a proud moment for all of us.”

Hector Soto, Miguel Cotto Promotions: “Miguel Cotto is back and he’s in his second home in New York. As everyone knows, it’s been a tradition for the past couple of years that Miguel fights on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, so it’s an honor to fight during that time again. On June 6, Miguel Cotto will defend his Middleweight WBC Championship against a tough opponent, Daniel Geale. Have no doubt, it will be a great fight at Barclays Center and everyone will enjoy the fight especially the Puerto Ricans. Miguel Cotto will be ready, will train as hard as always and be ready for the challenge Daniel Geale brings.”

Gary Shaw, Gary Shaw Productions: “If you look at Daniel’s fight against Sturm, when we went to Germany and lifted the belt and became the world champion, that’s the Daniel Geale you’re going to see on June 6. You’re going to see a great fight. Miguel Cotto is a great fighter. Daniel understands that and we have a great deal of respect for him, but on June 6 on HBO at Barclays Center, it will be a whole new night. It will be a night when Daniel Geale takes the belt back to Australia.”

Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets: “Boxing is a big part of what we do at Barclays Center. We’re very passionate about it and very deeply committed. This will be our 13th big night of Brooklyn Boxing in just two and a half years and I am proud to say that Barclays Center is the new mecca of boxing in this country. Miguel Cotto has a storied history in New York, so we are delighted that he is calling Barclays Center his new home in this city.”

Photos: http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr273638002

Video courtesy of TIDAL.com: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bap2lc8m6o73ki8/RNS-PressEvent%20H264.mp4?dl=0

Tickets, priced at $500, $350, $250, $200, $150, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Wednesday, April 22 at 10:00 AM ET. Tickets will be available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Thursday, April 23 at 12:00 PM ET. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

Cotto vs. Geale, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, June 6 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be televised live on HBO. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association Gary Shaw Productions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate.

For more information please visit www.rocnation.com. Follow Roc Nation on Twitter and Instagram @rocnation and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RocNation.

For more information, visit www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter and Instagram at @HBOBoxing and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.