LOS ANGELES (March 12) – Following the successful debut of Golden Boy Promotions’ new series LA FIGHT CLUB, Golden Boy is proud to announce that East Los Angeles native and boxing legacy Julian “El Camarón” Ramirez (13-0, 8 KOs) will face the seasoned fighter Raul “Bule” Hidalgo (23-12, 17 KOs) of Casas Grandes, Mexico in a 10-round featherweight bout headlining the April 2 event live from The Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles and televised on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.

“LA FIGHT CLUB was developed as the platform for up-and-coming fighters on the West Coast to display their talents, and Julian Ramirez is exactly the kind of exciting prospect that fans will see month in and month out at The Belasco Theater,” said Golden Boy Promotions Founder and President Oscar De La Hoya.

“I am excited to be part of the new Los Angeles series LA FIGHT CLUB and to headline the April 2 event,” said Julian Ramirez. “I promise all the LA fans that they are going to have an exciting night. I want to put on a great show for my fans. I’ll be more than ready to give them an exciting fight.”

In the co-main event, Glendora, California’s Joet Gonzalez (8-0, 3 KOs), who recently signed with Golden Boy Promotions, will be featured in a six-round featherweight bout. Opening up the telecast, two-time Brazilian Olympic team member Everton Lopes (1-0) will make his second professional appearance after his unanimous decision win over Evan Woolsey on Feb. 27. Plus, Melsik Baghdasaryan will make his professional debut in a four-round welterweight non-televised bout. All will face opponents yet to be announced. LA FIGHT CLUB made a spectacular premiere on March 6 before a sold-out crowd at The Belasco Theater, demonstrating the hunger for live boxing match ups in Los Angeles.

The undefeated East Los Angeles native, Julian “El Camarón” Ramirez, has boxing in his blood. His late uncle was the former WBA and WBC Super Featherweight World Champion Genaro “El Chicanito” Hernandez. Ramirez has been on the fast track since turning professional in 2012. A dynamic fighter who has the skills to succeed, Ramirez is coming off of a fourth win of 2014 when he faced Pedro Melo. Ramirez is looking to keep his undefeated status when he faces Hidalgo at The Belasco Theater.

A seasoned fighter, Raul “Bule” Hidalgo of Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico began his career as a professional boxer in 2010. Since then the fighter has consistently fought in both Mexico and the U.S. 2014 was a busy year for Hidalgo as he took on 6 fights all with some of the top prospects in the sport including, Jose Lopez, Gonzalo Garcia, Joseph Diaz Jr. He is coming off of a third round knockout victory over Jorge Luis Babuca on December. Hidalgo is looking to continue his winning streak when he faces Ramirez on April 2.

Rising featherweight prospect Joet Gonzalez of Glendora, California has been steadily climbing the professional ranks since his debut in 2012. Most recently, Gonzalez faced Jaime Gutierrez and David Clark quickly defeating both fighters via technical knockout before the fourth round. On April 2, Gonzalez will look to add another win to his resume.

A two-time Olympian for his home country of Brazil, Everton Lopes won 240 bouts as an amateur, 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.

Tickets for the April 2 LA FIGHT CLUB will go on sale tomorrow, Friday, March 6 at 12:00 p.m. PT and start at $20. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking HERE and at www.goldenboypromotions.com or by visiting the Golden Boy Promotions Facebook page. For ticket information, email us at LAFightClub@goldenboypromotions.com.

The Knockout Experience VIP package is also available for an additional $25 upgrade and includes VIP entrance, access to an exclusive lounge offering food and beverages for purchase; a meet and greet opportunity with fighters and celebrities attending the event; an automatic entry into the LA FIGHT CLUB grand prize drawing, which can include but is not limited to: autograph gloves, picture in the ring, backstage access, tour of locker rooms, fighter ring walk, tickets to upcoming boxing events and additional merchandise and prizes.

LA FIGHT CLUB: Ramirez vs. Hidalgo is a 10-round featherweight bout presented 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 first bout begins at 5:30 p.m. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.

The LA FIGHT CLUB is a monthly boxingseries that takes place on the first Thursday of each month on May 7 and June 4. It will showcase the brightest stars in the sport and present these exciting matchups in a nightclub atmosphere with an original setup. The boxing ring will be set on the main floor of the Belasco Theater with on-camera standing room for fans in front of the ring similar to a concert pit, as well as reserved balcony and floor seats. Los Angeles’ own DJ Ray of Big Boy’s Neighborhood will spin music during the fights and fans will be able to dance and mingle with the fighters when the venue converts into a night club, in a VIP experience not matched by any promoter in the industry.

Media interested in attending the April 2 installment of LA FIGHT CLUB must be pre-approved for credentials. Credential applications are available by clicking HERE. Completed credential applications should be sent to credentials@goldenboypromotions.com by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. Media will not be credentialed on-site, no exceptions.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.belascous.com, www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1, www.FOXDeportes.com, follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @FoxSports, @FoxSports1, @FoxDeportes, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/TheBelascoLA, www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @belascola and follow the conversation using #LAFIGHTCLUB.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: On Saturday March 14, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) will defend his WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Titles against Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) at the Centre Belle in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Kovalev is known for his knockout power, but he is travelling to the lion’s den to face Pascal on his home turf. Pascal, a former world champion, is known for his great chin – he’s never been knocked down. Below is the scouting report for this explosive match-up:

Category
Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev
Jean Pascal
Age
31
32
Record
26-0-1 (23 KOs)
29-2-1 (17 KOs)
Strength
Kovalev possesses knockout power in both hands; he has the ability to end a fight with any punch he throws. He is able to physically break his opponents down throughout the bout. He cuts the ring off very well.
Pascal is quick when he puts his punches together and has power in both hands. Having never been knocked down, he has a really good chin. He has been competing against the division’s top fighters since 2008, before Sergey even made his pro debut.
Weakness
Kovalev tends to leave openings in his guard allowing himself to be hit. He has been knocked down before but not hurt.
Pascal has only fought two rounds in the last 14 months, which may cause him to experience some ring rust. He has a tendency to tire out late in fights, so he could run into a problem if he does not conserve his energy properly. He has a tendency to let his opponents get into his head. In his second fight with Hopkins, he was noticeably rattled when Bernard started doing push-ups in the ring prior to the seventh round.
Experience
Kovalev may be at a slight disadvantage here since Pascal has fought more top-level opposition.
Pascal has been in seven major title fights, and holds victories over Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute.
Power
Kovalev has unbelievable power in both hands, he throws every punch with bad intentions, and puts together effective combinations.
Although he has power when he puts his punches together, he will be at a disadvantage here when paired up against Kovalev’s power.
Speed
Kovalev has average speed that picks up once he smells blood in the water and goes for the knockout.
Pascal’s speed becomes more noticeable during his flurries of punches; he really turns it on when he knows he has his opponent hurt and can possibly finish the fight.
Endurance
Sergey proved he could go the distance when he went 12 rounds for the first time in his most recent bout against the legendary Bernard Hopkins.
Pascal may have the advantage here as he has gone 12 rounds on eight different occasions.
Accuracy
Sergey demonstrated great accuracy with his one punch knockouts. He also throws very accurate and powerful body shots.
Pascal will be at a disadvantage here. He does not utilize his jab at times and tends to get wild when unloading flurries of punches.
Defense
Sergey’s main focus is his offense; there are times when his offense is so effective that it becomes his best defense.
Pascal does not move around the ring well. He likes to stand in front of his opponents and let his aggressiveness overwhelm them, which sometimes may be his best defense.
Chin
Kovalev has been knocked down twice in his career, but he has risen to the occasion both times and come back with the victory.
Jean has a really good chin and is willing to stand and trade with the division’s best and most powerful punchers. He has never been knocked down.
Style
Kovalev is an offensive fighter who likes to walk his opponents down and go in for the finish.
Pascal is an athletic, aggressive fighter that will not hesitate to go for the finish if given the opportunity.
Intangibles
Rather than take some more time off or settle for a tune-up bout after his title unification win over Bernard Hopkins, Sergey is taking on the division’s number one contender who has never been stopped and that held the light heavyweight crown from 2009-2011. Bernard Hopkins tried in vain to get into Sergey’s head but the Krusher was immune to his head games.
After his last bout ended in a controversial no contest midway into the 2nd round, Pascal has decided to waste no time at all and challenge the division’s scariest puncher and current WBO, WBA, and IBF titleholder Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev.

Crowd Support
Kovalev will be at a disadvantage here since he is fighting in Jean Pascal’s backyard.
Pascal will have an advantage here as he will be fighting in front of his home crowd where he has fought in his previous 11 bouts.
The Match-up
Will Pascal be able to take Kovalev’s power?
Will Kovalev be able to cut off the ring from the awkward Pascal?
Will Pascal’s ring rust be a factor in this fight?
Sergey went 12 rounds for the first time in his career in his last fight against Bernard Hopkins. Will that be a factor in this fight?
Was their scuffle at the final press conference on Wednesday an indication that one of them is winning the mental fight? If so, which one?

About Kovalev vs. Pascal
Kovalev vs. Pascal is a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The fight will be televised as part of a live triple header on HBO World Championship Boxing® Saturday, March 14 from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre Bell ticket office, at www.evenko.ca, by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion 514-376-0980. This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

The official weigh-in for Friday, March 13’s live professional boxing event at The Space at Westbury, presented by GH3 Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions and sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino & Westbury Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Dealership & Maxim Group, will be held on Today!!!, March 12, at 4:00 pm in the lounge of The Space at Westbury (located at 250 Post Avenue in Westbury, New York).

The official weigh-in is open to the public and all fighters and event promoters will be available for interviews, autographs and photo opportunities.

Boxing at The Space at Westbury will feature a live four-fight broadcast of ShoBox: The New Generation (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) headlined by a 10-round middleweight main event between Washington, D.C.’s Undefeated middleweight Antoine Douglas (16-0-1, 10 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (16-0, 7 KOs) of Millville, New Jersey, for the WBA-FEDELATIN Middleweight Championship, as well as The SHOWTIME debut of unbeaten southpaw Ismael Barroso (16-0-2, 15 KOs), of El Tigre, Venezuela, taking on Issouf “Volcano” Kinda (17-2, 7 KOs), of Bronx, New York, in a 10-round battle for the NABO Lightweight Championship.

In other televised action, Jerry “The King’s Son” Odom (12-1, 1 NC, 11 KOs), of Washington D.C., will attempt to avenge his only career loss when he takes on undefeated Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (8-0-1, 1 ND, 1 KO) of Phoenix, Arizona, in an eight-round super middleweight rematch. In the opening bout, Adam Lopez (9-0, 4 KOs), of San Antonio, and Houston’s Pablo Cruz (11-0, 3 KOs) clash in an eight-round battle of Lone Star State super bantamweights.

Local favorite Tommy “Razor” Rainone will face Saint Paul, Minnesota, veteran Allen Litzau (14-8, 7 KOs) in a six-round welterweight battle to headline the undercard.

Advance tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, are priced at $150, $125, and $60 for general admission. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, thespacewestbury.com, The Space at Westbury Box Office at 516.283.5566 or by calling the GCP Office at 212.851.6425.

The event is sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino & Westbury Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Dealership & Maxim Group.

Two of the world’s top light heavyweights face off in a highly anticipated title showdown when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. JEAN PASCAL, VYACHESLAV GLAZKOV VS. STEVE CUNNINGHAM AND ISAAC CHILEMBA VS. VASILY LEPIKHIN is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 14 at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Montréal Bell Centre in Montréal, Canada, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: March 15 (9:30 a.m.) and 16 (midnight)

HBO2 playdate: March 17 (11:00 p.m.)

In the main event, undefeated Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) of Kopeysk, Russia, now living in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., takes on Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) originally from Port-au-Prince Haiti, now living in Laval, Quebec, Canada in a 12-round light heavyweight title contest. The fast-rising, hard-hitting Kovalev has taken the division by storm with an 85% knockout ratio, and solidified his standing with a 12-round unanimous decision in a title unification bout against future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins last November. One of the sport’s top attractions thanks to his fan-friendly style, Kovalev enjoyed a banner year in 2014, earning fighter of the year honors from a host of boxing news organizations. The fight marks his sixth HBO appearance.

Also known for his rugged style and never-back-down approach, Pascal was last seen on HBO in Jan. 2014 when he defeated Lucian Bute. He’ll draw support from a partisan hometown crowd in this showdown.

In the co-feature, Vyacheslav Glazkov (19-0-1, 12 KOs) from Lugansk, Ukraine, now living in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., takes on Steve Cunningham (28-6, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight title elimination fight. The winner will be a contender for a heavyweight title bout with Wladimir Klitschko.

Glazkov was a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist for Ukraine. Cunningham, a former two-time cruiserweight titleholder, has drawn inspiration from his nine-year-old daughter Kennedy, who has triumphed over a heart defect and survived a heart transplant. Both fighters are making their HBO debuts.

In the opening bout, Isaac Chilemba (23-2-2, 10 KOs), originally from Blantyre, Malawi, now living in Johannesburg, South Africa, takes on undefeated Vasily Lepikhin (17-0, 9 KOs) from Gelendzhik, Russia, in a scheduled 12-round light heavyweight contest. Rising steadily in the ranks of the light heavyweight division, Chilemba has a 4-0-1 record against undefeated opponents. In his third North American appearance, Lepikhin will look to make a major move in the rankings.

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.

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Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) announces a multi-fight deal with CBS Sports Network to telecast live professional boxing.

“Championship Boxing” will debut on CBS Sports Network on April 17 at 10:00 PM, ET at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota. In the 10-round main event, Ireland’s WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan (20-0-1, 7 KOs) will face Philadelphia’s hard-punching Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson (22-4-1, 21 KOs) for the WBA Oceana Championship.

In the 10-round televised co-feature, Canada’s world rated and fast-rising lightweight star Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-2, 7 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Continental Americas Championship.

“I am extremely proud to be unveiling this series with CBS Sports Network,” said Greg Cohen. “This is a huge next step in the evolution of my company. This is going to be a great year for televised boxing and it’s an honor to be working with such a prestigious television partner to make it happen.”

CBS Sports Network, the 24 hour home of CBS Sports, is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

Specific match-ups, more dates and venues will be announced at a later date.

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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.

Boxing is a dog’s life. Fighters like Denmark’s Patrick Nielsen (23-1, 11 KOs) spend endless hours in the gym, building their strength and honing their skills, all in anticipation for 12 x 3 minutes of action, fighting under the bright lights and critical gaze of spectators in the arena.

It’s an experience familiar with 23 year-old southpaw Patrick Nielsen. The Albertslund-boxer is currently preparing for a WBA International Championship fight with Oklahoma based Native American George Tahdooahnippah (34-1-2, 24 KOs) on March 14 at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark.

‘’It is a tough life,’’ reflects Nielsen. ‘’But I wouldn’t want it any other way. All the hard work, all the sacrifice, the long hours spent in the gym or running on a cold Copenhagen morning, are worth it when you get in the ring. It’s a feeling like nothing else. To hear the fans chanting your name and to have the referee raise you hand, it’s indescribable!’’

Nielsen, who is weeks away from his twenty-fifth professional fight and his first at the super middleweight limit, is currently being put through his paces by coach Joey Gamache.

‘’Joey works me hard,’’ said Nielsen. ‘’He is a perfectionist. We go over the same thing over and over until I get it just right. It can be tiring but I know he’s doing it for a reason. He’s a former two-weight world champion, so he knows what he’s talking about. I trust that his instructions, both in the gym and in the ring, will help me win fights.’’

In order to achieve optimum conditioning for his March 14 fight, Nielsen has enlisted the help of a special training partner, his beloved Staffordshire bull terrier Zeus.

‘’Zeus keeps me active,’’ said Nielsen. ‘’He’s great company when I’m doing my roadwork. We go on long runs together all over Copenhagen. He’s got loads of energy! With Zeus on my side, Tahdooahnippah doesn’t stand a chance!’’

Nielsen headlines the Nordic Fight Night on March 14 at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen. All the action will be broadcast live on TV3+ and TV3 Sport 2 in Denmark. Tickets are available via billetlugen.dk.

12 March 2015 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ONE Championship™ (ONE) announced today that all mixed martial artists competing have made weight and are ready for ONE: AGE OF CHAMPIONS. The event takes place on Friday evening, 13 March at Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The card is headlined by Adriano Moraes who puts his ONE Flyweight World Championship on the line when he takes on Japan’s Riku Shibuya.
Visit the official ONE: AGE OF CHAMPIONS weigh-in photo gallery by clicking:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7pof14b9qwz30a2/SFZmzHv8q8.

ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes stated, “I’m ready to defend the honour of this world championship! I carry the championship with pride and I do not plan on giving it up! Riku Shibuya is not going to take the championship from me I can assure everybody that!”

ONE Flyweight World Championship challenger Riku Shibuya stated, “I am here in ONE Championship to be the champion. I plan on beating Moraes and bringing the title back to Japan, where it belongs.”

Tickets for ONE: AGE OF CHAMPIONS, presented by Tune Talk, are on sale now at www.AirAsiaRedTix.com. Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and cageside experience at RM388 followed by VIP RM278, Gold RM168, Silver RM108 and Bronze RM58. Prices include ticketing fee.

MAIN EVENT
ONE Flyweight World Championship bout: Adriano Moraes (56.7kg/125lbs) VS Riku Shibuya (56.7kg/125lbs)

MAIN CARD
Lightweight bout: Peter Davis (70.3kg/154.5lbs) VS Rajinder Singh Meena (70.1kg/154 lbs)
Women’s Flyweight bout: Ann Osman (55.7kg/122.5lbs) VS Walaa Abbas (56.6kg/124.5lbs)
Featherweight bout: Cary Bullos (65.5kg/144lbs) VS Ev Ting (65.7kg/144.5lbs)
Flyweight bout: Thanh Vu (56.6kg/124.5lbs) VS Gianni Subba (56.7kg/125lbs)
Women’s Atomweight bout: Kirstie Gannaway (48kg/105.5lbs) VS April Osenio (48kg/105.5lbs)
Bantamweight bout: Ramon Gonzales (60.6kg/133lbs) VS Chan Rothana (61.05kg/134lbs)
Catchweight bout (82kg): Reant Fabriza Rainir (77.6kg/171lbs) VS Agilan Thani (81.5kg/179lbs)

Fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at www.onefc.com/livestream. The event will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

For more updates on ONE Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA

About ONE Championship™
With a 90%+ market share in Asia, ONE Championship™ is Asia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship™ has partnered with FOX and STAR Sports for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans 70+ countries across the world.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Warriors Boxing proudly announces the signing of Argentinean super welterweight contender Dario “El Gallo” Pucheta (20-2, 11 KOs) to a promotional contract.
28-year-old Pucheta went 102-8 as an amateur in Buenos Aires. He turned professional in 2009 and has already won the WPC light middleweight and South American Super Welterweight Championships.

“I am happy to have signed this exciting new prospect from Argentina,” said Warriors Boxing President, Leon Margules. “Both his losses were highly controversial and we think he’ll make a big mark in the international boxing scene when we get him active in the U.S.”

Pucheta, trained by his father, is a very patient fighter who works behind the jab and can fight coming forward or counter punch.

“He’s always in fantastic shape. That’s one of this greatest strengths,” continued Margules. “He’s a tireless worker in the gym, determined to become another great champion from Argentina and we’re happy for the opportunity to help him get there.”

# # #

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.

LAS VEGAS (March 11, 2015) – Sports fans will be treated to the fight that has captured the attention of the entire world when boxing’s pound-for-pound king Floyd “Money” Mayweather steps into the ring to face eight-division world champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao in an epic welterweight world championship unification bout. The much-anticipated mega-fight will take place Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by SHOWTIME PPV® and HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

Superstars Mayweather and Pacquiao, whose crossover appeal transcends the sport and has made them household names, will compete in an event that is expected to eclipse any and all pay-per-view, live gate and closed circuit records. Mayweather vs. Pacquiao will rival legendary and memorable prizefights in the sport’s history such as the “Thrilla in Manila,” the “Rumble in the Jungle” and Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns.

“Since the fight was announced, the response from the public has been unbelievable, and it’s even more clear that this is the fight the fans want to see,” said Mayweather. “I’m grateful that Manny Pacquiao and I were able to make it happen. This will be the biggest event in the history of boxing. I can’t thank my team enough for their support from day one. I’m more motivated than ever to put on an unbelievable show, and I’ll be ready for May 2.”

“I will be ready for my date with destiny on May 2,” said Pacquiao. “I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years. They have waited long enough and they deserve it. It is their mandate. It is an honor to be part of this historic event. I dedicate this fight to all the fans who willed this fight to happen and, as always, to bring glory to the Philippines and my fellow Filipinos around the world.”

The fighters, promoters and network executives worked in close cooperation to ensure that every detail was agreed upon and set in order to deliver this historic fight.

“This fight is what we’ve all been waiting for,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. We always say that we want to give the fans what they want, and on May 2 they will get just that. “Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is the biggest event in the history of boxing, and we’re confident it will break all pay-per-view, live gate, and closed circuit records. Floyd has worked hard his whole career and controlled his own destiny to get to this point. Mayweather Promotions is excited for him and to be part of this extraordinary opportunity for everybody involved.”

“The whole world is eagerly awaiting this exciting battle,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank “With the help of God, we will be triumphant.”

“Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have been the two most prominent fighters in the sport of boxing for the past decade, and fight fans around the world have been clamoring for them to face each other,” said Ken Hershman, President HBO Sports. “And now, on May 2, in what everyone believes will be the biggest boxing event of all-time, fight fans have been granted their wish. May 2 will be a signature moment for the sport of boxing and HBO Sports is thrilled to be a part of this spectacular event. I know the fighters and their teams will be primed to excel and we plan to work closely with everyone involved to deliver the same level of performance from a broadcast perspective.”

“When Showtime Networks signed Floyd Mayweather we began planning for spectacular events throughout the term of our agreement. For both Floyd and for us, this fight was the top priority,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “The overwhelming anticipation for this fight is driving us to work around the clock on virtually every aspect of the event to deliver a world-class presentation worthy of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.”

“Like boxing fans worldwide, we’re very excited that the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight has come to fruition,” said Richard Sturm, president of Entertainment and Sports for MGM Resorts International. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host this championship fight at MGM Grand, home to the sport’s biggest events. This May weekend will prove to be one of the most electric weekends Las Vegas has ever experienced.”

One of the most decorated fighters in the history of the sport, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) is an 11-time world champion in five weight divisions and is universally recognized as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. With his trademark speed, defensive prowess and ability to read his opponents Mayweather has amassed wins over 20 world champions in his already legendary 19-year career. In addition to his in-ring accomplishments, Forbes, Fortune and Sports Illustrated have named Mayweather the world’s highest-paid athlete multiple times. His events
average more than one million pay-per-view buys per fight, which is the highest average of any boxer in history. Mayweather holds the all-time record in gross pay-per-view receipts and has participated in three of the top six highest grossing pay-per-view events of all-time. Thus far, Mayweather is the only fighter to have participated in two events that generated more than 2 million pay-per-view buys each. Mayweather has been decorated with awards for “Best Male Athlete” and “Fighter of the Year” by various organizations including five ESPN ESPY Awards and two Boxing Writers Association of America awards.

Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani province in the Philippines (he was reelected to a second term, running unopposed in 2013), is the only fighter to win eight world titles in as many different weight divisions. A three-time Fighter of the Year and the Boxing Writers Association of America’s “Fighter of the Decade,” Pacquiao’s resumé features victories over present and future Hall of Famers, including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Márquez. From 2008 to 2010, five of his seven victories were world title victories in five different weight classes, from 130 to 154 pounds. No active boxer has sold more live tickets in the U.S. than Pacquiao, who is also credited with more than 13 million domestic pay-per-view buys. Pacquiao regained the WBO welterweight title last year, on April 12, via a scintillating unanimous decision over Timothy Bradley Jr., avenging his controversial 2012 split decision loss to the undefeated two-division world champion.

HBO Sports has brought the best in sports to television for four decades -– from world championship boxing events, to intriguing documentaries and specials, to the most honored and compelling reality programming franchise, and the most provocative sports magazine program on TV. HBO has covered the sport of boxing unlike anyone else over the last 40 years. Three series comprise the HBO Boxing franchise, including the flagship World Championship Boxing® series, the HBO Pay-Per-View® service, which is the pay-per-view arm of Home Box Office and a premier supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry, and the late-night HBO Boxing After Dark® series, which was introduced in 1996.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar de la Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather and Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, U2, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home to annual events including Academy of Country Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Championship and the Frozen Fury NHL pre-season game hosted by the Los Angeles Kings.

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 atwww.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/SHOsports andwww.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
I studied French in school for six years but I remember nothing because I wasn’t interested in this language; my time was spent learning English. It will be big action for Saturday night. I love to be here and I am glad to be here in Canada. I am expecting a lot of fans because I was here in November 2013. Saturday night will be two best boxers of light heavyweight division facing each other. Jean Pascal is tough boxer and Saturday I will see how tough. I am not going say any prediction. This is boxing, anything can happen with a fight. For me this fight is very interesting because it is next step in my career, the next test in my career. For myself I want to prove who I am on this level, in front in this huge arena, in my first time fighting in huge arena like this. I am very happy and waiting for Saturday. Thank you so much.

[On comments by John David Jackson about Jean Pascal] I don’t know because I didn’t read what John said. It is his opinion. It will be me fighting in the ring on Saturday. What John sees is his vision. My vision is mine and may be different. I didn’t watch very many Pascal fights. I understand his style. I only watch a couple rounds of my opponents. I don’t spend much time watching fights of my opponents. If John thinks it is true, I believe him.

Krusher Kovalev
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

[On not fighting in front of his home crowd in Russia] This is a huge arena for me. This is something new for me. I love experiencing something new in my career. I love travelling the world to fight. If my job lets me travel and get victory, then it is good for me. It makes me happy. It is big motivation for me because a lot of people will be watching this fight. I am now responsible for three titles and it pushes me to work harder. I would like to fight in Russia but I don’t know when the opportunity will happen.

[On not taking easier fights] We are Russian, we are ready for anything. We are ready to make good fights. It is interesting fight. If I look for easy opponents, it will not be interesting for anyone. Who is the best right now in this division? We will find this out Saturday.

Jean Pascal
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Jean Pascal, former light heavyweight champion
It will be a great fight. I have 15 trainers because I am a general and I have an army behind me. Kovalev doesn’t like to talk and lets his trainer do the talking. John David Jackson doesn’t have to get in the ring with me. Sergey does. He needs to man up and talk for himself. I am a general. I’m not a follower. I am a wolf, not a sheep.

In hockey, Russian players do well during the regular season and then not do well in the play-offs. So I think that, like those hockey players, Kovalev will not be able to perform the same on Saturday night against me as he has in the past against other fighters. Nobody should take me lightly.

[On comments he made to the press about knocking Sergey out] I said the best scenario is to give the fans 12 good rounds and then try to knock him out in the last 15 seconds of the fight.

I will give 110% on Saturday night but I cannot predict the future. This is like game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to win. I’ve got balls and big ones and you will see them on Saturday night.

Kathy Duva
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events
We are so happy to be here in boxing-crazy Quebec. This fight is exactly what boxing is supposed to be: the two best fighters who are willing to fight each other. That is what this promotion is about: The very best against each other. Jean Bedard and his team have created a market that is the model for other promotions. It is going be hard to go into opposite sides of the ring from Interbox on Saturday night. I want to thank HBO and Peter Nelson for having the vision to see what we saw in Sergey Kovalev. This is exactly the kind of thing that gets me out of bed in the morning. This is going to be an amazing event and I am privileged to be able to watch it live.

I am so relieved that this fight is not going to be between John David Jackson and Jean Pascal’s 15 trainers. It is not about the money for Sergey. It is not about the fact that he had to come here. He wants to make everyone who watches this fight into his fans. I am going to make the prediction that he will do that.

This has been a wonderful experience so far. Thank you to Interbox and thanks Jean Pascal for being a man for taking this fight.

Kovalev and Pascal Face-Off
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Jean Bedard, President of Interbox
I want to thank our friends from HBO who have put their trust in us to deliver a great product. We intend to work with them in the future to bring many more great events to Canada. It has also been a pleasure working with Main Events and Kathy Duva. This sets the stage for what will be exciting times ahead in boxing. Interbox is optimistic about the future. Thanks to Jean Pascal and Sergey Kovalev for making this fight happen.

John David Jackson
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

John David Jackson, Trainer to Sergey Kovalev
It is a pleasure to be here. Thank you for allowing us to be here. I thought I retired from boxing. In this business, this is what we do. There is a lot of hostility from Team Pascal. I said a few things and it got a rise out of Team Pascal, so I did my job. We got under his skin so we did what we needed to do. He needs to back up all his talk on Saturday night.

[On his comments in the press] I am not going to back down on what I said. It is not about me. They have to fight on Saturday night, not me. I am glad they showed the weakness of their mentality. I said what I said and they reacted the way they did so I’m glad.

[On finding sparring partners for Sergey] It is always hard because Sergey is Sergey. In the ring he is all business. We aren’t going to find someone who fights just like Pascal to spar with. That is what boxing is about; a true fighter is going to find what he has to do to be victorious. Sergey is well prepared for Saturday night.

Egis Klimas
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Egis Klimas, Manager of Sergey Kovalev
What a great city, Montreal. What nice people. It is a big pleasure to be here. I want to thank Interbox. I want to thank Main Events, our promoter, and HBO for bringing us here to Montreal. It is a pleasure to represent Sergey Kovalev. He came in 2009 to the United States. He put his career into my hands. I was 100% trusted by him. We had a long and interesting run to get here. He is proud to have three belts. I want to thank him for putting me in the situation that I am in today. I don’t know who talks but Sergey Kovalev does not like to talk and neither do I. I have big respect for Pascal for taking this fight. He could have taken an easier fight. He is a tough fighter. He is not a puncher. Don’t miss it on Saturday night. Be here or watch on television because it is going to be a great fight.

Marc Ramsay, Jean Pascal’s trainer
On my way to the Centre Bell, someone asked me if I was starting to get nervous. This is why we do what we do; we want to live these challenges. We don’t have the pressure to fight on the road, to defend an undefeated record like Kovalev does. This is a no-lose situation for us. For the last ten weeks we have studied Kovalev. We have a profile of him and I have a lot of respect for Mr. Kovalev. They know how to conduct themselves inside and outside of the ring. I have coached Pascal since he was 14 years old. I lead him to the national team and Olympic Games. I lead him to the world championship. It is easy to take a fighter who is already built up and do something with him. It is a different to work someone from the beginning. Until then, you [points to John David Jackson] should be quiet.

To me Sergey Kovalev is a solid classic boxer. It isn’t hard to analyze him. He is best opponent he have ever faced.

Roy Jones Jr., Jean Pascal’s Assistant Trainer
Thank you. It is an honor and a pleasure to be here. It is always great to be here and back working with HBO. It is a great crew of people here. Boxing is an egotistical sport. It says a lot about Marc [Ramsay] that he reached out to me to assist with Pascal’s training. He is open-minded because he is willing to ask for anything that Jean needs to help get him a victory. I would like to thank everyone for coming out for this. It is so great to see two of the top guys facing each other. That is what we live for. I can’t wait until Saturday night. I look forward to a great fight.

Peter Nelson
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo

Peter Nelson, Vice President of Programming HBO Sports
Thank you. This is a great fight. We couldn’t be more excited and thrilled to be back in Montreal. We want to thank Kathy for bringing Sergey to us. We are a platform which provides the fans the fights that they want to see. Whenever the best fight the best the sport wins. The winner of this fight will benefit from their legacy. These fighters care more about their legacies than their earnings. Sergey Kovalev has proven that over and over again by telling us he will fight anyone. I want to thank Interbox and Main Events. We look forward to a tremendous fight on Saturday. Also Glazkov vs. Cunningham and Chilemba vs. Lepikhin are two incredible fights to make this a tremendous triple header.

Russ Anber, Assistant trainer to Jean Pascal
Kovalev, we welcome you here. We know you are a monster. We know what we are up against. Win or lose Sergey is going to be in the fight of his life on Saturday night. Which also puts Jean in the fight of his life. Sergey may be the most dangerous light heavyweight in the division in years. For both guys this is going to be an early contender for fight of the year. This is going to be the biggest fight ever to be held in this city. That is a fact.

[In response to John David Jackson’s comments] In defense of Marc Ramsay we are small unit of trainers. For someone turn around and try to discredit and be that disrespectful is uncalled for. Sergey understands what it means to develop as a fighter. He knows what that brings to the table. Not everyone is lucky to have a Sergey Kovalev fall in our laps like Jackson was.

Robert Schinke, Pascal’s Sports Psychologist
We are very excited about this fight. We don’t take it lightly. I have worked with Jean since he was 16 years old. In the psychological preparation for this fight, Jean Pascal he needs to be focused. He should not peak Saturday morning. We also needed to understand the opponent in front of us, the athlete and his coaches, their history and patterns. We are fully prepared.

About Kovalev vs. Pascal
Kovalev vs. Pascal is a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The fight will be televised as part of a live triple header on HBO World Championship Boxing® Saturday, March 14 from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre Bell ticket office, at www.evenko.ca, by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion 514-376-0980. This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

Joe’s Rants: Sergey Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal
Joe’s Rants: Sergey Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal

Isaac Chilemba vs Vasily Lepikhin March 14th HBO
Isaac Chilemba vs Vasily Lepikhin March 14th HBO

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Today, SportsCenter will have live coverage throughout the day from Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre—site of today’s Floyd Mayweather Jr.- Manny Pacquiao press conference to formally announce their May 2 world welterweight championship unification mega-fight. SportsCenter will televise the entire press conference live at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN3 will also carry the entire press conference live. Check out behind-the-scenes photos on ESPNFrontRow.com

SportsCenter’s Lindsay Czarniak will anchor coverage from ESPN’s L.A. studio. ESPN boxing analyst Teddy Atlas will also be in L.A. providing insight and analysis and Stan Verrett will anchor coverage from the Red Carpet outside the Nokia Theatre.

In addition, reporters Jeremy Schaap and Bernardo Osuna will be on site to interview both fighters. Following the press conference, Czarniak will anchor the 6 p.m. SportsCenter live from ESPN’s L.A. studio.

“It’s very exciting to be a part of this unprecedented coverage on SportsCenter for the Mayweather-Pacquiao press conference, sharing interviewing duties with Jeremy Schaap and collaborating with Lindsey and Stan,” Osuna said. “The atmosphere is going to be electric and it’s great for boxing to be back with a prominent presence on SportsCenter.”

ORANGE, Calif. (Mar. 11, 2015) – In what is shaping up as one of the most intriguing match-ups on this years boxing calendar, Josesito “Riverside Rocky” Lopez (33-6, 19 KOs) looks to get back to world title contention against former world champion Andre “The Beast” Berto (29-3, 22 KOs) this Friday, March 13, from the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.

The 12-round fight is televised live on Spike TV beginning at 6 P.M. PT / 9 P.M. ET (Premier Boxing Champions).

Lopez, who is co-promoted by Goossen Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions, held his training camp in high elevation at Summit Gym in Big Bear, Calif.

After suffering a tough, sixth round knockout loss to Marcos Maidana nearly two years ago – a fight in which he was winning on two scorecards – Lopez has since turned his fortunes around by winning three straight. A win against Berto puts him in line for bigger fights.

The Thompson Boxing team caught up with the Southern California native at a recent training session. Below is a transcript from our interview.

Talk about the importance of this fight.

“I’m preparing for the most important fight of my career. A win on Friday basically controls the direction of where I need to go. A lot of opportunities opened up after my knock out win against Victor Ortiz. Similar things may happen with a win on Friday. It’s now or never.”

What do you expect from Andre Berto?

Andre Berto is a warrior. He’s a former world champ. He’s been in some tough fights against excellent boxers. He’s fast, strong and very intelligent too. Simply put, I expect the toughest fight of my life. But the biggest difference is not what he can do, but what I’m going to do to him.”

Why did you decide to move your training camp to Big Bear?

This is the biggest fight of my career and I needed the best training experience for this fight. I’ve trained here before so I understand the level of commitment required to succeed in high elevation training. It does a number on you mentally and physically. In my opinion, there’s no better spot to prepare for a big fight.

What kind support have you received from your fans?

“I have some of the most supportive, most loyal fans in boxing. They’re incredible. I’m super appreciative for all the support they’ve given me through the years. Even when I was coming up and nobody knew about me, they were always cheering me on. They do a great job of coming to my fights. I expect a packed house on Friday night. When the going gets tough, and it will, they’ll give me that extra edge to push forward.”

What kind of fight can fans expect?

“Like every fight, they’re going to see me give everything I have. They’re going to see the best performance out of me.”

How do you feel just a couple of days away from fight night?

“I’m definitely anxious to get inside the ring. We were in Big Bear for seven weeks, and the time spent there was all about boxing. I let my beard and hair grow. I closed myself off from a lot of distractions. I took great care in preparing for this fight. I’m physically and mentally ready to win.”

For more information, please visit ThompsonBoxing.com.

For regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, please check our Facebook Page, find us on Google+ and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThompsonBoxing.

Trainer Henry Ramirez keeps a close eye on Lopez’s training

Lopez (33-6, 19 KOs) will be fighting near his hometown of Riverside, Calif.

All eyes will be on the “Riverside Rocky” Friday, March 13, Spike TV

Berto vs. Lopez is televised live on Spike TV 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET

Lopez moved his training camp to Big Bear, Calif. to prepare for Berto

A world title shot is still within reach for Lopez

Josesito Lopez: “Hard work, that’s what we’re all about.”

Berto vs. Lopez Friday, March 13, Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, Calif.

LAS VEGAS, NV (March 11, 2015) – A few days after his inspiring effort against WBA Welterweight Champion, Keith Thurman (25-0, 21 KOs), Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero is already looking forward to his next fight. Guerrero is today’s version of a modern day gladiator who leaves everything in the ring. His never die fighting style is what fans of all ages are thriving to see. Sports fans around the world witnessed a “Fight of the Year” candidate when Guerrero and Thurman left everything in the ring. Guerrero speaks on his future.

“Although Thurman and I went to war, my body is recovering well,” said Robert Guerrero. “As crazy as it sounds, I’m ready to get back to work and start training. I’m hoping I can get back in the ring by the summer and finish off strong by the end of the year. If I can get two more fights in this year, I’ll be happy. I know the fans are looking forward to my next fight, and I’m ready to bring them another exciting night of action.”

Bob Santos who co-manages Guerrero stated, “After looking at the fight, I realized Guerrero was fighting a super-middleweight on fight night, which makes his fight with Thurman even more unbelievable. Guerrero who came up from 122 lbs. went the distance with an undefeated champion who fought most of his career at 154 pounds, that’s incredible. The fans got to see a true warrior in Guerrero last Saturday, and will get to see him again in the near future.”

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 11, 2015) – The star-studded 13-bout lineup for “Bellator MMA: Brooks vs. Jansen” is now complete with the addition of a main-card heavyweight slugfest of Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-4) vs. Tony Johnson (8-2) and six new preliminary matchups, including featherweights Fabricio Guerreiro (20-3) vs. John “Macapa” Teixeira (17-1-2).

Additional new preliminary contests added to the lineup include a 150-pound catchweight contest of Cleber Luciano (10-5) vs. Aaron “Blood Spiller” Miller (14-9) bantamweights Chad “Savage” George (15-8) vs. Mark Vorgeas (5-2-1), middleweights Ben Jones (4-4) vs. Luc Bondole (4-1-1), welterweights John “Johnny Merc” Mercurio (6-7) vs. Greg Parker (4-1) and featherweights Marcos “Murder Marx” Bonilla (1-1) vs. A.J. McKee (0-0).

A previously announced preliminary contest of bantamweights Jared Papazian (18-11) vs. Raja Shippen (14-9-1) has been removed from the card.

“Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen” takes place on Friday, April 10, at Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif. The night’s televised main card, featuring Bellator MMA Lightweight World Champion Will Brooks vs. top contender Dave Jansen, airs live on Spike TV (9 p.m. ET), while preliminary bouts stream live on Spike.com (7 p.m. ET).

Tickets for “Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen,” which start at just $38, are already on sale at Bellator.com and Bren.UCI.edu.

Johnson, of North Platte, Neb., is an American Kickboxing Academy product who returns to the Bellator MMA cage for the first time since a 2011 victory over Derrick Lewis. Including a pair of appearances fighting overseas in Maylasia and the Philippines, Johnson is currently 4-1 in his past five contests, most recently needing just 81 seconds to score a TKO win over Robert Neal. Johnson also owns a win over former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Russian slugger Volkov, a Moscow native, has earned 17 of his 24 career victories through strikes. An incredible 15-1 in his past 16 appearances, Volkov’s only loss in that span came in a 25-minute matchup with current Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Vitaly Minakov. Aiming for another shot at that belt, Volkov appears primed for a breakout performance.

At just 24 years old, Guerreiro, of Santana, Amapa, Brazil, already boasts 20 career victories, 17 of which have come by way of stoppage. With Bellator MMA wins over Shahbulat Shamhalaev and Desmond Green already under his belt, Guerreiro makes his fourth Bellator MMA appearance.

Meanwhile, Teixeira is a 28-year-old who hails from just 12 miles away from his opponent, growing up in Macapa, Amapa, Brazil. With just one loss in a 20-fight career that dates back to 2007, Teixeira was victorious in his Bellator MMA debut and now looks to defeat a cross-state rival on an international stage.

Brazilian-born Luciano now lives in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he serves as a jiu-jitsu instructor in his own academy. A Royler Gracie black belt since he was 19 years old, Luciano has started to focus more on MMA in recent years and is an impressive 10-2 in his past 12 appearances, with seven submission wins in that span. He’ll face Miller, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., who returns to action following 16 months on the sidelines after a submission loss to Michael Guymon. Prior to the result, Miller had boasted a five-fight winning streak.

George, of Los Angeles, Calif., is nearing 10 years in the sport but now makes his Bellator MMA debut. While George has never been knocked out in 23 professional contests, he has been tapped out in six of his eight career losses. He now faces Vorgeas, of Laguna Hills, Calif., who owns four of his five career victories by tapout.

Bondole is originally from Portland, Maine, but now makes his home in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he trains with Kings MMA. Bondole seeks revenge after suffering his first career loss in his Bellator MMA debut. He now meets Jones, of Riverside, Calif., who fights for the first time under the Bellator MMA banner. Jones has never fought to a judges’ decision in his eight career contests to date.

Mercurio, of Huntington Beach, Calif., seeks his first victory under the Bellator MMA banner. He meets crosstown rival Parker, who has yet to fight to a judges’ decision in his first five appearances.

Bonilla, of Los Angeles, Calif., recently picked up his first official career win and now meets McKee, of Lakewood, Calif., who makes his professional debut.

“Bellator: Brooks vs. Jansen” – Friday, April 10, Bren Events Center, Irvine, Calif.

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

Bellator Lightweight Title Fight: Champ Will Brooks (15-1) vs. Dave Jansen (20-2)
Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Joe Schilling (2-3) vs. Rafael Carvalho (10-1)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Marcin Held (20-3) vs. Alexander “Tiger” Sarnavskiy (30-2)
Bellator Heavyweight Feature Fight: Alexander Volkov (24-4) vs. Tony Johnson (8-2)

Preliminary Card (7 p.m. ET)

Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: John Mercurio (6-7) vs. Greg Parker (4-1)
Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Joey Beltran (15-11) vs. Brian Rogers (11-7)
Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Saad Awad (17-6) vs. Rob Sinclair (12-2)
Bellator Flyweight Prelim Fight: Fabricio Guerreiro (20-3) vs. John Teixeira (17-1-2)
Bellator Flyweight Prelim Fight: Jonathan Santa Maria (3-0) vs. Steve Ramirez (0-1)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Marcos Bonilla (1-1) vs. A.J. McKee (0-0)

Dark Bouts (Following Spike TV broadcast)

Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Ben Jones (4-4) vs. Luc Bondole (4-1-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Chad George (15-8) vs. Mark Vorgeas (5-2-1)
Bellator Catchweight (150 pounds) Prelim Fight: Cleber Luciano (10-5) vs. Aaron Miller (14-9)

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 TV, 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 TV:
Spike TV 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 TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’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.

Sherman Oaks, CA (March 11, 2015) Goossen Promotions announced this morning the signing of top junior lightweight contender Bryan Vasquez of San Jose, Costa Rica.

The 27-year-old Vasquez, sporting a record of 34-1-0 (18KO’s), is the former World Boxing Association ‘Interim’ Junior Lightweight Champion, a crown he earned with a fifth round stoppage of Rene Gonzalez on October 26, 2013.

“I’m very happy to sign with Goossen Promotions,” said Vasquez. “They have a long history of working with some of the best fighters in boxing and I’m confident they can take my career to the next level.”

Said Tom Brown of Goossen Promotions, “Bryan has all the tools and intangibles of a world champion. He’s a very highly skilled, tough disciplined fighter and we look forward to working with him on bigger opportunities in the future.”

Stated Mario Vegas, manager of Vasquez, “This is a very important step in Bryan’s career, and we are pleased to be working with Tom Brown and Goossen Promotions. It’s been a very smooth working relationship so far.”

Details of Vasquez’s return to the ring will be announced shortly.

Vasquez defeated Jose Felix Jr. on April 12, 2014 by unanimous decision in the first defense of his WBA ‘Interim’ Junior Lightweight Title in Las Vegas.

Most recently Vasquez defeated Sergio Thompson on December 20, 2014 with a ninth round stoppage, however he lost the WBA ‘Interim’ Junior Lightweight Title for failing to make weight for the contest which took place in Cancun, Mexico.

Patrick Nielsen (23-1, 11 KOs) can claim the WBA International Super Middleweight title when he takes on George Tahdooahnippah (34-1-2, 24 KOs) at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen. At today’s final press conference, the Danish boxer appeared in a confident mood, promising a knockout victory on Saturday night.

‘’I heard Tahdooahnippah wants to do a victory dance after he wins, but that’s not going to happen,’’ said the 23 year-old southpaw. ‘’I will make him do the chicken dance after I beat him. I don’t see this fight going the distance. I’m going to knock him out!

‘’This is my first fight at super middleweight and I feel great. Fans are going to see a new and improved Patrick in the ring. I feel stronger and fresher. I’m ready to make a statement!’’

Nielsen faces a top-ten world ranked fighter in his first bout at the 168lbs limit. Tahdooahnippah has lost only won fight and boasts an impressive knockout record. Coach Joey Gamache has warned his fighter to be wary of the Comanche’s power.

”He is a dangerous opponent, said Gamache. ‘’He’s got twenty-four knockout victories. We know he is big-puncher so he deserves our respect. Patrick will need to be careful. We’ve got be on our game or could risk losing everything.’’

Tahdooahnippah is not worried by what he has seen from the young Dane ahead of their WBA International Championship clash. The American is confident he will be leaving Copenhagen with the win.

‘’I’m not impressed by Nielsen,’’ said Tahdooahnippah. ‘’Whatever he brings, I’m ready to adapt. I’m not worried about him at all. If it goes twelve rounds, I’ll go twelve rounds. If I get the chance to knockout him out, I’ll take it! Whatever happens, the Comanche Boy is taking the title home!’’

A sentiment shared by his coach David Vaughn. ‘’We just have to do what we always do,’’ said Vaughn. ‘’We don’t see any danger here. Whatever Nielsen brings, we will be ready to adapt, and we’re ready to win!’’

Said promoter Nisse Sauerland: “There’s a gap in super middleweight division for a Danish fighter and Patrick can fill that gap. The WBA International belt is a prestigious title and the first step towards a world title shot. Both fighters know what is at stake and both will be coming to win. We’re in for an exciting encounter on Saturday night!’’

Nielsen vs. Tahdooahnippah tops the bill at the Nordic Fight Night on Saturday night at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen. All the action will be shown live in Denmark on TV3 Sport 2 from 19.00 and TV3+ from 21.00. Tickets are available via billetlugen.dk.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Following a successful promotion by Prospect Boxing Promotions at the Fauldhouse Miners Welfare on Friday 27th Feb, Promoter Paul Graham wasted no time in arranging his next show exactly one month later at the Alona Hotel, Strathclyde Park in Motherwell.

The four fight card is headlined by local favourite Kenny Davidson and Alloa’s Scott Edgar for the British Masters Bronze Title at Super Middleweight.
Whilst both combatants may agree that they might not climb the rankings far enough to attain a shot at the Lonsdale belt any time soon, this contest can propel the winner to a Scottish area title later on in the year.
Promoter Paul Graham explains, “Both fighters train extremely hard and are dedicated to their sport however domestically the super middleweight division is stacked with talent and this title gives the guys fighting for it a chance to bag one of the minor belts that they can show their grandchildren in years to come, but lets not forget it can also start them on the journey to Area titles as we have seen woth so many other domestic fighters.
He adds “Win lose or draw, the Scottish boxing pundits in the know are excited about this title fight and many are struggling to pick a winner. A few fans have also told me they expect a good old fashioned tear up, and cant see it going the full distance.
“If it is a close fight and both men push themselves, I will petition the Scottish area council to put it back on for a rematch for the Scottish title proper.
Also featuring on the bill will be Viewparks Michael McGuire, who is looking to extend his unbeaten run to 4-0. “We’re finding it hard to match Michael as most prospects are staying clear of him but hope to have an opponent named soon” acknowledges the Promotor.
Craigneuk’s Lee Gallagher also looking to move up the British rankings with a scheduled contest Vs the ever dangerous William Warburton.
Rhys Pagan returns to action against Ryan Toms in a six round contest. Pagan is treating this fight as a warm up before he travels to Sheffield to face Undefeated Sam Sheedy for another title to be announced soon.
Completing the line up Mohammad Babazudeh, an Iranian youth champion now based in Glasgow under the tutelage of Billy Nelson. and faces a stiff test against the experienced Bobi Zankov from Sofia in Bulgaria over 4x3min.
Tickets from the boxers or by Visa/Debit 01698 338888 including buffet, entertainment by Garry Grieg and championship boxing. The venue is Alona Hotel on Friday 27th March, doors open 7pm
For more information please follow us on Twitter @ProspectBoxing and www.facebook.com/ProspectBoxing

Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Before fans watching live on HBO World Championship Boxing® and at the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada are treated to the light heavyweight showdown between Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev and Jean Pascal, they will get to enjoy the heavyweight battle between Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov and Steve “USS” Cunningham for the mandatory position in the IBF. Glazkov is an Olympic Bronze Medalist who is undefeated in his professional career. Cunningham is a former two-time cruiserweight world champion looking to get a title shot in the heavyweight division. Both are technical boxers with great defensive skills who are willing to mix it up. Below is the scouting report for this exciting match-up:

Category
Vyacheslav “The Czar” Glazkov
Steve “USS” Cunningham
Age
30
38
Record
19-0-1 (12 KOs)
28-6 (13 KOs)
Strength
Glazkov is a very active fighter who is consistently in the ring. He has solid defensive skills and a good chin. He physically breaks down his opponents, and he is not afraid to engage with anyone.
Cunningham is a veteran who has much more professional experience than his younger opponent; he is also a former two-time cruiserweight world champion. He is coming off of major wins over hard hitters and undefeated fighters: Amir Mansour and Natu Visinia.
Weakness
“The Czar” has a tendency to be a slow starter, which almost got him into trouble in a close decision win against Derric Rossy.
Steve lacks significant power for a heavyweight; since 2010 he has only recorded two knockout wins, and has only recorded 13 knockouts in his 28 career victories.
Experience
Glazkov had an impressive amateur career, earning a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. His recent and tough wins over veteran Derric Rossy and then-#2 ranked heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek have helped prepare him well for this big stage.
Cunningham will have the advantage here as he is a former cruiserweight champ and three of his past five fights have been against former or currently ranked heavyweight contenders. (Tomasz Adamek, Tyson Fury and Amir Mansour)
Power
Although he does not possess that one-punch power, Glazkov will have an advantage here. He has the ability to physically break his opponent down throughout the fight.
Although he did record a stoppage win in his previous bout, Steve is not known for his knockout power. He is more of a boxer and will need to be cautious when exchanging punches with the younger and more powerful Glazkov.
Speed
Although Glazkov is a natural heavyweight, he is still somewhat small for the division. He moves around the ring very well.

Steve is small for a heavyweight, which enables him to move around the ring well. He may need to keep a safe distance from the hard-hitting Ukrainian. He also possesses great hand speed and a quick jab that he must utilize to win this fight.
Endurance
Glazkov will be at a slight disadvantage here; he has only been 12 rounds on one occasion. However, he tends to be a slow starter so the additional rounds may help.
Cunningham may have the advantage here as he has gone a full 12 rounds on nine separate occasions during his career.
Accuracy
Glazkov is a very accurate puncher, much like his opponent, he picks his shots well and is a solid technical fighter.
Cunningham is a good technical boxer who picks his shots wisely and does not waste many punches.
Defense
Glazkov is a very effective defensive fighter who does a good job of shielding himself when dealing with his opponent’s onslaught.
Steve moves around the ring well and often, making it difficult for any big heavyweight to cut the ring off and land their significant shots.
Chin
In the past year, Glazkov has shown that he has a solid chin. He took a lot of big shots against Derric Rossy, and was able to weather the storm and box his way to a decision win.
Steve has only been knocked out once in his career by the #4 WBO heavyweight contender Tyson Fury. He was also knocked down twice against Amir Mansour, but he was able to rise to the occasion and defeat the previously ranked heavyweight in what some believe was the fight of the year for 2014.
Style
Glazkov is a defensive-minded fighter who will not hesitate to engage with his opponents if necessary.
Steve is a technical boxer who has no problem trading shots.
Crowd Support
Glazkov has been in big fights throughout the past three years. It is safe to say that he has built a fan base and they may be in attendance for this bout.
Steve may have a slight advantage here; he has never fought in Canada but has been in many big fights during his career and has a fan friendly style.
Intangibles
Glazkov has no problem facing opposition with more experience than him. He could have taken an easier road to a title shot, but instead has been willing to face a long list of veterans and current or former ranked contenders. Cunningham will be his 13th consecutive opponent who is older and more experienced.
Steve will face his third undefeated heavyweight opponent in a row when he squares off against the IBF #2 heavyweight contender Vyacheslav Glazkov.
The Match-up:
Will Steve’s professional experience be too much for Glazkov?
Will Glazkov capitalize on his youth and amateur experience?
They are both fighting for so much outside of the ring. Who will show that come fight night?
This is your typical veteran boxer against the up-and-coming-boxer. Who will come out on top and be the #1 contender in the IBF?

About Kovalev vs. Pascal
Kovalev vs. Pascal is a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The fight will be televised as part of a live triple header on HBO World Championship Boxing® Saturday, March 14 from the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tickets are on sale now at the Centre Bell ticket office, at www.evenko.ca, by telephone at 1-855-310-2525 or through Club de Boxe Champion 514-376-0980. This event is a co-promotion of Main Events and InterBox, presented by Vidéotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

Vyacheslav

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Warriors boxing won the purse bid to secure the IBF Super Middleweight title bout between Andre Dirrell and James DeGale.

‘Disappointed to lose the bid but confident DeGale will beat Dirrell anywhere,” said DeGale’s promoter Eddie Hearn “Negotiations were frustrating and in the end Andre made it clear he wasn’t coming to the U.K. I think even if we won the bid he wouldn’t have come. They have 15 days to provide the date and then James will make his way to the U.S. and pick up the red and gold jewels.”

“Fight will be staged in (the) USA. Ring is a ring. I’m still making history,” said DeGale.

Millville, New Jersey (March 10, 2015)–On Friday night, March 13 at the Space in Westbury, N.Y., undefeated middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (16-0, 7 KO’s) will step up in class and try to silence any critics when he takes on fellow undefeated Middleweight Antoine “Action” Douglas (16-0-1, 10 KO’s). The quadrupleheader ShoBox: The New Generation will be televised live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

The bout will headline a ShoBox: The New Generation card beginning at 10 PM ET

In an age where fighters don’t want to be tested until a premium network comes calling, LaManna gives Douglas credit for stepping for this major opportunity.

“I think whoever wins or loses, we should gain a lot of respect that two young and undefeated fighters are taking a risk. In boxing, when an opportunity presents itself, you can’t say no,” said LaManna

The 23 year-old LaManna is ready for this fight as he knows that a big effort will make him more than just a local attraction.

“It’s now because I have been a professional for four years and sixteen fights and I just felt with my team to take this necessary risk to see where I am at.”

LaManna also feels that he doesn’t think that Douglas has been through a hard fight and on March 13 that will all change.

“I disagree with the notion that he has fought great competition and I haven’t. The only time he has had to bite down and grind it out, he was only able to get a draw. Not to take anything away from him, I have had to bite down and I have won fights.”

“I know it’s his promoter’s show but in no way do I look at myself as the B-side in the fight.”

LaManna continues on to discuss that if you look behind the number’s, Douglas strength of schedule is not all that it looks to be on paper.

“He has fought two undefeated guys. One of them was from the Midwest and the other did not beat anybody of note. On paper it may look better and maybe because of the way I look or my body type, people come in thinking that they will beat me. I can’t say that for all of his opponents. I also have not faced many guys on short notice. Just about all my opponents have had full training camps to face me.”

“I am going to say this that the professional ranks are different then the amateurs. I bring a lot more to the table then his other adversaries. Just like him, I am undefeated and I do not know how to lose. On March 13, I will do everything to keep it that way. I am not in awe of anybody and I consider this another day at the office.”

“I would like to thank my dad who also is my manager as well as my co-promoters Russell Peltz and Peltz Boxing as well as Vincent Ponte and Gulfstream Promotions.”

Vinny LaManna, Thomas’ Father and Manager believes, “One thing about Thomas is that all of his opponents have had ample time to train. They have all come to win. Come March 13, the hard work and the ring experience will pay off.”

Thomas LaManna 022115
Thomas LaManna 022115

In the co-feature, unbeaten southpaw Ismael Barroso (16-0-2, 15 KOs), of El Tigre, Venezuela, will shoot for his 13th consecutive victory when he faces Issouf “Volcano” Kinda (17-2, 7 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y., in a ten-round scrap for the NABO Lightweight Title. In an eight-round featured bout, once-beaten Jerry “The King’s Son” Odom (12-1, 1 NC, 11 KOs), of Washington D.C., will try and avenge his lone loss when he takes on undefeated Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (8-0-1, 1 ND, 1 KO) of Phoenix, Ariz., in a super middleweight rematch. In the opening bout, Adam Lopez (9-0, 4 KOs), of San Antonio, and Houston’s Pablo Cruz (11-0, 3 KOs) clash in an eight-round battle of Lone Star State super bantamweights.

Advance tickets for the event promoted by GH3 Promotions and Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, are priced at $150, $125, and $60 for general admission. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, thespacewestbury.com, The Space at Westbury Box Office at 516.283.5566 or by calling the GCP Office at 212.851.6425.

The event is sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino & Westbury Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Dealership & Maxim Group.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 10, 2015) – A Mike Richman injury has delayed a highly anticipated bantamweight matchup with former Bellator MMA World Champion Eduardo Dantas at this month’s “Bellator MMA: Warren vs. Galvao” event. However, Bellator MMA officials have promoted a previously announced gem from the preliminary card, as a 135-pound contest between L.C. Davis
(22-6) vs. Hideo Tokoro (32-27) will now take center stage as the co-main event on the evening’s Spike TV-televised main card.

Dantas (16-4) vs. Richman (18-5) will be rescheduled at a later date.

“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” takes place on Friday, March 27, at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. The night’s televised main card, featuring Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Champion Joe Warren vs. top contender Marcos Galvao, airs live on Spike TV (9 p.m. ET).

A seven-bout preliminary card streams live on Spike.com (6:30 p.m. ET).

Tickets for “Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao,” which include VIP Seating for just $75, are currently on sale at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

Davis, of Kansas City, Mo., is a nine-year veteran of the sport who is currently 6-1 in his past seven appearances, including a pair of wins under the Bellator MMA banner. He faces 14-year Japanese veteran Tokoro, a longtime mainstay in his native country who now makes his Bellator MMA debut.

“Bellator: Warren vs. Galvao” – Friday, March 27, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Okla.

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

Bellator Bantamweight Title Fight: Champ Joe Warren (12-3) vs. Marcos Galvao (16-6-1)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: L.C. Davis (22-6) vs. Hideo Tokoro (32-27)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Francis Carmont (22-10) vs. Guilherme Viana (6-1)
Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Ryan Couture (9-3) vs. Dakota Cochrane (18-7)

Preliminary Card (6:30 p.m. ET)

Bellator Welterweight Prelim Fight: Sean Holden (2-1) vs. Tim Roman (2-1)
Bellator Middleweight Prelim Fight: Neal Ewing (5-0) vs. Logan Nail (1-0)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Emmanuel Sanchez (9-1) vs. Alejandro Villalobos (17-3)
Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Stephen Banaszak (3-4) vs. Brad Mitchell (4-1)
Bellator Flyweight Prelim Fight: Klayton Mai (6-1) vs. Xavier Siller (5-3)
Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: J.P. Cole (2-2) vs. Geo Pacurariu (8-4)

Swing Bout

Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Rashad Coulter (4-1) vs. Jeremiah O’Neal (13-24)

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 TV, 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 TV:
Spike TV 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 TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’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.