Training Camp Notes: Natu Visinia Fights On Despite Sudden Passing of Trainer

Carson, CA:When Natu “The Truth” Visinia steps into the ring Saturday in Philadelphia, PA, to face veteran Steve “USS” Cunningham, it will be with a heavy heart. Visinia buried his long-time trainer, Charles “Buddy” Bereal, on Oct. 10 after Bereal passed away suddenly from a heart attack.

Visinia, 30, is from, Clinton, Illinois, a small town with a population of 7,500. He travelled to California to train with Bereal for the last five years. When Bereal passed away unexpectedly, Jermaine Lefeiloai, Buddy’s long-time assistant trainer, stepped in to finish out Natu’s training camp.

Natu said Buddy was excited for the match-up with Cunningham.

Natu “The Truth” Visinia
Photo Courtesy of Final Forum Promotions

“He was more excited than I was about this fight,” Visinia said. “This is what he always wanted for me. This fight will be dedicated to Buddy. Jermaine has been with us from the beginning. He knows Buddy’s style. He knows my style. We fit in well. It is not like I am starting fresh with someone I’m not comfortable with. I am definitely comfortable with him.”

Bereal was a former welterweight from Mexico and Visinia is dedicating the Cunningham fight to him.

“The fact that we lost Buddy is the hardest part,” Visinia said. “I have to continue to fight. Having lost Buddy I think I am mentally even stronger than I was when I started training camp. This fight is dedicated to Buddy.”

Visinia (10-0, 8 K0s) has managed to stay focused on Cunningham through this tragedy.

Visinia
Photo Courtesy of
Final Forum Promotions

“I am definitely going to be the bigger guy in this fight,” he said. “He’s got power. He’s obviously quick and a faster heavyweight. In my training camp I have been bringing in a lot of faster, smaller guys to spar with so I can get my eyes sharp to face a guy like Steve Cunningham. I look at it like he’s got the experience and the advantage over me. It is going to be a great fight. I’m not looking at it any other way.

“I respect Steve and all of the things that he is going through and the sacrifice that he has been through with his family. He’s where I want to be. I need to win this fight to get where I need to be. In his last fight with Mansour he showed a lot of heart. Mansour roughed him up in that fight. Steve showed he deserves to be where he is.”

Lefeiloai: “We haven’t made any major changes. Just real fundamental stuff. I believe he is in great shape. We understand that we are facing a formidable guy.”

About October 18
The Oct. 18 edition of NBCSN Fight Nightwill take place at the 2300 Arena at 2300 Swanson Street in South Philadelphia. It features a 10-round fight between Steve “USS” Cunningham, of Philadelphia, and Natu “The Truth” Visinia, of Lakewood, CA. A 10-round junior lightweight contest between Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry, of Wauchula, FL, and Osumanu Akaba, of Accra, Ghana, is the co-feature. Five additional fights open the show at 6PM. Tickets are $50 and $75 and are available by calling Peltz Boxing at (215) 765-0922 or at www.peltzboxing.com. They also can be purchased at Wanamakers Tickets (215-568-2400). The card is presented by Main Events and Peltz Boxing in association with Final Forum Promotions and BAM Boxing. The NBCSN Fight Night telecast will begin at 9 PM ET. Doors open at 5 PM and the first fight will start at 6. The event is sponsored by Rocco’s Collision.

NBC Sports Live Extra:
NBC Sports Live Extra: NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices and tablets — will live stream Fight Night at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Oct. 18. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

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Herrera to defend Interim title against Benavidez on Bradley – Chaves card on December 13

Interim Super Lightweight titlist Mauricio Herrera will defend his belt against undefeated prospect Jose Benavidez on December 13 as part of the Timothy Bradley – Diego Chaves televised undercard in Las Vegas.

“He’s ready to fish or cut bait,” said Benavidez promoter Bob Arum. “You got to take a shot at some point. He wanted this fight. You win, you go on; you lose, you go back to the drawing board. But at a certain point, you have to take that plunge. This is a good fight, and if he wins, he’s ready to fight anybody in the division.”

“Benavidez appears to be physically and mentally ready for this,” said Top Rank’s Carl Moretti. “He knows he has a challenge in front of him. I don’t see at this point what two or three more fights would do to get him ready for a fight at this level, so we are taking the shot.”

Arum said he is working with HBO on a deal to turn the Dec. 13 card into a tripleheader by including Matt Korobov against Andy Lee for the middleweight world title Peter Quillin recently vacated.

According to Arum and Lee promoter Lou DiBella, both sides have agreed to take the fight but no deal can be finalized until HBO agrees to put the fight on and comes to an agreement on a license fee.

“Andy wants this opportunity,” DiBella said. “We like the fight. We think it’s a winnable fight and quality matchup. The numbers for the fight aren’t done but we’ve told them we will do the fight.”

Moretti said they were waiting for an answer from HBO, which has been mulling it over for about a week.

Korobov-Lee was initially ticketed to take place Dec. 13 in Ireland on a Frank Warren-promoted card, but Arum said those plans fell through.

“I think it’s a terrific fight and I can’t wait to see it. That’s how I judge a fight,” Arum said. “Who the hell knows who will win the fight? HBO is interested, and I hope we will get it done.”

“Even though it’s two lefties, their styles should make for a very entertaining fight in the ring,” Moretti said. “Andy Lee has a little bit more experience and has shown the ability to come back from adversity like he did with one punch against Jackson. And this is the opportunity that Korobov has been training his whole life for, a shot at a world title.”

ADDITIONAL BLEACHER SEATS FOR “MEXICAN STYLE” GO ON SALE TUESDAY AT NOON PT!!!

Los Angeles, CA (October 13, 2014) Additional Bleacher Seats will go on sale Tomorrow at Noon PT for “Mexican Style”, the highly anticipated World Championship Boxing event set for This Saturday, October 18th at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Priced at $53 plus applicable service charges, the Bleacher Seating tickets will be available online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at the StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT).

“Gennady wanted to do as much as possible to satisfy the tremendous demand for tickets for his West Coast debut and therefore we’ve added an additional 284 bleacher seats on the StubHub Center Concourse,” said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions. “Unfortunately, these will be the last tickets we will be able to make available for Saturday night.”

Presented by K2 Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Promociones Del Pueblo, “Mexican Style” is headlined by a 12-round world middleweight title fight between Boxing’s fastest rising star, WBA/IBO Middleweight Champion, GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN and WBC Interim Middleweight Champion MARCO ANTONIO “El Veneno” RUBIO.

The co-feature bout on October 18th is a featherweight showdown between 2012 Fighter of the Year and four-division world champion NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE and undefeated world champion NICHOLAS “The Axe Man” WALTERS who will battle it out to determine the undisputed World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight world champion. Donaire vs. Walters is presented by Top Rank®.

The StubHub Center is located at 18400 Avalon Blvd. in Carson, CA 90746. For directions and further information, please visit their website at www.StubHubCenter.com Doors will open at 3:00 p.m. PT on the day of the event with the first bell at 3:15 p.m. PT.

For fight updates on GOLOVKIN VS. RUBIO via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, in addition to on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin/ @GGGBoxing, Marco Antonio Rubio/ @MAVenenoRubio, Tom Loeffler – K2 Promotions/ @TomLoeffler1 and Promociones Del Pueblo/ @PromoDelPueblo. Use the hashtag #GolovkinRubio to join

OSUMANU AKABA REPLACES JERRY BELMONTES AGAINST EDNER CHERRY OCT. 18 IN PHILADELPHIA ON NBCSN

Philadelphia, PA-Osumanu Akaba, of Ghana, who had a nine-fight knockout streak snapped in his most recent fight, steps in against Edner Cherry in a 10-round junior lightweight contest on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia.

Akaba replaces Jerry Belmontes, of Corpus Christi, TX, who injured his right wrist in training last Thursday.

The Cherry-Akaba bout and the Steve Cunningham-Natu Visinia heavyweight 10-rounder will be televised live by NBCSN on its popular Fight Night series beginning at 9 pm (ET).

While more recognizable fighters balked at fighting Cherry on short notice, the 34-year-old Akaba, now living in Tuscaloosa, AL, jumped at the opportunity. He had been ready and waiting for any opportunity when he got the call last Friday to fight Cherry.

Akaba, who turned pro in 2000 as a super bantamweight (122 pounds), is now a full-fledged lightweight (135) at 5-foot-10. His record is 24-6, 19 K0s. He has won three minor championships – WBC International Featherweight Title, WBA Pan African Featherweight Title, WBO Africa Super Featherweight Title.

One of Akaba’s four losses was a 12-round decision defeat in a competitive fight in 2008 in London to Ricky Burns, who later won the WBO world lightweight title. Another 12-round decision setback came in 2005 in South Africa against Jeffrey Mathebula, who went on to take the IBF world super bantamweight title.

In his only fight in the US, Akaba dropped an eight-round decision to Bahodir Mamadjonov, of Uzbekistan, who is 17-1, 11 K0s. Prior to that match last August, Akaba had scored nine consecutive knockouts. He has been stopped only once, early in his career.

There was some good news, however, for Cherry, who moved up to No. 15 in the WBC world ratings at 130pounds. He is No. 11 in the IBF.

Current IFBA lightweight champion Crystal “La Morenasa” Morales Will be in San Diego on October 24th!

(San Diego) – Crystal “La Morenasa” Morales, the current IFBA lightweight champion, will be attending the San Diego fight card featuring Amaris Quintana on Oct. 24, to show her support for women’s boxing. Morales hails from Oxnard, California and was a former member of Team Mexico.

The twenty-year old went pro in 2005 with a hard battled draw vs Lois Theobald. In 2013 Morales captured the vacant IFBA title with a ten round split decision over Rhonda Luna in what was considered the fight of the night.
Out of the ring for all of 2014, Morales looks to get back in and fight the best of her division.

Mee t her on Friday, October 24th, at the Bobby D. Presents “San Diego Fights” Back in Business” fight card featuring current NABF straw weight champion Amaris “Diamond Girl” Quintana of San Diego as well as Canada’s Brandy Badry in separate bouts. In the main event, interim WBC Latino junior welterweight champion Emmanuel “Renegade” Robles of San Diego will take on Carlos “Guerrero” Valenzuela of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. Also in attendance will be NABF junior flyweight and current WBC#4 ranked Kenia Enriquez.

IFBA Lightweight Champion Crystal Morales
The Crowne Plaza Hotel is located at 2270 Hotel Circle North, San Diego. “San Diego Fights” is presented by Bobby D. Presents with Mossy Automotive Group, Pepsi, Everlast, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, DGS Construction and Car Czar. Doors open at 6:30pm with the first punch thrown at 7:30pm. For more info, please dial (619) 420-8866 or visit BobbyDPresents.net.

Fight Network Presents GFC 4: Hari vs. Quarteron LIVE Oct. 16 at 12 p.m. ET

Toronto | New York – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live international broadcast of the Global Fighting Championship 4: Hari vs. Quarteron kickboxing megashow from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 12 p.m. ET, featuring “The Bad Boy” Badr Hari against reigning IKF Muay Thai champion Patrice Quarteron, plus a one night four-man single elimination heavyweight tournament featuring Melvin Manhoef, Ismael Lazaar, Tai Tuivasa and Mohamed Karim with a million dirham cash prize up for grabs.

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

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

Marcus Upshaw reborn for Oct. 23 fight vs. Aaron Pryor Jr.

MIAMI (Oct. 13, 2014) – Modern day road warrior Marcus “Arillius” Upshaw (17-13-2, 8 KOs) plans to jumpstart his career October 23 against fellow gatekeeper and upset specialist, Aaron Pryor Jr. (19-7, 12 KOs), in the 10-round main event on a private (no tickets sold or media coverage) Alarm Charity Boxing fundraiser event at Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C.

“I’ve fought everybody,” Upshaw said from training camp. “It seems like I’ve fought forever as a super middleweight but I’m a middleweight and this fight is going to help me get a fight against a top middleweight. My mind is right for this fight and I know what I need to do. I’m not going to leave fights in the hands of the judges anymore.

“I went the distance with some big dogs (David Lemieux, Marcos Antonio Rubio, Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez, Lamar Russ, Patrick Majewski, Tarvis Simms and Edwin Rodriguez). I didn’t get knocked out or quit in those fights and my mind is set now. You’re only as good as your camp and I’m having a great one, sparring with Jermain Taylor and some other good fighters for this fight.”

In 2008, Upshaw impressively derailed the rise to the top of the then 19-1 James McGirt with a controversial 10-round majority draw, in which, most fans felt Upshaw should have won. Two fights later, he upset 10-0 prospect Ashandi Gibbs (10-0) by way of a fourth-round technical knockout for the Florida State middleweight championship. Upshaw traveled to Quebec City in 2010 and registered his most significant victory to date, a stunning 10-round decision over 21-1-1 local hero Renan St. Juste in his opponent’s backyard, pushing Upshaw up in the world ratings (IBF #6, WBO #9, WBC #11).

“Announcers always say it’s really all about which Marcus Upshaw would be fighting,” Upshaw added. “It’s really all about my mind set. I went back to Ground Zero and I’m just going to be me from now on. I’m positive and have built myself back up from scratch. I want to get back to where I was at my peak, against St. Juste, and then get a rematch with Lemieux or Rubio, but not in Mexico again.”

Like Upshaw, Pryor has been in against the iron during his career, primarily fought in the shadows of his Hall-of-Fame father, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor. The 36-year-old Pryor Jr., who went the distance in losing efforts against Rodriguez, Dyah Davis, Will Rosinsky and Thomas Oosthuizen, defeated three-time world title challenger Librado Andrade (DEC10) in 2011, and the only fighter to stop him is World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson.

“I’m not going into my opponent’s backyard for this fight,” Upshaw concluded. “Pryor is from Cincinnati. I don’t plan to leave this fight in the hands of the judges. He won’t be able to handle me. I’ve fought a lot tougher guys than him. If I don’t stop him it’s going to be a long ass-whipping I give him.”

Upshaw, like Pryor, also has rich athletic bloodlines. His uncle, the late Gene Upshaw, was an NFL Hall of Fame offensive guard for the Oakland Raiders.

“Marcus is a big, tough, strong middleweight who hasn’t always used his size advantage,” Upshaw’s longtime manager Si Stern remarked. “This is a very big fight for him. His problem has been not finishing off guys. He has a whole new attitude. Marcus was misused earlier in his career fighting guys much bigger than him. He’s really a 160-pound fighter and that’s weight class Marcus should be fighting at as he is in this fight. I’m confident that Marcus will put on a good show and, if he wins, his career will be a lot brighter.”

Damian Frias preparing for Ring return

Another one of Stern’s fighters, always dangerous welterweight Damian “Devo” Frias (19-8-1, 10 KOs), is ready to return to the ring before 2014 concludes. The Cuban southpaw, fighting out of Miami, has been hampered by hand injuries during the past few years.

Frias hasn’t been stopped in 28 fights, including losses to present International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior middleweight champion Carlos Molina (19-5-2), Mikael Zewski (19-0), Ionut Dan Ion (30-2), Vitaliy Demyanenko (21-0) and Freddy Hernandez (25-1). The highlight of the 38-year-old Frias’ career remains a ninth-round TKO of Henry Crawford.

“I injured my left hand in sparring for my last fight against Zewski,” Frias explained. “It was the biggest fight of my career, fighting for the first time on an HBO undercard, so I didn’t say anything and kept icing it. I felt I could stop him but I lost a decision and aggravated my hand injury. It hurt badly after that fight (June 15, 2013). I could have had surgery but we decided to rest it and have cortisone treatment. I hope to be back fighting in November, at least by the end of this year. My hand has held up in sparring and we’ll have to wait and see if it holds up in a real fight.

“I’ve had injuries with my hands. They’re real small for a guy my size and chronically swollen. I already had surgery on my right hand. It’s been real difficult and aggravating. My hands are wrapped good and I’ve blocked out the pain during fights once the blood gets flowing, but I was just throwing punches at a target instead of punching through ’em. I fought with damaged hands against Zewski, Ion, and Demyanenko but I’m optimistic now. I’m going for broke. This is my last run; I’m not a young buck anymore.”

Stern added, “Of all the fighters I’ve been around, nobody is tougher than Damian, who’s never been afraid of fighting anybody. In most of the fights he’s lost, Damian was strong in the early rounds, until his hand swelled and he couldn’t use his left hand. His hand is stronger now after rest, medication and rehab. We’re all hoping his hands hold up in a fight.”

Middleweight contender Spada banks on upsetting the odds in Monte Carlo

Monaco/Johannesburg, October 13 – Beating highly-rated Martin Murray will be a short cut to a world title shot, believes Domenico Spada, who challenges for Murray’s WBC Silver middleweight belt in Monte Carlo next weekend.
Ranked #7 by the WBC, Spada (39-5, 19 KOs) has been a perpetual contender in recent years and needs a breakthrough win to force his claims. Defeating Murray (28-1-1, 12 KOs) would do it.
The rugged Italian has been training intensely at his Volcano Gym in Rome under the watchful eye of Valerio Monti. Mornings are occupied by power and resistance training with afternoons spent on technique and sparring.
He claims that a recent defeat to Marco Antonio Rubio, who this weekend fights Gennady Golovkin for the WBA title, has had little impact on his confidence.
“Rubio really disappointed me because he was running away a lot and clinching, he acted like a rabbit. I was confident of winning, but the referee’s conduct and the [WBC scoring system] affected me. I paid less attention to my defence which gave him an opportunity for the stoppage.”
Had he prevailed, it might have been him facing Golovkin. Instead, it is the Mexican Rubio, who Spada predicts won’t last five rounds.
Spada cares little that bookmakers are making Murray a favourite for their bout which headlines the “Title Tornado” tournament. Leading UK betting firm William Hill has offered prohibitive odds of 1/12 on a Murray victory.
“It will be a good opportunity for me and my supporters to earn money,” quipped Spada from his base in Rome.
He rates Murray as a “very good fighter”, asking only that he has a “good and clean fight with me.”
As an amateur – he started boxing at the age of 13 – Spada won three Italian championships. Now into his 12th year as a professional, Spada has fought some of the best men in the division, including Rubio, Sebastian Zbik and former world champion Darren Barker. Oddly, it is little-known Frenchman Francois Bastient who he rates as giving him his toughest fight, in 2006.
With Monte Carlo practically in his backyard, Spada is confident of strong support. “My supporters must stay close,” he says. “I need to feel people who love me around me and I assure them that I will make them proud about me.”
Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman, on the verge of securing a major championship shot for Murray, insists that Spada cannot be overlooked by the WBC #1.
“Boxing is littered with sad stories and what-might-have-beens. Spada is very clever and carries a big left hook. I accept that Murray may be the bookmakers’ favourite, but Spada won’t be doing him any favours.”

Known as one of the most exclusive vacation destinations in the world and situated on the Mediterranean Sea in South West Europe, Monaco attracts millions of visitors each year. The Casino de Monte-Carlo, owned and operated by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, is the premiere casino destination in Europe. The Casino de Monte-Carlo continues to attract some of the wealthiest and most well-known celebrities and aristocrats throughout the world.

7-DAY WBC WEIGH-IN RESULTS GOLOVKIN 165, RUBIO 167.5

Los Angeles, CA (October 11, 2014) Seven days out from their highly anticipated “Mexican Style” showdown, WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN and WBC Interim Middleweight Champion MARCO ANTONIO “El Veneno” RUBIO were both within the prescribed limits set forth by the World Boxing Council rules.

For the WBC Official 7-Day Weigh-In, Golovkin tipped the scale at 165lbs., while Rubio weighed in at 167.5lbs.

“We’re a week out and both fighters appear to be in excellent shape,” said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions.

Set for this Saturday, October 18th, “Mexican Style” is headlined by the highly anticipated 12-round world middleweight title fight between Boxing’s fastest rising star, WBA/IBO Middleweight Champion, GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, 30-0-0 (27KO’s) and WBC Interim Middleweight Champion MARCO ANTONIO “El Veneno” RUBIO, 59-6-0 (51KO’s).

Golovkin is wrapping up his training with Abel Sanchez at The Summit High Altitude Training Facility in Big Bear Lake, CA while Rubio is in Oxnard, California with Robert Garcia at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy.

“Mexican Style” is presented by K2 Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Promociones Del Pueblo.

The co-feature bout on October 18th is a featherweight showdown between 2012 Fighter of the Year and four-division world champion NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE, 33-2-0 (21KO’s) and undefeated world champion NICHOLAS “The Axe Man” WALTERS, 24-0-0 (20KO’s) who will battle it out to determine the undisputed World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight world champion. Donaire vs. Walters is presented by Top Rank®.

Bout world title bouts will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Monty’s of Sheffield sponsors Sheffield star Ross Burkinshaw

Monty’s of Sheffield motor company in Sheffield, England has given new Commonwealth Bantamweight champion Ross “The Boss” Burkinshaw a new, customized Mitsubishi Trojan L200 for his spectacular fight and Commonwealth title win over Jason Cunningham.

Monty’s in Sheffield has supported Team Burkinshaw markedly. The dealership has been in operation for over 72 years, and has offered exemplary class and staunch workmanship towards their customers and associates, becoming a respected part of the community through these years.

Ross greatly appreciates their support, and that of his other sponsors, including BFN Nutrition, Alpha Plus, Rhodes Asbestos, Aggressive Art, Drop Dead Clothing, Mike Lovatt of UKFCA, Ten Men Clothing, Workshop Timber Company, Fifteen Eleven Clothing, and POW UK.

It is clear that Burkinshaw, 28, has had an amazing reception since bringing the title home almost five weeks ago.

From a television appearance on Sky Sports’ renown “Ringside” series, to numerous headlines in the local papers and on sports web pages, “The Boss” has been all over the press.

Ross’ domestic and worldwide fanbase has continued to swell as he becomes known for his courage in the ring and inviting demeanor on a personal level.

It will continue to do so, although many threaten to end the celebrations for Burkinshaw, including his probable next foe, Martin Ward, who Burkinshaw is planning his first title defense against for December.

Anything can happen in boxing, as proven by the new champion and fan-favorite in his recent career-revival. So preparation will be key, and not getting lost in the excitement detrimental to him retaining his title and pushing further towards the top bantamweights.

More news about Ross Burkinshaw will be released shortly.

Berchelt stops Escalante in three

Miguel Berchelt scored a 3rd round stoppage over former world title challenger Antonio Escalante in a scheduled 10-round Super Featherweight bout.

Berchelt floored Escalante in round three from a flurry to the head. A follow up barrage on the ropes that was finished with a body shot that sent Escalante to the canvas for a 2nd time. Escalante got to his feet but the fight was stopped at 2:36 of round three.

Berchelts, 131 lbs of Merida, MX is now 24-1 with 21 knockouts. Escalante, 130 3/4 lbs of El Paso, TX is now 29-7.

Ivan Montero scored a 8-round unanimous decision over Julio Cesar Avalos in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Avalos scored a knockdown in round one when Montero walked into a left hand. That point was made up in a bizarre fashion as Avalos was docked a point at the beginning of rounds six for getting off his stool in an untimely matter.

Montero came back to box his way to a unanimous decision by scores of 77-73 twice and 76-74.

Montero, 154 lbs of Merida, MX is now 16-0. Avalos, 154 lbs of Guadalajara, MX is now 14-4.

Bundrage reclaims Jr. Middleweight crown with decision over Molina

Cornelius Bundrage reclaimed the IBF Jr. Middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Carlos Molina at the Oasis Hotel Complex in Cancun, Mexico.

Bundrage dropped Molina in the 1st round from a hard right. Molina began to get back in the fight in round’s three and four as he started to pepper Bundrage from the outside.

The pace of the fight was very slow. Bundrage was deducted a point in round eight for hitting behind the head. Bundrage dropped

O’Neil submits Funch to win CES MMA crown

LINCOLN, R.I. (Oct. 10th, 2014) – Chuck O’Neil rebounded from a near devastating blow to the spine Friday night at Twin River Casino and turned the tables on Ricardo Funch to capture CES MMA’s vacant Welterweight Title.

O’Neil (14-6), a Bridgewater, Mass., native and former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter reality series, submitted Funch (8-5) with the arm bar at the 2-minute, 51-second mark of the second round in the main event of “CES MMA XXVI,” a stunning turnaround after taking a heel to the spine in the opening round.

Unnerved through it all, O’Neil fought effectively off his back in the second round and locked in the arm bar after momentarily attempting a triangle choke to the finish the fight.

“He left his arm in there, so I figured I’d take it home with me,” said O’Neil, the No. 2 ranked welterweight in the northeast entering Friday who has now won three consecutive fights.

“I felt like I came out kind of slow, but that was our plan. I have good cardio and great training from my teammates. I knew I was the stronger fighter and he’d have to deal with that. I was ready to go.”

Funch, a Springfield, Mass., native and four-time Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) vet, fought Friday for the first time since 2012. He lost a point in the opening round due to the illegal blow and had control in the second until O’Neil reversed the hold and locked in the arm bar for the clincher.

The heavyweight co-feature ended in thrilling fashion with “Big” John Johnston (7-0, 7 KOs) keeping his perfect record intact and then announcing his retirement at the age of 43 after stopping tough veteran Keith Bell (5-5-1) of Newport News, Va., at the 2:20 mark of the opening round.

Johnston, a Reading, Mass., native, ate a big right hand to the chin in the opening minute and appeared out on his feet, but he withstood the initial onslaught and eventually took Bell to the canvas and flipped him on his stomach, where he pounded away with unanswered rights and hammer fists until Bell tapped out.

In one of the most highly anticipated bouts of the night, lightweight Leon Davis (6-2) of Springfield, Mass., pulled off the biggest win of his young career, upsetting the previously unbeaten Jimmy Davidson (7-1) of Sandwich, Mass., via an arm triangle submission with 24 seconds remaining in the final round.

Davidson appeared to have control of the fight entering the final round, especially coming off a dominant performance in the second in which he scored an early takedown and controlled the pace. Davis adjusted and stuffed Davidson’s takedown attempt at the start of the third and effectively worked his own ground-and-pound before locking in the triangle in the closing seconds. Davis, making his fourth appearance with CES MMA, won for the first time since November.

Returning to the cage for the first time since January, West Palm Beach, Fla., bantamweight Andre Soukhamthath (8-2) submitted Long Island’s Tom English (5-5) via rear-naked choke at the 2:17 mark of the second round. Andover, Mass., veteran Nuri Shakir (18-21, 9 KOs) finished Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Todd Chattelle (12-11) at the 4:08 mark of the second round, forcing Chattelle to verbally submit due to an eye injury from excessive strikes.

Providence, R.I., cruiserweight Greg Rebello (17-6) won for the first time since June of 2013, beating Kearny, N.J., veteran J.A. Dudley by unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. Rebello nearly finished the fight in the third round, catching Dudley with an overhand left in the closing minutes that spun his opponent around and sent him backpedaling toward the cage. Dudley withstood the flurry, but Rebello earned the win on the scorecards.

Featherweight James Murrin (2-1, 2 KOs) of South Boston, Mass., made quick work of North Providence, R.I., native Devin Pilkington (0-2) in the opening round, catching Pilkington with an overhand right in the first minute of action and finishing him with a series of unanswered strikes just 59 seconds into the bout.

Also on the undercard, Worcester, Mass., middleweight Terrell Clark (2-1) submitted Joe Cronin (2-3) of Mansfield, Mass., via the guillotine choke at 1:07 of the opening round and featherweight Kyle Bochniak (3-0) of Winthrop, Mass., remained unbeaten with a 30-27 unanimous decision win on all three scorecards against Ruso Khubejashvili (2-2) of Norwood, Mass.

Visit www.cesmma.com for more information, follow CES MMA on Twitter at @CESMMA and Instagram at CESMMA, or “like” CES MMA on Facebook.

Junco decisions Casafu

Diego Loque scored a 6th-round stoppage over Jose Pombo in the final scheduled round of their Welterweight bout.

Loque dropped Pombo in that 6th round and he continued to batter him until the the towel came in.

Loque is now 15-1-1 with 8 knockouts. Pombo is 13-17.

Roque Augustin Junco scored a 4-round unanimous decision over Jonathan Joel Casafu in Jr. Welterweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 twice and 40-37 for Junco who is now 6-1-1. Casaful is 2-4-2.

Castellanos shocks Rios

Robinson Castellanos scored an upset as he battered previously undefeated Ronny Rios in five rounds of their scheduled 10-round Super Featherweight bout at the Fantasy Springs Hotel and Resort in Indio, CA.

It Didn’t start out great for Castellanos in round one as he was cut around his left eye from an accidental headbutt. He came back with authority in round two as he landed a flurry of punches then dropped Rios after teeimg off on Rios. Castellanos continued to batter Rios all over the ring. Castellanos shot out of a cannon in round five and landed a fuselage of punches and the bout was topped just 11 seconds into round five.

Castellanos, 127 lbs of Mexico is now 20-10 with 13 knockouts. Rios, 128 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is now 23-1.

Antonio Orozco remained undefeated by scoring an 8-round unanimous decision over former world champion Steve Forbes in a Welterweight bout.

Orozco, 142 lbs of San Diego, CA won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 21-0. Forbes, 142 lbs of Los Angeles is now 35-14.

Orozco outlanded Forbes 249 to 147.

Diego De La Hoya scored a 6-round unanimous decision over Luis Alfredo Ruiz in a Featherweight bout.

De La Hoya, 123 lbs of Mexicali, MX dominated the bout and won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 7-0. Ruiz, 123 lbs is now 5-3-1.

De La Hoya landed 135 of 342 punches to Ruiz’38-354.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, SHEILA E, EUGENIO DERBEZ, ANGELICA MARIA, LA SANTA CECILIA AND JOSE HERNANDEZ OF SOL DE MEXICO ARE AMONG HONOREES AT LATINOS DE HOY AWARDS

LOS ANGELES, CA – Oct. 10, 2014 -Hoy Los Angeles today announced the 2014 Latinos de Hoy Awards will be held on Saturday, October 11, 7:00-9:00 pm at the Los Angeles Times’ Chandler Auditorium. Honorees will include boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, Grammy Award nominated singer, drummer and producer Sheila E., telenovela and music icon Angélica Maria, filmmaker and actor Eugenio Derbez, acclaimed music group La Santa Cecilia, Jose Hernandez of Mariachi Sol De Mexico, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Creator Richard Montañez, Push4Reform co-founder Justino Mora and the Robotics Team of Carl Hayden High School. The star-studded event marks the culmination of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Latinos de Hoy Awards were launched in 2013, furthering Hoy’s editorial mission to provide engaging news and information that supports community involvement and connection to Spanish-language cultures. The event pays tribute to Latino influencers in both English and Spanish cultures and is a true celebration of bicultural accomplishments, including those of celebrity icons and unsung everyday heroes. The honorees have not only helped shape the Los Angeles community, but their lives serve as beacons of inspiration for people worldwide.

“We are proud to continue to recognize important Hispanic leaders in the worlds of entertainment, sports, culture, education and the arts through Latinos de Hoy,” said Roaldo Moran, Publisher and General Manager, Hoy Los Angeles. “We will recognize great, inspiring stories in our community in a fashion fitting to culminate National Hispanic Heritage Month.”

The honors to be given for outstanding achievement and community impact will include:
* The Community Icon Award in recognition of supporting critical causes and community initiatives in Los Angeles, given to Oscar De La Hoya.
* The Special Achievement in Music Award in recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to mainstream pop music, given to Sheila E..
* The Legend Award in honor of her career as a telenovela star, as well as a singer/songwriter, given to Angélica Maria.
* The Humanitarian Award for his generous donations to victims of Hurricanes Manuel, Ingrid in Baja California as well as his work with animals, given to Eugenio Derbez.
* The Cultural Ambassador Award for exemplifying the culture, music and the spirit of the Los Angeles Latino community, given to La Santa Cecilia.
* The Master of The Arts Award for breaking boundaries in the world of mariachi music as a musician, composer and educator, given to Jose Hernandez of Sol de Mexico.
* The Inspiration Award for his ascent from janitor to now serving as one of PepsiCo’s highest ranking Latino executives, given to Richard Montañez, creator of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
* The Young Leader Award for his activism on behalf of immigrants’ rights, given to Justino Mora, UCLA student and Push4Reform co-founder.
* The Education Award, given to The Robotics Team from Carl Hayden High School – whose achievements in competition inspired the 2014 documentary, Underwater Dreams, and the upcoming 2015 feature film Spare Parts (starring George Lopez).

Presenters for the night include: Charo, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, Arturo Rodriguez (President and CEO of the United Farm Workers), Vanessa Vasquez (East Los High), Liz Hernandez (Access Hollywood), Comedian, Erik Rivera and Ivette Saucedo of Los Cowboys.

Latinos de Hoy honorees are selected by premier Hispanic branding agency, LatinPointe Brands through consideration from a Blue Ribbon Committeecomprised of community trendsetters, tastemakers and influencers.

The event’s Presenting Sponsors are Hoy Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Times, Silver Sponsor is Heineken, Contributing Sponsors are Latino Heritage LA and the Los Angeles Lakers, and Media Sponsor is LATV. Executive producer is David Chavez. Lionel Pasamonte is Director and Deborah Byrd is Talent Director

*NOTE: Red carpet arrivals begin at 6:00 pm.

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About Hoy Los Angeles
Hoy Los Angeles is the leading Spanish-language newspaper serving Southern California with a weekly Friday edition, a Deportes Monday edition, a weekend-focused Hoy Fin de Semana Saturday edition and online at Hoylosangeles.com and Hoydeportes.com. Hoy Los Angeles has a gross weekly print distribution of 1,044,000 copies. Hoy’s editorial mission is to provide Latinos with engaging news and information that supports community involvement and connection to Spanish-language cultures. Hoy is part of the Los Angeles Times Media Group which reaches approximately 5 million or 36% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. For more information, please visit http://hoylosangeles.com.

BROADWAY BOXING COMPLETE CARD ANNOUNCED, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, B.B. KING BLUES CLUB & GRILL, NYC

New York, NY (10/10/14) – Next Wednesday, DiBella Entertainment (DBE) returns to NYC’s famed B.B. King Blues Club and Grill for the latest edition of its Broadway Boxing series. Headlining the card is “The First Lady of DBE” Heather “The Heat” Hardy (10-0, 2KO’s), as she puts her undefeated record on the line and looks to add another title to resume when she squares off against Las Vegas-native Crystal Hoy. The bout between Hardy and Hoy is scheduled for 10 rounds, and will be for the WBC International junior featherweight championship.

Light heavyweight prospect Travis Peterkin (12-0, 5KO’s) will also be featured on the card when he takes on veteran Otis Griffin (24-16-2, 10KO’s) in the eight-round co-feature bout. The bout against Griffin will be the first scheduled eight-rounder for the 24-year-old Brooklyn-native, and former NY Golden Gloves champion who has been a staple on the Broadway Boxing series since signing with DBE in 2012.

Promising up-and-comer Patrick Day (8-0-1, 5KO’s) will be looking to make it a perfect 4-0 with four knockouts this year when he squares off against Felipe Reyes (5-3, 3KO’s) in their six-round junior middleweight matchup. The former #1-rated US amateur, Day won the USA Boxing National Championship, PAL National Championship and NY Golden Gloves all in 2012, before turning pro in January 2013. The 22-year-old Freeport, Long Island-native has looked better and better with each outing, and, in this year alone, his three previous opponents have yet to make it out of the second-round. With quick hands and explosive power, Day is truly one of the bright young stars on the loaded DBE roster.

Making his much-anticipated DBE debut will be rising super middleweight star Steed Woodall (4-0, 3KO’s), as he faces the always-tough Azamat Umarzoda. The British-Irish Woodall, now living and training in Palm Beach, FL, was a five-time National champion in the UK as an amateur before relocating to the US and making his pro debut in March of this year. The 20-year-old Woodall, nicknamed “The Stallion” has a tremendous fan-friendly style and carries absolute dynamite in both hands. Umarzoda is expected to give Woodall a sturdy test. He has only been stopped once in his career, in his pro debut way back in 2010, and he has draws with former amateur standouts Kareem Martin and Kevin Newman this year.

Also seeing action on the card is one half of DBE’s recently-signed Ukrainian amateur stars, as Ivan Golub (1-0) fights Kirk Huff (3-1, 1KO) in a six-round middleweight showdown. Golub, a 25-year-old Ukraine-native, had an astounding amateur career, which saw him become a five-time Ukrainian National champion, win a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in 2006 and bronze at the World Championships in 2009, amassing a record of 270-32 in the process. Golub has also competed in the World Series of Boxing, winning all five of his bouts. Golub made his debut in June, winning a four-round shutout decision over Javon Wright.

Also on the card will be 2012 Olympian Wellington Arias Romero (4-0, 2KO’s), as he squares off against Lazar Stojadinovic in a four-round welterweight matchup. The Dominican Romero holds two wins over Jose Ramirez from his amateur days, and picked up one win at the 2012 London Games, before losing in the following round to eventual gold medalist and current world champion Vasyl Lomachenko. After the Olympics, Romero relocated to the US and the 23-year-old southpaw is now living and training in Newburgh, NY.

Rounding out the card will be undefeated super middleweight Lennox Allen (17-0-1, 10KO’s), as he takes on Julio Garcia (6-6, 3KO’s) in a scheduled six-rounder. Allen was scheduled to appear on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights this summer, but was forced to withdraw after suffering an injury to his ribs. Now fully healed, Allen is looking to get back to his winning ways and set himself up for a breakout year in 2015.

The event on Wednesday, October 15, is sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group and Everlast and is being held in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Tickets are currently on sale and are priced at $125, $100, $75 and $55. Tables are also available for purchase for this event, with VIP tables going for $1,000 per table (5 seats at $200 per seat) and $375 tables (5 seats at $75). Tickets are available for purchase by calling the DiBella Entertainment office at (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30pm with the first bout scheduled for 7:00pm.

Fight Network Presents K-1 World MAX Final LIVE Saturday, Oct. 11 at 11:30 a.m. ET

Toronto | New York – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live international broadcast of the K-1 World MAX Final live this Saturday, Oct. 11 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

The K-1 World MAX Final will crown a K-1 World MAX champion between two of the best 70kg MAX fighters in the world; Buakaw Banchamek and Enriko Kehl. Buakaw Banchamek is a two-time K-1 World MAX champion, looking to add a third to his trophy collection, as well as to become the reigning K-1 MAX champion. Enriko Kehl has been a rising star for a while now, but this chance against Buakaw for the K-1 MAX championship is the biggest opportunity of his young career.

K-1 will present a packed card in front of a Thai audience for the first time in history, including the debut of international MMA superstars Paul “Semtex” Daley and Andre “Dida” Amade.

The full card for Saturday’s live broadcast includes:

-K-1 World MAX Final: Buakaw Banchamek vs. Enriko Kehl
-Paul “Semtex” Daley vs. Mohammad Ghaedibardeh
-Rungravee Sasiprapa vs. Dennis Puric
-Andrei Kubelin vs. Lee Sung Hyun
-Maximo Suarez vs. Tural Bayramov
-Andre “Dida” Amade vs. Li Yankun
-Artem Pashporin vs. Petmongkol Thor. Thesputin
-Xei Lei vs. Yoshimoto

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

Design a UFC Walkout T-shirt to be Worn by Ronda Rousey

Las Vegas, Nev. – The UFC® is calling all fans, artists and designers to show off their creativity and submit a design that will be worn by UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey as her Walkout T-shirt at her next fight. The UFC and Rousey are looking for a creative, unique design that showcases her personality. There is no cost to enter and entries must be received by Friday, Oct. 31.

In addition to Rousey wearing the T-shirt, the winning designer will also receive The Ultimate UFC Pack, which includes a limited edition, custom-made EA SPORTS™ UFC® Octagon Kit autographed by Rousey, Monster UFC Octagon™ Headphones and Earbuds, and T-shirts printed with the winning design. The EA SPORTS UFC Octagon Kit includes a custom skinned Sony PlayStation® 4 console and two controllers, a copy of EA SPORTS UFC and a pair of Century UFC fight gloves.

“I’m excited to see all of the designs from our fans,” said Rousey. “Walkout T-shirts are an expression of the fighter and this contest gives one lucky designer the opportunity to be represented as part of the fight night.”

Rousey (10-0, fighting out of Venice, Calif.) has dominated the female sports world over the past few years. She broke through MMA’s glass ceiling and became the youngest Judoka contestant (at 17 years old) to enter the Olympic Games in Athens winning a bronze medal. Her move to mainstream spotlight followed after she became the first female fighter to sign a contract with the UFC. Since then she has appeared on covers of magazines including ESPN’s “The Body Issue” and Maxim. She coached the 18th season of the UFC’s reality television show The Ultimate Fighter® and crossed over into the world of Hollywood with roles in “The Expendables 3,” “Fast & Furious 7,” and the upcoming “Entourage” movie. Rousey has finished all her opponents inside the Octagon and the 16-second knockout victory at UFC 175 in July marked the third time she finished an opponent in under 30 seconds. Seven out of her 10 career victories have occurred in under a minute.

Anyone interested in participating in the contest should submit designs online at www.UFC.com/RondaTee during the contest period. The designs must be original and include the UFC logo and name “Ronda ‘Rowdy’ Rousey” or “’Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey.” Entries should be designed at 300 dpi or be in vector format and saved for web as a 1200 x 1200 JPEG file. For complete details and official rules, visit www.UFC.com/RondaTee. Contest ends Oct. 31, 2014. No purchase necessary.

The winning design will be announced in Nov. 2014 and will be worn by Rousey at her next fight.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (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.

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*EA SPORTS and SSX are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. and its subsidiaries. Madden, NFL, FIFA, NHL, NBA, UFC, and PGA TOUR are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Fight Network Presents Rios vs. Castellanos LIVE Tonight at 10 p.m. ET

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents its latest installment of Golden Boy Live! tonight, Friday, Oct. 10 at 10 p.m. ET, featuring a 10-round junior lightweight main event pitting Santa Ana’s Ronny Rios putting his perfect 23-0 record on the line against former WBC Silver featherweight champion Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos.

Fight Network’s broadcast will air live exclusively in Canada.

Plus, undefeated welterweight Antonio Orozco of San Diego meets former world champion Steve “2 Pound” Forbes in the 10-round co-main event.

Also in action will be unbeaten phenom Diego De La Hoya who will make his fourth appearance in Indio in a six-round opening televised fight against Merida, Mexico’s Luis “Lichito” Lizarraga Jr.

Santa Ana’s Ronny Rios (23-0, 10 KOs) can do it all in the ring and that ability has led him to an undefeated record in one of boxing’s toughest divisions. A standout amateur that transitioned smoothly to the pro game, the 24-year-old began making big moves in 2013, starting with his defeat of former world champion Rico Ramos for the NABF title. Since then, Rios has added three more wins, most recently defeating Andrew Cancio in April.

Celaya Guanajuato, Mexico’s Robinson Castellanos’ (19-10, 12 KOs) record can be deceiving as the the 12-year professional hit a late stride in his career. The 32-year-old had a a rough start but has now boiunced back and won 11 of his last 12 bouts, including victories against Celestino Caballero and Derrick Wilson.

Well deserving of the nickname “Relentless,” Antonio Orozco (20-0, 15 KOs) of Tecate, Baja California Mexico who now lives and trains out of San Diego, is a fearsome force in the ring, and he’s prepared to make his move toward a world title shot in 2015. With 2014 victories over veterans Miguel Angel Huerta and Martin Honorio, the 26-year-old knows another notable victory against Steve Forbes will help him make his case for a shot at the division’s elite.

A seasoned veteran whose world championship experience has earned him respect throughout the boxing world, former junior lightweight champion Steve Forbes (35-13, 11 KOs) believes that at age 37, he still has another title run left in him. Hailing from Los Angeles, Forbes has been in with the best of the best over the years, including Oscar De La Hoya, Andre Berto, Cornelius Bundrage, Carlos Hernandez and John Brown. On October 9, he aims to use his experience to hand the younger Orozco his first loss in Indio.

Just 20 years old, Mexicali’s Diego De La Hoya (6-0, 5 KOs) has made remarkable progress since turning professional in September of 2012. Unbeaten in four 2014 bouts, “The Golden Kid” is coming off of a fifth round technical knockout over Miguel Tamayo in his Las Vegas debut in July.

Rios vs. Castellanos, a 10-round junior lightweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Golden Ram Group. Fight Network’s Canadian broadcast airs live at 10 p.m. ET.

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

24/7 PACQUIAO/ALGIERI PREMIERES SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 ON HBO®

Oct. 10 2014 – As a prelude to the upcoming HBO Pay-Per-View® showdown on Nov. 22 between world welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao and fast-rising challenger Chris Algieri, HBO Sports will air “24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri,” an action-packed one episode, 30-minute special examining the 147-pound title showdown.

The “24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri” special will premiere Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on HBO immediately following the live World Championship Boxing event from Atlantic City. The all-new documentary-styled presentation will explore the intriguing storylines connected to the Nov. 22 fight: one of the world’s most popular and famous athletes defending his crown versus a remarkably confident, poised and undefeated prizefighter from Long Island, whose journey to the highest-profile stage in the sport is unparalleled and reads like a Hollywood script.

The quintessential underdog versus superstar storyline will be explored with”24/7″ cameras visiting Algieri at home on Long Island and in camp in Las Vegas as well as traveling to the Philippines to visit with Manny Pacquiao as he trains for the fight.

The 30-minute special narrated by Liev Schreiber and produced by HBO’s Emmy®-Award-winning “24/7” production team will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the series.

Additional programming elements for Pacquiao vs. Algieri that will air on HBO will be announced shortly.

Other HBO playdates for 24/7: November 9 (11:00 a.m.), 10 (2:45 a.m.), 13 (2:30 p.m.), 18 (8:45 a.m.), 19 (6:00 p.m.), 21 (1:00 p.m. & 3:00 a.m.), and 22 (9:45 a.m.).

HBO2 playdates for 24/7: November 19 (8:00 p.m.) and 21 (4:15 p.m. & 11:30 p.m.).

HBO Signature playdates for 24/7: November 22 (5:30 p.m.)

All times are ET/PT.

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

Advance tickets to Pacquiao vs. Algieri are available for purchase August 26-28 for Sands Rewards Club and Cotai Ring Club members. This exclusive pre-sale offer is available only at the Cotai Arena box office, and is not available online or via phone. For more details, visit www.venetianmacao.com/macau-entertainment/clash-in-cotai-ii.html.

Tickets for the Pacquiao vs. Algieri world welterweight championship event go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. August 29 at all Cotai Ticketing™ box offices*. Tickets can be purchased in one of eight categories: HKD/MOP 24,080 (Diamond), 20,080 (Platinum), 12,880 (Ruby), 9,880 (Gold), 6,480 (Silver), 3,880 (A Reserve), 1,880 (B Reserve) and 880 (C Reserve). HKD/MOP 88 adds a round trip Cotai Water Jet ferry ticket between Hong Kong and Macao. Tickets can be booked online at www.cotaiticketing.com, or by phone at +853 2882 8818 (Macao) / +852 6333 6660 (HK) / 4001 206 618 (China) / +63 2 395 3370 (Philippines). Tickets are also available through Hong Kong Ticketing (customer service fee applies), online at www.HKTicketing.com or by phone at +852 3128 8288, and via Macao Kong Seng Ticketing Network, online at www.macauticket.com, by phone at +853 2855 5555, or in person at selected retail outlets (for locations, visit www.macauticket.com/TicketWeb/ServiceStations.aspx).

NOTE: Bouts and times subject to change

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Entertainment at Sands China Ltd. Properties
Sands China Ltd. has as a clear vision to establish Macao as Asia’s top entertainment destination.

The 15,000-seat Cotai Arena is the only venue in Asia ranked in Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues based on ticket sales. It is the top entertainment destination in southern China, hosting the world’s and the region’s biggest names in music, sports and awards shows. Superstars frequently choose the venue as the starting point of their Asian tours.

The 1800-seat, multi-purpose Venetian Theatre is one of the most luxurious entertainment venues in greater China. Featuring ushers in black-tie, champagne service, gourmet food and beverage items and other unique, premium amenities, it offers an intimate, luxurious and exclusive venue experience. The Venetian Theatre is playing a key role in bringing the best in international and Chinese entertainment to Macao, with a luxury theatre experience like no other in the region.

The 650-seat Sands Theatre regularly features internationally-renowned singers, performers and artists of the highest calibre. From traditional Chinese-costumed dancers to modern performances, and from singing troupes to contemporary bands, everything from Western rock to Cantonese pop is covered.

With an unbeatable diversity, the entertainment offering of Sands China Ltd. is ushering in a new era of entertainment in Macao.

For information about upcoming shows and events, visit www.venetianmacao.com/entertainment.html.

About The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel
Opened in 2007, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao’s first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat Cotai Arena designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment; more than 30 renowned restaurants; TAIVEXMALO Day Hospital & Spa; the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 300 retailers at Shoppes at Venetian. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a mini-golf course.

For more information, please visit www.venetianmacao.com.

About Cotai Strip Resorts Macao – Macao’s Integrated Resort City
Sands China Ltd. is the leading developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The befittingly named Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, situated on reclaimed land between the islands of Coloane and Taipa, is the one destination that provides a stunning array of experiences at the heart of Cotai. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao has transformed a gaming-centric day-trip market into an integrated resort city and international hub for business and leisure travellers.

Pulsating with life, both night and day, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao features an expansive offering of affordable luxury available nowhere else in Macao, with approximately 9,000 hotel rooms and suites, international superstar live entertainment, duty-free shopping with 600 retailers offering an unparalleled array of name brands, 1.3 million square feet (120,000 square metres) of meeting and exhibition space for Asia’s leading conferences and exhibitions, gaming excitement, transportation offerings and well over 100 dining options, including international restaurants, bars and lounges. Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is a must-see destination providing every guest with an unforgettable experience and unparalleled excitement.

Comprised of The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel; The Plaza™ Macao, featuring the Four Seasons Hotel Macao; and Sands® Cotai Central, featuring the world’s largest Conrad, Sheraton, and Holiday Inn hotels, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is where Asia’s ultimate destination is all within reach.

Cotai Strip Resorts Macao….Macao Starts Here. For more information, please visit
http://en.cotaistrip.com.

Fight Network Presents K-1 World MAX Final LIVE Saturday,Oct. 11 at 11:30 a.m. ET

TORONTO | NEW YORK – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live international broadcast of the K-1 World MAX Final live this Saturday, Oct. 11 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

K-1 will present a packed card in front of a Thai audience for the first time in history, including the debut of international MMA superstars Paul “Semtex” Daley and Andre “Dida” Amade.

The full card for Saturday’s live broadcast includes:
-K-1 World MAX Final: Buakaw Banchamek vs. Enriko Kehl
-Paul “Semtex” Daley vs. Mohammad Ghaedibardeh
-Rungravee Sasiprapa vs. Dennis Puric
-Andrei Kubelin vs. Lee Sung Hyun
-Maximo Suarez vs. Tural Bayramov
-Andre “Dida” Amade vs. Li Yankun
-Artem Pashporin vs. Petmongkol Thor. Thesputin
-Xei Lei vs. Yoshimoto

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

Braehmer to defend WBA World title on December 6 in Oldenburg, Germany

WBA World Champion Juergen Braehmer (44-2, 32 KOs) aims to see out the year in style with a third defence of his light heavyweight title on December 6 at the EWE Arena in Oldenburg, Germany.

Braehmer returns against a yet unnamed opponent following his unanimous decision points victory Roberto Bolonti in June. ‘’I’ve kept in great shape since my last fight,’’ said the 36 year-old. ‘’I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring and defending my title for a third time.

‘’It is not just about the victory for me. I want to prove that I am the best fighter in my weight category. I will put on a great show for the fans in Oldenburg and show everyone that I am the man to beat at 175lbs.’’

Having recently signed a contract extension with Team Sauerland, the two-time world champion will continue his successful collaboration with the European powerhouse promoter.

Said promoter Kalle Sauerland: ‘’We are very happy to continue our work with Juergen. He became a world champion again in late 2013 and now we want to feature him in career-defining fights so that he can cement his legacy as one of Germany’s great champions.’’

Preparations for the December 6 clash are already underway with sparring scheduled to begin later this month. Training under the guidance of coach Karsten Roewer, Braehmer reveals he has no problems keeping up with Team Sauerland young guns Enrico Koelling, Tyron Zeuge, Erik Skoglund and Stefan Haertel, with whom he shares a gym.

‘’I do a lot of work on my cardio so I have no problem keeping up with the young guys.’’ said Braehmer. ‘’I’m in as good a shape now as I’ve ever been. On December 6, I will be in top physical condition.’’

Tickets for the WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship fight on December 6 in Oldenburg, Germany will be available early next week via www.eventim.de.

TODAY! Tix to Ramirez/Valdez Alamodome HBO Latino Show Go On Sale – 10 AM CT

SAN ANTONIO, TX (October 10, 2014) — Undefeated No. 2-world-rated super middleweight contender GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMIREZ and two-time Mexican Olympian and undefeated featherweight knockout artist ÓSCAR VALDEZ will headline an exciting boxing card, Saturday, November 15, at San Antonio’s Alamodome. Ramirez , of Mazatlan, Mexico, will be defending his NABF and WBO International super middleweight titles in a 10-round battle against four-time world title challenger FULGENCIO ZUNIGA of Barranquilla, Colombia. Valdez, of Nogales, Mexico, will battle one-time world title challenger ALBERTO GARZA of Mexico City in an eight-round featherweight rumble. Both fights will be televised live on HBO Latino, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT

The non-televised undercard will feature undefeated Texans IVAN NAJERA of San Antonio and CASEY RAMOS of Austin, in separate eight-round lightweight bouts, and 2012 Russian Olympic gold medalist EGOR MEKHONTSEV of Asbest, Russia, in an eight-round light heavyweight fight.

Promoted by Top Rank®, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Zapari Boxing Promotions, in association with Foreman Boys Promotions and Tecate, tickets to the Ramirez-Zuniga / Valdez-Garza San Antonio boxing event will go on sale Today! Friday, October 10 at 10:00 A.M. CT.

Tickets are priced at $100, $50, $35 & $20, plus applicable convenience and facility fees. VIP Tables are also available. They can be purchased at the Alamodome Box Office, Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. They are also available by phone at: (toll free) 1-800-884-3663 or (local) 210-207-3663.

Ramirez (29-0, 23 KOs), of Mazatlan, Mexico, is world-rated No. 2 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 3 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 4 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF). A sensational young contender, Ramirez, 23, has won all three of his 2014 bouts by knockout. In his last outing, on July 19, he successfully defended his NABF and WBO International super middleweight titles via a second-round knockout of world-rated contender Junior Talipeau Ramirez will once again be putting his titles on the line, this time against four-time world title challenger Zuniga (27-9-1, 24 KOs), of Barranquilla, Colombia. Zuniga, whose resume boasts victories over Jose Zertuche and Antwun Echols, also went the distance when he challenged WBO junior middleweight champion Daniel Santos, WBO super middleweight champion Denis Inkin and IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud. His last three victories have been by knockout.

Valdez (13-0, 11 KOs), who represented Mexico in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, is considered one of the bright lights of the featherweight division. On the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley welterweight championship rematch last April, he captured the NABF super featherweight title, knocking out Adrian Perez in the fourth round. Valdez successfully defended that title one month later, again by knockout, stopping Noel Echevarria in the sixth round. Garza (26-8-1, 21 KOs), of Mexico City, looks to be the toughest opponent Valdez has faced. A former WBC Continental Americas featherweight champion and a former WBC Silver featherweight champion, he unsuccessfully challenged WBA featherweight champion Nicolas Walters in 2013. Fifteen of Garza’s last 17 victories have been by knockout.

Najera (14-0, 8 KOs), of San Antonio, a rising young prospect who fights with an aggressive style and good punching power, always makes exciting fights. In his last fight, on August 9, he scored his most impressive win to date — and eight-round split decision over fellow-prospect Stan Martyniouk.

Ramos (18-0, 5 KOs), of Austin, TX, has a strong amateur background and great stamina having gone the distance in 10 of his 11 last bouts. His best recent victories have been over Angel Hernandez (8-2), Joselito Collado (12-0), Georgi Kevlishvili (12-2), and John Jackson (15-2-1).

Mekhontsev (5-0, 5 KOs), of Asbest, Russia, was Russia’s light heavyweight Olympic gold medalist at the 2012 London games. In the five bouts he has fought as a professional, no opponent has been able to last past the third round. He enters this fight fresh from a third-round TKO of veteran Samuel Miller (28-8) in September.

The undercard will be rounded out with a trio of prospects from Miguel Cotto Promotions — strawweight JANIEL RIVERA (12-2-2, 7 KOs), of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico; welterweight RASHIDI ELLIS (12-0, 9 KOs), of Lynn, MA and junior flyweight ANGEL ACOSTA (8-0, 8 KOs), of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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

WEIGHTS FROM TWIN RIVER

LINCOLN, R.I. (Oct. 9th, 2014) – Listed below are the final weights for all of the participants for “CES MMA XXVI,” live mixed martial arts scheduled for Friday, Oct. 10th, 2014 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. The first bout is scheduled for 7 p.m.

CHUCK O’NEIL
Bridgewater, Mass.
13-6, 4 KOs
171

RICARDO FUNCH
Springfield, Mass.
8-4, 4 KOs
171

LUIS FELIX
Providence, R.I.
11-8, 4 KOs
156

GEMIYALE ADKINS
Philadelphia, Pa.
9-8, 3 KOs
166

JOHN JOHNSTON
Malden, Mass.
6-0, 6 KOs
254

KEITH BELL
Newport News, Va.
5-4-1, 3 KOs
264

TODD CHATTELLE
Pawtucket, R.I.
12-10, 9 KOs
186

NURI SHAKIR
Andover, Mass.
17-21, 8 KOs
185 ½

ANDRE SOUKHAMTHATH
West Palm Beach, Fla. (Woonsocket, R.I.)
7-2, 4 KOs
137

TOM ENGLISH
Long Island, N.Y.
5-4, 2 KOs
138

JIMMY DAVIDSON
Sandwich, Mass.
7-0, 4 KOs
156

LEON DAVIS
Springfield, Mass.
5-2, 1 KO
155 ½

GREG REBELLO
Providence, R.I.
16-6, 9 KOs
226

J.A. DUDLEY
Kearny, N.J.
7-14
225

KYLE BOCHNIAK
Winthrop, Mass.
2-0, 1 KO
145

RUSO KHUBEJASHVILI
Norwood, Mass.
2-1
145

JOE CRONIN
Mansfield, Mass.
2-1, 1 KO
185 ½

TERRELL CLARK
Worcester, Mass.
1-1, 1 KO
187

JAMES MURRIN
South Boston, Mass.
1-1, 1 KO
145

DEVIN PILKINGTON
North Providence, R.I.
0-1
144

Tickets on Sale Friday for WSOF Championship Tripleheader in Tampa, Fla.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 9, 2014) — Tickets for the highly-anticipated, live NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)-televised World Series of Fighting (www.wsof.com) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) championship tripleheader event at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla. go on sale tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. EST.

Priced from $20 (Additional fees may apply), tickets will be available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com, the USF Sun Dome box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

“We are excited to return to the state of Florida with what is, without a doubt, going to be the most exciting and highest stakes World Series of Fighting event since we launched our live event series in 2012,” said World Series of Fighting President, six-time world champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.

“On Nov. 15,” continued Sefo, “the fates of three world champions and their respective, top contender opponents will be determined, and the landscape of three of our weight divisions could potentially change dramatically.”

In the main event, World Series of Fighting Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt David Branch (14-3) of Brooklyn, N.Y. will put his title on the line against superstar Yushin “Thunder” Okami (30-8) of Kawaski, Kanagawa Japan.

The co-main event will see undefeated, reigning lightweight (155 pounds) champion Justin Gaethje (12-0) of Safford, Ariz. defend his crown against fellow KO artist Melvin Guillard (32-13-2, 2 NC) of New Orleans, La.

In a third world championship showdown, women’s strawweight (115 pounds) champion and submission expert Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (18-4) of Houston, Texas will risk her title against fast-paced finisher Kalindra Faria (15-3) of Taubate, Sao Paulo Brazil.

Additional matchups will be announced soon. The card is subject to change.

The first preliminary bout will begin at 6:00 p.m. EST.

David Branch vs. Yushin Okami

The 34-year-old Branch, a protégé of all-time great Renzo Gracie, will also put on the line a four-fight win streak that he ignited with a unanimous decision over dangerous power puncher Dustin Jacoby at the inaugural World Series of Fighting event on Nov. 3, 2012.

Following wins over superstar Paulo Filho and Danillo Villefort, respectively, Branch was crowned the first middleweight champion in World Series of Fighting history on June 21 when he made quick work of Jesse Taylor, submitting the former NCAA wrestling standout with a d’arce choke in the first round (1:41) of action.

Okami, a 33-year-old, top 10 world ranked contender, will make his second start in the World Series of Fighting decagon cage, following a spectacular second round (4:46) submission (arm-triangle choke) of Svetlozar Savov on March 29.

A 12-year veteran of the sport, Okami has finished 50 percent of his opponents and boasts victories over a host of fellow marquee competitors, including Hector Lombard, Nate Marquardt, Mark Munoz and Alan Belcher.

Justin Gaethje vs. Melvin Guillard

The 25-year-old Gaethje has been tearing through MMA’s professional lightweight division, running to 12 consecutive victories, 11 of which have come by either (T)KO or submission. On Jan. 18, Gaethje was crowned the first-ever World Series of Fighting lightweight champion after he decimated Richard Patishnock with a barrage of punches and elbow strikes in the first round (1:09) of their matchup.
Gaethje defended his title for the first time on the first-ever live NBC broadcast of a World Series of Fighting event, scoring a second round (3:09) TKO on Nick Newell on July 5.

Gaethje’s opponent, the 31-year-old Guillard, holds the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) record for the most victories (8) by way of (T)KO. A member of master trainer Greg Jackson’s elite fight squad, Guillard made his World Series of Fighting debut live on NBC, scoring a thunderous, second round (2:36) TKO (punches and elbow strikes) on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Gesias “J.Z.” Cavalcante on July 5.

Jessica Aguilar vs. Kalindra Faria

Recognized as the world’s top 115 pound fighter in the sport’s women’s division and a top 5 pound-for-pound competitor, the 32-year-old Aguilar is aiming for her 10th consecutive victory and her 3rd straight in the World Series of Fighting cage. On Jan. 18, the Mexican American superstar became the first World Series of Fighting women’s champion in history after submitting Alida Gray with an arm-triangle choke in the first round (2:45) of battle.

Faria will make her World Series of Fighting debut, riding a spectacular, 11-fight win streak that dates back to Aug. 6, 2011. To date, the 28-year-old has produced finishes in 10 of her 15 career professional victories.

About “World Series of Fighting” (WSOF)

“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a world wide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and “World Series of Fighting” President Ray Sefo @SugarRaySefo.

About NBC Sports Network

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

About Global Spectrum
Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the USF Sun Dome, as well as more than 120 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 24-million people attended more than 15,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor, which operates in 48 of the 50 United States, also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.

RANDY CABALLERO HUNGRY FOR THE IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE AS HE HEADS TO MONTE CARLO TO FACE STUART HALL OCTOBER 25

LOS ANGELES (October 9) – Since turning pro in 2010, Randy Caballero (21-0, 13 KOs) has become a staple of the Southern California fight scene, packing venues around the area as he made his way up the bantamweight ladder. But “El Matador” was not afraid to leave his comfort zone in April 2014, as he traveled to Kobe, Japan to defeat Kohei Oba via eighth-round technical knockout in an IBF Bantamweight Title elimination bout. The victory earned the 24-year-old Caballero a shot at a world championship on October 25 when he faces England’s Stuart Hall (18-3-2, 7 KOs) for the vacant IBF World Bantamweight Championship at Salle des’Etoiles in Monte Carlo.

“This is the moment every fighter dreams of, and I would have gone anywhere to fight for that title,” said Caballero. “Stuart Hall is a former world champion, he’s hungry to get that title back, but he’s not hungrier than me. I’ve worked harder than anyone for years, and this is my time.”

“Every boxer dreams of becoming a world champion, but only those who work hard and are willing to go the extra mile – like traveling half way around the world to fight for a title – will persevere,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President and Founder of Golden Boy Promotions. “Golden Boy Promotions is committed to putting on the best fights possible for fans all over the world, and I fully expect ‘El Matador’ and Stuart Hall to deliver on that promise on October 25.”

A native of Coachella Valley, Calif. who is proud of his Nicaraguan heritage, Randy “El Matador” Caballero has gone from local hero to international standout as his meteoric rise has seen him defeat the likes of Alexis Santiago, Jose Luis Araiza, Manuel Roman and Luis Maldonado.

Caballero vs. Hall is part of the highly-anticipated “Title Tornado” card that also includes WBA/IBO strawweight champion Hekkie Budler’s title defense against Xiong Zhao Zhong of China, the WBC Silver middleweight title fight between Martin Murray and Domenico Spada and the WBC Silver light heavyweight title bout between unbeaten prospects Ryno Liebenberg of South Africa and Eleider Alvarez of Colombia. The fight will be broadcast live on Channel Five in Britain as well as SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ticket pricing and purchase information can be found by calling (377) 98 06 36 36 or emailing ticketoffice@sbm.mc.

For more information go to www.goldenboypromotions.com or montecarlosbm.com and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/goldenboyboxing and www.twitter.com/randyelmatador.

DeGale to fight Periban on Cleverly – Bellew card on November 22

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, top rated Super Middleweight James DeGale will take on Marco Antonio Periban on November 22 in Liverpool, England.

“This is like a second final eliminator as if I don’t beat him, I don’t box for a world title,” DeGale said. “It’s a good test. He took Sakio Bika close and he had J’Leon Love all over the place and should have finished him off. He’s not a typical Mexican. He can box on the back foot and he’s going to come to fight and that will bring out the best in me. I am looking forward to it. It’s on a great show so roll on Nov. 22.”

“I didn’t want an eight-round, keep-busy fight,” DeGale said. “I wanted a name that will impress people when I win in style and it will set up a fight with Carl. It’s not about me fighting Carl, though, it’s about me getting my shot at the world title and making history becoming the first British gold medalist to win a world title.”

Macklin – Heiland eliminator to be rescheduled for November 15

Middleweight contender Matthew Macklin’s title eliminator against Jorge Sebastien Heiland has been rescheduled according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

Ireland’s Macklin and Heiland, of Argentina, will meet on Nov. 15 at The 3 Arena in Dublin, Ireland, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced Thursday.

ESPN3, ESPN Deportes to Present Molina vs. Bundrage Junior Middleweight Title Fight Live on Saturday

ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates will present live the 12-round IBF Junior Middleweight title fight between titleholder Carlos Molina (22-5-2, 6 KOs) of Mexico, and former titlist Cornelius Bundrage (33-5, 19 KOs) of Detroit, as part of a special boxing presentation on Saturday, October 11, at 9:30 p.m. ET. The show, from the Grand Oasis Cancun resort in Cancun, Mexico, will also feature a 10-round Super Featherweight contest between Juan Pablo Sánchez (29-11, 13 KOs) of Mexico and Nicaragua’s René Alvarado (20-3, 14 KOs). Saturday’s fights will also be available via WatchESPN.

Pablo Viruega and analyst Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights for ESPN Deportes, while ESPN3 will utilize the English-language world feed.

Molina last appeared on ESPN in March 2013, defeating Cory Spinks on ESPN Friday Night Fights. Since then, he won the title from Ishe Smith on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez pay-per-view fight in September 2013. Bundrage’s history with ESPN dates back to appearing on Season 2 of The Contender.

About ESPN Boxing
ESPN is home to ESPN Friday Night Fights and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates (Spanish version), a weekly boxing series which runs between January and August and showcases some of the best bouts in the boxing industry. Friday Night Fights began on October 2, 1998 and Noche de Combates (formerly Viernes de Combates) began on January 10, 2004. ESPN began televising boxing on April 10, 1980 when weekly boxing returned to television for the first time since 1964, with the debut of Top Rank Boxing on ESPN.