Former world champion Vic Darchinyan scored an impressive third round stoppage over Javier Gallo in a scheduled ten round Super Bantamweight bout in Laredo, TX.

Darchinyan dropped Gallo three times in round two and finished the bout with a perfect left hand that dropped Gallo for a fourth time in round three.

Darchinya, 123 1/2 lbs of Armenia is now 39-5-1 with twenty-eight knockouts. Gallo, 123 1/2 lbs of Tijuana, MX is 18-7-1

2012 Mexican Olympian Oscar Valdez scored an explosive first round knockout over Rocco Espinoza in a scheduled six round Featherweight bout.

Espinoza scored three knockdowns with the first coming from a body shot, the second from a right to the head and third coming from a booming right hand and the fight was stopped at 2:58 of round one.

Valdez, 127 3/4 lbs of Nogales, MX s now 5-0 with four knockouts. Espinoza, 127 1/2 lbs of Las Vegas is now 4-7

In a battle of undefeated Jr. Welterweights, Kendo Castaneda scored a four round majority decision over Victor Rosas.

Scores were 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38 for Castaneda, 139 lbs of San Antonio, TX and is now 4-0. Rosas, 140 1/4 lbs of New Laredo, TX is 2-1.

WOODBURY, NY (May 10, 2013) This afternoon the Official Weigh-In was held for Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing “ROCKIN FIGHTS 8 event set for Saturday, MAY 11 at The Paramount in Huntington, New York.
Below are the results from the weigh-in;

Ten Rounds, Heavyweights
Vinny Maddalone, Queens, New York, 36-8-0 (27KO’s) 229LBS.
Richard Carmack, Kansas City, MO, 12-0-0 (10KO’s), 324LBS.

Eight Rounds, Light Heavyweights
Yathomas Riley, Augusta, GA, 8-0-0 (6KO’s) 173LBS.
Lionel Thompson, Buffalo, New York, 13-2-0 (9KO’s) 176lBS.

Six Rounds, Lightweights
Alan Gotay, Huntington, New York, 4-0-0 (2KO’s) 134LBS
Bryan Acaba, Brooklyn, New York, 3-3-0 (2KO’s) 134LBS.

Four Rounds, Junior Welterweights
Anthony Karperis, Hicksville, New York, 3-1-0 (2KO’s) 139LBS
Carlos Nieves, Bronx, New York, 0-2-0 141LBS.

Four Rounds, Featherweights
Dave Meloni, Westbury, New York, Pro Debut 127LBS.
Soumana Abdoulaye, Brooklyn, New York, 1-6-0 126LBS.

Four Rounds, Middleweights
Marcus Beckford, Uniondale, New York, 0-0-1 159LBS.
Carlos Lopez, Bronx, New York, 0-1-0 159LBS.

The Paramount is located at 370 New York Avenue, Huntington, New York, 11743. For directions and more information, please visit their website at www.paramountny.com

Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7PM with the first bell at 8PM.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing Inc. celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2012. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit their official website at www.StarBoxing.com and follow them on Twitter @ Star Boxing and Facebook at Star Boxing.

ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT:

Opened September 30, 2011 this 1,555 capacity live entertainment venue located in downtown Huntington, Long Island, features concerts, boxing, comedy, community and other special events. Booked by Live Nation, the Paramount has hosted over 150 events in its first year of operation and quickly established itself as the premier music venue on Long Island. Some recent acts to take the stage include Pitbull, Taking Back Sunday, The Pixies, Elvis Costello, Warren Haynes, Willie Nelson, Brand New, Goo Goo Dolls, Primus, Marilyn Manson, Korn, The Wanted, The Script, Panic! At the Disco and many, more.

ABOUT THE FOX HOLLOW:

Nestled upon 8 private acres of Long Island’s north shore is the Fox Hollow which features a state of the art event venue, fine dining restaurant and an all-suite luxury boutique hotel. Owned & operated by the Scotto Brothers, their Above & Beyond philosophy in providing each & every guest with superior services and amenities is paramount. Visit the Fox Hollow online at www.TheFoxHollow.com & www.TheInnAtFoxHollow.com

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the May 4th showdown that saw Floyd Mayweather record a unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero did over 1 million Pay Per View Purchases

“We still don’t have complete numbers, but we’ve seen the dish numbers and some of the cable numbers to be comfortable saying we will definitely exceed 1 million buys,” said head of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza on Friday. “We can’t tell how much it will exceed 1 million, though. That’s going to be determined by the reporting [from cable systems] that will come in over the next few weeks.

“We are absolutely satisfied,” Espinoza said. “We are pleased with the result. From a financial perspective, we are completely satisfied. We consider it a success. From a programming and fight fan standpoint, we consider it to be a very successful event.

“Looking at the numbers, for Floyd do to a million buys, and conceivably more, when it was one of his lesser-known pay-per-view opponents in the last six or seven years, that is a testament to his drawing power. Would we have liked to match the Cotto numbers or the De La Hoya numbers? Absolutely. Was that realistic? No, not with an opponent not nearly as well-known as Cotto or De La Hoya.

“I would have loved to [do 1.5 million buys] but the more accurate fight to compare it to is Ortiz. I take nothing away from Guerrero. He was a game competitor. He fought hard and belongs in the top tier at 147 pounds, but from a pure business perspective, he is not particularly well known and [has] not been in huge, marquee fights. So we are happy with the results.”

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Espinoza said of getting a Mayweather-Alvarez fight finalized. “There’s a lot of negotiating left to do, but often the biggest hurdle is convincing one fighter or the other to take the fight. That hurdle has been cleared. I truly believe Mayweather wants Canelo and that Canelo wants Mayweather, and that’s half the battle.”

Dierry Jean secured a world title shot as he scored a fourth round stoppage over Cleotis Pendarvis in an IBF Jr. Welterweight elimination bout at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.

It was a competitive fight for the first two plus round as Pendarvis landed some nice hooks to the body and Jean landed some solid rights. Jean was cut badly around the right eye from a headbutt in round three.

In round four, Jean landed a booming right hand to the head that dumped Pendarvis on his back. Pendarvis stumbled to his feet but was able to continue. It did not last long as Jean jumped all over Pendarvis and hit him with with some vicious shots before referee Garry Ritter stopped the bout at 2:01 of round four.

Jean, 139 1/2 lbs of Port Au Prince Haiti will now look for a world title shot with a record of 25-0 with 17 knockouts. Pendarvis, 139 3/4 lbs of Long Beach, CA is now 17-4-1.

“The cut was bad,’’ said the 31-year-old Jean, who was born in Haiti but has lived in Canada since he was 10. “I couldn’t see anything. But my corner did a great job with it, and then I caught him with a perfect right hand. I was very surprised the referee let it go so long after the first knockdown but I knew I had to keep fighting and finish the job.

“I’m just so excited to finally be in a position to be getting a shot at the world title. I don’t care who it comes against. I feel I’m ready for anybody.

“Pendarvis was a good fighter and he surprised me a little bit with his counter-punching. But I thought I was winning all the rounds. So the fact he was ahead on one scorecard is surprising to me.’’

The loss snapped a six-fight winning streak for Pendarvis. “This is very disappointing,’’ he said, “but I just got caught with a great punch. I went into a shell after I got up and felt I was blocking most of his punches, but there are no excuses. I’ll be back.’’

In a battle between undefeated Jr. Middleweights, John Thompson scored a eight round unanimous decision over Geovanni Rodriguez.

Thompson boxed well over the first three rounds. In round four, Thompson landed a little right hand that made Rodriguez glove hit the canvas and was correctly ruled a knockdown. Later in the round, when it seemed Rodriguez steadied himself, he was dropped again form a hard jab.

Rodriguez started to get a little closer in round’s five and six and landed some good shots with both hands in those rounds. Thompson came back to have a solid round seven with his jab. Rodriguez came out in round eight and fought with some passion for the first time in the fight. That was short lived as Thompson landed a big right hand that sent Rodriguez to the canvas. With Rodriguez clearly hurt, Thompson landed a booming right that sent Rodriguez down for a fourth time in the bout. Rodriguez was able to make it to the final bell but Thompson was comfortably ahead and won by scores of 78-70, 78-70 and 78-71.

Thompson of Irvington, NJ is now 12-0. Rodriguez, 155 1/2 lbs of Trujillo, PR is now 8-1.

“I’m happy with the win but I know I can do better,’’ he said. “I still need to jab more. I should be able to dominate with the jab. But he was a good fighter. I definitely felt I had him out in the final round, but once he started to hold I knew the fight was going the distance. My speed and defense were the keys to my win tonight.’’

Vernon Paris scored a ten round unanimous decision over Manuel Perez in a Welterweight bout at the Masonic Temple in Detroit

It was Perez who was consistent early as he worked a nice jab and then worked the body of Paris. Paris started being more active in the middle rounds as he looked to counter with the right hand. The action picked up both ways with Perez landing well on the ropes. The fight was close but that was not indicative on the scores which read 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94.

Paris, 146 lbs of Detroit is now 28-1. Perez, 145 1/2 lbs of Denver is now 19-9-1.

Cornelius Lock have to overcome two dubious knockdowns and score a ten round unanimous decision over Lonnie Smith in a Lightweight bout.

Lock landed the more telling blows and threw a lot more punches. He was very effective with the uppsercut as Smith would be bent over leaving himself exposed for that shot. Smith scored two “knockdowns” in rounds four and five where he landed a shot but replays clearly showed that the fighters feet had become tangled in both instances leading to Lock hitting the canvas.

Lock gathered himself and fought well down the stretch and hurt Smith on several occasions in the late rounds. Smith had spit his mouthpiece out a handful of time leading to him being deducted a point in round ten. The last minute was entertaining with both guys throwing hard shots.

Lock, 132 lbs of Detroit won by scores of 97-91, 96-92 and 95-92 and is now 21-6-1. Smith, 132 lbs of Las Vegas is now 14-5-3.

MOSCOW, Russia—World Boxing Association cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (25-1, 19 KOs), from Chekhov, Russia, and WBA cruiserweight champion in recess Guillermo “El Felino” Jones (38-3-2, 30 KOs), from Colon, Panama, are set to meet on May 17 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Co-promoter Don King has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli to attend the event.

“I have invited the leaders of Russia and Panama to attend our big boxing event in Moscow on May 17 as the world champions in the main event hail from these great countries,” King said. “Sports can transcend boundaries and bring us together, so what better way to exemplify that than to have these great leaders on the scene supporting their countrymen.”

The event will take place in the beautiful 7,000-seat Crocus City Hall and has been dubbed “Fight For Peace, The One Will Stand.”

“It’s to Russia with love and understanding, a sports extravaganza to bring people together for peace, democracy and freedom. President Putin said, ‘Nobody and nothing will stop Russia on the road to strengthening democracy and ensuring human rights and freedoms,’ and I support him in his quest to make a better Russia for the Russian people.”

Vic Darchinyan 123.5 – Javier Gallo 123.25

Yesterday we announced a star-studded British lineup for a June 15th show LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on BoxNation from Wembley Arena. Former World title challenger and enigmatic heavyweight star Dereck Chisora returns to action as he targets a second world title shot, while an action-packed undercard sees two young champions risk their titles and unbeaten records as Frankie Gavin faces Denton Vassell with the British and Commonwealth Welterweight titles on the line in this highly anticipated domestic showdown.

Liverpudlian warriors Paul Smith and Tony Dodson clash again in a rematch of their brutal first fight with the Vacant British Super-Middleweight title up for grabs, while young unbeaten Merseyside sensation Paul Butler, the British and Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Champion, challenges for the third title in a row when he goes for the Vacant WBO International crown.

TWO NEW GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS SHOWS ANNOUNCED
Maidana v Lopez and Malignaggi v Broner to be shown LIVE on BoxNation
June on BoxNation just got big with the addition of two great Golden Boy Promotions fights from the States. Kicking off the month on June 8th, Marcos Maidana and Josesito Lopez contest the WBA Intercontinental Welterweight title in what has the makings of an all out war.

And June 22nd sees trash talk kings Paulie Malignaggi and Adrien Broner face off for the WBA World Welterweight title as future pound-for-pound contender Broner steps up two weight classes!

RAINHAM STEEL KO OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL
The voting is still open on our Facebook page right now
BoxNation presents the Rainham Steel KO of the month contenders for April 2013

8 ratings 180 views
We want YOU to vote for the best knockout from the boxing world in April right now on our official Facebook page. Simply visit our page and click on the poll to register your vote. The winning knockout will then be announced on Bunce’s Boxing Hour next Monday from 7pm and crowned the Rainham Steel KO of the month!

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, talks are underway for a possible Fall showdown between world champions Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez

“I am working on the fight,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. “I’m crunching the numbers. You should see my calculator — it’s red-hot. I am working on a lot of fights, but this is my No. 1 priority.”

“This is something I am pursuing and I am having conversations with both sides,” Schaefer said. “Canelo wants the fight and Floyd has never turned down an opponent.”

“We’re going to be back in September,” Mayweather said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 9) – IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Lamont Peterson held an open workout in Washington, D.C. in preparation for his May 18 fight against WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey which will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®. Lightweight contender and Lamont’s brother Anthony Peterson as well as Three-Time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren and lightweight prospects Robert Easter and Jamel Herring joined Lamont at the Bald Eagle Recreation Center as they finalize preparations for their non-televised undercard bouts.

Here’s what the fighters and Lamont and Anthony’s trainer Barry Hunter had to say on Wendesday.

LAMONT PETERSON, IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion

“I’m not worried about Matthysse. I’ve known him for a while. He’s a strong guy. He’s going to bring it all night. Pretty much the way I like it to be and it’s going to be a great fight.

“Everyone keeps asking me about his [Matthysse] punching power. I know what I signed up for. I realize I’m going to get hit in the face, but I will be hitting him back. I’m not worried about taking a few punches. I’m prepared to go 12 rounds.

“I believe I’m at the top level, but at this point a win over Lucas [Matthysse] solidifies me as a top guy not only in the weight class, but a top 15 pound-for-pound guy in the game. It would lead to bigger fights. That’s where I want to land. If I were climbing a ladder, a win over Matthysse would be a big jump up to the top.

“I’ll feel my way through the fight in the first few rounds. We have game plans and will work through all of them, pick the best one and go from there.

“There is a lot of energy in the gym. The intensity is high. Everyday we train; everyone is encouraging each other inside and outside of the ring. We’re pushing each other and having fun at the same time. It’s always good to have fun while you’re working.

“I definitely wanted to get right back in the ring and capitalize on the performance I had in February. I’ve had a three-month layoff. I didn’t take too much contact in the Kendall Holt fight, so at I can’t wait to get out there and give a great performance.

“I think it will be a hard fought fight. We’re both going to be matching each other punch for punch. I’m not going to let him get an inch on me. I’m sure he is thinking the same thing.

“At the end of the day, I’m preparing for a hard fought 12 round fight. I’ll be there every step of the way. May the best man win, but I have more to my game and more strategies to work with.”

ANTHONY PETERSON, Lightweight Contender & Lamont’s Brother

“I’m preparing for a championship. That’s the ultimate goal. I want to be one of the top 10 in my division.

“I never want to fight my brother. There is always competition between us, but brotherly competition.

“I’ve been fighting forever. A long layoff isn’t a problem for me. I’m in the gym everyday preparing for this.

“I haven’t fought in 17 months and I’m itching to get back in the ring, but I’m not going to rush it. I’m not going to go in there looking for the knockout. I’m going to go in there and take my time.

RAU’SHEE WARREN, Three-Time U.S. Olympian

“I’ve been thinking about training with these guys since I found out I was fighting on a card with Lamont. This is like family. We are all training with each other. We’re all pushing each other and we’re going to give the crowd a show from the beginning to the end.

“This is going to be a crazy show. I know I’ve got the best outfit for my ring walk, but everyone else here is telling me they have something in mind and that’s how we do it here. Friendly competition all day.

“This training camp has been looser and different. The talent here isn’t half stepping it. We’re pushing each other to the next level and I’m loving it. I can’t wait for fight night.”

ROBERT EASTER, Lightweight Prospect

“Training with Lamont is great motivation because he’s a real champion. It motivates me and makes me train harder so I can get to where he is.

“I’ve been focusing on a lot of cardio to build stamina and strength. I need to get stronger in my weight division.

“My coaches [Mike Stafford and Barry Hunter] have been helping me a lot with my strength.

“I think it is going to be a quick fight because I have been preparing really well for this one. It should be a good fight for me.”

JAMEL HERRING, Lightweight Prospect

“The last time I fought in Atlantic City, I opened the show so I’m getting used to it. I just want to get everyone hyped up and start the night off right.

“Working along side Barry Hunter and Lamont Peterson has been so intense, but we’ve had fun overall.

“This camp has been a chance for me to learn and get great advice. Barry’s a great trainer and Lamont is a world champion. I’ve gotten a lot of experience in this camp. It’s a great atmosphere.”

BARRY HUNTER, Lamont & Anthony Petersons’ Trainer

“Lamont is a fighter that can make all kinds of adjustments in the ring. There are a lot of fighters that can’t go toe to toe [like he can].

“Lamont is a little more versatile than other fighters that I have seen and definitely more versatile than other fighters Matthysse has faced in the past.

“This fight ends with us raising our hands and going on to the next one.

“We’re approaching this fight differently than fights in the past. If you look around in the gym, there are a lot of people that Lamont has been sparring with – junior middleweights, middleweights and even light heavyweights.

“This isn’t anything that we can’t handle.

“All of Lamont’s other fights leading up to this point have been very good fights, some of them even great fights, but I believe this is the fight that can totally take him over the top and put him in the lotto for a fight with someone like a Floyd Mayweather.

“Lamont has had to deal with pressure his whole life. This fight, as opposed to some of the things he’s gone through as a kid, won’t get to him or shake his confidence.”

# # #

Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defends his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Press Conference Quotes

Holly Holm: “I have lots of emotion surrounding this fight. Even though there’s been lots of negativity around, I know I want to try a new path. I’m very proud and honored to share this with you (Mary McGee).”

Mary McGee: “I am very happy to have this opportunity and I want to thank everyone here in New Mexico. People have always been very welcoming to me.”

Fighting on the “Mayhem” undercard is a group of New Mexico’s most promising prospects, showcasing Albuquerque lightweight Matthew Baca (2-1, 2 KO’s) vs. Armando Gonzales (2-2, 1 KO) in a six-round bout. Also in action in four round matches are welterweight Rocky “El Torito” Romero (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. 11-fight veteran Michael Coca Gallegos, light middleweight Cris Leyva (1-0) vs. Manuel Eastman (1-3), lightweights making their professional debuts, Gabe Gabaldon vs. Brandon Salazar, and cruiserweights making their pro debuts, Manny Rocha vs. Floyd Olguin, Jr. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, ranging between $25.00 and $200.00, are on sale and available to purchase at the Route 66 box office, going online to www.rt66casino.com, or calling 505.884.7484.

Go on line to www.FresquezProductions.com or www.rt66casino.com for more information about “Mayhem.”

REMINDER
“Mayhem” Weigh In – Public Welcome

WHEN: Friday, May 10, 2013 – 2013 – 2:00 p.m. MT

WHERE: Route 66 Casino Hotel
Legends Theater
14500 Central Avenue
Albuquerque, NM

Lucian Bute underwent successful surgery to his left hand today, in Florida.

As expected, Dr. Veronica Pedro extracted several bone fragments during the 40 minute operation.

Lucian is in good spirits and recuperating at his Florida residence. He will be fitted with a cast next Thursday.

MIAMI, Okla. (May 9, 2013) – The four confident boxers who will compete on ShoBox: The New Generation tomorrow/Friday, May 10, live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) participated in a press conference /weigh-in Thursday at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.

In the ShoBox main event, undefeated Dierry “Dougy Style” Jean (24-0, 16 KOs), of Quebec, Canada, will meet southpaw Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (17-3-1, 6 KOs), of Los Angeles, Calif., in a 10-round elimination bout for the No. 1 spot in the IBF’s 140-pound division.

The co-feature will pit unbeaten middleweights John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson (11-0, 4 KOs) of Newark, N.J., and left-hander Geovanni “Tarantula” Rodriguez (8-0, 5 KOs), of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an eight-round scrap.

WEIGHTS: Jean weighed 139.6 pounds; Pendarvis tipped the scale at 139.8 pounds. Thompson weighed 153.8 pounds; Rodriguez 155.8.

Tickets priced at $25, $40 and $60 are available at www.buffalorun.com or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. Doors open at 7 p.m. CT.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

What the fighters said Thursday:

DIERRY JEAN

“I can’t lie. This is the biggest fight of my career. I’m very excited and totally prepared for this opportunity. I appreciate everybody who made the fight happen.

“I’m going to try and make it look easy, but I definitely expect a good fight. I know a lot of people have never seen me so I hope to make a great impression. But getting the big “W” is what counts the most.

“I’m one step from a world title shot, but all my focus is on this one fight. I know I have to take it one fight at a time. There is some pressure, of course, fighting in front of a huge TV audience. But it’s a good pressure, a positive pressure.

“Pendarvis is a slick guy, but I can fight any style. I am very excited about fighting on Friday.’’

CLEOTIS “MOOKIE’’ PENDARVIS

“Win — and I get a shot at the world championship. It doesn’t matter against whom. It’s as simple as that. I’ve put in the work and I’m ready to go.

“I’m ready to prove myself. I truly believe in myself. He’s got the undefeated record, but I’ve fought better than he has and have more skills than the guys he’s fought.

“I don’t feel like I’m the B-side in this fight. That kind of thing doesn’t matter to me. What does is what happens in the ring, and tomorrow it’s all about him and me.

“I’ve never had the kind of stability in my career that I have now. I have a good team. I’m more mature. I know what I have to do. I’ve gone through a lot in my life, but I’m happy where I’m at now.

“I’m ready for anything. I feel I can adapt to anything. I’m going to do what I have to do to get the win.’’

JOHN THOMPSON

“I really want to thank SHOWTIME for this opportunity. This is my first pro fight on television and I am very excited.

“I’m going to do what I do best and that is box and use my height and reach. I love to fight and mix it up but my job is to box well and keep my poise. Those really are two main keys for me in all my fights.

“There’s no pressure, but I have to win impressively. I have to be myself. He’s unbeaten, I’m unbeaten. This will be a good fight.’’

GEOVANNI RODRIQUEZ

“I’m excited for the opportunity to showcase my skills. This is the kind of fight I’ve been waiting for. It’s discouraging to not have fought in eight months, but we’ve challenged a couple of undefeated fighters twice and they both turned us down.

“I don’t know anything about my opponent except that he’s tall and likes to move a lot. But I’ve fought tall guys who move before, so that will not be a problem.

“This is an important step up fight for me. I need to win so I can move on to the next level. I am very hungry and very determined to come out victorious on Friday night.’’

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

Las Vegas, Nevada – Inaugural UFC® flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson will make his second title defense against surging contender John Moraga on Saturday, July 27 when the UFC heads back to KeyArena in Seattle, Wash.

At only 26 years old, Johnson earned the division’s title last September with a win over Joseph Benavidez. Following a unanimous decision victory over John Dodson in January, he’s now set to take on Moraga, a two-time NCAA wrestling All-American at Arizona State University. The 29-year-old is currently riding a seven-fight win streak.

“Demetrious Johnson will defend the flyweight title in front of his hometown fans in Seattle, as he battles 12-1 contender John Moraga on July 27 at KeyArena,” UFC President Dana White said. “DJ has incredible speed and powerful takedowns, while Moraga is slick on the ground and was a standout wrestler at Arizona State. In addition to the main event, we’ve got Rory MacDonald vs. Jake Ellenberger, Robbie Lawler vs. Tarec Saffiedine and Miesha Tate vs. Liz Carmouche. This is a great card!”

Additional bouts:

Canadian welterweight contender Rory MacDonald (3) vs. heavy-handed knockout artist Jake Ellenberger (4)
Longtime MMA veteran Robbie Lawler (9) battling former Strikeforce® welterweight champ Tarec Saffiedine (8)
Former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ and Washington’s own Miesha Tate (3) taking on former title contender Liz Carmouche (5)
*Rankings in parentheses as of 5/6/13

The evening’s action also includes five lightweight bouts featuring Spokane’s Michael Chiesa against Reza Madadi, Strikeforce veteran Bobby Green vs. Team Alpha Male’s Danny Castillo, The Ultimate Fighter® season six winner Mac Danzig taking on crowd-favorite Melvin Guillard, a clash of UFC mainstays between Yves Edwards and Spencer Fisher and Aaron Riley vs. Justin Salas. Also on the card, Brendan Schaub meets Matt Mitrione in a heavyweight tilt, while Julie Kedzie and Germaine de Randamie square off in a women’s bantamweight bout. Tukwila’s Trevor Smith is also set to make his UFC middleweight debut against veteran Ed Herman.
The main card airs live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, preceded by the prelims on FX at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. FUEL TV previews the card the week before on signature shows UFC TONIGHT and UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER, and also carries the WEIGH-IN SHOW on Friday, July 26 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and provides post-event analysis.
Tickets for UFC® on FOX: JOHNSON vs. MORAGA go on sale Friday, May 17 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $250, $175, $125, $75, and $50. Tickets are available at the KeyArena Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone 800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, May 15 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, May 16, starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which airs on FX.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 169 countries and territories, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.4 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

The undercard has been announced for tomorrow’s (Friday, May 10) ShoBox: The New Generation doubleheader (on SHOWTIME at 11 PM ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.

Presented by Camille Estephan, of Eye of the Tiger and Greg Cohen, of Greg Cohen Promotions, in association with Pitbull Promotions, the night’s ShoBox-televised main event will pit Canada’s undefeated IBF #3-ranked Dierry “Dougy Style” Jean (24-0, 16 KOs) taking on Los Angeles’ IBF #7-rated southpaw Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (17-3-2, 6 KOs) in a 12-round IBF eliminator for the mandatory #1 spot at 140 lbs.

In the televised co-feature, New Jersey middleweight John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson IV (11-0, 4 KOs) will face Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico’s also-undefeated Giovany Rodriguez (8-0, 5 KOs) over eight rounds.

Tickets are priced at: Reserved: $25.00, Premium: $40.00 and Platinum: $60.00 and are available at www.buffalorun.com or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. On fight night, doors open at 7 pm.

The chief supporting bout will be a six-round welterweight scrap between talented, unbeaten Maryland product Cecil McCalla (15-0-0, 6 KOs) and Colorado Springs, Colorado’s capable veteran Abel Perry (18-6-0, 9 KOs).

Also featured that night will be an eight-round welterweight bout between Ahmad Cheiko (9-4-2, 5 KOs) of Montreal, Canada, and Russellville, Missouri’s Shad Howard (14-16-3, 6 KOs).

Undefeated middleweight Antoine Douglas (6-0-0, 4 KOs) of Richlands, Virginia, will face Coy Witt (2-3-0, 1 KO) of Burke, Virginia, over six rounds; and to start things off, Montreal, Canada’s undefeated newcomer Chris Plaitis (3-0) will face the winless Octavio Garay (0-6) of Muleshoe, Texas, in a junior welterweight four-rounder.

Popular New Jersey MMA battler Montsir “Monster” Mohammad has a big decision to make after his upcoming fight. Should the Patterson, NJ, native return to the family restaurant in Baltimore or should he put his all into fighting and make it a career?

“You want to be a fighter you should be a 100% fighter,” said Mohammad. “This is not a toy time thing. A lot of guys are putting in 100% of their efforts into their training, so you’re not going anywhere if you’re only putting in 50%. I work in my family restaurant in Baltimore. I still live in Baltimore. I came back to New Jersey to finish training, but after the fight, I’m going to have to make a decision.”

Mohammad is set to face New York’s Christopher Vallaro (5-2) for the EFC Light Heavyweight Championship in the main event of The Darwish Brothers Presents: “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA” on Saturday, May 18, in the Xanadu Theater at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City

In the other featured bout, Nick “The Brick” Mauriello (4-2) will face Frank Doyle (3-1) for the vacant EFC Super Welterweight Championship.

Tickets for “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA” are priced at $46, $67, $100 and $125 Cageside and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, at the EFC website: www.efcmma.com, or at the Trump Taj Mahal box office on fight night.

Much is riding on the outcome of Mohammad’s fight against Vallaro; more than just his first MMA title, more than putting in a stronger performance than his last one, a comeback submission win over Victor Oquendo in March. This is about where a young man’s life will take him. The cage or the kitchen?

“It all depends on how I do in this next fight. Either I’ll decide to be a 100% fighter or I’m done.”

Faced with such a big fork in the road, 24-year-old Mohammad is hard at work at his headquarters, the Extreme Fight Club Gym, in Woodland Park, New Jersey, run by event co-promoter and head trainer Hani Darwish.

“I’ve known Hani since I was a little kid. I used to work passing out flyers for him when he was promoting boxing. He took me to the boxing gym one day, but it was basic stuff I was learning, really boring. I never went back. A few years later, I’m still friends with him and he got into the MMA business, so he said ‘what are you doing? Come train.’ I started doing it and fell in love with it. I love working with Hani; he’s my role model. I look up to Hani.”

Trainer Hani Darwish says he knew from a young age that Mohammad was a born fighter. “I could tell when he was a kid he’d be good. When I was doing boxing, I tried to get him into it but you can tell by looking at him that he’s a born MMA fighter. He’s also one of the toughest kids I’ve ever worked with. He just never stops coming. I’ve been with him since his first day and now he’s fighting for a title and thinking about making a career out of fighting. I’m extremely proud of Monster.”

Although he describes himself as a wrestling and submission specialist, Mohammad says he has a surprise in store for Vallaro when they meet.

“I’m always been a ground guy. I wrestled in high school. It’s natural to me to take it to the ground. Shoot down on a guy, but this fight will be different. I’m going to try and surprise everyone. It’s not going to be the same monster in there this time. To be honest, I don’t like his (Vallaro’s) attitude. He thinks he’s Rocky Balboa or something. I want to see if I can beat this guy. Not looking to fight weak nobodies. I want to see what I’ve truly got.”

Mohammad says he doesn’t mind being tagged with one of the most recognizable names in the Jersey fight scene.

“My real name, my Arabic name, means ‘victorious.’ When I was a freshman I got into wrestling at Kennedy High in Patterson. My first day of my training, I knew nothing. It was a Friday night. The next day was a Saturday. I competed in a tournament and got second place, which I think is pretty good for someone who doesn’t know how to wrestle. My coach gave me that name after I won. He said ‘You’re a monster.’ It stuck with me. Now, nobody knows my real name. That’s how bad it is. Even at home, my little brothers say ‘hey, monster.’ Only my mom still calls me by my right name.”

Monster Mohammad has a lot of thinking to do after his next cage fight. Does he have what it takes or was MMA a nice hobby on his way to a career in the culinary arts?

“Hopefully I will knock the guy out. It’s a big fight. Big decision to make afterward.”

ATTENTION FANS: The Darwish Brothers and the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City are announcing a very special $10 Bonus Slot Dollar opportunity to attendees of their next sensational MMA show.

Tickets for “Extreme Fighting Championships: MMA MANIA” are priced at $46, $67, $100 and $125 Cageside and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, at the EFC website: www.efcmma.com, or at the Trump Taj Mahal box office on fight night.

Doors open at 7 pm and the first bout is at 8 pm. All bouts subject to change.

For more information on the EFC or our fighters, visit our official website: www.efcmma.com.

WARNING: All EFC events sell out. Purchase your tickets now before it’s too late.

The IBF has granted formal sanction approval for the IBF Light Heavyweight Voluntary Eliminator fight for the #1 position between #4, Sergey Kovalev and #5, Cornelius White. The winner will become #1 but will not be the mandatory challenger. Karo Murat is the current mandatory challenger and has been ordered to fight Champion Bernard Hopkins. Once the Hopkins – Murat fight occurs, the winner of Kovalev – White will become the next mandatory challenger for the winner.

The Kovalev – White 12-round bout is part of a blockbuster triple-header that will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network Fight Night Friday, June 14th at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, beginning 8PM ET. The main event features a 10-round heavyweight fight between Bryant Jennings and Andrey Fedosov. The triple header rounds out with a 10 round welterweight battle between Ronald Cruz and Jamie Hererra.

ABOUT FRIDAY, JUNE 14

The Jennnings-Fedosov, Kovalev-White and Cruz-Herrera fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. Doors open at 6.30pm ET. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 and $130 (luxury suites) can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4th Street (610-865-2739) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790). NBC Sports Network will televise the Jennings-Fedosov, Kovalev-White and Cruz-Herrera fights, beginning at 8 pm ET. The card is promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with Goosen Tutor Promotions, Hitz Entertainment, 8 Count Productions and the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

NEW YORK (May 9, 2013) – Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (29-0, 21 KOs) has officially arrived on the International boxing scene, after destroying challenger Fernando Guerrero (25-2, 19 KOs) en route to victory by seventh-round technical knockout in his first title defense, April 27 on Showtime Championship Boxing from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Now, the 29-year-old Quillin is one of the hottest boxers in the world, ready to unify the 160-pound division, assuming he can overcome some potential boxing politics in order to make a deal against one of the other major world middleweight title holders.

“I want to fight one of the other champions,” Quillin said. “Sergio Martinez would be my first choice, but he’s injured and out for the rest of the year. (Daniel) Geale is the IBF champion and that, right now, looks like the easiest unification fight to make.”

Unifications are difficult to make a for wide variety of reasons and, unfortunately, Quillin against any of the other world champions faces the additional problems stemming from animosity between rivals Showtime and HBO, as well as Quillin’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, and Top Rank. What Quillin has on his side, however, in addition to his rising popularity, is the fact that not only is he the only American-born world middleweight champion, but he’s also the only American ranked among the consensus top 10 in independent rating systems.

“We’ll fight anybody in a unification or major fight,” added John Seip, who co-manages Quillin with Jim McDevitt. “Peter was awesome in his last fight. He really hurts his opponents with both hands. He connected on 50-percent of his power punches against Guerrero and that’s an astronomical number. Nobody in this division can handle him. It’s a numbers game, now. The promoters and networks have to put egos aside and give fans what they want with Peter in a major fight.

“No offense to (Brian) Vera or (Marco Antonio) Rubio, but we’re looking for much bigger fights. Peter has earned the right to be a main event fighter. He helped open-up Barclays Center and had a lot of fans there against Guerrero. You don’t make big money winning the world title belt; you do retaining it, and now it’s time for Peter to reap the fruit of his labor. The biggest market in boxing is in America and a unification fight belongs here. Martinez is out with injuries, (Julio Cesar, Jr.) Chavez won’t fight us, Golovkin has a fight at the end of June, but Geale interests us.”

The affable Quillin goes into animal status when he steps between the ropes and into the ring. He has developed into a monster counter-puncher with power in both hands, to go with a chameleon-like ability to adjust his style according to what’s most advantageous in each particular fight, often surprising opponents who based their game plan on Quillin’s previous fight, and he also possess an incredible chin that allows him to walk through punches.

In his last two fights, Quillin has recorded an amazing 10 knockdowns, four against Guerrero and six more last October when he ripped the WBO belt from previously unbeaten defending champion Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (27-0).

“And one other knockdown in my fight before that (N’Jikam),” Quillin noted, “against Winky (Wright), making it 11 knockdowns in my last three fights. “I never want to lose and just work hard to win every fight. I challenge myself in training camp for every fight and I have great trainers – Eric Brown (boxing), Brad Bose (strength and conditioning) and Robert Garcia (nutritionist). I’m improving every fight. I’ve gained valuable experience, become more confident since becoming world champion, and feel very comfortable in the ring. In my last fight, I showed improvement in ring generalship, composure, and even my interviewing skills. I’m becoming the full package.”

It’s Chocolate Time!

For more information about Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin go online to www.TheKidChocolate.com (new Team Kid Chocolate T-shirts on sale here) or follow him on Twitter @Kid Chocolate and Instagram@KidChocolate.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (May 9, 2013) – A minor shoulder injury suffered during training camp has forced Irish featherweight contender Patrick “The Punisher” Hyland to withdraw from his scheduled main event fight May 18 at Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York. Final Round Promotions announced today that the entire “The Heat Is On” card has been cancelled.

Hyland (27-1, 12 KOs), rated No. 13 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), has a muscle pull in his right shoulder. The 29-year-old Hyland, a native of Dublin, lives in Marlboro, New York.

“Patrick is under doctor’s orders to stop training for two weeks and undergo treatment,” promoter Mike Pascale (Final Round Promotions) explained. “We’re all disappointed but injuries, unfortunately, are part of boxing. We’ve already started looking at a few possible dates for a rescheduled show featuring Patrick, but we need to wait for his medical report in two weeks to know his physical status, before we can book a date. This is just a minor bump in the road for Patrick, who will not have any permanent damage from this injury, as he continues on his journey towards a world title.”

Anybody who has tickets for the cancelled May 18 show can be reimbursed at point of purchase (Mid-Hudson Civic Center or Ticketmaster outlets).

Go to www.teamsnookiboxing.com for additional information about Hyland and the rescheduled date when announced.

DALLAS (May 9, 2013) — Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion MIKEY GARCIA will make his first title defense, against former two-division world champion JUAN MANUEL “Juanma” LOPEZ, Saturday, June 15, at the American Airlines Center (2500 Victory Ave., Dallas, TX 75219). The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT. This will be the first time HBO has televised a boxing event from the American Airlines Center.

Making their Dallas debut, Garcia and Lopez boast a combined record of 64-2 (56 KOs) — a winning percentage of 97% and a victory by knockout ratio of 87.5%.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with PR Best Boxing, Foreman Boys Promotions and Tecate, tickets, priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, plus additional service fees, will go on sale This Saturday! May 11 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at the American Airlines Center box office (Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT), online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet (Fiesta Foods, Macy’s Wal-Mart and The Shops at Willowbend).

“Mikey proved in his last fight that he is a world champion. Now he has to prove he can remain a world champion when he faces one of the toughest men in the division in two-time world champion Juanma,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. “This caps off an incredible run for boxing during the first half of 2013.”

“Mikey Garcia versus Juan Manuel Lopez is a can’t miss attraction,” says Kery Davis, senior vice president, HBO Sports. “Dallas is a first-class sports destination and we’re thrilled to be going to the American Airlines Center. June 15 is a date fight fans need to circle on their boxing calendar.”

Garcia (31-0, 26 KOs), of Oxnard Calif., a 2010 graduate of California’s Ventura County Police and Sheriff’s Reserve Officer Academy, returns to the ring having won 14 of his past 16 bouts by knockout. In his last fight, on January 19, he dethroned two-time featherweight champion Orlando Salido at Madison Square Garden via an eight-round technical win that had Garcia winning virtually every round against the seasoned veteran. Garcia, 25, had a career-best year in 2011, knocking out previously undefeated contender Matt Remillard in the 10th round in March to capture his NABF and NABO title belts. He followed that with four-round knockout title defense victories of Rafael Guzman and Juan Carlos Martinez in June and October, respectively. Guzman and Martinez had a combined record of 47-14-1 when they fought Garcia. Last year, he continued his winning ways, knocking out one-time world title challenger Bernabe Concepcion and former world champion Mauricio Pastrana, in the seventh and second rounds, respectively. He ended his 2012 campaign by knocking out former WBA featherweight champion Jonathan Barros in the eighth round on November 10, 2012. Garcia is trained by his father Eduardo Garcia and co-managed and trained by his brother, 2012 Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia, the former IBF junior lightweight champion.

Lopez (33-2, 30 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, returns to the ring for the third time this year, with 21 of his past 22 victories coming by way of knockout. The latest victims were Aldimar Santos and Eugenio Lopez on February 2 and April 20, respectively. The pride of Puerto Rico’s only blemishes on his sterling record have come from Salido, who scored world title victories over Lopez in 2011 and 2012. Lopez earned his first world title by knocking out defending WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in the first round of their June 2008 fight. After five successful title defenses – four by knockout – he vacated the title and successfully challenged WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano, stopping him in the seventh round, on January 28, 2010, at Madison Square Garden. He successfully defended his featherweight crown twice during his 15-month reign with an exciting second-round TKO of Bernabe Concepcion and an eighth-round TKO of two division world champion Rafael Márquez.

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.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.—Emerging lightweight boxer Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov traveled to Don King’s office in South Florida today to sign a long-term promotional agreement with the legendary promoter.

A heralded amateur with over 200 fights, Mamadjonov won several championships fighting out of his native Uzbekistan before moving to Houston two years ago to turn professional under the guidance of trainer Ken Richardson. He has fought often and risen rapidly as evidenced by his record: 13-1 with nine knockouts.

“Signing with Don King brings me closer to my goal of winning a world championship,” Mamadjonov said. “That is what drives me every day. I want to win a world title for my family and the people of Uzbekistan who always believed in me.”

Key to Mamadjonov’s success has been a fearlessness and work ethic that has allowed the 25-year-old to take fights on short notice that less industrious fighters would have missed. His trainer said some have gone as far as criticizing him for moving his fighter along too fast.

“My belief is that if a boxer is prepared and stays in training year-round, he can and should be ready to fight at all times,” Richardson said. “Baha is passionate about the sport and wants to fight as often as he can.”

Mamadjonov’s rapid rise began when his first six fights took place in less than six months. That was in 2011. He fought six more times in 2012.

Richardson further tempted fate by accepting four key fights for Mamadjonov in the last 16 months on notice varying from two weeks down to three days.

Archie Ray Marquez was 12-1 before facing Mamadjonov on Nov. 10, 2011, and Michael Clark was 42-6 going in against the Uzbeki on March 1, 2012. Mamadjonov won both fights by decision, serving notice he would be a force to be reckoned with.

Undefeated Darley Perez was to have met Michael Katsidis last August, but Katsidis pulled out two weeks before the fight with a knee injury. Mamadjonov took the fight and dominated until round five when an accidental clash of heads resulted in blurred vision in his left eye.

After suffering a flash knockdown in round eight, Mamadjonov still almost won the fight, which went to Perez by split decision after 10 rounds.

Another undefeated and touted lightweight, Angelo Santana, lost his opponent on April 12 just one week before the match. Mamadjonov willingly accepted the challenge and made the most of the opportunity.

After suffering a flash knockdown from a Santana jab in round 2, Mamadjonov took control of the fight. After six rounds, the three judges had the fight scored even at 66 apiece.

In a pivotal round eight, Mamadjonov battered Santana unmercifully along the ropes before he crumbled to the mat. The Cuban made it to round nine, but Mamadjonov floored him twice more before the referee halted the contest.

“I hit Santana with a body shot in the seventh round and I heard him groan so I tried to stop him,” Mamadjonov said. “In the eighth round, I said to myself, ‘Baha, you must stop him now.’

“Don’t forget, I took the fight on short notice and had to lose a lot of weight quickly. There was no time for me to waste.”

Promoter Don King loves what he has seen from his newest fighter.

“I am extremely pleased and proud to have Baha with me,” King said. “I expect great things from this young man because he’s dedicated and committed to becoming a world champion. He took the fight with Santana on almost no notice and stopped a great lightweight.

“Baha reveres industrialist Alisher Usmanov from his native Uzbekistan and he wants to bring a world title back home for him and the people of Uzbekistan.”

Mamadjonov risked everything to come to the United States to pursue his dream of winning a world title.

“When you see me fight ferociously it’s because I want to achieve great things,” Mamadjonov said. “I want a world title more than anything I have ever dreamed of in my life.”

Mamadjonov is proud to be represented by King.

“Don King is a superstar in my country,” Mamadjonov said. “Just the fact I was meeting with him in his office today was news in Uzbekistan. I can’t wait to tell everyone back home he is now my promoter.

Trainer-manager Richardson echoed the feelings of his fighter.

“Don always took my calls when I was looking for a promoter,” Richardson said, “and I never forget that. When fate brought us together for the Santana fight, I was reminded that Don is a world promoter. I’ve always said that if you are or want to be a world champion boxer, Don King is the guy you want to be with.”

09 May 2013 – Manila: ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), in cooperation with Asian Television Content Corporation and its President Rey Sanchez, has agreed to a blockbuster deal with Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation 13 (IBC13), one of the largest media organizations in the Philippines. As part of the agreement, IBC 13 will broadcast one hour of special ONE FC programming every Saturday at 11pm along with a repeat every Monday at 11pm every week.

IBC 13, whose tagline is “Where The Action Is!”, is one of the leading television channels in the Philippines. It is a free-to-air network that began broadcast in 1961. Headquartered in Quezon City, their programming features several sports shows ranging from basketball to boxing, as well as a mix of news, religious shows and games shows.

ONE FC CEO Victor Cui declared, “On behalf of ONE Fighting Championship™, I will like to warmly welcome back IBC 13 as a broadcast partner and thank their President Rey Sanchez for being such a strong supporter. IBC 13 is a fantastic free-to-air broadcaster in the Philippines and ONE FC is excited at the opportunity to showcase our fighters every week to millions of homes throughout the country.”

IBC 13 President Rey Sanchez added, “We are excited to have ONE Fighting Championship on IBC13. IBC13 is proud to broadcast the best sporting in both the Philippines and the region and ONE FC puts on world-class entertainment that our viewers will enjoy. IBC13 viewers now also get the chance to watch the best Filipino fighters such as Eduard Folayang and Honorio Banario in action.”

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

About ONE Fighting Championship™
Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Fighting Championship™ (http://www.onefc.com) is Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization. ONE Fighting Championship™ hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Fighting Championship™ has partnered with STAR Sports, the number one leader in sports content, for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans across 70+ countries in Asia.

Montreal, Wednesday, May 8th – After internal discussions, InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) have jointly decided against promoting a boxing event on Saturday, May 25th at the Montreal Bell Centre. Preferring to wait until Lucian Bute recovers from surgery to his hand, HBO has confirmed interest in broadcasting the Bute vs. Pascal bout when the new date is known.

InterBox and the GYM Group will now focus their efforts on the Stevenson vs. Dawson WBC Light Heavyweight event on June 8th. Certain undercard bouts signed for May 25th will be presented on the June 8th card. More details to follow shortly.

Kessler vs Froch II broadcast
InterBox holds the rights to Canada of the May 25th IBF and WBA World Super Middleweight titles Unification bout between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler, and will announce shortly its intentions regarding broadcast throughout Quebec.

All tickets purchased will be honored
All tickets already purchased for the Bute vs. Pascal Gala will be honored by the Bell Centre for the rescheduled date.

NEW YORK; (May 8, 2013) After spending almost 3 years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, undefeated light heavyweight prospect Yathomas Riley will return to battle on Saturday, MAY 11 against Buffalo, New York’s Lionell Thompson at The Paramount in Huntington, New York it was announced today by Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing.

Sporting a record of 8-0-0 with six knockouts, the hard-hitting southpaw enters the eight round co-main event at “ROCKIN FIGHTS 8” following a prolonged legal battle that saw him holed up in a Florida jail after being wrongly accused of attempted murder in the South Florida town of Homestead.

“I’m very excited to get back in the ring on MAY 11” said Riley. “This has obviously been a very trying time for me dealing with the false accusations and not fighting for the last three years.”

“But my goal is a World Championship, nothing less just like it always has been. This fight against Thompson gets me back on that track” continued Riley. “I didn’t want an easy fight, I wanted to get right back in the mix.”

Prior to the false allegations and his subsequent incarceration for over two years, Riley had won three successive bouts by stoppage, all inside of two rounds.

“It was a very unfortunate situation what happened to Yathomas, he was a very impressive light heavyweight prospect,” said DeGuardia. “Coming back he said he wasn’t interested in a tune up, he wanted a real solid guy and Thompson certainly fits the bill.”

The 27-year-old Thompson, 13-2-0 (9KO’s), is coming off a second round knockout of perennial contender Chuck Mussachio on FEBRUARY 23 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Last year Thompson traveled to Quebec, Canada on MAY 19 to challenge world ranked contender Nicholson Poulard, losing a very close, ten round split decision to the hometown favorite.

“ROCKIN FIGHTS 8” is headlined by a heavyweight slugfest between local favorite Vinny Maddalone and undefeated prospect Richard Carmack of Kansas City, Missouri.

Yathomas Riley will join Maddalone, Carmack and other participants at the final press conference on Thursday (5/9/13) at the Inn at Fox Hollow’s Winter Garden Room at 12pm.

Advance tickets priced at $50, $100, $150 and $200 are now on sale through Ticketmaster, (www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000) or through The Paramount Box Office, (631) 673-7300 in addition to the Star Boxing Office, (718) 823-2000 or on their website, www.StarBoxing.com. Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7PM with the first bell at 8PM.

The Paramount is located at 370 New York Avenue, Huntington, New York, 11743. For directions and more information, please visit their website at www.paramountny.com

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing Inc. celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2012. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit their official website at www.StarBoxing.com and follow them on Twitter @ Star Boxing and Facebook at Star Boxing.

ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT:

Opened September 30, 2011 this 1,555 capacity live entertainment venue located in downtown Huntington, Long Island, features concerts, boxing, comedy, community and other special events. Booked by Live Nation, the Paramount has hosted over 150 events in its first year of operation and quickly established itself as the premier music venue on Long Island. Some recent acts to take the stage include Pitbull, Taking Back Sunday, The Pixies, Elvis Costello, Warren Haynes, Willie Nelson, Brand New, Goo Goo Dolls, Primus, Marilyn Manson, Korn, The Wanted, The Script, Panic! At the Disco and many, more.

ESSINGTON, PA (MAY 8, 2013)—Former Olympic Gold Medal winner and two-time world champion Meldrick Taylor has been added to the Champions of Tomorrow Promotional team.

The inaugural event will take place on Thursday night June 20th at the Deck in Essington, PA.

Taylor, who captured Olympic Gold in 1984, went on to win the IBF Jr. Welterweight championship with a 12th round stoppage over Buddy McGirt on September 3, 1988. Taylor defended the title twice before engaging his memorable fight with Julio Cesar Chavez. Taylor went on to win WBA Welterweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision over Aaron Davis. He defended that belt two times and challenged for the world championship on three more occasions.

Taylor joins Marty and Damon Feldman as part of the promotional team.

“It’s great to get back in boxing”, said Taylor

“I hope to help these young fighters realize their dreams to become world champions and with my experience I hope to be able to provide that insight. Plus it’s great to work with Damon and his father. We go back a long time. In fact Damon fought on one of my undercards”

Scheduled to appear on the card will be:

In six round bouts: Welterweight Tim Witherspoon Jr. (9-3-1, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia; Middleweight Isiah Seldon (7-0, 3 KO’s) of Atlantic City, NJ and Lightweight Joey Tiberi (9-1, 5 KO’s) of Newark, DE

In four round bouts: Super Bantamweight Alex Barbosa (4-1-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia; Pro debuting Lightweight Omar Mangual of Philadelphia; Pro debuting Heavyweight Corey Morley of Philadelphia; Welterweight Terrell James (1-0) of Philadelphia and Lightweight John Dipolito (0-4) of Philadelphia

All opponents will be named shortly

Tickets are priced at $85 for VIP; $50 for Ringside and $35 for General Admission and can be purchased at www.webtix.net or by calling 484 318 6133

The VIP Tickets will consist of a Meet and Greet with former and current world champions plus a buffet.

1st bout 7:30 PM and doors open at 6:30 pm

The event is sponsored by Concordville Nissan and Subaru, Bennys Barbershop in Springfield , Anthony’s Italian Restaurant in Drexel Hill & AC Cipolloni and Sons Construction

Atlantic City, NJ—Thomas LaManna, of Millville, NJ, coming off the biggest win of his career, returns to action Saturday evening, June 1, when he takes on in-state rival Alando Swain, of Trenton, in a six-round middleweight match in the Grand Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City.

Headlining the seven-bout card is a 10-round junior lightweight contest between former world title challenger Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, PA, and Carlos Vinan, of Newark, NJ. First fight is 7.30 pm and the show will be streamed live on the internet by www.gofightlive.tv.

The eight-round junior lightweight semifinal features Jason Sosa, of Camden, NJ, against Georgi Kevlishvili, of Philadelphia.

LaManna, 21, earned the biggest win of his career on March 8 in Atlantic City when he scored a pair of knockdowns en route to a six-round decision over Joshua Snyder, of Berlin, MD.

A pro for 27 months, the 6-foot-2 LaManna, nicknamed “Cornflake,” has an 11-0 record with six knockouts and is extremely popular in the South Jersey area.

Swain, 32, is 5-2-1, 1 K0, but he has not fought since losing a six-round decision to undefeated Wilkins Santiago, of Lorain, OH, 13 months ago in Atlantic City. A pro for three years, Swain has been trying to secure a match with LaManna for the last year.

Middleweights Alex Sanchez, of Camden, NJ, and Fred Jenkins, Jr., of Philadelphia, PA, collide in another six-round fight on the June 1 card. Sanchez is 2-2-1, 2 K0s; Jenkins is 5-1, 2 K0s.

Four four-round fights complete the card.

ABOUT JUNE 1

The Kennedy-Vinan and Sosa-Kevlishvili fights top a seven-bout card at Bally’s Atlantic City. First fight is 7.30 pm. Tickets are priced at $50 and $75 and they are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com and www.ticketmaster.com. www.gofightlive.tv will stream the card on the internet. The card is being promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with BAM Boxing Promotions Inc. and Bally’s Atlantic City.

The May 10 edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature two top Junior Welterweights—Vernon “The Iceman” Paris (27-1, 16 KOs) and Manny “Manos” Perez (19-8-1, 4 KOs)—in the 10-round main event. Friday’s show from the Masonic Temple in Detroit will air live at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD and WatchESPN and will be joined in progress on ESPN Deportes following Friday’s NBA Playoff game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls. Friday’s card is promoted by Millennium Promotions.

Commentators:
Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside describing the action for ESPN2 HD, while studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will provide the latest boxing news and highlights. Pablo Viruega and Delvin Rodriguez will call this week’s fights for ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights) with Claudia Trejos and Leopoldo Gonzalez in the studio. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) will present live interviews and reports for both shows.

Main Event:
Miami’s Paris enters Friday’s fight with big fight experience having fought three-time Junior Welterweight and Welterweight titlist Zab Judah. In his last fight Paris scored a third-round TKO win over Guy Pucker.

“I’ve started working with my new coach, Herman Caicedo, and have been preparing for this fight ever since my last fight,” Paris said. “My new coach is good. He’s teaching me to keep my hands up. The plan – what I’m going to do in the ring – that’s all coming together. I’m feeling real good about it.”

Denver’s Perez has won three of his last four fights including a 10-round split decision over Jose Miguel Cotto (Miguel Cotto’s brother) and a 10-round unanimous decision over Edgar Santana. Perez enters Friday’s fight following a seven-round unanimous decision win over Bernardo Guereca.

“I know Paris is very, very tough, and I anticipate a tough fight,” Perez said. “Those are the fights I like. I’ve said it before – you don’t become the best without fighting the best. You have to fight and beat the best. I’m working on my jab a lot now, and just want to show more variety in my shots this fight. I want to show better angles, and a better variety of right hands. I want to apply the right kind of pressure and just break him down. I’m looking forward to putting on a great performance.”

Co-Feature:
Friday’s 10-round co-feature will pit Featherweights Cornelius “Lighting” Lock (20-6-1, 13 KOs) against “El Negro Mexicano Lightning” Lonnie Smith (14-4-3, 10 KOs). Lock scored a second-round TKO win over Damon Antoine in his last fight, while Smith is coming off a seventh-round technical draw against Michael Perez.

Follow ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like it on Facebook. Follow ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates on Twitter @ESPNBoxeo. Also score the fights round-by-round with the “Live Friday Night Fights Facebook Voting App,” an application on the ESPN FNF Facebook page that allows viewers to score the fight round-by-round.

NEW YORK (May 8, 2013) – In what will be a hard-fought, high-stakes matchup for the No. 1 spot in the IBF’s 140-pound division, undefeated Dierry “Dougy Style” Jean (24-0, 16 KOs), of Quebec, Canada, will face southpaw Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (17-3-1, 6 KOs), of Los Angeles, Calif., in the 10-round main event this Friday, May 10, on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). Jean and Pendarvis are ranked No. 3 and No. 7, respectively, in the IBF.

Unbeaten middleweights John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson (11-0, 4 KOs) of Newark, N.J., and left-hander Geovanni “Tarantula” Rodriguez (8-0, 5 KOs), of San Juan, Puerto Rico, clash in the eight-round co-feature from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla. This will be the toughest fight for both of them.

All four boxers will be making their ShoBox debuts; more importantly all of them will have an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Due to the significance of the fight and the exposure they’ll be getting on SHOWTIME, this is especially true for the main eventers.

“The main event is a little bit different because it features two prospects who are fighting for a guaranteed shot at the IBF world title,’’ said ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood. “Dierry Jean is undefeated but untested at the highest level. Pendarvis has three losses, but has more impressive wins than Jean does.

“This is a good style matchup; Jean is a fast-handed counter-puncher, Pendarvis an awkward boxer- puncher. I’m looking forward to it.’’

As for the co-feature, Farhood said, “This is a typical ShoBox contest featuring two undefeated prospects. We don’t know how good they are, but we’re going to find out on Friday night.’’

The 5-foot-7, 31-year-old Jean, who was born in Haiti, will be making his second start in the United States. All his other fights took place in Canada, 23 of them in Montreal. His lone U.S. outing came in January 2008 in Hollywood, Fla. In his most recent fight, he registered two knockdowns en route to retaining his NABF title with a second-round TKO over Juan Rivera on Feb. 16 in Gatineau, Canada.

A solid amateur before turning pro at the age of 26 in December 2006, Jean is an excellent boxer who likes to work the body. His two most significant victories came in back-to-back fights in 2012, a dominant TKO 11 over Ivan Cano on Oct. 26 and a lopsided 12-round decision over Lanardo Tyner on May 19.

“Except for the one week I took off after my last fight, I’ve been in the gym training for this fight,’’ Jean said. “I’ve been sparring with a few left-handed fighters. I don’t like fighting lefthanders, but I’m pretty comfortable with them. I’ve fought two or three of them as a pro. My first fight was against a lefthander.

“Pendarvis is a pretty good fighter. He’s quick, but he makes many mistakes. I’ll make him pay for every mistake he makes.’’

Jean has lived in Canada since he left Haiti with his brother, aunt and grandparents when he was 10. His parents had died three years earlier. He didn’t take boxing seriously until he was 18. “Before that, I played basketball, soccer and did martial arts,’’ said Jean, who speaks French, English and Creole.

Regarding his nickname, Jean said, “I got it from another boxer, Matthew Jerman, who liked the way I fought and said I fought like him. So he gave me ‘Dougy Style’’ because I can do everything in the ring. I can move forward and put pressure on you, I can move away and box and I can just brawl.’’

Pendarvis is a 5-foot-7, 26-year-old, eight-year pro who has won six consecutive fights and 12 of his last 14 dating to December 2006. Both defeats came on points in tight fights; one on an eight-round majority decision to then-unbeaten Mauricio Herrera (12-0) in October 2009 and the other on an eight-round split nod to veteran Terrance Cauthen in June 2010.

A resident of Long Beach, Calif., Pendarvis won the USBA junior welterweight title two outings ago and retained it in his last start with a sixth-round TKO over Michael Clark on Dec. 21, 2012. Mookie scored two knockdowns in the third, rocked Clark several times and eventually wore him down with body punches.

A top amateur before turning pro in October 2004, Pendarvis is primed to take advantage of the biggest opportunity of his pro career.

“I’m ready,’’ he said. “This is my chance and I will go out and perform. It’s going to be entertainment, and the world will know who I am. I stay in the gym. I’ve been preparing for this fight for almost two months.

“To be honest, they’ve been disrespecting me with some of the articles they’ve been putting out. So I don’t really think much of Jean or his team. I just want to go out, prove myself and do what I’ve got to do.

“I will beat him. I know I’m going to beat him. That’s what I do – go out and upset fighters. I get stronger and better every day. I’m just ready for war. That’s all I think about every day, going to war. I want to say thanks to SHOWTIME for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talents and to let the world see me.

Mookie won his toughest fight long ago. “I was born in Inglewood, Calif., and I have three brothers and one sister,’’ he said. “My mom has been paralyzed since a car accident in 2010. I’ve been through a lot. I went through the foster-care system. I experienced the streets. It was rough, but it made me who I am today.

“I just want to send a message out to all the kids that are out there looking for something to do with their lives in the belief that there’s no tomorrow. All I want to say to them is that there is a tomorrow, that there’s always a brighter day. You just have to work hard and stay focused.’’

Doug Fischer, the editor at RingTV.com (Ring Magazine online) has known Mookie for years and has always been impressed with his talent.

“I used to watch him train when he was still a kid at the Broadway gym in the Watts area where he grew up,’’ Fischer said. “Besides having the best name in boxing — Cleotis ‘Mookie’ Pendarvis – he has always had a lot of natural talent. “He was a good amateur, and made it to the Western Olympic Trials in 2004.

“Mookie’s problem in the pro ranks was that he never had a real promoter behind him, thus he always lacked consistency. However, he has been a part of many world-class training camps and has helped top fighters such as Shane Mosley, Amir Khan and Antonio Margarito get ready for explosive southpaws such as Zab Judah and Manny Pacquiao.

“Now that he has a solid management team behind, he’s finally strung some wins together and has remained in training for more than a year. I think this consistency along with his natural ability makes him a threat in the 140-pound division. I think he will beat Dierry Jean on Friday.’’

Thompson is a 6-foot-1, 24-year-old who is trained by former world champion Buddy McGirt and trains out of McGirt’s new gym in Nutley, N.J. A bronze medalist at the 2007 National Golden Gloves Championships, Thompson scored several impressive victories during an accomplished 111-fight amateur career, including two over 2008/2012 Mexican Olympian Oscar Molina and Detroit prospect Domonique Dolton.

The up-and-coming, well-conditioned youngster has been kept busy since going pro in June 2011. He fought three times that year, seven times in 2012 and once so far in 2013 (TKO 5 over Blake Grayson on Feb. 9). He actually had two fights scheduled after Grayson but both fell though.

“I’ve been working with Buddy going on a year now, and it is the best thing that ever happened to me,’’ Thompson said. “Buddy brings a lot of things to the table. He just opened up a new gym in Nutley. I started working with him after my fight in June last year. The December fight was my first with him.

“I’m a boxer. I’m very fast, so I use my speed to my advantage. Some people are fast or strong. Me being fast and having the smarts and the ability to adapt to people has helped me a lot. I’m just ready to fight, and am very excited to be fighting Friday on ShoBox.’’

Offers McGirt: “This kid has a lot of talent; he’s progressing all the time. We’re just adding some polish to what’s already there. He has a lot of confidence and he thinks he’s good, but he really doesn’t know how good he can be. But that will come; he’ll find himself. It’s been really great working with him and his father. No problems at all.’’

Thompson, whose father, John Thompson III, started training him when he was four and will be in his corner on Friday, works part-time at the Newark Liberty Airport in the baggage department. He’s also an accomplished artist/painter and has an art business. Little wonder he pictures himself as a future champion.

Rodriguez is a 24-year-old, 5-feet-11 southpaw who’s making his 2013 debut. Like Thompson, he was also an outstanding amateur, winning silver medals at both the 2009 Jose “Cheo” Aponte Tournament and the 2007 Puerto Rican National Championships. He made his pro debut in October 2009.

While he hasn’t been as busy as Thompson – this is Rodriguez’ first start in eight months, and he only fought twice in 2012 and one time in 2011, the latest in the line of promising, Puerto Rican prospects is fit, determined and confident of a victory on Friday.

“I’ve been preparing very hard for this fight and I’m ready to make a good impression,’’ said Thompson, who recorded a fifth-round TKO over Daniel Rodriguez (no relation) last Sept. 12. “I’ve trained almost two months, at two different gyms. I know absolutely nothing about the guy I’m fighting.

“I’m an aggressive southpaw, a strong, hard puncher. You’ll see what I can do on Friday.’’

Tickets priced at $25, $40 and $60 are available at www.buffalorun.com or by calling The Buffalo Run Box Office (918) 542-7140. On fight night, doors open at 7 p.m.

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

New York, NY (5/8/13) – Next Wednesday, May 15, DiBella Entertainment returns to BB King Blues Club in NYC for the latest edition of its Broadway Boxing series with a thrilling eight-bout card headlined by WBA and WBC #8-rated middleweight contender “Irish” Andy Lee (29-2, 20KO’s) taking on Darryl Cunningham (28-4, 11KO’s) in a 10-round middleweight contest.

Also featured on the card will be DBE’s undefeated middleweight prospects Lamar “The Boxing Que” Russ (13-0, 7KO’s) as he takes on the always-dangerous Russell “Spiderman” Jordan (15-9, 10KO’s) and Delen “The Sniper” Parsley (10-0, 3KO’s) as he squares off against once-beaten Louis Rose (6-1, 2KO’s). Both bouts are scheduled for eight rounds.

Looking to get back into the win column will be 2012 Prizefighter Tournament Heavyweight champion Tor Hamer (19-2, 12KO’s) as he takes on Houston’s Maurenzo Smith (11-5-2, 8KO’s) in a six-round heavyweight showdown.

Also seeing action will be one of the most promising young up-and-comers on the DBE roster, NY Golden Glove Champion Louis Cruz (2-0, 2KO’s). The Bronx-native Cruz will take on Puerto Rico’s Michael Carreras (0-2) in a four-round lightweight matchup.

Making his much-anticipated pro debut will be the newest member of the DBE roster, Puerto Rico’s highly regarded amateur Angel Suarez. Suarez is set to take on fellow Puerto Rican Eliezer Agosto (1-2, 1KO) in a four-round featherweight contest.

Suarez had a stellar amateur career, which included a 243-65 record. He was a 106lb. and 119lb. junior metro regional champion as well as a 126lb. junior national champion. He also won gold at both the Roman Cup and KITO tournament and was a bronze medalist at the 2011 Pan-American Games.

Looking to improve to a perfect 3-0 thus far in 2013 will be New York City’s hard-hitting Neuky Santalesis (4-0, 3KO’s), as he takes on Aaron Chavez (3-2-1, 1KO) in a four-round junior lightweight matchup. Santalesis was in action on the DBE-promoted card back in January at BB King’s, where he scored a sensational one punch second-round knockout over Juan Guerrero. Santalesis followed up that performance with another impressive performance, blowing away Denis Madriz in just 46 seconds on DBE’s Broadway Boxing card in February.

Rounding out the card will be Brooklyn’s pro-debuting cruiserweight Jay Rodriguez as he takes on Andre Ward (1-1-2, 1KO) in a four-round matchup.

Tickets for the event are priced at $125, $100, $75 and $55 for general admission. Tables are also available for purchase for this event with VIP Tables going for $1,000 per table (5 seats at $200 per seat), Ringside Tables for $500 (5 seats at $100) and $375 tables (5 seats at $75). Tickets are available for purchase by calling the DiBella Entertainment office at (212) 947-2577.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment (DBE) and sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group, Newlio.com, and Everlast. The event will be broadcast on SNY tape-delayed. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

08 April 2013 – Singapore: ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC), presented by Casino Filipino and in association with Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC), announced today three undercard bouts for ONE FC: RISE TO POWER. Up and coming Lowen Tynanes will battle the seasoned Felipe Enomoto while MMA veteran Tim Sylvia is back in action against Tony Johnson and fan favorite Ryan Diaz will take on Russian ace Yusup Saadulaev. All the action takes place live on 31 May from the MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines.

As a young MMA fighter, Lowen Tynanes has already made a big impression by winning fights against top opponents in the Philippines, Japan and Malaysia. The high school wrestling champion silenced the home-crowd in Manila by incapacitating crowd-favorite Eduard Folayang with a vicious elbow which caused the doctor to instantly stop the fight. In his last outing at ONE FC, Tynanes also defeated Hong Kong-based South African fighter Vuyisile Colossa via rear naked choke. A proud American, he loves nothing better than to travel to Asia to take on the best local fighters in their own back yards. Tynanes is once again looking forward to showcasing his skills when he takes on Swiss-Japanese fighter Felipe Enomoto.

Each time Felipe Enomoto has entered into the ONE FC cage, he has been the underdog. This time, it is no different. Having established a reputation as being one of the toughest and most durable fighters in Asia who always leaves it all in the cage, Enomoto will undoubtedly be looking to silence the crowd with a decisive victory in the early rounds. Any fight which involves Enomoto is going to be a treat for MMA fans because this fighter never backs down no matter who the opponent is or which round he’s in.

One of the most frightening figures the MMA world has ever witnessed in combat sports action is Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia. Towering at over two meters tall, this brute of a man poses a serious threat to every heavyweight fighter in the world. Sylvia has fought over 30 times, won numerous championships and knocked out countless opponents. Sylvia’s unusual combination of size and quickness has ushered in a new era of monstrous, weight cutting heavyweights who seek total domination of their smaller counterparts. Sylvia is looking for a spectacular KO when he squares off against Tony Johnson on 31 May.

Tony Johnson is an imposing heavyweight fighter. Considered a top prospect in the heavyweight division, Johnson is famed for being one of the fastest strikers in the division and is currently on a two fight win streak. At ONE FC: RISE TO POWER, he will be looking to make an impressive debut in the famed ONE FC cage.

Ryan Diaz has been training in MMA for over ten years and already has thirteen professional wins to his name. Over a long career, Diaz continues to perfect his background in BJJ, Muay Thai and boxing. He possesses incredible power and strength. Diaz is much more experienced of the two fighters and will be looking to use his strength to overpower his Russian opponent and return to the USA victorious. After 2 outings in the ONE FC cage, Russian wrestler Saadulaev is still searching for his first ONE FC victory and will enter the cage for the third time with the determination to prevent a Diaz win at all costs.

Tickets for ONE FC: RISE TO POWER on 31 May are exclusively available at Casino Filipino outlets nationwide. Refer to www.onefc.com/tickets for details.

Fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv.
The first three undercard fights are available for viewing free-of-charge and the main card fights will be available for purchase at just US$9.99.

ONE FC: RISE TO POWER is headlined by a ONE FC Featherweight World Championship bout between reigning champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario against number one contender Koji Oishi and pound-for-pound king Bibiano Fernandes taking on Koetsu Okazaki for the ONE FC Bantamweight Interim Title. All the action takes place live from the MOA Arena in Manila, Philippines.

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

About ONE Fighting Championship™
Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Fighting Championship™ (http://www.onefc.com) is Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization. ONE Fighting Championship™ hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Fighting Championship™ has partnered with STAR Sports, the number one leader in sports content, for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans across 70+ countries in Asia.